Greenbelt Magazine July/August 2022

VOLUMNE 10 | ISSUE 7

JULY AUGUST 2022

IT’S A BOISE THING

CONTENTS

greenbeltmagazine.com

Features

Sturman's Wine and Cigar Lounge

Departments

WINE

EMERGING

HOPE

TREND

COMMUNITY

FAMILY

Rolling Hills Vineyard

Sammi Swenson: Pain and Prowess

Finding Hope Amid Cancel Culture

Live Nation: Breaking Free From Every Day

Get Involved in Summer Sports

SERENDIPITY

CHALLENGE

ENTERTAINMENT

TECH

DINING GUIDE

A Tale of Perfect Timing and a Life Saved

A World of Silence: Tara Marie’s Inspiring Tale

Idaho Halloween & Horror Convention

Spoke Hello lovely readers of the Treasure Valley and happy summer! Oh, we are looking forward to so much about the Summer 2022 and we’ve tried to compile as much of it as possible to share with you in this latest issue. We have stories to move you, shake you, and motivate you like A World of Silence, the tale of Tara Marie. Or Three Generations of Filmmakers, the journey of a film family. And you absolutely have to read A Shared Connection, the story of Janine Renee’s tale of perfect timing and a life saved. Alongside narratives of achieving and overcoming are features on hope, learning, and technology. As you can see, we’ve packed a lot in this issue. Have you heard about Sturman’s Cigars news location—with a 3,000 square foot patio? We know, we’re excited too! Or the Rolling Hills Winery and their delicious urban tasting room? Meet iconic athletes, horror movie buffs, and musicians that will make your heart sing. We could go on and on but it’s best that you find out for yourself, so grab a fresh cup of coffee or a nice glass of wine: happy reading, riends! As always, we thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. We couldn’t do this without and the support of our Treasure Valley community! Tia Markland-Crabtree

The Farm Fresh Connection

Brave New Virtual World

Hungry? Let’s Eat.

Three Generations of Film Makers

CONTRIBUTORS

July/August 2022

JENNIFER BRACKETT

CHELSEA CHAMBERS

Writer Jennifer grew up living around the world. Her diverse cultural experiences provided a great base for Jennifer’s writing. A mother of six, Jennifer has devoted much of her life to family, a decision that is dear to her heart.

Writer Chelsea has been passionate about writing since she was old enough to pick up a pencil. Approaching nearly a decade in the industry, she does freelance work for a variety of publications acrossthe country.

PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

RASE LITTLEFIELD

Writer Pamela is a popular speaker at colleges, film festivals and entertainment industry conferences around the world.

Photographer Rase is the owner of Rase Photography, specializing in commercial and residential photography, also weddings, portraits, food and wildlife. Music has always been a huge part of his life.

greenbeltmagazine.com

CHRYSANTHEMUM CRENSHAW Writer Chrysanthemum's passions include conservation, travel, floral artistry, writing, and animal care. Her goal is to eventually run her own rescue for retired sled dogs in Alaska.

ASHLEY FRITSCHE

JAMIE HUDSON

LIZA LONG

CATRINE McGREGOR

KIMBERLEE MILLER

Writer Liza is the Department Chair of Integrated Studies and an assistant professor of English. She has also taught humanities and student success courses at the college level.

Photographer Ashley found her way into photography through her career in marketing. She has lived throughout the United States, which contributes greatly to h er sense of culture and community.

Editor-in-Chief Catrine’s multiple career paths are as eclectic as her passions. An awardwinning filmmaker, she is also a writer, a BSU professor, and now the Editor-in-Chief of Eagle and Greenbelt magazines.

Photographer Jamie is an Education Specialist with St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Passionate about physical and mental health. Jamie and her husband are inspired daily by their two amazing children.

Photographer Kimberlee is a lead photographer for Eagle and Greenbelt Magazines. Her ability to capture candid moments, her refined sense of composition and intimate style has earned her a reputation as a highly sought-after photographer.

Cover photo by Rase Littlefield

IDAHO MEDIA PUBLISHING LLC

Publisher Tia Markland-Crabtree Editor-in-Chief Catrine McGregor Art Department Angela Bucchino Advertising Inquires 208-484-8215 Circulation Distribution Howard-Evans Distribution 4

Greenbelt Magazine, Vol. 10, No. 7 is published 6 times a year by Idaho Media Publishing LLC, P.O. Box 1878 Eagle, Idaho 83616. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. Content of this publication is the copyright of Idaho Media Publishing LLC and/or respective copyright holders. Content may not be reproduced in whole or in part without consent of the copyright owner. For subscription information please visit greenbeltmagazine.com. For editorial submissions please email catrine@eaglemagazine.com. For advertising, please email ads@greenbeltmagazine.com.

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STURMAN'S WINE AND CIGAR LOUNGE YOUR NEXT SUMMER DESTINATION

BY CHELSEA CHAMBERS PHOTOGRAPHY TIA MARKLAND-CRABTREE

We’ve all been there, trying to answer the same age-old questions: Where do we go to eat? What should we do this weekend? You stare blankly at one another, unable to decide, unable to offer any suggestions. Oh, I don’t care… wherever. But we all know that ‘I don’t care’ means ‘You decide, but it better be something I want to do too.’ “Nobody likes decisions,” Ryan said. “So, my goal was to eliminate the need to make decisions about where to go for dinner, drinks, and entertainment.” Ryan Sturman is the owner of both the original Sturman’s Smoke Shop (located on 10th Street in downtown Boise) and their second location: Sturman’s Cigar and Wine Lounge at 4204 W Chinden Blvd in Garden City. The new Chinden location, which opened in June 2021, boasts a massive selection of wines and cigars from all over the world as well as rotating food trucks, live music, trivia, and—our favorite part—a 3,000 square foot patio. Yes, you read that right. Three thousand square feet. It’s no secret that the Treasure Valley loves a good patio during the warm months, but Ryan has found a way to make the patio available all year long. While it’s expensive to transition the patio from summer to winter, he says it’s worth it to keep the customers satisfied. “We have music four nights a week, all year round. Mondays we have open mic and Tuesdays we do Trivia Night. We also have the NFL ticket with three TVs outside and two more inside. There’s truly always something going on,” Ryan shared.

I wanted to create something other than the dark, boys club that you usually see with cigar lounges. I wanted bright, fun, open, and inviting.”

For dining, Tuesday through Thursday, Sturman’s has a variety of charcuterie options available and there is always an on-site food truck on Fridays and Saturdays. But the best way to keep up with all that Sturman’s has to offer is through their new digital app. Here you can find the latest wine selections and stay in the know about the latest happenings at Sturman’s. But above all else, beyond the endless wine selection and tasty cigars, Ryan praised his staff: “Without the staff members I have, this would just be a building with wine on the wall.” Some of his main goals for the future include keeping the staff happy, well-trained, and educated. Ryan Sturman has reinvented the traditional cigar lounge and cultivated a whole new kind of experience. “I wanted to create something other than the dark, boys club that you usually see with cigar lounges. I wanted bright, fun, open, and inviting.” It’s safe to say that he nailed it. The atmosphere is fun and open, the vibe is friendly, and the options are seemingly unlimited. Sturman’s is a destination— G whether you are a cigar smoker or not. ¢

To get the latest information on Sturman’s Cigar and Wine Lounge and for info on how to download their mobile app, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @StumansWineAndCigars.

