First Friday event benefits downtown

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

Construction got you down? Head downtown Friday, Oct. 4 from 4-7 p.m. for the Sandpoint Shopping District’s “First Friday Event,” celebrating local merchants affected by downtown street reconstruction.

Participating businesses will offer music, children’s games, snacks and sips from local restaurants, as well as sales to help get an early start on the holiday shopping season.

Each purchase earns participants tickets to be entered into a prize drawing, which includes a grand prize of dinner for two at Beet and Basil, tickets to the Panida Theater and a bottle of wine from Pend d’Oreille Winery.

The event coincides with Pend Oreille Arts Council’s First Friday Art Reception, hosted in collaboration with Pend d’Oreille Winery and the Power House. This visual arts reception will take place the first Friday of each month, starting Oct. 4 with Plateau? No! at the Columbia Bank Plaza, 231 N. Third Ave.

“This show features a half dozen working artists that have already had successful careers in the arts and have reached a point that they could comfortably keep doing the same thing,” said POAC Executive Director Hannah Combs. “This show is all about them resisting the ‘plateau’ of their career to charge into new territory, try a new medium and challenge themselves.”

Head to the Pend d’ Oreille Winery from 7-9 p.m. for the official after-party with live music from Mike Wagoner and an artist reception with Catherine Earle. Participants must be present at the party to win the grand prize.

This event is sponsored by the Panida Theater, Beet and Basil and the Pend d’ Oreille Winery. Participating businesses include: Pend d’ Oreille Winery, Sharon’s Hallmark, Azalea Handpicked Style, Carousel Emporium, Zwazo Nich, Meadowbrook, Outdoor Experience, Mary Ruth’s Gift Market, Burl Wood Dreams, Eve’s Leaves, The Pickled Kitchen, Northwest Handmade, Cabi, Bella Terra Boutique, Shakapaw, Artworks, 219 Lounge, Grace & Joy, the Alpine Shop, the Panida Theater and Finan McDonald.