The Inlander

We asked readers to submit questions for Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner and Democrat Carmela Conroy, who are competing for the 5th Congressional District seat.

ANNUAL MANUAL: The Inland Northwest is brimming with performing and visual arts offerings year-round. Here’s a taste of what some of the top venues have in store, but don’t be shy about exploring further.

SNOWLANDER: Residents of the region seem to be divided into two distinct categories: Those who ski and those who don’t. For those who fall into the latter group, many times the reasons revolve around just never getting around to trying it and fear.

By the end of candidate filing week in early May, the only person officially seeking Mary Brooks’ seat was Suzanne Schmidt. In light of concerns about a lack of data center regulations to protect the region’s drinking water, Rachelle Miller says a friend asked her to run for the county board.

Theo Katzman has released four studio albums and three live albums while also contributing his talents to Vulfpeck. Now, he’s taking a break from touring with the multipiece band and embarking on a true solo tour taking the stage each night with just his electric guitar and a keyboard.

Here are just a few of the many places around the Inland Northwest rumored to be hosting a spirit or two. Visit if you dare.

ANNUAL MANUAL: The Inland Northwest is a hotbed of events throughout the year devoted to small-batch beer. Here’s some of the highlights beer lovers can look forward to.

DINING OUT: While a nearly infinite variety of leafy greens, herbs and otherwise verdant veggies bring a healthy plant-driven balance to our daily meals, for this spotlight on green ingredients, we intentionally sought dishes that bucked expectations.

When The Social Reckoning was first announced, it was billed as The Social Network Part II, the 2010 drama about the founding of Facebook. Watching the movie now, though, it’s almost hard to believe that anyone involved thought that this could be seen as a direct continuation of The Social Network.

ANNUAL MANUAL: Alison Collins never set out to open a bakery, let alone one that would become a destination for vegan and gluten-free food in Spokane. What started as a few desserts grew, and with support from friends and community members, Boots Bakery & Lounge opened downtown in 2012.

"It’s not that an evening on the couch would have been terrible. But I’m trying to question the forces that equate cold-weather coziness with isolation."

DINING OUT: Finding items to fill separate blue, indigo and violet categories for this year’s theme proved challenging. What we’ve compiled includes cocktails that make use of coloring agents like butterfly pea flower tea, and a few dishes that aren’t so much fine dining as they are tasty treats.

If you’re not a film nerd who cares about the vanity cards (production company logos) at the beginning of a movie, you’re also probably not an A24 obsessive. Those who are know the studio excels at horror, and you could create a solid Halloween watchlist using only A24 movies.

River and Rye opened to diners in July and can seat about 90 inside and another dozen or so on the patio. The Waldhers say the business is loosely based on American novelist and “man’s man” Ernest Hemingway; “river” for his time fishing in Idaho, and “rye” for his penchant for heavy drinking.

DINING OUT: Red or pink-colored foods are incredibly common and, by nature, incredibly appetizing to most. A seared steak, for example, can range from a pale pink to juicy red, depending on how you like it prepared. A glass of ruby-red wine is often the perfect pairing.

ANNUAL MANUAL: Catch up on some of the largest in-progress and completed construction projects in the Inland Northwest.

It's your last chance to tell us what you'd like us to ask the candidates for Congress!

Tom Cruise makes his return to what one might call “serious” acting not with a subdued appearance in a quiet, naturalistic drama, but with a showy role in a blunt, bombastic satire that makes Top Gun: Maverick look like a paragon of subtlety.

HEALTH & HOME: It can be difficult to decide which extracurricular activity is best for your child. There are athletic, academic and artistic options, all with their own benefits. For those looking to fill the artistic spot in their child’s schedule, consider taking a trip to your local music store.

For at least a decade, Joe Hedges' work has attempted to capture conflicting thoughts and emotions around technology by hybridizing it with traditional fine arts. In a new exhibition of Hedges’ work that just opened at EWU and showcases a series of techno-sculptural fusions he calls "Hypercombines."

One Two Three author Laurie Frankel says that on her book tour, landlocked audiences had a difficult time relating to the importance of the river, one of the reasons she’s excited to be in conversation with Spokanites for 2026’s Spokane Is Reading.

Emily Peterson is no stranger to running a business. In 2021, she bought Page 42 Bookstore with her best friend Alicia Glubrecht and has since turned the used bookstore into a thriving hub in the Bemiss neighborhood. In early September, Peterson opened HoneySpell Cafe.

ANNUAL MANUAL: It’s no secret to those of us living in the area, but Spokane is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to golf. With about 15 courses within 25 miles of the city center, sandbaggers and wanna-be pros alike can get in some dedicated time at the course any day of the week.

Went over to PAX West. Played some games on the horizon. Wrote about it. www.inlander.com/screen/takea...

