boiSee.com

September 10th, 2004

Great pasta in McCall? Yes! The lasagna at Lardo�s is perfect.

Lardo�s has always been an Idaho favorite. Kids love the story of the little town across the river from McCall. According to the legend, the small mining hamlet got its name from a load of supplies that fell from a wagon while struggling up the hill, now obscured by the bridge that passes between the city park and the newly renamed Whitetail Inn. The wagon was carrying a cargo of flour and fat. Half way up the hill the load slipped off the back of the wagon. When the driver saw the resulting mixture he was said to have yelled, �Oh look at the lard and dough - - Lardo, Lardo!� Soon his cry became the town’s name “Lardo.” Lardo�s Bar and Grill stands as tribute to the power of the legend.
Lardo�s is steps above the standard restaurant bar combination. Lardo�s was the first place we encountered hand cut fries. �Lardo’s fries� are perfect after skiing either on lake Payette or up the road at Brundage. The rest of the menu includes great burgers, the aforementioned pasta, fresh salads, and the like. Enjoy Lardo�s the next time you are in McCall.

September 10th, 2004

Crowning Capitol Boulivard the Boise Depot is the prefect gateway into or out of Boise

Built by the Union Pacific at the end of Capital Boulevard, the Depot has sat like a castle above Boise City since 1925. With it�s grand garden and fountains, the stunning Santa Fe architecture of the depot has long been a favorite spot for weddings and graduation pictures. Like the string of parks we are blessed with, the old train station is a gem.

Many a youngster has hidden in the cave off to the west of the main fountain. The damp, dark enclosure firing the imagination with thoughts of dinosaurs or Mark Twain. This time of year the flowers are in bloom and make a simple stroll a delight of color and fragrance.

Inside the Grand Hall, it seems a bit too peaceful. With the end of Amtrak service in the 80’s the occasional freight train rolls on by. Long gone are the bustling crowds of travelers. Too bad modern tourists can�t arrive in such style, then step out the front doors and see the magnificent vista of the city.��With towering ceilings and hard wood floors the hall�s beauty endures. The Boise Depot has an unmistakable charm and history worth seeing.

The city rents the facility for events and it make a romantic spot for a wedding. If you are at the open house, or an event, hopefully the elevator to the bell tower will be working. The view from the tower of the Boise front shining over downtown is an awe inspiring palette of colors and shapes. Try to catch a sunset!

September 9th, 2004

Satchel�s-705 W. Bannock, 344-3752
At first I was a bit put off by Satchel�s. No, it’s not just the name that reminds you of a cartoon. It is their overbearing �healthful� attitude. Not that being healthy is a bad thing. I was lucky enough to grow up in a house where three balanced (mom called them square) meals were essential. More often than not, if you see �light�, or �diet�, or the �low� of the week be it carb,calorie, fat, or salt, it will taste like plastic. So when you see that every item, every single item on the Satchel menu board is accompanied by a cryptic symbol (a scale, or a heart or something) trouble is almost guaranteed right? Well not exactly. Satchel�s is a rare healthy restaurant.

The flavor here does not come from frying. Even the fries are baked. Without fats or excess sugars you gotta� let the spices rule! The blackened chicken is very good. A lunch of the beef au jus was powered by what must have been close to fresh horse radish, if the kick was any indication. On the lighter side, the couple of salads I have enjoyed are tasty bits of fresh greens and interesting
dressings.

The decor is sparse but this month a series of beautiful sunset photographs line the back wall and local musicians are often heard on the patio. Also cool about Satchel�s is movie night. Check their schedule for times. Recent showings have included The Zombie and Ocean�s Eleven. Everything from Airplane to the 1938 classic Robin Hood are scheduled for September. Satchel�s success is a sign that Boise�s downtown is getting hipper and more cosmopolitan, it’s about time!

September 3rd, 2004

What happened? Boise was a music town. From Paul Revere to MadRo, or world class Gene Harris at Shotz, schooling the likes of future stars Curtis Stiegers and Paul Tilitson, Boise had a vibrant music culture. Music Week was born in the Boise High Auditorium. Now? Well the live music scene is disappearing-fast.

Last Wednesday the weather was perfect and one of Boise�s most popular bands $oul Purpo$e was at the Alive After Five and no one was there. Even last year there would have been 500 people, not a couple of hundred. Rebecca Scott did have a nice crowd at the Piper, but it wasn�t S.R.O. like the past. Not only was there not a line to get in to Hannah’s, upstairs was dead. No music downstairs at Graineys, quiet at Bouquet, Karaoke at Lucky�s and the Ranch Club. See what I mean?

The weekends are not much better. When I asked former Blues Bouquet owner Jo Fryberger why she and her partners sold the Blues, she sighed and told me, �It used to be you could bring in good music, charge a fair price for a drink and people would come, dance and buy a couple of cocktails. Now, that is just not the case.�

John (not so fat) Nemeth and I sat down for a minute as he was preparing to head off to San Francisco. That�s right no more John for Boise music lovers. �Basically, a professional full time musician can�t make a living in this town.� he said. With no radio support and limited venues it just doesn�t work for John. �Get outta� town, is my recommendation!� says John.

It�s not just the MTV generation�s fixation for DJ�s. It�s the neo-prohibition enforcement of liquor laws, especially DUI�s, combined with a public transportation system that quits before happy hour is over. It is hard to get around safely.

Have we ever really recovered from 911? Where are the tourists that used to come out and play?

Some would say Bravo had a hand in the demise. Did they turn off the public with high prices and poor venues? Maybe, but the bottom line is music lovers must be changing, at least in Boise.

Hope things turn around soon. It seems very odd that the masses will pay $100 to see old timers lip sync, but wouldn�t give two dollars to watch Lori B! or The Hoochie Coochie Men play their hearts out to rock the house. Music is better performed live!