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FARM TO TABLE

the

Farm Fresh connection

BY BAVINI PHOTOGRAPHY BY RASE LITTLEFIELD

OUR CONNECTION. OUR COMMUNITY. OUR FOOD.

This is at the heart of the brilliance that is FarmDeliver. Its conception during the pandemic of 2020 was from the vision of its founder, Elisabeth Chin. She toyed with this idea as a customer, picking up weekly and monthly purchases from multiple farms and businesses in different places across the city. The scarcity of food resources and empty grocery shelves in 2020 was a very real fear amongst Treasure Valley residents. Realizing that there was a gap in our economy and supply chain, this stirred in Chin a call to action to find a way to connect local farms with our community. She knew that local farms help keep food dollars in the local economy which supports small businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs. Chin grew up near Maple Grove and Victory Road in Boise, an area which was home to a mixture of houses and farms. Her family owned acreage on which they raised small flocks of sheep, chickens and a Jersey cow. They also grew a substantial garden, and harvested apricots and eggs. From the age of 10 until she graduated high school, she says that she was fortunate to be a part of the Locust Grove Wranglers 4-H club, where she learned basic practices in caring for livestock and the business of farming. Chin’s mother was a certified master gardener and was a source of inspiration for her passion. With a background in marketing and public relations, Chin says it is her entrepreneurial spirit that spurred her dream to become a business owner. She started a home decor business in 2019 that boasts her handmade furniture and textile based tapestries and cushions. This served as her experimental platform that led to the launch of FarmDeliver this year. Chin wears a variety of hats, one of which includes being a Youth Advocate at JEMfriends, a nonprofit organization that supports youth who have aged out of the foster system with a transition program that offers life skills training in addition to other types of support. 15

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FARM TO TABLE

In her free time, you will find Chin camping and white water rafting with her husband, Kevin Chin, who is part of her 3-person team at FarmDeliver. She says that she is the innovator while her husband is the voice of reason. The third person in the team’s trio is Krista Shawley, the owner of Sable Dog Farm, who is also an employee with FarmDeliver. As we chat in Chin’s humble office that she shares with Shawley, her unassuming nature and big heart are evident as she speaks of her faith and desire to establish a business that sees people in the Treasure Valley cared for and fed. She is proud to be a part of Idaho’s agricultural heritage. She observes that if one drives around the valley, pockets of farms with horses, chickens, cows and more still exist! I may be so bold as to say that I may even have personally seen a llama or two peeking over fences! She observes that the valley practices a culture of sharing produce in an unofficial capacity, friend to friend or neighbor to neighbor.

FarmDeliver’s mission is to raise awareness of local farms and be a gateway to accessibility between farms and the community. For a reliable infrastructure to exist, part of accessibility is delivery which is what FarmDeliver provides. Chin decided to establish FarmDeliver by supporting farms that already have a steady business with their own customer base. She serves as a marketplace facilitator and strives to offer her customers a convenient and familiar online shopping experience. Small to medium sized farms that are unable to take on the expense and logistical burden of delivery benefit from working with FarmDeliver to reach otherwise unreached customers. Farms also retain a larger percentage of their profits selling retail through FarmDeliver than they do selling wholesale. The FarmDeliver website provides transparency with a description of the farms, their farming practices and products that Chin works with. The website is a one-stop shopping experience where customers can order staple groceries such as meat, dairy, produce and bread from a variety of farms and businesses, and pay for all of it in one transaction. The items are labeled by the

respective farms and then delivered to customers in recyclable brown paper bags and reusable cooler bags to cut down on unnecessary waste. Products sold are only from the farms listed on the website.

that has always existed, the changes will have a positive impact. It is an important time to build who we are as a city”. She envisions the valley being a place of self-sustainability and refuge for anyone.

While Chin is hard at work developing FarmDeliver, she has her sights set on a future filled with possibilities. The next phase will see memberships for regular customers giving them the ability to create recurring orders at a discount. She also wishes to spearhead a community project that connects home growers with customers which will facilitate the connection of neighbors and encourage zero-waste shopping. Chin foresees FarmDeliver contributing to a potentially larger and more collaborative food hub (as defined by the USDA) that would help small to medium sized farms in the Treasure Valley compete with subsidized agriculture.

FarmDeliver is not just a business to Chin. She is enlivened by the prospect of being part of the generous circle of businesses in the valley that connects people. She is focused on the positive relationships she is building with farmers, customers and agencies she works with. She is striving to ensure that the needs of the seller and buyer are met while everyone gets a fair deal.

Chin observes that the Treasure Valley is in a period of transition. She says, “if organizations, businesses and people keep working to build the culture of community

Food and healthy eating can be an incredible way to cultivate joyful connections. When we get caught up in the daily grind, we underestimate the importance of the food cycle that helps us make wiser choices of what to buy and who to support. The joy and connection from the farmer, to the chef and finally to the table are immeasurable. We are fortunate to live in the Treasure Valley where even if you aren’t gardening or farming, someone G close to you is. ¢ farmdeliverboise.com facebook.com/farmdeliver instagram.com/farmdeliverboise

WINE STORY BY KORA DELTA PHOTOGRAPHY ZACH PASCULLI

Rolling Hills Urban Tasting Room, an elegant addition to Idaho’s Garden City wine scene, is beautiful and the wines are a delight. The Rolling Hills Estate Vineyard, located in the bucolic foothills of Eagle, Idaho, is the continuation of a family winemaking hobby that began in the 1960s by Lori’s beloved grandfather, Matty. Today, the Pasculli family carries the tradition forward, working as a team to create incredible award winning wines. Married 33 years, Mark and Lori Pasculli spent the first ten years of their marriage in the fruit basket of the world, the San Joaquin Valley in Central California before moving to Idaho in 2003. Lori grew up in a tiny agricultural town of Turlock on her grandparents’ vineyard. Both grew up around agriculture and wine, and both have become an integral aspect of their lives. “My love for agriculture runs very deep and my best memories were made on that vineyard. I spent hours riding the tractor on my Papa’s lap. Being from the Depression Era, he would go out and pick whatever fruit the crew had missed and make a simple table wine for his friends and family,” says Lori. After relocating to Idaho, Lori’s dream took on fresh inspiration in the form of her children and husband, Mark’s, Italian and French heritage. They acquired a neglected vineyard of Cab Franc in Idaho’s vast Snake River Valley AVA in 2016. In 2017, they planted Tempranillo and Syrah. Mark started educating himself on viticulture and later enrolled in a Enology program at UC Davis. They spent years revitalizing and enriching the vineyard’s soil. Today, this land produces gold and double platinum, award-winning wine and is the anchor of the family’s burgeoning wine business. Rolling Hills Vineyard is a true family effort, with Mark and Lori overseeing all viticultural and winemaking decisions. Daniel, their oldest son, is running the overall operations and is also enrolled at UC Davis in the Enology program. Daughter, Savannah, opened the tasting room and managed it successfully throughout its first year. Their youngest son, Zachary, is a videographer that creates and produces all media content. I was so intrigued to find out “Why Idaho? And Eagle, of all places?” when Mark and Lori were thinking about relocating. Lori explains, “We both love the West, and wide-open spaces. When we first came to Idaho 20 years ago, it reminded us of what the California Central Valley used to be like 40 years ago.” 18

