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Ring in the New Year with Music, Dancing, Art, Comedy, and Fireworks Downtown at First Night Spokane

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

The biggest, most inclusive New Year’s Eve party in Spokane starts at 6:00 p.m. (some kids’ activities start at 3:00 p.m.) It runs until midnight, but you won’t run out of things to do and probably will not have time to see everything you want to! Click here for a description of the dozens of performance and attractions at First Night Spokane 2013. Admission buttons are just $12 through December 30 or $15 on December 31. Kids 10 and under are free when accompanied by a button-bearing adult. Get your buttons at Cenex Zip Trip stores, the River Park Square concierge desk, Auntie’s Book Store, or Mountain West Bank. Not going to be near any of those places in the next few days? Just order online and pick up your buttons at the Spokane Convention Center beginning at 3:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Your button gets you into all First Night events.

The evening begins with a masquerade parade at 6:10 p.m. from the Spokane Convention Center to the Riverfront Park Fountain and ends at midnight with a fireworks show that starts at 11:50 p.m. In between, there is a large variety of entertainment for everyone. As always, First Night Spokane is alcohol free and family friendly. To help you decide, here are some great choices, one for each hour counting down to 2013.

Just for Kids Pre-func: Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Kids Night Out, 3:00–6:00 p.m.

Bring the kids to the Spokane Convention Center for three hours of fun. Activities are centered around this year’s First Night theme: Across the Universe: the Year of the U.F.O. Kids can create their favorite “Martian Marmot,” launch a rocket, get a robot hat, and put on a washable tattoo. There will be dancing, a “moon surface walk,” “space writing wall,” and music. There are even special activities just for tots 2–4 years old.

7:00 p.m.—Outrageous Wild Women Crown Making

Stop by first, or anytime throughout the evening, to decorate a personalized crown. Not just for kids! Grown-ups need to feel like royalty, too! Located in the Crescent Court, 2^nd floor.

8:00 p.m.—SCC Players at the Spokane Public Library

Check out live theatre performances by the Spokane Community College Players at 7:00, 8:00, or 9:00 p.m. Last year’s show included actors performing unique folk stories from faraway lands; this year is sure to be equally interesting. While you are there, check out the photographs of Afghanistan by Casey Johnson.

9:00 p.m.—Blue Door Theatre, Convention Center Conference Theatre

Check out Spokane’s great improvisational comedy group, Blue Door Theatre. They will perform every hour all night. Every show is different because it is influenced by audience participation and random, on-the-fly ideas. Very entertaining, with jokes that require creativity rather than crudeness—it’s all clean humor.

10:00 p.m.—48 Hour Film Festival, Produced by NXNW

Each year, local film makers are invited to enter short films that must be written, filmed, and edited in just 48 hours. In case you are wondering (I was) how they prevent cheating, NXNW keeps the storyline requirements secret until the 48 hour timeline begins. Come watch the contestants’ submissions anytime throughout the night in the Spokane City Council Chambers meeting room in the lower level of City Hall. If you don’t have time to catch them during First Night, you can watch them on YouTube.

11:00 p.m.—Ice Skating and Looff Carousel Rides

End your night in the park to be close by when the fireworks begin. Your button provides free rides on the carousel and free ice skating at the Ice Palace (skate rental is not free, though). As you stroll through the park, stop at the many bonfires to warm up, or warm up by dancing to DJ music at the Riverfront Park Fountain. Visual artists will also be showing their work in the area.

Parking

Get a happy start to your night, rather than an irritating one, by choosing the easy, free parking option for First Night Spokane! Park at the Riverpoint Campus just east of downtown at 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. in the yellow lot for free. Then catch a free STA bus, which will run every 10 minutes from 3:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m., to various venues of First Night. Catch a bus back at the end of your evening. Click here for a parking and shuttle service map. Easy peasy!

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

What Should We Do for Valentine’s Day? Great Ideas and Hot Deals

Friday, February 10th, 2012

If you or your sweetheart is asking that question, check out these great ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day in Spokane, including several that are very affordable (marked as “DEAL”).

DEAL Romantic Valentine’s Day Hotel Package

Stratford Suites luxury hotel is offering a Valentine’s Day-themed package that includes a one-bedroom suite, a bouquet of red roses, a bottle of red wine, and gourmet chocolate truffles for only $139. All rooms feature 50” HDTV/DVD, full kitchens, and free high-speed wireless internet. Located a short drive from downtown and very close to the Northern Quest Casino and Resort (see below for fun things to do there). Call (888) 705-8877 or (509) 321-1600 or email frontdesk@stratfordsuites.com to make reservations!

