Fox Theater Spokane
Hot This Week!
December 23, 2009

What a way to kick off a decade.

First Night Spokane is closing out the decade in grand fashion with a year's worth of entertainment in one night in downtown Spokane on-you guessed it-Thursday, Dec. 31. Starting at 7 p.m., 43 venues in the city's core will have a variety of live music, dance performances, short plays, art exhibits and other activities. Ice skating at the Riverfront Park Pavilion is free all night long to those with First Night pins, and rides on the Looff Carrousel are free to First Night pin holders as well. At 11:45 p.m., a closing ceremony commences at the Riverfront Park fountain, followed by a grand finale fireworks display at midnight. The Avista Kids Night Out starts earlier, at 3:30 p.m. in the Spokane Convention Center. With the theme "Into The Land Of Make Believe," children can create magical hats and crowns, then play in the Castle of the Ice King or the Faerie Queen's Garden. For kids 2 to 4 years old, there will be a special play area called Lilliput. From 3:30 to 6 p.m., five bays and ballrooms in the convention center will have magic acts, dancers, live music and more, then kids will be invited to march, drum and goof off in the annual Masquerade Parade. Kids' events will resume at the convention center at 7 p.m. and run through 9 p.m. First Night buttons are on sale for $12 in advance, or $15 on the day of the events. Kids 10 and under are free. The admission buttons are available at all Zip's Drive-In locations, the River Park Square concierge desk, Bergmann's Luggage, and Auntie's Bookstore. For more information on the venues and performing acts, go to http://www.firstnightspokane.com.

First Day at the MAC.

Spend News Years Day at the MAC's First Day event, 10am to 6pm on Friday, January 1st and enjoy live music, magic shows and museum cruising. There's something fun for the whole family at the Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. 1st. Magician Dick Frost, 10am-noon, bubble illusionist Jarom Watts, noon-2pm, flautist Robins Song, 2-4pm, and The Mystic Dream Dance Company, a traditional belly dance troupe, 4-6pm. Admission is FREE to museum members and First Night button wearers/$5-7 regular admission. Phone 509-456-3931 for more information.

End the year with the ultimate symphony.

The Spokane Symphony, along with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the Northern Quest Resort and Casino, are bringing an international New Year's Eve tradition to Spokane with a performance of what some call the "ultimate symphony," Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox. Conducted by Spokane Symphony Music Director Eckart Preu, the event will feature the Spokane Symphony Chorale and soloists Heather Parker, soprano; Patty Blankenship, mezzo-soprano; Stephen Rumph, tenor; and Charles Robert Stephens, baritone. Tickets are $25 and $20, $14 for children 12 and under. The Symphony is offering a combination package of a concert ticket and a First Night Spokane button for either $27 or $32, $21 for 11- and 12-year-old children-First Night is free for kids 10 and under. Tickets are available at the Spokane Symphony ticket office, at 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets also are available through Tickets West outlets or online at http://www.spokanesymphony.org.

Diamonds are a diva's best friend.

The Spokane Opera is ending the year in style with "Diamonds&Divas 2009: Passport to Poland." The much-ballyhooed annual black-tie event starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at the Historic Davenport Hotel. This year's gala features music from Polish violinist Mateusz Wolski, soprano Dawn Wolski and pianist Greg Presley, with the Spokane Opera Orchestra conducted by Dean Williamson. Davenport Chef Bryan Franz will prepare dinner with a menu exclusive to the evening's event. In addition to dinner and live music, the event features live and silent wine auctions features some of the most distinct selections of Washington state wines, with proceeds going to help support Spokane Opera's educational, cultural and arts programs. Cost for Diamonds&Divas is $175 per person, and reservations are accepted at http://www.spokaneopera.org/diamondsdivas.html or by calling 509-533-1150. The Davenport is offering all-inclusive package that include the event, a guestroom and free valet parking for $549 per couple. For more information, go to http://www.spokaneopera.org.

Skating is closer than you think.

In less than one month, on January 15th at 8:45 AM, the Junior Men's Short Program kicks off the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships and there are still good seats available for this great event for our community. Ticket sales have been steady, but it will take very strong sales in December and early January for Spokane to beat its national attendance record set at the 2007 event. That 2007 achievement attracted national attention and is helping Spokane to attract larger and higher caliber events. We'd love to see the 2010 event beat that attendance record. Let's show the country Spokane is a great place to bring major sporting events! Local residents can still get tickets for all of the 23 events. Ticket prices start at $15, and there are nine different events priced at $20 or less, so there's something for every budget. Every ticket sold in December and early January will put the event closer to beating the 2007 record. Individual ticket and ticket package information is available online at http://www.spokane2010.com by calling 1-888-SK8-2010, or to save ticketing fees they can be purchased at the Spokane Arena Box Office. BUY TICKETS NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!

There are 2010 reasons to hit the Knitting Factory.

The Knitting Factory Concert House, at 919 W. Sprague, is hosting its Seventh Annual New Year's Eve Party, starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. DJ Prophesy will be bringing in the New Year with hot tracks, and the Knitting Factory will be giving away $2,010 in cash and prizes. Admission is $10, people 21 years old and older are welcome. For more information, go to http://www.knittingfactory.com. For tickets, go to http://www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Take some sage advice. Check out Wild Sage.

