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EDITOR’S NOTE
s the final days of 2024 wind down and we enter the final stretch of this quarter-century, most of us pause to reflect on the year that was, and the year to come. Here at the Inlander, we’ve been contemplating all the important, challenging and fulfilling stories our small-but-mighty team had the privilege to share, featured here in our annual YEAR IN REVIEW issue.
On the news side, we dove deep into demographics data, long overdue environmental cleanup, the homelessness crisis, the devastating toll of the fentanyl crisis and much more. For the arts and culture team, our favorite stories ranged from following Gonzaga basketball’s success and uncovering the region’s LGTBQ+ history to discovering a forgotten children’s book and what it’s like behind the scenes at Scarywood. Food-wise, we looked back at the dozens of openings, closings and other big moments in the region’s hospitality industry. In the movie and music spheres, our critics rounded up their least-enjoyed movies of the year (check back next week for their top titles), plus we count down the top 10 albums of 2024. Also don’t miss some of our staff photographers’ favorite images of the year, starting on page 22!
Happy New Year!
— CHEY SCOTT, Editor
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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF 2024?
JACK JOHANSEN
Oooh, probably going to Scarywood.
What made that such a fond memory for you?
I saw this interesting magic show. They had a very unexpected sense of humor where they were basically just sitting there cursing at each other and just saying all kinds of absurd stuff. It was so slap-in-the-face I didn’t expect it.
CORINNE VAN OSTRAND
This last year I did a lot more things outside of work to make my life better.
What kind of things?
I started playing volleyball in the community, I got my fishing license with my boyfriend so we went fishing quite a bit. I actually went to Argentina recently and I got to see some penguins and glaciers, it was gorgeous.
MARIETTE NASCIMENTO
I have to say the birth of my first nephew. His name’s Rafa, short for Rafael, and he was born at the end of October.
How does it feel to be a first-time auntie?
It’s very exciting, I’m going home to Southern California for Christmas so I get to see him more.
JESSICA CARROLL
Getting a dog, he’s a goldendoodle.
What did you name him?
He actually came with a name, Syden, which is kinda odd, but we all love him.
How has he fit into your family?
He has wild energy, but he’s so fun and makes us laugh. He brings a lot of unexpected moments to our life.
LORI GREENWOOD
I moved to Spokane from Seattle to take a new job at Spokane Community College and I’m loving it. I’m loving the whole city.
What do you do at the college?
I work in marketing automation in CRM systems, so it’s a fun mix of marketing and technology.
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TLooking Back, Looking Forward
Five great reads that stood out during the tumultuous year of 2024
BY BILL BRYANT
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hese limbo days between years, days we spend looking forward as much as backwards, are hinges that close and open doors. Reflection and anticipation are particularly appropriate in these final days of 2024, because we are about to step through a door into a new age of discovery.
From genetic, viral and immunotherapy research that’s transforming medicine and biology, to space travel that’s transforming our sense of place, to Artificial Intelligence that could transform us, we are stepping into an exploration of the unknown.
Perhaps, if only subconsciously, that’s occupied my mind this past year, because when I listed my five favorite books of 2024 (four published this year; one in 2008), I realized each was related to exploration. There are lessons in these five books that could instruct us as we look forward.
Hampton Sides’ book Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West (2006) is one of my favorite books of all time, so I eagerly awaited his 2024 book, THE WIDE WIDE SEA It did not disappoint. Sides, an extraordinary storyteller, provides an account of British explorer Cook’s third and final voyage (1776-1780). Having already significantly contributed to astronomy, ethnology, nutrition, navigation and Earth’s geography in his first two voyages, in his third, Captain James Cook (yes, Gene Roddenberry’s
“If I have failed in discovering a continent, it is because it does not exist… and not for want of looking.”
— CAPTAIN JAMES COOK
James Kirk’s name is intentionally similar) explored much of the Northwest Pacific Coast and searched for a sea passage over North America. Sides tells this story of exploration from a 21st Century perspective, acknowledging that while Cook’s interest lay in cartography and scientific discoveries, one cannot — and Cook did not — ignore how his exploration facilitated conquest and colonialism.
THE LAST STAND OF THE RAVEN CLAN by Gerald Easter and Mara Vorhees (2024) focuses on the exploiters who follow the explorers. In 1728 and 1741, Captain Vitus Bering, sailing for the Russian Tsar, searched for a connection between Siberia and America so that Russia could challenge Spain’s claim to the entire Pacific Coast of North America. Bering did not find a connection, but he did find fur, specifically sea otter fur, a most prized commodity in China and around the
world. By the 1760s, Russian fur traders exploited the Alaska coast and archipelago. By the 1780s, they were fighting with indigenous people and building forts and colonies there. Russia (let’s not give Putin any ideas) claimed and intended to settle as far south as San Francisco and would have had the Tlingit not stopped them at Sitka. This is a story of the unintended cultural and environmental consequences of discovery, and of indigenous people, decades before Red Cloud, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, who stopped the expansion of an empire.
YOU DREAMED OF EMPIRES by Alvaro Enrigue (2024) is a surreal, somewhat hallucinogenic account of the first encounters between Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and Aztec Emperor Moctezuma. The emperor is detached from the daily lives of his people, absorbed instead in ritual and self-indulgence. Cortes is at odds with Spanish authorities, impatient, confused and greedy. Neither understand the other. Neither really tries to. This is less a story of cultures clashing and more a story of cultures simply being bewildered by the other. Toward this story’s end, bits of the future seep into 1519, just as shards of this dream could reflect upon today or tomorrow.
If you want to laugh, cringe and cry, you gotta read A WALK IN THE PARK (2024). Those who read Kevin Fedarko’s The Green Mile and wonder how he could top that, need to read this book and find out. Two friends set out to explore the Grand Canyon (not just the park, but the entire canyon) from end to end. I have hiked three different segments of the canyon backcountry that Fedarko covered, so I can relate to the beauty and brutality the canyon dishes out. Fedarko nails it. His is a story of exploring a space unlike any other on Earth, of sensing the awe and other-worldliness that accompanies one down towards our planet’s core. This story explores how, in our drive to progress, we do and don’t preserve the sacred. It’s an exploration of self, and how we experience the unexpected.
Also set in the American Southwest, Craig Childs’ HOUSE OF RAIN (2008) explores what happened to the ancient Puebloans (often called Anasazi). Between 900-1200 CE, these people built a civilization in the Southwest that excelled in art, trade, engineering, architecture and astronomy. Chaco, their center, supported 30,000-40,000 people, who just disappeared. Of course, 40,000 people don’t disappear. From still preserved rooms tucked high into canyon walls, to storage vaults in museum basements, Childs literally, step-by-step, follows the path of those who abandoned Chaco, exploring where they went, who they became, and how they did and didn’t deal with climate change, religious zealotry and immigration.
In these last days of 2024, you could read a bookshelf about what’s happening in America and the world right now, but these reads will be more fun, better for your blood pressure and might provide some context for thinking about what lies on the other side of a door that’s about to open. n
Bill Bryant, who served on the Seattle Port Commission from 2008-16, ran against Jay Inslee as the Republican nominee in the 2016 governor’s race. He lives in Winthrop, Washington.
The Annual Rewind
Political infighting, challenges with homeless sheltering, the fentanyl crisis, and more of the biggest Inland Northwest news from 2024
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM, VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ, COLTON RASANEN AND SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL
This year saw some big transitions on our news team. In April, I moved up to become news editor. Though I’m still writing (admittedly less often), it left a hole on our small, three-person news team. Nate Sanford and Colton Rasanen stepped up to report even more news, covering the biggest happenings in the city and our local school districts, as well as the community at large. By July, we brought on Victor Corral Martinez, who’d previously reported in North Idaho and California, to fill out our team. Then in September, Sanford returned to Seattle to take the next step in his career, but first he wrote a marathon of election coverage for us. Luckily, we were able to tap the journalistic talent we already had in Eliza Billingham, pulling her from our food section to take over the city beat.
In the midst of all our internal changes, this team reported powerful stories on the people who live here, important changes in our region, and the challenges facing our city, county, state and tribal leaders in both Washington and Idaho. Throughout it all, we kept in mind our goal to highlight the news through the experiences of those who are most impacted. As the year comes to a close, we rounded up some of the biggest news of the year, and stories we’re proud of.
— SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL,
NEWS EDITOR
WHO’S HERE? (JAN. 25)
The end of December and beginning of January are notoriously slow times for journalists. Every source seems to be taking time off and regular meetings are often cancelled due to the holidays.
It’s a wonderful time to dig into data. That’s what we did at the end of 2023 and into early 2024 with voter data from the Idaho Secretary of State. Thanks to an optional question on voter registration forms, we were able to decipher where voters in Idaho had moved from. This data also allowed us to dispel the common misconception that Californians are moving to Idaho to liberalize the Gem State. In fact, about 80% of the nearly 40,000 Californians who moved to Idaho had registered as Republicans.
While the same information wasn’t available in Washington, we were able to find similar information in driver’s license data. Every time someone moves to Washington, they have 30 days to obtain a new state license. While we couldn’t parse the political affiliation of these new Washingtonians, we could determine which states they came from. Both data sets confirmed: More people moved to Washington and Idaho from California than from any other state. That’s not necessarily surprising when you consider that, aside from its proximity, California has a population comparable to some countries, such as Canada and Paraguay.
Why people moved to each state still remains unclear. For some, it was likely a lower cost of living. For others, it was probably tied to the low population density Idaho is known for. The Idaho Secretary of State data hasn’t been updated since November 2023, but in Washington the updates keep coming by the month, showcasing the same trends we analyzed a year ago. (CR)
SUPERFUND STATUS (FEB. 22)
The Columbia River flows for roughly 150 miles from the Canadian border to Grand Coulee Dam. Just about 10 river miles north of the border, Teck, a Canadian mining company, owns a lead-zinc smelter, which historically dumped black sand-like slag in the river.
In 2006, a settlement kicked off a detailed pollution study of the Upper Columbia region by the Environmental Protection Agency and Teck. Though the company has been helping determine the extent of the contamination, and has paid to clean some yards contaminated with high levels of lead, Teck is not necessarily liable for the overall cleanup.
As we reported in February, the EPA started meeting with involved parties late in 2023 to suggest listing the site as a Superfund, making it eligible for federal cleanup money.
After a months-long public process, the EPA officially designated the Upper Columbia River Site as a Superfund on the National Priorities List this month. Lead-contaminated soils throughout the site pose a particular risk to children and women of childbearing age, and sediments in the river are contaminated with zinc, copper, cadmium, selenium, lead and mercury, the EPA announced on Dec. 13.
While the listing doesn’t guarantee the site will receive federal funding, regional leaders lauded the move. In a statement shared by the EPA, Jarred-Michael Erickson, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, said the tribes are pleased with the decision, noting the river was “used for decades as a waste disposal site.”
“Past leaders and staff of the Colville Tribes initiated
Emergency room nurse Hannah Cvancara continues fighting to join the military. (See “Best Foot Forward,” page 12.)
YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
and sustained the work of cleaning up the river, and today the Colville Tribes has been in litigation with Canadian company Teck Resources Limited for over 20 years to make them take responsibility for remediation of the river,” Erikson stated. “While that litigation continues, a Super-
fund listing will unlock access to funds necessary for a thorough remediation of the river, and the listing reflects the high priority for cleanup that this site deserves. Everyone is better served if we clean the river now rather than pass the problem on to future generations.” (SW)
VIGILANTE ‘VETS’ (APRIL 11)
This spring, a militia group from Arizona made its way through Spokane, and our previous city reporter Nate Sanford let our readers know what was happening.
Veterans on Patrol, or VOP, spent weeks searching the streets and homeless shelters for people they thought were human traffickers, encouraging homeless people to call VOP instead of the police if they suspected anything. The Western States Center, a civil rights organization that monitors extremism, described the vigilante group as an anti-government “paramilitary organization” and a “conspiracy-fueled bigoted organization that openly aligns itself with white nationalists.”
Sanford interviewed Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer, the leader of Veterans on Patrol, who isn’t a veteran. Meyer was upfront with Sanford that his group collaborates with motorcycle gangs and the Proud Boys, whom the Anti-Defamation League considers a “right-wing extremist group with a violent agenda.”
Meyer’s second in command, Shawna Martin, lives in Spokane. Meyer claimed that he was building a base in the Inland Northwest, but Sanford’s reporting revealed that was big talk, with little action.
Recently, Meyer was most likely in North Carolina, according to reporting by the Guardian. (EB)
RACIAL COVENANTS (APRIL 25)
Since 2016, local historians have been drawing attention to legally documented racism in home deeds or titles. Communities all over Washington participated by putting racially restrictive covenants on properties in an effort to keep anyone who wasn’t white out of certain neighborhoods, and even cemeteries.
In 2021, the Washington Legislature tasked Eastern
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Jordan Ellinwood, with Frontier Behavioral Health, works on Spokane Fire Department’s Behavioral Response Unit. (See “Fentanyl Crisis,” page 15.) ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
Washington University and the University of Washington with locating all such racial covenants in the state.
In April, we reported that Eastern’s “Racial Covenants Project” team had located nearly all of those covenants in Eastern Washington. Spokane County has since become the first region to see the mapped results, which were posted in October at EWURacialCovenants.org/Map.
Racially restrictive covenants haven’t been legally enforceable since a 1948 Supreme Court decision ruled them unconstitutional. But until the Fair Housing Act passed in 1968, it wasn’t illegal to record them. Eastern’s team found racial covenants in our area written between 1928 and 1955.
Though deeds and titles are legally protected records, property owners have options to address the covenants. They can either add a document to their property records officially declaring the racial covenants void, or go to Superior Court to get a judge’s approval to strike the covenant from the chain of title. (SW)
BIG BUCKS (MAY 30)
Plenty of people throw around ideas about how to improve public safety and perceptions of crime and grime in Spokane. But few throw thousands of dollars behind those ideas.
This spring, Nate Sanford covered the creation of the Spokane Business Association, or SBA, a nonprofit lobbying organization and the brainchild of conservative businessman Larry Stone.
Stone owns the warehouse that was used as the Trent Resource and Assistance Center homeless shelter and is still leased to the city.
He spent more than $200,000 during the last mayoral election in support of former Mayor Nadine Woodward, plus more money on political ads concerning homelessness and bus lanes.
Now, the SBA is voicing similar concerns to Mayor Lisa Brown. The association’s top priorities include enforcing drug laws, promoting affordable housing, building a new jail, and enforcing Proposition 1 — a 2023 ballot measure that criminalized camping within
...continued on page 12
1,000 feet of schools, parks, and playgrounds. The Stone-funded proposition passed with 75% of the vote last November.
During this year’s general election, a different Proposition 1 was on the ballot. Brown asked the public for a 0.1% increase in sales tax to support new public safety initiatives downtown and throughout the city.
