Jake forwarded this to me:

If you are receiving this, then I know you to have a love of classical music. We are very happy to be presenting a children’s concert on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 2 pm. For all of us at COS this concert is in loving memory of our cellist Virginia Riggs. Virginia Riggs passed away in December. She had been with us for 39 years. Virginia led a life that we all admired. And we miss her. She believed strongly in supporting musical education for children and taught many Central Oregon students how to play the cello.

Click here to view the flier graphic that was attached. Additional details: it's free, and should last about one hour, at the Bend High School auditorium.

Silver Moon Brewing is hosting a free show tomorrow, the 21st (Thursday):

David Clemmer, frontman of local indie rock band The Dirty Words, will be playing a free show at the Moon this Thursday, January 21st. He's an incredibly talented songwriter, and is beginning to play with his own band to showcase his solo talents. Show starts at 8 p.m., no cover.

Incidentally, I see that Silver Moon's new website has (finally!) been launched. Looking good, but the live music calendar needs to be updated and I'd love to see an up-to-date list of what's on tap.

The Bulletin's Ben Salmon has brought back Near/Far for the third year now: the compilation of free music representing the best music of 2009.

36 free, legal, downloadable MP3s covering the best music of 2009.

There are 18 from local bands like Moon Mountain Ramblers, Person People, Eric Tollefson, Erin Cole-Baker and more, and 18 from national acts like The Avett Brothers, Brendan Benson, Animal Collective, Felt, and Japandroids.

It all comes with nifty artwork in two .zip files.

I've said it before: this is one of the most progressive, open things the Bulletin does during the year. Of course, it's Salmon's hard work that makes this happen, but kudos to the Bulletin for being willing to support the endeavor.

Jake has the details on the latest free concert coming up from the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band:

• Sunday, December 6th, at 2pm
• Location: Summit High School auditorium
• Free!

It's the kickoff concert of their 2009-10 season, and while free, they happily accept donations. You can call 593-1635 for more information.

Looks like they're opening with a good show, and you'll get a chance to see one of Bend's most popular bloggers (Jake) bang on some drums.

Monday, October 5th (tomorrow... or "today" if you reading this Monday morning) is "ODS Free Seniors Day at the High Desert Museum": People aged 60 and older will have free admission all day. (Actually, the website says 65, but the email I received says 60—call first.)

In addition to the free admission, they are offering "special wildlife encounters, Living History performances and animal keeper talks", which sounds like business as usual—though I suspect these will be stepped up for the day.

And it's not entirely related, an additional note was attached to the email as well:

Also, the High Desert Museum will honor Working Wonders Children's Museum Golden Tickets through their expiration date and punchcards through March 2010 for free admission to the High Desert Museum.

Since I've taken the time to create a Free Summertime Activity Guide the past couple of years, a friend on Twitter suggested/asked if I was going to do any for fall and winter as well. I am now! So here is a guide to the free (or nearly free) activities to be found during autumn in Bend.

Keep checking back, as I'll be updating this over the next few days/weeks, as well.

Click through for the Free Fall Activity Guide!

In the next day or so I will have a Free Activity Guide online for the Fall, to replace the Summertime one I ran the last few months. It was brought about by a suggestion and it seemed like one of those no-brainer things to do that of course I didn't think of it myself first. (I'll be doing a Winter one too, and probably Spring.)

It's going to be somewhat of a "first pass" guide, and I'll be editing and adding to it as I come up with more free (or cheap) things to do in the Fall—as always, suggestions are welcome.

Tomorrow (Friday, August 14th) at 7pm, Backporch Coffee is hosting a free event:

We have a free event tomorrow (Friday, Aug 14th) at 7pm at Backporch Coffee. We're showing short films by local filmmakers and will have live music by the city bus driver, Dennis Alan.

No further details, but it sounds pretty cool—and free Friday night events are always nice.

The annual Deschutes County Fair is coming up at the end of this month (from July 29 through August 1), and while we can expect the usual—carnival rides, fair food, craft exhibits, livestock exhibits, etc.—the County is also emphasizing the free:

...includes three FREE concerts;  free, award-winning rodeo Wednesday through Saturday....

