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ear Nature, Near Perfect” was Spokane’s tourism-driving motto for so long (it lasted 13 years before being retired back in 2017) that it’ll never not pop into my head when I ponder how rich our region is in natural amenities for everyone’s enjoyment. These awe-inspiring features unquestionably remain some of the region’s biggest draws for visitors and permanent residents alike, whether it’s hitting a snowy mountain peak, hiking a pristine forest or enjoying a casual afternoon paddle on the water.
For our annual OUTDOORS ISSUE, we’re here to showcase some of the many ways to get outside and, as they say, “touch grass” (or water, I suppose). Learn about the Spokane Audubon Society’s efforts to educate locals on the huge variety of avian species coasting the airwaves, how to enjoy more than a dozen golf courses within an hour of city limits, and where to find five perfect summertime hikes. These activities are but a mere snapshot of the endless ways you can be near — or surrounded by — our perfect nature.
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WHAT TOPPINGS WOULD YOU PUT ON A GOURMET HOT DOG?
ERICA SALKIN
I’m a fan of the old-school Chicago hot dog, so we’re talking yellow mustard, relish, onion and some kind of spicy pepper on top just for that little bit of sort of vinegary spicy bite at the end. When I was little growing up in the Midwest, that was the Saturday treat with my dad, just that fully loaded Chicago hot dog, and for me, nothing tops it.
MERRI LAYTON
One of the things that I would do would be to pick a sausage instead of a hot dog because it’s got a little more complex flavor and with that, I would then put on good old Dijon mustard and leave it alone.
MACKENZIE QUINN
I majorly hate hot dogs, but if I didn’t hate hot dogs, I would — and I’m gonna get real fancy here, so bear with me — I’m talking grilled mushrooms, sauteed onions, barbecue sauce. I’m making this like one of those fancy steaks, so it wasn’t a hot dog in my head, it was instead something else.
GRACE UPPENDAHL
Unfortunately, I’m not the biggest hot dog fan; however, I have thought about this extensively because there are moments where I have to eat hot dogs. And, I don’t know, there’s something just so good about ketchup and mayo and if you put little chopped-up pickles on it, that’s the most immaculate hot dog ever.
JAKHONGIR AYUPOV
My gourmet hot dog would probably be like steak, I’d say. I’d put marinated carrots, mustard, ketchup for sure and then maybe like A1 sauce.
INTERVIEWS BY FOPE SERIKI 6/28/2024, WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
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YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING GUIDE
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Happy 248TH!
July 4 was created as a new kind of holiday — not to celebrate any individual, but to rejoice in self-government and shared citizenship
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BY LAWRENCE B.A. HATTER
A•
mericans have had a lot of practice in celebrating our national holiday — after all, 2024 marks the 248th anniversary of the creation of the United States of America. John Adams wrongly predicted that July 2 (the day the Continental Congress passed a resolution for independence) would be the great national holiday, but Americans quickly seized upon the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, as our country’s birthday.
Today, we celebrate the Fourth by gathering with friends and family to enjoy good food and good fellowship. Grilling, suds and fireworks are the staples of July 4. But how did the founding generation celebrate the birth of the nation that they helped to make?
The answer is in much the same way that
we do. James Currie wrote to Thomas Jefferson on the 10th anniversary of independence about the celebrations in Richmond, Virginia, where he ate “an Excellent dinner at Anderson’s Tavern and drinking a number of proper toasts. We had the Band of Music, the discharge of Cannon, colors flying, &c. & c. manifesting our joy.” Jefferson’s granddaughter, Ellen Wayles Randolph, wrote Jefferson while he was serving his second term as president in 1808 that “there is to be a great Barbacue on the 4th of July in Charlottesville to which sister Ann is going.” Sounds like what many of us will be up to in 2024.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both devoted their lives to the creation of the United States: They both died on July 4, 1826.
But the founding generation were also aware of the political significance of July 4. Today, Americans tend to think of republics as the norm. Though monarchies remain (with our neighbors to the north, for example), republics, governed by elected presidents, are a more common form of government in the 21st century. This was not the case in the early years of the United States, where monarchies and their colonial empires ruled over much of the globe.
For the Founders, then, July 4 held a significance beyond just having a good time. It was a unique celebration that would demonstrate the republican values of self-government to the world. Jefferson wrote John Adams in 1821 of the United States’ historic mission and the central place of the national holiday: “even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and liberties of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them, in short, the flames kindled on the 4th of July 1776 have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism.”
[We ate] “an Excellent dinner… and drinking a number of proper toasts. We had the Band of Music, the discharge of Cannon, colors flying, &c. & c. manifesting our joy.”
JAMES CURRIE, on the 10th anniversary of American independence
July 4 was a new kind of holiday. It did not celebrate any one individual, like a saint’s day or a monarch’s birthday. Rather, it marked rejoicing in the principles of self-government and shared citizenship. The rejection of monarchy stood at the center of republican forms of government, and Jefferson was particularly keen to avoid the rise of a demagogue, a king in sheep’s clothing. He wrote to a friend in 1803 that he disapproved of “transferring the honours & veneration for the great birth-day of our republic, to any individual.” Consequently, Jefferson “declined letting my own birthday be known, & have engaged my family not to communicate it.” Our third president claimed that “the only birthday I ever commemorate is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July.”
Toward the end of his life, Jefferson declined invitations to attend Independence Day celebrations. He felt that he’d become something of a novelty to the younger generation. Though he was pleased to see his fellow citizens rejoice in their shared liberty, he found the events tiresome himself. But Jefferson could never really escape July 4. On the 50th anniversary of American Independence, two old revolutionaries lay on their deathbeds. Adams in Massachusetts and Jefferson in Virginia. In an age before the telegraph, neither knew that the other was about to draw his last breath. Adams’ final words were “Jefferson still lives.” Adams, again, was wrong, for the Sage of Monticello was already dead. His final words? “This is the Fourth?” n
Lawrence B.A. Hatter is an award-winning author and associate professor of early American history at Washington State University. These views are his own and do not reflect those of WSU.
PUBLIC SAFETY
THE NEXT CHIEF
Here’s how the four finalists vying to be Spokane’s next police chief say they’ll tackle fentanyl, homelessness, police shootings, community trust and more
BY NATE SANFORD
Last Thursday evening, while millions of Americans watched two elderly men argue about golf on TV, about four dozen Spokanites gathered at the Central Library for a community forum featuring the four finalists hoping to become Spokane’s next police chief.
Unlike the other big show, the conversation at the library was civil and thoughtful. But some community members say they’re still waiting to see if any of the four finalists have what it takes to tackle one of the most important jobs in Spokane.
Mayor Lisa Brown says she’s pleased with the quality of the four candidates. She says she plans to continue gathering community feedback based on the forum and hopes to decide which candidate to hire within the next month.
When asked what she wants to see in the new chief, Brown says she’s looking for a “leader who has and communicates a vision, but also listens and learns so the vision evolves, and then leads by example when it comes to character and integrity.”
The four finalists are The Dalles Police Chief Tom Worthy, Yakima Police Chief Matthew Murray, Memphis Police Col. Kathleen Lanier and Tucson Assistant Police Chief Kevin Hall.
Hall joined the Tucson Police Department in 1992 and was promoted to assistant chief in 2016. He is also commander of the department’s Field Services Bureau.
If chosen, Hall promised to be “incredibly accessible.”
“Even now as an assistant chief in a very large city, my business cards have my cellphone on them,” Hall
said. “I want people to call me.”
Lanier has 34 years of experience at the Memphis Police Department. She said she’s “more of a listener than a talker.” If chosen, she hopes to work with the community to identify areas where change is needed.
“It’s not going to be easy, and everyone’s not going to like it, but we’re in a time when we need change in so many different areas,” Lanier said.
Murray has worked in law enforcement for 35 years. He spent most of that time in Denver, before leaving in 2019 and being appointed chief of police in Yakima.
In Yakima, Murray said he spent nearly two years walking more than 2,188 miles in uniform to get to know the city on a deeper level and meet community members.
(From left) Spokane Police Chief candidates Tom Worthy, Matthew Murray, Kathleen Lanier and Kevin Hall answer questions during a forum at the Central Library. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
AND THE
He hopes to bring that commitment to community engagement to Spokane.
“In my view, a lot of the challenges that this city faces are identical, just on a much bigger scale than what we’re dealing with in Yakima,” Murrary said.
Worthy is a Pullman native who spent 29 years with the Oregon State Police before becoming chief of The Dalles Police Department in 2021. Under his leadership, he said community policing would be an “actionable philosophy” that would involve officers getting to know people on a personal level. He’s also focused on using technology and data to inform policing decisions.
“I’m under no illusion that we’re going to prevent all crime or solve all crime, but we aspire to those highest ideals of policing,” Worthy said.
THE SEARCH PROCESS
The position of Spokane police chief was previously held by Craig Meidl, who served as chief for seven years. He announced his plans to retire at the end of 2023 shortly after Brown was elected mayor. Brown appointed Assistant Police Chief Justin Lundgren to fill in as interim chief and established a selection committee to search for a permanent replacement.
Worthy said the search for Spokane’s next chief has been “undoubtedly one of the most thorough searches for an executive that I’ve ever witnessed.”
The selection committee was led by Deputy City Administrator Maggie Yates, and included Assistant Police Chief Mike McNab, Spokane Police Ombudsman Bart Logue, City Council members Paul Dillon and Michael Cathcart, the heads of the police and fire unions, and members from various community groups.
“They were really united on the candidates they wanted to see,” Brown says.
The committee interviewed eight candidates. Some were internal candidates from the Spokane Police Department. Brown says the internal candidates received positive feedback, but the committee ultimately decided to recommend four external candidates.
“I certainly would have been open to an internal candidate if that had been one of the recommendations of the selection committee,” Brown says. “But I think you generally benefit from a process of hearing candidates that have had a different experience.”
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
The candidates all gave similar answers when asked how they would handle homelessness and drug use. They all said police can’t be the only answer to the crisis, and that people addicted to drugs need support and services — not necessarily jail time.
“Mental health and addiction are enormously challenging topics,” Murray said. “We are not the experts in that. None of our officers are really experts in that. But we are willing participants.”
Police should have a “customer service” approach to law enforcement, Murray said, which means treating people in a way that can help them toward a path to change.
“The guy in the dumpster is a customer,” Murray said. “We need to treat people in a way
that they feel like a customer.”
Worthy stressed that it’s not against the law to be homeless or addicted, but that the police department does have a role in policing that population.
The Oregon city of The Dalles (population: about 16,000) has seen success decentralizing homeless services, Worthy said. That means shelters spread across the city with room for 15 to 20 people instead of one central location with hundreds. He said he’s also focused on getting people who need help reunited with family members and on arresting people who are bringing drugs into the community.
Hall said addiction is a public health issue, not necessarily a law enforcement issue. He doesn’t think cities should allow open-air drug use, but at the same time, “we have to offer a pathway to treatment, or at least treatment engagement.” He’s a big believer in connecting people with housing to help them get sober in a more stable environment.
“You need to have compassionate policing when you’re dealing with populations that are so vulnerable and marginalized like this,” Hall said.
Lanier said Memphis has seen success with an overdose response team that works with individuals who have overdosed and tries to convince them to work with police to bring dealers to justice.
“It’s about arresting the offender, because it’s not a crime to be an addict,” Lanier said.
SHOOTINGS AND TRANSPARENCY
The Spokane Police Department ranks among the highest in the nation when it comes to deadly police shootings per capita, according to Mapping Police Violence, a police accountability group. Yates said concern over the frequency of officerinvolved shootings was one of the top issues mentioned in community meetings.
When asked how she would address that concern, Lanier said police violence is often a training issue. She thinks officers need to be trained in de-escalation, less-lethal munitions and “shoot-don’t shoot” scenarios.
“Even when it’s justified in the terms of policy and procedure, there’s something called ‘lawful but awful,’” Lanier said. “We need to address those situations.”
Lanier added that it’s a two-way street, and that the community should understand that there are times when police will have to shoot people.
Murray stressed that every police shooting is tragic and horrible, but that incidents have to be viewed “in a light that’s honest about the situation so that you can make a good determination about how we should move forward as a city.”
Murray said he has used strategies from a trip that members of his department took to Scotland to better assess how and when officers should use deadly force.
Worthy said shootings can be prevented by equipping officers with appropriate knowledge before they enter a potentially dangerous situation. Sometimes deadly force is necessary, he said, but when that happens it’s critical for departments to share information about what happened with the community as soon as possible.
The ideal number of police shootings is zero, Worthy said. But when they do happen, the department should be “transparent, compassionate
and thorough and accurate in our reporting.”
There’s not a lot police can do when an individual has a firearm and is threatening an officer’s life, Hall said. But when a suspect has a knife, bat or other weapon, Hall thinks police can prevent deadly shootings by using less lethal methods.
“Historically, we have trained officers to believe that everybody is trying to harm them, everybody is trying to kill them, everybody is a threat,” Hall said. “We really need to take a look at how we can move that training forward and out of the ’90s. We’re much better than that.”
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY
After taking a few questions on stage, the four finalists went to separate parts of the room so community members could talk to them and ask questions.
Matthew Welde, who is running to represent the 5th Congressional District, asked Murray how he would tackle the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women. Murray replied that he has a lot of experience dealing with the issue in Yakima and that he would work with local tribal police while respecting their sovereignty.
JD Leighty, one of many local police accountability activists who attended the forum, asked Hall about the fact that Spokane has a long track record of police shootings being found justified, and asked what he would do to ensure a truly independent investigative process.
“As long as they’re receiving complete, thorough investigations, I think we should all be glad that they’ve been justified,” Hall replied, adding that working with other agencies “brings sunlight to that process.”
Reflecting on the forum, Anwar Peace, a longtime police accountability activist who is chair of Spokane’s Human Rights Commission, said he hopes the new chief will be willing to engage with the community and take a holistic approach to public safety. That includes better mental health programs for officers, Peace said.
Peace thinks it’s good that all four of the finalists come from outside agencies.
“The reason that we’re having to get an outside chief is because the leadership inside this department is rotten,” Peace said. “We need to try to weed a lot of this stuff out and create a restorative healing process with the police in the community that they serve.”
City Council member Jonathan Bingle disagreed. He said he has no problem with outside hires, but “considering how many great options we have locally, I was upset that we didn’t have at least one local option make it through.”
Of the four candidates, Bingle said he thinks the city will probably end up with someone who will do a fine job. But he wasn’t “overly enthused” by any of them, citing concern with some of their responses to questions about homelessness.
Peace is still waiting for more information before making up his mind about the four finalists.
“I’ve been doing this for 24 years, so some of the answers I’ve heard over and over,” Peace said.
“They’re canned answers,” Leighty added.
Natasha Hill, a local lawyer and activist who is running to represent Spokane’s third legislative district, said after the forum that she hopes the new chief will understand the culture they’re entering in Spokane. Trust has been damaged by previous department leaders, she said, and it’s important that the new chief is intentional about rebuilding and repairing those relationships.
Leighty said he’s glad some of the candidates seemed open to talking about improving transparency, but he’s not holding his breath.
“It’s going to be very hard to change,” Leighty said. n nates@inlander.com
Canine Casualties
It’s not just humans — dogs in Spokane are also overdosing on drugs
BY NATE SANFORD
Spokane’s drug overdose crisis has ravaged the city, killing hundreds of people and sending thousands to the emergency room.
Now it also appears to be impacting dogs.
Over the course of just two weeks in May, there were at least three incidents where dogs in Spokane had to be given overdose reversal medication after consuming what their owners believe was fentanyl left on the ground.
Last year, 194 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl in Spokane County, a 592% increase over 2020, according to the county medical examiner’s office. The three Spokane dogs that appear to have ingested fentanyl survived. But the string of incidents — while dwarfed by the ongoing loss of human life — highlights how widespread the drug has become in Spokane.
