The Slice The New Arena Is Smokin’

No, the smoke-producing fireworks inside the arena Sunday night were not intended as a salute to the Spokane area’s air quality.

You could go and admire her personality: Vendela - that’s a supermodel not a shampoo is scheduled to appear for an hour at the downtown Bon Marche Wednesday, starting at noon. Oh, wait. Never mind. It’s in Seattle.

Norsemen among us: Boy, are we embarrassed. When we first noticed that “NOVA” will be taking a look at Vikings in America tonight on PBS, we thought it would be a show about the guys in the Northwest with scandinavian names who have long beards and drive rugged pick-ups. But it turns out the focus is a tad more historical.

It’s Tough All Over Department: We’re all familiar with the observations of more than a few exsmokers who say that they never really stop wanting a cigarette. But what about those of us who gave up whole milk? You think we’ve got it easy? You think 2 percent makes us forget the good old days? No way. A nice cold glass of whole milk after a piece of cake has to be at least as satisfying as a cigarette after, well, whatever.

Chewelah’s Joan Hermanson wonders: “How many mystery keys does the average family have lying around the house?”

Call 328-4220/ext. 3211: To find out about becoming a docent at Gonzaga University’s Jundt Art Museum.

Recommended reading: “Put on a Happy Face: Masking the differences between blacks and whites,” in the September issue of Harper’s.

Today’s Slice question: Besides the classic “I hear it rains all the time,” what “insights” about the Inland Northwest have you heard people from other parts of the country express during Spokane-bound airline flights? (We recently overheard a guy confidently explaining to the woman next to him that Flathead Lake was right on the Montana-Idaho border.)

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098.