Espresso + Frozen Yogurt = Mescolato … MY FAVORITE COFFEE DRINK, EVAR!

I'm a coffee fiend. I love it hot. I love it iced. I love it black. I love it with too much sugar. But I don't love any coffee as much as I love this coffee shake from Brew's Brothers downtown. The flavor is not what you expect, as in, it's not sweet. But it's not super-coffee-ish either. It's pretty much a magic combination of awesome and amazing, sucked through a straw.

And, seriously, it's frozen yogurt, so it can't be THAT bad for me, right? As if I'd care.

C. I. Shenanigan's is having a tapping party & meet the brewer event tomorrow, from 4 to 7. They're tapping the Johnny Appleseed, offering half-price apps, giving brewery tours and putting their new brewer, Chachi, front and center. Admit it, you want to go just to see what a guy named Chachi looks like … I'm conjuring visions of Fonzi's nephew, but I could be so completely wrong.

My friend Keli is in town for our 20-year high school reunion — Go, North Central Indians!

Thursday night I introduced her to the Flying Irish Running Club (stay tuned for a post on this fantastic, fleet-footed group).

Then she introduced me to these little nuggets of unexpected goodness:

OMG. Deep-fried pickles. Thick cut. Zesty. Lightly-battered and still-crunchy. Welcome to my new addiction.

Get yours at Post Street Ale House, 1 N. Post.

Especially when they're Mike's Old Fashioned Doughnuts.

Stepping  inside is like stepping back in time. A time when the Valley was comprised of family farms and a doughnut was a meal, not a snack. The no-frills interior, which hasn't been updated since the Carter administration, is equally familiar to little guys who climb up to the counter and plop on stools beside Mom, as to old-timers who hold court at the corner booth.

Regulars are called by name. Newbies are greeted with a smile and backhanded compliments.

From the crispy-on-the-outside old fashioneds to the so-good-I'll-pop-another-cholesterol-pill-and-take-my-chances blueberry cakes, Mike's does it up right. This place has figured out how to create a doughnut that's both dense and airy — a culinary phenomenon that I can't wait to sink my teeth into again. 

You'll find Mike's in the Valley at 11413 E. Sprague, a couple doors west of Sprague & Bowdish, on the north side of the street.

We always play this little game when we watch The Food Network, whether it's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives or The Best Thing I Ever Ate … which places in and around Spokane are TV-worthy?

This morning, Lori Hutson with The Spokesman—Review's Fresh Sheet posted this:

Food Network eyeing Inland Northwest for ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’

It’s true. That Food Network guy with the signature white blond spike has plans to roar up to the diners, drive-ins and dives of the Inland Northwest this summer.

Producers for Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” began sniffing around for suggestions starting in April and have been in contact with several area restaurants. However, the restaurants appear to have been sworn to secrecy (although a few have been hinting) and public relations officials for the Food Network aren’t saying anything just yet.

If the Food Network had called you for suggestions about which local restaurants to feature on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” what would you have suggested?

Drop me a line at lorieh@ spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5446 and leave a message.

So, give Lori a call or shoot her an email. But let us here at Fabulocity know which places you would have singled out, too!

Me? Hmmm … off the top of my head, I'd have to give props to Dick's for being SO SPOKANE. And The Globe totally gets my vote for the World's Best French Fries. And I'm pretty sure my life would be a completely different place had I not gotten acquainted with the Pork Chop Sandwiches at Chattee's. Ooooh, and the burgers at Ron's. And the breakfast specials at Dave's. And the French Toast at Chaps. Then there's the magic hangover cure (pancakes and hashbrowns) at the Sattelite. The milkshakes at the Milk Bottle. The Monte Cristo at Frank's …

Seriously, I could go on and on with a season's worth of programming, and I'm not even hungry right now. Imagine the list I could come up with if my stomach was growling.

The South Perry Street Fair started with a parade at 10 this morning, but the fun runs until 8 tonight. Lots of activities for the kids, charming shops, free bike tune-ups, live music and sunshine. Get down there.

The Spokane Indians AND The Spokane Shock hit their respective fields this evening. Take your pick … a sultry eve with the boys of summer or a high-energy rumble accented by girls in sequins.

Oh, and one of my all-time most-favorites, Benny & Joon, is on the screen at the Garland at midnight.

What a day. Enjoy. And remember the sunscreen.

But it's never too hot to BeGin!

Tonight's FREE after-work party (6 to 9 p.m.) at the MAC is being held outdoors, in the museum's amphitheater. Exhibits are open until 8, plus there'll be live music (word on the street is it's '80s night), snacks and a no-host bar.

