Inlander 05/30/2024

Fantastic

Climate hardy quinoa from WSU could help feed the world

PLUS! Local universities research wicked worms, fanged fish and more on page 18

Expo is always in style.

A lot’s changed in 50 years, but our commitment to Spokane hasn’t. Washington Trust Bank was an original sponsor of Expo ’74, and we’re proud to sponsor its 50th anniversary.

Join the celebration by visiting a Washington Trust Bank location on Monday, June 3 to receive a limited-edition pennant celebrating Expo’s 50th.

Available while supplies last.

earning new things is always rewarding. This internal motivation, paired with an innate sense of curiosity, is largely why I became a journalist in the first place, and why I’ve stayed in the field for well over a decade and counting.

I’ve often described journalists’ quest for information as becoming “mini” experts on a story subject through careful research, interviews and immersion. Then comes the challenging task of putting all that knowledge gleaned — sometimes really complicated stuff — into a cohesive, informative and digestible form to, in turn, pass it on to readers. This process is exemplified in this week’s SCHOLASTIC FANTASTIC issue, our annual showcase of potentially world-changing research that’s taking place at the region’s five major universities: University of Idaho, Gonzaga, Whitworth, Eastern Washington and Washington State universities. From solutions to end hunger in developing nations to tracking the seasonal migrations of some very slippery fish, the stories inside reward readers with new insights, viewpoints and fascinating facts.

— CHEY SCOTT, Editor

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WHAT TOPIC WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO DEEP ACADEMIC RESEARCH ABOUT?

STEPHEN REYES

Mine would definitely be on the Japanese kofuns — they’re these giant keyhole-looking tombs that are like hundreds of miles long, built supposedly for the emperor. But they’re all over the place in Japan — thousands of them — and they’re just amazing. No one really knows about them — that’s always fascinated me.

LIZ MERRIAM

I would like to do an academic study of different ideas for city planning. Different ways of living with sustainable housing, less cars on the streets around the city, and [having] a central park in the middle with housing around it. Just redesigning how we structure cities across the U.S.

RILEY SCHULTZ

Sacred geometry in the power of architecture. How it can influence our planet, and how we’re using sacred geometry in our everyday [lives], and how we can pretty much use it in every artform, but being aware of that.

WILLIAM JORDAN

I feel like education is still a big problem. So I think looking at the results from different types of schooling — public schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschooling — and just trying to figure out best practices.

MONTANA CARTWRIGHT

I’ve always been obsessed with marine life, so anything marine biology-related. A lot of the stuff I crochet is like turtles and sharks and stuff like that. [Laughs] I really like tiger sharks and sea turtles in general. Pretty basic!

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New Rules, New Momentum

Creative developers are supercharging our middle housing ordinance, and projects will start coming out of the ground

BY ANTHONY GILL

By now you’ve probably heard about Spokane’s middle housing ordinance, which allows new housing types — like triplexes, cottage housing, townhomes and others — across the entire city. The nationleading legislation passed in permanent form in November 2023 and is now being emulated in

cities like Sacramento and even bigger jurisdictions, like in British Columbia. Advocates like myself have argued that these laws create more choices for families and should help slow growth in housing costs.

Now that the law has been in effect for several months (with a yearlong pilot beforehand), we are finally starting to get a picture of exactly what those choices might look like.

For example, last month the Inlander’s Nate Sanford profiled Matt Hutchins’ “Spokane Six” concept — essentially, a small, six-unit apartment

building with two units on each floor. The first one is under construction in the Manito neighborhood, and it features generous balconies and a shared backyard.

Spokane is unique in Washington state in allowing sixplexes and other unique, slightly higher-density housing citywide. Under state law, larger cities are generally required to plan for at least fourplexes (or sixplexes, if two of the apartments are designated as “affordable” units), but most have decided to stop there.

Matt told me that the larger number of units in the “Spokane Six” (pictured above) also allows the development to bear the burden of the higher costs that sometimes work against new development on Spokane’s historic grid. A fourplex he had been looking to build nearby was scuttled by a city requirement to improve an alleyway behind the property, which would have been too costly for the project to bear. The sixplex had the same requirement, but with the two additional units, the development was still feasible to build and make some money. And though it wasn’t required, two of the six units will be affordable to low- and moderate-income families.

Other developers are taking advantage of the rules to build townhomes — sometimes even “short platting” the land (splitting the lots into smaller ones) so the homes can be sold without need for an HOA. There are almost too many cases to count (and not all will get built, even if issued permits), but a quick scan of our permitting portal reveals projects at various stages of development in Chief Garry Park, South Perry, the North Hill, Hillyard, Manito and many other areas. For those who want the private space of a single-family home with the convenience and efficiency of a condo, townhomes are a fantastic option.

Finally, some property owners are using the rules in creative and unexpected ways — and in unexpected places. Because Spokane’s middle housing rules “stack,” an owner of a large lot can split the lot and then build multiple units on each of them. While this isn’t generally happening in existing neighborhoods, as the lots are too small, it is happening in some of our smaller commercial districts and in places where previously developers might have tried to entitle and build apartments. In other words, the new rules are creating more housing options even outside of our traditionally “single-family” neighborhoods.

Now, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows: We still have a good amount of work to do.

For example, the city could evaluate the frontage, alley, and other improvement requirements it places on development, along with its impact fees. These requirements — a repaved sidewalk here, a paved alleyway or utilities improvements there — build valuable amenities for residents, but the costs can add up quickly. Matt Hutchins’ doomed fourplex project, for example, would have required almost $100,000 in improvements related to an alleyway. We need to consider whether each of these costs are truly necessary and whether property owners alone should foot the bill.

Going further, the city could provide preapproved building plans for property owners to build middle housing on their land. It could even work to educate contractors and builders on these plans, making the building process for a property owner as simple as possible. Perhaps it could form partnerships to provide easier access to high-quality building materials, like mass timber.

Then there are the state-level problems, like condo liability reform, which would better enable the units in projects like the “Spokane Six” to be sold individually. Fortunately, some of these improvements are already in the works, both in the state Legislature and at City Hall. Indeed, if we’re going to solve our housing affordability crisis, we need to get creative and think big.

Personally, I’m glad that both our development community and our policymakers are throwing everything at the wall. n

Anthony Gill is an economic development professional and writer of Spokane Rising, a blog about ways to make our city a better place to live.

Delayed Gratification

It took twice as long as expected, but the Post Street Bridge is finally reopening, incorporating decades of design and pedestrian improvements

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Two years after major renovations were expected to be complete, and a full five years after it was closed to traffic, the Post Street Bridge is finally slated to reopen next week.

A small, private event associated with the Expo ’74 commemorative anniversary is scheduled for the evening of June 4. Then, the city’s ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 11:30 am on June 5.

The previous iteration of the 333-foot bridge had straddled the Spokane River for more than a century. In 1917, it was built with an open spandrel deck arch design, replacing a steel structure that had been there since the 1890s.

Unfortunately, that first rebuild wasn’t without

incident. While construction was underway in 1915, the temporary structure collapsed into the surging waters below. As many as 30 workers went down in the cascade of concrete and framing; three died.

Twenty years after its fateful completion, a third arch was added when the reinforced steel and concrete bridge was widened to 40 feet to better accommodate two lanes of automobile traffic. Pedestrian sidewalks were installed on either side. This augmented Post Street Bridge would come to accommodate somewhere close to 9,600 daily car crossings.

Concerns about its structural integrity, however, had made the bridge a candidate for repair or replacement since as far back as 1984.

In 1989, the bridge was bundled into a broader, ultimately abandoned plan to build a one-way Lincoln Street Bridge. Had it been successful, the controversial project would have seen the Post Street Bridge become a pedestrian section of the Centennial Trail.

While alternate visions for its future were floated, the bridge was restricted to one-way vehicle traffic in 2013 in the interest of safety. Its daily vehicle count subsequently fell by nearly 80%, and it was completely closed to motor vehicle traffic in 2019.

HOW TWO YEARS BECAME FOUR

The recent reconstruction effort was therefore long overdue.

Yet there was already some justifiable uncertainty about the project’s timeline when work began in June 2020. COVID-19 restrictions were in force, and the early ripple effects of the pandemic, such as labor shortages and supplychain issues, were starting to emerge.

Social distancing requirements hampered the construction project, as people working in teams struggled to stay 6 feet apart, which slowed the progress, says Tobin Smith, senior project manager at Kuney Construction, the primary contractor on the project.

“Along with that, you know, there was the fact that

Crews were still putting final touches on the Post Street Bridge last week. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

“DELAYED GRATIFICATION,” CONTINUED...

these were 100-year-old arches,” Smith says. “It’s like any sort of rehab, whether it be at your house or anywhere. You open [it] up and you realize, ‘OK, this is bad. This is worse than we thought.’”

As a result, the crews could only work on 8-square-foot sections at a time. They would chip away the old, compromised concrete and then patch the area, progressing systematically along the entire length of each arch.

“When it was all said and done, it looked like kind of a patchwork quilt before we painted it,” Smith says.

The painstaking nature of the refurb raises the question: If the bridge’s condition was so poor, why not demolish and replace it outright rather than preserve large parts of it?

According to engineer Mark Serbousek, who oversaw the project’s design for the city, retaining the existing arches became the preferred solution over, say, a simpler girder-style structure, for reasons of cost, practicality and aesthetics.

“We went through many, many different schemes of what to do,” Serbousek says. “It appeared at the time that keeping the arches and utilizing and repairing them was cheaper and you still got the same outcome where you get another hundred-year bridge. And it is one of our iconic bridges that has the arches that are symbolic of our city.”

Before breaking ground in 2020, the cost project was forecast to be $18.5 million. Four years later, the final tally is closer to $22 million. The funding sources included $12 million in federal bridge improvement funding, $5 million from the state Department of Ecology and $7 million in local utility funds, with the $24 million total including 10% in administrative reserves.

A NEWER SEWER

One of the trickiest aspects of the Post Street Bridge reconstruction had nothing to do with arch repair. The project’s most complicated element was the rerouting of an aging sewer main that could be seen on the bridge’s east side.

Over the course of about 30 hours in mid-May of last year, crews from Kuney, KPFF engineers and city workers replaced the old 54-inch wastewater pipe with a new 60-inch pipe that now runs just under the bridge’s deck. The new pipe is far less visible than the rusted sewer line that was once a prominent eyesore on the former bridge.

Bypassing the old line was no easy feat. As one of the primary sewer lines to downtown Spokane, it couldn’t be shut off. That meant 18,000 gallons of wastewater per minute had to be safely diverted while the new pipe was connected above the river.

Months of planning went into the effort, which involved storing some of the effluent in the nearby 2.2-million gallon combined sewer overflow tank on Spokane Falls Boulevard that had only been finished in the summer of 2020.

The switchover was intentionally scheduled to start during the early hours of the day.

“We tried to get it with low flow when everybody’s asleep and not flushing their toilets and taking showers and things,” Serbousek says. “We had extra pumps in there, backups, so if we needed to pump more, we could. You always plan for the worst and hope it never happens.”

The planning paid off. The bypass and recoupling worked without a hitch.

BACK TO BUSINESS

With that stretch of Post Street closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrians throughout the project, City Hall experienced firsthand the effects of restricted access that businesses typically endure during major construction projects.

Across the river, on the opposite end of the work-in-progress, Anthony’s had to weather a double whammy of pandemic restrictions and construction detours for customers.

But while the seafood restaurant retained some northside access during the project, Mobius Discovery Center on the south side of the bridge was largely isolated and had heavy machinery sitting right on its doorstep. That didn’t just impede foot and car traffic, it also prevented buses — the preferred transportation for class outings

and field trips — from pulling up to the building.

Amanda Gilliam, marketing manager at Mobius, is surprisingly sanguine about the challenges.

“In a way, it wasn’t terrible, because of COVID,” she says. “That would have impacted foot traffic anyway.”

The children’s museum was able to use its front row seat to the engineering feat as a learning opportunity.

“We have a third-grade engineering workshop that takes place in our STEAM lab, and throughout the whole process, they could look out our windows and see an actual bridge being built while they were building a bridge of toothpicks and gumdrops,” Gilliam says.

Even the construction equipment outside wasn’t such a bad deal, she says.

“Kuney have been really longtime supporters of Mobius since before this project, and they were a really great neighbor during construction,” she says. “They were on hand for multiple projects that required heavy lifting to help get the Children’s Museum exhibits into [this] location as we unified as Mobius Discovery Center. Having the forklift on speed dial was super handy.”

All the same, she’s looking forward to Mobius being “super accessible,” thanks to the new connections and pathways that the revamped bridge will provide.

A MULTIMODAL BRIDGE

The new Post Street Bridge is inherently multimodal. Similar to its configuration for the past decade, a single northbound lane will move vehicle traffic out of downtown. There are also improved, dedicated bicycle and pedestrian lanes with amenities like benches and planters that echo the design scheme of Riverfront Park.

The parking lot on the bridge’s southeast corner is being eyed for ADA accessibility upgrades. School and charter buses also now have a dedicated drop-off space in front of Mobius.

Beyond that, the Post Street Bridge now serves as an access and waypoint on the new Great Gorge Loop Trail. The 3.5-mile biking and walking trail runs along both banks of the Spokane River between the Post Street Bridge and the Sandifur Bridge at People’s Park to the west.

Continuing some of the more well-received intentions of the 1989 Lincoln Street Bridge project, Post Street’s pedestrian pathways will also be visibly incorporated into the Centennial Trail.

Nick Hamad, who heads planning and development at the city’s Parks and Recreation department, explains that this conscious overlap with the trail system was a response to public feedback and expert input. One of the most salient themes to emerge from the Riverfront Park master planning process was that the river should be viewed as a “promenade” and an accessible centerpiece to any path network.

“On Post Street, one of the real priorities we heard from the community was to sort of downplay the role of the automobile and really ‘up-play’ the experience for pedestrians and cyclists because you can get to the river in a way that you really can’t get in other locations,” he says.

Both Hamad and Kirstin Davis, communications manager for the city’s public works department, note that all of these elements are part of an intentional placemaking strategy — a way to make the Post Street Bridge a landmark in its own right while also creating a sense of continuity between Riverfront Park, nearby Huntington Park and A Place of Truths Plaza.

“It’s just going to be a pleasant experience of traveling,” says Davis, highlighting the bridge’s potential appeal as an Instagram backdrop. “The North Bank has seen so much improvement and growth, with so many more opportunities and venues and all of that. So having this additional gateway is really going to enhance that experience and accessibility between Riverfront Park, the downtown core and the North Bank.”

“Not to wax poetic,” Hamad adds, “but if you look back all the way to the Olmsteds when they visited in the early 1910s, there was this idea of a great Spokane River gorge, right? The bridges are a huge part of that experience for us today. And so this really does represent, I think, the completion of decades of work to create public access in and around the river corridor in the way that was envisioned over a hundred years ago.” n

Shuttering School

PRIDE Prep to close. Plus, Ecology is testing more wells for PFAS; and there’s a congressional debate next week.

Spokane is about to have one less alternative school for its students. On May 6, the PRIDE public charter school district’s Board of Directors made the decision to eliminate the district’s middle school, PRIDE Prep, starting in the 2024-25 school year. That leaves Innovation High School as the charter district’s sole school. “These last two years of under-enrollment have exhausted our resources despite two and a half years of robust efforts to rebuild,” the school’s CEO Paige Albrecht stated via email. PRIDE Prep had about 215 students registered for the 2022-23 school year, according to OSPI enrollment data. That was down from more than 300 students enrolled in 2020-21. Students in sixth and seventh grade will need to find a new school to attend next year, but eighth grade students can continue with the district. (COLTON RASANEN)

MORE WELLS WELCOME

With the first round of results in hand from private well testing on the eastern portion of the West Plains, the Washington state Department of Ecology is offering even more testing in the area. Of the 307 private wells tested with help from the federal Environmental Protection Agency this spring, 56% showed PFAS levels higher than drinking water standards. Now, up to another 125 private well owners can sign up before June 18 to receive free PFAS testing. The tests are looking to detect the so-called “forever chemicals” found in firefighting foam that was used at both Spokane International Airport and Fairchild Air Force Base. The opportunity will close either when all the spots are filled or when June 18 rolls around, whichever happens first. As of last Friday, 72 spots had already been taken. The expanded testing boundaries now include the area south of I-90 to Thorpe Road and east to U.S. Route 195. Eligible homeowners can sign up at ecology.wa.gov/West-Plains. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

The Inlander is teaming up with high school students and other local media outlets for a Primary Election debate between the candidates running to represent Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District. The debate is open to the public and will be held at 7 pm on June 4 in North Central High School’s central theater. It will be recorded and broadcast by Spokane Public Radio. Spokesman Review reporter Emry Dinman and I will be moderating along with two North Central students. We’ll ask the candidates questions submitted by students. Six Republicans and five Democrats are running for the position being vacated by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican who has held the seat since 2004. To qualify for North Central’s debate, candidates need to have raised at least $10,000 and/or received major endorsements from established political entities. (NATE SANFORD) n

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‘Vague and Unconstitutional’

The ACLU and other law firms sue Washington state seeking to prevent ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ from taking effect

BY COLTON RASANEN

At the start of the year, Washington lawmakers were faced with a slate of six citizen initiatives. For much of the legislative session, the initiatives remained untouched by legislators. But about a week before the session ended, lawmakers held public hearings for half of the initiatives and quickly passed them into state law.

The three approved initiatives will restore certain police pursuit standards (I-2113), prevent the state from imposing income tax (I-2111) and create a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” relating to their child’s public education (I-2081). The other three initiatives will appear on the ballot this November.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights includes things like the right to access their child’s medical records at will or their ability to opt their children out of any student engagements that include questions about the “child’s sexual experiences or attractions.” Many of the rights mirror existing parental rights in Washington.

In March, I-2081 passed the state Senate unanimously. Around that time, state Sen. Jamie Peder-

sen, D-Seattle, told the Inlander that the decision was meant to give the Legislature more control over the initiative and to protect Washington’s LGBTQ+ youth from a months-long campaign if it were to go to the ballot for a public vote this fall.

On May 23, just two weeks before the approved initiatives were set to take effect, the ACLU, Legal Voice and the Q Law Foundation of Washington filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court to prevent I-2081 from going into effect.

The suit’s plaintiffs include seven Western Washington nonprofit organizations, two impacted individuals and the South Whidbey School District.

The complaint claims that the initiative would cause harm to the communities that the plaintiffs serve and that it’s unconstitutional. Additionally, the lawsuit argues that the parental rights outlined in the initiative are “duplicative of long-standing established rights of parents.”

“Initiative 2081 not only harms Washington’s public school students, it violates the State Consti-

Initiative 2081 passed through the Legislature with bipartisan support.

tution because it fails to disclose how it revises and affects existing laws,” the complaint states.

For example, a current state law (RCW 13.32A.082) requires youth centers to notify the youth’s parents within 72 hours of their arrival if they’re there without parental permission — unless “compelling reasons exist not to notify parents.” In those cases, shelters are required to inform the Department of Children Youth and Families instead. In contrast, I-2081 would require the student’s school to inform parents if their child is taken from school to one of those shelters — without any exceptions.

“We already have state laws that protect student privacy,” says Julia Marks, an attorney with Legal Voice, a nonprofit that fights for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights. “It undermines all these protections and we are concerned that students across the state will change their behaviors.”

The concern is that for some students, the new law may make it harder to feel safe having confidential conversations about their gender identity or sexuality with their school-based health care providers or educators, particularly when they feel unsafe to do so at home. Marks argues it could also interfere with students’ rights to independently consent to certain medical treatments — like reproductive health services.

“We’re bringing this lawsuit because we want all students in Washington to be successful,” adds Adrien Leavitt, an ACLU staff attorney.

Brian Heywood, the founder of Let’s Go Washington — the organization that funded all six initiatives — says this appears to be a concerted effort by the ACLU to circumvent the democratic process.

“The ACLU has made their disdain for the democratic process abundantly clear,” Heywood says via email. “They tried to stop our signature-gathering efforts even as hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians were exercising their right to sign the initiatives, and now they’re trying to overturn a law that was passed with strong bipartisan support in the Legislature.”

The author of the initiatives, state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, who is also the chairman of the state GOP, says that the lawsuit seems to be a publicity stunt.

“ACLU Washington damages its reputation and credibility by aligning with a group of radical Left organizations to file an eccentric lawsuit attacking the recently passed Washington Parents’ Bill of Rights/Initiative 2081,” he tells the Inlander by email.

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Leavitt, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, argues that the lawsuit isn’t “eccentric,” but imperative for LGBTQ+ youth in public schools who he believes will be harmed if the initiative is allowed to go into effect.

“The initiative passed because of deception and confusion, and it will cause life-altering negative outcomes for queer and trans students if it is implemented,” he says.

Both Heywood and Walsh called upon state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to defend the initiative.

“We expect Bob Ferguson to uphold his duty within the law to protect the will of the people and shut down this frivolous attempt by the ACLU to deprive parents of their civil liberties,” Heywood writes.

Before filing the lawsuit however, the plaintiffs’ attorneys asked Ferguson to fight the initiative on behalf of the state’s taxpayers. In a May 6 letter, they requested that the attorney general file a complaint to “redress the constitutional infirmities” outlined in their suit.

But a week later, Ferguson’s office declined to take any legal action or weigh in on the case’s merits.

