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“We are passionate about hospitality and keep things simple yet soulful.” Guests will be treated to an atmosphere that is warm and inviting the moment they step into Vine & Olive. Owner Naomi Boutz, who opened the space in November of 2017, continues to take great pride in the eatery she has created in the heart of Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone. “Our clientele is as diverse as the wine list,” says Naomi. “We get lots of local business lunches and ladies meeting their friends. With Regal Cinemas just half a block away, we get a lot of movie goers who stop in for a drink and a small plate before or after a movie.” This past August, Chef Josh Pebbles joined the Vine & Olive team. Raised in the San Francisco area, his enthusiasm for the culinary world took him to the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, fueling his passion even more. He trained in Italy, where he studied the craft of hand rolling pastas, Italian cuisine, whole animal butchery and salumi in a family owned restaurant (which has been passed down generation to generation for more than 300 years!). “We are already loving his Italian influence on the menu!” smiles Naomi. “His philosophy behind cooking is to highlight the best local ingredients with classic European influences while infusing new-age techniques to create a memorable experience for each guest who walks through the door to share together.” From the staples of Escargot prepared in a classic French execution, to the Pork Shank with Creamy Polenta and the Acorn Squash Frites, the menu never disappoints. In addition, menu offerings change every few months for seasonality. The eatery is open daily for lunch starting at 11:30am, with the dinner menu starting at 4pm. If you’re looking for an intimate space for that special celebration, Naomi welcomes you to reserve their private dining room, which seats 12. If you have a larger party in mind, they can accommodate groups up to 50 in their dining room. “My team is passionate about hospitality,” Naomi says proudly. “They inspire me every day with their commitment to customers and Vine & Olive.” Vine & Olive Eatery and Wine Bar Coeur d'Alene's Riverstone 2037 N. Main St. 208.758.7770 VineAndOliveCdA.com #coeurdalene #businessspotlight

Photo courtesy: Owen Aird. Latah Creek Wine Cellars in Spokane Valley, Washington, has been pouring excellence into each glass for more than 37 years! Established in 1982 by husband and wife Mike and Ellena Conway, Latah Creek Wine Cellars continues to bring affordable, award-winning wines to the Inland Northwest. Thirty-eight harvests later, they, along with their winemaker daughter Natalie Barnes, continue that mission. In the fall of 2019, they unveiled their newly remodeled tasting room and gift shop at the winery, where they have created a space that is open and inviting to all who walk through the door. The walls have been taken down to allow for a massive space offering large community tables, each with bookcase ends filled with gourmet food and beautiful gift items (hand selected by Ellena), barrel tables and comfortable leather couches for people to gather and visit while tasting. A rock wall with floating shelves highlights their gift baskets made in-house and perfect for any occasion, as well as their exclusive ceramic ware. “We wanted to remodel our tasting room so that people would know who we are—see that Latah Creek and the Conway family histories are deeply intertwined,” says Natalie. “My favorite part of the remodel is the chalkboard wall of history, where our guests are able to see that we are over 37 years old, that we are a family winery dedicated to the job and making wines that are award-winning.” Natalie joined her father Mike in 2004 as co-winemaker at Latah Creek, making them the first father/daughter winemaking team in Washington state. Fifteen years later, she remains passionate about making wine honestly because she loves it! “I love tasting the grapes on the vines, the juice as it is fermenting, all the while imagining what the finished wine will be,” Natalie smiles. “And I actually love working with my parents and the interaction with my dad as we taste our wine, make blends, and just do winemaking together. And the most rewarding part of it all is when someone tastes our wine and falls in love with it.” When Latah Creek was established in 1982, it was the 35th winery in Washington state, and today, there are 1,000 active wineries. “We not only share a piece of the pie with the growing local wineries and tasting rooms but with the hundreds that are showing up in stores. Then add in the cideries, distilleries and breweries,” states Natalie. “To stay alive during all of this, I believe you need to stay true to who you are. My parents decided at the beginning, that no matter what, they would keep the prices affordable so that everyone can enjoy quality wines every day, not just on special occasions—and we have never strayed from this mission.” The father/daughter winemaker team continues to work together to make something exceptional that they both love, and for the past few years, they’ve been experimenting to create unique blends and small lots. “We are crafting these things together, listening to and sharing with one another,” says Natalie. “It is an experience that I can only hope I will be able to have with my own daughters.” The tasting room is open daily from 9am to 5pm, where they invite you to shop, taste, visit and enjoy. Latah Creek Wine Cellars Spokane Valley, WA 13030 E. Indiana Ave. 509.926.0164 LatahCreek.com #spokanevalley #businessspotlight

Photo courtesy: Owen Aird. Earning the reputation as “Hayden Lake’s gathering place” since opening in 2003, owners John Grollmus and Brad Fosseen—the duo behind Moon Time in Coeur d’Alene (and The Elk, El Que, Two Seven and Geno’s in Spokane)—continue to offer diners exceptional food, brews, cocktails and service, all complemented by a beautiful golf-course view, at The Porch Public House. It’s the perfect setting to dine and imbibe with friends, family or co-workers any time of year, no matter what the occasion. “The location is really off the beaten track and quite beautiful, which makes the outside seating truly one-of-a-kind,” notes John. The Porch features many similar menu items to Moon Time, with some that are distinct to its locale. From the delicious sandwiches, salads and soups to scratch-made specials, you’ll be treated to great food at even better prices. “We provide new specials every week as well as updating our menus twice per year so that guests can develop new favorites to go along with their old ones,” affirms John. In addition to the selection of great regional brews and wines, The Porch offers a full bar, which enables them to provide guests a variety of delicious and creative cocktails to accompany any meal. At The Porch, the values are consistent with those implemented at their other establishments. The owners and staff have a relationship built on mutual respect and friendship, valuing each employee personally. When asked if there is ever discussion of adding to their family of restaurants, John says, “While there is nothing concrete in the works, we are always keeping our eyes open for new opportunities, so never be surprised if a new location joins the family in the future. “We try to not expand too fast so that we can be sure each restaurant is providing the best experience for guests as well as being on a solid financial footing so that by expanding we aren’t compromising our existing locations.” Extraordinary customer service paired with delicious food, good value and great location … The Porch Pubic House has you covered. The Porch Public House Hayden Lake 1658 E. Miles Ave. 208.772.7711 WeDontHaveOne.com #hayden #businessspotlight

To put it simply, the 49th state is large—663,000 square miles large. Though the population of Alaska is less than 750,000, millions of vacationers and tourists visit the northernmost state each year, taking in spectacular national parks, wildlife viewing, cascading peaks, glaciers and pristine ocean waters. There are roughly 1,000 miles of highway across the entire state, and even the capital of Juneau is only accessible by plane or ferry. While serious road trippers with plenty of time can navigate the long stretches of empty highway and connecting ferry system, those with only a week of vacation often opt for a much easier way to see multiple destinations during a short amount of time: cruising. Many cruise lines offer seven-, 10- and 14-day cruises departing from either Seattle or Vancouver. These include Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, Disney and, our choice for our most recent trip, Holland America. Most seven-day cruises visit the inside passage of Alaska, the narrow islands and strips of land bordering Canada and the Yukon. Options include a departure and return to the same port, cruising the inside passage and continuing on further north to Anchorage one way, or extending to a longer one-way cruise that includes days in Denali National Park and flying home out of Fairbanks or Anchorage. As we had just a week for our most recent trip, we chose a weeklong inside passage cruise that included four stops and a return back to Vancouver. When planning your Alaska cruise don’t overlook a Vancouver departure. While Seattle is probably more convenient, we noticed prices were sometimes much cheaper leaving from Canada. My wife and I and our 3-year-old daughter decided to drive from Eastern Washington to Seattle and take the Amtrak train from Edmonds to Vancouver. It was nice for the toddler to be able to stretch her legs during travel, and the roundtrip cost for the three of us was very affordable, less than $200. The border crossing was also a breeze compared to crossing via vehicle. Vancouver, BC, is wonderful on its own, with beautiful mountains surrounding the city and port. A $15 to $20 cab ride will put you right out front of the ships with only a relatively minimal walk with your luggage before you embark on your journey. We set sail aboard the recently refurbished Nieuw Amsterdam, one of