Inlander 07/18/2019 by The Inlander

ELECTIONS SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL RACES HEAT UP PAGE 13

SOUND DECISION U OF IDAHO’S DARING SOUND INSTALLATION PAGE 43

THE LION KING ROARS!

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JULY 18-24, 2019 | TASTY AND NUTRITIOUS SINCE 1993

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EDITOR’S NOTE

e’ve all learned, perhaps repeatedly and likely painfully, this truth: That the cheapest things in the world, especially in terms of food, often come with a hidden cost to be paid later. Our CHEAP EATS guide is not about those gut-busting regrets, but rather the reliable, scrumptious local food we crave on a regular basis that, because of the price point, we can afford to indulge in without breaking the bank. This year’s guide features some of the Inland Northwest’s most beloved, battle-tested institutions as well as those essential staples for any budget-conscious eater. Bring your appetite to the section starting on page 22. Also this week: We explore a couple of the primary races for Spokane City Council that, depending on the outcomes, could shift the balance of power at City Hall. — JACOB H. FRIES, Editor

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There’s two different things that I love. If you’re looking for a restaurant that’s kind of fast food I would suggest Wolffy’s on the north side. If you’re looking for a really cute date, I would suggest Kendall Yards Night Market. They have [lots of] different food trucks on Wednesday nights.

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CALEB WALSH ILLUSTRATION

Do as the Italians do BY INGA LAURENT

irenze (Florence) bustles in the high season, energized through evening, late into the night. Teeming with sightseers, bodies spill into streets, clogging arterials that spiral out from the city’s stunning, central, orienting structure — Il Duomo. Folks saunter and sample, with tiny spoons, gelato piled high. Tourists peruse shops brimming with the durable and delectable — leather, jewelry, textiles and confections. Craftsmanship perfected and passed down through generations. Multitudes engage in the evening ritual of aperitivo and sipping on Aperol spritzes. But if you awake during the early, enchanted, sultry, summer morning hours, you can catch a distinct glimpse of the city, one flowing with more languid, less populous energy. Not all locals stay up late, some rise with the dawn, working at places like the old 19th century market — tucked

between via dell’Ariento, via Sant’Antonia and via Panicale — Il Mercato Centrale. There, butchers carefully carve meats like tripe, delivered in plastic bagfuls. Bakers craft copious varieties of biscotti. Vendors arrange displays of lush fruits — lampone (raspberries), albicocca (apricots) and fragole (strawberries), or dried, candied versions. And people — including purveyors, workers, recently resettled refugees, residents and visitors — converge. Inside this massive market, hugging a corner off the central aisle, sits a tiny place — Café Bambi — where you can find delicious conversation and coffee. Nearly every morning, I ventured

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“To tell these American citizens (most of whom were born here) to ‘go back’ to the ‘crime infested places from which they came’ is racist and disgusting.”

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Michigan Rep. Justin Amash — a libertarian lawmaker who left the Republican Party this month and the child of Syrian and Palestinian immigrants — responding to a tweet by Trump in which the president suggested a group of four nonwhite congresswomen should “go back” to where they’re from. Factually, however, all but one were born in America.

here to learn about Italy while teaching at our Gonzaga-in-Florence campus. Here, I witnessed countless interactions, providing better context for understanding my surroundings. Here, I fell in love with Italians. And while I must admit I now view this world through rather romanticized lenses, I sure wish we’d consider importing certain characteristics. Italians seem to have a deeper sense of presence, infused with appreciation, resulting in an alternate hierarchy of values, centered primarily on tactile, tangible experiences and relationships. They trust more. Payments are typically only rendered after an interaction, though most tourists insist on paying prior. Foreigners

“Italians also constantly acknowlede beauty… finding it everywhere, in a poem, a person, a perfect latte, a good glass of wine or in a bright smile.” also seemed overly concerned with accounting, requiring receipts, while locals rely on consistency and good faith. They savor more. They relish, describe, delight in and obsess over food — its freshness and quality, caring immensely about what’s going into their recipes and bodies. They also walk everywhere, a combination that leads to a less disjointed, healthier, symbiotic way of living and eating, without a need for diets, deprivation or denial. They express more. One day a young man, clearly having difficulty, laid his head on the counter. Instantaneously, he was surrounded with reassurances, a hand placed on his spine, an arm slung over his shoulders, a kiss planted on the back of his head. In that moment, my heart broke for Americans, especially American men, and our lack of avenues for such tender expression. Italians also constantly acknowlede beauty, not possessively, but solely recognizing and releasing, finding it everywhere, in a poem, a person, a perfect latte, a good glass of wine or in a bright smile. They use countless words of affirmation — bella/o, amore, ragazzi — to make people feel seen and respected. They use parts of their bodies as substitutes for speaking, words communicated through limbs and eyes, making translation to another’s mother tongue, irrelevant. On my last day, there were of tons of tears, crying commensurate with appropriate amounts of gratitude and grieving for departing a destination, transformed into a home. Upon leaving, I was asked to carry a piece of Firenze in my heart. I promise, I am trying, attempting to live a life saturated in presence, trust, savoring and seeing beauty, taking the spirit of a people and their beautiful city with me wherever I go. Grazie mille (a thousand thank yous). n Inga N. Laurent is a local legal educator and a Fulbright scholar. She is deeply curious about the world and its constructs and delights in uncovering common points of connection that unite our shared but unique human experiences.

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FROM THE VAULT AUGUST 24, 2000: Spokane lost a giant of law enforcement last week when Tony Bamonte passed away. Celebrated for solving a five-decadeold murder case, as documented in Timothy Egan’s Breaking Blue, Tony and his wife Suzanne became voracious historians, writing books on subjects ranging from the North Idaho mines to the Davenport Hotel. Tony and Suzanne contributed stories here, too, including one about Nell Shipman, the silent film star who built a movie studio on the shores of Priest Lake.

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 7

COMMENT | NEWSMAKERS

Q&A MIKE SPARBER The new director of the Spokane County Jail talks crowding, the bail system and the string of deaths that have occurred inside the facility BY JACOB H. FRIES

ver 31 years, Mike Sparber has climbed the ladder inside the Spokane County Jail, from officer, sergeant, lieutenant, assistant director, interim director and, as of last week, the new director overseeing both the downtown facility and Geiger Corrections Center in Airway Heights. He sat down with us on Monday to discuss the new challenges ahead. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and space. INLANDER: What do you wish the public understood better about your job and the state of the county jail? SPARBER: I would like the public to understand: One, that … we are essentially the holding facility for the courts’ decisions [and] law enforcement. … We don’t have discretion at who comes and who goes. Our responsibility is to combine [people] together in a humane fashion. … And second, along with that, the jail is overcrowded. It’s been overcrowded for many, many years and that is a direct consequence of what we are asked to hold within our facilities. Our floors are not operating as they are designed to, as a direct-supervision [model], which is one of our primary focuses this year. If a new jail is part of the solution, how do you convince critics who say we’re locking up too many people? Again… we’re responsible for holding them once they are locked up. So those arguments should be made to the court, to the prosecutor, to the public defender. We get the residual amount. We get what the system gives us. But you’re also right here, making an argument for a jail. So, convince me. The current facility we have right now cannot hold all the population we have right now. It’s not meant to be run that way. In 1988, it was designed to be a new generation jail, which is a direct-supervision jail, and everyone in the building is operating in a manner that is consistent and all the same walls that go along with

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overcrowding. It’s checking individual cells 30 minutes at a time, rather than having them all out. … There’s a better, more humane way to do it. What’s your position on the cash bail system, which has been criticized for keeping poor people locked up during court proceedings while the rich walk free? I’m not a fan of the cash bail system. That being said, I think there’s a place for it. I don’t think we have developed a robust enough system for it not to be in place. I’ve seen offenders being held in jail for a $100 bond, and I believe it’s a tragedy. I believe there are other ways to get them out of the facility, but I don’t think they’ve been developed yet. I know that they do have the bail bond project, which I think has been going very well. … Again, we’re at the mercy of the courts because the bond is established by the court. So, that’s kind of a long, short, hopefully politically correct answer. There have been nine deaths inside the county jail since June 2017. What specific and concrete policies or procedures have been changed in light of that? The deaths were all caused by different causes of death. There wasn’t one particular type. Some of it was attributed to drug overdoses. … A lot of the things we’re encountering are what we believe are [hidden] inside the body. They make their way into the jail and, for whatever reason, it ends up costing the individual’s death or near death. Along with that, we’re doing frequent cell searches and we’re also involving the K-9 unit and then education for our staff on what to look for. On the suicide prevention side of it, we had an expert come in. … He made several recommendations that we’ve been following through — improvement in our policies, more frequent rounds. We added a “round clock” to remind officers of their time to do rounds. We’ve educated them in suicide prevention. … We are getting out, paying more attention, doing more rounds and making sure that we’re looking for those critical signs. n

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 9

COMMENT | FROM READERS

NADINE VS. THE NEIGHBORHOODS n a recent forum, a mayoral candidate said she does not support “traffic

calming.” Nadine Woodward talked as if she fully understood what that term means and if so, I believe residents — and there are a large number of us who have worked with neighborhood committees on projects that can be funded from the pool of money that is created from the red light camera fees — surely wondered about her statement. Does she not realize that neighborhoods apply for projects to be designed and installed using those dollars that make their neighborhoods safer/better? Some examples include street trees, traffic signs that indicate the speed a vehicle is traveling, bike lanes, crosswalks, etc. LETTERS This program is one of the most Send comments to popular in the city among neighboreditor@inlander.com. hoods and community members who volunteer their time and talent in applying for the funding of such projects that improve their neighborhoods and thereby the lives of those who reside within them. Such a statement shows a real lack of understanding or more worrisome a complete lack of caring about what citizens want in the way of improvements. Such a candidate does not seem ready or willing to work with citizens on issues important to them. JUDITH GILMORE Spokane, Wash.

Readers respond to a New York Times story on Inlander.com about President Trump’s racist remarks about four freshman congresswomen (7/15/2019):

JEREMY THORNTON: It’s hilarious watching Trump supporters claim this isn’t racism. Telling someone to “go back to their country” is racism; it’s used almost exclusively to tell minorities they aren’t welcome here. Telling someone who is a U.S. citizen and was born here to “go back to their country” is even *more* racist. Telling someone whose ancestry is Puerto Rican to “go back to their country” is *even more* racist. Telling all of this to people elected by Americans to represent them in Congress is the cherry on top of the layered cake of racism. It takes a special racist mind to spin all of them together in a couple of tweets; disgusting props to Trump for managing it.

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JENNIE L. WILLARDSON: By Trump’s own standards, he, Melania, Ivana, Ivanka and the three boys should “all go back to where they came from.” Trump’s motherhood and paternal grandparents were all immigrants. ADAM GANGELHOFF: The guy that spent all of 2016 telling us how terrible our country had become and how bad he wanted to change it, who sought the help of countless foreign nations in becoming president, now tells other Americans who don’t like the direction their country is going and want to change it, to leave. Why do conservatives always tell people to leave if they disagree with their policies? n

COLORS/OPTIONS MAY VARY.

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 11

12 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

Public safety and homelessness have emerged as top issues in Lori Kinnear’s re-election bid.

DANIEL WALTERS PHOTO

2019 ELECTION

HAS KINNEAR MADE US SAFER? Councilwoman Lori Kinnear faces two primary opponents who both fear downtown Spokane is no longer safe BY WILSON CRISCIONE

our years ago, fresh off a victory to take a seat on Spokane City Council, Lori Kinnear had a moment to think about why she was able to beat her Mayor David Condon-backed opponent. “I think my message was consistent,” Kinnear told the Inlander in 2015. “I talked about property crime and funding the Fire Department and our neighborhoods.” Today? Kinnear says her message as she looks for reelection is an expanded version of her message four years ago. Only this time, issues like public safety and homelessness have become perhaps even more contentious. In this summer’s primary election for District 2, cov-

ering downtown and the South Hill, Kinnear is facing Liz Fleming, a real estate agent, and Tony Kiepe, a former health care consultant. Both opponents say part of the reason they’re running is because of growing concerns that downtown Spokane has become unsafe. But while public safety and homelessness remain top priorities for each candidate, they all differ in their approach.

LORI KINNEAR

Kinnear is aware of the growing perception that Spokane is less safe than it used to be. But she doesn’t think that

notion is supported by evidence. “I think a lot of it is rhetoric,” she says. While public safety remains a top issue for her, she correctly notes that property crime numbers in Spokane have gone down since 2015, though not necessarily downtown. Kinnear, who serves as the chair on the City Council’s Public Safety and Community Health Committee, hopes to continue working closely with the Police Department. Though she knows it’s not ultimately her decision, she advocates for a community policing model that would feature more “boots on the ground” where ...continued on next page

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 13

NEWS | ELECTION

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Tony Kiepe (left) and Liz Fleming officers can interact with the public. Kinnear adds that she voted for the public safety levy that added more firefighters and police officers. Unlike her opponents, Kinnear refuses to link crime to homelessness. “I think tying homelessness and crime together does a huge disservice, because it’s not addressing the issues,” Kinnear says. “If we’re going to address homelessness, we need to look at victims of domestic violence that are homeless, at kids being aged out of foster care, at veterans with PTSD. And we need to be dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues.” Kinnear points to a resolution she sponsored to raise awareness of human trafficking, saying it’s an example of her efforts to help the homeless. She admits, however, that funding the House of Charity as a 24/7 shelter downtown created a “dangerous situation.” “Having that model reduced so there aren’t as many people there was certainly something that should have happened sooner,” Kinnear says. “But lesson learned.” In the future, she says the city should focus on sheltering people where they live — not necessarily downtown. To that point, the council recently voted to approve the purchase of a new shelter on East Sprague. Moving forward, Kinnear hopes to find more ways to address mental health and substance abuse issues. The state Legislature providing money for more mental health beds in Spokane was a good start, she says.

“Let’s go back to prevention and treatment rather than trying to stop it downstream,” Kinnear says.