ROLLING HILLS VINEYARD IDAHO WINERY ROLLS INTO NEW TERRITORY: ROLLING HILLS IS EMERGING ONTO THE IDAHO WINE SCENE

“When people start drinking Idaho wines, they are pleasantly surprised at the quality and that is awesome for the entire industry. We really believe the Snake River Valley AVA will grow into one of the most respected AVA’s in the industry,” expalins Mark. Aside from being a highly acclaimed winery, there is a very special wine dedicated to the mascot of Rolling Hills Vineyard. Bleu was the family golden retriever who unfortunately got cancer and died only 12 days after they opened the tasting room. The entire theme of the tasting room is surrounded by Bleu, with lots of navy-blue colors and golden accents. “We’ve always gravitated to rescue animals and they have been a part of our household for over 30 years, says Lori. The Mascot Red blend, which recently won best in class and a gold medal at the Idaho wine competition, has a special message on the bottle that is a dedication to their beloved Bleu that reads: “Our love for critters, big and small, has led us to shelters wherever we’ve lived in the hope of offering a loving home to a pet in need. Adopting an animal that needs a good home is a big job that takes care and money. By choosing this bottle of delicious

My love for agriculture runs very deep and my best memories were made on that vineyard.

Mascot wine, you are supporting animal shelters throughout the great state of Idaho. Ten percent of all the proceeds of “Bleu’s Mascot” goes to an Idaho 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal shelter. “Our motto is, ‘We can’t do everything, but we can do something.’ Thank you for partnering with us G to do ‘something’.” ¢

Rolling Hills wine can be found in the Co-Op grocery stores. They are also in restaurants such as Ruth’s Chris and Richards. The tasting room is located at 152 E 52nd St in Garden City, right off of Chinden Rd.

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EMERGING

SAMMI SWENSON: PAIN AND PROWESS BY JENNIFER BRACKETT PHOTOGRAPHY ASHLEY FRITSCHE

AN EMERGING YOUNG ARTIST TAKES US DOWN HER SOMETIMES ROCKY MUSICAL PATH

Music has always had a strange influence on us throughout time. It helps us work through our pains and sorrows. It opens our hearts to dream and love. It allows us to relive our memories. Music is a feeling, but for Sammi Swenson, it is so much more. Sammi Swenson is a local Boise musician who released her first album in February, entitled Silver. The album was created as a memorial to a terrible tragedy that resulted in a loss of a friend. During the hardest time of her life, as she struggled with coping with her loss, she secretly voiced her pains, one by one, to the world. People listened. They shared her pain and they shared her music. She found a growing audience, but this was not the beginning of Sammi Swenson. 22

Sammi was a little girl like many other little girls. She dressed up, danced, and sang for her family and friends. She was sugar and spice with sass and class. Her parents were a huge influence on her life. Realizing her love of music, her father, a Boise High School choir teacher, fostered her love of singing. When she was five years old, her mother began teaching her to play the piano. As she grew, her life was amassed in music. Still fairly young, he discovered a love for Opera. Her fondness for performing developed into a drive to compete and share her talent with a larger audience. Her adventurous nature started to gain some notice. She realized “This is really fun for me. I was that seven-year-old that sang arias,” she laughed.

When Sammi was about eight years old, her curiosity spread to other forms of music. She became influenced by the world around her, taking it all in. One of her big influences was The Wizard of Oz. “After watching it, my musical journey really took a turn. There was something about the way it was being sung - I started to turn more towards jazz.” She continued to compete locally implementing her new singing style until she caught the ear of Justin Nielson, a teacher, and recording artist. The two started working together and Sammi played gigs with local jazz bands as a singer. Life was fun and she continued to sing with the free spirit of a child, taking any challenge head-on. Then came high school and the fun had to stop.

High school was a different world and she recalls that the change in environment was a difficult adjustment. “When you grow up performing, you get into the mindset that you need the acceptance of other people. In a high school environment, you can be really good at something and not be embraced.” These changes in her atmosphere planted the first seeds of fear and doubt into Sammi’s heart and it took the rest of her time in high school it to let go. The attention she received during those four long

years was not always positive. “At that time I cared so much about what people thought that I really held back on my own development.” Teenagers can be incredibly cruel. We have all been there. Having no experience with these kinds of interactions, we tread cautiously. Through watching, we learn. Those who seek attention risk punishment. Our self-esteem wanes, so Sammi kept her musical passion a secret. Without even realizing it, Sammi led a double life. By day, she was a mild-mannered high school student, and by night, a practicing musician. Though she was not open about her craft, her drive would not allow her to stop. 23

She spent a lot of time in her basement, writing and playing music. She started learning guitar and became greatly influenced by R&B. She had an incredible support team of musicians who shared her love of music and was signed by a local music label. She had even been contacted by producers from American Idol and America’s Got Talent. “I had a difficult time figuring out what I was going to do,” she said. Though this part of her life was a secret, it did not stay that way for long.

The word got out through the grapevine. She pushed through and continued to make plans for her first album release. Nothing could stop her, not even a pandemic. Then the unthinkable happened. Something stopped Sammi Swenson. Driving home one night, a drunk driver hit her car. Her sister was badly injured and her best friend was gone forever. Sammi was lost. As she mourned the loss of her friend and focused on being with her family, the rumor mill was abuzz. “After the accident, I even had people saying to me ‘Oh we’re going to get some really good music from this.’ I was bitter and really angry.” Sammi stopped writing music.

