We’re Paige and Mason. The Bend Banner is our way of keeping tabs on this wild, beautiful place we call home. To the mornings that start with coffee and mountain air, the trails that somehow always lead to a brewery, and the kind of small-town stories that remind you why you chose to live here in the first place.

Thrift Shop Guide

There is a particular kind of joy only thrift shoppers understand. That moment you pull something off a rack and think: how is this even here?

That feeling comes often in Bend. Part of what makes this town so good for thrifting is the community itself. Bendites have always had a strong streak of "use it well, then pass it on." The outdoor gear, the flannel, the vintage cast iron, the handmade pottery. Things get loved here, and then they get donated, and then someone else falls in love with them. It is a beautiful little loop.

Here are a few of our favorites worth knowing about:

Gear Fix: A Bend institution since 2006. Walking in feels like a shiny outdoor retailer, except every single item is used. High-quality rain jackets, ski boots, packs, and layers at a fraction of the price. If you spend any time outside, you already know this place.

Humane Society Thrift Store: Every dollar you spend here goes directly toward caring for animals waiting for their forever homes. It is a feel-good shop in the most literal sense, stocked with clothing, housewares, jewelry, and more. Located on South Highway 97.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Furniture, appliances, building materials, and home goods, all donated and priced to move. Every purchase funds affordable housing right here in our community. A great stop, whether you are renovating or just browsing.

SuperThrift: If you love the pure thrill of the hunt, this is your place. Clean, organized, and constantly rotating, with barely-worn brand names and quirky finds sitting side by side. Locals rave about it, and it is easy to see why. Located at 694 SE 3rd St.

Goodwill: The classic for a reason. Bend's Goodwill on South Highway 97 is a reliable staple with a constantly changing floor. You never quite know what you are going to find, which is exactly the point. A great first stop or a last stop on a full thrifting loop around town. A new one is opening on the north end of town as well.

Thrifting in Bend isn’t just about finding a deal. It is about keeping good things in circulation, supporting causes you care about, and running into your neighbors over a rack of old denim.

Something New We’re Working On

We've been sitting on this idea for a while. And spring felt like the right time to finally do it.

Starting this season, we're putting together a Bend Banner Quarterly. A physical mailer. Something you can hold.

Inside there will be things that are genuinely from here. We're talking locally sourced seeds grown for Central Oregon soil. A drink ticket from a Bend business we love. A seasonal story card written the same way we write this newsletter, just printed on something you can keep. A sticker or printed coaster. A few local perks. All of it flat, all of it fitting in a standard envelope, all of it chosen because it makes living here feel a little more like something worth celebrating.

We're not ready to tell you everything that's inside yet. Some of it we're still working out with local partners. But we wanted to tell you first, because you're the people this is for.

The Spring Quarterly ships in May. It's $25. We're taking preorders now while we finalize the details, and honestly, the earlier we know how many people want one, the better the stuff inside gets.

If you want one, grab it here.

Get The Spring Mailer

We think you're going to like what shows up in your mailbox.

Sponsored Locally By Gringo Language Academy

Started right here in Bend!

You've been to Los Andes. You've ordered at Tacos El Machin. You've done the pointing and the smiling and the hopeful nodding.
Imagine actually knowing what to say.

Gringo Language Academy was built for exactly that. Real conversation practice, every week, with other students who are also just trying to learn more and struggle less. No streaks. No apps. No doing it alone.

Jennifer has been teaching Spanish for 25+ years, and she's done all the trial and error, so you don't have to. The kind of Spanish that actually shows up when you need it. At the taqueria. On the trail. On the trip you've been putting off.

Start Learning Spanish Today

This Week’s Conditions
☀️ Sunrise: 6:47 am
🌅 Sunset: 7:30 pm
High Temp: 63°F
Mt. Bachelor: 26” base depth
Local Shop of the Week: The Workhouse
Local Artist of the Week: Megan Marie Meyers

🐾Bend’s Best Good Boys & Good Girls 🐾

🐶 Luna – 7 years, Chinese Shar-Pei/Saint Bernard
Luna is friendly and affectionate and can’t wait to be a part of a new family. She is housetrained and has previously lived with young kids.

🐱 Shadow – 1 year - Terrier/Pitbull/Mix
This 1-year-old is a playful pup that is known to be good around children and extremely fun to play with.

🐶 Arcadia - 8 months- Terrier/Pitbull/Mix
This sweet girl is just under a year old and still very much in her puppy era, playful, loving, and full of energy.

The Bend Banner is as local as it gets. Written here, for the people who actually call this place home.

No big media machine, no out-of-town editor guessing what Bend cares about. Just a weekly letter built from real conversations, real places, and real curiosity.

If you choose to support it, every bit helps me bring you more of the good stuff. The stories, the characters, the weird corners of this town that deserve a spotlight.

Appreciate you, friends. Thanks for being part of this.

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