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Beyond A Fancy Dinner: 10 Romantic Valentine’s Day Dates in Spokane

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Tired of doing the same old thing for Valentine’s Day? This year, surprise your sweetheart with a date that is a little different and decidedly Spokane, WA. If you are single, grab a friend or just treat yourself and celebrate SAD—Singles Awareness Day, which is generally recognized as falling on either February 14 or 15. Do you have other great ideas for Valentine’s Day that you don’t see here? Please post a comment below and share with other readers!

Ice skating outdoors at the Ice Palace: Remember John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity? Ice skating on a beautiful winter night is very romantic. Take your date on a stroll through lovely Riverfront Park to one of the nation’s best outdoor ice rinks, the Ice Palace, on Saturday or Sunday before Valentine’s Day (the rink is closed on Mondays). The rink is open until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Warm up afterward with a hot beverage at the Davenport Hotel and tour the grand, historic landmark once referred to as Spokane’s living room.
Saturday Night Salsa at Simply Dance
Dance lessons: Dress up (or not) and learn sizzling salsa moves at Simply Dance Studio on Saturday, February 12. The drop-in lesson runs from 8:15–9:15 p.m., followed by dancing until 1:00 a.m. to try out your new moves. The lesson and dance are only $5. If you like it, you can come back for more as Saturday Night Salsa happens every week.
Wine, chocolate, art, and acoustic guitar: the perfect combination for an evening all about love. Jonathan Nicholson, a Spokane native who plays “soothing and introspective guitar,” will give a romantic performance on Saturday, February 12, 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Avenue West Gallery (122 S. Monroe Ste. #103). Wine and chocolate will be served at this dress-up event, and you need an invitation from the gallery to reserve your place. Just call them at 509-838-4999 between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday to claim you spot.
Romantic symphony music with roses and chocolate: The Spokane Symphony is putting on a special Valentine’s performance of “Romantic Chopin and Schumann” with guest pianist Orion Weiss, whom the Cincinnati Enquirer has called “a talent . . . so natural, genuine and exciting you can hardly believe your ears.” Add a long-stemmed rose and a small box of Bloem chocolates to your ticket for an extra $10. Two performances are available: Saturday, February 12 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 13 at 3:00 p.m. The home of the Spokane Symphony, the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, couldn’t be more romantic, as it is a gorgeously restored art-deco theater that opened in 1931. Buy your tickets online, at the Fox box office, or by calling 509-624-1200.
Wine tasting and candy: You can’t go wrong with good wine and delectable Valentine’s sweets! The Spokane Winery Association presents ValenWine weekend on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Download your map of the eighteen member Spokane wineries and grab your sweetheart or a fellow wine or chocolate lover and sample award winning, local wines and sweets.
Dinner and dancing at Corbin Senior Center: If you are looking for a more mature crowd to celebrate Valentine’s Day with, come enjoy an Italian buffet dinner followed by dancing at the Corbin Senior Center (827 W. Cleveland) on Sunday, February 13 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 per person or $30 per couple in advance or $20 per person at the door. Call 509-327-1584 for more information.
Go skiing while supporting a good cause: Hitting the slopes together is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and if you ski at Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park on the weekend before the holiday, you will also be sending some love to the Inland Northwest Blood Center. On February 12 and 13, $5 from every lift ticket sold will go to the INBC’s Summer Donor Awareness Program. To add to the fun, Groove Patrol, Spokane’s wonderful funk/rock/jazz band, will play in the lounge on Saturday.
Brick House Massage and Coffee Bar
Couples’ massage with truffles and candlelight: If you really want to spoil your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day, book a “Dipped in Chocolate Special” at the Brick House Massage and Coffee Bar. Two side-by-side treatments are available at a discounted price ($144.99–$244.99). Both packages include side-by-side full body massages, lattes, and truffles! Call 509-891-1999 to book your treatment ahead of time.
Dinner theatre in a Victorian setting: The Lion’s Share, a creative center located in a large Victorian house at 1627 N. Atlantic, is offering a candlelight dinner plus live performances of loves songs and a play called Frame Up, a romantic comedy, for only $35. The event runs February 11–13 at 6 p.m. Call 509-327-1113 for reservations.
Just get away for the night! One of the sweetest ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to simply get out of the house, leave the kids with a sitter, and enjoy each other’s company without the pressures of housework, family, etc. Stratford Suites, Spokane’s best lodging value, makes it easy and affordable with the Valentine Rendezvous Package. Package includes a luxury suite with full kitchen, a dozen roses, chocolate truffles, a bottle of wine or Martinelli’s, and a $25 gift certificate to the nearby Rusty Moose restaurant. This deal is perfect for finishing off your evening or for staying in and cuddling while watching a 50-inch hi-def. television. Complete package is $149 per night. Reserve by calling (888) 705-8877 or (509) 321-1600 or email frontdesk@stratfordsuites.com.

