Fox Theater Spokane
Hot This Week!
December 30, 2009

First Night is going to be a good, good night.

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.

Oh-9 ends with the Ninth 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.

Out with the old. In with the Divas.

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.

Make a toast to a classic event.

Theatre Ballet of Spokane will present its annual dance review, Ballet & Bubbly, at the Bing Crosby Theater Thursday, Dec. 31. The event starts at 6 p.m. with champagne and chocolates, followed by the program at 7 p.m. The dancers will perform again at 9 p.m. as part of First Night Spokane. Tickets for Ballet & Bubbly are $17 each and are available at http://www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Where others curate, you can create some fun.

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, at 2316 W. First in Browne's Addition, will host a First Day event from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1. The full slate of family-friendly activities starts with magician Dick Frost, from 10 a.m.-noon, followed by bubble illusionist Jarom Watts, from noon-2 p.m. Flautist Robins Song will perform from 2-4 p.m., and The Mystic Dream Dance Co., a traditional belly dance troupe, will take the stage from 4-6 p.m. The event is free with admission to the museum-and no admission is charged to Museum members or those wearing First Night buttons. For more information, call 509-456-3931.

New Year's Eve High Five
from thesomshow.com
by Isamu Jordan

DJ Prophesy at The Knitting Factory - The Som Show Presents a New Year's party that pays with a balloon drop of $2,010 in cash and prizes at the stroke of midnight. DJ Prophesy is the man on the wheels of steel, and there will be a special appearance by The Northwest Photobooth, offering pics throughout the night. The party starts at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve at The Knitting Factory, 919 W. Sprague. Cost: $10; 21-and-older welcome.

Mon Cheri at The A Club - Last year's winner of the Sommy for Band of the Year, Mon Cheri, closes out a stellar 2009 by headlining the New Year's Eve bash at the grand opening of The A Club, located in the former Casbah space at 416 W. Sprague Ave., at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Cost: $10.

The High Holies at Lion's Lair - Winner of the 2005 Sommy for Best Bar Band, The High Holies are back together again and playing their reunion show with Space Age Fur at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve at The Lion's Lair, 205 W. Riverside. Cost $5.

The Deadones at The Blvd. - It's going to be a very punk-rock New Year with bands The Deadones, Lack of Respect, Laylah's Drink, Random Noise and Riverside Breakdown at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve at The Blvd., 230 W. Riverside Ave. Cost: $7, 21-and-older welcome.

PKY at The Cretin Hop - For some all-ages punk-rock, catch PKY, Bestige, Garajmoholics and Natural Selection at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve at The Cretin Hop, 1317 N. Howard. Cost: $5; all ages welcome.

For music news, events, mp3s, artist profiles, multimedia and more, visit thesomshow.com.

Feel the city shakin' and everybody quakin' to Boogie Wonder.

The Boogie Wonder Band, a 10-person ensemble dedicated to disco, will play that funky music at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2. The show coincides with the opening of the new, state-of-the-art hotel at Northern Quest. Cost for the cabaret-style Boogie Wonder Band show is $35 per person. Tickets are available through the Northern Quest events line at 509-481-6700 or through Tickets West at http://www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

These guys know how to hold a grunge.

Put on your old flannel and get ready to rock Eddie Vedder-style. The Sounds of Seattle is coming to the Knitting Factory Concert House at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1. Ten, a Pearl Jam tribute band, and Badmotorfinger, a Soundgarden tribute band, will play some of the best music to come from the West Side's grunge scene during the early 1990s. Tickets are $13 and are available at http://www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Something tells us there won't be any knitting going on at this show.

Locals Live hits the Knitting Factory Concert House at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2. The show features Silent Atrophy, Flesh Before Famine, Beyond Mortality and Shrieks of the I. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 the day of the show, and can be bought directly from the bands or at the Knitting Factory box office. For more information, click on the Spokane link at http://www.knittingfactory.com.

Hey Buddy, the Civic has some big plans for the 2010-11 season.

The Spokane Civic Theatre ushers in the New Year with a new lineup of great shows planned for its 2010-2011 season. The season start with the most successful rock 'n' roll musical ever, "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," Sept. 24-Oct. 24. Following "Buddy" is: "In Concert: West Side Story," Oct. 29-30; "White Christmas," Nov. 19-Dec. 19; "Don't Dress For Dinner," Jan. 14-30, 2011; "Nunsense," Feb. 18-March 6, 2011; Kaleidoscope 2011 State Theatre Festival Competition, March 11-13, 2011; "The Sisters Rosensweig," April 8-23, 2011; "The Full Monty," May 20-June, 2011. In the Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre, Civic plans the following shows: "The Cemetery Club," Oct. 22-Nov. 14; "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," Jan. 28-Feb. 20, 2011; "Metamorphoses," March 25-April 17, 2011; "Frost/Nixon," May 6-28, 2011. Season tickets will be available for sale after April 1. For more information on the remaining 2009-2010 season's shows, go to http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com.

SPORTS CORNER
The Bulldogs play for charity ... but won't be in a charitable mood.

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 22nd in the nation, have nine 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.

"You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace, is it?"

Name the movie that line appeared in to receive a $35 gift certificate from Peters and Sons Florists, at 512 E. Pacific! 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. 31.

Last Week's Winner: Teri Becklund has a wonderful life!

Or at least, a good end to the year. Last week's movie quote was, "Is this the ear you can't hear on? George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die." Becklund correctly guessed that it was from the 1946 Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" and won a $40 gift certificate to the Cathay Inn.

Send your entertainment news to info@entertainmentspokane.com

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