Life + Culture

NEWSWORTHY IN IDAHO

A Roundup of Exciting News from Local Organizations Article by Denise Llorente | Photography by Provided HFOT Finishes Build for Army Vet Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) recently began constructing a specially adapted home for Army SPC Chad Pfeifer. The community kickoff event, hosted at Deer Flat Church in Caldwell, ID, signaled the start of the build process. SPC Pfeifer, injured while serving in Iraq, faced challenges in his daily life due to his existing home's layout. The specially adapted...

Home + Design

Finer Details

Unveiling Design Insights: Experts Share Tips for Elevating Living Spaces Article by Staff Writer | Photography by Provided Interior designers possess a unique ability to scrutinize every room they enter, an inherent aspect of their profession. This keen eye allows them to notice design nuances that often escape the untrained observer. In the absence of these design experts, how can we identify potential flaws in our living spaces? To shed light on common design challenges, we've interviewed...

Wellness

Meridian + Valley Events

MARCH 2024 Article and Photography by 2-15 — Idaho's 40-Year Watercolor Exhibit Capitol Rotunda: Idaho Watercolor Society hosts its 40th Annual Capitol Rotunda Art Show.  IdahoWatercolorSociety.org 2-3 — Shen Yun Morrison Center: brand-new 2024 production, modern tales of courage spring to life through classical Chinese dance. MorrisonCenter.com 2 — 38th Annual Idaho City Chili Cook Off Idaho City: Local business owners engaged in a spirited competition, offering a feast on the...

Food + Beverage

Wood & Root Bar

Getting Creative with Wood, Plants, and Alcohol Article by Chelsea Chambers | Photography by Wood and Root Bar Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it is true that with change springs new things. This is exactly what happened with Wood & Root Bar in Meridian (located at 132 East Idaho Avenue). “The inspiration for Wood & Root Bar came from two friends who wanted to save their businesses!” shared co-owner Shannon Ingle. “Our biggest fear was having to get new jobs away from each other! The...

Home + Design

Building with New Wisdom

Sustainable Design and Architecture in Idaho Article by Chelsea Chambers | Photography by Provided If you’ve been in Idaho for longer than even an hour, it becomes immediately apparent that we are one of the most breathtaking, showstoppingly gorgeous states in the U.S. Or maybe I’m biased but I could talk at great lengths about our bountiful rivers, expansive meadows, deep forests, and the beautiful way we incorporate living with nature into our daily lives, even in the bustling metropolitan...

Life + Culture

Meridian Symphony Orchestra

Prepared to be Moved! Article by Jana Kemp | Photography by Provided The Meridian Symphony Orchestra will move you! Now in its thirty-third season (2023-2024), this 70-member volunteer musical ensemble dedicates itself to enriching the community’s cultural life by providing quality, family-friendly entertainment in an educationally focused environment. Begun in the 1990s, when the Meridian School District (now West Ada School District) did not have a student strings program, this community...

Life + Culture

Oh, Sophia!

And What's an Alpaca, Anyway? Article and Photography by Louis Katz We’re having a mild one this year in Boise. Sure, it’s cold enough to curl up by the couch and watch Grace Kelly. But is it cold enough to put on your alpaca socks? An alpaca’s not a llama, no matter what people say. For one thing, they’re smaller. And cuter. And they won’t spit on you, or bite, or make you itchy if you throw on an alpaca sweater. In fact, if you stick your nose up in an alpaca’s face, and breathe her sweet...

Entertainment

Spring Forward

Idaho Regional Ballet Opens Spring Season with "A Dance Collective" Article by Jordan Gray | Photography by Nichol Starr A pale pink ballet slipper touches the floor, and the performance begins. With movements shifting from simple to complex and back, the dancers put a story in place with each pas de bourrée, plié, and pirouette. This is the scene of the Idaho Regional Ballet’s (IRB) “A Dance Collective.” The dancers take the stage each year as part of their spring performance. For 2024...

Style + Beauty

Traditions in Business and Personal Life

The Multi-Faceted Simmons Family Shares Passion for Jewelry and Family Article by Jordan Gray | Photography by Provided The Simmons family has been polishing and refining their legacy in the Treasure Valley for more than three decades. But as with gemstones, there’s more than one facet to the people behind Simmons Fine Jewelry. On Fridays, before their weekly staff meeting, you’ll find owner and founder Jay Simmons in the showroom’s kitchen, cooking up waffles, burritos, or other breakfast...

Arts + Culture

McCall Winter Carnival

Celebrating community and creativity Article by Sabina Dana Plasse | Photography by Melissa Shelby, Jon Conti, Samantha Sias, Gary Ertter The McCall Winter Carnival, February 23-25, 2024, has remained one of Idaho’s longest-running winter events, dating back to 1924. The idea was to beat the winter doldrums with dog and snowshoe races, ski jumping, horse skijoring, and more. In those days, prizes were oranges. It was a time for locals to leave the house and see each other. Although the idea...