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Grab Your Girlfriends for the 7th Annual Girl’s Day Out!

Friday, November 11th, 2011

This Saturday, November 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., local shops in seven different Spokane business districts will offer games, prizes, and great discounts in honor of Girl’s Day Out, a shopping event aimed at introducing women to their neighborhood business centers. Businesses in the Garland, Hillyard, International District, Monroe, Perry, N. Division/Ruby, and SoDo areas are rolling out the “pink carpet” to entice ladies to come in. Each district has a headquarters, where the first 100 shoppers will receive a “swag bag” of goodies, and you can pick up your Girl’s Day Out map. Check out the facebook page for an inside look at what some of the business owners are doing to make this year’s event the best ever.

Many shops will be offering treats and beverages, and every business will have something special to offer. You can start your holiday shopping or shop for yourself—you can find antiques, jewelry, clothing, makeup, skin care, art, new and used furniture, books, and much more. Some of the city’s best coffee houses and restaurants will also be offering great specials for the day. Door prizes and drawings for gift certificates will be part of the fun. You can see all the participating businesses and scope out all the deals before you go in this week’s Exchange, available at free newsstands all over the city.

District headquarters, where you will want to stop first to get your map and swag bag:

Monroe: Cruz ‘n Back in Time, 3107 N. Monroe
South Perry: Skin Care by Yisel, 1016 S. Perry
Hillyard: Corner Cottage, 5210 N. Market
Garland: Glamarita, 901 W. Garland
SoDo: Ronan’s Door, 301 W. 2^nd Ave.
North Division/Ruby St.: Retired Treasures, 2824 N. Ruby
East Sprague/International: Northwest Seed and Pet, 2422 E. Sprague

Posted on the Girl’s Day Out facebook wall by Cruz ‘n Back in Time Collectibles

Although it is an event for women, men are welcome to come enjoy the fun as well. Shopping local is good for the economy, good for the community, and good for the environment, just in case you needed an excuse to spend a day shopping!

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

Gear Up at the Bigger Than Ever Ski SWAP, Then Pray for Snow: 47th Annual Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, October 28–30

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

The NOAA National Weather Service says La Niña is back, with above-average precipitation predicted for the Pacific Northwest this late fall/winter. La Niña often brings colder winters to our area. In other words, snow is on the way, and over 6,000 skiers and snowboarders are expected to attend the Pacific Northwest’s largest equipment swap, the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, to sell their old gear and/or find some great deals on new and used gear for the coming season at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. Items for sale include skis, bindings, boots, poles, snowboards, gloves, clothing, and accessories. This year’s SWAP, a season kick-off tradition, will be larger and better: “We have expanded into Bay 1 this year, giving us more room for more equipment and more people!” said Dan Edwards, Director of the 2011 MSSP SWAP. “The new space has allowed us to reconfigure the floorplan, which will improve traffic flow through the various departments and create a more efficient check-out system.”

There are several advantages to shopping the SWAP instead of the stores. First, you will get the best selection (over 22,000 items) and deals. Second, you can sell your old equipment for the very reasonable rate of 50 cents per item for registration plus 20% of the selling price to a huge, eager pool of buyers. Third, over 130 experienced members of the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol will be on hand to help you find the best equipment for your skill level and price range, in addition to the participating retail shop representatives, so beginners need not fear they will be doomed to wander alone and confused amongst endless rows of seemingly similar items. Fourth, all proceeds go to offset costs for operation of the non-profit Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol, including facilities overhead, first aid and medical supplies, training costs, and administrative functions. (These are the nice people who check on you when you wipe out and lay sprawled on the hill, skis and poles scattered, which always seems to happen right under the chair lift–oh wait, maybe that’s just me.) Fifth, it’s fun to shop and mingle with other ski/snowboard enthusiasts!

There is a $5 admission fee for the show (12 years and under free). Hours are Saturday, October 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 30, 9 a.m. to noon. If you have gear to sell, drop it off Friday, October 28, from 3–8 p.m., and pick up your check/unsold gear on Sunday from 2–4 p.m. Plenty of free parking is available onsite. Cash, checks, and debit/credit cards are all accepted. There is just one central check-out area, although the gear comes from over 20 retail shops plus individuals. This year, wait times should be shorter due to improvements to the scanning and point-of-sale technology. Sunday, select items will be 25% off, but if you are looking for kids’ gear and clothing, don’t wait and get in line early on Saturday because it goes fast.

There are six ski resorts within a three-hour drive from Spokane: Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park (50 minutes), Silver Mountain Resort (1 hour), 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort (1 hour 45 minutes), Lookout Pass Ski Area (2.5 hours), Schweitzer Mountain Resort (2 hours), and Red Mountain Resort (3 hours).

