Fusion volume 1 issue 4

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

I S S U E 4 - S U M M E R 2 0 1 2

SUMMER EVENT GUIDE BOISE MUSIC FESTIVAL

RIB FEST, DIRTY DASH & MORE

THISISBOISE.COMTHE FUTURE OF

ENTERTAINMENT

SCENE MAKERS IS IDAHO THE NEXT FRONTIER FOR FILM PRODUCERS?

V.1.4 SUMMER 2012FUSION MAGAZINE 1

LIFE ON THE PATIO.

199 N. 8th Street • Boise • (208) 287-1700 • www.boisefork.com

Summers in downtown Boise are magical. Especially when enjoyed

from our newly expanded patio. Whether it’s date night or Saturday

brunch with friends, take it to the patio.

THE VOICE OF THE VALLEY2

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

It wasn’t easy by any means folks but we did it. In one of the toughest industries around we made it to see a year. If I were to individually thank everyone by name we would have to add another 30 pages to this issue. There are of course the obvious players like Jessica Doherty, my right hand man. Tai Simpson, my jack of all trades, and Ryan White who kept me going then I was ready to bailout. There are also countless anchors who never get any recognition like Cesiel Raphino, who would give me his right arm if I asked him to and Danielle Clark for being my support system while I got this thing rolling. And I can’t forget about the pioneers who believed in the vision before there was a product like Jeremy DeLuca, Stacy Ennis, Janelle Johnson, and Brooke Berston. Most of all I have to thank all the readers who supported Fusion and helped push us the position that we are in now.

BRIAN SHIELDS

Follow Brian on Twitter @bigshotbrian

If someone filmed a movie based off of our first year, you would swear that it was a fictional tale. The stories of adversity and triumphs with bizarre plot twist are almost too unique to believe, but I promise you, we couldn’t make this stuff up. While enduring the struggles of a startup company there was one constant that kept us going, that constant was the sense of family shared by those close to the magazine. That sense of family has allowed me to build a team full of some of the most talented and creative people I have ever been around. A team that works very hard and sacrifice a lot in order to see the magazine succeed based off of the love they have for our little band of misfits.

With all of the hustle and bustle of trying to take Fusion to the next level I don’t get a chance to tell a lot of people how much I appreciate them so I want to dedicated this issue to you. Rather your a reader who makes sure to pick up each new issue, a family member I only talk to on occasion because I’m busy running around like a chicken with his head cut off, or your part of the Fusion Fam and you work a full time job only to get off and head straight to the office to make sure your obligations to the magazine are fulfilled. If you have supported our movement this issue is our way of saying thank you for a helping us defy the odds.

With that being said this is only the beginning. We have an aggressive marketing campaign geared towards making Fusion a household name in the second year. There is another round of changes coming to improve our website. We are sponsors on nearly every major event this summer. We are even going to launch a Kickstarter campaign to help us take the next step in our journey. So, rather this is your first time opening Fusion Magazine or you have read every issue, I ask that you take this journey with us and join the movement as we continue to strive to be the voice of the valley and the best representation of the city we call home.

Enjoy,

Brian Shields Editor in Chief


It’s a landmark time at Fusion. We’ve reached our one-year anniversary as the voice of the Treasure Valley! It’s reason to celebrate and reflect on all that’s happened (and all who have made Fusion happen). I am so grateful for our wonderful staff. In particular, I’d like to thank Jennifer Sanders Peterson, Lizz Naughton, and Amanda Morgan. It is thanks to your creativity, organization, and drive that Fusion publishes some of the best print and web content in Boise. Fusion would not be where it is today without all the sacrifices you have made, and they have not gone unnoticed. I’d also like to thank Brian Shields, for having the vision and ambition to bring Fusion to Boise, and all the wonderful staff and friends who have put in the hard work to see that vision come into fruition.

What a wonderful time of year to see that vision continue to grow! I love summertime in Boise—floating the river, hitting the Saturday market, riding the trails in the foothills, and fishing the local ponds. I’ve never lived on a city that offers quite as many things to do within a few minutes of my front door. And in the 5 years that I’ve called Boise home, I still haven’t done it all! Some of the best this city has to offer is hidden in plain sight, while other things truly are hidden.

This issue follows our theme of covering seasonal happenings in town, but this issue, in particular, is about helping you discover some of the truly hidden, great things about Boise summertime. Did you know Boise has a thriving film industry? How about restaurants that will cater to you…and your dog? Or do you just want to know what’s trending, so that you can look good while discovering your own summer fun? My hope is that you walk away from reading this issue with a few new gems to add to your list of why you love Boise in the summertime.

Ryan White Managing Editor

RYAN WHITE


MAGAZINE STAFFEDITOR IN CHIEF Brian Shields

MANAGING EDITOR Ryan White

OPERATIONS & EVENTS DIRECTOR Jessica Doherty

LITERARY DIRECTOR Jennifer Sanders Peterson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jenn Carter

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Amanda Morgan

SALES DIRECTOR Derrick Gayle

WEB EDITOR Lizz Anne Naughton

PR DIRECTOR Tai Simpson

FASHION DIRECTOR Delila Gutierrez

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS Unlimited Media Group and Prestige Studios

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kelsey Hawes, Ryan Rodriguez

MARKETING ASSISTANT Marcus Scott

INTERNS Aaron Haws, Katie Mitchell, Dylan Tapp, Klair Strom, Michelle Hernandez, Rachel Burton Custer

Our talented team of writers, photographers, and stylists are listed with their respective articles.

Special thanks to Cesil Raphino and Jonathan Segali

COVER PHOTO by Wendi Yvonne

www.twitter.com/iam_Fusion www.Facebook.com/FusionMag

208.891.4401

THE VOICE OF THE VALLEYWWW.FUSION-MAG.COM

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS MICHAEL GUILLÉN is a freelance San Francisco Bay Area film journalist recently transplanted to Boise and the Treasure Valley. He remains a member of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle, administers his own film site The Evening Class (http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/) and writes for Film International and movieScope, as well as online venues MUBI, Fandor, Twitch and The Greencine Daily. He’s delighted to join the Fusion team. Check out The Evening Class at theeveningclass.blogspot.com

KELSEY HAWES is a local freelance graphic designer and artist. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2009 with a BFA in Visual Communications, and after spending her final semester abroad in Italy on an archaeological dig, she made her way back home to Boise. Kelsey is passionate about all disciplines of design, and has plans to further her career in Industrial Design in the future. You can see some of Kelsey’s work on her online portfolio www.kelseyhawes.com

RYAN RODRIGUEZ is a Creative Consultant in graphic arts, marketing and intellectual property. A Boise State graduate and resident of the Treasure Valley for 15-yrs., he’s been involved in start-ups like tech company MarkMonitor, Eagle’s Rembrandts Coffeehouse, MickeyRay’s Roadhouse BBQ and with a line of Men’s Mexican Soccer products for Camille Beckman. Fusion Magazine is a perfect fit on a new journey towards sustaining creative expression while showcasing Boise’s evolving culture and local, surrounding vibe.

AMANDA MORGAN I take pictures every day. I love honesty and individuality. I am passionate about creating. I do things a little differently. My imagination sometimes gets the best of me. I explore life. I kill plants and can’t sing. I was voted Most Idealistic. I speak fluent Sarcasm. I know the musical Rent by heart. I write in concise sentences. I bask in sunshine. I’m just me. They call me Ammo.


JAZZEDWE’RE ALWAYS

Hotel 43 981 W. Grove St., Boise

208.383.4300

Follow us for

live music schedules

and all the fun details.

Live jazz

seven

nights a

week

3210 E Louise Drive, Meridian

888.5000www.lingandlouies.com

from 7to close

Monday thru Friday3 pm to 6 pm

RaiSiNgWe’Re

everyNiTe

$3 DrinkSpecials

NiTe

LaDieS’

ThuRsDaY

HaPpyHouR

the BaR!Ladies’ Nite


COVER STORYPAGE 8

PAGE 26PAGE 89

PAGE 74

PAGE 51

PAGE 70PAGE 36


TABLE OF CONTENTS08 COVER STORY

ThisIsBoise.com

15 MUSIC Andrew Coba

18 ART Patcasso - Art In Motion

22 STYLES & SUBSTANCE Fashion Flavors of the City

26 FASHION To Summer With Love

34 SUMMER MUST HAVE ACCESSORIES

36 FUSION FITNESS FOCUS Hardcore Finesse

40 FITNESS Making of a Strongman

44 I am Fusion Karen Sanders

46 CULTURE The Sustainable Future is Bright

51 SUB FEATURE Idaho Film Industry

62 ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT Fat Chance - Fatty’s Bar

65 HEALTH Good Floatations

66 IT WORKS!

68 SPECIAL INTEREST Bronco Bail Bonds

70 OUTDOORS Idaho White Water

74 OUTDOORS The Dog Days of Summer

78 FOOD Grandiose Grilling

80 LIFESTYLE Hell on Two Wheels

82 EVENTS Fusion Guide to Summer

89 SUMMER CALENDAR

92 SCENE


WRITTEN BY BRIAN SHIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY BY WENDI YVONNE

Whether it’s one in the afternoon or one in the morning, the need for entertainment spares no one. Even in a city like Boise which hosts myriad events ranging from improv comedy shows to large music festivals on a weekly basis, finding out about what’s going on around town in a timely manner can be difficult, often requiring several texts to friends, scouring the internet, or searching local newspapers. Until now, there wasn’t one single platform that encompassed both day- and nightlife entertainment, coupled with in-depth features on local business. ThisIsBoise.com fills that void.

Jay Puente and his fiancé, Jennifer Guerrero grew tired of wasting time searching for events to take their young daughter to, only to find out the next day that they had missed several events that

would have satisfied their entertainment needs. “It came to a head one Easter when we spent an hour driving around looking for an egg hunt,” said Jennifer, who exudes excitement when she talks about their new site. It was that quest for an Easter egg hunt that caused her to pose the question, Why isn’t there one site to look for events suitable for everything from a Saturday afternoon out with the kids, to a Saturday club night with friends? “A light bulb went off in my head”, says Jay, an entrepreneur who’s been the driving force behind several successful businesses. After over a year of hard work, ThisIsBoise.com was born.

“We took our time researching ways to make the site advantageous for both consumers and businesses,” explains Jay. “We studied

THE FUTUREOF FUN

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION


what felt like every website and app out there, as well as polled everyone we could to find out where they looked to find out what’s going on in town.”

“We wanted make it a one stop shop for businesses as well,” added Jen. “ We drew on our personal experiences as business owners to discover what tools businesses needed to effectively showcase themselves to the people that visit the site. We wanted it to be easy for business owners to constantly update what they featured, whether it was video, restaurant menus, or pictures of their establishment. We knew the more control a business had in highlighting themselves, the easier it would be for consumers to make decisions on where they wanted to go.” At the conclusion of

their research phase, the couple had drafted a website that used elements of social media, search engine optimization, and an advanced calendar to provide its users with an in-depth view of what was happening in the valley at a moment’s notice.

Jay then looked to Blane Russell and his company, Social Eyes, to develop the site. “We looked at several developers but what stood out to us about Social Eyes was their expertise in social media, which plays such a large part in This Is Boise,” explains Jay. “Although the site is unique, we knew that functionality would crucial for it’s success. It had to be easy for users to navigate and effectively locate the information they were seeking without sifting through a bunch of clutter.”


Adds Jen, “The cleanliness in the graphic design was one of my biggest concerns. We went through several mockups of the site before we found one we were comfortable with.” Jay and Jennifer’s ideas, paired with Social Eye’s ability to execute their vision resulted in an interactive website that is going to change the game when it comes to where Boise goes to find out what’s going on in the valley at any given time, as well as how local businesses personalize their interaction with customers.”

On the user side, you now have a source that allows you to check out everything from restaurants to community parks. The site also includes video spotlights of local businesses, giving users a visual on the full spectrum of what is offered. Another advantage is the deals offered on This Is Boise, many of them exclusive to the site, providing users huge savings on items and services that they can’t find anywhere else.

If you are a business owner, This Is Boise gives you a platform to showcase your business the way you want, with a flexibility not found in some other forms of media. Pictures, videos, coupons,

pricing and service lists, and even menus, are now accessible to your customers. Best of all, using these tools is as easy as clicking a few buttons. You now have the ability to take control of your advertising by providing up-to-the-minute deals and offers. “ We understand how important advertising is for business, especially small businesses. We also understand how hard it is to tell your story through traditional advertising, not to mention how expensive it can be to advertise. Being local business owners, we wanted to create a community where all Treasure Valley businesses could advertise, not just the ones with big budgets,” says Jay.

On the horizon for This Is Boise is a mobile app, currently in development with a year-end completion date. Jay can’t help but smile when he describes the app to us, “It’s going to revolutionize the way customers interact with businesses,” explains Jay. “Essentially, it’s a virtual punch card. When you check in to a business on Facebook, you are promoting that business to all your friends. The average person has 359 Facebook friends. If 5 people check in at a location, that business has the chance to be exposed to over a thousand people, yet the people that checked in don’t


receive anything. What our app will do is send you virtual coupons in exchange for your active promotion. For example, imagine checking into your favorite restaurant and receiving a coupon for a free appetizer.” It’s a simple but relevant way for a business to say, ‘thanks for letting others know about us.’

The popularity of ThisIsBoise.com was established well before the site went live. “Our video host, Kaley Spalding, is really involved in the community and helped us spread the word. Plus, we are all extremely active in the social media community. We do our best to

support local businesses and they return the favor by spreading the word to their customers,” explains Jennifer. The need for, and anticipation of, the site by consumers and businesses alike was the formula for its instant success.

Isn’t it nice to know that you can now effectively plan anything from a spa date for your mother-in-law to a play date for your daughter? Whether you’re 9 or 99, when it comes to local entertainment, ThisIsBoise.com is sure to be your only guide to finding the places and activities to put the ‘life’ back into your social life.

V.1.4 SUMMER 2012FUSION MAGAZINE 132158 Broadway St. (208) 384-9000

SHEAR COMFORT.

SHEAR FABULOUS.

SHEAR ELEGANCE.



SWEET PRESENT, BRIGHT FUTURE

ANDREW COBAWRITTEN BY BY JENNIFER SANDERS PETERSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUBREY BOWER


MUSIC

While most teenaged boys are perfecting their jump shot or trying to get to the next level of a video game, 15 year old Andrew Coba can play piano and sing a three hour set of jazz and pop standards, with a few of his original pieces thrown in for good measure. Not that Andrew isn’t a typical kid in many ways—he loves to hang out with his friends, watch movies, and ride his bike; but not every kid can say they’ve been named as one of the top thirty high school vocalists in the country by the Grammy Foundation.

Once you’ve heard his finely honed voice—somewhere between the simple emotional honesty of Chet Baker’s and the vulnerability of Paul McCartney’s—you’d hardly believe Andrew Coba was a shy kid who didn’t perform live until the age of 12.

“From a very early age I remember my parents telling me I had a nice voice, and encouraging me to sing around the house. Sometimes they would try and make me sing in front of company, and I’d be terrified,” says Coba. “In sixth grade something switched inside me. I was supposed to play a song at our piano recital, and I decided I would try and play piano and sing this time. It suddenly just felt right. The song was Wilson Pickett’s “Midnight Hour”, and I sang the song and the crowd loved it and I loved it and I was hooked. The very next year was a talent show at Fairmont Junior High, and I tried out, was asked to perform at the big show, and sang “Clocks” by Coldplay in front of the whole school. Again, it went really well, and not long after that I started attending Arts West Academy.”

Since its inception in 2007, Arts West Academy, a Boise school for the Performing and Visual arts, has sent graduating students out

to the best colleges and conservatories in the country, including the New England Conservatory of Music, Berklee College of Music, USC, the New School, the Manhattan School of Music, and others, and has allowed Coba to be challenged intellectually along with fine-tuning his craft as a jazz major.

“My mom is a teacher. A counselor at her school also worked at Arts West. This woman saw a video of me singing in my school talent show, and told my mom I should come check out Arts West for a day. In the middle of 8th grade I spent a day (there), and it was like I found my people. I immediately knew this was the place for me. I’ve been there two and a half years now, and it’s really changed my life.”

A typical day at Arts West for Coba consists of five to seven hours of music training, while taking an entire year’s worth of subject matter in a single semester. “It’s really tough sometimes, but totally worth it,” he says. “My music teachers are all world-class musicians. My vocal instructor, Jeff Baker, has sung around the world, and with many of the best jazz musicians of our time. Justin Nielsen, is not only one of the founders of the school, but also a phenomenal jazz pianist. These teachers really inspire us to be our best. On top of it all, my classmates are all great people and incredible musicians. We push each other. We root for each other.”

