What: Growlers of beer from one of our local microbreweries, of course! (Oh come on, you knew I’d get to this one eventually, right?) And actually, they don’t have to be limited to growlers: Deschutes Brewery, for instance, will fill any (reasonable) container for you. But don’t just get any … Continue reading
What: "The construction toy of the future." That’s as good a description as any for Qubits; this creative and educational toy looks to me like a cross between Legos and an Erector set. Each set contains 150 pieces and according to the creator, "will help children develop spatial skills and … Continue reading
What: Locally produced "farmstead" goats milk cheeses from Tumalo Farms. They have seven different cheese varieties which you can order singly, and gift packages available too. These are definitely gourmet cheeses; check out the Pondhopper, a cheese made with a "local microbrew" (I’m guessing Mirror Pond Pale Ale) with "a … Continue reading
What: Men’s and women’s T-shirts from Bend Blogger monkeyinabox, where he’s poking some fun at Bend’s expense like the Buzztouch shirts. "In my SUV"? Indeed! I particularly like the Flaming Chicken design, seen here. For: Anyone with a sense of humor, and who owns an SUV. Price: $16.99 – 18.99 … Continue reading
What: The Bend 2008 Calendar from the Bend Calendar Company, featuring gorgeous imagery from local photographers. Because everybody needs a calendar, right? For: Anyone who needs to keep track of the date. Price: $15 – $ Where: Lots of places; check out the list of retailers to find out where … Continue reading
What: Gourmet, hand-crafted biscotti from Di Lusso. I can personally attest to how good these are! They come in 15 flavors, 13 of which are dipped and decorated in chocolate. Decadent, and good either on their own or dipped in your coffee (drank from a mug from Mug Revolutions, of … Continue reading
What: Men’s and women’s T-shirts from Buzztouch Designs; there are several designs all having a bit of fun at Bend’s expense. In a good way, of course. The "Poverty with a View" is a popular design. For: Anyone with a sense of humor, and who doesn’t mind poking fun at … Continue reading
What: Handmade, wheel-thrown, kiln-fired pottery coffee mugs from Mug Revolution. They’re extremely durable, resistant to chipping, microwave and dishwasher safe, and you can even get them customized. A popular custom touch? Your pet’s paw print. Really. For: All those coffee and tea drinkers (and pet lovers) out there. Price: From … Continue reading
Check this out: the Blacksmith Restaurant is all set to re-open (remember, they had closed down for remodeling), and they have an extensive beer list, thanks to local blogger brewerman. I’ve seen the tap list (Spence at brewerman gave me a peek—it’s not online yet) and I can confirm it’s … Continue reading
What: Bend, Overall, by Scott Cook. One of the best local guidebooks to the area, written by a local, with emphasis on the outdoors. I reviewed it here: "The book is divided into 53 featured outings/destinations, several driving tours, and maps. Each of the outings features exact directions for both … Continue reading