What's the Buzz: July 31 - August 6

Weekly Recommendations: Play Me Some French Cabaret, Like Grandma and Grandpa Used to Play


Thursday, July 31
I hate Randy Owen. I hate him for no other reason than being the man responsible for writing the song "Mountain Music", which he popularized in 1982 along with his band Alabama. It encapsulates everything that gets on my nerves about Country music, from the twangy production to the mocking whine of the fiddle, to the unbearably corny lyrics. For example:

"Swim across the river, just to prove that I'm a man.
Spend the day bein' lazy, just bein' nature's friend.
Climb a long tall hick'ry, bend it over, skinnin' cats.
Playin' baseball with chert rocks, usin' sawmill slabs for bats."

Skinning cats? Chert rocks? WTF? It's a song someone I know insists on singing week after week after week at Karaoke night and even though I really like this person, when he starts with "Mountain Music" I want to take yard clippers to the microphone cord and punch him in the kidneys.

However, this is Idaho and Country music reigns despite my point of view. Judging by Alabama's extreme popularity and longevity, I'm sure the Coeur d'Alene Casino will be packed to the walls tonight at 7 p.m. for Owen's solo appearance, the scents of tanned leather and old spice mingling to create a heavy pong in the air. Here's a rather Randy video of what you might expect to see, a TV performance of his rather disturbing solo debut song "Braid My Hair".




Friday, August 1
C'est magnifique! Seattle's premier French Cabaret Pop quartet Rouge perform this evening at 5 p.m. on the north stage at the Art on the Green Festival down at the NIC campus. Rouge was formed in 1995 by francophile goddess and part-time stilt-walker Janet Rayor, who possesses a tres formidable set of pipes and an entertainingly out-there stage presence. Providing a distinctly continental Euro-jazz musical backdrop are classicaly trained violinist Ruthie Dornfeld, guitarist/composer John Miller, and the accordion sounds of Steve Rice. Still touring in support of their latest CD "Festival Rose" their live show is a do-not miss mix of musicianship, drama and fun. "Mesmerizing. . .thrilling musically, great rapport with the audience." says Jenseen Brons of the Seattle Symphony. Video thrills of Rouge live in 2007:




Saturday, August 2
Oh, lordy it is crowded in this tourist-trodden city by the lake! This weekend has got to be one of the busiest of the year, with downtown shut down for the Street Fair and Art on the Green, people come from hither and yon to enjoy what we residents take for granted year round. I say, let them have it, at least for one day; get out of town for a little road trip. Get up early , pack the cooler and head south on 95 taking in the open expanses of the Indian Reservation and the mighty Palouse, through Moscow and Lewiston before branching east on Highway 62, then it's just a few more miles to Kamiah, Idaho (say "kami-eye"), our road trip destination.

Lunch in Kamiah? Only two real options, from what I can figure. The China Cafe is certainly promising, but for a likely shocking dose of real local color, I'd bet Doreen's Southfork Saloon is the real deal. After lunch, check out the famous old Opera House and then go dip your hot feet in the gorgeous Clearwater River, maybe bring a fishing pole if that's your thing. I like to just relax on a blanket and stare at the clouds while listening to chirp and gurgle of nature. In the afternoon, visit one of the many natural hot springs in the area but be gone by the 8 o'clock closing time. Due to vandalism, Forest Rangers don't take kindly to drunken, late night hot springs parties (I know this from experience).


Sunday, August 3
Hot Club of Spokane began in June of 2007 as Spokane’s first band in recent memory to resurrect, preserve, and perform the compositions and stylings of Django Reinhardt and the Quintette of the Hot Club of France. Not strictly a “gypsy jazz string ensemble,” Hot Club of Spokane enjoys the musical diversity of not only strings, provided by Andrew Wilson (violin), Kim Plewniak (bass), and Garrin Hertel (rhythm guitar), but also brass, performed by Michael Lenke (trumpet, flugelhorn), reeds, performed by Robert Folie (alto and baritone sax), as well as vocals, sung by Daini Hertel. The band also welcomes an exciting array of guest musicians on lead guitar, reeds, and accordion. Such diversity allows the band to infuse as much hot New Orleans Jazz into their arrangements and performances as they do the swingin’ sounds of World War II-era Paris.

As such, Hot Club of Spokane commits to delivering exciting, encouraging, toe-tapping performances of hot jazz, all the while being versatile enough to play every kind of engagement imaginable, including private parties, receptions, weddings, concerts, dance halls, and especially night clubs where the balance between dance and conversation, performance and ambiance, must be kept intact, just as the original Quintette of the Hot Club of France intended. The band achieves this balance by remaining as acoustic as possible (adjusting to the needs of each venue), and by omitting drums entirely, in keeping with the general Hot Club tradition.

(Hot Club bio courtesy their My Space)

Hot Club of Spokane plays today at 3 p.m. as part of Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes in the Cd'A City Park Bandshell. Hot Video Club action (dig the Rosauers banner):



Monday, August 4
Taco Hell. Taco Smell. I've never been a major Taco Bell lover, though I will admit to getting the random craving for the stuff every now and again, much to the disdain of my digestive system. The Cd'A outlet was particularly scary with rumors of mouse infestations and other horror stories I won't mention here in case you happen to be enjoying a Queso Cruchwrap right at this moment. My friend Jay is a manager at the much-preffered Post Falls Taco Bell, and he swears they won 2nd place out of all the Taco Bells in the world for best overall store. Impressive, eh?

The Cd'A store was recently razed and rebuilt faster than you can say "Nachos Bel Grande". For some reason, ever since it's rebirth I've been hooked like a teenager. It's all about regular tacos with sour cream. They're really nothing fancy but they taste so good to me lately for some reason, especially when drenched in packets of fire sauce. Plus, they're so cheap, I have enough money left over for my other bad recent habit, Mexican Mochas.

Try a Fruitista Freeze, a variation on the traditional Slurpee that taste incredibly tropical and delicious, it's just crying to meet with some vodka. Too bad they're served so tiny and are really overpriced for the amount you get. You might want to get a Lemonade to mix the rest of your booze with just in case. It's Monday, hit the Bell for some cheap eats, then go home to watch the Teen Choice Awards on Fox.


