Shopping in Post Falls

In 1921, the citizens of Post Falls, Idaho marveled as horses pulled two church buildings to the corner of Fourth Avenue and William Street, combining them and kindling the spirit of collaboration that fuels the structure's current resident, The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center. Here, gothic-revival and vernacular architecture converge, brimming with more than a century of stories and earning a spot in the National Register of Historic Places. Throughout the building's past and into its present, it has persisted as a haven where the community gathers to socialize, learn, and question suspected witches. These days, the facility hosts activities that strengthen the mind and body, such as fitness classes and cooking courses. An upstairs gallery showcases the work of local artists from North Idaho and Eastern Washington as well as works by national artists, and the main-level celebration hall's raised stage and space for up to 200 seats acts as a venue for concerts, weddings, and crowd-surfing practice.

Dr. Scott Johnson believes the best treatment is prevention, and so he looks at every single tooth on his patients’ sweet shark tattoos before examining the patients’ mouths to hunt down decay and gum disease. Afterward, he prevents future enamel damage with fluoride treatments and educates patients on proper brushing and flossing. But even though the dentist stresses preventive treatment, he's fully prepared to deal with dental miscues. Natural-colored fillings repair cavities, and dental implants replace missing teeth altogether. Patients can also spruce up their smiles with Zoom whitening treatments or conceal cracks behind porcelain veneers.

Family owned and run for more than 30 years, Seright's Ace Hardware blends the inviting ambience of a mom-and-pop store with the selection and expertise of a megatool powerhouse. The 18,000-square-foot Post Falls location sells paint, pet food and sundry services such as chainsaw sharpening and key cutting. An expert staff proffers assistance to customers overwhelmed by the rainbow's audaciously wide spectrum by introducing Benjamin Moore paint technology, which allows for digitally matched colors, creating new surface-adorning hues. Stihl chainsaws, Toro snow blowers, and other appliances fulfill the FDA’s daily power-tool recommendations, and the Post Falls location also offers small-engine repair.

The sun is a constant presence at Twisp Cafe & Coffee House, flooding in the windows in the morning to shake the drowsiness from commuters and hovering overhead as diners stop in for lunch. The recently retooled menu spills over with Mediterranean-inspired options, including pizza dotted with olives and fresh basil, falafel sandwiches, and flaky baklava made in-house. These pair with energizing drinks, such as salted-caramel lattes and huckleberry white mochas. Visitors can make use of the free WiFi or stop by for frequent events, including acoustic musicians, book signings, and chances to take a ride in the bean roaster.

If one word had to describe Coeur d’Alene Cellars’ attitude toward winemaking, it would probably be "meticulous." During each stage of creation, from vineyard selection and harvest to bottling, winemakers carefully supervise and adjust conditions to suit their visions. They hand-harvest fruit from their eastern Washington vineyards only on days that fit specific temperature conditions. Between pickings, the vines are pruned for low yields that concentrate flavor and quality. And their syrah and viognier grapes are both hand-sorted the night of harvest before they’re pressed and fermented.

That process is carefully controlled as well. Syrah blends first ferment in open-top vessels, allowing for closer management of color and tannins. Only later do they age inside French and American oak barrels, like former daredevils bent on reliving their trip over Niagara Falls. Viognier blends, on the other hand, spend both fermentation and aging periods in small oak barrels.

The resulting well-balanced wines can claim myriad accolades from publications such as Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. Their 2004 Sarah’s cuvée viognier, for instance, earned 89 points from Wine Enthusiast, which praised its "good balance" of "peach, apricot, sour lemon candy and even a bit of cinnamon." Current vintages include the 2007 Alder Ridge Vineyard syrah, whose smooth body supports flavors of berries, vanilla, and cinnamon that conclude in a lingering finish.

These and other wines are poured at Coeur d'Alene's onsite wine bar, Barrel Room No. 6. Inside, sleek red walls help create an upscale vibe. Glasses perch beneath pendant lighting on the bar or glitter on top of old wine barrels repurposed as tables. As customers sip, knowledgeable wait staff can suggest ways to bring out the wines' subtle flavors by nibbling aromatic cheese pairings or the hem of a neighbor’s freshly laundered shirt.