2020
M A N U A L
2021
A N N U A L
A GUIDE TO THE CITY OF TREES
FREE TAKE ONE
WE MAKE THE FRIES
YOU CREATE THEM
Roasted Jalapeño Ranch
Fry Sauce
Barbecue
Black and Blue Salt
Spicy Ketchup
Ketchup
Jalapeño Salt Vanilla Salt
Garlic Aioli
Pumpkin Aioli
Cinnamon Togarashi Salt Salt & Vinegar Ginger Salt
Chipotle Aioli
Sour Thai
Plain
Maple Marshmallow
Blueberry Ketchup
Sweet Mustard
? ? ?
Sea Salt Garlic Rosemary Cajun Salt Smoked Salt
? No Sauce
THATʼS WHY WE HAVE THE BEST FRIES!
WWW.BOISEFRYCOMPANY.COM
BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
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BOISEWEEKLY STAFF President and Publisher: Matt Davison mdavison@idahopress.com Publisher: Matt Davison mdavison@idahopress.com Editorial Editor: Harrison Berry harrison@boiseweekly.com Staff Writer: Tracy Bringhurst tbringhurst@boiseweekly.com Special Publications Guest Editor: Alx Stevens alx.r.stevens@gmail.com Contributing Writers: Emily Alexander, Skylar Barsanti, Sonora Birnie, Arianna Creteau, Sydney Kidd, Hayden Seder, Elena Tomorowitz Advertising Account Executive: Urie Layser urie@boiseweekly.com Creative Art Director: Jason Jacobsen jason@boiseweekly.com
T A B C L O E N T O E F N T S
Circulation Man About Town: Stan Jackson stan@boiseweekly.com Boise Weekly prints 12,000 copies of Annual Manual, which is available free of charge inside the October 21, 2020, edition of Boise Weekly. Additional copies of this edition of Annual Manual may be purchased for $3, payable in advance. No person may take more than one copy, without permission from the publisher. TO CONTACT US:
Welcome, We’ll Be Your Guide. . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Life Force of Boise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Ridge to Rivers Trail System. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Get Inspired With Things To Do . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Boise Weekly is located at 523 Broad St., Boise, ID 83702 Phone: 208-344-2055
Alcohol To-go To Stay?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
E-mail: info@boiseweekly.com www.boiseweekly.com
Neither Planes Trains Nor Automobiles . . . . . . . . 14
Address editorial, business and production correspondence to: Boise Weekly, 523 Broad St.,
Learing, Teaching, Research, Service . . . . . . . 16
Boise, ID 83702 The entire contents and design of
Discover Idaho. . . . . . . . . . 18
Annual Manual are ©2020 by Adams Publishing Group. ON THE COVER: Boise foothills, aerial view of the city, and the Boise river all from Adobe Stock stock.adobe.com. Boise Weekly is an edition of the Idaho Press.
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ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021 BOISEWEEKLY
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raditionally, Annual Manual is a local guide magazine, offering readers a peek into the “best-kept secrets” of Boise and the Treasure Valley: interesting things to do and places to visit even Boise residents may not be readily familiar with. During this global pandemic, it was feared—and for some, it still is—that COVID-19 will continue to force these great experiences to be kept secret. Currently, Boiseans and nearby Treasure Valley residents have banded together to save their favorite performance stages and watering holes, made conscious efforts to seek out local business and patronize them, halted normal day-to-day operations to produce personal protective equipment or develop testing for the coronavirus, temporarily or permanently altered their business structures to keep our community members safe, and generously shared knowledge and interpersonal support, and moves forward with a hopeful, caring eye to the future. The future is looking bright, promising enjoyable, healthy ways to get around and explore the City of Trees, delicious food literally grown and prepared in your own backyard, celebrating and writing a new chapter of history which, positively, includes those who were previously not. Things to do and places to visit in these pages come with a lens, that our community is still affected by COVID-19; some things may look different or be on pause. However, we at Boise Weekly remain resilient—true to the spirit of Idaho—and encouraging, and we invite you to do likewise. May these pages give you inspiration for ways to enjoy Boise, today, tomorrow, or anytime. —Boise Weekly staff
WE’LL BE YOUR GUIDE
BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
ALL PHOTO S THIS PAGE ADOBE STOC K
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THE LIFE FORCE O F
B O I S E
A PORTRAIT OF
THE BOISE RIVER BY HAYDEN SEDER
Cities are often compared to living organisms—entities that evolve and adapt. If the city of Boise is a living organism, then the Boise River that flows through it is certainly its lifeblood, critical to the survival of the greater organism, but with a life of its own. The evolution of a river isn’t as noticeable as that of a city; indeed, it is sometimes only over the course of years, decades, lifetimes that one can see the shifts in a river. In his memoir Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain describes the river as: a wonderful book—a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day. Like any river, the Boise River has many of its own stories to tell. The Lower Boise River (henceforth the Boise River), one of multiple forks, is part of the Lower Boise River Watershed, a 836,876-acre (or 1,307 square mile) area encompassing farm land, city, rangeland and forest. The Boise River starts its journey at the Lucky Peak Dam and Reservoir southeast of Boise and flows northwest until it meets the Snake River west of Parma. These 64 river miles form what Boise residents call the Boise River, a source of recreation, quality of life, revenue and habitat for wildlife. When thinking of the Boise River, many think of it as a spot for floating and tubing—after all, over 125,000 people float the river each year, according to Ada County Parks and Waterways. But the Boise River provides so much more than a leisurely way to get from point A to B in the city. BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
The Boise River Enhancement Network reports that the river has helped change the landscape of the Treasure Valley by providing a source of irrigation water, filtering and diluting pollutants, helping reduce floods and erosion, and providing habitat for numerous species of birds, fish and other wildlife. Native Americans used the river for water, transport, and fishing, and later, fur traders, prospectors and early settlers did the same. Today, we no longer need the river for its historic purposes, but our present quality of life is better for it. The Boise River begins at the Lucky Peak Reservoir, an area used for swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, water skiing and biking. Head farther downriver to Barber Park and you’ll find the launching off spot for floating or tubing the river. Air stations are typically available to inflate devices (though due to COVID-19, the 2020 season did not have them) as are rentals for rafts, kayaks, and tubes and a shuttle. Float six miles downstream to the getout at Ann Morrison Park, a journey of roughly two hours. While floating the river, you’re sure to see people jumping from one of the several bridges you pass under. Look alive if you’re floating—a recent rant published online complained of teenagers attempting to jump from bridges onto floaters, a punishable crime in the city of Boise. At any point along the river, one may spot fisherman reeling in wild trout, stocked hatchery rainbow and brown trout, and steelhead in one of the best urban fishing rivers in the country. There
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Hidden Languages
Streaming November 2020 thru April 2021
“...over 125,000 people float the river each year, according to Ada County Parks and Waterways.” are numerous outfitters and guides who get a substantial amount of revenue from taking people fishing on the Boise River. Running for 25 miles alongside the Boise River is the Boise Greenbelt, a tree-lined pathway that provides access to the river, pedestrian and cyclist access to riverside parks, and scenic views. The Greenbelt celebrated 50 years in 2019, a true community treasure. Downstream from the floaters’ getout of Ann Morrison Park is the Boise Whitewater Park (originally known as the Boise River Park). This previously neglected portion of the river is now its own recreational powerhouse with a wave shaper device for surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Underneath the surface, the river has even more stories to tell. Some Boise residents snorkel the river every summer in search of interesting lost items from floaters. One man has spent 16 years looking for objects and found items as mundane as sunglasses and keys and as surprising as a gun to a car. Oddly enough, two prosthetic legs have been found in the river on separate occasions, one in summer 2019 and another in 2020. Both times, the expensive appendages were successfully returned to their owners. A look at the Boise River Lost and Found Facebook page suggests that not all who have lost items in the river have been so lucky. As one reaches the end of the Boise River, it is not truly the end but merely the conjoining of it with other bodies of water. Its life as an urban river, flowing through the city of Boise, ends and the life of a wild, untamed one begins. W W W. B O I S E W E E K LY. C O M
