Cliffs, Compost, and Cold Ones

Temps are touching the 70’s, trees are blooming, restaurants are opening up their outdoor patios. I know what you’re thinking… Vitamin D–infused day drinking sesh at Maryhill — pregaming for Velocity and Zephyr Games, SIGN. ME. UP. OWWWWEEEE!

As life springs eternal, new establishments start to open, we aren’t hunkered down in our underground dopamine chamber watching Netflix through the day to make the time go by for a concert, comedy show, or catching Blake Braley at Zola later that evening, for a tequila soda and his jazz-pop-fusion thing he’s got rockin’ for him. Me? I just wanna be rocking this energy until Halloween.

Let’s jump in — nothing crazy from a news standpoint… at least locally (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Guys, I know you’ve seen it on your way to jury duty, but I think it deserves an extra shout over the megaphone… KBBQ IS NEARLY HERE.

If you’re unaware, then… case and point. My hope is to expand the palate of the folks in our region. When De Espana was still in business I once overheard someone ask if they had tacos… 🤦. I won’t explain why that is deplorable. If you aren’t familiar with Korean food, buckle up — you’re in for a treat. Open element, and an endless array of meats, kimchi and hopefully Somaek — cutting your meats with scissors, gochujang, the absolute works — and you’ll inevitably learn to love the meat sweats.

There’s a double header this weekend — which, if we’re being honest, sounds like one too many heads…

But for the fútbol diehards, it’s a prime opportunity to scorch the top layer of your epidermis, annihilate a few adult beverages (or not), and pretend you fully understand offsides. So get out there and support the Zephyr and Velocity over the weekend.

Here’s what’s goin’ down:

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Zephyr FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC

• Noon kickoff

• ONE Spokane Stadium

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

• Spokane Velocity FC vs. Oakland Roots SC

• 4:00 PM kickoff

• Same stadium, fresh chaos

Back-to-back matches, two local teams, one stadium, and one highly likely sunburn situation. Whether you’re there to heckle with conviction or sip a cold one while “lightly following the action,” this is your excuse to soak in the spring heat and catch the local footy wave. Sunscreen, shades, maybe a tactical burrito. You know the drill. Things get intense though — don’t mind me if I just…

THE BEAT:

🎤 Laura Jane Grace with Alex Lahey + Noun
📍 The District Bar
🗓️ Friday, April 25
Punk royalty Laura Jane Grace leads a stacked indie-punk lineup that’ll be loud, raw, and cathartic in all the right ways. Wear something you can sweat through emotionally.

🌪️ Deafheaven with Gatecreeper + Trauma Ray
📍 Knitting Factory Spokane
🗓️ Saturday, April 26
Post-metal gods Deafheaven meet Arizona’s heavy-hitting Gatecreeper and shoegaze disrupters Trauma Ray for a night that’ll sound like the world ending, beautifully.

🎶 Bruce Cockburn
📍 Bing Crosby Theater
🗓️ Monday, April 28
Canadian folk-rock legend Bruce Cockburn brings decades of storytelling, soul, and serious guitar chops to the Bing. This one’s for the lyric lovers and long-time romantics.

For My Nature Lovin’ Fam

For my friend Brian… I’m directly talking to you…

Arbor Day Celebration & Compost Fair

🗓️ Saturday, April 26 | 11AM–2PM
📍 John A. Finch Arboretum
This Saturday, it’s giving mulchcore. Finch Arboretum is throwing a leafy little party in honor of Spokane’s 22nd year as a certified Tree City USA (yes, that’s a real flex), and you’re invited to frolic among the foliage, snag a free seedling, and maybe lock eyes with a stranger over shared appreciation for soil structure.

There’ll be live music, tree care tips, and kids’ activities that range from cute to educational (because nothing says spring like watching your toddler learn what compost is). And if you’re a Spokane County resident with proof of address? You could walk away with a free compost bin — aka the sexiest possible upgrade for your backyard situation.

Ceremonial tree planting happens at noon. Free coffee, cocoa, and snacks go fast, so get there early and claim your botanical brunch energy. Spring has officially entered the chat.

New Family-Friendly Climbing Gym – Bloc Yard Gym

📍 Now Open | 225 W Riverside Ave, Spokane
Not necessarily my cup of tea, but I know there’s a healthy amount of the audience who have kids… so… remember the old Kid’s Play? Welp, the space is reborn as Bloc Yard Gym — a family-friendly climbing haven with more chalk dust, fewer broken arcade machines, and just enough nostalgia to hit your soft spot.

This isn’t Chuck E. Cheese, and thank God. Something about that mechanical mouse and hysterically mediocre ‘za scorches my dopamine reserves. No — this is crash pads, climbing holds, and wall routes to challenge your kid, your CrossFit friend, and your “I’m just here for the vibes” phase.

It’s clean, bright, and slightly intimidating if you haven’t done a pull-up since 2008. Yes, I’m anticipating your kid will not be the lone participant in all the chaos in this fun-hall. But it’s welcoming. And it’s fun. And for once, falling is encouraged.

Nite Wave – ’80s Dance Party at the Bing

📍 Bing Crosby Theater
🗓️ Friday, April 25 | 8:00 PM
🎟️ 21+ | spokaneentertainmentdistrict.com
If you’ve ever wanted to time travel straight into a John Hughes soundtrack — this is your moment. Nite Wave, the neon-soaked, synth-drenched cover band hand-picked by Billy freakin’ Idol, is landing at the Bing for one night of pure ’80s bliss.

