Annual Manual: Greater Spokane Inc. Edition 2024-25

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Explore the Inland Northwest

Think about the last time you went on a trip, whether halfway around the globe or just an hour or two away by car. Chances are you were eager to explore your temporary new surroundings as much as possible, from sampling local specialty foods and drinks to getting out and about in nature. Maybe you went to a lively community festival or made time to visit a quirky landmark. Certainly you took tons of photos to capture as many memories as possible.

Now think about the last time you stepped outside your own front door with the express intent of exploring the countless opportunities just a few minutes or miles away. Local restaurants and shops. Hiking trails and campsites. Sporting events and concerts.

We’re truly spoiled for choice here in the Inland Northwest, so why not try to experience everyday life at home with more of that tourist mindset?

At the Inlander, we write about all of the above every week in our weekly edition — and right here in our 244-page Annual Manual. In the pages to come, we promise there’s tons to see, hear, taste and do around the Inland Northwest, from the rolling hills of the Palouse to the towering peaks to the north and everywhere in between.

Don’t put off heading out to a Spokane Velocity or Zephyr soccer match at ONE Spokane Stadium, or checking out a new place to eat, like the French fare at Lorén or Afghan cuisine at Emran. Get tickets to a touring Broadway show like outside your comfort zone and try a local escape room like Think Tank. Read all about these and more in the 2024-25 edition of

Go ahead: It’s OK to act like a tourist in your own town for a while.

ON THE COVER

Annual Manual Editor Chey Scott DON HAMILTON PHOTO

PHOTO: YOUNG KWAK MODELS: ASH HOLMES & LEON JOHNSON

Styled by Fay Ripley of Red Leaf Vintage, pictured walking along the reconstructed Post Street Bridge in downtown Spokane.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

MEET THE DOCTOR NEXT DOOR

Together, the University of Washington and Gonzaga University are growing the next generation of health-care professionals, rooted in our community — and here to stay.

AMY EDDY, M.D. UW School of Medicine ’10 Internal Medicine Residency Director, Spokane Teaching Health Clinic

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Annual Manual

EDITORIAL

ANNUAL MANUAL EDITOR Chey Scott

ANNUAL MANUAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ali Blackwood

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Erick Doxey

Young Kwak

COPY EDITOR Chris Frisella

CONTRIBUTORS Cassandra Benson

Eliza Billingham

Jaclyn Brandt

E.J. Iannelli

Lucy Klebeck

Victor Corral Martinez

Will Maupin

Anne McGregor

Madi Oswalt

Madison Pearson

Azaria Podplesky

Colton Rasanen

Summer Sandstrom

Nate Sanford

Carrie Scozzaro

Fope Seriki

Seth Sommerfeld

Samantha Wohlfeil

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Tamara McGregor

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Carolyn Padgham

Kristi Gotzian

Autumn Adrian Potts

Claire Price

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Tracy Menasco

Stephanie Grinols

Meghan Fitzgerald

ADVERTISING COORDINATORS Colleen Bell-Craig Raja Bejjani

PRODUCTION

PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom Stover

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Derrick King

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Leslie Douglas

OPERATIONS

BUSINESS MANAGER DeeAnn Cook

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Kristin Wagner

CIRCULATION MANAGER Frank DeCaro

CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR Travis Beck

INLAND PUBLICATIONS

PUBLISHER Ted S. McGregor Jr.

GENERAL MANAGER Jer McGregor

The new Post Street Bridge is also a Centennial Trail connection. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

CONSTRUCTION

Making the Upgrade

Around the region, the infrastructure supporting transportation, water and entertainment is getting an upgrade

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Wherever there’s growth, there’s a corresponding need for infrastructure. And wherever there’s a need for infrastructure, it has to be either created or augmented. Which is why, along with death and taxes, you can now count construction as one of life’s certainties.

To that end, there are a number of new and ongoing construction projects around the Inland Northwest, many of them transportation-related. The North-South Freeway in Spokane, long the punchline to jokes about the slow revolutions of bureaucratic gears, is making some visible and encouraging progress. Pullman’s downtown is getting an extensive makeover both under and above ground. And close to downtown Spokane, the Veterans Memorial Arena will soon feature facility improvements — not to mention a revamped image — for the benefit of its performers, audience and sports teams.

POST STREET BRIDGE

While some construction projects seem to drag on forever, it’s good to remember that they do eventually come to an end.

The Post Street Bridge renovation completed in spring 2024 is just one example. This was a $22 million, multiyear project with origins dating back before 2013 — the year that the aging structure was restricted to one-way vehicle traffic for safety reasons. Automobiles were banned from crossing completely in 2019, and restoration work led by Kuney Construction began in earnest in June 2020.

However, a pandemic was also brewing around that time, and the resulting social distancing protocols and supply-chain bottlenecks quickly led to delays. On top of that, the 333-foot bridge’s concrete structure had also deteriorated to the point where restoration required crews to work on one small section at a time.

MAKING THE UPGRADE…

POST STREET BRIDGE…

“These were 100-year-old arches. It’s like any sort of rehab, whether it be at your house or anywhere. You open [it] up and you realize, ‘OK, this is bad. This is worse than we thought,’” says Tobin Smith, a senior project manager at Kuney Construction.

The Post Street Bridge reopened with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 5, 2024 — almost four years to the day after construction started and two years later than initially expected.

The new structure retains the bridge’s iconic open spandrel arch deck design but is deliberately multimodal, which means that it caters to pedestrians and cyclists as much as vehicles. One goal was to integrate the bridge more naturally into nearby Riverfront Park, so its planters and benches incorporate the park’s modern design aesthetic. The bridge also functions as an access point for the Centennial Trail and the Great Gorge Loop Trail.

City officials also used the project as an opportunity to replace an important sewer main serving downtown Spokane. The old, rusting 54-inch wastewater pipe was replaced with a new 60-inch pipe that’s tucked away under the bridge’s deck.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

MAKING THE UPGRADE…

DOWNTOWN PULLMAN

In an effort to create a more “people-centric” and business-friendly environment, the City of Pullman has re-envisioned its downtown core. In April 2024, crews from the Kennewick-based company Apollo Inc. began transformative and comprehensive work on Main Street between Grand Avenue and Spring Street.

There’s hardly a stone that will remain unturned. The approximately $12 million project — $9.5 million of which came from American Rescue Plan Act funding — is replacing undersized pipes, cracked and buckled sidewalks, unruly street trees, and aging utility infrastructure. Even some contaminated soil left by former gas stations has been removed.

East of the intersection with Kamiaken Street, the redesigned Main Street will be slimmed from three to two lanes to allow for wider ADA-accessible sidewalks and more foot traffic. A dedicated crosswalk signal and a concrete speed table will increase safety for pedestrians and drivers alike. Consequently, there may be temporary diversions and altered traffic patterns in place until the project wraps up in October 2024. 

Pullman’s Main Street is getting a major upgrade.

ANSWERS FOR HABITUAL SNOOZE BUTTON HITTERS.

– Jasey L., Numerica team member

SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

As the state’s second-busiest airport behind Sea-Tac, growth is inevitable for Spokane International Airport. Around 6.2 million passengers (up from the current 4.1 million) are expected to pass through the facility in 2030. And the airport has been preparing accordingly.

The first part of the airport’s Terminal Renovation and Expansion, or TREX, program broke ground in October 2022 and was partially operating by June 2024. Covering 144,000 square feet and at a cost of $150 million, this initial project added three new gates to the west side of the airport’s C concourse. The ground boarding gates on the east side will also be swapped out for three passenger loading bridges, and the rest of the upper C concourse gates will be revamped. Plus, the airlines will get six additional counter locations thanks to an extended ticketing area.

Like most large-scale construction projects, TREX isn’t only concerned with introducing new amenities. The existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are getting some much-needed improvements, including energy-efficient features that will help the project attain green LEED certification. Travelers will also see modernized lighting, baggage handling, signage, restrooms and escalators among other things. They can also expect big boosts to accessibility in the form of in-floor hearing loops to broadcast announcements to hearing aids, as well as spaces for nursing mothers.

The project timeline forecasts the full C concourse expansion wrapping up near the end of 2025. A second phase of TREX will focus on building a centralized TSA screening checkpoint and baggage claim that also improves movement between the A/B and C concourses. That $179 million project is slated for 2025-27.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with multiple upgrades to water system capacity across the area, the City of Spokane has also been busy building a 3.6 million gallon drinking water reservoir at Spokane International Airport. The $13.3 million project is on track to be completed in late 2024.

Upgrades to the C concourse opened in June 2024, with Sen. Maria Cantwell and Spokane County Commissioner Al French on hand for the reopening. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TREX

MAKING THE UPGRADE…

I-90 FROM POST FALLS TO COEUR D’ALENE

As part of regional improvements to Interstate 90 near Coeur d’Alene, a section near Post Falls will continue to see heightened construction activity, especially around the Idaho State Highway 41 interchange. Throughout summer 2024, the east and westbound bridges will be paved and the medians widened. Some utility work, including a waterline installation, is bundled into that.

Come autumn and continuing into spring 2025, I-90 traffic near Post Falls will shift to the new westbound bridges, and crews will start laying the foundation for the completed permanent bridges. While all this is happening, drivers beware that there will be temporary lane reductions around the interchange, and the I-90 westbound loop off-ramp will be replaced by a straight one.

Spring 2025 will also mark the start of a long-planned widening of I-90 from two lanes to four in both directions between Highway 41 and U.S. Route 95 in Coeur d’Alene. That will involve more on- and off-ramp reconfiguration along that stretch of freeway as well as widening the bridges over Huetter Road, Atlas Road and Prairie Trail. Given that the second and final phase of the project won’t begin until fall 2025, expect construction to span into 2026.

Post Falls traffic will improve with major renovations to I-90, but the project is expected to run into 2026.

UNDERSTANDING HEALTHCARE OPTIONS:

A Parent’s Guide to Levels of Care

As a parent, you’ve likely encountered that moment of panic when your child is sick or injured, and you don’t know what to do. Should you call 911, head to the emergency room, visit urgent care, or wait things out at home? “Understanding different levels of care can help you make the right decision about what to do next quickly and confidently,” says Cicely White a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Veradale Medical Center in Spokane.

Life-Threatening Situations

You should call 911 immediately or head to the Emergency Room (ER) for life-threatening emergencies. This includes situations where a child is unconscious or not breathing, bleeding heavily, or in such severe pain. You should also head to the ER if your child:

• Is severely dehydrated, in respiratory distress, or very lethargic

• Has severe pain in the lower right abdomen, a symptom of appendicitis

• Is experiencing elevated asthma or breathing problems

• Has suffered a very hard hit or strong impact, especially with loss of consciousness

Don’t call 911 for non-emergencies or to get faster treatment at the hospital. “All patients are assessed based on medical need, regardless of how they arrive,” Dr. White adds. “If you decide to head to the ER, be prepared to wait and bring comfort items like a blanket and items to keep your child entertained.”

For Most Health Concerns

Your regular doctor’s office is the best place for routine care, check-ups, and non-urgent health concerns. They can also address developmental questions or school-related issues. Dr. White says, “Many providers offer after-hours phone lines, online chats or virtual visits to help you decide if immediate care is needed.” These resources can be invaluable in determining the appropriate level of care.

When It Can’t Wait Until Monday

Urgent care bridges the gap between your regular doctor’s office and the ER.

As Dr. White, explains, “Urgent care is appropriate when you have a condition that needs prompt attention but isn’t lifethreatening. If you’re experiencing issues like minor fractures, sprains, moderate cuts, or severe cold and flu symptoms, it’s best to visit urgent care.”

You know your child best

As a parent, you know your child best. Always trust your instincts as a parent; if you feel something is seriously wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician immediately. If you’re worried, it’s better to seek medical help than to wait and risk complications. By understanding the different levels of care, you can make informed decisions and ensure your family receives the right care at the right time.

MAKING THE UPGRADE…

SPOKANE ARENA AND PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT

For watersports enthusiasts, “PFD” conjures a personal floatation device, such as a life jacket. For Alaskans, it may be their Permanent Fund Dividend.

But in Spokane, the PFD is the Public Facilities District. It’s the government entity tasked with stewarding what has become an impressive array of venues — the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane Convention Center, First Interstate Center for the Arts, ONE Spokane Stadium and the Podium. The confusion is something that the organization is hoping to dispel through a top-to-bottom image revamp.

“The rebrand is needed for multiple reasons,” explains Matt Meyer, the PFD’s director of entertainment, “the biggest being that our own community doesn’t fully understand what the Spokane Public Facilities District does. Many

times people think we’re a utility company. But we’ve added two more buildings with multiple functions, our company culture has shifted, and

“It’s time to bring our brand to the forefront.”

we’ve grown substantially over the last three to four years. It’s time to bring our brand to the forefront.”

The forthcoming rebrand is being overseen by Power Marketing and entails a makeover for

ABOVE: Public Facilities District CEO Stephanie Curran and Director of Entertainment Matt Meyer on the Spokane Arena floor during renovations in July 2024.

ABOVE RIGHT: Dynamic new lighting, new seats and back-of-house improvements were all part of the $10.2 million renovation. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

all the venues’ websites, revised color palettes, coordinated signage and perhaps even a public-facing name change. The rollout is expected to take place over several months in late 2024 and early 2025.

The PFD-wide rebrand follows a $10.2 million renovation to the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, most of which was completed during July 2024 when, to expedite construction, the Arena briefly went dark. It reopened in time for the Jelly Roll concert on Aug. 30.

During that time, multiple suites were renovated, and work began on moving the club bar for a better customer experience. The ribbon board that wraps around the Arena bowl was switched to LED lighting that will reduce energy consumption by about two-thirds. Another dynamic lighting feature that can be synced to live performances was also added below a portion of the ribbon. The old metal halide event lighting on the north side of the arena bowl also got an energy-efficient upgrade to LED.

Retractable seating on three sides of the approximately 12,000-seat arena was replaced, too, which will speed up changeovers between athletic events. Speaking of which, the sports teams will enjoy remodeled back-of-house rooms as well as better showers and restrooms. Work on those final parts of the renovation project should be done in time for the Spokane Chiefs’ first game of the season on Sept. 28, 2024.

The Spokane Arena, inside and out. COURTESY OF SPOKANE ARENA

NORTH SPOKANE CORRIDOR

Though only 10.5 miles long, the North-South Freeway, officially known as the North Spokane Corridor, might rank as the region’s most anticipated stretch of road. Once completed, it will offer motorists — and freight trucks in particular — a way to bypass the stop-and-go traffic on Division Street between I-90 and highways US-2 and US-395 north of the city.

A key section of the North Spokane Corridor between Freya Street and Wellesley Avenue was fully opened in November 2023. Around that time, construction was already underway on a related $91 million section of the freeway that crosses the Spokane River. The bridge at the heart of that project will ultimately connect the skyway portion near Spokane Community College to the south and East Carlisle Avenue to the north. That work is expected to last well into the 2025 construction season.

Also in early 2025, two North Spokane Corridor projects (representing a combined $324 million) will see the construction of new lanes and interchanges between Mission and Sprague avenues. These will link previously completed stretches by the time they’re finished in 2027 and 2028. As for the final connection to I-90, the first of four phases is slated to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.

The North Spokane Corridor is no joke, as it’s coming together year by year; next up, connecting to Interstate 90. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

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Emilie Cameron

Downtown Spokane

Partnership’s president and CEO talks about leaving Sacramento for Spokane and the local amenities that excite her INTERVIEWED BY E.J. IANNELLI

Before coming to Spokane in 2022 to serve as president and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, much of Emilie Cameron’s life centered on her hometown of Sacramento. It was there in the California capital that she rose to become the Downtown Sacramento Partnership district affairs and development director from 2015 to 2021. During that time, she was recognized repeatedly as a leader among the local civic and business communities.

Early in her career, Cameron witnessed firsthand how disparate fields such as housing, transportation, small business, art and athletics intersect in downtown cores. Since arriving in the Inland Northwest, she has advocated for ways in which all those fields can mutually benefit.

INLANDER : What led to you swapping Sacramento for Spokane?

CAMERON: I had learned about Spokane several years ago when I was on the executive board for the Urban Land Institute in Sacramento. We had actually studied how Spokane embraced its riverfront because Sacramento was trying to learn how we could do something similar. So Spokane had been on my radar, and the more I learned about it, it really piqued my interest. And based on what I know, my skill set, I thought I could add value here.

Then when I came to Spokane for my interview, I must’ve spent probably three or four hours that first day just walking through Riverfront Park, along the gorge, and just really fell in love with what an incredible downtown Spokane has.

Have you noticed parallels between Spokane and Sacramento?

Sacramento, like Spokane, is a city between two destinations. Spokane is the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis; Sacramento is the largest city between Lake Tahoe and San Francisco. And it’s also a city surrounded by significant outdoor amenities,

SPEED ROUND

Favorite season to experience downtown Spokane?

I’m still learning to enjoy snow, so it would have to be late spring, when we plant the flowers and people come back for Bloomsday and Hoopfest.

Must-visit spot when you have out-of-town guests?

Every time I have someone in town, I take them to Wooden City on Riverside Avenue. It’s phenomenal.

What’s a personal pastime or hobby?

I really like to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds Spokane.

If you weren’t in your present career, what would you be doing?

I’d be a floral designer. It’s just a passion. I’ve always really enjoyed flowers.

meaning you can live in Sacramento and be on a hiking trail within 30 minutes. You can mountain bike, you can river raft, you name it. Spokane is obviously very similar in that respect.

But there are other parallels, too. The Great Recession really reset Sacramento. People started coming back again, and Sacramento defined its own identity of who it wanted to be and where it wanted to go. I see similar things happening in Spokane. As we hear from more and more people who are either returning or moving to Spokane, it’s embracing its identity, especially through the arts.

What is it you love about your line of work?

This is a career that oftentimes can be really hard to explain to our loved ones what we’re doing all day and why we’re home so late. But I think part of the reason I’m so passionate about it is because we get to flex a lot of different skills. One of the things that’s so unique about these types of organizations [like the DSP] is that we are conveners and facilitators and problem solvers. We have to be nimble. We wear lots of hats. And we’re also often looking at the broader picture and are able to plug in solutions where they’re needed. 

“Spokane’s embracing its identity, especially through the arts.” YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Building a healthier future together

Who’s Moving to the Inland Northwest?

Voter and driver’s license data in Idaho and Washington debunk some myths about who’s moving here and why

BY COLTON RASANEN

In 2023, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane hired Gabe Osterhout to dissect swaths of untapped data from state voter registrations in the newly created position of data visualization specialist.

“We just had this treasure trove of data,” Osterhout says. “The stuff we’re presenting has always been publicly available, but not in a way that was easily digestible.”

When Osterhout set out to transform the data that was just collecting dust, he uncovered a gem. Thanks to an optional question on voter registration forms about previous residences, he found a cache of information about people moving to Idaho.

What it showed probably won’t surprise you: There are more former Californians in North Idaho than people from any other state (other than Idaho). Almost 40,000 of them to be exact.

In all, 118,639 voters reported moving to Idaho from somewhere else. That’s about 12% of the state’s 1.07 million voters.

Across the border, Washington doesn’t track migrating voters. Instead, the state has information of a different, yet still mobile, kind: driver’s license data.

By looking at driver’s license and ID card data, we found some similarities to Idaho — more people moved to Washington from California than from any other state.

Between January 2022 and May 2024, more than 78,000 former Californians obtained a Washington state license.

Contrary to some popular claims, not all of the former Californians flocking to Idaho are Democrats coming to liberalize the Gem State. In reality, most people moving to Idaho are Republicans. In fact, 75% of those California emigres registered as Republicans in Idaho. (By contrast, only

59% of the state’s 1 million voters are registered as Republicans.)

The Idaho data seems to show Republicans leaving their home states to move to Idaho for its conservative leadership, but Travis Hagner, a political science professor at North Idaho College, says that’s a large claim for such a relatively small amount of data.

“Without the data to support these assumptions, it’s just a pretty picture,” he says. “I think we can get to the truth, rather than getting to the gut feeling around here that ‘those people from California are moving here and bringing their politics.’”

David Callahan, Kootenai County community development director, says many move to North Idaho to avoid the congestion of the cities they come from. But that desire to move away from the city has in turn effectively created the very issues they hoped to escape.

Its recent growth notwithstanding, Idaho remains one of the country’s least-densely populat-

ed states, but the ongoing influx of residents has eroded that small-town feel.

While the median cost of a home jumped nearly $150,000 in Spokane County between 2019 and 2024, Kootenai County saw a much larger jump in the median home value, from about $281,079 in 2019 to $519,960 in 2024.

Median rental prices in Coeur d’Alene dropped to $1,783 in June 2024, but still come in about $300 higher than the average in Spokane.

If it seems like commutes are getting worse, they are, but not drastically. According to U.S. Census data, the

Inland Northwest by the Numbers

COMPLIED BY NATE SANFORD

average 2012 commute was 21 minutes in Spokane and Kootenai counties, and by 2022 had increased to about 22 minutes in Spokane County and 24 minutes in Kootenai County.

Callahan has been looking to communities around the country for ways to handle the region’s growth but hasn’t found a onestop solution. While it’s too early to assess the impact of any potential solutions, such as updating the county’s comprehensive plan to adjust for growth or changing policies to allow more homes on less land, Callahan is optimistic that growth-focused changes will lead to a better future for those who call North Idaho home — even if they came from out of state.

County homes like this one have jumped in value by $150,000 on average since 2019.

INLAND NORTHWEST BY THE NUMBERS…

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

4.2% 3.8%

SOURCE: U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2024 (bls.gov)

Kootenai Co.

Spokane Co.

$487,990 $426,500

SOURCES: Washington Center for Real Estate Research, First Quarter 2024 Housing Market Snapshot (wcrer.be.uw.edu); issuu.com/tomlinsonhome/docs/cbt_kootenaimarketreport_january2024

SOURCE: US Census (census.gov/quickfacts)

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HOUSING

More Density, More Homes

Big changes to Spokane’s zoning laws are bringing creative, new housing designs BY

In March 2024, the city of Spokane approved plans for a project called the “Spokane Six” — a six-unit apartment building going up on a lot that was occupied by a single-family home on South Grand Boulevard, a block from Manito Park on the South Hill.

Matt Hutchins, an architect with the Seattle-based CAST architecture firm that designed the building, describes it as a “traditional, simple box.”

“There’s a traditional vernacular in American residential design that is sort of blocky, big eaves and detailed porches,” Hutchins says. “It feels very much like it could have been built in the ’20s or in the ’40s.”

NATE SANFORD

Sixplex buildings like the Spokane Six are common in Spokane’s historic Browne’s Addition and Cliff-Cannon neighborhoods. But those buildings are almost all close to 100 years old. During the latter half of the 20th century, Spokane and many other American cities passed zoning laws that prevented those housing types from being built in most neighborhoods.

That’s what makes the Spokane Six so notable. The design itself may be simple, but until just two years ago, it would have been illegal to build.

The Spokane Six is only possible because, in 2022, the city responded to a dire housing shortage by passing a sweeping set of zoning

changes. They made it legal to build multifamily housing in all parts of Spokane previously restricted to single-family homes and dramatically expanded the types of housing that are possible to build.

The zoning reforms prompted a major uptick in permit activity. The changes went much further than other Washington cities, receiving praise from Gov. Jay Inslee and national recognition for taking a bold approach to the housing crisis.

“One of the great things about Spokane is there’s an acknowledgement that they have a housing affordability crisis, and they’re being proactive about solving it,” Hutchins says.

In 2023, the city issued 1,340 residential building permits — the highest number on record since 1995, and a 56% increase over the prior four-year average.

Of the total residential permits, 984 were for multifamily units. The previous record for multifamily units permitted in a year was 506 in 1996.

The city also permitted 37 duplexes in 2023, which translates to 74 residential units. That’s more than the previous four years combined.

The Spokane Six is an example of what’s become known as “middle housing.” It’s a category that includes duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and other small, low-intensity developments that sit in between single-family homes and large apartment buildings.

The sixplex design offers several advantages over larger apartments, Hutchins says. Instead of just one wall being open to the outdoors, the Spokane Six will have windows on three sides of each unit, allowing every room plentiful views of the outdoors. The project will be three stories tall, with two units per floor.

“As a way of adding housing to existing neighborhoods, it’s just a great template,” he says. 

Builders are looking to do more with less space. CAST ARCHITECTURE RENDERING

Meeting of the Modes

A new “community village” in Liberty Lake aims to take a Scandinavian approach to working — and living BY NATE SANFORD

Mode is hard to define. The company — stylized as MØDE — is a new coworking space in Liberty Lake. But it’s also a fitness center. And a school. And a doctor’s office. It’s a lifestyle. If founder Luke Kjar is to be believed, Mode could be part of the solution to America’s loneliness epidemic and mental health crisis — a revolution in communal existence.

“In today’s society, we don’t focus enough on collaborating and meeting together,” Kjar says. “There’s no connectivity to humans when you don’t know your neighbors anymore.”

Kjar, who’s described in marketing materials as a “visionary entrepreneur,” officially launched Mode in spring 2024. He was inspired by his Danish roots. Unlike Americans, who are famously unhappy, residents of the Scandinavian country are consistently ranked as the happiest in the world. Kjar thinks it’s

the result of superior education, health care, community and work-life balance.

Mode seeks to solve all those things.

The company’s 220,000-square-foot campus is massive In addition to coworking spaces, Mode features a cafe, health clinic, physical therapy space, sauna, music recording studios, classrooms, a podcast space, dance studio, speakeasy, and multiple gyms for volleyball, wrestling, jujitsu and pilates. It’s still growing. Kjar has plans to add a cigar lounge, barber and other amenities.

“This building allowed us to bring all those together,” he says. “I have every square inch of it programmed out to be very intentional.”

The basic idea is to give people everything they need to be happy in one place. Instead of feeling isolated and stressed trying to drive across town to drop their kids off at soccer practice after work, parents working in Mode’s

With multiple uses under one roof, Mode founder Luke Kjar wants to bring a slice of Denmark to the Inland Northwest. MODE COURTESY PHOTOS

coworking spaces can simply pick their kid up from school and walk them down the hall for practice, Kjar says.

The activities at Mode run on concurrent schedules. One kid can take a music lesson while the other practices ballet. Instead of spending time waiting around on their phones, parents can use that time to work out in a gym down the hall, take a pilates class or fire off emails in a coworking space. After that, the family can grab dinner together at Mode’s cafeteria and connect with other members at an evening swing dancing session or other community event.

Kjar’s vision for Mode sounds almost utopian. Walking through the campus, it’s hard not to be drawn in. The space is beautiful — packed with plants and a cozy Scandinavian aesthetic.

LEARN MORE

MØDE

Mode is still working out pricing models. A basic membership package with access to most campus amenities starts at $249 a month, Kjar says. Mode currently has a few hundred members, and capacity for about 1,000 total.

2110 N. Molter Rd., Liberty Lake 509-255-3734

findyourmode.com

After touring the campus, I tell Kjar that it seems like someone could hypothetically go about their entire daily life without ever leaving the building. Other than to sleep, of course.

Kjar laughs and points out the window at an empty patch of land.

“There’s about 250 condos going in right there,” he says, adding that he’s partnering with the developer so residents will have full access to Mode.

Kjar hopes Mode will keep growing.

“We’ll prove a lot of things that people say are impossible,” Kjar says. “We can save people a lot of money and time and also make their lives a lot better and happier.” 

EDUCATION

Helping the World

Researchers at WSU and Gonzaga hope to help fight hunger and parasitic infections worldwide

BY NATE SANFORD AND SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

Cedric Habiyaremye learned what it’s like to be hungry when he was 7 years old. It was spring 1994, at the start of what would become known as the Rwandan genocide. Habiyaremye and his family were forced to flee their home in Gafunzo, Rwanda, and faced severe food insecurity as they made their way to a refugee camp in Tanzania.

“I faced hunger and starvation for the very first time,” Habiyaremye says.

When Habiyaremye and his family were finally able to return to

Rwanda three years later, he saw how the chaos and violence had left the country with a dire shortage of food.

“That’s when I thought that, if I survive, I want to study agriculture and see ways we can never go to bed hungry,” Habiyaremye says.

He ended up pursuing a master’s degree at Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences and then obtained a Ph.D. in agronomy and crop science.

At WSU he learned about the potential benefits of quinoa. The crop is rich in nutrients and highly resilient. It can thrive in poor soil conditions, can be stored for long periods of time and has edible leaves that can be eaten while it’s growing. People can use it to make drinks, flour, food for animals and a host of tasty dishes.

Habiyaremye took quinoa home to Rwanda in 2015 and introduced it to several farmers. He then partnered with Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture to bring more quinoa into the country and train farmers

CALEB WALSH ILLUSTRATION

on how to grow and cook it in hopes it could one day help solve the country’s hunger crisis. The program had about a dozen farmers in its first year. Today, Habiyaremye says there are close to 1,000 farmers.

Recently he’s been collaborating with WSU and Brigham Young University to develop new varieties of quinoa that thrive in diverse climates.

The work was started by researchers at BYU, who developed close to 1,000 breeding lines and sent them to WSU for experimentation.

From there, Habiyaremye worked with researchers at WSU to identify the best-performing seeds and took them to Rwanda for further testing. They found the quinoa varieties that performed best in Rwanda originated in Ecuador, which is similarly close to the equator.

In June 2023, the researchers announced the release of three new quinoa varieties: Shisa, Gikungu and Cougar.

Shisa quinoa is specifically designed to thrive in Rwanda’s high-altitude regions. It matures slightly earlier than other varieties. The name was chosen by farmers, Habiyaremye says, and means “to flourish” in Kinyarwanda, one of Rwanda’s official languages.

“They chose this name because they say quinoa has improved their lives and the lives of their children and helped them grow and develop in a healthy and vigorous way,” Habiyaremye says.

Gikungu is designed for low altitudes. The name means “economy” and was chosen because of the role quinoa can play in economic development.

The third strain, “Cougar,” was named by researchers at WSU after the school’s mascot. Cougar quinoa has distinctive, vibrant red seeds and bright green leaves. It can thrive in both high and low altitudes.

“We want to develop a system where quinoa can be among the staple foods in the country,” Habiyaremye says.

Through his company, QuinoaHub, Habiyaremye is continuing to help train farmers on how to grow the plant. He’s recently expanded to eight other countries in Africa.

Many crop seeds are patented, which means the companies that create those strains maintain control and receive royalties off all seeds that are sold. But Habiyaremye says the three new quinoa strains are open source so anyone is free to use and share them.

Quinoa should be used for the “greater good of humanity,” Habiyaremye says. “We don’t want to make quinoa a cash crop.” (NS)

Cedric Habiyaremye

ANNUAL REPORT HELPING THE WORLD…

While chemists have discovered an amazing amount of information about the many complex combinations of atoms that make up the world around us, there’s still much to learn about how certain compounds are biosynthesized — in other words, how they’re organically created in living things.

For decades, that’s been the focus of Jennifer Shepherd, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Gonzaga University.

When she first started in the field as a master’s student in the ’90s, Shepherd says she helped UCLA researchers who were trying to figure out the enzymes needed to create a chemical compound called ubiquinone.

Ubiquinone is found in most living organisms and it’s essential in the energy production and transfer process within our cells. Ubiquinone in humans is also called Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, which you can now find in the supplement aisle at the grocery store.

