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Shopping, hotels, and places to get out around the city this April By Like Media Team April brings longer days and more activity around Spokane, making it a good month to explore the city. Shops, hotels, and entertainment venues across the downtown core stay busy as spring settles in. Shop Downtown Spokane still anchors the city’s retail scene, with a mix of national stores, independent shops, and long-running local favorites. River Park Square 808 W. Main Ave. Spokane’s central shopping hub with more than 50 retailers, dining options, and a movie theater, all steps from Riverfront Park. Auntie’s Bookstore 402 W. Main Ave. An independent bookstore serving Spokane since 1978, known for its strong regional selection and frequent author events. The General Store 2424 N. Division St. A Spokane staple housed in a historic warehouse, offering outdoor gear, clothing, gifts, home goods, and seasonal merchandise. Stay Several of Spokane’s best hotels sit within a few blocks of Riverfront Park, making downtown an easy base for exploring the city. The Davenport Hotel 303 West North River Drive Opened in 1914, this landmark property remains Spokane’s flagship historic hotel with restored architecture, dining, and a central downtown location. Hotel Indigo Spokane Downtown 110 S. Madison St. A boutique hotel set inside a restored historic building with modern rooms and easy walkable access to Spokane’s downtown core. The Centennial Hotel Spokane 303 W. North River Dr. A riverfront hotel along the Spokane River and Centennial Trail offering direct access to Riverfront Park and downtown. Play From major sporting venues to live entertainment and scenic viewpoints, Spokane offers plenty to do once the day’s shopping is done. The Podium Powered by STCU 511 West Joe Albi Way A modern indoor track and field facility that hosts regional and national competitions along Spokane’s north bank district. Spokane Comedy Club 315 W. Sprague Ave. A downtown venue bringing nationally touring comedians to Spokane with regular shows throughout the year. Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd. A historic estate winery overlooking Spokane Valley known for tastings, seasonal live music, and sweeping views of the surrounding hills.

Grounded tones are bringing depth back to residential design By Like Media Team After years dominated by restrained palettes, color is making a clear return in residential design. Rather than covering entire homes in bold tones, today’s approach introduces color with intention. Cabinetry, millwork, and architectural details are becoming the places where color appears, creating depth and contrast while keeping the rest of the home balanced. Designers are also leaning into tones that connect naturally with materials already used in modern homes, such as wood, stone, plaster, and metal finishes. The result is a color that integrates easily into the overall design instead of competing with it. Trending Colors in Today’s Homes The most popular tones appearing right now are grounded and natural rather than bright or overly saturated. These colors work well with both traditional and contemporary interiors, allowing them to transition easily across kitchens, living spaces, and built-in cabinetry. Among the shades gaining the most attention are: • Olive green and muted sage • Clay and terracotta tones • Deep navy and ink blue • Warm browns and tobacco hues • Dusty rose and soft mineral blues These tones often appear against neutral walls, natural wood flooring, and stone surfaces, creating contrast while maintaining a cohesive palette throughout the home. Cabinetry Leads the Color Movement Kitchens remain one of the most visible places homeowners are introducing color. Painted islands have become a common design choice, especially in deeper tones like navy, green, or warm clay. Full cabinet sets in darker colors are also appearing in modern kitchens, often paired with lighter countertops and backsplashes. Beyond the kitchen, color is beginning to show up in other functional spaces. Bathroom vanities, pantry cabinetry, laundry rooms, and built-in storage walls are increasingly finished in color rather than standard white or gray. These elements provide opportunities to add visual interest without altering the home's entire design. Small Spaces, Strong Color Compact areas of the home have become ideal places to experiment with color. Because these spaces are smaller, they allow homeowners to introduce stronger tones without overwhelming surrounding rooms. Powder rooms, mudrooms, entry alcoves, and built-in reading corners are common places where deeper paint colors or patterned materials are being used. A painted wall behind a bench, a bold vanity, or colored shelving can transform a small space into a design feature within the home. This approach allows color to be introduced thoughtfully while maintaining continuity throughout the rest of the house. DIY Updates vs Professional Finishes Paint remains one of the most accessible ways to introduce color into a home, which is why many homeowners start with smaller updates. Interior doors, accent walls, shelving, and furniture pieces are often projects that can be completed over a weekend. Larger applications tend to benefit from professional work, particularly when the finish needs to remain durable in high-use areas. Cabinet refinishing, limewash wall treatments, specialty plaster, and large millwork surfaces typically require experienced painters or finish specialists to ensure smooth coverage and long-term performance. Color Beyond Paint Another trend shaping the return of color is the use of materials that naturally introduce tone and texture. Designers are incorporating colored surfaces through tile, stone, plaster, and stained wood rather than relying entirely on painted walls. Examples include zellige tile backsplashes, tinted concrete surfaces, colored plaster walls, and natural stone with strong veining or mineral color. These materials provide variation within the design while maintaining a refined architectural look. Color is no longer treated as a temporary accent. Instead, it is being integrated into the home's structure through cabinetry, finishes, and materials that contribute to the overall design. The result is a living space with greater depth, stronger visual interest, and a palette that reflects both modern design and natural influence.

