Inlander 07/13/2023

EDITOR’S NOTE

Once, in another lifetime, I was a young man working at a bakery on the far northern California coast, slinging espresso and selling scones. I could eat any broken baked good, so I broke a number of baked goods, especially those delicious little lemon tarts. I was cheap, and hungry, and too young to admit I was engaged in petty larceny.

Regardless, the statute of limitations protects me. Besides, I was poor, a fact not lost on the Italian restaurant next door, which had a special called the Regular. If you knew it, and the proprietor knew you, you could get it: $5 for an entire 12-inch pizza and a bottle of chianti. The catch: You had to be young, poor and work in the neighborhood.

To this day, I feel a little bad about all those cookies, cakes, scones, muffins, petit fours, pandowdy and who knows what else I shoveled toward my red-hot metabolism. Still, it was a good deal. Just not as good as the Regular.

In this year’s CHEAP EATS, we give you deals almost as good as the Regular and more because it’s not a crime to pinch a penny while eating out. It is, however, unacceptable to disregard those young, poor people serving you all that affordable food. So eat, drink and tip very well.

— NICHOLAS DESHAIS, editor

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHEAP EAT AROUND TOWN?

WHITNEY POITRA

Right now I’m really into Indigenous Eats. I try to go to more local places than anywhere else.

MATT HIEB

I usually go for something easy like Wendy’s or Panda Express.

With inflation, have you found yourself cutting back on dining out?

Yeah, it’s definitely encouraged me to grocery shop more and cook at home.

NICOLE DRIGGS

I’d have to say D. Lish.

What is your key price point for a burger? Probably six or seven bucks.

C.C. Dill Salmon Feed

RUBY LEE

I’d definitely have to say Dick’s or Atilano’s.

Atilano’s — I think I’ve seen the sign. “San Diego’s Best Burritos.”

That’s right. A little ways from the homeland.

JAN HENRICKSON

Jimmy John’s is pretty good. So is MOD Pizza.

What’s a meal you’d make an exception for to spend more money on?

There are some burgers I consider to be pretty expensive that I’d pick. Wisconsinburger, for example.

Saturday, July 22nd

Corbin Park • 2914 N. West Oval St., Spokane — Gates open 5pm —

SPEAKERS:

Lisa Brown

CANDIDATE FOR SPOKANE MAYOR

Betsy Wilkerson

CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Shasti Conrad

CHAIR WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATS

MEET OTHER STATE, COUNTY AND CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES

Salmon Dinner

Donated by the Spokane Tribe

Individual Tickets And Tables Are Available

Purchase tickets at spokanedemocrats.org

friday 10-5 saturday 10-5 sunday 10-4

Vintage Market Days® is an upscale vintage and vintage inspired event.

Join us in July for the best in vintage shopping, boutiques, garden, jewelry, handmade goods, live music, food trucks, yummy local treats & so much more!

Featuring over 100 small businesses from near & far.

Muddying the Waters

In turning environmental policy back nearly 50 years, the Supreme Court has created more questions than answers for America’s wetlands

BY EMILY BENSON, HIGH COUNTRY NEWS

Like icebergs and human beings, waterways are made up of more than what’s visible on the surface. Take Lapwai Creek near Lewiston, Idaho: At a casual glance, it’s a ribbon of cool water, shaded by cottonwood trees and alive with steelhead and sculpin, mayfly and stonefly larvae. An adult could wade across it in a few strides without getting their knees wet. But that’s just the part people can see. Beneath the surface channel, coursing through the rounded cobbles below, is what scientists call the hyporheic zone: water flowing along underground, which can be a few inches deep, or 10 yards or more, mixing with both surface water and groundwater. Microbes that purify water live down there, and aquatic insects — food for fish and other animals — can use it as a sort of underground highway, traveling more than a mile away from a river.

A creek, in other words, is more than just the water in its channel; it’s also the water underground, and it’s connected to everything else in its watershed, including wetlands and channels upstream that might dry up during some years, or perhaps go years between getting wet. Whatever happens there — pollution or protection — happens to the entire creek. In the case of Lapwai Creek, which flows into the Clearwater River and then the Snake River, it’s a small but fundamental part of the complex ecosystem that salmon, humans and countless other creatures in the Pacific Northwest rely on.

But those ecological realities are strikingly absent from May’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The ruling strips federal protec-

tions from all ephemeral streams and, as reported by E&E News, more than half of the previously protected wetlands in the U.S. It limits Clean Water Act protections to “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water.” That includes some wetlands — those that are “indistinguishable” from protected oceans, lakes, rivers and streams “due to a continuous surface connection.”

“It doesn’t reflect reality, or the scientific understanding of how watersheds and the river networks within them function,” said Ellen Wohl, a river researcher and professor in the Geosciences Department at Colorado State University. Wohl helped review the scientific evidence used to develop an earlier, and much more expansive, Obama-era definition of which bodies of water fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.

The act itself says it covers “the waters of the United States,” often abbreviated WOTUS, but what exactly that means has been the subject of decades of litigation and conflicting rule-making by federal administrations. In this decision, the Supreme Court took up the question in the context of a lawsuit Michael and Chantell Sackett brought against the Environmental Protection Agency in 2008. The case concerned whether or not there were pro-

Over 16 years, a Priest Lake shoreline dispute rolled all the way up to the Supreme Court.

tected wetlands on a property the couple owns near Priest Lake, Idaho. If there were, the Sacketts would have needed to get a Clean Water Act permit before filling the lot with dirt, and would now owe the agency hefty fines for having filled it without one; if there weren’t, then they could proceed with building a house on the lot without the permit.

All nine Supreme Court justices agreed that there were no protected wetlands on the property. And five of them — Justices Samuel Alito, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett — went further. The majority opinion, written by Alito, focused in part on defining the word “adjacent” — as in, wetlands adjacent to protected water bodies — to mean inseparable. That’s a stricter interpretation of the law, and leaves more wetlands unprotected, than any definition put forth by a federal administration since 1977, including the Trump administration’s 2020 rule. The remaining four justices spell that out in a concurring opinion, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh: “The Court’s ‘continuous surface connection’ test disregards the ordinary meaning of ‘adjacent.’ … As a result, the Court excludes wetlands that the text of the Clean Water Act covers — and that the Act since 1977 has always been interpreted to cover.”

In addition to wetlands, the decision excludes many — or perhaps most, or even all; the ruling is unclear — temporary streams. These include ephemeral streams, which flow only after snow- or rainfall — such as flooding desert washes — and intermittent ones, which sometimes go dry, often seasonally, like the Rio Grande in New Mexico.

Temporary streams and rivers exist primarily in the arid West, particularly in the Great Plains and the Great Basin. And they’re important for both ecosystems and humans: According to EPA data, 70 percent of the miles of streams supplying public water systems that more than 3 million people in Arizona’s Maricopa County relied on in 2009 were ephemeral or intermittent. In fact, 96 percent of Arizona’s total stream mileage is ephemeral or intermittent; New Mexico, too, has very few relatively permanent waterways. “So, arguably, (nearly) all the rivers and streams in those two states are no longer protected by the Clean Water Act,” said Mark Ryan, a retired EPA lawyer who specialized in the act and represented the EPA in the Sackett case until he left the agency in 2014.

That “arguably” is important. It’s now up to the EPA to interpret the ruling and define what exactly “relatively permanent” means, because the majority opinion itself is silent on the matter. In fact, it doesn’t mention intermittent or ephemeral streams at all, though it does say, in reference to protected waters, that “temporary interruptions in surface connection may sometimes occur because of phenomena like low tides or dry spells.” The phrases “temporary interruptions” and “dry spells” seem to leave the door open for protecting some intermittent streams, but the absence of details — like how long of a dry spell is acceptable — leaves the matter up to agency rules, and litigation over them.

Weaker protections mean that more wetlands and temporary streams will be destroyed, filled in with dirt for houses or other development. Ecosystems and people alike will lose the benefits they provide: biodiversity and abundance of species; space to absorb extra water during storms, preventing deadly floods; natural storage of that same water, so it’s available later, during dry times; the natural purification that occurs when water is filtered through the ground.

Take, for example, a desert playa in the Great Basin, which might be dry for years at a time. When rainwater falls on it or snowmelt flows into it, it acts like “a big sponge,” Wohl said. A sponge that can store water for later, and clean it, too. But if you turn it into a parking lot by filling or building on it, as the Supreme Court ruling makes it easier to do, water will pour off it, rather than soak in. And what was once a playa — part of an intricate system changing across space and time — will become simply an asphalt wasteland. n

This article first appeared on High Country News (hcn.org), where Emily Benson is a senior editor.

ALL ABOARD THE CITY LINE

The electric engine hums like a spaceship. A digital screen tracks location in real time. Neon lights emit a soft purple glow, like the Mos Eisley cantina in Star Wars.

“I haven’t figured out disco mode,” the driver jokes from the front. “I’ve been trying to see if I can find that button.”

Even without the Bee Gees, this is a new public transit experience for Spokane. The humming, glowing vehicle isn’t a spaceship — it’s a bus.

BY SUMMER SANDSTROM AND ELIZA BILLINGHAM

This weekend, the Spokane Transit Authority launches its City Line, an all-electric bus route inspired by bus rapid transit, or BRT, a public transportation system popularized in Latin America and spreading across the world.

City Line features 11 battery-powered, 60-foot-long purple and black buses, each with five doors. They will run along a 6-mile, east-west corridor through downtown Spokane, connecting Browne’s Addition to Spokane Community College. The buses will come frequently enough that no traditional bus schedule is necessary: every 15 minutes most hours of the day. (STA plans for 7.5-minute frequencies at peak hours starting in May 2024.)

On opening day, July 15, all rides will be free, and STA will host celebrations with live music, food, games and prizes at five neighborhood stops along the new City Line route. Fares for the City Line will continue to be free for all riders until Labor Day, after which they’ll be the standard STA fare of $2 for a two-hour pass and free for people under 18.

A STICKY DOWNTOWN

In 1999, Spokane began reimagining downtown. In their “Plan for a New Downtown,” city leaders envisioned a light rail pulsing through the heart of the city. But they realized pretty quickly that building tracks from scratch was far too expensive.

Still, the dream didn’t die. After getting input from community members, mapping various routes and considering trams, streetcars and trolleys, the STA settled on a central route populated by buses. By 2011, plans for the City Line began to form as a more realistic compromise to enhance Spokane’s transit system.

STA’s new transit line begins operating this weekend, the Inland Northwest’s first bus rapid transit system

Operators say the City Line buses drive like Cadillacs. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

“ALL ABOARD THE CITY LINE,” CONTINUED...

“We have kind of a hub and spoke system where everything either generates or terminates at the Plaza,” says Spokane County Commissioner Al French, a longtime transit advocate who also chairs STA’s Planning and Development Committee.

He says the line’s east-west route allows easier access to multiple bus routes without having to wait at the main hub.

The main goal was access, says Karl Otterstrom, STA’s chief planning and development officer. “[The question] was, ‘How do we really access the coolest places in greater downtown and other destinations?’”

A healthy transit system can help feed a healthy downtown. A successful downtown is “sticky,” says Emilie Cameron, CEO of Downtown Spokane Partnership.

A “sticky” area is a place where people can come frequently and stay a long time. An easy-to-use public transit system that connects lots of places — like college campuses, the MAC and Riverfront Park — could help bring commuters and tourists downtown, and opens up more of the city each workday or for a night out.

It was also important that the STA delivered a service “that was not just another bus route,” Otterstrom says. The buses would provide more robust service, running more frequently than typical buses with a slightly different payment system and a specialized route. At a glance, the public needed to be able to recognize which vehicles were part of the rapid transit system.

Development on the route began in 2015. The project received some funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s grant programs, but this primary revenue stream for the transit system was at risk of being significantly cut.

In 2019, STA was able to secure $53.4 million from the FTA’s Small Starts Allocation, which funded over half of the City Line’s $92.2 million budget. (The project ended up about $10 million under budget.) This was a huge success for the agency, but more obstacles were yet to come.

With the pandemic, supply chain issues and labor shortages delayed projects across almost every industry, especially transit. The City Line, which was initially projected to open in 2021, was pushed back a couple years.

But in 2021, construction on the City Line stations began, harkening the much-anticipated emergence of bus rapid transit in the Inland Northwest.

10,000 HOURS

This year, Spokanites may have noticed the black and purple buses driving around along their future routes, but without passengers.

Since January, STA has spent 10,000 hours testing and readying the line so that the route would be able to run from its launch with as few issues as possible, says Carly Cortwright, STA’s spokesperson.

Each City Line bus has new amenities to provide a different type of transit experience. The buses are 20 feet longer than typical coaches, with three doors on the right and two on the left to speed up the boarding process, which can happen on either side depending on the location of the station. Digital screens in the bus give real time information about what stops are next, and each station gives updated info on when the next bus is coming.

STA tested these computer systems over six months for accuracy, says Cortwright, as well as resiliency in extreme cold and hot weather.

Additionally, the buses are fully electric. STA spent many training hours to determine how many times a bus could drive through the route before needing to charge, as well as how long it would need to power up before returning to the route.

At the new City Line stations, the buses will line up exactly with the platforms, eliminating the need to lower, or “kneel” the bus for anyone boarding. But the buses will have to kneel at the downtown transit plaza. Cortright says they found issues with the bus ramps and kneeling systems that they wouldn’t have known before launch without testing.

With all of these innovations, the group of 10 operators who tested the buses, nicknamed City Line’s Team One, needed time to become accustomed to the new buses and technology.

WHAT IS BRT?

The best way to think about bus rapid transit (BRT) is as a streetcar or subway system, but with buses instead of train cars. Service is so frequent that there’s no need to look up a schedule. Boarding is quick and streamlined with multiple entry points. Real-time information tells you where you are or when the next buses are arriving.

Today, some of the world’s best BRTs are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; Guangzhou, China; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Peshawar, Pakistan. Abroad, it often services huge metro areas, but domestically, it’s most popular in midsized cities like Cleveland, Ohio; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Eugene, Oregon.

The first city to gain international attention for BRT was Curitiba, Brazil. Curitiba kept making improvements to its bus transit in the 1970s and ’80s, until it developed into the world’s first fullgrown BRT.

A fully developed BRT has five essential features: bus-only lanes with signal priority, a corridor in the middle of the road, off-board fare collection, turn restrictions at intersections, and buses that board at the same level as the platform.

In many places, using buses and repurposing pre-existing lanes is cheaper than building tracks for railcars, but the system can potentially be as efficient — in 1993, Curitiba’s BRT served 1.5 million riders each day, from a metro population of about 2 million.

In 1995, when U.S. officials from the Federal Transit Administration wanted to see BRT for themselves, they visited Curitiba. Stefano Viggiano, the director of Planning and Development of the Eugene-Springfield area’s regional transit district, went along.

Thanks to enthusiasm from Viggiano and community stakeholders, Eugene became one of the first American cities to introduce BRT. In 2007, Lane Transit District launched the Emerald Express, called EmX for short, along a corridor connecting downtown Eugene, the University of Oregon and downtown Springfield.

“It was hard,” says Cosette Rees, chief customer experience officer for Lane Transit District. “It was even hard for some of us who worked here at LTD to visualize what this was going to look like and to understand what those benefits could be.”

LTD used the first 5-mile route as a proof of concept, offering the public a chance to see and experience the new bus system. LTD officers didn’t know how the public would react. Tom Schwetz, LTD’s current director of Planning and Development, says they set low expectations.

“So we were surprised when within the first couple of months, we were exceeding our 20-year forecasts,” Schwetz says.

Today, EmX spans 28 miles in total, carrying an average of 12,000 riders a day.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

“The new thing that we’re getting used to is the left side doors,” says Jabriel Pumarejo, part of Team One. “Imagine writing with your left hand. Can you write with your left? No? But eventually? It’s just a matter of opening your brain up to what’s there.”

Pumarejo thinks the adjustment period is totally worth it for the drivers.

“STA getting these buses — it’s like Cadillacs for the operators,” he says.

Yet finding people to navigate this new fleet has proven difficult as a nationwide bus driver shortage touches Spokane. Not enough bus drivers means the City Line can’t initially run every 7.5 minutes as planned. But Cortwright says the agency is hiring more people than the national average and expects the rapid transit system to be running at full steam by next summer.

Perhaps the most important part of a long buildup — even a decade-long buildup — is the time an agency has to put toward educating the public about a new service. STA wants the City Line to not be intertwined only with downtown, but with people’s lives.

STA worked to eliminate as many “intimidation factors” as possible, Cortwright says. For example, first-time users may be confused about how to pay, where exactly the bus goes or how to get off at their stop.

CITY LINE OPENING DAY CELEBRATION

Sat, July 15 from 11 am-2 pm, free & all ages

The first day of the City Line will have five events along its route, in Browne’s Addition, Downtown, the University District, Mission Park and Chief Garry Park. More info at spokanetransit.com/cityline.

With this in mind, the City Line is free for the first few months, letting people learn about rapid transit without needing to pay right away. Also, lots of time and effort went toward beautifying the bus stops so they’re easily recognizable. (Read last week’s story, “Delighting Alighting Passengers,” on Inlander.com for more.)

STA created lots of signage to make payment and boarding understandable. They hosted volunteer riders and asked for feedback. They assigned ambassadors to answer questions about off-board ticketing machines and how to board bikes in the bus itself, among other things, once the City Line begins service.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The City Line isn’t going to be the only bus rapid transit system in Spokane. STA is currently applying for grants for another BRT on North Division Street, which will likely occur in conjunction with the completion of the North Spokane Corridor, aka the north-south freeway.

Though the STA is still dealing with hiring issues, Anthony Gill, who runs the urbanist blog Spokane Rising, says that STA has a really strong team.

“If this were another agency or another city, I would have concerns about things like staffing,” Gill says. “Spokane Transit has done a really good job because they’ve done hiring bonuses, they’ve done retention bonuses, they’ve kind of kept up with their need for drivers much better than their peer agencies.”

Gill doesn’t want to see Spokane’s transit innovation end with the City Line. He wants to see signal priority added to the City Line’s route, something that Cortright says STA is working on with the city.

In addition to making Spokane more accessible, Gill hopes to see the City Line revolutionize Spokane’s attitude toward bus rapid transit. To him, that’s a primary measure of success.

“To me, it’s not as important that a lot of people ride it, although I want that to happen,” he says. “It’s almost more important that it inspires more people to ride and more people riding in the future with even further investments. I want it to catalyze that change.” n

1995 - 1996 I

n 1995 and ’96, I was in the first and second grade at Lake Spokane Elementary out in Nine Mile Falls. So reviewing these old issues was a fun trip back, seeing what all the grown-ups were up to while I was busy playing with Barbies. Local issues worthy of Inlander coverage nearly three decades ago weren’t too different from topics we still cover almost every week: the need for more affordable housing, reining in urban sprawl, protecting the environment, potholes and how to revitalize downtown. But guess what else was happening around this time? The widespread adoption of the internet! As part of a cover story examining the many possibilities, good and bad, that this newfangled tech could bring was a small note in which the Inlander itself announced that “Inlander On-Line” would be “an exciting new addition to the World Wide Web” later that summer, joining the likes of Yahoo and a site called “Links from the Underground.”

