Monday, December 14, 2009

Attorney Terry Kelly, will head up a new corporate practice group based in Spokane for Lee & Hayes, one of the Northwest’s premier intellectual property law firms. Former U.S. congressman George Nethercutt, will also join the group in addition to attorneys Michael Agostinelli, Jeffrey Smith, Daniel Wadkins, and Guowei “David” Sun, who is licensed to practice law in both the U.S. and China. The expansion into the domestic and international corporate and tax practice areas will enable Lee & Hayes to provide a wide range of intellectual property, transactional, corporate and tax counseling legal services to all of their new emerging technology clients. The firm employs more than 45 attorneys and patent agents in its offices in Spokane, Austin and Seattle. The website is www.leehayes.com.

There’s a new art gallery in downtown Spokane, at the Fernwell Building at 505 West Riverside. Abstract artist Edward W. Gilmore had a showing there Friday, December 4 for First Friday, and has made arrangements to display and sell his paintings there on the first floor just off the lobby, through the first of the year and possibly beyond. The gallery will be open from noon to 6pm Monday though Friday and by appointment on weekends. For a look at Edward Gilmore’s art go to www.isitagilmore.com.

"Swanee how we’ll miss ya, how we’ll miss ya, our dear old Swanee!" The Metro Café on the skywalk level, above Riverside and Stevens, across from the Fernwell is up for sale. Andrew Swanee Swanson, owner of the popular downtown breakfast and lunch spot for nearly 25 years, has accepted an opportunity to develop a restaurant in a large condo/apartment complex in Shoreline, Washington. The number, for more information, is 509-747-8250.

1900’s is a unique shop that is a little hard to find. If you don’t know right where it is you could drive right by. 1900 brings hip vintage furnishings and décor to the old warehouse district of downtown Spokane. Located in the former Wetzel warehouse at 114 W. Pacific Ave., just west of Browne, interior designer Debra Howard has filled the showroom with distinct items ranging from exclusive large pieces to small unique items; furniture, rustic home and garden accents, funky accessories, nostalgic hardware, lighting, and artwork. Many of the products are hand-carved, hand-finished and made from recycled and reclaimed materials. This creative space also offers special order items from 1900’s large library of specialty catalogs and custom design services from the in-house interior design studio. 1900’s is open Tuesday through Friday 10:00am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm.

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News 4 morning anchor Mike Gonzales, Dwight Finney and Louie Flores III have joined together in a shared love of Latin food and culture to create the Hispanic Food Network. It is a multimedia company with a web site www.hispanicfoodnetwork. com featuring easy, tasty and healthy Latin recipes and articles about local eateries. It is also a television show "En La Cocina" (In the Kitchen) airing on KXLY and in the Tri-Cities. The three partners have created, written, produced, shot, cut and funded the project on their own with a healthy dose of passion & determination. Mike is Founder & President. They are headed to Seattle Dec 20-23rd to shoot a West Side show.

Writer/filmmaker Serena Belsby is throwing a party to raise money for the filming of her newest project, "Nothing Like a Redneck Christmas." To be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Bing Crosby Theatre, the event will feature the music of Milonga and Cris Lucas, with food and spirits from David's Pizza and Dry Fly Distilling, respectively. Tickets are $20 each, or $25 day of the event, all inclusive. To buy tickets or for more information, go to www.nothinglikearedneckChristmas.com or call 323-394-3233.

Marjoni Marketing owners Mary Thompson and John Guarisco have closed their ad agency amicably, and have begun to pursue different paths. Guarisco has joined Mark Keas at MDI Marketing, and Thompson has opened her own one-woman shop, Mary Mary Marketing at Marjoni’s former offices at 10623 E. Sprague. MDI, located at 1618 West Dean, has been in business in Spokane for over 20 years under the leadership of Keas, a University of Idaho graduate who got his start in advertising at Clark White & Associates in the 80’s.

Several local bands, Plastic Saints, Buffalo Jones, Freak System, F.O.G. are teaming for a Rock for Tots concert Thursday, December 17th, at the Knitting Factory Concert House, 919 West Sprague. Doors at 7:00pm, Show- 7:30pm. You can purchase tickets through the bands, Knitting Factory Box Office or bring a new toy of $10 or more and put them in the donation bins the night of the show and get in for free. F.O.G, is a band put together by Clear Channel Radio market manager, and musician Kosta Panidis; it is made up of members of local bands: Misspent Youth, Yellow Dog, Last Man Standing, Revolver and Java Kola. Tickets are on sale now at the Knitting Factory Box Office, $5 advance, $7.00 day of show.