Come on. You know you'll just go home and sit on your couch. Might as well sweat with a cold drink in your hand and cool people at your shoulder.

What could be more fun than an easy 4-mile run (or walk or hobble) through the lush, undulating terrain of GreenBluff? Watching people compete for a Pit Spit title, that’s what!

Tomorrow marks the 32^nd Annual Cherry Pickers Trot & Pit Spit and I’m finally going to give it a go. For years my friend Nita has been trying to get me out there, but until just recently I was allergic to running. Oh, and I haven’t been a fan of eating fruit since birth, so, really, why would I go?

Well, I’ve managed to overcome my running allergy (high blood pressure and a closet filled with fat pants will do that to a girl) and have acquired a doctor’s note that says I’ll throw up if I have to ingest anything that comes directly from a tree, so I think I’m ready.

The fun starts at 5:30 with the cherry pit-spitting contest. The current women’s record distance is 32’ 9”, and the men’s record is 49’ 4”. Impressive. I double dog dare you to try a longer spit.

A BBQ Hamburger Dinner starts at 5:30, too, with proceeds from the grill going to the GreenBluff community fire station.

There’s a free Tot Trot at 6:30 for kids 5 and under, and then at 7 the big kids take off for the Cherry Pickers Trot. The run is sanctioned by USA Track & Field, but walkers (and, obviously, trotters) are welcome. You have to be registered to run, but you can sign up tomorrow after 5, before the race. Did I mention it’s only $5?

Live music, pony rides and prizes will surely make this a night to remember, for the entire family. Plus, the cherry trees are heavy with fruit that’s ripe for the picking, so plan to take a bag or two home (go ahead, you can have mine). If you’re too wiped after the run to worry about carting home the freshest produce around, no worries. Come back during the weekend  for the Cherry Festival.

Sweet!

GreenBluff is about 30 minutes north of downtown Spokane, off Hightway 2. Head east on Day Mt. Spokane Road and you'll find it.

After a meeting at The Rocket on First & Cedar this morning I wandered into Fringe & Fray. Oh my gosh. What took me so long to check out this cute little place? Ah, who am I kidding? I know what took me so long. I was afraid of being disappointed.

Although I am a huge huge huge fan of resale establishments, I am not a huge huge huge fan of places that overprice their stuff or try to pass off sweat-stained, party-fouled, distressed-beyond-being-charming wares as “vintage”.

And, even though I’d heard good things about this new-ish downtown hand-me-down hotspot, I figured its location and outward appearance (have you driven/walked/biked past this place – so classy and eye-catching) meant that one glance at a price tag would send me into sticker shock. 

Oh, how I love it when I’m wrong! (For those of you keeping score, this barely ever happens.)

Turns out Fringe & Fray is just as easy-on-the-eyes inside, as out. The store is bright, spacious and organized. Walls are lined with hand-selected men’s and women’s clothes – classic and trendy garments that don’t require repair or fumigation before they can be worn.

After giving a rack of women’s skirts and slips a once-over (an appealing mix of current labels and vintage) I mustered up the courage to look at a price tag. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and had to look at another … $9, $7, $11 … REALLY? REALLY!!!

Displays of shoes, boots, hats, purses and jewelry – from kitschy to refined – share space with a few large pieces of vintage furniture and quirky home accessories, everything sporting those hard-to-resist price tags (most stuff is under $20!).

F&F has a buy/sell/trade program that helps keep inventory in flux. They’re particular about what they’ll buy and they don’t do consignment; to keep things simple, they give either cash or in-store credit for items they decide to accept for resale. In other words, if you don’t find what you’re looking for today, come back tomorrow. But keep in mind, since they resell at such great prices, you probably aren’t going to get rich cleaning out granny’s closet.

You'll find Fringe & Fray at 1325 W. First, one door west of The Rocket. If you plan to bring clean, well-maintained clothing or accessories to the store, call first to see if they're buying what you're selling: 509.720.7116. F&F is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 to 6.

Wednesday Kegan and I escaped the morning heat by ducking into the Garland Theater for the 9:30 FREE showing of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I was bummed to miss this movie when it first hit theaters because, growing up, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was one of my most favorite books. (That's right, it was a book first, folks.) And I force fed the story to Kegan often enough during his formative years that he learned to love it, too.

I'm fairly sure this book gave rise to my love of bad-for-me comfort food. But the movie almost scared me straight. (Yeah, almost. Did you notice Wednesday's post about the all-you-can-eat spaghetti?) No, really, the movie carried an underlying message that the book seemed to skim over …

On the way home I asked Kegan what he thought about the subversive implications put forth by the magic food machine in the sky that eventually takes on a sinister, gluttonous stomach-like appearance. He flashed me that endearing “WTH?” teenage look.

