What is it about November that gives me the urge to call in sick and spend the whole day cozied up by the fire with a glass of wine and a good book?
I suppose I shouldn’t post that on a blog my boss is likely to read.
Nevertheless, if the same fantasy is dancing through your head—along with visions of a Bend vacation—here are four Bend-centric books you should add to that growing to-be-read pile beside your fireplace.
Title:
Bend Beer: A History of Brewing in Central Oregon
Author:
Jon Abernathy
Where you can find it:
In the Bend Visitor Center at the corner of Lava & Oregon in Downtown Bend, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s Books, or at the official launch party at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2014 at the Deschutes Historical Museum.
What’s it about?
With more breweries per capita than any other Oregon city, Bend is a beer mecca. Prior to Prohibition, the state had a burgeoning brewing industry and plenty of saloons to cater to the needs of the hardy frontiersmen who settled Central Oregon. The teetotaling ‘20s brought all that to a screeching halt.
Author Jon Abernathy.
Fifty years later, the pioneers like Deschutes Brewery and Bend Brewing Company breathed new life into Bend’s beer and brought about the booming industry for which the area is known today. Author and “The Brew Site” creator Jon Abernathy traces Bend and Central Oregon’s hoppy history from early settlement to the present day, sharing the stories behind its most famous breweries and the communities that have fostered the industry.
What the author suggests you sip while reading it:
The beer that put Bend on the map—Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery!
Title:
100 Hikes Travel Guide: Central Oregon Cascades
Author:
William L. Sullivan
Where you can find it:
In the Bend Visitor Center at the corner of Lava & Oregon in Downtown Bend, Powell’s Books, Amazon, or download now for iPad, iPhone, or Kindle.
What’s it about?
The updated Fourth Edition of this classic guide includes a dozen new hikes and 32 pages of color photos, with travel tips for visiting the Bend area, Eugene, and Salem, as well as a guide to hot springs, campgrounds, cabin rentals, and wildflowers. Visit Bend’s Group Sales & Special Projects Manager, Hank Therien, is a huge fan of this book and says it’s easy to use, super-detailed, and full of great maps and directions.
Title:
Bend, Overall: 99 Hikes and Explorations in Central Oregon
Author:
Scott Cook
Where you can find it:
In the Bend Visitor Center at the corner of Lava & Oregon in Downtown Bend, Amazon, and Powell’s Books.
What’s it about?
Bend, Overall is all about hiking and exploring the Central Oregon region surrounding Bend. This book details all the popular hikes, but it also goes way beyond what the mainstream “hiking” guides concentrate on. Bend Overall describes hidden waterfalls, obscure lakes and swimming holes, and a bunch of rarely-seen local caves. Basically, you get the insight from a local who has been exploring the area for 20 years and is willing to share his hard-won secrets.
Title:
Tales, Tall Tales, and Outright Lies About Bend’s Iconic Pilot Butte
Author:
Linda Orcelletto
Where you can find it:
Bend Visitor Center at the corner of Lava & Oregon in Downtown Bend, Deschutes Historical Museum at 129 NW Idaho Avenue in Bend, and Dudley’s Bookshop Café in Downtown Bend.
What’s it about?
The Butte book offers short stories (true and otherwise) about Bend’s favorite outdoor fitness center. Be entertained while learning some facts and figures about the landmark in the middle of Bend. Tales is a unique collaboration with local author, Linda Kraemer Orcelletto and Pilot Butte Summit Seekers (PBSS). PBSS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the health and fitness aspects of Pilot Butte State Park.
Author Linda Orcelletto (photo courtesy of Kari Mauser)
A portion of the proceeds will be used to raise needed funds for Pilot Butte State Park and to bring awareness of preservation of the Butte.
In the sequel, scheduled for May of 2015, we are encouraging people to share their own stories, which will then either be enhanced either as a stand-alone story or combined with other similar tales.
What the author suggests you sip while reading it:
Linda suggests one of Bend’s many fine brews, particularly an IPA. Apocalypse from 10 Barrel is her favorite, and Elk Lake IPA at Bend Brewing Company is always a winner, too.