A Capella Festival

What do you know about a cappella? I have seen Pitch Perfect and I listen to Pentatonix at Christmas so I though I knew about a cappella. Then the Bend A Cappella Festival came to Bend last year and I was blown away by how much I didn't know! Well, it's back again this weekend: February 10-12, and I don't want you to miss out! The Bend A Cappella Festival brings in the best musicians to perform, educate, compete and entertain! It's an amazing opportunity for aspiring artist to learn and for interested viewers to enjoy! Tickets are selling out quickly so go sign up today!   

The headliner for the event will be Naturally 7!  Naturally 7 has a distinct a cappella style they call "vocal play." With the unique ability to blend their rich harmonies and replicate the sound of instruments, Naturally 7 have gone from quiet success in Europe to the world stage. Their music incorporates a range of styles from R&B to pop, gospel to jazz. The groundbreaking "Ready II Fly" CD featuring the now famous Paris subway YouTube hit, "Feel It (In the Air Tonight)" led to the much-coveted opening slot for Michael Bublé introducing their ground-breaking style to over 4 million people worldwide. They have been invited to perform at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance, the TED conference, BET Honours and at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Week celebrations to mention a very few. Naturally 7 has also teamed up with Quincy Jones and Ludacris for Quincy's CD, "Soul Bossa Nostra."  The group has released 10 CD's to date with their most recent being "Hidden in Plain Sight." 

The Tower Theatre Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to be Central Oregon's leading performing arts organization.  They work to provide cultural and educational programs that make essential contributions to the region's lifestyle and strength of community. Located in our beautiful downtown, the Tower Theatre is the crown jewel of the performing arts community in vibrant Bend, OR. This acoustically brilliant space features 460 seats, and has become Bend's most sought after venue for local, regional, national and international performers.

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to watch, learn, enjoy, and/or perform! It's happening this weekend! Now go, buy your tickets right now! And then come practice your new singing skills inside a lava tube! 

Central Oregon Exploration

All this in Bend's Backyard!! I asked Dave to share about his venture east of town last week. He says, "it helped to solidify my appreciation for winter and all that it brings." Maybe it will do the same for you! 

"20,000 years ago our earth began to warm from an extensive frigid period we have come to call the Pleistocene Ice Age.  Huge amounts of frozen water melted and in so doing began to carve our landscape, eroding areas and digging river beds relatively quickly.  Jump those 20,000 years to the present on a winter day in 2017 and what is now a dry river bed, yet still the recipient of seepage, has shone forth with incredible winter beauty. Given heavy snowfall this winter, seepage through and over the walls of this river canyon, combined with sustained cold, has wrought one of the more spectacular ice falls I’ve ever witnessed.  Come explore with Wanderlust Tours or get out on your own to live in the magnitude which the stunning natural world provides!"

What do you think about those ice formations?! We have to say that while the pictures are amazing, they just don't show the magnitude of these remarkable formations. You'll just have to go see them for yourself. 

My personal favorite: the "Icicle Curtain."

Animal of the Month

It's been a while since we've introduced you to a wildlife creature in our area. Since Bend and the Cascades Range are currently under a few feet of snow, it's only fitting that our featured animal is the king of winter: the American (Pine) Marten. A member of the weasel family, pine martens resemble a fox in the front and a fluffy brown tail  in the back. That tail of their has long been of interest in the trapping community and has made them reach the list of sensitive species in Oregon.

These curious creatures spend their winter days (but mostly nights) hunting for smaller prey like shrews, mice, voles, and squirrels. You may catch a glimpse of their tracks during the day, but they're much more active in the evening. They also tend to travel under the snow. Their subnivean tunnels allow them to travel unseen by their prey. Some say they're viscous, but they're also adorable. 

Best chance of spotting one in these parts: Deschutes National Forest. If you join us on one of our Moonlight Snowshoe Tours, you may have a chance of seeing one for a few seconds before they disappear in a tree or back underground. If you don't see one in real life, you can always check out the Pine Marten lift at Mt. Bachelor. The Pine Marten lift was the first express quad installed in the summer of 1986. It looks nothing like the animal, but at least now you'll know why it's named what it is. 

Wishing you a wonderful week from all of us at Wanderlust Tours!