“We consider litigation at the request of taxpayers in appropriate situations,” Ferguson’s letter states. “In this instance, we decline to take the actions you request, but do so without expressing any view as to whether your claims may have potential merit.”

Legal Voice’s Marks says the plaintiffs’ team plans to file either a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction requesting the courts put the law on hold while their case moves forward. n coltonr@inlander.com

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Another Voice for Business

Conservative donor and businessman Larry Stone is forming the Spokane Business Association to lobby city officials about public safety, homelessness and more

BY NATE SANFORD

Last week, Larry Stone met with Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown to share big news.

After years of frustration with city leaders’ response to his concerns about homelessness and crime, Stone is forming the Spokane Business Association — a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit organization of businesses across the city that will hire a CEO, host fundraisers and lobby elected leaders.

“I’ve been aware that Spokane business doesn’t have a voice for several years now,” Stone tells the Inlander. “It’s just become super clear to me in the last few months that we need to do something.”

Stone, a prominent Spokane businessman and developer who has been a major donor to conservative political causes in recent years, plans to launch the organization this week. A job posting for the CEO position is going live soon with an annual salary of about $150,000 to $200,000. Stone says he’s already talked to three interested candidates.

Stone started putting the pieces together for the new organization two or three months ago. When asked, he denies that it was prompted by Brown taking office in January.

“I think it’s in response to the continuing deterioration of safety, deterioration of crime, graffiti, public camping,” Stone says. “Those issues were there under Mayor Woodward, and they’re not getting better.”

Stone is hoping the new organization will eventually have more than 600 members.

“I don’t think I’ve talked to a single business that’s not on board,” Stone says.

Stone presented his plans for the Spokane Business Association, or SBA, last week at a private meeting of the East Central Business Association.

“You will hear some people say, ‘Well why is Larry Stone doing it?’” Stone told the group of about two dozen business leaders. “I want you to know I didn’t sign up for this. But if nobody else is going to do it, I’m going to do it.”

The SBA (not to be confused with the Small Business Administration, a federal agency with an office in Spokane) will primarily focus on political advocacy to start, Stone explained.

“Most of us have been really frustrated with the state of our city,” Stone said. “It’s been really hard for all of us to watch our city really decline in so many ways.”

Stone shared a list of 15 “early initiatives” for the SBA — many of which align with issues Stone has spent years advocating for through his controversial “Curing Spokane” videos.

The list includes increasing the size of Spokane’s police force; enforcing drug laws; cleaning garbage and graffiti from downtown; opposing “rent control” and other landlord regulations; promoting affordable housing; building a new jail; relocating the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza; and enforcing Proposition 1 — a ballot measure criminalizing homeless camping within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, and playgrounds that was largely funded by Stone and passed with 75% of the vote in November.

The gathered business leaders from east Spokane seemed enthusiastic about the proposal. Several expressed lingering frustration about how city leaders responded to

the Camp Hope homeless encampment in East Central.

One attendee said they hope the SBA can also focus on education and push back on what they see as a “multidecade approach to condemn capitalism and promote socialism” in schools. Another said the new organization could leverage its membership to show City Council members that “if they don’t get on board, they can’t stay in power forever.”

Danny Beard, director of strategic partnerships at Union Gospel Mission, said he’s hopeful the SBA can present a “unified front” to city leaders.

“When we walk in there, we walk in there with 1,000 businesses that are saying ‘We’re on the same page, here’s what we’re asking,’” Beard said.

Spokane already has several business organizations that speak for business owners’ interests.

Greater Spokane Incorporated, or GSI, describes itself as “the Spokane region’s business development organization,” serving as both a regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization.

There’s also the Downtown Spokane Partnership, or DSP, which describes itself as a private, not-for-profit membership organization that “serves as Spokane’s central city advocate and service provider.”

Stone says he respects the work both organizations do and hopes the new SBA can be a collaborative partner. Both organizations frequently lobby elected officials and wield significant political influence. But Stone argues that a new organization is necessary because GSI represents the entire region and tends to focus its lobbying efforts on the state and federal government, and DSP only represents downtown businesses. A middle option is needed, he says, to represent businesses across the city of Spokane. Unlike GSI and the DSP, the new SBA will refuse to accept any government funding, Stone says.

Instead, the new SBA will be entirely supported by membership dues and donations, Stone says. The organization will have a board of trustees, a 60-member board of regents and an operating budget of $750,000 in 2025. Stone says three local businesses have already pledged $550,000 in “guaranteed liquidity.”

“We’ve got business firmly and financially behind us,” Stone says.

Mayor Brown says the idea that she and other elected leaders aren’t listening to business owners’ concerns is an “unfounded accusation.”

Brown says she has regular meetings that are coordinated by GSI and the DSP where their members can bring concerns forward. She sits on the board of both organizations and attends their monthly meetings.

She also sits on the University District board, which also has business representation. Additionally, she says she’s had a “very extensive list” of individual meetings with business owners. Members of her administration also have a biweekly meeting with business owners along the Madison Street corridor.

“Lots of different avenues,” Brown says.

In addition to the DSP and GSI, Spokane business owners have also spent years lobbying elected officials and airing their political grievances through a semi-informal email group run by Sheldon Jackson, a local developer.

The email group includes a lot of powerful members. Stone says he appreciates the email group, but that the angry tone of some of the emails is sometimes unproductive.

“We write about how awful things are, how much crime there is, how much drug use there is, about the assaults employees are having, but it’s not doing any good,” Stone says. “I think at times it makes some of our elected officials angry because they take it personally.” n nates@inlander.com

Larry Stone (pictured last year with his dog Rover) is creating a new organization to represent Spokane businesses. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Illustrations by Caleb Walsh

ScholasticFantastic

Strong Seeds

WSU researchers are helping breed resilient quinoa strains to fight global hunger

BY NATE SANFORD

Cedric Habiyaremye learned what it’s like to be hungry when he was 7 years old.

It was spring 1994, at the start of what would become known as the Rwandan genocide. Habiyaremye and his family were forced to flee their home in Gafunzo, Rwanda, and faced severe food insecurity as they made their way to a refugee camp in Tanzania.

“I faced hunger and starvation for the very first time,” Habiyaremye says. “The only thing that kept us alive was beans.”

Even after arriving at the refugee camp food remained scarce. When Habiyaremye and his family were finally able to return to Rwanda three years later, he saw how the chaos and violence had left the country with a dire shortage of food.

“That’s when I thought that, if I survive, I want to study agriculture and see ways we can never go to bed hungry,” Habiyaremye says.

He attended the University of Rwanda College of Agriculture and connected with a program called Building Bridges with Rwanda, which allowed him to pursue a master’s degree at Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences in 2013. He stayed at the college and obtained a Ph.D. in agronomy and crop science.

That’s where he discovered quinoa.

The crop is rich in nutrients and highly resilient. It can thrive in poor soil conditions, can be stored for long periods of time and has leaves that can be eaten while it’s growing. People can use it to make drinks, flour, food for animals and a host of tasty dishes.

Habiyaremye realized that quinoa could be the solution to Rwanda’s hunger crisis he had been looking for.

In 2015, Habiyaremye took a small amount of seeds to Rwanda and introduced quinoa to local farmers. Some were skeptical at first — quinoa was totally new to the region.

“It was a new crop — nobody knew about it — so it was hard to get partners in the country,” Habiyaremye says. “Some were hesitant to start.”

Habiyaremye also gave a few seeds to his mother. It grew faster than expected, and neighbors soon became curious.

“From there, we started to see a lot of interest from farmers,” Habiyaremye says. “We were blown away… initially we didn’t know if people would accept it.”

Habiyaremye partnered with Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture to bring more quinoa into the country and train farmers on how to grow and cook it.

The program had about a dozen farmers in its first year. Today, Habiyaremye says there are close to 1,000 farmers.

“The number has been growing like crazy,” Habiyaremye says.

Farmers in Rwanda don’t usually have grain elevators to keep their harvested crops out of reach of insects, which often means they have to use pesticides to protect their harvest. But quinoa has natural protections from bugs, which helps farmers there save money and avoid using harmful chemicals, he says.

them to Rwanda for further testing. They found the quinoa varieties that performed best in Rwanda originated in Ecuador, which is similarly close to the equator.

Last June, the researchers announced the release of three new quinoa varieties: Shisa, Gikungu and Cougar.

Shisa quinoa is specifically designed to thrive in Rwanda’s high-altitude regions. It matures slightly earlier than other varieties. The name was chosen by farmers, Habiyaremye says, and means “to flourish” in Kinyarwanda, one of Rwanda’s official languages.

“They chose this name because they say quinoa has improved their lives and the lives of their children and helped them grow and develop in a healthy and vigorous way,” Habiyaremye says.

Gikungu is designed for low altitudes. The name means “economy” in Kinyarwanda, and Habiyaremye says local farmers chose the name because of the role quinoa can play in economic development.

The third strain, “Cougar,” was named by researchers at WSU after the school’s mascot. Cougar quinoa has distinctive, vibrant red seeds and bright green leaves. It’s a bit of a mix of Gikungu and Shisa because it can thrive in both high and low altitudes.

“We want to develop a system where quinoa can be among the staple foods in the country,” Habiyaremye says.

Habiyaremye graduated from WSU in 2019 and has continued to work with the university and study how the quinoa plant grows in Rwanda.

He has recently been collaborating with researchers at WSU and Brigham Young University to develop new varieties of quinoa that thrive in diverse climates. The work was started by researchers at BYU, who developed close to 1,000 breeding lines and sent them to WSU for experimentation.

From there, Habiyaremye worked with researchers at WSU to identify the best-performing seeds and took

Cedric Habiyaremye

Through his company, QuinoaHub, Habiyaremye is continuing to help train farmers on how to grow the plant. He’s recently expanded to eight other countries in Africa and is working with Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture to develop a national quinoa distribution system.

In addition to the nearly 1,000 farmers now growing quinoa through his program, Habiyaremye says other farmers have obtained seeds from participants in the program and are now growing quinoa independently.

“With all those, we can’t track the numbers, but we know that they have also grown,” Habiyaremye says.

Many crop seeds are patented, which means the companies that create those strains maintain control and receive royalties off all seeds that are sold. But Habiyaremye says the three new quinoa strains are open source, which means anyone is free to use and share them.

Quinoa should be used for the “greater good of humanity,” Habiyaremye says, not to “just squeeze a penny out of a poor person.

“We don’t want to make quinoa a cash crop.” n

RELIGION

The Lotus and the Cross

Whitworth historian Anthony Clark’s recent book helps Buddhists and Christians acknowledge their differences in order to celebrate each other

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Anthony Clark speaks Mandarin fluently, studied in Beijing, and taught tai chi and kung fu for more than 15 years. Students can pop into the Whitworth University professor’s office anytime to practice Chinese calligraphy. As a historian of ChineseWestern exchange, Clark has dedicated his professional career — and much of his personal life — to learning Chinese culture.

But the key to his cross-cultural success? Acknowledging the differences between people, he says, in order to see them as they truly are.

This is the underlying motivation beneath Clark’s recent work, Catholicism and Buddhism: The Contrasting Lives and Teachings of Jesus and Buddha. Unlike some of his other scholarly works, it is a short book for the general public that parses the deep-rooted differences between Catholicism and Buddhism.

Though outward expressions of each religion might look similar, the inward motivations of the two practices are separate and, at times, contradictory. While Christians seek to live aligned with a good, loving creator forever, Buddhists hope their kindness will eventually

earn them the peace of extinction. Instead of conflating the two belief systems, understanding their differences is a way to respect our neighbors and their worldview, he says.

“Virginia Woolf once said something like, ‘If you can’t be honest about yourself, how can you be honest about others?’” Clark says. “This idea of being genuinely honest about what one thinks and believes, and what one’s identity is, helps us to be more sympathetic.”

Clark is a Catholic who teaches classes on China and Buddhism at a Protestant university. He knows

what it is to sit in, and even seek out, disagreement. It’s a lesson in patience and compassion that is not only helpful in religious discussions, but in any setting where disagreement could be uncomfortable.

“All of my Buddhist friends, especially Buddhist friends outside of the United States, were very adamant that we will understand each other better if we actually write down what we think, so that we can confront these differences and collaboratively work together,” Clark says. “So it came about from this strong commitment to be honest, and then secondly, a strong commitment to how much we need to be together with that honesty.”

Anthony Clark

You don’t have to be a religious scholar to read Clark’s book. It starts with a basic question that almost everyone asks at some point in their life: Is there a God?

“The fundamental difference between Christianity and Buddhism is the God question,” Clark says. “The God question is an important one, no matter what religious tradition you’re in. In terms of Christianity, we have this idea of a God, then we have this trinity with Jesus and this whole idea of redemption and being given grace and forgiveness. In Buddhism, there is no theology because there’s no ‘theos,’ there’s no God. That’s crucially different.”

Christianity is based on a relationship with the creator, Clark says, in which the human knows that they are loved. Buddhism doesn’t worship a deity but is reliant on an impersonal justice system known as karma, where personal actions dictate future incarnations until one reaches the state called “nirvana.”

“I like to think of Buddhism as an idea that we have something like a soul, and that soul could go through trillions or zillions of reincarnations,” Clark says. “But at the end of one’s reincarnated cycle, your soul ends. Now, what that end means is a debate within Buddhism. But you have multiple lives and an end of the soul. Christianity is the opposite. You have one life, but a soul that is eternal. That distinction inspires us to think differently about how we live.”

Even though both religions value charity, compassion, peacefulness and self-understanding, the motivations for those virtues are different.

Clark says that Christians ought to live in the secure knowledge that everyone is loved by a creator God who knows and suffers with them. The end goal is for everyone to live together forever.

Buddhists, Clark says, see in every person the possibility that they are a spouse, friend or relative from a past or future life. Therefore, they must be treated respectfully in order to finally achieve the ultimate peace that is oblivion or annihilation.

There are other secondary distinctions that Clark discusses, but they can pretty much all be traced back to these separate foundations.

“The Dalai Lama once said, ‘When people say that Christianity and Buddhism are the same, it’s like putting a sheep’s head on a yak’s body,’” Clark says. “My research wants to tease those differences out so that someone doesn’t go to Kmart and buy a Buddha statue but not understand the message of Buddhism, which is a beautiful, loving message. But it’s good to know what that means. We talk so much in modern academics today about respecting and honoring the other — part of that is actually listening to the other. That’s part of the project. Celebrating the other requires knowing the other.” n

ScholasticFantastic

CHEMISTRY

Draining the Energy

Gonzaga research could help develop new drugs to treat parasites by targeting a unique compound

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

While chemists have discovered an amazing amount of information about the many complex combinations of atoms that make up the world around us, there’s still much to learn about how certain compounds are biosynthesized — in other words, how they’re organically created in living things.

For decades, that’s been the focus of Jennifer Shepherd, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Gonzaga University who was recently named the interim dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science for the upcoming school year.

When she first started in the field as a master’s student in the ’90s, Shepherd says she helped UCLA researchers who were trying to figure out the enzymes needed to create a chemical compound called ubiquinone.

Ubiquinone is found in most living organisms and it’s essential in the energy production and transfer process within our cells (in the mitochondria, for those who remember their high school science classes). Ubiquinone in humans is also called Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, which you can now find in the supplement aisle at the grocery store.

When she started teaching at Gonzaga more than 25 years ago, Shepherd began researching a highly similar compound called rhodoquinone, or RQ, that’s made by parasites and microbes for essentially the same purpose.

The major difference is that while ubiquinone helps create energy in oxygen-rich environments, the rhodoquinone found in parasites helps them create energy in anaerobic environments where there’s a lack of oxygen, enabling them to thrive in places like our guts.

“I’ve spent pretty much the majority of my career trying to figure out how these organisms make rhodoquinone,” Shepherd says. “The enzymes that are needed to make it, those are selective targets that we can try to inhibit or shut down.”

The goal for researchers is to create new medica-

tions targeting those enzymes to fight parasitic infections.

Currently, there are only a handful of drugs on the market to treat parasitic worms, and they’ve remained the same for decades, so parasites are becoming more resistant to them.

Shepherd has experienced firsthand how taking those medications is fairly commonplace in developing countries such as Ghana, where she adopted three children and has traveled on many occasions. Because the infections can’t be avoided there, Shepherd says that many people take antiparasitics regularly.

“You could just walk into a pharmacy and buy the treatment,” Shepherd says. “Everyone has them, you can’t avoid it. It’s in the soil, it’s in the water. You can be as careful as you want, but in the villages and at the orphanages that we were at it was kind of a monthly routine, a deworming.”

Each year, more than 3.5 billion people globally are affected by intestinal parasitic infections, and more than 200,000 people die from those infections, according to 2021 research published by the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Shepherd’s team is working to find solutions.

Early on, Shepherd says her team discovered a simple way that microbes use a single enzyme to convert ubiquinone into rhodoquinone. While that initially seemed promising, it turned out that it didn’t apply to parasites, which use a different method.

It took about a decade for Shepherd and other researchers to figure out one of the chemical pathways that parasites use to produce RQ.

Since then, Shepherd’s Gonzaga team has worked with researchers in Uruguay and Canada to move that work forward.

Most recently, a team from the University of Toron-

to has been developing drug candidates that might help stop RQ production.

Gonzaga’s team helps figure out how well the drugs work by analyzing batches of C. elegans worms (which aren’t parasitic, but similarly create RQ) that have been treated with the drug candidates. The team processes the dried worm samples, extracting the fatty compounds where RQ can be found, and then using a mass spectrometer to see how much of the compound is present.

“They have drug candidates that they’re giving to their worms, and then they’re having us do the actual analysis to see if they are knocking out or reducing the ability to make rhodoquinone,” Shepherd says. “We found some promising candidates.”

Now, the collaborators are working to verify the drugs’ effectiveness and figure out exactly how they work.

“We know it reduces the amount of rhodoquinone, but we don’t know how,” Shepherd says. “They’re trying to figure out what enzyme in this pathway is being inhibited.”

Once that becomes clear, it’s possible the drugs could move to clinical testing and start the long process of getting approved for use.

In the meantime, people and livestock are stuck with the current limited options.

“That’s been a problem: [for] livestock that get the infections in the U.S. and other countries, [the parasites have] definitely become resistant to the drugs,” Shepherd says. “For humans, if we don’t come up with other options, it’s going to be the same thing.” n

Jennifer Shepherd

ScholasticFantastic

BIOLOGY

Betting on the Gambler

Regional tribes and University of Idaho researchers are working to ensure that slippery fish are born every spring

BY. E.J. IANNELLI

According to Native American lore, Lamprey was an incorrigible gambler. On one fateful occasion, he challenged Suckerfish to the ancient guessing match of Stick Game. However, even when it became clear that luck wasn’t on his side, Lamprey refused to cut his losses. By the time the sun rose the next day, he had lost everything he owned, right down to his bones. That’s why Lamprey has no bones and no scales.

His legendary vices notwithstanding, tribes like the Umatilla, the Nez Perce and the Yakama remain drawn to the Pacific lamprey. The migratory, jawless eel-like fish, which has a skeleton made of cartilage rather than bone, has been important to their cultures for millennia for its nutritional and medicinal qualities.

Lampreys also play a significant ecological role by cleansing streams and acting as buffers to salmon predation. Even in death they have value, as other fish feed on their nutrient-rich decomposing bodies.

“Right now, the tribes collect almost all their lamprey at the bottom of the fishway at Bonneville Dam, the lowermost hydroelectric project on the main stem of the Columbia River,” Nagler explains.

This downstream capture typically takes place during the summer months, ahead of the mating process the following spring.

“For the aquaculture, or the propagation activity that they’re doing, they’d like to know, well, how many males and how many females do we have?”

James Nagler

Nagler says. “So they’ve been looking for a noninvasive means of sexing the fish — so that everybody has a date when spawning time rolls around.”

Ultrasound imaging is one method that the researchers are using to determine each lamprey’s sex and dial in the right gender ratios among fish who appear identical to the eye.

Assuming, however, that they were able to get an accurate fix on that, the lamprey life cycle poses yet another potential complication. It’s called delayed maturation.

“They’re a whole-system fish,” says Lori Porter of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Through a project that Porter leads for the fish commission, the organization has partnered with researchers at the University of Idaho to study Pacific lamprey in the hopes of understanding their maturation processes and finding sustainable ways to restore their natural populations.

Like salmon, the lamprey life cycle sees the fish transition from freshwater to ocean and then back to freshwater again to spawn. Also like salmon, their very existence is at risk because of this migration.

“The current evidence that we have in terms of when these fish appeared on the scene is about 500 million years ago. To put that into perspective, the dinosaurs came and went in just a blink of an eye compared to the time that this fish has existed in the waters of the Earth,” says James Nagler, a professor of zoology in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Idaho. “They’re a fish that has stood the test of time. It’s a survivor.”

And yet, despite survival skills dating back to the Cambrian Period, the lamprey population has suffered in recent decades from anthropogenic threats like dams, pollution and climate change.

Since around 2000, regional tribes have engaged in radio tagging and translocation strategies that help the Pacific lamprey skip the most perilous points on the journey to its spawning areas upriver. But these interventions can be tricky because of variables that still need to be better understood.

“This is a feature of their biology that’s a little odd,” he says. “When these fish migrate in, they appear to have two different strategies. Some of them are going to spawn the next spring, and some of them will actually stay in freshwater for almost two years. They’ll basically skip a spawning cycle.”

