Bloglander

A bevy of excellent entertainment opportunities are out there for your consideration in our event listings and carefully selected Staff Picks. Take a virtual stroll through those when you have time. 

Here are a few highlights of the week ahead: 

Monday, Oct. 17

WORDS | Head over to Gonzaga for a talk led by University of Calgary professor Paul Chastko about the shale-energy revolution and its long-term effects on the region. The talk is called Back to the Future: North America's Petroleum Revolution and the Increased Transportation of Oil by Rail. That's a mouthful, but it's sure to be an intriguing talk. It's free, starts at 7 pm, and is in the school's Jepson Center. 

LIVE BANDS | Halestorm are rising stars in the hard-rock scene, always packing a big crowd into whatever venue they're playing. For me, though, the true headliner of Monday's show is Lita Ford, once a bandmate of Joan Jett's in The Runaways and now a solo headliner reclaiming her crown as a metal queen. Dorothy opens the show, which just sold out on Friday, so you'll have to hit Craig's List to get some tix. Here's a clip of all the ladies doing the Runaways' "Cherry Bomb:"

Tuesday, Oct. 18

WORDS | You might think you're sick of election talk, but it's different when it comes from a pro like Pete Wehner, who worked in the George W. Bush White House and has since written for a variety of outlets on politics. It's free, in the Whitworth union building at 7 pm. 

Wednesday, Oct. 19

LIVE BANDS | The Pin! hosts a bevy of hard-hitting bands tonight, including North by North, Supervillain, Buddha Slave, Lucky Chase and Peru Rush. 

WORDS | Spokane Falls Community College welcomes Slam Poet Neil Hilborn for a mid-day performance by the College National Poetry Slam Champion.  

Thursday, Oct. 20

THEATER | The Spokane Civic continues its run of musical classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, running Thursday through Sunday this weekend. 

FILM | Abide, people, and head to the Inlander's Suds & Cinema showcase of The Big Lebowski, a stone-classic. You don't remember how much you love it? Here's a look: 

Friday, Oct. 21

COMMUNITY | She-Tech Spokane is an open house at Startup Central Spokane led by women in industry to support girls interested in STEM education and careers. Get all your questions answered from 6-8 pm, and it's free. 

COMEDY | Reel Horror brings a bunch of funny folks together to mock ostensibly scary scenes from horror movies. It's at the newly reopened Ella's Theater. 

Saturday, Oct. 22

FOOD & DRINK | Love craft beer? Love Girl Scout cookies? Of course you do! Enjoy the best of both those worlds at the annual Spokane Craft Beer & Cookie Fest at the Girl Scout office. As fundraisers go, this seems dreamy.