boiSee.com

February 24th, 2005

The bar business downtown is brutal.

Here is my humble opinion on the health of Boise’s coldest hotspots. This is based almost entirely on rumor, innuendo, observation and my own personal bent. That said, I am not wrong!

Dead
Poblano’s-never made it! Rumored to be a “Coyote Ugly” style bar soon.

Shotzs,Rodizio’s,Lipps, whatever! Peter, Peter, Peter. Mister Shotz, how can you have the balls to blame Jim Borton for your train wreck? Jim could have saved your fancy ass if you would have let him.

Critical
Boogie Woogies-Just across the street and up the stairs from ill fated Poblano’s. Lunches didn’t work. Are payroll checks really bouncing? This was such a hipster haven just a couple of months ago. What happened?

Wounded
The “Bucket,” formally the Blues Bouquet. All personal bias aside. How long can new ownership lose money? Think I’m wrong, look at the ever depleting liquor inventory. Can you really run a bar with a “keg a beer, and Jaeger.” Not one I’ll go to. Recent shifts back to more mainstream acts like Soul Purpose and upcoming shows like Coco Montoya may help, but “after hours” seems a desperate plan-likely to be a disaster. Yes, I am looking forward to new management and staff.

Blue about the gills
Am I the only one or is the ultra-popular Hanger deadly quiet on all but
Friday and Saturday?

February 19th, 2005

Now we are famous for more then potatoes. It started on channel 7, now this story is on the AP and Reuters wire services. The BBC, ABC, and many newspapers around the world ran it. Guess it is better then when the Aryan nation stuff. . .
UPDATE. . . Jay Leno used this story as a joke Monday night!

BOISE, Idaho Feb 16, 2005 ? A city ordinance bans complete nudity at all gentleman’s clubs, but one has challenged that ordinance by distributing pencils and sketch pads to patrons during “art night.”

The ordinance does give nudity exclusions for artistic displays which include dance, ballet and dramatic performances, so every Monday and Tuesday, the club encourages customers to sketch the models as they perform nude routines.

“As far as the Boise city code, it specifies it has to be a serious artistic manner and this is a serious artistic manner,” said Chris Teague, Erotic City owner.

The club has put on art night for two months, and Teague said he has not received any complaints.

Boise Police officials say the club has not been cited for any ordinance violations.

February 19th, 2005

Here is a comment from the Fat Tuesday Story. . .
Great party . Thanks for the pics and the story. Sockeye Brew Pub is also supporting live music. Saw 2 great acts this week. Also check oout the Ha Penny next Fri. the 25th

Your welcome, more importantly thanks for the live music info.
While I am at it rumor has it that Blues guitar gunslinger Coco Montoya will be in town soon and Blues Society www.boiseblues.org members will get a discount. More details soon.

February 17th, 2005

The current Bardenay ad touts “Hand Crafted Cocktails”. Can there be any other kind?

February 14th, 2005

�What a Difference a Day Makes�

24 little hours
brought the sun and the flowers
where there used to be rain.

Most big cities wake up on Monday morning with a clatter of sirens, delivery, trucks and clamor. Seattle came alive in a much subtler way. A light wind blew the last of the fog away as commuters quietly headed to work just as the sun began to shine. There is none of the taxi honking brashness of New York, or even the determined frivolity of San Francisco. Seattle seems to get up, grasp a cup of coffee and go. As the city came to life, I went up to take the monorail into the heart of the city. Guess what? The thing doesn�t run until 11 am, stops at 7 pm, guess they are on Boise transit time. Took a wander around the deserted Space Center area and then headed down to Pikes Market.

The market assaults all of your senses. The iridescent rainbows from thefish scales are matched by the wide variety of gifts, carvings, and produce. I love this market, so vibrant and fun. Fish fly past as the languages of the world fill the air. Tourists and local mix in a commercial frenzy. Hunger drove me to the back of the market to the Southview Cafe. Perched on an overhang over The Sound, the cafe was quiet but the staff greeted me with a smile. The coffee was naturally good, (free refills) and my simple breakfast of an omelette and bagel hit the spot. It is often the most unpretentious meals that satisfy the most. This is especially true when the restaurant has such a fantastic view. In the morning the commercial side of the �Port of Seattle� governs the waves. Tugs push barges in and out and cargo containers rolled slowly past. Not a cruise ship or fancy yacht in sight. We needed to
be out of the condo by 11 am, so I hiked down to the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar Line Metro, Route 99, to the end of the line station at water front pier # 70. Just a quick up hill walk to �home.�

Back at Don�s new place we found that on those few clear days, he will have a view. Got restless after we moved a couple of things around, drove into China Town, shopped, cooked a meal and than napped. The Day family idea of a perfect afternoon.

