The prices really weren’t that much to begin with. For a lunch appetizer we spent $4.95 for cheesy garlic bread, my seafood salad was $12.95, and the sandwich choices that my girlfriends got were only $8.95 if I’m remembering correctly. All of the entrees came with either soup or a salad. I enjoyed a raspberry Italian soda. It was a hearty amount of soda that it actually lasted me throughout me entire meal- which has never happened before.

The restaurant seating is dimly lit and set up in a sort of cafeteria style fitting for the square room. The food was brought to us in a prompt manner, so we were able to enjoy our lunches with ample visiting time before heading back to work. The ladies I went out with enjoyed their sandwiches, and I could barely eat all of my sautéed seafood salad. I think it was loaded with more shrimp and scallops than lettuce that it was hardly a salad at all. I didn’t quite have enough left to consider a to-go box, but one of the girls I came with did because her sandwich was just to big for her to eat it all in one sitting.

For a lunch hour on a Friday the place was pretty quiet. Although I do suppose that they are more likely to specialize in the dinner hour, considering that they are only open for a few days of the week for lunch (Tuesday through Friday they have lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) The dinner hours at Luigi’s consist of Sunday through Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday they are open from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. From what I’ve heard, the place has a good salad bar with lots of selections to choose from, and is popular among the people I work with as a lunch stop. If you’re a big seafood fan, I would recommend the seafood salad, what I had, but you had better be a lover of the stuff because it contains a LOT of it!

As soon as we walked in the main entrance of the Fairgrounds we were greated by all the sights and sound you expect with snowmobiling, except in a heated building! We first went to check out the consighment snowmobiles, as we really don’t need brand new one’s. There were dozens of used snowmobiles for sale along with snowmobile parts. After checking out the used snowmobiles we wandered over to another bay to see what was new for 2009.

Besides snowmobiles, there were also booths for different Snowmobile Associations in Washington and Idaho, lodges, ranches, snowmobile rental companies, insuranace companies and clothing lines. There were also eXtreme snowmobilers signing autographs and a large number of the booths were playing snowmobile videos.

We ultimately decided that snowmobiling is probably a few years off for us, but it was fun to see what was out there. So, mark your calendars for the first Saturday in November 2009.

So far the market is selling some hearty things. The first set of tables is covered with massive loaves of bread. Those, I thought, would be a perfect addition to a thanksgiving feast with lots of people to feed. The seller was very friendly and explained the different properties with the different ingredients used for each loaf. What kind of flour and grains used along with the rising process can help to determine the levels of softness, etc.

The following booth was operated by a ranch owner. She looked so good surrounded by all of her vegetables that I had to take a picture of her. She was also very happy to explain things to me. The entire group, in fact, were all very friendly. The atmosphere was cheerful, and I think that the vendor were excited to be showing off their products.

In addition to these table displays there are also homemade jams (yum!), wooden toys, hats and scarves. The items are all reasonably priced, and their sellers very friendly without pushing for you to buy anything if all you want to do is look around. The market is located in the same building as Kizuri, the fair-trade store at the same address.

About four years ago Spokane’s Community Civic Theater started a Halloween “in-concert” special performance for Halloween with “Jekyll and Hyde.” This years’ performance was “Sweeny Todd.” I wasn’t about to miss it for anything. Tickets went on sale On October 6, and I was calling the box office the hour it was open just to make sure. And I was right to do so, tickets quickly sold out. It was a two-day showing of Oct. 31st and Nov 1st. Halloween being pretty much booked already, I went for the Nov. 1st showing. I’ve never been to an “in-concert” musical performance, and wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a magnificent performance and I will definitely be going to whatever show they put on next year.

An “in-concert” performance meant that the entire orchestra and the chorus where on stage the entire time. It was excited to watch the instruments being played along with the performers in costumes acting out their roles. The characters and the voices were very convincing. As a huge fan of the soundtrack from the Broadway original I was bracing myself for a disappointment that never happened. The actors all did a fantastic job. The acting was good, and the singing was near perfect. They had the audience roaring with laugher and gasping with horror just as they needed to be.