CALEB WALSH ILLUSTRATION

When she started teaching at Gonzaga more than 25 years ago, Shepherd began researching a highly similar compound called rhodoquinone, or RQ, that’s made by parasites and microbes for essentially the same purpose.

The major difference is that while ubiquinone helps create energy in oxygen-rich environments, the rhodoquinone found in parasites helps them create energy in anaerobic environments where there’s a lack of oxygen, enabling them to thrive in places like our guts.

“I’ve spent pretty much the majority of my career trying to figure out how these organisms make rhodoquinone,” Shepherd says. “The enzymes that are needed to make it, those are selective targets that we can try to inhibit or shut down.”

The goal is to create new medications tar-

“EVERY DAY WE HAVE THE HONOR OF PROVIDING DIGNITY, RESPECT

geting those enzymes to fight parasitic infections.

Currently, there are only a handful of drugs on the market to treat parasitic worms, and they’ve remained the same for decades, so parasites are becoming more resistant. In some places it’s commonplace to take the medications on a monthly basis because the infections can’t be avoided.

Each year, more than 3.5 billion people globally are affected by intestinal parasitic infections, and more than 200,000 people die from those infections, according to 2021 research published by the National Library of Medicine.

Shepherd’s team is working to find solutions.

It took about a decade for Shepherd and other researchers to figure out one of the chemical pathways that parasites use to produce RQ.

Since then, Shepherd’s team has worked with researchers in Uruguay and Canada to

move that work forward.

Most recently, a team from the University of Toronto has been developing drug candidates that might help stop RQ production. Gonzaga’s team helps figure out how well the drugs work by analyzing batches of worms that have been treated with the drug candidates. The team processes the dried worm samples, extracting the fatty compounds where RQ can be found, and then using a mass spectrometer to see how much of the compound is present.

“We found some promising candidates,” she says.

Now, the collaborators are working to verify the drugs’ effectiveness and figure out exactly how they work.

“We know it reduces the amount of rhodoquinone, but we don’t know how,” Shepherd says. “They’re trying to figure out what enzyme in this pathway is being inhibited.”

Once that becomes clear, it’s possible the drugs could move to clinical testing and start the long process of getting approved for use. (SW) 

THAT’S

– Kelli Stangel, RN, BSN, CHPN, Hospice House Manager

Jennifer Shepherd

Local Colleges and Universities

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

w Public

w Cheney

w Online graduate degree programs available

w Founded 1882

w Undergrad Enrollment: 10,915 (fall ’22)

IN THE NEWS: EWU President Shari McMahan announced in July 2024 that the university was moving toward “building a polytechnic model at EWU, focusing on applied learning in high-demand fields, while still providing a liberal arts education.”

FUN FACT: It’s easy to remember the Four G’s of the EWU Eagles Creed: Grit, Grace, Gratitude and Greatness.

ALUMS: Author Jess Walter, ’87; 2022 Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp ’17; Comic book author and DC Multiverse toy creator Todd McFarlane, ’84; Washington state Gates Foundation Director Angela Jones, ’05; FOX Sports personality Colin Cowherd, ’85.

BY ANNE McGREGOR

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

w Public

w Pullman

w Satellite Campuses: Spokane, Tri-Cities, w Vancouver, Everett, Global (online)

w Founded 1890

w Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,050 (fall ’23); 537 at WSU-Spokane

IN THE NEWS: Anne McCoy is WSU’s new athletic director, the first woman to be appointed to the post.

FUN FACT: WSU is one of just six universities in the U.S. where a student can earn a degree in “wine” (better known as Viticulture and Enology).

ALUMS: U.S. Senator and first woman to serve as Senate president pro tempore Patty Murray, ’72; author Sherman Alexie, ’94; Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson, ’72; sports commentator Keith Jackson,’54, journalist Edward R. Murrow ’30.

From left: Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga ’11 YOUNG KWAK PHOTO Edward R. Murrow, WSU ’30

Jess Walter, EWU ’87

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO Sen. Patty Murray, WSU ’72

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY

w Private Liberal Arts, Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic (Jesuit)

w Spokane

w Online graduate programs available

w Founded 1887

w Undergraduate enrollment: 5,163 (fall ’23)

IN THE NEWS: Mantua Hall, scheduled for completion in January 2025, will house 92 second-year students in a building designed to promote energy efficiency through solar panels and heat pump technology.

FUN FACT: GU men’s basketball team has reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen nine consecutive years. Will 2024 mark the Bulldog’s 10th visit to the Sweet Sixteen?

ALUMS: Former Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire ’77 (law school); NBA Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton, ’84; founder of AVVO Mark Britton, ’89, NBA Toronto Raptor center Kelly Olynyk, ’13; WNBA New York Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot ’11.

WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY

w Private Liberal Arts, Religious Affiliation: Presbyterian Church

w Spokane

w Also offers remote synchronous and online graduate programs

w Founded 1890

w Undergraduate enrollment: 2,045 (fall ’22)

IN THE NEWS: The $20 million PACCAR Engineering Building, scheduled to open January 2026, will offer research and collaborative spaces as part of an integrated engineering program.

FUN FACT: 100% of incoming students receive financial aid.

ALUMS: Executive director of Evangelicals for Democracy and author Richard Cizik, ’73; former Washington state Rep. Kevin Parker ’96; author and Blood:Water Mission co-founder Jena Lee Nardella, ’04.

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

w Public

w Moscow

w Satellite Campuses: Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, Campus 360 (online)

w Founded 1889

w Undergraduate enrollment: 7,363 (fall ’23)

IN THE NEWS: The School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP) will expand graduate health care education starting in fall 2025, including a Master of Gerontology and planned doctorate in clinical psychology.

FUN FACT: Students can choose among 103 undergraduate majors, including getting a degree in apparel, textiles and design, which prepares graduates to work in the clothing biz, the fourth-biggest industry in the world.

ALUMS: U.S. Sen. and former Idaho Gov. Jim Risch, BS ’65, and JD ’68; documentary filmmaker and co-creator of PBS’ Frontline Michael Kirk, ’71; voice of Spongebob’s Patrick Star Bill Fagerbakke, ’81; vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, ’87; Olympic decathlon gold medalist and three-time world champion Dan O’Brien, ’93. 

Choosing the Alternative

The Inland Northwest’s community colleges offer a wide variety of academic programs, proving to be an apt alternative to four-year universities

BY COLTON RASANEN

The Inland Northwest is known for a lot of things, and its selection of high-quality community college options ought to be one of them. Between Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College and North Idaho College, the academic options for students of any age are incredibly varied. While we can’t name every program available, we can highlight a few of the coolest programs offered.

SPOKANE

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Respiratory Care

bachelor of applied science

Start in fall; 12 quarters

Did you know you could receive a bachelor’s degree from a community college? Spokane Community College’s respiratory care program, which prepares students to become respiratory therapists, is one of five bachelor’s

degree programs offered. The program is so beloved that all three current faculty members graduated from it back when it was still an associate degree program, according to Kayla Friedrich, SCC spokesperson.

Natural Resource Management

associate of applied science

Start in fall or winter; six quarters

For many, the great outdoors offers respite from office work grind, but for the lucky few, the natural world is where they get to spend most workdays. If you hope to become one of these individuals, SCC’s natural resource management program is a clear choice. The two-year degree allows graduates to step right into federal or state agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State Parks.

SPOKANE

FALLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Engineering: Civil and Mechanical associate of science transfer track

Start in fall, winter or spring; seven quarters Spokane Falls Community College is committed to providing students in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field as many resources as possible. So its programs in civil and mechanical engineering are set up for students to succeed and transfer to in-state universities, such as Gonzaga, Eastern Washington and Washington State.

Addiction Studies

associate of applied science

Start in fall, winter or spring; six quarters

If you’re looking to make a difference in your community, SFCC’s addiction studies program could be a strong fit. Substance-use disorder professionals play an integral part in the lives of those who struggle with drug addiction, often offering lifesaving care that allows them to get their lives back on track.

Engineering at SFCC preps students to transfer to regional universities to finish their degrees.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE

ANNUAL REPORT

CHOOSING THE ALTERNATIVE…

Students in this program often work in the field while taking classes. Plus, graduates can jump right into their career or can continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree in integrated behavioral health from SFCC.

Early Childhood Education, associate of applied science Start in fall; six quarters

The need for early childhood educators is growing fast, meaning that about 15% more teachers will be needed by 2031 to provide the same services offered now, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. SFCC is working to fill that gap by providing a robust early childhood education program with nine certificates available and the opportunity to transfer to university afterwards.

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

Pre-Veterinary Medicine transfer program, associate of science Start in fall or spring; four to six semesters

The current shortage of veterinarians nationwide has had a significant impact on the accessibility of health care for animals, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. To combat that in part, North Idaho College offers an associate degree of science in pre-veterinary medicine where NIC graduates have the possibility to transfer to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

American Indian Studies, associate of arts Start in fall or spring; four semesters

The American Indian Studies program at North Idaho College is unique in that it was created in collaboration with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The two-year degree asks students to examine this nation’s first peoples in a way that is both holistic and humanistic. Additionally, this degree satisfies requirements for an associate academic transfer degree, meaning graduates can continue their studies at applicable four-year universities if they desire. 

Other Regional Colleges

WGU WASHINGTON

w Part of Western Governors University

w Private, Nonprofit, Online only

w Founded 1997

w WGU-Washington enrollment: 21,457 (June 2022)

WGU OFFERS competency-based, online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four areas — business, information technology, teaching and health professions. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE COLLEGE

w Public

w Lewiston, Idaho

w Satellite campus location in Coeur d’Alene; also hybrid and online

w Founded 1893

w Undergrad enrollment: 3,789 (fall 2023)

BUSINESS, TECHNICAL and liberal arts education leading to certificates, Associates in Arts, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees

COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE

w Public

w Spokane Community College (founded 1963)

w Spokane Falls Community College (founded 1967)

w Satellite locations: Colville, Inchelium, Newport, Republic, hybrid and online programs

ADULT BASIC, CAREER and technical education leading to certificates and Associates in Arts degrees

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

w Public community college

w Coeur d’Alene

w Founded 1933

ASSOCIATE DEGREES and certificates in liberal arts and STEM fields, as well as career, technical and workforce education, with more than a dozen fully online degree and certificate programs. NOTE: According to NIC.edu: “NIC is going through an evolving process with our accrediting body, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.” The NWCCU is scheduled to meet to decide NIC’s status in January 2025.

— ANNE McGREGOR

Spokane Falls Community College

be In the know FOR ALL THINGS SNOW

Choices in K-12

Washington and Idaho each have many alternatives to public education

In the fall of 2021, 4.7 million K-12 students were enrolled in private schools across the United States — that’s about 9% of the total student population nationwide. In Washington, the number enrolling in private school has grown by nearly 17,000 students since 2019-20 — much of that jump coming during the pandemic. Washington had the third highest growth in private school attendance among all the states, according to the Associated Press.

In Idaho, it’s estimated 16,843 K-12 students were enrolled in private schools in 2021-22, according to the Private School Universe Survey. Idaho enrollment also grew during the pandemic, but overall Idaho only has about 5% of its students in private schools, below the national average.

WASHINGTON PRIVATE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

SOURCE: Washington State Board of Education

* Enrollment numbers are self-reported, and in the 2019-2020 school year only 88 percent of approved private schools reported their enrollment figures.

HOMESCHOOLING

In 2023, the Washington Post did a deep dive into the data and reported that “home schooling has become — by a wide margin — America’s fastest-growing form of education.” In Idaho, it’s hard to gauge how many students are homeschooled, but it is popular, as the U.S. Census found in 2021 that 10% of Idaho kids were homeschooled; the national average is around 6%. The state does track students who leave public schools, and that is how the Idaho Department of Education estimates homeschool enrollment.

In Washington state, where there is a homeschool registration system, homeschooling has also grown. In fact, the AP found a 43% increase from the 2019-20 school year to 2022-23 — about 9,000 students. That’s well above the national average growth rate of 27% over that same time.

SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS

In Idaho, there has been a multi-year effort to offer a school choice or voucher program as exist in some states. The latest effort would have allocated $50 million for tax credits for families to help with their private school tuition. In March of 2024, it failed to make it out of committee at the statehouse in Boise. Public school districts in Idaho do offer magnet and charter schools. Washington state does not have any school choice program for private education, but public magnet and charter schools are available, along with other programs.

Streamlining Student Health

Three Spokane high schools are now equipped with on-campus medical centers for day-to-day health services BY COLTON

RASANEN

Do you remember how exciting it was in high school when you got to leave class early for a doctor’s appointment? That moment of relief as you spent an hour or two away from the classroom felt magical, but if you asked your parents, they might remember it differently.

They’d probably recall the frustrating work it took to rearrange their entire day to take their kid across town for a regular check-

up that couldn’t possibly be scheduled at a more inconvenient time.

In response to that lack of easily accessible student health care, Spokane Public Schools (SPS) has partnered with CHAS Health to build health centers inside three of the district’s high schools, including Rogers, Shadle Park and North Central.

“A huge component of excellent, equitable health care is access,” said Rebecca

The CHAS health care team, including Medical Assistant Jeremy Rinde (above), are now right on site at Shadle Park, Rogers and North Central high schools.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Doughty, the executive director of School Support Services for SPS, in a June 2024 announcement about expanding the clinic offerings. “Delivering care to people where they are at – in this case, students – helps address this issue.”

Rogers High School’s clinic opened in 2020 as a pilot program. While it faltered in its infancy due to pandemic restrictions preventing students from attending school in-person, it’s since seen positive results. In the last 12 months alone, Rogers’ clinic has provided services to more than 650 patients through close to 2,000 visits.

Students are allowed to visit the school clinics without a parent or guardian present, but they need to provide explicit parental consent before any care can be provided.

The clinics inside North Central and Shadle Park, which both opened in May 2024, have already proven invaluable to some students, says Jeff Hayward, one of CHAS Health’s lead physician assistants. For example, Hayward saw a student who’d been struggling with poor vision and was able to get them prescription lenses.

“A

huge component of equitable health care is access”

“This was like the week before school was done,” he says. “That’s almost the whole school year he was struggling to even read the board, and we got him glasses in just a few weeks.”

Hayward’s work in the health centers is mainly focused on a generalized regiment of care, but his background in mental health has proved vital while working with students.

As he bounces between the three high schools, his work includes both in-person and telehealth visits. And unlike school nurses who deal with in-the-moment care, such as stomachaches and administering medication, Hayward can address patient health can make diagnoses and prescribe medications. Additionally, Hayward’s team can provide school-required medical services like annual physical examinations required for sports participation and up-to-date vaccines. The clinics are open year round, from 7:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

“This is the age when you connect with people… and help them build a pathway where they’re stable for the rest of their life,” he says. “I think to be able to intervene in this way has such a profound effect on them, and that’s what I love.”

Both new clinics, Shadle Park and North Central, cost about $300,000 each to install. About half of the facility funding came from Spokane city government, while the rest came out of the school district’s annual capital project funding, which includes leftover funds from the district’s bonds.

Hayward says SPS and CHAS Health plan to open more health centers as the need arises.

“Wherever there’s a need, we want to be there,” Hayward says, “and what else is better for them than to meet their needs right in the place where they’re at during most of the day.” 

FOOD & DRINK

Fresh Plates

ENew restaurants continue to reinvent the dining scene in the Inland Northwest BY

ELIZA BILLINGHAM

veryone knows that the restaurant business is a passion industry. The restaurants that joined the region’s food scene within the past year not only exemplify their creators’ pride and enthusiasm, but also their unique identities, motivations, ideas and heritages. Whether it’s a cafe, a quick counter service, a swanky late-night meal or a family-friendly brewery, you’ll get to know the people behind the restaurant just by spending time with their food. Luckily, it all tastes delicious, too.

Cafe Coco has beautiful food, and a beautiful backstory. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

CAFE COCO

24 W. Main Ave., Spokane “Dear Coco,” it starts.

A love letter to a granddaughter. Not with pen and paper, but with velvet, espresso and pencil.

Celeste Shaw-Coulston — local entrepreneur and owner of Chaps Diner & Bakery, Vinegar Goods, and Lucky Vintage — opened Cafe Coco in downtown Spokane in late July 2023. Known for her beautiful spaces and bleeding heart, Shaw-Coulston has created a haven on East Main Avenue, pairing Chaps’ bakery treats and cappuccinos with moments of peace and rest.

Cafe Coco serves light cafe fare, with croissants, cookies and Danishes from Chaps, plus salads, toasts, sandwiches and savory hand pies. The front case is full of sparkling beverages, alcoholic and not, while standard coffees and seasonal lattes pour out from behind the bar.

Shaw-Coulston’s cafes have always been focused on much more than eating. It was during the pandemic that she first penned the phrase “Food is Love.”

“‘Food is Love’ represents what we feed into our community,” Shaw-Coulston says. “How am I feeding your soul? How am I feeding your spirit? It’s with compassion, and representation, and sacrifice and love. And whatever is necessary to help take care of another human being.”

The cafe is named for Shaw-Coulston’s granddaughter Coco. It stands as a testimony to Coco’s mother, Megan Shaw, who almost died during Coco’s birth. But it also testifies to countless generations of mothers, daughters and friends.

“It’s probably not even just my love letter to Coco, but to everyone that has surrounded me,” Shaw-Coulston says. “You are the sum of whose shoulders stood strong for you to stand on.”

FOOD & DRINK

EMRAN RESTAURANT AND MARKET FRESH PLATES…

1817 N. Division St., Spokane

309 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene

Nasrollah Mohammadi was a young child when he left Afghanistan to flee the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. Born in the northern province of Kunduz, Mohammadi moved through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey before the United Nations Refugee Agency helped him, his wife and his three young children move to Spokane in 2014.

One constant through it all? Food.

At the end of 2023, Mohammadi and his wife, Samira, opened Emran Restaurant & Market on North Division Street, just south of Indiana Avenue. The unassuming spot became the first Afghan restaurant in Spokane. Within six months of opening, the family

also opened a second location in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

“When people want to understand the culture of some people, I think that starts with food,” Mohammadi says. “I thought maybe Spokane people don’t know about our people. So that’s why I thought I could make something here that’s a little bit like our country.”

Every day, Samira hand folds countless manto — Afghan dumplings stuffed with beef and spices, garnished with green herbs and bright orange lentils, and drenched in a garlicky yogurt sauce. She rolls bolani, a flakey flatbread filled with savory potatoes and leeks. She also prepares platters of pulau, a rice pilaf dish, in both a Kabuli and Uzbeki style.

Although pulau variations are found

everywhere from Central Asia to Eastern Europe, Kabuli pulau is Afghanistan’s national dish. A tender shank of lamb is buried under piles of basmati rice, golden with curry and turmeric and sweetened with carrots and raisins.

Emran also offers chicken, lamb and beef kebabs, plus sweets like jalebi, spiraled dough fried in sweet saffron syrup, and coconut cookies sprinkled with pistachios. Mohammadi hopes to add Turkish and Iranian dishes to the menu as he figures out what Spokanites like to eat.

“Every culture has something good and not good,” Mohammadi says. “We want to share the good things. Our people believe a guest means God sent that person to us. That means our home will be more happy, more blessed.”

Samira, left, and Nasrollah Mohammadi are sharing their Afghan culture and cuisine with Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

& DRINK

FRESH PLATES…

 EMRYS BEER & MEAD WORKS

21850 E. Wellington Pkwy., Liberty Lake Thomas Croskrey stands over a small kettle as he simmers two-and-half gallons of honey. The room is bright, and an open back door lets in a breeze that gently swirls soft perfumes of honey and hops, while Croskrey does what he does best: creates.

Croskrey is the head brewer and founder of Emrys Beer & Mead Works, a project that’s been in the works since 2015 and finally opened in Liberty Lake in mid2024. Emrys means “immortal” in Welsh, which fits Croskrey’s undying enthusiasm to bring the meadery to life, but also his modern-historical fusion concept that resurrects an ancient drink for contemporary palates.

Mead, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey, is the oldest fermented drink on historical record.

“Mead is so wildly different from other alcoholic beverages,” Croskrey says. “It’s the only one not made out of plants. It is made out of an animal product.”

Guests can also nosh on a smashburger, a frankfurter topped with bacon, onion-pickle marmalade, and sauerkraut, or a veggie smashburger with grilled mush-

room, hummus, havarti, and hot honey. Emrys also offers griddled bakestones, a traditional Welsh sweetbread from the 1800s, served with either jam and whipped cream or cheddar and hot honey.

Yet most of the honey on hand will always be reserved for Croskrey’s mead.

“I find mead to be the most versatile,” he says. “It can be infused with fruit, botanicals, any old thing you want. It can be low ABV, high ABV, carbonated, still, blended, barrel aged.”

In his quest to create ancient food and drink, Croskrey has gotten more in touch with the environment and ecosystems around him today. In a time when many consumers and environmentalists are worried about dwindling populations of honeybees, Croskrey wants to take a step back to think about the larger ecosystem.

“Honeybees are an agricultural animal,” Croskrey says. “They’re not native to our area … they sometimes displace bumblebees and other native species [...] So I’m very much in favor of saving and protecting bees. But I do try to focus a lot on the native pollinators, butterflies and moths and ants, even bats.”

PACIFIC TO PALOUSE

1020 S. Perry St., Spokane

When you step into Pacific to Palouse, with its blue brick fireplace, vintage maps and upcycled furniture, you’re basically in Amber Park’s living room.

Park, the owner of Wanderlust Delicato in downtown Spokane, now also owns the newest Northwest-themed wine bar in the heart of South Perry. The cozy neighborhood spot features local wines from family-run vineyards, plus a menu of light fare highlighting Washington ingredients from the salty coast to the Idaho border.

Buy a glass of wine for an afternoon chat, or buy an entire bottle to enjoy for an evening at home. A staff sommelier will help pick out something you’ll like or you can sample a flight of three wines to taste to decide for yourself.

“I want varietals that you don’t necessarily see all the time,” Park says. “I’m going to have things like gamay noir and Rhone white blends coming out of Oregon, and tempranillo grown in Washington by a Spaniard. I would also like to introduce you to varietals that you’ve never heard of.”

The bar’s menu is curated by Park’s daughter, Mariah Brown. Mix-and-match chips and dips give plenty of opportunities for the perfectly tailored snack. Depending on your mood, you could pair marinated labneh with sourdough toast points made fresh at Gander & Ryegrass, or Dungeness crab dip with artisan crackers, or Cougar Gold cheese with Tim’s Cascade potato chips. Or, have Brown do the choosing for you and opt for a charcuterie board, either westside or eastside themed.

Brown doesn’t use any seed oils in her kitchen and keeps up with the latest “biohacking” information, a term that refers to optimizing health and cellular function through food.

Her staff in the kitchen are all high school students at NEWTech Prep, a skillbased high school in Spokane with a respected culinary program.

“They are like rockstars,” Park says. “It’s amazing how much they know and how professionally they’re trained. They’re doing a really good job for students.”

Park, who grew up on the South Hill, wants you to feel like you’re hanging with your family in your own living room — except at Pacific to Palouse, “you don’t have to do the dishes!”

Caption. XXX PHOTO

Emrys’ Old World-style mead is made with the help of lots of local honeybees. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

FOOD & DRINK

FRESH PLATES…

11712 E. Montgomery Drive, Spokane Valley Spokane’s got the sauce.

Gabe Wood and Alex King, co-owners of Heritage Bar and Kitchen in downtown Spokane, opened Sauced! in summer 2024 inside YaYa Brewing Co.’s Spokane Valley taproom. The new kitchen is serving up hot and thick Detroit-style pizzas, plus wings, fries and, obviously, loads of dipping options.

You can stay loyal to your mains like buffalo, barbecue, garlic Parmesan or hot honey. Or you can flirt with something a little more exotic, like Mambo, a tangy transplant from D.C., or Jake Sauce, a blue cheese-chipotle ketchup baby created by a beloved server at Heritage.

New to Detroit-style pizza? Don’t sweat it. The rest of the city is, too.

“We don’t want to be just another place,” Wood says. “We want to offer something a little more unique.”

Detroit-style pizza originated right alongside the city’s automobile industry. In 1946, Gus Guerra and his team at Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria on the eastside of Detroit supposedly

started baking pizza in the rectangular pans usually used to catch oil drips under cars.

The result was thick, rectangular pizzas with crispy crusts and super crispy corners, especially where the cheese caramelized around the edges.

The pizza at Sauced! uses a classic dough that’s much lighter than a Chicago-style deep dish but can still hold a considerable weight of cheese and toppings.

Take, for instance, The Butcher, which has pepperoni, bacon, ground beef, sausage and Canadian bacon on it, plus house red sauce and plenty of mozzarella. The Heritage riffs off its namesake’s cheeseburger with mozzarella and cheddar, plus ground beef, onion, dill relish, lettuce, fresh tomato and the top secret sauce, of course. The Spicy Dave and Hot Doug, named for an inside joke between the two owners, gets zhuzhed up with pepperoni, bacon, jalapeño and roasted garlic.

But the wings are where flavor fiends can really let loose. Guests can mix-and-match between five dry rubs and 16 sauces to create the ultimate combo from among 80 total possibilities.

“We don’t want to be just another place. We want to offer something a little more unique.”

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

FOOD & DRINK

LORÈN

908 N. Howard St., Spokane, 509-315-8902

In late 2023, Spokane restaurateur Juli Norris transformed a century-old cellar into Lorèn, a chic, upscale French bistro that might as well be tucked in a cave outside Nantes. It’s a swanky underground joint illuminated by candles and a soft lavender glow.

The elevated Parisian-style restaurant with a selective members-only social club, completed by a hidden room for private events, is a new concept from Norris, who also owns Kasa Restaurant and Taphouse on the first floor of the same building, called the Papillon.

Premières, otherwise known as appetizers, include fried calamari and housemade fougasse, a garlic- and herb-infused bread from the Provence region served with honey brie butter and confit garlic. There’s also flamenkuche, a pizza-esque flatbread from the Alsace region topped with prosciutto and sherry-poached pear. The burrata salad features grapefruit, roasted fennel and small-batch olive oil. Fresh scallops at market price are served over rich Parmesan risotto. But Norris’ favorite plate is the grilled filet mignon with a classic bordelaise.

Just as important as the food is the wine. Norris and her team have selected imported French wines and local Washington wines, three of which are made by Townshend Cellars for Lorèn alone: the Premier Rouge red, Deuxième Rouge red, and Très Belle Lorèn sparkling white. In case you prefer cocktails, Norris also partnered with Dry Fly Distilling to create a Lorèn-specific gin.

Lorèn can be hard to find even with the location pinned on Google Maps. Look for the side door on the south side of the building with the restaurant’s logo embossed on the glass. 

The

newest Mexican restaurant in the Spokane area that offers you a vibrant atmosphere for friends and families! Serving a wide variety of Mexican cuisines along with refreshing drinks in our top class sports bar.

2PM-6PM

Lorèn serves classic French fare in a chic basement space. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

FOOD & DRINK

INSIDER INSIGHT

Aaron Fish

The executive chef of Eat Good Group knows Inland Northwest restaurants from the dish pit to the host stand INTERVIEWED BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

You might recognize Aaron Fish from the Food Network’s Chopped. You might recognize him from his high-end but hilarious Instagram reels. Or you might recognize him from the table next to you at one of your favorite restaurants in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls.

Fish is the executive chef of Eat Good Group, a hospitality group helmed by Adam Hegsted that operates Baba, Francaise and the Yards Bruncheon in Spokane; Republic Kitchen and Taphouse in Post Falls; Summit Cider and Laughing Dog Brewing in Ponderay, Idaho; Honey Eatery & Social Club in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and Le Catering across the entire Inland Northwest.

But it wasn’t always this way. Fish, a Bay Area native, started in restaurants when he was 14. He worked his way up through the ranks without culinary school, eventually working at the Coeur d’Alene Casino and then managing his own kitchen by the time he was 28.

Fish has spent 15 years cooking and eating in the Inland Northwest, which means he can serve up some helpful insights on how the scene has grown and where it could be headed next.

INLANDER : How has the food scene changed since you got into it in 2009?

FISH: It was very meat-and-potatoes and large-plate driven. Everyone was concerned [with], “How big of a portion can you get for

SMALL BITES

Favorite Inland Northwest ingredient? Mushrooms

Favorite lake?

Hayden, Pend Oreille, Coeur d’Alene — in that order.

Most underrated spot in the area?

Cafe Carambola in Coeur d’Alene.

Dishwasher or host?

Dishwasher

Go-to comfort meal?

Boxed mac and cheese, with added cream cheese, heavy cream and shredded cheese.

the least amount of money?” But I think since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed an influx of chefs — Chad White is a good example. He grew up here, left and came back. He’s a great chef, and his food’s really good. He’s taking risks — he’s got a ceviche bar downtown which is, like, crazy. Travis Dickinson is another one. You’re starting to see more risks being taken — and more pride in the quality of experience over the quantity. But there’s restaurants that have been around forever that are still doing the same thing they were doing 15 years ago, and they’re doing great. And that’s OK. There’s a market for that.

Do you think there are any accolades or awards that Spokane should be striving for?

We need to get a James Beard. We’ve gotten nods, gotten nominations, but we haven’t got a James Beard Award.

What do you think are specific culinary strengths of this area?

I think cooking seasonality is extremely important up here because of the shifts in the seasons. I think a lot of restaurants do a pretty good job cooking seasonally. And even trout, steelhead, things like that, instead of leaning on salmon. It feels like we have a Northwest identity here. I have friends that come from out of town to visit, and they’re like, “What’s a huckleberry?” or “What’s steelhead?” So this is very regional, which makes a lot of sense. 

“You’re starting to see more risks being taken — and more pride…”

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

International Destination

One food writer’s attempt to travel the world, all from the comfort of Spokane

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

For a yearlong food writing project at the Inlander, I set off to find and highlight 80 food and drink items in the Inland Northwest that come from 80 different places around the world — traveling, as I like to say, “Around the World in 80 Plates.”

It’s been the perfect excuse to browse back shelves, closely read menus and explore a growing food scene in the city. There’s more here than you might expect: Turkish “cigars,” Mexico City street food, Eritrean meals to break a fast and Indonesian desserts to satisfy the strongest sweet tooth.

The following “plates” are some highlights of the quest so far, some from local restaurants and others from local import shops. If plane tickets aren’t in your budget this year, consider sampling some international delicacies right here in Spokane.

DATE MOLASSES

Lebanon Deli and Grocery, 9222 N. Newport Hwy., Spokane

Date molasses — also called date syrup, date honey, date nectar, debes or silan — is one of the oldest foods in the book. Sumerians may have started cultivating dates as early as 4000 BCE. Concentrating the fruit into a syrupy preserve probably would’ve followed soon after.

Dates are an important part of breaking the Ramadan fast in the Islamic tradition. They’re also one of the seven holy fruits in Judaism. When a certain area of land is described to Moses as “flowing with milk and honey,” the honey probably actually refers to date syrup — the poetic image is a shorthand way to summarize the land’s ability to support agriculture (dates and date honey) and livestock (goat or sheep milk).

I found Basra Date Molasses when I was perusing Lebanon Deli & Grocery soon after it opened on Newport Highway. Since dates are native to the Middle East and Basra is the second-largest city in Iraq, I just assumed the molasses came from the city it was named for.

But when I got home, I read the label fully. On the back of the jar, the molasses was marked “Product of Netherlands.”

