Inlander 10/10/2024

SHERIFF RACE

KOOTENAI COUNTY’S INCUMBENT FACES THREE PAGE 8

SPIDER-VERSE TUNES SEE THE HIT ANIMATED FILM WITH A LIVE SCORE PAGE 16

INDICAS FOR AUTUMN

The Fine Art of Fine Dining

A peek behind the scenes at some of the region’s finest eateries Page 22

NOTE

’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy plenty of memorable meals at some of the region’s best fine dining spots over the years. While I’m certain the food was delicious, time tends to dull those sensations, and I’m left with little snippets of details. Like the complementary box of chocolates a server brought to the table at the meal’s conclusion because it was someone’s birthday. The perfectly timed presentation of each course. The sparkling cutlery and glassware. The server’s thoughtful suggestions and answers to questions about the menu. The lighting. The music.

Even the smallest detail isn’t overlooked in such settings, as this year’s DINING OUT issue explores. It’s these details that elevate a restaurant to meet the true definition of fine dining. From the garnish on your fish to which direction the knife is facing on your table, someone at each of these restaurants has pondered it closely. Next time you have a reservation somewhere special, pause for a moment and see what you notice. It may surprise you.

— CHEY SCOTT, Editor

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WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU CHECKED OUT FROM THE LIBRARY?

SONIA ZAVALA

I just checked out a pile of October-y books for my daughter.

Do you remember any of the specific books you got?

A Spoonful of Frogs.

DEBORAH BIEKER

I am a volunteer here at the downtown [Central] library, and the last book I checked out was There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. I think it’s a great book. I grew up reading it and just wanted to read it. It makes me smile.

JAMIE KNOX

Actually audiobooks. But I utilize the space here quite a bit for meeting folks.

Do you remember any specific audiobooks that you’ve gotten recently?

A Court of Thorns and Roses. All the Sarah J. Maas books.

KYLE TREFNY

The last thing I checked out was a study room. I have a remote job so the library is really helpful when I want to leave the house to get some work done here. I work in wildfire research and resilience, so it’s super meaningful to have a study space like this.

NICOLE ROMAN

The last thing I checked out from the library was The Bride of Frankenstein DVD.

INTERVIEWED BY JOHN BERGIN 10/4/2024, CENTRAL LIBRARY

Man in the ‘Just Right’ Middle

The story of Dan Evans, the former Washington governor and U.S. senator who died last month, is a reminder of a saner, more reasonable political era

BY KNUTE BERGER

In many ways, former three-term Washington governor and U.S. Sen. Dan Evans, who died at age 98 last month, was the Goldilocks politician. While centrism is out of fashion these days — too often seen as overly compromising or wishy-washy — Evans personified the politics of the “just right” middle. He was a pragmatic progressive Republican, a species once popular in Washington and Oregon. Evans was also a former engineer who worked on Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct. He was an

Eagle Scout. A devoted family man, he lost his wife of 65 years, Nancy, in January. Evans seemed to have been around forever: He was only 39 when inaugurated as governor in 1965. Evans adhered to reality-based decision-making, especially during his three four-year gubernatorial terms (1965-1977).

He was a fiscal conservative but supported a more equitable tax system, including an income tax. When California began shutting the door to Southeast Asian refugees, Evans opened Washington’s wide.

An avid outdoorsman, Evans hiked, climbed and was a passionate conservationist. He played major roles in the creation of North Cascades National Park, adding coastline to Olympic National Park and expanding wilderness areas in Washington. The Daniel J. Evans Wilderness in Olympic National Park is named for him.

Gov. Dan Evans takes the oath of office during his second inauguration in 1969. WASHINGTON STATE ARCHIVES PHOTO

In the spring of 1973, the youthful, vigorous governor rappelled off the 10-story concrete clock tower on the Evergreen State College Campus. As a student journalist at the college, I ran out to watch him in case he fell. Ah, cynicism can come early to those of us in the journalism trade. He rappelled without incident.

In the spring of 2019, Evans led a group of mainstream Re publicans, non-MAGAs for the most part, and some journalists on a hike along the Alpine Wilderness trail. I went along, and Evans’ vigor at age 93 was on full display 46 years after his Evergreen clock tower stunt.

Evans pulled votes from both parties in elections and from both sides of the aisle in the Legislature. In his era, no politician was more respected, by both Republicans and Democrats. After leaving the governor’s mansion, he served one unsatisfying term in the U.S. Senate (1983-89) and retired from elective politics. He was frustrated by D.C. gridlock.

In addition to serving as president of Evergreen in Olympia after he left the governor’s mansion, he became a University of Washington regent and served on many commissions and councils, often credited as a stabilizing and wise presence in regional decisionmaking. The UW’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance is named for him.

His politics may seem baffling in the modern era of partisanship

“I guess I am a contrarian. I think government works pretty well.”

— DAN EVANS in a 1994 speech

and division, like a survivor of a near-extinct species. He gave the keynote speech at the 1968 Republican convention that nominated Richard Nixon, although Evans had endorsed liberal Republican Nelson Rockefeller for president. Evans was a fresh face in the party and continued to be seen that way. He was on Gerald Ford’s short list for vice president in 1976.

Evans did not support Donald Trump’s election or reelection bids as president, yet he refused to give up his GOP identity. I once asked him why he did not quit a party that had strayed so far from his core values. “Just stubborn, I guess,” he replied.

Evans had cultivated GOP moderation in his Cabinet and continued to mentor Republicans who had not given up on the pos sibility of electing common-sense candidates. Electeds like former GOP Secretaries of State Ralph Munro, a former Evans aide, and Sam Reed, who fought with his own party over a so-called “stolen” election in 2004, were exemplars of the integrity that Evans repre sented and cultivated.

“Governor Dan” could get tough, though, especially dur ing his campaign against the Democratic incumbent he defeated in 1964, Gov. Albert D. Rosellini. Evans kept above the fray, but his camp floated rumors about the governor’s alleged criminal associations and activities. Nothing was proven, but the allegations might have cost Rosellini a federal appointment after his loss to Evans.

Another campaign eyebrow-raiser, though hardly Evans’ fault: A young, clean-cut volunteer was tasked in 1972 with following Evans’ opponent around, recording his speeches and reporting on his events. That Evans operative’s name was Ted Bundy, before he became infamous.

The Evans era seems like a kind of political fairy tale for those who are nostalgic for saner, more reasonable politics. Too hot, too cold, will we ever find “just right” again? Many who remember those times might yearn for pragmatic decency as an essential criterion for running and holding office. Evans proved those could be winning qualities. n

Knute “Mossback” Berger is editor-at-large for Crosscut.com, where this first appeared.

Keeping the Peace

Republican incumbent Norris faces three independent opponents in the race for Kootenai County sheriff

BY VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ

Four candidates are running for Kootenai County sheriff, each with a different goal for the office. Sheriff Robert “Bob” Norris, 60, is the Republican incumbent who will face three independent challengers: Dan Wilson, 48, Kyle Woodward, 23, and Justin Nagel, 46.

In May, Norris defeated Republican primary election challenger Mike Bauer, winning 80.8% of the vote, or more than 22,000 votes. Overall turnout in the primary, across the separate ballots for each party, was 30.7% of the total registered voters in Kootenai County, or about 32,000.

The three independent candidates didn’t appear in the May primary. Voter turnout is expected to be much higher for the general election because, historically, more voters make it to local polling places to vote in the presidential election.

According to the Idaho secretary of state’s campaign data, Norris has received more than $109,000 from 489 campaign contributions and maintained a balance of $75,798.41 as of Sept. 27.

In 2020, Nagel ran for Kootenai County sheriff as a Libertarian, receiving 9.1% of the vote in that general election race, which Norris won. Nagel has no contributions listed for his current campaign as an independent candidate.

Wilson and Woodward are both new challengers. Wilson has raised nearly $35,000 from 221 contributions. Woodward has no reported contributions.

EXPERIENCE

Norris has three decades of law enforcement experience and retired from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in 2014. Norris receives $150,282 in disability and retirement benefits annually from the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, according to Transparent California, a public pay and pension database. Norris says his partial disability stems from impacts of the profession.

Norris says he originally hadn’t planned to run for public office in Idaho. He moved to Kootenai County and joined the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Patrol in 2018. Then in 2020, Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger announced his retirement after two terms. Norris says the search and rescue team asked him to consider running for the office because of his experience as a lieutenant in Los Angeles County.

“We put together a little bit of a campaign team, and I felt like my experiences that I had from my previous organization and from the environment that I came from

could help this growing community,” Norris says, “because we’re starting to see some cracks in our infrastructure that we saw a long time ago down in Southern California.”

Wilson is a Spokane County native who previously had a career in carpentry and owns the Spokane-based general contracting business Rockin’ D.W. Construction. He spent nine years as a patrol officer with the Liberty Lake Police Department from 2014 to March 2023. He moved to Kootenai County in 2020.

Wilson explains that he decided to challenge Norris because of a 2022 Idaho Legislature town hall, at which Norris complained about funding and budget concerns for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. Wilson says Norris argued that the state had a surplus of funds that needed to be figured out and distributed.

“He gave them a big old finger-wagging, and then he was done, and I looked at my wife right then and there, and I’ve served around many very strong sheriffs,” Wilson says. “As a chief law enforcement officer at the county, you need somebody that’s pretty stable as a leader, and I was so appalled by what I saw. I told my wife, ‘If that’s the man that’s supposed to stand between us and tyranny, we’re in a lot of trouble.’”

Nagel was born and raised in Kootenai County and says he’s worked as a private investigator for six years in Nevada, Washington and Oregon. His campaign website states that he also developed a career as a carpenter. Nagel says he chose to run again because he is concerned about representation and believes that the sheriff is supposed to represent the people. He says the sheriff’s salary is much more than the average resident earns, which leaves those in that position out of touch with the people. The Kootenai County commissioners set the sheriff’s salary at $145,516 for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

From left: Kootenai County sheriff candidates Robert “Bob” Norris, Dan Wilson, Justin Nagel and Kyle Woodward. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CANDIDATES

“KEEPING THE PEACE,” CONTINUED...

“You just can’t have representation by somebody outside of your income class by three times over your level, not to mention it’s supposed to be public service, the pay is grossly overpriced,” Nagel says.

Woodward was born in central California and moved to Kootenai County in 2004 with his family when he was a few years old. He attends North Idaho College and is majoring in information technology, with a certification in cybersecurity. He says he decided to run for office because he believes he would provide a younger perspective and wants politicians to focus on the county’s residents.

“I’m really tired of politics playing such a big role in what happens in our local community. I want our local politicians to be about us first, and that’s my priority,” Woodward says.

FENTANYL

The fentanyl crisis is a national issue but impacts local communities, including Kootenai County. Norris says that it’s the biggest problem for law enforcement in the county. One challenge is how readily available and cheap fentanyl is. Norris says he would continue to counter the problem through education on the substance and rehabilitation efforts. He says service and medical organizations should be involved in education and collaboration with law enforcement.

Woodward says he believes that fentanyl has become a bioweapon and since it is currently a Schedule II substance, it must be updated to a higher schedule at the federal level to address its availability. Woodward says he would focus his energy on targeting dealers in the region to get at the root of the issue.

Nagel says that corruption is part of the problem of the fentanyl crisis. He says he believes that investigations that

favor certain people because of who is involved, a lack of follow-up and the loss of paper trails keeps dealers at large.

Wilson says he would address the crisis by educating the public and collaborating with different stakeholders and victims. However, he says he believes the eradication of fentanyl won’t happen with current border policies and a pipeline that is distributing fentanyl quicker than law enforcement can respond. He says that triaging the crisis is what the community can do through collaborative effort.

CONTRACTS

Since 2010, the city of Hayden has contracted with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement and, in September 2023, approved a $1 million contract to have 10 deputies dedicated to the city.

The Hayden City Council has formed a public safety commission to review reports from the sheriff’s office and consider the possibility of creating an independent police department. City residents have expressed concerns about an increased levy to fund the contract with the sheriff’s office and say they would like more law enforcement personnel assigned to the city. The levy, approved in 2022, was $543,843 to cover an additional six sheriff’s deputies.

Public safety is Woodward’s primary concern, and he supports local municipalities having their own police departments. He envisions the sheriff’s office helping with SWAT calls and other high-priority requests, but wants to help cities maintain their own police departments to answer low-priority calls.

“If I’m elected, I want to help [municipalities] be able to get started, get rolling, get their first couple deputies, or police officers out there and get them help to serve the community so the sheriff’s department can focus on some more underserved areas,” Woodward says.

Wilson shares similar views, stating that every municipality has the right to form its own police department. He suggests that the city of Hayden look at contracting with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department or another police department in the county and working with those existing dispatch centers. Wilson says Hayden could rely on those existing resources and not have to create an entirely new law enforcement fleet.

“I think there are ways to do it if the citizens of those cities decide that’s where they want to go,” Wilson says.

Nagel says he wonders where all the tax money goes and agrees that Hayden should be able to form their own police department and end the contract with the sheriff’s office. He says that Hayden is an excellent example of what to do right with fast growth, low crime and less law enforcement.

“Here’s Bob Norris going to want that contract: ‘Oh, and … I’m going to staff it with more guys that you’re obligated to pay,’” Nagel says. “If I were them, I’d get out of it, too.”

Norris says he supports any decision Hayden makes, but he says they can’t afford to form their own police department. He explains that Hayden is no longer a rural town. Hayden has many retail spaces and an influx of population, making it difficult to respond to increased calls. Norris says that, on average, Kootenai County police departments have about two officers for every 1,000 people.

“It’s not this rural town anymore; it’s now an urban town with big residential developments and more coming in, and I can’t send a one-person deputy to a family disturbance. I can’t send them to a big-box store when there was a disturbance out in the parking lot,” Norris says. “It can be done, but it’s not safe. So that’s the reality.” n victorc@inlander.com

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Making Queer History

As Gonzaga celebrates its Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center’s 20th anniversary, a new director is gearing up to lead the vital support system

BY COLTON RASANEN

Two decades ago, Gonzaga University became the first Jesuit university in the country to have a dedicated resource center for LGBTQ+ students. Though the Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center started small, its steady growth has cemented it as a pillar of safety and visibility for queer students.

While the center opened in 2004, real growth took time — its first full-time employee wasn’t hired until 2016, when Matthew Barcus was brought on as program coordinator. Barcus has spent the last eight years working to ensure that Gonzaga’s queer students have resources that he didn’t have when he was a college student.

Then in 2022, Jamie Bartlett was hired as the first director of the Lincoln Center, which was named for Gonzaga alum and Board of Trustees member Joe Lincoln. Bartlett oversaw the center during a period of rapid expansion. However, she says she never planned to stay in the position long.

“I’m a big believer that there should be turnover

in organizations,” she says. “You shouldn’t have people sitting in jobs for a long time because I think they end up stale, particularly at these types of organizations.”

Bartlett served two years in the position before passing the torch to her successor, Brandon Haddock, who started work last week. Haddock came from the Spectrum Center, a similar resource at Kansas State University, where he worked for 14 years.

As the Lincoln Center Anniversary Gala on Oct. 12 draws near, the Inlander caught up with Barcus, Bartlett and Haddock at different times last week to understand where the Lincoln Center has been, what impact it has had on Gonzaga’s queer students and its plans for the future. Their answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

INLANDER: What led to the success and growth of the center since you started there eight years ago?