Striking out beyond Arts West, Andrew has also started to make a stir in the local music scene. He was hand-picked to perform in the Curtis Stigers annual Holiday Extravaganza, where he received a heartfelt standing ovation for his version of “I Heard the Bells on

“FOR SOME REASON, WHEN I’M ON STAGE IT FEELS DIFFERENT. I JUST FOCUS ON THE SONG. I JUST SING, AND IT WORKS OUT. REALLY I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WHILE I’M SINGING THAN BEFORE OR AFTER I’M ON STAGE.


Christmas Day,” which he also recorded for the Moxie Java ‘Idaho-Ho-Ho’ compilation CD. He’s writing and perfecting songs he’d like to see on his own CD one day, but he’s not in any hurry to see it put out. “I really love writing and recording, and I’m going to be putting some of my songs out on the internet for people to hear. I got good advice to not hurry things, to just focus on learning my craft. For now, I’m having a blast working on songs, playing them out. Down the road, when I have enough songs of quality ready, I’ll put out a solo album.”

While others would advise him to push forward and capitalize on the ‘novelty’ of his youth, Coba clearly has a talent and a voice that will only get better with age and skill. For now, he just takes things one step at a time. “One of my goals for this year was to become a better performer. I’ve tried to watch and learn from other singers. Curtis Stigers is awesome in front of a crowd. He makes it look easy. I hope to be as great a performer as Curtis someday. “

As for his former performance anxiety–the one that wouldn’t even let him sing in front of his Grandparents without “freaking out”, it seems to have disappeared. Usually sporting a dress shirt, tie, and fedora, Andrew settles in behind a piano and microphone as if he’s always been there. “For some reason, when I’m on stage it feels different. I just focus on the song. I just sing, and it works out. Really I feel more comfortable while I’m singing than before or after I’m on stage. The more times I perform, the easier it gets.”

When asked where he sees his future in music taking him, he answers, “In ten years, I hope I’ve played music all around the

world. I hope to have written amazing songs that’ll make a difference in people’s lives in the same way music has made a difference in my life.”

And as to being courted as a ‘jazz phenom,’ Andrew says, “For whatever reason, music comes pretty easy to me. I work very hard at it, study and practice music for hours at school every day, but I understand that music just makes sense to me. It’s a gift, and I’m very thankful.”

To learn more about Andrew Coba or to hear his work, search Andrew Coba (Musician/Band) on Facebook, and on YouTube. And keep his name on the tip of your tongue; you’ll be hearing it associated with increasingly greater things in coming years. For now, even with all his talent, we’re glad he’s taking time to just be 15.


PATCASSO

WRITTEN BY LIZZ ANNE NAUGHTON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BUETOW

Art in Motion

The underground art scene in Boise—and I mean underground because their studio is in the basement of a building on Fulton Street—has recently combined forces. “Patcasso,” an art performance company of varying genres, has started making a name around town, and the story starts in his home of Detroit Michigan.



ART

Our main character, Patrick Hunter, found himself drawing and doodling all the time but never thought he would be able to turn it into his career. In fact, after high school he headed to the University of Michigan to study engineering and ended up with a bachelor’s de-gree in computer science.

Hunter then left the big city in the Midwest, and came to Boise to ac-cept a job offer from Hewlett-Packard. Establishing himself as a lead-er with HP and in the community he continued to search for a use for his now displaced art talent. “My mother taught me that your heart and your passions will always bring you back to what you’re designed to do and why you are here”—and Hunter’s career path is proof that the late Mrs. Hunter knew what she was talking about. “I truly believe that talent is a gift, and gifts are meant to share.” With the encourage-ment of his mother and support from his pastor, Hunter decided to share his gift with the world and started painting. In 2007, his church provided his first platform to paint live which infused dance and he began to fall in love with art all over again.

Hunter explained, “Although I tried to circumvent the process by go-ing a different route, I came back to what I’m programmed to do—and that is art.” He said studying engineering helped him fine-tune his math skills and work the other side of his brain. This developed a balance which showed him that “an engineer and an artist can look at things in two different ways” –and he can now see both ways. “It helped me be structured, yet unstructured” he pointed out.

Hunter’s desire to introduce people to a multi-dimensional art experi-ence attracted the interest and support of talented and well respect-ed Boise based artists and friends “When I think about art and how I look at art for what I’m doing right now, it’s more than just the visuals of painting ; it’s the culture of art. And that is music, food, visuals—its how people express themselves creatively.”

Hunter came up with the idea of performance art from his roots in Michigan where he taught himself how to draw and listened to music ranging from gospel, to Motown, to Classical to hip hop. “Having expo-

THE ENTERTAINMENT OF ART FUSION“WHEN I THINK ABOUT ART AND HOW I LOOK AT ART FOR WHAT I’M DOING RIGHT NOW, IT’S MORE THAN JUST THE VISUALS OF PAINTING AND WHAT NOT; IT’S THE CULTURE OF ART. AND THAT IS MUSIC, FOOD, VISUALS—ITS HOW PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY.”


sure to different types of music almost naturally put me in a space to be exposed to different types of cultures. So, what you get from my shows is a microcosm of me.” In Patcasso’s shows, Hunter wanted different kinds of art happening over the course of an evening to convey to the audience the idea of art that’s all around in our culture.

The Patcasso tag line is “The Entertainment of Art Fusion”—and their shows are exactly that. A Patcasso event may include pantomiming, modern dancing, ballroom dancing, live painting, food, music—all happening at once in a speak-easy atmosphere. Patcasso hosts events in secret locations that attendees can only find out about by RSVP’ing to their Facebook events. They maintain a cool and intimate vibe by relying instead on word-of-mouth efforts rather than posting flyers or advertisements.. Even trying to stay reserved in their promotions, Boise can’t stop buzzing about them. The more exposure the group gets, the more opportunities for shows they’ve had. Having done three shows in the past 8 months , they have even started traveling which

Hunter hopes starts some “cross pollination” with the movement.

So, what should you expect during a typical Patcasso perfor-mance? While each show is its own experience, you can generally expect dancers that bend and turn to music that is in turn follow-ing brush strokes from Hunter’s hands. Iconic paintings such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mick Jagger and even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. vibrate the black canvases that they are splashed on to. As you look around the room people are watching while eating food that is almost as beautiful as what’s going up on the canvas on stage. During their Feb “Red Affair” where all of his guests wore red, Patcasso featured a collaboration between a harpist from the Boise Philharmonic a dancer from Trey McIntyre Project who took the audience by surprise with a remarkable per-formance. Even ‘untrained’ ears couldn’t help but be struck by the performance—proof that Patcasso does exactly what Hunter wants to do: Experience and celebrate how things are “better to-gether” through use of art.

Although most of Patcasso’s performances are not widely adver-tised, there is a featured event coming on June 16th. Patrick Hunter will also be performing as a solo artist this summer in Boston and Las Vegas. Check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/Pat-casso for updates on the latest.


“FASHION IS LIKE FOOD. EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN PERSONAL TASTE, AND EVERY PLACE YOU GO YOU GET A LOCAL FLAVOR,” SAYS RON TORRES, OFF HAND. IT’S JUST ANOTHER COMMENT FROM HIS STREAM-OF-CONSCIOUS-STYLE CONVERSATION, BUT I THINK HE SAID IT BEST, AND IT MADE ME BEGIN TO WONDER… WHAT IS THE STYLE CUISINE OF OUR CITY? WHAT DO OUR DESIGNERS COOK UP AND SEE SERVED ON THE HUMAN-CLUTTERED SIDEWALKS OF DOWNTOWN? WHAT DO PEOPLE TASTE WHEN THEY SAMPLE THE LOCAL FASHION SHOPS?

TO TAKE A TASTE FOR YOURSELF, HERE’S A FASHIONISTA BUFFET OF SOME OF THE MOST FASHION-FORWARD AND STYLE-MINDED OF OUR CITY. ENJOY ALL THE FLAVORS THEY OFFER UP, AND THEN, WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR CLOSET TO PICK OUT YOUR CLOTHES FOR TOMORROW, GO AHEAD AND CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT WILL ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THE MIX. LET’S KEEP MAKING BOISE A FLAVOR THAT CAN’T BE FORGOTTEN, ONE THAT MAKES PEOPLE COME BACK FOR SECONDS.


WRITTEN BY ALANNA LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA MORGAN

& SUBSTANCE

FASHION FLAVORS OF THE CITY


ADRIAN SEIBOLD – WHO: Manager at Apple for the past 5 years.HIS STYLE IS: “A cross between urban street fashion and GQ high fashion.”FAVORITE TREND OF THE MOMENT: “Polka dots.”WORST PERSONAL STYLE DECISION: “I used to have Polo brand denim overalls...Seriously, I did.”IN HIS FREE TIME: “Find a sweet spot to go shoe shopping! I have this thing for shoes; I stopped counting how many I had about 2 years ago—at the time I had 100 pairs!”THOUGHTS ON WOMEN’S WEAR: “Chandelier pants are bad. Period.”HIS STYLE ICON: “Pharrell.”TO GET HIS LOOK: “Check out websites like highsnobiety.com.” STYLE ADVICE FOR THE WORLD: “So I’m thinking selfishly here—but make taller clothes!”

RON TORRES – WHO: Onset coordinator/filmmaker/editor for Bodybuilding.com and dabbler in the film industry and comedy theater.HIS STYLE IS: “It’s like Jazz history—made of many different periods and lots of experimentation. It’s a greater form that I vary within that can only be appreciated after you step back and see the whole history of it.”FAVORITE TREND OF THE MOMENT: “At the moment, it feels like we’re getting a clean slate and going back to the hallmarks of fashion. I’m at the point where I’m ready to jump into a suit and feel

more tailored with a 50s look.”WORST PERSONAL STYLE DECISION: “There is no such thing as a fashion disaster. You just need to be patient enough to wait for the day when that ‘disaster’ can be acknowledged as a success.”IN HIS FREE TIME: “I love going to local coffee shops to write and read…maybe head over to a shopping center to browse the racks, then pick up something from a video rental store.”THOUGHTS ON WOMEN’S WEAR: “The most interesting trend I’m seeing is about embrac-ing a masculine aggressiveness while still being a woman—think ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.’”HIS STYLE ICON: “Tom Ford, Steve McQueen, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, and Todd Oldham.”HOW TO GET HIS LOOK: “Go to thrift stores. Always think, ‘Can I get this cheaper or make it more interesting?’ Oh, and embrace neon.”STYLE ADVICE TO THE WORLD: “Wake up in the morning and part your hair to a different side. Wake up in the morning and blindly pick two random things out of your closet to wear together. Don’t let how you look control you—YOU control how you look.”

& SUBSTANCE

THE VOICE OF THE VALLEY24 THE VOICE OF THE VALLEY24

COURTNEY KING –WHO: Stylist at Oliver’s for almost three years specializing in professional makeup artistry, highly customized hair artistry, extensions, and wedding hair/makeup services.HER STYLE IS: “Moody, sporadic, random, and totally based on how I’m feeling at that very moment.”FAVORITE TREND OF THE MOMENT: “Bright nails and orange anything!”IN HER FREE TIME: “I’m a collector of hobbies, so how could I possibly choose? A few of mine are drawing, sculpting, writ-ing, exercising, and making pretty people even prettier.”

WORST PERSONAL STYLE DECISION: “Thinking I could substitute bras with Band-Aids.”THOUGHTS ON MENSWEAR: “I like all the intricacies of men’s clothing—things like bow ties, cuff links, and all the different fabric textures. I actually like it so much that I sometimes wear men’s pants.”HER STYLE ICON: “Anna Dello Russo.”HOW TO GET HER LOOK: “Roll around in your closet, throw on a pair of heels, grabs some jewelry, and go!”STYLE ADVICE FOR THE WORLD: “Even if it seems weird, do it.”

MEGAN COZINE – WHO: Mac makeup artist for 11 years.HER STYLE IS: “Going with the trends and creating my own style through them.”FAVORITE TREND OF THE MOMENT: “Color blocking! That and tribal prints.”WORST PERSONAL STYLE DECISION: “I once dyed my hair blonde with pink streaks in it—that was a little crazy for me.”IN HER FREE TIME: “I am super chill on my days off. I love my alone time, since I spend so much time with people. I might hang out at home, catch up on TV shows, like The Kardashians, American Idol, and The Voice, and then clean the house.

THOUGHTS ON MENSWEAR: “I have this thing for the Justin Bieber style—super skinny pants tucked into boots.”HER STYLE ICON: “Courtney Kardashian.”HOW TO GET HER LOOK: “Put together items that people normally wouldn’t think of, then throw in other pieces and acces-sories.”STYLE ADVICE FOR THE WORLD: “Dress according to your body type.”

& SUBSTANCE

FASHION FLAVORS OF THE CITY

JIMMY FARRIS – WHO: Has played for the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and others. Is currently running for U.S. Congress.HIS STYLE IS: “Whatever I feel like on that particular day, but I prefer casual because I’m a pretty laid back person.”FAVORITE TREND OF THE MOMENT: “The return of sophistication.”WORST PERSONAL STYLE DECISION: “Those knit athletic wristbands.” IN HIS FREE TIME: “I’ll get in a workout or Google up on everything I’ve been missing. I could seriously spend all day online because I’m an internet addict.”THOUGHTS ON WOMEN’S WEAR: “I love women’s shoes, so much so that I have been known to spend a great deal of money on shoes for the women in my life! There is nothing quite so good looking as a woman in a white shirt, jeans, and heels.”STYLE ICON: “David Beckham and JFK.”TO GET HIS LOOK: “Never wear anything baggy—always fitted, and wear button-ups in simple colors like blues and greys.”STYLE ADVICE TO THE WORLD: “The number one thing is to wear clean clothes, keeping everything clean, crisp, and nicely pressed. Oh, and the drycleaner is your best friend.”

& SUBSTANCE


BY DELILA N. GUTIERREZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEVI BETTWEISER

I’M ALWAYS HEARING, “WHERE MY LADIES AT? WHERE MY LADIES AT?” WELL, I’M SAYING, “WHERE MY MEN AT? WHERE MY MEN AT?” CAN I GET ALL THE STYLING MEN TO STAND UP? STAND UP AND STAND OUT WITH THE SUMMER’S SEXY AND SIZZLING WEAR FOR 2012. SO WHAT ARE THE HOT-TO-TROT LOOKS FOR MEN? I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD VISITING EVERY CATWALK FROM NEW YORK TO MILAN, IN SEARCH OF THE LATEST AND GREATEST FROM THE FASHION WORLD—AND BOY AM I TIRED!

Board shorts, board shorts, and more board shorts. That’s all I can say. Wear them in solid bright colors or printed and pair them with the white rib tank that goes with almost every-thing. Add a simple tank and Tom’s to finish off the look or slip on neon-colored flip flops for an ultra casual look, giving you that surfer style.

Serious beach babes will be rocking retro looks this summer, with prints like gingham, polka dots, florals, and ruffles. Pin-up styles and flirty prints are the perfect combination of cute and sexy! Bright colors emphasize a tan, so get glowing in neon yellow, pink, turquoise, or orange.


Don’t want to be overdressed or under dressed for a friendly BBQ? Then take those frumpy pleated khaki pants and roll them up for a cropped look. The white collared shirt is great worn alone or layered over a T-shirt with a sun washed color. For that David Beckham style, only tuck-in one side and wear your favorite pair of vans or go with some sexy leather sandals, for a bit more than just a casual finish.

MY INVESTIGATION FOR WHAT TO WEAR IN SUMMER FASHIONS REVEALED BRIGHT COLORS, THE INFAMOUS WHITE SHIRT, SUMMER BLUES, PRINT ON PRINTS, CROPPED PANTS, AND THE NEVER-GOES-OUT-OF-STYLE BLAZER. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU MEN, FROM CLASSIC AND STRUCTURED TO POPS OF COLOR, AND I HAVE THE “HOW-TOS” TO ROCK THESE FITS.

See-through tops, dresses, and skirts are all the rage this season. Sound dangerous? It can be, unless you’re careful (or just plain brazen)! For the fashion conservative, layer a jewel-toned sheer blouse over a neutral camisole or tank top. For those ladies feeling a little bolder, choose a bandeau top in a contrasting color (blue over yellow, purple over orange, etc.) as your undergarment. Or, if you’re feeling particularly brave, wear it with a simple black bra! For an-other spin on the see-through trend, pair a sheer maxi skirt or dress over short shorts with sky-high platforms for a daring ensemble that will stand out in a crowd.

