ating out is always a privilege, and doing it affordably these days is challenging. When midday hunger strikes or you find yourself invited out to happy hour with friends, picking the most convenient place, geographically speaking, for a bite and a beverage is the easiest choice. But it may not always be the cheapest, and that’s where our annual CHEAP EATS issue comes in.
Inside this week’s tasty cover section we’ve got a guide to Taco Tuesday — one of the most reliably filling deals out there — where to stuff yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet, a roundup of great lunch specials and much more. Also read about how our Music and Screen editor stretched a $50 budget, challenging himself to eat three meals a day for three consecutive days. Did he succeed? You’ll have to read to find out, starting on page 18.
— CHEY SCOTT, Editor
It’s why
teach customers how to save energy and reward them for adopting energy-efficiency measures.
Colleen Bell-Craig (x212), Raja Bejjani (x242) ADVERTISING COORDINATORS PRODUCTION
Ali Blackwood (x228)
PRODUCTION TEAM MANAGER, CREATIVE, DIGITAL & MARKETING
Tom Stover (x265) PRINT PRODUCTION & IT MANAGER
Derrick King (x238)
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER, EDITORIAL DESIGN LEAD
Leslie Douglas (x231) GRAPHIC DESIGNER OPERATIONS
Dee Ann Cook (x211) BUSINESS MANAGER
Kristin Wagner (x210)
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
CIRCULATION
Frank DeCaro (x226)
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Travis Beck (x237)
CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GET AN AFFORDABLE MEAL?
AYLA SULLARD
I would definitely recommend Sushi Blossom. They have really good service and really good food.
JOYCE BRAUSEN
My husband and I like to go to My Fresh Basket and get a lunch and get sandwiches. They have a good chicken sandwich, some soup, fresh cookies.
KELLEY STRANGE
Feast World Kitchen.
What do you like to get there?
Well, I’ve had Syrian food one time and that’s all. But I want to go back because Afghanistan [cuisine] is interesting to me.
DIANA BARTH
The first place that came to mind is Twigs. And the Elk — I like the Elk, too.
What do you order at the Elk? I like their Reuben sandwich.
ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH
I would say Piccolo Pizza in [Liberty Lake] during their happy hour is by far the best value and highest quality food I’ve had.
What do you like to order there?
Any pizza and a salad during their happy hour is exceptional. They have a great vibe, great music, it’s very small and it’s literally in the gas station.
INTERVIEWS BY CASSANDRA BENSON ROCKET BAKERY ON 14TH, 7/10/2024
•
•
A Deeper Look
From the edge of Hells Canyon, the Wilderness Act, despite its noble aims, reveals a chasm of misunderstanding
BY CMARIE FUHRMAN
•
•
•
I•
•
t’s a warm, dry June afternoon as 13 students, a biologist and I stand on the edge of the deepest river gorge in North America, Hells Canyon, and stare in. The students are silent. Awestruck. The canyon is a surprise to them. All week we have been on the Zumwalt Prairie — acres and acres of rolling hills. Vast open land that seemed only to end when it met the Seven Devils to the East. This is why I have brought them here to Idaho’s western edge. I want them to have a different vantage. I explain this to the students — that I want them to consider what lies hidden, beyond what they see on the surface of the land. What happens when we question the maps that have been drawn for us, the legislation created, the boundaries that define our understanding of place? I leave them to their writing and contemplation, and I walk back to the interpretive sign some government agency has placed at the overlook.
The interpretive sign is scarred and sun-
bleached, its surface cracked and sharp like the canyon walls it overlooks. Beneath the jaundiced plastic, a romanticized picture emerges: granite-faced cowboys herding cattle upward through the canyon to the prairie. The accompanying text, taken from the journal of one of the cowboys, mourns a “lost way of life” as the cattle vanish into an undefined future. And there, almost hidden in the corner, a solitary pictograph clings to the canyon wall — a silent witness to millennia of Indigenous presence. This single, nickel-sized symbol bears the weight of 16,000 years of history, a history rendered nearly invisible by the sign’s nostalgic gaze. I trace the pictograph with my finger, a knot of anger and sorrow tightening my chest.
Hells Canyon is deeper even than the Grand Canyon.
Once you know Hells Canyon, you cannot unknow it. Once you have seen its great depth, its beauty, its vastness and the rivers that carved the canyon and flow through it still, you become aware that to simply walk from the Zumwalt Prairie to the Seven Devils is a near impossibility. There are steep, impassible cliffs, deep and strong rivers, and more canyon walls to climb on the other side. Depending on the time of year, temperatures in the canyon can be triple digits. It is a land of rattlesnakes and poison ivy and cougars, and none of this can be seen by simply standing on the prairie and looking East.
Bringing the students to the canyon was a continued introduction to the layered narratives of this land, both physical and linguistic. The day before we considered the language of the 1964 Wilderness Act, dissecting the protections it offers — protections not unlike those on the conservancy land where we are camped. We wrestled with the word “untrammeled” — its ambiguity hinting at the possibility of human presence, a notion the Zumwalt’s land managers are now contemplating. We considered the meaning of the word “wilderness” (a wild and uncultivated region, as of forest or desert, uninhabited or inhabited only by wild animals; a tract of wasteland), recognizing that this definition may not fully encompass the deep relationship Indigenous people have had with the land for millennia. We considered how our definitions of words, and the words themselves, of names like Hells Canyon start to shape our physical and emotional responses to landscapes and the people who first inhabited them.
“What
happens when we question
the maps that have been drawn for us?.”
The Wilderness Act, in its noble aim to protect “undeveloped federal land,” defines wilderness as a place “untrammeled by man.” Yet, this language reveals a chasm — a willful ignorance of the Indigenous peoples who have shaped and nurtured this land for millennia. It is an arrogance born of colonization, a narrative that erases the deep connection between Native people and the landscapes they have cultivated through practices like clearing springs, diverting streams and prescribed burning. The Act, in its silence, not only denies this history but also perpetuates the myth of a pristine wilderness untouched by human hands. This erasure is not merely an omission; it is a continuation of the colonial project, another removal from a land that was never truly “uninhabited.”
Iglance back at the interpretive sign, then out at the students. They are writing intently as they absorb the canyon’s immensity. Should I call them over, point out yet another erasure? I don’t. I am tired. It’s been a long week, and these brilliant students have already begun to see the canyons that language can create, the silences that speak volumes. They don’t need me to highlight the obvious. I sink down beside a cluster of feathery purple Prairie Smoke, its delicate stalks swaying in the breeze beneath the arms of an ancient Ponderosa pine. I gaze out at the canyon and its depths echoing the unseen stories held within the land. Stories whispered by elders, passed down through generations, written on stone, stories of a connection to this place so profound it cannot be severed.
And I realize that this week has been more than just a lesson for the students. It has been a reminder for me, too. A reminder of the importance of our stories, our histories, our languages. A reminder that we have never been just visitors on this land, but a part of it. And that our stories, like the canyon itself, are carved into the very foundation of this land, enduring even when the languages and policies try to erase them. n
CMarie Fuhrman is the author of the collection of poems, Camped Beneath the Dam, the forthcoming Salmon Weather: Writing From the Land of No Return (2025), and co-editor of two anthologies, Cascadia Field Guide and Native Voices: Indigenous Poetry, Craft, and Conversations. Associate director of the Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University, she resides in West Central Idaho.
Three Try for the Third
Two prominent Spokane progressives and a conservative want to replace Rep. Marcus Riccelli in the state Legislature
BY NATE SANFORD
The three people running to represent Washington’s 3rd Legislative District are familiar political faces in Spokane politics.
Ben Stuckart, a Democrat, served as Spokane City Council president from 2012 to 2019, when he ran for mayor and lost to Nadine Woodward by just over 1 percentage point. He’s now director of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium.
The other Democrat in the race, Natasha Hill, is a lawyer and longtime community activist who unsuccessfully challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers for her congressional seat in 2022.
The only Republican vying for the seat this year is Tony Kiepe, an insurance professional who unsuccessfully ran for Spokane City Council in 2017 and 2019.
The three are running to fill the 3rd District’s House Position 1, which covers much of the city of Spokane and is being vacated by Rep. Marcus Riccelli, a Democrat who’s running unopposed for state Senate. The two who receive the most votes will advance past the Aug. 6 primary election.
“Marcus has done a great job representing the 3rd — I don’t know if there’s a single thing he’s done that I disagree with,” Stuckart says.
Hill also says she thinks Riccelli has done well, especially on health care. As a woman of color, she thinks she can bring a fresh perspective to the seat.
Kiepe, on the other hand, says he’s been frustrated with Riccelli and other Democrats’ tenure in Olympia.
The 3rd District leans solidly blue and has a very long history of electing Democrats. Regardless, Kiepe is hopeful that frustration over gas prices and inflation will prompt voters to switch things up this year. Stuckart and Hill, for their part, appear focused on defeating each other.
SPEAKING THEIR MINDS
Stuckart and Hill have a lot in common. The two progressive firebrands grew up in Spokane, and have been involved in numerous nonprofits and community advocacy organizations. They also share a reputation for speaking their minds on controversial issues — even if it might mean alienating potential allies.
Stuckart acknowledges getting “a reputation as being a little hotheaded” as City Council president. He recalls angry press conferences, abruptly gaveling a meeting closed and clashing with fellow council members.
“Sometimes I flew off the handle,” Stuckart says. “Maybe justified, but it didn’t come across good.”
But Stuckart says he’s changed in recent years.
“I’ve taken a much calmer approach to everything in my life,” Stuckart says. “I think I’ve been more levelheaded… I’m not courting controversy, even though I still speak my mind. I think I’ve learned a lot. I matured.”
Stuckart says the 2019 mayoral election defeat prompted his shift in temperament.
“When you lose a citywide election, it crushes your self-worth, it really makes you think,” Stuckart says. “You do a lot of listening and self-reflection.”
For example, Stuckart points to his relationship with former City Council member Kate Burke. The two “butted heads quite publicly” while serving on the council together, but since leaving, Stuckart says they’ve gotten coffee many times and reconciled many of their differences.
In a text, Burke says she and Stuckart made amends and now work well together. She’s now endorsing his campaign.
Hill says she’s heard people say she and Stuckart share a reputation for being outspoken.
“I think that’s actually true,” Hill says. “You’re definitely going to know where we stand on things.”
Last month, Hill was involved in a heated confrontation outside the Spokane County Democrats booth at the Pride month celebrations in Riverfront Park. The Spokesman-Review reported that some witnesses said Hill was yelling disparaging remarks about Stuckart, who was not present, and made accusations of racism when party members tried to get her to stop and threatened to call security.
Hill says she was only trying to highlight policy differences between her and her opponent.
“There was definitely a difference of opinion,” Hill says. The Spokane County Democrats, which endorsed both candidates, opened an investigation into the incident. Hill’s sister, Lacrecia “Lu” Hill, resigned from the party in protest.
FROM LEFT: Ben Stuckart, Natasha Hill and Tony Kiepe are each running to represent Spokane in the state House.
Remembering George R. Nethercutt, Jr. 1944-2024
Gonzaga
“I think the Democratic Party has an idea of what a candidate is supposed to look like and supposed to act like, and I don’t fit in their boxes,” Natasha Hill says. “Probably because I’m not a middle class white dude.”
Kiepe doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind either. During his run for City Council in 2019, he told the Inlander that he supports the idea of Eastern Washington splitting off into its own “Liberty” state — a controversial right-wing idea popularized by former state Rep. Matt Shea.
Kiepe says he hasn’t paid much attention to the proposal in recent years, but that if it came up again he would probably support it.
“We have different values, different morals on the east side,” Kiepe says.
HOUSING
All three candidates say affordable housing is a top priority. When it comes to increasing supply, they broadly agree that Spokane needs greater density.
Stuckart thinks the state needs to hold cities that fail to meet state density goals more accountable. He supports a failed bill from a previous session that would have penalized cities that resist the state’s goal of loosening single-family zoning to allow more dense, affordable housing.
Stuckart knows that’s a controversial view — he’s had supporters argue with him about it on Facebook.
“It’s not popular with [cities] and counties because they want local control,” Stuckart says.
Regardless, Stuckart says the current situation — where low vacancy rates and inventory drive up rents and force people into homelessness — isn’t sustainable, and that state government needs to make reluctant cities get on board with growth. He also supports funding more subsidized housing through increased real estate excise taxes.
Kiepe says he supports density and growth, but doesn’t think the state should override local control.
“I believe the city government should have their own decisions on what they want to do,” Kiepe says. “I believe in less government.”
Hill says the state has a role in getting cities on board with density, but that there has to be a collaboration, as cities have closer connections to people in the building industry.
Hill supports some form of permanent rent control at the state level to prevent people from being priced out of their homes.
“We also have to be looking out for landlords,” Hill says. “It’s two sides of the same coin where everybody is looking to make sure that we have a strong market that’s affordable and doesn’t push people outside of neighborhoods.”
Stuckart thinks rent control can be a good short-term solution but doesn’t want it to be permanent. He says two-thirds of studies cited in a recent Journal of Housing Economics review found that permanent rent control can reduce housing supply.
“In the long term you’re harming the supply of housing, you’re making the problem worse,” Stuckart says. “Maybe it can be in place for a couple of years, but there needs to be detailed reporting done.”
Stuckart says he’s also interested in a “best use” tax to encourage development of vacant lots downtown.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND TAXES
On public safety, Kiepe is especially critical of a 2021 state law that restricted officers’ ability to conduct vehicle chases.
The Legislature reversed elements of the law this March in response to a Republican-backed citizen initiative. Kiepe says he’s glad “our policemen can chase criminals once again.”
Asked about other ways to make it easier for police to do their jobs, Kiepe says he needs to look into it more. But overall, his goal is to “untie their hands” and ensure they can enforce the law.
At a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020, Hill described police as being “complicit in the worst gang this country has ever seen,” and called for them to be defunded.
Today, Hill stresses that the phrasing of “defund the police” is intentional on the part of Black Lives Matter to get people’s attention.
“It’s not abolition. Nobody is saying we don’t need some level of law enforcement,” Hill says. “What we need to look at is budgets… I think we have to really focus on what we need law enforcement for, what their purpose is.”
Stuckart and Hill both support a “root causes” approach to public safety and policing. Fixing the mental health and substance use disorder systems with more treatment beds and more trained responders would help unburden officers who aren’t trained to respond to those issues, Stuckart and Hill say, adding that jail can’t be the only solution.
In order to fully fund the mental health and addiction programs he’s advocating for, Stuckart thinks Washington’s tax system needs an overhaul.
“Our regressive tax structure is causing income inequality, which drives conflict and crime,” Stuckart says.
He notes that he’s already talking with “people I’m going to potentially work with” in Olympia about creating a tax on people who own over $250 million in property. The tax could raise $2 billion to $3 billion per year, Stuckart says.
Hill says she also supports a wealth tax and strengthening the state’s capital gains tax.
In Washington, cities aren’t allowed to raise property taxes by more than 1% per year without going to voters for approval. Last year, Spokane joined the Association of Washington Cities in asking the state to raise the “arbitrary” limit to 3%, though it wasn’t changed.
Stuckart supports raising the cap. It would give cities flexibility to respond in the event of a public safety crisis or other unexpected expense, he says, and if citizens don’t like it, they still have the option to vote out elected leaders who raise the tax.
“Putting an artificial barrier in front of cities isn’t fair,” Stuckart says.
Kiepe doesn’t support raising the cap. He says the government already spends too much and cities should “learn to live within their means.”
Hill says she wants to look at the property tax issue closer before deciding. “It depends on the properties we’re talking about,” she says.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
As campaign season heats up, all three candidates are busy. Last week, as temperatures soared above 100, Kiepe was out campaigning. If there’s one thing his previous campaigns taught him, it’s “doorbell, doorbell, doorbell,” he says. Even during heatwaves.
“You hit 10, 15 doors, and next thing you know you’re soaking wet,” Kiepe says with a laugh. “But I’ll tell you, the response has been phenomenal.”
Last Thursday evening, Hill held a campaign meet-and-greet at Indigenous Eats inside River Park Square mall.
The restaurant is owned by Jenny Slagle, who has endorsed Hill’s campaign and is vice president of the Spokane Public Schools Board. Hill says she got to know Slagle through the Every Student Counts Alliance, an advocacy group that Hill worked with to “dismantle the school to prison pipeline” and create a “student to success pipeline.”