IN THE NEWS

If you lived here in 1996, chances are high you didn’t walk away unscathed from ICE STORM ’96. When freezing rain, followed by snow, started falling on a Tuesday the week before Thanksgiving, trees and powerlines were quickly overloaded with the weight of ice and began snapping like twigs. In our Nov. 27 issue, published a week after the storm, more than 18,000 homes were still without power, even after crews had been working around the clock. Three people died due to storm conditions, while hundreds of others were forced to emergency shelters to stay warm. “We’ve probably endured the most destruction to our electrical system in the history of our company,” said Rob Strenge, spokesman for Washington Water Power, which is now Avista.

CULTURE BEAT

In our Jan. 4, 1995, issue we investigated the likelihood that MICROBREWERIES would outlast other alcoholic beverages, specifically wine coolers. At the time, the region was home to a whopping four microbreweries, among the 150 nationwide. “It’s easy to see how microbreweries have the advantage over domestic and imported beer in the freshness department: You can get a beer from a local brewery as soon as it’s released. It’s like buying bread from the bakery.”

ON THE COVER

Waaaay before “Netflix and chill” became part of our cultural lexicon, young’uns of 1990s Spokane had a far more pervasive social outlet: CRUISIN’ RIVERSIDE. To find out what it was all about, Associate Editor Amy Cannata (with assistance from publisher Ted S. McGregor) headed downtown for a ridealong with Spokane Police on a busy Saturday night. “When you really think about it, cruising seems to be the silliest thing imaginable,” Cannata wrote. “But upon further reflection, and after spending some time among the cruisers, you see it’s all part of that crazy thing called growing up.”

LOCAL FOLKS

years.

While he’s now a household name, back in 1995 JESS WALTER was just starting out. The 30-something-year-old, former Spokesman-Review reporter had just published his first book, Every Knee Shall Bow: The Truth & Tragedy of Ruby Ridge and the Randy Weaver Family. Despite the weeks Walter spent reporting on the 1992 federal standoff with the separatist Weaver family in remote North Idaho, the book almost didn’t happen. “I always expected I’d be able to do this, but I never knew how difficult it would be,” Walter says. “It’s strange because as a writer you have real vivid ideas of what kind of response you want. It’s been pretty heartwarming to see how quickly I could fade back into obscurity.”

— CHEY SCOTT

Local artist Tom Quinn illustrated our “Last Word” feature throughout the early

news media spectacle

ANALYSIS AND PHOTO BY RAJAH BOSE

Many stories begin with a door, some philosophical, some actual.

This one begins in Moscow, Idaho, a university town known for its sandal-wearing hippies and Christian missionaries. When four students were murdered last fall in this almost-rural Pleasantville, I received a call from the news desk at the New York Times to see if I’d be available to cover the story.

It wasn’t my first assignment for them, but I still feel honored every time that call comes in, and that door opens once again. So I took it — like I had many others over the past decade — loaded my camera bags, and headed south to the Palouse, where I grew up, and where I began my journey as a photojournalist.

I’ve been chasing this job since I was a student in Pullman, Washington. In the ensuing years, the news industry has struggled to understand and react to the technological and social shifts we are all experiencing. While we journalists have supported one another through layoffs and reorgs, we did it in chat groups and posts on the same social media platforms that replaced our market share. Within 20 years, some of us traded the newsroom for cubicles at PR firms and marketing departments.

This was our best collective effort to balance our finances, families and skills in the new frontier. I found mine moonlighting between commercial photography and documenting my community for various national media.

This offered a balance — one providing security and the other a continued purpose as an observer and storyteller.

Photojournalism always felt like it was made for me. Creating a visual entry point for a reader through poetic moments and beautiful light has drawn me to it since my first published photograph. Capturing a story within an image combines foresight with being present, and feels like magic when I can conjure it. In short, it’s like no other job.

Though I never gave up on the pursuit, it did change from a career to a commission. The assignments still come sporadically, and when they do I rearrange my schedule around whatever a coastal editor finds interesting in our region that week. For these stories, a writer might fly out from NYC or D.C., but regularly these stories are written without ever stepping into the PNW.

As the eyes on the ground, I always felt my images helped those stories — written from the other ocean — retain an honesty that can only be captured by being there, and being from there. In the weeks after the four were found in their house, behind that door, the campus grieved, questions piled up, investigators retracted, students left, and the community of this agriculture college town grew fearful, then frustrated, then weary.

The story seemed like it would never be solved, and I was called on repeatedly in those months to return to Moscow to try to understand what was going on. But mostly just to look at that door.

Every time I returned, little had changed, other than the number of television crews live at the scene of the home rubbing elbows with the Real Crime TikTokers and the law enforcement standing guard. In a town like Moscow, it would be easy to recognize the outsiders, even without their cable TV press badges hanging against their tightly tucked shirts. At the memorial, grandstands

An Empty Parachute

had been erected to corral the gaggle of photojournalists. In 20 years of making photos, I had never been part of anything like it. Not during the NCAA finals or other tragic scenes, though photographing Rachel Dolezal came close. What felt like a community I knew was suddenly foreign and sensational.

I felt like I was part of the spectacle.

Some call this parachute journalism — reporters from elsewhere dropping into a community for a short time just to get the story. They’re experts in courts or crime, or whatever happens to be at hand. They contextualize it, romanticize it a bit, possibly distill other reporting that’s already been done, then add their own unique voice for a story that seems complete. For journalists who live in these areas, it can be frustrating.

While our national media has a role contextualizing local stories for the rest of the world, the parachuters don’t have time to understand the nuances of the community they are covering. It is their versions of our stories, often very well written, that become the dominant story of record and how a community is seen and remembered. Sensationalism becomes necessary for a scoop, even for journalists who would otherwise never consider such tactics in their reporting. Meanwhile the rest of us watch our communities turn into the source of an everlasting red banner of breaking news.

Great journalism continues to be fostered within communities, albeit with new compromises. Even difficult storytelling like this very tragedy can be done with compassion and clarity — just look at Emma Epperly’s intimate and compassionate stories in the Spokesman-Review about the families of the four students. This consistency is the work that only local journalists can do in commu-

A local photojournalist wonders whether he’s become part of the

nities. As smaller papers lose subscribers and scale down, more readers turn to national reporting — reporting often based on the groundwork laid by the ever-decreasing number of local journalists. As local papers shrink, those reporters are forced to compromise their diligence and coverage, which somehow reminds me of every game of Monopoly I played as a kid.

While I was at the university’s vigil for the four students a month after their murders, a young woman near me held a candle illuminating the tears in her eyes. I quietly turned and made a few photos of her as she stared past me. She hadn’t been approached by the dozens of reporters in attendance, but it turned out that she’d already been quoted in another national story a few days prior. She was kind as I apologized for the intrusion, but she and her peers who filled half the indoor football field all appeared exhausted. She mentioned that she might not return the next semester, emotionally drained by the tragedy and heightened fears across campus, surely. But if she felt anything like me, also from being constantly surveilled for emotion. It was the first time I felt like I was the parachuter, and I wondered if I had always been.

At one time newspapers were seen as savvy investments, essentially printing money on their daily presses for anyone who could afford to own one. Unfortunately, the same was never true for most of the people who worked there. Journalists have long been underpaid, a drawback we trade for its meaningfulness and purpose. It’s been the economic and social shifts that have now changed the ways we work beyond the trimming of the payroll. Many simply stay in it until they can no longer afford to.

I’ll admit it’s cool to think of the throngs of people who see my work, but it is the thrill of every assignment as a door into the unknown that beckons. Connecting with someone, learning their story, and connecting our community with itself — that is the reward. It’s our responsibility to honor that mission, not the obsession to be the first to report it.

Reporting on a community requires showing up. Being there builds relationships and trust between a paper and people, and in turn creates an openness to reading about topics we may not agree with or completely understand. We do not have any control over what stories will be told about us from the outside, but the ones we know of ourselves are what the rest of the stories will be built upon.

The consistency of the local journalism we have in the Inland Northwest is a special part of our community. Having two locally owned family newspapers in a city of our size and another right across the border, makes our region the rarest of birds. That doesn’t mean they’re the only version of the story, but they are ours, and still our most reliable and honest public square for ideas and culture.

As our news organizations continue to conglomerate with entertainment companies, and as we watch multiple news narratives run simultaneously across platforms to polarized audiences, please continue reading and supporting local journalists.

It’s one of the last ways we can be sure that we are getting thoughtful coverage and commentary about the places where we live by those who live with us here. To hold onto that, we will need a collective act from a city that wants to know itself better. A city that reads itself.

I haven’t been back to the door in a few months. The reporting has continued as we wait for the trial to begin (and potentially bring the country’s attention back to Moscow’s doorstep). I’ve seen the images I made months ago used in story updates, and think pieces, much like this one. As the spectacle subsides and our community is allowed to grieve, some of us must atone for and reconcile our participation.

I received another call when the suspect was arraigned in Moscow, but I didn’t take the assignment. It was the first time in more than a decade that I’d passed on the honor. It was also the first time it didn’t feel like it was for me. n

Rajah Bose is a photographer and visual storyteller. He has worked as a photojournalist for two decades and his work has appeared widely. He co-directs an art and production company with his partner, Ellen Picken. His work can be seen at RajahBose.com.

One for the Fall

Incumbent Michael Cathcart will face progressive challenger Lindsey Shaw in the race to represent northeast Spokane

BY NATE SANFORD

The race to represent northeast Spokane is a quiet outlier in an otherwise busy season for local politics.

Unlike the other three Spokane City Council races this year, only two candidates are running in District 1. That means they’ll skip the Aug. 1 primary and go straight to November’s general election.

The district seat is currently held by Michael Cathcart, who was elected in 2019 and is the only incumbent council member running for reelection this year.

The person vying for Cathcart’s seat is Lindsey Shaw, who previously spent five years as chair of the Logan Neighborhood Council.

Shaw and Cathcart both say northeast Spokane has historically been overlooked and underresourced, and that they’re running because they want to continue fighting to make sure their community has a voice.

During his time on council, Cathcart has been an advocate for fiscal responsibility and government transparency. As a member of the council’s two-person conservative minority, he’s often outvoted by the council’s veto-proof progressive supermajority.

But Cathcart also found ways to work with both sides to pass legislation. He points to his work on budget reform measures and his collaboration with Kate Burke, a former progressive City Council member who also represented District 1, on changing the rules to allow people to testify on the first readings of proposed ordinances and increase the number of people allowed to speak during public comment.

Cathcart says he’s finalizing an ordinance to improve access to official city business for non-English speakers. He says he’s also interested in some sort of layperson’s version of council

agendas to help the public cut through bureaucratic jargon.

Shaw and Cathcart both say they want to improve neighborhood livability by focusing on greenways, street infrastructure and pedestrian improvements. They point to recent development along East Illinois Avenue as a good example of user-friendly revitalization in northeast Spokane. Shaw says she’s especially interested in encouraging more public artwork in the area.

The candidates differ in their approaches to public safety. Shaw says she still needs to learn more about the council’s recent vote making public drug use a misdemeanor, but that she generally supports a “holistic” and “destigmatizing” approach focused on diversion and more behavioral health resources.

“I don’t think that throwing people in jail is really healthy,” Shaw says.

When asked about City Council decisions she disagrees with, Shaw points to the recent ordinance making it an arrestable offense to be in city parks between 11 pm and 5 am.

“If it’s already illegal to have a gun, and it’s already illegal to do drugs, I’m not sure why we have to criminalize being in the park after dark,” Shaw says.

Cathcart disagrees. He argues that the ordinance will protect neighbors from increased problems with nighttime gang violence, drug use and vandalism in city parks. He says the law makes it clear that police have to use discretion and that he helped push for a requirement that police collect data that the council can review on a monthly basis to make sure there aren’t any unintended consequences.

“The point is to keep our neighborhoods safe, not to scare off people walking their dogs,” Cathcart says. n

Spokane City Council member Michael Cathcart, left, and his challenger, Lindsey Shaw.

Bye-bye Breean

Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs exits. Plus, the city gets two new bike connections; and Brown hits Woodward on city budget troubles.

It’s the end of an era. On Monday evening, Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs presided over his final council meeting, closing out four years of leadership defined by consensus-seeking and reform efforts. Beggs, who joined the council in 2016, said in early March that he would be stepping down, and in May he was appointed to be a Spokane County Superior Court judge by Gov. Jay Inslee. Next week, council members are expected to elevate City Council member Lori Kinnear as interim council president until a new president is elected in November’s general election. During the emotional final meeting, Kinnear presented Beggs with a salutation highlighting some of his accomplishments on the council, which include strengthening the police ombudsman’s office, co-leading the city’s pandemic response, sponsoring a law making post-prison employment easier, codifying community court, and improving residential rental policies. “We love this city and every person who lives in it,” Beggs said, his voice cracking as he accepted the salutation. “We often disagree on the very specific solution, but we all agree that together we’re stronger.” (NATE SANFORD)

NEW BIKEWAYS

Spokane continues to get new infrastructure for people on bikes. Last month, the city of Spokane installed a new bike ramp on the Maple Street stairs, which connects the sidewalk on the north side of the Maple Street Bridge to the West Central neighborhood. “Safety is a major motivator for choosing this location,” Colin Quinn-Hurst, a planner with the city, said in a city video about the ramp. People on bikes and scooters end up darting into car traffic on Maple due to the lack of a route below the Broadway Avenue overpass for anyone who isn’t in a car. The ramp — or “runnel” — was paid for by a city user fee on Lime bikes and scooters. And this week, the state Transportation Department officially opened the rebuilt Trent Avenue Bridge, which comes with a new section of multiuse path going under the eastside of the bridge, another connection for the Centennial and Ben Burr trails, and the Iron Bridge. (NICHOLAS DESHAIS)

BROWN BLASTS BUDGET

Standing outside Spokane City Hall on Monday afternoon, former state commerce director and mayoral candidate Lisa Brown accused Mayor Nadine Woodward of mismanaging the city budget and putting Spokane in “the worst fiscal situation it has been in for decades.” Brown stood next to a printed graph showing the city’s unallocated reserve balance nose-diving from $28 million in 2020 to negative $9.2 million today. “Mayor Woodward has dug us a deep hole, and she’s still digging,” Brown said. Inside City Hall, City Council members were preparing to pass a series of special budget ordinances designed to course-correct this year’s looming budget shortfalls. Council members have spent recent months saying they were increasingly alarmed about the city’s finances, pointing to ballooning police overtime and homelessness spending as some of the primary culprits. After Brown’s news conference, Woodward told KREM that Brown was forgetting about the impact of pandemic lockdowns on city revenue, and she pointed to the unpredictable nature of homelessness grant funding. (NATE SANFORD)

Get the latest on Inlander.com

Breean Beggs. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

A Spokane-set Story

The

magic of Benny & Joon and its 30th anniversary is celebrated with numerous local events

BY MADISON PEARSON

In 1992, Hollywood came to Spokane.

The filming of Benny & Joon brought big-name actors Johnny Depp, Aidan Quinn and Mary Stuart Masterson to town. For casual viewers, Spokane is often overlooked as simply the setting of a quirky story. For those who live there, Spokane is a main character itself.

This year marks 30 years since the release of the film, and Spokane native and Benny & Joon superfan Ashley Graham has organized a celebration spanning July in honor of the anniversary with several local businesses participating in the festivities.

On July 15 and 16, the Garland Theater is showing the film along with a documentary produced by Hamilton Studios (its owner Don Hamilton plays the UPS driver in the movie) in which Graham interviews cast members and others involved in the filming

“I have loved this movie since I saw it at the Garland Theater when I was 9 years old in 1993,” Graham says. “It continues to feel like home to me. I’ve taken it with me

as I’ve left and moved to two different places. It’s magical.”

The film introduces viewers to brother-sister duo Benny (Quinn) and Joon (Masterson). Benny works in an automotive shop, and Joon is an artist prone to manic episodes. When they’re introduced to Sam (Depp), the Buster Keaton-esque cousin of Benny’s friend, their lives are turned upside down. After spending time together, Joon and Sam fall in love, much to Benny’s dismay as a protective brother. In the end, the two find solace in each other’s company, and Benny welcomes Sam into his life with open arms.

Spokane, of course, is the backdrop for all of it. Featuring a quirky house in Peaceful Valley, an automotive shop in Hillyard, and the recognizable landmarks of Riverfront Park, the movie serves as a time capsule of Spokane in the early ’90s.

“In a lot of ways, it still feels like Spokane,” Graham says. “I think that [Benny & Joon] is such a working-class, blue-collar movie, but it has so much magic in it. And

I think, for me, that’s so Spokane, right? Like Spokane is a totally magical place filled with super hardworking people who are just living their lives.”

While Graham no longer lives in Spokane, she couldn’t sit by idly. She felt like someone had to organize a 30-year celebration of Benny & Joon

After planting the seeds of some kind of community celebration in the minds of her Spokanite friends last fall, she quickly began reaching out to local institutions in hopes of recovering movie props, scripts or a historical record of the production, but came back empty-handed.

“I had a couple of conversations like that before I realized that I was going to have to be the person who does this,” she says. “So, I talked to someone who led me to Don Hamilton. Within an hour, he was down to film interviews with actors that still live in Spokane and make this documentary.”

...continued on page 20

Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson in their famous Ferguson’s scene.

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First, they had to find those folks. KXLY ran a short clip asking for people to reach out, and Graham sifted through comments on a Facebook post. Hundreds responded, and Graham was overwhelmed by the number of people with connections to Benny & Joon

“I think that’s when the feeling of how much this matters to Spokane started to unravel,” she says.

Along with the two showings of Benny & Joon at the Garland, Graham also partnered with multiple local businesses to spread the movie’s magic across the city.

Ferguson’s Cafe, where the famous bread roll dancing scene takes place, is running a Benny & Joon special featuring a grilled cheese sandwich (not grilled with a clothing iron, unfortunately), fries and Joon’s milkshake (peanut butter and Cap’n Crunch flavor).

Revival Tea Company is serving up Joon’s Tapioca Crunch, a boba drink topped with Cap’n Crunch, in honor of Joon’s love for tapioca pudding, and Indaba Coffee is selling 12-ounce bags of their new Benny Blend, from which proceeds will go to the Garland Theater.

The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture is also showcasing various locally sourced props, set decorations and other memorabilia that Graham acquired. Inside the Central Library in downtown Spokane, you can even see the original rolls of bread that Johnny Depp used during the diner scene, which have been preserved with hairspray for 30 years.

One particularly magical component of the monthlong celebration is an art exhibition at Hamilton Studio featuring works by Shannon Noel, an artist who trained Mary Stuart Masterson in painting during Benny & Joon’s filming, and created many of the paintings in the film. The show, Joon + 30, envisions what kind of paintings Joon might be creating in 2023.

