CCCC at Spokane
Greetings and welcome to Spokane and the 2024 4Cs convention!
We are here celebrating 75 years of 4Cs writing abundance at the same time as Spokane begins celebrating 50 years since Spokane’s World’s Fair, Expo ‘74. Thanks to the CCCC and Expo ‘74 visionaries, we meet on what was once an industrial rail yard and is now a beautiful gathering place, a park used for tribal pow wows, world famous running races, one of the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournaments anywhere, and just a place to experience one of the city’s slogans, Near Nature, Near Perfect. The area has an abundance of natural beauty and opportunity and we are proud to share it with you. Please make use of the website put together by the hospitality subcommittee to help you make the most of your time here.
In the short time we are together, I hope for us all to share in the abundance of one another, and I want you to get to know the Spokane I love. No doubt you have some questions as you plan your time in Spokane and the Inland Northwest. Here are some answers.
What will the weather do?
All I can say, writing this months in advance, is good luck with that! It could be sunny and warm, wet and windy, cold and snowy, or all of the above. It’s anybody’s guess. As you hear about just about everywhere, if you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will likely change. In short, bring layers. You may need something to keep you warm, something to keep you dry, or both. Should you get caught out, or just want an excuse to do some shopping, you can get what you need, no matter your style, at shops within a few minutes walking distance. RiverPark Square both contains and is surrounded by shopping to suit nearly every need and desire. In keeping with the conference theme, there will be an abundance of weather. We just don’t know what sort.
Where should I eat?
When it comes to food and drink, abundance is an understatement. We may not be a globally recognized fine dining mecca, but there is something for everyone, most within a few minutes walk. Just around the corner from the convention site is the Main Market Co-op, a full service market and deli. Across the street from the Main Market you'll find Saranac Public House for beer and pub grub, and Saranac Commons, a small food hall with pizza from Peace Pie, vegan baked goods from Boots Bakery, and local brews from Black Label Brewery. Indigenous Eats offers award-winning Native American comfort food in Riverpark Square. Walk further afield and you’ll find Feast World Kitchen, with rotating chefs and menus representing cuisines from Spokane’s refugee and immigrant communities. Just a bit west and across the Spokane River from downtown you'll find Kendall Yards, with a wide range of drink and dining options situated on a bluff overlooking the river. For a bit of historic Spokane, you might choose drinks and dining in the unmatched ambience of The Historic Davenport Hotel's Peacock Room and Palm Court Grill. College basketball fans will likely know of their shrimp flatbread. If it’s dining with a view you want, there are none better than Anthony’s or Clinkerdaggers. There’s also Queen of Sheba for Ethiopian food and Chicken-n-Mo for authentic soul food.
For a bit of industrial dining there is the Steam Plant Grill, which is exactly what it sounds like, the plant that previously produced steam heat for much of Spokane’s downtown. The Dry Fly Distillery and Restaurant is located in the former Spokane Spokesman-Review printing press building with full views of the distillery. There are too many places within a short walk to even list my favorites, be they Mizuna (vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore options), The Satellite Diner for late night food and drinks, Franks (a long walk, but the best breakfast), or Madeleine’s (a closer breakfast). If you venture over to the Museum of Arts and Culture in the historic Browne's Addition neighborhood, you might stop by the Elk Public House for an eclectic menu of pub favorites.
Where can I get a drink?
If you are looking for a drink after a long day of conferencing, there is the aforementioned Dry Fly Distillery, or you might want to sneak into our "hidden" downtown speakeasy, the Cease & Desist Book Club. LGBTQ+ attendees may prefer The Globe or Nyne, both a short walk from the conference hotel and convention center. For regional beer, again, an abundance. There is Iron Goat Brewing, Brick West Brewing, Post Street Ale House, Golden Handle Brewing, No-Li Brewhouse, Purgatory Craft Beer and Whiskey and many more. If you can’t find a beer you like, that’s on you, not Spokane. If you don’t want to seek out a brew pub, you’ll find local varieties every place you stop to wet your whistle. The same is true when it comes to wine. Not only will every restaurant carry plenty of local and regional varieties, but there are several tasting rooms within a short walk of the convention center. The closest are Barrister Winery, Maryhill Winery, and Helix Vinters.
What about something artsy?
If you just want to wander and explore, Spokane will be celebrating First Friday, showcasing the downtown art scene. Galleries and restaurants will feature openings, music, and a chance to meet local artists. Wander Spokane offers a walking and dining tour with a minimum of four people. When it comes to live theater, Spokane has a number of venues. The First Interstate Center for the Arts, just across the street from the conference hotel, will be hosting a touring production of My Fair Lady. A little off the beaten path, but still a short walk from the convention center, is Stage Left Theater which will be producing I Thought I Knew You during the conference. Comedian Brad Williams is scheduled at the Spokane Comedy Club. The Knitting Factory will be hosting Hippie Sabotage. In the meantime, as the conference gets closer, check out the offerings at The Bing Crosby Theater (yes, that Bing Crosby - this is his hometown after all), The Civic Theater, and The Fox. Bookings can and likely will happen between my writing this and the advent of the conference. Keep an eye on the entertainment at the local casinos as well.
