Opening with openings

Wow. Where to start this week? Many new places have either just opened or are about to open. So, hang on!

Downtown Coeur d'Alene is the most obvious place to start.

Featuring artwork by co-owner Michael Bacon and other local artists, the Blackwell Gallery opened Friday at 205 Sherman Ave. The small store is where One More Thing was earlier and right next to Hudson's Hamburgers.

The renovated interior's focused lighting highlights the contemporary and abstract work. Bacon said he was born and raised with a family that dealt with art and antiques and came north with them from the Santa Cruz, Calif., area 20 years ago.

Co-owner is Bill Wendlandt of the Blackwell Boutique Hotel, where more artwork is featured at 820 Sherman. The two places will combine to bring people along the length of downtown Sherman for the monthly artwalk and musicwalk gatherings.

Blackwell Gallery hours will be noon to 6 p.m. daily. Phone 702-493-4190.

Andy's Chop Shop opens Saturday

A few blocks up from downtown, Andy's Chop Shop opens Saturday at 505 N. Fourth St.

Owner Andy Dickinson and associate Richard Sheldon will offer haircuts for men and boys with traditional cuts, flattops and fades. Dickinson worked at Tom's Barbershop in Spokane Valley for 15 years, and Sheldon came from Boise.

Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Phone 771-5306. The planned website is www.chopshopcda.com.

New liquor store at State Line

A handy location next to the Washington border, an Idaho State Liquor Store opened last month on the north side of I-90 at Seltice Way and Wellesley Avenue (next to Lew's Smoke Shop).

The location is interesting because the State of Washington recently allowed retailers to sell hard booze, which they are, but at elevated prices and taxes. So the Idaho prices are much cheaper, but the booze is still available only at the state liquor stores.

Hours at the new store are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Mountain Comfort joins Ironstone

Although Mountain Comfort furniture closed its store at 310 W. Haycraft Ave., the company has joined the Ironstone Inc. store at 2425 W. Hayden Ave. (west of Ramsey Road).

The combination is inviting as Mountain Comfort features furniture and accessories for all rooms of the house and Ironstone has specialties of fireplaces, appliances, outdoor living and stone and metal fabrication. Casey and Sheree Bryntesen's Ironstone portion of the store is unique, while Mountain Comfort has other stores in California, Colorado and New Mexico.

Hours in the Hayden store are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Phone 772-7553. Check www.ironstoneinc.com and www.mountaincomfortcda.com.

The Tidbits start now!

- Watch for details about Frontier Communications' move from Mineral Drive to the large building on Government Way just south of Wildwaters.

- A Discount Sleep Center has opened at 5999 W. Seltice Way.

- Frosted Cupcakes has closed in downtown Cd'A.

- Lucca's Restaurant will be changing on East Sherman Avenue.

- It's confusing in giving a visitor directions that some streets change names. Appleway Way/Best is confusing enough, but how about one street (from east to west) of Shadduck Lane to Margaret to Kathleen to Greenwich. Too bad the whole length can't be of the historical Shadduck name.

- "Continual" means steady repetition, such as "the McEuen Park controversy raises continual controversy." "Continuous" means uninterrupted, such as "a continuous stretch of flat highway."

- The solider who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is a seasoned veteran.

- Contact Nils Rosdahl at [email protected].