Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living #194 January 2022

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FEATURES

194

Of Spokane 0 FACES What does it mean to be a 3 leader in your industry? We 8 spoke with business leaders

POWER 50

about what gives them passion to do what they do.

Lunarium 0 Have the new pop-up coffee stand opened 1 only inyouthetried evenings? Read more about this new 5 South Hill spot.

0 5 8

Weddings + cover We’re obsessed with the elegance of model bride Taija Nelms and we love the rooftop beauty that can be found at LaRae’s on Second.

Photography by Charles Werneth and Blake Crossley of NW Stolen Images.

Hair and makeup by Devout Beauty Bridal attire by Marcella’s Location: LaRae’s on Second rooftop

JA N UA R Y 2 02 2 | V2 5 : I SSUE 0 1 (1 9 4 )

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CONTENTS ( W H AT ’ S I N S I D E )

12

EDITOR LETTER

15

FIRST LOOK Lunarium Lilacs & Lemons Spokane Rising

23

THE SCENE Community Builder Lilac Lit This is Dirt Stanley, Idaho Datebook

89

health beat Stay Active Carbon Monoxide Safety

97

LOCAL CUISINE Somm(elier) Kind of Wonderful Rosauer Recipe Eats, Shoots, & Leaves Dining Guide

112

CLARKSVILLE The Song That Gave Spokane the Blues

38

Faces

58

Wedding 2022 Weddings Wedding Resource Guide

69

Nest All’s Well That Ends Well House Feature

stay connected

BozziMedia.com // @spokanecdaliving 8

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CONTACT US Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine is published twelve times a year. If you have any questions or comments regarding the magazine, please call us at (509) 533-5350; we want to hear from you. Visit our Web site for an expanded listing of services: bozzimedia.com.

Letters to the Editor: We are always looking for comments about our recent articles.

Your opinions and ideas are important to us; however, we reserve the right to edit your comments for style and grammar. Please send your letters to the editor to the address at the bottom of the page or to Meganr@bozzimedia. com.

Why-We-Live-Here photos: We publish photos that depict the Inland Northwest and why we live here. We invite photographers to submit a favorite to Kristi@spokanecda.com.

Story submissions: We’re always looking for new stories. If you have an idea for one, please let us know by submitting your idea to the editor: Meganr@bozzimedia.com.

Datebook: Please submit information to Ann@ spokanecda.com at least three months prior to the event. Fundraisers, gallery shows, plays, concerts, where to go and what to do and see are welcome.

Dining Guide: This guide is an overview of fine and casual restaurants for residents and visitors to the region. For more information about the Dining Guide, email Meganr@bozzimedia.com.

BUZZ: If you have tips on what’s abuzz in the region, contact the editor at Meganr@ bozzimedia.com.

Advertising: Reach out to the consumer in the

Inland Northwest and get the word out about your business or products. Take advantage of our vast readership of educated, upper income homeowners and advertise with Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine For more information, call (509) 533-5350.

Subscriptions: We would love to earn your

monthly readership by having you join the family as a subscriber. Subscriptions are $24.95 and available online at bozzimedia.com or over the phone by calling (509) 533-5350.

Custom Reprints: We can adapt your article or ads and print them separately, without other advertising, and add new information. With our logo on your piece, your professionallydesigned handout on heavy gloss paper will be a handsome edition to your sales literature.

Contact us at (509) 533-5350.

Custom Publishing: Create a magazine tailored to fit the needs and character of your business or organization. Ideal for promotions, special events, introduction of new services and/or locations, etc. Our editorial staff and designers will work closely with you to produce a quality publication.

Editor-in-chief Megan Rowe | meganr@bozzimedia.com

Creative director/lead graphics Kristi Soto | kristi@spokanecda.com

Editorial Copy Editor | Carolyn Saccomanno Datebook Editor | Ann Foreyt

Contributors Doug Clark, Ann Foreyt, Anthony Gill, Amber Jensen Rebecca Gonshak, Sarah Hauge, Riley Haun, Adriana Janovich, Kim Mehaffey, Ari Nordhagen, Kacey Rosauer, Kate Vanskike

Photographers Blake Crossley, Alicia Hauff, James & Kathy Mangis, Kim Mehaffey, Ari Nordhagen, James O’Coyne, Kacey Rosauer, Rob Miller, Kate Vanskike, Charles Werneth

PUBLISHER & CEO Jordan Bozzi | jordan@bozzimedia.com

Account executives Kellie Rae | kellie@bozzimedia.com

Mitch Wright | mitch@bozzimedia.com Kerri Jensen | kerri@bozzimedia.com

Venues 180 Bar & Bistro Glass Half Events The Historic Flight Foundation The Hidden Ballroom kellie@bozzimedia.com

In Memoriam Co-Founders Vincent Bozzi Emily Guevarra Bozzi

Copy, purchasing and distribution: To

purchase back issues, reprints or to inquire about distribution areas, please contact the magazine at: Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living, 157 S. Howard, Suite #603, Spokane, WA 99201, (509) 533-5350.

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BEST OF THE INLAND NW SINCE 1999 Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine is published twelve times per year by Northwest Best Direct, Inc., dba Bozzi Media, 157 S. Howard, Suite #603, Spokane, WA 99201 (509) 533-5350, fax (509) 535-3542. Contents Copyrighted© 2020 Northwest Best Direct, Inc., all rights reserved. Subscription $24.95 for one year. For article reprints of 50 or more, call ahead to order. See “Contact Us” for more details.

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11

EDITOR LETTER

Dear reader, The universe has taken two occasions lately to remind me that when I’m making decisions, I don’t have the full picture, and I think it is this lesson I wish most to carry into this new year.

I consider myself among the lucky because not every night, but most nights, my two boys will still allow me to read to them before they go to bed at night. We usually read for about twenty minutes, and I put a timer on my phone.

Joe looked up from the phone and said, “Grandma DD really loved Robby.”

The background of my phone is a picture of my mom with her arm around Robby and a giraffe—her favorite animal—in the background.

Until then, it hadn’t occurred to me that he had probably nearly memorized this photo.

Joe doesn’t remember much of my mom. He was too young when she died. Everything he knows of her are stories, and pictures. It also hadn’t occurred to me that he had never seen the uncropped version of this picture, which reveals that the little hand she’s holding is his.

Joe had seen this picture over and over on my phone—cruelly, he had much more exposure to this one photo than he ever did to his grandma—and he had told himself the story “Grandma DD loves Robby more.”

And that narrative was only because Joe didn’t have the whole picture. But also, I wasn’t being thoughtful enough about what he was seeing.

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I put the bookmark in Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue and opened my photo albums to find the original. When we found it, I realized it was one of those “live” pictures, and when I pressed on it, we could hear her Chicago squawk, “OK, pretend you know me, Joe.” We could see her pulling him closer. It wasn’t as composed, people weren’t looking directly at the camera, but it was the picture Joe needed to see.

I told him that the picture was taken at the free zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, and that we were there because we were celebrating his birthday. I found the video of all of us singing “Happy Birthday” to him.

Joe rolled his eyes and said, “Robby blew out my candles.”

This visit was the last time they saw their Grandma DD. I didn’t tell him that.

The second occasion took me to the hospital. I woke up one morning and I was feeling light-headed. While getting the kids ready for school, I had more than a dozen occasions where I thought I was going to faint. And I thought to myself, “Oh great, heart problems.”

While driving my kids to school, I had a moment at the wheel I was afraid I was going to pass out. I got them to school and then immediately pulled to the side of the road. I called Frenchie and asked him to come get me and take me to the hospital.

Once there, I gave the intake all of the information they needed and more about my heart condition. I kept reiterating that I didn’t know what was going on because feeling faint like this wasn’t one of my normal symptoms. Despite repeating this over and over, it never occurred to me that my issue wasn’t heart related.

They took me through a battery of tests appropriate to someone with my health problems, and everything was coming back clean.

At my release, the nurse practitioner told me they had eliminated all the scary stuff, but that it could be stress. I spoke with my brother (who is a doctor) about it after—I didn’t like not getting an answer—and he suggested it was likely I had a panic attack.

I never want to shy away from talking about mental health, and I don’t want to give the impression that I am balancing my life with ease because I think there are a lot of people out there struggling, and the more open we all are about our struggles, the less alone we will feel. But the fact that it was my mental health telling my body to stop was something that didn’t even occur to me. It’s been easy for me to push mental health to the side with everything else going on in my life, but obviously I pushed it to the side for too long, and it told my body to stop, rest.

There’s no way to know what you don’t know, to see what you can’t see, but I am hoping to focus more on viewing things as if there’s important information I don’t have yet. Information that could make all the difference.

Sincerely, Megan Louise

by Kate Vanskike

CREATIVE MINDS UNITE

Late-night Brews, Literature and More

FAV DRINK

Dorian: Iced Vietnamese coffee, a hemp milk latte or a French press roast with chocolate flavors

W

hat’s a coffee-loving entrepreneur to do when he or she doesn’t want the responsibility (or the investment) of a fully independent java joint? Pop-up coffee shops are one possibility gaining popularity in many cities, offering flexibility in location and duration while an entrepreneur dabbles in the business.

It was the perfect option for Dorian Karahalios and Aimee Clark, artists who met at Spokane Print and Publishing Center where Aimee works with a variety of paper mediums and Dorian teaches bookbinding and digital publication workshops. They shared a dream of opening a place where coffee and creative minds would come together for connection, fueling java junkies and muses alike, at night.

FAV DRINK

Aimee: A good cold brew with a splash of coconut milk, or an Ethiopian coffee for its fruitiness

firstLOOK 18

015

LILACS & LEMONS

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SPOKANE RISING

FIRST LOOK/pop-up coffee shops Lunarium visitors can order a range of late-night items from the menu, including the Plateaux Gourmands, which is French for gourmet platters.

This dish includes a pot of coffee or tea and a rotating trio of sweets.

Their artistic energies in motion, the pair searched for a place where people could hang out to write or sketch. Everything in Spokane (except the bars) closed too early, they thought. And longtime Spokanites they asked recalled places like Mercury and Java Junky’s that haven’t been open for years.

“We’re all old millennials who just want a quiet place to go out to at night that doesn’t serve alcohol,” says Dorian. “We felt like the revival of Spokane’s late-night coffee scene was long overdue and thought we’d take a crack at jump-starting it ourselves.”

During the pandemic, Dorian had frequented the Twenty-Seventh Heaven Scratch Bakeshop on Grand Boulevard— an inconspicuous shop in an angular building that also houses a tattoo parlor and barbershop. When he shared his pop-up musings with Lydia Cowles, the bakery’s owner, she offered her space, which she wasn’t using in the evenings anyway.

“Who was I to turn down the stars aligning like that?” Dorian says.

Now presenting … Lunarium.

Not your standard coffee bar If a simple cup of quality coffee suits your evening vibe, Lunarium will fit the bill nicely. There are no espresso machines or walls lined with syrups. There are two options: French press with a selection from local Roast House, or a 100 percent peaberry robusta from Nguyen Coffee, 16

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which Dorian selected after hearing a podcast about Vietnamese farmers and myths surrounding robusta, the lesserknown sister to Arabica coffee. You can also order tea by the pot or Chinese tea, both in a variety of flavors, or a craft soda like peach cardamom.

The selection of Roast House came naturally as it was one of the first places Dorian visited when he first moved to Spokane. “It was a nice dose of community that I seriously needed after leaving my hometown for the first time.”

As for the tea, Dorian says, “We’re constantly expanding our selection with things I haven’t seen in Spokane yet.”

Savory treats and delectable morsels—edible and audible With a baker’s kitchen on-site, Lunarium’s opening menu offers a glimpse at what is sure to be a diverse collection of options representing Dorian’s and Aimee’s own journeys. Aimee spent much of her life exploring the sights, sounds, and tastes of France. Arizona native Dorian celebrates his Greek and Chinese heritages and the culinary delights of Tucson.

“My home cooking has always been focused on savory dishes and baked goods are Aimee’s jam (pun intended),” says Dorian. He says her scones have the perfect texture, and they pair beautifully with freshly whipped cream and homemade jam.

They proudly offer vegan and dairy-free

options, including a sweetened condensed coconut cream for the Vietnamese coffees.

A few highlights: • Kimchi avocado toast with sweet miso on four-seed bread made by Twenty-Seventh Heaven Scratch Bakeshop • Grilled cheese with tomato-basil paste • Frangipane – an almond-filled pastry served with cream • “Plateaux Gourmands” (French for gourmet platters) includes a pot of coffee or tea and a rotating trio of sweets you’ve not seen at any other local bakery But simply listing menu items doesn’t do justice to the playful, mysterious literary gifts that accompany them on Lunarium’s Instagram posts. Take, for example, this caption of a star-shaped shortbread cookie: “To capture the cosmic forces that dance among starlight, said The Magician, you must first begin with flour and butter. A pinch of desire, a dash of salt, the sweetness of a life well lived. And then, they said with a smile, you must release the mixture into the universe, lest you overwork the dough.

The words echoed off the walls of The Lunarium, its patrons entranced. With a wave of their hand, The Magician’s empty cup exploded in light, the vibrant colors swirling and condensing to a single, celestial point.”

That was crafted by Dorian, who graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Eastern Washington University. It’s a sampling of the microfiction vignettes he’s creating around a “parallel-ish universe coffee lounge called The Lunarium, which might be dipping into magical realism or fabulism at some point.”

Aimee and Dorian hope to gather any artists who prefer a late-night setting for a variety of expression, including knitters and stitchers. They want you to find their shop “unique and full of surprises, but still cozy, comfortable, and safe.”

“We want customers to be able to leave their cares at the door and be able to breathe a sigh of relief,” Dorian says.

So grab your journal, sketchpad, or yarn, and head to 1220 S. Grand Blvd., 5 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday.

Follow: @lunarium.spokane on Instagram Visit: 1220 S. Grand Blvd.

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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FIRST LOOK/lilacs & lemons {bad}

{good}

{good out of bad}

lilacslemons created by Vince Bozzi

by Jordan Bozzi LILACS To all the city workers and other volunteers who are ready to clear the roads at a moment’s notice, also to all the good Samaritans out there. On a personal note, during our first big snow fall of the year I ended up driving off the road and got my Jeep stuck down in a ditch.

Luckily for me, three cars ended up pulling over and eventually got me out. I was so thankful for them; they didn’t have to stop and help but that’s what this season is all about: peace on earth and goodwill to man. Merry Christmas, Spokane!

LEMONS to the people who cannot resist being total jerks during the first big snow. You know the type: doughnuts in the middle of the street, drifting around corners, smashing their Jeep right through their neighbor’s fence ... OK, I can’t lie. I admit I used to be one of those people, but now that I’m old (thirty-one) those type of behaviors are a no-go. It’s fine as long as it’s in a safe area where no one can get hurt, but bombing down Northwest Boulevard and drifting through the light on Ash Street is definitely not safe and a great way to get your car totaled in the beginning of winter. Trust me!

LILACS to the people who know how to drive cautiously through the snow yet still maintain a fast enough speed that it doesn’t take an hour just to get from downtown to Argonne Road. Talk about a 18

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nightmare, especially if you really need to go to the bathroom.

LILACS to the Salvation Army. For as long as I can remember during the holiday season, at any grocery mart you will see the cheerful older man or woman shaking that bell, saying, “God bless you” to everyone who walks by.

The other day, I was at a Rosauers on Third Avenue picking up some groceries when I saw a homeless person begging people for spare change. Everyone turned her down, except one old man. The old man from the Salvation Army. He pulled out five dollar bill and gave it to her. As I watched from a distance, it made my eyes water up. Everyone deserves a bit of compassion from time to time.

LEMONS to the parents who want to take Santa Claus out of the Christmas equation. Some are afraid that some kid is going to get more stuff from “Santa” and some feelings might get hurt. Other parents are like, “I worked hard for my kids’ presents, no way is some fat man is going to take that from me!” Allow the kids to have an imagination for the few years they have. Not everything is about material items or the most expensive thing. Though it is nice, the most important thing you can have during the holidays is family.

Jordan Bozzi is the son of founder and co-founder Vincent and Emily Bozzi and is CEO/publisher for Bozzi Media. Jordan grew up in Spokane and graduated from Ferris and West Valley high schools. Some of Jordan’s hobbies include painting, traveling with friends, and designing clothing and jewelry. A resident of Spokane, Jordan's main focus is keeping his parents' dream alive.

photo by Avah Fletcher

LILACS to all the people who are still sticking with the mask mandate, thank you. As time goes by and more people get vaccinated, we are slowly seeing the restoration of normality. People are going to concerts again and walking around like life is 100 percent back to normal, when, in reality, the virus is still out there and people are still getting sick. So, thank you to those who are still considerate by wearing masks when stepping out. You guys are our silent heroes.

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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FIRST LOOK/spokane rising

spokanerising

by Anthony Gill

Anthony Gill is an economic development professional, graduate student, and founder of Spokane Rising, an urbanist blog focused on ways to make our city a better place to live.

Chancery Proposal Reminds us

THAT CITIES CHANGE

In early December, plans became public for a new apartment building downtown. The

building would provide forty or fifty housing units on a beautiful, tree-lined street within a couple blocks of shopping and dining. The site is located on a frequent transit line, and the developer expressed an interest in ensuring that the units are attainable for middle-income residents.

In a vacuum, that would have been welcome news in the community. After all, it has almost become a cliché to note that Spokane is experiencing a housing crisis.

Instead, the reaction—at least on social media—was sharply negative.

