Terrific BBQ Recipes

Fantastic recipes just in time for your late summer get-together!

Tequila Baby Back Ribs

Combine all the above and season 2 full slabs of ribs, each cut in half. Refrigerate 2-4 hours.  Put half of 1 slab in 1-gallon ziploc bag, layer with onion, cilantro, and garlic. Place other half on top, repeat with onion, cilantro, and garlic. Pour in half bottle tequila. Add juice of half lemon and 1 lime. Seal. Repeat with other slab. Marinate at least 4 hours. Grill with onion, cilantro, and garlic at 350 degrees until done.

Honey Mango-Glazed Baby Back Ribs

Remove ribs from packaging, rinse and pat dry. Remove membrane from backside of ribs. Place ribs in shallow pan, sprinkle salt and pepper evenly and set aside. In a small saucepan, add chipotle/adobo, mango and honey. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until cooked down and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Using the slow and low method of BBQ'ing, set temperature to 225-240 degrees. If using coals, let them burn off and move over to one side of the grill. Wrap the ribs and 2/3 of the sauce mixture in aluminum foil tightly and place on grill. Close lid. After 2 hours, flip the ribs and let cook for another 2 hours. Open the aluminum and remove ribs, place them on grill and brush on remaining sauce and let cook another 30 minutes.

Ready for a memorable meal here in Spokane? Our real estate agents are on the case.

Why not top off a day looking at Spokane homes for sale with a dinner that will refresh and rejuvenate you? One of the best ways to make delicious food even more satisfying is to enjoy it outdoors. Spokane has natural beauty and fresh air that will add the perfect complement to your cuisine.

Let's drop in on just a handful of the many great patio dining options in Spokane:

• Osprey Restaurant & Bar – 700 North Division Street, Spokane, WA 99202
  Osprey Restaurant & Bar is a locally owned business that stands out for its full calendar of events. Just about any time of the month and any season of the year, you can find wine dinners, live music nights, and so much more. The sophisticated, chef-led menu offers lunch, dinner, and the famous weekend brunch, as well as a drive-through barbecue option. The heated patio is welcoming at any hour.
  
  
• Mizuna – 214 North Howard Street, Spokane, WA 99201
  Open seven nights a week from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Mizuna is a classy spot that consistently draws both visitors and Spokane locals. At the crossroads of the city's top hotels and venues, Mizuna has been around since 1996. It prides itself on local ingredients and organic produce. It recently slimmed down to focus on an unforgettable dinner, which includes a full menu for both vegetarians and omnivores.
  
  
• O'Doherty's Irish Grille – 525 West Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99201
  Heralding itself as the home of "traditional Irish fare and great spirits," O'Doherty's Irish Grille is loved for banquets, parties, and other gatherings. Open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11:30 a.m., it's a true taste of the old country where you'll find Emerald Isle mainstays like shepherd's pie, Galway meatloaf, and Donegal salmon, among many more. There's also a full wine list and plenty of desserts.
  
  
• Luna Spokane – 5620 South Perry Street, Spokane, WA 99223
  Luna Spokane puts a new spin on neighborhood dining with its locally owned and community-focused approach. In partnership with other local businesses, including Casa Cano Farms, Spokane Family Farms, KJ Pottery, Culture Bread Milling, and others, it crafts an exquisite culinary vision that you simply cannot find outside Spokane. Reservations are suggested.
  
  
• Remedy Kitchen and Tavern – 3809 South Grand Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99203
  Remedy Kitchen and Tavern is always here to welcome its regulars and newcomers from far and wide. Featuring a convenient location that combines full dining and 24 taps of craft beer, you have your pick of ample patio or rooftop seating. From burgers to healthy vegetarian favorites, the Remedy has it all.
  
  
• Italia Trattoria – 144 South Cannon Street, Spokane, WA 99201
  Italia Trattoria makes its mark with a fully covered, enclosed, and heated patio. It is also one of the local restaurants where dogs are welcomed, giving them plenty of space to hang out on the patio as long as they are on a leash. As for the delightful food, choose your desire from scrumptious breakfast, lunch, dinner, al fresco, and sandwich picks, plus wines.
  
  
• BARK – 905 North Washington Street, Spokane, WA 99201
  Bring your dog with you to dine out on the patio at BARK, or adopt one! This one-of-a-kind brewery partners with the local humane society to help showcase adoptable pets in need of homes. This rescue pub offers brunch and happy hour menus that are sure to please, with a variety of vegan and vegetarian options featured! 

Ready to learn more about Spokane and its dining scene? Contact us to discover more of what Spokane has to offer.

