News from the Heart of Bend | June 24th, 2021

Welcome to the Downtown Bend Newsletter, News from the ❤️️ of Bend!

            The Summer Solstice has come and gone, we are officially four days into summer and four weeks into the tourist season.  Now that over 68% of the county has received its first dose of the vaccine Deschutes County will be staying in 'Low Risk' level (See those guidelines here) we are just 38,143 people away from hitting the state's goal of 70% vaccination rate. Don't forget in these final few weeks it is up to the business/establishment to determine how to handle the CDC's new mask policies. Please remember to be nice, no one wants to still be in this pandemic, just be kind wear your mask where required and we will hopefully be done soon! Encourage your friends and family to get tested if they are feeling sick or if they are over the age of 16 to get vaccinated. 

Well if are really getting into the spirit of summer and you’re starting your day early, we highly recommend you start off at…

​The Commons Cafe for the perfect roast to start your day off. We proudly offer locally roasted coffee from Thump Coffee, teas from Metolius Tea, 15 taps of delicious beer, cider, and kombucha, and a selection of wines by the glass.  Our food selection includes fresh local baked goods and small snacks

For brunch, our go-to spot is Lemon Tree, the best spot to get a delicious midday bite like the jumbo crab cake benedict or Amaretto French toast. Paired with Betsy’s Bloody Mary or a Mimosa and you are set to have a great day.

Bend Brewing Company, with a massive grass and patio area right on the river, there’s always bound to be some fluffy friends joining for a couple of rounds! A great way to kick it off is with a sample tray, we find it hard to choose one beer when there are so many great options. 

Or maybe you want to hit the brewery that started it all back in 1988, Deschutes brewery is and forever will be a local’s favorite. With classics like Mirror Pond pale ale and new style beers like the Neon Dream hazy.

With spring in full swing our favorite lunch spot is Chomp Chomp. With a rotating seasonal menu of Japanese and American comfort food, from delicious burgers to poke bowls, there’s something for everyone.

Stuck in the brewery mood? Head over to McMenamins for lunch and beer, with 3 different bars, the McMenamins campus is a great place to spend the afternoon.

After lunch swing by Velvet and grab yourself a spot right out front and soak up the sun while you soak up a craft cocktail. Or enjoy a craft beer from one of the largest canned microbrew selections downtown!

Before you head to dinner, stop in at JC’s for a cold pint and some fun! You can play pool, giant Jenga or even shuffleboard. One of our favorite spots to take to everyone, because there is endless entertainment.

Dinner is best spent at Zydeco Kitchen and Cocktails features Northwest cuisine with a Southern twist and focuses on quality ingredients that are hormone-free, pesticide-free, and organic. Zydeco is a local favorite for starters like their Artichoke & Corn Fritters and Acadian Flatbread, and entrees ranging from NW Reserve “PRIME” Ribeye to Grilled or Blackened Redfish.

Maybe you are  in the mood for a margarita, drop in at Hola!, for a margarita list that will leave you wanting to try them all and food menu that manages to outshine the drink list. Serving nouveau Mexican-Peruvian cuisine, including authentic Peruvian ceviche, Hola! has been voted ‘Best Margarita in Bend’ numerous times.

There is no shortage of great bars in Bend so you’ve got to be someplace pretty special to be voted “Best Bar” and “Best Specialty Cocktail” in Central Oregon. Dogwood Cocktail Cabin is that place. Located smack in the heart of downtown Bend, their mixologists shake up uber-creative concoctions that are shaking up the cocktail scene across the country

To wrap up your evening you can head right around the corner to the D & D, a joint that takes pride in the fact that its bartenders mix the stiffest drinks in town. The bartenders and servers are old school efficient and bring out plates of the best hangover food in town. With a the perfect amount of dive bar vibe, it’s Bend’s oldest bar for good reason.
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Featured Business | Resonate IP

 New Law Firm, Resonate IP Informs and Empowers Iconic Lifestyle Brands
 
​Bend-based Resonate IP assists brand owners with protecting business and product names to ensure that each has a broad scope of protection against competitors.  “The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of having a strong brand, with successful businesses leveraging their consumer goodwill to expand into new markets” states Resonate IP principal Drew Smith.  “Resonate IP bridges the divide between simply doing business and having a strong, enforceable brand that is a business asset.” With services such as Brand Clearance, Brand Protection, Brand Enforcement, Transactional and International Trademarks, check our their website here.

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Featured Events​

High Desert Chamber Music
​Pop-Up Concerts!

​SCALEHOUSE GALLERY NEW EXHIBITION
​Theory + Practice: A Selected Exhibition of OSU-Cascades Seniors

High Desert Chamber Music is getting back to doing what we do best! This summer, violinist and Executive Director Isabelle Senger will be joined by pianist Janet Smith in a series of free outdoor “Pop-Up Concerts!” around town.
These short, twenty-minute performances will be held in a variety of locations, including Downtown Bend, the Old Mill District, and several parks in the Bend Park and Recreation District. These events are FREE to attend and open to all.
​Read more here.

​Scalehouse Gallery, is pleased to announce their new exhibition, Theory + Practice: A Selected Exhibition of OSU-Cascades Seniors. This exhibition will open Friday July 2nd, and will be on view through Saturday, June 31st. We are located in Franklin Crossing on Tin Pan Alley Side. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 1pm-6pm and by appointment. The exhibition Theory + Practice, features thesis artwork from Arts, Media and Technology seniors at OSU-Cascades.
​Read more here. 

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Oktoberfest
We are bringing back Oktoberfest! Things will be looking a little different this year and a lot bit more fun, if you are interested in participating as a sponsor, or event host, or maybe you have a couple of fun ideas up your sleeve let us know. Feel free to reach out to hayden@downtownbend.org
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Downtown Dollars
In-person or online, we've made it easy for you to support local Downtown Bend merchants:  For a list of Downtown Bend businesses: click here, for online shopping links: click here, for curbside pick-up and delivery from Downtown Bend restaurants: click here. 

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​Reserve your Ad Space on a Downtown Directory! 
Ad spaces are available for every type of business, and we offer extremely competitive advertising rates!  You don't have to be a business in the Downtown District to place an ad.  Contact us or click here for more information.  This is a great opportunity to showcase your business to thousands of people every single day!