Fentanyl is generally smoked off pieces of foil, which are often discarded in the street and can contain drug residue.
Bettie Espinosa-Kibala said she believes her dog, GracieLu, consumed one of those foils while on a walk to the post office on May 22.
At a town hall meeting last month, Espinosa-Kibala told Spokane City Council members that GracieLu, a service dog provided by Veterans Affairs, stopped and sniffed a pile of trash that “looked like someone’s leftover lunch.”
Fifteen minutes later, GracieLu was staggering. The 95-pound bernedoodle fell sideways and let out a “combination bark and scream,” Espinosa-Kibala said.
The owner raced her dog to an emergency veterinary clinic. While signing in, GracieLu vomited up a piece of tinfoil, Espinosa-Kibala said, and the veterinarian told her, “Don’t wait for the labs, we’re giving her Narcan.”
Narcan is the brand name for naloxone, an opioid
overdose reversal drug that is administered nasally. The drug is designed for humans, but it also works on dogs.
GracieLu eventually recovered, but the experience was still deeply troubling. Espinosa-Kibala met with Mayor Lisa Brown and told her about the incident.
Brown says she talked about it with the city’s Homeless Outreach Team, which responds to homeless encampments and cleans up illegally dumped trash around the city. The incident highlights how important it is for people to call 311 if they see garbage they think the city needs to address, Brown says.
GracieLu wasn’t the only dog to fall victim to fentanyl in May.
On May 15, a couple rang the doorbell of Fire Station 4 in Browne’s Addition and told firefighters that, during an evening stroll, their chihuahua became lethargic after ingesting a piece of foil they believed contained fentanyl. Firefighters administered Narcan, and the dog immediately began to recover.
On May 29, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported overdose in the Hillyard neighborhood. When firefighters arrived, they encountered a “distraught” woman holding a 3-pound, 9-month-old chihuahua, according to a department Facebook post.
The dog was distressed and lethargic — with slow breathing and pinpoint pupils. The owner told firefighters it had become difficult to rouse the dog and keep it awake after she discovered the dog chewing on a pipe in her backyard.
Firefighters administered two doses of Narcan, and the dog recovered.
Justin de Ruyter, a spokesperson for the fire department, says the fact that both dogs responded to Narcan
makes it highly likely that fentanyl was the culprit.
The fire department administers Narcan to humans every single day — they used it to treat 91 patients in May alone. But de Ruyter isn’t aware of any previous instances of firefighters using it on dogs.
Other drugs are also impacting dogs. Owners in the Spokane area have reported their dogs becoming seriously ill after consuming marijuana products. Shana O’Marra, who teaches emergency and critical care at Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, says she’s also seen an increase in dogs treated for methamphetamine exposure in recent years.
Samantha Pittman, the office manager for the Pet Emergency Clinic on Division Street, says it isn’t uncommon for owners to bring in pets that have accidentally consumed opioids, methamphetamines or other narcotics.
“Animals use their smell and their taste to identify a lot more than humans do, so it does make sense,” O’Marra says.
Because animals can’t talk, the clinic often has to administer urinary tests to figure out which drug a pet has taken.
The Pet Emergency Clinic has given 104 drug tests to pets so far this year, Pittman says, though it’s unclear how many of those came back positive. In some cases, household products like antifreeze can cause symptoms similar to drug exposure in pets.
O’Marra, the veterinarian with WSU, says dogs have strong livers that can actually metabolize opioids more effectively than humans. But dogs don’t have that same protection if the opioid has direct access to their bloodstream through their gums or nasal passageways, she says. Dogs are also a lot smaller than humans.
“A 10-pound chihuahua as opposed to a 200-pound man — that’s 20 times the dose,” O’Marra says. “It’s really unpredictable.”
In addition to methamphetamine, O’Marra says it’s also become common for dogs to become ill after ingesting marijuana products. The potential for life-threatening toxicity from THC exposure is very low, but it still tends to be a “pretty miserable” experience for dogs, she says.
Skyler Oberst, the executive director of Spokane Arts, believes his dog Bowie accidentally consumed an edible or other THC product during a morning walk in mid-April.
Oberst doesn’t keep marijuana products in the house, so he suspects that Bowie, a 2-year-old golden retriever, found the cannabis while playing around in some bushes near Shadle Park. When Oberst and Bowie arrived home 45 minutes later, Bowie immediately started throwing up. That night, Bowie started whimpering and “basically lost motor function” while trying to walk, Oberst says.
“He looked up at us, and we just knew he was in trouble,” Oberst says.
Oberst took Bowie to an emergency clinic, where a veterinarian told him Bowie’s symptoms were consistent with other THC exposure cases they’d seen. The veterinarian explained that dogs are especially vulnerable to THC poisoning because they have more cannabinoid receptors than humans.
Months later, Bowie still seems to have lingering neurological effects. He leans slightly to the left when he walks, refuses to go down stairs and isn’t great at catching a ball anymore, Oberst says.
“It’s really scary,” Oberst says. “I’ve been telling everybody with dogs: Do be careful and make sure they aren’t picking anything up.”
O’Marra says dog owners should be cautious whenever their dog is in an environment outside their control. In addition to drugs, there are a number of dangerous objects and toxic plants that dogs can ingest. n
nates@inlander.com
Skyler Oberst says his dog, Bowie, has lingering neurological effects after accidentally consuming cannabis. SKYLER OBERST PHOTO
Camping Crackdown
Cities can enforce homeless camping bans. Plus, fires are banned; and Spokane Public Schools will wait to ask for money.
BY INLANDER STAFF
In a decision that could have major consequences around the country, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 28 that cities can penalize camping on public property even if there isn’t sufficient shelter space. The opinion stemmed from Johnson v. Grants Pass; under that case in 2022, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that homeless camping bans are cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court disagreed. Leaders in many Western cities have complained that the former ruling made it hard to address camping. Advocates, however, argued that it’s inhumane to punish someone for sleeping outside if there’s nowhere to go. Spokane City Council member Jonathan Bingle, who has pushed the city to remove encampments, described Friday’s ruling as a major win. Julie Garcia, a homeless advocate and CEO of Jewels Helping Hands, described it as devastating. “There’s no protection for them under the law any longer,” she said. The ruling could impact Spokane’s Proposition 1 — a citizen-led ballot measure that criminalized camping within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and playgrounds. Police haven’t cited anyone for violating it, and in an interview last week, Mayor Lisa Brown said it was unclear how or if the Grants Pass ruling would change that. Read more on inlander.com. (NATE SANFORD)
ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES
Don’t plan to sit around a fire this holiday weekend. This week, Spokane-area fire marshals enacted a burn ban that restricts all recreational fires (including backyard campfires or fire pits) and all open burning of fields or yard waste. The ban was enacted July 2 by Spokane, Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Cheney, Airway Heights and Deer Park, and will remain in place until the agencies lift it. You’re still allowed to use propane and charcoal barbecues, outdoor fireplaces, and patio warmers, so burgers and brats can still make the menu. Fires in designated campground fire pits may be allowed, depending on the agency in charge of the site. Violating the ban can result in a misdemeanor charge. “To help protect our community from the risk of human-caused wildfires, the regional fire marshals are enacting countywide burn restrictions,” Spokane Fire Marshal Lance Dahl said in a news release. “Burn restrictions are common during warm summer months, serving as additional protection from significant wildfire incidents for our homes and wildlands.” (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)
BOND BUMPED
The already-packed November ballot will not include another construction bond request from Spokane Public Schools. Since failing to pass a $200 million bond to replace and update facilities in February, the district’s school board has been undecided about rerunning it this year. Finally, in a June 26 meeting the SPS Board of Directors voted 3-2 to postpone any bond issue until an undetermined future date. School Board President Nikki Otero Lockwood was joined by Hilary Kozel and Mike Wiser in this decision, while Vice President Jenny Slagle and Melissa Bedford voted to rerun the bond in November. During the same meeting, the board discussed condensing the bond to a $75 million ask that would only fund the replacement of Adams Elementary School and modernize the oldest parts of North Central High School’s aging facility. (COLTON RASANEN) n
CORRECTION
In “Best Foot Forward” (6/20/24), we incorrectly described Joe Schuman’s work for the Department of Defense. He is a federal civilian employee.
Rebuilding Stability
After months in an interim role and decades in the department, Anne McCoy is Washington
BY COLTON RASANEN
The past year has been a tumultuous time for college athletics in Washington. The most visible manifestation of that was the crumbling of the Pac-12 conference, where only Washington State University and Oregon State University remain.
That instability was compounded by shakeups in athletic department leadership, which saw former University of Washington Athletic Director Troy Dannen resign, and former WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun leave his post to take Dannen’s spot.
Soon after Chun left, Anne McCoy was named the interim director of athletics for WSU. She previously served as the senior deputy director of athletics and has worked a handful of jobs within WSU athletics over the last 23 years.
The Inlander caught up with McCoy soon after she was officially named WSU’s athletic director to talk about how she hopes to stabilize the college’s athletics program, what it means to be the first woman to hold the position, and a potential Gonzaga University rivalry after WSU joined the West Coast Conference for many of its sports. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Anne McCoy is the new athletic director at Washington State University. SHELLY HANKS PHOTO COURTESY OF WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
INLANDER: One of your top priorities is to bring stability and positivity for staff, athletes and fans alike. What plans do you have to improve that in the immediate future and long term?
McCOY: I think one of the things I tried to start with our staff and student athletes is a lot of open communication. I don’t beat around the bush, because I think people deserve that openness. We started right away with having more open communication and making sure people felt like they were important and valued regardless of the role they play in our department.
I think going forward, our goal is to find out what people have really enjoyed or what’s been missing. It’s just a chance to look in and reflect on what the department looks like. It’s a different place than it was when I started here 23 years ago.
Are there any other goals or priorities that are important to you as you step into the permanent role?
I think we’re always mindful of our budget and finances and fan experience. It’s been a long year for everybody, so we’re finding a way that we can help encourage people to be engaged and come to games or tune in to TV. As small as those things seem, they’re really important to us right now.
I know it’s a complicated situation, but with WSU and OSU controlling the Pac-12 and that pot of money, I’m wondering if there’s anything promising about the current situation that makes you excited to move forward?
With all the changes in college athletics, we’re looking at it as an opportunity. What does the Pac-12 conference look like, what will the network be like ... I think we’d be selling ourselves short not to look at this as a positive. We’ve been in the same conference for 100 years — it truly is something that none of us could have seen coming.
Now that WSU will be participating in the West Coast Conference, that reopens a WSU-Gonzaga rivalry that hasn’t been seen in a long time. What do you think reigniting that rivalry will mean for the Inland Northwest sports scene?
It’s truly great for our fans, especially since we’re just down the road from each other. It’s really great for the fans to have some high quality competition on the West Coast.
So far it’s been amazing. All of us in many ways are colleagues with each other and have been playing as nonconference rivals, so it’s going to be cool to give fans and students a new experience for where they can play.
In all of the program’s history, you’re the first woman to lead WSU’s athletics department. What’s going through your head, especially as you traverse a landscape where Title IX has had so much impact?
I feel like first and foremost, I’m so grateful to have a lot of my hard work recognized. As a woman who was given an opportunity for the first time in WSU history, this can be impactful for others to see.
I’ve had a lot of great colleagues, men and women, who have really been a role model for me. Those relationships really defined who I became as a professional, so if I can help forge that path for others, I would be so thrilled about that.
Looking to the future, do you have an idea what WSU Athletics will look like in the next five years?
I have no doubt that WSU will continue to compete at a high level, and I don’t anticipate anything will change relative to the things I can control. [WSU is] a great place for college athletes and in five years, it will continue to be a great place.
On a more personal note, what kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind?
I hope the legacy that I leave is part of what led me to this position, which is truly selfless leadership. That’s kind of how I live my life, professionally or personally, and I would hope it’s an example for whoever succeeds me. n
coltonr@inlander.com
Winging It
To
get started as a bird-watcher,
‘the only tool you need is paying attention’
STORY BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM n PHOTOS BY YOUNG KWAK
White pelicans swim at the Cheney Tertiary Wetlands.
“Iwant you to listen to this bird.”
The guide stops, and the small group of us stops, too. A rapid string of chatters and chirps pours out of a nearby shrub. It sounds fussy, annoyed. It’s definitely loud.
“Any idea what it is?”
Lisa Langelier, our guide for the morning’s tour through the Cheney Tertiary Wetlands, waits for an answer. The handful of us are on a free birding field trip with the Spokane Audubon Society. It’s 7 am and we’d just set off, but we’ve already stumbled upon our first quiz.
The insistent chatterbox, Langelier tells us when no one ventures a guess, is none other than the common house wren. Someone points out the tiny brown bird on a branch — it’s just a few inches long, with a cute pointy butt that’s characteristic of most wrens. It weighs as little as two quarters but is one of the Northwest’s noisiest birds, sometimes singing up to
...continued on next page
11 times per minute.
A house wren’s chatter is so consistent that it makes listening for other bird songs pretty difficult, Langelier says. Despite the binoculars hanging round her neck, Langelier does most of her birding by ear. She moves the group past the house wren, and we walk on until we hear the deedle deedle deedle of a rock wren instead.
“Let’s see if we can find that little singer,” Langelier says, finally bringing the binoculars to her eyes.
Chances are good that wherever you are, birds are there, too — in your backyard, on your walk to work, on your weekend hike or on your patio during lunch break. But to most people, they might as well be invisible.
“Most people seem to be pretty oblivious to bird life,” says Alan McCoy, president of Spokane Audubon Society. “It’s not just birds. Most people also don’t know the names of the plants and the flowers and the things growing around us. People are so hooked into humanity that they don’t spend enough time outside.”
If you want to start birding but are worried about memorizing endless identification facts, don’t be.
Birding is less about rote memorization and more about practiced awareness, McCoy says. For most enthusiasts, it’s an excuse to get outside, listen and look. It’s one way to connect to the world around you, adding another dimension to hiking, exercising or just strolling through the neighborhood.
Most birders do have a pair of binoculars, and McCoy suggests getting some if you’re serious about getting started. On the field trip, I wouldn’t have been able to see how silky smooth a cedar waxwing was if it weren’t for a pair that Langelier let me borrow.
The next thing to do, and please excuse the irony, is download an app on your phone, McCoy says. The Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab helps identify birds by sight, sound, or description, and is an invaluable tool to novice and experienced birders alike. By holding up the microphone to the world around you, the app will listen and let you know what birds are nearby with impressive accuracy.
But the best thing you can do is go birding with someone who’s already in love with the hobby. Not all birders like being around people — in fact, many of them prefer being in nature to spending time with other humans, McCoy says — but if you find someone who’s willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm, you’re likely to catch the bug, too.
“If you go with somebody who’s leading a field trip, that person is generally inclined to sharing the love of birds with people,” he says. “You’ll learn a couple things. You’ll learn some birds, you’ll learn some bird calls. Of course, you’ll forget some of those things almost immediately. But, you’ll get some excitement from the person who’s leading the trip and you’ll learn where to go.”
Many of Spokane Audubon Society’s field trips are free and open to the public, and you can check out upcoming tours at audubonspokane.org. They usually have extra binoculars to borrow. While the organization focuses on habitat conservation for birds, it recognizes how the society’s work also overlaps with similar
A yellow-headed blackbird perches on a cattail.
efforts for other pollinators and plants. If there aren’t many birds out, leaders might look to a participant who’s willing to share knowledge about plant or mushroom identification.
But you’re pretty likely to see some birds. In a few hours on a Friday morning, our small field trip group identified 42 species of birds, including pelicans, catbirds, flycatchers, kingbirds, an oriole, two great blue herons and 10 types of ducks. McCoy has been on birding trips that have logged over double that number.
