December Activities Around Boise

Whether you like music, dance, great food, holiday fun or amazing architecture, there is going to be something awesome for you to enjoy this December. Even though the snow is falling, and most Treasure Valley residents and visitors will be heading up to Bogus Basin, there are still plenty of things to do down here in town. Here are some activities that are sure to make December 2017 quite unforgettable.

A Christmas Story, Boise Little Theater, 100 E Fort St, Boise ID

Nov 24 – Dec 9 (Times Vary)

This favorite holiday movie has been acted live in theaters all over the country.  Set in the Midwest in the 1940’s, It follows the exploits of Ralphie Parker and his quest for his perfect Christmas gift a “Red Ryder air rifle” (frequently met with the response, “you’ll shoot your eye out!).  It includes all the elements of the movie, with Ralphie dodging bully Scut Farkus, the wet tongue on the lamppost, and trying to make it to Christmas day with glasses intact.

The Price is Right Live

Dec 3rd, 7:30 PM, Morrison Center

If you have ever watched the Price is Right and thought, ‘hey, I would love to do that!’ then you are in luck because the well-beloved day-time television show is coming to Boise! That is right, on December 3^rd at the Morrison Center you can join in the audience, and possibly be picked as a contestant, on the game show that has entranced people for years.

Tickets are on sale now on the Morrison Center’s website (link in the section heading), but you better hurry, they are going fast. Tickets range in price from $37.50 to $57.50 (Estimated figures only).

Ballet Idaho’s “The Nutcracker”

Dec 15^th to 17^th, Times Vary by Day, Morrison Center

There are few music and dance combinations as thrilling and timeless as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic ‘The Nutcracker”. It will be performed at the Morrison Center for 3 days in mid-December. So, before this amazing opportunity passes you by, be sure to join Ballet Idaho for this incredible experience.

Tickets for this amazing cultural event range from roughly $30 to $60 or so (these are estimates, please check Ballet Idaho’s website for current prices as they may change).

Mannheim Steamroller Concert

Dec 21^st, 7:30 PM, Morrison Center

If you are into neoclassical new-age music, then you are going to really like Mannheim Steamroller. This American group has been wowing audiences for over 30 years with their rock infused classical music. This group is a wonderful group that offers some of the most amazing holiday and classical music next to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you are looking for a fun concert to go to this month, then this is one you ought not to miss. Check out their website for more information.

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Dec 22^nd, 2:00 PM, Albertson’s Stadium

Treasure Valley football fans big and small are going to have a great time on the night of December 22^nd. Here at the Boise State Bronco’s own turf, one team from the Mountain West Conference will face off against a team from the Mid-American Conference. It is an awesome chance to get up into those bleachers to watch two teams battle it out on our beloved blue field for the rest of the country to see.

Tickets are on sale now so be sure to get them soon before all the great seats are gone.

Idaho Potato Drop New Year’s Eve Party

Dec 31^st, 1:00 PM to 1:00 AM

he Idaho Potato Drop is a yearly tradition where Idaho’s most enduring symbol (the potato) is dropped like the ball in Time Square. However, leading up to the ringing in of the new year is one of the Treasure Valley’s most exciting public parties of the year. In the twelve hours the party rages, there will be awesome music from local bands and musicians, great food, and even some adult beverages. Not to mention, there is plenty of volunteer opportunities and the chance to usher in the new year with the rest of the Treasure Valley.

Make sure that you also take a moment to come back here next year as we outline some of the awesome things that 2018 has in store for you!

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Looking to Donate to some Great Non-Profits in the Boise Area?

There are few things in this world as heartwarming and alluring as the holiday season. With its lights, treats, parties, and so on it is hard not to have a smile on your face despite the bitter cold outside. However, for one reason or another, there are some people who find it hard to feel the boisterous spirit of the season like the rest of us. These are people that are sick, hungry, homeless, or trapped in any number of terrible situations. These people’s circumstances are desperate, their pleas sometimes silent, but one thing is for sure: they need some help. If you have been looking for a way to give back this holiday season, to alleviate some of the pain of those around us, then we have a few suggestions for you. Below are 4 local charities that are favorites of ours to donate to plus an idea on donating to educational organizations in Idaho. If you are looking for a good local charity, this may be a start.  These organizations are always looking for donations, volunteers, or to spread the word of their need.

Meridian Valley Humane Society

191 N Linder Road, Meridian  Idaho(208) 794-0944

The Humane Society is a wonderful organization that takes in rescue dogs and helps them get adopted by a new family. They work hard caring for these dogs, fostering them if necessary and playing with them  until someone comes to adopt them.

