The Davenport Hotel and Tower

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-Off 2010

2010-12-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, local Spokane chefs and architects came together to raise money for Christ Kitchen. The professionals decorated their gingerbread houses in 3 hours in the Grand Pennington Ballroom as the public cheered them on! This years theme was Disney.

People were also welcome to join in on the fun for $7 to benefit Christ Kitchen. Christ Kitchen is a "job-training project providing work, instruction, discipleship, support, and fellowship for women living in poverty in the Spokane area. Through the production and sales of gourmet dried food products and catered meals, this project enables women to learn to work, to become employable and, eventually, to support themselves and their families without reliance on government programs or destructive relationships."

Thank you to all who participated and helped out to make this yet another successful event for a great cause.The Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Grand Champion is Yokes Fresh Market & Bernardo Willis Architects, PC...The Village of Agraba!
Cinderella's Castle was just 6.5 points behind (judges vote) and for the people's vote...Winnie the Pooh was on their heals too.

Watch the slideshow to see all the amazing Gingerbread Houses. Everything you see is edible! There are also some houses that our Departments at the Davenport built! Enjoy

Christmas Tree Elegance-The Trees!

2010-12-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a slideshow and a summary of all 12 trees on display for Christmas Tree Elegance. Raffle Tickets are only $1 and you can buy as many as you want! All proceeds benefit the Spokane Symphony. The big drawing will be December 11th at 9:30pm in our lobby!

Tree #1- Spotlight on Spokane

$1,500 Cash

Deluxe Davenport Hotel Room + $100 to spend on premises

$100 to River PArk Square

$100 to Anderson & Emami

$50 to Twigs

4 tickets, popcorn & drinks to AMC Theaters

$100 to Let the Fur Fly

$100 to Spa Paradiso

$100 to Finders Keepers

$60 to Luigis

$25 to O'Dohertys

4 Tastings at Vino!

Family Membership to Mobius Kids & NW Museum of Arts and Culture

2 tickets to Legally Blonde

2 2010-2011 full season tickets to Spokane Civic Theater

2 2010-2011 "Take Five" season tickets

2 2011-2012 tickets to Spokane Children's Theater

8 VIP tickets to Interplayers

4 VIP Tickets to Allegro

4 VIP Tickets to Spokane Jazz

4 Lawn Tickets toMozart in the Park 2011

Original Artwork from Felisa Carranza and Avenue West

Tree #2 A Zag'alicious Christmas

$750 Cash

$600 Gift Certificate for Gonzaga carpet or Flooring of Choice

42-inch Vizio Flat Screen LCD HDTV

Danforth Low Bookcase

La-Z-Boy Braxton Recliner

Marco Polo Design Necklace

Family Portrait

1 night accommodations for 2 at the Holiday Inn Express

2 tickets to Gonzaga Game

2 $20 gift certificates to The Onion or Franks Diner

$100 gift certificate to Mosaic Salon

$25 to O'Doherty's

$25 to Zag Shop

Blue Snuggie

Tree #3 A Streetcar Named Chocolate

$1000 Cash

2 Roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines

Chocolate Diamond Necklace

Party for 4 Making Truffles

Chocolate Pinecones

Chocolate Pearl Necklace

Boehms Chocolate Gifts

$100 to the Melting Pot

2 Tickets for Chocolate Tasting or Merchandise to Chocolate Apothecary

Bags of Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Pedicure with Truffles and Latte

