The soup is boiling over in this edition of Gorge Entertainment. Drag shows, history, culture, literature, acrobatics, Irish music, bubbles, author talks, Rock-n-Roll, symphony, movies and plays are on tap. Jim Drake takes us on his most epic dive yet into all things entertaining in the Gorge. Just looking for something this weekend or tonight? Check out our events calendar. EZ Peasy.

The Lewis and Clark Festival Park in The Dalles, OR was abuzz with excitement today as Dutch Bros Coffee, a businesses known for its fun-loving vibe, hosted a special pop-up for puppers event today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. The event, which also takes place on Thursday, March 9th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., was aimed at giving back to the community and spreading some joy.

Cascadia Development, which owns and operates multiple senior living facilities in Washington and has constructed senior housing developments in Portland,  is set to close on a deal to buy the property on March 15, said Justin Younker, a partner in the business on Thursday, March 2. 

What a great way to stay toasted on a cold day. Exit 69 was as good a Cold IPA as I have had. I put it up there with Boneyard’s RPM. So good in fact, we bought the four-pack of 16-ouncers to share during the week. It was a short week. At 6.3 percent alcohol, it had a good kick and a lightness that led to a second pint. 

Choice is huge this week as Jim Drake brings us the latest, greatest in entertainment happenings throughout the Gorge. Music, Literature, and Comedy, are springing up like wildflowers as we tilt closer to the sun. Check out this week’s most comprehensive listing here. There is something happening near you. Looking for a show tonight - check out our community calendar. It’s got it all.

A Montana-based car dealership with holdings in Klamath Falls and Walla Walla purchased Ray Schultens Motors, Tuesday, Feb. 28th. Jennifer Dewey of Schultens confirmed the sale on Tuesday evening. The deal had been in the works since last fall. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Debra Klaviter hugged her clients and thanked them as they came into her Farmers Insurance agency at the corner of Fourth and Washington Streets. Farmers took a chance on her 22 years after she worked for years with Steve Hudson at State Farm. “They said they were going to make me a star. I jumped in a fast-running river running and I had to swim to shore,” she said of her first few years in business. 

Mar. 2 speaker is Deidre Baumgarten on opportunities to serve through Scouting programs. Mar. 9 speaker is Amanda Lawrence from Next Door. Feb. 16 Kevin Greenwood from Port of Hood River will address the H.R. Bridge project. Mar. 23 Columbia Bank managers Carmen Myers and Rod Cole will talk about what’s happening in banking and their bank’s merger with Umpqua Bank.

Van Nevel Concrete & Curb, Inc. will be installing ADA ramps in various area's throughout the City of The Dalles from March 1st to June 1st, Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Adventist Health is in the process of purchasing Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles with promises of investing $100 million over the next ten years. Fierce Healthcare Just reported Adventist is laying off 59 administrators at its headquarters in Roseville, Calif. The money will be reinvested into its hospitals and clinics “to help realign directly where care is delivered.” Meanwhile, the buyout of MCMC is awaiting regulatory approvals from both the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Justice.

The flakes outside are real. Don’t become one. Take a moment to look at all the live entertainment and opportunities to grab a libation, see friends and hear some music or even get into writing your own book. It’s all here in this week’s most-inclusive guide to all things musical and artful in the gorge.

The menu was small but deep offering a host of different sandwiches, two soups, chips and cookies. Modestly priced between $8 and $10 a sandwich these bad boys delivered up some satisfaction without breaking the bank.   All four of us salivated over differing items, and we took off our gloves and knocked out a sandwich superfecta to make a New York deli person salivate.

Neal Creek Forest Products, a local provider of premium firewood, landscaping materials, and snow removal services, has announced the opening of its second location in The Dalles, Oregon. The grand opening celebration will take place on Friday, March 3, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, with ribbon cutting festivities with The Dalles Chamber of Commerce taking place from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. PST.

Montira’s Thai Cuisine at 302 W. Second Street in The Dalles is currently closed due to labor shortages, according to its owners. “We’re closed for now. We just don’t have the people to work,” said owner Ken Sommerfelt this afternoon, Feb. 13. Sommerfelt was unable to comment further. 

The Dalles City Council will hear more about the recent purchase of the Oregon Motor Motel and plans for it to be converted to transitional housing for houseless people living in The Dalles.  Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Exec. Director Kenny LaPoint will provide information on Project Turnkey 2.0 at their regular meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tonight, Monday, Feb. 13. The meeting will be held at City Hall, 313 Court Street.

Cupid has nothing on Claudia Leash, who lays claim to being one of the oldest working business owners downtown at the age of 80. And she is keeping busy at her Sigman’s Flowers. Leash said they had some 250 deliveries set for Valentine’s Day as their walk-in cooler was filled with fresh bouquets.

“Through this business deal, Adventist will become the new owner of MCMC,”  according to the notice summary  posted by the Oregon Health Authority “...Adventist says that MCMC will continue to provide its existing health care services, including reproductive health care.”

Pearls abound in this week’s most inclusive listing of music, entertainment, comedy and literature in the Mid-Columbia as more shows have been announced and a bevy of Cupid-inspired activities are on tap.

CyberMind Gaming, a PC gaming and eSports center in The Dalles, which opened it’s doors in March of 2022 will close it’s doors on February 17th, 2023.

Travis Fox of Springfield, Oregon, is just one of the dozens of workers brought into The Dalles to work indirectly or directly on projects related to Google’s new data center. The site at 3500 River Road is being prepped for construction and City Planning says they are expecting a building permit any day now.