In one of the first scenes in Benny & Joon, a character asks Benny, “What does it really mean to need someone?”

Just like Joon needed Sam in order to find peace and independence, and how Benny needed Joon to show him what really matters in life, Benny & Joon needed Spokane to tell the tale of a brother and sister and their eccentric, unlikely new friend.

“You know, when you leave Spokane at 18 like a lot of people do?” Graham says. “Seeing the community rally around their shared love for this movie has been so restorative for me. It’s made me reconnect with Spokane in a really meaningful way.” n

From Farm to Farmin

Sandpoint Farmers Market celebrates 35 years this summer with expanded family-friendly fare

BY KATIE BOTKIN

Originally begun to sell excess garden produce in 1988, the Sandpoint Farmers Market today showcases vendors selling jewelry, meat, baked goods, tea, tinctures, flowers, crafts, henna tattoos, and naturally, farm-fresh produce. Everything the market sells is made or grown within 100 miles of Sandpoint.

Because of the area’s high concentration of small-scale local farmers, produce remains a major draw. All of it is sold from the hands of the people who grew, mostly without pesticides, and harvested it. Some of them have been with the farmers market for well over two decades.

Later this season, Sandpoint Farmers Market is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a community birthday party — cake and everything — on Sept. 16.

“I have been with the market since there were six vendors,” says Kim Spencer, a fiber artist who now runs the booth Staff of Life. “Over the years I was a weaver, plant and veggie vendor, a body care producer, plus fiber artist.”

Sharon Gunter of Basket Case has also been with the market since close to its inception.

“I was making baskets and found out that the market would be taking crafters. I applied and was accepted in 1998,” Gunter says.

Even with the changes of decades, the market has kept its values, she says. “Vendor made, vendor sold. This is quite important to me.”

One of those changes Gunter likes is Kids Day at the Market, happening this year on Aug. 26. Last year, local kids sold soap, jewelry and other handmade objects. Children can apply to sell their wares until Aug. 19, and, like adult vendors, need to have locally crafted (or grown) the items themselves. Daily vendor fees are waived to encourage participation, says market manager Kelli Burt.

During Kids Day, parents support kids under age 15 with the actual commerce, since not all of the young creatives can count change back quickly.

“It’s heartwarming to see support for the creative young ones from their families,” Gunter says. “There’s a community feel to our market that visitors have commented so positively about through the years.”

Sandpoint’s market still has the small-town atmosphere it’s always benefited from, shaded from the summer sun by the trees of Farmin Park, nestled in a strip of downtown between food trucks and old-school diners.

Popular produce can sell out quickly, however, and farmers such as Red Wheelbarrow Produce’s Emily LeVine update their fans via Instagram on what they’re selling at upcoming markets. Fruit is picked already-ripe depending on the season — brilliant red strawberries, dusky blueberries, sweet-sour mountain huckleberries — and the vegetables have a flavor and texture that may be new to supermarket shoppers.

On one recent early-season market day, 8-yearold Norah Blakey of Moscow bites into a carrot from Mountain Cloud Farm — it’s sweet, bright orange, with a crisp snap.

thousand kids come through the market on any given Saturday. Younger children play on the small shaded hill ringed by vendors, sometimes dancing to live music on Saturday mornings, sometimes running obstacle courses or building with blocks on Wednesday afternoons. Wednesdays, which are usually slower with fewer vendors, feature kid-friendly activities. The Bonner County Library hosts family events periodically, such as a mid-June workshop on movement-based storytelling. There are wooden, parkour-inspired balance beams and vaults to play on from 3-4 pm every Wednesday. And in June, Lauren Kershner began hosting crafts with funding from Creations, an arts-and-crafts playspace in downtown Sandpoint.

Kershner believes investing in children will transform the planet. She’s worked with children for decades and currently nannies for local families. She ran the kids’ arts and crafts booth at the Sandpoint Farmers Market last year — magic wands with swirly ribbons were a favorite. Her energy around children seems boundless, with offthe-cuff songs teaching small kids to wear their shoes and listen to their mothers.

A native of Los Angeles, Kershner encountered the ethos of an open-hearted approach to life while working with kids at Lucidity festival in Southern California. Even from Idaho, she returns to Lucidity, driving the 20 hours to create “the container for the miracle” and to recharge herself.

Lucidity solidified Kershner’s desire to welcome children into a world of safety, creativity and possibility. “We can heal the world,” she said “and Sandpoint really is a kind community.”

Kindness is present everywhere you look at Sandpoint’s farmers market — in the love poured into the wares, in the smiles of friends meeting unexpectedly and in the gentle summer warmth filtering through the canopy of trees. n

Benny & Joon 30th Anniversary • Sat, July 15 at 7:15 pm and Sun, July 16 at 2:15 pm

• Garland Theater • 924 W. Garland Ave.

• $10

• Event info: linktr.ee/bennyandjoonspokane

“This is the best carrot I’ve ever eaten,” she exclaims. The market draws many out-of-town guests. During the course of a market season, over a third of visitors come from outside Bonner County, and close to a

Sandpoint Farmers Market • Saturdays from 9 am-1 pm and Wednesdays from 3-5:30 pm through Oct. 14 • Farmin Park, downtown Sandpoint • sandpointfarmersmarket.com

Kids can climb, sell and shop at Sandpoint Farmers Market. KATIE BOTKIN PHOTO

Benny & Joon superfan Ashley Graham. COURTESY PHOTO

THE BUZZ BIN

DID WE DO?’

Modern life is drowning in customer satisfaction surveys

BY NATE SANFORD

Afew months ago, I was confronted with an iPad while leaving a rural gas station bathroom.

“Satisfied with the cleanliness of this bathroom?” the screen asked.

Underneath the text, there were three buttons: a smiley face for “exceptional,” a straight face for “average” and an unhappy face for “poor.”

It felt a little silly. The bathroom was… fine? I honestly wasn’t thinking about it at all, until I had to. Touchscreen bathroom surveys are still rare, but they represent a growing trend: Sometime over the past decade, it became almost impossible to buy something without immediately being asked how you felt about it.

The food is still settling in my stomach when Domino’s emails me to ask on a scale of one to 10 how likely I am to recommend their pizza to a friend. I buy a mattress, and receive four separate emails asking if I was satisfied with the delivery.

In a drive-thru, I’m told I can get a free small soda if I scan the QR code on the receipt and take five minutes to fill out a survey. The Mariners lose, as they do, but the team still reaches out after the game because they would just “love” to hear my “feedback on the fan experience at T-Mobile Park.”

It’s kind of exhausting.

“Tell us what you really think,” says Amazon. “Tell us about your experience,” says Apple. “Enjoying the app so far?” “How did we do?” “Your feedback is important to us.”

Look, I get why businesses have to do this. It’s important to know whether or not customers are actually happy. Surveys are fine in moderation. But the sheer scale of the quest for feedback feels untenable.

My alma mater, for example, has been bugging me for months now about some sort of alumni survey that will help the university “better meet the needs of future

generations of students.” It’s a noble cause, but the survey takes 10 whole minutes.

In a decadelong quest to aggregate human emotions into data that can be crunched and touted at shareholder meetings, companies risk losing something fundamental and unknowable.

It’s not enough to simply sit and enjoy your purchase anymore — you must contend with yet another notification, and attempt to quantify how “satisfied” you felt while buying an Ikea table or whatever. Everyone becomes a critic. The default emotion is judgment.

There’s also the more nebulous question of what companies actually do with the data they collect. If enough people press the unhappy face while leaving the gas station bathroom, will the janitor hear about it? Will their quarterly bonus be lower?

It’s been common knowledge for years that Uber drivers and other gig workers risk deactivation if their rating dips below four stars. Precariously employed professors risk being denied tenure if their quarterly teacher evaluations are too low. Do we really want people’s livelihoods tied to the whims of a 19-year-old freshman pissed about getting a D- on a college essay?

The deluge of customer satisfaction surveys is only a small part of a larger cultural shift toward metrics and reviewing everything. Think about the iPad tip screens at coffee shops, the “like” button on social media, and the Google reviews that small businesses live or die by. Together, the numbers are supposed to mean something — but what? Will more data ever set us free? Who says the customer is always right?

We should note that the Inlander strives to inform readers with interesting and insightful writing. Feel free to reach out to nates@inlander.com to let us know on a scale of one to 10 how satisfied you felt while reading this essay. n

BACK WITH A BITE

Our favorite tatted, scruffy chef has returned to grace screens with his sad, puppy-dog eyes and mop-top hair. THE BEAR season two (Hulu) picks up the story immediately after season one’s finale, in which chef prodigy Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) finds a secret stash o’ cash to fund his dream restaurant. As The Bear’s first season focused on Carmy — his past as a rising fine-dining chef and coming home to Chicago after his brother’s suicide — the series explicitly captured the restaurant industry’s unforgiving emotional and physical toll. But this season, we’re treated to a closer look into the personal lives and dreams of his staff, with chapters focused solely on each of these supporting characters: Sydney, Richie, Marcus, and Tina. This pivot gently reminds viewers that it takes a whole team to keep any restaurant going, so chew on that next time you dine out, too. (CHEY SCOTT)

ROLL WITH IT

Fans of the Spokane-shot movie BENNY & JOON remember the dancing dinner roll scene filmed at Ferguson’s Cafe, but Donna Pollei has proof she was there. Back in 1992, Pollei played the waitress in the now-iconic scene, and she kept the two rolls Johnny Depp animated for it. Before leaving the set on her last day, Pollei asked cast members to sign the bread, after which she preserved the rolls with a thick lacquer of hair spray. (They honestly look great despite being 31 years old.) In celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary this month, Pollei loaned said rolls to the Central Library to put on display. See them for yourself outside the Inland Northwest Special Collections on the third floor through July, and read more about 30th anniversary celebrations on page 18. (MADISON

PEARSON)

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST

Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online on July 14.

MISTERWIVES, NOSEBLEEDS.

The alt-pop bands catchy tunes prove that Paramore doesn’t have the market cornered on melodic rock acts with red-headed female singers.

PALEHOUND, EYE ON THE BAT. Indie rocker El Kempner continues to showcase her reflective songwriting prowess on the latest Palehound LP.

LUKAS NELSON & THE PROMISE OF THE REAL, STICKS AND STONES. I was hoping this was the country rock troubadour doing a full album cover of New Found Glory’s 2002 classic pop punk record of the same name. But, alas, it’s originals. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

‘HOW

Rate your public bathroom experience!

Small Budget, Big Flavor

Feeding yourself has definitely gotten more expensive in the past year, and we’re all feeling the pinch at the grocery store and when dining out. So as we set out to compile this year’s Cheap Eats issue, we tasked our team with finding some of the best deals at a range of price points and portion sizes. The result is that every item featured in this year’s guide lands under $12 — some even as low as $4 or $5 — and most of the spots we highlight offer way more in the way of wallet-friendly eats than the single dishes featured here. You’ll learn about appetite-satiating options from some of the area’s newest eateries — Zozo’s Sandwich House, Sandos, Indigenous Eats — but also homages to old standbys, like Ferguson’s Cafe on Garland and Gordy’s on the South Hill. There’s something for every mealtime (or snack craving) of the day, plus plenty of choices

for vegetarians and vegans — just because it’s “cheap” doesn’t mean it’s all drenched in grease or sugar. We hope you discover tasty lunch spots, quick breakfasts on the go, happy hours, and plenty more. Best of all, you can feel good about these choices three times over: They’re tasty, affordable, and support local businesses.

— CHEY SCOTT, Arts & Culture Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Eliza Billingham

Nicholas Deshais

Madison Pearson

Summer Sandstrom (SSa)

Seth Sommerfeld (SS)

Chey Scott (CS)

Carrie Scozzaro (CSz)

Samantha Wohlfeil

$4 & under

MAPLE OLD FASHIONED DONUT

$1.80

Mike’s Old Fashioned Donuts, 9219 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

If you haven’t been, and you really should, there’s a schedule at Mike’s. Certain donuts come out of the fryer at certain times. The Persians and the raised glazed come out last, at 8:45 am. Before that, it’s a parade of sweet, fried dough — bars and fritter piles and cakes and filled donuts and, yes, old fashioneds. And that’s what you need to get when you come to Mike’s. An old fashioned. It’s in the name after all. Not to mention they’re the best donut to ever grace this fat-and-sugar-craving Earth, as everyone knows. The party begins at 6 am. (ND)

FRIED JALAPEÑO $2.99

La Plaza de Mexico, 9420 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

The fried jalapeño at La Plaza de Mexico is the kind of appetizer you want to share. Four of these fiery little fried peppers are quite a lot for one tongue to absorb (definitely ask for a side of crema). But like all the dishes at La Plaza de Mexico, they’re packed with flavor, well-priced and delivered quickly to your table, making it obvious why this nearly 10-year-old Mexican restaurant is a hands-down Valley favorite. (CSz)

ROCKWELL PICKLED EGG $3

The Flying Goat, 3318 W. Northwest Blvd., Spokane

An egg is a perfect thing. A meal unto itself. An ovoid symbolizing life and fertility. Heavenly, even when it’s deviled. The Flying Goat doesn’t curse its stuffed eggs with the mark of the beast, but the Rockwell pickled eggs will send you to cloud nine. The briny yolk does bring the heat — thanks to pepperoncini, garlic and peppercorns — but you’ll still be left wanting more. And at $3, heck, go full Cool Hand Luke and eat as many as you possibly can. (ND)

TASTY BUNS $3.99 EACH

Cheap Eats

Tasty Bun, 829 E. Boone Ave.

You know that saying, good things come in small packages? Well, there’s maybe never been a better example of this, foodwise, than steaming hot bao buns, which Tasty Bun in the Logan neighborhood specializes in. While these soft, white dough pockets are of Chinese origin, Tasty Bun uses the vessels for a culinary world tour, offering fillings like Japanese chicken curry, Swedish meatball, a classic American breakfast, spicy pork, and a vegan-friendly veggie filling. Get your buns on the go, or order in bulk to take home (buy 10, get two free) and reheat, as this takeout dish doesn’t mind hanging out in the fridge for a day or two. (CS)

TINY BRGR $4

BRGR House, 411 N. Nettleton St.

This petite slider is a chef’s take on a smash burger, but it punches above its weight. The 2-ounce patty, smashed until crispy on a woodfueled Argentinian grill, is topped with American cheese, a pickle and the inhouse secret “BRGR sauce.” Grab a couple for yourself, an extra for your date who says they aren’t hungry, or buy a whole bag at a discounted price and be the hero of your next party. Who says fun doesn’t come in small (and cheap!) packages? (EB)

Mike’s Old Fashioned Donuts does sugar justice. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Cheap Eats

STREET TACOS $4.25+ EACH

Uno Más Taco Shop, 835 N. Post St., 11205 E. Dishman Mica Rd., Spokane Valley

Chad White’s name is well-known in Spokane’s restaurant scene, but his most toothsome venture yet may be Uno Más. These street tacos are absolutely packed to the tortilla brim with juicy, tender and well-seasoned meat that will have you wishing you’d ordered about five more. With options for carnivores, vegetarians and pescetarians, there’s no feeling left out at Uno Más. If I could time travel, I’d go back to the moment I first tried the carnitas taco just so I could relive one of the best food-related moments of my life all over again — no exaggeration. (MP)

SPRING ROLLS $4.75

Le Brothers, 12012 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

No visit to Le Brothers (for pickup or dine-in) is complete without an order of spring rolls. And for under $5, you get two of them, each a tasty snack with plenty of mouth appeal. There’s the crunch of the greenery and Thai basil, the chewy, tender noodles, and plenty of cooked shrimp and pork, all tucked into a slightly sticky rice paper wrap and served cold. Gỏi cuốn in Vietnamese, Le Brothers’ spring rolls include a sweet-salty-savory peanut sauce for the perfect bite every time. (CSz)

CHEESEBURGER SPECIAL $5

Union Tavern, 1914 E. Sprague Ave.

There’s something just immensely satisfying about a basic burger done right. When you can get said burger and fries for a Lincoln, that’s another level of satisfaction. That’s exactly what Union Tavern offers every Tuesday night from 6 to 9 pm. Patrons can chow down on the bar’s not insubstantial deluxe cheeseburger for $5 (a double cheeseburger is still only $8, with bacon as an option

for $2 more). While the joint gets crowded for the deal, it’s a wonderful spirit of American camaraderie that can only be found via thrifty grilled beef and fried potatoes. (SS)

SAMOSAS $5 FOR TWO

Top of India, 11114 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

For really big appetites, the lunch buffet at Top of India has been a long-standing favorite (and yes, it’s definitely back from its pandemic hiatus). But for a smaller meal or appetizer try the samosas, a ubiquitous, savory fried pastry in Indian cuisine with both crunch and creaminess you crave. The vegetarian samosas include peas, potatoes and onion — who said eating your veggies had to be boring? — or try the lamb ($7), either served alongside two dipping sauces: mint and tamarind. (CSz)

CRAB RANGOON $5.50

Lalozy Food & Coffee, 13917 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley

How about some fried rice with your drive-thru latte? Or, to go with your morning Red Bull routine, the yummy crab rangoon — crispy pinwheels of fried dough filled with savory, creamy crab (or in the case of Lalozy, its fish-based substitute, surimi). It’s coffee and more at Lalozy, a charming Spokane Valley spot that got its start 20 years ago as a java joint. It has since expanded to include a smattering of pan-Asian dishes like Korean bulgogi, pad Thai and Vietnamese dumplings (which, at $3.50, definitely qualify as cheap eats, but sell out fast so call ahead). (CSz)

HAND PIES $5.85 EACH

New Love Coffee + Bean & Pie, 1102 W. Summit Pkwy. and other locations Filling but compact, sweet or savory, and meant to be enjoyed any time of day, Bean & Pie’s hand pies are perfectly flaky, pocket-sized meals. And, let’s face it: The best part of pie is the crust, and hand

$6 under&

For just $6, get a whole quarter (aka one slice) of Versalia’s pizza. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

pies enfold every last bit of filling on all sides. Bean & Pie recently merged with New Love Coffee, which serves the full pie lineup from its new Kendall Yards location, as well as at outposts in North Spokane and Liberty Lake. Whether you want something savory like biscuits and gravy for an ideal breakfast on the go, or a sweet afternoon treat like salted caramel apple, Bean & Pie’s mainstay flavors and seasonal rotations are fast, filling and fun. They also go great with coffee. (CS)

PIZZA SLICE $6

Versalia Pizza, 1333 W. Summit Pkwy., 20760 E. Indiana Ave., Liberty Lake

The one-minute walk from the Inlander office to Versalia Pizza in Kendall Yards makes it hard to not chow down on a slice every lunchtime. You can’t go wrong with any of their sub-$6 everyday pies — cheese, the Green Blossom, fresh mushroom, (actually, I hate mushrooms, so the last one does go wrong) — but the ovenbaked pepperoni is one of the best simple pizzas in town (plus, each slice is basically two slices big, and happy hour, from 2 to 5 pm on weekdays, brings the cost down another buck). For a little bit more ($6.25), you can also nosh on their bi-weekly specialty slices which range from the fruity (Peachy Keen: peaches, honey, gorgonzola, bacon) to the fiery (Poppin’ Off: garlic cream cheese base, jalapeños, Beecher’s white cheddar, bacon) to the festive (Gobble Gobble: turkey and cranberry meatballs, spinach, cream sauce) and everything in between. (SS)

SMOKED MUSUBI $6

Little Noodle, 713 W. Garland Ave.