We’re talkin’ Prince. INXS. Duran Duran. Depeche Mode. The stuff that makes you want to slow-motion spin in a fog machine while locking eyes with a stranger across the dance floor. It's high-energy, high-hair nostalgia, and it's 21+ for a reason — you're gonna want a cocktail with that leg warmer.

Throw on something loud, shiny, or aggressively shoulder-padded. Let’s get weird. Let’s get retro. Let’s dance. Ja Feel??

Museum of North Idaho — Now Open

📍 J.C. White House | 722 E. Young Ave., Coeur d’Alene
Well folks, history got a glow-up. After years of whisperings, renovations, and the collective patience of a town that runs on lake water and legends, the Museum of North Idaho has officially opened its new doors at the J.C. White House — and she’s lookin’ fine.

This beautifully restored Victorian just off downtown Coeur d’Alene now houses a fresh batch of expanded exhibits showcasing regional heritage, hometown lore, and stories that built the Inland Northwest. It’s charming, walkable, and the kind of place that makes you say “huh, I didn’t know that” at least seven times.

Great for spring visitors, grade school field trips, or just a solo Sunday spent pretending you’re smarter than you were when you walked in. Go soak in the old stuff, in a place that feels brand new.

Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises Are Back

📍 Starting Friday, April 25 | 12:30 PM & 6:00 PM | CDA Resort Docks
You can officially swap out seasonal depression for sunset reflections — Lake Coeur d’Alene cruises are back, baby. Starting this Friday, the classic 90-minute daytime lake loops resume, complete with stunning views, fun facts, and that big “I’m on a boat” energy.

Whether you’re showing off for out-of-town guests, trying to lock in a cute spring date, or just need an excuse to sit and look at water for a while, this checks the box. Bonus? Weekend Sunset Dinner Cruises are also setting sail — two hours, a full buffet, and golden hour doing what it does best. It’s basically therapy, but with prime rib and a cash bar.

So grab your shades, grab your crew, and get on the lake before summer people think they invented it… oh and by-the-way, please capture one of these photos and send it my way.

Garden Fair & Plant Sale 2025

📍 Fri–Sat, April 25–26 | Spokane County Extension, Spokane
Again, to my environmental enthusiast friend, Brian — who, let’s be honest, shows more affection to his pepper plants than most people show to their partners — this one’s for you.

This is the spring kickoff for all things leafy. Hundreds of plants. Veggies, herbs, berries, natives, perennials, houseplants — you name it, they’ve propagated it. It’s held out at the Spokane County Extension by the fairgrounds and supports local Master Gardeners, so you know the folks there can actually answer “should this leaf look like that?” without googling it.

Reserve your shopping time online (yes, like it’s a concert), and roll in ready to hoard soil babies and soak up real-deal advice on how to keep them alive. May your roots run deep and your tomato cages be strong. Don’t send yourself into mayhem pulling a mandrake:

Spokane Symphony Masterworks 8: Let There Be Light!

📍 Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
🗓️ Saturday, April 26 @ 7:30 PM
🗓️ Sunday, April 27 @ 3:00 PM
If you’ve never watched a full orchestra summon the birth of the cosmos through sound, well — now’s your chance to sit down, shut up, and get existential. Spokane Symphony is throwing down Haydn’s The Creation, and it’s not your grandma’s Sunday service.

Titled "Let There Be Light!", the program walks you from nothingness to celestial chaos — from total darkness into a full-on sonic sunrise. It's biblical, sure, but not in the “some guy yelling at you from a street corner” kind of way. This is choirs. Soloists. Vivid orchestration. A slow burn that ends in goosebumps and maybe a renewed appreciation for the universe or at least the acoustics at The Fox.

Seasoned symphony person? You’ll eat. Total noob? This one’s a gateway drug. Dress up a little. Feel something. Let the light in.

Spring on the Ave – Sprague Union District

🗓️ April 26 | All Day
The East Side’s annual “we’re back, baby” block party returns — and Spring on the Ave is shaping up to be a whole vibe. Think street vendors, local makers, food trucks, live tunes, and a rotating cast of friendly weirdos you forgot you missed over winter.

You’ll browse handmade soap, dance half-sincerely to a band with a stand-up bass, and eat something spicy on a stick. And somewhere between bites and beats, you’ll say it — “we should do stuff like this more often.” (You won’t.) But you’ll mean it in the moment, and that’s what counts.

It’s neighborhood nostalgia and creative energy rolled up in sunshine and wrapped in a reusable tote bag.

Well gang, you know I love me a FAT glass of vino...

If there’s an event, convention, or anything related to a leggy glass of Cab Sauv, I’m down. I will gleefully refuse a decadent dessert so I can free up some guilt for my red-liquid “friend.”

Fireside Dinner & Music at Arbor Crest

📍 Arbor Crest Cliff House Estate
🗓️ Friday, April 25
This is your final chance to eat, drink, and feel feelings on the edge of a literal cliff. Arbor Crest’s Fireside Dinner & Music series wraps this weekend, and if you’ve never sipped a cabernet while a guy with a guitar plays something vaguely haunting under a sky turning purple, you’ve been doing Friday wrong.

Picture this: wine flights, gourmet bites, and the kind of view that makes you temporarily forget your 47 open browser tabs. Bring someone you like, wear something that makes you feel expensive, and lean into the mood. It’s cozy, elegant, and just enough ambiance to make you believe you’re the main character in a well-scored indie film.

Well amigos. . . that’s all I have. . . excuse me while I retreat into red light therapy sauna to detox for the retox this weekend