Lebanon Deli & Grocery owner Yazan Alazrai offers a wide range of ingredients and dishes imported from the

EVEN MORE INTERNATIONAL EATS!

DORILOCOS FROM MEXICO CITY

Zona Blanca Ceviche Bar, 157 S. Howard St., Spokane

PATAGONIAN TOOTHFISH FROM THE ANTARCTIC

White House Grill, 712 N. Spokane St., Post Falls

BLOOD SAUSAGE FROM GERMANY

Alpine Delicatessen, 417 E. Third Ave., Spokane

PIZZA FIOCCO FROM NAPLES

For the Love of God Brewing, 2617 W. Northwest Blvd., Spokane

BUN CHA FROM VIETNAM

Pho Van, 2909 N. Division St., Spokane

Read more of the series at Inlander.com/aroundtheworld

SEA BUCKTHORN TEA

Cedar Coffee, 701 N. Monroe St., Spokane

When Igor Anisimov talks about drinking sea buckthorn tea, he describes cheap cups of the hot, bright drink in Crimea, a valuable peninsula and autonomous region of Ukraine that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

The owner of Cedar Coffee on North Monroe is a Ukrainian immigrant who fled warfare in his homeland in 2015. Today, Anisimov’s coffee shop is filled with typical American cafe fare, but at the bottom left of the menu, sea buckthorn tea reminds guests that this is truly a Eurasian cafe.

Sea buckthorn, also known as Siberian pineapple, sand thorn, sea berry and sallow thorn, is a shrub with shockingly orange berries. The berry itself is quite sour, something like a kumquat, but when he combines it with sugar, cinnamon and star anise, it becomes the perfect trifecta of sweet, sunny and spiced.

Anisimov steeps the berries to extract the flavor. Since there’s no juicer involved, he considers it a tea, even though it’s creamier than water and opaque with tiny flecks of pulp. He prefers it hot, which adds an extra layer of coziness. But he will serve it to you over ice if you ask really, really nicely.

OvenWoodFired

& ROTISSERIE

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LUNCH Wednesday - Friday 11:30 - 2:00 DINNER Wednesday - Sunday 4:00 - Close

We serve delicious and affordable food, using fresh ingredients, that guests will want to return for week after week!

FOOD & DRINK

LOROCO PUPUSAS

Otis Restaurant, 21902 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards Mario Ruiz Ramirez, previously the owner of Marandos in Spokane Valley, purchased, reopened and renamed the barn-shaped Otis Grill in the middle of 2023. He also updated the menu.

Ruiz is from Guatemala, and his wife, Belky Rizzo, is from El Salvador. When the couple took over the grill, they slowly started introducing some Central American dishes to the standard North American fare at their new restaurant. The menu is now mostly Mexican, Guatemalan or Salvadoran.

Pupusas are the quintessential Salvadoran dish. They start with corn flour paste, which is then stuffed with some combination of cheese, meat and beans, and rolled out so the filling is distributed evenly inside. Loroco, another Salvadoran specialty, is an edible, unopened flower that’s often used like an herb to flavor pupusas and other dishes in El Salvador. The sweet, earthy flavor is like a green bell pepper, but without the crunch.

Once it’s filled, each pupusa is grilled on a hot stove and served with curtido, a pickled cabbage relish, and salsa roja, a thin, red dipping sauce.

MAPO TOFU

Gordy’s Sichuan Cafe, 501 E. 30th Ave., Spokane Sichuan is a Spain-sized southwestern province of China that is famous all over the world for its spicy chilis and unusual “mouth-numbing” Sichuan peppercorns. The peppercorns are actually the berry of the prickly ash tree, which is part of the citrus family.

Sichuan peppercorns contain a chemical called hydroxy-alpha-sanshool. Just like capsaicin in the world’s hottest chili peppers makes your tongue feel like it’s burning even though there’s no actual heat, hydroxy-alpha-sanshool makes your tongue and lips feel like they’re vibrating even though there’s no movement.

My first bite of Gordy’s mapo tofu was custardy soft and seasoned with bits of rich pork. It was so much brighter than I expected, and I was also not drowning in snot, sweat and tears like I expected.

So I dove in for a second bite. Then a third. Then I started to feel it. The tingling. Like someone was spreading a velvet blanket over my mouth, or massaging my lips with tiny, tiny Q-tips. It was like every taste bud was doing a teensy-weensy happy dance, or the cells on my lips were organizing like fans in a football stadium for the tiniest, most microscopic wave. My only complaint was that it didn’t last longer. 

The Freshest Finds

Enjoy the delicious bounty of the Inland Northwest all season long — and every day of the week —at the region’s many farmer markets COMPILED BY MADISON PEARSON

MONDAY

Hillyard Farmers Market 3-6 pm, late June to late Oct. Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St., Spokane. hillyardfarmersmarket.org

TUESDAY

Fairwood Farmers Market 3-7 pm, mid-May to early Oct. Fairwood Shopping Center, 319 W. Hastings Rd., Spokane. fairwoodfarmersmarket.org

Moscow Tuesday Market 4-7 pm, early June to mid-Oct. Latah County Fairgrounds, 1021 Harold St. fb.com/tuesdaycommunitymarket

WEDNESDAY

5th Street Farmers Market 4-7 pm, mid-May to late Sept. Fifth and Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene. cdadowntown.com

Kendall Yards Night Market 5-8 pm, late May to mid-Oct. West Summit Parkway between Cedar and Jefferson Alley, Spokane. kendallnightmarket.org

Kootenai Farmers Market 4-7 pm, mid-May to late Sept. Riverstone, 2151 N. Main St., Coeur d’Alene. kootenaifarmersmarkets.org

Millwood Farmers Market 3-7 pm, late May to early Oct. Millwood City Park, 9103 E. Frederick Ave. farmersmarket.millwoodnow.org

Moonshine Artisan Night Market 5:30-8:30 pm, late May to late Aug. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr., Spokane. commellini.com/moonshine

N.E.W. Farmers Market 9 am-1 pm, May to late Oct. 121 E. Astor St., Colville. newfarmersmarket.org

River City Market 5-8 pm, mid-July to mid-Aug. The Landing, 305 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. fb.com/rivercitymarketandmusic

Sandpoint Farmers Market 3-5:30 pm, early May to mid-Oct. Farmin Park, Third and Main. sandpointfarmersmarket.com

Spokane Farmers Market 8 am-1 pm, mid-June to late Oct. Coeur d’Alene Park, Fourth and Chestnut St. spokanefarmersmarket.org

The Kendall Yards Night Market is a popular place to be on Wednesday nights in summer. LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTO

FOOD & DRINK

THE FRESHEST FINDS…

THURSDAY

Perry Street Thursday Market 3-7 pm, May to Oct. Perry and Tenth, Spokane. thursdaymarket.org

FRIDAY

Athol Farmers Market 2-6 pm, May to late Sept. 30230 Second St. atholfarmersmarketidaho.com

Chewelah Farmers Market 11 am-3:30 pm, mid-May to mid-Oct. Chewelah City Park. chewelahfarmersmarket.com

Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market 3-7 pm, June to late Sept. IEL

Adult Education Center, 2310 N. Monroe St., Spokane. market.emersongarfield.org

Spokane Valley Farmers Market 4-8 pm, June to late-Sept. CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. spokanevalleyfarmersmarket.org

The Wavy Bunch Night Market & Street Fair Second Fridays from 5-9 pm, mid-June to Oct. Catalyst Building, 508 E Riverside Ave., Spokane. thewavybunch.com

SATURDAY

Airway Heights Summer Market Second Saturdays from 10 am-2 pm, April to Sept. The Hub, 12703 W. 14th Ave. fb.com/AirwayHeightsSummerMarket

Bonners Ferry Farmers Market 8 am-1 pm, late April to early Oct. Highway 95 and Kootenai St. bonnersferryfarmersmarket.org

The Deer Park Market First Saturdays from 9 am-3 pm, May to early Oct. Perrins Field, 14 Arnim Ave. thedeerparkmarket.com

Kootenai Farmers Market 9 am-1:30 pm, mid-May to late Oct. Highway 95 and Prairie, Hayden. kootenaifarmersmarkets.org

Liberty Lake Farmers Market 9 am-1 pm, mid-May to mid-Oct. Town Square Park, 1421 N. Meadowwood Ln. llfarmersmarket.com

Medical Lake Farmers Market First/third Saturdays 9 am-1 pm, June to early Oct. Lake St. between Jefferson and Lefevre streets. instagram.com/medicallakefarmersmarket

Moscow Farmers Market 8 am-1 pm, May to Oct. Friendship Square, Fourth and Main. fb.com/MoscowFarmersMarket

N.E.W. Farmers Market 9 am-1 pm, May to Oct. 121 E. Astor St., Colville. newfarmersmarket.org

Newport Farmers Market 9 am-1 pm, early May to Oct. 236 S. Union Ave. Facebook: Newport Farmers Market

Rathdrum Farmers Market 9 am-2 pm, late April to Sept. Rathdrum Lions Club, 16114 N. Meyer Rd. fb.com/rathdrumcraftandfarmersmarket

Sandpoint Farmers Market 9 am-1 pm, early May to mid-Oct. Farmin Park, Third and Main. sandpointfarmersmarket.com

Spokane Farmers Market 8 am-1 pm, mid-May to late Oct. Coeur d’Alene Park, Fourth and. Chestnut St. spokanefarmersmarket.org

SUNDAY

Clayton Farmers Market 11 am-4 pm, June to Sept. (except during county fair). Clayton Fairgrounds, 4616 Wallbridge Rd. Facebook: Clayton Farmers Market and Small Farm Animals 

The South Perry Thursday Market attracts visitors from all over Spokane. LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTO

Local Goods

Why go corporate when you can sip and savor these local products? BY

ELIZA BILLINGHAM

VIVA ULTRA BREAD

In Noah Rosen’s basement-turned-bakery, freshly milled Palouse grains become some of the best sourdough loaves in Spokane. A California native, professional chef and surfing enthusiast, Rosen has spent the last couple years converting some of his punk rock energy into Viva Ultra Bread to subvert a Wonderbread world. You can find his country crusts, fresh focaccia or beloved bagels at farmers markets in the spring, summer and fall, or pick up orders at his home on the South Hill during the colder winter months. Just make sure to place an order beforehand. vivaultrabread.com

INSPIRE MOTION CHOCOLATES

Looking for a sweet treat that will make your heart, body and planet happy? Inspire Motion Chocolates by local entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast Gwendolyn Koren are handmade, vegan, free of refined sugar and completely delicious. The dark chocolate morsels have just a few pronounceable ingredients that satisfy a sweet tooth without flooding your gut with dairy or artificial sweeteners. Plus, the packaging is completely backyard compostable. Look for flavors like strawberry, lavender, lemon and fudge in the local goods section of your favorite grocery or health food store, or order online. inspiremotionchocolates.com

LA PICA CHICA

Do you add hot sauce to everything — like, literally, everything? Look no further than La Pica Chica, your one-stop-shop for candy that’s both sweet and spicy. Gushers, Skittles, gummy bears and traditional Mexican candies are tossed in chamoy sauce and Mama Pica’s signature spice blend. The result is a kickin’ snack that will flavor blast you straight back to your childhood. Look for stacks of colorful candies at regional farmers markets and local pop-up vendor events, or order online. Don’t sleep on the pickle kits, either, which pack a whole bunch of sour-and-spicy nostalgia into one fabulous treat box. lapicachica.com

LAKEWOLF CREAMERY

Third-generation dairy farmers with a small herd of Jersey cows just north of Deer Park make some of the best fresh Mexican cheeses around. They offer queso fresco, Oaxaca, cotija and cotija enchilado, plus cheddar curds for those looking for something a little squeakier. LakeWolf’s cheese is made from hormone-free, A2A2 milk, which means it might be digestible for some with certain dairy intolerances. LakeWolf cheeses can be found at local farmers markets in addition to online, where you can order fresh cheese year round. lakewolfcreamery.com

ELIXIR HOT SAUCE

If you love heat but want to stay on the savory side, pick up a bottle (or a case) of Elixir Sauce Co. hot sauce. They refuse to budge on both flavor and heat, from Rum Honey Habanero or Garlic Fresno hot sauces to their OG Smokey Ghost, a recipe so good the family kept it secret for years. Elixir only uses fresh, hand-picked peppers and is able to cater to both “mild” and “wild” palates. Zhuzh up hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries or fried eggs with the help of some local pepperheads. If you somehow miss them at the farmers market, hop online for all your hot sauce needs. elixirsauce.com 

Taco Time

One Tuesday night, as many taco specials as we could try BY ELIZA

BILLINGHAM

Taco Tuesday is my favorite fake holiday. It comes around every week, provides an excuse to eat one of my favorite foods on repeat sans judgment, and offers some of the best dinner deals in the whole city.

The only problem? It’s too hard to decide where to go.

But what if, instead of choosing one spot, you go to as many as you can? Welcome to the Tour de Tacos. The goal is to sample as many tacos in the Spokane area that are under $2 on Tuesdays. Or Twos-days, if you will.

The tour requires stamina, a reliable GPS, and a stretchier stomach than you might think. To inspire wouldbe competitors, here’s a record of my first attempt, logged in July 2024 (prices accurate as of then).

TACOS EL CABRON

$1.95 TACOS

5704 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

I pull up to the bright orange restaurant on Sprague at 7:27 pm. It’s a little late to be starting the tour, but I’m optimistic, especially because the service here is so quick. These are real deal street tacos, double wrapped with small, fresh corn tortillas, and topped with plenty of onion and cilantro. I choose chicken and pork, which are perfectly delicious on their own but also served with lime, radishes and consomme. I think about calling the whole thing off and staying here, because it’s a cozy spot with plenty of booths and margaritas for only $4.95 on Tuesdays. But mi madre didn’t raise no quitter.

TAQUERIA GUERRERO

$1.60 TACOS

8021 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

This other orange restaurant is just a little farther down Sprague, which means I’m ordering by 7:45 pm. This is the first brick and mortar location of a popular food truck, and it keeps some of the best vibes of eating out on the street — it’s small, the door is propped open, and the tacos are legit. I’m ordering two carne asada tacos, also topped with cilantro, onion and lime. I hand over four singles and get some change back. I can’t remember the last time that happened.

ATILANO’S MEXICAN FOOD

$1 TACOS

3624 E. Sprague Ave. (8 locations in Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area)

A few minutes after 8 pm, I arrive at the nearest Atilano’s — home of perhaps the area’s most famous Taco Tuesday deal — and they’re pretty close to selling out. These tacos are also small, understandably for the price, and a bit fast-food greasier than the previous two, but sometimes that’s exactly the kind of taco you need.

I’m kind of surprised — I’ve only eaten three tacos (each stop I’ve been ordering two tacos; one for now and one to save for later), but I’m already not really hungry anymore. They’ve all been stuffed with meat. But I’m only halfway through the Tour, so I’m going to need to find room in my stomach somehow.

STORMIN’ NORMAN’S SHIPFACED SALOON

$1.25 TACOS

12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley

I’m not expecting a whole lot of taco from a nautical-themed saloon, but to my delight (and my full tummy’s dismay), these tacos are big, especially for being only a dollar and a quarter each. They’re a classic gringo taco — white flour tortillas, ground beef, plus diced tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and a packet of sour cream on the side. The bartenders are sweet, and it’s great dive bar vibes inside, but when I realize it’s past 8:30, my next stop awaits…

MARACAS AND MARISCOS

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-TACOS FOR $10

2118 N. Ruby St., Spokane

¡Ay, caramba! In my haste to get to Maracas, I accidentally skipped Mariscos Mi Tierra on Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley, which has $1.99 chicken, fish, and chorizo tacos on Tuesdays. But technically, Maracas’ tacos would be under $2 each if I ate more than five.

I get to Maracas a few seconds before they close, a major restaurant faux pas, but the staff is gracious. They not only let me buy tacos, but they throw in chips and rice and beans, maybe because I look as stressed as I feel. These tacos are the first crispy tacos of the night and are so wonderfully crunchy that they make me hungry all over again. 

INDABA CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF FLAGSHIP ROASTERY/CAFÉ

Join us for a day filled with activities that celebrate our new space and the vibrant community we serve!

6AM Swag Bag Giveaway

9AM-12PM Roastery Tours

9AM-12PM Family-Friendly Activities

10AM-12PM Live Music

12PM Raffle Drawing

12PM Ribbon Cutting

7PM Latte Art Fundraising Competition

WA 6AM TO 9PM

SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2024 2020 N MONROE

Taco Tuesday is a reliable, budget-friendly feast with tons of options around the region.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

FOOD & DRINK

‘Mood Matters’

From his Lola Wine Lounge in downtown Coeur d’Alene, wine expert Sam Lange shares his unconventional approach to pairing wine and food BY

Over four decades working in the wine industry, Sam Lange has perfected his palate and his pitch for pairing wine with food.

His industry background includes opening the Spokane wine shop Grape and Grain more than 40 years ago, close to 20 years as wine steward for the venerable Beverly’s at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, and developing wine programs for Pilgrim’s Natural Market and other North Idaho establishments.

In fall 2023, Lange launched Lola Wine Lounge in downtown Coeur d’Alene with business partner Anna Lombard. It’s safe to say Lange is an expert, yet refreshingly unlike the stereotypical snobby character played by Alan Rickman in the movie Bottle Shock.

CARRIE SCOZZARO

“I think we just take it too seriously, and it’s just wine,” says Lange, adding that, “traditionally, people make wine because they just wanna create this thing that makes people happy, and you can have it with food and it enhances your experience.”

Lange’s advice?

“Mood matters more than food,” he says.

more enjoyable.”

steward’s task is to recommend something that goes with both dishes, but also the appetizer, salad and whatever you might be eating throughout the entirety of a meal.

“Frankly, most wines are going to taste fine with most foods,” Lange says. “You’re not going to have a magical moment where you go, ‘Oh, this citrus component of the Sauvignon Blanc accentuates the citrus in the fish or it cuts through the oiliness of this rich oily fish.’”

Again, there’s a but. Those magical moments are worth pursuing, Lange says, and for that, he recommends a winemaker’s event.

“That way you know flavors in each dish are specifically — hopefully — designed to go with the wines that are served with that,” he says.

While at Beverly’s, for example, Lange curated wine dinners in collaboration with the culinary team, who built a food menu typically involving a specific winemaker’s collection. He’d occasionally pull from Beverly’s 14,000-bottle cellar.

The goal is to create a special experience for diners, when they might say, “Oh my gosh, that food was great but then we had it with the wine, and it was a whole ’nother level,’” he says.

Even though Lange advocates drinking what you like, when asked for recommendations, he abides by a few industry-standard guidelines.

“I think it’s important not to let the wine overwhelm the food,” he says, suggesting a Napa cabernet for a ribeye with a nice char on it.

But if the bottle of wine is a rarity, like a 1945 Chateau Latour — which retails for several thousand dollars — he’d make sure the food didn’t overwhelm the wine.

The tannic acids found in red wine paired with sweeter foods can be tricky, although wines with a bit of sweetness can match well with some traditionally spicier cuisines, he says.

“German or Alsatian white wines with Thai cuisine, for example, are a great match,” Lange says.

Getting a little more technical, Lange explains there are two approaches to wine pairing: complementary and congruent pairings.

Wine can complement or accentuate food similar to a garnish might, like how lemon brightens up rich fish.

“In the end, I can pick out the wine that I think is going to be the great wine with what you’re having, but if you don’t like that kind of wine, it kind of doesn’t matter,” Lange says. “You’re still not going to like it.”

In other words, drink what you like.

However, if you want to expand your gustatory horizons, consider getting some guidance — advice Lange follows, too, when he’s dining out.

Although he’s likely tasted many of the wines on a restaurant’s list, he still wants them to “recommend something that goes with their cuisine and that they love and maybe that I’ve never heard of before,” he says. “That’s part of that experience.”

If you’re like Lange and his wife, for example, you’ll typically each order something different and share. In that case, the wine

The same fish dish could also be paired with wine that has a congruent profile, “wine that’s fresh and citrusy and maybe a little bit herbal” such as a sauvignon blanc. Duck and pork, which are often served with some kind of berry or fruit element, says Lange, would be congruently paired well with berry-forward red wines.

DRINK LOCAL!

LOLA WINE LOUNGE

722 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene 208-416-8257

Another reason a winemaker’s event is ideal for the wine-curious is the opportunity to learn more about wine and the winemaker’s backstory.

“Learning about wine makes wine more enjoyable,” says Lange, who has noticed a definite increase in wine consumption, the types and numbers of winemaker’s events, and events centered around beer and spirits.

“I think there are more people drinking wine and more people are interested in it, and I think the demand has created the market for it,” he says. 

Sam Lange: “Learning about wine makes wine

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

Can is

King

An industry shift from bottles to cans is making regional breweries’ products more portable than ever BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Monday, 9 am. It’s canning day at Brick West Brewing Company. In the brewery behind the taproom, a loud hum echoes between huge holding tanks of beer. A Willy Wonka-esque machine with valves, cables, switches and jets vibrates in the middle of the floor. Today, almost a thousand empty cans will be funneled, spun, filled and sealed until they come out the other end, ready to hit the shelves.

It wasn’t always this way. Just a few decades ago, craft brewers didn’t package much of their beer, if any at all. If they really wanted to sell to grocery stores, they might have put their brews in glass bottles.

“This is very much a science. It’s a significant investment. You don’t just can beer and call it good.”

But today, after the pandemic forced more breweries to distribute outside their taprooms, consumers showed a preference for aluminum, and canning became king. Many of the biggest breweries in the Spokane area have invested in their own equipment to control and grow these canned product lines. For breweries considering the next business step, the question isn’t whether to can — rather, it’s how to can with the highest quality, and what size of can they think is going to be the biggest hit.

“This is very much a science,” says John Bryant, owner of No-Li Brewhouse. “It’s a significant investment. You don’t just can beer and call it good.”

FOOD & DRINK

CAN IS KING…

Brian Carpenter has been working with Brick West Brewing since before it opened its downtown taproom on West First Avenue in 2020. Canning beer was on the general manager’s mind, but it was a goal for further down the line.

“Selling kegs and focusing on your taproom is where the margin really is,” Carpenter says. “But when the pandemic happened, we had to shift. Not by choice.”

Meanwhile, Chris Gass, owner of YaYa Brewing Co. in Spokane Valley, wanted his brewery to start canning as soon as possible. They got started six months after opening in 2019.

“Interestingly, the first time we actually ever canned beer was two weeks prior to the COVID shutdown in 2020,” Gass says. “We didn’t plan it. It just happened that we had a canning run scheduled from a mobile canner who came over from Portland.”

Mobile canners allow breweries to learn how to can beer without buying all the expensive equipment upfront. During the pandemic, they were lifesavers for breweries with lots of product and nowhere to put it.

But after the pandemic, Carpenter says, those mobile canners from Portland and Seattle revamped their business models to stay closer to home and stopped coming east. Left without any outsource options, local brewers needed to decide how to package and distribute their beer on their own.

“Originally, we really wanted to be a 22-ounce bottle company,” No-Li’s Bryant says. “But over the years, the customer really wanted cans.”

Putting beer in bottles, however, is “a little more cumbersome,” Gass says, because getting a good seal on the cap is harder. Plus,

light can get into a glass bottle and “skunk the beer,” he points out.

All three brewers also mention that distributors don’t like shipping glass because it’s heavier and can break. For drinkers, cans are easier to recycle in most places, plus lighter and easier to carry.

“There’s definitely a large cross section of people that are active and enjoy craft beer,” Carpenter says. “Whether that’s putting them in your backpack or on your boat, you’re not worried about it breaking. It’s a little more portable, especially if you’re packing in and packing out.”

“Over the years, the customer really wanted cans.”

These days, Lumberbeard Brewing’s Lumber Funk is one of the only local brews you can find in a bottle. It looks cool, but that’s not the real reason it gets a special vessel, the brewery’s owner Bret Gordon says.

Lumber Funk gets its wackiness from a bacteria and a yeast strain that usually ruin beer. It’s too risky to can it with a machine that also packages other beers. Gordon can’t afford a separate machine, so he hand bottles Lumber Funk, sometimes 600 bottles at a time.

“It might not be worth the work for much longer,” he says. 

No-Li Brewhouse’s colorful cans are sold all over the Northwest and beyond.

NO-LI BREWHOUSE PHOTO

Discovering the Past

Celtic brandies are resurrected by local craft distiller Olde Tyme Spirits BY ELIZA

BILLINGHAM

“Come guess me this riddle: What beats pipe and fiddle? What’s hotter than mustard and milder than cream?”

So lilts the old Irish folk song, “The Humours of Whiskey.” It sings the power of ancient whiskey, an English borrowing of the Gaelic word “usquebaugh,” which means “water of life.”

Tucked between ponderosas in the Selkirk foothills of Clayton, Washington, a few all-but-forgotten Old World recipes for these “waters of life” are being resurrected in the New World.

Will Persons is the craft distiller and owner of Olde Tyme Spirits, a line of Celtic brandies and some traditional Slavic spirits. Armed with a cookbook of centuries-old recipes handwritten by his grandfather, Persons is reintroducing spirits distilled from apples, apricots, cherries and plums that are older than America itself.

In today’s legal world, “whiskey” has to be distilled from fermented grain, so Persons’ fruit-based spirits don’t count. But he’s convinced that anyone singing about “water of life” a hundred years ago would have been sipping on something similar to the smooth, rich spirits that he’s creating today.

Persons’ distillery is the last property on a dead-end road, made from pine slabs he preserved by charring with fire.

Inside, five-gallon buckets hold masticated, fermenting fruit. The black cast-iron presser in the corner helps squeeze out the

last drop of fruit juice. A still glints silver in the sunlight, with a long copper pipe dripping clear liquid into a holding tank.

Persons inhales deeply as he steps into the distillery and motions toward the still.

“This is an alembic,” he says. “This system dates older than what most other distilleries use. They use what is called a column or a coffee still.”

DRINK LOCAL!

OLDE TYME SPIRITS

oldetymespirits.ossocraft.com distiller@oldetymespirits.com 509-822-8977

He pulls a mason jar full of a clear spirit from the shelf. Held up to the sun, the light reveals tiny flecks of oil swirling around in the alcohol. A column still, he says, would strip the spirit of those precious, flavorful globules.

“A lot of the aroma, the mouthfeel, what people like about this drink is that little bit that gets meshed in,” Persons says.

This particular liquid is rakia, a spirit from the Baltics in the same vintage tradition as the other Celtic brandies Persons makes. It’s distilled from apricots and smells like Froot Loops. Although it’s 45% ABV, it sips soft and smooth, offering the pleasant warmth of alcohol without the burn.

Olde Tyme’s Apple Brandy has the same velvet mouthfeel, with spicier, charred notes of scorched popcorn, jalapeño and cinnamon. It’s

Vintage

Celtic brandies, made the old-fashioned way by Will Persons. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

distilled from apples grown on Walters Fruit Ranch that were on the verge of rotting. Persons has also created brandies with cherries, plums, pears and persimmons from Green Bluff orchards that were otherwise going to be discarded.

Persons sells his spirits directly to consumers, which means local buyers can call his cellphone and ask him to deliver to their doorstep. But he insists that every customer taste his product before they decide what to buy. He keeps a few bottles of each brandy at Eggers South Hill Liquor Store so anyone who’s curious can taste test the brandies before buying from Eggers or calling Persons directly.

His whole childhood, Persons heard the family lore: He and his brothers were Celtic through-and-through. Important conversations happened between sips of “Apple Pie,” a deep amber liquid his grandfather would produce at family gatherings seemingly out of thin air.

It wasn’t until his early adult years that Persons put together that his grandfather made extra cash by distilling and running moonshine across the state. Persons started crediting his uncanny knack for ratios, flavor profiles and distilling technique to this wealth of family inheritance.

Persons’ father, the patriarch of 11 sons, decided that only one could carry on the family tradition of distilling. Persons and his next older brother were both dabbling in distilling, so their father held a family council to decide who was allowed to continue. It was unanimous — Persons’ product was superior, and he inherited the responsibility.

It wasn’t until Persons was planning a trip back to Ireland that he took a 23&Me DNA test, just to see if he was anything else but Irish. The test confirmed he was nearly 100% Celtic. But it also revealed that Persons wasn’t his father’s son.

“My mom is my mom,” he says, “but my dad is not my dad. I was adopted, and the only reason is because I looked Celtic enough that I could pass as one of their children. And so I got this whole history that isn’t even mine. I start going, ‘Well, then how come I can do what I can do?’”

Some ties are stronger than blood, or at least it would seem Persons’ father thought so, who chose his only adopted son to continue the coveted family tradition. Whatever wasn’t passed down by blood was transmitted through the “water of life” passed from hand to hand in Persons’ childhood memories. 

Bean There, Won That

Local brews and bevvies are bringing home awards from the U.S. and beyond BY ELIZA

BILLINGHAM

Awards aren’t everything, but they sure do feel nice. Brewers and distillers across the Inland Northwest are passionate experts who create delicious sips simply for the love of the craft. But every once in a while, an organization with a ranking system and some shiny medals comes along and recognizes them for their hard work, which is pretty cool. So raise a toast to these 2024 winners across the beverage industry with a winning cup of coffee, can of cider, pint of beer or glass of wine, respectively.

EXCELLENT ESPRESSO

Forget the baseball World Series, next year I’m tuning into the Golden Bean World Series for coffee roasters all over the globe. Hosted last year in Melbourne, Australia, the Golden Bean judges awarded Spokane chain INDABA COFFEE two bronzes — one for their espresso and another for their filter. Stop into any of their four locations, including their new cafe on North Monroe Street, to evaluate it for yourself.

EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE out of Sandpoint, Idaho, won a 2024 Good Food Award for their good coffee and even better commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Their award-winning Kenya Gichathaini brew originates from a Kenyan mill operated by a cooperative of almost 800 coffee producers. It’s often sold out (for good reason), but it’s worth asking about their other Kenyan

brews. This is Evans Brothers’ second Good Food Award in a row, and fourth overall.

BEAUTIFUL BOOZE

Speaking of Good Food Awards, LIBERTY CIDERWORKS also won one for their Gravenstein and Virginia Crab ciders. Virginia Crab ciders were particularly loved by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and now they might be regaining popularity again, thanks to the team in downtown Spokane.

Competing across the Pacific, NO-LI BREWHOUSE took home three medals at the 2024 Korea International Beer Awards. Their White & Hazy IPA took silver, while the Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout and Porch Glow Amber each took bronze. Closer to home, No-Li’s Threezy Does It took silver in the U.S. Open Beer Championship. It also nabbed five medals at the 2024 World Beer Awards, bringing its overall count to 186 international brewing awards as of summer 2024 — the most for any American brewery.

USA Today readers across the country had a chance to fall in love with ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, which landed second place on its Readers’ Choice Awards list of the 10 best winery restaurants in the country. The honor came the same year as the 100th anniversary of the Cliff House Estate, a stone mansion the winery now uses for private events, art festivals and outdoor concerts. 

Indaba Coffee keeps winning awards and expanding its regional footprint with new locations.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

FOOD & DRINK

Anthony Ward was looking for something fizzy and refreshing, but not too sweet, something that felt like a bit of an indulgence.

“I just wanted something that satiated the urge to drink beer without having a negative effect,” he says. After drinking a few too many beers out of sheer boredom during the pandemic, he had decided to cut back on alcohol, and he was pleased that he felt better physically. But bubbly water after bubbly water left him feeling, well, bored.