Chocolate Candles

4 Tickets to Willy Wonka

Gold Wrap Chocolate Nuggets

Chocolate Luggage

Tree #4 Austrian Holiday

$1,700 Cash

Writing Desk & Chair

iPad

Crystal Gifts

Designer Tux Rental and Limo Service

2 tickets to the Symphony Concert of Choice

3 Pillar Candlesticks

Desk Lamp

Themed Accessories

Tree #5 Ice Castles

5x8 Chinese Wool Rug

Custom Framed Original Polar Bear Photo

Wine Lovers Package w/ 12 Bottle Refrigerated Cooler

$500 Cash

Shelf Unit, Waterford Crystal, Lamps & Decorative Items

Acrylic Chair

6 Weeks of Ice Skating lessons for a family of 4

Two Apres Ski or skating massages

Sled, snow globe & crystal vase

Original Paper Mache Sculpture

Necklace

Handmade quilted tree skirt

Books

2 Tickets to 2010 Nutcracker

$50 to Tinman Artworks

$50 to Agave

$50 to Peters & Sons Florists

$50 to Bruttles

Polar Bear

Snow Shovel

Soy Candle

Tree #6 The Never Ending Christmas

$2000 Cash

All Day Jet Boat Tour Hells Canyon

Custom Made Titanium Putter for Dad

Golf Foursome at Liberty Lake Golf Course for Dad

$150 Spa Treatment for Mom

$150 to Macys for Mom

Patio Table & 2 chairs

Garden Arbor & Garden book

2 Tickets to 2011 Seahawks Game

Overnight Stay at Edgewater Hotel, Seattle

$40 to Tutta Bella Restaurant Seattle

Seahawks Jersey autographed by Jordan Babineaux

Overnight Stay at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort

Digital Camera

Tree #7 Mediterranean Exploration

$2000 Cash

Aquarium with paper Seaforms

Mosaic Lazy Susan

Private Sail on Lake Pend O'Reille

Greek Photography

Travel Assistance from a Greek Native

Greek Gift Basket

$75 to Niko's

$35 to Azars

$35 White House Grill

Books

"Back of the Boat Gourmet" Cook Book

Pottery Barn Sea Gifts

Tree #8 Alice's Tea Party

$2000 Cash

32" Ultra-thin 1080p LED HDTV

BluRay DVD Player with animated DVD's including 'Alice in Wonderland' in BluRay

Kindle with Alice in Wonderland e-book

Whimsical Wingback Chair w Queen of Hearts Pillow

$250 Beauty Gift Basket

Sterling Silver Pendant with Diamonds/Ruby accents

4' Birdcage Votive Stand & wine rack

$75 to Arbor Crest

12 Red or White Roses

Croquet Set & Outdoor Playing Cards

White Rabbit, March Hare and Pink Flamingo Garden Statues

Beautiful Glass Ornaments

Alice and Friends tea Party Accessories & Vintage Treasures

$50 to Celebrations Cupcakes

4 tickets to 2011 "Mad Hatter" vintage flea market

Book-Alice In Wonderland

Tree #9 Be Jeweled & Be Dazzled

$1,500 Cash

Full Length Mirror

Chocolate Party for 4

Antique Dressing Table

Riedel Wine Glasses and Dishware

Designer Jewelry

Chandelier Table and Birdhouse Piece

Two Symphony Tickets

Velvet Chair

Body Butter Gift pack

Custom Jewelry

Mary Kay Gift Basket

$200 to Finders Keepers

Teeth Whitening

Coin Pearl Set

Dinner for 2 at Anthonys

$100 to Mosaic Salon

Dinner for 2 at Ambrosia

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Clothing Gifts

Gift Card to Makeup Studio

Themed Accessories

Tree #10 Revved Up

$1,500 Cash

Craftsman Rolling Tool Chest

Budweiser Racing Package

Chrome & Black Bistro Set

Tool starter Kit & Crawler

$80 to Perfection Tire

$25 to Jacobs Java

2 Gift Certificates for Oil/Lube

Auto Detailing

Cookie Bouquet& Certificate

$50 for Custom Christmas Cards or Shirts

2 $20 gift certificates to FASTKART

Gourmet Basket for Car Enthusiasts

"Ultimate American Cars"

Car Calendar

2 Gift Certificates for Oil/Lube

Personal Tool Chest with Essentials

Tekton 75-piece Socket Set

4 Adult Passes to a Spokane Major Race Event

Dental beauty Kit Certificate

Tree #11 The Mandatory Mulligan

Unlimited 2011 Golf: Season Pass & Cart to Twin Lakes

2 Nights Accommodations-Deluxe Suite at the Holiday Inn, C d'A

$500 Cash

One night stay and golf for 2 at the C d'A Resort

One night stay for 2 and $50 dinner certificate to Hill's Resort

4 Rounds of Golf w Cart at Avondale

4 Rounds of Golf w Cart at Highland Golf Course

2 Rounds of Golf at The Links

St Andrews Golf Flag from 18th Hole

Golf Ball Watch

3 $20 Gift Certificates to The Onion or Frank's Diner

Sun Mountain Golf Bag Pull Cart and Accessories

Golf Clubs and Balls

2 $25 Gift Certificates to Wide World of Golf

Special Golf Ornaments

4 Congressional Country Club Tumblers & 3 Vintage St Andrews Golf Covers

Tree #12 The Sky's the Limit

$3,500 Cash

iPad & Telescope

A Hot Air Balloon Ride in "Spuds"

A Remote Control Airplane

A Paper Rocket Launcher

Tree & Decorations

Christmas Tree Elegance-Fashion Show 2010

2010-12-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend my very first Christmas Tree Elegance Fashion Show Luncheon! It was beautiful and delicious! The Grand Pennington Ballroom was transformed into an amazing stage and runway surrounded by round tables where attendees dined and watched the show.

The afternoon started with a delicious lunch created by Chef Franz and his team. We enjoyed a lovely mixed green salad with a yummy poppy seed vinaigrette and blue cheese crumbles. We then were treated to Guinness Braised Short Ribs with green beans and creamy mashed potatoes. For dessert was a heavenly creme brulee.

After everyone finished eating, the fashion show began! The production was produced by PJ & Co Models and they did a wonderful job! There were nine scenes total and all were stunning. The clothes were provided by Finders Keepers, Serendipity Boutique, Tangerine, Tuxedo Gallery, White House/Black Market, Chico's, and Macy's. The models were all gorgeous. It was such a fun event.

Check out this slideshow of the Fashion Show!

I highly recommend attending this wonderful event. There are two fashion show luncheon's left! December 2nd and December 3rd from 11:30-1:30pm. While you are there, check out all the Christmas Trees! (That post coming later!)

Pumpkin Carving Contest

2010-11-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Every year, the different departments at The Davenport Hotel and Tower and Hotel Lusso have a pumpkin carving contest. The competition gets pretty serious...Plotting and planning goes on for weeks. The goal is for each department to have a theme and then build their masterpieces around their theme. They then all go on display in the Historic Lobby where they are judged. The winning department receives a fun party, and of course, bragging rights!

Here are the photos of the pumpkins:

Sales & Catering

Security

Banquets

Concierges

The Tower Housekeeping

Retail Shops

Accounting

Post St Ale House

Front Desk Services

Guest Services

Human Resources and Call Center

Banquet Kitchen

Room Service

And the winner is.... TOWER HOUSEKEEPING! Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work!

Th runner-ups wereThe Banquet Kitchen and The Ale House...

This is always a fun contest, so a big thank you to everyone who participated! Looking forward to December for the Gingerbread Contest!

Pet Friendly Contest!

2010-09-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the Davenport Hotel and Tower is a Pet Friendly hotel? We welcome all domesticated animals of all shapes and sizes in our hotel and guest rooms. Because we love our pets so much here at the Davenport, we want to see photos of our fans pets! Post up your favorite photo of your pet on our Facebook Page or email it to sberl@thedavenporthotel.com and you will be entered to win a free night stay at the Davenport Tower for you and your pet!

Here is the only rule:

You must use your stay between October 1st and October 31st, 2010! Happy Posting!

Here are the "Pet Rules" at the Hotel for your information:

Dear Guest,

Welcome to the Davenport Hotel and Tower! We are delighted to have you and your pet as our guests. We would appreciate your observance of thefollowing guidelines during your stay with us:

 Your pet must be kept on a leash when you are on property, unless in your room

 For safety reasons, please do not leave your pet unattended in the hotel.Should you require sitting or walking services you may contact the Concierge staff to assist you in making these arrangements.