Color Blocking is another hot trend this season. It’s so easy and in-stantly chic! Try combining a turquoise top and yellow skinny jeans, a red blouse and bright blue skirt, a purple tank and hot pink shorts, or, of course, anything with this season’s color-of-the-moment—tangerine orange! Add neutral shoes to keep the focus on your clothes, or amp up your look with bold, graphic wedges.

Peplum tops are having their moment in the sun, and it’s not hard to see why! Their hourglass cut suits almost any body-type, highlighting a lady’s lovely curves. Just make sure the flare sits at or above your hips, for a structured but oh-so-feminine silhouette. A bright retro print adds whimsy to polished peplum style. Pair a blouse like this with fitted pants or a sexy pencil skirt and add a skinny belt at the waistline to accentuate your figure. Trade the skirt for lacy shorts to take this look from the profes-sional daywear to casual weekend fun!

Yes, those linen suits are hot; hot for summer business, allowing for the influence of Miami flavor to take over. Summer blue suits in brights or lights were all over the catwalk. Blues, plaids, royals, and sun washed is where it’s at. The polo is very versatile under that suit and keeps you looking professional. The leather European-influenced loafer is a perfect finish to your suit, guaran-teeing those stuffy boardroom meetings will never be lacking flare. For a dinner out with friends after work, try changing up your shoes with a moccasin style, to alter the look from business to not so business.

Oh, how I love metallic shiny material (and so did the designers). From high shine to a soft reflective material, blazers are all the rage. Pair one with a shiny tuxedo-style, tailored pant for uptown style or the fitted denim jean for down-town style. Whichever you choose, a lightweight blazer is your best accessory. Try wearing a neon or bright casual T-shirt, to add a little more flavor, and patent leather high tops for a bit of hip hop flair. Either way, you won’t go wrong sporting any of these nightlife pieces.

The little black dress is SO last year. Stow it for next season, because 2012 is all about color! Throw off the dark hues of winter and go towards the light! Stand out in a crowd and let your colors fly in bright neon hues, whimsical pastels, or watercolor floral prints. Look for lace dresses to express your feminine side or unleash your inner wildcat with retro-sexy animal prints. Dolce & Gabbana is mixing leop-ard with florals; would you dare to wear such a wild combo? Waist-lines are coming down this year, so stow the baby-doll dresses and empire-waisted styles for another season. For extra style points, rock an asymmetrical neckline or hemline. Creatively placed pockets and pouches are also fun; if it’s unexpected, it’s fashion-forward!

THANK GOODNESS 2012 HAS RETURNED TO MORE TRADITIONAL WEAR, REMIXED WITH MODERN. I LOVED MOST OF THE LOOKS ON THE RUNWAYS, AND, DEFINITELY, MANY OF THEM ARE EASILY TRANSLATED TO REALISTIC LOOKS FOR THE FASHION CONSCIOUS.

FASHION CREDITS..Clothing provided by Dillard’s

ARTICLE CO WRITTEN: Womens portion & styling

Tanya Carnahan from Stylespygirl.com, Mens portion & styling

Delila N. GutierrezMAKEUP:

Micalah Howard & Delila N. GutierrezHair: Dale Tu & Shi She Styles

MODELS SWIMWEAR:Jonathan Smith

Edina KarabegovicMODELS CASUAL:

Aaron MinegarJordyn ChessmoreMODELS BUSINESS:

Jayon LeonardAmanda Remy

MODELS AFTERHOURS:Raciel CastroJade Hassen

and Last but certainly not least Levi Bettweiser and assistant Erin Chancer with Lbcustom.com

THANK GOODNESS 2012 HAS RETURNED TO MORE TRADITIONAL WEAR, REMIXED WITH MODERN. I LOVED MOST OF THE LOOKS ON THE RUNWAYS, AND, DEFINITELY, MANY OF THEM ARE EASILY TRANSLATED TO REALISTIC LOOKS FOR THE FASHION CONSCIOUS.

Visit http://benderbuckles.com to see how it works & order online!

While discovering all the hottest summer trends this year, don’t forget all the must-have accessories that you will need to complete your summer look. Bender Buckles offers fash-ionable, American made, belt buckle accessories and belts to take your outfit to an entirely new level. As a start-up, Boise based company; Bender Buckles has its own modern, inter-changeable, magnetic belt buckle system that accommo-dates your buckle change as quickly as your mood or outfit. With endless possibilities to make your expression unique, change as many face plates as you can handle with just a single base buckle and belt strap!

While many of the buckle designs are limited edition, a highly durable resin covers the artwork giving you the ability to cre-ate any design, ranging from simple colors and patterns to at-tention grabbing animal prints or crystal bling. By dynamical-ly expressing yourself, you have the ability to collect many different buckle faces for a quick and easy change whenever your mood or outfit requires!

Bender Buckles seeks to be a leading brand of high quality, fashionable, belt buckle accessories with unique function, standout and dynamic designs.

BENDER BUCKLES BY KATIE OLSEN MITCHELL

Proof Sunglasses are stylish, durable, comfortable, and way more environmentally friendly than your average sunglasses. Other than being just a great pair of shades, Proof offers the finest quality hand-made sustainable wood eyewear in the world. Customized with top quality craftsmanship and pro-duced with the finest hardwoods available they offer differ-ent lens options that will protect you with 100% UVA and UVB protection. Inspired by modern and vintage looks, Proof offers unique styles so that no two pairs are exactly alike. All glasses are hand crafted with stainless steel spring hinges that adjust to each individual face & customized to fit. Laser engraved

with logo, model name, and customized quote, you also have the option of having any of your chosen woods stained.

Look Good. Do Good.

Feel good knowing a large majority of Proofs profits go to giving eyesight surgeries in India while also being involved in other causes that do good & help those in need by being involved with different charitable opportunities that offer ways of giv-ing back by taking an active role in the first sunglass recycling program along with “Plant a Tree”.

PROOF EYEWEAR BY KATIE OLSEN MITCHELL

Visit www.iwantproof.com for more information & to find your local Boise dealers.


FUSION FITNESS FOCUS

BALLET IDAHO36 THE VOICE OF THE VALLEY


Ballet, with its blend of artistic expression, flexibility, and technicality, falls within a narrow category amongst athletics. I was privileged to speak with professional ballet performers from Ballet Idaho who were generous in sharing some of the physical benefits experienced through the sport. Angela Gibson and Graham Gobeille filled me in on their year-round work ethic and body mastery, which are also two words that describe any of the shows performed by their tight-knit company. Ballet specifically requires incredible balance, not only of the dancer’s body on stage, but also during the cross-training-style exercise routines necessary to keep dancers in peak shape.

Dance and exercise practices differ only slightly between men and women. Both benefit from cardio endurance during strenuous rehearsals, not to mention the mental cardio involved when learning new choreography every other session. They also both require physical training to keep every muscle pliable and strong, but as Gobeille reminded me, “you don’t want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in tights.” If you did, pirouettes and kicks would not look nearly as elegant. Stretching all limbs, before and after strength training, is how the men keep their lifts high and their form flexible and how women are able to avoid the sprained ankles and broken toes associated with pointe shoes.

Gobeille utilizes a variety of supplementary exercises to stay on top of his game and limber for those precise movements. Aside from typical crunches and pull-ups, yoga keeps all muscles awake while creating clarity and peace of mind.

Remember, as a ballet dancer, not only do you have to know where you’re going three steps ahead of being there, but you also need to know where your partner is at all times, in addition to the locations of other flying bodies on the stage.

Angela Gibson, who is a Pilates instructor in addition to a ballet dancer, witnesses patrons of all ages discovering muscles and joints that haven’t moved in years, or sometimes ever. Holding difficult positions for extended periods of time creates a positive center and balance that anyone can use regularly. Yoga and Pilates will keep a body refreshed, while also allowing dancers to work out the sore spots from previous rehearsals. Practicing the same sport or activity, nearly year-round, means more liability for injuries; so, like a dancer, always stretch and stretch some more.

After the last show of the season, the performers still are not done perfecting their physiology. The off-season brings with it swimming and hiking for Gibson. During this time, “we are able to rebuild our muscles without the daily soreness” and maintain the cardio.

While most of you won’t be able to jump on the barre and star as the Swan Princess like a dancer, you can experience ballet as a valuable asset to support other athletic activities. The muscle orientation, alone, creates a physical self-awareness like no other which can help prevent injury. In addition, the process of memorizing choreography can quicken mental faculties that will aid with body placement and (in team sports) improve awareness of player orientation.

HARDCOREFINESSE

WRITTEN BY BY CTOPH SIEGMUND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEVI BETTWEISER

BALLET IDAHO


FUSION FITNESS FOCUS

38 THE VOICE OF THE VALLEY


The physical demands behind ballet serve as an excellent workout for anyone’s cardio and core muscles. “Core training is the most important,” said both dancers. Want summer abs? You may have found your answer.

Also keep ballet in mind as a possible activity or sport to involve your children in. Not every kid was meant for contact sports or guitar lessons, so don’t forget to include dance as another option. “I didn’t even like ballet until I was about 15,”

says Gobeille. There are plenty of beginner classes available for all ages to come and learn to appreciate the art.

So, stop hunching and dragging your feet and get your plié on. Then, show off your ballet-toned body when you go to see one of the highly anticipated Ballet Idaho shows this fall. You’ll look and feel amazing!

Visit www.balletidaho.org


I am a strongman competitor. I can press a metal log equal to my body weight over my head. I have flipped a 600-pound tire, end over end, 100 feet in under 60 seconds. I can deadlift nearly 3 times my body weight. In training, I have carried 160 pounds in each hand for over 100 feet. I can load a 200-pound atlas stone to a platform that is 48 inches tall. I have pushed this 130-pound body to its limits over and over, and I have found that I am capable of some pretty ridiculous things! Impressive? Maybe to some people. Are these things you strive to do? I would guess most people haven’t even considered strongman training, but there are techniques that I use to prepare for competitions that could benefit you.

As a business owner, wife, and mom of 5, I don’t have hours a day to spend in the gym, but I expect big things from the workouts that I do put in. During the week, I typically spend no more than an hour a day focused on training. On Saturdays, I train strongman specific events with a crew of strongman competitors, so there’s more of a time commitment, but I love the energy that fills the gym when this amazing group of athletes comes together to

train. Typically, we will train heaviest on Saturday, focusing on 2 or 3 specific events. These events can include a tire flip, pulling or pushing a truck, overhead press, farmer’s carry, and loading atlas stones. If there is an upcoming competition, this is the day we work on our “weaker” events. We are there, not only encouraging one another but also working together to perfect technique.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I do a “Sticks and Stones” group fitness class for conditioning. It is a 30-minute class that works my full body. Each day, there are 5 or 6 exercises that target different body parts. Some of the basics include: overhead dumbbell press, pushups, box jumps, chin ups, and crunches. We do 20 repetitions of each exercise for each round, with the goal being to complete 5 rounds within the 30 minutes. I have found it to be a great way to get in cardiovascular training while working on muscle growth.

In addition to “Sticks and Stones” classes, I train for a specific strongman event on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I

WRITTEN BY JOANN HAGADORN PHOTOGRAPH BY EARL MARTIN

MAKING OF A STRONG MAN

FITNESS


decide what events to train, based on upcoming competitions. It is pretty typical for me to work on my overhead press once a week, which includes bench press and triceps extensions. Deadlifting is also found in most competitions, so I focus on it once a week. Some weeks I will focus on lifting a weight that I can pull 20 repetitions; other weeks I will do working sets of 1 to 3 repetitions. Once a week I do some variation of squats. I focus more on front squats than other variations. I have found that front squats improve my form on overhead press as well as strengthening my legs.

My focus on Tuesdays and Thursdays is conditioning. There are a few ways I accomplish this. Again, I modify which exercises I use depending on what events I will face in upcoming competitions. Currently, I am doing a farmer’s walk/sled drag medley for one of my conditioning days. A farmer’s walk is an event in which you carry an implement in each hand and “run.” It is pretty standard to use a weight equal to your body weight in each hand. A sled drag is just what it sounds like; you walk backwards dragging a weighted sled. On conditioning days, I will repeat this medley 10

times with minimal rest, to not only work on my technique but to build up my endurance.

I am fortunate to have a gym nearby that caters to strength athletes. If you are in an area that doesn’t have this type of facility, it is still possible to supplement your work out with some strongman techniques. You can do a farmer’s carry using a heavy dumbbell in each hand. Most fitness centers have some selection of free weights, and a standard barbell can be loaded to do squats, deadlifts, and overhead press. If you are not familiar with proper form on these exercises, find a personal trainer to work with you. A knowledgeable trainer should be able to help you to perfect your form in 1 or 2 sessions. This could be a chance for you to find a new passion. So, even if you’re not quite ready for a strongman competition, here are some things to take away: Next time you are in the gym, I challenge you to start training with an encouraging group, mix up your fitness routine (on a regular basis), and put down those 5 pound dumbbells and push yourself a little harder. You may just surprise yourself!

JoAnn Hagadorn is a mother of 5, a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and owner of Genesis Fitness in Nampa. She is part of the Cellucor Sports Nutrition Strongman Team. And she likes turtles.


24 HOUR ACCESS CONVENIENT

NO CONTRACTSMONTH - TO - MONTH

.959$permonth

GET STARTED!208-323-13537211 W COLONIAL ST

BOISE, ID

FIGHT FIT ZUMBA® YOGA BOXING JIU-JITSU UNLIMITED TANNING KIDS CLUB

INTERNATIONALFITNESSBOISE.COM

EXPRESS MEMBERSHIP ONLY

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL!

MOVE YOUR BODY. CHANGE YOUR WORLD!


Thinking about a new home?

We can help youfind the perfect fit.

The Morgan Real Estate Team“Get MORE with the Morgan Team!”

Leah -‐ 208.859.5546Dave -‐ 208.859.5545www.themorganteam.us

TOMLINSON GROUP

yourYOURVI

SION

YOURVOICEYOURMAG

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT. SUPPORT OUR KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN .....coming soon! www.fusion-mag.com

magazine campaign


I AM FUSION

WHO: Karen Sanders, Executive Director of the Downtown Boise Association (DBA) for the past 8 years. Originally from South Africa, came to live in Boise in 1988.

WHAT SHE DOES: “Any day could include event planning, media relations, working with city officials, participating in planning for future development or projects, or creating and implementing new marketing ideas for downtown. And some days even include pouring beer at Alive After Five! Whatever it may hold, each day is interesting and busy.”

WHY SHE LOVES BOISE: “So many reasons! Downtown Boise has sidewalk cafes, the Capital City Public Market, the Greenbelt, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the short commute to downtown, and the many fantastic cultural events, not to mention it is safe and provides easy access to the great outdoors. I have even taken up skiing, so I can keep up with my 5-year-old son, and I bought my very first bicycle not so long ago. Oh, and I met my husband while floating the Boise River—a good reason to love Boise!”

WHAT BROUGHT HER FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO BOISE: “I had a wonderful opportunity to visit Idaho in 1988 with a group of South Africans that came to participate in the World Series Jet Boat Races. We toured some of the most beautiful areas of Idaho, including Hells Canyon and areas along the Salmon and the Clearwater Rivers. I fell in love with everything I saw, and I stayed.”

PERFECT DAY IN BOISE: “A walk or ride on the Greenbelt, followed by a cup of coffee from one of our local downtown coffee shops; and then a stroll through the Saturday market to buy fresh produce for the week, followed by lunch or dinner at a downtown sidewalk café.”

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN BOISE: “I don’t have one favorite place, but I have favorite dishes from a variety of the many restaurants in downtown Boise. I am always excited to try new dishes that include locally grown ingredients or something that is unique to Idaho. I enjoy that we have so many options to choose from.”

IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS DOWNTOWN BOISE WILL BECOME: “I think that the next 10 years are going to be an exciting time for the area! The recent developments, including 8th & Main, Whole Foods, JUMP, and the CC Anderson Building Redevelopment, are just the beginning of the future. I envision many of the dirt lots will be developed, and many more residential units will be built, bringing more residents to the urban core. I see more urban-centric businesses choosing to locate in the city center and bringing a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial workers. I also think that the advent of more educational opportunities, like Concordia University School of Law, is a trend that is exciting for downtown.”

FAVORITE SHOPPING PLACE IN BOISE: “Downtown Boise of course!”

KAREN SANDERSIS FUSIONWRITTEN BY BY ALANNA LOVE PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM LOVE



There is something elegant about a glass bottle. The curves and lines are unique, and each one has its own signature appeal. They can be easy to overlook, though, since it’s generally what is on the inside the counts. As they sit on the shelf, their main purpose is to entice revelers into purchasing a shot of their contents. Drinks are ordered, libations are had, and the empty pieces of artwork those cocktails were poured from are tossed into the trash or a box in the back room, ready to be carted off to the landfill. This is no longer the only option. Items once considered trash now have the potential to change lives and help the environment.