The tickets for this special performance were $30 each. For their regular shows general admission tickets are $22 for musicals and $15 for plays. The theater also offers student rush tickets, meaning that if students come in a half hour before the show they can buy any remaining tickets for half the price of a regular ticket. Box office hours are 10:00 am. to 5:30 p.m. on Mon.-Fri., and on Sat. performance nights from 12:00 p.m., to curtain time., same with Sundays. You can also buy tickets by phone within these hours, as I did, by calling 509-325-2507.

After the show my date and I were just about as starving as could be. We opted for Chinese, and as late as it was, we went to Cathy Inn (it’s open until midnight.) Along with the fabulous food they serve (I heart the spring rolls) it’s always fun to go there to see the sights. Upon first entering the restaurant there is a large fish tank with some of the most beautiful fish. It’s very entertaining to watch them swim around and interact with each other. There’s a lovely sky painting on the ceiling, and plenty of beautiful oriental artwork decorating the walls. As usual, I can count of the service to be friendly and helpful, and have more than enough food to fill us up before we leave.

Cathy Inn is located at 3714 N. Division St. They are open 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Monday thru Saturday and until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The first things I noticed about Area 58 are the interesting and odd sculptures outside of the building. Surrounding their outdoor sign there is a sculpture of a close-to-life-size zebra, and some creature not from this planet. They are a strange introduction to what lays within the building. After walking in and taking a sweeping observance of the items on display, I was initially filled with delight. I just knew that browsing through the item at Area was going to feel similar to treasure hunting—or about the equivalent of browsing through your great-grandmother’s attic.

If you decide to stop into Area 58, expect to see old and antique items. I enjoyed marveling at the old-fashioned jewelry (especially the beaded necklaces), and the delicate china sets. There are shelves of old books and vinyl record albums. Sheet music is displayed around a grand piano in the front of the store. This is a definite stop for collectors of old items.

In addition to the more antique items there are more “thrifty” items, such as clothing. One rack they had on display was one clearance sale for just $1 an item. They also have another rack with heavy fur coats, and they appeared almost new in quality. The clothing selection isn’t massive, but it’s worth taking a look at if you’re looking for something different.

I enjoyed looking at all of the artwork on the wall… and I was amazed at the low price tags attached to everything. Most of the larger pictures were only $12 or so. I was especially entranced by some of the velvet Native American images, tucked away in a corner of a display. They also have images that appeared as if they should have been on a greeting card from the 1950s, exactly like something you would find in your great grandmother’s attic.

The displays are set up with a kind of homey—house quality feeling to them. The sense I got from the shop was a whimsical, fun sensation. I will definitely be stopping in again. Area 58 is located at 3036 N. Monroe St., just south of the Skippers restaurant there. It’s usually open Wednesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. but now that its holiday hours are initiated, it’s open on Tuesday as well.

While Steve continued to talk politely with the ticket master, I, on the other hand, was doing my best not to explode.Explode as in, rip up the tickets, thrown them in the cashier’s face and demand that prices return to their six to seven dollar rate! Luckily for all parties involved, I didn’t explode. I did however, learn my lesson. Since then, I’ve probably seen three movies at a corporate theater.

It’s not because I don’t like movies anymore. It’s just too expensive to pay nine dollars and fifty cents a piece. I can’t pay my student loans much less foot the bill on date night! Thankfully for me, and all the other poor (or cheap) saps out there, there’s an answer, or at least a delicious alternative.

 I bring you, dollar movie night at the Garland Theater, located at 1924 West Garland Avenue, on the corner of Monroe. That’s right. Dollar movie night. It seems almost absurd in such economic times, but The Garland, Spokane’s only locally owned movie theater, hosts dollar movie night every Wednesday.

First opened in 1945, the little theater, much to my surprise, is not at all little. In fact, The Garland seats 630 people in its auditorium-style theater. Better yet, the seats are huge and they recline. It’s like your own personal lazy boy. What more could you ask for?

This week I saw Tropic Thunder. The show had a slow start, but in the end kept me laughing with solid punch lines, slapstick comedy and good old fashion randomness. The movie is however, not family friendly, or even friendly to those faint of heart. Being another epic comedy from Ben Stiller, the jokes ranged from racial stereotyping, profanity, sex, to plain old crudeness.

