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Budweiser bash bids bye-bye to skating week

Posted by Tom at 9:52 AM on Jan 28    Comments (1)
Filed under: Around Town, People & Places, Highlights
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Sightings, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Sightings, Sightings

I crashed the invite-only skating farewell bash thrown by sponsor Budweiser at The Davenport Hotel last night.

Here are some pics from the party:

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Post Ladies Free press conference

Posted by Joe at 4:19 PM on Jan 27    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Championship, Audio

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Excerpts from the press conference following the Championship Ladies Free at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 at the Spokane Arena. Speaking are: Kimmie Meissner, Emily Hughes and Alissa Czisny.

Kimmie Meissner - Just off the ice

Posted by Joe at 3:50 PM on Jan 27    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Kimmie Meissner speaks to the media after leaving the ice at the Spokane Arena Sat., Jan. 27, 2007. Meissner won the U.S. Figure Skating Championship after a high scoring short performance and a strong long show.

THE SKATING EDGE

Posted by Joe at 9:35 PM on Jan 26    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia, Highlights
Tags: Slideshows

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Spokesman-Review staff photographer Brian Plonka spent some of his time at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships looking for often overlooked moments and scenes.

A red carpet affair

Posted by Tom at 10:39 PM on Jan 25    Comments (0)
Filed under: Around Town, People & Places, Highlights
Tags: Drinks, Things To Do, Sightings, Sightings

The Spokane International Film Festival opened tonight, but the red carpet unrolled across the street at The Davenport Hotel.

Tom Collins, producer and host of Champions on Ice, came to the party in honor of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, which inducted Charles Schulz today.

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Champ. Pairs Short - press conference

Posted by Joe at 1:26 AM on Jan 25    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Excerpts from the post competition press conference Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, at the Spokane Arena with: Point leaders Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, second place team Naomi Nari Nam and Themi Leftheris, and third place team Brooke Castile and Benjamin Okolski.

Gregoire opens U.S. Figure Skating Championship

Posted by Joe at 8:23 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire officially opened the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Spokane Arena Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007.

Skating fans touring the town

Posted by Tom at 6:53 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Around Town, People & Places, Highlights
Tags: Drinks, Things To Do, Drinks, Things To Do

I met up with a friendly crew of skating fans as they examined barrels and learned the basics of wine fermentation from owner Greg Lipsker at Barrister Winery.

Wouldn't you know it, the group proved to be a globe-trotting gaggle of nightlife lovers with a history tied to figure skating and a penchant for planning perfect city stays.

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Scott Hamilton sighting

Posted by Heather at 3:02 PM on Jan 24    Comments (4)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places
Tags: Sightings, Sightings, Sightings

So, while everyone was awaiting the arrival of Johnny Weir at Fan Fest today, guess who walked in the door?

Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Scott Hamilton.

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Evan Lysacek Press Conference (Part 1 of 3)

Posted by Brian at 2:50 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Two-time World bronze medalist Evan Lysacek answers questions at an afternoon press conference at the Spokane Arena Wednesday.

Evan Lysacek Press Conference (Part 2 of 3)

Posted by Brian at 2:50 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Two-time World bronze medalist Evan Lysacek answers questions at an afternoon press conference at the Spokane Arena Wednesday.

Evan Lysacek Press Conference (Part 3 of 3)

Posted by Brian at 2:50 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Two-time World bronze medalist Evan Lysacek answers questions at an afternoon press conference at the Spokane Arena Wednesday.

Finally ... Heeeeere's Johnny

Posted by Heather at 2:41 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places
Tags: Sightings, Sightings, Sightings

Barbara Larson, a 12-year-old skating fan (and skater, too) from Coeur d'Alene got in line for Johnny Weir's autograph at 12:45 p.m. At about 2:15 she finally got her signature.

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Johnny Weir Press Conference (Part 1 of 3)

Posted by Brian at 2:40 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir answers questions at an afternoon press conference at the Spokane Arena Wednesday.

Johnny Weir Press Conference (Part 2 of 3)

Posted by Brian at 2:40 PM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Audio

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Three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir answers questions at an afternoon press conference at the Spokane Arena Wednesday.

Autograph opportunity

Posted by Heather at 10:53 AM on Jan 24    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places
Tags: Things To Do

Want to get up close and personal with Johnny Weir? Better get in line.

