Monthly art walk gives chance to check out co-op’s new home
Come to downtown Coeur d’Alene the second Friday of most months and you see a lively place with special events, usually an art walk that involves the many galleries and related shops. And this week the event will push Valentine’s Day with a Chocolate Walk.
Taking advantage of this is the Northwest Artists Co-op, which opens Tuesday in a new location at 509 Sherman Ave. Formerly the home of the Tiffany Blue store (which moved west on Sherman), the 2,200-square-foot space is twice the size of the co-op’s previous location at 217 Sherman. More on this later.
With the physical growth is human growth. The co-op now has 24 members and 12 consignees, adding to 36 participants who display and sell all types of eclectic artwork including paintings, photography, sculpture, metalwork, jewelry, carving and pottery. The co-op also offers classes and will feature different young artists, often students, each month.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and will expand to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in April. The co-op will be part of Chocolate Walk 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, the 217 Sherman Ave. location remains an art feature with the Northwest Gallery now there.
Downtown Guns & Ammo now open
Yes, this new business sells guns and ammunition – but it also trades these items and offers gun repair and cleaning.
Downtown Guns & Ammo is now “quietly” open and will celebrate a grand opening Friday. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 to 4 Sundays.
“We specialize in law enforcement trades, guns that were duty weapons that were traded for new or different weapons,” said Rick Gallia, who owns the store with his wife, Yvonne. They sell the guns retail or wholesale and on the Internet and trade and pawn them. Originally from Northern California and Las Vegas, the Gallias previously owned a law enforcement training company, and he was a law officer.
Their 2,000-square-foot store at 405 N. Second St. has four employees. Check www.downtownguns.com. Phone (208) 667-3786.
New 2 U Thrift Store open on Third Street
With victims of domestic violence a major focus, the New 2 U Thrift Store has opened at 1034 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. The store is in the space formerly occupied by the Yarn Barn (now near Fred Meyer) behind Jo-Ann Fabrics.
Owners Renee and Jimmy Wolf sell the usual thrift store items, but they also want to be an intermediary information center for victims of domestic violence. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Phone (208) 665-2010.
Flip Factory moves to Hayden
Taking advantage of a 12,000-square-foot facility, the Flip Factory gymnastics school will open April 5 at 237 W. Hayden Ave. It’s in the northeast corner of Hayden’s intersection with U.S. Highway 95.
Moving from 1717 Northwest Boulevard, Flip Factory owners Todd and Tammy McLean and nine coaches offer classes to nearly 250 students from the Diaper Daredevils to adults. They also coach competitive teams for girls age 3 to 10 and boys age 4 to 10. Competing and meeting through gymnastics, Tammy is originally from Nyack, N.Y., and Todd is from Spokane.
Check www.flipfactory gymnastics.com. Phone (208) 666-1300.
This week’s tidbits
•It’s amazing that more downtown businesses, especially sandwich-related eateries, don’t take advantage of Art Walk nights. But several are closed by then.
•Always open with bakery, breakfast and lunch items, Bakery by the Lake at Parkside, 601 Front St., now open until 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with appetizers, desserts and beer and wine. They also will offer downtown delivery and evening live music.
•Watch for changes soon on North Fourth Street and Government Way.