But life stops for nothing and for no one. Eventually, she needed an outlet for her pain. She picked up her guitar and wrote. And she wrote and recorded some more. She quietly released her pain to SoundCloud. Unbeknownst to Sammi, this one action received a huge reaction. She had direct contact with her fanbase. She could read the comments of those with similar experiences, who deeply felt her music. “It was so powerful for me to see.” She realized, “That’s what it should be about.” Soon after, she was contacted by Interscope Records, one of the biggest music companies in the world. Olivia Rodrigo, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish are all signed with Interscope Records. With some life experience under her belt, Sammi thought long and hard about what she truly wanted. She could have been the next big pop star, but her home is where her heart is. There was also an underlying knowledge she could lose creative control over her mausic if she signed with a big record company. Though she has the highest respect for those who choose to sign with big labels, she did not want to feel like she was “just part of this factory of musicians being manipulation into a predestined future.” The choices she had made in her professional life had given her time for self-reflection. She rekindled a relationship with a childhood friend, Brandon Anderson. They fell in love and married. As a woman, she has found the courage to be who she is, and the prowess to chase her dreams. She feels she has already succeeded but wants to continue her musical journey. She enjoys her home life with her supportive and loving husband. He loves watching her, “I’ve seen her in her element, making music, and it’s amazing. And I don’t think she’s shown me everything she’s done,” he says with a smile. Sammi Swenson looks forward to touring and making her next album, but until then, she wants to spend time with her family and stay grounded. You can find out more and follow The Sam Henry Band through their Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/samuelhenrymusic00. Check https://linktr.ee/Samhenrymuzic for more about G their first album, “Release.” ¢

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“You’re right, I’m wrong.” Feels good to read, doesn’t it? This submissive statement seems to mark the beginning of a friendship when in fact is marking the end of a conversation. It feels good to be right, so good that many often listen not to learn, but to respond. Mic-drop moments have gained a reputation for spice. These are moments when something is said during a conversation so profound that after which, nothing further can be said. The proverbial ‘mic’ is dropped after such a statement with the deliverer declared victor. Mic-drop moments have become so sought-after that people often listen to their conversational counterparts with the sole purpose of exploiting an error in the argument rather than listening to learn. What happens when I mic-drop you, and you mic-drop me? Neither of us are left holding a mic, but more importantly, neither of us are interested in listening to anything further after the finality of our profound, conversation-ending statements. After all, there’s nothing left to say after a mic-drop moment, nor is there anything left to hear.

MIC-DROP MOMENTS FINDING HOPE AMID CANCEL CULTURE STORY BY DR. NAFEES ALAM PHOTOGRAPHY SUNNY SKIES MEDIA

This gives way to the development of cancel culture, a macro-level version of mic-drop moments. From “I’ve made the final statement, you have nothing further to say,” to “we’ve made the final statement, they have nothing further to say.” While micro-level mic-drop moments can often be harmless from a societal context, macro-level cancel culture stemming from excess microlevel mic-drop moments can have a profound national and international impact. We see it today when many ideological and political factions are more concerned with silencing dissent than evolving and sharpening their own ideas. Victory used to be about strengthening yourself, today it’s about weakening your opponent through cancel culture.

HOPE Everyone likes to win, making mic-drop moments that give way to cancel culture quite addictive, but are they productive? I had the pleasure of conversing on the topic of hope with Father Dominic at the Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus. He and I differ on what we believe brings unity to civilizations. He is the optimist who believes people are more likely to come together when working toward a collective good while I am the pessimist who believes people are more likely to come together when working against a collective evil. Throughout our conversation, there were plenty of “yeah, but” mic-drop moments that both Father Dominic and I chose not to exploit. Admittedly, it is difficult to listen to learn instead of listening to respond. A mutual respect for one another and a genuine desire to learn about opposing viewpoints allowed us to create a space for education of a diversity of viewpoints instead of indoctrination funneled into a singular viewpoint. My argument is that we often wish to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. We want to believe that we can come together for a common cause, when in reality, we are more likely to come together against a common enemy. History has shown us that a mutual hatred against an external entity has a greater probability of creating unity than a mutual love of an external entity. Unity is unity, no matter how it’s achieved. Father Dominic’s argument is that identifying a common enemy is a temporary fix to separation and isolation. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” only holds true until that enemy no longer exists, creating a volatile and unsustainable collaboration that is bound to end. Instead, although a mutual love of an external entity is less probable to create unity than a mutual hatred against an external entity, bonds formed through love are more likely to withstand the test of time than bonds formed through hate.

Father Dominic and I reached a consensus on common causes building more sustainable forms of unity than common enemies, but only because we both chose not to succumb to the temptation of mic-drop moments throughout our conversation. It was only after we both listened to one another, learned of each other’s viewpoints, and respectfully compared and contrasted one another with no intention of proving the other wrong that we realized the credibility in each other’s perspectives. However, to every point, there is a counterpoint. Though mic-drop moments and cancel culture may be perceived as detrimental to human interaction, one could argue that the point of any conversation is to reach a conclusion, not a perpetual continuation. Perhaps conversations should have finite dead ends instead of infinite forks in the road. Perhaps ideas that are deemed obsolete should expire with cancel culture being the tool applied for terminating those ideas. Without mic-drop moments, and in essence, cancel culture, communication as a whole would be quite inefficient. Furthermore, practicing restraint when conversing with someone who is actively seeking to mic-drop could give them the impression that you don’t have the argumentative acumen that they do. Not applying cancel culture to eliminate outdated ideas could give the impression that those ideas remain credible. Few things bring about a more definitive conclusion to conversations than mic-drop moments. Few things bring about a more definitive conclusion to ideas than cancel culture.

your conversational counterpart will remember the sting of each others’ respective mic-drop moments. The perpetuity of conversation that is achieved through respectful discourse made it possible for Father Dominic and me to work through our differing viewpoints on hope to find common ground. Neither one of us changed the other’s mind and we’ve left the door open for future conversations, perhaps on the same topic, perhaps on different topics. If Father Dominic and I, both from different backgrounds, different upbringings, different beliefs and values, can be friends, perhaps there is hope for addressing cancel culture at the macro-level. Actively practicing restraint at the micro-level sets an example that dominoes into the macro-level. If we are able to resist the temptation of dropping mics as individuals, we may be able to learn how to resist the temptation of applying cancel culture as a society. Ideas that oppose ours don’t pose a threat, but an opportunity. It’s a strength, not a weakness, to actively seek out opposition to our viewpoints for the purpose of growth. Much like muscular development through resistance training, cognitive development often happens by actively training to defend our ideas against opposing ideas. Cancel culture creates an environment where opposing ideas are not permitted to exist, much like a gym without weights. We become weak, complacent, impotent. Weakening our opposition through the application of cancel culture only prohibits the ability to G strengthen ourselves. ¢

When mics are dropped, nobody is left speaking and nobody is left listening. Although this may be the most efficient manner of communication, it closes the door on future interactions. After mic-drop moments, it’s difficult to pick the proverbial mic back up and start speaking and listening again because both you and

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LIVE NATION BREAKING FREE FROM EVERY DAY IS A GIFT YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF STORY BY JENNIFER BRACKETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON MICHAELS