This adorable pocket-sized snack is reminiscent of other savory Japanese convenience store pick-me-ups. A neatly packed patty of rice is topped with smoked Spam or tofu and wrapped like a gift with a band of seaweed. Little Noodle serves theirs with fried garlic and soy sauce for dipping. If you’re needing something a lil’ extra, go ahead and make the whole package crispy for a dollar more. It’s the perfect entree into Japanese cuisine, whether you’re still skeptical of sashimi or a sesame-seasoned pro. (EB)

DIL-LA $6

Good ’Dilla, 808 W. Main Ave. and rotating locations

Simple but timeless, the cheese quesadilla traces its roots to the 16th century. Local food truck Good ’Dilla serves a variety of unique quesadillas with fillings like meat and pickled veggies, but their cheese quesadilla holds its own. With two, 5-inch crunchy tortillas cut into triangles engulfing a bed of melted, gooey cheese, your tastebuds will be satiated. Good ’Dilla regularly updates social media with its weekly truck schedule, and just last week opened a permanent location in the River Park Square food court. (SSa)

CRISPY FALAFEL $6

Baba, 1242 W. Summit Pkwy.

Props for the happy hour menu at Baba! Nine different small plates at $5 and $6 (plus price points above this) means there’s plenty to choose from next time you get off work early or have a stylishly late dinner. The deep-fried falafel are bite-sized delights, especially topped with tahini, eggplant and pistachio. Or go for the crispy potatoes, topped with the famous Middle Eastern spice za’atar. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, try a pair of deviled eggs, reimagined with pomegranate molasses, chile-crunch oil and the beloved Egyptian spice blend dukkah. Happy hour happens daily 3 to 5 pm and again from 8 pm to close. (EB)

BEER BATTERED BANGER $6

The Crown & Thistle Pub, 107 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene

What’s better than a corn dog and more fun to say? A beer battered banger. What’s a banger? It’s what the Brits call a sausage, and they’re made from scratch at Coeur d’Alene’s British-style pub by co-owner Ben Drake (who just opened Gentleman Sausages across the street, in case you want to get your meat to-go). Crispy outside, meaty and savory inside, the pub’s beer battered bangers feature your choice of three rotating sausage options and one standard, the Benny brat. (CSz) >>>

Think Pink for

Cheap Eats

PORK GYOZA $6.95 FOR SIX

Shiki Hibachi Sushi, 808 W. Main Ave., Suite 105

Crispy on the bottom, soft and chewy on the inside — gyoza are the Japanese version of Chinese jiaozi, dumplings often nicknamed “potstickers” in English. Gyoza can be filled with any combination of ground pork, mushrooms, cabbage, shrimp, lamb or tofu. At Shiki, choose between a half-dozen pork gyozas or veggie gyozas, coming in around a dollar each and stuffed with delightful, nuanced umami flavor. Make sure to dip them in the sauce they’re served with, which adds that extra touch of chili vinegar tang. (EB)

BEER BUDDIES $6.99

Bennidito’s Pizza, 1426 S. Lincoln St., Bennidito’s Brewpub, 1909 E. Sprague Ave.

A fresco discovered earlier this year in Pompeii’s archaeological park shows a flat, round piece of dough topped with pomegranate seeds and a pesto-like sauce, sitting beside wine, figs, dates and nuts. Sounds like pizza, but researchers note it’s missing some key ingredients, namely tomatoes and cheese. Well, we don’t need to discover beer buddies, the pizza adjacent goodies at this Spokane in stitution. Fresh out of the oven, these tiny dough balls are slathered in butter and parmesan, and come with both tomato and creamy pesto dipping sauces. In the future, scientists may see a photo of these appetizers and wonder, “What were the ancients eating?” If we could tell them, we would: gold. (ND)

CUP OF SOUP $7

Chowderhead, 825 N. Monroe St.

Soup comes in many forms, from translucent broth to chunky chowder or a creamy bisque. Chowderhead, as the name suggests, serves a variety of this hearty soup every day. They have two menu mainstays: creamy tomato basil soup and traditional clam chowder. But there’s also a rotating special chowder, which changes regularly. Chowderhead’s smoked steelhead and elote corn chowders also offer new takes on dishes some may not immediately associate with soup. (SSa)

PHILLY ROLL $7

Sushi.com, 430 W. Main Ave.

I tend to think you can judge a sushi restaurant by how well they do the simple things. And at my beloved (and blissfully horribly named) Sushi.com, the proof is in the Philadelphia roll. There is nothing complicated about the eatery’s version of the industry standard roll — salmon, avocado and cream cheese wrapped in rice and seaweed — but it’s always fresh, which allows for the individual elements to pop individually and in tandem. Whether plain, dipped in soy sauce, or smothered in wasabi, the salmon’s smooth, rich fish flavor shines through. Pair the Philly with the excellent simplicity of Sushi.com’s miso soup ($3), and you’ve got a wonderful little cheap-eats meal. (SS)

TURKISH CIGARS $7

The White House Grill, 712 N. Spokane St., Post Falls

Smoking is bad for you, but the White House Grill’s Turkish Cigars are very, very good. Made of spinach and tangy feta cheese, wrapped in thin phyllo dough, and fried until crisp, these savory cylinders come four to a plate with a side of tomato onion relish. The dish reflects the Turkish heritage of chef-owner Raci Erdem, who opened the restaurant in 1996, wowing audiences with his combination of Mediterranean-inspired dishes like kuzu makarna (grilled marinated lamb), and his gregarious personality. Erdem also operates the Oval Office (also in Post Falls, but currently closed for renovations) and the Pentagon Bistro & Martini Bar in Liberty Lake. (CSz)

BLACK BEAN SLIDERS $7

Bon Bon, 926 W. Garland Ave.

The actual best cheap eats in Spokane is the Bon Bon’s free (FREE!) movie theater popcorn paired with an RC Cola (it’s Pepsi… but I go there far too often, so I’m allowed bartender inside jokes). But some of you might say the “Sad Seth Special” isn’t a “real meal.” Be

Chowder is the name of the game at Chowderhead. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Kendall Yards • 1227 W Summit Pkwy • theteanw.com

“Yum!!! Such friendly service and really great flavor options.” - Ashley C

that way, jerks! If you need something more substantive, the black bean sliders are the shining star of Bon Bon’s food menu — a perfect small bit before or after a movie at the adjoining Garland Theater. The delicious, smooth black bean flavor of the two patties is boosted by crunchy edges, oven-crisped buns, salsa, sriracha mayo and pepper jack cheese for a mild dose of spiciness. The small sliders are enough to satisfy hunger without being a gut bomb, leaving more room for… free popcorn (duh)! (SS)

SMALL SANDWICH $7.28

Zelia’s Cheese Steaks & Subs, 415 N. Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley

The windows of Zelia’s Cheese Steaks & Subs still list burgers, hot dogs and other casual fare, but since opening 19 years ago, owners Ray and Sally (Zelia) Thomas have pared the menu back to just cheesesteaks and subs. Choose from 10 beef and eight chicken sammies, like the Sullivan with tender sliced beef, gooey melted provolone, savory mushrooms and plenty of au jus soaking into a soft, chewy bun. And if you’re wondering how to pronounce Zelia, it rhymes with “hell, yeah!” as in “hungry for something tasty?” Zelia! (CSz)

HALF SANDWICH $7.33

The High Nooner, 237 W. Riverside Ave., 523 N. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley

Every Spokanite knows about High Nooner’s huge sandwiches. But if you don’t, it’s time to be educated. The local shops have a set menu of sandwiches to choose from, but also allows hungry customers to assemble their own to suit individual tastes. Personally, I’ve never been able to finish both halves of my Unforgettable Nooner — turkey with bacon, mayo, cream cheese, avocado, tomato and sprouts — so this half-sandwich deal is the perfect quick bite when I’m craving cold cuts and crunchy sprouts between two pieces of the softest bread known to humanity. Just typing this is making me hungry… (MP)

CRUNCH & MUNCH $7.50

Moscow Bagel & Deli, 310 S. Main St., Moscow

Introduced to me by my U-of-I-attending best friend, this deli cious, rhyming delight is perfection between bagel halves and, in my opinion, a must-try if you’re in the area. You’ve got your turkey, your smoked cheddar cheese, your Parmesan peppercorn ranch, and honey mustard. But hold on… nacho cheese Doritos smooshed between the two halves, giving this sandwich its apt name, and a welcome texture to complement the steaming hot, fluffy bagel of your choosing. (MP)

BUN JOVI SMASH BURGER $7.95

Zozo’s Sandwich House, 2501 N. Monroe St.

It’s getting harder and harder to find a sub-$12, even sub-$10 burger that’s actually good. While I can think of a handful of top local contenders, allow me to introduce one of the region’s newest challengers. Deceptively simple, Zozo’s “Bun Jovi” smash burger has the requisite toppings: American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion and the house-made “Zo” burger sauce. But at this price, most wouldn’t expect two patties (tucked between a lightly toasted bun that’s still soft on the top) spread as thinly as possible into delightfully blackened, crispy, lacy edges. Sure, sides (like Zozo’s dill pickle pasta salad — try it) are extra, but who can be mad about that when biting into such a perfectly executed American classic? No one. (CS)

BURGER $7.95

Pryor’s Rustic Restaurant, 24706 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards

If you’re a fan of diner-style classics, Pryor’s Rustic Restaurant has your burger: a grilled patty slathered with ketchup and mustard on a soft, chewy bun. Sliced onion, pickles, tomato and lettuce provide a well-balanced crunch. You don’t need a crane to lift it to your mouth and it’s under $10, which seems unheard of anymore. Dating back four decades, Pryor’s is known for its fish and rustic décor of farm implements, old signs and other country kitsch, making it the kind of must-visit place you’d expect to see on a travel blog. (CSz)

Cheap Eats

$8 & under

BUILD-YOUR-OWN SANDWICH $7.99

Huckleberry’s Natural Market, 926 S. Monroe St. Toasted or cold. White or wheat (or hoagie, or sourdough). Mayo and mustard, or pesto or hummus or olive tapenade or roasted tomato aioli. Meats, cheeses and veggies galore. The buildyour-own sandwich at the 9th Street Bistro inside Huckleberry’s offers a smorgasbord of options for those who want to customize their own hearty deli sandwich. The one I concocted — on paper; deli staff actually do the stacking — had mounds of fresh, thick slices of turkey accompanied by beautifully crisp vegetables and cheddar. At less than $9 after tax, it’s already a great deal, but the thing was so huge I could only eat half, making it an outstanding value for two meals. (SW)

VEGGIE SANDWICH $7.99

Zullee Mediterranean Grill, 4805 N. Division St., Suite 102 Feta, olives and cucumbers — the holy trinity of Mediterranean food. Wrap them up in a warm pita with some homemade tzatziki sauce, and you’ll be transported to August in Santorini. Zullee is a cute, fast-casual dine-in or takeout spot with convenient self-order kiosks or traditional wait service. Kabobs, small plates and family dinners are also offered, but the sandwiches make the perfect portable meal. Crisp, fresh veggies

and bright citrus flavors help beat the summer heat and keep more (phyllo) dough in your pocket. Baklava, anyone? (EB)

TOM YUM SOUP $8

Kuni’s Thai Cuisine, 101 E. Hastings Rd. If you’re looking for a complementary blend of spicy and sour in soup form, the popular Thai tom yum soup checks all the boxes. At Kuni’s, the soup is made with a choice of tofu, chicken, or shrimp, plus mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes cooked in a broth seasoned with galangal, ginger’s peppery, earthy cousin, alongside roasted Thai chili paste, lime juice, and aromatic kaffir lime leaves. With its citrusy, bold flavor, tom yum soup becomes more and more satisfying after each bite. (SSa)

MONSTER CHONK PURRITO $8

Kitty Cantina, 6704 N. Nevada St. Mornings can be rough for anyone. But starting out your mornings with cats and a burrito could kick start any day, no matter how tough the going gets. Kitty Cantina’s breakfast burrito is definitely a chonk. This flour tortilla is stuffed with soft eggs, sweet sausage, potatoes and melted cheese, then panini-pressed for a crispy outside. Kitty Cantina has a speedy drive-thru for anyone in a hurry in the mornings and a walk-up cafe, but if you call ahead to make an appointment, you could enjoy this burrito while surrounded by adorable kittens who are ready to find their fur-ever homes. (MP)

CHEESEBURGER $7.99

Yoke’s Fresh Market, 210 E. North Foothills Dr. We caught wind of this epic deal after seeing locals rave about it on social media, and knew it had to be a contender for this year’s Cheap Eats. The Foothills Yoke’s boasts a massive deli, sandwich counter/grill and coffee bar, and offers this standard cheeseburger daily from 10:30 am to 5 pm, along with plenty more specialty or build-your-own sandwiches. While service times can border on slow, consider placing your order and grocery shopping as you wait. This no-frills burger with just cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo is definitely hefty, and comes with a boatload of crinkle-cut fries on the side. For $1 more, Yoke’s specialty burger menu offers versions like the BBQ Bacon and other combos. (CS)

Shipfaced Saloon | Patio Pages : Group

Pages : 4 S : TM

A rainbow of freshness from Zullee.

Cheap Eats

SEAFOOD JAMBALAYA $8

Fish On, 6613 Commercial Park Ave., Rathdrum You might not expect seafood to show up on our list for Cheap Eats, but then again, you might not expect a seafood-forward spot in rural Rathdrum, Idaho. But with its surfer/ rocker vibe and from-scratch menu, Fish On isn’t your ordinary fast casual restaurant. The jambalaya is packed with flavor, from the lobster stock to the house-smoked salmon. Nestled over white rice, the jambalaya also includes clams, shrimp, mussels and a little bit of Cajun kick for a New Orleans

CHEESE TACO + CONSOMMÉ $8

Birrieria Tijuana, 2018 N. Hamilton St. Tacos are one of the most fertile grounds for cost-effective bites, but Birrieria Tijuana sticks out ever since opening near Gonzaga in June 2022. While the spot’s standard tacos are fine, the move is to order the cheese tacos ($4, with your choice of meat) and a side of consumé (the beefy broth of the slow-cooked birria stew, $4) in order to submerge those suckers in the tasty juices. Served with grilled onions, grilled peppers, and a rotating cart of sauces and garnishes, the tacos are exquisite gooey messes on their own, but when dipped in the consommé they become delightful sloppy explorations of Mexican flavor. Grab your napkins — though maybe don’t wear white — and savor the flavor. (SS)

The Mango Tree, 14208 E. Sprague Ave.,

Potatoes and onions are good friends in many a culinary tradition and are a staple in plenty of Indian dishes. Look for them in the ultra light, crispy fritter called pakora, which at Mango Tree comes eight to a platter with the requisite mint chutney and tamarind dipping sauces. Try them at any of four Spokane locations — South Hill, North Side, downtown, and the newest-to-open branch in Spokane Valley (formerly the Ref) — as well

SPICY TUNA ROLL $9

Avocado Roll Sushi, 9423 N. Division St.

In the wide world of sushi, “cheapness” isn’t always a bad word. In many cases, it equates simplicity. After all, a $3 piece of nigiri allows the fish to shine, free of all that other stuff we Americans love to drench on our rolls, from spicy mayo to eel sauce and cream cheese. It’s why I always gravitate toward a humble (yet not plain, flavorwise) spicy tuna roll. Here, the tuna itself is the star, its freshness and full flavor revealed by a simple backdrop of rice, cucumber and nori, with a little boost of soy sauce or wasabi. Plus, you’ll still have enough room for a few nigiri, and maybe even mochi ice cream, as I was on a recent trek to this cozy but bustling North Spokane strip-mall spot. (CS)

BREAKFAST SCRAMWICH $9

Sandos, 1602 N. Ash St. With scratch-made bread, sauce and meat, Sandos elevates the breakfast experience without draining your wallet. All of its sandwiches are served on sister restaurant Peace Pie Pizzeria’s signature garlic knot bread. With fluffy scrambled eggs cooked with bell peppers, onions and cheese, and then paired with arugula and sweet-and-spicy aioli, plus bacon, a sausage patty, or avocado, the breakfast scramwich is the perfect way to start your day and satiate your roaring morning hunger. Sandos serves breakfast sandwiches all day, along with lunch sandos all under $11. (SSa)

IN G C H EA P N EVER

Tasty and affordable, a simple sushi roll lets the fish be the focus. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

COTTAGE SPECIAL $9.95

Cottage Café, 6902 E. Appleway Blvd., Spokane Valley

$10 & under Cheap Eats

Looking a bit like an English Tudor pub, the Cottage Café has become a Spokane Valley institution since Drew and Kim Baker opened it in 2008. Homey like you’d expect a cottage to be, the café serves breakfast all day like the Cottage Special: two eggs cooked to order and hash browns or toast. Get there early to snag a seat on the patio in warmer weather or a cozy booth, and get ready to chow down on classic comfort foods. (CSz)

ELOTE BOWL $9.95

Cochinito Taqueria, 10 N. Post St.

While Cochinito’s selection of unique tacos may be the highlight of its vast menu, this creamy side dish is lighter than any of the taqueria’s other appetizers, making it a worthy accompaniment to any entree. Featuring a base of grilled corn and smoked paprika crema, it’s basically deconstructed Mexican street corn, or elote, in a bowl. On top of the corn is slightly salty cotija cheese, green onions and, best of all, some crispy pickled onions that really pull the whole dish together. (MP)

LOADED TOTS $9.99

River City Pizza, 17018 E. Sprague Ave. #102, Spokane Valley

The stubby cylinders known as tater tots don’t need much more than to be properly cooked — crispy — and perhaps salted or served with a dipping sauce, like ketchup. But River City Pizza turns their tots into a meal by loading them with tasty combinations such as barbecue chicken and red onion, or Greek olives, feta cheese

and artichokes, then topping them with mozzarella cheese and broiling them until bubbly. Choose from six types of loaded tots at any of River City’s three current locations (Otis Orchards, Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene) or the soon-to-open Post Falls spot. (CSz)

SGT. PEPPER POPPERS $10

Boomer’s Classic Rock Bar & Grill, 18219 E. Appleway Ave., Spokane Valley

The name says it all: Boomer’s Classic Rock Bar & Grill. This longtime Spokane Valley spot is where you can get your groove on, listen to live music and also enjoy a menu of Americana favorites with a fun twist. Nearly everything on the menu is named for a popular band, song or other pop culture reference, like the Beatlemaniainspired Sgt. Pepper Poppers. For $10, you get eight perfectly fried jalapeño halves, stuffed full of tangy cream cheese and served alongside a sweet-and-spicy raspberry chipotle dipping sauce. (CSz)

TWO SLIDERS $10

Zola, 22 W. Main Ave.