BARCUS: Students continue to organize around what they need and what they want to see as resources, as

opportunities, as programs, so that has been helpful. We’ve also had a really engaged administration. It has [also] been continued collaboration with folks, including our faculty, that has allowed us to grow programming in a co-curricular way and to extend out and train more people.

It seems like the center is focused on not just the students, but the faculty, too?

BARCUS: We’re certainly not focused on faculty, but to really support the students we have to be connected with faculty, and we have to collaborate with other staff members.

What was the Lincoln Center like two years ago when you started as its first director, and how has it changed?

BARTLETT: We were half the physical size that we are now. Last summer we were able to take over an office next door, take down a wall and just expand. Before that it just didn’t have a cozy feel and didn’t necessarily feel inviting.

Now the center does have a robust population of students who just come in and sit down on a couch and get some studying done between classes, and then they bounce.

What are some of the most beneficial programs at the center?

BARTLETT: We have what’s called SAGE training, that’s sexuality and gender equity training. It’s primarily geared towards faculty and staff, so it’s a chance for them to just get a little bit smarter so they can support the students. Something as simple as them having a safe space

Gonzaga’s Lincoln Center Director Brandon Haddock (left) and Program Coordinator Matthew Barcus. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

to practice pronouns and ask those questions that they haven’t felt comfortable asking is really helpful, because then they get it right.

We started another program that was based on stuff I had done in the military. It’s called SPEAR, (skills for personal empowerment, advocacy and resilience). We know that as members of the queer community we’re gonna face extra stresses and hardships. So we did self-defense training with just queer students at nYne Bar & Bistro. Kitty [Kane], who owns that bar, allowed us to use the space at night when it was closed. We had students in there getting used to uncomfortable situations, learning a little bit of physicality, punching, you know, getting out of chokes and some stuff like that.

It feels like you’re preparing these students for a world where they’ll probably face hate at some point.

BARTLETT: That’s exactly it. We are in a more accepting time now than we have been before in so many ways. But there’s still this really vocal hate presence that needs to be protected against.

How do you create a safe and affirming space for queer students at a Jesuit university?

BARTLETT: You just keep plugging away. A lot of it is just the visibility, and that was a big push for me. We shouldn’t be as quiet. We should be active on social media. We shouldn’t be afraid of the negative things that will come back from that, which does happen. I think students respond well to not just me as part of the community, but the other members of campus who are allies. Having allies be really visible in support, I think, shows a more generally supported place.

I have been shocked at how affirming a place Gonzaga is. When I got here, people were so supportive from kind of unexpected places.

Do you think queer students on Gonzaga’s campus feel safe?

BARCUS: Some students feel very safe on campus, but some students, depending on what their experiences have been, only feel safe in specific spaces. There are some students that come here, and it is a culture shock that we are as inclusive as we are.

HADDOCK: Gonzaga has done a good job at making sure that our students do feel like they are welcome, and that means a lot to the students. I don’t like using the word “safe,” because nowhere, as we know, is particularly free of violence. So it is imperative that we have a presence, not just for our queer students on campus, not just for our queer faculty and staff or our alums, but the community as a whole.

You spent 14 years as the coordinator for the Spectrum Center at Kansas State University. What are you pulling from that experience to bring to Gonzaga?

HADDOCK: It’s very similar in some ways. Kansas State University is a much larger institution, and so there is an opportunity [at Gonzaga] for me to be more holistic in how I engage with students, faculty, staff and the community. That’s very, very important for me.

What do you hope the next 20 years look like for the Lincoln Center?

HADDOCK: The queer world is cyclical, just like anything else. I think that the issues that we saw 10 years ago will be seen again. One of my philosophies is that I want the students coming into Gonzaga today to have the opportunities and the visibility that I didn’t have.

BARCUS: In the next 20 years, I just want to see more visibility. I want to see more opportunity and more accessibility, both for people of all ability statuses, but also more accessibility to physical spaces for people of any and all genders. n coltonr@inlander.com

CODY FRY

Each Vote Counts

The race for Washington’s secretary of state is all about reassuring voters that their voice matters

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

The best thing about playing games like Dungeons & Dragons or Magic: The Gathering is that you can make things happen fast. You have spells or staffs that wield huge amounts of power in your imagined world. It’s intoxicating.

Democracy doesn’t usually feel like that. When you cast your vote, it slowly gets tallied along with all the other ballots in the box.

But all those votes add up to something big, and the process has to be protected for democracy to survive.

That’s where the secretary of state steps in. They’re the primary guardian of safe elections in Washington, and also oversee state archives, public libraries and business licenses.

Election security has been repeatedly questioned since former President Donald Trump’s denial of the 2020 election results, and secretaries of state have received far more public scrutiny.

In this year’s race for Washington secretary of state, incumbent Steve Hobbs and challenger Dale Whitaker from Spokane will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.

HOBBS

Hobbs is an Army veteran, a former state senator for Washington’s 44th legislative district from 2007 to 2021, a Democrat, and the 54-year-old son of a Japanese immigrant. Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Hobbs to replace Kim Wyman as secretary of state in 2021, and Hobbs won a special election in 2022 to serve the rest of the term.

Hobbs is also an avid gamer. When he plays Dungeons & Dragons, he’s a level 20 evocation wizard called BeeCo Wild Magic Wishring.

He’s interested in the gamification of education and civic engagement. He’s working with Washington-based game developers to create tabletop and digital games that get young people interested in wielding power in both imaginary and real world settings.

To Hobbs, the biggest threats to election security are disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks from Russia and other nation-state actors who often weaponize generative artificial intelligence on social media.

“It doesn’t matter to them who really wins,” Hobbs says. “They would like to have a winner,

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (left) faces challenger Dale Whitaker. COURTESY PHOTOS

but for them, it is better to cause a disruption. For example, before people were fighting one another after 2020, we had a unified effort against countries like Russia and China and North Korea. We don’t have that now.”

As secretary of state, Hobbs created a new team of cybersecurity experts to work with local auditors who oversee elections at the county level. He’s also worked to make his office more transparent about the systems in place to protect against potential domestic election fraud, which he says is as low as a fraction of a percentage point.

For example, the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, cross-references databases, including Social Security, to make sure no one votes twice, or that anyone who has died, even between filling out a mail-in ballot and Election Day, is not included in the final count.

Contrary to some alarmist social media posts, Washington’s tabulation machines are not connected to the internet and can’t be hacked by foreign agents, Hobbs says.

Still, between 20% and 30% of Americans have lost trust in elections, Hobbs says, and it’s his office’s role to win them back.

“I believe doing that involves just telling the truth about elections,” Hobbs says. “If you don’t believe me because I’m a Democrat, that’s fine — go to your county auditor to actually see the process yourself, because you can actually watch all this.”

WHITAKER

Whitaker is a British immigrant, a tax accountant, a Republican, and was previously the executive director for We Believe We Vote, a Christian organization that recommends candidates to voters. Whitaker says he has proven his dedication to ethics and transparency, noting that he filed federal whistleblower complaints against Augusta Precious Metals, his previous employer, accusing them of using right-wing media to push bad investments on customers who then lost savings.

To Whitaker, 35, the greatest threat to American elections is internal, not external.

“The biggest threat to Washington state election security is voter apathy — people feeling like their vote doesn’t count,” Whitaker says. “The only way that you overcome that is through transparency.”

In a recent debate hosted by the League of Women Voters, Hobbs accused Whitaker of denying the 2020 presidential election results.

“I have never denied the election,” Whitaker says. “I do not believe that. Secretary Hobbs has told multiple journalists that I am an election denier, and that is simply not true.”

Whitaker accuses Hobbs of acting unconstitutionally by agreeing to eliminate the Washington State Constitution’s requirement that voters must prove they’ve lived in the state for 30 days before an election. Last November, the Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans sued the state over the 30-day requirement, and in March a district court approved a consent decree eliminating it.

Hobbs says the requirement disenfranchised people, like military families who move often, and violated the Federal Voting Rights Act. Whitaker disagrees.

“The people should get to vote on a constitutional amendment, and it should go through the proper channels in order to make those changes,” Whitaker says. “The Federal Voting Rights Act does not trump the Washington State Constitution.”

Whitaker wants to eliminate the 2025 annual business license renewal fees to put money back into the pockets of small business owners. He wants to cut back on staff at the Olympia office and if elected, get out into communities more to dispel distrust.

“The first thing is that we have to let voters know that their vote counts,” he says. “Secondly, we need to encourage them to bring their friends to the polls. … My job would be to focus on getting into communities and talking to folks and dispelling narratives about our electoral system so that they can understand that, hey, your candidate might not win, but you can trust the system.” n elizab@inlander.com

Craving

MUSIC + FILM

Spinning a Sonic Web

What it’s like to conduct a live orchestra (and DJ) along with a screening of Spider-Man:

Across the Spider-Verse

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

To say that 2018’s Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its 2023 sequel Across the Spider-Verse were revolutionary in the field of animation might be an understatement.

The superhero movies chronicling the multiversehopping adventures of Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy and their ragtag group of Spider-Folks blend together a myriad of different art and animation styles with a rapid remix manner that instantly won over audiences and critics alike. The films are the most marvelous visual treats in the Marvel Comics filmography.

With that much eye candy, it’s easy to overlook how much composer Daniel Pemberton absolutely nails the scores in both films. Blending traditional orchestration with hip-hop and rock elements, the score helps bring to life Miles’ Brooklyn street artist vibe and Gwen’s rock drummer aesthetics while also maximizing the films’ quieter, emotionally resonant scenes and the scintillation of all the web-slinging action.

We now have a chance to fully take in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’s musical thrills, as a touring production is bringing the film to First Interstate Center for the Arts on Oct. 16 for a screening accompanied by full live orchestra-

tion under the direction of conductor Shelbie Rassler.

To get hyped for all the Spider-action, we chatted with Rassler about the film’s unique score, conducting a DJ, and John Williams.

INLANDER: Because the Spider-Verse movies are such overwhelming visual experiences on first watch, do you feel like the complexity of the scores is something that takes multiple viewings to appreciate?

RASSLER: As a composer and conductor myself, I’m always maybe a little bit more hyper-aware of the music than most. So I knew right out of the gate, when I first saw those movies that the scores are really, really something special. They really drive the films forward in the energy and the excitement of the adventure that all these characters are going through. And I also love that the score sort of reflects and mirrors a lot of the animation and the visuals going on, because there are so many different styles of animation that kind of all come together to create this sort of collage and scrapbook of visuals. And I feel like in the music, that’s true as well. There are tons of different styles and genres that are all brought together and create this cohesive film that really resonates.

What sets the Across the Spider-Verse score apart from other scores that folks might see an orchestra perform along with a film?

I think what’s so unique about Daniel’s score, aside from the different styles that are all coming together, is that this score actually also features a live scratch DJ, which you don’t often see with an orchestra. So, that’s something that’s really special to this film. We have the power and the energy sort of coming from all of the instrumentalists, and we also have scratching throughout the whole show that’s bringing sort of a contemporary element to an art form that has been around for so long. And so it’s really special to kind of see the interaction between the orchestra and the DJ, and how all of those different genres are filtered through the orchestra and sort of remixed almost with the DJ. There’s also a lot of great guitar solos and some rock elements with our amazing drummer and electric bassist and everything. So it’s really a bit of everything. And it’s very exciting for the audience to get to experience that.

Does having those elements like the DJ change how you conduct?

It definitely adds another element than what I might be more used to just conducting an orchestra in a concert hall. Because the film is playing on the screen right behind the orchestra, there’s a level of precision and a synchronicity that needs to happen to make sure that we’re hitting exactly all of the precise moments that need to be lined up to the millisecond. So it’s definitely keeping track of a lot of moving parts. But we have different tools and different signals and things like that to help keep everything on the same train and going in the same direction.

I feel like when we’re watching movies as kids it often takes a while to realize music isn’t just naturally in movies and there’s actually a composed score. Was there a time as a kid when you had that “a-ha” moment and realized films have scores?

Yeah, definitely. I think that the first time that I sort of had that “a-ha moment” was probably with the movie E.T. with John Williams’ score. It’s so powerful and so perfect for the film. And that was the first time where I really understood just the concept of having themes and different sorts of musical elements that you know might be attached to certain characters or certain events or emotions, even. These different motifs that occur. That was probably the first time that I really took a step further into analyzing what was going on. And then I became really, really interested in film scoring. n

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert • Wed, Oct. 16 at 7 pm • $39-$88 • All ages • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Fall Blvd. • firstinterstatecenter.org

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The Spider-Verse comes alive with a full orchestra and live scratch DJ. MA2LA PHOTOS

120 Years in the Books

The

Coeur d’Alene Library has been a valuable community resource in North Idaho for well over a century

BY MADISON PEARSON

It’s said that in 48 BC, a large portion of the Great Library of Alexandria’s collection was destroyed in a fire started by Julius Caesar during Caesar’s Civil War.

By that time, Alexandria, Egypt, was a site of regular political volatility. Numerous accounts describe instances in which the library was defaced, destroyed and sabotaged in the years after Caesar’s fire (which may have been accidental). Due to varying reports of the incident, however, we’ll never quite know the true fate of one of the world’s most significant libraries.

The real tragedy here is not the uncertainty of who to blame for the library’s destruction but that so much ancient history, literature and learning was lost. For that reason, when libraries persevere through adversity and across time, celebrations are due.

This month, the Coeur d’Alene Library is celebrating 120 years as a vital community institution. A special event on Oct. 17 showcases the library’s century-plus timeline and exhibits why libraries are so essential to the communities they serve.

Coeur d’Alene to take the library under its wing, the library was forced to close down briefly in September 1908, but it reopened in City Hall the following year. Since then, the library has been housed in several locations, including its current home on Front Avenue near McEuen Park, where it’s resided since 2007.

In terms of recent history, libraries have faced heightened scrutiny from community members and elected officials in recent years due to claims of “inappropriate material.” This past July, Idaho House Bill 710, or the “Children’s School and Library Protection Act,” went into effect, requiring Idaho public and school libraries to remove materials deemed harmful or obscene — or they could face lawsuits.

“There have been three materials challenges in the last 10 years that I’ve worked here,” says JD Smithson, the Coeur d’Alene library’s communications coordinator. “Including the one we’ve had so far since the law went into effect in July. But that’s something we have always been prepared to deal with. None of this has been new to the library, all of those steps for materials challenges have been in place for a long time.”

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The celebration is being led by former Coeur d’Alene library communications coordinator David Townsend, in collaboration with the Museum of North Idaho.

In October 1904, the Coeur d’Alene Woman’s Club was formed with the express purpose of sponsoring a public library for the city of Coeur d’Alene. The 48 initial members of the club began collecting books and, in just a few short months, the library opened inside E.B. Keller and Company, a store on the intersection of Fourth Street and Sherman Avenue.

After a failed attempt to get the city of

Besides looking back at its long history, the anniversary event also highlights the addition of diverse programming, plus other fun facts. Smithson says the library can attribute its success to the fact that it’s always adapted to the community’s needs.

“Libraries will see a need and do whatever it takes to fill that need in their community,” she says. “If we see that maybe kids aren’t getting into the colleges they want to, we will create a program that teaches kids how to get into college

and set them up for success in that realm.”

Part of any library’s job is to simply be there for the community. The reference desk takes questions from visitors all day long. Various employees help people find answers using the library’s many resources, as well as those not within its walls. Books are recommended by both patrons and employees.

