3

Spokane had a mini-renaissance in the 1970s; let's recapture some of that magic as we celebrate the World's Fair and plan for future success

As preparations begin for the 50th anniversary of EXPO '74 next year, we want to reflect on one of the greatest periods in our history, when the Spokane community somehow pulled together to put on a World's Fair and, at the same time, tackled some of the biggest challenges our community had ever faced…



  • News/Columns & Letters

3

Is Spokane's Pavilion actually cooler than the Seattle Space Needle?

At its peak, the World's Fair was a chance for cities to wow visitors with massive, awe-inspiring structures that promised a unique vision of the future…



  • Culture/Arts & Culture

3

School board elections across the nation are being stormed by conservatives demanding more 'parental rights' — including Spokane Valley's Central Valley School District

It's been more than three years since COVID began to shake up the world with lockdowns, social distancing and other measures that seem like relics of the past…



  • News/Local News

3

Spokane's legacy of 'modern' architecture is everywhere you look — here are seven examples that should be protected and celebrated

Spokane's skyline boasts three iconic buildings…



  • Culture/Arts & Culture

3

The U.S. House once had a representative for about every 30,000 people, but now lawmakers serve between 543,000 and 991,000 constituents — what happened?

Imagine this: You're voting on a matter of national significance, you get to the front of the line, and the poll worker asks, "What state are you from?"…



  • News/Local News

3

He got caught with 75 pounds of marijuana in Idaho, but Coeur d'Alene's Wylie Hunter says the justice system was so corrupted and poorly managed that his record should be cleared

Wylie Hunter refuses to give up…



  • News/Local News

3

Expo '74: Fifty Years Later

The story of Expo '74 is packed with dramatic chapters, narrative rabbit holes, heroes like the guy who went by "King," odd icons like the Garbage Goat and gifts that keep on giving like the U.S. Pavilion and Spokane Opera House…



  • Culture/Arts & Culture

3

One month behind the scenes of Spokane's ongoing fight to end the deadly fentanyl crisis

In Spokane County, a single person died of a fentanyl-related overdose in 2018, according to official records…



  • News/Local News

3

Writer/director Steve McQueen reframes the whitewashed image of WWII's London bombings via a harrowing childhood adventure

Blitz opens amid a terrifying conflagration on a nighttime city street…



  • Screen/Movie Reviews

3

10 observations and overreactions after Gonzaga's opening night win over Baylor

There's starting off on the right foot, and then there's whatever happened Monday night inside Spokane Arena. The Gonzaga men's basketball team loudly announced itself as a national title contender late on college basketball's opening night with a dominating 101-63 win against Baylor…




3

It pays to know your cat's urinary habits

Cat owners love their cats, but when it comes to cat pee, they don't want to see it, smell it or — you get the idea…



  • Health & Home/Health

3

Capturing and sharing dazzling photos of the natural world is Stacy Gessler's calling

In January 2024, Stacy Gessler found herself outdoors in below-freezing temperatures at Yellowstone National Park, waiting for just the right sliver of a second to photograph scenes of a pack of wolves as they went about their day…



  • Health & Home/Lifestyle

3

House of Brunch's executive chef Alex Szambelan is an unexpected champion of the bougiest meal

Brunch…



  • Health & Home/Food & Cooking

3

'Tis the Season!

Vitamin String Quartet…



  • Health & Home/Lifestyle

3

Jamie Roberts of Spokane's Three Birdies Bakery brings an artist's eye to her cookie designs

Art has always been a big part of Jamie Roberts' life…



  • Health & Home/Food & Cooking

3

The Childhood Cancer Coalition eases the disease's burden on Inland Northwest families, one kindness at a time

On Meagan Glubrecht's right forearm is an unmistakable tattoo…




3

Spokane Youth Symphony celebrates 75 years with 'Diamond Jubilee'

The Great Hall of St. John's Cathedral was abuzz on a recent Monday evening, as musicians chatted, arranged their music stands just so and tuned their instruments in a pleasant cacophony…




3

Fall Arts 2024: It's Creative Season

Forget cozy season…




3

Even if you've misheard bon appétit as "bone apple tea," Francaise can be an entry point into elevated, French-inspired cuisine

Cast a quick glance into the front windows of Francaise and you might wonder if it's a florist shop…



  • Dining Out Guide

3

Seven stories above Lake Coeur d'Alene, Beverly's continues its top-notch hospitality in a recently updated, casual fine dining environment

Beverly's has all the physical markings of a traditional fine dining experience: fancy cutlery, a robust wine collection, a menu that's actually a digital tablet and a stunning view…



  • Dining Out Guide

3

Luna's 30-year legacy is thanks to its caring staff and unending passion for customer service

For some, Luna on Spokane's South Hill is reserved for special occasions…



  • Dining Out Guide

3

315 Cuisine balances its storied past with new flavors and thoughtful flourishes

Maybe it's the spirits of past prostitutes or the guardianship of saintly nuns, but walking into 315 Cuisine in Coeur d'Alene feels, well, different…



  • Dining Out Guide

3

Dining Out 2024: It's All in the Details

If you haven't seen the second season of FX's The Bear, this might be a little bit of a spoiler…



  • Dining Out Guide

3

Here's the new feed URL!