At Sustainable Futures, the empty glass wine, beer, and spirit bottles each weekend produces are up-cycled into glassware, décor, and other beautiful gift items. While repurposing these objects is admirable in itself, Sustainable Futures simultaneously provides jobs and vocational training in “green-collar” jobs to people facing significant employment barriers. This non-profit has a tremendous impact on the community and the environment—an impact that is continually growing.

Lisa Scales founded Sustainable Futures with the hope of

assisting those who needed work experience and to create a use for Boise’s non-recycled glass bottles. At the time, Scales owned an environmentally friendly building supply company and had hired a woman on work-release from the South Boise Women’s Correctional Center. It was then that she learned of the many trials faced by those who have been previously incarcerated, how not having a job was the primary reason that so many reoffend. Scales began looking for a solution. Since most of Boise’s used bottles end up in landfills or other no-recycle facilities, she decided repurposing glass bottles would be a viable solution to this ongoing problem. These driving forces compelled Scales to create Sustainable Futures, and the non-profit cut their first glass in 2008.

At that point, Sustainable Futures only had a small workshop in Garden City and an unclear vision of how they should proceed. They operated for the first few years under a fiscal sponsorship from Sustainable Community Connections, a group whose goal is growing a strong locally-minded community. As they worked with the glass, they began to gain a better knowledge base and spent time developing a better product. In August of 2010, Sustainable

THE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IS BRIGHTWRITTEN BY JESSICA MCANALLY PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER CERRERA

CULTURE



Futures became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They moved to their current showroom and workshop location on Franklin Road in Boise, in May, 2011, and have continued to grow.

Regardless of the changes and developments made as the non-profit has grown, it still holds true to its original purposes. “We actually have two missions,” said Carlyn Blake, the Executive Director of Sustainable Futures. “First, we have an environmental mission called ‘Closing the Loop.’ We take used wine and spirit bottles donated by restaurants, bars, and individuals and recycle them, turning them into usable glasses, bowls, candles, and vases. We also have a social mission that we call ‘Opening the Circle,’ which is providing employment to those who have barriers to employment.” Blake manages the daily operations of Sustainable Futures. She also provides strategic management for the organization.

OPENING THE CIRCLE

The program participants at Sustainable Futures are individuals who have difficulty entering the workforce. They include those

who have previously been incarcerated, at-risk youth, refugees, and people over the age of 55. Sustainable Futures works with groups such as the Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho’s Agency for New Americans, and the Idaho Department of Corrections.

In order to assist these people with preparations for their new jobs, new skills and green-collar vocations are taught, bolstering their resumes and helping to find permanent work placement. Those within the program are given valuable experience in an environment centralized in education and personal growth.

The education of those participating in the Sustainable Futures program is vital. Volunteers assist by providing job search assistance and interview coaching, as well as offering English classes to non-native speakers. “The life skills training is everything from personal health and hygiene to goal setting, self-esteem, motivation, even just how to surf the Internet, how to use the computer, how to build a resume, how to dress for an interview, how to do an interview, how to fill out an application, how to look for a job, and where to find a job,” Blake explained.


The 3 primary skills that are taught at Sustainable Futures are basic inventory management, production operations/quality control, and shipping/packaging. New product development is also learned along the way, as most ideas for new products come from the program participants. For instance, there is one particular type of bottle that keeps coming into the facility. It is memorable for its shape—a female torso that resembles the body of Buddha. They were kept on a shelf in hopes that an idea would come along for their use. It was not long before one of the program participants examined the bottle and remarked that it would be excellent for storing olive oil. It was corked with a pour-spout, and a future product was created.

At it’s core is a simple mantra; Sustainable Futures is about new life, revitalization, and the assurance that there is always a purpose for everyone and everything. Program participants are responsible for every element of the production process, from cleaning and scraping the labels off of old bottles, to packaging and shipping the finished glass products. Even the operation of the saw used to cut glasses to size is done by participants who have the required skills.

The rewards for this endeavor are plentiful in all regards. Glass is kept out of landfills, and assistance is given to those in need of work and experience. The communal value can be measured by the success rates of their program. Of those who finish their training with Sustainable Futures, 64% find permanent work placement. Those who were previously incarcerated but worked within the Sustainable Futures program have a 15% recidivism rate, and are much less likely to reoffend than someone who had not been a participant. To place this in perspective, the state of Idaho’s recidivism rate for the 2010 fiscal year was 73%. “It is the right thing to do socially and financially,” said Blake.

By the end of the program, the participants who are graduating have demonstrated responsibility and reliability and have created wholesale and retail products that generate revenue to support the future of the program. “We have program participants who finish their hours, and they love it so much that they come back and volunteer,” said Blake. “That really says a lot about the stability and encouragement that this kind of place provides for someone who was having a difficult time finding employment.”

CLOSING THE CIRCLE

Sustainable Futures takes in “raw material” (i.e. empty glass wine, beer, and liquor bottles) from many downtown Boise restaurants, including Bittercreek Alehouse, Red Feather Lounge, Solid, Le Café de Paris, and Fork. All of the material is brought to Sustainable Futures so that it can be examined, cleaned, and sorted. Broken or unusable bottles are set aside to be sent to a recycling center. Usable bottles are washed and their labels removed. Those with painted logos are simply cleaned and passed along.

Once the bottles have been cleaned, they are sorted according to size, shape, color, punt, brand, and a variety of other characteristics, which will deem when the bottles will be used and what they will be used for. The bottles are inventoried at every step of the process, and at this point, they are counted and categorized. They are boxed and placed onto shelves until they are needed to fill a customer’s order.

When an order has been placed, each bottle is taken to the saw. The type of product being made will determine how the glass is cut. For example, when the glass is cut correctly on a 44 North vodka bottle, it creates a perfect 1-ounce shot glass made from the neck and a 20-ounce drinking glass out of the body. Another popular item is the Rogue glass, made from a Rogue beer bottle with a painted label.

Once the bottle has been cut, it may look finished, but there is still quite a bit of work left to do. The lip of the glass needs to be rounded and polished, so that it will not cut someone trying to drink from it. A simple sander is used on the outer edges of the glass, while a lathe is used to round the inner lip. This is a point of distinction between the glassware made by Sustainable Futures versus many other recycled glass dealers—the high quality of the finished edge is similar to that of manufactured glass.

Some glass pieces are also custom etched. Sustainable Futures uses a medium called Rapid Mask for these projects. This light sensitive material is applied over the glass. The area that is not going to be etched is protected, and the piece is put into a sandblaster until the desired etching appears. This is a part of the process that requires extra training and an added skill set, in order for a program participant to perform this aspect of the product’s creation.



At this point, the products are washed and inspected again—part of the diligent quality control that the program members take part in. They critique each piece, before they are passed on to be carefully packaged and shipped to the customer. At this point in time, Sustainable Futures is producing an average of 100-150 items each day. They are also in the midst of reorganizing their production area, in order to increase efficiency and complete more orders.

The variety and unique qualities of each piece produced by Sustainable Futures is remarkable. Each glass is distinct, whether it is made from a Pinnacle or Grey Goose bottle, an Absolut or Jameson bottle. Aside from the items mentioned, Sustainable Futures also produces items such as hurricane lamps and lanterns, candles, bowls, wind chimes, scent diffusers, oil and vinegar containers, and vases. These items can be ordered from their website at www.sustainable-futures.us.

Individuals are not the only ones ordering from Sustainable Futures. There are many local vendors selling the beautiful wares they have created. They can be found in Boise at Indie Made, Dunia Marketplace, Boise Co-op, and the Record Exchange. Ketchum Kitchens in Ketchum and Rush’s Kitchen Supply in Idaho Falls also carry Sustainable Futures items. Even venues in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Florida are now selling these quality recycled-glass products.

There are many ways to assist Sustainable Futures aside from purchasing their products. If you are interested in donating glass bottles or would like to volunteer some time to the Sustainable Futures program, please stop by their showroom located at 5858 W. Franklin Rd. in Boise. You can also call their office at 322-8272.

CULTURE



IDAHO FILM INDUSTRY REVEALED

CHANCES ARE THAT——THE GEM STATE MIGHT NOT BE WHAT FIRST COMES TO MIND. YET YOU'D BE WRONG TO DISMISS IT OUTRIGHT. IDAHO HAS BEEN INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH THE SEVENTH ART SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

WHEN CONSIDERING

A THRIVING FILM SCENE

^

Not only was “The Cowpuncher” filmed in Idaho Falls in 1915, but silent cinema pioneer Nell Shipman ushered in the 20th Century by producing several short films out of her studio in Priest Lake, and her legacy continues into the 21st century with the work of Heather Rae, whose recent project “Magic Valley” (2011)—a study of disaffected youth in Buhl—swept the inaugural Sun Valley Film Festival a few months back, winning the Vision Award (in recognition of a producer's ability to keep a dramatic feature-length film in focus during the journey of the project), the Gem State Award for the film's director Jaffe Zinn (in recognition of an Idaho filmmaker whose work best reflects the beauty and diversity of the state), and the One In A Million Award

(honoring a feature length story made for under a million dollars).

In between such high profile and visible success stories, however, are the multiple efforts of committed individuals to advance film culture in Idaho, creating opportunities within the state to express their professionalism and explore their creativity without making the expected sacrifice of leaving home to work in industry towns like Los Angeles. Fusion Magazine has decided to profile a few of these individuals and organizations as a sampling of what makes filmmaking in Idaho such a progressive enterprise that—at the same time—remains proudly rooted in the Treasure Valley and environs.

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL GUILLÉN PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETE GRADY


The IFO has been tasked with attracting film and video production to the state in order to accrue locally realized benefits from hiring local crews and talent, renting local equipment, using hotel rooms, rental cars, catering services, or any number of goods and services supplied on location. In other words, the IFO ensures Idaho capitalizes on such production activity from what Owens characterizes as “business travelers.”

It's a task that has been complicated by the economic challenges of the recession. Although the Idaho Media Production Rebate was passed by the State Legislature in 2008, it remains unfunded due to state budget deficits. In theory, the program was designed to provide a 20% rebate for qualifying productions on all goods and services purchased in Idaho, if at least $200,000 was spent in the state and at least 20% of the crew were Idaho residents (with the intent of sliding up to 30% over time). Capped at $500,000 per production, the rebate was intended to include feature films, television pilots and episodes, documentaries, and commercials. Patterned after a comparably successful rebate program in neighboring Utah, Idaho filmmakers have not had the chance to take advantage of its intended incentives.

In early December 2011, filmmakers met for an Idaho Business Review roundtable discussion on their industry and were given a reality check by former Idaho State Sen. Joe Stegner (now the newly anointed lobbyist for the University of Idaho). “The Legislature doesn't care about your industry,” Stegner advised. “They have no reason to, particularly. Why in the world would the state of Idaho, through the Legislature, ask the taxpayers in the state of Idaho to subsidize your industry in a manner they wouldn't consider for any other industry?” Owens countered, however, that without such incentives in place, Idaho can't compete.

The conversation about tax incentives for Idaho film is far from over, however, and—until the Legislature is convinced—the IFO has “been making lemonade.” In a strategic change of direction, they've decided to pay more attention to Idaho's indigenous filmmakers by developing programs that significantly help them in their efforts at their careers. Money previously spent trying to woo production from out of state has now been redirected into a $30,000 grant program for local film production and increased educational opportunity through workshops on various crafts throughout the industry. Funded, along with tourism, from Idaho's 2% lodging tax, the IFO has maximized the funds available for their grant program by eliminating advertising to Los Angeles and applying their energies to cultivating a local workforce.

To that extent, they launched their Grant Program in 2010 and last April held their first Cineposium, named after a comparable cinema conference organized by the Association of Film Commissioners. In an effort to reinvent itself in “the post-incentive era,” the IFO has organized the Cineposium to be held annually in the spring with a two-day workshop in the fall, as well as working with productions all throughout the year. As this issue of Fusion Magazine goes to print, the second annual Cineposium will have been held mid-May in Coeur d'Alene, inviting such industry professionals as Kenny Chaplain, who trains professional production assistants to cope with big Hollywood requirements on set, and Linda Nelson, who runs Indie Rights, a film aggregator in digital platforms and an expert on social networking for filmmakers.

The Idaho Film Office COME AUGUST, PEG OWENS WILL HAVE BEEN HELMING THE IDAHO FILM OFFICE (IFO) FOR 25 YEARS. BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE AFTER TWO CLINT EASTWOOD FILMS—“BRONCO BILLY” (1979) FILMED IN BOISE AND “PALE RIDER” (1984) FILMED NEAR KETCHUM—SPURRED GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN CREATING A FILM COMMISSION AS AN OFFSHOOT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S DIVISION OF TOURISM.

THE POST- INCENTIVE ERA


ZACH VOSS

THE POST- INCENTIVE ERA


GREGORY BAYNE

54


When the IFO launched THEIR GRANT PROGRAM IN 2010, GREGORY BAYNE'S APPLICATION FOR COMPLETION FUNDS FOR “JENS PULVER / DRIVEN” (2011) SCORED THE HIGHEST. “JENS PULVER / DRIVEN” IS AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED DOCUMENTARY PORTRAIT OF NAMPA MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPION, JENS PULVER.

It scored an unprecedented distribution deal with several cable video-on-demand providers and streaming services such as Netflix Instant Watch and Hulu Plus. Owens praised Bayne for having been successful with crowd-source funding through Kickstarter. He raised $27,000 from over 400 people in 30 days and has, in effect, pioneered the practice in Idaho. Subsequently, Bayne has engineered 4 successfully funded Kickstarter campaigns and has shared his experience in a series of popular columns for Filmmaker Magazine.

Currently, Bayne is in production on “Bloodsworth: An Innocent Man,” focusing on the remarkable story of Kirk Noble Bloodsworth, who—after being wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit—became the first individual in the United States to be exonerated by DNA evidence. By the time this issue of Fusion Magazine hits the streets, Boise will have had the choice opportunity to engage with Kirk Bloodsworth, when he makes an appearance at a special fundraising event for the film at Boise's Egyptian Theater, again in mid-May.

Accepting that it is an odd but nice anomaly to be identified as an Idaho filmmaker out there in the world, Bayne says his Idaho origins have helped his cachet somehow “because it's not like I'm just another guy from New York or Los Angeles.” He admits his maverick personality plays into his identity as well. “It's not just being from Idaho and it's not just the aesthetic of the work,” Bayne explains, “but the work aesthetic that's based on my personality. I really do enjoy doing things not in the usual way.”

“One of the difficulties in courting a film industry in Idaho,” Bayne opines, “is that the state is so remote, however way you cut it. There's not a large truly professional infrastructure of people, and I wouldn't say there's necessarily a community here. The community that I interact with more is the agencies that do creative work—they're my friends.”

Another basic aspect about being an Idaho filmmaker is that Bayne loves living in Idaho. He and his partner recently bought a house in Nampa, which he considers “a blessed situation.” He lives in Nampa but commutes to New York, where his girlfriend lives. “So I have one foot in, one foot out,” he describes. “I maybe have a little easier time than most navigating the landscape; but, again, that wasn't always the case. I can actually do that because I decided to do it this way.”

As for what might not be available for him as a filmmaker in Idaho, Bayne counters, “There's always a creative benefit to having a lack of resources. You have to be more creative. You have to think around things. Also, too, the nice thing about Idaho is that—with making a film or whatever creative project you're involved with—you can pretty much do anything.” He argues that the problem filmmakers run into with filming in Idaho is that—while they're benefiting from the ease of local resources and the opportunity for people to still get excited about actually making a movie, which is not an ongoing everyday process—they're still looking for that next step. They're looking to “break out,” which is fine because everyone wants to break out on some level, but he wonders if these people realize the benefit of independence granted by working in Idaho or whether they see it “as something they have to slog through.”

“That's the point that I came to,” he admits. “I get to choose my projects. I do the ones that I want to do, and I do them the way I want to do them. I don't have to ask for permission. I have to raise money, but I don't have to raise so much money that it's impossible to make it back or impossible to raise in the first place. All the things that

people are trying to move beyond, I see them as great things that I enjoy. I like being able to do things this way.”

Converting disadvantage into advantage, Bayne adds, “When it comes to thinking about what Idaho does not do or does not have available, I think it has everything available if you know the right people, and if you are kind and generous and do good work. I'm pretty sure I could call almost anybody and get a favor. The reason the Kickstarter campaign for “Bloodsworth” got picked up all over the place was because the Idaho State Tourism Board sent out a press release for me. I called them and said, ‘Hey, remember that time you said that you really liked what I was doing and to call on you if you could ever be of help?’ And they said, ‘Yes!’”

