the unequivocal notion

Misdirection

Like a pouting child who got the red race car instead of the blue race car in his Happy Meal.

Idaho Statesman endorses Nampa City Council challengers

Today the Idaho Statesman endorsed all the challengers for Nampa City Council -- for seat 2 where there are two challengers, they endorsed NNU Librarian Lance McGrath over Scott McDonald. It would seem to be a pretty sharp indictment on the productivity and effectiveness of Nampa's City Council when the Idaho Statesman endorses cleaning house and starting anew.

Read the Idaho Statesman Our View for all the details.

When rock stars were really rock stars

...And rock concerts were really rock concerts where strange and unpredictable things happened with strange and unpredictable people.

The Doors doing "Road House Blues"

Sometimes I really think I was born 30 years too late, other times I realize that I do really indeed enjoy the convenience of ATM's.

Getting it...

This one is straight from the Dept. of Did He Just Really Say That?  -- from a submission to the Idaho Press-Tribune's Cheers & Jeers feature:

Jeers

Everyone always says we shouldn’t park in the handicap spots, and I don’t, but what about all the people who have the signs and park in the normal spots. Is that fair that we can’t take their spots but they can take ours? So, a big jeers goes out to all the people who park in the normal parking spots and have the signs.

Common sense need not apply

Somethings you would think should not have to be addressed, but then again, some people are morons.

KTVB.com

ACHD: Don't rake leaves into street.

BOISE -- Fall leaves are beautiful this time of year, but they can also be a hassle for street sweepers.

The Ada County Highway District says sweepers can pick up leaves that naturally fall onto the street, but they are not equipped to pick up piles of leaves that are raked into the street or alley.

ACHD says raking leaves into the street can cause flooding by blocking gutters and clogging storm drains.
The city of Boise and Allied Waste are providing curb side pick up of bagged leaves through November 30.

Idaho's political, and digital divide

Idaho's own original Red State Rebel Julie Fanselow penned a great piece in today's Idaho Statesman on the divide between Senate candidates Democrat Larry LaRocco and Republican Jim "Idaho owes this to me" Risch when it comes to tech. There is a lot to be said about a man like Risch who claims to not even use email. You'd think that Idaho's budget conscious Republican majority would see that this isn't exactly the most efficient use of tax dollars.

You know, it is cute sometimes when someone says "oh, how do you do that?" But there are times when you are like "WTF? Are you even capable of tying your shoes in the morning?" I put Risch's disdain of technology solidly in this category. If the guy cannot turn on a computer, maybe, just maybe he shouldn't be making policy decisions that affect Idaho businesses -- businesses that happen to include tech companies.

Sometimes I think Idaho's Republican leadership depends entirely too much on Velcro shoe straps.

Market Limone opening this weekend

I happened to hear today that Downtown Nampa's Market Limone is slated to open this Sunday. Finally Nampa's need for good cheese, wine, micros and other hard to find edibles will be fulfilled. I for one, am terribly excited.

You have no idea how much I am looking forward to this (unless you've been reading this site for the last 6 months, then you may have some idea).

Update

Per the Press-Tribune the opening has been moved to mid-next week.

Update II

Been there? Let me know what you thought.

Weekend Tunes

This week it's Band Of Horses performing my favorite song off of their new album Cease to Begin live in Seattle at the album release party. Band of Horses were just in Boise this past summer Grand Archives with members of BoH's were here this past summer as one of the openers for Modest Mouse along with another good band, Love as Laughter (check out "Coconut Flakes"). Band Of Horses will be returning to Boise Sunday Nov.18th for a late show at the Neurolux. Tix available here for $16.

Here is "Marry Song" from Band of Horses.

I'll also note that you can hear the entire new album at BoH's myspace page, it is definitely worth a listen.

Can it happen here?

Salt Lake Tribune:

Liquor commissioner wants booze out of view

Liquor control commissioner Bobbie Coray asked her colleagues on Wednesday to consider a rule to cover up bottles of booze displayed at restaurants because some diners may be offended at the sight of alcohol.

A glass partition between bartenders and customers required under current regulations may not be enough, Coray told her fellow liquor control commissioners at their monthly meeting.

Coray, a lone holdout opposing liquor licenses for strip bars, now wants the commission to place more restrictions on glass partitions in restaurants. She called the partitions "a Zion curtain," imposed to satisfy Mormons whose faith eschews alcohol.

