TERRITORY Winter 2019 issuu

WINTE R 2 019

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URBAN HORSES

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CONTENTS

42 14 Life Urban Horses . . . . . . . . . . 14 Caldwell's Ice Ribbon . . . . . 18

Arts Actor Jane Merrow . . . . . . 42 Wearable Art . . . . . . . . . . 46

36

50

4

Features

28 Taste Of Kith and Kin . . . . . . . . 50 Gourmet Off the Grid . . . . . . 52

20 Explore Van Wandering . . . . . . . . 20 Idaho's Dark Skies . . . . . . 22 Traveling Solo . . . . . . . . . 26

TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

In Every Issue Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Editor's Letter . . . . . . . . . . 8 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Dining Guide . . . . . . . . . . 54

Steelheads City Boise's pro hockey team thrills players and fans alike

By Zach Kyle

34

Center Moment #idahoice

36

Keeping Families Together The Ronald McDonald House expands to meet demand

By Meghan Levi

On the Cover

Steelheads goalie Tomas Sholl readies for a showdown with the Wichita Thunder this fall, a game the Steelheads would go on to win 5-2.

Photo by Todd Meier

Photos: Life, Amanda René Photography; Explore, Courtesy Wandervans; Arts, Courtesy Jane Merrow; Taste, Courtesy KIN; Features, Angie Smith

Metro The Interurban . . . . . . . . . 10 Zero Waste Initiative . . . . . . 12

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CONTRIBUTORS Jill Kuraitis has lived in Idaho for 32 years, most of that spent

either running political campaigns or writing about them. She was the Boise publisher of the award-winning Rocky Mountain news site, NewWest.net, for six years, where she covered Idaho politics, environmental issues, and more. She now freelances for magazines and news services, and, in her spare time, she raises squirrels, feeds birds, and rescues things. She and her husband live in Boise, near their two grown children, with two rambunctious dogs and a cat with a master’s degree.

WINTER 2019 publisher/editor in chief Laurie C. Sammis managing editor Adam C. Tanous copy editor Patty Healey

(“Never the Last Ride,” page 14)

creative director Roberta Morcone

Sharon Fisher is a Kuna, Idaho-based freelance writer who

advertising sales Alicia Cachuela Kelly Mitchell

specializes in history, historic preservation, and urban planning.

She holds a master's degree in public administration from Boise State University and is the author of “Images of America: Kuna” from Arcadia Publishing. Her work has also appeared in the Idaho Business Review, Idaho Statesman, Boise Weekly, Idaho Magazine, Eagle Magazine, This is Kuna, and the Kuna-Melba News. She likes explaining things and going to meetings.

controller Linda Murphy circulation director Nancy Whitehead

(“A Look Back at the Interurban,” page 10; “Keeping Idaho in the Dark,” page 22)

Hayden Seder is a full-time freelance writer and editor based

in her hometown of Ketchum, Idaho. Since graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in New York in 2010, Hayden’s work has been published in numerous publications including SVPN, The Weekly Sun, Idaho Press, Boise Weekly, Visit Sun Valley blog, Sun Valley Magazine, Taste, The Source, Western Home Journal, and more.

When not putting pen to paper, Hayden loves rock climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and traveling.

6

(“Of Kith and Kin,” page 50)

Todd Meier has a passion for telling other people’s stories. He has spent the last 18 years trying to pass on his subjects’ stories through photographs. He immerses himself in their world, taking the viewer along for the ride. From knee-deep powder in the backcountry, to a downtown office in the middle of any city, Todd finds the connection between himself and his subject. Not incidentally, Todd created the cover shot for Territory’s inaugural issue, one that won the Maggie Award for Best New Publication, 2017. Living life in Boise and beyond with his wife, Lorie, and daughter, Ella, Todd is always looking to the next adventure. (“Steelheads City,” page 28; “Of Kith and Kin,” page 50.)

also in this issue... contributing writers

Cheryl Haas, Jamie Hausman, Kate Hull, Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, Zach Kyle, Meghan Levi, and Emilee Mae Struss.

contributing photographers

Regan Babst/reganbabst.com, Alexa Lampasona/activetastylife.com, McMaster Photo, Amanda René Photography and Angie Smith.

TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

Territory Magazine is the winner of the

Western Publisher's Association 2017 award for "Best New Publication, Trade or Consumer"

TERRITORY Magazine Online: www.territory-mag.com email: info@territory-mag.com TERRITORY Magazine® (ISSN 074470-29766) is published four times a year by Mandala Media LLC. Telephone: 208.788.0770; Fax: 208.788.3881. Mailing address: P.O. Box 272, Boise, ID 83701.

Copyright ©2019 by Mandala Media, LLC. Subscriptions: $12 per year, single copies $5.95.

The opinions expressed by authors and contributors to TERRITORY are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.

Mandala Media LLC sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This issue was printed on recycled fibers containing 10% post consumer waste, with inks containing a blend of soy base. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: TERRITORY Magazine, P.O. Box 272, Boise, ID 83701.

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EDITOR'S LETTER

T

his is Territory’s third anniversary, and, with this winter publication, our 13th issue.

As it happens, 13 issues comprise 982 pages, 193 stories, and 223,789 words. What kind of nut keeps track of words like this? Writers for one, editors for another.

Almost with pathetic obsession, writers and editors spend their days considering words, weighing them, agonizing over them, and, yes, losing sleep over them.

Why all of the angst? At any given moment, the average English-speaking American has 42,000 words at his disposal. When it comes to writing, which words are chosen, how they are arranged and ordered, included or left out, can change everything.

Certain words bring color, tone, and nuance to a story. One might think of the facts and figures of a story as existing in a two-dimensional world. The right words inject our senses into the mix—whether by evoking an image, sound, odor, even an emotion— and, as such, add a third dimension, pulling stories off the page into a realm we live in, appreciate, and, hopefully, care about.

In retrospect, 223,789 words selected over three years to chronicle life in a city of some odd 226,000 people is hardly much—not even a word per person. To a writer, that seems downright parsimonious.

So, what have we used our 12,126 words to report on in the December 2019 issue?

In Features, writer Zach Kyle takes a look at the Boise Steelheads, the city’s pro hockey team, from the vantage points of both fans and players (“Steelheads City,” page 28).

On a weightier but also hopeful note, Meghan Levi explores the ambitious expansion project of the Ronald McDonald House, an organization devoted to supporting families during the difficult experience of children undergoing serious medical treatments (“Keeping Families Together in Times of Need,” page 36).

In Life, read about a fading but still romantic lifestyle: living with horses in an urban setting (“Never the Last Ride,” page 14). Meanwhile, in Caldwell, preparations are being made for the annual ice-skating ribbon and rink to be installed for the season (“Skate into Winter,” page 18). The ribbon is indicative of the revitalization of Caldwell’s downtown core.

8

If you’re looking to get out of town for some late fall, early winter exploring, check out our article about renting a Wandervan, vans decked out for camping and other adventures, rain or shine (“Winter Wandering,” page 20). One such adventure would be to check out Central Idaho’s Dark Sky Reserve, one of only 13 in the world and the first in the U.S. to achieve Gold-Tier status (“Keeping Idaho in the Dark,” page 22).

Those interested in the arts should take a look at Pamela Kleibrink Thompson’s interview with actor Jane Merrow (“Lioness in Winter,” page 42). Merrow has acted with the best: O’Toole, Hepburn, Hopkins, to name a few. Also in the arts is a profile of Billy McMaster, a former firefighter who creates hip, colorful, and themed custom leather jackets (“Wearable Art With a Message,” page 46).

In Taste, we profile two very different dining experiences. In “Of Kith and Kin,” Hayden Seder introduces us to the new dining venture by the originators of State & Lemp (page 50). For a more adventurous, further afield meal, check out the Blue Moon Yurt, newly re-opened at Jug Mountain Ranch outside McCall (“Gourmet Off the Grid,” page 52).

These are just some of the words devoted to this winter issue. There are more to enjoy and even more we couldn’t fit in. This city is full of stories, some created as we race along each day, others are just sitting there lying dormant. All of them, though, are waiting for some writer to come along and bring them to life.

Adam C. Tanous managing editor

TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

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Metro

10

A Look Back at the Interurban Boise’s streetcar system once circled the Valley, connecting Boise to Caldwell

By Sharon Fisher

S

ometime, when you’re sitting in rush-hour traffic between downtown Boise and points west, you might find yourself idly wondering, “Why don’t we have a public transit system like some other cities I’ve visited?”

Once, we did.

Boise to Middleton It was an electric streetcar system called the Interurban, and unlike many public transit systems now, run by cities and other government agencies, it was run by private companies. In fact, TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

some developers created them to take people out to their subdivisions, to encourage them to buy houses there, and then created other forms of entertainment to encourage more people to ride the streetcars.

“The trolley systems in the Boise Valley were all private, paid for by developers and investors,” said Scot Oliver, executive director of Idaho Smart Growth, a Boise-based nonprofit community development organization.

“The streetcars didn’t make money themselves. Their value was in promoting real-estate development.”

Consequently, the systems started

piecemeal, with individual systems in Boise in the early 1890s and in cities such as Caldwell in the late 1890s and the early 1900s, said Barbara Perry Bauer, president of TAG Historical Research and Consulting, in Boise, and the author of “Electric Railways of Idaho.”

But some Treasure Valley developers wanted more, according to Bauer.

One was Walter E. Pierce, a major developer in Boise from the time he arrived in 1891 until he died in the 1950s.

Bauer, who is working on a book about Pierce, noted that Pierce wanted to connect the communities on the northern side of the river between Boise and

Caldwell, including Star, Eagle, and Middleton. He started around 1905 lining up deals with Eastern investors, purchasing rights-of-way, and beginning construction.

Meanwhile, on the southern side of the river, there was Donald Ustick, who wanted to build a similar railway to Nampa. Not as successful as Pierce, his project ran out of money until Robert Noble extended it to Nampa, Bauer said. “By 1910, we had two systems, the north side and the south side.”

But they weren’t connected, and there wasn’t any way to go between Nampa and Caldwell on the streetcar.

Then Idaho Power bought up both systems and operated them as a subsidiary of Idaho Power called the Idaho Traction Company. In 1912, they finished the section between Nampa and Caldwell. “That’s when you got the Interurban,” Bauer said.

of-way, which was transferred over from Idaho Power. People would have to be willing to give up the independence of using their cars, which are far more reliable than other options available at the time of the Interurban. And federal funding would probably need to be involved to pay for it, she said.

On the other hand, Oliver added, cities such as Salt Lake City have developed public transit systems that, like the original Interurban, were based on support from the private business community. “Ironically, probably the only way we’ll see something like robust ‘public transit’ again is if the

private sector once again embraces it, and partners with public investment to make it happen, à la Salt Lake City,” he said.

But that may be from a world that’s passed, Oliver said. “The period in which the trolley systems operated correlated with huge growth in the Valley, around a tenfold increase in population,” he said. “Trolley towns exploded— essentially early versions of transit-oriented development. The electricity that came with it also was a major modernizing influence. It’s hard to imagine public transit—or anything else—doing something like that again.”

WHERE CAN YOU SEE THE INTERURBAN NOW?

Photo: John Aguirre

What Was It Like?

The entire loop back then could take a couple of hours. “The top speed was around 40 miles per hour with stations every mile or two,” Bauer said.

“You might be tooling along at 20 miles per hour, at most.” Streetcars started as early as 6 a.m. and ran as late as midnight, with runs every 15 to 30 minutes.

According to Bauer, farmers used the Interurban to ship their produce to the railroad, and students rode it from Boise to attend the College of Idaho in Caldwell. On Sundays, people could buy excursion passes that would let them ride all day for a dollar or two.

Developers also created amusements like Lake Lowell and Pierce Park—now the site of the Plantation Country Club—to encourage people to ride the streetcar. But by 1928, with the rise of the automobile, ridership declined, and there wasn’t any additional financing to help improve and maintain the system. “It wasn’t profitable, even under the power company,” Bauer said.

“When public investment started going to roads and the auto industry, the streetcars were no longer useful catalysts, and the private owners shut them down,” Oliver noted.

Could We Get an Interurban Again?

It would be hard, Bauer acknowledged. Roads like Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard have been built over the right-

2

11 1

4 3

5

6

1. “The Hat” at the College of Idaho in Caldwell is an old Interurban station. There are also tracks nearby.

4. Boise Art Glass, at the intersection of Front and 13th streets, is the former freight house.

2. Bobbie Jean’s Coffee in Star on State Street is also an old Interurban station.

5. The Trolley House Restaurant was constructed as a car barn for the streetcar system.

3. The Harvest College building in Meridian is a former Interurban weigh station.

6. The South Boise Streetcar Station, in Ivywild Park, is a restored streetcar station with interpretive panels.

Bauer occasionally presents the Traveling Trolley Time Capsule, where she shows interpretive panels and gives lectures, around the Treasure Valley. “My ultimate dream was to have something that could go to the schools,” she said.