Plus, you’ll be outside in someplace wild, hopefully in the sunshine, getting some steps in during the cooler morning or evening hours when birds and other wildlife are usually most active. To my delight, I saw a marmot sunning itself while the rest of the group was looking at the rock wren. When I pointed it out, I got a classic birder reply: “Oh, so we’ve devolved into mammal watching now?”
Unless you count sarcasm, there’s only one downside to birding: Once you start, you might not be able to stop.
“They’re colorful, they make cool sounds, and they fly. What’s not to like?” McCoy says. “The main tool that you need is paying attention. When you do start paying attention, you can’t shut it off.” n
TOP: Spokane Audobon Society Vice President Lisa Langelier leads a birding hike. BOTTOM: A rock wren on a tree branch.
PLAY OUTDOORS BUT SEE US FIRST
Bring the Family On An Adventure T o Coeu r d’Alene To Visit THE OUTDOOR SUPERSTORE everyon e is talking about With The Region’s Largest Selection Of All Your Favorite Brands
Par-tee
BY MADISON PEARSON
Spokane is known as Hooptown U.S.A. because of our deep love for basketball and for being the hometown 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 pipinghot drama coming out of the professional golf scene right now (I’m looking at you, LIV) — golf is trendy among the younger crowds as of late.
Time
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 this summer. ...continued on next page
Indian Canyon is scenic, and offers plenty of challenges. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
REGIONAL GOLF COURSES
The following courses are an hour or less away from Spokane.
Downriver
Indian Canyon
The Creek at Qualchan
Esmeralda
Manito (Private)
Kalispel (Semi-private)
The Plains (9 holes)
Latah Creek
Wandermere
CHALLENGING COURSES
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.
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.
COURSES FOR BEGINNERS
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 Golf Course, while filled with natural beauty, 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 has been filling tee times since 1898; since 2015 that’s been 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 a semi-private club, you can get member-for-a-day access through a stay-and-play package.
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
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 (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, Esmerelda 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 Esmerelda is forgiving of mistakes while still offering the challenge of navigating among over 2,000 trees throughout the course.
Established in 1916, Downriver Golf Course is the oldest course in Spokane. Downriver is fairly short, 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. n
Liberty Lake
Trailhead (9 holes)
Deer Park
Circling Raven MeadowWood
The Links Prairie Falls
Coeur d’Alene Resort
Coeur d’Alene Public
The Coeur d’Alene Casino’s Circling Raven is award-winning.
PHOTO COURTESY CIRCLING RAVEN
JULY 25
Blues Traveler with Justyn Priest
JULY 28
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors + The National Parks
AUGUST 2
Jason Mraz & The Superband with Molly Miller Trio
JULY 25 - AUGUST 4, 2024
JULY 26
Violent Femmes An Evening With
JULY 31
Maren Morris with Delacey
AUGUST 3
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw
JULY 27
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with Big Boi
AUGUST 1
Lee Brice with Madeline Merlo
AUGUST 4
How to Train Your Dragon - In Concert
Saving Selkirk
A chat with Selkirk Conservation Alliance director Amy Anderson on how the nonprofit is ensuring favorite outdoors spaces stay healthy
BY E.J. IANNELLI
In 1987, a group of engaged citizens formed the Selkirk Conservation Alliance in response to the aggressive logging practices in the Priest Lake watershed. Left unchecked, those practices could harm the area’s wildlife as well as its air and water quality, which is to say the very attributes that make Priest Lake such a desirable place to live and recreate.
Amy Anderson joined the SCA in April 2021 as the organization’s executive director — its only full-time employee. She spoke with the Inlander about the organization’s key activities, its active volunteer base and its three pillar programs: environmental advocacy, environmental education and scientific research.
INLANDER: What’s the mission and scope of the Selkirk Conservation Alliance?
ANDERSON: Over the last 37 years, SCA has worked on a spectrum of environmental issues, from opposing destructive forestry practices to things like wildlife conservation of threatened and endangered species, particularly the grizzly and the caribou. But most recently, through an intensive strategic planning process in the winter of 2020, our board decided to focus our limited staff time and funding on surface and groundwater quality conservation in the basin within our advocacy area. That area includes the lower Selkirk range, which is kind of delineated by the Kootenay River on the east and
Amy Anderson COURTESY PHOTO
then the Pend Oreille River on the south and to the west.
And what form does that advocacy for surface and groundwater take?
A lot of times it’s not super sexy and not front-page news. It’s just a lot of watchdogging and commenting on county, state and federal plans and policies, permits, or development that would negatively impact special sites or threatened and endangered species or their habitat. We fought the Newport smelter [to prevent] air-quality issues in the basin.
However, I definitely want to be clear that the SCA is not anti-development. We’re just pro-common sense development that preserves important sites like wetlands and salmon spawning grounds. And when we need to, we alert our greater community and call for public hearings. So it’s bringing a lot of our voices to the table just for better stewardship of public and private lands.
What about your educational initiatives? What do they look like?
We give a lot of talks to our local community, you know, working with organizations like the Lions Club and the Master Naturalists. And we also have what we call our living classroom field trip. That’s where we get kids outside in their watersheds, learning and feeling and smelling and hands-on with everything. So, for example, depending on what site we’re at, we’ll have stations based on wetlands or river systems or native fisheries or forestry. We even had a nature poetry station, which was pretty cool.
And I’m guessing both your advocacy and education efforts draw on the third pillar, scientific research?
We have a robust community-based, allvolunteer citizen science program that started in 2008. Since then, we’ve been collecting water quality monitoring data on 17 sites on Priest Lake and one site on Upper Priest Lake. And in 2018, I think it was, we started a primary tributary stream monitoring program. We are now monitoring 17 of the primary stream systems that feed into the basin. We have four deep-water sites, but most of our sites are in the shallower bays.
We’re sampling for chlorophyll A and temperature. We do full dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles to the bottom of the lake. We collect samples for nutrients [such as] nitrogen and phosphorus. We collect data on pH, turbidity, conductivity and also secchi depth [which is a measure of water transparency]. So it’s quite a suite of parameters that we’re collecting information on. And because we have traditionally had excellent water quality in Priest Basin, a lot of the work is proactive. But we are seeing some changes.
What sort of changes?
Over time, we’re seeing a slight increase in surface temperatures. And we are seeing more algae growth in the bays. What’s really special about our North Idaho lakes — in particular Lake Pend Oreille, Upper Priest Lake and Priest Lake — is that they’re oligotrophic lakes, which translates to, in Greek, “few feeders,” which means we don’t have a lot of algae. It’s bright blue and clear because there’s nothing growing in it. But when you see aquatic plant populations starting to increase, you know that it goes directly hand in hand with nutrients entering into the system. Those nutrients are entering when we have development, when we have shoreline erosion, when we have sewer systems not doing what they’re supposed to do.
It was passionate volunteer locals who started SCA. Are folks like that still supporting its mission now?
We’re the definition of a grassroots nonprofit. I would say we easily have a hundred solid volunteers that keep driving us. And then we have probably 100 more coming in and out as needed for different programs and projects. Even our board is a working board. They really carry the heavy weight of our water-quality monitoring work.
We also engage a lot of agencies. We partner with folks like Idaho Fish and Game and Panhandle Master Naturalists and the Army Corps of Engineers when we do our outdoor education. And so, I feel kind of like my job is easy because we just have so many people that are passionate and love this area. I truly feel like it’s people looking after their own backyards that have made the greatest strides in the environmental movement hands down, because they care the most. n
Did you know that not every day is a good day to be outside? Sometimes the air around us can cause harm. Protecting yourself and others is important when the air is unhealthy.
Check the current air quality regularly. The AQI updates hourly.
That’s the orange category!
Keep in mind that all children and youth up to 18 years old are considered a sensitive group.
Limit or avoid time outdoors when air quality has dropped below the AQI moderate category.
The library is a great option!
The Selkirk Conservation Alliance monitors Priest River, and much more of North Idaho’s natural environment. ECOFLIGHT PHOTO
Water You Up To?
With improved access sites and convenient shuttles, getting to the region’s waterways is easy; first, be safe!
BY MADISON PEARSON, MADI OSWALT AND FOPE SERIKI
It’s impossible to talk about Spokane and not mention the glorious river running right through the city.
Throughout history, the river has provided. For the Indigenous peoples that called — and still call — Spokane home, the river gave salmon as nourishment. In 1894, the Upriver Dam began providing hydroelectric power to the city. Its power generation is still used today to help deliver water to more than 210,000 people in the Spokane community. And, last but not least, the Spokane River provides a splashin’ good time for water recreation enthusiasts of all types each summer.
The first rule of summer is to be safe, so make sure to check water flows and levels before heading to the river (or any regional body of water). Avista updates Spokane River information daily at myavista.com/waterflow. There, you can see if the water is at a low, normal or high level and can gauge whether or not it’s safe to splash around.
For those looking for swimming, fishing and boating areas along the Spokane River, spokanewatertrail.org has an interactive map that helps narrow down locations based on amenities. From there, click on a preferred location to view water levels and other safety
information.
The most important thing to remember when entering a body of water is your life jacket. The Spokane River Forum, in partnership with Washington State Parks, is placing life jackets at 10 Spokane River Water Trail access points: Stateline, Harvard Road, Barker Road, Mirabeau Park, Islands Trailhead, Boulder Beach, Division Street Bridge, Redband Park, People’s Park and TJ Meenach.
“The idea is simple,” says Andy Dunau, executive director of the Spokane River Forum. “If you’re about to get in the water but forgot a life jacket, borrow one from the kiosk. The Forum’s only ask is to please return when done. Wearing a life jacket saves lives.”
(MADISON PEARSON)
LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER SHUTTLES
If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to enjoy the refreshing waters of the Little Spokane River but transporting your gear and finding parking seems like a daunting task, the Little Spokane River Shuttle is your answer. Run by Spokane Parks and Recreation, the shuttles go between the 9-Mile takeout and the St. George’s put-in. Parking is limited and fills quickly at both locations, so taking the shuttle is
...continued on page 28
Enjoy the Spokane River by raft, canoe, kayak and more!
YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
a stress-free way to ensure a fun weekend for families or groups. Register beforehand online, or pay on-site with a credit or debit card (no cash is accepted) to secure your spot and get to kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing in the river. (MADI OSWALT)
Saturday and Sunday from 10 am-4 pm through Sept. 1 • Pickup at the 9-Mile takeout • $15 (Discover Pass required to park) • my.spokanecity.org/recreation/outdoor/ river-shuttle
DOWNRIVER PARK RIVER ACCESS
The City of Spokane reopened the Downriver Park River Access point near TJ Meenach Drive in late April after a year-and-a-half-long closure. The access point closed in September 2022 due to the Cochran Downriver Stormwater Management Facilities project, designed to protect the Spokane River from contaminated stormwater runoff. Newly built retention ponds now collect runoff water so harmful chemicals and other pollutants can be removed before reaching the river.
On the recreational side, improvements include a renovated nonmotorized watercraft access area, expanded parking with a new paved lot and increased trailer space, an information kiosk, improved trail access, and a natural habitat area.
Also closed during construction, the
Downriver Disc Golf Course is back open, too. Along with a new name, the Whitewater Disc Golf Course, the disc golf community can expect added amenities like permanent tee signs and a new tee pad for hole 18 in the coming months. (FOPE SERIKI)
GRANITE POINT RESORT
Tucked away on Loon Lake, north of Deer Park on Highway 395, is a quaint, family-run lake spot for lake lovers of all ages. Standing since 1921, the beloved resort was in need of upgrades to its on-site store and restaurant. The updated store reopened July 1, complete with a jukebox and classic video games.
“For the first time, we will have a deck,” says Jonathan Brown, Granite Point’s manager. “You can sit and eat and look right out at the lake.”
Brown hopes the deck will soon beopen to visitors. Aside from the newly added features, lake-goers can still take advantage of existing amenities like kayaking, canoeing or boating, whether they bring their own equipment or rent on site. If you’re one for picnics, guests are also invited to bring food and drink to the resort. Have some fun in the sun, Loon Lake is calling! (MO) n
Open daily • 41000 Granite Point Road, Loon Lake • granitepointresort.com
GUIDED WATER EXPERIENCES
If you’re a thrill seeker or just looking for someone else to handle logistics and equipment, check out these local companies that run guided adventures on the region’s plentiful lakes and rivers.
WILEY E. WATERS
Wiley E. Waters offers scenic and whitewater rafting trips on the Spokane River. Your guide will teach essential techniques, provide equipment and then navigate the group through Riverside State Park on an inflatable raft. Choose between the whitewater trip, the scenic float or a wine-and-dine option. riverrafting.net
PANGAEA RIVER RAFTING
This regional company offers whitewater, scenic and wine tours, as well as Geocaching tours where guests raft to various locations while searching for hidden caches, plus bird-watching and team-building tours. pangaeariverrafting.com
COEUR D’ALENE ADVENTURES
Explore the Spokane and Clark Fork rivers with whitewater rafting tours, scenic tours, guided fishing experiences and combination trips through Coeur d’Alene Adventures. Many of the adventures include stops to cliff dive, hike and relax along the way. cdaadventures.com
ROW ADVENTURE CENTER
Take a whitewater rafting or fishing trip on either the Lochsa, Clark Fork, Spokane, Moyie or St. Joe River with a group of six or more of your fearless friends. rowadventurecenter.com
FLOW ADVENTURES
Choose from a variety of water activities including rafting, tubing and kayaking. FLOW Adventures offers leisurely and whitewater rafting tours along with multiday Salmon River tours. Tube rentals are available through FLOW for those looking to kick their feet up and float the river. flow-adventures.com n
— MADISON PEARSON
The Downriver Park put-in is back open after a long construction project.
SPOKANE PARKS & REC PHOTO
Hike-it List
Five Inland Northwest hikes that should be on your radar this summer
BY COLTON RASANEN
Take a hike. No, really, we mean it. You can finish reading the paper first, but afterwards you’ve got to pack up and find the adventures awaiting on trails across the Inland Northwest. You don’t have to go in blind though — we’ve compiled a handful of the coolest hikes around the region. We’ve also organized them by their difficulty, so you can find an outing that aligns with your experience level.
If you’ve completed these hikes before or are just looking for different options, we suggest using the Washington Trails Association’s innovative “Hike Finder Map” at wta.org/go-outside/map. Here you can peruse all the region’s hikes in a more targeted way, as the tool allows you to enter parameters such as mileage, elevation gain and other trail features.
ROOSEVELT GROVE OF ANCIENT CEDARS
Right along Washington’s side of its North Idaho border sits an impressive grove of old-growth cedars, some of which are believed to have lived for thousands of years. Split between a lower and upper portion, the Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars hiking trail winds beneath towering trees, offering a leisurely day trip. If you’re a parent looking for a hike that’s easy enough for your children and scenic enough to hold their interest throughout, this hike is a promising choice.
TIP: Bring a hearty lunch for the whole family and a cute checkered blanket. The area includes four different public-use picnic sites.
Length: 2.5 miles, round trip
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Highest Point: 3,600 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Distance from Spokane: 103 miles
Distance from Coeur d’Alene: 94 miles
SNAKE RIVER TRAIL
The Palouse is known for its miles of rolling hills and agricultural land, but the region holds another gem: the Snake River. And tucked along the river’s winding path is the Snake River Trail that passes through Boyer Park and Marina. While the trail itself is a bit unassuming compared to other hikes on this list, it’s the gorgeous scenery that makes it worth it. Plus, the path is paved, making it an accessible option for those who use a wheelchair, according to the Washington Trails Association.
TIP: Pack some strong sunscreen and apply it liberally. Most of the trail isn’t shaded, so you’ll need to protect your skin.
