Poor guy! In true military form, he patiently and respectfully listened to my woes and offered to buy me a drink. He then retreated back to his fellow soldiers and I enjoyed my beer at the bar by myself. After another hour he came back and explained my problem. Suddenly, a familiar Top Gun song started to play and I was surrounded by a bunch of dudes in duds confirming that I had indeed lost that lovin’ feeling.

Call me old fashioned, but there is nothing quite as arousing as a room full of uniformed men belting out the reason for my heartache. God Bless America! If young folks in uniform are your style, check out some of Spokane’s sexy single soldiers. There are thousands more where these two came from, so salute your friends in uniform today and blow them a kiss from me.

Name: Will Worrall, pictured far right.
Position: Environmental Engineer
Division: 92d Civil Engineering Squadron at Fairchild AFB
Status: Sexy and single!

Name: Jordan Barber, pictured far left.
Rank: Second Lieutenant, Civil Engineer
Division: 92d Civil Engineering Squadron at Fairchild AFB
Status: Sexy and single!

Go on a personal recon mission this patriotic weekend, you just might find your next great love under those military greens. Take advantage of the romantic fireworks and see if you can get something more than just sulpher, charcoal and nitrate to burst into flames.

Three weeks and countless innocent make out sessions later, The Priest pulled the plug. The Priest had admittedly gone too far. After making out with me for what turned out to be the last time, The Priest told me that, up until then, he had never been so sure that becoming a priest was his life’s calling. ZING!

As I wallowed in self-pity, I realized that three weeks with The Priest had enabled me to ponder the role spirituality plays in my life. While I don’t advocate cruising the local temple or church for the next Mr. or Mrs. Right, I do recommend checking out the religious “scene” in Spokane. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Spokane offers some pretty cool environments that cater to the spiritually devoted, or spiritually curious, 20-30 year olds in the area.

Contact St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on the South Hill to find out what nights they hold Theology on Tap; a casual gathering at a local pub where points of religion are discussed over a pint. The Porch located on Broadway in the West Central neighborhood has a laid back, coffee-house-feel to the traditional idea of “church” Sundays at five and Pastor Deb, of Liberty Park United Methodist, holds small group gatherings for young adults outside of the traditional bible study format. Or for a more radical, non-traditional service, check out one of Whiskey Dick Mountain’s next gospel infuse shows which is sure to rock the devil right out of you.

Regardless of where your spiritual quest may lead you, I pray that the good Lord bless you with peace, love and a smoking hot soul mate in your near future.

Photograph by Old Timey Dave

As time moved on and the scar tissue started to build where my previous boyfriend had so willingly ripped my heart out, I started to yearn for something more, but alas, where does one go to find love in the Lilac City? I needed to veer away from the security of the dark lit, drunken dens of seduction I had become fond of, take a step out into the sunlight and open my eyes to all the potential mating grounds Spokane has to offer.

With this in mind, I was flipping through The Inlander, when I came across an article about the community gardens program in Vinegar Flats. While the article was heart warming, the photo of the guy who ran it was hormone warming and it dawned on me – if I took care of the community, maybe it would take care of me.

I shot Farmer Joe an email explaining that I was new to town and was interested in volunteering at the garden. He suggested that I help him glean plums one evening. Now, I’m not normally one to glean anyone’s plums on a first date, but I was curious so I agreed to meet him.

To my relief I discovered “gleaning plums” was the agrarian equivalent of picking plums. We met later that week on a warm, sunny evening. The smell of ripe fruit was intoxicating, the warmth of the sun comforting; things were wonderful. After a couple of hours of working we retreated to The Lantern for a pint. We chatted about me living in West Virginia and he told me about all the wonderful non-bar related things to do in Spokane. I was impressed to say the least.

No, this ambitious journey of plum gleaning love did not end in the happily-ever-after way, but it did introduce me to all the awesome ways to meet people in Spokane. This town is littered with groups and clubs for every interest. If you’re serious about finding someone, wouldn’t you want something more in common than the cheap beer you both prefer?

Take it upon yourself to seek out groups in Spokane that share your interests. Meetup.com is a great resource. With the weather warming up there are plenty of opportunities to get involved outside through trail or community clean ups. If you’re not one for physical labor, just getting out to one of the beautiful parks around the area might be more your style. You never know who you’ll meet. Or kill two birds with one stone and head to Spokane’s new Main Market Co-op. While you peruse the aisles for yummy local foods, let your eyes feast upon potential soulmates as well.