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T R A I L
“The Ridge to Rivers trail system is unique in that it provides seamless connectivity across the public lands
C OURTESY CIT Y OF BOISE
S Y S T E M
AD OBE STOC K
THE RIDGE TO RIVERS
in the Boise foothills.” ADOBE STOC K
BY HAYDEN SEDER One of the many reasons that people love living in Boise is its bounty of recreation opportunities. From the Boise River to the Boise Greenbelt, there’s a little something for everybody. The Ridge to Rivers system in the Boise Foothills is a major contributor to this, providing over 200 miles of trails for dog walking, all levels of hiking and mountain biking, running, horseback riding, taking in views of the city, or observing the varied wildlife in the area. “The Ridge to Rivers trail system is unique in that it provides seamless connectivity across the public lands in the Boise Foothills,” said Sara Arkle, Foothills/ OpenSpace superintendent/senior manager for the Boise Parks and Recreation Department. According to Arkle, the land is provided through a partnership between five public land management agencies: Ada County, the City of Boise, Idaho Fish and Game, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. It is through the combined effort of all that users have access to this free, local resource. BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
There are numerous areas to explore the over 200 miles of trail depending on what your recreation goals are: head to Camel’s Back and Hulls Gulch Reserve for views and easy walks, hikes, and biking loops. For dog walking, Hillside to the Hollow Reserve might be more your style. For a fun family outing, visit the Oregon Trail Reserve to get a dose of history or the Military Reserve, which has beautiful fall colors. For experienced hikers and mountain bikers, check out the Shafer Butte area which has cooler temps or the Table Rock area, known for its stunning sunset views. “Whether you want a day-long adventure or a quick 30-minute hike, it is all available within a mile of the downtown core,” Arkle said. Visit ridgetorivers.org for full descriptions of each area within the system.
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In an effort to support preservation of open space in the Boise area, voters approved a $10 million levy in 2015, part of which has recently gone to purchasing 325 acres in the Boise Foothills with the hope for future trail connectivity to the Ridge to Rivers system. To keep the Ridge to Rivers trail system an accessible, free resource, good stewardship and trail care are of the utmost importance. Ridge to Rivers employs one of the only full-time trail crews in the country. With over 70 years of trail experience between them, this group helps maintain this beloved trail system. To encourage trail users to be mindful of their actions and to show respect for other trail users, the crew has launched their Happy Trails campaign. Those who wish to be good stewards of their local trails can sign the “Happy Trails Pledge” at ridgetorivers.org/etiquette/happytrails-pledge/. “This type of accessibility is unique and part of the fabric of Idaho,” Arkle said. “It helps to support healthy citizens and is a free and inclusive amenity for users of all ages. It takes community effort and dedication to create this trail system and many people have worked over many decades to build this special trail network.”
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ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021 BOISEWEEKLY
GET INSPIRED WITH THINGS TO DO FROM
PHOTO S BY ADOR A BELLE PHOTO S
B B O U I C S K E E T
BY SYDNE Y KIDD About four years ago, Diana DeJesus moved to Boise and started an Instagram account called Boise Bucket List to document her life in a new city. The goal was to motivate herself to get out and learn more about the area. Now, the account and brand have grown to reach nearly 60,000 followers and are a resource for locals and visitors alike, who look to it for fun guides to the Treasure Valley. From food trucks to balloon vendors, Boise Bucket List covers it all. DeJesus also uses the account to highlight local businesses and has become an especially mobilizing voice during a time of both economic turmoil and the Black Lives Matter movement. In the summer of 2020 she worked with local advocates to promote list of Black-owned businesses. DeJesus said part of the reason she has continued to run the account is because she really believes in the power of the community rallying around local businesses. She said she witnessed the power of this in the spring as residents of the Treasure Valley came together to raise enough money to keep a local food truck from going out of business. The food truck, Brown Shuga Soul Food, was going under due to financial hardships brought on by COVID-19 and ensuing shutdowns. According to DeJesus, the truck was in need of repairs and the owner could not afford them until people stepped in to help out. “It’s very powerful, this community rallying behind all business owners,” DeJesus said. “It’s exciting to see.” Boise Bucket List’s advocacy for Black-owned businesses—and locally-owned businesses in general—is truly commendable. “It’s exciting to see community members just want to know their fellow business owners—regardless if they’re Black or white or persons of color,” DeJesus said. “But I still love the excitement behind it and just being excited about local businesses, that’s really what that is.” BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
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Diana DeJesus, founder of Boise Bucket List, poses for a photo in Boise’s Freak Alley. DeJesus
shares her experiences,
local businesses and more on Boise Bucket List.
This emphasis of getting out, finding new places and businesses to enjoy is a very “Boise” thing to do, which is probably why so many people have taken notice and followed Boise Bucket List on Instagram. The social media traction has even allowed DeJesus to start getting paid for promoting the local businesses. That being said, unlike many “influencers” on Instagram, DeJesus doesn’t stop at posting for-profit messages for people who reach out to her. On her blog, boisebucketlist.com, DeJesus has created multiple digital guide books for people to download and check out; most of them are even free. The guide books cover a variety of topics like burgers, breweries, annual events and a three-day itinerary plan for visitors—or residents wanting to play tourist. Food fanatics can even access DeJesus’ “Food Truckin’ in the BOI” guide for $5. Boise Bucket List is the perfect resource for long-time residents to discover new businesses and recent relocators to learn about tried-and-true local favorites. All in all, if Boise residents want to get to know their hometown and the surrounding area better, following some of DeJesus’ recommendations is the way to do it. W W W. B O I S E W E E K LY. C O M
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A L C TO-GO O TO H STAY? O LOCAL BARS SELL AN ARRAY OF TO-GO L DRINKS DURING PANDEMIC
C OURTESY WATER BE AR BAR
BY TRACY BRINGHURST One small thing that’s been comforting to bar owners and booze lovers during the pandemic is that Idaho bars began selling alcohol drinks to-go. A seemingly minor thing for sure, but the move helped local bars to turn some profit during the shutdown, and people seemed to enjoy the option. “Even now a lot of people still can’t get out, and there are those who have limited mobility,” said Co-owner of Water Bear Bar Kylie North. “It’s such a temperate solution for safely enjoying alcohol.” Bars are open again and people have been queuing up to drink in-person, but a lot of local bars are still offering to-go drinks, and for people who are at high risk for COVID-19 or those who don’t quite feel comfortable yet, it’s a way for people to enjoy quality mixed-drinks, wine and beer at home. Water Bear Bar, Western Collective and Press and Pony, just to name a few, intend to keep selling to-go drinks and believe it’s a market that’s not going away.