This means that the tribal aquaculture crews could be scooping up fish that won’t aid their propagation efforts in the near term. As a result, they’re now studying a blood-based hormone that might indicate whether the lamprey they’ve captured is ready to mate or will be abstinent for another year or more.

For Porter, “all this work is very critical and very timely,” even if the lamprey’s unsettling vampiric appearance has unfairly tainted it in the popular imagination: They have distinctive teeth. Instead, she sees the Pacific lamprey as a “charismatic” but “gentle” creature — one that’s powerful and resourceful enough to ascend fish ladders with its mouth and also changes colors in line with its age and environment. Mysteries like the lamprey’s swimming range or the guidance mechanisms it uses to return to its spawning areas continue to lend themselves to modern science as much as to ancient folklore.

And based on the trends Porter has observed, the knowledge gleaned from the translocation and artificial propagation projects is having a positive impact on Pacific lamprey populations. It’s an important step on the way to making the species self-sustaining.

“The larvae are surviving,” she says. “So we’re celebrating the successes that we are seeing with increased numbers returning to some locations where they had been very low before.” n

ScholasticFantastic

SOCIOLOGY

Creating a Cultural Tapestry

EWU sociologist studies the cross-cultural identity of second-generation Ethiopian Americans and how they influence their communities

BY COLTON RASANEN

As a young person in Ethiopia, Kassahun Kebede and his family were displaced from their homes more than once, in something the Ethiopian government called resettlement. Those experiences later propelled him into his now nearly two-decade career researching population relocation, international migration and the new African diaspora — the voluntary movement of Africans to the U.S. and other countries in the latter half of the 20th century.

“Growing up, I just became a displaced person in my own community,” he says. “Mobility has always fascinated me.”

Recently, his research has delved into the identity development of second-generation Ethiopian Americans and how the Ethiopian diaspora (dispersed from their homeland) advocates for democracy across international borders.

As someone who now identifies as Ethiopian

American and has children who would be considered second-generation Ethiopian Americans, Kebede says his own biculturality is what really drove him to research the formation of transnational identity.

The associate professor of sociology and justice studies at Eastern Washington University says there are a few facets of his research into the Ethiopian American transnational identity.

Kebede studies the challenges that people face, how

they are adapting and how they contribute to the culture in the U.S. To track this he looks at a handful of metrics, such as the percentage of immigrants who own their own business (about 20%, according to Kebede) or more noticeable day-to-day changes, like the items that can be found in the supermarket.

“I was surprised the first time I went to the store and I found teff (an ancient Ethiopian grain), and I never thought I would find any Ethiopian food,” he says. “These ingredients didn’t exist here 20 to 30 years ago.”

His research into democracy across borders has taken a more hands-on approach with the recent creation of the Libraries for Ethiopia Fund. In his capacity as the nonprofit’s president and director, Kebede is raising funds for his home country, which has fewer than 250 public libraries serving more than 120 million people.

“Democracy is not about going out and preaching about who you are or who you would vote for,” Kebede says. “It’s about giving back to the community you come from, almost like a gift for your absence.”

Kassahun Kebede

Unlike other studies that require more specific scientific methods, Kebede’s research relies on an interpersonal approach. This often includes multiple interviews with his subjects and a technique known as immersion, which he describes as a deeper kind of “hanging out.”

For this, he spends time each summer in the Washington, D.C., metro area — which has a large Ethiopian population — and observes what’s happening in that community.

He also plans to conduct his research locally, working with Spokane Public Library and Thrive International. Those two organizations are partnering to build housing for refugees, and Kebede wants to interview the people who end up living in those apartments.

“There are always people who may struggle,” Kebede says. “But overall, [second-generation immigrants] are thriving in this environment because the U.S. is more welcoming than it used to be.”

In 2013, the U.S. Census reported that second-generation immigrants are much better off, in socioeconomic terms, than their parents. This includes higher household income, higher college graduation rates and a larger share who are homeowners.

But Kebede’s research doesn’t compare second-generation Ethiopian Americans with their parents — he compares them with everyone else in their same age group. And what he’s found so far indicates that they’re often outpacing their peers in those same metrics, too.

Looking at the larger picture, there are more immigrants in the U.S. than in any other country in the world, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s often been described as a melting pot of other cultures into one American society.

But if you ask Kebede, the U.S. would better be described as a place where multiple tapestries can be formed by the weaving together of different cultures.

“It’s an American culture to weave things together,” he says.

His research is affirming that thought, finding that the U.S. continues to be a place in which immigrants thrive and create space to mix their identities into a new transnational identity. Even though this country is filled with structural barriers for marginalized groups (like immigrants), Kebede says more often than not, people are going to find a way around those barriers.

“People think that structural factors limit their ability to move up when they’re an immigrant,” Kebede says. “But people will always try to find a way around it.

“That’s essentially the nature of America,” he adds, sporting a huge smile. n

Thursday, June 6, 5:30pm

The Boxcar Room, Spokane

Learn about the state of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in Washington with Spectrum Center, Western States Center, Fuse Washington, and the ACLU-WA.

$8 advance tickets required (includes snacks and a drink)

aclu-wa.org/events

A River Revealed

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

It’s hard to “lose” a river, but that’s exactly what pre-Expo Spokane had done

BY BILL YOUNGS

The pioneers who began settling beside Spokane Falls during the 1870s were profoundly aware of the Spokane River. Remembering his first visit in 1873, town-builder James Glover wrote, “I sat there, unconscious of anything but the river, gazing and wondering and admiring.”

Visiting during her 15,000-mile stagecoach journey through the West, Carrie Strahorn wrote: “The virgin grandeur and beauty of the Spokane country appealed to us as no other place had done in all our travels.”

The south channel of the Spokane River today, where two rail depots and a tangle of railyards once dominated.

es across its waters for trains and automobiles, and dumped their sewage into its waters. Perhaps in shame for what they had done, they started calling their fledgling city Spokane and dropped “Falls.” Seemingly forgetting the proximity of the actual river, they christened their major thoroughfare “Riverside Avenue” even though it was, and is, several blocks away from the actual river. During the 1950s they even considered paving over the south channel of the river for parking!

Is it any wonder that Sen. Warren Magnuson called the Falls “Spokane’s hidden treasure.”

Fortunately, an amazing change came about during the 1960s and ’70s. A remarkable group of men and women — bankers and gardeners, public figures and ordinary citizens — came together and effected one of the most astonishing urban renewal projects in American history.

In 1964, Spokane business leaders hired a one-in-a-thousand city planner, a visionary named King Cole, who had begun his renewal career in San Leandro, California, where he was known affectionately as the “Fountain Maker.”

The early settlers admired the river for its beauty — but also for its utility. They built mills along its banks, changed its contours with dynamite, built bridg-

Bill Youngs is an EWU history professor and author of the definitive history of Expo ’74, The Fair and the Falls — now available in an updated 2024 edition. LEARN MORE AT: Expo50Spokane.com • Facebook/Expo50Spokane

“We had fountains,” Cole recalled, “because I like the sound of water.” And, of course, flowing water was abundant in Spokane — if only you could see it! Under King Cole’s leadership, the structures “hiding” the Falls were stripped away. Railroad trestles, parking lots on Havermale Island and an industrial laundry on Cascade Island were all removed. (Cascade Island was renamed Canada Island, and more recently given the Salish name snxw mene’ — pronounced “sin-HOO-men-huh.”)

Lawns and bridges provided stunning views of Falls. Even reporters from big-city newspapers were impressed. Gladwin Hill of The New York Times filed an enthusiastic account of the city in late spring, with its “wildly rushing river, the fair’s most arresting feature.” Spokane’s “hidden treasure” was no longer hidden.

Riding in Style

There were two sky rides at Expo — one over the fairgrounds and one down into the Falls. The one over the fairgrounds was essentially a horizontal ski lift, giving tourists a bird’s eye view of pavilions, street entertainers and other tourists.

The ride was relaxing, unless you were foolish. One day, two riders in different chairs were yelling back and forth. They approached Washington Street, which had a net underneath to catch articles that might be dropped. The fellow in front thought he could jump down onto the net, bounce up, and catch his buddy as he came up behind. As they came over Washington Street,

A ski lift transported fairgoers from one end of Expo to the other. MAC PHOTO

this fellow bailed and went through that net “like he was cutting it with a knife,” one witness said. He landed on the street but limped away without serious injury. The sky ride survived the fair, too, but somewhere else.

The dismantling of Expo ’74 began soon after closing day. The sky ride chairs were loaded onto a truck for shipment to Schweitzer Ski Basin in Idaho, and the drive machinery and towers were loaded onto a truck bound for the ski slopes of Vail, Colorado — effectively recycled. This was Expo ’74, after all, environmentalism in action! (BILL YOUNGS)

A Really Big Ask

The biggest land use challenge for Expo planners was to persuade railroads to relinquish their terminals, tracks and trestles on the Expo site — with minimal cost to the city.

At this stage, the young Cowles brothers, Jim and Bill, were beginning to play a more active role in Spokane. King Cole observed that Jim Cowles had been working with the railroads because that was one of his training functions coming aboard with the Cowles family. He had developed some connections.

JOIN CLUB ’74!

Just before demolition of the buildings around the Expo fairgrounds, you can see how hidden the Spokane River had become. NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE IMAGE

Jim Cowles is generally credited with being instrumental in persuading the Union Pacific to give its land to the city. Tom Adkison, the designer of the fairgrounds, remarked, “My guess is he spent three or four months throwing what weight he had to get the railroads the heck off the ground.”

The Cowles clan was busy in other ways, too, as their mall, River Park Square, debuted downtown just in time for Expo — featuring their big prize, Nordstrom. Both celebrate 50 years in Spokane in 2024.

Banker Ed McWilliams summarized Jim Cowles’s accomplishment: “If you have a steel viaduct going for eight or 10 blocks across downtown, and you have a great big depot, and somebody comes and says, ‘Would you like to give it to us?’ your reaction is either going to be ‘No!’ or ‘Hell, no!’ You only have two choices. And it took quite a bit of persuasion by Jim and others to get that through.”

Spokane got “Yes!” and the site was secured for the fairgrounds — and for future generations. (BILL YOUNGS)

EXPO 50 EVENTS

EXPO ’74 50TH ANNIVERSARY

COMMUNITY STAGE & VENDOR VILLAGE

June 1 | Riverfront Park Lilac Bowl | 11 am-4 pm

SIGNATURE EVENT PRESENTED BY WASHINGTON TRUST BANK |

NONSTOP LOCAL KHQ | GARCO CONSTRUCTION

Experience a fusion of dance, performing arts, inspiring talks and performances from a diverse range of community talents. Enjoy international cuisine, memorabilia, and historic and interactive activities. The stage will be adjacent to the Vendor Village, featuring a variety of local vendors, artisans and handcrafters. 11 am: Campfire Stories; 1 pm: Dynamic Gymnastics; 1:30 pm: Pilgrim Church Band; 2:30 pm: Son Dulce.

PICKLEFEST ’24

SIGNATURE EVENT

May 29-June 2 | Riverfront Park Pavilion | 11 am-4 pm

A pickleball jamboree and tournament celebrating the history and future of pickleball in Spokane — presented by the Spokane Pickleball Club and the City of Spokane Parks & Recreation, and powered by Selkirk Sport’s Pro S1 Pickleball. A five-day ‘popup’ pickleball event in and around the Pavilion leads to the weekend tournament ($45 entry fee) — a three-day public jamboree with opportunities for anyone to play, learn and celebrate pickleball. More details available on pickleheads.com and at PickleballBrackets.com/picklefest24.

INLAND NORTHWEST JURIED LANDSCAPE ART EXHIBITION

By supporting the free programs throughout the Expo 50 celebration, your membership gives you access to exclusive benefits through July 4, including a commemorative coin and discounts at popular spots like Riverfront Spokane, The MAC and other local shops, restaurants and bars. Also check out Corporate Club ’74. One donation gets 25 individual memberships for your company, each with all the same discounts — and access to a special bonus event! Scan either QR code to learn more about the benefits. Join the celebration today!

INDIVIDUAL CORPORATE

MARKING 50 YEARS Every week in the Inlander through the end of June, look for these Expo 50 pages, where Bill Youngs will guide you through the improbable story of the 1974 World’s Fair.

THANK YOU TO OUR SIGNATURE SPONSORS!

Opens May 31 | Jundt Gallery, Gonzaga University | 4-7 pm

This art exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Expo ’74 and the legacy of creativity, community and environmental stewardship that drives Spokane to this day. The special, juried exhibition will include about 75 landscape works of art, in various media, created by dozens of artists, all from the Inland Northwest. The exhibit kicks off with a reception and awards ceremony on May 31, and runs through Aug. 24.

ECHOES OF EXPO

“Echoes of Expo” is an audio storytelling experience in Riverfront Park, revealing Spokane’s evolution through the lens of Expo ’74. Merging personal stories, historical insights and immersive soundscapes, this seven-episode series explores the world fair’s lasting impact on urban renewal, environmental awakening, the complexities of progress and community dynamics in Spokane. Discover each episode via QR codes at the wayfinding signs in Riverfront Park.

For the full schedule of Expo 50th events, head to Expo50Spokane.com

The Force is Strong With This One

How Dmitrious Bistrevsky, a Ukrainian refugee who grew up in Spokane, became Darth Vader

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

They say that the boy who would become Darth Vader grew up a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

But search your feelings, you know it to be untrue. Pure Imperial propaganda.

In reality, the boy who would become Darth Vader grew up in Spokane in the 1990s. And the winding path to becoming one of the most iconic villains in pop culture

history features just about as many twists and turns as Anakin Skywalker’s path in the Star Wars saga.

Born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, before the fall of the Soviet Union, Bistrevsky’s family defected and fled to the U.S. as Christian refugees when he was just 1 year old, ending up in the Tacoma area and relocating to Spokane when he was 6. Bistrevsky’s youth and struggles in the Inland Northwest led him to breakdancing, circus work,

stunt performing, creature acting and, eventually, donning the legendary black helmet and armor of the Sith Lord for 2022’s Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This week the towering, 6-foot-7-inch Bistrevsky returns home as a special guest at Lilac City Comic, which takes place at the Spokane Convention Center on June 1 and 2. It should be a homecoming high on fanfare and, thankfully, much less sandy than a Vader return to Tatooine.

Childhood in Spokane wasn’t always a breeze for Bistrevsky. Growing up in a family that was heavily involved in the conservative Slavic church, he always felt like an outsider trying to rebel. He wanted to be more American, but with Russian as his first language, and Cold War-era xenophobia still common, the Ukrainian expat struggled to fit in with his peers.

“Kids would throw rocks at us and say, ‘Go back to Russia!’” Bistrevsky recalls. “So I’ve always had this deepseated rebellion inside of me.”

It also didn’t help that he was a super tall, lanky, awkward, poor immigrant in secondhand clothes trying to integrate. Bistrevsky’s middle school growth spurt was so intense he couldn’t do sports or P.E. for two years due to knee and back issues. Once his body somewhat stabilized, basketball and football coaches came calling.

...continued on page 30

Dmitrious Bistrevsky is the man behind Vader’s foreboding black ensemble in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi

LUCASFILM LTD. PHOTO

Discuss Our Environmental Issues Together

Expo ’74: 50 Years of Environmental Awareness

Expo ’74 was the first World’s Fair to focus on environmental issues. During its 50th anniversary, you can participate in our community conversations discussing how individuals, neighborhoods, and municipalities can take action to prepare for the impacts of the climate crisis. Share your concerns, ask questions, and exchange ideas.

Discussion presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters Spokane Area.

VARIOUS LIBRARIES

June 6–27

Find locations, days & times at www.scld.org/expo-74-events

“THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE,” CONTINUED...

“At the time, out of rebellion, I did the exact opposite,” he says. “I wanted to breakdance because I thought it looked cool.”

After being a self-proclaimed “very, very bad” breakdancer for a couple years, he turned his attention to acting. Bistrevsky began auditioning and was cast as the titular monster in a Spokane Community College production of Frankenstein. After freezing up at an audition, though, he vowed to audition for everything, even if he wasn’t a fit, just to overcome his fear. This led to a fellow breakdancer and co-worker at Spokane Gymnastics convincing Bistrevsky to audition for So You Think You Can Dance

After a few weeks of crash-course prep, Bistrevsky actually made it past the first and second audition cuts. He knew he wasn’t good, but he thought maybe judges were intrigued by his height and determination. But it turned out that the show only advanced him so the judges could rip him apart for viewers’ entertainment. One judge, Mia Michaels, told him he’d never be good, which lit a fire in Bistrevsky, leading him to form his own breakdance group in Spokane, Paper Cutout Crew, to prove her wrong.

After improving his coordination, he moved to LA to pursue stunt work with the ultimate goal of acting. But within three weeks in SoCal, he met multiple people who convinced him to literally join the circus.

“I realized that everything I was looking for, I found in circus,” Bistrevsky says. “Because for me, it was the storytelling of theater, the movement of breakdancing, the structure of gymnastics, and the self-expression of breakdancing all wrapped into one. It felt like home.”

Bistrevsky was accepted into a top circus school in Canada. But once he arrived, visa issues prevented him from completing training. In a stroke of luck, one of the school’s coaches was Russian circus grandmaster Alexander Arnautov. When he heard of Bistrevsky’s plight, Arnautov decided to take him under his wing and train Bistrevsky for free… in part because he just wanted someone to speak with in Russian.

“He trained me Rocky-style, and it was one of the most bizarre, profound experiences of my life,” Bistrevsky says. “He is the one person that was a turning point, that changed the trajectory of my life.”

The grandmaster pushed his pupil to audition for Cirque du Soleil, and Bistrevsky landed a role with the company one week before he was set to run out of money. He moved into the Cirque dormitories, trained and returned to LA as a backup in one of their shows while also diving back into Hollywood’s stunt and acting world.

It was then that Bistrevsky met Doug Jones, the famed creature suit actor best known for his co-starring role as the amphibian man in The Shape of Water

“When he saw me, he said, ‘You should consider creature acting. Because you’re good with movement. You’re large. There’s four stereotypical body types for suit acting, and you fit the largest type, which is like the ogres, aliens, the trolls, werewolves, you know, any anything of that sort,’” Bistrevsky recalls.

A chronic knee dislocation steered him away from stunt work, but Bistrevsky started playing monsters, robots and creatures, landing small roles in film and TV, including a spot as a doomed alien in the first episode of Disney’s The Mandalorian.

Before it was widely known that Disney would make Obi-Wan Kenobi and bring back Darth Vader, people in Bistrevsky’s life were already imagining him in the Sith’s jet-black attire.

“I heard through the grapevine that there was a big project happening in the works: It’s an iconic character; it takes place in space; wears a suit of armor and fights with a sword,” he says. “A few industry people had reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, you’d be kind of perfect for this. So be on the lookout.’”

While his pop-culture-averse upbringing meant that Bistrevsky didn’t see Star Wars until he was 17, he was instantly drawn to Vader. Ever the grinder, he started sword training on his own, simply on the chance

“For me, I have this idea of manifestation. Like if I put in the work and set the intention out, then something will magically happen... the Force,” says Bistrevsky. “I

LAUNCHNW IS AN INITIATIVE OF INNOVIA FOUNDATION.

Dmitrious Bistrevsky

believe in the Force.”

Eventually he did get the call and after five rounds of auditions, Bistrevsky landed the role as the body actor for Darth Vader.

After initially feeling disconnected with the character — feeling like everything he was doing “looked like cosplay” — a deep dive into Anakin Skywalker unlocked everything.

“I had a moment of clarity, and I realized that it’s not that I didn’t understand Darth Vader, it’s that I didn’t understand Anakin,” he says. “And then once I started studying Anakin… that’s when I saw all the parallels between myself and Anakin. He was a slave, I was an immigrant. I grew up super poor, he grew up with nothing. Always needing to prove something, his rebellious spirit, his determination is defiance to everything… And then I understood the fall, and then I understood Darth Vader. And then I understood that I was Darth Vader.”

The process of becoming Vader has somewhat slowed Bistrevsky’s on-screen exploits, as he says spending nine months in the dark mental space to become the character really wore on him. But he’s delighted to meet fans who appreciate his work, and he’s staying busy in other ways. In addition to Lilac City Comicon, he’ll host a handstand workshop at Spokane Gymnastics on June 5. He’s also created a card game called Fitchain to game-ify sports conditioning, which he’s been shopping around.

While Bistrevsky’s Star Wars journey may be aligned with the dark side of the Force, it’s hard not to recall a pearl of Jedi wisdom that defines his unwavering determination.

“Do or do not, there is no try.” n

Lilac City Comicon • Sat, June 1 from 10 am-6 pm and Sun, June 2 from 10 am-4 pm • $13-$18; $5 ages 5-12 • Spokane Convention Center • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd • lilaccitycon.com WILL YOU JOIN US? WILL YOU JOIN US? WILL YOU JOIN US?

$1 MILLION MATCH FOR $1 MILLION MATCH FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FUTURE OF

LaunchNW has secured LaunchNW has secured

$1 million in matching funds to $1 million in matching funds to help students travel their best help students travel their best journey from birth to career journey from birth to career attainment in Eastern attainment in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Washington and North Idaho.