Despite Stone’s recent criticism of Brown, the SBA endorsed this year’s Prop 1. The endorsement came with the expectation that the majority of funding would increase the on-street presence of police and fire services, SBA’s CEO Gavin Cooley said.
The SBA was disappointed when Brown said that much of the new money would help purchase new fire engines. Still, the association decided to stand behind its endorsement after the city began its Community Outreach, Response and Engagement, or CORE, program. The 30-day pilot increased the number of police officers downtown, as well as the number of rehousing experts and mental health specialists.
Eventually earning an endorsement from the Downtown Spokane Partnership as well, the sales tax increase passed comfortably. The SBA will likely continue to be a well-funded voice on how the new revenue is spent. (EB)
BEST FOOT FORWARD (JUNE 20)
What do The New York Times and the Inlander have in common? Both ran stories this year about Hannah Cvancara, a Spokane emergency room nurse fighting to serve in the armed forces.
Due to a random congenital birth defect that resulted in a deformed fibula, Cvancara’s left leg was amputated below the knee when she was an infant. Since then, she’s grown into a rock climber, swimmer, snowboarder, volleyball player, Miss Spokane pageant winner, and inexhaustible registered nurse. The daughter of an Air Force medic, Cvancara has spent most of her life looking forward to serving the military with her medical expertise.
But because of a clause in the Department of Defense’s Medical Standards for Military Service, no one missing a limb is allowed to enlist.
If you’re an active military member and you lose a limb, you can continue to serve as long as you can still pass the basic physical requirements. But if you lose a limb as a civilian, you’re not allowed into the military. Cvancara can pass every physical exam with flying colors, but rules are rules, recruiting officers tell her.
Frustrated by denials, Cvancara decided to take it up with Washington, D.C. She earned support from outgoing U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who introduced the Hannah Cvancara Service Act, which would amend the Department of Defense’s medical standards to allow people with missing limbs to join the military as medical personnel as long as they can fulfill all other requirements.
The act didn’t pass in 2022 and was stymied again in 2023.
The Spokane Business Association wants the city to enforce a camping ban.
ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
When we wrote the story in June, Cvancara was going through the recruitment process with the Air National Guard and waiting to see if her bill would pass.
But the needle hasn’t moved. In October, Cvancara’s application was denied by the Air National Guard. This month, the Hannah Cvancara Service Act was not passed with 2025’s National Defense Authorization Act.
Despite the disappointment, Cvancara has started the recruitment process again, this time with the Army National Guard. She says her rejections so far have only strengthened her resolve to keep fighting. (EB)
FROM CRISIS TO COLLAPSE? (AUG. 22)
Idaho’s public defense system invoked the popular idiom “out of the frying pan and into the fire” with the arguably fast rollout of the State Public Defender office. Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bills 735 and 236 into law in 2022 and 2023 to move public defense funding from the county to the state level and create the State Public Defender office.
These bills aimed to address the 2015 Tracy Tucker case, a class-action lawsuit by the ACLU of Idaho against the state on behalf of all “indigent” defendants who can’t afford their own attorneys. The lawsuit highlighted the limitations of public defense in Idaho and the constitutional need for attorneys who have time to research cases, and speak with and adequately defend their clients.
In August we highlighted North Idaho attorneys who contract to take cases from multiple counties, and discussed the alarming decrease in pay they would receive due to the switch from county to state control. The pay reduction resulted in 11 attorneys withdrawing from their caseloads.
Since the Oct. 1 shift to the state system, there have been similar issues. State Public Defender Eric Fredericksen, who leads the state office, told the Shoshone County Commissioners on Oct. 28 there had been 1,500 case withdrawals statewide, with North Idaho being one of the most affected regions.
It was also unclear whether the state or counties were financially responsible for preparing transcripts for indigent defendants’ appeals. On Dec. 5, the Idaho Supreme Court decided that the State Public Defender office is financially accountable.
Christopher Lehosit, a budget and policy analyst with the state’s Legislative Services Office, told lawmakers in November that the State Public Defender requested an additional $16.4 million for fiscal year 2025 to address financial demands. The office’s total fiscal 2024 budget was $49 million.
Finding attorneys continues to be a problem in North Idaho due to the cost of living and state pay rates. The state agency hopes to attract attorneys from nearby states or new attorneys who have recently graduated from law school to address the demand. (VCM)
ADVOCATES FOR THE AGING (SEPT. 5)
Long-term care can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Statewide long-term care ombudsman programs across the country are tasked with advocating for the rights of those receiving this care. Though many residents are unaware of all their rights or even the existence of such programs, there are systems in place meant to alleviate any complications.
Earlier this year, we learned that these programs differ by state. In Idaho, long-term care ombuds are paid employees supplemented by volunteers. In Washington, long-term care ombuds, led by a few full-time employees, are almost entirely volunteers who spend a few hours each week at assigned long-term care facilities. There is a shortage of volunteers and a lack of coverage in Eastern Washington.
According to our regional ombudsman Richard Danford, he would need more than 100 volunteers to fully cover his five-county region. At the time of reporting, there were fewer than 30 volunteer ombuds in Eastern Washington.
Each volunteer puts a lot of energy into ensuring that residents are in good care. For Bonnie Gow, who oversees Cheney Care Community, her time is often spent acting as an intermediary between residents and staff. She has the ability to make reports to the state Department of Social and Health Services, but through her time volunteering she’s found that handling issues at the lowest level
possible is her ombuds superpower. I had the opportunity to shadow Gow in August to understand just what the position entails and it was eye-opening. With just a binder in hand and a smile on her face, she made her way through the community. She knew the story of nearly every resident and would regularly stop in to chat, even if they weren’t having any issues. Being able to showcase that work was one of my greatest joys in 2024.
(CR)
MERKEL ON THE RECORD (SEPT. 12)
Those who watched Spokane Valley City Council meetings this year know they can quickly turn to bickering and strong remarks centered around City Council member Al Merkel, who was elected in November 2023.
In September and November this year, we covered the Council-requested investigations into Merkel’s alleged violations of city policy and the cost of that work.
Still in his first year of a four-year term, Merkel earns $1,800 a month as a Council member, but the City Council reports that as of Dec. 10, Merkel has cost Spokane Valley more than $186,000. That’s more than the annual budget to pay the entire seven-member Council. The costs continue to rise from the investigations, attorney fees, appeal hearings, and what the city has defined as “nonproductive uses of staff time.”
committee assignments.
On Dec. 19, at a special City Council meeting, members voted 6-0 (Merkel wasn’t allowed to vote) to publicly censure Merkel and remove him from the Spokane County Opioid Abatement Council. Merkel was upset with the outcome.
“Today, this Council majority once again demonstrates its obsession with distracting from real issues by directing its focus at me,” Merkel said in a press release. “I reprimand this Council and the City Manager for wasting the public’s time and resources on this charade while neglecting the issues that matter most to our residents.”(VCM)
OFF TRAC (OCT. 31)
Unfortunately, some stories make you a Murphy’s Law believer. For me, it was my first story as a city reporter. The city was running out of funding for the Trent Resource and Assistance Center, or TRAC, the region’s largest homeless shelter. So city leaders closed it on Oct. 31, just as nights started reaching freezing temperatures, even though they couldn’t open enough small, scattered shelters to take in dozens of newly shelter-less people.
Reporting that story was a baptism by fire into city and county politics, provider disagreements, contract legalese, and community hope and anger. But the urgency I felt to report an accurate story was nothing compared to the urgency felt by people I met at TRAC who had nowhere to go and just a few days to figure it out. Some, almost certainly, ended up back on the street.
In May, an independent attorney investigated Merkel’s alleged disrespectful and intimidating behavior toward city staff. After interviewing 22 employees, the investigation concluded that Merkel’s behavior violated training and traditional workplace decorum.
Then on Sept. 3, the City Council released a report that found Merkel had separately disregarded the Council’s Governance Manual and likely violated Washington state laws, despite receiving extensive training on public records. This second investigation stemmed from Merkel’s use of the Nextdoor app for City Council business without using the proper Pagefreezer software to record his posts as public records.
After the second report, Merkel requested an appeal with a hearing examiner, denying the claims against him. Andrew Kottkamp, the hearing examiner, ruled on Dec. 13 that Merkel violated the Council’s conduct standards and social media policy. Kottkamp offered potential corrective actions, including verbal censure or removal of
Some reporting took place at two small shelters operated by Jewels Helping Hands in north Spokane. These 30-person shelters, with helpful amenities like private rooms for medical or case manager check-ins, lock boxes for medicines, and extra clothing, are a model for the types of shelters Mayor Lisa Brown hopes to see scattered throughout the city.
So far, identifying and opening scattered site shelters has been slower than city administrators anticipated. Zeke Smith, president of Empire Health Foundation, told the City Council’s Urban Experience Committee on Dec. 9 that four new scattered site shelters were in the works, with one potentially able to open in January. Finding adequate locations is a challenge. Empire Health is also tasked with finding a provider willing to run each shelter and uphold good neighbor contracts with the nearby neighborhood.
Bonnie Gow, a long-term care ombuds, speaks to resident Michael Walsh at Cheney Care Center. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
Until more scattered sites are available, the city is stretching limited funds to pay for extra inclement weather beds at existing shelters during especially cold winter nights. (EB)
FENTANYL CRISIS (NOV. 7)
As the fentanyl crisis has been improving on the national stage, things have gotten worse in Washington. In 2023, someone died of a fentanyl overdose every other day in Spokane County — 194 deaths, to be exact. We won’t know how many people died of similar overdoses in 2024 until the spring.
But what often gets lost in discussions about the deadly opioid are how many people overdose and survive. Who is struggling with addiction? Who is working to maintain their sobriety? Who is offering medical care and the chance to get treatment?
Throughout October, I reported on the crisis, trying to answer the question: In the course of a month, how does fentanyl affect our city?
I rode along with the Spokane Fire Department’s Behavioral Response Unit, and witnessed the heartwrenching scene as a man stood in the hallway outside a downtown apartment, waiting to learn if the woman inside would live. After receiving naloxone (the opioid overdose reversal drug), CPR, and help from first responders, the woman gasped to life. Within seconds, she was stumbling into the hallway repeating, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” But she didn’t want to talk to the mental health professional and paramedic from the Behavioral Response Unit.
For those who do engage, the unit is testing a pilot program to offer Suboxone to relieve immediate withdrawal symptoms and bridge the gap to get someone into treatment.
Many local nonprofits are also working to help. Maddie’s Place was able to purchase more land to expand its work treating infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome and their parents. Compassionate Addiction Treatment continues offering medication assisted treatment, housing assistance and more. With financial assistance from the Washington Legislature and Spokane County’s opioid settlement money, Spokane Treatment and Recovery Services expanded its sobering beds and withdrawal management services.
Meanwhile, state and federal lawmakers and prosecutors continue working to stem the supply and hold dealers and criminal organizations accountable. (SW)
NAME GAME (NOV. 28)
Eastern Washington University had a brand issue. Namely, the Board of Trustees felt the school didn’t have a distinct identity and tasked President Shari McMahan with finding one. After months of work, the group McMahan formed to define that identity pitched rebranding Eastern as “the region’s polytechnic” to differentiate it from other Washington universities.
University administrators argued there weren’t “any set of requirements for becoming a polytechnic university.” So while some polytechnics are focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Eastern plans to use the designation to emphasize its applied learning opportunities throughout STEM and liberal arts programs.
Some, like emeritus professor Steve Simmons, believe this new designation aligns Eastern with how it’s always been, but others, such as associate physics professor David Syphers, believe the university is trying to sell prospective students a bicycle while calling it a car.
Amid this marketing shift, Eastern’s administrators are still figuring out which academic programs and university services to cut or modify. There’s an action plan for university services, but the path forward is still unclear for many academic programs. The academic programs on the chopping block have made their cases to the Faculty Senate, which will need to submit its recommendations to McMahan by the end of January. Provost Jonathan Anderson told the Inlander that he will also make a recommendation to the president after reviewing the Faculty Senate’s list.
Then, President McMahan will make her own recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which gets the final say. A Sept. 26 letter from McMahan indicates that final discontinuance action will be taken by February. (CR) n
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YEAR IN REVIEW
A Collection of Creativity
Our arts and culture team recaps their favorite and most impactful stories of 2024
BY INLANDER STAFF
From reporting the news across the region’s thriving arts scene to digging into stories that spark our curiosity, the Inlander’s culture team was once again busy and inspired this year. Below are some of our favorite stories to report and share, from profiles on star collegiate athletes and actors to features on visual artists, authors and much more.
— CHEY SCOTT, Editor
Feb. 29
THE CHAMELEON RECHARGES THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE
The local music scene was in mourning after Lucky You Lounge closed in summer 2023, but thankfully the venue got a new lease on life when it reopened as The Chameleon in early 2024. Rüt Bar & Kitchen founder/chef Josh Lorenzen and his visual artist wife Hazel Miller took over the Browne’s Addition spot and transformed it into an entirely new creature.
Live music is still the venue’s driving force, including an array of local album release shows and touring concerts, ranging from hip-hop to EDM to folk to rock. But the venue has also leaned into being a clubbing hotspot, boasting an array of themed dance nights for those looking to get a bit wild on the weekend. The reopening of its downstairs space as the Jaguar Room gives the scene another much-needed spot for all-ages shows. So far, The Chameleon has been a welcome re-addition to the Spokane musical ecosystem no matter what color it shifts to on a given night.
(SETH SOMMERFELD)
March 21
YVONNE EJIM
TAKES GONZAGA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO NEW HEIGHTS
Last season’s Gonzaga women’s hoops team had an array of amazing shooting guards (twins Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong; Brynna Maxwell), but Canadian center Yvonne Ejim was the backbone of a Bulldogs team that earned a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament (the highest in program history). We profiled the unassuming post bruiser before the Zags made another run to the Sweet 16. (SS)
April 25
REVIVING CHENEY HIGH SCHOOL’S DRAMA PROGRAM
By now it’s well established that nearly everyone (save for the country’s billionaires) emerged from the pandemic and found themselves behind the eight ball. The students of Cheney High School were fortunate enough to have a brand new performance space awaiting their return, but the drama program itself experienced a wobble that threatened its ability to put that space to full use. Michael A. Scott, who was working with the school’s marching band, stepped in to help stabilize the program, starting with These Shining Lives, a compelling, historically based play about the Radium Girls. After that, for a change of pace, the students chose to perform The SpongeBob Musical More than a story about the reinvigoration of a drama program in COVID’s turbulent wake, this is about the myriad ripple effects of the performing arts — whether that’s creating closer ties with the community or enabling teens to build skills and confidence. (E.J. IANNELLI)
May 30
HOW A UKRAINIAN IMMIGRANT FROM SPOKANE BECAME DARTH VADER
It’s rare when conducting an interview for a Culture story that I go, “Damn, I really wish I had cover story space to get all this in,” but that was certainly the case when I was talking to Dmitrious Bistrevsky before his Lilac City Comicon appearance. Born in Ukraine shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, Bistrevsky and his family fled to the States as Christian refugees and eventually settled in Spokane. His youth wasn’t easy as a lanky immigrant, but every time he found something he struggled at — breakdancing, acting, etc. — his internal
ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
Students at Cheney High School rehearsing The Spongebob Musical back in April. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
rebellious determinism forced him to become better.
