Opening day is a REQUIRED DAY for all gardeners, as you will need to:

1. Complete a short registration form
2. Make your $50.00 payment, cash or check. (checks to be made out to “Deschutes County Extension Service”)   NO credit cards accepted
3. Pick up your NWXCG Handbook
4. Help out with a general clean-up/preparation of the garden area.  SO BRING YOUR GLOVES, SHOVELS/RAKES & TROWELS!

You will meet our Garden Assistants (GA), as they will be there to participate as well.  The time required should be less than an hour.

Also on opening day we plan to have two or three different cloche structures in place to demonstrate the necessity of covering your plots.  We will go over some of the basics for gardening here, such as amending the soil and irrigation tips.  We will also quickly discuss the “RULES & REGULATIONS OF NWXCG” found in the Handbook you will receive upon registering, and answer any questions that you might have.

The NWX Community Garden is located on the corner of NW Crossing Drive and Clearwater Drive. For more information, please contact Anne Percy at anne_perce@yahoo.com or 541-617-1860.

It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome the most elusive of our Central Oregon seasons into the fold! NorthWest Crossing Drive, off Mt. Washington Drive, between Skyliners and Shevlin Park Roads, will come alive, as we utilize art, food, spirits, music, and family-oriented activities to usher in Spring!

2012 Bend Spring Festival Program:

Art & Wine Bop!
Friday, April 13, 6-9pm

Kick off the weekend with the Cascade School of Music Art and Wine Bop! From 6-9pm, CSM faculty will perform, free wine samples will be served, and hand-selected, festival artists will be featured, all within the cozy, warm, and covered confines of various NorthWest Crossing Neighborhood Center merchants and restaurants. Mama Bear Oden’s Preschool will offer free childcare during the bop. The Drop and Bop Club will be open to 3-10 year-olds from 6-9pm on a first-come first-serve basis. They will have games, stories and activities that explore spring, the environment and the earth. Drop and Bop Club will be located inside Mama Bear Oden’s Preschool at 2689 NW Crossing Drive. 541-390-0396 for more information about childcare.

Cycle/Recycle
Saturday, April 14 & Sunday, April 15

Inspired by Bend’s fantastic cycling culture and forward-thinking trendsetters who make art, clothing and function from repurposed materials, we bring you Cycle/Recycle! New to NorthWest Crossing Bend Spring Festival, this theme of art, gear and activities will be seen throughout the festival weekend.

Look for this symbol throughout the festival for Cycle/Recycle related vendors, booths and activities.

Fine Artists Promenade

At the heart of NorthWest Crossing Bend Spring Festival are the artisans and craftspeople that will present a lively mix of original work, including a highlight on imagery and materials derived from cycling and recycling. It is also a great place to start planning ahead for outdoor entertaining with garden art.

Congratulations to Best of Jury 2012 Ryan Beard of Redmond, Oregon!

Featured Artists include:

Jackie Avery, fine painter
Vulture Bicycles
Bend Velo
Union Studio Metalworks, jewelery
Bella Sisters, fiber artist

Other artists include:

Tamara Adams Steve • Bangsund/NorgeBoards • M. Wade Beauchamps/Vulture Cycles • Tracy Curtis/Ballokai • Sierra Gwin • Berta & Rex Heisler • Audrey Kirchner • Celeste & Chuck Largen/Blue Dragonfly • Beth Larsen/Waggletops • Anna Lawrence/Anna’s Haute Aprons • Tiina McDermott/Indiekulture • Dawn Mead/La Petite Savonnerie • Blossom Merz • Lizzy Myers/Shabby Knapsack • Barb Peters • Eric Power/Bend Velo Bike Shop • Jason Quade/Abbey Bike Works • Peter Roussel • KarenLynn Robinson/Bliss Pillows • Francois & Kyla Schneyder • Michael Seeley • Linda Spring • Iain Stone • Tara & Shannon Townsend/Bantam Lane • Tai Vautier • Bradley Wilson/Capricorn Bicycles • Tim Wistrom • Caroline Deitrich • Heather Rose/Rose Garden Whimsies • Joelle Legay/High Desert Lotus

Street Chalk Art Competition
Saturday, April 14

“Pull your best Picasso” by entering the Street Chalk Art Competition (for both adults and kids) and qualify to win one of 6 cash prizes (including $400 prize for the chalk mural voted “best” in the adult category). The space is free, chalk will be provided (although you can bring your own), your images must be appropriate and feature  “spring theme”– you can pre-register with sarah@c3events.com – or you can “walk up” to compete, assuming spaces will still be available for walk ups.

We will once again welcome four professional artists to create street mural exhibition pieces. Kevin Schwarting and Andy Thornton, both of Bend, and Marissa Lopez and Laila Dzene who are both featured artists from the “Art Along the Rogue” festival.

