Month: August 2018

Bend, Oregon Nightlife: The Essential Spots

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After spending eight long, exhausting hours inside a metal tube flying thirty thousand feet in the air, you reached Bend, Oregon. Other than knowing the city has a fantastic outdoor scene – a hiker’s paradise, you know nothing about the city’s nightlife.

Luckily for you, this blog post will shed some light on what the city has to offer during the night. This way you can show the people, especially the ladies, your impressive dance moves, and have something to talk about with your friends once you returns home. To pull this off, let’s begin with SEVEN.

SEVEN

When it comes to visiting places for laughs, drinks, and entertainment, look no further than this place. It has everything one is looking for in a nightclub. It has comedy performances, karaoke bars, local DJs, and of course, drinks – just don’t have so many drinks that it’s impossible to return to your hotel.

For the comedy events, the two to look out for are Comedy Open Mic Night and Stand-Up. On Thursday nights at 7pm, patrons can attend the Open Mic Night event and get a full night of laughs. Or, they can enjoy the live Stand-Up comedy performance that happens every Friday at 8pm. But if one can go to both, then do it. To know who’s performing on those nights and the price of tickets, go to the nightclub’s Facebook subpage, Bend Comedy.

In addition to comedy events, SEVEN has karaoke bars customers can use to terribly sing their favorite Demi Lovato or Justin Timberlake song to their heart’s content. The two popular ones are Hump Day Karaoke and Cocktails & Karaoke. The first one begins on Wednesdays at 8pm, and the other one starts on Thursdays at 6pm.

However, the best time to go the nightclub is on the weekends, primarily Fridays and Saturdays. Guests get to hear jokes, watch the UFC on paper-per-view, and dance to incredible music remixed by local DJs.

While this nightclub hosts some cool events, it isn’t for everyone. Luckily, there are places in the city that offer a more relaxed environment at night. One of these places that come to mind is Astro Lounge.

Astro Lounge

As mentioned previously, this place offers a more chill atmosphere for people who aren’t into nightclubs. One of the cool aspects of it is its diverse food options. For example, patrons can order a dish called Garlic Hummus that comes with wonton strips. Or, they can order something simple, like Mac ‘n Cheese. Either way, Astro Lounge serves everyone’s tastes buds.

When things couldn’t get any better, Astro Lounge has a Happy Hour event from 4pm to 7pm. During this time, guests get served crazy drinks, like Astro-Smash and Stockholm Royale, and food for a cheaper rate. In addition to Happy Hour and excellent cuisine, the place hosts various events throughout the year, such as Trivia Tuesday. Now, for those looking for something more unique, the Velvet Lounge is the place to visit.

Velvet Lounge

What makes this place so special is its rustic-chic interior and art decorated walls, which gives it an art gallery feeling on steps inside. In addition to cool interior design, the bar has an interesting menu. For instance, the drinks have ingredients that come from a tree located in the South American rainforest.

Moreover, the menu has crazy spelled food and drink options. For example, when reading through the menu options, the names for the food and drinks have crazy spelling, like Yamajito, Moscow mule, and Zucchini Fries. Which, gives outsider of the Bend, Oregon area the feeling that the bar’s targeted patrons are hipsters.

While it doesn’t have cool events like the previously described places did, Velvet Lounge does have a unique atmosphere to it that will appeal to some customers.

In Conclusion

Hopefully, the three locations described in this article gives anyone looking to visit Bend, Oregon a reason to do so, and give you more insight into the city’s nightlife. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. If you found it enjoyable, leave a comment below and keep exploring.

Must Try Restaurants in Bend, OR

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Oregon is one of the fast growing states in the country. The beautiful woods, easy access to the coast and highly educated population make it an alluring place. One of the most popular cities in the area is Bend, Oregon. Many people have chosen to make this their home. If you live here and want to try new things or you are visiting this region and wish to enjoy a great meal, there are several restaurants that should be at the top of your list. These places take full advantage of the region’s many fine products and offer the opportunity to get to know locals at the same time.

Drake

This neighborhood joint is a favorite for locals on their lunch break. Join them as they enjoy food that is both creative and comforting at the same time. Familiar items like burgers are right here along with salads, mussels and fries, a vast selection of sides and lots of cocktails to relax with as the day winds down. This makes the perfect stop if you want something that’s not fussy.

McKay Cottage

Start the day off on the right note with a fabulous breakfast. At McKay Cottage, breakfast is the focus. The emphasis here is on comfort foods. Try the delicate yet filling French toast. Items like cottage fries and omelets make it easy to get a hearty meal. If you have a sweet tooth, sample the homemade scones and the pecan sticky buns.

Joolz

Ethnic Lebanese food is on hand here. The chef is from Beirut. He’s take his roots and turned to the bounty of the region at the same time. The result is authentic Lebanese food made from high quality ingredients. This is the ideal place to stop if you’re looking for a fast lunch. Make a meal of the various small plates with dishes like spiced olives, Oregon lamb pitadilla and harissa spiced clams that call to mind places very far away.

