SpoCo's Thawing Out, and She’s a Problem 💁‍♀️🔥

So, how’d everything turn out last week? 

Hit The Split, or the Car Show. . . Squatchfest?!?!?

If not, it’s chill. . . things are getting sunnier, vibey, and depending on how long you’ve lived here, you know the INW’s emergence into Spring and Summer is a mother nature’s revenge body after a breakup with the toxic nature of a frat president named Cade, who can’t get off the couch doomscrolling Pizza Reviews on Barstool. . . So go off SpoCo, we all know what a hot li’l mama you become between April 14th to October 15th.

Okay, so all our teams are playing away games it seems like and Gonzaga has been lost like a stray goat to the Serengeti—Soooo we’re gonna pivot a wee bit.

This weekend is Easter. . . whether you’re Catholic, Religious at all, or not: Easter is one of my faves. . . Literally Spring Thanksgiving where mimosas (and of course; JC) are the star, the weather’s better, and you get to watch the younglings run around hunting for sugar, and taking pictures with a bunny mascot. . . Definitely the most frightening holiday mascot. Anywhoooo. . . Never have I seen a classy lookin’ Peter C Tail like ‘dis:

GADDDAMN THAT BUNNY’S GOT CLASS!

1. Easter Brunch Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene

📍 Boardwalk Marina, Coeur d’Alene
🗓️ 11:00 AM & 1:30 PM
💵 $81.50 per person; ages 5 & under free
Celebrate Easter aboard a scenic cruise featuring a chef-prepared buffet with delights like crème brûlée French toast and bacon-wrapped turkey breast. Enjoy panoramic lake views and a relaxed holiday atmosphere. cdacruises.com​

2. Beverly’s at The Coeur d’Alene Resort

📍 The Coeur d’Alene Resort
🗓️ 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
💵 $95 per adult; $40 for kids 5–12; 4 & under free
Indulge in a lavish buffet featuring made-to-order omelets, eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, and a grand display of miniature desserts. The elegant setting offers stunning lake views.

3. Easter Brunch at Riverfront Park Pavilion

📍 Riverfront Park Pavilion, Spokane
🗓️ Saturday, April 19 | Multiple seatings starting at 8:00 AM
💵 $37 per adult; $24 for kids 6–12; under 5 free
Enjoy a festive brunch including baked goods, fruit, breakfast potatoes, sausage links, ham, bacon, cheddar frittatas, a waffle bar, and a beverage station. 

4. Ruby River Hotel’s Easter Brunch on the River

📍 Ruby River Hotel, Spokane
🗓️ 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
💵 $45 per adult; $21 for children 4–12; 3 & under free
Dine riverside with a buffet featuring scrambled eggs, French toast, a prime rib carving station, charcuterie board, mini tarts, carrot cake, and more. Enjoy scenic views and a family-friendly atmosphere. 

5. 1898 Public House at Kalispel Golf & Country Club

📍 Kalispel Golf & Country Club, Spokane
🗓️ Time TBA
💵 $65 per adult; $25 for kids 7–12; under 3 free
Rounding out the pretentious rotation of Brunch options is out at the Kalispell Country Club.  Savor a buffet including salads, a meat carving station, croissant ham Benedict, house-made biscuits, hors d'oeuvres like spring rolls and teriyaki meatballs (these are friggin amaz-z-zing), an omelet station, potato bar, and sweets.

Spokane Bike Swap & Expo – April 19

The roads are getting dryer, the skies are bluer, and the sun’s becoming more of a recurring customer. Rides on the Hiawatha trail (or wherever the hell you bike) is around the corner. If your current bike situation involves a rusty chain, squeaky brakes, or a firm hope-and-a-prayer, it’s time to trade up. Spokane Bike Swap is the holy grail for anyone looking to score a new set of wheels without torching their wallet. We’re talkin’ thousands of bikes — mountain, road, cruiser, kids — plus racks, helmets, gear, and even a free bike check if you roll in with a fixer-upper. It’s fast, it’s chaotic, it’s oddly beautiful. Get there early unless you enjoy getting outbid by a 7-year-old with a better savings plan.