TONY KIEPE

While Kinnear is careful not to link homelessness to crime, Tony Kiepe has no such reservations. “The biggest issue we have is public safety regarding homelessness,” Kiepe says. Kiepe acknowledges that the stats may say property crime is going down in Spokane. But those numbers don’t match what he says he hears when he knocks on doors. “Crime figures show our crime rates are down, but I think that’s the way we’re reporting. What do people really feel? It’s not what a statistic says,” Kiepe says. Kiepe says Spokane is becoming a “little Seattle,” because he feels Spokane supports drug habits on the streets. And Kiepe says many people don’t feel safe downtown because of the homeless population. His solution is a version of the popular motto to offer “a hand up, not a hand out.” Except Kiepe’s version would also tell a homeless person: “Or get out.” “I want to promote: If you want help, we’ll get you help. But you’ve gotta want the help to get it. Or else we’re cutting you off all funds, you’re not wanted here in Spokane. Move on.” Kiepe says Spokane should add a new shelter. But he disagrees with the location of the property on Sprague that the city is planning to use for a

new shelter. And he thinks there should be conditions for those wanting to access the shelter: namely, that those who use it are clean and sober. It should be similar in that way to the Union Gospel Mission model, he argues. Kiepe dismisses concerns that eliminating low-barrier shelters could direct more homeless people to the streets. Again, he says if they don’t like it then they can leave. One area where Kiepe agrees with Kinnear is the levy that paid for additional police and firefighters. He voted for it. But he says the larger issue is that police officers have their hands tied because he says the Spokane County Jail is too small and can’t hold all of the criminals. That’s a decision that’s out of the hands of the Spokane City Council. But if elected, Kiepe says he would launch an education campaign to encourage the construction of a bigger jail. “How can we be more safe if we don’t have a place to put our criminals?” Kiepe asks.

LIZ FLEMING

For Liz Fleming, who used to be the director of development for the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, the moment inspiring her to run for City Council came almost two years ago. That’s when a friend of hers who decided to move into a downtown Spokane condo decided to move elsewhere because he didn’t feel safe in Spokane. “That didn’t settle well with me,” Fleming says. “I was born and raised in Spokane and that’s not the Spokane I know.”

“I don’t think incarcerating someone with a drug habit is beneficial for society.” Why don’t people feel safe? That’s a question Fleming says she’s still trying to answer. She’s met with social service agencies, law enforcement and downtown businesses who have seen property destroyed. “I don’t know if we can correlate that to homelessness,” she says. “Some people say ‘yes,’ some people say ‘no.’ Some people chalk it up to addiction.” Fleming says there generally needs to be more “accountability.” For her, that means not allowing open drug use, ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to do their job, and enforcing the city’s sit-lie law that bars people who are often homeless from sitting, sleeping or lying on the streets of downtown Spokane. She voted for the public safety levy like her opponents, but she now says she doesn’t know if she would today. While she wants to make sure law enforcement has the resources it needs, she thinks that money could have been found elsewhere in the budget without raising taxes. She says a measure to update or build a new Spokane County Jail “needs to be looked at” with a public vote. At the same time, she says only the worst offenders should be sent to jail. “I don’t think incarcerating someone with a drug habit is beneficial for society,” she says. On homelessness, Fleming lies somewhere in the middle of Kiepe and Kinnear. She supports homeless services requiring those who use them be clean and sober, but also sees the value in programs offered by Catholic Charities that serve people who may not be sober. “I believe in choosing to make the right decisions to get yourself on the right path,” she says. “I also understand it can take five, six, seven, eight times before you can get sober … if Catholic Charities can house chronic homeless and provide them services and eventually they’re on the right path, I think that’s a good decision.” n wilsonc@inlander.com

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 15

NEWS | DIGEST

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GAME ON A U.S. District Court judge in Eastern Washington sided with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and Department of the Interior in ending a case against them by opponents of the tribe’s new casino. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Spokane County had been fighting plans to build the SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO on the west edge of Airway Heights for years. The federal government allowed the project to move forward after a decade of study, and the tribe’s casino opened in 2018. The ruling noted that while the neighboring Kalispel Tribe might lose some money initially at its Northern Quest Casino on the east edge of Airway Heights, expert testimony found that profits would rebound and both tribes would benefit. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

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TENT CITY VS. CITY HALL The city has been sued for its December eviction of Camp Hope, the homeless encampment and protest that cropped up outside City Hall. Attorney Jose Trejo, of the Northwest Justice Project, argues that when the city evicted CAMP HOPE in December, it illegally confiscated possessions and violated the Fourth, Eighth and 14th amendments of the Constitution. After all, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that it’s illegal to enforce anti-camping ordinances when there isn’t space available at low-barrier homeless shelters. When the city booted the campers out of Camp Hope, it was in the morning. The city’s warming shelters are only open at night. (DANIEL WALTERS)

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 17

NEWS | ELECTION 2019

FROM LEFT: Tim Benn, Krys Brown, Michael Cathcart, Jerrall Haynes, Louis Lefebvre, Doug Salter and Naghmana Sherazi

Musical Chairs With northeast Spokane’s Mike Fagan running to be council president, it’s a free-for-all scramble for his seat BY JOSH KELETY

ince 2011, Mike Fagan has represented northeast Spokane on the City Council as a reliable conservative, responsive to his constituents. District 1, as it’s officially called, spans the industrial area surrounding Spokane Community College, encompassing all of the residential neighborhoods east of Division and north of Interstate 90. The district includes the Hillyard Neighborhood, for instance, which suffers from some of the city’s most severe poverty. But with Fagan currently running to become council president, his seat is up for grabs. And a whopping seven candidates have jumped into the ring to replace him, including an active 911 dispatcher, a student finishing her bachelor’s degree and a former legislative aide in the state Senate. (While most identify priorities, few have developed detailed policy platforms.) With the August primary election just three weeks away, we checked in with the full slate to get a sense of where they stand on hot-button issues in Spokane.

HOMELESSNESS

On homelessness, while the seven candidates represent a fairly wide gamut of opinions on the issue, they can largely be filtered in a handful of camps: Those who say they want “accountability” measures built into the city’s response to homelessness — such as requiring sobriety for entry to shelters and long-term affordable housing — and candidates who believe that the city has to take a more compassionate view of homelessness that meets people

18 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

where they are and provides extensive services to help transition them out of poverty. Michael Cathcart, the current executive director of pro-business advocacy group Better Spokane, embodies the former camp. (He’s garnered the endorsements of his former employer the Spokane Home Builders Association and the Spokane Association of Realtors.) He believes that people suffering from mental health issues and drug addiction account for roughly “80 percent” of the local homeless population. Cathcart also argues that both overnight emergency shelters and long-term affordable housing projects should require sobriety as well as commitments from prospective clients that they participate in drug treatment programs. “The incentive should be that if you want the housing, you get in treatment. It shouldn’t be, ‘We’ll give you a house and eh, we’ll talk about other stuff later.’ That’s ridiculous,” he says. “If you just give them a free service without any accountability attached, then you’re not helping them and you’re not helping us. You’re just enabling them to continue doing what they’re doing — in this case, drug use.” Cathcart also believes that chronically homeless people who are using drugs in public should be forced into treatment settings. But for those who are repeat offenders, he says he has no sympathy and supports incarceration: “The overall goal here needs to be that we’re going to have a zero-tolerance policy on a lot of these issues,” he says. Doug Salter, a 61-year-old former school bus driver, somewhat agrees with Cathcart’s hard-line position on homeless people who don’t seek treatment: “You have two choices: Go to jail or move on. It’s got to be that simple. We can’t have them on the street anymore.” In contrast, Naghmana Sherazi, a Pakistani immigrant, trained cytogenetic technologist and community organizer with groups like Muslims for Community Action and Support and the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, argues that poverty and a lack of affordable housing contribute significantly to homelessness. “Not everyone on the streets are there because they have mental health issues or because they are addicted,” she says. “A lot of them are there because they just don’t have any other options.” She wants the city to work with private and nonprofit developers by using tax incentives to help encourage more affordable housing development. These units would provide stable homes and a source of pride for previously

homeless individuals, she adds. (Cathcart and Sherazi did agree that new taxes to pay for housing or services aren’t a good solution.) Numerous progressive organizations have lined up behind her candidacy, such as SEIU 775, the Spokane County Democrats and the Washington Conservation Voters. Jerrall Haynes, a current member of the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors and gym owner, also argues that the city needs to find ways to develop more affordable housing through tax incentives — especially housing with wraparound supportive services like drug treatment, mental health services and job training. He also thinks that investments in programs that support kids in school (like the city’s free bus pass program for public school students) should be part of the strategy to prevent homelessness in the first place. Haynes, notably, served on the school board when they approved a contract with the teachers union that contributed to this year’s widespread layoffs. (He’s notched a hefty list of endorsements, including Council President Ben Stuckart, Councilman Breean Beggs, teachers unions like the Washington Education Association and LETTERS the Spokane Regional Send comments to Labor Council.) editor@inlander.com. Krys Brown, a former employee at Union Gospel Mission and current student at Great Northern University who is completing her undergraduate degree in leadership studies, says that the city needs to communicate better with homeless service providers like Union Gospel Mission and Catholic Charities and provide more financial resources to them as needed. Tim Benn, who co-owns a child care center and runs a conservative talk show radio host alongside Fagan, meanwhile, argues that the city needs to crack down on drug dealers to combat addiction issues among the homeless population.

HOUSING

As Spokane grows, rents are increasing. The county’s apartment vacancy rate is razor thin: It was at 2 percent as of fall 2018, according to the University of Washington’s Washington Center for Real Estate Research. And most of the candidates in the District 1 race identify this as a major problem — one that directly contributes to homelessness.

Louis Lefebvre, a 29-year-old 911 dispatcher, says that tweaks to zoning and building code regulations are largely what’s needed to encourage developers to build more and more diverse housing types within the city. “A lot of the policies that can be done don’t necessarily cost the city a lot of money,” he says. “We can try to facilitate more different housing options, be it smaller houses, triplexes, condos.” He adds that parking requirements, which generally add costs to new housing projects, are a necessity until public transit infrastructure is adequately built out. Cathcart’s experience with the Spokane Homebuilders Association has left him well-versed in housing policy. He identifies a number of changes he says could be made to let loose private sector developers. He says that city code should be tweaked to make it easier to subdivide lots and build smaller housing units, as well as height limits raised around Riverfront Park to take advantage of real estate well-situated for potential development. Additionally, he says the county’s urban growth boundaries should potentially be expanded to accommodate more growth.

“Not everyone on the streets are there because they have mental health issues or because they are addicted.” “Right now, we make it very tough to build denser housing in areas where we need it and there’s a lot of pushback even from the council who typically likes to say they advocate for more housing, they still pushback on a lot of these,” Cathcart says. “We can get more housing options for purchase, housing for millennials and seniors, folks who want to downsize, who are just getting into the market.” Haynes says that the city should use zoning code changes and tax incentives to encourage denser development along transit corridors. Most candidates — including Cathcart — were shy about calling for widespread upzones to accommodate taller and denser housing developments. Sherazi was direct about her reluctance to go all in on building taller: “It would have to be case by case for the simple reason that we don’t have the roads, the infrastructure, the on-off ramps, the bus routes,” she says. “Unless we take care of all these things, all we’re going to be doing is creating another problem [by adding density].”

POLICE OVERSIGHT

The relationship between the Spokane Police Department and its civilian watchdog, the police ombudsman, has been strained of late. Allegations of obstruction and interference abound. As such, some current Spokane City Council members have called for giving the ombudsman increased authority, such as independent investigative powers into incidents of police misconduct. Some agreed that city code needs to be amended to give the ombudsman more authority. “The ombudsman should absolutely have all the power to investigate what he needs,” Cathcart says, with arguably the most definitive position among the candidates on the issue. “If [the ombudsman] had true oversight they could also highlight some of the good being done,” Lefebvre says. “That could change the image or help facilitate more trust in the department.” But other candidates, like Tim Benn, say they need to learn more about the issue: “I’ve not been in the briefing rooms for that issue so I would need more information.” Similarly, Haynes says that while he generally supports anything that improves the “transparency of any publicly funded entity,” he needs to read up more on the ombudsman ordinance before weighing in on any specific changes. n joshk@inlander.com

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 19

NEWS | BRIEFS

Too Little, Too Late?

TRUMP ADMIN ENFORCING GAG RULE

Where have all the caribou gone?

ou can’t really say the clock is ticking to save the southern mountain caribou occupying parts of Idaho and Washington. It’s more like the clock died and has been moved to the garage for storage. But even though the last of the mountain caribou are gone from the lower 48 states, conservation groups are holding out one last hope. Last week, they filed a lawsuit accusing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of failing to protect the species. “The last wild caribou in the lower 48 states have disappeared, but the Trump administration is still delaying the protection they desperately need to thrive in the United States again,” Andrea Santarseire, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity says in a statement. “If we’re going to get our beloved reindeer back, they need the strong protection of the Endangered Species Act.” Other groups involved in filing the lawsuit include the Spokane-based Lands Council, the Defenders of Wildlife, and Advocates for the West. They say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service never finalized the designation of critical habitat to recover mountain caribou. Until recently, the caribou occupied the Selkirk

20 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

Some conservation groups are hopeful the caribou can make a comeback. Mountains in Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. They’ve been protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1983, but they continued to decline in numbers until January, when the last of the caribou was taken into captivity. But conservationists like Jason Rylander, senior counsel at Defenders of Wildlife, say there is still hope the caribou can make a comeback under the right circumstances. “The Trump administration has the power to return southern mountain caribou to their original stomping grounds by securing protections for this imperiled species and its habitat,” Rylander says in a statement. “We must act now before it’s too late.” (WILSON CRISCIONE)

The Trump administration officially started enforcing its changes to Title X federal family planning funding this week, preventing doctors who receive that money from referring patients for abortions elsewhere. Federal money already does not pay for abortion services, but the Title X change (being called the “Gag Rule” as it prevents doctors who receive federal money from even mentioning that abortion is an option) goes further. Where financial separation was already required, physical separation between clinics that get federal money and provide abortion services is also required under the new rules, a move aimed at clinics like those run by Planned Parenthood. The rule had been blocked from taking effect until late June, when a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held it was likely the Trump administration would win its case, and ended national injunctions. On July 3, the full 9th Circuit agreed to look at the case, but by July 11 the court made it clear it wouldn’t be blocking the rule during that process, leading to the announcement this week that the government would start enforcing the change. Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho assured patients it would continue to serve them. “Our doors are still open. We will not stop fighting for patients in need of essential care,” the local Planned Parenthood organization said on its Facebook page July 16. “We will not stop working to block this dangerous and unethical rule that allows the government to censor our doctors and nurses from doing their jobs.” (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

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CHEAP

EATS W

hen we talk about our annual Cheap Eats issue here at the Inlander, we don’t talk about prices that much. After all, if the food isn’t good, no price is low enough to make us want to eat it or recommend it to readers. Instead, we talk about great meals that are great values, whether that means a to-diefor sandwich, a creative and delicious lunch special or a happy hour that’s good enough to draw you in, then delivered with a tasty bite to boot. In this year’s Cheap Eats issue, we focus on four Inland Northwest institutions that have proven that great food at a great price is a good way to build a business — and a dedicated following among local food lovers. We also sent writers out to explore four staples of cost-effective dining — burgers, Mexican food, sandwiches and Asian cuisine — to find some of the best deals the region has to offer, nothing more than $12. So sit back with your favorite free newspaper and dig into some sweet deals and success stories. — DAN NAILEN, section editor

