The Final Spill of 2024: Eat 🍽️, Party 🎉, Repeat 🔁

Quick Dish on Spokane // CDA New Years Eve Shin-Digs. . .

Hope y’all got everything you ever wanted and then some, but remember, we’ve got business to attend to. Even though NYE is Christmas’ ugly stepsister, it still deserves some respect—especially since it guarantees you’ll mess up the “date” section on every piece of paperwork for at least six weeks.

So, what kind of tomfoolery can you get into? Well, aside from a friend's house party or throwing yourself into the NYE escapades of downtown's main drag, I’ve got a few ideas to help you welcome 2025 in style. Let’s start east and work our way back.

Coeur d’Alene
For the boujee crowd looking to level up their NYE, Coeur d’Alene Resort’s James Bond-themed bash is calling your name. Live music, games, gourmet dinner, fireworks—you know, the works. Pro tip: grab a table, rally your crew, and snatch those tickets before they’re gone—your 007 Midnight Mission awaits.

Prefer something more laid-back? Downtown CDA has something for everyone. A little fire, a little ice, a little heaven, a little hell—champagne, tequila—you name it. Hit up Crafted for a hearty meal to keep you going, or celebrate with a Gooey at Dockside because, let’s be honest, you’ve earned it.

Reservations are a must—don’t get caught in the resort’s revolving door begging for a table. And guys, if you’re on a mission to earn that NYE kiss, don’t become a meme drunkenly rambling at Beacon about how you loaned a cig to Dustin Johnson at Gozzer. Pregame smart. Fuel up at Fire Pizza or the Goat Lounge—the pizza dough or nachos will soak up the booze, and who knows? You might just keep it together long enough to land that midnight smooch. 💋 

Spokane

I’ve done my fair share of NYE escapades on the main drag downtown—enjoyed some tunes at Zola → downed a frozen cocktail at Borracho → walked a couple laps at Globe → back to Zola → Macarena’d at NYNE → karaoke’d at Monterey Cafe. Don’t get me wrong, these have been successful campaigns, but if you’re looking for something a bit more exclusive and sprinkled with class, the Davenport Hotels throw NYE bangers—and this year’s no different.

You’ve got two killer options:

New Year’s Eve Grand Showdown
Dust off your cowboy hat and assless chaps—it’s about to get BUCK WILD. The Grand is hosting a Wild West rager with live country from the Devon Wade Band and Brandon Jackson Band, line dancing, a western saloon, and a midnight champagne toast. Preorder drink tickets for speedy service, and if you’re smart, take advantage of the discounted room rate to wake up in 2025 like a champ.

Sacha’s Supper Club: Party Like It’s 1925
Think roaring ’20s, Gatsby-style glitz. The Doges and Grand Penning Ballroom transform into a Jazz Age wonderland with live music, endless drinks (for VIPs), and a dance floor that won’t quit. Dress to impress: flappers, pearls, and pinstripes are the vibe. Tickets start at $185, or go full Platinum for the royal treatment. Who knows, you might see me there. 😏 Soooo. . . what’s it gonna be?

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Repeat Offenders in Downtown Spokane
Turns out, Spokane’s downtown drama has some usual suspects. A pilot program found that repeat offenders are behind a lot of the issues. NO WAY? IT CAN’T BE! The city’s working on solutions, but for now, it’s a little charm, a little chaos, and some smh 🤦‍♂️ >>> read up on the “pilot” >>>

Where My Tree Huggin’ Hippies At?! 

Welp, Spokane is rolling out an initiative to give more residents that leafy luxury life. Around 500 new trees will be planted annually, bringing natural air purifiers, cooler streets, and a serious aesthetic upgrade. Cleaner air? Check. Cooler neighborhoods? Double check. Happier residents? That’s a win for tree huggers, influencers, and Instagram boyfriends alike (okay, maybe not them—autumn’s about to get way busier 😬).