📍 Spokane County Fair & Expo Center

🕘 Saturday, April 19 | Doors at 9AM

💵 $5 entry (kids 12 & under: free)

👉 spokanebikeswap.com

Egg Hunt – Riverfront Park, April 19

Spring is here, the grass is green, and it’s time to watch toddlers channel their inner Brian Urlacher in search of plastic eggs. Knowing that the vast majority of the audience is women, Brian Urlacher is a legendary NFL Linebacker. . . Riverfront Park’s Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt is part brunch buffet, part sugar-fueled chaos. An egg hunt where kids forget you raised them with manners? Oh yeah. Held in the Pavilion and on the Great Lawn, this event blends Spokane’s prettiest backdrop with some good old-fashioned Easter energy. Whether you’re wrangling children or just here for the hashbrowns and vibes, it’s worth showing up early and hungry. POV: You casually pick up an Easter Egg Downtown.

Get Out With This Nature Lovin’ Passport

File this under: Damn, why didn’t I think of this sooner? The Pend Oreille River Valley Passport Program is your permission slip to ditch town, explore the most slept-on corner of the state, and look good doing it. It’s part scavenger hunt, part scenic bender, part “I support local” flex.

Here’s the play: grab a passport (physical or digital), hit up weirdly charming businesses and natural stunners across Northeast Washington, collect stamps, and cash in for prizes like discounts, gear, and raffle entries. Think riverside beer stops, backroad bakeries, and views that hit like a spa day for your soul.

It’s the kind of thing that turns a “maybe we should do something this weekend” into actually doing something cool.
- Stamps. Swag. Small-town glory.
- Full details at OutThereOutdoors.com

Our Spring awakening is here–thank the LAWD!!!!

Sippin’ Spring 🍷

In lieu of that the flood gates open for outdoor day drinking. . . the first ancient pairing that has withstood the test of time. . . With no further ado. . . remember, Wineries are opening up. . . live music, Cab Sauv, sign me up

for shit’s sake! Make sure you get to these fab five as Vitamin D becomes a bit more abundant. . . Or Don’t (I don’t care). See you there:

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars
A Spokane Valley icon with mansion-on-a-cliff energy. Panoramic views. Live music. Wine flights that somehow hit harder when paired with a sunset and a little soft jazz in the background. Come for the cabernet, stay for the cottagecore daydream.

Winescape
Hidden just off the South Hill, Winescape brings boutique vibes and serious craft. Their estate reds are rich, the tasting room feels like a secret hangout, and their outdoor space? Chef’s kiss. Less touristy, more “I know a spot.”

Maryhill Spokane
Downtown, dramatic, and dependable. Maryhill’s tasting room inside Kendall Yards is pure class — think stone walls, glass pours, and flights that pair perfectly with people-watching and river trail strolls. It’s the grown-up version of pre-gaming.

Barrister Winery
Tucked into a downtown brick warehouse, Barrister’s got serious “cool art professor who moonlights as a winemaker” vibes. The reds are bold, the ambiance is vibey, and their First Friday events are the unofficial kickoff to any good Spokane weekend.

Townshend Cellar
North of town and criminally underrated. Townshend’s wines lean lush, and their setting — nestled near Green Bluff — is ideal for escaping town without committing to a full-blown road trip. A local favorite that somehow still feels like a secret.

Buffalo Exchange Earth Day Sale – April 19

Vibe up and glow up for the price of shopping at a Thai night market... Buffalo Exchange is throwing their annual Earth Day Sale on April 19th. It’s about to be a thrift-loving throwdown, and their stuff will be projectile’d off the shelf.

And here’s what’s extra groovy about this deal: 100% of the proceeds go to the American Wild Horse Conservation. So glow up, kings and queens — snag that drip, unbutton that thang, catch some rays, and gallop around the region like the majestic horses you’re helping by showing up—and you’ll look fly asf:

Here’s the deets:
Doors open at 11AM
Location: 407 W Main Ave, Spokane
CASH ONLY. Don’t roll in with Venmo dreams.
Bring your own bag. Be that eco legend.

Been to Tamale Box Yet?? Bout to get bigger!