Spokane springs forward with Unveil the Trail, the Spokane River Centennial Trail’s annual Earth Day cleanup By Taylor Shillam  Photos provided by the Spokane Centennial Trail Each spring, as Spokane shakes off the last signs of winter, a celebrated local tradition brings hundreds of community members together to care for one of the region’s most treasured outdoor spaces. Unveil the Trail, the annual cleanup event along the Spokane River Centennial Trail, has become a cornerstone of the area’s Earth Day celebrations, inviting volunteers from across the community to roll up their sleeves and help prepare the 40-mile pathway for another busy year. Organized by Friends of the Centennial Trail, Unveil the Trail is more than a cleanup day. It’s a community-wide effort that highlights the pride locals take in maintaining a trail that connects neighborhoods, parks, and scenic river stretches throughout the region. According to Executive Director Jen Westra, the event has been part of the trail’s story from the very beginning. “Unveil the Trail is as old as the Centennial Trail itself,” Westra explains. “It’s all about giving the trail a ‘glow up’ after winter and getting it ready for a busy new year of use.” While organizations like Washington State Parks, along with regional partners such as local cities and counties, maintain the trail year-round, the annual community cleanup gives locals the chance to contribute directly. Volunteers help pick up litter, pull weeds, remove debris, and refresh sections of the trail so it’s safe and beautiful for the millions of people who walk, run, cycle, and skate along it each year. Over time, Unveil the Trail has grown into a major volunteer event, regularly drawing 300 to 400 participants. Many come through the trail’s Adopt-a-Mile program, where businesses and organizations take responsibility for maintaining specific sections of the pathway. For many teams, the event doubles as a chance to build connections while giving back. Some groups arrive wearing matching shirts, while others plan a meal or gathering before or after the cleanup. Families often join in, turning the day into a shared community experience. “It’s a great opportunity for employee engagement and team building,” Westra says. “But it’s also a really fun way to meet other people who care about protecting our outdoor spaces.” The impact of Unveil the Trail goes beyond a cleaner trail. Westra says that volunteering often becomes a gateway to deeper environmental stewardship. When people experience firsthand how simple it can be to make a difference, they’re often inspired to get involved in other conservation efforts, from forest health restoration to park maintenance to wildfire risk mitigation. “Volunteering really does help connect people to our community, river, and landscape,” she says. “People see there’s a need for their involvement, that they can make a real difference, and they want to be part of it.” That sense of connection is especially meaningful along the Centennial Trail, which offers a rare experience: a fully paved route that follows the Spokane River from natural parklands through vibrant city centers, even stretching across state lines. For those who want to help care for the trail year-round, opportunities extend far beyond Earth Day. Volunteers can assist with graffiti removal, sign maintenance, and other improvement projects throughout the year. For many locals, Unveil the Trail remains the perfect starting point: a day when neighbors, families, coworkers, and outdoor enthusiasts come together to celebrate and protect a regional treasure that belongs to everyone. Those interested in advocating for the trail or finding ways to partner with Friends of the Trail are encouraged to explore the website at SpokaneCentennialTrail.org  or reach out to Jen Westra at Friends@SpokaneCentennialTrail.org .

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