It’s not hard to see why—the proposed development would require demolition of the Chancery Building, a character structure built in 1910 which was designed by architect Kirtland Cutter. Used for many years as the headquarters for the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, it is currently owned by the Cowles Company, which also owns River Park Square, the Chronicle Building, The Spokesman-Review, KHQ, and a handful of other downtown properties. It’s easy to tell a story in the possible demolition of, say, a corporate villain disrespecting history.

But the reality is a bit more complex.

Most notably, the building isn’t exactly in prime shape; it was vacated about three years ago due to safety concerns. It’s been on the market for years, and no one has come forward with the financing and expertise to bring the structure up to code. Technically, while it’s located in a historic district, the building itself isn’t even listed on a historic registry.

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It’s one thing to say that the developer should be required to remodel before considering demolition, but what about the trade-offs? What if that means we get twenty housing units instead of forty (remember that housing crisis)? What if that means the units are more luxurious and costly to offset the increased development costs? Would it still be worth saving? Even if we don’t believe the developer’s assurances that their proposed housing units won’t be luxury apartments, every luxury unit rented is one where a high-income renter isn’t competing with a middle- or low-income renter for an apartment in the middle of the market.

Now, can we do more to incentivize adaptive reuse of historic buildings?

Absolutely! We could require developers to prove through an independent analysis that

Chancery Building at 1023 W. Riverside Avenue. Built 1924.

Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, digitalarchives.wa.gov

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

it would not be feasible to remodel a structure and achieve the same development objectives (i.e., number of units). We could create a program to allow developers increased height or unit counts if they preserve a building’s façade, as a sort of middle ground with full preservation. We could even increase the financial value of historic preservation incentives, if we feel they aren’t being adequately used.

But at the end of the day, regardless of our perspectives, if the Chancery is replaced, we should remember that change is perhaps the one constant in cities. Cities are living creatures which adapt to new people, new times, new perspectives. They’re not set in stone—nor should they be.

Community change can be a beautiful, powerful creative process. Let’s try to embrace it.

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Love Grows Where It’s Supported

by Riley Haun photography by Shybeast LLC

the SCENE 28

LILAC LIT

30

023

THIS IS DIRT

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STANLEY, IDAHO

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DATEBOOK

THE SCENE/community builder

The Rev. Andy CastroLang Worked to Bring Marriage Equality to Washington by Opening God’s House to All

by Riley Haun photography by Shybeast LLC

The Rev. Andrea CastroLang knows how it feels to be shut out of heaven.

Before she was Pastor Andy, as she’s more commonly known today, she was working in a Catholic campus ministry in Colorado.

It was there, as she was doing her utmost to serve God the way she’d always known, that she committed one of the gravest sins her faith could imagine: She fell in love with a priest.

“I’d grown up Catholic and I knew this was wrong, I knew I was in major sin hot water,” Pastor Andy says. “And they did everything they could before, during, and after that recognition of being in love to make us stop, and to make us feel terrible about that love.”

Andy and her now-husband of nearly forty years, Jim, felt like their spiritual world was crumbling beneath them. As they struggled to fit the pieces of their faith back together, the first place they found refuge was the home of a gay couple from their old Catholic congregation, who presented themselves as roommates to avoid

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detection. They, too, knew what it was like to be shut out of heaven.

“I learned in my bones what it’s like to have someone say you can’t love,” Andy says. “I resolved that I will never be a part of it. So, for me personally, that old catchphrase ‘love is love’ is a very important part of my understanding of the nature of God—not control, or violence, or punishment, but rather, ‘I made creation good, and I made you good.’”

Andy and Jim found a new home for their ministry and a better understanding of their love in God’s eyes as pastors in the United Church of Christ, which called Andy to serve Spokane almost two decades ago. As pastor for Westminster United Church of Christ, a towering stone fixture in the heart of downtown and Spokane’s oldest church, Andy has helped to build one of the area’s most inclusive and forward-thinking Christian congregations on a foundation of social justice, willingness to learn, and a drive to protect love where she sees it blossoming.

One of Pastor Andy’s most prized accolades—it’s displayed, was localized to Western Washington, activists found a vocal pride of place, right beside her religious certifications and family band of fighters in Pastor Andy and several other Spokane-area photos in her Westminster office—is a plaque bestowed upon her progressive religious leaders. With the Westminster parishioners by a famous drag queen and queer rights activist, Empress Nicole backing her, Andy began making appearances on radio spots, the Great, the Queen Mother of the Americas within the Imperial petitioning city hall, and helping organize campaigns all over the Court System. Bearing the lofty honor of the International city to build support for the referendum. Westminster organized Spiritual Leadership Award, the Empress presented the accolade the largest phone bank in the city, gathering what seemed like every to Andy at a drag coronation ceremony shortly after Washington night for weeks to call voters and talk to them one-on-one about voters approved Referendum 74 in 2012, granting same-sex the vote, Andy says. couples the right to marry.

Jan Shannon remembers her first time phone banking with Donning her full clerical vestments, including a glitter-studded Andy clearly. Jan was a relatively new member of the congregation, collar, Andy accepted the award as a milestone, a temporary end having recently been expelled from her pastoring role at a to the battle she’d been tirelessly helping to lead for months to get conservative Evangelical church when she came out as a lesbian. the referendum passed. She was one of a small group of Spokane Westminster provided a welcoming place for her to maintain a religious leaders who stepped up to connection to her faith, but Jan champion love amidst a sea of faithwas terrified to participate in any of One of Pastor Andy’s most based opposition to marriage equality, the church’s work toward marriage and one of the loudest. equality, fearing she’d run into prized accolades—it’s displayed, Westminster had already pioneered members of her old church who pride of place, right beside queer affirmation and acceptance inevitably protested on the other side in Spokane for years, first by voting of the issue. her religious certifications and to become an open and affirming Jan arrived at a phone banking family photos in her Westminster event one night, only planning congregation in 2007, then by ordaining the city’s first openly gay to provide technical support for office—is a plaque bestowed female pastor, Marjorie Johnston, that elderly members, but with the upon her by a famous drag same year. Many church members encouragement of Andy and other had been hesitant at first to make parishioners, she found herself drawn queen and queer rights activist, so many earth-moving changes at eventually to manning the lines.

Empress Nicole the Great, the once, hoping to avoid rifts within the “I remember being so scared that congregation, but it was important to my first call would end in them Queen Mother of the Americas Andy from day one as Westminster’s screaming a dirty name at me, within the Imperial Court System. telling me they’d never vote yes,” Jan pastor to create an environment that was welcoming to all—and she meant says. “Really, most of the calls were all. The congregation began a journey nothing but civil or positive. But I of learning and growing alongside think the most important thing in my their growing queer community, celebrating name-change experience was having these allies whose lives were not affected by paperwork with transgender members, and performing unofficial this legislation at all, and they were making calls on my behalf so marriage ceremonies before the state recognized them as lawful. that two years later, I could be legally married.”

“I didn’t think of myself as an activist, or as a poster child for There’s always been a powerful ethic underlying Westminster’s anything,” Andy says. “A sort of religious spokesperson for queer teachings to think of others before yourself, to dedicate yourself to rights and dignity, sure, but we weren’t trying to think of ourselves the greater good whether it benefits you or not, Jan says. It shows as activists. It was, and sometimes still is, however, lonely walking in the church’s other areas of activism toward fair wages and labor that path. But it was important to all of us that we make God’s rights, or in their ongoing work to create an inclusive space for house a safe house.” queer Christians post-marriage equality. And the power of having There were very few, if any, open and affirming Christian religious leaders like Pastor Andy visibly representing the word churches in the area when Pastor Andy came to town, and while of God in her clerical collar and rainbow-hued cross necklaces, many denominations and local congregations have adopted backing a measure supporting queer rights, can’t be discounted in welcoming policies in the years since, Westminster was and still is Jan’s eyes. one of the most visibly accepting churches in the area.

“Whether or not you worship, if you live in America and It was that trailblazing work that drew attention to Andy and especially an area like Spokane, you are culturally Christian and Westminster when organizers sought support for Referendum 74 you’re going to feel some inherent respect for clergy like Andy,” in 2012. Though most of the money and support for the measure Jan says. “I think having pastors openly saying, ‘We support this,

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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THE SCENE/community builder

It is an opportunity for human beings to publicly have witnesses to their love, and encouragement, and support from the community for that love. That love is supposed to grow where it’s supported. That’s what a wedding is. And that’s why I do them.

and you should too’ made it more OK to say yes to a thing like Referendum 74, whatever doubts you had.”

When the measure was approved on November 6, 2012, by a narrow margin of 7 percent—and with Spokane County the only one in Eastern Washington to vote yes—Pastor Andy was among the first to congregate outside Spokane City Hall, joining newly married couples in their celebration and offering her services to perform their ceremonies. Ultimately, that’s where Andy thinks her most important and joyous work in support of marriage equality was done, and where she’s 26

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continued to offer support and allyship every day in the decade since Referendum 74 passed.

“I did so many marriages that day, and in the weeks that followed, and for months and years after,” Andy says. “And despite all the human garbage that’s collected in the institution of marriage over the centuries, it is an opportunity for human beings to publicly have witnesses to their love, and encouragement, and support from the community for that love.

That love is supposed to grow where it’s supported. That’s what a wedding is. And that’s why I do them.”

Brooke M. Cloninger Grapetree Village 2001 E. 29 BrookeMCloningerDDS.com th

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Appointments Monday–Friday Accepting New Patients

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#1 Dentist – since 2009 –

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JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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lilac lit

by Rebecca Gonshak

Rebecca Gonshak is a Spokane-based fiction writer, essayist, and playwright. She has an MFA in creative nonfiction from Eastern Washington University. Her work has been published in Prairie Schooner, The Account: A Journal of Poetry, Prose, and Thought, The Swamp, and Alien Magazine. Her one-minute play, First Trip, was performed during Stage Left’s Fast and Furious Festival 2020. Her flash fiction piece “Hypnosis” was selected for the Wigleaf Top 50 Very Short Fictions 2021.

In 2021, you only had to pay attention to the local weather to see that the climate was

changing. When I visited my parents in Butte, Montana, for Thanksgiving, it was 50 degrees.

I don’t know if you’ve been to Butte, but it’s known for its long, freezing winters. The lack of snowfall makes me worry that this year’s forest fires will be even worse, and that this summer’s heat will be even more sweltering.

Over 70 percent of Americans believe that climate change is real, according to a poll by the Yale Program for Climate Change Communication. But most of us don’t talk about it.

Personally, I hesitate to bring up climate change because I worry I’ll pass my fear and despair onto others. But not talking about it makes the anxiety fester and keeps us isolated in our fear. Climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe writes that “addressing climate change begins by actually talking about it.”

Appleseed is a climate science fiction novel (a genre known as “cli-fi”), that imagines what might happen to humanity if we keep valuing corporate profit over life. All We Can Save is a collection of essays and poems by activists, lawyers, scientists, and writers leading the climate movement. These books remind us that the first step to changing the world is being able to imagine a different one.

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As someone who’s prone to gloom-and-doom thinking, I appreciate that All You Can Save focuses on solutions, not despair.

I was excited to learn about regenerative ocean farming: a low-cost, sustainable method of farming shellfish and seaweed that could produce food, fertilizer, and bioplastics while absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and filtering pollutants out of ocean water.

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis Ed.

by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson

Appleseed by Matt Bell Appleseed is the strangest book I’ve read in a long time, and it’s equal parts terrifying and wildly entertaining. The novel has three timelines: eighteenth century Ohio, where two brothers head west to make their fortune planting apple orchards; the late twenty-first century, when the western half of the United States has been declared a Sacrifice Zone, and a corporation that produces droughtresistant food has taken over the world’s economy; and a thousand years in the future, when the former United States is covered by glaciers, and a parthuman, part-synthetic being must try to protect the first tree that has grown in hundreds of years.

Even forgetting for a moment the climate change allegory, Appleseed’s three storylines intersect in such surprising and clever ways, making it a pleasure to read simply for the twistiness and unpredictability of the plot. Whether you’re a science fiction fan or not, this novel will challenge your ideas of what fiction can do.

When Johnson and Wilkinson created this anthology, they decided to center the voices of women—particularly indigenous women and women of color—who are already bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

The essays cover a wide range of perspectives: youth climate activists calling on adults to protect their futures; a West Virginian Sierra Club campaign director working to replace coal plants with clean energy; a tribal land defender, putting her body on the line to stop the expansion of the Enbridge tar sands pipeline. The collection also includes poems from literary giants like Mary Oliver, Joy Harjo, and Alice Walker, reminding us that art has played a role in all social movements throughout history.

Johnson also cohosts a podcast called How to Save a Planet, and on it she recommends a Climate action Venn diagram for people who want to get involved in climate justice. You draw a Venn diagram with three intersecting circles: What are you good at? What is the work that needs doing? What brings you joy? Then you brainstorm actions that fit into all three circles.

As someone who’s prone to gloom-and-doom thinking, I appreciate that All You Can Save focuses on solutions, not despair. I was excited to learn about regenerative ocean farming: a low-cost, sustainable method of farming shellfish and seaweed that could produce food, fertilizer, and bioplastics while absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and filtering pollutants out of ocean water. Another intriguing concept is “biophilic design,” architecture that incorporates the natural environment, creating pleasant, sunlit, and fresh air-filled living spaces that use natural methods of heating and cooling, making them energy efficient.

Christine E. Nieves Rodriguez writes movingly about being in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, and how her community pulled together to provide for each other. Rodriguez and her neighbors started a free kitchen to feed hundreds of people, which grew into a long-term mutual aid project, with doctors and nurses providing medical care and tech workers installing free Wi-Fi and a community radio station.

Whether you’re an artist, lawyer, cook, parent, student, or truly anyone else, you can find inspiration in All We Can Save. In the words of Varshini Prakash, a youth climate activist, “If we are constantly striving, constantly putting every ounce of ourselves into making this world better, that is a life worth living.”

THE SCENE/dirt

thisisdirt

by Amber Jensen

Amber Jensen is a fiction and non-fiction author, storyteller, and naturalist who specializes in pieces that highlight the human condition as related to the natural world. She hails from small town Idaho and makes her home on a piece of land in Eastern Washington with her adventure-seeking husband and four wild children.

“You’re always welcome.” It’s innocent. It’s positive. It’s nearly inviting. But it’s not an invitation.

You’re always welcome Throughout the holidays, a few phrases kept catching my attention. Words offered

with loving intentions and a spirit of home and coziness. I’ve said these things before and hadn’t realized they could land any way but solid and welcoming.

“You’re always welcome.”

It’s innocent. It’s positive. It’s nearly inviting. But it’s not an invitation. When I forgot to invite my grandmother to my daughter’s birthday, I realized the lack of true action in that statement. She knows she is always welcome in our home, at holidays, at birthdays, and even for unexpected coffee chats. She is always welcome. And this time, I forgot to extend an invitation.

One of the definitions of welcome is "willingly permitted to." When I sat with that definition my stomach made a small knot. Permitted to. That’s like saying, it’s OK if you’re here. I’m not sure that’s the vibe I’d like to extend to my loved ones, at least not the complete space I hold. I hope that they feel like their presence is wanted, desired, and enjoyed.

Another definition of welcome includes being "gladly received." This feels closer to what I’d like to cultivate. A glad reception when a guest arrives—warmth and joy upon their visit.

Invitations differ in that they are more formal and dripping with intention. One definition provides that "to invite" is to simply request someone’s presence.

I want to be invited. I want to feel welcome. Welcomeness is often assumed with family, friends, and loved ones. Isn’t that the nature of intimacy in relationships? A feeling of

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homey welcome. The phrase itself seems innocuous but it’s become a cousin to “good morning,” or “how are you?” One of those things we say without much thought to the outcome if action is applied.

I want to be welcome in spaces that hold relationships I invest in, and I want to be invited or not invited with intention.

I want to welcome guests and invite them with intention. I hadn’t realized the impact of offering "welcome" mindlessly without follow-up invitation. The impact of welcoming folks without invitation, intention, or follow-through has rested heavily on my heart through the holidays.

There are so many times I simply offer a welcoming space and drop the ball on invites due to my own resignation or lack of desire to formally host.

As the new year lies before us, full of possibilities and endless opportunities, I find myself shifting my speaking. In a recent message to a friend I said, “I invite you to stay and have coffee afterward,” and the response was that of warmth and gratitude.

The feeling in my heart was that of grace and inclusion.

I’m not saying that welcoming folks is bad. I’m realizing that the uncertainty of an open invitation feels ambiguous and almost trite. This year I’ll be trying on the words, "I invite you," and "you’re invited." Maybe it will feel awkward. Maybe it will feel weird.

And maybe it will feel connecting and raw and like the thing worth invitation is a special time to share.

January has offered many gifts to my soul over the years, and a clean slate to create from is more than a welcome reprieve this year. It’s an invitation to transform relationships and communication one small word grouping at a time. It’s an invitation to stumble around the words I use until I find what fits and feels like home to those I offer them to.

“You’re always welcome,” can become, “You’re warmly invited.” I guess I’ll let you know how the word shift goes.

THE SCENE/branded content

Stanley, Idaho:

A Hidden Gem

by Megan Rowe

Are you ready for your next winter adventure? Look no further than Stanley, Idaho.

Sure, they could take a snowmobile to journey home, but often the people of Stanley opt to cross-country ski their way there, instead. If you’re looking for a rugged, outdoor getaway, this small town in the Sawtooth Valley—with a population of less than seventy—has a lot to offer, though the jaw-dropping views of the Sawtooth Mountains are enough to make the trip on their own. Stanley is home to one of the greatest outdoor ice rinks; it was considered as a location for the annual NHL outdoor game.

