In her article “Idaho one cool destination at one cool price,” Clara Bosonetto of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution touts cheap air rates in getting from Atlanta to Boise ($266 round trip). And said this about Coeur d’Alene: “A 7-hour drive north of Boise is Lake Coeur d’Alene, created by glaciers and today an international resort destination with the town of Coeur d’Alene on its north shore and resorts nestled along 135 miles of shoreline. An ideal region for avid birdwatchers – Lake Coeur d’Alene has the largest nesting population of osprey in the western United States.” Chamber types are glad she didn’t mention that the southern edge of downtown Coeur d’Alene is torn up this year. Or anything about Aryans/DFO, Sunday Huckleberries. More here.

Other SR weekend columns:

• Dim message on bulbs/Gary Crooks
• Ride was classic, didn't feel like rehearsal/Doug Clark
• Oriental lilies are beautiful, easy to grow/Susan Mulvihill
• When time is of the essence, buttons just don't fly/Paul Turner
• Mountain bikers try to stay their course on Beacon Hill/Rich Landers
• Pretty quiet on fundraising front, but Crapo warchest deep/Betsy Russell

Question: Is this the summer you'd want your friends and relatives visiting downtown Coeur d'Alene?

They say that when God closes a door, he opens a window. Well, when Jerry Jensen closes a Subway, which is unusual, he opens another - and likely another and another. The owner of six Subways in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden sat inside his newest store on Seventh and Sherman that opened Monday. “Obviously in the summertime we're going to get a ton more traffic, and that's a big thing,” he said. The 1,700-square-foot store is in a prime location to continue drawing big weekday lunch crowds, as well as increasing customer count for dinners and weekends. “I think that really was the driving force behind this,” Jensen said/Bill Buley, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (Shawn Gust Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Sandwich artists Patrick Runkle, left, and Brad McNelis work on a customer order Tuesday at Subway in Coeur d'Alene)

Question: This is the site of the old Senor Froggy's, right? Is that a good location for a Subway?

A lawsuit filed to prevent a Colorado company from building a high-rise condominium in downtown Coeur d'Alene was dismissed Tuesday, although the ruling doesn't shut the door on litigation completely. But the company proposing the project, One Lakeside LLC., said it's pleased with the judge's decision and it's ready to apply for building permits this summer, and break ground on the 14-story building by November. “Obviously, we're pleased the judge saw it our way,” said Greg Hills, principal of the real estate development firm Austin Lawrence Partners proposing to build the retail and residential building at the corner of First Street and Lakeside Avenue. “We're going to keep moving forward, just like we have been”/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Are you ready for another downtown high-rise?

The architectural design for a proposed 14-story residential building in downtown Coeur d'Alene got the green light Thursday from the city's Design Review Commission. The commission's seven members unanimously approved the plan for the building, stating it meets all city guidelines and procedures. Prior to the commissioners' decision, they received a preview of the legal battle neighbors of the project have been promising to mount. Harold Damiano, a 24-year resident of the Coeur d'Alene North condos to the north, testified that the commissioners have a duty to protect property rights and values. He pointed out that this duty is listed first in the city's code detailing the Design Review Commission's authority/Maureen Dolan, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Do you want to see more high-rises in downtown Coeur d'Alene?

What is a Fondo? It may sound like a car or something you eat but for Coeur d'Alene, its a giant bike race that's gaining national attention. On Saturday, September 29, cyclists will fill the streets of downtown Coeur d'Alene for the 1st annual Coeur d' Fondo. It's a race where riders can choose from four different courses that range in mileages from 108 miles to a family friendly 15 miles. And at the end riders will be rewarded for the efforts at the the Coeur d'Alene Oktoberfest.  And due to a large spike of interest nationwide, it's sure to be crowded downtown. “When we first started out, we thought let's keep it small. Let's keep it to 200 to 500 riders,” said race director Issac Mann. “But we got so many entires, we had to stop at 800”/Megan Gallegos, KXLY4. More here. (Image from KXLY Web site)

Question: Had you heard of the 1st Coeur d'Alene Fondo before now?

With hopes to extend the business core of downtown to Seventh Street, a retail building called Plaza on Sherman is planned for the vacant southeast corner of Seventh and Sherman. The corner had Senor Froggy's eatery a few years back and plans for a six-story structure there were changed to the new plan. With hopes for construction to begin this fall and complete next spring, the 5,500-square-foot, single-story building would house three or four tenants and have parking to the rear. The only committed tenant is Subway, and about 4,000 square feet remain available. Erik Nelson of Kiemle & Hagood Realty (509-220-4042, erik.nelson@khco.com) is handling the project/Nils Rosdahl, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Do you think things are looking up/down for downtown Coeur d'Alene?