Length: 4 miles of trails
Elevation gain: 30 feet
Highest Point: 680 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Distance from Spokane: 80 miles
Distance from Coeur d’Alene: 112 miles
ANTOINE PEAK CONSERVATION AREA — SUMMIT LOOP
The Summit Loop hiking trail atop the Antoine Peak Conservation Area in north Spokane Valley is a great hike for those who want to stay close to home and are looking for an intermediate experience. While it includes about 600 feet of uphill trails, it mainly maintains an elevation of about 3,000 feet. Plus, this hike has killer views of the surrounding area, such as Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Mount Spokane and Pleasant Prairie. TIP: Make sure you bring plenty of water. Seasonal springs on Antoine Peak dry up early in the season, according to the Washington Trails Association.
Trail length: 5.5 miles, round trip
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Highest Point: about 3,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Spokane: 16 miles
Distance from Coeur d’Alene: 26 miles
CARIBOU RIDGE
If you’re looking for a challenging hike but don’t want to commit to a multiday excursion, Caribou Ridge just southeast of Coeur d’Alene is going to be a safe bet. With a bunch of switchbacks, an almost-entirely forested trail and over 2,000 feet in elevation gain, even intermediate hikers may struggle a bit here. It’s all worth it though because of the breathtaking view of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest from atop the summit. A Northwest Forest Pass is needed for this hike.
TIP: Bring a map of the area. While Caribou Ridge is a one-way trail, it can be turned into a loop thanks to a couple other trails in the area.
Trail length: 4.6 miles, one-way
Elevation gain: 2,200 feet
Highest Point: 4,400 feet
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Distance from Spokane: 45 miles
Distance from Coeur d’Alene: 11 miles
SHEDROOF DIVIDE
While Shedroof Divide in the Selkirk Mountains’ Salmo-Priest Wilderness area may be the most challenging hike on this list, it ultimately boasts some of the best views across the Inland Northwest. Between the trail’s established campsites lending itself to an extended backpacking trip and its collection of trail connections allowing multiple day-trip opportunities, Shedroof Divide can be as flexible as it needs to be.
TIP: Travel with a buddy. While all of these hikes could be enhanced by companionship, a backpacking trip is almost always made safer with a buddy.
Trail length: 22.8 miles, one-way
Elevation gain: 5,300 feet
Highest Point: 6,600 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Distance from Spokane: 109 miles
Distance from Coeur d’Alene: 103 miles n
Shedroof Divide
The Roosevelt Grove cedars
CHEY SCOTT PHOTO
Spokane via the epic stories that soccer holds.
“The way that most sports discourse is typically meted out on the public is one where it’s divisive,” Wade says. “There’s a lot of shit talking, hot takes — the whole ‘takes’ industrial complex totally nauseates me. When it came to the Spokane Soccer Show … I wanted to do anything regarding the sport with positivity and a ‘big tent’ attitude.”
Most weeks, Wade records the Spokane Soccer Show with the help of producer Brennon Poynor at Spokast!, a comfy podcast studio on the third floor of the Community Building on East Main Avenue.
Podcast Goals
The Spokane Soccer Show is your hyperlocal source for everything kicking in the city
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
“Everybody can hear me in the back?” Benji Wade scans the edge of the audience and a few thumbs pop up. About 50 listeners sit at long tables loaded with beer, pizza and fries. People in line at the order counter get distracted by the five men with microphones on a makeshift stage.
“There are people who walked in here who have no idea why there’s a podcast being recorded,” Wade says. “Well, welcome to Flatstick Pub, you’re about to find out!”
At the downtown pub, fans of Spokane soccer are gathered for a special live taping of the Spokane Soccer Show. Spokane Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman, team captain Luis Gil and players Derek Waldeck and Andre
Lewis sit for an interview with Wade, right next to the mini golf hole number 7.
They chat about all things football — career highlights, past teammates and the never-ending Ronaldo versus Messi debate, plus listener-submitted questions and the ultimate interview test: favorite foods.
Wade has been a soccer fanatic since he was a teenager, building an encyclopedic knowledge of plays, techniques and soccer history over decades of enthusiasm. A trained filmmaker and marketing expert, he created the Spokane Soccer Show last fall to explore every level of local soccer in his new-ish hometown.
So far, his podcast has featured voices from youth leagues, college teams and the city’s two new professional clubs, the Velocity men and Zephyr women. It’s a beginner-friendly show where Wade invites you to learn alongside other listeners.
“I wanted to be able to peel back the layers, do some education, and let them in on the secrets that a dork who’s followed the sport super closely for a really long time is ready to share,” he says.
But more than just building soccer knowledge, Wade
In the inaugural Spokane Soccer Show episode last October, Wade told a bit of his own story. When he was a teenager, he ordered a pair of Patrick brand shoes from a magazine (yes, this was the ’80s). They came with a surprise VHS tape (definitely the ’80s) with highlights from Newcastle United.
That reel got him hooked on the sport forever.
But as a teenager in Fairbanks, Alaska, Wade didn’t have access to any live games. So he contented himself with “an embarrassing number” of televised Premier League matches.
During an interview with the Inlander in the Spokast! Studio (you can listen to an audio version of this story online), Wade recalls film school at Montana State University in Bozeman, then owning a video game store and hosting an electronic music radio show as a 20-something.
Today, he’s a “media professional writ large,” part of the team that helped create the Spokane Velocity brand, a partner of Fellow Coworking, plus a producer for a brand new video and animation studio called Midnight Waffles. The Spokane Soccer Show is just a hobby for whatever free time he has left.
Newcastle remained a constant in his life through every unexpected step. But Wade is excited by just about any kind of soccer, especially any game that he can watch in person.
“If I’m watching the sport being played, I start to get engrossed by it,” he says. “It even happens at my kids’ games … It’s not only what I feel about the sport, but it’s all the narratives attached to it.”
Spokane is the first city where Wade has lived that has its own professional sports teams. He already can’t get enough.
Spokane Soccer Show host Benji Wade ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS
“You can feel the heartbeat of players, the rhythm of the drums that are being played by the supporters, the chanting, all of it,” he says. “You enter into a kind of trance-like state … I think in the same way that we instantaneously respond to music, it bypasses our discernment in our brain, our ability to scrutinize, ‘Should I like this is?’ It’s like you don’t even have a choice.”
One of the most important live games for Wade was a Gonzaga women’s soccer game last fall. He wasn’t even supposed to be there — he accidentally crashed an invite meant for his daughter’s team.
“Me like a total dork didn’t even realize that the parents weren’t being invited,” he says. “I looked like a scene out of Billy Madison.”
After just a few minutes, former players like Giana Riley and Kelsey Oyler made huge impressions. Wade had no idea that the team was ranked among the top 25 in the country and that some of the players would probably be drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League. He dedicated the first episodes of the Spokane Soccer Show to the exciting end to the Zag women’s season.
“The narrative of what they were doing just overtook me,” he says. “I was invested in the team. I felt like I’ve got now a relationship to that team and to their success. Really, all I’m doing is defining fandom.”
For all his knowledge about international football, Wade isn’t anywhere close to being an expert on local soccer. The podcast is an excuse to talk to the coaches, clubs and experts who are active in the scene.
“I’m so curious, because I love Spokane,” he says. “There’s a lot of [other] people that will share things about the Spokane soccer scene. Meanwhile, I’m sharing some things that [listeners] might not know about the history of the game or tactics, or just digging up information… [Sometimes] I’m staying a few hours ahead of my listener, especially when it comes to the United Soccer League. The USL is brand new to me.”
It’s not just Wade — the USL is new to lots of people. It’s the league for Division II and Division III professional men’s soccer. Most American soccer fans are only familiar with Major League Soccer, or MLS, which is Division I men’s soccer.
To chat about this and plenty of other topics, former guests of the show have included Velocity head coach Veidman, youth coach Stefan Andersson and CBS Sports writer Chuck Booth. So far, the podcast has attracted over 1,300 Instagram followers, becoming the second-most popular Spokast!-produced podcast behind former Zag basketballer Adam Morrison’s show The Perimeter.
But the best is yet to come.
“I’m really looking forward to Zephyr FC coming online,” Wade says. (The women’s team’s season-opening debut match is Aug. 17 at ONE Spokane Stadium.)
“The treatment I give to Spokane Zephyr FC will be probably equal to or more than the treatment I gave to Velocity FC when they first started playing,” he continues.
For the Velocity players being interviewed in front of a crowd at Flatstick, the podcast is a welcome way to connect with their new city and fans.
“They want to know us as people, like who we are,” Lewis says. “We are human. We need to engage with the community, with the kids… They come and show us the love, and we show them the love as well.”
While Gil describes playing with soccer legend Ricardo Kaká while on loan to Orlando City, all eyes and ears in the audience are locked in. It’s a rare moment of unity.
“We don’t have, as a culture and society, very many unifying civic beliefs,” Wade says. “We don’t share religion. We clearly don’t share politics.”
But tonight, everyone in the pub is rooting for the same thing, at least for about 90 minutes or so. The beginning of every episode sums it up best: This is your Spokane Soccer Show n
5:30pm
“Doors” open for you to bring
7:00pm
Concert 1st Half starring Artistic Director Zuill Bailey & the Spokane String Quartet
Concert 2nd Half starring Grammy-winning fiddlers
Mark and Maggie O’Connor
Shards of Inspiration
How Spokane artist Amy Gurel turned a chance find in nature into her creative calling
BY CARRIE SHRIVER
Twisted wire roots clutch a mottled chunk of what was once part of a countertop.
The tree rises, spreading its glass and wire canopy toward the light. It’s a dazzling display of artistry with actual roots tracing back to a creek in Arkansas.
“I had no idea I’d be this much of a glass nerd until I got into this,” says Spokane artist Amy Gurel, the piece’s creator.
Although she was already an avid crafter, Gurel says she didn’t find her “thing” until the creek brought it to her.
She started bringing home buckets and backpacks full of glass, her newfound art medium. Yet she wondered, where did this nature-tempered vintage glass windfall come from?
Answer: an old bottling company.
“About a month later we found where we think the bottling company [was],” Gurel says. “It burned down, they bulldozed it and left everything there.”
One spring day she was walking along a trailside creek cutting through Fayetteville. Having fallen in love with beachcombing during a trip to Boston, Gurel thought she’d see what she could find on the creek’s pebbled beach beneath a walking bridge. It was there she discovered “creek tumbled glass,” as she calls it, much of it vintage, about the size of a silver dollar or smaller.
“We were unearthing [broken] bottles from the ’20s and ’30s, and they were the really cool embossed ones that have on the bottom of them where they were made,” Gurel says.
She found further evidence when rolls of old Dr. Pepper bottle labels turned up alongside the glass.
Gurel’s inner artist was inspired to start creating something with all that glass, starting with keychains made from glass and wire.
“That’s my ‘it’ thing,” Gurel recalls realizing. “What I’m currently doing in my life is what I
Found glass shards reach out from wire branches
AUDRINA MARCUM/MARCUM VISUALS PHOTO
Amy Gurel COURTESY PHOTO
Zuill Bailey, Cello & Spokane String Quartet
Winning Fiddler Sensations
and Maggie O’Connor
said I wanted to do in elementary school: I want to do something with art, and I want to teach.”
And teach she does, sometimes hosting classes at the Corbin Art Center on Spokane’s lower South Hill.
While Gurel started occasionally selling her found-glass creations to family and friends in the early 2000s, she founded her artistic business, AJ Made With Love, in 2016 when she moved back to Spokane. The artist now has 40 different products she sells, from wall hangings to garden “bling,” like suncatchers, plus jewelry and her glass-and-wire trees, which range in size from 6 to 12 inches tall.
FIND AMY GUREL’S ART
The idea for the trees came years ago when two of Gurel’s friends found a similar yet poorly made wire tree in a shop. They knew she could improve the design.
Ace Hardware, 12908 N. Highway 395, Spokane Hillyard Party in the Park: Second and fourth Saturdays, 11 am-4 pm, 5104 N. Market St. Instagram, Facebook: AJ Made With Love
“I said, ‘Game on, I am up for this challenge.’ I went straight into my workshop and started putting them together,” Gurel says.
In 2020 she started dreaming of making an even bigger piece.
“Something that would look good in a hotel or airport,” she says. “The trees are what I feel would be the biggest statement that I could do.”
Gurel is currently working on a 6-foot-tall tree made from galvanized steel, tumbled glass and the base of an old stop sign post. Her goal is to make her sculptural art pieces solid enough to withstand being indoors or outdoors.
Much of Gurel’s art materials are still repurposed, like the creekbed glass. Other unwanted supplies might include broken pottery or medicine bottles, things she often receives from friends, family and those who hear about her efforts to recycle things into art.
Sometimes she still stumbles across unexpected finds — like some broken bone china dishes from the Davenport Hotel — and seizes the treasure (after asking about it, of course).
“I’m a repurposer to the core,” Gurel says. “Just because something isn’t being used for its original purpose doesn’t mean that it’s garbage to be thrown away.”
These broken dishes, pottery and glass she then smoothes out in a rock tumbler using sand and water. Then the pieces are ready for Gurel to transform into something new and beautiful.
“The core of my business and who I am is not just helping clean up the landfill, but also helping others to realize that everything can be beautiful — even yourself,” she says. n
*Insured by NCUA. These are our ideas, you can use the money on whatever you want. Members must be over 18 years of age at time of application. Promotion only available to those who don’t currently have a checking account with Horizon Credit Union. Promotion not eligible for Youth or Business Accounts. Verification of residence location required upon membership application. Membership fee may apply. One offer per household. To qualify for the offered incentive, members must complete the following within the first 60 days of new account opening: 1. Checking account must remain open and in good standing for 60 days, 2. Member must complete a minimum of 15 debit card transactions within 60 days of the account open date, 3. Member must fund the account with a minimum deposit of $250 within 5 business days of account opening and 4. Member must accept and agree to electronic statement delivery within Horizon Credit Union’s online banking platform. Horizon Credit Union will make a one-time deposit of $200.00 into the qualifying member’s account within 60 days of all qualifications being met. Checking account must be open at time of $200.00 deposit. Horizon Credit Union reserves the right to modify or cancel the terms of this offer at any time without prior notice.
A glass suncatcher AMY GUREL PHOTO
ONE-SEASON WONDERS
Anime these days are far too long, so we’ve compiled a list of series completed in a singular season
BY COLTON RASANEN
Last month, my partner and I began watching
One Piece, a wildly popular, quirky anime about an even quirkier group of pirates. And so far, the series has been wonderful. But I’ve got a bone to pick. How, after a month of diligent viewing, am I only about 10% through the series? What kind of show needs more than 1,000 episodes to tell its story? And honestly, my main question is: Why am I now trapped in at least a yearlong commitment to catch up to its most recent episodes?!
In a bitter move, I’ve set out to write about some of my favorite anime series that are just one season long. You’ll find my list quite varied, but all united by their ability to be binged in a single day.
AKAME
GA KILL! (24 EPISODES, 2016)
Akame ga Kill! follows a group of assassins who are working to fix their broken society by killing the corrupt leaders responsible for that damage. Such a dangerous burden comes at a heavy toll, manifesting in a tragedy every few episodes. This anime is truly the blueprint when it comes to one-season series. You’ve got quick, hard-hitting scenes of action that aren’t drawn out for dozens of episodes, commentary on a broken system of governance and a realistic solution (assassination), and a group of characters that are just so easy to love.
Watch: The Roku Channel, Hulu, Prime Video
ERASED
(12 EPISODES, 2016)
After a life of regret for a kidnapping incident that happened during his elementary school years, main character Satoru Fujinuma wakes up one morning inside his younger self’s body with knowledge of the future and the opportunity to change it. However, as Fujinuma works to prevent the same tragedies from occurring, he unintentionally places himself and his family squarely in danger’s way. What unfolds afterwards is a truecrime-like mystery of the ages, with more twists and turns than seem possible in a 12-episode series.
Watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll
PARASYTE: THE MAXIM
(24 EPISODES, 2014)
Alien parasites are hell-bent on taking over the world. To do so, they must infect humans’ bodies and take over their brains. But when it comes to teenager Shinichi Izumi, a parasite later named Migi is only able to burrow into Shinichi’s arm, eventually taking control of just his hand. The pair eventually form some semblance of a bond and begin fighting back against the parasites that have taken over large parts of the population. Unlike other alien invasions that fall in the realm of science fiction, Parasyte: The Maxim is filled with gory action that’s more aligned with the horror genre. Watch: Hulu, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Crunchyroll
BANANA FISH (24 EPISODES, 2018)
After witnessing a man being fatally shot, 17-year-old Ash Lynx listens to the victim’s confusing final words: “Seek banana fish.” Lynx, who leads a New York street gang in the 1980s, then sets out to figure out what those cryptic words could even mean. He soon uncovers the criminal conspiracy around a drug called “Banana fish” that can brainwash its users. While this anime is mainly a thriller, it’s got a romantic subplot that’ll leave viewers in tears. Watch: Prime Video
KILL LA KILL (24
EPISODES, 2013)
I unironically believe Kill la Kill is one of the funniest anime series in existence… and it’s not even a comedy. The show starts off with protagonist Ryuko Matoi, who’s searching for the person who murdered her father. She immediately finds out any answers will need to be fought for. To do that, she teams up with a living uniform that, when worn, gives Matoi unbelievable power. While that’s pretty funny in itself, the true humor comes in about two-thirds of the way through the series, as we learn a species of sentient clothing is trying to take over the world. Don’t worry though, a militant group of nudists get involved to help save the day. Watch: Hulu, Prime Video, Crunchyroll n
THE BUZZ BIN
CELTICS PICK WATSON
Before last weekend’s Hoopfest activities kicked off, another monumental moment for Spokane hoops occurred. During Thursday’s second round of the NBA Draft, Gonzaga star and Spokane native Anton Watson was selected by the NBA Champion Boston Celtics with the 54th pick. It wasn’t a lock that the versatile forward would get drafted, so it was a joyous moment for Zags fans. He wasn’t the only Inland Northwest hooper drafted that day, as Washington State sharpshooter Jaylen Wells went No. 39 to the Memphis Grizzlies Both players should see action in the NBA Summer League (July 1222) and will likely play for their franchise’s development G League squads next season. (SETH SOMMERFELD)
LET’S GET THIS JO ON THE ROAD
Spokane is one step closer to completing its first top-tier professional sports team now that Spokane Zephyr FC has named Jo Johnson its head coach. Johnson comes to Spokane from Oklahoma, where she’s been an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa since 2021. Originally from Phoenix, Johnson can handle the heat — during her collegiate career at University of Texas-El Paso, she was named her team’s defensive player of the year and MVP. Johnson has coached at the high school, collegiate and pro-am level, and she said in the Zephyr’s press release that she enjoys coaching not just players, but people. Owner Katie Harnetiaux said the club had two nonnegotiables in their search: top character and top performance. “Jo really is the complete package,” Harnetiaux said. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST
Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online on July 5.
ZACH BRYAN, THE GREAT AMERICAN BAR SCENE
The country star got literal with the follow-up to last year’s charttopping self-titled LP by debuting songs from The Great American Bar Scene early at a select handful of saloons.
WILD POWWERS, POP HITS & TOTAL BUMMERS VOL. 5
While the new album title is a bit cheeky (i.e. don’t go looking for Vol. 1-4), the vastly underrated Seattle rock trio’s thundering grunge-tinged sound remains wonderfully straight to the point.
KOKOKO!, BUTU
Need a worldly injection of energy for your summer playlist? Check out the latest blissfully energetic dance sounds from Congolese experimental electronic collective KOKOKO!.
(SETH SOMMERFELD)
Banana Fish
Jo Johnson
STREET FOOD
The Art of the Hot Dog
Vern Cooks has been open one year, but it’s only getting started
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Most people call him Wyatt Campbell. But the well-known chef who used to be second in command at fine dining spot Gander and Ryegrass now has another name: the Glizzfather. It’s only his sisters and closest family who call him Vern, short for Vernon, his middle name in honor of his grandfather. Lucky for Spokane, Vern cooks.
Last year, Campbell opened Vern Cooks, a gourmet hot dog cart that has popped up everywhere from the wee morning hours of downtown Spokane’s bar scene to midday Harley Davidson promo events and private evening weddings.
A Deer Park native, Campbell has spent most of his life in fine dining. He worked for almost a decade in Seattle with James Beard Award-winning chefs before coming back to Spokane to help elevate his hometown’s restaurant scene.
But the desire to build something of his own took Campbell out of the kitchen and put him behind a cart. Ever since he opened last summer, the new hot dog stand owner and operator is learning business lesson after busi-
ness lesson. Meanwhile, his artisan dogs are exploring flavors, textures and colors, all within the confines of a bun (and highly specific health codes).
Now, with three fully operational carts and mentorship from none other than Robert Hetnar, downtown Spokane’s longtime vendor affectionately known as Hot Dog Bob, Campbell is well on his way to becoming the city’s next glizzy godfather (glizzy being the new slang replacing frank or weiner).
“[I’m] just betting on myself,” Campbell says. “I worked all these crazy hours for all these different people from the last 15 years. So just that knowing this is for myself and my family — that’s always been a passion of mine.”
Campbell first started serving hot dogs as the sous chef at Gander and Ryegrass. They weren’t for the restaurant’s guests — on Fridays after long service shifts, Campbell would make hot dogs for latenight dinners with the staff.
“I’ve been kind of dreaming of mobile vending or a
truck or just becoming an entrepreneur in some sort of fashion,” he says. “It started just as an idea from cooking everybody hot dogs. I started taking it seriously and looking for carts.”
Campbell’s search for hot dog carts was straight out of a movie. His first one came from a serendipitous conversation between his wife and a stranger, who happened to have a cart from one of Campbell’s favorite companies, already shipped, built, never used and ready to sell.
Campbell found his second and third carts abandoned in a garage in the Valley, “dusty and buried underneath a bunch of shit.” It’s almost too cliche: Campbell, looking through the garage for something else, spies a glint of something silver under an old tarp — he peels it back to uncover exactly what he needs.
With his equipment ready, Campbell could focus on the hot dogs themselves.
“I can be creative to a point,” he says. “That’s one of the hardest things I deal with right now. It’s just hot dogs…I mean, I think that my dogs are creative and different, and they definitely have a little bit more flair than
Owner Wyatt Campbell adds mustard to a classic Chicago Dog. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
your average hot dog carts. [But] it’s definitely challenging, being a fine dining chef.”
One of Campbell’s best sellers is the Truffle Boy ($8) with sauteed onion, bacon bits and truffle aioli. Another staple is the Wyatt Earp ($8), a dog named after the notorious Old West lawman that riffs off a traditional cowboy dog with barbecue sauce and caramelized onions. The Big Dill ($8) with bacon bits and fresh dill is a new fan favorite.
It took Campbell a year to gather all the proper ingredients for a Chicago Dog, which requires neon green relish, yellow mustard, sport peppers, tomatoes, dill pickles and chopped white onions. The Chicago Dog will probably be on Vern Cooks’ next menu, which Campbell rotates every couple weeks. He typically offers six specialty dogs, plus a classic one for just $5. (But don’t worry, the Chicago Dog will be served far, far away from any ketchup.)
But before you get to choose which hot dog you want, you’ve got to find Vern Cooks. Your best bet is to visit the Spokane County Courthouse between 10 am and 2 pm on weekdays, when Campbell is consistently set up facing Broadway Avenue. If Vern Cooks is hired for special events during the day, chef friends like CJ Callahan and Austin Conklin man those carts for him.
Campbell moves around a bit during evening and late-night hours. Dancers and drinkers will probably see him downtown outside Spoke ’N Sport on North Division from around midnight to 3 am. Other imbibers might soon find him outside Bon Bon in the Garland District.
Campbell tries to keep hungry followers aware of his location via social media. But you can also hire him to cater private events, in which case you can tell him where to be.
Despite the tremendous amount of effort Campbell has poured into his burgeoning hot dog empire, he’s clear that the people around him are the ones who have made his dream possible.
The only person who knows Vern Cooks better than Campbell does is Hetnar, aka Hot Dog Bob, who’s been selling dogs at the downtown corner of Howard Street and Spokane Falls Boulevard for almost two decades. (You can read a profile of Hetnar from last year’s Fourth of July issue at Inlander.com.)
“I just go to him with a lot of questions,” Campbell says. “He’s the one person who knows exactly how much I’m making and how many hot dogs I sell before I even do it.”
But perhaps the most important person to Campbell is his co-owner and wife, Jenna. Not everyone would be excited when their husband says he wants to leave fine dining to start a hot dog stand.
“None of this would be possible without her,” Campbell says. “She helps not only cater sometimes, but most importantly, she’s raising our kids. She’s super behind the scenes but without her, none of this works. The fact that she allows her husband to work 20 hours a day some days chasing this crazy hot dog dream is something.”
Not only has Jenna had to deal with his crazy work schedule, but her husband has changed, too.
“I used to be super cool and edgy. Now I’ve got dad socks and hot dog shirts, and I’m totally into it,” he says. “She’s just like, ‘Yeah, you’re a geek. That’s cool.’”
Campbell also credits hot dogs with keeping him sober. June 26 was his one-year anniversary of ditching alcohol. He also quit drug use years ago after nine years of addiction.
More than anything, Campbell is homing in on that most elusive virtue: patience. Hot dogs aren’t where he wants to be forever, but for now, he’s content giving them everything he’s got. Even something as silly as hot dogs can be worth the effort.
“For my vision, you need to give a shit about the art of it to be able to come out here, to do it consistently, to produce something that gets people buzzing,” he says. “It’s important.” n
OPEN DURING ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Road construction is in full swing, but don’t let that detour you from enjoying the delicious eats in Latah Valley. Access is still open via US 195. Please go the extra mile to support these local gems this summer.
SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT
Based on a true story, the latest Christian film from Angel Studios tells the tale of a pastor and his family in a rural Texas town inspiring his community to adopt the children in the foster care system that nobody else wants.
Rated PG-13
FORGET IT, MAXINE. IT’S TINSELTOWN.
Mia Goth meanders through Hollywood in MaXXXine, the mediocre end to Ti West’s horror trilogy
BY CHASE HUTCHINSON
For a film hell-bent on placing itself in conversation with the history of both Hollywood and cinema itself, it’s almost remarkable how little Ti West’s MaXXXine actually has to say. Alas, it’s an empty pastiche with no emotional potency or true panache. There are movie references galore, but almost nothing going on underneath all of them. Even as it flirts with what could be more fearsome fun or gestures toward teasing out potentially gruesome gags, it mostly drags, one slight scene bleeding into the next until a painfully telegraphed “twist” lands flat on its face.
Rated R
memorable mark.
Directed by Ti West Starring Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Kevin Bacon, Michelle
The undercurrent in X and Pearl, the vastly superior first two parts of West’s horror trilogy, was finding fame. No matter the cost, the characters all wanted to be stars on the silver screen. In this lackluster final chapter, which West again writes and directs, Mia Goth’s Maxine Minx may be on the cusp of this stardom, but she somehow feels more inert than ever before. Save for an early moment where she turns the tables on what could have been a bad situation and squashes the balls of a brutish Buster Keaton look-alike, this is a film with no teeth to speak of. It’s watchable but wearisome, proving to be a hollow assembly of occasionally stylish scenes that are still neither consistently humorous nor horrifying enough to leave a
This all kicks off with Maxine going to an audition for a big horror sequel, “The Puritan II,” which she hopes will be her big break in 1980s Hollywood. She gets the part and is taken under the wing of the director Elizabeth Bender, played by an underutilized Elizabeth Debicki (Tenet), who waxes poetic about cinema and commerce though mostly fades into the background of her own film. The real star of the show remains Maxine, but a more oddly muted Goth doesn’t make much of this. Instead, she’s haunted by the infamous “Texas porn star massacre” of X. While Tobe Hooper’s enduring masterpiece The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was referenced in the prior films, this time you’ll just wish that you were watching it over whatever is playing out here.
Where X was a bloody blast, this film uses its events to give Maxine underdeveloped trauma that grows tiresome. Even as she escaped, she remains fearful that this past could come knocking. Knock it does in the form of a cartoonish private eye who is played by an obnoxious Kevin Bacon. Looking like Jack Nicholson’s classic character in Chinatown (though with none of the screen presence), he starts to bother Maxine at the behest of a shadowy figure with a bone to pick. If you find yourself ultimately
surprised by who this ends up being, I have a bridge to sell you.
There is some chatter about the Night Stalker, with the eerie dread of David Fincher’s Zodiac looming large over this narrative, but it soon becomes clear that West has no real interest in exploring the fear of serial killers with any purpose. We pop over for a couple of visits to the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, but this again just reminds of a better, more menacing movie you’d rather watch than this one. Not only are all the films MaXXXine references more well-crafted than it ever is, but they stood on their own and cut into distinct ideas. Not only is there no new ground to be found here, but any vibrancy it taps into visually gets smothered under the shadow of the superior works that preceded it. Both X and Pearl had something more going on even as they wore their influences on their sleeves, MaXXXine does not. It merely coasts along.
When the climax pulls back the curtain on all of this, the film falls apart before our eyes. Even as a closing shot and line brings with it a melancholic resonance, none of these themes were explored in any meaningful way leading up to the finale. MaXXXine may find the fame its titular character desperately craves, but the cost of doing so was recreating an empty vision of Hollywood all its own. Its biggest twist is that the creatively bankrupt call was coming from inside the house all along. n
The Hollywood glitz of MaXXXine proves to be hollow.
MaXXXine
Monaghan, Giancarlo Esposito
Despicable Indeed
Gru and the Minions return without purpose or charm in Despicable Me 4
BY JOSH BELL
If there was anything resembling actual stakes to the animated Despicable Me movies, that sense of meaning and urgency is long gone by Despicable Me 4, which comes off like a handful of episodes from the middle of a later season of a Despicable Me TV series haphazardly mashed together. Onetime supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) has long since reformed, settling into his life as a family man and villain-busting covert agent. There are no more lessons to learn or secrets to reveal, so Gru and his wife and kids just bumble through some forgettable misadventures on their way back to the status quo.
Then there are the Minions. The little yellow abominations are the real reason that there are now six movies in the extended Despicable Me franchise, and they’ve relegated Gru and his family to supporting status — at least in terms of pop-culture presence. After 2022’s prequel Minions: The Rise of Gru, Despicable Me 4 reinstates Gru as the protagonist, although the Minions still have a substantial presence, including in a subplot that could be its own separate movie.
Rated PG
but instead he’s drawn into a heist scheme by their tween daughter Poppy (Joey King), an aspiring supervillain. Lucy and younger kids Agnes and Edith get one scene each for their respective forays into hairstyling and martial arts. Each arc takes up minimal screentime along the way to its perfunctory resolution.
Meanwhile, most of the Minions are packed off to AVL headquarters, where they participate in an experimental program that turns them into the superpowered (and very merchandise-friendly) Mega-Minions. Voiced by longtime series producer (and sometime writer and director) Pierre Coffin, the Minions spout their familiar gibberish, engage in childish pranks and fall down a lot. Giving them superpowers merely enables them to do all these things on a larger, more annoying scale, but their inexplicable popularity requires the filmmakers to find new ways to showcase their tiresome antics.
Despicable Me 4
Directed by Chris Renaud
Starring Steve Carell, Pierre Coffin
Part of the problem with Despicable Me 4 is that it’s just a collection of multiple superfluous subplots, including the ostensible central story about Gru being targeted by his old nemesis Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell). The movie opens with Gru arresting Le Mal at their villain-school reunion, thanks to the help of his colleagues in the Anti-Villain League, but Le Mal quickly escapes and swears revenge on Gru. That threat is serious enough for the head of the AVL to pack Gru and his family off to a sort of witness protection program, but Le Mal disappears for long stretches and never seems particularly dangerous or menacing.