eight Holland America ships sailing Alaska at the same time (not to mention dozens of other vessels). Our journey included port days in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and time in Glacier Bay National Park. What we quickly realized during the first few hours of our voyage is that we would never be short on breathtaking scenery. Leaving bustling Vancouver, it doesn’t take more than a couple hours to arrive in near complete isolation. A few cabins scatter the shorelines, but the mountainous terrain and temperate rainforest make accessing this area near impossible. Forests untouched by man are shrouded in mist, and mountains seemingly rise straight up from the sea, often several thousand feet high right where the land meets the ocean. Over 80 percent of the staterooms on Nieuw Amsterdam include an outdoor balcony, which was the perfect way to kick back and watch the landscape go by. With the passage being relatively narrow, there was often great scenery on both sides of the ship, and the waters themselves were very calm. After a day cruising at sea, we arrived in Juneau, the state’s capital. Thirty-two-thousand people call it home, and more than a million visit each year. The Mount Roberts Tramway is located just off the docks and takes visitors up to the top of the mountain for some incredible views. If you seek a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, there are several unique excursions available here. Large boats or smaller Zodiak rafts can take you out into the bay for whale watching. You can hop on a helicopter and take to the skies to see this incredible area from the air. Operators can even put you down on nearby glaciers where you can hike or even experience dog sledding from professional mushers. For this day we chose the inexpensive route and hired a cab to take us out to Mendenhall Glacier, located only about 12 miles from Downtown Juneau. The glacier is massive, about 13.5-miles long and can be seen easily from the visitors’ center. There are various trails in the area from the very easy 1/3 mile ‘photo point’ to the more strenuous 3.5-mile East Glacier. Many choose the 2-mile Nugget Falls, which puts you not only closer to the glacier but right alongside a spectacular waterfall as well. The next stop on our tour was Skagway. This was the heart of the Alaska gold rush, and there are all kinds of museums and walking tours to take you back to this wild time. Storefronts pay homage to the gold rush days, and you can really transport yourself back at ‘The Red Onion Saloon’ and its daily brothel tours. The main attraction here is a train ride up and over White Pass on one of the most spectacular feats of railroad engineering ever done. The track was built in the late 1890s through rugged terrain during the Gold Rush. The 2.5- to 3-hour round trip takes you over numerous bridges, alongside mountain lakes, and the view of snow capped peaks is truly spectacular. On day five we arrived in Glacier Bay, one of the world’s largest biosphere reserves. As we approached the great glaciers in the distance, small blocks of floating ice were all around us, many with harbor seals resting on them. A guide from the U.S. Forest Service came on board and narrated the experience and sights ship wide. The entire ship seemed to go quiet while everyone took in the incredible beauty of this area. Our final port was Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world. You can try your luck fishing here or stop at any of the many restaurants to try this delicious fish. My wife and I left our little one with Grandma and Grandpa and hired a local kayak guide to get us off the beaten path for the day. We ended up being the only two people on the tour making for a great personal experience. We paddled around the bay with a very knowledgeable guide. The company also offered e-bike tours of the Tongass National Forest which surrounds the town. What many enjoy about cruising Alaska when compared to the Caribbean is the leisurely pace and more laid-back vibe. When you get off in port there are only a few booths offering trips and information, not like many Caribbean ports where you are bombarded with vendors instantly. Shipboard life on Holland America was geared toward an older crowd with dueling pianos and a blues club as the nightly entertainment and cooking and computer classes, and documentary films playing during the day. The food in the dining room was on point each night, and we splurged at one of the additional cost restaurants for an outstanding seven-course Asian-inspired meal. Alaska is truly a natural wonder, and cruising through the consistently beautiful landscape is something easily enjoyed by all generations. #local #featurestory #travelandrecreation

Posted as fire lookouts deep in the forests of Idaho, Jim and Caroline Huntley became accustomed to living off the grid, and they were always up for a nice warm soak in a natural hot spring. In the heart of Idaho, such springs are relatively plentiful, even if they aren’t exactly common—or even known to exist—in the state’s panhandle, where the Huntleys lived when they weren’t working for the Forest Service. A number of years ago, during one of their visits to Burgdorf Hot Springs outside McCall, the Huntleys inquired about whether the caretakers needed any help. As it turned out, they did, and so the Huntleys became caretakers of Burgdorf in 2013. “We fell in love,” Caroline Huntley said. “It just worked out so well with our lifestyle.” Now it is their full-time residence, minus, perhaps, two weeks of the year when they can get back to their cabin north of Sandpoint. “It’s one of those things where it’s all or nothing,” she said. Natural hot springs don’t abound near Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, but many are within a three- or four-hour drive, worthy of a weekend away. They come in numerous shapes, temperatures, sizes and levels of rustic-ness, and they contain various levels and varieties of minerals, but they are there to be had. And in an age when word spreads easily on blogs, websites and other online words-of-mouth, hot springs can be found—and enjoyed—by people of all ages. The distance to drive, hike or even snowmobile will vary, though, by the site and by the season. To the North One of the best-known hot springs in the region is at Ainsworth, about a four-hour drive and a border crossing away from the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area, in British Columbia. The Ktunaxa people (pronounced K-too-nah-ha) have been soaking in the waters around Ainsworth for generations. Pools were built and caves commercialized in the 1930s, according to the resort’s website, and in 2015 it was purchased by the Lower Kootenay Band. “They’ve made a huge amount of upgrades,” said Matt Brown, pool supervisor and safety director at Ainsworth. “It’s been incredibly positive.” Guests can keep their experience entirely contained to the full-service resort, which has rooms and restaurants on-site. People can also purchase single-entry or day passes. Temperatures in the pool are kept between 97 and 100 degrees, while the caves are about 10 degrees warmer. “What sets us apart is the unique nature of having the caves,” Brown said. “It’s kind of like having your hot springs and steam room at the same time.” To the East Within the Clearwater Forest east of Lewiston, then along a line north toward Flathead Lake in Montana, there are a number of hot springs. Their level of accessibility varies from those that can only be reached on foot or snowshoe to those that can be reached by car. Along Highway 12 in Idaho sits, among other natural springs, the Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, which require a 2-mile round-trip hike. There are three main soaking pools that are best accessed in the summer and winter. Other similar, natural, undeveloped pools abound in the area. Just be sure to pack in, pack out, and to follow “leave no trace” principles. In Montana, less than an hour northeast of St. Regis, sits the Symes Hot Springs Hotel in the town of Hot Springs. The Symes has three soaking pools ranging in temperature from 95 to 107 degrees and can be accessed just for the day or as part of a guest package at the hotel. It also houses a restaurant and coffee bar. A couple blocks away is Alameda’s, a spa-motel built in the 1930s. Unlike other resorts, there is no common pool but instead each room contains a mineral bath of its own. “It’s kind of like going to Grandma’s house. We try to keep it that feel,” said Paul Stelter, the general manager of Alameda’s Hot Springs Retreat, which operates using a co-op model. “It’s crazy out there right now. Everything is fast-paced, and there’s not really a lot of places you can go for peace and quiet. People sleep really well here.” Stelter said the town of Hot Springs boasts amenities that few towns of its size—about 520 residents—can claim, and that its waters are among the best in the world. “Baden-Baden is the centerpiece of hot springs, the place everyone attains to be,” he said of the German spa town. “Nobody in this country comes close to it, but our water does.” Stelter said the waters at Alameda’s are so soft that they provide this “beautiful, light, silky feeling.” About halfway between Hot Springs (the town) and St. Regis is Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, just south of Paradise, Montana. Named after an immigrant and miner, Martin Quinn, it was first developed in the 1880s. Now it contains lodges and cabins of various sizes as well as a tavern and restaurant. The springs at Quinn’s range in temperature from 89 to 106 degrees and are available to lodge guests as well as walk-in visitors, though reservations are advised. To the South Somewhere between a pool that requires a 5-mile hike to reach an all-inclusive resort lies the Burgdorf Hot Springs. It can be reached by car in the summer and early fall, but once the snows come, it can only be accessed by snowmobile. “It was always really quiet, subdued. Burgdorf is unique in terms of being so rustic,” Caroline Huntley said. “Given that you can do a Google search and Burgdorf comes up pretty easily, that has expanded