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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 »

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.

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

Left Bank, Spokane’s Only True Wine Bar

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Gorgonzola bruschetta at Left Bank

Spokane has some great places to taste wine, but Left Bank, which opened eighteen months ago in downtown Spokane and is owned by Aaron Kelly, is the only bar that is completely dedicated to wine. You can not order hard liquor here (bottled microbrew beer is available for those who have been dragged in against their will by a wine lover), and the menu is limited to a few choice items that are well complemented by wine. What you can expect is excellent wine served by knowledgeable, friendly servers in a beautiful, comfortable setting.

The goal of Left Bank is “to broaden the appeal of wine in a completely non-threatening way,” and this goal is achieved nightly with a well-appointed yet relaxed atmosphere and the staff’s open, down-to-earth attitude. Walk into the long, narrow space located on the ground floor of the historic American Legion building at 108 N. Washington, and you will instantly forget the hustle and bustle of downtown and enter a scene of dark wood furniture, a fireplace, local art on the historic brick walls, and non-intrusive music. Jen Melcher, our server on a recent evening, was able to explain the origin and qualities of my wonderful Argentine malbec (only $5 a glass during happy hour, which starts at 3:00 p.m. Monday—Friday) in a way that a novice could understand. While Left Bank does carry many Northwest wines, the overriding mission is to seek the best wines, so their wine list includes selections from all over the world.

If you try something you really love at Left Bank, you can bring a bottle home. The reason for this, Jen explained, is that the bar carries some wines that are not easily available in Spokane. Many area wineries are too small to meet the financial criteria for distribution to stores, so Left Bank deals with them directly to purchase wine, and they choose to support the wineries by allowing off-sales.

The food pairings, though limited, are extremely tasty. I highly recommend the cheese plates, which come with a selection of some of the best cheese I have ever tasted (order the Humboldt Fog!) served with crackers and fruit, and the gorgonzola honey bruschetta, which my dining partner is convinced she could live off of quite happily for some time. Other dining choices are small pizzas and Italian style sandwiches.

Fridays and Saturdays the bar livens things up with live music; every Saturday is jazz. Hours are Monday—Friday, 11:00 a.m. to late, and Saturdays 4:00 p.m. to late. Check them out during First Friday! A reception will be held for Jon Bagby’s work on October 1.

Posted in Art, Dining, Live music, Nightlife, Spokane | 4 Responses »

Comedy Tonight! Spokane’s Comedy Club Scene

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Tired of the same old Saturday night “going out” routine? How about a live comedy show? Spokane now has several great choices, including a family friendly venue and a new clean comedy club that you can take a first date or your mother to without being embarrassed. Grab a friend and be ready to laugh and have a good time.

Squeaky’s Comedy at Players & Spectators

Spokane’s newest venue for stand-up comedy promises to be squeaky clean, with no cussing, no outrageously offensive subject matter, and plenty of laughs, The success of Squeaky’s is proving that you don’t have to tell dirty jokes to be funny. A variety of acts are booked through the next couple of months, including Rube Goldberg Device, featuring sketch comedy, live music, and improv. Squeaky’s 5 for 5 shows, offered throughout the season, feature five up-and-coming comedians from the area for the regular ticket price of $5.00; check the website for schedules. Shows start at 9:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. You can buy your tickets in advance through TicketsWest for $5.00. Located in Players and Spectators, where you can also bowl in their large alley or gamble at the casino, at 12828 E. Sprague Avenue.

Blue Door Theatre

Blue Door Theatre

If you like to see all new improvised material in a small setting with fun audience participation, head to the Blue Door any Friday or Saturday night. The performers are more actors than stand-up comedians, and they delight audiences with on-the-spot sketches, themed acts, and improvised scenes based on audience suggestions. Kids are always welcome, and a variety of topics are explored that will amuse audience members of all ages, but Friday nights are specifically PG, while Saturday nights reach into more adult themes. The theatre is a non-profit that has been run by volunteers since its creation in 2000. Improv classes for kids and adults are available. Friday night shows start at 8:00 p.m. and are $9.00 or $7.00 for children, seniors, and students. Saturday night shows start at 9:00 p.m. and are $7.00 See the website for reservations. Located at 815 W. Garland Ave.

Uncle D’s Comedy Underground at Bluz at the Bend

Bluz at the Bend is becoming as known and loved for its great comedy club as for its quality live blues and dancing. During the professional performance season, September through June, you can catch national acts on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. During the summer, and throughout the entire year, Uncle D’s offers an open mike show with no cover charge on Thursday nights at 7:30. Check out a video here. If you have ever wanted to try stand-up comedy, this is a great opportunity to try your jokes in front of a live audience and receive coaching from club owner Don Parkins. The professional season will begin September 17th with a well-known national act, Jay Wendell Walker, winner of the 2006 San Francisco Invitational Comedy Competition. For reservations, call 509-483-7300. Located at 2721 N. Market Street. Bring your appetite; the club offers full service from the delicious restaurant, which offers everything from live Maine lobster to burgers and accommodates vegetarians with a tofu option for most dishes.

Chuckles Comedy Club at the Season Ticket

Chuckles features live stand-up comedy every Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8:30 p.m. Usually, the show line-up consists of one or two local act openers followed by a national act. Located inside the Season Ticket sports bar at 1221 N. Howard Street, across from the Arena. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Posted in Nightlife, Shows, Spokane | No Responses »

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