I doubt it could happen in Idaho just because most of the Republicans in charge are more business/economically motivated than our neighbors to the south of us. But then again with the recent heavy handed tactics of Idaho's Alcohol Beverage Control it wouldn't really surprise me.

Logic

Some people just aren't capable of processing it.

What is it with these people?

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's 43 year-old brother has an $250,000 arrest warrant out for sexual relations with a 15 year old. Yes, it wasn't Tom who did it, it was his brother, I know this -- before anyone goes and points out the obvious.

Something about glass houses comes to mind.. just.. can't.. pinpoint.. it.

Bonus comments at the Idaho Statesman Voices site. Some guy going around thinking that a comedy routine from 1997 and repeated since then is still funny or relevant. Some people in Idaho just never cease to amaze me.

A Nampa City Council comment

Sometimes I get comments on posts that are further on down the page that I think should probably be highlighted a little bit more. Here is one that I got yesterday concerning Bob Schmidt not filing his paper work on time.

And for a little more on that same subject, Schmidt's daughter also left a comment defending her dad after the comment below was posted. Which to answer her -- accidents happen indeed, but excuses are excuses and calling me "sweetheart" isn't gonna get you any love around these parts.

Anyway... This is the comment that I found interesting; you can draw your own conclusions if you'd like. It's from someone calling themselves "Downtowner" and just to be clear the comment was posted by someone in Oregon (which only makes it more interesting).

Red Flags - I would say yes. They do not have the time to read and follow the simple rules of the campaign - then that would suggest to me that they do not have the time to read the council packets and make informed decisions for the city.

I cannot tell you how many times I have sat in City Council meetings and watched two of the city council members furiously flip through their binders to hurriedly read staff reports and supportive documents as an issue was being discussed. Their comments and decisions demonstrated that not only had they not read the council packets but that they did not fully understand the issue on which they were casting their votes, thereby forcing them to make poor decisions or slow up the decision-making process. If this does not raise red flags for Nampa than I do not know what would. Nampa really has an opportunity to reverse the stalemate and aggregious powerplays that have been the hallmarks of the current city council - caused by two city council members who 1) either are too busy to fully do justice to their roles that they were elected to perform; or 2) are too arrogant to think that they actually need to read the materials provided to them to make informed and timely decisions.

Remember, make sure you get out and vote come November 6th. Less than two weeks away.

The Statesman on Laurel MacKinnon

Today the Idaho Statesman ran a great piece on Nampa Revitalizer Laurel MacKinnon, it's really worth a read if you want to know what is going on with all the construction downtown. It is definitely the most comprehensive column done so far that I've seen concerning all that is happening, now, and in the short term future. With of course -- Laurel's long term vision for the heart of Nampa.

While the term "developer" would be appropriate if you had to label MacKinnon as the Statesman does, I don't think it truly fits. When I think of "developer" I think of what Laurel describes as "building a strip mall on farmland". There is definitely more to what she is doing, it's about revitalizing the core of Downtown Nampa and continuing that growth, both economically and culturally.

It makes a significant difference in the long term viability of a project when its creator actually cares about what they are doing -- when there is more motivation than just profit. And Idaho could certainly use more of that.

Josh Ritter -- Amazing.

If you missed it then you missed something that you'll probably never have the chance to see again in your lifetime. Idaho's own Josh Ritter returned to Boise last Saturday night for his second time -- this time at the Egyptian Theatre in Downtown Boise.

To be honest with you, I don't have too much to say, this show really falls into the "you had to be there to believe it". Easily this was probably one of the best shows I've ever seen, the music, the venue and ambiance -- everything melded together to make for a truly memorable evening. We saw Josh Ritter last year when he came solo along with opening acts Jim Bianco and Gary Jules at the Big Easy for an intimate acoustic show. That show was deeply personal and moving all in its own right; but this time Josh returned with his full band in tow and blew the crowd away. This time Ritter opened up the flood gates rocking to "Mind's Eye" and never once let up. I've heard a couple recordings of Ritter with his full band, but seeing them live was immensely exciting. 

If you're reading this and have seen Ritter before than this isn't news to you, but the guy loves to put on a show. And I don't mean, that he just likes to play his music, he loves to put on a show. Rarely do you see an artist that is truly happy to be playing in Boise; while a lot of acts may profess their love for Boise, you know a considerable amount are just checking it off the itinerary. But not Ritter, the guy loves to play, rarely do you ever see an artist so full of excitement to just be here, to just live his music in front of a packed theater of dedicated fans.

