Movies at the CUB, Pullman Washington

One thing I have always loved about living in Pullman is the movies at the CUB. There have been times the movies have been free to everyone and at one time they showed movies for the community through the summer. I remember watching Dances With Wolves in the middle of a summer storm and the power went out. Another time they showed The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and my cousin, brothers and I had known every line much to the dismay to the person in front of us. Ach - it was free and we were bored (and loved that movie).
The movies still go on. They are free to students with a Cougar Card but only $2 for everyone else, so much cheaper than any other. The movies run Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They are pre-DVD release movies so it's a great opportunity to catch them in the theatre.
For current information go to the SEB film website.

Pah-Loots-Pu Pow Wow

Tonight we're heading to Pa-Loots-Pu, the annual WSU/Pullman Pow Wow. This year the festivities are at SEL's event center instead of the Coliseum. I look forward to the change and really participating this year. At the coliseum, the dances were on the floor and a long walk down (and then up for the return) from the rest of the activity. We've always enjoyed watching but I've never been able to convince my family to actually participate.
This year, we are participating. I look forward to seeing all the vendors and hope that more of the native crafts have returned (last year it was more home-based sale businesses like Tupperware than native crafts). Stop in for an Indian taco or just some amazing fry bread.
The event is free. Activities are tonight and all day tomorrow.

Laird Park, Idaho

Laird Park is one of my family's favorite destinations. The federal part of the park is open year round while the small campground is open during the summer months (there is year round camping on the federal land). The park starts just after the entrance to the Boy Scout's Camp Grizzly. The land twists around a mountain offering a variety of fun activites. We go up to hunt for berries and mushrooms while others go up for hunting and riding ATV's. You get up high enough and the view is spectacular. The area is all lush native vegetation and home to several species of animals (and some cows). It's really worth checking out.
To get to Laird from Pullman, go to Moscow and head north to Potlatch. Follow the road east through several small towns and look for the signs on the right. Laird Park does connect with Emerald Creek (home of summer garnet digging).
For more information on the campground go here.

Latah County Fair, Moscow ID

This is a short post today because it's been a long time since I've been to the fair in Moscow so I can't really tell you what it's like.
The Latah County Fairgrounds are located north of the Eastside Mall with the Quilts and needlecrafts at the mall next to Dollar Tree.
The hours are 10-10 Friday and Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. There is no admission fee and I saw a fry bread truck so you know where I'll be.
Aside from all the exhibits, the fair promises to have interesting live events and lots of rides.
For more information go to the fair website.

Bear Center, Pullman WA

One of our favorite places to visit (and it's free) is the Bear Center or for us - The Bears. WSU houses a research facility that studies Grizzly Bears. The bears live in a large enclosed space that is easily viewed by the public. There is a parking lot and it's open to the public much of the time (just don't leave your car unattended just in case parking services comes).
The bears are located on the corner of Grimes Way and Pullman Airport Rd. It's easier to access them from the airport road than from the campus road.
If you love the visit - leave some change in the parking meter. The department also sells t-shirts.
Go here for directions and here for everything else.

Lentil Festival, Pullman Wa Part Two

If you're in the area, come to Pullman tonight and get your free lentil chili. Tomorrow promises to be an even better day (but no chili). We're planning to attend the Lentil Pancake Breakfast in the Cougar Plaza starting at 8 am. The cost is $7 for those over 12 and $5 for those under (with those real young ones getting in free but I can't remember the age cut off). This is the first year we've gone to the breakfast so I can't tell you how it's going to be. Sounds like they have a great menu.
After breakfast, the parade on main street starts at 11 am. This is really some of the real fun of the festival. The entries are silly and amazing.





The parade is long and there is some waiting for slow participants but there's plenty to keep you entertained.
Follow the parade to Reaney park for the rest of the days festivities.
There's booths set up to sell you lentil inspired wares (not all booths have lentils but a number of them will). Set the kids free at the kids activities and sit back and watch the entertainment from the stage. If you're looking for more activity try the 3 on 3 basketball tournament, the skate competition or the softball tournament at the playfields. At 2 there's the lentil cook-off tasting. Get a free sample of the top entries and help choose this year's winner. There's a microbrew tent for those who want to cool off with a beer. Lots of things for everyone to do.





Check out their website for more information.

I want to close with my favorite picture from last year's fun. This little girl had just finished the parade and walked with the Health Department and their Healthy Veggies.

Lentil Festival - Pullman Washington

The Palouse region is one of the few areas in the US that grows dry peas and lentils. We are also the home of the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council. Every year people gather in Pullman to celebrate this little legume with a fun weekend festival.
Today I will share friday activities and on Friday, I'll share Saturday's fun with you. There's a golf tournament on Sunday but since I don't play golf I don't have any fun pictures.
Most of the activities are free to the public so come and enjoy.
Friday - come downtown for the world's largest bowl of lentil chili. The chili is free (except you could be in line for a little bit) but many groups sell cornbread along the street. There are tons of activities as various organizations share their information. There will be additional food for sale. There have been bouncy castles and the like and some years they have been free. I can't say they'll be free this year and the lentil festival site is not sharing that information.

The Mayor helps serve the chili. Here, he's taken a moment to talk with the media about the event. If you haven't meet Glenn Johnson - he's a really nice guy and does a lot of great service to the community.

Bouncy Castle

View from the Red Cross booth - check them out. I'll be there at 8:30 Friday to share information.

Kids Bowl Free

I have mentioned this program before when I talked about Zeppoz. I highly recommend this. Kids Bowl Free gives each child registered 2 free games at their chosen bowling alley every day through the summer. When we first registered years ago, the shoes were an additional charge. I bought everyone bowling shoes at the beginning from Zeppoz. For three people the shoes were less than $100. To rent shoes is $1.25 per person per day. The math was in favor of owning shoes. Having our own shoes meant that there was no reason not to go bowl our two games every day (I said our - meaning adults too but I am getting to that). I didn't want there to be any reason not to go. Some days we drank water and was thankful to be out of the heat (that summer was hot and we moved into a new apartment on the 3rd floor so we spent a lot of time moving heavy things in the heat and then retreating to the bowling alley's air conditioning). Other times we indulged in fries and nachos. The food is a little pricey at Zeppoz but the "snacks" are rather filling. We'd all split one soda to make the cost go down.
For $24.95 you can add 4 adults to the "free" bowling. Twenty-five dollars for 3 1/2 months of bowling is a bargain that is too good to pass up. If you sign up and pay the fee before May 1st (I know it's a really short notice but I found out today) you get a $25 gift certificate to restaurants.com. For the Pullman area, that means a $25 gift certificate to your choice of Rico's, Fireside Grille or The Broiler. Rico's and The Broiler require you to spend $35 when using the certificate and Fireside requires a $45 purchase (still a bargain).
I got my certificate to Rico's because I didn't know they served food and it will be a fun outing for me and my husband (and no kids allowed).
I have my certificates all emailed to me so printing is required (I don't know if there are other options at all or if it's just the emailing part vs logging in). The great thing is that if I forget to print them out I can stop somewhere and print them out (like my Dad's house if he is going). We add my dad and my brother so we can treat them to some family fun too.
You won't regret this - bowling is a great activity and does get a body moving. Watch for high calorie snacks and this could be a really healthy experience.