Current Spa and Salon

Play at Northern Quest Resort and Casino

Northern Quest offers an impressive array of food, pampering, and entertainment. Choose from fourteen restaurants and lounges, including Spokane’s only AAA four diamond restaurant, a sports bar with a 30’ by 10’ HDTV, a premier cigar lounge, and a nightclub. The 46,000 square feet of gaming includes table games, live poker, over 2,000 slot machines, live Keno, and off track betting. For a relaxing, romantic getaway, check out the Current Spa, where you can treat your sweetheart to a massage, facial, or body treatment. Couples’ treatments are available, and you can even receive a couples’ massage in your room if you stay at the resort’s luxury hotel. Valentine’s Day packages are available. Call 509-242-7000 for more information.

DEAL Wine Tasting Galore

The weekend before Valentine’s Day, the wineries of Spokane (there are nineteen) and local wine shops are opening their doors and offering tastings and special deals. Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., the Spokane wineries will host ValenWine weekend. Visit any participating winery for wine samples paired with delectable sweets. Click here for a map of wineries. Tasting fees may apply and are usually applicable to a wine purchase.

Warm up your taste buds with a pre-Valentine’s wine tasting and food sampling at William’s Seafood Market and Wines Friday, February 10, from 3–6:30 p.m. Taste wines for just $1 (tasting fee credited toward any purchase). Select offerings from Del Rio Vineyards, Sterling Silver Meats, and Just American Desserts will be available to try, and you can pick up some delicious food to prepare a romantic dinner at home. The Market is located at 2118 N. Ruby. Call 509-321-0747 for more information.

At Vino! A Wine Shop (222 S. Washington Street), you can sample bubblies and more for $10 on Friday, February 10, from 3–5:30 p.m. On Saturday, February 11, the entire store is on sale (hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), so you can stock up for Valentine’s Day and the winter. Tastings will be available all day for $5.

DEAL Snowshoe and Wine Tasting on Mt. Spokane

For a fun couple’s outing, give your sweetheart the gift of fresh air, gorgeous scenery, and fine wine. Spokane Parks and Recreation will provide the snowshoes and transportation for a spectacular day of snowshoeing on Mt. Spokane on Sunday, February 19, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After exploring the snowy trails, the group will head to Trezzi’s Farm Winery. The cost is $39, plus a $3 wine tasting fee. Call 509-363-5418, and click here to register. Check out the Spokane Parks and Rec Winter 2012 Outdoor Program for other great ideas for Valentine’s gifts for outdoor enthusiasts.

Spokane Symphony Concert: Brilliance and Virtuosity

Get dressed up (or not) and bring your Valentine to the historic Fox theater (downtown at 1001 W. Sprague Ave.) this weekend for a romantic show featuring a violin concerto. A special Valentine’s package of a long-stemmed rose and small box of chocolates is available for an advance-purchase price of $10. Click here to read the Inlander’s article about this beautiful collection of music and Mateusz Wolski, violinist. Two shows will be performed, on Saturday, February 11 at 8 p.m. (pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m.) and Sunday, February 12 at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Box Office at Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. or by phone at 509-624-1200. They may also be purchased at all TicketWest outlets or at 1-800-325-SEAT.

DEAL Laugh Together at a Comedy Show

Laugher has been called the best aphrodisiac, so a comedy show makes a great Valentine’s Day date! Check out the Blue Door Theater for live improvisational comedy. Every Friday in February, the group will perform “It’s a Date,” in which audience-inspired characters look for love, at 8 p.m. (suitable for all ages). Saturdays at 9 p.m., enjoy “PG-13” short-form improv at the “Safari” show. Tickets are $7–$9. Call 509-747-7045 for reservations.

Uncle D’s Comedy Underground at Bluz at the Bend hosts live stand-up comedy in Spokane’s only Las Vegas style showroom with full bar and dinner service. Doors open at 6:30 and shows start at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $12; call 509-483-7300 for reservations. On February 14, Tuesday, at 8:00 p.m., there will be a special “Singles Awareness Day” show, perfect for singles or anyone wanting to go out with friends on Valentine’s Day.

Posted in Deals, Dining, Holiday, Live music, Nightlife, Shows, Spokane | No Responses »

Fun Holiday Events in Spokane for Families

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

The holiday season is upon us, and there are plenty of fun things to do around Spokane with the kids that will create great memories, help keep everyone from succumbing to cabin fever, and maybe even start new holiday traditions in your family. Here are just a few great family outings that will entertain everyone without blowing your budget.

Copyright Northwest Museum of Art and Culture

Campbell House Holiday Tours

The MAC Museum of Art and Culture is putting on living history performances in its largest exhibit, the Campbell House, during the two weeks around Christmas when most kids are out of school. The Campbell House is a turn-of-the-20th-century English Tudor Revival mansion designed by renowned Spokane architect Kirtland Cutter. You can see the house decorated for the holidays and learn about the times in which it was built and the daily life of the Campbell family from December 21 through January 1 on the days the MAC is open (the MAC is right next door to the Campbell House) from 12–4 p.m.

New for this year: Check out the just-opened Interpretive Center to create your own Campbell House experience and connect the past and present with interactive computers and hands-on exploration, and you can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Admission is free for MAC members or $7 adults/$5 students and seniors, which includes both museum entry and a tour of the Campbell House. For more information, call the admissions desk at 509-363-5355. The MAC is located in Spokane’s gorgeous historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood at 2316 W. First Ave.

Mt. Spokane Tubing Hill

A friend with three children in elementary school shared this story:

My kids had been out of school on break for three days and they were driving me crazy—fighting, not listening, whining, throwing tantrums. Suddenly I realized that for the past two months it had been go-go-go, with football practice, dance lessons, after-school activities, and homework every day, and now they suddenly had nothing to use up their energy. So I loaded them into the Suburban and took them to Mt. Spokane to go tubing. Those kids played HARD and wore themselves out and had a great time. They couldn’t stay awake on the ride home, and after that, I recognized my children again and things were back to normal.

Enough said? The hill has been moved and newly constructed this year at Lodge 2, just north and downhill of the parking lot and Ski Patrol building. With several lanes, a new tow-rope to haul tubers back up the mountain, a limit of 50 participants per session, and plenty of snow, the Children’s Choice Tubing Hill is great for families and safer than uncontrolled sledding in parks. The hill is open weekends and holidays (except Christmas and Christmas Eve), for the remainder of the season, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and the last session starting at 2:30 p.m. One-and-a-half hour sessions are $10 for everyone 42” and over. Kids under 42” are free but must ride with a paid adult. Check conditions before you come up. Mt. Spokane is 28 miles from downtown Spokane; click here for directions.

Horse and Carriage Rides through Downtown Spokane

Through Christmas Eve, the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District and Spokane Teachers Credit Union presents free old-fashioned horse and carriage rides through the streets of downtown. Just show up on Wall Street at Main Avenue on Fridays 3–8 p.m., weekends 12–5 p.m., or Christmas Eve 12–3 p.m. This is a great outing for family from out of town! Rides are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. After your ride, you will receive free candy canes and coupons for hot chocolate and coffee at participating downtown businesses. Click here to see a video preview of the ride.

Ice Skating in Riverfront Park

The Ice Palace, one of the nation’s best outdoor ice skating rinks, is open all winter long under the Pavilion in the heart of Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane. Lessons and drop-in hockey are available. Click here for hours. Admission is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for youth/seniors/military, and skate rental is $3.50. Thursday nights are Inlander appreciation nights—get your ticket from the Inlander, a free weekly publication, to skate for $1. The Spokane Falls SkyRide, IMAX Theatre, and Looff Carousel are also open all winter if you want to spend more fun family time in the park.

First Night Spokane New Year’s Eve Celebration

By far the biggest New Year’s Eve party around, First Night Spokane is a huge, alcohol-free festival of the arts in downtown Spokane for the entire family. This year’s theme is “Dawn of Time” Year of the Dinosaur. At venues within a walkable area of downtown, you can enjoy live music, theatre, dance performances, film, dance parties, art, comedy, and a fireworks show. There are plenty of activities for kids, including face painting, bookmark making, magic shows, free ice skating and carousel rides, and rolling video games. Click here for the schedule of the night’s event’s, which get started at 7 p.m.

