Skating rink adds ice-free seasonal fun

’Tis the season. Not like you’ve never heard that before. In this reference, however, it’s the season of winter.

Polar Bear Pond, a 3,000-square-foot skating rink, is being installed to take the place of the former Bumper Boat Pond at Triple Play Family Fun Park in Hayden. Customers will walk down a ramp to the rink where they can skate around the sinking ship in the middle of the pond.

Notice the word ice has never been mentioned. Although customers will use ice skates, the rink will be composed of EZ Glide 350, a synthetic skating surface …

’Tis the season. Not like you’ve never heard that before. In this reference, however, it’s the season of winter.

Polar Bear Pond, a 3,000-square-foot skating rink, is being installed to take the place of the former Bumper Boat Pond at Triple Play Family Fun Park in Hayden. Customers will walk down a ramp to the rink where they can skate around the sinking ship in the middle of the pond.

Notice the word ice has never been mentioned. Although customers will use ice skates, the rink will be composed of EZ Glide 350, a synthetic skating surface made from a polymer compound. The product provides a nongreasy, environmentally friendly surface with the longest glides possible, according to Jennifer Ross, Triple Play marketing director.

The rink should open Dec. 21 with hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry fee will be $6.50 and skate rental is $2.50 with sizes from children’s size 10 through adult sizes. Customers can bring their own ice skates.

Triple Play also offers its indoor water park, bowling, miniature golf, laser tag, Go-Karts, a climbing wall, video arcade and other activities for individuals and special events. The facility is at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites at Highway 95 and Orchard Avenue. Phone (208) 762-PLAY (7529). Check www.3play.com.

New businesses in Old City Hall

Women’s clothing and accessories and artsy items and collectibles are the emphases of two new stores in the Old City Hall building at 424 Sherman Ave. at the Fifth Street intersection in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Gail Benedetti named the place The G Spot, after her first name. Open since September, her inventory includes clothing, purses, belts, boots and hats. She also has tanning beds and will have spray tans.

Benedetti came from Council, Idaho, where she had a similar store. She’s originally from Santa Monica, Calif. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Phone (208) 741-0270.

Across the hall, Treasures by the Lake offers Indian and Japanese artwork and collectibles. It includes pottery, glass items, stone and wood carvings, Indian drums, and antique dolls and figurines.

Owners Shawn Carr and Michael Antonicchio (also a partner in The G Spot) came from Wyoming and San Jose, Calif., respectively, and opened the store in late November. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Phone (208) 739-6783.

This week’s tidbits

•Jungle Pizza at 503 E. Seltice Way is closed for remodeling and adding new kids’ attractions including tubes, tunnels, pool tables and air hockey. Reopening Dec. 20 with new owners, the family and party eatery will open at 11 a.m. daily. Phone (208) 773-1500.

•A new slate of seminars will be offered at the Coeur d’Alene School of Woodworking at 4951 Building Center Drive January through March. Check www.cdawoodworking school.net. Phone (208) 755-9902.

•Some key thoroughfares have no sidewalks such as Best Avenue between Fifth and Seventh streets, and kids are forced to walk in the freshly snowplowed streets. Watch for them. Those residents and businesses with sidewalks need to shovel them for pedestrian safety.

Contact Nils Rosdahl at (208) 769-3228 or nhrosdahl@nic.edu.