Happy hour isn’t just for drinks at Zola. Beer pairs best with burgers, and from 4 to 6 pm every day you can grab a couple of sliders to chase your draft brew for just a sawbuck. There’s a reason Zola has been voted by Inlander readers as one of the best happy hours for a decade. Live music, salvaged decor and expert bartenders make the experience unforgettable, whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or hanging out for the evening. Keep the burgers for yourself, or share one with a new friend. (EB)

GRINDER BAGEL SAMMY $10

Hidden Bagel, 1238 W. Summit Pkwy., 1001 W. 25th Ave.

With one location near Inlander HQ, Hidden Bagel offers a pretty hefty menu of bagel sandwiches, but the grinderstyle sandwich is my go-to when I forget to pack a lunch. Let’s be honest — sometimes I “forget” on purpose just so I can indulge in this tasty sammy. Featuring salami, pepperoni, melted provolone, shredded lettuce, pepperoncini and a grinder dressing, I can almost imagine I’m in a New York deli, minus the yelling and car horns. And, if I may, I suggest getting it on a pickle cheddar ranch bagel for another layer of flavor. (MP)

BURRITO BOWL $10

Off the Wall, 121 N. Wall St.

Finding a cheap lunch stop or late-night meal that isn’t a fast-food chain is often easier said than done, but Off the Wall strives to provide the downtown Spokane core with healthier options by serving three different menus from a central spot. From its Fork & Bowl menu, order a bed of zesty cilantro lime rice topped with cabbage, beans, onions, bell peppers and salsa. For $1 more, add sour cream, cotija cheese or guacamole. Plus, Fork & Bowl’s entrees are pretty sizable portions, so be prepared to take some leftovers home for tomorrow’s lunch. (SSa)

Cheap Eats

VEGGIE FRYBREAD $10.50

Indigenous Eats, 829 E. Boone Ave., 808 W. Main Ave. (River Park Square)

The food at Indigenous Eats is special. First, the menu revolves around a family recipe by owner Jenny Slagle’s mother. Second, it’s one of the region’s only spots focusing on food inspired by the diets of North America’s Native population, of whom Slagle is a direct descendant. For its signature dish, Indigenous Eats’ ubiquitous frybread is loaded with fresh protein (bison, beef or chicken) and veggies. For this specific price point, however, we picked the veggie frybread, with a choice of beans, plus shredded cheese, onion, tomato, lettuce, pickled jalapeño, sour cream and a choice of salsa. Atop their fried bed, the veggies are light and fresh, while the salty, crispy dough soaks up the salsa and other tasty bits. (CS)

MANGO MATCHA SMOOTHIE $10.50

Wellness Tree Juice Bar, 1025 S. Perry St., 1028 N. Hamilton St.

While cheap eats are often the realm of the greasy spoons, you can find some that hit that healthier sweet spot. Whenever I’m craving a light meal or too under the weather to crave solid food, I reach for a smoothie, and Wellness Tree Juice Bar is my go-to. These aren’t your sugary mall food court smoothies, but unique blends alive with fruity flavor. While the vivid magenta of the dragon fruitforward Dragon Dream is a delight, my fav is the Mango Matcha for its atypical blend of tropical fruits (mango, banana, pineapple) with matcha’s green tea goodness. (SS)

SERGIO’S BURRITO $10.50-$11.50

De Leon Foods, 15530 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley and other locations

Every day is special at De Leon Foods, the umbrella name for Sergio and Mayra De Leon’s multifaceted business that includes two restaurants, a catering company and a tortilla production facility for in-house and retail markets. Tacos on Tuesdays, chicken nachos on Thursdays, menudo on the weekend. But if you’re looking for a manly sized meal any day of the week, you’ll find it in Sergio’s Burrito. It’s a huge tortilla stuffed with tender, mouth-watering chicken, pork ($10.50) or carne asada ($11.50), smothered in enchilada sauce and served with rice, beans, and a side salad. (CSz)

JERK CAULIFLOWER $11.50

Uprise Brewing Co., 617 N. Ash St. Cauliflower is super versatile, posing as a great meat alternative or a fun way to get in your daily veggies. Among Uprise Brewing’s six appetizers is its popular jerk cauliflower, which is also served in a few entrees (and for good reason). The fried florets are seasoned with a slightly spicy, aromatic and smoky house-made Jamaican jerk sauce. On the side sits a dill ranch sauce that cuts through the jerk sauce’s spice while adding an extra layer of herbaceous flavor. (SSa)

COLD MEATLOAF SANDWICH $11.99

Ferguson’s Cafe, 804 W. Garland Ave. Ferguson’s is known for many things. The iconic bread roll dancing scene from Benny & Joon was filmed inside, plenty of stars dined in its cushy booths for Vision Quest and, most importantly, it serves downright tasty food. When you order a cold meatloaf sandwich at Ferguson’s, you know exactly what you’re gonna get. A thick slice of cold meatloaf between two Texas toast slices — absolutely divine in its simplicity. While biting into the sandwich, just think about Madonna and Aidan Quinn doing the same all those years ago. You’re in good company at Ferguson’s. (MP)

LUNCH SPECIAL $11.99

CALI RITO $12

TacoVado, 1327 W. Northwest Blvd.

Even after transitioning from a tiny drive-through stand to a sit-down restaurant with an expanded menu, TacoVado continues to prioritize affordable and fresh options. Not only can you get any of their breakfast or traditional tacos for $6 or less, TacoVado has a ton of burritos, bowls, salads and snacks for under $12. Take the Cali Rito, for example, with a hearty blend of cauliflower, black beans, rice, cabbage, and pickled red onions coated with a spicy almond arbol salsa and smooth avocado crema, a perfect blend of heat and fresh veggies to pair with an ice cold beer or a refreshing glass of iced tea. (SSa)

$12

& under

Shawn O’Donnell’s, 719 N. Monroe St. Every day between 11 am and 3 pm you can grab one of the “quick lunch” specials at Shawn O’Donnell’s. The list of affordable options includes a two-piece fish and chips, pub burger, shepherd’s pie, chowder bread bowl, Guinness beef stew, or chicken pot pie. I was surprised at just how quickly the pot pie came out and soon saw the clever reason why: the tasty chicken, gravy and vegetable mixture is served between two flaky golden pieces of pastry, cutting down on the heating time. The beautiful crust on top invites each bite, while the piece on the bottom soaks up all that delicious filling. (SW)

TUSCAN PASTA $12

Summit Kitchen & Canteen, 1235 S. Grand Blvd.

If you’re looking for a warm dish of carby goodness, try the Tuscan pasta at Summit Kitchen. The platter of linguine pasta is coated in a subtle wine butter sauce with cooked shallots, cherry tomatoes, spinach and bacon. Served with toasty, salty garlic bread, the dish is one of their more popular items. While the pasta can definitely stand alone, for $5 or $7 more you can add chicken, steak or salmon. While these protein add-ons take the dish out of this year’s Cheap Eats price range, it may be tempting once you’ve given it a shot. (SW)

VEGGIE FRIED RICE $12

Gordy’s Sichuan Cafe, 501 E. 30th Ave.

Fried rice is a go-to for staying full on a budget, and Gordy’s does not disappoint. Their generous portion of egg and veggies in warm, crispy rice could easily stretch into two meals for one person, or one meal for a couple. The dish is sticky enough for chopsticks, but no one will judge if you dig in with a spoon. Gordy’s is takeout friendly, complete with the iconic to-go box and handle, but the matcha green painted cafe is so cute and cozy you may just want to dine in. (EB) n

The Tuscan pasta at Summit Kitchen definitely stands alone, or you can add extra protein. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

IN THE

Burger Guide

Hamburgers are a culinary delight that never fails to satisfy. The juicy patty, perfectly cooked to your liking, is nestled between two soft and toasted buns, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. The toppings, whether it’s the classic lettuce, tomato, and onion or a more adventurous combination, add a burst of freshness and crunch. And let’s not forget about the condiments, from tangy ketchup to creamy mayo, that elevate the burger to a whole new level of deliciousness. With each bite, you experience a symphony of tastes that make hamburgers an irresistible treat.

Caesars® Sports Grill

lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickle

EPIC Sports Bar

Airway

| northernquest.com 509-481-2122

The ultimate sports bar experience. Burgers piled high, cold beers on draft, and a 30-foot screen streaming your favorite 8oz all-natural beef patty, cheddar, romaine, red

FRUGALS SPOKANE

our five-pound burger and fry challenge! games on our 30-foot LED HDTV.

garlic fries, waffle fries, or tots!

hamburger for only $3.95

burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, cheese curds, fries and milkshakes

drive-thru and DoorDash

highball

Decadent dining and craft cocktails in a luxury lounge.

Located inside Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Highball features glitzy cocktails, whimsical

Indigenous Eats

A unique fusion of Native American comfort food and the beloved American burger.

The Indigenous Eats Powwow Burger is a high-quality 1/3 lb Angus beef patty, seasoned with a blend of sage forward spices that add depth and richness to the meat. It is topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. A house made huckleberry relish adds a sweet and tangy sauce that blends well with the savory and well-seasoned patty. The burger is served on a delicious frybread bun, a Native American staple that adds a unique twist and a slightly crispy texture.

Burger—an instant smash hit.

and a DJ on Saturday nights.

signature drink with our customizable Highball Martini.

 A Powwow Burger is a prime example of culinary fusion

 Powwow Burgers offer a diverse and mouthwatering experience

 A great combination of frybread, seasoning, huckleberry, spices and burgers!

& all day

Saturday & Sunday

Poole’s Public House

Poole’s

Our 1/3 pound burgers are 100% locally sourced brisket blend beef patty. Served with Fries or Tots. Substitute Chicken Breast or Veggie Patty | add 1.00. Make it a Double | add 3.50. Substitute Sweet Potato Fries, Side Salad, Caesar Salad, Chili or Clam Chowder add 1.00.

with chips & a soda or 10

the weekday lunch basket for $10 Includes Logan’s loaded Quarter Pounder Barrel Pub Beer

 Half-Off ALL alcoholic beverages from 3-5pm Monday through Sunday!

 Join us for breakfast Saturday and Sunday from 8am-Noon! Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas are just $5!

 Wine, Whiskey & Scotch are half-off on Wednesdays!

Shelby’s Burgers

Nostalgic Shelby’s Smash Burgers, handspun shakes, french fries and breakfast in its simplicity that’s comforting on the deepest levels!

What is a SMASH BURGER? Patties are smashed into a near oblivion, caramelizing the beef into the crispy jagged edges “laces out.” American cheese melted, buttery potato bun, squishy, molds to the meat, absorbing the yummy scrummy making it perfectly malleable. All dressed in ketchup, mustard, dill pickles, crunchy iceberg lettuce, and onion!

What sets us apart? We use a unique beef blend made just for Shelby’s of Short rib, brisket and added fat ground daily by Angus Meats. This steak texture produces knockout beef tones with fatty avors making it the pinnacle of beef science! Burgers don’t get better than this!

 Call for pick up: (509) 315-8128

 Summer hours: 8:00am to 8:00pm

 Best Day Ever Breakfast Burger w/ bacon, egg, & cheese Firebird (V) Oklahoma

Locally sourced Angus beef, candied bacon, avocado,

Uncle Rusty’s Diner

Family owned Uncle Rusty’s Diner is a must try!

Uncle Rusty’s Diner has been serving Classic American Diner food in Downtown Spokane since 2019. Chef Rusty himself adds a homemade touch to your favorite breakfast and lunch dishes. Our friendly staff is always happy to serve customers.

Our Bacon Double Cheese Burger comes with 2 charbroiled beef patties topped with bacon, served with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a homemade bun. Come in soon and try our Classic American food with a twist.

THE VIKING

NORTH SPOKANE | 509-326-6241

“Wednesday Burger”

Hand ground ribeye burger patty, house-made American cheese, house-made rough-cut pickles and garlic aioli, all on a toasted buttery brioche bun. Burger and a side for only $12.

 $7 Burger & Fries every Thursday

 Hand Breaded Country Fried Steak

 Breakfast and Lunch served daily from 6am - 3pm

 Dine in, take out and delivery is available through DoorDash & Uber Eats

 Your All-Around Craft Bar!

 Make sure to check out our daily specials

 Dine in or take out through Treehouse Delivery!

 All-Day Happy Hour Sundays

 Now serving brunch Saturday and Sunday

GOT MILK?

The nation’s first nonprofit creamery gives Eastern Washington direct access to fresh, local dairy products

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

In the mid-1960s, there were 360 dairy farms in Stevens County just north of Spokane. Today, there are nine.

Stacy Thomas owns one of them. He and his wife, Virginia, milk five Jersey cows at their dairy in Blue Creek, north of Chewelah. He knows the challenges of dairy farming — constantly milking, never taking a vacation from livestock, maintaining food safety regulations and acquiring extra licensing to make cheese and yogurt. But Thomas says the biggest challenge for dairy farmers in northeastern Washington was finding somewhere to sell their milk.

“All these little towns up and down used to have creameries that they could sell their milk to,” Thomas says. “Now those markets have disappeared.”

When the markets disappeared, the dairy farmers did, too.

The Thomases are also on the board of Columbia Community Creamery, a new nonprofit milk processor and dispensary that hopes

to bring stability to dairy farming in Eastern Washington.

The creamery is a recipient of the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s food system infrastructure grant, which aims to rebuild local food supply chains after COVID. The creamery buys milk from small, local farmers, processes it, and then markets the milk, plus other dairy products (yes, ice cream!), directly to consumers. The creamery is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12-6 pm. It also operates a stand at the Chewelah Farmers Market on Fridays from 11 am to 3:30 pm.

Columbia Community Creamery is the first nonprofit creamery in the United States. There are no membership fees and no minimum shipping requirements. Whatever proceeds exceed its operational costs will be invested back into community efforts and education.

The creamery is about to boast another national first: a fresh milk dispenser. These coin-operated, bring-your-own-bottle machines

COLUMBIA COMMUNITY CREAMERY

519 N. Park St., Chewelah

Open Mon, Wed, Sat from noon-6 pm Fri from 11 am-3:30 pm at the Chewelah Farmers Market cccmilk.org

We all scream for (local) cream!

ELIZA BILLINGHAM PHOTOS

are common in Europe, but this is the first time Inland Northwest locals will be able to walk right up, press a button, fill their own bottle with fresh, clean, minimally processed milk, and drive home.

Milking, grazing and caring for dairy cows is already a full-time job. Add processing, branding and marketing milk on top of that, and it’s near impossible for a small dairy farmer to keep up, Thomas says.

But the white, square building off U.S. Route 395 with manicured shrubs, a pasteurizing room and a retail space can change that.

For the grand opening of Columbia Community Creamery last month, the board invited hundreds of visitors to tour its premises.

“This is where the dirty bottles would come in,” Thomas says, motioning to a sink and an automatic bottle sanitizer at his right as he walks through the door to the processing room, “because we’re using glass milk bottles, which are reusable indefinitely.”

Past the sink is the main event, a 500-gallon vat pasteurizer, which heats the milk for half an hour at 145 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s essentially a double boiler, Thomas says, with the raw milk in an interior vat and hot water circulating around it. It’s the lowest legal pasteurizing temperature — hot enough to kill any unwanted pathogen, but not so hot that it ruins the taste.

Thomas says the milk processed at the new creamery tastes pretty much the same as milk straight out of a cow.

The milk is processed minimally enough that it can be used at home to make yogurt or cheese. The creamery plans on selling culture kits and maybe even hosting public classes on how to use this nutrient-dense food.

“Access to market — that’s not just a farmer issue, that’s a consumer issue, too,” Thomas says. “Stevens County is such a cornucopia of farms, and there’s so much wonderful farming, but the lack of processing capability really limits what the consumer can actually buy that was produced locally.”

During COVID, there were times when Chewelah dairy farmers had milk at their farms but Safeway didn’t have cartons on its shelves. Thanks to the new creamery, Chewelah residents can go straight to their neighbors for an extra cup of cream.

Aubrey Markel was asked to be on the board of Columbia Community Creamery when the idea was hatched two years ago. She’s the agricultural science teacher at Chewelah’s Jenkins Jr/Sr High School, plus the Future Farmers of America adviser for the region.

To Markel, joining the board meant helping revitalize an industry that could eventually provide jobs for some of her current students.

“Our tagline, ‘More than just a bottle of milk,’ is that we are paying farmers a livable wage,” Markel says. “Paying a little bit more for your milk goes directly to the farmer.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average price consumers pay for a gallon of whole milk has gone up from $2.78 in 2000 to $4.23 in 2023. For the past two decades, farmers have consistently earned roughly half the retail price. In June this year, farmers were paid about $1.81 per gallon.

As a nonprofit, Columbia Community Creamery will be able to pay its farmers about $3.60 per gallon, allowing farmers to reap much more of the sale price.

After being cooled through a spiral of coils, the milk gets a Choose Your Own Adventure moment — it can either go straight into a refrigerated storage tank or through the cream separator, which looks like a small pointed gnome compared to the giant heating vat. The little trinket enables the creamery to sell bottled cream, plus make its own ice cream from the fresh froth.

All of the milk eventually gets bottled by an automated machine that fills the reusable jars and slaps the cap on. Milk that still has its cream will naturally separate in the bottle, which the lucky buyer can shake back into the milk or spoon off and fluff up into whipped cream.

“Wonderful in coffee,” a local resident assures others on the tour.

Once the fresh milk dispenser arrives from England, it will be hooked up straight to the refrigerated storage tank. The milk is clean, kept inside a closed loop at all times in the processing room, and buyers can save some nickels each time they bring their own bottles. The dispenser works just like a water bottle filling station, except that it dispenses milk, of course, in a preselected amount.

Lots of pictures in the retail room of the creamery show the history of dairy in Chewelah. The brightest ones show two teams of dairy farmers — Stacy and Virginia Thomas, and Leanna Wolf and Steve Lake, also of LakeWolf Creamery. These are the people providing about 300 gallons a week to the creamery, and who will receive most of the money each customer pays for their milk, cheese and ice cream.

“Just knowing your farmers is so important,” Merkel says. “We’re so far removed. I mean, I teach agriculture classes. I’ve had to say in class, like, ‘Hey, chocolate milk does not come from brown cows.’”

The dairy farmers help pass out milk and cookies at the grand opening, with bright red T-shirts that read, “Hi, I’m your dairy farmer.”

Virginia Thomas has pictures of her brown Jersey cows on her phone. She shows one of Daisy, with a black face, wide ears, a stuffed mouth and floppy tongue, grazing in the middle of a meadow hemmed in by mountains.

“Dairy cows are magical creatures because they turn grass into ice cream,” Thomas says. Well, not quite. But that’s how she gets kids excited about dairy farming. “It’s enough,” she says. “That’s all they need to know.” n

The creamery bottles 300 gallons of milk each week.

