Terra Sports open on Sherman Avenue
Cruising downtown Coeur d’Alene on foot during Artwalk last Friday I found some previously empty spaces gaining occupants. As usual, downtown was packed with people, and we found interesting shops, old and new friends and beverages and snacks. It’s a great monthly event.
The building at 517/519 Sherman has been remodeled to contain two businesses, one old and one new. Christmas at the Lake owners Gregg and Mary Peak sold the building to Mark Bowlin and downsized their shop to the east side with area vendors offering a variety of holiday-related items such as hand-crafted ornaments and stuffed toys. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. They’ll stay open late for downtown events. Call 667-2885 or check www.christmas atthelake.com.
The west portion of the building now houses Terra Sports, with the subtitle of Tame the Terrain. Owner Clinton Erickson and five employees sell and rent a variety of Cannondale bicycles and K-2 inline skates and accessories for adults and youths. They also will be selling artist-custom longboard decks. Originally from Minneapolis, Erickson came to North Idaho in May from Vancouver, Wash. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 209-5446 or check www.terrasportsinc.com.
Painting With Spirits a new option
Anything a person needs to create a painting is supplied, and the customers bring their own beverages for the aptly-named Painting With Spirits. The store will open in August in the space Boucle’s Yarn left at 116 N. Fourth St.
“We’ll provide the art supplies, stools, easels, tables and local artists to guide you, and two to three hours later you come out with your own artwork,” explained owner Cindi Schneider. “You bring your own wine. It’s a matter of being social.” Schneider came from the New Orleans area to join relatives in North Idaho.
Hours will be 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Web site will be www.paintingwithspirits.com. Call 667-7878.
Thriftique farther up on Fourth
Now you probably need your vehicle, which can be a bike.
Later this month drift up to 1701 N. Fourth St., where Thriftique is moving into 8,500 square feet of the building that a few years ago housed Beaudry Subaru. The store sells clothing, furniture, linens and housewares. Manager Scott Gittel is joined by scores of volunteers, and more are needed for the move from its 2,200-square-foot facility at 1675 Lee Court (the southeast corner of Ramsey Road at Appleway). This building is being eliminated to make room (supposedly) for a new hotel/restaurant. Anyone have a clue as to what these will be?
Organized by Lake City Community Church with proceeds for outreach projects, Thriftique’s new space will have 7,000 square feet for its store and 1,500 square feet for its food bank. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Call 660-5980.
Latte Lane expands on Best
OK. You’ve reached the Appleway/Best Avenue intersection. Turn right and head to 510 Best Ave. Uh oh. You missed it. The free coffee giveway was Tuesday when Latte Lane Espresso celebrated the opening of its new facility. Although it still has its two-lane drive-throughs, the espresso stand has a new building with indoor seating for eight customers (and some outside also).
Owner Donna Kinney (with eight employees) said her store has the biggest variety with about 60 flavors as well as muffins, bagels, mini doughnuts, breakfast chorizos and Ghiradelli chocolate. Hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. They also have an espresso stand in Hayden. Call 666-6086.
This week’s tidbits
•An item last week said Support Services for Kootenai Medical Center would be leaving the former Empire Airlines building on Government Way. Well, that’s partly right. Reader Roy Tiefisher e-mailed that the facility originally was built for GTE and still is labeled Verizon. Parkwood Business Properties folks say its future use is uncertain.
•Also, last week I whined about some menus’ print being too small. Reader Bernadette Haddleton wrote how the Bistro on Spruce (at Fourth Street) “focuses on the over-40 crowd” by having reading glasses in a bud vase on each table.
•A downtown Coeur d’Alene building owner with space available wonders what type of businesses that area of town needs. Any suggestions?
•I’ve joined the bike-to-work-or-simple-errands group to get exercise and save gas. And I’ve noticed more bikes everywhere. Now we need more bike lanes and racks. I also noticed that maneuvering the parallel concrete and pavement in the lanes and the metal gratings can be a challenge.
•We’re enjoying a young British couple with us this summer. My English vocabulary is expanding to include a “torch” for flashlight, “sleeper” for railroad tie, “sleeping policeman” for speed bump, “plaster” for Band-Aid and “jumper” for sweat shirt. And when Jason saw us with a weedeater, he said, “Hey, Jenny. Look at this chain saw on a stick.” More vocab next week.