After trying his hand at stunts and the circus, Bistrevsky’s highly coordinated 6-foot-7 frame found a calling as a creature actor. He eventually landed the role as the body actor for Darth Vader in the Disney+ series Obi Wan Kenobi — a character that perfectly fits his defiant spirit and underdog upbringing. Thankfully, though, Bistrevsky is closer to an oversized Chewbacca-like teddy bear than the younglingslaughtering dark Sith Lord. (SS)
June 6
UNCOVERING THE REGION’S LGBTQ+ HISTORY
For more than three decades, Spokane has celebrated Pride in some fashion, usually with a parade. In 2024, some folks in the Inland Northwest decided that (in addition to a parade) they’d spend time documenting the history of the region’s LGBTQ+ community by researching and displaying lesser-seen archival material and donated memorabilia. Led by head curator and drag queen Crystal Marché, the Spokane Pride & Remembrance history project was featured throughout Pride 2024. The project is still being updated and parts of it can be viewed online at spokanepride.org/historyprojecthub. (COLTON RASANEN)
June 13 A FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S BOOK IS
FINALLY PUBLISHED
It took more than 75 years for Margaret Morrison Roeth’s beautiful children’s book to make it into readers’ hands, but thanks to her now-94-year-old son, Charles “Chuck” Roeth, Mister Deedle’s Tree House lives on. First created in 1948 and featuring Morrison Roeth’s beautiful hand-painted illustrations alongside a charming story about two young siblings based on Chuck and his sister, Helen Betsy, the book was initially turned down by publishers in the 1950s. The Roeth family didn’t give up, however, when the manuscript recently resurfaced in the family’s belongings. A serendipitous meeting with the director of a small publishing house led to the picture book being fast-tracked to the printers so that Chuck and family could finally celebrate and share his mother’s heartwarming creation with readers of all ages. (CS) ...continued on page 20
Spokane Pride & Remembrance Project leaders, from left, Bethany Laird, Crystal Marché and Shelby Dirks. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
Showtime!
Riding the high of a box office revival, Beetlejuice: The Musical brings comedic scares and songs to the stage
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
Who would’ve guessed that one of the biggest movie stars of 2024 would be a gross ghost from the 1980s? All it took was Jenna Ortega’s Gen Z goth girl appeal, Tim Burton rediscovering his fastball, and Michael Keaton once again becoming a creepy agent of chaos. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice earning over $450 million at the worldwide box office proved that there remains a cultural appetite for “the ghost with the most.”
If you’re still craving more of that brand of comedic horror goodness after watching the latest film, Beetlejuice: The Musical is here to scratch that festering itch with a run at First Interstate Center for the Arts, Dec. 31-Jan. 5.
“I like that he’s a character that kind of exists a little bit beyond the fourth wall.”
The musical adaptation of the original 1988 Tim Burton classic came about well before the cinematic sequel’s success. With a cheeky full title — Beetlejuice: The Musical. The Musical. The Musical. — the production first took the Broadway stage in March 2019 and ran through January 2023 (with the obvious extended break during the height of the COVID pandemic). The show opened to critical acclaim and ended up earning eight Tony nominations.
The music broadly follows the same story beats as the original movie. Married couple Adam and Barbara Maitland unexpectedly die, become ghosts and attempt to scare away the new family that moves in (which includes the young Lydia Deetz, who can see the Maitlands). Frustrated, the Maitlands turn to Beetlejuice, a rather disgusting and inappropriate demon to help them with their haunting, but he soon takes over the whole shebang. In order to capture Beetlejuice’s wild spirit, the stage production incorporates elements of magic and fourth wall-breaking improv. It’s an ideal role for someone like Justin Collette, who feels most comfortable making people laugh on stage. Collette came up doing sketch and improv comedy at spots like Second City in Chicago before entering the Broadway scene in 2017 playing the Dewey Finn, the lead role in another film-to-stage hit, School of Rock. Landing the role of Beetlejuice in the touring production was his first gig after theaters opened back
up, and he’s still having a blast doing it.
“The musical form just lends itself so well to how big of a character Beetlejuice is. The character is such an id and over-dramatic, exaggerated personality. It really fits well into the musical theater realm,” Collette says. “I like that he’s a character that kind of exists a little bit beyond the fourth wall. There’s some great interaction with the audiences built into the script. So I think that makes the character feel very alive and very dangerous, in a way that a lot of musical theater characters don’t typically feel. And I think that that’s the part about it that I enjoyed the most — they’ve added that fourth wall-y, break-y element that I think makes the character’s motivations feel a little more visceral.”
Taking over such a well-known role is never an easy task, but Collette put in the work to study the psychology Michael Keaton brought when creating the character even more than specific mannerisms.
“I watched [Michael Keaton] talk about the character. That’s kind of what I like to do. In an instance where you’re taking over an iconic character, I’m more interested in how the actor thought about making the character,
Justin Collette stars as the titular demon.
MATTHEW MURPHY PHOTOS
rather than what they ended up with as a final product.” Collette says. “So, obviously, there are affects that Michael Keaton has that you just have to kind of keep in the character, because they’re so associated with who he is. But also I wanted to know how he thought about making the character, and what his process was behind that. And, thankfully, there was a lot of material to figure that out.”
Collette was drawn to how funny and fresh the musical’s script was considering it was drawing on such a known movie, but the longer run times in the theatrical setting allows Beetlejuice: The Musical to explore new ground that deepens the world for fans.
“The whole narrative in the film is in our musical, but the musical is two and a half hours versus the hour and a half that the movie was. So anything that you saw and liked in the movie, I think that we’ve either paid homage to or we do directly in the show,” says Collette. “But in the movie Beetlejuice, plot-wise, not a lot happens. You’re kind of just waiting in the house for whether he will come out or whether he won’t come out. It’s really such a visual film — I think it’s the first film that really kind of had that Tim Burton style that he’s become so known for. It’s really that kind of eye feast. I think our writers did a really great job of taking a lot of things that were said maybe offhandedly in the movie — like what happened to Lydia’s mom? There’s one line that says that Delia is just her stepmom. And so we’re like, alright, let’s explore that story.”
Between the stage magic conveying the supernatural and the loose comedic structure of the show, Beetlejuice is on the opposite end of the spectrum from any stereotypically erudite and stodgy musical theater production.
“I mean, this is the first musical where I ever had magic rehearsals during the process. It’s a heightened reality experience for people who are going to the theater,” Collette says. “I’ve been doing [Beetlejuice] for over two years now, so a lot of the improv-y moments that are in there, we’ve kind of found the greatest hits and know how these moments can work out the best. So they’ve honestly become kind of baked in. But every night, if something happens, the character has the ability to adapt to it in a way that wouldn’t take you out of the show. Because we’ve already set up the conceit that he’s able to do that, it kind of makes the show seamlessly truck along.”
While Collette hasn’t noticeably seen a huge uptick in audiences in the wake of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it’s clear that this ghost is having a moment. What better way to ring in the New Year than with a little New Fear?
“We’ve been really, really fortunate that we’ve been performing to packed houses now for two straight years, so we haven’t seen much of a difference [since the sequel came out],” says Collette. “I think everybody’s just really into Beetlejuice right now.”
(Just don’t tell Beetlejuice that. His ego is already inflated to horrific levels.) n
Beetlejuice: The Musical • Dec. 31-Jan. 5; Tue-Sat at 7:30 pm; also Sat at 2 pm and Sun at 1 and 6:30 pm • $50-$105 • All ages (Recommended 13+) • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd • broadwayspokane.com
Collette studied Michael Keaton’s portrayal of the character to perfect his performance.
June 27
MERY SMITH REFLECTS ON ROLE AS SPOKANE’S POET LAUREATE
Every two years or so, Spokane names a new poet laureate, tasked with increasing the visibility of poetry and celebrating the spoken and written word within the community. It’s been just over a year since Mery Smith took on the role, and she’s since proven herself totally worthy of the title. Smith has organized numerous workshops for underserved communities, revived the Poetry at the Podium program at Spokane City Council meetings, and was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize by North Idaho College’s Trestle Creek Review Smith’s tenure as Spokane’s poet laureate will wrap up in a year, but her mission to help others through the power of words certainly won’t. (MADISON PEARSON)
July 11
AN EVENING AT BROKEN MIC
A larger Inlander roundup of the region’s thriving open mic scene occasioned a summer evening visit to Neato Burrito, home to the long-running Broken Mic series. To the uninitiated, this lively weekly poetry reading might sound a little daunting. Broken Mic draws a crowd of very engaged and vocal regulars. Its sheer longevity has also given rise to some participatory rituals that could leave newcomers feeling out of place. But in the words of rotating emcee Liz Marlin, Broken Mic makes a point of being “militantly supportive.” And on this evening, the room’s ability to welcome veterans and first-timers alike and encourage them to share some of their most personal verse was on full display. (EJI)
Aug. 29
DYLAN LIPSKER CELEBRATES
SUCCESS AT BIG CITY ART GALLERY
When I first met Dylan Lipsker, he exuded an infectiously positive energy. The artist, who mainly works with glass and acrylic, grinned ear-to-ear as he spoke about his career and each of the pieces covering the walls at his Big City Art Gallery & Studio. Even while speaking about an accident that caused him to lose the ability to have REM sleep, he focused on how it didn’t hinder but helped his career as an artist. We published this piece right before Lipsker celebrated the first anniversary of his studio and gallery, and the Spokane artist is still going strong. Earlier this month, he debuted a second space downtown, Big City Art Gallery. (CR)
Sept. 19
ART SPIRIT GALLERY’S MEL MCCUDDIN “FIRE SALE”
Two years ago the Inland Northwest art scene lost a titan. Mel McCuddin, known for his distinct, expressive and humorous art style, left a permanent mark on the art world. For over 20 years of his prolific career, McCuddin showcased and sold his paintings at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d’Alene. In the last few years of his life, McCuddin expressed to his son that he wished for his remaining art to be torched in a bonfire after his death. To honor the artist’s wishes, The Art Spirit Gallery hosted a “fire sale” of his remaining work, selling paintings at a discounted rate and promising to give any unpurchased pieces a warm farewell. (MP)
Oct.
3
BEHIND THE SCENES AT SCARYWOOD
Soon after moving to the Inland Northwest in 2023, I learned about Scarywood, Silverwood Theme Park’s spooky season soiree. As a fan of all things horror, the concept of a haunted theme park was intriguing, so I made sure to grab tickets. It suffices to say, the experience exceeded my expectations. I was terrified from the moment I entered the front gates until I passed through them on the way out. But I was also curious about the work that goes into creating something so scary on such a massive scale. Fast forward to this year, and all my questions were answered when I went behind the scenes during Scarywood’s dress rehearsal night. From costume and makeup to stretching and screaming into the night, I got to witness what it takes to host the Inland Northwest’s scariest attraction. (CR)
Oct. 31
DAN MONSON COMES HOME TO COACH EWU BASKETBALL
After making another Cinderella run in this year’s NCAA tournament with Long Beach State after the school told him he was getting fired, Spokane native Dan Monson — the coach who started Gonzaga’s rise to glory via the Bulldogs’ shocking 1999 Elite Eight run — returned home to coach the Eastern Washington Eagles. We chatted with the veteran coach about his new gig, the arc of his career, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. (SS)
Nov. 6
MAYOR LISA BROWN WANTS SPOKANE ARTS BACK IN THE CITY
Spokane’s art community has a long and storied history of challenge, change and success, but it’s always been there to serve artists and creatives in myriad ways. Almost exactly 12 years to the day after the arts department was cut from the city’s budget, Mayor Lisa Brown announced plans for Spokane Arts — the nonprofit created as a result of that elimination — to rejoin the city. A motion to extend Spokane Arts’ contract with the city for one year passed unanimously at the Dec. 9 City Council meeting, moving the nonprofit into a transitional phase. Open community forums in 2025 are planned as Spokane Arts and the city work together to determine the best path forward to weave the Office of Arts & Culture back into the city government. (MP) n
The holiday season is full of celebrations and festive gatherings, often accompanied by an increase in alcohol consumption.
Dr. David Ward, a Kaiser Permanente physician in Spokane, encourages people to enjoy this time of year while staying informed about what “moderation” means when it comes to alcohol. “Many people’s holiday celebrations include a cocktail or glass of wine,” he says. “It’s important to understand the latest guidelines to make informed and healthy choices, including finding a designated driver when you do drink.”
Know the Numbers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderation means consuming one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. Dr. Ward stresses, “The definition of ‘one drink’ matters just as much as the number of drinks.” A standard drink is a 5-ounce glass of wine with 12% alcohol, 12 ounces of beer with 5% alcohol, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor (40% alcohol). You can usually find these alcohol-byvolume (ABV) percentages on the container label.
Check in on Your Habits
Excessive alcohol consumption is defined as more than 3 drinks in a single sitting for women and more than 4 drinks in a single sitting for men; or more than 7 drinks in a week for women and more than 14 drinks in a week for men. Longterm alcohol use increases the risk of high blood pressure, liver disease, and several types of cancer.
“There’s new research showing that the safest and healthiest amount of alcohol is none at all,” says Dr. Ward.
If you drink alcohol, stay aware of signs of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Symptoms may include cravings for alcohol, spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from drinking, wishing you could cut down, continued drinking despite adverse consequences, or signs of withdrawal such as shakiness, sweating, nausea, or anxiety. If you’re concerned about your drinking, a good first step is to talk with your health care team.
A Bevy of Benefits
Dr. Ward notes that along with lowering your risk for health problems, drinking less has many other positive effects. “Better sleep, weight loss, saving money, and improved mood are all potential benefits of cutting back alcohol.” He adds, “You also might find you have more time for other activities. Think about how alcohol affects your overall goals, which can help motivate you to change your habits.”
If you choose to drink during the holidays, you can try some simple steps to drink less. Alternate with nonalcoholic drinks or choose a drink with a lower amount of alcohol. Plan some activities that don’t center on eating and drinking, like taking a family walk outside or playing board games together. Being mindful about alcohol and making informed choices will help you enjoy better health for the holidays and beyond.
