Happy Friday, Boise. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Boise Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Downtown library first floor closes for a week before a yearlong makeover, new air center brings firefighting teams together, and city unveils 102 affordable units — catch up here.

State-level stories: Boise hospitals earn top safety grades, the Idaho National Laboratory wins two coveted R&D awards, and new lot fees push veterans to sell homes — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Savor homemade Indian dishes for charity
• Practice English while kids enjoy activities
• Step back into Idaho’s 1860s farmstead
• Build strength and balance to prevent falls
• Gather weekly to craft charity yarn items
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

🫶 We got your back

Eats: Lunch can be more than turkey on bread. It can be a stacked masterpiece. These must-try sandwich spots in Boise are rewriting the sandwich rulebook one layer at a time.

Travel: While everyone’s jockeying for ski resort spots, Idaho’s real gems sit quietly along mountain passes and river valleys where pie is still homemade. These small towns are the charming Idaho escapes you didn’t know you needed.

Gear: Forget $800 monster machines that might blend your iPhone or $30 lumps that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts through the hype so you end up with a blender that actually works without leaving you $200 poorer.

Chocolatier: From silky truffles to bars you’ll 100% hide in the back of the pantry (sorry, not sorry), Lee’s Candies is here to fuel your cocoa-fueled happiness. Just remember: sharing is optional, and “just one piece” is a myth.

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

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📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🕺 Scotcho’s Funk Night @ Shrine Social Club | Friday (8/22) at 7:00pm – This Friday, Scotcho’s Funk Night takes over the Shrine Basement, maybe the only place where sticky floors and SQUATTR, The Dragon Slayers, and Scotcho’s grooves feel equally authentic. Expect tight beats, friendly banter, and enough bass to rattle your sensible shoes.

🌸 The Wallflowers @ Knitting Factory | Friday (8/22) at 8:00pm – No garage cover band here, it’s The Wallflowers in full-on, singalong mode. Jakob Dylan’s gravelly drawl will drag you right back to your MTV heyday. Think familiar hits, mellow vibes, and a crowd that actually appreciates your personal space.

This weekend

💃 Polynesian Dance Class @ The Village at Meridian | Saturday (8/23) at 9:00am – Fountain Square is getting a tropical takeover every Saturday with free Hula and ʻOri Tahiti classes, where Lia Tupou will teach you graceful storytelling steps and enough hip action to make your old joints protest. Leave the lei at home, bring comfy shoes and curiosity.

🍛 AID Indian Food Festival 2025 @ Julia Davis Park | Saturday (8/23) at 5:00pm – Take a break from your usual dinner rut and swing by for homemade samosas, curries, and chutneys that hit better than your aunt’s secret recipe. Bring your friends, pretend you know your garam masala, and know every bite supports a great cause. Tickets soon.

✈️ Warbird Roundup 2025 @ War Hawk Air Museum | Sunday (8/24) at 8:00am – Grab your aviator shades and head out for Idaho’s largest warbird showcase with full museum access. Wander among roaring P-51s, absorb pilot war stories, demolish bacon-wrapped bratwurst, and pretend you’re the one teaching grandkids how to tell a Huey from a C-47.

🔍 Mineral Identification @ Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology | Sunday (8/24) at 1:00pm – Got mystery rocks? Bring them to geologist Coyote Short at the mining museum for a hands-on ID clinic. For five bucks, she’ll help you spot quartz, pyrite, and fossils, then rule if it’s showcase-worthy or shoebox material, just RSVP online.

🎸 Rock The River with The Cliff Miller Band @ River’s Edge Terrace | Sunday (8/24) at 5:30pm – End your weekend on a high note with this free, all-ages summer concert right on the Boise Greenbelt. Cliff Miller’s got the hooks, the heart, and the grit to keep you swaying riverside while the sun sets. Grab a drink from the terrace bar, kick back in a lawn chair, and let the music do the heavy lifting.

Next week

🔵 Circles Around the Sun with Mikaela Davis @ Shrine Social Club | Monday (8/25) at 7:00pm – Circles Around The Sun hits the Shrine Ballroom with special guest Mikaela Davis, delivering folk-tinged melodies to brighten your weeknight. Expect banjo riffs, sweet harmonies, and just enough nostalgia to make you forget tomorrow’s alarm. Your comfy shoes are begging you.

🎸 Jump, Jam & Jive with Rebecca Scott and Boise Hive @ Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) | Tuesday (8/26) at 6:00pm – Ready to ditch your couch for something more exciting? The JUMP Park free summer concert series is back, featuring Rebecca Scott and Boise Hive, with opening sets by local nonprofits. Expect family-friendly beats, onsite grub, plus beer and wine on tap.

🌞 Hot August Night featuring Solitary Band: The Neil Diamond Experience @ Treefort Music Hall | Tuesday (8/26) at 7:30pm – Never underestimate the power of Boise locals nailing Neil Diamond circa 1976 at Treefort Music Hall. These hometown crooners deliver Cherry, Cherry, Cracklin’ Rosie, and Sweet Caroline with Grandma-approved swoon factor, plus just enough cheeky banter to make your evening feel like a riotous cabaret.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Boise Slaughterfest Vol. II @ The Shredder – 6 pm
• 8/22 Significant Other @ Stage Coach Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 8/23 Aaron Golay & The Original Sin @ Heritage Social Club – 8 pm
• 8/23 Five for Fighting and more @ Knitting Factory – 8 pm
• 8/24 Rock the River @ River’s Edge Terrace – 5:30 pm
• 8/24 $uicideboy$ Grey Day Tour 2025 @ Ford Idaho Center – 6:30 pm
• 8/25 Karyoki Night! @ Kuna YSA Meetinghouse – 7 pm
• 8/25 Locker Up: Stories of Getting Schooled @ Old Idaho Penitentiary – 8 pm
• 8/25 The Sword @ Knitting Factory – 8 pm
• 8/26 Blues Traveler @ Ford Idaho Center – 6 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Boise edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Sara Carr (Silvercreek Realty Group)

Five acres of pure mountain magic, this private estate sits high above Shadow Valley Golf Course with 360-degree views and zero neighbors in sight. The backyard is basically a resort, featuring a custom pool and spa with waterfalls, a sauna, and a WiFi-connected pool system. Over 200 feet of rock work and boulders frame the expanded flat yard, making room for epic parties or a herd of horses.

Inside, the 2022 down-to-the-studs remodel means everything is fresh, from the layout to the pool equipment. The owner’s suite brings spa vibes with a soaker tub, dual vanities, and a walk-in shower. Downtown Eagle is just a quick drive, but it feels a world away.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →