KENDRICK LAMAR, NICK CAVE + MORE PAGE 44
A D&D Jubilee
As Dungeons & Dragons celebrates 50 years of fantasy role-play, diving into the game locally has never been easier Page 18
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he most iconic fantasy role-playing game in the world, Dungeons & Dragons, celebrated its 50th birthday this year, but it’s the game’s millions of players who’ve been gifted something grand. Never has there been a better time to dive into this “nerdy” hobby filled with wizards, orcs, paladins and dragons. As we found out while putting together this week’s cover package celebrating DUNGEONS & DRAGON’S LOCAL SCENE, opportunities to learn and play the game have proliferated in the last five or so years. New game shops, “one-shot” single campaign sessions, public library programs, and even a D&D-inspired local brewery are proof we’re living in the game’s golden age. It’s all thanks, really, to two guys: Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The duo transported miniature wargames to a fantasy realm and crafted D&D’s first rules guide published in 1974. Though it took decades for the game to become the pop cultural force it is today, ask anyone in your social circle and it’s likely they have at least some inkling of what D&D’s about. Then, perhaps, invite them to join you on an epic quest.
— CHEY SCOTT, Editor
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WHY DO YOU LIKE PLAYING DUNGEONS & DRAGONS?
ANNA McKINNEY
You can do anything with the game, which is pretty exciting. Like, you can do something totally random and unexpected and veer the dungeon master off course a little bit.
AUBURN DOLAN-DERKS
I think it’s mostly about expression — you get to express yourself in ways you wouldn’t otherwise get to. And you get to work together to tell a story.
IRELAND SHOEMAKER
It’s such an immersive game that when you’re playing it, you really get to connect with your friends in a way that maybe you just don’t feel comfortable doing normally. Because you choose to be a whole new person, and you get to discover things about them that maybe you would never get to without playing the game.
BLAKE HERROD
It’s fun because it’s just adults playing pretend, right? Like we used to as kids. You can be a really cool warrior or a wizard. You can go on adventures. You also just build a smaller community, with your friends. That’s super important to me.
AIDEN SWANK
I usually run the game instead of playing. So, the best part for me is that I get to create and share all the different worlds that I have in my head. I get to introduce everyone to the different sets of creativity that are going through my own mind and develop the world around it, and then engage with what my friends are thinking about.
Back to the 18th Century
Demonizing “enemies” for political gain goes back to the very start of United States history
BY LAWRENCE B.A. HATTER
While FDR once famously said that Americans have “nothing to fear, but fear itself,” President-elect Donald Trump won a second term in the White House by weaponizing fear against immigrants. In the closing weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign, the GOP candidate decried the “greatest invasion of history” by pet-eating rapists, murderers and the criminally insane, who he erroneously claimed were responsible for an unprecedented crime wave sweeping the nation.
The president-elect promises to enact his marquee policy of mass deportations beginning
on Day 1 of his second administration.
Though Presidentelect Donald Trump is not usually one to be discouraged by legal niceties, he has nevertheless sought to justify his deportations by citing a controversial piece of 18th-century legislation that was part of a broader legislative campaign to silence political dissent in the United States. Congress passed the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as part of the hyper-partisan struggle between John Adams’ Federalist Party and Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party. Though the Founders had always disagreed about the nature of the American Revolution, their conflicting views on democracy and governance came into clearer relief after the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789.
One remnant of the presidency of John Adams is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Although never put to use, it remains on the books to this day. GILBERT STUART PAINTING / PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGE
The violent excesses of the radical French Revolution horrified John Adams and his Federalist Party. By contrast, Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican Party were far more sympathetic to the republican revolution unfolding in France. The outbreak of the Wars of the French Revolution between the French Republic and Great Britain in 1793 raised the stakes in American politics as Democratic-Republicans supported their sister republic, and Federalists backed the British.
George Washington’s administration tried to steer a neutral course between Britain and France, which Jefferson and his supporters saw as a betrayal of the 1778 French alliance that had helped the United States to win its independence. But after John Adams won the election of 1796, Franco-American relations deteriorated. French privateers preyed upon American merchant ships, while French officials snubbed the American diplomats sent to Paris to resolve the issue, demanding bribes before they would agree to discuss U.S. grievances. With President John Adams’ support, Congress authorized limited naval warfare against France, beginning the so-called “Quasi-War” in July 1798.
Congress passed the Alien Enemy Act in the context of the political conflict between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans over the Quasi-War. The Federalist-controlled Congress passed a series of laws, known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, that were designed to silence political opposition to the conflict with France by outlawing criticism of the government and restricting access to citizenship for recent immigrants to the United States.
“In
the late-18th century, the U.S. government effectively identified Irish
people as enemies of the state.”
The Federalists targeted resident aliens because they tended to support their Democratic-Republican opponents. Federalists were particularly suspicious of Irish republicans, many of whom had fled Ireland after a failed rebellion against British rule in 1798. Today, about 10% of U.S. citizens proudly claim Irish heritage. In the late18th century, the U.S. government effectively identified Irish people as enemies of the state.
The Alien Enemies Act itself only applied in the event of war or invasion by a foreign country. Under these specific circumstances, the president had the authority to detain or deport citizens or subjects of the hostile nation residing in the United States. But the president’s authority was not unilateral. The law outlined a procedure for arrest and deportation of enemy aliens that was subject to federal and state courts. The Adams administration never used the Alien Enemies Act because Congress did not declare war against France. Nevertheless, the act remained on the books and was invoked by the U.S. government to justify the shameful internment of German, Italian and Japanese nationals in World War II.
Despite the hyperbole of the campaign trail, the United States is not at war. This is not a matter of opinion; it is a legal principle. Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution empowers Congress to declare war. Though numerous presidents have launched military adventures since WWII, Congress has not declared war since 1942.
Whether you agree with mass deportations or not, the Alien Enemies Act does not apply during peacetime. But understanding the history of the act does help us to recognize how politicians have demonized different ethnic and racial groups to further their own political ambitions. From the Federalist Party’s demonization of Irish people in the 1790s to the GOP’s fixation on Latino migrants in the 2020s, it is a sad truth that politicians are all too quick to amass political capital by attacking the most vulnerable members of our society. n
Lawrence B.A. Hatter is an award-winning author and associate professor of early American history at Washington State University. These views are his own and do not reflect those of WSU.
STORM BREAKER
Persistent rain damages Spokane’s award-winning stormwater system before it’s fully operational
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Under a steady drizzle of rain, Spokane city officials gathered with camera crews, state representatives and beloved river mascot Ribby the Redband Trout on Nov. 4 to receive the Governor’s Smart Communities Award for the new Cochran Basin stormwater improvement projects in north Spokane.
Five Cochran Basin stormwater improvement projects have been in the works since 2017. In total, they have cost about $25.5 million, most of which came from the Washington state Department of Ecology.
The award from the governor was a little premature, since the projects aren’t scheduled to become fully functional until spring 2025.
The work has centered on the TJ Meenach Bridge and Downriver Park, low areas where water from 5,000 acres of north Spokane naturally collects on its way to the Spokane River. The projects aim to keep stormwater pollutants — like car oil and pesticides — out of the river by catching, trapping or treating runoff from rain and melting snow.
A little over a week after the award ceremony, one of those projects faced its first failure.
An earthen wall supporting a stormwater catchment site next to the TJ Meenach Bridge partially collapsed on Nov. 13. The catchment site was one of the projects included in the $3.6 million TJ Meenach Drive street reconstruction project.
Some sediment and untreated stormwater was caught and collected by the new swales — specially bioengineered reservoirs — below the catchment. But some made it into the Spokane River by about 12:50 pm that day, temporarily increasing the river’s turbidity in the affected area, says Kirstin Davis, communications manager for Spokane Public Works.
Increased turbidity (how many particles are in a body of water) damages aquatic ecosystems by introducing pollutants and decreasing oxygen levels.
The small collapse occurred because an unusual amount of rain in November overwhelmed a system that isn’t totally online yet, Davis says.
“It’s kinda like the house is built, but we haven’t turned on the furnace and it’s not livable yet,” she says.
Crews haven’t been able to start fixing the wall because of continued rain, which measured well over 4 inches by the end of the month.
“When it first happened, we had crews getting down in there and trying to, for a lack of a better term, ‘plug the hole’ with sandbags,” Davis says. “But the pressure was so high that the sandbags just sucked right through. So it just wasn’t gonna be possible to do anything, and we certainly didn’t want to start excavating when things are already compromised.”
Since the ground will freeze over during the winter, true repairs won’t be made until spring at the earliest, Davis says.
WHEN IT RAINS…
Spokane got 1.86 inches of rain in the first 13 days of November.
That’s an inch more than the average amount of rainfall for the first two weeks of November.
An inch might not seem like all that much. But an inch of rain over the entire 5,000-acre Cochran Basin
A catchment near Downriver Park was damaged after heavy rainfall caused an earthen wall to collapse on Nov. 13. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
NEWS | INFRASTUCTURE
“STORM BREAKER,” CONTINUED...
drainage area, which stretches from Market Street and Francis Avenue to the TJ Meenach Bridge, adds up.
In fact, it’s nearly 136 million more gallons of runoff than usual, according to calculations by the U.S. Geological Survey. That means more than 200 million gallons of stormwater were surging through north Spokane’s underground stormwater system between Nov. 1 and Nov. 13.
The beating heart of the new Cochran Basin stormwater projects is supposed to be a pump station at the top of the TJ Meenach hill. Once the station is operational, it’ll be able to triage large amounts of runoff into three separate runoff systems, Davis says.
“It’s the brain,” she says. “It can be monitored at all times, so when our engineers are watching the flow, they are able to control what’s happening based on either what’s coming through or what is forecasted.”
The three different places for the water to go are the treatment ponds at the new Downriver Disc Golf Course, the catchment and swales next to the bridge, and, if worse comes to worst, a combined sewer overflow outfall pipe that allows untreated water to discharge straight into the river, Davis says.
Outfall pipes used to be the only discharge option for stormwater, says Andy Dunau, the former executive director of the Spokane River Forum. Originally, Spokane had about 130 combined sewer and stormwater outfall drains, similar to other older cities. But as water quality standards go up, outfall drains around the country are being replaced.
…IT POURS
On Nov. 1, the brain of the Cochran Basin stormwater system ran and passed its first test. But the pumps were not intended to fully come online until next spring, Davis says. The collapse on Nov. 13 interrupted another test that was planned for two days later.
After the first test, stormwater was only pouring into the overflow catchment between the bridge and the Downriver
Park parking lot.
The catchment is a shallow basin with a cement bottom and soil walls reinforced by rocks. It’s fed by a drain pipe,and has a handful of large boulders spaced out in front of the pipe to slow the outflowing water.
The catchment funnels water toward a channel carved into the earthen wall. Water is supposed to flow down that channel and into three large depressions in the earth below, called swales.
These swales are filled with native plants, plus bioengineered soil that is especially good at filtering out pollutants. As the water sits in these swales, it is purified as it percolates through the soil, and eventually becomes safe and healthy groundwater.
That’s the design, at least. But with the unexpected amount of water, the small channel designed to guide the drainage wasn’t strong enough. Water eventually forged its own, much larger path down the small hillside, dragging earth along with it.
Plenty of that water and dirt did deposit in the swales as intended, which Davis says is a major win for the system. But millions of gallons of muddy water poured over the riverbank.
“It’s obviously disappointing that it happened and it’s a setback, but [the system] also did what it was supposed to do in spite of it not being done,” she says. “It could’ve been much, much worse.”
The new Cochran Basin projects are funded by and permitted through the state Department of Ecology. When the collapse happened, the city notified Ecology and submitted the required incident reports, says Colleen Keltz, communications manager for Ecology’s water quality department. Ecology staff visited the site of the breach during the last week of November and are working with the city to schedule repairs and review water quality samples.
NEXT STEPS
The city won’t know how much it will cost to repair the hillside until staff decide
how to repair it.
“We need time to look at the design and see if we need to change it,” Davis says. Engineers may decide to use different materials or design strategies to make the catchment area stronger than before, even though Davis says this particular situation would theoretically never happen again once the pump system is operational. Moody spring weather could lengthen the repair process as it would any other construction, but runoff should not be an issue this spring. The pump system should be in place by the heavy runoff season to completely divert stormwater away from the catchment area until repairs are complete, Davis says.
Corrective construction could block the main entrance to the Downriver Park parking lot. But if that’s the case, the city would adjust access to parking and maintain access to the river, which is a very popular recreation spot during the warm months. n
elizab@inlander.com
Mud and debris from a damaged catchment near Downriver Park spilled into nearby swales. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
Combating Crypto Scams
Spokane City Council wants the state to protect cryptocurrency users. Plus, illegally dumping garbage is a steeper crime; and Spokane gets big bucks for infrastructure.
BY INLANDER STAFF
In 2023, Washington reported the highest rate of cryptocurrency imposter scams to the Federal Trade Commission of any state. On Dec. 2, the Spokane City Council passed a resolution supporting a change to state law that would create more protections for consumers who use virtual currency kiosks. According to the resolution, bad actors often use social media to build trust with victims and then ask them to transfer large amounts of cryptocurrency virtually. Cryptocurrency isn’t insured by the United States and is nearly impossible to recover if lost to fraud. The resolution supports passing state legislation that would limit the amount of money consumers can withdraw from online kiosks and would regulate fees and disclosures more closely. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
DON’T DUMP
By the end of November, Spokane’s code enforcement team had collected 1.8 million pounds of trash illegally dumped around the city this year. On Nov. 25, the City Council unanimously voted to replace the city’s litter and rubbish code with the state’s new litter law that includes criminal charges for dumping large amounts of litter. Thanks to House Bill 2207, which was passed into law earlier this year, litter that takes up less than 1 cubic foot is a Class 3 civil infraction with a potential fine of $50, litter between 1 cubic foot and 10 cubic yards can be charged as a misdemeanor, and dumping more than 10 cubic yards of litter is considered a gross misdemeanor. The law was prompted by concerns that illegal dumping is expensive for property owners and, since it often includes hazardous materials, can irrevocably damage the environment. Though the city code change passed unanimously, City Council members Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart worried that the city will not have the resources to enforce the law, and that the Brown administration may not enforce it equally between businesses and homeless encampments. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST
Over the past three years, more than 66,000 transportation projects — 1,609 in Washington — have been funded through the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress. In Spokane County, about $247 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been spent on 90 projects, most of which included updates to our roads and bridges. Notably, Spokane International Airport received nearly $50 million to build a new passenger terminal and expand Concourse C. The Safe Streets and Roads for All project, which will build bike lanes, ADA ramps, shared-use pathways and crosswalk improvements, is another project partially funded ($9.6 million) by these federal grants. “Washingtonians are seeing many benefits from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, from a new passenger terminal at Spokane International Airport to helping replace the outdated I-5 bridge, to billions in new energy grid upgrades, to restoring salmon habitat, to major new port investments that will boost exports and local jobs,” says U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington. In total, Washington has received nearly $10 billion from the infrastructure law. (COLTON RASANEN) n
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United or Divided
Transition discussions continue as Spokane decides whether to join regional 911 center
BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL
As Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown’s administration wraps up its first year, one of the major questions that remains unanswered is whether the Spokane Police Department will join the regional 911 dispatch center.
Spokane Regional Emergency Communications, or SREC (pronounced “shrek”), was created as a public development authority in 2018 to handle all of the 911 calls in the area, and now does so for 21 of the 22 police and fire agencies in Spokane County.
In April, the SREC governing board gave Brown a one-month deadline to make a decision: Would the Spokane Police Department join SREC, as the Spokane Fire Department did in 2022, or would the city create its own primary “public safety answering point” to handle city fire and police calls separately?
Brown asked for a three-month extension, during which the city hired a consultant to examine SREC’s structure and finances. The report was released in August, and the SREC board and Brown’s team agreed to form a transition committee to negotiate details for the police department to join.
Since then, the transition committee has met three times to address the city’s concerns with governance, finance, and service levels at SREC, but no agreement has been reached.
SREC’s plans to build or buy a new facility and upgrade all agencies to a new computer-aided dispatch system (both of which are currently underway) have increased the pressure to get an answer, since the costs will be affected.
The transition committee’s next closed-door meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12.
GOVERNANCE
First and foremost, the city requested more voting power over SREC. About 60% of all 911 calls in
the county originate inside Spokane city limits. Currently, Spokane has SREC board seats for the city administrator and fire chief. Seven other voting board members represent various EMS, fire, and law enforcement agencies, the county and small cities. There’s also one nonvoting citizen member. All votes require a 5/7 majority to pass.
In mid-October, the city suggested a new governance model that would remove administrators from the SREC board, leaving only fire, EMS and police representatives in charge of operational decisions. The proposal also would have created an executive committee, made of elected officials from the county and various cities, to make financial decisions.
However, other members of the SREC board didn’t share an appetite for adding elected officials to their ranks. Instead, they recommended that the Board of County Commissioners add the Spokane police chief, as originally envisioned.
On Nov. 12, three of the five Spokane County commissioners agreed to add the city’s police chief, should the police department join SREC, meaning the city would have three of 10 voting seats.
From the perspective of the SREC board and county commissioners, that means the governance portion of the discussion is settled, says Cody Rohrbach, the SREC board chair.
“The intent of the governance was really to put those closest to public safety at the table,” says Rohrbach, the Spokane Fire District 3 fire chief who holds the board’s seat for the EMS and Trauma Care Council. “The tides can change based on election cycles, but the prioritization of public safety from those closest to that — police chiefs and fire chiefs — will remain consistent.”
But the city still believes elected officials need more oversight, says Maggie Yates, Spokane’s deputy city administrator, who serves on the SREC board and transition committee.
“There isn’t a mechanism right now for elected
officials to provide oversight and input into how SREC is allocating taxpayer resources,” Yates says. “From our perspective that is something we still need to talk about, but doesn’t stop us from talking about the other items that are still on the table.”
County Commissioner Mary Kuney, who helped create SREC in 2018, says politicians were intentionally left off the board.
“We really tried hard to take the politics out of this because it should not be a political situation when we’re dealing with public safety,” Kuney says. “I understand the mayor’s thought, in that she wants more financial control, but I think we can do that by putting in some procedures.”
The city and county both have administrators on the SREC board and financial staff on the finance committee. Kuney suggests those staffers can schedule regular times to report back to their elected officials with any budget updates.
