May, 2012

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Square Dance, Country Western, Contra, Clogging, and Line Dance to Live Music at the National Square Dance Convention, June 27–30

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

On Hoopfest weekend, thousands of basketball enthusiasts will be competing in the nation’s largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament. In a different part of downtown Spokane, thousands of people from all over the country will be dancing their tails off. The 61^st National Square Dance Convention will be held at the Spokane Convention Center (334 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard). With attendance expected at nearly 8,500 (as of today, there are already 5152 registrants), the convention will deliver some 7,200 room nights and an estimated economic impact of $8.6 million.

Each day, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., there will be dancing on 12 dance floors, including handicap accessible dance floors. Every night, there will be a live band in the Mainstream Dance Hall. There will also be education classes to introduce dancers to various forms or square dancing, as well as sewing seminars if you want to learn how to make the fun costumes that square dancing is known for (FYI: you don’t have to wear the special costumes to attend the convention; click here for the dress code). Or you can buy attire from the 90-plus square dance shops in the convention vendor area.

Wednesday night, the Timebenders, a group that plays music from the 50s, 60s, and on to the present with celebrity impersonations, will perform a show at the INB Performing Arts Center. Tickets are only available to registered convention attendees and are $35 for a BBQ dinner in Riverfront Park plus the show or $20 for just the show (purchase on the registration form).

For four days of dancing, plus education classes, registration is an absurdly cheap $60 for adults or $30 for youths 5–17. Visitors who just want to watch, attend the classes, and/or shop in the vendor area can buy passes for $5 at the Walk-Up Registration Station in the INB lobby.

If you are traveling to Spokane for the convention, book your room at Stratford Suites [http://www.stratfordsuites.com/], Spokane’s best lodging value. Relax in a luxurious room with a full kitchen, 50″ HDTV DVD, and free laundry. Located just minutes from downtown Spokane, near the airport. Call 509-321-1600 or 888-705-8877 for information on flying and shopping packages.

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Do Something Extraordinary for Mom This Mother’s Day! Fun Spokane Mother’s Day Outings

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Mother’s Day Tour of the Rockwood Historical District

On May 12 or 13, 12–4 p.m., take Mom on a walking tour of six houses in the historic Rockwood neighborhood on Spokane’s south hill. The 23^rd annual MAC (Museum of Arts and Culture) Mother’s Day Tour is presented by the Historic Preservation Committee of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. The nationally renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architects designed the layout of this distinctive neighborhood. It is home to a variety of architectural styles from the first half of the 20th century. Architectural styles bridge the gap between the waning days of Spokane’s “Age of Elegance” and the new generation of designers and builders who left their imprint on Spokane’s built environment during the 1930s and 1940s. Tickets on sale now at MAC Admissions (Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and during the tour weekend (12–4 p.m.) at two of the houses on display: 527 E. Rockwood Blvd and 2105 S. Rockwood Blvd. Tickets are $12 for MAC members and $18 for non-members.

Mother’s Day Raft

Get your adrenaline rushing with a rafting trip on the lower Spokane River! Think of it as a great mother/child/partner/sibling bonding opportunity. For just $99 for two people (each additional person is $49), Spokane Parks and Recreation will take you and a special Mom you love (provided you are both at least 16 years old) on a memorable float on Sunday, May 13, 2–4 p.m. Register here and do it soon because there are only ten spots available!

Spokane Winery Association Spring Release Weekend Take Mom on a tasting tour of Spokane’s many excellent wineries. For winemakers, spring is a time of celebration that typically marks the end of the winemaking season and the start of a new wine year. On Mother’s Day weekend, all 19 (yes, Spokane has 19 wineries!) Spokane Winery Association members, plus the Cougar Crest tasting room and Nectar wine bar open their doors and invite people to sample new wines along with current vintages and talk to wine experts. Every knowledge level is welcome; this is not a snobbish wine event! Hours are 12–6 p.m., May 11–13. Most wineries charge a $5 tasting fee, which is generally credited toward any bottle of wine that you like enough to take home. My family takes Mom to this every year and it is always a blast, even for Dad, who doesn’t really care for wine. See you there!

Take Her Out to the Theatre for Mother’s Day!

Mothers are often too busy to enjoy the pleasures of going out to a nice show. Treat her to a live play performance for Mother’s Day. Interplayers Professional Theatre is showing a comedy called Taking Steps through May 20 (no show on Mother’s Day Sunday but there are performances Wednesday through Saturday before Mother’s Day). Click here or call the box office at 509-455-7529 for tickets, which are $15–$24. Spokane Civic Theatre is showing “Premier!,” a comedy written by the author of Man of La Mancha and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest through June 3. Click here or call the box office at 509-325-2507 for tickets. All tickets are $19.

Listen to Your Mother Spokane Live Reading

In honor of Mother’s Day, local mothers who write and publish online will take the stage and read on Sunday, May 13, 7:00 p.m., at the Bing Crosby Theatre. Listen to Your Mother is a national series of live readings directed, produced, and performed by local communities. Tickets are $12 through TicketsWest or $15 at the door (cash only).

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May, 2012

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Square Dance, Country Western, Contra, Clogging, and Line Dance to Live Music at the National Square Dance Convention, June 27–30

Do Something Extraordinary for Mom This Mother’s Day! Fun Spokane Mother’s Day Outings