At the same time, his father-in-law, Jerry Porter, had been forced to eliminate beer from his life after adopting a gluten-free diet. For Porter, it was a big change since his hobby for years had been brewing beer. Porter started experimenting with making hop water, a sparkling water infused with hops. The result was alcohol free, gluten free, sugar free, calorie free, and somehow, still delicious.

Jerry’s hop water proved so satisfying to both of them that they wanted other people to try it, so they created and began selling PNW Hop Water in 2022. The family business more than doubled its sales in 2023.

Things look promising for the young company, which reported orders doubling in their second year, at the same time as nonalcoholic adult beverages are becoming trendy across the country. According to consumer spending analyst NielsenIQ, nonalcoholic beverages sales grew to half a billion dollars in July 2023. The year before, hop water alone accounted for $5.5 million in sales, up by over 40% from the year before, while craft beer sales dropped 7%. NPR’s Marketplace reported that while close to half of millennials drink regularly, only about a fifth of Gen Z drinks that often.

Hop On!

PNW Hop Water’s founders are brewing up refreshing, no-alcohol beverages suitable for any occasion BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

“It feels like we’re reaching that tipping point where people are really starting to understand how bad alcohol can be for you,” Ward says. “This is just a really well-timed product in terms of where we are going culturally.”

Perfecting the PNW Hop Water was done by Brian Porter, Jerry’s son, who grew up brewing with his dad and ended up a culinary professional.

Now an instructor at Lewis and Clark High School, Brian used his restaurant experience to optimize the brewing process to extract as much flavor as possible from Yakima-grown hops. He also created alternate flavors, preferring the way citrus pairs with the fresh hops. Along with the original “Hoppy” flavor, PNW Hop Water also comes in grapefruit, tangerine and yuzu, the

latter being another trendy ingredient that’s been a huge hit at farmers markets.

Hop water isn’t nonalcoholic beer. It’s not trying to mimic Budweiser. It’s a completely natural, carbonated tea infused with sophisticated adult flavors.

“I always try to make a point to explain to people, most alcoholic beers are brewed as regular beer and then they process it afterwards to remove the alcohol,” Brian says. “When they do that, they’re changing it chemically. Whereas we’re taking a product and building it from the ground up so we don’t have to remove anything.”

DRINK LOCAL!

PNW HOP WATER

Find it at Crepe Sisters Cafe, Main Market, Roast House Coffee or at pnwhopwater.com

PNW Hop Water is also taking on a life of its own.

“We’ve found a lot of people are using it to make cocktails,” Ward says. “They’ll use it as a mixer for nonalcoholic cocktails as well as alcoholic cocktails. It’s a nice base for a lot of citrus type drinks, or with gin or tequila or vodka.”

Ward is realizing he doesn’t miss the alcohol. He can still celebrate or relax or take part in any social ritual that usually includes a delicious drink in hand, but without a foggy memory or headache the next day.

“I’ve had some of my best times without alcohol,” Ward says. “The best moments I spend with my family are always the little moments, just simple things. I don’t feel like I can be as present if I’m drinking in those moments. No disrespect to drinking — I enjoy a good beer. But as I get older, the moments that are most important to me are generally the ones where I’m sober.” 

REASONS WHY

ECONOMY

Locally-owned businesses create local jobs and are great for our economy! Dollars you spend locally are more likely to stay in our community.

SUSTAINABILITY

Drink green! Locally-made beverages don’t have to travel far, reducing the emissions generated from shipping.

COMMUNITY

Owners of local breweries, cideries, wineries and coffee roasters are members of our community —– and are more likely to give back.

ORIGINALITY

Your Inland Northwest-made beverages are unique! Why not order something you can’t get anywhere else.

DRINKABILITY

You’ll find fresh, locally-sourced ingredients in your locally-made refreshments —– what’s not to love about that?

River Park Square Shopping Center unites world class brands and local favorites in the heart of Spokane. There’s always something new to be discovered, just steps away from Riverfront Park, Centennial Trail, hotel accomodations and all downtown has to offer.

PARK AFTER OR LESS 5PM FOR $4

SHOP PING

Mulberry Made

Dozens of local creators and vendors find home at Spokane Valley’s Mulberry Market Co.

BY AZARIA PODPLESKY

There’s something especially satisfying about shopping local. The item isn’t just an item; it’s a piece lovingly crafted by someone in your town. Events like Bazaar and Small Business Saturday make it easy to shop local, but any other day of the year, it can be difficult to find all the locally created goods you’re after.

From Here, Terrain’s all-local shop in River Park Square, is a big help, and since June 2023, Spokane Valley’s Mulberry Market Co. has been, too.

Mulberry Market offers locally created art, skincare products, ceramics, baby and children items, decor, and more, all curated and arranged with care by owner Hannah Carlson.

Though not a Spokane Valley native, Carlson has made a name for herself through her support of the community via her store. The community has returned the love, voting Mulberry Market a top three Best New Business in the Inlander’s 2024 Best Of poll.

“‘Community over competition everyday’ is my thought because if it wasn’t for everybody else, none of this would be a thing,” Carlson says.

Mulberry Market wasn’t initially a market, though. At first, it really was all about mulberries. Carlson made mulberry jam and sold it at a farmers market in Michigan. Before she knew it, Carlson — with her mother’s help — was making 300 jars of jam a week to meet demand.

Carlson then started selling a friend’s goat milk soap alongside her jam, and the soaps soon became a bestseller. After outgrowing farmers markets, she took her wares to area vendor shows she likens to Bazaar. Her attention eventually turned to home goods when she saw decor sellers at vendor shows staging their booths.

“I’m like ‘That looks so fun,’” Carlson says. “To keep up the jam, it was exhausting because we were moving so much. I got into making jam because I love it, and it was taking the fun of it away.”

Carlson placed a $2,000 order for decor from a wholesale distributor, an act she remembers as feeling terrifying, and she added those items to her shop. Just like her mulberry jam and soap, the decor was an instant hit.

One Christmas, Carlson set up a market in an outbuilding on her parents’ property for family and friends who weren’t able to attend the vendor shows.

Mulberry Market’s Hannah Carlson works with more than 40 regional vendors to fill her Spokane Valley shop; nothing there costs more than $100.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO (LEFT); COURTESY PHOTOS (BELOW)

SHOPPING

The crowds were so big, she realized it was time to make her decor sales a regular thing. She and her family spent a couple months renovating the outbuilding into the first iteration of Mulberry Market.

Carlson hosted shoppers at the market one weekend a month from 2017 to when she moved to Spokane Valley in 2020. After that, she flew to Michigan the week before each sale to make sure her employees and the shop were prepared.

After several years of success, Carlson closed the original Mulberry Market in December 2022.

“I was burned out from flying back and forth… I wasn’t getting to do the face-to-face, which is the part I love in the first place,” she says.

“I wasn’t getting to do the face-to-face, which is the part I love in the first place.”

One of her Michigan employees planned to buy the business, but a loan fell through. A week later, in March, Carlson, who said everything happens for a reason, drove by the current Spokane Valley home of Mulberry Market and saw it was empty. Though there wasn’t a “for sale” sign on the building, she looked up the property owner’s number and made her interest known.

“‘Community over competition everyday’ is my thought because if it wasn’t for everybody else, none of this would be a thing.”

ERICK

adding cabinets and shiplap to the walls, plus a dividing wall between the shop floor and a storage area.

Carlson then drove to Michigan to collect the last of the original store’s inventory. She also went to every local farmers market and vendor show she could, making connections with creators she thought would fit in Mulberry Market, eventually bringing products from more than 40 vendors, most from the Inland Northwest, into the shop.

Carlson says Mulberry Market is great for gift giving, with nothing in the shop costing more than $100. Candles, sourdough bread-related items and jewelry are current bestsellers. Shoppers can also take part in regularly hosted workshops led by vendors, including metal stamping, candle making and fused glass art.

Carlson also hosts vendor fairs at the shop and will take part in a Small Business Saturday Shop Hop in November.

SHOP LOCAL!

MULBERRY MARKET CO. Open Mon-Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am-3 pm 17325 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley mulberrymarketco.com

A week after that, she had the keys in hand. Carlson once again started renovating, removing the previous store’s drop ceilings, and

The shop owner has big ambitions for Mulberry Market, including adding more women’s clothing and a dressing room, plus turning some of its workshop space into a coffee shop and patio. She also wants to continue championing local creators with pop-up shops and holiday markets in which vendors can rent stalls to experience having a mini-storefront of their own.

It’s a lot of work, but Carlson feels revitalized with the second version of Mulberry Market and is ready for more, saying she’s grateful the store made it to its first anniversary.

“Now we just have to get to year two,” she says. “What do they say? ‘If you make it to two years, you’re good.’”  MULBERRY MADE…

DOXEY PHOTO

Unwind at Spa Ssakwa’q’n

ESCAPE THE Ordinary

Immerse yourself in one of the largest spas in the Inland Northwest. Considered a hidden gem by spa enthusiasts, Spa Ssakwa’q’n offers a sanctuary for rejuvenation and connection.

SHOPPING

Heather Hanley

The Tin Roof owner and longtime local furniture expert shares tips for making a home stylish and comfortable

INTERVIEWED BY LUCY

KLEBECK

It takes a lot of thoughtfulness to make a house feel, well, homey. Thankfully, the Inland Northwest has home design experts like the Tin Roof’s Heather Hanley. The Tin Roof in Spokane’s Sprague Union District — along with its design center in Sandpoint — sells furniture that appeals to typical shoppers with plenty of options for customizations to meet even the most eccentric interior design dreams.

Long before the Tin Roof sold furniture, it was a television and electronics store, opened by Hanley’s grandfather in 1945. After graduating from college in the Bay Area, she helped transition the store from electronics to the successful furniture venture that’s now sustained it for two decades and counting.

INLANDER : What allows the Tin Roof to thrive in an era of online shopping?

HANLEY: That is something that has become increasingly more and more difficult. We used to really align ourselves with brands that did not sell to online distributors and as

we’ve gone further and further into ‘you can get anything online,’ so have our vendors, so we’re constantly trying to work with vendors that really respect and appreciate that relationship with a brick and mortar.

It’s not like buying pots and pans. I’m going to sit on this couch for a decade — I want to know if it’s comfortable. We have designers that can come to your home and can assess a space and work with you and see what your lifestyle is. And then we do care what our community thinks about us. Wayfair does not care if you give them a bad review. Heather does, I really do, I do lose sleep over it.

How do you respond to shifting trends in furniture and decor styles?

When I first started in furniture the big trend was Italian Villa or French Mediterranean, kind of that Tuscan look, and everything was really overdone. The 2008 housing crisis happened, and the economy crashed, and generally the aesthetics of what is popular follow the economy. When the economy is

really robust, you get this kind of maximalist feel, and then as the economy cools, things go a little bit more sparse.

I’ve participated in some design roundtable things for national brands [and] I’m always the only one that’s like, “No, less, less, simpler, cleaner.” I think the way that we respond to it is that we take it with a grain of salt and think about our region and the aesthetics that [customers] seem to appreciate on a whole.

What

advice do you have for someone buying new furniture?

My number one piece of advice is always to spend the money where you spend the time. If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen or your dining room, start your investments there and don’t feel like it has to be done all at once. Invest in things that will last you a lifetime and decorate around them. Invest in a quality sofa that has an evergreen type of appeal to it that you can decorate around for decades to come, and it’s going to style out before it wears out. 

SPEED ROUND

What’s a current furniture trend you’re seeing?

An ’80s Bauhaus kind of look. It’s fun, and I’m excited to hopefully incorporate some of it into the showroom.

What’s your favorite piece of furniture in your home?

I have a really cool Vladimir Kagan sofa in our library. That’s probably my favorite piece.

What’s your favorite room to design?

A great room. Because even though they say the trend is to go back to smaller, single-use rooms, I’m not seeing that here locally.

What’s the most popular piece you sell?

Sectionals. We sell a lot of sectionals.

Heather Hanley took over her family’s business over two decades ago. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Soothing Scents SHOPPING

Spokane-based Dandles Candles has been filling homes with comforting aromas for 25 years and counting BY

ANNE McGREGOR

The Inland Northwest is, for about three months each year, a pretty dark place. Literally. Like, for a short stretch in December, the sun goes down before 4 pm. But on the plus side, that means there’s more time for enjoying the golden ambiance and beguiling scents of candles.

Now celebrating 25 years, it’s easy to see why Dandles Candles, a company started by former news anchor and reporter Dana Haynes, is so popular. There is a Dandles Candle suitable for virtually any occasion, style and scent preference. The candles — tens of thousands of them — are still poured by Haynes in small batches using clean-burning soy wax with dozens of scents, including regulars like “library” as well as an assortment of seasonal offerings.

“My rule of thumb is I don’t pour a scent I don’t like!” Haynes says. “My nose has worked pretty well for me.” She has one employee to bounce ideas off. “We are always looking for new scents, but we have a very tried-and-true scent list… We are very strategic about scent selection.”

The Tuscan lemon grove candle, for example, was inspired by a couples’ trip to Italy.

“I created that scent as a gift for each of them as a travel candle, but I liked it so much I decided to include it in our line,” Haynes says.

Then there’s the seemingly endless variety of containers that make Dandles Candles stand out. Best sellers include a cement bowl candle with two wicks and a jar wrapped in wire. Elegantly simple clear glass

candles are suitable for any decor style, while hobnail jars evoke a delicate nostalgia.

Dandles Candles are available at local boutiques including Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe and Lucky Vintage & Pretty Things, the latter of which also offers candle refills. Keep an eye on social media for the annual — and very popular — holiday open house at the Dandles Candles studio.

As for the busy company’s future, Haynes says, she’s looking to expand into the Seattle and Puget Sound area, as well as Montana.

“We’re just trying to provide even more choices for our customers… My personal sweet spot is the whole research and development process — researching new candles, can we make it for this price — but I also still enjoy a long day pouring.” 

Owner Dana Haynes still hand pours all of her small-batch candles.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

EVEN MORE CANDLES!

ANCHORED NORTHWEST

2324 E. Euclid Ave., Spokane

Offering a collection of hand-poured, wood-wick candles, in unique galvanized tin vessels.

BUNGALOW CANDLE STUDIO

Find local retailers at bungalowcandlestudio.com

Find candles crafted with wooden wicks in nearly a hundred scents. Owner Sue Griffith says, “There’s something about burning a candle that can help reduce anxiety, reduce stress.”

 THE CANDLE BAR

817 W. Garland Ave., Spokane

The Candle Bar offers ready-made candles, as well as refills. Founder Holli Brown says, “I started making candles because I couldn’t afford them.”

HOLADAY & CO.

1109 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene

Choose a vessel, then select a scent and how strong you’d like it to be. Custom orders are filled in two to five days.

INLAND CANDLE CO.

211 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene

Owners Ransom and Sarah Storm offer a selection of outdoorsy-scented soy candles featuring cotton-core wicks, poured in recycled glass vessels or ceramic tumblers.

KINDER KANDLES & COMPANY

Online at kinderkandles.com

A collection of soy wax candles, including the Cereal Killa line, with scents of favorite cereals, and an Outlander series, poured in apothecary jars. Monthly KandleBox subscriptions are $10.

KNIGHTLIGHTS CANDLES

Online at knightlightscandles.com

Choose among an assortment of regionally inspired candles or pick from a selection of “Curious Candles,” from which 50% of proceeds are donated to “love-centered community organizations.”

VALLEY CANDLES

4918 N. Evergreen Road, Spokane Valley

Owner Heather Stokke’s wax candles with cotton wicks feature fragrance oils with no additives or preservatives. Private parties and DIY candle events are regular features at her shop.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Cutting Through the Static

Abuilding crisscrossed with revolving dry cleaning racks for a quarter century is once again filled with clothing on a somewhat circular journey, from one closet to another.

Static Age Vintage in the North Monroe Business District opened in late spring 2024 inside the longtime former home of Corbin Park Cleaners, adding its name to the Spokane-area’s already robust list of vintage clothing shops. Static Age also joins several other businesses selling vintage goods, including furniture and decor, along Monroe’s twolane commercial stretch.

Inside a skylit back room, Static Age’s clothing racks run parallel to the building’s walls from east to west, and are filled with styles that stretch from roughly the 1940s all the way to the early 2000s. While everything in the store is — by the true nature of vintage — unique, Martell and Caballero try to track down pieces that set Static Age apart from other shops in the region.

SHOP LOCAL!

STATIC AGE VINTAGE

2814 N. Monroe St. instagram.com/staticage.vintage

“We’re trying to do more of the rare or quirkier, kind of different stuff,” Martell says.

Static Age Vintage is Spokane’s newest hub for old threads, from the Y2K era and back BY

CHEY SCOTT

The venture is owned by Brandon Martell and BreeAnna Caballero, a duo who’ve been regular sellers in the local vintage scene. Local shoppers may recognize Martell’s former vendor name, Bee’s Vintage, under which he sold in various other local shops. Caballero, meanwhile, showcased her curated inventory on major resale sites as Bright Moon Vintage. Now at their own shop, the couple and business partners combine all of their individually sourced inventory, alongside the store’s only other clothing vendor, Tony Brown of Vagabond Soundtrack.

“They don’t have to be expensive,” Caballero adds. “Just like oddball pieces, I guess. We do have stuff in here that probably everybody [has], basics and stuff, but we want to have some funkier pieces, I think.”

Running down the center of Static Age’s main clothing area is a rack filled with hundreds of dresses from all eras, ranging from sequin-embellished contemporary prom dresses to flowy prairie-esque gowns popular in the 1970s. A rack of denim runs

Brandon Martell and BreeAnna Caballero opened Static Age Vintage in the North Monroe Business District in the spring of 2024.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

CUTTING THROUGH THE STATIC…

down one wall. Shirts are on the other, underneath shelves piled with vintage textiles like quilts and wool blankets, plus more denim. Some of the rarest inventory, including vintage band T-shirts that are Caballero’s forte, hang from the highest ceiling rafters, swaying in the slight air current.

“We try to have a mix of things from different eras, like the better things of each decade, so we’re not trying to do too much of one thing,” Martell says. “Y2K is really popular right now, but we want to have just the stuff we think is cool.”

For those looking to sell or trade in their own vintage pieces for something new, Static Age offers cash or credit; the customer’s split depends on the items.

While Static Age’s main focus is vintage clothing, a corner just to the right of the front door is filled with vinyl records stocked by the owners’ friend, Charley Berryhill. Turntables near the front counter are always spinning to set the vibe: The Black Keys, The Misfits (their 1996 album lends its name to the shop), and more.

Nearby, a circular rack features new arrivals, while another displays seasonal pieces like swimsuits, cropped Ts and Hawaiian-print short-sleeve shirts. Out on the sidewalk are a couple racks filled with sale items.

As Static Age carves out a place for itself in the region’s vast vintage fashion scene, its owners are confident and optimistic that shoppers’ appetite for retro fashion won’t fade anytime soon.

“I think it’s the best it ever has been for clothing,” Martell says. “I think coming from other stores and seeing what it used to be like before 2020, it’s probably the most desirable it’s ever been.”

Caballero agrees. “I think it’s thriving,” she says. “There’s new stores that have popped up within the last couple years, and I think there’s room for everyone to grow. There’s going to be different things that come into style, but you just have to change with the trends and what people want.” 

EVEN MORE CURATED VINTAGE CLOTHING!

1889 SALVAGE CO.

2824 N. Monroe St., Spokane 1889salvageco.com, 509-315-4485

BOULEVARD MERCANTILE

1012 N. Washington St., Spokane instagram.com/boulevardmercantile 509-327-7547

CHOSEN VINTAGE

7 W. Main Ave., Spokane instagram.com/chosenvintage509, 509-443-3602

COLLECTIVE THREADZ

719 W. Garland Ave., Spokane instagram.com/collectivethreadzvintage

DO IT WITH SOUL

112 S. Cedar St., Spokane doitwithsoul.com, 509-270-9661

GAS & GRAIN

504 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene instagram.com/gasandgrain

GLOBAL NEIGHBORHOOD THRIFT & VINTAGE

919 E. Trent Ave., Spokane instagram.com/globalneighborhoodthrift

MIDTOWN MARKET

1003 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene facebook.com/midtownmarketcda

REVOLVER

309 S. Main St., Moscow instagram.com/revolvermoscow

TELEPORT VINTAGE + CO.

917 W. Broadway Ave., Spokane, instagram.com/teleportvintageandco 509-290-6545

TOSSED & FOUND

2607 N. Monroe St., Spokane facebook.com/tossedandfoundspokane 509-325-2607

VEDA LUX

1106 S. Perry St., Spokane vedalux.com, 509-475-1674

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

All Fired Up

2232 Ceramics’ Brooke

Martinez makes unique, colorful ceramic creations inspired by the Inland Northwest BY

FMADISON PEARSON

or Brooke Martinez, pottery is a family affair.

Growing up in Spokane, Martinez fondly remembers running around in her grandmother’s home pottery studio.

“We were around it a lot growing up, doing little projects with her and whatnot,” she says.

That early exposure sparked Martinez’s lifelong love of the craft, eventually leading her to establish her small business, 2232 Ceramics.

Martinez’s ceramic creations have a distinct look, featuring speckled clay and brightly colored images of flowers, butterflies, mountains, rainbows, smiley faces and more. She mainly throws mugs but dabbles in other vessels like vases, bowls, plates, planters and spoon rests.

Although Martinez took pottery classes in high school, she fell out of the hobby once she graduated and moved to Los Angeles to go to fashion school. After working in the apparel industry for several years in a job requiring a lot of computer time, Martinez needed something creative to immerse herself in. Suddenly, pottery was back in her life.

“I was looking for a hobby to get into that involved making something with my hands,” she says. “I took a six-week course at The Clay Connection, and I just loved it.”

Brooke Martinez was first inspired to create pottery by her grandmother.

JENNIFER DEBARROS PHOTOS

From there, she gradually set up a home studio just like her grandmother’s. While still working full time, Martinez devoted nights, weekends and other free time to honing her rediscovered pottery skills.

After dedicating the last five years to growing her hobby into a successful small business, Martinez runs 2232 Ceramics full time. While some might guess the venture’s name is a nod to an address or lucky number, it’s not.

“It’s the temperature that I fire my pottery to — 2,232 degrees Fahrenheit!” she says.

Anyone hoping to add a handmade 2232 Ceramics piece to their kitchen cupboards should keep an eye on Martinez’s social media pages since she only attends about one local art market per year.

“I sell in small batches and preorders,” she says. “I’ll either make a small batch of things and then send out an email blast or talk about it on Instagram. Then, I’ll set a specific date and time that those will go live for presale. That ensures that I can complete all of the pieces within a certain timeframe.”

Each piece is wheel-thrown and hand-decorated by Martinez, giving a unique look and feel. The artist looks to her surroundings for inspiration.

SHOP LOCAL!

2232 CERAMICS

“I have a lot of outdoor Pacific Northwest designs,” she says. “My treescape design has been a classic one that I’ve had from the beginning and that’s just the view from my deck.”

2232ceramics.com

Instagram: @2232ceramics

Martinez’s background in fashion also informs her design choices. After conducting trend research for many years, she uses a similar process for her ceramics.

“There’s a lot of pottery that’s solid colors,” she says. “I think having my background in design helps. I still design on my computer using Adobe Illustrator because it’s what I know. I also use speckled clay. I like how it adds a lot of depth to the design.”

Martinez’s cheerful designs and bright color add liveliness to the shelves, tables and kitchens of her customers.

“I try to come up with things that will resonate with people,” she says. “Things that will bring some kind of feeling or memory for them when they’re drinking from the piece.” 

For 75 years, our family’s mission has been to set the standard in rehabilitation therapy and senior living –blending medical excellence with the feel of home.

We are so grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact... in people’s lives and in our community.

Dr. Nathan Dikes Owner/CEO

Shopping Bliss

Find the perfect threads for any occasion in a local boutique

It’s refreshing to get expert help choosing clothes that fit well and look great — and what better feeling is there than leaving a locally owned boutique with a great new outfit in hand? That kind of personalized shopping experience simply can’t be matched with online browsing.

SWANK BOUTIQUE 

For over 15 years, Swank Boutique’s assortment of stylish and affordable clothes and accessories has made it easy for shoppers in the Inland Northwest to keep up with the latest fashion trends.

“I just want women to come in and feel good about what they’re buying and how they look,” says shop owner Angela Low, who notes that the boutique offers less-common brands and unique finds. “When people walk into Swank, I want them to feel like they’re shopping my closet, and I want it to

be a super fun experience.”

Low takes satisfaction from filling a broad variety of clients’ needs.

“We’d have women come in and go, ‘We’re going on a date tonight, I wish I could find a shirt for my husband,’” she says. So she added menswear to the shop.

“I like to create a multigenerational shopping experience, like I want my daughter to be able to shop there, and myself and my mom,” Low says. Permanent jewelry and private shopping parties round out the comprehensive customer service.

“I tell people when they come in to expect that they’re going to have a one-on-one experience,” she says. “I like my girls to know the clients and their names and to just give them that personal shopping experience and make them feel special.” (SUMMER SANDSTROM)

4727 N. Division St., Spokane

“I like to create a multigenerational shopping experience,” says Swank owner Angela Low. LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTOS

AUDREY’S BOUTIQUE 

It’s pretty incredible that Audrey’s Boutique has been serving customers for more than half a century. But then again, Audrey’s offers a unique inventory. There’s the curated and always-changing selection of dresses ranging from formal gowns to little black cocktail dresses and more casual options. Clothing suitable for work and weekends is also available. And the shop continues to be a favorite for its selection of bras, as well as expert assistance to guide shoppers to the perfect fit. Get a sample of the shop’s unpretentious and fun vibe, as well as a preview of new inventory, through the frequently posted and entertaining videos on Facebook. (ANNE McGREGOR) 3131 N. Division St., Spokane

JEMA LANE BOUTIQUE

In 2010, Jani Davis opened a boutique named after her four daughters — Janae, Erin, Megan and Ashley — whose initials spell Jema. With sizes ranging from XS to 3XL for tops and 0 to 34 in pants, people of every shape and size can find something cute and trendy. Additionally, there’s a selection of giftable items, and regular “Jem of the Week” special. And for little ones, there are baby and kids clothes and toys. (SS) 11703 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

Audrey’s Boutique ALICIA HAUFF PHOTO

SHOPPING

SHOPPING BLISS…

 SIMPLE WILDFLOWER

Jessica Yefremov started Simple Wildflower as an exclusively online store in 2021, and a year later opened a physical storefront in the heart of downtown Spokane. Simple Wildflower carries an array of items, but among Yefremov’s personal favorites are a selection of sets that take some of the guesswork out of shopping.

Private shopping parties are also an option, and permanent jewelry is a service Simple Wildflower has become well-known for since opening. Overall, though, keeping the store affordable and fun for anyone who walks in is essential to the boutique’s success.

“We’d love to have a customer come in as a stranger and leave as a friend,” Yefremov says. (SS)

112 S. Monroe St., Spokane

KATZE BOUTIQUE

Katze Boutique’s mission is to “effortlessly combine style and comfort, allowing you to make a fashion statement while staying comfortable all day long.” What could be better? Since 1987 shoppers have been finding clothing with a sophisticated European flair at Katze. Styles are often flowing, and feature asymmetrical design and plenty of texture, all in flattering hues. Among the boutique’s many brands is Magnolia Pearl, with its signature vintage-style fabrics crafted in flirty casual tops and bottoms. Handmade artisan silk scarves as well as jewelry and leather accessories add a finishing touch to any ensemble. (AM)

1816 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane

LOLO

Lolo Boutique has a new owner, a new location and a new focus. Cinny Considine says she bought the shop in February and then moved to “a much prettier spot” downtown with a street-level entrance on North Washington. Housewares are not in the inventory mix anymore, allowing for an expanded collection of “unique clothing that’s hard to find anywhere else,” Considine says, noting she’s having fun sourcing clothing, jewelry and gifts from “all over the map… It’s a blast. I just want to get it all.” (AM)

108 N. Washington St., Spokane

Jessica Yefremov offers permanent jewelry and fashionable finds at Simple Wildflower. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

SHOPPING

SHOPPING BLISS…

MARMALADE

Founded by Marie Widmyer and her twin daughters, Kaitlyn and Kasey, Marmalade brings luxury fashion to North Idaho (and to Brooklyn, New York, and Savannah, Georgia, via their satellite locations). The trio is dedicated to offering fun, unique and eminently stylish clothing that helps clients express their individuality. And they’re good at what they do. Kasey Widmyer styled her sister’s wardrobe when Kaitlyn won the title of Miss Idaho USA 2024. (AM) 308 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene

T-BLUE BOUTIQUE 

In 2009, Coeur d’Alene resident Kareen Link traded her career in real estate for fashion. She and a business partner bought what then was called Tiffany Blue Boutique in downtown Coeur d’Alene, changed the name to T-Blue, and eventually added two additional locations: in Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Village shopping district and north in Hayden. Each location offers something unique, like menswear at Hayden and more afford-

able everyday staples in Riverstone. Downtown, meanwhile, has plenty of statement pieces like eye-catching dresses, rompers and jumpsuits that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. Jewelry, accessories, shoes and more make T-Blue a one-stop shop to update your closet. Follow on Instagram (@ tblueboutique) for inventory updates and lots of style inspiration. (CHEY SCOTT) 2027 Main St. and 404 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene; 8134 N. Government Way, Hayden

REVERIE

For eight years now, this shop in Kendall Yards (formerly Boutique Bleu) has been offering a full array of clothing, from fashionable and classic tops to dresses, pants and outerwear, all aimed at meeting shoppers’ diverse needs. Confidence is key, and Reverie’s staff strive to sell clothes that make each customer leave the store feeling strong, inspired and bold. Pair a new ’fit with some accessories like handbags and jewelry, or stop by for the perfect gift. A rewards program lets shoppers earn points for each purchase. (SS) 1184 W. Summit Pkwy., Spokane 

Kareen Link now operates three North Idaho locations of T-Blue Boutique.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

Planting a Seed

Floralia Nursery has found a niche in selling plants that thrive in the Inland Northwest’s unique climate

Soon after Wesley Hill moved to Spokane in 2016, he spotted a niche in the local horticultural industry.

BY E.J. IANNELLI

The plants being sold by many garden centers were, well, transplants, better suited to other habitats. To truly thrive in this part of the Inland Northwest, where the climate is an uncommon blend of Mediterranean (hot, arid summers) and continental qualities (very cold winters with high precipitation), cultivating those plants would invariably require special accommodations.

While a tiny subset of gardeners might relish that extra TLC as a test of their green thumbs, Hill felt like more folks would appreciate plants

that required less effort and fewer resources. Drawing on his experience working in nurseries in Portland and his native Texas, he set about researching plants that would be naturally at home in this region.

Those plants would become the stock in trade for Floralia Nursery, which Hill opened in Spokane’s Emerson-Garfield neighborhood in 2021.

“We have great nurseries in Spokane, but in Portland, there’s just a lot more specialty nurseries and places where you can get the more weird and unusual stuff,” he says.

In Floralia’s case, “weird and unusual” translates to climate-suitable plants both native and

EVEN MORE NURSERIES!