Instead, Gru, his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig), their three adopted daughters and their infant son, Gru Jr., deal with various low-level conflicts in their new undercover lives as the Cunningham family. Gru attempts to make friends with the family’s upper-crust new neighbors the Prescotts,
Everything about Despicable Me 4 feels worn-out and recycled, from the rote Minion mayhem to the bland family bonding to the wacky but ineffectual villain, whose fixation on cockroaches never reaches its grotesque potential. There’s an extended “honey badger don’t care” bit, plus a half-hearted version of the dance-party finale apparently required of all Hollywood animated movies, set to Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The animation looks expensive without looking distinctive, and the character design is mostly hideous.
None of that may matter to kids who love to laugh at the Minions’ pratfalls or adults who post Minions memes online, but the movie itself is barely above the level of sophistication and creativity of one of those memes. Gru and his increasingly unwieldy supporting cast — including characters whose existence is acknowledged and dismissed in a single line of dialogue — will keep coming back, taking on progressively more pointless missions and eventually being entirely overtaken by the relentless chattering Minions. n
Former bad guy. Current bad movie.
Grand Ole Tawdry
Wheeler Walker Jr. rebels against mainstream pop country with his comically profane outlaw country
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
One’s enjoyment of Wheeler Walker Jr.’s music all comes down to a matter of perspective. The outlaw country singer who emerged out of nowhere in the 2010s has landed three albums in the Top 20 Albums on the Billboard Country charts with a style that might be best described as Andrew Dice Clay-meetsoutlaw country.
The rallying cry for his haters might go something like this: “His music is loud, profane and unserious! Basically all he does is sing about dicks and p—-y! Listening to it makes me want to take a shower.”
The rallying cry for his fans might go something like this: “His music is loud, profane and unserious! Basically all he does is sing about dicks and p—-y! Listening to it totally kicks ass!”
The antithesis of the pop country that plays on the radio, Walker is the type of artist who decided to stream the debut of his first album, Redneck Shit, on Pornhub. His dirty songs can be cartoonishly over the top at times, almost seeming like a satirical counterpoint to the generic nature of mainstream country… because it is.
The brainchild of comedian Ben Hoffman, the origin of Walker can be traced to a bit on the performer’s 2013 Comedy Central series The Ben Show. In one episode, Hoffman went to a country bar and sang the song “Eatin’ P—-, Kickin’ Ass.” While Hoffman would go on to create more shows like the Netflix animated series Hoops, his country alter ego has become his go-to persona. All five of Walker’s albums have either reached No. 1 or No. 2 on the Billboard Comedy charts, including last year’s Ram Before his unsubtly titled “Spread Eagle Tour” stops at the Knitting Factory on July 10, we caught up with Walker (“not” Hoffman) to chat about his disdain for corporate country music, being inspired by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, and whether certain rappers should also be labeled as comedic artists.
INLANDER: What about the genre of country speaks to you?
WALKER: In the old days what inspired me was the truth. It used to be about the truth. Now it’s about making up shit that you don’t do. So I go by my original
inspiration: Waylon and Willie — they were singing about their lives. That’s kind of what drew me to it — I like the no BS of what my heroes used to do.
So do you consider your brand of outlaw country to be sort of positioned in opposition to mainstream pop country more than anything else?
I love rock and roll. I’ll start by saying that. I grew up in Kentucky, and I loved rock and roll. But country spoke to me in a way rock and roll didn’t because country was people from Kentucky and people from Tennessee — people I knew speaking my truth. So I gravitated more towards country than rock because they were kinda like my buddies. And then [country singers] started getting all poppy and trying to beat Milli Vanilli on the charts. And they started getting real shitty, using these keyboard synthesizers and stupid beats and shit. And it started feeling stupid.
Pop country emerged not out of a movement, but out of record executives trying to make money. No human with a soul will want to listen to that. I don’t want to listen to people who are playing music in an attempt to make money.
How do you feel like that rock influence that you grew up on manifests in your brand of country?
It’s funny, I was just thinking about this the other day. When you’re a kid, you don’t want to listen to what your parents listen to. My parents listened to country, and I listened to rock and roll to piss them off. And then
NSFW: Not Safe From Wheeler.
I heard Waylon, and I started listening to it… “How the f--- is this different from the rock and roll I like?” To me it sounds no f---ing different. You could easily put [the label] “rock and roll” next to Waylon or you could put it next to Willie. You can put “folk,” you could put anything. I think the good artists have no genre, really.
I think in the old days rock was a “go f--- yourself” attitude. I think that those country artists that I named had that. Country was always Hee Haw and family-friendly. And I’m not saying that Waylon and Willie sang about p---- — well they did, but they didn’t say it — but you could play it to your punk rock friends, and they wouldn’t get pissed off.
Not that your stuff can really be played on the radio, but I feel like you fit in that category where you could play your stuff for certain folks that are like, “I don’t listen to any country,” and some of them will get a kick out of it.
My attitude was always, “If Waylon was around now, would he be cursing?” Willie doesn’t because I just think he’s used to it — he’s too old and it’d kind of be weird to start doing it now.
But nowadays when there’s hip-hop on the radio, it’s just nonstop bleeps. I don’t know how that is enjoyable to listen to. But I think my attitude was, “What if I was one of these outlaw guys...” — which I wanted to be — “...and I didn’t censor myself?”
They had to. I don’t have to.
Since you’re not someone delivered to folks on country radio, what are the things that draw fans to Wheeler Walker Jr.?
I think in being creative, you’ve got to find your own lane. I didn’t know I was doing that.
All these young new country artists, if you missed the show, there’s another guy just like it. You want to see Luke Bryan tonight? “Oh shit, I’m working that night.” Well, there’s 12 other Luke Bryans. You can see a different one, just slot in the name — they’re all the same and got the same songwriters and producers. You want to say Wheeler? There’s one Wheeler. Who’s the other guy that does what I do? There ain’t nobody. So my competition… I ain’t got no competition.
What do you feel like people get wrong about your music?
Saying the same old shit that he’s just dicking around and it’s just dirty music. That it’s porn show or something. I got the best players in Nashville. It’s a kick-ass band, and we put on a hell of a show. Sometimes I just get annoyed that people don’t take me seriously as a musician. I get why they don’t, but they can also f--- off. Because the fans get it. I’ve never had issues with the fans. Everyone would say, “I can do what you do.” OK, motherf-----, do it
Since you’re frustrated people don’t take you more seriously, how do you feel about your albums fairing well on the Billboard Comedy charts?
Yeah, I never was a fan of that. I was pissed when it happened. I started yelling at somebody at work for submitting it. And then they said, “It’s actually No. 1 on the Billboard Comedy charts.” And I go, “Well, if it’s a No. 1 album, I’ll f---ing take it.” After that I stopped complaining about it. I just started saying I’m No. 1 in America. But by that definition, wouldn’t any hip-hop album be a comedy album? Isn’t Eminem pretty f----ing funny and dirty? I don’t think charts even exist anymore, do they?
Do you have any favorite aspects about your latest album, Ram?
I was worried my albums were starting to sound the same. And I was like, “We gotta do something new.” I was excited. I was happy that I mixed it up. It kind of put the excitement back into it. And almost all my fan base said, “That’s f---ing badass.” And quite a few new fans came along and said, “That’s f---ing badass.” I was the King of Country, and now I’m the King of Rock and Roll.
I love it. If people don’t love it, I’m f---ing broke. n
Wheeler Walker Jr., Matt Koziol • Wed, July 10 at 8 pm • $35-$145 • 18+ • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com
EDM ODESZA
INDIE ROCK THE BAND CAMINO
Odesza is coming home to wrap up the last three shows in support of its Grammy-nominated 2022 album, The Last Goodbye. After their meteoric rise I was lucky enough to see the group when they returned to Bellingham in 2018 for an epic alumni show with fellow Western Washington University-formed act Death Cab for Cutie. At that show I was also shamefully reminded that when I was editor-in-chief of Western’s student paper, I ended up cutting a story about the newly formed Odesza because the reporting wasn’t great and “they could just be another dubstep artist that’ll break up soon.” Sorry guys! We clearly missed out. But the world certainly hasn’t. More than a decade later, people continue to connect with Odesza’s swelling orchestral themes and mellow electronic beats, which make an ideal soundtrack for pondering your place in the universe while taking in the group’s dramatic light show, its live drumline and the Gorge’s stunning natural backdrop.
— SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL
Odesza: The Last Goodbye Finale • July 4-6 at 7:30 pm • $81-$264 (per day) • The Gorge Amphitheatre • 754 Silica Road, Quincy • gorgeamphitheatre.com
Thursday, 7/4
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Green Corduroy
THE CHAMELEON, Club 4th of July
CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds
J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Odesza, Tinlicker, Drama, Golden Features
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Hip-Hop Night
DEER PARK RV RESORT & GOLF CLUB, Black Jack Band
Friday, 7/5
J BEDROOM GOLDMINE BAR, John Pitcher
J BING CROSBY THEATER, Bohemian Queen
THE CHAMELEON, Supa Dupa Fly
GARDEN PARTY, Storme
J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Odesza, Bob Moses, Drama, Golden Features
J IRON PIZZA ATHOL, Gil Rivas
JOHN’S ALLEY, True Loves
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT, Son of Brad
J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Jessica Haffner
ZOLA, Dan Conrad
ZOLA, The Rub
Saturday, 7/6
THE CHAMELEON, RCA and The Radicals, Cameron Moder, JOJO
J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Odesza, Ben Böhmer, Drama, Golden Features
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, The Rising THE CHAMELEON, King Dream, Bailey Allen Baker, Lucas Brookbank Brown
J CRAFT & GATHER, Earl Berkley HOGFISH, Open Mic
J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, Hunny Soup
J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin
ZOLA, Ryan LittleEagle
Monday, 7/8
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night
It’s always good to remember that the music emanating from the Music City isn’t all country tunes for honkytonk jukeboxes. The Band Camino is a sterling example. The Memphis-formed, Nashville-based band gleefully blurs together electropop and indie rock for a melodic and danceable blast of feel-good sound. The band really broke through last fall with the release of its sophomore LP, The Dark, and clearly wanted to keep momentum going with the May release of more new tuneage in the form of the EP Bruises. Expect folks on the Knitting Factory floor to be bouncing around and dancing to the electronic grooves when The Band Camino swings through town.
— SETH SOMMERFELD
The Band Camino, Knox • Tue, July 9 at 8 pm • $40-$190 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com
J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, Steve Starkey
Tuesday, 7/9
BACKWOODS WHISKEY BAR, Brenden McCoy
J J KNITTING FACTORY, The Band Camino, Knox
OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Ron Greene
ROCKET MARKET, Front Porch Rockers
SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays
ZOLA, David Rosales and Jerry Lee
Wednesday, 7/10
J KENDALL YARDS, Rock the Nest: DJ Lydell, Zonky Jazz Band, Jason Perry, Hannah Boundy
Kicking off a long weekend of Independence Day celebrations, part of Riverfront Park is transforming into a summer carnival from July 3 through 7. Hosted by the Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU), the fair offers carnival rides for all ages, plus food and market vendors. Single ride tickets ($1) are available for purchase, along with bundles of 40 tickets ($35) and wristbands ($40) that grant unlimited carnival rides during a designated time. Carnival rides won’t be the only thing evoking a festive Americana spirit, as classic fair snacks and other food offerings can be enjoyed while wandering the carnival. For details on other regional fireworks shows and festive Fourth of July fun, head to Inlander.com/events.
— MADI OSWALT
ICCU Summer Carnival • July 3-7, times vary • Riverfront Park • 507 N. Howard St. • riverfrontspokane.com
FILM PICTURES IN THE PARK
The Spokane summer tradition of watching a movie under the stars at Riverfront Park is back, kicking off with a July 6 screening of the biggest movie of last summer: Barbie. Movie showings under the Pavilion continue through the summer with Bob Marley’s One Love on July 9, Disney’s Wish (accompanied by an appearance from the Spokane Princess Portal) on July 23, Hook on Aug. 20, and the Spokane-shot Dreamin’ Wild starring Casey Affleck and Zooey Deschanel as Donnie and Nancy Emerson with the real Emersons in attendance. Going out with a bang, Godzilla x King Kong is playing on Sept. 8. All films start at 8:30 pm. Bring your favorite drinks and snacks, a low-backed lawn chair or picnic blanket, and enjoy some films for free!
— CASSANDRA BENSON
Movies at the Pavilion: Barbie • Sat, July 6 at 8:30 pm • Free • Spokane Pavilion · 574 W. Howard St. • riverfrontspokane.com
THEATER SOUTH PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Like many of the best Broadway musicals, South Pacific boasts music and lyrics by powerhouse duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. Performed by the talented crew at Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, this iteration of South Pacific also features Andrea Bates, an actress who toured with the show over 20 years ago. The Tony Award-winning musical centers on an American nurse stationed on a South Pacific island during World War ll. She falls in love with an expatriate French plantation owner but struggles to accept the fact that he has mixed-race children. As a couple of different storylines converge, characters grow, fall in love and solve their own racial prejudices through a score filled with outstanding numbers and eye-catching choreography.
— MADISON PEARSON
South Pacific • Thu-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm through July 7 • $25-$45 • Central Valley High School • 821 S. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley • svsummertheatre.com
Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email relevant details to getlisted@inlander.com. We need the details one week prior to our publication date.
DRINK BODACIOUS BREWS
Get ready to shake your brews thing this weekend as Coeur d’Alene Brewfest is back for another year. Taking place at McEuen Park along the stunning shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the fest is filled to the brim with almost 18 local breweries in attendance, including Chalice, Jeremiah Johnson, Black Lodge and Westwood brewing companies. Local eateries the Burger Dock and Rustic provide the eats, and Inland Northwest performers DJ Daymaker and Buffalo Speedway present the event’s musical stylings. All tickets include a commemorative pint glass and six 5-ounce drink pours. Plus, $25 nonalcoholic tickets and a selection of mocktails are available for those who want to experience the event’s charming atmosphere without drinking.
— COLTON RASANEN
Coeur d’Alene Brewfest • Sat, July 6 from 1-7 pm • $25-$40; free for designated drivers • McEuen Park • 420 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene • cdadowntown.com
FOOD A CRAVING FOR MORE
Get your stretchy pants on, because the Inland Northwest’s biggest foodie festival is coming back to Spokane Valley. Join local chefs from Anthony’s, Cochinito Taqueria, Wooden City and more at Crave! Northwest, which also features brewmasters, bakers and culinary artists of all stripes — like Humble Abode Brewing, Roast House, Sweet Frostings and many more. Each night hosts a different theme that you’ve got to taste to believe. Thursday kicks off the festival with comfort food, plus square dancing and line dancing to really lean into the down home country theme (cowboy hats are encouraged). Then, Friday welcomes food from around the world for more international flair. Finally, Saturday is all about fire and smoke, to the delight of thrillseeking chefs everywhere. And don’t forget about the afterparty, where you get to hobnob it up with the region’s hottest culinary talent. There’s a reason this palate paradise keeps people coming back year after year.
— ELIZA BILLINGHAM
I SAW YOU
TRUST D. I saw you, with your new flame. In your new “town.” When you start to realize that things are not what they seem, and the details just don’t add up, and your questionings render gaslighty deflection, TRUST your intuition. You are not wrong. A snake’s a snake; you can’t make the snake a toad-ish, kissable Prince. Save yourself the time, energy, heartache, confusion and scary ride. That ride is hell. A whole different kind of hot.
GARLAND MOVIE CHEATER S.M. I have no other way of reaching you. I know you work at Sally’s. That guy you were with is still with his wife, they are still together. I don’t know what lies he’s telling you but I want you to know the truth.
RE: IN MY DREAMS...MR. B Initials are CLC. What are my initials? If you are who I think you are would be amazing. But if you’re not, I hope you find who you’re looking for. Good luck.
