What We Did Last Night

photo by Rajah Bose

Every now and then it’s bound to happen, especially in a city as artistically rich as Spokane. You’ll show up at some unassuming venue for a random night of the ol’ music and cocktails and end up at a show that totally blows your mind. Last night at The BLVD was one such evening, a night of uncontrollable, head-nodding goodness. The Helio Sequence (a two-man group from Portland) made a much-celebrated stop here in Spokane, delivering what might be one of the more powerful performances in the history of music … ok, that’s an overstatement, but the show was of a caliber that rarely shows up in a 200 person-capacity venue like The BLVD. Drummer Benjamin Weikel had more stage presence and personality than a slew of 80’s hair-band vocalists, while singer/guitarist Brandon Summers managed to capture the heart of every man, woman and child within a four-block radius with his melodic vocals and omni-agreeable guitar. Any Spokanite who claims to be a fan of indie rock and who missed the show last night should bow their heads in great shame. Tip-of-the-hat to local favorites Yarn Owl, Pegasus Dream, and Please Draw In Me, who all put together very noteworthy performances prior to The Helio Sequence hitting the stage. Well-played all around. Video and MP3 of last night’s performance are available for your listening/viewing pleasure at www.thesomshow.com

Fun Out The Yin Yang

2/27-28 • Deep. Sexy. Futuristic. Spokane? Yes, and you need to get out there and embrace it or it’s going to vaporize. Check out Soul Symmetry’s funk-electro-tech-house sound at their new Yin-Yang Nights set at Aqua Asian Bistro (formerly Bluefish). DJ Eric Thorne describes it as a Friday/Saturday night concept offering a mature nightlife experience with an upscale ambiance and an international vibe. Two separate nights, two equally unique vibes: Friday night’s “Yin” is geared toward the youthful, vibrant professionals among us. Close the door on your work week, meet up with friends and head downtown. Grab a bite to eat (Metro loves the coconut prawn sushi), slip into a sexy martini and groove to the deeper side of Soul Symmetry. On the flip side, Saturday night’s “Yang” is for the weekend warrior. Throw your hands in the air and get down to some big-city dance floor fillers. It’s high octane energy with an international vibe, emulating the bolder and more masculine qualities of “Yang.”

Friday’s DJ lineup includes Soul Symmetry’s Eric Thorne & Marcus Randall, and guest DJ Mashane. Saturday’s lineup: Soul Symmetry’s Eric Thorne & Marcus Randall, and guest DJ Jah. Aqua Asian Bistro, 830 W. Sprague, across from the Davenport.

We Rule

Wow. High praise indeed from SpokaneMan at the Spokane Insiders’ Blog! Obviously, we’ll be running an excerpt in the “Letters” section of our April issue. Jen, can you schedule a photo shoot with the staff riding on a white horse? I’m pretty sure we’ll all fit…

Spokane Insiders’ Blog

02/26/09 | 3:30 PM

Spokane Metro Magazine

Every great metropolitan city has one. It’s chic, it’s cool and it represents the city to visitors and locals alike. I’m not talking about a high-class restaurant or a trendy boutique. I’m talking about a quality lifestyle magazine. Seattle boasts Seattle Metropolitan. Portland touts Portland Monthly. But what about Spokane?

Up until this past August, Spokane was like Cinderella, waiting for a magazine to sweep it off of its feet. Countless suitors (who’ll remain nameless) have come and gone, trying valiantly, yet unsuccessfully to win Spokane’s love. But in the end they were like a too small shoe – they just didn’t fit.

And then along came Spokane Metro (www.spokanemetromag.com). If a magazine could ride in on a white horse, it would have. But for the sake of this blog we’ll pretend its publishers rode in on a white horse – all three on the same horse of course – and stole Spokane’s heart with their smart, stylish and sophisticated rag about Spokane city living.

