April 6, 2023 | The Argonaut - Best of Moscow

Best of Moscow 2023

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Find your place, welcome to Moscow Staff List

Best of Moscow Editor

Design Editor

Daniel V. Ramirez

Katie Hettinga Argonaut Editor-in-Chief

Haadiya Tariq

Designers

Connor Anderson

Abigail Spencer

Writers

Mackenzie Davidson

Grace Giger

Royce McCandless

James Taurman-Aldrich

Vanessa Werner

Photographers

John Keegan

Ricky Simmons

Moscow has a niche for everyone

Katie Hettinga ARGONAUT

I’ve lived in Moscow since August 2019, when I started my freshman year at UI.

Charmed by its smalltown feel and college town convenience, I’ve come upon the mindset that anyone who doesn’t love Moscow simply isn’t looking hard enough.

When I was asked to edit this year’s Best of Moscow insert, I was inspired to think back to some of my favorite parts of living here.

I’ve enjoyed reading a book at Cafe Artista to appear to onlookers as an intellectual. I’ve picnicked in East City Park and

hammocked in the Old Arboretum. I’ve indulged in mixed drinks and karaoke at John’s Alley, then followed up with any dish involving hollandaise sauce at the Breakfast Club.

Best of all, though, has been the company found by sharing experiences.

Since I started college in 2019, my freshman year was cut short. I was ousted from Moscow for several months,

and everything was different when I returned.

It became harder to make the connections that I was seeking. The necessity to take precautions couldn’t offset the disappointment from isolation at college.

As Moscow has become more lively in the last three years, it has become all the more evident that the people here make the difference.

Let this serve as my thank you to all the baristas in town who know how to make a mean London fog, the

event planners who inspire festivities all year long, the country bands that make my small-town heart sing and everyone else who makes Moscow feel like a second home.

The best part of Moscow is finding your people.

As a student or a longtime resident, there’s likely some niche of our town you have yet to explore. Best of Moscow could serve as a place to start.

In all truth, though, the joy and growth provided by Moscow can never be contained in 12 pages.

Katie Hettinga can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @katie_hettinga

Hundreds of locals responded, here are the scores

Our 2023 Best of Moscow poll had 816 total responses. Take a look at the top three for each category below.

Best of Downtown Specialty Stores

698 votes

BookPeople of Moscow: 25.2%

Ampersand Tap House: 22.1%

Gem State Crystals: 19.6%

Best of Tattoos & Body Piercings

498 votes

Moscow Tattoo Company: 34.7%

Bitterroot Tattoo: 23.9%

Pen and Oak Tattoo: 13.3%

Best of Local Bands

438 votes

The Moscow Mules: 29%

Mother Yeti: 12.3%

Blaine Andrew Ross and the Contraband Cowboys: 9.1%

Best of Secondhand Shops Best of Annual Events Best of Signature Drinks

664 votes

The Storm Cellar: 30.7%

Hope Center: 25%

Revolver: 20%

Best of Coffee Shops

783 votes

One World Cafe: 35.5%

Red Star: 30.7%

Café Artista: 9.3%

715 votes

Farmers Market: 55.1%

University of Idaho Homecoming: 12.6%

Moscowberfest: 9%

Best of Date Night Dining

731 votes

Lodgepole: 21.1%

La Casa Lopez: 20.7%

Maialina: 19.6%

587 votes

Mingles - Vandalizer: 21.8%

Patty’s Kitchen - Pitchers: 21.3%

Corner Club - Larry Craig: 17.7%

Best of Quick Bites

730 votes

Mikey’s Gyros: 23%

Moscow Bagel Shop: 18.8%

Humble Burger: 18.4%

Katie Hettinga | Argonaut The editor (right) and Margot Watts at 2022 Pride in the Park

No secret here: BookPeople’s story of success is an open book

“It very much is a process of trying to figure out what the dynamics are this semester, this season and working from there,” Bowman said. “It’s always exciting to me when we get the new batch of college kids, we always have to get a little bit of turnover.”

political science.

The store carries the year’s most popular releases as demand for the subject matter comes and goes quickly.

This designation and the store’s fiftieth anniversary celebration this year highlight how BookPeople remains a valued staple of the Moscow community.

Upon entering BookPeople of Moscow, you are greeted by shelves adorned with a variety of stuffed animals, a poster depicting the birds of the Pacific Northwest and a multitude of books detailing the rich history of Moscow and the surrounding region.

Above all else, those who enter are left with the immediate impression that this is not your average bookstore.

“We’re much less focused on the New York Times bestseller and much more focused on what we think people in the area have interest in,” BookPeople of Moscow employee Richie Bowman said.

The store takes significant steps to cater to those looking to explore the outdoors, with a number of guides available on Idaho and the Pacific Northwest.

Bowman said that this selection is balanced with what appeals to young adults, as University of Idaho students are a significant part of the store’s customer base.

Careful curation of the store’s offerings allows BookPeople to meet the demand of both outdoors explorers and ever-changing college student clientele.

“Over the years, I’ve learned how to narrow the focus down to what our town really wants to see,” Carol Price said.

“That’s the art, the art of bookselling.”

Price explained that as she pays close attention to new releases, she keeps in mind what her customers are most likely to respond to.

The store features titles on the natural world and ecology as well as a large selection of fiction including science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy and mysteries that Price said are consistently heavily shopped.

Price said that younger audiences are also a significant draw, with young adult and children’s books accounting for a portion of the store’s sales.

In terms of what doesn’t sell, Price said that there is little demand for business-oriented literature and only fleeting demand for books in the realm of

Price noted that Barnes & Noble has recently considered allowing its managers to exercise greater control over local book selections to better appeal to their audiences. However, she said the bookselling giant is nonetheless still trying to be “all things to all people.”

Customers recognize BookPeople’s efforts to meet unique local interests too.

Elle Moore, a former UI student, noted that BookPeople is not restricted by “catering to the needs of a large audience.”

Instead, the store has access to smaller authors and more regionally relevant books that simply wouldn’t be available in a larger store.

Moore noted that BookPeople was also unique in the volume of individual books on its shelves. Rather than featuring 10 different copies of the same book, Moore said the store would generally only have one copy to provide a far more diverse selection of authors.

With the store’s level of authorial diversity and its deliberate focus on nature in the Pacific Northwest, its selection as the best store in Moscow comes as no surprise.

“I just feel super proud to have gotten through this last decade during a very precarious time for small businesses and especially for small, independent bookstores,” Price said.

BookPeople has been able to remain on top of this shift by retaining an accessible downtown location and an online storefront, so customers don’t have to sacrifice their preferred shopping medium to support their local bookstore.

Price emphasized that while the task of maintaining Moscow’s long-running independent bookstore is certainly not a small one, it is a position that she feels honored to hold. She recognized that her taking over as owner in 2011 came with the community entrusting her to further what had been established over the previous decades.

When it comes to her continued mastery of the art of independent bookselling, Price said that she is “still learning all the time.”

Careful curation makes the store a community mainstay

Royce McCandless ARGONAUT

Royce McCandless can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu

Ricky Simmons | Argonaut

BookPeople of Moscow sells more than just books, including candles, cards and puzzles

Best of Tattoos & Body Piercings

New location, new memories, same Moscow Tattoo Company

the artists that worked there.

“I sat down with (the owner) and showed him my portfolio, and he decided to take a chance on me,” Sosa said.

Moscow Tattoo Company has been leaving its mark on locals and students for over five years.

The tattoo shop recently moved to a new location on 1404 S Blaine St. near Safeway. This is the shop’s first move since its founding in 2018.

Artist Brookie Sosa found her home at MTC after studying art and playing on the University of Idaho soccer team.

Initially entering the shop as a client, Sosa became interested in a tattoo apprenticeship after hearing about it from

The decision to become a full-time artist came after the pandemic pushed Sosa to take a break from her academics. Working at the tattoo shop helped her decide not to return to UI to finish her studies. Sosa said that decision simply felt right.

Sosa did her first tattoo on herself, with owner and founder Matt Johnson choosing the design.

Writing out “confidence” was her first time using the tattoo gun on skin. This has remained a consistent reminder as she has developed as an artist.

Sosa is also familiar with the shop’s work for the community Playing soccer for UI helped her understand how important it is to connect with the town.

“I just fell in love

with this town and how supportive everyone can be especially within the past couple of years that I’ve been here,” Sosa said. “Seeing how much this community feeds back to the shop and the shop feeds back to them; it’s honestly just beautiful.”