FINANCE AND SERVICE LEVELS
With little progress made so far, Brown sent a letter to Spokane County CEO Scott Simmons in mid-November asking to bring in a mediator for the transition meetings.
The SREC board rejected that idea during its Nov. 21 meeting.
“This is never going to end. Are we negotiating, or are they joining SREC?” Spokane Valley Fire Chief Frank Soto Jr. asked during the meeting. “You’re joining a county asset, just like all the rest of us. … If this is not a negotiation, then it’s time — pardon the expression — poop or get off the pot.”
Soto warned that other agencies would ask for more control if Spokane is allowed to negotiate its own terms. Indeed, the Spokane Valley City Council has drafted a letter to ask for a SREC board seat for its city administration, but last week opted to delay sending it until SREC and Spokane finalize their discussion.
The remaining questions between Spokane and SREC center on financing and services.
SREC is funded by a countywide 0.1% public safety sales tax, a 911 excise tax that charges Spokane County residents $0.95 per month on their phone bills, and user fees charged to each member agency based on its call volume.
The city is charged about $2.5 million per year in user fees to have SREC handle fire department calls, Yates says.
Before the next transition meeting, the city has been asked to draft a service level agreement spelling out how many dispatchers and which work model would be expected to meet the needs of the police department.
Once SREC has that information, Rohrbach says the center can provide a cost estimate for the police department’s user fees.
“To be honest I feel like it’s the first time in five years where we’ve sat down with the intent to solve it,” Rohrbach says.
The city has repeatedly questioned why SREC charges user fees when it has built up reserves of roughly $33 million in five years for a new building that could instead be paid for with bonds, and potentially reduce or eliminate the need for user fees.
SREC has maintained that user fees pay for operations, while some of the tax revenue goes into the reserve fund, and at least $14 million of the reserve was transferred over from Spokane County at the end of 2021 and in early 2022.
Partly due to the city’s suggestions, SREC may stop looking to build something new: The center is currently negotiating the purchase of an existing building. The final sales details likely won’t be clear until the end of the month, but it appears the purchase could be significantly cheaper than new construction.
If the city ultimately strikes out on its own, it could ask for its fair apportionment of the 0.1% countywide sales tax, which brings in more than $15 million per year.
Whether the city could negotiate its share based on population (about 42%) or where the tax is collected (about 48%), it’s not clear whether that $6 million to $7 million a year would be enough for the city to operate its own call center.
“They currently benefit more given their disproportionate amount of work,” Rohrbach says. “I strongly believe we’re better together and it’s in their best financial interest [to join]. … If both parties continue in good faith, I think we’ll get to a decision sooner than later.” n
samanthaw@inlander.com
READER’S THEATER
Minister of Sorrow, a new work by local playwright Pam Kingsley, is set when intrepid packhorse librarians traversed eastern Kentucky
BY E.J. IANNELLI
Between 1935 and 1943, nearly 100,000 residents of rural Kentucky had a unique method of getting entertainment and information delivered to their door.
It came by horse.
The Pack Horse Library Project, as it was formally known, was one of the many Depressionera programs designed to put people to work while also serving that now passé concept of the greater good. It emerged out of the same set of New Deal initiatives that codified Social Security, the 40-hour workweek and the national minimum wage.
The program stood out not only because of its equestrian delivery mode — a must in the steep, undeveloped backwoods of Appalachia — but because it was largely woman-led. Of the roughly 200 individuals employed by the project, most were women, not least the riders who braved the 100-mile weekly routes across eastern Kentucky in all seasons.
When local playwright Pam Kingsley first came across the history of these “packsaddle librarians” as part of a book club reading, she was fascinated by the project’s
history and started researching it further. The trip “down this rabbit hole,” as she describes it, eventually resulted in her new play, Minister of Sorrow, which premieres this weekend at Stage Left Theater.
The seeds of this full-length work were first sown during Stage Left’s streaming series, Masterpiece Monologues. In a spirit similar to the Pack Horse Library Project, the series was one of the theater’s efforts to keep creators working and audiences entertained during widespread COVID shutdowns. For her contribution, Kingsley wrote an eight-minute piece revolving around a fictional packhorse librarian who must venture out on a cold, rainy day in November.
“And then from there,” she says, “I couldn’t let her go.”
As Kingsley began crafting a fuller, more nuanced story around that character, she began developing themes around the phrase that lent the play its name. It comes from a line in “The Somnambulist,” a William Wordsworth poem inspired by the tragic medieval romance of the knight errant Sir Eglamore and his wife, Lady Emma.
The sleepwalker of the poem’s title is Lady Emma herself, whom Eglamore loves but neglects in the service of his noble adventures. Desperately lovesick and fatigued, Emma walks in a dreamlike state to a nearby waterfall, Aira Force, where the sad twist of the legend takes place.
“In the poem, ‘minister of sorrow’ refers to a man
who has lost love and closed himself up from the world. And that kind of happens in my play. But also there are things called ministries of sorrow in which a person of faith goes out to others and ministers to them in their times of tribulation,” Kingsley says.
“I felt, wow, I’ve got these two things. On the one hand, giving comfort, and on the other hand, isolation.”
The basic framework of Kingsley’s play-in-progress was her packhorse librarian, Emma Pace, setting out to visit her estranged husband, Harlan Cahill. A shared tragedy has caused them to seek solace in two very different worlds: Emma in the books that she is fond of quoting and distributes to grateful Kentuckians, Harlan in a punitive, prescriptive form of religion.
“The themes really hit home personally for me,” says Sarah Dahmen, director of this inaugural run. “That ‘ministry’ that Emma has is also the way we share stories in community. Her carrying these books to the people in Appalachia is actually creating community through making stories more accessible — and the hope that comes with that too.”
Through further workshopping with Spokane Playwrights Laboratory in 2022, Kingsley refined those core ideas and events, portraying them by means of flashbacks and incidental characters that Emma channels. With the
Pam Kingsley
help of that feedback, she also had a eureka moment where the fate of one of those characters became clear.
Hazel Bean, who ran lights for the Spokane Playwrights Laboratory staged reading, recalls how she “fell in love with the story, fell in love with the character” and resolved to audition for the role of Emma once the play got a full-length treatment.
After landing the part, she and Dahmen visited rural communities around the Spokane area to better ground her in the character. They sang hymns with the congregation of a country church, walked railroad tracks together and got hands-on experience with tying a saddle.
“I’m a suburban girl, so I had not met too many horses before,” Bean says, laughing. “It was a great experience for me to just get a feel for the bonds that Emma would have had with her horse, Blue Moon, and for being out there in the woods with this companion.”
True to its origins, Minister of Sorrow very much remains a single-actor piece with a weighty line load. But Emma’s storytelling is aided by an onstage musician who provides a kind of live soundtrack using evocative songs, such as the ballads “Lord Remember Me” and “Omie Wise.” In Kingsley’s script, the musician is simply dubbed the Muse. The role is played in this production by multi-instrumentalist Joey Quintana.
“It’s just amazing how much having a little underscoring from the Muse in those moments fills you with a new sense of purpose and a new motivation in these scenes. It’s completely transformative, I think, for the play itself. Music is so much a part of the Appalachian mountain range and those communities that it’s integral to this piece as well,” Bean says.
“What’s so beautiful about music is that, without any words, it can change how we feel in a moment. It can actually bring our hearts down into a really sober, somber, meaningful place and then with the flip of a switch, it can go back into this light, sunny morning,” adds Dahmen.
Although this nearly three-week run marks what Kingsley considers to be Minister of Sorrow’s “big unveiling,” an earlier iteration of the expanded play met with success. In the summer of 2022, around the time that it was being workshopped by Spokane Playwrights Laboratory, Kingsley submitted her script to the Appalachian Playwriting Festival in North Carolina.
It was selected as the winning entry and in May of this year opened the 77th season at Parkway Playhouse near Asheville, North Carolina — the same community, incidentally, that would be catastrophically damaged by Hurricane Helene six months later.
Because of those meaningful connections to people and place, both past and present, Dahmen sees Minister of Sorrow as “bridging the gap” between urban and rural communities.
“Even though this is set in Appalachia in the 1930s, I feel like it really transcends to the beauty of rural America and the people that live there now. It’s through that sharing of stories that we challenge how we feel and how we think and about other people and how we connect to our feelings and to bigger-picture themes,” she says.
“For all of us, going out into the nooks and crannies of the space in which we live and sharing something of ourselves with others is very important right now. I hope a little of that is taken away by audiences who come to see the play,” Kingsley adds.
“Frankly, I just want them to sit a spell and listen to some storytelling.” n
Minister of Sorrow • Dec. 6-22; Thu-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm • $25-$30 • Stage Left Theater • 108 W. Third Ave. • stagelefttheater.org • 509-838-9727
Open
Experience over 80 world-famous courses, lifelike aboutGOLFTM simulators, and virtual sports for all skill levels. Comfortable lounge seating, food and drink service, and video gaming machines make it more than golf – it’s an entertainment destination!
Located adjacent to the Nighthawk Lounge in the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel.
Joey Quintana plays “The Muse.”
A Thing for Bing
Spokane’s Bing Crosby Advocates spread the good word of the city’s famous former resident
BY MADISON PEARSON
In the early 1910s, a quaint house at 508 E. Sharp Ave. in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood was the home of someone who’d become one of the biggest multimedia stars of the 20th century.
Little Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. ran around the neighborhood playing cops and robbers and other games, later attending Gonzaga High School and Gonzaga University alongside many of his peers. He eventually stopped going by Harry, adopted the nickname Bing, and at one point began playing drums with a few local bands. Shortly after dropping out of college three years in, he started playing music with his friend Al Rinker at the Clemmer Theatre in downtown Spokane.
Crosby’s childhood home still stands on Sharp Avenue and since 2014 has served as a museum showcasing his achievements and lasting impact on the entertainment industry. The pale yellow-colored building also serves as a hub for the Bing Crosby Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Crosby’s legacy.
“The group’s original purpose was to preserve the Met Theater downtown,” says David Reynolds, its president. “They actually worked in conjunction with Kathryn Crosby, Bing’s second wife, to raise money and get the name changed to the Bing Crosby Theater.”
The theater was officially renamed in 2006 after a two-year campaign to revive it.
December 6 - 22
Coeur d’ Alene, ID
“Our focus changed [after that], and now our mission is to celebrate and preserve Bing’s legacy, his life, and really showcase his connections to Spokane,” Reynolds says. “And time and time again we realize that a lot of people don’t know about his connection to Spokane.”
In 1925, Rinker and Crosby left Spokane behind, seeking fame and fortune in Hollywood. That decision ultimately resulted in the boy from Spokane receiving an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and 41 No. 1 hits, including that timeless holiday classic “White Christmas.”
The theater where he got his start — and which now bears his name — hosts an annual film festival showcasing the movies that propelled Crosby into stardom. This year’s Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival happens on Saturday, Dec. 7. On the slate is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and Frank
Spokane will always love Bing Crosby.
Capra’s Here Comes the Groom, bookended by two showings of White Christmas. The festival also features themed raffle baskets with all proceeds benefiting the Bing Crosby Advocates and their mission.
Director Capra’s daughter-in-law Carol Capra, who serves as treasurer of the Bing Crosby Advocates, will introduce Here Comes the Groom, and Spokane historian Tom McArthur will talk about Crosby’s history in the Lilac City.
Though most of the advocates’ work takes place during winter to prepare for the holiday film festival, it’s a yearround effort.
Members volunteer as docents at the Bing Crosby House Museum every weekend, sharing about Crosby’s life as well as listening to stories from visitors who have connections to the star.
Reynolds says people come from all over to visit the museum. Recently, visitors from as far as Greece and the East Coast came to see artifacts from Bing’s career and to walk the hallways of his childhood home.
Next year, Reynolds says the Bing Crosby Advocates’ focus will shift as the group expands further than ever before. Multiple members are hoping to teach young kids about Crosby through outreach events, such as reenactments of moments from his life in Spokane and guided walking tours of significant spots.
“It’s kind of launching into more things, like working more directly with Gonzaga,” Reynolds says. “Bing loved Gonzaga and championed the university throughout his entire life and career. You can still see it and feel his connection to the world. So part of what we’re trying to do is really kind of reinforce that he was from Spokane, he loved Spokane, he loved Gonzaga, and that this neighborhood shaped his values.”
“Generation after generation, people love Bing,” he continues. “He meant so much to so many people, and we’re here to make sure that continues.” n
Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival • Sat, Dec. 7 from 11 am9 pm • $20; free for ages 17 and under • Bing Crosby Theater • 901 W. Sprague Ave. • bingcrosbyadvocates.org
Two of Bing’s non-holiday films are showing this year alongside his beloved classic, White Christmas.
D&D Rolls a 50
Five years ago, I wrote an Inlander cover story about Dungeons & Dragons’ “unlikely resurgence” as the famous fantasy roleplaying game wrapped up its 45th year. Thanks to plenty of popculture buzz at the time (Stranger Things, Critical Role), D&D’s reputation had quickly evolved from nerdy to cool.
If we collectively thought the storydriven game centered on adventure, magic and battle with dragons, mindflayers, and other fearsome beasts was peaking then, it’s still only getting cooler. It’s estimated there are more than 50 million players worldwide, according to the game’s publisher, Wizards of the Coast. Add dozens of popular live gameplay streams, a 2023 blockbuster movie and Netflix’s hit animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina (based on Critical Role’s first campaign, with a second series in the works), plus countless opportunities to play in person and online, and players today are as rich as an adult red dragon atop its treasure mound.
Here in the Inland Northwest, opportunities to learn D&D and meet fellow players have also ballooned, with new shops like Sage’s Portal and Bear Totem joining the ranks of Merlyn’s, the Gamer’s Haven, the Comic Book Shop and their ilk, plus a D&D-inspired local brewery, Natural 20 Brewing Co.
As the game closes out its 50th year, our team set out to capture Dungeons & Dragons’ lasting local impact while also raising a toast to the past and anticipating another 50 years of fantasy fun.
— CHEY SCOTT, Inlander Editor, (and Level 6 human wizard necromancer)
Dungeon Dungeon Enter the Enter the
To truly understand the Dungeons & Dragons hype, I played through my first-ever campaign at Sage’s Portal
BY COLTON RASANEN
t’s a calm fall afternoon as my two companions and I begin our trek through Neverwinter Wood.
We’re on the way to Phalandin, but soon find ourselves stuck when two dead horses block our path. As we begin to investigate the scene, we realize almost immediately that it’s a trap.
“You step on a branch and hear a loud crrrraacckk alerting the goblins waiting on either side of the road,” says Camie Anderson, our dungeon master. “You’re surrounded.”
To the north are four small goblins equipped with bows and arrows. To the south, three more, including a very large one. Though I speak the goblins’ native tongue (mostly thanks to my years of hunting the creatures down), I’m unable to communicate with them through their bloodlust.
“You have food, you have cart — there might be gold in there!” Anderson says in a shrill voice imitating what goblins may sound like.
At this point, it’s fight or be plundered.
Luckily, our party is composed of the coolest characters in all of Faerûn. I’m a Drow (dark elf) ranger named Fred Jones who’s just as proficient at dual-wielding a pair of shortswords as I am at sharpshooting from my longbow. I’m joined by an Elven wizard who can burn her enemies to a crisp with a simple fireball spell, and a 3-foot-tall Forest Gnome bard who can convince the forest creatures to do her bidding.
The three of us, all actually humans in Spokane, begin the battle by rolling our 20-sided die — d20 for short — in the newly opened basement area (an apt place to play Dungeons & Dragons) of Sage’s Portal, a game shop in the
East Central area. The characters we’re role-playing each have a set of unique skills and proficiencies, but how they use those abilities is fully our call.
“Anybody can play D&D and enjoy it, as long as they’re willing to put aside that sense of seriousness and they’re willing to be a little silly,” Anderson says. “We’re literally just sitting around rolling dice and telling a story — I mean ultimately it’s this really cool form of collaborative storytelling, right?”
Three sparkly acrylic d20 clatter across the sturdy wooden table determining our turn order. Anderson rolls a fourth die secretly to determine when the goblins can attack us. It must’ve been a high roll, as all seven goblins swarm before I can move, even though I roll a 16 for what’s called the initiative roll.
As our party begins to fight back the goblin ambush, we each utilize our unique equipment and abilities in battle. For example, since I have two shortswords, I attack a goblin twice on my first turn, leaving it in ribbons at my feet. My Forest Gnome companion, Tulsi Pigroot, is able to communicate with small beasts so she persuades the surrounding squirrels to hurl things at the goblins as a distraction. It works. When three goblins north of us are paying attention to the squirrels, we have just enough time to fight back our biggest foe. It takes a few separate attacks, but finally, hiding behind the ox cart, I nock back an arrow and hope to deliver the final blow.
“Where would you like to aim at?” Anderson asks me.
“Right between its eyes,” I respond smugly.
“OK, roll for damage,” she says.
I roll a five, adding to my +7 attack bonus and +5 weapon bonus, for a total of 17 damage points. And just like that, my arrow flies directly into the center of the creature’s skull, knocking out the biggest threat to our party’s safety.
Over the next hour, we finish off the other goblins, leaving one alive out of pity. I’m able to reason with the
Dungeon Master Camie Anderson, far left, teaches newbies how to play Dungeons & Dragons in just three hours. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ’
Miniature Mayhem Miniature Mayhem
Bear Totem’s massive Dungeons & Dragons game piece collection lets players fully immerse inside a story-driven fantasy world
BY CHEY SCOTT
Adventure up a flight of narrow wooden stairs to the second floor of the historic Hillyard United Building and you’ll meet an unusual sight: hundreds upon hundreds of fantastical plastic beings.
smaller than a fingernail that can populate a realistically bustling village outpost in the infinitely creative tabletop role-playing experience that is Dungeons & Dragons
Bear Totem Table & Tankard
Carefully grouped along shelves stretching from floor to ceiling are dragons in every size and color, their wings frozen mid-flight. A tentacled beast from the deep emerges from one spot, while above a fiery phoenix’s red-orange wings are outspread above other elemental forces of nature. Hordes of trolls, ogres, orcs, kobolds, bugbears, demons, golems, goblins and wolves are in evil company alongside several menacing beholders — huge floating eyeballs with gaping mouths of needle-sharp teeth.
