Bloglander

Summer picks up steam this week, with tons of options for you to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine, or a dark nightclub. Here are some highlights of the week ahead, drawn from our event listings.

Monday, June 25

FOOD | Even those of us with the blackest of thumbs can typically have pretty good luck growing basil. Which means, naturally, having an excess of basil around. Hit up Kitchen Engine tonight for a class, All About Basil, that will help you figure out what to do with all your herbal goodness.

Tuesday, June 26

WORDS | The Power 2 The Poetry crew is dedicating its monthly open-mic at the Spokane Downtown Library to Pride Month. The fun starts at 6, and it's free.

Wednesday, June 27

SPORTS | The Spokane Indians have another homestand, and they face off against Everett tonight.

With our first ever Pet Issue on stands now, we thought it would be a great time to share some of our favorite dog-friendly restaurants, breweries and bars. While you can’t bring your furry companion inside most places due to standard health codes and such, there’s plenty of options for outdoor drinking and dining.

Little Garden Cafe, 2901 W. Northwest Blvd.

This coffee and tea house with a quaint patio is perfect for a summer brunch. Located across the street from Audubon Park, it’s also a perfect spot for Otis to not-so-patiently wait for you to finish your meal so you can toss the ball a few times.

Community Pint, 120 E. Sprague Ave.

This beer bar is one of the few places in town that actually allows Lassie to come inside. It’s a great spot for both of you to escape the sun and cool off. If you’re a pet lover without a dog of your own, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get your puppy fix here.

Iron Goat Brewing, 1302 W. Second Ave.

The alley patio at Iron Goat is ideal for spending an evening with old Blue. Take in the urban environment while drinking a pint of local beer. The kitchen serves small plates, pizza and sandwiches and even has beer-inspired treats that are safe for Blue to eat. You can also catch live music on the patio throughout the summer.

Casper Fry, 928 S. Perry St.

If you’re looking for a fine dining spot where Buddy can tag along, this South Perry District restaurant will treat you well. Along with their Southern comfort food and craft cocktails, it features a large dog-friendly patio. After your meal, you can both walk across the street to Perry Street Brewing for a few after dinner beers and a nice bowl of water.

The Scoop, 1001 W. 25th Ave.

What better way to end a long day of adventures with Balto than scarfing down some fresh-made ice cream? This South Hill hideaway features cold creations and baked goods, including their famous liege waffles. Relax at an outdoor table or take a walk through the neighborhood with a cone in hand. Go ahead and give him a small taste, he deserves it.

Consider yourselves warned: the Insane Clown Posse is heading to Spokane for a show at The Pin! on Aug. 14. The Detroit duo will be joined by a slate of guests yet to be announced, but suffice to say, ICP is the reason every Juggalo in the region will be descending on downtown Spokane on a Tuesday night when Tech N9ne isn't around.

The makeup-clad hip-hoppers are considered a full-on gang worthy of FBI attention by some, and revered as the inspiring heads of a vibrant creative community by others. I don't know their music well at all except for the occasional YouTube clip, but I always like reading the entertaining stories about their various controversies.

ICP tickets are $25 and on sale now through the Monumental Shows website. 

WORLEY, Idaho — When you go to a Cedric The Entertainer standup show, you expect to get a good hour of laughs thanks to the man's talent and 30-plus years of experience on comedy stages large and small.

What I didn't expect going to see the man in North Idaho was the most racially diverse audience I've seen for any kind of concert in my almost-four-years living in the Inland Northwest, a couple thousand African-American, Native American and white people joining together to laugh at everything from Cedric and his openers' silly imitations to their pointed political and racial commentary.

The great vibe in the room, and the comedians' skill onstage made for an excellent show at Coeur d'Alene Casino. It was my first time seeing the event space in Worley, and I was pleasantly surprised with the set-up. A large stage with video screens on either side made every seat in the room feel like a good one.

Of course, that wouldn't have mattered if the show wasn't good, and it was far more than that. Cedric and his two openers, Malik S and Sean Larkins, all made jokes about not knowing where they were, or more pointedly, they all said some variation of "What the f—- am I doing in Idaho?" But they also all followed up at their pleasant surprise at how diverse the audience was.

Opener and the night's emcee, Malik S, actually went much further than that, getting into a long and pretty hilarious discussion with some audience members about whether "Native American" or "Indian" was more appropriate for him to use, and noting how many of the black men in the audience appeared to have white wives or girlfriends: "Do they just give you one when you move here, fellas?" Both Malik S and Larkin's sets were met with loud cheers from the audience, and a few groans.

Cedric The Entertainer's set, though, was groan-free as he proved a consummate pro and, not surprisingly, a masterful performer onstage.

On INLANDER.COM

Do you feel unlucky, punks?
Spokane thieves are exacting Trump's tariff's the old-fashioned way — after a Canadian punk band got their equipment stolen from their van near the Pin. If you see a giant banner from 1985, return it for a reward.

Pet projects
Check out the some of the runners-up to the Inlander Pets Photo Contest, including the second-best goat in Spokane. (The best, obviously, being the Riverfront Park Garbage Eating Goat.)

