(insert title here) - Volume 1 Issue 1 - Local-eyes: Boise, Idaho by Matt Hotham

Okay, so this is the first of many periodic installments in this zine involving the hometown scene of some of our writers. "Who cares about Boise, Idaho?" (or any other locale we may write about) you may ask. Well, I suppose I do, and the one or two other people on this campus from that area might. Chances are you'll never find yourself in the Treasure Valley, looking up at the foothills and the lights of Bogus Basin, but in case you do this little article might just help you navigate the city.

Best Coffee: Incredible Edibles

This little coffee shop located in the same shopping plaza as the famous Boise Co-Op (the place to go if you're looking for organic and hard to find foods), Incredible Edibles has the standard coffee shop fare, but also serves wine, local micro-brews, and some of the best pastries in town. The staff is incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere beats Starbucks any day of the week. Besides that, they do in fact have the best coffee in Boise. In a recent survey of local coffee shops, Incredible Edibles was the only one in Boise that was found to use the highest grade coffee beans. Even the hallowed Starbucks uses only B grade beans. So if you don't care about atmosphere or the quality of service, Incredible Edibles is at least worth a visit because of its incredible coffee.

Best Atmosphere: Flying M Coffee Shop

While Incredible Edibles may have the best coffee in town, the Flying M has by far the best atmosphere. With a suitably aloof and indifferent staff and customers that sit around discussing Kant and reading Hume, the Flying M will make you feel very worldly. At one time the Flying M boasted several couches, an old refrigerator filled with board games, a long table with butcher paper and crayons for doodling, and a floor plan that was rearranged weekly. Unfortunately in recent years the Flying M has added a souvenir shop with coffee mugs, hats, T-shirts, cards, and original artwork, which takes up much of the store and ousted the couches. Despite this, however, the Flying M is still a great place to go and chat with friends, or sit and read while you sip coffee.

Best Place to Get Pancakes at 3am: Merritt's Café

Though Boise is growing, it is still in many was a small city. After 2 am there is still precious little to do for someone not yet ready to hit the hay. One is essentially limited to Denny's and Merritt's. Merritt's has been around for a long time. Located on State Street, Merritt's has been serving compulsive gamblers from the racetrack for years. The building is a converted house, and inside the decorations are primarily photos of winning dogs and horses. The crowd is a fascinating mix of truckers, punks, goths, down-on-their-luck gamblers and insomniacs. The servers are chatty and very folksy. It's the music, however, that best encapsulates the eclectic atmosphere of Merritt's. It is far from unusal to hear a Johnny Cash song followed by Ozzy Osbourne followed by N'Sync.

Best Local Band: (this was a close one too) Built to Spill

Okay, so while Boise has had some great local bands over the years, none can doubt that Built to Spill is by far the most talented and most well known. Fronted by Boise native Doug Martsch, Built to Spill released their first album, Ultimate Alternative Wavers, in 1993. Since then, the group has released nearly an album a year of high quality, Modest-Mouse-like indie-pop. Though only a small portion of the Boise population listens to indie rock on a regular basis, a great deal of Idahoans appreciate the music of Built to Spill. Songs such as "Big Dipper" and "Carry the Zero" have received commercial radio airplay. Several of my friends have had the opportunity to watch Doug play in his own garage, and one person I know has even had the opportunity to jam with him. Along with the closeness that a small community can bring, Built to Spill writes songs that link the band to its location. Songs like "Twin Falls" resonate with Idahoans, and references to Boise locales also help to link the band with the area they come from. Putting on free shows in the park annually, and frequently visiting the Boise State Student Union, Built to Spill is truly a part of Boise.

Best Place to Buy Music: The Record Exchange

The Record Exchange is attached to the Neurolux and is by far Boise's best music store. Though the prices on new CDs give the Bookstore a run for its money, the ample selection and thousands of used CDs more than make up for this fact. If you're looking for a CD by that small punk band that you heard once in Boston and you think their name starts with a "D", the staff at the Record Exchange will probably be able to find what you're looking for. Besides having the widest selection and most helpful and knowledgeable staff in town, the Record Exchange also has a respectable vinyl section. Whether you're looking for a old Paul Simon classic, or the newest Stereolab EP, chances are the Record Exchange will have it.

Best Place to See an Indie Rock show: CD Merchant

Well, perhaps 'best' isn't the word. While many places hold shows throughout the year, the CD Merchant has a unique atmosphere. A tiny record store on Main Street, the CD Merchant hardly has enough room for more than 3 or 4 customers at one time, so just imagine trying to pack in a band and adoring fans. Last year when Death Cab for Cutie rolled into Boise, that's just where they played. On a stage that was barely larger than a postage stamp the band played a set before a small crowed of disinterested employees and unknowing customers. The problem is more one of publicity than anything else. If, however, you do happen to hear about a small concert at the CD Merchant, it's worth checking out. I mean, when else will you have the chance to stand two feet away from your favorite band, and then browse the CD racks with them after the show?

Best Concert Venue: Sandy Point

This outdoor venue has recently been host to such musicians as Ben Harper, Blink 182, and many more. Set against the rugged Idaho terrain, adjacent to Lucky Peak Reservoir, the views are picturesque and the location is perfect for a show. Once it begins to get dark the lights of cars passing on the highway high in the mountains above give one a sense of being pulled out of time. This ethereal, timeless feel pervades most of the shows at Sandy Point and is sure to stay with you long after you leave.

Place to Go If You Want to Get on TV: The Skate Park

When the city decided to put in a skate park a few years ago to keep skaters from tearing up the sidewalks and grinding on handicap ramps, the response from the skating community was mixed. Many were glad to have a free place they could go to use a well constructed half-pipe and sturdy rails. Others, however, were dismayed at being told where they could skate. Once it opened, however, all argument fell away. The city did such a great job in constructing Boise's skate park that it became part of the life's blood of Boise skaters. Because of this film crews for the local news stations always send some one down to the skate park when they do a story on 'the youth' of Boise. The skate park is also a favorite place for Idaho PSA makers to pick up interviews and footage. Beyond this, some one is always their filming for the latest skate video, such as Boise's own "208 Skate" series.

Well, there you have it. If you're ever in Boise you'll have a little bit of information to guide you through your stay in the City of Trees.

Local-eyes™: Boise, Idaho

by Matt Hotham