Fusion & Sushi Bar

Upscale food from highly trained chefs can be found right here in Bend. Joe Kim is a three time semi-finalist for the prestigious James Beard award. He brings his spin with Asian based flavor profiles to his own place. He also uses other kinds of cuisine ingredients to bring food that is uniquely his own. The ramen noodles carbonara illustrates his command of many kinds of ingredients. Sample the hot and sour soup topped with tortilla chips and try the barbecued pork made Chinese style with plenty of subtle heat that works well with one of the restaurant’s sweet desserts. There’s many Japanese and regional Asian wines on hand to complement his menu.

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails

Cajun and Creole cuisine take center stage at this eatery. The luscious local produce pairs very well with the spices and elegant seasoning that are a hallmark of Louisiana cookery. If you’re in the mood for lunch, this is the place to explore this vibrant restaurant. Here, the goal is food that is bursting with flavor in every single bite. Vegetarians will find a full range of options including blackened tofu and lots of pasta choices. Meat eaters can relish the spices on hand in dishes that pay homage to one of America’s most celebrated cities. Multiple signature cocktails are on the menu, making it a great place to sample with lots of friends.

Spork

This widely hailed regional restaurant is about fun in a casual setting. The menu shows off the owner’s varied travels across the globe. Influences from Bangkok to Mexico bring his dishes a very special tang that has been widely noted by many local and national publications. People can sample fried chicken that is gently paired with homemade Korean kimchi. His many celebrated dishes include favorites like catfish tacos topped with a chili spiked mayo, grilled corn with lime butter, and a much adored salad of romaine lettuce with a strawberry and cumin dressing and a hint of poblano chilis. This is a nice place to appreciate all that is wonderful about living in the area and how chefs have been able to take advantage of it.

We All Need To Keep Our House Clean. Here Are Some Tools To Make It Easier

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Cleaning the house is not everyone’s favorite jobs. While you don’t want to clutter your home up with a lot of gadgets, there are some excellent tools that can make cleaning your house a bit easier. Let’s take a look at some favorites.

Dish Brush

Getting food particles off of dishes can be a chore. A dish brush makes it a lot easier. The bristles on the brush scrape across the particles and loosen them from the surface. A dip in the dishwater cleans the bristles and you are ready for the next dish. This type of brush is excellent whether you are just scraping dishes for the dishwasher or doing the dishes by hand.

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Throw out your old cleaning rags and invest in some good microfiber cloths. The soft durable texture on these clothes makes it easy to remove grime from just about any surface without doing damage. The fine fibers easily pick up dust from wood and glass. They are fully washable and will last for many years. Add a few of these cloths to your car cleaning kit.

Cordless Vacuum

One of the hassles of housecleaning is dragging the vacuum and its cord from room to room. A cordless vacuum solves half this problem. Without the long cord getting in the way, you can get busy vacuuming floors throughout your home without a lot of hassle. You can cover the entire house in half the time it takes with a corded vacuum. Now, that is making cleaning easier for everyone.

Squeegee

Most people clean mirrors and windows with paper towels and window cleaners. While that is an effective option, a squeegee makes the job go faster and more efficiently. The squeegee applies even pressure across the glass, minimizing smudges and streaks in the process. Plus you can cover a larger area with a simple swipe, making the job go faster.

Scrub Brush

When you need to apply some elbow grease to tough dirt, a scrub brush will do the job. Ideally, the brush should have a handle so you can get a firm grip on it. This tool allows you to the soap scum off the bathtub wall and the dirt off your floor. Getting a few scrub brushes in different sizes will help you get into every space you need them in.

Toothbrush

A toothbrush is a perfect size for getting into small dirty spaces. A classic example of this is the open space around the base of your faucets. Dirt loves to accumulate in this part of the bathroom and kitchen. A toothbrush can easily remove small particulates and keep the area clean. Grout and sink rims are other examples.

Microfiber Dust Mop

If you have hard surface floors, a microfiber dust mop is an essential tool in your cleaning arsenal. The fine fibers on this type of mop pick up pet hair and dust like nothing else. The swivel head makes getting in and out of tight spaces simple. The mop is light, making easy to use for anyone in the family. The head can come off and go into the washer for a quick clean.

Extendable Duster

Dust and cobwebs seem to appear overnight, many times in out-of-reach places. A duster with an extendable handle will help you conquer these challenges. The expanding length of the handle makes it easy to reach the ceiling and higher parts of the wall, as well as getting behind and under furniture.

Spray Bottles

Now, many modern cleaners already come in their own spray bottles. However, if you want to try homemade cleaners, spray bottles are essential. White vinegar and water combine to make glass cleaner. Sudsy ammonia is good for removing grease in the kitchen. Lemon juice is a great anti-bacterial agent. Hydrogen peroxide works for disinfecting surfaces and cleaning stained grout.

Supply Caddy

When moving through your home, it is handy to have all of your common cleaning supplies in one container. A supply caddy will do the job. You can load up your cleaners, brushes, and sponges into the caddy and start tackling your cleaning chores. If you have more than one story in your home, consider buying caddies and supplies for each floor.