WINTER 2019

TERRITORY–MAG.COM

Metro

Rethinking Our Relationship With STUFF! The Zero Waste Boise Institute

By Meghan Levi

Y 12

ou could say it all started with “The Lorax.” As Jillien Eijckelhof, founder of the Zero Waste Initiative, read the timeless children’s story to her then preschool-aged son, she could see the wheels turn in his young mind. He internalized Dr. Seuss’s foreshadowed message—if you take and take and never replace, soon there will be nothing left. Eijckelhof explained recently: “'The Lorax’ is a story about natural resource exploitation. My son really took this to heart and asked if we could go around the neighborhood and put up posters telling people to stop chopping down trees to make stuff.

And I had to say, ‘I don't think paper posters are the best medium to discourage people from chopping down trees ... but let’s get the message out there.’”

“Zero waste doesn’t have to be absolute … yet. We are going to have a greater impact if 200 people make a moderate change, versus one person living an extreme zero waste lifestyle.”

— Jillien Eijckelhof, founder Zero Waste Initiative The apple didn’t fall far from the “Truffula” tree. Eijckelhof has always had, what she calls, a zero waste orientation. “I have always had this understanding that everything comes from somewhere, and everything goes someplace,” she said. “The stuff of our lives is only in our lives for a short period of TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

time, but the impact is often forever.”

The tale of consumption portrayed in “The Lorax” is far from fiction. “Reports suggest that humans have consumed more in the last 50 years than in the history of civilization,” Eijckelhof added. “Natural resource depletion is expected to surpass the Earth’s capacity to regenerate by the year 2030.”

Once the time was right, and that preschooler entered school full time, Eijckelhof launched the Zero Waste Boise Institute (ZWBI): Reduce, Reuse, Rethink. Now in its second year, the nonprofit develops educational outreach and waste reduction initiatives.

Eijckelhof explained, “'Our goal is to make it easier to do the right thing because we have to offset this culture of convenience.”

The idea of going “zero waste” may be daunting for some. ZWBI isn’t advocating for absolute, overnight lifestyle overhauls. Rather, the organization advocates for a change in thinking, a reorientation of the way we use things.

“We take an incremental approach to waste reduction. In educating the community, we want people to make a mental shift, one material at a time.”

For ZWBI, curtailing disposable and unnecessary stuff in the first place is the best place to start. “Everything you buy becomes future trash. Refusing it at the source is the most effective solution.”

In 2019, ZWBI started “low-impact grocery shopping tours” at the Boise Co-op. “The Co-op becomes a real-life learning lab to talk about the material science of packaging,” Eijckelhof said.

The main goal of the tour is to teach

consumers to leave the store with the least amount of packaging possible.

“We had a number of epiphanies around the grocery shopping tours.

The grocery store is not just a place to talk about zero waste; it's probably the best place to talk about zero waste. A third of the country’s waste stream is packaging, and the vast amount is from a non-renewable resource. Most of it comes from the grocery store, and that is universal to all of us.”

“Your dollar is going to tell the retailer what the consumer appetite for sustainability is. The retailer will tell the manufacturer. It's a bottomup approach. The hand that steers the shopping cart rules the world.”

— Jillien Eijckelhof The tour compels consumers to reach for bulk goods and fresh, unpackaged food. If packaging is unavoidable, consumers are directed to choose the most “sustainable” wrapping possible.

Can the package be reused in some way? Is it recyclable? Finally, consumers receive a refresher on local recycling protocol, to “recycle right.”

ZWBI supported the North End Neighborhood Association (NENA) and Gruntwerks again this year to “green” the Hyde Park Street Fair. Prior to the fair, ZWBI collected used, reusable bags

to distribute to vendors to replace singleuse plastic bags. Hundreds of bags were donated. “This confirmed my theory that the world could probably stop manufacturing reusable bags. We have enough because everyone has had their fail at the grocery store,” Eijckelhof said. ZWBI also created a guide for food vendors about sustainable serving ware. In response, Jo’s Traveling Bar switched to biodegradable cups. That’s thousands of cups that won’t be in the landfill generations from now.

Eijckelhof also challenged vendors to rethink their marketing. ZWBI cre-

ated a digital document titled, “Keep Your Logo Out of the Landfill.” Think of all those branded freebies: rubber bracelets, pens, and stickers. It’s all just future trash. As Eijckelhof explained, “The idea is moving away from the tchotchkes, the free giveaways. Consumers are more likely to patronize your business if you have some level of green consciousness. So, we kind of gave them permission to let go of the plastic schwag.”

In the end, zero waste is about rethinking our relationship with material things. “When I first started

Beyond our overconsumption problem, landfills are toxic. They're responsible for 20% of the methane emissions in the U.S.

Earth Overshoot Day was July 29, 2019, on that day humanity exhausted the biological resources our planet can renew this whole year.

Source: goingzerowaste.com

Source: overshootday.org

Illustration: Mary Rodriguez / Inspired by Dr. Seuss

doing this work, there were some who wanted to paint this as a progressive liberal movement. There's nothing progressive about zero waste. If anything, it's old school. A lot of the tips and tricks that we offer dial back to an era that was pre-consumerist. Zero waste is what grandma and grandpa used to do in an era where you could not afford to waste resources. It’s so consistent with Idaho values. It's about resourcefulness, independence, and self-sufficiency.”

Tossing edible food, or failing to make the best use of food scraps through composting, is tantamount to discarding nearly 20% of our cropland, water, and fertilizer.

Source: ReFED

An estimated 14.5 million tons of plastic containers and packaging were generated in 2017 vs 120,000 tons in 1960.

Source: EPA / American Chemistry Council

13

Life

Never the Last Ride Hanging on to a life with horses

By Jill Kuraitis

A

t sunrise, there are horses in the heart of Boise who stomp and snort for their hay ration, and people who pull on their barn boots to deliver it. Horse and rider meet and greet each other like the old friends they are, and both seem to sigh with pleasure: "This is

Chad Blackledge with his three horses on his three-acre property in north Boise .

14

TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

how I want to live my days."

In Boise, a small city with many people who came from rural areas and "grew up on the back of a horse," horses are not kept on sprawling ranches with endless pastures and wide-open spaces. Small horse properties, once plentiful in many neighborhoods, are harder to find than ever.

Some have been sold and developed for

houses or apartments. Expensive horse setups with mansions and designer barns proliferate on the west side of the Treasure Valley: in Meridian, Eagle, Star, and points surrounding. But in the core of Boise city limits—on the Bench, the North End, and along Boise Avenue—there are still a few small properties with a corral and a small barn or shelter.

Photo: Amanda René Photography

Pam and Chad Blackledge's threeacre property along the northern edge of Boise is fronted by an arched iron sculpture naming the horse corral and pasture "Alma Cheia," which is a Portuguese phrase meaning "full and joyful spirit and soul." It's alive with wildflowers, grass, and clover, and three beautiful horses who graze on the late-summer growth.

Formerly residents of Southeast Boise, the Blackledges snapped up the horse property five years ago. "It was very old and neglected, so we gutted the house and added a real barn with stalls to the ancient shelter that was here," Pam said. The pastures were run down and overgrown, so they rehabilitated them and added goats, who are friends for the horses. A charming, funky

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Life

16

chicken house is nestled under an enormous weeping willow, and a cat named Jeebs—"who just showed up"—sleeps on a deck chair.

An inspiring example of the unique bond between human and horse, Pam and her three horses exude a near reverence for each other. Pam describes herself as a body wellness practitioner who uses various types of massage to help people heal, and she never stops touching and rubbing the horses with obvious skill. They soak it up and acknowledge her with happy snorts and nodding heads.

A mile or so southeast and hidden behind old trees, Gail Heylmun and

"Learn this well, the last ride is never the last ride. And the end is not the end."

— Richard A. Rowland, film executive and academic Well known in Boise, Gary and Gail are both nonprofit executives, and both are also musicians, which shows on their wall of beautiful guitars. They raised their three boys here, the whole family sharing the responsibility and joy of their horses.

Gary, who does most of the ridGail Heylmun and Gary Sandusky get ready for a late fall ride .

TERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

Jean McNeil's horses spend their days in Boise's North End.

ing, takes Teddy to the North Eagle foothills, an area west of Boise proper, and Spring Valley Ranch nearby. "That whole ranch area has been controlled by a couple of different development companies and is slated for significant housing development. But to date, it is still a great place to get out and encounter very few people."

With the steadily increasing population and housing development of Boise, some horse properties and riding arenas have been swallowed up. Jean McNeil, who has three acres in Boise's North End, said, "There is the question of where to ride, especially in the city.

We are fortunate to have access to a canal bank and to the foothills not far away. McNeil said some people use an arena on 36th Street. "It's a city facility and the only open-to-the-public riding arena in city limits."

But for 17 years, McNeil and her family had a free arena directly across the street on a tree farm. The farmer gave them permission to build their own arena on his land "for $1 a year!" said McNeil. Eventually, however, the farm was sold and became a housing development. "Now all I see out my window are rooftops," she said, clearly dejected. But she, along with other horse lovers who keep small horse properties alive, and the many horse clubs and organizations in the Treasure Valley, clearly haven't forfeited the idea of living with horses in the city.

Photos: Amanda René Photography

Goats also live on the Blackledge property.

Gary Sandusky bought their property in 1993. It was once semi-rural, but is now suburban. They wanted a big garden and irrigation water as well as room for their horses. Their 1920s lot with huge trees is a charming mash-up of house, old-fashioned barn, several other old outbuildings, a fruit orchard, and a corral. Their Tennessee Walking Horse is Teddy, a longtime and loved family member who lived in this paradise with his pal Goldie, who died of old age not long ago. For a time, two Arabians from next door boarded in.

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Life

Skate into Winter on Caldwell’s Ice Ribbon The uncovering of Indian Creek has led to a vibrant community plaza

By Cheryl Haas

I 18

f you haven’t ventured west to Caldwell for a while, you are in for a pleasant surprise. The downtown area is bustling with new restaurants, a multi-screen movie theater, and Indian Creek Plaza, which is the heart of the city’s revitalization. A little more than 10 years ago, the city began to uncover Indian Creek, which runs through downtown, and free it from layers of concrete and ramshackle buildings that had kept it hidden for so long. Today, the

emancipated creek is the cornerstone of downtown Caldwell’s renovation, and what Indian Creek Plaza has on offer is definitely worth the trip.

The Plaza is the site of a host of seasonal activities such as Tuesdays at the Creek music, Uncorked at Four wine tastings, Starlight Cinema series, Kids Yoga, Neighborhood Night Out, and Indian Creek Festival, to name a few. In the fall, there’s the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival, and, in early November, crews begin to prepare the Plaza for the opening of the Ice Rink and Ice Ribbon.

“Indian Creek Plaza is the ‘front porch’ of our community!” said Krista Allcott, events manager for Destination Caldwell, which manages the Plaza. “Our focus is on community gathering, and it’s really exciting to see the momentum build around the Ice Ribbon.” The Ice Ribbon and Ice Rink, together, provide almost 9,500 square feet of skating surface. The Ice Ribbon, which is one of only seven in the United States, winds through the Plaza for one-tenth of a mile as it encircles the rink. The glow of fire pits and heaters warm the night air around The Indian Creek Plaza Ice Skating Ribbon and Rink is a vibrant community gathering area for Caldwell.

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Photos: Courtesy Destination Caldwell

the skating rink. “It’s a perfect date night,” enthused Allcott, “especially if you pair the skating with dinner or a movie. The skating sessions are a blast, absolutely magical!”

The Ice Rink and Ribbon opened Nov. 20—just in time for Winter Wonderland (which twinkles with thousands of lights), Skate with Santa days, and a Winter Solstice Market. The fun continues through Feb. 29, 2020, seven days a week.

To prepare the skating surface, crews lay down dasher boards, sixfoot-wide sections of base that match the curves of the Ribbon and which get attached to the concrete underneath.

Then glass walls and metal handrails are installed. Four miles of piping underneath the Ribbon cool the concrete, and water is sprayed across the concrete one layer at a time until the resulting ice is two feet thick. In between layers, the ice is painted white to prevent it from melting. It takes about three weeks to install the dasher boards and to create the ice.

The ice skating is so much fun and has proven to be so popular that, in order to maintain the quality of the experience for everyone, the number of skaters on the ice gets capped at 180.

So, it’s a good idea to call ahead to the Skate Shoppe to check on the crowd conditions, especially if you want to skate on a weekend evening. The Skate Shoppe offers both figure and hockey skates for rent. Helmets are free. Safety comes first at the rink so neon-vested rink guards are available to assist and to ensure that skaters follow “Glidelines.”

Destination Caldwell volunteers, Indian Creek Plaza staff, and the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation have teamed up to form the SK8 Ribbon Coalition. The Coalition will offer kids from Canyon and Owyhee counties, between the ages of 12 and 16, free ice skating lessons during the months of January and February. The Coalition also works with teachers who think their class would benefit from skating lessons and underwrites the entire cost of the field trip.