KXLY's Mark Peterson will be broadcasting live from Wild Sage American Bistro, at 916 W. Second, and taking donations for the American Red Cross from 5-9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. Representatives from the Red Cross will be on hand, and Wild Sage will serve complimentary pastries made in-house, as well as Four Seasons Coffee. Wild Sage, by the way, has an updated menu with more entrees under $20, with some items available in full and half portions. The restaurant also has started a dining club that features specials offered exclusively to members.

The High Five
from thesomshow.com
by Isamu Jordan

Christmas with Cool Cool Universe -- Leave it to The Blvd. House of Music to present a rock show on Christmas night. And it's not remotely holiday themed. Nope. Instead, it's eclectic indie rock and electronica from the mind of Jon Polm's Cool Cool Universe, with more bands to be announced, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 25, at The Blvd, 230 W. Riverside Ave. Cost: $5; 21-and-older welcome.

Post-Christmas Christmas Show with The Camaros - The Baby Bar/Neato Burrito is hosting a Post-Christmas indie-punk-rock-a-billy party with favorite La Cha-Cha, along with The Camaros and Whiskey Dick Mountain. That's at 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 26, at The Baby Bar/Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. Cost: $2.

Unsilent Night with The Earwigs - Wear earplugs if you're heading to The Cretin Hop on Saturday, because the bands on the bill are on a mission to damage your hearing at the Unsilent Night Noise Show, featuring avant garde experimental art-noise outfit The Earwigs, along with Takedown UAV, Aft3rbirth, and Ben Robertson. The intentional cacophony erupts Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Cretin Hop, 1317 N. Howard St. Cost: $5; all-ages welcome.

The Night After Christmas with Darin Hilderbrand - Local music fixture Darin Hilderbrand brings his bag of tricks, refined songwriting professional showmanship for The Som Show Presents: The Night After Christmas Party at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Press, 909 S. Grand Blvd. Cost: Free; all-ages welcome.

Jingle Bell Rock with King 'Til Midnight - The post-Christmas jam at The Blvd. melds rap rock, featuring a b-girl rap attack from female standouts Jaeda and Dime City, along with b-boy emcees Three Kings and A Bomb, and brand-new local rock-fusion project King 'Til Midnight, at 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 26, at The Blvd., 230 W. Riverside Ave. Cost: $5; 21-and-older welcome.

For music news, events, mp3s, artist profiles, multimedia and more, visit http://www.thesomshow.com.

We aren't going to say it twice. Check out Walla Walla.

With the busyness of the holidays reaching its fevered pitch, it might be time for a quick getaway to Washington's most fun small city and a fabulous hotel. The Marcus Whitman Hotel, in Walla Walla, is an impeccably restored historic hotel, with a free breakfast buffet for guests and unparalleled service. The hotel is located on Rose Street in the heart of Walla Walla, walking distance from many unique shops and wine stores. With New Year's festivities planned and a Winemaker's Series later in the year, there are plenty of reasons to plan a weekend getaway to the Marcus Whitman. For more information on this hotel, go to http://www.marcuswhitmanhotel.com.

It's your last chance to horse around downtown.

Spokane Teachers Credit Union and Downtown Spokane have teamed up to bring the team of horses back to streets of the city's core. Free horse-and-carriage rides are now available. Rides start at the corner of Main Avenue and Wall Street and are first come, first serve from 3-8 p.m. Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and noon to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve.

What to do this weekend? It's elementary, dear movie fans.

While few live performances are planned Christmas weekend, the theaters will be full of new movies. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" opens today, Dec. 23, featuring the musical rodents who have been entertaining families for more than 50 years. On Christmas Day, the biggest movie will be no mystery: it'll be "Sherlock Holmes," starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams. Or keep it simple and go to see Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in "It's Complicated," which also opens Friday, Dec. 25. For local movie times, go to http://www.regmovies.com, http://www.amctheatres.com or http://www.spokanemovies.com.

SPORTS CORNER
Oklahoma is going to lose Sooner rather than later.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic pits Gonzaga University against Oklahoma University at the Spokane Arena at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. The Bulldogs, ranked 24th in the nation, have eight wins and three losses and take on the unranked Sooners, who are 8-4 and coming off a loss to University of Texas-El Paso. Tickets in the $65 price range are still available for this game and can be bought at the Spokane Arena box office or through Tickets West at http://www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

NAME THAT FLICK.

"Is this the ear you can't hear on? George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die."

Name the movie that line appeared in to receive a $40 gift certificate to the Cathay Inn, for Spokane's best Chinese food! Send your best guess and your phone number to info@entertainmentspokane.com. The winner will be selected at random from correct entries and will be announced in next week's e-newsletter. The deadline for entries is noon on Thursday, Dec. 24.

Last Week's Winner: Kevin Stone knows what's UP!

Last week's movie quote was, "South America. It's like America, but south!" Stone correctly guessed that it was from the 2009 children's film "Up" and a $50 gift certificate to the Rockwood Clinic Aesthetic Clinic.

Send your entertainment news to info@entertainmentspokane.com

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Entertainment Spokane! is a weekly e-mail featuring all kinds of upcoming entertainment options throughout our area. Music. Stage. Theatre. Dance. Shows. Visual Arts. Clubs. Restaurants. Shopping. Community Events and more.

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