 We regret that pets are not allowed in any Food & Beverage outlets,Health Club, Pool or any other public areas of the hotel. (This exclusion does not apply to guide dogs.)

 Any disturbances, such as barking, must be curtailed to ensure other guests are not inconvenienced.

 Please contact the Housekeeping Department to arrange a convenient time for servicing your room.

 For your pet’s potty break, we have provided a grassy area located next to the parking garage, across the street from the hotel. There is a trash receptacle, as well as bags provided to clean up after your pet.

We understand that accidents are sometimes unavoidable and if one should occur, please call our Housekeeping Department immediately so we may try to prevent any permanent damage. However, in the event that damage is irreversible, you will be responsible for the repairs that may be required.

Thank you for choosing the Davenport Hotel and Tower as your and y our pet’s home away from home!

New Specials at All of Our Restaurants!

2010-06-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Since the seasons are starting to change (well, not quite yet in Spokane-RAIN GO AWAY!), we at the Davenport Hotel and Tower and Hotel Lusso decided it may be time to do a little changing ourselves...May I present to you the newest Summer Specials in all of our restaurants! This should add a bit of sunshine to your day.

Starting on Monday June 7, 2010:

Early Bird Special-Available in our Historic Lobby-Fireside:

Choose a salad, entrée, and our Davenport Sundae for $15.

Served in the Fireside Lobby daily from 4:00pm-6:00pm

Salad Options

Caesar Salad

Whole leaf hearts of romaine tossed with Parmesan cheese & our house made Caesar dressing then topped with shaved Parmesan & freshly baked garlic croutons

Garden Salad

Mixed green salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, freshly baked garlic croutons, and choice of dressing

Entree Options

Grilled Salmon Filet with tovored brown topped with *

Lightly seasoned grilled salmon filet topped with our Northwest huckleberry champagne sauce

Coconut Prawns

Three large wild black tiger prawns dipped in a light coconut batter & served with sweet hot orange marmalade sauce, rice & seasonal vegetables

Lemon Cream Fettuccini

Light lemon cream sauce tossed with parsley, lemon zest & topped with Parmesan cheese

Chicken Pot Pie

Our homemade chicken pot pie is made with roasted chicken, vegetables and topped with crispy puff pastry

Teriyaki Chicken Breast

A lightly seasoned chicken breast with a ginger teriyaki sauce served over rice with seasonal vegetables

Dessert

The Davenport Sundae

Vanilla ice cream sprinkled with our homemade soft peanut brittle, drizzled with warm fudge sauce and served in a chocolate covered caramel shell

Safari Room Fresh Grill and Bar-HALF OFF in the Month of June!

All drinks are ½ price every day from 4-6pm. All dinner menus are ½ price from 6pm-Closing every day. Complimentary valet parking with purchase.

Sample Dinner Menu:

Thai Chicken Flatbread

Was $9 now $4.50

Crab Louis Salad

Was $22 now $11

Baby Back Ribs

Was $18 now $9

Southern Fried Chicken

Was $16 now $8

Grilled Rib Eye

Was $30 now $15

Miniature desserts

Was $2 now $1

Post St. Ale House NEW Happy Hour and Late Night Menu

Happy Hour 3-6pm

$2 drafts from 3-4pm

$3 drafts from 4-6pm

$2 Happy Hour Menu: Slider with fries, Fried Pickles, 6 hot wings, fried Mozzarella sticks.

New Late Night Happy Hour! 10pm-closing.

Late Night menu ½ price.

Sample:

Basket of Onion Rings $2.50

Best Ever Cheeseburger and Fries $4.50

Basket of Buffalo Hot Wings $4.50

Halibut Fish & Chips $5

Why My Mom Deserves a Night at The Davenport Contest Winner!

2010-05-21T11:28:00.001-07:00

From left to right: Lynnelle Caudill (Davenport), Mike Forness (RMH), Lexi Lopez (winning essay writer), Adriana Lopez (Lexi's mom/Winner), Matt Jensen (Davenport)

A few weeks leading up to Mother's Day we held a little competition for all our Facebook Fans. The goal was to write a short essay of why YOUR mom deserves to stay at the Davenport Hotel and whoever won would receive a free night's stay at The Davenport for their mom for Mother's Day.

We received a lot of essays that were all beautifully written and compelling, but we had to choose one winner. This particular one stood out because of all the circumstances surrounding the essay.

Lexi Lopez wrote in about her mom Adriana Lopez. Lexi, who is 10 years old from Moses Lake, was diagnosed with cancer in February. When Lexi and her family came to Spokane to receive a diagnosis, they stayed at the Davenport and loved it and decided that once Lexi was cancer free they were going to stay once again.

Once Lexi was diagnosed, they found out that she would have to stay in Spokane since Moses Lake was too far away. Lexi and her mom moved into the Ronald McDonald House and have been there since February.

Adriana, Lexi's little sister Ali and her Lexi's Dad Brian have all made huge sacrafices to be on "Team Alexis". As Adriana says, it's the family fighting cancer, not just Lexi.

We were so moved by how wonderful Lexi's letter was and what a great supportive family she has, we decided to present Adriana with her gift certificate for free nights stay in person...and some extra gifts for her.

Here is a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQUUidZdSSs

Lynnelle Caudill and Matt Jensen presented Adriana with a beautiful bouquet from our Flower Shop, an overnight stay at the Davenport and a $50 dining credit to any of our restaurants. They also presented Lexi an overnight stay to use when she is feeling better. Lexi's sister, Ali, received a gift certificate to Mobius Kids to use when they are in town visiting Lexi.

They were so excited and so well deserved. What an incredible and strong family they are and we wish the best for them.

Here is a link to Lexi's CaringBridge Page so you can read more about her: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexisalaniz

Here is a link to the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane-a great resource and foundation for many families like Lexi's: www.rmhspokane.org

Thank you to everyone who participated. It was truly an honor to read all the amazing entries from all of you. Your moms ALL deserve a night at The Davenport!

