Monday, April 12, 2010

It's a big weekend at Northern Quest Resort and Casino; your opportunity to see the new hotel, new venues and sample food from their many restaurants. They're holding a Community Open House, Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18, from 10am-4pm each day, with chances to win prizes totaling $5,000. Guests will receive a map of the property at the front lobby. On the back of the map will be detailed information for each venue, as well as the rules for the giveaway. In order to enter the grand prize giveaway, guests must go to each venue listed on the map, get that area punched or stamped, and bring back their map to show they have it completed (must have all venues punched or stamped in order to qualify). Grand prize is a weekend getaway package at NQRC. There will be 7 other prizes, all together totaling $5,000. The Time Capsule will also be on display in Heritage Hallway with a table set up to display a few of the items that will be in the capsule. The capsule will be sealed and locked during Native American month in November. Tribal vendors will also be scattered throughout the property, a few in Heritage Hallway, as well as down by the Southside family friendly entrance and outside of the Pavilion. For more information go to www.northernquestcasino.com.

Mom's home cooking was always the best. Here's your chance to honor your mom and win a prize. Enter your Mom's Favorite Recipe and you could win a $500 shopping spree and other prizes at The Kitchen Engine, located in the Flour Mill at 621 West Mallon. Three chosen finalists will prepare their recipe at The Kitchen Engine Friday, April 30th, 4-6 pm where celebrity judges will decide the grand prize winner. Go to www.literockkiss.com and enter today. Honor your Mom and have a chance to win big from the Kitchen Engine. Listen to 98.1 KISC FM for details and for giveaways from the Kitchen Engine.

The Local Motion two day event is this Thursday and Friday April 15th and 16th, as seven participating women-owned, downtown stores donate 10% of their sales to local charities. The stores are Simply Northwest, North 8 Post; Tangerine, 1019 West First; Finders Keepers, 112 South Cedar; Finders Keepers 2, at 8 West Main; The Make-Up Studio, 216 North Bernard; Lolo, 319 West Second; and the new Serendipity Boutique, 303 West Second. Each business has chosen a non profit recipient that will benefit from 10% of their total sales during the April 15th and 16th Local Motion event.

The Tin Roof at 1727 East Sprague presents their "4th Annual Pink Ribbon Event" Wednesday, April 14 from 5 to 9pm. They're serving cosmos, wine and sushi to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure! While you're there check out their new upholstery line and new spring merchandise...RSVP at tinrooffurniture.com.

Graphic designer Steve Kutsch has joined Magner Sanborn as a Senior Art Director, bringing 25+ years of experience to Magner Sanborn's team of 21, nineteen of whom are in the Spokane office, with 2 in the Seattle office. Steve joined Clark-White and Associates early in his career and stayed with the company through various changes; whiterunklezack, whiterunkle, millerwhiterunkle and most recently Ascentium. Congratulations Kutsch! What a ride!

Legends of Fire at Northern Quest Resort and Casino is presenting Little Smoke- April 23 and 24, two days of cigars and spirits events. Meet and talk with representatives from CAO and Camacho. Numerous beverage vendors will also be on site! Tickets are available at the Northern Quest box office. Call 877-871-6772 (NQRC) for complete event details!

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Bosca USA, Inc. has leased approximately 4,000 square feet of space in Building #3 of the Spokane Business & Industrial Park at 3808 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley. Their primary business operation is distribution of wood and pellet stoves, technical support and warranty service.

The Nethercutt Foundation announces that In Tune With America: Our History in Song, authored by Former Congressman George Nethercutt, with Tom McArthur, is here! They will have a public reading and book signing at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane on April 14th at 7:00 p.m. In addition, Mr. Nethercutt and Mr. McArthur will be at the Coeur d'Alene Press on April 16th at 2:00 p.m. and the River Park Square Atrium on April 17th at 3:00 p.m.

Greater Spokane Incorporated is partnering with the Spokane Public Library to present April's Stride Ahead workshop on effective market research. With increasing technology and resources, businesses now have the ability to reach your next market. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM at Greater Spokane Incorporated. Attendees must register at http://events.greaterspokane.org.

Another GSI event: BIZStreet Intensive: Marketing with a Local Twist on April 22. Small business owners in our community are adding flavor to their industries by introducing new products and a unique strategy to the work they do. Tom and Leslie Stachecki of Angus Meats will share their "Bold Eats" brand, and John Crow of Lloyd Industries will introduce their "Man Pans." The event will take place from 8:00 am -11:00 am on April 22 at Greater Spokane Incorporated. Visit http://events.greaterspokane.org to register.