RISING FROM THE PUNCHES
Spokane’s Sik-Jitsu mixed martial arts gym has trained several breakout MMA stars over the years, including Julianna Peña and Michael Chiesa. In June we profiled Lisa Holtz, right, who’s hoping to add her name to that roster. In
2024 IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR
Inlander photographers Young Kwak and Erick Doxey share some of their favorite scenes captured throughout the year
We
CHONK-IMUS PRIME, KING OF THE MARMOTS
sent Erick to photograph Indian Canyon Golf Course in June for a story about the area’s great publicly managed courses in our Outdoors Issue. This friendly (well-fed) marmot stole the show in his outtakes, so we had to share. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
this shot, she spars with Melissa Amaya to prep for a fight. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
DEFINING PLACE
Spokane artist Ben Joyce has been creating his placed-based, “abstract topophilia” art since 2006. This fall, he debuted a solo show of select large-scale pieces at Gonzaga’s Jundt Art Museum. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
MODERN RANCHING
Carrying on his grandfather’s tradition, local rancher Justin Owens is raising rare Italian cattle on the Palouse and selling luxury beef across the country. Here, mother cow Franchesca tends to her newborn calf. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
SACRED SOUNDS
We relaunched our Artists to Watch series in August. One of those features detailed how the pink-and-purplecoifed Priestess discovered EDM and became one of the most exciting DJs in the local music scene. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
BLACKLIGHT BEAUTY SHOT
It takes hundreds of “scare actors” to make Silverwood’s annual Halloween attraction, Scarywood, a success. Makeup artists like Kaarina Packer, shown here applying makeup on Jay “Chuckles the Clown,” are indispensible in creating the spookiest experience possible.
FIGHTING FIRE
AeroFlite 262 drops water on the Upper Cemetery Fire, which burned an area near North Government Way and West Greenwood Road on July 26 in Spokane. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
CHILDHOOD CANCER COALITION
3-year-old Oliver Glubrecht, who was diagnosed with leukemia, plays with his mother Meagan Glubrecht at Corbin Park on Aug. 12 in Spokane. We featured their story in our annual Give Guide issue. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
ZAG’S GOT DUDETTES
Gonzaga stars Kaylynne Truong and Yvonne Ejim walk through the Kennel crowd for an NCAA Tournament game on March 25 after the Zags women earned their first ever Top 4 seed in program history. ERICK
ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
DOXEY PHOTO
TURN UP THE VOLUME!
Volume music festival returned after a four-year hiatus in September. While the Inlander no longer coordinates the local music fest that began back in 2010, we’re still major supporters. Among the 80+ acts that peformed for the 10th Volume was Chuck Vibes & The Dead Feels.
CITY VIBES
After a five-year construction closure (including a twoyear delay), the Post Street Bridge across the Spokane River finally reopened to car and pedestrian traffic in May. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
LOVE WINS
Ahead of Spokane’s Pride celebration, Spokane Arts and a team of volunteers repainted the intersection of Spokane Falls Boulevard and Howard Street with this massive Progress Pride flag. While the city-funded mural (part of the Asphalt Art traffic calming fund) was vandalized within 24 hours of initial installation, community members donated more than $15,000 to restore it in time for the parade on June 10. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
BIRDS ON THE BRAIN
While many of us don’t often notice all the feathered friends flying through the skies, the Spokane Audubon Society’s members sure do. We tagged along in June on a guided birding walk at the Cheney Wetlands, where we met this yellow-headed blackbird and many other local species.
RUNNING THE CITY
It takes roughly 2,000 employees to tackle the herculean logistics needed to keep the city of Spokane running, as we wrote about in our June story “Inside the City.” Among those workers is Street Department employee David Gregg, who operated a plate damper at a grind and overlay project at Havana and Sprague on June 13.
BULLDOG’S GOT BITE
Gonzaga forward Ben Gregg showcased his fiery on-court emotion as the Zags stomped Baylor 101-63 in an
the Spokane Arena on Nov. 4.
GOOOOAL!
Spokane’s new professional men’s soccer team the Velocity kicked off their inaugural season this year, which we commemorated with a May photo essay. Here, the guys celebrate a goal on March 16. The match at ONE Spokane Stadium was their first home victory in team history. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
electric season opener at
ERICK DOXEY PHOTO
YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
YEAR IN REVIEW
2024’s Dining Digest
The Inland Northwest’s food scene lost some staples, but also saw lots of new arrivals serving diverse and creative cuisine
BY DORA SCOTT
Moving to Spokane and joining the Inlander as the paper’s food writer at the end of 2024, writing this overview of the food scene’s rapid evolution over the past year feels almost like I bit off more than I can chew. However brief, these past few months as a local food writer have taught me just how much the food scene changes. But I’ve also gained insight about the industry’s importance.
Interviewing chefs, owners and hearing stories about what draws people to the local hospitality industry — despite all of its challenges — makes me appreciate the effort behind each dish and the lives it supports.
This year, the culinary sector took some hits, especially in downtown Spokane as some longtime local favorites closed their doors. However, there were also countless openings, many of which continue to diversify the Inland Northwest’s food scene and draw it out of the stagnancy many industry professionals claim it’s been trapped in.
CLOSINGS
In January, French-inspired fine dining spot Bowery on West Riverside Avenue closed its doors after only six months. On the other end of Riverside near Browne’s Addition, Rind and Wheat Bakery closed in August.
Prohibition Gastropub on North Monroe also closed at the end of August, citing decreased business due to a lack of convenient nearby parking. At the beginning of September, Fluffy’s Candy Store near the North Division Y closed after four years of satisfying local sweet tooths.
Zona Blanca started a social media whirlwind when it shuttered its doors in downtown Spokane at the end of September. Though chef-owner Chad White’s Facebook announcement cited multiple factors, including the business’s financial health and his desire for more family time, he also underscored increased crime in the area.
Lovers of Asian cuisine may have shed some tears after Kokoro Ramen in Spokane Valley closed in October. While Boba Cafe in Airway Heights closed, too, Famous Coffee opened in its place in September, rebranding the business while keeping its staff and boba menu.
A downtown staple of more than 60 years, Domini Sandwiches bid adieu in December as owner Tom Domini retired and passed the torch to a longtime employee, who will open a variation of the sandwich shop in early 2025.
Mac Daddy’s in North Spokane also closed as its owners pared back to just their River Park Square location. Their North location was soon replaced by Eddie’s
Kitchen & Tavern in November by Kevin Pereira, who co-owned Summit Kitchen + Canteen on the lower South Hill, which closed in May.
Locos in Hillyard’s historic United Building closed at the beginning of November, but the cooperatively-owned Grain Shed opened Crazy Train Eatery in its place in December, offering a simpler menu of burgers and sandwiches.
And while Cafe Buenos Aires opened just months ago, serving up Argentine staples like empanadas to Browne’s Addition, due to a sudden work relocation the Alvarez family closed up shop in mid-December, with hopes that someone else may still buy and take over the cafe’s operations.
OPENINGS
Now it’s time to welcome all those new to the scene! Start the day off right with a cup of coffee or breakfast. Little Euro opened a third location on the lower South Hill, while Rosie’s Restaurant added another brunch option to downtown Spokane with a convenient, fast-casual model. For breakfast with a twist, Ten/6 in Coeur d’Alene reopened after a multiyear hiatus, bringing back its Cajunstyle brunch with its whimsically themed interior.
Those who frequent the Spokane County Courthouse welcomed Vern’s Cafe, serving up small breakfast items, sandwiches and soups alongside coffee.
In the coffee world, Brew Peddler opened a brick-
(From left) Some of the year’s newcomers: Doña-Magnolia, Pure Northwest, Emrys Mead & Beer Works and Torra Tea. YOUNG KWAK & ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS
and-mortar shop on the South Hill after running a local coffee cart. Similarly, Redeemed Coffee Co. opened a permanent location in Browne’s Addition after starting out as a mobile coffee cart.
Indaba Coffee Roasters debuted its new flagship cafe on North Monroe, and DOMA Coffee Roasting Co. opened another outpost along the Centennial Trail in Coeur d’Alene. Bru Coffee Hause, The Human Bean and 1902 Coffee Co. joined the ranks of the region’s plentiful drivethru coffee stands.
Revival Tea Co. expanded its downtown tea bar back up to street level, opening The Phoenix Cafe with more food and beverage options. Torra Tea is now bringing an elevated Scottish tea experience to Spokane Valley. Boba is still a craze, too, and Tastea Coffee & Boba Lounge was welcomed on the lower South Hill.
For a hearty lunch, check out Tamale Box in Kendall Yards — a personal favorite when you’re looking for a quick, reasonably priced meal. Also adding to Spokane’s Latin food scene, Patrón Mexican Restaurant opened on South Hill. Combining Mexican and Indian cuisine, Indicana in the South Perry District offers a unique fusion experience.
A number of Asian restaurants also popped up this year. In Spokane Valley, Little Tokyo Hibachi & Bento has both Japanese and Indonesian food. In Cheney, get a taste of Korea from Wings Pan, serving Korean fried chicken and bulgogi dishes. Sirinya’s Thai Restaurant also has a new location in downtown Spokane on West Riverside Avenue.
Taste even more flavors from around the globe! Stop by Amen Ethiopian Cafe in the Spokane Valley Mall food court for eastern African cuisine. Originating from Seattle, Al Bacha Mediterranean Restaurant opened on North Hamilton Street in Spokane. Emran Restaurant is also settling in; after opening their first location in Spokane in 2023, a new second location in Coeur d’Alene began serving authentic Afghan food. If you’re looking for some Eastern European-inspired cuisine, Hangry Andy’s is open at the North Division Y to alleviate your “hanger.”
For handheld classics, Ottimo Sandwiches
and More opened on East Francis Avenue, while Savory Neighborhood Grill in Sandpoint has burgers, pizzas and more. Sauced! serves Detroit-style pizza and wings in Spokane Valley inside YaYa Brewing Co.’s taproom. For something quick, easy and healthy, Konala opened a second location in Coeur d’Alene and provides a drive-thru option for items like protein bowls and salads.
Get fancy for dinner at some new elevated restaurants. Pure Northwest in downtown Spokane is inspired by everything Pacific Northwest, from its interior to its menu of craft cocktails and upscale lounge cuisine. On the west end of downtown, Doña-Magnolia elevates traditional dishes with contemporary flavors. The Historic Davenport Hotel also unveiled its newly renovated lobby area, which includes the Emporium Cafe and Lobby Bar
Get a little sweet treat from Spokane Sugar Candy in Spokane Valley, or stop by Glazed and Confused Donuts, conveniently located inside Locals Canna House Cannabis Dispensary. To the north in Deer Park, Leaven Bakery & Patisserie has been drawing folks from both near and far for its sweet and savory pastries. And inside NorthTown Mall’s food court, Half Baked & A Lil’ Fruity has fresh kolaches, cakes, pies and more.
Finally, a toast to new bars, breweries and lounges. In downtown Spokane, Jade and Le Verre encourage guests to get swanky while sipping on craft cocktails or a glass of wine. Bringing one-of-a-kind cocktails to Coeur d’Alene, Treehouse CDA has a lively atmosphere. Brewery-wise, Whistle Punk Brewing opened a second location in Millwood and Bardic Brewing and Cider also opened a second location in downtown Spokane. Or, have a pint while petting a pup at Paws N Brews in Post Falls. Emrys Beer & Mead Works opened in Liberty Lake, welcoming customers to quench their thirst with a glass of cold mead or beer.
If you want to go out, but you don’t want to drink alcohol, Patera Temperance Lounge on East Sprague may be right up your alley with its bar ambience and botanical libations. n
We also welcomed Tamale Box and Sauced! YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS
Cheers to the New Year!
Places to dine, drink and dance this New Year’s Eve
BY DORA SCOTT
Send 2024 out with a banging meal or drink! (But perhaps go easy on the garlic for the sake of your midnight kiss.) Here’s an overview of some of the many local establishments hosting special New Year’s Eve dinners and festivities.
Perfect for those with an early bedtime — or maybe you want a sweet treat pregame to your midnight countdown — the Coeur d’Alene Resort hosts Smores by the Shores ($10) on Dec. 31 from 3:30 to 9 pm. Gather around the lakeside firepits and roasty toast your marshmallows.
Then it’s time to don your suit and tie, not just for a typical Near Year’s black-tie party. Kick it in style for the resort’s 007 Midnight Mission party ($195) from 5:45 pm to midnight. The lineup includes a gourmet dinner with chef stations, live music by Jukebox, two fireworks shows and a costume contest. For the best views of Coeur d’Alene’s New Year’s fireworks, hop aboard Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises’ New Year’s Eve Dessert Cruise ($42$52), boarding at 10 pm.
At Treehouse CDA in Coeur d’Alene, join in the celebrations with the Black and White New Year’s Eve Party at 9 pm. The Zach Cooper band brings the tunes, so you just have to bring your dancing shoes! As midnight approaches, raise your complimentary glass of champagne for a toast.
In downtown Spokane, the Sapphire Lounge also hosts a midnight toast, but before you clink your drink enjoy a live DJ or munch on food for purchase during a party that runs all night, from 4 pm to 12 am ($10 door).
The Historic Davenport Hotel hosts Sacha’s Supper Club: Party Like It’s 1925 ($185-$300) from 7:30 pm to 1 am. Dress to the nines, sip on themed cocktails that transport you to the Prohibition era and enjoy a three-course dinner and some late-night bites. Dance off the calories to live music featuring Sacha’s Supper Club Orchestra, Colescott Rubin and the Red Hots.
If you’re looking for a rootin’ tootin’ hell of a time, get your tickets to The Davenport Grand’s The Grand Showdown ($85) this New Year’s Eve from 9 pm to 1 am. This western-themed celebration is sure to get you on your feet with several live music acts including the Devon Wade Band, Brandon Jackson Band, and line dancing. Tickets also include a welcome cocktail, photobooth and a glass of champagne for the midnight toast.
Be transported to New Orleans for a New Year’s Eve dinner ($135/person) at Inland Pacific Kitchen featuring a menu of the Southern city’s culinary classics. The fivecourse meal includes one classic NOLA-style cocktail at Hogwash Whiskey Den. Dressing up is encouraged, too! Make sure you have room in your stomach if you reserve Gander & Ryegrass’ Chef’s Full Marathon Course
Dinner ($175/person) for New Year’s Eve. The menu will be elevated and based on seasonally available products. Tavolàta is serving a three-course dinner menu ($95/ person) for New Year’s Eve with dishes like agnolotti pasta, New York steak and lemon cake for dessert.
The Hill House Event Center is hosting a New Year’s Tease burlesque show ($55-$85) from 8 pm to 1 pm. The show embodies vintage charm with a modern twist on the art form. Small bites, drinks and a midnight toast are included!
If you want to go out for New Year’s Eve, but don’t drink alcohol and love tea, then Lunarium’s Tea Journey to 2025 ($25) is just, well, your cup of tea! Taste your way through various teas and reflect on the past year with tea journal writing prompts. While there won’t be fireworks, there is a countdown to midnight with blooming tea.