If you want to get involved with the Meridian Valley Humane Society check out their website. They have links for volunteers, dog foster care, and more. If you want to help out but don’t have time, just click the donate button in the top right hand corner of the website.

NOTE: At the beginning of 2017 the Meridian Valley Humane Society will be changing their name at the start of 2017 to “Meridian Canine Rescue”.

Ronald McDonald House of Idaho

101 Warm Springs Avenue, Boise  Idaho  (208) 336-5478

The Ronald McDonald House is a wonderful non-profit that helps out families of sick children. They offer a place to stay for the members of the family that are not sick and supply them with food and activities to pass the time when they are not at the hospital with their loved ones.

This organization has helped many children and families across the nation during their times of need by keeping them close together during their trying times and the Idaho chapter is no exception. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho has been a great help to many people in and around the State of Idaho.

If you want to donate to or volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho log on to their website and click on the “How You Can Help” tab. There you can find all sorts of information about volunteering, donating, hosting fund raisers, and much more.

Idaho Foodbank

3562 South TK Avenue
Boise, ID 83705-5278
(208) 336-9643

The Idaho Food Bank is another amazing organization that helps to take care of Idahoans that can’t afford to put food on the table. They do this all year round, but with the holidays coming up they want to be able to let everyone have a merry time.

The food bank has a number of different programs from helping students who need food over the weekends to helping out deserving individuals all over the state. All of these programs revolve around getting people the food they need, but some of them also put emphasis on nutritional education, the teaching of basic cooking skills, and so on.

The Idaho Food Bank has programs that also focus on seniors, children and other demographics that tend to have a higher amount of food needs. It is important to remember however that anyone who is in need can get food from the food bank. This resource is not one that is limited to a select few.

As with all the other charities on this list, the Idaho Food Bank’s website has easy to follow instructions on how to both donate and volunteer. Visit their website today if you want to learn more.

Boise Rescue Mission

308 S. 24th St.
Boise, Idaho   (208) 343-2389

The Boise Rescue Mission does some great work in the Treasure Valley. They have programs for men, women, children, as well as specific demographics like veterans, drug addicts and more.  They have facilities all over the Treasure Valleys from Boise to Nampa to serve as many people as possible.

For more information on their services at the Boise Rescue Mission, or to find out how to volunteer and donate, check out their website or get in touch with their amazing staff.

* Idaho Education related organizations:  Invest in our youth and community by donating to public or private schools, libraries, public television, museums and more.  It’s a double bonus because you are helping fund education in Idaho AND you may receive an additional tax credit.  You may want to talk to your accountant about this.  In addition to a Federal and State tax deduction, Idaho will give you a percentage of the donated amount back as a tax credit up to a certain amount.

* Disclaimer:  I cannot give accounting or tax advice so please contact your accountant or tax professional for more information.

If giving back is on your mind this holiday season, there are many charities like this that help out Idahoans every year.   It’s always rewarding to get out and lend a hand or share some of your financial blessings with others in need during this joyous time of year.

Should I Rent or Buy in Boise

Should I rent or buy a home?

The decision to rent or buy a home is one that many people mull over. Many questions like “do I want the risk and responsibility of owning my own home?” or “is it worth staying in an apartment for longer than a few years?” and so on tend to surface when this housing conundrum is posed. But what is the best choice?

Well, the answer isn’t necessarily an easy yes or no. In fact, the real answer is: it depends … it depends on your situation. Before you try to tackle the issue of renting or buying, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

1. How long do you plan on staying here?
2. What is your financial situation?
3. Do you have a steady job that can support a mortgage payment

If you are planning to live here in Boise for a year or longer, you have a steady job and are financially able to buy a home (speak with your bank/ lender about your financial ability to buy a home) then it would be wise to buy a home.

On the other hand, if you are going to be in the Boise area for less than a year, don’t have a secure job that can support a mortgage payment, or are not in a good financial situation, then you might want to consider renting a house or apartment.

What if I do qualify for a home and plan to stay here a while? Why would I want to buy a home instead of rent?

This is another question that real estate agents frequently get asked. So, let’s look at the pros and cons of both buying and renting a home or apartment.

