Start untangling those strands of lights and inflating the blow-up snowmen! NorthWest Crossing invites residents to participate in a friendly competition to flaunt your holiday spirit and win cool prizes!

Everyone who participates and uploads a photo of their festive abode gets a cool treat from the new All Mixed Up frozen yogurt shop opening in NWX this winter! And the jolly home that gets the most votes from Facebook friends wins a $50 gift certificate from the NWX business of their choice! Now that’s sure to bring some joy and merriment this holiday season!

(Bonus Karma points are awarded to neighbors that use eco-friendly lights and decor!)

How to enter: In the “Leave a Reply” section below, enter your name and email address (your email will not be published). In the comments section, you’re welcome to include your home address and a little about why your home is the most festive in the neighborhood. Below the comments section, upload 1 great photo of the exterior of your home. It may take a few hours for your comment and photo to appear, but once it does, a Facebook “LIKE” button will appear below your post. Invite your Facebook friends and family to visit www.northwestcrossing.com/holidays to vote (“Like”) for your entry!

Submissions will be accepted through December 10 December 16, 2011 (deadline extended!). Voting will take place until December 16^th. The entry with the most “LIKES” will win a $50 gift certificate to the NWX business of their choice. In the event of a tie, the esteemed NWX Deck the House Jury will select a winner.

Good luck and have fun decking the halls, and walls, and eaves and windows, and trees…

Saturday, December 10th
Summit High School Commons
4:30 – 8:00pm
Special Holiday screening of The Polar Express (rated PG, starring Tom Hanks)
$15/child (admission includes movie, pizza dinner, pre-movie games and crafts, a visit from Santa, childcare by Mama Bear Oden and Summit High music students and more!)
Presented by NorthWest Crossing and Umpqua Bank

Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas!

This is a Parent’s Night Out for potty-trained children aged 3 and older. Children under the age of 3 may be accompanied by a parent or guardian at no charge. Parents may register at the door! Click here to download a registration form.

Schedule:
4:30pm – doors open
4:30 – 5:30pm – pizza dinner
5:30pm -  pre-movie crafts & games
6:00pm – movie (popcorn and hot chocolate served during movie)
7:30pm – movie concludes; visit from “The Big Guy” himself
8:00 – parent pick-up

Proceeds benefit the Summit High School Friends of Music Fund. Special thanks to Umpqua Bank, Mama Bear Oden’s Preschool, Pisano’s Pizza, Summit High School and the Friends of Music Board for making this magical event happen!

While kids are enjoying the movie and activities, parents get to enjoy special holiday merriment in the NorthWest Crossing Neighborhood Center:

• Shopping at the Holiday Marketplace (former Healthy Paws store), featuring handmade products from NWX neighbors. Beautiful jewelry, scarves, blankets, artwork and more will be available for convenient holiday gifts!

Featured artists include:
- Kim Gilchrist, upcycled tote bags & pillows, eco-friendly snack/sandwich bags
- Suzanne Iselin, beach glass jewelry & charms
- Laurie Thorson, crocheted scarves
- Diana Lawlis, quilted blankets, placemats, table runners, wall hangings
- Vicki Roadman, mixed media fiber collage
- Kathy Houlihan, knit hats, ear warmers, scarves
- Charlene Shuey, old-fashioned crocheted gifts
- Karen Ermisch, beaded jewelry

• Free gift wrapping from 4:30 – 7:30pm at Umpqua Bank, in conjunction with Sparrow Club

• Live music by Aisea Taimani from 7pm-9pm at portello winecafé, in addition to some great holiday specials: $12 off any bottle of wine “to go” and a $10 “thank you” card for every $50 gift card purchased.

• Strolling carolers provided by the Summit High Choir (and maybe even Santa, if we’re lucky!)

• Stop by LOOK! Salon for free hot cider and hot cocoa and enter to win spa gifts all night long! Inside, shop for handmade jewelry and skin care products for the women in your life (or maybe even yourself!); Need a few stocking stuffers? Look! is donating 10% of all gift card sales this night to the Family Access Network (FAN)

• Live music by Chris Novack at Pisano’s Pizza.

• The new All Mixed-Up is celebrating with hors  d’oeuvres, champagne punch and a variety of complimentary liqueurs that can be added (or not!) to frozen yogurts.

