Inlander 12/28/2023

DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | REMEMBER THE PAST, EMBRACE THE FUTURE

E Y B D O O G 2023 A LOOK BACK ON THE PAST YEAR THE YEAR IN NEWS 8 THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS 14 THE BEST ARTS AND CULTURE STORIES 22 WHAT RESTAURANTS OPENED — AND CLOSED 26 OUR FILM PICKS 28 TOP ALBUMS 30

VOL. 31, NO. 12 | COVER PHOTO: ERICK DOXEY

COMMENT 5 8 NEWS COVER STORY 14 22 CULTURE

FOOD 26 SCREEN 28 MUSIC 30 EVENTS 34

36 I SAW YOU 40 GREEN ZONE BULLETIN BOARD 43

EDITOR’S NOTE

I

woke up before dawn one New Year’s morning and thought, what have I done wrong? Why wasn’t I sleeping in on this first day of a brand new year filled with such promise? Shouldn’t I, at least, be recovering from the reverie of the night before?

But the sun rose as I drank coffee and suddenly I believed it was good luck to be up so early. New dawn, new day, New Year. It was 2017, and I won’t bore you with the details, but it wasn’t a luck filled year. But I kept at my pre-dawn tradition, in 2018, 2019 and 2020. That’s when I stopped. I apologize for all the harm my early rising caused. It won’t happen again. I promise to sleep in late and curse that morning light, for the good of us all.

One tradition I refuse to jettison is the time I take to reflect on the year before. The conversations I regret, and the things I wished I’d said. The time I spent with the people I love, and the work I’ve done. That’s why I’m so thankful for this issue, our annual LOOK BACK ON THE YEAR BEFORE. Of course, it’s all thanks to you, our readers, that we do this. But personally, I’d like to thank the entire team here at the Inlander. Together, we make this paper great. Just like how together — all of us — we can make this world a more peaceful and healthy place for everyone. See you next week, in 2024! And remember to sleep in!

— NICHOLAS DESHAIS, editor

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We moved back to Spokane [from Wenatchee], which has been great because we’re from here. We bought a house on the South Hill that we’re renovating, and now we get to be close to our families again. My brother has two kids and we have two kids, so now they have cousins nearby too.

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LEEANN CHASE Moving to Cheney from Yakima. [We have] five grandchildren. They’re growing up and they’re active and they’re doing stuff, and we were missing out. So we moved.

Have you done anything fun since?

Actually, today was our adventure. We took the bus from Cheney to here for the first time.

It felt very European.

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I got a new dairy cow. Her name is Primrose.

Is farming a family trade, or did you get into it as an adult?

I got into it as an adult. I’ve got a farm in Chattaroy, just north of Spokane.

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CIRCULATION

LUANN LEVERSON We have felt like we could go out and experience things that we haven’t before. So we’ve done more traveling.

Are there any trips that you took this year that stand out?

My husband and I went to Switzerland and hiked on some of the big mountains and that was really amazing.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 5

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Happy ’Due Year!

The City Line began service this year — what’s next for local transit? YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Our City Progresses Our new urban-focused columnist reviews the year’s major milestones, and what 2024 may hold

BY ANTHONY GILL

I

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n the past decade, I’d argue, no three issues have driven Spokane forward more than transportation, housing and simple governance.

Perhaps it’s not surprising — in some ways, these are the issues best suited for local government to solve. Whether through transformative investment in the case of Spokane Transit Authority’s City Line or legislative change in the case of easing housing rules, this year was a case study in the power of local government to make a difference in residents’ lives.

So at the end of the year, I wanted to take a look back at some of the major milestones we’ve reached in these areas in 2023 and where we could go in 2024.

TRANSPORTATION

After more than 20 years of dreaming about bringing high-capacity transit back to Spokane after arguably an 80-year absence, the City Line officially launched this year, on July 15. The central city bus rapid transit line was completed under budget(!) and features upgraded stations, real-time arrival information, ticket vending machines and other elements designed to make the experience as user-friendly as possible. Station art adds a touch of whimsy and a connection to the neighborhood. And starting in January 2024, buses will run every seven minutes or so, meaning you won’t even have to think about a

6 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

schedule.

While a similar rapid transit line on North Division Street is STA’s next major capital project (set for construction in 2027), I’ll be paying closer attention to the agency’s next strategic plan, Connect 2035. That document will Anthony Gill guide the transportation investments that the agency will make over the next decade and inform the next STA ballot measure. The coming year is the best opportunity to give feedback and ideas to help develop the plan.

The last big planning document, for example, led to the City Line and Division Street BRT. Could the new plan dream up more BRT lines?

Nighttime bus service? Better cross-town connections without passing through downtown? STA planners will be looking for feedback this year, so look to get involved this spring.

Also, watch for action from the Spokane City Council in the new year on pedestrian and bicyclist safety (which council members Zack Zappone and Kitty Klitzke have pledged to prioritize), continued conversation about STA’s fare model, and major financial challenges for the North Spokane Corridor project, also known as the north-south freeway.

HOUSING

Earlier this fall, Spokane adopted permanent rules allowing so-called “missing-middle” housing (duplexes, triplexes and similar small multifamily buildings) in residential zones across the city. The housing reform has been praised as a nationwide model, both for its simplicity and for the way conservative and progressive members of our City Council were able to find common ground. But the package isn’t a silver bullet, and it will have more impact on housing costs over the next 10 or 20 years than the next two or three.

In 2024, I’ll be watching permit applications and — more importantly — construction starts. If the Federal Reserve begins cutting interest rates, look for more of these middle housing projects to break ground in the latter half of next year. City Council members may also consider options for “template” housing plans — essentially, a set of preapproved

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“The housing reform has been praised as a nationwide model, both for its simplicity and for the way... members of our City Council were able to find common ground.” development plans for duplexes or fourplexes which could be pulled “off a shelf” for construction, with perhaps some material and aesthetic variation. This model has proven remarkably effective in Los Angeles, which created template accessory dwelling units (“casitas”) to quickly bring new modest housing stock online.

Also, watch for moves toward additional statewide housing accountability for cities (I’m looking at you, Liberty Lake), along with opportunities to get involved in a big update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which guides the city’s growth and must be updated next year.

GOVERNANCE

Even outside of November’s elections, this year brought continued upheaval to City Hall, which made the simple work of governing more difficult. City Administrator Johnnie Perkins resigned following a sexual harassment investigation.

In September, we saw the resignation of Jenn Cerecedes, director of the vital Community, Housing, and Human Services Department, which leads the city’s homelessness work. And there have been continued challenges in departments as varied as human resources, fire and finance.

And those are just the staffing issues! There were also budget challenges, conflicts over redistricting maps and continued debate over a new regional homelessness authority.

I expect that 2024 will bring more stability to City Hall, not least because Mayor-elect Lisa Brown has significant experience running complex state agencies and has a robust transition team in place.

But I expect questions of governance — basic, foundational questions about how Spokane is planned and run — to continue. Zappone, for example, has suggested a charter commission to draw up more fundamental reforms. A regionalized homelessness response certainly seems to be in the cards, at least in some form. And both Brown and City Council member Paul Dillon have expressed support for alternative response programs for certain types of police calls. As we get into 2024, look for action on all three of these fronts to continue. n Anthony Gill is an economic development professional and writer of Spokane Rising, a blog about ways to make our city a better place to live.

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Margo Mueller used to pick up trash near Second and Division, which earned her some friends. “You cannot imagine how nice they are in return,” she said in July. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

YEAR IN REVIEW

The Year That Was New leadership at City Hall, a world-saving seed bank, worsening homelessness, school board mayhem and more — here are our best and favorite stories from 2023

BY INLANDER TEAM

W

hen 2024 begins later this week, Spokane will have a different mayor, City Council president and police chief than it did when 2023 began.

Next year, we may have a different president, member of Congress and, for sure, governor. Simple reminders that a lot can happen in a year.

This year, our news team covered everything from the politics of small-town Idaho to the Doomsday Vault on the Palouse. We covered Spokane’s most notorious intersection, and the continuing national tragedy that is our unsafe streets. And we followed the hyper-politicization of our local school boards and the ongoing hunt for COVID fraudsters.

We did it fairly and accurately, unbeholden to any agenda other than to serve our readers with the highest quality news and writing we could muster.

— NICHOLAS DESHAIS, editor

8 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

SECOND AND DIVISION

One of the Inlander’s most widely discussed stories this year was our cover story on Second Avenue and Division Street — an infamous, heavily trafficked Spokane intersection that’s long struggled with drug use, crime and poverty.

Photographer Erick Doxey and I spent a weekend in July at the intersection talking to the people who live and hang out there. People were candid and willing to share their stories. One man told us he’s overdosed and been saved with Narcan about 10 times. Another said he wishes he could still find heroin, but that the supply has almost entirely been replaced with fentanyl.

Shortly after the story came out, Spokane City Council members met with leadership from Catholic Charities, which operates low-barrier housing in the area, and Spokane police to discuss the challenges facing the intersection.

Police Lt. Dan Waters said the area had become

“full on crisis mode,” and he discussed several ideas to stop people from congregating in the area, including lights, music, cutting down trees, fencing and even closing off part of the street. Perhaps the wildest suggestion was to move people along with street preachers.

Several weeks later, Mayor Nadine Woodward held a press conference at the intersection to announce that she was “resetting expectations” and doubling down on police patrols. She later claimed that the area had seen a decrease in property crime.

The city’s larger problems of fentanyl and homelessness, however, remain far from solved. The intersection remains troubled — a small piece of a societal emergency decades in the making. The goal of the piece was simply to document the consequences and, hopefully, show people’s humanity in the midst of it all. (NATE SANFORD)

SO MANY SEEDS

Late last year, while visiting my parents for Thanksgiving in Pullman, I ran into an old classmate and we shared quick updates about our personal and professional lives.

Wasn’t she working on a farm of some type these days?

Yes, but it was so much cooler than that.

Unbeknownst to me — a person who devours science fiction and pays too much attention to the dystopian present — there’s a freaking local version of the Doomsday Vault in the tiny little town I grew up in!

This vault wasn’t built to hold people, like the bunkers of the Cold War era. Instead it’s part of an international network of seed banks saving people another way: The network stores and maintains a vast collection of genetically diverse plant material so that we don’t mono...continued on page 10

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 9

NEWS | YEAR IN REVIEW Then as ballots were counted we all waited with bated breath for the results, but could discern no real themes or patterns in particular.

Voters in Spokane and Medical Lake overwhelmingly voted against challengers hoping to unseat established incumbents. But in Central Valley and Mead, voters chose challengers to take the place of school board members with a combined tenure of about 60 years (Debra Long, 20 years; Keith Clark, 16 years; Denny Denholm, 24 years).

This gave both Mead and Central Valley a more conservative majority, the effects of which will become clear in the new year. (COLTON RASANEN)

DEVASTATING FIRES

Lisa Taylor manages a seed bank in Pullman that holds thousands of samples of peas, beans, lentils and other important crops. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

“THE YEAR THAT WAS,” CONTINUED... crop ourselves into oblivion. This way, there’s a chance to fight new or ancient, reawoken pests, and to replenish agriculture when disaster strikes. With well over 100,000 containers holding different kinds of peas, lentils, beans, lettuces, grasses, flowers and more, Pullman’s bank has one of the most diverse collections in the national system, and requires a staff of more than two dozen people to operate.

That farm? They’re constantly planting seeds from the rows and rows of jars and envelopes kept inside a gigantic refrigerator in order to keep the stores viable and harvest new seeds. Badass science for the win. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

SLUGFEST

In case you didn’t hear: Spokane elected a new mayor.

Lisa Brown — a former state Department of Commerce director, chancellor for Washington State University Spokane and state Senate majority leader — defeated incumbent Mayor Nadine Woodward in November and, come January, will be Spokane’s 46th mayor.

It was a very long campaign. Immediately after Brown announced her candidacy in early March, the Spokesman-Review ran a headline quoting former City Council member Steve Corker’s prediction that the race between Brown and Woodward would be a “slugfest.”

He was right. Over the course of nine months, Brown and Woodward clashed frequently — in debates, dueling press conferences and late-night posts on the website that used to be called Twitter.

The high-stakes race also prompted an unprecedented amount of political spending. Both Brown and Woodward smashed fundraising records with more than $500,000 each in direct contributions. In early November, we reported on how millions of dollars in outside spending had poured in from political action committees — the majority of which was spent boosting conservative candidates and attacking progressives.

The biggest surprise of the race came in late August, when Woodward made an unexpected appearance onstage at a Christian worship festival with former state

10 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

Rep. Matt Shea, a Spokane Valley Republican who was ostracized from mainstream politics because he was accused of religious extremism and domestic terrorism.

Woodward insisted that she didn’t know Shea would be there and denounced his politics. But the controversy never really died down.

In the end, the heavy amount of spending in favor of conservative candidates largely failed to pay off. Brown won in November with 51.8% of the vote. (NS)

SCHOOL BOARD MAYHEM

If you went to a school board meeting before 2020… who am I kidding, practically nobody went to school board meetings back then. However, with the prevalence of online learning in the wake of a pandemic, parents quickly began to take a more active role in their children’s education. This led to continued outcry about perceived faults in the system and these meetings filling up like never before.

Virtual classrooms. Masking. Vaccinations. Critical Race Theory. LGBTQ+ “agendas.” Sexual education.

Low transparency. Lack of parental rights. You name it and somebody was probably outraged by it.

This all boiled over in 2023 when school board races across the Inland Northwest filled with candidates vehemently opposed to the very system they hoped to lead — and vowed to change. And while races for Spokane’s mayor and City Council often led our news coverage, school board elections took a safe second place, when in previous years they struggled for a participation trophy.