In collaboration with The Comic Book Shop, Bear Totem and Natural 20 Brewing Co., Chaos Arcade is embarking on a New Year’s Eve quest! From 7-9 pm, this family-friendly event includes an improv show ($20) led by a game master where the audience and dice rolls determine the improv heroes’ actions. Complete the scenario in the allotted time, everyone in the audience wins a prize! Then from 10 pm to 12:30 am, sing and dance with the Mojo the Party Band as we go into 2025.
For a non-alcoholic New Year’s activity, get tickets to Shala Living Yoga’s New Year’s Day Intention Setting Celebration ($55) on Jan. 1 from 1-3 pm. Here you can do your yearly reset with Yoga Nidra, sound therapy, and be surrounded by friends while sipping on non-alcholic libations from Patera Temperance Lounge and munching on appetizers by Relishing Wellness. n
(From left) Sacha’s Supper Club, Gander & Ryegrass and Shala Living Yoga. BRENT LOOYENGA, ERICK DOXEY, CHIANA McINELLY PHOTO
REGULAR BINGO SESSIONS*
FRI & SAT SUN
Admissions opens 4 PM 11 AM
Session begins 6 PM 1 PM
MATINEE-STYLE BINGO SESSIONS* SAT MON
Admissions opens 11 AM 4 PM
Session begins NOON 6 PM
JANUARY 3RD — 6TH
FRI Regular Session
SAT
Regular Session
SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25).
All regular games pay $1,000.
MON Monday Night Bingo
JANUARY 10 TH — 13TH
FRI Regular Session
SAT Hubba Bubba Bingo receive a pack of Hubba Bubba with any bingo.
Regular Session – Hubba Bubba Bingo receive a pack of Hubba Bubba with any bingo.
SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25).
SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25).
All regular games pay $1,000.
MON Monday Night Bingo
All regular games pay $1,000.
MON Monday Night Bingo
JANUARY 24 TH — 27 TH
Regular Session
SAT Regular Session
SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25).
All regular games pay $1,000.
MON Monday Night Bingo
WELCOME HOME. WELCOME HOME.
Some Bingo $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25).
All regular games pay $1,000. 5 stay & play drawings.
VIVA LAS BINGO!
ARGYLLE
The Worst Movies of 2024
Our critics takes their final shots at films that made moviegoing miserable this year
BY SETH SOMMERFELD, JOSH BELL, CHASE HUTCHINSON, MARYANN JOHANSON AND JASON BAXTER
It’s almost impressive how visually ugly the sad excuse of a film Argylle is. From the obnoxious opening to its cringe conclusion, it’s a low point in an otherwise good movie year. For all the twists it throws in as it attempts to be a modern riff on classic spy thrillers, the only thing that sticks with you from its insulting two-plus hours is a headache. The latest from director Matthew Vaughn makes his increasingly perfunctory prior Kingsman films look like high art, which is its sole accomplishment. Taking us into a story about a writer whose espionage novels seem to be coming to life, it’s dead on arrival and yet just drags on, stranding both Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell in a world that feels perpetually artificial. When the former bemoans how what she’s looking at is “deepfake nonsense,” she just ends up describing the movie itself. (CH)
BABES
The pregnancy comedy Babes isn’t devoid of laughter like some of the truly dreadful comedies that see the light of
day, but I struggle to recall one that seemed more oblivious of the privilege of its characters. For Ilana Glazer’s soon-to-be single mom character (who live poshly in New York City with no explination), there seem to be no worries about finances or anything of the sort, only that a kid is gonna cut into her personal partygirl life. The best oblique way that I can describe it: If Babes was a person, it would be one of those people insisting that Kamala Harris ran an absolutely flawless presidential campaign. (SS)
BORDERLANDS
I can see how the prospect of playing a snarky, badass interstellar gunslinger might have appealed to Cate Blanchett, but dear god, why didn’t someone stop her? It’s not that she’s terrible — how could she be? She’s a screen goddess channeling Han freakin’ Solo — but she deserves so much better than Borderlands (and so do we). The height of the humor here is lazy, unexamined cynicism; the depth is kindergarten-level poop jokes — and none of it is actually funny. This is an incredibly depressing example of what passes for science fiction in the 2020s:
it’s bereft of actual speculation and panders to genre clichés (the unsuspecting-chosen-one trope gets trampled to death), and is utterly devoid of the charm needed to make us overlook its pointlessness. (MJ)
DESPICABLE ME 4
As insufferable as the Minions are, at least there was a time when the horrific yellow creatures were ostensibly cute supporting characters in a mid-range animated franchise. They’ve long since overshadowed Gru, the nominal protagonist in the Despicable Me movies, and this fourth main installment runs the reformed villain and his unwieldy supporting cast through perfunctory conflicts while creating new merchandise-friendly iterations for the Minions. It’s just a series of barely coherent episodes strung together haphazardly. Naturally, it’s the third highest-grossing movie of 2024. (JB)
THE GARFIELD MOVIE
At one point a surprised character exclaims “Jiminy Davis!” instead of “Jiminy Christmas!” That nod to the
Red One, Despicable Me 4 and Madame Web were among 2024’s lowlights. YEAR IN REVIEW
titular cantankerous tabby’s creator is a pretty decent joke… but it’s literally the only funny thing said in the entirety of this CGI animated cattastrophe. (SS)
IF
A movie about imaginary friends should not be this lacking in imagination. Writer/director John Krasinski recruits all of his celebrity friends to be as annoying as possible while voicing various hideous imaginary creatures wrangled by a cloying little girl. The nonsensical story takes forever to get to its basic, heavy-handed message, and IF’s efforts at tearjerking wonderment fall flat for both kids and adults. It’s a terrible movie made for no one. (JB)
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX
It’s understandable that Warner/Discovery would want to capitalize on the success of Todd Phillips’ blockbuster villain origin story and give the creative team carte blanche to follow whatever whims suited them. Unfortunately — and perhaps specifically because of the “problematic” reaction to Joker — the filmmakers opted to make an even more misanthropic and antagonistic follow-up. This movie hates its audience. Joker: Folie à Deux tortures viewers with its tedium, wastes Lady Gaga in what is hands-down the most misogynistic and ill-conceived depiction of Harley Quinn, doesn’t understand how to be a proper musical, and sees Joaquin Phoenix bastardizing his Oscarwinning role with a half-baked Foghorn Leghorn impression. The premise of this movie is that the Joker is a phony. If only the phonies behind the camera had more conviction and a modicum of respect for their audience. (JBax)
MADAME WEB
While no one expected Madame Web to be good, it’s such a bummer that it’s not even bad in a fun way. It’s just too much of a drag. The trailerhinted proceedings might be amusingly corny (“He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died!”), but the joyless script is more tangled than any spiderweb I’ve ever seen and all the performances just fall flat (casting Spokane’s own Sydney Sweeney in such a meek role is a baffling waste). Why I continue to subject myself to Sony’s “SpiderMan Villains Without Spider-Man” Cinematic Universe is probably a topic that could take up a whole therapy session. (SS)
RED ONE
The magic of the Santa Claus story reduced to punch-’em-up copaganda is bad enough. (Why does Santa need 24/7/365 paramilitary protection? Who thought this was a fun story to tell?) But we also learn here that the guy who can see you when you’re sleeping and knows if you’ve been bad is among the nicer of the magical entities at work in the world. Somehow this stupid movie — which burned up the GDP of a small nation to produce its ugly CGI — doesn’t realize it’s a horror movie. It’s not a diverting example of the action comedy it thinks it is, either. Throw in the utter lack of chemistry among its big-name stars (Chris Evans and The Rock), and Red One is a big ol’ lump of coal. (MJ)
VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
The first Venom was an unexpected delight despite its rote plotting and inevitable — borderline indiscernible — CGI slugfest climax. But those faults were offset by the zaniness of Tom Hardy doing his weirdo accent schtick, plunging himself into a lobster tank, and eating tater tots with unhinged abandon. If only his third turn as the Marvel Comics anti-hero embraced this gonzo vibe. Despite one or two fleeting, transcendent moments of grace, this is a film bogged down by overqualified supporting actors delivering exposition with palpable uncomfortability. I sincerely hope Hardy — one of our best living actors — can return to better material now that he’s got the alien symbiote out of his system. (JBax)
UNFROSTED
There is a common criticism about comedies overstretching what could have maybe been a so-so sketch into a feature, but Unfrosted takes the cake in just how egregiously it does this. With painfully unfunny joke after unfunny joke, it’s all empty calories. That it’s part of a rather bizarre recent trend in cinema of making biopics about products only gives it that much more of a bitter taste. Even as it’s a farce, it remains perpetually forced. The product is the Pop Tart and the lead is an awkward Jerry Seinfeld who plays the development head at Kellogg’s in 1963 as he does battle with Post. If this sounds like a snooze of a premise, the experience of watching Unfrosted is worse. Seinfeld complained comedy and movies are dead while promoting his directorial debut, but there is no greater proof of that possibility than this dumpster fire. (CH) n
OPENING
BABYGIRL
This errotic thriller finds a high-powered CEO (Nicole Kidman) entering into a forbidden submissive romance with a young intern (Harris Dickinson). Rated R
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
In the Oscars-bait musical biopic of the year, Timothée Chalamet plays a young Bob Dylan during the years when the legendary folk singer rose to fame. Rated R Read our full review at Inlander.com.
THE FIRE INSIDE
The real life story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields’ hardships and Olympic boxing triumphs comes to the big screen in this non-sugarcoated sports biopic. Rated PG-13
NOSFERATU
Acclaimed director Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse) remakes the original vampire classic with an all-star cast (Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe). Rated R Read our full review at Inlander.com
YEAR IN REVIEW
The Top 10 Albums of 2024
Our music editor’s picks for the best releases of the year
BY SETH SOMMERFELD
10. WILD GOD
NICK CAVE AND 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. The Bad Seeds’ majestic rock instrumental soundscapes provide a sonic backdrop for Cave to wail like a broken preacher who’s seen both love that felt heavenly and eternity’s darkness. Wild God is the rare top-tier album that can be hard to listen to at times because Cave’s horrifyingly clearsighted lyrical grandeur carries a power and weight that can shake listeners’ souls to their cores.
9. MANNING FIREWORKS – MJ LENDERMAN
Well, 2024 proved to be another banner year for all the worst people you know — the chronically lonely men who refuse to acknowledge that their own toxic traits and lack of emotional honesty might’ve led them to these low places. With a hint of Randy Newman-esque unspoken satire, MJ Lenderman offers snapshots of them on Manning Fireworks. 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, ridiculous materialistic brags, Buffalo beach houses, kiddie-pool-shallow religiosity and nostalgic, solitary, late-night Guitar Hero sessions. 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 the refuse just right, the rays refract in strangely stunning ways.
7. BRAT – CHARLI XCX
There’s having a good year and then there’s having such a good year that the mere color of your album cover becomes immediately iconic. Charli XCX finally rose to the level of pop superstar by delivering an array of instant club classics on brat. Charli turns her messy, hot, mean girl attitude up to 1,000 as she sassily swaggers on bass-heavy bangers like “Von Dutch” and “365,” while still allowing for some postafterparty sobered up self-reflection. An all-time allnight rager of an album that never gets tiresome, it’s obvious why the middle months of 2024 will forever be known as brat summer.
8. ALL HELL – LOS CAMPESINOS!
A defiant salvo declaring “We’re not dead yet!”, each track of Welsh DIY indie band Los Campesinos!’s All Hell rings out with an anthemic urgency. You can hear singer Gareth Paisley wrestling with what the future means as his youth slips through his fingers, but the leftist emo fire in his belly hasn’t extinguished and it guides his aim as he snipes shots at spineless punks and his own mental health. In a world where pessimism often seems the sanest tact, Los Campesinos! crafts a glorious agonized symphony of distortion for downtrodden millennials to rally around.
6. THE GOLDEN AGE OF SELFSNITCHING – REVIVAL SEASON
With hip-hop in 2024 being defined by a beef between two millionaire MCs, Atlanta duo Revival Season provided a much needed dose of grounded ferocity via The Golden Age of Self-Snitching. Rapper Brandon “BEZ” Evans snarling afro punk freneticism proved to be a blast of fresh air when paired with producer Jonah Swilley’s kinetic old school beats that slam together funk, reggae and rock sounds. Evans revels in spitting spite at social failures, calling out rap posers, and generally being an unrestrained delight, as the LP radiates a bouncing block party vigor that doesn’t ever bother to catch its breath.
5. AM I OKAY? - MEGAN MARONEY
Being able to navigate wildly different tones across an album can be extremely difficult, but Megan Maroney and her continually clever lyricism makes it seem like a piece of cake on Am I Okay?. She proves equally adept nailing big pop country love songs, cutting country rock rippers, and humorous borderline novelty songs about astronauts and Ms. Universe, while still being able to deliver heartbreaking emotional gut punches that showcase how success doesn’t make one’s inner sad girl disappear over night. In an era when lots of pop country seems frustratingly lightweight, Maroney proves the genre still has plenty of life when an artist has the skill to avoid an onslaught of tired cliches.
4. FATE & ALCOHOL – JAPANDROIDS
Even when trying to avoid any fanfare after calling it quits, Japandroids proved to be incapable of going out without a bang. The Vancouver duo’s final album still reaches the anthemic highs that made the group arguably the best pure distillation of rock and roll spirit. Frontman Brian King’s knack for making love feel like an uncontrollable explosion of life still results in chest-thumping bliss, and drummer David Prowse’s stick strikes still explode like jubilant fireworks. While the bass drum still thunders like youth heartbeats across Fate & Alcohol, King’s lyrical soulsearching and literal sobering up gives glances of the hope that can be found via love for even the most indecisive weary travelers. Japandroids might be finished, but the band’s sonic vibrations won’t stop resonating in romantic rock hearts anytime soon.
3. BLOOD, HAIR, AND EYEBALLS – ALKALINE TRIO
Beloved pop punk bands putting out their best albums in decades has been a trend of the past few years, and Alkaline Trio’s Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs might be the best of the reenergized bunch. On the group’s best album since 2005’s Crimson, the trio once again nails its darkly beautiful brand of angsty and extremely catchy macabre melodic punk. Songs like “Bad Time,” “Hot for Preacher” and the title track can stand up next to the band’s best hopeless and hopelessly romantic tunes. While Alkaline Trio might revel in being a soundtrack for cemetery souls, there’s no need to pour dirt on the band’s grave quite yet.
2. WANT – MAITA
In order to get what you want in life, you must first determine if those wants are actually needs. Portland singer-songwriter Maria MaitaKeppeler (aka MAITA) gracefully conducts this self-searching process on want. She pushes aside intrusive thoughts and lays her wants bare across 12 captivating indie rock tracks: wanting clear lines of communication, wanting to be an object of desire, wanting to find a calmer mental health state and more. While she might express exasperation with those in her life who cause some of those frustrations, she never shies away from turning her sharp lyrical tongue inward to search for the problems’ roots. The truth is that we can’t always get what we want, but listening to want might allow listeners to at least temporarily lower their bulwarks in the face of disappointments in order to let in those needed slivers of joy.