From start to finish this was an amazing show. It just never ceased to be what it was, one of the best performances I've ever seen.

While Michael Deeds opened up his review talking about the fans moving up to the front of the stage so that they could "feel good", I'll go ahead and argue that point. Yeah, it might have looked cool to the people up on the second level, or the people in the middle of the theater, it wasn't too cool for those of us on the side aisles. We were in the 4th row on the left side of the stage, butted up to the center aisle, so mid way through we were forced to endure the gyrating backsides of a very selfish and annoying group of people. Now some were considerate and realized that they were blocking the view of a considerable amount of people and moved, others just looked behind them and could care less.

Hey, I'm all for having a good time and showing your love for a particular artist, but please don't do it at the expense of other fans. Just because you know the lyrics to every Josh Ritter song doesn't mean that everyone around you want to hear you sing them -- please, save it for the shower or your car.

There were several people around us who had words with the aisle dwellers which proved to be entertaining within itself; "Hey, I didn't pay for these seats to look at your back" was a refrain heard from a couple rows back. Things were so bad on the other side of the theater that one person from our party was compelled to leave about 45 minutes early to avoid strangling the person next to him. While this was certainly rash, I do understand. Although this was particularly bad, because that last 45 minutes was truly mind blowing.

Next time, if you want to be upfront then log off your damn myspace account and order your tickets when they go on sale.

Oy, I guess it wouldn't be right if I didn't complain about something... right?

One of the things that you really have to see for yourself when you talk about a Josh Ritter show is when he goes mic-less. One of the most beautiful things I've seen in a performance was then Ritter performed "Idaho" (from the Big Easy show) with no mic, just his acoustic guitar and minimal lighting. This time around Ritter didn't disappoint, he upped the ante. Not only did he sing Springsteen's "The River" with no amplification, he treated everyone to a completely a capella song with nothing more than a water bottle in hand to close the show out. 

Deeds has more, and Idaho's own original Red State Rebel was also at the show.

Updated.

Rachel Daigle of the Boise Weekly (one of the few good columnist left at BW IMHO) was also present at the Josh Ritter show, front and center.

Bitch Creek takes 3rd

Idaho's own Grand Teton Brewery's Bitch Creek ESB (extra special/strong bitter) took 3rd place at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver Colorado this past weekend.

While it doesn't look like it was a huge showing for Idaho brewers this year at America's largest beer festival, at least we didn't come home empty handed. If anything, there are plenty of Idaho brewers who can compete with some of the best brewers in the country. Yeah, that's right, not only do we make some unique wines in this area; we can also brew some good beers.

Swill on that Idaho's Conservative Right! You may have stopped us from buying booze on Sundays and made us quit imbibing at 2 a.m. on the weekends, but we get our revenge when we indulge in premium beers and wines made right under your noses. Good thing for us -- you value the almighty dollar than your own moral code. I'm not complaining; at least I'll quit complaining after I can buy tequila on Sundays.

It's almost mildly surprising that we do so good in the goods-that-include-alcohol area of Idaho industry. Especially when you consider the makeup of our brethren (not including our eastern brothers at 43rd State Blues; speaking from experience, we know what those guys like! We've all drank in the shadows of the silos.) to the east of us who produce huge volumes of grains for Budweiser. Something about a saying -- we don't like the product but we sure like the dollars.

twist - phizz - gurggle - Mmm...

Just swamped tunes

I wish I had more time at the moment; time is just something that is coming at a premium right about now. Issues both at work and personal are doing all they can to sap every last second out of every last hour of my life right about now.

We hope to get back to our regularly scheduled programing sometime soon. Until then, or in the mist of then, here is Radiohead with a track from their mind blowing new album In Rainbows.

On that note, it's really amazing how your life can go from point A to point B out to point C and back to point B all in the blink of an eye. It's so easy to sometimes be entertained by the scenery and so enveloped in its beauty that you never see that car coming at you at 55 mph directly to the left, right square in the blind spot you always knew was there. You live life with your eye on the prize behind door 2 at all times, when the whole time the prize was really sitting behind door number 1 this whole time, and everyone knew it but you.