The news never sleeps, so Don works a night shift at Northwest Cable News and it was back into the city. Found a parking space and took in downtown. It is sad to think that the next time I will see the Bon, it will be a Macys. Swung into Nordstroms and looked around. Found a bookstore and stocked up. The hipster at the counter said that Pioneer Square was the place to find live music so I walked up to the Pioneer Square Saloon. Unfortunately it wasn�t a saloon at all but a Pub!

The Orleans had Dixieland music and a wonderful historic decor. With the music, pleasant unpretentious servers, walls cluttered with blues and jazz posters, you know it felt like home. Had a couple, had some dinner and headed back to get the kid from his job.

The next night I was back on the sound for natures show and chowder. Sunsets always impress. Watching the fading light shift the horizon from blue to red and orange, and ever so slowly back to blue and black. This night in Seattle proved to be one of the best ever. At a public pier below the freeway and the business district, a small crowd joined me. The big ferries chugged past

bringing the last of the commuters home and the sun set.

Hungry and worn out I found a true northwest style fish chowder at Steamers on the Aquirium peir and went back to the barn early.

The trip almost over, Don took me up to Sea-Tac. The twin stadiums looking so much better than the old King Doom on the way out. Like most of the country’s airports, Sea-Tac is being remodeled. However it was easy boarding and soon I was was flying home. Like an old beer commercial, Mt. Rainier flew under our wings. This picture window should be in a Southwest ad.

It was great to get out of town and help the son out. I�m looking forward to getting back soon to see, taste and hear, more of Seattle.

February 9th, 2005

February 8th, 2005

A very typical day for Seattle. In a coffee shop, light rain, about 45 degrees outside and even a nice, but most likely schizophrenic breaded man, vocalizing in the corner. Almost a movie version of Seattle. Oh, did I tell you I can see the Space Needle out the window and I swear, a jazz version on Bill Withers “Ain?t No Sunshine” is playing over the sound system.

My son landed a big city job with Northwest Cable News and it was dad’s job to drive the truck full of stuff to Seattle. Except for the unreasonable speed limit in Oregon, the trip went smoothly. Snoqualme Pass was not to bad as I rolled out of the forest into the Puget sound. The downward transition from mountain to sea is a shift of the green color wheel. The dark rich evergreens become the soft gray green of aspens. As you enter town the flora and fauna explode into the rich lush emerald of the cities nickname. With an unusually mild winter even some brave flowers were still in bloom.

Downtown Seattle is back in bloom itself. The last time I was here the city was suffering from the tech bust. Not now. Buildings are rising as fast as real estate values.

Oddly enough the soundtrack of Seattle continues with the opening lines of The Mamas and Papas, California Dreaming. Remember?

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray
I’ve been for a walk
On a winter’s day

After coffee, I finished my winters day walk by heading over to the the Needle to take a look around. Did you know that the monorail doesn’t move until 11 am on the weekdays?

Woke the kid up to check on the truck we had to leave unattended, but before we unloaded it we loaded up on a Seattle’s favorite the Dick?s Deluxe. Two Bucks, a nickel extra for ketchup or onions. Shakes were a buck fifty. Even on a Sunday afternoon 60 or so customers waited in front of the window servers for a meal. It was good, the shake was a bit weak, but hey,
is was tasty and cheap.

Got back to the big Ryder Truck full of Don?s life, Jed(thanks) showed up and we wrestled everything up the stairs into the new apartment. With two bedrooms and a bit of a view I expect the kid will be seeing a lot of his relatives this year.

After the move it was back to the city to drop off the truck and then back to the luxury south side condo. The sun was fading and it seemed as if the tugs and ferries were all headed home for the week. Night fell and it was time to call it a day.

February 4th, 2005

It had to happen. Anheuser Bush is testing a new beer in Seattle. Be, it combines good old Bud with herbs like ginseng and guirana-the caffeine like juice that gives Red Bull it’s wings. “Just what we need, wide awake drunks.”

February 4th, 2005

Sorry, it took so long for me to post a new blog. It was broken! The smart son fixed it. I will be post photos and a story from Seattle shortly.