the business quite a bit. We’re trying to keep it so it still feels like you stumbled upon it.” About an hour by car north of McCall, Burgdorf is busiest in the summer, Huntley said, and then it closes in late fall, once the road becomes impassable by car due to the snow. It reopens usually just before Christmas, and then can be accessed only by snowmobile. Companies in McCall will rent snowmobiles, or guests are welcome to ride in on their own. Like many hot springs, Burgdorf was first established as a destination for miners, who would come to take a bath and a break, Huntley said. It was sold in the 1920s to the current owner’s grandfather. It is rare in that it is a private holding amid a national forest, with hiking trails and other outdoor adventures around it. “It has always been a place people come to soak and stay,” she said. “It’s a really amazing place to recreate.” About 45 minutes south of McCall—and more accessible year-round by car—is Gold Fork Hot Springs. The day-use only site contains multiple mineral pools of varying temperatures. Closed on Tuesdays, it only accepts cash to pay for admission. As with all locations, it is advisable to check resort websites for updated information and more about amenities and costs. Other hot springs can be found around North Idaho and Western Montana, and many can be hiked to year-round. There may be no better reward for a hike through the snow than a soak in a natural hot spring—especially one that was not so easily found by a Google search. #local #featurestory

The awards keep rolling in for the region’s oldest distillery. Now in its 13th year in business, it’s hard to believe that Dry Fly Distilling was one of the first 25 craft distilleries in the nation when it opened its doors in 2007. Relaxed laws and consumer demand for locally made spirits has started a boom in the industry, and Dry Fly continues to be a major player—not just in the Northwest, but all across the country! And the inspiration began with a fishing trip. While Don Poffenroth was entertaining clients on the Gallatin River in Montana, the group drinking high-end vodka, he began to contemplate whether the glass in hand was truly the best vodka the world had to offer. His response: No. It was at that moment that the inspiration behind Dry Fly Distilling was born. “The name Dry Fly not only recalled the original inspiration but also captured the beauty of the Northwest and the qualities that fly fishing requires—patience, persistence, presentation and perfection; the same qualities required to produce and market fine spirits,” says co-owner Terry Nichols. At that time, there was no craft distillers license in Washington state, so Don, with local senator Chris Marr, drafted a piece of legislation that would allow for the creation of a craft distillers license, as long as the producer used a high percentage of Washington-grown ingredients in the manufacturing process. “We make vodka, gin, barrel-aged gin and multiple whiskey styles,” says Terry. The distillery gets everything, save their juniper berries, from within an hour drive of its Spokane operation, creating a true representation of the Northwest. At its inception, Dry Fly Distilling produced two products—their superb high-quality vodka and gin. More than a decade later, the distillery continues its original products but is also excited to have new releases that have been many years in the making. “We are releasing our 6-year-old Triticale, a 6-year-old Port Barrel-Aged Triticale and a DOMA Coffee Barrel-Finished Triticale as distillery-only features,” says Terry. Dry Fly is also excited about its newest wheat whiskey release dubbed “Cask & Release.” A unique collaboration helped infuse the flavors of Dry Fly’s whiskey into a batch of Pelican Brewing’s Captain of the Coast Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. Once the barrels were returned to Dry Fly from the brewery, wheat whiskey was placed back into the barrels for an additional two years and picked up unique flavors of oak spice, cocoa and toffee. At the Dry Fly Tasting Room, guests interact with a friendly staff who can serve up mini-cocktails or flights of straight spirits. You will also find live music most Fridays. Here you can also pick up some of the distillery’s newest creations—canned craft cocktails. Dry Fly uses its quality ingredients, along with premium craft cocktail syrups from Side Hustle Syrups and bitters from Skidmore Bitters, to produce their on-the-fly cocktails like Spicy Lemonade, Gin & Tonic and the especially popular Moscow Mule. These items are also currently rolling into local markets. Producing high-quality products while supporting local farmers, connecting with their employees, community, customers and fans, as well as supporting local nonprofit organizations are what make Dry Fly stand out in the emerging craft spirits market. Patience, persistence, presentation and perfection. With the uncompromising commitment to quality and values, taste and discover excellence embodied in each bottle. Dry Fly Distilling Spokane, WA 1003 E. Trent, Suite 200 509.489.2112 DryFlyDistilling.com #businessspotlight #spokane

Our homes are a place we come back to each day after work; where we relax and unwind, spend time with our families, and restore ourselves to prepare for the next day. Today, there are many amenities that connect our homes to technology, making our lives simpler, and our homes more advanced. Here are some of the smart-home technologies that you’ll want to take advantage of—if you haven’t already. Smart Light Technology Thanks to technology, the intelligence of lighting systems continues to increase considerably. Designed for energy efficiency, smart lighting allows you to manage your home’s light and energy use. The system adapts light sensitivity according to several factors, from natural light, occupancy of the space and more. Smart lighting encompasses various internet-connected solutions, allowing one to control and check on your home’s lights. These include smart light bulbs, smart lamps and smart plugs. If you want comprehensive wireless control over the lights in your home, there are many options available for you to choose from. The Philips Hueline delivers with lightbulbs that allow you manage not only the intensity of the light but the color as well. The Hue ecosystem has been around for enough time that you can be assured that it will work with just about every other system out there, from Alexa to IFTTT (If This Then That) to Siri (when using the Philips Hue Bridge). If you’re not interested in colorful lights but still want that incredible granular control over an all-white bulb, Philips has the Hue White, also offering bulbs you can use outdoors. And if you’re looking to “smarten” up your home but don’t know where to start, check out Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED. This affordable smart bulb can connect directly to your home Wi-Fi without the need for a hub and displays 16 million colors, supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and can interact with other smart-home devices. Smart Blinds It’s one of the first things we do in the morning after we wake up, as well as one of the last things we do before crawling into bed for the night—opening and closing the window blinds and/or shades. Designed for controlling lighting entering the home, as well as allowing for privacy, if you have windows, blinds or window shades are a must! But … what if you could control your blinds and shades simply via voice-activated technologies? For those of you who may seem surprised, this is not the wave of the future but right here, right now, in the present! This "futuristic" technology is becoming ever more popular, with several major smart home and window treatment design companies selling automated smart blinds that assimilate with home automation systems. Lutron, Somfy and Pella are popular companies offering these modern conveniences. Choices include purchasing motorized smart blinds or retrofitting your current window treatments to turn them into smart shades. Smart blind systems are compatible with either Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit, and some are sold with a remote control that can also be used to manage the window coverings. The modern technology which allows you to control your blinds and shades can cost a pretty penny, but the convenience is well worth it. Smart Doorbell Gone are the days of those knocks on the door that get louder the longer it takes us to answer it; or that doorbell ring that when out of tune is an annoyance to be had by all. Today, the wave of the future has arrived, as your average door knocker and doorbell have been replaced with advanced technologies to make for a simpler—yet smarter—life. The Ring Doorbell Pro provides customers with nearly everything you could possibly ask for when it comes to a smart doorbell. Offering a slender design with interchangeable faceplates and delivering sharp 1080p video day and night, the Ring Doorbell Pro, which is rather easy to install, utilizes pre-buffering technology in order to display what occurred prior to a motion trigger. In addition, if you have an Amazon Echo Show device, you can view live video using Alexa voice commands, which makes it one of the most versatile video doorbells out there. Ring is the biggest name in video doorbells, making it a great choice for any consumer. In addition to the easy installation, it has several models available. It is also waterproof and weatherproof. Other top-selling options include Google's Nest Hello Doorbell, SkyBell W-Fi Doorbell, August Doorbell Cam Pro, Vivint Doorbell, SimpliSafe Doorbell and Frontpoint Doorbell. Smart Home Surveillance You’ve got that new smart doorbell, so what’s next? Obviously to set up a new smart home surveillance system. Our homes should be a place where we find unwavering comfort, where we can unwind after a long day while spending time with our loved ones. It is one of the most important spaces in our lives, and it is imperative that home is where you feel safe. While you can control what occurs inside of your home, now you can have better control and be more aware of