Tuesday, August 5
It's kinda like a Karaoke cult. The same hardcore crowd of 15 or so is guaranteed to show up almost every single Tuesday at Mik-n-Mac's Lounge for Karaoke with Jerry and $5 bottomless beer. We've been doing it since Rita decided to bring karaoke night back last year and every Tuesday gets a little busier and a little wilder, new faces pop in and always come back the next week. Christa's behind the bar pouring your choice of endless domestic brew or Long Island Ice teas for $3 a go if that's more up your alley. Look out when she run the Lemon Drop special - Billy buys one for everyone in the house even if you're a total stranger (which you only are for the first two seconds after walking in.) Seems like everybody knows everybody and people are in a great mindframe and make-out sessions are more common than fights. It's like a big twisted Tuesday karaoke family - come join! Here's a very dark little video montage I slapped together:



Wednesday, August 6
Nothing happens on Wednesday's so you might as well stay home and catch up on that pile of books and other publications that's been building up in the corner. Might I suggest David Sedaris' latest hilarious warped take on reality "When You Are Engulfed in Flames." Sedaris' tale of quitting his 2-pack a day smoking habit will have you roaring out loud.

On a more local reading note, go out and procure yourself a copy of the shiny new summer 2008 edition of North Idaho's "Guide to Dining", put together by local food enthusiasts Kiki Miller and Kerri Thoreson. (I found my copy at Caruso's Deli.) First of all, I want to give a big thanks to the ladies for including our Get Out karaoke listings in the magazine, along with the url to this blog. Holla! As usual, they did great job of putting together an interesting mix of trivia and opinion. I love to read the mini-interviews with familiar local faces about where they like to dine and relax. The Guide packs a lot of info into 16 pages and is an essential reference when it comes to dining out locally. Cheers to Kiki and Kerri! NI Dining Guide website here.

Art on the Green / Taste of CDAs / Street Fair

Put Down Your German Sausage, Here Comes the Thong Man.

“Bullfrog Windsocks on the Green.” “Blue Bubblegum Ice Cream on the Green.” “Kind Hippie Mamas Dancing Like Whirling Dervishes on the Green.” Maybe even “Tri-Cities Hip-Hop on the Green.” These are just a handful of the infinite delights to be had next weekend, August 1-3, down in the lush confines of the North Idaho College campus during the 40^th annual Art on the Green festival. I’m sure the NIC landscaping staff works extra hard to make sure that every bush, tree and patch of lawn stays as green as possible, but I can recall some very dry years when it might have been closer to the truth to advertise as “Art on the Crispy Yellow.” Certainly, like my suggestions above, that just doesn’t quite have the same catchy ring to it.

At the very first Art on the Green in 1968, the “green” wasn’t actually referring to grass at all, instead it was named after the brightly colored surface of the McKuen Field Tennis Courts where the event was being held. Those who remember attending say it was so hot that first year that they had problems keeping some of the paintings from literally melting in the heat of the pavement and direct sunlight. I think of this sometimes when I’m wandering through the shady tent that holds the entries for the Juried Art Show, about how some of the more generic landscapes and bunny rabbit paintings could be transformed into much cooler abstract art with just a few hours under the tutelage of the cruel summer sun.

Eventually, Art on the Green relocated to its present home where towering pine trees make for enough shade that even frozen lemonade and cones heaped with homemade ice cream have a chance of survival, at least until they’re greedily consumed by hungry festival-goers. It’s since become the most popular art festival in the Inland Northwest, and despite a recent editorial in another local paper, most Coeur d’Alene residents welcome folks from Spokane and everywhere else with open arms, especially the ones with lots extra cash to blow. And between Art on the Green, the Taste of the Coeur d’Alene’s food festival and the Downtown Street Fair, next weekend there are innumerable ways to blow it.

Looking for Huckleberry scented soap-on-a-rope? Found it. Tie-dyed diaper bags? Check. Broomstick handles with creepy hand-carved gnome faces? But of course. Displayed in hundreds of crowded booths are a ton and a half of unique glass and ceramic products, toys, musical instruments, clothing, jewelry, and home décor. Also, the popular “clothesline” area provides local artists with the space to sell not their laundry, but their original paintings, drawing and photographs at prices that casual festival goers can actually afford. What you won’t see are church bazaar items like crocheted toilet paper covers with baby doll faces, or anything made of potholders. The application board is notoriously finicky when it comes to who they accept for the festival, something I’ve witnessed myself after a relative of mine who makes gorgeous handmade dolls of exceptional quality was rejected and told bluntly “It’s Art on the Green, not Crap on the Green.”

Thankfully, for those who have been cruelly denied by Art on the Green there is the Downtown Street Fair, where anyone can pay a small fee for a square of cement and sell whatever they feel like. Compared to the relative predictability of the Art on the Green vendors, anything goes at the Street fair. In fact, several years ago, I was pretty shocked to come across a booth with a squinty-eyed young man with dreadlocks selling hand-blown glass “water pipes” in various sizes and shapes and I might have believed the signs posted everywhere suggesting “tobacco use only” had it not been for the Bob Marley music blaring loudly away.

Many downtown shops use the weekend as an excuse to clearance out unsold merchandise, something which back in simpler times we would refer to as a “sidewalk sale”. Expect to see lots of closeout prices on resort apparel, faux antiques and shabby chic pillows. Also, expect to see lots of loud, friendly people really getting into the festivities with their fourth “de-railer” out on the sidewalk on front of the Iron Horse. Actually, that many de-railers and you would likely end up literally on the sidewalk, face first, in front of the Iron Horse.

When hunger strikes, you could meander to the City Park, where along with more endless booths full of pinecone-infused candles and wild horse watercolors, the annual Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes is in full swing. Honestly, the name bothers me slightly since last time I checked there was only one Coeur d’Alene, and also because in recent years, many of the food vendors aren’t truly local but come in from various other towns. Another gripe about the name is that “taste” of the Coeur d’Alene’s implies that one could feasibly try a bit of everything, but in reality the vendors sell only large portions of their goods at $7-10 a go, so sampling isn’t really an option unless you’ve got mega-cash or a large group of eaters willing to share. I’d like to see them offer smaller portions for less to actually allow a “taste” of multiple food booths. In reality, I’d rather spend my money on the old reliable Sauerkraut German Sausages and buttery Corn-on-the-Cob down at Art on the Green.

