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Life-sized tigers.
FRIDAY NOV. 26 Christmas trees in their natural environment.
MINIATURE TIGERS
WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY NOV. 24-28 trees SAINT ALPHONSUS FESTIVAL OF TREES There might be snow. There will be Christmas lights for sure, along with snowflake-adorned scarves and hats, trees decorated to within an inch of their lives, eggnog, caroling, kids—either delighted or terrified—whispering their hearts’ desires in Santa’s ear. Yep, it’s that time of year, and regardless of what the holidays mean to you, chances are pretty good that Saint Al’s Festival of Trees has got something going on that’s right up your alley. The week is jam-packed with various activities that will keep the Boise Centre hopping. The festival officially begins with the black-tie gala on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Dig the tux out of the back of the closet, put on your dancing shoes and prepare to duke it out for the bestdressed tree as the locally sponsored festival trees go up for bid. Though you should leave the kiddies at home for the gala, the breakfasts with Santa are definitely more kid-friendly, as are the holiday-themed scavenger hunt and the North Pole village. Some consider the tree-lighting ceremony in the Grove the official kickoff to the holiday season and free massages just might help alleviate impending holiday-induced stress. Check out saintalphonsus. org for details. The various events are sponsored by local businesses, and proceeds benefit the Saint Al’s Foundation. Wednesday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Thursday, Nov. 25, 2-9 p.m.), $4 seniors and kids younger than 12, $7 adults, $30 for a family of up to six. Boise Centre, Downtown Boise, saintalphonsus.org.
THURSDAYSUNDAY NOV. 25-28 lights WINTER GARDEN AGLOW The color ful flowers are
16 | NOVEMBER 24–30, 2010 | BOISEweekly
music
dead and gone for the year. The leaves have been raked and the ground is hard with frost in the mornings. The trees are bare, and the only sign of life are the birds that come for the seed left out for them. Good thing the lights are on—more than 250,000 of them, to be exact. Throw in some live reindeer, Christmas
Whatever people may think about metal, the one thing that can’t be denied is that metal bands know how to name things. Between the grotesque imagery and use of mythological symbolism, metal consistently produces names of both bands and songs that pique a listener’s interest, even if they aren’t a fan of the style. How can you not be curious what a band called Cryptic Slaughter has to say? Brooklyn’s Miniature Tigers aren’t remotely metal in sound, but with songs like “Cannibal Queen,” “Gold Skull” and “Tell it to the Volcano,” they clearly understand what metal is doing in the name department. And while some might write it off as a gimmick, it’s too late ’cause it worked. Once you’ve listened to the pleasant electronic pop of “Bullfighter Jacket,” the raw garage tones of “Black Magic” and the foot-stomping back beat of “Dino Damage,” you’re hooked. That’s why the band was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the 25 best bands on MySpace— which is pretty much every band living or dead at this point—and by Spin as one of the nine best new acts at CMJ 2008. Miniature Tigers will be stopping by Boise to play at Neurolux on Friday, Nov. 26. And if their naming strategy is any indication, they’ll be more than glad to see you hoist a zippo in the air when they slow things down a bit, perhaps with their acoustic ballad “Viking Hearts.” With Le Fleur and Faux Bois. 8 p.m., $8 adv., $10 door. Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St., 208-343-0886, neurolux.com.
tunes and the scent of roasted almonds, and you have the makings of a holiday event that the whole family can get into. Ever y year, Idaho Botanical Garden decks out the landscape with lights and special holiday displays. Grab a warm drink and make your way to the greenhouse to visit with Santa and Prancer, then follow the walking paths through the grounds to check out the giant lighted flowers blooming in the Children’s Garden and model steam and diesel trains traveling
the grounds in the English Garden—both are new exhibits this year. The garden is going green this year as well, with solar panels helping to supply some of the electricity needed to power the event. Now if it would only snow. Thursday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Dec. 3, through Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, 6-9 p.m. $4 members and kids 4-12 years old, $8 adults. Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiar y Road, Boise, 208-343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.
SATURDAY NOV. 27 parade BOISE HOLIDAY PARADE Has Boise gotten a little too big-city for ya? Do you long for the ice cream counter, drive-in movie, Sundaydinner days of yester year? Well, nothing satisfies that small-town nostalgia craving like a little parade action. On Saturday, Nov. 27, you can join your fellow WWW. B O I S E WE E KLY. C O M