Across town, Stuckart was speaking at a fundraiser in northwest Spokane hosted by members of the Spokane Firefighters Union, Local 29, which has endorsed him.
“I could probably just spend the speech talking about all the ways the fire department got hosed under [former Mayor David] Condon,” Stuckart said, prompting laughter from the crowd.
Stuckart leads in fundraising, with $92,402 in total contributions reported to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission. Hill has reported $57,465 in contributions. Kiepe has $7,307 in reported contributions but says he’s hopeful that will turn around after the primary.
“It’s very hard to raise money right now because a Republican hasn’t won in a long time,” Kiepe says. “People said, ‘We want to see how you do in the primary.’” n
nates@inlander.com
Call On Hall
Spokane gets a new police chief. Plus, North Idaho College plans for the worst; and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies are encouraged to talk about mental health
BY INLANDER STAFF
Last Thursday, Mayor Lisa Brown announced that, after nearly five months of searching, she has appointed Kevin Hall as Spokane’s next police chief. Hall previously spent 32 years working in Tucson, Arizona, and most recently worked as assistant police chief. Hall was one of four finalists selected for the job as part of a nationwide search process. “From public feedback to department personnel, it was clear our community wants a leader who demonstrates character, integrity and accountability, brings best practices to the department, and is dedicated to the safety of everyone in our community. Chief Hall is that leader,” Brown said in a news release last week. During a community forum last month, Hall said he is an advocate for community-based policing, increased behavioral health services, transparency and a “customer service” approach to law enforcement. “Even now as an assistant chief in a very large city, my business cards have my cellphone on them,” Hall said. “I want people to call me.” Spokane’s former police chief Craig Meidl served in the role for seven years and announced plans to retire shortly after Brown was elected mayor in November last year. (NATE SANFORD)
BACKUP PLAN
North Idaho College has made tons of progress since its accrediting body, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), placed the college under a show-cause sanction, essentially the last step before losing accreditation. NIC no longer has two presidents under contract, and the lawsuits against President Nick Swayne — including the Idaho Supreme Court appeal of his reinstatement to the position in March 2023 — were resolved in a 4-1 Board of Trustees vote. But the school’s accreditation still hangs in the balance. In a July 2 special meeting, the trustees decided that if the college loses its credentials, they would start drafting potential agreements with other accredited colleges that could take over the administration of NIC, the Coeur d’Alene Press reports. Trustees recommended the College of Western Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and the College of Southern Idaho as potential partners. The college’s next NWCCU visit is scheduled for mid-October. (COLTON RASANEN)
MENTAL HEALTH
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is looking to expand its employee mental health services by offering voluntary, confidential check-ins with the department’s mental health consultant, Megan Stoffregen. The extra support would increase the department’s monthly fee to $9,000 a month, up from $7,500, which is within the office’s budget, Undersheriff Kevin Richey says. According to Stoffregen’s written description to the Board of County Commissioners, “one of the primary goals of these checkins is to target and weaken the enduring cultural stigma between law enforcement and mental health, as well as to strengthen relationships for meaningful access to trustworthy professional resources.” Anyone in the agency would be able to schedule check-ins with Stoffregen during work hours to discuss stress, trauma or other mental health issues. Stoffregen has initiated check-in programs with police departments in Moses Lake, Ephrata, Quincy and Pasco, as well as the Washington State University Police Department and the Spokane Police Department’s Major Crimes and Special Victims detectives. “I believe that her early interventions in a deputy’s issues basically saved their career,” Richey told the board at its July 9 briefing meeting. “That’s priceless… It has helped, and it has worked.” (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
A Perfect Storm
Even as Idaho has a surplus in its state education budget, one North Idaho district is turning to online crowdfunding to maintain its mission
BY COLTON RASANEN
School’s out for summer, but for some in North Idaho, school’s out for good. During the past few months, school districts across Idaho have been scrambling to deal with budgetary woes caused by a perfect storm of financial changes, including the ending of COVID-era funding, a shift in education funding equations and, for some, the failure of supplemental levies.
Due to these changes, seven Idaho school districts are closing at least one of their schools. In North Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene district is shutting Borah Elementary School and the West Bonner district is shutting Priest River Junior High School, with the latter closing largely because district voters have rejected two supplemental levies in two years.
In a last-ditch effort, the West Bonner School District placed a $4.6 million, one-year supplemental levy on the May ballot. It failed to pass, with only 46% in support.
“I think when bonds [and levies] fail, it’s due to the financial conditions of the community,” Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield says. “I’ve not been to any community that does not value education.”
This failure has led the North Idaho district to seek
private donations via an online fundraising portal hosted by the Innovia Foundation to make up a $1.07 million shortfall. (Sometimes school districts will partner with independent education organizations or nonprofits to raise funds for smaller things, such as athletic equipment or classroom materials, Critchfield explains, but this is the first time an Idaho school district has ever had to rely on donations in this way.)
“It’s easy to sit hundreds of miles and a time zone away and say they should have done this or that, but when you see a [fundraiser like West Bonner’s], it speaks to the fact that they truly care,” Critchfield says.
West Bonner’s fundraiser includes six points of operational funding, ordered by their necessity, including: $86,500 for English language arts curriculum; $72,000 for a school resource officer; $260,000 for two school buses; nearly $500,000 for nine full-time staff positions; $40,000 for updated technology; and $117,000 for facility maintenance.
Additionally, West Bonner’s Special Education Director Kristina Kenny — who is also in charge of monitoring this fundraiser — says that a lot of the district’s funding shortfall
was addressed through common-sense actions. For example, staff who retired or quit this year were not replaced in an effort to prevent layoffs, Kenny says.
As of Monday, July 15 — nearly a month since the fundraiser launched — Kenny says the district has raised $11,270, or about 1% of the goal. She remains optimistic that the district will succeed though.
“The biggest thing is just focusing on the community as a whole and how we’re coming together to find a solution,” Kenny says. “We’re trying to build our school community back to what it’s been before.”
While voters’ refusal to approve supplemental funding has contributed to West Bonner’s financial trouble, other Idaho school districts were hit hard by the state’s return to the attendance-based funding method used before the pandemic. Under that system, the state based school funding on the average number of students who attended school in the first 10 weeks.
“However, when COVID hit, there wasn’t a way to track attendance in a meaningful way,” Critchfield says.
Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield: “I’ve not been to any community that does not value education.” IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PHOTO
“The State Board of Education waived the rule on calculating funding based on attendance and decided that funding would be based on students who are enrolled in school.”
That shift meant more money for many school districts that might have lost funding due to student absences. But although positive for schools, the change wasn’t meant to be permanent. So after three years of an enrollment-based funding model, the Idaho State Board of Education chose to transition back to pre-pandemic funding.
“In order for the rule that was waived to stay in effect, it had to be either waived again or changed by state statute,” Critchfield says. “There just wasn’t any traction to waive the rule again.”
This meant less funding for schools across the state as student attendance dropped during the pandemic and hasn’t risen back to pre-pandemic levels, according to Idaho Department of Education attendance statistics. However, the pot of money used for public instruction did not change, just the amount that was being allocated to each school district — most often a decrease in funding — leading to a surplus in the state’s coffers.
“Without changing the law to enrollment-based funding, we were always going to be leaving money on the table,” she says.
Critchfield says approximately $105 million was left on the table for public education, but her department’s ideas to disburse that money were not successful in the state Legislature. House Bill 595, which passed the House in a 41-28-1 vote but died in a Senate committee, would have further adapted public school funding to an outcome-based equation.
Schools where more students are “proficient or better than proficient” in statewide standardized mathematics tests would receive more funding because of those student outcomes. Critchfield intends to have the bill reintroduced to the Legislature in 2025.
“I want to do good things for our schools, and this is good policy,” she says. “It’s not even adding more money to the budget, it’s just telling people how to send those funds out.” n coltonr@inlander.com
Setting the Standard in Retirement Living
Re-Elect
SPOKANE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, POSITION 11
Judge Fennessy brings unmatched experience and wisdom to the bench. His competency and unwavering dedication to our community make him the clear choice.
–Judge Tony Hazel, Spokane County Superior Court
He brings his vast legal knowledge and experience to the bench. When I appeared before him as a lawyer, I found him to be fair, well-reasoned and professional. I endorse him for reelection.
–Paul Kirkpatrick, Attorney
He is the only candidate with decades of experience as a judge and as a lawyer – experience that is crucial for maintaining confidence in our local justice system.
–Judge Maryann Moreno, Spokane County Superior Court, retired
Treaty Talks
After six years of negotiations, the United States and Canada have agreed to update the Columbia River Treaty
BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL
For 60 years, the Columbia River Treaty has guided how Canada and the United States operate dams along the international river for both power production and flood control. With the potential for the treaty to expire this year, groups on either side of the border started reviewing the agreement as far back as 2010, and negotiations to update it started in earnest in May 2018.
Last week, on July 11, the countries announced they’d reached an agreement in principle. Key among the changes — which have yet to be drafted in their final form for the treaty update — is a reduction in the “Canada entitlement.”
The updated treaty will maintain flood risk management via “pre-planned storage space behind Canadian Treaty dams.”
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., issued a statement noting that the agreement in principle is “an important step forward for Washington state and the entire Northwest.
“I am hopeful the agreement successfully meets our objectives and works for ratepayers, tribes, river users, our local ecosystems, and everyone on our side of the border,” Murray’s statement continues.
Since the treaty took effect in 1964, Canada has stored additional water behind dams it built on the river to help with flood control downstream. In return, Canada has received half of the power generated by dams on the U.S. side of the border thanks to that increased storage to the north. Canada then sells much of that power back to the U.S.
The modernized agreement “will result in an immediate 37% reduction in hydropower that the United States delivers to Canada under the current agreement, and a reduction of 50% by 2033,” according to an update from the U.S. State Department. “This will retain more clean energy in the United States to support a thriving modern economy without a diminishment of Canada’s current clean energy mix.”
Regional tribes had hoped that their sovereign nations would be meaningfully involved in the treaty negotiations, particularly since the original treaty was drafted without tribal input. Indigenous Nations were full participants on the Canadian negotiating team. Meanwhile, the U.S. team, made up of members representing Bonneville Power Administration and other federal agencies, was advised by tribes, including the Coeur d’Alene and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville and Umatilla reservations. The Inlander sought comment from the Coeur d’Alene and Confederated Colville tribes but did not receive a response before our print deadline.
In her statement, Murray says, “I pressed the administration to engage with tribes and stakeholders in the Northwest as openly as possible throughout negotiations and continue to do so now through the drafting process.”
Along with the tribes, regional environmental nonprofits had hoped that the ecosystem health of the river and its tributaries could become an important third prong of the treaty. However, it doesn’t appear that the update will meaningfully address ecosystem health.
“We were focused on the health of the river and seeing that the Columbia River Treaty become a positive tool to help address the problems the river and its populations face today,” says Joseph Bogaard, executive director of Save Our Wild Salmon and the chair of the Columbia River Treaty nongovernmental organization caucus. “Fish in the river effectively get status quo treatment [under] the current agreement in principle, whereas flood risk management and the power sector received sort of clear and certain benefits moving forward.”
That leaves salmon and the health of the river as second-tier priorities at best, Bogaard says.
“There’s really no significant changes to prioritize the health of the river,” Bogaard says. “It all feels really uncertain right now.”
The State Department’s announcement says that Canada and the U.S. intend to “further cement and expand Tribal and Indigenous inclusion in a modernized Treaty regime” by establishing an Indigenous-led group that will recommend how to support the ecosystem and cultural values.
“This body will provide an essential voice for U.S. Tribes and Canadian Indigenous Nations concerning possible adaptations of future operations to support a healthy ecosystem, improve salmon survival, and address cultural values of those who have been stewards of this resource since time immemorial,” according to the State Department.
The treaty update will also support healthy salmon by including “a long-term agreement to continue water flows [flow augmentation] from Canadian reservoirs to support salmon migration throughout the basin, including a strategy to bolster flows during dry years,” according to the State Department. “Furthermore, both countries are committing to coordinate on studies on salmon reintroduction, which are led by U.S. Tribes and Canadian Indigenous Nations.”
Once the negotiators finalize the details of the new treaty, it will be sent to the U.S. Senate for ratification. n
samanthaw@inlander.com
The Hugh Keenleyside Dam near Castlegar, B.C., provides flood control on the Columbia River. PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO
Affordable, tasty food shouldn’t be hard to find. Which is why our team takes the task of hunting down great dining deals for the Inlander’s annual Cheap Eats issue pretty seriously. As countless factors continue to drive up the cost of both groceries and eating out, finding these wallet-friendly eats only becomes more challenging — which is why we’re here to help. From lunchtime specials and Taco Tuesday bargains to unlimited buffet feasts and much more, we hope this year’s Cheap Eats issue sates your hunger while making you happy — your bank account and stomach should be pleased, anyway.
— CHEY SCOTT, EDITOR
50 Shades of Grazing of Grazing
Attempting to eat only at local restaurants for three days on just $50
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
While the goal of Cheap Eats is always to highlight the great local restaurants that you can hit up occasionally for a great deal, our dumb human bodies require fuel multiple times over the course of a day. Which begs the question: What would it be like to only nosh on Cheap Eats for every meal of the day while on a strict budget?
To test this out, I allotted myself $50 to spend over the course of three days while eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at Spokane restaurants.
I put some tight restrictions on this exercise: no national chains (taking the $1.50 Costco hotdog and soda out of the equation was tough), count the price after tax since it has to be paid, try not to veer too far from the Inlander office in Kendall Yards (deals are negated by gas costs), and try not to eat the same type of food twice. When calculating my budget I also didn’t include any drinks (because you could just get a water; I only bought an RC Cola to accompany one meal) or include the tip in the total because people have differing tipping methods. (Please tip!)
Join me on this culinary budgeting journey!
MONDAY
CASUAL FRIDAY DONUTS 3402 N. Division St. BAVARIAN FILLED BISMARCK - $3.75
To be honest, I’m not normally a breakfast eater, so I thought it’d be best to start with something sweet. And while it’s not the cheapest option around, for my money (literally), Casual Friday has the best donuts in town. I’d rather pay a bit more for improved taste, and CF’s Bavarian-cream filled Bismark fits the bill. This hefty boy looks dense but actually sports incredibly light and fluffy dough to surround its sweet egg custard cream filling.
GARLAND SANDWICH SHOPPE 3903 N. Madison St. THE CAPRESE - $7.62
Sandwich inflation is real. Poring over Cheap Eats issues from years past, I was jealous realizing how much the general sammy has gone up the past couple years. Thankfully, one of the cheaper sandwiches I could find was right up my alley. As a lover of caprese salad (my mom makes a killer version with peaches), Garland Sandwich Shoppe’s The Caprese was a must-order. While lettuce is always touch-and-go in a warm sandwich — the shop specializes in grilled paninis — the melty mozzarella more than compensated for the lettuce’s texture. The multigrain bread offers a satisfying crunch around the gooey veggie innards, which have extra flavor thanks to balsamic vinegar and a peppy basil pesto.
VERSALIA PIZZA 1333 W. Summit Pkwy
PEPPERONI PIZZA SLICE - $5.45
Typically a lunchtime staple for me, I instead grab a slice from Versalia for an early dinner to take advantage of the $1 off slices during happy hour from 2 to 5 pm. At my favorite pizza joint in town, the slices are huge (the size of two slices — they’ll cut it for ya), the pepperoni actually has bite, and every topping sits perfectly atop the crispy wood-fired crust. …continued on next page
Cutest
BEST BURGER IN TOWN!
TUESDAY
HIDDEN BAGEL 1001 W. 25th Ave.
SALT BAGEL WITH TOMATO - $3.50
WEDNESDAY
TACO VADO 1327 W. Northwest Blvd. PORK & EGGS TACO - $5.18
Figuring I needed at least one hot breakfast, I swung by Taco Vado for some morning Mexican food. While some might scoff at getting a single taco, Vado’s pork and eggs taco isn’t some tiny street taco. Instead, it’s stuffed so full of pork, eggs and salsa verde that it’s impossible to close the tortilla around the mountain of tasty ingredients. You can’t kill the sucker in a few bites, offering good value for the morning munchies.
The bagels at Hidden Bagel are well worth the price for their quality… but the tricky part for this exercise is the cream cheese. Does it make sense for me to spend $2 on cream cheese for a $3 bagel? Alas, no. Instead, I counteract the dryness of my expertly toasted salt bagel by getting it with tomatoes for an additional 50 cents. It adds some freshness and moisture to the equation for a pleasing start to the day.