Meet the neighbors. The Colorado developers proposing to build a 12-story retail and apartment complex in downtown Coeur d'Alene laid out the first wave of details behind the estimated $20 million project Thursday, saying they want to work with the surrounding neighborhood as much as possible as they turn the conceptual plan into a final design. “I don't consider myself a local by any stretch of the imagination,” said Greg Hills, principal of real estate development firm Austin Lawrence Partners, out of Aspen, Colo., which is pitching the project. “I'm not saying that I am … But our goal is to have a collaborative effort with the city on this building.” The company wants to break ground on a 125,000-square-foot, 60-unit luxury-apartment building at 201 N. First St., in the spring/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (Shawn Gust Press photo: Denver architect Michael Noda describes the building style of the135-foot mixed use project proposed for 201 N. First Street)

Thoughts?

Item: Moving on up: Twelve-story building proposed at corner of Lakeside and First/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press

More Info: A Colorado company is proposing to build a 12-story retail and apartment building in the heart of downtown Coeur d'Alene, adjacent to some highrise apartments already there. Austin Lawrence Partners, a real estate development firm out of Aspen, Colo., hopes to break ground on the 125,000-square-foot, 60-unit luxury-apartment building, called One Lakeside at 201 N. First St., in the spring. The proposed mixed-use building would sell one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with “high-end finishes and appliances,” according to the company's website. A 12-unit apartment building, called Lakeside Apartments, currently sits on the 20,000-square-foot lot, which Austin Lawrence Partners purchased in April 2012. (Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Jerome A. Pollos)

Question: Is there room for another high-rise in downtown Coeur d'Alene?

It has been awhile since we've had a Downtown Coeur d'Alene Bar Report. So this may seem dated (from 4th of July). But it's still interesting (since it happened in the SR parking lot): “Officers arrested an 18YO female for Domestic Battery after a dispute between her boyfriend (bisexual) and her boyfriend’s boyfriend (homosexual). The battery incident occurred after the fireworks display in the Spokesman Review parking lot. Apparently the three were discussing sexual preferences, and the female, who was intoxicated, was not happy about the situation – slapping her boyfriend’s face (victim stated it was like a 'bitch slap'). When officers arrived, everyone was in tears and once it was determined the male and female were in a domestic relationship, she was arrested for domestic battery. Her boyfriend was later charged with Malicious Injury to Property after it was discovered he had stolen a “handicap” sign from the parking lot area (sign was found in his car).” You can read the rest of the latest Bar Report here.

Thoughts?

The Phantom Photographer wonders what the boy in the back seat has in his mouth. Maybe a candy copy of whatever the man is smoking in the front seat? PP snapped this photo during the annual Car d'Lane cruise Friday night in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Question: I've heard several friends who were in downtown Coeur d'Alene Friday night describe the scene as “a zoo” or worse. They didn't like the crush of out-of-towners who seem to have overwhelmed the streets at the expense of the locals. Has Car d'Lane become too popular?

In the latest Downtown Coeur d'Alene Bar Report we're introduced to a possible purse thieft accused of stealing a purse of a 30-year-old dancer while she was on stage at the Rendezvouz. It happened Monday, May 21. Here's the rest of the report: “While she was on the stage dancing, a male sat down next to where she had left her purse, wrapped the purse in his jacket and left out the front door. The victim tried to chase the male, but could not keep up with him because of her heels. She did point the male out to the bar bouncer who was also unable to stop the male. The male was recognized by others in the bar and when the officers contacted him by phone, he denied taking the purse stating he was at the bar trying to score some cocaine but did not steal anything. This case is still under investigation.” You can read the entire Bar Report here.

Question: Ah, what's worse — stealing a purse or trying to “score some cocaine”?

At 8 a.m. Friday, Ganesha will come down. The five-foot statue of the Hindu God, who earned some criticism for its apparently un-American and un-Christian ways, will leave its spot on the corner of Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue and head to an art studio in Spokane. It its place will be a 7-foot statue called “Art and Soul.” It's a creation by local artist Jason Sanchez, and one could describe the futuristic machine as something that stepped out of a Terminator movie. “We got some unusual ones,” said Joseph Sharnetsky, Arts Commission member, on this incoming crop of artistic creations - which he described as “more abstract, more colorful and more unusual” than the current fleet. “It's a little different than last year”/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (Kathy Plonka SR file photo)

Question: Do you enjoy the public arts display in downtown Coeur d'Alene this past year?

Item: Businesses must police sidewalks: Language, dress code must be enforced in outside seating areas/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press

More Info: The City Council approved the changes 4 votes to 2 votes, with councilmembers Dan Gookin and Steve Adams voting against the measure. Adams called the changes heavy-handed and premature, since the downtown bar dance club Icon, which accounted for some of the police calls, was sold this year. He said the changes shouldn't be implemented until after the city has time to study statistics from this summer, while Gookin said the city shouldn't police what language people use. “The government does not have the power to regulate what people say,” he said.

Question: Who's right on this matter — the 4-2 majority? Or Adams (who said the changes were heavy-handed and premature) and Gookin (who said police shouldn't regulate language people use)?