I was like, “Seriously? You didn't think the water-dropping mechanism resembled a uvula? And you didn't think the sounds that rumbled through the machine when they were trying to kill it sounded like an irritated bowel?” He was like, “Yeah, I can see that. But I totally missed the whole 'food churned from the bottom of the machine like gas with oily discharge' thing.” 

Thankfully the Garland is offering up a summer’s worth of life-lesson movies … Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tooth Fairy … but after our Meatball experience, I think I’ll be taking my almost-adult kid to the midnight movies. First up, a movie that was also a book …Fight Club … (no, Brad Pit is NOT in the book) … let’s see what he has to say about that.

MIDNIGHT MOVIES AT THE GARLAND

Shows start at … you guessed it … midnight

And the bottomless popcorn is always $4.75

July 9 & 10

Fight Club

July 16 & 17

Benny & Joon

July 23 & 24

Rocky Horror Picture Show

July 30 & 31

Pink Floyd The Wall

August 6 & 7

Team America World Police

August 13 & 14

The Wiz

August 20 & 21

Donnie Darko

August 27 & 28

Snatch

September 3 & 4

The Royal Tenanbaums

Or you may ask yourself, well, where the hell is she?

Can you guess?

Every Wednesday night at The Otis Grill … for just $8.99!!!

Each Wednesday night dinner special includes a simple side salad (OK, I think they opened up a bag of salad and poured it in a bowl, but they did garnish it with a fresh slice of tomato and house-made croutons that were tasty and crunchy, yet didn't threaten my dental work), a heap of green beans (at least that's what we had tonight, maybe next week it'll be corn or carrots … ooh, I love surprises!), two bigger-than-a-baby's-arm breadsticks (baked with a garlicy rub to make them extra hard to resist) and a mound (and I do mean mound) of spaghetti noodles smothered in a mild marinara sauce.

I brought home more than two-thirds of my bowl, and a breadstick. Seriously, that's two spaghetti meals for under $10. I know, you could probably make this at home for about $3. But it's going to be too hot to cook for the next couple of weeks, so you know what to do.

And, just in case you're not in the mood for spaghetti … order the Otis Burger — seriously, one of the Valley's best. Big. Juicy. Messy. And served with a side of awesome steak fries.

You'll find the Otis Grill at the corner of Wellesley and Harvard Road, in Otis Orchards. Can't wait to see what next week's veggie will be? Call them at 509.922.9136.

  

All right, people! You've submitted some fabulous Spokane-centric shots for the current Lovin' Local Landmarks photo contest, but I have a little assignment for you: Since the mercury will be on the rise all week, I'd love to see some fresh shots of a sun-saturated, water-logged Spokane.

SO:
1.) Grab your favorite picture-taking apparatus, slather on some sunscreen and get out there.
2.) Hit the local splash pads, the public fountains, the private fountains, the pools, the lakes, the rivers, the slip-n-slides … wherever there's water, people and merrymaking.
3.) Shout: “Say Cheese!” in your best “I'm not a creepy person” voice, and click away.
4.) Choose a favorite shot (or two or three) and submit them to Fabulocity before July 25.

Come on, don't let a little water (or the possibility of catching a very large dude in a very little Speedo) stop you. There's a $25 Huckleberry's gift card, and some seriously exciting Spokane 7 swag, up for grabs! Work it.

Click here for all the important details, and to take a peek at the photos other readers are submitting!

My friend Pia invited the hubs and I to join her at Barrister Winery tonight. You all know there's no way I'll turn down an invite to visit the creators of Rough Justice, so of course we'll be there.

As you'll see from the list I borrowed from SpokaneArts.org, you can't go anywhere downtown tonight without tripping over a First Friday event.

So, even if wine's not your thing (gasp!) there are plenty of other amazing venues to visit and artwork to experience. Grab your unbrella and get out there!

See you downtown.

First Friday Listings – July 2, 2010
Venues open 5-8pm unless otherwise noted.

ADAMS STREET AREA

Barrister Winery
1213 W. Railroad Ave.
Featuring Spokane artist, Cecile Charles. Artists' reception with Beacon Hill's Bistro Buffet from 5-7pm. “Lonesome” Lyle Morse plays acoustic blues, 7-10pm.

Trackside Studio Ceramic Art Gallery
115 S. Adams St.
Showing new woodfired pottery by Chris Kelsey and Mark Moore

CARNEGIE SQUARE AREA

Finders Keepers Jewelry Galore & Fashion Flashback
112 S. Cedar
Special snacks & storewide specials UP TO 50% OFF.

French Quarter/Studio One
1311 W. Sprague
Sampling our new summer white wines, and reds, along with truffle flavors of the season. Live music with Brad Keeler!