*Friday's Fair is even more FREE and fabulous this year: Free Lady Antebellum concert, free admission for everyone before 3:00 p.m., free rodeo admission, free Bulletin Kids Fun Zone and free transportation to and from the Fair!*

*FREE Concerts at the Hooker Creek Event Center Include:

• Jake Owen: 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. Listen to The Mountain 99.7 for free tickets.
• Peter Frampton: 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30. Listen to The Twins 98.3 for free tickets.
• Lady Antebellum: 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31. Listen to The Mountain 99.7 for free tickets.

*Fair admission is not included when you receive a free ticket to attend these concerts.

The big one I highlighted is the free Friday admission: anytime before 3pm, you'll get in to the Fair for free. That's a pretty good deal, since regular prices are $9 for adults and $6 for kids ages 6-12 (5 and under are free). Saves you money for the carny rides.

On top of all that, there are free shuttles going to and from the Fair from Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and LaPine. Locations and times for those shuttles can be found on this flier here (PDF).

Move over, Bend: Redmond has a summer's worth of free concerts to offer, too. Starting this week and lasting through September 9th, Music on the Green and Music in the Canyon are offering free music every Wednesday (along with food vendors, arts, and crafts).

Music on the Green:

Hosted at Sam Johnson Park, Music on the Green is a FREE, family friendly event featuring gourmet food vendors, arts, crafts, convenient parking and more. This year's series will begin Wednesday, June 24, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. and run every other Wednesday till September 2nd, 2009.

Music in the Canyon:

Located at 850 SW Rimrock Way at the new American Legion Park in Redmond.

This concert series is presented as a complement to "Music on the Green" at Sam Johnson Park.

It takes place every other Wednesday on the non-Music on the Green days—filling in the gaps, as it were.

Definitely worth checking out if you're in Redmond.

And, I've updated the Free Summertime Activity Guide with these two items (in a special "Redmond" section no less).

Summertime in Central Oregon offers a ton of things to do, but unfortunately much of it doesn't come cheap. So for the budget-conscious, I've compiled over the past couple of years a list of free (or nearly free) activities to be found.

Click through for the Free Summertime Activity Guide!

Jake  is talking up the free Cascade Winds Symphonic Band concert again: Sunday, May 31st, it's the last concert of the season:

The Cascade Winds Symphonic Band will present the third and final concert of their 2008-2009 season May 31, 2:00 p.m. at Summit High School auditorium. This concert is free of charge, although donations are gratefully accepted.

This third concert of the Winds season includes a variety of band standards, solo features, orchestra transcriptions and marches that demonstrate the excitement and richness of great wind band literature.

You can't beat that price.

Bend Yoga is offering a "Recess from Stress" free community day tomorrow (Saturday). Looks like the whole day is free:

8am to 9am vinyasa flow level one (free class)
9:30am to 11am power vinyasa (free class)
11:30am to noon Self care presentation with Dr. Wendy Weintrob, ND, LAc
Noon to 4:00pm free chair massage!! Several chairs and therapists on-site!
4:30pm to 6pm gentle flow (free class)

please arrive 15 minutes early to the free classes to set up your mat! Thanks!

Bend Yoga is located at 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 113.

Big day at the High Desert Museum this Saturday:

Free shuttle service is available for the Mid Oregon Credit Union Free Family Saturday at the High Desert Museum on Feb. 21. Continuous shuttles will run between the Morning Star Christian School, 19741 Baker Road, Bend, and the Museum from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 4,000 visitors are expected. The Museum has limited parking. The shuttle and carpooling are strongly recommended, and guests should remember that no parking is permitted along highway 97. Museum hours for Saturday are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On this day only, the Museum is offering annual memberships at 10 percent off.

The shuttle is being donated by Wanderlust Tours.

This came in via email the other day—almost a press release, but not quite. Plus, it's all free.

In ONEYEAR, the athletes find themselves on an incredible journey through deep backcountry powder and vertical free riding. Next, Walking On Water's Bryan Jennings joins two kids as they embark on an experience of a lifetime and an opportunity that most young surfers only dream about. These are stories of faith from today's best athletes.

In-person guests and professional athletes Bryan Jennings, Dave Downing, Andy Finch and more. There will be autograph sessions and awesome give-aways.

Free admission. Seating is first come, first serve, doors open at 5:30pm.

Visit www.futureprojectbend.com to watch movie trailers and for more details.

When: Sunday, Feb 15, 2009
Time: 6pm-5pm
Cost: Free
Venue: The Tower Theater in downtown Bend (835 NW Wall Street)

I picked this up from Jake's blog and ran with it: Sunday, December 7th, the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band will be having a free concert at Summit High School. Yes, free.