I’ll be the one with a six-pack of PBR in my basket.

With all the graduations last weekend, many young people are now faced with how to start paying off that pesky student debt. But the question of achieving financial independence begins long before the loans go into repayment. Students (and their parents) are often wondering about employment prospects right out of high school, and rightly so. This question of gainful employment plays into the programs of study students choose to pursue, and the extracurricular experiences they seek out while in school.

Too often college students try to “follow the money” without understanding the complex demands of the modern job market, or having the faintest clue about the kind of work they might actually *enjoy* doing. There is an assumption that a law degree or a business degree with high marks is some kind of ticket to employment entitlement. Think again kids. While the traditional college job fair might be fine for those going into accounting or insurance, the knowledge economy is evolving faster than degree programs can keep up, and has an insatiable demand for students with interdisciplinary skills that can prove their worth in real work settings.

Internships are a familiar, if underutilized tool for businesses to trial run the next generation of talent before signing on the dotted line. The challenge is how to reach out to these new recruits, and effectively manage them once they get into the work environment. For many organizations the risk and the burden are too high. Finding the right student for the right internship at the right time can be tricky. College career offices are great resources, but are not equipped to offer one-on-one services for every business and student that comes through the door. If you are a local nonprofit, chances are you don’t even have the resources to think about which door to knock on. Resolving these dilemmas is the domain of a social enterprise called InternMatch.

Click the picture above to get a glimpse of an InternMatch reception.

The founders of InternMatch are young people themselves, and have proven adept at utilizing the tools that many college students use to communicate. They have tested their match making models in Seattle, and are preparing to branch out into other markets. I’ve encouraged them to consider working in Spokane. If you think there is a need for this kind of service locally, let us know in the comments section below.

• InternMatch on Facebook
• InternMatch on Twitter

From the EWU Flickr photostream.

But what does it say about a culture when the heart of that society resides in a shrine to sex-driven conspicuous consumption?* Since there are few public meetings that take place in the mall, maybe it isn’t fair to say that RPS is the heart of Spokane. All political activity has been sequestered behind the sign-in desk across the street at City Hall. If the park is the recreational center, the mall is the commercial center, and City Hall is the civic center, I would like to posit that the Museum of Arts and Culture be recognized as our region’s cultural center.

While this is an obvious statement to some, I don’t think enough people see the museum in this way. It is interesting to think about the effects of these four areas of society being separated in terms of physical space, but my real purpose here is to invite you to participate in BeGin! at the MAC, tonight from 6-8pm. BeGin! is a series of open house-style happy hours to celebrate the resources that the museum provides to the public, and to remind folks that the museum depends on their support.

With live music, appetizers, drinks available and good people, these events are a guaranteed good time. They are similar in demographics to the Spokane Metro Magazine parties that were wildly popular until the publication’s eventual demise. Let’s not allow our precious museum to experience the same fate. BeGin! is also part of an effort by the museum to cultivate new audiences and foster an environment of participation that helps the institution stay responsive and relevant to the public’s interests.

I believe that at this time The MAC is in a sort of courtship with the younger generation of Spokane. We’re trying to find new ways to speak their language…to let people know that their voice matters and that the MAC is listening. Creating an environment where the public feels welcome – where they feel like they are a part of something – is a huge step in the right direction. In my opinion, establishing this atmosphere is just as important as the programs we promote or the exhibits we choose, as we journey towards our goal of becoming a cultural hub for the Spokane Community. -Ginger Ewing, Museum staff organizer.

Whether you’re going for the party or going to support an essential cultural institution, at least you will be there for BeGin!

• The Museum of Arts and Culture on Facebook.
• RSVP to BeGin! on Facebook.

*Small locally owned and operated businesses like Anemone paper flowers are a notable exception. I’m referring to chains like Abercrombie & Fitch.

Many are understandably skeptical that any particular elected official can make a difference in the quagmire that is Olympia. Delivering on campaign goals can prove difficult, especially when systemic change is what is actually needed. So if you want those jobs people keep talking about, or have a hankering for something like comprehensive tax reform, it is best to bet on the candidate who has proven their ability to articulate a vision, get people in alignment, and work like a maniac to make it all happen.

I am pleased to argue that this candidate is Andy Billig. Through the year I’ve served with him on the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Council to the Mayor, I’ve watched Andy repeatedly nail nuanced concepts that the group was searching for the just the right balance around. When needed, he easily takes on the role of conciliator, articulating what one party has stated in a way that is palatable to another so the process can move ahead. Through his steadfast participation, Andy has helped create consensus among a diverse citizen panel on recommendations for helping to balance the City budget.