Caldwell is like your kid sister with pigtails, braces, and baby fat who suddenly grows up to be a knockout.

This charming town has blossomed, thanks to Indian Creek Plaza and the Ice Ribbon!

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Stay PLay &

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Winter Wandering

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Campervan rentals extend the camping season

By Jamie Hausman

I

wake to the sound of footsteps crunching the gravel outside the van as my brother-in-law paces between the camp stove and the bin of supplies on the picnic table. He unclips the top of the percolator and shakes in some coffee, drips in some water, clicking the burner to life.

The smell of camp coffee makes me nostalgic for summer mornings too few and far between, waking up to the sound of a rushing river, the laughter of my friends reminiscing on the night before, and the warmth of the sun as it rises over our shaded site, rousing us from our sleeping bags, begging us to take on the day.

Then I remember that I don’t need to feel nostalgic. The rise of camper vans—transit or conversion vans outfitted with beds, storage and kitchen elements—has allowed recreational campers like me to extend our good-timehaving seasons from the ease of long summer days into the cold, shortened days of winter. The vans serve as transport Above: When the campgrounds close don't despair; you can bring your campsite with you.

This site is at Elk Mountain, just outside Stanley, Idaho.

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for adventurers and a warm and inviting already-setup campsite to which they can return after a day exposed to the elements. While most outfitted vans cost as much to purchase as a high-end SUV, the ability to rent them from companies like Boise-based Wandervans for as low as $90 per day makes an impromptu winter adventure easily within reach.

Wandervans began blazing the trail for camper van rentals in the summer of 2016. Chris Cook founded the company with three vans in Boise, and his partner, August Johnson, joined in the fall to streamline the booking and outfitting process. They now boast more than 30 vans between their Boise and Salt Lake City basecamps, the latter of which opened in 2018.

The company’s tagline boasts that the vans are the sweet spot between the tent and the RV, but the comfort and transportation elements are not the only conveniences. The online booking, fully automated checkin and checkout process, and freedom from the logistics of cleaning, maintaining and storing a camper van, is the real sweet spot. Other companies, like GoCamp, allow Idahoans to rent camper vans, but the

Photo: Alexa Lampasona/activetastylife.com

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Photos: top to bottom, Courtesy Wandervans, Courtesy Bogus Basin, Bruneau Dunes State Park/Facebook, Courtesy Anthony Lakes

model resembles Airbnb, with personal vans for rent that can lack consistent quality.

The Wandervans’ fleet includes small, medium, and large Ford transit vans. The small and medium vans sleep two, while the large sleeps four. Each van is outfitted with queensize mattresses, fitted sheets, a cooler-style refrigerator, privacy curtains, a camp table, chairs, two-burner camp stove and counter area with a pump-style sink. Add-ons are also available, including kitchen supplies, solar showers, heaters, and a portable toilet.

Despite all of the amenities included in a Wandervan, the design is sleek and streamlined when compared to the tricked out custom vans that Instagram has spotlighted under #VanLife. Companies like Sun Valley’s SYNC Vans specialize in completely customized interiors, with amenities such as solar panels on the roof and studio-style audio systems. In comparison, Wandervans seem basic, and co-founder August Johnson says that’s the point.

“The underlying theme of van life culture is live simpler with less and spend more time outdoors and try to truly experience a free lifestyle, in the sense that you’re free to go where you want,” he said.

That freedom doesn’t end when the summer campgrounds close, however. Johnson says more renters are booking the vans for shoulder season adventures where a tent might not cut it and an RV seems intimidating. One such renter, Atlanta-based Alexa Lampasona, rented a Wandervan in 2018 for a trip to the Sawtooths to bike among the fall foliage. Her visit quickly turned into a snowy expedition when they reached Stanley and the roads became coated in snow.

While their biking goals were limited by the weather, the convenience of the van allowed them to easily change plans, with everything already packed in their vehicle.

“If you’re bringing bikes or skis, [the van] makes it a lot easier from a logistics standpoint,” Lampasona said. “All your gear is right there, so you’re able to pull off at a trailhead and go.”

Lampasona’s plans for biking single track turned into hiking snowy alpine lake trails, soaking in hot springs, stargazing in cold temperatures, then thawing out and sleeping in the comfort of the van. Plus, she said, adventuring in the off-season makes for fewer crowds than the busy summer months.

“It adds a layer of peace and quiet to your experience,” she explained. “We try to go in the off-season to avoid the crowds and to enjoy nature itself.”

While Wandervans aren’t outfitted with four-wheeldrive, the combination of dually wheels, snow tires, and chains temper fears of driving on wintry roads. For those renters who are overnighting at ski resorts, there are cleanly plowed roads to further ease the transit. Wandervans also offers propane-powered heaters to warm the interior of the van, and a diesel heater in some vans for all-night comfort.

Preparing for cold weather remains paramount, however, so packing extra layers, blankets, and hand warmers will ensure comfortable conditions.

As adventurers rent Wandervans during all four seasons, Johnson said the team hopes to open a third location to continue growing the fleet and make camper van rental even more accessible.

WHERE TO WANDER Renting a camper van for off-season vacations comes in handy for a variety of trips in Idaho and beyond.

Here are some ideas for trip inspiration ...

Kirkham Hot Springs

Bogus Basin

Hot Springs: Idaho is home to some of the most spectacular hot springs in the country, so make a route and hit the trail for winter soaking. The crowds are nonexistent and the views are epic.

Some favorites include Miracle, Banbury, Kirkham, and Burgdorf hot springs.

Ski Resorts: With overnight parking allowed at Bogus Basin, Silver Mountain, Grand Targhee, Brundage, Tamarack and Schweitzer Mountain resorts, you can spend the entire winter season shredding powder across the state.

Just be sure to check the rules before settling in for the night.

Bruneau Dunes State Park: This will feel like a trip to the beach, er, almost. Bruneau is south of Boise and feels slightly warmer in the winter. The sand dunes are a sight to behold.

Bruneau Dunes

Castle State Park/City of Rocks Preserve: This well-known hot spot for rock climbing also offers great camping, hiking, and biking in the fall, early winter, and spring seasons.

Anthony Lakes: Just three hours from Boise, the Anthony Lakes area offers peaceful camping, hiking, biking, and watersports in the warmer months.

Glacier National Park: Glacier is a huge, spectacular park in northern Montana. Exploring it by van is a great way to experience one of America’s true wonders.

Anthony Lakes

Visiting family for the holidays?

Book a Wandervan to ease the pressure of close quarters during holiday gatherings. Having your lodging in the driveway is an easy way to add a bedroom to a full house.

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Keeping Idaho in the DARK Central Idaho’s Dark Sky Reserve drives ‘astrotourism’

By Sharon Fisher

Photo: Regan Babst/reganbabst.com

Idaho is famous for nothing.

N

ot only is Idaho best at nothing in the U.S., but it’s world-famous for nothing.

That nothing that Idaho has—or doesn’t have, in this case—is light pollution, that overnight glow from city lights that makes it difficult to see the stars. We take it for granted in Idaho that we can look up and see the stars, and even the Milky Way, but that’s not true in many places.

That’s why people took steps to preserve Idaho’s dark sky, so others can continue to enjoy looking at it.

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, formed in December 2013, is one of just 13 places in the world, said Carol Cole, a member of the reserve’s advisory group. It was designated by the International Dark Sky Association, an organization that designates such sites around the world, after the group went through a lengthy application process, she said.

The dark sky reserve is more than 900,000 acres, spreading from Sun Valley and Ketchum through the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Ketchum Ranger District to Stanley, Cole said.

The effort began with “dark sky ordinances” in Ketchum and Hailey, specifying the lights residents could have, to help preserve the night sky.

“Stephen Pauley, a resident here in July 2019 at Sawtooth Lake in the Sawtooth National Forest. Mt. Regan is in the background.

the Wood River Valley, started working on dark sky ordinances in the 1990s,” Cole said. “That laid the groundwork that we would be able to achieve reserve status.”

Discussion started around 2014, and the group started the two-year, 120page application process in 2016, working with the cities, Blaine County, the Forest Service, the Idaho Conservation League, and other local organizations, Cole said.

Idaho qualified for gold level, the highest status in the designation, Cole said. “Our dark skies are pretty darn dark,” she said.

Cole, who used to work for the U.S. Forest Service, said it was the first large-scale effort by the Forest Service at the time, though some parks had been designated “dark sky parks.”

Part of the effort involved lighting inventories in Ketchum and Sun Valley and along Highway 75, Cole said. And the group needed to work with concerns from citizens. “We had 50 different versions of a map before we landed on the final one,” she said, including moving some boundaries a little farther from private land and adding other areas that people wanted.

The group doesn’t have enforcement authority but works with landowners based on complaints, Cole said.

Cole can’t quantify the response but said it was considerable. “Astrotourism is a big draw these days,” especially after the 2017 total solar eclipse that went across Idaho. “That really heightened people’s interest in looking up at the WINTER 2019

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sky.” She gets questions from all over the country from people who want to plan a vacation, including parents who want their kids to have the opportunity to see the night sky.

The region has seen significant media attention nationally from the creation of the reserve, said Angenie McCleary, vice chair of the Blaine County Board of Commissioners. “Tourists have been excited to learn about and visit another attraction in our area.”

So successful is Idaho’s Dark Sky Re-

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“A lot of Blaine County outside of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve is very dark and is worthy of inclusion and protection,” McCleary said. “In particular, the south county has an incredible dark sky resource. Perhaps, this area could be included with the Craters of the Moon Dark Sky Park to create a second dark sky reserve in our area.”

Next time you’re in central Idaho, look up—and appreciate nothing.

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'TABLE FOR ONE' Advice for solo, female travelers

By Emilee Mae Struss

“T

able for one” can be an intimidating phrase for one to use.

Perhaps embarrassing. I’ve been there. Walking into a brewery, alone, and a bright-eyed waitress asks, “Table for one?”

Her head is tilted slightly with a pity-you smile. I proudly respond, “Yes, table for one, please.”

Something, maybe pride, inside

of me wants to interject, “I promise I’m not always alone!” To be honest, I have spent a lot of time alone: time at breweries, on snowy hiking trails, and traveling overseas—alone. Completely by choice. It fits right in-line with the larger topic of an American female melodrama: solo travel.

It’s kind of a hot topic right now because women are traveling solo now

more than ever. And it’s not just young 20-somethings or teenage Australians on their “gap year.” It’s middle-aged women, retired women, and all of the stages in between. Whether it is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, boarding a long flight to Thailand, or backpacking across Europe, women are embarking on solo adventures.

So, what’s drawing these women The author samples some local wine.

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to set their fears aside and travel solo?

Best-selling memoirs such as Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” and Cheryl Stayed’s “Wild” share some insight on a common theme: self-discovery.

Self-discovery is a constantly changing, ever growing, and humbling thing.

Choosing to set aside all titles and pick up a boots-to-the-ground solo traveler title can be an intimidating decision— especially if you’ve never done it before. But chances are, if you’ve met someone who has traveled solo, they will highly suggest it to you. Just one problem: there are all the fears to overcome first. Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

1. Research Before You Go Research your destination before you do anything else. Get to know the weather patterns, local customs, etiquette, and food. Regardless of where you’re going, always book your first night’s stay ahead of time. Write down the address on a piece of paper and keep it with you.

2. Be Aware Know before you go what to look for. Is pickpocketing common? Read up on current news in the area. Are some areas safer than others? Choose wisely, and always, always, always opt for budgeting higher to stay in a safer area, even if it stretches your budget. Your safety is worth it.

3. Get Insurance If you’re traveling abroad, make sure you have a printed copy of your passport, travel plans, and travel insurance. Yes, travel insurance is a option, and you should have it. Just in case you miss a flight, lose your luggage or, God forbid, have to cancel your entire trip, insurance is a good thing to have.

4. Download the Apps Download software apps like “Maps.

Me” (similar to Google Maps but doesn’t require data or Wi-Fi), “Currency Exchange,” “WhatsApp” (free international messaging) and “Google Translate” to lighten the language barrier.

5. Share Your Plans Share your travel plans with your parents, friends, significant others, kids, and dogs before leaving. They might

be concerned about you. The more information they have, the better they will feel. It’s also smart to have someone else know where you’ll be in case of an emergency.

6. Allow It to Change You Change can be difficult. However, it is a constant and not all change that happens in life is easy to accept. Make sure to bring a journal to record your experiences, feelings, thoughts, and places you’ve visited.

7. Talk to Strangers Seriously. Talk to the locals! If you’re in a region that speaks another language, try to learn a few simple phrases. Get the secret local scoop on where the best restaurants, hikes, swimming holes, or historic attractions are.

8. Set Your Fears Aside Actor Will Smith said it best: “The greatest things in life exist just beyond fear.” Trust yourself, plan well, and be prepared. Traveling away from home on unfamiliar terrain can be intimidating. Allow space to surprise and impress yourself.