If your family is making a resolution to exercise more, start early with the 5k Resolution Run! Runners line up at 6:30 p.m., and the run begins at 6:45 p.m. An optional bag drop makes it easy to get your coat and purse afterward. Fill out and bring the waiver form before you go. Click here for a map of the course. Admission buttons are just $12 in advance or $15 on New Year’s Eve. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Purchase tickets here or at various participating Spokane businesses.

On New Year’s Day, celebrate First Day Spokane and get free admission to the MAC Museum of Art and Culture with your First Night button plus discounted passes to play in Riverfront Park.

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Santana, Steve Miller Band, Toby Keith, and More at Northern Quest’s New Outdoor Concert Pavilion: Summer 2011 Pepsi Concert Series

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

Northern Quest Casino and Resort, near the Spokane Airport, is launching their brand new outdoor pavilion with a great lineup of national acts. The Pepsi Outdoor Summer Concerts series starts this Saturday, June 25, with a performance by the Judds at 7:30 p.m.

The rest of the concert series is as follows:

The Steve Miller Band, Thursday, July 14, 7:00 p.m.
Willie Nelson & Family, Sunday, July 31, 7:00 p.m.
The Beach Boys, Saturday, August 6, 7:00 p.m.
Reba McEntire, Friday, August 12, 7:00 p.m.
Toby Keith, Thursday, August 18, 7:00 p.m.
Santana, Friday, August 26, 7:00 p.m.

The new venue is like nothing else in the Spokane area and will increase the number of national acts looking for mid-size venues stopping here. It can accommodate over 5,000 people. “We saw a great opportunity for a unique outdoor venue like this and hope it brings local and regional visitors alike together for fantastic events and concerts. In many cases, people will be able to see performers in Spokane they otherwise would have had to travel to Seattle or Portland to see,” said Phil Haugen, General Manager of Northern Quest.

Tickets start at $55; all seating is reserved. All concert tickets can be purchased by calling the Northern Quest box office at 1-877-777-5252 or by contacting TicketsWest at 1-800-325-7328 or www.ticketswest.com. Concert and hotel packages will also be available for each show by calling 1-877-871-6772 or online at www.northernquest.com. All concerts require guests 14 years or younger to be accompanied by an adult.

Save some money and stay in a luxurious suite at Stratford Suites Extended Stay Hotel (close to the airport and Northern Quest) when you see a show at Northern Quest this summer! Rates for concert nights start at just $124 for one- or two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, 50” HD-TV with DVD player, high-speed Internet, and a free shuttle. To reserve your room, call 509-321-1600 or 1-888-705-8877, or go to www.stratfordsuites.com.

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Make the Most of Hoopfest Weekend in Spokane (June 25–26, 2011): What to Do in between Rounds

Friday, June 10th, 2011

Travelling to Spokane, WA for Hoopfest? There is plenty to do in between watching or playing basketball at the largest three-on-three street basketball tournament on the planet, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If you missed our article on saving money on vacation, click here for great ideas to travel on a budget.

Parking and driving around downtown can be a little challenging when Spokane is hosting 200,000 basketball players and fans, so you may want to consider taking the bus. On both days of Hoopfest, STA (Spokane’ bus system) is offering day passes for just $1.50, and there are two free park-and-ride lots. Check the website for more information on Hoopfest schedules—please note that the Plaza downtown will not be open to buses (to make room for Hoopfest!), so bus stops will be in alternate nearby locations.

In addition to loads of free live music and other entertainment at Hoopfest in downtown Spokane, including Hoopfest Saturday Night (DJ nightclub party) at the Lincoln Center (1316 N. Lincoln Street), here are some suggestions for making the most of your visit.

Catch a Live Show

Spokane has a thriving live music scene, with venues large and small, offering country, blues, rock, pop, and more. To pick out some good local live music, check out the Inlander’s live music calendar. There are also a couple of national acts in town on Hoopfest weekend. The infamous rock band KISS is performing at the Spokane Arena Friday night. Click here for tickets. The Judds play at Northern Quest Resort and Casino on Saturday night (see below).

Shopping with Local Flair

Riverpark Sqare in downtown Spokane is a great mall (and has a great movie theater with cushy couch-style seats), but think outside of the mall if you want a more uniquely Spokane shopping experience. If you are staying downtown or are downtown for the day during Hoopfest, walk east on Main Street to find a variety of locally owned businesses.