22 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

Jenny Bennett offers take-home-sized portions, like the eggs benedict with all-you-can-eat home fries.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

SUCCESS STORY

JENNY’S CAFE Keeping bellies and wallets full since 2002

or Jenny Bennett, what’s now known as Jenny’s Cafe has pretty much been a lifelong place of employment. She started there back when it was Waffles n More and she was 16 years old. Over the years, the business name changed, but she stayed, working in management as much of the staff stuck around, too. Then one day a little less than 20 years ago, she got a fax informing the restaurant that the owners were going to close it up in a week. “When they were closing, we had very little warning,” Bennett says, “so it was one of those, ‘Let’s just try this and see what I can do.’” She took over the business and turned it into Jenny’s Cafe, and since that time around 2002, it’s become a breakfast and lunch staple in Spokane Valley, known for its heavy-handed portions and friendly atmosphere. Inside is decorated with a mishmash of vintage items Bennett has collected over the years to create a homey feel. Drinks are served in Mason jars, and the wall deco-

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL rations are swapped out fairly regularly. “It’s kind of like if you were going to your grandma’s house, all the dishes are mismatched, and there’s no real rhyme or reason to it,” Bennett says. “It’s a bunch of cool old stuff.” From the time she opened Jenny’s Cafe, Bennett knew she wanted it to offer large, tasty portions, with allyou-can-eat hash browns, fries and pancakes, depending on what you order. “At that point in my life I wanted to go somewhere where my kids could eat, be full, and not be broke,” she says. Because of that, you’d be hard pressed to leave Jenny’s hungry. Their senior/kid serving sizes, starting at $6, are more like the size of a Denny’s or IHOP serving, she says. The normal breakfasts, which range from $11 to $16, are easily big enough to feed you twice. “Usually we’re like the home of the to-go box,” she says. “They usually get two breakfasts out of one.” Plus, they’re easygoing: If there’s something that’s not

on the menu, they can work with you. “It’s easy for substitutions,” she says. “Until 9 in the morning I don’t think most of our customers order off the menu.” Bennett chalks up the longtime success of the business to their drive to keep things affordable and local — the hash browns come fresh from a local farm, as does much of the other produce — and thanks her loyal customer base, many of whom eat there twice a day. The cafe is open daily from 7 am to 2 pm, but some of the regulars who’ve been coming for years will often get there before she does each morning to start the coffee, meaning things tend to open a little closer to 6:30 am. “If you’re out there and see us in, come on in,” she says. “It’s one of those things where when you come in, you join part of our family while you’re there.” n Jenny’s Cafe • 9425 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley • Open daily 7 am-2 pm • jennyscafespokane.com • 928-8055

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 23

CHEAP EATS

Owner Dave Jones carries on Ferguson’s historic traditions.

SUCCESS STORY

FERGUSON’S CAFE Serving breakfast all day, and starring in movies, too BY CHEY SCOTT

ince he was a teenager, Dave Jones has worked behind the counter at many of Spokane’s most beloved old-school diners and cafes: Wolffy’s (at the time it was Arnie’s), Knight’s (reopening under new ownership soon), Top Notch Cafe (now home of Ruins), Hogan’s and a few others. The now nearly 60-year-old owner of Ferguson’s Cafe, one of a handful of dining landmarks in Spokane’s historic Garland District, hopes that this spot will be his last successful restaurant before retiring. Jones bought Ferguson’s in 2010 after it had closed down the year prior under former owners, much to locals’ dismay. Jones remodeled the classic midcentury diner’s interior, bringing pops of bright yellow into the black, white and chrome-filled space, before officially reopening on July 26, 2010. When re-envisioning its menu, Jones brought in classic favorites he’d served over the years. At Ferguson’s, traditional diner breakfast staples — eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes, omelettes, scrambles and more —

are served all day, alongside burgers, grilled items and a homestyle dinner menu starting at 4 pm. “A lot of the menu is the same thing I’ve been cooking for 30 years at Knight’s, Arnie’s, Hogan’s,” Jones notes. “It’s a really easy and simple menu.” Dave’s Philly steak ($11.79) is one of Jones’ signature bestsellers, with grilled steak, onions, green peppers, gooey Swiss, mayo and a side of fries, soup or salad. Ferguson’s also serves locally made sausages from Sonnenberg’s Market & Deli, grilled on a hoagie and with several breakfast combos. Milkshakes and malts ($5.49), while not made on the diner’s original 1940s equipment, are spun from scratch on a mixer and come in 11 classic flavors. Jones also asserts that Ferguson’s hash browns are “the best you can get” in the area, always cooked crispy brown on the outside and never soggy. “A lot of the food is still homemade like it would have been,” in decades past, Jones says, adding that it might surprise customers to learn he’s still there several days a

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

week, cooking on the grill. “A lot of [restaurant] owners don’t do that anymore,” he says. The sixth owner (and seventh operator) of Ferguson’s Cafe, which originally opened in 1941, is proud to be carrying the diner’s torch into the next decade. A halfpage introduction on the menu front shares its storied history, including that it’s been featured in three major motion pictures: Benny & Joon (1993), Vision Quest (1985) and Why Would I Lie? (1981). Since purchasing the cafe, Jones has faced one major setback, when a fire in the fall of 2011 nearly destroyed Ferguson’s and its equally historic neighbor, Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle. “It burnt everything in here but the studs. It was real devastating when it happened,” he recalls. The bright side of that tragedy, however, was that after reopening in July 2012, Ferguson’s became — and remains — even busier than before, he says. In all of the nine years he’s been at the Ferguson’s helm, Jones would say his secret to success is simple, doing what he’s good at, and loves: serving hearty food that won’t break the bank, leading his employees and catching up with customers each day. “I have always liked this business. I like the people, mainly the interaction with people, and the food. Cooking the food, and the people who you come to work for — that is what makes it all worth it.” n Ferguson’s Cafe • 804 W. Garland, Spokane • Open Mon-Sat 8 am-8 pm, Sun 8 am-3 pm • 325-1950

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ark and Nicole Randolph aren’t as inally took over an old Dairy De-Lite location terested in current food trends as much in 1992. The walk-up eatery passed through as they are consistency at Roger’s Ice various hands until, after a year of dormancy, the Cream and Burgers, which has been around in Randolphs came along and revamped the quaint one form or another since the 1940s. spot in 2009, adding burgers to their name and What they offer: “High quality, consistent menu lineup. food and at a good price,” says Randolph, who Their burger and fries look like classic diner left Seattle’s fine dining scene to relocate to food, yet the Randolphs have embraced at least Coeur d’Alene, where his wife Nicole is from. one current trend: healthier options. Their The couple opened their first Roger’s Ice Cream cooked-to-order burgers feature vegetarian-fed, and Burgers in 2009, keeping the retro look hormone- and antibiotic-free fresh beef from and feel of the original building with its striped an Oregon cooperative which the Randolph’s awning, and red, white and turquoise sign that have visited. Turkey and vegetarian burgers are lights up at night like a beacon. Additional locaavailable, too. Toppings like lettuce, onions and tions followed in Coeur d’Alene (2012), Post Falls tomatoes are cut fresh daily. Sauces are scratch(2017), and Hayden, just two made. And their fries are months ago. hand-cut fresh and cooked in LOCATIONS “Every dollar [our cuslow-transfat oil. 1224 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene tomers] spend, they earn that Randolph credits their money,” he says. “And [we] success to their workforce of 155 W. Neider Ave., Coeur d’Alene have to make it worth it.” 100-120. With his background 403 N. Spokane St., Post Falls Their niche is nostalgia. in restaurant training and 8833 Hess St., Hayden “What we do — the type of development, implementing burgers, milkshakes and fries — standards across the locations is what you’d get in the 1940s,” says Randolph. was key. “We’re very clear on our expectations Their milkshakes, floats and malts are all on how you should be at work,” says Randolph, scratch-made and available in 17 flavors. A huckwho describes an approach of leading versus leberry flavored ice cream is extremely popular. managing people. And in the downtown Coeur d’Alene location, “As a company you have to continue to grow, where there is no indoor dining — they heat a motivate people,” he says, noting that adding partitioned area during the colder months — locations has created new opportunities for enjoying an ice cream cone out-of-doors is almost employees. a rite of passage in any weather, but especially “Success isn’t money,” says Randolph. “It’s summer. repeat customers. Guests. We call them guests.” n Ice cream was the mainstay of Roger’s, which originated under different ownership in Moscow, Roger’s Ice Cream & Burgers • Open SunIdaho, in the 1940s. After relocating to Coeur Thu 10 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-11 pm, all d’Alene, the original Roger’s Ice Cream eventubranches • rogersicecreamburgers.com

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CHEAP EATS

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See how both whites and reds from Bordeaux, France, compare to our own versions of the same. It’s a true Old World/New World comparison. Join Wine Educator John Allen and our happy group (12 people maximum) for some fun wine education. Each class includes wine and light nibbles (please eat dinner before class!)

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rass may wither and flowers fade. Civilizations may rise and fall. But in Spokane, at least, Dick’s Hamburgers remains the one constant. Dick’s co-owner Lynda Peterson sits at a picnic table, her fingernails painted in sparkly Fourth of July colors, seagulls squawking around for stray French fries. She’s been at this spot, at this restaurant, off and on, for a half-century. She was here in 1967, as an 18-year-old fast food employee. She remembers that year as riots broke out across the country, and as fights broke out in the Dick’s parking lot. She was here during the heyday of “tooling” — young people cruising in their cars, blasting music and clogging parking lots — when Dick’s stayed open as late as 4 am. The drinking, vandalism, and behavior from toolers got so bad that cops cracked down with a special task force

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in 1979. “It affected us a little bit,” Peterson says. “We started closing earlier.” She was here in the late ’80s, she says, during the heyday of Dick’s. “The volume here was crazy,” Peterson says. “Sometimes we couldn’t even see the street.” As she talks, I sip on a salted caramel milkshake. I grab handfuls of fish and chips. I don’t bother dipping them in tartar sauce or ketchup. They’re good enough there’s no need. The buildings around Dick’s have been demolished, rebuilt, remodeled and refurbished. But Dick’s has remained, unwavering. “When I first started working here, the burgers were 19 cents,” she says. Today, they’re around $1.49. But adjust that number for inflation? The burgers are still 19 cents. The eats remain cheap. The staples remain the same. The fish and chips. The milkshakes.

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Dick’s co-owner Lynda Peterson, still selling whammies after all these years. The Whammy burgers. No frozen fries. No frozen meats. Yes, in 2016, Peterson finally grudgingly gave in to allowing customers to pay by credit cards — “It was a pain in the arse,” she says — but remains defiant against the high-tech tap-in-your-order point-of-sale system that most fast food restaurants use these days. “We don’t follow trends,” she says. But for all her pride about Dick’s, Peterson is also weary of the challenges. She says it’s never been as tough as it is right now. As housing prices have spiked, American cities have struggled to deal with the resulting wave of homelessness. Dick’s is only two blocks away from Spokane’s biggest homeless shelter. Peterson says that in the last few years the impact on businesses like hers has been the worst it’s ever been. Drug users, she says, would shoot up in the bathroom. “We’ve had needles, feces on the wall, blood on the wall,” Peterson says. Ultimately, Peterson says, they decided to shutter access to the bathroom and replace it with a Porta Potty. But that Porta Potty still gets abused — clothes get stuffed in, needles get dumped in it. “It’s getting to a point that it’s not fun anymore,” Peterson says. She says one thing keeps her going. “The reason I stay here is because of my boss,” Peterson says. “The integ-

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

rity that he had.” That boss, Dick’s founder Abe Miller, died back in 2007. He was the man who trained her, who mentored her. He taught her about treating people well, no matter who they were or where they came from. She recalls one day, when there was a transient who’d fallen asleep in their bathroom — in the days before they had to close it down. She had to crawl underneath the stall to wake him up to get him out of there. But then he walked right into their back door and fell asleep at their break table. “Shall I get him out of there?” Peterson recalls asking her boss. “No, just let him sleep,” Miller responded. Miller’s most visible legacy is on the corner of Division and Third, where everyone who takes the Interstate 90 exit is greeted by the Dick’s Hamburger sign featuring a panda feeding a burger to the chicken and the “Burgers by the Bagfull” slogan. But Miller’s other legacy is sitting under that sign: a business owner whose values of hard work, humility and compassion he helped shape for over 50 years. n

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 27

CHEAP EATS

The Thrifty Scotsman is the definition of thrifty.

BURGERS

BURGER BONANZA Whether you’re driving through or sitting down, here are five Inland Northwest burgers that won’t break the bank BY NATHAN WEINBENDER

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

h, the burger. It might be the quintessential cheap meal. It’s a humble sandwich — patties between buns, topped with whatever condiments you desire — but the best ones are filling, satisfying and, best of all, different everywhere you go. It’s also one of the few food items for which “cheaper” doesn’t necessarily mean “lesser.” There are obviously hundreds of burgers to choose from amongst Inland Northwest restaurants — from Hudson’s

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in Coeur d’Alene to Wolffy’s near Gonzaga to Humble Burger in Moscow to the old, reliable Zip’s — but here are five regional burgers that have tickled our fancy recently. We’re mixing it up between delicious, inexpensive to-go fare and more upscale, sit-down burgers that won’t break the bank.

TODAY’S BURGER $11-$12 CRAFT COCKTAILS $8

Smoke & Mirrors Saloon, 404 W. Main, 315-4613 This new downtown saloon, formerly Santé, has already built up buzz with its $18 cheeseburger. But its more price-conscious burger option offers up a side order of surprise. Like the titular restaurant in Bob’s Burgers, Smoke & Mirrors’ burger special has rotating toppings, and the odds are good they’ll be delicious. On my visit, I enjoyed an 8-ounce burger with pickled jalapenos (adding a semi-sweet, spicy kick), bacon and cheddar, topped with pickled fresno aioli. It also comes with your choice of side: potatoes, soup or salad. Pair that with one of their classic cocktails — undeniable classics like Kentucky mules, greyhounds and French 75s — for less than $20. If you dine-in during their happy hour times (3-6 pm and 9-10 pm), save an additional 30 percent on your bill.