And then -- there are those times when luck has worn thin, and the clock dictates that you just screw it all -- go ahead and go all in.

No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen.
   -Thom Yorke

Nampa City Council forum reminder

Make sure you're there -- October 16th (that'd be tomorrow).

6 p.m @ Nampa City Hall.

Snake River Farms at Per Se

While it isn't really news that Idaho's own Snake River Farm's beef (and pork mind you) is some of the best in the country, or that it is served at several of the country's tops restaurants -- I just found this post from the French Laundry at Home about getting into Thomas Keller's Per Se in New York City to be entertaining; where one of the 15 courses includes some beef from Snake River Farms.

The dish in question:

Snake River Farm's Calotte de Boeuf Grillée with Crispy Bone Marrow, Abalone Mushroom, Rissolée of Fingerling Potatoes, Haricots Verts, and Sauce Bordelaise.

Yum.

Weekend Tunes

The Felice Brothers and their video for “Roll on Arte”.

Well, it does raise some red flags

It might make you ask some questions when you see headlines like this:

Less than half of Nampa council candidates file financial reports by deadline

Three of the seven Nampa City Council candidates -- one for each of the three seats on the November ballot -- filed campaign financial disclosure reports by Wednesday’s deadline.

For Seat 2, challenger Lance McGrath reported $1,594 in total contributions for the period ending Sept. 30, with $849 in expenditures for campaign fliers.

Incumbent Stephen Kren and challenger Scott McDonald had not filed by the 5 p.m. deadline.

Um, so if I had to deduce why incumbent Kern or candidate McDonald hadn't met a simple campaign deadline it would make me ask myself two simple questions:

1. Do they even care?
2. Or are they incompetent?

I will also note that challenger Lance McGrath of "Forward Nampa" fame has out raised all of the candidates who bothered themselves by complying with cumbersome campaign rules. Lance reported raising $1,594 in contributions and Seat 4 challenger Bob Henry came in second by raising only $200.

Bonus: City Councilman Bob Schmidt had the time to leave a comment on the Idaho Statesman's website, but didn't have the time to file his necessary paperwork.

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 4:39pm | Bobschmidt

Not hiding anything

I am a current city councilman in Nampa and one of those who has not sent a report in on time. This was truly an error on my part. I was out of town and this unfortunately was forgotten about. I apologize and will have the report in by tomorrow. I have not received donations or promises of donations from the ULI. Again, please accept my apologies.Bob Schmidt

I'd sure hope that he didn't leave that comment using any government 'puters -- last thing I would want is any of these incumbents campaigning on my dime.

Some writers have cameras

Not only does the great Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi write some of the best political prose out there right now, he also makes great videos.

Nampa City Council forum

If you want to hear "Nampa Forward" City Council candidate Lance McGrath debate with the other contender and Councilman Stephen Kren then head over to City Hall on October 16th at 6 p.m.

It should prove to be an enlightening and interesting forum to say the least.

From what I have heard and seen Lance has vision for Nampa, something that our current crop of representatives seem to be lacking a little bit of. This isn't to say that they've done a horrible job, but their outlook leaves something to be desired. As President of the Old Nampa Neighborhood Association Lance can see what needs to be done to make sure our city grows not only efficiently -- but also culturally. As I've said before, the growth is happening, there isn't anything anyone can do about that, but we can make sure that it is done right.

If you are at all interested in Nampa's future, both long term and immediate, I'd suggest attending the forum and then make sure you get out and vote come November 6th.

More layoffs coming to the valley?

It's not just Micron.

I don't have links. Take it for what you want it to be, this info is just things that I've been told from pretty good sources over the last week or so.

I've been hearing rumors of more work force reductions coming out of a Boise company that uh, deals with printers and a pretty drastic cut in its contractor workforce. The contractor force making up quite a large portion of the development and testing workforce at this Boise printer company. With the start of the new fiscal year happening right about now I think that we'll maybe hear more about this in the immediate future.

I also heard that there is trouble brewing at two of Nampa's larger title companies. I heard that there were some cuts made last week at TitleOne and yesterday at Pioneer Title Company. Rumor was that last week Pioneer management sent out an email asking for employees to voluntarily accept part-time employment and when no one accepted the cuts had to be made. The cuts being made yesterday.