“It’s all about encountering a need and trying to help,” Smithson says. “That’s the foundation of a library: books and helping.”

“Whatever is going on, every single library in every single community in Idaho is doing the best they can to provide the services they can, and they do it with a smile on their face.”

The burning of the Library of Alexandria is often referenced in modern culture to signify great loss. And it’s true — losing a library would be a devastating blow to any community and the patrons who lean on the services it provides.

“People come in here needing help constantly,” Smithson says. “We have all of these services for free. Printing, faxing, computers, all of it. We even have a library of things that people need. We even have a car diagnostic tool!”

She sums up the Coeur d’Alene Library’s 120-year history with a reference to The Big Lebowski.

“Libraries in general have this feeling of ‘The Dude abides,’” she says. “Whatever is going on, every single library in every single community in Idaho is doing the best they can to provide the services they can, and they do it with a smile on their face. They do it through struggle and strife and even through triumphs. We’re just trying to be libraries. That’s all we want to be.” n

History Hour Lecture: The Coeur d’Alene Library’s 120th Anniversary • Thu, Oct. 17 at 5:30 • Free • All ages • Coeur d’Alene Public Library • 702 E. Front Ave. • cdalibrary.org

LEFT: The Coeur d’Alene Library today. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

ABOVE: One of the library’s first locations was inside a dry goods store.

SATANIC PANIC CINEMA

Make Halloween devilish again with these spooky flicks

BY BILL FROST

It’s the most Satanic time of the year! Yes, Halloween has been assimilated into the mainstream as a holiday equal to Christmas, Thanksgiving, and 4/20, but some of us remember when it was all about The Devil. In that spirit, I’ve conjured up a few deep cuts from the Satanic Panic film genre, which made a creepy comeback this summer with Longlegs (which you can still see in a theater, if you’re into that).

WE SUMMON THE DARKNESS (2019)

In 1988, three young girls (Alexandra Daddario, Maddie Hasson and Amy Forsyth) rock out at a heavy metal concert as news of Satanic murders spreads. After the show, the trio invites three metalhead dudes to party at a remote mansion, where things go sideways and bloody. It’s revealed that the girls are part of the Manson-lite Daughters of the Dawn cult, and the unwitting boys are sacrificial dead meat. We Summon the Darkness is hella fun. Streaming: Peacock, Prime Video, Tubi

SATANIC PANIC (2019)

Her first night as a pizza delivery driver isn’t going great for Sam (Hayley Griffith), and it’s about to get worse when she stumbles across a suburban Satanic coven. They need a virgin womb to birth the demon Baphomet, and Sam fits the unfortunate bill. BTW, Satanic Panic is a comedy, as evidenced by an over-the-top Rebecca Romijn as the coven’s leader and a slimy, soul-patched Jerry O’Connell as her cuckold husband. It’s hilarious trash with a twist ending that’s wonderfully weird. Streaming: AMC+

STARRY EYES (2014)

Aspiring actress Sarah (Alexandra Essoe) will do anything to land a movie role, including being transformed into a demon by a cult-associated production company. Finally, proof that Hollywood is evil! Starry Eyes is a mind-bending ride with grotesque surprises around every corner, like Requiem for a Dream with a subtle showbiz satire agenda. Even more obscure, the deity worshiped by the cult is Astraeus, the mythological Greek “God of the Dusk.” Ooo, scary! Streaming: Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi

LORDS OF SALEM (2013)

Lords of Salem was written and directed by Rob Zombie, and stars his wife, Sherri Moon Zombie. If that didn’t send you screaming away, Lords of Salem is probably for you. When radio DJ Heidi (Moon Zombie) receives a record from The Lords, she plays it and suddenly has violent visions of Salem’s witchy past. Her nightmares climax at a Lords concert/Satanic ritual where she gives birth to a demon catfish atop a pile of dead, naked women. So, subtle for Rob. Streaming: Prime Video, Pluto TV, Tubi

HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009)

Years before his acclaimed X/Pearl/MaXXXine trilogy, Ti West wrote and directed House of the Devil, a taut slasher flick set in the ’80s, ground zero for Satanic Panic. Broke college student Sam (Jocelin Donahue) accepts a babysitting job at a remote mansion, only to find out that she’ll actually be caring for an elderly woman. One drugged pizza later (mmm, drugged pizza), Sam wakes up as the star of an occult ritual. A slow burn, but worth the wait. Streaming: Peacock, Prime Video, Tubi

TRICK OR TREAT (1986)

When high-school outcast Eddie (Marc Price of Family Ties!) and radio DJ Nuke (Gene Simmons of Kiss!) play the final album of dead rock star Sammi (Tony Fields of … A Chorus Line?) backwards, he comes back to hellfire-powered life. Not only does the campy Trick or Treat have some of the gnarliest death-by-guitar scenes since Slumber Party Massacre II, it also features the greatest metal album title ever: Songs in the Key of Death. Also: Ozzy Osbourne as a televangelist. Streaming: Screambox

THE DEVIL’S RAIN (1975)

The most evil aspect of The Devil’s Rain is that it’s the movie that turned a young John Travolta into a Scientologist. Steve Preston’s (George Sawaya) wife (Ida Lupino) and son (William Shatner) have been abducted by a Satanic cult led by John Corbis (Ernest Borgnine), leading to many scenes with Shatner and Borgnine Acting! As! Hard! As! They! Can! against each other. As for Travolta, he has zero lines, but he is melted by Satan Juice. Scientology was inevitable. Streaming: AMC+, Pluto TV, Tubi n

The cool girls of Darkness

DiningOut

Luna’s kale salad and the Hannah’s Autumn chai cocktail; named after the restaurant’s late co-owner, Hannah DeLis. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Dining Out

It’s All in the Details

Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference in fine dining

If you haven’t seen the second season of FX’s The Bear, this might be a little bit of a spoiler. (Season 3 has already been streaming for months, so at this point, it’s pretty much on you.)

Anyway, at one point in the dramatized journey from sandwich shop to Michelin buzz, cousin Richie spends a whole episode polishing forks. Literally. He’s banished to a swanky restaurant in the city to learn what fine dining is all about. So, naturally, he’s forced to get up at the crack of dawn to dry silverware. But not even all the silverware. Just the forks.

Yes, this is a television caricature, but there’s a reason this resonates. For people in the fine dining world, there is no detail — or smudge — small enough to be overlooked. At first, Richie is convinced he’s wasting his time. But by the end of the episode, he’s connected the dots between a perfectly polished fork and a perfectly executed evening.

Restaurateurs around the Inland Northwest have learned the same lesson. They spend day and night trying to provide the very best experience for diners, from silverware to menus to that perfectly curated ambiance. Nothing escapes their attention. This year’s Dining Out issue celebrates some of those details that guests may or may not consciously notice but that make our night out so much more memorable.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Sorella PAGE 4

On the Cover

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

315 Cuisine PAGE 6

Luna PAGE 8

Francaise PAGE 11

Beverly’s PAGE 10

Dining Out

Pasta Appassionata

Sorella creates its own world by filling forgotten moments with charm, surprise and delight

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Don’t judge a book by its cover. But do judge a restaurant by its vegetables. Or its silverware. Or its check presenters — which, at Sorella, are actual small vintage books.

“Check presenters are so ugly,” owner Lauren Blumenthal says, referring to the flimsy clipboards or long vinyl folders that are usually dropped off at the end of a meal. “When they’re stacked up around the restaurant, they just don’t look nice.”

But a stack of books, she realized, is gorgeous, cozy and just as useful.

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes Sorella feel like a different world as soon as you step inside, but the books are a clue. Sorella, which opened in Kendall Yards last spring, takes every opportunity to be beautiful, thoughtful and surprising, especially in moments that would otherwise be overlooked.

Signing the check, for example, can be the least enjoyable part of the meal. But at Sorella, it’s a delight.

When you open the front cover to fish out the receipt, you discover handwritten notes on inside pages commemorating anniversaries, birthdays, first dates and old friends. You can add your own, if you like. It’s an impromptu guest book that makes you feel a part of the family instead of a vulnerable bank account.

Or take the carrots ($14). Yes, the Italian restaurant is famous for its meatballs ($14), which are bafflingly delicate and soft, or for its perfect pastas and high-end New York steak ($56). But to see how much a restaurant really cares about its food, consider how much love it gives to its sides, not its stars.

Not many restaurants would include a pile of carrots on an elevated menu. What’s more, Blumenthal grew up hating cooked carrots. There were so many reasons to serve anything else. But instead, Blumenthal took her disapproval as a challenge.

“I said, ‘OK, I’m gonna make a dish that is going to make every person who has ever not liked carrots, like

carrots,’” she says.

She roasted the carrots for texture, then added goat cheese for creaminess, hazelnuts for just the right amount of crunch, honey for sweetness and parsley for an Italian theme. The final result was a dish that changed her mind and basically everyone else’s.

“Everyone loves them,” Blumenthal says. “They’re one of my pride and joys.”

If that’s the amount of time, thought and effort put into a side of veggies, imagine the care poured into the risotto ($26), Parmigiana ($34), or pasta alla Gricia ($28), a profound marriage of carbonara and cacio e pepe that hangs on the perfect balance of just pecorino, pepper and guanciale.

Although there are picture windows framing the outside world, Sorella feels like a place set apart. It’s fresh but also familiar, thanks to thrifted china and glassware.

“Everyone who comes in here is like, ‘Oh, my grandma had that.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, so did mine,’” Blumenthal says. “Obviously, some of this stuff is new, but it’s still very cozy and relaxed and has an old school feel. That was the best way that I could meld those two things together — if the walls are brand new, then silverware has to be old.”

Creating a restaurant is a lot like creating a movie set. To make the world feel real, you’ve got to get every detail right — definitely the details that people notice, like pasta and glassware. But maybe more importantly, the details that people may not even notice.

SORELLA

almost every service, doing the little tasks she would never pester her staff with. Like flipping knives so they’re facing the right way, or switching plates so they’re perfectly mismatched. She’s also the one mopping floors and wiping down booths.

1122 W. Summit Pkwy.

Open Tue-Sat from 4:45-9 pm (Fri-Sat until 10 pm) sorellaspokane.com, 509-443-4023

“This is bothering me because the knife is not turned out properly,” Blumenthal says, subtly flipping the silverware laid out on her table. “Little things like that. I’m going around, I’m flipping every knife.”

Blumenthal is in the dining room before

“I will never, ever, ever ask someone to do something that I am not willing to do myself, which is why I clean the restaurant,” she says. And maybe therein lies the most intimate, intangible, important detail of them all. Blumenthal wants to be at Sorella. Her staff want to be at Sorella. Guests want to be at Sorella. The glowing aura of the restaurant is fueled by the passionate desire between host and chef and guest and server to be together in this specific place at this specific moment in time.

It’s a crucial detail that’s easy to overlook. But once you experience it, it’s hard to forget. n

Sorella sparkles with love for food, art and togetherness. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

SPOKANE OTIS ORCHARDSMOSES LAKE

Dining Out

HISTORY in the Making

315 Cuisine balances its storied past with new flavors and thoughtful flourishes

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Maybe it’s the spirits of past prostitutes or the guardianship of saintly nuns, but walking into 315 Cuisine in Coeur d’Alene feels, well, different

The two-and-a-half story house was built in 1908. It’s seen its fair share of life since then. Bricklayer Harvey Davey built the home for his wife, who used it as a small boarding house during Idaho’s population boom in the 1910s. The Daveys sold it a decade later, and the red brick walls have been home to plenty of inhabitants since: brothel workers and patrons, railway executives, government health and welfare officials. It’s even been a cloister for Catholic nuns.

Today, the historic building at 315 Wallace Ave. has two complementary identities. Upstairs is Greenbriar Inn, a boutique hotel, while the first floor is 315 Cuisine, an upscale, eclectic restaurant both for hotel guests and the neighborhood.

The fine dining room is co-owned by three local ski bros with deep roots in Coeur d’Alene, Gared and Essex Prescott, actual brothers, plus their longtime friend and brother-from-another-mother Corey Schneider.

Despite having its identity transformed again and again, the integrity of the house has stayed the same. When Bob and Kris McIlvenna bought the building in 1984, they restored it with careful attention to historical accuracy. When Schneider and the Prescotts remodeled the

315 CUISINE

315 E. Wallace Ave., Coeur d’Alene

Open Wed-Sun from 4-9 pm, Fri-Sat 4-10 pm

315cuisine.com, 208-667-9660

dining room at the end of 2022, they also prioritized preservation, which they decided was key to the 315 Cuisine experience.

“It has character but also an energy to it where people feel like they are in a space of elevated fine dining, but they’re also getting those hints of history at the same time,” Essex says. “You definitely won’t find a similar experience in Coeur d’Alene.”

Walking up to 315 Cuisine, you’ll see a huge wraparound porch on both the first and second stories, its white railings embracing the original brickwork of Davey himself. Inside, you’ll walk past a mantled fireplace, wooden archways and plenty of picture molding, into a moody charcoal dining room with exposed brick and an original, built-in china cabinet.

Updates include a black-and-white checkerboard floor and streamlined lighting. But the overall effect is the perfect balance of new and old, which comes from a deep history that you just can’t fake.

“It’s really cool because we’re bringing people together in a world where everything is drowning in technology,” Schneider says. “Restaurants are one of the last unique stands of in-person creativity — connecting people at a moment around a table at the intersection of food and beverage.”

The menu at 315 Cuisine has just as many conversation starters as the dining room itself. The wide ranging menu curated by chef Tyler Booth draws inspiration from both home and abroad. Huckleberry barbecue chicken ($32) adds a surprising Northwest twist to a classic, and the maple glazed espresso steelhead ($39) is the local specialty you didn’t know you needed until right now.

But can three 30-something shredders really own a restaurant that doesn’t serve some killer steak?

“We try to do a lot of different steak specials, especially moving into the winter time,” Essex says.

But this isn’t a thoughtless hunk of red meat. The chimichurri flank steak ($29), one of their best sellers and Schneider’s personal favorite, is served not only with the bright green Argentinian herb sauce but also Salvadoran slaw called curtido and a tomato confit. Their filet mignon ($55) is served with butter poached asparagus, king trumpet mushrooms, and a llapingacho, an Ecuadorian stuffed potato pancake.

The flavor combos are surprising, exciting and modern, though they’re still in touch with tradition and history. Bridging that gap between past and future has planted 315 Cuisine firmly in the present. It’s earned a special place in the heart of its current neighborhood, continuously gathering year-round residents for community events, anniversaries and evening getaways.

“We definitely attract tourists when they are here,” Essex says. “But what’s neat is, because of the history of the building as well as just being a staple in the area for quite some time, there is 100% a solid local crowd that has made this their special night spot or their once-a-month location to go get reliable food and elevated service.”

Keeping that history alive comes with its own challenges.

“It does take a lot of care to maintain and keep a building as old as this one is,” Schneider says. “There’s extra bandwidth beyond just a normal restaurant that has a new build or something.”

But that care and attention seems to be paying off. n

Cheers to the past, present and future!

Colorful, fresh and creative eats fill 315 Cuisine’s menu.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF 315 CUSINE

Fly Meto the Moon

Luna’s 30-year legacy is thanks to its caring staff and unending passion for customer service

BY MADISON PEARSON

F or some, Luna on Spokane’s South Hill is reserved for special occasions. A place to celebrate a birthday or an anniversary.