Ian Ripley, who has worked as an artist for the shop since its founding, has experienced both sides of the importance of giving back to the community.

“The tattoo shop has been a blessing to me and my family,” Ripley said. “My wife ended up passing away from cancer, and we had tons and tons and tons of support from not only the tattoo shop, but the whole rest of the community.”

Johnson is working to make these important connections.

“It’s the most important thing for us,” Johnson said. “We are nothing without our community, where owning a business (is) a want not a need, things can change very rapidly.”

This was the case during the COVID19 pandemic. The tattoo shop had to

change how it operated to ensure both artists and clients were safe.

Changing from walk-ins to appointment-only cut business down with the town’s college demographic.

However, this hasn’t stopped the flow of customers coming through the doors as the business has finished its relocations and remodeling.

“I have noticed we are definitely reaching a little bit of a more of a different demographic being over here,” Johnson said. “Because I’m noticing a lot more locals walking in, as opposed to the constant flow of college students.”

Johnson is grateful to have the community support regardless of where they are located.

“Moscow is a very special place,” Johnson said. “We all got to work together to make it grow in the right direction.”

Daniel V. Ramirez ARGONAUT

Daniel V. Ramirez can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu

John Keegan | Argonaut Brad Sheets diligently touching up a client’s finger tattoo

John Keegan | Argonaut Brookie Sosa giving a client a thigh tattoo in her booth

John Keegan | Argonaut Hisoka, the shop’s tiger gecko, taking a nap

Best of Moscow Bands

Moscow Mules kick bluegrass into local music scene

Bluegrass-inspired trio wins town favorite for live music

Katie Hettinga

The Moscow Mules’ bluegrass twist on classic rock scored them the 2023 Best of Local Bands title by a wide margin.

On the scene since 2017, the band name is a play on the name of the classic cocktail that has stuck with the group for several years.

The two original members, Sean Long and Paul Hohenlohe, have had multiple band members rotating in and out over the years, with Eli Paxton joining in August.

Long strums the guitar, Hohenlohe plays banjo and Dobro guitar and Paxton plays the upright bass.

While they’ve become fixtures in the local music scene, none of the band members are originally from Moscow. Academia brought all three to the Palouse.

Hohenlohe moved to Moscow in 2011 as a biology professor at University of Idaho. Long is a geology professor at Washington State University, where he started in 2015, and Paxton is an undergraduate student who started at UI in Fall of 2020.

Bluegrass is the band’s background, but the Mules pull songs from a wide variety of genres. Rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s are crowd favorites, along with Grateful Dead covers.

“A lot of bluegrass music puts a big emphasis on musicianship and playing ability, and improvisation is a big part of it,” Hohenlohe said. “We bring that along to lots of different other sorts of music.”

Both Paxton and Long previously lived in Reno, Nevada. Neither of them were expecting Moscow to have a music scene so robust and diverse.

“There’s an outsized number of really good musicians in the Moscow region compared to the population,” Long said. “There’s some seriously talented people up here.”

Paxton echoed an appreciation for the local scene.

“The pool of musicians out here, it’s like the community. It’s not a very big group of people, but everybody out here is so nice,” he said.

Anyone planning to see the Moscow Mules live should be prepared for a high energy, interactive performance.

“We like audience members that don’t wait until the end of the night to start dancing,” Long said. “We gear our music so the whole second half of the night is all really good stuff to dance to.”

The Mules’ extensive discography means that every performance is different. Whether playing encore requests or bluegrass classics, the band has something to offer for any fans of live music, local talent and bluegrass fusion.

The band was surprised and elated to hear that they got the most votes for Best of Local Bands on this year’s poll.

“To know there’s so many people, especially at

the university, that love what we’re doing, that’s an honor in itself,” Paxton said. “We are just over the moon and thrilled about it. We weren’t expecting it at all.”

The Mules have multiple shows coming up in and around Moscow. They will be playing at Hunga Dunga Brewing Co. on April 14. They will also be at Earth Jam on the UI campus on April 18. More band information and show dates can be found on the Moscow Mules’ Facebook page.

The Moscow Mules | Courtesy

(From left) Sean Long, Eli Paxton and Paul Hohenlohe

Storm Cellar offers sustainable shopping

One-of-a-kind fashion breathes life into used clothes

buys lightly used clothes from the community and resells them, promoting a greener way to shop for clothing.