#SoMeT Symposium-Come to Spokane and The Davenport Hotel!

2010-05-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Social Media Tourism Symposium is looking for a city and venue to hold its 1st ever conference and The Davenport and Spokane want it badly!!

Here is the 4-1-1 from #SoMeT's Facebook Page:

"The inaugural symposium will be held Wednesday, November 17 through Friday, November 19, 2010.
Mission:
The symposium will be a combination of destination marketing organizations, hotels, resorts, attractions and any other tourism related entities sharing ideas and learning more about how social media is effecting promotion within the travel industry.

What makes this conference unique is the involvement of attendees throughout the entire process. Attendees will have a voice in everything from the location to the session topics and presenters.

The symposium is managed by David Serino, founder of Gammet Interactive- an online marketing and consulting agency that serves the travel, tourism and hospitality industry."

Spokane and The Davenport would be great hosts! We are so excited we decided to take some photos of all the great places the #SoMeT attendees can hang out WHEN they hold their Symposium at The Davenport. We have complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property, so it's perfect for all those Social Media gurus. (the logos for the Social Media Tourism Symposium are acting as place holders for the future attendees!)

The Davenport Hotel is a National Historic Building

A few sales and catering team members!

The Davenport's Porte Cachere

The Davenport Lobby

The Davenport Lobby and Famous Fireplace
"Meet me at the Fireplace"

One of our three bars on property

The Historic Lobby

The Davenport Pool

Max-The Davenport's Chief Engineer

Our Davenport Signature Store

Spa Paradiso located in the Davenport

The Davenport Signature Bed (available for purchase)

The Davenport Banquet Kitchen

Adam at The Front Desk

The Davenport Flower Shop (oldest in Spokane!)

Louis Davenport

Meg and Louis Davenport

Always at your service!

A few sales and catering team members by the Fireplace

Not pictured are our fabulous restaurants, bars, candy shoppe, conference rooms, ballrooms, coffee shops, fitness rooms and our amazing guest rooms! We also offer great happy hours, specials every night of the week (drink and food) and even wine and martini classes! Check out our website: www.thedavenporthotel.com for more photos and information about of our property.

Follow us on Twitter: @davenporthotel
"Like" us on Facebook: Click Here

If you are a fan of Spokane and the Davenport, check out #SoMeT's Facebook page and help get the word out!
http://www.facebook.com/SoMeTourism
Twitter: @SoMeTourism

The Davenport Hotel Historically Green-Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T09:59:00.001-07:00

Our History

Long before green was fashionable, Louis Davenport brought a conservative approach to running one of America’s exceptional hotels in Spokane, Washington. His was the first hotel to condition the air so that cleaning efforts were minimized; he installed the first central vacuum system in a hotel so that one set of motors and filters cleaned all 405 rooms; he was the first to design air walls in his ballrooms so that several events could be held while heating or cooling only one space. Mr. Davenport may have been called frugal in his day. Today, he’s called a man ahead of his time and his practices Historically Green.

Our Commitment

The Davenport Hotel and Tower has been committed to environmental protection and sustainability for over 90 years, guided by it’s original proprietor Louis Davenport in 1914 and continuing today with the hotel’s owners Walt and Karen Worthy. Our Historically Green Program strives to minimize our hotel’s operational impact on the environment through resource conservation and best practices.

Our Hotel

With 611 guest rooms and suites, 33,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space, three restaurants and over 500 employees, our mission is to work diligently to minimize our waste and conserve natural resources, particularly through energy and water conservation. Environmental responsibility is integral to our culture and we are eager to share with you our Historically Green Program.

Energy Efficiency Embraced

In 2002 and again in 2007 the hotel and tower received incentives from AVISTA Utilities for following the Energy Efficiency Program, approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for electricity and natural gas conservation. These incentives were given based on building out and implementing the following energy efficiency measures:

Water: High efficiency water cooled chillers, Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) on chilled and heating water pumps, VFD’s on chiller tower and 10 Air Handling Units (AHU).

Natural Gas: High efficiency boilers, compressors and chiller fan coil units.

Electricity: Guest room heat pumps, elevator replacements (main hotel), fan coil units in guestrooms, VFD’s on heating and chilling pumps.

Light Bulbs: Retrofitted lighting throughout main hotel, use of compact fluorescent bulbs throughout hotel and tower, motion sensors for lights installed in all back of the house areas and public bathrooms.

Windows: Low E Windows installed in all guests' rooms and insulated 1st Floor Windows.

Elevators: Energy efficient Otis Gen2 elevators were installed in the new Tower. The special steel corded belts wrap around smaller pulleys making them lighter using up to 50% less energy then conventional elevators.

Guest Room Energy Management System: Installed with unoccupied shutdown motion and heat sensors and shut down at check out technology, which provides automated energy control in each guest room and can be controlled remotely, for optimum setbacks and start up time.

Walls and Ceilings: All walls and ceilings were insulated with vapor barrier throughout main hotel and tower.

Annual Energy Savings:
Main Hotel 3,685,759 kWh and 110,098 Natural Gas Therms
Tower 734,526 kWh and 1,006 Natural Gas Therms

Waste Reduction Practices:

Recycle white office paper, cardboard, wood pallets and newspapers

Recycle cooking oil and grease, batteries, aluminum cans and glass

Donate to local charitable organizations used hotel sheets and pillow cases

Employee break room, banquet department, and restaurants use reusable items such as cloth napkins, glass or plastic drink ware, ceramic plate ware and metal cutlery which cut down on use of Styrofoam or plastic.

Earth Friendly

Printed Materials: The vast majority of items we print are printed on paper that contains 10%-30 % post-consumer waste and from pulp that is sustainable, renewable forest. The paper company is both FCS and SFI certified.