Coldwell Banker Scores First in Agent Satisfaction. Again.

Confucius said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." 

The real estate professionals across the Coldwell Banker brand are passionate about their industry – and about their brand. For the third time, Coldwell Banker Real Estate ranked #1 in agent satisfaction in the annual "Agent Priorities" report conducted by Quester.

Designed to keep what's important to agents top of mind, the report zeroes in on topics such as work/life balance, brand image, support, tools, and culture. Knowing what makes an agent more likely to stay with a company is a key component in what brokerages can do to foster positive work environments and grow their agents' businesses.

On a local level, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson combines the strength of the national tools with additional services designed to help our Realtors® list, sell, and learn.

Full-time managing brokers are in place to provide immediate assistance. Offices are staffed with Agent Services Experts (ASEs) to help with marketing, paperwork, and training. A company-wide marketing team is in place to create campaigns that support current market trends, listing types, and services.

With continuing education an important aspect of any business, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson offers in-house classes, regular lunch 'n' learn trainings, continuing education at no cost, and national certifications and classes.

To read the results of the report, visit the Coldwell Banker Blue Matter blog.

There's always something going on in Spokane! And with a wide range of festivals lined up this summer, it's an especially great time of year to head outside for some great live music.

Some of our real estate agents' favorite festivals and events are coming back this season, so be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming summer music festivals in the Spokane area!

• River City Market & Music - 408 N Spokane St, Post Falls, ID 83854
  The annual River City Market & Music series is an ongoing event that takes place on multiple occasions throughout the summer months. It's located in Landings Park, along the Spokane River in the city of Post Falls, just 30 minutes east of Spokane. River City Market & Music includes live music performances as well as arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and a wide range of other attractions. Dates for the 2022 Market & Music Series are July 13, July 20, July 27, August 3, August 10, and August 17.
  
  
• Hillyard Festival - 6018 N Regal St, Spokane, WA 99208
  The annual Hillyard Festival is a beloved community celebration in Spokane's historic Hillyard neighborhood. This year's festivities are scheduled for August 5-7 and will include a wide range of live entertainment. Although this year's live music has yet to be announced at the time of publication, the Hillyard Festival is always a great showcase for local bands. There will also be a parade, beer garden, food vendors, and a carnival midway. The festival takes place in the heart of Hillyard, just minutes from many Spokane homes for sale.
  
  
• Elk-Chattaroy Music Festival - 28118 N Newport Hwy, Chattaroy, WA 99003
  With a focus on country music, the Elk-Chattaroy Music Festival takes place on August 6, 2022. Headlining the festival this year is Nashville recording artist Clayton Shay, along with support from some of the most talented local bands and singer-songwriters from right here in the Inland Northwest. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets to the event, which takes place in the Biggies Restaurant parking lot in Chattaroy, WA. 
  
  
• Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival - Medical Lake, WA 99022
  It's been 20 years since the very first Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival in 2002, and this annual event has grown to become one of the leading bluegrass festivals in the Inland Northwest! This year's lineup includes performances by John Reischman & the Jaybirds, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Eli West, the Onlies, and many more. The Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival takes place on August 12-14, with a spectacular location overlooking Medical Lake. Passes are available for attendees to camp onsite. 
  
  
• Pig Out in the Park - 507 N Howard St, Spokane, WA 99201
  Taking place on Labor Day weekend, Spokane's Pig Out in the Park is one of the most anticipated festivals of the year in the Inland Northwest. This festival always marks the end of summer, and the folks in Spokane know how to send the season off with a bang! The 2022 Pig Out in the Park festival spans six days from August 31 to September 5 and includes 90 free concerts on 3 stages, as well as 50-plus food booths and three adult beverage gardens in Spokane's Riverfront Park.

Contact us today to learn more about upcoming festivals and events in the Spokane area, and be sure to ask our real estate agents about how we can help find your dream home in Eastern Washington. 

Ideas for Upgrading Your Patio

Delta Media Group

Maybe you've been pondering all those cool ideas seen on TV and the web about redoing your drab slab of a concrete patio so that it's a standout feature of your indoor/outdoor entertainment area. Here's the deal. We are all in love with the idea of extending our living and entertainment area into the outdoors. And why not? There are dozens of relatively inexpensive and yet innovative hacks that will make your outdoors as inviting as the indoors, so let's start working from the ground up by renovating that boring, cracked, or scuffed-up concrete patio and see how dazzling it can be.