BARN AND BLOSSOM

4010 E. Jamieson Rd., Spokane barnandblossom.com, 509-448-3894

BLUE MOON GARDEN & NURSERY

1732 S. Inland Empire Way, Spokane bluemoonplants.com, 509-747-4255

GARDEN SPRINGS GARDEN CENTER

12015 N. Division St., Spokane 4910 W. Cleveland Rd., Deer Park facebook.com/gardensprings

GIBSON’S NURSERY

1401 S. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley gibsonsnursery.net, 509-928-0973

HAASE’S GREENHOUSE

3409 E. 34th Ave., Spokane (open seasonally) haasesgreenhouse.com, 509-534-7095

JUDY’S ENCHANTED GARDEN CENTER

2628 W. Northwest Blvd., Spokane judysenchantedgarden.shop, 509-325-1081

LATAH CREEK NURSERY

1415 W. Viewmont Rd., Spokane latahcreeknursery.com, 509-220-0133

LIBERTY PARK

GREENHOUSE & GARDEN CENTER

1401 E. Newark Ave., Spokane (open in spring) libertyparkgreenhouse.com, 509-534-9381

NEW LEAF NURSERY

12655 N. Government Way, Hayden newleafnurseryhayden.com, 208-762-4825

exotic. Among the native varieties are greenleaf manzanita, a favorite of Hill’s. He describes it as a “beautiful broadleaf evergreen shrub.”

“They get this really unique, smooth, cinnamon-red bark that peels off in the summer. Most of the varieties bloom early in the spring, so it gives you a splash of color when nothing else is around as well as a nice, early source of nectar for pollinators.”

SHOP LOCAL!

FLORALIA NURSERY

1013 W. Knox Ave., Spokane floralianursery.com 509-724-0223

The Patagonian petunia, by contrast, is one of the more exotic plants that Hill has imported from distant regions — places like the Sierra Nevada and parts of Turkey, South America and Central Asia — that have similar climates to Spokane.

“It’s an evergreen, dense mounding petunia from the Patagonian

NW SEED & PET

2422 E. Sprague Ave., 509-534-0694 7302 N. Division St., 509-484-7387 nwseed.com

THE PLANT FARM

14208 E. Fourth Ave., Spokane Valley spokaneplantfarm.com, 509-926-9397

RITTERS GARDEN & GIFT

10120 N. Division St., Spokane 4ritter.com, 509-467-5258

ROSARIUM GARDEN CENTER

9405 S. Williams Lane, Spokane rosariumgardencenter.com, 509-448-4968

SMART GARDENS NURSERY

7015 N. Argonne Rd., Spokane smartgardensnursery.com, 509-927-3637

SPOKANE BOYS

1113 E. Francis Ave., Spokane spokaneboysinc.co, 509-487-0295

TALL GRASS FARMS

25615 W. Hallett Rd., Medical Lake tallgrass-farms.com, 509-991-8434

VANHOFF’S GARDEN CENTER

1844 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene 208-930-4424

WABI SABI JAPANESE GARDENS & NURSERY

1719 S. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley wabisabigardens.com, 509-999-6802

steppes, kind of a really crazy and unusual rock garden plant,” he says.

Pineapple broom is another exotic plant that Hill had been growing privately for several years and recently propagated for sale at Floralia. The shrub hails from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and, along with its “big, velvety, shiny leaves,” produces large “clusters of bright yellow flowers that smell like ripe pineapple.”

Although Hill has sold manzanitas and various cold-hardy cacti ever since Floralia opened its doors, he’s gradually added new plants to account for the region’s other horticultural variables, such as pollinators and soil type.

“Here, we’re basically gardening in a dry riverbed because we were in the path of the Missoula floods. As a result of that, we have these incredibly fast-draining soils. And then up on the hills you have the problem of basalt bedrock 6 inches beneath the surface,” he says.

Wesley Hill’s nursery Floralia has many plants to withstand the summer heat. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

SHOPPING

PLANTING A SEED…

And as human-induced climate change pushes Spokane’s summer heat and dry spells to new extremes, Hill has further adjusted Floralia’s selection accordingly. Rabbitbrush, a yellow-flowering shrub that he “couldn’t give away” a few years ago, has surged in popularity, partly because of its low maintenance.

“I think people have seen a lot of their standard reliable things struggle. There’s just been a lot of plant loss these past few years, and people have lost lavender, roses, peonies, what have you,” he says.

“Plus, people aren’t really wanting to garden when it’s 105 degrees outside. I don’t blame them. I don’t really want to, either.”

In a related vein, Hill also sources and cultivates plants in line with the city’s SpokaneScape program, which incentivizes lawn replacement with drought-tolerant landscaping called xeriscaping (a word that sounds a bit like “zero-scaping,” with xeri- meaning “dry”). The thirstier — and likewise more expensive — that traditional lawns become, the more appealing Floralis’ water-efficient alternatives start to look.

“Over the past two years, I feel like a lot of people have been ‘xeriscape curious’ but not ready to go through with it. This year, however, people are actually like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this.’ I’ve definitely noticed a building momentum.”

For all of his focus on plant varieties that will be right at home in the Spokane area, Hill’s larger desire is simply to get ordinary people interested in plants — their histories, their aesthetics, their role in ecosystems.

“I want to change people’s perspective of gardening in Spokane to where the things that have traditionally been thought of as being challenging and difficult for our region [are recast as] opportunities and we get to create this very unique plant palette with very unique gardens because our conditions are very unique,” he says. 

Thrift Vintage &

A Neighborhood Ministry of St. John’s Cathedral Service League In the beautiful Perry District Tues-Fri 1:00 to 6:00 Sat 12:00 to 5:00 509.534.3888

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

The Loveliest of Days

It helps to have a little help when planning a wedding; local vendors share their tips BY ANNE McGREGOR

Awedding is perhaps the ultimate example of both love and optimism. It’s a day that dreams and hopes and beauty all collide in a magnificent outpouring of celebration. And luckily, engaged couples will find a plethora of specialists right here in the Inland Northwest who are ready to assist in crafting the perfect nuptial day.

While there’s no doubt a wedding can be an entirely DIY event, there are reasons to get a little help. Spokane wedding and event planner Ever Nyberg notes that having a planner can reduce stress during the process — plan-

ners come to the situation with all the skills needed to bring a couple’s vision to life. That includes everything from offering insight into local vendor options, coordinating logistics up to and on the big day, getting necessary permits, and even tracking RSVPs and dietary restrictions. On the wedding day, a planner can make sure the event flows seamlessly, allowing the couple to truly enjoy the celebration. And with 80 wedding venues within 100 miles of Spokane, according to theknot.com, there’s sure to be a just-right location for every style and price point.

BOUQUETS GALORE

No wedding is complete without flowers, and here there are also plenty of options. A good way to start the search is checking out florist’s designs on social media or their own websites. Tia Rojan of InBloom Spokane calls her own style “bloom-heavy,” and she grows many of the flowers she uses for weddings.

For the most beautiful arrangements, Rojan says couples need to consider the season of the wedding. “If you’re having a spring wedding, it’s going to be much better if you’re picking spring blooms like peonies, ranun-

Leave the worrying up to experts on your big day. HANNAH RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY OF BEACON HILL

SHOPPING

THE LOVELIEST OF DAYS…

culus, anemones, even tulips,” she says. “If you want a really dark, moody look, maybe don’t choose April 1.”

Rojan encourages clients to consider what elements will be featured prominently in photos when determining the best way to deploy whatever budget they have. Above all, “Make sure your bridal bouquet is amazing,” she says.

As for traditional elements like boutonnieres and corsages, she says many couples are skipping those, though she also notes, “if it’s going to really hurt someone’s feelings, it might be worth it just to do it.”

TIME TO SMILE

Capturing the essence of the day is the job of the photographer. Longtime Spokane wedding photographer Ifong Chen works with her clients well before the wedding day.

“I always meet them in person, chat with them, make sure my style is what they’re looking for, my personality is what they’re looking for,” Chen says.

An engagement photo session helps couples learn to relax in front of the camera, so that on the big day, they’re ready.

“They know I’m going to make them dance in the street! Squeeze in!” Chen says, encouraging brides to relax and not worry about their dresses. “Swing your skirt!”

Chen works to not only capture a traditional series of portraits of the couple, their families and the wedding party, but also a delightful variety of unique, unscripted moments that can tell the story of the day long after it has passed. 

IFONG CHEN PHOTO

Weddings

Bringing Dreams to Life

Beautifully Restored • Historic Hillyard

We are delighted to o er this historic venue for you to plan and celebrate your special occasion. Our space combines charm and elegance, promising an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.

Local Goods

From lushly scented skin care products to quirky upcycled fabric pieces, these local makers will have shoppers feeling fresh and looking fly

BY CHEY SCOTT AND MADISON PEARSON

HOMESTEAD BRAND

A well-made bag, belt or wallet can last longer than a lifetime, becoming a perfectly aged heirloom to be passed onto future generations. That’s the mindset of the local leatherworking trio behind Homestead Brand, founded in November 2023. All production takes place at its founders’ home workshops using as many high-quality, U.S.-made materials as possible. From sturdy totes, messenger bags and clutches to belts, wallets and dog leashes, Homestead Brand’s handmade goods are built to last. Find a list of local stockists or order online. homesteadbrand.com (CS)

WILD JUNE CO.

Inspired by the endless natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Wild June Co. founder Brittnee Miller creates skin care products in fresh, woodsy scents like cedarwood and frosted forest; the latter a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus and fir needles. From body butter to deodorant and lip balm to soap, Miller’s product lineup is entirely made with natural ingredients, making it ideal for those who are sensitive to or avoiding synthetic chemicals. Wild June Co. products are sold at boutiques around the U.S., and can also be ordered online. wildjuneco.com (CS)

KURIIO

When many think of vintage clothing, it’s images of funky blouses from the 1980s or flowy circle skirts from the 1950s that come to mind. Vintage clothing takes a much different form in the hands of Spokane-based designer Gianna Morrill, who gives retro pieces and fabric new life, from dresses and shirts to skirts, pants and hairbows. She even takes custom orders so you can carry the cozy nostalgia of your childhood Star Wars bedsheets everywhere you go. instagram.com/kuriio (MP)

COVER ME, CARRY ME

Beth LaBar of Cover Me, Carry Me creates sustainable accessories and bags out of discarded fabric and textiles. Her tote bags made of burlap sacks are perfect for grocery shopping, and her aprons in fun, patterned fabrics make a great gift for the baker in your life. With creatives like LaBar making waves in the sustainable fashion community, it’s easy to do your part in caring about Earth. covermecarryme.com (MP)

CAMPFIRE COUTURE

Kimberly Stoddard got her start in the fashion world 15 years ago, making leather bags while traveling the world with her husband, an extreme sports photographer. When the couple settled down in the Sandpoint area, she opened a permanent studio that’s since morphed into her business today, Campfire Couture, which counts a second location in Coeur d’Alene’s Rockford Building. Besides Stoddard’s beautiful leather bags, the boutique also carries clothing and fine jewelry, including its customizable “a la carte” necklaces, closures and charms, which are sold separately so customers can create the perfect custom piece. campfirecouture.com (CS)

SHOPPING

Kindred Spirits

Kindred & Co. brings friendship, books and food to North Idaho BY

MADISON PEARSON

Author Alice Hoffman said it best: “Books may well be the only true magic.”

Best friends Elizabeth Harrison and Selinna Maefau have known that to be true since they met when they were both 15.

In high school, Maefau often ditched her eighth-period class to visit Harrison in year-

book class. They would sit and read together, forming lifelong bonds and nurturing their love of literature, a mutual affinity that eventually blossomed into Kindred & Co., the duo’s beautiful bookstore and bistro in Post Falls.

“We always joked about it,” Harrison says. “But then the very real possibility presented itself, and it felt like a dream.”

Both women were English literature majors in college and have a fondness for places to eat and drink great cups of coffee, so merging their love of literature and a good cafe seemed like a natural next step when decid-

ing what to do after graduating from Western Washington University.

Kindred & Co. opened in March 2024 after more than four years of planning, a relocation to the area and various setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We kind of just grabbed it and jumped feet-first,” Harrison says. “It worked with where we both were in our lives. We’re very honored to be in Post Falls, and the community that we’re finding has been great.”

Visually, Kindred & Co. is a dark academia-lover’s dream. The building itself is inspired by the European architecture Harrison and Maefau saw on international trips. With a curved glass facade and black metal contrasting the building’s red brick exterior, Kindred & Co. stands out in the industrial area of Post Falls where it resides.

SHOP LOCAL!

KINDRED & CO.

851 E. Fourth Ave., Post Falls kindredandcompany.com 208-457-0403

The bookstore features a plethora of books — so many that perusing the darkstained, wooden shelves inside could take up an entire afternoon.

“We wanted to carry just about every

Kindred & Co. is much more than a bookstore, with a full-service cafe and event space that can be rented for private parties. LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTOS

genre,” Maefau says. “We did some quick math in the beginning and found out that we can carry about 20,000 individual books.”

Along with plenty of shelves, the store also has comfortable seating areas throughout, a lively bistro area with a full kitchen and coffee bar, as well as a retail area of unique gifts.

“We pulled from all of the beautiful things that we’ve seen all over the world,” Maefau says. “We wanted it to feel Old World but still kind of contemporary. Elizabeth crushed just about every detail in this establishment. Like all of the light fixtures, the wallpaper and the literal material of all of the couches.”

“We talked a lot about community. We want to be able to do so many things in this space.”

Both Maefau and Harrison wanted Kindred & Co. to feel like a third place for book lovers, somewhere they can come and comfortably hang out, connect and make new friends among fellow bookworms.

When naming the bookstore, the two women were very intentional about their choice, making sure it conveyed their vision perfectly.

“We tossed around a few names that had ‘and company’ in it, and I really liked that aspect because it felt like it gave us an umbrella,” Harrison says. “And that also gives it a multi-meaning like, this is a place for people to meet and gather. We’ve got some big ideas still. We didn’t want to be pigeonholed into just a bookstore. We want to have some options for the future.”

Part of those plans include opening an upstairs sun parlor area as a fully functioning event space. The pair say that nothing is off the table when it comes to the conservatory.

“Christmas parties, birthday parties, baby showers,” Harrison says. “We really hope somebody wants to get married in here one day.”

“It’s such a beautiful space,” Maefau adds. “Once the patio is able to be open, it feels like it really needs a party all of the time.”

Harrison and Maefau also have plans to host local and national authors at Kindred & Co.

“We have talked a lot about getting authors and their audiences in the same room together,” Maefau says. “We talked a lot about community. We want to be able to do so many things in this space, and we built it that way so those things are possible.”

“We both like to make people happy,” Harrison says. “We hope Kindred does that for other people.” 

The Big Picture

Spokane’s member-driven cooperative gallery Saranac Art Projects has evolved to fill a unique niche

BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

Opportunities to experience art in the greater Spokane area are as varied as they are abundant. In addition to public art and museums, the region’s many galleries offer an equally diverse range of artwork, artists and exhibition formats. Some are sales-driven commercial venues that might also include jewelry, clothing or other functional wares, while college galleries have an educational mission, often including programming such as artist-led discussions. Some local galleries feature a specific medium, such as clay, or a particular genre such as Western art, while other galleries coalesce around types of artists and manners in which they are represented.

Located inside Spokane’s Saranac Building from which it gets its name, Saranac Art Projects, founded in 2007, spans the spectrum of gallery formats, with cutting-edge contemporary art and a unique, member-driven business model. As a cooperative, everyone involved with the gallery has applied to and been juried in by their peers, versus chosen by a gallery owner who might be more driven by potential sales.

Past gallery exhibitions, for example, have included paintings, sculpture, drawings, photography, etcetera, but also video, performance, and a few items that might set the imagination aloft. In 2010, former members Gabriel Brown and Rimas Simaitis brought in live chickens and a food composting station, for example, while in 2019 former member Reinaldo Gil Zambrano hung several dozen printed paper birds throughout the space in an exhibition titled “Bird Murmuration.”

SUPPORT LOCAL ART

Saranac Art Projects

25 W. Main Ave., Spokane Open Fri-Sat noon-8 pm sapgallery.com

“It’s a space for exploration,” says longtime member Mariah Boyle, who’s served as Saranac’s president for several years.

The Saranac, as its members call it, also has a strong educational and community focus.

Boyle says members have a “collective vision of it being an important part of our community and being able to reach a variety of audiences, being able to have a contemporary space where people feel free to make the art that they want, and also just being able to be in the community with other artists.”

Collaborations, for example, might involve one member, such as Posie Kalin’s 2022 partnership with several area high schools, or the whole organization. In 2024, Saranac collaborated with Get Lit! Programs, the nonprofit literary festival housed within Eastern Washington University, as well as The Hive, Spokane Public Library’s nontraditional, arts education-focused space.

1 September 28

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL November 21-23 THE NUTCRACKER December 5-8

MATEUSZ PLAYS BRUCH

MASTERWORKS 7 March 29-30

MARTINI April 5-6

Artists Lena Lopez Schindler, left, and Louise Kodis admire Kodis’ “The Bulbs Come Up Every Year” during Saranac Art Project’s August 2024 reception.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

ARTS

THE BIG PICTURE…

For the Get Lit! collaboration, Boyle says “we had different groups of artists in our collective respond to a writing of somebody’s, then make an artwork.”

Like Boyle, who’s a Spokane Falls Community College art professor, many Saranac members hail from the broader academic community including Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University and North Idaho College.

Former member Lance Sinnema, a current instructor at Whitworth University, recalls how the gallery got its start at a time when many in the arts community saw a need for a place to showcase contemporary artists.

“I think it was sort of that time where the galleries that we had been going to, or that had been sort of familiar and established, were closing down, or things were on a downturn,” Sinnema says.

Indeed, when Lorinda Knight Gallery closed in 2009 after a 13-year run, many of its artists migrated to Saranac, including former Whitworth art professor Scott Kolbo, who brought Sinnema in as a founding member.

“I think the hope [in creating Saranac Art Projects] was to just keep something going, something a little bit more contemporary, but also something that wasn’t necessarily commercial, so it didn’t rely on sales to keep going,” says Sinnema, a senior lecturer at Whitworth who’s been considering rejoining the gallery.

“I think the hope was to just keep something going”

Instead of being sales-driven, Saranac members pay monthly dues — currently $70 — to help cover rent and other expenses. Members meet monthly to discuss and address all gallery business, divvying up chores including maintaining a social media presence and maintenance.

Although sales aren’t the goal, Saranac members do sell their work, either at their assigned solo show (with 24 members, two artists are assigned to each month through the year) or a group show. The annual small works show in December, for example, has proven to be a commercial success.

Membership has fluctuated over the years, Boyle says. Like many organizations, COVID-related shutdowns took a toll, yet Saranac is bouncing back

“That was kind of a weird time for a lot of people,” Boyle says. “So figuring out where are we after that has been a little bit of a learning curve, but we’re doing great now. We’re starting to do more programming and stuff and looking forward to doing more of that in the future.” 

INSIDER INSIGHT

Skyler Oberst

Spokane Arts’ new executive director has big plans to revitalize the arts community and support full-time artists INTERVIEWED BY MADISON

PEARSON

In March 2024, after a nearly yearlong search, Skyler Oberst was appointed executive director of the nonprofit Spokane Arts, which supports local arts and culture through grantmaking, programming, advocacy and professional development.

Though his background isn’t specifically arts-related (he studied anthropology and philosophy at Eastern Washington University, and religion at Harvard’s Divinity School), Oberst is a self-proclaimed art history nerd and holds a deep appreciation for the arts’ impact on communities. He’s been involved in myriad organizations including Spokane Public Library, Embrace Washington and the Spokane Interfaith Council, and served as a legislative assistant for the Spokane City Council. Having found himself firmly planted back in Spokane for the foreseeable future, Oberst has lofty goals as the arts community continues to flourish in post-COVID times.

INLANDER: What do you do as executive director at Spokane Arts?

OBERST: Get out of the way of my staff! [laughs] I work with these amazing people who support the arts and arts organizations. They make the community a more vibrant, colorful place.

In particular, at Spokane Arts, our vision that we’re working on now for the future is making it so people in Spokane can retire comfortably from being a creative. We want to be a community that definitely honors arts and sees the creative community as something that is indispensable to who we are as people in Spokane and the region.

SPEED ROUND

What’s your favorite piece of public art in Spokane?

Harold Balazs. Literally anything that he’s ever made. I love his bronze sculptures.

Is there an annual art event you look forward to each year?

I love First Fridays because I don’t have to choose one, as they’re happening all year-round.

Favorite local weekend getaway?

Chelan. [My partner and I] have a very extensive collection of winery memberships. So we’re either in Chelan drinking amazing wine or we’re on a lake.

What is your dogs’ favorite place in Spokane?

Anywhere outside the confines of the house. I love walking them on the Centennial Trail by the river. They love walks, but they prefer to swim.

That’s a big undertaking. What does that entail?

In Spokane, one of our greatest assets is the creative community that we have around us. I think it requires, honestly, a shift in thinking about how we support the arts. It’s really easy to buy a painting from an artist — that’s wonderful. And, of course, we want to encourage that. But as a community, I think we can do better.

I think we can pay artists better, I think we can remove some barriers to make Spokane more accessible to artists and keep artists here. So, in addition to buying a painting, we could also talk about what it would look like if we had, you know, subsidies for housing, health care, retirement plans for artists. They can make a liveable wage, not just for musicians, but also for painters and dancers.

Why is Spokane a good place for you to do your job?

I find that in Spokane, you can still get things done. You can still build things without the jadedness of larger communities. Sometimes I think people’s dreams can be crushed in bigger cities. But here you can present an idea, and people will take you up on it. You can actually create and build and color outside the lines and people respect that, people invest in that, people want to be a part of that. That’s what makes the Inland Northwest one of the best places in the country. 

Spokane Arts Executive Director Skyler Oberst with his dogs Bowie and Charlie (bottom).

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Across the Inland Northwest, national and local talent comes together to deliver top-tier entertainment throughout the year

BY E.J. IANNELLI

When you take stock of all the performing and fine arts offerings around the region, there’s little doubt that entertainment lovers are spoiled for choice. Some of the most noteworthy and highly anticipated shows are mentioned here, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the variety of theater, music, dance and visual arts that’s either touring through our area or being produced by hometown creatives.

 BEST OF BROADWAY SPOKANE

Why travel 2,100 miles to Broadway when the Best of Broadway series will practically deliver it to your doorstep? The contemporary revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical comedy COMPANY (Sept. 11-15, 2024) comes early in the season, bringing earworms like “The Ladies Who Lunch” and “Being Alive” along with it.

For those who missed the 2022 national tour of COME FROM AWAY, there’s another chance to see this heartwarming ensemble musical about strangers banding together in the face of tragedy (Nov. 1-3, 2024). During the New Year holiday (Dec. 31, 2024Jan. 5, 2025), BEETLEJUICE the musical offers some morbidly life-affirming surreal comedy that draws on the 1988 hit film. (Fun fact: The original Broadway run starred Spokane’s own Sophia Anne Caruso.)

Awaiting fans in spring and summer of 2025 are R.E.S.P.E.C.T (March 7, 2025) and MJ THE MUSICAL (July 8-13, 2025), two jukebox musicals celebrating the lives of R&B icons Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson. broadwayspokane.com

Isabella Esler as Lydia and Justin Collette as Beetlejuice in the touring Broadway show, coming to Spokane in early 2025.

MATTHEW MURPHY PHOTO

ARTS

SHOWSTOPPERS…

SPOKANE CIVIC THEATRE

If the Civic’s 77th season has a through line, it’s variety. Starting with the classic opener, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s redemptive CAROUSEL (Sept. 13-Oct. 13, 2024), on to the farcical operatic romp LEND ME A SOPRANO (Jan. 31-Feb. 16, 2025) and the uplifting season finale WAITRESS (May 16-Jun. 15, 2025), the venue’s five mainstage productions promise audiences household-name shows with a wide range of music, stories, characters and settings.

Downstairs, the Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre features timely revivals or contemporary plays that deserve to be better known. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (Oct. 11Nov. 3, 2024), Arthur Miller’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s drama, chronicles a doctor fighting against a small town’s sinister self-protection. Sports fans might want to check out THE WOLVES (March 7-30, 2025), Sarah DeLappe’s Pulitzer-nominated play about the trials and tribulations of a girls’ high-school soccer team. spokanecivictheatre.com

SPOKANE SYMPHONY & THE FOX

Even though the Spokane Symphony owns The Fox Theater, orchestral concerts aren’t the only gigs at the venue. On Oct. 17, 2024, the country a cappella group HOME FREE takes the stage on their Crazy(er) Life Tour, giving their millions of social media fans

a chance to hear them in person. With yet another twist on familiar, folky genres, the Ireland-Nashville supergroup THE CELTS arrives on Dec. 13, 2024.

But when it comes to straight-up classical, this season holds some really intriguing themes and mashups. For example, the fourth concert in the Spokane Symphony’s Masterworks series pits BEETHOVEN VS. AI (Jan. 18-19, 2025), and a spring Pops concert centers on THE MUSIC OF JAMES BOND AND MORE (March 15, 2025). THE VITAMIN STRING QUARTET performs ensemble versions of the music of Taylor Swift and Bridgerton on Nov. 23, 2024. One week later (Nov. 30), the emerging musicians of the Spokane Youth Symphony celebrate a major milestone when they hold their star-studded 75TH ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI CONCERT foxtheaterspokane.org

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS & CULTURE

Until Jan. 26, 2025, the MAC will continue to run IT HAPPENED HERE: EXPO ’74 FIFTY YEARS AFTER, a commemoration of Spokane’s small but mighty six-month stint as a World’s Fair city. Another important anniversary is captured in 1924: SOVEREIGNTY, LEADERSHIP, AND THE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT (until Feb. 2, 2025),

which chronicles Spokane’s hosting of the first American Indian Congress in 1925. While getting the colorful backstory on these significant events in local history, you’ll also be able to catch JOE FEDDERSEN: EARTH, WATER, SKY (Sept. 28, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025), a showcase of the Plateau Native artist’s 40-year career in multiple media, such as printmaking, glass and ceramics. Extending to March 9, 2025 is WOMAN, ARTIST, CATALYST, a 48-piece exhibition that draws on the museum’s permanent collection to highlight women’s underrepresented contributions to art movements throughout the region. One key work to look for is “Palouse Rhythm,” Z. Vanessa Helder’s evocative watercolor of the undulating Palouse farmland. northwestmuseum.org

 THE BING CROSBY THEATER

Many tribute bands approach their source music and stage presence with unparalleled reverence, aiming to give audiences an experience that rivals the original. These days The Bing is a hotspot for popular tribute acts, with PRINCE AGAIN (the music of Prince; Sept. 20, 2024), ABRA CADABRA (ABBA; Oct. 2, 2024), HYSTERIA (Def Leppard; Oct. 12, 2024); TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT (The Eagles; Nov. 24, 2024) and THE FAB FOUR (The Beatles; Dec. 13, 2024) representing just a handful of them. LAUREL CANYON LEGACY (April 18, 2025) goes one step further, performing selections from all the music that emerged out of that Los Angeles neighborhood during the 1960s and ’70s.

Of course, there’s original music, too, including acts like top UK blues rocker JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR (Nov. 1, 2024) and indie folk outfit BLIND PILOT (Nov. 26, 2024). Theater and film buffs will enjoy the venue’s Stage to Screen series, which shows performances of acclaimed UK stage productions like the one-woman legal thriller PRIMA FACIE (Nov. 10, 2024). bingcrosbytheater.com

PANIDA THEATER

The Sandpoint-based Pend Oreille Arts Council (POAC) is well known for its art classes, fairs and studio tours, but don’t overlook its established all-ages performing arts series at the historic Panida (rhymes with “Canada”) Theater. Among this season’s highlights are the Taiko drumming and song-driven storytelling of UNIT SOUZOU: CONSTANT STATE OF OTHERNESS (Nov. 8, 2024) and the discipline-spanning entertainment of

The historic Bing Crosby Theater brings cover bands and more to downtown Spokane. ERICK DOXEY PH0TO

JORDAN SCHNITZER

ARTS

SHOWSTOPPERS…

COLLISION OF RHYTHM (April 30, 2025), which pairs tap dancing with beatboxing and multi-instrumentalism. For something aimed squarely at the youngest generation, there’s Missoula Children’s Theater’s live rendition of SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARVES on March 22, 2025. If your schedule calls for a more flexible activity, POAC’s ARTWALK is a free, communitywide celebration of art that runs almost all summer. Expect that to start in mid-June 2025. artinsandpoint.org

Fine Art Paintings and Artisan Crafts in more mediums than the cycles of the Moon.

Monthly Art Openings, Private Art Parties and Ongoing Classes

An Artist-run Gallery Creating, Exhibiting and Teaching 1 East Sprague Ave, Spokane

• newmoonartgallery.com

HOURS WEDSAT 11AM TO 5 PM

email: manicmoonandmore@gmail.com to sign-up for our monthly newsletter

REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES

Fans of choreography can enjoy more live entertainment than ever, thanks to an increasingly vibrant local dance scene that’s attracting national companies. Gonzaga University’s Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center hosts the artistry and athleticism of the L.A.-based contemporary dance troupe BODYTRAFFIC on Oct. 19, 2024. Then comes two disparate productions from San Francisco’s ODC, a high-energy MIXED REPERTORY showcase (Jan. 31, 2025) followed by the family-oriented THE VELVETEEN RABBIT (Feb. 1-2, 2025). gonzaga.edu/mwpac

At the University of Idaho, the long-running LIONEL HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL (April 15-18, 2025) is a draw for aficionados and newcomers alike. It features over 400 student performances alongside a dozen world-class jazz artists — plus fun and educational activities like workshops and special exhibits. uidaho.edu/ jazzfest

MORE AT INLANDER.COM!

The region’s smaller and seasonal venues have full schedules of shows, too, and the Inlander includes all of them in its comprehensive, constantly updated events calendar. Check in regularly at Inlander.com/ events to discover what’s new.