Great sushi places do the simple rolls right, and that’s why Sushi.com’s Philly roll is one of my favorite bites in town. It’s surprising how many places can screw up the seemingly easy combo of salmon, avocado and cream cheese wrapped in rice and seaweed. But the salmon in this Philly always pops, and the chefs have figured out the right cream cheese and avocado balance to add a creamy smooth texture to the roll without overwhelming the core fish flavor.
A godsend for Kendall Yards lunches since opening earlier this year, a single tamale from the joint offers a perfectly satisfying meal. While the meaty options may be more popular, I adore the cheese + jalapeño tamale. After removing the piping hot delicacy from its corn husk, the thick but soft corn dough encases ample gooey cheese bliss with strips of pepper for a spicy kick. Adding on the rojo (roma tomatoes and arbol peppers) and verde (tomatillo and jalapeño) sauces ups things to an even higher level of culinary delight.
UNION TAVERN 1914 E. Sprague Ave. DELUXE CHEESEBURGER WITH FRIES - $5.45
It’s almost inarguable that the best local cheap eats deal in town is Union Tavern’s deluxe cheeseburger. On Tuesdays from 6 to 9 pm, diners can get a loaded full sized burger and fries for $5 and change. While this project left me a bit peckish throughout the week, my belly was fully satisfied after chowing down on this classic bar burger. Nothing fancy, but it needn’t be.
DICK’S HAMBURGERS 10 E. Third Ave. QUARTER POUND BURGER - $4.96
I was waiting to see what my budget was before the final meal, and I realized I’d overspent so that even things listed at $5 would push me over $50. Dick’s to the rescue! A cheap eats staple since my Gonzaga undergrad days, the no-nonsense quarter-pounder might not have been a fully filling final salvo. And it forced a second burger on here, but it fit my budget. My journey was complete. While I wouldn’t advise this style of cheap eating as a regular diet, there’s plenty around to stretch your dollar without leaving you too hungry. Til the next nosh!
FINAL TOTAL: $49.53 n
TTour de Tacos Tour de
The search for every deal under $2 on Taco Tuesday
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
aco Tuesday is my favorite fake holiday. It comes around every week, provides an excuse to eat one of my favorite foods on repeat sans judgment, and offers some of the best dinner deals in the whole city.
The only problem? It’s too hard to decide where to go.
But what if, instead of choosing one spot, you go to as many as you can? Welcome to the Tour de Tacos. The goal is to sample as many tacos in the Spokane area that are under $2 on Tuesdays. Or Twos-days, if you will.
The tour requires stamina, a reliable GPS, and a stretchier stomach than you might think. To inspire would-be competitors, here’s a record of my first attempt.
TACOS EL CABRON $1.95 TACOS
5704 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
I pull up to the bright orange restaurant on Sprague at 7:27 pm. It’s a little late to be starting the tour, but I’m optimistic, especially because the service here is so quick. These are real-deal street tacos, double wrapped with small, fresh corn tortillas, and topped with plenty of onion and cilantro. I choose chicken and pork, which are perfectly delicious on their own but also served with lime, radishes and consomme. I think about calling the whole thing off and staying here, because it’s a cozy spot with plenty of booths and margaritas for only $4.95 on Tuesdays. But mi madre didn’t raise no quitter. Taco Tuesday deals
TAQUERIA GUERRERO $1.60 TACOS
8021 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
This other orange restaurant is just a little farther down Sprague, which means I’m ordering by 7:45 pm. This is the first brick-andmortar location of a popular food truck, and it keeps some of the best vibes of eating out on the street — it’s small, the door is propped open, and the tacos are legit. I’m ordering two carne asada tacos, also topped with cilantro, onion and lime. I hand over four singles and get some change back. I can’t remember the last time that happened.
ATILANO’S MEXICAN FOOD $1 TACOS
3624 E. Sprague Ave. (Plus 8 other Spokane/Coeur d’Alene locations)
A few minutes after 8 pm, I arrive at the nearest Atilano’s — home of perhaps the area’s most famous Taco Tuesday deal — and they’re pretty close to selling out. These tacos are also small, understandably for the price, and a bit fast-food greasier than the previous two, but sometimes that’s exactly the kind of taco you need.
I’m kind of surprised — I’ve only eaten three tacos (each stop I’ve been ordering two tacos — one for now and one to save for later), but I’m already not really hungry anymore. They’ve all been stuffed with meat. But I’m only halfway through the tour, so I’m going to need to find room in my stomach somehow.
STORMIN’ NORMAN’S SHIPFACED SALOON $1.25 TACOS
12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley
I’m not expecting a whole lot of taco from a nautical-themed saloon, but to my delight (and my full tummy’s dismay), these tacos are big, especially for being only a dollar and a quarter each. They’re a classic gringo taco — white flour tortillas, ground beef with packet taco seasoning, presumably, plus diced tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and a packet of sour cream on the side. The bartenders are sweet, and it’s got great dive bar vibes inside, but when I realize it’s past 8:30, my next stop awaits…
MARACAS AND MARISCOS
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
TACOS FOR $10
2118 N. Ruby St., Spokane
¡Ay, caramba! In my haste to get to Maracas, I accidentally skipped Mariscos Mi Tierra on Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley, which has $1.99 chicken, fish, and chorizo tacos on Tuesdays. But technically, Maracas’ tacos would be under $2 each if I ate more than five.
I get to Maracas a few seconds before they close, a major restaurant faux pas, but the staff is gracious. They not only let me buy tacos, but they throw in chips and rice and beans, maybe because I look as stressed as I feel. These tacos are the first crispy tacos of the night and are so wonderfully crunchy that they make me hungry again. I would eat both of them were I not headed to the final stop of the night.
BIRDY’S SPORTS BAR
$1.25 CHICKEN TACOS
12908 N. US Highway 395, Spokane
I don’t feel rushed anymore because Birdy’s is open until 11 pm. The five bags of tacos in my passenger seat fill my car with notes of chilis and fresh corn flour. I walk with my head held high into the sports bar around 9:30 pm, only to be told (very kindly) that their kitchen closed at 9 pm. Feeling defeated, I promise to come back for tacos on a different Tuesday and sadly eat some chips on the way home.
The inaugural Tour de Tacos got the best of me this time. Thankfully, I’ve got plenty more Taco Tuesdays to try again. n
MORE GREAT TACO TUESDAY DEALS
These don’t quite fit the Tour de Tacos goal to eat tacos under $2, but they still offer some serious value.
THE BAD SEED
2936 E. Olympic Ave. Get three tacos for the price of two if you order the taco platter ($16) and wash it down with a $5 margarita.
JALISCO’S FAMILY MEXICAN RESTAURANT
7115 N. Division St.
Three asada or al pastor tacos, plus rice and beans, for $9.95
UNO MAS TACO SHOP
835 N. Post St.
Three tacos for $10 or five tacos for $15
SPECIAL K PUB & GRILL
3817 N. Market St.
Three beef tacos for $6, plus $2 tall boys
POOLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE
12310 N. Ruby Road
5620 S. Regal St. #1
Beef tacos for $2.50, chicken tacos for $4, margaritas for $8 and Mexican beers for $4
COCHINITO TAQUERIA
10 N. Post St., Spokane
9426 N. Government
Way, Hayden
A chef’s choice taco for
$2.50, plus happy hour until close
MONDAY
◊ Industry Day ◊
$1 off drinks for restaurant & bar workers
TUESDAY
◊ $12 tasting all day ◊
WEDNESDAY
◊ $52 Date Night ◊ Pepperoni pizza + Bottle of WA wine + Baby Luna Dessert
THURSDAY
◊ $1 off Beer & Cider ◊
SUNDAY
Mimosas $8 and Mimosa buckets for $32 ◊ Summer Mimosa Special ◊
THIRD LEVEL OF RIVER PARK SQUARE
BY MADISON PEARSON
RUINS
225 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane
Located downtown, Ruins has a reputation for consistently serving up elevated cuisine that can satisfy the taste buds of nearly any diner. But chef Tony Brown’s spot is even more well-known for its lunch menu — a holdover from his original Stella’s days — served Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 3 pm.
During this time slot, Ruins serves a selection of sandwiches that are — excuse the cliche — to die for. It’s a simple way to try out the fresh, high-quality ingredients used in Ruins’ regular menu but at a fraction of the price.
With a dozen sandwiches to choose from (each served with a bag of Tim’s potato chips) there’s bound to be one that tickles your fancy. Need some protein? Try the meatloaf sandwich ($15) with spicy ketchup and roasted shallot mayo. Want a fresh take on a classic? Order the egg salad sandwich ($13) with curry and be prepared to have your mind blown by the immaculate flavor combo.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Ruins sandwich write-up without mentioning the tasty Bahn Mi ($13) on a crispy hoagie roll that can be made with either braised pork or tofu for the vegetarians among us.
GANDER & RYEGRASS
404 W. Main Ave., Spokane
Chef Peter Froese doesn’t mess around with his ingredients. Day to day, you might see a few small changes on the menu at Gander & Ryegrass, but that’s just to ensure that diners get the most fresh, high-quality, seasonal ingredients possible. Gander & Ryegrass is well-known for The Marathon, a multicourse fine dining experience showcasing its chefs’ artistry. But at $126 per person, it’s certainly not Cheap Eats eligible.
What some may not be aware of is Gander & Ryegrass’ impressive lunch/sandwich menu perfect for those looking to pick up a quick and delicious casual midday meal. Operating from 10 am to 3 pm every day under the name SaltBox Sandwich Co., the sandwiches are hearty, flavorful and thoughtfully crafted.
The charred beef sandwich ($14) features rare beef with horseradish mustard and shallot aioli on a soft ciabatta bun. It travels well, stays warm and never disappoints when your stomach starts grumbling for a filling lunch. SaltBox’s grinder sandwich ($12) has shaved Italian meats, slow-roasted tomatoes and a caesar aioli that packs a tangy punch.
The charred beef sandwich from Gander and Ryegrass’s SaltBox Sandwich Co.
Gander & Ryegrass also offers happy hour every day from 3 to 5 pm. The menu includes focaccia with rosemary oil ($8), mussels with white wine salsa verde ($14) and smoked chicken wings coated with sticky chili sauce ($10), a small price to pay for the flavor bomb that awaits.
Along with its happy hour eats, Gander serves a provisions menu all day long with some super affordable pasta dishes like the casarecce with pork shoulder ragout ($12) and spaghetti with tomato sauce, basil and parmesan ($12).
TAVOLÀTA
221 N. Wall St., Spokane
Tavolàta’s downtown space was home of an Olive Garden back in the day. It’s safe to say Tavolàta’s menu features more authentic — and more toothsome — Italian food.
Happy hour runs from 4 to 6 pm daily and features a wide array of pasta dishes for nearly $10 cheaper than regular menu prices. The lumache ($14) features vodka sauce and whipped burrata and the rigatoni with spicy sausage ($15) will have you full, satisfied and toting home leftovers due to the large portions.
The small plate offerings are not to be skipped over. Tavolàta’s marinated olives ($6) are the perfect treat for brine lovers, and the focaccia ($6) comes with four thick slices of fluffy, herby bread as well as cheesy pesto for dipping.
Every Monday and Tuesday night, Tavolàta offers a $45 pasta dinner for two, great for a date night or a gossip sesh with your bestie. Choose from a selection of pastas and top it off with a bottle of wine all for under $50. It’s hard to beat a fancy, filling dinner for two at $25 each.
DOWNRIVER GRILL
3315 W. Northwest Blvd., Spokane
Located in the Audubon Park neighborhood, Downriver Grill is a go-to location for those seeking out Pacific Northwest cuisine.
Downriver’s happy hour (Tue-Sat from 2-5 pm and Sun from 2-close) gives diners the chance to try out a smattering of the regular menu offerings at a discounted price. Try the crowd-favorite Gorgonzola fries ($9) with fondue and black pepper, the white cheddar truffle mac ’n’ cheese ($12), or the crispy Brussels sprouts ($11) with bacon and hot honey vinaigrette.
On Tuesdays, head to Downriver for the Chef’s Special “Burger of the Moment” served with house Parmesan potato chips for just $15. You never know what you might get! n
Tavolàta’s spicy rigatoni is only $15 during happy hour. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
Join
Buffett Bonaza Bonaza
BY AZARIA PODPLESKY
buffet is truly a choose-your-own-adventure meal. The offerings change daily, keeping you on your toes and giving you the opportunity to try something new or return to an old favorite. Before I started writing this piece, I, of course, searched high and low for the best buffet options in the Inland Northwest. When my list of potential inclusions quickly grew to nearly two dozen restaurants with no end in sight, I knew I had to stop looking and start writing, lest I go wildly over my word count. I went for a diversity in flavors with this list, but know that there are even more low-price, high-variety options out there, so don your best sweatpants, and use this list as a starting point to truly eat all you can.
CHAOS ARCADE
1020 W. Francis Ave., Spokane
After working up an appetite playing all the games Chaos Arcade has to offer, take advantage of the All-You-Can-Eat Weekend Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 1:30 pm. The newly launched weekend brunch special features a rotating menu of breakfast favorites including a breakfast burrito bar, scrambled eggs, quiches and egg cups, bacon and sausage, biscuits and gravy, an oatmeal bar, French toast and pancakes, baked goods, and tea and coffee. Brunch passes are $25 for adults, $13 for children and free for kids ages 2 and under. For a full day of fun, consider the Gamer’s Feast Bundle ($33/adults, $20/children), which includes a $10 game card and a brunch pass. Brunch passes are available until 1 pm, but food won’t be restocked after then, so come early for the best selection.
THE ORIGINAL MONGOLIAN BARBECUE
3213 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene
If you’ve never enjoyed Mongolian barbecue before, Coeur d’Alene’s The Original Mongolian Barbecue makes it easy. First, choose your bowl size: the small Little Kahn ($10.29 lunch/$13 dinner), medium Mighty Kahn ($13.29 lunch/$16 dinner), large Barbarian ($16.29 lunch/$19 dinner) or All You Can Eat ($19.29 lunch/$22 dinner). Then, saunter down the buffet line as you fill your bowl with your choice of fresh fruits and veggies, a variety of meat options, stir fry staples and a combination of made-in-house gourmet sauces. Finally, hand your bowl off to one of the cooks, who will then cook everything for you on one of the restaurant’s sizzling grills. It’s dining made simple.
DOS GORDOS TACOS AND TEQUILA
12501 N. Division St., Spokane Dos Gordos takes Taco Tuesday seriously, and they want you to, too. Every Tuesday, stop by Dos Gordos for unlimited crispy tacos (chicken, pork or shredded beef) plus rice and beans for just $19. And yes, they really mean unlimited. According to a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page, the current record stands at 18 tacos. Think you can do better? (Check out our Taco Tuesday feature on page 22 for more tortilla-filled hot spots.)
TOP OF INDIA
11114 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
The buffet offerings at Top of India are as diverse as the rest of the menu. From 11:30 am to 3 pm
every day except Sundays, you can chow down on a selection of authentic Indian dishes including curries and rice, meat options like tandoori chicken and chicken korma, paneer, samosas, and, of course, warm naan. Vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike can find plenty to enjoy at this buffet. Adults and children 12 and older eat for $17, while younger children can fill their plates for $11.
CANAAN BUFFET
9606 N. Newport Highway, Spokane
Canaan Buffet might be the buffet to end all buffets. The Pan-Asian restaurant’s buffet boasts more than 150 dishes each day. Among the many options are salt and pepper shrimp, butterfly shrimp, baked salmon, calamari, vegetable rice noodles, and green bean bok choy. There is also a sushi bar and a Mongolian grill station. Make sure you do a few laps around the restaurant to take in all of your options. The lunch buffet is available Mondays through Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. Adults eat for $18 and, depending on their age, children eat for between $2 (3 years old) and $9 (12 years old). Those ages 60 and older can take advantage of buffet happy hour on Mondays through Fridays from 2 to 4 pm for $15. The dinner buffet is available Mondays through Saturdays from 4 to 9 pm. On Sundays and holidays, the buffet is open from 11 am to 9 pm. Adults eat for $23, and kids eat for $2 (3 years old) to $12 (12 years old). Seniors, members of the military, law enforcement and students with ID save $1 on both the lunch and dinner buffets.