“We’re known for how it’s cold all the time, so our outdoor pond hockey rink is open literally all winter,” says Dani Hansen, executive director of the StanleySawtooth Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a phenomenal view from the hockey rink.”

The rink hosts Sawtooth Outdoor Bonspiel (S.O.B.), a curling event, as well as the annual Stanley Draw Pond Hockey Tournament.

Stanley also makes for a fantastic family getaway. You don’t want to miss Stanley Winterfest, which features events such as Glow in the Dark Pub Crawl to Beach Party, Fat Bike Fondo, live music, and so much more. For any of these events, it’s advised to secure lodging in advance as it easily fills, says Dani.

Like the locals, visitors have plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation in a majestic setting.

For those hoping to take out a snowmobile, this process is simplified with rental services offered by local company

We’re known for how it’s cold all the time, so our outdoor pond hockey rink is open literally all winter. It’s a phenomenal view from the hockey rink.

Sawtooth Traxx, so you can enjoy yourself instead of dealing with the headache of packing your own snowmobile. Similarly, Riverwear provides rentals for cross-country skis and snowshoes.

There is a misconception that Stanley closes in winter, but it couldn’t be further from the truth, and there are many lodging and dining options all year round.

“It’s open for people looking for an extreme Idaho experience,” Dani says. “It’s definitely for the outdoorsmen and people who love the scenery.”

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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datebook ART

Through February 2022: Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection

A celebration of the artistry and craftsmanship of the Tiffany artworks from Chicago’s distinguished Richard H. Driehaus Collection, highlighting masterworks never before presented in a comprehensive exhibition. Exhibition organized by the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and toured by International Art & Artists, Washington, D.C. Museum of Arts and Culture. 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org.

decades. From Jaune Quick-to-See Smith to Rick Bartow, this exhibition features a wide variety of work including sculpture, painting, photography, and prints. Museum of Arts and Culture. 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org.

January 7, February 4: First Friday

First Friday is designed to showcase the downtown art and retail scene. Downtown retailers and restaurants feature artists, musicians, specialty food and beverage as a special promotion on the first Friday of each month. Some offerings may be virtual, and small groups are encouraged. downtownspokane.org/first-friday.

Through August 2022: Awakenings

Through February 2022: Continuous Lines: Selections from the Joe Feddersen Collection

Joe Feddersen (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation) is an artist working in print-making, glass, and traditional materials, whose work is featured in the MAC’s permanent collection. Based in Omak, Washington, he spent a career teaching at Evergreen College in Olympia and exhibiting nationally. This exhibition features work from Feddersen’s personal collection of contemporary American Indian art, reflecting his friendships and artistic interests over the past few 32

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sacks date primarily from the first half of the twentieth century, and most are in pristine condition. Several vintage objects made from recycled flour sacks, including a rare dress from the 1880s, will also be on display, as well as art and images from the MAC’s permanent collection. Museum of Arts and Culture. 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org.

The MAC, in collaboration with the United Tribes of the Upper Columbia (UCUT) tells the story of the annual Columbia River Canoe Journey—from the purchase of old growth cedar logs and carving the dugouts to the annual launch and landing at Kettle Falls—through contemporary and historic canoes supported by the words of those who have experienced it. Museum of Arts and Culture. 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org.

Beginning January 22: Golden Harvest: Flour Sacks From the Permanent Collection

The MAC’s collection of cloth flour sacks offers a unique window into the early development of Eastern Washington’s wheat industry, which today contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy. The sacks are also a tangible reminder of the mills that played a critical role in Spokane’s early growth. These graphically striking cloth

EVENTS

January 22: PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour: Spokane Classic

The top bull riders and rankest bucking bulls of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) are headed back to Washington and ready to buck at the Spokane Arena.

On Saturday evening, all 40 competing riders will attempt one bull each in Round 1. Following the opening round, the Top 10 will then advance to the championship round where they will attempt one final bull, all in an effort to be crowned the event champion. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

January 24: The Harlem Globetrotters: Spread Game Tour

The Spread Game Tour is a basketball event like no other. Ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks are only some of the thrills you can expect from this fully modernized show. Part streetball from the players

who defined it, part interactive family entertainment, the new tour will show off the best of the Globetrotters in a dazzling exhibition of talent and game. The Spread Game Tour introduces new premium fan experiences with unprecedented access and interaction, including celebrity court passes, meet and greets with players, and the #SQUADZONE, where fans have the opportunity to feel like part of the show. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

January 26: Fox Presents: National Geographic Live: The Secret Life of Bears

Rae Wynn-Grant is dedicated to wildlife ecology research, but it wasn’t until life brought her to Kenya at age twenty that she had ever taken a hike, pitched a tent to camp, or seen a wild animal. While there, she studied East African lions—top carnivores that live in close quarters with local communities—and observed that problematic interactions between the two groups threatened conservation efforts.

Now, Dr. Wynn-Grant is finding similar patterns for North American black and grizzly bears.

As a scientist with the National Geographic Society’s Last Wild Places Initiative, Dr. Wynn-Grant works to protect and restore iconic wildlife populations— grizzly bears, bison, pronghorn, cougars, and more. But there’s an obstacle: roads, fences, and cattle ranches crisscross the habitat of these wide-ranging animals.

Dr. Wynn-Grant studies the movements and behaviors of the bears to find ways to improve the relationship between local communities and the powerful wildlife that surround them. Join this committed carnivore ecologist for a fascinating look inside the secret lives of bears and a report from the front lines of the mission to help JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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humans and carnivores coexist peacefully.

Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox. 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org.

THEATRE

February 4-20: Disney’s Freaky Friday - A New Musical

When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional update on an American classic. By spending a day in each other’s shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter. Spokane Children’s Theatre. 2727 N. Madelia St. spokanechildrenstheatre.org.

MUSIC December 28-January 2: Anastasia

From the Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, Anastasia transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat.

Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.

First Interstate Center for the Arts. 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org.

January 11-16: Fiddler on the Roof

Rich with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “To Life (L’Chaim!).”

Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love, and laughter.

First Interstate Center for the Arts. 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org.

January 14-30: Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is an experimental play by Terrence McNally dramatizing the story of Jesus and the Apostles, ultimately depicting Jesus and the Apostles as gay men living in modern-day Texas. This production will be directed by Troy Nickerson. Stage Left Theatre. 108 W. Third Ave. stagelefttheater. org.

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January 15-16: Spokane Symphony Masterworks 4: Eckart Returns

Conductor Laureate Eckart Preu (2004-19) returns to conduct Richard Wagner and Anton Bruckner. Bruckner, deeply religious and shy, plucked up the courage to visit the great Wagner whom he had met after the premiere of "Tristan und Isolde". Showing him two of his symphonies, Bruckner asked Wagner which he preferred. Wagner chose the third, although they drank so much beer that evening Bruckner forgot and had to sheepishly write the master to confirm his choice. He dedicated the symphony to Wagner, and it’s now regarded as Bruckner’s first great symphonic masterwork. Wagner’s own "Tristan und Isolde" is a seminal work that pushed music into previously unexplored areas of emotional force. Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox. 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org.

January 29: Spokane Symphony Pops 2: Pink Martini

The eclectic, self-proclaimed “little orchestra” from Portland returns for a dazzling tour through the swinging sounds of the twentieth century with the Spokane Symphony. Pink Martini is part big band, part classical ensemble, part salsa troupe and all fun. Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox. 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org.

February 5-6: Spokane Symphony Masterworks 5: Pictured Within

Edward Elgar's "Enigma Variations" is a moving portrait of his closest friends, with each variation ingeniously using different versions of the same tune to capture their individual personalities (even including a bulldog’s misadventures in a river). One of Elgar’s friends not depicted is Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a Black English composer whom Elgar championed and thought a genius. Pyotr Ilyich Tychaikovsky initially wanted to dedicate his "Violin Concerto" to his lover, the violinist Yosif Kotek, but ultimately didn’t for fear of a scandal that would expose his private life. We open with William Grant Still’s "Wood Notes", inspired by the poetry of J. Mitchell Pilcher and an evocation of the natural beauty of the American South. Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox. 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org.

February 12: Northwest BachFest Presents Grammy-Winning Guitarist Jason Vieaux

Jason Vieaux, guitar, has been called “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” by Gramophone and described

by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and

soulful guitarist of his generation.” He will present a program ranging from J.S. Bach to Domenico Scarlatti to Jorge Morel's "Danza Brasilera" to two pieces composed by or for Vieaux. Barrister Winery. 1213 W. Railroad Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org.

February 13: Northwest BachFest Presents Two Grammy-Winning Virtuosos: Jason Vieux and Zuill Bailey

BachFest presents Grammy-winning musicians, Jason Vieaux, guitar, joined by BachFest Artistic Director Zuill Bailey, cello, with a delightful program including J.S. Bach, Duke Ellington, Radamés Gnattali, Manuel de Fallaand more. Barrister Winery. 1213 W. Railroad Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org.

SPORTS

January 14: Spokane Chiefs vs Everett Silvertips

Seattle Kraken Ticket Sweepstakes. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

January 15: Spokane Chiefs vs Kamloops Blazers

Numerica Piggy Bank Giveaway. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

January 28: Spokane Chiefs vs Seattle Thunderbirds

Gold Seal Plumbing Princesses & Heroes Night. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

January 29: Spokane Chiefs vs Tri-City Americans

Military Appreciation Night presented by Pizza Factory. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

February 2: Spokane Chiefs vs Prince George Cougars

TicketsWest Player Magnet Giveaway.

Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

February 4: Spokane Chiefs vs Kelowna Rockets

Avista Banner Giveaway. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com.

February 5: Spokane Chiefs vs Portland Winterhawks

Coca-Cola Bobblehead Giveaway. Spokane Arena. 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena. com.

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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2022 FACES/branded content

CHIROPRACTORS

THE FACE OF

CHIROPRACTORS

Adam Bozman, Valente Chiropractic practice manager, has a background in business, and never expected to be part of the

health care field. But when Mike Valente, who he had known most of his life, asked him to join the team, the decision was easy.

“He’s one of the most intelligent and generous people I’ve ever known,” Adam says. “That’s why I like to work with him now and represent his practice. He genuinely cares about his patients and the people who work for him—in a way that not many people do.”

Under Mike’s leadership, Adam describes the practice as integrity-driven, and he loves that his job plays a hand in helping hurting people feel better.

Adam says that many patients who come to Valente Chiropractic have tried other options—acupuncture, massage therapy, physical therapy, and even other chiropractic clinics.

“It’s been my experience that our patients respond best to our positive and healthy environment … Mike’s approach to functional medicine offers a unique and practical alternative to conventional solutions for neck and back pain,” Adam says.

With traditional medicine, treatment providers can be limited, but within the field of chiropractic care, the area has a plethora of options.

“To be recognized consistently as one of the better, if not best, I think speaks volumes, when people have that sort of volition and that ability to choose where they go,” Adam says.

He thinks part of the reason people consistently choose Valente Chiropractic is because it is a culture-driven, personality-based practice.

“I think that’s why it’s so easy for patients to come back here after one year, two years, three years, four years, five years that they haven’t been here,” Adam says. “We see a lot of returning patients, people who haven’t been into any chiropractic or massage therapist for years, but all of the sudden, they’re hurting again, and it’s very easy for them to come back to us.”

“You can always see somebody walk out happier, and I’ve seen some people dance out of here. That’s pretty special,” Adam adds. “That’s something that drives our passion.”

VALENTE

CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Michael R. Valente with Valente Chiropractic 509.467.7991 | spokanechiropractic.com | 3017 E. Francis Ave. Ste. 101, Spokane

THE FACE OF AN INDUSTRY When Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine approached the following businesses,..we had in mind the people and businesses we first thought of when considering an industry. These are companies that are not only successful in the traditional sense, but also leaders in the way they chose to conduct business. Across the board, there is an emphasis on people-forward business practices. Many of these companies desire to be a force for good in our community by providing jobs and creating partnerships with other businesses.

We hope these leaders can provide a blueprint of how businesses should be run: with

integrity, passion, innovation, and bravery.

2022 FACES/branded content

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

THE FACE OF

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Tracy Penna’s introduction to real estate came nearly thirty years ago, but at the time, she never imagined it would become her career. While studying at Gonzaga University, Tracy worked as an assistant for several of Spokane’s top Realtors. She graduated with her degree in journalism and went on to work in fundraising, but she secretly dreamed of becoming a Realtor.

When the opportunity to sell real estate presented itself a decade later, Tracy jumped at it. “I loved what I was doing, but I was inspired by the thought of building my own business. Knowing that I would be ultimately responsible for my own success—or failure—was really exciting to me, and I love a good challenge,” she says.

Tracy is also passionate about helping people, and a career in real estate gave her a vehicle to do that. “Being a Realtor is about so much more than just homes, contracts, negotiations, and closings,” she explains.

“When you’re helping someone buy or sell a home, it’s often during a big life change, and I think people frequently discount the role a Realtor plays in helping clients emotionally through that process.”

Tracy was licensed in 2007 with no idea of what was on the horizon for the real estate market.

“Short sales and foreclosures were the bread and butter of my existence for the first few years of my career,” she recalls. “Values were plummeting, properties weren’t selling, and homes were being lost in foreclosure.

It was a very difficult time for a lot of people, including Realtors.”

These days, sellers are absolutely thrilled with the improved market conditions, but with rising home prices and limited inventory there is a whole new set of challenges for buyers. “Writing competing offers and being repeatedly denied is really tough on buyer morale. I spend a lot of time educating buyers about the great opportunity that exists, despite the challenges, and encouraging them not to give up,” she says. “Between the low interest rates and the prediction that home values will continue to rise, there is no time like the present to realize the dream of homeownership, even if it means enduring some short-term pain in the process.”

Tracy is proud to have built a successful career largely on personal referrals and repeat clients. “Being trusted to help people during such an important time in their lives just fills my cup like nothing else,” she says. “My friends become my clients and my clients become my friends. I can’t imagine a more fulfilling career.”

TRACY PENNA

Tracy Penna with Windermere North Spokane, LLC 509.953.6561 | tracypenna.com | 9017 N. Country Homes Blvd.

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2022 FACES/branded content

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

THE FACE OF

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

If you call the number at the bottom of this article, you’re going to reach Eric Allen, Senior Vice President/ Investments at Stifel, every time. He’s a little old fashioned; he believes in answering his own phone, returning phone calls, and talking to people.

“That’s what my business is built on, as opposed to what a lot of folks encounter with some of the big guys,” Eric says.

“There, you’re likely to receive an anonymous ‘800 number’ and talk to a different person every time. I think my practice comes down to individual service.”

Eric’s belief is rooted in previous experience. “At some firms, if you’re a financial adviser with a client who has less than $250,000 in assets, you either don’t get paid to talk to them or you get paid dramatically less to talk to them,” Eric says.

“The bottom line is someone who has been working for a few years and built up a nice IRA, for example—if they want to talk to someone who is at the top of the food chain, so to speak, it’s difficult for them to do that because the financial advisers at some firms are discouraged from talking to those clients.”

Not so at Stifel, and that’s a big reason Eric decided to work for them.

“It doesn’t make any difference whether you have five million or five thousand,” Eric says. “I’m going to treat you the same, I’m going to talk to you the same.”

This individualized approach is based on building relationships. It allows Eric to provide his clients with a plan tailored to their means and goals. And for those dissatisfied with their service at a large firm, there is still hope.

“We don’t automatically just sell everything and start over,” Eric says. “I’m not the guy who’s going to instantly say, ‘We’re going to do everything different,’ but I am the guy who’s going to give you an honest opinion and tell you, ‘Hey, I think you should consider doing this.’ ” Eric is based out of Stifel’s Spokane office and can be reached by calling (509) 570-5734. You can also visit his website at ericallenwealthmanagement.com.

ERIC ALLEN

Eric Allen with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, incorporated | member Sipc & nyse 509.570.5734 | stifelspokane.com | 201 W. North River Drive, STE 200, Spokane JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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MARKETING

THE FACE OF

MARKETING

Dayne Kuhlmann, CEO and founder of Victory Media, started his business in 2017 with the vision of helping clients use all forms of media—both the traditional routes such as print advertising and radio ads, as well as internet, analytics, and social media—to work together for the success of a company.

Since its inception, the company has grown rapidly. Dayne brought on board Mary Patterson, with over a decade of experience to lead the design and web efforts, and in the last two years they have grown their in-house production team and capabilities tremendously. Most recently, MDI Marketing merged with Victory Media. MDI is a well-established marketing firm, and Dayne said its addition greatly helped Victory Media to grow in scale, especially because of its traditional expertise.

Victory Media has many clients who have historically taken a traditional approach to advertising, and part of the goal of the organization is to show them the benefit of having all forms of marketing work together for the success of the organization.

Victory Media helps clients, “not just seeing the value in being on every platform, but also the way every platform can work together,” Dayne says.

Dayne says that Victory Media has really hit its stride lately, and have been able to expand its video, design, and web department.

“We’re not doing it in templated way. Every campaign, every client we work with, we do what’s best for them, and so everything we do is very custom,” Dayne says.

A recent exciting project was doing a Super Bowl commercial for Adams Tractor. Though Dayne says part of their success is showing businesses that they must buck the status quo to achieve success, the company still has traditional values at its core.

“We try to work with people who have a passion for helping people,” Dayne says. “People and relationships are the most important aspect of our business. The profits follow.”