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Shoshone Shoshone County County

A Blast from the Past

Former Spokane DJs and radio staff reunite to reminisce and honor friends

BY CARRIE SHRIVER

While some media personalities are recognized by their on-screen presence (news anchors and weather forecasters) or their distinctive way with words (print journalists), radio folks are, of course, known for their tone.

Behind a soothing baritone or cheerful conversationalist, however, is a face that many who hear them may never see. Yet during an upcoming meet-and-greet as part of a regional radio DJ reunion, listeners past and present can meet the people behind these on-air voices. The Spokane Radio Reunion on Saturday, June 1, invites anyone to stop by the Park Inn, buy a beer, and meet KJRB, KREM, and other former radio station personalities, including Bob Anthony Fogal and Dan Walker.

“We used to hang out there because the radio stations were predominantly on the South Hill, up on Moran Prairie,” says John Maynard Hicks, perhaps better known by his Spokane DJ name, Buzz Lawrence.

Dozens of former Spokane-area DJs and radio personnel who were on air from the late ’60s through early ’80s gather every couple of years to renew the bonds they formed and remember the friends they’ve lost.

“That was at the time that radio was in its heyday,” recalls Chad Parrish, the reunion’s organizer. “We were fortunate to be able to do something at a time that will never be repeated, and it was just an incredible experience.”

Parrish’s path to radio began while attending Eastern Washington University, when he took an intro to radio and television class. His first radio job in 1967 was at KSPO, a Spokane country music station. In 1980, he bought his own station, 107 FM The Ranch, in Missoula, where he’s been since.

“It takes a special kind of personality to be a DJ,” Parrish says.

Another radio-made persona is Paul Freeman.

“You have to have a performer kind of attitude,” Freeman says, noting that other helpful traits include creativity, enjoying talking to people and a competitive streak.

Since Freeman became a DJ in the 1960s, the radio landscape has drastically changed, losing its competitive edge because corporations have bought stations by the handful and stations aren’t vying for ratings like they once did.

Freeman’s enthusiasm for radio began when he was about 13 and met KXLY Spokane DJ Jerry Lang.

“He invited me up for a tour of the radio station when he was on the air and I was totally bitten by the bug,” Freeman says.

The tour inspired Freeman and a friend to build a station in Freeman’s basement. The small transmitter broadcast their sessions around the block. DJs at local stations encouraged Freeman’s crew’s love of radio and gave them free records and news copy to use.

While a junior in high school, Freeman landed his first gig at Spokane’s KPEG with help from Lang. Freeman went on to work at other local stations, including KXLY, where he was known on air as A.J. Knight. He worked the all-night show in Spokane at KJRB from the summer of 1968 to 1969 before leaving to take a job in Salt Lake City. He then spent 40 years at stations around Los Angeles.

“You get to sit in the studio and you get to talk to, in LA, a couple of million people a day. You’re playing records for them. You’re giving away stuff. You go out and meet all your listeners. You have events you go to. You get to host different shows,” Freeman says. “It was just a blast.”

Freeman met tons of music icons while in LA, too: Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles

and Elton John. After an exciting career, he stepped away from the microphone in 2016 and moved back to Spokane to be near family and enjoy retirement.

“My whole life was radio, and it never seemed like I was working a day in my life, because I got to do something I love to do,” he says.

John Maynard Hicks, aka Buzz Lawrence, is another guy with the “right stuff” to work as a DJ, and whose love of the format began at a young age.

“I remember listening to the radio when I was 5, 6 [years old], and I was just always enchanted by it,” he says. “In Pullman there were signals that came in from Omaha and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Canada — all over. Eavesdropping on these major markets was thrilling. I just gravitated naturally toward radio.”

Hicks began working at a Pullman station while still in high school, taking the unwanted, early Sunday morning shift. At 20 he moved to Spokane and started at KNEW, which later became KJRB, and was given his DJ moniker Buzz Lawrence.

“They had a rack of pre-made jingles with different names, and the program director pulled out Buzz Lawrence. I was so intimidated to even start working there I agreed to it,” Hicks says.

In Seattle, he spent 22 years on the radio as part of the Robin & Maynard duo. They began by playing music in 1988 but evolved into a talk and entertainment show with celebrity phone calls.

“We haven’t been on the air in Seattle for years, but people still go to the website [robinandmaynard.net] and they comment on it,” because “radio forged really strong, deep relationships. And they’re enduring,” he says.

Despite still living in Seattle, Hicks returned to broadcasting (remotely) for Spokane-based KOOL about five years ago.

“Just because it’s fun to do,” he says. “[Station owner] Bob [Fogal] wanted me to go back to work on KOOL because he felt people might remember me from my five years in Spokane, with that horrible made-up name that was assigned to me that I can’t stand.”

Music station DJs aren’t the only voices being paired with faces at this year’s radio reunion.

“The broadcast business was one [of] really strong camaraderie and really good people,” says Ron Hardin, a former news presenter.

Hardin grew up listening to KNEW and went on to study journalism and communications at Washington State University. In 1971, he came back to Spokane to work in KSPO’s news department. He went on to other local stations and eventually moved into sales.

“Each day would be quite a bit different, and you never knew what to expect,” he recalls.

The bond between the region’s longtime news and entertainment DJs remains strong, even as the number of regular terrestrial radio listeners continues to decline in the post-COVID era, from 89% of Americans age 12 and up in 2019 to 82% in 2022, according to Pew Research Center.

“It’s just really so much fun to share stories with these guys that I listened to as a kid,” Hardin says. n

Meet the DJs • Sat, June 1 from 6 pm-close • Free • The Park Inn • 103 W. Ninth Ave. • Questions? Email Chad Parrish at cparrish1965@gmail.com

Paul Freeman was on the airwaves for nearly five decades. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

JUNE EVENTS

June 1 • All Day

Reardan Mule Days

June 15 • 9-3pm

Wilbur Community Yard Sale

June 15 • Harrington Vintage Country Fair

June 16 • Inland Northwest Rail Museum – Dads Free!

JUNE 2024

TIP-TOP THURSDAY NIGHT BINGO!

New special Thursday night matinee style session on the first Thursday of the months of June, July, & August.

JUNE 1ST — 3RD

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

MON Monday Night Bingo

JUNE 6TH — 10TH

THURS Special Session – Tip-Top Thursday Night Bingo

Matinee style. Admissions open at 4 PM. Session starts at 6 PM.

FRI Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

MON Monday Night Bingo

JUNE 14TH — 17TH

FRI Regular Session –Trucking to the Casino Drawing for 5 stay & play hotel packages.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session –Father’s Day Bingo $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000. All dads get $15 off buy-in.

MON Monday Night Bingo

JUNE 21ST — 24TH

FRI Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

MON Monday Night Bingo

JUNE 28TH — 30TH

FRI Regular Session –Trucking to the Casino Drawing for 5 stay & play hotel packages.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

Films for Freedom

A new local organization supports the people of Palestine through a film festival

and community events

BY AZARIA PODPLESKY

The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict has ravaged the Gaza strip and displaced as many as 1.7 million Palestinians as of April, according to the Associated Press.

It started on Oct. 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed 1,094 civilians, foreign nationals and soldiers, according to the AP; Hamas also took 253 hostages. Then Israel’s military moved into Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nearly 35,000 there as of May 1, according to the Gaza health ministry and as reported by Reuters.

Last November, a group of concerned Spokane-area citizens formed the Inland Northwest Coalition for the Liberation of Palestine, hoping to raise awareness of the plight of Palestinians and promote empathy for and solidarity with them.

Member Renee Potter says members have diverse experiences with the conflict. Some are Palestinian themselves and have “direct, lived experience with that long struggle for freedom and self-determination.” Others spent time in occupied territories and understand what it’s like to live in a place under military occupation.

Some have worked in support of justice for Palestinians for years, while others have become more aware of the ongoing conflict since Israel’s military mobilization.

“Irrespective of how and when they came to the issue, INWCLP members have been appalled by our own government’s unconditional support of the siege, and quite simply, felt their humanity compelled them to speak out and take action, whatever the consequences,” Potter says. INWCLP members, she adds, have tasked themselves with taking a deep dive into the 100-plus-year

conflict and are committed to sharing what they have learned.

The organization is sharing some of that knowledge via the Empire Strikes Palestine Film Festival, held Sundays at the Magic Lantern Theatre through June 16.

This is the group’s second film festival — its Experience Palestine festival ran from late January through mid-February at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Spokane.

“We think that documentaries and other films are more than just informative; well-made films can appeal to our shared humanity and our sense of empathy for others, not just our intellect,” says Potter, a member of the film festival committee who also notes that movies are more palatable and accessible than books or long podcasts. “Standard media coverage is woefully lacking in nuance, depth and balance. Documentaries and films can fill that void and engage not just the mind, but the heart and conscience.”

The festival committee reviewed 31 documentaries, films and shorts before selecting the final four movies.

“In each festival, we aim to provide some historical context, contemporary sources of understanding of the present situation and some type of ‘call to action,’ so to speak,” Potter says. “At the end, we want viewers to feel empowered to join others in taking meaningful action, informed by a deeper understanding of the issues.”

The film festival kicked off on May 26 with The Occupation of the American Mind. The 2016 documentary directed by Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp is “a mind-opening look at how propaganda has shaped the narrative of key events in the history of Palestine and the State of Israel,” Potter says.

The filmmakers are currently streaming a newly abridged, 49-minute version on the movie’s website, occupationmovie.org, “to help provide context that’s too often been missing in U.S. corporate media since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks,” a statement on the film’s website says.

The film festival continues Sunday, June 2, with The Settlers, directed by Shimon Dotan. The 2016 documentary explores the past, present and potential future of Israeli settlements along the West Bank and their “impact on prospects for peace in the Middle East,” Potter says.

On June 9, the festival is featuring Gaza Fights for Freedom, a 2019 documentary directed by Abby Martin, who will join the festival virtually for a Q&A session after the movie.

Gaza Fights for Freedom features footage of the 201819 Gaza border protests known as the Great March of Return, when more than 200 Palestinians were killed. The documentary also features the experiences of first responders and journalists who were on scene.

The final film is Boycott on June 16. The 2021 documentary, directed by Julia Bacha, “poses the question ‘Just how free is our freedom of speech?’” Potter says. Boycott follows three U.S. citizens as they fight for their right to exercise free speech under threat from some supporters of Israel in the U.S. government.

Potter says the INWCLP is already planning a third film festival and hopes to include two recently released films in the lineup. The organization doesn’t just educate via films, however.

Since forming in November, the Inland Northwest Coalition for the Liberation of Palestine has organized, participated in or supported marches and peaceful protests, and — along with Veterans for Peace, co-led a vigil for Aaron Bushnell, an Air Force service member who died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25 to protest U.S. support of Israel.

The group has also raised funds for aid for families in Gaza, participated in a “die-in” and hosted a discussion with Palestinian American political analyst Omar Baddar and four EWU professors called “The Massacre in Gaza: Security or Genocide?”

Members of the organization also cheered Bloomsday participants on during the race and hosted a social gathering called Connect Through Palestine featuring speakers as well as Palestinian music and food.

Potter says the organization would like to make that social gathering a regular event and is looking into hosting a comedy fundraising event. Members also hope to share the films in the festival with college students in the fall.

“There are several other local groups with whom we interface on actions and events, including the newly formed Spokane subgroup of Jewish Voice for Peace,” she says. “And of course we intend to support students who are exercising their constitutional rights to speak out in favor of justice for Palestine.”

With less than a year under its belt, the INWCLP is making its presence in the community and support of the people of Palestine known. Potter says people can support the organization’s efforts by signing up for the INWCLP newsletter and visiting its social media pages.

“Knowledge is power,” she says. “We welcome anyone to our events who is sincerely interested in deepening their awareness and understanding.” n

The Empire Strikes Palestine: A Film Festival by INWCLP • Sunday June 2, 9 and 16 at 4 pm • Free • Magic Lantern Theatre • 25 W. Main Ave. • inwclp.com

A scene from the 2021 documentary Boycott. JONAH CANDELARIO PHOTO

DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS

Why I’ll eat cyanide any day of the week

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

My current favorite dessert is a date stuffed with dark chocolate and an almond, paired with an after-lunch shot of espresso and a view of the Spokane River. It’s reminiscent of the siesta I celebrated as an au pair in Austria, when the Italian mother and I would put her kids down to nap, break out the mocha pot and sweets, and sunbathe on her Alpine patio. I don’t tan like she does, but the glass windows at the office block UV rays, anyway.

If you’ve read Kate Lebo’s The Book of Difficult Fruit, you know that almonds contain cyanide. (You’d also know this if you’ve read Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel or the opening scene of Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez.) Bitter almonds taste bitter because of high levels of amygdalin. When eaten, amygdalin breaks down into hydrocyanic acid. Hydro, as in water, and cyanic, as in cyanide.

Historically, their bitter taste protected almonds from being eaten. But a few thousand years ago, for some unbeknownst reason, a genetic mutation stopped a tree from producing so much amygdalin. The almonds were sweeter and far less dangerous. Now they’re all over California.

Sweet almonds do still contain trace amounts of amygdalin. But according to my amateur calculations, a 160-pound adult would have to eat 1,150 sweet almonds in a day to ingest a lethal dose of cyanide. That’s about 3 pounds of almonds, or about 8,050 calories — three to four times the recommended number of daily calories for an adult.

Today, I packed six dates, four squares of dark chocolate, and about 15 almonds. So I feel fine about my midday snack.

But I’m still ingesting cyanide. Am I technically poisoning myself for the sake of a “healthier” dessert?

Ithink of another sun-filled afternoon, this time outside on a patio on Washington State University’s Spokane campus in July 2022. I’m interviewing Pablo Monsivais, a nutrition professor and public health expert, about food security in the city. It’s hot and I’m nervous and the sun is really bright on the

white concrete, but Monsivais is calm and cool, generous with his time, wiry and athletic, an international researcher who rejects prestige and judgment and encourages inclusion instead.

Monsivais gives insightful answers to my basic questions. His graciousness emboldens me to ask a final, somewhat irrelevant question, mostly out of personal curiosity and desperation to make it in this career.

“What do food reporters usually get wrong?”

He trots out a tried and true public health mantra, though it’s often forgotten by experts and lay people alike. “The dose is the poison,” he says, nodding for emphasis.

The dose is the poison. In other words, it’s not necessarily the substance that will harm you, but how much of that substance, to whom and how fast.

The phrase is anti-alarmist, just like Monsivais. Too much of a “good” thing, too much of a “bad” thing — the rub is in the “too much,” not just in the thing itself.

In food writing, it’s easier to villainize carbs or demonize “poisons,” whether they be sugar, fat or cyanide. But good food writing, like good writing in general, searches for that most elusive human virtue: wisdom.

Wisdom means considering that both sides of a contradiction can be true (almonds are great for you, and they could also kill you) and understanding that different situations call for different courses of action (if you’re allergic to almonds, please don’t eat any almonds).

This is not a PSA to stop eating almonds. This is an impassioned plea to eat a reasonable amount of almonds (hopefully less than a thousand) and practice holding truths in tension. The dose is the poison.

Maybe life is just a long flirtation with death, as we constantly try to find the right doses of water, exercise, sugar, caffeine and sunshine. Maybe we’re all slowly eating and drinking ourselves to death. But I’ll never blame carbs. And I’m definitely not giving up my dessert, that deliciously dark combo of chocolate, coffee and cyanide. n

THE BUZZ BIN

TREE-RIFFIC

In late March, the Lands Council announced its lofty goal of planting 500 trees this spring through the help of volunteers and motivation from the 50th anniversary of Expo ’74. In a newsletter sent out earlier this month, the nonprofit announced it had surpassed that goal by nearly 300 trees. Thanks to volunteers and partners, 782 new trees have been added to Spokane’s urban canopy, providing shade and clean air to the community. If you’re interested in volunteering, head to landscouncil.org for more information.

(MADISON PEARSON)

A BIG BOOST

In 2023, ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation granted $10 million in grants to 671 Washington state arts and culture organizations through its Community Accelerator Grant program as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on nonprofit cultural organizations. The arts advocacy and grant-making organization based in Seattle recently announced a new round of 811 grantees. The grants range from $2,500 to $25,000 and are completely unrestricted, meaning recipients can use the money for whatever they see fit. Art Salvage Spokane, the Chewelah Performing and Cultural Arts Center, the MAC, Mobius, Imagine Jazz, Stage Left Theater, the Spokane Tribal Language and Culture Program, Spark Central, Terrain and Spokane Pride are among a long list of local grantees. For more information visit artsfund.org/accelerator. (MADISON PEARSON)

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST

Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online May 31:

WILLIE NELSON, THE BORDER.

Next time you hear someone stereotype stoners as lazy and unproductive, remind them that The Border is 91-year-old Willie Nelson’s 75th solo studio album.

AROOJ AFTAB, NIGHT REIGN. The Grammy-winning Pakistani American singer and composer returns to thematically explore the late-night hours with her enthralling blurry blend of minimalist jazz fusion and Sufi sounds.

MAYA HAWKE, CHAOS ANGEL. The Stranger Things star and noted actually cool nepo baby blows most other actors/musicians out of the water with her breezy but melancholy indie folk. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

Everything in moderation, even almonds.

OPENING

Sip Back and Un-Wine

South Perry District’s new wine bar, Pacific to Palouse, is a cozy celebration of home

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

The first time I went to the South Perry District’s newest eatery, I was in one of my grungier sweatshirts.

Idiot, I thought as I walked up Perry Street. Who wears sweats to a wine bar?

But I was worried for nothing. As soon as I stepped inside, I realized that this wasn’t some hoighty-toighty, nose-in-the-air snob fest. Instead, there was a blue brick fireplace with books and vintage maps on the mantle, surrounded by hand-painted, upcycled furniture. I was basically in Amber Park’s living room.

Park, the owner of Wanderlust Delicato in downtown Spokane, just opened Pacific to Palouse, a new

Northwest-themed wine bar in the heart of South Perry. The cozy neighborhood spot officially opened on May 16 and features local wines from family-run vineyards, plus a menu of light fare highlighting Washington ingredients from the salty coast to the Idaho border.

It’s the perfect counterbalance to Wanderlust, which scratches the travel itch by importing delicacies from far-flung corners of the globe. Instead, Pacific to Palouse celebrates everything that’s within reach from our nest in the “Upper Left.” Perry’s newest neighbor is super family-friendly, from nonalcoholic drink options to cute children’s furniture to even cuter baby Landen, Park’s 6-month-old grandson who hangs out at the shop and

has already become its beloved, unofficial mascot.

“Almost everyone’s got a baby or a kid,” Park says. “We are just that neighborhood wine bar, [a spot to hang out] whether you’re going to the park or waiting for your kid to get out of school or going to the farmers market.” Comfy sweatshirts, she assures me, are more than welcome.

Thoughtful, handcrafted touches lurk everywhere in the new wine bar. To the right of the door when you walk in, a map of Washington hangs on the wall with autographs from winemakers across the state.

“I really like small-production, family-owned wineries that are really letting the winemaking happen in the vineyard,” Park says. “They’re not over processing. They’re not trying to make this overly consistent product. They’re letting the vintage variation happen.”

Guests can buy a glass of wine ($12-$14) for an afternoon chat, or they can buy an entire bottle ($24-$45) to enjoy for an evening in the shop or at home later. Park or a staff sommelier will help pick out something you’ll like, or you can buy a flight of three wines to taste and decide for yourself.

“I want varietals that you don’t necessarily see all the time,” she says. “I’m going to have things like gamay noir and Rhone white blends coming out of Oregon, and tempranillo grown in Washington by a Spaniard. I also have Red Mountain merlot from a local winery, you know, so you can find the things that you’re used to. But I would also like to introduce you to varietals that you’ve never heard of and you’ve never had before.”

The bar’s menu is curated by Park’s daughter (and baby Landen’s mother), Mariah Brown. Mix-and-match chips and dips give plenty of opportunities for the perfectly tailored snack. Depending on your mood, you could pair marinated labneh ($8) with sourdough toast points made fresh at Gander & Ryegrass ($3), or Dungeness crab dip ($20) with artisan crackers ($3), or Cougar Gold cheese ($12) with Tim’s Cascade potato chips ($3).

Or, have Brown do the choosing for you and opt for a charcuterie board, either westside or eastside themed. The Pacific board ($22) features smoked salmon chevre spread, smoked mussels, candied salmon and veggies, while the Palouse platter ($18) offers Cougar Gold and Orchard Blue cheeses with salami and fruits.

Brown is interested in featuring healthy, noninflammatory foods on her menu. She doesn’t use any seed oils in her kitchen and keeps up with the latest “biohacking” information, a term that refers to optimizing health and cellular function through food.

“It’s really important to me that my food isn’t toxic,” she says.

Brown has been a chef instructor at Wanderlust and now plans to switch up seasonal fresh sheets at Pacific to Palouse every couple weeks, figuring out how to source as much as she can from farmers market vendors year-round.

Her staff in the kitchen are all high school students at NEWTech Prep, a skill-based high school in Spokane with a respected culinary program.

“They know so much, and they take so much initiative,” Brown says.

It’s a great partnership for everyone — the students get a paid position, plus work credit through Spokane Public Schools, plus real-life experience in a field they love. Brown and Park get enthusiastic, skilled employees who are so much fun to work with, they say.

“They are like rockstars,” Park says. “It’s amazing how much they know and how professionally they’re trained. They’re doing a really good job for students.”

