Hey Coeur d'Alene, hope your week’s off to a good start! In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Charity cornhole tournament, free plant bingo, and hidden lakeside escape + lots of fun things to do for free.
Today's sponsor, SmartAsset, is helping people around Coeur d'Alene evaluate their retirement income strategy and plan for a retirement that could last decades. Their free quiz matches you with vetted fiduciary advisors who serve your area and are legally required to act in your best interests. -- take the quiz and find your match.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Infrastructure upgrade underway: Idaho DEQ awarded a $2 million drinking water loan to Camp Fire Inland Northwest in Kootenai County to install a pump station, backup generator, SCADA system, and flow meter -- see the loan details.
Community fun for a cause: TitleOne Coeur d’Alene’s Charity Cornhole Tournament will be at Kootenai County Fairgrounds on July 11, supporting CASA North Idaho. Organizers aim for 64 teams and $20,000, building on $100,000 raised -- check the cornhole lineup.
A hidden lakeside escape: On Lake Pend Oreille in Kootenai County, Bayview stays blissfully overlooked as road-trippers speed to Sandpoint, a village of floating homes, marinas, and mountain views locals like kept quiet -- explore Bayview’s hidden side.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill:If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor This summer, what if you didn't have to point at the menu?Not "menu Spanish." Not pointing at the photo and hoping. Ordering dinner like a local, talking the vendor down at the market, catching the punchline before anyone explains it. Babbel gets you there in ten minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks, because every lesson is built by 200+ language experts to get you talking early, not drilling flashcards you'll forget by lunch. And it works: 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold. Then there's the part that makes it a no-brainer. You pay once. A single lifetime subscription unlocks all 14 languages Babbel teaches, for every trip you'll ever take, with no monthly fee and no renewal quietly hitting your card next year. Get Babbel for 55% off through the end of June.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Easygoing dinner, high vibes: Whether your fridge has vibes not groceries or you just want to catch up over something cold, Moon Time delivers with microbrews on tap and creative pub grub that never tries too hard. Solid, neighborly, and reliably tasty, it's the kind of spot you can make a habit.
Get moving, neighbor: If you’ve been meaning to trade scrolling for squats, NIC Student Wellness and Recreation Center keeps it simple, local, and refreshingly un-intimidating. Quick lift, cardio burst, or a class with actual humans, it’s an easy win for your weekly routine.
Soup night, solved: When the day needs a reset, Pho Thanh & Cafe Inc nails it with steamy bowls of pho built on rich, aromatic broth, plus crisp fresh spring rolls and comforting wonton soup. It’s the kind of reliable, local go-to you keep in your back pocket for cozy, no-fuss dinners.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges. A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options →
He sleeps fine, you have to wear earplugs: Or turn on the white noise machine and put a pillow over your head. When one person snores, the other tries everything. And yet... about a third of couples give up eventually and end up in separate rooms. A doctor-developed throat spray has been fixing this for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Free events worth checking outFree things to do in the coming days and weeks. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📣 Free Trial Cheer Night @ Spotlight Studios Northstar (Hayden) | Tuesday (6/16) at 4:30 PM – Got a kid who cartwheels through the kitchen? Take them to Spotlight Studios in Hayden for a free trial cheer class, open to boys and girls, with team training, tumbling, and stunts. It is a competitive program, taught by Coach Stacey, minus the sideline drama.
🛍 Mel Dalton @ Kootenai County Farmers' Market (Hayden) | Wednesday (6/17) at 4:00 PM – Wednesday at Riverstone Farmers' Market means fresh peaches and Mel Dalton soundtracking your produce inspection. Expect one-of-a-kind crafts, peak-season veggies, and baked goods that undo your morning walk. Summer done right, with music, neighbors, and a tomato you can smell before you commit.
🎉 Free Plant Bingo @ Kindred & Company (Post Falls) | Wednesday (6/17) at 4:30 PM – Whether your living room is a jungle or your last succulent ghosted you, Kindred & Company is hosting free plant bingo with coffee, cozy vibes, and prizes that actually photosynthesize. Five rounds, free plants to win, family friendly, and blessedly indoors.
🛍 Summer Market @ Rathdrum Lions Club | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Rathdrum’s Summer Market is an easy weekend stroll with fresh produce, crafty finds, and indoor and outdoor booths that keep things breezy. It is handicap accessible, with free parking and admission, so expect totes, neighborly gossip, and guilt-free wandering at a sensible pace.
🎶 Woofstock @ Companions Animal Center (Hayden) | Friday (7/3) at 12:00 PM – Whether you still have your original bellbottoms or just a lawn chair, Woofstock brings free, all-ages live music to Companions Animal Center, plus local vendors and nonprofits. Wallets stay happy, neighbors get chatty, and Hayden remembers it can throw a feel-good party.
🎺 Hayden Summer Concert Series @ Mcintire Family Park | Thursday (7/9) at 6:00 PM – Summer evenings in Hayden mean big brass and easy company as the Coeur d'Alene Big Band fills the lawn. It is free, so bring a chair or blanket, let Richie's Dawg House handle dinner, and save your two-step for tapping toes, not orthopedic bills.
🎬 Post Falls Movies in the Park @ Q'emiln Park | Friday (7/10) at 7:00 PM – Head to Q'emiln Park for National Treasure under the stars, the rare history lesson that pairs well with popcorn. Nicolas Cage hunts clues, you hunt a comfy spot, and the kids burn energy on yard games. Bring blankets, chairs, and your inner cryptologist.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Coeur d'Alene report Weather forecastToday — High: 86°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 54. Southwest wind 3 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 80°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 80. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. This house is wildDubbed the “Queen of the Lake,” this nearly 7,000-square-foot timber frame masterpiece was built from 78,000 board feet of old growth Canadian fir. Set on .78 acres in Kidd Island Bay, it pairs sweeping Coeur d’Alene and skyline views with 120 feet of sandy beach, a new Stancraft dock, 2,500 square feet of outdoor living, and a dramatic four-story glass elevator.
Take a peek inside → |
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