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March 2, 6 - 9pm Wine, Stein & Dine returns this year at its new location: Kootenai County Fairgrounds! This 21+ fundraiser event will include more than 85 participating wineries, microbreweries and restaurants, plus a silent auction and wine tree raffle for the chance to win great wines, all in support of the Post Falls Education Foundation! Event admission includes food, a beverage, a beer stein or wine glass, and three hours of fun and entertainment! Secure your ticket online or from participating locations including Super 1 Foods, Yokes, and the School District Office. PFEFWSD.org

February 23 - 25 This weekend, catch the last performances of Spokane Civic Theater’s run of Amadeus, a story of envy, revenge, fame, fortune, and the love of music. Watch musical history come to life in a production set in 1823, following Italian composer Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Amadeus is now playing through Sunday, February 25! SpokaneCivicTheatre.com

February 24, 10am - 3pm Enjoy a taste of farmer’s market season early this Saturday at the Kootenai County Farmers Market’s Cabin Fever Market! The indoor market will bring more than 50 vendors to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, including local artisans, seasonal agriculture, and more. With live music by Bill Bozly, free parking, and free admission, this is a seasonal event not to miss! KootenaiFarmersMarkets.org

February 24, 8:30pm Sandpoint closes out their 2024 Winter Carnival this weekend. To send off the week-long carnival event, popular local band the RUB will perform a closing concert on Saturday at The Hive. Secure your ticket early to save, with tickets $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event. Doors open at 7pm; the show begins at 8:30pm. EventBrite.com

February 23 - 24 Described as “explosive, inventive, provocative, witty and utterly unique,” STOMP arrives in Spokane this weekend! The internationally acclaimed percussion performance promises an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The show’s troupe of eight performs music created with everything but conventional percussion instruments, such as brooms, garbage cans, lighters, hubcaps, and more. Experience it live at the First Interstate Center of the Arts this Friday and Saturday only! BroadwaySpokane.com

February 23 - 25 Explore the latest home and yard-related products and services at Spokane's 46th Annual Home & Yard Show this weekend! The event kicked off Thursday and features hundreds of displays and demonstrations, showcasing the latest in home improvements! Gather inspiration for your spring projects and decorations with landscape displays, outdoor decor, expert guidance, and more. The show will feature innovative ideas all in one location for the public to shop and compare. Visit the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center now through Sunday to explore all things home and yard! CusterShows.com

February 23 - 24 The Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships have arrived at the Podium powered by STCU. Hosted by Spokane Sports and Eastern Washington University all weekend long, this year will mark the first time the championships have been held at a neutral location or in the state of Washington. The meet will feature the best and brightest men’s and women’s competitors in the Big Sky. It’s a great time to watch track and field athletes in their element, this weekend in Spokane! GoEags.com

The Culinary Stone celebrates 10 years of providing an array of culinary experiences By Jillian Chandler From the moment you walk in the door, The Culinary Stone in Coeur d’Alene entices one’s culinary senses; it’s an experience unlike any other you’ll find in the Inland Northwest. What began in 2013 as a store for specialty kitchen supplies has evolved to encompass a variety of shared experiences—cooking classes, wine tastings, events and more—in its 7,500-square-foot space. The visionary behind The Culinary Stone is founder Sandy Volkar, who believes that food is a celebration to be shared with family and friends. “The idea for a specialty kitchen store started with Sandy’s passion for cooking and everything that goes along with it,” shares Susan Odell, store operations and purchasing manager. “Riverstone was still growing its roots in the Coeur d’Alene community, and she saw the potential growth for the area, to provide an inviting place where neighbors could walk to our store for their kitchen needs or bring their guests for a delicious bite to eat. We’ve continued to grow with Riverstone over the years, offering new products and experiences for residents and visitors from all over the area to feel at home.” From cooking classes taught by professional chefs, a wine club with unique tasting events, custom gift baskets for local businesses and customers, to over 3,000 square feet of shopping with gourmet foods, small appliances, kitchen supplies, tableware, gifts and home goods, “It’s a breathtaking space when you walk through the front doors, and we’ve worked hard to fill it carefully with beautiful products and exciting events,” smiles James Culp, merchandising manager. They introduced their new Marketplace in August 2023. Featuring their already delicious menu of artisanal coffee, specialty sandwiches, refreshing salads and now a wider variety of local pastries for customers to enjoy, the renovated space has allowed for expanded seating for more morning coffee meetings, lunch dates and large parties. The redesign has also granted them the opportunity to grow their wine selection and partner with The Wine Maven to develop a more robust wine program. The Culinary Stone’s Wines of the World Wine Club is the only program in the area that provides a Pairing Selection: a monthly release with one wine and one food item that is hand-selected to enjoy together. From the culinary beginner to the skilled chef, they see a wide array of customers looking to build their collection of kitchen tools or restock their favorite supplies—including entertainers preparing for their next holiday party or that person on the hunt for the perfect home décor gift—The Culinary Stone offers a variety of products to suit the home and kitchen needs of the people in the community. “We’re dedicated to maintaining an inviting space that can be filled with conversation and laughter. You can come for many reasons, but what you’ll remember is the family feeling that you get when you are here,” Sandy affirms. “Everyone is welcome at our table!” Come 2024, they are collaborating with their chefs to introduce more specialty cooking classes, where customers will be more hands on when learning new, delightful recipes from across the globe, as well as expanding their wine program. “We are also excited about our growing wine program and the opportunities ahead for pairing our wines and gourmet foods, as well as developing educational wine events,” The Wine Maven, Sharon Irvine, notes. Susan adds, “As we are always listening to our customers and what they need in their homes, we will continue to rotate new products throughout the year.” Step into The Culinary Stone to see all the culinary excitement that awaits you. The Culinary Stone 2129 N. Main St. Coeur d’Alene, ID 208.277.4116 CulinaryStone.com