This first concert of the Winds season includes a variety of band standards, show tunes, orchestra transcriptions and marches that demonstrate the excitement and richness of great wind band literature. The program begins with Franz von Suppe's famous "Light Cavalry Overture". You will feel and hear the beat of the horse's hooves in this classic overture from the 19th century. "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" will change the pace, as the band explores the rich beauty of Wagner's piece from "Lohengrin". Otto Schwarz's "Roller Coaster" will actually take you on an unforgettable wild ride (however, you should remain seated throughout). Norman Dello Joio's beautiful "Scenes from the Louvre" earned him an Emmy Award, and will conclude the first half of the concert.

Jake notes that these concerts are suitable for all ages, so kids are welcome.

The concert starts at 2pm.

The Deschutes County Fair is in full swing right now (July 30th through August 3rd), and today (Friday) is free admission day until 3 pm if you have the coupon from the Bulletin. (The coupon is good for one admission.)

The coupon first appeared in the Fair Guidebook from the Bulletin, which was released July 23rd—but never fear, there's another coupon in today's paper, on the back page of the Sports section.

So get moving! There's only about 4 hours left to get in free.

Last year about this time I wrote up the Top 8 Free (or nearly!) Summertime Activities. Since summer is finally upon us—both on the calendar and by the weather—I thought I'd revisit that list and add some more.

And "saving money" seems to be a bigger theme this year. So keeping in mind that none of these are truly free—the outrageous price of gas argues against that, after all—they're still a pretty good deal all around.

Last year's list was:

1. Climb Pilot Butte
2. Float the river
3. Munch and Music
4. Munch and Movies
5. Bicycling/mountain biking
6. Go caving
7. Take the Heritage Walk
8. Free Summer Sundays Concerts

This year's list pulls some things from last year's comments, and adds a few more. A bunch of these are kid and family oriented.

1. Regal Cinemas Free Family Film Festival: From mid-June through mid-August, Regal Cinemas at the Old Mill 16 theater shows free family movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am. These are always rated G and PG movies and you can see this year's schedule at the link.
2. Lava Lands. South of Bend on Highway 97 rises the unmistakable extinct cinder cone volcano of Lava Butte, which marks the Lava Lands Visitor Center. From the site:

   The Lava Lands Visitor Center is the interpretive hub for Newberry National Volcanic Monument and is located just off U.S. Hwy. 97, 13 miles south of Bend. Lava Lands offers nature walks, interpretive programs, visitor information, displays on geology, volcanology and the cultural history of Central Oregon. A small book shop offers books on the Central Oregon area.

   Cost is $5 for a Forest Service Day Pass permit; trails are self-guided.
3. Lunch & Learn. The school district is offering up free lunches for children under 18 at certain locations; the only writeup I can find is this Bulletin article. (Parents can purchase a lunch for $3.) The "Learn" part comes from the fact that at certain locations, a book reading program encourages kids to read by offering Otter Pops for every 10 books read, and a free book for every 30, as long as they read during the L&L hour. It's a great way to get out of the house, provide lunch for the kids and enjoy some outdoor time.
4. MAGIC in the Parks. I of course blogged about this the other day. Great program for young kids, entirely free.
5. Head to the Library. Visiting the Deschutes Public Library is a good way to beat the heat—plus they have a ton of other things going on, like free internet access, activities and storytimes for kids, classes, art exhibits, and, you know, books. (For instance, right now you can vote on the artwork for a new roundabout.)
6. Cheap movies at McMenamins. Okay, it's not the free movies that something like Munch and Movies offer, but the theater at the Old St. Francis School shows second-run movies for only $3 per person—and believe me, that beats the sticker-shock out of control prices at the regular movie theaters any day! Plus you can drink beer and order decent pub food (tater tots!) while watching the movie, and many of the seats are nice and comfortable.
7. Pine Mountain Observatory. Almost 30 miles southeast of Bend, at an elevation of 6500 feet, is an observatory that is open to the public during the summer on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Observatory is run by the University of Oregon and is the real deal. A $3 donation is encouraged, but not required, and there is a primitive campground nearby.
   Hat tip to KTVZ for this one, though their site seems to be down at the moment.