I GET TO CHOOSE MY PROJECTS — ONES THAT I WANT TO DO


Recent IFO Grant Recipients DURING THEIR LAST GRANT PERIOD, THE IFO RECEIVED 20+ APPLICATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED 5 NARRATIVE FEATURES, 8 NARRATIVE SHORTS, 4 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES, 2 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS, AND 1 ONLINE INTERACTIVE APPLICATION.EVER TO INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS AND THEIR PROSPECTS TO COMPETE IN THE PROS.

One of the IFO's 2011 grant recipients is Seth Randal, self-identified as a “scrappy, grassroots-type of filmmaker” who enjoys looking into funding avenues that will help him share his projects. He insists, “There are resources out there and—if filmmakers or other creators want to have access to those funds—it's a matter of applying themselves and then applying.”

Seth not only received a $5,000 IFO grant to further his documentary short “Sgt. Paine,” but an 8th Street Artist-In-Residency from the City Department of Arts and History to create a studio installation for his other film-in-progress, “Wake Island.”

Randal asserts, “I am an Idaho filmmaker, perhaps more than many other filmmakers who work in Idaho because the topics of my films have all featured something related to Idaho. I've done projects that featured interviews that were conducted elsewhere, research that was done in other states, but I'm an Idaho filmmaker in that the majority of my effort happens in Idaho. I'm also an Idaho filmmaker in that my perspectives and viewpoints are somewhat shaped by the fact of having lived in Idaho for most of my life, having been born here, having grown up here, and learning Idaho values when I was young.” That being said, Randal still tries to find stories that have a local connection and interest but are interesting and appealing to people in other places for other reasons.

Seth's residency lasts for 6 months, and, during that time, his studio is open to the public every First Thursday throughout the Summer, so that people can wander in and view clips from the film in progress, trailers, and historical items on display. It's a great way to pique interest in the film, develop a fan base, and allow people to help out through donation.

Zach Voss, a student fresh out of BSU has hit the ground running. First, he won last year's I48 in several categories: best film, cinematography, sound, actor, and actress—a sweep of 5 of the 7 available awards. Voss took his prize money and astutely used it to match requested grant funds from IFO for his upcoming short “Mandrake Estate.” He scored those funds, along with one of The Boise Weekly's $500 Cover Art Auction grants—not bad for someone who hasn't even started the principal photography for his narrative about a prestigious golf course and the man relinquished from his position as groundskeeper. “It becomes a tale about the value of the craftsman,” Voss pitches.

As for his education at BSU, Voss describes it as “a hybrid of my own interest and pursuit of the subject as well as my employment at

Boise State Student Media, where I did journalism and multi-media work. They're the parent group of The Arbiter, which is the school newspaper, The Pulse, which is student radio, and this new video vein that I've been spearheading and exploring. That was the parent group that gave me the tools, such as computers and equipment, and the privilege and freedom to go out and use that digital media to create content.”

Along with starting on a filmmaking career, Voss has started up his own company, Retroscope Media, as “a creative media vessel specializing in video production. I formalized as a business to offer my services to a market that I think is alive and growing in Idaho but under-resourced with qualified people doing production work.”

As to whether he's an Idaho filmmaker, Voss says, “It's pretty early in my pursuit as really being a filmmaker, so I feel that attaching myself to Idaho is a good move. I feel really respected and supported and safe in this environment and want to continue to develop myself within the context of this state and this community.”

David Butterfield has been involved with IFO since its inception and even before. He was part of the group who hired Peg Owens as Idaho's film commissioner. Stretching away from his advisory capacity, he decided to apply for one of IFO's grants to help finish his feature documentary “The Sun Valley Story.” The grant allowed him to provide mentorship to 3 up-and-coming filmmakers who served as production assistants on his film: Cara Frost (archival research), J.R. Richards (sound, music, and mixing), and Tyler Hendricks (graphics). Recalling how difficult it was for him to make films in the 80s and 90s, Butterfield says that everything he needs is here now, and the drawbacks are few for filming in Idaho. “Idaho is a package that suits me well,” he asserts proudly.

On track with the IFO's initiative to develop and mentor a local workforce, the grant recipient, Andrew Ellis, admits that he and his longtime collaborator, Will Schmeckpeper, plan to film “Honor Among Thieves,” their neo-noir heist film, involving as many people as they can (both experienced and inexperienced) and to “give them an actual opportunity to—not just talk about making a movie—but make a movie.” The IFO grant will allow Ellis the opportunity to pay people, which is something he hasn't been able to do before. “It's important for our film scene that people can start to expect to get paid something, if not much.”

I FEEL RESPECTED, SUPPORTED & SAFE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT


SETH RADNAL


ANDREW ELLIS


I48 / H48 ELLIS IS ALSO THE INDIVIDUAL STEERING BOISE'S I48 AND H48 FILM COMPETITIONS. IN ITS 9TH EDITION, I48 RUNS IN EARLY JUNE AND IS, AS ZACH VOSS PUTS IT, “PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST COLLECTIVE VIEWING EXPERIENCE FOR IDAHO FILMS THAT HAPPENS ANNUALLY. IT'S THE ONE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE GETS TOGETHER ON ONE WEEKEND AND DOES THE SAME THING RELATED TO FILM. IT'S A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED EFFORT. YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF FACES AND GET TO SEE HOW THE OVERALL QUALITY DEVELOPS EACH YEAR.”

Ellis explains the format: “You have 48 hours to make a film, and we give you certain aspects of the film that you don't know in advance. Everybody gathers on Friday afternoon. They get a packet where they're given a character, a line of dialogue, the genre of their film, and a prop they have to use. Then they have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a story and turn it into us.”

Both competitions have two divisions: an open division for participants experienced in making films and a novice division for participants with little or no experience. Cash prizes are awarded in both categories, plus 22 total awards granted in recognition of best cinematography, best sound and music, best actor and actress, and other categories.

H48, which had its inaugural edition last year, was created to circumvent the PG restriction of I48 and to allow filmmakers interested in exploring the horror genre more leeway in playing with the genre's mature tropes. The horror-themed H48 will return to Boise around Halloween.

“I like to make films because it is one of the most fun and pleasurable ways that I know to recreate with my friends,” Ellis says, but he admits he doesn't identify as a filmmaker. “What I do identify myself as—both in my day job and my filmmaking pursuits and with I48 and H48—is as a community builder. At the end of the day, I'm far more proud of my contributions to building a community than necessarily the films that I have made. I'm proud of them too, but I feel that my time on Earth will be valuable not for the films I leave behind but because of the connections that were made and the community we've built.”

As for the value and appeal of working so quickly, Voss explains, “You have to develop an idea you think will work and then commit to it and move through it no matter how bizarre or loose it

becomes throughout the weekend. You don't really have a lot of time to go back on what you thought was good earlier. It pushes you to continue to mold, re-shape, and develop your content as it happens. There's not really time for regret, which is kind of refreshing. Filmmaking can be a pretty extensive process, and this is over before you have a chance to reconsider.”

EDUCATION

Along with the elements of mentorship and workforce development ingrained into the IFO's grants initiative and its Cineposium workshops, film education in Idaho exists predominantly in its collegiate environments. Through the vigilant efforts of actress-turned-producer, Heather Rae, and Oscar®-winning documentarian and BSU adjunct professor, Ben Shedd, BSU's Communications Department has recently implemented a Cinema Certificate to augment a communications degree. Whether this will develop into a full-fledged film program remains to be seen, though for now it's an interdisciplinary program with a curriculum that includes classes from the Business College, the Communications Department, and the Theatre Arts Department.

EXHIBITION

Admittedly, the IFO is affiliated with exhibition only in a peripheral way. The IFO views exhibition as a means to bring in filmmakers who have not been to Idaho before to screen their films and to build up relationships with those filmmakers, so that they might consider shooting on location in Idaho for their future films. Although the IFO may not fund exhibition or apply much effort towards exhibition directly, they are wholly supportive of film festivals and help them financially to bring in guest filmmakers. Their willingness to help out in this regard extends to special events that have been held at Boise's lauded independent art house cinema, The Flicks.

continued on next page


Winner of the Audience Favorite at the inaugural Sun Valley Film Festival and the opening night film for the 2nd annual Cineposium, organized by the Idaho Film Office and kNIFVES, the dramatic feature “Soda Springs” (2012) has lassoed the hearts of Idaho audiences. Co-produced, co-written, and starring Idaho native Jay Pickett—whose handsome performance as prodigal son Eden centers the film, “Soda Springs” is solidly directed by Michael Feifer and showcases Jeffrey D. Smith's accomplished cinematography of Idaho's beloved sagebrush desert country. There isn't a single dishonest note to any of the film's performances, including a heartbreaking appearance by veteran actor, Tom Skerritt as Eden's father. A classic narrative about fathers and sons, mentors, and guiding spirits, “Soda Springs” speaks to classic—nearly mythic—themes of sacrifice and redemption.

Actor/screenwriter, Jay Pickett grew up on a ranch in Caldwell, Idaho in a close-knit family with 4 siblings. Sports and rodeo took up the majority of his time during his youth, even as he felt a pull in another direction. A graduate of Caldwell's Vallivue High School, Pickett pursued a theatre arts degree from Boise State and then headed south to Los Angeles, where he earned a masters of fine arts degree from UCLA.

He has guest starred in numerous television shows, including “China Beach,” “Matlock,” “Perry Mason,” and a 2-year contract on “Days of our Lives.” In 1997, Jay originated the role of Frank Scanlon on the ABC Drama, “Port Charles.” He played the character for the entire 61/2 years that the show was on the air. Most recently, Jay has appeared on “Desperate Housewives,” “Saving Grace,” and “Dexter.” Along with producing, starring, and co-writing the feature film “Soda Springs,” he also had leading roles in the feature films “Abandoned” (2010) and the soon to be released “The Perfect Student” (2012). He Lives in Woodland Hills, California with his wife Elena and their 3 beautiful children, Maegan, Michaela, and Tyler.

Fusion Magazine recently had the opportunity to talk to Pickett about “Soda Springs” and his film career.

FUSION Let's talk about your origins in Caldwell, Idaho, before we launch into

discussing your return to Idaho to accompany the film at the inaugural Sun

Valley Film Festival. It's my understanding that your ease with horsemanship

in “Soda Springs” came about from a background in ranching and rodeo work?

PICKETT Yeah, that's right. I basically grew up on a ranch and started riding

horses at an early age, probably 2 or 3. I started competing in rodeos

when I was 7 or 8-years-old. All my brothers and sisters competed. I went

through the ranks of the junior rodeos, high school rodeos, and college

rodeos, on into amateur professional rodeos. So, yeah, I have a long

background around horses.

FUSION And yet you began to want more than a ranching life in Caldwell?

What drove you to veer away towards acting?

PICKETT I always felt a pull in another direction, even though it was hard to

define back then. I remember watching John Wayne in “The Cowboys” (1972)

where he had this crew of kids on horseback. I can't remember the movie that

well, but I do remember at the time I thought, “That would be the coolest thing

in the world to be able to do something like that.” So I was really young when I

already felt that pull towards acting and performance, but it was something I

couldn't really nail down. I took some theater classes in high school, where I

started playing around with it; but it wasn't until I went to college at Boise State

that I began to think about it seriously. I had one professor, Fred Norman ,who

was a mentor, and he helped me make the decision. He said, “If you really like

this, you should commit to it because you're good at it.” So I did that. I changed

my major and pulled my focus away from rodeo and football and made acting

my primary thing. I never looked back after that.

I went to UCLA and I was pretty lucky early on. I started working shortly after I

graduated with my masters degree. I spent a long time on soap operas, but I

felt that they weren't going to get me where I needed to go. I knew I had to find

another way to promote myself and to get myself out there. I thought the best

way to do that would be to tell my own stories, and, so, that started me down

the path of making my own movie.

FUSION One of the taglines for “Soda Springs” is “Coming home is easy. It's

staying that's the hard part.” That tagline could serve as an overarching

comment on the state of film culture and filmmaking within Idaho. Your career

exemplifies this ongoing conundrum in Idaho with regard to film talent. To

achieve opportunity, you had to leave Idaho?

PICKETT You're exactly right. I did have to leave Idaho, but going back to make

a film in Idaho reminded me that I've always had a fondness for Idaho. I love

the state and am proud to be from the state. My producing partner for “Soda

Springs,” Gary Hollie, felt the same way. He's also from Idaho. We both dreamed

of going back there to shoot a film; but, there's not a lot of film production in

Idaho, so it was difficult. There's not a lot of incentive. I don't know all the ins

and outs—we were a lean production and weren't looking for a lot of incentives

or anything; our plan was to film in Idaho just because we wanted to go back.

But to respond to your question, you have to sometimes go away and learn.

Even though I know the film industry is spreading out across the country,

there's still so much going on in L.A., and it's where you can learn. You're around

a lot of other talented people. Then you can take what you've learned and go

back "home" and spread what you've learned around.

FUSION Did you always have in mind that the script for this story was

going to be set in Idaho? Did you always intend to return to Idaho to

make your first feature?

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL GUILLÉN INTERVIEW WITH JAY PICKETTSODA SPRINGS


ANDREW ELLIS Cont... .

PICKETT Yeah, that was always our primary objective; we wanted to go

back. As I said, I love Idaho. It's a beautiful state. I have so much family

here that I could call on for favors, which I did, and not just family but

friends came out of the woodwork. We were overwhelmed by the

generosity of the people of Idaho, and it truly was the experience of

a lifetime. There will never be another experience like making your

first film. There were so many synchronicities and happy accidents

that happened along the way and I think that good vibe—that good

energy—shows up in the movie.

We used folks from both places. We brought people from L.A. and they

worked so well with the people we found in Idaho. Steve Fulton, the

talented musician who scored our film, went to high school with me

and my producing partner, Garry Hollie. We wanted to involve people

who we knew from our past. Our cinematographer, Jeff Smith—who

did such a great job—is from Pocatello and went to Boise State, even

though I didn't know him in Idaho; I met him here in L.A. He was the

perfect choice to take back with us.

FUSION You're not the first person to mention how important a role the

generosity of Idahoans has played into making a low-budget film in

Idaho. This generosity is one of the main calling cards the state has

to draw in production. Can you talk a bit about how you coordinated

that production? Did you go through the Idaho Film Office to find local

talent?

PICKETT It was a little of both. We worked with Peg Owens and she

helped point us in the right direction in a number of different ways.

She helped us find Catrine McGregor, who used to be an L.A.-based

casting director, and then she moved up to Idaho. She casts a lot of

people out of Salt Lake and Boise. She helped us find a lot of talent. And

then it was just word of mouth. We'd meet somebody, and then we'd

hear about somebody else through them and follow up on it. There

wasn't any one way that we went about coordinating everything;

there were actually a lot of ways that we found people.

It's not only the generosity of the people of Idaho, it's their friendly

nature. Idaho is a friendly part of the country. Yes, Idahoans were

generous, but they're just good people. That's why Gary and I went

back, because we knew that. We knew that people there would bend

over backwards. There's also—I don't want to call it naïvete—a kind

of innocence to the people of Idaho. They haven't had a ton of movies

shot around there so it's new and refreshing to them. If they were in a

place where people were bothering them all the time to make movies

in this location or that location, it might be different; but, right now, it's

still new. They don't get a lot of that, so everyone was willing to help.

But it even went beyond that. It went from us asking, “Can you help us

out?” to their asking, “What can we do to help you?”

For example, last summer, the IFO put Carole Skinner of The Flicks in touch with filmmaker, Frederick Marx, and the two of them arranged a screening of his film, “Journey From Zanskar,” with a Q&A session afterwards. Not only did the value added enhance the audience appreciation of Marx's film, but the IFO arranged for Marx to conduct a workshop for local film professionals.

Film festivals have negotiated a more complicated presence in Boise. Gregory Bayne organized the True West Film Festival and kept it running for 5 years, before becoming absorbed in his own film projects, and then the Idaho International Film Festival (IIFF) lasted for 7 years before losing its corporate sponsorship, though hopes to revive it in coming years remain strong. Owens would like to see the IIFF return to Boise, affirming, “Downtown Boise has a perfect configuration for a film festival with the proximity of the theaters, the hotels, the nightlife, and the restaurants all in walking distance in such a safe area.” Skinner questions Boise's need for an international film festival, suggesting that—until Boiseans have watched all of the foreign films and independent features she's programmed at The Flicks—there's no real need for an international film festival. Filmmakers like Andrew Ellis disagree, however, stating festivals like IIFF provide a necessary social opportunity for filmmakers to engage in each others' projects. The inaugural edition of the Sun Valley Film Festival proved the value of enticing business travelers to Ketchum, with hotels and restaurants operating at capacity and liaisons with the Weinstein Company promising exciting developments in years to come.

