February in Spokane. Gray skies, cold coffee by 10am, and that one coworker who already started their Bloomsday training. The Zags are 25-2 and the city is pretending to act normal about it. Here's what's actually worth your time this week.

Nick Offerman: Big Woodchuck
Ron Swanson himself is in town Monday night with songs, stories, and woodworking energy from his new book. If you like dry humor and hand-built furniture, this is your night. He's bringing his co-author and actual woodchips.
Mon Feb 16 · 7:30pm · The Fox Theater · Tickets

If you grew up rewinding the VHS, Smalls, Squints, and Yeah-Yeah are coming through Saturday for a special screening and event at the Fox. This is pure 90s nostalgia and it's happening right here, not Portland, not Seattle. Spokane.
Sat Feb 21 · 7:00pm · The Fox Theater · Tickets

High school kids from Lewis and Clark, Rogers, Shadle, North Central, and Ferris playing alongside the Spokane Symphony. Your kid might be up there. Your neighbor's kid definitely is. It's one of those nights that makes you actually proud of this town.
Thu Feb 20 · The Fox · Tickets

Running through March 8. Full title: "POTUS, or Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive" If you haven't been to the Civic in a while, this is a good excuse. $35 adults, $20 students.
Through Mar 8 · Thu-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm · Tickets

Spokane Chinese Association is hosting their 5th annual celebration Sunday at the Fox. Year of the Snake. Cultural performances, traditional food fair, and a $1,000 grand prize drawing with every ticket. Only $20 and it's a nice change of pace from February gray.
Sun Feb 22 · 4:00pm · The Fox Theater · Tickets ($20)

Feb 26 through March 7. Over 140 restaurants doing three-course menus at $25, $35, or $45. For context, a typical three-course dinner at most of these spots runs $60-90. This is the biggest food event of the winter and spots fill up fast. Menus are live now, start making your list. Don't sleep on this.

Borrachos has $3 house tacos and $7 margaritas. Birdy's is doing $1.25 tacos. Pooles has $2.50 beef tacos. Tuesday is basically a taco holiday in this city and you should treat it that way. You could hit all three and still spend less than one entrée downtown.

Tavolàta does $45 dinner for two on Mondays and Tuesdays, two fresh pastas and a bottle of wine. Their pastas normally run $22-28 each, so you're saving around $30-40 versus ordering à la carte, and that's before the free wine. ★ 4.6 on OpenTable. One Tree Cider has Wednesday date night, two pints and a pizza for $20. That's half what you'd pay anywhere else for the same evening.

The Summit does $8 smash burgers, $5 canned cocktails, and $2.50 tall boys on Thursdays. Main Market Co-Op has $5 dinners from 4 to 7. Five dollars. For dinner. That's not a typo, that's cheaper than making it at home.

The stuff that starts conversations at work Monday

West Plains PFAS Situation Just Got Real
State Ecology ordered the city and county to provide bottled water and filtration systems to West Plains residents whose groundwater got contaminated with PFAS. The forever chemicals came from firefighting foam at the airport and Fairchild. Affects homes between Hayford Road and the river, north of the airport. Plan is due Feb 24 with a public meeting Feb 25. If you're out near Airway Heights, pay attention to this one.

Spokane Community College is gutting and rebuilding its main building. 137,000 square feet, new lobby, full interior renovation. It houses counseling, career services, culinary arts, and criminal justice. Construction starts this July. NAC Architecture out of Spokane is on it. About time that building got some love.

That island in Riverfront Park that used to be called Canada Island is getting a proper renovation. New amphitheater, pathways with salmon art, historical signage about the Spokane Tribe. They renamed it Snxw Mene ("Salmon People" in Salish) back in 2017 and now they're actually building it out to match. Good project.

25-2. Last season in the WCC before they move to the Pac-12 this summer. If you're not paying attention yet, I don't know what to tell you. This might be one of the best teams Few has ever coached and the whole city can feel it. Here's what the Pac-12 move means. Enjoy the ride.

That's your signal. Now go do something with your week.