Talent here, talent everywhere

My husband and I attended the Main Market food co-op’s fundraiser at the Fox last night, and I just have to say … it was quite possibly the best $50 we’ve ever spent.

Great food . Stunning surroundings . And talk about local talent!

First up was neo-classical pianist Brad Greene . Nothing I write here could do justice to just how beautiful his music was. You can hear some of it at that link.

Cheryl-Anne Millsap was up next, reading some of the essays from her book “Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons.” Each piece was somehow related to food, and they all left me vowing to be more observant of how little details relate to the bigger picture as I go about my ordinary life. Cheryl-Anne makes mashed potatoes sound like poetry.

2006 National Book Award finalist Jess Walter read from his novel “The Financial Lives of Poets,” which comes out next month, and from a hilarious piece he wrote for ” Out There Monthly ” about floating the Spokane River. My apologies to the person sitting in front of me for the bright-blue martini that sprayed from my mouth in a fit of laughter.

The evening wrapped up with the hauntingly lovely music of Kaylee Cole, who you’d better catch in concert here in Spokane before the world snatches her away from us.

So, as if we needed a reminder, Spokane’s talent pool is fuller than the Southside Aquatic Facility on a 90-degree Saturday.

Now onto the second half of my headline—talent elsewhere. Just wanted to share these links to some great projects, products and ideas I’ve spotted recently on the Web.

-A camping play quilt for use at outdoor concerts with kids

-Organic reusable sandwich and snack bags —just in time for school lunches

-And speaking of school lunches, what kid wouldn’t want his PB & J on two slices of panda bread ?

- Party supplies with a conscience

-The Stealth Chicken Coop

and

- Ratatouille pizza from The Leftoverist (because if your garden looks anything like mine right now, you know it’s going to be ratatouille around the clock for the next several weeks)

Happy weekend, everyone.