Cruising to New Heights

Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One may be yet another film that is only half a story, but it is a damn good one

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

Throughout Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, a fitting mouthful of a title for the now seventh entry in the action series, there is one performance that encapsulates the experience. No, it is not Tom Cruise’s tired IMF agent Ethan Hunt running hither and thither to prevent an AIdriven apocalypse. Instead, it is character actor Shea Whigham as newcomer Jasper Briggs who is never far behind after being tasked with taking Hunt down after he goes rogue. Playing a pseudo-antagonist, Whigham perfectly embodies the exasperation a bemused Briggs has for these spy shenanigans. From when he offers a comically grandiose proclamation about Hunt’s notorious propensity for evading capture to how he claws at the face of a random man in the hopes he is wearing a mask, his gruff familiarity with the rules of this franchise is where the movie also is at its most fun. Even as you shake your head at its silliness, you’re still along for the ride.

Directed once more by Christopher McQuarrie, who previously helmed 2015’s Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation and 2018’s Mission: Impossible — Fallout, the film follows Hunt as he must move quickly to avert yet another looming catastrophe that no one else is capable of stopping. However, in a moderately timely plot that could be read as being about a broader crisis in Hollywood, he’ll have to fight a newly sentient AI program that’s both everywhere and nowhere. Returning to assist are Simon Pegg’s Benji, Ving Rhames’ Luther, and Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa who are now the closest thing Hunt has to a family as they go on mission after mission together. Unwittingly getting caught up in this is the plucky thief Grace, played by Hayley Atwell of many a recent Marvel blockbuster, who interrupts a mission for a key Hunt and company are after.

The plot doesn’t particularly matter all that much other than as an excuse to get to the extended next action set piece. It calls back to the very first MI movie to resurrect faces new and old, though it is by no means

necessary to revisit it before this. The film is often a delightfully slick operation, giving just enough exposition to provide the basics of what you need to know before we get to the kinetic thrills of this globetrotting romp. Whether it is a shootout in a sandstorm, a tense yet playful cat-and-mouse game in an airport, a well-executed car chase that makes this year’s abysmal Fast X look even worse by comparison, or a climactic confrontation on a speeding train (that does a far better job of replicating a sequence from the games than the forgettable film adaptation from last year did), it all makes for a propulsive action film that is certain to be one of the genre’s best this year.

Yes, this includes Cruise doing a big stunt that has been the center piece of the film’s marketing, though it is also the work of countless crafts people whose creativity deserves just as much praise. If anything, the jump the franchise lead does on a motorcycle is only one small part of the whole. While the film can feel like it is missing the punch of something like the bathroom fight of the prior film with Henry Cavill “reloading his arms,” the sheer presence of Pom Klementieff ( Galaxy Vol. 3) as the new relentless pursuer Paris or Esai Morales (Ozark) as the suave yet sinister Gabriel makes up for this. In many regards, it is this supporting cast that routinely outshines and proves to be far more dynamic than Cruise himself. As we come to see, all of the film’s best components stem from the ensemble having a ball with these characters.

When it all falls into place, the delights of Dead Reckoning Part One ensure it is one of the best entries, if not the best, in the series yet. Where other 2023 blockbusters have been DOA, this film shows there’s still life to be found in franchise filmmaking. All it takes is a maniac of a lead willing to go off a cliff, a stellar supporting cast and an expert stunt team to launch into the sky. n

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLEDEAD RECKONING PART ONE

Rated PG-13

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames

Tom Cruise remains the enemy of stuntmen everywhere.

Playing Short-Handed

Documentary Black Ice shines a light on racial discrimination in the world of hockey

BY JOSH BELL

If you asked people to name the whitest professional sport, hockey would likely come up first. It’s certainly the least diverse of the major team sports in North America. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis tackles the subject tastefully but forcefully in his documentary Black Ice, which explores the history and current status of Black players in hockey. Focused almost entirely on Canada, where hockey is the national pastime, Black Ice uses its subject as a jumping-off point to examine racism in a country known for its reserve and politeness.

That reputation for niceness can also cover for a reluctance to talk about difficult issues, as multiple interview subjects point out. Canadians may want to believe that racism is primarily an American problem, but Davis makes a convincing case that it’s endemic in Canadian society as well, as demonstrated via the country’s most beloved sport.

Black Ice shifts back and forth between stories from contemporary National Hockey League players and the history of the Colored Hockey League, an organization akin to baseball’s Negro Leagues in the U.S. In that way, Davis shows that Black players have a long history with hockey and that their relative scarcity on professional teams isn’t a result of a lack of interest, skill or experience. Even when

expressing frustration at mistreatment from white colleagues and spectators, the interview subjects emphasize their love for the game and their Canadian pride.

That allows Davis to infuse Black Ice with optimism, despite delving into troubling situations that seem far from being resolved. Black players talk about being subject to racist language starting when they were small children playing on local teams, and there’s very little accountability for those actions. Former NHL player Akim Aliu, who accused a white NHL coach of using racial epithets, sometimes seems to stand alone as a voice for change within the league, and Black Ice depicts his struggles to return to playing after the latest in a string of 13 surgeries for various on-ice injuries. He’s given his health to a sport that has given him little humanity in return.

At the same time, Aliu dedicates himself to passing on his love of hockey to the next generation, ensuring that future players of color have better opportunities and better treatment than he did. Many of the players that Davis interviews — including NHL players P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds and Matt Dumba — show similar dedication, and Black Ice itself could serve as a tool for opening up hockey to a more diverse community. That includes more gender diversity as well, and Davis wisely gives

plenty of screen time to Black female players who face additional layers of discrimination.

As a film, Black Ice is slick but largely conventional, relying primarily on talkinghead interviews and archival footage, including some endearing home video clips of future professionals playing hockey as children. Davis attempts to tackle so much material, over such a large span of history, that Black Ice can feel disjointed, skipping around among its various subjects without a unifying narrative through-line. Everyone Davis interviews has something valuable to say, but they don’t always connect to each other as strongly as they could.

Still, Black Ice is a worthwhile conversation starter, and while it may not be essential viewing in theaters, it will fit perfectly alongside challenging sports documentary series like ESPN’s 30 for 30 and Netflix’s Untold when it eventually hits streaming platforms. As other sports have faced higherprofile reckonings with racial injustice, Black Ice illustrates that hockey isn’t and shouldn’t be exempt, just because its problems tend to be quieter. Davis provides a platform for people who’ve too easily been silenced, and he makes sure that they’re taken seriously on and off the ice. n

BLACK ICE

Black hockey players have a long history with what many consider the whitest pro game.

IT JUST TAKES

SOME TIME…

Jimmy Eat World and the enduring power of hopeful rock and rollin’ hearts

This may seem like a stretch to some, but it’s weird that Jimmy Eat World isn’t one of the biggest bands in the world. Maybe it’s the fact that rock music is no longer a dominant pop genre. Maybe it’s because the band hit right when the music industry began feeling the encroachment of digital media. There are many factors to consider. Whatever the case, it’s odd that they aren’t near the top tier of modern rock groups like the Foo Fighters or at least marginal, modern arena-fillers like Imagine Dragons.

Musically, Jimmy Eat World has everything you’d want from a popular rock band: wildly melodic songs that appeal to all age ranges, earworm singles that burrow into your brain, a great live show, and the ability to make happy songs sound like a blast and bummer tunes feel like a warm embrace.

Jimmy Eat World’s sad songs aren’t downers because they aren’t focused on sorrow or rage or stewing over heartbreak. The tunes the band writes, paired with singer and guitarist Jim Adkins’ lyrics and vocals, radiate with an incredible ethereal longing. They’re rooted in a hopefully melancholy, the poignancy of a hopeful dreamer who hasn’t found love or fulfillment yet

That optimistic outlook has fueled Jimmy Eat World since the start. The major label headaches surrounding 1999’s Clarity might’ve broken lesser bands, but the album became a seminal underground classic in the alternative

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

and emo scenes with its serene sense of majesty in the small moments of crushes, fireworks and quiet contemplation. And it set the table (for glasses), for 2001’s breakthrough smash Bleed American. Propelled by the inescapable singles “The Middle” and “Sweetness,” it almost instantly became a beloved alt-rock touchstone for a generation — one that could caress with softness one moment and rock all the way out the next. The follow-up to the major success — 2004’s Futures — stands as arguably the group’s best album, where the heaviness and shredding was at its peak (“Pain”) and the dreamy slow tracks like “23” were completely undeniable. And don’t sleep on the wildly underrated Chase This Light from 2007, sneakily one of the best power pop records ever made.

And even if the general public has cooled on the band a bit since its 2002 rock radio heydays, the group is still putting out incredibly solid records with (at least) a banger or two on each album. (The single “All the Way (Stay)” from 2019’s Surviving could fit in perfectly on Bleed American, and nobody would notice it was made almost 20 years later.) There’s a commitment to the craft and the vision that keeps Jimmy Eat World a going concern.

“Creatively, you just have to be honest with yourself about what you’re into and really put your effort into chasing the ideas you’re excited about. And be just being brutal with disregarding anyone else’s opinions about it,” Adkins says.

“I’m under no illusions that even our most hardcore fans are not going to be flipping out over everything we do. And it’s kind of pointless to try to chase the imaginary listener who you think might like something. If you’re making creative decisions based on what an imaginary listener might like, you’re just going to turn them off,” Adkins adds. “But I think if you’re honest with yourself about doing the thing that you were excited about, not everyone might like it, but the right people will find it. And maybe there’s enough of them to be able to gas up the van to get to the next town.”

Thankfully for local music fans, that “next town” is Spokane, as Jimmy Eat World stops at the Podium for a co-headlining tour with the also superb Manchester Orchestra on July 14.

As someone who often attends 100-plus concerts per year, I can attest that Jimmy Eat World consistently delivers extremely high-end live shows in all formats. The band killed it as a co-headliner with Taking Back Sunday at the Pavilion two years ago, and two of my favorite sets ever came courtesy of Jimmy Eat World: an relentless and intimate bar band gig for like 100 people at South by Southwest in 2017 and a blissful headlining set at the Wilma in Missoula back in 2007.

“Both of those kinds of shows are fun,” Adkins says when I mention those beloved gigs. “People always think

Jimmy Eat World still believes in futures...

JIMI GIANNATTI PHOTO

that serious artists need to have something that’s a little bit more challenging to digest. But I love candy, you know? There’s really nothing wrong with a bunch of people freaking out over something that you made. [Laughs.] Don’t shy away from that, just because you’re excited about something you just did. That’s you, too.”

That said, there is obviously something Adkins enjoys about playing for devoted fans in headlining situations versus trying to win over crowds that might not be there to see his band.

“I’m looking forward to playing some deeper-cut material [on this tour]. The last few big tours we’ve done, we were clearly a support act. And we’ve done a lot of festivals, too. And they’re all amazing and fun, but it’s just a different vibe,” says Adkins. “This tour with Manchester Orchestra is more like a shared hosting party. People are going to be able to handle some deeper album songs, I think. There’s not a ton of people that either of us will have to win over. So we can kind of be ourselves a little bit more. [Laughs.]”

Perhaps the reason Jimmy Eat World’s music still resonates after all these years is as simple as the guys still enjoying making music together. There are few musicians out there who don’t get beaten down by the toll the music industry and touring life takes on physical and mental health, but Adkins and Co. still find reasons to be positive and grow as people through their art.

“Sometimes when you’re really close to it, it’s hard to see the bigger picture. You’re so invested in what you’re working on and the minutiae of it all. That can really just blot out every other thing. And you forget that there really is a bigger picture here. And what you’re doing right now is just a part of it,” Adkins says. “If this thing doesn’t quite resonate, with whatever metric you feel is validating, then just make more. Or focus on the stuff that that did, and be stoked that it did. Because not everybody gets that.”

Adkins cites that curiosity and openness to grow as the reason Jimmy Eat World still makes music that fans of all ages continue to find and appreciate.

“I describe it as remaining teachable. If you’re trying to discover things that aren’t on your radar, you’re going to find some. And maybe the older that you get, that comes in the form of being willing to throw out core beliefs about yourself that you think are your foundation. Sometimes that happens,” Adkins says.

WEEKEND COUNTDOWN

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“And from a listeners’ perspective, that sounds like discovery. Which is also a lot of what music that I wrote in my 18- to 20-year-old time — when things were brand new. It’s the same sort of experience, internally. ‘Oh this has been here this whole f---ing time? Shit.’ It’s this epiphany that makes its way into a lot of music that we do.”

Sure the physical and emotionally draining toll comes in waves. It’s part of the job. But for the guys, it doesn’t make any sense to get jaded at the possibility of sharing new music as they age.

“I think that’s kind of like the ego’s defense jumping in and giving you a reason to push people away because you’re afraid of rejection,” Adkins says. “Like, ‘Man, whatever. They’re not gonna like this anyway!’ That can be self-fulfilling the more you lean into that. If you really are tormented about this whole process, then just stop. Do anything else, enjoy your life.”

“Sometimes, really the only thing that keeps it all from falling apart is the fact that you’re proud of what you did. If you don’t have that, man… good luck! [Laughs.]”

“The longer that we do this, and maybe it’s something that comes with the older I get, but it’s easier to find gratitude in smaller and smaller things. You know what I mean? It doesn’t take a whole lot for me to be like, ‘Oh, man. This is awesome! [Laughs.] Can you believe where I’m at right now?’ Because… you know... it ends.”

Someday this rock and roll dream will end for Adkins. But for now, Jimmy Eat World is still in the middle of the ride. n

Jimmy Eat World, Manchester Orchestra, Middle Kids • Fri, July 14 at 7 pm

• $49-$69

• All ages

• The Podium • 511 W. Dean Ave • thepodiumusa.com

EXPERIMENTAL POP YOUTH LAGOON

It takes a lot to break onto the national scene coming out of Boise, but Trevor Powers was able to do that via his musical experimentation under the moniker Youth Lagoon. From the early lo-fi dreamy bedroom pop of YL’s 2011 debut LP The Year of Hibernation to the slicker, synth-rock punch of 2015’s Savage Hill Ballroom, he shunned complacency, always keeping listeners on their toes and invested. But in 2018, he stopped using the Youth Lagoon moniker, saying it was a space he no longer wanted to inhabit. Well, a pandemic can change perspectives, and now Powers is back as Youth Lagoon and has released Heaven is a Junkyard, which earned Pitchfork’s coveted Best New Music. Youth may fade, but Youth Lagoon hasn’t.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Youth Lagoon, Nina Keith • Fri, July 14 at 8 pm • $22-$25 • 21+ • Lucky You Lounge • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • luckyyoulounge.com

Thursday, 7/13

J ADELO’S PIZZA, PASTA & PINTS, Brassless Chaps

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Summer Concert Series: Swing Set

BERSERK, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, Lindy

J THE BIG DIPPER, Vale of Pnath, False Visions, The Night We Died, Xenoplasm

J BRICK WEST BREWING CO., Kyle Richard and Friends

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Thursday Night Jam

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

COEUR D’ALENE PARK, Browne’s Addition Summer Concert: Nu Jack City

J D-MAC’S AT THE LAKE, Nate Ostrander

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Don Goodwin

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Alcohol & Feelings

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, The Ballroom Thieves, Hannah Siglin

J THE NEST AT KENDALL YARDS, Milonga

J PINE STREET PLAZA, Music on Main: Solid Ghost

J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin

J RIVERSTONE PARK, Riverstone Summer Concerts: Macey Gard Band, Riley Christian Anderson

SEDLMAYER’S RESORT, Son of Brad

STEAM PLANT RESTAURANT, Jimi Finn

J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, Take 2

J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Jerry Lee Raines

PUNK GOGOL BORDELLO

Part Romani music cabaret, part leftist punk band, New York’s Gogol Bordello has certainly carved out a niche of its own. Led by Ukrainian immigrant and general firebrand Eugene Hütz, the group delivers nonstop energy as it mixes touches of traditional Eastern European sound with mosh pit tempos and barked vocals of rebellion and solidarity. Unsurprisingly, the new Gogol Bordello album Solidaritine taps into Hütz’s view on the Russo-Ukrainian War. Considering he traveled to Ukraine to play songs for (and with) the soldiers, a stop at the Knitting Factory will comparatively be anything but harrowing.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Gogol Bordello • Mon, July 17 at 8 pm •  $35 • All ages • The Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

ZOLA, Mister Sister

Friday, 7/14

AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, Jessica Haffner

BARRISTER WINERY, Stagecoach West

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Bobby Patterson Band

J THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT, JoJo Dodge

HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Tom Pletscher Trio

J KNITTING FACTORY, Rayland Baxter, Liz Cooper

J LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Youth Lagoon, Nina Keith

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, The Avett Brothers, Calder Allen

J PARK BENCH CAFE, Under the Trees Concert Series

PARK BENCH CAFE, Dave Long

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Oak Street Connection

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT, AP Collective

J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, Theresa and the Bobs

J J THE PODIUM, Jimmy Eat World, Manchester Orchestra, Middle Kids

Saturday, 7/15

BECK’S HARVEST HOUSE, Joel Haugen

J THE BIG DIPPER, Enterprise Earth, Fallujah, The Zenith Passage, Odyssey CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, The Longnecks

J THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT, Red Books Trio CONKLING MARINA & RESORT, Take 2

THE DISTRICT BAR, KosMos the Afronaut

DRUNKY’S JUNKYARD BBQ, Neon Interstate

DRY FLY DISTILLING, Son of Brad

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Sacha Boutros, Brent Edstrom Quartet

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, ‘80s Party with Starcourt

NOAH’S CANTEEN, Tod Hornby

J NORTH HILL ON GARLAND, Just Plain Darin

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd and The Monsters

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Ponderay Paradox

J PONDEROSA BAR AND GRILL, Rhythmic Collective Duo

ROCKET MARKET, Hannah Siglin

TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Into the Drift Duo ZOLA, Blake Braley

Sunday, 7/16

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Summer Concert Series: Atomic Jive Band

BECK’S HARVEST HOUSE, Joey Anderson & Friends

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Paul Grove

HOGFISH, Open Mic

J KNITTING FACTORY, J Boog

LIVE AT ANDRE’S, David Jacobs-Strain, Christopher Worth

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Kat Hasty

J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin

J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW

J = ALL AGES SHOW

Monday, 7/17

BRICK WEST BREWING CO., Live Karaoke

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

J FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Animals as Leaders

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Gogol Bordello

J J NORTHERN QUEST, Jason Mraz & His Superband, Celisse RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 7/18

BING CROSBY THEATER, Steve Earle

LITZ’S PUB & EATERY, Shuffle Dawgs

OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Sean Kavanaugh

ROCKET MARKET, Ronaldos

SULLIVAN SCOREBOARD, Wild Wooly Duo

J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Dallas Kay

J TWIGS BISTRO, Gil Rivas

ZOLA, The Night Mayors

Wednesday, 7/19

J ADELO’S PIZZA, Brassless Chaps

BECK’S HARVEST HOUSE, Nick Grow

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Wednesday Night Jam

J D-MAC’S AT THE LAKE, Chuck Wasileski

THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic IRON HORSE (VALLEY), Son of Brad

J KNITTING FACTORY, Charles Wesley Godwin, Wyatt Flores

J MCEUEN PARK, Alive After 5: JamShack

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Annie Wellie

RED ROOM LOUNGE, The Roomates

ZOLA, Brittany’s House

Coming Up ...