BOIADA BRAZILIAN GRILL
245 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane
While their regular meals are a bit of a splurge ($63.95 for Rodízio Churrasco, where gaúchos carve a variety of rotating meat options, including beef, lamb, chicken and pork, right at your table), if you don’t mind serving yourself, you can still get a lot for a little at Boiada Brazilian Grill. Ordering the Boiada Light Lunch ($27.95) gets you unlimited access to the fresh salad table, which includes a selection of salads, vegetables and dressings, plus Brazilian dishes like farofa (toasted yucca flour with Portuguese sausage and bacon) and pão de queijo (cheese bread). If you’ve got a little more lunch money to spend, you can upgrade to add 8 to 10 ounces of meat to your meal, from $33.95 total for the fresh salad table with chicken to $37.95 for all-you-can-eat salad with grilled shrimp. n
Mega Deals Mishmash
COMPILED BY INLANDER STAFF
inding good deals doesn’t have to be difficult. Next time you’re hungry or thirsty, and your budget isn’t unlimited, consider these tasty bargains at eateries across the Inland Northwest. Many of the following are offered only during happy hour, while others pop up on specific days of the week, or are seasonal discounts current as of this issue’s press time.
NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights
TUESDAY: $2 select 12-ounce cans of domestic beers and select food specials (Camas Club members; free to sign up)
THURSDAY: $4 specials including mixed drinks featuring Browne Family Spirits, wings at East and EPIC, mini nachos at Qdoba, small burger at Fatburger
OLD SCHOOL LIQUOR BAR
4711 W. Farrell Road, Huetter, Idaho
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Thu from 3-5 pm, Sun all day
$5 beer and wine, small plates and craft cocktails
PROHIBITION GASTROPUB
1914 N. Monroe St.
TUESDAY: 50% off drafts, wells, wines and signature cocktails
WEDNESDAY: 50% off all burgers
THURSDAY: 50% off all appetizers and kill the keg specials ($3 pints and $10 pitchers)
REPUBLIC KITCHEN + TAPHOUSE
120 E. Fourth Ave., Post Falls
HAPPY HOUR: Daily from 3-5 pm
$6 draft beer and house wine, $5-$10 Republic snacks
SATELLITE DINER
425 W. Sprague Ave.
25% off all food (excluding to-go)
HONEY EATERY & SOCIAL CLUB
317 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene
HAPPY HOUR: daily from 3-5 pm
$5 small plates, $10 select entrees, $5 drinks
PICCOLO KITCHEN & BAR
21718 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri from 3-5 pm
(dine-in only)
Half-off select bottles of wine, $4 draft beers, half-off pizzas
POOLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE
12310 N. Ruby Rd. (North Spokane); 5620 S. Regal St. (South Hill)
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Sun from 3-5 pm
Half-off all alcoholic beverages; see website (poolespublichouse.com) for rotating daily specials
THURSDAY: $1.50 tacos, $3 for two
THE SCREAMING YAK
118 W. Francis Ave.
WEDNESDAY: $2 domestic bottles from 3-6 pm
ZOLA
22 W. Main Ave., Spokane
HAPPY HOUR: daily from 4-7 pm
$2.50 bottled beer and select drafts; $3.50 all other drafts and seltzers; $6 rotating house wines; $8 shot + beer; $4-$9 food
Zola’s miso deviled eggs. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
ZOZO’S SANDWICH HOUSE
2501 N. Monroe St., Spokane
Imagine two perfectly grilled patties smashed into a layer of cheese topped with pickles, onions, lettuce and a mustardy, ketchupy, mayo sauce, all fit between two tasty buns. Now imagine a beautiful cup of house-made potato salad filled to the brim with crisp pickles and perfectly prepared potatoes. Now, I want you to push that brain really hard and imagine that all of that comes in under $10 (before tax and tip). It may be hard to believe, but all day every Tuesday folks can replicate this divine meal (The OG smash burger and a side of potato salad) at Zozo’s Sandwich House for $9.95. It’s only $1 extra to add fries or tater tots to the meal instead of the potato salad.
SHAWN O’DONNELL’S AMERICAN GRILL & IRISH PUB
719 N. Monroe St., Spokane
Shawn O’Donnell’s has a nice selection of lunch specials (daily from 11 am to 3 pm) including a thick beef stew, a creamy chicken pot pie and a hearty shepherd’s pie, but in these hot summer months the fish and chips combo seems a more reasonable, weather-conscious choice. And considering it’s an absolutely filling lunch, it’s practically a steal at $13. The two pieces of fish are almost the size of a hand, and the fries they sit atop are pleasantly crispy. And if you’re a light luncher, these also make for good leftovers because both the fish and fries maintain their texture even when cold.
REPUBLIC PI
611 E 30th Ave., Spokane
Republic Pi may be well known for its many fantastic pizza and craft beer options, but it really should be known for its weekday lunch special. I mean, for $12 you get a personal pi (errr… pie) of six small slices of any menu pizza, which would be more than enough for a meal. But Republic takes it one step further and includes the choice of a house or Caesar salad for a side. Each weekday you can take advantage of this special between 11 am and 4 pm — and if you plan ahead, you can even overlap your visit with Republic’s happy hour, from 2 to 5 pm.
HAPPINESS CHINESE
3420 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane
Whether you’re usually super hungry around lunchtime or just love leftovers, Happiness Chinese’s lunch special makes a wonderful choice. Served Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 am to 2:30 pm, you can fill up with a cup of soup, spring roll, bowl of pork fried rice, crispy fried wonton and choice of entree for $14.95. Choose from classics like orange chicken and broccoli beef, or spice things up with the kung pao shrimp or Mongolian beef.
Breaks
Lunch Breaks
Midday specials at these local eateries bring cheap, satisfying meals
to the hungry masses
BY COLTON RASANEN
While some may often skip breakfast and others stress all day about what to cook for dinner, lunch remains safe and easily manageable. It’s basically the load-bearing meal of the entire day.
To ensure that the middle meal gets the recognition it deserves, we’ve compiled a list of lunchtime specials around the Inland Northwest ranging from burgers and sandwiches to heaping plates of Chinese and Indian food. Plus, all but one option are $15 or less, so your wallet, along with your digestive system, will thank you.
BARDENAY RESTAURANT & DISTILLERY
1710 W. Riverstone Dr., Coeur d’Alene
If you’re looking for a place that varies its lunchtime specials, Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery is a solid choice. For $5 you can get a bowl of the soup of the day — which at the time of writing this was a coconut chicken curry — or you could opt for a smaller portion at $4. Pair that with a rotating menu of half-sandwich options for $6. Bardenay’s menu is updated regularly online, so log on to ensure you know which items are being offered. Additionally, there are more expensive rotating lunchtime specials like a guacamole bacon burger, fried chicken or a full turkey pastrami sandwich (usually about $14-$20), for the hungrier budget eaters.
THE MANGO TREE
401 W. Main Ave., 9225 N. Nevada St. and 2912 E. Palouse Hwy., Spokane
1726 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene
The Mango Tree Indian restaurants’ lunch special, in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, is another prime choice if you’re looking to add variety to your lunch. Each day between 11 am and 3 pm you can get a plate of basmati rice, naan, salad and a choice of two curries for $17. The variety comes in your choice of curry, as each day of the week (Mon-Sat) diners get to choose from a different list of curries. So for a pick-me-up on a Monday you could choose a sweet coconut chicken curry with a savory beef curry. Or for a Friday celebration you could choose a decadent butter chicken and a creamy beef palak. The menu choices remain the same regardless of location. n
Shawn O’Donnell’s serves lunch specials every day.
YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
Burger Guide
Hamburgers are a culinary delight that never fails to satisfy. The juicy patty, perfectly cooked to your liking, is nestled between two soft and toasted buns, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. The toppings, whether it’s the classic lettuce, tomato, and onion or a more adventurous combination, add a burst of freshness and crunch. And let’s not forget about the condiments, from tangy ketchup to creamy mayo, that elevate the burger to a whole new level of deliciousness. With each bite, you experience a symphony of tastes that make hamburgers an irresistible treat.
Beer & Mead Works
Guide
Making Burgers Great Again
- A 1/3 lb Smash Patty, Grilled Jalapeños, Pepper Jack Cheese, Chipotle Mayo, Crispy Onion Strings and House-Made Jalapeño Aioli. The Fixx is a small kitchen serving BIG FLAVORS! We are committed to quality, serving fresh, never frozen beef and making all our sauces from scratch without
A unique fusion of Native American comfort food and the beloved American burger.
The Indigenous Eats Powwow Burger is a high-quality 1/3 lb Angus beef patty, seasoned with a blend of sage forward spices that add depth and richness to the meat. It is topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. A house made huckleberry relish adds a sweet and tangy sauce that blends well with the savory and well-seasoned patty. The burger is served on a delicious frybread bun, a Native American staple that adds a unique twist and a slightly crispy texture.
served from iced taps at 34’! in a glass made of ice!
A Powwow Burger is a prime example of culinary fusion
Powwow Burgers offer a diverse and mouthwatering experience
A great combination of frybread, seasoning, huckleberry, spices and burgers!
2024
Burger Guide
Poole’s Public House Burgers
Scottie’s Favorite Hottie: OK it’s his second favorite thing, after Liza. Loaded with grilled onions, jalapeños, lettuce, tomato, pepper jack cheese, and topped with peppered bacon. Holy Cow!
All burgers are 100% locally sourced brisket blend beef patty. Served with Fries, Tots, Sweet Potato Fries, Side Salad, Caesar Salad, Chill or Clam Chowder. Substitute Chicken Breast or Veggie Patty, add 1.00. Make It a Double, add 3.50.
Join us for breakfast Saturday and Sunday from 8am-Noon! Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas are just $5!
Half-Off ALL alcoholic beverages from 3-5pm Monday through Sunday!
VICTORY BURGER
“Wednesday Burger”
Hand ground ribeye burger patty, house-made American cheese, house-made rough-cut pickles and garlic aioli, all on a toasted buttery brioche bun. Burger and a side for only $12.
‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman?’
Meet sculptor and concept designer Michael Curry, who gives shape to some of Frozen’s most fantastical characters
BY E.J. IANNELLI
When the essayist and critic Frank Rich classified some of sculptor Michael Curry’s early work as puppetry, Curry was not amused. But as subjective as Rich’s review might have seemed at the time, the attention led to some transformative creative opportunities for Curry.
In the mid-1990s, he was enlisted to co-design the masks and massive puppets for The Lion King stage musical. It was a career-defining production that showcased Curry’s talents and enabled him to push the technical and aesthetic boundaries of puppetry. Later, as a veteran Disney artist, Curry was asked to do extensive design work on the stage musical adaptation of Frozen, including the intricate Sven and Olaf puppets.
Ahead of Frozen’s 12-day run in Spokane as part of the Best of Broadway series, Curry talked to the Inlander about his work, his artistic philosophies, and how they shaped his perspective on Sven the reindeer and Olaf the snowman. His answers have been edited for space.
INLANDER: What drew you to this career as a visual and concept designer?
CURRY: It was more fortuitous coincidence with some real manicuring. At age 12 or 13, I knew I wanted to be a sculptor and a painter. More precisely, I wanted to be Michelangelo, and then when I learned more, I
wanted to be Picasso. At 23 years old, I moved to New York to become Picasso.
That was in 1985, and New York had a lot of experimental street art. And I was refreshed by the idea that artists were working outside the gallery. So, I made a series of sculptures that I floated in the rivers around New York City. They were big fiberglass sculptures of philosophers’ heads, 7 feet tall. The way these sculptures behaved on the water made me aware that movement was the fourth dimension of sculpture.
Then some critics started becoming interested in this idea of movement. Frank Rich was the first to ever call my work puppetry. And, boy, was I pissed. But, lo and behold, various people started seeing the work, including [avant garde artist] Julie Taymor, and Siegfried and Roy, the magicians, who were in New York playing Radio City Music Hall.
Looking back, The Lion King was a career milestone for you. Did it seem ambitious at the time?
I had been working with Disney about five years before Julie [Taymor] was called in to do The Lion King. And I’d done really complicated shows already with Julie, big operas around the world. So, yeah, I knew it was going to be complicated.
Now it seems like something that’s belonged there
forever, but at the time it was brand new. I don’t know how we pulled it off. In The Lion King, you have Turkish shadow puppets, Japanese bunraku puppets, African masked dance. Seven or eight different cultures are encapsulated in the techniques. Puppetry generally tries to hide puppeteers in a box or put them in black. But we really embraced it, which was a big deal for The Lion King, this idea of exposing the puppeteer. And not only exposing them, but having them be a world-class Broadway actress, singer, dancer.
How did that experience on The Lion King ultimately inform your work on Frozen: The Musical?
We found that when you mess with a comedic character, you piss off your audience. We learned this on The Lion King. Zazu and Timon, they look pretty much on model, as we say, meaning that they look like the animation. With Olaf, if I had done three snowballs in my artistic [interpretation], I would just simply lose people.
Sven was unique because he was already in the hothouse when we started the show. [Director] Michael Grandage was worried he would not work. He thought he would be distracting to the love story between Anna and Christoph. And I said, ‘No, I promise that he will work,’ because Christoph has to have the validity of being a hermit, a mountain man, an outcast. How do you
Nicholas Edwards as Kristoff and Dan Plehal as Sven the reindeer. MATTHEW MURPHY PHOTOS
achieve that goal with the audience? Give him a rustic creature. So, when you see the show, look at the body language. Sven is always anticipating a line from Christoph or urging him to say it.
Olaf is on model and controlled by a visible puppeteer, but with Sven you went for a very realistic design that’s fully inhabited by a performer. Why the different approaches?
I did a whole version [of Sven] where we had classic outside puppeteers like War Horse or something. That did get in the way of the love story when there was a crew around them. So I set this goal where I want to fool the eye, because I see this as a magic illusion as much as anything.
Sven was one of the most complex ergonomic puppets we’ve ever made, and it requires some of the most specialized performers because of the arm strength — the sort of person who can walk on their hands for five minutes. But they really turned out to [have] some naturalistic movements that have had a lot of people fooled. I’ve had people asking, ‘Is that a costume on an animal?’
Are the demands on the performer the reason why you used high-tech materials like carbon fiber in the costume design?
Those sort of engineering problem-solving things are the ones that fascinate me the most. I think a lot about comfort, fit and performance. Sven is probably one of the highest examples of that, because adding any weight to his upper body is weight that [the performer] has to support on his arms. The mechanism that’s inside, you’d be surprised how delicate and light it is. It looks like the interior of a bird. There are no solid masses. The boots also have a very unique stilt that’s attached to the foot and the shin.
Now that the North American tour of Frozen has over 1,000 performances to its name, do you think your puppets have filled the role you intended?
I was worried that they would be out of place with all these other human characters. But they are actually a bonding agent. When these fantastic objects are presented, they enliven and improve the cast around them. It redirects you into your imagination. We’ve also done a lot with lighting and video to evoke these massive landscapes. But more than anything, our physical set, costumes and puppetry, not to mention the smoke and lighting and the cool effects, they don’t feel like technology. They feel like an analog story. n
Disney’s Frozen • July 24-Aug. 4; Tue-Sat at 7:30 pm, also Sat at 2 pm and Sun at 1 and 6:30 pm • $39.50-$160 • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • broadwayspokane.com • 509-279-9000
MONEY ANSWERS FOR THOSE WHO TRIED BREWING THEIR OWN BEER.
Collin Bajaas as Sven (left) and Jeremy Davis as Olaf for Frozen’s North America tour.
(Still) Takin’ Care of Business
Bachman-Turner Overdrive frontman
Randy Bachman talks playing Expo ’74, rock longevity and Gonzaga shirts
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
When looking over the musical acts that played Expo ’74, there are plenty of legends whose time has long since passed, like Ella Fitzgerald and Liberace. But there’s also one act that’s still rocking out a half century later — Canadian classic rock standouts Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
On Aug. 6, 1974, at the Spokane Coliseum, Expo caught the band at its absolute chart-topping peak; tickets were $5 ($5.50 on the day of the show). Today the band is still led by frontmen Randy Bachman and C.F. Turner and continues to have a blast on the road. While generations of bands have come and gone since BTO first formed (right after Bachman’s previous band, the Guess Who), there’s a virtue to outlasting the vast majority of them.