Posted in Deals, Dining, Events, Holiday, Live music, Nightlife, Recreation, Shows, Spokane, Travel | 1 Response »

Winter Fun in and around Spokane, WA: Indoor Winter Activities in the Spokane Area

Monday, December 20th, 2010

10^th Anniversary First Night Spokane

The biggest New Year’s Eve party around happens in downtown Spokane. For just $12, you can experience an incredible array of arts and entertainment, topped off with a big fireworks show at midnight. The theme for this year’s First Night Spokane is “Imagine That.”

If you haven’t been to a First Night celebration before, you can’t miss Spokane’s tenth annual bash. Where else can you see community theatre, dance to a live swing band, go ice skating, ride a 100-year-old carousel, watch several dance performances, laugh at live improve comedy, take some dancing lessons, watch artists do things like pottery wheel throwing, marvel at the stunts of a snowboard rail jam, and listen to African drumming all in one night for just $12? There are just too many activities and performers to try listing even the highlights here, but you can download a schedule.

First Night celebrations are all about celebrating arts and entertainment in a family friendly, affordable festival. The entire family can find dozens of things to do, with plenty of kids’ activities. The event is alcohol-free, although adults are welcome to pop into the many local bars and restaurants that will be open nearby for a drink, and you don’t have to worry about any of the content being inappropriate for kids. To get in on the fun, just purchase a button for $12 ($15 on December 31) at one of many Spokane businesses, including Cenex Zip Trip Stores, Auntie’s Book Store, Riverfront Park Square (concierge desk), and Windemere real estate offices. Out-of-town visitors can purchase buttons with no fees through TicketsWest. Go to the First Night Spokane website for details.

Attend a Hometown Hockey Game

Looking for a night that is a bit more exciting and noisy than a dinner and movie? Come out and support the Spokane Chiefs. You can’t help but get caught up in the enthusiasm of the Chiefs’ Pacific Northwest fans. The Spokane Chiefs, who have won two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 and 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 and 2008, and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000, and 2008, are a Major Junior Hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Players come from all over the world and many are drafted into the pro ranks from the Chiefs. Home games are played in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, a 10,366 seat facility. Click here for a season schedule. Adult tickets range from $10–$19 and can be purchased by calling 509-535-PUCK (7825) or from TicketsWest at 800-325-SEAT (7328), or by purchasing online through TicketsWest.

Enjoy Local Talent in Great Theatre

Impress your date with play tickets and experience an evening of live entertainment while supporting local artists. Spokane boasts two major theatre companies: Interplayers Professional Theatre and Spokane Civic Theatre. Ticket prices for theatre in Spokane are substantially lower than other major cities, so take advantage of our big-city quality for small-town prices!

Interplayers, Spokane’s award-winning professional theatre, is producing two plays this winter. Opus, a new play by Michael Hollinger that has enjoyed immense popularity nationwide, showcases the story of a string quartet that fires its violist and replaces him with a young woman days before a White House performance. It runs January 20–February 5, 2011. Privilege, a heartfelt comedy about the privileged lives of two Upper East Side NY teens whose lives are irrevocably changed when their father is accused of insider trading, runs February 24–March 12, 2011. Tickets are available by calling 455-PLAY (7529). You can also purchase tickets through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT (7328) or www.TicketsWest.com. Prices range from $13–$22.

Spokane Civic Theatre is a national award-winning community theatre. This winter, you can see three plays performed by the troupe. Don’t Dress for Dinner is a riotous farce about a dinner in which marital bliss is not on the menu, and between the friends, lovers, caterers, and angry husbands, comic confusion abounds. This production runs January 14–30, 2011. Next, the Civic will perform the Tony-Award wining musical comedy The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a tale of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. The show runs January 28—February 7, 2011. The next show is another musical comedy: Nunsense, running February 18–March 6, 2011 and featuring an unforgettable variety show performed by the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 325-2507 or through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT (7328) or www.TicketsWest.com. Prices range from $16–$32.

Copyright Spokane International Film Festival

Spokane International Film Festival, February 3–13, 2011

If you love independent and cutting-edge films, you can’t miss SpIFF. This is your once-a-year opportunity to see the very best feature films, documentaries, and short films that have been made around the world during the past two years but have not yet been commercially released for wide distribution right here in Spokane, WA. Some of the films might never be released on DVD in the United States, so this could be your only opportunity to enjoy some of the most talked-about films. They are the same films as those seen each year at the Cannes, New York, or Toronto film festivals.

But you won’t just see great new films from all over, you’ll also meet some of the filmmakers and performers. They share their own stories and anecdotes about the making of their films and answer questions from you the audience. The discussions are lively and educational and a favorite part of the festival for both filmmaker and audience. You can also take part in after-film receptions held throughout downtown Spokane.

