$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.

I live this every morning.

So, my friend Darian came over again the other night with another new video to show me.

I wasn’t really in the mood for it. Like I’ve said before, she has a tendancy to send me into a YouTube coma. Everybody’s got that friend who, given the opportunity, will show you every “funny” video every uploaded to the social website giant.

Well, my mood quickly changed when the first “meow” came out of the cartoon cat’s mouth. I have a female cat named “Calvin” (long story) and this video totally reminds me of her.

Anyway, click play and check it out below. It’s a quick, funny flick.

2010 Bend WinterFest | Feb 12 - 14, 2010

While it seems a little like Spring all over Bend, we’re still in the heart of Winter. To get yourself back in the Wintery swing of things, gather the crew together and head over to one of Bend’s finest events, the 2010 Bend WinterFest.

This year’s event will be, once again, hosted at the Shops at the Old Mill, February 12-14th. The WF is an annual three-day festival of snow sports, demonstrations, music, wine, and food. I remember the days the event was hosted downtown, which was my personal favorite. I like the whole old-school vibe that downtown exudes. Plus, it was a nice little boost for the locally-owned downtown businesses, but I get the reason for the switch. Logistically it must make much more sense to have it in the Old Mill. I’m sure it’s a lot easier to contain the event, expand the entertainment areas, and provide a smoother production. I’m just saying…

The WF officially kicks off Friday night at 5pm. Catch the newly designed Rail Jam, with all the competitions broadcast from a monster JumboTron. The Ski Competition kicks off on Friday at 5:30pm with the snowboards taking their turn on Saturday at 5:30pm. Friday night also introduces the Winter Wine Walk. Participants will receive wine glasses and tastings of Northwest wines.

Friday’s music will be held at the Festival Center at WF. They’re calling it Mojo Music Eruption. Nice. The night starts off at 5:30 with Bend’s own Moon Mountain Ramblers, followed by the raspy-voiced soulman Leif James and the Struggle. Then wrap up the night with Alt-Country supergroup The Gourds, an Austin, Texas band known for its high-energy live shows and dedicated fan base.

Saturday’s line-up also begins at 5:30, but this time the nights kicks off with a little American Rock with local band The Dirty Words. Then Bryanna Deane and The Sympathetic Strings take up the feature spot with their Janis Joplin tribute tunes. Headlining the evening’s festivities is an encore performance by the all-female AC/DC cover band Hells Belles. They were crazy popular a couple years back at the 2008 WF, so the producers figured they’d bring ‘em back for another go-round.

Sunday is another action packed day. For the first time in WF history, the world-famous motocross team Metal Mulisha will be pushing the limits of Freestyle Motocross and Big Air Competitions with three huge shows at 1, 3, and 5pm. They’ll be showcasing sick tricks and death-defying stunts, all in the name of your amusement.

To fill in the gaps between ski jumps, Joplin covers, and neck-breaking stunts, there’s a ton of other activities to keep you well occupied. The WF will feature cross-country ski races, ski and snowshoe demos, snow and ice carving exhibitions along the river, a children’s playground and all the artsy-craftsy stuff you can shake a stick at.

Our buddies at Lay It Out Events/The Source put this event on every year and we can definitley put our stamp on this one as a top 5 event of the year. It’s going to be a perfect weekend for the festival with temps forcast in the mid 50’s with no rain (cross your fingers). Get out and enjoy the show!

Valentine's Prix-fixe Dinner - 2.14.10

We’re offering a special Valentine’s Day Prix-fixe dinner here at 5 Spice Fusion and Sushi Bar this Sunday night.

Begin your dining experience with shimp cocktail, served as a cleanser. Then you move on to an appetizer, choosing from Lover’s Sushi Roll or Crab Cakes.

Our entree menu offers you the choice of Lapchuong Wrapped Tiger Shrimp – roasted vegetables, lemon butter noodles or Asia Herb Marinated Hanger Steak – jasmine rice, baby bok-choy, shitake mushroom.

Then top off the evening with Trio of Chocolate – Chocolate creme brulee, chocolate dipped strawberry, macadamia chocolate covered marshmallow.

We’re also offering a special 5 Spice Champagne Chocolate Truffle baked by Marda Stoliar, Director of the International School of Baking.

Click here to view our Valentine’s Night menu. Want to make online reservations, click here.

The perfect menu to enjoy that special evening with your loved-one. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Valentine's Day Comedy Event - 900 Wall - 2.14.10

There’s no better date night than stand-up comedy on Valentine’s Day with that special someone.

This Sunday BendNights.com is presenting the I Freaking Love You Comedy Ball at 900 Wall Restaurant & Bar at 9pm, featuring national touring, headline comedian Morgan Preston.

We’re taking over the upstairs loft at The Wall and setting up an intimate night of edgy, hilarious stand-up about life, love, and marriage. Preston’s story-telling style of writing is intelligent, imaginative, and thought-provoking. Preston’s high-energy set always leaves the crowd begging for more.

900 Wall will be creating a special comedy menu, featuring their famous light menu items like fried green beans, pizzas, and more.

The comedy event will last about 90 minutes, beginning at 9pm, after you’ve finished up your dinner plans. Tickets are quickly going and we’ve got about 30 more seats to sell before we post the sold-out sign.

Click here for more info about the I Freaking Love You Comedy Ball. To buy tickets right now on BendNights.com, click here.

Austin, TX's Danny Malone - Silver Moon 2.12.10

Austin, Texas is known as a haven for churning out talented singer/songwriters. It’s unofficially called The Live Music Capital of the World, helping popularize such music greats as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, and The Police among others.

This Friday, Silver Moon Brewing is hosting a night of live acoustic folk, pop-rock with another up-and-comer hailing from the Texas capital, Danny Malone.

I haven’t had the pleasure of watching Malone perfrom live, but spent a good couple hours reading up on him and checking out some videos. Not bad… I like what I saw.

Personally, I’m not a huge pop-music kind of guy, but I enjoyed what Malone was serving. He’s definitely a songwriter. There’s a big difference between someone who performs a song and someone who sings a song that they’ve experienced and written. As each word rolls off his tongue, you can feel his pain and joy by the quivering strain his voice projects.

His composing style keeps you on your toes. As soon as you get in the groove of his groove, he takes a left turn on a ‘right-turn only’ sign putting you in the middle of a field of broken chords and half-notes.  I like to be surprised like that when I’m listening to a track.

I’m also a fan of his tone and inflection. When I first started up one of Malone’s tracks, Secret, his voice instantly reminded me of Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes. Malone sings from his guts just like Gano. Like deep down. You can tell he believes in everyword he’s throwing at you by the way his tones flounder between a little sharp and a little flat due to the immense passion he’s feeling at the moment. It always works, adding to the depth of the message he’s putting out.

Here’s a short video/documentary about Malone…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afmZ2jiKLug&feature=player_embedded

Check out Danny Malone live, Friday February 12 at Silver Moon Brewing. 9pm.