Between Medical Lake’s crowded 17-person primary making it the largest in the state, the Central Valley School District Board race that saw all three open positions contested for the first time in more than 20 years and the recall of two trustees from Idaho’s West Bonner School Board recording voter turnout similar to a presidential election, this year was full of firsts.

Records were also made. The Mead School Board race between two newcomers — Jennifer Killman and Jaime Stacy — saw nearly $70,000 in campaign fundraising and outside spending, which made it the most expensive school board race in the state.

In mid-August, after days of record-setting high temperatures, fires swept through Medical Lake and Elk, killing two people and destroying hundreds of homes. Over the course of 48 hours, Spokane County saw more than 20,000 acres go up in flames, with at least 265 structures destroyed. The fires raged over the late summer weekend, forcing evacuations and drawing help from fire departments all across the state and region. After the Gray and Oregon fires (named for the roads they started next to), the community rallied to help those who were impacted. The county has been working with homeowners to find property tax relief, many organizations and businesses held fundraisers, and others offered help getting grants and looking for options as people decided whether to rebuild. Multiple lawsuits were filed claiming that Inland Power and Light electrical equipment sparked the Gray Fire.

During the upcoming legislative session, local lawmakers plan to ask for more relief. State Reps. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, and Suzanne Schmidt, R-Spokane Valley, plan to bring a bill forward that will allow 2023 wildfire victims to rebuild under the building codes that were in place on Jan. 1, 2023. New rules from the state building code council may add thousands of dollars to the cost of new residential construction, and the lawmakers say that’s not fair to the fire victims, whose insurance might not cover the increase. (SW)

ESCAPE FROM AFGHANISTAN

As a journalist, you never know when a seemingly simple story — say, a quick interview with an author about their new book — will lead you to a much more meaningful story.

In early 2021, I interviewed Cheney author Trent Reedy and his Afghan co-author Jawad Arash about their young adult novel, Enduring Freedom. It was a thinly veiled retelling of how the men met and became unlikely friends. (Trent, a soldier, met Jawad, a high school kid who wanted to practice his English.) The book promotes education and freedom for girls, and has an overall hopeful message. I knew “Jawad Arash” was a pen name, but I was somewhat surprised that the author wouldn’t show his face on Zoom or say which Afghan city he was in.

I didn’t understand how precarious things were when I asked what they thought about the announcement that all U.S. troops would leave Afghanistan later that year.

Both men were worried that the Taliban would immediately take back control.

Months later, that’s exactly what happened. We watched with horror as people were trampled to death, clung to the side of evacuation planes and faced terrorist attacks at the Kabul airport as they tried to leave. Many with ties to America were worried they’d be hanged.

On Aug. 15, 2021, the Taliban seized control of the government as the president fled.

On Aug. 17, 2021, I wrote to Trent to ask if he was doing OK, but more importantly, to see if he’d been able

to check if Jawad and his family were safe. They weren’t.

As a matter of fact, for nearly the next two years, the first thing Trent would do when he woke up and the first thing he would do before bed was message his friend to see if he was alive.

I didn’t know the hell they’d gone through trying to get Jawad’s family to safety until Trent reached out to me in late June this year to say there was FINALLY a light at the end of that dark tunnel.

A month or so later, I was able to interview Jawad by video chat and finally see his face. He and his family had made it safely to America.

Trent and Jawad were incredibly gracious and vulnerable in allowing me to share their story. They let me look through hundreds of messages they’d exchanged over the last two years (just a tiny sample of their daily chatter) and each spoke to me for hours. Thanks to their openness, our readers were able to get an up-close look at the incredibly difficult journey still facing many who worked with our government in some form or fashion over the last 20 years. (SW)

COVID FRAUD

We’ve spent almost four years now covering the effects of the pandemic, so I guess that means we should say, “Happy Fourth Birthday COVID!” Let’s all celebrate by making sure we’re up to date on our boosters and stocking up on at-home tests.

There’s another number to keep in mind: 1 billion. That’s the dollar amount of COVID fraud some estimate took place in Washington state alone. So, in 2023, we began to focus less on the virus itself and instead turned our attention to the folks who used

“We should be able to trust the public to not defraud the government.” a worldwide pandemic for personal gain.

As the U.S. tried to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the nation, it passed trillions of dollars in relief funds. Some were for employers who couldn’t continue to pay their employees or keep the doors open, and others were created to help tenants fulfill their rental requirements. But all of these programs were created to address the negative impacts that the pandemic wrought.

However, because this relief was passed as quickly as possible to help the population, it lacked proper oversight measures, which led to more than $100 billion being fraudulently obtained throughout the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

This led U.S. attorneys across the country to go on the hunt for these missing federal funds. In Eastern Washington, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref made it a top priority for her office to address the flurry of fraud in the region — thus the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Strike Force was created and began to take action.

In October, we reported on that effort and spoke with Waldref and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Fruchter to investigate the steps their office was taking to recoup these fraudulently obtained funds. At the time, they had already recovered about $4 million and expected millions more to come back through restitution.

“We should be able to trust the public to not defraud the government,” Waldref told us. (CR)

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KOVACS QUAGMIRE

In February, we received public records months after asking a seemingly simple question about Béla Kovacs: Why had he left his job as the purchasing director for Spokane County in 2018?

Kovacs was appointed as the Kootenai County assessor after the death of the previous officeholder in 2020. Since then, ...continued on next page

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 11

NEWS | YEAR IN REVIEW

Spokane Mayor-elect Lisa Brown on election night. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

“THE YEAR THAT WAS,” CONTINUED...

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dozens of his employees have voiced their lack of confidence in his ability to lead their office, which plays an instrumental role in the county’s ability to collect taxes. Assessor’s staff members say Kovacs gaslights and belittles them, blames others when things go wrong, and keeps tabs on conversations he’s worried could be about him.

The records from Spokane County, where Kovacs worked for nearly 20 years, revealed that Kovacs had resigned in lieu of termination following an investigation into similar issues with staff there. By hiring a lawyer to block my public records request, Kovacs was able to delay the release of the Spokane documents until after last year’s November election, when he was formally elected to remain in the post.

The Kootenai County commissioners weren’t aware of the issues in Spokane when they appointed Kovacs. Last year, they asked him to resign after his office missed key deadlines, but Kovacs refused. So, they slashed his pay in half to encourage him to leave, but as an elected official there was little else they could do. In May, a Kootenai County judge ordered the commissioners to reinstate his full pay, with a raise. (SW)

HOMELESSNESS WORSENED

Throughout 2023, we continued to document Spokane’s worsening homeless crisis.

Amid rising housing costs, Spokane County’s homeless population increased by 36% between 2022 and 2023, according to the city’s point-in-time count.

Early summer saw the closure of Camp Hope — the East Central homeless encampment that lasted for more than a year and at its peak had an estimated population of more than 600 people. Its closure marked the end of a prolonged conflict between local and state leaders. The end of Camp Hope did not, however, represent an end to Spokane’s homeless crisis. Many of the people who lived there are still homeless.

In May, former Inlander writer Daniel Walters wrote an indepth cover story highlighting the great lengths a San Diego tech executive went through while wandering the streets of Spokane in search of his homeless son. Despite numerous setbacks, the man and his son were eventually able to reconnect.

In the wake of Camp Hope, we reported on how local leaders were working together to explore the creation of a regional homeless authority that would pool resources and unite Spokane’s homeless response under a single entity.

The idea of a regional entity has a notable level of bipartisan support, though many elected officials still have their own individual concerns about how the authority will operate and who will be in charge of distributing the millions of dollars in local,

state and federal funds that flow through it.

When the idea was first pitched this summer, the volunteers leading the effort proposed moving on an accelerated timeline and standing up the authority by the end of the year. This did not happen. Elected officials are continuing to meet regularly to discuss the structure of the authority, and seem to be on track to get something finalized by the end of 2024. (NS)

A HINT OF VINTAGE

SAD GOOSE SUMMER

Sandpoint really hates having geese hanging out in its City Beach park. In previous years, the city worked with the state to tag dozens of geese with leg bands and relocate them far away.

But, as is the nature of migratory animals, they soon returned, along with all that pesky poop they drop on the daily. Last winter, the city authorized a good ol’ fashioned goose hunt in the park, just blocks from the downtown core, but only one goose was killed. So, this June, the city resorted to hiring a federal agency to round up all the geese they could find (170 of them) and kill them with CO2 gas. Days later, multiple banded geese were found chilling in the park again — turns out, they love to eat grass, and who can beat those views of Lake Pend Oreille?

(SW)

featuring

China Forbes

Monday, January 29, 2024 7:30pm

Spokane County’s homeless population increased by 36%.

CARS KEPT KILLING

In April this year, we wrote a lengthy cover story highlighting the disturbing uptick in traffic fatalities locally and across the nation. Drivers killed 750 people in Washington in 2022 — the highest number since 1990. As the year comes to a close, the numbers are on track to be even higher.

We highlighted some of the city’s most dangerous intersections and explored how decades of car-centric road design had created an environment hostile to people trying to move through the city on foot or bike.

Our cover story centered on a recent lawsuit involving a pedestrian who was struck by a driver while trying to cross the street at the intersection of Division Street and Rhoades Avenue in north Spokane. The man hit by the car was left with debilitating injuries. He successfully sued the city of Spokane for $3.1 million, arguing that the city had failed to improve the intersection despite a prior study showing it was unsafe.

At the time, we reported that the city had plans to install pedestrian crossing beacons at the intersection this fall with funding from a federal safety grant. But as 2023 comes to a close, construction has yet to begin. (NS)

M O N DAY

FEBRUARY 12

7:30PM

POPS 5 G E O R G E DAU G H E RT Y conductor

LANGUAGE ACCESS

For the better part of two years, Mujeres in Action has asked Spokane County to adopt more language access tools in the court system, where many of its clients may need to file paperwork seeking protection orders for domestic violence or sexual assault. Not only do those clients need forms in their primary language to understand what they’re being asked, they should be offered interpretation services at no cost. Now, some of that work is finally underway, with new signage going up and materials going out to front desk employees so they have “I speak…” cards that enable someone to show them which language they need a translator for. In addition to improvements in the courts, the hope is that the county will ultimately adopt a plan to expand language access in all departments to better serve the 40,000 county residents who speak something other than English at home. The city of Spokane recently adopted its own such plan, with an eye on making city documents and meetings accessible to all. (SW) n

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2023 THROUGH THE EYES OF YOUNG KWAK & ERICK DOXEY 14 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

GYROS AND ICONS

The delights of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church’s annual Greek festival are many: spanakopita, loukoumades, koulourakia cookies, gyro sandwiches, baklava and more.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

OVER THE MOON

Locals have celebrated the Lunar New Year since Spokane’s earliest days, but this January’s event was especially poignant following the hate and racism directed at Asian Americans that arose during the height of the COVID pandemic.

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2023

SAVING THE CITY

As fires become more common in the Inland Northwest and around the world, major urban areas are at risk. This summer, fires threatened the west end of Spokane, leading some people to call for a halt on development there.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

SMACKDOWN!

Spokane’s indie pro wrestling scene has been leveled up by Relentless Wrestling’s Chase James, seen here below the soaring arms of wrestling superhero Jaiden. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

16 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

In September, anonymous “dog whistle” letters were sent to Spokane Valley churches regarding local schools’ gender-inclusive policies — including progressive pro-LGBTQ+ churches like Rev. Gen Heywood’s Veradale United Church of Christ. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

UNSAFE AT THESE SPEEDS

In the last decade, eight people have been hit by cars trying to cross at Division Street and Rhoades Avenue, seen above in April. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

A HARD RAIN

Spokane voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1 in November, but Shar (with her dog, Apollo), Nala and Rabbit at their camp near I-90 hadn’t heard of the camping ban in October. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

TRIBAL TRADITION

Daniel Peone digs for sqigwts — water potatoes — a fall harvest done by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe since time immemorial. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

POETRY IN MOTION

Quiero Flamenco’s Rachael Rossbach, left, and Sofie Boures, rehearse for January’s “Poeta” performance.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 17

2023

GOD’S CITY

We met Space Jam near the notoriously troubled intersection of Second and Division. He asked us to use his nickname because of active warrants. “This is God’s city,” he says. “Where sinners become saints.”

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

PLEASING PALATES

Chef Chong Chef Chong Vang creates an intricate dessert at Inland Pacific Kitchen, which we featured in our October Dining Out issue. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

FREEWAY TO NOWHERE

As the North Spokane Corridor continues its decades-long construction, this year it entered the heavily populated East Central neighborhood. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

18 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 19

2023

MEET YOUR BREADMAKER

Shaun Thompson Duffy, a fine dining chef-turned-baker who opened South Perry’s Grain Shed in 2018, begins baking at 2:30 am most mornings. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

THE LAST DUNK

Drew Timme gave Zags fans many memorable moments over the years, but perhaps none as pleasing as this: his last collegiate dunk (with a bit of an assist from Hunter Sallis). ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

RARE GEMS

After moving to Coeur d’Alene in 2019, Jazmyn J went to a drag show. “Seeing these performers here in Spokane — young, very creative, and voicing whatever they’re experiencing at that moment — was really an eye opener. And I said, ‘I’d like to do this. I’d like to do drag.’”