Imagine a hard day at work. You come home and plop on the couch. You pull out your cell phone and browse the same old thing you usually do. You feel tired and fried. Today, this is just not doing the trick. We need a pick-me-up. It is time to get out of the house. For so many of us, it has been a long time since we have done anything for ourselves. It is time to break those shackles and spice it up. Call a friend and make a day of it. There is a good chance that if you have been feeling down and out, they probably have been too. I recently went to a concert to support a musician I love. I find myself frequently listening to their album and keeping up to date on their new music. After their performance, I went to their merch table to get a shirt. I know doing this not only supports the band but also gives me something tangible to hold on to this day. As I approach the table I read a sign that informs me the band only makes $0.0004 per stream. I quickly do the math. If 1 million people streamed one song they only make $400. Then I think, there are several members in this band. The sign also showed that purchasing their merchandise straight from them paid them more. Music had not always been this way. Before, bands made more money because a full album was always purchased. I purchased my merchandise and spent my time thinking about this. I realized if this continued my favorite bands and musicians could not possibly live on this kind of income. I thought of a world without music and a melancholy washed over me. Getting out there and experiencing a live concert, not only, is therapeutic for your soul, but also keeps the music coming. So, come out and support your favorite artists and give them a reason to keep coming back! Check out the amzing band Live Nation is bringing to town this summer. July features the musical talents of Slightly Stoopid, Goo Goo Dolls, Kenny Chesney, and Dispatch. In August we have The Chicks Tour coming. In September we finish out the summer with Morgan Wallen, Korn, Evanescence, Flogging Molly, LANY, ODESZA, and Rüfüs Du Sol. Live Nation and the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater are consistently working hard to bring you ways to breathe new life into your routine. G So give yourself a break. You have earned it. ¢ To see the full line-up, go to livemu.sc/3FVJx9J

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COMMUNITY

GET INVOLVED IN SUMMER SPORTS THESE BOISE FAVORITES WILL PAVE THE PATH TO A SUMMER OF FUN BY CHRYSANTHEMUM CRENSHAW

Idaho is widely known for its stunning landscapes and captivating natural beauty. These memorable features are highlighted by seasonal sports and the spirited people involved with them. The following is a lineup of summer sports in our area, comments, and tips from a local player, as well as information on how to join These Boise favorites will in on the fun.

pave the path to a summer of fun

One widely popular summer sport is kayaking. In this sport, locals have a chance to get out on the water, energize with exercise, and get some of that special Idaho summer sunshine. Local kayaking shops and spots include: Idaho River Sports | 9:00 am – 6:oo pm Alpenglow Mountain Sport | 9:30 am – 6:00 pm Whitewater Park | Sunrise to sunset The Boise River | Always open Main Payette River | Always open For the local land-dwellers out there, ultimate frisbee (otherwise known as “Ultimate”) is a no-contact summer sport for all ages. You can ind Ultimate players in parks throughout the Treasure Valley - most notably, Anne Morrison Park, where professional and leisure teams alike play when the weather is nice. I had the opportunity to interview one local Ultimate player and coach, Derek Davidson. Derek played Ultimate competitively for most of his life, both as a coach and a team member. In college, he taught the Ultimate Physical Education courses. These courses, while fulfilling, didn’t compare to the more involved approach of teaching the players on the team, according to Derek. This is what brings him to continuing his Ultimate journey by being a team coach today, for the All-Valley Middle School/Junior High Ultimate Frisbee Team, overseeing roughly 20 co-ed players - and he is considering starting a summer program for youth interested in joining the sport. I asked him what he likes about the sport itself. His answer? Playing with friends. “The camaraderie and community in playing Ultimate are fantastic. You can go to any city across the planet, and I would bet they either have a grassroots pickup team or some higher level of Ultimate team you can easily join and play with. Most groups allow players of all skill levels to join.” Derek says the easiest way to get involved with the sport is through the Facebook page, “Boise Ultimate Scene”. “Boise Ultimate Scene often lists league times and sign-ups throughout the year, along with days for pickup. It will also provide links and resources for more competitive players in the area looking to join our women's, men's, and mixed teams: Seven Devils, Sawtooth, and Lochsa!” Even further into nature, sports like hiking and rock climbing have grown increasingly more popular since the pandemic restrictions began. People have been seeking new, adventurous recreational ways to stay active, alert, and happy in the past two years - hiking is the perfect sport 35

for these goals. We’ve all read that sunshine is good for the brain, according to numerous medical studies, and walking at least 10,000 steps a day is recommended by the American Heart Association. Add in some steep terrain and some uncharted territory, and you’re sure to hit your fitness goals in no time with this challenging yet approachable sport. One benefit of hiking is that each hike is unique in the distance, duration, location, beautiful scenery, and skill level. Rock climbing, on the other hand, is a perfect fit for those looking to extend their reach in the outdoors and really push themselves. Go to new heights with these beginner and expert hiking and climbing resources: Idaho Hiking Club: (a Facebook group) Mountainwest Outdoor Club: Weekly hikes every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:00 am. Idaho Alpine Club: various group activities throughout the Treasure Valley, including snowshoe/trail hiking. Sawtooth Mountains: A favorite local hiking area and part of the famous Rocky Mountains featuring beautiful landscapes and terrain of varying skill levels. A few miles outside of Stanley. Idaho Trails Association: A nonprofit dedicated to educating people of all ages on the wonders of local trails. Idaho is also home to many popular fishing spots, with roughly 80,000 square miles of water in the state. Some of these water wonderlands can be found along the Greenbelt, including: Esther Simplot Park | 7:00 am – 10:00 pm Redwood Park | 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. Anne Morrison Park – 6:00 am - 9:00 pm. Lastly, we have cycling. With the warmer weather approaching, bikes are sure to come back full force this summer.

The Boise Bicycle Project | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm REI Co-op | Hours vary George’s Cycles | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Listed above are some phenomenal resources for beginners and experienced bikers alike. Each shop offers advice and repair services from experienced cyclists and a wide variety of bikes, gear, and accessories. Whether you’re casually biking through the Greenbelt or going on an adventurous cycling race in the woods, in Boise, you are tuned up to go G far this summer. ¢

FILM

THREE

STORY BY JENNIFER BRACKETT PHOTOGRAPHY ASHLEY FRITSCHE

Generations

OF FILMMAKERS CHASING DREAMS AND PAVING PATHS. THE JOURNEY OF A FILM FAMILY.

Their love for the art of moving pictures flows through their veins.

“My exodus from LA started one day when I was on the Ventura freeway. The drive should have taken five minutes, but it took almost an hour. I did this every single day, and I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life living on a freeway.’” This is a common story today, but this was not 2022. This is the 1980’s. It was a time when if you were not in LA, you could not make it in the film industry. For Catrine McGregor, not making it was not an option. Her determination paved a new path, but what she had no way of knowing was who would walk down that path with her one day. Catrine has been working as a Producer and Casting Director in film/TV/ commercials/IMAX for over 40 years. She is also the winner of 3 Codie Awards for video games she produced starring the likes of James Earl Jones. Catrine attended Loyola-Marymount University. “Filmmaking was never a dream of mine. I had friends in college that were into film and they didn’t have the organizational skills, so I started producing.” She worked hard and became driven to succeed during a time when few women took on the challenge. Finally, Catrine got her shot and was hired on the set of 1974’s Carrie.

