77. DUNKLEY MUSIC Boise, ID

Dunkley Music of  Boise was founded by William K. and Dorothy Dunkley in 1950. William and his brother started a piano store in Ogden, Utah in 1946. Since it was after WWII new pianos weren't so readily available. They made a trip to Chicago and purchased a railroad car containing used pianos. William K. wanted to represent the best in pianos one brand being Steinway & Sons. So William and his wife moved to Boise in 1950 and opened Dunkley Music. The stores theme is "the richest child is poor without music". How different would our lives be if there was no music? I can remember playing one of my first piano recitals at the store.

This Steinway piano was owned by the late Vladimir Horowitz. Horowitz was considered to be one of the greatest pianists of the 20th Century. He first debuted in 1928 and was called a tornado unleashed.  He purchased this piano in 1935 and it traveled with him all over the world. The piano has been traveling around the Idaho region before it heads back to its home in New York.



76. CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HISTORIC HOUSES OF WORSHIP, Boise, ID

On Sunday December 26th the Historic churches of Downtown Boise opened their doors to the public. Each church provided guides and information about their church. It was a self-guided tour to look at the Christmas decorations, view the different architectural styles and hear special music.

Inside St. John's on the corner of 8th & Hays

Construction of the St. John's Cathedral began in 1906

Boise First United Methodist Church

First Baptist Church

The St. Michael's congregation was organized in 1864.





Christmas decorations inside St. Michael's

It was interesting to learn about some of early history of the churches in Boise. The stained glassed windows are beautifully detailed. 

74. MERIDIAN FARMERS MARKET HOLIDAY BAZAAR Meridian, Idaho

 The Meridian Farmers Market is a great place to find a gift for friends and family or something fun for you. Today was the last day for the holiday bazaar but here are some of the local vendors.

 This is Susannah of Xuxa Jewelry who makes her own jewelry

 and you can find her on

Facebook, Etsy or email xuxajewelry@gmail.com .

 Zoie Fresh is homemade soap made with natural products.

 They have many  lovely scented soaps  from lavender to citrus. 

 These beautiful and tasty cookies were made by Becky Hays. She makes cookies for your special occasions.  You can contact her at abkhays@gmail.com or take a look at her blog http://www.beckybakesboise.blogspot.com/



69. OPERA IDAHO, Idaho

Since 1973 Opera Idaho has been filling the lives of audience members with appreciation and understanding of the opera though its operatic enlightenment movement has been under many different names. Origionally Boise Civic Opera, and in 1983 Boise Opera with the last change being in 1997 to the current name of Opera Idaho.

Carmen, Cinderella, Rigoletto, La Boheme, and many more classics are only a few of the shows that have been repeatedly shown over the last 35 years.

The 2010-2011 season show were held in the Egyptian Theater located in the heart of downtown Boise, with the exception of Roger and Hammerstein's Carousel held in July that will take place at the Idaho Botanical Garden.

Many of the Treasure hunters recently went to Opera Idahos Christmas production of

Amahl and the Night Visitors.

For more information please visit their website at www.operaidaho.org

66. THE BOISE CHRISTMAS SHOW, Boise, ID

Looking for some Christmas gifts for family and friends? The Boise Christmas Show is one great place to find unique gifts for those special people in your life. They have a wide assortment from red neck bubble bath to fine jewelry.

The Christmas Show is going on from December 3rd -5th at the Expo Idaho building. It opens at 11:00 am morning. The cost $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and free for children under 12.   If you missed it this year you can put in on the schedule for next year.

35. BOISE CONTEMPORARY THEATER, Boise, ID

Looking for some great entertainment? Since 1997, Boise Contemporary Theater has been entertaining audiences with shows exploring contemporary matters. With all professional casts (many coming from the Shakespeare Festival) and a spirits and refreshment counter, you’re in for a great time.

The theater has just over 200 seats (donated by the Egyptian theater), and houses some incredible chandeliers, while having a nice homey feel.

Fun fact: The company was able to raise a lot of its funding by giving advanced screenings of all three of the “Borne” movies, all attended by Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and Matt Damon.

Side note: Seeing as this is a contemporary theater, dealing with contemporary matters, I would recommend that you review the plays you wish to attend. Some shows are meant for mature audiences only.

Located at 854 Fulton St. Boise, ID 83702

For more info, visit http://www.bctheater.org/

Guest blogger and treasure hunter -Jerusha

               

7. PUBLIC ART IN DOWNTOWN - PART 1, BOISE, ID

Are you looking for more culture?  Would you like to impress people with your knowledge of Boise art?  Do you need something to do on a Saturday afternoon?  Then this blog post is for you!  You may not know this, but there is a ton of public art all over downtown Boise.  I'm going to share some of my favorites in hopes that you will want to go and see them for yourself.

Above is the "Grove Street Illuminated & Boise Canal" by Amy Westover.  It is located on the corner of 9th and Grove in front of Hotel 43.  It depicts "cycles of change on Grove street".  It has fun facts about Grove Street's history and at night it lights up.  I like the combination of steel, glass, and old school pictures. It is beautiful and historic.

This is an actual ad posted in the Idaho Statesman in 1867.  Really?

This is "River Sculpture" by Alison Sky.  It is located on the corner of Front and Capital.  You may have driven by it or walked by it, you might have thought it was a tree, but it is a representation of, well, the river.  There is water and mist and neon lights that react to the air, the light, even the movement of people.  You have to see it at night because a real river doesn't glow like that unless it is filled with with toxic waste.

A close up of one of the glass "bubbles" in the vertical river.

In an attempt to make Boise more colorful and artistic, artists have been commissioned to paint the electrical boxes all around downtown.  I haven't seen all of them yet, but here are 3 of my favorites, so far.  So the next time you are hanging out downtown stop to check them out because you gotta see them up close.

This one is called "Where You Are" by Karen Woods.  It is on the corner of Main and Capital.  Just in case you didn't know where you were, this is in Boise. ;)

This one is called "Meeting of the Minds" by Jeremy "Jerms" Lanningham.  It is on the corner of Capital and Front.  It is awesome.  Owls are so cool now and I think it all started with Jerms and his hypno-eyed owls.

These are the front and side of one titled "Creative Flow Center" by Mike Landa.  It is on Front street by the parking garage.  Do I even have to say why this is incredible?  If I could, I would buy this and put it in my house.

So that concludes part 1 of the public art of downtown.  Check these out for yourself and keep reading the blog for more posts on the art.  Feel free to share your favorites in the comments and maybe we will put them in the next post.

Heather