You’ll go by Auntie’s Bookstore, a large, wonderful, independent gem with a local gourmet café, Santé, in the same building. Closer to Division Street is Finders Keepers, a designer dress boutique, and Kizuri, a fair trade clothing and gift store, and more. Along the way, you’ll be tempted by local purveyors of food and drink.

Stroll up toward 2^nd Avenue for more independent, local shops: the Spokane Public Market (24 W. 2^nd Ave.), Sun People Dry Goods (32 W. 2^nd Ave.), Saunders Cheese Market (210 S. Washington Street, handcrafted artisanal cheeses), and Lolo Boutique (319 W. 2^nd Ave.) are some of the highlights. There are also numerous wineries to visit in the downtown area—go to the Spokane Winery Association website for details.

Just north of downtown at 621W. Mallon, visit the Flour Mill for great local shops and restaurants inside a historic flour mill: our favorites include the Kitchen Engine, the Chocolate Apothecary, Tobacco World (fine cigar shop), Wonders of the World, and the Queen of Sheba restaurant (click here for our review of this fabulous Ethiopian restaurant).

Leonardo da Vinci at the MAC

Be sure to check out the wonderful, interactive da Vinci exhibit at the MAC Museum of Arts and Culture, which just opened this month. A big bonus is seeing the huge old houses of historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood, just west of downtown Spokane, where the MAC is located. For more information, check out our blog post on it.

Garland District

The Garland District is a quick drive or bus ride from downtown Spokane, and it is a great place to hang out and escape the crowds downtown during Hoopfest for awhile. Right away you’ll see the historic Garland Theatre at Maple and Garland, Spokane’s only independent “encore” theater, which runs second-run movies for just $3.50 all the time, so you can catch a flick in a beautiful old theatre for very little money. Stroll up and down Garland for great little locally owned shops and cafes, including the 1950s-style Ferguson’s Café and the Milk Bottle, a former ice cream parlor turned café that features a two-story milk bottle for a store-front. Other quirky local gems include the Blue Door Theatre, a family friendly improv. comedy group that performs every Friday and Saturday night, and Drop Your Drawers, a unique clothing consignment shop with everything from old sweaters to outrageous costume platform shoes. For nightlife, you can enjoy an old-fashioned drink at Bon Bon, the hippest bar on Garland, located inside the Garland Theatre building with an old-fashioned soda fountain/candy store feel and fixtures made from old movie reels.

Northern Quest Resort and Casino

This large resort near the airport has a lot more than just 46,000 square feet of gaming space. It also boasts the Inland Northwest’s only cigar room, several restaurants with casual to fine dining (if you’re vegetarian, try Fatburger’s veggie burger), a night club with entertainment seven nights a week, a sports bar with a 30’ x 10’ HD screen, and a full-service spa. The Judds are playing at Northern Quest’s new outdoor concert venue on June 25 at 7:30 p.m. Click here for ticket information.

Japanese Gardens at Manito Park. Copyright City of Spokane Parks and Recreation.

Find out Why We Say Spokane Is “Near Nature, Near Perfect”

Walk or bike through Riverside State Park to get into the woods without leaving the city and admire the beautiful Spokane River. You can also enjoy great views of natural areas of the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail, a paved walkway/bike path. Or simply take in the beauty of one of our gorgeous city parks—Manito Park, Finch Arboretum, and the Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens are all uniquely Spokane and uniquely beautiful.

Posted in Art, Deals, Dining, Events, Family, Live music, Nightlife, Recreation, Shows, Spokane, Sports, Travel | 2 Responses »

Booze Day 2011: Crawl the Pubs before You Walk or Run Bloomsday

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Carbo-loading will take on a whole new meaning at the Booze Day 2011 pub crawl. The night before Bloomsday, hundreds of people hit the streets of downtown Spokane to race to numerous locally owned bars. Finishers who fill their official Booze Day cards with stamps from all participating pubs receive a commemorative T-shirt. Just like in the big event on Sunday, each racer receives a number card to wear, but, unlike Bloomsday, there really is no reason to hurry, as this event is not timed. Don’t worry, you needn’t have a drink at each location (or any location); it’s enough to just show up. Running shoes are optional, but you might want to wear a costume, as many teams of revelers dress up. Last year, Booze Day costumes included the Village People and wild 80s-themed running outfits.

