Stanley's Big Break: Car d'Alene and 4th of July Recap

If you follow our Instagram or read our last blog, you may have heard mention of our new member of the CDA Idaho family: Stanley the Bus. He has had a busy few weeks, and he’s been a hit. We think we’ll keep him around for a while.

Photo by @phenmonkey
Of course, what better way to introduce our favorite set of wheels than in the coolest cruise in town, Car d’Alene? The biggest classic car run in our area is the perfect event for our 1971 Ford Econoline to show his stuff. But before Stanley could really be ready for his big night, he needed some sprucing up. Andy and Nichelle could help with that.

Once Stanley was clothed in his custom CDA Idaho Clothing Co. wrap, he needed some of our sticker swag. With about 130 stickers and with almost every one of our designs on display, that should do the trick. After a few hours of sticking and the Isaacsons loaded in, he was ready to roll.

Car d’Alene is Cd’A’s annual classic car show that takes place over Father’s Day weekend. The activities are kicked off with the cruise on Friday night, which consists of classic (and some unique) cars, all older than 1980, parading down Lakeside and Sherman. Motor Heads from all over come to ride with pride in their hot rods and pick-ups, Model T’s and Beetles, Porsches and Army Jeeps, and – obviously – old Ford mini buses.  Car d’Alene has been driving through downtown Coeur d’Alene for 28 years now, and you can bet it won’t stop any time soon. As long as people still love cars, you can count on Car d’Alene in June. So whether you’re grabbing dinner, ice cream, a brew, or some new threads from us, make sure to park yourself downtown next year to see Stanley’s newest array and a bit of American nostalgia. Did we mention it’s a great thing to do with your dad? 

Stanley’s first Car d’Alene was a success, and you can see for yourself in this sweet video Aaron Benjamin Photography shot for us!

Now that Stanley has had a taste of stardom, he couldn’t just stand in the sidelines. We made sure his presentation was bigger and better for the 4^th of July Parade. Stanley’s got a thing for the stars and stripes, so Independence Day is the perfect day for another stroll downtown. 

Because he’s part of the CDA Idaho fam, he’s a bit of a social butterfly, so he was willing to share the spotlight with some friends who also love our town and country. With a kayak floatin’ down the street, puppies waggin’ their tails, babes strollin’ with their moms and dads, and longboards rollin’, Stanley was in good company for celebrating our nation with some local vibes.

Oh, and remember how we said there might be a rare BigFoot sighting? Yep, BigFoot was definitely involved.

We had a fantastic 4^th of July celebrating with our friends and family and everyone who stopped in the shop all day. The store was packed with Idaho- and PNW-loving patriots. A HUGE thanks to all who cheered us on in the parade and stopped by our location. You guys sure kept us busy, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We loved seeing you! It sure was a great day to end with some fireworks. UPDATE: You can see all the Independence Day goodness in live-action with our awesome re-cap video:

We've had a great start to the summer, and we are looking forward to all the rest of the awesome local events coming our way. (Especially the Street Fair coming up in August!)

Now that Stanley has had a formal introduction, make sure to keep an eye out for future adventures and excursions he’ll be making. He plans to keep you up to date on our favorite local spots, stops, and drives, so If you catch him, tag him! #stanleythebus