1. Paint it.
   For basic painting, you will need concrete binding primer; concrete paint; painter's tape, a roller tray with liners (for fast cleanup), a paint roller, nap roller covers, and paintbrushes.
   
   Pressure wash the patio and let it dry. Cover up with painter's tape everything you don't want to be painted. Apply concrete binding primer, allowing it to dry one to four hours prior to painting. Apply two coats of paint, allowing the first coat to dry overnight. Wait 72 hours before you move furniture back onto the patio.
   
   
2. Stain it.
   Apply a stain over the patio, then seal it. 
   
   
3. Paint a pattern.
   Using a circular saw, score a concrete slab with a diamond pattern, then paint it with two shades of gray concrete paint. You can also use a stencil to create interesting patterns like a carpet design.  
   
   
4. Lay decking on top of the concrete.
   Not a fan of concrete? You can lay decking on top of the concrete and attach white fascia boards along the sides.
   
   
5. Create a stamped concrete patio.
   Stamped concrete is wildly popular these days. A bit cheaper than pavers, it comes in a variety of patterns and colors. Installers will try to delay cracking (be advised, it will crack someday) by installing control joints. Obviously, you will have to pour concrete and stamp the new concrete before it hardens. So if you've already got a concrete slab there, you'll have to figure out how to get rid of it. 
   
   
6. Fake a stone look.
   Another redo that involves pouring new concrete is to fake the look of brick or stone with a patterned rubber roller. You'll need a concrete roller to create indentations that look like brick or stone, and those rollers can be costly. Concrete stamping mats are a more affordable option. These flexible pieces of rubber have embossed patterns. Stamp them on wet concrete and apply pressure. Lift the mat and repeat the process. 
   
   
7. Resurface with pavers.
   How about resurfacing your patio with clay pavers? These bricks are hard-fired in a kiln, so they are extra-strong and can stand up to the harsh sun and inclement weather. Less expensive than stone, clay pavers cost more than concrete pavers. 

Although all these projects are relatively inexpensive, you can obviously spend more on some than others. So if cost is a factor, then you may want to go with simple painting or staining.

Once you're done with your new floor, it's time to think about decorating. You might start with a weather-resistant outdoor rug, perhaps in the dining area. Decorate with flower boxes or containers of flowers that can change with the season and move indoors when it's cold. Hang up strands of lights. Add a water feature, which could be a fountain with plumbing or a self-contained model that runs on electricity and recirculates the water.

Let your creativity and inner interior decorator run wild as you think up ways to jazz up that formerly dull space and make it shine.

Have you made some updates to your outdoor living space? Show us some pictures in the comments! 

Sweet-Tart: Refreshing & Lemony Recipes for Summer

Summer is here, and it's time to celebrate all things lemony! These refreshing treats are sure to please at your next get-together.

Frozen Raspberry Yogurt Lemonade Pops

• 1 can (12 oz.) frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 c. water
• 1 c. fresh raspberries
• 1/2 c. plain yogurt
• 10 ice pop molds

In a saucepan, heat lemonade concentrate & water over medium heat just until the concentrate is thawed. Remove from heat & cool. In a blender, place 3/4 c. of the cooled mixture, 1/2 c. of the raspberries, & 1/4 c. of the yogurt. Blend on medium until smooth. If you don't like the seeds, press this mixture through a small strainer to remove them. Divide the mixture among ice pop molds & freeze slightly.

Distribute the remaining raspberries in molds. Combine the remaining lemonade mixture & yogurt and spoon evenly into molds. Return to freezer until firm, about 4 hours.

Perfect Lemonade

• 1/3 c. sugar or 2/3 c. agave
• 1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 7 c. water

Mix well. Serve over ice with a lemon wedge garnish.

Lemon-Lime Spritzer

• 1 liter lemon-lime soda
• 4 limes, cut into wedges
• frozen cherries
• fresh mint leaves

Mix ice, soda & sliced limes. Add cherries & garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately.

Adult Lemonade

• 1 shot El Patron Tequila
• 1/4 shot Grand Marnier
• 4 oz. beer
• 4 oz. lemonade
• ice
• strawberries for garnish

Mix together and serve immediately

Strawberry Lemonade Icebox Pie

• 1 9" graham cracker pie crust
• 2/3 c. frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 c. heavy whipping cream
• 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar
• 1 c. strawberries
• 3 Tbsp. honey
• 1 Tbsp. water

 In a blender or food processor, blend strawberries, honey, & water until pureed. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix lemonade concentrate with sweetened condensed milk until combined. Set that aside, too.