Great photography and fantastic writing set Spokane Metro apart as it informs readers about the latest and greatest going down in Spokane. Looking to find who the movers and shakers are? Open up Metro. Want to get the inside scoop on where to live, play and do business. Open up Metro. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you should – right now!

Have you read Spokane Metro? What did you think of it?

(Posted By: SpokaneMan)

Making Their Case

Entering the Spokane police property warehouse from the street, the aroma of pot is potent. “By the end of the day, I’m a little ‘woooo,’” says Shannon Hallam, facilities manager for the evidence storage building, an aging cinder-block structure tucked into the West Central neighborhood.

There, inside a 17,000 square-foot facility housing 140,000 items of police evidence, confiscated marijuana plants are dried and stored, along with some $2 million-worth of other controlled substances. During a recent media tour of the 60-year-old warehouse, Mayor Mary Verner acknowledged the building’s ventilation could be better. “These are not good working conditions,” she said.

Verner and Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick are drumming up public support to build a new, $11.8 million facility to house the growing inventory of drugs, cars, TVs, weapons, money, DNA and other criminal evidence. Verner says she’s concerned the existing premises are so dilapidated that items could be compromised or destroyed. Verner said she also is concerned for the safety of the seven city employees who work there.

To read more about the proposed police warehouse facility (and to see more eerie photos of the existing one) click here.

In The Market?

2/27 • What a fine looking house – at least that’s what the Today Show’s Barbara Corcoran thought when she came across this Spokane real estate listing online. Corcoran, the Today Show’s real estate expert, contacted Spokane broker Jaime Morlin, of Benton Rock Real Estate, and asked for more pictures of her listing at 912 W. 29th Avenue.

Morlin obliged, and later contacted the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, asking the CVB to share five great tidbits about Spokane for Corcoran’s segment, which will feature homes from around the country. It’s slated to air Friday morning on KHQ-TV 6 between 7 and 9 a.m.

BPA is Bad for You

Legislation to eliminate the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups, and other children’s food containers passed a key appropriations committee in Olympia today on a vote of 10-4. If the legislation becomes law, Washington State would become first in the nation to place restrictions on BPA in children’s products.

BPA was originally introduced as an estrogen-mimic, though its use now is primarily reserved for production of polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastics are used in water bottles, food storage containers, and even the lining of some tin cans.

The Safe Baby Bottle Act of 2009 (HB 1180), sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-36, aims to reduce children’s exposure to BPA by eliminating it from products they eat and drink out of every day.

BPA is a synthetic sex hormone that research links to health effects, including cancer, miscarriage, obesity, reproductive problems, and hyperactivity. In addition, recent scientific studies show infants are more susceptible to BPA because it stays longer in their bodies than adults. Research also shows exposure to BPA puts girls at an increased risk of breast cancer. BPA is used in polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, and other containers.

More than 30 health, environmental, consumer, and children’s advocates have endorsed the bill, including the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Washington State Nurses Association, Washington Conservation Voters, Children’s Alliance, People For Puget Sound, and WashPIRG.

Bills to regulate use of BPA have been introduced in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont. Canada is already moving forward with regulations to ban BPA in baby bottles later this year.

The bill now awaits a vote in the full House.

For an alarmingly detailed, day-by-day look at how BPA and other chemicals affect the fetus in utero, check out this new, interactive Web site.

For tips on finding BPA-free products, click here.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

2/25-28 • The death of jazz has been debated since the 1950s, when Ed Bland prophesied the end in his seminal film “Cry of Jazz.” But anyone questioning the future of the art form here in the Inland Northwest needs to get in their car, hit the Pullman highway and spend the next four days checking out the University of Idaho’s world-class, award-winning Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. Yes, it’s the biggest jazz fest in the Inland Northwest, (though EWU’s Jazz Dialogue and the ThinkSWING! festival each fall come close) and it starts, well, now.