THE SUPER BACON $4.79

The Thrifty Scotsman, 12024 E. Sprague, 928-2214 This Spokane Valley staple is an ideal candidate for Cheap Eats — “thrifty” is right there in the name. The small storefront, open since 1980, has become locally famous for a handful of reasons: its retro, wood-paneled look, its steady stream of customers and its delicious, no-frills burgers served up for a fair price. I opted for the Super Bacon — because why wouldn’t you want to try something called the Super Bacon — which boasts two patties, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato on a rectangular poor boy bun. Add an overflowing batch of hand-cut fries for just $3 and it’s still thrifty.

BLUE OX BURGER $2.69 Paul Bunyan Pak-Out, 602 Northwest Blvd., Coeur d’Alene, 208-664-2725 Every time I’m in North Idaho, it’s nearly impossible to not stop at the Paul Bunyan Pak-Out on the main drag of Northwest Boulevard. With its giant wooden cut-out of the winking lumberjack of lore, the drive-in offers a genuinely great burger for just a couple bucks. Its Coeur d’Alene location opened in the early 1950s — and the prices are still low enough to make you think you’ve stepped back in time — and other storefronts have since popped up in places like Rathdrum, Post Falls and Hayden Lake. D. LISH’S DOUBLE $4.32

D. Lish’s, 1625 N. Division, 323-7130 You simply can’t talk about local burgers without mentioning D. Lish’s. For more than 20 years, the old-school takeout diner has been slinging some of the freshest tasting burgers you can get from a drive-thru. My favorite: The D. Lish’s Double, with its two hefty patties and gooey cheese, topped off with lettuce, tomato and their delicious burger sauce. And, of course, they give you the option of grilled or fresh onions. I have yet to gather up the gumption and try their four-pattied burger, but there’s still time.

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Allie’s Vegan Pizzeria and Cafe, 1314 S. Grand, 321-7090 Because non-meat eaters shouldn’t be exempt from enjoying a good burger, Allie’s is here to help. The vegan South Hill restaurant offers up a delicious alternative, with a patty made of brown rice, black beans, sunflower seeds and carmelized onions. This isn’t the kind of meat substitute that’s attempting to approximate the taste and consistency of a standard beef patty; it has a smoother texture, which inexperienced carnivores might not be used to. But the flavors are undeniable, and the tempeh bacon and vegan barbecue mayo mean you won’t be missing red meat anytime soon. n

appy hour

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daily 3-5:30 $1 off drafts & select menu items tuesdays 3-close happy hour plus $2 tacos! JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 29

CHEAP EATS MEXICAN FOOD

LET’S TACO ’BOUT IT The Inland Northwest has a good mix of options for fun, flavorful Mexican food

DeLeon’s Taco & Bar boasts a long list of affordable and filling tacos.

HOLY TACOS $3.25

BY RILEY UTLEY

hen it comes to cheap eats, Mexican food has it perfected. From taco trucks to brick and mortar shops, Spokane (like Taqueria Fiesta Brava) and North Idaho (try out Nina Mary’s) have numerous options for those who are dining on a budget but want a good, hardy, authentic and, most importantly, cheap meal.

DeLeon’s Taco & Bar, 1801 N. Hamilton, 863-9591 The beloved DeLeon’s, which has locations in the South Hill, Spokane Valley and up north by Whitworth, has made its way to the University District to bring its deals to Gonzaga students and the surrounding community. With signature margaritas along with a fully stocked bar and amazing taco deals, this restaurant is a must for anyone who loves a nice cheap meal. Their tacos range from $2.75 to $4.75 and are a steal for the quality of food. The

STUART DANFORD PHOTO

Holy Tacos, named after its creator chef Jesus (according to the menu), are made with tender marinated skirt steak, cilantro and onions on a corn tortilla. Order two or three of those and you have yourself a full meal for under $10.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS $8.70 Tacos El Sol, 3422 N. Division, 516-2554 While this place is known for tacos — hence the name — I decided to switch it up and go for an enchilada because finding one under $10 has proven to be quite

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difficult. This place delivered a delicious enchilada that was filling and within my price range. They offer beef, pork and chicken enchiladas, served by the pair with green salsa, cilantro, onions, queso fresco and sour cream along with rice and beans on the side. Tacos El Sol knows how to make cheap, traditional, simple, delicious food perfect for a quick bite.

CHICKEN QUESADILLA $8.95 La Michoacana Mini Market, 9907 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, 926-8251 This place has a deli, bakery, candy shop and full bar as well as a fully functioning sit-down restaurant. So, in short, this place is bound to fill any of your Mexican food needs. While some menu items are more expensive, the portions definitely justify the price. I got a quesadilla with salsa, guacamole and sour cream, and it was incredibly filling. Check this place out if you’re looking for some delicious, affordable food — and a one-of-a-kind experience. WASHINGTON BURRITO AND MEXI FRIES $7.39

Atilano’s, 12210 N. Division, 466-2847 Atilano’s is the place to go when you’re in need of some cheap, filling and tasty food, with six locations stretching from Airway Heights to Coeur d’Alene, north

Spokane to downtown. I ordered the Washington burrito (grilled chicken, potatoes, sour cream, guacamole and cheese) for $5 and Mexi fries for $2.40. Talk about a full meal for under $10, the burrito was literally the size of my head and I got a full to-go box of Mexi fries and made two meals out of this order. With so many locations, Atilano’s is an Inland Northwest favorite thanks to their huge menu and cheap prices. You won’t break the bank and you won’t be disappointed.

SUPER BREAKFAST BURRITO $7

Burrito Loco, 3115 E. Mission, 919-7980 Burrito Loco has perfected the breakfast burrito. Made with eggs, potatoes, ham, bacon, cheese and salsa, this dish is guaranteed to satisfy your burrito and breakfast needs. The burrito itself is huge; both my housemate and I were able to get two meals out of our burritos. If you order in the morning you can get the breakfast burrito at a discounted price. They also have a worthy happy hour when customers can get two beers for $5, five tacos for $5, $1 off food specials and $1 off burritos. With lovely customer service and delicious food, this place is a must for a cheap bite. n

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 31

CHEAP EATS

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BY DAN NAILEN

e’re lucky in the Inland Northwest to have some outstanding Asian restaurants. Whether you’re a fan of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai or Japanese, there are great options stretching from Coeur d’Alene (Syringa is a must) to Airway Heights (D’Bali Asian Bistro has area foodies aflutter). Here are spots that deliver serious deals in soups, noodles and more:

GRILLED PORK BANH MI $4.75

Vien Dong, 3435 E. Trent, 536-6073 Vien Dong’s prices are only part of the reason I followed them to their new location on the corner of Trent and Freya. The food is consistently fresh and delivered in impressively massive doses. While my go-to is a giant bowl of spicy pho, it’s hard to resist the classic banh mi. The Vietnamese sandwiches are delivered on a large,

soft roll and loaded with pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeno, along with toppings ranging from shredded pork to grilled chicken, tofu to the “combination” with ham, head cheese, páte, Vietnamese ham and mayo. All of them come in under $5.

KUNG PAO CHICKEN LUNCH SPECIAL $8.75

Happiness American & Chinese Food, 3420 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, 534-2525 At Happiness you get more options than your average lunch deal. Every special, served from 11 am-2:30 pm daily, comes with pork fried rice, a spring roll, fried wontons and a cup of soup. Then you add a heaping serving of one of more than 30 entree options, many available as main dishes throughout the day for less than $12. I had the kung pao chicken, and the spice was actually

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Vien Dong remains king of banh mi bargains. spicy, and the blend of chicken, peanuts and vegetables was proportional, tender and massive. Plan on leftovers.

WONTON SOUP (LARGE) $6.50 QQ Sushi & Kitchen, 1902 W. Francis, 279-2721 My love of QQ’s sushi means I don’t explore the rest of the menu nearly enough. You can find great deals on chow mein ($8-$12) or traditional favorites like curry chicken ($6.50 at lunch). The one non-sushi choice I can never resist is the wonton soup. You’ve probably had a half-assed version elsewhere, but at QQ the broth has a deep, delicious flavor, and the pork dumplings make this a hearty meal. Even the cupsize serving ($3.50) is worth it. BUN GA XAO CURRY $10.25

Three Sisters Food To Go, 4003 E. Sprague, 241-3159 Don’t confuse this Three Sisters with a relative’s spot further east on Sprague, although they share some delicious flavors. This one is closer to downtown Spokane, and well worth a lunch run to get a flavorful bowl of chicken curry delivered on a bed of vermicelli noodles

AT LUCKY YOU

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

LO U N GE

with fresh green and red peppers, carrots and onions. The curry spice is nice, and each table has chili paste and sriracha on hand. There are plenty of other cheap options, too, from seven kinds of banh mi ($4.25 each) to a wide array of stir-frys and pho.

3:00 -5:00PM

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$10.75 DINNER/$9.25 LUNCH Red Dragon Hillyard, 3011 E. Diamond, 483-6700 (second location at 1406 W. Third) The traditional Chinese favorites at Red Dragon have something to satisfy everyone from selective vegans to omnivorous carnivores, and it’s a cool, welcoming spot in Hillyard. Happy hour helps, available at Red Dragon and the adjacent Ruby’s bar (you can get Red Dragon’s food there, too) from 2-5:30 pm daily. You get a dollar off all bottles and draft beer, as well as well drinks and wine. If you lean in to Red Dragon’s deep-fried goodness — the crispy teriyaki was breaded and delivered in tot-like nuggets drenched in teriyaki sauce — you’re going to want a pop to wash it down. The Pick Three Combo offers no less than 21 options. n

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 33

Rota tin g

CHEAP EATS

W eek

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SANDWICHES

HANDHELD HEAVEN Five satisfying sandwiches and wraps for any time of day BY MORGAN SCHEERER

AT KENDALL YARDS

andwiches: Many of us grew up eating them out of lunch boxes every day. From sweet to savory, breakfast, lunch or dinner — there’s a sandwich (or wrap) for that. All handhelds are not created equal, but the Inland Northwest is home to some fantastic options full of flavor that will keep you full all day, while still being kind to your wallet. Here are a few sandwiches and wraps that range from stuffed with meat to vegan, cheesy to gluten-free.

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Huckleberry’s Ninth Street Bistro, 926 S. Monroe, 624-1349 Breakfast sandwiches top my list of reliable, quick and cheap meals. This waffle creation is a fun and fresh take on the classic breakfast sandwich. Fluffy scrambled egg topped with crispy bacon and covered in melty cheese of your choice, all between two waffles.

The crunch of the waffles is the perfect accent to the soft eggs and cheese. It all comes together to form a delightful morning meal. While breakfast sandwiches are typically eaten while driving to work, this one is best enjoyed at a table, where each bite can be savored.

CREATE YOUR OWN GRILLED CHEESE

STARTING AT $2.95/HALF, $5.25/FULL Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese, 1735 W. Kathleen, Coeur d’Alene, 208-664-1717 Grilled cheese gets a bad rap as one of those meals that ‘anyone can make.’ That does not apply to the elevated grilled cheese served at Meltz. Their 12 unique creations, starting at $6.95/half, and $10.95/full, aren’t a bad deal for the amount of meat, cheese and other goodies stuffed between the slices of sourdough, wheat or gluten-free bread. The best bang for your buck is the

Azar’s delivers a gyro pita so huge you’ll probably need a fork. build-your-own option, where a half-sandwich with one type of cheese starts at $2.95, and a full at $5.25. Each additional cheese is $1, nonmeat add-ons are $1 each, meats are $2.25, and sauce is $0.95. A food coma-inducing, made-to-order sandwich can be built for under $12, easily.

BUFFALO CHICKEN RANCH PANINI $6.79

Garland Sandwich Shoppe, 3903 N. Madison, 326-2405 The homemade buffalo sauce is the star of this sandwich, no question. It soaks just enough into the soft Vienna bread without making it soggy — and somehow doesn’t overpower the other elements. The kick of the sauce is balanced by the sweeter ranch dressing, shredded lettuce, tomato and thick, grilled chicken breast. The flavor explosion comes together with a crunch of the flaky panini-pressed bread. This sandwich is perfect if you’re looking to tantalize your taste buds without breaking the bank.

GYRO PITA SANDWICH WITH TZATZIKI $10.50 Azar’s Restaurant, 2501 N. Monroe, 326-7171 I hesitate to list this wrap under the ‘handhelds’ section, due to its sheer size. I certainly failed to hold it, and instead was forced to resort to using a knife and fork. The use of utensils, though, did not take away from the absolute tastiness of this Greek delight. The soft and flaky pita bread is topped with a small mountain of lightly seasoned, melt-in-your-mouth-tender strips of beef and lamb, smothered in tzatziki (a yogurt-based cucumber and garlic sauce) and topped with shredded lettuce and diced tomato. This Greek wrap is a welcome change of pace and flavor, as far as the world of sandwiches and handhelds go. VEGAN LETTUCE WRAP $9

Forza Coffee Company, 325 S. Sullivan, Spokane Valley, 795-8194 Forza Coffee might not be the first place you think of to get a quality handheld, or a cheap beer, but this vegan wrap will change your mind. It features a copious amount of hummus, topped with red peppers, Kalamata olives, artichoke, onion and tomatoes — all held together within romaine lettuce leaves. Served with a cup of fresh fruit or mixed greens, this wrap is the perfect way to prove that low-carb can still be delicious. Pair it with a $3 craft or $2 domestic beer offered from 3-6 pm during daily happy hour, for a refreshingly light dinner. n

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 35

e d i u G r e Burg in the

The Backyard

Heritage Bar & Kitchen Incrediburger & Eggs Laguna Cafe Logan Tavern Max at Mirabeau

Fatburger Five Guys Burgers and Fries Geno’s

THE BACKYARD

Palouse Bar and Grill Poole’s Public House Red Tail at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Remedy

Roger’s Ice Cream & Burgers Seasons of Coeur d’Alene South Hill Grill

Steam Plant The Swinging Doors Three Peaks Kitchen + Bar at Spokane Tribe Casino

west central | backyardspokane.com 509-822-7338 Spokane’s Best Kept Secret! The Backyard Burger!

Fatburger

Close, our Backyard Burger Is Only $7

The Backyard Public House has quickly become the watering hole for the West Central and Kendall Yards after work crowd. It’s not unusual to see folks from other restaurants on their days off enjoying a libation and top notch pub fare. It’s a let your hair down, turn the fun up kind of FROM... place. The Backyard Burger is an impressive ½ pound of beef sourced from NW Cattle Farms, seasoned to bring out every bit of mind blowing flavor. Finished with fresh avocado, melted Gouda, garlic aioli, spring greens, tomato and toasted brioche bun. Don’t even think about sharing it- you are going to want your own. Open daily 11am to Close.