1. UTOPIA NOW! - ROSIE TUCKER
Late-stage-capitalist fatalism isn’t supposed to sound this f—ing fun. But Rosie Tucker finds bursts of bliss in our dark times while putting on an absolute songwriting clinic on the indie rock marvel that is UTOPIA NOW!. There’s no soft-peddled subtlety to be found here as Tucker rails against junk consumerism plastic poisoning our bodies and the planet while exploiting the working class, bemoans planned obsolescence being baked into modern creative endeavors, and deals with the folks who champion cold-hearted dehumanization. Tucker’s deft wordplay never veers into lecturing and their fragile tenderpunk heart makes every moment of quieter vulnerability feel touchingly authentic. Tucker even brings empathy to moments of existential nihilism. When they sing, “If at the bottom of everything we are all alone / Then I want nothing but unending bliss for my enemies,” you believe every earnest word. The world is a heavy place that only seems to be getting worse. UTOPIA NOW! doesn’t offer a utopian escape from all of that, but by staring the darkness in the eyes and being frank about what they see, Tucker provides a note of compassionate hope that cuts through the cacophony of the digital age. n
If you’re looking to end 2024 with an all-night rager, the dance party that Heavy North is putting on simply can’t be topped. The main stage festivities will be headlined by Philly DJ 5AM, whose bass style incorporates jazz and funk to create a style that can get the dancefloor popping one moment and curate a chill out vibe the next. The Chameleon’s Jaguar Lounge basement stage will also be bumping with an array of local standouts like BNGRZ and Pesky Penguin. A jam-packed night of beat drops will be way more fun than sitting at home and watching some ball drop in NYC. — SETH SOMMERFELD
Heavy North New Year’s Eve: 5AM, Torbjørn, Matt WAX, Twombmates, DRTY (main stage); BNGRZ, Pesky Penguin, Hiimelfo, FELON, JERSEY (downstairs) • Tue, Dec. 31 at 9 pm • $45-$80 • 21+ • The Chameleon • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • chameleonspokane.com
LOCAL INDIE ROCK BRITTANY’S HOUSE
Thursday, 12/26
CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds
J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin
Friday, 12/27
J THE BIG DIPPER, Nothing Shameful, BRADEN ALL CAPS
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Haze
BULLHEAD SALOON, Neon Interstate
CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Ron Greene
J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire
IRON HORSE (CDA), Bruiser
MOOSE LOUNGE, Lake Town Sound
MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Agents of Rock
MULLIGAN’S BAR & GRILLE, Son of Brad NIGHT OWL, DJ F3LON
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Pamela Benton
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
SPOKANE EAGLES LODGE, The Black Jack Band
SPOKANE EAGLES LODGE, Over Easy Duo
ZOLA, Starcourt
Saturday, 12/28
49 DEGREES NORTH, Quarter Monkey
J THE BIG DIPPER, Shady Angels, Solace, When She Dreams
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Haze
BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO., Son of Brad
BULLHEAD SALOON, Neon Interstate
CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Ron Greene
IRON HORSE (CDA), Bruiser
J JAGUAR ROOM AT CHAMELEON, The Writer’s Room:
Landon Spencer, Heler Noel, Mama’s Got a Mullet, Tristan Hart Pierce, J. I. Gassen
MOOSE LOUNGE, Lake Town Sound
MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Agents of Rock NIGHT OWL, Priestess
J NOAH’S CANTEEN, Just Plain Darin
J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Nobody Famous RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
ZOLA, Jason Evans’ Cosmic Fantasy
Sunday, 12/29
HOGFISH, Open Mic
J JAGUAR ROOM AT CHAMELEON, Brandon Jackson, Last Chance Band, Peyton Rae
J WESTERN PLEASURE RANCH, Just Plain Darin
ZOLA, Sugar Bear Dinner Party
Monday, 12/30
EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night
J THE BULLET BAR, Open Mic Night
Tuesday, 12/31
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Fire from Ashes
If your New Year’s resolution is to go to more local shows in 2025, start off strong with this stacked, all-local lineup on New Year’s Day at The Chameleon. Brittany’s House serves a burst of sonically sensational joy sandwiched between the AZARIAH opening set and indie folk outlet The Bed Heads headlining the night. “Blur Together,” Brittany’s House’s debut single which dropped in October, is an indie lover’s dream with a catchy opening bassline, satisfying guitar fills, and serene serenading via vocalist Jacob Maxwell. The group will be playing the fresh new tune along with a host of unreleased songs they plan to put out in 2025. — MADISON PEARSON
The Bed Heads, Brittany’s House, AZARIAH • Wed, Jan. 1 at 8 pm • $10-$15 • 21+ • The Chameleon • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • chameleonspokane.com
J THE CHAMELEON, Heavy North New Year’s Eve: 5AM, Torbjørn, Matt WAX, Twombmates, DRTY, BNGRZ, Pesky Penguin, Hiimelfo, FELON, JERSEY
COEUR D’ALENE CASINO, Bruiser
IRON HORSE (CDA), Pastiche
MOOSE LOUNGE, Haze
MOOSE LOUNGE (NORTH), Rusty Jackson Band
NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Dance Away Y2K
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Wildcard’s New Years Eve Zodiac
Project Release Party
SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays
J WESTWOOD BREWING TAPROOM, Just Plain Darin
ZOLA, Blake Braley and Zola’s New Years Bash
Wednesday, 01/1
J THE CHAMELEON, The Bed Heads, Brittany’s House, AZARIAH THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Red Room Lounge Jam
J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents
Just Announced...
J J THE CHAMELEON, Chuck Vibes and the Dead Feels: gthm Album Release Show, Jan. 25.
J J FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT, Kansas, Aug. 1.
MUSIC | VENUES
TOP ALBUM HONORABLE
MENTIONS
As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
– The Decemberists
Chaos Angel – Maya Hawke
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish Hole in My Head
– Laura Jane Grace
Honey – Caribou
Prelude to Ecstasy
– The Last Dinner Party
Mirror Starts Moving Without Me
– Pom Pom Squad
Radical Optimism – Dua Lipa Tigers Blood – Waxahatchee
When BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon share a bill, you know you’re gonna get sugar, a little bit of spice and everything nice (for the most part). The two whip-smart drag queens from Seattle serve up their version of a holiday show filled with comedy, tunes, stunning outfits and maybe some raunchiness if you’re lucky. Wrap up the year clutching your pearls and doubling over at the pair’s kooky friendship and genuine love for one another. You won’t want to miss out on Jinkx and DeLa serving up some (post-Christmas) holiday realness and putting on a unique show that you definitely won’t see anywhere else.
— MADISON PEARSON
The Jinkx & Dela Holiday Show • Fri, Dec. 27 at 8 pm • $55$300 • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • firstinterstatecenter.org
COMMUNITY WALK IN THOUGHT
After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, give yourself a break to pause for a moment of quiet reflection. To help, the Chewelah Performing and Culture Arts organization is hosting this first-of-its-kind, post-holiday labyrinth, designed to “guide participants through a symbolic journey, often used during the Advent season to encourage reflection and spiritual contemplation.” The winding path is lined with donated Christmas trees. As visitors meander the winding path to its center, event organizer Paula Randall hopes they are met with feelings of peacefulness. At the labyrinth’s center, along with a message and a small gift, they’ll find a small fire pit with hot cocoa, cider and s’mores to purchase.
— CHEY SCOTT
A Christmas Tree Labyrinth: Walk in Wonder • Dec. 27-Jan. 3 (evenings) • $5 • Chewelah Center for the Arts • 405 N. Third St., Chewelah • chewelahcenterforthearts.com
COMMUNITY LET IT GLOW
Take a traditional holiday light display and multiply it by a thousand, and you’ll have Northwest Winterfest. Staring and ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the lights is a delight, no matter how old or young you are, but you’ll also want to take in displays showcasing holiday traditions from cultural groups around the world. The Winterfest displays are handcrafted by a team of artisans based in Zigong, China. This year, patrons will find the usual fare: a glowing menagerie of dragons, pandas, trees and more. But, also see a new display featuring 40-foot animatronic dinosaurs based on real fossils. Walk through this annual event with wonder in your heart and hot cocoa in your hands.
— MADISON PEARSON
Northwest Winterfest • Fri from 5-8 pm, Sat from 4-8 pm, Sun from 3-6 pm through Dec. 31 • $10-$43; kids under 10 free with paid adult • Spokane County Fair & Expo Center • 404 N. Havana St. • northwestwinterfest.com
GET LISTED!
Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email relevant details to getlisted@inlander.com. We need the details one week prior to our publication date.
COMMUNITY HELLO, 2025
The end of 2024 is upon us and whether you’ve had a year full of incredible memories or a year you’d rather forget, we all deserve to celebrate the year to come. For those looking to cap things off with some adventure, head to Schweitzer for the resort’s New Year’s Tubing Party featuring hot cocoa, colorful LED lights and tons of fun in the snow. New Year’s traditionalists, I see you. You can catch fireworks on Lake Coeur d’Alene either on the water during the annual New Year’s Eve Cruise or on the boardwalk. And, of course, the Riverfront Park fireworks display begins at 9 pm and is preceded by a Pavilion light show countdown. Have a safe, and very happy, new year!
— MADISON PEARSON
For more New Year’s events visit Inlander.com/events
MUSIC MAKING WHOOPEE
A fun way to ring in 2025 — or any year, for that matter — might be to travel back in time to experience the kind of New Year’s Eve celebration that was taking place a century earlier. Hosted by Sacha’s Supper Club, which has a well-earned reputation for events with a swanky, retro-cool vibe, Party Like It’s 1925 offers you that very opportunity. Don your tux or flapper gown, sip on a period-appropriate cocktail, and Charleston your way across the historic Davenport Hotel’s ballroom to Jazz Age (and newer) tunes performed live by the SSC Orchestra led by former American Idol contestant Colescott Rubin. The cost of the tickets also includes a three-course dinner, photobooth, and champagne, plus a discounted room rate at the Davenport Collection.
— E.J. IANNELLI
Sacha’s Supper Club: Party Like It’s 1925 • Tue, Dec. 31 at 7:30 pm • 21+ • $185-$298 • Historic Davenport Hotel • 10 S. Post St. • sachassupperclub.com
I SAW YOU
UPSET BMW DRIVER It seems like every day there is a submission on here about aggressive drivers, and how dangerous it is to be a pedestrian in Spokane these days. Today (12/19) at 12:30, I was crossing Mallon Ave. just east of Monroe. As I crossed, the driver in a BMW waiting to turn right on Mallon got *pretty* upset that I was crossing the street. They visibly called me a “F****** B****!” … Classy. I want you to know that I think you’re a psychopath, and that you shouldn’t be driving around with such a short fuse. I hate to reinforce harmful stereotypes, but the one about BMW drivers being pricks rings true, yet again. Also, drivers in general need to get over their large egos and show some compassion.
YOU SAW ME
RE: HOLIDAY HUNK Even with all the people gazing at the Christmas trees, I felt your warm blue eyes catching mine. Maroon is a good color on you, matches my favorite college team. The limp was due to a recent knee surgery; I would limp around any time to meet at the Davenport bar. I'll be making a Christmas wish that we meet again.
CHEERS
COUNTRY HOMES LIGHTS Cheers to all the homeowners on Country Homes Blvd… your street is so lit up my 5-year-old requested to drive by it daily and it makes his day!
RUN DON'T WALK!! Oh my goodness, I absolutely fell head over heels in love this past weekend! If your heart desires nothing less than the most exquisite service while simultaneously feeling enveloped in the warm embrace of home, you must, without a doubt, make your way to Osprey! I indulged in nearly half the enchanting offerings on their happy hour menu, and let me tell you — my taste buds were elevated to celestial realms! I left in such a state of euphoric bliss that I could have used a wheelchair to roll away from the sheer delight of it all. The burrata plate I savored was nothing short of divine, truly the best I have ever experienced! The prices were wonderfully approachable, and oh, how they showered each dish with an explosion of flavor, igniting a firework of joy within my soul! And let’s not overlook the breathtaking views that enveloped us while we dined upon the heated patio, a dreamy oasis! Our server was a radiant gem, a sparkling star who transformed our evening into a postcard-perfect memory. I am utterly smitten, ahhhh, swoon!
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Cheers to our regional neighbors in Moscow, ID, who hosted an in-person community meeting recently to discuss the growing influence of Christian nationalism ideology in their largely freethinking town. I attended, and was struck deeply by the kindness of strangers in discussing hard things. I left with some real positive truths (they are a super nonmajority of thought from a numbers game), and greater awareness of the distinction between activism and engagement in issues that matter. Participation at the local level is key, such as voting with your ballot and dollars. You, the individual citizen CAN make a difference for your community just by your willingness to do so. Go us!
TO
MRS.
BETTY SHAW AKA BETTY HENDRICKS!
! You have succeeded to live up to and exceed your mother's legacy. A beautiful aura and a beautiful mind, a battle through some of the most unfair situations that took away a lot of your hopes and ruined the plans you aimed and struggled for. Every limitation you faced you still choose to love your 3 girls. I pray they choose to honor you like you have earned and like you silently pray for them to and get along and allow you the peace and enjoyment of all of them sitting with you in harmony so you can experience the family you earned. Anything less they should feel ashamed. You're an amazing mother and a wonderful seamstress. Your crafts are unique and handcrafted, something not easy to find anymore, and you are still one of the most gorgeous spunky and beautiful women. Especially when you don't even know how truly gorgeous you are. You did everything right, the world failed not you. Thank you for your volunteer work with
SPOKANE ANGELS THANK YOU to all the people who smiled and laughed with me, while walking through town shopping. It made Spokane feel so SPECIAL and LOVED!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS SPOKANE!!
JEERS
BUSINESSES WITHOUT BATHROOMS
Research shows that people with disabilities who have access to restrooms are more likely to be repeat customers, yet businesses are choosing not to have them. Imagine being so committed to ableism that you're willing to lose money.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, BUD?
Picture, if you will, the heart-stopping thrill of discovering a shimmering, radiant gold goose egg of a job opportunity, only to be immediately plunged into the icy depths of the relentless, cruel reality that looms over
AMBULANCE CHASING This is specifically for the local company whose spouse was posting their services on the comments in the Spokane News Facebook page during the windstorm on 12/18. I get advertising in general but come on... really leaving these comments on several peoples pictures sharing downed trees and damage? It gives off ambulance chaser vibes. Not a great look.
PRESERVATION HALTS PROGRESS The Spokane Preservation Advocates are halting progress in this city. Maintaining old buildings often requires significant investment, which can be a financial strain on property owners and communities, potentially outweighing the benefits of preservation. Urban sprawl is a direct consequence. And truly if today’s rules for historical preservation had been in place in the past, the buildings that some now want to preserve would never have been built at all.
senior companions and your efforts to help those you love. You have so much more to still do the world is your fabric and string, sew it into something you can smile about. Just know your actions have not gone with out being noticed and God has seen your patience, love, keep your head up and that wit about you and remember your worth.