The Storm

is at the heart of downtown Moscow and has been selling secondhand finds at an affordable price for over 10 years. As a secondhand store, Storm Cellar

Store manager Gunn Wilson explained that much of the store’s popularity is due to its central location downtown and the constantly shifting inventory that sets apart.

Storm Cellar also prides itself on providing a more sustainable way to shop. Shopping secondhand helps reduce the negative effects of fast fashion and gives previously owned clothes a new life.

“Working here, you see inside the belly of the beast, you know what the clothing industry puts out. It’s constantly cranking out new items to follow trends and a lot of it is fast fashion and cheaply made,” Wilson said. “Through our store, we can funnel things through to give them more of a lifespan. Not just a second chance, but maybe a third chance or beyond.”

Storm Cellar is also a crowd favorite due to the

ever-changing selection of fashion finds.

“Customers can find clothes that all sort of have a one-of-a-kind, unique quality to them at a fraction of what they would be any other retail stores,” Wilson said. “We’re constantly providing good deals on things and I think that’s what people are enjoying the most.”

The store recently made the shift from a consignment store, which allows people to sell clothes in store and split the profit, to a buy outright system.

“When people bring their clothes in, they can get cash or store credit the same day, rather than waiting for their item to sell or running the risk of not even selling it at all,” Wilson said.

This buy-outright system allows the store to provide a constant

stream of new clothes for shoppers to browse.

“We’re always putting new clothes out every day because we’re always buying clothes,” Wilson said. “The selection is always different.”

Shopping at Storm Cellar is an opportunity to find sustainable fashion and buy local.

“People’s desires are to follow trends, but other people are going to like your old clothes,” Wilson said. “Why not have someone else find it? Why not have them benefit from what you don’t want anymore? There’s just a great opportunity for sustainability here.”

Located at 504 South Main St.,

Cellar

Grace Giger ARGONAUT

Grace Giger can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu

Connor Anderson | Argonaut

The Storm Cellar draws in a crowd on cold spring weekends

Connor Anderson | Argonaut Storm Cellar’s entryway decorated with spring colors

Best of Annual Events

Vendors thrive in Moscow Farmers Market

From humble roots to a cultural nucleus

Taking over Main Street from the first Saturday in May to the last in October, the Moscow Farmers Market has long been a staple in the local community. Naturally, it won voters’ hearts, with a landslide vote of 55.1%.

Decades-old Argonaut coverage marks July 31, 1976, as the birth of Moscow’s market, originally managed by the Moscow Co-op. In a parking lot on Third and Jefferson, Argonaut reporter Bill Loftus sets the scene.

“An old man walked up and asked for the manager. Not finding anyone, he walked back to his wife and sat down while she tried to sell the small bunches of watercress that they had gathered ‘in a small, secret valley the day before, where lots of it grew,’ Twenty-five cents a bunch was their price.”

From its humble roots, the market boomed. It is now a signature event of the city, led by Amanda Argona as the community events manager.

The market is open from May through October every year, though this doesn’t stop people from asking how long it runs, Argona laughed.

All the vendors who sell at the market are local to the Northwest and located within 200 miles of Moscow.

Moscow’s market is one of the oldest in Idaho, if not the oldest. Argona explained that it used to be small businesses selling out of the back of their trucks. Now some businesses have been involved with the market for 20-plus years.

Founder Kate Jaeckel is looking forward to Orchard Farm Soap’s twentieth year at the farmers market.

“It’s pretty wild, all sorts of people have become customers over the years,” Jaeckel said. “You would never imagine that it would be the farmers market that is the place where people from all over the country come and bring our soap back.”

Orchard Farm sells a variety of natural face and body products, made from botanicals grown right in Moscow.

“We specifically moved to the area because my husband’s a farmer and we knew that there was a great farmers market … and that there was going to be a place for us to sell produce,” Jaeckel said.

A requirement of the market, Jaeckel explained, is that either the owner or their family must run their stand. For her own kids, the market has brought more intention to their passion projects. Jaeckel’s daughter inspired Orchard’s own seasonal flower sales when

fundraising for a school trip.

“She helped me at the farmers market and she would get to keep a portion of our sales every week,” Jaeckel said. “(Eventually) she put that into her college fund.”