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Images from senior practice at the Spokane Arena on Tuesday

Posted by Brian at 5:02 PM on Jan 23    Comments (0)
Filed under: People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Championship, Dance, Pairs, Ladies, Slideshows

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Images from senior ladies and senior ice dancing practice at the Spokane Arena on Tuesday.

A Tuesday night in Spokane

Posted by Tom at 2:37 PM on Jan 23    Comments (0)
Filed under: Around Town, People & Places
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do

Last night I discovered where members of the media drink.

Regardless, the first two nights of skating week seemed quieter than usual for downtown nightlife.

Hmm. Tonight I'm going to check out Taco Tuesday Azteca Mexican Restaurant, across the street from the Convention Center. The weekly $5 all-you-can-eat taco deal in the bar (4 to 9 p.m.) has been a Spokane staple since I went to Gonzaga.

Then I might canter over to Luigi's Italian Restaurant for Half-price Wine Night (wine by the bottle only).

Where else should I go? What are your plans (other than the obvious)?

Images from Monday's events

Posted by Joe at 8:38 PM on Jan 22    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Novice, Junior, Pairs, Slideshows

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Most of these images are from the Spokane Arena in the afternoon. A few are from the morning events at the Convention Center.

Adam Lee, a Fanfest Balloon Twister

Posted by Brian at 2:04 PM on Jan 22    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, Around Town, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Entertainment, Things To Do, Entertainment, Things To Do, Video

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Adam Lee, a Balloon Twister, talks about his job at Fanfest in the Convention Center.

Never know who you'll meet

Posted by Heather at 2:00 PM on Jan 22    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places
 

Guess who I sat next to on the shuttle bus ride to the Spokane Arena today?

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Salsa, salsa ... Who wants salsa?

Posted by Heather at 1:47 PM on Jan 22    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places
 

Homer Croyle wants you to try some salsa.
And the 75-year-old former funeral insurance salesman is such a persuasive pitchman that even if you hate salsa more than stewed prunes, you'd probably give it a try.

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Fan o' the morning

Posted by Heather at 10:52 AM on Jan 22    Comments (1)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places
 

Meet Cindy Kassab, a bus driver from Vancouver, Wash. She's a skating fan. A huge skating fan. And, oh yeah, she makes balloon animals, too. And juggles. While she ice skates.

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Spokane's one-of-a-kind spots

Posted by Tom at 10:49 AM on Jan 22    Comments (5)
Filed under: Around Town, People & Places, Highlights
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do

Taste of the Town blog reader Joan writes:

"I'm coming up from Portland for the skating. Never visited Spokane before so I don't have a clue. Strangely enough I plan to skip the cotton candy as well as the merry-go-round and malls, but I would love to try some one of a kind restaurants and shops downtown. Any recommendations? I heard about the skywalks, does that mean I'm going to be knee deep in snow this week? I'd like to walk around."

Joan will be happy to know that the skywalks cover a decent portion of what's considered the downtown core, so folks will be able to keep out of the snow - to a point.

As for one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops, the city won't disappoint.

Here are a couple of suggestions to kick things off:

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Preschoolers and ice skating: Can it be done?

Posted by Heather at 10:32 AM on Jan 22    Comments (0)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Highlights
 

Who would be crazy enough to bring 20 preschoolers to an ice-skating event? And could it even be done?

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Sunday afternoon Novices

Posted by Joe at 6:33 PM on Jan 21    Comments (0)
Filed under: Competition, Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Novice, Pairs, Slideshows

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These images and music are from the Sunday afternoon skates at the convention center. The fans held up well getting louder throughout the day.

Sunday morning sights and sounds

Posted by Joe at 3:04 PM on Jan 21    Comments (1)
Filed under: Competition, Behind The Scenes, People & Places, Multimedia
Tags: Novice, Junior, Pairs, Slideshows

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This show is mostly skating from the convention center but there are also images from off the ice and a few from practce sessions at the Spokane Arena.

Athletes At The Eagles

Posted by Berkley at 12:14 PM on Jan 19    Comments (2)
Filed under: Behind The Scenes, Around Town, People & Places
Tags: Sightings

Just a note to all… Many of the novice and junior level skaters will be practicing at the Eagles Ice-a-Rena starting today and continuing though out the week. This is a great opportunity to watch the athletes as they prepare for their up coming events at no cost.

Dress warm and grab a rink java (the ghetto mochas aren’t too bad).