9. Better to Be Early Than Late It seems pretty obvious, but if you’re traveling somewhere with trains, buses, ferries or flights, make sure you are early. It’s better to arrive early, have a snack, and relax than having to sprint at top speed to make that connection.

10. Sit Proud at Your Table After all, this is your time for you.

Do what you enjoy! Set expectations to ask yourself every day what you want to do that day. Be okay with laziness, if that’s what you need.

Be okay with spending four nights in one city when you maybe only planned for one. Be okay with plans changing. Period. Be okay with asking for a “Table for one.”

Traveling abroad might not look like some of the Instagram-famous women whose bios display traveling to “85-plus countries!” But it will be your own special, personal, and intimate experience with you. Just you. Tell your fears to take a back seat, but make sure your common sense is seated right beside you. Listen to your intuition and allow the experience to shape itself.

And, lastly, enjoy the adventure!

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STEELHEA

BOISE’S PRO HOCKEY TEAM T

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BY ZACH KYLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD MEIER

T

hings looked dicey for the Idaho Steelheads after falling behind early 2-1 to the visiting Wichita Thunder.

Granted, the game was just the fourth of the Steelheads’ 72-game schedule. A loss wouldn’t jeopardize the Steelheads’ streak of qualifying for the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) playoffs for 22 seasons straight, a remarkable run for any team at any level. But try telling that to the roughly 4,500 hollering fans in Boise’s CenturyLink Arena who plunked down money for hockey tickets instead of whatever else they could be doing on a Saturday night. Try telling that, too, to the Steelheads themselves, 20-somethings trying to climb up the professional hockey ranks to maybe, one day, earn the ultimate golden ticket: a call-up to the National Hockey League (NHL).

Good thing there was plenty of hockey left to play.

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ADS CITY

T H R I L L S P L AY E R S A N D FA N S

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While Boise might not seem like a hockey town, the fans would take exception to that. The Steelheads have a passionate and loyal following, often packing CenturyLink Arena.

30

The momentum swung early in the second period, when a defensive stop turned into a two-on-one for the Steelheads capped by defenseman Brady Norrish beating the goaltender for his first goal of the season, tying the game at 2-2.

The Steelheads took the lead when defenseman Jeff King lunged at a rebound, flicking the puck into the net as he fell to the ice. The crowd erupted. 3-2, Steelheads.

The score remained close, but the floodgates had fallen. Forward Will Merchant tacked on an insurance goal in the third period, and defenseman Colton Saucerman iced a 5-2 Steelheads win with an empty net score in the final minutes.

The crowd cheered the Steelheads as they disappeared down the tunnel, the kind of support the team has come to lean on, Steelheads forward A.J. White said. “The crowd here is insane,” he said.

“Take our preseason game. Nobody had to come, but basically the whole rink was sold out. The fans were there for warm-ups, screaming. You get that extra buzz and tingling in your body that makes you want to play harder. Part of our success is the fans are so into it.”

The win kept the Steelheads’ record perfect at 4-0 and sent fans, including season ticket holders Russ and Connie Cash, home happy.

Russ Cash, who wore a 2002 game-worn Scott Burt Steelheads jersey, has become something of a hockey super collector. He stopped counting at 350 hockey jerseys—all game-worn—including more than 100 Steelheads jerseys. He keeps them in a downstairs room, sorted by league.

Connie Cash playfully calls her husband’s habit “insidious.”

“We love it,” Russ Cash said.

“You can watch hockey on TV and absolutely hate it. But being here, live, the action is so fast. We sit behind the glass. We’re in it. Once you start figuring out the game, and how each of the players has their role, you’re hooked.”

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HOCKEY IN THE DESERT Starting the Idaho Steelheads professional hockey team must have seemed a little risky back in 1996.

Young kids from hockey hotbeds such as Minnesota or Michigan or basically anywhere in Canada skate early and start passing and shooting pucks to friends and family soon after. Hockey permeates the culture. Some adolescents dream of becoming Los Angeles Lakers megastar Lebron James, just like anywhere else. Plenty also dream of being Pittsburgh Penguins wunderkind Sidney Crosby.

“We’re a developmental league, and we’re happy to see guys move on (to the AHL). That’s our job. It’s the same with our coaches, and even with radio announcers.

It’s exciting to see guys move up.”

— ERIC TRAPP Steelheads president Idaho, on the other hand, is known for sagebrush, potatoes and empty space, which was especially true back then, when the population of the five-county Boise metropolitan area was about a third of what it is today. Were there enough people to support a pro hockey team? If there were, were there enough people who even liked hockey?

There were.

The Steelheads sold out the 5,000-seat arena, then known as the Bank of America Centre, around 20 times during its inaugural season, president Eric Trapp said. Attendance fell slightly during the high water marks of the Kellen Moore era of Boise State University football, but CenturyLink has maintained an average of about 4,000 per

game. The team has been successful, reaching the ECHL semifinals in six of the last nine seasons and winning the Kelly Cup in 2003 and 2007.

The team has never been bad, as evidenced by making the playoffs every year. But the season ticket holders and casual fans come regardless of the Steelheads’ winloss record, Trapp said. They come for the experience. CenturyLink’s seating is vertical, meaning even fans in the upper deck are close to the action. The Steelheads play in bigger rinks around the league that feel dead in comparison. The crowd noise and relative intimacy of the smaller arena appeals to fans and helps the team recruit prospective Steelheads, Trapp said.

“A lot of teams play in arenas seating 12,000 to 14,000 and even with 4,000 or 5,000 fans in attendance, it feels empty,” Trapp said.

“In our arena, even with a crowd of 3,500 on a Wednesday, it still has that energy.”

Emergence of hockey in Boise rekindled a flame for the sport held

by Cindy Burger, who owns season tickets with her husband, J.P. Burger grew up with hockey.

Her father, Rudy Filion, played for the Seattle Totems and helped steer the team to the 1959 Western Hockey League Championship.

After moving to Boise in 1988, she said she didn’t realize how much she’d missed the sport until the Steelheads brought hockey to town.

The game was a little different then. The Steelheads at that time played in the West Coast Hockey League, and many of its players were older former NHL players trying to extend their careers. Players were a little smaller, and games had a shade more finesse and a touch less physicality compared to the modern game.

Today’s Steelheads are young players trying to reach the NHL. The Steelheads are similar to a AAlevel minor league baseball team, and are affiliated with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Players are sometimes

31

A referee tries to break up a scuffle for the puck in a recent Steelheads-Wichita Thunder game.

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Clockwise from top left: Marc-Olivier Roy and Keegan Kanzig making their way to the ice; Kyle Schempp takes a face-off; A.J. White watches from the bench; Kanzig takes a breather.

32 called up to the Texas Stars near Austin, which, as the American Hockey League affiliate, is one step below the NHL team. A total of 25 Steelheads have reached the NHL.

“You tell people you’re heading to Boise, and it’s always the same joke: I bet you’ll see some potatoes.

But it’s totally different.

I tell everybody Boise is probably the best city I’ve been to. That surprises them, but then they add it to the bucket list of places they want to check out.”

— A.J. WHITE, Steelheads forward

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Losing players can be hard for the team, especially approaching the playoffs, the Burgers said. But part of being a Steelheads fan is rooting for the players to get their shot at the next level.

“These guys are on the doorstep of going to the show,” J.P. Burger said.

“You want to see them get there.”

HOCKEY DREAMS Two Steelheads trying to get there are a pair of longtime pros, forwards A.J. White and Joe Basaraba.

Both are in their third season with the Steelheads, and both grew up in hockey-crazy regions. From Fort Frances in Ontario, Canada, Basaraba won an NCAA championship while playing at University of Minnesota Duluth, a hockey powerhouse. He’s played six seasons in the ECHL, starting with three for the Cincinnati Cyclones, then two

with the Steelheads, then one with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits before returning to the Steelheads.

Basaraba enjoyed one of his strongest seasons in Greenville last year with 18 goals and 27 assists. At 27, his odds for making it to the NHL decrease each year.

He’s dedicated to the game, but he recently finished a master’s degree in international human resource management with an eye for whatever might come next.

“Once it’s not fun anymore, maybe it’s time to move on,” Basaraba said. “I still love it. This is my sixth year pro, and I feel great.

I feel very fortunate to play this game and make it a career.”

White, who is also 27, was born in Dearborn, Michigan, and played at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he earned a degree in business management. White started his career one level higher

Clockwise from above: Nolan Gluchowski gets in the face of Sean Allen of the Wichita Thunder; post-game stretch; Gluchowski gets his mind right for the game; Will Merchant gets into the action.

33 in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing a season for the Milwaukee Admirals, then starting the season with the AHL’s Providence Bruins before moving down to the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators. This season marks White’s third in Boise.

He’s coming off a strong 16-goal, 35-assist season.

“Everybody strives to move onto the next level,” White said.

“That doesn’t always happen. You have to make the most of the opportunity, and I feel like that’s what I’ve accomplished here in Boise.

The next goal for the team is to try to win the Kelly Cup.” White said he’s grown fond of Boise. He and his girlfriend plan to stay here after the hockey season ends in the spring. Boise could be home. “I haven’t really thought about what’s next [after hockey],” he said. “I’d like to stay in it, whether it’s coaching or some kind of

management. At the same time, me and my girlfriend are enjoying our experience in Boise. I don’t want to leave Idaho. It would be a tough decision when the time comes.”

SEE YOU AT THE GAME At 5-2, the Steelheads are off to another strong season (though a lot more of the season will be in the books by publication). If history is an indication, Steelheads fans can look forward to a playoff appearance for the 23rd straight season—a run that isn’t lost on the players.

“We always bring up before season that there’s a culture here, that we do things a certain way,” White said. “The playoff streak always comes up, but that’s down the road.

Need to make our season a book, have chapters throughout to make

sure we’re ready for the playoffs.”

While it’s great to cheer for a winning team, that’s only half of the point, Russ Cash said. He and his wife come for the vibe.

The visceral parts of hockey—the clack of sticks against the ice, the slam of players on the boards, the 200-pound maulers skating with the grace of muscly ballerinas— doesn’t translate on a TV screen.

But in a rocking CenturyLink?

That’s where the Cashes want to be.

“It is a little weird that hockey took off here, but when Boise State football ends, what else is there to do?” Russ Cash said. “I’ve heard people say Boise is an events town.

Well, this is an event. There’s Wi-Fi. There’s promotions. It’s not just a hockey game. The people in my section all know each other and go out for drinks after. This is the place to be.”

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KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHE he new Ronald McDonald House expands to meet T growing demand for pediatric support services

By Meghan Levi Photography by Angie Smith

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Cole Architects rendering of the Ronald McDonald House courtyard.

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IN TIMES OF NEED

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If you have traveled through the confluence of Main Street, Idaho Street, Broadway Avenue, and Warm Springs Avenue in Boise lately, you have likely viewed more than one massive construction project in progess.

St. Luke’s new Idaho Elks Children’s Pavilion animates the area with modern interpretations of woodland creatures. Historic homes have been moved to make way for future technologies. A 360-degree view of this intersection is like a microcosm of present-day life in Boise: it’s rapidly changing.

Growth certainly brings challenges, but opportunities, too. The new Children’s Pavilion expanded pediatric services by 100,000 square feet. New specialists have arrived to the relief of those who have traveled for treatments. As medical services in Boise have grown, so has the need to support those using them.

The St. Luke’s campus is situated among one of the oldest neighborhoods in Boise. Several historic gems dot the streets around the hospital, yet one house in particular stands out.

Built in 1890, formerly the Nicholson Family home, you probably know 101 Warm Springs Ave. as the Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho (referred to as the House) is downright charming. Spend a few moments near the entry and you’ll see weary faces light up at the site of that old familiar clown. Walk in the front door and you’ll wonder: does it always smell like freshly baked cookies in here? Apparently, the answer is yes.

The current House has served families from southern Idaho and eastern Oregon since its founding in 1988.

Like many entities in Idaho, the House exists, in part, because of J.R. Simplot.

Working with the Nicholson family, Simplot purchased their home and gifted it to the fledgling nonprofit so they could open their doors debt-free.

The mission is simple: to keep families together in times of medical need. The practical application of that mission, however, is anything but simple. The House offers housing for a mere $10 per night, including warm meals, toiletries, transportation, and, most importantly, time together as a family.

The heartbreaking reality is the existing 17-room house no longer meets TERRITORY–MAG.COM

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the needs of a growing region with state-of-the-art pediatric medical care.

In 2018, the organization turned away 82 families. Now, in 2019, they have turned away even more. A new, muchlarger, House was urgently needed.

Mindy Plumlee, the longtime executive director of the House, offered insight into the changing landscape of medical care in Idaho. “There are phenomenal pediatric specialty doctors living in Boise right now. People travel from around the world to get care from these physicians. They could live anywhere; they choose to live in Boise.”

“We can't do what people want; they want their kids to get better.

That's up to the medical teams. So, we're going to care for the family and we're going to lift a lot of those burdens and just make it possible for them to focus on what's really important—time together.”