For others, it’s a place to watch Sunday football, a corner to read a book on a rainy evening or a spot to grab a beer after a long day of work.

Owner Aaron DeLis and his late wife, Hannah, bought the restaurant from William and Marcia Bond in 2015, when Luna changed hands for the first time since opening in 1993. Some things have shifted since then, while others have stayed the same. But the underlying notion has always been that Luna is whatever its customers need it to be.

LUNA

come in here and get any experience you want.”

That experience has been carefully curated over the years by the Bonds, DeLises, Morris, and nearly every employee, past and present, who’s walked through Luna’s doors.

“We have a great staff of people who can provide other things besides serving or bartending,” Morris says. “When you get likeminded people together, everything continues to flow and everybody sees different things that can improve. Everybody learns, grows and gets better together.”

5620 S. Perry St. Open Sun-Thu 4-8 pm, Fri-Sat 4-9 pm lunaspokane.com, 509-448-2383

“The one thing Luna will always be is an experience-driven place,” says Executive Chef Joe Morris. “People come in here to enjoy themselves and to have a great time. They did that back then, and they do it now. That’s the beauty of this place, you can

From the outside, the restaurant on the corner of 57th and Perry is simple. But opening the doors reveals a French country-inspired interior with smaller details that hearken back to the Bonds’ love of New York City bistros and their Paris residence.

The bustling, enclosed patio brings neighborhood bistro vibes,

From Luna’s fall menu: crab pasta and the “Lean Into It” cocktail. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

There’s a lot of moving parts. There’s a bar, two dining rooms, two patios and a wine cellar. There’s a lot that goes into opening the doors for this restaurant to turn on the magic for everybody.

”

but the warm glow of the lights in the main dining room offer a homey feeling akin to your grandmother’s living room. The bright, white marble bar salvaged from Spokane’s Old National Bank building features sleek drinkware handled by bar manager Ryan Brackett. A focal wall behind the bar features a mural of late co-owner Hannah DeLis, who died almost two years ago after a lengthy battle with cancer.

“That’s her looking down on us,” general manager Brenda Baronian says. “She had a huge role in the attention to detail here. When she was with us at Luna, it was extremely important to her that everything from the flowers to the decor to the menu to the drinks to every garnish was absolutely perfect. A conversation about the little details doesn’t exist without Hannah.”

Hannah DeLis’s presence is still felt throughout Luna in the edible flowers placed gingerly on a sea bass filet, the cozy gray paint covering the walls, and the dining room’s birdcage chandeliers. From Luna’s leatherbound check presenters to the locally made wooden boards that carry its complimentary, fresh-baked bread, no detail is overlooked.

Baronian describes it as a show that begins at 4 each evening. Servers diligently fill water glasses, replace cutlery and discuss the evening’s menu at length. Morris cooks with seasonal ingredients, changing the menu quarterly to ensure high-quality dishes. Bar manager Brackett adjusts the music and lighting as the night progresses, giving each “show” a unique feeling.

Luna regularly sees diners who have been eating at the restaurant since 1993. Baronian attributes their loyalty to the staff’s commitment to the customer. She says each member of Luna’s team learns from their customers and finds ways to adapt in order to make dining there a phenomenal experience, which contributes greatly to its longstanding success as a restaurant.

“It’s a beast of a restaurant to maintain,” Baronian says. “There’s a lot of moving parts. There’s a bar, two dining rooms, two patios and a wine cellar. There’s a lot that goes into opening the doors for this restaurant to turn on the magic for everybody.

“The small details are where the magic happens, where it all comes together. You can have good food or good drinks or a good location, but when you have it all together, that’s what makes a restaurant amazing.” n

A mural on the wall behind Luna’s bar is a tribute to co-owner Hannah DeLis.

Dining Out Lakeside Luxury

Seven stories above Lake Coeur d’Alene, Beverly’s continues its top-notch hospitality in a recently updated, casual fine dining environment

BY COLTON RASANEN

BEVERLY’S

115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene Open daily from 4-10 pm beverlyscda.com, 208-765-4000

Beverly’s has all the physical markings of a traditional fine dining experience: fancy cutlery, a robust wine collection, a menu that’s actually a digital tablet and a stunning view. The restaurant is perched on the seventh floor of the Coeur d’Alene Resort, overlooking the northernmost parts of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Even with all that the restaurant has going for it, Beverly’s General Manager Jordan Hallstrom says the fine dining experience its guests have come to expect truly comes from the hospitality he and his staff provide.

“I mean, it starts with ‘Hello,’” he says. “It starts with how anyone who’s in that front lobby is greeted and interacted with and continues through the entire visit.”

Though Hallstrom has more than a decade of experience in fine dining management, he’s only been in charge of Beverly’s for three months. But in that time, he’s made customer service one of his top priorities.

“When you are touting yourself as having a fine dining atmosphere, you need to make sure that the expectation is met upon the very first moment that [guests] step into the restaurant,” he says. “In the culture that I’m trying to bring about, it really is anticipating a guest’s needs before a guest may even realize that they have that desire or that need.”

Providing anticipatory service removes a lot of the intimidating decorum found in many traditionally fancy restaurants, Hallstrom argues. This includes the smallest details, such as the silverware.

In many fine dining settings, guests may sit down at the table only to find that there are around 10 pieces of cutlery — half of which are usually forks that hardly differ from one another. There’s also the dessert spoon and the soup spoon, and God forbid you use the soup spoon for your dessert.

At Beverly’s, Hallstrom has taken that stressful process out of the mix, providing guests with only the utensils they need for whatever dish they’ve chosen.

“This allows a guest to not have to overly think about what it is they’re doing on the table, and really get to enjoy things like a view, their environment, their friends or even the interactions with the servers,” he says.

...continued on page 12

A hot rock filet mignon is set aflame as a whiskey peppercorn demi glacé is poured onto it. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

A Parisian in America

Even if you’ve misheard bon appétit as “bone apple tea,” Francaise can be an entry point into elevated, Frenchinspired cuisine

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Cast a quick glance into the front windows of Francaise and you might wonder if it’s a florist shop. Clustered around the vestibule are lush Swiss cheese plants and other person-sized potted greenery. Peer farther into the interior and you’ll spot a spider plant or two dividing the bench seats. Next to the ornately framed pictures and mirrors, pothos vines trail down the walls.

Front-and-center flora aren’t a common restaurant design element, as Eat Good Group owner Adam Hegsted readily admits. That’s one of the ways Francaise distinguishes itself, even among his local culinary constellation of five specialized eateries.

FRANCAISE

the faded lettering of Casper Fry, the restaurant that occupied this space in the South Perry District before Francaise took its place two years ago.

The atmosphere here — a carefully curated mélange perhaps best described as “Francophile urban rustic” — is just as important as the food. And the thought process behind both of them is similar. They’re meant to evoke associations with Parisian life and French cuisine without trying to be a 1:1 imitation.

“We’re not shooting for the most authentic French restaurant we can. We’re shooting for something that speaks to all of that collective experience. As with all of our restaurants, it’s also a touch of comfort food,” Hegsted says.

928 S. Perry St. Open Mon-Thu 3-9 pm, Fri 3-10 pm, Sat 9-10, Sun 9 am-9 pm francaisespokane.com, 509-315-4153

“Because you don’t have plants in restaurants that often, right off the bat, it gives it this really comfortable vibe when you walk in,” he says. “It adds a little bit of vitality and texture to this space, which is tall and all wood and brick.”

Adding to the sense of homestyle warmth is the lighting from wall sconces and pendant wicker lamps. Their golden glow illuminates a large floral mural with the base of the Eiffel Tower at its center. On the same brick wall, attentive diners might even spot

That blend of fine dining and the familiar is evident on both the brunch and dinner menus. Entrées include poulet rôti à la truffe ($38), a roasted halfchicken stuffed with rich truffle butter; steelhead bouillabaisse ($33), which features a pan-seared filet perched atop roast potatoes surrounded by clams and a tomato-saffron broth; and dry-aged pork ribeye ($38), a hearty bone-in cut that’s grilled and then topped with crispy fried onions in a dark bordelaise sauce made with Bordeaux-style red wine, butter, marrow and sauce demi-glacé.

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Francaise’s dining room is a blend of French elegance and rustic countryside. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Dining Out

“A PARISIAN IN AMERICA,” CONTINUED...

Alongside these traditional French dishes are the transatlantic cousins of popular American staples.

Steak frites ($36) is, well, steak and fries, though at Francaise the tender sliced beef is finished with cognacbleu cheese butter. And at its heart, the macaroni gratin ($24) isn’t too far removed from mac ’n’ cheese. The haute cuisine twist on this dish comes from the full-flavored truffle cheese sauce and comte cheese topping, with a side of succulent duck confit being an optional extra.

Nor does the decadence stop with the main course. Beignets ($12), the French take on a powdered donut, are made fresh and served warm with a side of homemade jam. Another dessert, the chocolate hazelnut terrine ($12), is multiple layers of cocoa-infused indulgence.

“The idea is that there’s a little bit for everybody. We

The only requirement for those dining at Beverly’s, he says, is to be open-minded and willing to allow your server to take you on a journey.

“A lot of my team has knowledge and loves to share it,” Hallstrom explains. “What I can say sets us apart from other restaurants is the desire for us to share our knowledge with our guests, so we can empower them the next time they come in to learn something new and still be comfortable.”

Recently, Beverly’s made itself even more comfortable for guests with a decor refresh to reflect its modern interpretation of fine dining. The space is much brighter now, reflected in details like the booth upholstery that’s been changed from a dark brown design to a lighter-toned beige floral.

Another perk of focusing on the guest experience, rather than some long-forgotten rules of etiquette, is that the restaurant becomes more accessible to those who don’t frequent fine dining restaurants.

offer caviar and foie gras, but there’s also a burger on the menu,” Hegsted says. It’s wryly called “Le burger” ($20) and channels its French inspiration via raclette cheese and Dijon mustard.

Francaise head chef John Wilson says the menu is equally approachable for the well-traveled diners who love escargot as well as those who still think of it as an exotic delicacy. It also allows for a mix of authenticity and creativity in the kitchen.

“Classic French cooking definitely steers us, but we’re adding our own spin. It gives us a chance to touch on a lot of variety of techniques. We have some of the simpler [dishes], and then we’re able to delve into the more technical side of French cooking with the complicated sauces in our entrées, which is where we’re really able to shine.”

“Beverly’s is fine dining with a dose of casual,” Hallstrom says. “We don’t expect you to wear slacks and a button-down shirt every time you walk in. There’s still that ability to come in from off the street of downtown on a whim, enjoy a nice dinner.”

As the seasons change, so too does Beverly’s menu. The restaurant switched from its summer offerings in mid-September, bringing in heartier sides, such as mushrooms, potatoes, carrots and squash.

“The fun part when it comes to cuisine, is that I feel like the colors in cuisine actually follow the seasons,” Hallstrom says. “So your summers, you get the really bright, bright and approachable colors, and then in the fall you get all those muted, softer tones.”

While many of the menu’s main proteins stay the same, those fresh fall favorites create a unique menu offering, Hallstrom says. One of the dishes that Hallstrom considers a Beverly’s staple is the Hot Rock filet mignon ($65).

The center-cut of prime angus filet is cooked to a guest’s preference and paired with broccolini, mushrooms from local producer Panhandle Gourmet, fingerling pota-

We offer caviar and foie gras, but there’s also a burger on the menu, “ ”

While you won’t yet find a sommelier at Francaise (general manager and oenophile Nicole Seaman is currently pursuing certification), you will find a carefully curated wine list that just earned a 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on account of the diversity that it captures in under 100 bottles.

On repeat visits, you’ll also discover new or revamped dishes that incorporate seasonal local ingredients. For example, as our region enters late autumn and winter, that translates to more dishes with squashes, apples and pears.

In Hegsted’s words, it’s his way of providing “food that really speaks to Spokane” — albeit with an intriguing French accent. n

toes and baby carrots. The tender steak is then flambéed (set on fire) at the table to create a finishing sear and an exciting guest experience.

“Not everything with fine dining has to be stiff and boring,” Hallstrom says. “It’s so enjoyable to watch someone’s face light up when they see something like this, and you can hear the audible gasp in the dining room.” n

A dry-aged American Wagyu ribeye with seasonal sides. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Dry-aged pork ribeye (center), with other French-inspired eats to round out your meal.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

Francaise Head Chef John Wilson.

Dining Out

IT’S OK TO BE JADED

Jade, a new Pacific Northwestthemed bar, celebrates everyone’s favorite destination: home

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Tucked between the rocking concerts at the Knitting Factory and the rowdy jam sessions at its sister venue The District Bar, there’s now a chiller, cozier joint with plenty of plants, cushions and conversation-centric vibes.

Jade, a Pacific Northwest-focused “microbar,” opened this September thanks to co-owners Aaron Andreson, food and beverage director for The Knitting Factory, and Roman Bobrovnikov, The District’s bar lead. The small spot between the two concert venues on First Avenue provides a haven from some of the excitement down the rest of the block. Jade is a personal spot to decompress, like a home away from home.

“We’re shooting for a very comfortable, casual living room vibe,” Andreson says.

Andreson and Bobrovnikov are quintessential Spokanites, with plenty of snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking and river floating experience between them. At Jade, they celebrate their home with dozens of Pacific Northwest-based spirits, plus cider and beer from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

“We didn’t know for sure how easy [it would be],” Andreson says. “But it turned out there are a lot of distillers in these three states that we found out about that carry incredible products.”

On the top shelf, there’s whiskey from The Distillarium out of Yakima. Next to it are spirits from Monson Ranch Distillers based in Prosser.

“I never would have thought that you’d find a distillery in those areas, but they’re exceptional products,” Andreson says.

“We don’t even have all [the local brands], not even close,” Bobrovnikov adds. “This is just a small slice of local stuff.”

Jade offers a brief cocktail menu with some seasonal favorites, but this isn’t a high falutin’ craft cocktail bar,

Bobrovnikov says. There are plenty of local brews available from the fridge. Jade also carries all the recognizable brands so everyone feels right at home.

Speaking of home, guests at the bar might recognize the blue epoxy resin snaking its way through the counter under their drinks. Andreson and Bobrovnikov, with the help of YouTube and a little trial and error, custom made the bar top to represent the Spokane River’s channel from Riverfront Park to TJ Meenach Bridge. It’s the route they know well, since they’ve been floating it all summer long for the better part of two decades.

The rest of the coffee tables feature handmade insets of their favorite camping spots: Priest Lake, Lake Pend Oreille, Crater Lake, and a super awesome, super topsecret lake that they might share with you if you’re really cool about it.

The nook where Jade is now used to be a coffee shop called Rock Coffee, once a popular hangout for local singer-songwriters. Then, it was replaced by a hair salon called Maud. By the time the two new bar owners took it over, it was basically a blank canvas. Andreson and Bobrovnikov did get ahold of the original Rock Coffee marquee sign. Then, they set to work filling the space with the comfiest things they could think of, like plenty of real plants, all of which are from Bobrovnikov’s actual living room.

“I got into plants during quarantine because there was nothing else to do, and everybody else got into plants,” he says.

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Can you spot Jade’s ode to the old Rock Coffee? YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

The bar gets its name from a huge Jade plant in the corner, the unofficial mascot of the joint. But there’s also an impressive elephant’s ear in the corner, a giant pothos hanging from the ceiling, and a cute variegated rubber tree on a coffee table, amongst other smaller propagations. (Don’t worry, half of Bobrovnikov’s plants are still at home.)

