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Grab Your Girlfriends for a Day of Fun at Girls’ Day Out!

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Ladies, mark your calendars for Girls’ Day Out on Saturday, November 13^th, when businesses in four great business districts in Spokane will offer up special treats, deals, games, prizes, and more. This is a fun way to start your holiday shopping, check out all the wonderful local businesses in these unique neighborhoods, and enjoy a day with some of your favorite women. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., head to the Garland, Hillyard, Monroe, and International (East Sprague) districts. Just look for the pink, as participating businesses will be competing in the “Pink’d” contest for the best pink decorated place.

The 6^th annual Girls’ Day Out features art galleries, antiques, health and beauty products and services, vintage clothing, coffee shops and cafes, and more. The driving goal behind this annual shopping event is to introduce Spokane women to their local neighborhood business centers. You know that cute little place you have driven past half a dozen times and always think you’d love to stop in but somehow never do? This is the perfect time! Be sure to stop at Anatopia Thrift Boutique in the Garland district as they will be serving chocolate, and hit Curl Up N’ Dye in the Hillyard district to get your nails painted pink for free. Fabulous Finds in the Monroe district will be serving a candy buffet. These are just a few of the highlights; every business will have something special for you!

Guys are welcome to come along, and in fact there are official “Guy’s Hang Outs” in each district, where men can watch football, have a drink, or play some games.

Make sure to pick up your free copy of the Exchange newspaper before the event for your official Girls’ Day Out shopping guide. On newsstands on November 11, it will include neighborhood maps, participating businesses, sponsors, sales/specials and any other information you need to navigate your way through the day. For photos and a video of last year’s Girls’ Day Out, click here.

Posted in Art, Deals, Dining, Events, Spokane | No Responses »

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 »

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 »

New Ethiopian Cuisine in Spokane: Queen of Sheba

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Queen of Sheba platter Spokane, WA is known for its excellent local restaurants, and a new choice for lunch and dinner has people all over town talking: Queen of Sheba is Spokane’s first Ethiopian restaurant, located in the historic Flour Mill near downtown and the Courthouse district. A truly unique dining experience awaits those who are interested in trying something adventurous. The food is authentic, delicious, and reasonably priced. The owner, Almaz, was born and raised in Ethiopia, and she frequently chats with guests before they order to explain how the food is served and answer any questions about the dishes.

All food is served with injera, a spongy flatbread that has such a mild, neutral taste that it doesn’t not interfere with the rich, fragrant flavors of the entrees. No utensils are used. You simply tear off a piece of injera and scoop the food up with it. But the bread makes a perfect eating implement, so you don’t need to worry about your fingers (or shirt) getting messy and sticky. While highly flavorful and full of rich, Ethiopian spices, most of the dishes are mild to medium on the heat scale. The menu features a variety of melt-in-your-mouth meat and vegetable dishes cooked in tasty sauces to perfection so that each bite is infused with flavor.

For appetizers, I highly recommend the spicy fried chick peas, a wonderful Ethiopian answer to the standard bowl of nuts at the table, and the beef sambussas (crispy triangles of dough surrounding a beef and spice mixture), which disappeared fast at our table. If you are new to Ethiopian food, try the vegetarian or meat combination platters, which each come with a few different entrees and feed two people. The selections lend themselves well to sharing with others at the table for a satisfying, communal meal in a friendly atmosphere. The yaterkik alicha, split peas cooked with onions, peppers, and herbs, is amazingly good, as is the doro we’t, a spicy stew-like dish of succulent, tender pieces of chicken simmered in a thick berbere sauce with garlic, ginger, cardamom, and onions, topped with hard boiled eggs.

Queen of Sheba is open Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Reservations are a good idea for Friday and Saturday nights; call 509-328-3958.

Posted in Dining, Spokane | 1 Response »

Three Festivals in One in Downtown Coeur d’Alene, July 30–August 1

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Every summer for the last nineteen years, Sherman Street in the downtown lakefront district of beautiful Coeur d’Alene, ID, has turned into a giant street fair for one sunny weekend. The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Street Fair features over 250 vendors of all kinds of arts, crafts, food, and other wares plus entertainment galore. Around 40,000 people attend the family friendly fair, which runs concurrently with two other big events in the city. It is handicap and stroller friendly so that everyone can feel welcome and comfortable. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 to 8:00, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

Also in downtown Coeur d’Alene, check out A Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes, in the city park, with food booths from some of the finest restaurants in the area. This is a great way to sample some of those nice restaurants you have been wanting to try! You can also enjoy great free live music in the park while you relax in the large, grassy sitting areas.

Art on the Green 2010 Just a short walk away, or a short free shuttle ride that comes every thirty minutes if you are tired from walking around the street fair, is Art on the Green at the old Fort Sherman Grounds on the North Idaho College Campus. This event, in its forty-second year, brings together 135-plus artists, a variety of performers, over 500 volunteers, and 50,000 visitors for a celebration of art, creativity, and friendship. You can browse a large marketplace of original artist creations or try your hand at creating some of your own art in the hands-on sections for both children and adults, instruction provided. Two stages will showcase jazz, salsa, and Celtic music plus performances by the Lake City Playhouse, the Coeur d’Alene Opera, the Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre, and much more. Hours are Friday, noon to 7:30, Saturday, 10:00 to 7:30, and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.