Tuesday, April 29th, is Free Cone Day from Ben & Jerry's. From noon until 8pm, you can head down to Ben & Jerry's down in the Old Mill District and snag some ice cream.

Also on hand will be Healthy Beginnings, answering questions about their free medical screenings for kids.

This came through my email on Friday, but it's worth posting. Several times a year, Knott Landfill has a free collection event for various things; this time it's tires. These events are a good deal; otherwise you can end up with a hefty bill for recycling.

The link to this event is also here.

Residents can dispose of unwanted tires free at a collection event scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at the Knott Landfill Recycling & Transfer Facility. This annual event benefits the community by giving citizens an opportunity to dispose of used tires in a responsible manner.

Citizens are encouraged to take this opportunity to clean up their property as well as neighboring lands, which helps to serve as a deterrent to the West Nile virus.

The recycling event takes place at Knott Landfill, 61050 SE 27th St. in Bend, on Saturday, March 8, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tires both on-and-off the rim can be dropped off, however, no tires over 24.5" (wheel diameter) can be accepted. No farm equipment tires, tires from businesses, fleet tires, or heavy equipment tires will be accepted.

For more information, please contact the Solid Waste Office at 317-3163 or visit the Solid Waste website at www.co.deschutes.or.us/solidwaste.

The High Desert Museum is having its Free Family Saturday on January 26th. (It showed up in the Bulletin but I can't find it on their website.)

In addition to the free admission, they're also offering two short "behind the scenes" tours at 10:30 and 2 for $10 (normally these tours are more in-depth and cost $25).

If you've never been to the High Desert Museum, I highly recommend it. I particularly like the homestead reconstructions, but all of it is really good.

This Sunday and Monday (December 2nd and 3rd), the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band is holding its free Fall concerts.

The Cascade Winds Symphonic Band will present the first concerts of its 2007-08 season on December 2 and 3. The Sunday concert will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the Monday performance at 7:30 p.m., both at the Summit High School venue. The concerts are free of charge, although donations are gratefully accepted.

The Cascade Winds Symphonic Band is a 60-piece community concert band based in Bend that serves the entire Central Oregon region. The group is comprised of a wide range of volunteer musicians including accomplished high school students, area music teachers, adult amateur musicians and retired professionals. This season artistic director Michael Gesme and the Cascade Winds have arranged for three exciting guest conductors to lead the group in its concert series.

This comes via Jake, who's been a member of the Band forever. I have yet to make it to one of these concerts (sorry Jake!) but at free, you can't beat the price.

The Old Mill District is hosting a Harvest Opening, tomorrow, November 8th. Sounds like a good deal—free food and drink, among other things.

Please Join Us for A Harvest Opening November 8th from 4-7pm. Complimentary wine, beer and appetizers served at five pavilions located in The Old Mill District. Celebrated local artists will be displaying their work and be on hand to answer any questions. Directly following A Harvest Opening, the Lubbesmeyer Fiber Art Studio will be holding a gallery reception from 7-9pm at their 2nd story loft location above Bella Cucina.

I'll try to swing by and check it out, if I can. I'm not sure if this is like the First Friday Art Walk, or something different; figure you can't go wrong with complimentary food and alcohol though.

Disclaimer: I do occasional website work for the Old Mill.

With Halloween tomorrow, I thought I'd pass on that the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is giving away free glowsticks for kids' safety on Halloween night. The four offices you can get glowsticks are:

• The main office in Bend, 63333 West Highway 20
• The Sisters substation, 703 North Larch
• The La Pine substation, 51340 Highway 97
• The Terrebonne substation, 8154 11th Street, Suite 3

They also are offering up a number of tips for parents, motorists, and general safety:

Read more—tips and safety

Interesting story in the Bulletin today about the "Fragile Legacy" photo exhibit up at COCC; 61 high-quality photos of Bend history are on display at the Pinckney Center at COCC's Pence Hall.

“Fragile Legacy: Rare Views of Early Central Oregon” contains 61 photos from the Van Vleet collection of historic photos donated in 2006 to the Deschutes County Historical Society. The black-and-white images were printed from large-format, glass-plate negatives that had been stored in an attic in Stayton for close to 70 years, said Kelly Cannon-Miller, executive director of the society’s Des Chutes Historical Center. They depict everyday life in Bend and Central Oregon as well as celebrated events, such as the 1911 visit to Bend of railroad magnate James J. Hill.