 Secret House Made

5-mile | 509-209-2115

 Want a challenge? Try

AMAZING INLAND NORTHWEST BURGERS The Backyard Burger

 Monday Nights 5pm-

Seasoning Really Sets This Burger Off

 Happy Hour 7 Days a week, 2pm-5pm

 Tuesday Trivia and

Thursday Bingo at 8pm w/drink specials

to finish the XXXL TheBackyard_012315IRW_4S_RW.pdf

Fatburger is the last great hamburger stand.

At Fatburger, we make our delicious burgers fresh to order – none of the frozen stuff. Our handbattered onion rings are made fresh daily, the ice cream shakes are made with real ice cream and the fries are cooked in 100% cholesterol-free oil. Fatburger also serves fat, juicy grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches, Jennie-O Turkey burgers, Boca veggie burgers, and the Impossible burger for those looking for a delicious beef alternative. Be sure to join the Fatburger 5-Mail email club to get giveaways, deals and special offers!

 Get a deal with the 10 under $5 menu

 We’ve got kids meals!

Fatburger’s Famouse XXXL Burger

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

NORTH SPOKANE | 509-928-2921 Spokane Valley | 509-927-2840 www.fiveguys.com

Over 250,000 ways to make a Burger. Five Guys serves well done, juicy burgers. Every item is fresh and handprepped daily. There are no freezers at Five Guys so nothing is ever frozen. Customize it your way and enjoy a great burger at Five Guys.

 Customizable

Milkshakes! Try a Strawberry Cream, or Chocolate Banana Milkshake today.

 Everything is made to order

 Flavorful burgers and hand cut fries

Best place for Burgers - Five Guys

36 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER

Geno’s Traditional Food & Ales

Central SPOKANE | wedonthaveone.com 509-368-9087

“The Smash Burger saved my life!” “I had the Smash Burger, which I would recommend to anyone. It’s essentially a Big Mac with all the things you love but none of the things you hate about the golden arches.” Catherine K.- Yelp

Smash Burger with Fries

After years of serving the Moon Burger at their locations, the guys behind the Elk family of restaurants decided to try something different when they opened Geno’s in 2014, and the Smash Burger was born. It’s best with fries at Geno’s, but you can also try it at The Elk.

HERITAGE BAR & KITCHEN

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE | heritagebarandkitchen.com 509-863-9235

Heritage focuses on everything great about Spokane. All of the tap beer is brewed in Spokane County. The top shelf liquor features Spokane’s premier distilleries and all of the wine is from Washington State. Heritage believes in cultivating a fun and relaxing environment, while dishing up some of the best pub food in the country. Yes, the country. If you haven’t been in to try their burgers yet, stop being a Jabroni and find out what you’ve been missing.

INCREDIBURGER & EGGS

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE | incrediburgerandeggs.com 509-443-4215

¾ Open mic

every Wednesday at 8pm

¾ Geeks Who Drink Pub Trivia Saturdays at 8pm

 The Clock Tower was

 The Spokane Pavilion was originally a Sasquatch cage.

 Currently looking for a

restaurant to feud with. O’Doherty’s?

¾ Incredishakes for all ages

The most love you’ll find between two buns! It’s OK if you fall in love with our burgers. Dude, we get it. We put a lot of love into our handpressed burgers, egg sandwiches, fries, tots and adult beverages — all made with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. So your beef crush makes sense.

The Twins

LAGUNA CAFE

and 9-close M-F and all day Sunday

built to fight marmots.

Why haven’t you had this cheeseburger yet, Jabroni!

Best Cheeseburger in Spokane! — Literally Everyone

¾ Happy Hour 4-6

SOUTH HILL - SPOKANE | restaurantsspokanewa.com 509-448-0887

¾ Boozy Shakes for adults 21+

¾ 10 Beer taps ¾ Breakfast served all day ¾ Salads ¾ Poutine ¾ Vegetarian options  Happy Hour 7 days a week 4pm-7pm

It’s topped with Provolone cheese, bacon, pesto aioli, avocado, lettuce, tomato. Very California!

 50% off appetizers,

We invite you to experience our stylish and comfortable atmosphere. Enjoy meals on our patio — a fun place to sit and soak up some sun, or talk and laugh the night away with family and friends. Serving lunch and dinner daily.

 Laguna offers 85 wines

You bring the conversation, we take care of everything else.

select beer & wine

to choose from & 15 Micro brews

Laguna Burger with Seaside fries & baby green salad ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 37

Logan Tavern

Central Spokane | LoganTavernSpokane.com 509-474-0584 Chill Neighborhood Vibe with Delicious Tavern Fare. We’re your new favorite, neighborhood watering hole where you can enjoy daily food and drink specials, meet friends old or new, and relax in our comforting atmosphere. Happy hour happens Monday through Friday from 3pm-6pm, and Sunday 2pm-close, offering $1 off wells and micros, and $2 off shareables.

The Mac Daddy Burger

Max at mirabeau

 Trivia every Monday  $2 Tacos every Tuesday  Whiskey and Wings every Wednesday, $10 per lb wings, $2 off Select Whiskey

One of our most popular burgers is The Mac Daddy, with two quarter pound all-beef patties, layers of lettuce and dill pickle, three toasted brioche buns, and our signature Tavern Fry Sauce. Served with house fries, sweet potato tots, or garlic and herb fries.

SPOKANE Valley | maxatmirabeau.com 509-922-6252 Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center is the Official Host Hotel of the Spokane Indians Our MAX at Mirabeau chefs created this burger as the Spokane Indians won the Northwest League baseball championship a few seasons ago. Certified Angus beef is cooked to order and prepared with 7 different Indian spices, sweet chili sauce, Shitake mushrooms, leeks, caramelized onions, leaf lettuce, thick-sliced tomato and oozing with pepper jack cheese. It is served with julienne fries and a dill pickle garnish.

Spokane Indians Championship Burger

palouse bar and grill

south hill | palousegrill.com 509-309-2966

 Locally sourced fresh veggies!

 Try one of our MAX

burgers from our menu.

 TWO Happy Hours

every day from 3-6pm and 9pm-Close. HALF-Off appetizers! MAX Draft Beer $3.50, $5.00 select wines by the glass, House Wells $5.00, $2 off Signature Martinis.

 Happy Hour everyday 3 till 6

100% American Kobe Beef

 Breakfast Saturday

Topped with our own signature W.S.U. Cougar Gold cheese sauce, caramelized onions, our unique pub sauce on a grilled brioche bun. Served with any of our many sides. Open 7 days a week. Live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night on our beautiful patio. Start your weekend out right with our unique breakfast menu starting at 8 am every Saturday and Sunday. Co Cougs!

Live Music every

and Sunday starting at 8 am Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Our signature Cougar Burger

Poole’s Public House

NORTH SPOKANE | 509-413-1834 poolespublichouse.com SOUTH HILL | 509-368-9760

Poole’s Burgers are ½ Pounders! We serve 100% locally-sourced Cattle Company beef brisket blend! This is definitely not the standard 1/4-pounder other restaurants serve! You can substitute Chicken Breast or Veggie Patty at no extra charge. Served with any of our sides and your choice of Brioche or Sourdough bun. Make it a full pounder for $3.50 extra. Holy cow!

Scottie’s Favorite Hottie

38 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER

 Half-Off ALL alcoholic

beverages from 4-6pm Monday through Sunday!

 Saturday and Sunday

Join us for breakfast from 8am-Noon! Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas are just $4!

 Saturday Special:

Buy any Burger and your draft beer is only 3 Bucks!

Red Tail Bar & Grill

Worley, ID | cdacasino.com 1(800) 523-2464

 Try Smoke House

Burger for a limited time, available for $15.95.

The Smoke House Burger Tastes Like Summer Indulge in a half-pound Kobe beef patty topped with house smoked BBQ beef brisket, cheddar cheese, Applewood smoked bacon and buttermilk fried onions, served up on a sesame bun. That’s just one burger to explore, at one of Coeur d’Alene Casino’s seven dining options. And when you’re eating at Coeur d’Alene Casino, you’re keeping it local. Executive Chef Steven Walk grows his menus with the idea that “Locally sourced food is generally a better quality product, harvested at peak ripeness resulting in better flavors.”

 The Red Tail Grill’s

South Hill | remedycrc.com 509-443-3730

 Monday Burger special

burgers are crafted with Kobe Beef.

 Coeur d’Alene Casino has seven different dining options.

Red Tail Grill’s Summer Special: Smoke House Burger

remedy kitchen & Tavern

5pm-CL for $8

 Cooked with Apple

The One and Only Wood Fired Remedy Burger.

Wood Fired Remedy Burger

Remedy Kitchen and Tavern has a cure for what ails you. Once you have this burger it will linger in your subconscious. You will want it again and right away. Rejoice! This provision is made with top quality ingredients starting with expertly seared Angus ground chuck, topped with caramelized onions, house smoked bacon and extra sharp Tillamook White Cheddar Cheese finished with housemade BBQ aioli, heirloom tomatoes and a locally sourced Brioche bun. Serious food and a seriously fun rooftop patio. Open 7 days a week, check the website for hours.

Roger’s Ice Cream & burgers

CoEUr D’Alene, ID 1224 E. Sherman Ave.

208-930-4900

CoEUr D’Alene, ID 155 W. Nelder Ave. 208-664-0696

Post Falls, ID 403 N. Spokane St. 208-773-6532

Fresh, Nostalgic, American Comfort Food.

Rogers Ice Cream and Burgers is a local family owned fast casual restaurant. Everything at Roger’s is made to order from scratch the old fashioned way.

Roger’s Made to Order Double D Burger

RogersIceCreamBurgers.com

Our burgers are made with fresh, never frozen 100% Country Natural beef. It is vegetarian-fed, 3rd party GAP certified to be naturally and sustainably raised with no antibiotics or hormones ever. Our homemade french fries and kettle chips are hand-cut daily from locally grown potatoes and fried in rice bran oil.

SEASONs OF COEUR D’ALENE

HAYDEN, ID 8833 Hess St. 208-772-6205

 Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2pm-5pm

 Call now to inquire about our private banquet room

Established in 1940. Over 17 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream plus old-fashioned shakes and malts in any flavor. Six Time Winner of Inlander’s Best Of Reader’s Poll!

ice cream

& burgers EST 1940

COEUR D’ALENE | seasonsofcda.com 208-664-8008

Thursdays, 5-10 pm; $10 signature burger with draft beer or house wine. Featuring Idaho’s Snake River Farmers American Kobe ground fresh daily, caramelized onion tartar, Tillamook Oregon cheddar, tomato, leaf lettuce, fresh hand-cut fries. Or choose from grilled salmon club, buffalo, chicken andouille or falafel patties. Included with their burger, diners can choose a pint of any draft beer or a glass of the house red or white wine.

wood at 800 degrees, locking in all the juices and flavors

 Any burger -

Kobe beef, salmon, chicken andouille, buffalo or falafel

 Choose a pint of any

draft beer or a glass of the house red or white wine

 EVERY Thursday in

the bar - only $10!

Signature Kobe Pub Burger ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 39

south hill grill

south SPOKANE | SouthHillGrill.com 509-536-4745 South Hill’s Hidden Gem! Come to South Hill Grill for breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner. Our diverse menu satisfies every taste, from American classics, like burgers and tots to the freshest sushi on the South Hill! It’s like two amazing restaurants in one! Visit us at 2808 E. 29th Avenue.

Black n’ Bleu Burger

STEAM PLANT

Black n Bleu Burger - Blackened handcrafted Certified Angus Beef Patty, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, caramelized onions, smokey bleu cheese dressing, lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun.

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE | steamplantspokane.com 509-777-3900 Reinvented Kitchen. Reimagined Menu. Ready For You. Nowhere else in the region – and rare in the U.S. – is there a facility that so artfully exposes the inner workings of an industrial plant while providing an experience that is truly unmatched in its vitality and energy. Take advantage of a new wood-fired pizza oven, char-broiler, and smoker; the Kitchen has been completely reinvented and the menu re-imagined! Experience the space as a step above excellence!

Smokestack Burger

SWINGING DOORS

Try our Smokestack Burger with its signature burger blend, Tillamook cheddar, crispy onions, candied bacon, boilermaker BBQ sauce, garlic aioli with house fries. Just $16!

NORTH SPOKANE | theswingingdoors.com 509-326-6794

Classic Style 1/3 lb. Angus beef patty on a sesame seed bun Sub a gluten-free bun for $1 Sub a Beyond patty (vegetarian option) for $1 New Irish Burger!! Classic or 1018 topped with thin-sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and 1000 Island dressing! Served with house-made soup of the day, fries, salad, or cole slaw. If you’re really hungry add a side of Garlic Parmesan Fries and our amazing tartar sauce!

THREE PEAKS KITCHEN + BAR

AIRWAY HEIGHTS | spokanetribecasino.com/dining 877-786-9467

A Place Of Gathering Opening daily at 11AM, this casual dining restaurant serves quality scratch-made food from locally sourced ingredients, giving you a fine dining experience in a laid-back atmosphere. The menu is diverse, so it appeals to all palates, featuring daily specials that showcase Chef Blerita Kaba’s unique point of view. Try our Hickory Burger: Brioche Bun with Hickory BBQ, Herb Aioli, Applewood Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Crispy Onions and Spring Mix, with your choice of French Fries, Tater Tots or Green Bean Fries.

Hickory Burger

40 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

Sun-Thurs and 8am to 10pm Friday and Saturday.

¾ Prime Rib Dinner served Saturday and Sunday starting at 4:30pm.

¾ Monday - Thursday

Daily Specials. New appetizers and entrees featured weekly.

 Happy Hour: Mon-Sat

3pm-6pm, Fri & Sat nights 9-11pm, and all day Sunday!

 Reserve our brand-new

rooftop event space with its outdoor patio and unique city views.

 The Steam Plant was the

first building in Spokane to receive the prestigious National Preservation Honor Award

¾ New non-smoking full service patio

Meet, Eat, and Have Fun at The Swinging Doors!

1018 Style 1/2lb hand-packed Angus beef patty on a locally baked La Petite Chat Brioche Bun

¾ Open 8am to 9pm

Visit us today at 14300 W SR-2 inside Spokane Tribe Casino. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER

¾ 27 beers and ciders on tap

¾ Over 50 TVs ¾ Voted Best Sports Bar and Best Northside Neighborhood Restaurant

¾ Family owned and

operated since 1981

3PM-7PM  Happy Hour: 3PM-7PM

Daily. $3 Wells, Domestic Pints & House Wine. Food specials from $3-$5

 Large patio for dining

and cushioned seating areas to relax and visit with friends or family

 Kids menu and separate entrance makes Three Peaks family-friendly

PREVIOUSLY...