THE BALANCE OF POWERSProduction, education, and exhibition are the 3 powers that inform a vibrant film culture. With IFO's committed focus to workforce development and in-state production, several local production companies are offering opportunity to up-and-coming film professionals as well as valuable assistance to outside agents considering Idaho locations. A thorough review of these services exceeds the scope of this article, but by way of mention services, such as Wide Eye Productions, North by Northwest Productions, Silverdraft Mobile Viz, Peppershock Media, Retroscope Media, Idaho Cinematic Equipment, Rocky Mountain Audio Visual, and Production Services International, which are only a few of the valuable resources contributing to the growth of film production in Idaho. Further, groups such as Boise Cutters, Idaho Media Professionals, and kNIFVES are creating peer opportunities for social networking, all aimed at creating a film community in Idaho, one individual at a time.


FAT CHANCE: HOW FATTY’S BAR IS WINNING BY PLAYING WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF RULESWRITTEN BY DREY CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELLISSA LARSON

ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT


Sometimes, two things that are not predicted to mesh go together very well. I can imagine people probably once thought, why would you put smashed peanuts with pureed grapes? Others probably imagined cameras would be useless on a phone. Two men, who initially didn’t know each other, running a bar that isn’t even in the nightclub district of Boise sounded like a terrible idea, but it is working, and working well.

Fatty’s is a bar that’s going on its second birthday this fall. It’s owners, Justin Zora (34) and Clay Roman (29), are two very different men with one fused mission: To make people feel comfortable while socializing—with or without a drink. Yeah, that’s right, they don’t care if you come in with money or not; they just want you to come say hi. And that is why they are full 6 nights a week.

Fatty’s has faced the odds and survived. Located on the second floor of a historical building, it is much further away from 6th and Main than one would think a bar could be and still survive the Boise nightlife. But that is some of the charm. “It is close enough to feel downtown, but far enough to feel that it isn’t,” Clay says. I kind of relate it to the charm of Boise, where people enjoy the fact that it has a big city feel on a small scale. The venue is a large upstairs locale, which helps customers feel like VIPs, since climbing stairs to enter is necessary. Yet, there is not one VIP in the crowd. Instead, Fatty’s brings in people from all across the social spectrum with its varied events each night, from beer pong to comedy and musical performances. “It’s like a community mixer where everyone can feel comfortable and know that they can be themselves,” says Clay.

I gave Fatty’s a try on Friday night, and it was evident that the there was no one “clique,” as some bars have unintentionally acquired. “Fatty’s has one of those Cheers-like atmospheres. “But instead of one Norm, we have 27,” Justin says to me as we sit in his back office. It is obvious Justin is a happy person. He always has a smile on his face and makes others feel like he might bring them in for a bear hug at any moment, which he says is actually a good quality for a bar owner to possess. “Do you know how many guys end up fighting in your bar, if you go up to them when they are about to throw blows and ask them their name (with eye contact) and if you can hug them?” he asks with a smile.

Authenticity is rare in the bar industry, but that is what makes Fatty’s different. Justin and Clay are there, every night, talking to their customers and doing the hands-on work. I personally watched Clay carry all the alcohol in for the weekend, himself. He had to go up and down all those steep stairs, and when I asked if he needed help, he proudly replied, “Nah man, this is what I do!”

Bars are what they do. Clay is a driven entrepreneur, with bar experience in Boise that is hard to compete with. He has a keen sense for the subconscious flow of bar psychology, which helps make people feel comfortable in the nighttime environment. Fatty’s has a huge layout, but it is set up like a house. There are different “rooms” for different moods and interests, but a sense of safety and camaraderie unifies the entire bar. This is not the case at all pubs in Boise. And Fatty’s doesn’t have a beefed up staff looking to push patrons around. Rather, they pride themselves on remembering names and offering a selection for each character that comes through the door—from 40ozs. to black label.


Fatty’s bar is one that is predicated on the concept that if people feel like they matter (because they actually DO matter), then they will feel welcomed, have a good time, and come back with others. Justin and Clay felt that the base to create this social system was a set of authentic employees. By hiring people who were “real” and by being “real” themselves, which Clay asserted was not entirely common in the majority of the bar industry, people would sense that they were accepted for who they were and would feel at ease. The staff even plays on a kickball team, as just another way to build rapport and genuine relationships. Justin says that the bar is successful because their belief in people first starts from the top and works its way on down. “People actually come to our bar to help us pay our bills and survive,” says Clay. Fatty’s customers are never viewed as dollar bills with legs.

Fatty’s is a bar that genuinely cares about bringing fun into the local community. Partnering with Wild 101, they’ve to brought in “celebs,” such as Titus Young, Doug Martin, and Darren College as guest bartenders to just have fun—people can come in, see friendly faces, and feel comfortable in their own skin.

I know it seems difficult to think that a nightlife establishment cares about its customer base, but this is the reason that Fatty’s is doing well—they do care. From the owners to the doorman, everyone can do everyone else’s job as necessary, and the family feeling behind the bar has leapt over into the customer’s psyche. Fatty’s is a place where people can go to have a conversation and a thirst-quencher without mean mugs and pressured sales. They will remember who you are, talk to you, and treat you like kin. Cheers!

ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT


Our entire lives, we deal with a constant gravitational pull on our bodies. Have you ever stopped to contemplate the effects of an ongoing fight to upright our bodies? Even as you sleep, your body is being pulled on. Your brain constantly works to repair the effects, which can create excess fatigue and stress. Other than the traditional popping of pharmaceuticals to rid ourselves of pain, unwanted depression, anxiety, toxins and sometimes just to relax—is there another, simpler, non-chemical answer? Brant L. Schlaich, a medical researcher, decided to look for healthier ways to help people outside often pill-dependent traditional medicine. After months of work, a trip to Portland, Oregon offered an answer as Schlaich encountered Floatation Tank Therapy for the first time. Enthusiastic about feeling the effects of the therapy almost immediately, Brant decided to bring Good Flotation’s to the Treasure Valley.

By recreating a womb-like state that relaxes your entire body, Floatation Tank Therapy reduces unwanted stresses. Ten inches of Epsom salt solution, heated to body temperature, and filtered by a triple UV filtration effortlessly keeps you afloat. The tank is also completely dark, making it easier to relax and shut off the outside world. While immersed in such an environment, you become almost unaware of your own body, not to mention relieving the mind from all other constant, external stimulus. Nearly all users completed the therapy report feeling a surge of newfound energy. One hour floating in the tank is equivalent to about 4-6 hours of sleep, but the difference between sleeping six hours in a bed and floating for 1-2 hours is vast. Once relaxed to a state where even

gravity’s pull on you is almost non-existent, the body can focus on deep healing. This means tank therapy can have amazing pain-reducing benefits for those dealing with constant aches. Some people also use regular float therapy time to reflect, clear their mind, and spark creativity. Recovering cancer patients use float therapy as a healthier alternative to pills or chemotherapy. There are even studies underway on this therapy being used to alleviate the effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) on soldiers.

Owner Brant Schlaich himself was a benefactor of the healing benefits of float therapy after being hit by a car while biking through Boise. With his arm had been badly broken near his elbow joint, he began therapy for 3 hours, 3 times a week for the next 2 weeks and saw vast improvement in his arm’s range of motion as well as pain reduction. At the conclusion of 2 weeks, his broken arm was healed. The affirmation given to Brant from his own experience solidified his belief in Floatation Tank Therapy.

So whether you suffer from chronic pain; are in recovery from a disease or illness; or just one the everyday, over-stressed, over-scheduled, always-tired people looking for a break and a much needed boost of energy, Flotation Tank Therapy could be just the answer you’re looking for. Currently, there is only one tank available by appointment, but Schlaich plans to expand to a more spacious building that will allow convenient therapy sessions for larger numbers. For now, Good Flotation’s (208-989-4723) is located at 1317 W. Jefferson St. Boise, Idaho and taking appointment at your convenience.

FLOATING AWAY WHAT AILS YOUWRITTEN BY SCOTT LEVESQUE PHOTOGRAPHY BY KYLE SUTTON




I learned the hard way that there’s nothing more embarrassing than sitting in the back of a police car:

I teach at the high school and was on my way to work that morning. Like most days, I was running a little behind, stressed because my boss had called me in last Friday to scold me about being late.

“Keep this up,” he said, “and we’re going to have to talk about how serious you are about your future here.”

Those words added weight to the gas pedal as I tore through traffic. I weaved back and forth across lanes, moving toward the front of the pack. I smiled inside as I felt myself beating the clock. And that’s when I saw the lights in my rear view mirror. Damn! Not another ticket. I pulled over to the side of the road and started fishing through the glove box for my insurance and registration. I thought I could speed up the process if I was ready. With papers in hand, I rolled the window down when the officer approached my door.

He took a long look at my Drivers License. I expected him to ask if I knew how fast I was going, but instead he said, “I’m going to need you to step out of the vehicle.”

My heart sank, I knew this wasn’t right. I stepped out of the car and as soon as I did I was told to turn around and put my hands behind my back.

My muscles tightened with the closing of the cold cuffs around my wrists, and I wondered how many of the drivers passing me were parents of my students.

There had been a warrant for my arrest for missing court is what the officer told me. I was supposed to appear for a ticket I’d received last month, but I’d completely forgotten about it. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I had only missed court for a traffic ticket. I’m a good citizen—a teacher. I don’t deserve to be getting arrested.

The drive to the jail felt like an eternity. I tried to explain to the officer that it had been an honest mistake, but he said I’d have to take it up with the judge. When I got there, they took my phone and other belongings, made me change into what I can only describe as orange jail pajamas, and took my fingerprints. Next they took my photo—which I knew was going to end up on the Sheriff’s website.

Suddenly it dawned on me: I am here, alone, with no way out. I felt nauseous, and afraid that through some terrible circumstance I would be here for days. They put me in a cell with everyone else who had been arrested that morning. I felt like an animal. My heart began to race as I realized that I could very well be stuck here for a long time.

The judge wasn’t as forgiving as I’d hoped. I thought if I was reasonable with him, explained my side of the story and relied on

ILLUSTRATION BY KELSEY HAWES

SPECIAL INTEREST


my good reputation, he’d just dismiss the whole thing and let me go on my own recognizance. But I guess that’s only how it works in movies. Instead he set my bail and the officers took me to a phone to call a bondsman. The list was long, overwhelming almost, but one named looked familiar to me—Bronco Bail Bonds. Someone answered the phone and for the first time that morning I felt like this was going to be ok.

She said her name was Michelle and that she would love to help get me out of this. Her voice was warm and she assured me that it was going to be all right, that I was a normal person and that everybody makes mistakes sometimes.

Michelle came right away, just like she said she would. I was still tense, but she made me feel like I could begin to get past all this. She explained to me that she would be my dedicated agent and advocate, and I wouldn’t be dealing with anyone else. I was asked to pay 10% of the bond amount, but because I didn’t have it all up front (teachers salary...), they were able to work out a payment plan with a co-signer I provided. She also said I could use my car or property as collateral if I couldn’t get enough cash to put down. I knew my sister would help, but I told Michelle I didn’t have her number, since it was in my cell phone that the police had confiscated. She said that wasn’t a problem and that she’d get a hold of my sister. She even asked me for the name of my boss, so she could give him a call to let him know what had happened.

I was glad that I had chosen Bronco Bail Bonds to get me out. I didn’t realize how lucky I was until I got back to the cell and started hearing other guys complain about their bondsmen. They had the same problem with phone numbers and got the run around from their bondsmen, plus many of them said they were confused because they would call the same place but kept getting passed around to different people and none of them seemed to know what they were doing.

I was released from jail just a few hours after talking to Bronco. It felt so good to leave jail behind me so quickly and get back to my life. I’ve still got some barriers to get past, but everyone there at Bronco gave me the tools and information to get past them.

A week after I was released, I was told that had I called Bronco before I was arrested, they could have gone to the jail with me, filled out some paperwork, and I wouldn’t have had to go through the embarrassment of getting arrested and spending the morning in a cell. I’ve been kicking myself since they said that, but now I know that if I, or anyone else I know, are ever in that situation again, there are people I can trust to take care of me.


OUTDOORS


PLAN A WHITEWATER ADVENTURE OF YOUR

OWN THIS SUMMER

We live in a world where it seems someone can always do what we do better and for less money, and where lifelong employment is no longer a certainty. We’re often judged only by what people will pay for us, and the pace and scale of technology makes “tuning out” nearly impossible. That reality is a constant stress on most of us—add to it relationship and family responsibilities, bills that keep increasing, and an income that sometimes isn’t as steady or large as we’d like.

But sometimes what we want isn’t always what we need. There really was a time when you were excited about being a grown-up, right? How do you get that perspective back? The best way to find it can often be a nice change of pace, putting yourself in a position to see things from a different angle.

My suggestion is to go against convention. Spend some of that money we covet so much, some that you’ve saved by shopping clearance racks and eating generic cereal. So here’s my suggestion: With the warmth of spring and summer approaching, why not play in the water? For a land locked bit of earth, Idaho has a surprising amount of water. In fact, we have more river miles than any other state, clocking in at over 3,100. Why not enjoy a few of them?

A guided multi-day raft trip with meals provided and camp equipment supplied will run you $1500 bucks a person. Yup...ouch! However, there is a better option. Call 6 to 8 of your friends, pile in three big cars, reserve a boat at any of the many

raft rental places along one of our many Idaho rivers and go do it yourselves. This option will end up costing you about $180 for the boat and other essential equipment, like paddles and PFDs (life jackets). Split that between 6 or 8 people, and you’re looking at $22.50 per person. Certainly not the bank account crusher you were imagining, right? Of course, you’ve got to consider food, gas, other gear, appropriate clothing, and sun protection stuff. Just be prepared.

And don’t forget about the drive. There’s no getting around a lot of time spent driving, but, hey, you’re with your friends, so it’s not so bad right? First, drive to the boat rental place to pick up your stuff. Then, drive a few cars to the pull-out spot, so you can get back to your car at the put-in, get geared up, and get ready for an awesome time.

Now, keep a few things in mind before you set off on your big water adventure. Any sport where you’re going tête-à-tête with Mother Nature is inherently dangerous. But, you can mitigate a lot of the danger to yourself and your group by knowing a couple things and asking a few questions.

First off, be sure to get an accurate assessment of everyone’s fitness level, swimming ability, and big water experience. It’s important to know who the weaker members of the party are so you can avoid giving them responsibilities in the event of a capsize, swift water rescue situation, or other emergency.

WRITTEN BY JUAN PABLO HERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM LOVE

IDAHO WHITE WATER:

Bragging Rights: Idaho is rated top 10 best locations to go whitewater rafting. The Payette River is home to one of the most challenging stretches of whitewater in the world.

Second, know the section of river you plan on tackling and make sure it’s within your group’s ability. Make sure you can do the Class. If you’re new, I wouldn’t tackle anything higher than a Class III, unless you’re with experienced people and can swim well. Know the current CFS (cubic feet/second) of the river. High flows turn a Class III river into a IV or V very quickly, especially if there’s a lot of rain or a big melt in the snow pack. If in doubt, scout. If you’re not familiar with the river or what the river looks like at its current CFS, then get out of the water and try to scout the rapids along the bank. The best way to get yourself into trouble is to try and tackle a section of rapids that you have no clue how to handle. You can find yourself in a frightening life or death situation if you’re outclassed in whitewater. Port any section that you can’t safely navigate (pull off the river and carry the boat on land past the gnarly section of rapids).

Another important key is to know what the weather is going to be like and dress appropriately. I can’t stress how much colder it actually is than how you think it will be. Cold water will strip away your ability to swim and make good decisions that can potentially save your life. Consider buying a wetsuit, dry wear, semi-dry, gloves, wet boots or any other form of cold weather protection. If you’re going out in the spring, this

is a must. Protect yourself from the sun. Don’t be dumb. Wear some sunscreen. And your eyes need protection too; wear UV sunglasses with a strap to keep them securely around your neck. And don’t forget your lips; lip balm is nice to have on windy days.

Don’t only be prepared for the best conditions; also be prepared for that moment when you inevitably find yourself going for a swim. Work out how you’re going to handle a capsize and who’s going to do what before you get into the raft, because it will happen. A good way to flip a raft is with a flip line or, if your craft is too big, you may need to tow it to an eddy by the beach. And when it comes to swimming outside of the raft, know your situation. Is it defensive or offensive? Defensive swimming is on your back with your feet out in front and your toes sticking out of the water. Remember, your feet bounce off rocks better than your head. You also don’t want to walk around in anything higher than shin-high water if there’s a current. If your foot gets suck between two rocks and the current knocks you over, it could be curtains for you. Offensive swimming is for when you know where you’re going and want to get there in a hurry (like back to the boat). In an offensive situation, flip onto your belly and book it, head first, to your target.