—M indy Plumlee

Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho

This situation is not uncommon.

The House recently hosted a family that drove from the Midwest to Boise to see a specific neurotherapy physician.

Plumlee further explained that nearly half of the families lodging at the House do not have transportation. Sometimes they arrive via air ambulance, or the car is left at home for someone else to use. If a child is receiving care at Saint Alphonsus, the House pays for their transportation to and from the hospital.

“Take the Wiggins family from Franklin, Idaho. They drive five hours to take their son for treatment at St. Luke’s. The thought of them getting back in the car to drive home is really problematic. It’s exhausting for their son and leaves mom unable to rest and take care of herself, too,” Plumlee said.

Five hours in the car with any child can be trying, but transporting a medically fragile child is something else entirely. Just the thought of turning these families away spurred Plumlee and the House board of directors into action nearly seven years ago.

“The expansion committee started with a few guiding principles,” Plumlee said. “First, we need a new House by the children’s hospital, we need everyone under one roof, and we need to be mindful that we are a community asset.” Going back to that chaotic intersection, there really was only one option that met the principles set forth by the committee. And it was just next door.

Fortuitously, St. Luke’s owned a large plot adjacent to the current House and was interested in a swap.

The current House became St. Luke’s property and will eventually serve a similar function. Plumlee acknowledged how fast this stage of the process has moved: “It was barely a year ago that we completed the land swap discussion. It's going to be awesome for the hospital because they get a turnkey facility where they can immediately provide housing for families of adult patients.”

The expansion committee eventually moved into the fundraising phase, with a $15.3 million goal. Once the bulk of the money was raised, emphasis shifted to creating the construction team. In order for this building to be completed in the one-year timeframe the House needed, it had to be just the right people on the job. “It was

Mindy Plumlee Exective Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho

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Stan Cole Founding Principal, Cole Architects WINTER 2019

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Counter clockwise from top left: Ongoing construction at the Ronald McDonald House; Cole Architects' renderings of the completed project; Corey Hockersmith, superintendent and Heather Meyers, project manager, Engineered Structures Inc.

very exciting. We have been doing this planning for years, and what are the chances that everything comes together at once? The right land, the right architect, the right contractor.

We were not going to miss this opportunity,” said Plumlee.

Enter Stan Cole of Cole Architects.

Cole has been involved with the House for years, serving as the architect on the last remodel in the late 1990s. Cole and Plumlee toured several newly constructed Ronald McDonald Houses on the West Coast, carefully noting what worked and what didn’t. Cole explained that sustainability was a guiding principle in the design of the building: “The material choices were very purposeful. It's basically a craftsman-style design with some very modern flare in terms of materials. For example, using metal instead of wood. We did not want the Ronald McDonald House to be faced with ongoing maintenance so we used very durable materials. We were creating a 50- to 75-year building.”

While sustainability was a major factor in the design, how people deal with grief, anxiety, and crisis was another. “Everybody has their own way to cope and some people need the interaction and some people want to be totally independent,” Cole explained. The design team created “breakout spaces” on each floor. The private nooks have daylight access and comfortable seating not too far away from the guest suites. “We gave people a place to come outside of their room— but not within the major traffic areas— to have their own private space.”

Cole was quick to point out the generosity and hard work of others. Nearly every entity involved in this project offered reduced rates, in-kind work, or complete donations of goods and services. “It's been one of those projects that you'll remember for a long time,” he said. “Giving back to the community through your profession is something we can all be proud of. We were a part of a project that's going to provide vital services for families that really need it.”

Engineered Structures Inc. (ESI) was hired to construct Cole’s design.

“We were really thoughtful about the process of selecting a contractor,” Plumlee said. “ESI cares about our mission and approaches everything from the standpoint of what it means

to the families. They were the right fit, the best fit.”

Like Cole, Corey Hockersmith, superintendent, and Heather Meyers, project manager, were eager to share stories of kindness from the project.

“We went out to bid and everyone was asked if they would like to donate,” Meyers said. “The subcontractors have been very generous in their donations, which helps to bring the total cost of the house down. And every cent we save on building the house goes into their operating budget so they can provide more services to families.”

Stepping through the new front entryway, a family will find a bright, open space designed to make them feel at home. And with 47 guest suites, no one will be turned away. A family intake room will allow the staff to meet privately with a family and get them quickly settled in. The new house also has dedicated staff and volunteer offices. Currently, the staff are housed in whatever spaces work (or kind of work). For example, Plumlee’s current office is located in an enclosed porch off the dining room.

playrooms, a teen game room, and a secret toy closet. Meyers smiled wide as she shared this special feature. “It is going to look like a bookcase and they will have a special wand to tap on the door, which will open it into this hidden room full of toys.”

Four beautiful, fully appointed kitchens will replace the one, awkwardly shaped kitchen in the current house.

Beyond the beauty, the function of the new building is going to relieve so many burdens for the families. The new house includes commercial and residential laundry rooms, an elevator, private and public lounge areas, and space for volunteers to bake those cookies.

The 47 new guest suites will come with brand new furniture, all of it donated. The rooms don’t feel like a hotel, or worse, a hospital room. Nothing about the rooms feels transactional— they are meant to be lived in. If you were the young mother who arrived by air ambulance to deliver a premature baby and lived at the house for 120 days (true story), this new space has been created specifically for your unique situation.

“It's great to be involved in building the new Ronald McDonald House.

The community and the subcontractor base have been super supportive.”

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—H eather Meyers

Project Manager, Engineered Structures Inc.

Past the intake room, the building opens up into a grand living/dining area. Floor to ceiling windows frame what will be every child’s dream backyard. The design is thoughtful and clearly informed by the physical and emotional needs of the families.

The dining room sits adjacent to the children’s play area. The two spaces are separated by a single glass wall, giving adults the ability to linger in the dining room to converse away from little ears, all while being able to keep a watchful eye on the playroom.

When a family endures a medical crisis with one child, siblings often get lost in the shuffle. The new house has

The new house includes a family “day use” room for those from the Treasure Valley who don’t need overnight accommodations but need a place to relax, refresh, play, and eat during a long day of outpatient treatments.

The projected opening date of the new house is Feb. 1, 2020, just one year from breaking ground. It is jaw dropping when you think about it.

“We are just turning away so many people,” Plumlee explained. Meyers and Hockersmith nodded in agreement. “Knowing that families are being turned away daily is very motivating,” Meyers said.

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Arts

LIONESS IN WINTER A conversation with actor Jane Merrow

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he greatest joy of acting is creating another person—bringing a person to life, creating a character that people want to watch, someone that audiences respond to,” said British actress and Boise resident Jane Merrow, who has performed in over 80 film and television projects, as well as on stage.

Merrow knew she wanted to perform at age 8, and her family supported that passion. Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, Merrow feels that one of her most valuable classes was fencing. “You learn to maintain balance and are in control of your movement. The voice courses at RADA were wonderful, learning the proper breathing, control, and projection. I’m not sure if they are taught in the same way now at drama schools.”

One of her favorite stage roles was as Hilary in a James Kennaway play she did in London. “‛Country Dance’ was a wonderful play about three people: Hilary, her brother, and her husband. Brother, played by Edward Fox (who starred in “Day of the Jackal”), has an unhealthy love for Hilary and is jealous of Husband, portrayed by Stuart Mungall. He is witty and clever. Hilary loves that about him, but she loves her staid, steady husband. Their relationship is like a Scottish dance, intertwining and changing partners,” explained Merrow. The role of Hilary helped her get a chance to audition for the part of Alais in “The Lion in Winter.”

During her screen test with a full film crew in Hyde Park, she acted opposite Peter O’Toole, doing a scene from “Country Dance,” which she knew well, or so she thought. She performed and said the lines as she did on stage. “O’Toole shouted: ‘Stop!’ I thought to myself, ‘S***! I have blown this chance to work with him.’”

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O’Toole told her, “I don’t believe a (expletive) word you’re saying.”

Then he added, “Let’s try it again!”

“Peter was one of the finest actors of his generation, and I thought I had lost the opportunity to work with him,” Merrow said. “But he was generous, and I think he really felt I could do the role and carried on–-even to a second test on another day. He was without a doubt the most powerful and talented actor I have ever worked with.” Merrow learned then: “On film you’ve got to believe and make the audience believe everything you’re thinking and doing. The camera captures everything.”

Merrow landed the role of Alais, the mistress of Henry II, in the film “The Lion in Winter” (1968), in which she co-starred with Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Hopkins. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actress.

“The film demonstrates the vulnerability of women especially in that age,” Merrow noted. “They were the useless sex except for having children or if they owned property. Alais convinces Henry that he has to kill his own sons if they are to have a son together. Alais is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

She is in a weak and vulnerable situation. The only obvious strengths she has are that Henry loves her and that he and everyone else want a vital piece of land she owns. When the time comes, after being put upon by everyone, she turns and shows her teeth. Women historically have been considered the weaker sex. I have been lucky enough to show that flaw in many of the parts I have played. But times are changing fast, and it is our turn now, which is great!

“What made the film a success was the relationship the actors had with each other. That really made that film. It started with Peter. He loved acting. I got that. I feel the same way.”

Photos: Courtesty Jane Merrow

By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

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Jane Merrow as Alais in “The Lion in Winter.”

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44 Clockwise from top: Merrow and Peter O’Toole in “The Lion in Winter”; with Oliver Reed in “The Girl-Getters”; Merrow and Bill Bixby in “The Magician”; and Merrow with Leonard Nimoy in “Mission: Impossible.”

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O’Toole told Merrow: “Keep your eyes still. Focus your eyes on the center of the face or on one eye or the other.” Katharine Hepburn, who also starred in "The Lion in Winter," taught her how to cry on screen. “There’s nothing like working with the best,” Merrow said.

One of her beloved TV projects was “Secret Agent” with Patrick McGoohan (titled “Dangerman” in the United Kingdom.) Working with McGoohan was “exciting, like a roller coaster. He had a powerful personality and lots of charisma. It was a fun part-–like playing tennis with someone.”

Merrow recently returned to the British stage portraying Lady Macbeth at the Groundlings Theatre. “You have to keep working on your voice and learn your lines. It took six months to learn Shakespeare’s words to make them sound like they are coming right out of your head.” Another role she’d like to play is Gertrude in “Hamlet” because a “mother/son relationship is always interesting.” Gertrude marries her husband’s brother. “Just because we get older doesn’t mean we can’t fall in love again,” she explained.

What brought this British-born actress to Boise 11 years ago?

One of the best roles of her life: she is grandmother to Brynnli, almost 18, Kaden, 14, and Luke, 8. Besides London, Merrow has also lived in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and in Australia for three months while doing a movie, “Adam’s Woman,” with Beau Bridges. It was during this film that she met Dick, her husband, a pilot, and Idaho native, who shuttled the actors between locations.

Recognizing many people love horror films, Merrow created “New Chilling Tales,” a series of short films based on classic horror stories, including “The Yellow Wallpaper” in which she plays a woman overcome by fear.

“I am an actor and my career was somewhat stalled, [so] I decided that I would create my own work. I had fallen in love with the Internet and could see its potential for delivering films to an audience.” With many short classic horror stories in the public domain, Merrow found her niche and her new passion. Merrow’s four short Gothic horror films are available on Amazon Prime as “New Chilling Tales–The Anthology.”

To filmmakers, Merrow offers these words of wisdom: “Bear in mind your public. There is no point in making a film nobody wants to see. That’s why I’m tying into stories people love to read.”

Merrow discovered Idaho’s film community when she joined Idaho Media Professionals, which, she said, “has helped me meet many interesting people and get the new phase of my work going.”

Merrow has starred in a silent short with a surprise ending called “Cougar,” is hoping to work with Idaho director Greg Green on his next film, and is performing in a horror film, shot in Wales. She is delighted to be working with Vernon Dobtcheff again (they did “Carmilla” and “1984” together) and with Caroline Munro, who starred in the Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Merrow has another U.K. film lined up in 2020 titled “Black Apple.”

Merrow has compiled some advice for actors in her forthcoming book “Being an Actor,” available online. Merrow advises aspiring actors: “Be prepared. Always learn your lines, build stamina and be prepared for disappointment and rejection.” She is also narrating some books for Audible, which feature “silly witches that live in modern life. It’s funny and tremendous fun,” she offered. While narrating “Hazel Raises the Stakes” and “That Crazy Witch” by M.Z. Andrews, she is using only one of her tools—her voice—and she has to quickly switch from one character and voice to another.

Merrow shared sage wisdom to attain success for all of us.

“Surround yourself with good talented people. Stick with it. Keep your eye on the prize and stay in the race.”

Photos: Courtesty Jane Merrow

Arts

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info@gailseverngallery.com

Arts

Wearable Art with a Message Billy McMaster creates custom jackets with his Modern Armor

A 46

s a child, Billy McMaster dreamed of being a fireman; he would hook up a garden hose to the back of his Big Wheel and pedal around the neighborhood, letting his neighbors know that he was standing by to douse any errant flames. He eventually realized that dream, which led him indirectly to his current role as the purveyor of Modern Armor in which he repurposes leather jackets into wearable art with a political statement.