Watch the website calendar for the upcoming schedule of events for the 13^th annual festival. Films will be shown at the AMC Theater at Riverpark Square and the Magic Lantern Theater, both located in downtown Spokane, WA.

Spokane Visual Arts Tour, February 4^th and 5^th, 2011

Twice a year, Spokane museums, galleries, arts businesses, and alternative spaces for showing art such as non-profit organizations, restaurants, and shops welcome the public in to view a wide variety of great regional art. Participating businesses extend their hours on Friday night, February 4^th, and open up on Saturday, February 5^th to support the arts scene in Spokane. Like First Friday Art Walks in downtown Spokane, the Visual Arts Tour is a self-guided walking tour (pick up a free copy of The Inlander, available at many area businesses on February 3^rd, for your guide), but it is a much larger event. Come check out local art, meet artists, and enjoy treats and beverages provided by participating businesses.

Posted in Art, Events, Family, Holiday, Live music, Nightlife, Shows, Spokane, Sports | No Responses »

Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah from Stratford Suites

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah

We wanted to thank you for being a part of making this a wonderful year for Stratford Suites. Thanks to your business, we have been able to grow and hire new people. You have made it possible to provide jobs in these difficult times. If you were a new guest this year, we are blessed to add you to our list! For all of you that returned, thank you for your continued business and loyalty!

Our Assistant General Manager, Louise, and her front desk staff Paula and Kristin, have been with us almost since our opening; Chastonie and Clint are more recent additions. Sara, Jackie, and new hires Peter, Hillary and Anna round out the dedicated Housekeeping Department. We would be lost without our new maintenance man Dave who literally can fix anything and is ready to help any guest wherever he can.

All of us want to thank you for staying at Stratford Suites and allowing us to serve you. Additionally, we would like to give a special thanks to the guest:

That informed us that hot water was plumbed to the commode in his suite. He said that he had really appreciated it on cold mornings! We are not sure how many others had enjoyed this unintentional “amenity”.

Sincerely,

The Stratford Suites Team

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Celebrate the Holidays with Bing: Bing Crosby Film Festival December 11

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

Love Bing Crosby? You can mingle with other fans, talk to people who knew the man personally, view exhibits, and see classic Bing films on Saturday, December 11 at the Bing Crosby Theater Christmas Festival in downtown Spokane, WA. For the fifth consecutive year, the non-profit group Advocates for the Bing Crosby Theater will host a full day of Bing Crosby memories. The theater will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with activities in the lobby all day while films play in the theater. Free cider and cookies will be served.

Bing Crosby’s niece, Carolyn Schneider, and his nephew, Howard Crosby, will speak about Bing starting at 6:00 p.m. The classic, beloved movie White Christmas will begin and end the day, with Road to Morocco, films from Bing’s private archives, and the documentary The Legendary Bing Crosby in between.

This family friendly event is offered free, but the Advocates for the Bing Crosby Theater request a $5 donation for the entire day of fun.

If you would like to brush up on your Bing history before or after the film festival, check out Gonzaga University’s amazing Crosby Collection. Housed in the Crosbyana Room in the Crosby Student Center (502 E. Boone), this collection contains approximately 200 items, including the duplicate Oscar he won in 1944 for Going My Way, gold and platinum records, movie stills and photographs, record albums, books, and sheet music. You will also see interesting items from the Crosby Research Foundation, such as the “Trip Trap,” a mousetrap that the foundation invented. Over 2500 guests visit each year, from all fifty states and twenty other countries.

The Crosbyana Room is free and open 7:30 a.m. to midnight weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to midnight weekends. While you are there, stop by the Crosby Alumni House at 508 E. Sharp. This house was Bing’s boyhood home, and it is open to the public on weekdays. Be sure to check out the campus map before you go if you are not familiar with Gonzaga University campus.

Posted in Events, Family, Holiday, Shows, Spokane | 1 Response »
Tags: Films

Take the Black Friday Local Shopping Challenge

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Spokane’s newest coffee roaster, Roast House, has organized something a little different for your Black Friday shopping. Owner Deborah Di Bernardo, who opened Roast House less than a year ago on principles of sustainable, ethical, and delicious, is all about promoting local businesses. Some time ago, she decided to invite a dozen local artisans to sell their works on the day after Thanksgiving in her warehouse at 423 E. Cleveland Avenue without charging them booth fees, so shoppers would have an alternative option that supports local crafts people. She planned on serving free tea and espresso and live music. This idea expanded into a shopping circuit of small, local, mostly downtown Spokane businesses.