Snowman Saga: 

Admittedly, this one’s walking a thin line. . . the Snowman that chased a mascot-phobic girl for a hug is a serious matter. . . and Frosty might face charges, but it could also be written into a Hallmark Dramedy. Here’s the skinny: In Coeur d’Alene, a snowman mascot is under investigation for an “inappropriate hug.” Yep, you read that right. A headline that makes you snicker then say, “wait wtf?” I’ll let the story do the talking–but stay tuned—because this sitch might get even weirder >>> read more here >>> . . . I love our home, but—dang—sometimes it be like:

Sports . . . Sports . . . SPORTS!

The meme speaks for itself: but seriously. . . it’s not like Wake Forest is a hot program👇

Football: 

WSU vs 21 Syracuse | Holiday Bowl | San Diego, CA | Petco Park | Dec 27th | 5:00 PM PST 

No Dickert. No Mateer. And, well… no surprise. The current college football landscape is a hot mess, and when big money calls, it talks. But let’s face it—the Cougs got straight-up Scrooged this Christmas.

With 20-plus players in the transfer portal, bowl practices probably feel less like team-building and more like a hybrid RTO (return-to-office) situation—half the squad there, half MIA. Still, here’s hoping the Athletic Department has a wishlist Santa’s actually answering, because they’re going to need it. Sending some serious good vibes to the Cougs. 🏈

Basketball:

# Gonzaga vs #UCLA | Los Angeles, CA | Intuit Dome | Dec 28th | 5:00 PM PST 

This is one I wish I was going to—nothing beats the contrast of cold, ugly snow weather and kickin’ around Venice Beach for the day before heading to the brand-spankin’-new Intuit Dome. Not to mention, it seems like we live in the Bruins’ heads rent-free (proceeds to cross my fingers and knock on every piece of wood I can find).

I know, we’ve regressed a bit since our early-season beatdown of Baylor… Zags just haven’t been the same since Joe Few got posterized (A for effort, C- for execution). But let’s not forget, we’ve had a tough schedule, and we’ve been spoiled for so long that taking a couple of L’s feels like Armageddon in real-time (looking at you, Bama fans). Few’s got a way of righting the ship and giving us a shot at a natty come March.

Eastern Washington vs Eastern Oregon | Cheney, WA | Reece Court | Dec 30th | 6:00 PM PST 

So… I’m not gonna say it explicitly, but if you’d like a quick dopamine hit (given you’re an Eags fan), make the small trek out to Cheney and watch a little hoop, why don’tcha?

Sure, they’ve had a tough start, but Dan Monson is back in Eastern Washington, and transitions always take a bit of time. Nothing like an early-season contest against a DIII opponent to be the perfect “get-right” game and set the course straight for the season.

Gonzaga Women vs. Oregon State | Dec 28th | 7:00 PM PST | Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, OR

The Lady Zags are heading to Corvallis to take on Oregon State, and honestly? This one has the makings of a battle. Gill Coliseum is no cakewalk, but let’s not pretend our squad doesn’t thrive on shutting down the home crowd.

This team’s been grinding all season—gritty, tough, and unrelenting. Oregon State’s probably hoping for a little post-Christmas bounce-back, but the Zags aren’t in the mood to hand out late holiday gifts. If our guards stay hot and the defense keeps that signature Zag intensity, there’s no reason we can’t roll into 2025 with a dub. Tune in…

New Year. . . New Me. . . Not Yet. . . 

Promoting bad habits is deplorable, but nobody’s foolin’ me–I know New Year’s resolutions are in the chamber and ready to take off–for. . . like. . . three weeks. . . at least until spring break, but hey, we still have a handful of days before you become a self-disciplinarian. . . so, here’s 5 [local] guilty pleasures of mine that’ll make this weekend less of a cheat day and more of a cheat week: 

Island Style Food: 

I always wondered why my Polynesian football teammates were these mountainous behemoths… well, a plate of their kalbi ribs might clear up any mystery. This is the good stuff—smoked, heavy, dripping with flavor that’ll make your taste buds wanna do a quick hula.