His signature design elements include hand painting and lots of hand-applied studs and spikes. His work has a punk vibe, perfect for an aspiring rock star or fashionista. He created his first jacket design, which he calls the Art Bomb, while recovering from back surgery that ended his firefighting career.

“The Art Bomb took me about 60 hours,” McMaster said.

“I had a great experience doing it, and got great feedback, so I did another. It wasn’t so much the selling of the jackets but the creativity that was therapeutic.”

Subsequently, he has made jackets for customers in Brazil, Australia, and the U.S. McMaster said the idea for each jacket emerges organically. “I sit down and start to create without having the whole thing laid out,” he said. “And the pieces just fit together as I go. The creative process is what I enjoy.”

McMaster sees himself as a rebel against injustice, and Billy McMaster at work on one of his custom jackets.

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his art becomes the medium for the message. He’s a passionate advocate of Native American rights and participated in the Standing Rock protest. The “Agent Orange” jacket is dedicated to his uncle who is dying of the chemical he was exposed to while fighting in Vietnam.

McMaster studied graphic art and digital photography at Brooks College in Long Beach, Calif., which is well known for its fashion design program. In his 20s, he started a clothing company called Action Sportswear with several friends. He oversaw graphic design and the wholesale manufacturing process. “We were running around Newport Beach, immersed in the beach surfing culture. It was a crazy scene!”

But in between partying and sleeping on the beach, McMaster worked in the garment district in downtown L.A. It was that latent discipline that allowed him to access the rarified world of wildland firefighting.

McMaster became a member of an elite Hotshots fire crew based in Darby, Mont. Hotshots wildland firefighters are the guys who battle the fire in the “hottest” spots, on the ground, often in remote and steep terrain where deploying equipment isn’t possible. It’s extremely demanding physically and very dangerous.

Hotshots are tough cookies. McMaster was injured in 2004, and a burning tree in Elk City, Idaho, fell on his back in 2005, but he continued to fight fires until he couldn’t anymore. He moved off the Hotshots crew into dispatch at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, which serves as the nation’s logistical hub in fighting wildland fires. But the unrelenting pain from his injured vertebrae brought his firefighting career to an abrupt end. In 2011, McMaster had the first of his back surgeries. It was unsuccessful. He had another.

He spent a year in New York, working out of a studio in Chelsea, shooting model portfolios and what is known in the fashion industry as “look books,” trying to gain a foothold.

He’s since moved back to Boise where he’s funneled his anger, pain, and energy into creativity. “The whole troubled youth thing in L.A.? All that energy that went into partying, I learned to focus in the jackets,” McMaster said. “Once I get going, I can’t stop. I get into a meditative flow, and time and everything around me disappears. It’s just me and the jacket. And that’s why I like it.”

Photos: McMaster Photo

By Cheryl Haas

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2019 D EC • JAN • F EB

2020

CA LENDA R

Arts & Culture DEC. 13 — Second Sundays On the Second Sunday of every month, check out a rotating list of local visual artists, jewelers, clothing, beauty products, a food truck and more. This new arts & crafts happening is allages and free to attend. Hillside Studios, 1674 W. Hill Road, Boise. 1–4 p.m.

JAN. 11 — ‘French Favorites!’ Kris Tree City Chamber Players, a Boise-based ensemble of flute, oboe & piano, is joined by guest violist Aurora Torres for an enchanting afternoon of French chamber music. Red Rock Christian Church, 1124 S. Roosevelt St., Boise. 2 p.m. treecitychamberplayers.com JAN. 16 — Jerry Seinfeld Live The creator and star of "Seinfeld," the show famously about "nothing," brings his standup act to Boise. His latest projects include the Emmy-nominated web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and his Netflix special "Jerry Before 'Seinfeld.'"

Morrison Center, 2201 W. Cesar Chavez Ln., Boise. 7 p.m. morrisoncenter.com America’s premier comedian, Jerry Seinfeld.

A traditional celebration of the Holiday Season, Boise Phil and Master Chorale.

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DEC. 14 — Holiday Pops A family-favorite concert drawing concertgoers to the hall for an evening of holiday cheer. Led by guest conductor Charles Latshaw. Morrison Center, 2201 W. Cesar Chavez Ln., Boise. 7:30 p.m. boisephil.org DEC. 19 - 23 — ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballet Idaho's beloved holiday classic, now with all new sets and costumes! Join us as we celebrate the season in glittering fashion—a joyful and elegant holiday party for the children, magical and playful mice, and the Nutcracker doll's transformation into the handsome prince. Morrison Center, 2201 W. Cesar Chavez Ln., Boise. 7:30 p.m. balletidaho.org

Opera Idaho Operatini early and late performances at the Sapphire Room.

FEB. 6 — Opera Idaho Operatini Enjoy a fun evening of music, food, and drinks.

The evening includes the cast of Opera Idaho's upcoming production of Giacomo Puccini's “La Bohème” serenading you with some of their favorites from the canons of opera and musical theater. Sapphire Room, Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise.

Early performance 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and late performance 8:15 – 10:15 p.m. sapphireboise.com

Festivals & Events FEB. 1 - 15 — ‘The Way North’ When a lost, cold and very pregnant young woman stumbles onto her rural homestead in the Minnesota wilderness, Freddy Hansen doesn’t hesitate to take her in. It’s the right thing to do, and as the county’s former sheriff, Freddy has dedicated her life to protecting and serving others. Boise Contemporary Theatre, 854 Fulton St., Boise. bctheater.org

DEC. 1 – JAN. 4 — Winter Garden aGlow See our dazzling display of over 400,000 sparkling lights artfully displayed throughout the holiday season. Special guest Santa will visit from the North Pole select nights and the Holiday Express, a G-scale model train, will wind its way through the glowing winter wonderland. Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise.

5:30 – 9:30 p.m. idahobotanicalgarden.org

Music DEC. 12 — Casey Donahew Knitting Factory Concert House, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. 8 p.m. bo.knittingfactory.com DEC. 14 — Frim

Fram 4 Christmas

The Sapphire Room, 2900 W. Chinden TERRITORY–MAG.COM

Blvd., Boise. 7:30 p.m. sapphireboise.com DEC. 18 — Wax Neurolux Lounge, 111 N. 11th St., Boise.

7:30 p.m. neurolux.com DEC. 27 —

Blues Saviors

The Sapphire Room, WINTER 2019

2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. 7:30 p.m. sapphireboise.com DEC. 31 —

Micky and the Motorcars Knitting

Factory Concert House, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. 8 p.m. bo.knittingfactory.com

Micky and the Motorcars

JAN. 5 —

Eric Johnson

Revolution Concert House and Event Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. 7 p.m. facebook.com/pg/ revolutionid

Calendar

Free photos with Santa.

DEC. 7 - 21 — Capital City Public Market Meet Treasure Valley farmers who can tell you how to choose a ripe ear of corn, skilled artists, and talented bakers who can create the most robust of bread loaves yet coax a fine, flaky crust from each handmade pastry. The Grove Plaza. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. capitalcitypublicmarket.com

DEC. 5 - 21 — City Santa Downtown Boise’s City Santa is a holiday tradition for Boise families. Photos with Santa are free.

Thurs. Dec. 5, 6 p.m., Saturdays Dec. 7, 14, 21, 10 a.m. D.L. Evans Bank, 890 W. Main St. DEC. 22 - 23 — Interfaith Sanctuary's

14th Annual Xtreme Holiday Xtravaganza

The Xtreme Holiday Xtravaganza is back for a 14th year to entertain, inspire, and to raise funds for the Interfaith Sanctuary homeless shelter. Egyptian Theatre, 700 W. Main St., Boise. 6:30 p.m. egyptiantheatre.net DEC. 31 — Idaho Potato Drop The Idaho Potato Drop is a free and charitable community event that supports local arts, business and charities. Idaho State Capitol Building, 700 W. Jefferson St., Boise. 3 p.m. – 1 a.m. idahopotatodrop.com

FEB. 27 — Red Shoe Shindig This is not a gala but an updated take on food, fun and fundraising. You'll be treated to themed food stations, silent and live auctions, entertainment, and shoe selfies! So get ready to kick up your heels and enjoy a fun evening benefiting families with sick children. JUMP, 1000 W. Myrtle St., Boise. 5:30 p.m. rmhcidaho.org

Sports & Outdoors DEC. 21 — YMCA Christmas Run Create a new tradition! Celebrate the holiday season as a family by running or walking together. ‘Tis the season for bells, holiday costumes, carolers and Santa! Join us for the Christmas Run presented

by Saint Alphonsus. Boise High School, 1010 W. Washington St., Boise. 10 a.m. ymcatvidaho.org JAN. 3 — Potato Bowl Today, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is the longest-running cold weather bowl game in college football.

It has hosted 26 different universities and has seen 19 first-round NFL Draft picks come through. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is a celebration of the spirit of winter in the beautiful Idaho mountains. Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Ln., Boise. famousidahopotatobowl.com DEC. 11 - FEB. 8 — Idaho Steelheads Enjoy the fast-paced pro ice hockey action at CenturyLink Arena. The Steelheads are consistently at the top of the conference.

CenturyLink Arena, 233 S. Capitol Blvd. idahosteelheads.com Albertsons Stadium, Boise State University, home of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Food & Drink DEC. 7 - 21 — Indoor Winter Market The Boise Farmers Market moves indoors for December. Find fresh local seasonal vegetables and fruit, many types of locally raised protein, breads and pastries, honey, jams and sauces, fresh-roasted coffee, and a selection of ready-to-eat foods. 1500 Shoreline Dr. Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. theboisefarmersmarket.com ​​

JAN. 12 —

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Revolution Concert House and Event Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City.

7:30 p.m. facebook.com/pg/ revolutionid

JAN. 22 —

Wynonna & The Big Noise Nampa Civic Center, 311 Third St. S., Nampa. 7:30 p.m. nampaciviccenter.com JAN. 29 —

Reverend Horton Heat The Olympic, 1009 Main St.,

Boise. 8 p.m. theolympicboise.com

FEB. 22 —

FEB. 9 —

Part Time & Gary Wilson Neurolux

Knitting Factory Concert House, 416 S. 9th St., Boise.

8 p.m. bo.knittingfactory.com

FEB. 28 — Lyle Lovett Morrison Center, 2201 W. Cesar Chavez Ln.,

American Authors and Magic Giant

Lounge, 111 N. 11th St., Boise. 7:30 p.m. neurolux.com

WINTER 2019

Boise. 8 p.m. morrisoncenter.com MAR. 2 —

Donavon Frankenreiter

The Olympic, 1009 Main St., Boise.

8 p.m. theolympicboise.com

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Taste

OF KITH AND Former State & Lemp duo open Boise’s newest restaurant

By Hayden Seder

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Chef Kris Komori (left) and Remi McManus (right) in the new space that will become Kin.

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Photo: Todd Meier

T

he word “kin” is defined as one’s family and friends, an apt name for the new restaurant of restaurateur Remi McManus and Chef Kris Komori, who developed a family-like following at their former restaurant, State & Lemp. After closing down State & Lemp, the duo opened bars Ampersand and Art Haus for seven months before beginning their journey into new bar and restaurant Kin, scheduled to open before the end of the year.

A culinary institution from 2013 to 2018, State & Lemp had a devoted following—one that will hopefully follow McManus and Komori into their new Lairdendeavor, Lucas which strives to be very similar to their previous restaurant, though with the desired space needed. public“We interest environmental and reached our limit at law State & Lemp,” McManus said. had been moved to Boise to run the “We Idaho office there fiveand years and Fund [had] of done of the Land Water the the same thing a long time. It just felt like Rockies. After 10 years, he founded it was time to grow in the community.”

Advocates and began building a team McManus and Chef Komori met to take threats to the West head-on. when Komori joined State & Lemp “I chose to use mybefore time and energy just several weeks it opened.

McManus was co-owner of the small to try to protect the land, try to protect restaurant, which focused on excluthe rivers,” Lucas told me. “That’s sive tasting menus served at what felt what I wanted to do … It’s the mission like a single communal table. that we allafter herefeeling have committed to.”

But like they had Duringtheir its first decade, thethe organireached peak and with lease renewal coming McManus zation has grownup, toKomori includeand four staff began scouting newattorneys spots to realize attorneys and twofor senior their culinary dreams. While still lookin addition to Lucas. Sarah Stellberg ing for a home for Kin, the two signed serves as one of the staff a long-term lease in theattorneys, former Anand she’s currently working with gell’s Bar & Grill space, a 6,600-squareLucas challengespot the Bureau of Land footto downtown with a homey feel, to house two(BLM) bars that would allow Management’s decision-making them for to maintain a liquor process oil and gas leaseslicense. near “Falling in love with the space we the Bears Ears National Monument were operating the bars out of led to in finding Utah. The administration theObama location for Kin and decidpaused the lease sales to conduct more ing it would be our permanent home,” McManus said. research on the cultural and archaeoHaus closed inarea.