February 17 - 18 Spring is on its way to the Inland Northwest, and the Spokane Outdoor Expo presents a fun way to prepare. This weekend, explore travel, bikes, gear and more at the Spokane Convention Center, with the chance to play and learn about all things outdoors! More than 60 vendors will be in attendance, along with hourly prizes, live music, adult beverages and the chance to roast marshmallows. Catch presentations covering a wide variety of outdoor adventure topics, enjoy family friendly activities for all ages, check out the R’nR RV Center Campground, and take the opportunity to learn outdoor skills with free, short clinics all weekend long. Secure your event ticket to preview the best of the outdoors in Spokane! SpokaneOutdoorExpo.com

February 18, 2pm This annual fashion show fundraiser celebrates local fashion while raising funds for scholarships! Wear your best tea party ensemble, enjoy tea and cookies, and peruse the silent auction. Attendees will also have an opportunity to win tickets to attend the 2024 Miss Spokane and Miss Spokane's Outstanding Teen Competition. Cheer on the 2024 contestants and starlings while they strut the runway. Funds raised will be awarded at the 2024 Competition. The event takes place at The Woman's Club of Spokane. MissSpokane.org

February 18, 1pm The Spokane Chinese Association celebrates the 2024 Lunar New Year celebration this Sunday at the historic Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox. Arrive in the afternoon for a cultural fair for all ages, offering family friendly activities like food sampling, Chinese calligraphy, a Photo Booth, and more. Stay for the 4pm show highlighting traditional Chinese folk dances, Tai chi, Martial Arts, Chinese music and instruments, choir, the Dragon Dance, and more! FoxTheaterSpokane.org

February 17 - 18 Prepare for the upcoming 2024 golf season this weekend at the Spokane Golf Show! Visit the Spokane Convention Center for deals on golf trips, golf rounds, equipment and more. Guests of all ages can test their skills at the free instructional and kids areas, with long-drive and long-putt contests. Join in the golf-themed fun all weekend long in downtown Spokane! SpokaneGolfShow.com

February 16 - 17, 7:30pm Catch one of the largest and most highly-regarded ballet companies in the country at Gonzaga this weekend as the Pacific Northwest Ballet presents an evening of mixed dances from Swan Lake and Twyla Thorp. Pacific Northwest Ballet has toured internationally and will perform at Gonzaga Saturday and Sunday evenings. Gonzaga.edu

February 16 - 25 Sandpoint’s annual Winter Carnival returns Friday, February 16, kicking off 10 days of winter fun. For its 51st year, the Sandpoint Winter Carnival will offer events and parties galore, including fireworks at Schweitzer, Chili Cook-Off, K-9 Keg Pull, live music all week, and much more. The Parade of Lights kicks off the event at 5:30pm, moving through downtown Sandpoint with locally made floats. From there, the 10 days of fun continues — check the Sandpoint Winter Carnival’s list of events to plan your celebration through February 25! SandpointWinterCarnival.com

Celebrating 20 years in business By Jillian Chandler “Our gratitude and appreciation for the incredible community that surrounds us is the life of our company. We would not be where we are without our amazing customers, our dedicated subcontractors and vendors, and our internal team who give their heart and soul to the work we do. We are incredibly fortunate and so grateful for where we are today. We look forward to continuing to serve our community.” - Dale and Jessica Cargile Opened in the spring of 2004, North Ridge Homes celebrates its 20th anniversary building fully custom homes throughout Spokane, Bonner, Stevens and Kootenai counties. Owners Dale and Jessica Cargile are honored to serve their clients and take pride knowing that their clients trust them to bring their visions to life, crediting integrity and partnership as the backbone of North Ridge. “When Dale opened the company, he was determined to combat the belief that the homeowner and the contractor are at odds through the project. His goal was to build partnerships, where we help bring a homeowner’s dream to life, educating them and empowering them to make smart decisions on their project,” Jessica reflects. Dale credits “hard work, never giving up, and always looking to improve our business, our product and our team” for what North Ridge is today and the success the company has seen over the years. “Twenty years is a big accomplishment because of how far we have come. Dale opened North Ridge in 2004, working out of his truck, with one job to his name worth $2,500. Today we build gorgeous million- and multi-million-dollar award-winning homes on view lots and lakesides throughout the area,” Jessica smiles. “The other significance to 20 years is that Dale opened the company the year his daughter was born, with the purpose of having control over, staying home to be a dad. He had spent the rest of his career traveling in the commercial construction industry, and being home and available to his daughter was a top priority and compelling factor in opening his business. With the anniversary of North Ridge, his daughter also turns 20.” For 2024, the couple is staying true to their custom home build model and have some beautiful homes that will come to completion on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Loon Lake, Hayden Lake and Spirit Lake. Jessica adds, “Our Parade of Homes home this year will be an amazing and beautiful home on the very top of the mountains in Hayden. Along with this, we’ll be working with St. George’s Parish in Post Falls to renovate and add to their existing church, which is exciting for us, since it’s a project that will really impact our community in a positive way.” While reflecting on the past two decades, the Cargiles are looking forward to what their next chapter will look like. “In these next 20 years, we will continue our trajectory of growth, continual improvement of our culture, product and team, and bring a new level of community involvement into the fold,” Jessica shares. “Our participation with NIBCA has been an incredibly fulfilling part of our recent journey in business, and we look forward to being able to bring more community impact as we move forward with our roles there.” Currently, Dale is the president of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association, while Jessica is the president of the Professional Women in Building Council. They firmly believe that these roles afford them ample opportunity to contribute to their community, grow their business and support their industry. North Ridge Homes 509.990.3003 build@northridgecontracting.com HomesbyNorthRidge.com