5016 N. Market St. (second floor)
Open Tue-Sat from 11 am-10 pm
Instagram: @beartotemspokane 509-953-0652
All of these creatures reside inside Bear Totem Table & Tankard, a game shop that opened in northeast Spokane a little over a year ago and boasts what’s undoubtedly the area’s biggest collection of D&D miniatures. The store has a gamepiece for nearly all of D&D’s 2,000+ officially defined creatures, plus custom creations and minis borrowed from other tabletop games like Pathfinder
“I’m close to having a miniature for everything,” Bear Totem owner Seth Miller says. “Even the weird stuff, like if you want a boar animal companion.”
characters from gnome bards to elven rogues; dragonborn artificers to human pirate wizards.
“So say you’re playing a male character, and they have like a medium set of armor on,” Miller says. “OK — here’s 40 miniatures. Pick something you kind of feel like would work.”
Lucky for the rest of us, he’s willing to share: “We just get so much more joy out of sharing it than actually using it.”
Dispersed among these fearsome beasts are some friendly and familiar forces, too, like teeny tiny chickens
Besides its massive range of Dungeons & Dragons’ allies and foes, Bear Totem has hundreds more tiny figures, each just an inch or two high, to represent players’ unique
Local dungeon masters, or DMs, and their players are welcome to use pieces from Bear Totem’s massive mini library to run campaigns in the store for a modest fee of just $6 per person. Custom gaming tables outfitted with felt-covered tops and drink holders — even one with a flat digital screen for DMs to load custom game maps — are set up throughout the cozy space, which also hosts other tabletop role-playing games plus card games like Magic: The Gathering
Thousands of miniatures fill Bear Totem’s library. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS
Grab some snacks, a pint of fresh beer or cider on tap at the counter and settle in.
n Dungeons & Dragons’ modern age, when virtually questing with far-flung friends has never been easier thanks to online platforms like Roll20, Miller believes the experience of playing with physical game pieces around a table is still unmatched.
“When it comes to what makes miniatures special, we’re not really talking about miniatures,” he says. “What we’re talking about is what makes tabletop role-playing games in person special. When you’re playing online, it functions, but when you’re playing in person it opens up this whole new avenue for creativity.”
“That’s not to say that miniatures are necessary for input,” adds Andrew Watson, Bear Totem’s social media manager who also custom paints minis for fellow players ($20-$45). “They are an augmentation — they help with the immersion. And, you know, you want something that kind of looks like what you’re fighting. It helps people visualize what’s going on.”
Terrain props to create settings like caves, cliffs, forests and even robust villages bring even more visual creativity to the game. Bear Totem has the supplies to set up everything from a seafaring adventure on a ship to a dragon guarding its treasure hoard — practically any setting a DM can imagine for their players. And since all miniatures officially produced by the game’s publisher, Renton, Washington-based Wizards of the Coast, are crafted to scale, a gnome paladin will be, quite literally, dwarfed by a half-orc barbarian or, say, an adult blue dragon.
“For me personally, I will just walk over to the wall as a DM and everything on that wall isn’t a lump of plastic or a stat block,” Miller says, referring to the unique traits of each enemy creature that players may face in a game. “Everything there represents a character. Like, I walk up to the wall and now I have this massive cast list. I can go up there and look, and little stories will just emerge from looking at the minis.”
As Dungeons & Dragons hits the half-century mark, another recent technological advancement that’s been a boon for players is the ability to 3D print just about any character imaginable as a physical mini.
Websites like Hero Forge and Eldritch Foundry feature interfaces for users to customize everything from their character’s race (i.e. human, dwarf, elf) and class (wizard, rogue, warrior, etc.) to their outfit, weapons, equipment and pose. Depending on the service, have the miniature mailed to you, or download a file to create it yourself on a 3D resin printer. Some of these online services even offer custom painting. Or you can do it yourself at home or even at Bear Totem.
Along one wall of the gameplay area, four workspaces beneath a row of windows are stocked with all the supplies needed to paint game minis.
“You can bring your own mini and paint it here, and I have a bunch of unpainted miniatures,” Miller says. “The thing about miniature painting in general is that it is expensive to jump into as a hobby.”
It’s only $15 to use the shop’s painting supplies, which includes a pint of beer and a small- to medium-sized mini (bring your own and it’s only $10). The paint dries quickly, so Miller says it’s easy to try again if there’s a mistake.
“For me personally, miniature painting is a very relaxing hobby, and I like being able to introduce people to it without them having to spend hundreds of dollars on supplies just to try it out,” he says.
Whether you’re new to collecting minis, painting them, or playing Dungeons & Dragons altogether (check Bear Totem’s Instagram for info on beginner events and more), Miller hopes to continue sharing his love of the hobby with players of all ages via his vast collection.
“I remember being a kid wishing I could just go nuts, like I had everything available to me and I could just go crazy,” he says. “And of course you can never do that as a kid because it’s not prioritized by your parents the way it’s prioritized by you. But somewhere along the way, you know, you get to be an adult and you get to choose where you spend your money and we just decided to go crazy.” n
“ENTER THE DUNGEON,” CONTINUED...
outnumbered final enemy and, in exchange for the rations I’m carrying, the goblin, whose name is Boots, joins our party.
Before embarking on this campaign, my only experience with Dungeons & Dragons was watching parts of the Dungeons and Drag Queens campaign, hosted by notable DM Brennan Lee Mulligan. I understood there’s a mix of combat and storytelling scenes, but I didn’t quite realize how fun it would be to make my own choices within that world alongside other people.
For example, before we’re ambushed, our bard Tulsi climbs atop the oxen carrying our cart and plays a lovely little tune as we walk. As silly as it sounds, the option to do basically anything creates an atmosphere of fun and whimsy that I never expected.
Anderson began playing D&D in 2017 and a short six months later also started leading her own games for others as a DM. She’s been part of countless campaigns since, working as a masterful storyteller for her friends, longtime players and even newbies seeking safe entry into the mystical realms.
Each month, she hosts this Intro to D&D campaign at Sage’s Portal, bringing up to six players through the first campaign of the game’s fifth edition, a quest called “Lost Mine of Phandelver.” The campaign, she says, is meant to be a fun entrance to the world of D&D without being too overwhelming for new players.
Everyone plays the game differently, so although we only make it past the first goblin ambush in our allotted three hours, Anderson says some groups advance to the second part of the four-part quest. On the flipside, she says other adventurers fail to even make it past the goblins. In one case, a player’s character actually died even though the rest of their party had healing potions available.
“There isn’t a right or wrong way to play D&D, and that’s one of the cool things about it,” Anderson says. “I mean, you guys practically kidnapped Boots.”
For anyone thinking about trying out D&D, these introductory campaigns can be vital. Without Anderson’s careful guidance, I don’t think I could have parsed the lengthy character sheet in front of me dictating what I can do as this particular dark elf or even figured out how to read my d4 dice.
Sage’s Portal’s monthly newbie campaign is always held on a Saturday. The entry fee is $20, which includes a set of acrylic dice to take home for future adventures.
“The whole point of doing this is to have fun and to bring that little bit of joy to people,” Anderson says. “I strive to bring a little bit of light and happiness to my players’ lives even in these introductory campaigns. Sometimes there’s bad things that happen, but in the end, there’s going to be a happy ending. It’s not a good escape for folks if it ends in tragedy.”
And in my opinion, that’s just what we got from our helpful DM. Making a new goblin friend named Boots was certainly my happy ending. I wonder what he’s doing right now… n
D&D minis go to battle at Bear Totem.
Getting Dicey Getting Dicey
Customize your gameplay with fancy dice by two local artists BY DORA SCOTT
Dnear death? Roll your 20-sided dice, or d20. Want to sneak past enemy lines to attack? Roll again. Nearly every action within the game is determined by the luck of your roll, imbuing an element of exciting unpredictability to the game’s collaborative storytelling.
For avid players, dice sets themselves are customizable and collectible, often reflecting a character’s unique traits through the objects or materials placed inside, or maybe just colors that you like. Now meet two local dicemakers who can mold your vision into a standard D&D set of seven dice, consisting of dice with 4, 6, 8, 10 (two), 12 and 20 sides each.
BRIDGE TROLL DICE
Michael Torkelson used to live in a house in Peaceful Valley, directly under the Maple Street Bridge. Fittingly, his younger brother began calling him a “bridge troll,” a moniker Torkelson embraced when naming his dice-making business, Bridge Troll Dice, in late 2020.
“It was kind of like a COVID hobby; just something to do when I didn’t have anything else to do,” Torkelson says.
Since starting his craft, he’s made over 100 sets of tabletop gaming dice for commission and retail sale at the local Uncle’s Games.
Funnily enough, though, Torkelson has little opportunity to see his 10 different personal dice sets in action. He’s played a few D&D one-shots (single-session
Foundry.
Torkelson works in his basement, where dozens of colored powders are organized on a table alongside a polishing wheel and numerous dice in nearly every color of the rainbow on display.
Donning a respirator so as not to inhale harmful fumes, Torkelson uses a two-part epoxy resin, mixes it
a device called a pressure pot, which removes air bubbles. Finally the dice are sanded and polished.
All in all, a single set can take up to a week to finish, considering the time it takes to cure and fully harden the resin, plus hours of sanding and polishing.
Many of Torkelson’s sets feature colors that shift in the light thanks to a fine glitter powder.
“It’ll be different shades of red, orange and green and purple all at the same time,” he says. “So, if you roll the dice around and shine in the light they look different.”
Though it’s hard for Torkelson to remember all the sets he’s made, a few commissions stand out.
“I had somebody ask for Barbie themed, like before the movie came out… so I ended up doing, like, really pink, bright purple and white,” he says.
Torkelson can get even more creative with the larger 50 mm d20 that he makes, as he can place larger objects and materials inside. Customers can embed miniatures of their game characters or, as he once experimented, even the shed scales of his bearded dragon (perfect for a friend who decided to challenge fellow players to face off a dragon).
As his colorful dice clatter across the game table in the hands of other players, Torkelson shares this blessing: “May all your hits be critical.”
Bridge Troll Dice • $90 full sets; $60 single 50mm d20 • Instagram: @bridgetrolldice • bridgetrolldicecraft. square.site
Can you spot the tiny hands in these dice by Elia Jones, aka Jelly Belle?
COURTESY PHOTOS
JELLY BELLE
Elia Jones is an alchemist brewing up some magical dice. The sets she sells at Bear Totem in Hillyard under her artist name, Jelly Belle, come inside matching, resin-filled potion bottles, but she also takes direct commissions.
Jones is a self-taught artist who ventured into the world of resin molding about eight years ago when she kept seeing quick resin craft videos on social media. She started making resin elf and fairy ear pieces, and four years ago she first delved into dice making after falling in love with D&D as a dungeon master.
“It’s not a super profitable business, but I enjoy it, and it’s nice to see your artwork appreciated and enjoyed by other people,” she says.
Jones follows a similar process as Bridge Troll’s Torkelson, mixing whatever colors and materials suit her fancy or are commissioned, pouring resin into molds and curing them under pressure before the final surface finishing processes.
“I like putting things from the Northwest in them,” Jones says of her dice that have dried lilacs from the gardens at Manito Park and wildflowers that grow near the North Spokane YMCA, where she works as a lifeguard.
Some of Jones’ favorite dice creations she’s made have a smoke-like effect that reminds her of a reaper’s cloak, and sets with strips of ripped paper inside to resemble a spellbook.
Not every set turns out so perfect, though, and Jones has a big container filled with miscellaneous dice, the remnants of sets where one or more pieces came out with defects like pesky air bubbles. But when she sells the salvageable one-offs for a few dollars each in lucky draws at vendor fairs, the excited expressions on customer’s faces makes all the trial and error worth it.
“Just seeing people excited about what I can make makes me feel more fulfilled as an artist,” she says. “Dungeons & Dragons is a great outlet for people to be able to express themselves in a very customizable way.” n
Jelly Belle Art • $40 per set at Bear Totem, $60 or more for custom commissions • Instagram: @jellybelleart
Start Your Quest
Wanna try your hand at Dungeons & Dragons? These local spots will let you roll the dice.
BY MADISON PEARSON
f you don’t have a regular group to play with or you’re looking to try Dungeons & Dragons for the first time, these local spots have one-shots, beginner campaigns and more D&D fun to join in on. Some of the following events are suitable for all ages, but children must be able to follow along with the story, stay focused, and do basic math in order to participate.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TABLES
Shadle Park Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave.
Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-6 pm
This program is designed for middle and high school students of any experience. Come with your character sheet ready to go. From 3:30 to 4 pm, hang out with fellow adventurers and ask questions. The campaign begins at 4 and goes until 6 pm. spokanelibrary.org
OPEN D&D ADVENTURERS LEAGUE
Merlyn’s, 15 W. Main Ave.; Sundays at noon
These weekly sessions are structured as one-shots, a quest completed in a couple hours, which are perfect for both beginners and seasoned players seeking fun outside their regular campaign. Come with a character to earn XP while keeping all of the loot you find each session. merlyns.biz
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS PUBLIC DROP-IN
Bear Totem, 5016 N. Market St. Thursdays at 6 pm
Bear Totem in Hillyard hosts weekly drop-ins featuring one-shot stories that are perfect for beginners, families and even experienced players. Create a level-three character, or use one of Bear Totem’s character sheets and get to playing with the store’s massive collection of miniatures, terrain and more. Newcomers play free; returning adventurers pay $5. Instagram: @beartotemspokane
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONE-SHOTS
Sage’s Portal, 611 E. Second Ave.
Next events: Dec. 14, 12-3 pm; Dec. 28, 1-4 pm
Sage’s Portal hosts three-hour one-shots a few times a month, including beginner-friendly games. Each session is different, and players can join for just $10. sagesportal.com
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GUILD
Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave.
Next event: Fri, Dec. 20 from 4-7 pm
Participate in a one-shot campaign every third Friday. Campaigns use a simplified version of Dungeons & Dragons’ Fifth Edition rules. Premade character sheets are available, but you’re welcome to bring your own as long as it’s at level three. Registration is encouraged. cdalibrary.org
THE MANA POOL
2946 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene
This game shop in Coeur d’Alene hosts intermittent Dungeons & Dragons nights. Keep an eye on their socials for event announcements. Facebook: The Mana Pool Shop
THE GAMER’S HAVEN
1403 W. Broadway Ave.
Mondays from 6-9 pm
The Gamer’s Haven offers open play nights every Monday, along with miniature painting from 3 to 9 pm. thegamershaven.net
UNCLE’S GAMES
404. W. Main Ave. and 14700 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley
Casual D&D: Thursdays from 6-9 pm
D&D Walk-In Games: Saturdays from 2-5 pm
Uncle’s casual D&D night is meant for social play in a relaxed atmosphere, and all experience levels are welcome. On Saturdays, walk-in games are run for anyone itching to play on the weekend. (Uncle’s weekly events are currently postponed until the new year due to the holidays. Check back in early January.) unclesgames.com
NATURAL 20 BREWING CO.
1303 N. Washington St.
13216 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
This combination brewery and game café hosts regular D&D oneshots ($20-$30) and trivia nights. Keep an eye on their socials for updates. natural20brewing.com
B SIDE GAMES
2525 E. 29th Ave.
Saturdays from 4-6 pm
The South Hill game shop runs various casual campaigns every Saturday. bsideboardgamesandpuzzles.com
THE COMIC BOOK SHOP
4750 N. Division St.; Wednesdays at 6 pm
11510 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley; Thursdays at 4 pm
Play campaigns or one-shots at these open play events. All participants receive 15% off D&D books and minis during the event. thecomicbookshop.net n
A spellbook-inspired dice set.
ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
Once Upon a Dungeon... Once Upon a Dungeon...
A short history of Dungeons & Dragons
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
~1000 AD
The heroic epic poem Beowolf is produced, laying the groundwork for the fantasy genre.
1954
An English professor who studies Beowolf named J.R.R. Tolkien publishes a sequel to his book The Hobbit called The Lord of the Rings, which sets the blueprint for fantasy adventures with a diverse party of heroes.
1971
Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren create the medieval miniature wargame Chainmail
1973
After the success of Chainmail, Gygax and Don Kaye found Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) in order to selfpublish the new Chainmail-inspired game they’re creating.
1974
The first edition of Dungeons & Dragons, created by Gygax and Dave Arneson, is released by TSR. It’s the first published role-playing game with a fantasy theme modeled on medieval Europe. It sells 1,000 copies in its first year and 2,000 in its second.
1975
The first two D&D supplements, Greyhawk and Blackmoor, arrive to give players expanded adventures.
1977
TSR splits the game into two brands. Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set caters to new and casual players, while Advanced Dungeons & Dragons is for the hardcore gamers.
1977-79
The three “core rulebooks” of D&D — Monster Manual, the Player’s Handbook and the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual — are published, giving generations of dungeon masters a framework to fall back on.
1982
In an early scene in the blockbuster movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Elliott’s older brother and his friends are seen playing D&D
1984
TSR publishes its first novel based on D&D lore, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s Dragons of Autumn Twilight
1985
With TSR facing financial issues, Gygax is forced out of the company.
1989
Designed by David “Zeb” Cook, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition publishes. It removes evil-aligned playable characters and tones down demon imagery (after getting flack from Christian groups during the 1980s Satanic Panic), while adding dashes of horror, sci-fi and alternative history.
1994
The Weezer song “In the Garage” from the band’s smash debut Blue Album namechecks the Dungeon Master’s Guide and 12-sided die.
1997
Struggling and near bankruptcy, TSR is bought by Seattle-based game publisher Wizards of the Coast, best known for the D&D-inspired Magic: The Gathering card game.
1998
Using AD&D 2nd Edition as its guiding rules, the video game Baldur’s Gate arrives on Windows PC and receives wide critical acclaim.
2000
Wizards of the Coast releases Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition, which centers the role-playing game on rolling a 20-sided die, standardizes action moves and combat, and loosens restrictions on characters, giving players more creative freedom. The movie version of Dungeons & Dragons also hits theaters and is a critically derided box office bomb. There were even two direct-to-video sequels that you also don’t remember!
2008
D&D 4th Edition drops and draws some controversy by the restrictions it places on players who enjoyed the prior edition.