Lizzie is upset, understandably. She’s stuck in jail — charged with assault for shooting her estranged husband, Connor — and on TV she sees her 8-year-old daughter Carleen at a vigil for America’s latest massacre that left 500 dead. To be fair, Miller Cane, who’s been caring for Carleen, hadn’t planned this. Yes, he used to make his living traveling from mass shooting to mass shooting, comforting and conning survivors (like Jimmy Heffner), but this is different. He and Carleen were traveling through Missouri when tragedy found them, and now Carleen wants to stay and help. At the moment, Carleen’s spending the day with one of the town’s surviving kids, and Miller has the urge to write. Along the road, Miller, a school teacher by trade, has been writing brief biographies for a history textbook — each starting with the same question, “Hero or Villain?” — but his editor, George, fired him a while back when Miller’s stories took a wild turn.

CHAPTER 8, PART 3

iller got a table outside on the square in Springfield, where it was too hot for the end of October. They’d head out tomorrow for a few days, and while it didn’t seem fair that they could just leave like that, Miller knew the weight of the massacre would go with them. He opened his laptop — nothing from George. It didn’t matter. He was writing for himself now. A placard in front of the fountain designated Springfield “The birthplace of Route 66, the Mother Road.” Another sign mentioned the Ozark Jubilee, where Elvis had never played but

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Miller Cane: A True and Exact History, a new novel by Samuel Ligon, is being published for the first time in the pages of the Inlander. The latest installments of the book will always appear in print first, then on the web the following Wednesday MADE POSSIBLE BY and then on Spokane Public Radio, which is broadcasting audio versions of each installment. Visit MillerCane.Inlander.com for more details.

Patsy Cline had, as had Johnny Cash and Buck Owens, Kitty Wells and George Jones, Ernest Tubb and so many others. It was possible there were people in Springfield untouched by the massacre, but unlikely. Miller ordered another coffee and started to write.

HERO VILLAIN VIII — ELVIS PRESLEY AND JIM JONES

This isn’t about falling Elvis, full of doughnuts and pills, but rising Elvis, poor, weird, coming into himself — into country music and gospel and the blues, which he knew, more or less, were the same thing, or something all together different once combined. There’s nothing more American than rock and roll, except jazz and the blues and hot dogs and murder and pills and Jesus and booze, and while we may have invented rock and roll, we also forgot about it for a while, until the British reinvented it, by which point Elvis had guns in his boots and dope in his bloodstream all the time. He liked drugs and he liked women. He liked cars, costumes, badges. “I wish not to be given a title or an appointed position,” he told Richard Nixon. “I can and will do more good if I were made a Federal Agent at Large.” He spread his credentials across Nixon’s desk, a lieutenant’s badge from LA, a captain’s badge from Memphis, deputy badges from Hinds County, Cumberland County, Mobile, Alabama. He’d been studying Communist brainwashing techniques and drug culture for ten years, he told the President, and was ready to become a secret agent. He said he needed the federal credentials. Nixon turned to his deputy counsel. “Bud,” he said, “can we get him a badge?” Bud could get him a badge. Everybody was always getting and giving Elvis badges and drugs and sex and loyalty, and he gave them cufflinks and Cadillacs in return, plus horses and the aura of his invincibility. He

Unlimited $ 5 lines for

Only at local participating Sprint Locations. See stores for details.

was famous at 19, very famous at 20, the most famous person in the world at 21. He bought his mama a car and a house, and when he bought Graceland, he moved her and his daddy in with him. “Colonel Parker is more or less like a daddy when I’m away from my own folks,” he said. He called his mother every night from the road. Years later, Priscilla’s father said, “Our little girl is going to be a good wife.” But by then Elvis wasn’t much good to her. They were closest when she was 14 and he was 24, right after his mama died, when he was still rising. In high school, he was lonely and had no friends. He wore pink pants and attended the Assembly of God church, where people spoke in tongues and shivered in the presence of the lord. No one could believe it when he became famous so fast, igniting such ecstasy in his audience, and then it seemed as if we’d always known he’d become who he was — The King, risen from the commoners. “He had all the intricacy of the very simple,” Marion Keisker said. “Whatever you were looking for, you were going to find in him.” He had greasy hair and a dirty neck. He hung around Sun Records, waiting to become Elvis. His first single was blues on one side, country on the other, “That’s All Right” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” but not quite country, not quite the blues, or both and a little more. His manager was more interested in money than music, so money’s what they made. Elvis was grateful to the Colonel, attributing his success to him. Elvis would take care of the music and the Colonel would take care of the business, but business became all there was, bad movies and mediocre records and lots of money. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips said of meeting Elvis in 1953 that “He tried not to show it, but he felt so ...continued on next page

PER MONTH PER LINE

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 41

MILLER CANE: A TRUE AND EXACT HISTORY  Chapter 8, Part 3 continued... inferior. He reminded me of a black man in that way; his insecurity was so markedly like that of a black person.” “Elvis was a hero to most,” Chuck D said thirty-six year later. “But he never meant shit to me.” He worked at Precision Tool, drove a truck for Crown Electric. Once he started recording, being Elvis became his job, making music, then movies, except when he was in the Army, when his job was being a soldier and taking amphetamines his sergeant gave him to stay alert. He had a religious experience in the dessert — Stalin’s face in a cloud morphing into the face of Jesus Christ. He had lots of guns and cars and hangers-on. He had a chimpanzee named Scatter….

hands up in surrender. The woman laughed and leaned back into him. Miller watched them, barely registering the movement of another man by the fountain approaching them. Something was off with the other man. He wasn’t Heffner, was too small to be Heffner, but something was

Miller watched them, barely registering the movement of another man by the fountain...

iller looked up from his laptop, took a sip of coffee and watched people crossing the square. He wanted to focus on rising Elvis, but kept slipping into falling Elvis. Sometimes it was hard to see around the badges and dope and remember how remarkable the man had been. And how completely alone. Miller wanted to capture his vitality, the electricity of his best performances. The chimpanzee would be his transition to Jim Jones, who had chimpanzees of his own, one of whom was found shot in the head among the 900 dead at Jonestown. On a bench by the fountain in the center of the square, a couple sat kissing, untouched by the massacre, at least for the moment. Miller didn’t want to write about Jim Jones. He wanted to peel the ridiculous off Elvis, turning him into something beautiful and dangerous again, his ecstatic movement another manifestation of the music pouring out of him. The kissing couple pulled apart, the man holding his

42 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

wrong. Miller scanned the street, the square, the sidewalks. A flock of pigeons startled the other man as they lifted in flight in front of him, the man flinching, then cocking his head to watch the birds resettle. Miller felt the walls closing in, not wanting to know who the other man was and then knowing, Connor, the idiot, not fake Connor or imagined Connor, but actual goddamn Connor, not fifty feet away. Miller sank into his seat, face down into his computer screen. At surrounding tables, people were writing, reading, behaving themselves. Miller made himself small. He counted seven beats of his heart in his ears and when he looked up, Connor was gone, crossing the street toward the Fox theatre. Miller exhaled, closed his laptop and lifted himself, silent, invisible, eyes down as he walked into the coffee shop, toward the door that would lead him onto a side street. He heard her voice before he saw her. “Rice milk,” she said. “Not soy. Does that make sense?” None of it made sense, or it was all inevitable. Miller pivoted, fluid, silent, glancing toward her at the counter, all of them here now, and if she was inside and Con-

nor out, the two of them were in Springfield together — impossible. Hadn’t she shot him? Didn’t that mean anything? He glided onto the patio, a shadow. The only way out was over the wrought iron fence enclosing the sidewalk tables. “Miller,” she said behind him. Maybe he could knock the fence over, bull his way through. “Miller,” she said. Connor was in front of the history museum now, walking away. “Miller,” she said, touching his shoulder. He turned and she was herself, but worn down, washed out. She’d lost a lot of weight in jail. “Lizzie,” he said, mouth open, eyes wide, an imitation of surprise. She started to say something, but he talked over her. “Oh my God,” he said opening his arms, “I can’t believe —” She stepped into his hug. How many times he had dreamed of her coming to him this way. But not quite this way. Across the square, Connor moved farther away. Maybe it was coincidence that Lizzie and Connor were both in Springfield, in which case Miller needed to warn her, protect her, get them all on the road and away from here. “Where’s Carleen?” she said, pulling away and looking around, as if Carleen might materialize and jump into her arms. On their bench by the fountain in the center of the square the kissing couple were still kissing, another sign that perhaps none of this was real. “Miller,” Lizzie said. “Where is she?” n

MILLER CANE CONTINUES IN NEXT WEEK’S INLANDER

ARTS

PRIMITIVE MECHANICS

Zimoun’s “wall of sound” is real, and it’s spectacular.

PRICHARD ART GALLERY PHOTO

Zimoun uses simple materials to create “complex behavior” in an exhibit at the U of I BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

t’s hard to know what to think of the Zimoun exhibit at the University of Idaho’s Prichard Gallery, and that may be precisely the artist’s intent. Although the work is intellectually stimulating, each of the five installations designed for or adapted to the gallery space prompts a visceral reaction first. From the gallery entryway, for example, a floor-toceiling wall of 161 cardboard boxes sounds and, more importantly, feels like an engine room: low humming overlaid with muffled, yet rhythmic thumping. Moving

closer, you see something — a small motor — causing a white ball to strike the center of each 27-inch square box. The wire connecting each ball to its motor varies in length, and the boxes are not stacked perfectly square. Rather than intimidate, the wall of sound, if you will, is innocuous. But from his second floor office, gallery director Roger Rowley hears something else entirely. “It’s like living under a waterfall,” says Rowley, making a gesture with his hands to indicate how the sound

surrounds him. “I connect the works to various things myself,” says Zimoun via email interview from his home base in Bern, Switzerland. “It’s almost an endless list. Nature is one of them.” In his statement accompanying the exhibit, Zimoun writes: “Through primitive mechanical systems, I look to activate unspectacular and raw materials which then start to develop a complex behavior.” ...continued on next page

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 43

CULTURE | ARTS

Everyday materials are vital to Zimoun’s work.

Introducing

“PRIMITIVE MECHANICS,” CONTINUED...

Kaylie Sylvester PA-C, Family Medicine Kaylie Sylvester earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program at University of Washington School of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. In her spare time, Kaylie enjoys learning guitar, whitewater kayaking, skiing, rock climbing, mountain biking, learning Spanish, and the gut microbiome.

Now accepting new patients.

Northeast Community Center 4001 North Cook Street Spokane, WA 99207 (509) 483-3427

yvfwc.com

The primitive mechanical systems, at least in this exhibit, are direct current motors slightly larger than a golf ball, although Zimoun has employed fans, pendulum motors and other devices in other installations, which have appeared in 25 countries over the artist’s 15 years exhibiting. The unspectacular items include cardboard boxes, dense fabric balls, various sized sticks, and wooden disks the size of a CD, plus assorted ropes and wires connecting said objects to their respective direct current motors. Zimoun titles the works according to their contents — the wall of boxes starts with 161 prepared dc motors — which is beyond understated, like describing Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting in terms of paint and canvas. It’s not just the objects causing sound, nor the installation as a visual element, but rather the whole experience that make this such an intriguing exhibit. The visual aspect and the sound are equally important, one and the same, Zimoun says. “You see what you hear and you hear what you see,” he explains. “You even smell it.” Visually, however, Zimoun is a minimalist. The boxes are a banal brown; colors of other items are neutral: black, white, metallic or gray. This allows the viewer to focus on sound, of course, but also form, motion, and the play of light as objects move. The viewer’s experience becomes part of the narrative of each installation as well as the exhibition as a whole. Standing at the edge of an installation whose title begins 153 prepared dc motors, you watch and listen as short black sticks suspended from the ceiling drag and chirp against the floor. Their dragging triggers a reaction in the rope, causing the sticks to jangle more energetically, raising the pitch and quality of sound before resuming the previous cycle. Imagine, though, 153 sticks all doing this at the same time, out of sync, yet also united by their uniform appearance. One can see numerous conceptual parallels to the human condition.

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PRICHARD ART GALLERY PHOTO

In an adjacent installation, the viewer can enter the room and sit in front of the work: 98 flat wooden disks, each suspended from a rope attached to a motor mounted to the ceiling. The disks shimmy, some so much they look as if they’ll spin upright, but never do. There is a tension in watching and hearing this piece, which sounds like flapping wings. The viewer, by entering the room is complicit in the drama, even if only on the periphery. The fifth installation feels the most inclusive and personal. It allows the viewer to sit in the middle of the room where 198 long wooden sticks are suspended from a rail along the perimeter of the ceiling. Unlike the other installations, not only is the wood unpaintMORE EVENTS ed — the knots Visit Inlander.com for lend a sense of complete listings of individuality to local events. the sticks — the pieces actually move enough to touch each other. The sound is gentle and insistent, reassuring even, or maybe it’s the interaction of objects themselves that is reassuring. Reactions to the work vary widely, says Rowley, who notes that during the opening reception, some viewers expressed a sense of anxiety, even anger. Do people see themselves in the bobbling cotton balls? Do they sense the futility in disks that shimmy but can’t right themselves? Do they look for meaning in the randomized rhythm of movement and, finding none or not one to their liking, experience a sort of cosmic stress? There is no answer, only the individual experience. n Zimoun exhibit • Through Sept. 22; Tue-Sat 10 am-8 pm, Sun 10 am-6 pm • free • University of Idaho, Prichard Gallery • 414 S. Main St., Moscow • prichardart.org • 208-885-3586

CULTURE | DIGEST

JEFF DREW ILLUSTRATION

TOOT, TOOT We don’t spend a lot of time at the Inlander patting ourselves on the back, but several of our staff reporters and contributors recently were awarded well-earned recognition by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s annual conference. Here’s the prize breakdown:  Wilson Criscione, 3rd place for Beat Reporting for

covering sexual harassment in higher education;  Daniel Walters, 1st place in Food Writing for his

cover story “Don’t Sauté Your Laptop (And Other Home Cooking Tips)”;  Samantha Wohlfeil, 2nd place for Long-form News Story for her cover story “A Long Road to Die”;  Jeff Drew, 3rd place in Illustration for his Scholastic Fantastic artwork;  The Inlander, 3rd place in Innovation/Format Buster for Sam Ligon’s serialized novel Miller Cane.