The weekend is also packed with entertainment, from folksy guitarists playing for tips on the street corner to the wild Irish step dancing of “Crooked Kilt” on stage at Art on the Green. The musicians at the Street Fair often fit right in with the “anything goes” mood in the air. One of my favorites is the gold-lamé clad sixty-something lady who sets up her Casio Keyboard near the corner of 4^th and Sherman and belts out her singular versions of 70’s hits. The food festival also features music on the City Park Bandshell and the line-up this year includes the rhythm and blues of Loose Cannon, the big-band swing of All That Jazz, and the glossy pop-funk of Post Falls’ Mojo.

As usual, there are two stages worth of internationally flavored goings-on at Art on the Green. Local favorites B-4 perform their brand of retro-Americana on the smaller South Stage along with the salsa of Mamblues, the sitar of Mishra, and the Celtic sounds of Consort Bon Accord. The main North stage will see performances from the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra, Opera Plus, Six Foot Swing, the French Cabaret of Rouge, and a headline appearance Friday night of Eclectic Approach, a feel-good hip-hop/funk act from the Tri-Cities who’ve received regular airplay on the Seattle radio dial. So, wear your new petrified driftwood necklace, dance until you’re a sweaty wreck, then run across the dyke road and jump in the river to cool off.

(photos by Tavallai)

What's the Buzz July 24-30

("What's the Buzz" has been relocated to the more logical spot of Thursday, so half this post is a rerun from Sunday. Terribly sorry for the deja vu, m'dear.)

Weekly Recommendations: Crunchy Pea and the Icky Chicken

Thursday, July 24
Post Falls Singer/Songwriter Tim Nagle relocated from Chicago to Idaho for some unexplainable reason several years ago. I discovered his music on MySpace last year and thought it was pretty darned good. There's this cool rocker dude who works where I do and for months I've been wondering to myself "Who is that cool rocker dude?" Researching this week's music calendar, I saw that Tim Nagle is playing Calypso's Coffee Shop tonight (with Mike Lykins) and whilst re-investigating his website it clicked: Hey. Tim Nagle is the rocker dude from work. Tim's emotive pop-rock reflects the obvious musical influence of classic acts including Oasis, Tim Buckley and the Beatles. Anyway a video clip of Tim in action so you'll have an idea of what to expect before you head downtown tonight at 7:30 to catch his show.




Friday, July 25
Booze of the Week: Dr. McGillicuddy's Fireball is a Cinnamon Whiskey Liqueur that reminds me of fiery goofball Lucille Ball for two reasons. A. her maiden name on "I Love Lucy" was McGillicuddy, and B. because after a few shots, you'll be acting as goofy as Lucy under the influence of Vitameatavegamin. It's sweet like hundreds of melted Red Hot candies and tastes best right out of the freezer on a summer evening with reggae on the iPod shuffle and pork ribs sizzling on the grill. It's our booze of the week and tonight is the perfect night to invite other kids over to your house for some BBQ action and to investigate a frosty bottle. Check out the Albertson's deli for the side dishes. I think they make some of the best deli salads around, and my favorite is the Crunchy Pea salad, which is peas and cauliflower with bacon bits and a light sour cream dressing. I also completely dig the Chicken Cilantro Pasta Salad and don't forget to stock up on the green pistachio marshmallow foam.

Saturday, July 26
Not to date myself too much, but I remember when they used to have the annual Coeur d'Alene Tribal Pow Wow every year on the soccer field at NIC. Back then, it was pretty small and the awkward-to-pronounce name "Julyamsh" hadn't been adopted yet. Nowadays, the Pow Wow is a huge festival, one of the largest of it's kind in the country, so big that only the mighty Greyhound Race Track in Post Falls can contain it. Tribal members pour in from all over the place to celebrate their heritage through music, dancing and food and remind everyone who was here first. The event is open to everyone and is free of charge, but parking will cost you five bucks. Here's a nice little video from last years festivities:



Sunday, July 27
The Haggard Willies hold "Sunday Service" each and every weekend all summer long at 8 p.m. at the Iron Horse. The Spokane-based quartet cowboy up the rowdy Horse crowd with a sound they creatively describe as "A couple drunk jazz musicians falling down a long flight of stairs." Actually, they more like a Rockabilly twist on modern Toby Keith-style country than the traditional twang the name "Haggard Willies" might indicate. They seem to employ just enough irony to make them hip enough to appeal to the Iron Horse crowd, most of whom probably wouldn't make a habit of hanging out at real country bars like Big Al's or the Slab Inn. Thier MySpace says the band's main influences are Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey, Kokanee, Tequila, and Keystone and there will be plenty of all of the above available for the enjoyment of both band and audience. Preview the Haggard Willies via the magic of YouTube:



Monday, July 28
On your way to work today, you ought to swing by and see the latte hot-tay girls at Lean Bean Espresso hut on Sherman Ave. in front of Peterson's Grocery. Not only will you get some of the best coffee drinks around, you'll be reducing your "carbon footprint" as well, since Lean Bean has gone green. They now use recycled eco-friendly cups and napkins and also serve up a line of all-natural organic coffee by Thomas Hammer Roasting Co. They offer a full menu of yummy Bagel sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies bigger than your face and their prices beat the other coffee huts by far. My favorite Lean Bean coffee drink is their Mexican Mocha, which has a rich cinnamon undertone along with a thick, dark chocolateiness. That bean ain't so lean - it's certainly not a diet beverage. It must contain enough sugar to cause seizures in chinchillas, but is a wonderful occasional indulgence and combined with 3 shots of strong Java will get set alight the long wick of your work week: Bang!


