Hello Spokane! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Affordable childcare pilot, touch-a-truck, and retro arcade and toy museum + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
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 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New local care initiative: Spokane and Spokane Public Schools will pilot affordable childcare this fall, offering no-rent space to providers and aiming to lower tuition for families with children up to age 3 -- learn how the pilot works.
Council takes a closer look: Spokane City Council implemented a one-year pause on new data center building permit applications, citing long-term impacts. An amendment includes mixed-use facilities. A hearing is scheduled July 22 -- see the council's pause.
Boulevard makeover ahead: City officials are seeking feedback on a Spokane Falls Boulevard redesign reducing lanes to two and adding a protected bike lane, with traffic calming and a 40-second delay for drivers -- explore the boulevard redesign.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf 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 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Easy weekend energy: Sometimes you just need 27 acres of low-stress space. Audubon Park packs softball and baseball diamonds, a basketball court, a legit playground for the kids, and restrooms so you can actually stay a while. Grab a frisbee, call a friend, claim a patch of grass and decompress.
Instant apartment glow-up: Feeling like your living room needs more life, less dust bunny energy? Fern Plant Shop has healthy houseplants, pretty pots, and giftable green things, plus real-deal care tips so your leafy roommates find their groove and stick around.
Button-mash this week: Jedi Alliance is Spokane’s retro arcade and pop-culture treasure trove, stuffed with classic pinball, vintage cabinets, and a toy museum featuring legit movie props from X-Men, Terminator 2, and more. When your week needs a pick‑me‑up, go level up your nostalgia and show the kids what real high scores look like.
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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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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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 →
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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 Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🚛 Touch-a-Truck! @ Spokane Public Library - Hillyard | Friday (6/26) at 9:30 AM – Hillyard Library’s parking lot becomes a kid-powered motor pool, courtesy of the City of Spokane, with recycling, water, and garbage trucks you can touch. Chat up the drivers, peek at the controls, and enjoy the chorus of backup beeps while the kids go gleefully feral.
🌳 Summer Park Meet Up - June @ Holmberg Park | Saturday (6/27) at 9:30 AM – This monthly park hang keeps it simple, a casual playground meetup with rotating themes to support your breastfeeding journey. Bring questions, snacks, and the older kids, because schedules, like naps, are flexible. If the weather misbehaves, we’ll shift to Little Garden Cafe in North Spokane.
🎲 Dungeons and Dragons: Table 2 @ Shadle Park | Monday (6/29) at 3:15 PM – Got a middle or high schooler itching for adventure? This in-person Dungeons and Dragons game gathers Spokane kids of all experience levels to roll dice, spin stories, and form a party. They quest and make friends, you enjoy quiet, sanity, and a hot beverage.
🚗 Girl Scout Car Wash Fundraiser @ Car Wash Plaza | Saturday (7/11) at 9:00 AM – This sudsy pop-up at Car Wash Plaza on Thor is run by Girl Scout troop 5140, raising travel funds the old-fashioned way with buckets and elbow grease. Kids tackle road dust, you enjoy a clean car, and zero guilt.
🧶 DIY Dreamcatchers @ The Artisans Guild | Saturday (7/11) at 2:00 PM – DIY Dreamcatchers is getting you off the scroll and into a hands-on workshop to weave your own dreamcatcher, ages 10 and up. $25 per person, and for Mother’s Day it is buy one, get one half off. Bring Mom, kid, or your inner hippie.
🩰 Belle Fairytale Ballet Camp @ Ballet Arts Academy | Monday (7/20) at 1:30 PM – Got a small human who twirls through the produce aisle? This Belle Fairytale Ballet Camp serves ages 3.5 to 7 real ballet class, storytime, classical music, crafts, costumes, and a Big Sister mentor, because tutus beat couch cushions. Early birds snag a free costume.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Spokane report Weather forecastToday — High: 92°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 6%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. North wind 1 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 88°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Later: Rain showers likely after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 70%. This house is wildSet on 2.64 secluded acres in South Spokane, this updated 4-bedroom contemporary estate delivers resort-style living with a heated in-ground pool, custom putting green, and sleek TrimLight roofline lighting. A 4-bay garage, barn, shop, and storage shed add serious utility, while the finished basement, two fireplaces, mountain views, and RV parking round out the package.
Take a peek inside → |
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