Part of effective governing is reaching out and appealing to a variety of constituent groups. As far as young people are concerned, I have never seen a more compelling call to participate on behalf of a local politician. First Andy made sure that bright young people were well represented on his campaign team. Then he showed up at the Shrinking Violets Birthday Bash, a social event chalk full of younger folks who weren’t necessarily your usual political suspects. Then he asked local leaders what would be an effective introduction to his campaign. After seeking and responding to this feedback, his team hosted a knockout younger-person-focused event that offered plenty of opportunity for questions and constructive feedback.

All this and we haven’t even reached the filing deadline, which brings us to good old fashioned hard work. Andy has received financial support from more than 310 individual donors. This is among the highest in the state for any House of Representatives candidate, including incumbents, and demonstrates the broad, grassroots support of this campaign. Andy has already motivated 147 volunteers who are willing to lend their energy to his campaign. These volunteers have distributed literature to over 5,500 homes, and Andy has personally knocked on over 1,550 doors so far.

With all this mounting enthusiasm in the air some might ask “What is the point?” The point is that a surprising number of people in Spokane are willing to get involved to back something they believe in. They are willing to look around at their options, and contribute to their own success. Now that is what I call a point of civic pride.

• Learn how you can help Andy help Spokane on his campaign website.
• Show your support for this outstandingly qualified candidate on Facebook.

While we are already slated to get our very own version of Boise’s hip-but-not-too-exorbitant Modern Hotel, our local hospitality developers are curiously quiet on the hostelling front.  How many houses do you see like the one below in Browne’s Addition that could be easily filled up with bunks? For an award-winning neighborhood that is close to the amenities and is smooth sailing (hill free) from a bicyclist’s standpoint, I think Browne’s would be an ideal home for Spokane’s hostel. (Not that I’m biased or anything!)

The Portland Hostel in the Hawthorne District

Scott Shaprio, one of Spokane’s many lost sons, just so happens to be the brains behind a renovation of the American Hotel, which was built in 1925 as a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel in the International District of downtown Seattle. I asked him a few questions about hostels and his home town. Here were some of his more notable answers:

1. What kind of people usually start hostels? Retirees? Small business owners? People in hospitality?

Hostels are started by all of the above, although most are started by non-profits such as Hostelling International USA (www.hiusa.org) or small business owners. They are started based on identifying a need in a community and doing the research and analysis to support that the business will be financially sustainable.

2. What will be the social, cultural and economic benefits to Spokane if our community can open and sustain a hostel?

Hostels host people from all of the U.S. and world, so it would bring people with different backgrounds who would share their experiences (and spend their resources) in Spokane.

3. Why doesn’t Spokane already have something like this?

Economics. There is not enough demand from travelers coming to Spokane, yet the cost to build and operate a hostel are very similar to Seattle. As for supply, there is already a surfeit of low-cost lodging options in Spokane.

4. How would Spokane advertise and promote a hostel effectively?

Affiliating with Hostelling International is the best thing one could do to make a hostel successful. Other web based activities are also crucial.

Click here for a stunning virtual tour, complete with a soundtrack!

Then there are immaculate places like City Hostel in Seattle that double as local arts incubators. In this arrangement, each artist has been provided a room in which to display their original art. This is totally something we could do right here in Spokane without undue cost or complication. RiverSpeak will provide the artists, the Inland Creative Trust could conduct focus groups and market research, the CVB could assist with promotions, and AHANA could provide the small business consulting. All that is left is the person, the plan, the property and the loan. Bring it!

The purpose is to educate local art consumers about the diversity and accessibility of local original art, elevate the status of collecting local art, and cultivate critical taste among Spokane’s growing art community.

Design by Nick Tibbets

It’s been said that the key to persuasion is to “show not tell.” I hope New Originals will create an atmosphere in which everyday people can realize the value of supporting local artists as a means of personal expression.  For the price of a pair of designer jeans (or less) you can replace that tacky poster in your apartment with something that challenges, inspires, and lasts a lifetime.

