The Spovangelist

What, pray tell, have I done to warrant this?

While it might be considered flattering to receive such scrutiny from our friends in the valley, what is the point of such a petty accusation? To get me to write more frequently on an ongoing basis?
If there is one thing SVI thrives on it is controversy. Their [...]

Every day I ride my bike past the sea of parking out in front of the INB. What little hope I had for development, sparked by those misleading “hotel property” signs last summer, was trounced when a friend explained that all the construction was for another surface lot. The nail in the coffin for my [...]

Who has the time or endurance to attend City Council meetings? Probably not you. So to help draw you in to the Community Bill of Rights initiative debate, we’ve created an index of the relevant testimony given last Monday night.
The first step is to go here:
http://www.spokanecity.org/services/citycable5/streamingmedia/

And select the July 13th proceedings. Please note that you [...]

Let’s start with something we can all agree on: City Council meetings can be excruciating even in the best circumstances. On Monday people mourn the loss of their weekend and try to get a grip on the mountain of work that lies ahead. Then there are the grueling marathon hours. Not enough time to have [...]

While the Spovangelist is weary of polarized two-party politics, we are not apolitical and we certainly aren’t afraid to jump in on important civic dialogue when something groundbreaking is at stake.
The Spokane Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) is just such an effort. It is the first attempt by a U.S. City to undergo a comprehensive public [...]

Goodness knows Spokane has its fair share of shortsighted surface parking lots. Even historic buildings have been razed to the ground in their favor.
“His legacy is going to be a surface parking lot,” said Halvorson, President of the Spokane Preservation Advocates. “Wendell Reugh has been making money off of real estate investments in Spokane for [...]

There are a few intentional living communities in Spokane currently, but most of them are small, suburban and affiliated with a church community or service organization. They are great social assets to the area because their members are energetic and willing to volunteer in a broad variety of efforts. Two examples are Knox House and [...]

Despite the sluggish economy a whole crop of new nightclubs have opened up in Spokane this year. Yet at the same time certain theater and live music locations have struggled to stay open, with some closing their doors altogether. Does the clubbish bent to these new venues mean Spokane is becoming a generic and [...]

“I hope you can handle all the rain” … the mantra of advice given to me by countless friends and coworkers upon the news of my departure.
Stigmas of Spokane from those living in other parts of the country typically stem from the stereotypes associated with Seattle, as a majority of people have never been anywhere [...]

Every city has its costume contests, but just imagine the results of an Inland Empire themed competition! Sure there are the obvious options; marmots, Kevin Coe, Lilac Princesses and the rest. But what about uniquely local interpretations of otherwise generic Halloween themes? Forget Sarah Palin, dress up as Mayor Mary Verner instead. Jazz up your [...]