This year, under Artistic Director John Clayton’s leadership, the U of I is taking the “international” part of the festival’s moniker quite literally, showcasing jazz sounds from around the world, including Latin, Brazilian and Caribbean jazz, plus a special tribute to Ray Brown. And if you’re afraid you won’t know how to move to all that groovy music, this year U of I is providing two Latin dance instructors to keep you from making a fool of yourself. The instructors are also slated to perform at this evening’s kickoff. Oh, and headlining the event? Grammy-award winning artist Bobby McFerrin will play the popular Friday-evening concert. Festival ticket prices range from $22 to $32, and may be purchased at the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center Ticket Office by calling 208.885.7212, or toll free 1.88.88.UIDAHO; or online at www.UItickets.com.

Soldiering On

This March, as the sixth anniversary of the Iraq invasion nears, we look at the toll the war is taking on one Spokane family. William Jacobs is a 24-year-old Army sergeant who began a nine-month deployment to Iraq last fall. Back home in Spokane, his wife Kaylee and newborn son Cayden—whom Jacobs has never seen—are patiently awaiting his return. Jacobs missed his son’s birth in October, the day he landed in Kuwait to begin training. He and about 300 other soldiers from the Washington National Guard, H Company, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment based in Spokane, are providing convoy protection from Joint Base Balad in the Salah ad Din province. In the March 2009 issue of Spokane Metro Magazine, photojournalist Jed Conklin, who embedded with the 161st last fall, offers readers a window into Jacobs’ deployment and how his wife and newborn son are coping in his absence.

We’re posting only one of the images from Conklin’s photo essay online; to read Jacobs’ story and see more of Conklin’s stunning photography of the sergeant and his family, pick up a copy of Metro, or better yet—subscribe.

More portraits of Spokane soldiers will be on display at the MAC March 6 through April 23. Conklin will be available during an opening reception March 6 from 5-7 p.m. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave.

This Just In

On newsstands now! Watch for details of our March magazine release party next Thursday, 3/5, at the Montvale Hotel in downtown’s west end. We’ll be swinging with Hot Club of Spokane and offering FREE food from Catacombs Pub and drink specials from Dry Fly Distilling.

Consumerism at 55 MPH

2/23 • The Spokane city council begins debate tonight on a new comprehensive sign ordinance that would, among other things, outlaw the use of digital signs. Over the past few years, digital signs and billboards have been popping up all over town – along the freeway, at intersections, at the mall, the airport, and inside office buildings.

Aesthetic concerns exist about the size and brightness of digital signage, not to mention the potential to affect public safety. As an advertising tool, digital sign technology is designed to capture a person’s attention. The question is, do the signs and billboards capture attention for a time period significant enough to contribute to accidents?

Cities around the country are answering in the affirmative, restricting digital sign technology, or banning its use entirely. Many face protracted legal battles as a result. Both the American Planning Association and the National League of Cities have publicly accused the billboard industry of aggressively suing cities and towns over billboard regulations. But industry advocates argue digital signs and billboards are routinely used to effectively transmit public service announcements, including “Amber Alerts” and en route traffic delays for motorists.

Opponents of the proposed city of Spokane ordinance say the 45-page zoning proposal could cost some local businesses tens of thousands of dollars to replace existing signs. If enacted, the ordinance would outlaw changing-image signs like the one outside the INB Performing Arts Center, as well as changing time and temperature signs all over town. If you’re looking to get in on the discussion, drop by City Hall tonight at 6 p.m.; 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. www.spokanecity.org

Hubba Bubba

On Saturday Spokane’s “Bubbillusionist,” Jarom Watts, broke the Guinness World Record for blowing the longest chain of soap bubbles before a live audience at The Lincoln Center in downtown Spokane. Watts’ bubble chain was comprised of 15 soap bubbles, beating the previous world record of six, according to Spokane Metro Publisher Collin Klamper, who was on hand to witness the record-breaking attempt. Klamper says results are pending, but it looks like Watts also broke the world record for blowing the largest soap bubble by volume. A team of Eastern Washington University mathematicians who witnessed the event is currently calculating the size of the elephantine bubble; fingers crossed—they should have an answer in the next couple of weeks.

