NorthWest Crossing 2010 Farmers Market Ends this Saturday

Second year of popular Saturday Farmers Market wraps up its second year in Bend, Oregon

The NorthWest Crossing Farmers Market began during the summer of 2009, providing a weekend farmers market option to the local community. Founded by West Bend Property Company, the developer of the NorthWest Crossing neighborhood, the NWX Farmers Market features local, organic fresh foods, locally made arts and crafts, specialty foods, and live music each Saturday.

In 2010, the market opened on June 26, after the popular NWX Hullabaloo street fair, and will run through this Saturday, September 25^th. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The focus in 2010 was to bring local produce, meat, flowers and specialty items that are of the highest quality, to the greater community. The market’s definition of local encompasses the state of Oregon. There have been approximately 25 vendors each week.

Throughout the summer, free booth space was offered to select area non-profits for single or multiple Saturdays during the summer. At their booth space, the organizations took donations and disseminated information about their programs and services to attendees. In 2010, Grandma’s House, the Family Access Network and Bethlehem Inn all participated in the non-profit booth opportunity. NWX also donated a portion of its tote bag sales proceeds to participating non-profits.

Come say good-bye to the 2010 NWX Farmers Market this weekend and stock up for fall!

NorthWest Crossing Resident Plans to Start Up New Brewery

According to a recent article published in The Bulletin, Bend will soon be welcoming it's 11th brewery - Below Grade Brewing.

The article follows:

11 breweries and counting: Below Grade plans to start small in Bend
By David Holley / The Bulletin

Published: September 16. 2010 4:00AM PST
Yet another brewer has taken his first steps toward opening Central Oregon’s 11th commercial brewery.

Dean Wise has applied for a brewery-public house permit from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, as well as required federal permits, under the name Below Grade Brewing. Wise’s plan is to keep Below Grade small as he tests the market “to see if people will buy it on a regular basis — to see if it’s worthy.”

Wise has been a home brewer for 18 years.

Below Grade would be Bend’s ninth brewery. The region’s other two breweries are in Redmond and Sisters.

Initially, Wise plans to brew in his NorthWest Crossing home. For the first six to 12 months, he plans to brew three or four batches of beer at a time, bottling the product for retail sale and possibly selling kegs to bars.

He hopes to have his first batch ready for sale about a month after he receives state and federal approval, which is as soon as is legally allowed, he said. Federal approval can take 95 days or longer, Wise said. He has been waiting for five weeks, but has a meeting with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau today.

For Wise, who is a project manager for the J.L. Ward Co., brewing is about quality. He thinks his first retail beers could be two different India Pale Ales and an Old Ale — a dark, full-bodied beer like Deschutes Brewery’s Jubelale.

“I will focus on the craft of brewing beer in small batches, using only the highest-quality ingredients available,” he wrote onhis company website, which is intermittently accessible during construction. “The best ingredients make the best beer.”

The naming of his brewery, Below Grade, was three-pronged. It’s an inside joke among Wise and friends. It refers to his basement, where he brews beer. And it’s meant to be a bit self-deprecating.

“I think, hopefully, it might be an ironic name,” Wise said.

Friday Fun at NorthWest Crossing

NorthWest Crossing is a great place to visit any day of the week, but this Friday (9/3) is extra special. Not only are we hosting the last Munch N Movies showing of the season in Compass Park (with the classic Wizard of Oz), but we are also participating in the wonderful First Friday Art Walk. Two more reasons to visit NorthWest Crossing!

BICA Gallery will have two talented Oregon artists on display:

Scott Conary is an accomplished artist who lives and creates in Portland, Oregon. His paintings explore the realms of landscapes, figurative and still life. For Scott, the

paint is the sub

ject as much as any image that might emerge. Playing within this tension between image and surface, he looks to build a presence, a solidity which shows in his distinct style.

Lisa Copenhagen Wachs is a self-employed graphic designer and fine artist. She has worked

and lived in Portland, Oregon, San Francisco and Taos, New Mexico before settling in Bend, Oregon in 1992. Lisa paints primarily in oils

and works in mixed media collage/assemblage. The surrounding abundance of wildlife and nature around her studio, continue to be an inspiration for her artwork.

Come visit NorthWest Crossing. You never know what surprises await you.