For two South African actors, The Lion King forges personal connections Michael Bowen

From Spokane, Mary Ann Wilson’s fitness show reaches millions of homes Leah Sottile

A festival showing “GLBT” from all angles Erika Prins

Want to know how Simmons learned “the secret” to basketball from his former nemesis, Isiah Thomas, while at a topless pool in Vegas? Me, too. Seth Sommerfeld

At the Birth of the Cool, Lee Konitz was in the room Michael Bowen

Tagging along with Spokane’s paranormal investigators Carey Jackson

Tribal Fusion belly dance takes on a Halloween twist Erika Prins

In String of Pearls, easy labels crumble Michael Bowen

All the world’s a chessboard, and all the men and women merely pieces Daniel Walters

Sherman Alexie fires back against the storytelling tradition of moralistic, resolved fables Terri Schlichenmeyer

On the eve of his biggest performance ever, Dan Cummins has learned nothing so much as this: It’s complicated and frustrating being funny. Luke Baumgarten

Jess Walter's new book, The Financial Lives of Poets, was released yesterday. He'll read from it tonight at Auntie's, with an after-party at Zola. Luke Baumgarten

The Spokane Arena gives audience members the power to defeat the worst type of fan Daniel Walters

Steve Martin, The Lion King, Built to Spill and other art happenings in November Carrie Scozzaro, Joel Smith, Leah Sottile, Michael Bowen, Ted S. McGregor, Jr.

If you won a Best Featured Actor award — even just in Spokane — you'd write home to Mama, too. Michael Bowen