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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.

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

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.

Posted in Events, Live music, Nightlife, Shows, Spokane, Travel | No Responses »

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.

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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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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 »

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