With a mixer, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar & whip until it stiffens. Gently fold into lemonade mixture. (The pureed mixture is still kept separate.)

Pour half the strawberry puree on the bottom of the crust. Top with lemonade filling, smoothing evenly. Spoon on the remaining puree in evenly spaced dollops and swirl with a toothpick or knife. Freeze at least 6 hours before serving. Store leftovers in the freezer.

What's your favorite summertime recipe? Tell us in the comments! 

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Fourth of July is the most popular day for boating. If you haven't already contacted our real estate agents at Coldwell Banker Tomlinson to purchase your new lake property, head out to these great boat launches near Spokane homes for sale to celebrate on the water.

• Riverside State Park - 9711 W. Charles Rd., Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026
  No matter what type of boating you enjoy,  Riverside State Park will accommodate it. This sprawling park covers 9,194 acres near Nine Mile Falls homes for sale, including 200,000 feet of shoreline along the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers, with three launches and 120 feet of dock. Spokane River is open for all boating and water activities, including waterskiing and fishing, while Little Spokane River is reserved for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and rafts. Daily launch permits are $7, in addition to the $10 park entrance fee. Hours are 6:30 a.m. - dusk, seven days a week.
  
  
• Downtown Convention Center - 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201
  How many cities can boast a boat launch in the heart of downtown? If you work in the area, you can even grab a quick paddle on your lunch break. Opened in 2015, the Downtown Convention Center boat launch is right under the Division Street Bridge on the south side of the Spokane River. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards can be carried down via the six-foot-wide gravel path down to the water. Keep in mind that laws prohibit floating west of the Bridge. Parking is available at the Convention Center or in metered spots on Spokane Falls Blvd. There is no fee for use of the launch.
  
  
• Silver Lake - 1599 E. Grace St., Medical Lake, WA 99022
  Want a great place for a staycation? Look no further than Silver Lake. Just a 20-minute drive from Spokane and not far from Medical Lake homes for sale, this beautiful 500-acre body of water feels light years away from daily life. Silver Lake is widely regarded as heaven for trout fishing, but it's also popular for boating, sailing, wakeboarding, canoeing, and kayaking. The old concrete launch was replaced in 2009 with a new dual-lane launch, and a separate dock was added for shore fishing.
  
  
• Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area - 1008 Crest Dr., Coulee Dam, WA 99116
  When Grand Coulee Dam harnessed the powerful Columbia River, the result was the magnificent body of water at the center of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. If a 100,000-acre area can be called a "hidden gem," this is it. The lake itself is nearly 81,000 acres, and with 22 boat launches, there's plenty of room for boating. One of the more frequently-used boat launches is Fort Spokane, which is adjacent to the campgrounds of the same name. There is no park entrance fee, but a boat launch pass is required. The price is $8, and the pass is good for seven consecutive days. Park hours are sunrise to sunset daily.
  
  
• Q'emiln Park - 12201 W. Parkway Dr., Post Falls, ID 83854
  Located only minutes from Post Falls homes for sale, picturesque Q'emiln Park gets its name from the original Native American village. "Q'emiln" translates to "throat of the river," referring to the setting alongside the Spokane River. There is a $10 parking fee and a $30 boat launching fee. Hours are sunrise to midnight, seven days a week.

Whether you're looking for vacation property or a year-round home, contact us for experienced help with all your real estate needs.

Think Spokane area ski resorts are only fun in the winter? Think again!

Thanks to the region's dry, clear, and warm climate during the summer months, mountain resorts around Spokane homes for sale still offer a wealth of outdoor activities. When our real estate agents need fresh air and sunshine, they head to these great nearby resorts for summer fun.

• Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Resort - 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr., Mead, WA 99021
  With more than 1,700 acres and 52 runs, Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Resort is a winter wonderland, but the fun doesn't stop when the weather heats up. Visitors to this resort near Mead homes for sale trade skis and snowboards for mountain bikes at the resort's summer camps. Sessions include beginning and all-levels skills camps for ages 7-15 and advanced skills camps for ages 10-17. If you're looking for variety, there's a mountain adventure camp for ages 5-14 that includes climbing, hiking, and crafts. Biking enthusiasts of all ages can ride the numerous trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Visit the website for more information, including schedule and pricing.
  
  
• 49°N Mountain Resort - 3311 Flowery Trail Rd., Chewelah, WA 99109
  Want to beat the summer heat around Chewelah homes for sale? Enjoy the cool mountain air of Chewelah Peak at 49°N Mountain Resort, where temperatures are usually at least 10 degrees lower than the valley below. Service roads in the West, Central, and East Basins are open to the public for hiking and mountain biking, while hikers can also use the cross-country trails and downhill runs. For those who prefer more leisurely activities, Chewelah Peak is a prime spot for picking huckleberries. Visitors are allowed to pick up to three gallons of huckleberries per day for non-commercial use.
  
