Diners, deployment and a down home fair
Capone's Pub and Grill in Midtown Coeur d'Alene was a flutter with excitement on Monday afternoon when Guy Fieri of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" stopped in to film an upcoming segment. The spiky-haired, bleached-blond Fieri was also spotted at Jimmy's Down the Street on Sherman Avenue that afternoon. I've been to both Capone's and Down the Street ... neither are drive-ins and certainly aren't dives so the program must be featuring diners for this episode.
•••
We had a homecoming and farewell celebration for my nephew, PFC Dallas Scharf, all rolled into one when he returned from five months training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Lee, Va., on Friday afternoon. By 6 a.m. Saturday morning he was on a bus to Gowen Field in Boise with his company from the Idaho Army National Guard in Post Falls. They will deploy to Iraq in September ... brings the headlines up close and personal.
•••
It's opening day for the 2010 North Idaho Fair. We'll be out there for several events this week and just to enjoy seeing the fruits of everyone's labors. On Saturday morning, be sure to stop by the Coeur d'Alene Press' booth and say hello from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. By popular demand I'll be sporting the corn shirt made famous in this year's fair ads. On Sunday afternoon, I have a dream job serving as a judge for the barbecue competition, which will be set up on the north end of the arena. The public can buy samples of the ribs and chicken as a fundraiser for the North Idaho Fair Foundation, too. Details on More Main Street.
•••
What are the odds in August in North Idaho that we'd see temperatures in the 60s, with high winds and rain? But I have to say that the enthusiasm for seeing the Diamond Cup thunderboats wasn't dampened in the least on Sunday. Friday afternoon we went downtown to see the boats on display at The Coeur d'Alene Resort and visited with Mayor Sandi Bloem and regatta organizer Doug Miller. We were thrilled to see Mira Slovak, the legendary hydroplane driver, still handsome and charming at age 81, as he fired up the Miss Wahoo. I haven't seen Doug this week but no doubt he's still sporting a huge smile on his face after a great event that showcased some of Coeur d'Alene's colorful history.
•••
The World Trade Center steel beams drew large, respectful crowds at their local stops on the way to Kitsap County, Wash., for a future 9-11 memorial. On Saturday morning during a ceremony at Hot Rod Cafe and Road House Cycles with Mayor Clay Larkin and Congressman Walt Minnick, the firefighters from Kootenai Fire and Rescue lead the procession and came to pay their respects. It was a visible reminder of the sacrifice and service of those first responders on Sept. 11, 2001.
•••
I know it's still August and summer but my friends at Silverwood are preparing for their October Scareywood haunting at the park. They're holding casting auditions for zombies, freaks of nature, and creatures from the dead. (their descriptions, not mine!) Scheduled auditions are Sunday, Aug. 29 or Monday, Aug. 30. Call John Jachim, (208) 683-3400 ex.136.
•••
This past Monday I joined Scott Shawver, Sharon Sorenson, Pam Houser, Chris Pappas, Sherry Wallis, Deb Wunderlich, Mindy Hatcher and Robin Erny for an evening boating on the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d'Alene. We sure enjoyed the beautiful sunset and gorgeous full moon. Stopped by the triple decker Monty's Cruisin' boat docked at Blackwell Island and had an enjoyable visit with the boat's owner and namesake, Don Gross and his son, Monty. Ran into David Kilmer, skipper extraordinaire of Duane Hagadone's Sizzle sailboat at the Boardwalk Marina where Chris Craig of the marina provided excellent customer service. One of those "I love where I live" kind of evenings, for sure.
•••
Happy birthdays today to Jeff Selle, Ali Shute, Angie Penzkover, Cindi Carlson, Jack Mannschreck and David Flood, who's celebrating his big 4-0! On Thursday Sofia Armstrong will blow out her very first birthday candle, sharing the date with Cam Crollard, Lita Balbin, Sabelle Thomas, Julianne Rinard and Pam Grenny. George Forgacs turns 70 on Friday, also the birthday of Jan Frank, Ed Mitchell and Leeroy Shofner. Saturday Becky Fletcher marks her 60th, the same day that Jack Rieswig, Michelle Garcia, Spencer Messina and Darlene Johnson celebrate. On Sunday, Jeannie Peugh and Melinda George are the birthday girls. Cousins Avah Blankenship and Keetyn Blankenship were born 45 minutes apart at KMC on Aug. 29 two years ago. Tuesday Ron Nilson and Jill Delavan will eat cake and ice cream!
•••
THERE'S MORE: New stories and photos at More Main Street online, where you can find the link to add your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club. I'll be on the air at 7 a.m. Friday on KVNI AM 1080 with Kris Siebers and Joe Paisley for all you early risers.
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Kerri can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com