Before BTO stops for a show at Northern Quest on July 24, we caught up with Bachman, now 80, to reflect on the World’s Fair, his hit-making son joining the band and alternative uses of the word “Gonzaga.”
INLANDER: Do you have memories of playing Expo ’74?
BACHMAN: I do, because in ’74 we had the No. 1 album and single in Not Fragile and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.” We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of that right now on tour. I remember the World’s Fair very well, because obviously, it’s the World’s Fair.
My mother-in-law came to visit because her son-inlaw was playing the World’s Fair. And backstage after the [concert] was over, there were all these [folks wanting] autographs. And this really phenomenal blonde comes up to me and says, “Can I have your autograph?” And I say, “Sure,” and she hands me a Sharpie. And she pulls down her blouse and has a bare breast. And as I’m signing her breast, my mother-in-law walks through the dressing room and sees me signing this girl’s nakedness. And I couldn’t explain it. I just said, “Sometimes we gotta do that.”
She’s my ex-mother-in-law, and now you know why.
Did y’all end up staying around for a bit?
We stayed there quite a few days because my brotherin-law was there [stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base]. I liked Spokane a lot. I like the university there, and I had a shirt for years… gee what’s the name…
Gonzaga?
Yeah! I loved that. In fact, I gotta get one when I’m back there. I wore a Gonzaga shirt forever, and people
would say, “What is that? Is that an Indian word?” But I just loved the name, because Gonzo came out on [The Muppet Show] and this was an extension on Gonzo in Gonzaga. To me it’s a crazy word that means anything you want. “This guy is totally Gonzaga” or “That chick is totally Gonzaga!” I mean, it’s almost like the F-bomb. You can use it in many different contexts and it has different meanings. I love Gonzaga.
“I noticed an incredible switch in the people and in the media that rock and roll is back, the ’70s are back and guitar is back.”
When you hit a milestone like the 50th year of having this No. 1 record out, what are your feelings as you’re reflecting back and still getting to play that music for excited crowds?
It’s totally a dream come true. The first dream when you’re in a band is you hope to make a record and maybe hear it on the radio. When you hear it on the radio, you pull over your car. And you’re crying, you waited and tried and practiced and wrote and done everything to get on the radio, and suddenly you’re on the radio.
I lost my three brothers to COVID in the last three years, so the band’s evolved to my son Tal joining on second guitar and vocals. And he had a big hit, “She’s So High,” a couple decades or so ago. So when he does that song, wow, it updates all of BTO to like current pop rock status.
We just finished 10 days on the road. Every day was a sellout. Every day is people between 12 and 90,
standing up, going crazy. And I noticed an incredible switch in the people and in the media that rock and roll is back, the ’70s are back and guitar is back.
How cool is it for you to have your son Tal in the band?
There’s a picture when he’s 2 years old, playing drums. My brother Robbie was the drummer, and would sit Tal on the drums and tell him what to play. So when Tal was 2, he was playing BTO. He became my drummer many times. Now he’s playing guitar and keyboard on stage, and it’s just great to have him in the band. He’s been there all along, kind of grew up with the music. He knows all the Guess Who stuff, he knows all the BTO stuff — not because he’s heard it, he’s lived it. He’s kind of like my younger Mini-Me. [Laughs]
What do you think has been the key to your longevity?
A wise man told me this once: The three most important days of your life are the day you were born, the day you know why you were born — like what you were destined to do — and today, because you’re alive another day to celebrate those other two blessings.
I’ve been doing music my whole life. I didn’t do it to make money or to party or to get chicks. I did it because I was born to do it. I just do it. I get up every single day and write songs. I still practice guitar one to two hours a day. It’s what I do. And it’s really amazing to do what you do and absolutely love it, whether you’re getting paid or not. n
Bachman-Turner Overdrive • Wed, July 24 at 8 pm • $30-$390 • All ages • Northern Quest Resort & Casino • 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights • northernquest.com
The Bachman-Turner Overdrive frontman reminisces about playing Expo ’74 before his July 24 concert at Northern Quest. CHRISTIE GOODWIN PHOTO
Eat. Write. Repeat.
A Q&A with food writer Adriana Janovich, author of Unique Eats and Eateries of Spokane
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Atlanta. Sonoma County. New Orleans. Chicago. So far, 25 places have made it into Reedy Press’ series Unique Eats and Eateries of [insert name of impressive culinary scene here].
The three most recent additions to the series are Savannah, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; and Spokane, Washington.
But mastering a city’s food scene is no small feat. So when Reedy Press picks a city, they also seek out local experts to write each book. When they decided to publish Unique Eats and Eateries of Spokane, they immediately knew which author to call: Adriana Janovich, current associate editor of Washington State Magazine and previous food editor at the Spokesman-Review.
As a newspaper food writer, Janovich covered everything from restaurant openings and closings to signature dishes, local chef profiles, and culinary techniques. Her in-depth knowledge of dining out in Spokane made her the perfect person to introduce newcomers to “the people and stories behind the food” — the tagline of the entire Unique Eats series.
Janovich chatted with the Inlander about all things food in Spokane, which is in a condensed Q&A below. But anyone in Spokane will get the opportunity to ask Janovich their own questions during her next book talk at Shadle Park Library on July 27 from 3 to 4 pm.
There’ll be plenty of free parking, books for sale and restaurant recommendations — from Janovich, surely, but also from the community of eaters in Spokane who support a food scene that’s now earning national recognition.
INLANDER: Why is it important to write about food?
JANOVICH: Food is everything. It is political, it’s science, it’s health, it’s nutrition, it’s culture, it’s people. There are gender issues. It’s family. And then, of course, there’s the storytelling part that I think brings people together just like food itself does. So to me, food is every beat. Plus, it’s also fun. Everybody needs to eat. So it really unites us.
When did you start writing about food?
My background is in newspapers — I spent just over 20 years in newspapers throughout Washington state and had a variety of beats like general assignment, religion, education, and then the food beat or the restaurant beat. I had been interested in food and cooking in restaurants for as long as I can remember. I often looked for stories that featured food, such as making tamales at Christmastime or preparing Sunday soul food dinners in a church basement when I was a religion reporter, even if I wasn’t officially on the food beat. But it really wasn’t until I became the food editor at the Spokesman-Review that I really got the opportunity to dive into the culinary world full time. I loved covering Spokane restaurants and bars and chefs and menus and signature dishes and food and drink trends.
Was there anything that surprised you about the culinary scene in Spokane?
For some reason during my time at the Spokesman — almost six years — I covered a lot of openings and trends, but there were some longtime restaurants I had never been to. One of those was the Suki Yaki Inn. I knew it had been around a really long time and that a lot of industry folks would hang out there after shifts, so it was a Spokane institution. When I was trying to put together the list of restaurants or food establish-
ments that would be in the book, the list was really long — there were about 200 places I wanted to include, but the publishers set the limit at 84. So one of the hardest things was whittling down the list. But Suki Yaki kept coming up in conversations. It was one of the last places I visited when I was doing research for the book. It was near deadline and I included it in the book. The book was due in early September, and I think it was in November that I saw the news that the restaurant was going to close in December. That just really surprised me because it had been around since the late ’40s or early ’50s, and I did not anticipate it closing. So I emailed the publisher right away and luckily I was able to swap that one out for another one. But that surprised me. I had just not expected a place that was this Spokane institution to close.
What do restaurants do for a city?
It’s the city’s second living room. It’s a gathering place, whether you go alone or with friends or as a couple. It’s where we celebrate life’s milestones, right? You go out to dinner when you graduate or when you have a birthday or an anniversary, or just after
Spokane’s food scene is getting (more) national attention.
work to blow off some steam. They foster community, and I feel like they nourish your body and your soul. It’s a huge service that they provide for cities.
Do you feel like Spokane is missing anything or has any areas to grow food-wise?
I am half Polish and half Croatian, so I would love to see a Polish restaurant or a Croatian restaurant. I have not stumbled upon either of those in Spokane, but I don’t know that we’re missing those things if we don’t have a huge population of those ethnicities or backgrounds. Personally, I could use a place to go for pierogi that I don’t have to make myself. But that’s a selfish answer. I think there’s so many cool and just really interesting restaurants that Spokane has that maybe other places don’t, like a Twin Peaks-themed windowless tiny bar [the Baby Bar]. Maybe other places do have a restaurant in a train, but I still think that that’s really neat. And the Flour Mill houses several restaurants, and I think that’s really neat. Another place I went for the first time was the Skyway Cafe at Felts Field. Learning about the history there and watching planes take off and land — that was something I learned. It is so popular on weekends, and their cinnamon rolls are so popular. People who have lived here longer know about it. And another place that comes to mind is Feast World Kitchen. The idea of a nonprofit restaurant that uplifts immigrants and refugees, that has a changing menu and changing chefs almost every day of the week and is really like a community service — when we talk about what restaurants do, that one uplifts people and it connects people. So that’s a really good example of restaurants building and fostering community. n
Find Unique Eats and Eateries of Spokane at Auntie’s Bookstore, Atticus Coffee and Gifts, and Indaba Coffee on Riverside Avenue.
Adriana Janovich: Unique Eats and Eateries of Spokane • Sat, July 27 at 3 pm • Free • Shadle Park Library • 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. • spokanelibrary.com • 509-444-5300
OPEN DURING ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Road construction is in full swing, but don’t let that detour you from enjoying the delicious eats in Latah Valley. Access is still open via US 195. Please go the extra mile to support these local gems this summer.
Author Adriana Janovich loves the Durkin’s burger. COURTESY PHOTO
Hot ’n’ Fresh News
The Insider’s Guide to the Inland Northwest
Restaurant openings and competitions are heating up the Inland Northwest food scene
BY FOPE SERIKI AND ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Despite the heatwave, news in the restaurant world is still cooking! Whether you’re beating the heat by popping into a new cafe or restaurant, or parking yourself in front of your air conditioner with a glass of award-winning wine, the Inland Northwest has something cool for you.
OPENINGS
PHOENIX CAFE
415 W. Main Ave., 509-903-6937
Revival Tea Company, a local favorite known for its creative tea blends, is brewing excitement in its downtown Spokane boba bar. The upstairs space of the popular tea spot has officially relaunched as the Phoenix Cafe with an expanded food and drink menu.
Drew Henry, CEO of Revival Tea Company, explained the motivation behind the change. “Our logo is a phoenix coming out of a teapot, so we thought that it was an ode to the logo of the company.”
Customers are enthusiastic about the change, Henry says.
“People are so excited just to watch the brand and the company continue to evolve,” he says. “Our fans are just genuinely excited that we’re adding these new menu items.”
The rebranding goes beyond just a name change. The Phoenix Cafe is now open from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, catering to both early birds and night owls. Revival’s downstairs tasting room still maintains its 9 am to 6 pm schedule.
The Phoenix Cafe’s menu expansion brings significant additions, including a full espresso and coffee selection, build-your-own acai cups, and various artisanal toasts. Henry acknowledges the challenges that come with these changes, particularly in customer awareness.
“I think the biggest challenge we have facing us is re-educating people that we do have coffee, we do have actual food options, and then these acai cups as well,” Henry says. “So far, the marketing we’ve done has been through our email lists, text lists and obviously on social media.”
As a healthy alternative to sugary boba, the inspiration for the build-your-own acai cups came from a family trip to California, where Henry’s 2-year-old became a massive fan.
“Aside from just traditional acai, we were
able to bring in blue acai, which is a play on our popular blue tea,” Henry says.
Staying on brand, the company builds the bowls in their recognizable boba cups.
“Anytime we do something we want to make it ours,” he says, “so putting them in our really unique boba cups was cool.”
Looking ahead, Revival Tea Company anticipates even more exciting changes. As part of a nationwide expansion plan to open 50 tasting rooms across the United States, the company is currently doing a large community investment round where customers and fans can contribute to a crowdfund.
“With as little as $250, they can invest in Revival and actually get part ownership of the company,” Henry says. (FS)
EMRAN RESTAURANT
309 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene, 208-292-4465
About six months after opening the first Afghan restaurant in Spokane, Nasrollah and Samira Mohammadi of Emran Restaurant and Market have opened a second location in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The restaurant can seat about 100 people and also provides take out and catering services.
The menu is similar to Spokane’s, featuring central Asian favorites like kebabs, curry, a sweet and savory rice dish called pulao, and Afghan dumplings called manto. The new Coeur d’Alene location doesn’t have a market like the expanded restaurant in Spokane does, but it’s sure to bring lots of new flavors and experiences to North Idaho nonetheless. (EB)
ACCOLADES
The 1924 Riblet Estate, better known as Arbor Crest Wine Cellars’ Cliff House Estate, is commemorating its 100th anniversary this year. To celebrate, it’s planning a glitzy, glammy Gatsbythemed gala on Aug. 9. Tickets are on sale at arborcrest.com.
An unplanned surprise came last month, when USA Today announced Arbor Crest as a nominee for one of the top 10 Winery Restaurants in the paper’s Readers’ Choice Awards. All Arbor Crest needs now is your vote! Anyone can vote once per day at 10best.usatoday.com before the competition ends on July 22. Cheers, old sport! (EB) n
Hearty avocado toast at the Phoenix Cafe. PHOENIX CAFE PHOTO
JULY 25
Blues Traveler with Justyn Priest
JULY 28
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors + The National Parks
AUGUST 2
Jason Mraz & The Superband with Molly Miller Trio
JULY 25 - AUGUST 4, 2024
JULY 26
Violent Femmes An Evening With
JULY 31
Maren Morris with Delacey
AUGUST 3
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw
JULY 27
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with Big Boi
AUGUST 1
Lee Brice with Madeline Merlo
AUGUST 4
How to Train Your Dragon - In Concert
Twist and Shout
The original Twister is a fun ride, though its legacy is defined by hubris and limitation just as it is thrills
BY CHASE HUTCHINSON
It’s strange to be nostalgic for a disaster film like Twister. Then again, these are strange times we’re in.
When it first came out, the year was 1996, and the movie landscape as we know it was vastly different. Blockbusters were more often defined by original ideas. The hulking behemoth that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe was more than a decade away from kicking off with the redemptive story of an American weapons manufacturer discovering that he should make himself the weapon (2008’s Iron Man).
Twister was a film that wasn’t about setting up a sequel or a broader universe of superheroes. No, it was one about ordinary people trying to do what good they could. It stood on its own, taking its premise seriously while also remaining unafraid to be silly and play around with a great, if shallow, ensemble cast. It’s humorous that it has now gotten a sequel in Twisters, which may as well have a dollar sign at the end to be Twister$ The original endures not just because of solid special effects and earned sincerity alongside spectacle. Its resonance comes from witnessing people come together to move the needle in a better direction away from disasters threatening to consume us all.
If only life itself were as simple as the movies we make.
Co-starring the late Bill Paxton alongside Helen Hunt (and co-written by the late Michael Crichton), Twister is a film that confronts the immense and destructive powers of nature by accompanying a ragtag group of storm-chasing scientists looking to fight against this annihilation. They’re thrill-seekers, zipping around Tornado Alley in Oklahoma while blasting music to get hyped up for the adventure they’re on, but they also hope to understand the enormous tornadoes that are tearing through the region so they can give people a few more minutes of warning to get out of their path. Looking back, it almost seems quaint now. That the biggest human conflict is about Paxton’s Bill butting heads with Cary Elwes’ smarmy Dr. Jonas Miller, a corporate storm-chasing stooge who is in it for the money and the fame, is rather darkly funny
in retrospect. One can only wish that the biggest thing we’d have to worry about with greedy corporations is that they would want to slap their name on something good as opposed to being the root of the problem.
In 2024, scientists warn extreme weather events are growing more common and will only continue to do so in the years ahead as temperatures continue to rise. It isn’t just that disasters like tornadoes have grown more frequent, now coming in bursts and spreading beyond where they typically would years ago, but that we are continuing to toss aside the very people who they destroy.
In December 2021, eight workers at a Kentucky candle factory and six workers at an Illinois Amazon warehouse died. This happened because the survivors say their bosses refused to let them leave workplaces that were in the path of a powerful tornado. As I write this, Washington state is engulfed in a heatwave that is part of a nationwide crisis. There have already been fatalities and are likely to be more as, according to a UW report. More than 400 died from direct and indirect heat-related causes the last time around. And there is no Bill Paxton to stop this.