Finally, Washington State University’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is celebrating 50 years and shining a light on the past five decades with the aptly titled YOUR COLLECTION (through Dec. 13, 2024). Take in pivotal pieces from the museum’s archives, such as John Henry Tawchtman’s 19th-century rustic oil painting “Green Landscape” and Roy Lichtenstein’s eye-catching lithograph/screenprint “Still Life with Lemon and Glass.” museum.wsu.edu 

BODYTRAFFIC brings energetic dance to GU. GUZMAN ROSADO PHOTO / COURTESY MYRTLE WOLDSON PAC

Local Goods

These local artists and artisans offer goods to spruce up your daily life BY MADISON

PEARSON

CHOMPI

Making music production accessible and fun to all has been a longtime goal for Spokane musicians Tobias and Chelsea Hendrickson, even if they had to make the tools themselves. This prompted the couple to develop their own music sampler, CHOMPI. The sampler has a built-in microphone, an array of fun lights and designs, and interchangeable keycaps and knobs that can be swapped out for customization. It also doesn’t have a screen, making it more accessible for visually impaired users. chompiclub.com

AMY GUREL

Spokane artist Amy Gurel fell in love with beachcombing during a trip to Boston. A lifelong artist, she was inspired to start creating something with all of the glass she found, starting with keychains made from glass and wire. Now, she creates suncatchers, wire trees, wall hangings, jewelry and more through her business AJ Made With Love. Besides being stunningly beautiful in the sunlight, all of Gurel’s art is eco-friendly and sustainably made. instagram.com/ajmadewithlove

HASTY FAUN

Rook, the artist behind Hasty Faun, is as multitalented as they come. The Moscow-based artist creates tufted rugs, pins, ceramics, earrings, stickers and stationery all in their signature, adorable cartoon style. Rook often shows up at local art markets with a new batch of creations each time. Their vibrant, goofy objects range from cats and fish to clowns and cowboy boots. Adorning your wall with a Hasty Faun wall rug or fixing a handmade clown pin to your favorite denim jacket will brighten up your day and bring a toothy smile to your face. hastyfaun.com, instagram.com/hastyfaun

LIBROBUCH

In a world of mass-market paperbacks and spiral notebooks, Mel Antuna Hewitt’s handcrafted books and journals are here to save the day. Hewitt is a trained bookbinder who works out of her home as well as Spokane Print and Publishing Center. Her creations feature water marbled pages, hand-stitched leather, and embossed letters, making each book a special experience for anyone who comes across one. Find Hewitt’s books at From Here inside River Park Square. librobuch.com, instagram.com/librobuch

CECIL STUDIOS

Emma Sheldon is a printmaking powerhouse. She creates letterpress postcards and prints using century-plus-old presses out of her studio on Spokane’s South Hill. Her work includes prints of Spokane landmarks in gorgeous pastel colors, topographical paintings, stationery and locally sourced secondhand clothing with her own designs block printed onto them. If you need a chic postcard to send to a friend or a new, unique addition to your wardrobe, Cecil Studios might have what you’re looking for. instagram.com/cecil_studios 

The Write Time

TRAVIS BALDREE Bookshops & Bonedust

Travis Baldree was only trying to hit his National Novel Writing Month goal. But when his debut novel, Legends & Lattes, landed on the New York Times bestseller list in 2022, the Spokane-based audiobook narrator realized he’d hit upon a good idea: a low-stakes, high-fantasy novel about an orc adventurer who retires to open a coffee shop. In late 2023, Baldree followed it up with a prequel about protagonist Viv’s early days. (CS)

King Catastrophe

This kid-geared graphic novel with colorful illustrations by Spokanite HF Brownfield is quite the adventure. Quinnelope (a pink, blob-shaped queen) and her two companions, Bub and Star, work together to uncover why every cookie in their town has been replaced with cake. The novel uses a font that author Kayla Coombs created to make the book more accessible to readers with dyslexia. A second Quinnelope book came out in June 2024. (MP)

JANELLE CORDERO Talk Louder

Local poet Janelle Cordero’s fifth poetry collection touches on themes of growing up in a rural area, childhood, grief, heartbreak and hope. Cordero’s poetry has a strong evocation of place that anyone who grew up in the Inland Northwest will surely relate to in its bright, nostalgic bliss: “Knobby kneed with fine, long hair down our backs that turned gold every summer.” (MP)

ELI FRANCOVICH

The Return of Wolves

The former Spokesman-Review Outdoor editor’s book on the resurgence of gray wolves in Washington state explores the delicate balance between the apex predators and rural ranchers whose livestock is preyed upon. Eli Francovich embedded himself with range rider Daniel Curry for much of the nonfiction book’s reporting, in addition to speaking with biologists, politicians, ranchers and other experts. (CS)

ERIN PRINGLE

Unexpected Weather Events

In this short story collection, Erin Pringle introduces readers to characters navigating peril, heartache and loss. She calls the book semi-autobiographical, pulling inspiration from moments when grief consumed her life. The author’s sister died by suicide 14 years ago, and Pringle says the experience has informed her writing ever since. “I’m very comfortable writing about grief and saying things about grief,” she says. “These stories are the vehicles I use to talk about it.” (MP)

TARA ROBERTS Wild and Distant Seas

Regular Inlander columnist Tara Karr Roberts’ debut novel fleshes out the mysterious life of a minor character from Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Mrs. Hussey, known only as such throughout Melville’s magnum opus, is an innkeeper on Nantucket who makes delicious chowder. With a magical twist and a story that spans generations and continents, the book is a fresh spin on Melville’s original story and explores the power of a name. (MP)

MARGARET MORRISON ROETH

Mister Deedle’s Tree House

For more than 75 years, Margaret Morrison Roeth’s beautifully hand-painted 1948 children’s book was nearly forgotten after publishers initially rejected it. That all changed in 2024, after her 93-yearold son, Charles “Chuck” Roeth, and his North Idaho family managed to get Mister Deedle’s Tree House into the hands of a publisher. The nostalgic stories and accompanying illustrations showcase the whimsical imaginings of Peter and Peggy — stand-ins for Chuck and his sister, Betsy, who were young children in the 1930s. (CS)

LORA SENF

The Nighthouse Keeper

Local author Lora Senf brings tales of ghosts and creatures to the middle-grade crowd through her Blight Harbor series. The Nighthouse Keeper is the sequel to Senf’s 2022 debut, The Clackity. Protagonist Evie Von Rathe returns from an adventure in the strange world of sevenhouses when Blight Harbor’s beloved ghosts begin to disappear, and she must defeat the titular Nighthouse Keeper to get her otherworldly friends back. The series’ third installment, The Loneliest Place, comes out in September 2024. (MP)

ALEXANDRA TEAGUE

Spinning Tea Cups: A Mythical American Memoir

This nonfiction poetry collection is deeply personal, but also aims to uplift its readers by helping ease stigmas around mental health. While openly sharing her own and her family members’ personal struggles with mental health, Alexandra Teague deftly finds a way to describe the grief and hopelessness of dysfunction. “In different ways, I hope that the book makes space for people to feel less ashamed to talk about their own difficult stories, and also the things that they found beautiful within it,” she says. (CS)

BILL YOUNGS

The Fair and the Falls

In 2024, Spokane celebrated 50 years since Expo ’74. The 1974 world’s fair defined our city for years to come, but how did it all come together? In this nonfiction tome, local historian Bill Youngs compiles years of research recounting the complex story behind the fair and how it shaped the city. While The Fair and the Falls was originally published in 1996, it had become difficult and expensive to obtain. In May 2024 Youngs republished the book so the story of Expo would be easily accessible for its 50th anniversary celebration. (MP)

MAYA JEWELL ZELLER Out Takes/ Glove Box

This New American Poetry Prize-winning collection from Spokane poet Maya Jewell Zeller is divided into five sections. Zeller’s vivid poems incorporate themes of myth and fantasy in what she describes as a “cabinet of curiosities” seeking to uncover the uglier truths of motherhood. “It kind of is a treatise against women not being believed, a treatise against trying to function fully in late capitalism as a mother in America,” Zeller says. “It’s telling a story that patriarchy doesn’t want to tell.” (CS) 

Dance the Day Away

The region’s dance community keeps growing, with opportunities for all ages and experience levels

BY SUMMER SANDSTROM

In less than a decade, Spokane’s dance scene has — pardon our pun — expanded in leaps and bounds, with numerous new groups such as Quiero Flamenco and Vytal Movement Dance forming, along with a number of larger companies performing in the Lilac City.

In mid-2024, Gonzaga University’s dance program hosted the renowned Pacific Northwest Ballet at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center. The World Ballet Company selected Spokane as one of four cities to perform its inaugural World Ballet Festival, which included dancers from companies across the country showcasing a wide range of ballets, aiming to make dance more accessible to various audiences.

As more performances take place, audiences in the Inland Northwest can see an array of dance styles on stage, and maybe even begin learning some themselves. While a majority of dance classes in Spokane tend to be designed for younger dancers, there are a number of groups such as those mentioned here that teach various styles of dance to adults as well.

Q UIERO FLAMENCO

In 2017, Monica Mota founded Quiero Flamenco to bring flamenco to the Spokane area. A dance that originated in Spain, flamenco is an expressive, energetic and emotional style of dance oftentimes using percussive footwork and clapping, and many female dancers’ wearing of large, ruffled Bata de Cola skirts. Quiero Flamenco offers classes to dancers of all ages and skill levels, and often hosts workshops by visiting professional dancers. Quiero Flamenco’s classes are held on Sundays and Mondays. quieroflamenco.com

VYTAL MOVEMENT DANCE

Spokane’s professional modern and contemporary company, Vytal Movement Dance was founded in 2016 to bring more professional dance opportunities to the region. Prior to Vytal Movement’s founding, Spokane hadn’t had a professional dance company since the Ballet Company of Spokane disbanded in 1993. The nonprofit aims to foster an appreciation for dance through its performances and by partnering with other dancers and companies to continue growing Spokane’s dance scene. Vytal Movement offers beginner classes on Mondays in addition to its regular sessions for advanced dancers. vytalmovement.org

Quiero Flamenco dancer Marlena Mizzoni. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

EVEN MORE DANCE GROUPS!

COIL

Belly dance; schedule varies 304 W. Pacific Ave., Spokane, coilspokane.com

SATORI DANCE AND WELLNESS

Kizomba and bachata; schedule varies 122 S. Monroe St., Spokane, satori.dance

SPOKANE FOLKLORE SOCIETY

Contra dances to live music; meets first and third Wed from 7:30-9:30 pm, Sept. to June Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth Ave., Spokane, spokanefolklore.org

SPOKANE SQUARE DANCE

See website for info on more than 22 regional clubs and beginner-friendly sessions

Locations and times vary; squaredancespokane.org

WOODSIDE SWING

Lindy Hop, Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Balboa Meets Mon from 7-9 pm (Jumping Jackalope) and Thu from 6:30-9 pm (Woman’s Club of Spokane) syncopationfoundation.org/spokane

ALEGRÍA DANCE & ENTERTAINMENT

One of the most recently formed dance groups in the region, Alegría Dance & Entertainment was started by Jesse Rennaker in January 2023 to make a variety of dance styles more accessible to the community. Alegría primarily focuses on Latin-based styles such as salsa, bachata and hustle, but also teaches and performs hip-hop and jazz. Alegría offers two types of classes: weekly training sessions for core dancers, and classes that are open to the public and dancers of all experience levels.

Recently, Alegría held a summer intensive teaching West Coast swing, burlesque and Brazilian Zouk. The group also frequently hosts professional dancers from other cities to perform and teach as part of their goal to expand experiences for both local dancers and audiences. Learn more on Alegría’s Facebook page.

SPOKANE SWING DANCE CLUB

On the first and third Sunday of the month, dancers can head to the East Spokane Grange in Spokane Valley to partake in the Spokane Swing Dance Club’s monthly lessons and social dances. Classes are $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers, starting with warm-ups and coaching for the first half hour, followed by intermediate and beginner lessons. Each session concludes with a social dance hour. The club also hosts workshops with guest instructors who teach more complex variations of West Coast Swing, which, while similar to traditional swing dance, is often performed at a slightly slower tempo with an emphasis on more controlled, linear movements and improvisation. spokaneswingdance.org 

Spokane Zephyr forward Thais Reiss trains at ONE Spokane Stadium. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Professional soccer is here, including a new USL Super League team playing at the highest level of American women’s soccer BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Spokane is a sports town through and through. And now, fans have even more to cheer about.

As of 2024, Spokane is home to two professional soccer teams: the Spokane Zephyr women’s team and the Spokane Velocity men’s team. Both are part of the United Soccer League, or USL, which hosts multiple leagues at multiple divisions of play for both the women’s and men’s game.

The Spokane Zephyr are part of the brand new USL Super League, a Division 1 league that competes at the same level as the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The Zephyr are Spokane’s first professional team to compete at the highest level of its sport.

“It’s historic that we are starting a brand-new league for women,” says Katie Harnatieux, who co-owns the Zephyr and

RECREATION

Velocity with her husband, Ryan, and others. “It’s historic that it’s starting at Division I sanctioning. And it’s historic that we are now sanctioning a Division I team in Spokane. On so many different levels, we are really changing the course of sport in the United States. The fact that Spokane gets a front-row seat at it is amazing.”

The USL Super League season follows the European calendar, with seven fall games, a break in winter, and seven more games in spring.

The Spokane Velocity, meanwhile, play in USL League One, a Division III league started in 2019 that ranks behind Major League Soccer and USL Championship. Their season runs from March to October, with playoff opportunities later in the fall.

Both teams play at ONE Spokane Stadium, a multisport complex built in 2023 just north of the downtown Spokane core.

WINDS OF CHANGE

The Zephyr’s debut season started Aug. 17 after a flurry of player signings and visa approvals. The team’s first player was center midfielder Marley Canales, previously of the Seattle Reign FC. Over the summer, the club signed other NWSL veterans like midfielder Taylor Aylmer, defender Sarah Clark, midfielder Emina Ekic, defender Alyssa Bourgeois, forward Riley Tanner and midfielder Katie Murray.

Some former Gonzaga Bulldogs are also getting the chance to come back and compete for a city they already love. Forward Jodi Ülkekul and midfielder Sophia Braun reunite after playing together during the Zag’s 2018 season. Other Washington natives include forward Taryn Ries and defenders Makena Carr and Haley Thomas.

The rest of the team has deep international experience, thanks to players who repped top-league teams in countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Argentina, Australia and Scotland.

“Previous professional experience has helped set the tone for what the expectations are and how you carry yourself,” Zephyr head coach Jo Johnson says. “But there is a learning curve on chemistry and getting to know each other, especially with everyone being new at one time.”

Johnson was one of the later editions to the team. The former center back was most recently an assistant coach for the University of Tulsa and is currently completing her Senior-A coaching license. In addition to creating culture from scratch, she’s also planning an aggressive possession style of play with her new team.

CHEER ON THE TEAMS!

For match schedules, tickets, and more on both teams, visit uslspokane.com.

“[We’re] all players that love to be on the ball and to enjoy the ball and possession,” midfielder Aylmer says. “So I think her coming in has been exciting for us because it’s the style of play we want to play.”

Johnson and her players know that they’re laying the foundation for generations to come. It’s a privilege and responsibility they take seriously.

“[The players] want to build something and leave a legacy,” Johnson says. “So they’re setting the standards from the get-go. This is the beginning.”

EDGING OUT THE COMPETITION

Fan turnout for the inaugural season of the Spokane Velocity has been legendary. The team played their first home game to a sold-out stadium of over 5,000 spectators.

The Velocity was solidly in the middle of the league after the first half of their season, including exciting wins over top-ranked Union Omaha and Ballard FC.

New and veteran soccer enthusiasts alike have come to know and love charismatic players like midfielder Andre Lewis, defender Derek Waldeck, defender Ahmed Longmire, captain and MLS veteran Luis Gil, and head coach Leigh Veidman.

In a reverse Ted Lasso, the Velocity hired Liverpool native Veidman, who already had experience coaching in the USL Championship league.

“Just from my experiences in USL Championship, to have the showing that we’ve had at home at ONE Spokane Stadium — I think our average is around 4,000 per game — for a team that’s been around in the USL for five, six years, that’s incredible numbers. But for a team that’s been around for six months, that’s insane,” Veidman says. “It is not normal throughout the league. But it is welcome.” 

Fans with the 509 Syndicate cheer on the Spokane Velocity. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Andy Fuzak

Spokane Parks’ outdoor recreation supervisor plans programs for all ages, and sees the region as the perfect place to recreate INTERVIEWED BY VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ

Andy Fuzak was born and raised in Spokane and never saw a need to leave because the region offers such abundant opportunities to be in nature — which is just what he loves to do.

After majoring in recreation management and graduating from Eastern Washington University in 2010, Fuzak landed an internship with the Spokane Parks and Recreation department, which led to employment as a recreational guide and camp counselor. As time passed, Fuzak rose to his current role as outdoor recreation supervisor. Now he organizes and schedules the many outings Spokane Parks offers each year, including coordinating with third-party recreation companies.

INLANDER : What are some projects in your department that you’re proud of?

FUZAK: I’m super proud of our youth camp programs. So, there are up to 12 kids and two staff [members], and they go on field trips every day. They meet at the Bowl and Pitcher [in Riverside State Park], and we take them on outdoor trips we lead ourselves, like any of our kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. We lead those programs ourselves, contract with Wiley E. Waters rafting company for scenic rafting with the kids, and then work with Peak 7 Adventures to do some rock climbing.

I’m also proud of our partnership with Washington State Parks. They are one of our best partners because we use state park properties year-round for hiking, paddling, youth camps, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

SPEED ROUND

What is your best-kept secret for recreating in Spokane?

I think the best-kept secret is to go a little further from the parking lot. Learn the place you’re visiting, but when you go next time, plan to venture a little further.

What is your favorite outdoor recreation?

Skiing of different sorts, such as downhill, backcountry and cross-country.

Where is a great spot to take a nature selfie?

I instantly thought of the top of Antoine Peak. It’s a good experience and not super remote.

Where is a unique place in Spokane that’s great to recreate?

The little Spokane River is a protected natural area, and sometimes you see neat wildlife. It’s something that’s set aside to be really special.

Why

is having youth and adult recreational programs in Spokane important?

Many people I know enjoy where they live and have happy lives because they participate in outdoor activities. I had a lot of friends who felt like there was nothing to do in Spokane, and I felt the complete opposite. On any given day, I could think of 10 different things to do outside; you can inexpensively do them. You don’t need the fanciest stuff, and there are ways that people can break down those barriers. We like to share that with people for our adult programs. For the youth programs, I want the children to understand why this place is cool and why they should care about taking care of it and just be happy to be part of this community.

What would you tell recent transplants here about Spokane’s recreation programs?

I would suggest our recreation programs as a great resource to try something new, or if you’ve done an outdoor recreational activity before but haven’t done it in a while, come back to the activity. Reach out to our staff for tips and tricks. Our staff is always happy to talk about things, and to suggest places to go. We prioritize helping people understand how to be prepared to do these activities, and as I said before, we don’t encourage people to go out and buy brand new stuff; we encourage you to have the correct stuff to keep you safe. 

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Priest Lake Priest Lake

In a Pickle

THE COURTING PROCESS

With most pickleball players getting their start at public parks, there’s a huge demand for more places to play. Spokane’s Parks and Recreation department is very aware of this and actively working to expand the sport’s local reach.

SBY SETH SOMMERFELD

Washington state’s official sport — pickleball — is booming in the Inland Northwest

aying that pickleball has had a bit of a boom over the past few years is kinda like saying Taylor Swift has been pretty popular in the past few years. It’s an extreme understatement.

The fastest growing sport in the United States for three years running, pickleball has seen a 223.5% increase in players over that time, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report. Millions of new players of all ages are picking up paddles and whacking the ball around the court every year.

While pickleball might seem like a revelation to many, it’s got deep Northwest roots. The sport was created on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965 and was named the state’s official sport in 2022. So it’s no surprise that the Inland Northwest’s pickleball scene is thriving.

When putting together a citywide park and natural lands master plan in 2021, it was determined through public surveys and analysis that Spokane was lagging way behind comparable cities in public sports courts, a catch-all term for tennis and pickleball courts.

“We wanted to initially identify if [pickleball] was a fad or trend that was going to go away or not,” says Nicholas Hamad, the city’s park planning and development manager. “And it’s pretty clear that it’s a sport that is gonna have some staying power.”

At the time of the survey, Spokane’s parks had 14 sports courts, with only 10 pickleball courts total. Over the course of just a few years, that number has ballooned to 35. However, only the two newest courts, in Corbin Park, are dedicated pickleball courts. The other 33 use what Hamad describes as the “short-term triage approach,” where new lines are put down on existing tennis courts (pickleball courts are 20-by-44 feet, whereas tennis courts are 60-by120 feet) so those parks can host the booming sport.

While it costs around $30,000 to retrofit a quality sports court for pickleball, Hamad says about half of the existing courts are in such poor shape that a full resurfacing is re-

Pickleballers competing at Picklefest ’24 at Riverfront Park. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

RECREATION

IN A PICKLE…

quired, which costs about $150,000 for each tennis-court sized area.

Considering the parks department has a yearly budget of $2 million for all capital improvements across its 104 parks, that price is an issue. To deal with this, the department has received grants and hopes that a neighborhood park improvement levy scheduled for 2025 will pass to expedite improving the city’s public sports courts.

The current plan is to resurface courts at one park per year. In 2024 Underhill Park’s courts were resurfaced for pickleball in August. A pipedream project for Hamad and his crew is to build a regional pickleball complex at Franklin Park, which would feature 20 courts with lighting and perhaps an open-air cover.

“Really what we’re looking to try and provide at a basic level for our community is free public use in neighborhoods, citywide,” Hamad says. “We really want to have each of our different neighborhoods have access to be able to play.”

Across the state line in Coeur d’Alene, pickleballers regularly commune at Cherry Hill Park’s 12 outdoor courts, which are the site of the popular Coeur d’Alene Classic every mid-July.

MEMBERS ONLY

For dedicated paddleheads who want a more controlled environment — or a place to play during the region’s cold, wet months — there are plenty of indoor pickleball courts popping up around the area. Offerings vary from dedicated pickleball clubs to other sporting facilities that host some pickleball.

Around Spokane, retrofitted courts on

wooden basketball courts include the Central and North YMCAs, The Warehouse, HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake and ITZ Sports Performance in Spokane Valley. More pickleball-centric acrylic hard courts can be found at Parkfit Athletic Club’s North location, The Press Pickleball Club in downtown Spokane, Pickleball on Broadway, and the Power Pickleball Club in Spokane Valley set to open in September 2024.

MADE IN CDA

According to Sundei Floyd, who owns and runs Pickleball on Broadway, the sport’s growing demand made pivoting to pickleball a solid business decision. Previously the facility housed basketball courts that went unused most of the day while kids were in school. After hosting both sports for a while, Floyd realized that becoming a full-time dedicated pickleball facility and getting a top-tier sanded acrylic court would be the right move. Pickleball on Broadway properly opened after a redesign on July 1, 2023.

If you’re looking to gear up your pickleball playing to the next level, you’re in (local) luck. The best pickleball equipment company in the world happens to be stationed in Coeur d’Alene.

SELKIRK SPORT makes top-tier pickleball paddles, nets, balls and apparel for everyone from weekend warriors to pro players. After being avid players for years, brothers Mike and Rob Barnes, along with their father Jim, founded the company in 2014. Selkirk was taking pickleball seriously well before the influx of mass excitement around the sport. To check out what this renowned local business has to offer, head to selkirk.com.

The club has around 150 members, who can schedule court times and access the facility from early morning to very late via a code lock. Pickleball on Broadway reaches membership capacity during the winter months (there’s a waiting list), with more availability during the summer when folks can play outside. While not offering tournaments yet, there are leagues and a pickleball pro (Rose Jones) who can offer lessons.

So far Floyd has been most surprised by the community that the sport facilities, which is why she tries to make her venue an “accepting, welcoming, competitive environment” in hopes of making Spokane “a cool city for pickleball.” 

Cherry Hill Park in Coeur d’Alene is a popular place for pickleballers. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

7.46

93

YEARS

50 STATES REPRESENTED

PERENNIALS

4,000 VOLUNTEERS

15

41

137,792

All for Fun, and Fun for All

Family fun centers offer experiences for children and parents alike

BY AZARIA PODPLESKY

When it’s too hot — or cold — to enjoy the great outdoors, family fun centers are a great option to keep the whole family entertained while getting some physical movement in. Younger children can take advantage of ball pits and trampolines, while older kids can try a ropes course or bumper cars. Parents can school their children on classic arcade games, or the whole family can experience virtual reality. Everybody plays, everybody wins at these must-visit family fun centers in the Inland Northwest.

FLIGHT 509

Walking into Flight 509 can be a pleasantly overwhelming experience. There are more than 50 arcade games, a ropes course and a Ninja Warrior course, a VR arena, mini bowling, bumper cars, laser tag and Ballocity, a play structure owner Tim Homer says is like a McDonald’s play structure on steroids.

There’s also the prize area, where goodies range from Tootsie rolls to paddleboards, and the Hangar Cafe, with gluten-

and dairy-free options for post-play refueling. Memberships start at $40 for individuals and $100 for families. There are also three “passport” levels for single-day visits.

“The first group of people that came in, their reactions were ‘Whoa!’ and that’s the consistent reaction from everybody,” says the center’s creative consultant Stephanie Rose. “That was enough to know it was going to do well and that we built something unique and special.”

Since Flight 509 opened in May 2024, Homer estimates around 6,000 bumper car rides and 2,000 games of laser tag were logged in just its first few months.

“We’re pretty encouraged by the attendance so far…,” he says. “Before the summer vacation, we were pretty busy, especially with birthday parties.”

Flight 509 birthday parties are special thanks to party manager Rilee Homer, Tim’s daughter. Party supplies, pizza and cupcakes are provided, as is a flight attendant party host who takes the group to each attraction and makes sure the birthday

child is the star of the day.

Rilee says Flight 509 hopes to offer parties for adults in the future, as well as more special events like a Halloween costume contest.

Flight 509 is truly made for families, by families. Co-owners Tim and Tammy Homer run the center with Rilee and with Tammy’s daughter Stephanie. Grandkids and other family members made suggestions while Tim was designing and building the space.

Tim, who also owns the local inflatable rental company All-Star Jump, says he wasn’t a huge arcade-goer growing up but wanted to create a place where his children and grandchildren could have fun. He and the rest of the family have added elements to Flight 509, like sensory hours, augmentative and alternative communication boards, and universal size changing tables, to make sure other families can enjoy the space as well.

“The ultimate goal is that they feel like part of this family unit and this community, not just customers that are coming in,” Rose says. 10502 E. Montgomery Drive, Spokane Valley, flight509.com

Brats. Bands.

The Ropes Course at Flight 509

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

RECREATION

CHAOS ARCADE

Take it from Inlander readers: Chaos Arcade has been voted the best arcade for three years running. In our 2024 Best Of poll, Chaos was also named the best place for a kid’s birthday party. An arcade with new favorites like Pac-Man Smash Air Hockey, and old classics like pinball and skeeball (game cards start at $10), Chaos Arcade also offers two ways to enjoy virtual reality. You can play in Arcade Mode and complete a game in the free-roam arena, or combine VR with an escape room challenge (minimum two people at $50 each).

1020 W. Francis Ave., Spokane, chaosarcade.com, 509-866-7417

WONDERLAND FAMILY FUN CENTER

At Wonderland Family Fun Center, guests can enjoy acres of fun — literally. Spread across 5 acres, Wonderland offers more than 80 video and ticket redemption games, an 18-hole mini golf course, and laser tag. Outside, there’s another 18-hole mini golf course, go-karts, bumper boats and a rock wall. Admission is free at Wonderland, and attractions can be purchased individually or with a pass for greater savings. Packages are available for birthday parties ($425-$525) and group parties ($25 all-you-canplay per person, 10 person minimum).

10515 N. Division St., Spokane, wonderlandspokane.com, 509-468-4386

TRIPLE PLAY FAMILY FUN PARK

Triple Play takes its name seriously, with the family fun park, the Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark and the Triple Play Resort Hotel and Suites. At the fun park, ride the Nebula Drop, the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride, bumper boats and bumper cars, or gokarts. You can also bowl, play mini golf, and experience the virtual-reality adventure Hologate, plus a laser maze and laser tag. The indoor waterpark features a variety of waterslides, a wave pool, Children’s Aquaplay, an interactive play structure, and Toddler Lagoon. An Indoor Ultimate Pass is $64.95, while an indoor-outdoor Ultimate Pass is $74.95. Passes are also available for the Family Fun Park or Raptor Reef only, or you can simply pay for the attractions you’d like to experience. 175 W. Orchard Ave., Hayden, 3play.com, 208-762-7529

WE PLAY

We Play’s tagline of “Premiere Indoor Playground” sums it up nicely. The main area features more than 5,000 square feet of fun, including multiple slides, trampolines, a zip line, a climbing/crawling obstacle course, ball blasters and a toddler area, which features a small climbing wall, sensory boards, slides, swings, a play table and more. There is also a Lego Zone and the Imagination Station, where children can draw or play with farmhouse kitchen and workbench toys. An eight-obstacle Ninja Warrior course is attached to the main area. Admission varies depending on a child’s age and whether it’s a weekday or weekend, but ranges from $13-$19 per two-hour session. Families can also purchase memberships from $399 to $449. 14700 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley, weplayspokane.com 509-443-3504 

EVEN MORE FAMILY FUN!

ALTITUDE TRAMPOLINE PARK

1441 N. Argonne Road, Spokane Valley altitudetrampolinepark.com, 509-890-1020

FLYING SQUIRREL TRAMPOLINE PARK

15312 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, flyingsquirrelsports.us, 509-242-3831

GET AIR TRAMPOLINE PARK

4750 N. Division St., Spokane (NorthTown Mall) getairsports.com, 509-381-1757

JUMP FOR JOY

250 W. Dalton Ave., Coeur d’Alene 5310 E. Marietta Ave., Spokane Valley jumpforjoyinc.com

LASERMAXX

202 W. Second Ave., Spokane lasermaxxspokane.com, 509-624-7700

Chaos Arcade offers games, food and tons of fun. ALYSSA HUGHES PHOTO

Go Big!

Flying High

HOT TAKE: I’m generally very pro-gravity. I like not having to constantly hold onto bolted-down things for fear of drifting away like a party balloon. That said, gravity certainly has its downsides. Falling down stairs? Not a fan! And then there’s the fact that gravity makes me aware of my own often-increasing mass.

But if you’re in the same boat as me on that last one, the Inland Northwest actually offers a bevy of atypical exercise options that can not only decrease your personal molecular density upon which gravity can exert its force, but also get you ascending the air in defiance of physics.

A firsthand look at gravity-defying workout options around the Inland Northwest BY SETH SOMMERFELD

INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING

While once a bastion of extreme outdoor adventurers, rock climbing has certainly become a much more mainstream athletic activity over the past few decades. It’s not uncommon now for kids to take a gym class field trip to an indoor climbing facility or for climbing walls to pop up at fairs and other community gatherings.

Since opening in 1995, WILD WALLS in downtown Spokane has become a go-to spot for the Inland Northwest climbing community. It’s a one stop-shop for anyone interested in indoor climbing, offering top rope climbing, auto belays, bouldering and lead climbing. The top rope walls scrape the sky at around 40 feet, while the bouldering walls top out around 15 feet.

While I did some climbing in gym classes as a kid, it felt safest to take Wild Walls’ top rope-focused Vertical Introduction Class. Much of the class is focused on safety basics: looping ropes correctly, belay technique, and verbal commands for top rope duos to ensure they’re in sync.

Coeur Climbing Company’s sheer face offers

COEUR

When the climbing finally began, I could see how people get addicted to the feeling. Perhaps I’m too trusting, but — unlike many newbies — I fully trusted my belayer buddy would catch me, allowing for fairly stress-free ascents up the easier routes. Sure, more Wild Walls visits would build up my forearm, wrist and finger strength, but the thrill of the ascent was a blast.

Those seeking climbing action across the state line are in luck too, as COEUR CLIMBING COMPANY opened its doors in July 2023. While Wild Walls focuses a bit more on ropes than bouldering, Coeur Climbing is mostly bouldering-centric. The majority of the gym is devoted to 15-foothigh bouldering routes, with a few 23-foot rope routes sprinkled in. There’s also a QR-controlled advanced training wall — scan the code to light up one of 20,000 different paths — as well as an upstairs space with short walls for kids, a workout area, and a small yoga studio.

There’s also a family focus at Coeur. The gym frequently hosts kids camps, youth teams, schools and homeschoolers, and birthday parties. And while memberships (weekly or monthly) and drop-ins constitute most of its business, the gym’s daily family rate can’t be beat, maxing at around $50. Wild Walls, 202 W. Second, Spokane, wildwalls.com Coeur Climbing Co., 764 S. Clearwater Loop; Post Falls, coeurclimbing.com

Everything Under One Hangar!

