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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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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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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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Skating fans ... kind of

Posted by Tom at 9:08 PM on Jan 23    Comments (1)
Filed under: Around Town, Highlights
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do

Angie Kelleher, Erin Miller and Melissa Pederson don't consider themselves skating fans.

"We're all Taco Tuesday fans," said Miller, 25 (center), while hanging at Azteca Mexican Restaurant, across the street from the Convention Center.

The group is, however, going to the pairs finals on Friday. They got passes through work.

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Entertainment cheat sheets

Posted by Tom at 5:11 PM on Jan 23    Comments (0)
Filed under: Around Town
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do

A quick note before I head out on the town:

If you're looking to tour Spokane's food, drink and entertainment culture, look no further than 7, the nightlife side of The Spokesman-Review.

Along with extensive restaurant information and critical review databases, you can find bar and drink columns, events listings and other fun stories and features.

Speaking of which, here are a few you might want to check out:

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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)?

The Perfect 10

Posted by Tom at 10:56 PM on Jan 22    Comments (0)
Filed under: Around Town
Tags: Drinks, Things To Do

As I write this, a colleague and I are sitting in the new Safari Room Fresh Grill and Bar in The Davenport Tower, bellied-up next to some ABC Sports folks who're in town to cover figure skating and watching the Gonzaga-Portland game.

But I'm not here for the game. I'm here for the Perfect 10.

"I need to go to the back and get some root beer schnapps," said our bartender.

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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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Hey, it was a Sunday

Posted by Tom at 12:22 AM on Jan 22    Comments (1)
Filed under: Around Town
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do

"Downtown is dead."

That's what a friend and local food blogger said regarding the activity in restaurants and bars today, the first day of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

After we met for a drink at Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar in River Park Square tonight after the Junior Women's skating programs, it's hard to disagree. The bar called last call at 8:45 p.m.

Bistango Martini Lounge, which was scheduled to stay open until midnight, closed before 10 p.m.

We ended up at one of three populated tables at Europa Pizzeria and Bakery - which has a killer happy hour from 10 p.m. to midnight every day, no matter what the occasion - and only one other table was occupied by skating fans.

Of course, this was a Sunday night. One has to think that local restauratuers are hoping the inevitable influx of fans expected to show up for the week's big events will repay them for their efforts.

Figure skating suds?

Posted by Tom at 7:21 PM on Jan 21    Comments (0)
Filed under: Around Town
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Dining, Drinks, Entertainment

The first thing you'll notice walking up to Bistango Martini Lounge is the fine calligraphy text on the sign out front, welcoming skating fans.

Below that, the sign reads ...

"Bud Light $4.00 aluminum bottles."

I had to laugh, considering Bistango's role as one of the premier upscale cocktail lounges in downtown Spokane.

My professional recommendation: Skip the Bud Light and order a dry Crater Lake Vodka martini with two blue cheese-stuffed olives.

On an unrelated note: Sitting here in the press room at the Arena, the majority of the attention is on one of three TVs. No, not the Junior Women's program. Indianapolis' last-minute 38-34 win over the New England Patriots.

Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

While you're out: a booze and bites primer

Posted by Tom at 4:46 PM on Jan 21    Comments (2)
Filed under: Around Town, Highlights
Tags: Dining, Drinks, Entertainment, Things To Do

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships draw the most attention downtown Spokane's seen since Samuel L. Jackson filmed the critically panned "Home of the Brave" here. Maybe more, even.

But at some point, the focus has to shift from the Double Toe Loop to the Double Cheeseburger. Or the Dry Martini.

Area restaurants and bars are banking on it.

Here's a short list of spots that've altered their programs to make your tastebuds turn a triple axel. I'll post updates throughout the week's events.

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