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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spotlight archive for Feb. 2011

MONDAY, FEB. 28, 2011

Free books at Big Read kickoff

The kick-off event for Spokane's Big Read will take place at the Spokane City Hall Chambers on Friday (March 4) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. -- and organizers will be handing out free copies of "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. This won't…

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A tribute to Arnie Carruthers

One of our true regional jazz giants – pianist Arnie Carruthers – will get the recognition he deserves later this month at the Spokane Falls Community College Jazz Festival. The festival will be a tribute to Carruthers, who was an institution at the Davenport Hotel…

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Keillor reads a local poet 

Local poet Jonathan Potter had a national airing today. Garrison Keillor read Potter's poem "You and I" on "The Writer's Almanac" on NPR this morning. A few weeks ago, Potter sent Keillor his poetry volume, "House of Words," published by Korrektiv Press, expecting ... well,…

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23, 2011

The Old 97s coming to the Bing

The Old 97s, one of my favorite alt-country bands, have been been booked into the Bing Crosby Theater on May 31. They’re known for their hit “Murder (or a Heart Attack)” in 1999. They have just released a new album, “The Grand Theater, Volume One.”…

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From the White House to The Fox

Acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt will appear as guest soloist with the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra in a concert Monday (Feb. 28) at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Pratt has performed on such television programs as the “Today Show,” “Good Morning America” and “Sesame Street,”…

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TUESDAY, FEB. 22, 2011

Bad news for Good Charlotte fans

The Good Charlotte concert on March 23 at the Knitting Factory Concert House in Spokane has been cancelled. The official reason: “an unforeseen scheduling conflict.” OK, fine -- even though, their Seattle show on March 22 has not been cancelled, nor has their March 25…

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Julia Sweeney Day, by proclamation

Mayor Mary Verner has declared March 11 as Julia Sweeney Day in Spokane. Why? Because that’s the day that she’ll be at the Bing Crosby Theater performing her “Jill & Julia Show” with Jill Sobule. The mayor’s proclamation mentions Sweeney’s “poignant, comedic and entertaining takes…

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Spokane's new 50 Hour Slam film contest

A new instant-film competition has been announced in Spokane: The 50 Hour Slam. It’s a bit like the popular 48 Hour Film Festival, except … well, you’ll have two extra hours to complete your three-to-six minute film. Actually, there are plenty of other differences. This…

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Rick Moody on the way to Gonzaga

Gonzaga University’s Visiting Writers Series hosts its biggest name of the year on Wednesday (March 2): Rick Moody. Moody is the author of the novels “Garden State,” “Purple America,” “The Diviners” and most recently, “The Four Fingers of Death.” He is perhaps best known for…

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SATURDAY, FEB. 19, 2011

"Nunsense" already sold out

The news came out even before the first wimple-wearing nun hit the stage: The entire run of "Nunsense" at the Spokane Civic was sold out. Theater head Yvonne A.K. Johnson delivered the announcement before the opening curtain of the opening performance. This continues a remarkable…

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An "Idol" name in "9 to 5" cast

The cast of the touring show “9 to 5: The Musical,” which hits Spokane on March 24-27, won’t feature the same household names as the 1980 movie – but it will have a few significant Broadway names and an "American Idol": Diana DeGarmo – A…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 2011

The Golden SpIFFY Awards

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Spokane International Film Festival (SpIFF) top awards, which they call the Golden SpIFFys: Best Feature Film: “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil,” director Eli Craig. Best Documentary: “An Ecology of Mind,” director Nora Bateson. Best Short Film: “The Fall…

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A Conor Oberst-Bright Eyes date

Bright Eyes, the band fronted by Conor Oberst, has been booked into the Knitting Factory Concert House in Spokane on May 31. Special guests will be Jenny & Johnny, featuring Jenny Lewis, the former Rilo Kiley vocalist. We probably have the Sasquatch Music Festival to…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 17, 2011

A 'Wicked' ticket warning

The tickets to the Spokane engagement of "Wicked" goes on sale March 5, and the people at WestCoast Entertainment want to warn people about the perils of third-party tickets. Ticket agencies and brokers will probably snap up a number of tickets right away. So then,…

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Hal Holbrook on media corruption 

Actor Hal Holbrook is one of my favorite people to interview, because he -- like the man he portrays on stage, Mark Twain -- loves to fulminate about the mostly sorry state of humanity and the world. Yesterday, during a phone interview, he said that…

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TUESDAY, FEB. 15, 2011

Elton John sold out  

Tickets to the Elton John concert at the Spokane Arena on April 8 are sold out. It took only three days for all 11,000 tickets to vanish, according to Becca Watters at the Spokane Arena. Tickets went on sale Saturday and only a few single…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2011

A WWII radioman's 'tower' of power

Here’s a local development that illustrates the power of a book: On Dec. 22, the tower at Spokane International Airport was officially named the Ray Daves Air Traffic Control Tower. And it all came about because of the 2008 book “Radioman: An Eyewitness Account of…

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011

A CDA Oscar nominee

Michael Owens, who now lives in Coeur d'Alene, is an Oscar nominee for Best Achievement in Visual Effects for his work on the movie "Hereafter." Owens is the real deal: He was a longtime visual effects supervisor for George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic. He...

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TUESDAY, FEB. 8, 2011

NPR's Carl Kasell on the way

Carl Kasell, the veteran NPR newscaster and "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me" announcer and judge, is on the way to the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane on May 9, 7:30 p.m. Kasell will regale the audience with stories about broadcasting -- and even perform…

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MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2011

A Foo-Cab-Wilco-Lips Sasquatch

Here's who's on the way to the Sasquatch! Music Festival, May 27-30 at the Gorge Amphitheatre: Foo Fighters, Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse , Wilco, The Flaming Lips (performing The Soft Bulletin & more), The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine, Rodrigo Y Gabriela,…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 4, 2011

Elton John at Arena April 8  

Word has finally arrived: Elton John will play the Spokane Arena on April 8, along with his band, in a show called “Greatest Hits Live.” Tickets go on sale Feb. 12, 10 a.m. through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com). Prices are $27, $77 and $137. Elton…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2011

Is Sir Elton Spokane's mystery concert?

Looks like Spokane's mystery concert (see earlier post) may be Elton John. The official announcement won't be until Friday morning. But I have been hearing credible reports that Sir Elton is on the way back to the Spokane Arena. Check in tomorrow morning to see…

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"Spelling Bee" sold out

This just in: The entire run of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the Spokane Civic Theatre is already sold out. That includes the two extra Saturday matinees that had already been added on to the regular run, which ends Feb. 20. This…

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'Grizzly Adams' creator dies

Charles E. Sellier Jr., 67, the producer and creator of "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" and dozens of other TV shows and films, died Monday at his home in North Idaho. "Chuck" Sellier had a lengthy TV-film resume including such popular films as…

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