WATER BEAR BAR CRAFTS CANNED COCKTAILS
The owners of the Water Bear Bar said their bar is all about radical accessibility, and selling to-go drinks fits in perfectly with their philosophy. North said they had been talking to bartenders around the country after COVID-19 hit and Idaho was one of the first states to open up its selling laws. “It was so great,” North said. “They got right back to us after an email; the state has been really supportive.” Co-owner Laura Keeler had been mulling over a new drink recipe in her head called the Skid Luxe, bourbon with IPA and fresh lemon juice—imagine a Whiskey Sour meets IPA—and decided the opening of the laws was a great time to figure out how to bring the quality drinks at the Water Bear Bar to people at home. It can make every drink to order and any drink made at the bar can also become a to-go. BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
The drinks stay fresher because Keeler and North came up with an ingenious way of packaging, where they slightly carbonate all of the mixer drinks. The result is a canned cocktail with a longer shelflife that comes out with a little bit of froth, reminiscent of what happens when the bartender shakes it. “Cans are the way to go,” said Keeler, “and it’s recyclable. If you aren’t going downtown to drink, you’re going out, maybe camping, and our mixed drinks have a longer shelf-life even though we pull off the tap to order.” People can order online and even chat directly with Keeler about their orders. The bar offers all its drinks, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for sale, and has party packs people can put together in multiple ways.
WESTERN COLLECTIVE JUMPS ON TOGO BOOZE BANDWAGON
Western Collective took a proactive approach when it knew the shut-down was beginning. Melissa Levick, head of brand experience, said the liquor laws were already in place before the pandemic, but they were a bit ambiguous. To-go drinks could be a possibility. The state worked to clear it up and let bars sell to-go. “We’ve continued to see a great mix of both sales on premise (we are open for on premise consumption) as well as to-go/delivery,” said Levick. “People have gotten used to being able to have our beer and slushes delivered, so it’s been a great addition to our business that we don’t plan to get rid of at any time.” The collective sells a wide array of products both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, as well as snacks, coffee and new tie-dyed merchandise. Levick said the beers and slushes (alcoholic slushies) are the biggest sellers.
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The brewery is always updating products and flavors. It just launched the new fall slushes—candy corn and caramel apple flavored—and there are a huge amount of autumnal beers that will be out later this fall. Everything can be ordered at the website.
16 years
PRESS AND PONY HOPES FOR MORE CHANGE
in the treasure Valley!
Press and Pony is another bar that’s offering delicious quality cocktails to-go. Head bartender Erik Schweitzer said it was great when the state threw together options for bars to sell, and within five days of shutting down the bar was selling drinks to-go. “It’s great because if we go back into lock-down we’re still able to sell,” said Schweitzer. “I think it’s the first step in getting a lot of archaic liquor laws changed in Idaho.” Press and Pony also pours all of their to-go drinks to order and changes drink availability. People can find current offerings, and order, on the website. The Old-Fashioned is one of the most popular, and it sells in four-pack specials. “Anyone can make a Jack and Coke at home,” said Schweitzer. “Craft cocktails are different and special, and it’s great people can try them at home.”
“the Only authentiC thai FOOD in MeriDian!”
CaterinG
sushi
(Opposite Page) W a t e r B e a r Bar takes pride in canned c o c k t a i l s t o - g o . (Below) Holiday slushes and crafted cocktails are available at Western Collective or to-go.
FULL BAR
Happy Hour 4-6pm
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ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021 BOISEWEEKLY
N E I T H E R
“It would be great to see cities collaborating on a pathway that can connect downtown areas in each city,
P L A N E S TRAINS NOR AUTOMOBILES
provide safe routes where people can bike or walk that connect to mass transit.”
TR ACY BRINGHURST
THE SCOPE OF BOISE’S ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS CONTINUES TO GROW BY HARRISON BERRY BRIAN M YRIC K / IDAHO PRES S
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When the City of Boise underwent its annual budget-setting process, there were protests: Amid a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, in which people called for the abolition of the police, the Boise City Council voted to increase its funding of the Boise Police Department. Within the hubbub, some may have missed a $100,000 line item in the city’s budget for the study of what advocates call Canalways to Bikeways. In short, it’s a plan to begin converting the access paths along Boise’s hundreds of miles of canals into pedestrian and bicycle tracks.
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“When we first started, there were individuals in the city that were interested in this, but there wasn’t really any official, ‘The City’s with us,’” said Boise Bicycle Project Advocacy and Engagement Coordinator Nina Schaeffer, who has long been a part of the effort. Now, with some funding in hand, those canalways will be the object of study that may soon result in some pavement under the wheels of the project. In the current phase, transportation and irrigation experts will draft a master plan, identify the first canalways to be upgraded and begin the hard work of obtaining permission from other stakeholders. These first steps point to a project of prodigious ambition. Like the Boise Greenbelt project before it, the Canalways to Bikeways project takes advantage of some of Boise’s built-in infrastructure, transforming it into bike and pedestrian thoroughfares. Like the Greenbelt, it will be costly, depend on complex stakeholder arrangements and upend notions of waterway safety, given that many people who grow up around canals have been told since birth never to go anywhere near them. The folks behind the effort have drawn on canalways conversion projects around the country and even in the Treasure Valley for inspiration. Phoenix, Arizona; and Denver, Colorado, each have hundreds of miles of pathways built from repurposed canal access tracks. Closer to home, Nampa, Meridian and Eagle have begun their own conversions. Seeing how Boise’s neighbors have achieved results has been a source of knowledge and inspiration. “It would be great to see cities collaborating on a pathway that can connect downtown areas in each city, provide safe routes where people can bike or walk that connect to mass transit, and retain the character of the communities they build through, and see cities adopt a plan to get there,” said Eric Willadsen of the Sierra Club, who has, like Schaeffer, long been attached to the effort. The Canalways to Bikeways plan would open yet another theater in the ongoing rideshare wars, as Boise GreenBike plans to expand its services to neighborhoods well beyond downtown—or go down in flames. In late August, the bike-share program announced that it would more than double the size of its fleet under a new vendor. The new bikes would use pedal-assist technology, giving riders far greater range. The tradeoff: In order to afford the new contract, the program had to leave behind its title sponsors, which did not agree to increase their contributions to meet the new financial need. As of the composition of this article, the program was still in search of new title sponsors. “I have to be optimistic,” said Dave Fotsch, director of Boise GreenBike. “I think we can find the right combination of one, two, three, maybe even four title sponsors. Having more bikes will allow us to serve more people in more areas of town.” Boise GreenBike will temporarily cease operations at the end of September 2020, with plans to return, greatly expanded, in spring of 2021. Members of the bike-share have been encouraged to ride off the balances on their accounts, though Fotsch said they will be automatically transferred to the new system when it relaunches. As Boise GreenBike seeks a path forward, the e-scooter business in Boise continues to boom. The devices were initially unleashed on the city’s streets in 2018 amid much controversy, but since then, the devices have been embraced enthusiastically by the City of Trees. Initially, there were fears within Boise City Hall and among the public that the devices would get underfoot, clogging rights of way and being abused. Nevertheless, over time officials have allowed more and more of the scooters onto Boise streets, which has corresponded to their growth in popularity. The numbers bear it out: In the month of August 2020, Bird riders made 3,998 trips; Spin riders 7,191 trips; and Lime a whopping 12,053 trips, according to the City of Boise.