Jade’s capacity is a mere 49 people, inspiring Bobrovnikov to call it a “microbar,” which may or may not be a real term. But it accurately describes the vibes that tiny spaces can give. Jade approaches the same category as other closet-sized gin joints like Bijou, Baby Bar and Tiny Tiki.

There’s absolutely no space for a kitchen so there’s no food at Jade. But you’re welcome to bring in food from other restaurants in the area. Andreson and Bobrovnikov even have a menu on hand from Heritage Bar and Kitchen, the hyper-local focused pub just around the corner. Everyone on the block likes to support each other and work together, Andreson says.

It’s partly that camaraderie that makes Andreson, who’s originally from Minnesota, and Bobrovnikov, who’s been in Spokane since he was 17, love their chosen home so much. It’s also the local music and art, which they have displayed all along Jade’s wallpapered walls. And don’t forget the recreation.

“The cool thing about Spokane is there’s so much to do, like, within an hour drive, pretty much,” Bobrovnikov says. “Even downtown Spokane, there’s mountain biking trails along the river. There’s climbing by SCC. You don’t have to go far to find a ton of nature.”

As the new owners build Jade into their own personal living room, they’re turning it into a spot that makes everyone else feel at ease, too. So next time you’re headed home after a concert, it might not be as far away as you think. n

Jade: A PNW Bar • 920 W. First Ave. • Open Tue-Sat 5 pm-1 am • 509-998-4601

The Jade Bird cocktail

Jade owners Roman Bobrovnikov, left, and Aaron Andreson. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

New Mammogram Guidelines: What Every Woman Needs to Know

October is breast cancer awareness month, and it’s a great time to assess whether you’re due for a breast cancer screening, especially since screening guidelines for women in the U.S. changed earlier this year.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated its guidelines for breast cancer screenings, recommending that all women start getting mammograms at age 40, rather than waiting until 50. This change could significantly impact early cancer detection and patient outcomes.

Dr. David Ward, a Family Medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente South Hill Medical Center, emphasizes the importance of early detection. “The data shows that starting screenings earlier can save lives,” Ward says. “When breast cancer is caught in its early stages, we have more treatment options and a better chance at a full recovery.”

Why the Change?

The updated guidelines reflect new research and advancements in screening technology. Over the past decade, digital mammography equipment and processing ability have improved, increasing the ability to detect cancer.

“Technological improvements are a key factor in the change,” Dr. Ward explains. “We’re also seeing more cases of breast cancer in women in their 40s.”

Previously, women were encouraged to start discussing mammograms with their health care providers at 40 and begin screenings no later than 50. The new recommendations make

it clear that screening should begin at 40 and continue every 1–2 years until age 74.

The Importance of Early Detection

Since 1990, the death rate from breast cancer has dropped by nearly 40%, largely due to screening. Mammography remains the most effective tool for breast cancer screening. A mammogram can identify cancerous changes up to three years before a lump is detectable during a physical exam.

“When we find breast cancer early, the survival rate is high,” Dr. Ward says. “That’s why these new guidelines are so important—they encourage taking action sooner, which can make all the difference when it comes to less invasive treatment options and survival.”

Self-Exams Still Matter

Self-exams can help women become familiar with their bodies and notice any unusual changes, but they don’t replace regular mammograms. “Knowing what your breasts normally feel like is helpful. If you find something concerning, don’t wait—see your doctor,” Dr. Ward advises.

A Clearer Path

The new USPSTF guidelines offer a clearer path for women to follow, making early detection more accessible. “Early detection saves lives,” Dr. Ward says. “By starting screenings at 40, we’re giving women the best possible chance for a healthy future.”

A HOUSE OF (TRUMP) CARDS

The Apprentice grasps at telling Donald Trump’s origin story, but ends up as shallow as the man himself

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

Is it possible to make an incisive film that reveals anything new about a man like Donald Trump? He’s already a former American president, one of the most recognizable figures in the world, currently the subject of multiple ongoing criminal investigations, and once again a candidate running a hateful campaign for the top office who spends as much time in front of cameras as possible. He’s insecure and corrupt — all openly so — wielding his wealth to avoid accountability. We already know who he is and how, above all else, he’d sell anyone out for a few extra bucks.

Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice is a film that attempts to confront this man and the country that gave rise to him, only to come out with disappointingly little of substance to show for it. Written by Gabriel Sherman, whose most notable movie before this was the insufferable Independence Day: Resurgence, it gestures toward more complicated ideas about the ways America is too often built on lying hucksters who are empowered to pull one over on us because the system lets them.

It’s also a well-acted film where Sebastian Stan, recently excellent in the more boldly ambitious A Different Man, gives what is largely a layered performance as Trump. He even initially avoids falling into mere impersonation before

diving headfirst into it anyway in a hollow second half.

But it’s in the beginning where The Apprentice seems like it could have been going somewhere. Focusing less on the Trump we now know with all his cartoonish speeches and empty posturing, we see him being taken under the wing of Roy Cohn in 1970s New York. Played with a leering presence by Jeremy Strong of Succession, he’s a cruel man who will do anything it takes to win.

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The first two Terrifier films established Art the Clown as an instant slasher movie icon thanks to his brutally violent ways. For his third go-round, Art returns to turn the Christmas season into a bloody mess. Not rated

everything get lost in the more standard progression of the narrative.

The Apprentice attempts to invite sympathy for the closeted Cohn, who gets a bitter taste of his own medicine as he’s dying from AIDS. This gives Strong a couple of scenes to make the most of the pain and isolation. At the same time, this means we see less of him and more of Stan’s shallow second half turn for the rest of the film.

Rated R

As the two form a bond, we see Trump finding some real estate success based on next to nothing, running Cohn’s playbook that inflates one’s accomplishments and crushes any dissent that arises. When Trump meets Ivana, played by a wasted Maria Bakalova of 2022’s Bodies Bodies Bodies, it gets a little sidetracked, though the thematic center feels a bit more substantive in brief flashes. It’s all about the making of a uniquely American monster and how Cohn created someone even he could not control, as Trump ends up tossing him aside when he no longer has any use for him. If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine that you’re watching a competent enough yet still less compelling version of Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street in both style and narrative, though without moments that pack the punch of that film’s final grim “sell me this pen” scene.

One could generously say that this shallowness is the point — that this Trump is actually a performance, and that Cohn was similarly putting on an act to project power when they first met — though this is likely giving the film too much credit. It all just zips along, rarely letting anything linger long enough to leave an impact.

The Apprentice

Directed by Ali Abbasi

Starring Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong

After a more measured first half, the film loses its grasp on any nuance. When the film then starts to repeatedly wink to the audience with the present knowledge we have about where Trump ends up, including in the concluding scene that plays more like a contrived punchline than a fitting finale.

Namely, midway through The Apprentice starts to come apart. It takes on a more digital look, and Stan’s performance becomes more Trumpian. This is not played for intentional comedy, but it still undercuts the more serious beats that the film is going for. History requires that we see how Trump became as utterly strange of a person as he is, but the shift is so sudden that it’s shallow. Similarly, any deeper insights about the way America is descending into even greater callousness or how greed is consuming

America and the figures who rise to power deserve to be put under a microscope. That Trump threw out vague legal threats after The Apprentice premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival which, inevitably, came to nothing serves as a testament to this. The trouble is the film doesn’t reveal much of anything new about its subject, the country that he lied his way to the top of or, just as importantly, what makes such monstrous men. Greed, corruption and cruelty are poison in this country, but The Apprentice stops short of uncovering a diagnosis, let alone the antidote. If filmmakers are going to confront the frauds selling us all a bill of goods, and there will always be plenty attempting to do so, they must tell better, deeper stories. If not, I have a pen I can sell you. n

Not Ready for Prime Time

Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night is an empty fan fiction riff on SNL’s first night in desperate need of a punch-up

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

For a film centered on what we are reminded over and over again was a revolutionary night in American comedy history, it’s almost funny how safely the shallow Saturday Night all plays out. The latest from director Jason Reitman, writing again with Gil Kenan who he worked with on the rather dreadful duo of sequels Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, it’s a film about the 1975 premiere of the NBC sketch series Saturday Night Live that’s bizarrely mostly uninterested in

Rated R

many of the talented people who made it all work. That is, unless their name is Lorne Michaels.

Saturday Night

Directed by Jason Reitman

Starring Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cooper Hoffman

Played by Gabriel LaBelle, who was excellent in Steven Spielberg’s fantastic The Fabelmans, Michaels is a man trying to get his new show off the ground. With only 90 minutes left before air, he’ll need to contend with the suits breathing down his neck, wrangle a rowdy cast of comedy unknowns, and figure out what sketches to cut. Relying on contrived conflicts meant to inject the film with much-needed energy, Satur-

day Night is itself like an overlong, one-note sketch that, if it were put on at dress rehearsal for the actual show, would have been torn to pieces and then cut.

The film attempts to follow an expansive ensemble of comedians who would become central to the show like Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O’Brien), John Belushi (Matt Wood), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris) and many more. However, most are reduced to being bit players in their own story. Some of this is inevitable in a narrative that confines itself to one night while trying to take on so many characters, though each thread Reitman and Kenan pursue proves perfunctory at best. Much of the film is consumed by Michaels’ arguments with producer Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), which can be boiled down to how genius he is and how hilarious the show is going to be.

This would be fine if Saturday Night weren’t so enamored with itself despite not having much of anything consistently funny going on. For every more fleetingly scintillating scene we get with head writer Michael O’Donoghue (played by a terrific Tommy Dewey of the mirthful upcoming Your Monster), we get many more scenes with a painfully miscast Nicholas Braun (Succession) as both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson. Braun not only lacks the necessary comedic timing to play either of them, but the former is reduced to an odd punchline in a way that consistently falls flat. It’s soon clear that, for Reitman, the idea of the show is more important than the players.

As the camera darts its way around the sets and hallways, it proves to be a tepid visual knockoff of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman with no real substance to any of what we’re seeing. Observing the exaggerated yet central conflict where Belushi won’t sign his contract, it just feels like Reitman is filling the film up with obstacles for Lorne to overcome. Not only is this mostly repetitive, but they primarily serve as reminders of how great he is. This ensures the film is too tightly controlled to embrace the chaos, like it’s reading from cue cards it doesn’t want us to see.

In the end, Saturday Night is not a compelling film about process or an enjoyable comedy as much as it is a praising of one man. If it’s a love letter to anything, it’s not to the underdog comedians or their talents. No, it’s a love letter to Lorne and the broad idea of the institution he ultimately succeeded in creating. It’s just a slick hagiography poorly masquerading as a madcap comedy. Much like the modern SNL, it may get credit from some for doing OK impersonations, but there’s nothing else on its mind. If there’s a joke, it’s on us for watching and hoping for more. n

You’d be better off watching an SNL rerun than Saturday Night.

Echoes of the Cosmos

Music for Observations

BY AZARIA PODPLESKY

Ipairs

live electronic music with stargazing at WSU’s Jewett Observatory

n 1914, English composer Gustav Holst began writing what would become The Planets, a seven-movement orchestral suite inspired by the seven planets in the solar system (minus Earth) and each planet’s astrological character.

The suite opens with “Mars, the Bringer of War” and continues with movements like “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” and “Neptune, the Mystic.” The project took three years to complete, premiering in London in 1918. The suite has since been recorded more than 80 times for commercial release.

In 1977, two phonograph records, dubbed the Voyager Golden Records, were included aboard Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. A team led by astronomer Carl Sagan assembled the content of the records, which feature 115 images, spoken greetings in 55 languages and a variety of music, including Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” Senegalese percussion, the first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and panpipes from the Solomon Islands.

“The spacecraft will be encountered and the record played only if there are advanced spacefaring civilizations in interstellar space. But the launching of this bottle into the cosmic ocean says something very hopeful about life on this planet,” Sagan is quoted as saying on NASA’s website.

In 2023, it was announced that U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon would write a poem to be engraved onto the Europa Clipper. Limon’s poem “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa” ends “O second moon, we, too, are made / of water, of vast and beckoning seas. / We, too, are made of wonders, of great / and ordinary loves, of small invisible worlds, / of a need to call out through the dark.”

All of this to say, art and outer space have always gone together, with creators of all mediums endlessly inspired by the knowns and unknowns of the galaxy.

Add Jason E. Anderson and Kahyun (Kate) Uhm to that list. The two musicians created Music for Observations, a series of free live electronic music concerts paired

with open viewings of the night sky at Washington State University’s Jewett Observatory. The third and final edition of Music for Observations takes place Saturday, October 12. (The event is all ages and subject to cancellation based on weather and air quality. It’s recommended that attendees bring a blanket and dress warmly. Public restrooms aren’t currently available on the premises.)

At Music for Observations, Anderson will play a Serge synthesizer he’s been building for three years. Anderson grew up playing a variety of instruments, but after studying audio engineering and working in studio environments, he became more and more familiar with electronic instruments.

“It’s a way of stepping outside of the computer, some way of working with your hands but making electronic music,” he says. “I started getting into modular synthesizers because I could get deeper sounds, and then I started building.”

Music for Obeservations turn the Jewett Observatory into a unique concert venue. DEAN HARE PHOTO

Anderson, who moved to Pullman from Seattle six years ago, was itching to perform in the area but found opportunities to put on shows featuring his style of experimental, improvised music lacking.

The pieces started to fall into place though when he and his family attended a star party at the observatory, where members of the public are invited to view the night sky through the observatory’s telescope or telescopes from members of the Palouse Astronomical Society.

“My wife and son and I had gone to this and had a great experience, and I was thinking, ‘Oh, the only thing it’s missing is synthesizers,” he says. “It’s an obvious pairing, because people are used to weird sounds and synthesizers and looking at the stars or space. That had been brewing in the back of my head.”

For his day job, Anderson works at WSU libraries within the systems department. As part of his position, he leads the Dimensions Lab, the library’s lab dedicated to computing resources. He established media creation stations and built a sound studio.

To get more interest in the sound studio, he initiated a student group called the Digital Audio Collective last year. He met Uhm, an MFA student, through the collective, and the pair discovered they had both studied under the same professor at Evergreen State College at different times.

The duo started discussing some of the ideas Anderson had been thinking about since that experience at the star party and realized a series like Music for Observations could add to the stargazing experience while also sustaining the Digital Audio Collective over the summer, when most students go home for break.

Anderson and Uhm approached Guy Worthey, an associate professor of physics at WSU, about hosting concerts at the observatory. Worthey, an electric bass player in his band the Jazz Cats, was quick to say yes. Having hosted concerts and arts events at the observatory in the past, Worthey knew Music for Observations would fit right in.

“We used to have a jazz barbeque up there, which was cool,” he says. “We used to celebrate Yuri Gagarin’s space walk. We had an art and music show in the dome. They called me, and I was like, ‘Yes!’ It was not a hard decision.”

The James Richard Jewett Observatory (named after the father of George F. Jewett, who, alongside his wife, made the observatory project possible), was designed in 1950 and dedicated on May 14, 1953. The observatory features a 12-inch-aperture Alvin Clark and Sons refracting telescope with an Alvin Clark and Sons equatorial mount. (The observatory shouldn’t be confused with the WSU Planetarium, which features a digital full-dome projection system and offers sky tours and public shows.)

