Tuesday, March 29, 2016
A group of local women writers who all debuted their first books last year continue to reel in major accolades for their work. The latest to be honored is Spokane-based romance novelist and Spokane Falls Community College physics professor Åsa Maria Bradley, whose sexy, paranormal Viking-themed novel Viking Warrior Rising was named a double finalist for the 2016 RITA Awards.
Presented by the Romance Writers of America, a trade association for writers in the genre, the RITA award is the most distinguished honor in romance fiction. Twelve categories recognize long and short works, and those in the various sub-genres of romance. The RITAs have been presented annually since 1982, expanding in the number of categories over the years.
Bradley's novel, the first in a planned trilogy, was published last fall by Sourcebooks. Influenced partly by her upbringing in Sweden, the action-filled story follows a female super-soldier protagonist who meets a hunky, immortal Viking sent to Earth with a band of fellow warriors to protect humanity from the end of the world; Ragnarök.
More than 2,000 novels are entered annually in the RITA competition, and this year Bradley's novel was chosen as a finalist in not one, but two categories: Best First Book and Best Paranormal Romance.
This year's RITA Award winners are to be announced at a formal ceremony in July during the Romance Writers of America's annual conference.
Tags: Asa Maria Bradley , RITA Awards , local authors , Arts & Culture , Image
In this year's "Spokane Style" section of our reader-driven "Best Of" poll, the clear winner for "Best Bumper Sticker Seen Locally" was "Spokane Doesn't Suck."
No, this wasn't a bunch of voters being sarcastic. It's an actual bumper sticker. Spokane Doesn't Suck is a Tumblr-blog-turned-$10,000 Kickstarter from local designer Derrick Oliver. At SpokaneDoesntSuck.com he sells sweatshirts, T-shirts, mugs and stickers emblazoned with the message that "Spokane Doesn't Suck."
But this got me thinking: There's a whole untapped market out there for other expressions of civic pride,
Visit Spokane is welcome to contact me about using these for future ad campaigns if they choose.
1. Royal Spokanenbaums
This poster takes a simple self-conception — the conventional wisdom that "everyone knows" — and dares to inject an element of possibility into it. Maybe what everyone knows is incorrect. Maybe they're wrong and you're right. Maybe Custer never died at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Maybe love can transcend the impossible. Maybe Spokane doesn't suck.
Remember, every great invention starts with a bold presupposition.
Tags: Spokane Doesn't Suck , Best Of , News , For Fun! , Image
News arrived this morning that beloved actress Patty Duke, who has resided in Coeur d'Alene area for more than two decades, passed away early this morning. Reports are that the 69-year-old actress died from sepsis due to a ruptured intestine.
Duke, whose real name is Anna Pearce, saw her star rise at age 16 when she won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. At the time, she was the youngest person to win an Oscar.
Later in life, Duke became known as an advocate for mental health issues, having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder as an adult.
She moved to the Coeur d'Alene area in the early '90s after marrying Silver Valley native Mike Pearce, whom she met on a movie set.
During her time in the Northwest, Duke directed and starred in numerous local theater productions, including directing a memorable performance of The Miracle Worker for Interplayers Theater, now called the Modern Theater. Other local productions include Duke's gender-bender role as the title character (male in the books) in Lois Lowry's The Giver, performed at the Bing Crosby Theater in summer 2013. She also starred in the 2013 holiday show Traditions of Christmas, directed by local theater leader Laura Little.
Tags: Patty Duke , Arts & Culture , News , Image
A north Spokane man will not face criminal charges in the shooting death of another man who he feared would break into his home, according to a news release from Spokane County prosecutor Larry Haskell's office.
Around 10 pm January 30, 2016, Jerry King wandered through traffic at W. Francis Avenue and N. Assembly Street, eventually approaching the home of Kevin and Christina Elliot, who were watching TV. King was drunk and had been smoking marijuana, according an autopsy report.
King, 39, who was living two doors down from the Elliotts at the time he was shot, was yelling outside their home, prompting Kevin Elliott to get his gun.
The two men traded threats, and Kevin Elliott demanded King remove himself from the porch. King ignored the instruction and attempted to break down the glass storm door, according to Kevin Elliott. He then fired once, striking King in the chest, killing him. King was unarmed.
