By BEN OLSON/for The Herald — I do my best writing on a rainy day. Looking out the window at the rain pouring down, glad that I’m not out there working. Spring, with its pleasant days and smoke-free skies, makes it hard for me to be a good columnist, working on a deadline. Here we go now.
Adios to a great year for the Pass
Willamette Pass Resort is closing down ski operations for the season. There’s still plenty of snow on the slopes, but the skiers have moved on to other seasonal activities. By all indications they had a great year and hope to repeat it again, starting in November.
Eric Leadbetter at the Crane
John at the 3 Legged Crane in uptown Oakridge has created a porter that is, to me, especially tasty. When I get done hosting the open mic this Thursday, May 18, I will be wetting my whistle with one. It would be delightful to see some pickers and singers drop in to show us what they’ve got. Open mic begins promptly at 6:30 pm. On Friday evening, Eric Leadbetter will be bringing his “echoes from the golden age of rock and roll” back to the Crane. Showtime is 7 pm. Check out his website ericleadbettermusic.com. The 3 Legged Crane brews much of their own beer and ale and has some fine products from other Oregon microbreweries, as well. There are appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu.
Rob will be running the karaoke machine this Saturday night at the Corner Bar on 1st Street in Oakridge. The Logger’s Den on Highway 58 in Oakridge has their karaoke night on Wednesday. The Oakridge Moose Lodge does their karaoke on Saturday evening. All three places have a full bar and a variety of comestibles on their respective menus.
The Lion Mountain Bakery, on Highway 58 in Oakridge, will be featuring Broken Horn playing guitar and singing this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 19, 20 and 21. Showtime is from 11 am until 1 pm. He has a list of vintage songs from the golden age of rock, pop and country music. The Lion Mountain serves breakfast and lunch in a relaxed, spacious atmosphere.
Farmers’ Market to kick off the season on Friday
The Oakridge Westfir Community Farmers Market will officially kick off their season this Friday, May 19. Although there isn’t much to harvest yet, there will be a variety of baked goods, honey, pickled veggies and plant starts. The market is held outside the Methodist Church on 1st Street in Oakridge from 3 until 6 pm. I’ll be playing a little background music there from 3 until about 5 o’clock.
Outdoor music at the DLC
As soon as I play my last song at the Farmers Market, I have to pack up and drive down to the Dexter Lake Club to be ready to play at 6. Last week marked the beginning of the outside music season there. Just as I remembered, it was like being in a toaster oven on that stage. Multitasker that I am, I can entertain and work on my tan simultaneously. On Sunday evening, Brian Chevalier and friends will be hosting the open mic and jam session. That begins at 6 pm. The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar and the adjoining Rattlesnake BBQ has appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu. They’re located just off Highway 58 by milepost 12. They do their karaoke on Thursday nights.
It’s time to go out and mow again. Before it gets too hot.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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