Tuesday, July 29
In The Don't Even Bother Department: One place I likely won't be visiting today or anytime soon is the Chicken Basket on Northwest Boulevard near the skatepark in Cd'A. I finally checked the place out recently, after months of waiting and curiosity since the sign first appeared on the old railroad depot, and I was not impressed. The tragic part is, when I googled them searching for a menu, the first thing that came up was a real estate ad: "Turn key business for sale, everything included." Yep, they've only been open a few months and the owner is already trying to unload it. I'm not surprised they're suffering considering the less-than-stellar experience I had there. I don't have the heart to write a full review of the sad place and make them suffer in print - I'm just not that cruel. Anyway, the counter girl had a look on her face that said "I'd rather die than have to stand here taking orders from you assholes." I ordered a chicken strips basket to go. The menu indicated it would include fries, coleslaw and a dinner roll for $7.99 - the price seemed a little steep, but I pictured a lot of food. During the nearly 15 minute wait for my food, the only other customer, a very deaf old man, struck up a conversation with me. "You ever tried this place before?" I kept having to repeat myself 3-4 times before he could understand my replies. "Better be pretty damn good" he concluded, and rightly so since he'd been waiting even longer than me. When Ms. WannaDie finally handed me my dinner, it was in the form of a suspiciously small paper box.

I got home and opened it up to find a ream of wax paper containing a small handful of cold unsalted french fries and two flat , dark brown chicken filets. No cole slaw, no roll. That evil witch forgot to include my coleslaw and dinner roll, and I was already home, too hungry to go back and complain. So pissy. The chicken was overcooked to the point of tasting charred. The crusty old Safeway deli does better chicken strips and at a fraction of the cost. They do offer family sized buckets of "broiled" (they tout this repeatedly as if it were somehow amazing and special) chicken, but take my advice, skip the Chicken Basket and head for some good old fashioned Chester Fried at Peterson's Grocery Deli on East Sherman (wow, two mentions in one week...)


Wednesday, July 30
There's never anything much worth getting gussied up for on Wednesday nights and that's fine with me because I'm way caught up in the new season of Bravo TV's Project Runway (Tonight at 9 p.m., Time-Warner channel 66). There's no fierce young genius scene stealing divas on par with last years big winner, Christian Siriano ("Hot Tranny Mess"), although painfully tanorexic Yakima resident Blayne has been working hard to coin this season's catchphrase ("Girlicious"? I like Suede's "wackadoodle" much better.) My early fave is last week's winner Kelli, who had turned vaccuum cleaner bags into couture with bleach and ink. I also have to admit my love for leatha-lovah Stella, a gritty New york designer who comes of like a cross between Lou Reed and Elvira and has designed stage wear for Debbie Harry and Joan Jett. She was almost auf-ed last week when her plan to use plastic trash bags backfired and forced her to send something pretty awful down the runway. I'm anxious to see what she can whip up given better materials, but she's got some intense competition ahead of her - all this years designers have at least a grain of potential. Plus, host/mentor Tim Gunn is amazingly wonderful as usual.

What kind of wine, cheese and chocolate goes good as a snack whilst sucked into the world of amateur fashion? Stop and ask the experts at Daanen's Deli in Hayden, they have an intense selection of nibbly bits to supply your PR party guests.

Fisherman's Market & Grill

Poor Johnny Depp and the Delicious Baby Octopus Tentacles

Fisherman’s Market and Grill
215 W. Kathleen,
Coeur d'Alene, 664-4800

The craving hit me that afternoon about halfway through Judge Judy. I texted Stephanie: “OMG. So hungry. Need sushi now.” My phone double-beeped with her reply almost instantly. “K. Meet at new place. C u there.” I knew exactly which new place she meant since we had been discussing the topic a few days earlier. She told me how she had recently begun frequenting the Fisherman’s Market to the point where she was worried they were going to think she was some kind of psycho stalker girl. Ever since she was drawn in a few weeks ago by the banner crying “SUSHI” in big red letters, she hadn’t been able to satiate her craving. Any sushi fanatic knows the good stuff can be like an addictive substance, and Stephanie was hooked. I told her not to worry, I’d just have to go with her next time and serve as her enabler, hoping they’d look the other way if she had a good “drug” buddy like me to accompany her.

I knew we were up for an excellent sushi experience right away when I spotted Travis Whiteside behind the small rounded sushi bar, an island floating separately from the main counter. Whiteside is somewhat of a sushi celebrity in the Inland Northwest, having spent ages studying under the master chefs at Takara before moving on several years ago to become the visionary behind the raw fish menu at Bonsai Bistro. For whatever reason, that arrangement apparently didn’t work out and Whiteside is now performing his amazing sushi magic at the Fisherman’s Market and Grill, which was opened behind Super1 on West Kathleen Avenue late last summer by Eugene, Oregon transfers Bob and Jennifer Palm.

We wanted to see Travis’ creativity in full effect so we ordered the small chef’s choice Sashimi Platter. Sashimi, unlike the somewhat more common Nigiri variety of sushi, is not served anywhere near sticky rice. It’s simply a spontaneous selection of the freshest raw fish available, artfully arranged amidst gorgeous salads and garnishes. Of course, that wasn’t enough to quite sate our craving so I also ordered a Spyder roll, a signature item of Whiteside’s I’d enjoyed many times back in his Takara days. It’s a fat, hearty roll consisting of deep-fried soft shell crab, cucumber, daikon sprouts, a bit of mayonnaise, and coated with bright orange tobiko (flying fish roe). In addition to the mass of signature sushi rolls and nigiri and sashimi assortments, Fisherman’s Market also maintains glass-domed display cases full of fresh seafood on ice, ready for your take-home needs.

My attention turned to the big overhead menu and I decided I needed to choose a little something from the main kitchen as well. The daily special was an Oyster Po’Boy sandwich, wherein they deep fry the fresh little buggers and serve them hot on a hoagie roll. Yum. A salad would have been a nice, healthful choice; options include a classic Ahi Tuna Nicoise, a Salmon Caesar, and the “Thai This”, with jumbo lime prawns, pasta, and spicy peanut dressing. The “Taste of Baja” section of the menu features Mexican-inspired temptations like the giant Enchilada del Mar, as well as shrimp and fish tacos with fresh cilantro and jalapeno cream. They also serve up about ten kinds of Fish & Chips, including Mahi Mahi, Farmed Catfish and Alaskan Halibut, as well as eight creative varieties of tartar sauce. I decided to go for a kid’s size regular cod and chips, to get just a taste of what they offer by sampling something basic.