That the central plot of Twister is about rival storm-chasing groups trying to prove their early-warning technology first is comical but revealing. While this is all pretty silly, it feels painfully prescient as we look at what is rapidly becoming a terrifying new normal. Technology is often held up as the thing to save us from the extreme weather events bearing down on us. We continually think that if we can wrangle the weather we are making worse with some technological ingenuity and American can-do spirit, we’ll be OK. It’s a bill of goods that, while it makes for an entertaining movie, is nowhere near sufficient in real life.
Whether the premise of a movie or the guiding force behind policy, this technological delusion represents the height of humanity’s hubris. To think we can tame the destructive forces of nature we have made infinitely worse is something that you see everywhere. If we can just find that one thing that will reverse the trends or do battle with nature, we’ll be OK. In a narrative, it would be a MacGuffin. In life, it’s a story that we tell ourselves to forestall that we should be taking a harder look at our consumption. As long as there is a charming character played by Paxton (or now Glen Powell in Twisters) to roll in with some spiffy technological invention, we can forget about what’s necessitating their intervention in the first place.
So it’s strange to be nostalgic for a film like Twister
No matter how much it ultimately taps into the terror of extreme weather, the film’s most enduring legacy is one of detachment. The final shot, where we see Paxton and Hunt share a smooch in the rubble of the aftermath of a storm, is fitting. It’s an attempt at hope in a world where the storms now rage all the time. Alas, we’re all going to need more than hope. Just like movies need original ideas, so too does our world. No matter how much we try to reheat what’s already been done at the box office, life itself depends on greater imagination. n
Twisters opens in theaters on July 19.
Disaster is back in the new Twisters
“O They Can You See...”
National Anthem is a stylish celebration of rural queer community and romance
BY JOSH BELL
It’s not surprising that director and co-writer Luke Gilford’s debut feature National Anthem started out as a photography book, because it sometimes seems like a series of impeccably composed images in search of a story. Even if the narrative is a bit thin, though, Gilford creates an affecting portrait of a particular subculture, with sympathetic characters and a sweet — if slightly undercooked — central romance.
Gilford captures the sense of discovery that the somewhat sheltered 21-year-old Dylan (Charlie Plummer) feels when he enters the House of Splendor ranch, an unlikely cultural oasis in rural New Mexico where queer ranchers and rodeo performers have carved out a community for themselves. Dylan spends his days working menial construction jobs to help support his much younger brother Cassidy (Joey DeLeon) and his alcoholic mother, Fiona (Robyn Lively), and he’s never met anyone like Sky (Eve Lindley), a trans woman who takes Dylan under her wing when he’s hired to help out at the ranch.
Dylan is immediately smitten with Sky, but she’s in a relationship with ranch owner Pepe (Rene Rosado). The central love triangle provides only mild drama, and the same goes for Fiona’s token resistance to Dylan taking up with people who fly one of “those flags.” The seemingly insurmountable family conflicts are resolved quickly and quietly, which can undermine the characters’ supposedly intractable longterm differences.
Rated R
It’s refreshing to see an LGBTQ-focused movie that’s almost entirely devoid of homophobia or transphobia, but the lack of tension makes the stakes feel lower, both for Dylan and for the House of Splendor residents. It must take a lot of courage to be a proud, flamboyant nonbinary cowperson like Carrie (Mason Alexander Park) in a small town, but Gilford gives little sense of the characters’ struggles.
He offers only slightly more depth for Dylan and Sky, but
Plummer and Lindley have easy, relaxed chemistry, and Gilford doesn’t hold back on the sensuality of their connection. Many of the scenes at the ranch and the rodeo are so slick and glossy that they look like a commercial for a rugged but inclusive clothing brand, but Gilford also gets more raw and intimate with some of the close personal interactions. This isn’t a movie that’s interested in being coy about its characters’ sexual expression, in whatever form that takes.
National Anthem’s one moment of pure anguish comes off as contrived, though, and the movie works best as a stylish celebration of queer joy. There may not be much to the characters, but there’s value in simply depicting a world where they can unapologetically be themselves, one which eagerly welcomes curious outsiders like Dylan and Cassidy. Gilford gives plenty of screen time to the rodeo events and to various drag performances, including Dylan’s own drag debut as he allows himself to explore his identity.
That kind of exploration usually comes with harsh backlash in movies, but recent films like the teen rom-coms Crush and Anything’s Possible have shifted the focus to positivity and acceptance, telling stories about queer characters without emphasizing their trauma. It’s a relief not to keep waiting for some kind of tragedy, and Gilford effectively conveys the excitement of participating in these activities and performances. It’s easy to see why Dylan is so drawn to the House of Splendor, even without the romance aspect. The ranch seems like the kind of place where anyone would enjoy spending time, and the people there are almost always friendly and upbeat.
That’s enough to keep National Anthem engaging, even when the drama is less than compelling. As a photographer, Gilford clearly knows how to bring out his subjects’ inner charisma and enthusiasm, and he does the same for his characters. Their light shines through effortlessly, and the audience can’t help but respond accordingly. n
National Anthem
Directed by Luke Gilford
Starring Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Robyn Lively
Save a horse, ride a cowboy.
‘The Juice’ Is Worth the Squeeze
Portland’s STRFKR delivers more club-worthy psychedelia on Parallel Realms
BY BRITTNE LUNNIS
The first time I saw STRFKR, I had Zooey Deschanel bangs. I went to a Seattle show with some freshman college friends, feeling indie and a little too cool for using the word “f----” so casually. The band’s song “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” was in heavy rotation on my 2007 iPod touch, and I’m pretty sure my friends and I wore matching Toms to the show. Needless to say, I’ve grown a bit since my first STRFKR experience — and so has the band.
There’s something special to be said about a group that continues to evolve with its fanbase. While our hair, fashion and love interests change (I do still have a crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt circa 500 Days Of Summer and that’s a hill I will die on), it’s music that sticks with us. Attending a STRFKR show is like eating a handful of psychedelic mushrooms from the junior philosophy major in your res hall. You’re not quite sure what you’re going to get, but you know you’re in store for bright lights, swaying bodies and maybe even men in spacesuits. The band’s music is techno, pop, dance and groove. Each song has a life of its own, and while categorizing STRFKR into one genre feels near impossible — that’s the beauty of the group.
Originally beginning as an outlet for Josh Hodges’ solo work in 2007, things eventually evolved into a full-fledged indie rock band. The name STRFKR is a sarcastic jab at people who take themselves too seriously,
particularly in the music scene. Says Hodges, “I was around all of these people who were kind of douchey.” After hearing one person refer to themselves as a “starf—er,” Hodges started to grow wary of the industry and those involved in it. As a comedic act of rebellion STRFKR became the band name.
Ahead of a 42-show tour celebrating the release of Parallel Realms, STRFKR is feeling revamped, revived and ready to share the juice. For its seventh studio album, the Portland-based band has gone back to basics in the best way possible. Described by lead-singer Hodges as an “anti-concept” album, the group took an organically collaborative approach toward the project.
The album is a 17-track experience that delivers earworms like “Armatron,” “Together Forever” and “Leaving.” Parallel Realms is an album you’ll run to for the dancey beats, but don’t overlook some of the poignant lyrical messages (which admittedly, are difficult to understand at times under Hodges’ magical robot tones). Hodges’ casually sings about “death licking at his heels” and “wondering what’s happened with his life” beneath a rave-worthy beat on “Always / Never” (I’m not crying in the club, you are)
You’ll find that some of the tracks are brief – like under 3 minutes brief – but they flow and make sense for the journey of Parallel Realms. If you’re too stoned to
comprehend words, look to “interspace 5” (a 1:05 minute interlude of pure space gaze) or “Waited For It” – a club bop with a techno drop where Hodges simply says “I waited for it, all of my life” for the 2:27 runtime. They’re songs that carry catchy instrumentals, interesting mouth noises used as percussion that are entirely impossible to explain, and simple yet intentional melodies. Reference the same few notes used throughout “Chizzlers,” and you’ll understand how Hodges’ back-to-basics approach entirely works for the album. As a seasoned band should, STRFKR continues to impress by evolving, offering new listening experiences and challenging its routine.
Before the band kicks off its summer tour with a stop at the Knitting Factory on July 25, we caught up with the soft-spoken Hodges to discuss long tours, life and the evolution of his band.
INLANDER: You’re about to kick off a 42-show tour. That’s pretty big! What are your feelings leading up to that?
HODGES: I’m excited! Being on tour can be tough on homelife though… My cats don’t really like it when I’m leaving.
What are your cats’ names?
Kenzy and Kitty Boy! They’re both very sweet.
What are some fond memories you have on tour to get you through feeling homesick?
For me, the thing that I find most rewarding is genuine moments with fans. We often go to the merch table after a show. It’s nice meeting people, but every once in a while there’s someone who shares a story about how our music has been important to their life in a really meaningful way. It’s a good reminder that this really has an impact beyond just making a fun show. On this last tour, we played our biggest headlining show yet [at Salt Shed in Chicago], so that was really exciting. It felt like we were playing in a small stadium or something. We never thought we would be here when we first started this, so that was really neat. Totally surreal.
Let’s talk about your new album, Parallel Realms. I love it. Can’t stop vibing to it. It’s synth-groove, it’s stoned-on-thebeach, it’s dream-pop. What was your inspiration?
It started as a solo project, and I had this very hands-off approach. It was just something for fun, and I was like, any of my friends can play with me. I hadn’t even met Shawn Glassford, the bass player, when he joined the band. I met him through a friend of my girlfriend’s. One day he showed up at my house, and I taught him some songs and we started playing shows. It was like, whoever wants to contribute at whatever level will – we’re just along for the ride really.
It sounds like it was a pretty organic process.
Yeah, most albums I had a specific “thing” I was trying to do. This album felt more like an accumulation of all these years. It feels like the most STRFKR album to me. It represents us well. It’s the opposite of a concept album. We kind of just went with whatever felt good moment to moment. We didn’t have a name until the very end. The name is like a relationship between two points of consciousness. It’s like reality is iridescent and if you change the perspective just a little bit, that reality completely changes.
Do you have a favorite song on the album? Or is that like choosing a favorite child?
I joke with my girlfriend about that. I have two cats, and she has one cat, and she brings her cat to my house sometimes. They’re kinda buddies or whatever. I tell them at different times, “you’re my favorite.” I’m sure parents must go through this. [laughs]
“Armatron” is maybe one of my favorites, and “Underwater.” Both of those started as demos that our drummer Keil Corcoran had, and then I took it and did my thing. We went back and forth a lot. I love when that happens.
Were the lyrics a collaborative process, or did you primarily write them?
It’s mostly me. I get in a flow state, or a weird crafting state. I’ve been calling it “the juice.” It’s the juice of you and the whole universe, and you just want it to flow through you. It’s not as easy as it seems because the critical mind can kick in.
What can we expect from STRFKR in the future?
I love the people I tour with. They’re family, and we’ve been doing it for so long together. There’s no bad energy. It’s a special group of people, but it’s also not a sustainable thing. At some point I think we will want to slow down. For now, we’re still going, and this year is super busy. I’ll never stop making music.
If you could gather all of your fans in one place, what would you tell them?
I would tell them I really do appreciate that we get to do this. I had some really emotional moments on this last tour. You never know when the last time you do anything is going to be. When I’m playing, it’s really special. People resonate with my juice and the juice of the band, the crew, everyone. We recognize each other in this artistic way. It’s rare and special. n
STRFKR, Holy Wave, Ruth Radelet • Thu, July 25 at 8 pm • $23 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com
DESERT BLUES ETRAN DE L’AÏR
Thursday, 7/18
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Robert Vaughn
J THE BIG DIPPER, Loud & Local Showcase: ElemenoP, Keze, JAYLEN!, DJ Weezy
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Bolo’s Blues & Brews CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds
J COEUR D’ALENE PARK, Free Whiskey
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Rewind: Thursday Night Vibes
J RIVERSTONE PARK, Pamela Benton Band, The Kindreds
J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, LakeTown Sound
J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Carli Osika
ZOLA, SideStep, Nick Seider
Friday, 7/19
AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, Gil Rivas
BARRISTER WINERY, The Rising
J THE BIG DIPPER, Gravewitch, Acalvaria, Crusty Mustard, Absent Cardinal
CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Whack A Mole
J FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER, Dwight Yoakam, The Mavericks
J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire
J HAMILTON STUDIO, The Diva’s: What She Said Back
J J BONES MUSICLAND, Sydney Dale, Rosalie Jeanne, Gabriella Rose
PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, AP Collective
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., The Lowest Pair
PUNK TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT, Ron Greene
J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, War
SPOKANE VALLEY EAGLES, Stagecoach West
J THE JUNKYARD DRINKS & EATS, Kung Fu Vampire, DJ Clay, Bake Lo, Allibyy, Jay Tha Ripper
J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Dan Conrad
ZOLA, Austin Miller
ZOLA, Star Court
Saturday, 7/20
BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO., Starlite Motel
J BROWNE’S ADDITION, Cannonball
CENTRAL LIBRARY, Get Loud in the Library: Floating Crowbar, Free Whiskey, Betsy Rogue
THE CHAMELEON, Afro Sounds
CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, The Jason Perry Band
J LIVE AT ANDRE’S, Seth Walker, Max & Brittney Flinn
NOAH’S CANTEEN, Just Plain Darin
J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, Gigawatt
J J PAVILLION PARK, Primus, Coheed and Cambria, Guerilla Toss
PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Brian Jacobs
J PONDEROSA BAR AND GRILL, Dan Conrad
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
ROCKET MARKET, The Ronaldos
ZOLA, Blake Braley
ZOLA, Elsa Cross
There are certain fascinating genres of world music that simply cannot authentically exist in the States. Tishoumaren — also known as desert blues — is one such style. Forged by the nomadic Tuareg people, desert blues blends together traditional African and Middle Eastern music with Western electric guitar rock. While the “Hendrix of the Sahara” Mdou Moctar might be the genre’s most famous act, the Nigerian outfit Etran de L’Aïr are also top-tier performers of the genre. Listening to the group’s 2022 album Agadez, it’s easy to get lost in the hypnotic free-flowing trance of their distinctly un-Western approach to expansive guitar music. Before releasing its new album 100% Sahara Guitar in September, Etran de L’Aïr stops by The District for what’s likely to be one of the most unique concerts of the year.
— SETH SOMMERFELD
Etran de L’Aïr, Itchy Kitty • Wed, July 24 at 9 pm • $20 • 21+ • The District Bar • 916 W. First Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com
When you want straightforward, no nonsense punk rock, obviously there’s only one place to look — Wyoming. OK, that may not be everyone’s first instinct, but since emerging from Laramie in the early 2000s Teenage Bottlerocket has been one of the best old school punk bands the genre has to offer. With an unrelenting downstroke power chord attack and melodicism that should appeal to anyone who wears a Ramones T-shirt, the band continues to put out catchy songs of disaffection like those found on its 2023 EP, So Dumb / So Stoked. Time to open up a Cowboy State circle pit, y’all.
— SETH SOMMERFELD
Teenage Bottlerocket, Jen Pop, Scatterbox • Wed, July 24 at 7:30 pm • $22 • All ages • The Big Dipper • 171 S. Washington St. • thebigdipperspokane.com
Sunday, 7/21
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Soul Proprietor
J THE BIG DIPPER, Armed For Apocalypse, Nott, Odyssey, Xenoplasm
J CRAFT & GATHER, Sydney Dale HOGFISH, Open Mic
J KNITTING FACTORY, SOJA, Sensamotion
J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, Steve Starkey
J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin
ZOLA, Spokane is Dead
Monday, 7/22
BACKWOODS WHISKEY BAR, Brenden McCoy
EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night
J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, Nate Ostrander
Tuesday, 7/23
BING CROSBY THEATER, Judy Collins
J THE BUOY, Wiebe Jammin’ OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Just Plain Darin
ROCKET MARKET, Sean Kavanaugh
SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays
ZOLA, A Train to Nowhere
Wednesday, 7/24
J BARN AND BLOSSOM, Front Porch Rockers
J J THE BIG DIPPER, Teenage Bottlerocket, Jen Pop
J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW J
SHOW
JASON PENDLETON PHOTO
J THE DISTRICT BAR, Etran de L’Aïr, Itchy Kitty
THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic
J KENDALL YARDS, Rock the Nest: River Street Latin Band, Milonga, Rachae Thomas Trio
Funding clean water projects in Kenya since 2010, Life Center is hosting its annual 7k race, Spokenya. Every dollar made from entry fees benefits clean water projects in Kenya. This year, each entry provides a biosand water filter for a household in Adiedo village. Participants don’t have to feel pressured to run — walking is encouraged, and the race start is open for 10 minutes to ensure everyone can participate. The last 100 meters presents participants with a choice: “Put yourself in her shoes” is written across buckets of water, giving participants the option to carry water above their heads across the finish line, the same way women and girls in Kenya carry their household’s water.