I don't think that the mortgage crunch has had its full effect on the valley just yet. After a summer of cuts hitting various loan offices, brokerages and lenders the layoffs are going to start hitting a wider swath of Treasure Valley workers in the fields related to housing.

"Oh, you're a blogger?"

Idaho Statesman and Washington Post music and entertainment columnist Michael Deeds now has a blog on the Idaho Statesman website.

Words & Deeds.

Cold War Kids on the X

Got a call few moments ago that the Cold War Kids are in Boise today and are going to playing some songs live in 100.3 The X's studio.

I tried my hardest to install some audio capture software in about 20 seconds but the install failed miserably resulting in a reboot and me missing the first song (I hate Windows). This was one of those times that apt-get install would have come in really, really handy. So, unless you were listening just a few moments ago you just missed them playing a great version of Hospital Beds in studio and a couple other songs.

Sadly they weren't in town to play a show, just passing through town. They also didn't know if they would be back to play anytime soon. All though he did humor us by saying that he could lie and say they'd be back -- and he did.

Update

The X released the show as a podcast. You can access a .mp3 of the songs here. God I wish they'd hit us up again.

Treasure Valley wineries

The Idaho Statesman had a good article on Treasure Valley wineries today. It touched on how the newly designated Snake  River Valley American Viticultural Area has really revitalized some local wineries, giving them the recognition that they desearve. And of course, it made sure to note that most of the Treasure Valley's wineries are in Canyon County, not Ada. And of those in Ada, three of the four are right on the border between the counties.

Eagle can do all they want to try and become the center of the Treasure Valley wine scene, but the dirt in Canyon County that the vines are growing in would say differently.

"Blue-collar" vs. ???

I checked out the Idaho Press-Tribune's front page story on Downtown Nampa again and noticed a comment that warranted a response. But... because the IPT site limits comments to 1000 characters I'll have to publish my response here. That and for the life of me, my reduced version isn't showing up on the IPT site. Gee, IPT, it's starting to look like that money spent on a redesign isn't really paying off after all.

Anywho... here is Chuck's comment in full, exactly as it appeared IPT website.

“Nampa is a very blue-collar town. European-style cafes, wine bars and gourmet restaruants aren't usually the working-class leisures. Really, how many wine-and-food afficianados reside in Nampa? When was the last time you and the guys at the construction site went out after work for a Zinfandel? I hope it all goes well, it will be a nice addition to Nampa, but don't be surprised if those same shops are closed in a couple years. On the other hand, if you're going to do the "classy" thing then do it all the way. Don't stop with cafes and wine bars. Add an indy-style bookstore to the area. B Dalton at the Karcher Mall is too small, and the local used bookstores just don't have the charm of a worldclass bookstore. A bookstore is an ideal place to meet people and talk about ideas, current events, as well as feed the mind. Add to that a nice European or Asian-style spa with massage, sauna, mud baths and other pleasures and Nampa will be the envy of Southern Idaho...maybe.

My response I wanted to submit:

I guess I've just never understood the argument that "good" food or drink is somehow not "blue-collar". I know plenty of people who would consider themselves "blue-collar" but also enjoy a glass of wine or a night out at the Shakespeare Festival in Boise. Those same people will pop open a few bottles of Coors Light and watch football all Sunday long. It's wrong to assume what people enjoy based on their perceived income level; everyone has their own likes and dislikes.

I think it's great that Nampa will be getting a shop where you can get fresh "local" produce, and some of those hard-to-find food items that people used to have to drive to Boise for. I try as hard as I can to shop at local establishments so this new venture has me very excited as with many other Nampans.

If you've never been to a place like Brick 29 Bistro you should – it cost just as much as a night out to The Outback or Olive Garden, but with Brick 29 your food isn't coming out of a frozen bag in the kitchen. That, and the money you spend at Brick 29 stays in Idaho, it's not being deposited in the bank account of some corporation back east.

As for the bookstores, we have "indie" bookstores already in Downtown Nampa; Twice Sold Tales and The Yesteryear Shoppe. Sure they don't have café spaces, but now it sounds like that gathering space will only be a 2 minute walk away, 5 minutes if you stop and greet a passerby. Buy a used book that many before you have enjoyed, take a short walk to one of the new cafés and I'm sure you'll find others doing the same. I'd also wager that the target demographic of those "European-style cafes, wine bars and gourmet restaurants" would rather spend time at those bookstores than a Barnes & Noble or Borders in Boise. Again, keeping your money local. There is a tremendous value for everyone when residents shop locally keeping their money in the community.