what is occurring outside your doors, even while you’re away. Since your family deserves the best when it comes to their safety, you’ll want to check out the Arlo Ultra, which is raising the bar when it comes to outdoor cameras. It is one of the pricier cameras out there, but considering all the technology it’s loaded with, it’s well worth the price. From automatic zooming, motion tracking, color and night vision to integrated spotlight and siren, one-click 911 connectivity, 180-degree field of view and more, your home is in good hands with the Arlo Ulta. For an affordable system that still gets the job done, the original Wyze Cam, along with its successor Wyze Cam V2 and now the company’s latest offering the Wyze Cam Pan, are affordable home security systems providing motion and sound detection, time-lapse recording, free cloud storage, and mechanical pan and tilt, and support for IFTTT applets. Smart Home Hubs Let’s get down to the basics—not that there’s anything “basic” about the advancement of technology over the past decade. Most of the world, by now, has heard of Alexa. And no, it’s not just a name but has changed the way many get the information they’re seeking. Amazon’s Echo, the Bluetooth speaker powered by Alexa, operates with a variety of smart home devices directly and can work with IFTTT to control others via “recipes” you can create yourself. It is possible—with a little work—to program Alexa to control most every gadget in your house at the sound of your voice! If you’re looking for a touch screen to search results and make video calls, check out the Echo Show, Echo Show 5 or Echo Spot. Google's Home Max is "built for sound, inside and out." With Max, you can enjoy hands-free help from Google Assistant, ask questions, and tell it things to do as well as control your smart home devices. With its far-field voice control, Max can hear you across the room, even while your music is playing. There are many more choices to choose from, with one bound to best complement your lifestyle. Smart Vacuum It's part of our weekly, if not daily, cleaning routine—vacuuming. Whether it's the dog shedding again or the crumbs from the kids' afternoon snack, it seems that it can be impossible to keep up with the cleaning. Well, for those who cringe every time they have to pull out the vacuum, tripping over its cord multiple times while trying to clean up the dirt, crumbs, hair and whatever else may be lurking on the floor, your life is about to get easier—if you haven't already discovered the joys and ease of a smart vacuum. Though they've been around for a while now, robot vacuums continue to get "smarter" with each generation. And the most advanced model just might be iRobot's Roomba i7+. In addition to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, multistory mapping, and camera-based navigation, it can even empty its own dustpan, so you don’t have to lift a finger! And then there's the Neato Botvac D7 Connected, which is said to be the best self-navigating robot vacuum for larger spaces. Offering a longer battery life, it can be programmed to save up to three different floor plans and works great on all floor surfaces. Also check out the budget-friendly Eufy RoboVac 11S, which offers improved features including stronger suction and battery life, and its small size allows it to fit under bed frames, cabinets and other tight spaces with ease. Smart Heating & Cooling It seems no matter how hard you try, the monthly utility bill continues to jump higher and higher, especially during the cold season. Though you monitor the thermostat constantly, turn down the heat when you're going to bed or turn it off entirely because you'd rather sweat or freeze in discomfort than sweat about the thought of your next sky-high utility bill, it seems to be a no-win situation. With emerging technologies, there are now a variety of smart thermostats that can help keep you comfortable year-round while also lowering your energy usage and bill. Check out the Ecobee Smart Thermostat with voice control, which is the company's fifth-generation model. This new model includes enhanced Alexa and multimedia support, extra powerful audio components and dual-band Wi-Fi. And that’s not all! Add in the fact that it’s an easy installation process, the application is user-friendly and it provides plenty of third-party support, your heating and cooling options just got a whole lot smarter! Also check out the Nest Learning Thermostat or the cost friendly Nest’s Thermostat E. Smart Health & Fitness Health and fitness encompasses a wide variety of issues and topics, but for now, we’ll just focus on the numbers—that is, your weight and BMI, plus a few more factors. We all want to be healthy and measure our individual health through a variety of means. Remember that scale, sitting in the corner of your bathroom, that could only monitor your weight (which in itself is not a true reflection of health)? Weight is just one number to be concerned about, and you don’t have to go to a doctor or personal trainer to get your numbers read. Having the technology at your fingertips and in the comfort of your own home is truly a step in a healthy direction. If you’re looking to track not only your weight BMI (body mass index) and full body makeup including, fat, water weight, muscle mass and bone composition, you’ll want to check out the QardioBase 2. This wireless smart scale and body analyzer is battery free, works on any surface, can sync with your favorite health apps, allows you to set and track goals and more! There are a variety of other smart scales on the market, though not many can measure all of the components that the QardioBase2 provides. It’s time to smarten up your home and your life by taking the time to do a little research and make the switch to smart home technologies. The future of connecting is here. #local #featurestory #homeandgarden

While the surrounding landscape has changed greatly—a winery, paved trail system, busy roads and multiple housing developments—there are 319 acres in the Spokane Valley that have remained relatively unchanged for 100 years. Exiting Upriver Drive and down a long tree-lined driveway, you’ll come face to face with what at first appears to be a wealthy estate. The beautiful brick buildings look as if they would house a family of great wealth when, in fact, they are home to unbelievably selfless adults and some of the area’s most vulnerable children. Now entering its 101st year in operation, The Hutton Settlement continues its mission to nurture, educate and prepare children who are in need of a safe and healthy home. “About half of our children come from private referrals and the other half from state agencies,” explained Community Relations and Communications Manager Jessica Laughery. The settlement is unique in that it is not run like a traditional orphanage nor does it receive any government funding for its services. This is due to its founder, Levi Hutton, whom after becoming wealthy in the early 1900s built the original orphanage proclaiming, “No orphan in the Inland Empire will be turned away from this home no matter what his sect or color may be. It will be a real home for boys and girls who have no home.” Children brought to the Hutton Settlement are between the ages of 5 and 18. They come for many reasons and often from the foster care system. “We hear from school counselors, churches, it might be a failed adoption or a relative that can no longer care for the child,” said Laughery. A lengthy interview process is conducted before a child or group of siblings is admitted to Hutton, as many will spend the rest of their childhood on campus. “Each case is very different, but we hope to get the children out of their situation before the state gets involved. A stay could be as little as two years so the biological parents can get back on their feet, but all parents are absolutely going to be part of their children’s lives—even when they are living here,” said Laughery. Many children who end up at the Settlement come from families where there has been exposure to addiction, abuse and neglect. They have not felt love from their parents, and getting to that point is a goal for all those caring for the child. “What kids want more than anything is a relationship with their biological family, and we work to provide that in a safe manner,” said Laughery. Once a child is admitted, they are placed in one of several cottages on campus. Each cottage has a set of house parents who live on-site and take care of roughly eight to 10 children at any given time. They are on for eight days and off for three when relief house parents enter the picture. “It’s an in-depth recruiting process because turnover of the house parents doesn’t work,” said Executive Director Chud Wendle. “Each has a deep call to serve, they look at our children and see worth, and they do so very eloquently.” House parents run each cottage as if it were their own household, assigning rules, chores and responsibilities to each child. Over 100 years of experience working with children has allowed Hutton’s leadership team to adapt. Their model has moved away from behavior based and into attachment based. “It’s how we help kids find joy in their life, by building trust and loving relationships,” said Wendle. While the kids spend much of their time on campus, there is no school on-site. Instead they are funneled into the West Valley School District. This has been the case since the doors first opened in 1919. This allows them all the same experiences their peers enjoy, like after-school clubs, sports, youth groups, having a job and just being a normal kid. While many children who end up at the Hutton Settlement initially display behavioral problems due to prior abuse or neglect, the numbers show that care and education can really improve their well-being. In the past 10 years, 100 percent of Hutton kids attending high school have graduated, and 95 percent have gone on to different forms of post-graduate programs or service. “We have a young man who recently left Hutton who is on a full ride at the University of Washington and another at Eastern Washington,” said Wendle. Hutton Settlement