During the day, the Jewett Observatory is used as astronomy lab space and by the WSU Physics and Astronomy Club. At night, the observatory hosts star parties. Worthey said the observatory can get swamped when “something extraordinary” occurs in the night sky, like a close approach of Mars in 2003.

Though a storm was predicted for the night of the second concert and Uhm was worried about wind knocking over the speakers, both she

and Anderson were pleasantly surprised by the turnout for the first concerts in the series (held July 13 and Aug. 10).

“I think that not everyone knows what to expect or even how to place the sounds,” Anderson says. “The idea is that we’re there just like people with their telescopes only we’re making sound. People can navigate the environment as they feel, sit further away if you don’t like the sounds, or come up closer if you want that to be more of your experience.”

During a performance, Anderson and Uhm will alternate who’s in the spotlight, each playing solo for anywhere between five and 15 minutes before stepping aside. Anderson says this makes for a fuller, more cohesive event.

For her Music for Observations contribution, Uhm will play field recordings she’s collected and music she’s composed on an analog synthesizer at Music for Observations.

“While studying classical piano, I didn’t pay much attention to noise and sounds around me,” she says. “However, when I was introduced to the Moog modular synthesizer, audio recording and sounds at Evergreen State College, I fell in love with the world of sound.”

Anderson, Uhm and Worthey all believe such an event lends itself to contemplation. Worthey believes that there’s something about sitting underneath the starry sky makes any thought you have feel expansive. Enjoying a piece of art or music can do the same thing.

Anderson hopes the atypical music might inspire the audience to think “What do I do with this?” echoes questions they might have while looking at the sky. “That’s so huge and vast, and I am so small. What does that mean?”

In Uhm’s experience, it comes down to creating music that will amplify the contemplative, expansive sensations of stargazing.

“I believe the music really enhances the stargazing experience because it doesn’t overpower the moment,” she says. “It’s ambient music, serving as a subtle background that complements the scenery. This allows the audience’s imagination to flourish, helping them create their own images and narratives in their minds as they take in the stars.” n

Music for Observations • Sat, Oct. 12 at 9 pm • Free • All ages • WSU Jewett Observatory • Grimes Way and Olympia Avenue, Pullman • physics.wsu.edu/about/observatory

Jason E. Anderson at work during the July edition of Music for Observations.

DEAN HARE PHOTO

EMO DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL

INDIE ROCK DESTROYER

Thursday, 10/10

THE CHAMELEON, Sun Blood Stories, Dirt Russell, Itchy Kitty, Gotu Gotu

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

J THE DISTRICT BAR, Jade Bird, Zan Fiskum

J KNITTING FACTORY, Citizen Soldier, Icon for Hire, Halocene

MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Luke Yates

J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin ZOLA, Mason Van Stone Band, Lucas Brown

Friday, 10/11

J BARRELHOUSE PUB & PIZZA, Karaoke Fridays

BEST WESTERN COEUR D’ALENE, Son of Brad

J THE BIG DIPPER, PIG, Curse Mackey, unitcode:machine

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, The Shift

J THE CHAMELEON, Club xcx: A Bratty Dance Night

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, KOSH

THE DISTRICT BAR, Cole Chaney

J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire

HELIX WINES, Robert Vaughn

IRON HORSE (CDA), Heather King Band

J KNITTING FACTORY, 10 Years, Conquer Divide

MOOSE LOUNGE, Karma’s Circle

MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Chance Long

NIGHT OWL, DJ F3LON

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Bright Moments

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs RIVERSIDE PLACE, Emorfik

Saturday, 10/12

J J THE BIG DIPPER, Chuck Vibes & The Dead Feels, Blunt Skulls, Prodsynesthete, Lost Masters

J BING CROSBY THEATER, Hysteria

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, The Shift

BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO., Son of Brad

THE CHAMELEON, Zeze: Restless Dreams Album Release Show with Skrapper, Unspoken Truth

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, KOSH

J THE DISTRICT BAR, Destroyer, Katie Von Schleicher

IRON HORSE (CDA), Heather King Band

MOOSE LOUNGE, Karma’s Circle

MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Rusty Jackson Band

NIGHT OWL, Priestess

J OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, Just Plain Darin

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Weibe Jammin

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs

J J THE PODIUM, Dashboard Confessional, Boys Like Girls, Taylor Acorn

ZOLA, Jason Evans’ Cosmic Fantasy, Great Comet

Still get chills from “Vindicated” playing during the Spider-Man 2 end credits? (Yes, we’re talking about the Tobey Maguire trilogy.) Then you’re not gonna wanna miss the band behind the song: Dashboard Confessional. Bust out your skinny scarves and popped collars, because the 2000s are coming back in full force — Dashboard is rocking out at the Podium with special guests Boys Like Girls and Taylor Acorn. Frosted tips and belted mini skirts may not have aged well, but emo is forever. And it’s definitely gonna hit different when a bunch of 30-year-olds belt out Chris Carrabba’s eternal lyrics: “I am flawed / But I am cleaning up so well / I am seeing in me now / The things you swore you saw yourself.”.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Dashboard Confessional, Boys Like Girls, Taylor Acorn • Sat, Oct. 12 at 6:30 pm • $45-$85 • All ages • The Podium • 511 W. Joe Albi Way • thepodiumusa.com

Few people in the indie rock game possess Dan Bejar’s level of sonic nimbleness. As the driving force behind Destroyer (and formerly a member of the stellar Canadian indie supergroup The New Pornographers), he consistently makes each new album sound distinctly different from the last with detailed songwriting that always feels sincere and compassionate. The exquisite, lush and welcoming soft rock of 2011’s Kaputt led Pitchfork to rank it as the 22nd best album of the 2010s, while the publication dubbed the lo-fi singer-songwriter gem that is 1998’s City of Daughters as the 86th Best Album of the 1990s. And that’s before getting to the more alternative rocking feel of 2006’s Rubies or the further genre-bending of Bejar’s latest LP, 2022’s Labyrinthitis. Bejar never feels like he’s stuck in a musical rut, so if you feel like your listening habits have been stuck in one, perhaps checking out Destroyer live can help you break out of it.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Katie Von Schleicher • Sat, Oct. 12 at 8 pm • $25 • 21+ • The District Bar • 916 W. First Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

Sunday, 10/13

THE CHAMELEON, STiLGONE, The Red Books, Time Baby HOGFISH, Open Mic

ZOLA, Sugar Bear Family Dinner

Monday, 10/14

EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 10/15

J KNITTING FACTORY, The HU, The Funeral Portrait

J OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Just Plain Darin

SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays

ZOLA, The Zola All Star Jam

Wednesday, 10/16

THE CHAMELEON, Blackwater Railroad Company, Landon Spencer (The Bed Heads), Dallas Lee (Eel Sallad)

THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Red Room Lounge Jam

J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents

Just Announced...

J J NEATO BURRITO, Halloween Cover Show and Costume Party, Oct. 26.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Little River Band, Nov. 30.

J J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Kerry King, Jan. 17.

Destroyer,

SALMA BUSTOS PHOTO

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Umphrey’s McGee, Mar. 14.

Coming Up...

J THE FOX THEATER, Home Free, Oct. 17, 7:30 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Blackberry Smoke, Oct. 17, 8 pm.

KNITTING FACTORY, Club 90’s 2000’s Night, Oct. 18.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Escuela Grind Bodybox, Oriska, Galvanist, Desertdweller, Oct. 18, 6:30 pm.

THE CHAMELEON, Shannon Curtis, Oct. 18, 7 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Atomsk, Ore, Tea, Oct. 18, 7:30 pm.

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Laketown Sound, Oct. 18 & 19, 8:30 pm.

IRON HORSE (CDA), Bruiser, Oct. 18 & 19, 8:30 pm.

MOOSE LOUNGE, RCA & The Radicals, Oct. 18 & 19, 8:30 pm.

MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Pastiche, Oct. 18 & 19, 8:30 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Minami Deutsch, Oct. 18, 9 pm.

J THE CHAMELEON, Better World Better Vote Ballot Party, Oct. 19, 12-10 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Odyssey, Flannel Math Animal, Kenoplasm, Pretending We’re Just Like Them, Oct. 19, 7:30 pm.

J BING CROSBY THEATER, Hall & Bros, Oct. 19, 7:30 pm.

J J BONES MUSICLAND, Kevin Brown & The Beloved Country Album Release Show, Oct. 19, 7:30 pm.

KNITTING FACTORY, Emo Nite, Oct. 19, 8 pm.

J HAMILTON STUDIO, Jeremy Pelt Quintet, Oct. 20, 4 & 7 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, I Speak Machine, Oct. 20, 8 pm.

J PANIDA THEATER, Gaelic Storm, Oct. 23, 7:30 pm.

MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Keanu, Oct. 24, 8:30 pm.

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Monarch Mountain Band, Oct. 25, 5-8 pm.

J J THE BIG DIPPER, The Halloween Cover Show: Night 1, Oct. 25, 6:30 pm.

J J JAGUAR AT THE CHAMELEON, MAITA, Hannah Siglin, Oct. 25, 7 pm.

J LYFE COFFEE ROASTERS, Dave Long Album Release Concert, Oct. 25, 7-9 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Dark Scene Halloween, Oct. 25, 8 pm.

KNITTING FACTORY, Charles Wesley Godwin, Jesse Daniel, Oct. 25, 8 pm.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Paul Cauthen, Oct. 25, 8 pm.

THE CHAMELEON, Sam Lachow, Oct. 25, 9 pm.

J J THE BIG DIPPER, The Halloween Cover Show: Night 2, Oct. 26, 6:30 pm.

MUSIC | VENUES

219 LOUNGE • 219 N. First Ave., Sandpoint • 208-263-5673

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS • 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-927-9463

BABY BAR • 827 W. First Ave. • 509-847-1234

BARRISTER WINERY • 1213 W. Railroad Ave. • 509-465-3591

BEE’S KNEES WHISKY BAR • 1324 W. Lancaster Rd.., Hayden • 208-758-0558

BERSERK • 125 S. Stevens St. • 509-315-5101

THE BIG DIPPER • 171 S. Washington St. • 509-863-8098

BIGFOOT PUB • 9115 N. Division St. • 509-467-9638

BING CROSBY THEATER • 901 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-227-7638

BLACK DIAMOND • 9614 E. Sprague Ave. • 509891-8357

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL • 116 S. Best Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-891-8995

BOOMERS CLASSIC ROCK BAR • 18219 E. Appleway Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-368-9847

BUCER’S COFFEEHOUSE PUB • 201 S. Main St., Moscow • 208-596-0887

THE BULL HEAD • 10211 S. Electric St., Four Lakes • 509-838-9717

CHAN’S RED DRAGON • 1406 W. Third Ave. • 509-838-6688

THE CHAMELEON • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd.

CHECKERBOARD • 1716 E. Sprague Ave. • 509-443-4767

COEUR D’ALENE CASINO • 37914 S. Nukwalqw St., Worley • 800-523-2464

COEUR D’ALENE CELLARS • 3890 N. Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene • 208-664-2336

CRUISERS BAR & GRILL • 6105 W Seltice Way, Post Falls • 208-446-7154

CURLEY’S HAUSER JUNCTION • 26433 W. Hwy. 53, Post Falls • 208-773-5816

THE DISTRICT BAR • 916 W. 1st Ave. • 509-244-3279

EICHARDT’S PUB • 212 Cedar St., Sandpoint • 208-263-4005

FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • 509-279-7000

FOX THEATER • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-624-1200

IRON HORSE • 407 E. Sherman, Coeur d’Alene • 208-667-7314

IRON HORSE BAR & GRILL • 11105 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-926-8411

JOHN’S ALLEY • 114 E. Sixth St., Moscow • 208-883-7662

KNITTING FACTORY • 911 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-244-3279

MARYHILL WINERY • 1303 W. Summit Pkwy. • 509-443-3832

MILLIE’S • 28441 Hwy 57, Priest Lake • 208-443-0510

MOOSE LOUNGE • 401 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene • 208-664-7901

NASHVILLE NORTH • 6361 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls • 208-457-9128

NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO • 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights • 877-871-6772

NYNE BAR & BISTRO • 232 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-474-1621

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY • 301 Cedar St., Sandpoint • 208-265-8545

POST FALLS BREWING CO. • 112 N. Spokane St., Post Falls • 208-773-7301

RAZZLE’S BAR & GRILL • 10325 N. Government Way, Hayden • 208-635-5874

RED ROOM LOUNGE • 521 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-838-7613

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR • 718 W. Riverside Ave. • 509-822-7938

SEASONS OF COEUR D’ALENE • 1004 S. Perry St. • 208-664-8008

SPOKANE ARENA • 720 W. Mallon Ave. • 509-279-7000

SPOKANE TRIBE RESORT & CASINO • 14300 US-2, Airway Heights • 877-786-9467

SOUTH PERRY LANTERN • 12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-473-9098

STORMIN’ NORMAN’S SHIPFACED SALOON • 12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-862-4852

TRANCHE • 705 Berney Dr., Wall Walla • 509-526-3500

ZOLA • 22 W. Main Ave. • 509-624-2416

WORDS MAVENS OF PROSE

A trifecta of female novelists join forces for this special Spokane-centric writing event. Sharma Shields, Leyna Krow and Carla Crujido (above, from left to right), who’ve all written novels set in and around Spokane (The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac, Fire Season and The Strange Beautiful, respectively), invite readers, history nerds and library lovers alike to the Spokane Library’s Inland Northwest Special Collections room to discuss how this invaluable resource supported them during the research and writing of their books. Archivist and librarian Dana Bronson showcases items related to each of the authors’ titles, offering a special behind-the-scenes look at this precious trove that’s open to all who seek its knowledge. Auntie’s Bookstore will be on hand selling books, too. After the presentation, attendees can join the three authors for a social hour at the Historic Davenport Hotel.

— CHEY SCOTT

Women Write Spokane • Thu, Oct. 10 from 5:30-6:30 pm • Free • Central Library • 906 W. Main Ave. • spokanelibrary.org

MUSIC NEW CLUB CLASSICS

While Charli xcx may have already officially declared “goodbye forever brat summer,” there’s nothing preventing us from starting up Brat fall. While neon green might not be an autumnal color, the pop star’s latest album Brat captured the culture zeitgeist with an array of undeniable club bangers like “Von Dutch” and “365” that can get the dance floor going any season. The touring dance night Club XCX swings into The Chameleon to blare hits by Charli, Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan, Chappell Roan and more deep into the night.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Club XCX - A Bratty Dance Night • Fri, Oct. 11 at 9 pm • $15-$40 • 21+ • The Chameleon • 1801 W Sunset Blvd. • chameleonspokane.com

COMEDY NOT SO SAINTLY NICK

There’s a place in this world for immaturity. That place is comedy. While adults continuing to be juvenile might be frowned upon in the workplace, the exception is if your job is to make folks laugh. Nick Swardson has built a career on being somewhat of an overgrown child who still has a middle schooler’s sense of humor. Most recognizable as a frequent player in Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison movies and his recurring rollerskating sex worker on Reno 911! Swardson’s standup doesn’t shy away from slightly bro-y scatological humor. He’s here for you if your inner adolescent needs laughter based on bad edible trips and unfortunate bathroom humor.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Nick Swardson • Sat, Oct. 12 at 7 pm • $15-$40 • The Fox Theater • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • foxtheaterspokane.org

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.

THEATER OUT OF THE WOODS YET?