Public Areas: We offer cloth hand towels in all of our public bathrooms, instead of paper, that are laundered. All meeting rooms’ lights are on dimmers and scene controls to give only light needed for events and have programmable HVAC systems allowing usage only when rooms are occupied and can be controlled remotely, for optimum setbacks and start up times. Elevator controls improved efficiency, as did the installation of the double sets of entry doors at both main entrances of the hotel and tower, which limit inside conditioned air loss as well as a revolving door in 1st Ave entrance (main hotel).

Guest Rooms: Refillable soap and shampoo dispensers are offered in all guest rooms; towel and linen reuse program is offered to all guests, all showers and toilets are “low flow” rated. (See guest room energy management system above).

Employees: Commuter Solutions Program, including discounted bus passes, which reward our staff for finding alternative methods to work other then driving. An extra large freight elevator was installed in both buildings to cut down on trips to guest room floors.

Coffee: Royal Cup Coffee is 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified and offered throughout the hotel.

Cleaning Products: Mt. Hood Chemical products are used throughout the hotel, which are environmentally friendly, sustainable products, which are in compliance with the EPA’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI).

Your Opportunity

As a customer of The Davenport Hotel and Tower, you can participate in helping us conserve energy by voluntarily using our linen and towel reuse program in the guest rooms. If you are planning a meeting or event with us, you may choose to donate leftover food products to a community food donation program in Spokane.

FROM FIELD TO TABLE:

A loaf of Davenport Hotel French bread says a lot about how we do business. First, we buy our flour from Shepherd’s Grain, a local farmer’s cooperative whose members employ no-till farming methods that are kinder to the soil. Second, we buy our honey from contented bees at Tate’s Honey Farm in the nearby orchard country of Greenbluff. Third, we buy our olive oil from across the street, at the Coeur d’ Alene Olive Oil Company. From field to table, the ingredients travel fewer than 50-miles. This way, we burn less diesel fuel, support local businesses and deliver a superior product to your table. Anyone can serve bread. The Davenport Hotel serves an experience that is better for you and better for our planet.

If you can’t make it to our table for a loaf of bread, we invite you to pick up one of our bread kit bags in the Davenport Hotel Signature Collection store. Packed for us by Christ Kitchen, all the ingredients are right there in the bag… just add water, knead and bake!

A Goat at The Davenport!

2010-04-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Today at the Davenport Offices we were graced with the presence of a goat! Our Marketing Director, Matt Jensen, was the lucky recipient of the cutest baby goat I have ever seen.

Why was a goat in our office, you may ask? Actually, it's for charity. Wishing Star of Spokane is going around local offices in Spokane to try and get donations to help two little boy's wishes come true.

Josiah (12 years old) and Brandon (9 years old) both suffer from major illness and health issues. Josiah has multiple heart complications and Brandon has rhabdomyo sarcoma. The two boys share in the same wish to meet Star Wars characters and the Wishing Star Foundation is trying to grant their wish by sending them to Jedi Training!

The object of "Send a Friend A Goat" is for Wishing Star to present the goat to a person and if he or she doesn't want to keep the goat, they can offer a $50 donation and pass the goat onto someone else! The donation can be a compilation of multiple people chipping in to reach $50.

But how cute is the goat!?! Here is a video of Matt receiving the goat. (He used to raise goats growing up!) BTW-The goat peed on the floor before he exited the building. I guess he was marking his territory-We are Pet Friendly!

Here is the link to "Send a Friend A Goat" http://www.sendafriendagoat.com/

and the link to Wishing Star: http://www.wishingstar.org/

Spring Drinks at The Peacock Room

2010-04-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

So, maybe I am biased...but I must say that the bartenders at the Peacock Room make the best drinks in town. They are always so creative, look beautiful and taste amazing on top of it! (oh, and they are always doubles!)

I was lucky enough to try the new spring drinks and take some pictures. They are quite a treat!

For all you Girl Scout Cookie Lovers out there-This is the Thin Mint. Made with Three Olives Vodka, White Creme de Cocoa and just a splash of Creme de Menthe.

The "Spring" Flirtini is made with Stoli Ohranj, X-Rated Fusion Liquer and cranberry juice.

A May and Derby Classic-the Mint Julep. Made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon (the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby), Fresh Mint, Soda and Simple Syrup.

The Cherry Blossom is made with Three Olives Cherry Vodka, Sake, Cranberry Juice and House Sour Mix

A Washington Classic-The Gala Apple. Made with Stoli Applik Vodka produced from Washington's own Gala Apples

Huckleberry Heaven (on the right) is made with Fresh Huckleberrys, 44 North Huckleberry Vodka and White Cranberry Juice

Blackberry Drop is made with Stoli Blakberi Vodka, Sour Mix, Creme de Cassis and a sugar rim

And last but not least-The Lilac City made with Three Olives Grape Vodka, Sour Mix, Chambord, and Cranberry Juice

If I HAD to choose, I'd say go for the Huckleberry Heaven-It truly is to die for!

The Davenport Decorative Arts Collection

2010-04-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture invited Davenport Hotel employees to tour their relatively new exhibit "The Arts & Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest" which features "The Davenport Decorative Arts Collection". The exhibit highlights the early 20th Century Arts & Crafts movement featuring architects, furniture manufacturers, craftspeople, artists, and photographers. Lewis M. Davenport Jr., Louis Davenport's son, bequeathed his families extensive collection of decorative crafts to the Museum in 1987 and a financial gift to care for and display the collection. It was quite impressive!

Here are some of the items that are on display:

Tiffany & Co Lamp

A slideshow showcased items that the MAC didn't have enough room to display

Cocktail swords from Tiffany & Co
Silver Shot glass inscribed "Only a Thimble Full"Cordial Glasses 1890-1920Venetian Glass Compote 1920's
The Silver Presentation Cup from Gorham Co. 1906 is inscribed "LMD" "With the loving regard to your fellow trustees of Spokane and Eastern Trust Company, August 30, 1906"

It is definitely worth the trip to the MAC located in Historic Brownes Addition in Spokane. Not only is the Davenport display impressive, but the entire exhibit is quite a treat and very interesting. The exhibit runs through the 26th of June.