With COVID-19 affecting the Victory team in a variety of ways, Dayne says he’s proud of how everyone has dealt with it together.

“Every opportunity we had to give up or slow down, the team just stepped up,” Dayne says.

VICTORY MEDIA

Dayne Kuhlmann with Victory Media 509.999.2581 | govictory.agency |Spokane, Washington 40

BOZZIMEDIA.com / JANUARY 2022

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photo by James & Kathy Mangis

TATTOING AND BODY PIERCING

THE FACE OF TATTOOING AND BODY PIERCING As the name would indicate, Mom’s Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing is a family operation, with mother and daughter bringing unique strengths to the table. Beth Swilling, the mom in Mom’s, has long been an artist who has applied her skills and passion to the ultimate, walking canvas: the human body. Her daughter, Shandra Swilling, leads the piercing and jewelry side of business. They didn’t just want to poke holes in people, they wanted to do it safely and with a high degree of expertise and reliability. Mom’s Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers—the only business in the Inland Northwest with those credentials. This means following the highest safety standards and offering only implant-grade, mirror-finish, American-made piercing jewelry.

“In the tattoo industry, piercing is seen as like a side thing, a way to make extra money, but we really invest in that side: in education of our piercers, in high-quality jewelry, in counter staff who are knowledgeable about jewelry,” Shandra says.

Shandra was involved in the business long before she came on board as piercer and manager.

When Shandra was a student at Mead High School, she said to Beth, “Why don’t you call it Mom’s because I tell everybody about my mom?”

Mom’s has recently added a third piercer, as well as another tattoo artist.

Beth, the owner, is engrossed in the tattoo side, and she loves that it’s a highly customizable, affordable art form. She also loves the conversations tattoos start.

“Tattoos walk around in the community, starting up conversations between folks. They may never learn each other’s’ names, but they will know about the art and know a little bit about each other,” Beth says.

Voted one of the best in the Inland Northwest year after year, Mom’s commitment to safety, quality, art, and design shines through. Mom’s strives to elevate the tattoo and piercing experience. They’ve also added to their offerings with “Mom’s Crystal Corner” where they sell crystals, tarot decks, and affirmation decks—“fun, witchy vibes,” Shandra says.

Mom’s is grateful for the Inland Northwest community and hopes to be your favorite tattoo and piercing studio for decades to come.

MOM’S CUSTOM TATTOO & BODY PIERCING

Shandra and Beth Swilling with Mom’s Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing momstattoo.com | momsjewelry.com |fb: @momscustomtattoo | insta: @momsofspokane 509.426.4465|Main studio: 1226 W. Summit Pkwy., Spokane | north annex: 429 E. Main st., chewelah

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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2022 FACES/branded content

PLUMBING

THE FACE OF

PLUMBING

In 2007, Butch Jumalon started Bulldog Rooter out of the backroom of his house. Though he had moved to Spokane for a job in the aerospace industry, he had drain-clearing experience from when he lived in Portland. After arriving, he saw a need for drain-clearing services, and as the father of five kids, he saw it as an opportunity for a much-needed side gig.

Bulldog Rooter’s mission is to have its highly trained professionals provide cost-effective plumbing and drain services while never charging additional fees for overtime, evening, or holiday hours. This objective was there from the beginning— since Butch started Bulldog as a part-time gig alongside a full-time job, he was only available during these hours and didn’t feel it would be fair to charge customers for this.

“That really seemed to go well with customers, because they were like, ‘Wow, I called you on a Saturday night, and you came out to help me for no additional money.’ And so that was the beginning of it all,” says Thomas Suwanmaneedang, general manager.

Business quickly grew and Butch found himself at a crossroads: There was only so much time in a day, and he needed to either pick his full-time job or go all in with Bulldog. He chose the latter, and one of his first decisions was to hire a plumber. Over time, a drain-clearing company that does plumbing transformed into a plumbing company that does drain cleaning.

Bulldog’s growth over the years can’t be understated—it now has a fleet of twenty-one vehicles, thirty employees, and operates out of a 20,000-square-foot facility. Bulldog has also expanded its territory to North Idaho.

Thomas has known Butch for years; their children met in kindergarten. Butch has always been trustworthy, Thomas says.

“He puts his heart in front of his pocketbook,” Thomas says. “He cares about his employees, cares about the customers, cares about the company. He’s a man of honor; a man of his word.”

This is reflected in Bulldog’s vision to become the most trusted plumbing and drain company in the community, and through this success, find ways to give back. Since it’s a local, family-oriented company, Bulldog Rooter focuses its philanthropic efforts on deserving organizations in the Inland Northwest—such as Feed Spokane and the YMCA.

photo by James & Kathy Mangis

BULLDOG ROOTER

Bulldog Rooter 509.535.3447 | bulldogrooter.com | 16124 E. Marietta Ave., St. 101, Spokane Valley 42

BOZZIMEDIA.com / JANUARY 2022

2022 FACES/branded content

STONE

THE FACE OF

STONE

Mario Marcella, working as a tile setter since the 1950s, raised his son, Joey, to be a craftsman from the beginning.

Together they discovered the magical allure of rocks and founded Mario & Son out of a small residential garage in 1991.

That old Spokane garage seems like ancient history compared to the massive, state-of-the-art plant the company now calls home in Liberty Lake. More than just a maker of countertops like many of its competitors, Mario & Son is a genuine stone working operation. There’s virtually nothing it can’t conceptualize and create from a piece of rock.

With Mario’s retirement years ago, Joey is the solid face of the company, driving its innovative nature with an artistic flair.

“While the day-to-day operation centers around practical applications like granite-, marble-, or quartz-surfacing for our local customers, the more interesting aspect of the business is the architectural department of the company,” says Joey.

“That’s where we create complex three-dimensional stonework for churches, furniture, and sculpture, utilizing a balance of high technology and Old World hammer and chisel know-how.”

Mario & Son is also an importer of unique stone and selects the best in the world. “Our extensive travels around the globe, particularly in stone-working regions like Italy, India, and Brazil, have given us a depth of knowledge in the field that makes our company very formidable when it comes to finding colors clients want. We’re big enough to have a large inventory of exceptional stones but small enough that we’re more like a curated ‘boutique’ gallery than the typical dingy warehouse or outdoor slab yard.”

The Natural Stone Institute, the nation’s authority on stone, honored Joey with the Grande Pinnacle Award, the organization’s highest international achievement as a sculptor, as well as naming him the Craftsman of the Year. He is also serving a second term as the Stone Fabricators Alliance Executive Director, an international network of thousands of professionals sharing ideas and best practices for the betterment of the industry. He is a regular contributor to several national publications, including Stone World magazine, naming him Fabricator of the Year in 2018.

Joey is currently working on a life-size commission in Italian marble for the Spokane Valley Arts Council. “It’s an ambitious sculpture that will be a legacy to the city that’s been so supportive of us for over thirty years now.”

“Come out to Liberty Lake and stop in, even if you’re just curious. We’re happy to share with you the amazing things we create here.”

MARIO & SON

Joey Marcella with Mario & Son 509.536.6079 | marioandson.com | 2750 N. Eagle Lane, Liberty Lake JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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THE FACE OF

JEWELRY

Sean Tracy is the fourth in his family to own Tracy Jewelers. After seventy-one years, many things have changed, but some things will never change.

The history of Tracy Jewelers is the history of the Tracy family. The business was started in 1950 by Sean’s watchmaking grandfather, Patrick Tracy. In 1974, the company was purchased by Sean’s dad, Leo Tracy, then, in 1994, ownership changed to Leo’s sister, Maureen. Sean started his tenure at the store as a floor sweeper but then purchased the company in 2016.

“Every day, I reflect on how blessed our family has been to be a part of so many family’s histories,” Sean states. “Lately, we have seen a surge of the old becoming new again, as younger people are taking family heirloom jewelry and creating new pieces from the stones.”

After a short meeting with one of their designers, Sean explained that people could see old jewelry transformed into a new ring or even into earrings or a pendant.

When asked what new trends he sees becoming more popular, he points to the trendy "stackable rings" “These new, thinner rings come in hundreds of designs and prices. Once a woman starts collecting the stackable rings, her husband or kids know exactly what to get her for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, birthday or anniversary!”

JEWELRY Tracy Jewelers is Spokane’s only accredited American Gem Society (AGS) gem lab. Their showroom is located just off Sprague Avenue and Evergreen Road in the Spokane Valley.

TRACY JEWELERS

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2022 FACES/branded content

THE FACE OF

HEATING AND COOLING

Chris Holliday is the next generation of Holliday Heating + Cooling. He joined Holliday for a deep respect and love

of his dad, Doc Holliday.

Chris graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in engineering. After ten years in the field, Chris decided to use his degree by joining his dad at the family company, Holliday Heating.

“Taking over for my dad means I get to carry on the family practice of taking care of our customers ... and our employees. Our employees are so important to us that we’ve created a culture to demonstrate that.

"And from the customer point of view, I love seeing stress lifted when customers know we are there to fix their heating or air conditioning problem,” adds Chris.

For both Doc and Chris, the company’s primary focus is integrity. This value ensures their customers are happy with the service they receive.

“I’m especially proud of our guarantee 'Fixed Right or its FREE,' ” Chris adds. “This means we do every job with the intent of getting the job done right and done efficiently. If they are dissatisfied, they can call us, and we will still make it right for free.“ Chris concludes, “We are confident that if you call us once, we will be the only HVAC team you’ll ever need.”

With over thirty years of experience, Holliday Heating + Cooling is best known for their "Fixed Right or it's FREE" guarantee. This last year, Holliday won “Best Heating & Air Conditioning Company in the Inland Northwest” from Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine. Located in central Spokane, Holliday serves customers throughout Spokane, Cheney, Medical Lake, Sprague, Mead, Rathdrum, Hayden, Davenport, Spokane Valley, HEATING and COOLING Liberty Lake, Deer Park, Colbert, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Newman Lake, and Reardan.

They also offer an emergency contact line that is available twenty-four hours a day.

HOLLIDAY HEATING & COOLING

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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WINE BARS

THE FACE OF

WINE BARS

The Wine House in Coeur d’Alene was truly a family effort, says co-owner Nicole Hammons, and when you visit, you’re

going to feel like you’re part of the family.

After an extensive remodeling of the building that was known as “The Hock Shop” for thirty years, Nicole and her husband, Conor Hammons, were able to open their doors in early July 2020.

Conor is a Realtor, and the project began with purchasing the 1920s building, even though they weren’t sure what they wanted to do with it. Then, an idea came to them while at a restaurant on vacation.

“It was just so easy and relaxed,” Nicole says. “We had been wine tasting all day, but this place took pretentiousness out of it and made it fun and enjoyable. We were like, ‘This is what we need.’ There are so many great places to go out and eat and get wine, but we wanted a place that you could come off the lake and your flip flops and feel comfortable.”

The Wine Bar features wine by the glass or bottle, craft beer and seltzers, flatbread pizza and appetizers. They also have a wine club, and igloos in the winter, as well as live music and yard games in the summer.

Since opening, they’ve been able to create new friendships and community.

“In the last year, we’ve had so many people that live in our area who bike or walk or they bring their dogs, and they are really what makes it thrive,” Nicole says. Nicole adds the staff plays a big role in their success.

“They truly do make you feel like you’re part of the team when you’re there. They see you and they talk to you about your kids or your pets or work or whatever, because they’ve just seen you so many times,” Nicole says. “I think that’s what drives people to return—they feel like they’re part of the family that we’ve created.”

“I think just being able to see your dream actualized,” Nicole adds. “When I walk into the building, it’s still amazing every time. We made this. We did this.”

WINE HOUSE

Wine House 208.930.1498 | winehousecda.com | 1621 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene

2022 FACES/branded content

HELPING WOMEN IN POVERTY

THE FACE OF HELPING WOMEN IN POVERTY As Kim Kelly puts it, it’s rare that your career and your passion collide, and she’s one of the lucky few. Kim is the CEO and Executive Program Director of Christ Kitchen, a ministry that helps women living in poverty learn work and life skills, and ensures their relational needs are met.

Kim has been a women’s ministry pastor for over twenty-five years and “when a position at Christ Kitchen came open, I really thought I better pinch myself,” she says.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of Kim’s job is watching women go through transformations.

“I am so humbled by what I see happening here every single day in the lives of these women,” Kim says. “They really make me a stronger woman as I watch them and can love them through walking out the challenges that they live on a day-to-day basis, but coming through those triumphant and victorious.”

“It’s a miracle every single day,” she adds. “We are so blessed to live in a community that is so supportive of what happens here at Christ Kitchen.”

Purchasing Christ Kitchen products (over sixty dry food gourmet products) and using its services—catering, a café, and a coffee bar—allows the ministry to employ the women through the program, including their sixteen-week Jobs for Life course that assigns them a mentor, provides them with skills, and teaches them how to look for a job.

Even for an organization that has been in the community for over two decades, COVID-19 threw Christ Kitchen a curveball, and the way they worked through it has changed the organization forever. Normally the women would only be working about ten hours a week, which meant it took them longer to graduate through the program, but COVID meant that Christ Kitchen was no longer able to work with volunteers for a time, so many of its participants worked between twenty-four and forty hours a week.

“We have seen just an enormous impact on the graduation rate, the retention rate, the success rate of these women who are graduating out, they are so empowered,” Kim says. “We just fully believe it’s because they have been really saturated in the program, rather than having it be just a part of your week.”

“We are in awe of how God used this to really change the ministry of Christ Kitchen,” she adds.

photo by James & Kathy Mangis

CHRIST KITCHEN

Christ Kitchen 509.325.4343 | christkitchen.org | 2410 N. Monroe St.

2022 FACES/branded content

MEDISPAS

THE FACE OF

MEDISPAS

Melissa Berg, founder/owner of Crafted Beauty, has been an aesthetic nurse injector for twelve years, working in dermatology and plastic surgery. Two years ago, she decided to open her own medispa in the heart of downtown Spokane.

“I saw a need to bring something different to the downtown Spokane area,” Melissa says. “There is definitely a different energy. You bring in foot traffic, there’s a lot more going on downtown. Being only a few blocks from River Park Square, you’re getting a lot of visitors who are coming to Spokane that walk by Crafted Beauty and come in to see what we’re all about.”

Melissa’s passion derives from helping her clients regain their confidence.

“I’m giving people a new, refreshed look; people who’ve gone through something traumatic and may be feeling low about themselves,” Melissa says. “Maybe they’ve just had a baby or lost a family member … I get to be a part of their healing journey—just getting a little bit of their life back and their confidence back. It’s the one best parts of my job, seeing that change in people. It’s not just about injecting people’s faces.”

Crafted Beauty is suited to its location, because it has numerous services that will appeal to downtown businesspeople, including botox treatments and other facial services.

“People can truly just pop in and pop out,” she says.

Crafted Beauty offers a wide range of services—everything from Botox and filler to a wide variety of medical-grade and holistic facials. But they also offer services like skincare analysis and assessments to pinpoint the perfect regimen for their clients.

“We provide natural-looking results, and we care a lot about the inner beauty and taking care of our insides instead of just what’s on the outside,” Melissa says. “We look at people with a more holistic approach and we strive for the natural look.”

“I think is really important to let people know that because I think there are a lot of people who are nervous and scared about getting stuff done because they’re afraid of what they see on Instagram or TV,” she adds. “We’re more about helping people look like a better version of themselves, not changing what they look like.”

CRAFTED BEAUTY

Crafted Beauty 509.443.3594 | craftedbeautyspokane.com | 510 W. Riverside Ave. Ste. 100 48

BOZZIMEDIA.com / JANUARY 2022

2022 FACES/branded content

COSMETIC SURGERY

THE FACE OF

COSMETIC SURGERY

Dr. Jordan P. Sand, MD, FACS always knew he would go into the medical field, but he also had an interest in art, which

made the field of cosmetic surgery an ideal fit. This also worked well with his desire to help people.

“The second I scrubbed into my first plastic surgery case, I was hooked,” Dr. Sand says. “It captured my attention and my focus. I love what I do, and I feel honored that I get to take care of people and fulfill my childhood dream.”

Over the course of his education, he lived in various regions of the country—in St. Louis for his time at Washington University, in Boston at Harvard University for research, and most recently, in Los Angeles while on faculty at UCLA. But he grew up in Coeur d’Alene and always knew he wanted to return home. When he found out there was a surgeon who was selling his practice, the stars had aligned.

“Emotionally, it was an incredible feeling to be able to come home,” Dr. Sand says. “My wife is from the region, too. It was an unbelievable opportunity to be able to take this broad experience from across the nation back to the place I love. Being able to be here and do what I do and make a great impact on the community here is beyond words.”

Having lived all over the country, Dr. Sand attests that there is no better place to call home than the Inland Northwest, and he appreciates the love and support the community has shown him.

“When you grow up in Spokane, I think you take what is available in the region for granted, but when you go to these other places where you think the ‘grass will be greener,’ you then realize how great you had it at home,” Dr. Sand says.

While some who open a cosmetic surgery practice are board certified in OBGYN or medicine, Dr. Sand is double boardcertified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. His most popular procedures are rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation.

“We distinguish ourselves in those by having the most up-to-date techniques and spectacular results,” Dr. Sand says.

“The future of plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery is the application of minimally invasive procedures that provide high impact results with minimal downtime and lessened expense. We are on the bleeding edge of this movement and have incorporated many of the newest technologies.”