Artwork by Jeremey Vermilion

Unlike many of the other First Friday exhibits that will open tomorrow night, New Originals: Collections, Champs, & Champagne is a one night only event. There will be live boxing, performances by several popular local bands, and general revelry in a part of town that too often doesn’t get its fair share of love. For the nay-sayers who like to think they’ve seen and done it all, the exhibit will also include a large body of new work by emerging artist Jeremey Vermilion. It warms my heart that our art scene is sophisticated and altruistic enough that it can offer a deserving new artist what amounts to a debut show.

Artwork by Jeremey Vermilion

Unlike the two paintings I’ve included here (couldn’t resist giving in to this curious interpretation of Spokane fetishism), most of what will be on display will not be your run-of-the-mill ho-hum traditional Spokane art. Expect a lot of pop art, photography, and things heavily influenced by graphic design. There will be some graffiti inspired paintings, things that look like they could be tattoos, and an all around eclectic mix of styles. Like KYRS on canvas.

Not only does this show represent collaboration between a few different social spheres that were previously more separate from each other, it represents several decades of local “alternative” art history.

Thanks goes to the organizers, the artists and these local sponsors:
Community-Minded Enterprises, Audio Affiliated, Silhouette Lighting, Spokane Boxing, Platform Booking, Caterina Winery, Big Sky, TheSomShow.com, Aaron Schaber Design, Mojo Reprographics and Object Space.

• RSVP and invite your friends to New Originals on Facebook.

1. All the cool kids were doing it, and
2. There wasn’t much that was appealing for anyone under 21 to do.

My disdain for Spokane has since turned to delight in no small part due to the explosion of people working really hard to make Spokane reach its full potential. Although the Friday night scene for many young people in the 509 hasn’t changed much, Spokane now has a fighting force for change in the Youth Sustainability Council (YSC).

Community-Minded Enterprises refers to the Youth Sustainable Council as a way for young people to contribute in the ways they want to contribute. The organization is known for its innovative “youth-lead” approach, which has resulted in projects as small as PARK(ing) Day and as large as Sustainable Uprising.

This spring break the YSC is putting on its first Earth Turners Convergence Wednesday the 31st through Friday the 2nd. It’s a series of 13 workshops on topics ranging from gardening and composting to grassroots organizing and starting a business, all led by some of Spokane’s finest. This is an event led by young people, but the workshops include skills that are of interest to everyone.

The Earth Turners Convergence kicks off with an issues forum, where young people will be invited to share their reasons for being involved and how they hope to affect change in their community. Workshops and fun events will continue over the following days, culminating on Friday, April 2^nd during the Youth Sustainability Council’s Transcendence Project installation.

Want more information? Check out the YSC blog or contact: spokanceysc@gmail.com

Spokane recently lost two grants of more than $4 million that provided after school, mental health, and substance abuse services for elementary and middle school children, forcing our city to become increasingly complacent to the shortcomings of local public schools. Dropouts are 63 times more likely to be institutionalized and ill-equipped to compete in today’s world as unemployment awaits.

Enter the Children’s Investment Fund, a definite game changer. This potential levy proposes to raise $5 million a year to support early childhood learning, abuse and neglect prevention, treatment and mentoring programs, and before- and after-school activities through earmarking 35 cents per $1,000.00 of assessed property value (or about $65 a year for a median home valued at $197,000). The money would be made available through a competitive granting process to supplement proven programs that are currently administered by nonprofit organizations in the area. No new city department or agency would be created.

Our Children First says these types of programs could improve Spokane’s graduation rate by up to 20 percent. Some will inevitably cry over taxation while neglecting to acknowledge that a school loses $7,291 for each dropout, and hundreds of thousands more can be exacted on taxpayers in the form of emergency social services. The levy will have a built-in sunset date, which means in a number of years the program will go back to voters so they can decide whether or not they would like it to continue.

Many other cities have already opted to establish such funds. Some examples are the Portland Children’s Levy and Seattle’s Families and Education Levy. When asked why Communities In Schools decided to help lead the Children’s Investment Fund campaign, Executive Director Ben Stuckart had this to say:

I’ve seen the need directly. Our job is to connect community resources to schools, and I’ve seen the number of services available to our kids in schools through nonprofits has shrunk. I understand the dropout rate, and I think it’s a huge social and economic issue that we need to address. Our organization can’t address it alone. I think there’s a need for something larger here in our community.

Since City Council wasn’t able to deliver on their individual promises to help put this proposal on the ballot directly, a broad coalition of community advocates has formed to gather a hefty 12,000 signatures by April 16th. To learn how you can help, please visit the Our Children First website.

• A 2009 Report on Spokane’s Dropout Rate.