Go big on December 29th. Leftovers hit just as hard, and you’ll appreciate them for two straight days before you get militant with your diet. And don’t skip their Island Style Noodles—they’re just as good the next day. While you’re at it, cop a cup of their ube soft-serve ice cream. If you’re not familiar, it’s purple, sweet, and downright delectable. You’ll thank me later.

Hogwash:

This one is chef’s kiss, the coup de grâce—French for “final blow,” and that’s exactly what it delivers. Vibey cold-weather dungeon, perfect cocktails, and mouthwatering culinary revelations. The ole whiskey den serves up any cocktail you can think of and a ton you haven’t (trust me, you won’t go wrong). I’m not saying I’m a connoisseur of burgers, but I’ve had more than a few in my day. . . In terms of conventional Hamburgers. . . Hogwash has the best burger I’ve ever had. . . there I said, my heart was racing so fast. 

Alright, now you know. . . but their Whiskey Barrel Aged Shoyu Ramen really needs its moment, and I wouldn’t be caught giving it insufficient praise.

This Ramen’s got it all: broth from locally sourced bones, Pork Chashu, Truffle Oil and oh a 3-day marinated soft boiled–are you kidding me?!?! Well this is No. Joke. 

Gotta have 'em both if you think you’re gonna deprive yourself come January – and make sure you order some chicharrons and their Greek Freak Fries. . . cuz they rotate their menu seasonally. . . don’t miss out.  

Hello Sugar: 

If you haven’t hopped on the mini-donut craze, I implore you to hop on the bandwagon. . . especially if you’re procuring from Hello Sugar. . . cuz they make it an experience, and the perfect bargaining chip for the little ones. If you’re a big art buff, these bite sized sweets are the Monet of donuts—beautiful, detailed, and almost too good to eat (you’ll inhale them anyway).

Flavors like Maple Bacon, Lemon Lavender, or Birthday Cake bring a blitz on the dopamine, and the seasonal specials are basically edible celebrations. You can grab a dozen and make any day a party—or just inhale them solo because self-love is rad. Here’s an excuse to go before you start screening every calorie.

Lebanon Cafe: 

Now this might take some folks out of their comfort zone, but you’ll love that you decided to go–not just for their shawarma plate, but because I’m going to beg you to try through some of their desserts. Like I said – SHAWARMA – lamb or chicken; just cannonball into that takeaway box. . . you will love, and grab some Kibbeh with Tzatziki, your thumb and index finger will be busy. 

Make sure they load you up with Baklava and give Knafeh a try. . . Obviously Baklava is the poster child of Mediterranean desserts, but Knafeh is sweet, stretchy, and guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. . . give it a try. You might find yourself actively seeking it out once your New Year’s Resolution wears off.

Izzy’s Comfort Kitchen: 

Let’s talk CDA comfort food done right. Izzy’s Comfort Kitchen isn’t just a place to eat—it’s a place to settle in and let the stress of the day roll off your shoulders. Southern-inspired, locally loved, and guaranteed to hit you right in belle(y). 

☝️: the Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Yeah, yeah—chicken sammies are everywhere these days, but Izzy’s takes it to a whole new level. Juicy, flavorful, and with just the right amount of kick, frankly it could be your new Roman Empire–you’re gonna think about it a lot.

But since you’re about to COMPLETELY CHANGE YOUR DIET in a few days, treat yourself, go straight for the Peach Bourbon BBQ Burger. Smoky, sweet, tangy—it’s a flavor explosion that deserves a standing ovation. Pair it with their crispy fries or creamy mac and cheese–you won’t be sorry Don’t sleep on dessert. Their Seasonal Cobbler: Warm, buttery, and served with a scoop of ice cream that melts in just the right way.

I’d do a brunch section, but I don’t wanna tempt your New Year’s Day plans. . . See you next year 🥂