Bend, Oregon: The Last Blockbuster

You might be wondering, is it worth taking a trip to the last Blockbuster in Bend?

That is a personal question that you can probably only answer for yourself, but we enjoyed our trip.  

Some of that may just be whether you have a good crew with whom you can enjoy a road trip. If you run out of snacks on the way, you can re-stock for the return trip.

Of course there is plenty to do in Bend, as covered last week, and there are some good reasons for having video rental available in a place where people are vacationing. I still think Wicked Internet in Port Douglas was genius for its time.

So maybe you go to Bend for a day of horseback riding or climbing or something, and then you go to the video store, pick something out, settle in for the night.

We did not stay, but it was still a good time. For one thing, just driving in and seeing it was next to a Papa Murphy's felt perfect. Okay, back in our day it was a Papa Aldo's, but nonetheless!

Then here was that flood of nostalgia... the walls of videos, and screens playing movies you could potentially choose (while we were there it was Blast From the Past), and the snacks. This one does have way more in the way of souvenirs. Some of them are pretty fun.

Speaking of watching movies, one thing we did to enhance our appreciation was watching the documentary The Last Blockbuster (2020).

It gave some interesting background, providing some interesting food for thought on how if corporate consolidation was a part of what made this particular location successful, it was also part of what drained the cash flow by diverting it to other businesses and making the chain expire. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8704802/reference/

It also spoke to many famous (or at least semi-famous) people who had worked at Blockbuster, and you could see how the nostalgia was a powerful force.

One thing that was interesting was seeing long-term manager Sandi Harding purchasing DVDs at Target and candy at Costco. Corporate still licenses the name, but has no stream sending out supplies. Everything in that store came from that store's workforce making it happen, including the crocheted beanies.

Well, the Russell Crowe memorabilia came from John Oliver, via the no longer there Anchorage, Alaska store, but still, the Bend store had to arrange that.

COVID: Masking is not well-observed, which appeared to be pretty true of Bend in general, perhaps because they spend so much time outside.

Accessibility: Navigating the store should not be bad, but you may need help with the entry doors. Also it is worth noting that the store does not have an available restroom, which may matter more if you drove three hours to get there. There are many fast food restaurants in the area, including a Carl's Jr. just across the street.

My big regret was not having any change to try the foosball game. 

I don't know if there will be a next time, but I hope the store will remain long enough that there is a possibility. It means a lot of a lot of people.

https://bendblockbuster.com/

Goody's in Bend, and Bend

As we were anticipating our trip to the last Blockbuster in Bend, I was told we were also going to Goody's. I assumed it was Sam Goody and though we were just going to go back to the '90s for a day.

It turns out that Goody's is a candy store in Bend, with an ice cream counter. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

They have a lot of plush from Ty and an unusually large gummy selection, but there are a lot of stores like that. I think we passed at least two in Sisters on the way.

Which is not a reason not to go. If you are enjoying a warm day in Bend and want ice cream, or want to take people chocolate Bend logos as a souvenir, it totally makes sense to go. 

I liked the clever conversion of bike helmets into truffle models for the display window.

Mainly I think about it because it is such a change from the Bend I remember. That is too much distraction for the Blockbuster post, so I will just get this out of my system first.

When I was about 8 or 9, we went to Bend. I remember looking at red, volcanic rocks with a lot of ground squirrels, and shiny black obsidian, and going down these long volcanic tunnels.

As far as I can tell, these were Lava Lands, the Big Obsidian Flow, and Boyd Cave, which may not all be in Bend proper, but more in Deschutes National Forest.

That may be why everything seemed so much less populated. Bend has grown a lot, but there may have been more to the town than I realized even then.

I know there are a lot of outdoor things to do, but having been there now, the main impression is that you can walk along and window shop. That is fine, but not really my thing, and possibly done better by Sisters, where there seems to be more unified construction.

Places appear different decades letter. Some of those changes are actual, and some may be more a matter of perspective.

Honestly -- and I have mixed feelings about it -- I am not even that into candy anymore.

https://goodyschocolates.com/

https://www.visitbend.com/

https://www.sisterscountry.com/

Hood River: The History Museum of Hood River County

You may think of Hood River as a place for windsurfing, skiing, and other outdoor recreation. That is true, and that aspect is represented at the history museum. It is even represented historically, as you can see some really old skis.

There is much more there, including the wheel from the last sternwheeler race on the river.

Growing out of the Pioneer Society started in 1907, the museum has many artifacts from their pioneer times.

They do not limit the collection to that history. There are also displays about indigenous residents and their history, art, and prominent artisan, nurse and healer Martha Aleck.

A mural honoring Aleck and Shizue Iwatsuki, a social organizer and poet who came to Hood River from Japan, starts your experience.

Once you begin acknowledging non-white residents, it can open the door to uglier truths, like internment of Japanese-Americans, and efforts after release to keep those residents from coming back.

The museum does not shy away from that and is stronger for it.

One of the most eye-catching displays was a section on old fruit labels, reminding you of local agriculture.

Local history, water sports, and business combine in the exhibit on locally founded Luhr-Jensen fishing lures.

From its early origins in an unused chicken coop during the Depression, you can see lures, and watch media while sitting in a boat (kind of).

In addition to displays, there are archived materials available.

The real treasure is the staff, who are eager to help and share stories. 

It is easy to look at a picture and miss details, but give them a chance and staff will point things out and enrich the experience.

They also told us about a 1905 murder case that resulted in the first conviction for murder in the absence of a body, with evidence presented by Portland chemist Dr. L. Victoria Hampton.

Historically, residents have not liked to talk about that one, but with the popularity of true crime podcasts, there could be some opportunities there.

COVID: I did not see anyone else wearing masks. It was not crowded, but it is also not a large building.

Accessibility: There is a wheelchair lift to the second floor. It may not be quite as convenient as an elevator, but it's there.

It is a nice little museum, with a heart.

https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org/