Update your feedreader: this feed has now moved to https://thesmokinggun.com/rss




3

X's John Doe on the band's final album, punk roots and staying creative as an older artist

The end for legendary Los Angeles punk band X comes not with a whimper, but with a bang…




3

Spokane's relentlessly gigging Snacks at Midnight shows off its eclectic rock sound on What You Think You Want

Sometimes it can be tough when you get the musical munchies yet struggle to figure out what exactly fits your sonic taste in the moment…




3

Here's why I love Glass Animals so f---ing much

Do you ever think back to the artists you listened to as a teenager and cringe a little?…




3

A guide to some of Volume 2024's most exciting acts

With 100 artists performing over two nights, planning your Volume experience may feel daunting…




3

Tycho's Scott Hansen looks for balance between nature and technology on Infinite Health

For Tycho's Scott Hansen, it all comes back to water…




3

Music for Observations pairs live electronic music with stargazing at WSU's Jewett Observatory

In 1914, English composer Gustav Holst began writing what would become The Planets, a seven-movement orchestral suite inspired by the seven planets in the solar system (minus Earth) and each planet's astrological character…




3

Allen Stone's intimate annual Stone Family Field Trip fosters a sense of communal belonging

Some people's favorite day of the year is their birthday…




3

PODCAST: Memories of a summer spent at Expo '74

In a discussion with two Spokane sisters, Maureen Jones (née McKenna) and Sharon Mauch (also née McKenna), we are offered a perspective of two Spokanites who attended Expo '74 nearly every day between the two of them. What was the experience of the IMAX like?…




3

Listen (or don't) to an outrageous robocall against a Sandpoint mayoral candidate


Politics has long had whisper campaigns, with negative rumors — racial, sexual, criminal — spread secretly by campaigns. Of course, with the advent of the automated robocall, you don't need to be subtle about it anymore.

So it is with a recent robocall against Sandpoint mayoral candidate Shelby Rognstad…




3

An inaccurate, right-wing clickbait video prompted death threats to 2018's National Teacher of the Year


When Ferris teacher Mandy Manning received the National Teacher of the Year award earlier this month, she shook President Donald Trump's hand. Three times…




3

It's awesome when your kids are able to make you #breakfast that is as good as this! (Now they just need to work on cleaning up!)

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2b6gvKI




3

Haven't been to this intimate of a show in a long time... So great to see @rgenauer and the @assemblyofdust after #agreatlongwhile. Saw #Strangefolk a ton of times in the early 2000s between Chicago and Vermont

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2c3to8E




3

Poppy's #golf obsession continues...

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2clIXpw




3

"Some day you'll see your name in....pretzels?"

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2fs6Yy9




3

I've been to my fair share of breweries, but #steamwhistle ranks right up there. There's not many other breweries that only do *one thing* but do it so well.

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2hkUMfs




3

Best place to catch up with Santa 1:1? Quigley's by far...

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2hm6c3F




3

Who doesn't turn down a ride on a luggage cart?

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2i9K9zv




3

Oh, #Canada... You're so easy to love. #timhortons

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2ikLeo5




3

You were a good car, my little #VWGolf... Unfortunately I went for a 6-speed (@asparagusdesign didn't want any part) and you got recalled for Diesel emissions. I'd buy another if I could (though I'd go automatic and a sportwagen). #vwtdi #vwbu

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2jrcdi8




3

Great time at @goodbeerhunting's Uppers and Downers today! #uppersanddowners2017

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2lRQ8Lp




3

"Black and Tan" at @goodbeerhunting Upper and Downers today. #3floyds Yum-Yum with #stumptown #coldbrew (on nitro). #uppersanddowners2017

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2miNBe0




3

The Matthew Herbert Big Band - There's me And There's You (K7)

Matthew Herbert albums have become increasingly more massive and detailed over the course of the past decade. His most recent work has not only involved huge orchestral arrangements, but incredibly detailed sound sampling as well. There's Me And There's You is no different, with epic listings of different source samples that help reinforce the political and social issues that Herbert has been tackling for some time now. This newest effort also finds him collaborating for the first time with London-based singer Eska Mtungwazi, who seems to have a bit more jazz chops than his long-time partner Dani Siciliano, but is also a bit more over-the-top.




3

An autumn walk in Oslo with the writer Thomas Enger (in the footsteps of Henning Juul) // Podzimní procházka po Oslu se spisovatelem Thomasem Engerem (po stopách Henninga Juula)

"I do a lot of research. A lot. I try to write about society today, about things around us, and I want that to be as accurate as possible. If a character is imprisoned, I´ll go to that prison and see what his surroundings are like. If a character goes to Ustaoset by train, I´ll do that same journey." (Thomas Enger) "Značně bádám. Hodně. Snažím se psát o dnešní společnosti, o věcech kolem nás a chci, aby to bylo přesné, jak je to jen možné. Pokud je postava ve vězení, půjdu se tam...




3

Lena Headey Working on 'Scary Stories for Young Foxes' TV Series

The former 'Games of Thrones' actress is adapting the popular 2019 children's book by Christian McKay Heidicker into an animated television mini-series.




3

Heather Thomson Claims She's 'Assaulted' During 'RHONY' Season 13 Filming

Sharing details about the alleged incident, the reality TV star says, 'People were interested in putting me down, dragging me down and showing me who is the queen bee.'



  • tv
  • The Real Housewives of New York City

3

'Sweet Tooth' Offers First look at DC Universe's Hybrid Post-Apocalypse World in Teaser

In a surprising twist, the upcoming Netflix series is executive produced by Robert Downey, Jr., who is famously known as Iron Man in Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his wife Susan Downey.