Boise
Entertainment
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Boise's entertainment matches its landscape: colorful and expansive. Enormous hot-air balloons fill the summer sky during the Boise River Festival. Rodeo clowns, clad in red-and-white-striped long johns, entertain audiences at the Snake River Stampede.
Rodeo
The Snake River Stampede blows into the Boise Valley every July. Reminding Idahoans of their cowboy roots, "the wildest, fastest show on earth" is a colorful collection of cowboy and cowgirl events, including rodeo clowns and bull riding. The Caldwell Night Rodeo, also considered to be one of the top rodeos in the nation, offers its nightly boot-stomping entertainment during August.
Sports
Sports lovers enjoy baseball with the Chicago Cubs affiliate, the Boise Hawks, or catch fast-paced arena football featuring the Boise Stallions at the Bank of America Centre. Rounding out Boise's professional sports offerings are minor league ice hockey's Idaho Steelheads, perhaps the most popular professional team in the area.
Classical Music
While Boise is enthusiastic about its sports, the city is equally proud of its arts. The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Idaho and Ballet Idaho. The angelic voices of the Boise Master Chorale can often be heard accompanying the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra.
Theater
Theatergoers won't find the bright lights of Broadway burning in Boise, but there are local companies that offer entertaining community theater. The Boise Little Theater performs at a distinctive dome-shaped theater located at Fort Boise Park. Contemporary theater is also offered by the Stage Coach Theatre, Knock 'Em Dead Dinner Theatre, Fulton Street Theater, and Spontaneous Productions. In addition, the Morrison Center often hosts national touring companies.
Museums
The Boise Art Museum is also a cultural focal point. The museum is not only home to a variety of art exhibits and programs, it also participates in downtown Boise's First Thursday, and hosts BAM After Hours and the annual Art in the Park. Located near the museum is the Log Cabin Literary Center, offering author readings and writing workshops.
Boise's diverse history has resulted in an original museum mixture, including the Idaho Black History Museum, Basque Museum and Cultural Center, and Idaho Historical Museum. History buffs won't want to miss the Idaho Military History Museum, Old Idaho Penintentiary,
Nature
The Idaho Discovery Center and Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center, with its underwater views of the Boise River, will fascinate young scientists. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the World Center for Birds of Prey, featuring more than 200 birds, and Zoo Boise, located in Julia Davis Park. Wildlife viewing is also possible along the Boise River Greenbelt and at the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation Area, south of Boise. Wannabe firefighters will be intrigued with the National Interagency Fire Center, featuring the newest in fire fighting technology.
Nightlife
Eventually, all night-loving visitors and residents alike find themselves in downtown Boise, searching for a cold drink or toe-tapping music. On Wednesday evenings during the summer, stroll over to the Grove for people watching and live music at Alive After Five.
There are also bars and clubs where you can dance until the wee hours of the morning. For a truly late night marathon, check out Sixth & Main at Joe's. Longtime nightspot, Hannah's, can be relied on for solid musical entertainment and dancing while the alternative dance club scene is found at the Emerald Club and the Neurolux.
Blues fans will fit right in at the Blues Bouquet or Big Easy Concert House, which brings a touch of New Orleans to Boise. If you're looking for swing-dancing then hop in a cab and head to Shorty's in Garden City. Finally, if you just want to escape into the night, retire to theGamekeeper Lounge or Pengilly's Saloon.
Boise is home to folk musician, Rosalie Sorrels, so it's not surprising that folk music is offered at different venues including the Kulture Klatsch near the Eighth Street Marketplace. The Marketplace is also home to the Funny Bone Comedy Club, where you can catch local and national comedians trying to hit the big time.
Cinema
Near the Eighth Street Marketplace sits first-run independent film venue, the Flicks. You can find first-run mainstream movies at the Egyptian Theatre; however, the theater itself is anything but mainstream. Popular surroundings are available at the Edwards 21 Cinema, home to the Edwards Boise Imax.