Toxic Toyland

At Metro, we like to think of ourselves as a family-friendly company. Several members of our small staff have kids, and we keep a desk drawer full of toys at the office for the occasional child visitor. Or rather, we did keep a drawer full of toys—now we’re rethinking our progressive office policy after a random sample of toys brought from home (including a number of the barnyard animals pictured above) tested positive for toxic levels of lead and cadmium during a free screening last week at St. Luke’s Extended Care center. Sponsored by the Autism Society of Spokane, the test was administered by a visiting member of the Washington Toxics Coalition wielding a $30,000 phaser-like device which he pointed at a variety of toys brought in by several concerned parents. In fact, the only Metro-supplied items that didn’t test positive for dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals included a Disney “Cinderella” camera and a handmade nylon sun hat purchased last winter from a beach vendor in Cabo.

Childhood exposure to lead and cadmium has been linked to a variety of adverse health effects, including developmental delays and certain forms of cancer. Last year Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 in response to a wave of lead-tainted toy recalls involving products coming primarily from China. The law, which went into effect earlier this month, is aimed at ridding children’s products of lead and some forms of phthalates, which are found in PVC plastic. While many view the law as a step in the right direction, absent industry-wide testing, toy retailers are left wondering how to determine which products are safe. They also face stiff fines for selling toys that don’t meet the new standards. Enforcement of the law will likely fall on states’ attorneys-general and independent testing from the same consumer protection watchdogs who identified widespread problems with lead in the first place. In the meantime, parents can’t be sure that children’s products on the shelves comply with the new safety standards, though they can probably expect a flurry of new recalls in the near future as independent and state-level tests turn up products that violate the ban.

Even before the law was passed last year, The Lands Council has been working to protect the health of Spokane families affected by lead exposure through a two-year EPA grant. After identifying local neighborhoods thought to be high-risk for childhood lead poisoning, they started knocking on doors, passing out information about childhood lead poisoning to families, helping them access free home lead testing programs through SNAP and the City of Spokane, and advertising upcoming blood lead testing events. To date, the effort has screened 475 kids and found 28 with elevated blood lead levels and two with blood lead poisoning.

The next free lead screening is March 18 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook. The test takes about 10 minutes per child. Kids walk away with a lollipop, a sticker and a cool band-aid, and parents receive written results of their child’s blood lead level, along with a home lead test kit.

For more information about toxic chemicals in children’s toys and other products, visit www.healthytoys.org

This Weekend

2/22 • OMG, Oscar weekend is upon us, and Metro will be attending the Spokane AIDS Network Oscar gala at Northern Quest Casino AND raising a glass (or several) at Heather Hanley’s private Oscar bash at her so-swank pad above Concept :: Home. We’re also planning to drop in on the Earth & People Sustainability Forum at the Community Building, 35 W. Main, from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday. This brainstorming event brings together regional leaders, the heads of several prominent national organizations, and every-day so-and-sos like us to envision and articulate economic and cultural recovery projects that could benefit communities in our region and across the country. Help sketch out the potential for innovative programs worthy of government and private funding—infrastructure, education, energy, transportation, affordable housing, agriculture, health & food security, green jobs, vocational retraining and the arts, among others. Also, at some point this weekend we’re going to stop and smell the flowers at Manito Park’s Gaiser Conservatory, where city gardeners have been busy and are now featuring colorful and fragrant displays of spring plants, bulbs and flowers – just what we need to chase away the winter blues.

Where We’ll Be Tonight

2/20 • Join Metro tonight for a little hipster slouching in the backroom at Aqua Asian Bistro (formerly Blue Fish), where Soul Symmetry’s Eric Thorne and Marc Munro will be hosting yet another evening of groovy music for Spokane’s spandex and glitter-clad hordes, plus drink specials and yummy, raw morsels of Japanese origin (you may remember Eric and Marc from Metro’s totally mobbed December event at Rain – good times). Aqua Asian Bistro, 830 W. Sprague.