Community Minded Enterprises and AHANA present a business workshop, "BEYOND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE" with Special Guest: Mr. Ruben Colon- Mr. Customer Service Extraordinaire, Tuesday December 15, 3 to 5:30 pm. This is a special workshop for today’s marketplace. In today’s highly competitive market, good customer service can no longer differentiate you from others. It is now expected as the cost of doing business. This workshop is a fresh look at going beyond good customer service. This is about being totally customer-focused, exceeding customer expectations and having the attitude of "We are here because of you (customers.)" Place: CME Conference Room 25 W. Main Ave. Ste. 310, Cost: Special Discount of $25.00 Per person- Pay at the door. Please RSVP: Seats are limited. Call Ben Cabildo 509-209-2634 or email: bcabildo@ahana.org.

Volkswagen is buying a 20% stake in Suzuki Motors of Japan, creating an alliance that rivals Toyota as the largest car seller in the world.

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Winter weather may be on the way, so here’s something springy to look forward to. The 12th Annual Spokane Golf Show is just two and 1/2 months away and will be held on February 20 and 21 in the Spokane Convention Center. Event/show hours are Saturday 10 – 6 PM and Sunday 10 – 4 PM. Admission is $10, children twelve and under are free. Tickets will be available in January at all TicketsWest Outlets or the golf show web site. Web site: www.SpokaneGolfShow.com Every adult paid admission will receive a free round of golf from a variety of courses. There will be golf seminars, retailers, area and regional golf courses and new equipment all in one location. Plenty of fun contests and interactive golf attractions will be available. For more details go to www.spokanegolfshow.com or call 509.621.0125.

Planet One Gifts brings people and communities together. This virtual store is owned by Dorothy La Francesca and offers high-quality gift items from around the world. POG specializes in Free Trade and "earth-friendly" items. You can shop the planet and discover everything from handcrafted gifts, toys and home décor to fair trade coffee, organic tea and chocolate. POG gives back by giving a percentage of its sales to the Women’s and Children’s Restaurant, a 501c3 nonprofit operating from the basement of St. Paul’s Methodist Church on N. Monroe. For more info and for some unique gift items with culture, go to http://www.planetonegifts.com.

Here’s a healthy, happy holiday gift idea: Gourmet oatmeal and other fun, nutritious products from Christine and Rob’s, America’s Gourmet Breakfast Food Company. All of their products are time-tested family recipes that they have now shared with customers in all 50 states and numerous foreign countries. Their legions of faithful "oatmealaholics" have made them one of America's most successful gourmet breakfast companies. Go to www.christineandrobs.com to see their full line of delicious products and to order.

The CVB has maps! The new VisitSpokane Map is out and it looks great! They have also received an additional shipment of Ski Maps. If you need maps, contact Karen Montague at the Visitor Information Center at 744-3341 or kmontague@visitspokane.com.

Sprout is a new, natural, clean air based, full service salon, owned by Jeremy Yedinak and Lori Largent at 1628 W. Francis Suite 2, (between Ash and Maple). Because they are a clean air salon, they do not offer acrylic or perm services. Instead they use 97%-99% naturally derived plant hair color, 98% organic hair care, skin care, and body products. The salon was built green from the up-cycled rubber wood furniture to the low voc paint. Sprout abides by the Aveda Mission "to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society; strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world." Sprout is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 7pm. The phone number is 509-413-1403 and the website is www.sproutsalonspa.com.

Junior Achievement is raffling off 2 tickets to the Gonzaga vs Eastern game on December 28th. Each ticket is $10.00 and the winner will be drawn on Monday, December 21st. Funds raised community wide will support Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Junior Achievement office in the Paulsen Building Suite 702, or call 509-624-7114.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Eastern Washington Affiliate has received notice from its national headquarters that it may expand its service offering to residents in Okanogan County, Washington. The Komen Eastern Washington Affiliate made application for the expansion this past summer by submitting a 21 page report detailing the need for Komen services in Okanogan county. The next-nearest Komen affiliates are based in Seattle and Coeur d'Alene. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the nation's largest foundation dedicated to breast cancer research, information and screening. The Eastern Washington Affiliate has invested more than $1-million in local breast health programs since it began in 2004. With Okanogan county, it also serves Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. The 2010 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will be held April 18th in downtown Spokane. The race is the largest fundraiser of the year for Komen nationwide, 75% of the funds raised stay locally and are invested in local grants while the other 25% goes to research for a cure to breast cancer. For more information contact: Claudia Bell, Administrator, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Eastern Washington Affiliate 509-315-5940.

The business thought of the week is from author and humorist, Arnold H. Glasow: "One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."

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