2011
The nerdy NBC sitcom Community airs the episode “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons,” which is widely cited as one of the show’s best episodes and one of the funniest on-screen depictions of D&D
2014
On the game’s 40th anniversary, D&D 5th Edition arrives. It’s still the game’s current rules edition which gets occasionally updated.
2015
The web series Critical Role launches with a campaign played by professional voice actors. The series’ success opens the door for a slew of D&D web series and podcasts, turning D&D into a viewing or listening experience centered around players’ chemistry and humor.
2019
Hyper-literate indie rock band The Mountain Goats release a D&D-inspired album called In League with Dragons
2020
Virtual play of D&D via online platforms like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds booms as players remain distanced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves finally delivers a worthy D&D movie, thanks to its charming comedic adventure tone. Baldur’s Gate 3 also arrives and instantly becomes one of the biggest video games in the world. It’s the first title to win Game of the Year honors at all five of the major video game awards shows.
2024
D&D turns 50 and boasts over 50 million players. n
deeper delights this holiday season in
Beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho, isn’t merely a winter wonderland once the snows start. Barely 90 minutes from Spokane, it’s a terrific holiday destination for visitors who want to combine the region’s best skiing and snowboarding at Schweitzer with the eclectic and memorable shopping and dining at Sandpoint’s unique shops and restaurants. And this year we’re sweetening the deal for a holiday visit. Each week until Christmas, we’re drawing a free day pass at Schweitzer, plus coupons for shopping, entertainment and dining. Get your name in the stocking cap, at VisitSandpoint.com. We hope to see you here!
Get visitor information at 208.263.2161 www.visitSandpoint.com
a
Gifts for Pickle heads
In case you’re unaware, pickleball is actually the official sport of Washington state (in large part because it was created on Whidbey Island in the 1960s). As the fastest growing sport in the United States for three years running, seeing a 223.5% increase in players over that time, odds are decent that someone in your life has joined the craze. Here are a few ideas if you find yourself in a pickle when trying to shop for them.
SELKIRK PADDLES (a)
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
Did you know that the leading pickleball equipment company in the market is a family business founded in Coeur d’Alene? Selkirk has become world-renowned over recent years for their innovative tech, so if you’re looking to give someone a new paddle, you might as well shop local, right? North Idaho is home to the lone Selkirk Pro Shop, and its knowledgeable staff can help you find the perfect paddle for your giftee’s game (for the best bang for your buck, they recommend the models that run for $130). $50-$250 • Selkirk Pro Shop • 12037 N. Tracey Rd., Hayden • selkirk.com
PICKLEBALL CLUB MEMBERSHIP (b)
Thanks to the sport’s boom, Pickleball is no longer a summeronly sport in the Inland Northwest. Multiple indoor pickleball facilities and clubs have opened recently, and gifting a membership would give your Picklehead fun fitness all year round. For the most locked-in players, The Press Pickleball Club, Power Pickleball Club and Pickleball on Broadway all offer dedicated courts. And if you’re looking for a more general gym membership, spots like the North and Central YMCAs and North Parkfit Athletic Club offer indoor pickleball along with all their other fitness options. There’s no wrong way to slice this pickle. Prices vary • spokanepickleball.club/find-play
BLACK DIAMOND ROCKLOCK SCREWGATE CARABINER (c)
While tennis players have no problem with their bags lying on the court when playing at public parks, that’s apparently below the fastidious lot that love pickleball. (Can you imagine a bag on the dirty ground outside? How uncouth!) Some of those fancy folks like to keep their belongings as elevated as their egos and hang their bags and backpacks to the chainlink surrounding most courts via a carabiner. To prevent your giftee from seeming like a vagabond, pick up a high-end carabiner as a stocking stuffer. $14.95 • REI • 1125 N. Monroe St. • rei.com
SPOKANE PICKLEBALL CLUB HOODIE (d)
The nonprofit Spokane Pickleball Club is dedicated to building a friendly community of players and growing the sport locally through events and providing informational resources. Beyond signing up for a membership, pickleballers can also support that mission through SPC merch. The club’s logo looks pretty great — a huge pickleball under the Monroe Street Bridge — and snagging a hoodie with that logo can keep the giftee warm in the winter while also possibly helping them find other pickleheads in the wild. $32.50-$37.50 • spokanepickleball.club
FRANKLIN DAGGER PICKLEBALL SET
A huge factor in pickleball’s growth is how accessible it is for all ages. It’s a sport that can be played by kids, parents and grandparents. And while grandma and grandpa might already have their own balls and paddles, they’d probably like some extras lying around for whenever the grandkids come to visit. This starter set from Franklin comes with two paddles and four balls, so a cross-generational doubles match can commence at any time. $80 • Ash & Rowan Ace Hardware • 1616 W. Rowan Ave. • acehardware.com n
Gifts for Doom scrollers
What to get the people in your life who can’t tear themselves away from their newsfeeds
BY VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
The election cycle and world events have everyone on edge. It’s easy to get caught up in it all while doomscrolling the latest developments, and it often takes a lot of self-discipline to pull away from the 24-hour news cycle. These gifts are designed to get your special someone away from their phone, TV or tablet to release the rage or take some quiet time to practice internal peace.
BATH BOMB SET (a)
A hot bath can certainly help ease anxiety and stress. Adding bath bombs infused with ingredients such as lilac, rose and lavender enhances the calming experience, and can help your doomscroller moisturize and rejuvenate their skin in the name of self-care. Bare Root Skin Essentials in Coeur d’Alene creates various bath bomb ingredient combos you can buy individually or as a mix-and-match set of four. $20 • Bare Root Skin Essentials • 610 Hubbard St., Coeur d’Alene • barerootskinessentials.com
CAMERA KIT (b)
When dealing with anxiety or stress, one solution is to go outside and see what makes this planet beautiful. Replacing doomscrolling with scrolling through photos on your camera reel offers a refreshing break from the 24-hour news cycle. Getting your loved one an introductory-level mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z50 II or Canon Rebel T7 can encourage them to disconnect and capture a moment in time. As a hobby, photography also provides solace in what we often forget to appreciate: nature. $499-$1,100 • Camera Corral • 610 W. Hubbard Ave., Coeur d’Alene • cameracorral.com
BEER MAKING KIT
Sometimes, you just need a short-term distraction in the form of a refreshing beer, and there’s nothing like enjoying the fruits of your own labor. Genus Brewing and Supply is the perfect place to find a homebrew kit for your doomscroller who loves a cold pint, but could perhaps use the distraction of time required to produce their very own craft beer. Once your doomscroller gets into the craft, Genus can also help with additional flavors and equipment options to take their beermaking to the next step. $160 • Genus Brewing and Supply • 17018 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley • genusbrewing.com
THE LORD OF THE RINGS BOOK SET (c)
Doomscrollers fear many worst-case outcomes such as international conflict. Yet sometimes, we simply need to ponder the wise insight of those who lived through such moments. J.R.R. Tolkien was orphaned at 12 years old, survived World War I and saw his son fight in WWII. No one knows more about taking a step back from doomscrolling the news or escaping the world’s stress quite like Tolkien, as proven by his The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an allegory for the ages. The epic novels allow any overstressed person to enjoy fantasy and reflect on moving forward with optimism, as summarized by the wise elven queen Galadriel: “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” $47.97-$250 • The Well-Read Moose • 2048 N. Main St., Coeur d’Alene • wellreadmoose.com n
Ben Joyce Studios
1
Gifts for Book worms
What to get the person whose nose is always in a book
BY MADISON PEARSON
Maybe it’s the sudden popularity of book influencers on TikTok or the need for an escape from the horrors of everyday life, but it seems like more people are picking up books lately. And personally, I don’t care what people are reading as long as they’re engaging with books — that seems like a win to me! Here are a few gifts for the reader in your life. Whether they enjoy romance, thrillers or nonfiction, they’ll appreciate you aiding their obsession with the written word.
PAGE 42 BOOK PASSPORT (a)
While your first instinct might be to buy a book for the bookworm in your life, it’s best to steer clear unless you know exactly what they have and haven’t read. The Page 42 Book Passport eliminates the worry of buying your reader a duplicate book (that they definitely don’t have room for on their shelves) and gives them the freedom to choose their next read. The punch card is good for one used book a month up to a $10 value. The recipient can choose one book, movie or game for each month of the year. You’ll be the Willy Wonka of the bookstore with this golden ticket. $42 • Page 42 Bookstore • 3010 N. Crestline St. • page42bookstore.com
CAMPBELLHOUSE:THEMAKINGOFALANDMARK
Spokane is a city full of interesting history and captivating tales. This new book released by the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture dives into the history of the Campbell House to commemorate its 125th anniversary and is sure to tickle the fancy of any studious bookworms out there. The book recounts the fascinating history of the Campbell family up to present day and features stunning photographs, including archival images. Not all bookworms only read romance or thrillers! This one is for all of the nonfiction lovers in town. $50 • The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture • 2316 W. First Ave. • northwestmuseum.org
BLIND DATE BOOKS (b)
From Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood to Casey McQuiston and Christina Lauren, there are a ton of romance authors writing up a storm these days — it’s almost impossible to choose which book to pick up next. It’s a Love Story Books & Cafe in Hayden specializes in romance novels, and they’ve got you covered if your bookworm is into sickly sweet, fluffy romance. Just choose a subplot (romantasy, Western, sports, LGBTQ+, etc.), and if your reader has a Goodreads or Storygraph account, email their profile to the lovely folks at the bookstore so they can ensure you don’t choose a book your recipient’s already read. Leave it to the experts to choose the perfect book for your bookworm. $29-$39 • It’s a Love Story Books and Cafe • 8927 N. Hess St., Hayden • lovestorybooksandcafe.com
BANNED BOOK LOVER BOOKMARK (c)
With more and more books being banned in libraries across the country, readers have begun advocating for these titles to be put back into circulation since each teaches lessons and highlights important topics. McKenna Rain, owner of Palm Creative, is a PNW-based maker focused on making adorable shirts, mugs, candles, stickers and more dedicated to all things literature. Her banned book lover bookmark features a checklist of books that have been banned around the United States so your reader can track how many they’ve read. Plus, you can never have too many bookmarks. You can find Palm Creative at Terrain’s Brrrzaar on Dec. 14. $3-$3.50 • palmcreativeshop.com
VINTAGE BOOKS
Modern-day book covers serve their purpose well, but there’s something about vintage book covers that really scratches an itch. The best thing about vintage books, however, is that they also function like pieces of art. There are plenty of local places to pick from a carefully curated collection of old books, but Giant Nerd Books has a wide selection of genres, sizes and topics to choose from. Have an Ernest Hemingway fanatic in your life? There are a few stunning editions available on Giant Nerd’s shelves. Maybe your bookworm is into witchy things or loves horror. Well, you’re in good company at Giant Nerd. Just ask and I’m sure you’ll be led to the correct book-filled corner of the bookstore. Prices vary • Giant Nerd Books • 607 W. Garland Ave. • giantnerdbooks.com
UPCYCLED BOOK JOURNAL (d)
Speaking of vintage books, local author and maker Kathryn Smith (who goes by Curious Finch) gives new life to discarded or otherwise unreadable vintage books by turning them into journals. Smith takes both hardcover and paperback books and replaces the inner pages with paper to write on. Reading and writing go hand in hand, so I’m sure your bookworm will have this journal filled up in no time. But don’t worry, Smith is always churning out more journals and stocking the shelves at From Here. $16-$25 • From Here • 808 W. Main Ave. • fromherespokane.com n
NOVEMBER 29 TH - DECEMBER 31ST
Gifts for Tea Lovers
Perfect items for friends who love to sip on tea while spilling it, too
BY DORA SCOTT
The great thing about tea is that it always has a time or place. Need a pick-me-up in the morning? Choose a black tea. Need a midday cup to warm you up? Choose whatever variety suits your fancy. Need to wind down and relax before you sleep? Choose herbal tea. Zhuzh up your giftee’s humble tea collection with some items that will make them look like a tea sommelier in their own right.
MATCHA TEA SET (a)
Matcha has been used for hundreds of years in Japanese tea ceremonies. This matcha tea gift set will put some more intentionality into your giftee’s tea prep, while also allowing them to make their favorite matcha latte from home. The traditional Japanese matcha process follows chadō, or “the way of tea.” The gift set includes a 20-ounce ceramic matcha tea bowl (chawan), a ceramic whisk stand (kuse naoshi), a bamboo matcha whisk (chasen), a bamboo matcha scoop (chashaku) and a stainless steel tea sifter. $44 • The Kitchen Engine • 621 W. Mallon Ave. • thekitchenengine.com
MONTHLY TEA SUBSCRIPTION (b)
Maybe you aren’t a tea enthusiast yourself, and it’d be easier to let the pros do the picking. Sign up the tea lover in your life for a monthly tea subscription with Lunarium’s Tea Club. Each month, the store surprises subscription holders with a carefully curated selection of loose leaf tea, bringing it right to their door via delivery or an in-store pickup option. To sweeten the deal, Tea Club members also get 10% off all in-store purchases. $30 per month • Lunarium • 1925 N. Monroe St. • lunariumspokane.com
VINTAGE TEA SET (c)
What’s a proper tea experience without a tea cup? Make every at-home tea time special with a vintage tea set. Like all vintage items, each tea set is one of a kind and will show sincerity via the thoughtfulness of whatever you choose for your giftee. Porcelain cups can elevate the experience — the
nonporous material doesn’t absorb flavors or odors, allowing the tea’s true taste to shine — and also retains heat well. There’s nothing more disappointing than when your tea gets cold! Prices vary • Boulevard Mercantile • 1012 N. Washington St. • 509-327-7547
AFTERNOON TEA
Pinkies up! It’s time to get fancy by gifting your friend or loved one a tea experience at Brambleberry Cottage. Enjoying Brambleberry’s afternoon tea, served Fridays and Saturdays at noon, offers the chance to slow down and sip craft tea while savoring a three-tiered service that includes finger sandwiches, scones and crumpets with cream and jam, cake, tea cookies, and a mini pastry. $38 per person • Brambleberry Cottage and Tea Shoppe • 206 E. Pacific Ave. • brambleberrycottage.com
LOCALLY SOURCED HONEY
(d)
If your giftee likes to sweeten their tea, locally sourced honey might be just for them. As opposed to sugar, honey is great for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, boosting the immune system. Better yet, some honey in tea is a great way to soothe a sore throat or help with seasonal allergies by slowly building a tolerance to local allergens. Citrine Honey is made by a passionate family of local beekeepers who partner with miFLAVOUR bakery. Citrine’s smooth — but not overly sweet — honey can complement most tea varieties. $10-$22 • miFLAVOUR • 3403 E. Sprague Ave. • miflavour.com n
Northern Quest gives the North Pole a run for its money with must-have gifts for everyone on your list. Wrap up your holiday shopping at Windfall, carrying outdoor gear, apparel, and home goods from top brands like Filson, Pendleton, prAna, and UGG. And find luxury products, cozy apparel, and more at La Rive Spa Boutique. Whether you’re on the hunt for stocking stuffers or big-tic big-ticket items, the Northwest’s largest casino resort is the season’s ultimate gifting destination.
Good for concert tickets, hotel stays, and so much more, a Northern Quest gift card puts all their favorite experiences under the tree. Purchase at any Northern Quest venue or online at northernquest.com
Gifts for Doting Pet Parents
Where to find something special for the pets in our lives (and their obsessive owners)
BY COLTON RASANEN
We all know someone who’s absolutely infatuated with their furry friends, and if you don’t, well… you might be one of them. There’s no shame there. In fact, I think many more people could stand to enjoy the love that dogs, cats and really any other animal brings into the home. So, if you’re looking to treat the animal lovers in your life or plan to give something to your own pets this holiday season, we’ve got you covered.
TWO-TIER CAT TREE (a)
One way that cat parents make their love known is by creating some pawsonal space for their feline friends. The easiest (and, in my opinion, best) way to do that is by using a cat tree, purrferably stationed near a window. Even if your recipient’s cat prefers to snuggle in a lap, it’s still smart to have a place kitty can call their own. For cats hesitant to use new things, grab an ounce of catnip ($10) and periodically sprinkle it on each perch. This tree specifically has a perforated cardboard scratching board at its base, so it’ll double as a nail care device.
• 2422 E. Sprague Ave. and 7302 N. Division St. • nwseed.com
NUTRITIONAL GIFT CARD
Mountain Paw Pet Supply is known in North Idaho for providing healthy food options for pet parents across the region. From wholesome kibbles and freeze-dried treats to supplements and even pet-safe CBD oils, they’ve got you covered. However, every single pet has different nutritional needs to be filled, so it’s impossible to recommend just one item. Instead, we think it would be smartest to snag a gift card from the store, so folks can grab whichever grub is best for their best buds. $25+ • Mountain Paw Pet Supply • 724 ID-41, Post Falls • mountainpawpetsupply.com
SELF-SERVE DOG WASH (b)
When a dog owner takes the time to bathe and groom their dog, it showcases a loving relationship between pup and person. I mean, no one is going to spend all that time on an animal they don’t adore. So help strengthen that friendship by providing a chance for that bonding without all the fuss (and mess!) of bathing a dog at home. The Yuppy Puppy provides all the supplies, including cleansers, towels and a high-velocity dryer. Full-service professional grooming is another option if you’d rather give a gift that doesn’t require manual labor. $20 self wash; $60+ professional grooming • The Yuppy Puppy • 9511 N. Newport Hwy. • yuppypuppyspokane.com
CUSTOM PET PORTRAIT
If you’re looking for something that can be ultra-personalized, while also supporting a local artist, these pet portraits by artist Krystal Gallegos are the perfect gift. Gallegos has been creating digital art for almost a decade now and specializes in capturing the likeness of any pet. She offers two types of portraits, one for $200 that includes a detailed close-up shot of the animal and a simple background. For $350 she’ll create a full-body rendition with a detailed background. Like most artists, Gallegos works on commission, so make sure to check Instagram (@krystalspetportraits) to ensure she’s open for work. $200-$350 • Krystal’s Pet Portraits • krystalspetportraits.com
ENRICHMENT BOWL (c)
Canines and felines in the wild must hunt for their food to survive, but at home
compartments that require pets to think about where their food is, rather than chomping down on the entire serving. Some pets are just so food-motivated that it can also be hard for them to physically slow down while eating. That’s why these bowls are sometimes known as slow feeders, too. $22 • The Urban Canine • 2915 E. 29th Ave. and 6320 N. Ash St. • theurbancanine.com n
Create
a New
Tradition With the Gift of High Tea
$45 per adult | $20 kids 3-10 Under 3 is free!
