MetroSpokane

Walgreens Update: Grand Avenue a little less grand...

Ahhh...Grand Avenue, one of Spokane's finest streets.  Driving up past St. John's Cathedral, slipping under the tree-covered canopy along Manito Park, the fine old homes, quaint small businesses nestled into the fabric of the neighborhood...and then you hit 29th and Grand.  WTF?  Friends, it looks like Walgreens has brought their "D" plans to the South Hill.  Not that 29th and Grand was any great bastion of pedestrian friendliness, but this was a prime opportunity to change that and it went uncontested.  A well-sited building can be a wonderful thing.

Spokane's Fox Theater gets its marquees back...

The restored blue 'beacon' sign atop the FOX theater was an excellent touch in the ongoing restoration of the Fox Theater.  It'll certainly bring some evening interest to the Spokane skyline.  More important for those at ground level though is the work underway bringing back the amazing marquees on the north and south sides of the building.

STOREFRONT: Cat's Meow moving into former Junebugs location

SOUTH PERRY DISTRICT - It took awhile, but the former Junebugs building in has a new tenant...almost.  The Cat's Meow a new veterinary clinic has hung up a temporary sign indicating their opening is imminent.  As the name suggests this is a felines-only shop, so all you dog people will have to find love somewhere else.  Although, given the large number of dogs we see getting toted along to The Shop on a Saturday morn, it makes us think they've effectively cut their market in half.  Still, we think it's a perfect fit for a neighborhood business district.

Bike Lanes appear on South East Boulevard

Remember that $50k approved by city council for bike lanes to be added to South East Boulevard?  Well, they're in and they look pretty slick.  Property owners and drivers will be pleased with the new and improved surface, and we're certain that bike commuters will be as well.

Bucky Fuller owns the Lower South Hill

The concrete wall just before the "Y" on Ben Garnett Way and Ninth Ave has long been a magnet for taggers.  For the past few weeks however the lone profile of Buckminster Fuller has risen above it all.  The wheatpastie image was lifted from a U.S. stamp commemorating the FAIA architect, inventor, and engineer.  Father of the geodesic dome, the stamp incorporates his patented dome with his bald head.  So why the sudden appearance on Ben Garnett Way?  We have absolutely no idea.

STOREFRONT: Rick's Grocery now on Monroe

The old 4,000 holes storefront on North Monroe has a new tenant.  After a long vacancy in the prime location Rick's Grocery has set up shop.  Now into their third week in operation, we ducked inside and found the usual convenience store offerings along with some staples like fruit, vegetables, and eggs in the cooler. The 'grab-n-go' has settled in to a great high-profile, high-traffic location on the corner of Monroe and Maxwell.  Combine that with an ample supply of multi-family and single-family housing in the surrounding blocks and we might have a win-win for everyone in the nabe.

Famous Spokanites: Chuck Jones

So what do Pepé LePew, Wile E. Coyote, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Tom 'n' Jerry, and The Grinch all have in common?  They were all characters Chuck Jones worked with in productions he either wrote, produced or directed during his extensive career in animation.  The first two, Pepé LePew and Wile E. Coyote are characters he actually created along with the Road Runner.  What does Chuck Jones have to do with Spokane?

Saranac Hotel and Magic Lantern: Open house two-fer:

Have your plans firmed up for the weekend?  If so, change them.  If not, you're in luck.  This Friday and Saturday is the official open house/grand opening for the Saranac Hotel and the Magic Lantern.  The block between Browne and Division on Main Avenue has completely reinvented itself over the past few years. 

Going from empty storefronts to what is easily the largest concentration of non-profit organizations in the city is no small feat.  Oh, and while were at it, why not throw in a new art film house (finally!) with two screens, the largest solar array in state and a building that will likely be LEED Platinum when all is said and done. 

National Park(ing) Day - This Friday, 9/21/07

Originating in San Francisco in 2005, Park(ing) Day has gone national, actually international.  The one-day event is a call to artists and citizens to come together and create temporary public parks or Park(ing) Spaces in parking spots across the city.  A quick look at their Park(ing) Space mashup reveals just how huge this event has become in San Francisco.  The event is now national and is sponsored by The Trust for Public Land.  A list of participating cities is impressive.  Hell, even Vancouver, WA is planning a Park(ing) Space.

We're pretty sure this has never occurred here in Spokane, so we're holding out hope that some group of inspired locals have some big plans for a nice metered spot downtown.  If someone does make it happen, be sure and send us some footage.  Don't forget to feed the meter!

• Video from Park(ing) Day 2006
• Park(ing) Day "How To" manual
• Background on Park(ing) Day

TC Taxi's Prius Cabs: Blue+White=Green

For the numerous air passengers who opt to catch a cab from the airport to their final destination their options are now a little greener.  TC Taxi, Inc. out of the Tri-Cities is up and running in Spokane and a large portion of their fleet looks to be hybrids, as in the Toyota Prius hybrid.  Long gone are the yellow, gas-guzzling Ford Crown Victoria of yesteryear. 

Nowadays the shift to hybrids makes sense with petroleum topping $80/barrel and gas prices hovering around $2/gallon.  Greencab in San Francisco is doing it, STITA at Sea-Tac, and Vancouver, BC has had a number of hybrid taxis for years.  We're in good company, and you benefit as well.  Hands down, swapping a cleaner Prius for an exhaust-belching Crown Vic is progress in our book.