Bloglander

A chilly wind showed up to knock around the balloons set out for the Fountain Cafe’s opening day in Riverfront Park. But the sun also made an appearance, as if reminding us that there’s plenty of summer ahead for lunches and after-work drinks in the park.

Construction began last fall for the cafe, which has all-outdoor patio seating right next to the Rotary Fountain. Earlier this year we wrote about the plans and extensive menu, which includes salads and healthy wraps along with traditional concession stand favorites like chili dogs and ice cream.

Take note of the beverage list, too — there’s wine and beer, including No-Li on tap. 

HERE

Local smokers: we suggest you light up no closer than 25 feet from business doors — or else you might find yourself slapped with a $50 ticket. (SR)

One Spokane neighborhood has gone from safe to super-sketchy since 2013 began. (KREM)

An Airway Heights Corrections Center counselor is in hot water after engaging in sexual activity with an inmate. (KXLY)

THERE

Jason Collins, an NBA player, comes out of the closet. He is the first active player in major US sports to do so. (SR)

Investigators find female DNA on Boston bombs. (LA Times)

Pot activists in Idaho see their kids taken away to foster care?! (SR)

A homemade lightsaber scares the crap out of Seattle cops. (KHQ)

WE FEEL YOUR PAIN, GUYS

If you don’t already want a beer after work, this will change your mind. A couple of weeks ago — it was actually the day No-Li got federal approval for “Spokane Style” beer — The Inlander stopped by the brewhouse on Trent Avenue to talk with No-Li Brewmaster and Owner Mark Irvin.

That lucky beer-holding hand to the right of the frame during the interview belongs to Arts & Culture Editor Mike Bookey, who also wrote this companion feature about No-Li for this week’s beer issue. Videographer Nathan Brand filmed and edited these videos from their visit.

First, here’s a short feature on how the brewery got started and how it’s grown. “Nothing makes you happier than watching somebody you don’t know walk up to the bar and order a pint of your beer,” Irvin says.

And here, for the beer nerds, Irvin tastes and describes five of No-Li’s flagship beers. This is what you should memorize for the next time someone from out of town sees a No-Li tap handle and asks you about it. (Or you can just tell them to try it and see.)

HERE

South Hillies who were initially skeptical about the relocation of Jefferson Elementary actually think it's kinda cool now. (SR)

The most high-brow crime to ever hit Spokane: yes, folks, we've got an fine art criminal on our hands! (KXLY)

Super glue: a crook's best friend? What'll they think of next? (KXLY)

We advise you against wearing a short skirt today. (SR)

THERE

A Washington judge makes stoners statewide giddy when he demands that cops return weed that was taken from a man during a traffic stop. (KXLY)

Tebow! Out! (NYT)

Apparently we missed what earned last night's Mad Men an A grade… (AV Club)

As per usual, President Obama continues to be awesome AND hilarious at last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner. "I'm not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be." BAHAHAHA!

the men (boys, really) who are attracted to women you've seen at coffee
shops, or other workplaces you regularly frequent, and then coyly and
feebly attempt ask out on a dates via submitting missives to 'I Saw You'.
Quit being such wimps, and man up! Women are most attracted to men who are
confident and sure of themselves, even slightly agressive in their pursuit
of them. You know when and where you can find her. Simply go back there and
just ask her out to her face. Don't cower behind the anonymity of a posting
in 'I Saw You' which she might not ever read anyway. That one might've say
yes, but you'll never know because you were too scared to ask. And she
might've say no, but if you ask enough women often enough, directly, you'll
have much better luck. One who knows.

and I so am I. I know you feel as there is nothing more you can say, and
you are probably right. At the moment there isn't. But, if sometime in the
future you find that there is something then you have my number. Until then
I wish you all the best. M

for only having these four categories and not a new one I would
call "Oatmeal" and under "Oatmeal" people could write in all kinds of stuff
related to oatmeal. Here is an example: "I saw you at the STA station and
you were wearing a sweater the color of oatmeal made with love by my
grandmother, God bless her soul." Or "Yes, I am the 'post-viking Aragorn
looking dude with hair the color of cooling oatmeal' you saw struggling
with a toddler at Target. Not my toddler, some little monster trying to
take my cart. Little jerk" or "Jeers to all the people who order oatmeal at
the Starbucks I work at and who bitch about how watery it is, hey, it's
like wait 30 seconds and it congeals for chrissakes, or put your stupid
fruit in it and brown sugar and WAIT, I just follow the corporate
directions, man, stop drinking haterade with your mocha and oatmeal. It
will thicken. Probably not as much as your skull" or even "Cheers to my lil
pumkin oatmeal, we've made it 7 months and are just as in love as when we
first met when your pitbull killed my pomeranian who was really annoying
anyway". C'mon Inlander, give us an Oatmeal category!

whose name is close to Mad Lion, who always has a smile, I see you
sometimes at The Falls and we sit, chat for a while. You always say to
me, "I look to see who saw me but nobody ever does." But cheer up cheer up
because now you are seen, even if you weren't told in AP style. Happy
birthday!

All I can say is WOW. For everytime I went into a manhole working my ass
off with no fear, for everytime fixed equipment you couldn't figure out,
for everytime you let them talk shit and belittle me, after 5 years you
should of had some level of respect, but you are all sad little men who
could never handle what I have in my lifetime. I raised three boys who are
more men than all of you pathetic guys will be. While going to school and
working, I bought my own house on my own. By WORKING my ass off. You all
underestimated me. Enjoy your sad little lives trying to bully women. You
took a strong brave woman and made her fear for her safety at work. I have
no respect, in fact out of 30 there are maybe 5 I think of as real men. The
rest of you belong where I started out, far down in the depths of the city
with all the rest of the waste! Ps the super had forced retirement and this
is 2013. Thanks for the sabotage and retaliation. May it all come back to
you someday. Remember karma is a bitch, which means, haha she is a woman!

that stole my beater. How nice it was to get ready to take my son to a
doctors appointment to walk outside where my great grandmothers car should
have been sitting to find it gone. It was awesome to have to cancel my sons
appointment and sit and wait for the Sheriff to come. I would have just
taken the bus however my house is 3 miles away from the bus stop. My poor
baby got outside with me and cried because he loved that we drove his great
great grandmas car. I hope karma bites you in the rear end. I sure hope the
sheriff that came and took the report does what he says he was going to do.
Have fun with the felony that goes with it.