Posted in Deals, Events, Recreation, Shows, Spokane, Sports, Travel | No Responses »

New Irish Pub and Hocktoberfest Help Kick off Spokane Chiefs Hockey Season

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Hockey season has arrived here in Spokane, WA! It’s time to come out and make some noise for our great local team. In the home opener this weekend, the Spokane Chiefs will have another chance to best the Tri-Cities Americans after losing to them at last weekend’s season opener. There are still some tickets available through TicketsWest for Saturday’s game (start time 7:05 p.m.). In conjunction with the season home opener, the newest option for food and drink at the Spokane Arena will open at 6 p.m.—Limerick Pub, named in honor of Spokane’s sister city in Ireland. The pub is open to all ages and will offer popular Irish beers including Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp, and Jameson plus the usual assortment of pub food.

Speaking of beer, on October 22, the Chiefs will hold the first annual Hocktoberfest and will give away a trip for two to Leavenworth, WA, courtesy of Leinenkugel’s. Click here to sign up for your chance to win through October 12. Five finalists will be selected and notified on October 17. These lucky people will each receive four complimentary tickets to the October 22 game. One more finalist will be selected from entries at the night’s game, and the winner will be determined through a series of promotions, including an on-ice competition during intermission. You have to play in the night’s promotions to win.

For the full Chiefs season schedule, click here. There is no substitute for live, local hockey, but there will be live TV broadcasts of ten Tri-Cities vs. Chiefs games on SWX via Comcast on channel 115 and over-the-air at digital channel 6.2. Click here for the TV schedule.

Posted in Events, Family, Spokane, Sports | No Responses »

Two Heavenly Weekends for Beer Lovers: Oktoberfest in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

You can get a little taste of Oktoberfest without going very far this weekend in downtown Spokane and next weekend in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The weather looks like it will be gorgeous, so come hang out in beautiful Riverfront Park and charming downtown Coeur d’Alene while sampling quality micro-brews from near and far. I guarantee there will be some authentic German/Bavarian costumes to see, so if you have some lederhosen, don’t be afraid to show them!

Spokane Oktoberfest

When: Tonight 4–9 p.m. and tomorrow noon to 9 p.m., September 23–24

Where: Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane

Beer, food, and entertainment: Taste beer from 22 Washington state breweries, including three Spokane breweries and one from Kettle Falls. The “Happy Hans” Band will provide some Bavarian music for a fitting background to the beer tasting. German and American fare will be available for purchase, but last year the selections were very limited, so think pretzels, sausages, and sauerkraut, or else eat at one of the excellent nearby downtown Spokane restaurants first.

Tickets: $20 at the door includes a commemorative tasting cup and 5.5 oz. samples; additional sample tokens are $1.50 or 4/$5.00. Ages 21and over. This event is outside and uncovered. Designated drivers get in free!

Coeur d’Alene Oktoberfest

When: Friday, September 30, 5–9 p.m. and Saturday, October 1, 1–9 p.m.

Where: Downtown Coeur d’Alene, ID, at numerous tasting sites in the area of the Plaza Shops, with a tented food/entertainment area at the Wilma Lot on 2^nd and Sherman

Beer, food, and entertainment: Twelve stations with 20 different beers, some from Washington state breweries and others from Germany and Belgium. Traditional German style food will be for sale. There will be some great live music as well: the Fat Tones (smokin’ blues) will play on Friday night 5:30–8:30; Saturday from 2–5 p.m., Nu Jack Trio featuring Max Daniels (motown, soul, and pop) will play; and the Healthy Scratches will rock out Saturday from 6–9 p.m. Bonus: A beautiful stroll on Lake Coeur d’Alene is just a short walk away.

Tickets: $15 includes a glass Oktoberfest mug and six sampling tickets (more sampling tickets available at the event). Pre-sale vouchers are on sale at Angel Gallery, Christmas at the Lake, Frosted, Summer’s Glass, and Tiffany Blue (all located on the 200–500 blocks of Sherman Ave. in downtown Coeur d’Alene). Supplies are limited, so don’t wait!

Posted in Coeur d'Alene, Events, Live music, Spokane | No Responses »

Music, bicycling, wine tasting, and more at Valleyfest, September 23–25

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

This year’s annual Valleyfest kicks off Friday night, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. with the Hearts of Gold parade. Creative floats from local businesses and schools as well as outlying communities, dancers, classic cars, hot rods, animals, and more will travel from the New Life Church (10920 E. Sprague) east to Chase Bank (12005 E Sprague). Come early to claim a good spot for viewing!