Tamale Box is bringing its beloved tamales to Liberty Lake with a new location in the River District, aiming to open by winter 2025. Known for their authentic, hand-wrapped tamales filled with options like black bean, cheddar and jalapeño, pork chile verde, shredded beef, and chicken chile rojo, Tamale Box has been a Spokane favorite since its farmers market days. The Liberty Lake spot will continue this tradition, offering the same flavorful menu that has garnered a loyal following. ​InstagramInlander+1Edible Inland Northwest+1

Owners Enrique Mariscal and Lauren Murray are excited to expand their reach, bringing their family recipes and commitment to quality to a new community. As with their Kendall Yards location, the Liberty Lake restaurant will focus on delivering delicious, handmade tamales that honor their Mexican heritage. Keep an eye on their Instagram for updates on the opening date and more sneak peeks.

El Jefe Grill Is Bringing Smoke, Soul & Sinaloan Heat to CDA
Sam Arora helped open over 50 restaurants for other people... and now he’s flipping the script. El Jefe Grill is his baby, and it’s about to body your current go-to taco spot. We’re talking authentic Mexican barbecue — mesquite-smoked chicken and carne asada sold by the piece or the pound. Everything’s house-made. Everything slaps.

Toss in tortillas, toppings, burritos, rice bowls, and Sonoran hot dogs that are wrapped in bacon and kissed by God. Salsas are made from recipes straight outta Sinaloa. Some of the spices are literally imported from Mexico. Now that’s what I call heritage with heat.

The vibe? Fast casual with eight rotating taps, canned cocktails, and live music on Fridays. Open late on weekends. Built for hangouts, not just to-go orders.

📍 405 E. Best Ave., Suite 104
🎯 Opening: May-ish

Raising Cane’s Sets Sights on CDA — It’s About to Get Saucy
Big Chicken Energy is headed to Neider Ave. Raising Cane’s — aka the Beyoncé of chicken finger chains — just applied to put down roots in front of the At Home store off U.S. 95. We’re talking 3,368 square feet of crispy-fried commotion with a dual-lane drive-thru, because one lane simply cannot contain the Cane’s faithful.

And this isn't some lone ranger. Also circling the zone: Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jersey Mike’s, and a Sleep Number store — a lineup designed to feed you, sugar shock you, and then tuck you in for a nap. Elite planning, honestly.

So yeah, expect a line. Expect the sauce to slap. Expect to black out and wake up holding a Caniac Combo wondering what just happened.

COPOW Cafe – Coming in May 

Get ready to vibe up and glow up, Coeur d’Alene. Copow Foods is bringing its colorful, organic flair to a new café opening this May at 312 N. Fourth St. (formerly the Wellness Bar). This spot is set to be your new go-to for coffee, brunch, organic smoothies, juices, build-your-own micro bowls, and grab-and-go meals that are as nourishing as they are Instagram-worthy.​

Copow is all about real food with real ingredients—think no seed oils, no preservatives, just pure, vibrant flavors. Whether you're fueling up for the day or looking for a midday pick-me-up, this café has you covered. Plus, with their commitment to sustainability and community, every meal you enjoy supports local initiatives.​Cōpow Foods

So, mark your calendars and prepare to treat yourself to a dining experience that's as good for your taste buds as it is for your soul.​

For more details, visit copow.com or follow them on Instagram @copowfoods.

Caffeine is Commodering Square Footage

Post Falls is about to get wired. A 50,000-square-foot temple to the bean is currently rising off Pleasant View Road — and it’s not just for barista bros in the know. Coffee Warehouse (yeah, that’s the actual name) is setting up shop at 4291 W. Poleline Ave., and it’s looking like the Costco of caffeine.

Sales will be open to licensed coffee stands and the public, so whether you’re running a roadside espresso empire or just someone who treats coffee like oxygen, this is your new mecca. Bulk beans? Equipment? Syrups with flavors like “is this dessert?” Yep. They’ve got it.

Bonus: they deliver. Which means Post Falls is entering its barista era.
Opening. . .  sometime in 2025.
More info at thecoffeewarehouseinc.com — but you didn’t hear that from me.

I’ve taken too much of your time. I’M DONE, OKAY?!?!