Hollywood hitters the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black grace the stage, but performance who stole the show was none other than Tom Cruise. Despite previous antics and a slew of recently serious movies, that actor proves that yes, he is funny. Perhaps even a good actor. Even though Tropic Thunder isn’t suitable for kids, don’t fret. The theater continually spices up its playlist. And regardless of what’s playing, the theater’s retro atmosphere, moderately priced snack stand and unusual gift shop is always great for singles, retirees and families alike.

Current movies include Mama Mia, Wall-E and Tropic Thunder. Showtimes and movie durations vary, so visit their website at http://www.garlandtheater.com/ or call the box office at 327-1050. Regular ticket prices are three dollars and fifty cents per person. So even if you can’t make it for dollar movie night on Wednesdays, a trip to The Garland is worth the experience.

Singing is fun. Whether you’re good at it or not, you can’t deny the “fun-ness” attached to the activity. Likewise, karaoke can be fun. The problem is that most people don’t like to get up and sing in front of a bunch of strangers. I’ve done it one at a fair, and didn’t end up feeling very proud of myself afterward. But with a group of close friends? I’ll yell out a song (completely off tempo)—and enjoy every minute of it too! Some of my girlfriends and I found the perfect alternative to clubbing for a girl’s night out: Ultimate Karaoke. The greatest thing about this place is that it gives you and your group your own private karaoke room—no more being embarrassed in front of strangers!

Ultimate Karaoke has several different-sized rooms depending on the amount of people in your party. There were 5 of us, so we got a decent mid-sized room. We were just walk-ins, but you can also reserve a room for a party or other special occasion by calling them ahead of time at (866) 594-8625. The joint’s hours are 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. That ended up being great when midnight rolled around on a Thursday night and we weren’t sure what there was to do. We discovered the place, which is located at 7456 N. Division St. Just near the Onion restaurant and Michael’s Arts and Crafts store, across from Costco. Prices for the rooms depend of the size of your party and the extent of time you end up staying. For a group of 1 to 5 people the cost is $15/hr or $30/hr on Fri-Sat (6:00 p.m. – Close). For 6 to 10 people it’s $20/hr or $40/hr on Fri-Sat (6:00 p.m. – Close). And so on. Rates go up to 60 people which would cost $45/hr or $90 on Fri. – Sat. (6:00 p.m. – Close). What’s great about the cost is that they won’t start charging until you have all of your songs picked out and you actually start singing, so you don’t have to feel rushed going through the song books deciding what everyone wants to do.

After the decisions were made, we each wrote out selections on the slips of paper provided (and we could have done as many as we wanted) you stick them in a basket right outside of your door, and they’ll grab them and start playing them form the front of the store. So all we had to do was sit back, stand up, and sing all of the songs as they come up. What’s also nice is that the selections were mixed up, so one person’s choices weren’t played back-to-back, meaning the same person didn’t have to sing multiple songs in a row. Two microphones are provided—so we did a lot of team singing. (It’s not as embarrassing if someone else is sounding horrible with you!) and we are also free to adjust the controls on the machine (amount of echo, volume, etc.)

We didn’t think to bring anything that night, but costumers are free to bring in their own food and drinks (even alcohol as long as it stays within the private room, if you’re of age). So next time, for girls night out, we are definitely planning on pizza, root beer, and plenty of singing! It ended up being so fun that we stayed for an extra hour the last time we went. Without a doubt Ultimate Karaoke will be our new girl’s night out place to be.

As I stepped into the Floral Expressions store, located on Washington Ave, or the main road that goes thru town, I was pleasantly surprised with how adorable the store was. Another treat about this event was that each store had some sort of appetizer and/or adult beverage being offered. This store had crackers and some delightful cheeses. I walked around the store and found many things that peaked my interest, one being, a hotpad that when heated by a warm pan gave off a soothing scent. Almost everyone in our group of 6 purchased at least one! Along with our purchase we were given a “passport card” that would be stamped at each of the participating stores. At the final store were told to turn in our cards and would be entered into a drawing for prizes, such as a day of pampering at the local spa, a gift certificate valued at $140 to one of the participating shops, a gourmet dinner for 6 or party for 15 catered by Frank Marmo or High Tea for a party of 8 at the Foxwood House. We were also given a map of all the stores and a guide to special events, such as a chick flick movie playing at the local movie theater.

