Happy Tuesday, Boise. In today’s edition: Fresh powder at Idaho resorts, the Capital City Public Market Holiday Market, the Great Gingerbread Build, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Fresh powder at Idaho resorts: Bogus Basin opened the Coach Chairlift as ski season ramps up and reported 16 inches. Sun Valley brought five lifts and six River Run trails online, with snowfall increasing — see which lifts and trails opened.

Planned leadership handoff: Boise Cascade CEO Nate Jorgensen will retire March 2, 2026, and COO Jeff Strom will succeed him. The Boise-based Fortune 1000 lumber supplier will leave the COO role unfilled — read the full story.

Local newsroom meets classrooms: Idaho Statesman has partnered with Boise School District to provide free on-campus access to its stories for Boise high school students via school WiFi, supporting news literacy and civic engagement — read the full story.

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

• Shop handmade gifts at Art Source Gallery
• Holiday variety show benefiting Interfaith Sanctuary
• Experience Ballet Idaho’s Nutcracker magic
• Celebrate JUMPville’s Roast Beast feast
• Sip seasonal wines at European-style holiday pub
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

New hangout brewing: Brewed: A European Coffee House has closed its Southeast Boise spot at 3157 E. Barber Valley Drive after three years. Taking over: Bumble Coffee & Taps, upgrading the space and aiming for a January opening. Expect coffee-first service with simple pastries and sandwiches, plus beer and wine taps with flight options. Learn what’s replacing Brewed.

New dessert option brewing: Yogurtland is headed to the Treasure Valley. The self-serve, pay-by-weight frozen yogurt chain signed a three-store deal with BMG Ventures to open in Boise, Nampa, and Caldwell. Sites aren’t picked yet, but expect mix-and-match flavors (dairy, non-dairy, no-sugar-added) and a big toppings bar from a brand with 220+ locations. Get the Boise expansion details.

Cold-night crowd pleasers: Patio plants shivering? Warm up with the seasonal lineup at Barbarian Brewing: barrel-aged The Morrigan imperial stout, Elixir of the Gods (pomegranate quad), Peppermint Bark gold stout, and Cherry Pie Sour. Rich, festive pours made for Boise couch-hangs and board-game nights.

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 for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are 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 week

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.

This week

🥕 Caldwell Farmers Market @ Indian Creek Plaza | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:00pm – Caldwell’s farm roots run deep, and this market is where all that award-winning goodness shows up in one place. Shop over 30 local vendors for just-picked produce and handmade gifts, then wander over to catch live tunes from Tuesdays on the Creek while you snack.

🍷 Paint and Sip Soup @ Library! at Cole & Ustick | Wednesday (12/10) at 6:00pm – Paint and sip with a cozy twist, where you assemble a gift-worthy dry soup mix in a jar, sip warm drinks, and paint holiday cards. Pop in for one craft or make it a trifecta, no signup, just until supplies run out. Peak adulting.

🧸 Toys For Tots Fundraising Concert with Brooke Nicole & The Jake Leg Band @ The Sapphire Room at The Riverside Hotel | Wednesday (12/10) at 7:00pm – Think doing good requires a spreadsheet? This Toys for Tots concert brings Steve Eaton, plus Brooke Nicole & The Jake Leg Band, for an easy night of grown-up tunes, neighborly vibes, and zero hassle. Bring a donation, bring a friend, call it holiday spirit.

🍭 The Great Gingerbread Build @ The Creative Space | Friday (12/12) at 12:00pm – Trade basic gingerbread cottages for full-on sugar real estate and help spark bigger conversations about what “home” really means. This community-wide gingerbread house competition is free to attend and doubles as a fundraiser for Corpus Commons’ Avenues for Hope campaign.

🎶 “You Got Gold” A Celebration of John Prine @ The Flicks | Friday (12/12) at 2:00pm – Nothing beats a night of John Prine songs on the big screen, especially when the Ryman did the heavy lifting. The tribute lines up Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, and friends, swapping stories and picking the classics. Closest Boise gets to Nashville without TSA.

This weekend

🐦 Winter Bird Photography @ Kathryn Albertson Park | Saturday (12/13) at 8:30am – Trade the grocery run for a morning at Kathryn Albertson Park, where Golden Eagle Audubon helps you catch winter birds looking suspiciously like supermodels. The light is crisp, the air is quieter, and the geese are still judgy. Bring layers, patience, and your favorite lens.

🛍️ The Capital City Public Market Holiday Market @ The Grove Plaza | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Skip the mall and stroll The Grove Plaza for Capital City Public Market’s Holiday Market. Handcrafted gifts, local vendors, and free gift wrapping, because tape and patience are in short supply. Rain or shine, you can wave at Santa and Mrs. Claus on closing day.

🎶 Star Harmony Chorus Holiday Show – Matinee @ Cloverdale Church of God | Saturday (12/13) at 2:00pm – Holiday harmonies are taking center stage as Star Harmony Chorus, quartets, and guests deliver a matinee packed with cheer, tight chords, and zero mall music fatigue. Festive, polished, and blissfully daytime, so bring your coffee, not a nightcap.

🎭 The Boise Bard Players present: Othello @ Meridian Masonic Lodge | Saturday (12/13) at 7:00pm – Shakespeare’s most intense love-and-jealousy spiral is happening basically in your lap thanks to an extreme thrust stage with the audience on three sides. Grab reserved seats or go all-in with a premium table for six, then hit the Dirty Soda Bar and settle in.

🎷 Big Band Swinging Christmas with Boise Straight Ahead @ The Sapphire Room at The Riverside Hotel | Sunday (12/14) at 7:00pm – Think you know carols until the horns hit? Boise Straight Ahead turns Sapphire Room into a swing-soaked lounge with Chris McDonald’s big band charts, from punchy Sleigh Ride to velvet ballads. Grab dinner, a drink, and civic pride, since these volunteers play for local causes.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/9 Vocalocity A Cappella @ The Sapphire Room – 7 pm
• 12/10 Billy Braun @ Vintage ’61 Wine Bar – 6:30 pm
• 12/10 Toys for Tots @ The Sapphire Room – 7 pm
• 12/10 Vincent Lima @ Neurolux Lounge – 7:30 pm
• 12/10 SunSquabi and more @ Knitting Factory – 8 pm
• 12/11 Oklahoma! @ Visual Arts Collective – 8 pm
• 12/13 Ballet Idaho – The Nutcracker @ Morrison Center – 2 pm
• 12/16 Connor Jay Liess @ The Riverside Hotel – 5 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Nicholas Smith (JPAR Live Local)

On Warm Springs Mesa, efficiency links arms with style. Tongue and groove ceilings warm up the main level, while a chef’s kitchen with a Viking 6-burner range, upgraded appliances, and generous prep zones keeps gatherings seamless. Owned solar with a Tesla backup battery, a tankless water heater, and new paint and carpet add everyday ease.

Multiple living and dining spaces flex for work or play, plus RV parking, two exterior sheds, and a roomy yard for entertaining, gardening, or stashing gear. East Boise address, rare combo of function and fun.

Take a peek inside →