Getting down at the M&J, March 20, 2010 - 9pm

Local band, Broken Down Guitars, takes a break from working on their full length album to play The M&J Tavern on Saturday, March 20th, at 9 p.m.

Welcoming new dummer Kent Howes and debuting new songs, Broken
Down Guitars sound ranges from funky to eerie, with plenty of danceable favorites, female fronted vocals, and electric guitar.

The M&J Tavern is a cool place to check out some new up-and-comers in the Bend music scene. It’s located on Greenwood Ave across the street from Midtown Music Hall.

Check out their MySpace. Click here.

Dinner and Concert, March 24th | 7pm Show

Next Wednesday Carnegie Hall performer Debbie Friedman will be bringing her folk-inspired, sing-along music style to the Tower Theatre for a 7pm show.

Before the show enjoy a prix fixe menu at 5 Spice Fusion & Sushi Bar with your choice of:

Friedman Sushi Roll
Grilled Salmon with roasted vegetables and jasmine rice
-or-
Baby Back Rib with marble mashed potatoes and Asian Pear Sorbet

Dinner and the concert or $49 per person. For more information or to make your reservations, visit us at our website or call us at 541.323.2328.

Mitch Hedberg. Enjoy.

What did I tell you?

Bend for Haiti Benefit Concert: March 19, 2010

After the most horrific earthquake in modern history shook Haiti, the outpouring of financial and personnel support has been staggering.

Countries from all over the world have come together to help out the struggling Haitians during this crazy time and now some local Bendites are doing their part to aid in the efforts with the Bend for Haiti Benefit Concert this Friday, March 19 at the Tower Theatre.

The doors open at 6pm with the event beginning at 7pm. Music will be performed by local musicians David Jacobs-Strain, RootDown, Reed Thomas Lawrence, and Eric Tollefson. It’s an eclectic night of music with the sounds of slide guitar, reggae pop, blues, and acoustic rock for an all ages concert.

After the show, head over to a “Tent City” After Party at 9:15 hosted next door at Liberty Theater including Haitian food by El Sancho, a fun Caribbean dance lesson with Salsa Victoria and party music with DJ Ntence.

Tickets for the event are $35 and $50. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised by the concert will be donated to international relief and development agency World Relief to provide ready to eat food, clean drinkable water and other essential emergency supplies.

For more Bend for Haiti info, go to their website.

$5 Salad Bar for Lunch. Quick and Easy

First off I would like to say ‘hello’ to everyone in Internet land on behalf of our entire staff here at Pine Tavern. This is the first of many more entries I’ll be writing on BendNights.com.

This first story is to let you know about our $5 lunch salad bar. Our selections of salad items are fresh, crisp, and delicious. It’s a great way to eat healthy, it’s fast, and tastes a lot better than fast food.

While I’m talking about $5 lunch time menu items, I should also mention we serve our classic Pine Tavern Burger for $5 every Wednesday. It’s a half-bound burger, fresh veggies, on a kaiser roll. (Actually, I just saw someone at BN already wrote about it, click here.)

We’re open everyday but Sunday at 11:30am.

I’ll be starting a new online series here on the site, in the near future, talking about Pine Tavern’s history. I’ll share some pictures, stories, and other tidbits that have happened over the last 70-some years we’ve been around. Look out for it!

Come down and see what’s new at Pine Tavern.

Dinner & Tickets to Suzanne Vega

This Sunday, February 28th, Downtown Bend’s fusion and sushi bar, 5 Spice, joins up with the historic Tower Theatre for a special night of food and music.

Suzanne Vega, probably best known for her hit song Luka, is playing at the Tower Theatre in support of her latest album Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs.

We’ve put together a ticket/dinner package that will give you that boost you’ll need to get through the new work week.

Here’s what we’ve got on the menu:

• VEGA SUSHI ROLL
• MISOYAKI BUTTERFISH OR HANGAR STEAK
  served with roasted veggies and lemon butter noodles
• ASIAN PEAR SORBET
• 5 SPICE CHAMPAGNE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE
  by renown baker Marda Stoliar

$49 includes dinner and the tickets.

Go to our website to make reservations or call us at 541.323.2328.