Renting

Pros

• You can rent month to month and are not locked into a mortgage
• You don’t take on any responsibility for the external or infrastructural up-keep of the building
• You don’t inherit any risk if the building burns to the ground or devalues

Cons

• You cannot alter the apartment (add on, paint, or do major repairs) without the permission of the landlord
• You can end up paying more for your apartment in the long-run than you would have for a house and still not own anything
• You will have to ask permission to have people stay at your place for extended periods of time (depending on the landlord’s rules)
• There may be more rules that you will have to abide by than if you owned your own home

Buying

Pros

• With every mortgage payment you own a larger percentage of the home
• You can alter the home as much as you want as long as you have the funding and the permits
• The value of your home may appreciate over time making you money as you go
• You can borrow money (opening a line of credit) against your home if you need some extra money
• You often have a mortgage payment equal or less than what you could rent for

Cons

• You assume responsibility and risk for the home (if it is damaged or devalues you take the hit)
• You will be responsible for paying property tax

Now, this is only a summarized list of pros and cons of both renting and buying a home, there are many more that you need to consider. For more information, contact me anytime at (208) 890-2924 or log on to http://www.JudyTrimble.com. I am a licensed real estate agent in the State of Idaho and have many years’ experience working in the Treasure Valley (Boise area). I can help you understand the benefits to buying a home and will do everything I can to make your home buying dreams a reality.

Boise and Meridian Awards

Idaho is full of amazing people and places so it is no surprise to hear that two of its largest cities— Boise and Meridian— have received such high accolades over the last few years both national magazines and mega websites. But before you understand the awards they’ve received, you need to know a little about these two wonderful cities. Both Boise and Meridian are located in Ada County, Idaho. Boise, the largest city in Idaho, shares its western border with the City of Meridian, the third largest city. At this point, which roughly follows Eagle Road, the two cities merge seamlessly and almost form one large city between the two of them. You can drive from Boise’s suburban outskirts into Meridian’s without skipping a beat and you wouldn’t even notice you’d left.

Boise started as a military base in the early 1800s and soon spread into both a suburban and an urban community. Meridian was once a farming community a few miles outside of Boise but has since grown into one of the most desired suburban neighborhoods in the area.

Best City to Live In: Meridian
(USA Today 2015)
As it was mentioned earlier, Meridian is one of the most desired suburban cities in the Treasure Valley. This isn’t just a biased claim of a local, however. In fact, it is the opinion of USA Today. In late 2015 USA Today came out with their list of the “Top 10 Best Cities to Live In” list and the Treasure Valley’s own Meridian own the top spot.

They rated it against cites in Colorado, Connecticut, and Georgia and they found that it met their criteria for the best place to live. Their criteria included things like employment rates, population, population growth, and amenities.

2nd Most Artistic Mid-Sized City in America: Boise
(Gogobot.com 2015)
It’s no secret that people in Boise love art, but did you know they like art enough to be second most artistic mid-sized city the country? It’s true and Gogobot.com did a beautiful job of capturing the love of art that flows deep in the veins of Boiseans. Boise is covered in all sorts of art forms from architectural to live performance form so it doesn’t matter what you are interested in, if you like the arts, then Boise is the place to be. There are museums, studios, galleries, theaters, and just about everything in between.

Top 100 Best Places to Live: Boise
(Livability.com 2014, 2015, 2016)
Livability is a great website. If you are thinking about moving somewhere, or just want to know more about some place, consult Livability.com. They rate cities by different criteria to see how livable they are. Boise has always been on their radar due to its beautiful balance of serene simplicity and bustling city. Not to mention its abundance of outdoor activities. From hunting to fishing and beyond, there are millions of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.

Best Under-the-Radar Destination: Boise
(Huffington Post 2014)
Even though it may be on the radar for Livability.com, it is definitely being eyed by real estate prospectors and potential visitors because of how under-the-radar it is. They appreciate this cities remote location, and man amenities more than anyone else. Some of the specific things that the Huffington Post like about Boise were its many wineries, the many outdoor activities that are open to the public, and so much more.

Best Towns for College Football: Boise
(Time Magazine 2015)
If you are into college football in the slightest, then you have probably seen the legendary blue field of the Boise State Broncos. It is one of the many iconic things about the Broncos that make them irresistible for lovers of the game. The Broncos are the number one reason that Time Magazine chose Boise for their “Best Towns for College Football” list. They have introduced a football culture into the community that is hard to resist for the football fan. Tailgate parties, merchandise in every store, and, of course, easy access to game day tickets!

This is only a small sampling of the many awards that Boise and Meridian have received in the last few years, and many more like these will continue to come. So, come see what all the fuss is about and visit Boise. For more information about when and where you should visit, contact me today and I’ll be happy to help you. But be warned, the longer you stay here in Idaho, the harder it will be to leave.

Coming Soon….