calendar

Today

Chocolate Champagne Gala - 29th annual event, with chocolate tastings, champagne, chocolate martinis, hearty hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auctions, music and dancing. Benefits the Sexual Assault & Family Trauma (SAFeT) Response Center; 6:30 p.m. Mirabeau Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. $75. (509) 343-5053.

Spokane Gun Show - Buy, sell and trade. Sponsored by Lewis-Clark Trader. Today, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $7. (208) 746-5555.

Sunday

Dance - Music by the Country Jammers. Refreshments will be served. Admission is by donation; 1-4 p.m. Tri Community Grange, one block north of Trent on Starr Road (509) 926-3803.

Spokane Gun Show - 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $7. (208) 746-5555.

Stuff the Bus Diaper Drive - April 7-13. Inland NW Baby will conduct its fourth annual diaper drive. Participating drop-off locations are Walgreens, Trading Company in Spokane Valley and Albertsons in Liberty Lake. (509) 499-0670.

Monday

Engineers Forum of Spokane - Book reports; members will have two minutes to summarize a book and three minutes to answer questions about the book and the subject. Beverage or lunch purchase required; 12:15 p.m. Timber Creek Grill Buffet, 9211 E. Montgomery Ave. $10/senior lunch and beverage, $2/beverage only. (509) 244-3467.

Central Valley School District - The board of directors meets; 6:30 p.m. Learning and Teaching Center, 19307 E. Cataldo (509) 228-5400.

DivorceCare Recovery Support Group - 6:30-8:30 p.m. Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. $25 for workbook. (509) 533-6800 or (509) 892-5255.

Soft Shoe Aerobics - Class combines moves from ballet, salsa, tap and belly dance. Moves are performed standing or using a chair. April 1-June 21; Mondays and Fridays, noon-1 p.m. Register at www.iel.spokane.edu/ACT2; noon-1 p.m. CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Room 205. $42. (509) 279-6027.

Striders - A community walking and exercise program promoting fitness, fun, friends and health education since 1995. Led by certified instructors, the classes emphasize strength, stretching, and balance. Miles walked individually are records and awards are presented at five awards meetings each year which feature health-related speakers. Call Carol at (509) 926-1697 or Judy at (509) 892-1293; 8-9 a.m. Spokane Valley YMCA, 2421 N. Discovery Place. $15 per year and $2 for each exercise class attended.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - The group meets every Monday; 7 p.m. Valley Fourth Memorial Church, 2303 S. Bowdish (509) 928-9158.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - Broadway Court - TOPS members meet every Monday; 9 a.m. Broadway Court Estates, 13505 E. Broadway 922-3874.

Tuesday

East Valley School District - The board of directors meets; 6 p.m. District Administration Center, 12325 E. Grace (509) 924-1830.

Spokane Valley City Council – Tentative agenda items include an ordinance on allowing townhouses in Neighborhood Commercial zones and a motion on school zone beacon grants; 6 p.m., Spokane Valley City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave. 921-1000.

Wednesday

Lilac City Cribbage Club - Open to anyone interested in playing cribbage; 6:30 p.m. Puerto Vallarta restaurant, 6915 E. Sprague Ave. (310) 621-3897.

Thursday

Backyard Bounty - Propagation from Seeds and Cuttings - Get useful tips and demonstrations for getting your garden started from the Master Gardeners at the library. Learn how to start plants from seeds and cuttings, and how and when to get your vegetables in the soil. Class presented by Master Gardener Steve Nokes; 7 p.m. Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Free. (509) 893-8400.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - The group meets every Thursday; 6 p.m. Orchard Crest Retirement, fourth-floor theater room, 222 S. Evergreen (509) 922-8820.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - Eagles - The group meets every Thursday; 9:30 a.m. Eagles, 16801 E. Sprague. (509) 928-5460.