Photos for @inlander.com story about Spokane Public Schools meals for students. Ferris High School, 8/27/26, in Spokane, WA. 1) Assistant Manager and Cook Sue Murphin makes a Philly beef sandwich. 2) Prep Worker Rebecca Briggs adds a chicken sandwich to a tray. www.inlander.com/food/as-stud...

For Fall Arts, I sat in for a Spokane Jazz Orchestra practice as the ensemble preps for its 50th anniversary season. www.inlander.com/culture/fall...

Rounded up my favorite albums from the past few months for your listening pleasure... www.inlander.com/music/our-to...

FALL ARTS: Within our annual Fall Arts and Entertainment issue, you’ll not only find stories that highlight groups, organizations and people who make our region a place filled with creativity, you’ll also read about what it takes to make it all happen.

GIVE GUIDE: What might seem like an outdated form of media is still alive and well in Spokane at KYRS, and every volunteer, host and person who makes it possible is looking to continue providing that for the community for as long as the community will support them.

“The Mirror That Nature Holds” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU reflects how modern artists — and by extension, contemporary society — relate to the natural world.

First started under former Mayor David Condon’s “Give Real Change” campaign, which encouraged residents to donate directly to the city to invest in homeless services rather than handing change to people panhandling, the city’s H.O.M.E. Starts Here Fund hasn’t gotten much attention in recent years.

GIVE GUIDE: As soon as the Spokane Complex fires started to get bad, volunteers with the Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team, or HEART, sprang into action to move animals affected by the wildfires and house them at the Spokane County Fairgrounds.

GIVE GUIDE: Every year, Inland Northwesterners generously share their time, spirit and money with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, which in turn support community members in need.

The Salvation Army teamed up with Innovia Foundation, Wheatland Bank, The Red Cross and Old Navy to provide gift cards to students impacted by the Spokane Complex Fires.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, leaders from the Innovia Foundation, Spokane Public Schools, Greenstone Corporation and others gathered at Balboa Elementary School to announce a major new grant program for those who lost their homes in the Spokane Complex fires.

Healing isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s messy and complicated. And according to Jonathan Van Ness, sometimes it involves a sequined mini dress, a lot of body oil and making fun of the things that made you need to heal in the first place.

When Kelli Belles had the idea to write a sequel to the late Dolly Parton’s ultra-iconic song “Jolene,” it seemed like more of a fun writing challenge to try to do the song justice. But then the story of this fan-made sequel took a very unexpected turn.

What does a group of shoe salesmen secretly selling feet pics online, the case of a man accused of fondling pumpkins at Green Bluff, and a laughing gas-filled Hastings Entertainment have in common?

When Coeur d’Alene’s The Art Spirit Gallery closed its doors in February, North Idaho’s art community knew there would be some big shoes to fill in its absence.

Two weeks after the Spokane Complex fires, many people were still stopping by the remains of their burned down homes — to check for valuables, to gather a few surviving possessions, to process their grief. Others were checking on homes that are still standing but damaged by smoke, ash and heat.

Back in June, popstar Olivia Rodrigo went on the radio show KISS Breakfast and dropped the following unnerving factoid about some of her fans. “I have been to certain concerts and certain festivals where people wear diapers so that they can be front row of the show,” Rodrigo said.

If you or someone you know has a story to share or news tips regarding one of the three fires, please send an email to editor@inlander.com as we continue our coverage into the coming week.

If a boat that disappeared under mysterious circumstances suddenly reappears just as mysteriously three decades later, the smart move is probably not to immediately gather a crew and send it back out to sea.

American eateries in other larger cities have gradually hopped on the K-dog concept, and Spokanites can finally get their fill at Izzie’s K-Dogs, which opened in April on the second floor of the Crescent Building at 707 W. Main Ave.

What started as an effort to increase the inventory of popular toys at the family-owned Cheney gas station quickly turned the convenience store into an unlikely squishy hotspot.

On the Aug. 4 primary ballot, voters within the Spokane Transit Authority service area will determine whether STA can renew a 0.2% sales tax that was approved by voters in 2016 and is set to expire at the end of 2028. The tax adds 20 cents per $100 to purchases.

Voters in Washington’s 6th Legislative District — which covers Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Four Lakes, Nine Mile Falls, Indian Trail, Five Mile Prairie, parts of north and northeast Spokane and parts of northwest Spokane County — are preparing for a new pair of representatives to take office.

The Salish School of Spokane is bringing back its language revitalization celebration, Rally for Salish, on Friday, July 24, at Riverfront Park’s Clocktower Meadow. The free event highlights Salish languages and culture through opportunities for the community to connect with Indigenous organizations

Despite growing concerns over climate change and other ecological impacts, turf lawns remain deeply embedded in American culture. At the same time, municipalities like Spokane are engaged in long-term efforts to educate residents about more efficient watering practices and alternative landscaping.

Although Marshall Peterson died June 2 after an illness at age 61, the gallery he spent so much of his time on continues to impact Spokane and those who knew him. A celebration of life is planned for July 24 from 4-7 pm at the Nest Plaza in Kendall Yards.