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3308 W Chinden Blvd, Garden City, ID 83714
www.thevervaincollective.com
WEL
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e Say your piec u about who yo w a saw, who s you, or who deserves a finger-wag or shout-out.
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L E TEACHING, A RESEARCH, R SERVICE N COMMUNITY IS ‘AT I THE CORE’OF HIGHER N EDUCATION G BY ALX STE VENS
Any public institution is built for service to its community. That’s what President Marlene Tromp says about Boise State University, even before COVID-19 inspired the university to come up with even more ways to help the Treasure Valley. Lately, while building face shields for front line workers, researching coronavirus testing possibilities and updating a statewide COVID-19 cases map—among other projects geared for addressing the pandemic—the university has also been developing tiny pieces of technology that can be used in surgery to help people gain mobility despite physical ailments. Additionally, multiple departments—biology, sociology, engineering and political science—all contribute to the purity of water and its possible outcomes. “You can’t address that issue with just biologists; you need engineers, sociologists, political scientists ... you have to have an approach that cuts across many areas,” Tromp said. “When you think about the impact it could make if we had breakthroughs, that’s life changing for the people it would affect,” she added. That’s just a taste of what’s happening at Boise State, and we can’t forget institutionalized community service is also taking place at the Treasure Valley’s largest community college, College of Western Idaho. Like the university it prepares many students to attend, College of Western Idaho extends its population, knowledge and facilities resources to the greater Treasure Valley community, impacting workforce development and economic growth to how each individual student will play a significant role in their communities. “The college really pushes lifelong learning to students,” said Mark Browning, vice president of college relations. “And we encourage our employees to do the same. I think that makes good leaders; they learn how to learn and then they learn how to teach.” BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
C OURTESY BOISE STATE UNIVERSIT Y
Many at CWI thought they would be past the pandemic right now, back in classrooms full-time and resuming their annual service activities like neighborhood cleanup projects. Now, conversations around how to best support students and continue aiding the Treasure Valley are shifting. “We’re planning [on] being in a pandemic in spring 2021,” Browning said. “If [you] start looking at one to two years long-term approach, ‘How do we keep involvement in local chambers and service organizations?’ That’s something we’ll be looking at with other community partners that are going to have the same challenges … because we’re all in it together.”
IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL AT CWI
Despite the challenges and necessary adaptations posed by COVID-19, the College of Western Idaho continues to pride itself in affordable education for students and tailored service to the community. CWI has a multifaceted approach to benefitting the local economy: Offering dual-credit for high school students at $75 per credit compared to $139 per credit. “Those who take dual credit, when they come to college, they’re better prepared ... and they complete in a better time frame,” Browning said. “We look at that as investing in Idaho.” Consulting as an “expert resource” in various fields and with multiple institutions, such as for public transportation with Valley Regional Transit and business needs with Boise Valley Economic Partnership. And, partnering with local businesses, such as St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus and Western States CAT, to prepare workforce ready graduates, and provide additional industry training that may not necessarily result in college credit.
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Diesel technology/mechanics has been a really strong field for the past 10-15 years. After consulting with industry partners, CWI streamlined a two-year program into 13 months. “We’ve made sure the content in that program is relevant to the industry and company that’s hiring those students,” Browning said. “We’ve been very grateful to be part of a number of communities,” he added. “We’re very grateful for the support of the community but also the opportunities it provides us to participate, to be part of the community.”
BSU INNOVATES DURING COVID-19
When the pandemic ramped up, Boise State personnel immediately “snapped into action.” As clasrooms were shifted entirely to digital platforms, university administrators essentially had one eye turned to student needs and the other to community needs. While some students rely entirely on the campus’ internet, the Office of Information Technology took routers out of buildings and hung them in the parking lot near Ten Mile Arena so students could come onto campus and access Wifi without going into buildings.
Additionally, realizing that K-12 educators were struggling with such a challenge, Boise State’s College of Education rewrote online training materials to be applicable and available for those educators. Boise State launched a brand new program called Bronco Gap year in fall 2020 that offers students guidance from a faculty member and time to get to know the university, explore study options, reflect on career goals and more at a low cost. “We became aware a lot of students were going to struggle to come to school,” Tromp said. “Students who lost access to high school guidance counselors, who didn’t have encouragement (from) teachers to carry on, (that) left a lot of students adrift.” A loss, hough, for both students and Treasure Valley residents during the pandemic, has been the athletics program. “When I came to Boise State, on game day, everyone in town was in orange and blue, everyone had flags flying on their car, and it felt like such a community celebration,” Tromp said. “And that is something that I think we often don’t recognize as being this beautiful and fundamental way universities are really integrated and connected into communities.” More information about Boise State’s Gap Year program and news around COVID-19 developments—among other information—is available at boisestate.edu. If you’re looking for information specific to current community service projects, the university is involved in, there’s a webpage for that as well—boisestate.edu/we-serve. “What’s exciting to me about Boise State is the willingness and openness to serving in difficult times,” Tromp said. “The impact is felt in a hundred different ways all the time.”
C OURTESY C OLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO
C OURTESY BOISE STATE UNIVERSIT Y
(Left) S t u d e n t s c o n s u l t t o g e t h e r a b o u t n a n o t e c h n o l o g y a t B o i s e S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y . (Right) A s t u d e n t a n d a n i n s t r u c t o r w o r k together in one of the College of Western Idaho’s computer labs. Computer Science is one of multiple programs at the College of Western Idaho. W W W. B O I S E W E E K LY. C O M
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D IDAHO I WITH THESE TOP BOOK S RECOMMENDATIONS C O V E R BY ELENA TOMOROWITZ
Good news—bookstores are alive and well! Despite Amazon carrying every book under the sun, it is missing one crucial part: a knowledgeable bookseller! You don’t need an algorithm for suggestions; you need a human being to passionately describe the great book they just read. Thankfully, Boise has about a dozen thriving bookstores, and even if you’re not an avid reader, do yourself a favor by walking in, taking a deep breath of that papery smell, and browsing the candle and socks section. Your first stop should be the Idaho books section, especially if you’re a recent transplant and need more knowledge about your new state other than how to pronounce “Boise.” Rediscovered Books is a Boise staple, and expanded a couple years ago into its second storefront. Marketing Coordinator Jane Alice Van Doren suggested a few great books to discover more about Idaho’s complex history.