February 26, 2010 - Riverbend Park, Bend

The Polar Plunge Deschutes is wrapping up a season of Plunges around Oregon to help raise money for the Special Olympics February 26th at Riverbend Park in Bend.

The annual event is put on by Law Enforcement Torch Run, the largest grassroots fundraising effort for Special Olympics in the world. The Bend Polar Plunge was the inaugural event for Oregon in 1997 and is one of 30 Plunges throughout the country.

The PP is known for attracting tons of people to jump, crawl, or run into the freezing Deschutes River for the benefit of Special Olympics, wearing crazy outfits in hopes of winning the PP costume contest.

There’s a few rules and regs they’re posting on their site you may want to know before you head down.

Code of Conduct:

• Plungers must be in good health and free of heart conditions.
• All plungers must sign a waiver or have a partner/guardian signature for plungers 17 or younger.
• Shoes are required during the plunge.
• Diving headfirst is not permitted.
• Wet or dry suits are not allowed.
• Each Plunger must raise a minimum of $50 to plunge.

Plunge Tips

• ARRIVE EARLY! Everyone will be eager to get in the water!
• Bring a robe or an extra towel.  You can wear it while you wait in line, and drop it just before you jump into the water.
• Bring layered, loose fitting clothing for after the plunge! It’s easier to get into when your fingers are freeeeezing!
• Plunge with a team…it’s more fun!
• A warm tent will be on site to warm your bones after the plunge.
• Polar Plunge is not responsible for your lost or stolen property. Leave valuables at home!
• Bring a disposable, waterproof camera that you can carry with you…even if your “handlers” can’t get a close-up of you in the water, feel free to ask a fellow Plunger to capture your big moment on film

On-site check in for the PP is from 4:30-6:15pm. The costume contest begins at 6pm with the Polar Plunge starting soon after at 6:30pm.

If you want to skip the big check in lines, Fred Meyer in Bend is holding a pre-event check in from 4pm-7pm on February 25. Turn in your donations and pick up everything you need for the plunge, including a free towel, courtesy of Fred Meyer!

For more information, check out their website.

Thump Coffee - Straight to your head.

A Downtown favorite for lattes, mochas, and iced coffee beverages, Thump Coffee is re-introducing Bend to the classic Italian espresso drink with the new weekly ‘Cappy Hour’.

Every Friday from 2:30 to close, Thump is celebrating the cappuccino with Trad Cap Happy Hour, or Cappy Hour as they’ve coined it. Their serving up traditional espresso drinks, dopios, macchiatos, and traditional cappuccinos for half-price!

These drinks are a departure from most people’s daily fix. Cappuccinos are absent of syrups or chocolates. Just espresso and maybe just a little bit of steamed milk.

Enjoy a quick pick-me-up like the Europeans do it.

Thump Coffee is located at 25 NW Minnesota Ave, Downtown Bend.

Not the actual pig. He was unavailable.

Over the summer, 900 Wall Restaurant & Bar purchased a pig in an attempt to gain a better appreciation of where our food comes from and the processes involved to get the product from the farm to the table.

We decided on purchasing a Tamworth Pig which is a heritage breed that is regarded for its great hardiness with respect to adverse climates.

The Tamworth is sometimes called the bacon pigbecause of its favorable high meat to low fat ratio. The pig was fed a diet consisting of dairy products from Eberhard’s Dairy in Redmond, bread from LaVoy Bakery here in Bend and our own vegetable trimmings generated here in the restaurant. Our pig was raised without the addition of any antibiotics, hormones, or vaccinations.

About a week and a half ago our pig was slaughtered at Oregon Beef Company, which is a USDA approved facility in Madras.

Throughout the week we have been busy producing a variety of charcuterie products to utilize the pig to its fullest potential. We are very happy to say that every part of the animal was utilized and we had zero waste.

We have greatly enjoyed this process and have already purchased three more Tamworth pigs to continue this program.

Currently on our cured meat and charcuterie plate we are offering Rillettes, Country Style Terrine, Smoked Andouille Sausage, and Mortadella.

For more information about 900 Wall, click here to check out our profile page.

We hope you enjoy.