STUCKART VS. HILL I’m a long time Stuckart fan. However the time of business over people is over. If you only support conditional rent control during a housing crisis, that’s not enough. It’s time for Democrats to be full-throated champions of the working-class. Look where playing nice has gotten us. Working 40+ hours a week, no hope of homeownership, and wealth inequality is out of control. I'll vote for whoever fights harder. Nothing happens without labor; too many laborers have nothing.
CHEERS
KUDOS TO WCCC! Thankful to the kind, caring staff at West Central Community Center. I left my prescription glasses on a table at Cannon Park during Neighbor Day. I thought they were lost forever but went to WCCC three days later to ask if any glasses had been found. To my amazement, David in Facilities & Maintenance said he’d made a sweep of the park after the event & found them. We are so blessed to live in a neighborhood where people care for each other. He also found another item so if you lost something at Neighbor Day, WCCC might have it.
YOU’RE INCREDIBLE: THANK YOU I misplaced my wallet while floating the little Spokane in the midst of shuttling and chaos of dry bags. I tore my house apart, made my husband and daughter look with ‘fresh’ eyes. I retraced my steps. My license, three credit cards, checkbook and $281 CASH were all in there. Thank you to the family who returned it me. My son didn’t ask any questions. Where did you find it? I want to give you a $100 finders fee. I’ll know it’s you when you can describe the wallet and know my name.
ADDICTS CAN FIND LOVE AND A WAY OUT
Nine years ago you befriended the stuck up goody two shoes and I needed you then! I did my best to walk you through the program of AA & NA I had found my hope in. We have had struggles, ups and downs, but we are in this together! We have more mountains to climb but we will make it. Love you 12 alligators!
BLOWN-OUT TIRE Cheers to the couple who stopped when we had the blown out tire off of I-90 Exit 6 in Post Falls, Idaho, on Sunday. Thank you again for the use of your jack and lug wrench. You were a godsend. Cheers!!
GOOD ARREST When I see police arrest someone in a way that doesn’t seem over-the-top, it helps heal a wound of resentment that festers in my heart. Every good interaction with police that I have makes a big difference. There are a lot of negative stories about police because that’s what gets media attention. I’m glad the guy realized the game was up and listened to commands and no guns were drawn. It’s easy to be influenced by fear of what could happen, but the two police seemed confident, capable, and level-headed.
I LOVE THEM ALL I love my dog/cat friends no matter what color they are. Think about it.
THANKS FOR JUNE 29 Prayers are being said for the person of integrity who found my handbag on the bus, thus making it possible for me to get it back intact. Prayers also for the STA employees who helped me during this crisis.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF IAN SPENCER You were the voice in my head that stood up for me. When we met it was our shared appreciation of photography and art that bonded our friendship. Through these last few years you have shown up organically
JEERS
SPOKANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PAINTING
Cheers to Spokane for the paintings in the middle of the campus. They are bad. The people who are supposed to be represented are really terrible. You can’t really tell who they are. I think one is supposed to be Martin Luther King. There are paint spills all over the concrete which looks really bad. But at least it’s art. Go look and enjoy the art.
ALLEY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDERS
We can only hope that someday you have
my orthotic is doesn’t mean that I suddenly am not disabled. I walk with a visible limp, and yet people feel extremely comfortable almost breathing down my neck getting so close to me. And then have the audacity to glare at me like I’m being the rude one. I can’t go any faster, karen. I’d love to, trust me. I’d love to run again, outwalk my peers. But I’m stuck like this, and your dumb little temper tantrum because the “disabled guy” won’t get out of your way doesn’t help anyone. What do you want me to do, start wearing my disability placard around my neck so you get the point?
DKM DESERVE BETTER! The golden rule of radio is “Less is more.” With that in mind...
and miraculously when I needed a friend most. Always somehow finding each other without ever planning it made it so much more profound when it did happen, and it happened a lot. You never needed anything from me and always made me feel accepted. I wish I could have let you know how much I appreciated the way you always checked up on me during a very scary time in my life. You were an anchor in those moments, keeping me grounded and affirming my natural value to this world. I will always celebrate your place in my life. You are forever missed and always remembered. With love, Teresa
11400 S SCRIBNER RD Great cheers to the WSDOT worker who came to my aid on I-90 heading up Sunset Hill when a front tire blew and I was forced to pull off onto the left hand edge of the roadway. He arrived within 6-7 minutes and had the tire changed and me back on the road within 10 minutes, all this with traffic whizzing by at 70 mph a half lane away. And he refused a tip I tried to give him, saying, “This is what you pay taxes for.” Very, very much appreciated.
someone or something that you love as much as you love pressing your gas pedal. Maybe if you also lost a loved one to an inconsiderate jerk like yourself, you would have an epiphany. Also the sonic attack you play through the neighborhoods must put a Grinchy smile on your face. Too bad for you that tinnitus and hearing loss are permanent, hearing aids do not restore lost frequencies. Choosing to diminish a primary sense like this only shows off your lack of intelligence and maturity. We hope that you grow up before you are an old, nearly deaf misanthrope.
SPOKANE New traffic calming measures? How about policeman with ticket books! Speeding, wreckless driving, no tabs, no plates, etc. Let’s get the cops out of the cop shops, where there are 5+ cop cars with a closed sign, and utilize our endless form of revenue, TICKETS! There’s your safety, fewer deaths, money for our negative funds, etc.! Stop spending our money like u r drunken sailors on shore leave! Ask what do the taxpayers want & need! GIT R DONE!
STOP BEING A JERK I get it, you are in a hurry. Do me a favor, WALK AROUND ME instead of skulking behind me and huffing like a small child. “You don’t look disabled” (and you don’t look stupid, but it’s okay that both of us were wrong). Just because I’m not wearing shorts to show you where
of HOW the best team in local radio history were cast aside, Shame On You KXLY media group. Dave,
and Molly deserve better.
WHAT WILL LISA DO? Now the courts have cleared the way, will Lisa continue to hide behind some BS legal nonsense or will she start enforcing Proposition 1 that passed overwhelmingly in Spokane by a vote of the people? My guess is the former. Start holding our elected officials accountable, if she doesn’t enforce the will of the people remove her from office. Spokane was once a nice city but anyone who has lived here over a decade can tell you it’s in rapid decline because of politicians like Lisa and her ilk on the City Council’s “progressive” policies. Beware of the homeless-industrial complex. n
NOTE: I Saw You/Cheers & Jeers is for adults 18 or older. The Inlander reserves the right to
Marvel
and in light
Ken
EVENTS | CALENDAR
BENEFIT
BOOTS AND GENES A fundraising gala celebrating the advancements and accomplishments in the field of telomere biology disorders featuring live music, silent auctions and dinner. July 10, 6-10 pm. $125. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. teamtelomere.org
FRIENDS OF THE DEER PARK LIBRARY
BOOK SALE Gently-used books of all genres plus movies, music, puzzles and games. Proceeds support the Deer Park Library and community. Second Friday and Saturday of each month from 9 am-4 pm through Sept. 16. Reilly Family Storage, 2405 E. Crawford St. scld.org
COMEDY
CORY MICHAELIS Michaelis is a comedian known for his stand-up special, Bad Teacher. July 5-6, 7 & 9:45 pm. $20-$25. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
SAFARI The Blue Door Theatre’s version of Whose Line with short improv comedy skits from audience suggestions. Every Saturday at 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 319 S. Cedar. bluedoortheatre.com
JASON ELLIS Ellis is an Australian radio personality who is best known as the host of The Jason Ellis Show. He is also a former professional skateboarder, auto racer and singer. July 7, 7 pm. $20-$25. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
TYLER FISCHER Fischer is a YouTuber known for his sketch videos. July 11, 7 pm. $24-$32. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W.
Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
CRAIG CONANT Conant made a name for himself in the LA comedy scene by sharing the stage with Dave Chappelle, Chris D’elia Daniel Tosh and more. July 12-13, 7 & 9:45 pm. $22-$30. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-319-9998)
FINDERS CREEPERS Blue Door Theatre players improvise a search for the creatures of legend through improv games and skits. July 12-26, Fri at 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 319 S. Cedar St. bluedoortheatre.org (509-747-7045)
COMMUNITY
CAPTAIN CRYSTAL AND THE DREAM CATCHER BALLOON Tethered hot air balloon rides at the Endicott Gun Club. Veterans and children in wheelchairs ride free. July 4, 4-7 pm. $25. Endicott Library, 324 E St. whitcolib.org (509-657-3429)
DRIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1970S CARS Learn about the changes in the world that heralded a new era of auto making in the United States through automobiles of the 1970s. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 14. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
FOURTH OF JULY CRUISES Experience a fireworks show from a boat on Lake Coeur d’Alene. July 4, 8:30-11 pm. $39$79. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com (208-765-4000)
ICCU SUMMER CARNIVAL A carnival featuring rides, games, treats and more. July 3-7, times vary. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com
LAKESIDE 4TH FEST Ring in the Fourth of July with a dinner buffet, live entertainment and fireworks display. July 4, 6-10 pm. $125. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort.com/4th-fest
LIBERTY LAKE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS Two community fireworks displays are planned. July 4, 10 pm. Free. Liberty Lake. libertylakewa.gov
RIVERFRONT PARK 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS A fireworks display in Riverfront Park’s Lilac Bowl. July 4, 10 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. visitspokane.com (509-625-6600)
SILVER MOUNTAIN 4TH OF JULY A celebration featuring a 5k run run, vendors fair, parade and fireworks show at dusk. July 4. Free. Silver Mountain Resort, 610 Bunker Ave. silvermt.com (208-783-1111)
BEAR TOTEM TABLE TOP DROP-INS Play various table top role playing games. Every Friday from 6-10 pm. $5. Bear Totem, 5016 N. Market St. instagram.com/ beartotemspokane (509-953-0652)
SCENIC CHAIRLIFT RIDES Ride a chairlift to see views of the Bitterroot mountains, pick huckleberries and more. FriSun from 10 am-3:30 pm through Sep. 29. $12-$16. Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, I-90 Exit 0. skilookout.com
ALL WHEELS SWAP MEET A show featuring all things with wheels: cars, trucks, motorcycles and hot rods. July 6-7; Sat from 9 am-5 pm, Sun from 9 am-4 pm. $20. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana. spokaneswapmeet.com
CHICAGO TO SEATTLE: WORLD’S FAIRS AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY A guided tour of Campbell House. Learn
about the Campbell family’s and their peers’ experiences at World’s Fairs at the turn of the 20th century. July 6, 11 am. $8-$10. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
SUMMER PARTY A festival with arts and crafts, food, live music and more. July 6, 12-7 pm. $10. China Bend Winery, 3751 Vineyard, Kettle Falls. chinabend.com
COEUR D’ALENE GARDEN TOUR Tour six beautiful gardens in the Coeur d’Alene area, shop artisan vendors and enjoy live music. Locations sent at time of ticket purchase. July 7, 10 am-3 pm. $20. Coeur d’Alene. cdagardenclub.com
FILM
GARLAND FREE KIDS MOVIES Screenings of free kids movies every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 11 am. See website for details. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland. garlandtheater.org
SUMMER FAMILY MATINEE SERIES A free screening of a kids movie. See website for list of movies. Tue-Thu at 1 pm through Aug. 22. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
SUMMER OF STUDIO GHIBLI: THE BOY AND THE HERON An English-dubbed screening. July 3-6, daily at 2 pm. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
MOVIES IN THE PARK Screenings of family-friendly movies in Sally’s Park. Fridays at sundown through Aug. 2. Free. The Salvation Army Spokane, 222 E. Indiana Ave. facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyofSpokane (509-325-6810)
THELMA When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. July 5, 7 pm, July 6-7, 4 & 7 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
MOVIES AT THE PAVILION: BARBIE A screening of Barbie under the Pavilion in Riverfront Park. Bring your own seats, snacks and beverages. July 6, 8:30 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com
MOSCOW FILM SOCIETY: BOUND When plumber Corky catches the eye of Violet, little does she know she’s about to be drawn into a torrid affair and a highstakes heist. July 9, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
MOVIES AT THE PAVILION: BOB MARLEY’S ONE LOVE A screening of Bob Marley’s One Love in Riverfront Park. BYO seats, snacks and beverages. July 9, 8:30 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com
FOOD & DRINK
BBQ & BANDS: JUST PLAIN DARIN Live music by Just Plain Darin. Dinner is carne asada tacos. July 5, 5-7 pm. $20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com (208-277-4166)
RIDE & DINE SERIES Enjoy a scenic gondola ride, live music and a barbecue. Fridays from 3-7:30 pm. through Aug. 30. $8-$63. Silver Mountain Resort, 610 Bunker Ave. silvermt.com (208-783-1111)
EVENTS | CALENDAR
COEUR D’ALENE BREWFEST Try regional craft beers and ciders. Also includes food vendors, yard games and live music. Admission is free for designated drivers and children. July 6, 1-7 pm. Downtown Coeur d’Alene, Sherman Ave. cdadowntown.com (208-415-0116)
SUNDAY BRUNCH CRUISES Enjoy a brunch buffet with a full-service, no-host bar while on a cruise around Lake Coeur d’Alene. Sundays at 11 am through Sep. 1. $60-$73. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com (208-765-4000)
ALL ABOUT BASIL Kristi Fountain teaches participants how to take full advantage of basil in their cooking. July 9, 5:45-8:15 pm. $85. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com
RIVERFRONT EATS A food festival featuring local food vendors and live music. Tuesdays from 11 am-2 pm through Aug. 20. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.org (509-625-6600)
COOKIE BAKING & ROYAL ICING MAK-
ING Jamie Roberts, owner of Three Birdies’ Bakery teaches the how-tos for baking soft cookies as well as making royal icing perfect for decorating. July 10, 5:458:15 pm. $85. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com
POPCORN SEASONINGS & MOVIE
PAIRINGS Local spice shops provide samples of popcorn seasonings and movie suggestions to pair with each flavor. With Elz Tastes & Tea Market. July 10, 7-8 pm. Free. Moran Prairie Library, 6004 S. Regal St. scld.org
WINE WEDNESDAY: THE LOCALS SERIES This educational session offers culinary creations from around the world from chef Steven featuring ingredients from seven local entrepreneurs. Wed from 5-8 pm through Aug. 21. $30. Fête - A Nectar Co, 120 N. Stevens. nectarcateringandevents.com
CRAVE! NORTHWEST A three-day food festival showcasing the creative talents of chefs and tastemakers from around the region while highlighting the flavors of the Northwest. July 11-13 from 6-9 pm. $15-$254. CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery. cravenw.com
BBQ & BANDS: FARON GILBERT Live music by Faron Gilbert. Dinner is chicken and beef kabobs. July 12, 5-7 pm. $20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com (208-277-4166)
CULINARY TOUR OF THE PALOUSE: SOUTH INDIAN CUISINE WITH PALOUSE CHICKPEAS In this hands-on class, learn how to prepare Indian rice, egg curry recipe and more. July 12, 4-7 pm. $55. Dahmen Barn, 419 N. Park Way. artisanbarn.org
MUSIC
ARBORETUM SUMMER CONCERT Dan Bukvich, professor in the Lionel Hampton School of Music, directs a program of various local musicians. July 8, 7-8:30 pm. Free. University of Idaho Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 1200 W. Palouse River Dr. uidaho.edu/class/music
CARSON RHODES Rhodes performs originals inspired by Billy Joel and Elton John on piano. July 9. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com
BLUEGRASS SERIES: NICK DUMAS AND BRANCHLINE A bluegrass band featuring Nick Dumas and his band Branchline. July 10, 7-9 pm. $25. The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, 405 N. William St. thejacklincenter.org (208-457-8950)
DWAYNE PARSONS Parsons performs original songs on the piano. July 10, 5-7 pm. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com (877-452-9011)
LILAC CITY COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT The band performs works from their repertoire in various city parks. July 10, 6:30-8 pm. Free. Sutton Park, 805 Washington St. hnmc.org
