The Spovangelist

When I worked as an annual fund caller at my alma mater, I dreaded asking people close to my own age for their money. Every once in a while a recent grad would get incredulous. “Are you kidding me? I already owe that school over $70,000, and you’re asking for more?” But what is an [...]

It’s back, and it’s sleeker and more sophisticated than ever before. What started as an eager fantasy over two years ago has finally “announced itself on the larger stage of city wide awareness.” For those who need a refresher course, Terrain is unique among Art Walk attractions in that it is organized by a group [...]

We are all charged up about local foods after attending a Spokane Farmer’s Market fundraising event and watching Food, Inc. at the re-opened Magic Lantern Theater last week. Part of the Spovangelist’s thesis is that problems in the social realm are more difficult to identify and discuss than those observed in physical reality. While we [...]

Does Spokane have an underground party culture? We’ve heard tales of what People’s Park was like back in ’74 when employees of the Expo got together to unwind at the end of the day. We’ve also heard a lot recently about the punk rock/new wave community that added character to our nightlife back in the [...]

When people think of philanthropy they usually think of things like the Gates Foundation, wealthy community figures, or some kind of corporate giving program. But with many traditional centers of wealth freezing up in the throes of our topsy-turvy economy, micro-philanthropy from the everyday masses is becoming more and more important. This often means contributions [...]

Last night a cheerful lady knocked on our door to introduce herself as the “Browne’s Addition Welcome Wagon.” She had seen us working in our vegetable patch and wanted to celebrate our new status as neighbors. My roommate and I scored some strawberries, tea, pastries, seeds and a bouquet of fresh flowers, a card and [...]

You may have caught wind of a developing project called Sustainable September. Along with a growing cadre of partners, Spokane’s Community-Minded Enterprises has catalyzed planning for a whole month of sustainability-related education events this September. The purpose of the event is to increase awareness and foster relationships that will lead to a more environmentally and [...]

Spring 4-Ward: Local Micro Media Part 2 Spovangelist reader, freelance writer and Gonzaga student Brittany Wilmes beat us to the punch on this story. Read her insightful interview (excerpted below) with SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine editors Tyson and Sara Habein. To summarize, SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine is a monthly .pdf publication that features the people, places and events of [...]

The excitement of who’s-who at last Friday’s 4th Annual Sommy Awards got us thinking about band names. But we’ll leave all the juicy details of the Sommy’s up to Skywalk Sensation, a local live music blog who’d be remiss in failing to cover the big event. Meanwhile we’ll take the subject of Spokane music in [...]

I’ve often wondered, what are Spokane’s cultural exports? At the top of the list would surely be Bing Crosby, likable, easy-on-the-ears mega star of the 1940s and beyond. What effect might growing up in Spokane have on such famous personalities, if any at all? An appreciation of the simple life? Humility? A sense of colloquial [...]