To Book: lateada.org | lateadaatearoom@gmail.com | (208) 262-8969
Gifts for Thrifty Folk
The Candle Bar Co is a boutique in the middle of the Garland District. Come in and shop our large selection of candles, or bring in your container for a refill. We also have goods from over 80 different local, artisans and makers. We are always adding new classes and different events so check out our website for all the latest things.
817 W. Garland, Spokane • thecandlebarco.com • 509-863-9231
EWhat to get a person who can make do with, mend or DIY just about anything
BY AZARIA PODPLESKY
Handcrafted Artistry
the Beauty of 4727 N Division St Ste 100-C, Spokane • /theartisansguild
Tues-Thu 10am-6pm • Fri-Sat 10am-8pm • Closed Sun & Mon
The Adventures of Vicant the Venomous brings to life the mischievous escapades of a gigantic spider named Vicant and his spider-wife Vincenza. Whether it’s their dramatic entrance into Ryan’s life or their sneaky adventures in his school.
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane and The Well-Read Moose in Coeur d’ Alene. For more information visit www.ethelsbooks.com
leven months of the year, it’s easy to admire the self-sufficiency of your thriftiest friends and family members. If they need something, they can make it themselves, grow it themselves or find it for cheap. But when the holidays roll around and you’ve yet to cross that person off your list, it can be frustrating. These suggested gifts can be altered to fit the interests of your thrifty friend, but think of experiences, not physical gifts, or gifts that help the recipient create or maintain the sustainable, Earth-friendly lifestyle of their dreams.
COVERED WITH ART WORKSHOP (a)
Attending a creative workshop with your thrifty friend is like two gifts in one — the gift of quality time and the gift of a fun DIY project. For a last-minute gift for someone else, you two can check out the holiday ornament painting workshops (Dec. 12 and 14) or the watercolor workshop (Dec. 14) at Covered with Art. After the busy holiday season, spend time learning the fiber art of punch needle (Jan. 10), enjoy a cup of coffee and a watercolor workshop (Jan. 11), or learn some technical skills during the palette knife painting workshop (Jan. 24). $25-$46 • Covered With Art • 12510 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley • coveredwithart.com
THRIFT STORE SHOPPING SPREE
If you don’t have a specific gift in mind, why not let them find their own present by funding their next thrift shopping spree? Set a budget and let them do what they do best: find deals. From Global Neighborhood Thrift and Vintage in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood and the Arc of Spokane Thrift Store in Spokane Valley to the Beau Monde outlets in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Athol, there are previously loved gems waiting to be discovered across the Inland Northwest. If they’re more interested in antiques and furniture, take your pal to Paris Vintage Market in Coeur d’Alene or Pine Street Market and Boutique in Spokane Valley. Prices and locations vary
LOCALLY MADE KITCHEN SET (b)
Grab a bar of soap from Orange Thyme ($7), Brave ($10), Wild June Co. ($10) or Beauchamp & Chase ($12), which all look as good as they smell. Pair it with a ceramic soap dish ($15) from Katie and Kin or a wooden soap holder ($12-$14) from Brave. Finally, wrap the gifts in a handwoven tea towel from Bucket of Moonbeams ($42) or place them in a ceramic basket bowl from Goblin Pottery ($45-$120) for a truly no-waste present. Prices vary • From Here • 808 W. Main Ave. • fromherespokane.com
HOUSEPLANT STARTER BOX
For the green thumb in training, getting a start on a home garden, or even just a houseplant or two, can seem like a daunting task. Receiving a houseplant starter box from the Plant Farm is a near-guaranteed boost of confidence. The starter kit includes everything your giftee needs: a watering can, a pair of gardening gloves (various sizes available), a set of mini houseplant tools, a container of rooting powder, four growers pots (4-inch pots with saucers) with label stakes and a 24-ounce bag of potting soil. The Plant Farm even has an “Easy Care” section featuring plants perfect for beginning gardeners. $60 • The Plant Farm • 14208 E. Fourth Ave., Spokane Valley • spokaneplantfarm.com
DONATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT
Watch for more great gift ideas in next week’s
If your giftee wants to become more eco-friendly at home but doesn’t know where to start, consider gifting them some sustainable kitchen swaps from From Here.
For another waste-free gift, consider a donation to a local environmental nonprofit in your giftee’s name. In the Inland Northwest alone, there are plenty to choose from, including Spokane Riverkeeper, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, The Lands Council, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Idaho Conservation League and Inland Northwest Wildlife Council. There are also site-specific organizations like the Dishman Hills Conservancy, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness and Friends of the Bluff. If money is tight this holiday season, grab the giftee and sign up to volunteer your time. It might just become a holiday tradition. n
Gift Guide
HOLIDAY SHOP TAX-FREE
Shop with your Coeur Rewards points at all locations, see the Coeur Rewards booth for details.
Mountain Lodge Gift Shop
Open daily year-round for your gift needs. Jewelry, casino logo items, holiday decor, Native American artwork, cigars and more.
Circling Raven Pro Shop
Shop Circling Raven’s award-winning pro shop to find unique gift items and we’ll do the gift wrapping for you. Plus, the Advantage or Player Development Cards make a great stocking stuffer, which are available in-store or online.
Spa Ssakwa’q’n Boutique
BABOR cosmetics, NuFace products, Miracle Hair Oil, Spa Ss akwa’q’n Spa Scents Eucalyptus products and leading professional skin care lines such as BABOR, Farmhouse Fresh,
City Sidewalks
Downtown Spokane for the Holidays
NIGHTLIFE
Downtown Spokane’s tasting rooms have a wonderfully lively and warm atmosphere during the holidays, yet each seems to put its own special stamp on the season. Staff at the LOCUST CIDER (421 W. Main Ave.) taproom are always happy to recommend their favorite hard ciders, including some unique mixes of two of Locust’s all-natural core flavors: Blackberry + Vanilla Bean, anyone? Along with the taproom’s collection of retro video games, board games and ping pong tables, you can drop in for their weekly Trivia Nights (Wednesdays) and Bingo Nights (Fridays). Those events run throughout the season, major holidays excepted.
HELIX WINES (824 Sprague Ave.), a sister brand to the Walla Walla-based Reininger label, traces its love of Pacific Northwest agriculture back six generations to Oregon Trail homesteaders. Through Jan. 31, they’re participating in the Merry & Magical Deals Pass with a two-for-one tasting room offer.
“We’re located across the street from the historic Davenport Hotel, making this a great location for people as they’re going to Christmas Tree Elegance,” says Denise Hendricks, the winery’s tasting room lead and special events coordinator. For a limited time, you can pick up truffles that are infused with Helix’s acclaimed Carmenère. “They’re made exclusively for us down in Walla Walla at Bright’s Candies. We also have some vintage wines that would be perfect for holiday gifts, and we have a bubbly blanc de blanc that’s made in the traditional fashion that champagne is made in.”
If you’re more partial to hop-centric drinks, pay a visit to WHISTLE PUNK BREWING (122 S. Monroe St.). This brewery is owned and operated by a father/son team who are committed to perfecting their craft through a lineup of both fixed and rotating brews. Whistle Punk’s Czech Pilsner is a signature offering that’s poured with a traditional side-pull faucet, and fan favorites like the Espresso Milk Stout are regularly on tap as well. Fortunately, you don’t have to make hard choices. A flight will get you a generous sampling of their current range of lagers, ales and fruity IPAs. Winner of too many awards and competitions to count, DRY FLY DISTILLING (1021 W. Riverside Ave.) has been a leader in the regional craft distillery world since its founding in 2007. At their tasting room, you can pair selections from their extensive lineup of small-batch whiskies, vodkas, gins and mixed cocktails with gourmet flatbreads, chef-crafted sandwiches and specialty entrées. For a fun evening out, check out Dry Fly’s cocktail classes, where you’ll get a tour of the facility and learn the skills you need to mix like a pro.
Euro-style Winter Market
After its hugely successful debut last holiday season, KRINGLEFEST is returning this year on Dec. 8. This feel-good, European-style outdoor winter market takes place in the cozy alleyway behind Durkin’s Liquor Bar and Madeleine’s Café (both at 415 W. Main Ave.), which coincidentally also happen to be the event organizers. You’ll find somewhere in the neighborhood of two dozen local artisans, makers and pop-up retailers selling vintage clothing, crafts, curios and cool gifts. There will be food and drinks on offer, too — including spirits and traditional European pastries, in keeping with Durkin’s and Madeleine’s specialties. And if you’re looking for an amusing alternative to the conventional Santa photos, you can have your picture taken with Krampus!
BLITZEN BASH
RIVER PARK SQUARE
A Full Day of
Fun
We hear a lot about Santa’s incredible reindeer, but how often do we have the chance to see them up close? At River Park Square’s BLITZEN BASH on Dec. 7, kids will get the opportunity to meet some of these “deer” friends of Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The event will also feature plenty of activities for the entire family, such as craftmaking and facepainting.
“Blitzen Bash is one of the most fun days of the year at River Park Square, and Santa’s reindeer bring a level of holiday magic that is simply unmatched,” says Rita Koefod, River Park Square’s director of marketing and communications. The reindeer visiting hours are from 10 am to 8 pm; the activities run from 11 am to 3 pm. While you’re at the mall, don’t forget to book some facetime with Santa himself! Plus, true to the spirit of the season, Ashley House of Spokane will be on hand hosting a gingerbread kit fundraiser to support its nonprofit mission of helping families cope with crisis.
KIZURI
Run, Run Rudolph
It might be hard to believe, but the classic holiday TV show Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first aired on Dec. 6, 1964, making it a stunning 60 years old this week! But even though the stop-motion animated show is endearingly dated, the story of Rudolph and his big red schnozz, and how our differences should be celebrated instead of mocked, is timeless. And since the TV show just happened to be packed with epic holiday tunes — including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rein deer,” of course, but also “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Silver and Gold” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” — it made perfect sense to adapt it to the stage. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL into the First Interstate Center for the Arts on Dec. 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm. The 90-minute show includes one intermission and is suitable for all ages, though children must be at least 3 years old. Downtown Spokane for the
FOOD Season of Sweets
If the holidays awaken your sweet tooth, be sure to make BIRDIE’S PIE SHOP (712 N. Monroe St.) a stop on your shopping itinerary. Its selection of fromscratch pie bites, personal pies and whole pies is great for entertaining, holiday meals or just a nice delight to take the edge off the winter months. Keep in mind that if your heart’s set on a particular flavor, it helps to place your pie orders early.
“For Christmas, we always do really festive flavors. We have eggnog, orange cranberry custard, peppermint candy cream and gingerbread in addition to our classic staple flavors like apple, key lime, chocolate, pecan and triple berry,” owner Sharee Moss says. Do they all sound tempting? Pick up a “quad,” a sampler of four personal pies in various flavors. Fun fact: Moss’ bakery takes its name from her grandmother, Birdella, who excelled at homestyle piemaking.
Birdie’s isn’t the only local eatery that’s having fun with the unique tastes of the season. Nor is it the only one that pays tribute to a special family member! At PETE & BELLE’S (808 W. Main Ave.) — named after the owners’ two children, Peter and Annabelle — you can treat yourself to generous scoops of its house-made ice cream in flavors like eggnog, gingerbread and peppermint. Or just enjoy a bowl or cone of their dozens of year-round standard and specialty flavors. Just don’t expect a menu of health-conscious options. This is rich, ultra-premium frozen indulgence that doesn’t skimp on real cream and full-flavor ingredients.
For decades, BRUTTLE’S (828 W. Sprague Ave.) has also looked to family for inspiration. The closely guarded recipe for their soft, flaky peanut butter brittle was perfected long ago by Aunt Sophia, a traditional candy maker. Even today, the staff still crafts everything by hand. Browse their signature confections and pick up a box in store — or order online and have this Spokane specialty shipped to a lucky giftee!
IN THE NEXT CITY SIDEWALKS
Downtown Spokane has so much to offer during the holidays — follow it all here in CITY SIDEWALKS inside the Inlander. Pick up your free copy to get the details on the 12 Deals of Downtown, sponsored by STCU, and the yummy offerings at Nudo, Mizuna and more.
Merlyns’s 15 W Main (509) 624-0957 merlyns.biz Auntie’s Bookstore 402 W Main Ave (509) 838-0206 auntiesbooks.com Uncle’s Games 404 W Main Ave • (509) 624-4633 14700 E. Indiana, Spokane Valley Mall • (509) 891-7620 and Redmond • unclesgames.com
BIRDIE’S PIE SHOP
OPENING
Time for a Merienda
Cafe Buenos Aires opens in Browne’s Addition, bringing back Tarascon’s well-loved empanadas, plus pastries and more
BY DORA SCOTT
For a slice of Argentine culture, look no further than on the corner of Pacific Avenue and Cannon Street in Browne’s Addition, where Cafe Buenos Aires opened in October.
There, owner Ana Alvarez plus her husband, Ari, and 26-year-old son, Ari Jr., offer a respite from fastpaced coffee culture.
Instead of 24-ounce to-go concoctions, patrons are encouraged to sit back and have a merienda — a “midday snack” of Argentine coffee or yerba mate paired with a pastry or empanada, a savory handheld pie.
Originally from Mar del Plata, Argentina, the Alvarez family moved to California in 2002 and eventually settled in Spokane in 2009, where they became U.S. citizens. The lack of authentic Argentine food in the area inspired Ana to recreate her family’s recipes.
“What happened with us is when we moved we found out that there is no Argentinian food here,” she says. “So if we want to do empanadas at home, I have the recipe for the dough.”
Replicating the flavors of home wasn’t easy, though. Differences in basic ingredients like the flour and butter sold in the U.S. required lots of trial and error to match the dishes Ana grew up with.
In 2019, the Alvarez family launched their first food venture, Tarascon Empanadas, near the North Division Y, but the pandemic forced its closure after just a year. The constant encouragement of former regulars, however, prompted them to open another brick-and-mortar location, hence the move to Browne’s Addition.
Yet finding another home for their new cafe was no simple task. The Alvarezes needed a place big enough to accommodate both cooking and baking, but not so big the cafe wouldn’t have the quaint atmosphere that they hoped for.
The family reopened the restaurant in the historic Guse House, a Queen Anne-style home with a wraparound front porch and multiple stories.
“It’s very European, very Argentinian. Also, the patio outside invites people to come and stay,” Ana says.
“Argentina is actually very European,” Ari Jr. adds. “If you look at the architecture, the way people talk, what they eat, there is virtually no spicy food in Argentina.”
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the red-painted house was built in 1901. The Guse family lived there for 58 years until it was sold in 1959 and divided into three apartments. The building was eventually turned into a commercial space, which housed Browne’s Tavern from 2014 to 2017 and then Browne’s Bistro from 2019 to 2022.
“We actually visited this place about two years ago when the previous restaurant was running, and we decided not to take over that operation because we couldn’t figure out how to fit it,” says Ari, explaining how they had to move the cafe counterspace farther out into the main floor’s seating area to create more kitchen space.
Maintaining the building’s historical integrity, with its original light fixtures, hardwood floors and cast-iron radiator, fit the family’s vision of emulating a traditional Argentine corner cafe.
Cafe Buenos Aires’ signature empanadas and chimichurri fries. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
Elements of their home country shines throughout the space via photos of Argentina lining the walls, plus a collage of yerba mate packaging, and a staged Argentine cafe scene featuring Ari’s poncho, horseshoes and a leather map greets customers as they round the landing to the second floor.
Cafe Buenos Aires, unlike Tarascon Empanadas, serves an array of pastries in the mornings.
“I was the baker in my family … but I never did it commercially,” Ana says.
Ari Jr., who has over seven years of local restaurant experience and recently earned his culinary arts degree at Spokane Community College, encouraged his mother to get a baking certificate.
Ana enrolled in SCC’s program. Though she had to leave the program early when her husband faced sudden health complications, Ana completed the commercial baking section, gaining the know-how to translate her at-home baking skills into a commercial operation.
Customer favorites from the cafe’s pastry menu include sweet Argentine croissants called medialunas ($4) as well as alfajoritos ($2), which are an Argentine version of macarons filled with dulce de leche (caramelized milk jam), dulce de batata (sweet potato jam) or dulce de membrillo (quince jam).
At 11 am, Cafe Buenos Aires’ signature empanadas ($4.25) are ready. Beef is the most popular filling for these handpies, but other flavors include chicken, chorizo, ham and cheese, humita (corn and cheese), and tango (onion and cheese).
Though empanadas are a food of convenience, with Argentinians normally ordering them to-go, their preparation is not so simple. Fillings are prepared a day ahead in large pots, and the dough (tapas) is made from scratch, whereas in Argentina, tapas is usually bought premade.
A custom press closes the empanadas, stamping “Tarascon” on the edge and using beet juice to distinguish the filling varieties. Ari Jr. added a fusion element to the menu with the cafe’s chimichurri fries ($5), which are also offered as a combo ($12$15) with the empanadas. The side dish seasons the fries with ingredients from chimichurri sauce, an Argentine condiment, like red wine vinegar, parsley and oregano. Served hot and fresh, it’s hard to stop yourself from digging straight in at the risk of burning your tongue.
To wash your treat or meal down, a self-service beverage bar on the first floor has drip coffee ($2-$3) and yerba mate ($2-$3). Or get an Americano ($3-$3.50), latte ($3.50-$4) or cappuccino ($3.50-$4).
While Ana and Ari Jr. head up the baking and cooking operations, the beverages were Ari’s project to research before opening the cafe. The family makes a custom coffee blend using a combination of roasted beans imported from Argentina and beans roasted locally by Waverly’s Coffee.
Cafe Buenos Aires’ yerba mate, which uses loose leaves also sourced from Argentina, is the restaurant’s most popular beverage item. The highly caffeinated black tea is traditionally drunk from a gourd called a “mate” and uses a special metal straw with a filter on the end called a “bombilla.”
While the first couple months of service have been a success, the cafe is temporarily closing after Dec. 15 until the turn of the new year, but it will bring back an expanded menu — still offering all the Argentine classics that locals have come to love — by the end of January.