When it all comes down to it all, the rules of rafting boil down to common sense. Think safety first, and the fun will come. Maybe you’re sold on the idea, but not sure of your abilities. Consider coughing up the money to do a Class I, II or III guide-led tour, letting somebody more experienced handles the paddles. One trip like that may just be all you need to get the confidence to take it on yourself the next time.

Just remember, if you find yourself in the worrisome 9-5 grind this summer, make an effort to get out of the little urban niche you’ve driven yourself into. Get away from your day-to-day, and let one of Idaho’s rivers carry away your worries. You’ll likely climb out of that water less stressed and maybe even happy to be a grown-up again. Rafting is incredibly fun, and you’re going to have an amazing time on the water!



Here’s the situation: You are hungry but you are not going to leave your dog in the backseat of your car in the heat while you grab a bite. It’s obvious that most restaurants will not let dogs roll up and pant on their seats, so you need to have some go-to environments to eat while your pup chills. Pretty much anywhere there is a patio in Boise, you can take your dog—as long as he/she is under control and well socialized. There are some definite etiquette rules to follow when taking a dog to a patio to eat. First of all, don’t even take your dog if it is hyper or aggressive. No one wants an untrained canine at their heels when they are trying to relax with a nice merlot. Unless they invite it, do not let your dog go near another patron’s table and/or eat scraps off the floor. It is a good idea to have a nice leash that shortens and locks to a length where your dog can sit under your table or your chair. Do not allow your dog to bark loudly and/or growl at others. Keep your dog clean as well; the smell of dirty dander does not compliment a filet in any setting. Some states have banned dogs on their patios due to bad behaviors, so following a basic social order will hopefully keep Boise dog friendly. I usually go by the rule that if I have witnessed a dog at a particular restaurant before then I am good to bring mine, but it is always polite to ask first.

Since there are so many restaurants with patios, I decided to select a few of my favorites:

I really enjoy West Side Drive-In. It has a great, relaxed environment and is close to the North End on State Street. There is no inside seating, so this is a great place to visit with a dog. The food is also fantastic, and they have a DOG MENU with deserts (my dog loves the dog biscuit sundae).

The 13th Street Pub and Grill typically has more than one dog dining with its owners, if your dog prefers company. The food is excellent, and there are plenty of people to mingle with as well. When you are ready to drift out of the North End, there are other options to explore. If you like Sushi, then I suggest Panda Garden on Overland. They have great service, great food, and a great patio for leashed pups.

WRITTEN BY DREY CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA MORGAN

THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN BOISE YOU CAN ENJOY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, ASSOCIATES, OR DATES…BUT WHAT IF THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE IS NOT HUMAN? WHAT IF YOUR COMPANION IS A DROOLING, PANTING, HAIRY, SNIFFING CANINE? IF THIS IS THE CASE, AND YOU NEED SOME THINGS TO DO, FEAR NOT. FROM FEASTING TO CLEANING, THIS IS YOUR ALL-OUT ADVENTURE PLANNER TO ASSURE YOU AND YOUR PUP HAVE A GREAT BOISE SUMMER.


Maybe you are more of a hand-crafted beer type; try Highlands Hollows, and order the Hippy Shake or Berry Good. The people are especially friendly, and dogs are treated with the same respect their human patrons—so much so that they are even given dog bones made out of the barley from their hand crafted brews.

If you travel out to Bown Crossing in Southeast Boise, you’ll find some amazing paths to walk near some classy, dog-friendly restaurants (i.e. bowls of water on their porches). I like Locavore and The Tavern; both have amazing food, and the whole atmosphere feels like you are in a small city outside of Boise—a welcome canine friendly escape.

Now that you have your gut full, where can you get some of those calories burned off with your best friend? We are privileged in Boise to have so many avenues for adventure with our canine counterparts.

If it is a workout you want, hit up the Military Reserve Dog Park. It amazes me how many dog owners don’t know about this gem! Off Fort and Reserve Streets, near Warm Springs, it is heaven for dogs (and their owners) who want to run and play. There are miles and miles of trails to walk or run, with both on and off-leash options. The park typically has larger breeds and there can be as many as 40 dogs at any single time. Typically, around 5:00 pm is the busiest, so if you want some isolation time with your dog, I would suggest morning or mid-afternoon on weekdays.

Camel’s Back Park is also a great place to get a workout. You can hike to the top of the ridge with your dog and get a spectacular view of Boise. There are fewer dogs than at Military Reserve, as it is mainly an on-leash site.

Morris Hill Park, off Roosevelt Street, is not as large, but there are always other dogs there eager for a play date, and there are several “community” toys on site. If you live on the outskirts of Boise, both Nampa and Meridian have great options as well (i.e. Bark Park and Amity Dog Park). No matter where you go, make sure you bring a spare poo bag and pick up after your dog. Then, take the extra step and throw the bag away—don’t leave it sitting along the side of a trail in the heat. The worst thing about dog parks are the people who don’t clean up after their pets. Don’t be that guy.

If you want to get away from the dedicated dog park scene, there are plenty of other parks in Boise to visit. Julia Davis, Ann Morrison, and Winstead Parks are all great if you have a leash, a well-socialized dog, and an appetite for outdoor life. The Boise greenbelt is a terrific place to spend the day swimming in an eddy or just taking a casual stroll, letting your dog strut its stuff. Your dog will love the smells, and you will enjoy the social encounters.

Beyond going to parks, there are other ways to enjoy adventure with your dog while soaking up a Boise summer day. My favorite activity is to take a strength band, tie it up as a leash, and let my dog use the tension to pull me on my long board. But, I’m not always up for the adrenaline rush of my dog leading me as an urban sled head, so I sometimes put on a regular leash and let her ride next to my bike. This is tricky, as you have to learn evasive techniques while training, but it is well worth the investment for you and your pup when you can go 20mph safely. I would avoid busy streets and foot traffic, however, as there’s always potential for a leash to get intertwined in your wheel and you taking a dive.

Floating the Boise River is an excellent way to have a great time in the water, when the sun is bearing down. Make sure your dog has its toenails trimmed, though, especially if you don’t want to pop your flotation device! And don’t forget, the water can be numbing with long-term exposure.

If your dog is an older pup, or just one who can’t get enough water, then check out the new Downtown Hound Dog Lounge—a business specializing in indoor swimming for your dog. It is based on the premise that older dogs, just as humans, become more brittle and need more comfortable exercise as they age. A large pool of salt water makes dogs more buoyant, and they can swim while building muscle and strengthening their hearts. If owners feel up to it, they can join in!


There are many events in Boise that are dog-friendly to chill at. The Grove, downtown, hosts Alive After Five and a portion of the Capitol City Market; both are always fun. Alive After Five is a great place to mingle, grab a bite, and catch a concert—and let your pup guide you through the crowds peacefully. Even though the Capitol City Market has signs that say no dogs, there are typically 20-30 dogs present at any moment. I’m not advocating breaking the rules—just stating what I see.

If live music is your thing, there are multiple concerts that take place outside at different venues in Boise. The Botanical Gardens and Ann Morrison Park are just two in the Valley that offer a variety of live outdoor musical performances. There may be restrictions on some of the events, so it is always a good idea to make sure dogs are welcome first. Some larger events that I noted as dog friendly are the Boise Music Festival, Boise Beer Festival, Hyde Park Street Fair, Soul Food Festival, and Art in Park. There are many more along these lines—just stay tuned to your print and social media outlets.

Some say that a dog is a reflection of its owner, so why not take the time to make your dog look its best? If your pooch needs a little pampering, there are many different shops for self-grooming and self-washing your pup. While a groomer is always a great choice, it is certain to cost more. So, if your breed is fairly low-maintenance, try a place like Do It Yourself Doggie Detail on Ustick. The staff is friendly, the prices are low, and the materials are solid. You take your dog in, pick up

some clippers, get a short run through from one of the helpful staff, and let the hair start to fly. After that, you can use some top of line herbal cleanses and even spray your dog with puppy perfume. K-9 Wash N Go on Overland, and Dirty Paws on Boise Avenue are also popular options for getting the dirt out of the fur in a do-it-yourself fashion.

If you prefer the company of man’s best friend with you while you shop, some stores are open to this. Obviously, pet stores are the biggest advocates: Zamzows, Petco, and Petsmart are a few of the better known spots. Aside from those, there are increasingly more places welcoming dogs. Lowes, Home Depot, and Grovers have been known to happily let Rover romp up and down the aisles. Anthropologie, Charley the Pet Boutique on 8th Street, Toby and Omar’s Dog Boutique on Park Center, and many stores in the North End will also let your pup stroll with you. If you’re not sure, ask, and make sure (am I saying this enough yet?) your dog stays on leash.

Dogs are special companions. They have the ability to make the world seem less harsh, nudging you with that soft, cold nose after a long hard day. Taking your canine into the public arena is a rewarding experience for both. Just remember there are keys to success—training, etiquette, preparation, and permission. There are many different areas and activities you can take part in, as long as you are responsible. Boise in the summer is already pretty nice, but with your dog by your side it will be dog-gone great!


FOOD


PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL GRILLING

WRITTEN BY CTOPH SIEGMUND PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM LOVE

What makes people decide on one menu item over another? Usually, a familiar taste or particular flavor enjoyed before helps make the decision. Rarely, do I see people stray away from their taste bud’s comfort zone. However, other than my vegetarian/vegan/miserable friends (I kid, I kid), most folks get suddenly adventurous in their eating when offered grilled food. I think it’s that primal instinct humans have had for centuries—meat cooked over fire. Now, it’s been refined, obviously, and there’s definitely a multitude of degrees when considering someone a grilling master. However, adding a few key ingredients to your hot repertoire will separate you from the amateurs.

I had the opportunity to dine with a local, underground celebrity chef—Alan Gergen (seriously, at work, we play the Six Degrees of Alan). Whispers of his culinary genius trickled through coworker conversations on a daily basis. I had to have a taste. Immediately upon arrival, I learned the first lesson without words—space and area. The beautiful cookout deck in front of me was made up of open air and a comfortable space before each workstation. Alan is accustomed to cooking for several guests and knows that if you trap yourself in a corner, the job can become more stressful than enjoyable. He says to have at least a 5-foot radius in front of each grill/fryer/prep station. Ability to react, position, and move yourself (and the food) will be noticeably simpler. My charcoal grill that sits against the house with stale rain atop would blush redder than its shell, in sight of Alan’s grilling patio. Sink, prep-table, buffet, fryer, and of course the grill, all had their own floor and counter space on either side. It doesn’t mean you have to build a commercial

grade facility, but—if you can spare it—let your creativity have enough work space for cooking, not hasty heating.

After the setting has been staged, you need props, which take time and preparation. “You need to always be prepared (motioning towards the wall o’ spices),” says Alan. The outside smells indicated more flavors than Dr. Pepper. “Oh, I’ve used that as a base for barbecue sauce...but, Coke is better. Here, try it!” On hand and better than “on demand;” the tangy sauce was a one-and-only. Preparation is the key to successful grilling. The guys just pouring beer over sizzling, unseasoned rumps at the park may look cool, but you can’t taste “cool.” Instead, make a marinade a few days before with a sangria base and results will improve dramatically.

The right season mixture or marinade is what will give you flair and style. “Find flavors that you really enjoy, and experiment.” The latest chapter in his soon-to-release cookbook has been consumed with raspberries and lime. “I’ve put them in everything!” On this occasion, they could be found in our raspberry limeade, the RL chicken, and the berry-jam mash topping the hot cobbler for dessert.

While you may not start out at the same level as Alan, a few trial and error sessions alone (or with brave friends), will soon give you less crispy cookouts and more delectable delicacies. Don’t be afraid to be original and step up to the next level in pro grilling.

GRANDIOSE GRILLING



Today felt like the first day of summer—a clear blue sky and temperatures up over 90 degrees. As an alternative to sweat-ing in my car, I chose to ride my bicycle to work. As I flew down the greenbelt, wind in my hair, one hand waving to other bik-ers, a question occurred to me: why don’t more people do this? And not just bicycle riding, but scooters and motorcycles as well? Two wheels make a nice (and less expensive) alternative to a convertible.

There is nothing quite like riding—no computer screen to stare at, no work demands, no complaints—just you and the road and the changing scents and scenes of the Treasure Valley. It is its own form of therapy.

Boise and the surrounding area are lucky to have a vast inter-connected system of trails and paths that make mountain bik-ing and road biking as convenient as it is blissful. There is also an added benefit in that most Idaho bikers work well together, are generally not aggressive or rude, and make street and city riding more reassuring and pleasurable.

There are notable benefits of choosing to go two-wheeled in our modern society. For one, the price of gas is ridiculous and, even after years of high prices, doesn’t seem to be going down. Bicycles only cost calories to ride, another benefit seeing as so many of us are pushing an extra pant size around. Motorcycles and scooters average over 40 mpg and are not easily affected

WRITTEN BY DREY CAMPBELL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELSEY HAWES AND JONATHAN SIKHA

HELL ON TWO WHEELS


by wind resistance. Your wallet and waist will both thank you for the change.

There are differing levels of intensity to choose from when go-ing on two wheels, with speeds varying from a 120 mph street bike to a 5 mph cruiser. No matter what spectrum you choose, there is always a risk of injury; therefore, it is essential to take care of yourself outside the four-walled protection of a vehicle. Cars and trucks aren’t always looking for bikers, and the prob-lem of cellphone usage while driving increases distraction. Use bright clothing, proper lighting, and (if possible) buddy riding to make yourself as obvious as possible. It is also essential to wear a helmet, keep arms and legs covered, and have the right

eye wear. Always be aware of your surroundings. I suggest double-checking before making any sudden moves and tak-ing time to get to know the vehicle you are going to be using, so there won’t be any surprises. Finally, limit use of two-eared headphones, and carry a “breakdown kit” with you in case of flats or leaks.

No matter which of these forms of transportation you choose, you’ll find yourself almost instantly in touch with that child who first discovered freedom on the back of a two-wheeler. The one who had yet to have a bad date, be betrayed by a friend, or pay a bill. I think you’ll fall in love with that feeling.


GUIDE


GUIDEMERIDIAN, ID: The 2012 Northwest Ribfest will be Saturday, June 30th & Sunday, July 1st at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park (Fairview/Eagle), in Meridian, Idaho. This is a FREE event to the public and should prove to be one of the most exciting summer events for the whole family in the Treasure Valley.

For 2 days, Meridian will explode into life with non-stop cooking and family-friendly events that are sure to bring a smile to every face. The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and will feature MANY of the nation’s top barbeque teams from around the country. They will be competing for a huge $10,000 purse and the chance to claim the title of Grand Champion.

In addition to the barbeque competition, there will be live music at the new outside amphitheater, with big name headliners, hundreds of food vendors and non-food vendors, hot air balloons, beer and wine gardens, a special VIP tent area with all you can eat and drink - courtesy of Kanak Attack catering, a children’s area featuring a FREE trophy trout pond stocked and sponsored by Sportsman’s Warehouse, and a whole lot more.

General Admission to the event is FREE! Don’t miss out on the most delicious event Idaho will see this year - presented by Coca Cola, the Idaho Lottery and Krispy Kreme! This event will be one of the highest attended event of the year in the Treasure Valley and Idaho!

SATURDAY, JUNE 30TH - NORTHWEST RIBFEST

For more information and Vip Tickets Visit www.Fusion-mag.com


GUIDE SUMMERSaturday, July 7th 2012 the Boise Music Festival- the largest festival in Idaho will be rocking the Expo Idaho Fairgrounds! Sponsored by Peak Broadcasting and its six radio stations- Mix 106, 103.3 Kiss FM, 107.9 Lite FM, WOW Country 104.3, 580 KIDO, Sports Radio 630-The Fan, and Mattress Land, Peak Broadcasting continues to bring back a much loved and anticipated event for over 75,000+ people with a full day of live music, food and craft vendors along with a mixed variety of other family friendly activities. As an all day event featuring a wide range of diverse music, seven stages throughout the fairgrounds will feature music that will appeal to all different listening tastes with a variety of entertainment.