Valleyfest 2011 is based at Mirabeau Point Park in Spokane Valley off I-90 exit 289. There is plenty to do for all ages, including hot air balloon viewing, a run for diabetes, a family trail ride, music and other live entertainment, and a car show. Click here for a map of the park. Here are a few of the main attractions.

The Spokane Astronomical Society will let you look through telescopes at solar flares and sunspots (don’t worry, they have special safe filters) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus they will host a night sky gazing session Saturday night from 7 to 10 p.m. You can also check out the planetarium in the Great Room at CenterPlace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Taste of the Valley, 6–8 p.m. Saturday night at CenterPlace, is an evening of wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres from Red Rock Catering and live music and entertainment. Afterward, you can stroll outside to watch the hot air balloon “Night Glow” show. Click here to buy tickets ($40 each).

Although registration is now closed for the Valleyfest 5K/10K Run for Diabetes, which starts Saturday morning at 9 a.m., everyone is welcome to take part in the Family Trail Ride on Sunday, with four routes to choose from. Click here for a video and click here to register. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Saturday and Sunday, a variety of performers will provide free entertainment, including local bands, hula dancing, skits, comedy, and more. Click here for a full schedule of all the fun!

Grab your kids or borrow someone else’s for Fishing at the Falls. Kids 14 and under can learn how to fish in the stocked pond at the park starting Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Balloons Over Valleyfest is an excellent reason to get out of bed early this weekend. Right after sunrise Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, 80-foot hot air balloons will launch and fly over the Spokane Valley. You can also see the balloons lit up at night on the back grass of CenterPlace just after sunset Saturday night.

Posted in Dining, Events, Family, Live music, Recreation, Spokane | No Responses »
Tags: Spokane Valley

Sixty New Things to Do This Year at the Spokane Country Interstate Fair! September 9–18, 2011

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

If you think you have already seen all there is to see at the fair, you’ll be happy to know that the Spokane County Interstate Fair has come up with 60 new attractions to mark its 60^thsilver anniversary at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. Here are just five of the most compelling:

Bedazzle Your Bra Competition: Come to Bay 3 to view entries in this new competition of creatively decorated bras. This exhibit is put on by the Home Arts Department and the Susan G. Kohmen Foundation to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Goat Cart Rides: Ramona Mather and her goat Casper will give kids rides in the Goat Barn!

Dancing Horses: On Friday, September 16, at 2:15 p.m., watch members of Spokane County 4-H perform a dressage exhibition in the Horse Arena.

QR Code Barn Tours for Smart Phones: If you have a smartphone, you can scan a code at the entrance to each barn for a self-guided tour, which will make looking at livestock much more interesting! It’s sponsored by Big R. Stores, and you will receive a Big R. 15% off coupon for participating.

Not-So-Newlywed Contest: Tuesday, September 13, at 1:15 p.m., couples pre-selected through an essay competition will play for a grand prize at the North Stage. Play along in the audience to find out how well you know your partner!

As always, you can count on fun shows at the Grandstand: PRCA rodeos Friday and Saturday nights (September 10 and 11), compact car demolition derby and lawn mower races Sunday, September 11, two monster truck shows on the second Saturday (September 17), full-size car demolition derby on the second Sunday (September 18), and five great acts during the week: Neal McCoy, Osmond Brothers, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Switchfoot. Tickets are available at the Interstate Fair Office or at Ticketswest.com. General admission to the Fair is required for all shows.

The North Stage features a wide variety of free entertainment throughout the Fair, including regional and local musicians, comedy, hypnotism, juggling, and dancing. There are many other free entertainment events each day, such as racing pigs, kids pedal tractor racing, and demonstrations of “how it used to be” (butter churning, rope making, etc.) Click here for a complete day-by-day schedule of all that is happening.

General admission to the Fair is required for all shows. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for kids 7 to 13 and seniors 65 and over, and free for kids 6 and under. If, for you, going to the Fair means having a blast on the carnival rides, consider going on September 12–15, when you can buy a pay-one-price bracelet for $25, good for unlimited rides all night. Otherwise, each ride is $3–$5 in single carnival tickets. Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day except September 18, when this year’s big event will wrap up at 8:00 p.m. Parking is available at the Main Gate and South Gate. If you are travelling from out of town to play at the Fair, do yourself a favor and book a comfortable one- or two-bedroom suite at Stratford Suites Hotel, Spokane’s best lodging value! Full kitchens, leather furniture, pillow top mattresses, and 50” HDTV with DVD await you.