WALLACE BLUES FESTIVAL A four-day festival featuring local, regional and national blues acts including John Primer, Sammy Eubanks, Anthony Gomes and more. July 10-14; see website for schedule. $10-$75. Wallace. silvervalleyevents. com/wallace-blues-festival
WHAT SHE SAID...BACK! Local singers perform solos, duets and trios that pay homage to the music of the 1950s while reflecting of the stereotypes of the day. July 12-13, 7 pm. $30-$50. The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, 405 N. William St. thejacklincenter.org
MUSIC FOR OBSERVATIONS A threepart music series pairing electronic music with the Jewett Observatory’s open viewings of the night sky. July 13, 9 pm. Free. WSU Jewett Observatory, Jewett Observatory. jasoneanderson.net
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
GREATER SPOKANE PARKS CHALLENGE Visit 20 of Spokane’s parks, marking them off on the OuterSpatial mobile app as you go, to complete the challenge. Winners receive a sticker and are entered to win a $500 Target gift card. Through Sep. 3. Free. outerspatial.com
MILD RIDERS THURSDAY NIGHT RIDES
Bring your Vespa scooter and ride with others. Tuesdays at 6 pm through the fall. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. instagram.com/mild.riders.spokane
OPEN PLAY PICKLEBALL Play pickleball at the HUB. Every Mon-Thu from 10 am-noon or 1-3 pm. $5.50-$7. HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. hubsportscenter.org (509-927-0602)
SPOKANE INDIANS VS. TRI-CITY
AMERICANS Promos for the three-game series include Fourth of July Fireworks Night (7/4), Dinosaur and Fireworks Night (7/5) and Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night (7/6). July 4-5, 7:05 pm and July 6, 5:09 pm. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. milb.com/spokane
SPOKANE VELOCITY VS. CHATTANOOGA RED WOLVES SC Regular season game. July 6, 6 pm. $21-$41. One Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner Ave. spokanevelocityfc.com
RIVERFRONT MOVES: YOGA Beyoutiful Hot Yoga teaches an outdoor Vinyasa class. July 9, 6-7 pm and July 11, 6-7 pm. Free. Spokane Tribal Gathering Place, 347 N Post St. riverfrontspokane.com
SPOKANE INDIANS VS. EVERETT
AQUASOX Promos for the six-game series include Christmas in July (7/9), College Alumni Night (7/11), Ribby Bobblehead Giveaway (7/12), Otto the Mascot’s Birthday and Kid’s Day Game (7/14) and more. July 9-11, 6:35 pm, July 12-13, 7:05 pm and July 14, 1:05 pm. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. milb.com/spokane
LET’S HIKE: ANTELOPE LAKE A summer hike led by local rangers commencing with a story book session. Meet at Trail 261 off of Lower Mosquito Creek Road in Clark Fork. Ages 6+. July 10, 9 am. Free. Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. ebonnerlibrary.org (208-265-9565)
RARE JEWELS FOR THE SUMMER
Wesley Hill discusses unique plants that thrive in our local climate and soils, with an emphasis on those unbothered by dry hot summers. July 11, 4-6 am. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. tieg.org (509-535-8434)
MOONLIGHT PADDLEBOARDING: AMBER LAKE Paddle Amber Lake at dusk and through the night. Meet at Finch Arboretum. Fee includes equipment and transportation. July 12, 6:30-10:30 pm. $59. Finch Arboretum, 3404 W. Woodland. my.spokanecity.org/parksrec
RUN FOR YOUTH FUN FEST A family friendly fun run and festival aimed at raising funds to serve, lift and empower under-resourced youth in Spokane. July 12, 5-8 pm. $10-$45. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. spokaneyfc.org
THEATER & DANCE
SOUTH PACIFIC An American nurse stationed at a U.S. Naval base on a South Pacific island during World War II falls in love with an expatriate French plantation owner but struggles to accept his mixedrace children. Thu-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm through July 7. $25-$45. Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Rd. ssummertheatre.com (927-6848)
MASTER HAROLD...AND THE BOYS Fugard’s coming-of-age story, loosely based on his own experience in South Africa, concerns the changing relationship between a white teen and the two Black men who work as waiters in his mother’s tea room. July 5-14; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $6-$26. The Forge Theater, 404 Sweet Ave. uidaho.edu/class/theatre
HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL It’s 1989 and Westerberg High is terrorized by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing clique. Misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend who plans to put the Heathers in their place. July 12-28; Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. (Sat, July 27 performance at 2 pm.) $15-$38. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com
VISUAL ARTS
1924: SOVEREIGNTY, LEADERSHIP AND THE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT An exhibtion of photographs of early local tribal leadership as they and their people navigated the nature of being both U.S. citizens and citizens of their own sovereign nations. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Feb. 2. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
HIGHER GROUND: AN EXHIBITION OF ART, EPHEMERA AND FORM Artwork and archival material from across the Palouse that speaks to the history of queer experience in the area Mon-Fri from 8:30 am-4:30 pm through Oct. 31. Free. Washington State University, 2000 NE Stadium. libraries.wsu.edu/masc
INLAND NORTHWEST JURIED LANDSCAPE ART EXHIBITION This juried display presents the diversity of contemporary artistic activity in the Inland Northwest while celebrating the relationship between art and the local landscape. June 1-Aug. 24; Mon-Sat from 10 am-4 pm. Mon.-10 am-4 pm through Aug. 24. Free. Jundt Art Museum, 200 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/jundt (509-313-6843)
20 YEARS OF ARTWALK An exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of Moscow’s ArtWalk featuring posters and original artwork. Mon-Fri from 8 am-5 pm through July 5. Free. Third Street Gallery, City Hall, 206 E. Third St. ci.moscow. id.us/203/Third-Street-Gallery
GRADIENT A show featuring 13 artists within the LGBTQ+ community. Tue-Sat from 10 am-6 pm through July 5. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second. emergecda.com
JAN CLIZER Paintings featuring Scottish, Irish and Cornish culture. Wed-Fri from 10 am-6 pm, Sat from 9 am-noon and Sun from 1-4 p through Aug. 14. Free. The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, 405 N. William St. thejacklincenter.org
LESLIE LAMBERT: WESTERN COLORS
The award-winning artist, teacher, illustrator and author is known for her dramatic watercolors. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through July 27. Free. Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. spokanelibertybuilding.com (509-327-6920)
NANCY ROTHWELL: LEAVES TALK This exhibit shows how the palette and content of paintings can change dramatically once an artist moves from western to eastern Washington. Mon-Fri from 10 am-6 pm, Sat from 10 am-2 pm through Aug. 31. Free. Colfax Library, 102 S. Main St. cowhitlib.org
GAY WALDMAN Waldman digitally manipulates original photographs and displays dye-infused satin aluminum prints. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through July 28. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com
BECKY BUSI: MEMORY METANOIA
Work based on artifacts of precious objects, photos, heirlooms and more. July 5-26, Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com
JULIE ALEXANDER: BLINK MARGIN
WEFT The Seattle artist creates paintings on various fabrics using acrylics and ink. July 5-31, by appointment. First Friday: July 5 from 5-8 pm. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. mobile.kolva. comcastbiz.net
FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane and beyond host monthly receptions to showcase new displays of art. July 5 from 5-8 pm. Free. firstfridayspokane.org
EXPO GROUP SHOW A show featuring 19 local artists showcasing art inspired by Expo ’74’s 50th anniversary. July 5-29, daily from 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com
JANIE SCHNURR: MIX MEDIA MAGIC
Two-dimensional mixed media. July 5-31, Tue-Sun from 1-6 pm. Free. Helix Wines, 824 W. Sprague. helixwine.com
MARY FARRELL: LOOK + LISTEN Pieces created in response to the power of nature. July 5-26, Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm through July 26. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main. sapgallery.com
ANTONIO ROMERO & DIANE LINDBLADE Digital art by Romero and landscapes by Lindblade. Both artists are members of the River Ridge Association of Fine Arts. July 5-31, daily from 6 am-8 pm. Free. Indaba Coffee Roasters, 518 W. Riverside Ave. rrafaofspokane.com
SPOKANE ART SCHOOL EXPO ’74 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW Art relating to Expo from Gina Freuen, Jo Fyfe, Tom Quinn, E.L.Stewart, Gordon Wilson and more. July 5-26, Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm. Reception: Fri, July 12 from 5-8 pm. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second
Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net
STAN MILLER Miller exhibits a number of his paintings. July 5-31, daily from noon6 pm. Free. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. barristerwinery.com
DRAWING FEATURES A class focused on depiting the human features of eyes, noses, lips, ears and hands. Ages 16+. July 9-30, Tue from 1-3 pm. $96. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave. spokaneartschool.net
HEARTISTRY: ARTISTIC WELLBEING A relaxed and inspiring environment for self-discovery. Participate in basic artistic concepts and activities or respond to a mindfulness prompt. Tuesdays from 3-5 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org
OPEN STUDIO Stop by The Hive to see what current Artists-In-Residence are up to, and tour the building. Every Wednesday from 4-7 pm. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanelibrary.org
EASY START: WATERCOLOR Susan Rohrback teaches the basics of watercolor painting. For beginners or artists looking to brush up. July 12-Aug. 2, Fri from 1:30-4:30 pm. $144. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net (509-325-1500)
EMERGE BLOCK PARTY The annual block party features over 150 local artists selling their art and goods, plus films and performance artists. July 12, 5 pmmidnight. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com
SCOOPS AND BOWLS Purchase a handmade ceramic bowl to benefit Urban Art Coop and eat ice cream out of it. July 13, 10 am-4 pm. $15. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. facebook.com/Urbanartcoop
WORDS
DROP IN & WRITE Bring works in progress to share, get inspired with creative prompts and spend some focused time writing. Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org (509-279-0299)
3 MINUTE MIC Auntie’s Bookstore’s first Friday poetry open mic. Readers may share up to three minutes worth of poetry. Open to all ages. July 5, 7-8:30 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206)
STORY AND CRAFT A read-aloud of a popular children’s book followed by an optional craft related to the story. Ages 3-7. Saturdays from 11 am-noon. Cost of admission. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
STORYTIME IN THE PARK Children ages 2-5 and their families are invited to enjoy 30 minutes of stories, songs, fingerplays and more that explore the concepts of literacy and STEAM. July 8, 10:30-11 am. Free. Edgecliff Park, 800 S. Park. scld.org
TRAILS AND TALES A story time and nature walk at the Pine Street Woods featuring an animated reading of a book, nature discovery, and more. Tuesdays from 9-10 am through Aug. 6. Free. Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. ebonnerlibrary.org
BROKEN MIC A weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD
AUNTIE’S BOOK CLUB: NEW FICTION Discuss Western Lane by Chetna Maroo at the July meeting. July 11, 6-7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206) n
ENFORCEMENT
Shuttered Shop
The future of a Pullman dispensary is in jeopardy after a string of license suspensions
BY WILL MAUPIN
On June 27, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) issued an emergency suspension of the license for MJ’s Pot Shop in Pullman, closing the business for 180 days. According to enforcement records, the emergency suspension followed a pair of temporary suspensions that were not obeyed, plus eight other violations of state regulations over the past two years, including sale to a minor and issues with tax reporting.
Of the combined 10 violations, six occurred in 2024 alone.
“The Licensee is likely to continue to commit violations in the future. The continued operation of the licensed activities constitutes a direct and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and/or welfare that requires immediate action,” LCB staff wrote in a June 26 legal filing that led to the emergency suspension.
The LCB intends to permanently revoke the license for MJ’s Pot Shop after the emergency suspension concludes.
LCB acknowledged that emergency suspensions are an “extraordinary exercise of ...continued on page 54
GREEN ZONE
“SHUTTERED
the state’s power.” Such action from the state is extremely rare: State records show only 11 such penalties issued since the recreational cannabis market opened in 2014, mostly against producers or processors rather than distributors.
The most recent previous state-licensed store to get hit with such a punishment was Seattle’s Herban Legends back in 2019 — that suspension was subsequently made permanent.
To Mary Jane Smith, the owner of MJ’s Pot Shop, these punishments are beyond “extraordinary.”
“They’re overstepping their bounds,” Smith tells the Inlander “They need to legalize pot.”
In addition to the documented violations of state code, law enforcement noted that Smith threatened officers multiple times, including an incident on May 30 that was caught on the store’s cameras.
A June 25 email between LCB enforcement officers, provided
as part of a public records request, states in part, “When departing the suspension, the licensee (Mary J Smith) [waved] a large machete at Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) Officers and Pullman Police Department (PPD) and stated, ‘I can kill you guys now.’ All staff departed without further incident.”
The May 30 incident occurred when officers issued a temporary suspension for delinquent tax filings.
MJ’s Pot Shop was twice found to be in violation of that temporary suspension, with the state notice removed from the door and the store opening for business despite a suspended license. State code (WAC 314-55-520) prescribes an additional temporary suspension for the first violation of a suspended license, and the outright cancellation of the license for the second violation.
The June 27 emergency suspension came as a result of MJ’s Pot Shop’s second violation. n
SUNDAY 20% Off Edibles & Drinkables
WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
NOTE TO READERS
Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a fiveyear sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.
BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.
Interested in a discussion? Email me. maxtug@earthlink.net
40. He preceded Liz and Rishi
“Me as well”
Tool for rowing
Eldest Stark daughter on “Game of Thrones”
Watch covertly
45. Prescription taken while in restraints?
48. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” announcer Wilson
49. In a bawdy way
53. With 60-Across, possibility with shoddy “Survivor” merchandise?
57. “Wahoo!” in Oaxaca
58. Singer Corinne Bailey ___
59. Not achromatic
60. See 53-Across
63. Ski resort near Park City
64. Actor Michael, subject of dueling impersonations in “The Trip”
65. Tennis tournament type 66. Dishevel, as hair
67. Not acquired, in some poems
68. “I, Claudius” emperor
1. Hot mugful
2. Skin lotion ingredient sources
3. Language where “How’s it going?” is “Kei te pehea koe?”
4. Do a comic book job
5. Words before “kidding” or “serious”
Forfeit
7. Burmese leader of the 1950s
Whitewater ride
___ Romeo (Italian car)
Mail-related
Added
Corroded 12. “Believe” Grammy winner
35. Pacific island
36. Groups of planes, collectively
Mid-2010s term of endearment 41. Blow out, as a volcano 43. Broadcast TV censor’s concern, once
Villainous look
46. Acting family of three generations 47. “Yeah, right!”
52. Like some two-choice questions
WINNING IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
THURSDAY, JULY 4TH | 8 PM 30 WINNERS OF $1,000!
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See the Coeur Rewards booth, CDA Casino app, or cdacasino.com for promotional rules.
SPECIAL SESSION
Thursday, July 4th
SALES 3 PM | SESSION 6 PM
One progressive guaranteed for $5,000! $5 Buy-in with a minimum electronic buy-in of $25. All regular games pay out $1,000.
Please see the Bingo venue for more details.
SATURDAY, MAY 25TH | 7 PM
16’ Lowe Fish & Ski Boat
SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH | 7 PM
2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss
SATURDAY, JULY 27TH | 7 PM
2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss
16’ Lowe Fish & Ski Boat
4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS | 10 PM
TWO GRAND PRIZE WINNERS IN JULY!
Get ready to make waves and roll in with big wins all summer long! May 25th kicked off with a 16’ Lowe Fish & Ski Boat Grand Prize, next up is the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Grand Prize on June 29th, and then on July 27th, the 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss winner and the 16’ Lowe Fish & Ski Boat winner will steal the show!
Earn entries by playing your favorite video gaming machines with your Coeur Rewards card – every 750 points earns you an entry ticket. Double Entry Days! Double your chances at winning the big prize! In the month of July, your entries earned on Wednesdays will be doubled. See the Coeur Rewards booth, CDA Casino app or cdacasino.com for promotional rules. Prize images are for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual product.
