Happy Friday, Boise. In today’s edition: Boise Airport expansion delay, Christmas in Meridian winter lights parade and tree lighting, winter market, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Student projects spur change: Boise State’s Community Impact Program, launched in 2020 to support rural communities, survived a shutdown scare and will continue, but scholarship funding for upcoming cohorts remains uncertain — see what’s next for the program.

Rising demand reshapes Boise Airport: Boise Airport’s $700M expansion, including a new Concourse A and new baggage system, has been delayed to 2030, with design expected by summer 2027 and construction starting in early 2028 — see the updated timeline.

Tech giant charts new direction: HP Inc. plans to cut 4,000 to 6,000 jobs worldwide, roughly one in ten, and lean on AI for some tasks, leaving Boise’s future roles and headcount unclear — get all the details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Give Christmas gifts to single mothers, widows
• Shop handmade holiday gifts at Art Source
• All-ages ska night with Save Ferris
• Visit Zoo Boise for $3 admission
• Celebrate fair housing with music, food, community
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Cold-season access changes: Boise is closing select foothills trails for winter to curb erosion and protect wildlife habitat. Clay-heavy soils get torn up when muddy, officials say. If you go, stick to early frozen hours. Areas like Hawkins Ranch Reserve and Hidden Springs are among the seasonal closures. See closures and travel advice.

Comeback with a twist: After an abrupt, allegedly illegal shutdown at Garden City’s Boardwalk Apartments, Bao Boi has resurfaced at West End Food Co in Boise. The bao-and-bowls spot is now primarily takeout and delivery, with just a tiny eat-in area, and it’s teasing new sister concepts like Soup Boi and Phill Dip Boi. See where it reopened.

Crush-worthy local pours: Whether you’re in a stout mood or craving something bright and funky, Barbarian Brewing spans the spectrum with small-batch IPAs, sours, and barrel-aged releases. Two comfy spots in downtown and Garden City make it easy to drop in with friends and taste what’s fresh this week.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 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

🎶 College of Idaho Holiday Concert: Feast of Carols @ Jewett Auditorium | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – College of Idaho is ringing in the season with its Feast of Carols at Jewett, featuring Sinfonia, Wind Ensemble, and choirs. No mall muzak, just real musicians. Then stick around for cocoa, treats, and a Vocal Jazz and Jazz Band set next door.

🎄 Christmas in Meridian Winter Lights Parade & Tree Lighting @ Downtown Meridian / Generations Plaza | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – All aboard Meridian’s holiday kickoff, the Winter Lights Parade and tree lighting, where floats, walkers, and bands roll through downtown under the Holiday Express theme. Stake a spot, sip something warm, and watch Generations Plaza glow with half the neighborhood.

This weekend

☃️ Winter Market @ Dick Eardley Senior Center | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Winter at Boise Farmers Market means one thing, your grocery run just turned into a neighborhood reunion. More than 50 vendors slinging crisp greens, local meats, cheeses, breads and pastries, plus coffee and hot bites you can eat on the spot, and handmade goods.

🐟 Sockeye Holiday Market @ Sockeye Grill & Brewery | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Holiday shopping is easier with a pint in hand, so swing by Sockeye for a family-friendly market of local makers, live tunes from Joseph Lyle, and no mall parking drama. Idaho Mini Donuts, Perfect Sips Coffee, and fresh Sockeye seasonal beers keep spirits merry.

🎤 Crowdsource Choir: A Noisy Boise Holiday Singalong @ Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) | Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – Holiday mood calls for loud singing, not polite humming. JUMP is hosting a raucous singalong where the crowd is the choir, no rehearsals, no robes, just holiday favorites, all-ages fun, and a bar. Bring your outside voice, your friends, and your best shower-solo confidence.

🎁 Sagebrush Collaborative’s Annual Holiday Market! @ The Linen Building | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Whether you are the list-checker or last-minute type, this is Boise’s only all-handmade holiday market, big on sustainability and nature vibes. Browse 40 makers, hit the free wrap station, sample food trucks, and maybe snag a tattoo flash, since festive commitment lasts longer than ribbon.

📸 Free Photos with Santa @ Women’s and Children’s Alliance | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Santa’s popping into the WCA with free photos, treats, and crafts for all, so you can snag the annual proof-of-festivity without enduring the mall. Kids can drop wishes in his mailbox, and if you’re feeling generous, bring a gift or donate to support local survivors.

🛒 Eguberriko Azoka – Basque Winter Market @ Basque Block | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – If you prefer your holiday shopping with pintxos, cider, and zero mall parking, hit the Basque Winter Market. Handmade gifts, old-country vibes, and enough comfort food to justify a nap. Details are still coming, but your taste buds already RSVP’d.

Next week

🍽️ Meridian Chamber’s Holiday Luncheon Sponsored by CapEd Credit Union @ West Ada School District | Tuesday (12/9) at 11:00am – Nothing says Meridian holiday spirit like a Chamber lunch with real food, real people, and zero awkward icebreakers. Wear your ugliest sweater, applaud the middle school choir, snag raffle prizes, and bring a toy for Toys for Tots for a bonus entry.

📖 Dena Parker Duke – Poetry Reading and Book Release Event @ Rediscovered Bookshop | Tuesday (12/9) at 7:00pm – Settle in for an evening of poetry as Dena Parker Duke reads from her new collection, Signs and Psalms, and celebrates its release. It is thoughtful, local, and blissfully free of performative angst. Come for the language, stay for the quiet goosebumps.

🎙️ Vocalocity A Cappella @ The Sapphire Room at The Riverside Hotel | Tuesday (12/9) at 7:00pm – Take a break from gift-wrapping purgatory and let Vocalocity’s six singers fill The Sapphire Room with lush a cappella holiday harmonies, from Joy to the World to Mr. Grinch. It’s festive without being sticky-sweet, with dinner, drinks, and zero jingle-bell hangover.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ The Riverside Hotel – 7 pm
• 12/6 The Krampus Cabaret! @ Neurolux – 9 pm
• 12/7 Afrosonics – Holiday Blast Off! @ Treefort Music Hall – 6 pm
• 12/7 Trevor Wallace @ The Egyptian Theatre – 6 pm
• 12/9 Save Ferris @ Shrine Social Club – 7 pm
• 12/10 Vincent Lima: To Love A Thing That Fades 2025 Tour @ Neurolux – 7:30 pm
• 12/10 SunSquabi @ Knitting Factory – 8 pm
• 12/11 Jeff Shaw @ Lounge at the End of the Universe & The Comedy Lounge – 7 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: Doug Holladay (LPT Realty)

This 3,435 sq ft, 4-bed, 4.5-bath custom-built modern farmhouse pairs vaulted ceilings with an easy, open flow. Three main bedrooms add multi-generational flexibility, and the kitchen goes all-in with a huge island, quartz, textured backsplash, two dishwashers, slow-close cabinets, and a walk-in pantry. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and luxury vinyl plank set the tone.

As for play, the covered patio brings the party with a hot tub and fire pit, and the big backyard adds mature trees and raised beds. EV charger, conditioned crawl space, and generous mud and laundry rooms round out the smart perks. Walkable yet quiet.

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