THANKS TO THE ELF You: Dressed as a Christmas Elf and your friend having lunch at Kuni's in north Spokane. Us: 5 senior citizens entering at same time. We exchanged pleasantries, especially enjoying your fun elf costume and you even let us take your picture. When it was time to pay and we pulled out our credit cards, the waitress said, "Oh your bill has already been paid by those women who were at the corner table." OMG...we were stunned, surprised, delighted, shocked....and we don't even know who to thank but we are so grateful. You made our holiday season so much brighter. We will do our best to pay it forward. And we hope you have a wonderful holiday.
the working world! I implore you—let us be KIND and COURTEOUS to one another, for nothing can shatter the spirit quite like wrestling with the soul-sucking burden of 80-hour work weeks in an inhospitable, toxic environment! I have fought valiantly against the menacing gremlins of the workforce, yet there exists a unique brand of frustration when confronted with the towering white-collared male egos that swagger through our halls like they own the place! Oh, let us banish the insidious practices of mansplaining, gaslighting, favoritism, and light bullying—those vile specters that haunt our professional sanctuaries—right at the door! And yes, I am directly addressing you, military gym bro who feels compelled to diminish the experiences of those around you. How misguided it is to inquire about a woman’s bodily cycles anytime she dares to express genuine emotion—you reduce her to a caricature, stripping away her humanity! Instead, let us shift our focus back to the tasks at hand, to mutual respect and collaboration! Would it be too much to ask for a little empathy amidst our shared struggles?
TICKET FEES An advertised $39 ticket cost $47 at one of our biggest local venues. $8 in "fees," really? I thought this was illegal or at least should be. Maybe you and all the other ticket venues could just advertise the whole price. Maybe our new Attorney General could do something about it.
BONG CAREFULLY Last week I had too big of a bong hit…it gave me a seizure. Smoke carefully.
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
COMEDY
PHILLIP KOPCZYNSKI Spokanite Phillip Kopczynski worked in corporate America for 10 years before beginning his comedy career. He has a Drybar Comedy special titled Full Grown Man. Dec. 26-28, 7 pm, Dec. 27-28 also at 9:45 pm. $15-$30. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)
AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH Smith is best known for his comedy buddy film Clerks and acting as Silent Bob of duo Jay and Silent Bob. Dec. 31, 7:30 & 10:30 pm and Jan. 1, 4 & 7 pm. $45-$70. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
COMMUNITY
BITCH ‘N’ STITCH Grab your crochet, knitting, embroidery, weaving, cross stitch, felting, looming, macrame, friendship bracelets and craft casually in the company of others. Every second and last Thursday at 6:30 pm. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. facebook. com/Lunarium.Spokane
DISNEY LORCANA THURSDAYS Play Disney Lorcana with others and receive a pack and 15% off other packs. Every Thursday from 6-9 pm. $8. The Comic Book Shop (NorthTown), 4750 N. Division St. thecomicbookshop.net
ELF VILLAGE Visit and explore a whimsical elf village display. Daily throughJan. 5. Free. Medical Lake, Wash. medicallake.org
IT HAPPENED HERE: EXPO ’74 FIFTY YEARS LATER This 50th anniversary exhibition revisits the historical roots of Expo ’74’s legacy. It incorporates recognizable elements from Expo’s built environment with museum artifacts and archival materials. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Jan. 26. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLE CRUISES Take a Journey to the North Pole onboard Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises to see 1.5 million twinkling lights and visit Santa at his remodeled North Pole featuring a brand-new illuminated Christmas tree. 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
LIBERTY LAKE WINTER GLOW SPECTACULAR A holiday light show featuring various installations and displays. Daily through Jan. 1. Free. Orchard Park, 20298 E. Indiana Ave. winterglowspectacular.com
MINECRAFT CLUB Drop in and explore architecture, engineering and art through Minecraft. Participants are given a building prompt related to one or more of these fields. Grades 3-8. Every Thursday from 4-6 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. sparkcentral.org (509-279-0299)
A CHRISTMAS LABYRINTH A festive, meditative path designed to guide participants through a symbolic journey, often used during the Advent season to encourage reflection and spiritual contemplation. Dec. 27-Jan. 3; evenings. $5. Chewelah Center for the Arts, 405 N. Third St. chewelahcenterforthearts.com
KIDS RAVE Elementary school-age kids are invited to dance with glow sticks and live DJs. Dec. 27, 6-8 pm. Free. Millwood Masonic Center, 3219 N. Argonne
Rd. millwoodmasoniccenter.com
NORTHWEST WINTERFEST An indoor holiday lantern display and cultural celebration featuring light displays and experiences in holiday cultures of the world. Also features a dinosaur-themed lantern display for 2024. 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 (509-477-1766)
ROLE-PLAYING GAME DROP IN Improve your RPG skills by watching and participating in games. Fridays from 4-8 pm and Saturdays from 1-5 pm. Free. RPG Community Center, 101 N. Stone Street. rpgcenter.org (509-608-7630)
INW MAHJONG Members play the game and enjoy tea. Beginners welcome. Every fourth Saturday from 7-9 pm. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. lunariumspokane.com
MAGIC: THE GATHERING MONDAY NIGHT COMMANDER AND MODERN
Play Magic: The Gathering Commander and Modern with others and receive 15% off packs and single. Every Monday from 6-9 pm. $7. The Comic Book Shop (NorthTown), 4750 N. Division St. thecomicbookshop.net (509-487-4175)
NATIVE CULTURAL CRAFT NIGHTS
Make cultural crafts with provided supplies. Every other Monday night from 5-7 pm. Free. American Indian Community Center, 1025 W. Indiana Ave. aiccinc. org (509-535-0886)
AMERICA’S FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE
CRUISE Ring in the new year on a Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise featuring NYE party favors, a no-host bar, a fireworks show at 9 pm and more. Dec. 31, 7:15 & 7:45 pm. $28-$36. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com
BACKSTAGE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
A New Year’s Eve party featuring live music from Moon Owl’s Images, dancing, drinks, food and more. Dec. 31, 8 pm-1 am. $10. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)
THE GRAND SHOWDOWN Celebrate the new year at the Davenport Grand with musical acts, dancing and a western theme throughout. Dec. 31, 9 pm-1 am. $75-$100. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. davenporthotelcollection.com
MIDNIGHT ON THE RIVER Celebrate the new year with champagne and dancing to live music by Sammy Eubanks. Dec. 31, 9 pm-12:30 am. $65. Ruby River Hotel, 700 N. Division St. rubyriverhotelspokane.com (509-326-5577)
NEW YEAR’S EVE: 007 MIDNIGHT
MISSION This New Year’s Eve party features drinks, food, entertainment and a countdown to 2025 all in a James Bond theme. Dec. 31, 6 pm-midnight. $195. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort.com (208-292-5678)
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS CELEBRATION Ring in the new year with a fireworks display in Riverfront Park. Dec. 31, 9 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com
NOON YEAR’S EVE PARTY A new year’s party featuring crafts, games, treats and hands-on activities all leading up to the big countdown to noon. Dec. 31, 11 am-12:15 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)
MIDNIGHT IN HAVANA A New Year’s event featuring live music from Son
Dulce, salsa dancing, lessons, drinks and more entertainment. Dec. 31, 8 pmmidnight & 12-1 am. $70-$320. Montvale Event Center, 1019 W. First. Ave. facebook.com/RiverStreetLatinBand
SACHA’S SUPPER CLUB: PARTY LIKE IT’S 1925 Celebrate the roaring twenties and the birth of the jazz age. Featuring Sacha’s Supper Club Orchestra and Colescott Rubin and the Red Hots, dance to old and modern hits alike. Try themed cocktails from the Prohibition era, as well as a three-course plated menu plus late night bites. Dec. 31, 7:30 pm-1 am. $185-$300. Historic Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post. davenporthotelcollection.com
WINTER LIGHTS Come enjoy a peaceful candlelit walk around the Mirror Pond in lower Manito Park. Luminarias line the pathway around the winter evening scene. Jan. 4, 4:30-7:30 pm. Free. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. (509747-6677)
INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY GATHERING A community gathering focused on sharing space with song, ceremony and spirituality. First Sunday of each month from 1-4 pm. Free. Harmony Woods Retreat Center, 11507 S. Keeney Rd. harmonywoods.org (509-993-2968)
FILM
FROZEN 2 After hearing a mysterious voice call out to her, Elsa travels to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond her kingdom, an adventure that soon turns into a journey of self-discovery. Dec. 26-29, 2 pm. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org
SEAHAWKS GAMES SCREENINGS
Watch the Seahawks play on the big screen all season long. Dec. 26, 5:15 pm and Jan. 1. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509327-1050)
STAR WARS WEEK: ORIGINAL TRILOGY See the original Star Wars Trilogy on the big screen. Your ticket grants you access to all the screenings. See website for full schedule. Dec. 26, 7-9 pm, Dec. 27, 7-9 pm and Dec. 28, 1:30-3:30, 4-6 & 7-9 pm. $20. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE
FACTORY A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory. Dec. 27-29, 7:30 pm, Dec. 30-31, 5 pm. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERER’S
STONE Harry Potter learns on his eleventh birthday that he’s the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. Jan. 1, 5 pm. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
FOOD & DRINK
BRING YOUR OWN VINYL NIGHT Bring your own vinyl to spin while sipping on craft cocktails and listening to music. Thursdays from 3-10 pm. The Boneyard - Side Hustle Syrups, 17905 E. Appleway Ave. sidehustlesyrups.com
CAKE DECORATING 101 In this handson class, you’ll learn and practice basic techniques to elevate your cake decorating skills. Dec. 26, 5-8:15 pm. $70. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave.
thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)
MIRACLE A Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar serving themed cocktails and featuring kitschy decor. Daily from 3 pm-2 am through Dec. 31. Volstead Act, 12 N. Post St. volsteadactspokane.com
S’MORES BY THE SHORES Gather around lakeside fire pits, and indulge in a nostalgic treat under the stars. Daily from 3:30-9 pm through Dec. 31. $10. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort.com (208-292-5678)
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER A fourcourse murder mystery dinner. Dec. 27-29 from 6-10 pm. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. crimesceneentertainment.com (509-466-0667)
CAKE DECORATING: NEW YEAR’S BURNAWAY CAKE Master three creative hand piping designs and decorative elements that add fire inspired elegance and striking details to your cake. Dec. 30, 5:45-8:15 pm. $90. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)
BLACK & WHITE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY This party includes drink specials, live music, dancing and a midnight champagne toast. Dec. 31, 9 pm. The Treehouse, 314 N. Fourth St. treehousecda.com (208-292-4337)
NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE MYSTERY DINNER As the year comes to a close, participate in a murder mystery evening filled with secrets, suspense and unexpected twists. Dec. 31, 5:30-9:30 pm. $75. Sedlmayer’s Resort, 7712 W. Spirit Lake Rd. crimesceneentertainment.com (208-369-3695)
NEW YEAR’S EVE MIDNIGHT TOAST
This event features a live DJ, a countdown to midnight and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to toast the New Year with food and drinks available for purchase. Dec. 31, 4 pm-2 am. $10. Sapphire Lounge, 901 W. First Ave. rubyhosptality.com (509.747.1041)
NEW YEAR’S EVE DESSERT CRUISE
Enjoy fireworks and dessert while cruising Lake Coeur d’Alene. Dec. 31, 10:30 pm. $42-$52. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com
TEA JOURNEY TO 2025 This alternative style New Year’s celebration is for everyone who enjoys exploring weird and wild teas and/or wants a less energetic way to ring in the New Year. Includes an exclusive dessert reveal and a blooming tea in the place of fireworks. Dec. 31, 10 pm-1 am. $25. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. lunariumspokane.com
PASTA MAKING 101 In this partial hands-on class, learn how to make your own pasta dough from scratch, properly flatten your dough into sheets and make the final cut into noodles. Jan. 5, 11 am-1:30 pm. $85. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon. thekitchenengine.com
MUSIC
GABE LAPANO Sinatra, Crosby and more on the piano. Fridays from 6-9 pm through Dec. 28. Churchill’s Steakhouse, 165 S. Post St. churchillssteakhouse.com
TOM PLETSCHER Jazzy holiday selections. Fri-Sat from 6-9 pm through Dec. 28. Free. Northern Quest Resort, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com
SUNDAY SERENADES: CDA BRASS X5
Local musicians play unique tunes, with refreshments from the library. Dec. 29, 2-3:30 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org
EVENTS | CALENDAR
JUMP N JIVE TO ’25 The Masterclass Big Band performs live music all night. Dec. 31, 9-10 pm. Knitting Factory, 919 W. Sprague Ave. masterclassbb.com
RICH AND JENNY A night of festive jazz on the grand piano. Dec. 31. Free. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine. com (877-452-9011)
SPOKANE SYMPHONY NEW YEARS
EVE: BEETHOVEN’S NINTH Celebrate the work’s 200th anniversary with a performance by the Spokane Symphony and the Spokane Symphony Chorale. Dec. 31, 7:30 pm. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. spokanesymphony.org
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
OPEN PLAY PICKLEBALL Play pickleball at the HUB. Every Mon-Thu from 10 am-noon or 1-3 pm. $5.50-$7. HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. hubsportscenter.org
DJ NIGHT ON THE ICE Skate with music, lights, contests and more. Every Friday at 6 pm through Jan. 24. $7-$10. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. riverfrontspokane.com (509-625-6600)
FAST & FREE RIDERS HOLIDAY CAMP
A camp focused on developing skiing, racing and freeriding skills while meeting new people and developing confidence. Dec. 27-31. $389. 49 Degrees North, 3311 Flowery Trail Rd. ski49n.com
SPOKANE CHIEFS VS. WENATCHEE
WILD Regular season games. Featured promo is Sturm Heating Family Feast Night. Dec. 27, 7:05 pm. $12-$40. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanechiefs.com (509-279-7000)
CALM BENEATH CASTLES An aweinspiring ski movie that delves into the heart, soul and mind of skiers driven by a thirst for adventure and discovery. It explores the essence of finding solace in nature and being one with the mountains. Dec. 28, 7 pm. $10-$15. Silver Mountain Resort, 610 Bunker Ave. silvermt.com
COACHES CORNER Coaches from Spokane Figure Skating Club offer valuable tips and guidance to emerging skaters. Regular skate admission is required. Dec. 28, 11 am-1 pm. $7-$10. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. riverfrontspokane.org (509-625-6600)
SCHOOL’S OUT YOUTH AND FAMILY ADVENTURES Guides share tips, tricks and cool trivia through family-friendly activities. Trips leave from a central location. More info after pre-registration. Dec. 30, 9 am-4 pm and Jan. 3, 9:30 am-2:30 pm. Mt. Spokane State Park, 26107 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. my.spokanecity.org/ parksrec (509-363-5414)
NEW YEAR’S TUBING PARTY Celebrate the new year with a tubing adventure, hot cocoa, LED lights and a sparkler celebration. Dec. 31, 7-9 pm. $40. Schweitzer, 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555)
CLUB SHRED Kids learn and practice ski skills with instructors and participate in fun activities like snow fort building, movies and more. Jan. 3-March 14, every Friday from 5-8 pm. Advance registration required. Ages 4-10. $49. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. mtspokane.com
NIGHT RIDERS A nighttime ski/snowboard opportunity for intermediate athletes guided by instructors. Ages 8-17. Advance registration required. Jan. 3-March 14, every Friday from 5-8 pm.