  
• Silver Mountain Resort - 610 Bunker Ave., Kellogg, ID 83837
  The action never slows down at Silver Mountain Resort, just minutes from Kellogg homes for sale. Bikers can take a casual two-mile trip along the Trail of the Hiawatha or explore the scenic wonders along the 72-mile riverside Trail of the Coeur D'alenes. The resort also features a spectacular mountainside bike park, accessible by North America's longest gondola ride. There's fun for the whole family at Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark, where you can hang 10 in the wave pool, ride a raft in the Moose Sluice, or just float along the North Fork Lazy River. Plan a unique date night with Ride & Dine, where the gondola trip ends with dinner at the Mountain House.
  
  
• Schweitzer - 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint, ID 83864
  Adrenaline junkies get their fill of thrills at Schweitzer, a popular mountain resort conveniently close to Sandpoint homes for sale. Soar above the ground along the 700-foot zipline, catch some air on the trampoline, or ride the Great Escape Quad chairlift to the mountain top for panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and wildlife sightings. Once you're there, have a lively game of disc golf followed by lunch at the Sky House. Take a two-hour hosted electric bike tour where guides provide fascinating information about the flora and fauna encountered along the way. 

Learn more about what makes Spokane such a special place to live when you contact us at Coldwell Banker Tomlinson.

If you're looking at Spokane homes for sale, you'll be within easy reach of Mount Spokane State Park. This is a lovely place to stop and take a hike. The scenery is breathtaking, and there are trails catering to all ages and levels of ability. Here are a few of the key trails you can hike within the state park. 

• Upper Trail 140: Trailhead Coordinates: 47.8859, -117.0864
  Upper Trail 140 is one of the more difficult trails to hike within Mount Spokane State Park. But if you can manage the rocky footing and a few steep ascents, this hiking trail has a lovely payoff. Along the way, you can look down a mixture of timber forests and farmland. At the end of the trail, you'll see Vista House, a stone home built in 1934.
  
  Trail 140 mostly passes through lush forests, but there are a few places where it passes through open fields. Since it's a 10.8-mile hike round trip, make sure you plan ahead and bring the essentials.
  
  
• Mount Kit Carson Trail: Trailhead Coordinates: 47.8882, -117.1249
  If you're really in the mood to climb a mountain, then Mount Kit Carson Trail is a great choice. It's a 7.5-mile hike, round trip, taking you to the peak of Mount Kit Carson, which is the second-highest peak in the park.
  
  Along the way, you'll pass through a dense forest before reaching the open summit, which is sparsely dotted with trees. The Foothills agricultural community is visible off in the distance, and you can see the Selkirk Range in the northeast.
  
  
• Trail 110: Trailhead Coordinates: 47.9041, -117.1246
  Trail 110 is one of the most accessible trails in the park. The trailhead is just inside the park entrance, and the terrain is moderate. While the trail does start out fairly steep, it flattens out after the first half-mile. 
  
  Trail 110 is a 7.5-mile hike, round trip. It intersects many other trails, so you'll want to pay close attention to your navigation so you don't take a wrong turn. With a mixture of alpine forests, flowering meadows, and small shrubbery, the trail gives you a good sampling of the landscape in Mount Spokane State Park.
  
  
• Lower Trail 130: Trailhead Coordinates: 47.9048, -117.1027
  While Lower Trail 130 is 12 miles round trip, it is one of the easiest hikes in the park as far as terrain is concerned. If you don't have time for a 12-mile hike, you can still get some lovely views if you hike the first mile or two and then turn back.
  
  This trail stretches around the mountain, so you can see Mount Spokane from multiple perspectives as you hike.
  
  
• Trail 183: Trailhead Coordinates: 47.928560, -117.152490
  Trail 183 is a short, easy, point-to-point trail that follows an old road. It starts near Blanchard Creek Rd. and connects to the Mount Kit Carson Loop Road. 
  
  This trail passes through a densely wooded area, so you feel well immersed in nature as you hike. It's a good choice in the heat of summer since it is nicely shaded, too. 

Whether you take a short hike along Trail 183 or an all-day trek along Lower Trail 130, hiking in Mount Spokane State Park is a lovely way to get outside and enjoy nature. Just make time for a hiking trip! Contact us