West Side Transplant Opens Gallery In Green Bluff Area

Experience and reputation followed Melanie Rodd when her family recently moved from Bremerton to Spokane.

For five years Rodd ran a bustling art gallery in Bremerton, featuring work of top artists.

Now she’s opened Twin Totems Gallery, an elegant new gallery next door to her Green Bluff home.

With wine receptions and meet-the-artist open houses, Twin Totems art and framing gallery, 5117 E. Greenbluff Road, adds a touch of chic to the homespun apples-and-crafts country.

“I feel like I’m bringing something to the north end of town, and with the growth here, it’s nice to be able to fill a void,” said Rodd.

In Bremerton she lost herself in the management part of the business, she said. She forgot the “fun” side of running a gallery.

She’s determined to keep the fun this time.

Rodd is the exclusive Spokane representative of the Western Academy of Women Artists.

The light, airy gallery offers a wide collection of original art, prints, pottery and cards.

Rodd is also an accomplished framer, emphasizing creative matting. Her specialty is shadow boxes, unique framed cases displaying treasures or collections.

Bead shop opens on North Side

A second Beyond Beads is now open on the North Side.

“There was a real need for something up north,” said Jody Young, who opened her first store in the Valley two-and-a-half years ago.

Beyond Beads carries a wide variety of collectible, craft and art beads, as well as incense, crystals, macrame and Native American art.

“Once you fall in love with beads, it’s like an addiction, you can’t get enough of it,” said Young. “We call it the bead disease.”

“Lot of people come in, they are so excited to have us on the North Side,” said Cindy Majeski who manages Beyond Beads at 10216 N. Division.

Majeski and Young say macrame, a knotting technique popular in the 1970s, is regaining popularity. They sell balls of hemp and offer classes on Saturday and in the evenings.

“People can always come in and bead here, I have a table set up,” said Majeski.

Beyond Beads is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Salon has the holiday spirit

Employees at Dana’s Hair and Nail Studio are sharing the holiday spirit - and part of their paychecks - with the Anna Ogden Hall.

Dana Tague, who owns the shop, said stylists donated $423, their proceeds from one December Saturday, to the women’s shelter.

Tague said he toured the home recently and was impressed.

“Most of our clients are women, and we felt we wanted to give back something to help women,” said Tague.

Dana’s Hair and Nail Studio is located at 8617 N. Division.

Rotary members really deliver

Aurora Northwest Rotary members delivered groceries and gifts to 48 North Side families Wednesday.

“It’s probably one of our members’ favorite projects, to be able to help people less fortunate in our area,” said Rotarian Carol Millard.

Gary Myers, store director for Albertsons at Wandermere Mall and a Rotary member, said volunteers arrived at the store early. They lined up 48 carts and begin filling a half-dozen bags in each cart with potatoes, pasta, rice, canned vegetables, peanut butter and other staples. Each delivery included a turkey.

“It’s quite a production, but we have it pretty well organized,” said Myers. Aurora Rotary has been making the annual delivery for 12 years.

Rotarians buy presents for the children, then deliver the goods.

“There’s a great need and it is very satisfying to deliver,” said Myers.

New Fitzbillies opening soon

The long-awaited North Side Fitzbillies is expected to open mid-January, at 9820 N. Nevada, behind NorthPointe Plaza.

“It will have an open bakery and we will bake through the day,” said Brent Oty.

Oty and investors started planning the new Fitzbillies 18 months ago, finally deciding to build a free-standing, 2,600 square-foot building.

“It is a little more contemporary, but has a similar atmosphere as the original Fitzbillies,” said Oty.

Fitzbillies-North will feature outdoor seating in warm weather, and will carry Craven’s coffee.

Oty said he considered several national franchises before deciding on Spokane’s home-grown bagel shop.

“I thought with a local franchise, I would get more support,” he said.

Fitzbillies features New York-style bagels that are kettle-boiled and hearth-baked. The first Fitzbillies opened in downtown Spokane in 1993.

, DataTimes