County prosecutors opted not to charge Kevin Elliott, saying he "was in his own home and had no duty to retreat."
King's family does not agree with the prosecutor's decision not to file charges, the Spokesman-Review is reporting.
Tags: self defense , Spokane County Prosecutor , Larry Haskell , News , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
- NEWS: Some woman stole a painting off the wall at Jones Radiator, and the painter had trouble filing a police report.
- MUSIC: Goo Goo Dolls, The Avett Bros and the Steve Miller Band will all come to Northern Quest Resort & Casino this summer.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz, not Donald Trump, ahead of the state's primary on April 5. Of course, that's only because Walker is upset that Trump beat him so badly in the primary, according to Trump. (Politico)
Hijacker arrested
The alleged hijacker of a plane destined for Egypt has been arrested, and the passengers and crew are safe. (CNN)
Stand your ground
Spokane County prosecutors have ruled that a man was justified in shooting and killing an apparently drunk, high man who would not get off his porch on Jan. 30.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Local artist Shana Smith has joined the likes of painting immortals Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, all of whom have had their art snatched off the wall.
Two weekends ago, one of Smith's paintings was stolen off the wall of local bar, Jones Radiator. The bar posted surveillance video of the masterful heist, which shows three women working together to lift the artwork (one takes it off the wall and sets it on the floor; another picks it up after it falls over; and the third, who's been keeping a lookout, hauls it out).
Watch the video for yourself:
Using the video, Jones Radiator identified one of the women as the lead singer of Organized Kaos, who played a show at the bar March 19, the night the painting was stolen. Apparently, she goes by "Fire." Lucas McIntyre, Jones Radiator co-owner says he confirmed "Fire's" real name, which we won't publish here because she has not been arrested.
"It seemed pretty straightforward," McIntyre says. "With most people you'd think when you say 'Hey we have you on camera, can you just give us the painting back and we'll forget about it?' that would be the end."
The painting is still floating out there somewhere, but for artist Smith, what's been almost more distressing is the ordeal of filing a simple police report.
Tags: art , Jones Radiator , property crime , Shana Smith , News , Image , Video
FROM INLANDER.COM
• NEWS: Feeling the Bern’ at Chase Middle School
• THIS WEEK: Tons of tunes, visiting authors and the first Chef's Week PNW
• ARTS: Collective Campout creative retreat returns to Lake CdA this summer for year two
• Art heist at Jones Radiator bar
Surveillance cameras captured the thieves in the act of stealing local artist Shana Smith's painting. (KXLY)
• Wounded CdA pastor sends Easter message
Pastor Tim Remington, who is recovering after being shot in the parking lot of the Altar Church earlier this month, delivered the message via video. (KHQ)
• Dozens killed in Pakistan by suicide bomber targeting Christians
At least 69 people were killed, including many children, on Easter Sunday in the city of Lahore.
• Bernie Sanders sweeps the West
Sanders crushed Hillary Clinton in the most recent contests, in Washington, Hawaii and Alaska, and is now worried that Clinton won't debate him again before New York's primary on April 19.
• March Madness is over...
Well, not really. But the Zags lost Friday night to Syracuse; the Orangemen went on to beat 1-seed Virginia to enter the Final Four, which begins next weekend. Speaking of the Final Four, UW women advance there for the first time.
Tags: morning briefing , News , Image , Video
Sunday, March 27, 2016
After a successful inaugural run last August, the Spokane chapter of the American Advertising Federation is gearing up to host the second annual Collective Campout creative retreat late this summer.
Again set for the last weekend in August (Aug. 26-28), on the picturesque and historic grounds of Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d'Alene, the three-day, two-night event encourages professional adults in the design and marketing industries to let loose and get back in touch with their imagination.
Registration for the 2016 version of Collective Campout opens next Friday, April 1, for AAF Spokane members. The general public can register (if any of the 100 spots are still open) starting on May 1. Early-bird registration is $200 (on May 1 that cost goes up to $250), which covers lodging, food and access to three workshops, along with pre- and post-workshop team-building sessions. Collective Campout's 2016 keynote speaker and guest is prominent Portland-based graphic designer Von Glitschka. He'll present on Friday night and will work alongside participants throughout Saturday's workshops, says event co-chair Mellie Price.