September logicalArt resources of the Whenand Ampersand is still operating on the 14th the Trump administration came into floor. Meanwhile, the restaurant space power, leasingundergoing became active again, is currently a major reand Advocates has been bringing suitsand model that includes replacing pipes against BLM for granting leases everythe single piece of plumbing, all new electrical, walls, floors, and ceilings. without proper public involvement. complete, the paused space will So far,Once the lawsuits have thebe divided into a restaurant with a tasting leasing. room to seat 24 to 30 diners and a 64“Webar care deeply about preserving seat with a small food menu. The public lands and wildlife,” Stellberg tasting room will have a private bar as well.

The tasting room and portion of the said.

“Bringing lawsuits winning restaurant will be similar to State &

Lemp, featuring a communal table as “IT’S OUR well as food inspired by a theme.

“The tasting DUTY TOmenu will be the heart of the restaurant,” Komori said. “On SHEPHERD the other side, the sort of ‘workhorse’ will be the cocktail bar.”

THESE The menu LANDS will rotate every three to four weeks and will feature wine INTO THE pairings as well as a theme usually inspired by the local artists whose art FUTURE.” will hang on the walls. The art will

OF SUN VALLEY

The Wood River Valley’s premier dining magazine & menu guide

— Lalso A I R rotate D L U Cevery A S , few months.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, “We get a A D V O C A T E S Fchance O R T HtoE sit Wdown E S T with the

artists and learn their techniques and inspirations and base menus on them,” Komori said. “It helps a lot to lean on other creatives and draw inspiration from them. It allows us to see different ingredients through a different lens.” them is an idea effective way to stop This of art-themed menus was developed toward the end of State & terrible things on public lands.”

Lemp one menuthreats based on Somewith of the biggest to fire cycles in Idaho during August when the West, Stellberg said, include the the state was engulfed in flames. leasing of public domestic “You never lands knowfor where inspiration grazing, oil and gas production, and will come from,” McManus said.

“Our mining.

While of the lawsuits cuisine is notmany pigeon-holed into one style; we have influences from Japan, end in settlements that move progress Korea, Spain, Mexico, New York City.” forward in compromise, Advocates’ Food and drinks will be served to approach of presenting the science patrons at the same time, making the and legality behind case they communal diningeach in the restaurant fight has been a winning feel more like a dinner strategy. party. A little bit of “show” comes with the dinner in Most recently, in June 2019, the formwon of an open-concept Advocates a case on behalfkitchen of the as well as the presentation of each Idaho Conservation League (ICL) that dish and the story of how it was deordered theand Forest Service protect veloped what farms to and ranches fish from watertodiversions in the contributed it.

The National bar side of Kin will feature Sawtooth Recreation Area. a menu in the same veinJustin and philosophy ICL’s executive director, Hayes, of the tasting menu—using local said that when the group brought ingredients from farms, ranches, and ortheir complaint to the attention of chards. The cocktails will feature local, theseasonal Forest Service and pointed to homethe ingredients, including Endangered Species Act as the legal made syrups and shrubs. Komori said that while he and McManus are great document requiring their action, the at going to cocktail bars, they’re not Forest Service refused to act. as great behind the bar, which is why “When we get to the point in our they’ve hired bar guru John Shubar and advocacy where we feel likethe wecocktails. need a full team to help design to reach forthe litigation or under be in the With remodel way, it’s only a matter until Kin court system trying months to find answers is ready to open its doors.

It’s been to the questions we’re seeking,” a long road toturn this venue thatlike will Hayes said, “we to groups hopefully encompass all of the goals Advocates for the West because they McManus and Komori have for it: aremore litigators. they do.” space,That’s more what creativity, and more In thefor nonprofit keeping room all of theworld, friends and family—patrons staffis included—that sharp litigatorsand on staff expensive make Kin. WINTER FALL 2019 2019 TERRITORY–MAG.COM TERRITORY–MAG.COM

SUMMER 2019

Visit sunvalleymag.com/food-drink for the latest in dining and restaurants in the Wood River Valley.

Taste

Gourmet Off the Grid Blue Moon Yurt reopens at Jug Mountain Ranch

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By Cheryl Haas

he evening starts as you strap on your snowshoes or alpine skis, sling your backpack of that special wine over your shoulder and glide down a mile-long trail lit by the soft glow of tiki torches in the winter night. Ahead is the Blue Moon Yurt, an oasis of warmth and candlelight nestled in the trees of McCall’s Jug Mountain Ranch where a five-course gourmet meal awaits you.

Chef and owner Lisa Whisnant creates culinary magic completely off the grid. The yurt is heated by a woodstove and illuminated with candles. How does she manage without the benefit of electricity, an oven or even a snowmobile to transport the ingredients?

Food Prep Off the Grid Very easily, as it turns out. “I have gas and charcoal grills, and I can bake with a Dutch oven,” she said. “It’s reTERRITORY–MAG.COM

WINTER 2019

ally fun to cook in the yurt!”

In the mornings, Whisnant and her crew begin packing food they’ll need for the evening meal. In the Jug Mountain parking lot, the food and coolers are transferred to sleds, which they’ll pull through the trees to the yurt.

She likes to begin food prep in early afternoon, but first they must fire the woodstove to generate some heat.

“The cold is the biggest challenge,” smiled Whisnant. “Sometimes it’s below zero when we come in and the whole yurt is frozen! We’re wearing down jackets and trying to chop vegetables when our fingers are cold because it takes a while for the yurt to warm up. But really, I don’t feel like there’s anything we can’t do. We just have to be creative and adapt.”

After 22 winters at Ponderosa State Park, Blue Moon will re-open in December at a permanent site at Jug Mountain Ranch. In addition to the tiki torches, Whisnant has collected

old bird cages filled with solar lights to hang in the pines along the way. The yurt itself now sits on decking and is perched on a slope like a tree house.

“It’s not that far from the valley floor, but the quiet is surreal,” Whisnant said. “It’s a very serene feeling.”

Guests bring their own beverages and a non-alcoholic pot of mulled ginger and lemon sits atop the woodstove.

There are several appetizers served at the center of the yurt (which encourages guests to mingle), a sit-down appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert.

Dreaming of Food Profiles Whisnant is a self-taught chef who creates her menus with the help of a little inspired dreaming. “I started seeing colors on a plate in my dreams,” she said, “and I’d wonder what type of food will match that color. That’s when I really start thinking and come up with a menu. I’ve come to rely on this process and find flavors in color.”

Photos: Courtsy Blue Moon Yurt

She once dreamed of pomegranates as polka dots in a white sauce, which then translated into a garlic basil cream sauce with pomegranates, and served over Cornish game hens. The hens had been marinated for 24 hours in olive oil, lemon juice and a pollo asada spice, packed under the skin with a smoky pesto made from pasilla chile peppers and roasted in Dutch ovens.

Her Thai Cornish game hens are a variation on a theme: stuffed with lemon grass, then brined and grilled, while basted with garlic oil and honey. The hens are halved, laid on a bed of smashed fried sweet potatoes with Meyer lemon slaw and served with two curries.

“It’s fun to watch people eat it and hear them moan in pleasure,” Whisnant smiled. “I love making sauces! If you have a dynamite sauce and put tons of love into what you’re doing, how can people resist that? It’s infectious!”

Are you hungry yet?

A Recipe for Friendship A river guide during the summer season, Whisnant said she originally started Blue Moon Yurt to generate income during the winter. She soon discovered that both activities generate similar experiences for the guests.

“What’s fun about guiding is that you get people from all walks of life who are strangers but by the end of the trip are like family,” she said. “The yurt is like that because it encourages people to open up. Food is the catalyst for people to connect. People exchange emails over dinner, and through the years, we’ve seen those connections blossom into friendships.”

McCall resident Gary Thompson met his wife at a yurt dinner. “We were actually set up on a blind date, and I remember sitting next to each other on the bench, feeling nervous like it was a high school prom. But the food was the best you’ll find in McCall, and it was another great yurt night!” he recalled. “We came back for our rehearsal dinner!”

Boise realtor Heidi Creighton said going to the yurt the day after Christmas has become a tradition for her family. “I’m a yurtie!” she smiled. “It’s a unique experience, and what’s better than spending time with good friends, having fun and eating? The food is fabulous, Lisa is fabulous. There’s nothing else like it!”

WINTER 2019

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208.333.9800 | 9TH & RIVER CottonwoodGrille.com WINTER 2019

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Dining

Grit American Cuisine

A Brief Guide to the Valley’s Best Eateries

american/regional NW Boise Fry Company Named the Best Fries in America by the Food Network, Yahoo!, Travel & Leisure and MSN, this local hot spot is a must visit! They strive to keep all ingredients (and the process) green, natural and sustainable, and each signature item has been meticulously researched and made by hand.

204 N. Capitol Blvd., Boise, (208) 949-7523.

Capitol Cellars Awarded the Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence" in 2016, Capitol Cellars serves Boise’s best business breakfast and lunch, as well as featuring an elegant dinner menu that changes seasonally.

110 S. 5th St., Boise, (208) 344-9463.

Chef Paul Faucher and Porterhouse Market’s Dave Faulk join forces to create fresh, seasonal dishes that feature ingredients from Idaho farmers and producers. The gas-fired pizza oven turns out hand-tossed pizzas and specialties like house-smoked bacon, ham, and pastrami make regular appearances on the rotating menus of handcrafted American cuisine.

360 S. Eagle Rd., Eagle, (208) 576-6666.

Juniper Locally imagined and seasonally inspired cuisine served in a funky modern-rustic space anchored by a turn-of-the-century brick wall.

A full offering of classically crafted cocktails compliments an eclectic wine list.

211 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 342-1142.

Red Feather Lounge Red Feather has been celebrating the modern American lounge since its opening in 2002. Enjoy seasonal American cuisine, fresh interpretations of the classic cocktail, and an atmosphere inspired by a vibe of eternal swank.

246 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 345-1813.

Reel Foods Fish Market & Oyster Bar Providing the Boise area with a fine-dining restaurant, quality seafood and other gourmet treasures—soups, sauces, spices, condiments and sides. Reel Foods serves soups and oysters to eat in on the covered patio or for take-away from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

611 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, (208) 342-2727.

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The Tavern at Bown Crossing Cottonwood Grille Seasonal Northwest fare, farm-fresh wild game, fine wines and classic cocktails served in a rustic setting along The Greenbelt.

913 W. River St., Boise, (208) 333-9800.

Fork With ingredients sourced from local Boise and Northwest farmers, ranchers, bakers, distillers, brewers and cheese makers, Fork’s seasonal menu is fresh and innovative— perfect comfort food for lunch or dinner.

Crafted cocktails and a full wine list complement the menu.

199 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 287-1700.

Goodwood Barbecue Company Focused on fresh food made from scratch daily and centered on the unique style of closed-pit cooking, Goodwood Barbecue Company gets rave reviews and is fun for the whole family!

7849 W. Spectrum St., Boise, (208) 658-7173.

1140 N. Eagle Road, Meridian, (208) 884-1021.

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A unique dining experience offering sushi, USDA prime grade steaks, daily seafood specials, burgers, sandwiches and salads. Full bar with an extensive wine list, great classic cocktails, sake, and draught beers. Happy Hour is Monday – Saturday. Brunch is served on Sundays from an a la carte menu, from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

3111 S. Bown Way, Boise, (208) 345-2277.

Trillium Restaurant Located at The Grove Hotel in downtown Boise, Trillium Restaurant specializes in upscale comfort food, featuring regional Idaho and Northwest influences, including locally sourced produce, meats, fresh fish and more. Plus, enjoy three free hours of valet parking when you dine. Reservations recommended.

245 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, (208) 333-8002.

asian/sushi Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill Centered around fictional founders Ling, a firecracker of a gal from Shanghai, and Louie, an All-American guy from Toledo, Ohio, who meet, fall in love and share their passion for food by opening an Asian restaurant that’s “Not for Boring People.” The result is an energetic atmosphere, critically acclaimed cuisine and an innovative drink menu. It’s “modern Asian meets American comfort”!

3210 E. Louise Dr., Meridian, (208) 888-5000.

Mai Thai Unique and authentic dishes from the four regional cuisines of Thailand are complemented by an exceptional wine list and handcrafted cocktails. It is like stepping into a slice of Thailand, right here in Boise.

1759 W. Idaho St., Boise, (208) 344-8424.

Mount Everest Momo Café A unique dining experience that brings diners a taste of the rich culinary heritage of the Himalayas. A delicious variety of recipes, painstakingly gathered from the royal kitchens of Nepal to the swept shores of South India, features Himalayan, Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food that is carefully prepared from scratch.

2144 S. Broadway Ave., Boise, (208) 342-1268.

Pho Nouveau Bistro Contemporary Vietnamese comfort food featuring spring rolls, green papaya salad, rice plates, summer noodle bowls (bun) and the always-popular pho.

