Spotlight: In the end, Spokane shows were Dino-mite
We mentioned previously that the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture drew big crowds for this summer’s “A T. rex Named Sue” exhibit, which ended last Sunday.
But what about the summer’s other big dinosaur event, “Walking with Dinosaurs”?
It, too, was boffo at the box office, we have been informed.
The “Walking with Dinosaurs” show sold out “every single ticket to every single show,” said Kevin Twohig, executive director of the Spokane Public Facilities District.
That agency operates the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, which brought the show to Spokane for a five-day run in July.
This show, which featured life-size dinosaur replicas stalking around the arena floor, was especially popular with kids. Total attendance was 39,357 people, with gross ticket sales of about $1.6 million, Twohig said.
“We ended up netting over $300,000,” he said.
Japanese performance art
A series of Japanese cultural arts events will take place this week at several different venues in Spokane.
The first, Tuesday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural Center, will showcase three traditional artists.
At 5:30, Kazuhito Miki will give a Higo Koma performance, featuring tricks using a colorful koma – a kind of top manipulated by a string. This is a 400-year-old folk art.
That will be followed at 6 with demonstrations of Japanese candle-making by Yasukazu Matsumoto and bamboo ware basket-making by Kazutaka Toda.
All of these demonstrations are free, except for small fees for those who want to participate in the bamboo and candle crafts.
The Japanese Cultural Center is on the Mukogawa Fort Wright campus, 4000 W. Randolph Road, next to Spokane Falls Community College.
Next, on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Miki will do another free performance of Higo Koma at Gonzaga University’s Cataldo Hall, in the Globe Room.
That will be followed by free performances on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave., and next Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s open-air theater, 2316 W. First Ave.
Tannahill Weavers
The Tannahill Weavers, one of the top traditional Celtic bands out of Scotland, will return to Spokane for a show Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater.
Tickets will be $18 for adults, $16 for students with ID, through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
This will be the first concert of Celtic Music Spokane’s four-concert season.
John Nilsen on piano
Oregon pianist John Nilsen, who has released more than a dozen CDs incorporating folk, classical and jazz influences, will make four appearances in Spokane on Friday and Saturday.
Nilsen plays more than 200 dates a year and has performed with Kenny G, Alex De Grassi and David Foster.
The times and locations are:
“ Friday, 7 p.m., Central United Methodist Church, 518 W. Third Ave.
“ Saturday, 2 p.m., Manito United Methodist Church, 3220 S. Grand Blvd.
“ Saturday, 4 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, 1012 S. Freya St.
“ Saturday, 7 p.m., Cheney United Methodist Church, 204 Fourth St., Cheney.
There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken; a $10 donation is suggested.