View the Winners of the 2011 Chalk Art Competition

Peak 104.1 Mainstage Performers

Located at the intersection of Mt. Washington Drive and NorthWest Crossing Drive, the Peak 104.1 Mainstage features an outstanding lineup of local, regional and national performers. From tribal sounds and soul acoustic to Middle Eastern fusion and hip hop, this free stage of romp-stomping entertainment will implore you to dance all weekend long.

Chris Barron, Lead singer, Spin Doctors
Solo Acoustic
Saturday, April 14 at 11am

Todd Haaby and Sola Via
Nuevo Flamenco
Saturday, April 14 at 8:30pm

PEAK 104.1 MAINSTAGE FULL SCHEDULE

Spring into Fun Family Area
Saturday, April 14 & Sunday, April 15
Located on the south end of Fort Clatsop

Watch as your children’s jaws drop in amazement when they round the corner to the south end of Fort Clotsap and see our Spring into Fun Family Area. Music, pony rides, ballet dancers, giant puppets, stilt walkers, arts & crafts, face painting, not to mention a kids stage, petting zoo, exotic reptiles, rock wall, super bungee, bike rodeo and inflatable rides!

On the musical side of things, The Cascade School of Music will be back with their musical petting zoo and on-site free guitar lessons. The Wacky Percussion Ensemble offers a chance for your kids to play some traditional, and perhaps not so traditional, drums and percussion instruments. Be sure to check out the school’s booth space to make and decorate your own take-home instrument.

Resident Artists from around Bend will be hosting spring-related arts and crafts workshops throughout the weekend. Look for “The Creation Station” schedule and booth space in the kids area to create your own piece of Spring art! Trash sculptures, knee clay bowls and goofy bird masks and more!

For active and adventurous kids, The Bend Endurance Academy returns with their incredibly popular Bike Rodeo, a challenging (but fun!) obstacle course of unusual ramps, rails and maybe even a seesaw. Don’t forget to stop by the Bend Endurance Academy booth to learn more about their youth development programs for cycling and more. For kids on foot, check out the  30-ft. rock wall.

The juggling, stilt-walking, hula-hooping Spinsterz will be back with their wide array of children’s toys. Back again this year, and just in time for spring, is the DD Ranch petting zoo with bunnies, chicks, pony rides and more. Yeehaw!

Afternoon High Tea with the Spring Fairy
Saturday, April 14 at 12pm and 3pm
12pm Seating is now SOLD OUT!

After a wildly popular premiere  last year, Spring Festival will once again host this deliciously endearing tea party for 25. The 8-foot-tall Spring Fairy will read (on stilts!) the newest story from Fancy Nancy, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, while guests dine on high tea finger foods and mango lemonade from Tate and Tate Catering. Kids should come dressed as mermaids, pirates, princes, princesses and fairies. The top 3 best costumes will win a Fancy Nancy book, signed by the Spring Fairy. Autographed books will also be for sale during the event for $20, cash-only. Tea party tables will be set for a maximum of 25 kids at 12pm and again at 3pm. First-come first-serve basis with pre-registration. Email sarah@c3events.com to reserve your seat.

Spring Sunrise Yoga Session
Sunday, April 15 at 10:30am

Help your children welcome spring with a 30-minute yoga and mindfulness session hosted by certified children’s yoga instructor, Brittany Ladd of Mindful Life Yoga for Kids of Bend. The circle of young yogis will be limited to 15 children (the first 15 to sign up) ages 5 and older. The workshop will be held on the kids stage and yoga mats will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Email sarah@c3events.com to reserve a mat for your child.

Spring Festival Food Offerings

Philly Style, Parrilla Satellite, Common Table, Taylor’s Sausage, Spork, Dump City Dumplings, Cascadia Kitchen, Veronica Castro’s, T&G BBQ, Famous Kettle Corn, All Mixed Up, Deez Nuts, and Pop Goes the Cake Ball.

Venue

NW Crossing Drive from the intersection of Mt. Washington Drive to John Fremont St in the NorthWest Crossing neighborhood, and from Ordway Avenue through Fort Clatop Street.

For accommodations please contact C3 Events, 389-0995 or inquiry@c3events.com.

Directions/Map

 Mt. Washington Drive to High Lakes Loop or Ordway Avenue in the NorthWest Crossing Neighborhood to access parking.  Parking is available in the merchant lots accessed by both of these streets as well as the High Lakes Elementary School parking lot.

Time

Friday, April 13: 6 – 9 pm
Saturday, April 14:  11 am – 10 pm
Sunday, April 15: 11 am – 4 pm

Beer/Vending

We will be offering local microbrews and regional wines, available for purchase Saturday  11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-5 pm.

Street Closures

Northwest Crossing Drive from Mt. Washington to John Fremont St.  Ft. Clatsop St. north and south blocks.  These streets will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday, the 13th to Monday, April 16th at 2 a.m

Admission & Parking

It’s FREE.

High Lakes Elementary School, Merchant parking lots (Enter off Mt. Washington at High Lakes Loop or Ordway Avenue)

Festival Sponsors Include:

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.