Now, the farm delivers flowers directly to locals’doorsteps from June to mid-August.

“Both of our kids really thrived by growing up seeing the work that their parents did,” Jaeckel said.

As local produce changes from month to month, Argona recommended “eating the seasons through the market.” By sourcing locally, what’s available depends on the time of year.

“We’ve got our vendors that we visit for the quality of product,” Argona said. “We know where we’re getting our onions from, we know where we’re getting our basil.”

The best-kept secret of the market — Pokey Creek Farm’s wild-grown cranberries.

“It’s a small window, so you gotta be on top of it,” Argona warned in anticipation for cranberry season in fall. “People don’t realize that that is a thing that you can get in Idaho, most people

think of huckleberries. So I think that’s kind of unique and interesting.”

Other locally-grown products she recommended: heirloom apples, ginger and artichokes.

If the first priority is the produce, second is the social environment, allowing attendees to make a day out of being in Moscow.

“It’s your outdoor opportunity to get groceries, but then also maybe pick up a little something or just meet people downtown and say, ‘let’s grab a cup of coffee,’” Argona said. “Sometimes that’s all that people do … they’re socializing, they’re moving and then they’re amongst other people.”

Bouncing back from the pandemic, Jaeckel believed that people have a new appreciation for the community connection of the market.

“A part of the culture of our town is to shop the farmers market,” Jaeckel said. “There’s no way my business would have made it this far or succeeded without that local support.”

Haadiya Tariq ARGONAUT

Haadiya Tariq can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu

Orchard Farm Soap | Courtesy Kate Jaeckel runs the Orchard Farm stand with her daughter and son

Laura LaFrance | Argonaut

A vendor at the Moscow Farmers Market in 1997

Best of Signature Drinks Mingles serves Vandalizers and more for generations

the Vandalizer. The drink’s namesake is the University of Idaho mascot, Joe Vandal.

In a dimly lit space, patrons hover over pool tables or wait in line to order one of the staple cocktails the bar has to offer. The Vandalizer at Mingles was voted as the best drink in Moscow.

“The Vandalizer was kind of one of those drinks that just kind of on Friday night, so you have always done ICs ( (Long Island Iced teas),” Tony Reigner, the bar’s general manager, said. “And the current owner, Ben, when he bought the place about a decade ago, he wanted to do something that kind of set us apart.”

The Vandalizer is a riff off of the Long Island Iced Tea, with sweet and sour mix instead of Coca-Cola. It is a fairly popular riff, that has been found in several places, but Mingles named it

Mingles’ interior is dark and evokes a strong feeling of nostalgia for the 1970’s. The lower part of the floor is filled with pool tables and the bar is on a raised platform in the back.

Mingles is more than a billiards hall or local bar. Many members of the Moscow community flock to Mingles.

“When I was a kid, I used to sit at the bar with my dad and eat lunch,” Reigner said.

While Mingles is technically a bar and grill, owners established it as an under-over bar in the mid-2000s. The age requirement allows many college students to spend time at Mingles even before turning 21, which contributes to the bar’s community feel.

“I really love getting to know the kids, and then seeing them graduate and move on,” said bar manager John McGraw.

Many of the employees at Mingles have been working there for years. Part of working at the bar is seeing UI students grow up through their college years.

“But, I mean, Mingles is kind of tried and true,” Reigner said. “It’s always been here and it’s always fun to see new generations come in and leave and come back with their kids.”

The Vandalizer is a fun riff on the dive bar classic

Abigail Spencer ARGONAUT

Abigail Spencer can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @ABairdSpencer

Haadiya Tariq | Argonaut The Vandalizer is well-known in Moscow’s bar scene

Haadiya Tariq | Argonaut Several pool tables dominate the main floor of Mingles

Best of Coffee Shops

The diverse nature of One World Cafe

The Moscow institution wins best coffee shop yet again

For the second year in a row, One World Cafe has been named Best of Moscow Coffee Shops. The café, located on the corner of Sixth and Main Streets, opened in 2005 as a space to bring the community together.

“The primary vision was to be a part of the community, and have it be an opportunity to get involved with other organizations,” co-owner Brandy Sullivan said. “It’s a great place for that under-21 crowd that really didn’t have too much of a social place to hang out.”