FAMILY

After Carrie, Catrine worked for Disney and Warner Bros and next big opportunity was Blade Runner. She credits her professional success to the opportunities she had to observe and learn while on set. There was a clear structure to successfully making a film and she meticulously followed it. She says, “Times were different. It was easier to learn because there was such a clear chain of command and a sort of apprenticeship program. You didn’t just show up on set and attempt to do it right you learned every element of the job and did it right, or you were never hired again.” She recalls the story of a friend and fellow Boise filmmaker, Robin Meier, making her way up the ranks of film. Robin is now a writer and script supervisor, but like all filmmakers, she had to start low on the totem pole. “The first few movies she worked on were studio movies, and she was a production assistant (PA). When you’re a set PA and the assistant director (AD) yells ‘Quiet,’ you echo ‘Quiet.’ She learned this. When the AD said ‘Quiet,’ she said ‘Quiet.’ On either her third or fourth film, she was hired on specifically as a wardrobe PA. She was on set and hadn't even met the Costume Designer yet, who was the head of the department. The AD yelled ‘Quiet’ and Robin yelled ‘Quiet.’ The Costume Designer turned to her assistant and asked ‘Is that woman on our team?’ The assistant

said ‘yes’ and the wardrobe designer told her to fire Robin.” When asked why her friend was fired, Catrine simply explained, “The wardrobe department doesn’t yell ‘Quiet’.” Julien McGregor, a director of photography (DP) and an AD, chimes in with, “It’s not their job.” Catrine adds, “That’s how strict it is in a professional environment.” After over a decade of work in LA, sitting in hours-long traffic, she was done. Not with film, but with wasting her life in a car. She wanted more. She wanted a family. She wanted a life. Catrine McGregor packed her bags and moved to Utah. She knew there was work for her in there, albeit not as much. “I got a call from some guy named Robert Redford,” jokes Catrine. “He asked me if I would cast a film for him in Utah. I waited .0002 seconds to say something like ‘Yes’ or ‘Duh,’ or something like that.” Catrine created a successful casting company, but there was more she had to give. She wanted a family, a child of her own. Finding out she was not able to bear a child was a devastating blow, but she was determined to have her family. After so much hardship, Catrine was finally blessed with a bundle of joy with whom she could share her endless love. Julien McGregor was brought into Catrine’s life in 1988. She never imagined taking a break from her work or family life. She shared

her love of motherhood with her friends and colleagues. “When Julien was a week old, he sat in on the casting session for a movie called China O’Brien and everybody remembers it. The business I was in allowed me to take him in and I was with him a lot.” Julien McGregor grew up off and on set. His first audition was for the Green Day music video Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) and he got it. It never occurred to him that his life was strange or different until he was older. Julien recalls, “Like my mom, I wasn’t really into making films. I had done some acting, but I didn’t fall in love with it. It wasn’t until a friend of mine needed help with a music video. That’s when I fell in love with being on set.” Being behind the camera became “life” for him. Julien has been working in the film industry since he was 18 years old. “I started as an intern, doing PA work on sets like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Hell’s Kitchen, and Entourage.” He took a break for six years to join the Army but felt the pullback to film. Six years is a long time to take a break in the film industry, and he had to start over. Julien recalls asking his mother about getting work and the advice she gave. “Find another job. It’s a hard life.” Advice he would later give his daughter. Julien did continue his work in film and followed his path to becoming an AD, then a DP, and has even directed. He remembers the conversations he has overheard about him, as he worked his way up the ranks. “It hurts to hear people say, ‘Oh, he was hired because his mom’s important.’ They didn’t understand our working relationship.” Catrine chimes in, “I brought him up with the work ethics I had. If he didn’t pull his weight, that would come to an end quickly.” Julien smiles, “She would fire me. I thank her for that.” Julien understands the work that is needed to make a film. He raises his six children the way he was raised. They understand the behavior expected of them when they come to set and if they choose to work in the industry. Julien’s 16-year-old daughter, Mikayla McGregor, has chosen to work in film as well. She got her first taste of film when she was 10 years old, and she was hooked. She has already been in commercials and independent films as an actor. Though they were small parts, she fell in love with acting. “It was fun and exciting. I love watching the actors and crew work. It’s cool

seeing how a movie is made.” Mikayla started to intern as a PA two years ago. When asked about her experiences, she smiles and says, “It’s hard work, but it’s fun.” Julien is proud of his daughter, but he also knows how tough this industry is. He shares with us his feelings, “I’m absolutely harder on her [Mikayla McGregor]. It's a lot of tough love and you have to be thick-skinned. The industry is not going to be kind to you. If you’re easy on your kids, you’re not doing them any favors.” Catrine adds, “And she takes it.” With film evolving so drastically throughout the decades, you would think the processes would change. You would think that what you teach someone about filmmaking would change, but it is still the same. Julien states, “The change from film to digital made things better, but worse.” Catrine agrees, “Now there’s more of a lackadaisical attitude, that you couldn’t do with film before. Back then, five minutes of shooting would cost $5000.” Julien adds, “Because of digital, you see a lot more collaboration on smaller films. It becomes confusing as to who’s doing what job. As a department head, when something goes wrong, it’s your reputation on the line. It’s not the reputation of the PA, who is trying to give you advice.” Catrine explains, “You learn to stay in your own lane. I couldn’t imagine, when I was the assistant to the assistant to the extras casting director on Blade Runner, going up to Ridley Scott and giving him advice.” Julien adds, “The more money involved, the higher the stakes. You stay in your lane, so the film doesn’t collapse.” These are lessons the family has learned through their experiences. They pass these lessons down from parent to child as a key to success. No one wants to watch their child struggle, but they all have learned that the struggle is what has made them stronger. Three generations of filmmakers, all walking down a path, initially paved by the first. Each exploring for themselves. Each creates a new path for the next. Their love for the art of moving pictures flows through their veins. Each understands the hard work, discipline, and dedication it takes to work in the film business. Catrine leaves us with a bit of wisdom, “Everybody thinks it’s so glamorous, but the only thing glamorous about show business is telling people you’re in it. The reality is its hours upon G hours of long, hard work.” ¢

A SHARED CONNECTION JANINE RENEE’S TALE OF PERFECT TIMING AND A LIFE SAVED BY DANIEL LONDONO

It seems stunning to think of the possibility of our fates being intertwined with those of others, of our actions having an impact on the lives of complete strangers. To think that just maybe our existence isn’t just a random occurrence, and we are perhaps playing in a much higher league than our conscience allows us to believe. Janine Renee, a lifelong Boise resident, has a story that gives weight to this theory. A few years ago, Janine’s husband had a heart attack. “It was difficult to accept that this was actually happening to my family,” she tells me. Her husband survived, and from that moment forward, Janine made it her mission to become as informed and knowledgeable as possible concerning pre-heart attack warning signs, symptoms, and anything related to heart disease. “I became obsessed with arming myself with as much wisdom as I could, it gave me comfort.” A few weeks after her husband’s heart attack, Janine awoke at an uncharacteristically unusual time for her: 3:00 AM “I simply could not sleep, as if something was nagging me out of bed,” she explains. After getting up, she did something else that was incredibly rare which she had never done and has not done since: jumping on Facebook. She noticed a post from one of her Facebook friends, but as is the case with many of us, it was someone she didn’t even know. This person was grieving the loss of a