Inner Pollution

If you are pregnant and interested in protecting children from toxic chemicals, you may be eligible to participate in a new study of the effects of environmental contaminants on the unborn. This statewide study sponsored by the Washington Toxics Coalition will examine pregnant women for the presence in their bodies of toxic chemicals found in consumer products, including electronics, cosmetics and furniture. Chemicals end up in our bodies when we inhale them, ingest them through contaminated food, dust or water, or absorb them through our skin. Some of these chemicals can build up in our bodies, and a woman who is pregnant may pass them on to her developing fetus through the placenta.

The Washington Toxics Coalition will choose only one lucky lady from Spokane to participate. Will it be you? If you are 18 years or older, are pregnant with your first child, are between 12 and 28 weeks gestation and have no known thyroid disorders, contact WTC at 206.877.2441 or email jlcather@hotmail.com

Bubblicious

2/21 • Metro* is pleased to announce that Publisher Collin Klamper has been chosen to witness what may be the blowing of the world’s largest bubble this weekend at The Lincoln Center in downtown Spokane. Jarom Watts, aka “The Bubbillusionist” will attempt to break two Guinness World Records, including blowing a bubble the size of an elephant. Klamper’s qualifications for witnessing this record-breaking attempt include “being a citizen of standing whose integrity is without question.” Right. 3 p.m. Free general admission; Special reserved seating available if you register online. The Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St., one block north of the Arena; 509.327.8000.

*All Metro staff members are required to attend (Sorry Eric, but you may need to rethink the pre-show Blondie party planned for Saturday afternoon).

Hidden Propaganda

?-6/30 • What appears to be a compelling exhibit of political propaganda art from around the world is presumably on display somewhere in Coeur d’Alene, now through the end of June. Presented by the Human Rights Education Institute, the show seeks an answer to the question “Who’s in control, and who benefits?” according to the HREI Web site. Weighty stuff, but the details of where and when are a bit vague. Human Rights Education Institute; 414.5 Mullan Ave., Coeur d’Alene; 208.292.2359.

Where We’ll Be Tonight

P.J. & Co. model Danielle

2/17 • Join us tonight at David’s Pizza in the U-District for a little elbow-rubbing with models from P.J. & Co., a local modeling and talent agency. Owner P.J. Trzeciak will screen a new documentary-style video of the agency’s models at work during last year’s Christmas Tree Elegance fashion show at the Davenport. Grab a slice, swill a brew and enjoy the view. 5 p.m. Free. 829 E. Boone; 509.483.7460.

Free Parking Downtown

courtesy of the genius that is Greg Green

2/16 • Parking meters don’t have to be plugged today, thanks to the Presidents’ Day holiday. City of Spokane offices, however, are open as usual. So are Riverfront Park attractions, including the Ice Palace, Imax Theater, and Spokane Falls Skyride. Check www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com for hours of operation. The Carousel is closed for annual maintenance through Feb. 27.

What Goes Around Comes Around

2/14-15 • You’ve heard of vinyl records, but have you ever actually seen one? If you were born after 1987, chances are the answer is “no.” This weekend, the 2009 KPBX Recordings and Video Sale offers the perfect opportunity to enlighten your digital self as to the wonders of antiquated recording media, with loads of donated cassette tapes, VHS (dare we hope for Beta?), computer software, and yes, even vinyl. For the diehard audiophile, there may even be some vintage recording equipment on hand. Spokane Public Radio’s own Patrick Klausen will be spinning the inventory during the event, which means you can purchase recordings straight off his turntable. There will be two listening centers for patrons to preview recordings, and live music from 1-3 p.m. both days, with originals and covers from The Occasional String Band on Saturday, and Dead Man’s Pants on Sunday. There’s a raffle for some great prizes as well as refreshments from Craven’s Coffee Company and Rocket Bakery. Leave your iPod at home and get there early for the best deals: Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Spokane Masonic Center, 1107 W. Main.

