Treasured Valley

Posts Tagged ‘Off the Beaten Path’

-by Amy Pence-Brown

Garden City is full of sweet little surprises and some spectacular Treasure Valley treasures – The Stagecoach, the Ranch Club, Visual Arts Collective and the Woman of Steel Gallery, to name a few. But it’s the Reuseum, tucked in a small strip of worn-down warehouse spaces near Garden City Tattoo on Chinden Blvd. that has truly stolen my heart.

The Reuseum is a technological surplus outlet/electronic gadget haven for geeks. They accept all sorts of donated mechanical contraptions and offer a workshop, classes, and even host an annual robot competition for the reuse and resurrection of these castoffs. The idea is genius in my book; I’m a firm believer in fueling creativity through recycling. I’m embarrassed to admit, however, that I just visited the place for the first time, after following the Reuseum on Twitter and being their Facebook fan for nearly a year now. It’s been on my to-do list for a while, but dealing with the whole post-layoff depression thing coupled with my new holy-shit-I’m-a-full-time-stay-at-home-mom gig, time got away from me. So, last week we spent a lovely, rainy Saturday afternoon in Garden City and met the darling and helpful owner of the Reuseum, David Gapen. He had posted earlier that morning about some new merchandise that had just come in, including a vintage label maker that I’ve been scouring garage sales for for years. He was kind enough to find it for me and make me a deal that I couldn’t refuse. (And it came with faux wood grain tape. Are. You. Kidding. Me?@!@#! I thought I’d died and gone to heaven with all the other obsessively organized kitsch lovers). Of course I snatched that baby up, and I plan to label everything but the kitchen sink with it. Well, maybe that, too.

My husband, Eric, and the girls accompanied me on the journey. Eric, a chemistry professor, was thrilled to find all sorts of familiar gadgets and gizmos that he’s come to know and love through his laboratory research. The girls thought the shiny silver and gold bolts and latches and adaptors and such were pretty cool things to collect and whined for them all. I was drawn to other quirky oddities, including a large stack of paper shooting range targets. My daughters got a kick out of the revolving dark room door that’s for sale and I laughed out loud at the yellow sticky note that read, “TIME MACHINE RIDES $1.” A sense of humor, an environmental consciousness, a killer inventory, a dedication to technological and scientific creativity, and a really nice guy that runs the place? What more could you ask for? Get there soon.

Amy Pence-Brown wants a robot that can knit and wash dishes…

-by Amy Pence-Brown.

The poor cigarette has gotten a bad rap lately, with the Americans getting all environmentally conscious and uber-health driven.  Many of our old favorite divey bars have gone smoke free, and entire cities are following suit.  That hasn’t always been the case, however.  Popular culture reminds us of the “good old days” when smoking was a way of life, like in the acclaimed AMC series Mad Men, whose sets are continually fogged by Lucky Strikes. Maybe it’s this nostalgia for the once accepted vice that drew me to the collection that graces the walls of the Old Pioneer Tent & Awning building, or maybe it’s just my love of quirky displays.  Probably both.

The Old Pioneer Tent & Awning building (PDF)  is part of the Old Boise Historic District and graces the corner of 6^th and Main Streets downtown Boise.  If you’ve driven past, you can’t miss this big white horse perched on the rooftop.  Likely many of you have been inside, as the place hosts yummy eateries like Jenny’s Lunch Line and Chronic Tacos.  It also boasts interesting events, like Santa at the holidays and the N’Scale Model Railroaders often set up their miniature world and run their trains much to the delight of children and adults alike.  I also really shopping the Idaho Indie Works Etsy Street Team artisans on First Thursdays.

The building itself was constructed in 1910 and the company, as you may have guessed by its name, housed the manufacturer of canvas wagon covers, tents, awnings, automobile tops and some leather goods.  One floor was devoted to production and seamstresses and the other to offices and a display showroom.  The place operated as such until around 1972, when it was purchased by the current owners, the Carleys.  At that time it was turned into a mini mall type atmosphere housing numerous tenants and has continued as such ever since.  The owners have taken great care to preserve the historical nature of the original building, as well as others within the Old Boise Historic District.

Like many historic structures, the Old Pioneer Tent & Awning building has many stories embedded in its old walls.  And, in this case, hung on them.  A curious display of hundreds and hundreds of packs of vintage cigarettes graces the walls of the first floor of the building.  There is little signage or information to help one decipher the artwork, but I found myself draws to these little packages of the past.  The cigarettes have been collected from around the world by Boisean Chas Allen, a relative of the Carleys, and have been hanging in the building for at least 25 years.  Mr. Allen collected cigarettes for a large part of the 20^th century, and many of the packs appear to be quite antique.  And their names are just plain fabulous – some of my favorites include Black Death, Buz, Go to Hell, and, of course, Horse Shit Cigarettes, manufactured in Shitville City.  (I know, I know, it’s a dirty habit, but at least someone’s got an equally dirty sense of humor about it.)  Each tiny box is an artwork in and of itself; the brand marketing on each package is a history lesson in graphic design of the past.  So, next time you find yourself in that neck of the woods, pop into the Old Pioneer Tent & Awning building for a quick “smoke break.”  One puff and you’ll be hooked.