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

20 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

We lead with our hearts, we care with our hearts

SAVE THE DATE Please join us for our Annual Fundraiser

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The Knitting Factory @ 5:30PM Ticket Cost: $50

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HAPPY FLORALS

Coeur d’Alene artist Toby Keough’s bright botanical artworks are filled with color and joy. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Presented in part by your community partner :

SPOOKY SOUNDS

Northern Quest’s BECU Live outdoor concert venue was host to many summer shows, including a delightfully sinister night with the Swedish rock band Ghost. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

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training aspiring local wrestlers. I even hopped in the ring to get chopped and suplexed — hence the aforementioned bruises. It’s always a blast to highlight thriving local subcultures, and that’s what Relentless Wrestling has become over the past couple years. Body slams and steel chair shots for everybody! (SETH SOMMERFELD)

JULY 6

Of course 2023 was the year of Barbie. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

YEAR IN REVIEW

Colorful Characters Our arts and culture writers reflect on the most interesting, impactful stories we wrote in 2023

BY INLANDER STAFF

A

s yet another year comes to a close and we reflect on the past and look toward the future, it can be a bit overwhelming to recap all of the amazing and poignant stories our arts and culture team had the opportunity to tell. So many different subjects and story genres fall into that broadly encompassing umbrella of “art” and “culture,” as reflected by the following list of our staff’s favorite pieces of 2023. From Barbie to pro wrestlers, sports mascots to a hot dog cart salesman, these stories and more graced the pages of the Inlander.

(CHEY SCOTT)

JAN. 12

How new NIL rules for NCAA sports are finally letting Inland Northwest collegiate stars cash in Collegiate sports was forever changed in 2021 when the NCAA finally caved on its stance of pure amateurism and allowed student athletes to make money off endorsements while maintaining eligibility through the new Name, Image, Likeness rules (NIL). Spokane was one of the first notable epicenters of the NIL movement, as Gonzaga superstar Drew Timme had both the charisma and

22 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

looks to cash in. Our cover feature on the impact of NIL not only featured us being a fly on the wall as Timme shot a new season’s worth of (at least mildly) humorous commercials for Northern Quest Resort & Casino, but also delved into how lesser-known figures like WSU kicker Dean Janikowski hustled on social media to make a buck. Has NIL saved college sports or ruined it forever? Probably neither! (It’s the greed of football schools that will probably undo the NCAA, just ask WSU and the rest of the Pac-2.) (SETH SOMMERFELD)

JUNE 1

From street art to fine oil paintings, Daniel Lopez’s journey as an artist is just beginning Many are familiar with Daniel Lopez’s art, which brightens the sides of buildings and outdoor spaces around the region. These pieces are all created via spray paint cans guided by Lopez’s steady hand, a skill he recently translated to a much smaller, highly detailed scale: oil paintings. Ahead of a solo art show of these masterful paintings, I sat down with Lopez for a catch-up. During the pandemic, he began studying oil painting, eventually producing one particular artwork that is as powerful as it is beautiful. The 3-by-4-foot piece titled “Pietà” depicts a mother cradling the head of her son, who lies prone on a sofa with a syringe dangling from his limp arm. Lopez himself overcame heroin addiction after multiple near death experiences, but found solace and sobriety in his Christian faith and art a decade ago. (CHEY SCOTT)

Spokane’s Hot Dog Bob is one of downtown’s friendliest attractions The only thing more delightful than a hot dog is Hot Dog Bob himself, and readers definitely agreed. The portable hot dog seller is an icon of Spokane, and it was way too much fun to spend a late June morning talking everything from beef broth to grandkids with the legend.

That is, after I tracked him down. Bob was the first source to ever stand me up for an interview. I had forgotten to get his phone number, so I went from storefront to storefront asking if anyone knew where he was. When I did get ahold of him, he apologized profusely. We set up another interview and he let me wear his hat, which was more than enough to make me forgive him.

(ELIZA BILLINGHAM)

AUG. 24

Spokane’s Kari Johnson began collecting Barbies well before the hit film spurred a pink renaissance Thanks to one very popular blockbuster film about one very popular doll, 2023 was a very pink year. In a twist of fate that journalists dream of, I happened to land on this delightful feature story about a local woman’s extensive Barbie doll collection. The story’s seed was dropped into my lap one afternoon while shopping and chatting with local business owner Gina Cambell about an unusual Barbie-like doll she’d acquired for her vintage shop, 1889 Salvage Co. Gina mentioned that her dear friend Kari would probably know more about the mystery doll as an experienced Barbie collector. After some nudging, Kari agreed to let me feature her and her dolls, and we spent a lovely afternoon reminiscing about our childhood favorites while admiring her wonderful collection. (CHEY SCOTT)

JULY 6

Inside the world of Spokane’s indie pro wrestling scene You can call pro wrestling a lot of things: violent, silly, colorful, athletic… just don’t call it fake. The bruises on my poor body can attest to that.

Spokane’s Relentless Pro Wrestling has become a standout in the independent pro wrestling scene thanks to the work of Chase James, the veteran wrestler who runs the promotion. For a July cover feature, we went behind the scenes to learn how a live wrestling show gets made, meet charismatic performers, celebrate the promotion’s queer-friendly vibes, and see how James is

We all adore Otto, Doris and Ribby. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

SEPT. 28

In a fast-paced, busy world, why do mascots matter?

As a reporter, sometimes you pitch completely self-indulgent stories to your editors and hope that they say yes.

When I approached Arts & Culture Editor Chey Scott with the idea to write an ode to my favorite local mascots, she matched my enthusiasm and we decided to dedicate an entire issue of the Inlander to mascots. Throughout my

time writing this story, I learned that mascots can actually change lives. I met so many incredible people including Max Knopik, an Eastern Washington University student who loves the school’s mascot Swoop more than anyone I’ve ever met. Aaron Croom has worked tirelessly for years to ensure the Spokane Indians’ mascots are always in tip-top shape and runs a program to prep teens to become college mascots. But, selfishly, the best part of writing this story was dancing to “Fergalicious” with Ribby the Redband Trout (my personal favorite) during the photoshoot. Top three best moments of my life, fins down. (MADISON PEARSON)

The Long Ear is still going strong after half a century. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

OCT. 5

Coeur d’Alene record store the Long Ear celebrates 50 years of kickin’ out the jams It seems like vinyl records come back into style every few years when a new generation discovers the “old-fashioned” way to listen to their favorite albums. The Long Ear in Coeur d’Alene has been on the vinyl train for a long time. Like, a long time. The store celebrated 50 years in business this October with a huge, in-store birthday bash. Owners Deon and Terry Borchard started the business in California, where they’re originally from, but moved to North Idaho in 1985. Since then, the couple and their dedicated team of employees have provided CdA music lovers with records, CDs, cassettes, posters and a feeling of community.

Here’s to another 50 groovy years, the Long Ear! (MADISON PEARSON)

y r e v o c s i D c i Mus CAMERA READY

Breathin’ easy

OCT. 19

New documentary from Latinos en Spokane shares the often untold stories of local immigrants After receiving a grant in 2021, Latinos en Spokane teamed up with On the Horizon Films to highlight the nonprofit’s advocacy work and share oft-overlooked stories. When I spoke to Jennyfer Mesa, founder and executive director of Latinos en Spokane, she explained that immigration issues are often covered from a national lens, rather than local. One standout story in the film is that of Dania Salgado, who came to the U.S. with her children seeking treatment for her youngest daughter’s leukemia. After being rejected from numerous hospitals in the southern U.S., her daughter finally received care in Washington state, which provides healthcare to children who aren’t legal immigrants. The film’s premiere raised funds for an immigration legal department that’s currently being established. (SUMMER SANDSTROM)

‘cause we have our vaccines!

NOV. 2

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe shares its culture and history during annual water potato dig along the lakeshore When I told people I was writing a story about sqigwts, or water potatoes, almost everyone asked, “What are those?” For a journalist, few things are as exciting as helping people learn new things, and as a food reporter, I don’t get to go on outdoor adventures as much as I’d like. Getting to drive out to Hawley’s Landing and learn from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe was a huge honor. Elders were warm and welcoming, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of information they preserve. Not to mention that the harvest was intensely beautiful — bonfires at the edge of the lake glowed while huge snowflakes swirled around us, yet the trees were still an autumnal gold. Trying sqigwts for the first time on a snowy campground was my favorite meal all year.

(ELIZA BILLINGHAM) n

Flu & COVID-19 Flu & COVID-19 srhd.org/breathineasy

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 23

CULTURE | DIGEST

Life — and onions — take time.

How to Sauté Onions Or, why writers, cooks and roses need to be patient

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

“Y

ou just need to wait.”

It was 11:30 am in an underground food court next to the Orange Line in Boston.

James and I were scarfing down stir fry — him because he was hungry, me because I was trying not to cry.

It would be so embarrassing to cry in front of James Parker. I had loved his writing for over a year and finally worked up the courage to ask him to lunch for some brief professional advice. But it was on the verge of becoming a therapy session.

I was a semester and a half into a master’s degree in journalism, a field I had no experience in, that promised little chance of a job and little pay if I could get one, all while forking over an exorbitant tuition and more rent than I could afford. I was, for all intents and purposes, an idiot. The only thing that could make it worse was crying like an idiot in front of James.

James wrote for The Atlantic, contributing literature reviews but also the one-page odes that take something ordinary and make them wildly hilarious. He won me over as a reader when he described Matt Damon running like a “frightened washing machine” in his “Ode to Running in the Movies.”

James looked up between bites of broccoli.

“So, what kinds of things do you want to write?”

Shit.

“Um, nonfiction mostly, I think. But I think poetry is important, too —” “Oh! What poets do you like?”

SHIT.

24 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

I scrambled and mentioned Kipling, a poet I knew nothing about and James knew everything about, because, of course, I was an idiot.

The worst part was that James was relentlessly kind.

I meant to ask him about writing, but all of my questions were about to turn into a cry for help. More desperate, more carnal, something like, “Will I ever make it?” “Will this ever make sense?” Or maybe, will I ever not be an idiot?

James’ reply was simple. “You just need to wait.”

It was hard for me to keep the fried rice in my mouth. What?! Didn’t he know I needed to hurry up and get published now, make money now, be talented now?

Waiting didn’t seem like good career advice. I couldn’t just hang out until someone plucked me out of obscurity for being undeniably brilliant. In journalism, you’re always on deadline, and deadlines definitely don’t wait. Plus, good jobs are few and far between. When an opportunity is flying by, you need to be ready. With a portfolio and references and lots of experience doing things.

I forced myself to swallow. I’m sure we talked about other things, but I can’t remember. My mind was a scratched CD. Wait. Wait. Wait. Just wait. Wait for what?

I

rushed back to class. Then I rushed through the semester, through graduation, through a couple internships. When I moved to Spokane, it was the seventh time I changed cities in four years. I was impatiently ditching one town for another, hoping that the

next place would bring an immediate sense of relief and purpose. Turns out, the first months only feel scattered — which just made me feel like I needed to pack up and leave again.

Soon after I moved to Browne’s Addition, I decided to make stir fry to christen my new kitchen. I burned the onions on high heat and stared blankly at my bookshelf.

Dang, I still need to read Kipling.

You can’t read poetry quickly. Poems force you to slow down. The only poem of Kipling’s that I know, and the reason I brought him up in the first place, is called “The Answer.” It’s about a rose who complains to God that she died for no reason. I had to reread it three times, going slower and slower, finally just staring and waiting for the words to make sense, until I realized that God was answering her, saying that in her life and death, something else beyond her imagination was happening.

You have to wait to read and write poetry. But it turns out, waiting is really good writing advice for a deadlinedriven job, too. When you’re out reporting, wait around just a little longer, and you might find the detail that changes the whole story. If you’re on a flexible publishing schedule, like this altweekly, write something early and then wait — even a day or two later, you’ll be able to make it so much better. Put the time in to build good sources. Spend years, decades, or even a lifetime getting to know a place.

I’m starting to think that waiting is really good career advice, too. I waited until I found a job that I loved, and I’m so glad I did.

Besides, the virtues that make a writer someone everyone wants to read — empathy, wisdom, honesty — are only won through experience. An impatient writer is like an impatient cook, scorning the secret ingredient: time.

Life needs to sweat a while before the flavors transform, deepen, and work together.

But maybe most of life is that in-between time, waiting for the words to make sense, waiting for an answer, waiting for the onions to soften.

I eat stir fry in my new home and hope that’s the case. Guess I’ll have to wait and see. n

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 25

Sorella brings Italian dining to Kendall Yards. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

YEAR IN REVIEW

The Only Constant Is Change In 2023, the Inland Northwest food scene lost icons, tested new ideas and forged some epic collaborations

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

I

joined the Inlander team this May and have felt behind the eight ball ever since. Not only is the area’s food scene a tight-knit community, but it changes fast.

From what I can gather, it’s changing faster and faster each year. Two of my first stories covered openings of restaurants that are now closed. But the Inland Northwest had more openings than closings this year, and though we lost some beloved establishments, some new long-term favorites may have been born.

This year, Spokane also saw the openings of three new Middle Eastern grocery stores, reflecting the city’s growing diversity and culinary potential, both for dining out and at home.

Two popular food trucks, one Armenian and one Pacific Island and Asian fusion, found permanent homes in brick-and-mortar locations. Old and new fans alike are excited to feed their cravings all year long.

But if there’s one thing I’m taking away from covering food in the region this year, it’s how supportive food com-

26 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

munity members are to one another. New collaborations created unique experiences — modern food courts, a nonprofit community creamery, a one-stop-shop for cocktails and houseplants — that were win-wins for partners and foodies alike. In an industry as cutthroat and volatile as the restaurant business, it’s unique to see so many locals help one another through seemingly constant change.

CLOSINGS

First, we say goodbye. This summer, downtown Spokane lost LeftBank Wine Bar, plus Brooklyn Deli, Scratch Restaurant and Rain Lounge, which were all on the same block. As the late-year cold weather rolled in, more downtown spots closed their doors, including Crave bar and Red Lion Pub. Also shuttered downtown was Adam Hegsted’s De España and Gander & Ryegrass’s teeny tiny cocktail joint, June & Co. Just eight months in, the new indoor food court Off The Wall closed for good.

Worker-owned and socially conscious Golden Handle Brewing Co. is closing its doors by the end of the year.

