KHQ debuts weather channel

The Inland Northwest now has its own 24-hour weather channel: KHQ Weather Plus.

It launched Thursday on Comcast digital cable channel 115 and over the air on digital channel 6-2 (you’re out of luck if you’re still on analog).

KHQ Weather Plus consists of two- to four-minute weathercasts which go back and forth between national NBC Weather Plus reports and local weather reports delivered by KHQ’s weathercasters.

The station has hired two new weathercasters, David Law and Todd Jensen, to supplement the three weathercasters already on staff.

According to KHQ General Manager Lon Lee, viewers will never have to wait more than about four minutes before seeing a live local weather report, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even while the national report is being delivered, the channel will have an “L-Bar” (a sidebar and bottom crawl) delivering constant regional weather reports and updates.

Lee said he hopes to lure viewers away from The Weather Channel.

“The Weather Channel has local forecasts, but there are no local people there,” he said. “It has an East Coast bent.”

This is a joint venture between NBC and the local affiliates, and is already running in about 49 other markets.

Stuff tickets in those socks

It’s time for Spotlight’s annual campaign to remind people of an easy and welcome gift idea: tickets.

Just about every local theater and musical organization has tickets on sale for upcoming events. Many of them, such as the Actor’s Repertory Theatre, Interplayers, Spokane Civic Theatre and Lake City Playhouse, have special mini subscriptions good for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of concerts and other big events that might fit on someone’s Christmas list.

Here are just a few:

•”Mamma Mia,” Jan. 3-8 at the Opera House.

•Toby Keith, Jan. 22, Spokane Arena.

•Northwest Bach Festival, Jan. 29-Feb. 3, various venues.

•Spokane Symphony, numerous events.

•Smuckers Stars On Ice, Jan. 6, Spokane Arena.

•Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Feb. 22-25, Kibbie Dome, Moscow.

•”42nd Street,” Feb. 2-5, Opera House.

•”Tap Dogs,” Feb. 21, Opera House.

•”Ballet and Bubbly,” Dec. 31, The Met.

•”Allegro, Baroque and Beyond,” The Met, various dates.

•”Get Lit,” April 19-23, The Met.

•G. Love and Special Sauce, the Big Easy, Jan. 24.

There are plenty of other options out there. Getting those stocking-stuffers is as easy as calling TicketsWest at 325-SEAT or your favorite arts organization.

CdA Summer Theatre lineup

Here’s one more holiday gift idea: a season subscription to the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.

This professional summer stock theater, which was featured in USA Today as one of “10 Great Places” to see regional theater, has announced its summer 2006 lineup: “A Chorus Line,” “Peter Pan,” “Pippin” and “The King and I.”

Call (800) 423-2849 for subscriptions.

Seinfeld sold out

By the way, forget about getting Jerry Seinfeld tickets as stocking stuffers.

Seinfeld is already sold out at the Opera House for his Jan. 12 show. Sorry.

The ‘Lion’ roared

“The Lion King” is going out like a lion.

The 46-show run at the Spokane Opera House, which ends today, has been sold out for just about the entire last half of its six-week run.

That means it will end up at about 98 percent of total capacity, said Jack Lucas of WestCoast Entertainment, which brought the show to Spokane.

“I really think we could have done another week, based on the number of calls that came in to our call centers in the last few weeks,” said Lucas. “That totally blows me away.”

The final ticket tally will probably be somewhere around 117,000 tickets, estimated Lucas. That’s easily a Spokane record for a theatrical event.

Hampson a hit

The Thomas Hampson benefit concert at (and for) the Fox Theater on Nov. 21 was a smashing success.

The concert was sold out. The Fox reaped about $80,000, which will go toward the renovation project.

“The recital was a tremendous gift from Mr. Hampson and we are grateful for his generosity of time and talent,” said Betsy Godlewski, Fox development director.

Lake City season

The Lake City Playhouse, the community theater in Coeur d’Alene, has announced its 2006-2007 season.

On the Main Stage, beginning in September, will be “Forever Plaid,” “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” “Babes in Toyland,” “Biloxi Blues,” “The Nerd,” “Steel Magnolias” and “The Lion in Winter.”

The children’s season, beginning in October, will include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Cinderella.”

Call (208) 667-1323 for subscription information.