This attitude is something that I happen to find very intriguing. It is also an attitude that is going to become very vocal over the next couple of years as more and more new business keep popping up in Nampa. Cultures are indeed going to clash on this subject, it's going to be the hard heads on both sides that keep everything from running smoothly and try to keep people from enjoying the things they want.

Frankly, I don't understand why people think that you are somehow not allowed to go to The Mona Lisa for dinner and then go to Tiny's or The 19 18 Lounge for an after dinner drink. For some reason these people think that once you've settled into a social circle you aren't allowed to deviate to try something different.

Weekend Tunes

From one of my favorite bands of all time; The Eels.

Here is a live performance of the outstanding song, Things the Grandchildren Should Know.

Getting closer to opening day

Revitalizator Laurel MacKinnon and her Market Limone were back in the Idaho Press-Tribune this morning, while we didn't learn much more than we already knew -- it was an "appetite wetter" in regards to the market. It did however have some updates on other downtown projects. The article mentioned that the building adjacent to the ice skating rink on 1st and 13th has been updated to 4 floors instead of 2 as originally planned.

And sadly the ice rink won't be open this year, but sometime next summer. So that means you can put those ice skates back on the top shelf of your closet for at least one more winter. I'm sure the wait will be worth it.

Also this was the first time I believe that Regular Joe's has been discussed in print. Regular Joe's will be a small eatery that will occupy the rear quarter of the building that the Urban Shed now resides in. It's also seeming that the alleyway behind 13th is going to make an appearance as a gathering place of sorts once all these businesses are up and running. I'm seeing a common thread between all of them having alleyway access; which I guess makes sense, because the sidewalks out front aren't exactly wide enough for chairs and tables.

I'm getting vibes that next summer in Downtown Nampa will be a memorable one.

We are now down to one

Can't say it's too notable in my life, but it is somewhat noteworthy; Nampa is down to one "bikini bar". This past weekend Kuna's infamous Cowgirls opened up shop on Caldwell Boulevard to an apparently packed house replacing Nampa's Satin Dolls.

Idaho Press-Tribune:

Bar nixes disputed bikini dancing

NAMPA — Nampa bikini bar Satin Dolls has closed and the establishment now sports a country-western theme, minus the platforms where scantily-clad dancers used to perform.

The Satin Dolls sign has been replaced by Cowgirls Saloon and Tequilaria — already a popular party destination in Kuna— along the 400 block of Nampa Boulevard. Cowgirls licensed a franchise to Satin Dolls owner Darrell Barrett to operate the new bar, which officially opened its doors to about 600 patrons during the Sept. 28 weekend.

Cowgirls Saloon and Tequilaria managers encourage bar-top dancing and host contests like “Hometown Hottie.”  The new saloon, however, will “absolutely not” permit bikini dancing, co-owner Kathy Hansen said. “It is a country-western dance club. The little stages are gone,” she added.

That would leave Nampa with one, lone "bikini bar", the Kit Kat Klub (KKK? Eh?) located on the boundaries of Nampa's city limits. While it may not be my cup of tea, at least someone is opening up something in Nampa, better than nothing. Some people have to go somewhere come those lonely Friday and Saturday nights in a small town such as ours.

If anything...

The news that Larry Craig has decided to retain his Senate seat provided many thoughtful and hilarious comments over at the Idaho Statesman's new comment enabled website.

I just happened to have a discussion with a certain Idaho Statesman columnist not too long ago regarding the Statesman allowing comments. While I did agree that it'd be a good thing, I also mentioned that everyone, I mean, everyone would be coming out of the woodwork. And that would prove to have frightening and/or hilarious results. I do have to say that when I now read a Statesman article I do make it a point to check out the comments, thus spending more time on their website -- which by all accounts is the very point.

You know people get when they get on the interwebs. They start to think that people care about what they have to say.

Oh, wait. Damn...

More on Joey Ramsey and downtown businesses

Idaho Press-Tribune has a follow up story on just how much damage Joey Ramsey caused several Downtown Nampa business owners.

What was the plan; in short:

Kat's moves across the street to Copper Canyon's old digs. Copper Canyon moves to a supposed-to-be-newly remodeled Hasbrouck House on 12th. Market Limone moves into Kat's old space. Ta-da!