Hiding Behind the Face of Facebook & Other Social Media Sites...

2010-03-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

When I was first hired by The Davenport Hotel and Tower and Hotel Lusso as a part-time Social Media Coordinator, I was not sure what sort of following I was going to be able to produce. I was hired in the beginning of November, and I am shocked that we are over 2000 fans between the two hotels. I must say, I am very lucky to work for a hotel that people truly love and enjoy. I am also very thankful to have such a large following. I don’t know all of you, but I get a glimpse into your life every time you post a comment up or click that little “like” thumbs up button. I appreciate every comment I receive, and it makes my job a lot more fun and enjoyable.

I have come to enjoy the fact that in a way I am like the Wizard of Oz. No one really knows who the man is hiding behind the curtain or ummmm computer screen. I work on the fourth floor of the Tower on the Sales and Catering side of the office, and I sometimes think people down the hall don’t even know who is controlling the Social Media sites.

Well, today I have decided it’s time to reveal myself. If nothing more, so that I can thank our fans for always giving me a glimpse into their lives, here is a glimpse into mine. Some may not be interested, but for those of you who are…here you go!

My name is Sarah Berl and I am a Social Media Coordinator for The Davenport Hotel and Tower and Hotel Lusso. Phewwww. That felt good! I have a lengthy background, so I will make this as short, sweet and concise as possible.

I was born in New York and when I was about six years old my family moved to the San Francisco area. I attended Gonzaga University for undergrad where I studied Speech Communications and Print Journalism and my junior year in Florence, Italy.

After graduating, I went to Boston University where I received my Masters in Broadcast Journalism. I was then hired by TV Production Company that produced shows for networks such as ESPN, ABC Sports, Fox Sports, Travel Channel and Food Network. I moved to New York City and became a TV Producer. I loved the job, loved the city and loved all the traveling I was fortunate enough to do.

After several years though, it started to wear on me and I craved the west coast again. So, in May of 2009, I packed up my stuff and left for Spokane, Washington! I decided when I left New York that I would try my hand at a career in a different field of communications, and that’s what landed me at The Davenport Hotel.

So you might ask yourself or me…Why Spokane? I get that question a lot…and for that answer you will have to wait. That is another blog for another day. But trust me, I am so happy to be here and thank you to all who have welcomed me with open arms!

PAMA Cook-Off!

2010-02-17T09:44:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago, the cooks of the Davenport Hotel and Hotel Lusso were challenged to a cook-off to create a new menu item (appetizer, entree or dessert) that tasted amazing, was marketable, and had a great presentation. There was one catch: The cooks had to use one key ingredient in their dishes: PAMA® Pomegranate Liqueur.

"PAMA is made with all-natural pomegranate juice, premium vodka and a touch of imported tequila. Bottled at just 34 proof, PAMA is highly mixable, from the simple to the sublime," from PAMA's Website.

There were 5 cooks who participated and a special appearance by The Davenport's Executive Chef Bryan Franz! The winner received a Wii Console AND their dish featured on the Valentine's Day Menu. All participants will have their recipes submitted to PAMA for the chance to have their dish featured in PAMA's national cookbook. There were 5 judges including myself, the manager of the Peacock Room, a representative from PAMA, and two other Davenport Front of House Employees.

Here are the photos of the dishes and video of the cooks describing what they made!

Loyd's PAMA Huckleberry and Raspberry Gelatin

Colby's PAMA, Ginger, All Spice and Cinnamon Pork Chops with Spinach&Gruyere Polenta and PAMA Creme Brulee

Chef Franz's PAMA Trio-Goat Cheese and Truffled Orzo with PAMA marinated Quail. Boursin Mashed Potatoes with Chilean Sea Bass in a PAMA reduction. Grilled Cactus with golden raisins and PAMA. Sprite Floating Iceberg with pineapple sorbet and a shot of PAMA.

Liz's PAMA Berry Cream Custard with a PAMA syrup reduction

Alija's Rack of Lamb in a PAMA reduction stuffed with goat cheese and roasted with parsnips, potatoes and carrots. And a PAMA Gelato with Dark Chocolate Chips.

Nick's PAMA Potpourri includes Quail with a PAMA marinade with relish, fig, feta and pine nuts. Chicken with a PAMA marinade added to the pan then roasted and topped with a PAMA cream reduction and served with jasmine rice with cucumber and PAMA slaw.

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!! ALIJA and his Lamb Chops and PAMA Gelato! CONGRATS ALIJA!

The Participants!

Thank you to all who participated! it was a lot of fun and very delicious! Hope to do it again soon...

Coaches vs. Cancer Event at Post St. Ale House!

2010-02-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend the Post St. Ale House, located in our sister property Hotel Lusso, hosted a mini Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser. From 12-5pm 20 percent of all proceeds went towards Coaches vs. Cancer-Spokane. The fundraiser was held during the Gonzaga-Memphis game (which Gonzaga won!) and patrons enjoyed watching the game while local celebrity bartenders and waiters served them.

Here are some photos from the event:

The celebrity judges included former Gonzaga Basketball Players
and local news anchors/reports and radio show hosts.

That's Cat Country's Big Cat Daddy and Former Zag Jeff Brown behind the bar.

Kid's and families all had a great time cheering on the Zags munching on some great Ale House Food!

Tim Lewis (KREM), Dana Haynes (KHQ/Fox) and Derek Deis (KXLY) all put their "station rivalries" aside and helped serve food and drinks to to the patrons!

A few good Zag fans!

Thank you for all who came out and supported the cause. The event raised almost $600 to go Coaches vs. Cancer-Spokane...People were also writing checks at the bar directly to CvC!

Coaches vs. Cancer is a joint effort by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that empowers coaches, their teams and communities to help win the fight against cancer. Coaches vs Cancer Spokane has raised $3.9 million dollars in fundraising, $573,025 in camp scholarships and $157,500 for other local Spokane cancer fighting organizations.

