Annual Chocolate Affair event throughout downtown offers an evening of sipping, strolling and sampling
Fall in love this February… with Coeur d’Alene, with wine and chocolate and with a popular annual event back this year better than ever. The CHOCOLATE AFFAIR on Friday, Feb. 8 is the perfect pairing of wine and chocolate served up in delicate and decadent dishes from caramel and fudge to crepes, cordials and ice cream as you stroll from shop to shop.
Tickets are $25 for seven 1-ounce pours, with extra tastings available for $1 each. Not interested in the wine selection? Just do the chocolate tastings: $15.
Pick up your tickets beginning at 5 pm at the RESORT PLAZA SHOPS and plan your evening. You have three hours of sipping, strolling and sampling, so you might as well start inside shops with GRACE AND JOY. And nearby, MARKETPLACE GIFTS will be serving up their very own huckleberry cordials.
Head outside and up Sherman Avenue for the remaining twenty locations, including SUMMER’S GLASS (211 Sherman Ave.). Find a bit of the ol’ country at ALL THINGS IRISH (315 Sherman Ave.).
Turn onto Fourth Street to find ABI’S ICE CREAM ( 112 N. Fourth St.), which will surprise and delight with a brand new flavor: Chocolate Gooey Brownie. It is, according to owner Maren Scoggins, their decadent chocolate ice cream mixed with their house-made gooey brownie chunks. “It is a chocolate lover’s dream!”
After Abi’s, double back to Sherman to discover the assortment of home décor at MIX IT UP (513 Sherman Ave.) then cross the street and make your way back towards the shops, stopping at T BLUE BOUTIQUE (404 Sherman Ave.), which is featuring treats by Kristina Stephenson, a celebrated pastry chef from Northern Quest Casino.
SHENANIGANS SWEETS & TREATS (312 Sherman Ave.) is making their own sweet treats this year, while MOUNTAIN MADNESS SOAP (310 Sherman Ave.) has partnered with North Idaho Bed & Breakfast Association.
And rounding out your evening of sweet indulgence is MARMALADE (308 Sherman Ave.), where you’re sure to find some sweet new fashions, too.
Don’t be surprised if Coeur d’Alene seems even livelier during your Chocolate Affair adventure; it’s MUSIC WALK, held the second Friday during January, February and March. That means that in between chocolate and wine, you’ll have more than a dozen opportunities to hear live music like Pat Coast at RUSTIC (309 Sherman Ave.), Kathy Colton and Carla Grant at ARLEN ROSENOFF FINE ART (116 N. Fourth St.) and Wyatt Wood at THE DOGHOUSE (110 N. Fourth St.).
Special Events
Story & Image
FEBRUARY 8
Story & Image: Illustration in the Inland Northwest features works inspired by the story “Witch Lake” by author Sharma Shields and music from Jilly FM. Curated by Derrick Freeland. Emerge, 208 N. Fourth St., 5-8 pm.
Backcountry Weekend
FEBRUARY 9-10
Brush up on your backcountry skills with an on-snow avalanche course, a backcountry travel clinic, an uphill/downhill race, plus beer, raffle prizes and more. Free; 9 am; Silver Mountain. Details at visitcda.org.
Teacher Appreciation Day
FEBRUARY 10
Hurray for teachers! Lookout Pass appreciates you and wants to show their love with free lift tickets. Bring your teacher ID and you can ski free (K-12 teachers only). More details at visitcda.org.
