January events: Revel in winter! Boise stage productions abound

After a busy holiday season, it’ll be nice to get a fresh start or unwind with January’s slew of events.

Start 2016 with the New Year’s Day Run in Boise, a sleigh ride and dinner at Bogus Basin, or the relaxing and ancient Chinese practice of Qigong at the Boise Public Library’s Hillcrest branch. At the Riverside Hotel in Boise, celebrate Robert Burns’ birthday with haggis, shortbread and performances by the Boise Highlanders and City of Trees Pipe Band or enjoy Operatini over apps and a martini.

Idaho Laugh Fest: Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 7-9, Boise venues (Egyptian Theatre, Visual Arts Collective, The Hub, Liquid). Showcases improv, stand-up comedy and variety comedy performances, as well as workshops for improv basics, business of stand-up, storytelling, more. $5-$20; $55 VIP. idaholaughfest.com.

Winter Garden aGlow: 6 to 9:30 p.m. (last admission at 8:45 p.m.) Friday-Sunday, Jan. 1-3, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Display of more than 300,000 sparkling lights with special visits from Santa and his reindeer Prancer, local choirs, more. $8 general, $4 children 5-12, free for ages 4 and younger and garden members. Friday-Saturday pricing: $10 general, $6 children 5-12, free for ages 4 and younger and members. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

McCall Winter Carnival: Friday through Sunday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 7, McCall. Snow sculptures, Torchlight and Mardi Gras parades, music, daily events spanning everything from comedy shows to art auctions, snowbike races to the Monster Dog Pull and more. mccallchamber.org/winter-carnival.

Bogus Creek Outfitters Dinner Sleigh Ride: Departs at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, through February (excluding Jan. 1), Bogus Basin Frontier Point Lodge, 2600 Bogus Basin Road, Boise. Sleigh ride to a cozy cabin in the woods features a steak dinner, music and cowboy poetry. $84.99 per person. 270-7000, boguscreek.com.

Shen Yun: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan. 19-20, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $60-$150. Ticketmaster, 426-1110.

Boise Philharmonic: Beethoven’s Second Symphony and pianist Spencer Myer. Pre-concert talks at 7 p.m. 344-7849, boisephil.org.

▪  Friday, Jan. 22: 8 p.m., Brandt Center, Northwest Nazarene University, 707 Fern St. $22-$43.50.

▪  Saturday, Jan. 23: 8 p.m., Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $23.75-$71.50.

▪  Backstage with the Artist, noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, 516 S. 9th St., Boise. Free.

Opera Idaho’s “La traviata”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, Egyptian Theatre, 700 W. Main St., Boise. $14.40-$72. 387-1273, operaidaho.org.

Idaho Remodeling and Design Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Boise Centre, 850 W. Front St. Exhibits for decorating, kitchen and bath renovations, landscaping, more. $5 admission, free for children 12 and younger. ibleventsinc.com.

Idaho Steelheads hockey: CenturyLink Arena, 233 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise. $10-$35. centurylinkarenaboise.com.

▪  Friday-Saturday, Jan. 1-2: vs. Colorado Eagles, 7:10 p.m.

▪  Friday-Saturday, Jan. 15-16: vs. Tulsa Oilers, 7:10 p.m.

▪  Wednesday, Jan. 27: vs. Rapid City Rush, 7:10 p.m.

Boise State Broncos men’s basketball: Taco Bell Arena, 1401 Bronco Lane, Boise. $11-$20 general, $10-$19 seniors, $9-$18 juniors. 426-4737, broncosports.com.

▪  Saturday, Jan. 2: vs. Colorado State, TBA

▪  Saturday, Jan. 9: vs. Fresno State, 4 p.m.

▪  Saturday, Jan. 16: vs. San Diego State, TBA

▪  Wednesday, Jan. 20: vs. San Jose State, 7 p.m.

▪  Saturday, Jan. 30: vs. New Mexico, 3 p.m.

Idaho Stampede basketball: 7 p.m., CenturyLink Arena, 233 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise. $10-$391. centurylinkarenaboise.com.

▪  Tuesday, Jan. 12: vs. Santa Cruz Warriors

▪  Thursday, Jan. 14: vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers

▪  Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 23-24: vs. Texas Legends

▪  Tuesday, Jan. 26: vs. Reno Bighorns

Company of Fools’ “A Year with Frog and Toad”: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 1-2; 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, The Liberty Theatre, 110 N. Main St., Hailey. $35 general, $30 seniors and Sun Valley Center for the Arts members, $15 students 18 and younger. (208) 578-9122, sunvalleycenter.org.