DR. JORDAN SAND

Jordan Sand, MD, FACS, with Spokane Center for Facial Plastic Surgery 509.324.2980 | sandplasticsurgery.com | 217 W. Cataldo Ave., Third Floor JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

THE FACE OF

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Chris Bell is repeat Co-Star Power Broker, nationally recognized as a top producing broker in the region. He is also a

multiple time top producing broker at NAI Black. But the deals he brokered didn’t happen overnight.

In 2005, Chris Bell packed everything into a U-Haul on the back of his Toyota 4Runner to Spokane to work in commercial real estate, lured by the combination of opportunity and quality of life. As a twenty-five-year-old diving in, there was a learning curve, but Chris, a managing broker at NAI Black, thrives in an environment where everything depends on the work he puts in.

“I work really hard to do a good job for my clients, and to earn their trust and to earn repeat business,” Chris says. “It’s about results. Being in commercial real estate, we are economic development. That’s what we do.”

Chances are, you’ve walked into myriad buildings Chris has negotiated throughout the years. In 2019, he was named a top fifty top producing broker by NAI Global. Recently, Chris was part of the brokerage team that brought Tavolata to the renovated Old City Hall building, as well as the brandnew Chick-fil-A in North Spokane.

Chris worked on a land deal that will ultimately change the landscape of the area—the sale of 132 acres in Airway Heights, next to the Amazon facility. This was purchased by developer Harlan Douglass, which will become the Douglass Legacy Park, an industrial park with over 1.5 million square feet of rentable space that can be customized to warehouse, manufacturing, nautical, high-tech, aerospace, or other uses. Another region-shifting project Chris is working on is a 300-acre master planned community in the Rathdrum Prairie.

Chris is a board member for Wheatland Bank, Providence Community Foundation, past President of the Spokane Club, and many more. Through his membership in the Spokane Angel Alliance, he’s invested in several innovative local startups, such as Spiceology and S2Media.

Chris has a passion and vision for Spokane as a family man. He’s married to former ‘Good Day on Fox’ TV anchor, Kjerstin Bell, and the two love to spend time with their five-year-old son, and Pudelpointer, Teela.

photo by James & Kathy Mangis

CHRIS BELL

Chris Bell, esq., SIOR with NAI Black cbell@naiblack.com | naiblack.com |801 W. Riverside, Ste. 300, Spokane 50

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2022 FACES/branded content

COOKING STORES

THE FACE OF COOKING STORES What started in November 2013 as a vision of a cross between Williams Sonoma and Dean & DeLuca has become so much more: a selection of high-end culinary tools unparalleled in the Inland Northwest, cooking classes from culinary artists who have mastered their craft, a robust wine program with a growing club membership and larger wine selection in the store, an incredible deli, and a café that features French pastries.

The Culinary Stone is in the heart of the Riverstone Neighborhood in Coeur d’Alene and has something for everyone.

For the cook serious about their wares, Culinary Stone carries those hard-to-find items that will elevate any kitchen.

While she is thrilled about all of the high-end offerings, General Manager TJ Tombari is excited about the return of the Cuisipro line—”I am currently loving the Cuisipro 4 Sided Box Grater and their Cuisipro Dual Grater. Both feature their Surface Glide Technology and soft-touch handle for easy grip that they are so well known for.”

The Culinary Stone has introduced other high-end lines such as Staub, Demeyere, and MoccaMaster. Customers have been thrilled with the Finex cast iron, TJ says.

“That has been a wonderful addition to the store, and not easily found in our area,” TJ says. “That’s been really fun for our cooking aficionados who come in, our customers who love to find that higher-end product.”

Even if you aren’t a whiz in the kitchen, The Culinary Stone still has plenty to love.

“They can come in and they can get a charcuterie, a beautiful bottle of wine, some other items from our specialty food lines,” TJ says.

The Culinary Stone’s expanded wine selection comes with many options for wine club memberships, including a brand new “snowbird wine club” for those only in town for the summer months. The Culinary Stone will also be adding a Platinum level.

“I am excited to be planning wine tours to Walla Walla and Napa Valley for later in the year,” TJ says. “Looking ahead, I am in initial discussions for international wine and culinary tours in 2023 to Tuscany and South Africa. These tours will include a culinary element to them as well!”

In addition to cooking classes, be on the lookout for special events at The Culinary Stone, such as pop-up wine bars, after-hours wine-pairing dinners for wine club members, or the barbecue and bands series in the summer.

Expect 2022 to be a big year, as it will be elevating many of its current offerings with plenty of fun surprises planned.

THE CULINARY STONE

The Culinary Stone 208.277.4116 | culinarystone.com | 2129 N. Main St., Coeur d’Alene JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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BRIDAL WEAR

THE FACE OF

BRIDAL WEAR

Amanda Dewey, Bridal Collections owner, lives for that moment when she guides the bride to the lit up, full-length mirror in

her shop and watches as the bride examines herself, envisioning all of the little moments: The second the person she’s marrying sees her in the dress. Sharing her day with a grandparent. Leaving her wedding with absolute joy painted on her face.

“Those little moments, I see that in them, and it just makes it all worth it,” Amanda says.

Straight out of high school, Amanda started working for Bridal Collections under the previous owner, Judie. She worked for Judie for five years before working for her father’s electric company, where she acquired her business acumen. She worked there until Judie approached her about purchasing Bridal Collections.

“I told her under your guidance, absolutely,” Amanda says. “This is what I want.”Recently, the store grew, taking on the lease of the empty spot next to it. Amanda added more wedding dresses, but also more “cute, white dresses” for events like the engagement party or rehearsal dinner, as well as cocktail dresses for wedding guests.

Celebrating over forty years, Bridal Collections is the longest-running bridal shop in Spokane. This clearly marks their expertise in the industry, but also lends to the store's magic. Three generations have been picking out their dresses in the shop, and mothers often come in with their dresses to try on while their daughters select their own. In the dressing rooms, the walls have a mixture of pictures of recent brides with those from long ago.

She says people often say things like, “ 'Oh, that’s my aunt.’ We’re such a small big town, and a lot of people come in and out. And they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I know that person!’ ” Amanda prides herself in having an inclusive collection of dresses. She carries all styles and sizes zero to thirty-two, and the most expensive dresses are capped at two thousand dollars.

“You came here to look pretty and you’re going to walk out here feeling pretty,” Amanda says. “I know exactly how brides want to feel, and how they’re going through all the emotions.”

Amanda is twenty-eight, and she thinks the energy she brings to the business is an asset.

“I feel like when you have a passion for something, and you feel so strongly about a business, it doesn’t matter what age you are,” Amanda says.

BRIDAL

COLLECTIONS

Amanda Dewey with Bridal Collections 509.838.1210 | thebridalcollections.com | 3131 N. Division St., Spokane 52

BOZZIMEDIA.com / JANUARY 2022

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FURNITURE

THE FACE OF

FURNITURE

Brad Markquart, Complete Suite Furniture president, worked for a furniture company in Seattle for six years. While he

was there, he was able to absorb the formula for success in the furniture business. When it was time to send his kids to school, he and his wife decided to move to Spokane and try opening their own shop. On July 3, 1998, Brad opened the first Complete Suite location on East Sprague Avenue.

“I implemented what I learned over here, and that's what has helped me survive all these years,” Brad says.

Every morning, Brad wheeled furniture outside, under the overhang of his building, so people could see that he was open and selling. He recently hurt his hand, and while being seen by a nurse, she asked what he did for a living.

“I said, ‘I’m in the furniture business,’ ” Brad says, laughing. “And she said, ‘You remember that guy out on Sprague who used to put the furniture out every day?’ ” Brad is proud to be that guy, a member of his community. What started with one store grew over time, and now Complete Suite is a fleet of seven stores. The smallest showroom is ten thousand square feet, and the largest is thirty-five thousand square feet.

“I think I kind of created a monster,” Brad jokes. “I was just in the store, and I was going around and there's not one ugly piece of furniture in here. That’s hard to do.”

Brad oversees the purchasing for all of his stores, and he says he is grateful for the support of the community.

“I am so thankful for the community in Eastern Washington, from Lewiston, to our North Spokane store, that everybody has supported our business,” Brad says. “We, in turn, do the same. We buy everything from local small business. I buy from the people who buy from me.”

photo by James & Kathy Mangis

COMPLETE SUITE FURNITURE

Brad Markquart with Complete Suite Furniture completesuitefurniture.com 509.822.7049 | 11410 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley 208.667.6160 | 5555 N. Pioneer Drive, Coeur d’Alene 509.868.0235 |7410 N. Division St., Spokane 509.326.5390 | 1219 N. division st., Spokane Valley

509.453.2669 | 1900 Rudkin Ave., union gap, Wa 509.783.3060 | 1911 Fowler St., Richland, wa 208.413.9937 | 139 Thain Road, Lewiston, Id JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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2022 FACES/branded content

PIES

THE FACE OF

PIES

The pie recipes weren’t initially written down, but rather passed down from a grandmother affectionally nicknamed Birdie to her granddaughter, Sharee Moss, owner of Birdie’s Pie Shop, which has locations in both Post Falls and Hayden.

“She was a hard one where she would do it by doing and you’d be like, ‘Hey, Grandma, I want to make this recipe,’ and she’d be like, ‘Oh, well, it’s just the pinch of this or a little dash of that.’ A lot of the core recipes are hers in that sense,” Sharee says.

Sharee didn’t always bake pie for a living, and in fact, it’s still not all she does. She received her master’s in nursing, and she still works as a nurse practitioner in pediatric emergency room at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. So why did she open her first location in Post Falls in December 2019?

“Well, we love pie,” Sharee says. “And I really love pie—not just because it tastes good, but we just love the emotional connection, the nostalgia, and all of the memories pie provides.”

And if you come into either of her shops, that connection will be apparent. But Sharee has added pies beyond Birdie's recipes (now written down) to her repertoire, and will always have pies coming and going, so you should check back frequently. The pies she can never resist are peach and huckleberry rhubarb.

As for the second shop, the plan had been to put a location in Spokane, but when she saw the building for the Hayden location, everything fell into place.

“That building is adorable; it just needed to have pie in it,” Sharee says. “It has been a great location; the Hayden community has been as welcoming as the Post Falls location.”

It’s also important to note that Birdie's is open for walk-ins at both—your pie need not be pre-ordered—and there are savory pies to enjoy as well. But if you want to preorder a pie, say for a holiday meal, that’s also an option. If you didn’t plan in advance, Sharee advises that if you get to the shop early the morning of. She probably has a pie for you.

“I get it, I’m a mom of six,” Sharee says. “Life is crazy, and you forget things like that, so we try to definitely have pie in the shop for walk-ins on those days.”

BIRDIE’S PIE SHOP

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Birdie’s Pie Shop 208.457.7004 | Birdiespies.com | 1003 N. Spokane St., Post Falls 208.591.6838 | Birdiespies.com | 9375 N. Government Way, Hayden

BOZZIMEDIA.com / JANUARY 2022

2022 FACES/branded content

CONSTRUCTION

THE FACE OF

CONSTRUCTION

Baker Construction was founded in 1951 by John and Vera Baker as a real estate and insurance company in Saskatchewan. The agricultural boom brought the company to Wenatchee as they expanded services and began building agricultural storage facilities. Once Baker started building, it never stopped. In the early 1970s, John and Vera moved the company to Spokane and became “Baker Steel,” putting it on the map as one of the area’s finest steel construction firms.

Though the business has stayed within the family, it has continued to evolve. Now on its third generation, the company is led by Barry Baker, President and CEO, and is taking on all kinds of projects, including one that could signal a greener Spokane—Tesla Service Center, which will make it miles easier to own a Tesla in the Inland Northwest. And he’s not the only Baker involved: Brooke Baker Spink serves as the company’s Chief Development Officer and has been with the company since 2013.

The Executive Leadership team expands from Barry and Brooke to also include Randy Cameron Chief Operating Officer, Reed Caudle Sr. VP Business Development, Don Savage Chief Financial Officer, Brian Valliant Sr. VP Construction Services and Lucas Holmquist VP Construction Services. With a diverse and experienced leadership team, the future continues to be bright for the company that anticipates completing about $100,000,000 of in-place construction revenue this year.

Baker has recently completed quite a few multi-family and mixed-use projects, including two large projects that are about to wrap up in the Kendall Yards area, in collaboration with developer Greenstone.

“We follow what the market needs, and right now, there is a large need for housing,” says Stevie Sloan, digital marketing director. “This past year, we’ve further dipped our toes in the multi-family and senior care market, and we’re just we’re noticing that a lot more developers are interested in it. We’re fortunate that in the commercial construction world, our industry experience is extremely vast so we can continue to help many throughout the 12 Western states we are licensed to build in!”

Still, with all the new, exciting projects on the horizon, Baker Construction remains steadfast to their core values and how they do business.

“We do business the old-fashioned way: with honesty, integrity, trust, care, respect, and a healthy sense of humor,” Stevie says. “Baker is growing, but we like to stay true to our values. The handshake way of life is how Baker likes to operate. We’re true to our word, and we’re going to take amazing care of you!”

BAKER CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, INC.

Baker Construction & Development, Inc. 509.535.3668 | bakerconstruct.com | 2711 E. Sprague Ave. JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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WOMEN’S NETWORKING/ DEVELOPMENT

THE FACE OF WOMEN’S NETWORKING/DEVELOPMENT Larayna Yevtushuk, co-founder of Ladies Business Community, moved to Spokane with her family in early 2018 because they were looking for a place with great access to the outdoors—Larayna loves flyfishing.

“I didn’t know anyone and was looking for an opportunity to grow my business, but also a way to give back to the other business owners and to our community,” she says. “I tried out a couple networking events and just didn’t find my home, so I decided to create a space for women to be able to get together and support each other.”

Larayna started the group’s Facebook in March 2018, and they had their first in-person meeting the next month. Larayna didn’t want to create a group where women just exchanged business cards, rather, she wanted a place for real connection.

“Women tend to juggle so many things, whether we have kids or not,” Larayna says. “We just have this superpower of balancing all of these different moving parts in our life, and I wanted to create an environment that supported that."

She wanted to create a group where people would understand the McDonald’s PlayPlace business meeting: She was supposed to meet up with a fellow member, the babysitter canceled, and the meeting was moved to a McDonald’s so her child could play while the two women talked.

“It’s about two women putting their heads together to figure out how they could still make things happen, support each other, and still continue on with business,” Larayna says.

Co-founder Kyhra Strampe came onboard to handle logistics like the website, member payments, newsletter, emails, and so much more. Co-founder Rachel Briscoe handles content development. In addition to the networking meetings, Ladies Business Community has a wide variety of resources and learning opportunities.

"The three of us have a special relationship and have modeled what we want this community to look like," Larayna says.

In October 2020, Ladies Business Community took the next step and officially became a membership model. Ladies Business Community is ever-expanding and doesn’t have a clique-ish mentality.

“Our ladies are so great about grabbing the new girls as they come through the door and just making them feel at home,” Larayna says. “You don’t have to be the wallflower.”

LADIES BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Ladies Business Community 509.720.8041 | ladiesbusinesscommunity.com 56

BOZZIMEDIA.com / JANUARY 2022

157 S HOWARD ST., SPOKANE

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JANUARY 2022 509.499.6982 / BOZZIMEDIA.com 57 CHRIS BATTEN 509.217.5508 JUSTIN FOLKINS 509.991.8387 SHANNON TENNEY

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by Megan Rowe

Saying photography by NW Stolen Images

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in 2022

he forecast for the 2022 bride and groom is in, and there are a few different trends that appear to be emerging. Weddings are staying small but going formal. Everything is centered around making the wedding—and all the little items that lead up to it—as special as possible. That begins with popping the question.

Brian Toone, Jewelry Design Center owner, says he’s seeing a return to classics, but with creative license.

Gabriel Jensen

Shawnee BC

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Intimate Ceremonies Dressed to the Nines Photography by: NW Stolen Images Charles Werneth Blake Crossley Location: LaRae's on Second Hair & Makeup: Devout Beauty Exposed Bridal Wear: Marcella’s Bridal Styling: Fresh Design Gallery Groom Models: Gabriel Jensen Cory McCallum Bride Models: Taija Nelms Laurin Crosby Nalina McShane Shawnee BC Wedding Party Models: Carla Hendrickson John McMullan

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“People like to present the larger diamond in the center, and have a thin band as the engagement ring,” Brian says. “They get creative with these bands, so they’re adding bands that add kind of a unique flair. They’re adding these curves and points to bands that previously wouldn’t historically be considered a matching band to the ring.”

Brian says this is because the people who are getting married right now grew up using jewelry as a creative outlet, and they’ve learned what they like.

Amanda Dewey, Bridal Collections owner, is seeing a trend toward smaller and more formal weddings.

“They’re just making them more intimate and special,” Amanda says. “It’s rare that we get dressed up nowadays. It’s fun to dress up every once in a while. These are the occasions.”

If you’ve been to enough weddings, you start to take note of what you like and what you don’t. If weddings are your business, even better. Blake Crossley of Stolen Images Photography has seen a lot of weddings as a photographer, and so together with his wife, Jordan Crossley, they decided to start their own venue, LaRae’s on Second. This all-inclusive venue is located in the third floor of the Cook Building, a 110-year-old building off of Second Ave. in downtown Spokane. The venue seats 150 people comfortably, comes with the incredible perk of downtown rooftop photography, works with Delectable Catering & Events, and even includes a night’s stay at Airbnb within the venue.

James O’Coyne with Shybeast LLC says that he’s been seeing couples plan big days that are as special as they are. When his team works with couples, they expect a more "Hollywood" approach to the project with Shybeast movie scene.