The wine bar has only been open for a couple weeks, but it’s already hitting its stride in service and atmosphere. There’s more to come, too.

The shop is a week or so away from opening its back patio, which will almost triple the amount of people who can come hang out. On warm summer evenings, there will be string lights and live music and views of the park, plus a growing menu of wine cocktails. Yes, spritzes, but also summer drinks like a mojito made with sauvignon blanc instead of rum, or a pear and thyme Collins with a white wine base.

Local beer and cider will also be available for anyone who really doesn’t want wine, as well as nonalcoholic, or “NA,” options for anyone not allowed to drink or just choosing not to.

“NA is really a big category right now in the industry,” Park says. “There’s a lot of people that are taking a break from alcohol. That’s part of the reason for the NA cocktails, in addition to being all ages. My teenage niece or my teenage employees who want to come in and hang out and feel fancy — they can have an NA cocktail, chill and have a snack. More of that neighborhood, family feel.”

For Park, who grew up on the South Hill, Pacific to Palouse is an extension of her home in every sense of the word. She and her family want you to feel like you’re hanging with your family in your own living room — “except,” she says, “you don’t have to do the dishes!” n

Pacific to Palouse • 1020 S. Perry St., Suite 102 • Open Tue-Sat 3 pm-10 pm • Instagram: pacifictopalouse • 509-960-7569

Owner Amber Park invites all ages to her community living room.

FESTIVAL

SIFF-ting Through the Cinematic Sands

Spotlighting some of the best films we saw at the 2024 Seattle International Film Festival

BY SETH SOMMERFELD, NATHAN WEINBENDER AND JASON BAXTER

Getting swept away in a summer blockbuster is always a blast, but sharing a smaller gem of a movie with other movie lovers while attending a film festival is another kind of cinephile bliss. The annual Seattle International Film Festival is Washington’s best spot to find such treasures. With that in mind, here are some of the best films we saw at SIFF 2024. Keep an eye on these flicks, which will hopefully arrive in theaters or on a streaming platform in the not-too-distant future.

TIM TRAVERS AND THE TIME TRAVELER’S PARADOX

A new film has entered the conversation for best movie to come out of Spokane! After first being an award-winning short film that screened at the Spokane International Film Festival in 2022, Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox has been adapted into a full-length feature. And it’s about as good as an independent, small-budget, dark sci-fi comedy can be. The story from writer/director Stimson

Snead (an EWU grad) follows the cocky, neurotic, overthinking loner scientist Tim Travers (Samuel Dunning) who invents a time machine that can teleport him one minute into the past, where Tim encounters a prior version of himself and kills him… again and again… until he stops and begins teaming up with the multiple versions of himself to try to crack the meaning of the paradoxical world that features so many versions of himself. The jokes come at a pretty quick pace, and Dunning kills it as the many Tims, turning in a better performance than most of the more famous actors who pop up in supporting roles (Felicia Day, Joel McHale, etc.). Packed with ideas and laughs, it’s an alternative sci-fi treat that has cult-favorite appeal. (SS)

DÌDI

The first feature-length film from Oscar-nominated shorts director Sean Wang, Dìdi (Mandarin for “younger brother”) is yet another millennial bildungsroman, but distin-

guishes itself by filtering a familiar narrative through the lens of the Taiwanese-American experience. Set in 2008, the cultural details are specific, and the hallmark moments of adolescent boyhood will hit the limbic system like a hammer… for cishet wannabe sk8r bois of a particular generation, anyway. The laughs are well-earned, as are the tears — there’s a third-act exchange between the teen protagonist Chris (19-year-old star Izaac Wang) and his immigrant mom (the phenomenal Joan Chen) that is absolutely awards-season-reel-worthy. In this regard and many others, comparisons to 2018 SIFF favorite Eighth Grade are inevitable and understandable. However, unlike that film, with its pop-up video-style overlaying of text messages over frames, Dìdi indulges in close-ups of AIM chats, mining palpable tension and hilarity out of the pauses between exchanges and the anxiety over lolspeak etiquette (remember AOL’s proto-AI SmarterChild? It’s in the movie!). Dìdi is a remarkable feature debut: relatable, charming, funny and moving. (JB)

Rainier: A Beer Odyssey, 399: Queen of the Tetons, Porcelain War, In a Violent Nature

IN A VIOLENT NATURE

What does Jason Vorhees do when he isn’t skewering camp counselors? He probably clomps around the woods, watches his next victims from behind trees and does a lot of heavy breathing. So, too, does the killer in Chris Nash’s artsy slasher deconstruction In a Violent Nature, which turns the Friday the 13th formula inside out — figuratively and, in one outrageous scene, quite literally. Our protagonist is the villain, a mutant that rises from the grave to retrieve a precious locket that was stolen from him. The camera stalks along as he methodically slices, dices, bludgeons and rips apart everyone in his way. This movie exists somewhere between the notorious 1983 German film Angst and those horror survival games that let you play as the killer, and it’s for sickos only. It’s also a SIFF movie you don’t have to wait to see, as it’s now screening at AMC River Park Square 20. (NW)

399: QUEEN OF THE TETONS

What happens when the unhealthy human obsession with celebrity gets applied to wild animals? That question is the crux of 399: Queen of the Tetons, a documentary about the most photographed bear in the world: the Grand Teton National Park grizzly known as 399. Massive crowds of tourists and shutterbugs gather to see this majestic momma bear, and she’s become comfortable around people… perhaps too comfortable. Director Elizabeth Leiter frames 399’s majesty and troubles through the eyes of humans who follow her closely — including a famed wildlife photographer, a couple of 399-obsessed retirees, scientists and park rangers — to show how the paparazzi frenzy around the bear both protects her and puts her and her cubs in danger because of behaviors humans force her into and then deem unacceptable. The film crew follows 399 over the course of years for this fascinating, frustrating and finely honed nature doc. (SS)

JANET PLANET

The work of Pulitzer-winning playwright Annie Baker is quiet, still, sometimes deliberately monotonous. That unhurried approach extends to her debut as a filmmaker. Janet Planet is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a single mother (Julianne Nicholson) and her observant young daughter (Zoe Ziegler) living in rural Massachusetts in 1991. Like a play, it takes on a three-act structure, as different characters enter their lives: a mentally troubled boyfriend, an old friend escaping a cult and finally the charismatic leader of said cult. Baker uses a lot of unusual, quietly disorienting visual framing, which suggests the POV of a child who doesn’t get the full picture but understands enough. It’s a bit long for how slowly it moves, but it has an authentic, lived-in atmosphere and a supporting cast with hall-of-fame character actors like Will Patton, Sophie Okonedo and Elias Koteas. It’s currently set to open at the Magic Lantern on June 28. (NW)

RAINIER: A BEER ODYSSEY

Rainier: A Beer Odyssey is less a documentary about the Northwest’s brew of choice than it is a shaggy monument to the effectiveness of oddball advertising campaigns. Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, Rainier — under the stewardship of Don Draper-level pitch man Terry Heckler and his crew of free-thinking associates — cultivated a reputation for gonzo TV spots that cemented the Washington brand as iconic. Could you cartwheel through the old advertisements on YouTube? Certainly, but this “odyssey” provides welcome insight into some of the creatives behind that advertising magic, plus anecdotes like how in the hell they got Mickey Rooney to be one of their on-air talents. (Spoiler: They sweetened the deal with a Ford station wagon.) Also, did you know the infamous Budweiser frogs 1995 Super Bowl commercial was a direct rip-off of a similar Rainier ad? (JB)

RED ROOMS

The insidious French-Canadian mystery Red Rooms is perhaps biting off more than it can chew. It’s about technological overreach, the true crime boom and our unhealthy cultural obsession with evil men — and it’s a psychological study on top of it. But when it works, it strikes a nerve. It follows a beautiful loner (Juliette Gariépy) who’s a semi-professional gambler, an expert at dark web sleuthing and a fashion model. That old cliché! She’s also fascinated with an ongoing murder trial, spending all her free time rubbernecking in the courtroom. The possible existence of a video of the crimes completely consumes her. It ends up being a bit ridiculous, like a lesser version of Alejandro Amenábar’s grisly debut feature Thesis. But just like this film’s weird protagonist, I couldn’t look away from it. (NW)

PORCELAIN WAR

The incongruity of humans’ capacity for art and war comes to the forefront in Porcelain War, which won the audience award for Best Documentary at SIFF. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Slava Leontyev and Anya Stasenko — artists who make stunning hand-painted porcelain figures of animals — decided to start filming everything. The war leads Leontyev to start training some of his fellow working-class Ukrainians so they can be a makeshift resistance army. While their art is fantastic and footage of their tactical assaults on invading Russian forces can be life-or-death gripping, the documentary lacks a professional filmmaker’s touch — with things often feeling on two separate tracks rather than an interweaving narrative that would’ve driven home the themes the film clearly wants to explore. That said, the animation which brings the static porcelain figures to life (used far too infrequently) is one of the most gorgeous uses of animation you’ll ever see on film. (SS) n

For more SIFF recs, check out an extended version of this story on Inlander.com/screen.

ADDITIONAL SIFF PICKS

Bring Them Home Eternal Hajjan The Missile The New Boy The Primevals The Queen of My Dreams So Unreal

ALSO OPENING

THE DEAD DON’T HURT Viggo Mortensen writes, directs and stars in this Western about two immigrants who fall in love on the frontier, are pulled apart after he takes up arms for the Union in the Civil War, and then try to pick up the pieces of their lives when he returns from battle. Rated R EZRA

A standup comedian (Bobby Cannavale) struggling to raise his autistic son decides to take him on a cross-country road trip where they’ll both make some heartfelt discoveries. Rated R HAIKYU!!

THE DUMPSTER BATTLE

A direct sequel to the Haikyu!! volleyball anime series, this film features fan-favorite characters Hinata, Kageyama and Kenma as they face off against friendly rival Nekoma High School in the third round of the national volleyball competition. Not rated

IN A VIOLENT NATURE

See the SIFF write-up of In a Violent Nature. Rated R

SUMMER CAMP

Three senior friends (Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard) who grew up going to summer camp together reconnect at a camp reunion and get into all sorts of humorous hijinks. Rated PG-13

YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA

Daisy Ridley stars in this biopic about Gertrude Ederle, an Olympic swimming champion in the 1920s who strived to become the first woman to swim the English Channel. Rated PG

THE OCCUPATION OF THE AMERICAN MIND (May 26) THE SETTLERS (June 2) GAZA FIGHTS FOR FREEDOM W/ DIRECTOR ABBY MARTIN (June 9) BOYCOTT (June 16) FOR

The Epic Story of Expo ’74! EWU history professor Bill Youngs’ collected first-person accounts of all the drama behind the scenes, along with all the excitement of that festive year.

Samuel Dunning(s) in Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox

Telling All Your Friends

Taking Back Sunday still resonates across generations with their cathartic emo

BY BRITTNE LUNNISS

Taking Back Sunday loves a good Easter egg. If you’ve followed the Long Island emo band throughout their two-decades-long career, you’ve seen the number 152 quite a few times.

It’s been featured on every album cover the band has made — eight, to be exact. 152 is the number of an interstate exit in North Carolina. Singer Adam Lazzara grew up in a small town in the Tar Heel State and had to drive long distances to see rock shows. The exit two hours away (about halfway to any music venue) was the meeting spot for his pals. From there they’d trek to see acts like New Jersey melodic hardcore band Lifetime, which changed their worldview and influenced what would become their musical careers.

152 was the unifier. Even today, that sentiment remains. And that’s why the band named their latest album

simply 152

It’s the kind of sentimentality that makes sense for a linchpin emo band like Taking Back Sunday. The band broke onto the scene during the early 2000s emo boom with genre classic albums like Tell All Your Friends and breakout singles like “MakeDamnSure” and “A Decade Under the Influence.” With a 20-year-long repertoire, listeners have had the ability to evolve with the band. From angsty teen years to heartbreak, marriage and self-love, TBS has journeyed alongside its fans.

I began listening to Taking Back Sunday when I was 12 years old. I felt misunderstood in many aspects and found solace in their lyrics. They felt different and more relatable to a kid in all black working through all the feels. From blasting “Cute Without The ‘E’” between class, crying over boys to “You’re So Last Summer,” and

to this day rocking “A Decade Under The Influence” on road trips, TBS has been there through it all.

Following Taking Back Sunday feels less like a fandom and more like a fellowship, which is exactly what Lazzara strives to achieve. When I bring up how vital his band has been to helping me process some of my messier emotions over the years, the frontman completely gets it — because what is a TBS record if not Lazzara dramatically processing his feelings.

“I was too! I still have a lot of emotions,” he says with a laugh.

The band’s new album 152 doesn’t showcase a new Taking Back Sunday, but it does represent an evolving one. The group began writing new material in 2019. When venturing to the studio in 2020, they found themselves in the midst of a global shutdown — and, well, we

Taking Back... in their Sunday best. DJAY BRAWNER PHOTO

all know what happened from there.

Similar to the rest of us, COVID forced the group to take a step back. That is, until Lazzara received a call from what might seem like a surprising source: EDM party DJ Steve Aoki. Aoki initially asked Lazzara to track vocals on a collaborative project, but once the team started working, his involvement became much, much more. Lazzara asserts that Aoki opened the group’s eyes to how they produce music; lyrically, rhythmically, collaboratively. Taking Back Sunday began a new chapter and thus, 152 was born.

Musically, the album is more pop and emotive than past works, with boppy-anthems like “Keep Going” and sweet, sweet tunes like “The One.” Lazzara flaunts his sky-high vocal range, and Aoki drops in with laidback beats to complement TBS guitarist John Nolan’s classic emo riffs. Lazzara himself is most fond of “Lightbringer,” saying, “It’s a cathartic thing. Our newer stuff is a bit more raw, and there’s a lot of healing there.”

152 isn’t a full reinvention of Taking Back Sunday but a further exploration of what the band can be.

“One of the things I’m proud of is that each album serves as a snapshot of the people we were at the time,” Lazzara says. “This is who we are now. We don’t want to be repeating ourselves because we wouldn’t be honoring the people we’re growing into… I hope that people find something in there that they can make their own. It’s like we’re saying, ‘That was a long walk. Thanks for joining us.’”

When a band rises to prominence on the strength of occasionally melodramatic teenage angst, it’s perhaps somewhat of a surprise to look up and still be touring 25 years later. When chatting, Lazzara recalls highlights like playing to a crowd of over 130,000 across two days at Milton Keynes in the UK alongside Green Day and Jimmy Eat World. But even if they’re not playing to seas of humanity every night, the fact that fans still adore coming out to see his band isn’t lost on Lazzara.

“It was always like, ‘Can you imagine if we just keep touring? That would be insane.’” he says. “I’m one of the luckiest guys I know… we’re able to do it. This thing is a huge part of us.”

Taking Back Sunday is in the midst of a massive North American tour, which stops at the Knitting Factory on June 6 — the band’s first trip to Spokane since a rousing set at the Pavilion in 2021. With 45 shows between May and August, they’re not slowing down any time soon, and rightfully so. Their fanbase ranges from “12 to 50,” according to Lazzara, and that cross-generational connection isn’t lost on the group.

“All these people are in different chapters of life. They’re all going in different directions,” he says. “But while we’re on stage — the world doesn’t matter to any of us for that period of time.”

For someone who’s been at it as long as Lazzara, it would be easy to fall into a greater-than-thou rockstar mentality. Taking Back Sunday approaches their acclaim differently. They still get the pre-show jitters, and they still truly care about how their music is received. This is particularly true now given the intimacy of 152.

“Hours before we play, I’m going over songs. Practicing something new we’re playing. We just don’t want to mess up,” he says with a laugh.

While even Lazzara isn’t sure what the future will hold — “We’ve never been good at long-term planning. For us, it’s to keep doing what we’re doing. To keep reaching as many people as we can” — there’s sure to be plenty of emotional teens and elder emos turning out for Taking Back Sunday as long as they want to keep going. When asked what one message he would like the TBS fanbase to receive, Adam keeps it endearingly simple...

“Thank you.” n

Taking Back Sunday, Citizen • Thu, June 6 at 8 pm • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

*Insured by NCUA. These are our ideas, you can use the money on whatever you want. Members must be over 18 years of age at time of application. Promotion only available to those who don’t currently have a checking account with Horizon Credit Union. Promotion not eligible for Youth or Business Accounts. Verification of residence location required upon membership application. Membership fee may apply. One offer per household. To qualify for the offered incentive, members must complete the following within the first 60 days of new account opening: 1. Checking account must remain open and in good standing for 60 days, 2. Member must complete a minimum of 15 debit card transactions within 60 days of the account open date, 3. Member must fund the account with a minimum deposit of $250 within 5 business days of account opening and 4. Member must accept and agree to electronic statement delivery within Horizon Credit Union’s online banking platform. Horizon Credit Union will make a one-time deposit of $200.00 into the qualifying member’s account within 60 days of all qualifications being met. Checking account must be open at time of $200.00 deposit. Horizon Credit Union reserves the right to modify or cancel the terms of this offer at any time without prior notice.

LOCAL

NOTHING SHAMEFUL

J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW

J = ALL AGES SHOW

Thursday,

5/30

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Lyle Morse

J THE BIG DIPPER, MST, Sick Pay Holiday, Snacks At Midnight CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Thursday Night Jam

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Kaivon

J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Hip-Hop Night

ZOLA, The Rub, Micah Clay

Friday, 5/31

AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, Gil Rivas

J THE BIG DIPPER, Those Damn Kids, Crusty Mustard, Xenoplasm, Bent Outta Shape

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock

J THE CHAMELEON, Jason Perry: Flavor Factory Album Release Show with Evergreen Afrodub Orchestra

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Kosh Shioya

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ken Carson, Irontom IRON HORSE (CDA), The Rub

KROC CENTER, Elaina DeJong

MOOSE LOUNGE, Karma’s Circle

J NEATO BURRITO, Bad Trip Motel, Sex With Seneca, Atomsk NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Eternal Jones

After taking a listen to Nothing Shameful’s debut album Never Be the Same, it’s clear the band’s name is apt. A cut above most Spokane acts’ first LP, there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of on this tight nine-song collection of emo tunes. Scene staple Ethan Harrison (drummer for The Nixon Rodeo) takes center stage as Nothing Shameful’s lead singer, guiding songs that effectively establish the delicate, arpeggio ethereal aesthetic of indie-influenced Midwest emo... which then make the sections of screaming emotional release pack even more of a punch. The slick production and confident presentation would make Nothing Shameful feel 0% out of place on a 2010s Warped Tour lineup. Help the group celebrate the arrival of Never Be the Same with screams and slam dancing at what’s sure to be an energetic album release show. — SETH SOMMERFELD

Nothing Shameful: Never Be the Same Album Release Show with Everyone Loves A Villain, Burn Mona Lisa, Thirty Seven, T-100 • Sat, June 1 at 7 pm • $20-$25 • 21+ • The Chameleon • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • chameleonspokane.com

ROCK ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Pamela Benton

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin

STOCKWELL’S CHILL N GRILL, Wiebe Jammin’ ZOLA, Dope Jockey

Saturday, 6/1

J THE BIG DIPPER, The Scoffs, Proleterror, The Dilrods, Absent Cardinal BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock

J J BRICK WEST BREWING CO., Brick Fest

J THE CHAMELEON, Nothing Shameful: Never Be the Same Album Release Show with Everyone Loves A Villain, Burn Mona Lisa, Thirty Seven, T-100

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Kosh Shioya

J EICHARDT’S PUB, Heat Speak

J HAMILTON STUDIO, Prizmatica

IRON HORSE (CDA), The Rub

J J KNITTING FACTORY, The Wallflowers

MILLIE’S, Haze

MOOSE LOUNGE, Karma’s Circle NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Eternal Jones

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Zachary Simms

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs

J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., Hannah Jackson, Kunda! Marimba

J SNOW EATER BREWING CO., Just Plain Darin

Elvis Presley may be “The King of Rock ’n’ Roll,” but “The King of Rock ’n’ Roll Who Actually Wrote His Own Songs”? That title assuredly goes to Mr. Elvis Costello. The British pop rock legend is one of the best singersongwriters the genre has ever seen, possessing an ear for melodic bliss, punk edge, new wave pizzazz and heartbreaking melancholy. While he may not be a hip-shaking sex symbol, Costello still has an energetic charisma every time he’s on stage. Is it a bit strange that Daryl Hall — sans Oates — is the headliner at Northern Quest over Elvis Costello & The Imposters? Certainly! But true rock fiends know the real main event. — SETH SOMMERFELD

Daryl Hall, Elvis Costello & The Imposters • Tue, June 4 at 7 pm • $45-$389 • All Ages • Northern Quest Resort & Casino • 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights • northernquest.com

SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Soul Proprietor & Rob Vaughn ZOLA, Seth Marth ZOLA, Blake Braley

Sunday, 6/2

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Soulful Brothers

J THE BIG DIPPER, Trash Casket, Violent Abuse, KURB, Puddy Knife

J THE DISTRICT BAR, Wild Pink HOGFISH, Open Mic

IRON HORSE (CDA), Special Ks

MOOSE LOUNGE, Keanu

J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin

ZOLA, JoJo Knox

Monday, 6/3

EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi

RAZZLE’S BAR & GRILL, Carson Rhodes

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 6/4

J BING CROSBY THEATER, Buckethead

J J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Daryl Hall, Elvis Costello & The Imposters

SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays ZOLA, Jerry Lee and the Groove, Silver Smile

Wednesday, 6/5

BARRISTER WINERY, Spare Parts

THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic

J KENDALL YARDS, Wiebe Jammin’ MILLIE’S, Carli Osika

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Red Room Lounge Jam

J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents ZOLA, Justyn Priest, Ariel Collins

Coming Up ...

