Doug Clark

All Stories

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Take our county commissioner, please

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 7, 2015

On behalf of potential future employers, Doug Clark issues an open letter of recommendation for Spokane County Commissioner Todd Mielke.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Let’s follow Michigan town’s lead, take pothole repair into our own hands

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 5, 2015

Doug Clark likes the idea, born in a bar, of the Hamtramck Guerrilla Road Repair crew -- if the city won’t fill potholes, let the citizens do it.

News >  Features

Clarksville: New gig for Spokane’s boat-car czar

Mon., Oct. 5, 2015

First came LaBoata. Now meet … LaFloata. It’s the latest nautical wonder from the ever-churning mind of Spokane’s beloved boat-car czar, Tim Lorentz.

News >  Spokane

Clarksville: Spokane’s creator of car-boat mounts full-size boat in backyard pool

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 3, 2015

First came LaBoata. Now meet … LaFloata.

News >  Features

Weird things to eat in San Francisco

Thu., Oct. 1, 2015

My adventure at the 4-buck-a-slice toast shop in San Francisco the other day drew some interesting insights. “Are franchises available?” asked John Bennehoff. “Or do you think Spokane has enough morons to support one?” Hard to say. Spokane can be a pretty tough sell when it comes to new ideas. The downtown grand prix, the festival of four cultures

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Four bucks for a slice of toast?

Wed., Sept. 30, 2015

America has officially run out of fads. That thought dawned on me last Saturday after I joined a throng of young San Francisco hipsters who stood in line to pay $4 for a slice of toast.

News >  Features

Weird things seen while driving

Thu., Sept. 24, 2015

Caught up on my reading the other day. Didn’t have much choice, really, since I was stopped at a red light near Dick’s, Spokane’s beloved burger emporium. The worn copper-colored van in front of me was plastered with an array of biblical imperatives, like… “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” “Jesus Said I am the way the trut

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Former police chief Straub’s demise small sting to Condon

Thu., Sept. 24, 2015

In the most shocking breakup since Kermit and Miss Piggy, Spokane Mayor David Condon has given the boot to Frank Straub, the same guy Condon handpicked for police chief over sound advice, logic and reason. Three years ago the mayor told us Straub was the best thing since sliced brisket.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Golden Rule Brake’s signs aren’t cause of jugglers’ woes

Tue., Sept. 22, 2015

It’s that fall time of year when things die, like leaves and some people’s sense of humor. Take last week. Half the city got their knickers in a knot over some harmless comments made about Spokane from a couple of “Z Nation” TV actors.

News >  Features

Mij Ploger strikes a chord as Spokane’s lone harpsichord maker

Mon., Sept. 21, 2015

Welcome to “Jeopardy!” No, wait. This is Clarksville. Clarksville is populated by some of the interesting characters I run into from time to time.

News >  Features

Mij Ploger strikes a chord as Spokane’s lone harpsichord maker

Sun., Sept. 20, 2015

Mij Ploger would have killed on one of those old network game shows. You know, shows where a TV panel of celebrity B-Listers would try to guess someone’s offbeat occupation.

News >  Spokane

Prisoner release program going well

Sun., Sept. 20, 2015

Yet another prison inmate has wandered away from his work detail at the Spokane Interstate Fair. Fair officials reacted immediately by changing this year’s theme from “Duck Into the Fair” to “Duck and Run.”

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Wall Street cleanup possible with shared effort

Thu., Sept. 17, 2015

Nothing healthier than a good ol’ walk in the great outdoors. Unless, that is, you’re following Chris Powell through a particularly shabby section of downtown Wall Street.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Spokane: ‘Near Nature, Near Zombies’

Tue., Sept. 15, 2015

Identity is a big concern for any municipality looking to lure visitors who will come and spend their dollars (and not just on drugs). I remember years ago how much time the city’s top tourism boosters frittered away to come up with what they believed would be the perfect commerce-evoking sentiment in a brand-new Spokane slogan.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: ‘J.R’ is a hundred years old and he’s not slowing down

Sun., Sept. 13, 2015

James R. Cox, better known as just “J.R.” to his pals, turns 100 years old today. And all J.R. wanted for his birthday party, his daughter Becky told me, was a visit from yours truly.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Who are those people in the Brown Derby’s mural?

Thu., Sept. 10, 2015

The beer’s cold and fresh. The pool tables are covered with fresh felt. But the freshest attraction inside the Garland District’s iconic Brown Derby Tavern is a 65-year-old painting that depicts a frozen moment in Derby time.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: What’s another word for hypersensitive?

Sun., Sept. 6, 2015

Today we will examine that old childhood saying … “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can turn some people into uptight politically correct loons.”

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Spokane Donut Parade founder Darrell Jones dies at 87

Thu., Sept. 3, 2015

He never ran for political office, never was a mover or a shaker. So the passing of Darrell Jones, whose bad lungs got the best of him Monday, will go with modest notice.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Avista report card a waste of energy, smiley faces

Tue., Sept. 1, 2015

Pay attention, everybody. I have great news regarding what we can all do in order to ace our next Avista “Home Energy Report” card. Die.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: The Old Man preferred hard-knocks education

Sun., Aug. 30, 2015

‘Back to School” is right around the corner and we all know what that means. It means taking out a second mortgage to pay for all those new backpacks, faddish clothing, newest iPhones and associated school fees and/or karate lessons.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Dogfight over Hillyard sign dies down

Thu., Aug. 27, 2015

It’s Lookback Thursday, so let’s begin. Lookback 1 – It may be a dog’s world, but not in Hillyard anymore.

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Sci-fi lovers picked great week to pay visit

Sun., Aug. 23, 2015

How crazy is it here in Smokane? So crazy I took shelter at the science fiction convention for a dose of reality.

News >  Features

Weird celebrations in downtown Spokane

Thu., Aug. 20, 2015

The latest chapter in Spokane’s celebration of history’s most unlikely baseball player – Eddie Gaedel – took place last Wednesday at O’Doherty’s Irish Pub & Grill. The high point came when Tom Keefe, patron saint of the Eddie Gaedel Society, Chapter One, unveiled a beautiful painting he commissioned to depict the biggest moment in Little Eddie’s li

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Rushing out the door helps clear the air

Thu., Aug. 20, 2015

All your questions answered about Spokane-area skulduggery. Q: With so many fires burning, have you ever seen our air this bad?

Opinion >  Column

Doug Clark: Tipping point? That’s where boaters make a real splash

Tue., Aug. 18, 2015

I’ve heard politicians, pundits and other frauds using the term “tipping point” a lot lately. Having barely made it out of Eastern Washington University, I’ll admit I never fully grasped the concept.