In one image in the collection, two young boys stand on a street corner in front of a dry goods store in the early 1900s. Look closely, and see that one boy is barefoot. Look more closely, and see the shopkeeper through the window of the store. Look again, and see the display of hats for sale in another store window. Jolokai recommends bringing a magnifying glass to the exhibit to take advantage of the rich details the photos offer; facial expressions, tool marks in hand-hewn stone buildings, textures of fabrics; all are visible in the images.

What makes this more amazing is that these images were extracted from large glass plates that had been rattling around an attic for 70 years. Makes you wonder what other historical treasures like this people have in storage!

COCC also has a page on the exhibit here.

The exhibit opens Thursday, from 4 to 6pm, and thereafter runs through November 30 at the regular gallery hours of 9 to 4 Monday through Friday. Best of all—it's free.

Looking for something to do this weekend? On Saturday (September 15th) at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, check out the Best In Show Dog Walk. This event benefits the Humane Society and is free to spectators; if you want to walk your dog, the cost is only $12 (per dog) to enter. Anyone can enter, it's intended to be a fun and somewhat tongue-in-cheek event (the name is lifted from the movie spoof "Best in Show," about hyper-competitive dog shows).

It's hosted by David Frei, the commentator of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and starts at 10am.

Whether your dog is mixed breed or a purebred, all canines are invited to have a howling good time. Dogs and their best friend will walk along the one to two mile paths in the dog friendly Old Mill District.

David Frei will present fun and informative commentary as the dogs walk by him and will award prizes in eight different breed groups, including mixed breeds.

Event is free to spectators who can enjoy the pet related vendors showcasing their services and products.

BendNights.com is two years old, and they're celebrating with style:

It's time to celebrate BendNights.com's two year anniversary as Central Oregon's media leader in nightlife information and event production/promotion. And, we're doing it big! Clearwire Wireless Broadband presents The BendNights.com Two year Spectacular; a night of music, comedy, drink, and food, all at Oregon's favorite event venue, The Les Schwab Amphitheater. Todd Bridges from "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Everybody Hates Chris" hosts the show all night with music from Alex Duncan, Stay Tuned, and Afantomlym. Plus, there's comedy from national headliner Morgan Preston and feature comic Joe Fontenot. You won't want to miss the special surprises we have planned. This will be an event unlike any Bend has seen before. Here's the best part... As a thank you to all of our visitors, this show is completely free! And don't forget to join us at the afterparty at the Old Mill Martini Bar. It's going to be a huge night. Mark it on your calendar, we'll see you there.

(Emphasis added.) I've been increasingly impressed with what BendNights.com is doing, and this show sounds good; there's a nice lineup of food, drinks, and entertainment.

It's happening Saturday, September 8th, starting at 5pm. And it's free!

Coming up in a few weeks is the Bend Roots Music Festival; this is the free festival taking place on the west side at Parrilla Grill and The Victorian Café (at Galveston and 14th) and is organized by the Bend Roots organization.

It's taking place September 14th through 16th (Friday through Sunday).

In a workshop environment the Bend Roots Music Festival blurs the lines between festivarian and performer. This year there will be workshop/performances in the areas of hand drumming and belly dance, songwriting, jazz performance (guitar, upright bass and drumset), and bluegrass pickin'; as well as a kids music workshop, hula hoop instruction and morning yoga sessions.

The intent of the Bend Roots Music Festival is to celebrate our local performing arts community and bring awareness to the Bend Roots Revival Project. The festival is free and open to the public.

They're packing quite a bit into the schedule for the weekend, plus it looks like there are three main venues: the Parrilla Stage, the Victorian Mainstage, and the Fireside Stage at the Vic. Plus, a DJ at the Vic on Friday and Saturday nights.

Well, Munch and Music is winding down—the last day is tomorrow—and on Friday, Munch and Movies starts. This takes place in both Bend and Redmond: McKay Park in Bend, and Sam Johnson Park in Redmond, and runs every Friday from the 17th until September 7th for Bend and every Saturday from the 18th until September 8th for Redmond.

And, it's free!

They don't post the movie schedule on the website, though, so here it is:

Bend:

• August 17th: "Talladega Knights"
• August 24th: "Happy Feet"
• August 31st: "Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest"
• September 7th: "King Kong"

Redmond:

• August 18th: "Night at the Museum"
• August 25th: "Cars"
• September 1st: "Spiderman 2"
• September 8th: "Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire"

Music and vendors open up at 6:30pm and the movies start at dusk.