JANE ALICE VAN DOREN / C OURTESY REDISC OVERED BOOKS
TR ACY BRINGHURST
This is the story of Chief Joseph, who led 1,800 natives into what is now Eastern Oregon, based on extensive research and interviews. Though this great American story has been told before, Nerburn’s moving portrayal of Chief Joseph will offer a whole new perspective.
The Nez Perce people occupied the area around the lower Snake River until the 1860s when the U.S. government discovered gold on their designated homeland, and their cultural influences are still apparent today. In no less than 700 pages, Josephy has written the complete narrative of the Inland Empire of the Northwest. This important account describes the dramatic history of the west—from Lewis and Clark’s exploration to Chief Joseph’s defeat in 1877. BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
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C OURTESY HOU GHTO N MIF FLIN HARC O URT
2. THE NEZ PERCE INDIANS AND THE OPENING OF THE NORTHWEST BY ALVIN JOSEPHY, JR.
C OURTESY HARPER C OLLINS
1. CHIEF JOSEPH & THE FLIGHT OF THE NEZ PERCE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY BY KENT NERBURN
COURTESY IDAHO STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY C OU RTESY OREGON STATE U NIVERSIT Y PRES S
Rick Just takes you through some of the Gem State’s most interesting stories, places, and landmarks that you perhaps never heard of, or wanted to learn more about.
C OURTESY CEDAR C REEK PRES S
6. SYMBOLS, SIGNS, AND SONGS (SPEAKING OF IDAHO HISTORY SERVICES #1) BY RICK JUST (IDAHO AUTHOR)
C OURTESY IDAHO HUMANITIES C OUNCIL
Where do the myths about Idaho come from, and which ones are true? This book takes a fun look at some of our state’s most interesting legends that make it what it is today.
C OURTESY THE ROWMAN AND LIT TLEFIELD
5. IDAHO MYTHS AND LEGENDS: THE TRUE STORIES BEHIND HISTORY’S MYSTERIES BY RANDY STAPILUS (IDAHO AUTHOR)
C OURTESY S L EEPING BE AR PRES S
Though only remnants exist today, the Chinese and their culture were widespread in Idaho during the gold rush—though they were sadly pushed out, or worse. This jarring account of the West’s somber history is told through the true story of a covered-up slaughter of more than 30 Chinese gold miners. A century later, the truth was discovered in hidden records.
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4. MASSACRED FOR GOLD: THE CHINESE IN HELLS CANYON BY GREGORY NOKES
C OURTESY KE L LY KNOPP
Completed in 1939, but forgotten about until its publication last year, this book provides a witty glimpse of Boise during the Great Depression.
C OURTESY RE D ISC OVERED BOOKS
3. VARDIS FISHER’S BOISE BY VARDIS FISHER (IDAHO AUTHOR), ALESSANDRO MEREGAGLIA, AND LAURA WALLY JOHNSTON
7. A WHILE AGO IN IDAHO BY KELLY KNOPP AND AMBER BEIERLE (IDAHO AUTHORS)
Whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart, you’ll enjoy this fun tour through Idaho’s history led by the great Belmont Beaver. 8. THE SKYDIVING BEAVERS: A TRUE TALE BY SUSAN WOOD, ILLUSTRATED BY GIJSBERT VAN FRANKENHUYZEN
In 1948, Idaho Fish and Game relocated a beaver colony from McCall by airdropping it into a more remote location. This may be a children’s book, but the story of this strange experiment is enough to even engage adults. 9. NUESTROS CORRIDOS (LATINOS IN IDAHO): IDAHO LATINO HISTORY THROUGH SONG AND WORD BY ANA MARIA NEVAREZSCHACHTELL, KATHLEEN RUBINOW HODGES (IDAHO AUTHORS)
Throughout the Treasure Valley and beyond you will find tight-knit MexicanAmerican communities accompanied by amazing food, music, dancing, and more. This book accompanies an extensive project that illustrates the history of traditional Mexican ballads and Idaho’s Hispanic culture.
10. NUMBERED: INSIDE IDAHO’S PRISON FOR WOMEN BY TODD SHALLAT, AMBER BEIERLE (IDAHO AUTHORS)
Published by the Idaho State Historical Society, this book contains the stories of Idaho’s imprisoned women along with beautifully restored historical photos. 11. REMOTE: FINDING HOME IN THE BITTERROOTS BY DJ LEE
An author’s quest to uncover her family’s secrets buried in the remote Selway-Bitterroot wilderness.
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S L NURTURES A CREATIVE M FREEDOM IN IDAHO’S C POETS O M M U N I T Y BY SK YL AR BARSANTI If K Lange had to guess, they’d say their first slam poem performance wasn’t very good. When they were in high school, Lange didn’t think they had much more to write in a poem than the crush they had on a kid in their science class. “I don’t remember what I read,” Lange said. “But I’m sure it was dumb because I was 15, and I didn’t know what I was doing.” But that first night wasn’t about what Lange read. What they recall most—attending a poetry reading for extra credit, listening to Cheryl Maddalena recite a memory about a family escape on safari—is what that night gave them. “What I loved about slam poetry then—and why I’m still trying to make it work in these wild times—is it gave me this space to have a platform,” Lange said. “The world doesn’t give a lot of platforms to 15-year-olds who have something to say. But what they’re saying isn’t just important to them. It’s part of a communal and cultural dialogue. That’s been a transformative thing.” Today, Lange is the program director for Big Tree Arts, a Boise-based nonprofit that’s been promoting performance poetry in the community since the mid2000s. Before the coronavirus put Lange’s programs on hiatus, Big Tree Arts would host two poetry slams per month. They’d take up donated space in downtown Boise, in Goldy’s Corner or Even Stevens. And they’d open the doors to poets of all ages, experience levels, and performance styles. These open mic nights, or “community gatherings of creative folks,” saw some 10-15 poets compete to earn points throughout the year. The subject matter would range from the serious—the challenges of overcoming addiction—to the silly—someone’s undying love for Chili’s chicken strips. BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
(Above) B i g T r e e A r t s g o e s beyond reciting poetry during championship c o m p e t i t i o n s . (Below) P o e t r y slammers of Big Tree Arts stand together for a photo under the Storyfort Banner. PHOTO S C OURTESY BIG TREE ARTS
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“The National Poetry Slam sees hundreds of poets from
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across the country. And our team is known,
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on the national level, as the ‘weird’ team.”
