What Is Bends Big Secret? (Portland, Redmond: relocating, vacation, jobs)

[Bendlover]

I grew up in Bend. I think the main thing that brings people to bend is the outdoors.... oh and the changing seasons!!! I moved to So Cal. a couple years ago for my husband who is a Marine. I cant wait to get back!!! But your right.. you have to have much $$$ to even visit Bend. The traffic is crazy!! But if you have money, love the outdoors, and can handle all the traffic then its great!!!

[PDXsailor]

I love the outdoors and am a native Oregonian and I have never thought highly of Bend. I mean, it is a nice city with lots of great recreational activities nearby, but it is never a place that I could consider living. I think I am also baffled on Bend's attraction.

[A2thenelsewhere]

It is kinda like Compton vs. Danville. Not to be mean to Redmond folks but come on... nightly meth/dope/crack busts, constant crime factor. I know Bend has its "Eastside problems" but they usually stay over there.

Bend is great. Expensive? Sure, a little but not out of line with what you get.

Traffic? Depends what you're used too. I think it is funny, all the liberals here and I see what traffic we have... anti-Bush bumper stickers Save Tibet etc.

Beer & Coffee? Some one the best available. Try Deschutes Brewerys Imperial Hedge (have a driver handy to take you home, 10.2% alch. content) and Strictly Organic Coffee!

Food? So many great places. Blue Fish, Blacksmith, Ariana, 28, Portello and of course Deschutes & Bend brewerys (two different places)

Just come on over, real estate is plenty and folks are happy and nice.

Oh, drive through Redmond and you'll see what I mean. Many more cars parked in the front lawn.

[Ducky]

Originally Posted by 2nancy

Now post pictures of Bend. What you posted is 40 to 50 miles away,get real, Bend is a city. I don't understand why everyone is playing up Bend.

I think the point of the pictures was to show how close Bend is to mountains and lakes. The distance is 20-40 miles not 40-50.

Here is a link to the Bend Downtowners to see what the town really looks like.

http://www.benddowntowners.com/photo_galery.php# (broken link)

http://www.visitbend.com/Top/Media_C...y/default.aspx

[cas2006]

All is relative...used to ski in Bend many years ago but found it to be a little "busy" even then. Have been there to play golf a couple of years ago and it seemed still to be a nice place to visit once in a while....but I'd never move there from where I live...about 20 miles in the mountains east of Park City, UT. We have friends who fell for the mystique of Bend, moved there a couple of years ago and were back here inside a year. Their reasoning (in part) was that Bend was limited in cultural activities while here they have easy access to Salt Lake City with symphonies. opera, theatre, etc. Wouldn't be my reasoning, but it is nice to have access to a major metro area. SLC is 50 miles from where we live, but if you don't need to go there it seems like 500 miles. The smallest lot where we live is 2 acres and you don't have to be rich to l ive here (yet).

[Brett]

Well I have a job interview in bend in a few weeks. I will take some pictures and post them here.

[Diasies7]

Hello everyone,

Have gained a lot of info the past week reading the wonderful threads about Oregon.

I am of African American descent and am seriously thinking of moving my family to Bend where a good friend of mine lives. I have researched the schools (elementary and High schools) and see that the statistics state almost every school has a healthy % (around 10% or more) of African American students enrolled. However, when I see the statistics on the city of bend itself, it lists African American as a very tiny portion of the makeup.

I am a bit confused. Is there or is there not a large African American population in Bend? If not, are the students being bussed in from another city? My friend says the town is very "white", but has no exposure to the schools (she has no children). She said to me, "You definately don't see the black hip-hop culture in these schools with the "ebonics" and crooked baseball caps with jeans hanging down past their asses walking around." Well, my son *IS* involved in exactly that hip-hop culture (we are from Oakland) and I want him to be able to feel comfortable in school and not stand out like a sore thumb.

Can anyone shed some light to the African American population in Bend? Is my friend way off base? Thank you!

[Bendlover]

Originally Posted by Diasies7

Hello everyone,

Have gained a lot of info the past week reading the wonderful threads about Oregon.

I am of African American descent and am seriously thinking of moving my family to Bend where a good friend of mine lives. I have researched the schools (elementary and High schools) and see that the statistics state almost every school has a healthy % (around 10% or more) of African American students enrolled. However, when I see the statistics on the city of bend itself, it lists African American as a very tiny portion of the makeup.

I am a bit confused. Is there or is there not a large African American population in Bend? If not, are the students being bussed in from another city? My friend says the town is very "white", but has no exposure to the schools (she has no children). She said to me, "You definately don't see the black hip-hop culture in these schools with the "ebonics" and crooked baseball caps with jeans hanging down past their asses walking around." Well, my son *IS* involved in exactly that hip-hop culture (we are from Oakland) and I want him to be able to feel comfortable in school and not stand out like a sore thumb.

Can anyone shed some light to the African American population in Bend? Is my friend way off base? Thank you!

Your friend is right on the money. I grew up in Bend. I went to Bend High School where my brother and sister curently go. If you still plan to move I would suggest putting your son in either Bend High or Mt. View High. He will fit in better. Summit High is a very "RICH" school. He might have more problems fitting in there. I hope I helped some.

[Diasies7]

Thank you for your info. on that! Is there a large African American population at Bend High or Mt. View high? Is it around 20% like the school stat website lists? If the city of Bend is "very white" as my friend tells me it is, I just don't see how the percentage of african american students can be so high in the schools. What was your personal experience in school there? Did you see the baggy pants, crooked hat type hip-hop culture in your schools? Thank you very much for giving your first hand experience!

[Pablo]

Been lurking here for awhile, but I thought I would finally post. Bend has a large African American population and is a very open community. It even has a number of hip hop clubs and youy family should have no trouble adjusting.