Whitestone Winery
115 S. Cedar
Hot Club of Spokane, light appetizers, wine tasting, & new art by Janice Eberley! 6-9pm

DAVENPORT HOTEL AND STEAM PLANT AREA *

Churchill's Steakhouse
                                                                                                              165 S Post                                                                                                                               Displaying various art mediums with a First Friday late Happy Hour, 8pm-Close.

Gallery of THUM
159 South Lincoln, Suite 151 (Steam Plant)
Music by Abney Park & Veronique Chevallier, Victoria, Jewelry, Aimee Stewart, painting, Gemma, jewelry, Jerry Ringling, a little bit of everything, Pat Gallagher, Illumination, Mac McGowan, goggles, Kristina Hoagland, greeting cards, prints, Dmitri, leather, masks, cuffs, Shamus Tinplate, Ray “guns” and painting, Ivan Drugostrov, writing, Rischa Leinweber, mini hats, Renee Gorman, painting, Vela Gyertya, greeting cards, jewelry, Cecile Charles, painting, Nienke Crick, jewelry, Shanda Woodward, trinket boxes.

Grande Ronde Cellars
906 W. 2nd (across from the Steam Plant)
Featuring Cheri O'Brien's paintings.

The Missing Piece Tattoo Lounge
410 W. Sprague Ave
“Neon Framework” – Come see the electrified world of Hank Baders mind. Skeletal structure line drawings actualized in yarn, thru July. 12:00-8:00pm First Friday.

DOWNTOWN CORE AREA

Arbor Crest Tasting Room
808 W. Main, River Park Square, Third Level
Debbie Hanks:  “My art is a reflection of the spiritual world that I have come to know. My world contains waves of swirling energy accompanied by brilliant colors full of life.”  Maxie Ray Mills’ live music, 6-9:30pm.

Brick Wall Gallery
Bennett Block, Main & Howard, 2nd Floor skywalk level
Open for First Friday until 8:30 pm with photographic art from local photographers. Live music featuring Phred with solo acoustic guitar music.

Madeleine’s Café & Patisserie
707 W. Main
Live music by Spare parts & art by Mercia Sheets.

River Park Square Atrium
808 W. Main
Back again this month is Polka Dot Pottery’s “Faces of First Night”. For $5 paint a “self portrait” tile and have it installed as part of a permanent mural to be installed at RPS. Live entertainment provided by Ben Mancke. Be a part of First Night Spokane’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebration!

Steelhead Bar & Grille
218 N. Howard
Artist: Felisa Carranza. Black and White Acrylic Paintings Depicting Energy and Mixed Media Art. Happy Hour specials 3-5:30pm, with the artist present 3-6pm.

EAST DOWNTOWN AREA

Auntie’s Bookstore
402 W. Main
First Friday 25% discount on used books!

1st Annual KYRS Thin Air Community Radio Art Auction with 6 Foot Swing, food & refreshments, 5:30-8:30pm Friday. Saturday: live auction and closing of bids, 2-4pm.

Finders Keepers II Dress Boutique
18 W. Main
25% off storewide for First Friday.

Luigi’s Italian Restaurant
245 W Main   
Mention First Friday, 8-11pm, to receive 50% off an entree when you buy 1 entree and 2 beverages. Works by Brick Wall Gallery photographers.

Pottery Place Plus Gallery
602 N. Washington (main floor of Auntie’s)
Proudly featuring artists Mark Frates and his beautiful suncatchers and Fielding Chelf with her eclectic style of jewlery. Special reception 5-9pm. Show runs thru July 31.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT

Quality Floors and Interiors
706 E. Sprague
Liz Bishop's current, unique abstract vision fuses the fragile beauty of hand-made glass with the patina of copper and the earthiness and delicacy of fired and glazed raku ceramic shapes producing stunning wall sculptures. Also showing pieces by Eli Trevett and Pat Schilling.

FIRST AVENUE AREA –WEST END *

Avenue West Gallery
122 S. Monroe
“Samplings of The Best” – Each of the members  will be on the “featured artist wall”, and in the window the newest members, artists Elizabeth Taylor and Nora Egger & consignment artists, Leslie Cooley, John Franek and Joshua Finks.  A reception for all the artists, 5-9pm, with refreshments & music by Tracy Carr.

FIRST AVENUE AREA –EAST END

J.F. Thamm Gallery                                                                                                                      
S. 11 Washington St. (in the historic Hutton Building)
                                                             “Vets: 50 Portraits of Veterans” by John Thamm. “Summer Sampler” featuring scenic oils by Don Ealy; Raku Pottery by Jill Smith, Metal Crafted Furniture by Sean Smith.                               First Friday - 11:30am-7pm.
         