Venture into the woods with Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel and Red Riding Hood as the Whitworth University Theatre Department brings the beloved musical Into the Woods to life. This stage rendition draws from the Broadway musical directed by James Lapine, which is based on a book with the same title. It won’t feature Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp, but it still re-tells classic fairy tales through the eyes of a childless baker and his wife who are cursed by a witch. Directed by local director, choreographer and artist Joseph Lyons-Wolf and performed by a cast of dedicated and talented Whitworth students, this classic musical is equal parts thrilling, funny and heartwarming.

— JOHN BERGIN

Into the Woods • Oct. 11-20; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm • $20 • Whitworth Cowles Auditorium • 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. • whitworth.edu/theatre

DANCE GRACEFUL SWANS

Arguably the most well-known ballet of all time, Swan Lake is making its way to Spokane this fall via the esteemed World Ballet Company. A perfect show for first-time ballet attendees, Swan Lake captures audiences’ attention through its compelling story of love and betrayal set to a sweeping score. Evil sorcerer Baron von Rothbart has cursed young women so that they are swans by day and humans by night, trapped in a deep lake in the forest. When Prince Siegfried goes hunting at night and takes aim at a swan, his target suddenly turns into a young woman. The two quickly fall in love thereafter. Lose yourself in the iconic dance of the little swans, Tchaikovsky’s timeless music and the beautiful hand-painted scenery.

— CASSANDRA BENSON

Swan Lake • Sun, Oct. 13 at 6 pm • $45-$95 • All ages • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • firstinterstatecenter.org

Annual Manual

I SAW YOU

POETS Certainly. She left you for the reasons Rita left Kris. Sorry for your loss... and your loss. Literal.

CUTE MORNING COMMUTE It was the head full of bountiful swirls and blonde tip curls. It was the tattoo journal mystery, that has me curious about your history. I’m intrigued & may be batting out of my league.... but here goes, a lil ebb& flow

UA PLACE FOR EMPLOYMENT I gave my friend a ride to the u.a. place for a job she got, and we talked in the waiting room about what was on the TV for a brief moment and your smile lit up my world. Would love to take you on a date sometime. The girl that was there to u.a. for a job is just my friend. If you respond to this tell me what was on the TV

RE: IN MY DREAMS AGAIN Whoever the person in your dreams is must mean a lot to you. Because it sounds like the relationship in your dreams is the kind of relationship you want to have now. Good luck sad person

TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE If you only knew how quickly I’d answer your call, how fast I’d run into your arms and forget it all. If you said, “Let’s try again,” I would try until the end of time. But I know you won’t call and don’t feel the way I feel. My loving and losing you is the wound that will never heal.

HOLA FROM ATILANOS Hola cute boy from Atilanos, I wanted to talk to you more but was too much of a chicken in the moment to see what you were doing later or ask for your

SOUND OFF

number. By the way I have a Suzuki sidekick also, coincidence? I think not. Might be a long shot, but burrito date next Sunday? 11 pm?

LIKE THAT Will, like Pitt missed Ani’.. we know you miss “her.” Did you think it wouldn’t be forced and awkward, now? You’ve always known best; just ask you. Now you lament. Tell it to the moon.

CHEERS

THANK ALL THE ANGELS AND SAINTS

Thank everyone who helped with the neighborhood cleanup in Peaceful Valley.

THANK YOU CLEANERS Cheers to all the folks who helped pick up garbage on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Peaceful Valley, you ROCK!

D’.. ANDY Seems you’re “doin’ it”! How’s the new live-in gig actually goin’? Have you done all the alls? Birthdays. Theirs. Family gatherings. Theirs. The hatchlings. Theirs. The garden. Hers. The house-holding..in her house. The reunions. His. Long overdue with the fellas askin’ mucho questions. “What up, Brother Falco’...?” You didn’t really see what you were “walkin’” into, didja, what with all the smoke and mirrors, the love-bombing, the g-lights? You’re not foolish or confused, you’re being deceived. You are supply. Climb out and run. Hope you have something to run to. You left a lot on the table. It was ALL the good stuff. Ah, the charm of the snake. Really? Photos like that are sophomoric.

FULL POCKETS Come on Spokane, we can’t let the jeers outnumber the cheers. I know you’re out there seeing the good in people. But you’re not saying anything. These I saw you/cheers and jeers are so easy to do. We are prone to complain, Stop that cycle. Give someone a compliment. I leave my house everyday with my pockets full of compliments and hope that I feel as though I have empty pockets when I return home. Though it never works out that way. When I return home I find that my pockets are still full. It feels like a superpower. Make someone’s day, step up Spokane, it’s who you are.

MILITARY NEIGHBORS WE SEE YOU! Cheers to our military neighbors. We see you in the skies coming home, we see you shopping at Walmart in Airway Heights, we see you mowing your lawn to feel normal, we see you at school pickup looking tired but happy after a long day overseas. Thank you for keeping us safe.

“BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER” Big “Cheers” to all the wonderful people that work at “Mail Box etc.” in Spokane Valley. They truly know the meaning of “Customer Service.”

A couple of weeks ago I had the saddening chore of making a flyer for my father-in-law’s funeral. Being the master of not knowing how to operate my phone or pretty much anything else electronic, I’m not sure why I

THE (SPOOKY) STOOP Shout-out to the handful of folks in Browne’s who decorate for Halloween! We might not go hard like they do on the North side/South Hill, but it makes me smile to see my neighbors show up for my favorite holiday!

CHEER THE FLAT EARTHERS Do stop wasting your breath screaming at others ignorance

was given this task. Thanks to “Mail Box etc.” and their beautiful employee “Kaleena” I was successful! With just a handwritten example of what I wanted, Kaleena took the time and personally went through every line with me, rewording, adding words, taking out words, making sure fonts were larger or smaller where they needed to be, even putting a nice little border around it to make it complete. Together we spent at least a half hour making it perfect. Kaleena never made me feel like the “Technophobe” that I am. On the contrary, she was very compassionate and understanding (as I was very emotional through the entire process). Even though it was a simple flyer for a funeral, she could tell that it was very important to me and I just wanted to say “Thank You” to “Kaleena”and “Mail Box etc.” for helping me achieve my heartfelt mission. For such a small project It was “The Best Customer Service” I could have asked for. R.I.P. Cap Davis! You and my experience at “Mail Box etc.” will never be forgotten!

INCIDENTAL BIKE SAFETY All summer the construction downtown has trundled along. I commute through downtown daily, and the reduced lanes on Washington and Stevens have been great. No joke, having only two (or even one) lane has made driving much easier and walking across the roads safer. The real added bonus has been seeing cyclists riding behind the construction cones. Incidentally due to construction, they have their lane, and I have mine. It’s been so much safer for everyone involved. If the city could just leave the cones up after the construction is done, I’d be 100% on board.

and delusions. Celebrate that everyone’s entitled to their own beliefs in a democracy (for now). You can’t teach a pig to sing, it won’t work and only annoys the pig. It requires a degree of intelligence and willingness. Cheer the journeys of the Flat Earthers! They will fall off the edges of their limited vision or someday discover the full circle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I’ve been waiting a whole year for the timing to be perfect to submit this! You deserve the world, and I’m so thankful for your friendship. You are witty, intelligent, compassionate, authentic, and supportive (plus many many more)! You sure put the ‘G’ in graham cracker ;) Thank you for being an amazing friend and all around great person. Cheers to another year around the sun!

JEERS

RE: IDEALOGUES In any other profession, including the military, when a person doesn’t do their job THEY are held responsible and don’t get to shrug off blame to anyone else. Since your complaint is that we have individuals refusing to do the jobs they have full capability to do, maybe the solution is to replace the person not doing their job, just like every other profession would. You conflated two completely unrelated things and offered absolutely no evidence linking the two which, ironically for you, is exactly how an idealogue thinks. Citing no-context statistics about traffic issues doesn’t support your claim when what you’re upset about hasn’t been demonstrated in any measurable capacity. You need to cite something falsifiable that backs your claim up or you’re just flat out lying.

RE: PLANNED PARENTHOOD BILLBOARDS

Oh, ye of little understanding...Not so fast. Pull back to see the bigger picture beyond your personal prejudice of scope. There is no fig leaf cover, no tacit lying or scaremongering implication in these billboards you see. It can be reasoned that its message “making abortion accessible again” is directed to those traveling here to our progressive-

minded state from conservative states, where the procedure is now illegal or inaccessible to them, to have said procedure done because it is, as you explained, still legal.

HOMELESS SITUATION Spokane...please wake up! The mayor nor the powers to be will never solve the homeless situation because too many people who claim to help will lose money and benefits from their involvement. Tax breaks, state and federal grants, donations, apartment owners downtown who are subsidizes for renting to the homeless and the list goes on. Why hasn’t our spokane administrators taken advantage of what Houston has achieved by reducing homeless by 64%? Or centralizing all services? Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg? Mark my word, when the Trent shelter closes, downtown will pay the price. Give the people who really need it a place to live that is clean and safe. Have you ever heard of tiny homes? They work.

photos by Zach Wilson

EVENTS | CALENDAR BENEFIT

EYE CONTACT An art exhibit and silent auction benefitting Volunteers of America Spokane. The event also features food by Inland Pacific Kitchen, live performances and educational sessions. Oct. 10, 5-8 pm. $25. Washington Cracker Co. Building, 304 W. Pacific. event.gives/ eyecontact2024 (509-624-2378)

ULTIMATE MOVIE TRIVIA Multiple rounds of movie trivia covering all sorts of genres and topics. Benefits the Kenworthy. Oct. 13, 7-9 pm. $10. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

TWILIGHT A screening of Twilight to raise money for the University of Washington School of Medicine. Oct. 15, 6-8 pm. $10. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)

SPARK SALON This eighth annual fundraiser features local author Jess Walter interviewed by youth; Aimee Brooks reading from her contribution to Gondolas & Garbage Goats and a live auction. Oct. 18, 5:30-8 pm. $125. Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean. spark-central.org

LUCHA LIBRE Five rounds of wrestling featuring Tecnicos and Rudos’ 20 professional Luchadores. Proceeds help the Poder Legal Department provide free services. Oct. 19, 5-9 pm. $20-$40. West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt. latinosenspokane.org

INTO AFRICA AUCTION A buffet dinner, live and silent auctions, raffles, live music and more. Benefits Partnering for Progress. Oct. 19, 5-9 pm. $70. Gonzaga University Hemmingson Center, 702 E. Desmet Ave. partneringforprogress.org

WALKRUNREAD5K! A literary-costumethemed 5k, kids dash and community event including an annual book sale and swap. Proceeds benefit the Literacy Project North Idaho. Oct. 19, 8 am. $30. Coeur d’Alene City Park, 415 W. Mullan Rd. theliteracyprojectni.org (208-769-2300)

COMEDY

AN EVENING WITH TOM PAPA Papa is a comedian, actor and host of the XM Satellite Radio show Come to Papa. Oct. 10, 7:30 pm. $39-$59. Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com (509-242-7000)

RUSSELL PETERS Peters is a Canadian standup comedian and actor; and the first to get a Netlifx standup special. Oct. 10, 7 pm, Oct. 11-12, 7 & 9:45 pm. $40-$50. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

WANDA SYKES Sykes is an Emmy winning, stand-up comic, writer, actress and producer. Oct. 10, 7:30 pm. $45-$90. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls. firstinterstatecenter.org

BOONE STREET HOOLIGANS SKETCH COMEDY SHOW Celebrating its 23rd edition, this student-led sketch comedy show performs twice a year with original scripts. Oct. 11, 7:30 pm and Oct. 12, 7:30 pm. Gonzaga Magnuson Theatre, 502 E. Boone Ave. gonzaga.edu/theatre

NICK SWARDSON Swardson is best known for his recurring role as Terry Bernadino in the comedy series Reno 911 Oct. 12, 7 pm. Sold out. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague. foxtheaterspokane.org

COREY B & MARCUS MONROE Corey Bonalewicz is an American radio personality, comedian and content creator. Marcus Monroe is a high energy standup comedian. Oct. 13, 7 pm. $25-$35. Spo-

kane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)

BEN BRAINARD Brainard gained attention on TikTok with his sketch series “The Table,” in which he acts out conversations between American states. Oct. 16, 7 pm. $22-$30. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

CHAD KROEGER & JT PARR Chad & JT have been featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Howard Stern and more. Oct. 17, 7 pm. $25. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub. com (509-318-9998)

COMMUNITY

HAUNTED MINE TOUR A haunted tour of the Crystal Gold Mine. Call to reserve your spot. Thu-Sat from 6-10 pm through Oct. 31. $10-$20. Crystal Gold Mine & RV Park, 51931 Silver Valley Road. (208-783-4653)

IT HAPPENED HERE: EXPO ‘74 FIFTY YEARS LATER This 50th anniversary exhibition revisits the historical roots of Expo ’74’s legacy. It incorporates recognizable elements from Expo’s built environment with museum artifacts and archival materials. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Jan. 26. $7-$12. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

SPOOKY UPCYCLE WORKSHOP Make or repurpose costumes, create spooky decor, or swap old costumes to save the environment. RSVP required. Oct. 10, 5 pm. Free. Art Salvage Spokane, 610 E. North Foothills Dr. artsalvagespokane.com

AMERICAN REVOLUTION EXPERIENCE

A pop-up exhibition including display panels and interactive digital kiosks exploring the history of the American Revolution. Wed, Fri and Sat from 11 am-4 pm through Oct. 27. $4-$7. Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, 12114 E. Sprague Ave. spokanevalleymuseum.com

CELEBRATING VENEZUELA A day to celebrate Venezuelan traditions and culture, offering a vibrant glimpse into the country’s rich heritage and spirited way of life with traditional food and music. Oct. 11, 5-8 pm. Free. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. latinosenspokane.org

GEM STATE TATTOO CONVENTION The third annual event features guest artists, panels, discussions and demos. Oct. 11-13; times vary. $20-$45. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way. gemstatetattooconvention.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS RESOURCE FAIR

Visit with health, financial security and planning professionals. Get a free COVID and/or flu shot from Walgreens. Oct. 11, 9 am-1 pm. Free. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. southsidescc.org

NEW LEAF FALL FESTIVAL Celebrate the new season with local vendors, artisans, pony rides, food, displays and music from Lake Town Sound. Oct. 11-13; Fri-Sat from 9 am-5 pm, Sun from 10 am-4 pm. Free. New Leaf Nursery, 12655 N. Government Way. newleadnurseryhayden.com

SPOKANE HOME IDEA SHOW A showcase of home vendors, decor, upgrades and more. Oct. 11-13; times vary. $10-$12. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. spokanehomeshows.com

AUTUMN ON THE AVE Celebrate fall with 25+ local businesses, live music, carnival games, a photo booth and flash sales throughout the district. Oct. 12. Free. Sprague Union District, 2400-1600 E. Sprague Ave. spragueuniondistrict.com

THE GREAT PUMPKIN RACE & FAMILY CARNIVAL A family event featuring

pumpkin races where competitors race wheeled pumpkins to the finish line, plus a lively carnival with games, food, trick or treating, costume contests and more. Oct. 12, 11 am-3 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. mowspokane.org

LINCOLN CENTER’S 20TH ANNIVER-

SARY Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Gonzaga’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center by acknowledging and honoring its history, accomplishments and people that made this milestone possible. RSVP: gonzaga. edu/lincolncenter20th. Oct. 12, 8 am-5 pm. Free. Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone. gonzaga.edu/lincolncenter20th

WHEEL OF FORTUNE LIVE Contestants are randomly selected from the audience to go onstage and spin a replica of the wheel, solve puzzles and win prizes. Oct. 15-16, 7:30 pm. $59. Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com (509-242-7000)

LILAC CITY LIVE! This month’s lineup features Mayor Lisa Brown, comedian Camrynne Sullivan and musical guest Blue Water Strangers. Oct. 17, 8-10 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5336)

FILM

FAITH, FILM, AND PHILOSOPHY SERIES: SPIRITUAL FILM THEMES IN 2024

Discussions around spiritual themes in popular modern TV shows and movies. Several scholars present original work surrounding the topic. Oct. 11, 7-9:30 pm. Free. Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave. gonzaga.edu/ffp2024

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE In late 20th-century San Francisco, a 200-yearold vampire tells his story to a young reporter, weaving the history that has come to be known as Interview With The Vampire. Oct. 12, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

SENSORY RELAXED MOVIE SCREENINGS Screenings of various movies swith slightly brighter lights, lowered volume and designated areas to move around, dance, walk or sit during the movie. Second Tuesdays (PG 13) at 6:30 pm, second Saturdays (all ages) at 11:30 am. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)

CINEMA CLASSICS: DIAL M FOR MURDER A former tennis star arranges the murder of his adulterous wife. Oct. 13, 4-6 pm. $6. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

PALOUSE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL: LE TABLEAU VOLÉ An auctioneer receives a letter stating that a painting by Egon Schiele has been discovered. He makes the trip and learns the painting is authentic. Oct. 15, 7-9 pm. $5. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

BEYOND THE FANTASY A ski and snowboard film featuring athletes pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on snow. Oct. 16, 7:30 pm. $10-$15. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org

FOOD & DRINK

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS, TWO WAYS

Learn how to make chef Vira’s family recipe in this hands-on workshop. Oct. 10, 12-1:30 pm. $65. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com STEAK 101 Al Batson shares his secrets to cooking the perfect steak culminating in a full meal. Oct. 10, 5:45-8:15 pm. $100.