THE CHAMELEON, Seaside Tryst, Zara, Saxtoother, June 6, 8 pm.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Taking Back Sunday, Citizen, June 6, 8 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, The Pink Socks, The Emergency Exit, Eep-Oop!, Pastel Faces, Stubborn Will, June 7, 7 pm.

NYNE BAR & BISTRO, Latin x Pride, June 7, 7 pm-2 am.

J THE JACKLIN ARTS CENTER, Pamela Benton Band, June 7, 7:30-9:30 pm.

J THE CHAMELEON, Quarter Monkey: Chronic Nuisance Album Release Show with Tone Sober, B Radicals, June 7, 8 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Krooked Kings, June 7, 8 pm.

J J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, Arizona, June 8, 6:30 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Too Broke to Rock: Velvet Chains, Moon Fever, Nothing Shameful, Room 13, June 8, 7 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, The Accüsed A.D., Pay No Mind, Proleterror, June 8, 7:30 pm.

J THE CHAMELEON, Jang The Goon: Goon Shii Album Release Show with IAMTOPP, Young Neves, June 8, 8 pm.

SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Smash Mouth, June 8, 8 pm.

J J ST. MARIES EAGLES LODGE, “I’m Still Standing” Benefit Show: PJ Destiny, Jimi Rockin’, Bill Fletcher, Deann Turcott, Mahalia Jade Loucks, June 8, 8 pm.

THE CHAMELEON, Myke Bogan, June 10, 8 pm.

J J THE BIG DIPPER, The HIRS Collective, Psychic Death, Blacktracks, Spooky, June 11, 7:30 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Thelma and the Sleaze, Pit, June 11, 9 pm.

BARRISTER WINERY, Sammy Eubanks, June 12, 5-10 pm.

J CENTRAL LIBRARY, Come Be Heard Open Mic Night, June 12, 5-7 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Cryptopsy, Xingaia, Trashcasket, Bonemass, June 12, 6:30 pm.

THE CHAMELEON, Boot Juice, June 12, 8 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Hell Motel, Daybed, Prim, Bad Trip Motel, June 13, 7:30 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, GRLwood, June 13, 9 pm.

J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., The Welter Brothers, June 14, 7-10 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Warp Detour, Not For Nothing, June 14, 7:30 pm.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Not.Greenday, The Nixon Rodeo, June 14, 8 pm.

THE CHAMELEON, Vampa, I.T. Brian, Druuid, Pew Pew Special, June 14, 9 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Chali 2na with DJ Shub, June 14, 9 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Sav, Jojo, Just Joshin, Jade//Cutter, June 15, 6:30 pm.

J BING CROSBY THEATER, A Night of Joel, June 15, 7-10 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, The Bed Heads, Small Paul, Timeworn, June 15, 8 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, FUEGO!, June 15, 8 pm.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Vince Neil, June 15, 8 pm.

J BING CROSBY THEATER, A Free Jazzy Father’s Day Concert: Adriano Ferraro, June 16, 3 pm..

J THE BIG DIPPER, Shady Angels, Monkee Business, Geneva, June 16, 7:30 pm.

J BING CROSBY THEATER, Mat Kearney, June 17, 8 am-9:30 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Artillery, Vapor, War Curse, RivetSkull, Toxic Vengeance, June 17, 6:30 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Mountain Grass Unit, June 17, 9 pm.

J THE NEST AT KENDALL YARDS, Heat Speak, June 19, 5-8 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Zephyria, Cold Hearts, Nine Denials, June 19, 7:30 pm.

J COEUR D’ALENE PARK, Mardi Gras Growlers, June 20, 6-8 pm.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Larry Fleet, June 20, 8 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, James McMurty, June 21, 9 pm.

J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Beyond Wonderland, June 22 & 23.

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Ashley Cooke, June 22, 7 pm.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Paradise Kitty, June 22, 8 pm.

J CRAFT & GATHER, Homebrew String Band, June 23, 4-7 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Northlane, Thornhill, Windwaker, June 23, 7 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Jake Rozier and The Implication, Bailey Allen Baker, Nick Seider, Samanything, June 23, 7:30 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Micky & the Motorcars, Jeff Crosby, June 23, 9 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Emily Nenni, June 24, 9 pm.

MUSIC | VENUES

219 LOUNGE • 219 N. First Ave., Sandpoint • 208-263-5673

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS • 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-927-9463

BABY BAR • 827 W. First Ave. • 509-847-1234

BARRISTER WINERY • 1213 W. Railroad Ave. • 509-465-3591

BEE’S KNEES WHISKY BAR • 1324 W. Lancaster Rd.., Hayden • 208-758-0558

BERSERK • 125 S. Stevens St. • 509-315-5101

THE BIG DIPPER • 171 S. Washington St. • 509-863-8098

BIGFOOT PUB • 9115 N. Division St. • 509-467-9638

BING CROSBY THEATER • 901 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-227-7638

BLACK DIAMOND • 9614 E. Sprague Ave. • 509891-8357

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL • 116 S. Best Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-891-8995

BOOMERS CLASSIC ROCK BAR • 18219 E. Appleway Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-368-9847

BUCER’S COFFEEHOUSE PUB • 201 S. Main St., Moscow • 208-596-0887

THE BULL HEAD • 10211 S. Electric St., Four Lakes • 509-838-9717

CHAN’S RED DRAGON • 1406 W. Third Ave. • 509-838-6688

THE CHAMELEON • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd.

CHECKERBOARD • 1716 E. Sprague Ave. • 509-443-4767

COEUR D’ALENE CASINO • 37914 S. Nukwalqw St., Worley • 800-523-2464

COEUR D’ALENE CELLARS • 3890 N. Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene • 208-664-2336

CRUISERS BAR & GRILL • 6105 W Seltice Way, Post Falls • 208-446-7154

CURLEY’S HAUSER JUNCTION • 26433 W. Hwy. 53, Post Falls • 208-773-5816

THE DISTRICT BAR • 916 W. 1st Ave. • 509-244-3279

EICHARDT’S PUB • 212 Cedar St., Sandpoint • 208-263-4005

FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • 509-279-7000

FOX THEATER • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-624-1200

IRON HORSE • 407 E. Sherman, Coeur d’Alene • 208-667-7314

IRON HORSE BAR & GRILL • 11105 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-926-8411

JOHN’S ALLEY • 114 E. Sixth St., Moscow • 208-883-7662

KNITTING FACTORY • 911 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-244-3279

MARYHILL WINERY • 1303 W. Summit Pkwy. • 509-443-3832

MILLIE’S • 28441 Hwy 57, Priest Lake • 208-443-0510

MOOSE LOUNGE • 401 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene • 208-664-7901

NASHVILLE NORTH • 6361 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls • 208-457-9128

NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO • 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights • 877-871-6772

NYNE BAR & BISTRO • 232 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-474-1621

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY • 301 Cedar St., Sandpoint • 208-265-8545

POST FALLS BREWING CO. • 112 N. Spokane St., Post Falls • 208-773-7301

RAZZLE’S BAR & GRILL • 10325 N. Government Way, Hayden • 208-635-5874

RED ROOM LOUNGE • 521 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-838-7613

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR • 718 W. Riverside Ave. • 509-822-7938

SEASONS OF COEUR D’ALENE • 1004 S. Perry St. • 208-664-8008

SPOKANE ARENA • 720 W. Mallon Ave. • 509-279-7000

SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO • 14300 US-2, Airway Heights • 877-786-9467

SOUTH PERRY LANTERN • 12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-473-9098

STORMIN’ NORMAN’S SHIPFACED SALOON • 12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-862-4852

TRANCHE • 705 Berney Dr., Wall Walla • 509-526-3500

ZOLA • 22 W. Main Ave. • 509-624-2416

COMMUNITY TREASURE TROVE

Those who know me well know I’d never miss Farm Chicks weekend. The annual show and sale of all things charming and old, upcycled and well-loved, handmade and found returns for its two-day run this weekend at Spokane’s fairgrounds. Started back in 2002 by local vintage and antique aficionado Serena Thompson, the show invites vendors from near and far to ply their wares, from textiles to furniture and everything in between. On the handmade side, shoppers can find art, candles and even gourmet food. As I always say, the best thing about Farm Chicks is that you never know what you’ll find — the thrill of the hunt and the surprise is why we go… and why we leave with totes, wagons and armloads full of treasures.

— CHEY SCOTT

The Farm Chicks Vintage & Handmade Fair • Sat, June 1 from 9 am-6 pm and Sun, June 2 from 9 am-4 pm • $10 weekend admission (ages 12 and under free) • Spokane County Fair & Expo Center • 404 N. Havana St. • thefarmchicks.com

FESTIVAL KICK ST-ART SUMMER

Whether you gauge the timing of summer’s arrival by the blooming lilacs throughout the city or the appearance of more and more fuzzy marmot friends, we can probably agree that the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s ArtFest is a steady signifier of the beginning of warmer weather. Held the last weekend of May, ArtFest is an annual three-day celebration of local art and fine crafts that’s also packed with activities for art lovers and enthusiasts. Held on the MAC’s campus, ArtFest lets attendees listen to live, local music while browsing art made by over 75 regional artists. Grab a bite at one of the many food trucks, a brew from the beer garden and get ready to be wow-ed by the talent of our local art scene.

— MADISON PEARSON

ArtFest • May 31-June 2; Fri from noon-8 pm, Sat from 10 am9 pm, Sun from 10 am-5 pm • $5 (ages 5 and under free) • Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture • 2316 W. First Ave. • artfestspokane.com

COMMUNITY LOUD & PROUD

Pride Month is nearly upon us and the Inland Northwest is pulling out all the stops this year. Each weekend in June is jam-packed with events, so start out the month right by celebrating with the North Idaho Pride Alliance at its annual Pride in the Park celebration. This free event promises attendees delicious food, jaw-dropping entertainment and necessary community resources throughout the park for all to enjoy. Make sure you don your brightest outfit with some matching (comfortable) shoes and revel in the joy exuded by North Idaho’s proud and diverse LGBTQ+ community. Then, prepare to join Spokane’s celebration next weekend, June 8

—

COLTON RASANEN

Pride in the Park • Sat, June 1 from 10 am-3 pm • Free • All ages • Coeur d’Alene City Park • 415 W. Mullan Rd., Coeur d’Alene • nipridealliance.com

GET LISTED!

Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email relevant details to getlisted@inlander.com. We need the details one week prior to our publication date.

MUSIC ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

June heralds the arrival of summer, which importantly means the return of summer music festivals. Brick West Brewing Co. is getting in on the action early with the inaugural Brick Fest (not to be confused with Brick Fest Live, the traveling Lego convention in town June 15-16). The new venture is a single-day all-ages festival centered around grabbing a brew while watching some top local talent: Vika & the Velvets (above), London Get Down, Rosie Cerquone, The Holy Broke, Last of the RedHot Mamas, Micah Clay, Jimmy Nuge, Kyle Richard, and August to August, plus Warren Dunes trekking over from Seattle. Best of all? Brick Fest is free! Fingers crossed that it might become a local start-of-summer tradition.

Greater Homegrown Health

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Brick Fest • Sat, June 1 from 2-10 pm • Free • All Ages • Brick West Brewing Co. • 1318 W. First Ave. • brickwestbrewingco.com

FOOD STAR BAKERS

Are you a teenager who has what it takes to become Spokane’s next top bakery? Put your entrepreneurship and baking skills to the test at River City Kitchen and StartUp Spokane’s first ever Great Startup Bake Off, a three-day competition for bakers and businesspeople 14 to 18 years old. From Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2, 10 teams of teens will get a budget, advice from industry leaders, and a maximum of five ingredients to maximize profits at the Baked Goods Market hosted by Spokane’s Central Library on the final day. No word on whether Paul Hollywood will be there, but each team will get to keep the money they earn. The only requirement is that participants have a Food Worker Card. Only 50 spots are available, so register soon. If you’d like to compete but are over 18, keep an eye on River City Kitchen and StartUp Spokane for future adult events.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Great Startup Bake Off • Fri, May 31 to Sun, June 2; market June 2 from 10:30 am-4 pm • $50 participation fee • Central Library • 906 W. Main Ave. • greatstartupbakeoff.com • 509-821-8100

Congratulations to our new M.D.s! As you begin your residencies throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, you are well prepared to provide quality medical care that improves the health of our communities.

As Health Partners, the University of Washington School of Medicine and Gonzaga University are collaborating to improve regional health and prosperity by transforming medical education, research and innovation. The combined strengths of each University — deep community roots and world-class health and medical education — and the synergy created through a vast network of students, faculty, clinicians, and partners — creates a greater impact than each partner could achieve alone.

Together we are stronger, and so are the communities we serve.

Congratulations UW School of Medicine Spokane Class of 2024!

gonzaga.edu/academics/health-partnership

I SAW YOU

MEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT I see you are not living up to your stated Human Resources department goals as you have not supported a quality, effective, much loved gay teacher to continue teaching at Brentwood Elementary simply because of who he is and who he cares about (students and family). The long time “Mead Myth” of quality education for all (which BTW includes gender orientation, smart, disabled, neurodiverse, different races and economic levels) is being exposed. Please walk your talk Mead Schools.

BROWN JACKET I don’t remember the brown jacket I gave you, but I do remember that tiny room we watched “Mozart and the Whale” in. I thought you were really cute and I miss you sending me pictures of your big belly.

CHEERS

HOME Finally, after 18 YEARS, you can call this place your home. You’ve worked, by law of your home country, without ceasing. You have raised your children who cannot be dual citizens, as can you not be, and NOW, you are, at last allowed to take a citizenship test. We are astounded at your tenacity, your diligence, your grit. When we asked you why it took this long for your Green Cards, you stated: “We did it legally.” Thanks for the clarification. We just needed that affirmation regarding the law. How discriminatory toward you, to have to see

the droves arriving, en masse. We hope you find your way to a more citizen friendly State in this great Union. They are out there. Keep working to find that place to plant. Congratulations and welcome here, so very far from your family afar.

THANK YOU! Just wanted to say thank you to the Spokane Bicycle Club, Mayor Brown, Councilwoman Klitzke and Colin QuinnHurst for hosting/participating in the ride on the 18th. It was a really great time!

THE REAL MAJORITY CLAPS BACK IN KOOTENAI COUNTY Some under the radar, normally non-controversial races in the Kootenai County primaries may offer a glimmer of hope for the sane people who are sick and tired of MAGA thugs (fresh from California and Texas) who have tried and up to now succeeded in rolling over the Republican Party here. The bottom line is there are more real patriotic people in the county than Trump toadies. Is this a cause for hope that the country can be saved from disaster?

WE ALL SCREAM FOR (THE SCOOP’S) ICE CREAM CHEERS to Jen at The Scoop, for making the very best ice cream, ever.

JEERS

SHOOTIN’ UP I have been going downtown once or twice a week since 1998 & I have never encountered people actually shooting up in the afternoon on the sidewalk. Today (May 21) I parked my car across from KHQ TV on West 1st. I did not get out since there were 3 people shooting up with syringes 10 feet from my car. I also saw another group of 3 shooting up kittycorner from the TV station on the SE corner of 1st & Jefferson (as I drove by leaving the area with my errands undone). This at almost 4 in the afternoon. What happened to increased police patrols downtown? Or is that only for the east end of town?

GETTING SCRAPS FROM SCRAPS SCRAPS’ mission statement includes enforcing laws and protecting the public, two things it has been failing to do. I am tired of seeing and being approached by off leash dogs everywhere: Comstock Park, the bluff, Riverside Park, running across my private property…The owners are entitled and belligerent, they are breaking the law and the normalization of deviancy has to stop.

SCRAPS struggles with funding, but a ticket for an off leash dog is $87, it’s time to enforce the laws and that revenue could pay for more officers and help fund more off leash parks. What recourse do average citizens have when others aren’t following

right and follow the detour. Once you get to a main road, turn right again. Be careful not to get into a car accident because there is a huge line of cars with more entering from all sides because the detour road is down to one lane due to more construction. Follow

there’s gonna be trouble, come in and get your bullets here!’? Asked and answered, I guess. No legal ramifications for offering to arm those who intend to kill other people. I know better than to ascribe any sense of moral obligation regarding an obvious

the laws and it is impacting their safety and rights, yet the agency tasked with enforcing the law is not actively pursuing offenders?

TURNING SCHOOLS INTO DAYCARES i tend to rant, so I’ll try to keep this short. My brother in law works at a local school and has point blank stated that the new policy is that no student is to be given a grade less than a D-. Seriously? WTH!! So they all get to pass even if they just sit there and breath... no grades or tests even matter? Congrats.. our schools are now just daycare for teenagers. If i were a teacher, I’d quit. Teachers didn’t sign up to be daycare staff, they signed up to be teachers. If this is true where you teach..i say walk out. Go somewhere where you can actually be able to do the job you want to do.

RE: RE: DEADBEAT CITY You seem to have a lot of time on your hands if you know for a fact that “apartment complexes along Upriver Drive are filled with cars with expired tabs that drive down city streets every day.” Is this because your level of entitlement means you haven’t been directly affected by the recent economy just yet? Truthfully if it’s the choice between rent & food or paying for tabs, I know what my answer is. Or have you not heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

SPOKANE ROAD CONSTRUCTION DESIGN

Now that we’re into Spokane road construction, I’d like to offer a suggestion. I know this won’t be received well and that some will say “This happens in every city.” Actually, having lived in other cities, larger and smaller than Spokane, I can tell you that’s not true. Here is a typical detour plan: Road is closed so you can’t go straight. Turn

the line of cars carefully, trying to avoid an accident until you get to another main road. Turn left. Be careful you don’t get into an accident because the lane is down to just one due to another construction project. Be sure you follow the main roads because if you take a side road, those lead to dead ends. Businesses have to follow strict OSHA guidelines to keep employees safe. Why doesn’t Spokane follow some sort of similar plan to keep drivers safe? Hoping no one runs into me in one of these convoluted detours before road construction season comes to a close. Drive Safe Spokane because the people who plan the projects don’t seem to care.

BELLIGERENT ENTITLEMENT SYNDROME

To the owners of the pawn shop with the sign, “It’s An Election Year, Stock Up On Ammo Now!” Way to lean into the fracas. Hilarious. You know, that didn’t used to matter. Like five minutes ago. American Politics, while often heated and discordant, has not offered everyday citizens so much fuel for violent hostility since the Civil War. But I guess that’s the point. Right? Roughly one third of the electorate has coddled and convinced itself that if it doesn’t get what it wants politically/socially that it is entitled to take matters into its own hands. For the past four years, the bulk of American voters have felt threatened, irked, and disgusted by the small but growing populous of Armagedon Advocates who declare proudly that they will take by force what they can’t get by consensus. How original, how human, how chauvinistic, how pathetic. Industry and Advertising combine to profit from the mood of the moment. I wonder, do you really believe what you are stating via your signage? Are you really comfortable with saying, ‘Well,

commercialization of potential travesty.