BRGR House and 3 Ninjas Curbside & Catering (which continues to operate in Liberty Lake) ceased operations in Kendall Yards. The Northside bid adieu to the last Skippers Restaurant in the city, along with Mossuto’s Italian, Dos Gordos and Lost Boys Garage. Uno Mas Taco Shop closed its Spokane Valley location (the Wonder Building counter is still open) and Hierophant Meadery shuttered its tasting room in Green Bluff.

In a competitive industry with razor-thin margins and rising labor costs, it’s expected that not everyone makes it.

But not all closings were due solely to financial difficulties. Suki Yaki Inn, Spokane’s oldest Japanese restaurant, closed when its owner finally decided to retire.

Established in 1945, Suki Yaki was located where Spokane’s “Trent Alley” used to be, a name for an area between Spokane Falls Boulevard and Main Avenue that housed many of the city’s Chinese and Japanese immigrants at the turn of the previous century. The area was mostly torn down in anticipation of Expo’ 74. With a sushi bar and tatami rooms, Suki Yaki Inn considered itself the last authentic Japanese restaurant in Spokane.

OPENINGS

Now to the fun part! There were plenty of newcomers to the food scene this year: Vantage Point Brewing and Inland Kava Bar opened exciting new drink spots in Coeur d’Alene. And don’t sleep on the Athenaeum, a swanky new wine and beer drinkery in Medical Lake. Post Falls saw its first super-healthy drive-thru, Konala, which is already planning to franchise into more cities in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington.

Spokane welcomed plenty of new chefs and concepts.

Downtown got everything from Bowery, a classy yet casual French bistro, to the Bagel Authority, a shop that is adamant you should steam your bagels instead of toasting them. Diners rushed to try Sorella, a glamorous, gilded Italian eatery in Kendall Yards.

A bit farther north, Zozo’s Sandwich House opened as an East Coast deli-style lunch spot. Cantarito brought Mexican, Peruvian and Panamanian cuisine to the Indian Trail neighborhood. Cafe Boku Coffee & Crepes started offering French and Asian fusion drinks and pastries near the Newport Highway.

In the University District, an entrepreneur and rising senior at Gonzaga opened Uoni Tea, and a former Brooklyn Deli employee opened Paper St. Coffee Co.

E S TAT E V I N E YA R D S & W I N E R Y

Chef Todd Andrews helms Bowery in downtown Spokane.

Authentic Mexican food at Patrón is now available on the South Hill. The Valley got a new mom-and-pop sandwich shop, Hungree Bee Sandwiches, featuring Boar’s Head meats and plenty of fresh veggies.

And those are just the new folks. Plenty of established brands, chefs and brewers launched new projects this year. De Leon’s Tex Mex Grill opened in Coeur d’Alene, the newest in the local family chain of Mexican restaurants and grocers.

TT’s Brewery & Barbecue opened a second location in Liberty Lake and Umi Sushi opened a second location on north Division Street near the Y. Browne Family Vineyards expanded into Browne Family Spirits distillery in East Central.

Revival Tea Co. expanded its downtown storefront with a new craft boba bar.

Celeste Shaw-Coulston, owner of Chaps and Lucky Vintage, opened Dear Coco, a cozy cafe on Main Avenue dedicated to her granddaughter.

Gander & Ryegrass launched Saltbox Sandwich Co., a gourmet sandwich menu available for delivery, and let’s not forget that Ruins brought back its lunch menu, too.

Juli Norris opened Lorèn in the same building as her Kasa Restaurant and Taphouse on the north side of Riverfront Park. Sharee Moss opened her third location of Birdie’s Pie Shop on North Monroe, and not too far from there Isaac Houger of Peace Pie opened Sandos, a drive-thru for breakfast and lunch sandwiches on Ash Street. Island Style Food found a permanent home on Division Street. A trio of brewers from River City Brewing opened Hat Trick Brewing in their West Central neighborhood. In the Eagle Ridge area, Susan Shelby of Latah Bistro opened Shelby’s, a retro smashburger joint next to her fine dining establishment.

B

ut in my mind, 2023 was the year of epic collabs. After years of experience together at the exclusive Gozzer Ranch on Lake Coeur d’Alene, three chefs opened House of Brunch in downtown Spokane. Kadra Evans of Little Noodle teamed up with her best friend Kelly Kramer to open Garden Party, a downtown cocktail bar happily overrun by houseplants and herbs. Longtime chef Michael Wiley teamed up with first-time food trucker Mirak Kazanjian to open Skewers on First Avenue, an authentic

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Lorèn’s French-inspired diver scallops and kale Caesar salad.

Armenian diner where Scratch Restaurant and Rain Lounge used to be.

Folks from Bellwether Brewing, Derailer Coffee and the Grain Shed teamed up to open The United, a modern food court in an antique bank building in Hillyard. Three longtime friends and chefs opened Thunder Pie Pizza, one of the bro-iest places for pizza and beer downtown. A delicious partnership between New Love Coffee and Bean & Pie hit the spot in Kendall Yards with both espresso and sweet or savory hand pies. And up in Chewelah, small dairy farmers came together to start Columbia Community Creamery, a nonprofit local dairy with the first fresh milk dispenser in the nation.

From what I can tell, food is a huge part of the Inland Northwest. It’s an honor to get to write about it. Here’s to a new year of creativity, innovation, collaboration and sharing. Change can be scary, but turns out it can be a good thing sometimes, too. Cheers! n

Estate Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room: 21622 Rivaura Ln, Juliaetta, ID

Winery Tasting Room – Coeur d’Alene

505 E Sherman Ave, Coeur d’Alene

Both locations open Wed-Sun Rivaura.com

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 27

Past Lives; Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Killers of the Flower Moon

YEAR IN REVIEW

The Best Movies of 2023 Our critics share their 10 favorite films of the year

BY SETH SOMMERFELD, JOSH BELL, CHASE HUTCHINSON, NATHAN WEINBENDER, MARYANN JOHANSON

F

or cinephiles, creating a list of one’s favorite films of the year can often be an invigorating treat. It can also be incredibly hard to narrow things down (an even harder process considering how many movies that may be vying for Oscars — American Fiction, Zone of Interest, etc. — haven’t even opened in Spokane yet). But by sampling the various voices you see on the Screen section page, hopefully you can find some of your 2023 favs featured here while discovering a few missed gems for your personal watchlist. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

JOSH BELL

10. The Holdovers 9. Birth/Rebirth 8. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie 7. You Hurt My Feelings 6. How to Blow Up a Pipeline 5. Past Lives 4. Eileen 3. Priscilla 2. Sanctuary 1. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Life often feels like a coming-of-age story that never ends. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to so many movies this year about

28 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

people trying to figure out their lives, whether they’re 11-year-old girls like the protagonist of Kelly Fremon Craig’s wonderfully warm Judy Blume adaptation Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret or codependent adult kinksters like the main characters in the twisted BDSM drama Sanctuary.

The uncertainty of the world is reflected in the uncertainty of these characters, even if their journeys ultimately lead them to greater understandings of themselves.

Craig does justice to a beloved novel that’s been a staple of adolescence for decades, mixing sweet nostalgia with a cleareyed view of the past and of the difficulties of growing up. Abby Ryder Fortson’s Margaret is only a few years younger than Cailee Spaeny’s title character is when she first meets Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, another tender but darker look at the perils of impending womanhood.

Growing up is no guarantee of a resolution, as the main characters in Eileen, Past Lives, and Sanctuary all have to confront.

There’s joy in these films, too, especially in Alexander Payne’s sweet Christmastime story The Holdovers, although even that movie is marked by the specter of the Vietnam War. Modern viewers don’t have to face that particular threat, but with everything else bombarding us on a daily basis, the best movies of 2023 acknowledge that uneasiness and provide a way to face it, with solidarity or vindictiveness, for a brief moment.

MARYANN JOHANSON 10. Oppenheimer 9. The Holdovers 8. The End We Start From 7. Barbie

6. Asteroid City 5. Maestro 4. Poor Things 3. Killers of the Flower Moon 2. May December 1. Origin It’s been an amazing year at the movies for reconsidering ideas that are so big that they’re usually the unseen cultural water we swim in — from colonialism to patriarchy to homophobia to how pop culture irons oppression and abuse into something so flat and unobtrusive that it stops registering.

And no film does that with more gentleness, more compassion, than Ava DuVernay’s Origin, the based-on-fact story about journalist Isabel Wilkerson’s research into our collective impulses for subjugation and hierarchy. This is no dry academic treatise but an achingly beautiful tapestry of societal grief overlain with personal loss, with a subtle yet deeply moving central performance by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. In the midst of digesting pain big and small and letting it fuel her search for a more profound understanding of humanity, she utters a line of a dialogue that could sum up the underlying vibe of this year at the movies: “I just want to scream.” I’m struck by the fact that several of the best movies this year do indeed feature characters screaming incoherently at the state of their world, often secretly, as if they were breaking a taboo with their rage.

But Origin also highlights a human necessity that is missing from even some of those very best films: joy. There’s a determined optimism that, even if we’re screaming now, we can be better and do better in the future.

CHASE HUTCHINSON 10. All of Us Strangers 9. Asteroid City 8. How to Blow Up a Pipeline 7. Showing Up 6. Killers of the Flower Moon 5. The Boy and the Heron 4. All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt 3. The Zone of Interest 2. Skinamarink 1. Past Lives

Andrew Haigh crafted a great ghost story about seeing and being seen in All of Us Strangers. Wes Anderson silenced the silly TikTok imitators with the distinct and profound Asteroid City. Daniel Goldhaber and Ariela Barer made a radical adaptation in How to Blow Up a Pipeline. Kelly Reichardt proved once more she is one of the greatest American artists with Showing Up. Martin Scorsese returned and Lily Gladstone closed a great year in Killers of the Flower Moon. Hayao Miyazaki delivered one of his most truly vibrant visions yet with The Boy and the Heron. Raven Jackson burst onto the scene with the absolutely astounding All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt.

Jonathan Glazer utterly shattered the mind and soul via the monumental The Zone of Interest. Kyle Edward Ball made a modern horror masterpiece in the minimalist nightmare Skinamarink.

However, in a year of great films from both veteran filmmakers and exciting new voices, it was writer-director Celine Song who made the most stunning of them all with her debut Past Lives. Ever since it made a splash at Sundance and opened the Seattle International Film Festival, it has remained imprinted in my mind as one of the greatest

              

love stories ever made. Much like Aftersun did last year, it is a film that takes us through time and space to breathtaking effect. At the same time, each watch has brought into focus just how uniquely layered it is.

In a year of magnificent movies that could have easily gotten this spot, it still always came back to this one.

Origin

NATHAN WEINBENDER 10. John Wick: Chapter 4 9. Priscilla 8. The Beasts 7. Poor Things 6. Full Time 5. Barbie 4. Return to Seoul 3. May December 2. Beau Is Afraid 1. Killers of the Flower Moon

10. LOLA 9. Bottoms 8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 6. Godzilla Minus One 5. Suzame 4. Oppenheimer 3. Barbie 2. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (Part 1) 1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Staring at my list of the best movies of 2023, I am forced to ask myself an uncomfortable question: Am I a basic b—h?

To say I wasn’t moved by this year’s crop of smaller films is a massive understatement, as this collection of flicks for the popcorn-munching masses makes starkly clear. There were spots for some very strange gems — Suzame’s supernatural journey with a chair boyfriend, Bottoms’ wonderfully over-the-top and absurdist feminist send-up of high school movies, LOLA’s alternative World War II history told through sci-fi broadcasts from the future — but for the most part the critical darlings were… fine… at best.

But as I can practically feel my film cred evaporating into thin air, let me attempt to spin this to the positive… Pretty great year for crowd-pleasing blockbusters!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Barbie is one of the weirdest blockbusters of all time, somehow balancing being unabashedly feminist and ultra-consumerist thanks to glowing performances and relentlessly funny script. Oppenheimer isn’t a typical Christopher Nolan spectacle, but offers up a compelling ensemble acting clinic.

Dead Reckoning is maybe the best Mission: Impossible film since the original, offering all the over-thetop thrills you want from a summer action movie.

Godzilla Minus One somehow made me cry multiple times watching a kaiju film thanks to its thoughtful examination of the nature of sacrifice. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 proved Marvel movies aren’t totally a lost cause yet. Mutant Mayhem scratched my Ninja Turtles fan itch with a much needed infusion of a more rough-edged Spider-Verse-esque art style.

Speaking of which, Across the Spider-Verse had the inevitable task of following up a paradigm shifting masterwork, but still stands up as an elite marvel.

The animation team went even further into gorgeous and mind-bendingly experimental territory while expanding Spider-Gwen’s reality and throwing just an astounding number of Spideys on the screen. If I had to live in a cinematic universe, this would be the one.

If the third Spider-Verse installment in the trilogy can match the first two entries, we might be looking at the greatest trilogy in cinematic history. n

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BRUISER.SPOKANE

Ambition alone doesn’t make a movie great. Think about how often you see a piece of art whose reach exceeds its grasp, that bites off more than it can chew, that writes a check its ass can’t cash. But a movie also can’t achieve greatness without taking big swings, and more and more filmmaking is simply averse to risk.

So in culling the year’s releases down to my 10 favorites, I looked for films that did amazing things within their respective ambitions — whether it was a rustic study of warring farmers in Spain (The Beasts), a satiric melodrama about two women and the man they manipulate (May December) or a pop juggernaut that considered the complicated legacy of a famous doll (Barbie, obviously).

Ambition doesn’t necessarily correspond with scope, either. A few of these films created vast universes: the porous nightmare world of Beau Is Afraid, the Victorian whirligigs of Poor Things, the kill-or-bekilled ecosystem of John Wick: Chapter 4. But there can be ambition in modest, human stories, too: Look at the working class tensions of the French drama Full Time, at the maddeningly chameleonic protagonist of Return to Seoul, at the vivid reconstruction and bold recontextualization of American iconography in Priscilla.