The city of Coeur d'Alene wants to add some rules to its outdoor food and alcohol serving policy to help clean up behavior around bars and restaurants with seating on public sidewalks. The changes would clarify expectations for businesses that serve outdoors thanks to the city's food and alcohol outdoor service policy, which has been changed several times the last three years. “It's a balancing act,” said Mike Kennedy, councilman, on attempting to clean up late-night behavior outside establishments that serve alcohol, versus coming down too heavy handed on businesses. “And it's not an easy one.” The proposed additions would require businesses that have the outdoor permits to play a more active role in policing unacceptable behavior in their own designated areas/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (SR file photo of a mother & her son dining outside the Beacon)

Question: Do you enjoy dining or drinking outside restaurants or bars in downtown Coeur d'Alene?

The owners of The Wine Cellar, a staple of the downtown scene for over 20 years, are thrilled to announce that the restaurant will be moving street side this summer. Tom & Patricia Power have acquired the building located at 317 Sherman Avenue, directly next door to the Wine Cellar and will be relocating the restaurant to that space.  The Wine Cellar restaurant in its current location will remain open for business during this transition.  The building at 317 Sherman has been a number of businesses over the years, from a department store, furniture store, The Brix restaurant in 2003 and most recently the Icon nightclub/News Release. More here. (Photo from Wine Cellar Web page)

Question: Are you a fan of the Wine Cellar?

OrangeTV: “Icon is closed forever after last weekend, so that is no longer an ongoing concern. It was purchased by the Wine Cellar and is being turned back into a fine dining establishment. The Beacon is as described in the article, terrible customer service and outrageous prices. Splash, I’ve never been but I’ve never once heard anything nice about the place. As for my favorite downtown bar, well…I have kind of a bias on that one…”

DFO: Thanks, OTV, I didn't know that about Icon. Judging from the Downtown Coeur d'Alene Bar Report, Icon won't be missed by the Coeur d'Alene Police Department.

Question: Which other downtown Coeur d'Alene bar would you like to see close?

• The article below is the 3rd in a 3-part series on a December 2009 shooting that involved Coeur d'Alene businessman Adam Johnson. You can read Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.

For Adam Johnson, life is being rebuilt piece by piece. Two years is a blink of an eye, the 27-year-old says, but each day he's putting one piece on top of another. “My eyes have definitely been opened,” said Johnson, sitting at a coffee shop recently in Coeur d'Alene. “Before I was young, successful, running a business. You kind of get some blinders on.” Even after attempted murder and aggravated battery charges were dropped against him in January 2010 after a sealed grand jury found the shooting was in self defense, Johnson had questions of his own. If the shooting was ruled self defense, where were new charges against the aggressors? He was beaten so badly that around one year after the incident, doctors discovered he had several broken C7 and T1 vertebrae in his neck. And there were reports - which the Moses Lake visitors deny — that the visitors were kicked out of the Torch Lounge moments before the encounter/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Do you think downtown Coeur d'Alene has gotten safer since the December 2009 shooting?

CollingwoodCDA: The Moose, Beacon, Moon Time and Eagles are legit, though, not that they’re immune from idiots getting out of line. The Icon is such a dive and is almost solely responsible for the ever-growing stigma of downtown CDA and drama that goes down (nothing good happens after midnight, right?). I love the downtown CDA scene, but The Icon is ghetto fabulous but still not as bad as the artist formerly known as The Torch.

Question: Which night spot in downtown Coeur d'Alene do you avoid?

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department’s CARE Division (Community Accident Reduction through Education and Enforcement) followed up a hit and run accident that occurred on December 11th at approximately 1:00am at 2nd St. and Lakeside Ave. Victim Jessica White was struck by a maroon Toyota pickup and left lying in the roadway. Jessica sustained a broken back and was hospitalized at KMC. Officer Nick Knoll received information during the course of the investigation that led to a suspect by the name of Thomas James Lang, 21, of Post Falls. Suspect Lang is friends with the Jessica White. Jessica and several of her friends in common with Lang knew who struck her with the vehicle and failed to tell the police who was responsible/Sgt. Christie Wood, Coeur d'Alene police. More here.

Downtown Coeur d'Alene was full of combative and unconscious drunks — and a public urinator or two — from Oct. 1-23, according to the latest Coeur d'Alene Police Department Bar Report. But the favorite of HucksOnline was this one, from 1:37 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23: “Female customer was upset and confronting and hitting an employee at the counter of the San Francisco Sourdough. Other activities included opening bags of chips and dumping them on the floor, hitting a manager, licking an employee’s hand and entering a storage closet thinking it was the bathroom. Eventually she escaped out the back door (leaving her name information from her credit card) and entered the Moose.” Complete Downtown Coeur d'Alene Bar report here.

Question: Did you find a better candidate for best bar report entry by following the link? Which incident was more or equally noteworthy?