Winners always pick the right team. Maybe it’s time to pick the Community Clean-up team on Saturday, April 8 at 10 a.m. It’s just two hours, and this group gets ‘r done. Want to join in? Meet at Thompson Park, 602 W. 2nd St., The Dalles

Downtown The Dalles will be bubbling with beverages, flowers, and fun tonight as Downtown The Dalles kicks off its First Friday season with an ode to Spring. Morning Showers are expected to give way to temperatures in the 60s this afternoon, making for great conditions to go sidewalk cruising and boutique beverage consuming.

Lake Taco, a family owned Mexican restaurant in Hood River has re-opened in their new location and is doing better than ever, thanks to the gorge community rallying to raise over $48,000 in support of this local family and their made-fresh food.

April Power brings musical flowers this week as the Bargeway Pub kicks it off with a show tonight, April 5 at 6 p.m. with Sarah Lodge & Dan Polidori playing an eclectic acoustic blend of top R&B, soul, pop and blues music. It’s just one of the dozens of offerings in music, literature, festivals, art, drum circles, plays, movies and more. Our Jim Drake’s been buzzin’ bringing a bouquet of options in this week’s gorge entertainment guide.

Sally Johnson comes to The Dalles Arts Center with 12+ years of managing programs, teams, and departments at for-profit and non-profit organizations. Most recently, she was the Director of Business Development for the non-profit organization, Oxbow Farm & Conservation in Carnation, WA.

The City of Maupin’s recent hire of Melissa Napoli as a community liaison was done in hopes to build relationships and increase the beauty of one of Oregon’s greatest outdoor gateways. Our Nancy Henderson recently sat down with Melissa to learn more about her and how she is offering olive branches while working to put a good face on the community that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors a summer.

The Encyclopedic Jim Drake has done it, yet, once again with so many options for music, entertainment, learning and growth that we kind of want to start tapping a high hat and kicking that bass drum. Check out all things fun and fantastic in this week’s edition of This Week in Gorge Entertainment.

“It was so worth it,” said Arianne Walker of fighting off the freezing cold in soaked jeans on Saturday, March 25, while washing dozens of cars in The Dalles. “We ended up raising with what Tara contributed from bagels and donations, we ended up with $3,500.”

Renovations, rehabs, and teen clothing - come along and take a quick tour about TD as work is underway at multiple sites and news of coming stores is as near as the next window.

Kim Hamberg with Gorge-Us-Greens offered tastings of microgreens at the Sunday Market in The Dalles at the 6th Street Station on March 26. These small clippings from cantaloupe, chard, and sunflowers were pretty tasty on a Sunday afternoon.

If you’ve driven through downtown The Dalles since February 1st, you may have noticed a new business has arrived in the downtown: Columbia Gorge LipoMelt. Columbia Gorge LipoMelt is a facility that is bringing access to cutting-edge weight loss, body contouring, pain relief, wrinkle reduction, and skin treatment services to the gorge.

White Salmon will soon have to say goodbye to Chesser Roe, home to some of the most truly remarkable teas and boba milk tea in the Columbia River Gorge. The locally owned handcrafted-tea shop will close its doors on Saturday March 18th at 5 p.m. 

As one long-term community supporter noted, “I went to summer art camp at The Center and have many fond memories. I keep thinking that if 2% of the population in The Dalles committed $10 a month - we can keep this place alive for our kids and grandchildren.”

The first annual Kilt Crawl in downtown TD on St. Paddy’s Day be callin’ out like a wee lamb chased by a fox. You got to save it, laddies. Don’t be afraid. Chase after it ‘til the wind leaves your chest heaving like a donkey on a hillside.

The Martins took a bold dive in the fall of 2020 and purchased the landmark restaurant from Mark Linebarger in the midst of the pandemic.  But, alas, their love of the Baldwin Saloon could not save it. 

Eli Howard hits the Bargeway on Wednesday, March 15 at 7 p.m. Howard was at The Dalles Art Center last May with his full ensemble, Eli Howard & the Greater Good. Good show! And there is much more on tap in this week’s edition of all things entertainment in the Gorge. St. Patrick’s day be bringing some fine acts and chances to swing your lover to and fro, even some kilts to keep your pint chasing comfortable.

On Monday, March 13, The Dalles Art Center sent out an email letting members know that if $3,500 cannot be raised by March 31, the Board plans on moving ahead with “the painful responsibility of closing The Dalles Art Center by April 15th. This is a public appeal to all residents and businesses to help us avoid such a devastating loss to the community.”

Second Saturday piggybacks on The Dalles Little League Field Clean up on Saturday, March 11. Sunny weather and a good crowd made quick work of major clean up as Columbia Gorge Toyota and Honda and The Dalles Beautification Committee pitched in with some 20-plus volunteers.

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.