Good sushi tends to take a little time, so naturally the fish and chips were up first. As I dug in, Steph began telling me a story. One snowy day last winter, she was driving around and saw a poor little doggie shivering at the side of the road. She decided to rescue the freezing thing and it wasn’t long after she got it home and thawed it off that she realized that the dog was not only extremely ancient, but blind and deaf as well. I looked up from my food and cocked my head with interest. The fish was light and flaky, coated expertly cornmeal and deep-fried to melt-in-mouth perfection. Very good.

She continued with her story. There was no way she could actually keep this tragic creature, but fortunately one of her clients offered to adopt it. Now, the client was out of town for a week and Stephanie had offered to take care of the dog while she was gone. That was fine, but the annoying part was that the finicky dog would only eat if it’s food was prepared and mixed just so, otherwise it would turn up it’s nose and she’d have to try again with a new batch, hoping that this time it was acceptable.

I looked at her and a question formed as I was mulling over how absolutely fantastic the French fries were, made even better with the help of the rich, homemade tartar sauce. I just had to ask, “Okay, so what did she name this poor dog anyway?” I took a big slice of the newly-arrived Spyder Roll, dipped it in a thick soy sauce-wasabi mixture and popped it in my mouth. “Johnny Depp”, she said and I nearly began choking on a chunk of soft-shell crab as I tried to suppress the laughter. “I know, it’s weird, but it would make sense if you knew my client”, she giggled. We used our chopsticks to poke around at the various slices of fish colorfully displayed like a lost Joan Miro masterpiece on a huge white platter with accompanying seaweed and pickled cucumber salads.

The maguro (tuna) was succulent and buttery; a perpetual favorite of mine, and the scallop sprinkled with chili pepper was another true highlight. Sashimi is as much about presentation and texture as it is the flavor, and Whiteside gets high marks on all counts. We decided that the mackerel was a little to “fishy-fish” tasting for us, but we both agreed that the baby octopus tentacle salad was rich and magnificent, something one could easily enjoy as a meal by itself. The Spyder Roll was as good as I remember it, and I saved the end piece until last, the hearty fried crunch of the soft-shell crab almost made it taste like one of my hearty French fries had snuck into the middle of the roll creating a very happy accident.

Stuffed beyond compare, we hugged goodbye and parted ways. I shouted after her “tell Johnny Depp I said ‘Hi!’” Whoops, I forgot the darned dog was deaf and blind. Realizing my gaffe, I shouted again “pat Johnny Depp real nice on the head for me!” A woman tilted her head and glared in confusion at me as she entered the restaurant. “Don’t ask,” I sighed. “It’s a long, sad story.”

What's The Buzz? July 13-19, 2008

Weekly Recommendations: Try New Stuff, Lumpy!

Sunday 7/13
Today's the perfect day to hit NIC Beach with a cooler full of Peach-Mango Wonder Drink and get some sun on those poor white legs! Wonder Drink is one of several popular brands of Sparkling Kombucha, a bizarre beverage of Russian origin that I've recently become addicted to. Kombucha is one of those definite acquired tastes. It tastes a little vinegary, kind of tart like sour garbage. The first sip is foul, gag-inducing perhaps. The second taste is a little better, intriguing even, and if you've made it that far, you won't mind finishing the rest of it. Cold enough and with the right flavor choice, it can even be refreshing and you can actually feel a significant tingle of effervescent energy, with none of the mystery supplements or high fructose of energy drinks.

Wikipedia defines Kombucha as "the Western name for sweetened tea or tisane that has been fermented using a macroscopic solid mass of microorganisms called a "kombucha colony," usually consisting principally of Acetobacter-species and yeast cultures. It has gained much popular support within many communities, mentioned by talk show hosts and celebrities." Madonna says it's good for you, so drink it!

Pilgrim's Market on 4th Street in Cd'A offers a huge selection of Kombucha, including the fizzy, fruity, easy to inject Wonder Drink, the stinky, fermenty hardcore variety by Synergy, and others inbetween. Your liver will fall back in love with you.


Monday 7/14
Today is local sushi day. Well, every day is local sushi day in Get Out Land. My homegirl Christa raved recently about the newly-installed Sushi Bar that appeared after the dust settled in the Coeur d'Alene Fred Meyer after their latest injection of remodeling botox. She says the sushi was surprisingly fresh and tasty, and that she was charmed by the extremely knowledgeable little old Japanese woman running the show. Best of all, she says, she can get her sushi fix while her raw-fish hating hubby and kids can order their grody corndogs and jojo's or whatever. Amazingly, including all delis and restaurants, there are now 9 places for Sushi in our little berg by my count. Kore o kudasai.


Tuesday 7/15
Handshake Productions deserve a handshake indeed, or at least a high-five for bringing us a ton of live music every summer for many moons now. These are the folks who always put together the concerts at Cd'a and Hayden City Parks, Riverstone concert series, and the concerts at Sherman Square downtown. Speaking of which, you might want to call your favorite Auntie and invite her to Chinese dinner at Canton and to be-bop and swing the night away with the Coeur d'Alene Big Band starting at 6:30 p.m. at Sherman Square Park.


Wednesday 7/16
Stay home tonight, it's just a boring Wednesday. I have an idea. Order an incredible Aegean pizza (olive oil glaze, mozzarella, fresh garlic, spinach, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, feta, oregano). from Nick & Willy's, who now deliver in Cd'A. Follow this link to Yahoo Games and download the trial version of the PC game Cooking Academy. Warning: you'll probably end up wanting to pay for the full version (unless you have "other ways" of going about this task. Shhh.)

Have your pal bring some wine coolers and their laptop so they can download it too, and you can have a Cooking Academy marathon/completion. This game is completely addictive, teaching you dozens of recipes that you create by using your mouse to cut, stir and cook. Bonus points are given for accuracy and speed and you have a series of exams at the end. It's a little clunky at first, but once you get used to it, you'll feel like you're trapped in some kind of virtual Food Network contest. The Casio-fied country music sucks though, so turn it off and put the excellent new Beck album Moden Guilt on repeat instead.