NORTH BANK AREA

Caterina Winery
905 N. Washington
Wine specials, music and visual art.

Riverfront Park
IMAX Theatre –for showtimes and prices call 625-6686.  Carrousel, Spokane Falls Skyride and Pavilion Attractions open daily, 456-4FUN or spokaneriverfrontpark.com.

SOUTH DOWNTOWN AREA

Barili Cellars
608 W. 2nd
Join Barili Cellars, 4-9pm, to try new wine releases, and view the art of Rachel Heglar. Her use of color draws you in and touches your soul.  Each piece leaves you feeling peaceful, warm, and romantic.  There is something very mysterious about her work.

Second Space Gallery
610 W. 2nd (corner of Wall & 2nd)
Lynn Hanley and Glenn Carr have teamed up to present abstract work in two different styles.  While Carr’s style is structured and clearly delineated, Hanley prefers fluid images.  Celebrate the artists with a First Friday reception!

Urbanna Natural Spa & Salon
168 S Division
Showcasing Suwanee’s unique photography with a metallic dimension capturing the ancient culture of Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam. Tours & free parking.

WEST DOWNTOWN AREA

The MAC – Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
2316 W. First (open until 6pm)
Tradition is My Life, Education is My Future: 2009 Native American Student Art Competition, featuring an installation of contemporary artwork from young tribal members throughout the nation. The MAC is the only West Coast venue for this exhibit that will also be seen in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Oklahoma City.

* Located in the Davenport District – DavenportDistrict.org

We've trudged and toiled through three of the week's five work days, and damn it, we want a reward.

That's right, it's happy time.

So tell me … When it's time to get your happy on, where do you go? Who has the tastiest grub? The steepest discounts? The best $1 beers? (Because I know this question will come up: Yes, in this instance, PBR can be included in a “best” list.)

And, puh-leze, don't fence yourself in to Wednesdays only … happy hours can happen anytime and anywhere, we just need to know where to go!

This link to HappySpokane.com will help you get the good times going. Be sure to check in and let me know which are your faves!




  

There are a couple places I don't typically like to visit when the sun is shining: Bowling alleys and dive bars – mainly because they're so very dark, and stepping out of such gloomy environs after a couple of hours and into full-on sunshine is incredibly disorienting. Plus I feel like a total waistoid when I choose to squander one of our precious summer days swilling PBR on a dank barstool instead of flipping through celebrity gossip mags on a lawn chair next to an oscillating sprinkler. 

By now you probably know that I adore bowling alleys and dive bars with a zeal that is most likely unhealthy. But saving such visits until after dark, or for grey rainy days when being outside pretty much sucks, makes me feel better about myself and the ways I choose to spend my time.

There is, however, one dark place where I don't mind squandering two sunshiny hours – a movie theater. Especially when the movies are over before noon, and FREE! So I was totally stoked when I learned that two Spokane theaters show free movies each week through the summer, surely in an effort to keep harried parents from locking their children in closets and scurrying away to the nearest watering hole.

And so, in an effort to keep your kids out of the broom cupboard (and delay your visits to the Old Mill) until the sun goes down, I share the following lists of FREE SUMMER MOVIES. Yes, they're primarily childrens' films, but grown-ups are allowed, whether or not they're accompanied by a youngster.

THE GARLAND THEATER
Doors open at 9, movies start at 9:30
First-come, first-served
Free movies run each weekday

July 5-9: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
July 12-16: Planet 51
July 19-23: Fantastic Mr. Fox
July 26-30: The Squeakquel
August 2-6: Tooth Fairy
The remainder of the summer's movies will be listed soon. Click here to see the updated schedule.

SPOKANE VALLEY 12
Doors open at 9, movies begin at 10
First-come, first-served
Free movies run each Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday

June 29-July 1: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (Veggie Tales) AND Astro Boy
July 6-8: Charlotte's Web AND Planet 51
July 13-15: Rugrats the Movie AND Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
July 20-22: Rugrats in Paris AND Kung Fu Panda
July 27-29: Wallace & Gromit AND Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
August 3-5: Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius AND Monsters vs. Aliens
August 10-12: Doogal AND Hotel for Dogs
August 17-19: Muppets from Space AND Paul Blart: Mall Cop
 
  

A kick-ass hill series.

I'm a good little Catholic girl. I was baptized in the church where my parents got hitched. I spent eight years in Catholic school and attended Mass every Sunday until I was 18, whether I needed it or not. Yet, somehow, my run through the hills this morning, punctuated by beautiful butterflies, glimpses of the sparkling Spokane river, sun-drunk varmints and chatty birds brought me closer to God than I think I've ever been. And it was good. 