IN OTHER NEWS...

McMorris Rodgers vs. Raúl Labrador
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted against a hardline immigration bill that had been championed by Idaho Rep. Raúl Labrador. (Spokesman-Review)

Hard pill to swallow
The Red Pill expo begins with a tribute to Lavoy Finicum, the Malheur standoff participant killed by Oregon State Police. (Spokesman-Review)

Stamping out food stamps?
House Republicans pass a farm bill that has major new work requirements — and job training funds — tied to the food stamp system. (Politico)

The crying girl on the cover of Time Magazine wasn't actually separated from her mom
But the story is still incredibly sad.  (Washington Post)

The line between discipline and child abuse
A physician says that a boy in immigration detention has been threatened with not being able to be reunited with his parents if he doesn't behave. (New Yorker)

Veteran punk rockers D.O.A. got a taste of one of Spokane’s most prevalent crimes after playing a show at the Pin on June 16.

The band’s “D.O.A.” banner had been stolen, along with various band merchandise, gear and drummer Paddy Duddy’s “legendary snare” after their van was broken into. While that’s all infuriating, “the big hit,” the band says was the stolen banner, which they've had since 1985.

“It's irreplaceable, we need to get it back. Spokane folks and punks everywhere. You can't miss it, it's 20 feet wide. Reward is being offered, no questions asked,” the band reported on Facebook.
On behalf of Spokane… Sorry! That seriously, seriously sucks.

Dusty O’Brien from local Spokane band Wasted Breath said it even better:

“I want to formally apologize for what happened with your gear and banner. It's always VERY embarrassing when things like this happen in our hometown. It doesn't very often, but when it does, the entire community feels responsible."

So true. Except it does happen pretty often, if you recall our February story on Spokane’s vehicle-theft rate.

“We are doing our best to get the word out. We have our record label, promoters, friends, & other local bands keeping an eye out. Collectively we will work towards finding as many of your belongings as possible. We hope this doesn't deter you from returning to the area in the future. Saturday night was amazing & Spokane punks rarely have have an opportunity to play with bands of your stature in the Inland Northwest. It is a huge disappointment when the actions of few can potentially ruin opportunities for the many good & respectable musicians in the area. We will keep in touch!" O'Brien continued.

So. If you happen to possess a giant punk-rock banner that isn’t yours, we’d ask that you remember: “Reward is being offered, no questions asked.”

When we asked readers to send us photos of their animal companions for the Inlander's first-ever Pet Issue photo contest, we had no idea we'd receive as many as we did — well over 250 in just one week!

In hindsight, though, why should we have expected any less? Ask anyone you know to tell you about their dog/cat/rabbit/lizard/fish/pig/etc. and the outpouring of love for these special animal friends flows freely. Inlander readers are no different; you all were more than willing to send us adorable photos and heartwarming stories that each illustrate the palpable joys of the human-animal bond. Picking only three winners to highlight in this year's first-ever Pet Issue was really, really hard.

As the issue's editor and creator of this contest, I was truly gleeful each time another submission came through. We received stories of heartrending rescues, loyal best friends and even memorials to companions who've since passed on. The creative pet names I saw were also an absolute favorite. (Shoutouts to Meriwether Lewis, Kylo Rentriever, Noodle Sheets, Baby Godzilla, Lando and many, many more.)

So, to somewhat make up for my and our other contest judges' guilt that we had to make a decision, and to recognize that all pets are special in their own ways, we decided to share some of standout submissions from the 2018 #InlanderPets photo contest. Make sure to meet our three winners — a deaf rescue dog, a pokey, palm-sized buddy and an adventure cat — in this week's issue.

Whiskey, a shaded cream, long-haired dachshund
Owned by Cynthia Schoch of Spokane
"Whiskey deserves to be featured because he is the neighborhood's welcoming committee. He loves every person he sees and wants to meet all of the animals he sees, especially other dogs! He's stubborn and independent, like all dachshunds, but is so sweet and submissive that he goes belly-up to every creature he meets within minutes (begging, of course, for belly rubs), and is so well behaved that he can go for walks off his leash (in safe areas, of course). We have been together since he was a puppy and he is the little love of my life."

Roo, the rex dumbo rat
Owned by Megan Cuilla, of Spokane
"Rats don’t have the best reputation, what with the plague and all, but they make really great pets and are super friendly. 'But their tails.' Okay, okay. Their tails DO take some getting used to, but we humans have weird body parts, too, and our pet rats don’t judge us for that."

Berger Martina Haeger, a short-haired calico
Owned by Joseph Edwin Haeger and family, of Spokane
"Berger should be in the Inlander because she is gorgeous, and as the photo clearly indicates, she has a lot of personality. She’s a proud lady and wants things her way and isn’t afraid to tell it how it is. In her free time you can find her snuggling up with her family or stealing entire sticks of butter from the kitchen. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. She fancies herself a hunter, but I’ve never seen her catch more than a cat nap. She would be an ideal candidate for the Inlander’s Pet Issue."

