Buzz Bin

By Inlander Staff

[
          
            
            {
              "name": "Broadstreet - Instory",
              "component": "25846487",
              "insertPoint": "4",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "4"
            },{
              "name": "Broadstreet - Empower Local",
              "component": "27852456",
              "insertPoint": "8",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "8"
            },{
              "name": "Broadstreet - Instory",
              "component": "25846487",
              "insertPoint": "12",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
            },{
              "name": "Broadstreet - Instory - 728x90 / 970x250",
              "component": "27852677",
              "insertPoint": "18",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "18"
            },{
              "name": "Broadstreet - Instory",
              "component": "25846487",
              "insertPoint": "5th",
              "startingPoint": "23",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "24",
              "maxInsertions": 100
            }
            
          
        ]

by Inlander Staff

How Rumors Start -- If you want to get the word out about something, have the Associated Press write a story about it. That way, editors at newspapers across the country can pick it up when they're filling out the back pages of their editions. That's what happened to Spokane not long ago when the local AP posted a story about the apparently aptly named Lilac City wanting to create a gay district. (All together now on the obligatory Seinfeld reference: "Not that there's anything wrong with that...") Never mind that the gay district idea was voiced at a sleepy little meeting with a slim foundation in reality -- it's a great story. The Bin's been hearing of calls from relatives from the Midwest and Southern California starting with, "So you're starting a gay district up there..."

Now the media has Spokane building a "gay Epcot Center," as one source on National Public Radio put it in a recent report obviously spun out of that AP story. Commentator Michael Alvear said, "Instead of a gay district, Spokane should build an arts district; instead of sexual ghettos, they should build sturdy sidewalks." OK, there are no actual plans to build a sexual ghetto, a gay Epcot Center or even a plain old gay district (not that there's anything wrong with that). Still, the attention is nice, and any discussion of the future of the city is always worthwhile. Check out the story at www.npr.com.

Love Glove -- We were amused by this little bit of online marketing, directed to our "Lifestyle Editor": "If you are contemplating a roundup of fun Valentine's Day gifts, perhaps our SMITTEN mitten-for-two might be worth a mention." As you can see from the picture here, the SMITTEN is a luxurious polar fleece mitten with two cuffs -- for when you can't bear to be apart, even in the freezing cold.

Another Mention -- Just after we got done giving a shout out to Jack & amp; Dan's as a great sports bar and college hangout in last week's issue, the institution on Hamilton is getting even more attention. In the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated, the editors put their heads together to pick the top 25 sports bars in the entire United States. And guess what? Jack & amp; Dan's (owned in part by NBA great John Stockton's dad Jack) was listed right there at No. 6. If you haven't visited the joint lately, they've added more space and now offer family dining.

Publication date: 02/10/05