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A&E >  Entertainment

Good Weeknight Crowd Enjoys Wild Colonials, Chalk Farm Show

It turns out Spokane does go out on weeknights. Enough people to pack the house came out to Outback Jack's for the Chalk Farm, Wild Colonials and Greg show on Monday night. Not surprising, considering all the radio hype it got. For once, a show actually deserved a little hyperbole, because it was among the better bills to spring up in a local club in some time.
A&E >  Entertainment

Reynolds Makes Perfect ‘Mother’

One gets the sense that "Mother," Albert Brooks' latest yuppie angst attack, is probably a lot like going out on a date with the guy. The first 20 minutes are nervously painful because he's trying too hard. Then, as he eases into a moderate comfort zone, he's astutely funny and full of insight. But just when he hits his stride, he realizes he's having a good time, and he abruptly calls the whole thing quits. But that's a negligible criticism because Brooks, working with his longtime writing partner, Monica Johnson, has made some inspired moves with "Mother," noting, "There are two kinds of mothers on the planet. The first kind thinks that every thing their children do is perfect. And then there's the other kind. This is about the other kind." John Henderson (Brooks) is a science-fiction writer who has just gone through his second divorce. He decides that at the root of his problems with women is his relationship with his mother and, if he doesn't straighten that primal attachment out, he'll never be happy. The only solution is to move back in with Mom. So, John packs up his Alfa Romeo and, to a song that is a clever little riff on "Mrs. Robinson" from the 1968 film "The Graduate," heads north to his mother's Bay Area home. Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds), however, lives in a world of her own. It's not that she doesn't love her son, but she has a patterned and ordered routine and she doesn't really want to be bothered by a 40-year-old man who has made the sudden decision to run home to mother. As she greets him at the door, she hugs him saying, "Of course I'm glad to see you dear. Now, why didn't you stay in a hotel?" Worse, John's younger brother, Jeff (Rob Morrow), a sports agent who appears to have the perfect family and relationship with Beatrice, resents John's imposing on their daily conversations. "Mother," besides being smart and wryly full of subtle observations, actually gives us a lot to think about. Everyone has a mother, for better or for worse, and everybody has struggled with the position of power she seemingly holds over us. Brooks has crafted a crisp familial comedy about a son who learns to finally view his mother as not the enemy, but a real flesh and blood person with flaws. In "Mother," he outdoes himself with neurotic impulses. But it works beautifully when contrasted to Debbie Reynolds' surface calm and impenetrable veneer. In fact, Brooks is to be congratulated for giving Reynolds one of the best roles of her career and putting her back on the screen. Reynolds, who was nominated for an Oscar for "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," has been absent from films for 23 years, opting to work on the stage and at her Las Vegas club after the movies quit "wanting her." But she has been storing up for her big return and in "Mother" she gets her moment. Reynolds creates a complex, slyly scattered character with an inner will made of steel. It's a gem of a performance and Brooks wisely stands to the side and lets her walk off with the movie.
A&E >  Entertainment

Run Away From This Typical Chase Movie

Ah, San Francisco! Home of sourdough bread, the Golden Gate Bridge, great chocolate and idiotic action films. "Metro," starring Eddie Murphy, goes last year's "The Rock" one better by eliminating plot altogether. "Metro" simply involves good-guy Murphy in a long chase after bad-guy Michael Wincott and, because we're in San Francisco, you know what that means - autos levitating on hilly streets, smashed-up cable cars and a quick trip through Chinatown.
A&E >  Entertainment

Vonnegut’s Style Obvious In ‘Mother Night’

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. may, or may not, have been the voice of a generation. During his heyday of the mid-1960s-early-'70s, the novelist enjoyed his share of fans. But a good many readers, and quite a number of critics, have tended to dismiss his novels as obvious, inane and - worse - terminally precious. This much, however, is unassailable: No one has better captured the feeling of what it's like to survive unimaginable horror.
A&E >  Entertainment

Classic Silent Films To Be Available On World Wide Web

Early movies flickering, stark in black-and-white, brimming with the energy of a new age may soon have a home on another rough-hewn new medium: the World Wide Web. The American Film Institute said Wednesday it plans to make several classic silent films available for viewing free on a new Web site, starting Jan. 22 with the 1916 Charlie Chaplin short "The Rink." Each month, AFI plans to place a different film on the Web, including Buster Keaton's 1921 movie "The Boat," and works by D.W. Griffith, Harold Lloyd and other film pioneers. It won't be perfect, said Dan Harries, the institution's director of online media. Viewers who don't have a dedicated high-tech phone line or a very high-speed modem will probably experience some blurred images and jerkiness in the film. Even the best Internet connections won't look as good as film or video. But, then, the first movies weren't perfect either.
A&E >  Entertainment