“We build basically a movie scene,” James says. “Are you into scary stuff, happy stuff, what kind of set do you want? If that was up on the side, instead of having a photographer take pictures of someone in front of that, we just come in with the knowledge that everyone has a smartphone pretty much. So why not have your party crew go in there and take a selfie in front of it?”

Memorable—and functional—gifts are a must, too. Elz Tastes & Tea Market can help with that department. Though they are a small business, they have all the tools necessary to make your favors customizable for your big day.

Sisters Kelly and Shelly Stanley own Elz Tastes & Tea Market and they have small bottles of oil and vinegar that work as perfect favors. They can also customize labels for any of their spices or tea.

“People weren’t looking for gifts that get put on a shelf,” Kelly says. “It’s a usable gift, it’s a consumable gift.”

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John McMullan

Cory McCallum Carla Hendrickson

Laurin Crosby

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facebook.com/shybeast | 509.850.2225 | shybeastllc@gmail.com | Instagram@shybeastllc JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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WEDDINGS/resource guide

Wedding Resource Guide When planning your special day, you want to walk down the aisle with confidence that

your wedding will be everything you’ve dreamed and more. That’s why we’ve partnered with a handful of our favorite clients to make it a day to remember.

Catering

Clothing

Delectable Catering & Events (509) 638-9654 The award-winning catering company for venues such as Hangar Event Center, LaRae’s on Second, 180 Bar & Bistro, and Hidden Ballroom. Full event planning and delicious menus for every budget.

Bridal Collections (509) 838-1210 | thebridalcollections.com Bridal Collections is proud to be locally owned and woman-operated for over four decades. With more than 500 hand-selected gowns from the top bridal designers around the world, you are guaranteed to find the perfect wedding gown, bridesmaid dress, and more.

Aesthetics Devout Beauty Exposed (509) 481-7603 devoutbeautyexposed.com Devout Beauty Exposed is a premier salon with a laid back atmosphere providing upscale services in Spokane’s Garland District.

Sunny Buns (509) 533-6300 | sunnybuns.com Sunny Buns is a premier local, familyowned tanning salon and full-service day spa operating in Spokane since 2004 with an emphasis on providing the best beauty services and customer service.

Marcella’s Bridal (509) 466-5281 | marcellasbridal.com Marcella’s is a locally owned family business in the heart of Spokane that’s been serving brides for over twenty years.

Tuxedo Gallery (509) 455-8344 | tuxedogallery.net With the largest selection of styles and colors in the northwest, Tuxedo Gallery can match almost any bridesmaid dress or prom dress.

Nalina McShane

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Jewelry Stores Jewelry Design Center (509) 487-5905 | jewelrydesigncenter.com The largest independent supplier of diamonds in the Northwest, providing better quality, better pricing, and knowing they can maintain and guarantee anything they sell for a lifetime. As a family business, JDC hopes to be your jeweler for life.

Rentals Fresh Design Gallery & Rentals, LLC (509) 991-7577 | freshdesigngallery.com Call Fresh Design Gallery & Rentals if you are looking for a florist or antiques for your wedding.They provide exceptional services and specialize in making your special day stress-free.

Venues Hangar Event Center (509) 533-5350 | bozzimedia.com Located in Felts Field, the Hangar Event Center is ideal for large weddings and events.

The glamour of the planes adds a level of excitement and distinction to your event but can also be removed. When the hangar door is open in the summer, it unveils a beautiful view of the runway and nearby mountains.

Hidden Ballroom (509) 533-5350 | bozzimedia.com The Hidden Ballroom is located in downtown Spokane above Bridge Press Cellars. Perfect for weddings, concerts, birthday parties, corporate parties, holiday parties and celebrations of any kind. The space can accommodate up to 299 guests.

Hill’s Resort (208) 443-2551 | hillsresort.com A truly unique family setting along the shores of Priest Lake with the Selkirk Mountains as the backdrop, Hill’s Resort is the perfect destination for your wedding day. The grounds and facilities offer various settings, including beachside, lakeside, and indoor to meet the needs of your specific requests.

James & Kathy Mangis (509) 863-3068 mangisphotography.com James and Kathy Mangis capture the best memories of the most special life moments in the sweetest—and most affordable— way.

Stolen Images Photography (509) 724-1570 | nwstolenimages.com Photography with a twist! Every shoot they do, you will get still photos, and a highlight video reel from your shoot—making sure they capture every single moment of your memorable experience.

LaRae’s on Second (509) 724-1570 | laraesonsecond.com Rested on the top floor of the Cook Building, and the sunset setting in the main windows, all of your guests will be talking about your event for times to come. LaRae’s on Second is an all-inclusive venue in the heart of downtown Spokane.

Shybeast LLC (509) 850-225 | shybeastllc@gmail.com James and Traci O’Coyne DJ’d and directed their own wedding photography.

They entertained family and friends by hosting a glamourous party with no one telling them how to do it. That experience is something they now want you to have on your wedding day. Choose Shybeast for any of your film, events, and photography needs.

Photographers

Favors

Eternal Sunshine Photobus (509) 217-1099 info@eternalsunshinepb.com Eternal Sunshine Photobus offers a unique and fun party experience. Clementine, their 1969 Volkswagen bus, is a photo booth on wheels.

Elz Tastes & Tea Market (509) 315-4036 | tastesandtea.com Spokane specialty market selling loose-leaf tea, fresh spices and herbs, spice blends, olive oils ​and traditional balsamic vinegars from around the world. Allow Elz to customize your wedding favors.

Taija Nelms

We Do

CUSTOM WEDDING PARTY FAVORS & GIFTS • Oils • Vinegars • Seasonings • Pastas & Soups • Teas • Accessories + More

We specialize in

delicious (formerly Spice & Vine Mercantile)

— behind Shari’s on Sullivan — 328 N Sullivan Rd, Suite 2 Spokane Valley WA 99037 (509) 315-4036

TastesAndTea.com

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Venues bozzi

perfect for you

HISTORIC FLIGHT FOUNDATION: Located in Felts Field and is ideal for large weddings and events. The glamour of the planes adds a level of excitement and distinction to your event, but can also be taken out. When the hangar door is fully open in the summer, it unveils a beautiful view of the runway and nearby mountains.

For smaller groups the Terrace, with a view of the entire facility, is available for a significant discount. Plenty of free parking and room for up to 400+!

Delectable Catering + Events is a preferred caterer.

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Delectable Catering is also available for your off-site events or in any facility that allows outside catering. Call us first! We can arrange things with any venue.

Before you book your event, call us first These venues are owned or managed by Bozzi Media and Delectable Catering & Events. email us at sales@bozzimedia.com | 509-638-9654 | bozziMedia.com

GLASS HALF EVENTS: Beautiful big city loft-like industrial leatherfurnitured warehouse apartment space. Large enough for 150 people yet can be arranged to host an intimate party. Includes a full kitchen. Fully air conditioned in the summer, with onsite parking.

Sound system and TV available. Featuring a beautiful enclosed outdoor spillover area. The outdoor patio is a great place to cool off, smoke a cigar, and enjoy a cocktail.

180 BAR & BISTRO: Rent for private parties at a very reasonable price, with certain food and alcohol minimums. Private back room for VIPs or for use as a green room/staging area. Sound system in place for speaking engagements. Option to reserve a portion of the room for your group without closing the restaurant. For private parties order from the catering menu; for group meetings guests can order off the menu. Enjoy the fun and cozy atmosphere!

THE HIDDEN BALLROOM: is located in downtown Spokane above Bridge Press Cellars, on Pacific and Browne. Perfect for weddings, concerts, birthday parties, corporate parties, holiday parties and celebrations of any kind. The space can accommodate up to 299 guests.

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Happy New Year It has been a privilege to sell homes in Spokane since 1979.

Customer service is my number one priority.

Please contact me if you are considering a change of address.

NANCY WYNIA

Managing Broker | ABR, CNE, CRS, GRI 509.990.2742 | nwynia@windermere.com

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by Kim Mehaffey he thought of saying goodbye to 2021 and welcoming in a new year—with the hope that we see the end of the pandemic in 2022—makes me giddy. As we all did our best to focus our attention and energy on the things we could change, my husband and I took time to complete our vision for the backyard fire pit and the pit-set hot tub area. It was, as it turned out, a lesson in patience and perseverance. I mentioned this project in a prior article.

After much discussion and many meetings, we decided that we would simply hire the subcontractors needed to complete our vision and my hubby would do some of the work as well. It was just more cost effective for us. We worked directly with locally owned Falco’s

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(it was a great experience) to create the fire pit area we envisioned, and which best met our budget. Steve met with us more than once and guided us through the creative process, as well as all that had to be done to bring our vision to reality.

Then we hired a local company to dig the large pit in which to set the hot tub. They only showed up one day and left the job incomplete for almost two months. Our friends came (Yes, we have amazing friends) and helped my husband finish digging the large pit; in all, over sixteen cubic yards of material was removed by hand—not for the faint of heart.

Getting anyone to do our concrete work was very difficult; but eventually my persuasion and willingness to pay what I thought to be an over-inflated bill enabled us to get all the concrete work finished.

Then I hired a local landscape company, Ideal Pro Lawn Care, to lay all the stones that created the pathway between the patio and the hot tub.

To finish off the look I was going for, I added some black Adirondack chairs and sheepskins to add warmth and comfort on a cold winter’s night. I asked my hubby to change the metal gutter downspouts to metal chain, which is so much more interesting than metal gutters. The chain, along with the metal fire pit, have already began to rust and create a beautiful patina. It is wonderful to sit out there at night enjoying the fire and the patio lights with a glass of wine and catch up on our day. Since then, we have decided to sell our house and move to our family ranch.

More adventures to come. Cheers!

Written, styled, and photographed by Kim Mehaffey (@k.mehaffey)

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Attention European Auto Owners!

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EuroProAuto.com | 922.2258 JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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‘The Rolling Stone’

by Sarah Hauge photography by Alicia Hauff Photography

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by Sarah Hauge photography by Alicia Hauff Photography

Builders Create Their Own Haven

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aena and Kyle Strohmaier are no strangers to the home design process—their company, Strohmaier Construction, started as a husband-wife business in 2011 and has grown consistently in the ten years since, now boasting a full roster of employees offering remodels, custom home design, and commercial jobs. They’ve pushed themselves and grown ever since. But this is the first home they’ve built from scratch for themselves.

Dubbed “The Rolling Stone” by the Strohmaiers for its “edgy, modern, vintage rock ’n’ roll vibe,” their 3,600-square-foot home overlooking the bluff recently won People’s Choice at the 2021 Fall Festival of Homes, when seventeen hundred people toured the space. “It was surreal, honestly,” says Raena. “It was a lot of pressure for us to do an amazing job. To have that satisfaction of other people truly enjoying it and appreciating it the way that we intended was magical for us. Pretty emotional.”

The process of building their own custom home began in June

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We also feel like we're pretty simple when it comes to décor, so we wanted the home itself to be the focal point, rather than the stuff inside.

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2020 and continued through the pandemic. They did the interior design, and worked with Sandpoint-based SOK as their architect.

Though they’ve had extensive home design experience, “It’s the only home we’ve ever done for ourselves, so it’s very special for us,” says Raena. In the home they tried to marry their aesthetic preferences—Kyle’s lean toward “very modern” while Raena loves traditional Tudors—to blend modern and vintage elements that work for their family of five, with lots of space for the hosting and entertaining they love to do.

“We didn’t want it to be huge or oversized—we wanted it to be a right-sized home,” Raena says. They prioritized a big, spacious great room, using lots of windows and glass to contribute to a bright and open feeling, and taking design risks. “We also feel like we're pretty simple when it comes to décor, so we wanted the home itself to be the focal

Closets Northwest, Inc. 3004 N Sullivan Road Suite D • (509) 891-2818 • Closets-NW.com

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point, rather than the stuff inside,” she adds.

In designing their own home, “we took the opportunity to kind of push ourselves and use products and materials we haven’t used before. It was our opportunity to go for it, without the kinds of limitations a client might have.”

Some of those risks include selecting porcelain for the kitchen, which is used in both the countertops and the backsplash.

The rift sawn white oak used in some of the island cabinetry is a less-than-common choice that adds warmth and depth, particularly when paired with the black cabinetry. “We also did lacquered brass, which I think everybody does like the idea of, but get leery of because it does tarnish,” Raena says. For them, “its natural way of being in your life we think is beautiful.”

In addition to the aesthetic choices that set this home apart, the couple also went all in on the home’s envelope. “My husband seized this opportunity to

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implement a lot of high-performance choices,” says Raena, many of which may appeal to others but ultimately aren’t selected because of the up-front price tag. The couple chose “to lead by example,” which allows them to speak of their choices to clients from a place of authority and experience. They used Zip System R-Sheathing—a weather-resistant barrier that’s envelope-continuous—and put in an heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system to bring in fresh, filtered air as it exhausts stale air. They also installed a rain screen around the exterior, and put in a conditioned crawl space that is insulated and has a concrete bottom, and is heated and cooled to the same temperature as the rest of the house. All of this up-front investment makes the home more efficient and more resistant to any future issues. The entire home is also zeroentry—no steps up or down anywhere outside—meaning that it will be easy to stay in long term, if they choose to.

When it came to the flow of the home, the couple found that there were immense benefits to working with an architect. “The only thing I think I found astonishing

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about this process is how important working with an architect is,” Raena says.

With her and her husband’s experience, she thinks people assumed they would do the design themselves. Though they did the interior design, partnering with an architect has paid off in even better ways than they had imagined. “Even after moving in, I continued to find little corners of my home that felt thought of and planned out,” she says. “It’s just a different experience. It’s different than making it pretty. It’s how it flows and how the light comes in…it’s just special.”

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living room, and dining room are located. The kids’ wing is off to one side, with their son’s room and bathroom and the playroom on the main level, and their two daughters’ bedrooms upstairs along with a shared bath.

Back on the main floor, a “glassket”—a glass-walled hallway— leads from the great room to the home’s primary suite, which makes up the home’s other wing, where the mudroom and laundry room are also located.

The home’s mix of whites, blacks, and warm neutrals make it both clean-lined and soft, with texture and life coming in through an array of wood tones, round elements, textiles, and light fixtures.

“I wanted each light fixture to be interesting, especially in the main spaces,” Raena says. “Different, interesting, and worth talking about on their own.” Depth comes in through black cabinetry, black stair rails, black window casings, and elements like the living room fireplace, which has a steel surround and is lined with black tile.

Though it’s gas, the built-in log storage, the fact that the faux logs blacken with use, and even the lack of glass in front of the fireplace 84

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It was a lot of pressure for us to do an amazing job. To have that satisfaction of other people truly enjoying it and appreciating it the way that we intended was magical for us.

all make it look like the real deal, without the upkeep.

Though the home purposefully doesn’t have much art or décor displayed, it is rich in visuals thanks to choices like the wallpaper in the girls’ rooms, the gorgeous pink tile in the powder bath, and the decision to go with black as the base color of the kitchen (“I’ve been dreaming about doing a black kitchen for so long,” Raena says).

Raena says the kitchen is probably her favorite space, but has unexpectedly found herself enjoying every nook and cranny. “You know, I was actually really surprised by how much I like the playroom,” she says. That, she says, is where she found herself wanting to sit and relax at the end of the day.

It was an enormous challenge to take on their own project and maintain the commitments and schedule they had for their clients through the pandemic. “To continue during a pandemic, and to dig even further, it was terrifying and rewarding and amazing, and I’m glad it’s over,” she says with a laugh. And as Strohmaier Construction’s projects continue, their family home is now past the design phase, past the construction stage, and past the home show—a space where they can live and enjoy.

“One of the most mentioned comments we had during the home show was that our home felt so warm, while still feeling modern, which is exactly what we were wanting,” Raena says.

“I’m really big about our space making me feel good, and happy and healthy, and having our family feel happy and healthy.” At The Rolling Stone, that’s what life is all about.

Excellent Agents.

Outstanding Results.

Wishing you a Prosperous 2022 Thinking of selling your home in 2022?

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I’m really big about our space making me feel good, and happy and healthy, and having our family feel happy and healthy.

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Find Your Fitness

by Ann Foreyt

I’ve written a lot in this column about working out in a gym or studio, or even mimicking that environment at home. But this month, let’s talk about exercise that happens outside of structured “gym” spaces.

health BEAT

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HEALTH BEAT/stay active

stayactive

by Ann Foreyt

Winter can be a rough time to stay active or choose to start a new movement routine, especially when Mother Nature isn’t always cooperative. But it is possible! This compilation of outdoor (or semi-outdoor) activities can help you find new and engaging ways to move your body throughout the winter.

Skiing/snowboarding Ah, the winter classics. When you mention winter sports, skiing and snowboarding are generally the two that you think of. Lucky for you, this area has multiple world-class options. Whether you’re looking for beginner lessons or double black-diamond runs, all the major ski areas in the Pacific Northwest can oblige.

The drawback of both sports is that they do require a significant outlay of money to get started: Renting or buying the required clothing and equipment can be quite expensive. As well, they may not be activities that you should undertake without lessons, adding to the financial commitment. If you’re interested in trying either skiing or snowboarding, but don’t want to commit to the full package to begin with, chat with your more experienced friends to see if they have equipment you can use or can help you find a resort and beginner class that fits your needs.

Some of the major ski resorts in the area include: • Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park • 49 Degrees North Ski and Snowboard Resort 90

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Ann Foreyt (they/them) is a project manager by profession and a runner and CrossFit/HIIT enthusiast by passion. They also practice and teach aerial silks. Their goal is to make fitness accessible and enjoyable for all bodies and ability levels.

