About Spokane's Downtown

Welcome Grocery Outlet! Welcome neighbor!!!

My office is right across the street from the New!! Grocery Outlet which is opening soon in the old Safeway building at 3rd & Maple, Spokane, Washington. Spokane residents will remember the old Safeway location so convenient for travelers to caravan and trade passengers near the freeway entrance.

I have missed the convenience of running across the street to get treats for my two talented loan processors, Christy and Catherine...got to keep them happy you know, donuts, cinnamon rolls and even an occasional lunch.

I speak for myself and my neighbors First Presbyterian Church, Inland Automobile Association (AAA), Ming Wah Restaurant, and Global Credit Union when I say we are excited to see another strong business in the neighborhood filling a vacant space.

The new store owner/operators are a husband and wife team --- Bill and Theresa Smith. I'll be watching from my 4th floor office as you go about the business of setting up your new store.

Good luck and welcome to downtown Spokane.

Beautiful Spring weather has finally arrived in Spokane

Just shy of 70 degrees with a gorgeous blue sky and the thundering falls sound is all around

The running water feature at Riverfront Park's entry way is a sure sign that Spring has definitely arrived

Nice view looking south from the park with the Macy's building in the background

The land has always held an honorable spot in the heart of Native Americans, partly because of the rich history of the abundance of fish in the waters, a once robust area to catch Salmon as they jumped and swam up the falls towards their ultimate destination up stream for spawning.

This is part of the 14.8 mega-watt power generating hydroelectric damn on the Spokane River Falls in Spokane Washington. Also seen here is a pedestrian foot bridge and the last legs of work on the recently demolished YMCA building.

Built for the 1974 World's Fair expo, Riverfront Park boasts a whole bunch of children's carnival style rides, and indoor miniture golf park, and an IMAX theatre.

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right in the heart of downtown right next door to the flour mill and between the Spokane Arena and Riverfront Park are these luxurious condos with spectacular views of the city and falls. One recently sold for just shy of a million dollars.

It is 10:30 p.m. on the fourth day of the 31 Days of May challenge . . . it has been a long day and I just sat down to write my daily blog. I am determined to see this through even if I have to write my grocery list and call it a blog!

Speaking of groceries, I DO have something to write about! Being somewhat of a “foodie” I am very excited about something new we have coming to Spokane!

This something is the Spokane Public Market. The Market will be a place where Spokanites can buy food, art, and other products made or grown right here in the Spokane area. Unlike our Farmer’s Market (which is great by the way), the Spokane Public Market will be open year round. It will be located downtown at 32 W. 2nd Avenue. I recently did some phone calling to the merchants who are close by and there is some real enthusiasm in the neighborhood!

LOCAL is the key word for the Spokane Public Market because “local” is good for the Spokane economy, good for the environment and deliciously good for the consumer!

The Market already has many vendors who are planning to participate and I can’t wait to see what they have to offer! I could go on and on about the Market but they have a great Spokane Public Market website that says it all so just take a few minutes to look at it and maybe even volunteer to help out! And be sure to join them on Facebook and show your support!

Be sure to read their Mission Statement and Vision Statement before you check out the vendors. I am impressed by the thought, planning and effort these people have put into this! Above all, let’s give them our full support so we will have one more good thing in our small city! They are looking for volunteers and donations to help them open soon!

Looking to buy a home or property in our wonderful city? Let me help you find the perfect Spokane home for YOU!

Valerie Baker

Exit Real Estate Professionals

509-496-6938

valeriebaker@comcast.net

Even today, and almost a decade after Lou Lou's famous ski shop closed, you can't go to an area ski resort, and bring up his name to someone in the resort shop who doesn't know Lou Lou Kneubuhyler. An Icon like Lou Lou is synonymous with the word"ski" in the Inland Northwest.

Still energetic and youthful, this retired Frenchmen is eager to share his stories and knowledge with anyone who will listen. He has so much to share in fact, that he has opened up The Ski Museum of Spokane. When you first enter there's a row of skis that takes you back from the early days of the sport along it's inevitable progress towards a future with improved technology and comfort. The earliest ski he has collected was found in 1912, and is believed to have been made somewhere around 1870 to 1880. It was found in Northwestern Montana in what is now Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park and Lou Lou says it probably belonged to a trapper who perished in an avalanche. Another ski, to the right of the old wooden ski, the Allais 60, is from the Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley where Jean Vuarnet, known today for his brand of glasses, took the metal for downhill that year as the first skier to successfully hold the tuck. The ski also marks the point in time where metal skis first became recognized in the Olympics. And so the stories go on.

Each ski a different story. You see one ski and hear the story where it was designed by JC Killy, and the next ski was used to win the downhill by Schranz, JC's rival. Fascinating history, and Lou lou will tell it to you all from memory and in person if you come in for a tour.

Your step back into days long gone by will include a picture signed by Warren Miller. There's even a picture of John Paul II where he is standing there with Lou Lou holding a pair of skis!

You will learn about early bindings and the primitive technology that caused more than a few injured ankles and see how it progresses into what we have today. If you are a ski buff, this is one stop that is a must.

If you grew up with Lou Lou's or caught the ski bus there when you were a kid, stop back in and say hello. Relive your memories and if your lucky, Lou Lou might just take you into the other section of his building and show you the legendary Magic Mountain, and it's still there!

Lou Lou hopes to again open this up one day, and is eager to have the museum grow with donations of artifacts and more visits by the public.

The Ski Museum of Spokane, 428 E. Pacific Ave. Open 2p - 6p Monday - Friday

What a huge surprise today! I attended a business luncheon at Europa in Downtown Spokane today when Senator Patty Murray, who's already in town dropped by to inform all of us about the new congress, her accomplishments, and plans for the future...Here's the picture from where I sat.

I was parked this afternoon side street right in front of Europa, so when I found she was going to be there, I hurried out front to offer to move my vehicle, but it wasn't in the way. I saw that secret service (or police? I'm not sure) were shoveling the sidewalk and the spaces behind my car, so I grabbed my snow shovel from my trunk (I carry it around with me to shovel snow to the houses I am showing clients) and pitched in. What an honor to have Patty Speak today. I think it's great when our representatives really get out into the community this way and interact and answer questions. What an exciting afternoon! Thanks Patty Murray!!!