Cafe Buenos Aires has become more than a cafe; it’s a community hub. Locals and homesick Argentinians alike flock there for a taste of home or a culinary adventure.
As the Alvarez family has witnessed, it’s hard to stop at just one or two pastries or empanadas. Their unique addition to Spokane’s food scene has people coming back for more.
“They are shy to try one … and they try and then they go, ‘Oh, I need to take it to-go,’” Ari says. n
Cafe Buenos Aires • 1924 W. Pacific Ave. • Open Wed-Thu 8 am-2 pm; Fri-Sat 8 am-6 pm • cafe-buenos-aires.com
ALSO OPENING
FLOW
After surviving a flood in a forest, a black cat finds an aimless sailboat and embarks on a gorgeous dialogue-free animated adventure and meets plenty of other animals along the way. Rated PG At the Magic Lantern
FOR
KING + COUNTRY: A DRUMMER BOY’S CHRISTMAS LIVE Christian pop duo For King + Country bring their Christmas worship concert spectacle to the big screen. Not rated
THE RETURN
A retelling of the final chapter in Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) returns to Ithaca in an unrecognizable state as a defeated warrior king and must overcome his past to reclaim the throne as suitors for his wife’s hand try to take the crown. Rated R At the Magic Lantern
Y2K
A 1999 high school party goes very awry when the Y2K glitch turns all computers into killing machines in this disaster comedy. Rated R
DEATH FROM WITHIN
The Order uses the trappings of the crime thriller to tell a haunting chapter in the Inland Northwest’s history
BY CHASE HUTCHINSON
In December 1983, the militant white supremacist group The Order robbed a Spokane bank in what was believed to be their first armed escalation of many. They did so with the intention of using the stolen funds to start a race war in the United States after discovering that their original means of raising funds — the hard work of logging — was far too difficult after only a day of doing so. The robbery is portrayed early on in director Justin Kurzel’s sturdy yet sinister crime thriller The Order, and marks the beginning of an effective descent into darkness that remains relevant all these decades later. It’s an often razor-sharp, well-constructed genre film, feeling almost like Michael Mann’s Heat in parts, while still taking a long, hard look at the poisonous ideology of hate that grabbed hold of the region (and many like it) in a cruel country that remains on the brink.
Based on the 1989 nonfiction book The Silent Brotherhood, the screenplay by King Richard writer Zach Baylin is stripped down and without pretense. There are hateful men setting out to take down the government in order to murder anyone they don’t like — be they Black, Jewish or anything less than lily-white. Their depraved delusions of grandeur are ludicrous, yet still dangerous. We are given glimpses into their pasts, but what mostly matters is they are driven by a shared sense of aggrievement that they are looking to blame on whatever
scapegoats they can find. Their leader is the real-life Bob Mathews, played well by Nicholas Hoult, who moved to the northeast corner of Washington state and started the group after serving time for tax fraud. He’s being pursued by the troubled FBI agent Terry Husk, potrayed by the great Jude Law in one of his better films since 2012’s The Nest. Husk, while fictional, serves as an amalgamation of several real-life FBI figures. And he soon discovers how baked in the hate has become.
in Canada, the film still creates a sense of PNW dread that you can feel hanging over every frame.
What gives The Order a propulsive energy and greater resonance is not just Kurzel’s strong direction, which proves to be just as good at creating an unsettling tone as his 2021 film Nitram, but the evocative score by his brother, Jed Kurzel. It is a terrifyingly thunderous roar under the vast landscapes, providing it all with a sense of impending violence in one moment and an eerie echo in another. The soundscape serves as the beating heart of the experience. Even when the film gets too caught up in familiar genre beats — with one hunting scene proving to be far too cheeky for its own good — the technical elements ensure The Order cuts deep when it builds to an inevitable and fiery conclusion on Whidbey Island.
Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett
Critically, this is no valorous portrait of how the police and the FBI ride in to save the day. Early on, when Husk attempts to ask the simplest of questions about the white supremacist group, he is not taken seriously. Even when he meets a local police officer who is actually paying attention, played by a committed Tye Sheridan (Ready Player One), they must make up for lost time due to local cops largely looking the other way. In one standout scene, we see Mathews taking part in a tense meeting with a different, older white supremacist on a hauntingly framed, desolate road. He is told to stop with the robberies, though only because there is concern it could draw attention to them all as they try to covertly infiltrate police departments and the offices of elected officials. It is the most chilling moment in a film that increasingly finds plenty of them.
While it is disappointing that a local story like this was shot not in the state and instead made (as many are)
(Big time spoiler alert for those unfamiliar with this grim chapter in Washington history — stop now if you want to watch The Order without knowing the ending.)
Kurzel crucially resists any framing that could let Mathews again become a martyr. Mathews was a man who held great sway, convincing his followers to join a hateful cause, but he’s also one who died alone, crying and vomiting in the smoke of a battle that he hoped would bring him mythic status. Though some modern white supremacists still hold him in this regard, The Order grants him no courageous last stand. It provides a more truthful portrait of how, when all the gunfire came to an end, all that was left was a sad little man whose life was defined by hate.
Kurzel never lets spectacle subsume this reality as he leaves us with a lingering final note of quiet dread, reflecting on the racist violence that persists in corners throughout the country. No matter how diligently men like Husk work to keep it in their sights, the hateful poison remains. n
Jude Law takes on Inland Northwest Christian
A Dog That Needs More Bite
Nightbitch disappointingly never fully lets Amy Adams show her fangs
BY MARYANN JOHANSON
Motherhood is a bitch.
That was the tagline for Nightbitch on its teaser poster, which features a photo of a sweaty, dirty, snarling Amy Adams. Her face is in close-up, sharply front-lit, as if she’s been caught in headlights at night. Nightbitch is a movie about a woman driven so crazy by parenting a toddler that she has fallen under the delusion (or is it?) that she is turning into a dog. So, then, here she is, clearly startled during her canine-esque nocturnal wanderings, her visage briefly captured, perhaps, by an accidental cryptozoologist. It’s an extraordinary poster, hinting at a savageness
Nightbitch
Rated R
Directed by Marielle Heller
newly unleashed in a woman who otherwise looks... so... nice. In an entertainment ecosystem that all too often reduces women to mothers, and then motherhood to either one-dimensional saintliness or one-dimensional villainy, this poster seems to say: Here is a movie specifically about motherhood that is going to bite your f---ing head off.
Starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden and Emmett James Snowden
I would like to see that movie.
Alas, Nightbitch is not that movie. Misleading marketing aside, I don’t think it’s too much to have expected a biteyour-head-off movie, because the novel by Rachel Yoder upon which this is based is indeed fierce, feral and full of
rage. I read it before I saw the film and thought, “This is gonna be tough to adapt for the screen, because it’s so internal.” It’s almost stream-of-consciousness, as the unnamed protagonist contemplates the career as an artist and curator she gave up in return for the relentless, allconsuming monotony of motherhood, and then the wild freedom she rediscovers in her... well... bitch alter ego.
But it’s not the internality that writer and director Marielle Heller struggles with here. That actually works pretty well on-screen. In one bit, Adams’ Mother complains to Husband (Scott McNairy) about her stuckat-home misery as he goes off to work, at a job that keeps him out of town all week, every week, rendering her a de facto single parent most of the time to terrible twos Son (Arleigh Patrick Snowden / Emmett James Snowden). He responds that “happiness is a choice”... earning him a well-deserved how-very-dare-you smack across his face. And then we get the second take — the reality, in which Mother refrains from slapping her clueless partner and instead swallows his condescension and makes nice.
It works well to portray Mother’s state of mind, but it also comes, as depicted here, with a lighter tone that undercuts the feminist rancor of Yoder’s book, and even undercuts Mother herself. Nightbitch the movie does the same thing Mother does: bites its tongue for fear of offending.
For sure, there are many realities of women’s lives that remain unexplored in pop culture, and this movie does confront some of those connected with motherhood with glee: the tedium of kiddie food (hashbrowns and mac ’n’ cheese — which ends up as easy “meal” for Mother to also feed herself), the lack of meaningful contact with other adults and more. These are the small indignities that mothers endure — the truths that only oh-so rarely get public airings, the things that are so mundane that we’re not supposed to tell stories about them. And they are here, on display, with the glorious Amy Adams the face of them. All that is absolutely worth celebrating. None of it is even subtle, and that’s exactly what is needed. In your face, Husbands.
But while the novel goes to shockingly animalistic places, really finds something vicious awakened in its unfulfilled protagonist, Nightbitch the movie goes for gentle comedy with only a tinge of body horror. It’s never “Motherhood is a bitch [howl] [screech] [rip out the throat of an innocent bunny rabbit],” it’s the much safer “Motherhood is a bitch, haha, but am I right, ladies? LOL. #LiveBarkLove.” The movie is as afraid of leaning into maternal malcontentment as Mother is of speaking her mind.
Maybe Heller didn’t actually struggle with bringing Mother’s anger to the screen. Maybe she held back, because she knew that the world is not ready to face the unshackled rage of women. n
Nightbitch lacks the needed bite.
FRESH SOUNDS
Leaf Drops x Album Drops
Spotlighting some of the best albums released this fall
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
ALSO DON’T MISS…
Beautifully Broken - Jelly Roll
The Bed I Made - The Softies
Evergreen - Soccer Mommy
F-1 Trillion - Post Malone
The Hard Quartet - The Hard Quartet
Home in Another Life - Enumclaw
Love or Fear - Betsy Rogue
No Obligation - The Linda Lindas
Romance - Fontaines D.C.
This Is How Tomorrow Moves - Beabadoobee
ALL HELL
LOS CAMPESINOS!
It had been seven years since Welsh DIY indie band Los Campesinos! put out an LP, so to make up for lost time the septet comes out swinging with an anthemic urgency akin to a punk (and less problematic) Arcade Fire. The members may have grown up a bit, but there’s still a snarling leftist emo-leaning undercurrent in singer Gareth Paisey’s bones as he spits lines about career retrospectives (“Holy Smoke (2005)”), spineless punks (“Feast of Tongues”) and deteriorating mental health (every All Hell song?). In a world where pessimism often seems the sanest tack, Los Campesinos! craft a glorious agonized symphony of distortion to rally around.
FATE & ALCOHOL JAPANDROIDS
In non-morbid musical news terms, nothing this year has been quite as devastating as Vancouver rock duo Japandroids deciding to call it quits without even a goodbye tour. But at least Japandroids didn’t go out with a whimper. Fate & Alcohol finds singer/ guitarist Brian King and drummer David Prowse still nailing their high energy anthemic formula that always felt like the essence of rock and roll perfectly distilled. King’s knack for making love feel like an uncontrollable explosion of life still results in chest-thumping bliss — while Prowse’s drums explode like jubilant fireworks — on songs like “Alice.” But there’s also plenty of soul-searching as King wrestles with his new sobriety (“D&T,” “Upon Sober Reflection”) and finds love after getting called out on his indecisiveness (“Chicago,” “All Bets Are Off”). Japandroids might be finished, but the band’s sonic vibrations won’t stop resonating in romantic rock hearts anytime soon.
GNX
KENDRICK LAMAR
This year Kendrick chose violence. After landing a nodoubt knockout haymaker in his rap battle with Drake via the all-time diss track “Not Like Us,” he surprise-dropped GNX to serve as his musical victory parade around Los Angeles. Riding the high, GNX finds Kendrick at his most brashly confident — basking in his own glory while still doling out a few stiff punches (“Wacced Out Murals”). While the album isn’t gonna top anyone’s list of the MC’s best LPs, it’s wildly compelling to listen to him wrestle with contradictory internal struggles that the spotlight on his feud has awoken within him. He’s a mogul (“Heart Pt. 6”) trying to stay real to the streets (“Squabble Up”). He wants to be a righteous Christian (“Reincarnated”) while also building his ego to God-tier levels (“Man at the Garden”). Regardless, there’s never a dull moment on GNX, as the lyrical ferocity and huge beats further cement 2024 as The Year of Kendrick.
HONEY - CARIBOU
Are the 4 pm sunsets bumming you the f— out? Try Caribou’s Honey for sonic relief! Caribou producer/multiinstrumentalist/singer Dan Snaith has long provided a wildly accessible entry point for folks wanting to dip their toes into electronic music waters (2010’s Swim is one of the best albums ever), and his newest LP offers a direct injection of sunny unrelenting beats. As long as you don’t get hung up on the AI-assisted vocal filters Snaith uses to sing in a variety of voices (though if that’s a deal-breaker, that’s valid!), there’s no better album this fall to get a dance party started whether at the club or just in alone grooving in your room.
MANNING FIREWORKS
MJ LENDERMAN
We’re in the midst of an epidemic of American male loneliness, and no songwriter has quite tapped into the inherent haplessness of that demographic quite like MJ Lenderman does on Manning Fireworks. With a hint of Randy Newman-esque unspoken satire, the album offers up noncelebratory portraits of dudes flailing while doing anything but being emotionally honest with themselves. Lenderman’s brand of indie slacker Southern rock serves as the perfectly ramshackle sound for his lyrics about jerks who simply cannot cope and hide their hurt through midlife crisis denial (“She’s Leaving You”), ridiculous materialistic brags about smartwatches and Buffalo beach houses (“Wristwatch”), kiddie pool shallow religiosity (“Manning Fireworks”) and nostalgic solitary late night Guitar Hero sessions (“Bark at the Moon”). Manning Fireworks is the pile of empty Jack Daniels bottles you notice in the corner of the underfurnished new apartment of your recently divorced buddy — it might make you wince, but if the light hits refuse just right, the rays refract in strangely stunning ways.
MAHASHMASHANA
FATHER JOHN MISTY
Not only do Kendrick Lamar and Father John Misty weirdly have their albums cycles synched (both have released five albums the past 12 years, always on the same year), but there’s an argument to be made that they’re Los Angeles’ two finest songwriters. Mahashmashana finds FJM feeling looser than he’s been in years. Oh, he’s still luxuriating in poetic bad trip existentialism (“Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose”), but between all the darkness, he seems to at least be having a smidgen of fun again. He doles out his typical caustic cynicism on the swirling and grandiose chamber rock title-track opener and follows it up with the gleefully funky “She Cleans Up,” which is 100% what Cake would sound like with FJM as its singer. The neon glow of the sprawling eight-minute “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All” comes across like the bastard child of Bob Dylan’s “The Hurricane” and The Killers’ “The Man”, if that kid grew up to be a chainsmoking lounge singer with the blues. Sometimes there’s a thin line between a smile and a snarl.
MIRROR STARTS MOVING WITHOUT ME POM POM SQUAD
After losing herself slightly in the whirlwind of indie buzz after 2021’s debut Death of a Cheerleader, Pom Pom Squad’s Mia Berrin examines her fractured vestige in shattered glass on the band’s sophomore album. Toeing the line between bubblegrunge and dark pop akin to early Billie Eilish, Mirror Starts Moving Without Me consistently delivers big catchy riffs and eerie rock soundscapes that make imposter syndrome and young adulthood uncertainty sound like a horror movie. Berrin might be wrapped in fear, but the results are scary good.
NEVER, NEVERLAND UNTO OTHERS
Unto Other is far from a household name, but if you sat an unknowing listener down to sample tracks from Never, Neverland, the new album’s extremely polished production and tight sound might have them believing the Portland group is one of the biggest hard rock bands on the planet. The quartet concocts a deliciously dark rock brew that at various times features dashes of guitar-driven ’80s hard rock, melodic metal, goth rock with faint notes of The Cure and The Misfits-esque macabre punk. All those sonic threads are tied together around frontman Gabriel Franco’s deep baritone, which calls to mind Glenn Danzig’s mighty pipes. With a thematic bent that could be categorized as Satanic Panic Romantic, the songs keep a gloomy tone but aren’t afraid to bask in a little loving light, like on the catchy-as-hell ripper “Time Goes On.”
PARADISE POP. 10
CHRISTIAN LEE HUTSON
While he has been best known as a friend and collaborator with Phoebe Bridgers, Christian Lee Hutson fully comes into his own on Paradise Pop. 10
At times on his prior records his songwriting has felt like he’s trying too hard to show off, yet this 11-song collection of delicate tunes with the general vibe of things aren’t great, but I’m happy you’re happy finds him confidently settling into his voice. Shades of Heatmiser (Elliott Smith’s band) can be heard on the more indie folk rocking tunes like “Carousel Horses,” while his habit for writing vocal mirroring guitar parts on soft folk tunes feels more natural on songs like “Water Ballet.” Hutson’s lyricism reflects on that ethereal limbo when certain connections are relics of the past, but it’s hard for your brain to fully let go of them. It’s a spot that’s sad, but not without a slight silver lining to be found in the beauty that was.
WILD GOD
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS
Grief and joy are two sides of the same coin. On Wild God, alt-rock gothic poet laureate Nick Cave doesn’t flip the coin but spins it — gazing in rapturous and horrified wonder as grief and joy swirl into indistinguishable kinetic shape. This may be Cave’s 18th album, but he hasn’t lost an ounce of vitality when wailing about deities (“Wild God”) or eulogizing the transcendent feeling of all-consuming love (“O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)”). All the while, the Bad Seeds create an atmospheric soundscape that rattles the soul. Every word that leaves Cave’s lips feels heavy, but it’s always weighty staring down the abyss to find truly existential beauty. n
HAYDEN
LOCAL PUNK RAP JANG THE GOON + CHUCK VIBES
If you’re looking for a sound where Spokane shines more than most cities way bigger than it, it’s probably punk rap. It’s a sound that injects hip-hop with a wild and raw rock spirit and DIY punk ethos. And the two artists leading the subgenre in Spokane are Jang the Goon and Chuck Vibes. Jang’s Goon Shii: Vol. 1 might be the best local album of the year, serving as a reintroduction for the MC and the dark, snarling, energetic pathways he likes to trod. Chuck Vibes & The Dead Feels lean even more into the rock side of things with music that fluctuates from rap to indie to punk at any given moment on tracks like “Cranberry Soda” and the new single “Adam Sandler Movies.” There aren’t a lot of rap shows where a mosh pit is guaranteed, but this one’s a lock.
