March 17th is the one day of the year when everyone in Central Oregon is Irish, and the Astro Lounge, Bend’s chic urban night spot rings in with a St. Patrick’s Day party and everything from shamrocks to leprechauns. Astro Lounge is renowned for a menu that includes more than 25 Specialty Martinis.  Specially priced menu items and custom drinks will be the highlight of the party.

Regulars swear the Lemon Drops are the best in town, and during happy hour are only three dollars, or a choice of three 5oz. martinis are five dollars.  The house-infused pineapple rum Mai-Tai is sweet, tropical and filling.  The bartenders aptly shake out a Key Lime Pie martini until it comes out smooth and frothy with the rim dipped in sweet/sour lime juice and a fine graham cracker crust. For an extra kick try the Anastasia martini which is laced with Raspberry Stoli. Many prefer combos like the Astrodisiac martini for two which comes with fish tacos, gouda cheese fondue and coconut prawns or Tahini chicken spears. Astro Lounge hand cut French fries or Stromboli appetizers are tasty with any martini. Onion rings are plump but never greasy. Those in the know advise ordering martinis with bleu cheese olives.

The Astro Lounge is romantic and perfect for meeting and greeting. The chic loft lounge is set off with plush leather or velvet sofas, mirrored candles, and oversized chairs and loveseats in the darkened corners. From seating on regular balcony tables people watching is a seemingly endless parade. The Astro Lounge address is 147 NW Minnesota in Bend. For more information check the internet or call 541-388-0116.

Valentine’s night at Marz Bistro in downtown Bend promises to be full of love. Love of savory food, a cozy but eclectic atmosphere, and new creations from masterful chefs. Friends and fans of the ten-year-old restaurant call eating at Marz a “Best of Planet-class” experience.  The Source Weekly reports ”Marz still has it – trendiness (so important in the fickle eatery biz), great food, good prices and a staff that seems to have as much fun as their clientele.”  Intelligent menu choices include the Valentine’s Night Special, and a wide variety of well prepared starters, such as pine nuts spanikopita, scrumptious Thai seafood cakes, feta and spicy lettuce wraps. Owner Matt Davis recommends the red curry dish, and his house favorite, pork tenderloin. Another source of the chefs’ pride is the chicken korma, an Indian dish that pushes flavors to their limit, but never compromises taste and balance. The waiters are hip and can be entertaining. The booths are wavy and the table settings have the look of SoCal Beaterville. The wait for a table can be an hour but no one ever complains about it. Past patrons have said, “If there’s amore in your heart and you find yourself in Central Oregon, take your Valentine date to Marz.” Staff advises to make reservations early. Call 541-389-2025. Marz Bistro is open 5:00 pm to closing seven days per week.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School brings romance to Bend couples with a special Valentine Overnight Package — available throughout the Valentine week starting Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 17. The cost is $185-$229 per couple per night (21 and over) and includes:
• Lodging for two in a queen European room
• Dinner at McMenamins Pub
• A bottle of Edgefield Winery’s sparkling wine with two keepsake flutes
• Breakfast the following morning
On Wednesday, February 13 McMenamins and opbmusic.org presents Great Northwest Music Tour featuring the live music of The Everybodyfields. The 7:00 PM concert is free and open to all ages.

The Everybodyfields are from Johnson City, Tennessee. They are a band rapidly gaining a reputation as the front-runners of the newest generation of the alt-country movement. They offer melancholic interpretations of universal human stories set to achingly beautiful melodies, put to life with such instrumentation as lap steel, lead guitar, electric bass, piano and acoustic guitar.

The members of The Everybodyfields cite their influences as country, rock and roll, and folk. Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews front the act, sharing instruments and seamlessly merging their wildly different voices. Quinn’s echoing twang reverberates like a long-lost radio broadcast and provides a hard edge to Andrews pure, soothing tones.

For more information about McMenamins Old St. Francis Valentine packages or The Everybodyfields concert, call 541-382-4228 or toll free 877-661-4228 or visit the Old St. Francis website.