Posted in Art, Coeur d'Alene, Dining, Events, Family, Live music, Shows | No Responses »

Spokane’s 4th of July Festival Jam-Packed with Music and Fun

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Fireworks show in Riverfront Park, Spokane, WA

Sure, Spokane, WA has a spectacular fireworks extravaganza on July 4th, but the fireworks show is the culmination of two full days of revelry in Riverfront Park. Spokane’s 4th of July Festival begins on Saturday, July 3. All day long, you can watch live music at three different outdoor stages, including an American Idol competition with Spokane’s top ten competitors, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, a dozen or so popular local/regional bands, and a karaoke competition. On Saturday night, don’t miss Ignite Community Theatre’s presentation of the melodrama Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch (7:30 p.m.) followed by a showing of the film The Basket, which was filmed right here in Spokane. Roving performers will entertain you while you walk around. The shows are all free and fun for the whole family. For the complete schedule, go to the Riverfront Park website.

The historic Loof Carousel in Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park will also offer specials on day passes all weekend for the park’s many attractions including the historic Loof Carousel, the IMAX theater, amusement rides, and the Spokane Falls SkyRide gondola. Food choices will be diverse, with an international selection of food booths, and beer and wine will be available at the Boulevard Bistro. You can also browse exhibitor booths and enjoy art activities and games.

Do you have something you’ve been dying to say on stage? Sign up for a five-minute slot on the Freedom of Speech stage, which will be open on both days.

The big finale fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. If you want the best seats, you can purchase reserved seating tickets for $8.00, which includes a collectible stadium seat cushion. Tickets can be purchased at Riverfront Park’s Guest Services or by calling 509-625-6602 (there will be a $3.50 handling fee for phone transactions.) Quantities are limited and will be on sale until July 1, 2010 based on availability.

Posted in Art, Dining, Events, Family, Holiday, Spokane | No Responses »

Father’s Day: A Tradition that Started in Spokane

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Spokane Celebrates 100 Years of Father’s Day June 20!

June 20, 2010, marks the 100th Father’s Day, a holiday that began right here in Spokane, WA. Local resident Sonora Smart Dodd, who is often referred to as the “Mother of Father’s Day, was inspired to propose a day to celebrate fathers after hearing a sermon on Mother’s Day in 1909. Dodd’s mother had died in 1898, so her father raised her and her five younger brothers alone on a remote farm in Eastern Washington. With help from her pastor at Old Centenary Presbyterian Church (now Knox Presbyterian Church), Reverend Dr. Conrad Bluhm, Dodd made a proposal for Father’s Day to the Spokane YMCA. That organization, along with the Ministerial Alliance, endorsed the idea and celebrated the first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910, with sermons honoring fathers presented throughout Spokane.

The rest of the nation eventually caught on: in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recognized Father’s Day and urged the states to do likewise; in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation calling for the third Sunday in June to be recognized as Father’s Day; and in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon signed a proclamation permanently observing Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. Today Father’s Day is celebrated from Antigua to Zimbabwe in over fifty countries around the world.

Traveling to Spokane for Father’s Day? You can book your luxurious, affordable suite at Stratford Suites today and enjoy a 50 inch hi-def. television and pillow-top mattresses in every room.

Here are just a few Father’s Day event highlights in Spokane, WA:

Father’s Day 100th Anniversary Tour by Group Coordinators

Numerous options are available for a fun-filled tour that Dad will love. On Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19, group tours will be given for wine tasting, beer tasting, Spokane Symphony at the Fox performances, Spokane nightlife, golfing, and more. Check out the options at groupcoordinators.com/sonora-dodd.php. Reservations can be made by calling 509-455-4354 or emailing julie@groupcoordinators.com.

Dad/Daughter Style Class

Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m.
Workshop for dads to learn more about styling their daughter’s hair for picture day and special events, because mom isn’t always available.

Haute Headz
1505 N. Ash
Spokane, WA 99205

Reservations: 509.838.2280; $30 for one daughter; $5 for additional

Garage Mahal Tour

Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Take Dad on a one-of-a-kind tour that ends with a feast from Longhorn Barbeque. Sights include the oldest flying Boeing at Felts Field, the new Pullman train car museum at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, a behind-the-scenes tour of McKay Manufacturing, and Gary Hite’s custom motorcycle shop and museum with motorcycles by Harley Davidson, Merkel, and others spanning more than 100 years of technology.

Get your tickets at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture or Longhorn Barbeque. For more information, go to the museum’s website.

Spokane Indians Baseball

June 20, 3:30 p.m.
The Spokane Indians will salute fathers while playing against the Tri-City Dust Devils by wearing light blue jerseys, running light blue bases, and holding a silent auction benefitting Bat for the Cure.