CDs Till Death

BY DAN NAILEN

hirty years ago this summer I bought my first compact disc, a double-CD called Greenpeace: Rainbow Warriors that included tunes by the likes of R.E.M., Peter Gabriel and other rock ’n’ roll do-gooders trying to, um, save whales? Fight pirates? Whatever Greenpeace was doing, I’m sure it was great. My focus was on my next great leap in music consumerism. I may have grumbled about buying my favorite albums again after already purchasing them on vinyl and cassette, but I was thrilled at the potential of CDs. Vinyl was too big to keep collecting when my whole world had to fit in half a dorm room. Cassettes were more convenient, but ran the risk of being eaten by my

THE BUZZ BIN

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST Some noteworthy new music arrives online and in stores July 19. To wit: FLAMING LIPS, King’s Mouth: Music and Songs. A concept album that’s the soundtrack for one of singer Wayne Coyne’s art installations. Enter carefully, Lips fans. THOM YORKE, Anima. The Radiohead singer’s first solo album in five years arrives with an accompanying Netflix short film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. I’m sure it’s not at all pretentious. SUM 41, Order In Decline. My totally real Canadian girlfriend says these pop-punks are bigger than Rush in the Great White North. (DAN NAILEN)

powder-blue Ford Escort’s tape deck. There’s only so many times you can lose a Purple Rain or Licensed To Ill before you snap. CDs offered a size compromise, and a promise the sound would be so much better than vinyl or cassette. That promise proved bogus, of course, but technological improvements since got us to where CDs do (or, at least, can) sound great. Of course, in 2019 no one buys CDs anymore, right? We all stream on our service of choice. I get it. It’s convenient to enter a room and say, “Alexa, play my cow-punk playlist.” I’m no Luddite. At the risk, though, of evoking images of an old man shouting at kids and their newfangled listening devices to get off my lawn, I am here to stump for CDs as the best music lover’s medium. And I’m doing it as someone who puts his money where his mouth is — I just bought a couple, the latest by alt-country troubadour Justin Townes Earle and Portland rockers Summer Cannibals (both excellent, by the way). I’m not typically one to wear a tinfoil hat, but I can’t see trusting the streaming services with my music needs. What if the clouds all crash? When Russian hackers start attacking our music services instead of voting booths, you’ll wish you had physical media to fall back on. And there’s something to the tactile experience of popping a disc in a player, looking at a CD’s artwork and having an album actually end, rather than simply rolling into the next thing YouTube decides. The biggest hurdle I see in listening to my CDs until the day I die is finding functioning players to spin them on, and training the nurses at my eventual nursing home how to play music without an internet connection. n

TAKING WOODSTOCK As organizers struggle to secure the permits for a concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival, it’s as good a time as any to reflect on the failure that was Woodstock ’99. Break Stuff is a new podcast, hosted by journalist Steven Hyden, that will provide a more detailed account of the infamous event, which is now best remembered for the rape, arson and general destruction that occurred over the course of its four days, and for a Limp Bizkit set that reportedly inspired riots. It was, uh, not a great time for popular music. You can currently listen to the first episode for free at luminarypodcasts.com. (NATHAN WEINBENDER)

WALL ART The Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood is about to get a little more colorful. Local artist Tiffany Patterson is set to collaborate with renowned muralist Mick Burson, working on a mural that will occupy the south side of the building at 2726 N. Monroe (next to Gerardo’s). Patterson says she’s already received city funding for the project, which will begin next week, but she has also posted a GoFundMe that is currently working toward a $2,000 goal. Get more information at gofundme.com/ short-notice-mick-amp-tiffany-muralproject. (NATHAN WEINBENDER)

FRIENDLY FOES The battle between good and evil is a tale as old as time. And in Good Omens’ case, this phrase is taken very literally, as the main characters — angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) — are actually as old as time. The series based on authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s 1990 novel is filled with a cast of wacky characters played by top-notch actors (Nick Offerman and Jon Hamm just to name a couple), quick-witted dialogue, a compelling, ridiculous and thought-provoking plotline, insane effects and a killer soundtrack to top it off. You will be left in awe by the time you reach the end of episode six. Now streaming on Amazon Prime. (RILEY UTLEY)

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 45

CULTURE | BOOK REVIEW

Writing across time and landscapes Spokane author Shann Ray moves from brutality to beauty in his latest work BY MINDY CAMERON

n his new book, Blood Fire Vapor Smoke, author Shann Ray takes readers into the depths of human depravity with vivid, brutal scenes from the genocide otherwise known as the Native American wars. The book is a collection of short stories — fiction, but the battle scenes and other grim settings are based on history’s brutal facts. The stories range from Indian battlefields to Gaddafi in his last days; from a dispirited diplomat in a war-torn country in Africa to two men living on the fringes of life in Spokane. Ray writes across time and landscapes with insight and occasional tenderness, as in a story of a boy who “loved basketball like he loved family.” Read these stories for their power and their beauty. Ray is also a poet and brings a poet’s sensitivity and language to descriptions of landscapes and, in more intimate details, to human relationships. Here’s a passage after a battle: “A lantern moon, full and dirty, hung low in the early dark and touched the land with opaque light. Over the battlefield, winds sent a flock of black swifts swerving.” Writing like this gives the reader a restful moment after the ugliness of killing and taking body parts. Readers who pore over book jackets will also know that Ray is a clinical psychologist who specializes in psy-

46 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

chology of men. No surprise then, that men are front and center in these stories, often in relation to strong women. The two men in Spokane, Ray writes, were “growing progressively more ugly, fulfilling want by whatever means necessary.” Both emerged years later, “broken and better,” salvaged by a rebirth of love. In the story of an American diplomat, an African boy, perhaps 18, is the object of the diplomat’s obsession. He sees the boy and does not forget him as time passes and the country becomes more dangerous; Americans are evacuated, but the diplomat stays, looking, remembering “the collar bones, the eyes, the voice.” Here again Ray weaves fact with fiction. This chapter is straight out of the headlines as the diplomat follows news of “white-sponsored terror” in the U.S. and reckons with events like the killings at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, S.C. The diplomat recalls his reading of Carl Jung and his knowledge of the U.S. Cavalry who massacred the Cheyenne. Ray has something important to say here about men, honor, love, and human despair. Ray is a versatile writer, delving into a deeply personal drama in a foreign setting and returning home to Montana, to write about the intimacy of love and mar-

Spokane author Shann Ray.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

A Night of Music and Words with Shann Ray • Wed, July 24 at 7 pm • Free • Auntie’s Bookstore • 402 W. Main • auntiesbooks. com • 838-0206

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riage. A man of the rugged landscape marries a ballerina and experiences mutual love for the first time. It’s a story of the heartbreak of infidelity, complex emotions and healing. Literature is full of similar stories. What’s special here is the precision of the writing, the pain on the page. “Before her, he’d loved women, but they had not loved him… he’d always walked with his head bowed, his massive shoulders bent inward as if to protect and shield his heart.” Finally, with Everett, the boy who loves basketball, Ray treats the reader to a story with a lighter touch. Though Everett Highwalker’s young life is filled with dreams and disappointments, VP (the vice principal) looks after him and nurtures his basketball dreams. A sweet story about the power of a mentor in a boy’s life. An important motif throughout this collection that features men in central roles is the respect accorded women — especially in the Native tribes portrayed here. Ray quotes a Cheyenne proverb: “A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground.” The book cover provides a clue with this note about Ray: “Because of his wife and three daughters, he believes in love.” Ray demonstrates that belief in a book of poetry, Sweetclover, also published this year. It is dedicated to his wife and can be read as a series of love poems to her, about her, about his love for her. It is wild and earthy, sensual and spiritual. He pays homage to married love in all its dimensions. For readers attuned to the luscious landscapes of our region, find further delight with acts of love amid the mountains, rivers, prairies, flowers and boundless skies. Sweetclover is a welcome endnote to the intense and often dark Blood Fire Vapor Smoke. n

Try it! Track it! Win it!

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 47

EVENT

THE TASTE OF

Rewind owners Kris Kilduff and Sara Thorpe with Harry Potter-themed table props for their next pop-up dinner. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

NOSTALGIA A new pop-up dinner series combines creative food with the power of pop culture BY CHEY SCOTT

ith food as the medium and some of the most beloved characters, worlds and stories in modern pop culture as the inspiration, a new local pop-up dinner series is bringing fictional realms into reality. Rewind Pop Culture Pop-Up Dinners launched earlier this year just before the premiere of Game of Thrones’ eighth and final season, serving a coursed dinner with “deviled dragon eggs,” “Jon Snow pea salad,” “Red Wedding” cake and more. The dinner’s setting, a dimly lit room filled with thematic props and decor, transported guests to the show’s fictional home of Westeros. Rewind’s second dinner, inspired by Saturday morn-

48 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

ing cartoons of the 1980s and early ’90s, served dishes like “lasagna al Garfield,” with “cereal milk ice cream” for dessert. Cheese boards for the first course were served on creatively upcycled mousetraps in a nod to Tom & Jerry. Guests were encouraged to come in pajamas to nostalgically relive a piece of childhood. Next, Rewind is paying homage to the Boy Who Lived — Harry Potter — on the beloved book character’s birthday, July 31. Unfortunately for fans who haven’t already reserved a seat, that event is now sold out. Rewind’s organizers plan to, however, host many future themed dinners, and possibly some popular reruns.

Rewind is the creative venture of Spokane foodies Kris Kilduff and Sara Thorpe, a couple who share an appreciation for nerd and pop culture, and enjoying good food with friends. “Outside of any food thing, I’m an uber nerd,” Kilduff says. “I collect toys and things, and one thing I always did for fun was taking things like The Princess Bride and saying ‘How fun would it be to create a menu that is all Princess Bride-themed?’” “Basically we just like to feed our friends and we like to throw parties,” Thorpe adds. On the menu for Harry’s birthday dinner are dishes each inspired by spells from the book and film series’

wizarding world. The second course, “Lumos Maxima,” is a purple endive “wand” filled with lemon pepper bacon, green apple, shaved lavender espresso cheese, cured egg yolk and a drizzle of champagne vinaigrette. Course four, “Expecto Patronum,” is a dish of minced venison and beef cottage pie, served in a dark stout gravy with seared “screaming mandrakes,” made from baby turnips. “It’s about the experience. Each one of our courses is somewhat interactive,” Kilduff explains. “So for, say, dessert, the spell is a breaking spell, so we’re creating a golden sugar cage that you break into to expose your dessert.” For each dinner, Rewind partners with many local artisans and vendors. Lucky Lady Bread, Bombshell Sweets gourmet cotton candy and Devin’s Desserts are partners for the third dinner.

hile Rewind’s founders haven’t yet seen that initial Princess Bride meal come to fruition, the 1987 film and plenty more dinner parties inspired by movies, books, nerd culture and more (Star Wars, Tim Burton, Marvel, Disney, old-school video games, etc.) are on their growing wish list. Those active in the region’s culinary community may recognize Kilduff’s name; he was an early adopter in local food blogging and has organized several local food-focused events, including the Restaurant Wars competition (currently on hiatus) and Secret Burger, a ticketed off-menu dining series. For Rewind’s events, the self-taught chef does most of the cooking, all from scratch. Thorpe, meanwhile, grew up in a restaurant-owning family, learning scratch cooking skills from her grandmother and parents. She’s worked in the industry all her life; bartending, waiting tables and other positions. In addition to managing the front-ofhouse details for Rewind’s dinners, Thorpe oversees each event’s detailed decor to evoke an immersive atmosphere. Most of the table and event decor is thrifted, upcycled or handmade by the couple, like dragon eggs made out of foam and spray-painted thumb tacks for the Game of Thrones’ dinner. “Every time we do one, we take over the room and recreate it into a scene from whatever it is that we’re doing,” Kilduff says. For Harry’s birthday, guests will be “sorted” into Hogwarts houses and throughout the evening can earn points for their house during activities. On-theme music, games and other interactive elements are always a part of each Rewind event. Rewind’s owners aim to keep ticket prices to under $40 R E S TA U R A N T FINDER per person. To do so, specialty Looking for a new place to cocktails and other alcoholic eat? Search the region’s drinks are optional add-ons, most comprehensive bar which means the series is also and restaurant guide at all ages. Inlander.com/places. Upcoming pop culture dinners are announced on Rewind’s social media channels, on Facebook and Instagram, several weeks in advance. Seating so far has been limited to between 40 and 60 people, hence each dinner so far quickly selling out. While the couple plan to host pop-up dinners at venues around the region, the first three have been at the Ref Sports Bar in Spokane Valley, in a private event space. For Rewind’s next event, on Sunday, Sept. 8, the theme is Stephen King’s It, timed with the release of the sequel film, It: Chapter 2. “It’s going to be scary,” Thorpe says. “It’s all been so fun and whimsical, but this one is going to be very horror themed, and definitely for Stephen King fans.” The plan is for admission to include a pre-dinner showing of the film. “Food has that nostalgia profile. Everyone has an ‘oh my mom made this,’ [moment]. Pop culture is the same… it brings you to an exact time and place,” Kilduff reflects. “We really try and just spur that nostalgia when you come to these dinners.” n Harry Potter’s Birthday: Rewind Pop-Up Dinner • Wed, July 31 at 6 pm • Sold out • The Ref Sports Bar • 14208 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley • facebook.com/rewindpopculturedinners

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JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 49

FOOD | OPENING

AUG

A Big Bite of Home The Alvarez family opened Tarascon Empanadas restaurant in Spokane because no one else was making the tasty, Argentinian dish BY ARCELIA MARTIN

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n their home country of Argentina, the Alvarez family didn’t have to travel far for an empanada. At the closest street vendor, the grocery store, or restaurant, empanadas were always an easy and nearby find. Here in Spokane, the case is a little different. Empanadas, literally meaning “wrapped in bread,” are hearty and versatile palm-sized pies that can be served any time of the day, and filled with a number of traditional or unique fillings. After the Alvarez family moved to Spokane nine years ago, immigrating from Mar del Plata, a coastal city in Buenos Aires, they soon realized empanadas were nowhere to be found. The closest Argentine empanada restaurant, Empanada Joint, is in Missoula, more than 200 miles away. So the Alvarez family continued to do what they’ve done for as long as they can remember: Make empanadas a mano, or by hand. Now, they’re inviting Spokane to eat an empanada — or two —with them at their new family-run restaurant Tarascon Empanadas, which shares a storefront with Asian restaurant Mr. Wok on the Newport Highway in North Spokane. Tarascon’s beef empanada ($3.25) is filled with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, green olives, hard boiled eggs and spices, while the vegetarian humita empanada ($3.25) is filled with corn, onion, bell pepper, cheese and spices. Other filling choices include chicken, ham and cheese, spinach and mushrooms. Tarascon in Argentine slang means to take a big bite out of something because it’s too good to eat slowly. “Our goal is to be authentic,” says Ari Alvarez, the family patriarch. “And that was probably the main thing when we were going to open a

Tarascon’s spinach and mushroom empanadas.