children not only get their education in the classroom but in many areas across the 319-acre campus. They learn sustainable farming by tending the on-site gardens and crops, which are utilized in their daily meals. They put on performances in the auditorium and hone their wood-working and art skills. Kids have sold 8,000 Christmas trees in the past 12 years during their annual sale. Here kids learn customer service and sales skills. SALUTE (Service and Leadership United Through Education) is a weekly 4-H and service-learning program, and Odyssey is an adventure-based Scouting program that strives to develop self-confidence, personal resilience and leadership through outdoor challenges. One Hutton student, Trevor McArthur, was recently given the U.S. Congressional Award, one of only six given out to youth across the state of Washington. To achieve this honor, Trevor completed 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of physical fitness, 200 hours of personal development and four nights on an expedition. While much of Wendle’s job is maintaining the commercial properties and investments that are the primary funding for the settlement, hearing stories of success and being able to step onto the grounds remain the best part of his job. “Being able to step out of the real estate world and come out here and hear how the kids are doing is so rewarding.” Wendle has been coming here since childhood. His mother was one of 21 women who serve lifetime positions on the board. It was Levi Hutton’s strong belief that having a long-term committed board with maternal instincts and a mother’s point of view would be very beneficial to the children. “They (the kids) start to feel like your own,” said Wendle. “My son comes out here and has developed relationships as well.” During the 100-year anniversary celebrations, dozens of previous Hutton Settlement kids came back to campus, and others reached out to share their stories. Babe Ruth visited the Settlement in 1920, and his granddaughter came out to see it in person this past summer. Previous residents have set up outreach programs and scholarship funds to help kids transition away from Hutton once they reach adulthood. “We have a 93-year-old man who was raised here and became quite wealthy. His scholarship endowment has allowed a lot of dreams to come true,” said Wendle. While children come to the Hutton Settlement at different ages and in different states of mind, they will all be exposed to a safe home and family, experience relationships with compassion and respect, and be put on a path to lead an independent and fulfilled life of value and contribution. For many, the emotional scars of childhood trauma will never fully go away, and that is recognized even after kids become adults and go out on their own. “Our family doesn’t end at 18,” said Laughery. “If an alum has a life-altering event, we will continue to help.” When building the Hutton Settlement, Levi Hutton wanted it to last for 250 years. It is now 40 percent of the way to that goal. More than 1,500 children have been served and 6,000 family members impacted over the first 100 years, with many more to come. Days can be challenging, times can be tough, but victories big and small, and seeing kids just be kids, are what keep both Wendle and Laughery committed to the Huttons’ mission. “The lane at 3pm is so amazing,” said Wendle. And Laughery adds: “Seeing the kids come home from school and walk down the lane, it’s remarkable when you see them because they are living such a normal childhood.” #local #featurestory

When you pony up to the bar and order your favorite spirit, whether straight, in a mixer, martini or cocktail, the liquor within most likely traveled a long distance. Your tequila shot from Mexico, gin and tonic from Great Britain, scotch on the rocks from Scotland, and vodka martini from Russia, France and Sweden. Rum is often imported from across the Caribbean, and while American bourbon brands are well-known throughout the world, whiskeys from Ireland and Canada are plentiful here as well. It’s much easier nowadays to order a glass of wine that originated in Washington, Oregon or California, or beer brewed right in your own neighborhood, than it is to find a local spirit, but that isn’t to say the industry isn’t shifting as well. “The distilled spirits industry has evolved in the last five years with smaller craft players establishing operations and tasting rooms in cities large and small,” explained Hilary Mann, owner and operator of Up North Distillery in Post Falls. “Today, there are more than 1,800 craft distillers in the United States.” Hilary and husband Randy just celebrated their business’s fourth anniversary. Their passion for homebrewing eventually lead to visiting distilleries and learning the unique nuances of making spirits. A major component of their business is sharing that knowledge with those new to discovering the craft spirits industry. “We offer tours at Up North, and we love to explain the process so consumers feel more knowledgeable about what goes into the product they are drinking,” said Randy. The process is not unlike that of making beer or wine. Much of the equipment is similar. You start with natural ingredients containing sugars or starches, process them into a liquid form and then ferment it to produce an alcoholic liquid. “With distillation we have the additional step of boiling that alcoholic liquid (referred to as low wine) to extract and concentrate the alcohol within a very focused bandwidth; 190 proof for vodka and gin and 120 proof for whiskey,” said Dry Fly Co-Owner Terry Nichols. Dry Fly is now in its 12th year of operation and, to the surprise of many, the oldest post-prohibition distiller in the state of Washington. With most of the craft spirits industry being less than 10 years old and typically closer to five, this partially explains why the selection of local craft-made spirits is just now starting to expand in bars and restaurants. “For whiskey, the liquid goes into new American oak barrels where it will sit for three-plus years before it is ready to sell, so whiskey is an exercise in patience, and the longer you can wait the better the resulting whiskey can be,” said Terry. The racks at Dry Fly are currently holding all kinds of experimental and long-aging barrels that have yet to see the light of day. While Dry Fly might spend years on a single batch, others in the Northwest can have their products out in a week, the same amount of time many brewers enjoy. “Our vodka goes from ground to bottled vodka in less than six days,” said Party Animal Vodka President Katherine Cullen. “We like to say, ‘We are distilled once and done right the first time.’ Our one-time distillation through our column still allows us to produce less waste than other distilleries.” Party Animal is unique in that they utilize Idaho’s most popular crop for their starches—potatoes. In fact, less than 3 percent of the world’s vodkas are derived from potatoes. Two years into business, Katherine is still finding out the best way to open minds and get her products to new consumers. “It is a really tough industry. I think the hardest part is getting the end consumer to try something new. Most people stick to what they know or what is considered ‘popular.’” With consumers showing less brand loyalty and a constant search for what’s new, the relatively young craft spirits industry of the West already has to adapt to meet up with these trends. “The more consumers are educated on spirits, the more willing they will be to try something new that they can't find anywhere else. I think our honey spirits fit nicely into that category. It's rare to find a spirit made 100 percent from honey,” said Hilary. Dry fly is also adapting, both in flavors and unique ways of reaching customers. “We are excited about our foray into the canned craft cocktail industry with our Moscow Mule, Gin & Tonic and Spicy Lemonade.” Pre-packed hard lemonades and teas are often syrupy in flavor, whereas crafted cocktails like those of Dry Fly aim to be like a more authentic mixed drink with the convenience of keeping in your fridge or stashing in your cooler. Those looking to support their local and regional distillers might have a hard time finding products in stores. Laws vary greatly state to state, and unlike the beer and wine industry, distillers are not able to ship directly to consumers out of state. It’s one of the many challenges Dry Fly, Up North and Party Animal face when up against big brands that have worldwide recognition. “The number of distributors is shrinking in this country through consolidation, and they are laden with so many products that they aren’t always interested in another small brand. That is a fundamental problem for the craft distilling industry,” said Terry. As Hilary explained, “In Idaho we had to get a liquor license to serve cocktails. Our liquor store on-site is also state run and a separate address from our distillery.” New laws are being adopted to help these small businesses move more product, but it will ultimately come down to consumer demand. While many household names are created in huge manufacturing facilities and stamped with a label, craft spirits are made by individuals or small teams and can utilize ingredients found near their place of business—which in turn helps other local businesses thrive. “Here in the Northwest we are able to find everything we need there is a veritable bounty of great agricultural products right in our backyard, so much so that we get almost everything (except juniper) from within 30 miles of Spokane,” said Terry. It’s the hands-on approach that Hilary and Randy say separates Up North from the bigger brands. “We create our own mash, we run it through our own still, and we then put it in a barrel to mature it on-site. We touch every part of the process from start to finish.” An easy look to see whether a spirit was made by craft distillers is to take a closer look at the label. Some bigger brands have their products made in large off-site facilities instead of their actual company location. These will often say ’Produced and Bottled.’ Distillers who maintain a hand in the entire process can label their product ‘Distilled and Bottled.’ As for the future, these regional distillers all see the potential for growth as long as consumers continue to become educated and demand for locally made products stays steady. “I think it’s an ever-changing industry with immense room for growth and innovation. For so long, people were so used to what they know, and I believe it’s so important in this quality revolution for people to try new things,” said Katherine. “I believe it will continue to grow, but I think it will parallel craft beer to a degree,” said Terry. “With the number of small distillers increasing rapidly, soon everyone will have one in their town that will be the local favorite, so owning your own backyard will need to be a key building block in everyone’s strategy.” Whether you like your whiskey straight, your gin with a splash of soda or your vodka martini dirty, there are now more local options than ever to consider when ordering your next drink. Most distillers welcome guests into their business and are happy to share how their products are made and some of their favorite mixes for your home bar. You’ve tried wine flights and beer samplers; perhaps now it’s time to see what’s waiting for you from the stills of the Northwest. #featurestory #local #foodandbeverage