‘First Strike’ Is Showcase For Jackie Chan’s Talents

What's the plot of Jackie Chan's "First Strike"? Who gives a rip? The only thing that matters is that "First Strike" includes: Jackie driving a snowmobile while dodging bullets and wearing a stuffed toy animal on his head; Jackie ducking as a helicopter falls on his head; Jackie using a ladder and some brooms to fend off a battalion of baddies; Jackie engaging in hand-to-fin combat with a shark; Jackie on stilts; and Jackie almost drowning in 10 million gallons of water and then being completely dry, two seconds later. It's a mistake to think of Chan as just a martial-arts guy - he's really a comedian and a dancer, and if you need evidence of that, just look at the scene in which he shimmies down a tree with the smooth elegance and grace of the great Buster Keaton. Chan is an artist, and "First Strike" gives him plenty of opportunities to demonstrate that no one else working in the movies has even half of his physical skills.
A&E >  Entertainment

Great Jazz At Hobart’s

A healthy-sized crowd turned out to hear Ann Fennessy at Hobart's last Friday, and Fennessy didn't disappoint. Backed by Frontline, with Dick Hubbard on woodwinds and Jim Templeton on keyboards, the effervescent Fennessy turned her attention to a tasty collection of standards. Bassman Kyle Pugh and drummer Rick Westrick round out the Frontline lineup. Nice stuff, though I would prefer to hear Pugh on a stand-up bass. Arnie Carruthers and his diva daughter, Charlotte, and sons Don and "Satchmo" Bill, hold down the Hobart's fort tonight and Saturday. If you haven't heard the Carruthers together, you owe yourself the treat. Thursday, two of the town's premier keyboard men, Jim Templeton and Brent Edstrom hook up on pianos and vibes. Should be a free-wheeling kind of evening.
A&E >  Entertainment

Leon Atkinson At The Met

Leon Atkinson, Spokane's best-known classical guitarist, will perform concertos by Vivaldi and Villa Lobos with the Spokane Symphony at The Met Sunday afternoon. The orchestra, under the baton of music director Fabio Mechetti, will play works by Handel and Respighi. The concert will be repeated Tuesday evening. The New York-born Atkinson studied with the legendary Andres Sevogia and has appeared on national television on the "Today Show" and the "Tonight Show," has performed with symphony orchestras and with such jazz greats as Bud Powell and Mary Lou William, and has taught at the Harlem School of the Arts and at Jersey State College. Atkinson lives in Sandpoint and teaches at Gonzaga University. Sunday's concwert is at 3 p.m., Tuesday's at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $9 to $19 and are available at the Symphony box office in the Seafirst Building, 624-1200, and at G&B; Selecta-Seat outlets, 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.
A&E >  Entertainment

Park Service Has Snowshoeing Clinics

The snow's still deep in northeast Washington which means prime snowshoeing conditions. To get those who might be novices on this equipment, the National Park Service is offering a free snowshoe program this winter. Several programs will accommodate various levels of snowshoe skills and a limited number of snowshoes are available in many sizes. The program is conducted near Kettle Falls in the Coulee Dam Recreation Area. To reserve a set of snowshoes and sign up for a lesson, call (509) 738-6266. Beginner programs will be conducted Saturday and Jan. 25; those of intermediate level can sign up for a lesson Jan. 18 and Feb. 1.
A&E >  Entertainment

Style Hampers Message In ‘Breaking The Waves’

Here's what you need to know about "Breaking the Waves," the film by Danish writer-director Lars von Trier that is attracting so much attention among art-film circles: It won the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival in April. It was rated among the best films of 1996 by such publications as the Los Angeles Daily News, New York Times, Boston Globe, Orange County Register, Detroit Free Press, Philadelphia Inquirer and Entertainment Weekly magazine.
A&E >  Entertainment

‘The Relic’ Is Full Of Blood, Boredom

Something horribly wrong is happening at a historical museum in "The Relic," and I don't mean the ridiculous mark-up in the gift shop. Cop Tom Sizemore and glamorous anthropologist Penelope Ann Miller are trying to figure out why museum patrons keep turning up with their heads cut off and their pituitary glands missing. Meanwhile, a mixed bag of supercilious officials - the pushy museum head (Linda Hunt), the mayor, the social-climbing biologist - are either: a. impeding the investigation, or b. preparing for their own dates with the Pituitary Fiend.
A&E >  Entertainment