— MADI OSWALT
Spokenya • Sat, July 20 from 7-10:30 am • $35 • Life Center Spokane • 1202 N. Government Way • spokenyarun.org
THEATER TRIPLE S
One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, As You Like It, is coming to a park near you! As You Like It has been revered by critics for its clever subversion of the traditional rules of romance and gender roles. Typical in Shakespeare’s work, the play centers on deception, murder and, of course, love. The young Rosalind and her cousin escape into the forest of Arden, where she finds Orlando. Rosalind, disguised as a boy shepherd, vows to cure Orlando of his love for Rosalind. As personas slip, confusion and hilarity ensue. Don’t miss out on enjoying one of Shakespeare’s most amusing plays for free in Spokane’s beautiful parks, courtesy of the Spokane Shakespeare Society.
— CASSANDRA BENSON
As You Like It • July 18-21 in Corbin Park, July 25-28 in Manito Park and Aug. 1-3 in Riverfront Park; Wed-Sat at 6:30, Sun at 2 pm • Free • All ages • spokaneshakespearesociety.org
COMMUNITY OTAKU UNITE
KuroNekoCon has evolved wildly since its inception in 2009. What started as a one-time event for Spokane Community College’s gaming club to celebrate anime and video games soon transformed into a three-day annual event celebrating Japanese pop culture. While the COVID pandemic has prevented the convention from being held at full capacity since 2020, this year marks the event’s return to the Spokane Convention Center. There are a ton of exciting activities planned, including a couple of contests, an innovative game of chess where cosplayers are the chess pieces, an electronic dance party, and an escape room based on the popular anime Spy x Family. Don’t forget to bring your wallet, because booths selling all kinds of merchandise will be open all three days.
— COLTON RASANEN
KuroNekoCon • July 19-21; Fri-Sat from 8 am-11 pm, Sun from 8 am-5 pm • $40-$250 • All ages • Spokane Convention Center • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • kuronekocon.com
GET LISTED!
Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email relevant details to getlisted@inlander.com. We need the details one week prior to our publication date.
WORDS FUNNY BUNNIES
When local authors come out with new books, it always feels a little bit like Christmas. When local authors come out with new books about their adorable, fluffy bunnies… Words cannot describe the feeling. The Egg Buntectives is a children’s book based on author Whitney Kolterman’s two rabbits, Copper and Arlo. In the book, the two adorable Holland Lop rabbits solve the case of the missing blue egg. The event takes place at Mulberry Market Co. and features mimosas for the adults, a fun activity for the kids, and a hardcover copy of the book to take home and cherish. I hear there may be a special guest appearance by a certain bunny whose name rhymes with hopper…
— MADISON PEARSON
The Egg Buntectives Reading • Thu, July 18 from 6-7 pm • $25 • All ages • Mulberry Market Co. • 17325 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley • mulberrymarketco.com
COMMUNITY DRINKING SONGS
Have you ever wanted to go birding but thought, “Dang, there won’t be any beer?” Now you have no excuse. Wildland Cooperative brewery is partnering with the Spokane Audubon Society to put on their first-ever Birds & Brews event. It’s free and open to all ages, and beginner birders and families are especially encouraged to join. The evening starts with a guided wildlife walk and the chance to see local bird species like California quail, bluebirds, catbirds, flycatchers and red-tailed hawks. Then, gather back at the brewery for cold, cold beers plus other NA options — $1 of each pint sold will be donated to the society’s Save-A-Bird team that helps rehabilitate injured or orphaned birds. Finally, close out the night with an hour of fascinating bird trivia. Register by July 18 for an evening celebrating our feathered friends!
— ELIZA
BILLINGHAM
Birds and Brews • Sat, July 20 from 4-7 pm • Free • All ages • Wildland Cooperative • 8022 E. Greenbluff Road, Colbert • spokaneaudubonsociety. com • Email conservation@spokaneaudubon.org to register
I SAW YOU
RIVER SERENADER To the gentleman serenading river floaters and kayakers on the shore of the little spokane on Saturday July 13th. You sir are extremely talented, you should be famous, somebody find this guy and make him famous!! Your beautiful voice and lovely guitar playing was a wonderful surprise on our kayaking trip. I just wish we could have stopped and listened to you more! Hope to see you there again soon!
YOU SAW ME
PRETTY PAINTER We met briefly on a construction site. You seemed interested in holding a conversation whenever we bumped into eachother, for better or worse I was more focused on cleaning bricks than flirting. Wish I would have had enough sense to ask for your #. I hope you see this.
CHEERS
SACRED It’s special to be a Mother or Sister or Daughter. It is not a fad or something to take up on occasion. It is a special part of life that shouldn’t be taken for granted. We should all be thankful for them.
FMUOASL Couldn’t help but notice the double Alison Wonderland mention in the past couple of issues. Shout-out SW for your impeccable music taste! See ya on the farm at Shambhala :)
HOLY HIGH HAT! Junkyard Eats and Drinks, on Trent, Spokane Valley. YOU were the venue for THE best no-cover show we’ve ever seen!! You served us all, so efficiently, on that amazing, rainy Sunday evening, June 30. Rain or Shine, indeed!! Your servers, cooks, and all staff, were so prompt, friendly, kind, fun-not-phony, and aware of the stellar vibe unfolding in that mesmerizing mix of musical, “madness!” We could “feel it in the air” on every level. Fabulous dive joint!! The BEST Roadhouse we’ve discovered. Is this the area’s bestkept secret?? Voo-Doo Church, we will miss you.
KUDOS FOR SAVING MY CELLPHONE On a recent Saturday I was enjoying a mocha while sitting on a bench outside the United Building in Hillyard. I set my phone down on the bench and then took off not realizing I had left it until 30 minutes later. When I went back there, someone had turned it in. I’m so grateful to that person. I sure didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new phone! Thanks for being so thoughtful.
RE: ARTWORK I have to agree with the recent comment about college art. It is pretty good. Spokane has some of the best artists in the whole wide world.
JEERS
SPOKANE CONSTRUCTION Jeers to Spokane for their disorganized and dangerous construction planning. You have the road close underneath the Green Street Bridge. So, you divert traffic to other streets. Then, you close down Market Street so it’s down to one lane. You don’t clearly mark the closures so you have people merging traffic in front of SCC blocking lanes. Then you have no clear area marked for turning to get onto Upriver Drive going east. This is just a major traffic accident waiting to happen. When it does, emergency won’t be able to get there because the one lane will be reduced to zero lanes. While it’s true all cities have road construction projects that
impede flow of traffic, I’ve never seen them so dangerous. Why don’t you open up some roads until you have other roads finished? I can hear the emergency sirens coming tragically soon. Perhaps it’s the frustration of construction that has people going twice the speed limit down Upriver Drive after
DEAR SALTESE CEMETERY KARENS I agree: performing a ritual that leaves big puddles of wax on the gazebo floor is disrespectful. Which is why I didn’t do it. I went to your precious cemetery so often because I found it peaceful. I liked to sit in the gazebo and meditate. I stopped going
they get onto it. Speaking of which, is there any law enforcement in this city that pulls over speeders?
STUPID DO GOODERS I came across a cardboard sign from a panhandler. “Anything helps.” The guy left it next to his pile of trash. Empty beer cans and cigarette packages. Idiots who give these people money are only “helping” them to maintain their many addictions. If you really want to help them give that money to a shelter.
RE: LIBRARY PROTESTORS I agree with keeping sexualized content out of kids’ hands. I’m glad the Bible can be far, far away from them.
THE BIG LIE “Lies take time to develop. They usually start at the kitchen table; “did you hear about….” rumors, gossip and the talk on the street. A few years ago, for the first time in our history, we had a black president, and some believed that he was illegitimate and needed a birth certificate. It became known as the “birther movement.”
The “birthers” were encouraged by the fringe theorists and the fringe science (pseudoscience). It doesn’t take much to blur the lines between (blur, shadow, obscure, smudge, distort). Conspiracy theories abound, what do you believe? is the moon hollow; did the CIA kill JFK ; are the Illuminati real; are we living in a matrix; do stargates exist; is 5G radiation deadly; does covid-19 have a microchip; in bigfoot, abominate snowman, loch ness monster; in planet X returns (Nibiru).”
when you started parking outside the gates to watch me because that shit is CREEPY.
Assuming anyone who wears punk clothing is going to summon Satan in the gazebo in broad daylight is both stupid and wrong.
(Seriously, if you think they performed that ritual in the middle of the day, please put yourselves in the corner.) I hope you caught whoever did it. And I hope that when you realized it wasn’t me, you felt like the assholes you are.
SCHOOL REPAIR BUDGETS Look into the West Valley school district repair budget, why on earth would they spend more than half the summer repair budget on an administration building where it doesn’t affect the education of the kids — it's just to make more offices. While the elementary schools and the middle school is in horrible disrepair, why do they need more assistance at admin when you could hire more teachers?
LEASH YOUR **** DOG! It’s the law.
CAR BREAK-INS AT LOCAL FITNESS CENTER
The parking lot was full. A car was leaving up front, I got lucky! Just a quick morning workout to start my day. That 30 minute workout turned into a nightmare when I became the victim of a smash and grab. An employee told me it happened twice last week. You have survelliance so we got the thief on camera? Nope just signs no cameras. Why no notice to your members about the rash of break-ins? Manager: “That is a level above me.” The cost to member
and community: $400, hours of phone calls with Crime Check, banks, credit card company, insurance, drivers licensing, glass companies and replacement, a $977.00 charge on my CC and an attempt to cash a check for $2500 (Hats off to employees at Chase Bank), the feeling of being violated by a thief, days of uncertainty about your identity, and the apathy of the health club you have paid dues to for 17 years, priceless.
EXCOMMUNICATION TIME
I’m dismayed by the extreme Catholics in and around the Supreme Court. They want to turn the clocks back 150 years on our civil rights, reverse all the progress we’ve made and re-install a dictator. These are not ordinary Catholics (like myself). They don’t embrace kindness, charity, humility and grace. They’re akin to the evangelicals (who, btw, can’t stand Catholics). Please, Pope Francis, excommunicate these radicals. They’re bringing us down! n
NOTE: I Saw You/Cheers & Jeers is for adults 18 or older. The Inlander reserves
BENEFIT
HILLYARD BUILT 1ST ANNUAL CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT A cornhole tournament featuing live music and food benefitting Hillyard Built, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting Hillyard youth. July 20, 11 am-9 pm. $5-$50. Hillyard Food Truck Pavilion, 5108 N. Market St. hillyardbuilt.com (509-499-1090)
BIRDS & BREWS Short birdwatching walks around the farm, followed by a taphouse gathering benefitting Audubon’s Save-A-Bird team to help cover costs of injured or orphaned bird rescue work. July 20, 4-7 pm. Free. Wildland Cooperative, 8022 E. Green Bluff Rd. audubonspokane.org (509-993-2085)
HOOVES & HOPS A fundraiser pub crawl benefitting Vindicate Horse Rescue & Training. July 27, 8-11:59 pm. $25. Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza Shops, 210 Sherman Ave. fb.me/e/3GAlX8bPF
COMEDY
ASHLEY GAVIN Gavin is a New Yorkbased comedian best known for her crowdwork and queer comedy. July 18, 7 pm, July 19-20, 7 & 9:45 pm. $30-$40. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
FINDERS CREEPERS Blue Door Theatre players improvise a search for the creatures of legend through improv games and skits. Fridays at 7:30 pm through July 26. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 319 S. Cedar St. bluedoortheatre.org (509-747-7045)
SAFARI The Blue Door Theatre’s version of Whose Line with short improv comedy
skits from audience suggestions. Every Saturday at 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 319 S. Cedar. bluedoortheatre.com
IMPROV An all-ages improv session hosted by John Connelly. Every Wednesday at 5:30 pm. Free. Pend Oreille Playhouse, 236 S. Union Ave., Newport. pendoreilleplayers.com (509-447-9900)
COMMUNITY
CANDIDATE FORUM, COMMUNITY
VOICES Meet and engage with candidates who are running for public office in the upcoming election. The following candidates have accepted the invite: Natasha Hill, Tony Kiepe, Al Merkel, Miguel Valencia, Molly Marshall and Marcus Riccelli. July 18, 5:30-7 pm. Free. WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. myvotespokane.org
DRIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1970S CARS Learn about the changes in the world that heralded a new era of auto making in the United States through automobiles of the 1970s. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 14. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
LILAC CITY LIVE This month’s show features a variety of guests, comedians and musicians. July 18, 8-10 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main. spokanelibrary.org
KURONEKOCON A three-day celebration of anime, video games and culture featuring panelists, speakers, vendors and more. July 19-21; Fri-Sat from 8 am-11 pm, Sun from 8 am-5 pm. $40-$250. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. kuronekocon.com
RENDEZVOUS IN THE PARK A two-day, family-friendly music and arts festival featuring activities and musical acts. July 19-20; see artist lineup online. $40-$70. East City Park, 900 E. Third St, Moscow. rendezvousinthepark.com
TOUCH A TRUCK Children are invited to touch, climb and explore various trucks. July 19, 10 am-1 pm. Free. Orchard Park, 20298 E. Indiana Ave. libertylakewa. gov/435/library
33 ARTISTS MARKET A small, curated art market featuring local artists, art demonstrations and live music. July 20, 11 am-5 pm. Free. The Wonder Building, 835 N. Post St. 33artistsmarket.com
ROCKIN’ IN THE LOT A parking lot sale with clearance music gear and live music from Tamarack Ridge Band. July 20, 10 am-5 pm. Free. NW Music, 6055 N. Sunshine St. nwacademy.com
MEND-IT CAFE Bring clothing and textiles in need of repair to be paired up with a mender who will fix the item(s) at no charge. Limit of 3 items per person. July 20, 2-5 pm. Free. Art Salvage, 610 E. North Foothills Dr. spokanezerowaste.org
TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Hive rtist-In-Residence Brian Deemy leads a hands-on workshop on the photographic process introduced in 1851. July 23, 5-8 pm. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanelibrary.org
MOONSHINE ARTISAN NIGHT MARKET
& MOONLIT MOVIES An market featuring local makers, food vendors and more. Market from 5:30-8:30 pm. Movie at dusk. Wednesdays from 5:30-11 pm through Aug. 28. Free. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. commellini.