There are three free recycling days coming up in the next three months out at Knott Landfill:

• Appliances, Saturday, August 18th
• Tires, Saturday, September 15th
• Computers, Saturday, October 20th

These are definitely good opportunities to get rid of stuff for free, all you have to do is get it there. It's a good deal; I can't speak for appliances or tires, but I know computer recycling costs 30 cents per pound, minimum of $3. If you've got a bunch of that stuff, it adds up quick.

The full announcement/press release can be found here.

The Fray is playing at the Les Schwab Amphitheater this next Wednesday, July 25th, and just like my friend Simone, I get the chance to do a giveaway of a pair of tickets to the show—a $70 value! Mine will be a drawing as well, so go to the contact form if you're interested and fill out your name, address, and email address—make sure it's your complete address, so the tickets can be sent to you.

It's cutting things close, but since I'm late blogging this I'll let my deadline run until 11:59pm Saturday, July 21st, and I'll draw the winner on Sunday. The tickets will be overnighted direct to the address you give.

(I won't keep anybody's addresses on record, either, once this drawing is done.)

These tickets are available thanks to the site NowWhat.com—so be sure to visit nowwhat.com for exclusive behind-the scenes videos, tour photos and more.

The gates to the show on Wednesday open at 5pm, and the show itself starts at 6:30. Don't miss it! Tickets are $35 each, so this is a great opportunity.

From the Les Schwab Amphitheater about the show:

It's been a whirlwind couple of years for The Fray, the Denver-based quartet whose earnest and melodic songs have been striking a huge chord with audiences. Formed in 2002 by Isaac Slade (vocals, piano) and Joe King (guitar, vocals), The Fray owe all of their early success to their organic, grassroots beginnings. In other words, they did it the old fashioned way: they earned it. It's a story you don't hear much anymore these days: local area gigs led to enthusiastic local press and local radio support.

I mentioned earlier that BMC was going to have a drawing on August 16th to give away a bunch of cool prizes, and you can sign up at the Munch and Musics between now and then.

Click through on that graphic to get the full-size flyer for the details.

Just show up at the BMC booth, say high and sign up. You have to be 18 and over to be eligible, though.

Ah, summertime in Central Oregon: there's a ton of things to do, but not everything comes cheap. So I got to thinking about what does come cheap, and compiled a list: The Top 8 Free Activities. Or Nearly Free. Basically, I'm listing things that you can do in or around Bend with a minimum of expense and driving, and without requiring any special equipment and gear.

In no particular order:

1. Climb Pilot Butte. Do it for the exercise and the scenery! The trailhead access is on the east side of the Butte, and there are two trails to choose from: the nature trail and the paved road. From the top of Pilot Butte the view of Bend and the surrounding area is spectacular.
2. Float the river. Put in the water at just below the Bill Healy Bridge (Reed Market Road) at Farewell Bend Park and enjoy a leisurely trip through the Old Mill District and towards downtown. Be sure to avoid going under the Colorado Street bridge—there were several drownings there last year.
   
   • The Bulletin has a short article about this, including a "Plan your Float" list and a map of the floatable area that shows stops for the "Ride the River" bus.
   • This isn't entirely free—you'll need to shell out for an inner tube or other type of flotation device (if you don't already have one). However, various flotation toys can be had at the box stores for relatively cheap, and Les Schwab sells a heavier-duty inner tube for $17.50. On the plus side, you can use this over and over throughout the summer, so it's money well spent if you get out on the river a lot. You'll still have to provide the air—or cough up a quarter or two at a gas station for it.
3. Munch and Music. Every Thursday evening from mid-July through mid-August, head down to Drake Park to listen to free music. There's also arts and craft vendors to check out and plenty of food booths (but ya gotta pay for that).
4. Munch and Movies. Just like Munch and Music—only you see a free movie, it's on Friday nights, and located in McKay Park. These run from mid-August through mid-September, picking up after Munch and Music winds down.
5. Bicycling/mountain biking. C'mon, everyone has a bike, right? Bend is a really bike-friendly town: not only is it nice to ride around the town itself (downtown, "old town," and the westside in particular), but there's a multitude of choices for trails and bike routes if you have a mountain bike. The Deschutes River Trail ($5 Day Pass), Phil's Trail (free), and the Swampy Lakes Loop (free) are just a few examples. Want more local biking resources? Check out BikeMecca.com.
6. Go caving. Whether it's the caves off of China Hat Road or the Lava River Cave, there will be a bit of driving for this activity.
   