Laser Tag • Ropes Course

Ninja Warrior Course • VR Omni-Arena Mini-Bowling • Spin Zone

Bumper Cars • Ballocity • A Full Arcade and an expansive café with beer & wine!

The largest Family Entertainment Center in Spokane Valley Mon Closed • Tue-Thu 11am-9pm • Fri 11am-10pm Sat 10am-10pm • Sun 10am-8pm

(509) 822-0800 • flight509.com

10502 E. Montgomery Dr • Spokane Valley

a serious challenge.

CLIMBING COMPANY PHOTO

RECREATION

AERIALS

Whereas rock climbing is almost a brute-force defiance of gravity, the aerial arts take a more aesthetically artistic approach to getting off the ground. An offshoot of circus acrobatics that would be familiar to anyone who’s seen a Cirque du Soleil show, aerials come in a variety of formats that all see practitioners soaring through the air with grace and strength. Needless to say, it can be an intimidating mental barrier for newcomers.

But attending one aerial class at COIL STUDIO (inside the Washington Cracker Co. Building) will make that barrier to entry simply melt away, no matter what your body type.

Aerial definitely works different parts of both the body and mind. For newbies like myself, one must understand that some discomfort is part of the process — leaning your body weight into the silk binds isn’t always pleasant, but like any exercise it’s about how much you can push through minor discomfort while still stopping if you hit a pain threshold.

Perhaps even above the physical, I found the mental aspects of aerial silks to be freeing. Even a yoga class can be trying on my mental health sometimes because there’s too much time for the mind to wander. But when on the silks, my focus had to be absolute as to not tumble awkwardly to the ground, which was actually a mental relief.

While the class I took focused on silks, Coil also offers classes based around lyra (a suspended steel hoop), sling (silks attached more like a hammock), trapeze, aerial yoga, traditional yoga, belly dancing classes, and even child/parent and couples classes. With practitioners ranging from kids to aerialists in their 60s, Coil is a safe space for its members and drop-in participants. Coil Studio, 304 W. Pacific Ave., Spokane, coilspokane.com

PARKOUR

One of the downsides of most sports or exercise routines is that they require very specific venues. But for the street-savvy folks who do parkour, pretty much anywhere can be their playfield.

Parkour essentially is an athletic discipline where one tries to navigate between two points of urban architecture as quickly and creatively as possible by jumping, vaulting, flipping, climbing and swinging their way through environs. The acrobatic practice grew in popularity starting in the mid-1990s and has permeated pop culture through movies like Casino Royale, the Mirror’s Edge video game series, and one of The Office’s most memorable cold open scenes (“PARKOUR!!!”).

While a lot of the classes offered at Spokane parkour gym FLUENT MOTIONS are for kids, adult sessions (offered as a monthly package of four classes) stand out for allowing people to take things at their own pace. Parkour requires a combination of coordination, strength, confidence and creativity, but if that’s not inherent in your DNA, owner Taylor McIntosh is able to coach beginners through the basics.

As a vertically challenged individual, my evening at Fluent Motions focused on said basics. Over the course of the class I learned how to spring myself up onto a high box, jump from obstacle to obstacle with proper balance and weight distribution, figured out the form for vaulting smoothly over low structures, and tried momentum swinging from bars and landing on boxes. I was certainly in motion, but fluent I was not. But the extremely casual and positive vibes fostered by McIntosh’s coaching meant the whole process was enjoyable despite my inconsistent balance and burning shoulder muscles. Fluent Motions, 104 W. Third Ave., Spokane, fluentmotions.com 

FLYING HIGH…

Hanging out at Coil Studio ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Be theFly

Everyone

knows the Inland Northwest is filled with fly fishing streams; but did you know dropping a line offers surprising health benefits?

Fly-fishing seems to have become synonymous in the popular imagination with serenity and meditation. Tom Rosenbauer isn’t having any of it.

“I hate hearing the term ‘zen’ used in relation to fly-fishing,” he says. “It’s not meditative.”

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Rosenbauer is one of the most respected anglers in the contemporary fly-fishing scene. Having authored books like Fly Fishing in America  and Casting Illusions: The World of Fly-Fishing, he’s heard all the stereotypes about the sport.

So what exactly is it that makes fly-fishing, in Rosenbauer’s words, “all-consuming?”

To start, it might help to understand what it is and how it differs from other types of angling.

Casting flies on the Deschutes River. SEAN VISINTAINER PHOTO

FISHING LICENSES

WASHINGTON: Online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov or at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife office, 2315 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley.

IDAHO: Online at IDFG.idaho.gov/buy or at numerous outdoor recreation retail locations including Castaway Fly Shop, 1114 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene.

Fly-fishing, as its name suggests, makes use of an artificial lure — as opposed to live or processed bait — that typically resembles an insect. There’s also some puppeteering involved. The angler has to make the fly seem lifelike enough to dupe predatory carnivorous fish like salmon and trout into thinking it’s a snack.

“In fly-fishing, you’re not sitting in a boat or on the bank ruminating on life or gazing at your navel, waiting for a fish to bite. You’re always moving, you’re observing. You need to notice the way the water flows, the way the currents move. You need to notice the insects that are hatching. Even the birds along a stream can tell you when the insects are hatching,” Rosenbauer says.

RECREATION

BE THE FLY…

It’s this perpetual state of alertness and engagement with one’s surroundings that, to him, not only define the art of fly-fishing but also contribute to its positive effects on well-being.

“Our bodies are tied to our minds. And when you’re fly-fishing, you’re often using your balance wading in a stream or standing in a boat. Here you are, out in nature, you’re active, you’re moving, you’re occupying your mind, you’re trying to solve problems. What about that couldn’t be good for your mental health, right?”

Some of the sport’s therapeutic qualities have been leveraged by national groups like Casting for Recovery. Since its founding nearly 30 years ago in Rosenbauer’s native Vermont, more than 11,000 breast cancer survivors have sought out the opportunity to come together and engage in the healing that fly-fishing offers. And for men who are living with or recovering from cancer, the slightly newer organization Reel Recovery with its motto “Be well! Fish on!” has hosted around 4,500 participants at over 400 retreats.

One group that has experienced both anecdotal and clinical benefits from fly-fishing is veterans. After just a single weekend of fly-fishing, researchers found that Iraq War veterans with missing limbs who were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had “significantly reduced” levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Participants also reported better sleep patterns and decreased fear and anxiety.

CASTING ABOUT

Whether you’re just getting started or want to learn more, there are plenty of options

SILVER BOW FLY SHOP in Spokane Valley, features oodles of gear and the expertise to go with it. Sign up for a one-hour private lesson to learn the basics of fly casting and get info on gear. After a private lesson, they suggest booking a guided fly-fishing trip to deepen understanding of the sport.

FLY FISH SPOKANE offers guided float and walking trips on the Spokane River as well as on local lakes (look for stillwater trips). These trips include use of fly rods, reels and lines. Fly Fish Spokane also offers two types of lessons. One based in a local park covers info on gear and how-to’s, and no fishing license is required. The other type of lesson takes place in a pond and lucky casters may even hook a fish. A Washington state fishing license is required if you’re over 14 years old.

ONLINE WORKSHOPS can be found at flyfishinstruct.com/education for a series of online workshops including “Reading Trout Water,” “Spring Trout Fishing Techniques” and “Summer Trout Fishing Techniques.”

Lest that study seem like a one-off, Project Healing Waters has fashioned its entire mission around helping active military service personnel and veterans tap into the curative aspects of fly-fishing. The nonprofit served more than 6,000 participants last year alone through chapters located all over the United States — including ones in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, where fly fishing options abound.

Fly reels lined up at a meetup of Spokane Women On The Fly. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Colorado-based fly-fishing guide Melissa Ceren, a licensed professional counselor who writes on the sport’s natural intersection with mental health cites a “confluence of factors” around fly-fishing that can contribute to psychological well-being. The strong sense of community, for example. Plus the mindfulness and whole-body movement emphasized by Tom Rosenbauer. But she also points to the sport’s adversity as a means of building self-confidence.

“I see fly-fishing as a microcosm of how life is on the outside. Like with any skill, it’s not automatically easy. You have certain challenges, like getting knots in your line or losing flies, which cause you to pause and either meet that challenge with grace or shy away from it,” she says.

She’s also come to value the unique “groundedness” that outdoor activities like fly-fishing provide — even to individuals dealing with acute depression and addiction. Being among natural surroundings, removed from the day-to-day bustle seems to aid in restoring perspective and recharging spirits.

“And when we meet these difficulties and move through them, we build up that positive belief that we can do anything we put our minds to,” Ceren says. “It creates this sense of resiliency in that we can look back and say, ‘Well, a few months ago, I was losing a fly every single cast. But now I’ve learned to alter this and that so it doesn’t happen anymore. And if I did that in one month, imagine where I’ll be in a year.’” 

The Lure of Friendship

Spokane Women on the Fly was founded in April 2014 by Heather Hodson, a nurse at Sacred Heart. While learning to fly-fish, Hodson “realized that she wanted to connect with other women in the area to go fly-fishing for that connection and camaraderie, and then for safety reasons,” says current member Lindy Orozco.

“So she started a Facebook group, and slowly people began to find it,” Orozco adds.

Women on the Fly continued to grow, and despite a stall during the pandemic, membership is again at an all-time high. Women turn to its Facebook group to meet up with fellow female anglers to organize outings all around the region.

Spokane Women on the Fly also hosts monthly education and fly-fishing events, plus community fishing trips. All of the nearly 1,000 members of Women on the Fly’s Facebook group have unique stories about how and why they found fly-fishing.

“I did not know that other women even fly-fish,” Orozco says, recalling the first Women on the Fly event she showed up to. “I was like, ‘Well, I guess I want to go meet total strangers in the woods.’ So I got up at 4 am, I drove to Spokane Valley, and I met the girls, and we’ve been friends ever since.”

Learn more about the group at spokanefallstu.org/swotf.

— JACLYN BRANDT

Fun Fore All

The Inland Northwest is filled with golf courses for every skill level, from beautiful public greens to nationally recognized courses BY MADISON PEARSON

Spokane is known as Hooptown U.S.A. because of the community’s deep love for basketball and for being home of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, but another apt nickname might be Golftown U.S.A.

There are four city-owned and three county-owned golf courses, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the plethora of courses around the area. About 15 total lie within a 25-mile radius of Spokane, making it a golfer’s haven.

And, despite what you may have heard, golf isn’t just for retired folk!

Maybe it’s the laid-back nature of the sport or the piping-hot drama coming out of the professional golf scene right now (looking at you, LIV) — golf is trendy among the younger crowds as of late.

Mark Poirier, golf manager for Spokane Parks and Recreation, says making the sport accessible is a major goal for the city.

“We want to grow the game of golf,” Poirier says. “We want to make it accessible to families and create an inviting environment for all ages with family-friendly tees and quality, manicured courses.”

Poirer mentions that it’s not just the course conditions that make local courses great.

“It’s the quality of the entire experience,” he says. “From checking in at the clubhouse to putting out on the 18th hole.”

Whether you’re a scratch golfer, a casual weekend player or just trying to hit your driver somewhat straight, the Inland Northwest has a course where you can show off your golf game.

COURSES FOR BEGINNERS

Staring down a 400-yard fairway as a beginner golfer is intimidating. Where do you aim? What club should you use? What if you hit a bird? (Answers: For the green, listen to your heart, you probably won’t!)

The obvious answer is to head out to one of the local nine-hole courses. THE PLAINS GOLF COURSE near Cheney was recently downsized from 18 to nine holes and gives beginners a chance to practice playing out of bunkers, encounter water hazards and navigate rough

Be surrounded by ponderosas at Indian Canyon Golf Course.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

FUN FORE ALL…

(areas of tall grass). Similarly, TRAILHEAD GOLF COURSE in Liberty Lake offers a simple layout with open fairways and a few trees to navigate, perfect for those looking to try out a few holes before moving on to the big leagues.

For players just getting their footing, ESMERALDA GOLF COURSE is a great starting point. With wide open space and generally pretty flat fairways, beginners (and those looking for a relaxing round) will find Esmeralda is forgiving of mistakes while still offering the challenge of navigating among over 2,000 trees throughout.

Established in 1916, DOWNRIVER GOLF COURSE is the oldest course in Spokane. Downriver is fairly short compared to other local courses, coming in at just over 6,100 yards, and offers scenic views of the Spokane River. The course’s layout is fairly simple with a few rolling hills, welcoming players of all skill levels to swing, chip and putt their way through a rewarding round.

BEST COURSES FOR WANNABE PROS

So you wanna be the next Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler? First of all, good luck. Secondly, make sure your game is up to par before tackling these courses.

Chosen as one of the top 25 public courses in the United States by Golf Digest, INDIAN CANYON GOLF COURSE is a must-play for any local golfer looking to up their game. Indian Canyon has been the chosen site for multiple USGA, U.S. Amateur and PGA tournaments due to its narrow, tree-lined fairways and challenging, rolling greens. So drive like Rory and putt like Scottie and you should be good to go.

THE CREEK AT QUALCHAN, while filled with natural beau-

REGIONAL GOLF COURSES

The following courses are located within an hour’s drive of Spokane.

Circling Raven

Coeur d’Alene Public

The Coeur d’Alene Resort

The Creek at Qualchan

Deer Park

Downriver

Indian Canyon

Esmeralda Kalispel

Latah Creek

Liberty Lake

The Links

Manito (private)

MeadowWood

The Plains (9 holes)

Prairie Falls

Trailhead (9 holes)

Wandermere

ty, is a challenge for anyone who steps foot into the first tee box. With hilly terrain, water hazards and an open layout, Qualchan errs on the longer side at around 6,600 yards, which bodes well for long drivers. Again, drive like Rory and you’ll find that Qualchan treats you well.

The Spokane Country Club began filling tee times in 1898; since 2015 it’s been known as the KALISPEL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, owned by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and located along the Little Spokane River below Rattlesnake Ridge. Even though it’s a semi-private club, member-for-a-day access is available through stayand-play packages.

Just a short drive away in Worley, Idaho, CIRCLING RAVEN GOLF COURSE has plenty of accolades that prove its greatness. Voted #1 Golf Course in Idaho by Golfweek Magazine and making Golf Digest’s list of America’s Greatest Courses, the championship-level course is home to wide-open, sloping holes that allow scratch golfers to get creative with their shots.

It would be remiss not to mention THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE, specifically the 14th hole’s famous floating green. If you’re looking for a unique challenge and gorgeous views, this course is for you. 

Golf the Palouse at Circling Raven Golf Course.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRCLING RAVEN

The Inland Northwest has five mountain resorts that are (really) near and dear to our hearts

BY INLANDER STAFF

THE SNOWLANDER SERIES

Monthly special sections inside the Inlander: October through February And always online at inlander.com/snowlander

SCHWEITZER

NOW IN ITS SIXTH DECADE since opening in 1963, Schweitzer has become one of the most popular ski destinations in the West. With that comes challenges to accommodate everyone, from locals to visitors. As the largest ski resort in Idaho and Washington, Schweitzer continues to create new, innovative amenities, while preserving what made it great in the first place — starting with those magnificent views of Lake Pend Oreille.

To plan for the future, last season the Schweitzer Creek Village project took off with the opening of the Creekside Express Chairlift, reducing wait times for visitors by being easier for beginners, carrying more people at a time and increasing speeds up and down the mountain. The project is also addressing parking, access, new trails, expanded summer offerings and even an RV park.

But already in place, you’ll also find the kinds of amenities the top resorts are known for: The Cambium Spa gives anyone the chance to “Rev Up, Reboot and Tune In” during its second full season, while Sky House offers unmatched views and high-end cuisine.

Arlene Cook is Schweitzer’s ski patrol director and a Sandpoint native; she’s been working at Schweitzer for more than four decades. For her, the magic of Schweitzer is simple: “The mountain itself. Just the outdoors — it’s an awesome place. And I Nordic ski as well as downhill ski. In my spare time, I love to go skate skiing.”

Schweitzer is alive all year round, Cook adds: “I work as the director for our bike patrol in the summer as well. It’s a very fun place to play.” (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)

MT. SPOKANE

AS THE CLOSEST SKI

AREA to the city, Mt. Spokane has long been a popular destination for beginners. Those running the show up on the mountain understand that, and they’ve recently expanded the ski school offerings. There are more lessons than ever before for skiers and snowboarders of all ages.

“We have programs to teach people how to go on [snowboarding] terrain features safely and improve their skills,” says Assistant General Manager Jodi Kayler of their four-week terrain park program. “It’s very interactive.”

Progression Park, where beginners find their footing on the tables and rails, has been moved to a more accessible location. The main terrain park still snakes down the Hidden Treasure face of the mountain.

Another change that skiers and boarders of all skill levels will notice comes from the work of the

expanded snow service team. After investing in four new snowcats over the past four years, the mountain will be as well-groomed as ever. There have also been additions to the team of professionals who design and maintain the terrain park, which is the largest in the region and a point of pride for Mt. Spokane.

Kristin Whitaker, the ski patrol director at Mt. Spokane, has been patrolling the slopes there for 16 years. She says that besides the powder, it’s the people behind the experience who make Mt. Spokane special.

“The way they welcome folks to enjoy the mountain, to make the mountain their own home, and to make Mt. Spokane a part of their family is a level of care and service I haven’t experienced anywhere else,” Whitaker says. (WILL MAUPIN)

MT. SPOKANE PHOTO

2215 W NW Blvd

Spokane, Wa 99205

"When you step into Spokane Alpine Haus, it’s clear you’ve entered a business that stands apart. In an era dominated by online shopping and big-box stores, this local gem serves as a reminder of the value that small businesses bring to our lives.

Alpine Haus is all about exceptional customer service. Owners Drew and Rachel prioritize building relationships above all else. This commitment is evident in every aspect of their business, where every employee is encouraged to truly understand and meet their customers' needs.

2925 S Regal

Spokane, Wa 99223

Their guiding motto, “always say yes,” has been the foundation for their success. It’s a philosophy that’s propelled them through significant growth and change. For instance, during the surge in skiing popularity during the pandemic, they swiftly adapted by reinvesting in their inventory and specifically the season lease program, to ensure more families could enjoy the sport at an affordable price. This customer-first approach has not only built loyalty but also spurred expansion.

TheSpokaneAlpineHaus.com

Now, Alpine Haus is breaking new ground. They’re adding a second location in Spokane and expanding their product range to include bikes. This includes sales, service and accessories for spring 2025. This evolution reflects their dedication to meeting customer demands and staying at the forefront of outdoor sports retail.

Their focus on relationships translates to top-notch service and a carefully curated selection of high-quality gear. From skis and snowboards to boots and apparel, they offer only the best brands and expert service. With multiple Masterfit & Sidas certified boot fitters and a skilled team of service technicians, Alpine Haus is your go-to destination for all things outdoors.

The proof is in the praise—1350 personalized Google reviews with a stellar 4.9 rating attest to the trust and satisfaction of their customers. Alpine Haus isn’t just a store; it’s a cornerstone of the community where service and relationships are paramount."

LOOKOUT PASS

WITH ITS MASSIVE, YEARS-IN-THE-MAKING Eagle Peak expansion now two years old, the new-look Lookout has proved a draw for skiers. Now the team has been building on that new terrain with upgraded amenities aimed at improving the overall experience.

“[Lookout] was founded by people that came out of the mining and the logging industry,” says Matt Sawyer, director of marketing at Lookout Pass. “The mines actually built the ski area as a recreation point for their employees.”

The ski area has grown and modernized since those first slopes were cleared, but it hasn’t lost touch with its locally focused history. In fact, visitors still pass through the original lodge, built in 1941 as a Civilian Conservation Corps project. A second lodge added last season provides additional heated seating and respite from the elements, while a ticketing kiosk

lets you skip the wait if you bought your ticket online.

Pro Patrol Director John Batchelder was first lured into the ski patrol by the perk of a free family season pass; he says he has stayed 25 years because of “the atmosphere of it being a small, family type of resort.”

It delivers on the ski experience, too, he says — “Lookout has a variety of terrain and on-mountain and off-piste options right there. My favorite run is Keystone off of Chair Two — it’s got a great pitch, a good width and a great length.”

And since expanding another 500 feet higher up onto Eagle Peak, Lookout’s not only nearly doubled its acreage but also has seen its annual average snowfall increase to more than 450 inches.

(WILL MAUPIN)

LOOKOUT PASS PHOTO

SILVER MOUNTAIN

SINCE OPENING IN 1990, Silver Mountain has provided Kellogg and nearby locales in the famed Silver Valley of Idaho with great slopes for winter recreation, as the mountain’s location grabs more than 300 inches of snowfall annually.

“Even days after a storm passes by, you can still find fresh snow,” says Gus Colburn, the resort’s marketing coordinator.

The resort offers many other activities and experiences for families or for those not wanting to hit the slopes.

“The water park is obviously the ultimate family destination. There’s a surf simulator, there’s a huge island for kids to play on, there’s five different water slides,” Colburn says of the part of the resort down in Kellogg, near the gondola terminal. “We also have some of the best snow tubing in the region, so it’s 640 feet of high-speed snow tubing.”

Just last season, the resort added a 40-foot-by-40-foot wooden deck outside the Jackass Snack Shack, where skiers, and snowboarders can now take a break and grab some food before getting back out in the snow.

Amy Miller, the resort’s ticketing and season pass supervisor for the past 10 years says some of the best deals come bundled with lessons. “One of them is called the Flex Five, so it’s designed to get people into snow sports that have never done skiing or snowboarding before,” Miller says. “With it, you get five lift tickets, five rentals, and five beginner ski or snowboard lessons. After you complete your fifth lesson, you get to pick up a free season pass for the rest of the season.” (SUMMER SANDSTROM)

SILVER MOUNTAIN PHOTO

Your weekend wants you to come spend it in CHEWELAH.

Looking for a picture perfect mountain town with fun everywhere you turn? Chewelah is surrounded by rivers and lakes, a pristine, 27hole golf course, one of the biggest ski areas in the Northwest, plus gaming and a great night’s sleep at the new Mistequa Casino Hotel.

Chewelah Golf Course

49° North Mountain Resort

Mistequa Casino Hotel

49° NORTH

JUST AN HOUR NORTH of Spokane high above Chewelah sits Washington’s second-largest mountain resort: 49 Degrees North. With an average snowfall of 300 inches and 90 different trails, snow-goers of any level can find the perfect spot to shred some fresh powder, weave through the trees or just relax in the wintry haven.

Rick Brown, the mountain’s Director of Skier and Rider Services, says significant recent investments in snowmaking, lift upgrades and consistent high-quality grooming are drawing attention from not only locals but within the skiing community across the country.

“The mountain is big enough that once you get people up on the slopes you can easily find places to yourself because the mountain has so much terrain,” adds Dave DeVeau, a Texas native who has been on 49’s ski patrol for 14 years now; he took over as Patrol Director last season. “The atmosphere is just crazy good, too. This is a place that people truly want to be.”

Farmers Markets I Friday's May 10th - Oct 11th

Fall Fest I October 5th, 2024

Auction & Gala I October 26th, 2024

Boofest I October 31st, 2024

City Sidewalks I December 7th, 2024

Winter Fest I TBD

Home & Garden Show I March 22nd, 2025

Summer Fest I July 12th, 2025

See MORE events at chewelah.org/events

Even the resort’s newest addition, a 7,000-square-foot tentlike lodge that opened last season, is a testament to 49’s sustainability efforts. Instead of building an entirely new building next to the Calispel Creek Lodge, Brown says the resort sent its own crew to another ski area hundreds of miles away to dismantle and move a structure that was going to be torn down. Of course, resort staff gave the structure their own custom touches when it was built.

Starting with the 2024-25 season, it will be headquarters of the resort’s Skier and Rider Services, which includes the Snowsports School, along with the Rental and Repair Shops, freeing up a ton of additional space for guests in the Calispel Creek Lodge.

RASANEN) 

Frosty Fun

From

moonlight snowshoeing to groovy ice skating sessions, there’s plenty to do outdoors all winter long

BY CASSANDRA BENSON, MADI OSWALT AND FOPE SERIKI

Not a skier or snowboarder? That’s OK! There’s still tons of winter fun to be had, whether you can only stand being out in the cold in small bursts, or are interested in learning something new, like Nordic skiing, winter bird watching or snowshoeing. Among the wide variety of winter recreation to be found around the Inland Northwest, here’s a small sampling:

LANGLAUF

The 44th annual Langlauf nordic race welcomes skiers of all ages, skill and fitness levels. Race director and co-founder Tim Ray sees the event as a celebration of winter and says a wide variety of people have participated in past races on Mount Spokane.

“We’ve had former Olympians compete, as well as people who’ve competed and went on to be members of both the Canadian and U.S. Olympic teams,” Ray says.

Adding to the appeal is a raffle, giving volunteers and contestants a chance to win prizes from among a pool of goodies worth as much as $6,000. Whether you’re a beginner or avid skier, or want to watch people buzz past in a colorful blur, Langlauf is a great way to experience winter. (MO) Sun, Feb. 2, 2025 from 10 am-12:30 pm, $35, Selkirk Lodge, spokanenordic.org

SNOWSHOE MOONLIGHT TOUR & DINNERS

While not many of us can be easily tempted to leave the warmth of our cozy homes during a long winter night, sometimes the effort really pays off. Take Spokane Parks and Recreation’s guided snowshoe tours on Mount Spokane, for example, among many other organized excursions offered every winter.

“We do this because we want people to enjoy the place they live,” says Andy Fuzak, Parks’ outdoor recreation supervisor. “It’s a cool way to experience the snowy woods at night.”

Under the light of a full moon, snowshoers can enjoy a guided tour through shimmering slopes, learn about the surrounding nature and, in some cases, end the day with a warm meal. Make sure to pre-register online at spokanerec.org. (MO)

MT. SPOKANE SKI PATROL SKI SWAP

As the cold sets in around the Inland Northwest, winter sports enthusiasts begin gearing up for another exciting season on the snow. As a precursor to that fun, the annual Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap offers great deals on winter gear for local skiers and snowboarders.

Held each year in late October, the two-day event — now in its 59th year — lets outdoor recreationalists buy, sell, and trade their ski and snowboard equipment.

Along with snow gear galore — more than 22,000 items total — the swap also serves as the ski patrol’s primary source of funding. The nonprofit, volunteer-run organization provides essential safety services like first aid and safety education to guests at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park. Proceeds also help fund the purchase of medical and first aid supplies, rescue equipment, training materials and much more. (FS) Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, skipatrolskiswap.com

Snowshoeing under the full moon.

SPOKANE PARKS PHOTO

SPOKANE CHIEFS HOCKEY

Considering it’s only two-and-a-half hours from the Canadian border, it’s no surprise that hockey is one of Spokane’s most popular winter pastimes. The Spokane Chiefs are a local institution, and every year thousands of fans head to Spokane Arena to watch some good ol’ fashioned hockey.

With promotional and themed nights ranging from giveaways to a princesses and heroes night, a Chiefs game appeals to both die-hard hockey fans and families looking for a night of fun. The team offers free tickets to families with kids in a free or reduced lunch program or going through financial hardship, and to nonprofits via their Community Tickets Program. (CB)

Regular season Sept. 21-March 22, Spokane Arena, 700 W. Mallon Ave., spokanechiefs.com

DJ NIGHTS ON THE ICE

Get your ice skates ready for a chill and chilly winter experience during DJ Nights on the Ice at the Numerica Skate Ribbon in Riverfront Park. Every Friday, from December through January, the ice comes alive with activity from 6 to 9 pm. Local DJs spin upbeat tunes while skaters groove and glide under festive lights for a unique fusion of winter sport and dance. This family-friendly event offers more than just skating, with contests plus a special New Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31. (FS)

Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. rivefrontspokane.org

WINTER BIRDWATCHING

The Spokane Audubon Society holds lots of events through the warmer months for local birding enthusiasts. Winter’s cold doesn’t stop those plans, however. The Society’s winter bird walks are open to both novice and expert bird watchers. To become even more involved with the group, locals can attend monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, either in person or via Zoom. While it’s natural to assume the birds are hiding from the cold like us, there are still plenty of species active all winter waiting to be spotted through a pair of binoculars. Visit audubonspokane.org for more info. (MO)

CHEWELAH WINTERFEST

Take a drive up north to Chewelah and celebrate the snowy season at the 6th annual Chewelah Winterfest in February. Festivities take place throughout the entire town and include kid-friendly events, food and art vendors, art contests and a beer garden. For those interested in art, there are exhibitions for fine art and photography. For more information or to get involved, check out the Chewelah Creative District’s website, chewelahcreativedistrict.org. (CB)

SANDPOINT WINTER CARNIVAL

For live music, chili cook-offs, doggie keg pulls and much more, head to the 52nd annual Winter Carnival held in Sandpoint and up on Schweitzer Mountain. The 10-day February event has been filled to the brim with fun activities for all ages since 1973, including fireworks and a parade of lights. For those coming from afar, hotels around Sandpoint often offer discounted stays during the fest. Learn more at sandpointwintercarnival.com. (MO)

The ice flies all through the Spokane Chiefs’ season, from September through March.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

SPOKANE NORDIC SKI

What started in the ’80s as a small group of passionate Nordic skiers trying to build a trail network has since evolved into over 60 kilometers of well-kept trails for skiers of all ages, abilities and skill levels.

Located within Mount Spokane State Park, the Spokane Nordic ski area hosts a variety of activities like skijoring, skate skiing and adaptive skiing.

Matt Halloran, president of Spokane Nordic Ski, says the association caters to users’ different needs.

“We have programs that take kids and adults from true and absolute beginners all the way up to ready for competition and race,” Halloran says.

Managed by the nonprofit Spokane Nordic in partnership with Washington State Parks, the ski area is a great spot for ski enthusiasts looking to practice for competitive sports and those who engage in a more recreational form of the sport. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful glide through nature with your four-legged friend or an invigorating workout, the Nordic trails promise a perfect winter escape of family-friendly fun.

“It’s a great way to get out and enjoy the winter, making winters something to look forward to as opposed to something you dread and get exercise as well,” Halloran says. “Bring your whole family out and enjoy what our region has to offer.” Visit spokanenordic.org for more info. (FS)

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

Lake Coeur d’Alene is an obvious summertime go-to, offering respite from the hot, dry weather. But summertime isn’t the only time people dive into the lake — they also do it in the heart of winter. The Polar Bear Plunge is a decades-old New Year’s Day tradition at Sanders Beach. As an invigorating start to the year, hundreds jump in the water to celebrate, test their willpower, or just for fun. Join in on the tradition yourself or just watch others as they take the plunge. (CB) Jan. 1, 2025, Sanders Beach, Coeur d’Alene 

Kick off the New Year with something crazy (and cold!) at the annual Polar Bear Plunge on Lake Coeur d’Alene. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

NIGHT LIFE

NIGHTLIFE Sonic Spaces

A roundup of some of the best live music spots in the Spokane area BY

WSETH SOMMERFELD

hile there’s a thrill to house shows and other makeshift musical offerings, a thriving music scene requires plenty of venues so that both local artists can find a cozy club and touring acts of all sizes have a chance to show off their skills on a proper stage. And there are plenty of those options around the Inland Northwest.

There’s sound to be found all around us, so while we can’t cover every spot in this space, here’s a good starting list of venues to help you immerse yourself in the Spokane music scene.