If you would like to learn more about Coaches vs. Cancer-Spokane or to donate click here:
http://www.gucoachesvscancer.com/

Happy Birthday Elvis!

2010-01-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

Today would have been Elvis Presley's 75th birthday. His life was cut short at the young age of 42 when he passed away in August of 1977.

Spokane was fortunate enough to welcome Elvis to town three times in his career where he played at Spokane Memorial Stadium and at Spokane Coliseum.

During Elvis' first visit in 1957, he stayed at the Davenport Hotel. At the young age of 22, he played to a crowd of thousands (at the Spokane Memorial Stadium) made up mainly of young teenage girls.

An article written September 6 of 1957 published in the Spokane Chronicle posed the question: "Is it right or necessary for Spokane or any community to condone an entertainment spectacle based on vulgarity?" Oh, what would Elvis say now!

Elvis played in Spokane in April of 1973 as well as April of 1976 at the Spokane Coliseum. All shows were sold out.

Here are some photos from the 1976 show and as you can see, the girls still loved him!

Here is a link to the article from 1957: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N5cSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9PYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5659,1291858&dq=elvis+spokane&hl=en

If anyone has an Elvis in Spokane story, we would love to hear it! Please feel free to post comments about your experiences. Thank you to Elvis for entertaining us for many, many years!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI

New World War II Memorabilia Displays

2010-01-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

WWII Servicemen crossing the street in front of The Davenport Hotel

The Davenport Hotel welcomes two new displays to Mezzanine and Palm Court Grill display cases. These display cases are constantly being changed to keep things "fresh" at the hotel. Gonzaga University was kind enough to lend the Davenport Bing Crosby memorabilia through the Holiday Season, but a new year calls for a new display!

The cases are now filled with amazing artifacts from World War II which are on loan from the Inland Northwest Living History Group (INLHWG). The idea for the display presented itself when The Davenport's Tom McArthur was chatting with his friend Russ Cameron at The Post St. Ale House. Russ Cameron's father served in WWII and had a box full of different items from that time period. Russ is also involved with the INLHWG.

Tom had mentioned to Russ that he had an old photo from a 1943 Life Magazine that pictured soldiers napping in the Davenport Hotel Lobby. Louis Davenport was known for letting soldiers nap in the lobby during World War II. Later, it was discovered that one soldier who napped in the lobby was Army Air Corpsman Walter B. Worthy who is the father of present day owner of the Davenport Hotel, Walt Worthy.

WWII Soldiers sleeping in The Davenport Hotel Lobby

Russ and Tom decided this was great way to incorporate a little hotel history with world history and show appreciation for all the men and women who serve our country. With help from the INWLHG last night, they filled up the Elizabethean Room with hundreds of memoribilia and picked out the best items to put on display.

Here are photos of some of the items:

Breakfast rations included crackers, gum and cigarettes!

Miscellaneous Items such as Flag that was sent home in lieu of a soldier

Marine Corp Uniform

Also on display is an "Ike" uniform designed by President Eisenhower.

An vintage typewriter and radio. Many letters are on display as well including one written on August 15,1945 declaring "Oh Happy Day the war is over!"

Victory mail, various letters and an old newpaper declaring "Peace!"

Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to these fascinating display cases. A special thanks Inland Northwest Living History Group. If anyone has any questions regarding the items on display, please email inwlhg@yahoo.com

And thank you to everyone who has served our country and to all who is currently serving our country!

DO YOU HAVE A STORY OF SOMEONE WHO NAPPED AT THE DAVENPORT HOTEL DURING THE WAR? We'd love to hear it! Please email sberl@thedavenporthotel.com with your story!

The Davenport Hotel Employee Gingerbread House Competition!

2009-12-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

And the winner is...The Housekeeping Department!

This team made an incredible effort with their creative use of ingredients such as Chex Cereal and Pretzels! Thank you to everyone who participated for helping make our Mezzanine look beautiful and festive. And a special shout-out to Sales and Catering! A great effort and nice way to tie in the US Figure Skating Championships! Here are the all the photos! They are also on display on the Mezzanine until December 25th, so go check them out for yourselves. Just try not to eat them!

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread House Competition!

2009-12-14T17:05:00.000-08:00

On this past Sunday,nine teams of local Spokane chefs and architects came together to raise money for Christ Kitchen. The professionals decorated their gingerbread houses in 3 hours in the Grand Pennington Ballroom as the public cheered them on! This years theme was Children's Movies.

People were also welcome to join in on the fun for $7 to benefit Christ Kitchen. Christ Kitchen is a "job-training project providing work, instruction, discipleship, support, and fellowship for women living in poverty in the Spokane area. Through the production and sales of gourmet dried food products and catered meals, this project enables women to learn to work, to become employable and, eventually, to support themselves and their families without reliance on government programs or destructive relationships."

Thank you to all who participated and helped out to make this yet another successful event for a great cause. And a special congratulations to the Yoke's Fresh Market Team and architect David Smart for creating the winning Snow White House!

Here are the houses!

