How we created a Christmas card for our readers

Every holiday season, we like to surprise our readers with a Christmas card from The Spokesman-Review staff.

In 2016, our Christmas card was of Santa and an elf roasting marshmallows in front of the backdrop of downtown Spokane.

Last year we took the photo on the new Riverfront Park Skate Ribbon with Santa, Mrs. Claus and three elves.

This year we were inspired by a Norman Rockwell painting of Santa relaxing in front of a fire.

We scouted several locations, and found a perfect fireplace in the Patsy Clark Mansion.

Thanks to John Allison at Eymann Allison Hunter Jones P.S., we were able to secure the location.

Managing Editor Joe Palmquist’s grandchildren, Serafina, Genevieve and David, are perfect as the inquisitive children looking through Santa’s bag. Shawn Vestal, our resident Santa, is sitting in Patsy Clark’s chair.

We look forward to creating another Christmas card next year. Until then, Merry Christmas and enjoy!