Bend ADU Approvals Could Rise: What This Means for Homeowners

Big news is coming out of Bend’s housing conversation. The city of Bend is making it easier for people to add Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on their property. These are small, secondary homes built on the same lot as a …

Old Mill District Expansion: Bend’s Next Chapter in River-Front Living & Play

Bend’s beloved Old Mill District is poised for its biggest refresh in decades: a trio of river-side buildings that will weave 31,000 square feet of restaurants, retail, and even nine furnished apartments into the north end of …

Closing the Gap: Bend’s New Riverfront Trail Link Shows a City That Cares

Bend is moving ahead with a plan to close the last gap in the Deschutes River Trail along NW Riverfront Street. City and park leaders chose a design that adds a 10-foot-wide shared-use path and converts the …

Hands and Hearts: Central Oregon’s Quiet Superpower

Why our towns feel closer, kinder, and more vibrant, and how you can be part of the story.

A Circle of Caring Towns

Drive Highway 97 on a sunny day and you’ll pass forested Bend, historic Redmond, artsy Sisters, family-friendly Sunriver, river-loving Tumalo …

Bend Summer Festival: A Weekend That Brings Us Together

Why Bend’s Summer Fest Captures the Heart of Central Oregon

Every July, Downtown Bend turns seven city blocks into a walk-only playground for more than 70,000 neighbors and visitors at the Bend Summer Festival. A free, three-day celebration of art …

Munch & Music: Bend’s Favorite Summer Tradition in Drake 

Where Music, Food, and Community Come Together Along the Deschutes River

Every summer, as the warm sun stretches across the sky and the Deschutes River sparkles through downtown Bend, something magical happens in Drake Park. Locals and visitors alike gather on …

Why Central Oregon Shines as a Retirement Haven

Imagine waking up to crisp mountain air, spending the morning on a riverside trail, and ending the day beneath a sky strewn with stars bright enough to map constellations. That rhythm (active, scenic, and neighborly) is daily life for retirees in Central …

Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival: Where Grit Meets High-Desert Hospitality

Every June, just as Central Oregon’s ponderosa forests slip into their longest, sun-drenched days, thousands of runners, cyclists, and triathletes converge for a weekend locals simply call “Pac Crest.” This year is no different! On June, 13th, Central Oregon …

Deschutes River Float Season: Central Oregon’s Moving Block Party

When snowmelt finally hushes and the high-desert sun lingers past dinner, Bend’s collective pulse drifts to a single rhythm: the slow, steady current of the Deschutes. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, roughly a quarter-million locals and visitors (about twice Bend’s …

If you live or drive in southeast Bend, you probably know the frustration of the Reed Market railroad crossing. One moment you’re cruising across town, the next you’re parked behind a freight train. That headache is about to end. In January the City of Bend landed a record $32 million …