Art? Theater? Music? Inland Northwest Has It All
Inland Northwesterners bask in the well-deserved accolades for our dazzling high school, and college football and basketball teams. And it’s no secret this region is heralded as a premier center for year-round outdoor recreation.
But newcomers may be unaware that the Inland Northwest also boasts abundant arts and cultural opportunities - theater, classical music, art galleries, jazz, concerts, ballet, festivals, museums …
Regularly scheduled headline performances in music and dance provide entertainment for a variety of tastes at The Met and the Opera House.
If theater is your passion, head to the Opera House for a Broadway show or treat yourself to the performances of several area theater companies: Interplayers Ensemble (455-7529), Spokane Civic Theatre (325-2507), Valley Repertory Theatre (927-6878), Coeur d’Alene Community Theatre (208-667-1323), and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre (208-769-7780).
Music? Enjoy the musical magic of Zephyr, a classical chamber music ensemble (235-4645), the Spokane Symphony Orchestra (326-3136), and Allegro Baroque and Beyond (455-6865).
Art enthusiasts can browse gallery showings and museum exhibits at a variety of venues: the colleges, Cheney Cowles Museum (2316 W. First), Douglas Gallery (120 N. Wall), Colburns (203 W. Riverside), and Lorinda Knight (523 W. Sprague) …
Hands-on art is offered at the Spokane Art School (328-0900), and Corbin Art Center (625-6677).
Ethnic events, poetry readings, musical and theatrical events are staged by area educational institutions: North Idaho College, Whitworth College, Spokane Falls Community College, Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University.
And, for the kids:
Next spring, the Children’s Museum of Spokane (624-0435) opens its new quarters at 110 N. Post. The region’s first hands-on educational attraction for children and families will help bring to life science, cultures and the arts in an atmosphere of “Serious Fun.”
Children with a flair for acting can audition for the Spokane Children’s Theatre (534-0737), or try their voice with the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus (624-7992).
For a taste of regional history, Coeur d’Alene hosts the Museum of North Idaho and Fort Sherman (208-664-3448), there’s the Lincoln County Museum in Davenport, Wash., (509-725-6711), the Fairchild Heritage Museum (244-0244), and Cheney Cowles Museum (456-3931).
The historic Campbell House, adjacent to the Cheney Cowles Museum (2316 W. First), will celebrate its centennial throughout 1998.
Next summer will bring The Festival at Sandpoint, ArtFest, Spokane Symphony’s July 4 Neighbor Day and Labor Day concerts, Allegro’s Royal Fireworks Concert. …
This is only a partial list of our community’s cultural events, just enough to pique your curiosity of what’s available. The list could go on and on.
The Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has complete information on the region’s offerings for arts and entertainment. The bureau, 201 W. Main, is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; or call 747-3230 or (800) 248-3230.
In North Idaho, contact the Coeur d’Alene-Post Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, (208) 773-9797.
Whether you fancy football or festivals, the Inland Northwest has something for everyone.
Cheney Cowles exhibit ends
Today is the last day for the Cheney Cowles Museum’s special exhibition, “From Earth and Sky: Indian Art of the Americas.”
More than 350 hand-picked items from the museum’s extensive American Indian collection will be displayed until 5 p.m.
Artifacts include pottery, beadwork, textiles, baskets, woodcarving and paintings which represent the art and culture of Indian tribes throughout the continent, including the Plateau, Plains, Northwest Coast, Southwest and Mexico.
The museum at 2316 W. First, is in Spokane’s historic Browne’s Addition. For more information, call 456-6181.
The American Indian Friendship Dance will be Saturday afternoon at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt, sponsored by the Cheney Cowles Museum.
The annual dance allows tribal elders to teach young people of all races the traditional songs and dances of their tribes.
The family event begins at 1:30 with lunch, followed with singing and dancing at 2.
The Friendship Dance is presented in cooperation with Eastern Washington University’s American Indian Studies Program, and the Spokane, Kalispel and Coeur d’Alene tribes.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
For more information, call 456-3931, ext. 129.
Millennium topic of Speaker Series
Challenges facing organizations today will not be overcome with new management theories, motivational tips or re-engineering, according to John Scherer, author and international consultant.
Scherer will present his solutions at Gonzaga University’s Jepson Center from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday.
He will discuss “The Millennium Approaches: Our Successes and Challenges in Leadership Development.”
The free, public lecture is part of the 1998 Speaker Series sponsored by American Association of University Women. Co-sponsors are Gonzaga University School of Business Administration and Leadership Spokane.
The Speaker Series will feature a variety of lecturers to address the approaching millennium. For a complete schedule of speakers, call 747-4509.
North Idaho Resource Directory
The non-profit Information and Referral agency in Coeur d’Alene is preparing its 1998 edition of North Idaho Community Resource Directory.
Businesses and social-service organizations which provide health, human or quality-of-life services in the five North Idaho counties may be listed free of charge.
For an application form, call the Information and Referral office, (208) 667-6400.
The directory will be available on the Internet at http://www.nicon.org.
Needed: A snappy slogan
People who are at least 50 years old can win $250 in the National Senior Health and Fitness Theme Contest.
A winning slogan will be selected for the National Senior Health and Fitness Day, May 27.
To enter, create a short phrase or sentence that captures the importance and fun of regular physical activity for older adults.
Last year’s winning slogan was “Life’s a Hit When You’re Feeling Fit!”
Include your name, address and daytime telephone number with each entry and send to: 1998 Theme Contest, National Senior Health and Fitness Day, 621 East Park, Libertyville, IL 60048.
Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 16.
Submit e-mail entries to: maturemkt@aol.com.
, DataTimes MEMO: Community Update appears each Sunday in The Spokesman Review. Please allow two weeks notice for inclusion in this column.