• Schweitzer • Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area • Silver Mountain Resort Cross-country skiing If flying down slopes isn’t quite your speed, cross-country (or Nordic) skiing can offer a more flat-land option. As with downhill skiing and snowboarding, the most efficient way to get into cross-country skiing is by taking lessons from a professional or an experienced friend. There are multiple stores and organizations in the Spokane Coeur d’Alene area that provide instruction, as well as organized outings.

Like downhill skiing, Nordic ski areas and trails are generally designated with the standard ski rating system. Always make sure you’re skiing on trails that are appropriate for your experience level.

With that said, even a city park or other flat snow-covered open space can work to practice when you’re first starting out.

Some popular cross-country/Nordic ski trails in the area include: • Indian Canyon • Riverside State Park Cross-Country Ski Trail • Schweitzer • 49 Degrees North Nordic Center

Snowshoeing Snowshoeing is one of the fastest-growing winter sports and is a (comparably) inexpensive option with a low barrier to entry for those who enjoy spending time in the snowy outdoors. If you enjoy hiking or nature-walks during the warmer months of the year, snowshoeing might be a great activity to investigate.

As opposed to skiing or snowboarding, which often requires that you take lessons before becoming proficient, snowshoeing is more intuitive and can be generally picked up on your own, no lessons required!

One drawback to snowshoeing is that for some lower-lying trails in the Spokane area, you may have to carry your shoes for at least part of the hike, if the snow-level does not reach the lower elevations of the trail. For more advanced hikes, always be aware of avalanche danger!

Some popular snowshoeing trails in the area include: • Mount Spokane • McKenzie Conservation Area • Canfield Gulch at Antoine Peak Conservation Area • Frater Lake Trailhead in Colville National Forest

Ice skating If being out in nature isn’t quite your preference, Spokane also has many options for ice skating and skaters of all levels. From beginner lessons to family skating to drop-in hockey games, you can start— or rekindle—your pirouetting dreams on the ice this winter. This activity also has the perk of being the cheapest to try: Skate rentals are affordable, and you don’t need any other specialized equipment!

The most picturesque ice skating venue in the area is easily the Riverfront Park Numerica Skate Ribbon. This winding, circular 650feet pathway with attached “pond” allows you to glide next to the Riverfront Park Christmas tree, experiencing both slight inclines and declines and stretches of smooth skating. I am personally an atrocious skater and even I enjoy coming down to the Ribbon a few times a year to see if my skills have improved. If I can do it, you can, too!

For more structured skating, lessons and hockey, both the Eagles Ice Arena in North Spokane and Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d’Alene offer many options for more serious skaters of any persuasion.

I know winter can be a time you just want to curl up in a warm room with mulled wine or cocoa and twinkle lights, but hopefully this list of ideas will help you try some activity to get you and your family out and moving this winter.

(And if you see me at the Ice Ribbon, I’ll be that person desperately holding onto the wall of the rink, shuffling along one step at a time. Say hi!)

As opposed to skiing or snowboarding, which often requires that you take lessons before becoming proficient, snowshoeing is more intuitive and can be generally picked up on your own, no lessons required!

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HEALTH BEAT/CO safety

When the Temperature Drops, Turn Up CO Safety

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More than two-fifths of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure occurs during the months of December, January, and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As you turn up the heat during colder months, help reduce your risk of CO poisoning at home with the following steps: Check your appliances and furnace Make it routine to have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or fuel-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician. CO can be produced from fuelburning devices such as your home’s furnace, dryer vent in a drying machine, and fireplace or chimney, so it’s important to regularly check them to ensure they are clear of debris and snow, especially after a snowstorm.

“CO safety is important year-round, but especially in the colder months when the number of incidents typically increases,” says Ashley Gocken, home safety expert with First Alert. “It’s important to take the proper steps to ensure your home and family are protected from CO.” Install CO alarms Even when following safety and maintenance protocols, CO leaks can occur, so it’s important to be ready for the unexpected. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

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recommends installing CO alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and near all sleeping areas. Once installed, it’s important to test alarms regularly.

Remember to replace the batteries in your alarms every six months, even if they’re hardwired, so there’s always a reliable power source in case of electricity outages.

“CO alarms don’t last forever and need to be replaced at least every five to ten years depending on the model. If you can’t remember when you last replaced your alarms, it may be time to install new ones,” Gocken advises.

Choose safe heating options during a power outage If extreme winter weather knocks out your power for an extended period, be safe when using alternative energy sources.

Remember to never run a generator or any gasoline-powered engine inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open. Always use a generator outside and make sure it’s more than twenty feet from an open window, door, or vent where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area. And keep in mind that it’s never safe to heat your home with your oven.

Know the symptoms The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are just like those of the flu, including headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, upset stomach, and vomiting.

Severe CO poisoning can cause chest pains and confusion, and may eventually be fatal, according to the CDC. If your CO alarm sounds or you think you might be experiencing CO poisoning, seek fresh air immediately and call 911. —BPT

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2022 BEST TO BUSINESS OF BUSINESS NOMINATIONS

Give us your opinion about the Inland Northwest businesses and the services they provide. Ballots must be mailed or faxed (509-5353542) to our office by March 1, 2022. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Your name, phone number and e-mail must be included, and at least 50 percent of the ballot must be completed for us to count it and for you to qualify for the prize. Attempts at ballot stuffing will be eliminated from the results. All categories may not be reported in the accompanying article. Results will appear in the June 2022 issue.

1. Best Employment Agency

12. Best Public Relations Agency

23. Best Law Firm for Business

34. Best Office Design Company

2. Best Local Business Man

13. Best IT Company

24. Best Credit Card Processing

35. Best Office Building

3. Best Local Business Woman

14. Best Web Design Business

25. Best Business Banking

36. Best Office Park

4. Best Sign Company

15. Best Computer Repair Business

26. Best Credit Union

37. Best Restaurant for a Business Lunch

5. Best Business Startup (one year or less)

16. Best Printing Company

27. Best Business Security System Providers

38. Best Social Media Promotions Firm

6. Best High-Tech Firm

17. Best Networking Events

28. Best Commercial Realtor

39. Best Catering Business

7. Best Engineering Firm

18. Best Wholesale Coffee Service

29. Best Business Insurance Firm

40. Best Business Event Facility

8. Best Commercial Architectural Firm

19. Best Florist

30. Best Office Supply Business

41. Best Place to Host a Company Party

9. Best Commercial Photographer

20. Best Gift Basket/Gift Service Business

31. Best Office Furniture

42. Best Comany for Office Machines/Printers

10. Best Commercial Construction Company

21. Best Accounting Firm

32. Best Trade Show Displays

43. Best Manufactoring Company

11. Best Advertising Agency

22. Best Collection Agency

33. Best Promotional Products Provider

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Somm(elier)

by Adriana Janovich

N

oelle Otersen Loparco “never ever” reads the tasting notes.

That is, not before she tastes the wine. She doesn’t want someone else’s impressions to influence her assessment. She wants to swirl, sniff, sip, and savor first, then discuss, and finally read the description.

Sometimes, she gets the same notes as another wine steward, wine sales representative, server, or chef. Sometimes, she doesn’t. “That doesn’t make any of us wrong,” she says. “It just means we have different palates.”

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LOCAL CUISINE/sommelier

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photo by Shybeast LLC

That’s why, when she’s helping customers select a wine to pair with lunch or dinner, her first step is to question. What do you like? What don’t you like? What are you going to eat? What’s your price range?

Despite all these variables, Noelle says, “I am confident I could make a suggestion that is going to work well with your meal.”

Noelle is the wine steward at Gander and Ryegrass, one of downtown Spokane’s premier restaurants. It specializes in coursed, contemporary, Italian fine dining, including house-made pasta paired with lesser-known varietals—varietals Noelle knows and loves.

Aglianico. Brunello. Carignan. Côtes du Rhône wines such as Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Counoise.

“My goal is to keep learning and deepening my knowledge of—especially Italian—wines and food pairings, then offer that knowledge to our guests,” Noelle says. “I would like to dissolve a lot of the fear around wine and wine in restaurants.

The point of having a sommelier, or wine steward, is to help ensure that the bottle you order is one you’re going to like. It’s a helper role. You could have a sixty-dollar bottle or a 300-dollar bottle, and it wouldn’t matter as long as it tastes good with your food, and you like it. The bottom line is that you like it.”

At thirty-one, Noelle is not only among the Inland Northwest’s small handful of restaurant wine stewards—she’s also one of the youngest. She received her Intermediate Wine Certificate from the International Sommelier Guild in 2020 and is pursuing her Advanced Wine Certification, the second of five levels, with plans to sit for that exam this spring.

“There are a ton of level-one somms all over the country,” she says, “but not a whole lot of them in this area and certainly not very many females. Once I pass my level two, I will be one of the youngest women in the area to have this certification.”

One of her interests is helping others better appreciate and enjoy exceptional and rare wines as well as wines that are

ASK a somm Noelle Otersen Loparco doesn’t want choosing wine to be intimidating, especially in restaurants. Here are three questions she recommends guests ask to get the conversation—and selection process—started.

• What wines on your list are you most excited about at the moment?

• I recently tried (varietal here) and loved it. Do you have it or something similar?

• I am interested in (varietal here). Can you tell me what is special about it or why you like it?

— Adriana Janovich

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LOCAL CUISINE/sommelier

How to drink like a somm

Tips from Noelle Otersen Loparco

• Don’t overthink it. “Choosing wine doesn’t have to be a complicated process. It starts and ends with you. Drink what you like. The whole point of wine is for it to be enjoyed, particularly with community.”

• Consider the roots. “The easiest tip is to think about where the dish is from, even with American cooking. The basic rule is: Choose a wine that’s also from there.”

• Weigh your options. “Beyond that, the weight of the wine should match the weight of the dish. If you’re eating a heavier dish like fettuccine alfredo, you’re going to want a fuller-bodied wine. Or, if you’re eating light, buttery seafood, pick a lighter white. If you’re having a rich, hearty boeuf bourguignon, a nice red Burgundy is going to be your friend.”

• Shape up. “I would say, yes, the shape of the glass totally affects the way you enjoy the wine, where it hits on the tongue, how it aerates in the glass, when the wine opens up. Is it absolutely necessary? No. But if you drink a lot of Cabernet, you’ll want a Bordeaux glass. And if you like variety of wines, then maybe one white glass is good, along with one light to medium red glass, and one full-bodied red glass.”

• Drink with intention. “Drink a wine looking for its personality, its character, its specific traits. All Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like red fruit—strawberries, cherries, raspberries, sometimes red plum. Take it a step further. What kind of cherry does it smell like? Bing? Montmorency? And what distinguishes a Cab from different regions? Why does a Bordeaux taste different from a Washington?

Why does a Washington taste different from a California? Why does a Napa taste different from a Paso Robles? You’re training your mind and your palate to be able to pick out the specific notes in each wine.”

• Not all dessert wine must be drank with dessert. “Sauternes is an excellent companion to grilled lobster. Try Riesling with spicy Asian dishes or mushroombased dishes. Duck is exceptional when paired with Pedro Ximénez sherry. Rich cheeses like brie or Camembert really shine with Hungarian Tokaji.”

• Indulge. “It’s OK to splurge for the expensive wine and not feel guilty about it.

It’s worth it. Life is too short to drink crappy wine.”

• Ask. “If you’re at a restaurant looking at the wine menu and you’re thinking about getting a more expensive bottle and you’re not sure you’re going to like it, think about the varietals you have enjoyed before. Ask to see the bottle. Ask to see the wine steward. If you’re having pork tenderloin with squash, I think a red sounds really good. But you don’t want red; you want white. Pork is fatty and salty. Squash is not fatty but it’s super-soft and rich and earthy. I’m going to recommend a full-bodied white that’s viscous and not overly fruity or light, something that’s a little toasty or has some nut characteristics.”

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I would like to dissolve a lot of the fear around wine and wine in restaurants. The point of having a sommelier, or wine steward, is to help ensure that the bottle you order is one you’re going to like.

It’s a helper role. sustainably and innovatively made. That’s one of the reasons she loves working at Gander and Ryegrass. “It has a very unique wine list,” she says.

Noelle buys wine for the restaurant, organizes its cellar, writes tasting notes and briefs servers on the nuances of each new varietal that comes on the menu. Most bottles range from twenty-five dollars to 220 dollars.

The most expensive is a 2012 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne at 495 dollars.

“It can be scary to decide what to spend on a bottle, especially one you’re unfamiliar with,” she says. “I want people to feel comfortable and ask questions. Let’s have a conversation.

That’s what makes it exciting for me. Rather than being intimidated because you don’t recognize any of the wines, I want to make it a fun learning opportunity.”

Noelle grew up in Liberty Lake and became interested in wine—make that wine labels—as a young teen learning French. She would translate labels at the grocery store. She later studied French and Italian—one of her

grandmothers came from Abruzzo—at North Idaho College.

Both France and Italy are on her bucket list. She’s particularly interested in visiting France’s Champagne, Côtes du Rhônes, Savoie, and Ardèche wine regions. In Italy, she says, “I would probably start in Piedmont, the birthplace of Barbera and Nebbiolo.”

She got her start in hospitality during high school at Pizza Hut. When she moved to Coeur d’Alene eleven years ago to be closer to NIC, she was hired at Satay Bistro and began her first real lessons in wine. “The owner and manager put us through what they call ‘wine school,’” she says. “It was so easygoing and approachable and not pretentious. The more I learned, the more intriguing it became.”

She went on to work at Vine and Olive Eatery and Wine Bar, Castaway Cellars, and Candle in the Woods, where she organized the cellar, curated wine lists, and selected wines for the prix fixe menu. Just prior to coming to Gander & Ryegrass last July, she was the director of wine and front of house operations at the new Terraza Waterfront Café, where she created the opening wine list and service standards.

She cites Vine and Olive owner Naomi Boutz as “a catalyst. She is this keystone person for me. She really gave me a lot of opportunities to learn about wine and meet others in the industry and taste a lot of interesting wines. She’s so

knowledgeable and hard-working and inspiring. It’s really because of her I decided to deepen my knowledge.”

Shelly Crawford, owner and winemaker at Castaway, piqued her interest in production. “She’s a wealth of knowledge, and she’s super generous and kind. She’s another female business owner who I just loved working for.” Plus, Noelle says, “Her Cab Franc is killer.”

Noelle started studying for her sommelier certifications just as the persisting COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. She participates in webinars, watches video lectures online, takes quizzes, and writes essays and six in-depth tasting notes for each of the course’s thirteen sections.

She hasn’t decided how many levels she’ll pursue.

But she has developed an interest in growing wine grapes and dreams of maybe even making her own wine someday. “I’ve always loved chemistry and creativity and cooking,” she says. “This seems like the perfect marriage.”

In the meantime, she’s content discovering new wines and helping others do the same.

“Learning about wine doesn’t have to be scary,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be intimidating. You don’t have to put on nice clothes to drink wine.”

Noelle grew up in Liberty Lake and became interested in wine—make that wine labels—as a young teen learning French. She would translate labels at the grocery store. She later studied French and Italian—one of her grandmothers came from Abruzzo—at North Idaho College.

photo by Shybeast LLC JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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LOCAL CUISINE/recipe feature and photos

by Kacey Rosauer Follow Kacey Rosauer of Rosauer's Kitchen on Instagram for more recipes and food inspiration.

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Exploring Reducetarianism:

Meatless Tacos

by Kacey Rosauer

It’s a new year, and a new food trend you may start hearing about is reducetarianism. Despite being a food trend cynic, it’s my New Year’s resolution. First, what is reducetarianism? In a nutshell, reducetarianism is reducing the number of animal products you eat to help the environment and your body. You might not want to tell people you’re a reducetarianist unless you love watching people roll their eyes at you, but the simple truth is it’s good for the planet and your health. You’re not cutting anything out of your diet—if you want a double bacon cheeseburger, you can eat a double bacon cheeseburger. Tofu is the gateway to the land of meat substitutes; it absorbs any flavor you put on it. The firm tofu can mimic meat in a few different ways, but the easiest way is to crumble it and use it like ground meat, and since it’s going right into a frying pan, there’s no need to press the liquid from it. So how do we start this less meat journey? The easiest way is to start Meatless Monday, no meat until dinner, or using meat as a special occasion meal. If you’re wanting to know more about reducetarianism there’s a great book: Meat Me Halfway by Brian Kateman.

MEATLESS TACOS INGREDIENTS

Yield: twelve tacos

Taco Filling 1 brick tofu, firm 1 11-ounce can of lentils, drained and rinsed, or 21/2 cups of soaked lentils 1 medium onion, small diced 1 jalapeno, minced with seeds removed (optional) 3 tablespoons taco seasoning 1 lime, zested and juiced 2 tablespoon natural cooking oil, split 2 roma tomatoes, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced Salt to taste 12 corn tortillas Pickled red onions Cotija cheese Microgreens Cilantro Avocado Crema ½ cup Mexican crema, or sour cream ½ avocado A small bunch of cilantro ½ lime, juice Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS 1. In a large heavy-bottomed pan (or, even better, a cast iron pan) add half the oil and sauté the onions and jalapeno on medium heat until soft.

2. Add tomatoes and garlic, then allow to cook down until the tomatoes have melted into themselves.

3. While that is cooking, crumble the tofu into ground meat-sized pieces in a large bowl. Since you’re going to cook the tofu, there is no need to press the water out.