Thursday 7/17
Seems like a good night to validate downtown's new buzz club Baja Bargarita, which is located in the old Toro Viejo lounge on 2nd St., half a block up from Sherman Ave., Baja is the pet project of Ms. Jessi, a fierce Latina diva who tended bar both at Mik-n-Mac's and the Torch before her significant other, Toro owner Junior, gave her some of his space to start her own thang. Joining her behind the bar is legendary liquor mixologist Chris Hagen, also formerly of Mik-n-Mac's and more recently Parkside Bistro. If you've never had an Oatmeal Cookie shot, you need to see Chris asap, because she makes the best ones, period. Baja Bargarita has a nightclub atmosphere with guest DJ's and drink specials, and killer Mexican food as long as the restaurant is still cooking. Jessi and co. are open Tues - Sat from afternoon 'til late. They're just starting up a MySpace thing over here.


Friday 7/18
Sadly, my dear friend Jhanie is preparing to say bye-bye to these lovely shores and head east to Virginia Beach for work purpose. And although he vows to be back in a few short years, when the work project is over, he's still planning one hell of a going away bash at the Corner Bar tonight. Jhanie 's private Leopard Lounge, located in the basement of his Fairmont Loop home, has been the site of a series of packed, jaw-droppingly debauched and hilarious parties over the last five years, including the Studio 54 series, the White Trash parties, and always New Years Eve. If you were lucky enough to attend one of these, it was a night you won't soon forget, filled with loud disco, a full-stocked wet bar, mind-warping food layouts, and a lot of half naked, fully drunk Home Depot staff (Jhanie's employer).

As a last blast, Jhanie and his entourage are taking over the Corner Bar for some Karaoke with Marj one more time. The CB already gets rowdy and weird on karaoke night, but mix in the Leopard Lounge crowd and I'd be surprised if the roof was still attached in the morning.

Saturday 7/19
Lithium.ID are one of the area's tightest punk-grunge influenced live acts, and they've got a headlining gig tonight at the Grail on Seltice Way. These boys are pretty good at the self-promotion thing, flooding MySpace inboxes and bulletin boards with upcoming shows and flyers. I love it, it makes my life much easier when bands send me updates, plus it's made them one of themost name-recognizable bands around. Additionally, there are a gaggle of young opening bands, listed below (links go to their MySpace.)

Reason For Existence: Menacing Spokane Punk.
Juice Falcon: Wyoming Psycho Punk.
Gaglaw: Spokane Surf Punk.
Big Dirty Guns: Spokane Punk Metal.
From Sword to Sunrise: Progressive Spokane Metal

Taco Works/Tacos Tumbras/Alejandro's Tacos

A Tale of Three Taco Trucks

A solitary black crow circled in the sky overhead. The punishing July sun did a cruel number on my fair skin, slowly turning my cheeks and neck as ruddy as a desert rose. Wild norteño music seemed to fill the air as clouds of black exhaust poured out from behind a Plymouth Gran Fury racing across the Lyle’s Fabric Store parking lot and up Best Avenue toward the horizon. An acrid, temptingly greasy aroma hovered as my hungry tummy moaned and spat like a ticked-off llama having a bad hair day.

I’d arrived at Taco Works mid-afternoon, smack dab between lunch and dinner time, thinking I’d be able to avoid both rushes, yet here I was in line behind a half-dozen other mean, starving people. In fact, I’d attempted to give the place a whirl a few times, but each time I’d driven by, the line was too long for my patience level vs. hunger quotient. On this 95 degree day, I was determined to melt and just wait it out. I surveyed my surroundings; a massive chain link fence provided a kind-of austere Correctional Center vibe. An aluminum carport was partially set-up as a seating area but the white resin chairs and tables were unappealingly grungy. Basically, if you did decide to dine-in, bringing your own table linens and candelabras would be highly recommended.

In the large blacktop field behind Taco Works was piled an eerily large assortment of disused, dispassionate appliances left by the neighboring repair shop to decompose and rust for eternity. In my hunger and heat stupor, I actually thought for a minute that this collection of urban decay might have been done on purpose, like an industrial modern art installation for patrons to consider and discuss while they eat their cheapo tacos. I was nearing the front of the line so I gazed toward the menu, neatly written on a tiny dry erase board like a small Mexican poem. Quesadilla, enchilada, chile rellano and sope. Soft or hard taco, burrito, tostada, and torta. Your choice of meat: chicken, steak or pork. The menu couldn’t have been more simple or reasonable, with everything falling firmly between $1.25 and $4.00 per item.

I finally made it into the tiny square of canopy shade in front of the order window of the bright orange Taco Works trailer. Glare and bad sign placement made it so that I couldn’t quite see the face of the nice lady who took my order. She was merely a smoky disembodied voice and a set of hands with elaborate nails and hippie jewelry. I could get a clear shot at the grinning cook however, and he looked like he had been doing his thing since around the time Arizona became the 48^th state. He snapped into action pronto when he heard me order two hard tacos, one chicken and one pork and a chile rellano. Amazingly, the mystery hands returned a five and some change from the ten note I’d handed over. Cheap! Even more amazingly, by the time I was done digging in my pocket for enough change to throw in the tip jar, my food was ready. Fast! “You want hot sauce or hot hot sauce, baby?” asked the gravelly voice from beyond the window screen as I grabbed my meal. “Hot hot sauce, of course.” I said and she chuckled ominously.

Indeed, the sauce was hot like I like it but by the time I got home everything else wasn’t. Regardless of my heat-restoring nuke-job, these “hard tacos” were always in need of some Mexi-Viagra, having only been dipped in hot oil long enough to create a vague impression of stiffness. Despite the lack of crisp, they did taste fantastic, the pulled pork was sweet and juicy, the chicken was a little kicky, and the lettuce and cheese were bright and intensely fresh. The chile rellano was just okay, with a strong, rich sauce, but a bit overdone and with none of the thick batter that I normally like about the dish. Nothing to write mamacita about, but I’ve heard so many people rave about this place, I’m willing to chalk it up to an off day and re-visit the dead appliance graveyard soon for another taco or two.