Photo courtesy: Chad Riley. “It’s all about love and the focus being centered on others. It has been my goal to help one person at a time to achieve some of their dreams and hopes. I feel if one person’s life has changed because of Signature Aesthetics, then it was worth it!” For more than a decade, Signature Aesthetics has been changing lives from the outside in; bringing each client’s vision of beauty to reality. Owner Nancy Andrews, RN-C, has had a very fulfilling career as a registered nurse for more than 35 years, with her career evolving as a medical professional treating the aftermath of injury, as well as her own personal experience with a facial injury. “When I was young, I suffered an injury to my face that left me feeling insecure about my appearance for many years,” she says. “After receiving some facial procedures, it helped me regain my self-esteem and improved my self-confidence. Now I am blessed to be able to help others achieve their own confidence and experience the joy of having synergy with their inner and outer beauty.” Each patient will find themselves in capable hands at Signature Aesthetics. Nancy has an all-encompassing background. She has extensive experience in advanced emergency nursing, operating room scrub and circulator, director of nursing, pediatric and adult intensive and coronary care charge nurse. She has also served as one of two flight nurses for over a 100 interfacility flights all around the Northwest. Nancy has been called frequently to assist with organ harvesting that has saved many lives. She also has an extensive education and countless certifications in aesthetic nursing that she has held for the past 18 years. As technology and techniques advance, Nancy is engaged in ongoing training curriculum. This allows her to provide the best services to her clients. She invests hundreds of hours, keeping current in all techniques while expanding her knowledge in the latest equipment and products. Signature Aesthetics has two locations to better help their clients—in the Sandcreek Plaza in Sandpoint, Idaho, and at Prairie Family Medicine in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho—and proudly provides the latest technology and techniques in anti-aging medicine. This includes laser skin treatments, chemical peels, rejuvenation procedures and rehydration therapy, women’s wellness and varicose vein treatments. They are also a certified CoolSculpting practice with three new machines. “We have held the top place for CoolSculpting in the Pacific Inland Northwest and the top in North Idaho most recently,” Nancy says. In addition, they have extensive treatments to relieve potential pain with laughing gas, numbing creams and standing orders from their doctor. Nancy is excited to announce that they have recently added a new Hydrafacial machine and the new body contouring device CoolTone. Signature Aesthetics feels privileged to personally escort their clients to achieving their beauty potential. Nancy and her team witness your confident, healthy appearance as you partner in recreating a beautiful reflection. “At Signature Aesthetics, we make it a priority to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for all patients, and our staff has extensive training to meet our high standards,” states Nancy. “We strive to meet everyone exactly where they’re at on their self-improvement journey and tailor our treatments to their specific goals.” Your journey of transformation begins here. Signature Aesthetics 208.627.6869 SignatureAesthetics.com 212 N. First Ave. Sandpoint, ID Sandcreek Plaza Suite 103 1130 W. Prairie Ave. Coeur d’Alene, ID #sandpoint #coeurdalene #businessspotlight

Photo courtesy: Owen Aird. For more than two decades, Chef Raci Erdem has been bringing the flavors of the Mediterranean—and its garlicky goodness—to eager diners at his restaurant, The White House Grill in Post Falls, and guests continue to eat it up! Serving the Inland Northwest since 1996, The White House Grill offers a comfortable and relaxed family friendly environment, where patrons of all ages are invited to take a seat at this fun and noisy restaurant. Mediterranean music fills the air, as does the aroma of garlic. The menu features seafood, vegetables, pasta and lamb dishes, which is complemented by a full bar showcasing handcrafted cocktails, 12 beers on tap, an extensive wine list and a beautiful scotch list—hand selected by Raci himself. Open for lunch and dinner (Sunday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm), Raci looks forward to guests coming into the restaurant, not just for the food and drink, but to enjoy the overall experience. “Our job is to put you in a great mood with some cool music, delicious food and awesome drinks, all for a great value,” he says. A decade later, Raci opened his second Post Falls restaurant, The Oval Office. This American bistro with a foreigner flare provides a cozy, romantic small-seat eatery bustling like a big-city restaurant with an upscale appeal. Here, patrons can appreciate flavors from around the world with the small-plate and entrée offerings. The menu stays consistent throughout the year so guests will always find the same great food each time they return. When it comes to libations, guests will be treated to a full bar featuring great beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Unlike other martini lists, it features politically inspired specialty martinis, from The Border Patrol and Fake News to the New Yorker. There’s something on the menu for anyone looking for a good martini—and a good time! The community fireplace on the large outside patio can seat 12 around it, and the European-style awning allows patio dining year-round! Known for its happiest of happy hours in the Northwest, offered twice daily, enjoy all martinis and appetizers offered at a fraction of the price! Open Monday through Friday 11am to 11pm and Saturday and Sunday 3 to 11pm, it's the perfect spot for late-night dining any day of the week. Opened in November 2019, Raci invites you to take a seat at his newest endeavor—the Pentagon Bistro & Martini Bar in the heart of Liberty Lake. The 120-seat restaurant is warm and inviting yet sophisticated, showcasing an open kitchen concept, a large bar and two cozy dining rooms. Open daily 11am to 11pm, guests will be treated to a delicious and diverse small-plate menu, as well as entrées featuring steak and seafood, and their specialty politically inspired martinis. “We wanted to have a gathering place that friends can go to and relax with a cocktail or quick lunch in the afternoon, or for a beautiful dinner over a bottle of wine,” Raci says. He is proud of both the longevity of his restaurants as well as his employees, in addition to the friendships made with customers over the years. Whether you choose to dine at The White House, Oval Office or Pentagon, you’re in for an incredible dining experience. WhiteHouseGrill.com The White House Grill Post Falls, ID 712 N. Spokane St. 208.777.9672 The Oval Office Bistro & Martini Bar Post Falls, ID 620 N. Spokane St. 208.777.2102 The Pentagon Bistro & Martini Bar Liberty Lake, WA 1400 N. Meadowwood Lane 509.891.7790 #postfalls #libertylake #businessspotlight

Photo courtesy: Owen Aird. Consistently good food and atmosphere along with friendly service and menu items offered at a reasonable price—these are what appeal to everybody, no matter one’s age or financial status. “The Elk appeals to anyone and everyone,” says John Grollmus, owner. “Hipsters to grandmothers. Young and old. Professionals from downtown and locals from the neighborhood.” And whether it’s your first date or 50th anniversary, The Elk Public House will treat you to an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. This is what The Elk, located in the heart of the historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood, has delivered year after year to guests since opening its doors in 1999. In addition to the traditional Reuben, thanks to the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” show, which featured the Elk back in 2010, menu favorites among guests include the Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich, Mediterranean Grilled Lamb Sandwich and legendary Roasted Corn Pasta. You can also choose from their creative weekly specials and homemade soups, inventive cocktails and great brews. From maintaining consistency and low employee turnover to weekly specials and updating the menu twice a year, John credits these to The Elk’s popularity year after year. “The number one factor overall, though, is probably just our constant desire and effort to be the best we can,” he says. “Even 20 years into this we are still watching every little detail to be sure we are creating the best possible environment for our guests.” At the end of the day, John is proud of his and co-owner Brad Fosseen’s ability to create lifetime fans out of employees and guests alike, not only at The Elk, but at their five other restaurants: Two Seven Public House, El Que and Geno’s Traditional Food and Ales in Spokane, Moon Time in Coeur d’Alene and The Porch Public House in Hayden Lake. John believes that The Elk they created all those years ago has become an institution. “Can Spokane even exist without The Elk anymore?” he asks. There’s no time like the present to stop in and decide for yourself. The Elk Public House Spokane’s West Side 1931 W. Pacific Ave. 509.363.1973 WeDontHaveOne.com #spokane #businessspotlight