Do This: 4th Annual Sommys

2/13 • If you do nothing else this evening, make your way down to The Blvd for the Fourth Annual Sommy Awards, Spokane’s only annual music awards show spotlighting local artists. This year, the public chose the winners through an online ballot at Spokane’s independent music site, TheSomShow.com. Founded by host and award-winning music journalist Isamu Jordan, the Sommys are a point of pride for local artists. Since its inception, the event has become a rare opportunity for the music community—fans, friends and performers—to gather under one roof to celebrate Spokane’s finest talent. In addition to the awards, there will be surprise musical guests. 6 p.m. It’s free, and there’s a red carpet (sponsored by Spokane Metro), so leave the fleece and white sneakers at home. The Blvd, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Tonight: VIOLENCE!

"The Execution of Breaking on the Rack," 1793, by William Blake

2/12 • Free public reception for the Jundt Art Galleries’ new exhibit of prints, drawings, ceramics, and sculptures created in response to societal violence. War, terrorism, torture, execution, slavery, religious persecution, racial bigotry, censorship, and isolation are all fair game for such noteworthy artists as Jiří Anderle, Leonard Baskin, William Blake, Sue Coe, Francisco Goya, Winslow Homer, Corita Kent, Käthe Kollwitz, Oldřich Kulhánek, Jacob Lawrence, Richard Serra and Rubén Trejo. Reception will be followed by a free public lecture titled “Searching for Perceptual Purity in a Field of Violence,” by Tony Osborne, Gonzaga associate professor of communication arts. Exhibit continues through 4/4. 6 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. lecture. Free. The Jundt Art Galleries, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone; 509.313.6613.

Science+Beer=Genius

2/11 • Thirsty for knowledge? Stop by the Steam Plant Grill tonight for Spokane Science Café, a monthly open forum with area scientists and researchers in a casual, brewpub setting. Tonight’s discussion on physical activity and health features EWU Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Wendy Repovich with a lecture titled “Are You Really as Fat as Someone Has Said You Are?” Grab a beer, ask questions and wrap your head around some new ideas. Held the second Wednesday of every month. Sponsored in part by Spokane Metro. 6 p.m. Free. Steam Plant Grill, 159 S. Lincoln; 208.664.2739.

Rabble-Rousing and Red Gold

2/10 • Join what is sure to be a lively debate at Gonzaga tonight on the environmental impact of the proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska, following a free screening of the film “Red Gold.” If you haven’t seen the one-hour documentary by acclaimed filmmakers Ben Knight and Travis Rummel about the proposed copper and gold mine, it’s well worth the trip to Cataldo Hall. But the  Q&A panel of Pebble Mine stakeholders slated to follow is the real show-stopper. The lineup includes Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively, the point-man for a group formed in 2007 to increase support for developing the huge copper and gold deposit upstream from salmon-rich Bristol Bay, Alaska; Lisa Reimers of Iliamna Development Corp., a for-profit company that sells payroll and catering services to mining-development giant Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.; Norman Van Vactor of Leader Creek Fisheries, an Alaskan sockeye salmon coop; and Mark Taylor, president of the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited, a fisheries and watershed conservation group. Sponsored by Gonzaga’s Thematic Programming Committee, the event is free and open to the public. 7 p.m. Gonzaga University’s Cataldo Hall, Globe Room. For more information click here.

What We Saw Last Night

Koreshakti, a tribal fusion dance troupe performing for a packed house at Caterina Winery. For those unfamiliar with this group of women, let’s just say they are not your mother’s belly dancers. While a number of their routines incorporate Middle-Eastern gyrations and accompanying props, many of these dancers borrow liberally from hip-hop and other contemporary dance forms. They use veils and balance with candles and swords, but they also pop and lock their upper bodies to a combination of live and sampled music that blends traditional Eastern sounds with metal power chords and Bollywood techno. Even the costumes run a culturally diverse gamut, from spangled skirts and Spanish tassles to spike bracelets and fishnet stockings. You can find a link to a video clip from the event here.