I‘d heard there were a couple of other taco trucks in town and became determined to find them all. I did manage to locate two more by starting up in Hayden and heading south on Government Way. I flashed back to the now long-gone Orlando’s Mexican walk-up stand which famously served gloppy taco meat and cheese dumped right into a half-bag of Frito chips. Located right across from Orlando’s former spot, I spied a bright red truck-trailer labeled “Tacos Tumbras”. Diablos! It was closed, as would be the case a few days later on my second attempt. Post your hours, folks!

I pulled in anyway to examine the menu. If they’re ever open, they offer perhaps the most unusual and authentic Mexican fare I’ve seen in North Idaho. I don’t know a lot of Spanish, and I had to Google most of the menu when I got home to figure it out. I looked up “Huaraches”, and learned about a corn masa dish after wondering briefly how footwear could become cuisine. Also on offer are Jamon (cured ham), Tinga (chicken-and-chorizo salsa mix), and Milaneza (thin-pounded, breaded fried steak). My curiosity and appetite are so worked up, I will return to Tacos Tumbras over and over until I finally catch them open and if they never are, I will cry.

Fortunately, I came across the newly opened Alejandro’s Taco’s, located a few blocks north of Appleway on Gov’t. Breakfast is offered in the form of a fat chorizo and eggs burrito or a nice, classic huevos rancheros. Got a taste for tongue? Try a Lengua taco or burrito. I’m somewhat experimental food-wise, but there are certain animal parts I’ll never be able to get into, including anything from the neck up. I chose the chicken enchilada platter and an adovada (marinated pork) taco. While located merely a jalapeno toss away from a constantly busy street, the setting is slightly more relaxed than Taco Works. In fact, it’s located near the shady front lawn of someone’s house; hopefully they won’t mind sharing a little patch of grass while you eat sloppily right in their living room window.

My Alejandro’s haul was still actually warm when I got home, and the taco was oily-crisp and packed full, a messy but luscious beast that ended up dripping down my arm, then split into fractions before being finished with a fork. The chicken enchiladas had a really good sauce and copious globs of cheese but the chicken was diced into too-small, mysterious chunks of mainly dark meat and was chewy rather than tender. The accompanying rice and beans were good but did nothing to really rise above the norm. Still, as with the other local taco trucks, I’ll return happily to fill up on the delicious $1.25 tacos and maybe pick up a few more obscure Spanish words while I’m at it.

Nine Silly Questions: Phil Corless

He's a "stay-at-home dad who writes about parenting, homeschooling, and life in North Idaho" according to the description of his massively popular blog A Family Runs Through It. Plus, he's an amazing photographer, a huge fan of the band XTC and the classic sitcom Seinfeld, and he really ought to make it out on the town sometime (1988? Um...that's 20 years!). He's Phil Corless and he's this week's victim on the Get Out grill.

1. Which North Idaho establishment serves to most delicious burgers and what makes them so great?

This is a tough one, since I cut way back on burgers some years ago. I think I've eaten a total of three burgers in the past three years. If I had to pick the most delicious, it was my most recent experience at Red Robin, where I enjoyed a delectable Banzai Burger, with pineapple slice and teriyaki sauce.

2. What's your favorite local place to go out on the town for a few drinks, maybe some live music or dancing and what do you like about it?

Here's where I reveal my true boring self. I haven't been out on the town for drinks since a night at Moscow's downtown Garden Lounge back in 1988. I hear it's still a cool place for the older college crowd down there. If I was to go out NOW, it might be to Capone's because of the laid-back atmosphere.

3. Who serves the best breakfast in North Idaho and what are you most likely to order when you go there?

Last big breakfast I had was at Old European Breakfast House in Post Falls. I always order Eggs Benedict when I'm eating out in the morning, which isn't that often actually. My usual breakfast at home is a small bowl of Cascadian Farms Oats & Honey Granola. Best cereal ever.
4. What is your favorite type of Asian cuisine and which area restaurant serves it up the best and why do you think so? What do you like to order?

I like Chinese the best, but Thai and Japanese are right there as favorites. The dish I always order for myself is Kung Pao Chicken. I get it all to myself because nobody else in my family likes the spicy stuff. I can't say there are any Coeur d'Alene area Chinese restaurants that serve up a perfect plate of Kung Pao Chicken. Surprisingly, Panda Express does it as well as any. My son is addicted to their Orange Chicken. I like that we can get a family-size feast for $25. For all-around Chinese food goodness, we'll drive all the way down to Moscow to the Old Peking on Main Street.

5. Which area Mexican restaurant is the best and why do you think so? What do you like to order?

Chulo Cafe, on Neider Ave., is my favorite, by far. It's quick, it's fresh, it's inexpensive. We've eaten there dozens of times, and I always order the same exact thing -- Sweet Pork Burrito, served Chulo Style, with salad instead of chips.

6. What's your favorite North Idaho activity that requires little or no money but provides a whole day of fun and entertainment?
My perfect North Idaho summer day is one spent on the NIC Beach with my kids. We bring a small cooler, a couple of beach chairs, and an umbrella. Once I get into the water, I could just stay in there all day. And I usually do. A day like that reminds me how simple life should be.

7. Where was the worst dining experience you¢ve had at a local restaurant/lounge and what was so rotten about it?

First I'll say that in five years in Coeur d'Alene, I've never had a really horrible dining experience. But not long ago we ate at the new Azteca in Riverstone and found it to be surprisingly mediocre. I knew right away something was amiss when they had our food out to us three minutes after ordering. I never expected Azteca to be a fast food or cafeteria experience, but that's exactly what the food tasted like. Horribly bland and tasteless. I've had better meals at Del Taco, and that's not saying much. There are way too many Mexican restaurants around here for a bad one to thrive. But because of it's location and people's willingness to settle for average food, I'm afraid Azteca will be successful. I won't go back, though.
8. Someone offers to but you a drink. What do you order and why?

I'm not a drinker, so it would be something non-alcoholic. Most probably huckleberry lemonade. You just can't go wrong adding huckleberry to anything.

9. What place, restaurant or otherwise, do you take out-of-town visitors to leave them with a good impression of North Idaho?