But in terms of ambition, no movie could match Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s film about the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma.

It’s a stunning, infuriating, self-reflective epic of a distinctly American evil, and it shows in stark detail how white supremacy and complicity not only helped fund our great frontier but warped the ways in which the ugliest chapters of our history are remembered. At 81, our greatest living film director is still finding new ways to challenge himself and his audience. In a long career punctuated with violence, this is his most brutal and unforgiving film.

SETH SOMMERFELD

BRUISER • DECEMBER 29, 30 & 31 IRON HORSE (CDA)

PAGE 32 DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 29

YEAR IN REVIEW

The Best Albums of 2023 Our music editor’s picks for the best tuneage the year had to offer

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

10 SORRY I HAVEN’T CALLED VAGABON

Cameroonian-American singer-songwriter Laetitia Tamko (aka Vagabon) opens Sorry I Haven’t Called with a simple lyrical question: “Can I talk my shit?” To answer that rhetorical, a resounding yes. Maybe no artist has leveled up their swag more over the past half decade than Vagabon. While she emerged with the terrific tender indie rock of her 2017 debut LP Infinite Worlds, this new album finds her awash in sashaying electro-pop. With production aid from Rostam, there’s a resistance-free liquid flow to the tracks’ blend of house and Afrobeat sounds. They pair seamlessly with Vagabon’s hefty vocals that radiate a confidence even when lyrically exploring people that make you feel like the worst version of yourself (“Do Your Worst”) or feeling insecure and adrift in a sea of self-evaluation (“Nothing to Lose”).

9 TIME AIN’T ACCIDENTAL JESS WILLIAMSON

On Time Ain’t Accidental, singer-songwriter Jess Williamson draws from the places she’s called home. The album boasts an intoxicating blend of the country-folk roots of her Texas upbringing and the modern touches one might expect from her current Los Angeles residency. The most striking sonic element is how traditional arrangements (with banjos and steel guitars) and Williamson’s honey sweet voice pair with sparse drum machine beats she made on her iPhone. That might seem like an off-putting combo, but the results are pure indie country bliss. Her evocative lyricism about searching for real love across time, distance, and messy modernity rings true whether things are kept minimal or open up into grand, horn section-infused jams. It transcends the bummer world of romantic rejections with a touch of steely resolve and a lot of open-hearted hoping.

30 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

8

CACTI

BILLY NOMATES

Billy Nomates is over it. All of it. The nom de plume of English singer-songwriter Tor Maries, Nomates hits a cynical sweet spot on the ever-prickly Cacti. Her alt-rock songs about modern dejection, sparks fading, self-sabotage, and showing up to shindigs out of spite are somewhat reminiscent of peak Liz Phair, but favors blunt-force impacts over slowly seething acidity. The instrumental backings blur the line between synth pop sparks and punk raggedness, and her vocal delivery falls somewhere between Courtney Barnett’s caustic talk-singing and a more snarling folk-rock crooner. Cacti lavishes in its bitterness. It’s a collection of tunes for the worn and weathered who haven’t fully packed it in yet.

7 ONE MORE TIME… BLINK-182

Considering the group’s jokey juvenile pop punk core, it’s rather shocking that Blink-182 has somehow managed to age pretty gracefully. Then again, the band’s stealthy strength has always been how well the band can pull off the sad and somber songs (think: “Adam’s Song” and “Stay Together for the Kids”). That ability shines through on One More Time... as guitarist/singer Tom DeLonge returns to the group and guys wrestle with their own mortality and personal history on songs like “One More Time” and “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got.” That said, there’s still plenty of pop punk pep to go around, as the album boasts some extremely catchy tunes about yearning for love (“Fell in Love,” “Dance with Me”). The guys might be much more aware of their collective end point, but for now Blink-182 is still kicking.

6 THE LAST NIGHT OF SADNESS JENN CHAMPION

Few songwriters can make soul-achinging pains sound as accessible as Jenn Champion. Her band S served up a pantheon-level breakup album in the form of 2014’s Cool Choices, and on The Last Night of Sadness, Champion turns her lyrical gaze to an even more brutal topic: addiction and overdoses. Over a dark synth pop soundscape, she shares excruciating lived-in details about coping with rehab, therapy and friends passing far too soon. Songs like “Jessica” balance graceful mercy for those suffering with their demons (“You called me split open / I still love you, but it hurts now”) and unvarnished anger at the damage those demons cause (“Who ODs in a f—ing hospital? / Stupid, dead Jessica”). There are moments to find hope and love in the face of all the agony (“Love Song (Think About It)”), but at its core The Last Night of Sadness is a beautiful exercise in compassionate coping.

5 SOME OF IT WAS TRUE

THE MENZINGERS

The cracks start to show as we age, not only in the lines in our faces but in the tiny fissures in our psyches.

Pennsylvanian punks The Menzingers have long traded in nostalgic songwriting reflections that pair rose-colored Heartland rock hues with wailing alternative heartbreak, but Some of It Was True finds the band constantly delivering lyrical gut-punches (especially for thirtysomething dudes). Frontman Greg Barnett’s almost-crooning vocal delivery packs a wallop as he’s unflinchingly earnest about wrestling with love and loneliness in their many forms. From unspoken unreciprocated loves (“Hope is a Dangerous Thing”) to the fraying feeling of being an outsider in isolation (“There’s No Place in This World for Me”) to sorting out issues with someone who you hold up as your whole world (“Ultraviolet”), the songwriting has an aching universality and is propelled by the rest of the band’s raw but anthemic rock arrangements. The Menzingers’ complete composure and the lack of melodrama injected into the mix only make the melancholy of Some of It Was True ring out that much clearer.

4 DOGSBODY

MODEL/ACTRIZ

Dogsbody remains ever on the razor’s edge, tweaking with menacing glee at every turn. The debut LP from the Brooklyn industrial art punk act simply feels NSFW. Singer Cole Haden indulges in pure sexualized, sinister, provocative fun; his intensely charismatic spoken/sung lyrics carry a tone akin to an unsettling Cheshire grin. The rest of the band whips up anarchic noise, with guitarist Jack Wetmore and bassist Aaron Shapiro playing their instruments in wildly atypical and experimental ways — kind of like Rage Against the Machine but filtered through Nine Inch Nails and the dark dance grooves at the most wonderfully grimey gay bar in town. Which is all to say: Model/Actriz f—ks.

3 JENNY FROM THEBES

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS

Jenny From Thebes is an album about sanctuary. The titular Jenny is a character who’s floated in and out of the Mountain Goats’ lore dating back to 2002’s All Hail West Texas, but here singer-songwriter John Darnielle crafts a rock opera sequel to further expand her world. The album wrestles with Jenny’s compassionate nature — she thrives when taking downtrodden, vulnerable outcasts into her home for care, but what lengths will one go to protect that sanctuary? What is violence when done in the name of safety? Whether rocking out or gently ruminating in the glow of multi-instrumentalist Matt Douglas’ string and horn arrangements, Darnielle finds Jenny’s emotional core while still allowing her character to remain mysterious — fierce, lovely, and as blurry as her vestige speeding off into the West Texas sunset on her custom black and yellow Kawasaki motorcycle.

2 RABBIT RABBIT

SPEEDY ORTIZ

In a year when union strikes made a ton of noise, there’s solidarity to be gained from an album like Rabbit Rabbit. Tracks like “Scabs” and “You S02” buzz with frenetic indie rock aplomb while also acting as rallying anthems for the working class. Speedy Ortiz frontdemon Sadie Dupuis also isn’t skittish about brandishing more personal scars, spitting mouthfuls of bardic blood back at those who created them. That giddy combativeness permeates Rabbit Rabbit. Dupuis showcases some of her most complex and detailed guitar shredding to date, which pairs perfectly with her poetic lyrical dexterity.

Even when the album downshifts to more contemplative numbers (“Brace Thee,” “Cry Cry Cry”) it never pulls punches, swinging at malicious manipulators of all stripes and connecting each blow with a satisfying impact.

1 THE RECORD

BOYGENIUS

HONORABLE MENTION

The Enduring Spirit - Tomb Mold Fountain Baby - Amaarae Girl with Fish - Feeble Little Horse Goddess Energy - Who Is She? The King - Anjimile The Land, the Water, the Sky Black Belt Eagle Scout Michael - Killer Mike Rat Saw God - Wednesday Struggler - Genesis Owusu Tuff Luff - Mansions

It remains absolutely wild that Boygenius became one of the bigger bands on the planet in 2023. Just a few years ago Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus were the fresh crop of melancholy indie singer-songwriters carving out careers at tiny rock clubs — all absolutely stellar, but the type of craftswomen who rarely sniff the mainstream. But you can’t fake talent. And more importantly, you can’t fake chemistry. The first LP from Boygenius unsurprisingly offers up a stellar collection of gorgeous rocking indie tunes, in large part because of the way each member totally checks their ego at the door.

It never feels like they’re passively taking turns leading songs, as they weave their voices in and out of one another’s sonic spaces with a completely natural grace. Boygenius’ songwriting is rich in small, emotionally resonant details — whether the songs are Baker’s hollering rockers (“$20”), Bridgers’ sad contemplative meditations (“Emily I’m Sorry”), Dacus’ love tunes (“True Blue”) or one of the standout tracks where they split the lead vocal duties (“Cool About It”). All the trio’s best aspects — their harmonies, depressed lyricism, rocking edge, and pop sensibility — are on full display in the note-perfect song of the year, “Not Strong Enough.” The Record stands as a testament to both the type of musical magic that can only happen organically and the tenderness of creative friendship. n

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 31

MUSIC | SOUND ADVICE

POP TRIBUTE DIRECT FROM SWEDEN

M

amma Mia! The illustrious sounds of ’70s Swedish Europop band ABBA will soon make their way to the Inland Northwest. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” a night of dancing and singing as Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA hits Northern Quest’s Pend Oreille Pavilion stage this final week of 2023.

Whether you’re a “Dancing Queen” or a “Super Trouper,” there will be a place for you among the crowd. And don’t worry, the show doesn’t even cost that much “Money, Money, Money.”

So set your “Angeleyes” on the Northern Quest, and “Take a Chance on [ABBA’s music].”

— COLTON RASANEN Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA • Fri, Dec. 29 at 7:30 pm • $39-$69 • All ages • Northern Quest Resort & Casino • 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights • northernquest.com

J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW J = ALL AGES SHOW

Thursday, 12/28

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Thursday Night Jam CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Sacha Boutros Quartet J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin RED ROOM LOUNGE, Hip-Hop Night TRAILS END BREWERY, Kosh ZOLA, The Night Mayors

BIG BAND MASTERCLASS BIG BAND N

ew Year’s Eve don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing. But fear not, swingless lot! The Masterclass Big Band is once again taking over the Knitting Factory for a lively NYE shindig. The group always excels at mixing veteran local musicians with young fresh faces to span the generations via timeless tunes. This year’s guest vocalists include Jim Swoboda, Whitney Bertholic, Carson Moyer, Cathy Niblock, Melody Snyder and the a capella group Aca Bella. Why sit stationary and watch the ball drop on TV when you can instead get your dancing shoes on and have a ball with Masterclass Big Band?

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Friday, 12/29

AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, Nate Ostrander THE BEE’S KNEES WHISKEY BAR, Kosh BIG BARN BREWING CO., Dylan Hathaway J J THE BIG DIPPER, Monke Business, Vika & The Velvets, The Bed Heads BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Working Spliffs CHINOOK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Keith Wallace THE DISTRICT BAR, Quarter Monkey, Fat Lady, Children of Atom J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Sacha Boutros Quartet IRON HORSE (CDA), Bruiser J KNITTING FACTORY, Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience MATCHWOOD BREWING CO., Headwaters

32 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

Masterclass Big Band: Open the Door to ’24 • Sun, Dec. 31 at 9 pm • $50-$100 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com MOOSE LOUNGE, Haze NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Rusty Nail & The Hammers J J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Nick Weibe RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., Hannah Jackson THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin

Saturday, 12/30 J THE BIG DIPPER, Scatterbox, The Dilrods, Proleterror, Absent Cardinal BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock J CAFE COCO, B

CHINOOK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Keith Wallace IRON HORSE (CDA), Bruiser MOOSE LOUNGE, Haze NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Rusty Nail & The Hammers J NORTH HILL ON GARLAND, Just Plain Darin PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Kristy Osmunson RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs J J REVIVAL TEA COMPANY, Truehoods ZOLA, Blake Braley

Sunday, 12/31

J THE BIG DIPPER, OX, Room 13, Blacktracks, Spooky BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock

CHINOOK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Keith Wallace COEUR D’ALENE EAGLES, JamShack CURLEY’S, Theresa Edwards Band J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Michael Milham J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Don Goodwin & Eugene Jablonski HOGFISH, Open Mic IRON HORSE (CDA), Bruiser J J KNITTING FACTORY, Masterclass Big Band: Open the Door to ‘24 MILLIE’S, Karma’s Circle MOOSE LOUNGE, Haze NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Rusty Nail & The Hammers

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin SPOKANE VALLEY EAGLES, Stagecoach West

Monday, 1/1

J EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 1/2 LITZ’S PUB & EATERY, Shuffle Dawgs

Wednesday, 1/3 THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic RED ROOM LOUNGE, The Roomates J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents ZOLA, Brittany’s House

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SAT Matinee Session Regular Session SUN Bingo For a Year Drawing Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25). All regular games pay $1,000.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 33

COMMUNITY RING IT IN

The end of 2023 is upon us and whether you’ve had an amazing year or a “meh” year, you deserve to celebrate the year to come! For those who love a fancy party, head to the Historic Davenport Hotel for the Party Like It’s 1924 celebration. The celebration features the Sacha’s Supper Club Orchestra, Woodside Swing dancers and a three-course plated menu. For families with kids, New Year’s celebrations can really throw off your routine. Instead of staying up all night, celebrate a bit early at the Shadle Library’s Noon Year’s Eve party on Dec. 30.