Boise Contemporary Theater’s “What Went Wrong?”: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Jan. 5-16; 2 p.m. matinees Saturdays, Jan. 9 and 16, 854 Fulton St. Lauren Weedman’s one-woman show. $34 Fridays-Saturdays, $20 matinees and Tuesdays-Wednesdays, $26 Thursdays, $18 previews (Jan. 5-7), $16 all student tickets. 331-9224, Ext. 205; bctheater.org.

Frankly Frankie Productions’ “Tru”: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, Jan. 6-8, Ming Studios, 420 S. 6th St., Boise. One-man play written by Jay Presson Allen and starring Adam Toothaker as Truman Capote. $10. Brown Paper Tickets. $15 at the door.

Boise Little Theater’s “The Servant of Two Masters”: 8 p.m. Jan. 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 and 21; and 2 p.m. Jan. 17 and 23, 100 E. Fort St. $14 general, $11 students and seniors. 342-5104, blt.ticketleap.com.

Red Light Variety Show’s “Mercury Rising”: 9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Jan. 14-16, and Fridays-Saturdays, Jan. 22-23 and 29-30, Visual Arts Collective, 3638 Osage St., Garden City. $15 advance, $20 at the door. Pay-what-you-want preview is Jan. 14. visualartscollective.com.

Stage Coach Theatre’s “Caught in the Net”: 8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 and Feb. 5-6; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 28 and Feb. 4; 2 p.m. Jan. 24 and 31, 4802 W. Emerald St., Boise. $15; $12 on Thursdays and Sundays for students, seniors and military. 342-2000, stagecoachtheatre.com.

Company of Fools 20th Anniversary Celebration and Benefit: 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Jan. 22-24, The Liberty Theatre, 110 N. Main St., Hailey. Performance of song, scenes and monologues from the past 20 years. $10-$50 for Saturday and Sunday. (208) 726-9491, sunvalleycenter.org/gala.

▪  Gala Performance, Friday, Jan. 22. Pre-show cocktail party and reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by performance at 7 p.m. $200-$2,500.

“Footloose the Musical”: 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 27-30, Centennial Performing Arts Center, 12400 W. McMillan Road, Boise. Presented by Centennial and Eagle High School musical theater students. $8 at the door.

Lookout Junction Model Railroad Open House: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, and noon to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Learn about the model railroading hobby, railroad history, building a model railroad display and collecting model railroad cars, courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Hi-Railers. 384-4076.

Great Polar Bear Challenge: Registration starts at 10 a.m. with the plunge at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, Lucky Peak Reservoir and Spring Shores Marina, 9725 E. Idaho 21, Boise. Jump, water ski or wakeboard in the water to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Idaho. There will be coffee and hot chocolate from Moxie Java. idaho.wish.org.

New Year’s Day Run: 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, Ram, 709 E. Park Blvd., Boise. Fundraiser for YMCA Team Idaho Track and Field/Cross Country. Cost is $25 for ages 14 and younger, $30 for 15 and older (no shirt), and $35 for 15 and older (shirt). Prices go up Dec. 27. Contact Jack at 344-5502, Ext. 270, or jack.ward@ymcatvidaho.org.

Downton Delight: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, Boise Library Ustick branch, 7557 W. Ustick Road. Celebrate the premiere of the last season of “Downton Abbey” with an afternoon of mirth and revelry, trivia, games and quips. Costumes encouraged. Adults only. To register, call 972-8300 or go to boisepubliclibrary.org/calendar.

Bitcoin — The Digital Currency Revolution: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Learn about Bitcoin and the Bitcoin Protocol in an easy-to-understand presentation. Bitcoin is a new digital asset and peer-to-peer payment system, categorized as a decentralized virtual currency. 384-4076.

Qigong: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, Boise Library Hillcrest branch, 5246 W. Overland Road. Explore the simple stretching and breathing exercises that are the basis for Qigong, a 5,000-year-old Chinese practice. 562-4996.

Cecilia Violetta López and Sishel Claverie: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Cathedral of the Rockies, 717 N. 11th St., Boise. Cecilia and Sishel explore their Mexican heritage in song as they prepare to sing opera, zarzuela and Mexican-inspired selections. $20 general, $15 seniors and children. operaidaho.org.

G-Eazy: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, CenturyLink Arena, 233 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise. Opening: A$ap Ferg, Nef The Pharaoh, Marc E. Bassy. $35. Ticketfly, (877) 435-9849. $40 at the door.

Parsons Dance: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $29.50 and $39.50. Ticketmaster, 426-1110.

Steel Panther: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, Revolution Center, 4983 Glenwood St., Garden City. $25 general ($30 door), $55 VIP. Ticketfly, (877) 435-9849.

Sights and Sounds of Cuba: 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, 516 S. 9th St., Boise. Celebration of music, dance and visual art inspired by Cuba. $15 general, $10 students and seniors. Brown Paper Tickets. 336-7386.