While Watching The Ponies, Stay Warm And Full In The Turf Club

The ponies are racing at Playfair's first-ever winter meet. And the best place to watch the thundering hooves is from The Turf Club, the track's sit-down restaurant. Walk into the wood-paneled room there and it feels like another time, maybe the late '70s. Past the bar and the betting counters, the maitre d' wears a change bag, so he can sell racing forms and programs in addition to seating guests. Tables on several different levels all face a two-story high window, looking out just beyond the finish line. I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. On each table sits a tiny TV on which you can monitor the action and the simulcast races from Emerald Downs near Seattle. Shortly after being seated, a server will show up to take your order. The menu at the Turf Club is pretty straightforward: burgers, sandwiches, nachos, soups and salads. Prices range from $4 to $10. There's also a steak and a few more ambitious entrees. But after sampling the super-greasy fish and chips, I suggest sticking with the most basic dishes. Maybe the "Staggs" chili. Yeah, so, it comes out of a can. At least it's served in a bread bowl. And you can wash it down with a beer. A full bar is available. The Turf Club opens at noon on racing days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There's a $3 cover charge. For reservations, call 534-0505. Bill Clinton eats there Just joshing. The White House Grill might share the same name as the presidential residence, but the menu at this Post Falls restaurant is undoubtedly more exotic. Owners Raci Erdem and Dalmo Santos have created an interesting mix of Mediterranean and Italian cuisine. All dishes are made from scratch using family recipes. For starters, there an antipasto served with pita bread, a classic Greek salad and a dish called Turkish cigars - feta cheese and spinach rolled in filo and deep-fried. There are also sandwiches and more substantial entrees such as shish kebab, fettucine alfredo with chicken and penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. The same menu is offered at lunch and dinner. The White House Grill is located 620 N. Spokane in Post Falls. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Coffee and bagels are served starting at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday in the drive-through window. It's near Heartburn Town The recent opening of Garlic City has officially put that pungent bulb on the map in Spokane. This casual Northside restaurant is owned by the same folks who ran Mamma Mia's for years. Connie Portolesi and Rudy Portolesi brought their tried and true recipes to the new location and also added many items. The lineup includes pizzas and calzones along with a wide variety of pastas. In addition to the traditional marinara, pesto and alfredo sauces, there's a vegetarian lasagna as well as angel hair pasta tossed with kalamata olives, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and calamari. It's served with either a chunky tomato sauce or a garlic sauce. At lunch, there's a generous buffet for $4.99 that includes a salad and soup bar, two kinds of pasta and pizza. Prices on the regular menu start at $6.95 for a plate of pasta with your choice of sauce and top out at $9.95 for sauteed scampi. The cost includes a trip through the salad bar. Garlic City is located at 118 W. Francis. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, they stay open until 10 p.m. For take-out orders, phone 467-4332. Mountain chow The Alpenrose restaurant at Silver Mountain has a new menu this season that features a variety of pastas, sandwiches and salads. Some of the carbo-loading possibilities include the pasta primivera topped with a sun-dried tomato and rosemary pesto, the pasta rustica (noodles tossed with Black Forest ham, spinach, capers and kalamata olives) or the pasta myzithra, which features beef tenderloin sauteed with spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes and topped with that tangy cheese. Other entrees range from a classic Reuben sandwich to a different flavor of frittata daily. Prices range from $5.95 for a spinach salad with a warm bacon dressing to $9.95 for the chicken Genovese. Most dishes are served with steak fries or a Caesar salad. There's also no charge for the crackling fire or the knockout view of the slopes. It's open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Starting today, and running every other Friday through the ski season, the restaurant is offering a unique package. It's called Ski, Wine and Dine. Participants pony up $19.95 to get a tour of the mountain and they are video-taped while skiing. (Later, skiers get tips from a pro while watching the video.) The cost also includes a wine tasting featuring a range of varietals and a selection of appetizers such as a warming Swiss Fondue. Reservations are required for the Ski, Wine and Dine because space is limited. To save your spot, call (208) 783-1111, extension 301. Veggie entrees beefed up Paprika has added a selection of vegetarian meals on its winter menu. Among the tempting new meatless dishes are a potato- and cheese-stuffed ravioli drizzled with sage oil, a Moroccan-spiced vegetable pie wrapped in flaky filo dough, fettucine tossed with spinach, roasted mushrooms, garlic and cannellini beans or a black bean chili accompanied by a roasted poblano chili stuffed with garlic mashed potatoes and goat cheese. In all, there are now seven vegetarian entrees at Paprika. Another welcome development at the cozy cafe on the South Hill is the addition of wooden blinds. It helps make the room feel even more intimate and helps block out the headlights from traffic. Paprika is located at 1228 S. Grand Blvd. For reservations, call 455-7545. Schlotzsky's expands A new Schlotzsky's Deli will open next Thursday in the Valley. This popular chain features sandwiches built on freshly baked buns in four flavors: sourdough, wheat, dark rye and jalapeno. Some of the signature sandwich fillings include a smoked turkey breast, a dijon chicken, a vegetarian and a club made with corned beef, turkey and bacon. Schlotzsky's also offers a wide variety of plate-size pizzas made on sourdough crust, as well as salads and soups. The new Schlotzsky's Deli is located at 901 N. Sullivan. A big loss The Herbfarm, an acclaimed gourmet restaurant in Issaquah, Wash., was destroyed by a fire Monday. No one was hurt, but the restaurant was completely destroyed. Originally started in the '70s as a true herb farm, the business eventually expanded to showcase the huge variety of fresh ingredients grown on-site. The innovative multi-course menu featured such unusual creations as a skate with ringlets of delicata squash and apple-chervil squash or medallions of venison, asparagus peas and wild nettles. The creative fare attracted national attention and reservations were almost impossible to secure. The Herbfarm will not be rebuilt in the same location because of new zoning laws.
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