THE CHAMELEON

Rising from the ashes of the beloved Lucky You lounge in early 2024, the Chameleon has quickly become a hotspot in the local music community.

The Chameleon’s name is incredibly intentional. Ownership couple Josh Lorenzen and Hazel Miller wanted to create a music venue that has more elements of artistic fusion than the typical concert-going

spot. As a visual artist (and childhood pet chameleon owner), Miller helped cultivate the space’s Amazonian rainforest aesthetic. This includes everything from on-theme sculptures they collected, a gallery wall with a chameleon print by local artist Reinaldo Gil Zambrano, and custom murals Miller painted on the walls depicting scenes like a woman riding a tiger through the jungle and a chameleon in a dress riding a horse.

But the space’s true chameleon powers come via the lighting and projection system, which allows the venue to shapeshift depending on the night’s offerings. The whole wall next to the stage can now feature visual projections and the main lights throughout the building can be color controlled.

While The Chameleon puts on plenty of rock and hip-hop shows, the venue has also become a nightlife spot, hosting an array of themed dance nights. The space is primarily geared toward the 21+ crowd with plenty of fittingly colorful drinks on the menu, but a basement space known as the Jaguar Room occasionally hosts all-ages shows.

So if a certain night at the Chameleon isn’t your speed, just give it a day or two, and the space might morph into something that’s right up your alley.

1801 W. Sunset Blvd., chameleonspokane.com

Spokane’s own Kung Fu Vinyl at the Chameleon.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

EVEN MORE VENUES!

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS arborcrest.com

BABY BAR instagram.com/neato.babybar

BARRISTER WINERY barristerwinery.com

BERSERK facebook.com/berserkbarspokane

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL bolosbarandgrill.com

COEUR D’ALENE CASINO cdacasino.com

CURLEY’S curleys.biz

FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS firstinterstatecenter.org

GORGE AMPHITHEATER livenation.com

THE HIVE (SANDPOINT) livefromthehive.com

IRON HORSE (CDA) facebook.com/IronHorse. CdA.1972

JOHN’S ALLEY (MOSCOW) alleyvault.com

MARYHILL WINERY facebook.com/maryhillspokane

MOOSE LOUNGE (CDA) moosecda.com

NASHVILLE NORTH thenashvillenorth.com

NYNE BAR nynebar.com

ONE SPOKANE STADIUM onespokanestadium.com

THE PANIDA (SANDPOINT) panida.org

PEND D’OREILLE

WINERY (SANDPOINT) powine.com

THE PODIUM thepodiumusa.com

POST FALLS BREWING postfallsbrewing.com

RED ROOM instagram.com/red_room_ lounge_spokane

RIVERFRONT PAVILION spokanepavilion.com

SPOKANE ARENA spokanearena.com

SPOKANE TRIBE

RESORT & CASINO spokanetribecasino.com/ spokane-live

STORMIN’ NORMAN’S Facebook.com/shipfacedsaloon

NIGHTLIFE

SONIC SPACES…

THE BIG DIPPER

The heart of Spokane’s all-ages scene, The Big Dipper is mostly home to the city’s healthy hardcore, metal and punk scene. It’s charmingly rough around the edges, a welcoming place for locals to play that’s accessible to everyone. 171 S. Washington St., bigdipperevents.com

BING CROSBY THEATER

The historic downtown theater has an eclectic mix — it’s become a spot for touring cover bands, but it also hosts local institutions like the Spokane Jazz Orchestra and Spokane String Quartet. If older familiar tunes are your jam, head to the Bing. 901 W. Sprague Ave., bingcrosbytheater.com

THE DISTRICT BAR

The Knitting Factory’s much smaller attached bar often lands shows on par with — or better than — what the main stage may be offering. If you’re looking for hip touring acts on the rise, the District has become a go-to space to find ’em. 916 W. First Ave., sp.knittingfactory.com

KNITTING FACTORY

Established touring acts swinging through town most often can be found at the Knit. It doesn’t matter what genre you’re into — rock, country, pop, EDM, hip-hop, punk — there’s probably something on the venue’s upcoming calendar to suit you. 919 W. Sprague Ave., sp.knittingfactory.com

NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO

While Northern Quest hosts some indoor concerts and shows of all kinds during the colder months, things really thrive when the summer hits. The complex’s elite outdoor venue, BECU Live, consistently gets voted the best local venue for a reason, hosting killer shows by top-tier country and rock acts. 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights, northernquest.com

THE FOX

Classical music lovers will flock to the home base of Spokane Symphony, but the venue also serves up non-classical singer-songwriters, country acts, and more inside its gorgeous art deco walls. 1001 W. Sprague Ave., foxtheaterspokane.org

ZOLA

There’s no spot with a more consistent musical schedule than Zola. Every Tuesday through Sunday, local bands and singer-songwriters (along with a smattering of touring acts) take the stage for little to no cost, offering casual musical chic in downtown Spokane. 22 W. Main Ave., zolainspokane.com 

“If we want a vibrant community, we can’t just sit inside and… be on Instagram.”

INSIDER INSIGHT

Ryker

The Spokane native talent buyer and artist manager chats about the state of the music scene and reviving the Volume Music Festival INTERVIEWED BY SETH SOMMERFELD

Amusic scene is more than just a collection of local musical artists. There are many other cogs in the machine including patrons, managers, venues, promoters and more. One of the most notable folks in the Spokane music scene over the past handful of years is Ryker, the mononymous Spokanite artist manager, talent buyer and promoter. By founding the directINFLUX management company and co-founding HaveUHeard?!, she works to make the musical community more vibrant and successful beyond the 509.

To that end, Ryker is spearheading the return of the formerly Inlander-run Volume Music Festival in September 2024. If you want to get a pulse of the region’s musical climate, there are few better options than turning up the volume on Ryker.

INLANDER : What excites you about the Spokane music scene?

RYKER: I mean, everybody’s hungry. There’s no shortage of hunger. And like hunger is where it all starts, right? If you’re not hungry, I can’t do nothing with that. There’s creativity through the roof So much creativity in so many different genres, and people melding different sounds together. It’s really beautiful to see.

I also think there’s a lot of young kids that were inspired the last five years that are now starting to turn 19, 20, 21. So it’s like a new wave, a new era of greatness is starting to come in. And I also think that diversity in Spokane has grown dramatically in the last 10 years. I’m starting to see a mixture of culture in these in these rooms… it’s

SPEED ROUND

What was the first concert you ever attended?

Reliant K. And then my next concert after that was headlined by Nickelback, and it was opened by Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin.

Which local music venue do you go to most often?

I am most regularly attending things at the Chameleon.

Which up-and-coming local musicians should people check out?

Vika and the Velvets are going crazy. The Bed Heads are starting to create a little bit of waves in their genre.

Who is on your live music bucket list?

I’ve seen most people I want to see, but Kendrick Lamar has escaped me. I am dying to see Lola Young. I think Shaboozey would be crazy — that’s way outside of my norm.

not just a bunch of cis white men playing rock music, which is what it used to be.

Why did you want to relaunch Volume, and what are your goals with the festival?

I just want festival energy to be back in our city. It’s good for tourism. It’s good for opportunities for artists. It’s good for exposure. And it’s just good for people getting used to music being around and part of the culture. I want to remind people about what that community feeling is.

What advice would you give people who want to get more into the local music scene?

Dive in. Go to the Chameleon. Watch a show. Talk to local artists after the show. If you want to play shows, then network and grow your relationships. If you just want to support artists, then follow these artists’ show calendars and engage with them online. What people really need to do is just go outside. That is one of the biggest issues that we have in Spokane. People want to try to figure out how to do shit from their couch. Once you go outside and you pop out, that’s when community starts happening. If we want a vibrant community, we can’t just sit inside and twiddle our thumbs and be on Instagram. We really got to show up for each other as much as we show up for ourselves. 

ALICIA HAUFF PHOTO

That Inland Northwest Sound

A roundup of some of the best local albums released in the past couple years BY SETH

SOMMERFELD

BAILEY ALLEN BAKER

Grab a Bucket

Coeur d’Alene’s Bailey Allen Baker finds a sweet spot between fun and unnerving on Grab a Bucket. Employing his slow, brooding, husky voice to high dramatic effect, the collection of forlorn dark alt-folk tunes dwells in dark moments of There Will Be Blood malicious grandiosity and downtrodden whisky-soaked reflections. baileyallenbaker.bandcamp.com

The recent teenage transplant from Illinois absolutely rips things up on Head Cleaner, a blissfully noisy burst of fuzzy alternative rock. Noble’s no-nonsense brand of garage rock is grunge enough to appeal to Gen Xers while still boasting a touch of Gen Z slacker vibes. He’s already followed up that noise with another excellent album about chaotic coming-of-age confusion in the form of As It Was, As We Are. hayesnoble.bandcamp.com

KADABRA Umbra

JANG THE GOON Goon Shii Vol. 1

A longtime leader of the local hip-hop scene, punk rapper Jang the Goon basically reintroduces himself on Goon Shii Vol. 1. The MC’s blissfully unhinged and wildly energetic sound feels dangerously infectious as he attempts to start a musical riot. jangthegoon.com

When it comes to heavy psychedelic rock riffage, nobody in town does it quite like Kadabra. The band sounds even more confident in its stoner swagger on Umbra, where Blake Braley organ accents and a clean production style give depth and balance to guitarist/singer Garrett Zanol’s sinister sonic world. kadabraband.bandcamp.com

THE NIXON RODEO Convalescence

HEAT SPEAK de bouquet ok

Recorded at Spokane’s Central Library, de bouquet ok captures the unique indie chamber folk sound of Heat Speak. Led by frontman Dario Ré’s welcoming voice and poetic impressionistic lyricism, the group’s expansive but delicate layers of instrumentation give each varying track an invigorating zeal. heatspeak.bandcamp.com

PRETENDING WE’RE JUST LIKE THEM

Monolith

It’s not easy to make lyrics-free instrumental post-rock feel particularly compelling, but Spokane trio Pretending We’re Just Like Them proves up to the task on Monolith. The band crafts seven atmospheric rock tracks that make it very easy to get willfully lost in their dynamic, expansive soundscapes. pretendingwerejustlikethem.bandcamp.com

Spokane scene stalwart the Nixon Rodeo has long blended various hard rock flavors together to make a hot musical stew that packs a punch. That certainly continues on Convalescence, which vacillates between angsty aggression and emotional rawness, soaring sung melodies and screamed exasperations, metal shredding and chunky punk riffing, and so much more. thenixonrodeo.bandcamp.com

EVEN

SNACKS AT MIDNIGHT What You Think You Want

The most recent pick by Inlander readers for Best Band in Spokane, Snacks at Midnight serves up some delicious audio morsels on its latest LP. There’s plenty of tart lyrical bite, sugary melodicism, and crunchy riffs to satisfy anyone’s musical munchies. snacksatmidnight.com 

MORE ALBUMS! Avalon Kalin, Presencing • David Larsen, The Peplowski Project • Hísemtuks Hími*n, Witch of the Night • Matt Mitchell Music Co., Obvious Euphoria • Mama Llama, Who Is Mama Llama • Mel Dalton, Rambling and Recollections • Merlock, Onward Strides Colossus • Mikhail Hammer, Cura • Nothing Shameful, Never Be the Same • Pit, Golden Pastures

WORK HARD. PLAY HARD.

Break Free

After they’ve successfully solved one of Think Tank Escape Rooms’ fully immersive puzzles, the most common question players ask staff is whether the downtown Spokane venue is part of a larger franchise.

It’s not.

how we provide a really consistent game.”

ESCAPE!

THINK TANK ESCAPE ROOMS

327 W. Third Ave., Spokane thinktankescaperooms.com

Think Tank Escape Rooms’ high-tech puzzles put players on the clock yet reward with surprises and customizable difficulty

“It’s humbling to hear that — it really is,” says Jeffrey Savelesky, who opened the venue in early 2019 with his wife, Jolene. “That’s the highest form of compliment I think we can get.”

If you’ve been to Think Tank — voted the region’s Best Escape Room by Inlander readers in 2024 — you probably get why people ask this. Yet Savelesky devised, designed, built and programmed each of its incredibly detailed and high-tech rooms.

BY CHEY SCOTT

“We’re tech-centric,” he says. “We have a lot of tech even if it doesn’t show, which is

509-919-4975

A theme-park industry veteran of more than 30 years, Savelesky took his knowledge overseeing the construction of various rides and attractions to craft an experience at Think Tank that’s on par with some of the world’s most popular amusement venues. When players step inside one of its four themed rooms — including its newest, an 1800s-inspired apothecary setting that launched in mid-2024 — they feel truly transported to another world.

Without giving too much away, one of Think Tank’s experiences, called Space Mission Guardian, is set on a satellite space sta-

tion. To complete the mission, players must first “travel” to the outpost, where they’re tasked with securing cryogenic vials of an antidote to a deadly virus spreading across the planet (a storyline actually crafted preCOVID). Inside the puzzle, they’ll encounter airlock doors, flashing lights and buttons, levers, computer stations, and more.

An escape room enthusiast since the industry got going more than a decade ago, Savelesky says he and older family members began doing the challenges together to “keep mentally sharp.”

“I was looking to retire from being on the road all the time, and the two just lined up really well,” he says. “We thought, ‘OK, what are the things that we liked about them, and what are all the things we didn’t like.’ We didn’t think, ‘How can we outsmart a player in creating a puzzle that’s difficult to solve,’ but instead, ‘How do we

take somebody out of their daily lives for an hour and give them an amazing experience that builds some camaraderie?’”

When it comes to the challenge at hand — escaping — Think Tank’s philosophy is to let players steer the ship. Rather than stump a group with complexity, players can ask for unlimited hints or, for an extra challenge, none at all. Time extensions are also sometimes possible. And if a group’s doing incredibly well on the clock, they’ll get extra challenges thrown at them since each room was designed to be adaptive while also offering a range of difficulty.

“My background is entertainment, not outsmarting people with puzzles,” Savelesky says. “We really want to create showpiece experiences, and for people to come here and go, ‘Wow, this is different than anything I’ve seen anywhere else.’ And hopefully, we’ve achieved that.” 

Thirst Quenchers

Stevens County family business Ray’s Lemonade is taking over the cannabis-infused beverage market

STORY BY WILL MAUPIN

PHOTOS BY YOUNG KWAK

Ray’s Lemonade has been in the cannabis industry since Washington’s legal marketplace opened back in 2014. Brothers Dan and Ray Kinney got into the business like most others did, starting by growing flower at their Stevens County farm. Yet what began as a side project would eventually become the main thrust of their business and a dominant brand in the cannabis-infused marketplace.

“When we started the farm, the lemonade was kind of our desire to have a value-added product, and it was mostly a secondary product. For the first several years the lemonade was just kind of trucking along with a few dozen accounts,” Ray Kinney says of his eponymous beverage.

Today, drinks are the company’s primary product. The greenhouses which once grew flower for the Kinneys’ Dogtown Pioneers are still operational, but are now rented out to other local producers.

“Rather than focusing on the grow, we focused on the lemonade. Do what you do best and do a lot of it,” Kinney says.

The lemonade he’s talking about comes in a 12-ounce bottle containing a total of 100 milligrams of THC, intended to be consumed in 10-milligram single servings. Bottles sell for anywhere between $12 and $19 (depending on the store and any discounts) and can be found at dispensaries around the Spokane area using a handy map on Ray’s website, rayslemonade.com.

LOVE AND SCIENCE

To the team at Ray’s Lemonade, what sets the company apart from competitors is its focus on methodically approaching every step of the product development process. It’s a deeply analytical process that’s not just rooted in science, but is led by a scientist.

“One of the things I think is our calling card is Dr. Geyang Wu who has created our own emulsion,” says Rodney Boast, chief of operations at Ray’s. “We use an in-house emulsion to get the cannabis [oil] to mix with water. When you’re mixing oil and water, it’s a blend between art and science,

and I think that Geyang has cracked the code.”

Wu isn’t an outside scientist — she’s an integral part of the team. And she’s married to Ray. The two met at Washington State University, where Kinney studied plant breeding and genetics, working with ancient grains; Wu was completing a Ph.D. in food science.

Of all things, it was quinoa that not only helped sprout this love story but also laid the groundwork for the science behind their business’s success.

“[Ray] was part of the quinoa breeding program,” Wu says. “One of my chapters of my thesis was for sensory evaluation of cooked quinoa. So that helped later on for beverages because we obviously need to develop the sensory profile flavors and conduct sensory evaluation to make sure you can release the best flavors.”

After graduating in 2016, Wu joined the Ray’s team full time and the company’s focus began shifting from flower to beverages. She brought her scientific approach to product development and began applying an empirically based sensory evaluation process to its products.

“We want the cannabis beverage to provide good

Ray Kinney and his lemonade team have taken Washington’s cannabis scene by storm, one sip at a time.

GREEN ZONE

function to people, but most importantly it tastes good,” Wu says.

Staff at Ray’s Lemonade serve as a taste-testing panel, trying and rating the same formulations over and over again until there’s enough data. After tasting each formulation, panelists are asked to give input not only on flavor and smell, but other senses like vision, in terms of product color, and touch in relation to the feel of carbonation.

Repeat testing of the same product among the same sample size helps eliminate interference. If you only ever drank orange juice right after brushing your teeth, for example, you’d probably think it tastes terrible.

“Given the nature of a common question set between all respondents and kind of replicating that multiple times does a really good job of controlling for all that variability in the environment,” Kinney says. “Maybe I just had coffee too recently, and so something that should have been a lot more bitter to a consumer… wouldn’t really register with me.”

FROM SCIENCE TO SALES

Once they’d hit on a consistent formulation for the Ray’s Lemonade line, the company found trusted local growers to provide high-quality cannabis oil. Currently they work with a Spokane Valley producer, allowing the Ray’s team to focus their efforts on infusing the oil into their drinks versus having to produce it, too.

With the process locked down, the next step was breaking into the market. To help, Boast joined the company as chief operating officer in 2019.

“Rodney really championed the Lil Ray’s shots,” Kinney says, referring to the company’s 1.75-ounce bottles. Each Lil Ray’s bottle contains 100 milligrams of THC, intended to

be consumed in 5 milligram servings as measured with the bottle’s cap.

“So we kind of launched the Lil Ray’s shots into some of that success that we were having as we leaned into the drink side, and of course the shots ripped all around the state in 2020,” he continues.

Boast’s inspiration for Lil Ray’s shots came from the small single-serving bottles of alcohol sold at grocery and liquor store counters

“There was only one other [cannabis] shot on the market,” Boast says.

Five years later, high-THC shooters like Lil Ray’s are ubiquitous in the marketplace. That boom helped further validate the company’s decision to pivot away from growing cannabis.

What was once just a side project with a few flavors now comes in over two dozen varieties — raspberry, mango, huckleberry, dragon fruit, pineapple and more — and is no longer limited to lemonade. In 2024, the company launched its Vice Cola brand.

A departure from previous offerings in multiple ways, Vice Cola not only eschews the citrus flavors of previous products but also tamps down on the dosage. Ray’s has expanded beyond its brand, as well. Other infused beverage makers also now purchase the company’s proprietary emulsion for use in cannabis drinks. It’s a success story that the Kinney brothers couldn’t have imagined a decade ago when they began construction on their Stevens County facility, with Ray himself digging holes for fence posts.

“I just want to share that without our staff, we can’t do it,” Kinney says. “We have an amazing crew that works for us. They’re devoted to what we do and are growing with us as a company.” 

DRINKABLES KEEP POPPING

UP

Along with longtime local producer Ray’s Lemonade, there are several other cannabis beverage options on the market. California producer CQ brought its product to the Evergreen State earlier this year through a partnership with Seattle producer Swifts Brands.

“The Washington drink market is very mature and highly competitive,” Jordan McAulay, sales director at Swifts, said in a news release about the partnership.

In that spirit, here are two more brands that have been leading the way in Washington.

CQ SHOOTERS

CQ returned to Washington after a number of years out of the market. Originally producing for the medical side, the California company reentered our recreational market in early June 2024.

“Five states and 10 years later, here we are again,” CQ founder Kenny Morrison said earlier this year. “It feels like a return to our roots.”

CQ’s 2-ounce shooters pack a hefty punch with 100 milligrams of THC, so it’s important to know your tolerance and dose with care, but they are light in other areas with just 26 calories and 7 grams of sugar. Made using real juice, the company is offering tropical flavors that have been a big hit in California for years along with some flavors exclusive to Washington, including concord grape.

FRACTAL INFUSED SODAS

In a segment of the market dominated by fruity flavors, Fractal Infused’s Mojo brand offers colas, sodas and root beers that stand out on the shelves. Fractal uses a full-spectrum cannabis extract in their beverages to give consumers a well-rounded product. The Seattle-area producer’s 100-milligram bottles are widely available around the Inland Northwest.

MARY JONES SODA

Sometimes an edible doesn’t cut it, especially on a warm and sunny day where a crisp, cold beverage is calling your name. Mary Jones makes cannabis-infused sodas with classic flavors like root beer and green apple. Each bottle contains 10 milligrams of THC.

These sodas are often fast-acting, and can serve as a good alternative for anyone who has a difficult time getting high from edibles, or are looking to sip on a relaxing, sweet drink. Mary Jones sodas come in the same familiar flavors as its parent company, Jones Soda, which started in 1995 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is known for using pure cane sugar and incorporating fun and unique photos into its product packaging.

— WILL MAUPIN AND SUMMER

Buzzy beverages come off the Ray’s Lemonade production line.

GREEN ZONE

INSIDER INSIGHT

David Morgan

The owner of Lucky Leaf Co. talks shop on the industry and growth downtown INTERVIEWED BY WILL MAUPIN

When Washington voters approved I-502 in November 2012, David Morgan decided to get into the legal cannabis industry on the ground floor. Pasco was Morgan’s home at the time, where he was raised and started his own family. It was also where the state granted him a license to open a dispensary, but Pasco initially refused to allow dispensaries within city limits. Morgan had to move.

The state allowed Morgan to transfer his license to Spokane, and in 2016 he moved here to open Lucky Leaf on West First Avenue downtown. In the years since, Lucky Leaf has been an anchor of downtown’s West End neighborhood as it’s transitioned from stretches of abandoned storefronts into one of the city’s burgeoning commercial districts.

INLANDER: What led you to choose Spokane when you were looking to relocate from Pasco?

MORGAN: I was looking at the Belltown area of downtown Seattle, and I was also looking at downtown Spokane, and I just felt like the opportunity was greater here in Spokane. It was more affordable as well. I didn’t have a lot of money, a lot of funding to start up. So we chose Spokane, and the city was excellent to work with.

What do you like about the business environment downtown?

When we opened Lucky Leaf on March 21 of 2016, we were at the time the only downtown dispensary. We’re in the entertainment district, so it’s a good fit for us because we have a really good partnership with the

Knitting Factory and other businesses in our area. We’ve seen quite a change in this area since we originally moved into this space. It was pretty much that we were the only business on the block. The Otis was vacant. Now there’s a hotel [Hotel Indigo] there. So we’ve really seen the area grow. It’s really developed since we moved in. It’s been an awesome experience watching it.

How would you like to see the state change cannabis industry regulations?

I think Washington state has done a good job in the stores and the farms of educating the consumers on how to consume responsibly, but I think some of the rules could be loosened. The advertising is really restricted. We are not able to do any giveaways or hand out shirts or anything like that for our customers. 

SPEED ROUND

What’s your favorite cannabis strain?

I like the Jomo from Royal Tree Gardens. It’s a nice, happy, uplifting strain.

Do you have a favorite activity to pair with cannabis?

Hiking and cannabis pair really well with one another. Plus you’re in nature, and it’s a natural plant from the earth.

What’s the best place to grab some food after you smoke?

Cannabis, coffee and breakfast from Frank’s Diner is a really, really nice treat.

What product would you recommend to a novice cannabis consumer?

I recommend Sungaze. It’s a beverage with a microdose of THC. The last thing you want to do if you’re new to cannabis is to overconsume.

“I just felt like the opportunity was greater here in Spokane.”

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

What’s Buzzing?

News and notes on the legal canna-business in the Inland Northwest BY WILL MAUPIN

In the 1980s, Nancy Reagan, then first lady during President Ronald Reagan’s administration, helped popularize the phrase “just say no” when it came to recreational drugs. Now, in the 2020s, young people appear to be following Mrs. Reagan’s advice. According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, minors are not turning to cannabis even though it has become legal (for adults 21 and older) in Washington and many other states.

Based on national studies of youth risk behaviors, recreational marijuana law “adoption was not associated with current marijuana use,” the study’s researchers found. Furthermore, the study, published in March 2024, found that “there was no evidence of an increase in marijuana use” among minors in places that legalized recreational marijuana.

One of the many fears associated with the legalization of cannabis was that it could lead to an increase in drug use among minors. For prohibitionists, cannabis was regularly characterized, without evidence, as a so-called “gateway drug.” One of their most impactful talking points was that legalization would increase cannabis use by children.

This study says it hasn’t.

“There was no evidence that [recreational marijuana laws] were associated with encouraging youth marijuana use,” the study found. Moreover, it appears that underage cannabis use is actually on the decline in Washington state.

“In 2021, survey data showed a 50% decline in youth cannabis and alcohol use in the past 30 days among 10th graders. The 2023 results show these numbers have remained stable since 2021,” the

Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board reported, based on the state’s 2023 Healthy Youth Survey data.

As of the 2023 Healthy Youth Survey, 8% of 10th graders said they had used cannabis within the last 30 days. That number has dropped from 19.3% in 2012, the year voters agreed to legalize recreational cannabis in Washington.

OUTCOMPETING THE BLACK MARKET

In some states, legalization has not gone as well as it has in Washington. In April of 2024, NPR ran a story titled, “Black market cannabis thrives in California despite legalization.” The story focused on California, but also looked at states like Maine and New York, which are having similar issues combating the illicit market despite the introduction of a legal market.

Washington is mentioned in the story as well, but as a contrast. The Evergreen State has not had the same issues because the legal market has almost entirely out-competed the illicit market.

What is it that has allowed Washington to find success where these other states have not?

Possession of cannabis in Washington became legal on Dec. 6, 2012, but the state did not open its legal market until over a year later, on July 8, 2014. That slow rollout allowed state regulators to carefully chart the correct path for the legal market. In the early days back in

2014 and 2015, low product volume in the legal market led to high prices.

“We knew then that if the total price dropped to below $12 per gram that the regulated retail market would be able to compete with the illicit market,” former Liquor and Cannabis Board Director Rick Garza said in a statement regarding a 2021 report from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, on Washington’s cannabis market. “As more stores opened, the price steadily fell month-over-month until it stabilized in the last five years.”

The University of Waterloo report found that the average price of a gram in Washington was $6.51 in 2021. That was despite Washington’s cannabis tax rate of 37% being far and away the highest in the nation.

By comparison, troubled California’s tax rate is just 15%, but reporting from KCRW Public Radio in Santa Monica found that depending on the jurisdiction, other taxes can quickly pile on top. That makes illicit storefronts, which operate largely with impunity and appear legal in every way except for the lack of a state license, a much cheaper option.

Not only is Washington’s legal marketplace cheap enough to undercut the illegal market, it is tightly regulated. When illicit shops do pop up, the state acts swiftly and harshly, as they did in 2022 with two such locations on the West Side. The state recommended felony charges in both cases.

It seems simple. Make the legal stuff cheap and the illegal stuff unwise. Washington figured that out over a decade ago, but other states are still struggling to do the same.

WHY ONLY 33?

In 2018, KREM-TV ran a story titled, “Are there too many pot shops in Spokane?” It was a fair question, but years later it still makes you wonder. Were there? Are there? As that story noted, there were 33 licensed dispensaries in Spokane County in January 2018.

The cannabis industry has seen outrageous growth in the years since. But flash forward to 2024, and there are still 33 licensed dispensaries in Spokane County. The number has stayed exactly the same.

In fiscal year 2018, licensed dispensaries in Spokane County accumulated $100,699,410 in sales. In fiscal 2023, legal sales in Spokane County rose to $134,755,213. That’s a nearly 34% increase in sales, but it did not go hand-in-hand with an increase in places allowed to make those sales.

In a capitalist, free-market economy, how can this be?

The brief answer is that because unlike other products, cannabis is regulated in a way that pulls it out of the free market.

A quota system applies to the cannabis market in Washington, and Spokane County is only allowed to have 33 licensed retailers, no matter how successful our market. The state laws passed to create the legal cannabis market limit the number of licenses.

In 2018, as KREM reported, there was a feeling among dispensary owners that there might have actually been too many stores in Spokane County, which had recently seen its licenses nearly double from 18 to 33. It’s clear that the market has grown, but there don’t appear to be any moves in Olympia to change those limits. 

$242.98

Per capita consumer spending in Spokane County in fiscal 2023

33

Recreational dispensaries with an active state license in Spokane County

18,745

Cannabis industry jobs statewide as of March 2024 -15%

Decrease in cannabis jobs statewide from March 2023

$7.08

Average retail price of 1 gram of flower in Washington in June 2024

10

Years since the recreational cannabis market opened in July 2014

SOURCES: Washington State Liquor Control Board, Headset, Vangst Jobs Report

DAILY SPECIALS

GREEN ZONE

Local Goods

From the bathtub to the bong, products from five local businesses to help you catch a buzz

BY WILL MAUPIN

BLUE ROOTS CARTRIDGES

With over a decade of experience in the recreational cannabis industry, this Airway Heights-based producer’s distillate cartridges are among the most popular on the market. Blue Roots grows its flower indoors; these cartridges contain extracts and terpenes from those buds along with natural flavors for a smooth vape experience. Made with industry-standard 510 threading, they’re compatible with most batteries out there today, making them easy to swap in and out. bluerootscannabis.com

PHAT PANDA OG CHEM

Spokane Valley’s Phat Panda has been on the cutting edge of recreational cannabis since 2014 and now operates numerous brands in multiple states. While they’ve expanded dramatically since the early days, their OG Chem flower and prerolls have been a staple at local dispensaries for years. A high-THC sativa, Phat Panda’s OG Chem will remind enthusiasts why they got into cannabis in the first place. phatpanda.com

BATH BY BEX BATH BOMBS

Cannabis is about more than just catching a buzz. Spokane Valley’s Bath By Bex produces a variety of therapeutic CBD-infused products from gummies to lotions but are best known for their bath accessories. With no THC, they don’t produce a high, but they will elevate your bath into a spa-like experience. The broad spectrum bath bombs contain 100 milligrams of CBD to help soothe and relax along with other non-THC cannabinoids like CBG and CBN. bathbybex.com

HAND-BLOWN GLASS

Prerolled joints and portable vapes are more popular than ever, but they’re far from the most fun ways to consume cannabis. Sedated Smoke Shop’s two locations — 1228 W. Northwest Blvd. and 11914 E. Sprague Ave. — feature a wide selection of water pipes, bubblers and traditional hand-held pieces as well as all of the accessories you might need to expand your cannabis horizons into the world of hand-blown glass. sedatedsmokeshop.com

VICE COLA

Dogtown Pioneers, the south Stevens County producers behind the Ray’s Lemonade brand (read more on page 234) that has dominated dispensary beverage shelves for a decade, expanded their offerings this past spring by moving into the soda space with the launch of their Vice Cola brand. With 10 milligrams of THC in a 12-ounce can they’re perfect for single serving sipping. Varieties include classic cola, cherry and zero sugar. rayslemonade.com 

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