   • Lava River Cave: $5 for the Day Pass. Bring your own light (or pay an additional $3 to rent one). Perfect way to beat the summer heat—in fact, bring a jacket! It's a constant 40-45 degrees inside the cave, which runs for over a mile underground. It's located 12.5 miles south of Bend on Highway 97 (one mile past Lava Lands Visitor Center).
   • China Hat Road Caves: These are closer to Bend than the Lava River Cave, and don't require a Day Pass (ie, free). But they are harder to find and you absolutely have to bring your own light. The caves are Arnold Ice Cave, Skeleton Cave, Boyd Cave, and Wind Cave, all located off China Hat/Forest Road 18 approximately six miles southeast of town. Skeleton Cave may be inaccessible, however; in 2005 the Forest Service removed the staircase due to vandalism. Also be aware that these caves are bat habitats.
7. Take the Heritage Walk. Ever been wandering around downtown and noticed the historical marker plaques for certain buildings and houses? Well, the Deschutes County Historical Society has a booklet they've published that lays out a self-guided walking tour of these historical sites. Each of the more than 40 historic sites is detailed in the booklet along with a map of their locations—plenty to space this out over several days or weeks, and enjoy seeing a fair amount of older Bend. The Heritage Walk booklet is available from the Society for $3, or you can try to check out the Library's copy for free.
8. Free Summer Sundays Concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. Every Sunday from June through August, the Les Schwab Amphitheater hosts free concerts. Shows start at 2:30, gates open at 1:00. Their website sums it up nicely:
   

   Bring your sweetheart, kids, puppies (on leashes), friends or just yourself and enjoy a sunny afternoon of world-class music. Bring your own picnic or stop by one of our great food vendors, or the Sidelines Sports Bar family-friendly beer garden for a cold cerveza. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to enter.

Is this an ultimate list? Not hardly! I was originally shooting for 10 things, but ran into blogger's block coming up with two more and wanted have this posted before summer was over. Other cool things I missed, or comments on what I've picked? Discuss below.

Shannon says, "Join Blink Optical Boutique for the annual Spec Fest on June 9 from 9 am – 2 pm at BMC's Westside Primary Care Clinic."

25 to 50% off eyewear, sunglasses & accessories.

Brands include Versace, Anne Klein, Kate Spade, Nine West, Saks Fifth Ave, Gucci, Chesterfield, Coach, Nautica, Fendi, Swarovski and Adidas. Discontinued frames will be $65 as well.

• Free hot dogs, veggie burgers donated by Rudy Project
• Free beverages donated by Ray Ban and Versace
• Condiments provided by Prodesign, Coach and Fendi
• Giveaways from Harry and David, Eddie Bauer and Columbia Sportwear

For more information, stop by Blink Optical Boutique (located at the Main Clinic and Westside).

BMC's Westside Clinic is located at 1080 SW Mt. Bachelor Drive, off of Century.

This was forwarded on to me by Jen:

Thursday June 7^th, Michigan singer songwriter Joe Reilly appears at Strictly Organic Coffee, 6 SW Bond St., Bend, OR, 5-7pm, Free www.strictlyorganic.com

Planting Gardens is the latest album by Kalamazoo native singer songwriter and activist Joe Reilly. The result of a three-year process of songwriting, musical collaborations, and spiritual activism, this album offers listeners a hopeful vision of peace, non-violence, and love within the context of community building. In times when positive messages are difficult to find in the media, Reilly waters seeds of compassion and understanding with poetic lyrics, beautiful melodies, and soulful rhythms. Planting Gardens gives us a tour of Joe's experiences and reflections of life in Detroit and Chicago and of the earth and waters in between.

Backed by his Chicago-based band The Faith Project, Reilly recorded the album at the Leaven Center, a retreat and study center nurturing the relationship between spirituality and social justice in Lyons, Michigan. The spiritual activism supported by the Leaven Center as well as the beauty and serenity of its land provided the perfect conditions for the germination of this creative project. A ten-minute enhanced video portion of the album documents this creative process and includes interviews and scenes of the Leaven Center recording sessions.

