Happy Tuesday, Spokane. In today’s edition: Paula Poundstone, the Nutcracker ballet, family movie night with Home Alone, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

CWD prompts testing surge: Washington wildlife officials confirmed another chronic wasting disease case in a whitetail buck north of Spokane in GMU 124, the same area as last year, bringing two-year total to seven — read the full story.

Time-lauded comic on connection: Comedian Paula Poundstone returns to Spokane’s Bing Crosby Theater on Friday, December 5, bringing her improvisational audience chats and observational wit. The venue lists tickets at $58 to $69 — get all the details.

Music lovers chase exclusives: Black Friday drew lines at Spokane record stores for Record Store Day, from 4000 Holes’ scavenger hunt to limited releases by Prince, The Rolling Stones, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish — get all the details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Tour seven Spokane artist studios
• Sensory-friendly Santa photos at River Park Square
• Donate blood at Liberty Park Library Spokane
• Wrap gifts with upcycled wrapping supplies
• Explore Spokane’s first-ever Holiday Village
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

A festive family outing: Bring the kids to meet Santa at the STA Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to noon. It’s free, with a red-carpet entrance, Santa’s helpers, and plenty of holiday cheer. Parents can snap phone pics, and STA will hand out a complimentary Polaroid to take home. Get all the details.

Officials question safety fads: Heading into holiday shopping, the Spokane Fire Department is urging folks to skip trendy fire safety gifts like fire blankets and stick with proven basics: working smoke alarms and a practiced escape plan. They note NFPA and UL haven’t confirmed fire blanket safety. For grease fires, use a lid, cut the heat, and wait. Learn what to use instead.

Burrito backup plan: When the craving hits, Burrito House delivers fast comfort with a clutch drive-thru, family-run, woman-owned. Breakfast burritos, California classics, and birria star on the menu… perfect for a no-fuss, warm-and-saucy wrap that makes weeknights feel handled.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🍿 Family Movie Night at The Garland: “Home Alone” @ Garland Theater | Tuesday (12/2) at 6:00pm – Need a holiday reset? The Garland is screening Home Alone for Giving Tuesday, so wear the ugly sweater, pretend you will not mouth every line, and lean into the nostalgia. It is cozy, local, and every ticket supports Spokane Angels, kids, youth, and families.

🧀 2025 Charcuterie Workshop @ Arbor Crest Wine Cellars | Thursday (12/4) at 6:00pm – Whether you’ve been rolling salami roses for years or still calling it adult Lunchables, this 5th Annual charcuterie workshop pairs award-winning wine with hands-on lessons to build a holiday board that looks intentional. Global cheeses, beautiful cured meats, and bragging rights included.

🩰 The Nutcracker Ballet @ The Fox Theater | Thursday (12/4) at 7:30pm – Skip the chaos and do Spokane’s favorite holiday tradition at the Fox with The Nutcracker, danced by State Street Ballet and over 70 local dancers, and played live by Spokane Symphony under James Lowe. Real orchestra, swirling snow, nostalgia, and an excuse for cocoa after.

🧘 Breathstrokes with Deanna Camp @ Spokane Art School | Friday (12/5) at 9:00am – This mindful art session blends gentle yoga, breath work, and meditation with messy, intuitive mark-making. No experience needed, you’ll stretch, visualize, then smudge big hunks of charcoal or pastel like a kid who pays taxes. Zero pressure, plenty of exhale, surprisingly satisfying.

🤝 Nonprofit Showcase @ CenterPlace Regional Event Center | Friday (12/5) at 11:00am – Take a break from the to-do list and pop into the Nonprofit Showcase. It is a one-stop meet-and-greet with the people who quietly keep this town afloat, with real ways to volunteer, network, and back local causes. Come nosy, leave useful.

This weekend

🎄 Holiday on the Ave @ Sprague Union District | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Sprague’s fifth annual holiday stroll on historic Sprague is a block party with perks: carolers, pop-ups, a tree farm, and the Grinch plus Santa keeping kids busy while you hunt flash sales. Shop 30+ locals, get gift wrap, and enter the $1,000 Snowman Shop Hop.

🪴 Houseplant Swap! @ South Hill Library | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – Got more pothos than shelf space, or a bare windowsill begging for green? Swing by this houseplant swap to trade cuttings, rescue plant orphans, and gossip about overwatering. Low-stakes, high-joy, and you might finally meet someone who pronounces monstera correctly.

🦌 Blitzen Bash @ River Park Square | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – Nothing says Spokane holiday chaos like River Park Square’s Blitzen Bash, complete with actual reindeer, the Grinch dropping by, cheery carols from the Canterbury Belles, and kid-bribery levels of crafts, face paint, and balloons. Nab a Santa photo, and STCU folks snag $10 off.

🐾 Freddie B’s Pawliday Portraits Fundraiser @ Paradise Fibers | Saturday (12/6) at 12:00pm – Paradise Fibers is turning into a holiday pet portrait studio benefiting rescue pups, since the dog is the only one who sits still for photos. Walk in, snag a matted print on the spot, digital included, donate from $10, and call it your Christmas card.

💎 Indian Kundan Jewelry Making @ Shadle Park Library | Sunday (12/7) at 1:00pm – Last-minute gift panic? Make elegant Indian Kundan jewelry with Devika Gates, the Natanam Dance School pro who has taught everything from yoga to henna. Supplies are provided, you bring patience, curiosity, and a steady hand. Registration required, bragging rights included.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/3 Wind Ensemble Concert @ Eastern Washington University – 7:30 pm
• 12/4 Jared Hall Quartet @ Emma Rue’s – 7 pm
• 12/4 Colbie Caillat and more @ Spokane Live – 7:30 pm
• 12/5 Ron Greene @ Arbor Crest Wine Cellars – 6 pm
• 12/5 Directing ll Showcase @ Gonzaga University – 7 pm
• 12/5 Double Feature: The Yellow Wallpaper and The Most Dangerous Game @ Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture – 7 pm
• 12/5 Elf the Musical Jr. @ TAC at the Lake – 7 pm
• 12/5 The Mountain Goats @ Knitting Factory – 8 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Mary Gence (Windermere/Manito, L.L.C.)

In Highland Park, a 7,000+ sq ft home gazes over Latah Creek, pairing stately presence with fun perks. Three bedrooms, four baths, and a three-car garage. Formal living and dining, a gym and den, plus a huge bonus room for everything else. A .48-acre lot on a quiet cul-de-sac beside a vacant lot keeps things serene yet close to downtown, hospitals, the airport, and shopping.

The primary suite turns heads with a private Juliet staircase, gas fireplace, balcony, and a walk-in closet that might need its own ZIP code. Chef’s kitchen, island, gleaming wood floors.

Take a peek inside →