Led by Nicole Richardson and Kendra Searls, Koreshakti is now surfacing as a performing troupe after months of training and preparation for the Caterina event (they debuted last Halloween at the now-defunct Bombay Palace on 3rd Avenue). Richardson says the group is planning a series of summer performances, so watch their Web site for details.

Embrace Your Inner Outsider

2/7 • With the 2009 Visual Arts Tour and the Spokane International Film Festival vying for our collective attention this weekend, squeezing yet another cultural experience into your calendar may be too much to ask. If not, then please stop by the Object Space on East Sprague this evening and check out the current exhibit, “No Object II,” a show featuring works from Spokane and Portland artists described as “too extreme for most Spokane galleries.” We’re not sure what that means, but a flier touting the show dictates “17+ due to art content.” Hmm.

Local blogger Curse Words and Birds notes that No Object II has been “left off the Visual Arts Tour.” A quick query to Spokane Arts Commission president Karen Mobley confirmed the gallery’s absence from the tour, though Mobley was unclear as to why.

Is it too far from the downtown arts district? Well, no, because the Garland District is part of the tour this year. Maybe it’s the 17+ rating. We may never know. But the promoters of No Object II are disgruntled, and wish the city would do more to embrace its non-traditional artists. Instead, they should recognize that in most cities with thriving art scenes, truly ground-breaking art is shunned by the establishment. So take heart, Object Space—as a new gallery operating on the fringe of the city’s mainstream, you must be doing something right. 5 p.m.-midnight. The Object Space, 1818 1/2 E. Sprague.

Tonight: Reel Big Deal

"You, The Living"

2/5-15 • Films from around the globe will flicker on the AMC Theater and Magic Lantern screens tonight through Sunday and Feb. 12-15 with the return of the Spokane International Film Festival. See some of the same films screened at Cannes, New York or even Toronto film festivals right here at home, with many of the filmmakers and actors sharing in discussions following screenings. Don’t miss “Wianbu – Comfort Woman,” an “uncompromising and claustrophobic study of a woman’s brutal ordeal in Japan’s infamous network of WWII military brothels.” Also lined up is “You, The Living,” a Roy Andersson film from Sweden billed as a “tragic comedy or a comic tragedy” about the human existence as shown through a series of vignettes that explore the moments in ordinary life. And check out a new film short by Spokane filmmaker Danielle Barbieri that tells the chilling story of how one man’s night is haunted by his past. Dubbed “Ouroboros,” the 11-minute short won the Staff Choice Award at the Nor’Easter Film Festival in Boston late last year. One of only two Spokane filmmakers to be featured in this year’s SpIFF, Barbieri is a graduate of Gonzaga Prep and a recent graduate of Boston University. River Park Square AMC Theaters, 509.624.2615; Magic Lantern Theater, 25 W. Main.

Visual Art Tour-Charley Gurche

2/6 • Don’t forget to drop by the Spokane Club lobby on your 2009 Visual Arts Tour and First Friday Art Walk rounds tonight. If the stunning landscape photography of Charley Gurche isn’t enough incentive, then perhaps the live jazz guitarist and free coffee, cider, cookies and the Club’s famous Orange Rolls will do the trick. 5-7 p.m. Free. The Spokane Club, 1002 W. Riverside; 509.838.8511.