Starting at 2:15 pm, the Main Stage will showcase eight, 2012 national recording artists:

LL Cool J- Two-time Grammy Award winner, & recording artistSmash Mouth- “Walkin’ On the Sun” & “All Star”Kellie Pickler- American Idol, “Red High Heels” & “I Wonder” James Durbin- American Idol, “Higher than Heaven,” & “Stand Up.” Karmin- “Crash Your Party” & “Brokenhearted”Chris Rene- “Young Homie” & “Where Do We Go From Here.”Vicci Martinez- The Voice, “On My Way”Ryan Star-“Last Train Home” & “Brand New Day”

SATURDAY, JULY 7TH - BOISE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Six other regional and local stages will feature fifty top-quality performers and entertainers from Idaho and the Northwest:

Coffee Club HouseJeff MollWaking Jordan605Ron Greene BandBrandon PritchettUintahsRebecca ScottSophiaSilent TheoryIan VelikoffBlaze and KellyJoanna RichardKayla AdamsHarmony FallsFiddlin Big AlAudio MoonshineLittle You Little MeBrian Bateman Blend

HotwireHecktor PecktorWillison RoosJuke DaddysDangerbeardCome TogetherMarshall PooleBoise Rock SchoolVan Marter ProjectSchool of RockA Rotterdam NovemberSwift N SassyFlipsideWorkin On FireFallen IdlesIllist Lyricist3rd to LastDead Reckoning

AlltheWaysExit ProseHotel ChelseaPleasantville KillerzNino LobosStop Drop and PartyPoppa JoesCouncil Mountain Bluegrass BandReilly CoyoteJ.D. Webb & The Down State RamblersHotwireAnD and FriendsTraditionPossum LivinHigh Desert

In addition to the musical entertainment, the Boise Music Festival offers an abundant range of Arts & Craft vendors featuring local businesses, artists, crafters and flea market vendors offering a wide range of unique, creative and useful merchandise for sale. A baseball card show, the Boise 100 & Bishs RV Sale will also be featured in the North, South, and Center Expo Buildings.

Multiple Beer & Wine Gardens dedicated to pouring your favorite beer and wine from local and regional providers will quench your thirst along with numerous Food Courts that will feed your hunger while spending the day outside, enjoying great music while providing a variety of tasty fare to please every palate.

Also provided is a Kid’s Play area where parents will have the opportunity to watch their kids burn off abundant energy with a variety of activities and inflatable attractions. As a fun, music-filled day, there will be a variety of food, and family activities.

Tickets will be required for admission and given out for free through a variety of promotions and sponsor supported giveaway opportunities including on-air giveaways from the six Peak radio stations. There are also a limited number of reserved club tickets for sale at ICTickets.com that include premium seating, a private beer garden, food booths & restrooms. Tickets are limited, and once they are gone, they are gone!

Please visit www.boisemusicfestival.com to see photos and videos of last year’s event and learn more about the 2012 Boise Music Festival!


GUIDE SUMMERSun Valley two-day fest is MASSVMASSV Music and Arts Showcase Sun Valley makes its debut this summer.

When art, music and the majestic scenery of Sun Valley come together —it becomes MASSV. The latest and most exciting event to happen this summer in Sun Valley will be the inaugural MASSV Music and Arts Showcase this summer, July 13-14. The two-day music and arts festival in downtown Ketchum will take place at the Simplot lot, future home of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, across from the Ketchum Post Office.

This historic event will feature the most cutting-edge music touring acts in the nation today including the eclectic and energizing creative rock, funk, and electronica sounds of Ghostland Observatory, the hot vibes of the acoustic and electronica combination sounds and dance performance of Beats Antique and the mixing mania of the dubstep group the Adventure Club.

MASSV is for everyone, and is also pleased to feature the soulful and profound music of Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears. Their James Brown influence will have everyone on their feet as well as the hip-hop super tunes of Brother Ali. Other acts to fill out the MASSV festival’s line-up will include reggae, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana music featuring Gift of Gab of Blackalicous, Proper Motion, Stylust Beats, Winstrong, Boombox and B-Side Players. MASSV will also present Boise’s Equaleyes and Idaho and Wood River Valley’s acclaimed rocker trio Finn Riggins.

Invoking the spirit Mardi Gras and garnering some inspiration from Bonnaroo, MASSV encourages festival goers of all ages to enjoy the party with costumes and art projects. Expect local “tweener” acts of art and music too. The summer fun and super-charged atmosphere will include jugglers, stilt walkers, break dancers, hula hoppers, African drummers, scratch DJs and many other entertainers all throughout the two-day event. Enjoy an art car parade, a torch lit drum march from

Simplot lot to Main Street in Ketchum after the main stage closes each night where a street party will ensue with laser light shows and more to continue the MASSV groove.

Gates will open on Friday, July 13, at 2 p.m. The show will start at 4 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. A Ketchum street party will take place from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. On Saturday, July 14, gates open at 12 p.m. and the show will take place from 2 to 11:30 p.m. followed by a Ketchum street party from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

A weekend pass is $59.99 and individual day passes are $39.99. These passes are available for a limited time only. After July 7, the weekend pass will be $69.99 and individual passes will be $45. MASSV will have food, drink and other vendors on-site at the Simplot lot. In addition, parking, camping, lodging and ticket sales information will be available soon. Students interested in art projects for exhibition at the festival should contact the festival at [email protected] as well as volunteers and other interested parties who would like to be involved in this debut festival event.

FRIDAY, JULY 13TH - MUSIC AND ARTS SHOWCASE, SUN VALLEY

For more details, visit www.massvmusicfest.com or e-mail [email protected].


GUIDE SUMMERSATURDAY, AUGUST 4TH - SOUL FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA

Article written by By: Gordie Tamayo

A lot can and has changed in the last 20 years. And while drive-thru coffee and email have become the mantra of today’s fast paced society, it’s nice to slow it down and reflect on some good ‘ol family values that have not been shaken through the times. For the past two decades the Boise Soul Food Extravaganza has been a platform where people of different cultures are brought together to learn from and appreciate one-another through the fellowship of music and food.

Initially created by a team known as the Treasure Valley Intercultural Association (T.V.I.A), the group’s intentions were to share the African American culture with the community while strengthening ties amongst other cultures and serving the area by giving back to charitable entities. Although its name has undergone a slight makeover, its vision has remained steadfast and lived up to its purpose. Long time former coordinators like Rich Williams can be confident in their hope, “that in passing the torch to new blood, the event will continue growing to include larger cultural participation”. In fact, the organization has already evolved into something even more transcendent as its group

now resembles somewhat of an ethnic mosaic. Far from the original gathering between African American families at Cathedral of the Rockies in 1993, we now see as Brother Brown put it, “More wheels with the same spokes”. In other words, ethnicity doesn’t separate us as a people. The same values that started the event have united us and in its 20th year of existence, the Boise Soul Food Extravaganza once again testifies that we all got soul.

While the largest Soul Food Extravaganza in the Northwest has had the likes of Smokey Robinson, Montell Jordan, and Rose Royce grace the stage, the aroma from authentic southern cooked catfish to slabs of ribs with special sauce has proved to be equally tantalizing. The event has even stretched beyond regional borders, attracting crowds to the City of Trees just to have a taste of what everyone is talking about. This year will be no exception. The event is committed to bringing quality family entertainment with its signature car show sponsored by: Peterson Cadillac, a kids area with jump-houses and other adventures, eating competition brought to you by: Famous Dave’s BBQ, beer garden

WHOLE LOT OF LOVE AND A ‘LIL CAYENNE


GUIDE SUMMERto quench the summer thirst, hilariously multi-dimensional showman Eric Schwartz www.smoothe.tv presented by: Liquid, a steady lineup of musicians to make every eardrum groove and a few surprises you just have to show up to see.

As we gather for our 20th year celebration Saturday, August 4th at Julia Davis Park in Boise, Idaho from 11am-8pm we invite you come out and join us. We guarantee you to find an atmosphere embodied with what Brother Brown describes as, “a whole lot of love and a lil cayenne”.

We would like to pay homage to those who paved the way to help keep this event alive and growing to this day. Founding members to include: Zeda and Rob James, Ken West, Teresa Jenkins, Roland Jenkins, Lori Smith, Stephanie Atkinson and Jeff Binford. Devoted volunteers: Rich Williams, Christina Daley, Dee King, Kathy Holland, Kenny and Trish Walker, Kimi Eddins, Lisa Carter and Elisa Fowler. Local Vendors and Entertainers: St. Paul Baptist Church, Shari Ashley, Mark Thornton, Cheri Buckner-Webb, Carlas Brown “Brother Brown’s

Bar-B-Q”, Chef Roland (R.I.P), Yvonne Thomas “A Piece of Cake”, Brenda and Jerry (Brick) Hambrick (R.I.P) “B and B Soul”. Sponsors: HP, Wells Fargo, Albertsons/SuperValu, Citi Bank, Washington Mutual, Idaho Power, Boise Cascade, Key Bank and American Family Insurance. Beneficiaries: Genesis Outreach Medical Clinic, Life’s Kitchen, Idaho Black History Museum, Idaho Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Boise Rescue Mission, El-Ada Community Action Agency, Families of MAC, Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels, Women’s and Children’s Alliance, the Idaho Youth Ranch and Big Brothers/Sisters. We thank you. Without your contributions our community would not be what it is today.

2012 Boise Soul Food Extravaganza sponsored by: Hewlett Packard, Peterson Cadillac, The Source, Mister Car Wash, Blakbook, Liquid, Impact Radio Group, Boise Weekly, Fusion Magazine, Famous Dave’s BBQ, ThisIsBoise.com, Park Audio and TheTitleFight.com

2012 Boise Soul Food Extravaganza benefiting: The Idaho Foodbank, Life’s Kitchen and the Idaho Black History Museum

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4TH - SOUL FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA


Boise Premier Real Estate is proud to be a Title Sponsor of one of Idaho’s Biggest Events. You are invited to one of the Fastest Growing Race Series in North America. “The Evolution of Running” and the outdoor event you Do Not want to miss.

Let The Dirty Dash mud run obstacle course become your new guilty pleasure. Trudge up mountains of sludge, overcome uncompromising obstacles, and wallow in pits of mud. Go solo or with some of your dirtiest friends. Register online at www.thedirtydash.com and visit the fan site at www.facebook.com/TheDirtyDash. The Dirty Dash gives you a mud-run obstacle course that will put you

in touch with nature in a way your mom would have grounded you for in grade school. You’ll scale mountains, chug beers, and crawl through muddy slop so thick that, unlike Andy Dufrane, there’s no way you’re coming out clean on the other side. This lava flow of dark brown goodness goes down easier than a 24 pack of Diet Coke or a double-order of Chili’s Molten Lava Cake, but there ain’t no drive-thru or Hamburglar here to make it easy on you. You’ve got to work to make this course your personal play place. When it’s all said and done, all we can assure you is that when we meet you in a mud-stained alley afterward, you’ll be begging, “Puh-puh-puh-please sir, can I have some mo’?”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH -26TH - THE DIRTY DASH

Register online at www.thedirtydash.com and visit the fan site at www.facebook.com/TheDirtyDash.

FIRST THURSDAYJULY 5TH LINEN BUILDING

HOT CHELLE RAEJULY 10TH6:30PMKNITTING FACTORY

BOISE MUSIC FESTIVALJULY 7TH10AM – 10PMEXPO IDAHO

NORTWESH MOTORFESTJuly 13th 15th Expo Idahowww.expoidaho.com

KEVIN HARTJULY 20TH7 PMMORRISON CENTER

THE 1ST BOISE SALSA FESTIVALAUGUST 2ND-4THRED LION HOTELwww.boisesalsafestival.com

BARENAKED LADIES AUGUST 2ND 6 PMIDAHO CENTER AMPHITHEATREwww.idahobotanicalgarden.org

JOURNEYAUGUST 4TH6:30 PMIDAHO CENTER AMPHITHEATRETICKETS: 208-442-3232

COUNTING CROWSAUGUST 6TH6 PMIDAHO BOTANICAL GARDENTICKETS AT TICKETFLY.COM

KASKADE TOURAUGUST 13TH7:00 PMKNITTING FACTORY

WESTERN IDAHO FAIRAUGUST 17TH-26THEXPO IDAHOwww.adabackyard.com

CROSBY STILLS AND NASHAUGUST 24TH6 PMIDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN

THE DIRTY DASHAUGUST 25THBOGUS BASIN www.thedirtydash.com

5K FOAM FESTAUGUST 25TH9 AMEAGLE ISLAND STATE PARKwww.5kfoamfest.com

JANE’S ADDICTIONAUGUST 29TH6 PMIDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN

LES MISERABLESSEPTEMBER 19TH-20TH7:30 PMMORRISON CENTER FOR THEPERFOMRING ARTS

SUMMER CALENDAR


CallToday For A Free

Consultation

24 hour service

(208) 918-1085

7363 Barrister Boise, ID 83704

100% financing available

www.boisecriminaldefensefirm.comHablamos

Español



LOCATION Graeber & Company SalonDATE April 21st, 2012

Graeber & Company hosted the “Black & White Masked Ball” to benefit the Boise Urban Garden School. This gorgeous salon was transformed into an elegant ballroom with catering by Kanak Attack, classic drinks by The Modern, desserts by Eye Candy, and Music by DJ Noah Hyde. It was an event that raised $5000 for BUGS, an accomplishment that Fusion was excited to be a part of.

BLACK & WHITEMASKED BALL

FUSION MAGAZINE & GRAEBER & COMPANY PRESENT:


SPRING ISSUE RELEASE PARTYMarch 1st , 2012

LOCATION Berry Hill & Co.

Fusion celebrated the release of its Spring issue in style at Berryhill & Co. The evening was spotlighted by a live art piece by Patric Hunter as well as a musical performance by Shaun B. Guests were also treated to an assortment of appetizers provided by Berryhill.

RELEASE PARTY



FNL VOL 2

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE VOLUME 2FEATURING SHAUN B. UNPLUGGEDApril 13, 2012LOCATION The Reef

How do you make an incredible musician even more mind blowing? Ask him to perform his best songs, unplugged with a live band. Friday Night Live Volume 2 shook Boise’s music scene with incredible performances by Shaun B. & friends, including Sonny Bonoho, Nicholas Ingram, and Victoria. With an amazing symphony of talent, American Revolution Vodka & The Reef hosted the party.


DANCING WITH THE STARSMay 12th, 2012 LOCATION Boise Centre on the Grove

Local Celebrities battled it out on the dance floor to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Idaho. This was the second annual event with the attendance and profits raised growing exponentially. Ted Challenger was the host for the evening as radio personality Nathan Fast came away with the title.

DANCING WITH THE STARS


FUSION MAGAZINE & REVOLUTION VODKA PRESENT:

1YEAR ANNIVERSARYPARTYLOCATION Opa LoungeDATE June 2nd, 2012

American Revolution Vodka, in concert with Fusion Magazine, hosted a glamorous red carpet affair to celebrate our One Year Anniversary. Academy mentors & coaches of Gridiron Dreams joined the party. Camera flashes and Revolution drinks brought the urban chic to the Opa Lounge.


Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from getting ahead!

We define the Social Media Strategy to fit your business objectives with a

100% Money Back GuaranteeSocial Media Marketing doesn’t have to be hard. Let us help.

208.955.6679

GetSocialEyes.comFacebook.com/SocialEyesMarketingYouTube.com/SocialEyesMarketingTwitter.com/SocialEyesID

The ROI of Social Media is that Your Business Will Exist in 5 Years

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

fusion-se-ad.pdf 1 2/24/12 11:32 PM



Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from getting ahead!

We define the Social Media Strategy to fit your business objectives with a

100% Money Back GuaranteeSocial Media Marketing doesn’t have to be hard. Let us help.

208.955.6679

GetSocialEyes.comFacebook.com/SocialEyesMarketingYouTube.com/SocialEyesMarketingTwitter.com/SocialEyesID

The ROI of Social Media is that Your Business Will Exist in 5 Years

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

fusion-se-ad.pdf 1 2/24/12 11:32 PM

CINCO DE MAYO PARTYMay 5th, 2012LOCATION Sammy’s

What a better way to celebrate the Mexican Army’s,1862 victory, than to take over one of Boise’s liveliest clubs. Formerly know as “Mack & Charlie’s”, Sammy’s threw the best Cinco De Mayo party with music from DJ Crime, a performance by Mayhem, and enough tequila to kill ya! A line out the door meant a packed dance floor, busy bar, and a night that set the bar high for next year.

CINCO DE MAYO PARTY




CELEBRATE YOUR INDEPENDENCE

CELEBRATE YOUR INDEPENDENCE

CONSUMER RATED #1 E-CIG IN AMERICA

NO ASHES NO SMOKENO TOBACCO NO ODOR

lotusecigs.com

DISPOSABLE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

GREATTASTING

SUPERIORDESIGN WATER

VAPOR

AVAILABLE AT BIG SMOKE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER RETAIL LOCATIONS

Documents

Fusion volume 1 issue 4