CAN WE NOT? Can we please refrain from plunking halfway houses in low crime, quiet neighborhoods? I have been wondering where the sudden burst of shootings, meth heads, people roaming down the street yelling nonsense, stolen items, trash thrown in my yard has come from. Until I ran into a friend who announced he was counseling at a halfway house just down the alley from me. Ah, what a great addition! Because I didn’t move to this neighborhood from felony flats to escape that fresh hell! Hear me out. I’m no Karen. I don’t give the smallest shit what people do if it isn’t bothering anyone else. Do your drugs! Be weird! Get your shenanigan on! But kindly do so in such a way that doesn’t ruin anyone else’s day. I manage to get down with my hooligan festivities quietly, in my own house, bothering nobody. The tweakers down the alley? Wish they’d follow suit, but they won’t... they never will. It’s not their nature. Please don’t mess up the paradise someone worked so hard to build for themselves with this crap. It’s insanity. n

EVENTS | CALENDAR

BENEFIT

15TH ANNUAL BACKPACKS FOR KIDS

The Salvation Army Spokane, in collaboration with Nomnom Convenience Stores, has a goal of distributing 4,000 new backpacks with school supplies to local children, grades K-12. See website for details. Through June 30. Free. The Salvation Army Spokane, 222 E. Indiana Ave. makingspokanebetter.org

UPSCALE SALE A sale of donated furniture, antque collectibles, framed art, jewelry, china, decor, clothes and more benefitting the Spokane Symphony. May 30-June 8; times vary. spokanesymphonyassoc.org

WOOFS & WHISKERS A fundraiser for SpokAnimal featuring silent and live auctions, live entertainment and animals looking for their forever homes. May 31, 5-8 pm. $100. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. spokanimal.org

2BU YOUTH RANCH MANE EVENT FUN -

DRAISER DINNER A fundraiser with a catered meal, no-host bar, live and silent auctions, raffles and speakers. June 1, 5-9 pm. $75. Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. 2buyouthranch.org

DONUT DASH A fund run for children with developmental delays and disabilities. Registration includes a T-shirt and donuts. June 1, 9:30 am. $20-$40. Joya Child & Family Development, 1016 N. Superior St. joya.org

GREAT STRIDES WALK A 3-mile fundraiser walk for cystic fibrosis. June 1, 10 am. By donation. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. fightcf.cff.org

PARADE OF PAWS A 1-2-mile pledge walk to raise funds for Spokane Humane Society. Registration includes a T-shirt, swag bag, and entry. June 1, 9 am-noon. $20-$30. Spokane Humane Society, 6607 N. Havana. spokanehumanesociety.org

STACHE DASH A race benefitting Elevations, a Spokane nonprofit providing funding for kids with special needs to receive therapy services needed to thrive. Participants run the race while wearing a (provided) mustache. June 8, 8 am-noon. $15-$85. Farwell Elementary School, 2323 E. Farwell. stachedash.org

COMEDY

MATTHEW BROUSSARD Broussard has been featured on Comedy Central and Conan. May 30-June 1 at 7 pm, May 31, and June 1 also at 9:45 pm. $20-$25. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

ROAST OF WEIRD SCIENCE Three comedians roast Weird Science and put it on trial. The audience decides if the movie is canceled or safe. Wear a bra on your head for a free goodie bag. May 31, 7:30 pm. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)

SAFARI The Blue Door Theatre’s version of Whose Line; players improv short comedy skits from suggestions. Every Saturday at 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 319 S. Cedar. bluedoortheatre.com

K-VON K-Von, aka Kevan Moezzi, is best known for his participation in NBC’s Last Comic Standing. June 2, 7 pm. $20-$35. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

NEW TALENT TUESDAYS Watch comedians of all skill levels work out jokes together. Tuesdays at 7 pm (doors at 6 pm). Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

OPEN MIC STAND-UP Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. See website for details. Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

ANDREW SCHULZ Schulz is a comedian, actor and podcaster best known for his work on MTV2’s Guy Code and the Flagrant podcast. June 6, 7 pm. $45-$95. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls. firstinterstatecenter.org

DAVE FULTON Fulton, originally from Idaho, is known for his acting career in various films. June 6, 7 pm. $15-$20. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

A FULLY-IMPROVISED MUSICAL Fullyimprovised story, characters, songs and choreography, all inspired by audience suggestions. June 7-28, Fri at 7 pm. $15. Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th St. levitytheatre.com (208-494-2008)

NICK MULLEN Mullen is a stand-up comedian who created and co-hosts a podcast and comedy special, The Year of the Dragon. June 7, 7 & 9:45 pm and June 8, 7 & 9:45 pm. $30-$40. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

COMMUNITY

AVISTA WATER POWER WALKING

TOUR A self-guided walking tour using your smartphone. Using a series of QR codes and interpretive signs, visitors learn about the history and integrated water power system in Spokane. Daily through July 4. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. expo50spokane.com

ENVIRONMENT IN BODY Explore the multilayered ecosystems of the body through body scan meditation, gentle movement, breath work, stillness and contemplative practice with joy and playfulness. May 30, 4:30-5:30 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. stjohnscathedral.org (484-919-4782)

EXPO ’74 HISTORIC TIMELINE OUT-

DOOR EXHIBIT An open-air exhibit detailing the pivotal moments of Expo and its legacy in environmental consciousness. Daily through July 4. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. visitspokane.com (509-625-6000)

INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT A discussion led by AC Churchil, Marqus Cole and Melanie Mullen about regional environmental priorities and how Expo’s 50th anniversary can shape faith-based environmental advocacy for the future. May 30, 7-8:30 pm. Free. St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave. stjohns-cathedral.org

IT HAPPENED HERE: EXPO ’74 FIFTY YEARS LATER This 50th anniversary exhibition revisits the historical roots of Expo’s legacy. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Jan. 26. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

JUBILEE A discussion led by Yoshi Silverstein, Marqus Cole and Adam Bartholomew exploring verses describing jubilee and how they are understood by different faith communities. May 30, 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Free. Temple Beth Shalom, 1322 E. 30th Ave. stjohns-cathedral.org

MOORE-TURNER HERITAGE GARDENS

SELF-GUIDED TOURS A guided tour of the gardens, restored in 2007 to look as when in use in 1915. Tue-Sun from 9 am-3 pm through Sep. 21. Free. Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens, 507 W. Seventh Ave. heritage-gardens.org

SEARCHING FOR TRENT ALLEY: ASIAN AMERICAN FOOTPRINTS IN DOWN -

TOWN SPOKANE This exhibit celebrates and honors the history and legacy of Asian/Asian Americans in Spokane. MonThu from 9 am-7 pm, Fri-Sat from 10 am-5 pm and Sun from 12-4 pm through June 2. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5336)

ALL FAIRS LEAD TO EXPO ’74 A special exhibit that guides attendees in discovering the history of fairs in our region, starting in 1886 and leading up to Expo ’74. Wed-Sat from 11 am-4 pm through Sep. 2. $7. Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, 12114 E. Sprague Ave. spokanevalleymuseum.com (509-922-4570)

THE VOICE OF EXPO A series of short radio programs about the 1974 World’s Fair that were created by “The Voice of Expo,” Tom Read. Daily at 6:44 am and 4:44 pm through Aug. 8, Free. spokanepublicradio.org

BIG GAY DANCE PARTY A dance party with drink specials, swag, prizes and drag performances. May 31, 8-11 pm. $5. nYne Bar & Bistro, 232 W. Sprague Ave. spokanepride.org (509-474-1621)

MINUTEMAN PRESS OPEN HOUSE A customer appreciation open house at Minuteman’s Spokane Valley location featuring pizza, giveaways and more. May 31, 10 am-2 pm. Free. Minuteman Press, 10020 E. Montgomery Dr. minutemanpress.com

PK-12 EDUCATION CAREER FAIR Connect with large, small, urban, and rural school districts across northeast Washington that are currently hiring. May 31, 9 am-1 pm. Free. ESD 101, 4202 S. Regal St. esd101.net (509-789-3800)

COEUR D’ALENE GEM & MINERAL

SHOW This event features a selection of gems, minerals, fossils and jewelry. June 1, 9 am-5 pm and June 2, 10 am-4 pm. $5. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way. northidahomineralclub.org (208-765-4969)

EXPO ’74: 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMUNITY STAGE & VENDOR VILLAGE A dynamic showcase featuring a fusion of dance, performing arts, talks and community talents. Also features a vendor village with a variety of local, artisans and handcrafters. Saturdays at 11 am through June 22. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. visitspokane.com

THE FARM CHICKS VINTAGE & HANDMADE FAIR A vintage, antique and handmade market featuring 300 booths filled with curated goods. June 1 from 9 am-6 pm and June 2 from 9 am-4 pm.

$10. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. thefarmchicks.com

FRIENDS OF MANITO SPRING PLANT

SALE Browse a wide selection of house plants, shrubs, grasses, home decor items and more. June 1, 8 am-3 pm. Free. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. thefriendsofmanito.org (509-456-8038)

THE FUTURE OF MOUNT SPOKANE

Learn about the community ecosystem that currently exists at Mount Spokane State Park and begin looking forward as a new 20-year vision is crafted for the park. June 1, 9-11:30 am. Free. The Wonder Building, 835 N. Post St. parks.wa.gov

LILAC CITY COMICON The 2024 con features over 300 exhibitor booths to browse, buy comics and related products as well as special guests and panels. See website for full schedule. June 1-2, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm. $13-$35. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. lilaccitycon.com (279-7000)

PEERS EMPOWER PEERS CONFERENCE

A leadership conference featuring work-

shops, discussions around mental health and substance abuse recovery, resource tables and more. June 1, 10 am-3:30 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. peersempowerpeers.com

PRIDE IN THE PARK A celebration featuring vendors, community resources and music. June 1, 10 am-3 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene City Park, 415 W. Mullan Rd. nipridealliance.com

REARDAN MULE DAYS This annual event begins with a parade followed by a car show. It also features a craft fair with 70 vendors, 3-on-3 basketball and food trucks. June 1, 10 am-12:30 pm. Free. Reardan. reardanmuledays.com

SPOKANE PRIDE CRUISE A cruise around Lake Coeur d’Alene to kick off Pride Month with dancing, drag performances, drinks and karaoke. Ages 21+. June 1, 5-7 pm. $30. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. spokanepride.org

INTERTRIBAL FAMILY FUN DAY This event, hosted by the Spokane Area Indgenous Birth Justice Network and Doulas 4 All Coalition, features prize drawings, Indigenous vendors, music and more. June 2, 10 am-3 pm. Free. Redband Park, 216 N. Cedar. spokanetribalnetwork.org

CHOOSING HARMONY In these talks, Abbey monastics share some of their meditation and thought-training practices. June 3-24, Mon from 6:30-8 pm. By donation. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St. sravastiabbey.org (509-447-5549)

SOUND BATH: A DEEP RELAXATION PRACTICE A sound bath focused on healing the body by Dacia, a local yoga instructor. Ages 18+. June 3, 6-7 pm. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

SPOKANE PRIDE & REMEMBRANCE: A HISTORY EXHIBIT An exhibit aimed at preserving, celebrating and honoring the contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities throughout our region. June 4-8; Tue-Thu from 11 am-4 pm, FriSat from 11 am-8 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. spokanepride.org (509-625-6000)

WEEKEND COUNTDOWN

Get the scoop on this weekend’s events with our newsletter. Sign up at Inlander.com/newsletter.

BEGINNING BUDDHISM Nuns from Sravasti Abbey offer weekly teachings based on the book Open Heart, Clear Mind by Buddhist teacher and author Venerable Thubten Chodron. June 5-July 24, Wed from 6-7:30 pm. By offering. Souls Center, 707 N. Cedar St. sravastiabbey.org

MANY SPIRITS COMMUNITY A space for two-spirit and Indigiqueer people to spend time together. Tea, hot chocolate and some art supplies provided. Feel free to bring creative projects. Every Wednesday from 4-7 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spectrumcenterspokane.org (509-444-5390)

MOONSHINE ARTISAN NIGHT MARKET & MOONLIT MOVIES An artisan market featuring local makers, food vendors and more. The market is followed by an outdoor movie. May 29-Aug. 28. Market runs from 5:30-8:30 pm; movie begins at dusk. Free. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. commellini.com/moonshine

COME BE HEARD OPEN MIC NIGHT An all-ages open mic night for people look-

ing for a place to perform and experience the joys of musical and poetic community. June 5, 5-7 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org

THE ARTISTS MEETUP A meetup with Spokane artists and Spokane Arts’ new executive director, Skyler Oberst. June 6, 5:30-7:30 pm. Free. Ben Joyce Studios, 806 W. Third Ave. spokanearts.org

LET’S TALK ABOUT PRIDE Discuss the state of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in Washington with Roo Ramos, Kate Bitz, Jeff DeBray and Adrien Leavitt. June 6, 5:30-7:30 pm. $8. The Boxcar Room, 116 W. Pacific Ave. aclu-wa.org (206-624-2184)

FILM

ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CLOSING RECEPTION A screening of the award winning films, Yai Nin and Liquor Store Dreams. Filmmakers Champ Ensminger and So Yun Um are in attendance for a Q&A. May 30, 5-7:30 pm. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. aclspokane.org/heritagemonth

EXPO ’74: FILMS FROM THE VAULT A selection of recently digitized film footage from the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 8. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

CINEMA CLASSICS: GASLIGHT In the 1880s, 10 years after her aunt was murdered in their London home, a woman returns from Italy to resume residence with her new husband. His obsessive interest in the home rises from a secret that may require driving his wife insane. May 31, 2-4 pm. $6. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

THE EMPIRE STRIKES PALESTINE: A FILM FESTIVAL A festival showcasing the multifaceted realities of the Israeli occupation in Palestine through a curated selection of documentaries. Sundays from 4-6 pm through June 16. Free. Magic Lantern Theatre, 25 W. Main Ave. facebook.com/share/ms7DVHD16pvYfF5c/

HITCHCOCK FEST: THE BIRDS A wealthy socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people. June 5, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

NELLY QUEEN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSE SARRIA A movie about Jose Sarria, a World War II veteran, cabaret performer, human rights activist and the first out candidate for public office in 1961. June 5, 6-7:05 pm. $10. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org

FOOD & DRINK

GREAT STARTUP BAKEOFF Young entrepreneurs form groups, each tasked with planning, marketing and creating culinary masterpieces to be showcased and sold at a Baked Goods Market. May 31-June 1; Fri from 5-7:30 pm, Sat from 7:30 am-6 pm. Market June 2 from 10:30 am-4 pm. $50. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. greatstartupbakeoff.com

HISTORICAL TOUR & SUPPER CLUB A guided tour of bootlegging and mischief in north Spokane, ending with an Italianstyle dinner. May 31, 5-8:30 pm and June 1, 5-9:30 pm. $85. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. commelliniestate. com

EVENTS | CALENDAR

FOOD AS FARMACY Learn how food, farming, health and medicine are connected in a farm-to-table experience. Hosted by naturopathic physician Casey Carr. June 1, 11:30 am-4:30 pm. $70. Quillisascut Farm, 2409 Pleasant Valley Rd., Rice, Wash. foodasfarmacy.com/quillisascut (509-738-2011)

GARLAND PRIDE RAINBOW RUN PUB

CRAWL A bar crawl that includes eight bars in a four-block radius including queer comedy shows, drag performances, food, drink specials and prizes. Ages 21+. June 1, 3 pm-midnight. Garland District. garlanddrinkery.com

FRENCH COOKING WITH FRANCINE

CHOUGH Francine Chough demonstrates authentic French recipes from her cookbook; Bricks in a Pebble Sauce (included with ticket). June 2, 12-2:30 pm. $115. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)

NOVA KAINE’S DON’T TELL MAMA

CABARET & DRAG BRUNCH Various Inland Northwest drag performers take the stage and perform pieces choreographed by Troy Nickerson. First and third Sunday of every month, 11 am. Free. Highball, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com

MORE THAN TACO TUESDAY A fiveweek dinner series that explores Mexican menus paired with creative drinks and wine. May 28-June 25, Tuesdays from 6-8 pm. $30. Fête - A Nectar Co, 120 N. Stevens St. nectarcateringandevents.com

RIVERFRONT EATS A food festival featuring local food trucks and live music. Tuesdays from 11 am-2 pm through Aug. 20. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard. riverfrontspokane.org

TACO TUESDAYS Two dollar tacos are served all day, along with drink specials. Ages 21+ with ID. Tuesdays from 12-8:30 pm. The Bull Head, 10211 S. Electric Ave., Medical Lake. bullheadsaloon.com

CULINARY TOUR OF THE PALOUSE: RAVIOLLI AL UOVO Learn how to make ravioli with brown butter sauce with chef Mat Morgan, WSU executive chef of hospitality and business management. June 8, 1-4 pm. $55. Dahmen Barn, 419 N. Park Way, Uniontown, Wash. artisanbarn.org

MUSIC

ANIMATED JAZZ! The band, made up of musicians from the Inland Northwest, infuses familiar melodies with the sophistication of jazz. May 31, 8-10 pm. $15-$18. J Bones Musicland, 2204 E. Mallon Ave. jbonesmusicland.com (509-863-5574)

COME FLY WITH ME An acapella jazz concert performed by the Lilac City Voices Barbershop Chorus and the EWU Collegians Vocal Jazz ensemble. June 1, 7-9 pm. $10-$20. Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Whistalks Way. lilaccityvoices.org (509-994-3016)

SOUL JAZZ UNDER THE STARS A jazz organ sextet featuring Brent Edstrom, Greg Yasinitsky and David Larsen performing works by Booker T as well as originals. June 1, 5:30-7:30 pm. $20. The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, 405 N. William St., Post Falls. thejacklincenter.org (208-457-8950)

EWU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CON -

CERT The EWU Symphony Orchestra performs Brahms’ Haydn Variations. The music of Grieg and Saint-Saens is performed alongside winners of the Concerto Competition. June 3, 7:30 pm. $5-$10. Eastern Washington University, 526 Fifth St. ewu.edu/music

CARSON RHODES Contemporary piano

influenced by Billy Joel and Elton John. June 4, 5-7 pm. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com (877-452-9011)

DWAYNE PARSONS Parsons performs original music on piano. June 5, 5-7 pm. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com (877-452-9011)

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

MILD RIDERS THURSDAY NIGHT RIDE

Hop on your scooter and ride with other locals. Every Thursday at 6 pm through the fall. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. instagram.com/mild.riders.spokane

PICKLEFEST A pickleball jamboree and tournament celebrating the history and future of pickleball in Spokane. The fiveday event featuring a public jamboree and a tournament. May 29-June 2; times vary. $45-$65. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. picklefest.spokanepickleball.club (509-625-6000)

SPOKANE INDIANS VS. EVERETT

AQUASOX Promotions during this sixgame series include Mystery Jersey Giveaway (May 29), Doris the Mascot’s Birthday Extravaganza (May 30), Dinosaur Night (May 31), Youth Sports Day (May 2) and more. May 30-31, 6:35 pm, June 1, 5:09 pm and June 2, 1:05 pm. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. milb.com/ spokane (509-535-2922)

ILLER CREEK HIKE Docent Andrea Chatburn leads a five-mile loop featuring views of the Washington Palouse and the Selkirks. May 31, 8-11:30 am. Free. Iller Creek Conservation Area, East Holman Rd. and Rockcrest Lane. stjohns-cathedral.org (484-919-4782)

BEST HIKES IN THE SPOKANE AREA Celebrate National Trails Day and learn about the best local hikes within a day of Spokane. Holly from the Washington Trails Association shares details and photos of local trails. June 1, 11 am-noon. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

GIRLS ON THE RUN SPOKANE CELEBRATORY 5K A family-friendly, noncompetitive 5K through Riverside Memorial Park. June 1, 9 am. $30. Riverside Memorial Park, 211 N. Government Way. gotrspokane.org/5k (920-474-6875)

A HISTORIC WALK THROUGH INDIAN CANYON Dave Beine, a local historian and expert on Chief Spokane Garry, takes participants on a half-mile guided walking tour to the location of Garry’s final campsite. June 1, 9-11 am. $25. Indian Canyon Mystic Falls, 4812 W. Canyon Dr. gnu.edu (509-30-8993)

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: DISHMAN HILLS LAND CONSERVANCY Washington naturalists lead hikes through Camp Caro, stopping along the way to teach about plants, ecology and natural phenomena. June 1, 10 am-2 pm. Free. Camp Caro, 698 S. Sargent Rd. dishmanhills.org

WSU SPOKANE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PLANT CLINIC Get advice from WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners about plant selection, maintenance, environmentally friendly practices, pest management and more. June 1, 11 am-3 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

ALL ABOUT SPRING BLOOMING TREES Learn when and where to use early blooming trees like dogwoods in your landscape, how to prune them and get them established. June 1, 2-3 pm. $10. Ritters, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter.com

SLAVIN CONSERVATION AREA HIKE

Andrea Chatburn leads a gentle 3.8-mile hike among scablands lakes, a stopover for migratory birds that’s home to a variety of four-legged residents. June 1, 8-11 am. Free. James T. Slavin Conservation Area, 12900 S. Keeney Rd. stjohnscathedral.org

YOGA FITNESS This course promotes individual fitness and total mind-body health through strength and stretching movements, flexibility and breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques. MonWed from 9:30-10:30 am and 4:30-6 pm through June 5. $33-$48. Spokane Community College (Colville), 985 S. Elm St. campusce.net/spokaneactii

YOGA WITH BRENDA ST. JOHN A gentle approach to yoga that adapts postures to meet individual needs. Mon from 10:30 am-noon and 1-2:30 pm through June 10. $41. Aaron Huff Memorial Cultural Center, 214 E. Main, Chewelah, Wash. campusce. net/spokaneactii

BRICK WEST RUN CLUB Runs start and ends at Brick West and change routes each week. Every Tuesday at 6 pm. Free. Brick West Brewing Co., 1318 W. First Ave. bit.ly/brick-run (509-279-2982)

GENTLE FLOW YOGA Katherine from Inclusion Wellness Community leads a gentle yoga practice for every skill level. Wear loose clothing, bring a mat and come prepared for gentle exercise. June 4, 12-1 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org

SPOKANE INDIAN VS. HILLSBORO

HOPS Promotions during this six-game series include Pride Night (June 5), Hawaiian Night (June 6), Ballpark Bugs and Stadium Snakes Day Game (June 9) and more. June 4-7, 6:35 pm, June 8, 5:09 pm and June 9, 1:05 pm. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. milb.com/spokane

AQUATIC LIFE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Learn about aquatic life, invasive species, tools and methods to maintain a healthy ecosystem and protect the shoreline. June 5, 9 am-3:30 pm. Free. Camas Wellness Center, 1821 N. LeClerc Road, Usk. pendoreilleco.org (509-447-6451)

CHAIR YOGA Join certified teacher Steve Peck for a chair yoga practice. Chairs and blocks provided. June 5, 12-1 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org

MONTHLY BIRD WALK Join a birding expert on a walk around Saltese Flats, aimed at identifying birds, teaching basic birding skills and taking a census of what is present there. First Wednesday of each month from 8 am-noon. Free. Doris Morrison Learning Center, 1330 S. Henry Rd. spokanecounty.org/5360/Doris-Morrison-Learning-Center-DMLC

PRACTICAL CENTERING YOGA Experience the benefits of yoga and pilates movements through these weekly exercise sessions led by instructor Larkin Barnett. Every Wednesday from 1:30-2:30 pm. $18-$20. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