What if I’m up for an adventure or two?
If you are looking to burn off some of those calories from all of the dining options, all of the ski hills will be up and running, El Nino permitting. There are also opportunities for snowshoeing and hiking. If you are driving, bring your bike--road, gravel, mountain, or fat--and I’ll share some of my favorite routes or point you to some of the best biking anywhere. Spokane is a runners’ town. The Bloomsday Road Race on the first Sunday of May attracts some of the sport's top professionals along with 30,000 or more folks who just want to get their run on. You can run the 14k course, starting and finishing at the convention center (probably 15 or 16k if you do that), or you can take a jog upriver through the Gonzaga campus or downriver through Kendall Yards and the Spokane Gorge. Everywhere you can run, you can, of course, walk, Or you can jump on board either a scooter or bike for hire. For the more adventurous among you, a river rafting trip can be arranged, leaving from just below downtown and pulling out two hours later in Riverside State Park. Wetsuits and dry tops are available, though it could be more than a little cold as you course through some serious white water. You’ll need to find at least three friends to join you. For spectator sports, USA Volleyball will be holding the Pacific Northwest Qualifier for Nationals.
What if I want to see something beautiful?
The Spokane Convention Center is situated just up river from Spokane's Riverfront Park, a 100-acre greenspace that straddles the upper and lower falls of the Spokane River. Riverfront Park is the former site of Expo 74, and is home to walking trails, playgrounds, and multiple viewing points for taking in the falls, which should be roaring with spring snow melt coming down from the mountains. For those with transportation or looking to carpool on a side-quest, no trip to Spokane would really be complete without a visit to Manito Park. A community favorite for more than a century, Manito features five gardens, a conservatory, multiple playgrounds, and a duck pond that welcome over 150,000 visitors each year. Come to visit 90 acres of flower beds, the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden, the rose and lilac gardens, and calming unfettered greenspace.
In southwest Spokane, you'll find Finch Arboretum, a 65-acre urban forest. The collection is planted along Garden Springs Creek, featuring a wide variety of tree and plant species. Arboretum grounds are open daily to the public and admission is free. Download the Self-Guided Walking tour to guide your visit, or simply explore the varied landscapes - from a native pine forest to a shady glen filled with rhododendrons.
For lovers of architecture, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist stands out as one of Spokane's most beautiful and iconic buildings. The Cathedral, located in the Rockwood neighborhood on Spokane's South Hill, sits at the crest of the hill that rises more than 300 feet above downtown, making it a visible landmark from many parts of the city. Built of sandstone and limestone in the gothic style, the Cathedral is home to a 49 bell carillon, a 4,039 pipe organ, and ornate stained glass windows. To foster meditation and insight, the Cathedral also features a permanent outdoor labyrinth that is accessible to the public at all times on the lawn just south of the Cathedral with access from 12th Avenue.
What if I want to learn more about Spokane and the Inland Northwest?
For those who want to make a deeper dive into a place that is likely unfamiliar to you, or just want some reading for the flight home, here is an abundance (that word again!) of reading suggestions. Perhaps the best general history of the area, though difficult to find, is The Fair and the Falls. Following a somewhat chronological path, you can engage with the local history that is Hang Them All, the story of what has come to be called The Plateau Indian War, an ugly story generally missing from the histories of the American West. The Cold Millions by local writer Jess Walters tells the story of the free-speech fight just over a century ago that was instigated by the IWW, the Wobblies, spurred on by the presence of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.
A bit closer to the present is Breaking Blue, by another Spokane native, Timothy Egan, telling the story of a depression-era robbery and killing of the sheriff in Newport by Spokane police officers. The novel Casandra, by yet another local author, Sharma Shields, reimagines the myth of Casandra, The story is set during World War II on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation where the plutonium for the first atomic bombs was processed.
The Strange Beautiful by Carla Crujido tells 10 fairytale inspired stories covering 100 years of life of the inhabitants of the Mount Vernon Apartments on Spokane’s Lower South Hill. Last but certainly not least, there is Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, set just outside of Spokane in Reardon and the Spokane Reservation. It just so happens his fictional mother teaches English at Spokane Falls Community College, where I’ve been teaching since 2001.
Again, welcome to Spokane. We appreciate the abundance of knowledge, wisdom, and kindness that you bring to our city, our profession, and our students. We are happy to share the abundance of our time and community with you, hoping for a rich and fulfilling conference. From the LAC, the great folks at Visit Spokane and NCTE, our best to you all!
Bradley Bleck, LAC
Jack Downs, Hospitality Sub-chair