❤️ Your Monday Spokane Update

Good morning, Spokane!

We're a little later than usual today, but the week ahead is still stacked: three nights at Avista, La Luz at The District, and two neighborhood markets. The weekend also gave Spokane a new cross-country venue, a restaurant opening, a fireball, and a Newman Lake mystery. Let's catch up.

In today's Spokane Pulse:

Let's get to it.

— Laina & Lucas Wyland

🏃 Hundreds of runners and spectators turned out Saturday to open The Course Spokane Valley, a new 46-acre cross-country venue along the Spokane River. Opening day included a youth 3K and men's and women's 5K races, with bigger meets already on the calendar.

🍽️ Capitol Bar and Grill opened in Spokane Valley on Friday, adding one more new dining option to the Valley's list of places to try.

💵 The owners of four Rancho Chico restaurants agreed to pay $750,000 in mostly backpay after federal authorities brought a wage-violation case on behalf of workers. Two of the restaurants are in Spokane, with the others in Colville and Omak.

☄️ If you were awake shortly before 1 AM Friday, that flash was real. A fireball crossed Spokane and the Pacific Northwest in less than 10 seconds, drawing nearly 250 reports to the American Meteor Society. Experts said it likely was not part of the Perseid meteor shower.

🌊 Newman Lake looked more like split pea soup than a summer swimming spot this weekend. Spokane County's water-program manager pointed to low snowpack, a dry spring, and an oxygenation system running at about 40% capacity; repairs could cost roughly $500,000 and are not expected this season.

A rotating lineup of local food trucks serves lunch on the Orange Howard Street Bridge in the heart of downtown.

La Luz headlines The District with Spacemoth opening, putting a full live-music night into Tuesday's calendar.

The Indians host Hillsboro three straight nights at Avista, giving Spokane a midweek baseball option Tuesday through Thursday.

Local farmers, makers, food trucks, and musicians fill Kendall Yards for a midweek market along the Spokane River gorge.

Farmers and local makers gather beside Grant Park for South Perry's weekly Thursday afternoon market.

😂 Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Spokane: Matt Rife & Friends and Bill Burr headline back-to-back outdoor nights at ONE Spokane Stadium. (August 29-30)

🎡 Spokane County Interstate Fair Concert Series: Gretchen Wilson with The Band Perry, Daughtry, and Nate Smith take over three fair nights. (September 15-17)

🐶 Bluey's Big Play: Bluey and Bingo bring the Heeler family to the First Interstate Center for the Arts in a live stage adventure. (October 1)

🎨 Terrain 17: Spokane's multimedia arts celebration returns downtown with a ticketed preview Thursday and free Friday main event. (October 1-2)

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What's the Spokane weekday ritual that makes your week better? A Wednesday lap through Kendall Yards, lunch at Riverfront Eats, baseball under the Avista lights, or something completely different? Hit reply and tell us the local routine you protect on your calendar.

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