J J THE FOX THEATER, Charley Crockett, July 21, 8 pm.

J J PAVILION AT RIVERFRONT, Incubus, Bad Flower, Paris Jackson, July 22, 6 pm.

J J PAVILION AT RIVERFRONT, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, July 26, 6 pm.

J J PANIDA THEATER, Jeff Tweedy, Le Ren, July 26, 7:30 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

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

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

LEFTBANK WINE BAR • 108 N. Washington St. • 509-315-8623

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • 509-474-0511

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

THE MASON JAR • 101 F St., Cheney • 509-359-8052

MAX AT MIRABEAU • 1100 N. Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-922-6252

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

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

MOOTSY’S • 406 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-838-1570

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

THE PODIUM • 511 W. Dean Ave. • 509-279-7000

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

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

STEAM PLANT • 159 S. Lincoln St. • 509-777-3900

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

FOOD FEED YOUR CRAVINGS

There are still a few tickets left for this year’s Crave! Northwest culinary extravaganza, one of the largest chef-driven events in the Inland Northwest. The three-night festival features new and established chefs with delicious themes each evening. “Burger Smackdown” starts on Thursday, followed by “Foods from Around the World” on Friday, with “Fire and Smoke” closing out the weekend on Saturday night (but not before the afterparty, of course). Pick one day to attend, or get an allinclusive ticket for a couple Benjamins. If your FOMO is really intense, make sure to pay a little extra for early admission or special reservations. Otherwise, come hungry, be curious, eat adventurously, and leave full — probably a little too full.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Crave! Northwest • Thu, July 13 and Fri, July 14 from 6-9 pm; Sat, July 15 from 6-11 pm • $15-$224 • some events 21+ • CenterPlace Regional Event Center • 2426 N. Discovery Pl., Spokane Valley • cravenw.com

THEATER STAR GAZING

One way to make your musical standout? Don’t have the music be too musical-y. That sort of show tune theatrical pomp can wear thin if the tunes aren’t top tier. Another way to make your musical standout? Be Steve Martin. Both factors come into play for Bright Star, the bluegrass musical Martin wrote with Edie Brickell after the pair made the Grammy-winning album Love Has Come for You Amid the Southern bluegrass and country tunes, Bright Star tells the story of a wild North Carolina girl who leaves her small town love behind and becomes a magazine editor, only for a young writer from her hometown to show up bearing echoes from her past. Spokane Valley Summer Theater’s production serves as a summer night inside, but still under the stars.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Bright Star • July 14-23; Fri-Sun & Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm; Sun at 2 pm • $42 • University High School • 12420 E. 32nd Ave., Spokane Valley • svsummertheatre.com

THEATER DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Whether it’s thanks to Lewis Carroll’s original 1865 novel or Disney’s famous animated adaptation almost a century later, most of us know what happens after Alice adventures into Wonderland. Yet in Alice by Heart, that magical, fantastical journey takes a darker, more realistic turn, as it places protagonist Alice Spencer in the midst of the London Blitz during World War II. Alice and her best friend, Alfred, are forced alongside other Londoners to take shelter in an underground tube station. To distract themselves from the horrors of war above them, and Alfred’s own battle with tuberculosis, Alice turns to Carroll’s beloved tale of escapism and whimsy. While trying to retell the story from memory to Alfred, however, Alice slips in her own plot edits in an attempt to comfort herself while watching Alfred grow sicker and as the bombing above rages on.

— CHEY SCOTT

Alice by Heart • July 14-23; Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm (Sat, July 22 at 2 pm) • $15-$38 • Spokane Civic Theatre • 1020 N. Howard St. • spokanecivictheatre.com • 509-325-2507

COMMUNITY FUN IN PERRY

Since 1999 (minus a brief COVID-19 hiatus) the South Perry Street Fair has been bringing the neighborhood together, and this year’s event features more than 150 booths, food and performances. Local vendors are on site selling art, decor, bath and body items, clothes, jewelry, and so much more. Live music throughout the day includes performances by the Spokane Taiko Drummers, violinist Christopher Anderson, local bands Atomic Jive, Leftover Soul, Angela Marie Project and more. There are two beer gardens, at South Perry Pizza and the South Perry Lantern. There’s plenty to do for kids, too, at the Kids Zone with free activities in Grant Park, and a visit from the Second Chance Ranch Petting Zoo.

— SUMMER SANDSTROM

South Perry Street Fair • Sat, July 15 from 10 am-8 pm • Free • All ages • South Perry Business District • southperry.org • 509-209-6289

ARTS TAKING ART TO HEART

If you’re an arts lover, make your way to Coeur d’Alene this Friday for one of the biggest art events of the year. This one-night festival put on by Emerge features more than 145 local artists selling their art and goods along with performance artists, film screenings and more. The art has been selected for this show by a panel of professional artists and members of the arts community. Over 300 pieces are being shown, also available to buy. Not only is this event an opportunity for the community to see what their local artists have to offer, it also serves as Emerge’s largest fundraiser of the year. If that’s not convincing enough, there will also be tacos, beer and a silent disco. Head over to CDA and get your art on!

—

MADISON PEARSON

Emerge’s 10th Annual Block Party • Fri, July 14 from 5 pm-midnight • Free • Emerge • 119 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene • emergecda.com • 208-930-1876

THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE

30+ SPORTS LEGENDS

RAISING MONEY FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

GOLF EXHIBITION

FOOD TRUCKS, BEER GARDEN, BIRDIE BAR & LAKESIDE VIEWS!

$20 SPECTATOR TICKETS JUST KIDS 13 & UNDER FREE*

MARCUS ALLEN

WAYNE GRETZKY

DUSTIN PEDROIA

BLAIR O’NEAL

LARRY FITZGERALD

I SAW YOU

HIT A HOME RUN At the Indians game on June 21, as I was helping my residents get off the bus, I saw you wearing black shorts and a shirt sleeve black top walking behind me through the parking lot. I was wearing a Steelers shirt. Throughout the whole ballgame we would run into each other and say hello to each other. I thought you were gorgeous and wanted to talk to you, but I was working and had to stick to helping my residents. Would love to get to know you more and would love to cheer the Indians on with you sometime.

BREAKFAST THX We stood next to each other in the waiting area of the Cottage on the morning of July 4. You are the attractive, petite gal with two younger kids. After you left the servers told me that you had paid for my breakfast. Thank you! Hope to see you again so I can return the gesture and thank you in person

CRAVE BAR 7/7 You saw me, and came back inside to ask my name. I should have given you my number, but chickened out. You had a yellow vans hoodie.

EUROPEAN GRASS-FED BOVINE You: Shopping with your dad (?) in Winco, Sunday, July 9, about 11 am, in a beige ball cap and shorts. Me: camo T-shirt, ponytail, and shopping with my sister. That brief visit with you in the dairy aisle was interesting and a great respite from the madding crowds. On the off chance you see this, I would welcome the opportunity to further flesh out the heightened quality of ice

cream and butter in England and France, perchance something more.

CHEERS

TO THOSE WHO VALUE YOUR DIVORCED FRIENDS/FRIENDSHIPS Cheers to those who value your divorced friends, enough to continue to see them as the individuals they are throughout their traumatic experience. Divorce is terrible and devastating. Every married couple hopes that it never happens to them, but sometimes it happens to people. And sometimes people actually come out happier from years of stressful pretending and doing everything they could to save it. Friends of divorced people… Please do not drop them. They need you. If you ever unfriended them because you think it somehow will affect your own marriage, then your thinking is shallow.

UV INDEX GOODWILL Thank you to the kind fellas working the donation drive-thru on Fourth of July at the Northside Goodwill. You brightened an already very sunny day! One of the gentlemen informed me that the UV Index can be looked up online before heading out for the day. Just as you may check for rain, you can also check for just how much sunblock you may need. Thank you, kind sir. You are an ally to pale people everywhere!

KILLING IT SPOKANE This city continues to amaze me! After the Lilac Festival, ArtFest and Pride, I am thankful to call Spokane home! The city organizers and volunteers deserve huge recognition for putting on these awesome events. We really live in a great city.

JEERS

LET THE WAR GAMES BEGIN It started a few days before the Fourth of July in our Trumpy Coeur d’Alene neighborhood — random pop-pops that might have been sniper fire, prelude to the frenzy. On Independence Day night explosions erupted nonstop, rapid fire rat-a-tats followed by huge booms that shook windows. Is this what shelling sounds like in Ukraine? Thanks to Idaho’s total lack of regulation on fireworks even in suburbia, local wannabe warriors played unrestrained with their matches and gunpowder. This year’s private fireworks displays were by far the longest, loudest, most relentless ever, great practice for our

well-armed man/boys when their longedfor civil war breaks out.

HOW MUCH ATTENTION DO YOU NEED?

Loud cars, trucks, motorcycles... How much attention do you need? Try some therapy to figure out why you need so much perhaps.

DEAR STUPID Stupid People of Spokane:

You know that lane on the south side of Upriver Drive along the Centennial Trail? That’s called a trail, for runners or walkers or bikers. When you pass a driver on the right side, that’s illegal. That’s because people are walking or running or biking on

my husband and I went to enjoy the day at the park, which included the cherished ride. Imagine my surprise. The ride was shortened and much slower, and had an attendant who acted like they could care less about anyone and wouldn’t open their mouth to utter two words. The joy in the

You’re an embarrassment, and a public nuisance.

RE: GREEDY MUCH Reading comprehension isn’t really your thing, is it? While we’re at it, that Walmart is within the city of Spokane, which has had 9 percent sales tax for quite some time. People need to pay more attention to details and their surroundings before they immediately start complaining about stupid stuff.

YOUR DOG IS HOT TOO! Really? It’s 99-plus degrees out, and your dog has a coat on! Maybe you should try walking barefoot across that hot pavement all day with a coat on. It’s not “cute,” it’s cruel.

SPEEDING FOOLS Dear Spokane Fools: Many backroads that aren’t paved have speed limits of 25 mph or less. When people are walking or running down the same said roads with no sidewalks, it’s courteous to slow down so as to avoid spreading gravel dust all over them. To the a--hole who sped up the other day while I was running and then stuck his puny looking middle finger in the air. Get a real car. Yours is a real POS.

NEAR NATURE, NEAR THE FIRING SQUAD Actions have consequences (karma). Enjoy your geese-free and tourist-free beaches and city. A cheap and unsustainable solution, uncivilized and without compassion. Oh well, they are just stupid animals (the City Council members that is). Geese facts: They mate for life and will stay with an injured partner until they heal or die. Animals have souls, too, despite whatever dogmatic beliefs you choose to justify your actions by. Destroying healthy life merely for your convenience is a crime against nature.

it as you pass. I am one of those people. If you strike me with your car, my family will press charges against you for third-degree manslaughter. The trail isn’t a personal passing zone for you, a--hole.

RE:SELFISH PRICKS To the underinformed person calling their neighbors pricks for having landscaping work done at 7 am: Spokane has official, legal quiet hours, laid out clearly in our Municipal Code. Ten at night until seven in the morning. Gripe to the City Council, but leave your neighbors out of it.

COUNTER PRODUCTIVE VIRTUE SIGNALING

Spokane City Council’s decision to make after-hours park use a misdemeanor will result in less enforcement and more trespass. Cops hate minor midemeanor arrests. Rather than write a citation, they have to arrest the suspect, process him, etc. Then, odds are the prosecutors will drop the charges because the expense of prosecution outweighs the benefit. A significant percentage of the blame for our problems with nuisance crimes should be set at the feet of our administrative bureaucrats, not the cops!

SYMPATHETIC WITH RECENT JEERS As long as I can remember that stretch of beach has been occupied by geese. These City Council members “will do anything for their children.” Anthropocentrism is the only rewarded attitude, and lives of geese only count when they are an accessory to it.

CAROUSEL FUN I grew up in Spokane, and during summers my parents would take my sister and I to Nat Park. My favorite was the carousel. Riding with the breeze blowing your hair, the fun of catching rings and tossing them into the clowns mouth, such fun. What happened? The other day

experience was missing. Spokane needs to keep just a few things the way they were in this fast-growing city.

TO THE PERSON CHEERING It’s like you don’t know when a song ends and were trying to cheer after every single verse at the Old Crow Medicine Show. Didn’t ruin the experience but was definitely annoying.

RE:RE: VEHICLE REGISTRATION I did some research before submitting my post. I also called the North Division Vehicle Licensing Office to confirm my post was correct. I was told that almost all new registered vehicles are issued two identical license plates and must be displayed on the front and back of the vehicle. Also, the Spokane Police Department is Exempt from licensing fees, and yet they display a front license plate? Collectors vehicles over 30 years old are also exempt. n

NOTE: I Saw You/Cheers & Jeers is for adults 18 or older. The Inlander reserves the right to edit or reject any posting at any time at its sole discretion and assumes no responsibility for the content.

EVENTS

CALENDAR BENEFIT

SAFE PASSAGE GOLF TOURNAMENT

A nine-hole interactive course, catered lunch, beer tent, entertainment and auction items. Benefits Safe Passage. July 15, 10:30 am-3 pm. $75. Ponderosa Springs Golf Course (Capone’s), 1291 N. Galena Dr. auctria.events/safepassagegolf

EMPIRE AIRLINES RUMMAGE & TREA-

SURE SALE Furniture, vintage items, books, vinyl LPs, clothing by the bag and more. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. July 22, 8 am-2 pm. 11559 N. Atlas Rd, Hayden. empireairlines.com

COMEDY

PETE LEE Pete Lee has appeared on the Tonight Show, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and Last Comic Standing. July 13, 7:30 pm, July 14, 7:30 & 10:15 pm and July 15, 7 & 9:45 pm. $20-$32. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)

INK BLOT The BD Players analyze each night’s audience, Rorschach style. Fridays in July at 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland. bluedoortheatre.com

SPOKANE COMEDY ALL STARS A stand up show featuring Nick Theisen, Ken McComb and Darryl Burns. July 15, 8 pm. $10. Charley’s Catering and Event Center, 801 N. Monroe St. charleyscatering.com

BORED TEACHERS COMEDY TOUR A group of teacher-comedians perform skits and stand-up all about their jobs in education. July 16, 7 pm. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague. foxtheaterspokane.org

IMPROV JAMS Fans of improv can try something new, brush off the rust and just have fun. July 10-Aug. 28, Mon at 7 pm. Free. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com

KEVIN JAMES THORNTON Kevin James Thornton makes comedy videos on TikTok and Instagram about growing up gay in a religious community. July 18, 7:30 pm. $30-$40. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

FRANCIS ELLIS The podcast personality regularly appears on Barstool Sports. July 20, 7:30 pm. $20-$28. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)

COMMUNITY

ILLUMINATIONS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS This monthly series presents treasures from the Central Library’s Archives. This month’s theme is “Flora & Fauna” and features a first edition folio of Birds of America and more. July 13, 11 am-noon. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

WAREHOUSE BOOK SALE This annual book sale hosted by the Deer Park Library features thousands of gently-used books of all genres. All proceeds support the Deer Park library and community. Second Fri/Sat of each month from 9 am-4 pm. Free. Deer Park Auto Freight, 2405 E. Crawford St. scld.org

MEMORY CAFÉ Persons living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias and their loved ones are invited to socialize and engage with activities in a relaxed setting. July 14, 10 am-1 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org (208-769-2315)

SANDPOINT PRIDE FEST A festival celebrating Sandpoint’s LGBTQIA+ communi-

ty. July 14, 5-10 pm and July 15, 2-10 pm. Free. Sandpoint. sandpointpride.com

MISTEQUA CASINO HOTEL BIKE SHOW

Includes a beer garden, food and live music by DJ Tripp. The show has three categories: people’s choice, best custom bike and loudest pipes. July 15, noon. Free. Mistequa Casino Hotel, 2555 Smith Rd. mistequa.com/bike-show

CITY LINE OPENING DAY Ride STA’s new City Line bus line and attend festivities at five different stops, including DJs, free food and more. July 15, 11 am-2 pm. Free. Details at spokanetransit.com/cityline

COLOR CHROMATOGRAPHY Color chromatography uses the six steps of the scientific method to discover the contents of household markers and flowers. July 15, 10:30-11:30 am. Free. Hillyard Library, 4110 N. Cook St. spokanelibrary.org

EXPERIENCE VR: EPIC ROLLER COASTERS Get inspired by riding tracks in Epic Roller Coasters, a virtual reality experience, and then build your own marble roller coaster. Grades 5–8. Registration required. Parental permission is required for participants younger than age 13. July 15, 10 am-1 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org

HISTORIC WALKING TOURS Join local historian Chet Caskey for a history tour of Riverfront Park. Sat at 10 am and noon through Aug. 26. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com

SOUTH PERRY STREET FAIR Featuring 150+ local vendors of art, home decor, bath and body, clothing, pet gear, food trucks and more. Also includes two beer gardens, live music, performers and free activities for kids. July 15, 10 am-8 pm. Free. South Perry Business District. southperry.org (509-209-6289)

U-PICK LAVENDER FESTIVAL Featuring multiple lavender fields, live music and local vendor booths. July 15-16, 9 am-5 pm. $10-$40. Evening Light Lavender Farm, 5552 S. Wallbridge Rd. eveninglightlavender.com (509-939-0313)

SHARING THE DHARMA DAY This daylong event is for people of all backgrounds to learn practical ways to enrich their lives. Includes a talk, guided meditation, vegetarian potluck lunch and facilitated discussion. Registration required. July 16, 9:45 am. By donation. Sravasti Abbey, 692 Country Lane Rd. sravastiabbey.org (509-447-5549)

PRESENTING PH Uses the scientific method to be introduced to simple acid and base chemistry. July 17, 5:30-6:30 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley. spokanelibrary.org

COFFEE & CONVERSATION This event aims to help people feel seen and heard within the community. The conversation is free form and the event includes lowkey activities like coloring and puzzles. Wed from 10:30 am-noon. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main. spokanelibrary.org

FOUNDERS, FUNDERS & FRIENDS Visit with ecosystem peers, meet new partners, and hear updates from member companies. Food and wine tasting provided. July 19, 5-7:30 pm. Free. Winescape Winery, 6011 E. 32nd Ave. sp3nw. org (509-474-0150)

CAMPBELL HOUSE DARK HISTORY: SOCIETY SECRETS An after-hours tour that sheds light on strange details and unconventional stories from turn-of-thecentury Spokane. Third Thurs. of every month at 6 pm. $3.50-$6. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

COFFEE IN THE GARDEN Gather in the garden for refreshments, music, demonstrations, and conversation. July 20, 10 am-noon. Free. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St. createarts.org (509-447-9277)