I'd appreciate if you didn't mention this spiritual experience to my Granny. She's saying enough rosaries for me already. If she hears I have trouble separating Mother Nature from the Almighty Father she'll probably have me exorcised.

One of these …

Dry Fly Gin & Tonic. In the sunshine. On a downtown patio. Yeah, that's livin'.

So yesterday Kegan mentioned that he'd like to go to Silverwood and Boulder Beach. The season pass we'd purchased the boys for Christmas was obviously burning a hole in his pocket, and at the first mention of possible sunshine he and Hunter (the youngest of our clan) decided it was time to offer up their winter-white flesh to the freckle gods.

After being sapped of all motivation to be productive by an early-morning meeting, Eric and I decided the boys were on to something. The afternoon air was so muggy I actually fooled myself into thinking I was ready to pull and pray my way into a swimsuit and hit the water park myself. (Please play close attention to the word “fooled” in the previous sentence.) After one glance in the mirror I decided my bod was not quite ready for public consumption and shoved those articles of malcontent right back where they came from … into the deep, dark recesses of my “I hate myself” drawer. Ahem. Moving on.

I was not about to let my physical shortcomings ruin a family day at the fun park. So the family hopped into the car and we were off like a dirty shirt. We slowed long enough at the Silverwood gates to ensure the boys made a safe exit from the car and entrance into the park and then Eric and I set our sails toward Sandpoint.

Eric and I spent the early afternoon wandering around Sandpoint's charming downtown streets, stopping to window shop along the way. We opted for iced lattes instead of what was surely the state of Idaho's creamiest gelato, (yes, the earlier swimsuit visual was still burning in my brain) then made our way to the Farmer's Market and, eventually, the marina. After a couple hours' moseying we felt we'd earned a little treat and headed back toward the gelato stand (you know me too well by now to be surprised by this so shut your mouth).

And here's where the day gets really good. (I mean good enough to make me forget all about the unfortunate swimsuit incident, as my upcoming actions will soon illustrate.) We noticed some tables sitting on the sidewalk in front of a cavernous open-air bar/eatery and we're like, “What have we here?” Turns out it's a new place called The Dive. We walked in and were greeted by a group of perky young thangs in tight white T-shirts and cowboy hats — kind of a Coyote Ugly meets Hooters vibe, but without the uncomfortableness of compression tights and bar-top line dancing. We ordered beers and snacked on a bucket of peanuts (I'd really burned off the calories and did not want my body to go into starvation mode) while looking at the menu. Get this … everything is under $9 AND paying customers get to partake of all the joint's games, FOR FREE.

At this point I decided to deem the day a “Why Not?” Wednesday and put in an order for White Trash Chili Fries. Pretty much they should be called Bypass Fries, but who am I to argue with a basket of cheese-drenched potatoes?

Once appropriately carbo-loaded Eric and I made our way through picnic tables and discarded peanut shells to get to the (free!) games. Pool first. I lost. Skee-ball next. I won. Then I toyed with the idea of getting on the mechanical bull but decided I'd rather keep those chili fries in my belly and moved on … to the bar's second floor where an air hockey table awaited our company. I lost. But I redeemed myself at the foosball table. Then Eric totally redeemed himself by remembering we were supposed to pick up the boys at 6:30.

You can find The Dive at 209 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint. During the day it's a family affair, so bring the kids if you decide not to drop them off at Silverwood first. Come 10 p.m., though, it's adults only and on weekends there's usually a DJ and the place gets packed. I highly recommend a mid-week, mid-day visit if you're there to be a player … after midnight if you're there to be a playa, yo.

  

The mercury is supposed to rise past 80 tomorrow. After enduring weeks of crummy “summer” weather, I say we've earned a sunshiny afternoon by the river. With a beer.

Last Saturday (by some miraculous twist of fate the sun was shining then, too) afternoon a bunch of us gathered 'round cold pitchers of Northern Light's Summer Wheat on the brewery's sprawling, grassy patio.



The river was rolling high, a breeze was blowing and the brews were flowing. Pretty much the most perfect summer afternoon so far this year. OK, so technically summer didn't even begin until Monday, but as far as I'm concerned, summer should enjoy a soft opening on Memorial Day and pick up speed until dying a quiet death on Halloween.

So, as I was saying … last Saturday at Northern Lights was pretty much the best summer afternoon so far this year. And that's saying something. See if you can top it. Tomorrow. I dare you. Cheers.

About 12 years ago my friend Joe and I started a book club. We made it through two novels – The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein – before suffering a slow and agonizing death at the dirty paws of our third selection, The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams.