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

Party at the Farm! Tis the Season for Green Bluff

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Thorson’s Country Farm and Nursery

You don’t have to go far from the city to experience some good old fashioned farm fun. Just 20 minutes north of Spokane, at Green Bluff, you can pick your own delicious peaches, apples, and other produce in season (or buy them already harvested), take a free wagon ride, taste local wine, listen to live music, have a picnic with lunch and snack items from one of several places, tour some farms, and entertain the kids at numerous play areas. The scenic area is at the foothills of Mt. Spokane.

If you haven’t tasted just-picked Green Bluff peaches and apples, you are in for a treat! Local, farm fresh produce is a world away from the usual grocery store fare and may inspire you to try new recipes and cooking methods. A great website with recipes for natural, healthy cooking that really highlights farm fresh food is At My Kitchen Table. Pictures with the steps make the recipes easy to follow.

The Green Bluff Growers, founded in 1902, is an association of small farms and food stands. In two driving loops, you can visit over 30 farms and stands with an abundance of locally grown and manufactured food. In addition to extremely fresh fruits and vegetable, you will find gifts, alpaca yarn and wool goods, frozen Italian meals, candy, honey, jams, pies, and much more.

Each farm is a little different, and food and entertainment offerings vary by season. Although many farms are open on weekdays, most of the entertainment only happens on weekends. Some farms are closed on Sundays. Check the website to see what is happening at each farm. There are several big festivals at Green Bluff—currently, farmers are celebrating the August Peach Festival on weekends through Labor Day as it is prime soft fruit season. Next up is the September Apple Harvest Festival, when you can pick up some of the best chunky applesauce and fresh pressed apple cider you’ll ever taste. In the fall, pumpkin picking and corn mazes are always popular, and you can even come back for a Christmas tree in the winter. A Sanctuary Bed and Breakfast, on 11 wooded acres at the gateway to Green Bluff, offers the option of a retreat without travelling far from Spokane.

Parking is available and free; expect the roads to be crowded on weekends, but with over 30 farms, lines are generally short. Click here for directions. Green Bluff is great for anyone who loves fresh food, and it is a great family outing, with plenty for kids to do. Each farm sets its own hours; check the farm locator page for details. Click here for a map that shows what each farm offers.

Posted in Events, Family, Home & Garden, Live music, Spokane, Travel | No Responses »

All the Food and Free Music You Can Handle: Pig Out in the Park 2011

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

For six days, August 31–September 5, Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane will be filled with 48 food booths (225 menu items), three adult beverage gardens, and three stages that will host 82 free concerts. Pig Out in the Park, now in its 32^nd year, brings dozens of great bands from near and far to perform on outdoor stages without charging any admission fees, raising the $320,000 needed to put on this year’s event through sponsorships, restaurant participation fees, and support from over 385 local businesses.

MarchFourth Marching Band

This year’s headliners are Marcy Playground, Charlie Musselwhite, Too Slim, Leon Russell, Carbon Leaf, and MarchFourth Marching Band. Pig Out in the Park will also showcase many local favorites, including Mon Cheri, Blue Ribbon Tea Company, and Hot Club of Spokane. Click here for a full schedule of bands.

Pig Out in the Park is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the music starts at noon each day. You won’t run out of new kinds of food to try even if you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the park, with everything from bacon-wrapped hot dogs to authentic Greek, Vietnamese, and Indian dishes. As Spokane’s largest cultural event, this is a golden opportunity to broaden your taste horizons for a decent price—the price cap for all items is $8.95. Picky kids (of all ages) will be happy to see plenty of tame options like Zip’s hamburgers, pizza, and of course funnel cakes.

Riverfront Park is always a fun place, and all the usual attractions will be running during Pig Out—IMAX Theatre, Looff Carrousel, Spokane Falls SkyRide, and Pavilion amusement rides. The day pass is the best deal at just $16.25 for unlimited amusement park rides and mini-golf plus one regular IMAX feature.

Getting there: As Pig Out is contained in the park, street closures are not an issue; however, this very popular event means close parking will be limited. If you drive, try to carpool and arrive as early as possible. In the afternoon, expect a healthy walk if parking on the street. Parking meters are free on Sunday and Labor Day. Buses will be running all weekend, including the Arena park-and-ride shuttle, but check schedules to make sure you don’t miss the last bus home! Bicycles are a great option for this event, with places in the park and surrounding businesses to lock up. Most concert seating is on the grass. Feel free to bring your own chairs and blankets, but keep in mind that wandering through the food booths can be a little tight for carrying bulky items, so think slim folding chairs and/or backpacks. See you there!

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