Making Room in Your Drawers

This month Slow Food Spokane River (SFSR) offers the perfect excuse to clean out the kitchen, liberating unused gadgets, cookbooks and other items cluttering up the cupboard in pursuit of a worthy cause: The First Annual “Second Chance Kitchen Sale,” a March 7 fundraiser at Thomas Hammer headquarters in downtown Spokane. Proceeds benefit SFSR’s effort to promote a food system that is good, clean and fair. Don’t miss this chance to recycle your gently-used countertop appliances, utensils, bake-ware and other kitchen items—like the iced-tea maker you got as a wedding gift that has yet to see the light of day. Or the old George Foreman Grill that seemed like a good idea in the ‘90s but which now darkens a large chunk of real estate on your ever-diminishing countertop. Meanwhile, those cute little dumpling presses have been floating around in the utensil drawer for years with nary a use. Get them out—as in out of the house. Even commercial equipment is welcome, so long as it isn’t large (countertop appliances only). Drop off items now through March 1 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays at Peters & Sons Flowers, 170 S. Lincoln; and now through March 5 Mon-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2p.m. at The Book Parlor, 1414 W. Broadway. For more information contact Kristi at 509.209.2851.

On Tap Tonight

2/5 • Last week we dropped by Bottles, a wine and beer shop in Millwood, to learn more about their bi-weekly beer and wine tastings. Co-owner Jeff Postlewait (of Rocket Bakery fame) says the informal gatherings offer samples of a select wine or beer accompanied by meats, cheeses, crackers, and sometimes chocolate, plus an informal talk with the featured winemaker or brewer. Tonight’s tasting includes reserve offerings from Alaskan Brewing Co. and a chance to visit with a regional brewery rep. 5-7 p.m. Bottles, 3319 N. Argonne Rd., Millwood; 509.443.4027.

Dollar Store Date Night

Chef Ray breaks-in the new kitchen at Taste Cafe and Gourmet To Go

With the slumping economy taking a bite out of our Valentine’s Day budget, dishing up a romantic meal for two on the cheap makes a lot of sense. It’s a challenge we posed recently to three local chefs, all of whom joined us Jan. 6 for the first annual “Spokane Metro Chefs Invitational” at the new Taste Cafe and Gourmet to Go in downtown Spokane.

The contenders, selected for their culinary ingenuity and willingness to experiment with dollar-store fare, included the Spokane Club’s venerable Chef Ray Delfino, the Globe’s freewheeling Chef Howard Bateman, and Chef Race Jones, formerly of Europa and now a culinary consultant. The challenge? Prepare, cook and plate a dinner for two—comprising an appetizer, main course and dessert—for $10 or less. In under an hour. Click here to read more.

Let the Bellyaching Begin

2/21 • Perhaps you’ve grown weary of the lack of vegetarian dining options in Spokane. Or maybe you’d like to see a local trend toward healthy breakfast joints. Or more late-night dining establishments. Or cheaper beer. Whatever your culinary beef with the Spokane food scene, now is the time to share it. This month a group of local chefs will meet at Quillisascut Farm for a chance to get to know one another better while sharing ideas about the state of the Spokane market. In addition, they plan to test the too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen theory, leaving local foodies to fantasize about the culinary heights achieved when a cadre of highly skilled food handlers hangs out on an organic farm.

Ah, but we digress; back to Spokane and its dining woes. Whatever your rant or rave, leave a comment on this post at David Blaine’s blog (of Latah Bistro) and he will pass along the information. Fingers crossed for some Ethiopian.

Speak Easy, Drink Hard

February 2009 issue on newsstands now!

2/4 • There will be flappers, and drink specials on bootleg liquor from Dry Fly. And copacetic eats, and music by Kaylee Cole (Spokane’s own indie-rock darling who happens to be the cat’s pajamas) and the harmonies of dreamy folk-pop artists Mon Cheri. And it will be FREE. Don’t miss Spokane Metro Magazine’s “Speak Easy, Drink Hard” celebration in honor of our new February issue at the oh-so-swank MarQuee Lounge in downtown Spokane. Metro staff will be on hand, sporting appropriate 20s attire, along with the publishing divas from Sizzle and Northwest Woman, and SpokaneTonight.com hot-nerd Jimmy Keesee. 6-9 p.m. MarQuee Lounge, 522 W. Riverside; 509.838.3332.