4. In the bowl with the tofu add the lentils, taco seasoning, remaining oil, the lime juice, and zest.

Mix well until thoroughly coated.

5. Once the tomatoes are ready, add the tofu and lentil mix and cook until all of the liquid has cooked out of the tomatoes and tofu. Let the bottom cook so it starts to get crisp. Taste, adjust seasoning as needed, and take off the heat.

ASSEMBLY 1. In a dry sauté pan, heat tortillas until warm, soft, and pliable.

2. Fill tortillas with tofu filling, top with crema, cotija, pickled onions, microgreens, and cilantro.

3. Serve immediately with your favorite salsas, hot sauces, rice, and beans.

Add all ingredients for the crema into a food processor and puree until smooth.

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LOCAL CUISINE/part 1: coffee

Eats,Shoots,andLeaves

by Ari Nordhagen

(part one: coffee)

Art at the Bar

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Photos and musings of a local shutterbug foodie

Ari Nordhagen is an award winning portrait, wedding, and food photographer who is passionate about supporting locally owned businesses. Follow her on Instagram at @joyful.meandering.

Several local coffee shops have elevated their brews by creating flavored coffee cocktails, adding unique flavor combinations that will make you look at your humble cup of joe in a new and more exciting light.

For these first two months of 2022, we’re going to pretend that this column is called

DRINKS, SHOOTS, AND LEAVES, because I just must highlight some local places that have gotten so creative with their beverage offerings that they warrant some special attention (and photos) in a foodie write-up.

Coffee is the ubiquitous energy drink. While most people probably take their morning cup simply—in a latte, or a plain Americano or even a cortado—several local coffee shops have elevated their brews by creating flavored coffee cocktails, adding unique flavor combinations that will make you look at your humble cup of joe in a new and more exciting light. My friend Lindsay and I went to four of our favorite coffee shops around Spokane to check out some of these inventive, seasonal drinks.

JANUARY 2022 / BOZZIMEDIA.com

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LOCAL CUISINE/part 1: coffee Evergreen Latte

House-made spruce tip mint syrup, with organic Japanese matcha and steamed milk.

Whiskey Business

Bourbon, maple, some sugar and spice, with drip coffee and a steamed cream topping.

Gingersnap Latte

House-made ginger molasses syrup, wite espresso and steamed milk.

EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE

Tucked inside the food hall at the Wonder Building right next door to High Tide Lobster Bar and Bosco Pasta is Evans Brothers Coffee’s Spokane cafe. Rick and Randy Evans take ideas from their baristas at their three cafes in a brainstorming session every season and narrow down their favorites with a vote. Here is what their winter lineup includes.

Brown Butter Maple Latte

House-made browned butter with cinnamon, paired with organic maple syrup, espresso, and steamed milk.

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Orange Rum Latte

Espresso with house rum and orange zest, with steamed milk

Pistachio Matcha

Smith Tea matcha with pistachio syrup

INDABA COFFEE

Indaba’s cafes include their original location on Broadway, a beautiful downtown meeting spot on Riverside, and a little coffee bar inside Fleet Feet in Kendall Yards. They now also have a shop in the Tri-Cities. Their special winter drinks include the following: Eggnog Scosso

House rum syrup shaken with espresso and topped with nutmeg

Candy Cane Cold Brew

Indaba’s Signature High Drive cold brew with mint syrup, topped with sweet foam and crushed peppermint.

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LOCAL CUISINE/part 1: coffee

Orange Ya Glad?

Espresso with blood orange syrup, chocolate ganache and steamed milk.

F1RST AVENUE COFFEE

A hard-to-miss hangout spot in downtown Spokane is Deborah Di Bernardo’s F1rst Avenue Coffee with its flashing neon sign, “damn good coffee” on the window. Head Roaster, Aaron Jordan and his staff have a running list of fun drink ideas that they collaboratively mix and taste to bring us their seasonal list, with creative names, such as:

Pepp in My Step Peppermint, chocolate and espresso with milk, topped with mint matcha whipped cream.

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Sugar & Spice Cinnamon, clove, and ginger with beetroot syrup and vanilla, topped with spiced beetroot whipped cream.

THOMAS HAMMER COFFEE

Thomas Hammer’s flagship location on Grand Ave. in the South Hill serves a more eclectic menu of food and drinks. Their creative and delicious winter lineup include:

Shaken Caramel Crème Sweetened condensed milk, salted caramel sauce, espresso, shaken with ice until frothy, and garnished with caramel drizzle and Spiceology sea salt.

Lemon Cardamom Latte Brown sugar simple syrup made with vanilla extract and freshlyground Spiceology cardamom, lemon peel, espresso, and steamed milk.

Mo-Tcho Latte Tcho Europeanstyle drinking chocolate, with orange peel, Mike’s Hot Honey, vanilla extract, espresso and steamed milk, garnished with Tcho.

Let’s just say Lindsay and I had a very caffeinated and fun week exploring the various creative cafe drinks around town. So when you’re out and about needing to have that caffeine jolt to combat these dark and gloomy winter days, make sure to jazz up your morning cup and order from the coffee (and coffee-less) (re)mixes.

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LOCAL CUISINE/dining guide

diningguide 1898 Public House. With a nod of respect to the year Kalispel Golf and Country Club was established, 1898 Public House combines a storied history with modern flair. The culinary team takes pride in preparing classic foods with a fresh twist, while using the finest ingredients. From hand-pressed gourmet burgers and house-cured bacon, to housemade rolls and charcuterie, dining at 1898 will be an exciting culinary tour for your palate. 2010 W. Waikiki Rd., (509) 466-2121, Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 1898publichouse.com.

Chinook crafted by Chef Adam Hegsted. Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel’s signature “upper casual” restaurant had its grand reopening on November 11, with a reimagining of its menu and cocktail offerings thanks to Chef Adam Hegsted. The restaurant still features items diners have grown to love—such as a delicious steak dinner—but has added new items at a lower price point. There is something for everyone to love at Chinook. 37914 S. Nukwalqw St., Worley, ID. (800) 523-2464, MondaySunday 7 a.m.-3 a.m. cdacasino.com.

EPIC Sports Bar. From the nachos and buffalo wings to prime rib dip and epic burgers, EPIC is serving up a full menu of upscale pub fare, craft beers, and cocktails inside Northern Quest. With its thirtyfoot LED HDTV, you can enjoy sports for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. 100 N. Hayford Rd.,

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Airway Heights, (509) 481-2122, Sunday-Thursday 7 a.m.-12 a.m., Friday-Saturday 7 a.m.-2 a.m., northernquest.com.

Gander and Ryegrass. An Italian-inspired restaurant in downtown Spokane with a menu featuring coursed meals based around whole animal butchery and homemade pasta. Their robust beverage program includes a full bar and wine cellar delivering a variety of pairings for each course. They would love to welcome you for your birthday and other celebrations, as well as offer you the best service for a great night out on the town. À la carte options available, too. 404 W. Main Ave., (509) 315-4613, daily 12 p.m.–9 p.m., ganderandryegrass.com.

High Tide Lobster Bar. Chef Chad White is all about bringing the flavor, but this time he’s bringing some of that East coast flavor to the West Coast with New England Style Lobster Rolls. Also try clam chowder by the pint or quart. 835 N. Post St., (509) 381-5954, Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., hightidelobsterbar.com.

Maryhill Winery. The winery draws more than 75,000 guests annually, while the region offers warm summer days, year-round appeal and excellent winemaking and continues to gain recognition as an emerging wine destination. Each location offers beautiful scenery, frequent live music and special events, food menus featuring small plates and

charcuterie, and an expansive selection of awardwinning wines. 9774 Highway 14, Goldendale, (509) 773-1976, Sunday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 1303 W. Summit Pkwy., Ste. 100, (509) 443-3832, Monday-Thursday 12 p.m.-8 p.m., Friday 12 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., ​Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 801 Waterfront Way, Ste. 105, Vancouver​, (360) 450-6211, Monday-Thursday 12 p.m.-9 p.m., FridaySaturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 14810 NE 145th St. #A, Woodinville, (425) 481-7925, Monday-Thursday 12 p.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 12 p.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.-7 p.m., maryhillwinery. com.

Masselow’s Steakhouse. With nine primegrade steaks and the best seafood oceans and rivers have to offer, Masselow’s Steakhouse continually provides the “wow” factor. With an outstanding array of mouth-watering cuisine, an extensive wine selection, and true Kalispel hospitality, Chef Tanya Broesder and her team create a special experience you won’t soon forget. 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights, (509) 481-6020, Wednesday-Sunday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., masselows.com.

Park Lodge. A fine dining restaurant featuring a relaxing atmosphere and locally inspired comfort meals from its award-winning chef, uniquely prepared on a wood-fired grill.

411 N. Nettleton St., (509) 340-9347, TuesdaySaturday 5 p.m.-9 p.m., parklodgerestaurant.com.

Three Peaks Kitchen + Bar. Named after the three prominent peaks outlining the Spokane Tribe’s homeland, Three Peaks is the Spokane Tribe Casino’s premier dining destination. This upscale casual eatery features weekend brunch, as well as lunch and dinner specials all week long. Discover your new favorite Happy Hour from 3-7 p.m. every day with amazing patio seating, local and regional wines, as well as $2 drafts with 20 taps to choose from. Visit spokanetribecasino.com for menus, details and to make a reservation. 14300 W. SR-2 Hwy., Airway Heights, (509) 818-1547, MondayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., spokanetribecasino.com/dining.

TT’s Brewery & Barbecue. TT’s Brewery & Barbecue is proud to offer the highest quality barbecue and beers brewed onsite. From their family to yours, they put lots of love and careful attention in each item. 4110 S. Bowdish Rd., Spokane Valley, (509) 919-4798, Tuesday-Saturday 12 p.m.-8 p.m., ttsbrewerybbq.com.

Zona Blanca. Zona Blanca brings the flavors of coastal Mexico to Spokane. Flavor comes first, and ceviche, entrees, tacos, tostadas, and more await you. 157 S. Howard St., (509) 241-3385, TuesdayThursday 4 p.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 4 p.m.-10 p.m., limefishsalt.com.

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CLARKSVILLE/spokane motel blues

clarksville

by Doug Clark

Doug Clark is a Spokane native and lead singer/ songwriter for his band, Trailer Park Girls. He recently retired from The Spokesman-Review after writing three columns a week for more than 30 years.

The Song that gave Spokane the

Let us pause a moment before we all leap headfirst into whatever fresh hell this New Year might bring.

Please join me in saying adios to the country crooner who once put Spokane on the map with a song and the City Hall heartburn that followed.

Tom T. Hall was his name. According to his son, Hall died quietly in his Tennessee home last August. He was eighty-five.

Dubbed “The Storyteller” by fans, Hall authored a dozen No. 1 tunes, including the supersonic hit, “Harper Valley PTA.” Jeannie C. Riley’s 1968 recording of it was catchier than the Andromeda Strain, selling no less than six million copies. Hall also penned another twenty-six songs that edged their way into the Top Ten. But it is the “Spokane Motel Blues,” a non-hit Hall released in 1973, that lives on in the hearts and minds of aging lilac lifers, like me. This backhanded ode was not designed for any tourism brochure, what with lyrics like…

-I’m stuck in Spokane in a motel room, And there ain’t no way to get away.

-Even today, nearly fifty years later, the tune’s “get me outta here” thesis still causes some to bristle.

“A terrible song,” a guitar-strumming friend observed when the subject came up.

“He (Tom) didn’t like us and we Spokanites didn’t like him. Haha.”

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I’ve always adopted the “any publicity’s good publicity” philosophy, especially when it comes to our municipal hiccups and pratfalls.

I’ll be honest. While it remains one of Spokane’s great entertaining yarns, the song and the squabble it evoked hadn’t crossed my mind in a good long while.

Heck. I wasn’t even aware the composer was decomposing until I Googled him a few weeks ago.

Credit Marshall Smith for my renewed interest. A longtime loyal reader, Smith sent me an email that contained a link to an eBay auction for a vintage 45 of the “Spokane Motel Blues.”

What’s that?

(COLUMNIST’S NOTE A: For young readers who think a Walkman is a takeout joint for stir fry, the 45 was a spinning 7-inch disc made of vinyl. The “records” played popular music for bopping teenagers when they fed dimes into a jukebox at the local malt shop.)

What?

(COLUMNIST’S NOTE B: A jukebox is a bulky mechanical contraption with glowing lights that … Aw, to hell with it. Go look it up on Wikipedia.)

I clicked the “buy it now” button and bought the 45 for eight bucks and shipping charges.

When it arrived, I stuck it right next to “Great Balls of Fire” in my jukebox.

That’s right. I own a jukebox. Bite me.

I also dug up the “Spokane Motel Blues” cover I recorded a decade ago with Joe Brasch, my best buddy and guitarmonstering bandmate.

My son, Ben, remastered our version and stuck it on the ol’ interweb for the fulfillment of humankind.

(Check it out at dougclarksville.com or Apple Music.)

-Flash back to 2012. I was writing three columns a week for the daily rag, which was actually a daily rag and hadn’t amputated the Saturday edition, like now. The horror.

Anyway, Larry Cebula, a history professor from my alma mater, Eastern Washington University, asked me the following: “Does anyone know which motel Tom T. Hall was staying in when he wrote the ‘Spokane Motel Blues’?”

I knew the legend. Hall supposedly wrote it after a blizzard marooned him here following a concert.

But what motel?

The game was afoot.

Cebula was compiling information about “Spokane Motel Blues” to add to a smartphone app he was designing for his digital history class.

The app would feature maps with relevant pop-ups to let users explore local destinations like The Davenport Hotel or maybe even Bing Crosby’s toupée collection.

That struck me as a lot more fun than the stuffy music theory classes I took when I attended Eastern.

Of course, I attended college mostly to keep from being shot at in Vietnam.

I know. I’m a coward. Bite me again.

Ever searching for a way to milk one column into two or three, I posed Cebula’s question to the vast brain trust of Clarksville readers.

The response was overwhelming. Not to

Clark’s humor and general-interest commentaries have won scores of local, state and regional honors along with three awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

He can be reached at dougclarksville@gmail.com.

mention all over the local landscape.

Some put Hall in the old Spokane House, a venue once frequented by jazz icons like the late-great Arnie Carruthers.

Others booked him into The Davenport Hotel, where he did stay in 1974.

Another joker put him a certain Hot Tub Spa dive that featured hourly rates and ladies of negotiable virtue.

The most credible response, however, came from Marion Anderson. The eightyone-year-old had been a chef at the downtown Holiday Inn when Hall came to Spokane.

“I remember very distinctly that that’s where he (Hall) wrote his song and that’s where he stayed because of the weather,” she said.

Hall, as far as I know, went to join Hank Williams without ever outting the lodging.

He did, however, confirm during a press conference that he wrote the song after staying in a Spokane motel.

Not that the “where” really matters. The part of the “Spokane Motel Blues” saga that always makes me giggle is how scandalized it made our thin-skinned city officials.

Point man for the outrage was Jack O’Brien, a three-term city councilman, who denounced the song as civic slander.

That it began airing a year before Expo ’74 no doubt accounted for a fair share of O’Brien’s anxiety.

Hall responded by sending O’Brien a letter. In it, he said that “very few towns” ever inspired him to write anything.

“Those beautiful mountains and rivers in Spokane started my creative juices flowing,” he wrote, adding “had I not been in a motel room at the time, it would have been a positive song.”

Hall’s crafty spin job soothed O’Brien and the others who not only unruffled their feathers, but declared a Tom T. Hall Day when he returned to perform at Expo.

In hindsight, this crapstorm in a

clocktower seems embarrassingly provincial.

But remember. We are talking about 1973, a simpler time when gas pumped for thirty-nine cents a gallon and the Elvis Aloha concert pulled in more TV gawkers than the Moon landing.

Oh, yeah. This was also the year I made the best move of my life by marrying my lovely bride, Sherry.

We moved to California right after our January 6 wedding. Months later, when the song received radio play, hearing it made me nostalgic for my hometown.

Because of my newlywed status, I’ve always found Hall’s take on Spokane to be a touch romantic.

Not that it makes any difference. No matter how you view “Spokane Motel Blues,” it’s now a part of our lore. And to quote Andy Warhol: “You can’t argue with your scrapbook.”

-Spokane Motel Blues I don’t know what I’m doing here, I could be someplace else Like in Atlanta drinkin’ wine, wine, wine I don’t know what I’m doing here, I could be someplace else Like in Kentucky drinkin’ shine, shine, shine

I’m stuck in Spokane in a motel room And Kris is making movin’ picture shows Hey, I don’t know what I’m doing here, I could be someplace else Like in Atlanta drinkin’ wine, wine, wine I don’t know what I’m doing here, I could be someplace else Like in Kentucky drinkin’ shine, shine, shine Well, I know they’re dancing in New Orleans And old Chicago’s bright as day I’m stuck in Spokane in a motel room Lord, I wish I had a Dolly Parton tape Well Hill and Bare and Billy Joe they’re gambling And ol’ TP’s frying croppie all night long They’re down at Tootsie’s eating chili I’m stuck in Spokane writing songs Hey, I don’t know what I’m doing here, I could be someplace else Like in Atlanta drinkin’ wine, wine, wine

The dogs are running down in Memphis

I don’t know what I’m doing here, I could be someplace else

And them nags are running in L.A. yeah

Like in Kentucky drinkin’ shine, shine, shine

I’m stuck in Spokane in a motel room

And there ain’t no way to get away

And there ain’t no way to get away Willie Nelson’s picking out in Austin Waylon’s hanging out in Mexico

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