More creative workshops are being offered this year, Price adds. Attendees can choose three out of 12 sessions, compared to a total of nine last year. One of those new options is a team-building ropes-course session. Workshops led by local artists, writers, designers and photographers are intended to push people outside their creative comfort zones and to allow collaboration that otherwise might not happen.
Price hopes the camp will sell out all 100 available spots, especially considering the shared excitement of Collective campers last August.
"One of the things that was so awesome to see when we left camp was that moment everyone got their wifi back, and there was just this outpouring between all the campers," she recalls. "Our goal was to make our community more accessible — we're all in this together as Spokane creatives — and watching that happen; friending on Facebook, sharing and updating resumes and going out and buying art supplies, that was the point where we're like 'OK, this needs to happen again.'"
Tags: Collective Campout , American Advertising Federation , Arts & Culture , Image
We might have a lot of April showers in store as we motor into spring, but that's no excuse for ignoring all the entertaining options in our event listings and Staff Picks.
Here are a few options from the week ahead:
Monday, March 28
LIVE BANDS | The Baby Bar hosts The Blind Pets and Guilt Gift, offering a little rock to open the week.
LIVE BANDS | Over at The Pin!, Texas metal gods The Sword headline a show sure to melt faces, among other body parts. Royal Thunder opens. Read our interview with the band, and give them a listen here:
Tuesday, March 29
WORDS | The greatest stamp of approval a poet can receive is undoubtedly that of the The New Yorker. Robyn Schiff, who will read from her newest book of poems, A Woman of Property, as part of Gonzaga’s Visiting Writers Series, got the favorable nod. While the main appearance is at 7:30 pm, at 1:15 pm, she will also take part in a Q&A session at the Hemmingson Center.
LIVE BANDS | The second edition of the Northwest of Nashville series takes over The Bartlett, extending the St. Patty's Day vibe a bit with Irish-tinged tunes from An Dochas, Broken Whistle, Floating Crowbar and the Howling Gael Trio.
Wednesday, March 30
ETC | We might have a rainy spring, but the dry summer days aren't far away. Learn how to be an Earth-friendly water-user with a free talk on Easy Water-Wise Gardening at the Spokane Valley Library.
Tags: What's Up? , Image , Video
Saturday, March 26, 2016
The first sign that it was going to be a Bernie kind of day was the traffic jam on 37th Avenue, heading to Chase Middle School on Spokane’s South Hill. With their ample parking lot already full, Subarus with “Coexist” bumper stickers turned up into the neighborhood to park. Anne and I found a spot four blocks from the entrance to the school and joined the migration of that elusive species that comes around every eight years — the Eastern Washington Democrats emerging from their hidden nests to Caucus.
Coming over the rise and looking down on the school, the lines were out the door — a swarm of citizens who cared enough to spend their morning debating politics. Maybe it’s all the alarming talk coming out of Trumpworld — the GOP poked the bear, and the caucus was the first chance for local Dems to roar back. Or maybe we really are feeling the Bern here in the ’Kan. Whatever the reason, the lunchroom at Chase was jam-packed. I was there eight years ago when Barack Obama won, and I’d say the 2016 crowd was four times larger.
The already stuffy room was electric, as one organizer climbed on a table and barked out what everyone was thinking: “This is what democracy looks like!”
The initial confusion gave way to precinct captains spreading out all over the school with their groups in tow. Ours — the Mighty 6233 — took up residence down a hallway, under a Diary of a Wimpy Kid poster and a mysterious “KHFOOTY” sign. (Having had two kids go through Chase, we know it stands for “Keep Hands, Feet and Other Objects To Yourself”; maybe they should post that reminder on stage at the next GOP debate.)
We started with an initial vote: Hillary Clinton, 17; Bernie Sanders, 19. Then it was on to discussion, with each person given a chance to orate away. Clinton is a huge part of the corporate problem in America, one argued. Where is her money coming from, anyway? Sanders is too far to the left, another countered, and he’s got zero management experience. Some liked his idea for a revolution; others were a little freaked out by it and wanted more gradual change.
Tags: election 2016 , News , InHealth , Image
Moonshine: Artisan Night Market & Moonlit Movie @ Commellini Estate
Wednesdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Continues through Aug. 27