amily member and had been feeling out of sorts lately, dealing with the stress and deep sadness arising from the death. He mentioned that he doubted anyone even seeing his post because it was so early. He went on to say that for about a week or so he had been feeling a sharp pain and tightness in his heart, but that at that present moment, it had reached a new level of intensity and he was worried. Janine responded to his post and told him to do two key things right away: take a baby aspirin and call an ambulance. He was hesitant, thinking that his symptoms were simply a byproduct of his recent loss. He finally acquiesced and said he would do as Janine had suggested. Janine, speaking about this exchange said, “He was clearly distraught and in a very dark place, and it took some nudging, but he relented and did as I told him. I knew that time was a huge factor.” The man was in Janine’s thoughts for the rest of the day. Many hours later, she checked on Facebook to see if there was any news or updates on the man’s condition. As it happens, on his Facebook page there was a photo showing him in the hospital, hooked up to machines and IVs. Below the photo, a thank you message to Janine for saving his life. The moment he arrived at the hospital he had had a massive heart attack. He would not have been alive had it not been for the wisdom that Janine possessed. “Looking back on it, the whole thing seems

completely surreal. I’m just glad that I woke up that night when I did,” Janine tells me emphatically. Two strangers, connected at precisely the right moment through sheer happenstance. It happens all the time, with the majority of those not proving nearly as impactful as this one. The question that begs to be asked is: Is it truly happenstance? And one could add, if indeed just a random oddity of life, how to go about explaining it? Even the most unbelievable coincidences must have objective reasoning behind them. Janine’s guess is as good as mine. Or anyone else’s, for that matter. G “It’s just one of those things.” ¢

Do you have a wonderfully serendipitous story? Share it with us by going to greenbeltmagazine.com

Enjoy weekend lunch or dinner nightly on the patio before, after or instead of a movie.

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CHALLENGE

A WORLD OF SILENCE TARA MARIE’S INSPIRING TALE THROUGH A WORLD OF HARDSHIP STORY BY DANIEL LONDONO PHOTOGRAPHY ASHLEY FRITSCHE

I remember desperately wanting everyone in that cafeteria to know that “I am deaf too!”

The raison d’être of this column is to highlight extraordinary people and their extraordinary circumstances. These are not the stories of those that were pushed and fell backward without complaint and called it a day; these are the stories of those that were pushed, got back up, and pushed back. Tara Marie has such a story. Born in Boise and the oldest of six children, at the age of six she was diagnosed with progressive hearing loss and fitted for hearing aids. She was given a dim prognosis by doctors. Struggling academically and dealing with a heavy dose of social isolation, Tara dealt with it as best she could, through sheer grit and power of will. With true poignancy, she writes of her early years: “Even the love of my family and the acceptance and encouragement I got there was not enough to compensate for the dark cloud of anxiety that would follow me as soon as I walked out the front door each day. I was trying so hard to be the leader of all my younger hearing siblings like my parents asked me to be…I turned 42

to my younger sister to be my ears and help me interact with others that were trying to talk to me, we were joined at the hip in self-survival, and I cannot remember her ever complaining about it. I do not know how I would have survived without her. I imagine my desperate dependency on her and the many times she probably sacrificed her own identity in order to help me survive in mine probably still impacts her to this day. What a shadow she must have felt doomed to cower beneath her poor deaf older sister that got all the attention and pity. Our relationship has been strained for years over the deep trauma of this disfunction. I miss her.” Tara’s parents accepted an invitation to visit a residential deaf school. This changed her life. “I will never forget walking in the two-stall bathroom in the elementary wing of the campus and standing in front of the mirror looking myself straight in the eyes…a hopeful smile crept across my face as I reached up and pulled my hair up into a ponytail for the first time in several years. I still remember my parents’ faces when they saw me walk back toward the cafeteria, standing a bit taller, my hair pulled tightly back to reveal my ugly brown hearing aids. I remember desperately wanting everyone in that cafeteria to know that "I am deaf too!” After graduating from ISDB and attending Utah State, Tara met her first husband with whom she would have five children. “My husband and I divorced when our youngest was barely 3 years old. I found myself a single mom with no career or college degree, a profound hearing loss, and 5 little hearing children looking up at me to lead the way. Looking back I realize how similar this situation is to the one I found myself in during

my childhood days as the big sister of five younger siblings who also looked up to me to lead the way.” Tara persevered and started her business, ASL Expressions, “which has been a tremendous blessing and allowed me to earn a living doing something I love very much,” she tells me. When telling me about her relationship with the Treasure Valley, she writes, “I have been teaching community ASL (American Sign Language) classes for over 15 years, I am on the State Independent Living Council and serve on several advisory boards that discuss ways to improve the lives of us Deaf and hard-ofhearing community members. One of my favorite parts of my experience in the community the last nine years since I started my company is getting to work with senior citizens and those who are losing their hearing later in life and feel themselves becoming increasingly isolated from the sound-based world.” Tara appreciates every single day she has and possesses an extraordinary zeal for life. It would be hard to think up a challenge she hasn’t overcome or a hurdle she G hasn’t leaped. ¢

ENTERTAINMENT Last year was the launch of the Idaho Halloween & Horror Convention. It was the first year of being back after the pandemic, and although people were initially hesitant to venture out to such a public event, they opened up to the experience the minute they walked through the doors of the hotel. This year’s Idaho Halloween & Horror Convention returns August 12 – 14, 2022 at the Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner. There will also be several events at other venues around town, which can be found online.

IDAHO HALLOWEEN & HORROR CONVENTION CAMPY FUN FOR COSPLAY FANS IN MID-AUGUST STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL MURRAY

The convention has made some major changes: they have expanded the programming lineup and scheduled a third day. There will also be live entertainment, and a brand-new feature called “Costume Hollow.” To the best of our knowledge, Costume Hollow is the first of its kind, with a 3,000 sq ft area dedicated to cosplay, costuming, makeup, props, masks, make & takes and more. If you’ve ever been curious about making your own costume or taking your costume to the next level, this area is designed for you. In addition to this new area of the convention, live entertainment has been added, including Hideous Monster, a horror rock band formed in early 2017 in Portland, Oregon. The band is heavily influenced by horror movies, which makes them a natural choice for the Idaho Halloween and Horror Convention. Their influences include The Misfits, The Cramps, and Type O Negative. They will perform Friday and Saturday nights, August 12th and 13th. The literally mind-boggling (and funny) mentalist Foggyjack13 will perform during the Undead Buffet on Friday night at 6:45 pm. That same night, the First Annual Idaho Horror Vixens show will take place, featuring local drag artists from the Boise area, will compete for “Best Witch.” Returning this year is also the cash costume contest which is during the Horror Ball. This year’s guests include Brent Wagner who is the “Lost Leatherface,” Dave. Sheridan from Scary Movie, Felissa Rose of Sleepaway Camp, Russell Hodgkinson who played the lovable Doc in Z-Nation, Angus Oblong creator of “The Oblongs”, Shawn Morse of Shawn Morse FX, Abby Hartung, also a special effects artist, Dutch Bihary and Mythica von Griffyn from the hit TV show Skin Wars and G many more. ¢

Buy advance tickets at: idahohorror.com/registration Check out IdahoHorror.com to see the complete schedule

TECH

BRAVE NEW VIRTUAL WORLD

THE FUTURE OF LEARNING HAS A NAME, AND IT’S LIBRARIUM VR

STORY BY DANIEL LONDONO PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LIBRARIUM INC.