Amy Pence-Brown likes her cigarette art with the soup du jour from Jenny’s Lunch Line…

-by Amy Pence-Brown

We are always looking for affordable and interesting cultural places and events to take our girls.  Lucky for us, the Treasure Valley is full of young families and, as a result, offers great educational and fun options.  This has become increasingly important with my new gig as a stay at home mom, as the days can be lllllllllooooong if we are stuck at home, especially during the winter months.  This past week turned Boise into a winter wonderland, and while we spent hours outside sledding and playing in the snow, the single digit temps were not bearable for long.  Because of the cold coldness, the kindergarteners didn’t get recess all week, so by Saturday we had plenty of pent up energy racing around out small home.  So we braved the storm and headed up to the Foothills Learning Center for one of their free Saturday events for kids.

The Center is run by the City of Boise Parks & Rec and is an environmental education center devoted to teaching about and preserving our high desert landscape and the Foothills.  They offer a variety of classes for kids and adults, but they are quite popular and fill up fast.  This past Saturday was their Second Saturday free program on making recycled Christmas crafts, something our family has been avidly doing this past year, so we were excited.  The drive up to the Foothills was gorgeous (from our home on the Boise Bench we headed down Vista Ave. turned Capital Blvd. and took 8^th St. past the Boise Co-Op as it winded all the way up into the Foothills), as the snow was falling slowly.  There were plenty of mountain bikers and people hiking with their dogs in the fresh snow.  We were surprised to find out that tons of other families had braved the weather (or had simply been driven crazy by their children like we were) to attend the event.

The tiny educational center was crammed with kids, the smell of fresh pine and coffee, and holiday cheer.  There was a wreath making station, using wire coat hangers and Christmas tree cuttings, and a pomander making table, using clementines and cloves.  Lucy made a Christmas treasure box out of an egg carton, Christmas light bulbs, some hot glue and some fabric as well as a tree ornament utilizing a recycled Christmas card.  The girls stamped their own wrapping paper using large, recycled architectural plans donated to the Center by a local firm.  Free bagels and coffee we also provided and my husband and I stood around watching, helping the girls when needed, and had a lovely, leisurely morning.  We stayed for probably an hour, but those with older kids were surely there longer.  I’m so excited that we have such a wonderful resource here, and look forward to their next Second Saturday course on planting native landscapes come January.  And I’m certainly signing my daughter up for one of their summer nature camps sooner rather than later, just to make sure we get in this time.

Amy Pence-Brown rocks out to records and wins Christmas window decorating contests…

-by Amy Pence-Brown

For the past four years the Downtown Boise Association, in conjunction with local businesses, has offered artists the opportunity to decorate windows in a winter or holiday theme. The “exhibition” kicks off on the First Thursday in December, which happens to be tomorrow. Traditionally, the artists are instructed to paint their designs onto the glass, and they are unique and fun. This is my first year participating as one of the artists, and since I am not a painter, I inquired as to whether any business might be interested in working with an artist who works with three-dimensional found objects.

Bandanna Running + Walking at 504 Main Street jumped at the chance to, well, take a chance on my non-traditional design. I created a proposal for them, which, much to my surprise, they were totally jazzed about. My window theme is “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” inspired by the holiday song of the same name as well as the mission of the shop, which specializes in running and walking gear of all kinds. And, since I work mainly with found or recycled objects, I decided to create a display made entirely from objects found in my home.

I hope you’ll stroll by the shop, which is right across the street from Addie’s and next to Ceramica, and take a look at my different take on the traditional winter window. While you’re at it, check out the other fantastic artist windows in the area as well as my friend Jason Sievers new show at the Flying M Coffeehouse. You might want to grab a warm beverage there while you’re at it, which is what we plan to do, before hitting Macy’s for my girls to see Santa. If you’re not up for walking, the link above to the Winter Window Gallery map also has the free trolley schedule, which will take you by all the great art sites this First Thursday and is a hoot for the kiddos. If you can’t make it out tomorrow night, be sure to take some time this month to stroll around downtown Boise at night, as the windows and art shows will be up throughout the month of December.

Amy Pence-Brown likes recycling and downtown strolls in the winter snow…

-by Amy Pence-Brown

I am firm believer that the greenest building is the one that is already built, an idea made popular by Maryland architect Carl Elefante, who also believes in sustainable architecture through conservation.  However, I do understand that in some cases a new building must be constructed and applaud anyone who takes a more environmentally friendly approach.

A few days ago Twitter alerted me to a story about a local man who is building a green home with historic roots.  I was thrilled to read this article in the Idaho Statesman about Mark Lung, a former ecology professor, and his contemporary take on one of the oldest building forms – straw and mud.  On a tiny nondescript lot near the corner of Boise Avenue and Crystal Way, right next to an apartment complex, Lung and some other builders from Earthcraft Inc. are working away on a modest 1900 sq. ft. home.  The home is being constructed with local, ecofriendly, and recycled materials, including the straw bale insulation, which Lung purchased from a Meridian farmer.