• Live music by the Sophie Cashman Trio and shopping fun at Sara Bella Upcycled Boutique.

• Open House at BendFilm. Oregon Spirit Distillers will be serving hot toddies, hot chocolate, spiced cider and coffee/tea. BendFilm will also be providing gift baskets to those who purchase BendFilm  memberships. All merchandise will be 15-20% off and they will be screening some of the short films featured in the 2011 festival.

• While Sage Cafe will be closed at 5pm, they will generously donate a portion of their sales all day on December 10th to Sparrow Clubs.

• And more specials from your favorite NWX businesses…

Playa (Miss June) is ready for her close-up...

The calendar will go on sale for $16 starting November 3rd at various retail locations throughout Bend including:

Sara Bella Upcycled Boutique
Sage Café
La Rosa
Look! Salon
Cascade Cottons
Paper Jazz
Dudley’s Bookshop Café
Best Friends Pet Supply
Healthy Paws
Bend Pet Express
Birkenstock of Bend
Newport Market

Charlie enjoys the music...

Lily Pug (aka: Miss December) prepares for her debut

The festive affair included a performance by local dog owner, Mike Viles in tribute of his dog, Lilly (Miss July), nibbles provided by Tate and Tate Catering and Bend Pet Express, and lots of calendar sales. Bend Spay and Neuter Project sold a whopping 89 calendars before the night’s end. The remaining limited quantities will be sold at the various retail locations around town.

Proud dog owners view the calendar for the first time.

This project was born out of a dog-inspired photo contest last spring when NorthWest Crossing residents submitted photos of their beloved pets. 14 were selected by Facebook friends and throughout the year, each doggy was professionally photographed by local artist Karen Cammack. Ruff Wear, a dog gear manufacturer with headquarters in the neighborhood provided gear for props and prizes. A large portion of the printing costs were donated by local printer Ryder Graphics. And several retailer partners throughout Bend are selling the calendars to benefit Bend Spay and Neuter Project.

Please visit a retail location listed above to purchase your calendar, or contact Bend Spay and Neuter Project at 541-617-1010 for more information.

Lilly (Miss July) and her parents preview the calendar

Participating businesses:
Tate and Tate
Umpqua Bank
La Rosa
The Garner Group
Sage Cafe
All Mixed Up
portello winecafe
Sara Bella
Kirsti Wolfe Designs
Elemental Eyecare
Mama Bear Oden’s Preschool

Also, please use caution when driving around the neighborhood. We want everyone to have a safe and fun Halloween! Boo!

NorthWest Crossing Neighborhood Night is coming up on Wednesday, October 26th. This month, enjoy a special free poetry reading, learn more about joining a great cause, and munch on some delicious pizza! Here’s what’s on tap…

Neighborhood Night
Wednesday, October 26th
5-8pm

Free Poetry Reading Event Performed by High Desert Poetry Cell, a group of five guys from Bend who write and read their own poetry.

7-8pm at the Discovery Park Lodge (located on the corner of NW Crossing Drive & Charbonneau) in the Brooks Fireplace Room

Book sales to benefit Saving Grace.

Poets include:
Larry Jacobs
Don Kunz
John Kvapil
Peter Lovering
John Martin

Join The Garner Group as they host Relay for Life at the sales office during Neighborhood Night from 6-7pm. Come learn more about this exciting event and how you can help make a difference in your community at the 2012 Relay for Life. Pisano’s Pizza is generously giving 50% off a pizza* to anyone who comes to learn about Relay for Life. And the first 5 people that commit to being a chair for a committee will get a coupon for a free lunch special which includes a slice of pizza, salad a drink.
* Dine-in only, must purchase drinks to receive discount on pizza.

Bruschetta and a Bottle @ portello!  Stop by portello during NWX Neighborhood Night and get a bottle of our Happy Hour Red or White wine and an order of Bruschetta for $28 all night long!  And don’t forget Happy Hour is also from 4pm – 6pm with great wine, beer and portello menu favorites!

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Head to NorthWest Crossing the last Wednesday of each month and visit with local business owners. Participating businesses and restaurants will be offering a variety of specials, entertainment, giveaways and more! Check back each month for an update of participants.