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
The Davenport Hotel and Chris Morian Executive Chef: Bryan Franz
Pastry Chef: Rosario Mendoza
Architect: Chris Morian

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Off the Wall Events
Chef: Sonia Duffy
Design Engineer: Chris Duffy
Architect: Barry Nance

Snow White
Yokes Fresh Market
Steven A. Meek Architects
Chef: Teresa King
Sous Chef: Megan Womak
Dessert Coordinator: Kathy Skomer
Merchandiser: Elise Shmoorkoff
Architect: David Smart
Vendor: Mick Short
Decorator: Mindi Howland

Whoville
Integrus Architect, Sew Sweet
Structural Engineer: Aaron Zwanzig
Structural Draftsman: Chris Cuddy
Intern Architect: Rob Wiese
Marketing Assistant: Kristen caro
Baker: Jennifer Work
Architects: Jodi Kiltel/Craig Caro
Office Manager: Denise
Interior Designer: Maria Vanhoff/Lindsay Aaseby
Administrative Assistant: Jade Tipke

Santa Conquers The Martians

Globe Bar and Grille
Chefs Howard Batmen, Chris Copenahaver, Greg Jacobson

Lady and the Tramp

Europa
Chef: Christie Sutton
General Manager: Jessica Jackson

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Northern Quest Casino
Pastry Chef: Pepi Safford
Baker: David Knight

Peter Pan

Coeur D’Alene casino/Baker Construction
Executive Chef: Adam Hegsted
Pastry Chef: Susan Brunelle
Apprentice Chef: Alex Stoy
Design Manager: Joseph Stoy

Jonah A VeggieTales Movie

Marsells Cakes
Bakers: Marcel Kopplin and Stephanie Lentz
Apprentice: Cheyenne Orndorff

Davenport Chef's in The Spotlight!

2009-12-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

Throughout the last month, The Davenport Hotel chefs have been particpating in events and making media appearances. This blog is dedicated to the Chef's and a huge thank you to all of them who help make the Davenport so special through the wonderful food that they create. A special thanks to Chef Bryan Franz who particpated in the National Tour Association's Reno Dinner Convention and received rave reviews as well as making appearances on KHQ and KREM!

Here are some photos and video from these events. Thank you Chefs!

Silver Bells

2009-12-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

The holiday spirit is alive at the Davenport Hotel Lobby with trees decorated and holiday music being played on the piano!

Christmas Tree Elegance Returns To The Davenport Hotel

2009-12-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

Photos from 2008 Christmas Tree Elegance

Every year people from all across the world look forward to the first signs of the Holiday Season. That day is here for Spokane! The Spokane Symphony, in collaboration with The Davenport Hotel, has kicked off the month of December with Christmas Tree Elegance!

Christmas Tree Elegance is celebrating its 27th Anniversary which, for good reason, has became a great local tradtion creating many memories while raising money for the Spokane Symphony.

Starting today, December 1st, the festivities include luncheons fashion shows, decorared trees displayed with a lighting ceremony, Galas, raffles and of course music! All these wonderful events take place at The Davenport Hotel. Here is a schedule of events and stay tuned for more updates!

CHRISTMAS TREE ELEGANCE 2009 SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009
5:30pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony in The Davenport Hotel Lobby

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009-Saturday Dec.12, 2009
Tree Displays around The Davenport Hotel Mezzanine and $1 raffle tickets for sale

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009-Friday, Dec. 4,2009
11:30am-1:30pm
PJ Models Style Show and Luncheon

Friday, Dec. 4, 2009
6pm
Gala Dinner Dance (Dancing to 6' Swing)

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009
8am-11am
Mobius Kids Santa Breakfast in the Grand Pennington Ballroom

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009
6pm
Eckart & Friends

Monday, Dec. 7, 2009
11am-1pm
Holiday Hat Luncheon

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009
9pm-11pm
Raffle ticket drawing in the Davenport Hotel Lobby

For reservations or information regarding these events, please call 509-458-8733!

2009-11-17T14:38:00.001-08:00

Regional PCMA Members Volunteer For Service In Sync!
For two hours this past Thursday, The Davenport Hotel and Tower employees along with other Spokane-area management employees, dedicated their time to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Spokane, Washington through Service In Sync. Service In Sync is a program that encourages members of the Professional Convention Management Association to help out in their respective communities during November.

Each year, all across the United States, Service In Sync volunteer’s set aside time to volunteer in their communities to help people less fortunate than them. The Davenport Hotel and Tower employees have been teaming up with the Second Harvest Food Bank and Service In Sync for several years. The volunteers go in “blind” not knowing what their task will be until they arrive. This year their job was to take bulk pasta and repackage it into smaller packages to be distributed across Eastern Washington.

This year the team members filled 96 boxes totaling 768 pounds of pasta in just two hours! Thank you to all who helped volunteer and make Service In Sync possible. And a special thank you to Second Harvest Food Bank!

Happy Friday The 13th!

2009-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Do you believe in ghosts? Well, even if you don't, it's difficult to not find the Davenport Hotel's documented encounters with spirits of the dead intriguing. And what better day for a good ghost story than a possibly snowy, overcast, Friday the 13th in Spokane, Washington?

The most famous apparition legend involves a one Ellen McNamara from 1920. As the story goes, multiple guests and employees of the modern day Davenport Hotel on separate occasions have reportedly seen a ghost of a woman dressed in what appears to be 1920's fashion. The stories were all consistent in that she was always spotted roaming the mezzanine and the Grand Lobby saying "Where did I go?"

The same story was reported so many times, that employees of The Davenport became curious. Could this be true? Was there someone who died at the hotel in the 1920's who has unfinished business with The Davenport?

After some thorough research, an article was found in the Spokesman Review on August 18, 1920 with a headline reading "Matron falls to death through hotel skylight."

The article reads on to describe the mysterious case of Ms. Ellen McNamara, an affluent guest from New York City. While touring the West Coast with a few women family members, they stopped in Spokane en route to a National Park. Ms. McNamara retired to her room before dinner time, siting that she was not feeling well. While the other women went downstairs for dinner, McNamara stayed in her room.

Because no one was with Ms. McNamara, the exact details of her death are unknown, but here is what was pieced together. While hundreds of people were dining downstairs, Ms. McNamara was attempting to step out of her room for a breath of fresh air. At that point, she must have been confused and accidentally opened a wrong door. That door led to the glass roof, which is the ceiling for the Grand Lobby. Ms. McNamara might have thought that it looked like a checkerboard floor, so went ahead and stepped on it. The glass, unfortunately, was not strong enough to hold her weight, and she fell through the glass landing in the Grand Lobby while other guests (including her family) were eating dinner.

As people rushed to her side, the only words she uttered were "Where did I go?"

Suffering from a major skull injury, McNamara died in her room an hour later.