780 W. Idaho St., Boise, (208) 367-1111.

bars, pubs & distillery 10 Barrel Brewing Company This 20 barrel brewhouse and our hop-king headbrewer Shawn Kelso make this brewpub "the hoppiest place in Idaho" and a hub for all your pre-game warmups and post-adventure hunger, and quaffing needs.

830 W. Bannock St., Boise, (208) 344-5870

Amsterdam Lounge Amsterdam is a mixology lounge specializing in craft cocktails and small plates, centrally located in historic downtown Boise, where great conversation is the priority.

Women & Whiskey every Wednesday night—ladies receive half-price whiskey all night, and free tastings are from 8–11 p.m.

Friday happy hour, with half-priced food and drinks, 4-7 p.m.

609 W. Main St., Boise, (208) 345-9515.

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Bardenay The perfect place to meet friends or colleagues for drinks and appetizers. Stop in for lunch or dinner and enjoy Bardenay’s casual Northwestern-style cuisine with cocktails handcrafted with freshly squeezed juices and their signature distilled spirits—currently vodka, rum and gin, with whiskey in the barrel.

610 W. Grove St., Boise, (208) 426-0538.

155 E. Riverside Dr., Eagle, (208) 938-5093.

Barrelhouse Pub and Grill A unique and casual dining experience, Barrelhouse offers a relaxed environment with delicious pub fare. Serving more than 22 rotating taps of handcrafted beers and hard ciders, with a special emphasis given to Treasure Valley breweries.

5181 N. Glenwood St., Garden City, (208) 376-4200.

Bittercreek Alehouse The Bittercreek Alehouse serves exceptional beers, ciders and ales on tap, alongside tasty bites. Don't miss the Low Power Happy Hour— every weekday from 3-5:30 p.m., when the management unplugs and turns down the lights to reduce their energy footprint, serving and drinking by candlelight in honor of the planet. Romantic and earth-friendly.

246 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 345-1813.

Bodovino A total wine experience, with over 144 wines by the glass and over 600 wines by the bottle.

Now with two locations—downtown Boise and a new location in The Village at Meridian.

404 S. 8th St., Boise, (208) 336-VINO (8466).

363 E. Monarch Sky Lane, Meridian, (208) 887-5369.

Donut Daze Enjoy a new and unique experience in Boise: Donut Daze. Serving donuts and fried chicken in a 1960s décor and atmosphere.

Monday through Wednesday 7 a.m. – midnight; Thursday through Sunday 7 a.m. – 3 a.m.

160 N. 8th St. , Boise, (208) 576-1886.

Reef A tropical escape in the heart of downtown, featuring the city’s best rooftop patio, live music, and exotic food and drink.

105 S. 6th St., Boise, (208) 287-9200.

The Hyde House There’s something for everybody on this eclectic menu, where delicious dishes are handcrafted to complement local brews and wines and taps rotate daily!

1607 N. 13th St., Boise, (208) 387-HYDE (4933).

basque

Flying M Coffeehouse

Traditional Basque dishes, pub fare, and an extensive beer selection served in a laid-back space that has become a local institution.

202 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, (208) 344-2175.

Flying M roasts its own beans, using a smallbatch drum roaster, so coffee is always fresh and delicious. A full complement of madefrom-scratch baked items are handcrafted each morning by master bakers and served with a smile in this bustling downtown coffeehouse that has become a local favorite.

500 W. Idaho St., Boise, (208) 345-4320.

The Basque Market

Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro

Bar Gernika

Tapas, paella and specialties such as bocadillos, plus cooking classes, wine tastings and a full Basque food market.

608 W. Grove St., Boise, (208) 433-1208.

Epi's—A Basque Restaurant Chris and Gina opened Epi’s in memory of their grandmother, Epi Inchausti. This quaint dinnerhouse features food reminiscent of the Basque country, giving you a delightful experience for your evening.

1115 N. Main St., Meridian, (208) 884-0142.

cafés, delis & coffee Bacon

Goldy’s opened in 1999 in the heart of downtown Boise. Quality made-to-order breakfast has made Goldy’s one of the best restaurants in the Treasure Valley—Voted Best Local Breakfast for 18 years!

108 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, (208) 345-4100.

Janjou Patisserie Founded by husband-and-wife-team Moshit Mizrachi-Gabbitas and Chuck Gabbitas, Janjou was opened in 2008 as a wholesale bakery selling mostly cookies to local shops.

A retail bakery and full cafe was opened in 2013—with the name as homage to Moshit's mother, whose nickname was Janjou.

1754 W. State St., Boise, (208) 297-5853.

What could be better than a restaurant named Bacon? … One that serves five kinds of bacon. BACON, a Southern breakfast and lunch bistro conceived by celebrity chef and restaurateur John Berryhill, features coffee, a full bar and the awesome bacon bloody Mary!

121 N. 9th St., Boise, (208) 387-3553.

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Big City Coffee & Café Serving breakfast and lunch all day, along with espresso, coffees and in-house baked goods. Try the pumpkin chai muffin, cherry pie scone, or homemade biscuits and gravy with fresh buttermilk biscuits.

1416 Grove St., Boise, (208) 345-3145.

District Coffeehouse A nonprofit created to support an orphanage network called Send Hope, District Coffeehouse focuses on freshly roasted, carefully crafted coffee with a mission. Each batch is roasted in micro-batches twice a week using 100 percent Arabica beans.

219 N. 10th St., Boise, (208) 343-1089.

Express Café If it's breakfast food you want, Express Café has it. It's always busy, but worth the wait, and feels like going home for breakfast with family—with large portions, friendly cooks and wait staff. You won't be disappointed with the great-tasting, fresh, plentiful and reasonably priced menu items, and the place offers a small-town-diner feel that is cozy and welcoming.

400 E. Fairview Ave., Meridian, (208) 888-3745.

Wild Root Café and Market Husband-and-wife-team, chef Michael Trebbi and his wife, Anne-Marie, serve up breakfast and lunch fare with artistic flare and a local, seasonal, farm-to-table focus. The presentation is elegant and the food is fresh, delicious and artfully prepared by hand.

276 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 856-8956.

italian & mediterranean Alavita Fresh seasonal ingredients inform the locally inspired Italian cuisine at this traditional Italian osteria (an Italian joint). Creative craft cocktails and an extensive wine list complement dishes inspired by regional ingredients, making Alavita a great place for celebrating life with good friends, business associates or family.

807 W. Idaho St., Boise, (208) 780-1100.

Luciano’s Italian Restaurant Authentic Italian food in a casual, familyfriendly atmosphere that features classic Tuscan-inspired cuisine, with a few surprises— WINTER 2019

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all made from scratch with only the freshest ingredients. Boise’s favorite hole-in-the-wall local Italian is open for lunch and dinner daily.

11 N. Orchard St., Boise. (208) 577-6415.

Le Coq d’Or An unforgettable and artistic dining experience inspired by authentic European countryside cuisine and farm-to-table French cuisine and modern European dishes. Open for dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday.

176 S. Rosebud Ln., Eagle, (208) 947-2840.

Petite 4 Bringing French bistro-inspired dishes to the Boise Bench, Petite 4 is offering dinner service Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

4 N. Latah St., Boise, (208) 345-1055.

Pie Hole Late night dining in a funky space, serving thin crust New York-style pizza. Pie Hole has become a local institution. Open all day and late night.

205 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 344-7783.

1016 Broadway Ave., Boise, (208) 424-2225.

Calle 75

Chandlers Steakhouse

Calle 75 Street Tacos is the newest member of elite restaurants in the nation to create authentic corn tortillas from scratch, using the ancient nixtamalization process. Come enjoy pure authentic Mexican cuisine.

110 N. 11th St., Boise, (208) 336-2511.

3635 E. Longwing Ln., Meridian, (208) 846-9001.

Prime cuts of beef and fresh caught fish, combined with local ingredients and an extensive wine list, are served in a swanky, hip setting. The Lounge at Chandlers features live jazz nightly. 981 W. Grove St., Boise, (208) 383-4300

Diablo and Sons Enjoy some of the city’s best tacos that are rotated with the seasons. Diablo and Sons source from all local farms.

246 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 429-6340

The Funky Taco We are The Funky Taco. We create food within a “farm to funky fare” framework.

Our emphasis is on Asian, Indian, Mexican, and Americana ethnicities / styles of food.

801 W. Bannock St., Boise, (208) 991-4106.

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The Wylder Enjoy handcrafted, slow-batch pizza with soul. Experience full-service dining, craft cocktails, and suppers. With five styles of red pizza and five types of white, pies are not the only reason this restaurant is always buzzing. Now open daily for lunch.

501 West Broad St., Boise, (208) 209-3837.

mexican Andrade’s Featuring more than 100 menu items from the heart of Mexico and offering great food, great service and great value, Andrade's is known as a local's favorite. Owner Javier Andrade offers a glimpse into the cuisine of a pueblo rich in history, culture, and traditions—with pride in every dish.

4903 Overland Rd., Boise, (208) 344-1234

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A little slice of Seattle mixed with a dash of San Francisco, add a pinch of Alaska and toss it together with the flavors of Key West and you’ll enjoy an incredible seafood experience—right here in Boise.

507 N. Milwaukee St., Boise, (208) 322-9224 401 S. 8th St., Boise, (208) 343-0220

Lucky Fins Seafood Grill Daily chalkboard specials are innovative and creative, complemented by a menu of diverse flavors influenced by Asian, Mexican and Northwest cuisines. 801 W. Main St., Boise, (208) 888-3467 1441 N. Eagle Rd., Meridian, (208) 888-3467

Owyhee Tavern

Richard’s Restaurant & Bar Seasonal menus take advantage of locally sourced produce, fresh fish, meat and game.

Located in the beautiful Inn at 500 Capitol, Chef Richard Langston and his staff share a culinary philosophy that celebrates the integrity of ingredients and prepares simply to showcase the natural flavors of the products.

The end result is delicious award-winning cuisine that receives rave reviews.

1808 W. Fort St., Boise, (208) 472-1463.

Fresh Off the Hook

Madre Madre Boutique Taqueria is committed to establishing a new category of neighborhood restaurant that will maintain the classic attributes of comfort and affordability and continuously strive to deliver superior food and service. 1034 S. La Pointe St., Boise, (208)-432-1100.

Matador Popular Mexican cuisine in an "Old World" atmosphere of dark walnut, intricate ironwork and deep, roomy booths. Matador features the city’s widest selection of tequila and a spacious outdoor patio during the summer months.

215 N. 8th St., Boise, (208) 342-9988.

steak & seafood Barbacoa Upscale South American steak house featuring tableside guacamole, fresh seafood, chicken mole and certified Angus beef steak served on Argentina ironwood. 276 Bobwhite Ct., Boise, (208) 338-5000.

Bonefish Grill Full of fresh and innovative dishes, the Bonefish Grill crafts a complete dining experience—from customized pairings and craft cocktails, daily specials and a menu that specializes in seasonal fresh fish. 855 W. Broad St., Boise, (208) 433-1234.

Located in the historic Owyhee building, this steakhouse offers American Wagyu, USDA prime grade steaks, organic salmon, fresh ahi, and oysters on the half shell. Specialties also include kung pao calamari, Kobe fondue and ahi poke salad—and don’t forget to ask for a side of cheddar tots or Brussels sprouts. $5 Happy Hour, Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.

1109 Main St., Boise, (208) 639-0440

Stagecoach Inn Stagecoach Inn opened in 1959. A Treasure Valley favorite dinner restaurant and bar famous for its hand-breaded bar prawns, prime rib and banana cream pie. Folks near and far make the historic Stagecoach their favorite destination restaurant.

3132 Chinden Blvd., Garden City, (208) 342-4161

Ruth’s Chris Steak House Featuring Ruth’s special 500˚ sizzling plates and an award-winning wine list perfect for a romantic dinner, business meeting or private party. Happy Hour, seven days a week, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

800 W. Main St., Boise, (208) 426-8000

The BrickYard Touted as a steak house, The BrickYard has other notable features that are bound to pique your epicurean interest, such as our tableside salad service and our wide range of entrée selections from Idaho Wagyu Kobe beef to crab and scallop topped halibut. Open for lunch and dinner. Happy Hour, 3-6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10-11 p.m., along with Dueling Piano Show (10 p.m. – close).

601 Main St., Boise, (208) 287-2121

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Relationship Oriented Rather than

Transaction Oriented I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your trust

Suzi Boyle Branch Manager | NMLS #37810 Phone: 208-859-3303 SBoyle@castlecookemortgage.com • 10 Times awarded Top 200 Mortgage Originators in the United States • 33 year Industry Veteran • Boise State University - Accountancy • Licensed Public Accountant Please drop by my new Northend Location at 512 N. 13th Street Suzi Boyle

Branch Manager | NMLS #37810 SBoyle@castlecookemortgage.com SBoyle.castlecookemortgage.com P: 208-859-3303 512 N. 13th Street Boise, ID 83702

Sometimes you have to b moves to make a kid fe reak out your best el like a rock star.