— SETH SOMMERFELD
Jang the Goon, Chuck Vibes & The Dead Feels, Bapeface, Prodsynesthete • Fri, Dec. 6 at 8:30 pm • $12 • All ages • The Big Dipper • 171 S. Washington St. • thebigdipperspokane.com
LOCAL FOLK HEAT SPEAK + BETSY ROGUE
Thursday, 12/5
CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds
J MIKEY’S GYROS, Old Timey Music Jam Sessions
J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Marshall Charloff & The Purple xPeRIeNCE
J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin
ZOLA, Vika & the Velvets
Friday, 12/6
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Ron Greene
J J THE BIG DIPPER, Jang The Goon, Chuck Vibes & The Dead Feels, Bapeface, Prodsynesthete
BULLHEAD SALOON, Neon Interstate
CHALICE BREWING CO., Son of Brad
J THE CHAMELEON, Heat Speak, Betsy Rogue
CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Eternal Jones GARDEN PARTY, Storme
J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire NIGHT OWL, DJ F3LON RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin THE TREEHOUSE, Son of Brad ZOLA, The Rub
Saturday, 12/7
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Sydney Dale
Altaira, Midnight Drive, Jacob VanKnowe Music
BULLHEAD SALOON, Neon Interstate THE CHAMELEON, brat xxxmas
CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Whack-a-mole THE DISTRICT BAR, Daft Punk Night
J NEATO BURRITO, Ryder Nerren, Kai Rowley, Mikiah NIGHT OWL, Priestess RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
STUDIO 107, Jan Harrison and Barry Aiken
ZOLA, Blake Braley
Sunday, 12/8
HOGFISH, Open Mic
IMonday, 12/9
EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi
NEATO BURRITO, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, The Holy Broke RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night
Tuesday, 12/10
BLACK LODGE BREWING, Open Mic Night: The Artist Stage SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays
ZOLA, The Zola All Star Jam
Wednesday, 12/11
THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic RED ROOM LOUNGE, Red Room Lounge Jam
J THE BIG DIPPER, Children of The Sun,
ZOLA, Sugar Bear Dinner Party
J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents
f you’re seeking out the best local folk albums of 2024, it’d be hard to top what Heat Speak and Betsy Rogue delivered. Recorded at the studio in Spokane’s Central Library, Heat Speak’s de bouquet ok distills the best parts of the band’s diverse and worldly sound, as poetic frontman Dario Ré leads the collective through an album that can effectively execute lushly layered numbers or intimately sparse songs. Folk teacher trio Betsy Rogue’s recently released debut album Love or Fear sports lovely melodies as the group expresses its feminist ferocity and tender caring soul in a way that harkens back to peak ’90s Lilith Fair favs. Bringing the two bands together should make for a musical night capable of warming both your body and your heart. — SETH SOMMERFELD
Heat Speak, Betsy Rogue • Fri, Dec. 6 at 8 pm • $15$20 • 21+ • The Chameleon • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • chameleonspokane.com
Just Announced...
J THE CHAMELEON, The Chameleon Christmas Special, Dec. 20.
J THE BIG DIPPER, Nott, Mar. 13.
J THE BIG DIPPER, ACTORS, Apr. 5.
J J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Cody Jinks, July 19.
Coming Up...
ZOLA, Homebrew String Band, Dec. 13, 5:30-7:30 pm.
J J THE BIG DIPPER, Robber’s Roost, The Strangerers, Huckleberry, Billy & Ellie, Dec. 13, 7:30 pm.
J BING CROSBY THEATER, The Fab Four: USA Meets The Beatles, Dec. 13, 7:30 pm.
J THE CHAMELEON, Desperate Electric, Timeworm, Brittany’s House, Dec. 13, 8 pm.
J J KNITTING FACTORY, Zingara, Gardella, Halla, I.T. Brian, Dec. 13, 8 pm.
J J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Lonestar: Country Christmas, Dec. 13, 8 pm.
ZOLA, Sydney Dale Band, Dec. 13, 9-11:55 pm.
J PATERA LOUNGE, Gifts For The Strange & Unusual, Dec. 14, 10 am-4 pm.
THE GRAIN SHED - TAP HOUSE, Cold Canary, Bob Gallagher, Dec. 14, 6-8 pm.
J THE FOX THEATER, Girl Named Tom: The Joy of Christmas, Dec. 14, 7:30 pm.
THE CHAMELEON, Fever Dream, Dec. 14, 9 pm.
ZOLA, Blake Braley, Dec. 14, 9-11:55 pm.
J HAMILTON STUDIO, A Merry Max Quartet Christmas, Dec. 15, 2 pm. J
ZOLA, The Zola All Star Jam, Dec. 17, 8-11 pm.
ZOLA, Red Hot Kitten Stompers, Dec. 18, 8-10 pm.
J MIKEY’S GYROS, Old Timey Music Jam Sessions, Dec. 19, 4-6 pm.
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Bolo’s Blues & Brews, Dec. 19, 6:30-10:30 pm.
J LUNARIUM, Starlite Open Mic, Dec. 19, 6:30-8:30 pm.
ZOLA, Vika & the Velvets, Dec. 19, 8:30-11:30 pm.
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Mike Wagoner Trio, Dec. 20, 5-8 pm.
ZOLA, RŌNIN, Dec. 20, 5:30-7:30 pm.
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Michael Vallee, Dec. 20, 6-8 pm.
BING CROSBY THEATER, ABBA Holly Jolly Christmas!, Dec. 20, 8 pm.
J THE CHAMELEON, The Chameleon Christmas Special, Dec. 20, 8 pm.
J J GARLAND THEATER, Sonic Solstice II (Night 1): Kurb, Spooky, Blacktracks, It’s A Setup, Atomsk, Dec. 20, 7 pm.
J KNITTING FACTORY, Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, Dec. 20, 8 pm.
ZOLA, Jacob Westfall Band, Dec. 20, 9-11:55 pm.
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Max Daniels, Dec. 21, 6-8 pm.
J J GARLAND THEATER, Sonic Solstice II (Night 2): Hayes Noble, Loomer, Hell Motel, Bad Trip Motel, Dairybaby, Dream Rotation, Dec. 21, 5:30 pm.
J J KNITTING FACTORY, The Glitch Mob, Anna Morgan, Dec. 21, 8 pm.
THE CHAMELEON, Free Creatures, JAEDA, Felix Free, DJ DV8, Dec. 21, 9 pm.
ZOLA, Starcourt, Dec. 27, 9-11:55 pm.
LYYV ENTERTAINMENT, Grown Folks Old School Night, Dec. 28, 7 pm-2 am.
J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA, Dec. 28, 7:30 pm.
ZOLA, Jason Evans’ Cosmic Fantasy, Dec. 28, 9-11:55 pm.
J THE BULLET BAR, Open Mic Night, Dec. 30, 5-9 pm.
SAPPHIRE LOUNGE, New Year’s Eve Midnight Toast, Dec. 31, 4 pm-2 am.
ZOLA, Blake Braley and Zola’s New Years Bash, Dec. 31, 7-11:55 pm.
J MONTVALE EVENT CENTER, Midnight in Havana, Dec. 31, 8 pm-1 am.
THE CHAMELEON, Heavy North New Year’s Eve: 5AM, Torbjørn, Matt WAX. Twombmates, DRTY, BNGRZ. Pesky Penguin, Hiimelfo. FELON, JERSEY, Dec. 31, 9 pm.
RUBY RIVER HOTEL, Midnight on the River, Dec. 31, 9 pm-12:30 am.
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
COMEDY (IM)PRACTICALLY SPEAKING
Goofing around and pranking your friends is practically a right of passage for most youngsters, but few have parlayed that into a lucrative professional career like Joe Gatto and his pals. After years of doing sketch and improv comedy as The Tenderloins, the group of Staten Island comedians broke out massively with their hit hidden camera show Impractical Jokers. While Gatto left the show in 2021 to focus more on his family, he certainly hasn’t left behind making people laugh. He’s now focused on stand-up comedy — which somehow feels like a less stressful vocation than being one of the Jokers — and brings his wisecrack to Spokane on his Let’s Get Into It tour.
— SETH SOMMERFELD
Joe Gatto, Mark Jigarjian • Sat, Dec. 7 at 7 pm • $25-$100 • All ages (suggested 16+) • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • firstinterstatecenter.org
COMMUNITY SPRUCIN’ THINGS UP
Spokane Symphony Associates’ annual Christmas Tree Elegance fundraiser at the Historic Davenport Hotel and River Park Square showcases 15 trees decked out in various themes and loaded with high-value prizes. This year marks the beloved local fundraiser’s 42nd year, and volunteers are hoping to top last year’s recordbreaking sale of more than 462,000 raffle tickets. Holiday strollers and shoppers delight in seeing the trees on display during the 13-day event, but can also try their luck to win a tree and all its goodies by purchasing raffle tickets for just $1 each. All proceeds support the Spokane Symphony.
— DORA SCOTT
Christmas Tree Elegance • Dec. 3-15 • Raffle tickets $1 • The Historic Davenport • 10 S. Post St. • River Park Square • 808 W. Main Ave. • spokanesymphonyassoc.org
MUSICAL DO YOU RECALL?
Don’t miss out on seeing the most famous reindeer of all when Spokane’s First Interstate Center for the Arts hosts the touring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Based on the beloved stop-motion holiday classic, see favorite characters come to life on stage like Santa, the Abominable Snow Monster, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph. It’ll be hard not to sing along and immerse yourself with the nostalgic holiday hits, so get ready to buckle up and enjoy the ride through the North Pole. The story appeals to the misfits in all of us — teaching that our differences are what makes us special.
— DORA SCOTT
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer • Dec. 10-11 at 7:30 pm • $35-$75 • Ages 3+ • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • firstinterstatecenter.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.
VISUAL ARTS STUDIO STROLL
It’s rare for the public to see what goes on behind the scenes inside an artist’s studio. All artists operate differently. Some may prefer a neat and tidy space with tarps on the floor to shield from any paint or clay that might fall. Some prefer organized chaos. At the MAC’s annual Holiday Artist Studio Tour, take a peek into the workspaces of six local artists (including Sheila Evans, above), who create ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and much more. This self-guided tour allows for lingering, meandering and connecting with the artists who make it all possible. For an extra fee, end your day at the Patsy Clark Mansion for a social hour featuring live music.
— MADISON PEARSON
8th Annual MAC Holiday Artist Studio Tour • Sat, Dec. 7 from 10 am-4 pm • $20-$25 • All ages • Locations vary • northwestmuseum.org
FOOD LIFE’S WHAT YOU BAKE IT
Nothing says “I love you” like a homemade, hand-decorated cake for a birthday or other special occasion. This class at The Kitchen Engine with Christina Navarro from Baking Me Crazy teaches participants how to make a charming, vintage-inspired cake to take home. You’ll learn three hand-piping techniques to bring a timeless elegance to your cake, how to fill the cake with delicious frosting or other ingredients, and other skills necessary to do it all at home! These retro-inspired cakes are all the rage lately, gaining traction on TikTok and Instagram, so surprise your loved one with one and you might just become their new favorite person.
— MADISON PEARSON
MONEY ANSWERS FOR ICE RIBBON RAIL HUGGERS.
I SAW YOU
TRADER JOE’S At Trader Joe’s, day before Thanksgiving: What is it about a hot dad with a shopping list and a minivan that makes me all aflutter? You were rocking a beanie and green Patagonia puffy like a REI model. Your shopping cart filled with gourmet ingredients made you look like Tyler Florence crossed with a sexy lumberjack. Best shopping trip ever… same time next week?
HE’S A TEN I am not a sports fan, but local TV and print advertisements featuring a certain football player are getting my attention! Meow!
DOUBLE TAKE AT S HILL TARGET Sunday 11/24 around 1 pm. We saw each other/ exchanged looks twice. You: amazing looking blond that has not aged. Look as beautiful as you did many, many years ago. Wondered what happened to you — were you in town for Thanksgiving or live here, married, kids, career? Would like to hear from you even if it’s just an update. Scott
WOODEN CITY HOTTIE Saw you behind the bar at Wooden City — seems like you’re pretty skilled at mixing drinks... but I bet you’d be even better at mixing conversation. Xoxo.
CHEERS
THANKFUL As I walk the downtown streets of Spokane, I occasionally pass by a window that is decorated for Christmas, some of them looking as they did decades ago with ornaments from the old Crescent Store. I try not to notice the pungent odors as the loud drug addicts pass by on their way to their next crime or drug fix. Then, I take a walk on the beautiful Centennial Trail and notice the river as it flows gently. Sometimes, I have to look between tents that are now fortified with metal and wood for the winter. What a beauful sight! As I continue my walk, I’m careful to dodge the human and dog excrement so nicely arranged along the walking/running/biking trail. Ah....Spokane. What a beautiful city. No wonder so many people want to come and live here free of financial burden.
BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND I just want to say cheers to my loving Girlfriend she does so much to make time for me I love her with all of my heart
SPOKANE RESTAURANTS OPEN ON HOLIDAYS I have a request to the Inlander to publish a list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then it would be lovely if those restaurants would
SO YOU THINK THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS Houses fold. / No person is just a number. / The Lady wins over Fate. / She is the law of probability, not inevitability. / But one does not depend on the Lady. / One depends on oneself, one’s friends, family and community. // Home-- not house, is where the heart is, / & this angel is a sharp straight shot. / A good woman’s voice is like an angel’s / more powerful than the shallow siren songs wrecking men. / A good woman combines the fervent ecstasy of sacrifice & desire / the undying fire of her hearth, / because he nurtures the flame and they give each other life, / This light for each other can turn any place, maze, road or house, / through redemption and salvation, forgiveness, nurturing and love, / and faith into their home, both of them bettering each other. / There’s nothing more powerful than love, not even death.
people being shipped there from Texas? You should try coming out from under your rocks. BUT there is Always opportunity! Governor Abbott (Texas) would LOVE to ship Many thousands of border crossers to Spokane! They are SO overwhelmed cost wise that if we could come up with the money they could be here in a VERY short time. Not just a few but number appropriate as to the MILLIONS that have come into Texas—sat 15-20 thousand—as to the size of Spokane? Then you could say we were doing our part to REALLY show Trump what we are made of. Don’t you think? After all how many millions were spent cleaning up those lots next to the freeway? Seems like space going to waste!
TO THOSE THAT REELECTED HIM He doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He admires dictators
JEERS
COME ON ELON The dictionary defines musk as a strong-smelling reddish brown substance, which is secreted by the male musk deer for scent-marking, and wow! How accurate that definition fits your political and cultural trajectory! Scent marking all over the American people with your narrow hate, small-mindedness, and censorship, while freak flying your Mars rocket as you kiss the ring of the Orange One. These shenanigans are boring intellectually, and your vast perch on which you manipulate information and limit resources based on your opinions, to the detriment of freedom for all humanity, has you on the short list of worst humans out now.
accept reservations from those seeking a meal on a holiday. My husband and I went out on Thanksgiving to a restaurant and discovered that there was a line of folks waiting outside that stretched all of the way around the building…and it was 34 degrees outside. Needless to say we were disappointed because we went home without turkey and stuffing. Please, please, please make holidays great again.
OFF 1. Visit Inlander.com/isawyou by 3 pm Monday. 2. Pick a category (I
PLENTY OF SPACE BY THE FREEWAY So in todays newspaper there is a story about a man feverishly working on paperwork for illegals to stay in the country—because of course Evil President Trump wants to send them back where they came from—very poor, non producing. Spokanites? You EVER read or hear about what is going on in “Sanctuary Cities” like New York where they all of a sudden changed their tune about
and wants to be one himself. You can judge a person by the company they keep and who they admire.
RE: WHO VOTED FOR WHAT? That’s just what millions of European Jews did in the 1940s, “wait and see,” unbelieving the horror at their door until too late. Your hysteric Nazi comments reflect the solidly tone-deaf ideology of zombie robot killers, trumping any thoughtful progression for fellow humans. Using woke as a derogatory term, jesting at awareness and justice for all highlights your dangerous small mind. You sound like a monger, evolve already.
REALTORS/LANDLORDS/MAYOR Looking for one
RE: BOZO That’s the best description of the Biden/Harris administration yet! DEI hires galore as VP picks and press secretary, and for what?!? For one GD second out of the last four years, how are these people ‘qualified’? You want to jump to conclusions about who is being picked for your next four years? Buckle up.
GROSS AND INHUMANE I am so sick and tired of dogs in the store. Pooping on the
floor, sitting in the cart, and being handled like a kid. You people need to stop... And leave your “kids” at home! They are NOT service animals.
RE: WHO VOTED FOR WHAT You did not seriously just hit me with that “woke agenda” nonsense. There IS no woke agenda, but there IS Project 2025 — make massive cuts to education, public transportation, and health care, while installing Christian nationalism and further suppressing queer people, women, and anybody who isn’t white. His plans on Day One include mass deportations and starting trade wars with Mexico and Canada. Without all the immigrants you want gone, food will become scarce and home construction will cease. The majority of the country DID NOT vote for him. He just received the winning number of votes while most stayed home. Believe it or not my sympathy for liars goes BELOW ground once they start using words they don’t know the meanings to. “Woke” means “aware of systemic oppression,” not “whatever I don’t like.” Better get off your butt and go to a farm, because those immigrants do more work in a day than you probably have IN, YOUR, LIFE!
WORLD STAGE The difference between Christians and Muslims is the same difference between Catholic and Protestant. The difference is leadership of spiritual life which includes the rituals of prayer and marriage. Catholics believe in the authority of the Pope, while Protestants believe in salvation, redemption and deliverance. The division between Sunni Muslims 85% and Shia Muslims 15% dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632. Since there was no successor, leadership was based on the traditions of the prophet, while a smaller group believed it should have stayed within the prophet’s family bloodline. The historical divisions in the Middle East are playing out on the world stage with a distorted view of the history of the area, such as: Palestine is mostly Sunni, while Iran and Iraq are mostly Shia. n
NOTE: I Saw You/Cheers & Jeers is for adults 18 or older. The Inlander reserves the right to edit or reject any posting at any time at its sole discretion and assumes no responsibility for the content.
