Buzz Bin

by Inlander Staff


Last Night, First Night -- The success of Spokane's First-Night-for-the-third-time can be measured by how there are so many more venues and events than anyone could possibly take in. So, a partial perspective: During the afternoon kids' events at the Convention Center, there were long waiting lists to get inside the inflatable planetarium. Just while strolling past, crowds could take in the ice sculptures in front of RPS and at Steam Plant Square. For the Blue Door Theater's improv games in the City Council chambers, even at 11 pm, it was standing room only. The three combined gospel choirs at Central United Methodist displayed such infectious rhythm that even most of the white folks were clapping and swaying right along. As a bonus, those walking home after the midnight fireworks were treated to the sweet wafting aroma of ... a whole lot o' smoke. It was, all in all, a smokin' good time.





Interplaying Doubles -- After 18 years at Spokane Interplayers Ensemble, after being passed over for the artistic directorship there and then resigning from the theater last month, Michael Weaver is starting a professional theater of his own in Spokane. It'll be called the Actors' Repertory Theatre of the Inland Northwest ("the Rep"), and it plans to open its first season next autumn, possibly at the Met. As his money man, Weaver has recruited Grant Smith, formerly the marketing and development director at Interplayers. Even more important, a board of directors is in place, and three anonymous donors have stepped forward with $25,000 in seed money. Call 981-6701.





Charmed a Third Time? -- We'd like to extend our congratulations to WSU's Laila Miletic-Vejzovic, head of the university's Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections. Miletic-Vejzovic has just been awarded her third Fulbright Scholar grant and will travel to Croatia later this month to begin her project, which involves lecturing and research at the Research Library in Zadar. Miletic-Vejzovic is one of 800 American college faculty and other professionals who will spend up to a year abroad during the 2003-2004 academic year. Congratulations!





Pretty Spiffy -- Several weeks ago, we alerted our readers to keep an eye out for the upcoming Spokane Northwest International Film Festival. Festival planners have just announced their schedule of films - which includes entries from Great Britain, Argentina and France as well as Canada and the United States. The full schedule is listed on their Web site, www.spokanefilm festival.com. We can't help but notice that while they were going by the acronym SNIFF last year, this year they prefer to be known as SpIFF. Such alterations are very confusing to your Buzz Bin cultural coverage team, but we're doing everything we can to stay on top of the matter. You're welcome.





Publication date: 1/08/04