If you’re feeling like staying inside as the weather has turned and the cold has seeped in, you may want to reconsider. There is much to engage your mind and enliven your soul in the Inland Northwest that will lure you from your cozy den (even if you aren’t a furry critter that likes to sleep through winter). Life is always changing—even with planned events—so take the time to call ahead or check the websites of the organizations listed here for dates, prices and ticket information before making your plans. A pinch of planning is worth a pound of pouting … isn’t that how the old saying goes? Maybe not, but you get the gist! Whether you are looking for something to do for date night, a place to hang with friends, new adventures for the kids or just want to treat yourself—we’ve got you covered. Theater Live theater is alive and well in the Northwest! If you want proof, all you need to do is go online and check the schedules or pop on by some of the local theaters to find a cornucopia of talent that will delight and entertain. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing at the Spokane Civic Theatre from November 29 through December 22. Also playing is “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” from January 24 to February 23. The Spokane Children’s Theatre is featuring Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical,” “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “The Three Musketeers,” “A Year With Frog and Toad” and “The Little Mermaid” for their 2019-2020 season. Noted as Spokane’s oldest theater organization, the Children’s Theatre also features a school-day program that creates opportunities to turn school days into field trips. Stage Left Theatre offers a counterpoint to timeless classics, offering alternative theater with political and intellectual themes that aim to “broaden involvement of the general population by engaging issues of topical value and stimulating the analysis and discussion of the structure and goals of society.” Upcoming productions include “Mandelstam” (January 10 through 26) about a poet who was shipped to a gulag because he wrote a poem about Stalin’s mustache. Also playing in the upcoming season at Stage Left: “Lonely Planet” (February 14 through March 1) and “A Voice of My Own” (March 27 through April 11). Also for kids, the Christian Youth Theatre (CYT) of North Idaho, located in Coeur d'Alene, promotes character building and creativity through theater training for kids. They offer classes in everything from drama to dance for kids ranging from 8 to 18. In addition to classes, CYT offers camps, other programs and family friendly shows. Don't miss "Peter Pan: A New Musical," February 21 through March 1, and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" May 22 through 31. Christian Youth Theatre of Spokane has a lineup that includes “Frozen” (December 6 through 15), “Beauty and the Beast” and “Matilda” (winter and spring dates TBD). Christian Youth Theatre of Spokane also offers camps, classes and programs for aspiring youth actors. The Lake City Playhouse in Coeur d’Alene is featuring the timeless classic “A Christmas Story” (November 29 through December 15). Also playing: “These Shining Lives” (February 21 through March 8), “Matilda” (April 10 through 26) and “Fun Home” (January 17 through February 2). Located in Hayden, Aspire Community Theatre showcases Broadway-style musicals with discounts for seniors and students. Don't miss "9 to 5" (February 7 through 16) and "Tarzan" (April 17 through 26). Ignite! Community Theatre “is a diverse group of volunteers passionate about bringing fully staged shows, reader’s theatre and improv to Spokane Valley,” says LuRicka Kougl, Ignite! historian and marketing committee chairperson. Ignite! not only offers the chance to see theater productions in an intimate atmosphere (80-seat auditorium) but offers countless volunteer opportunities that allow members of the public to be both patrons and participants. With an all-volunteer crew, “it is in every sense a true community theater,” says Kougl. Individual shows are a steal, but you can reduce the cost even further by purchasing season tickets. Performances include “The Cemetery Club” (November 8 through 24) and “The Importance of Being Earnest” (January 17 through 19). Located in Spokane, The First Interstate Center for the Arts is showing the Broadway hit “Jesus Christ Superstar” (November 20 through 24), “Cirque Musical Holiday” (November 25), “Cirque Dreams” (November 29) and “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” (December 7). Kicking things off after the holidays, the Interstate will feature “An American in Paris” (January 14 and 15), “Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live” (January 16) and numerous other shows as well. Art Happenings Coeur d'Alene hosts a plethora of galleries to view the works of numerous artists. Cisco’s features Native American and Cowboy antiques for sale, including collections of tramp art, knives, bronze statues and other bric-a-brac. The Blackwell Gallery features local modern art in a variety of media. Dozens of painters and sculptors are represented at the Angel Gallery—a community fixture for 19 years—including artists working in oils, acrylics and clay. Just next door to Angel, The Art Spirit Gallery features a vast space (3,500 square feet) with new works exhibited each month. If you would like to make or learn as opposed to look and buy, there are several venues where you can learn the art … of, well … art. Redbrick Art Studio not only sells paintings but offers fine art classes in watercolor, oil and acrylic painting. Emerge in Coeur d'Alene seeks to engage all members of the community through a variety of creative outlets while providing emerging artists a platform to cultivate their craft and career. Workshops, demonstrations and classes are held throughout the year at Emerge, and information can be found online. The Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls serves as a wedding and concert venue and also hosts workshops where you can learn painting, digital photography, fiddle and guitar, as well as cooking classes. The Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance features MusicWalk, a monthly multi-venue get together highlighting local musicians and singer/songwriters. Several downtown restaurants, stores and galleries are participating this season and will offer food and drinks to go alongside wonderful live music. Dates for the 2020 MusicWalk are January 10, February 7 and March 13, with each walk beginning at 5pm. April through December, Art Walk takes over the second Friday of every month, 5 to 8pm, with two dozen participating galleries, restaurants and retailers. If you’re an artist looking to meet other artists and get the scoop about upcoming events in the local art world, the Arts and Culture Alliance provides a unique opportunity to do so via Arts Buzz, held at 9am on the first Friday of every month. Like the art and music walks in Coeur d'Alene, First Friday in Spokane showcases local galleries and restaurants. Put on by the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District (BID) year-round, First Friday includes not one route but several. Gallery, office party, kid friendly, retail/restaurant and tasting room are some of the themed routes you’ll find on their website to help you better plan your evening out on the town. Film Another enticing event to look forward to is the Spokane International Film Festival (February 28 through March 6) at various locations in Downtown Spokane, where you can munch on your favorite movie snack and view feature films, documentaries and shorts. Internationally acclaimed past participants include Matthew Modine, Eli Craig and Sherman Alexie. Gaming Northern Quest Casino (outside of Spokane in Airway Heights) has plenty of entertainment this fall and winter including Lance Burton Master Magician and Friends (November 22), Urban Cowboy Reunion (November 24), Kenny G (December 11) and Queensryche (December 15). In addition to the stage acts, Northern Quest features a spa, hotel and a variety of dining options including M&D, a movie and dinner restaurant with lounge-seating and a menu you can access during the show. And that’s to say nothing of the casino itself. Let the games begin! If you’re in the Coeur d'Alene area and you want to roll the dice or hit the links, check out Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho, which, in addition to shows has golf and plays host to privately catered events, weddings, banquets and fine dining. Gambling options include bingo events and off-track betting, along with video machines. In addition to entertainment and sporting options, Coeur d'Alene Casino also offers cultural tours that showcase the culture of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. These include a bison ranch tour, and two Lifeways Workshops: Make Your Own Folded Cedar Bark Necklace and Make Your Own Plateau Basketry Basics. Live Music In terms of live music, there is an almost unlimited variety of options from orchestral and symphonic productions to hipster indie pop. Ever since opening its doors in 2011, The Hive in Sandpoint puts on 21 and up shows and includes a variety of acts from dance with Jam Shack to Canadian indie funk by Bombargo. If you want to take your experience up a notch, V.I.P. booths are available as well. Also in Sandpoint, the 219 Lounge gives you a chance to dust off your rusty vocal chords with karaoke every Tuesday hosted by DJ Webix. If you’d rather listen to professionals kick out the jams, the 219 