DEREK HARRISON PHOTO

restaurant. There’s not another Argentinian place in the area… so we don’t know if people will like it or not.” Whether or not people in the Spokane area would like Argentine flavors was a question the family had to ask themselves: Are there no Argentine restaurants in Spokane for a reason? Is it because Spokane doesn’t like empanadas? Their first week of business, in late June showed otherwise. They sold over 1,000 empanadas. The family’s small empanada counter is planned to be a precursor to Alvarez’s son’s dream of opening up a large Argentine steakhouse. “We decided to take it one step at a time,” his son, also named Ari, says. “I want to serve empanadas in the steakhouse I want to open, but it’s kind of like you need to know what you’re doing to have that kind of big scale of a restaurant. So we thought that this might be a better option.”

ather, mother and son all pull 16 hour shifts, seven days a week, to prepare and serve their empanadas all day long. Daughter Maria also comes in every Saturday to help. Each morning Ana Alvarez prepares the flour-based dough for the day’s batch. Then the younger Ari prepares all the fillings and chimichurri, a parsley-based Argentine sauce that’s served on the side. Chimichurri fries ($2) are the only other food item sold at Tarascon. Next, Ana spoons filling onto dough circles before folding and sealing each empanada. At home, Ana closes the empanadas by hand, making a repulgue, or a seal, to keep in all of the fillings. But at Tarascon, she has a press that closes three at once and also prints the restaurant name onto the seal. At the restaurant, the Alvarez’s use red food dye stamps to identify the different empanadas, but when making them at home, they get a little creative to tell the fillings apart. They sometimes make different patterns for the repulgues, using a fork or their fingers to make the seal, or a homemade labeling system. When eating an empanada, the best way is to put down the knife and fork and grab it with a napkin, in case any juice leaks out. “Here people don’t know how to eat them,” Ana says. “If you use a fork and a knife the fillings will go out and you will miss it. So many people say ‘OK, we’ll eat it the Argentinian way.’ Then they say ‘thank you for the lesson.’” n Tarascon Empanadas • 9222 N. Newport Hwy. • Open Sun-Thu 11 am- 8 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am8:30 pm • tarasconempanadas.com

Working on Its Roar Even if it’s a lesser cover version of a classic original, turns out it’s pretty hard to screw up The Lion King BY SETH SOMMERFELD

ave you seen 1994 hand-animated version of The Lion King? Well then, congrats! For all intents and purposes, you’ve already seen 2019’s CGI-animated (don’t call it “live action”) version. And the original is a great movie! This new one isn’t quite its equal for a variety of reasons, but it’s still good family popcorn fare. Any doubts of remaining true to the original dissipate instantly during a virtual shot-for-shot remake of the majestic “Circle of Life” opening sequence. From there, it’s essentially the same Hamlet-esque script full of talking animals as the prior version of The Lion King. For the uninitiated: The lion Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones, reprising his role from the original) is the king of the Pride Lands in Africa, and his son Simba (JD McCrary as a cub; Donald Glover as an adult) will one day rule. Simba’s evil uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is not too keen on this, and puts into motion a plot that will result in his ascent to the throne while Simba lives in exile. Simba meets a couple of fun-loving buddies — Timon the meerkat (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa the warthog (Seth Rogen) — who lift his spirits until his childhood lioness pal Nala

(Shahadi Wright Joseph as a cub; Beyoncé as an adult) shows up begging for Simba to return. Sparks fly. So what difference does the change in animation style make to the final product? Quite a lot. On the positive side, the detail in the animals is far more pronounced. The difference between Mufasa’s kingly frame and Scar’s stringier, ratty body is striking in a way that’s harder to get across in hand-drawn frames. The cuteness of lion cubs or other adorable wildlife stands out more because they’re made to look real. But more often than not, the journey away from the original’s animation is a hindrance to Lion King ’19. Right off the bat, the adherence to some sense of visual realism is mostly limiting. The biggest manifestation of this issue is the creatures’ faces, which aren’t anywhere near as expressive this time around. As a result, the emotional connections with the characters aren’t nearly as strong. And it may seem surprising, but the Planet Earth detail of the backgrounds also holds things back. There are far fewer vivid colors in the visual palette this go-round: The elephant graveyard isn’t as spooky and

dark, while the warm neon skies that set the mood in the original “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” number are gone. The “realism” really rears its ugly head when sucking the animal-dancing fun out of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” or, most gallingly, not giving real shape to Mufasa appearing the clouds. In this bit-too-authentic world, Eichner and Rogen stand out even more as a breath of fresh air voicing Timon and Pumbaa. The variation of their jokes serves as the only major dialogue changes, offering fun quips about locally sourced food, Disney references, and selfreferential plays on the original film. The comedians’ banter chemistry is tastier than a crème-filled grub. And lest we forget, The Lion King is a musical. Unsurprisingly, the songs all still hold up. And while some of the actors aren’t exactly A-plus singers (I doubt Rogen would take any offense to that), the updated versions all go down smooth. And who’s really gonna argue with a Beyoncé/Childish Gambino version of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”? (Careful, the Beyhive will come after you.) While it’s a rather bare nostalgic cash grab, the framework of The Lion King is so sturdy that it still holds up with a different coat of paint. Would it have saved everyone time and money to just re-release the OG on the big screen? Sure. But The Lion King is thankfully unscrew-up-able. n

THE LION KING

Rated PG Directed by Jon Favreau Starring Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogen

JULY 18, 2019 INLANDER 51

FILM | SHORTS

OPENING FILMS THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE

A dark satire about violence and masculinity, starring Jesse Eisenberg as a meek accountant who is mugged and becomes obsessed with some bizarre martial arts practices. (NW) Rated R

THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

From French filmmaker Denys Arcand, a crime caper about a bumbling delivery man who makes off with money from a botched robbery and becomes wracked with guilt. (NW) Rated R

THE LION KING

Sure, it’s nowhere near as good as the original, but this CGI remake of Disney’s 1994 classic is nonetheless an entertaining, visually sumptuous jungle adventure. The stories and songs remain foolproof — hakuna matata, indeed. (SS) Rated PG

TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM

The themes and influences of Toni Morrison’s groundbreaking work are explored in this documentary, with insights from Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis and the great novelist herself. At the Magic Lantern. (NW) Rated PG-13

CRITICS’ SCORECARD THE INLANDER

NEW YORK TIMES

VARIETY

METACRITIC.COM

(LOS ANGELES)

CRAWL

THE LION KING

MIDSOMMAR

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

STUBER

TOY STORY 4

YESTERDAY

DON’T MISS IT

WORTH $10

WATCH IT AT HOME

ALADDIN

ANNABELLE COMES HOME

That possessed doll is back again for the most stylish and atmospheric of the Conjuring spinoffs. It’s still little more than a compendium of haunted house cliches, but could be worse. (NW) Rated R

BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE

An inspirational documentary about the surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack, looking at how she has tackled a pro career and motherhood. (NW) Rated PG

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

Documentarian John Chester films himself and his wife Molly as they trade in their urban L.A. life for a full-service, 200-acre farm. At the Magic Lantern. (NW) Rated PG

CRAWL

As a hurricane barrels down on Florida, a young woman and her father are trapped in a flooding house surrounded by very hungry alligators. A goofy, zippy

52 INLANDER JULY 18, 2019

SKIP IT

Crawl

NOW PLAYING A bland, stiffly staged live-action retelling of the animated Disney classic about a petty thief who woos a princess with the help of a wisecracking genie. A whole new world this is not. (MJ) Rated PG

(OUT OF 100)

creature feature. (NW) Rated R

ECHO IN THE CANYON

Part documentary and part concert film, this is an entertaining tribute to the innovations and continuing influence of the L.A. rock scene of the mid-’60s. At the Magic Lantern. (NW) Rated PG-13

INDIAN HORSE

Set in 1970s Canada, a First Nations boy becomes a star hockey player in a predominantly white community. At the Magic Lantern. (NW) Not Rated

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 — PARABELLUM

Keanu Reeves’ stoic assassin is back for more ultraviolence, and this time he has a bounty on his head. Frustratingly frontloaded and too long, but it works as a showcase for lithe action choreography. (NW) Rated R

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO

Debut director Joe Talbot examines gentrification in the Bay Area by way of a man who’s still clinging to the house his grandfather supposedly built. Beautifully shot and powerfully acted. (NW) Rated R

MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson

are the next generation of extra-terrestrial bounty hunters, but even their combined charisma can’t enliven this joyless, ultimately pointless franchise reboot. (NW) Rated PG-13

MIDSOMMAR

Ari Aster’s follow-up to Hereditary is another horror freak-out, this time about a fracturing American couple swallowed up by a Swedish cult. As perverse, unsettling and brutal as you’d expect. (JB) Rated R

PAVAROTTI

Director Ron Howard’s latest music documentary focuses on legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who helped bring opera to the mainstream. At the Magic Lantern. (NW) Rated PG-13

ROCKETMAN

Elton John’s songs come to glittery life in this unconventional musical fantasia, starring Taron Egerton as the flamboyant pop star battling addiction and his own sexuality. It’s energetic, imaginative and full of exhilarating images. (ES) Rated R

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

Animated sequels don’t get more blah than this, a disjointed, only occasionally engaging follow-up to the familyfriendly hit about what our pets do

when we’re not home. (MJ) Rated PG

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

Even on a trip to Europe, Peter Parker can’t dodge his superhero duties, donning his Spidey suit to fight off some evil humanoids known as the Elementals. A sharp and funny continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (SS) Rated PG-13

STUBER

A fitfully amusing buddy-action comedy about a rideshare driver Kumail Nanjiani who becomes unwitting chauffeur to vision-impaired cop Dave Bautista, chasing down the gang that killed his partner. (NW) Rated R

TOY STORY 4

Pixar’s most beloved franchise returns to assault your tear ducts. Having been given to a new owner, Woody and Buzz Lightyear have some familiar fun-filled adventures while also ruminating about the existential angst of being a toy. (MJ) Rated G

YESTERDAY

A promising concept — a struggling musician discovers he’s the only person on Earth who remembers the Beatles, and cashes in — can’t overcome sluggish execution. Don’t overthink this one. (MJ) Rated PG-13 n

SUMMER TUNES

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TICKETS: $9 TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM (119 MIN)

Fast Color, a strange sci-fi parable that’s now available to rent.

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FRI: 6:00 SAT: 4:00 SUN: 3:30 MON-WED: 6:15 THU: 7:00

INDIAN HORSE (101 MIN)

FRI: 3:45 SAT: 6:15 SUN: 1:30 MON-THU: 4:15

ECHO IN THE CANYON (82 MIN)

FRI/SAT: 2:10, 7:10 SUN: 1:00, 7:10 MON-THU: 7:10 PAVAROTTI (114 MIN) FRI-THU: 5:00

Young women harness strange powers and pop music stardom in a pair of new indie releases

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (120 MIN) FRI-THU: 2:45

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

BY NATHAN WEINBENDER

FAST COLOR

“The world’s going to die. I can feel it.” So go the opening lines of Julia Hart’s Fast Color, and that sense of apocalyptic foreboding infuses the whole film. It’s a strange deconstruction of superhero mythos about three generations of gifted women learning to harness their powers for good. Earth is in the middle of a drought: Everyone lugs around plastic containers full of water, which now goes for top dollar. We follow an elusive woman named Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who’s on the run through rural New Mexico, a scabrous landscape of fleabag motels and roadside diners. The movie only slowly reveals what it’s up to. There’s an earthquake, and not only is Ruth able to warn others before it happens, but she seems to be its root source. We discover she’s being pursued by a government scientist (Christopher Denham) and a small-town sheriff (David Straithairn). We see flashes of her past through a series of disconnected images. As she hides out in an isolated farmhouse with her mother (Lorraine Toussant), Ruth reconnects with the young daughter she abandoned long ago. The little girl (Saniyya Sidney) has a genius for engineering and seems to have inherited the same strange powers: She can disassemble objects on a molecular level, so that they swirl around in a colorful mist, then put them back together. The pieces of the film, meanwhile, don’t click together until at least an hour in, and that’s part of the appeal: Fast Color slowly draws you into its unfolding mystery, and although its finale leaves something to be desired — this is, after all, lowbudget sci-fi that relies more on atmosphere than spectacle — it’s an intelligently made genre piece. Available to rent on iTunes and Amazon.

WEEKDAYS ONLY

(90 MIN) MON-THU: 2:30 13th (100 MIN) SUN: 6:00 MEANINGFUL MOVIES

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TEEN SPIRIT

Teen Spirit is a tale about the pleasures and perils of pop superstardom told with the simplicity of an allegory, though unlike any good allegory, it never manages to deliver a coherent moral. Elle Fanning stars as Violet Valenski, a shy 17-year-old who lives with her Polish mother on a farm on the Isle of Wight. She dreams of becoming a popular singer, and with the help of a washed-up Croatian opera singer (Zlatko Buric), she makes it to the finals on a televised singing competition show called Teen Spirit. And… that’s basically it. The bulk of the film consists of auditions and performances that are photographed and edited like contemporary music videos (though, curiously, most of the songs on the soundtrack are hits from at least a decade ago). Director Max Minghella, best known as an actor, seems to have put visuals first, with a striking palette of neon that makes us feel as if we’re being blinded by the spotlight. His script isn’t as thought through. It sets up a number of potential (and predictable) conflicts — the image-obsessed public, craven record executives, the threat of booze and drugs — only to casually sidestep them all. Violet’s rise to fame is also curiously expedited: She seems to have been on TV only a handful of times and is already a polished, arena-ready performer. On a superficial level, Teen Spirit is similar to last year’s show-biz melodrama Vox Lux, in that it’s never clear about what it wants to say — about the state of pop music or the budding star at its center — and ends just as it’s ramping up. An appropriate closing credits song might have been Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” Available to rent on iTunes and Amazon. n

A WINE AND FOOD AFFAIR WELCOMES YOU TO

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Best-Ever Lineup of Gourmet Food Bites Sunday • July 21 • 2-6 pm Davenport Grand Hotel Ballroom

Retail Store • Buy your favorite wine to take home Proceeds benefit Spokane Youth Sports Association