Here’s how it works: Go to the Roast House, open that day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., to pick up your Black Friday Local Shopping Challenge punch card. Then, visit the participating businesses: Atticus, Boo Radley, Vino! A Wine Shop, Satellite Diner, Kizuri, Auntie’s Bookstore, Cassanos, and Sun People Dry Goods. Your punch card will get you a discount or special offer at each stop. Auntie’s Bookstore, Kizuri, Atticus, Boo Radley, Vino! A Wine Shop, and Sun People Dry Goods are all offering discounts to Black Friday card holders. Satellite Diner is offering free Roast House coffee, and Cassano’s is offering $2.00 canolli. If you make the entire shopping circuit, you will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize basket of goodies donated by the participating businesses.

The artisan event at Roast House features woodworkers, a glass artist, jewelers, a paper card artist, knitters, quilters, and more. Some of the great gifts for sale include glass platters, ornaments, holiday wreaths, gloves, scarves, hats, cutting boards, bird houses, and canned jams and relishes. Live music will be provided all day, and Roast House, will feature the release of their new Nutcracker Suite, a holiday blend of coffees featured in a sustainable, reusable glass jar.

For more information, all 509-995-6500 or email info@roasthouse.net.

Posted in Art, Deals, Dining, Events, Family, Holiday, Live music, Spokane | 1 Response »
Tags: Shopping

Halloween Fun in Spokane from Mild to Wild

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

The month of October is a time for celebrating fall leaves, fall harvests, and all things scary. There are plenty of fun outings for the whole family leading up to Halloween in the Spokane, WA area. So dress up or just bundle up and head out for an adventure.

Scarywood Haunted Nights at Silverwood Theme Park

Through Halloween, the Northwest’s largest theme park is a giant “theme park of horror.” The entire park is decorated for Halloween, and scary apparitions stalk visitors both in and out of the official attractions. The water ride Thunder Canyon has been drained and turned into a haunted house, the benign train ride has become a zombie-hunting machine (warning, the actors use profanity), and the Timber Terror roller coaster is operating backwards. Some Halloween haunted attractions are cute and funny; this one is actually scary and will make you scream! I’ve been informed by early visitors that actors will sometimes touch people to startle them (although Silverwood explicitly forbids you from touching the actors), and the frightening content of exhibits is not appropriate for anyone under 13. Admission to Scarywood is $24.99 for all ages. Hours are Thursdays 6–10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 6 p.m.–12 a.m., and the Wednesday before Halloween 6–10 p.m. No costumes allowed. This is a great chance to ride at Silverwood for a reduced price with shorter lines!

Green Bluff Apple Festival

All month long, Green Bluff growers and sellers continue the annual Apple Festival. On weekends, in addition to picking some of the best cooking apples around, you can enjoy live music, food booths, pressed cider, straw mazes, and animal exhibits. Here are a few highlights:

Walter’s Fruit Ranch offers pony rides and wiggle worm rides, goats, chickens, and ducks to see, live music, a BBQ, a hay maze with slide, a corn cannon, and more. And, of course, you can pick their pumpkins and apples. Pick up a take n’ bake pie while you are there; their pies are so good, they are carried by several local grocery stores.

Mrs. Kalin’s Barn offers a fun time for kids along with fresh pumpkins and raspberries. For $4, they can slide “Mega Mountain,” wander “the Forest,” and run a straw obstacle course. Afterward, the whole family can stroll on the Green Bluff trail to walk off the caramel apples, pumpkin shakes, and roast beef Philly’s the farm has on hand.

High Country Orchard (the big red barn store) is offering pony rides for kids by donation and a pumpkin picking patch on weekends through the end of the month. They will also host live music both inside and outside on weekends through the end of the season in November. Upcoming acts include Steve Wiley (country and retro rock) and Cynthia Paulson (plays inside on the piano, feel free to sing along as many do!). While you are there, be sure to savor the FRESH old-fashioned doughnuts.

Riverfront Park’s Haunted Pavilion

Get scared silly in the Riverfront Fright Haunted House, navigate the straw bale maze, ride the SR-2 Scream Machine, and play some ghostly mini-golf in the heart of Spokane’s beautiful Riverfront Park, in partnership with Ignite! Community Theatre. It all starts October 15 and runs through October 31 on Wednesdays through Sundays. Hours are 7–10 p.m. Sunday–Wednesday and 7–midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for ticket options—packages that include ice skating admission are available as well as birthday packages.

Clear Channel’s Amaizing Corn Maze

The “amaizing” corn maze features over twelve acres of mazes, a haunted house, and a petting zoo (petting zoo open until 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays). Check the schedule for hours. Tickets are $5 for seniors and children, $8 for adults, and $2 more for the haunted maze. Located south of Highway 53 just off Beck Road in Hauser, Idaho.

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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 »

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.

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