QIGONG Practice Qigong Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese exercise used as holistic medicine, with instructor Brian Flake. Wednesdays from noon-1 pm and 1-2 pm through June 12. $19. Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. campusce. net/spokaneactii (509-533-8500)

WEED WEDNESDAY WALKS The Pend Oreille County Weed Board hosts a casual walk teaching how to identify common plants on the trails and how to report

(or identify) sightings using online tools. June 5-Sept. 11, every fourth Wednesday from 9-9:30 am and 3-3:30 pm. Free. USFS Upper Wolf Trail, 205 Laurelhurst Dr. pendoreilleco.org (509-447-6451)

ATTRACTING BIRDS TO YOUR YARD

Alan McCoy, president of the Spokane Audubon Society, teaches participants how to make their yards safe for birds and how to provide for their basic needs. June 6, 4-6 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. tieg.org

INDIAN CLIFF NATURE TRAIL TOUR A three-mile, guided intermediate-level hike with views of the St. Joe River. June 6, 9:45 am-12:30 pm. $35. Coeur d’Alene Casino, 37914 S. Nukwalqw. cdacasino. com (208-769-2464)

SUMMER PRUNING: WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE? Learn about pruning and trimming perennials and shrubs in the summer. June 8, 2-3 pm. $10. Ritters Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter. com (509 467-5258)

STATE PARK FREE DAYS No Discover Pass is required to enter state parks. June 8-9. riversidestateparkfoundation.org

TOUR DE FARMS A self-guided bike tour of locally-owned farms all over Spokane County. See website for location information. June 8, 8 am-4 pm. Free. spokanefarmcorridors.com

THEATER & DANCE

CATS The Jellicle Cats come out to play on one special night of the year: the night of the Jellicle Ball. One by one they tell their stories to Old Deuteronomy, their leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer. WedSat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. (Sat, May 25 and June 15 performances at 2 pm.) through June 16. $20-$40. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com (509-325-2507)

SEUSSICAL Horton the Elephant tries to convince other animals in the jungle of the existence of The Whos. Fri-Sat 2 at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 3 pm through June 2. $18-$20. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com

LEGALLY BLONDE Elle Woods’ life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. Fri-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm through June 2 $25. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org

SPOKANE YOUTH BALLET: THE SEASONS AND PETER PAN Special guest dancers Antonio Rosario and Harris Kahler join students of the Academy of Dance for The Seasons. Spokane Youth Ballet company dancers are joined by Harris Kahler and Elizabeth Booth to debut Phaedra Jarrett’s Peter Pan. May 31, 3-5:15 pm. $15-$25. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

TARZAN Rised by gorillas in West Africa, Tarzan meets Jane, a young English naturalist, and falls in love, unknowing Jane’s entourage plans to kill the gorillas. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm through June 2. $12$16. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia St. spokanechildrenstheatre.org

ARGENTINE MILONGA Dance the Argentine tango surrounded by dancers of all levels. A light snack potluck is included. First Saturday of each month from 7-10 pm. $5. Sinto Activity Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. sintocenter.org

BOLLYWOOD DANCING Professional dancer Devika Gates teaches Bollywood dancing. Wear loose clothes. No prior experience needed. June 2, 2:30-3:30 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIAL TANGO A fundamentals-focused class for improving tango movement and connection. Drop-ins welcome. No partner needed. Every Tuesday from 6:45-8:30 pm. $17$20. Sinto Activity Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. fb.com/events/447904090938300/ INTRO TO SOCIAL TANGO A progressive class aimed at learning prerequisite skills for new and nearly new tango dancers. Preregister by emailing Matt Doval at matt@tangomind.com. Every Tuesday from 5:40-6:40 pm through June 25. $62$72. Sinto Activity Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. fb.com/events/960859888572712

SPOKANE FOLKLORE SOCIETY CONTRA DANCE These dances feature live music provided by local folk musicians and callers who teach easy to learn dances. Every first and third Wednesday through June 19. $7-$10. Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. spokanefolklore.org (509-838-2160)

SPOKANE FOLKLORE SOCIETY SWING DANCE The Max Quartet provides swing music while Cathy Dark calls easy to learn swing steps. June 8, 7-10 pm. $7-$10. East Spokane Grange, 1621 N. Park Rd. spokanefolklore.org (509-838-2160)

VISUAL ARTS

1924: SOVEREIGNTY, LEADERSHIP AND THE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT This exhibition commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act and centers on photographs of early local tribal leadership. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Feb. 2. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

AREN’T WE ALL.... 2024 BFA SENIOR EXHIBITION A show featuring the work of graduating seniors enrolled in EWU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Program. Participating artists include: Carly Ellis, Perennial “Renn” Francis, Amanda Frost, Lily Henderson, Katie Rose, Katherine Kneafsey and Jean Marshall. Mon-Fri from 9 am-6 pm through June 7. Free. EWU Gallery of Art, 140 Art Building. ewu.edu/ cahss/gallery (509-359-2494)

BEYOND HOPE: KIENHOLZ AND THE INLAND NORTHWEST EXHIBITION This exhibition delves into the collaborative artistic journey of American artist Edward Kienholz and his wife, Nancy Reddin Kienholz, in the small town of Hope, Idaho. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through June 29. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson Rd. museum. wsu.edu (509-335-1910)

DRAWING FUNDAMENTALS CLASS Artist Marlene Laurich leads students in line, shape, form and space drawing techniques. Fridays from 3-4:30 pm. Free. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St. createarts.org (509-447-9277)

MARY CARUSO & ERIC SANCHEZ Geometric paintings by Eric Sanchez and watercolor painting by Mary Caruso. Thu-Sat from 11 am-7 pm through May 31. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone Ave. avenuewestgallery.com

BEVIE LABRIE Art from local artist and art therapist Bevie LaBrie. Tue-Fri from 3-8 pm, Sat-Sun from noon-7 pm through June 30. Free. For the Love of

God Brewing, 2617 W. Northwest Blvd. fortheloveofgodbrewing.com

FRANK S. MATSURA: NATIVE AMERICAN PORTRAITS FROM A NORTHWEST

BORDERLAND

This show features images from the studio archive of Washington-based Japanese photographer Frank Sakae Matsura which explore Indigenous representation. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through June 9. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

HAROLD BALAZS: LEAVING MARKS

This exhibition celebrates Balazs’ regional impact through 30 new additions to the museum’s permanent collection. The show focuses on Balazs’ later works in sculpture, drawing and enamel. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through June 3. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

HIGHER GROUND: AN EXHIBITION OF ART, EPHEMERA AND FORM Higher Ground features artwork and archival material from across the Palouse that speaks to the history of queer experience in the area including historical photographs, writings and pieces of art. Mon-Fri from 8:30 am-4:30 pm through Oct. 31. Free. Washington State University, 2000 NE Stadium Way. libraries.wsu. edu/masc/ (509-551-4231)

JEFF WEIR: GO WEST Weir is a Coeur d’Alene artist who brings life and feeling to ideas of days gone by in his oilon-canvas paintings of regional wildlife and figures. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through June 30. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

AARON SMITH The Spokane-based painter finds inspiration in his surroundings, especially as the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Spokane World’s Fair. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through June 29. First Friday: June 7 from 5-8 pm. Free. Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. spokanelibertybuilding.com

MARK MOORE: EARTH TONES Ceramic artist Mark Moore showcases functional ceramic pieces with a focus on planters. Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm through May 31. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net (509-863-9904)

MASTER OF FINE ARTS THESIS EXHIBITION This exhibition features works by MFA candidates Mozi Jones and Reika Okuhara that have been honed through years of study and exploration and includes visual narratives and conceptual pieces. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through June 29. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson Rd. museum.wsu.edu (509-335-1910)

MEET YOUR MAKER Meet the artists behind all of the items in From Here. Daily from 11 am-6 pm. See website for artist schedule. Free. From Here, 808 W. Main Ave. fromherespokane.com

MEGAN MARTENS-HAWORTH: THE INTERLUDE Martens-Haworth explores the relationships between humanity and the animal kingdom through various artistic mediums. Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm through May 31. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net (509-325-1500)

NANCY ROTHWELL: LEAVES TALK This exhibit shows how the palette and content of paintings can change dramatically once an artist moves from western to eastern Washington. Mon-Fri from 10 am-6 pm, Sat from 10 am-2 pm through Aug. 31. Free. Colfax Library, 102 S. Main St. cowhitlib.org (509-397-4366)

RIVER RIDGE ASSOCIATION OF FINE ARTS EXPO ’74 SHOW Expo-themed art created by members of the River Ridge Association of Fine Arts. Daily from 7 am-7 pm through May 31. Free. Indaba Coffee Roasters (Riverside), 518 W. Riverside Ave. rrafaofspokane.com

SUBVERSIVE INTENT: SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION EXHIBITION

This show features rarely displayed artworks from the museum’s permanent collection, spanning from historical pieces by Hogarth and Goya to contemporary works by Holzer and Shimomura. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through June 29. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson Rd. museum.wsu.edu

VISIONS A group show featuring artists Melissa Cole, Aaron Smith and Sara Conybeer. Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm through June 1. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore. com (509-413-9101)

ALEX GALFORD AND KAT FEKKES: [RE]

CONSTRUCT An exhibition featuring oil paintings by Alex Galford and sculptural work by Kat Fekkes. Tue-Sat from 10 am-6 pm through June 8. Emerge CDA, 119 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene. emergecda.com (208-930-1876)

ARTFEST Spokane’s largest juried art and fine craft fair. May 31-June 1; Fri from noon-8 pm, Sat from 10 am-9 pm and Sun from 10 am-5 pm. $5. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. artfestspokane.com (509-456-3931)

INLAND NORTHWEST JURIED LAND -

SCAPE ART This juried display seeks to present the diversity and dynamism of contemporary artistic activity in the Inland Northwest while celebrating the relationship between art and the local landscape. June 1-Aug. 24, 2024, MonSat from 10 am-4 pm. Opening reception: May 31, 2024. Free. Jundt Art Museum, 200 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu

JOSHUA HOBSON: POTENTIAL SYNERGY Hobson is a local, lens-based artist whose current projects engage with dire environmental issues and the effects of climate change. Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm through June 1. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com

LISA NAPPA & ROGER RALSTON: IN TECHNICOLOR This exhibition showcases new multimedia work by the artists that explores color and themes of wonder. Fri-Sat from noon-8 pm through June 1. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com

BETWEEN BORDERS: FOLKLIFE THROUGH THE COEUR D’ALENES An exhibition featuring folk and traditional artists from the region. June 1-30, WedSun from 11 am-6 pm. Free. The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. theartspiritgallery.com (208-765-6006)

BRING YOUR OWN PIECE PAINT CLASS

A workshop to help develop work-inprogress pieces. The piece must be easily carried into class such as a small side table, bench or picture frame. Pre-registration required. Supplies included. Every Monday from 12-3 pm, every Saturday from 2-5 pm.. $85. Paint In My Hair, 3036 N. Monroe. facebook.com/paintinmyhair

FEED ME, SPOKANE! In this workshop, learn how to draw the Garbage Goat and write about his adventures. Work produced for this program has the option of being included in Spark Central’s 2024 book project, Gondolas & Garbage Goats. Grades 3-5. June 1, 11 am-noon. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org (509-279-0299)

INLAND NORTHWEST JURIED LAND -

SCAPE ART EXHIBITION This juried display seeks to present the diversity and dynamism of contemporary artistic activity in the Inland Northwest while celebrating the relationship between art and the local landscape. June 1-Aug. 24; Mon-Sat from 10 am-4 pm. Free. Jundt Art Museum, 200 E. Desmet. gonzaga. edu/jundt (509-313-6843)

PALOUSE ART WALK See art in businesses in downtown Palouse. June 1-30, daily. June 1-30. Free. Palouse, Wash. palouseartscouncil.org

LEELA FRANCIS & SHELLY MATTHEWS

Leela Francis uses acrylic mixed media and collage and Shelly Matthews paints flowers. June 1-29; daily from 10 am-9 pm. First Friday: June 7 from 5-8 pm. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com

CHILDREN’S PAINTING LESSONS An introductory painting class for children. Bring your own supplies. Ages 10+. Every Sunday from 3-4:30 pm $10. Spokane Art Supply, 1303 N. Monroe St. spokaneartsupply.com (509-435-8210)

INDIAN KUNDA JEWELRY MAKING

Devika Gates teaches how to make Indian Kunda Jewelry. Registration is required. June 2, 1-2 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org

HEARTISTRY: ARTISTIC WELLBEING

A relaxed and inspiring environment for self-discovery. Participate in basic artistic concepts and activities or respond to a mindfulness prompt. Every Tuesday from 3-5 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

POTTERY WITH LIZ BISHOP Students learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel while learning about the different stages of working with clay including how to glaze. June 4-July 2, Tue from 6-8 pm. Ages 13+. $170. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave. spokaneartschool.net

GET LISTED!

Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email related details to getlisted@inlander.com.

DAVID JACOBS: TRAVEL TO THE 1920’S

PARIS ART SCENE Artist-in-Residence

David Jacobs discusses the Paris art scene from the 1880s to the 1920s through stories, photographs, artwork and music. June 4, 5-7 pm. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

TUESDAY GALLERY TALKS Join a museum staff member or docent for an 20 minute informal discussion about one of the MAC’s current exhibitions. Every Tuesday at 11 am. $15-$20. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

WATERCOLOR CLASS Learn the basics of painting with watercolors. Supplies included for first-timers. Open to all levels. Every other Tuesday from 10 am-2 pm. $20. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St. , Newport. createarts.org

DROP IN & DRAW Explore different artistic mediums, develop skills and ideas and cultivate imaginative thinking through art. All skill levels are welcome. Supplies and projects provided. Wednesdays from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

OPEN STUDIO Stop by The Hive to see what current Artists-In-Residence are up

to, and tour the building. Every Wednesday from 4-7 pm. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanelibrary.org

SPOKANE ART SCHOOL FACULTY AND STUDENT SHOW An art exhibition featuring work by staff and students. Featured artists include Tom Quinn, Kay West, T Kurtz, Collista Krebs, Liz Bishop and more. June 7-28, Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm through June 28. First Friday: June 7 from 5-8 pm. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net

DONALD SCHAEFER A retrospective show featuring work by local artist Donald Schaefer. June 7-23. Artist reception: June 7 from 5-7 pm. Free. Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Whistalks Way. uuspokane.org (509-325-6283)

DYLAN LIPSKER A display of colorful works by local artist and gallery owner Dylan Lipsker. June 7, 5-8 pm. Free. Big City Art Studio & Gallery, 164 S. Washington St. instagram.com/bigcityartstudio

FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane and beyond host monthly receptions to showcase new displays of art. First Fridays of each month from 5-8 pm. Details at firstfridayspokane.org.

FIRST FRIDAY AT BARRISTER This event showcases a new local artist or a local gallery with multiple artists as well as music by a local band. First Friday of each month from 5-11 pm. Free. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. barristerwinery. com (509-465-3591)

AMALIA FISCH AND HEIDI CARNEY

These receptions feature plein air paintings by both artists and live music by Jerry White and Freddie B. June 7, 3-7 pm and June 15, 12-5 pm. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone Ave. avenuewestgallery.com (509-838-4999)

Z. MCMASTER: GANYMEDE GEEKS An exhibition featuring McMaster’s quirky creature creations. First Friday (June 7 from 5-9 pm) event features live music by Mama Llama, Wallower and Pontius Pilot. June 7-July 1, daily from 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com (509-414-3226)

FIRST FRIDAYS WITH POAC First Friday arts events in Sandpoint, organized by the Pend Oreille Arts Council. First Friday of every month, 5:30-7:30 pm. Pend Oreille Arts Council Gallery, 110 Main St. artinsandpoint.org (208-263-6139)

HEART OF THE COUNTRY A dual exhibition by artists Bridgette Costa and Laurie Haener featuring mixed media works depicting their shared life and domesticity together. This exhibition is a part of Spokane Queer Art Walk. June 7-29, by appointment; June 29, 6-8 pm. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. mobile.kolva.comcastbiz.net

MANITO PARK ART FESTIVAL A festival featuring local artist booths, children’s activities, live music food and more. June 8, 10 am-6 pm. Free. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. thefriendsofmanito.org

ART UPLIFTS An exhibition celebrating the healing power of art and the strength of people in the community. The show is in memory of Jimmy Magnuson. June 8, 4-6 pm. Free. The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, 405 N. William St. thejacklincenter.org (208-457-8950)

SPOKANE CARVERS ASSOCIATION 2024 RENDEZVOUS Learn to carve or sharpen your skills with free classes in carving and wood burning. June 8, 10 am-noon and June 9, 12-4 pm. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanecarv-

ers.com (509-999-0226)

WORDS

TERESA JANNSEN: THE WAYS OF WATER Set in the early twentieth-century Southwest where water means everything, this coming-of-age novel is a testament to the meaning of family and the strength of the human spirit. May 30, 5-7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com

DROP IN & WRITE Aspiring writers are invited to be a part of a supportive writers’ community. Bring works in progress to share, get inspired with creative prompts and spend some focused time writing. Hosted by local writers Jenny Davis and Hannah Engel. Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

ECHOES OF EXPO Merging personal stories, historical insights and immersive soundscapes, this seven-episode series explores the World Fair’s lasting impact on urban renewal, environmental awakening, the complexities of progress and community dynamics in Spokane. Scan wayfinding signs to listen. Daily through July 7. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. visitspokane.com

BARTON ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES One-on-one English language tutoring and conversation groups. Mon, Wed, Fri from 9-11:30 am. Register via email. Free. First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, 318 S. Cedar St. spokanefpc.org

CAMPFIRE STORIES: EXPO EDITION Storytellers share tales about the astounding public spaces in the region along with celebrating the environmental legacy of Expo ’74. June 1, 11 am-1 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. landscouncil.org (509-625-6600)

INLAND NORTHWEST POETRY SALON A daylong event celebration the craft of poetry with generative workshops and panels from an array of regional writers including Spokane Poet Laureate Mery Smith. June 1, 10 am-4 pm. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

SHANN RAY & CRAIG W. HERGERT: MONTANA PANORAMIC A reading and showing of photography from the new book, Montana Panoramic: Transparent in the Backlight with words by Shann Ray and photographs by Craig W. Hergert. June 3, 6-7 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org

TEEN WRITE CLUB Teen writers are invited to get feedback on their work and explore all things prose and poetry. Every Tuesday from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. sparkcentral.org (509-279-0299)

BROKEN MIC A weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. 6:30 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD

FORAY FOR THE ARTS: CELEBRATING PRIDE Multidisciplinary arts performances by Ash, Betsy Rogue, Mery Smith, Ash Montenegro Hart, Danielle Estelle Ramsay, Muffy the Manslayer and Wilma Anita Donut Dargen. June 7, 6-9 pm. Free. Grant Park, 1015 S. Arthur St. instagram.com/foray4thearts

BOOK CLUB: THE CANDY HOUSE BY JENNIFER EGAN Discuss The Candy House by Jennifer Egan, a sequel to Egan’s 2010 novel A Visit From the Goon Squad. June 8, 10:30-11:30 am. reeF. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300) n

TRAVEL

Cannabis in the Car

How to safely and legally travel with cannabis this summer

BY WILL MAUPIN

Memorial Day is in the rearview and summer road trip season is in full swing.

Cannabis is legal in Washington, but that doesn’t mean traveling with it is as simple as bringing some beverages along for the ride to the lake cabin or Airbnb. The complexity of how state and federal laws interact makes the checklist for taking cannabis in the car a bit longer.

Washington State Patrol Sgt. Jeffrey Bridges says the first things to check before hitting the road with cannabis are that the driver is sober and the cannabis was bought at a state-licensed dispensary. Those two are fairly obvious, but from here things get a bit more tricky.

While transporting your personal cannabis in a vehicle it must be kept outside of the passenger compartment.

“In the trunk would be ideal. If it’s a pickup truck, maybe you have a secured case in the back in your pickup truck’s bed,” Bridges says. “But every vehicle is a little bit different, so do the best you can within the means of your vehicle.”

Areas inside the passenger compartment, like the center console or glove compartment, are not considered secure.

“Ensure the product remains factory sealed or in its factory container,” Bridges says. “Do not open it and do not have it open in your car because that would fall under the category of being an open container.”

Bring only as much cannabis as you will consume at the location you’re traveling to in order to avoid returning with an open container.

From there, know where you’re going and how you’re getting there.

The federal government owns 28.6% of the land in Washington. This means possession is still illegal on those lands, including in National Parks and on Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service land.

What about roads that pass through those federal lands, like Interstate 90 between Spokane and Seattle?

“For personal use quantities you would be fine driving from Point A to Point B utilizing our Interstate system,” Bridges says.

If you’re getting off the highways and cruising around on Forest Service roads though, Bridges says that possession there would fall outside of any “reasonable method of travel.”

Finally, if you’re planning to cross state lines, you can’t bring your cannabis with you. Even if you’re heading into another legal state, such as Oregon.

“Know your limit,” Bridges says. “Have an enjoyable weekend, but have a safe and enjoyable weekend so you can have future enjoyable weekends down the road.” n

Recreational weed still has its limits when it comes to road trips.

NOTE TO READERS

Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a five-year sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.

I JUANA GROW OLD WITH

BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.

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