Today, when my girls and I visited the site, three men, including Lung himself, were plastering the straw with a mud mixture.  One of the guys was kind enough to come up and show Lucy the messy mixture and talk to us all about the project, and I understand they have routinely welcomed questions and help from students and the community.  Pretty soon, all the straw will be covered with mud, which will be treated and painted as the house nears completion, so I recommend driving by soon to take a look.  I think that it is both impressive and important that new local architecture is both forward-thinking and using ideas instigated by our past and our Earth.

Amy Pence-Brown likes her houses green and her coffee black…

-by Amy Pence-Brown

I know, I know, Dutch Bros. little coffee kiosks are not exactly off the beaten path.  In fact, their seven Treasure Valley locations are on major thoroughfares for a reason – so people see them and stop.  However, with so many great local coffee shops and other competing kiosks, Dutch Bros. definitely have their work cut out for them.  How do you set yourself apart from other coffee shops?  Well, they surely got the signage thing down pat with their giant sized image of their signature coffee cup.  You can’t miss it.

Now that they’ve hooked customers (me, at least) with their fantastic sign, they’d best deliver with a fantastic menu.  Besides the usual coffee, espresso and tea, Dutch Bros. also offers the yummiest frozen coffee concoctions with a kick in town, something that keeps me going there all summer long.  And they come with up to FOUR SHOTS OF ESPRESSO.  (This may seem a little irrational or extravagant to some, but sometimes a certain Mom didn’t get enough sleep and has a big day of Jazzercise, playdates, grocery shopping, and cleaning up after two kiddos and can REALLY use some extra help, if you know what I mean.)  Alternatively, for my girls, they offer affordable kid-sized versions of their fruit smoothies in cute, reusable plastic cups with lids.

Additionally, they are super fast.  At my neighborhood Dutch Bros. (2272 Vista Ave.) they actually have two drive thrus, one on each side of the shop, so baristas can help more than one customer at a time.  My favorite part of that shop, though, is the fact that they have a walk-up window, where they usually give out doggie treats and sometimes candy to visitors.  In fact, we celebrated our puppy Roxy’s first birthday with a winter walk to Dutch Bros. coffee.  It’s rare that a coffee shop can do it all: offer a variety of quality beverages, be quick, unique, friendly, AND cater to the entire family, pets included.  To the two dairy farmin’ brothers that started this wonderful west coast franchise 17 years ago in Grants Pass, Oregon, I say, good work boys.  I’m rootin’ for ya, one Kahlua Kicker at a time.

Amy Pence-Brown lives in Boise and NEEEEDS coffee…

-by Amy Pence-Brown

We bought our 1950s ranch house on the Boise Bench between Federal Way and Vista Avenue a little over three years ago.  The proximity to downtown, BSU, the airport, and the freeway couldn’t be better, and we were drawn in by the modest mid-century architecture of the urban, working class neighborhoods.  It wasn’t until last summer, however, on a morning walk to a few yard sales and Albertsons that I noticed this small, nondescript monument on the corner of Dorian Street and Vista Avenue, directly in front of the Idaho Angler fly fishing shop.  As flyfishers, we’d been to the shop before for supplies, but having entered through the parking lot I’d never noticed it.

Sally Reed lived in a two-story wood framed home, which, according to staff at Idaho Angler, was torn down ten years ago in 1999 to build the current store.  Sally was separated from her husband, Cecil, when their young son, Richard, died in 1967.  About seven months after Richard died, Sally filed a petition with Ada County to be the administrator of her son’s estate, which included a few personal items and a small savings account totally no more than $1000.  Upon hearing this, Richard’s father and Sally’s ex-husband, Cecil, filed a competing petition to have himself appointed as the administrator of the estate.  There was a hearing and the court appointed Cecil the administrator for not other reason than he was male, based upon an old discriminatory Idaho code.  Sally bravely appealed this ruling, taking it to the Idaho Supreme Court and, ultimately, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1970s.  On November 22, 1971, Chief Justice Warren Burger issued a unanimous decision which for the first time in history, declared a state law unconstitutional because it discriminated against women in violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

I’d never heard of this woman or her remarkable civil rights case before and there isn’t much out there in cyberspace about her, other than this link which gives greater detail about the court cases and this one on Waymarking.com, a site devoted to little interesting monuments in the world.  I am moved by ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and every time I walk by this monument I get teared up.  Clearly Sally Reed didn’t push the envelope for money or greed and who knows if she even really knew that she was changing history in a truly revolutionary way.  But now I do, and you do, and this tiny rock memorial to a single mother who lived on Vista Avenue for almost 65 years has made me a little more aware of what it means to be a woman, a mother, and a feminist.  And I’m honored to live in her neighborhood.

Amy Pence-Brown has had some been cooped up in the house with 2 sick girls.