Students and community members alike utilize the space to hold meetings, study, play games or just hang out.

One World may be new to some, but others have been getting their morning coffee there for years.

Al and Jean are an older couple

in the community that love One World, its staff and the owners.

“We’ve never had a complaint, and I can’t say that of every place I’ve drunk beer in or had coffee in,” Al said. “All kinds of people come in here, and they all are treated about the same way. It’s a good place to come, and the owners are really good people.”

With spring slowly but surely approaching on the Palouse, One World’s outdoor seating will be seeing a lot more use. One World’s owners worked alongside the University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture to add this space.

“Our students are so important to who we are,” Sullivan said. “A great example is the students in the architecture program, a couple summers ago, were the ones

behind the exterior expansion. That was a group of amazing students and their professors who got to work and did that whole design and build.”

Just like their menu offers a diverse range of options, One World is a place for a diverse group of people. No matter age, race, gender or sexuality, everyone is welcome. One of the biggest pieces of One World’s identity is providing space for all.

“We try to create a place that people feel comfortable not only coming to, but also meeting other people and talking to other people at,” Kate Gustafson, a barista at One World, said. “We just want to provide a safe space for everybody.”

No matter what time or how busy, joy always radiates from behind the counter. Gustafson was slinging coffee at 4 p.m., completely focused on providing the best product she could.

“It is awesome working here,” Gustafson said. “The community is really nice, and to meet other people in your community. It’s honestly just been a really great job.”

One World provides a safe and accepting space for the whole community from 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. every day.

Whether it be to study, hang out with friends, hold a meeting or just get a boost for the day, all community members can stop in. Space is limited though, so the staff asks that guests limit their visit to 30 minutes during busy times.

James Taurman-Aldrich | Argonaut Nick Martonick looking to win his first match against Mark Havrilla James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @jamesaldrich25

James Taurman-Aldrich ARGONAUT

James Taurman-Aldrich | Argonaut Donson Cook working on a portrait

Best outdoor activities on the Palouse

While not up for a vote, here’s to Moscow’s nature

Haadiya Tariq ARGONAUT

Latah Trail

Bikers, joggers and skiers are all welcome on Latah Trail. Spanning 12 miles from Moscow to the small town of Troy, Idaho, the trail offers a paved path through nature.

It follows the skeleton of an old railroad track through changing scenes of fields and evergreen trees.

Bill Chipman Trail

To the west, the Chipman trail heads to Pullman, The seven-mile path connects Idaho and Washington.

Parallel to Pullman Road, this busier path is well-loved by local skaters and bikers. Students lugging groceries often take the path as it leads directly to the University of Idaho campus.

Moscow Mountain

Visible on the horizon, Moscow Mountain overlooks the rolling hills of the Palouse.

The mountain is a spot to enjoy hiking, mountain biking and beautiful views. At 4.1 miles, the hiking path takes about two hours to complete, recommended for an intermediate hike.

Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve

Idler’s Rest offers a casual loop hike on an easy 1.3-mile path. The short 40-minute walk takes hikers over bridges and streams. Dogs on leashes are welcome to tag along.

Among other activities, the preserve is a good, quiet spot for birdwatching.

UI Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Also known as the Arb, one can wander through a variety of plants organized by the continent of their origins. A walking path circles the ponds to make a 1.4 mile trail.

In the winter, students can be seen on makeshift sleds, flying down the hill to the Arb. The pond freezes and trees glimmer, dotted by icicles from Moscow’s cold weather.

In the spring, flowers bloom and the campus’ modest wildlife comes out.

Geese flock and turtles congregate in the pond.

UI Disc Golf Course

University of Idaho’s disc golfing course offers a casual outdoor activity right on campus. With varying skill levels, it can be played with any group.

The course is located on grassy hills by the Kibbie Dome parking lot with nine total baskets.

Local Parks

While Moscow may be a modest-sized town, it features over a dozen public parks. Here are some of the notable ones.

East City Park - 900 East 3rd St.

At seven acres, the park is one of the largest in the area. It often hosts events throughout the year.

From political protests to the annual Renaissance Fair, it serves as a venue to Moscow’s culture.

Dog Park - 2019 White Ave.

As any dog lover knows, watching your pooch play outside can be both tiring and entertaining. The fenced-in area has benches for owners and space for pets to run.