The Introverted Leader - Explore the model of personal leadership specifically for introverts. Materials for the course are based on the framework of Columbia University’s model of Personal Leadership, and Laney’s (2002) book, “The Introvert Advantage: How to thrive in an Extrovert World.” This workshop is brought to you by DSW Leads in partnership with Twisp Cafe and Coffee House. Come enjoy wine and appetizers; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Twisp Cafe, 23505 E. Appleway, Liberty Lake. $45. (509) 474-9146.

Friday

“I Hate Hamlet” - Ignite! Community Theatre presents this comedy by Paul Rudnick. Can a successful television actor take on the role of Hamlet while juggling a ghost in his new apartment, his girlfriend, and an unexpected job offer? April 12-28. Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; April 18 at 7:30 p.m.; April 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Ignite! Theatre, 10814 E. Broadway Ave. In advance: $18/adults; $16/seniors and military; $15/students; $20/door. (509) 795-0004.

Soft Shoe Aerobics - April 1-June 21; Mondays and Fridays, noon-1 p.m. Register at www.iel.spokane.edu/ACT2; noon-1 p.m. CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Room 205. $42. (509) 279-6027.

Fitness Fanatics Vendors Spring Show - Free seminars and lots of give aways. Tire changing, training and nutrition, aero design for race wheels and lots more. Zoot, SRAM, Zipp, Hammer Nutrition, Scott Bikes, Orbea bikes and many more; 5-8 p.m. Fitness Fanatics, 12425 E. Trent Ave. Free. (509) 922-6080.

April 13

Contra Dance - With band Ebb & Flow and caller Mitchell Frey. Sponsored by Spokane Folklore Society. Open to the public; 7 p.m. East Spokane Grange, 1621 N. Park Road. $10. (509) 747-2640.

East Farms STEAM Magnet School Auction - Live and silent auctions with proceeds to fund needed supplies, programs and activities at the school. East Farms STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts Mathematics) Magnet School is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to prepare students for college and career; 6-9 p.m. CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. $25/person. (509) 226-3039.

Homeschool Conference - Encouragement and Hope for Home Educators, a one-day free event offers workshops for dads, moms, and teens and also helpful “how to” sessions - all from local speakers. There will be workshops during each session specifically for moms, dads and teens, so bring the family (no child care will be available); 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Valley Bible Church, 3021 S. Sullivan Road. Free. (509) 999-7614.

“I Hate Hamlet” - April 12-28. Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; April 18 at 7:30 p.m.; April 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Ignite! Theatre, 10814 E. Broadway Ave. In advance: $18/adults; $16/seniors and military; $15/students; $20/door. (509) 795-0004.

Kiwani’s Club District 46 “Paint-a-Helmet” event - Division 46 Kiwanis Clubs will be giving away fitted bicycle helmets to children ages 3-16. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Many community participating organizations will be on hand such as The Spokane Humane Society, Civil Air Patrol, Campfire Girls, SCOPE, and several others to provide free safety programs for children. There will also be entertainment by strolling musicians; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Building A, 404 N. Havana St. Free. (509) 448-9895.

Spokane Bike Swap - April 13-14. The Spokane Bike Swap team and the Friends of the Centennial Trail are hosting the second annual event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. This is a nonprofit event and a great venue to buy new and used bicycles and accessories. All used bikes are sold in the bike corral. Bike check-in is Friday, from 3-8 p.m. To expedite check in, your bike(s) can be registered online at www.SpokaneBikeSwap.com. Local bike shops and other vendors will be at the event as well. Call or email Len Zickler at (509) 720-3910 or lzickler@ahbl.com, to arrange for a pickup of your used bike; no registration fee. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $5/general; free/age 13 and younger. (509) 624-7188.

Spokane Novelists Group - Strong critiquing of fiction only, novels and short stories. No poetry, nonfiction, memoirs, etc., please. Bring five-10 pages to read to the group and six-eight copies. Group meets second and fourth Saturdays of the month; noon. Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. Free. (509) 891-1695.

Spring Craft Fair - Variety of vendors; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Opportunity Christian Fellowship, 1313 S. Pines Road. Free admission. (509) 926-2673.