Now, Copper Canyon is in limbo and Kat's has no home.

Idaho Press:

Businesses decry fraud suspect

NAMPA — Two downtown Nampa business operators say troubles linked to embattled contractor Joey Ramsey have disrupted their plans for the future.

John Larson, manager for the Kats House of Blues nightclub, blamed Ramsey for the closing of his establishment and for a $100,000 lost investment. It has also delayed the proposed move of the popular Copper Canyon restaurant to new surroundings, he said.

[...]

Larson explained that there is “absolutely” a connection between Ramsey’s business involvement with Nampa’s HasBrouck House and the closing of the nightclub.

Kats was planning to relocate to a building on 13th Avenue currently occupied by Nampa restaurant Copper Canyon. The restaurant had plans to move into the newly renovated HasBrouck House, owned by Ramsey, and then the bar would move into Copper Canyon’s old location.But all that came to a grinding halt, Larson said.

The HasBrouck House remodel was supposed to be finished in July so that everyone could start moving around, but Ramsey left HasBrouck House unfinished and unpaid for, according to Larson.

But because of one man, everyone else's plans have now fallen through the cracks. According to the Idaho Press column, Copper Canyon owner Brian Inaba is still going to attempt to move his restaurant to the 12th ave location. Not knowing exactly what is going on, I have to say I'm a little perplexed as to why Brian wanted to move Copper Canyon out of Downtown Nampa in the first place. It's a great location and if he put the money that he is probably putting into the Hasbrouck House into his this location it could quite possibly revitalize the eatery.

Personally, I'd like to see both businesses stay somewhere within at least walking distance of Downtown Nampa. It is developing that core and filling it up with businesses that will make the area more vibrant for all Nampans. The more people we get walking the streets of Downtown Nampa the better it will be for everyone - consumers and business owners alike.

Go shop. Go eat. Go drink. Go enjoy. It's your town.

An Iron & Wine appetizer and other concert notes

All Songs Considered today released a full concert (iTunes required, it's free) from Iron & Wine who are coming to the Egyptian Theatre on December 6th.

So if you've already got your tickets you might want to listen to get a taste of what you are going to hear come December. And if you don't have tickets yet, or don't know who Iron & Wine even is -- well, you can listen to what you're going to be missing.

Ooh, on that note, I just noticed while I was getting the link for the Iron &Wine concert that All Songs also posted the full Okkervil River concert they've been talking about the last couple of weeks. I'll be checking this one out in the morning. Good Lord I love trumpets in rock bands, don't ask me why.

All Songs Considered is also going to be posting a full concert from Idaho's own Josh Ritter sometime soon on their weekly podcast. If you've been living under a rock, you might not know that Ritter will be returning to Boise at the Egyptian on October 20th. If you haven't gotten tickets for that show, you're out of luck, it has done sold out, but you can see what you're going to miss and everyone else is going to be talking about if you click "Continue Reading" below.

This time he's coming with the full band. I, for one, cannot wait.

I guess while we are on bands coming to Boise I thought I'd go ahead and put up a video of Tori Amos performing Bouncing Off the Clouds on the Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno from Monday night (also down below). Big breath -- if you haven't heard about this one, Tori will be at the Morrison Center on November 30th. We got our tickets the day of, and by "day of" I mean we got our tickets about 32 seconds after they went on sale, er... my wife did. We'll be there with some of our good friends sitting in row A, us guys being slightly inebriated, slightly amused and slightly paying attention.

‘Do you have an underwire bra on?’

Is this what we've come to?

via Ridenbaugh Press

Moving Nampa Forward

You know that you've always been wanting to get your hands on some politically themed Nampa threads.
Nampa city council candidate Lance McGrath is giving you your chance to get your hands on some.

Just email the McGrath campaign and either put your boots to the ground or dish up 10 bucks to get your hands on your own tee.

We've got a tidal wave of growth happening right under us, on top of us, and to the left and right of us. We need to make sure we've got people with forward looking vision to make sure we don't go under. These next few years are critical to the success of the development in both Nampa and the surrounding Treasure Valley, we can either sink or swim, the decision rests with all of us.

And before you go pouting about "development" realize that "development" is inevitable and also includes much a needed revitalization of our not so distant past. Thing is -- we get to chose who is manning the helm, we just need to make sure we are making the right choices.