EVENTS | CALENDAR
BENEFIT
CHRISTMAS TREE ELEGANCE The annual raffle of 15 custom-decorated trees supports the Spokane Symphony, through the Spokane Symphony Associates, and includes trees on display at River Park Square as well as the Historic Davenport Hotel. Raffle tickets are $1 each. Dec. 3-15. Through Dec. 15, 10 am-9 pm. spokanesymphonyassoc.org
HOLIDAY FOOD BASKET FUNDRAISER SAN, Spokane Pride, and the ISCS are teaming up to raise money to build and distribute food baskets to LGBTQ+ community members. Proceeds from drag show and silent auction benefit the baskets directly. Dec. 6, 6-8 pm. $10. nYne Bar & Bistro, 232 W. Sprague Ave. spokanepride.org (509-760-4676)
BEN KLEIN AS ELVIS Ben Klein performs as Elvis along with his parents Gwen and Randy. The show benefits local food banks as well as Christ Kitchen. Dec. 7, 6 pm. $15-$25. Spokane Eagles Lodge, 6410 N. Lidgerwood St. benklein.net
GREAT GINGERBREAD BUILD-OFF Watch talented teams as they compete to create magnificent giant gingerbread houses. Vote for your favorite creation by purchasing tickets for $1 each. Proceeds benefit Ashley House of Spokane. Dec. 7, 10 am-2:30 pm. $1. River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave. ah-nw.org
SPOKANE LILAC FESTIVAL HOLIDAY
BRUNCH A brunch featuring a breakfast, no-host bar, permanent jewelry, raffles and more. Benefits the Spokane Lilac Festival Association. Dec. 7, 10 am-noon. $70. Historic Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. spokanelilacfestival.org
COMEDY
DAVID CROSS Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee David Cross is an inventive performer, writer and producer on stage and screen. Dec. 5, 8 pm. $52-$110. Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino, 14300 W. SR Highway 2. spokanetribecasino.com (877-789-9467)
FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY JOKE JOKE
JOKE A unique comedy experience that takes full advantage of the theater’s projector system, combining stand-up comedy, live sketches and other bits. This month features Ryan McComb, Rob Wentz and Wilma Dargen. Dec. 5, 7:30-9 pm. $15. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland. garlandtheater.org
EDDIE GRIFFIN Griffin is an American stand-up comedian and actor best known for portraying Eddie Sherman in
the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. Dec. 6-7, 7 & 9:45 pm. $37-$52. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)
JOE GATTO Joe Gatto is a comedian best known from the hit TV shows Impractical Jokers and The Misery Index. Ages 16+ suggested. Dec. 7, 7-10 pm. $40-$60. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls. firstinterstatecenter.org
COMMUNITY
JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLE CRUIS-
ES Take a lake cruise to see 1.5 million twinkling lights and visit Santa. Daily at 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm through Jan. 1. $14-$29. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises. com (208-765-4000)
LIBERTY LAKE WINTER GLOW SPEC-
TACULAR A holiday light show featuring various installations and displays. Daily. through Jan. 1. Free. Orchard Park, 20298 E. Indiana. winterglowspectacular.com
NORTHWEST WINTERFEST An indoor holiday lantern display and cultural celebration featuring light displays and experiences in holiday cultures of the world. Fri from 5-8 pm, Sat from 4-8pm, Sun and special holidays from 3-6 pm through Dec. 31. $13-$43. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. northwestwinterfest.com
SHIBARI IS THE WAY SOCIAL Meet others in the shibari space in Spokane. Dec. 6, 7:30 pm. Free. The Chameleon, 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. chameleonspokane.com
1912 CENTER WINTER MARKET A market featuring food, locally made goods, crafts and more. Dec. 7, 9 am-1 pm. 1912 Center, 412 E. Third St. 1912center.org
BLITZEN BASH Meet Santa’s reindeer, participate in kid-friendly activities and more. Dec. 7, 11 am-3 pm. Free. River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave. riverparksquare.com (509-624-3945)
COLFAX LIBRARY WINTERFEST This family-friendly event features pictures with Santa, ornament making, storytime and more. Dec. 7, 3-6 pm. Free. Colfax Library, 102 S. Main St. whitcolib.org
GIFTS FOR THE STRANGE & UNUSUAL
An artist and vendor market featuring 18 artisans, three local musicians, oddities and more. Dec. 7, 10 am-4 pm. Free. Patera Lounge, 1507 E. Sprague Ave. instagram.com/pateralounge
GIZMO’S MERRY MAKERS MARKET
A holiday gift market featuring handcrafted items by Gizmo CDA makers. Dec. 7, 12-4:30 pm. Free. Gizmo-CDA, 283 N.
Hubbard Ave. Suite 102. gizmo-cda.org
HOLIDAY ON THE AVE Celebrate the holiday season with pop-up shops, live carolers, gingerbread decorating, giveaways and holiday-themed activities throughout the shopping district. Dec. 7, 10 am. Sprague Union District, 2400-1600 E. Sprague Ave. spragueuniondistrict.com
VINTAGE HOLIDAY This open house event features guided tours, live music, hot wassail, decorations and a historic clothing fashion show. Dec. 7, 11 am-2 pm. Free-$25. Perkins House Museum, 623 N. Perkins Ave., Colfax. whitmancountyhistoricalsociety.org
WHEATLAND BANK FREE HORSE & CARRIAGE RIDES An 8-10-minute loop through scenic Riverfront Park and downtown Spokane. Sat-Sun from noon5 pm through Dec. 22. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. downtownspokane.org (509-625-6600)
FILM
BACKCOUNTRY FILM FESTIVAL Celebrate human-powered, backcountry-inspired stories rooted in wild snowscapes, stewardship and stoke. Dec. 6, 6:30-9 pm. $12. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. tinyurl.com/Backcountry-Film-Fest
BING CROSBY HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL
This annual film festival features screenings of Bing Crosby’s holiday films White Christmas, plus Here Comes the Groom and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Dec. 7, 11 am-9 pm. $20. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com
FESTIVE FLICKS: GREMLINS A young man breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of monsters on a small town. Dec. 9, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)
KRAMPUS A sensory relaxed screening. When dysfunctional family squabbling causes young Max to lose his festive spirit, it unleashes the wrath of the fearsome demon. Dec. 11, 6:30 pm. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org
FOOD & DRINK
NO-LI FROST FEST This 10th annual event features plenty of No-Li beers in a limited Frost Fest mug, live music by DJ Donuts and DJ Exodus, $8 fills and more fun. Dec. 7, 12-3 pm. $16. No-Li Brewhouse, 1003 E. Trent. nolibrewhouse.com
VINTAGE CAKE CLASS A vintage inspired cake decorating class with Baking Me Crazy by Christina. Learn how to fill, frost and decorate a cake in vintage fashion. Dec. 8, 4-6 pm. $90. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)
WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS DINNER A light dinner of soup, salad and bread with a program to follow including a speaker and crafts. Dec. 9, 6 pm. $7. New Horizons Community Church, 3122 W. Lincoln Rd. nhccspokane.com (509-327-6433)
THE WANDERING TABLE This is a nomadic restaurant the travels around the Pacific Northwest featuring a 12-course dinner featuring local, seasonal products and producers paired with wine and cocktails. Dec. 13, 6 pm. $81-$134. Baba, 1242 W. Summit Pkwy. facebook.com/ TheWanderingTable
MUSIC
TRAVOLTA CHRISTMAS SHOW: THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS A holiday performance starring the Shotwell Family and produced by Ellen Travolta, this show promises a blend of music, storytelling and local traditions. Thu-Sun from 7:309:30 pm through Dec. 22. $35. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort. com/travolta-christmas-show
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WSU choral ensembles, wind ensemble and the jazz big band perform holiday music featuring a sing-along. Dec. 7, 2-4 pm. Free. Bryan Hall Theatre (WSU), 605 Veterans Way. music.wsu.edu (509-335-3898)
A VERY NORDIC HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Musicians play Irish music for the holidays. Dec. 7, 3 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390)
THE NUTCRACKER AND OTHER HOLIDAY FAVORITE Celebrate the holiday season with classic selections like “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, The Nutcracker Suite and more. Dec. 8, 3 pm. $11-$27. University of Idaho Administration Building, 851 Campus Dr. wa-idsymphony.org
A CELTIC CHRISTMAS Everdream, an acclaimed Celtic group of harp, violin and soprano voice, perform beloved Christmas songs and Irish tunes. Dec. 10, 7:30 pm. $22-$25. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org (208-263-9191)
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA: IN THE CHRISTMAS MOOD The Glenn Miller Orchestra plays their timeless hits and also puts a twist on favorite holiday songs. Dec. 10, 7 pm. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
DJ NIGHT ON THE ICE Skate with music, lights, contests and more. Dec. 6-Jan. 24, every Friday at 6 pm. $7-$10. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. riverfrontspokane.com (509-625-6600)
THE SANTA RUN 10K & 5K Choose between a chip-timed 10k and 5k running along Lake Coeur d’Alene and through downtown. Runners receive a finisher medal and festive treats. Dec. 7, 9-11 am. $45-$65. Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza Shops, 210 Sherman. nsplit.com
SPOKANE CHIEFS VS. WENATCHEE WILD Regular season game, including the Teddy Bear Toss. Dec. 7, 6:05 pm. $12-$40. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanechiefs.com
THEATER & DANCE
AUNTIE SCROOGE A backwards Christmas Carol radio play where the audience is eyewitness to the noises required to make a radio drama come to life. Dec. 5-15; Thu-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Pullman Civic Theatre, 1220 NW Nye St. pullmancivictheatre.org (509-332-8406)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts. WedSat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm through Dec. 22. $15-$41. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com
HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD Nineteen years after Harry, Ron and Hermione saved the Wizarding World, they’re back on an extraordinary new adventure, this time joined by a brave new generation that has just arrived at Hogwarts. Ages 8+. Dec. 5-15, Thu-Sat at 7 pm. $10-$12. North Central High School, 1600 N. Howard. spokaneschools.org THE NUTCRACKER State Street Ballet and over 70 local dancers bring The Nutcracker to life while Tchaikovsky’s timeless score is played live by the Spokane Symphony. Dec. 5-8; Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 3 pm. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER A couple putting on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm through Dec. 22. $12-$18. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia. spokanechildrenstheatre.org
...continued on page 54
Saturday 12/7 vs. Wenatchee Wild
Toss a new teddy bear on the ice when the Chiefs score their first goal. All bears collected will be donated to the Christmas Bureau coordinated by Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, Volunteers of America, and The Spokesman-Review.
Presented By: Sponsored By: 6pm Game Time:
POLITICS
Trump Card Questions
President-elect Trump’s unclear policy on cannabis extends to his nominees for government agencies
ANALYSIS BY WILL MAUPIN
It’s been a month since Election Day, so if you thought cannabis policy and political discourse would have separated by now you’d be forgiven, but you’d also be wrong.
A new administration also means a new set of administrators, and President-elect Donald Trump has been fast and furious with announcing who he wants to lead various government agencies, including those that oversee cannabis policy.
As the candidate who was less cannabis-friendly than Kamala Harris, Trump has somewhat surprisingly nominated a number of people to important roles who, according to their past views on cannabis legalization, might actually provide a path forward. Or, at least, they once looked positively on such a path.
DEA
Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration is Chad Chronister, sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, which includes and surrounds Tampa.
While Hillsborough is one of the most populous counties in Florida, it’s a far cry from the size of the United States, which Chronister could soon patrol as the top official in charge of the nation’s drug enforcement.
As far as cannabis is concerned, Chronister has at least historically been a fan of reducing penalties. In 2020, based on reporting from Marijuana Moment, the presumptive DEA administrator was publicly in favor of reducing low-level possession to a civil rather than criminal offense.
Recreational cannabis possession remains illegal in Florida. Medical use is allowed.
SURGEON GENERAL
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, whom Trump announced as his pick for surgeon general in late November, is largely known as a TV personality. Nesheiwat has often voiced concern for cannabis use in recent years. But her earlier posts, perhaps reflecting her position on the issue before jockeying for favor with Trump, took a more nuanced approach.
Most notably, in 2018 Nesheiwat said on Twitter, now known as X, “I’m all for medical marijuana. seizures, cancer patients etc.”
In years since, Nesheiwat has become famous as a contributor on Fox News as a medical opinion maker, with numerous instances of anti-cannabis stances. What does she really believe about cannabis? Who knows?
TRUMP HIMSELF
Dating back to his initial run for president in 2016, Trump has repeatedly called for cannabis, like other hot button issues such as abortion, to be settled at the state level.
In 2024, Trump expressed support for moving cannabis from Schedule I, the most illegal of all drugs at the federal level, to Schedule III. He also supported a legalization amendment in his adopted home state of Florida, which failed to get enough votes to pass in November.
Trump’s campaign, on the other hand, succeeded. So, honestly, who knows? n
New administrators at the federal level could change cannabis policy. LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
NOTE TO READERS
Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a 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.
A CHRISTMAS STORY Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s follows nineyear-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Dec. 6-15; Fri-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 3 pm. $18-$20. Pend Oreille Playhouse, 236 S. Union Ave. pendoreilleplayers.com (509-447-9900)
FOR UNTO Y’ALL A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS From the days of the Old West comes this modernized version of the Christmas story, set in the little town of Bethlehem in Wyoming Territory. Dec. 6-14; Fri-Sat at 6:30 pm. $35. Northwoods Performing Arts Center, 3645 N. SR 211, Newport. northwoodsperformingarts.com
6-28, Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore.com
PAT SCHILLING & SHERRY SYRIE Pat Schilling displays photography and Sherry Syrie displays her artworks. Dec. 6-28, Thu-Sat from 11 am-4 pm. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone Ave. avenuewestgallery.com
SARANAC ART PROJECTS MEMBERS SHOW SAP members showcase their unique artwork. Dec. 6-28, Fri-Sat from 12-8 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com
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.
TIERA MAY, BRIAN DEEMY & HANNAH CHARLTON Tiera May and Brian Deemy both create eclectic, occult artwork. Hannah Charlton creates illuminated manuscripts. Dec. 6-29, daily from 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com
MINISTER OF SORROW On a cold and damp November day Emma Pace is called out to deliver books to The Reverend Mr. Cahill, a man she thought lay buried within her troubled past. Dec. 6-22; Thu-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $25-$30. Stage Left Theater, 108 W. Third Ave. stagelefttheater.org
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL A musical based on the classic holiday tale and 1964 stop-motion film. Dec. 10-11, 7:30 pm. $25-$75. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org
VISUAL ARTS
ADAM BLALOCK Blalock’s preferred subject matter is landscapes. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through Dec. 28. Free. Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. spokanelibertybuilding.com
8TH ANNUAL MAC HOLIDAY ARTIST STUDIO TOUR This annual self-guided tour features the work of six local artists showcasing their work in their studios. Location information provided in ticket email. Dec. 7, 10 am-4 pm. $20-$25. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
EMERGE MINIS SHOW Small pieces of art by regional artists. Dec. 13-Jan. 4, Tue-Sat from 10 am-6 pm. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second. emergecda. com (208-930-1876)
ART CLUB Youth and families are invited to create together and explore the world of art. Use everything Spark Central has to offer to craft, write or build a piece of art for yourself. Every Friday from 4-6 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. sparkcentral.org (509-279-0299)
WORDS
HOLIDAY ARTS SHOP An art market featuring handmade pottery, ornaments, fiber and fabric arts, bowls, jewelry and more with live music from local musicians. Dec. 5-8; times vary. Free. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St., Newport. createarts.org
greenhand DAILY SPECIALS
SMALL WORKS EXHIBIT The gallery’s 29th annual small works exhibit featuring artworks that double as gifts for the holidays. Wed-Sun from 11 am-6 pm through Dec. 29. Free. The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. theartspiritgallery.com
BIG CITY ART GALLERY FIRST FRIDAY The grand opening of Dylan Lipsker’s new art gallery. Dec. 6, 5 pm. Free. Big City Art Studio & Gallery, 1107 W. First. Ave. dlipart.com
CUP OF JOY Local and regional ceramic artists create mugs to sell. Dec. 6-Jan. 11; Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm. Also by appt. Sales conducted online as well as in the gallery. Free admission. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net
FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane and beyond host monthly receptions to showcase new displays of art. Fri, Dec. 6 from 5-8 pm. Free. Spokane. downtownspokane.org/first-friday
FIGURES A group art show featuring artists Janelle Cordero, Brian Deemy, Jake Gillespie, Aurelia Nova, Scott Gyllstrom and Navanjali Kelsey. Dec. 6-28; Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe St. terrainspokane.com
NEW MOON SMALL WORKS SHOW A showcase of small works made by members and local guest artists. Dec.
PIVOT OPEN MIC: THANK YOU? An open mic with a theme of “thank you?” Participants are invited to tell a five minute story under the theme. Prize is awarded to best story. Dec. 5, 7-9 pm. By donation. Whistle Punk Brewing, 122 S. Monroe St. pivotspokane.com HOW TO FINISH AND EDIT A NOVEL Sharma Shields discusses concluding and editing a novel manuscript. If you like, you can bring your novelin-progress to work on following the discussion. Dec. 6, 10 am-noon. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org
BOOKSGIVING Bring a favorite book, wrap it as a gift with a short description or prompt for a blind book exchange. Dec. 8, 5:30 pm. Free. Booktraders, 907 W. Garland Ave. facebook. com/booksrockmysocksoff
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
CREATIVE WRITING CLUB Stretch your writing skills with fun prompts, character creation, world building and more. Every Wednesday from 3:304:30 pm. Ages 8-12. Free. Moscow Public Library, 110 S. Jefferson St. latahlibrary.org (208-882-3925)
HARMONY WRITERS GROUP A writing group focused on memoir and craft. Every other week on Thursday from 5:15-7 pm. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org n
The day before
45. “I hear Yaz!”
48. Rappers’ feud
49. “I’ve ___ zit before”
50. Securities trader, for Shortz
51. Onze, in Spanish
53. They grow into large trezzes
55. Animal noise that’ll wake you up on a farm
59. Pitchfork point
60. Native Zandezan
61. Landlocked Asian republic
65. “Law & Order: SVU” actor
66. Accessorizes
67. Prez-Nintendo console
68. “___ Bridges” (TV show with Johnson and Marzin)
69. Word before nail or nob
70. Caffeine pill brand to keep you awake (or, when respaced, instructions on how to handle many of the clues)
DOWN
1. “Queen Sugar” creator DuVernay
2. Theorizes Getz tested here
3. “Greatest” boxer
4. Welcomed, as the new year
5. Rizzo award in 2016 6. Pocket bread
7. Since who-knows-when 8. Early anesthetic 9. Fezline noise
10. Sherlock Holmes, notably 11.
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