Most of our out-of-town visitors want to head downtown, and we've always had good luck eating at Cricket's. It's a fun atmosphere with unique dishes, and the location is perfect for walking off the meal on Sherman Avenue, around the resort boardwalk, and even up Tubbs Hill if we're not too full. Coeur d'Alene's downtown and waterfront never fails to impress our friends and family.

Mik-n-Mac's 11th Anniversary

Mik-n-Mac’s Lounge Steel Anniversary Luau

We stumbled upon the place pretty much by accident. It was moving day, and we were wiped out from hauling my many belongings all the way from Seattle and finally up the long flight of stairs that led to my new downtown Cd’A apartment. Nothing in the world sounded more refreshing than a frosty pint of cheap American brew and some stale, fusty air-conditioned bar air in which to unwind. We decided to just meander the block and a half over to the closest tavern, which happened to be the infamous Waterin’ Hole, a name which was far too glamorous for such a fug-encrusted, sweat-stained pit of redneck hell. Thirst won out over trepidation and we made our way inside from the harsh glare of the summer sun, down the stairs and into the dungeon.

As our eyes adjusted to the dark we started to notice a few things. The scummy ambience was gone, replaced by the sparkle of cleanliness and plenty of insane green paint. Lamps shone that hadn’t seen bulbs in years, and inches of toxic dust had been wiped away from atop ancient bar fixtures. Also quite noticeable right away was the difference in clientele. It was late afternoon, a time when the Waterin’ Hole would have been at its most rowdy, but the room was peaceful and uncrowded. A group of ladies sat up at the bar snickering and chugging bottles of Miller Light, which almost gave them away, but it wasn’t until we saw their softball jerseys and feathery mullets that we really started to clue in.

“Something tells me this ain’t the Waterin’ hole anymore” I said as I examined the rainbow flags and gay pride stickers decorating the mirrors and shelves behind the bar. “Welcome to Mik-n-Mac’s Lounge” smirked the barkeep as she drew our pitcher of beer. “I’m Mac and this is my partner Mik.” Mik and Mac, also known as Rita and Kirsten had been looking for a space in which to open a “non-discriminatory establishment”, a lounge where their many friends and folks of all backgrounds and cultural persuasions could come to relax and dance and be themselves without the threat of being verbally or physically attacked for being different. This was actually quite a revolutionary idea for Coeur d’Alene, back when the bars were full of the kinds of folks who didn’t look kindly at all on alternative ways of life and were just drunk and obnoxious enough to let it be known. “It’s been getting busy on the weekends, you guys ought to come in and check it out” said Rita as we finished our beer and vamoosed, ending the first of hundreds of visits to our new favorite haunt.

Back then, things were so low-budget that the DJ used to set up a folding card table and spin his set right there on the side of the dance floor. A busy night in the early days consisted of around thirty people who all knew each other, but eventually word got out and slowly our secret underground bunker was filled with refugees from other bars and those who came out of curiosity, to gawk at the “freaks” as if they were exotic creatures in the zoo. Actually, most of the newcomers were friendly, and bouncers knew how to uphold the “non-discriminatory” policy and weed out troublemakers. It was inevitable that business would explode; Mik-n-Mac’s was really the best, and sometimes the only real nightclub in downtown Coeur d’Alene and people realized how much more fun it was to drink and dance in such an entertainingly diverse environment.
A few summers later and people were lined up down the street trying to get in the door every weekend. The atmosphere became completely bananas, with glamour girls, motorcycle mamas, frat boys and drag queens fighting for a place in the drink line or for a square foot of dance floor space. At one point way back when, Rita bought out Mac’s half of the rights and she’s kept things bubbling along quite nicely ever since. Tonight, Rita and her crew are celebrating eleven years of Mik-n-Mac’s, a long time for any business and an eternity for a night club. While not as intensely busy as it once was, the place is still guaranteed to fill to the rafters with a mixed-nuts assortment of people by midnight every Friday and Saturday. Tuesday is Karaoke night with Jerry and $5 bottomless domestic beer and Thursday is 2-for-1’s. DJ Jason spins Top-40, Hip-Hop and club classics every Wednesday through Saturday at 9 p.m. Earlier this year, they introduced a VIP couch area which can be reserved for groups and a martini menu featuring about 50 varieties of the boozy treats. Most recently Rita has gone a bit high-tech, bringing in a new, UFO-like internet jukebox for your listening pleasure.

It’s comforting in an odd way how certain things are just guaranteed to happen at Mik-n-Mac’s. Christa will come in for her shift and immediately rearrange the napkin holders and counter objects to her exact perfect specification. DJ Jason will play certain tracks every night without fail, including “Billie Jean”, “Closer” and the truly awful “AC/DC Megamix.” It’s inevitable that someone will tipsily attempt “Margaritaville” every single Karaoke night and everyone will shout on cue “Where’s the salt, where’s the gosh-darned salt”. The hand-soap dispenser will most definitely end up getting high-kicked off the men’s room wall by some pointless, disrespectful drunk every Saturday night. Almost always, I’ll have a nice Kokanee in a frosty glass with a side of Clamato please. Like the thousands of patron-customized dollar bills stapled to the walls behind the counter, there’s just an attractively comforting repetition to the place that keeps regulars regular.

That said, there have been some changes worth paying tribute to as well. We still rue the day the popcorn machine vanished. It once served to fill sour, liquored tummies with therapeutic grease and salt but was banished after clean-up became a consistent hassle. Or the old jukebox which once so proudly blared Abba and Ani DiFranco and broke down so often that Rita threatened to push it out into the middle of 4^th Street. We miss the Hot Dog guy out front at 2 a.m., we miss Vaseline Face and the Iguana, and most of all we miss Jackson, the fiercest and funniest cocktail server we ever had the privilege to know. So many faces came and went, so many conversations spent in varying degrees of sobriety with friends and strangers too many to name.

The Mik-n-Mac’s “11^th B-Day Luau Party” kicks off at 9 p.m. tonight and you better believe everyone will be getting a lei, around the neck of course. DJ Kowax will be jetting in from the Las Vegas to show us his funky, mash-up style of spinning records. Wear you sexiest muumuu and come shake it like a jigger full of Mai Tais.