com/moonshine
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
To schedule an appointment go to redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive and enter 99203 into the location search. July 26, 11 am-4 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org
HAYDEN DAYS A community event featuring live music, vendors, food, dancing, a beer garden and family-friendly activities. July 26-27. Free. McIntire Family Park, 8930 N. Government Way. cityofhaydenid.us (208-772-4411)
GLASS ON GRASS CORVETTE CAR
SHOW The 31st annual car show benefitting Shriners Children’s Hospital features Corvettes of all kinds from around the region. July 27, 9 am-2:30 pm. Free. Mirabeau Park Meadows, 13500 Mirabeau Parkway. spokanecorvetteclub.org
DISABILITY PRIDE CELEBRATION A multicultural event featuring a proclamation from Mayor Lisa Brown about the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act 24 years ago, dance presentations, folk music and an award presentation. July 27, 11 am-3 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. dacnw.org
KIDS FREE MARKET A sale featuring gently used items for ages 0-18. Brand new backpacks are distributed while supplies last. Limit one per child (must be present). July 27, 9 am-noon. Free. True Hope Church, 1316 N. Lincoln St. truehopechurch.org/kids
FILM
CELEBRATION OF SOUND: THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME This concert film
shows Led Zeppelin at the apogee of their hard-rocking glory. July 18, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
EXPO ‘74: FILMS FROM THE VAULT A selection of recently digitized film footage from the World’s Fair hosted in Spokane. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 8. $7-$12. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
GARLAND FREE KIDS MOVIES Screenings every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 11 am. See website for details. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
SUMMER FAMILY MATINEE SERIES See website for movie schedule. June 18-Aug. 22, Tue-Thu at 1 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St., Moscow. kenworthy.org
SUMMER OF STUDIO GHIBLI: NAUSICAA AND THE VALLEY OF THE WIND
An English-dubbed screening. July 17-20, daily at 2 pm. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org
THIRD THURSDAY MATINEE: THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER A film is based on the true story of Kaspar Hauser, a young man who suddenly appeared in Nuremberg in 1828. July 18, 1-3:30 pm. $7. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
CELEBRATION OF SOUND: THE DARK KNIGHT When the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice. July 19, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy. org (208-882-4127)
EVENTS | CALENDAR
MOVIES IN THE PARK Screenings of family-friendly movies in Sally’s Park. Fridays at sundown through Aug. 2. Free. The Salvation Army Spokane, 222 E. Indiana Ave. facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyofSpokane (509-325-6810)
SPOKANE VALLEY OUTDOOR MOVIE: ELEMENTAL Watch Elemental and participate in crafts and other activities before the movie. July 19, 6-10 pm. Free. Mirabeau Park Meadows, 13500 Mirabeau Parkway. spokanevalley.org
RIVERFRONT EATS A food festival featuring local food vendors and live music. Tuesdays from 11 am-2 pm. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.org (509-625-6600)
HAVANA NIGHTS COCKTAIL CLASS Dive into the rich history of classic cocktails during an interactive class. July 25, 6-9 pm. $85. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford. commelliniestate.com
tel, 10 S. Post St. davenporthotelcollection.com (800-899-1482)
YMCA KIDS XTREME FUN RUN Kids are invited to run, jump, and slide through a 500-yard outdoor obstacle course complete with tires, water balloons and many other fun challenges. July 20, 9-11 am. $25-$35. YMCA North Spokane, 10727 N. Newport Hwy. ymcainw.org
BBQ & BANDS: JACOB MAXWELL Live music by Jacob Maxwell. Dinner is a London broil. July 26, 5-7 pm. $20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com (208-277-4166)
THE SHOWCASE A celebrity golf tournament benefitting Community Cancer Fund. July 26-27. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. showcasegolf.com
SEVEN MILE AIRSTRIP OPEN HOUSE
MUSIC
VIDEO PRODUCTION: VARIETY SKETCH SHOW During this two-day workshop, explore what it takes to create a variety sketch show. Work in groups to design, record and edit videos for the show. July 19-20, 2-5 pm. Free. Spokane Valley Library, 22 N. Herald Rd. scld.org (509-893-8400)
CELEBRATION OF SOUND: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH A genderqueer punk-rock singer from East Berlin tours the U.S. with her band as she tells her life story and follows the former lover/band-mate who stole her songs. July 20, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
GARLAND FREE SUMMER MOVIES
Free movies at the Garland every Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. See website for details. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org
MARK & MAGGIE O’CONNOR The Grammy award-winning play the best of their array of fiddling favorites. July 18, 7-9 pm. $20-$50. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. nwbachfest.com
EARLY SONGS, POEMS & STORIES OF THE PANHANDLE American roots musician and researcher Gary Eller shares songs and stories of early North Idaho music. July 18, 7-8 pm. Free. The Inn at Priest Lake, 5310 Dickensheet Rd. priestlakemuseum.org (208-443-2676)
Discover Riverside State Park and meet the organizations that use the park for activities and recreation. July 27, 9 am-1 pm. Free. Seven Mile Airstrip, Riverside State Park, 7904 W Missoula St. riversidestateparkfoundation.org
SPOKANE VELOCITY VS. CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE Regular season game. July 27, 6 pm. $21-$41. One Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner Ave. spokanevelocityfc.com
THEATER & DANCE
The Inlander’s annual philanthropy guide highlights many of the region’s non-profit organizations and the di erence they’re making in our community. Don’t miss your chance to reach Inlander Give Guide readers!
MOVIE BOOK CLUB: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST In the Fall of 1963, a Korean War veteran and criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rallies up the scared patients against the tyrannical nurse. July 23, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
MOVIES AT THE PAVILION: WISH A screening under the Pavilion in Riverfront Park. Bring your own seats, snacks and beverages. July 23, 8:30 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com
SUMMER OF STUDIO GHIBLI: CASTLE IN THE SKY An English-dubbed screening. July 24-27, daily at 2 pm. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
FOOD & DRINK
SOURDOUGH WORKSHOP A two-day workshop where attendees learn how to make dough, fold, portion, proof and bake sourdough. July 18, 5:45-8:15 pm. $150. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon. thekitchenengine.com
MAKING SNACKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Make and eat snacks from other countries, learn fun food facts and sample candies from around the world. Ages 13-18. July 19, 4-5 pm. Free. Deer Park Library, 208 Forest St. scld.org
PAELLA & PALENCIA PAIRING ON THE PATIO Taste six wines from Palencia Wine Company with live jazz music from the Idaho Panhandlers. July 19, 5-7 pm. $90. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St., CdA. culinarystone.com
RIDE & DINE SERIES Enjoy a scenic gondola ride, live music and a barbecue meal. Fri from 3-7:30 pm through Aug. 30 $8-$63. Silver Mountain Resort, 610 Bunker Ave. silvermt.com NORTHWEST WINEFEST Sample wines from around the Pacific NW while enjoying local food vendors, mountain activities and live music. July 20-21. Schweitzer. schweitzer.com
GIRLS ROCK LAB CONCERT An evening of performances by the bands created at Girls Rock Lab summer camp. July 19, 6 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org
TAIKO JAPANESE DRUMMING OPEN
HOUSE Learn the traditional Japanese style of drumming. Listen to a couple of songs and then play the drums yourself. July 23 & 25, 5:30-6:30 pm. Free. Salem Lutheran Church, 1428 W. Broadway Ave. spokanetaiko.com
LILAC CITY COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT The band performs works from their repertoire. July 25, 6:30-8 pm. Free. Riverview Retirement Community, 1711 Ross Ct. hnmc.org
ANDREW FERIANTE: STRING STORIES Feriante performs traditional Spanish music on guitar. July 27, 7 pm. $25. The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, 405 N. William St. thejacklincenter.org
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
OPEN PLAY PICKLEBALL Play pickleball at the HUB. Every Mon-Thu from 10 am-noon or 1-3 pm. $5.50-$7. HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. hubsportscenter.org
RIVERFRONT MOVES: BARRE Barre3
Central leads a 60 minute total body workout featuring small and movement sequences. July 18, 6-7 pm and Aug. 8, 6-7 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com
ROSAUERS OPEN INVITATIONAL A 54-hole individual competition golf tournament. July 19-21. $360-$390. Indian Canyon Golf Course, 4303 W. West Dr. my.spokanecity.org/golf/courses/ indian-canyon (953-3780)
SPOKENYA A 7k walk/run along the Centennial Trail and SFCC designed to raise money for clean water in rural Kenya. July 20, 9-11 am. $35. Life Center Church, 1202 N. Government Way. spokenyarun.org (509-209-7504)
SUMMER ROOFTOP YOGA SERIES
A one-hour yoga class taught by The Union on the Davenport rooftop. July 20, 10 am. $35. Historic Davenport Ho-
AS YOU LIKE IT An adaptation performed by the Spokane Shakespeare Society. Corbin Park (July 18-21), Manito Park (July 25-28) and Riverfront Park (Aug. 1-3). Wed-Sat at 6:30, Sun at 2 pm. Free. spokaneshakespearesociety.org
HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL Westerberg High is terrorized by a clique: Heather, Heather and Heather. Misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend who plans to put the Heathers in their place. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. (Sat, July 27 performance at 2 pm) through July 28. $15-$38. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com
THE LITTLE PRINCE When a plane crashes in the Sahara Desert, the Aviator encounters the Little Prince from another planet who shares incredible tales of intergalactic travels. July 19-27; Wed-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm.$15-$28. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com
THE SECRET GARDEN Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin. July 19-28; Thu-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. $50-$192. Schuler Performing Arts Center, 880 W. Garden. cstidaho.com
FROZEN A stage adaptation of Disney’s Frozen filled with songs from the movie. July 24-Aug. 4; Wed-Sat at 7:30, Sat also at 2 pm, Sun at 1 pm and 6:30 pm. $40-$160. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. broadwayspokane.com (509-279-7000)
BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
Experience Buddy Holly’s life story at the most successful rock ‘n’ roll show of all time, from his meteoric rise to fame to his final legendary performance at the Surf Ballroom. Thu-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm through Aug. 11. $25$45. Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan. svsummertheatre.com
VISUAL ARTS
SPLASH: A WATERCOLOR GROUP SHOW A show featuring watercolor artwork of Elise Beattie, other known local artists and the gallery’s collective members. Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm
through July 27. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore.com (509-413-9101)
BETWEEN BORDERS: FOLKLIFE
THROUGH THE COEUR D’ALENES
An exhibition featuring folk and traditional artists from the region. Wed-Sat from 9 am-3 pm through Sep. 4. Free. Chrysalis Gallery, 911 S. Monroe St. theartchrysalis.com (509-991-7275)
EXPO GROUP SHOW A show featuring 19 local artists showcasing art inspired by Expo ‘74’s 50th anniversary. Daily from 11 am-6 pm through July 29, 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com
HAND EMBROIDERY: A MOUNTAIN
SUNRISE Maria Andrus teaches how to embroider a mountain scene using a traditional hoop. July 18, 5-7 pm. $49. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net
JANIE SCHNURR: MIX MEDIA MAGIC
Two-dimensional mixed media pieces. Tue-Sun from 1-6 pm through July 31. Free. Helix Wines, 824 W. Sprague. helixwine.com
LESLIE LAMBERT: WESTERN COL-
ORS The award-winning artist, teacher, illustrator and author is known for her dramatic watercolors. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through July 27. Free. Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. spokanelibertybuilding.com
ANTONIO ROMERO & DIANE LINDBLADE Digital art by Romero and landscapes by Lindblade. Both artists are RRAFA members. Daily from 6 am-8 pm through July 31, 6 am-8 pm. Free. Indaba Coffee Roasters, 518 W. Riverside Ave. rrafaofspokane.com
SPOKANE ART SCHOOL EXPO ’74
50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW Art rfrom Gina Freuen, Jo Fyfe, Tom Quinn, E.L.Stewart, Gordon Wilson and more. Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm through July 26. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave. spokaneartschool.net
BECKY BUSI: MEMORY METANOIA
Work based on artifacts of precious objects, photos, heirlooms and more. Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm through July 26. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com
MARY FARRELL: LOOK + LISTEN
Pieces in response to the quiet power of nature. Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm through July 26. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main. sapgallery.com
SIP & SPIN Try throwing on the pottery wheel in a low-pressure environment while enjoying a glass of wine. July 19, 6-8 pm. $30. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com (208-930-1876)
VAN GOGH: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE A 360-degree digital exhibition featuring the work of Dutch Vincent van Gogh. July 19-Sept. 30, Thu-Mon from 10 am-7 pm. $21-$41. Exhibition Hub Spokane Art Center, 808 N. Ruby St. vangoghexpo.com/spokane
OPEN STUDIO Stop by The Hive to see what current Artists-In-Residence are up to, and tour the building. Every Wednesday from 4-7 pm. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)
PEBBLE PAINTING: CREATE A SCENE
Create a scene of your own design on a wood background with rocks and pebbles that you paint. All supplies provided. Ages 10–17. July 24, 3-4 pm. Free. Medical Lake Library, 3212 Herb St. scld.org (509-893-8330)
WORDS
THE EGG BUNTECTIVES BOOK READ -
ING Local author Whitney Kolterman reads from her children’s book, The Egg Buntectives. July 18, 6 pm. $25. Mulberry Market Co., 17325 E. Sprague Ave. mulberrymarketco.com
BLUEY STORYTIME Enjoy themed stories, songs and activities. July 19, 10:30 am. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org
FORAY FOR THE ARTS: NORTH MONROE CREATIVE CRAWL Multiple creatives perform together across multiple venues in Spokane’s North Monroe District. Event starts at Lunarium, proceed to explore multiple locations in the neighborhood. July 19, 6-9 pm. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. instagram.com/foray4thearts
WRITE TOGETHER: A COMMUNITY
WRITING SESSION Bring your current writing project and prepare to hunker down and write. Local novelist Sharma Shields will write and provide prompts and advice if needed. July 19, 10 amnoon. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org
STEPHANIE REGALADO: IF THEY ONLY KNEW Author Stephanie Regalado celebrates book one of the If They Only Knew series with a reading, signing and swag giveaway. July 20, 7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com
SANDPOINT STORYMAKERS A group focused on helping creative people achieve their dream, whether it’s a novel or a video game. Tuesdays from 5-6:30 pm. Free. Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar. ebonnerlibrary.org
TRAILS AND TALES An outdoor story time and nature walk at the Pine Street Woods featuring an animated reading of a book, guided nature discovery, snacks and more. Tuesdays from 9-10 am through Aug. 6. Free. Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar. ebonnerlibrary.org
BOOK ADVENTURES A creative spin on a traditional book club with activities centered around a weekly theme. See website for schedule. Ages 8+. July 24, 1:30-2:30 pm Free. Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar. ebonnerlibrary.org
BROKEN MIC A weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD
POETRY AFTER DARK EWU MFA students lead discussions about craft elements, style and form in poetry. Every second and fourth Wed of each month from 7-8 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME PLAY & LEARN Share books, songs and fun. After storytime, stay for learning activities. Every Wed from 10-11 am. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org (444-5331)
BOOK BINGO Keep track of book titles called to see if you’re the first to get five in a row and win a prize. Families and kids 5+. July 25, 3-4 pm. Free. Airway Heights Library, 1213 S. Lundstrom St. scld.org (893-8250)
HARMONY WRITERS GROUP A group focused on memoir and craft. Every other week on Thursday from 5:15-7 pm. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org n
Hot Summer Products
Three locally made cannabis products that are as hot right now as the summer heat
BY WILL MAUPIN
Federal prohibition of cannabis severely limits interstate commerce in the market, meaning most products for sale in Washington are also made in Washington. But, as in many other industries, the west side of Washington tends to dominate the market. Fortunately, Eastern Washington is home to its fair share of growers and producers. Here are three local products that are flying off the shelves this summer.
VICE COLA
From the makers of Ray’s Lemonade, arguably the most iconic of Inland Northwest-made infused beverages, Vice
BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.
Cola hit shelves around the region this spring. With three varieties — cola, cherry cola and zero sugar-added cola — these cans bring a single-serving of THC into a 12-ounce can. When most beverages on the market pack as much THC as possible into one package, these deliver just 10 milligrams of THC per can, making them ideal for slow sipping and easing into a light buzz.
The retro-futuristic 1980s-style branding is reminiscent of the days of the cola wars, when Coke and Pepsi battled for supremacy, but with a tropical flair that alludes to the Ray’s Lemonade products that preceded it on the market.
BATH BY BEX
The Spokane Valley-based CBD gurus at Bath By Bex are best known for their infused bath products like bath bombs and soaps, but they also produce more heatwavefriendly products like their line of CBD-infused creams and lotions. Among their best products for summer are two “Bug-B-Gone” products meant to keep bugs away from your body. Both are infused with cannabis-derived terpenes — naturally occurring chemicals from the cannabis plants that impart flavors and smells to the plant — while one contains CBD as well. These balms, like all of their products, are available at Bath By Bex’s Spokane Valley store or via mail order.
WEDDING CAKE
Cannabis industry market researchers at Headset determined that Wedding Cake was June’s top-selling strain in Washington. Local grower Good Earth Cannabis grows some strong Wedding Cake that clocks in around 29% THC. Their five-packs of half-gram pre-rolls are quite popular and affordable. One five-pack goes for just $21 at Cinder locations around Spokane.
Wedding Cake is no stranger to accolades, as it was named Strain of the Year by cannabis website Leafly in 2019. It’s a hybrid strain that leans more indica than sativa but packs a punch with high-THC concentrations. n
NOTE TO READERS
Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a five-year sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.
Wedding Cake was June’s top-selling strain in Washington.
Come Taste the Best of the Inland
Delicious flavors and stunning views await you. From fresh pastries at Jackpot Java, pub favorites at the Red Tail Bar & Grill, bold Asian flavors at Little Dragon Eatery, quick bites at Huckleberry Deli, fine dining at Chinook Steak, Seafood & Pasta and scenic dining at Circling Raven Golf Club’s Twisted Earth Grill—we offer something delicious for everyone!
Hungry yet? Visit cdacasino.com/dining to view all of our extensive menus and find out more information.