The fun starts at the Baby Bar (corner of 1^st and Lincoln, behind Neato Burrito) at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30. The cost is $15 and includes a T-shirt if you hit all the participating pubs, all located in reasonable walking distance from the start point: Far West Billiards, Dempsey’s Brass Rail, The A-Club, Irv’s, Mootsey’s, and the Baby Bar.

If you haven’t signed up for Bloomsday 2011 yet and wish to do so, you can still register at Bloomsday check-in on Friday, April 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center (334 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard) for $30. The huge trade show at Bloomsday check-in is an event in and of itself, and it is free and open to the public. This is a great opportunity to check out the latest in all things fitness and running, from nutrition and wellness to shoes and clothing. Bloomsday participants must stop by to check in and pick up their numbers.

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

Come Join the Street Party at Spokane’s Earth Day Event April 23, 2011

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Earth Day is officially Friday, April 27, but the big party starts on Saturday at 11 a.m. in downtown Spokane. Main Street will be closed off between Browne and Division to allow Spokane residents and visitors to celebrate our beautiful planet and green living until midnight. The day’s events are definitely family friendly. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids can enjoy free activities like vegetable planting and marching in the Procession of the Species parade (parade is at 2 p.m., and kids will make their own fun animal masks to wear beforehand). Youngsters can also collect special “passports” that will be stamped for visiting different animal themed activity booths.

If you want to start celebrating earlier in the morning and feel good about doing something for the nature in and around Spokane, join the Earth Day Spokane River Clean Up sponsored by 96.9 the River, Friends of the Centennial Trail, and the Spokane Riverkeeper. Meet at Mission Park at 8 a.m. (across from Avista on Mission Ave.) Treats, coffee, and trash bags will be provided.

All ages will enjoy the live performances of music, dance, and poetry. Malidoma World Dance studio will be performing traditional dances, the Hoop Troup will make hula hooping tricks look ridiculously easy, and several bands will perform, including the Angela Marie Project, B Radicals, and the Brad Keeler Trio. Local community leaders, among them Mayor Mary Verner and Councilman Richard Rush, will give blissfully brief talks as well. If you have a thing or two to say or sing yourself, sign up for the open mic on Isabella’s rooftop. All day long, you can browse interesting community booths with information and activities on sustainability, and of course there will be delicious street food.

In the evening, stick around to see flaming hula hoop performances and show your moves at an electronic dance party located in the Community Building warehouse (ages 16+). Bands will continue to rock the outdoor stage until midnight. Admission is free; come for just a little while or stay all day, but don’t miss Earth Day Spokane 2011!

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

Spokane Readers Unite for the Big Read March 4 through April 17, 2011

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

What’s better than reading a really good book? Sharing and discussing the experience with others. That is the idea behind Spokane County’s third Big Read series: encourage as many people as possible to read the same book and come out for numerous public discussions and other events related to the book. Big Read 2011 is hosted by Eastern Washington University’s Get Lit! Programs and features the book The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. This collection of stories about soldiers who served during the Vietnam war in one American platoon is considered one of the finest books ever written about combat. The Big Read 2011 is connected to the Get Lit! Literary Festival (O’Brien is a headliner at the festival) and the book was chosen because it exemplifies this year’s festival theme of “Telling the American Story.”

The Big Read begins on March 4 at 5 p.m. at Spokane City Hall chambers with a reception hosted by Spokane mayor Mary Verner. Other Big Read events include an art exhibit on “Telling the American Story” at the Chase Gallery, a stage adaptation of The Things They Carried written and performed by Eastern Washington University’s Theater Department, a Wednesday night film series related to the 1960’s and/or wars in general, and numerous readings and discussions. Click here for a complete schedule. The grand finale event will be an evening with Vietnam War veteran Tim O’Brien and Iraq War veteran and poet Brian Turner during the Get Lit! Festival on April 16th at the Bing Crosby Theater.

Most events are free; tickets for the evening reading with Tim O’Brien are $15 and available through TicketsWest.

The 13^th annual Get Lit! Literary Festival runs April 13–17 at numerous venues in Spokane, WA. This year’s headliners are Sam Kean, author of the best seller The Disappearing Spoon; Sena Jeter Naslund, author of Ahab’s Wife; Nancy Rawles, author of My Jim; Tim O’Brien, author of The Things They Carried; Matthew Dickman, author of All-American Poem, and Ani DiFranco, Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter. Go to the festival website for a complete schedule of events.

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