At the end of the night, slam hosts would randomly select audience members to judge each poem on criteria like creativity, performance and originality. By the end of the year, the top poets would have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Boise team bound for the National Poetry Slam. A competitor themself, Lange has performed slams at the national level in Atlanta, Denver and Chicago. “The National Poetry Slam sees hundreds of poets from across the country,” they said. “And our team is known, on the national level, as the ‘weird’ team.” That Boise weirdness, Lange says, comes from the team’s desire to nurture creative freedom, and the Boise team isn’t just reciting poetry. They’re choreographing and writing songs to accompany their work. And they’re pushing the boundaries of spoken-word performances. “Slam poetry began in the 1980s as a way to get more people into poetry,” Lange explained. “It was more accessible than academic, textbook poetry. And I see value in the serious nature of poetry, but I’ve seen a big change in how accessible it is and how diverse it is. It’s not just bongos and turtlenecks. It offers a lot of creative flexibility and freedom.” As Lange and Big Tree Arts work their way out of their hiatus, they hope to continue giving Idahoans and aspiring poets a creative outlet. The nonprofit and its poets promote arts education and teach poetry and creative writing workshops, especially in Idaho’s underfunded, alternative, and rural schools. Short of packed indoor spaces and events like Storyfort to showcase their talent, Lange is looking for more ways to connect with the Gem State’s experienced and up-and-coming slam poets. They hope to come back stronger with outdoor workshops to support schools and arts education. Even in these “wild times,” Lange and the organization want to open doors for new voices. Visit boisepoetry.com to connect with Big Tree Arts and learn more about the organization. W W W. B O I S E W E E K LY. C O M
Burgers, Shakes, and Finger Steaks
1402 W W. State Street Boise, ID 83702 1750 W. McMillan Rd. #100, Meridian, ID 83646 ● ● 21 ● ●
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Enjoy an Iconic Boise Experience with Safe Dining!
S A V I N G BOISE’S STAGES
IDAHO PRES S ARC HIVES
BY SONORA BIRNIE The silence that fills Boise’s eerily empty music venues is deafening and something no one expected to last as long as it has, least of all musician Melanie Radford. She has spent the better part of the past 10 years on Boise stages as a bassist and vocalist for several bands, including Built to Spill and Blood Lemon. “I was brought up on these stages. I cut my teeth on these stages. I learned how to write songs and perform them on the Neurolux stage, the Crazy Horse stage, the Red Room stage and the Olympic,” Radford said. “These are incredibly important stages, not only to me as a musician, but for our entire community. It’s a hub for the music community and it’s a beacon to all professional musicians.” While the CARES Act gave some small companies a small financial boost back in March, this was hardly to support the multi-faceted ecosystem that is independent music venues. The success of the stage relies on many players, only some of which include booking agents, musicians, bar tenders, and the sound and light engineers. The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked Boise’s music venues to the core, leaving owners, employees, and live-music lovers wondering if they can make it to the end of the year. Several venues have already permanently closed in the Treasure Valley due to the sudden loss of revenue. In an effort to avoid the same fate as their fallen comrades, music venues across the nation have banded together to create the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). The association was formed in March 2020, and BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
TR ACY BRINGHURST
(Top) K a r e n M e a t p e r f o r m s at Neurolux in Boise during T r e e f o r t 2 0 1 9 (Above) R e e f i s one venue currently offering live music on its outdoor patio.
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The Olympic has joined with other music venues to create and promote legislation and financial resources. it works “to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live music venues and promoters throughout the United States,” according to its website. NIVA has also created an emergency relief fund in an effort to help support independent venues monetarily. Despite having been created only months ago, NIVA has 2,000 charter members in all 50 states. Members push for federal assistance by urging the government to pass H.R. 7806, the Save Our Stages Act, H.R. 7481, and the RESTART Act. Eric Gilbert, a booking agent and music promoter for several of Boise’s favorite local stages including the beloved Olympic and Treefort Music Fest, knows all too well how desperate independent venues are for government aid. “If you only have 50 people at the Olympic, you’re not really paying the overhead,” Gilbert, who is a part of NIVA, said. “The message we have been trying to get out there is that we (the live music industry) were the first ones to shut down and we will be one of the last ones to reopen, so we really need that financial support.” Brookings Institute recently reported that the creative industry has suffered “losses of 2.7 million jobs and more than $150 billion in sales of goods and services for creative industries nationwide” from April to July of this year. In an effort to remain part of Boise’s own creative industry, several venue bars have opened their doors once again on Sept. 10 for drinks, though their stages remain empty and their capacity smaller than ever before. Victoria De Lafey, who has been a bartender for Neurolux for the past two years, says that the bar’s regular patrons have been extra generous with their support in the past few weeks since the reopening. “Our capacity is at 50%, but it is so good to see people out and about,” De Lafey said. “We are predominantly a venue so it’s been tough without our performers. The estimate is that without concerts W W W. B O I S E W E E K LY. C O M
our revenue will be less than a quarter of what it was before. Our regulars are the best, though, because the tips have been great, some even 50 or 60%. They know how much it means.” The Reef is another spot familiar to lovers of Boise’s live music scene. The bar is lucky enough to have access to a second story outdoor patio, where they have been able to host live music. Brandon White works behind the Reef ’s bar, and says that he has noticed how many are starved for the experience that live music brings to the community. “We are at half the capacity we would have had before, which is hard. There used to be six more tables here right where I am standing,” said White, gesturing around to the widely spaced tables surrounding him. “When people come to drink and listen to music, they stay for hours, much longer than they did before. It’s hard to have the space for more people to come in when we only have a certain capacity and everyone stays for so long, but the local community always treats us so well.” While it couldn’t be more true that music venues are struggling to keep afloat, there are things that can be done to save venues. People hoping to make a difference in their community can send letters and emails to legislators calling on them to pass the Save Our Stages act through NIVA’S portal. “(The legislation) seems like it’s definitely getting an audience,” Gilbert said. “It was a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Cornyn and Klobuchar from Minnesota. What is cool about NIVA is that it is centered around independent venues, not anything that is part of a larger conglomerate, and the Olympic is very much a part of that. We really need the support of our government right now, that’s the most tangible change we can make.”
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WHAT’S THE DIRT ON U R B G A A N R D E CF AORMMMSUINNI TBYO IGSAE RKDEEENPST AH NI NDGSSMFAR LELS H N AND GROWING I N G ?