We move on to the next store The Kitchen Shoppe, a shop filled with you guessed it, kitchen items along with wines. Down the street we found Just Because, a cute boutique filled with clothing and special collector items, such as hand painted martini glasses and My Sister’s Cottage was across the street, filled with home decor items. It was approaching lunch time so we all decided to check our guide to see what restaurants were offering the “girls day out lunch”. We decided going to Kelly’s, a restaurant/bar located on 4^thstreet. We all found something to stratify our taste buds and once we had finished our lunch we were ready to hit the next shop.

The next stop was the Shanty Boutique and don’t let the name fool you! The shop was packed with people and there was plenty reason why. The apparel was fashionable and chic and the home decor was that as well. The back of the shop had a small café in it and a long line for coffee as this November day was a chilly one! We moved on to the Rivers Edge Treasures, a shop filled with antiques and rustic wooden furniture and our last stop was across the bridge heading east towards Priest River. The last shop was called Into the Garden Up to the Lake. The shop had many home decor items and outside decorations. We turned in our cards and hoped for the best of luck to win the drawing.

Our Girls Day had come to an end and it was time to go home. We were all delighted with our purchases and finds for the day and can not wait until next year’s Who Let the Girl’s Out! This was the first year for the event so I am not sure if it will fall on the same weekend next year or not, but for more information you can call 509-447-3160. The event started at 9am and ran to 6pm. To get to Newport from Spokane take highway 2 and head east for about 45 miles. Newport is located on the Washington/Idaho state line boarder.

We decided to go to Raw sushi and island grill located at 523 W. 1st Ave, right in the middle of downtown Spokane. The atmosphere was very cozy and the lights were dimmed, creating a very romantic setting, which was perfect for our double date.

When I looked at the menu, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had more then just raw fish in their sushi. They had several different types of sushi that did not have any fish in them at all! I ordered their “crunchy roll”, which is made with tempura shrimp, and my boyfriend ordered the chicken teriyaki bowl.

After an extremely short period of time, our food was brought out to us and was elegantly displayed. I was almost afraid to eat it because it looked too pretty- I gave in though and devoured my meal.

To my surprise, the sushi was delicious! It was cooked to perfection and incorporated many fresh and exciting flavors into the roll.

Then for dessert, we ordered the cheesecake roll, which was basically a piece of cheesecake rolled to look like a sushi roll, and then had a light drizzle of caramel on top (heaven!).

Overall, my experience at Raw was amazing! The service was fast and friendly, and our meal was rather inexpensive (dinner, dessert, and tip cost approximately $25.00 for two). Also, the portion sizes were perfect- they weren’t too filling, but my belly was definitely satisfied.

As I walked into the building the first thing I could smell was the appetizing aroma’s from Kitchen Engine and Chocolate Apothecary. There are shops that sell lotions and a shop that sells tobacco too. My two favorite shops are Wonders of the World and the Bead Shoppe. Wonders of the World has some of the most unique items that you simply cannot find anywhere else. They sell beautiful handcrafted trade items, collectable rocks and gemstones, beautiful knick-knacks and decorations, jewelry, and of course, beads for the Bead Shoppe.

I was intrigued by the Native American pottery, the Indonesian dance masks, and the Chinese deities. I spotted some Chinese dragon incense holders that I plan on returning to buy—they would make some great gifts. Wonders of the World sells collectable sculptures by Jim Shore, and lots of Amy Browne fairy merchandise. I was particularly taken by the glowing lamps, especially the ones in the shape of shoes. Visiting the Bead Shoppe, across the hall but a part of the Wonders of the World, I felt my creative side juice up and I simply had to buy some of the beads they were selling. I was surprised by the selection they offered. I settled on some dark red seed beads, talking myself out of buying them out like crazy.

Next time I try to eat at Clinkerdagger’s, which is a delicious restaurant that overlooks the river I will definitely be sure to make reservations first. But in the mean time, I’m kind of glad it didn’t work out because I got to venture further within the wonders of the Flour Mill.