Saving Abel: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. Opening: Midline. $16. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624. $18 day of show.

Be Fit While You Sit: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, Boise Library Ustick branch, 7557 W. Ustick Road. Scott Smith, of the Doctor’s for Health and Wellness Foundation, will talk about work station designs, ergonomic problems and pattern interruption exercises for improved eye, neck and wrist health. 570-6900.

Writing Creative Family and Local History Series: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Archivist, family history and local records specialist Steve Barrett presents From Forgotten Ancestor to Living, Breathing Character, the fifth of several workshops in this new monthly writing series. 384-4076.

Cathedral Concert Series: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Cathedral of the Rockies, 717 N. 11th St., Boise. Featuring Male Ensemble Northwest, or MEN. Good-will offering accepted. 331-3554, cathedraloftherockies.org.

Hell’s Belles: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $13. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624.

Hoochie Coochie Men/Pause for the Cause: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $8 general, $12 preferred. Brown Paper Tickets. $11 and $15 at the door.

Granger Smith: 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. Opening: Drew Baldridge. $18. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624. $20 day of show.

Tai Chi: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, Boise Library Collister branch, 4724 W. State St. Presented by local teacher Jeffrey Vik. 562-4995.

The Claire Lynch Band: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. Opening: Andy Byron and LeAnne Town. $25 and $35 at americanamusicseries.net.

Lupe Fiasco: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, Revolution Center, 4983 Glenwood St., Garden City. $30 general ($35 at door), $55 VIP. Ticketfly, (877) 435-9849.

Operatini: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, The Sapphire Room, Riverside Hotel, 2900 E. Chinden Blvd., Boise. Opera in a relaxed setting with appetizers and a specially designed martini based on the upcoming opera. $20 per person or $35 per couple. 345-3531, operaidaho.org.

Billy Dean: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, Meyer-McLean Performing Arts Center, Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 S.W. 6th Ave., Ontario. $25 general, $10 students. (541) 889-2844 or 642-4997.

Chase Rice: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, Revolution Center, 4983 Glenwood St., Garden City. Opening: The Cadillac Three. $25 general, $55 VIP. Ticketfly, (877) 435-9849.

Literature for Lunch: 12:10 to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Book discussions: Ruth Ozeki, “All Over Creation” (2004). Free. 345-1510.

Taikoza: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd St. S. Japanese Taiko drums and bamboo flutes. $31. 468-5500, nampaciviccenter.com.

Pinto Bennett: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. Opening: The Mighty Red Melons. $18 and $25 at americanamusicseries.net.

“The Lightning Thief” Storytime: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, Boise Library Ustick branch, 7557 W. Ustick Road. Besides the storytime, attendees will be eligible to receive tickets for the Feb. 14 Morrison Center family theater production of “The Lightning Thief,” based on Rick Riordan’s book of the same name. 570-6900.

Robbie Burns Night: 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. Dinner includes haggis with shortbread for dessert; performances by the Boise Highlanders and the City of Trees Pipe Band. $29 general, $12 children 4-11, at Need to Bead or call 362-3144, 344-5329, 283-2563 or 888-5710. Tickets available until Jan. 20.

Bogus Basin Nordic Team Cross Country Ski Clinic: 10 a.m. to noon or 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, Bogus Basin Nordic Center, Frontier Point Lodge. Choose either skate or classic technique instruction. $42 for one session or $63 for both (fee does not include equipment rental or trail pass). All skill levels welcome. Register at bluecirclesports.com.

Tribal Seeds: 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. Opening: The Skints, The Steppas. $17. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624. $19 day of show.

STS9: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $27.50. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624. $30 day of show.

Be Fit While You Sit: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Scott Smith, of the Doctors for Health and Wellness Foundation see Jan. 14 entry in this calendar for details. 384-4076.

The Price is Right Live: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, Morrison Center, 2201 W. Cesar Chavez Lane. Sold out.

Excision: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. Opening: Figure, Bear Grillz. $34. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624.

Sports Card Show: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Wyndham Garden Hotel, 3300 S. Vista Ave., Boise. Sports and entertainment cards, memorabilia and vintage items. Free. 338-3828.

Boise Philharmonic’s Chamber 360º: 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 30, St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral, 518 N. 8th St., Boise. Jamey Lamar with The Langroise Trio will walk the listener through the mind of Beethoven when he was composing Serenade in D Major. Performance by The Langroise Trio to follow. $15 advance, $20 at the door. 344-7849, boisephil.org.

Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $35-$75. Ticketmaster, 426-1110.

Stick Figure: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. Opening: Fortunate Youth. $15. TicketWeb, (866) 468-7624. $17 day of show.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 4:25 PM with the headline "January events: Revel in winter! Boise stage productions abound."