Christmas Tree lighting tonight
It's late notice, I know, but tonight is the annual Christmas tree lighting in downtown Bend. A great tradition in Central Oregon! The Downtown Bend Holiday Tree Lighting. Spend the evening singing carols, listening to local choirs, music and dance groups. The festivities get under way at 6pm. The big guy will be there to light the tree just before 7pm. The tree is in a new location! Come to Newport Avenue and Wall Street for all the fun. Note the "new location": Newport and Wall, presumably by the Bank of America digital sign and the fountain.

Thanksgiving Dinners
Sometimes you don't feel like cooking on Thanksgiving, or perhaps your plans fell through, or perhaps you have no other alternatives to a Thanksgiving meal. If you need other plans for your Thanksgiving dinner, here are some I've found around Central Oregon: McMenamins Old St. Francis School is hosting a Thanksgiving Buffet from 1pm until 7pm. You'll need reservations, and costs are: $23.95 adults; $18.95 senior; $11.95 kids 6-12; free for kids 5 and under. Their blurb: This holiday, let us handle the food — you bring the guests. Make reservations (early!) for the

Central Oregon Winery Barrel Tasting
This Saturday Maragas Winery is hosting a winery barrel tasting out at their north-of-Terrebonne location. They're teaming up with Volcano Vineyards to do this, which is cool. Here's their news blurb about it: The first annual Central Oregon Winery Barrel Tasting Saturday November 28, 2009 from 10am to 5pm. Maragas Winery and Volcano Vineyards will both be tasting and celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend on Saturday with their limited production wines – including internationally award winning wines. Additionally, they will each barrel taste wine that has yet

Good Drop Wine Shoppe grand opening
The Good Drop Wine Shoppe is the new wine place that moved into the old Chocolat et Gateaux space on Minnesota in Downtown Bend. They've been open almost a month and are having their grand opening celebration the beginning of December. Here's the press release: The Good Drop Wine Shoppe, which opened Oct. 2 in downtown Bend, is hosting a Grand Opening celebration over the entire week of Dec. 5 - 12. The new wine store and tasting venue will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for anyone who wants to come downtown to taste "bubbles" and unique wines for free, and shop for unique gifts at special, grand opening

Weekend happenings (late edition)
This weekend is busy! I'm too late on the Friday stuff, but there's a bunch more to cover if you're looking for something to do Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Deschutes Brewery's Annual Garage Sale starts at 10am and ends at 1. As always, it takes place up at their Mountain Room over at 901 SW Simpson. Lots of stuff for really good deals. Summit High School presents Harmony 4 Women, a holiday chorus, at 2 and 7pm. Non-profit beneficiaries are Grandma's House, Saving Grace, Women's Resource Center of Central Oregon (WRCCO) and Central Oregon Sh