The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)

DRINK FRESH Enjoy fresh hop beers from Lumberbeard and breweries across the state. Oct. 11-12, 11:30 am-9 pm. Lumberbeard Brewing, 25 E. Third Ave. lumberbeardbrewing.com (509-381-5142)

HAYDEN HAUNT PUB CRAWL A Halloween-themed pub crawl beginning at the Hayden Chamber of Commerce and traveling to The Tipsy Pine, Flame and Cork, Rancho Viejo, Cochinito, and more. Oct. 12, 5-10 pm. $15. 3play/haydenhaunt

MALAYSIAN COOKING: NASI LEMAK Alice Koh teaches how to cook Nasi Lemak, considered a national Malaysian dish. Oct. 13, 2:30 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley. spokanelibrary.org

MUSIC

MUSIC FOR OBSERVATIONS A threepart music series pairing electronic music with the Jewett Observatory’s open viewings of the night sky. Oct. 12, 9 pm. Free. WSU Jewett Observatory, Jewett Observatory. jasoneanderson.net

SERVANTHOOD OF SONG A concert featuring the release of Dr. Stan McDaniel’s book Servanthood of Song, presenting selections of American church music from the colonial era to the present. Oct. 12, 2 & 7 pm. $15-$30. Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. Fifth. choralecda.com

PIANO MEN: GENERATIONS A celebration of Billy Joel and Elton John, brought to life by father-son duo Terry and Nick Davies. Oct. 13, 7-8:30 pm. $57-$81. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com

SPOKANE STRING QUARTET: BEETHOVEN, TATE & DVORAK The Spokane String Quartet opens its 45th anniversary season with “Pisachi” (Reveal) by Chickasaw classical composer Jerod Tate. Oct. 13, 3 pm. $20-$25. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague. foxtheaterspokane.org

GONZAGA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The orchestra, director Kevin Hekmatpanah, and soprano soloist Dawn Wolski perform “Dvorák: Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 From the New World” and “Virtuoso French Songs and Arias”. Oct. 14, 7:30 pm. $5-$24. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet. gonzaga.edu

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE: LIVE IN CONCERT Watch SpiderMan: Across the Spider-Verse on the big screen while musicians play the film’s score. Oct. 16, 7 pm. $39-$88. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SCHOOL’S OUT YOUTH & FAMILY ADVENTURES Guides share tips, tricks and trivia through family-friendly activities. Trips leave from a central location. Oct. 11, 9:30 am-2:30 pm. Mt. Spokane State Park, 26107 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. my.spokanecity.org/parksrec

ORCHID 101 Learn the basics of orchid care like how to water, when to fertilize and how to nurture new blooms. Oct. 12, 2-3 pm. $10. Ritters Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter.com

REFOREST SPOKANE DAY This annual event focuses on restoring the natural beauty and ecological balance of our region through hands-on volunteer tree planting efforts. Registration required. Oct. 12, 9 am-1 pm. Free. James T. Slavin

Conservation Area, 12900 S. Keeney Rd. landscouncil.org (509-477-4730)

SPOKANE VELOCITY VS. GREENVILLE TRIUMPH SC Regular season game. Oct. 12, 6 pm. $21-$41. ONE Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner. spokanevelocityfc.com

STEPTOE BUTTE SUNSET WALKING TOUR Walk or ride in the bus to the top of this unique geological feature. Fee includes guides, transportation, and trekking poles. Pre-registration required. Ages 13+. Oct. 12, 4-8 pm. $49. Steptoe Butte, Steptoe Butte State Park. my.spokanecity/parksrec

INLAND NORTHWEST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY Individuals who’ve made significant contributions to the local sports community are inducted into the 2024 Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame. Oct. 15, 4 pm. $31. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanesports.com (509-279-7000)

THEATER & DANCE

CAROUSEL A bustling carnival enlivens a small fishing village on the New England coastline. Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, a quiet girl who works in the mill, fall in love, marry and have a stormy relationship that leads to tragedy. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm through Oct. 13. (Oct. 12 show at 2 pm.) $15-$41. spokanecivictheatre.com

MACBETH A brave Scottish general receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he’ll become King of Scotland. Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne. Thu-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm through Oct. 27. $25$30. Stage Left Theater, 108 W. Third Ave. stagelefttheater.org

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) All 37 of Shakespeare’s plays are performed in 97 minutes featuring the Bard’s classic wit and comedy. Oct. 11-27; Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Lake City Playhouse, 1320 E. Garden. lakecityplayhouse.org

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE When a doctor discovers the water in a small Norwegian town is contaminated, he reports it, but ruins the town’s reputation. Oct. 11-Nov. 3; Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. (Oct. 12 and Nov. 6 at 2 pm.) $15-$29. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard. spokanecivictheatre.com

INTO THE WOODS A fairytale retelling through the eyes of a childless baker and his wife who are cursed by a witch. Oct. 11-20; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $20. Whitworth Cowles Auditorium, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave. whitworth.edu

MANDATE FOR MURDER A murder occurs during a mayoral candidate’s surprise birthday party on election night. Dinner at 6:30; show at 7:30 pm. Fri-Sat through Oct. 19. $12-$35. Northwoods Performing Arts Center, 3645 N. SR 211. northwoodsperformingarts.com

NEWSIES Jack Kelly and a band of newsboys stand up against powerful publishers. Oct. 11-27; Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. $12-$18. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia. spokanechildrenstheatre.org (509-328-4886)

WILLY WONKA Enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his candy bars. Oct. 11-27; Thu-Sat at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. $13-$15. TAC at the Lake, 22910 E. Appleway Ave. tacatthelake.com

...continued on page 38

Indicas for Autumn

Ease into autumn’s longer nights with these three relaxing indica strains

BY WILL MAUPIN

There is a lot more behind why one cannabis strain produces different effects than another than just whether it is an indica or a sativa, but those two categories are still the most commonly cited differentiators.

Indicas tend to produce more relaxing effects of the stereotypical lazy stoner variety. While that might not be ideal for everyone or every situation, those strains can come in handy this time of year when the sun is going down soon after the 9-to-5 workday comes to a close. Here are three popular indica strains for those looking to embrace relaxing autumn nights.

GRANDDADDY PURPLE

Like many cannabis strains, the exact origins and ancestors of Granddaddy Purple are unclear. What is agreed

upon however is that since first making waves in the early 2000s, this strain has become among the most dominant players in cannabis. Users on the cannabis industry website Leafly rate it No. 1 among all indica strains. Grown with high THC levels, Granddaddy Purple is known for its strong mental relaxation and physical pain relief, making it great for people looking to get off their feet after a long day on the job.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Northern Lights is among the elder statesmen of strains, with verified roots dating back into the 1980s, and rumors of going back a decade prior. Over a 40-year history, it has established itself as one of the top strains on the market. As the second-highest rated indica on Leafly, its popularity has not faded despite the proliferation of countless other strains now competing with it.

Known for its mix of sweet and spicy flavors, this overwhelmingly indica-dominant strain is popular on the medical market for those suffering from insomnia.

GRAPE APE

Unlike the other two strains on this list, and frankly most strains on the market today, Grape Ape is not a THC heavyweight. You’re more likely to find Grape Ape with a THC content around the 15% range than over 20%. It has strong sedative effects, but the relatively lower THC content makes it ideal for those who want to wake up rested rather than groggy. Think sleepy, but not overwhelmingly stoned.

As the name suggests, this is a very grape-flavorforward strain with hints of other fruits and berries in the mix as well. Making it a sweet, easy smoke for those looking for an overall easy high. n

Stock up for fall with some indica prerolls. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

GREEN ZONE

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.

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.

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SWAN LAKE A performance of the legendary ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s score. Oct. 13, 6-8 pm. $45-$95. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org (509-279-7000)

VISUAL ARTS

ARCHIE BRAY RESIDENT SHOW A showcase of established and emerging contemporary ceramic artists from the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. By appointment through Oct. 25. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. kolva-sullivangallery.com

The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac. Oct. 10, 5:30-6:30 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org

BOOK CLUB Discuss the book Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker by Patricia Meredith. Oct. 12, 10:30-11:30 am. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org

POETRY BEFORE DARK EWU MFA students lead discussions about craft elements, style and form in poetry. Every Saturday from noon-2 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org (509-279-0299)

DAVID FRENCH: POLITICS, CHRISTIANITY & MORAL FORMATION French joins Whitworth President Scott McQuilkin in a conversation addressing how to navigate polarization in America. Oct. 15, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. whitworth.edu/election-year

CHRIS KELSEY, MARK MOORE & GINA FREUEN Works by studio owners Mark Moore and Chris Kelsey, and exhibiting partner Gina Freuen. WedFri from 11 am-5 pm through Oct. 25. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net (509-863-9904)

COZETTE PHILLIPS: THE FIX Engaging within the context of modern ecological consciousness, Phillips’ artworks are reactions to tension between nature and humans. Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm through Oct. 26. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe. terrainspokane.com

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

WHAT’S IN A NAME? MARY, SHELLEY, AND MONSTERS Scholar Chris Valeo discusses Mary Shelley and her famous novel Frankenstein. Oct. 16, 6-7 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org

Sun-Thur 8am-10pm • Fri-Sat 8am-11pm | 2424 N. Monroe St • (509) 919-3470

WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

FRANKENSTEIN: PENETRATING THE SECRETS OF NATURE A traveling exhibition featuring anatomical drawings from the National Library of Medicine that may have inspired Mary Shelley when she wrote Frankenstein. Through Nov. 16, times vary. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main. spokanelibrary.org

ORBITING MISFITS Over 75 local and regional artists showcase art. Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm through Oct. 25. $10. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore.com

RALPH TEW & JONI MICHELS Ralph Tew displays acrylic pours and Joni Michels showcases art inspired by nature. Daily from 6 am-6 pm through Oct. 31. Free. Indaba Coffee Roasters, 518 W. Riverside Ave. rrafaofspokane.com

ART, SCIENCE OR FORENSICS Works by Robert Lloyd invite participants to explore AI by breaking down fears surrounding it. Oct. 11-Nov. 28; Fri from 1-5 pm, Sat from 1-4 pm. Free. Shotgun Studios, 1625 W. Water. shotgunstudiosspokane.com

PRINTMAKERS SHOW Prints by Jenn Ramsdell with additional work from the INK! Print Rally. Oct. 11-Nov. 2, TueSat from 10 am-6 pm. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second. emergecda.com

JULENE EWERT Vibrant, colorful art featuring flowers and the natural world. Oct. 17-Jan. 3; Mon-Fri from 8 am-5 pm Free. Moscow City Hall, 206 E. Third St. ci.moscow.id.us/230/ThirdStreet-Gallery

WORDS

AUTHOR TALK: TARA KARR ROBERTS The author discusses her debut novel Wild and Distant Seas. Ticket includes dessert, no-host bar and raffle items. Oct. 10, 7 pm. $25. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org

WOMEN WRITE SPOKANE Spokane novelists Carla Crujido, Leyna Krow and Sharma Shields meet in the Inland Northwest Special Collections room to discuss their books set in Spokane: The Strange Beautiful, Fire Season, and

GORDION AFTER KING MIDAS: ROMAN SOLDIERS, EASTERN WARS & A GOTHIC INVASION This lecture explores the mysteries of what was happening at Gordion long after the days of Midas and Alexander. Oct. 17, 6:30-8 pm. Free. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. archaeological.org/society/spokane

HAGAN CENTER SPEAKER: GABBY RIVERA Gabby Rivera is a Latinx writer and storyteller. She’s the author of Juliet Takes a Breath and the Marvel comic book about superhero America Chavez. Oct. 17, 9 am-3:30 pm. Free. Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. scc.spokane.edu

HISTORY HOUR: COEUR D’ALENE LIBRARY’S 145TH ANNIVERSARY In partnership with the Museum of North Idaho, David Townsend discusses the library’s history. Oct. 17, 5:30 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION IN CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION Whitworth hosts a conversation about Christian education, theological tradition and systemic injustice in those communities. Oct. 17, 4-9 pm. $30. Whitworth University, 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. whitworth.edu

SPOOKTACULAR STORYTIME Enjoy a slightly spooky storytime with not-soscary crafts and activities. Non-scary costumes welcome. Grades pre-K–3. Oct. 18, 3:30-4:30 pm. Free. Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne Rd. scld.org

WRITE TOGETHER: A COMMUNITY WRITING SESSION Bring your current writing project and your favorite writing tools and prepare to hunker down and write with local novelist and Writing Education Specialist Sharma Shields. Oct. 18, 10 am-noon. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390)

FRIENDS OF THE ARGONNE LIBRARY BOOK SALE Gently used books in all genres, plus used DVDs. Cash or check only. Oct. 19, 9 am-2:30 pm. Free. Zion Lutheran Church of Millwood, 8304 E. Buckeye Ave. scld.org n

EARN YOUR WINGS WITH A BITE ME T-SHIRT OCTOBER 11TH – 13TH

Earn 1,000 points while playing with your Coeur Rewards card between October 11th and October 13th and get one Dracula-inspired Bite Me T-shirt. Hurry, supplies won’t last long – get yours before it vanishes! So, rack up those points, stop by any kiosk to claim the offer, then go to the Coeur Rewards booth to pick up your exclusive tee.

Limit one redemption per Coeur Rewards member, while supplies last. See the Coeur Rewards booth, CDA Casino app or cdacasino.com for promotional rules.

Social Media Photo Contest See our social pages for details.