Willow, the Nigerian dwarf goat
Owned by Corinne Morse, of Spokane
"This is Willow the Nigerian dwarf goat. She's about 10 years old and has lived all her days in the Spokane area. She deserves to be featured in the Inlander because she has lived a hard life, she has had many babies and was abused early in her life. We have had the pleasure of sharing our farm with her for the last year and could not imagine a sweeter girl. Don't tell the others, but she is my favorite goat."

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS: U.S. Border Patrol agents began questioning a Latino man getting off a Greyhound bus in Spokane. He showed them a "know-your-rights" card, given to him by his attorney. The agents used that as a basis to detain him, according to a legal claim filed by the ACLU.

PETS: On stands this week is our first-ever Pet Issue, featuring, of course, a photo contest.

ART: Meet the artist who dedicated herself to painting one Spokane-centric scene per week.

IN OTHER NEWS

Immigrant families to stay together now, but how?
President Trump said his administration's practice of separating immigrant parents from their children at the border could not be undone with an executive order. Yesterday, Trump signed an executive order undoing this administration's practice of separating immigrant parents from their children at the border. It's unclear exactly what will now happen to the approximately 2,300 children who were already separated. (New York Times)

Nine children
Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday at least nine children separated from their families at the border are residing in Washington state. He also announced an additional $230,000 in emergency funding, on top of the $1 million set aside by the state Legislature earlier this year to help provide legal services for immigrant families. (KING 5)

MC Shea
An expo for alt-right conspiracy theorists lands in Spokane this weekend with lectures and panel discussions on global warming, vaccines and the deep state. Washington State Rep. Matt Shea will be the "master of ceremonies" and will deliver a talk entitled "The Day I Took the Red Pill," at 8:10 am Friday. (Spokesman-Review)

The Mass Shooter
A new FBI study that analyzed 160 mass shooting incidents between 2000 and 2013 finds that most mass shooters are not loners finally pushed past a breaking point. Rather, they meticulously plan their attacks and almost always show warning signs, sometimes long before. The overwhelming majority purchased their firearms legally. (Mother Jones)

Andres Sosa was given a "know-your-rights" card by his attorney just in case he was ever stopped again by immigration agents. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington says that card asserting his constitutional rights led Border Patrol agents in Spokane to detain him.

U.S. Border Patrol agents were waiting outside last July as Sosa got off a Greyhound bus at Spokane's Intermodal Center. He was on his way home to his wife and kids in Underwood, Washington, a town just east of Portland, when two agents stopped him.

The city-owned Intermodal Center, where Spokane's Greyhound station is located, has recently become a civil rights and immigration enforcement flashpoint. An uptick in the number of reports of Border Patrol agents questioning and detaining bus passengers has drawn outrage and concern from local politicians, activists and attorneys.

The ACLU of Washington and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project has filed a legal claim on Sosa's behalf, accusing the Border Patrol agents of illegally detaining him based on his race and his assertion of his constitutional rights. A legal claim is a precursor to a lawsuit.

"Do you have papers? Where are you from?" one of the agents asked Sosa as he stepped off the bus, according to the claim.

Sosa handed the agents a "know-your-rights" card that said he did not wish to answer any questions without an attorney, the claim says. Looking at the card, one of the agents then claimed to know that Sosa was "illegal" and led Sosa to a nearby parking lot to question him further.

We love any opportunity to share interesting stories about local pets and animals, so to mark the publication of the Inlander's first-ever Pet Issue, we thought it'd be the perfect time to reshare some more animal-related features we've published in recent years:

Boomer, an African serval of the Palouse
Boomer is a 1-year-old, 30-lb. African wildcat who lives in the Palouse town of Oakesdale, Washington, at Savannah Exotics cattery, with his owner Anna Spielberg. (April 2018)

Meet 2017 Inlander Peirone Prize winner Jamie McAtee, founder of Rescue4All
McAtee's creation more than four years ago of the local nonprofit animal rescue dedicated to saving the lives of often unadoptable and medically needy dogs has made a difference for hundreds of animals. (August 2017)

Washington Fish & Wildlife’s Karelian bear dogs
The six working dogs with Washington State Fish and Wildlife's Karelian Bear Dog Program work with their wildlife officer handlers to help mitigate human-wildlife conflicts with bears, cougars and other animals. (May 2016)

Spokane teen volunteers to train a guide-dog-to-be
At the time of this piece, then high school senior Alyson Galow was training a 6-month-old yellow Labrador puppy named Limerick for potential entrance into a training program with Guide Dogs for the Blind. (November 2016)

The tragedy of Arfee
In 2014, a mistaken tip led to a fast-on-the-trigger cop to kill Craig Jones' 2-year-old black Labrador in the parking lot of a Coeur d'Alene coffee shop. After the city of Coeur d'Alene smeared his dead dog as a "vicious pitbull," outrage poured in from throughout the nation. (August 2016)

The Seahawks’ official live mascot calls Spokane home
This fall will mark the African augur hawk Taima's (tay-ma, which means “thunder”) 13th season leading the team onto the field before every home game at CenturyLink Field. When he’s not rallying fans or players, Taima chills at home on Spokane’s West Plains. (September 2014)