Skate Park - 1515 East D St.

Right by Moscow Middle School, the park has multiple ramps for both experienced and aspirational skaters.

Virgil Phillips Farm Park - 4701-4709 US-95

Venturing further out, Virgil Farm has everything from hiking trails to wetlands, featuring a variety of terrain.

John Keegan | Argonaut The sun sets over an outlook on Moscow Mountain, filling the forest with golden light

Haadiya Tariq | Argonaut Turtles come outside in the UI Arboretum during springtime to bathe in the sun

Best of Date Night Dining

Lodgepole makes fine dining easy

Locally sourced food is the key to success

Lodgepole located at 106 N. Main St. is a restaurant raved about by many, with phenomenal cuisine, exposed brick walls, natural light and an open kitchen. It is no wonder the it has been crowned winner of “Best of Date Night Dining.”

For eight years, Lodgepole has served ItalianMediterranean and Mexican fusion fine dining. Run by husband and wife Alex and Melissa Barham, the restaurant produces an elevated yet casual dining experience.

Alex Barham doubles as chef, while Melissa Barham is general manager. According

to Alex Barham, who has pursued culinary arts for nearly 20 years, one of the most impactful aspects of Lodgepole that makes it unique is a dedication to local producers.

“People fight tooth and nail for the kind of stuff that we get,” Alex Barham said. “We have made these connections with some local producers... and we just love working like that.”

One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor, “The folks at Lodgepole crafted an exquisite experience for us with their 5-course dinner. You can taste the craftsmanship and the freshness of their ingredients in each dish–we were reminded of Michelin star restaurants from the East coast!”

Long-time patrons and new customers can look forward to

Mikey’s: great community, even greater gyros

community at Mikey’s.

“There are many kinds of people who come in here,” Harvey said. “We see a lot of students and athletes, and there are a lot of people who come here with their families.”

Mikey’s hasn’t had as many bands come in since it started.

Harvey also likes working at Mikey’s because of the relationships he has built with his coworkers.

many exciting changes coming to Lodgepole.

Following Humble Burger’s recent move, Lodgepole plans to expand its space to accommodate both larger and private parties.

Lodgepole fans can also get excited about an added brunch menu. Old favorites like chicken and waffles will return to the menu once the expansion and remodeling are completed. Moscow friends, families, couples and visiting groups are in for a welcoming and classy experience dining at Lodgepole It is at the top of the list for a fun night out with good food that should be experienced by all.

Best of Quick Bites

Mikey’s Gyros is a Greek restaurant located at 527 South Main St. that opened in 1983. This year, the restaurant was named Best of Quick Bites because of its delicious food and welcoming vibe.

Co-owner Bert Harvey has been working at Mikey’s since he was a student at Univesrity of Idaho in 1985.

The atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant is “fast, fun and friendly,” Harvey said.

The food is affordable with gyros costing between $5.50 and $6.50. Some popular menu items include the Greek gyro and deluxe gyro. They also have vegetarian options such as the falafel and hummus pita.

Harvey enjoys the sense of

The artwork on the walls shows the owners’ commitment to the community.

“Sometimes, we have artists who come in asking for their work to be hung on the walls,” Harvey said.

“Paintings are usually up for about three months or so, though some of them last longer than others.”

On one of the walls, there are four paintings by a student at Moscow High School.

Mikey’s has also hosted live music inside the restaurant.

“If bands come in and ask to perform here, then we allow them to play,” Harvey said.

Many of these live shows happened before the pandemic, and

“There was a guy who used to work here, and he just worked a few hours a week to earn some extra money,” Harvey said. “He became my best friend.”

His friend’s daughter and grandkid eventually worked there as well. Harvey liked seeing different generations of the same family work at the same restaurant.

With delicious food and a friendly staff, Mikey’s Gyros is a community-based restaurant with a charming and welcoming atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

Mackenzie Davidson ARGONAUT

Mackenzie Davidson can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu

There’s more to Mikey’s than just its food

Vanessa Werner can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu

Vanessa Werner ARGONAUT

John Keegan | Argonaut Lodgepole has a great atmosphere ensuring to put diners in a good mood

Daniel V. Ramirez | Argonaut Kaitie Hunter taking an order on the phone working at the front