September, 2010

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Left Bank, Spokane’s Only True Wine Bar

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Gorgonzola bruschetta at Left Bank

Spokane has some great places to taste wine, but Left Bank, which opened eighteen months ago in downtown Spokane and is owned by Aaron Kelly, is the only bar that is completely dedicated to wine. You can not order hard liquor here (bottled microbrew beer is available for those who have been dragged in against their will by a wine lover), and the menu is limited to a few choice items that are well complemented by wine. What you can expect is excellent wine served by knowledgeable, friendly servers in a beautiful, comfortable setting.

The goal of Left Bank is “to broaden the appeal of wine in a completely non-threatening way,” and this goal is achieved nightly with a well-appointed yet relaxed atmosphere and the staff’s open, down-to-earth attitude. Walk into the long, narrow space located on the ground floor of the historic American Legion building at 108 N. Washington, and you will instantly forget the hustle and bustle of downtown and enter a scene of dark wood furniture, a fireplace, local art on the historic brick walls, and non-intrusive music. Jen Melcher, our server on a recent evening, was able to explain the origin and qualities of my wonderful Argentine malbec (only $5 a glass during happy hour, which starts at 3:00 p.m. Monday—Friday) in a way that a novice could understand. While Left Bank does carry many Northwest wines, the overriding mission is to seek the best wines, so their wine list includes selections from all over the world.

If you try something you really love at Left Bank, you can bring a bottle home. The reason for this, Jen explained, is that the bar carries some wines that are not easily available in Spokane. Many area wineries are too small to meet the financial criteria for distribution to stores, so Left Bank deals with them directly to purchase wine, and they choose to support the wineries by allowing off-sales.

The food pairings, though limited, are extremely tasty. I highly recommend the cheese plates, which come with a selection of some of the best cheese I have ever tasted (order the Humboldt Fog!) served with crackers and fruit, and the gorgonzola honey bruschetta, which my dining partner is convinced she could live off of quite happily for some time. Other dining choices are small pizzas and Italian style sandwiches.

Fridays and Saturdays the bar livens things up with live music; every Saturday is jazz. Hours are Monday—Friday, 11:00 a.m. to late, and Saturdays 4:00 p.m. to late. Check them out during First Friday! A reception will be held for Jon Bagby’s work on October 1.

Posted in Art, Dining, Live music, Nightlife, Spokane | 4 Responses »

Something for Everyone (Really!) at Valleyfest 2010

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Long before the Spokane Valley voted to become its own city in 2003, residents were gathering each year to celebrate their community with Valleyfest. What started as a small festival for children in 1990 quickly grew to include a variety of activities for the entire family, live entertainment, food vendors, and hundreds of booths where local non-profit groups and businesses can advertise. Now, the annual event draws 35,000 people to enjoy a parade, live music, a group bicycle ride, hot air balloons, guided star gazing, and much more. The 2010 Valleyfest celebration runs Friday, September 24 through Sunday, September 26 at Mirabeau Point Park and Centerplace.

Of course there is a wine and beer garden, along with plenty of food booths. Children and adults will be entertained by two music/comedy/dance performance stages, Fishing at the Falls for kids up to 14, an outdoor movie, the charity Run for Hunger, and a create-it-yourself art booth. The Spokane Astronomical Society will be on hand Saturday with telescopes and special filters that you can view sunspots and solar flares with; after dark, they will host a star-gazing show. Check the schedule of events on the Valleyfest website to see what is happening when. The motto is “something for everyone,” and they mean it! Here are a few highlights that you don’t want to miss:

Hot air balloons will launch at 6:40 a.m. each morning of the festival, but if you don’t want to get up that early on a weekend, you can catch them Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., when they will be illuminated against the night sky.
Hot air balloon launch at 2009 Valleyfest. Copyright 2010 Spokane Valleyfest.
The “Hearts of Gold” Parade, named for a type of cantaloupe that once grew in the Spokane Valley, kicks off the festival at 7:30 Friday night on Sprague Avenue.
Taste of the Valley will be held at Centerplace on Saturday night, 6:00–8:00 p.m. You can feast on great food and wines from Spokane, Yakima, Prosser, and Walla Walla while listening to jazz music by the Kathleen Cavender Band and Hot Club of Spokane; tickets are a very reasonable $30.
Valleyfest Trail Ride draws a large crowd of cheerful cyclists for a leisurely ride on a gorgeous section of the Centennial Trail that offers views of the Spokane River and the Spokane Valley. Various length routes are offered; all begin at the Mirabeau Point Park North Centennial Trailhead at 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Registration is required; the cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Posted in Spokane | No Responses »

Oktoberfest in Spokane September 24–26

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Riverfront Park will become a little piece of beer lover’s heaven when it hosts a Bavarian/German style Oktoberfest celebration on Friday, September 24, through Sunday, September 26. You can sample microbrews from twenty Washington breweries (only Washington breweries are allowed) and snack on German food. If you didn’t already know that Washington has been producing a wide variety of high quality brews, this is your opportunity to find out.

In true Oktoberfest style, servers at Spokane Oktoberfest will be dressed in traditional costumes, including lederhosen and dirndls. Join the fun by wearing a Bavarian costume of your own for a chance to win a prize! Not into dressing up? There are eating contests too. Or you can just sip tasty beers, crunch pretzels, and soak up the atmosphere, which will be enhanced by authentic live Bavarian music. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets or at Northern Lights Brewery, CI Shenanigans, or the Elk. Prices are $20 for a one-day pass or $50 for a three-day pass. Tickets price includes a commemorative tasting cup and six 5 oz. sample tastes for each day. If you are going Friday night, you can purchase discount tickets at the restaurants listed above. At the door, any remaining tickets will be $25.

The list of participating breweries is impressive, including locals Northern Lights, CI Shenanigans, and the relatively new Golden Hills, as well as visitors from the west side like Elysian, Pike, and Georgetown. If you love microbrews, you do not want to miss this event! Hours are Friday 4–8 p.m., Saturday 12–8 p.m., and Sunday 12–6 p.m. I hope to see you there; I’ll be dusting off my German beer wench Halloween costume for sure.

Posted in Dining, Events, Holiday, Live music, Spokane, Travel | No Responses »

It’s Time for the Spokane County Fair! Discount Ride Tickets Available through September 9

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Kids are back in school and fall is in the air, two sure signs that it is time for the Spokane County Interstate Fair. Where else can city slickers visit all their favorite farm animals, watch a real live rodeo, see how to drive a tractor, gawk at monstrous vegetables, and see both famous country music and hard rock bands? It will indeed be an “AG-Venture.”

The ten days of fun start on September 10 and end on September 19. You can pick up amusement ride bracelets at a deep discount through the close of day September 9 at the Fair Office (at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. in Spokane Valley). At just $22, the bracelets are good for one day of unlimited rides. Individual ride tickets are $1, and each ride costs three–five tickets, so the pre-purchase bracelets are an excellent deal. Bracelets are available after the fair has started as well, but they cost a bit more. Discount pre-fair admission tickets are also available at the fair office through September 9.

In addition to thousands of exhibits, the 2010 Spokane County Interstate Fair will offer plenty of free entertainment including the ever-popular pig races, International Lumberjack Show, and Mutton Bustin’, where kids 6 years and under try to stay on a bucking sheep for six seconds. Performances at the Grandstand, which you can purchase tickets for through TicketsWest, include the PRCA Rodeo, country star Clint Black, ABBA the Music (ABBA tribute band), and the hard rock band Hinder. There will also be dozens of great shows for free with admission at the North Stage, everything from a hypnotist to country gospel music. Check the website for the full entertainment schedule.

Of course, there will also be plenty of fair food to celebrate the end of bathing suit season with, so bring your appetite! You can count on all your old favorites, such as elephant ears, deep-fried ice cream, fresh fudge, pecan rolls (my personal favorite, which I eat exactly once per year), kettle corn—and those are just some of the desserts!

See you at the fair!

Posted in Art, Deals, Dining, Events, Family, Home & Garden, Live music, Shows, Spokane | No Responses »

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