It is the prefect time of year to take a quick hike up into the foothils just outside of Boise.

The still lush foothills are just a few steps away. The wonderfully conceived “Rivers to Ridges” project has many trails to lure you away from the town’s hubbub and whisk you up the green hills. A long time favorite is the Quarry Trail. It starts from behind the Bishop’s House and runs up to the historic sandstone Quarry where the building blocks of Boise were mined. With vistas of the entire valley beckoning, it is a quick, easy and rewarding trip. Maybe easy is not the word here. The hike is reminiscent of San Francisco without the cable cars. It can also be rocky in spots and sandy too.��It is a typical Boise front trail, which means wear good shoes, etc. If you are going up in the evening you might even want to bring a jacket or at least layer your clothes. With the almost standard breeze the temp can change rapidly, especially coming down facing the wind.

Plan your return for dusk. The Boise skyline is often back lit by fiery sunsets this time of year. With luck, it is possible to watch a thunderstorm roll in.��You will have plenty of time to find shelter before it moves across the valley.

If you hated disco the first time you�ll LOVE $oul Pupro$e. Somehow the boys and girls from SP put life into the tired dance songs of the 70�s.

$oul Purpo$e is an extremely eye catching band. Start with the twin beauties, Mary and Carrie up front, belting out everything from Abba to The Hustle; now add disco circus master, Christian, decked out in his signature ‘fro, then throw in a solid line-up of guitars, drums, keys and horns, you have Boise�s most visual appealing and talented
ensemble.

If you saw Saturday Night Fever at the drive-inn, look under your water bed for that white �silk� shirt and head out to the dance floor. If disco is new music for you, that is O.K., just steal your mommas platform shoes, flared pants, big glasses and disco boogie to $oul Purpo$se for a little retro perspective.

“The best tool yet devised for improving society is freedom.”
Idaho Senator Frank Church

Black words stand out against the sandstone - the thoughts of Chief Joseph, Buddha, a Basque poet, Dr. Suess — and especially the innocent diary entries of Anne Frank. The Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial provides a powerful testimony to the world around us.

Like many Boise natives, diversity meant little to me growing up. With the notable exception of speedster Cedric Minter in high school, my whole world was pretty much white, middle class and clueless. Maybe that�s why the stark messages of Anne Frank and others that adorn the walls hit so strongly. The world is full of persecution and tyranny, yet these words are a testimony to hope.

The Memorial is best viewed by entering via the old 8th Street bridge. Visions of cattle cars crammed with people may leap to mind as you cross the Boise River. However, the peaceful calm gurgle of the river provides peace. The placement of the Memorial in such a beautiful location makes it even more empowering.

Idaho has come together to create this perfect tribute to the human spirit. With a subtle curve of brick stone, water and light, the Memorial sends a powerful message. You will not regret time spent here.

Pleasant is the word that first comes to mind when we think of Asiagos. Unlike some of its fellow Italian restaurants, Asiago�s doesn�t seem pushy. The tables are spaced far enough apart that it isn�t cramped. One of the big franchises out by the mall reminds me of a high school cafeteria. Not this �restorante�.

There is not much in the way of fine dinning in the Ustick area. Asiago�s is about it. Don�t let the shopping center location turn you off.

This restaurant offers what has been described as �country Italian�. My lunch was a Garlic Meatball Sandwich. The bread was toasted a light brown and held three big meatballs covered with a marinara sauce that spoke of the power of the tomato in good Italian cooking. The garlic meatballs also had power. In a world where most salads are dumped out of a bar it was great to see hand cut vegetables.

My friend had the house merlot which was nice, smooth with a�light bouquet, perfect for this time of the year.� Her entree was a spicy linguini with tomatoes and lots of garlic, house salad with a good selection of greens topped with asiago cheese.� �Very tasty� she told us �and don’t forget the great bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.��

Our server was a bit chatty, but well informed and obviously a big fan of the food and her restaurant. I�ll take an advocate over lazy and slow every time. For Italian food made in the traditional northern Italy way at reasonable prices Asiagos is your place. If you�re downtown the Asiagos at 1002 Main is smaller but the attention to tradition is the same.

More info can be found at www.asiagos.com

Bet I am not the only one happy that we are not hearing Nancy Roche’ screaming about the River Festival.

So your mascot is a wild looking, water skiing crow and your a restaurant. Oh! and even with all the growth you are still a LONG way from town. If you have still become a Boise institution you must be doing something very well.

Ben’s Crow Inn is well past where Warm Spring Avenue has turned back into into highway 20 and rolled past Harris Ranch on the way to Lucky Peak. Ben’s has a long tradition of gourmet food in this most unlikely location.

The coffee mugs at Ben’s Crow Inn read “We Specialize in Seafood.” If you need a bucket of steamed clams the Crow Inn is your place. For some it is the deep fried finger steaks (insider tip: order them with a “half & half” and you will get a small salad as well as crisp hand cut fries) The day we were out one friend had fresh shrimp that were perfectly cooked and southern spiced. Ben’s menu is long and varied. However when a friend asked “do you have any Balsamic Vinegar?” the waitress grinned at said “we don’t serve anything that Ben can’t spell!”

Although the food is fancy the atmosphere is not. At heart the Crow is a bar. The juke box plays sad songs and beer signs provide most of the limited illumination. For a nicer more family friendly setting turn right at the door way and head to the “dinning room.” I believe it is no smoking, has checkerboard tables-even a hardy plant or two. With a wide open view of the Boise river the patio can be nice this time of year. Just beware of the crows, inside and out!