Panda Express opening in CdA
Friday is grand opening day for Panda Express, a quick-serve Chinese restaurant at 400 W. Wilbur Ave., next to Pier 1 Imports off U.S. Highway 95, Coeur d’Alene. Best known for its orange-flavored chicken, the 2,448-square-foot facility features dine-in, takeout and drive-through options.
Opening at 10:30 a.m., Panda Express will donate 20 percent of Friday’s sales to the Children’s Village. Football players from Coeur d’Alene and Lake City high schools will compete in a chow mein chow down at 3 p.m. Using chopsticks and one hand, players will see who can eat the most for prizes of $300, $150, T-shirts and gift certificates. The Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting is at 5 o’clock tonight.
With five years’ experience with the company in Spokane, Terry Knight will manage 15 employees at the Coeur d’Alene site. Store hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Phone 762-1015.
With its headquarters in Rosemead, Calif., Panda Restaurant Group has 835 restaurants in 37 states, Puerto Rico and Japan, including 12 Hibachi-San Japanese Grills and five Panda Inn restaurants.
Vellucci’s salon now open
Vellucci’s All About Beauty opened last week in the strip mall at 3650 Government Way between Rockin’ Robin Cafe and Great Floors. The salon is in the space formerly occupied by Coeur d’Alene Day Care.
Featuring haircuts, waxing, colors and weaves, owner Dominic Vellucci and two employees (with two more coming soon) are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The grand opening is June 10. A North Idaho resident 27 years ago, Vellucci returned last May from San Francisco. Phone 765-8510.
Prairie Photo in Hayden
“More than just pictures” is the specialty of Tom Davenport, who opened Prairie Photo at 11076 Government Way, Hayden, in May. He shoots high school senior and wedding pictures in the conventional style, but he likes to steer customers toward environmental portraits.
Originally from Phoenix, Davenport came to North Idaho in 1992 and does freelance photography, including regular Handle Extra section features Saturdays in The Spokesman-Review. These include the monthly birding column with Dr. Stephen Lindsay and the Kootenai Canvas scenic photos. He also shoots weekend sports.
Davenport and his wife Suzan staff the studio 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and by appointment. He will soon add a nature gallery of framed images from his Web site, www.prairiephoto.biz. Phone 762-0635.
Tidbits
“Bullfrog’s New York-style deli opens today in the Eclectic Artisans Gallery at 211 Coeur d’Alene Ave., Coeur d’Alene. With sandwiches, Cravens Coffee and French pastries (later), the deli is in the space formerly occupied by Musgrove Gallery. Owner Carol Eagle said the deli will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Phone 676-1280.
“Last week, in a historical add-on to the move of Wiggett’s Marketplace, a reader said wind once knocked over the screen of the Coeur d’Alene Drive-In Theatre during the showing of “The Ten Commandments.” However, a second reader (there’s my quota, folks) this week said it was lightning that hit the screen when “protesters” were praying during a showing of “The Exorcist.” Wow.
“The volunteers’ litter pickup of Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The business end of this is that Starbucks Coffee is donating $10 per person per volunteer hour with a maximum donation of $1,000 to the Tubbs Hill Foundation.
The money is used for the preservation and maintenance of the fantastic, lakeside natural park. Sign-up, litter bags and free coffee will be at the Third Street entrance.
“Great ideas and innovations are honored with Idaho’s newest specialty license plate featuring an outline of the state inside a light bulb and the words “Ideas, Innovations. Idaho.” Proceeds go toward Idaho’s technology industry through the Department of Commerce & Labor. Check Online at www.technology.idaho.gov/license.
“Pictures of the land are the specialty of Kate Steinke’s new Prospective Photo Images business. She said her passion is capturing the created beauty of the earth. She’s participating in Post Falls Days this weekend and other regional events.
“Natalie and Scot Schlatter of Dalton Gardens have bought Gymboree Play & Music, an interactive parent-child early learning program at 13817 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley. It offers age-appropriate activities for children through age 5, birthday parties, special events and off-site programs. Phone 818-2173.