And, if you’re looking to end the year with some adventure, head to Schweitzer for a New Year’s Eve tubing party complete with a sparkler celebration and fun LED lights. Have a safe, and happy, new year!

— MADISON PEARSON For more New Year’s events, visit Inlander.com/events.

GET LISTED!

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

34 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

DRINKS TOUR THE TRAIL

Wind down the holiday season by wandering downtown Spokane’s west end and making stops at the half-dozen local breweries participating in the West End Winter Ale Trail. The premise is simple: Buy a beer and then scan the event QR code at each brewery. If you visit all six taprooms, you’ll get a sticker pack with something from each brewery, and be entered into a grand prize drawing for $300 in gift certificates. All located within a few blocks of one another, the featured Ale Trail breweries are Humble Abode, Whistle Punk, Golden Handle (unfortunately, it’s permanently closing on Dec. 31, so head there while you can), Brick West, Grain Shed and Iron Goat.

You don’t have to hit all on the same day, but make sure to check each off your list before the event officially wraps on Sunday, Jan. 7.

— CHEY SCOTT West End Winter Ale Trail • Through Jan. 7 • Free to participate • Locations vary • bit.ly/AleTrail2023

COMEDY LOL, 2023

For more than three decades now, Tim Meadows has been making us laugh. From his 10-season run as a cast member of Saturday Night Live! in the ’90s to appearances in popular films like Mean Girls (he plays Principal Duvall and will again in an upcoming 2024 remake, this time taking the Broadway musical and adapting it for the screen) Meadows’ humor knows no bounds. At the end of December, Meadows graces us with his presence at the Spokane Comedy Club, making his appearance just a few days before 2024.

And what better way to ring in the new year than filling the night with chuckles, chortles and just a few cackles for good measure?

— COLTON RASANEN Tim Meadows • Fri, Dec. 29 at 7:30 and 10:15 pm; Sat, Dec. 30 at 7 and 9:45 pm • $25-$35 • Spokane Comedy Club • 315 W. Sprague Ave. • spokanecomedyclub.com

S P O K A N E ’ S

New Orleans E X P E R I E N C E

WORDS WRITE TIME

Champagne flight and dinner specials all weekend long to celebrate the coming of 2024 Happy New Year!

Aspiring and established writers of the Inland Northwest are blessed with bountiful opportunities to connect, improve and be published, thanks to events like this one. It’s no wonder the region is home to so many awardwinning authors, such as novelist Sharma Shields, who also helps others achieve their writing goals as the Spokane Public Library’s resident writing education specialist. Among her regularly scheduled (and free!) sessions at the library is this fun, themed event for all ages, centered around genres close to Shields’ heart: monsters, folklore, fairytales and fables. Come alone or come with the whole family and be inspired to write a fabulous monsterfilled tale, as fantastical or serious as you’d like.

— CHEY SCOTT

Now open for Sunday Brunch! reservati o n s r eco m m e n d e d, Wa l k i n s W e lco m e

Monster Stories with Sharma Shields • Sat, Dec. 30 from 2-3 pm • Free • All ages • Liberty Park Library • 402 S. Pittsburgh St. • spokanelibrary.org

v i e u x c a r r e s p o k a n e . c o m | 5 0 9 .4 9 5 . 1 4 0 0 | 1 4 0 3 w b r o a d w ay a v e | s p o k a n e , w a

LOANS AVAILABLE

New Construction Land Development MUSIC TAKING A SHOT

It’s never a bad thing when Spokane adds a new place to catch live music, even if it seems like an unconventional fit. Enter noted local photography and video production hub the Hamiltown Studio, which hovers on the edge of West Central and Kendall Yards. The former St. Joseph’s Catholic School’s Auditorium is now adding what’s been dubbed the “The Hamilton Studio Listening Room” to the space. The 99-capacity space with a new sound system will host intimate concerts in the round. Things kick off with a New Year’s Day concert featuring Nashville country singer-songwriter Brennen Leigh, who’s touring behind her 2023 album Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet. The $80 tickets might seem a bit pricey, but profits support Spokane Public Radio.

— SETH SOMMERFELD Brennen Leigh • Mon, Jan. 1 at 8 pm • $80 • All Ages • The Hamilton Studio • 1427 W. Dean Ave. • hamiltonstudio.com

Bridge Loans Fix & Flip Call Now (509)926-1755 www.pmcmoney.com

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 35

JEERS RE: BAHUMBUG Your rant is oxymoron. You cite rising costs and pinching pennies as you complain about what has gotten out of hand; tipping culture. Washington has one of the highest minimum wages in the country and yes, most small businesses pass the cost on to the consumer who still might want to patronize their business. The expectation of getting a tip is out of hand. I understand that gratuity is meant for when you go above and beyond, not just doing your job as you were hired. Reconsider your approach to what you’re trying to say and perhaps some empathy will hit you this holiday...

I SAW YOU RE: DAMN I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER Hmm, really?! Meet at the red chairs?

RE: IN MY DREAMS I’ll never stop thinking about you. Never.

RE: IN MY DREAMS Never knew you think my hair is beautiful. I love you and I am right here waiting for you. TB

CHEERS CONDOR AND THE EAGLE I, too, believe the 500-year prophecy is upon us. We shall ride the wave of magnetic energy like Indy and the Navi. May I suggest we use the ley lines to the pyramids in Egypt to truly harness the power of the Condor and the eagle. If you’ve seen Ancient Aliens you know this is possible! The poles will flip soon and we will be ready!

RE: DAMN, I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER Take the chance and reach out. You’ll always wonder if you don’t, and knowing is worth the effort. If it doesn’t work out, you can move on. Take every chance in life, because if IT DOES work out...it could blossom in to something beautiful.

SNOW Finally, a little bit of snow. Too bad it came juuuust after Christmas.

SUCKER-PUNCHED A SWEETIE My friend, who is an absolute kind and upstanding gentleman, went to see a show at the Knitting Factory last weekend. As everyone was leaving, someone was holding the door, and being the guy he is, my friend held the door and told the last person to go on ahead. As he’s standing there holding the door, some super drunk dude he’s never met, never spoken to comes out of nowhere and punches him twice in the head, causing his head to bounce off the metal door each time. Then, the random a**hole’s friend came out of nowhere, bear hugged him and dragged him off. Friend now has a split lip and a concussion and cant even remember what the drunky mcsuckface looks like.

BOO CITY OF SPOKANE Why did you remove the clever bike art from Maple Street Bridge? It was fun and beloved in the neighborhood. There’s trash everywhere in the area — how about cleaning up the staircase leading from there up to Riverside?

How about cleaning up anywhere along the river? How about cleaning up Latah Creek?

Or just about any space under a bridge downtown? Instead you waste a ton of resources — bucket truck, several person crew — to remove art? I’d love to know who the genius behind that decision was.

AL FRENCH & SUSAN MEYER So Al French goes on the record in the Inlander and says giving low-income people a break to ride the bus will turn buses into “mobile homeless shelters.” And then Range follows up by publishing texts with Susan Meyer dunking on the libs? And we let these two run the 700+ employee, $216 million budget Spokane Transit Authority?

Whaaaat. Spokane you got French-ed

STA = SELFISH TRANSIT AUTHORITY Hey STA. Ever thought about letting the general public know your prized electric buses are recharged by a giant diesel generator that makes the whole West Central neighborhood stink like a truck stop? You know, the generator that was never allowed to be approved by the public? Those of us who live here really don’t appreciate your

“

more dangerous than my sweet pitbull!!!!

It’s ignorance such as yours that keep the misconception of this beautiful loving breed going. Get your facts straight or be quiet!

GET THE SPORTS SECTION RIGHT Hi. I’m a sports guy. In the Inlander “sports & outdoors” section they list the Spokane Chiefs first. Sports match-ups list the home

Why did you remove the clever bike art from Maple Street Bridge? It was fun and beloved in the neighborhood.

underhanded tactics. Your employees drive like maniacs down residential streets and now you’re apparently trying to give all your neighbors lung damage. West Central doesn’t even get covered by these electric buses! AND, how long until your enormous 20,000 gallon underground fuel tank starts leaking? Industrial and residential areas do not mix, you should be out in west plains or really ANYWHERE but near a supposedly thriving downtown. Why do the rules not seem to apply to you?? Thanks for nothing!

RE: DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS I read with interest and agreement the jeers about dangerous breeds of dogs. I’m sure some people will invariably state, “I have a pitbull and mine is friendly and has never been agressive.” While there is no reason to disbelieve those people, the same was the case for the most recent deaths. My understanding is that neither dog had acted in any manner other than friendly previously.....UNTIL they killed their owners. If people want to keep breeds that have histories of dangerous behavior, I’m all for it. However, they should be required to be muzzled in public and should be breed restricted from apartment complexes like other places in the country.

DANGEROUS BREED IGNORANCE Are people in this town really that ignorant?

I guess they are! The woman found dead with her pitbull had a heart attack you idiot!

Why would you villainize the character of her dog and an entire breed before you even know the facts? The dog had nothing to do with her death. Pitbulls are no different than any other large breed dog. My Chihuahua is more aggressive and

SOUND OFF 1. Visit Inlander.com/isawyou by 3 pm Monday. 2. Pick a category (I Saw You, You Saw Me, Cheers or Jeers). 3.

Provide basic info: your name and email (so we know you’re real). 4. To connect via I Saw You, provide a non-identifying email to be included with your submission — like “petals327@yahoo.com,” not “j.smith@comcast.net.”

team second, not first. This offends sports guys and gals all through the Palouse.

TO THE CONCERNED ABOUT DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS: Ya when is Spokane going to put a muzzle on the idiots in this town that flap their jowls. There should be a law that people like you shouldn’t be aloud out in public also. Any dog breed can snap and kill. I raised four pitbulls myself and each and every one of them were the most loving and affectionate dogs I have known.

PARKING LOT HIT AND RUN Over the last few months, I’ve had a few people tell me that while they were in a store, someone damaged their car. They reported this to the store and were told the cameras didn’t pick it up. Recently, I had the same happen.

While I was shopping, someone ran into my car damaging parts of it that don’t work anymore. They ran into me and drove away. I reported it to the store and was told the same. It isn’t on camera. Interestingly, there are plenty of cameras in the store but not enough covering the parking lot.

What does this say about the interest of the store in protecting their loyal customers?

As for me, I have a beautiful car that was in perfect shape before I shopped at the store. Now I have a car that I can’t use and will need to scrap it and try to find another one. I will not shop at this store again. They lost my business forever but they don’t care because it’s small to them. However, I hope to convince others in my large circle to not shop there either by telling them my experience. For the person who ran into me while I was shopping and then drove away, how can you live with yourself? Really?

LAW ENFORCEMENT CHARITY GAME

Sat. 12/30 vs. Tri-City Americans

Before the Game on 12/30

Enjoy $2 hot dogs, Coca-Cola products and more all game long.

Free and open to public (if you have a ticket to Chiefs game that night).

Game Time:

6 PM

Game Time:

4 PM

Tickets: spokanechiefs.com • Text or Call: 509-535-PUCK

36 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

”

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS To the writer of the deli and plastic bag complaint: these are called first world problems. A first world problem is when someone from a wealthy, stable nation complains about minor inconveniences. You whined because you had to pay for the meat at the deli counter.

You should instead be grateful. You live in a country where it is safe to go outside.

You don’t have to slaughter your own animals. You have reliable transportation to the store. You get to choose from a large selection of meats at the deli counter.

You live in a country with food handling standards. You have enough money to pay for food. You have electricity at home to keep the meat safe. And you have free speech to make your complaint. Take a moment to realize how blessed you are to live in the United States. As for the minuscule charge for plastic bags? No one is stopping you from bringing your own bags. Don’t look for problems, look for solutions. n

THIS WEEK'S ANSWERS B I G D O H M E B B S A R E A N E E P R O A M EYE R S C H EYE N N E S E T H M A L V A A L L E R G E N P R E M I U M S K E W I N A S O H I S E E M A U R O I D S D R Y W A L L S F R A I C H E N O C A N D O T O O L S H E D A B A B A G A T O R S E E R O P E R S A M A N T H A L E N A P A L A C T A S O N E P L A N T S L A M P R EYE E L O R B I O W A B U C K EYE B O A R C E O A H E M

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.

FAMILY FEAST NIGHT

Sponsored By:

What an awful ‘person’ you are. Spokane, please stop shopping at places owned by billionaires who don’t care enough to protect your assets while you’re in the store. While I gave the store money for their products, it ended up costing me much more money and their response to my loss is ‘sorry about that. Come again’. Not going to happen. What an awful company.

EVENTS | CALENDAR

BENEFIT

HOLIDAY FOOD FUNDRAISER FOR NORTHWEST HARVEST FOOD BANK Bring perishable food donations to participating businesses. In addition to food donations, 10% of proceeds from Brick West’s Out Cold IPA, wherever it’s sold, go to Northwest Harvest. See website for full details. Through Jan. 19. khq.com/giving

COMEDY

TIM MEADOWS The actor and comedian is best known for his tenure on Saturday Night Live! and appearances in several movies. Dec. 29, 7:30 & 10:15 pm and Dec. 30, 7 & 9:45 pm. $25-$35.

Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com JEFF ARCURI Arcuri is a New Yorkbased YouTuber specializing in stand up. Dec. 31, 4:30, 7:30 & 10:30 pm. $25-$40. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com NEW TALENT TUESDAYS Watch comedians of all skill levels work out jokes together. Tuesdays at 7 pm (doors at 6 pm). Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com OPEN MIC STAND-UP Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. See website for sign-up details. Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com COEUR COMEDY: JEFF CAPRI Jeff’s uses observational and physical comedy to make every performance unique.

Opening is Yang Vigilan. Jan. 4, 7-9 pm.

Free. Coeur d’Alene Casino, 37914 S. Nukwalqw. cdacasino.com

COMMUNITY

CRESCENT HOLIDAY WINDOWS Five window bays on the south side of the Grand display scenes featuring refurbished figurines rescued from the basement of the former Crescent Department Store. Through Jan. 1; Fri-Sat from 12-10 pm and Sun-Thu from 3-8 pm.

Free. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. davenporthotelcollection.com (800-918-9344) JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLE CRUISES A 40-minute holiday cruise across Lake Coeur d’Alene to view holiday light displays and visit Santa Claus and his elves. Daily at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 pm through Jan. 2. $12.50-$ 27.50. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com LIBERTY LAKE WINTER GLOW SPECTACULAR Various holiday light displays throughout the park. Daily through Jan. 1. Free. Orchard Park, 20298 E. Indiana Ave. winterglowspectacular.com MINECRAFT: THE EXHIBITION The world of Minecraft is explored in this wide-ranging exhibition, designed for players and non-players of all ages. It also celebrates how Minecraft has developed into a platform for unlimited creative expression and inspiration to build a better world outside the game.

Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Dec. 31. $15-$20. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931) NORTHWEST WINTERFEST A holiday lantern display and cultural celebration featuring dozens of lighted holiday lantern displays and immersive experiences in holiday cultures of the world.

Dec. 1-31; Thu-Fri from 5-8 pm, Sat from

4-8 pm and Sun from 3-6 pm. $10-$40.

Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana.northwestwinterfest.com NUMERICA LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT Walk through the park and see dozens of trees lit up with holiday lights. Daily through Jan, 1. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard. riverfrontspokane.org QUESTMAS VILLAGE This outdoor family-friendly winter experience features large displays, a synthetic ice rink, photo backdrops and more. Mon-Thu from 4-9 pm and Fri-Sun from 12-9 pm through Feb. 18. Free. Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com (509-242-7000) ACCEPTANCE SPOKANE A peer-supported safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth (ages 16-19) in the Spokane area to meet and discuss issues and topics, and promote mental health awareness and acceptance of oneself. Last Saturday of every month from 3-4 pm. Free. Atomic Threads Boutique, 1905 N. Monroe St. fb.me/e/3cxf4vKyL NOON YEARS EVE PARTY Celebrate the new year a little early with activities and learning. This program is intended for families of all ages. Children under 8 should be accompanied by a caregiver.

Dec. 30, 11 am-noon. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390) BACKSTAGE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY This party features dancing, food, live music from The Intentions and The Deltag Band and more. Ages 21+. Dec. 31, 8 pm-1 am. $10. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127) BUDDHIST NEW YEAR’S EVE SALE & SERVICE A Buddhist New Year’s Eve gathering, with a service, Japanese food and items for sale (dolls, prints, dishes and more). Food offerings include traditional plain mochi, mochi desserts and inari sushi at an extra cost. Dec. 31, 4-7 pm. Free. Spokane Buddhist Temple, 927 S. Perry St. SpokaneBuddhistTemple.org (509-534-7954) NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS A fireworks display to celebrate the New Year.

Dec. 31, 9 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.org NEW YEAR’S EVE (THE GRAND’S VERSION) Celebrate the New Year by dancing to Taylor Swift and toasting with champagne at midnight. Dec. 31, 9 pm-2 am. $75-$150. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. davenporthotelcollection.com NEW YEARS EVE WINTER SPIRIT An event featuring a manifestation warmup, live painting, a sound bath and music by DJ Jed. Dec. 31, 7 pm-12:30 am. $25-$45. The Clutch Tango Dance Studio, 1507 E. Sprague Ave. facebook. com/The.Clutch.Spokane NEW YEARS LATIN DANCE A New Year’s event featuring a beginner dance lesson, a red-carpet photo opportunity, food, drinks, a special countdown and a toast. DJ Santos el Bachatero provides the music. Dec. 31, 7 pm-1 am. $35.

Montvale Event Center, 1017 W. First. facebook.com/RiverStreetLatinBand NYNE 2024 NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY This NYE party features a drag show with Freedom, Cindy, Angel and Rita followed by an evening of dancing, food and more. Dec. 31, 7 pm-2 am. $30. nYne Bar & Bistro, 232 W. Sprague Ave. nynebar.com (509-474-1621) PARTY LIKE IT’S 1924 This party tells the story of 100 years of Spokane’s forbidden city of bootleggers, rum run-

ners, burlesque dancers, vaudevillian acts and speakeasies from the Golden Age and heart of the 1920’s. Celebrate with the Sacha’s Supper Club Orchestra, Woodside Swing and a three-course plated menu. Dec. 31, 8 pm-2 am. $75$300. Historic Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. davenporthotelcollection.com SILVER & GOLD NYE PARTY Enjoy cocktails, dancing, a photobooth and a view of the Riverfront Park fireworks from the parking garage roof. All ages until 10 pm, then 21+ only. Dec. 31, 9 pm-midnight. $15. The Wonder Building, 835 N. Post St. esrhospitality.com SINGLES NEW YEARS EVE PARTY This event aims to introduce single people to other singles. It features icebreaker games, a DJ, light bites, karaoke and more. Geared toward single people in their late 20s to late 50s. Dec. 31, 8 pm-1 am. $99. Max at Mirabeau, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. thattherapistheather.com UN AÑO SIN TI NEW YEAR’S PARTY Dance to Latin music played by three local DJs, take free photos and participate in a champagne toast at midnight.

Dec. 31, 9 pm-2 am. $20. Red Room Lounge, 521 W. Sprague Ave. fb.me/ e/1bOC7aN8J (509-838-7613)

FILM

THE LORD OF THE RINGS WEEK A week of screenings of The Lord of the Rings beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring on Dec. 26 continuing through the trilogy, ending with The Return of the King on Dec. 29. The full trilogy will be marathoned on Dec. 28. Dec. 28, 9 am-noon, 1:30-4:30 & 6:30-9:30 pm and Dec. 29, 1-3 pm. $15. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org ANATOMY OF A FALL A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness. Dec. 29, 7-9 pm, Dec. 30, 3-5 & 7-9 pm and Dec. 31, 3-5 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127) TOY STORY WEEK An entire week of the Toy Story movies shown in sequential order. Jan. 2-5; daily at 1 pm and 4 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127) CLÉO FROM 5 TO 7 Agnès Varda eloquently captures Paris in the sixties with this real-time portrait of a singer (Corinne Marchand) set adrift in the city as she awaits test results of a biopsy.

Jan. 3, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org THE AFRICAN QUEEN Executive Director Colin Mannex will open the event with a brief history of KPAC. Everyone will receive a complimentary small popcorn, courtesy of Milburn’s granddaughter, Kimberly Kenworthy Manaut, who is sponsoring this event. Jan. 4, 7-9 pm.

Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

FOOD & DRINK

SPARKLING SOIREE WINE DINNER Guests are invited to sip and savor their way through the evenings six-course menu of chef-curated cuisine. Also includes a toast to the new year. Dec. 28, 6-9 pm. $120. Beverly’s, 115 S. Second St. beverlyscda.com (208-292-5678) S’MORES BY THE SHORES Make s’mores while gathered around one of the resort’s firepits. Daily from 3-9 pm

through Dec. 30, 3-9 pm. $75. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort. com (208-292-5678) WEST END WINTER ALE TRAIL Visit each west end downtown Spokane brewery, buy a beer and scan the QR code to be entered to win prizes.

Participating breweries are Humble Abode, Whistle Punk, Golden Handle, Brick West, Grain Shed Taproom and Iron Goat. Through Jan. 7. Brick West Brewing Co., 1318 W. First Ave. bit.ly/ AleTrail2023 EAST COAST NEW YEARS CELEBRATION Celebrate the East Coast New Year with brews at Humble Abode. Dec. 31, 6-9 pm. Free. Humble Abode Brewing, 1620 E. Houston Ave. humbleabodebeer.com (509-381-5055) EMMA RUE’S NYE MASQUERADE PARTY Celebrate the New Year with dancing, drinks, food, giveaways and a champagne toast. Dec. 31, 9 pm-midnight. $75. Emma Rue’s, 15 S. Howard St. emmarues.com (509-703-7389) NEW YEAR’S EVE CHAMPAGNE DINNER A coursed meal paired with chef favorite champagnes and wines of the year. Dec. 31, 5:30-8 pm. $160. Lodgepole, 106 N. Main St. lodgepolerestaurant.com/nye (208-882-2268) MIDNIGHT ON THE RIVER Sammy Eubanks performs while guests sip on champagne and ring in the new year.

Dec. 31. $60. Ruby River Hotel, 700 N. Division St. rrhspokane.com NEW YEAR’S EVE STUDIO 2024 This NYE party features a cocktail hour, a four-course plated dinner, live music, a costume contest and a midnight champagne toast and fireworks show. Dec. 31, 6 pm-midnight. $250. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort. com/new-years-eve (208-765-4000) TACO TUESDAYS AT BULL HEAD SALOON Two dollar tacos served all day along with drink specials. Ages 21+ with ID. Tuesdays from 12-8:30 pm. $2. The Bull Head, 10211 S. Electric Ave. bullheadsaloon.com (509-838-9717) KITCHEN COOKING CLASS: LASAGNA Commellini Estate’s executive chef teaches students how to make lasagna in this hands-on cooking class. The class culminates in a meal served family style.

Jan. 3-4, 6:30-9:30 pm. $85. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. commelliniestate.com

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MUSIC

TOM PLETSCHER Pianist Tom Pletscher performs jazzy holiday and other selections. Daily from 6-9 pm through Dec. 30. Free. Masselow’s Steakhouse, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com MASTERCLASS BIG BAND: OPEN THE DOOR TO ’24 Live Music and dancing with the MasterClass singers and Jim Swoboda. Dec. 31, 9 pm-12:30 am. $50$100. Knitting Factory, 919 W. Sprague Ave. masterclassbb.com SPOKANE SYMPHONY NEW YEAR’S EVE: BEETHOVEN’S 9TH Ring in the New Year with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony performed by the Spokane Symphony and Chorale. Dec. 31, 7:30 pm. $40-$84. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org BRENNEN LEIGH Nashville country singer-songwriter Brennen Leigh and her trio perform a concert to launch Hamilton Studio’s new Listening Room.

Jan. 1, 8-9:30 pm. $80. Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean Ave. hamiltonstudio.com

scc.spokane.edu/act2 Facebook: @act2program 509.533.7181

scc.act2@scc.spokane.edu

Community Colleges of Spokane does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or employment. Marketing and Public Relations.

23-507 - Dec 2023 - AS

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 37

EVENTS | CALENDAR

YOU can make a life-long impact. Give TODAY to help build affordable homes for Spokane families to truly THRIVE.

Donate & Be a Change-Maker!

Donations are tax deductible

habitat-spokane.org (509) 534-2552 38 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

MT. SPOKANE NIGHT SKIING Ski after the sun sets under the lights at Mt. Spokane. Wed-Fri from 3-9 pm through March 16. $40-$80. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. mtspokane.com DJ NIGHT ON THE ICE Skate around the Numerica Skate Ribbon with tunes provided by DJ A1. Fridays from 6-9 pm through Jan. 26. $6.95-$9.95. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. riverfrontspokane.org COACHES CORNER Coaches from Spokane Figure Skating Club offer tips and guidance to emerging skaters. Sat urdays from 11 am-1 pm through Jan. 27. $6.95-$9.95. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. riverfrontspokane.org (509-625-6600) SNOWSHOE MOUNT SPOKANE WITH TRANSPORTATION Take a tour of majestic Mount Spokane by snowshoeing up and down hills through snowcovered trails. Dec. 30, 9 am-1 pm. $41.

Yoke’s Fresh Market, 14202 N. Market St. spokanerec.org (509-363-5414) SPOKANE CHIEFS VS. TRI-CITY AMERICANS Promotions include Sturm Heating Family Feast Night (Dec. 30). $13-$32. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon. spokanechiefs.com (509-279-7000) NEW YEAR’S EVE TUBING PARTY A night of tubing featuring snacks, hot chocolate, an LED light path and a sparkler celebration. Dec. 31, 7-9 pm. $40.

Schweitzer, 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. schweitzer.com PRACTICAL CENTERING YOGA Experience the benefits of yoga and pilates movements through these weekly exercise sessions led by instructor Larkin Barnett. Every Wed from 1:30-2:30 pm. $18-$20. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931) QIGONG Qigong is a traditional Chinese style of exercise that optimizes energy within the body, mind and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being. Wednesdays at 1 & 2 pm through March 20. $20. Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. campusce.net/spokaneactii YOUTH WINTER ADVENTURES Over winter break, learn how to cross country ski and snowshoe at Mt. Spokane State Park. Also learn how to build snow shelters, search for animal tracks and how to move around a snowy landscape. Fee includes guides, snowshoes, cross country skiing equipment, trail fees, instruction and transportation. Jan. 3 & 4 from 9 am-4 pm. $149. Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St. spokanerec.org APPRECIATION OF BONSAI Marty Weiser, President, Inland Empire Bonsai Society, speaks about the ancient origins of creating miniature bonsai trees in China and Japan. Jan. 4, 4-6 pm. Free.

Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. tieg.org (509-535-8434) LOOKOUT PASS JUNIOR RACE SERIES A ski racing opportunity for both experienced and new racers. First session includes coaching and subsequent sessions include timed runs. Jan. 5-26, Fri from 5-7 pm. $35-$45. Schweitzer, 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. schweitzer.com (208-263-9555)

THEATER & DANCE

HOLIDAY DIVAS DRAG SHOW Local drag artists take the stage and put on holiday performances. Hosted by Crystal Marche. Dec. 28, 7 pm. Free. Happy Trails to Brews, 9025 N. Indian Trail Rd. HappyTrailstoBrews.com THURSDAY EVENING SWING Drop-in beginner (Lindy Hop) and progressive (Collegiate Shag) lessons and social dancing to follow. Every Thursday from 6:30-9 pm through Dec. 28. $5-$10.

Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. syncopationfoundation.org ADULT BEGINNING DANCE Learn the basics of swing and ballroom dancing.

Every Fri from 6-7 pm through Dec. 29. $10-$35. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St. createarts.org (509-447-9277) SPOKANE FOLKLORE SOCIETY BIMONTHLY CONTRA DANCE A fifteen minute introductory lesson followed by general dancing. No partners necessary.

People under 18 get in free. First and third Wed of each month from 7:15-9:30 pm. $7-$10. Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. spokanefolklore.org SPOKANE MAGIC CLUB MONTHLY MEETING The Spokane Magic Club is open to amateur andprofessional magicians and those who simply love magic.

First Wed. of every month from 6:308:30 pm through Jan. 3. Free. Corbin Senior Center, 827 W. Cleveland Ave. corbinseniorcenter.org (509-327-1584) MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Merrily We Roll Along travels backwards in time to navigate the bumpy history among three friends – Franklin, Charlie and Mary – who begin careers in show business together. Jan. 5-7; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $15-$38. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com (509-325-2507)

VISUAL ARTS

10TH ANNUAL CUP OF JOY A holiday exhibit of over 150 ceramic cups made by local, regional and national artists.

Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm through Jan. 13. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net (509-863-9904) ALEXANDRA IOSUB: BETWEEN KNOWING AND BEING This exhibition encapsulates the culmination of the artist’s 8-year project, “Making Room,” which explores creating personal space in the world. Dec. 1-30, Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe St. terrainspokane.com ENTROPY GALLERY Various artworks by local artists BayleeJoee, Abe Kenney, Missy Narrance, Jon Swanson and Susan Webber. Daily from 11 am-6 pm through Jan. 1, 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com EWU FACULTY ART EXHIBITION The exhibition includes a diverse array of artistic styles in a wide variety of media including, but not limited to painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, video, digital art and augmented reality. Mon-Fri from 9 am-6 pm through Jan. 18. Free. EWU Gallery of Art, 140 Art Building. ewu.edu/cahss FICTION, FANTASY & FOLKLORE A show festuring art dolls created by various local artists. Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm through Dec. 30. Free. New Moon

Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore.com ROBERT BANGER: CABINET PICTURES OF MY GARDEN FRIENDS ALS IK KAN A selection of cabinet paintings (small paintings) of animals. By appointment only through Dec. 31. Free.

Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean Ave. hamiltonstudio.com FIVE CRITICAL DECADES OF ART: THE STEPHENS COLLECTION Selections collected by Spokane residents Les and Carolyn Stephens include 60’s pop art, sculpture, environmental art, video art, abstraction, photorealism and more.

Mon-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through Jan. 6. Free. Jundt Art Museum, 200 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/jundt FRANK S. MATSURA: NATIVE AMERICAN PORTRAITS FROM A NORTHWEST BORDERLAND This show features images from the studio archive of Washington-based Japanese photographer Frank Sakae Matsura (b. 1873) which explore Indigenous representation through an artistic lens.

Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through June 9. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931) GINGER OAKES Pottery Place Plus’s guest artist for December, Oakes creates sculptures that tell stories and reflect personal life experiences. Daily from 11 am-7 pm. through Dec. 31. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com (509-327-6920) GORDON WILSON: EMERITUS A selection of works created over the last 50 years by the Whitworth Professor Emeritus of Art & Design. Mon-Fri from 10 am-4:30 pm, Sat from 10 am-2 pm through Jan. 24. Free. Bryan Oliver Gallery, Whitworth, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave. whitworth.edu (509-777-3258) HERE IN A HOMEMADE FOREST: COMMON READING CONNECTIONS EXHIBITION Inspired by Washington State University’s 2023-24 Common Reading Book, Braiding Sweetgrass, this exhibition highlights crucial themes through the lens of art, inviting visitors into a conversation about prioritizing a reciprocal relationship with the land, with each other and with other living beings. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through March 2. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson Rd. museum.wsu.edu (509-335-1910) JEFFREY GIBSON: THEY TEACH LOVE This exhibition combines various art mediums such as sculpture, painting and video with the artist’s American Indian cultural background by adorning objects with beadwork, jingles, fringe and sinew. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through March 9. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson Rd. museum.wsu.edu (509-335-1910) JERRY WHITE & KATRINA BRENNAN Jerry White showcases woodburning and Katrina Brennan presents acrylic paintings. Thu-Sat from 11 am-4 pm through Dec. 31. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone Ave. avenuewestgallery.com (509-838-4999) KEITH HARROP: THE WHIMSICAL WORLD OF KEITH HARROP Harrop’s pencil drawings depict animals drawn in a whimsical style. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through Dec. 30, 11 am-7 pm. Free.

Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com (509-768-1268) MARCUS JACKSON: LOVE’S AUSTERE AND LONELY OFFICES Marcus Jackson is a widely published photographer and

writer. His photographs portray the organic beauty and complexity of people and places. All photographs were made in Columbus, Ohio, or NYC in 2020 and 2021. Tue-Sat from noon-5 pm through Dec. 30. Free. Moscow Contemporary, 414 S. Main St. moscowcontemporary. org (208-301-5092) NANCY ROTHWELL: FREEDOM AND JOY IN THE PALOUSE This exhibit showcases how the artist’s color palette and content shifted after moving from western Washington to eastern Washington. Mon-Sat from 10 am-6 pm through Jan. 31. Free. The Center, 104 S. Main St. whitcolib.org (509-397-4366) NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE FACULTY EXHIBITION NIC faculty members display recent works. Mon-Thu from 10 am-4 pm, Fri from 10 am-2:30 pm through Jan. 26. Free. Boswell Corner Gallery at NIC, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Building 22. nic.edu/cornergallery (208-769-3276) THAT, THROUGH WHICH WE SEE...

DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW A group show consisting of seven local artists: Kay O’Rourke, Alex Biggs, Dan McCann, Larry Ellingson, Wendy Franklund Miller, Roger Ralston and MB, showing paintings, collages, assemblages, boxes and clay. Fri-Sat from 11 am-3 pm through Jan. 10. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. kolva.comcastbiz.net (509-990-4872) SARANAC ART PROJECTS ALL MEMBER EXHIBITION: MEMBERS ONLY Members of the Saranac Art Projects display new works as well as work from the archive. Fri-Sat from 12-8 pm through Dec. 30. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com

WORDS

DROP IN & WRITE Aspiring writers are invited to be a part of a supportive writers’ community. Bring works in progress to share, get inspired with creative prompts and spend some focused time writing. Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm.

Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org FINDING YOUR VOICE: A TEEN WRITING WORKSHOP WITH AMMI MIDSTOKKE This workshop is catered to young writers in 6th grade through high school who are learning to bring the wonder of the individual self to their work. Dec. 28, 10 am-noon. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390) MONSTER STORIES WITH SHARMA SHIELDS Local novelist and Writing Education Specialist Sharma Shields presents a generative writing workshop to craft monster stories. Dec. 30, 2-3 pm. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh. spokanelibrary.org BROKEN MIC Spokane Poetry Slam’s longest-running, weekly open mic series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD n PRESCHOOL STORYTIME PLAY & LEARN Share books, songs and fun. After, spend some time in open play with learning activities. Wednesdays from 10-11 am. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry. spokanelibrary.org ITALIAN CONVERSATION Learn key words and phrases, simple conversation and more from instructor Stefano Dona.

Fridays at 2 & 4 pm through March 8. $33. Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. campusce.net/spokaneactii (509-533-8500) n

this winter go

Deeper in Sandpoint, Idaho

Schweitzer lights up the skies with fireworks for MLK and Presidents' Day holidays.

Find deeper delights throughout the season in beautiful Sandpoint Start the new year with a bang, in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. Winter has officially arrived and there’s no better place to experience its delights than Sandpoint. Up at Schweitzer, the skiing, snowboarding and tubing offer fun for the whole family, with a host of special events on the mountain. Elsewhere, the Pine Street Woods has trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, while nearby Western Pleasure Guest Ranch offers horse-drawn sleigh rides through its winter wonderland. And after all the outdoor fun, head into town to browse Sandpoint’s unique shops and galleries and enjoy the vibrant entertainment scene with live music and events galore. There are terrific restaurants, plus excellent lodging in town or on the mountain.

This winter, discover deeper delights in Sandpoint. We hope to see you here!

Get visitor information at 208.263.2161 • www.visitSandpoint.com

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 39

CANNABIS BOOSTS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NEWS

Dank Digest Cannabis made headlines around the globe, from Ukraine to California, and in the world of college basketball

BY WILL MAUPIN

C

annabis was in the headlines the past week in the U.S. and beyond. Here’s a quick trip through the news to get you caught up.

UKRAINE GOES MEDICAL

With the justification of cannabis’ potential as a treatment for mental health issues as a result of the trauma of war, Ukraine’s parliament last week voted overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing medical marijuana.

The law — passed by 248 votes in the 401-seat parlia-

ment — will go into effect in six months, with the country’s Ministry of Health determining which conditions will be eligible for cannabis treatment and the methods of consumption that are allowed.

Ukraine joins the Republic of Georgia, which legalized cannabis outright in 2018, as the only former Soviet states with some form of legalized cannabis. The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly called for medical marijuana legalization in a June address to parliament.

A new study published in the Journal of Sports Economics found a correlation between positive recruiting outcomes for college basketball programs in states that have legalized recreational cannabis.

“Legalization appears to improve basketball recruiting outcomes for in-state colleges,” the authors state.

At the time of writing this story, Washington’s men’s and women’s Division I college basketball programs have won 67.2% of their games so far this season. Idaho’s, on the other hand, have won just 55.5% of theirs. Can’t argue with that.

CALIFORNIA HITS NEW ROADBLOCK

The most populous state in the union was the first to legalize medical marijuana back in 1996, with recreational cannabis legalization coming two decades later in 2016.

However, the legal market in California has struggled to overtake the illicit market. Last week, a decision from the state’s attorney general delivered another blow to the already faltering industry.

California had planned to begin engaging in interstate commerce of its cannabis products, passing a law last year that would allow the practice. However, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, notes that interstate commerce of cannabis flies in the face of federal cannabis law and would open the state up to the potential for federal interference.

In May, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, also a Democrat, signed a law that would allow for the practice here in the Evergreen State, but with the notable caveat that it would not go into effect unless there was a change in federal policy. n

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40 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

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 fiveyear sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.

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42 INLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2023

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BUYING Estate Contents / Household Goods See abesdiscount.com or 509-939-9996

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39. Addis ____, Ethiopia 40. Place to see saws 41. Apiece 42. They’re voracious eaters (and an anagram of “gastro”) 45. Architect Saarinen 46. “Sex and the City” character who says “I don’t believe in the Republican party or the Democratic party; I just believe in parties” 48. Berman in the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame 49. Work together 52. “C’mon, be ____!”

54. Garden varieties?

55. “I spy with my little eye ... a fish!”

59. “I spy with my little eye ... a tree!”

60. “Thou ____ Aloft FullDazzling” (1881 Walt Whitman poem) 61. Riverside, ____ (the “future

birthplace” of James T. Kirk) 62. Wild hog 63. GM’s Mary Barra, e.g.

64. “Pardon ... “ DOWN 1. Humanities degs.

2. Fury 3. Lift following a lift?

4. Children’s author whose stories were acquired by Netflix in 2021 5. “I spy with my little eye ... a toddler!”

6. Gender pronoun in an email signature 7. Mis amigos : Spanish :: ____ : French 8. Short-lived 9. “I spy with my little eye ... an ice cream brand!”

10. Sound that aptly rhymes with gong 11. All there

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ACROSS 1. Morning News city, informally 5. Physicist’s name often heard in yoga class?

8. Dies down 12. Wheelhouse 13. Hailey Bieber ____ Baldwin 14. Annual event at Pebble Beach 16. “I spy with my little eye ... a late-night host!”

18. “I spy with my little eye ... a state capital!”

19. The “A” in Thomas A. Edison 20. A person might react to it 22. London’s ____ Gardens 24. Some insurance payments 26. Lead-in to much 28. “THAT makes sense to me now” 29. Egyptian ____ (cat) 32. Materials sold by National Gypsum and USG SheekRock 34. Sluggers’ dirty secrets, for short 36. “Sorry ... I’m busy” 37. Crème ____

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23. Dress after bathing, perhaps

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29. “I spy with my little eye ... a foreign film actress!”

30. Stick (to) 31. Applied to

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“I SPY”

33. “I spy with my little eye ... a former ‘SNL’ cast member!”

35. “View of Auverssur-____” (Cézanne painting) 37. Kid’s creation using sofa cushions 38. Rock, Paper, Scissors, to some 40. “Funky Cold Medina” rapper 43. “Cornflake Girl” singer Tori 44. Light brown 46. Brand whose name is a contraction of the French words for “without caffeine”

47. TikTok, for one 49. P.D. alert 50. Kind of soda or sandwich 51. Snack found in the middle of a catacomb?

53. Bizet’s “Toreador Song,” for one 56. Exist 57. “I herd that ____ like sheep puns ...”

58. Hasty escape

DECEMBER 28, 2023 INLANDER 43

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