We want to become the world’s leading developer of immersive technologies for education.

Twenty or thirty years ago, virtual reality was a very niche space that many knew about, but very few actually got to experience. Some of us remember the VR booths in shopping malls in the 1990s and early 2000s, which blew us away with unimaginable worlds and adventures. It seemed then that this was truly the future of not only video games but countless other applications. For a while thereafter, virtual reality was hardly spoken about. Fast forward a few years, and VR is firmly gaining strength in popularity day by day. The team at Librarium Incorporated, a Boise-based company, is using VR in a way not many could have anticipated. By using virtual reality to take immersion to a level other mediums simply could not, they have developed a platform for learning that uses scientifically proven techniques to best digest new material.

It makes learning fun, engaging, and interactive. Test-prep for the SAT, the LSAT or the MCAT using boring, old, terse, ten-pound books would become a thing of the past. Imagine needing to study for a big test or wanting to learn a language, and the only tools you have are books, videos or online quizzes. While those have their place in the learning paradigm, if you have a VR headset you can hop on Librarium VR, select a subject, and off you go into a digital world where you learn as you’re having fun, picking up new concepts in an innovative way. The default theme in Librarium is a huge library you walk around in, quite literally picking up concepts as you progress. There are multiple choice quizzes that test your understanding, among many other features.

Duane Mathes, the CEO and founder of Librarium, shares how the idea for Librarium VR came about: “I spent ten years in Asia learning Mandarin, and there was heavy memorization required so I got really in-depth with memory palace techniques in order to become fluent,” he says. Sometime later when studying for his business degree, Mathes managed to test out of all his classes by using these memorization methods. It was then that he had the idea to combine learning with VR. Speaking with Mathes, along with Annie Morley, the CSO, and Jim Bradbury, the COO, it’s apparent that Librarium is a project and platform they are truly passionate about. Morley believes that gamifying learning is a very important move forward for technology. “Anything we do nowadays, we’re doing things that are gamified…it’s important to leverage technology in a way that people enjoy and keep coming back…it can help reinforce good habits, and that is really what we’re looking to do.” She’s certainly right about the importance of the gamifying aspect. Several industries use VR technology and games as learning methods. When asked if Librarium VR, along with all the self-learning tools available to virtually everyone would render formal education obsolete to a certain extent, Bradbury believes that there are certain technologies that inevitably meet their demise, as is natural in the tech space but adds, “I think there’s an evolution…from our perspective, we want to leverage spatial technologies for experiential learning…we have a pretty open future ahead of us in terms of adoption of technologies and proliferation of the technologies that we use but we do sincerely believe that it’s the future.” Speaking about Librarium Inc. going forward, Mathes says “We want to become the world’s leading developer of immersive technologies for education.”

Librarium VR releases on August 18th, available on the Oculus Quest Store. Shortly thereafter Librarium will release on other virtual reality platforms: Steam, HTC Vive, and PSVR with a G possible future expansion to mobile and other gaming platforms. ¢

Name of company: Librarium Inc. Social Media: https://twitter.com/librariumvr?lang=en Company Website: https://bit.ly/39JgqdP QR code links to Librarium VR YouTube video

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DINING GUIDE

HUNGRY?

STORY BY KORA DELTA PHOTOGRAPHY ANGELABUCCCHINO

LET’S EAT.

DOWNTOWN

HYDE PARK

GARDEN CITY

Craving some authentic barbeque? Head over to the Saint Lawrence Gridiron for the most tender brisket in town. Another lively place is Western Proper, with a very diverse selection of drinks, and games like mini-bowling and skee ball. Not spicy enough? Bombay Grill is the way to go when looking for genuine Indian butter chicken to raise your sadhana.

Hyde Perk is a cute coffee shop in the North End that doesn’t close until 8 pm, perfect for late coffee meetings. Certified Kitchen and Bakery holds your Sunday brunch needs that also has a unique kids' menu. With even more sweets, Goody’s Soda Fountain has all the sugar you could want.

On the Greenbelt itself, Café Luciano is a great place to look over the river, as is the Sandbar at the Riverside Hotel. Need coffee? Push and Pour is a local favorite. Looking to sip wine and enjoy the weather? Telaya Wine Co. has great wines.

BENCH The Stil has unique and creamy flavors of ice cream to cool down during the summer. Need some cold Caffeine? Push and Pour has opened yet another coffee shop, perfect for hanging out with friends and enjoying the weather. Great Mexican can be found at Chapala.

NORTHWEST El Gallo Giro is one of those restaurants that holds true authentic Mexican food. Black Bear Diner serves comfort food and desserts in a woodsy setting. Merritt’s family restaurant is a veteran-owned Old-school diner & scone specialist since 1975 serving comfort food in retro digs nearly 24/7. 48

SOUTHEAST Westside Drive-In is an American classic old school diner where burgers are a must. Get dessert at Blue Cow frozen yogurt, a local favorite. For a lighter meal, get some fresh sushi at Lulu’s .

MERIDIAN Get some aloha at Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian or comfort and tropical bliss. Shopping at The Village? Indulge in the Matador for modern Mexican. For a fresh catch, Lucky Fins are the choice for seafood and sushi.

CALDWELL Mr. V’s Family Restaurant. As the name implies, it’s like going to grandma’s house as a kid, eating big hearty meals with fresh ingredients and a variety of savory homestyle and traditional comfort foods. Indian Creek Steakhouse Down-home restaurant & bar serving steaks & seafood, with live country music on weekends. AMANO is an exquisite Mexican restaurant that puts a chic twist on popular dishes.

STAR As a full-service event venue and restaurant, the Flats 16 holds weddings and special events. No event? Rustic Table is great for gourmet steaks and fish. Sully’s Pub & Grill is an Irish Pub where many Irish dishes cans be found.

EAGLE Looking for a roof-top deck to enjoy hand-crafted cocktails and delicious food? Check out Crave Kitchen & Bar. Down the street enjoy coffee, wine and tapa-type bites at JoVinos. If you’re craving French food, Banquet’s in downtown Eagle is delicious. For contempory Asian cuisine visit Rice. Caci is your local wood-fired Sicilian grill. And if you are looking for a relaxing lunch and wine amounst the vineyards, head out to the Eagle Foothills to 3 Horse Ranch.

NAMPA Brick 29 is the industrial-chic downstairs spot that serves inspired American comfort foods with a local, seasonal bent. Shari’s Cafe and Pies is a Family-friendly chain of sit-down cafes serving an all-American menu of comfort food. Holy Cow Idaho! is an Airy restaurant providing plentiful burgers & sandwiches with fries, plus chicken wings.

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