Town Hall Meeting: The Current State of Manufacturing. Tomorrow, April 13, 7:30 to 10:30 am, at the Red Lion Hotel. Washington State has lost nearly 71,200 manufacturing jobs from July 2000 to July 2009, not to mention the thousands of jobs indirectly impacted by this manufacturing depression. Join Bob Weidner, President and CEO of Metals Service Center Institution (MSCI) who will speak on how public policy in manufacturing impacts companies, individuals and communities. More than 150 business executives from the manufacturing community and civic leaders from the local, state and national level will be in attendance to hear how the manufacturing crisis has been overlooked until recently. The Manufacturing Workforce Initiative report produced from the 2005 Manufacturing expo will be examined and the ground work laid for a new regional manufacturing report. The event is sponsored by the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee, Altek, Inc., Haskins Steel Co., Inc., Hydrafab Northwest, Inc., Impact Washington, Proto Technologies, Inc., CDA Metals, The Coeur d'Alenes Co., Triumph Composite Systems and Wagstaff Applied Technologies. Attendees can register at http://events.greaterspokane.org.

Kelly Walker has recently joined Lawton Printing as a Sales Representative for its commercial printing division. She was formerly employed at Plese Printing. Lawton Printing Inc., is a fourth generation company located in Spokane and comprised of four divisions; Commercial Printing, Index Tabs, Chamber of Commerce Directory Publishing and InnovAging, the publication of resource directories for Seniors and their families.

The NBTA (National Business Travel Association) Corporate Travel Expert Education (CTE) Course is being taught in Spokane for the first time Tuesday, April 27, 9:00am to 4:00pm and Wednesday, April 28, 9:00am to 3:00pm at Red Lion Hotel at the Park. Anyone responsible for arranging business travel and anyone new to travel management should consider taking this course. Attendees who successfully complete the Fundamentals of Travel Management course will be eligible to earn the Corporate Travel Expert (CTE) designation by passing the CTE exam. Carrying the CTE designation following your name shows that you have mastered the fundamental tenets of corporate travel management. Guest Speaker/Facilitator will be Rick Wakida, CTE, CCTE. Attendees must be pre-registered at www.inbta.org.

The Jilin, China-Spokane Sister City Society presents a "behind the scenes" tour of the Bay Market. Learn about the delicious and sometimes exotic ingredients offered at Spokane's premier Asian market. Recipes included. The tour is Saturday, April 24, 10:30am at Bay Market, 1801 E. Sprague Avenue. The cost: Free to members; $5 for non‐members (membership available at the door). For more information, call 509‐280‐3116.

Master Chocolatier, Julia Balassa-Myracle will be presenting "Hand Rolled Truffle" classes at the Kitchen Engine in the Flour Mill located at 621 West Mallon Avenue Spokane, on April 13th & April 29th. She will also be participating in the SCRAPS Chocolate Festival & Auction on April 23rd Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. For more information on Chocolate Myracles and upcoming events, please log onto www.chocolatemyracles.com or call 509-995-1271.

Volunteers are holding a Taco Feed to benefit Spokane firefighter John Knighten who is battling multiple myeloma cancer. The event is April 16th, 6pm-8pm at the VFW Post 51, 300 West Mission Avenue. Other events are planned in upcoming weeks, including a donkey basketball game, and a golf tournament. For more information contact Brian Burrow at bwburrow@hotmail.com. You can also visit www.savejohnknighten.com.

The Inland Northwest Business Travel Association presents their 6th Annual Corporate East Meets West Travel Trade Show, Wednesday, April 28, 5:00pm – 8:00pm at Red Lion Hotel at the Park. This travel trade show, open to professional travel agents, meeting managers and anyone responsible for arranging business travel and meetings, is an opportunity to gather travel information in a fun, lively and informal setting; and to meet representatives from hotels, car rental companies, and airlines from all over the region, including Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. Admission is complimentary to INBTA members and corporate guests responsible for corporate travel and meetings. Guests must be pre-registered and may do so at www.inbta.org.

This just in from Dave Vahala at Travel Leaders... Domestic baggage fees: Alaska Airlines $15 first checked bag $25 second, American, Delta and United $25 first checked bag $35 second. Frontier $20 for the first $30 for the second. Moral of the story...pack wisely and lightly.

Our business thought of the week is from innovative photographer Duane Michals: "Trust that little voice in your head that says "Wouldn't it be interesting if..." And then do it!"

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