HISTORIC SEVENTH AVENUE TOUR

Walk along Spokane’s historic Seventh Avenue and learn about the influential families who lived there and their impact on the region. July 20, Aug. 12, and Sep. 9, 10-11 am. Free. Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. (509-625-6677)

FILM

FREE KIDS MOVIES: THE BAD GUYS After a lifetime of legendary heists, notorious animal criminals are finally caught. July 10-14, daily at 9:30 am. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com (509-327-1050)

MOVIES IN THE PARK A series of family-friendly movies in Sally’s Park. Bring blankets and/or lawn chairs. Snacks and drinks available for purchase. Fridays at 7:30 pm. Free. The Salvation Army Spokane, 222 E. Indiana Ave. spokane.salvationarmy.org (509-325-6810)

BENNY & JOON 30TH ANNIVERSARY

A screening of the movie followed by a short film commemorating the anniversary, a live Q&A with local cast and crew members and other events around the city. July 15, 7:15 pm and July 16, 2:15 pm. $10. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com (509-327-1050)

MOVIES IN THE PARK: THE PRINCESS BRIDE A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful woman and her one true love. July 15, 6 pm. Free. Olmsted Brothers Green, N. Nettleton St. and Summit Pkwy. kendallyards.com

JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN After an aerial dog fight, pilot officer Jack Absolute flies home to find his old flame, Lydia, on base. July 16, 2 pm. $20. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com (509-227-7638)

FREE KIDS MOVIES: SING 2 Can-do koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch a stage extravaganza. July 17-21, daily at 9:30 am. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com

TANGERINE A hooker tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. July 18, 7-9 pm. $7. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

MOVIES AT THE PAVILION: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Bring a lawn chair, blanket and your own food and drinks. July 19, 8:30 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com

THIRD THURSDAY MATINEE: THE ENDLESS SUMMER This Bruce Brown documentary follows two surfers as they travel the world in search of “the perfect wave.” July 20, 1-3 pm. $7. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

FOOD & DRINK

CRAVE! NORTHWEST The three-day food festival showcases the talents of chefs and tastemakers from around the region while highlighting the flavors of the great Northwest. July 13-15 from 6-9 pm. $15-$224. CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Pl. cravenw.com (509-720-5200)

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL The yearly strawberry festival includes u-pick straw-

berries, craft/food vendors and live music. JDaily from 12-6 pm through July 15, Siemers Farm, 11125 E. Day-Mt. Spokane Rd. siemersfarm.com (509-238-6242)

RIDE & DINE Enjoy a scenic gondola ride, live music and a barbecue on the mountaintop. Fri from 3-8 pm through Sep. 1. $8-$51. Silver Mountain Resort, 610 Bunker Ave. silvermt.com

SUSHI CLASS: CUT & ROLL Isaac Cunnington explains tools and tricks of the trade and discusses various sushi. July 14, 5-7:30 pm. $90. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com

GRAPPLEFEST Explore local breweries, food and dessert while listening to live music. July 15, 1-9 pm. Free. St. Maries, Idaho. fb.me/e/3FHi5juXV

NORTHWEST WINEFEST Sample regional wines from around the Pacific Northwest while enjoying local food vendors, mountain activities and live music. July 15 and July 16. Schweitzer, 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. schweitzer.com

SCOOPS & BOWLS Pick out a handmade bowl (to keep) and fill it up with ice cream and toppings at this annual event to benefit the Urban Art Co-op. July 15, 10:20 am-4 pm. $15. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. urbanartcoop.org

NOVA KAINE’S DON’T TELL MAMA

CABARET & DRAG BRUNCH Inland Northwest drag performers perform pieces choreographed by Troy Nickerson. First/third Sun at 11 am. Free. Highball, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com

WINE TASTING Taste various regional wines. Buy two bottles and receive your tasting free. Sun from 2-4 pm through Sep. 3. $10. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com

RIVERFRONT EATS A food truck series on the orange Howard St. Bridge featuring live music. Tuesdays from 11 am-2 pm through Aug. 22. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com

TEEN CUPCAKE DECORATING Learn basic techniques for cupcake decorating. Ages 13–18. Free; registration required.

July 18, 2-3 pm at Cheney Library, 610 First St. Also July 19, 2-3 pm at Medical Lake Library, 3212 Herb St. scld.org

BBQ & BANDS: JAKE ROZIER AND THE IMPLICATION A grilled chicken thigh meal with live music by Jake Rozier and the Implication. July 20, 5-7 pm. $15-$20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com (208-277-4166)

MUSIC

GIRLS ROCK LAB Join a band, write your own music and perform in a concert. Girls, non-binary and transgender kids from any identity or background are invited to participate. July 11-14 and July 18-21, daily from 9-11:30 am. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main. spark-central.org

FRIDAYS AT THE CLOCK Family-friendly concerts feature live music from WS music students, kids’s activities and more. July 14, Aug. 4, Aug. 25, Sep. 8, 6:30-8 pm. Free. Bryan Hall Theatre (WSU), 605 Veterans Way. events.wsu.edu

NORTHWEST BACHFEST: MUSIC IN MANITO This year’s series features Artistic Director Zuill Bailey with the Grammywinning Attacca String Quartet performing. YouTuber Simply Three covers Adele, Coldplay, Gershwin and more. July 18-19, 7 pm. $37-$57. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. nwbachfest.com

POP SUMMER CONCERT: REMEDY A pop, rock and country duo playing origi-

nals and covers. July 18, 6:30-8:30 pm. Free. Prince of Peace Lutheran, 8441 N. Indian Trail Rd. popspokane.org

PLAID CAT IN CONCERT Enjoy a musical mix of swing, country, oldies and original songs. July 19, 6:30-8 pm. Free. Sutton Park, 805 Washington St. scld.org

NORTHWEST BACH FEST: AFTERGLOW! The Attacca Quartet perform along with Zuill Bailey. Program includes Shubert’s String Quartet in C Major. July 20, 7 pm. $15-$25. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. nwbachfest.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

RIVERFRONT MOVES: BARRE ON THE BRIDGE This one-hour, low-impact, high-intensity class targets the whole body. July 13 and July 20, 7 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com (509-625-6600)

SANDPOINT ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT

SHOW This annual event features a boat show and boat parade. July 14, 12-9 pm, July 15, 9 am-9:30 pm, July 16, 9 am. $10$40. Sandpoint. inlandempireacbs.com

SCENIC CHAIRLIFT RIDES Ride the chairlift up and down the mountain with options to hike back down. Fri-Sun from 10 am-3:30 pm through Sep. 30. $9-$13. Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, I-90 Exit 0. skilookout.com (208-744-1301)

8 LAKES LEG ACHES BIKE RIDE An organized bike race exploring the scenery of Spokane, the West Plains, Medical Lake and Cheney. Choose from 30, 45 or 75-mile routes. July 15, 7 am. $50-$200. lcsnw.org/8-lakes-bike-ride

NATIVE & XERIC PLANT MASTERY SERIES This four-part class teaches how to replace lawns with native plants and more. July 8-29, Sat from 2-3 pm. Classes can be taken together or separately. $10$30. Ritters Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter.com (509 467-5258)

RIVERFRONT MOVES: POWER BEATS

WITH ECLIPSE POWER YOGA A unique exploration on the mat featuring music to uplift and invigorate. July 15 and Aug. 12, 10 am. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com

TIGER-TRI TIGER-DU This triathlon and duathlon features a 1.5k swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run. July 15, 8 am. $70-$120. Colville, Wash. tigertri.com

WSU SPOKANE COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PLANT CLINIC Ask about your plant issues and get advice about plant selection, maintenance, environmentally friendly practices, pest management, effective landscaping practices and more. Sat from 11 am-3 pm through Sep. 30. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

MOORE-TURNER HERITAGE GARDENS

TOUR Experience this unique garden as it looked in 1915. Learn about its discovery and restoration. July 16, July 23, and July 30, 11 am-noon. Free. Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens, 507 W. Seventh Ave. heritagegardens.org

YOGA & BEER A 45-minute all-levels class followed by a beer. July 16, 10 am-noon. $20. Genus Brewing, 17018 E. Sprague Ave. yogauncorkedchelan.com

BASIC YOGA CLASS Strengthen, stretch and release muscle tension with instructor Robin Marks. July 11-Aug. 15, Tue from 9-10 am. $80. John A. Finch Arboretum, 3404 W. Woodland Blvd. spokanerec.org

...continued on page 54

LABOR

Cannabis Collective Action

Unionization efforts are underway to support

Nearly a decade into its existence, the cannabis industry in Washington is undergoing a massive upheaval when it comes to workers’ rights.

UFCW 3000, a major union representing more than 50,000 health care, grocery and retail workers, among others, has moved into the cannabis industry. The union already represents a handful of cannabis retailers on the west side of the state and is setting its sights on the east side as well.

The union is going through the pre-unionization process with a major Spokane County cannabis producer, which involves multiple elections among employees and a back-and-forth with the federal government’s National Labor Relations Board.

Why are cannabis workers looking to unionize? It’s simple. They want better working conditions.

“If you can’t go to work at a cannabis farm and be

BY WILL MAUPIN

happy, something’s really wrong with that picture,” says Josh Kelsch, Cannabis Project organizer for UFCW 3000.

Kelsch has a long history in Washington’s cannabis industry. He started in the medical field, and then helped gather signatures to get recreational cannabis on the ballot in 2012. He’s worked for cannabis producers in the state and says he is unhappy seeing current workers who need multiple jobs to support themselves.

“That’s not what I helped create this industry for,” says Kelsch.

He and UFCW 3000 are now fighting for better pay, safer working conditions and cost of living increases for those who work in Washington’s cannabis industry.

A contract brokered by UFCW 3000 for west side cannabis retailer Lux Cannabis guarantees a minimum wage of $16.25, plus tips, as well as an annual raise of

75 cents to adjust for cost of living increases, among other provisions.

This unionizing effort began on the west side a few years ago, but only moved to the east side within about the past year.

“Growing up,” says the former west side resident Kelsch, “everybody had a family member or a friend who worked for [the unionized company of] Boeing. Over here, I don’t see as big of a labor union to look up to.”

The union’s largest push is among retailers. Producers are tougher to unionize, as many of their employees are classified as agricultural workers, for whom a separate set of labor laws apply. But that is not stopping them from trying.

“It’s the thankless work that keeps these operations running,” says Kelsch, of the kind of workers he is hoping to bring under the union’s umbrella. n

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.

GREEN ZONE

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.

WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

EVENTS | CALENDAR

SPOKANE INDIANS VS. VANCOUVER

CANADIANS Promos include Bark in the Park Night (7/18), Family Feast Night (7/19), Christmas in July (7/20), Star Wars and more. July 18-20, 6:35 pm, July 21-22, 7:05 pm and July 23, 1:05 pm. $8-$22. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. spokaneindians.com

CHERRY PICKER’S TROT & PIT SPIT A for-mile run through Green Bluff’s orchard country on paved roads and a pit spit contest. July 20, 5-7 pm. $10-$20. Green Bluff Growers. grange.org

THEATER

ALICE BY HEART In the rubble of the London Blitz of WWII, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down. July 14-23; Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $15-$35. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com (325-2507)

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG A tale of a dilapidated racecar with a new lease on life. July 14-22; Fri-Sat at 7 pm, Sat at 2 pm. Free. Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Rd. kroccda.org

STEVE MARTIN’S BRIGHT STAR A sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. July 15-23; Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $25-$42. University High School, 12320 E. 32nd. svsummertheatre.com

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK PerforHamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. July 20Aug. 6, Thu-Sun at 6:30 pm. Performances in Manito, Riverfront and SkyPraire Park on a rotating schedule, see website for info. Donations accepted. spokaneshakespearesociety.org

VISUAL ARTS

DAN MCCANN: NOTHING TO BE Works that reflect fears found in the artist’s everyday life. MonFri from 10 am-5 pm through Aug. 31. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net

DAVID SMESTAD: RESONANCE Art based in geometric figures by the Pullman-based artist. Through July 29, open by appt. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. kolva-sullivangallery.com (509-458-5517)

DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS Artists

Linda Hyatt Cancel and John Sebastian showcase their fine art paintings. July 6-Aug. 25, Wed-Sat from 11:30 am5:30 pm. Free. Trails End Gallery, 204 E. Main St., Chewelah. (509-936-9181)

MOSCOW: FASHION THROUGH

An exhibit about how fashion in the Idaho Panhandle transformed from the late 19th century to the ’70s. Tue-Fri from 9 am-4 pm. through Sep. 2. Free. McConnell Mansion, 110 S. Adams St. latahcountyhistoricalsociety.org (208-882-1004)

RUTHIE FRANKS Franks creates sculptures and bowls by growing, drying and decorating gourds. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through July 30. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com (509-327-6920)

STAN MILLER: PAINTINGS A watercolor and egg tempera painting exhibition with 60 paintings and prints. Daily from noon-6 pm through July 31, 12-6 pm. Free. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. barristerwinery.com

THE WYETHS: THREE GENERATIONS

A collection of works by N.C. Wyeth, one of America’s finest illustrators, his sons and other family members. TueSun from 10 am-5 pm through Aug. 20. $7-$12. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

EMERGE BLOCK PARTY The 10th annual party features 145+ local artists, film and performances. July 14, 5 pmmidnight. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com (208-930-1876)

THE WEIRD WEST Local artists showcase their unique take on the iconic American West. July 14, 5-8 pm. Free. 5th Dimension Studios, 421 E. Coeur D’Alene Ave. (2089664442)

MEND-IT CAFE Bring textiles in need of repair, learn visible mending and enjoy a locally crafted beverage. July 15, 11 am-2 pm. Free. Wildland Cooperative, 8022 E. Green Bluff Rd. fb.me/ e/125BBWJzR (509-998-9967)

SUNDAY ART MART This weekly market features local and emerging artists and makers. Sun from 12-4 pm through Aug. 27. Free. Downtown Spokane. downtownspokane.org

WORDS

AUNTIE’S BOOK CLUB: NEW FICTION Discuss Claudia Durastanti’s Strangers I Know at this month’s book club. July 13, 6-7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com

WHAT’S YOUR STORY: THE ART AND CRAFT OF MEMOIR WRITING Local writer Jenny Davis demonstrates how to write compelling personal narratives in this generative workshop. July 13, 3-4:30 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org

BOOK SIGNING: K. S. WRIGHT Author K. S. Wright reads from her debut novel, answers questions about the writing and publishing process and autograph books. July 15, 7 pm. Free. Potlatch Public Library, 1010 Onaway Rd. latahlibrary.org (208-875-1036)

MERMAID STORY TIME Listen to children’s books read by local mermaids. July 15, 11 am. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com

POETRY WRITING: FORM & SOUND

Learn basic elements of poetry writing and write a poem using traditional forms. July 15, 1-4 pm. $35. Spokane Print & Publishing Center, 1921 N. Ash St. spokaneprint.org

SARAH CONOVER & PAUL LINDHOLT: TAKEN BY THE SEA Local writers Sarah Conover and Paul Lindholdt share, discuss and sign their new books. July 18, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley. spokanelibrary.org

BROKEN MIC Spokane Poetry Slam’s weekly open mic series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD

SARAH CONOVER & PAUL LINDHOLDT: TAKEN BY THE SEA Join authors Sarah Conover and Paul Lindholdt for a paired reading and Q&A. July 20, 5:30-6:30 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org (208-769-2315)

RICHARD GOODRICH: COMET MADNESS Goodrich and Professor Kevin O’Connor discuss Goodrich’s book Comet Madness in which he examines the 1910 appearance of Halley’s Comet and the ensuing frenzy. July 21, 7-8 pm. Free. Auntie’s, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com n

Across 1. Danny of “White Christmas”

5. Enjoyed immensely

10. Words before fever or risk

14. Eco-friendly certification letters

15. Joe Cocker’s “You ____ Beautiful”

16. Online periodical

17. “This ____ outrage!”

18. Erin of “Happy Days”

19. Lydia Ko’s sports org.

20. Uncertainty about whether something is right or wrong

23. Adorns with Charmin, for short

24. Sedimentary deposit

25. Understand

26. Visual phenomenon at some raves

32. Batman and Robin wear them

35. Banister

36. “There’s ____ in team”

E-MAIL:BulletinBoard@Inlander.com

PHONE:(509)444-7355

INPERSON: 1227WestSummitParkway Spokane,WA 99201

37. Black-and-white predator

38. Versatile utensil

40. Magazine founder Eric

41. Historic figure who appears on renminbi bank notes

42. Tubular pasta

43. Oohed and ____

44. “More than anything ...”

48. %, for short

49. Louvre Pyramid architect I.M.

50. Pajama-clad mag founder

53. Trademarked Arby’s slogan ... or this puzzle’s theme

58. Novelist Picoult

59. “Este minuto!”

60. Overabundance

61. Government takeover

62. Get connected, say

63. Designer Gucci

64. Cough syrup amts.

65. Steelers great Lynn

66. Like ocean trenches DOWN

1. “The Kiss” artist Gustav 2. “The Ant and the Grasshopper” writer 3. Quite a while 4. Poet ____ St. Vincent Millay 5. Actress Hedy in the National Inventors Hall of Fame 6. Start of a famous line from a balcony 7. Hit or miss, e.g.

8. “Ozark” actor Morales 9. End of a doorbell sound 10. “Phew!” feeling 11. Hyperbolic ordinal

Play where the big winners play.

15 Winners of a Prize Package Valued at $1,000!

FRIDAY, JULY 14TH | 8 PM

The neighbors will be jealous if you take home a prize from the $15,000 Grillin’ ‘n’ Chillin’ Drawing on Friday, July 14TH . Fire up a brand new CPG-700 Cuisinart Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, relax under a 10’x10’ Sunnydaze Soft Top Patio Gazebo, or enjoy an evening by your new Cuisinart Fire Pit Table. All prize packages include one prize item and Extra Play Cash.

Starting July 4TH , play your favorite video gaming machines with your Coeur Rewards card to earn entries. Receive one entry for every 500 points earned.

See the Coeur Rewards booth, CDA Casino app or cdacasino.com for promotional rules.

An Evening with Night Ranger

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 TH | 7 PM | $60 & UP

Chill out at our newest bar, located on the casino floor. The Chill Bar serves frozen blended drinks in foot-long plastic glasses, wine, beer and more. Open on large event nights, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 pm to midnight.

Little Dragon Eatery

FRIDAY & SATURDAY | 11 AM – 9 PM

SUNDAY & MONDAY | 11 AM – 8 PM

Experience our newest dining venue at Coeur d’Alene Casino. Little Dragon Eatery offers great options for quick and easy dining for lunch and dinner. Come enjoy your favorite Asian inspired dishes like sweet & sour pork, orange chicken, pork fried rice and more.

July Special

SUMMER SALAD

$9.95 CHICKEN | $14.95 SHRIMP SKEWER

This light and refreshing salad is made with Napa cabbage, bell peppers, cucumber, fried noodles and nuts. Served with a peanut salad dressing. See cdacasino.com for more details.