LOOK UP, BOISE

By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

Boise is an innovative community of free spirits where anything can happen. If you’re looking for inspiration, look to the sky.

In June of 1991, event producers Scott and Laurie Spencer, along with International Festivals and Events Association President Steve Schmader, partnered to produce the first spectacular Boise River Festival Hot Air Balloon Rally in Ann Morrison Park. In 2010, the Spencers and Kevin Godwin continued the iconic tradition of ballooning in the park, renaming the event the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic.

“I see parents with little children come up to me to say ‘I was little when my parents brought me here,’ so it’s something that has grown with the community, but it’s also grown in spirit itself,” Laurie Spencer said.

With a chance to meet aeronauts and watch the balloons launch, the free event can be a peaceful, colorful way to begin your day. You can usually see the colorful hot air balloons floating past historic Boise landmarks, in front of the Capitol building, over the Boise Train Depot, or down Broadway. “There are different directions in the layers of wind, so balloons floating at different altitudes can color the entire sky,” Spencer said.

On Labor Day weekend, get the kids up early for CapEd Kid’s Day, sponsored by Capital Educators Credit Union, which marks the beginning of the event. Youngsters can learn how balloons work and take a free tethered ride, or bundle up for Friday’s Nite Glow, which begins at 5:30 p.m. with live music, vendors, and food.

As it grows dark, get ready for a stupendous show. Anchored to the ground, all the balloonists fire up their burners simultaneously, and the balloons emit a spectacular glow.

When J.R. “Jack” Simplot died in 2008, part of his legacy was a collection of vintage tractors. He envisioned an agricultural museum, but some of his family members had an even grander vision.

Inspired by the idea of human potential, the Simplot Family Foundation created a community gathering place where people can explore and share their passions, in- terests, and ideas. JUMP is an acronym for “Jack’s Urban Meeting Place”. The desire is for JUMP to honor the spirit of Jack—a pioneer, risk taker, and outside-the-box visionary—by giving all in the community opportunities for self-discovery.

“JUMP is a place where anything can happen,” observed Maggie Soderberg, JUMP’s director. “We welcome all ideas. It’s a springboard to help the community to use their imagination. As soon as you walk through the entrance, you can sense the spirit of JUMP—a sense of wonder, of play, and of possibilities.”

At the JUMP exhibit, a burst of color greets you and you are encouraged—literally—to take a leap. Phrases overhead suggest as much, although JUMP offers a wide range of programs and events in its park and outdoor areas outside of literal leaping. The vintage tractors are displayed as examples of industrial art throughout JUMP’s lively community space. Boise visitors and residents can dine al fresco in JUMP’s park amid vintage tractors, a five-story slide, a climbing structure, and a fountain of dazzling lights.

“I love this place,” beamed JUMP volunteer Mary Ann Hurt. “I want to live here. It enlightens me. This place opens every door.”

Open to the community, JUMP offers programming in five interactive studios. “Share” is a place of community, creativity, and cuisine where you can spice up your cooking skills. “Make” is a place of inspiration, invention, and engineering where you can design and develop your own creation. “Play” is a place where budding filmmakers learn to write screenplays, designers can express themselves with digital media, and musicians can record songs or create music videos. “Move” is a place of action and excitement where you can engage in activities from yoga and fitness classes to performances and cultural dances from around the world. “Inspire” is a place of insight and innovation where you can share your passions, ideas, and dreams to make them a reality.

“JUMP provides opportunities for others to share, showcase, and inspire,” said Kathy O’Neill, JUMP’s community engagement director. “It’s the ultimate place to meet your neighbors.”

What would Jack Simplot have thought of JUMP? “I think he would have loved it,” Soderberg said with a twinkle in her eye.

Colby Akers was painting original art above a back alley doorway in downtown Boise when neighboring businesses requested he create something for their doors and walls. Today, graffiti-inspired artwork extends well beyond the single doorway, and over 300 artists contribute their creations to the largest open air mural gallery in the Northwest. From a single drawing, the alley has blossomed to include an entire alley and adjacent parking lot of art and become a beloved city landmark. Filled with an extraordinary range of marvelous murals and vibrant graffiti for the public to enjoy, Freak Alley’s art is updated every two years with a few notable exceptions, like the popular Jimi Hendrix signature piece at the alley’s heart.

Freak Alley’s mission is to elevate and showcase local artists. Every other year, Freak Alley opens for proposals by artists, who create their murals the first week of August. Freak Alley extends to an indoor gallery at 210 N 9th Street, which highlights art and official Freak Alley Gallery swag. Melissa Nodzu, the director, is committed to staying true to Akers’s founding vision of the art gallery and hopes to host art events in the alley.

The entrance to Freak Alley is on the west side of North 8th Street, midway between West Bannock Street and West Idaho Street. Take a relaxing stroll through Freak Alley located between 8th and 9th streets, free and open to the public 24/7.

To find out about volunteering, donating, or opportunities to be a mural artist, visit freakalleyboise.com

A mountain pillar located in the foothills southeast of downtown Boise, Table Rock offers fabulous views of Boise and the Treasure Valley. With a summit elevation of 3,650 feet above sea level and 900 feet above the city center, the natural formation of mostly sandstone is a favorite among trail enthusiasts for sunrise and sunset hikes and rides. Known to be sacred ground for the Northern Shoshone Native American tribe, ancient artifacts have been found in the area.

You can see Table Rock from downtown, crowned with its 60-foot steel cross built in 1956 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, otherwise known as the Jaycees Club of Boise. Six stories high and weighing 4,500 pounds, the cross towers over 3,629 feet above sea level and can be seen at night lit by 2,600 LED lamps. At its base, a bronze plaque reads “May this cross inspire those who see it to better citizenship, higher ideals and happier living.”

The Idaho State Historical Society manages the mesa, and you can find more information about where to hike on the Ridge to Rivers website. The easiest loop trail, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Loop #19, leaves from the Old Penitentiary parking lot and ascends the prominent point just to the west, providing breathtaking views for minimal effort.

Make a donation to the Idaho State Historical Society to help support maintenance and site improvements at Table Rock by visiting history.idaho.gov/table-rock

Table Rock. PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

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