C OURTESY LISA DUPLES SIE
BY ARIANNA CRE TE AU
When breaking into the Boise gardening scene, a plethora of resources are available for gardeners of all skill levels to have a fruitful year. Urban agriculture is the practice of producing food in or around urban areas. Porches, backyards, neighborhood spaces and donated plots of land are a few examples of popular garden spaces. However, the impacts of urban gardens and farms reach beyond the food itself and into education, community and business. With a love for nature, innovation and, let’s face it, good veggies, Boise’s community of urban growers has the knowledge and food to share. “We’re really lucky to live in a community that truly appreciates urban gardening,” said Lisa Duplessie, executive director of Boise BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
Urban Garden School (BUGS) and environmental education manager for the City of Boise. Started 16 years ago by Wendy Young and Amy Hutchinson, two teachers with a passion for education, BUGS was created as a space for trial and error. The BUGS location is home to almost an acre-large teaching garden, a commercial kitchen and a 1,500-square-foot building. A place for kids to learn about where their food comes from and for gardeners to experiment, BUGS regularly holds workshops and field studies to promote learning in the garden and kitchen. Regardless of her job titles, Duplessie feels that even from basic 101 classes, she learns new tips and tricks every session at BUGS. Unlike traditional community gardens, the garden at BUGS is used strictly for teaching. Next door, managed through a neighborhood association, is a community garden with rotating available garden plots. Community gardens are generally shared by many people. Because there can be an excess of produce, non-growers also have the opportunity to enjoy the final products.
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COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE GROWING ON BOISE
Hidden near the famous “B” on Boise State’s campus, tucked away between houses on Juanita Street, is a community garden taken care of by volunteers and Boise State’s Sustainability Club. Accessible to neighbors, students and visitors, the garden is currently managed by Megan Hill, Sustainability Club president and student. “We’re trying to create an inclusive space, somewhere that everybody knows they’re welcome, welcome to what grows and welcome to grow,” said Hill. Hill hopes to see changes to the garden through various projects, such as partnering with the Boise State Food Pantry, recruiting new members, rebuilding the shed and possibly creating a home for chickens. Another organization cultivating plots of land and garden space for the community is Global Gardens. Global Gardens, in partnership with Jannus, Inc. and the Idaho Office for Refugees, provides education and land for refugee families and farmers in Boise. Since the early 2000s farmers through the refugee program have worked with Global Gardens. This year, more than 100 families utilize the community gardens and 40 individuals have access to land and farmer training. Community gardens allow families to directly produce their own food. Even the garden plots have their own identities, reflecting the people using the space.
“I think it’s interesting that people are able to grow vegetables that have never been grown here before, vegetables they have brought from other countries,” said Rabiou Manzo, program manager of Global Gardens. “Horticulture has a lot of benefits; it’s emotional and it helps build community. It’s nice to see people working in the land, powerful and doing something for themselves.” Produce from the farms is sold at the farmers markets downtown and through Community Supported Agriculture, a vegetable subscription program. Since the coronavirus has changed daily practices, Global Gardens has implemented new safety standards and delivery methods. Getting in touch with the land and food around us through urban gardening and farming is more popular and rewarding than one might think. Not every gardener or farmer knows the secret to having the perfect green thumb. The advice they give to anyone interested is simple: Use the resources that are available and don’t be discouraged. Your neighbor might just have the answers to your growing questions. “Urban gardening has such a wide range, it can mean anything to anyone,” said Duplessie. “It can be teaching your kids in your own backyard about a carrot; it can be a source of income, and more. Urban gardening has a huge impact on our community and the way we see local produce.”
C OURTESY LISA DUPLES SIE
MEG AN HILL
(Opposite page) T h e B U G S G a r d e n . (Left) T h e B o i s e S t a t e C o m m u n i t y G a r d e n . (Right) G r e e n h o u s e s e e d l i n g s a t B U G S .
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TR ACY BRINGH URST
BOISE’S PUBLIC ART C O N V E R S A T I O N
“Just having it out there in the world for people to interact with and form their own opinions about is valuable in its own right.”
TR ACY BRINGHURST
(Top) M u r a l a t F r e a k A l l e y (Center) D a v i d C a r m a c k L e w i s ’ m o s t recent work on the downtown Key Financial Center depicts part of the Payette River.
BY EMILY ALE X ANDER Whether seeking out local art or simply wandering downtown in search of something to eat, locals and visitors alike will find it difficult to miss Boise’s extensive and far-reaching displays of public art. Thanks in part to the Percent-for-Art program, which allocates 1.4% of all capital project funds to the integration of murals, sculptures and other installations into Boise street corners and storefronts, the city’s infrastructure has become as unique as its inhabitants. This public art program touches every corner of Boise, from the infamous Freak Alley to the lesser-known sculpture-laden foothills on the outskirts of town.
BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
One of the newest additions to downtown Boise is David Carmack Lewis’ massive mural on the side of the Key Financial Center building on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Idaho Street, depicting the South Fork of the Payette River. Lewis, a Portland, Oregon resident, is also the artist behind “The Big Backyard,” a mural on Idaho and 15th streets, and “Absence and Presence,” another on Sixth and Myrtle streets, and he’s spent enough time in Boise to understand that its residents “have a deep connection to the lands that surround them.” His latest project, separated into the rectangular scaffolding of the building, captures small pockets of the natural world situated within the bustling city block. “When you’re walking around downtown, you’re not seeing that land. You’re surrounded by buildings,” Lewis said. “So I guess [the mural] is a way to bring it a little closer.”
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AL X STE VE NS
The river appears as though the viewer is standing above and looking down on it—through a window, perhaps—which creates an almost illusory experience when gazing up at the 11-story mural from the ground level. It is a painting that insists on a second look; viewers must orient themselves to the world in the painting and then reorient to the world around them, suddenly altered. This is what art does: restructures quotidian rhythms to create music where once was just traffic, automatic doors swishing open, the sides of buildings. Boise residents and visitors share in the opportunity to discover something new in the 325 public art installations across the city on traffic boxes and manhole covers, in schools or on sidewalks. Many traditional art venues are not readily accessible to everyone due to extraneous entry fees or exclusionary gatekeepers, but free public art—especially of the range and magnitude that exists in Boise—offers a unique experience that meets people where they are, regardless of financial concerns or even personal resistance. “Just having it out there in the world for people to interact with and form their own opinions about is valuable in its own right,” Lewis said. Thanks to Boise’s Department of Art and History, 269 streets across the city have been transformed into engaging—and free—art installations. Even traffic boxes have become canvases in Boise. Since 2010, the city has commissioned over 200 art-wrapped traffic boxes designed by artists with a wide variety of styles, as quickly becomes evident the more boxes one notices dotting the streets. Located in and around busy intersections and popular public gathering spaces, the individuality of one piece speaks to the individuality of another, and together they build a community atmosphere that resists homogeneity and celebrates a gathering of many voices. “Batul’s Mermaid,” (between Main and Idaho streets), highlights Reham Aarti’s mosaic work, the vinyl covering a photograph of the physical piece. Down the street, Ken Zabel’s “Rockstars on Parade” is an acrylic painting of famous musicians. This chorus is in part what drew David Carmack Lewis to Boise to contribute his voice to the city’s burgeoning array of public art. The city’s vast collection of art pieces is a long, loud conversation spoken through car windows and across bus stops by local Boiseans primarily—only 21 of the 335 artists who have contributed work to Boise’s public art reside outside of Idaho. But occasionally artists travel to Idaho’s capital to add a new voice to the public art scene, as Lewis did earlier this year. “It’s an outside perspective, but [one that’s] trying to understand,” Lewis said, describing how it felt to create a lasting imprint in a city that’s not his own. It’s not his mural alone that forms and foments this community register; rather, it’s Lewis’ piece alongside the many others that cover Boise’s streets. “Those two different voices of murals are a dialogue,” Lewis explained. “It’s about engaging the community with the broader world and the broader world being aware of the community.”