The Faith Project consists of jazz drummer Jon Faro, soul gospel bassist Alejandro Cornejo, Haitian Master Percussionist Camelo Romelus and special guest vocalist, Chicago's Native soul diva Michaela Marchi. Their multicultural musical chemistry transcends barriers of race, class, and religion to create a solid foundation of world rhythm behind Joe's powerful voice.

Complementing the music are three excerpts from a talk by Vietnamese Zen Master, author, and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, given during a retreat for entertainers at the Deer Park Monastery in California.

Funky.

Coming up this Sunday and Monday, November 5th and 6th, is the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band free Fall Concerts. They're being held at the Tower Theatre, at 2pm on Sunday and at 7:30pm on Monday. And did I mention they are free? The details are here.

All concerts will be at the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon. As the Cascade Winds and the Tower Theatre support a FOODRAISER for NeighborImpact (formerly COCAAN) you are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item.

FREE Tickets available from any Cascade Winds member, the Tower Theatre Box Office, or call Yoleen: 389-2035

Printable Flyers: We've made a couple easy-to-print flyers for you if you'd like to hang them on your fridge or place of business (both files require the Acrobat Reader):

• Simple Black and White PDF Flyer (small and quick download)
  
• Fancy, Full-color, Larger Download Flyer (3 MB Download)

Jake is a member of the band, too, and always has a good time playing, and makes it sound like a blast. Get your tickets quick, because they filled up fast last time.

Via Utterly Boring (Jake).

Saturday, September 30th, you can get in to the High Desert Museum for free—if you bring a Museum Day card from Smithsonian Magazine. Fortunately all you have to do is visit the Smithsonian Magazine site and print out the card at no cost.

Cards are good for two people.

In addition, according to KTVZ,

to nationally acclaimed wildlife and living history programs and exhibitions, visitors to the High Desert Museum on Saturday can enjoy Totally Touchable Tales Day — fun fish tales inside the U.S. Forest Service inflatable salmon, wildlife tales from renowned storyteller and author Susan Strauss at 11 am and 1 pm, and more fun activities.

For more information, call the High Desert Museum at (541) 382-4754.

I saw a flyer for this at Pizza Mondo today (Pizza Mondo, of course, rates its own blog entry, sometime in the near future): the Bend Roots Music Festival 2006. It's a "music festival in Bend for the musicians in Bend."

Bend Roots promotes musical community in the high desert creating opportunities for performance, workshops and extemporaneous jamming.

This year's event will be held Saturday, September 23rd on Bend's west side at 14th and Galveston by the flaming phoenix roundabout.

There will be two outdoor stages: one at Parrilla Grill and one at the Victorian Café.

Admission is free.

This sounds pretty cool. The music starts at 10am, and they say it'll go to 9:45pm and "absolutely no later!!" Check out the list of local musicians on their page; seems like a pretty eclectic spread.

I keep hearing about Redmond's Music on the Green on the radio and forgetting to blog about it. It's Redmond's free summer concert series, held every other Wednesday in Sam Johnson Park. Free! There are four concerts left this season, starting on Wednesday.

• July 26 (this Wednesday): The Alliance
• August 9: Molly's Revenge
• August 23: Blackstrap
• September 6: Hokulea Dancers

The concerts run from 6 until 7:30 in the evening, and there are food vendors on-site. Has anyone been to one of these yet? Are they good?

Today is the first day of the annual Munch N Music concert series down in Drake Park. It's free! Well, almost—you have to pay for your food and drink. But the music is free. Here's the "three second explanation" I wrote on my other blog last year:

Thursday evenings during the summer in Bend, free concerts in Drake Park are accompanied by food and craft vendors, and a beer garden. Parking is hell.

It runs every Thursday over the next six weeks, until August 10th. Here's the music schedule:

• July 6: Roomful of Blues
• July 13: Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons
• July 20: Katt
• July 27: Jackstraw
• August 3: Liquid Soul
• August 10: Highstreet

Interestingly, the folks over at BendNights.com also have an "unofficial" Munch N Music site... but that site comes up when you do a search online and the official one doesn't.

Also take note that dogs are not allowed! It could cost you $500 otherwise.

Well, sort of. According to this MSNBC article, you get a free $50 gas card from Mt. Bachelor Village Resort if you stay two or more nights with them. Sad to say, the way gas prices are going up it almost sounds worth it even if you're a local...