At first we blamed the club's demise on our laissez-faire leadership … maybe our little club needed an iron fist to turn their pages and discussion topics that ran deeper than “So, what did you think about the cover art?”

Then we decided the breakup was a direct reaction to the crappy snacks we provided … Nilla wafers and Kool-Aid do not a productive discussion group make.

After a while we decided the blame should fall on that damned third book. It's a notoriously difficult read, a near-impossible read if you can't find a copy. Back in the day we weren't privy to such delightful contraptions as the Kindle, and so were forced to dedicate the better part of a weekend to poking around second-hand shops for obscure titles. Even then it was an iffy endeavor because second-hand shops are typically filled with shiny objects that are, let's face it, much more enticing than dusty paperbacks.

So here we are, 12 years later. Joe and I sometimes reminisce about that failed literary experiment. One or the other of us have thrown out a tentative “We should try again” before the other one unleashes a hairy eyeball that expresses, simply, “You have lost your mind.”

Well, maybe I have lost my marbles. Because last week I came across a little something that just might restore my faith in book clubs: The Spokane County Library's District's Book Bag.


Each sturdy tote contains 10 copies of the book (totes are tagged so you know which bag holds which book) and in most cases, one copy of the book on CD. Plus there are discussion questions (that do go beyond whether or not the cover is lame, I checked) and a helpful list of tips to help you get the most out of your reading circle (a “popular book club snacks” list is not included, I checked).

Now all you need to do is find 9 friends who are comfortable with not having an excuse to get out of book club.

• Can't find the book? I happen to have one right here, just for you!
• What? You have a nasty eye infection that doesn't allow you to read for the next four weeks? No problem, this CD will read the book to you!
• Not sure what to talk about at the meeting? Here's a list of questions to keep in mind while you're reading so you'll be sure to come to the meeting with poignant insights that'll Wow! everyone else.
• Afraid the book might be an unpopular choice and scare would-be clubbers away? Oh, no way … if anybody knows how to pick a winner, it's the library. They bag up everything from classics like To Kill a Mockingbird to endearing newbies like The Art of Racing in the Rain. Sweet.

See … it's almost too easy! And if you get real desperate, I'll even suggest some snack ideas — might not be library-recommended, but I promise I've learned from my mistakes … Cheetos and Yoohoo!, anyone?

Visit any of the Spokane County libraries to check out your Book Club In A Bag. Or, browse and reserve available titles online, by performing a Catalog Power Search. I'll walk you through.

• Once you get to the library's home page, click on Catalog, toward the top of selections at the left of the page.
• Once you're at the search window, click Power Search, which you'll find in red at the bottom of the search box.
• Now you'll see a page with a lot of pull-down selections. Don't panic … toward the bottom of this search box you'll see the word “location” … select “Adult Area” and then, on the line directly below this, titled “format” select “Book Bag for Various Collections.”
• Now click Search, located above the lines you've just manipulated, but below the top section of choices, which you ignored.
• Voila! There's the list. (If the list doesn't appear, slowly do each step, in order, one more time. If you still don't see what you're looking for, call the library and have the nice, patient person at the other end of the line walk you through it all over again.
  
  
  

It doesn't matter how hazy and gray it is out there. In here, it's always hot, humid and heady.


And some of the plants are larger than small automobiles. “Feed me, Seymour…”

The Gaiser Conservatory Greenhouse in Manito Park on Spokane's South Hill is open almost every day (closed on major holidays). Touring the greenhouses is free and open to the public. During the summer its operating hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This sunny afternoon brought to you by mouthfuls of creamy chocolate ice cream swimming with mini chocolate-coated peanut butter cups crammed into a waffle cone.

Thank you, Scoop, for giving us yet another reason to love summertime in Spokane.

Find the Scoop at 1001 W. 25th, on the corner of 25th and Monroe, just behind Wilson Elementary on the South Hill.

Don't forget, while you're out and about – frolicking in the sunshine and loving local landmarks – to snap photos and send them in to our latest Fabulocity contest.

Need some local landmark ideas?
The Radio Flyer
The Garbage Goat
Spokane Indians Stadium (season opener is next Friday, June 18!)
The Milk Bottle
The Arena (Spokane Shock games rock!)
The Lincoln statue
The Manito park fountain
Cat Tales park
Anything shot at one of the area's gazillion lakes …

Come on! We already have some fantastic entries … don't miss your chance to gain fabulous prizes and internet infamy!

This afternoon, while poking around all the awesome goods at REI, I came across these little lovelies.

Stainless. Stemless. Simple. And the only nudge I needed to get extraordinarily excited about the upcoming camping season.

Now all I need is a list of local favorite places. Come on, friends. Tell me where the most fabulous camp spots can be found. Keep in mind, to me, fabulous = toilets.

This afternoon the hills were alive with critters, wildflowers and sweaty, dirty city folks hoping to erase a day's worth of grind from their minds — on pedal-powered wheels and on foot.

Worked for me. The hubs and I spent close to an hour climbing up and scurrying down the winding trails behind Camp Sekani (which I think is part of a much larger fun zone known as Beacon Hill recreation area). During our trek we passed countless bike jumps and impressive technical features created by an industrious group of two-wheel trail riders.

This one was my favorite of all those we came across:

FYI: It mighta been built for wheels, but it's pretty dang fun for feet to run up, too.

Find the Camp Sekani entrance on the north side of Upriver Drive, just west of Boulder Beach.

Steelhead does it up right with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka (quite possibly one of the greatest inventions since electricity) and Limoncello. One sip and you know summer's on the way.

You'll find Steelhead Bar & Grille downtown at 218 N. Howard, just up the street from the Carrousel in Riverfront Park. Their number is 509.747.1303

I'm not into hunting. Fishing is only fun when I reel in the biggest catch of the day, which has happened a sum total of once. I don't mind camping, but only if there's running water and a clean toilet within walking distance. In other words, I'm not really sure why I have so much fun at Cabela's. But I do.

I've spent the better part of an hour pinging targets in the shooting gallery. I've learned more than I ever imagined possible about the wonders of firearms, moose calls, campfire cooking and scent control. I've stood in front of the enormous aquarium and experienced moments of zen, courtesy of crappie gliding through the water. I've found killer deals on hiking shoes and water bottles. I've skipped around the store wearing a Ghillie jacket (seriously, how could I not?). I've looked into the cold, plastic eyes of a stuffed Musk Ox. And I've discovered that it's pretty much impossible to want to sit at home watching TV when there are so many outdoor gizmos and gadgets begging to be played with.


If you go, be prepared. You can lose an afternoon in this cavern of camouflage. And you can lose long-standing perceptions about yourself … Me? Gut a fish? Well, maybe just this once. Seriously, there is something for everyone. Cripes, there's even an in-house candy store and a restaurant that serves Bison Bratwurst.

You'll find Cabella's at 101 N. Cabela Way, at the State Line. Yeah, it's so big they named a street after it.

This morning Eric and I found refuge from the deluge in a cozy booth toward the back of the Wall Street Diner.

When I lived on the north side (years ago) this was one of my favorite places to walk to for a late-morning pick-me-up. But when my ZIP code changed I sorta let this awesome neighborhood diner slide from memory. And that, my friends, was a true tragedy. This morning I was reminded why this place once held court at the top of my short list.

Most of the tables were full – with clientele ranging from a twenty-something sporting a platinum fauxhawk to a gaggle of giddy grandparents – but the kitchen filled our plates with delectable hot food so quickly you'd think we were the only patrons in the place.

I took a chance and tried hash for the first time in my life. OMG. Do yourself a favor and order up a plate of their Chipotle Ham Hash. Back of the throat heat, with just enough potato and rib-sticking heft to qualify this dish as an all-day delight. I am a hashbrown fiend, so I had to chow those down, but the eggs and toast on the plate were overkill.

Eric ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs. OMG all over again. That meat (insert Jessica Simpson moment here: Is it steak or is it chicken?) was so tender that it probably would have fallen apart under the weight of the creamy gravy if the golden, crispy crust didn't hold everything together so deliciously well.

And then there was the ambiance. Amber-hued wood-paneled walls, old black-and-white family photos and lamps at the end of every booth helped us forget the wearisome, rain-slicked streets, and made us feel like we were bellied up to a breakfast at Grandma's table. 

For your viewing pleasure I have included a photo of the homey table BEFORE our scrumptious vittles arrived because my camera made the hash look an awful lot like warm dog barf, which is appetizing only to dogs. And so far as I know our four-legged friends have better things to do than scour the internet for food porn. 

Find the Wall Street Diner at 4428 N. Wall. Their number is 509.325.4730. Seriously, try that Chipotle Ham Hash!

So I was just checking out the latest additions to the Dining & Entertainment Deals page and guess what I found? Some killer deals!

Bangkok Thai Limousine is offering a $100 gift card for just $50. Which means you can arrive in style and still have cash in your pocket to get your party on.

And you gotta try Chattee's Cafe & Drive-thru. Get a $10 gift card for only $5 then get yourself out there and try their almost-famous PORK CHOP SANDWICH. OMG.

Plus there are still a few great deals to be had from Herbal Essence, HAHA's Grill House, the Blue Spark and lots of other great local spots.