has you covered. Don’t miss acts like reggae jams with The Dimestore Prophets (November 23) and the “irreverent innuendo” of Naughty Pine (December 14). Be sure to pop in for their dark beer solstice party (December 21) with the stompgrass folk band Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs. Upcoming acts can be found on their website. Downtown Spokane has a number of historic venues that major acts often make part of their national tours. Performances at The Bing Crosby Theater include The Tenors “Wonder of Christmas” Tour (November 30), Affiniti Celctic Christmas (December 15) and Esperanza, presented by Quiero Flamenco (January 31), along with dozens of other performances throughout the season. Nearby is the Spokane Knitting Factory, which brings in an eclectic variety of acts to suit a number of tastes. The Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, another historic downtown venue, hosts an array of performances. Coeur d'Alene Symphony partners with other local groups to engage in opera, dance and choral performances. They feature pre-concert lectures by Artistic Director Maestro Jan Pellant and a melody contest for children up to sixth grade. The 2019-2020 season includes: “A Festive Celebration” December 6 and 7; “Family Concert” with the North Idaho Youth Symphony (actor, writer, painter and Coeur d’Alene resident Stephen Shortridge narrates and brings the voices of Peter and the animals live for the Symphony’s Family Concert, Prokoviev’s “Peter and the Wolf”) January 24 and 25; “The Next Superstars” March 13 and 14; finishing out the season with "A Fiery Conclusion” May 1 and 2. The Spokane Symphony keeps the spirit of music alive by presenting “passionate, high-quality performances of classical, popular and innovative music, creating cultural enrichment for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.” They provide numerous educational programs including “instrument petting zoos” which allow kids to have a hands-on encounter with instruments. A peek at their season's offerings include The Nutcracker (December 5 through 8), Holiday Pops with Vanessa Williams (December 21 and 22) and New Year's Eve: Beethoven's Ninth (December 31). Two dozen more performances feature series including Pops, Movies & Music, and Masterworks concerts, along with Chamber Soirees. Museums For those who want to engage with life at the intersection of art, science and history, a day at the museum can be just the thing. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) has temporary exhibits with an anthropological and historical focus, from textiles to Northwest legends. On display through January 12, 2020, don’t miss “Norman Rockwell’s America” exhibit, where young and old will enjoy this remarkable collection of 22 paintings, seven drawings and all 323 vintage "Saturday Evening Post" magazine covers, chronicling the 20th century American spirit. This is the first solo exhibition of Norman Rockwell’s paintings and magazine covers to visit the Inland Northwest. During MAC's Campbell House Holidays (December 14,15, 17, 22 and 26 through 29, from noon to 4pm each day), you can learn how Norman Rockwell’s distinctive illustrations left a lasting influence on the way the American people celebrate the Christmas holiday. (The Campbell House is a restored early English Revival Tutor available to tour at select times and dates as part of the museum’s overall admission price.) The museum also houses one of the nation’s foremost American Indian Plateau collections, some of which are currently on display in the exhibit As Grandmother Taught: Women, Tradition and Plateau Art. Initially conceived of as a logging museum in the ‘60s as the brainchild of the North Idaho Hoo Hoo Club, the Museum of Northern Idaho now focuses on the history of the region of Coeur d’Alene. Exhibits continue the focus on logging but also include steamboats, railroads and recreation, as well as the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Cataldo Mission. Closed for the season, it will reopen April 2020. Open by appointment through March 31, the North Spokane Farm Museum, located in The Red Shed, a 5,000-square-foot farm building. As a self-described “teach and touch” museum, the museum features restored farm machinery, kitchens and bedrooms from various eras. For those with imaginations that take flight, the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Hayden may be worth a stop. The museum features restored turbo-prop aircraft and highlights a variety of inventions that influenced the history and culture of the United States. Over in Sandpoint, the Bonner County History Museum has an extensive array of temporary and permanent exhibits showcasing regional geology, archaeology, mining and forestry. As you can see by this diverse range of opportunities, the Inland Northwest is a great place to be, whether you call it home or are just here for a visit. Whatever your pleasure, you will find the right adventure awaiting you. #local #featurestory #artsandgalleries #events

WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL September 7 Post Falls This is a one-of-a-kind event that you won’t want to miss. Celebrate life together with friends, family and community at this year’s Water Lantern Festival, which takes place September 7, 5:30 to 10pm, at Q’emiln Park in Post Falls. Read more... SPOKANE COUNTY INTERSTATE FAIR September 6 - 15 Spokane Whether you're excited for the PRCA Rodeo, Truck and Tractor Pulls, Demolition Derby and live concerts featuring artists like Trace Adkins and Foreigner, or you're just there for the rides and food, this year's fair is one all ages will enjoy. Read more... HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS SEPTEMBER 6 A NIGHT IN BLACK & WHITE Don't miss the chance to impact local youth! Join the Boys & Girls Club of Kootenai County for their biggest fundraiser of the year. Held Friday, September 6, 6 to 11pm at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, attendees will enjoy silent and live auctions, hor d'oeurves, drinks, dinner and dancing all for a good cause. Read more... SEPTEMBER 7 COEURFEST Noon to 6pm, McEuen Park in Coeur d'Alene is the place to be for Coeurfest. This all-day festival celebrates the amazing North Idaho community, inviting them observe, learn and do in seven different "experience" areas that highlight the North Idaho lifestyle and what makes the region so special. Read more... SEPTEMBER 7 20TH ANNUAL INJECTORS CAR SHOW Whether it’s hot rods, customs or restorations that get you revved up, the Sandpoint Injectors Car Show has something for all classic car lovers. This year marks its 20th anniversary and will take place in Downtown Sandpoint 9am to 2pm. This event is fun for the entire family. Read more... SEPTEMBER 12 DAY OF CARING Each year more than 300 business leaders and community members roll up their sleeves and grab their tools to spend the day giving back to the community through United Way of North Idaho's Annual Day of Caring. This year's Day of Caring takes place Thursday, September 12. Read more... For more happenings this week ... CLICK HERE To read the Summer 2019 issue of SIZZLE .... CLICK HERE #newsletter

Photo courtesy: Westwood Brewing. “Westwood brewing isn’t just a location, it’s a destination spot.” Offering arched windows, rustic brickwork and stunning mountain views, the relaxed and casual family friendly restaurant in Rathdrum, Idaho, is filled with living history, thanks to owners and brothers Spencer and Shaun Howell and their wives Danielle and Jenny. While renovating the 1886 building to bring their dream restaurant to life, they took great pride in restoring the building while still keeping its history alive. “We are driven to provide exceptional hand-crafted beers, delicious flavorful food in a casual historic setting, where families, friends and neighbors can experience consistent quality in our products while greeted by friendly faces to make you feel at home,” smiles Danielle. Since opening its doors in 2017, the approximately 100-seat restaurant continues to be a dining destination. While creating a relaxed and historic atmosphere to their brewpub, quality has always been at the forefront of each meal served. Not only are all meats smoked fresh in-house, but steaks and Alaskan sockeye salmon are cut fresh daily. The prime rib is certified Angus and the burgers are half-pound prime beef. From the hand-dipped haddock to scratch-made dressings, sauces and desserts, the quality is sure to satisfy. The food is complemented by 16 rotating drafts that include up to seven of Westwood’s own brews—Shotgun Blonde, North Idaho Huckleberry Blonde, Conductor IPA, Hobo Hazy IPA, Iron Rail Amber, Smokestack Scotch Ale and the Steam Engine Stout—as well as other craft beers from around the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the enjoyable atmosphere, great food and drink, they offer events nearly every day of the week. If you’re looking to have a great time while enjoying some delicious food and cold brews, Westwood has you covered. Taco Tuesday offers $3 pub tacos and $3 margaritas all day! Each week, Wednesday Trivia starts at 7pm (with the last Wednesday of each month being themed), and Friday Karaoke starts at 9pm. Saturday evenings, the restaurant comes alive as area musicians take the stage to perform live starting at 7pm. And don’t forget, sports fans can enjoy the big game on 12 screens, and guests can enjoy happy hour 3 to 6pm daily with deals on cold drinks and crowd-pleasing appetizers. When it comes to what inspires the owners to come to work each and every day while leaving the job fulfilled, they all agree—the customers. They have found Westwood to be a truly rewarding endeavor while “being part of the history of our town, building such an amazing team and customer satisfaction,” says Spencer. Its living history, dynamic menu of signature dishes, craft beer, unique atmosphere, fun events and friendly staff have fast made Westwood Brewing Company a local favorite. It’s well worth the visit each and every time. Westwood Brewing Co. Rathdrum 8162 W. Main St. 208.712.3423 WestwoodBrewing.com #coeurdalene #businessspotlight