5 Things to Do This Weekend in Boise: See a plush new movie theater, ski Idaho, party at Payette
1. Visit this new theater
What? You’ve never melted into an automated recliner seat at the movies? It’s time to see the light in a darkened theater. The upscale Eagle Luxe Reel Theatre opened this week at 170 E. Eagles Gate Drive. It’s near the Intuit/TSheets headquarters off Eagle Road. The 11-screen multiplex is loaded with plush, powered recliners that include cupholders, tray tables — and the ability to kick back at “Frozen 2” in a near-horizontal position. (No snoring, Dad!) For a list of movies playing, or to buy tickets, visit reeltheatre.com/showtimes-eagle. Bonus: There’s plenty of parking.
2. Drink S’Mores beers
Now in its eighth year, Payette Brewing’s Black Friday will pack the brewery at 733 S. Pioneer St. from noon to 8 p.m. Friday. Forty stouts and porters will be poured — both local and national — at this 21-and-older festival. Glassware is $2; drink tokens cost $4. Four food vendors will sell grub. Two local bands will provide entertainment: Tylor and the Train Robbers (1 to 3 p.m.) and Frim Fram 4 (4 to 7 p.m.).
Beer geeks will dash toward barrel-aged specialties such as 2017 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout. But don’t miss out on all the other interesting options, including variants of Payette’s own Twelve Gauge Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Two new Twelve Gauge flavors will tempt taste buds: Orange Chocolate and S’Mores. (Like, yum!) Both also will be available in 19.2-ounce cans to go for $13.
Most of the beers poured at Black Friday are high-octane, so please plan for responsible transportation home. Also, be aware: Dogs are not allowed. Online: payettebrewing.com/blackfriday.
3. Ski or snowboard
Jonesing for powder? Bogus and other Idaho ski resorts are opening with limited options, and sometimes discount prices, until more terrain is snow-covered.
▪ Bogus Basin will offer “top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding” from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The Deer Point and Coach chairlifts will run, plus the Explorer, Easy Rider and Discovery surface carpets. Daily operations are scheduled to start Dec. 7. Online: bogusbasin.org.
▪ Tamarack will open a terrain park Friday through Sunday, served by its Discovery chairlift from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It costs $10. Online: tamarackidaho.com.
▪ Grand Targhee starts daily operations Wednesday with two of its five chairlifts in action. It costs $10 for now. Online: grandtarghee.com.
▪ Sun Valley kicks off daily operations on Thanksgiving Day. Five of Bald Mountain’s dozen lifts will run, serving 10 runs. Adult lift tickets are $86 on weekdays and $87 on weekends through Dec. 13. Online: sunvalley.com.
▪ Schweitzer Mountain opens Friday with the Basin Express Quad hauling skiers up one groomed run: Midway. Adult lift tickets are $45 for now. Online: schweitzer.com.
▪ Pomerelle fires up Friday through Sunday. After this weekend, it’s open Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 21, when daily operations begin. Online: pomerelle.com.
4. Light up the holiday
Winter Garden aGlow opens Thanksgiving night. The annual tradition at the Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, just keeps getting bigger and brighter. This year, more than 550,000 energy-efficient lights are draped across the stark yet beautiful 14-acre scene.
On the agenda this season are visits from Santa, live music, drinks (including adult beverages), the Holiday Express Model Train Display and new interactive displays. Winter Garden aGlow is open 6 to 9 p.m. daily (last admission at 8:30 p.m.) through Jan. 4 (except Dec. 4 and 10). Cost: $10 general, $8 garden members and children 5-12, in advance. Admission is $2 more at the gate. Kids 4 and younger get in free. Online: idahobotanicalgarden.org.
5. Soup up Black Friday
Shopping doesn’t have to be stressful. Take a break to relax — and do some good — between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Friday. Enjoy a big bowl of delicious soup at Empty Bowls, an annual event at The Grove Plaza in Downtown Boise. Choose a handmade, artistically decorated bowl, then get it filled with soup made by a Boise restaurant. Bowls start at $10. (Soup and bread are included.) Proceeds benefit The Idaho Foodbank. In 2018, Empty Bowls raised $43,000, enough to pay for almost 217,000 meals for local families in need. Online: idahofoodbank.org.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 10:11 AM.