Football Isn’t The Only Sport Available To Area Fans This Weekend
Sure, there’s a football game on this weekend. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend all tonight and Saturday in front of the TV in preparation. Does it?
If you’re looking for some Super Bowl distractions this weekend, there are a few events going on that could lure even a die-hard fan away from SportsCenter. Or, heaven forbid, you could even miss the big game. I’m sure you can find out later who won the Bud Bowl.
Baskets and pucks
The WSU Cougars take on the University of Washington at 3 p.m. Saturday on Friel Court in Pullman. The Cougars, who were in third place in the Pac-10 earlier this week, should have no trouble in their first meeting with the bottom-of-the-conference Huskies this year.
Reserved seats are $12. General admission is $8, $3 for children. Or, you can buy a family pass for $17. Children 8 years and under are admitted free.
The Spokane Chiefs play at home this weekend, as well. They’ll take on Kamloops at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Coliseum.
All seats are reserved at $9.50 and $7.50. There’s a family section for those of you who don’t go to the games to drink beer and learn new and interesting language.
They’re not all bad
The Gonzaga Public Interest Law Project, a students’ organization from the Gonzaga School of Law, is hosting a charity auction and cocktail party at 6:30 tonight at the Crescent Court Ballroom, W707 Main.
Hundreds of services and gifts have been donated to the cause by individuals. You can bid on everything from a getaway weekend for two at Hills Resort at Priest Lake to a haircut. GU law professors have donated personal services, one of which is homemade cookies for three occasions.
Tickets are $5 for students and $10 or non-students. The cost includes light hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine. There will also be a no-host bar. Tickets are available at the law school and at the door tonight.
The organization is dedicated to providing legal and nonlegal services to under-represented groups. Funds raised at the auction will be given as grants to students with a demonstrated interest in public interest law.
Bring your own fork
The Spokane Folklore Society begins a series of family dances and potluck dinners Saturday from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Woman’s Club Hall at Ninth and Walnut.
Penn Fix and Susan Dankovitch will teach easy and fun dances for the whole family with Margie Heller, Ken Glaster and other musicians playing both American and international folk music.
Between sets, Cecilia McGowan will tell stories for young and old. Melanie Jablonsky will sing. The potluck dinner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Bring your own utensils, plates and a favorite dish to share.
Other family dances are scheduled for Feb. 25 and March 18. Admission is $4 ($3 if you’re a Folklore Society member), $2 for kids.
Ears required
Auditions for the Metropolitan Opera District are Saturday and while, no, you can’t try out, you can go listen as the best opera potentials from Eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana compete to go to Seattle for regional auditions on Feb. 19.
There’s no charge, since the organizers would like the performers to have to do their thing in front of an audience. Nine singers will compete and the auditions should last about three hours. It begins at 2 p.m. at the music building at Spokane Falls Community College.
Later in the week
Winnie the Pooh is being staged by Spokane’s Children’s Theatre through Feb. 4 at Spokane Civic Theatre. All seats are $3, available the day of performance only. Call 534-0737 for showtimes.
Photographer Tom Kumpf will discuss his photos, taken before and after the coup in the Soviet Union at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the SFCC Student Union Building.
“Learning to Celebrate Sugar,” an exhibit featuring Kumpf’s photographs, is on display through January at the SFCC library. The exhibit, as well as the slide and lecture presentation, is free.
The Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Committee of WSU continues its series, “Against Great Odds,” with a presentation by awardwinning poet, journalist and critic Luis Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s talk, “Always Running,” is at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the CUB Auditorium in Pullman. He is a survivor of East L.A. gang warfare and now works as a peacemaker with gang members throughout the country. He also conducts poetry workshops for the homeless, elementary school students, migrant workers, troubled youth and prisoners.
The Cheney Cowles Museum is hosting two events Wednesday. At 11 a.m., Sally Buchanan, director of education for the Heart Institute of Spokane, will speak on the topic, “Heart Action: Teaming Up to Lower Risk.”
At 7:30 p.m., the museum is featuring a video, titled “O’Keeffe,” from the series “Women in Art.”
The presentation looks behind the Georgia O’Keeffe legend to reveal a woman who was also full of warmth, humor and practical wisdom. O’Keeffe appears in the 60-minute video to talk candidly about her work and life. xxxx Inside/outside Toward higher roles: As classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the theatrical release “Immortal Beloved,” Gary Oldman takes break from his typical contemporary, sleazy roles. For the full contrasting range of his career, see “Prick Up Your Ears” (1987), “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” (1990) and “Romeo Is Bleeding” (1994). Attention skinny-skiers: The third annual Nordic Ski Day will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Upper Wolf crosscountry ski trails on the outskirts of Newport. There will be free ski lessons and demo ski equipment. Last year, about 70 skiers participated. To get to the trails from downtown Newport, take the Highway 20/Metaline Falls road and go .2-mile, turn left on Larch and right on Laurelhurst. Go -mile to the trailhead parking lot. For information about the ski conditions and the activities, call the Newport Ranger District, 447-7300.