$25-$45. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. mtspokane.com (509-238-2220)
CROSS COUNTRY SKI LESSON Learn to cross-country ski and tour the trails of Mt. Spokane. Learn the basics from Spokane Nordic Ski Association P.S.I.A certified instructors. Equipment and lunch provided. Meet at the Mt. Spokane Selkirk Nordic Area. Jan. 4, 10 am-noon. $77. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. spokanerec.org
SNOWSHOE MOUNT SPOKANE A guided snowshoe tour through the trails around Mount Spokane. Fee includes guides, snowshoes, poles, instruction and transportation. Meet at Yoke’s Fresh Market lot (14202 N. Market St.). Pre-registration required. Ages 13+. Jan. 4, 9 am-1 pm. $39. Mt. Spokane State Park, 26107 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. my.spokanecity.org/parksrec
CROSS COUNTRY SKI LESSON Learn to cross-country ski and tour the trails of 49 Degrees North Nordic Area. Learn the basics from professional ski instructors. Equipment and lunch provided. Jan. 5, 10. $75. 49 Degrees North, 3311 Flowery Trail Rd. spokanerec.org (509-935-6649)
LILAC CITY KENDO CLUB Classes for beginner and long-time kendo practicers. Every Monday and Thursday from 6:308:30 pm. West Valley City School, 8920 E. Valleyway Ave. lilaccitykendo.org
TAI CHI & QI GONG Improve strength, balance, coordination, focus, breathwork and relaxation, all while exploring different movements from Tai Chi and Qi Gong styles. Tuesdays at 10 am. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org (208-769-2315)
MONTHLY BIRD WALK Join a birding expert on a walk around Saltese Flats. These walks are aimed at identifying birds, teaching basic birding skills and taking a census of what’is present at Saltese Flats. Walks range range from 1-4 miles depending on weather conditions. First Wednesdays from 8 am-noon. Free. Doris Morrison Learning Center, 1330 S. Henry Rd. spokanecounty.org/5360/ Doris-Morrison-Learning-Center-DMLC
THEATER & DANCE
THE JINKX & DELA HOLIDAY SHOW
Drag performers Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme put on a holiday show with comedy, songs and more. Dec. 27, 8-10 pm. $53-$298. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org
A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS A circus-themed holiday show featuring acrobatic and aerial acts. Dec. 28, 7:30-10 pm. $35-$85. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. magicalcirquechristmas.com (509-279-7000)
BEETLEJUICE Based on Tim Burton’s film, this musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Dec. 31Jan. 5; Tue-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat also at 2 pm, Sun at 1 pm and 6:30 pm. $54-$119. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls. broadwayspokane.com
A NEW YEAR’S TEASE A burlesque show featuring vintage charm with modern takes on the art form. Small bites, drinks and a midnight toast included. Ages 18+. Dec. 31, 8 pm-1 am. $55-$85. Hill House Event Center, 3023 E. Diamond Ave. gi-
gispott.com/newyears (509-856-8397)
RISING TIDE A performance created by local dance artists to uplift and create opportunities for the Inland Northwest dance community. The immersive experience captivates audiences in performances that blend different dance styles and artistic disciplines. Jan. 3-5; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $29. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com (509-325-2507)
VISUAL ARTS
ADAM BLALOCK Local Spokane artist Adam Blalock’s preferred subject matter is landscapes. He paints the long views at times when the lighting is the most luminous, capturing the bright glow and deep shadows of mornings and evenings. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through Dec. 28, 11 am-7 pm. Free. Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. spokanelibertybuilding.com
1924: SOVEREIGNTY, LEADERSHIP AND THE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT This exhibition commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act and centers on photographs of early local tribal leadership Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Feb. 2. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
AMANDA LEIGH EVANS & TIA KRAMER: WHEN THE RIVER BECOMES A CLOUD DeepTime Collective, a collaboration between artists Amanda Leigh Evans and Tia Kramer, unearths how we understand ourselves within the interdependent constructs of time, place, community and landscape. Mon-Friday from 9 am-5 pm through Feb. 7. Free. EWU Gallery of Art, 140 Art Building. ewu.edu/cahss/gallery
THE ART OF FOOD: FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF JORDAN D. SCHNITZER AND HIS FAMILY FOUNDATION A collection of work showcasing how prominent artists depict food beyond mere sustenance and how food connects us through shared experiences and societal issues. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through March 8. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson. museum.wsu.edu
BEN JOYCE: PLACES Abstract topographical art by Spokane-based artist Ben Joyce representing certain locales that have played major roles in Joyce’s life. Mon-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through Jan. 4. Free. Jundt Art Museum, 200 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/jundt
CUP OF JOY Local and regional ceramic artists create mugs to sell. Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm through Jan. 11. Free admission. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net (509-863-9904)
EMERGE MINIS SHOW Small pieces of art made by regional artists. Tue-Sat from 10 am-6 pm through Jan. 4. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com
JOE FEDDERSEN: EARTH, WATER, SKY This exhibition showcases the breadth of Feddersen’s 40-year career, including printmaking, glass, weaving and ceramics through over 100 works. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Jan. 5. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
JOSHUA HOBSON Joshua Hobson displays abstract photography. Mon-Thu from 10 am-4 pm, Fri from 10 am-2:30 pm through Jan. 31. Free. Boswell Corner Gallery at NIC, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Building 22. nic.edu/cornergallery
JULENE EWERT Julene Ewert creates vibrant, colorful art featuring flowers and the natural world. Mon-Fri from 8
am-5 pm through Jan. 3. Free. Moscow City Hall, 206 E. Third St. ci.moscow. id.us/230/Third-Street-Gallery
NICOLE NUTT THOMAS Nicole is a mixed media artist who blends the art of embroidery with the vibrant world of painting. Her creations are a celebration of the natural world, with a particular focus on flowers. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through Dec. 28. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com
NEW MOON SMALL WORKS SHOW Includes small works made by members and others. Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm through Dec. 28. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore.com (509-413-9101)
PAT SCHILLING & SHERRY SYRIE Pat Schilling displays photography and Sherry Syrie displays her artworks. Thu-Sat from 11 am-4 pm through Dec. 28. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone Ave. avenuewestgallery.com (509-838-4999)
MIKE DECESARE DeCesare captures nature and human’s imprint on it through photos. Tue-Sat from 10 am-6 pm through Dec. 31. Free. William Grant Gallery & Framing, 1188 W. Summit Pkwy. williamgrantgf.com (509-484-3535)
ELAINE CLINE, LINDA DAILEY & GAYLE HAVERCROFT Artists Elaine Cline, Linda Dailey and Gayle Havercroft showcase their art at Indaba. Daily from 6 am-6 pm through Dec. 31. Free. Indaba Coffee Roasters (Riverside), 518 W. Riverside Ave. rrafaofspokane.com
SMALL WORKS EXHIBIT The gallery’s 29th show exhibit featuring smaller 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
TIERA MAY, BRIAN DEEMY & HANNAH CHARLTON Tiera May and Brian Deemy both create eclectic, occult artwork. Hannah Charlton creates illuminated manuscripts. Daily from 11 am-6 pm. through Dec. 30, 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com
WHITWORTH ART & DESIGN DEPARTMENT FACULTY EXHIBIT An exhibit featuring art and work by Whitworth art and design faculty. Mon-Fri from 10 am-4:30 pm, Sat from 10 am-2 pm through Jan. 24. Free. Bryan Oliver Gallery, Whitworth, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave. whitworth.edu
WOMAN, ARTIST, CATALYST: ART FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION Focusing on locally, nationally and internationally known women artists, this exhibition of work from the MAC’s permanent collection showcases the quality and varied focus of artists and art movements in the Inland and Pacific Northwest. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through March 9. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
SARANAC ART PROJECTS MEMBERS SHOW SAP members showcase their unique artworks. Fri-Sat from 12-8 pm through Dec. 28. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com
HEARTISTRY: ARTISTIC WELLBEING A relaxed and inspiring environment for self-discovery. Participate in basic artistic concepts and activities or respond to a mindfulness prompt. Every Tuesday from 3-5 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org
CONNECTIVE STRANDS OF SPIRIT A group exhibition featuring works by Joe, Carly and Ryan Feddersen, William Passmore, Emma Noyes, Michael Holloman, Britt Rynearson, Michelle Jack and Frank
Andrews honoring the Plateau people’s past, present and future. Jan. 3-Feb. 1, Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe. terrainspokane.com
FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane and beyond host receptions for new displays of art. Fri, Jan. 3 from 5-8 pm. Free. Info at firstfridayspokane.org
SOLA RAYNOR Meet painter Sola Raynor and view the work of over 20 other artists. Live music and refreshments provided. Jan. 3, 3-7 pm. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone Ave. avenuewestgallery.org (509-838-4999)
FIRST FRIDAYS WITH POAC First Friday arts events in Sandpoint, organized by the Pend Oreille Arts Council. Fri, Jan. 3 from 5:30-7:30 pm. artinsandpoint.org
SARANAC ART PROJECTS FRIENDS SHOW Saranac members invite a friend to exhibit up to two works in the gallery. Featured artists include Carl Richardson, Robin Nelson Wicks, Olivia Evans and others. Jan. 3-31, Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com
COMIC DRAWING MEETUP Draw comics with fellow artists while drinking tea and eating treats. First Saturdays from 3-5 pm. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. lunariumspokane.com
INMOD SEW DAY Work on sewing projects or group projects with other makers. First meeting is free, but you must join to continue attending meetings. Third Saturdays from 10 am-4 pm. Free. Corbin Senior Center, 827 W. Cleveland Ave. inmodquiltguild.com
WORDS
ALPHABITS STORYTIME Share picture books, songs and get your child ready for school. Every Thursday at 10:15 am. Free. Moscow Public Library, 110 S. Jefferson St. latalibrary.org (208-882-3925)
AUNTIE’S BOOK CLUB: MYSTERY (VIRTUAL) Vote on next year’s selections. Dec. 26, noon. Free. auntiesbooks.com
BABES & BOOKS Stories, songs and activities for babies under 15 months. Every Thursday at 2 pm. Free. Moscow Public Library, 110 S. Jefferson. latahlibrary.org
DROP IN & WRITE Aspiring writers are invited to be a part of a supportive writers’ community. Bring works in progress to share, get inspired with creative prompts and spend some focused time writing. Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org (509-279-0299)
FAMILY PLAY & LEARN STORYTIME Children enjoy playing while learning during 30 minutes of reading entertaining picture books, singing songs and learning fingerplays. Free. Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. scld.org
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
STORY AND CRAFT A read-aloud of a popular children’s book followed by an optional craft. Ages 3-7. Saturdays from 11 am-noon. Cost of admission. The MAC, 2316 W. First. northwestmuseum.org
THE DECORATED JOURNAL: POWER WORDS FOR 2025 Create a vision board with a daily intention journal that manifests your best life. Jan. 4, 10:30-11:30 am. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. kimemorgan.com n
STRAINS
Stay Awake with Sativa
A guide to finding energizing strains to keep you awake through the long winter nights
BY WILL MAUPIN
Saturday, Dec. 21 was the winter solstice, also known as the longest night of the year.
Days are now slowly but steadily getting longer, but the nights are still long. Instead of succumbing to the darkness, fight back against it by staying awake with a sativa.
But before you do, it is a good idea to learn just what a sativa is and why it is known as the more energizing of the two broad categories of cannabis.
Generally speaking, there are two types of cannabis: indica and sativa. Specifically, they are varieties of the same species, cannabis indica and cannabis sativa. Both produce a range of cannabinoids, the chemicals that create the recreational and medicinal effects of cannabis, including THC, the chemical that makes people feel stoned.
The difference between the effects of the two kinds is mostly subjective, with sativas typically producing an energizing feeling while indicas tend to be more sedative. That’s why indica is sometimes referred to as “in da couch.”
Sativa strains with high THC tend to produce more of the uplifting and energizing effects than those with lower THC or more CBD. There are over 100 different cannabinoids in cannabis known to science, but most others aside from THC, CBD and CBG are poorly understood. Strains on the legal market tend to focus on those three cannabi-
noids, emphasizing the potency of each.
Beyond the impact of cannabinoids, another set of chemical compounds can influence how a strain will make you feel: terpenes. Unlike cannabinoids, which are primarily found in cannabis, terpenes are found in plants of all varieties.
Terpenes were originally known to impact the taste and smell of cannabis, with sativas tending to be higher in terpenes that produce dank or peppery profiles and indicas leaning more toward fruity flavors.
However, since the advent of the legal marketplaces over a decade ago, research into the therapeutic impact of terpenes has become a focus in the world of cannabis.
A 2021 study published in Scientific Reports found that sativa terpenes have what is known as a cannabimimetic impact, or they can mimic the effects of the cannabinoids present in the plant, which often increases their effect.
One common terpene found in high concentrations is linalool, which has been associated with creative and energizing effects. Same goes for the terpene pinene, which as the name suggests produces a piney aroma.
There is no one-size-fits-all map for picking the right strain for you, but knowing which terpenes play well with a sativa will help you maximize the energizing effects. n
With dark nights still ahead, consider sativa.
NOTE TO READERS
Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a fiveyear sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.
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BIG SHOT DUELING PIANOS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST | CHINOOK LOUNGE
Solo piano dinner music | 6 PM – 8 PM
Big Shot Dueling Pianos show | 9 PM – 1 AM
Reservations highly recommended.
Must be age 21 or older to enter bar or lounge areas.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST | 7 AM – MIDNIGHT
We’re treating you to the Sweetest EPC — it’s a gift sweeter than candy! Everyone gets between $10 and $500 Extra Play Cash. Visit the Coeur Rewards booth for more details. Happy New Year!
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST | EVENT CENTER
Live music with Bruiser | 10 PM – 1 AM Ages 18 & up.
Must be age 21 or older to enter bar or lounge areas.
NEW YEAR’S EVE BINGO WITH HUGE PAYOUTS!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST SALES 12 PM | SESSION 3 PM
Minimum buy-in applies.
See the Bingo venue for more details.
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See the Coeur Rewards booth, CDA Casino app or cdacasino.com for promotional rules.