(Right) Y o u ’ l l f i n d ‘ C o l l a g e H o t D o g ’ b y A n n B o y l e s o n t h e c o r n e r of Bannock and Fifth streets in downtown Boise, among many other traffic boxes.
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C A L E N D A R
BRIAN M YRIC K/IDAHO PRES S
A hot air balloon floats up among many others at Boise Balloon Classic 2018. Residents and potential visitors saw cancelations of Boise’s biggest attractions in 2020, however, while the uncertainty around hosting events remains, many are hopeful for 2021. Several performing arts institutions, such as Opera Idaho and Treefort, have rolled sold tickets over into 2021, and others—including Ballet Idaho and Boise Philharmonic—have already planned a virtual season that extends into the spring of 2021. And while many of us missed getting together, we were still offered event experiences virtually, from author talks hosted by Rediscovered Books to virtual runs, solo experiences but with
encouraging cheerleaders on social media, from Boise PRIDE Festival to newly introduced “History Happy Hour.” It’s an ever-changing normal, but fans have shown they will continue to show up, in-person or virtually, to support the culture that we have enjoyed for years. In these pages you won’t find a traditional calendar, rather there is a mini event guide of annual events and year-round things to do. We hope to be able to return to normal, and bigger, experiences soon, but until then we will keep you posted on what’s happening, and how you can be a part of it.
PERFORMING ARTS AND THEIR VENUES
LITERARY AND MORE ARTS
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Alive After Five went completely virtual this year, offering concerts via social media. Experience kits, featuring local food and beverages, were available for pick-up. downtownboise.org.
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Ballet Idaho has announced its virtual 2020-21 season, consisting of five streamed movements November to April: balletidaho.org.
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Boise Philharmonic began its virtual 2020-21 season, available through May. The organization currently has pop-up concerts across several months planned as well: boisephil.org.
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The Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts continues to adapt, offering virtual shows like “Hamilton” and “Cats.”: morrisoncenter.com.
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We missed Boise Balloon Classic and Idaho Shakespeare Festival, among others, and will keep you updated on those in 2021.
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Art in the Park, one of the largest fundraisers for local artists, was hosted by Boise Art Museum virtually in 2020: boiseartmuseum.org/art-in-the-park.
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For a variety of spoken-word performances, readings and more, check out Story Story Night and Storyfort events: treefortmusicfest.com/fort/storyfort.
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The Cabin hosts regular (now virtual) author talks, drop-in writing workshops, craft courses and more: thecabinidaho.org. Something you can do at home: November is National Novel Writing Month.
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Boise State University, The College of Idaho, College of Western Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University often host public events, from lectures to gallery receptions, which are available on their calendars.
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GET OUTSIDE •
Runners were sorry to see cancelations of the City of Trees Marathon, Race to Robie Creek, and other popular races. Others, including the Sue B. Memorial 5K/10K run/walk and Race for the Cure, were done independently, with fundraising and cheerleading done virtually.
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Bicycling enthusiasts also experienced modified events of Boise Goathead Fest (boisegoatheadfest.com) and Ridetober (ridetober.com).
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Boise and Ada County libraries have been offering many regular, virtual events for patrons of all ages, with Storytime for the younger ones, tailored teen activities and book clubs for older audiences. Check out adalib.org and boisepubliclibrary.org.
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First Thursday happens at the beginning of every month and features business specials, classes, later operations and more as part of Boise’s downtown scene: downtownboise. org.
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Trivia Night (complete with craft beer) has become a competitive and popular pastime and can be found at a number of locations, including Barbarian Brewing Downtown Tap Room, Edge Brewing, The Lounge at the End of the Universe (which also hosts comedy nights), and the Spacebar Arcade, which also features classic arcade games.
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SOME EVENTS ARE STILL TBD
As many hope for a COVID-19 vaccine to be finalized and released soon, residents and event organizers are still going forward, adapting as needed. It would be remiss if we did not provide a list of near-future events later in late 2020 and early 2021 and early next that may or may not happen in some capacity:
Local game stores, such as All About Games, feature competitive game play and game nights.
PLACES TO GO •
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The Boise Depot is not only a picturesque landmark of the city, it is also an embodiment of part of Boise’s defining history: a bustling railway stop. Now, the space hosts events, both indoors in the Great Hall and outdoors in the Platt Gardens: cityofboise. org. The James Castle House, a historic space memorializing the artist and providing residency programs, offers socially distanced tours: jamescastlehouse.org/visit/ tours-talks.
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Hyde Park Street Fair was canceled, and will hopefully return in 2021: northend. org/hyde-park-street-fair.
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Autumn in the Garden and harvest-themed activities were had at Idaho Botanical Garden, which also hosts Winter Garden Aglow in December. Gardening enthusiasts will find advice and classes. This Boise staple is partnering with other organizations to put on events: idahobotanicalgarden.org.
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Idaho State Museum introduced History Happy Hour (virtually), and the Old Penitentiary adapted by hosting a series of spookier events during “Locktober.” Frightened Felons will hopefully return in 2021.
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EMPTY BOWLS: The Empty Bowls Event is usually held around Thanksgiving at The Boise Centre. It’s a chance for people to donate to the Idaho Foodbank and purchase a decorated bowl painted by an ametuer artist. Idahofoodbank.org
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THE POTATO DROP: This yearly family fun New Years party has moved from The Grove to The Capitol since its inception in 2013 but the celebration is the same. The large “potato” is slowly lowered by a crane next to the crowd to bring in the New Year. idahopotatodrop.com
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FESTIVAL OF TREES: The festival has been happening in Boise for 37 years and usually takes place at Boise Centre on The Grove but this year it’s going virtual. People can experience all of the decorative magic and bid in the auction online. saintalphonsus.org
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CUPID’S UNDIE RUN: This stripped-down fun run happens every year around Valentine’s Day. The event raises money and awareness about neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that affects one out of every 3,000 births. cupids.org
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208 COMEDY FEST: This yearly festival is a hoot and traditionally uses different stages around downtown and in the past has boasted some amazing local and national talent. 208comedyfest.com
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COMIC CON: The Gem State Comic Con is held at Expo Idaho and celebrates all things comic; be it graphic-art, movies, shows, cosplay, fantasy, sci-fi, video games and even actual comics. gemstatecomiccon.com
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TWILIGHT CRITERIUM: The criterium is a professional men’s and women’s cycling road race that’s usually held in downtown Boise every July. The city blocks off some of downtown and people line up to watch the bikes whiz by. downtownboise.org
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