Hello Thursday. Gretchen Parsons here to fill you in.
A new vegan restaurant that will be open until 3 a.m. will open next month. Plus, find out the most popular baby names in Idaho.
- Today: 38° đ«đ€ Patchy fog then partly sunny.
First Up Today
New âlate-nightâ vegan restaurant to open in downtown Boise
A new vegan restaurant is opening in Downtown Boise next month.
Frondescence, located at 103 N 10th St., took over the space where Coned Pizza used to be.
This wonât be owner Justin Arrouesâs first time operating a vegan eatery. Arroues also owns a vegan food truck in Boise called The Void but says Frondescence is a totally different concept as there will be no fried food, which is much of what The Void offers.
At Frondescence, guests can expect a fast-casual dining experience. The menu consists of vegan hoagies, tacos, nachos and pasta. Some items can also be gluten-free upon request.
Arroues hopes to open Frondescence the first week in February, pending final inspections from the city. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. â midnight Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. â 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
âWe are pumped to say that we will be the late-night restaurant for the blocks surrounding 10th st.,â Arroues told BoiseDev.
Arroues added that he hopes Frondescence will showcase that vegan food isnât boring and will provide another option for people with allergen-based diets.
âWe take pride in creating new and unique options,â Arroues said. âA challenge yes, but a challenge well worth it if we can make it a success.â
Officials already preparing for a busy 2023 float season
Even though weâre in the middle of winter, city and county leaders, along with emergency personnel, are already planning for the upcoming float season on the Boise River.
Ada County and City of Boise officials met at City Hall this week to discuss how to accommodate more floaters on the river while keeping them safe and protecting the river itself.
During the 2022 float season, there was an increase of floaters by 23% from the year prior. From 2018 to 2022, there was a 51% increase. Officials attribute the uptick to the areaâs explosive growth. Predictions for next year are even higher.
Ada County posted on Facebook, stating âwe expect record-breaking visitation, and public safety is paramount, so new outreach tools are being developed and created for the floating public.â
Officials have some time to figure out a plan as float season doesnât typically start until mid-June.
With our current weather, float season sounds pretty nice right about nowâŠ
Idahoâs most popular baby names
Oliver and Olivia are very popular baby names in Idaho.
In 2021, which is the latest data available, there were 141 baby boys named Oliver and 108 baby girls named Olivia.
The Social Security Administration has a list of the 100 most frequent names given for male and female births by state from the years between 1960-2021. In 1960, the most popular baby names in Idaho were David for boys (283) and Lori for girls (153).
Hereâs a look at the top 10 most popular baby names in Idaho for 2021 (boy names on the left, girls on the right):
- Oliver (141) Olivia (108)
- Liam (104) Amelia (96)
- Henry (103) Emma (91)
- William (92) Evelyn (80)
- Jack (78) Harper (80)
- Asher (74) Charlotte (72)
- Wyatt (74) Hazel (68)
- James (73) Ava (64)
- Noah (73) Eleanor (63)
- Jackson (69) Paisley (55)
Check out the full list here.
(Photo: Picsea/ Unsplash)
Happening Today
- Car Seat Inspections: Caldwell PD is now an official state inspection site for car seats. If you need help with installation or want to get your car seat checked out, email Officer DeFur at [email protected] to set up your appointment.
- 2022 Traffic Numbers: Nampa Police shared the departmentâs year-end traffic report for 2022, which includes 437 DUIs and 348 hit-and-runs. Check out the other stats here.
- Anti-Human Trafficking: From 1-3 p.m. today, the Nampa Family Justice Center is hosting a training for the community to understand what human trafficking is, what makes individuals vulnerable and how traffickers solicit their victims, and the red flags and warning signs. The in-person class is full but you can watch virtually here.
- Bicycle Advisory Board: ACHDâs Bicycle Advisory Committee is looking for a new member. See the requirements here.
BoiseDev Reports
Proposed McCall bar needs permission to operate near church
A new place to enjoy an alcoholic beverage is planned for McCall. However, the bar needs special permission because of its proximity to a local church. Autum Robertson has this story.
New Porsche dealership set for Boise Auto Mall
A new 21,320-square-foot Porsche dealership and service center is planned for the site of a current parking lot on Gratz Drive in the Boise Auto Mall. More about the project on BoiseDev.
Boise City Council approves parks and open space ballot initiative requiring vote before changes to park property
Boise City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that requires a public vote if the city decides to sell, gift, trade or change the use of more than 5% of any public park or open space property. As Margaret Carmel reports, the approval was followed by a burst of applause.
New downtown art piece hopes to describe Nampa for visitors
As BoiseDev intern Mariela Esquivel-Rodriguez reports, Nampa is asking for feedback from the public for a new art installation it plans for Lloyd Square
Legislature to consider bill that would limit how long cities can lease land or buildings
A new bill proposes limiting the duration of city leases on property, buildings, and land to five years unless there is a majority vote of the people. More on Rep. Skaugâs bill here.
Link-worthy
- Vaccine Materials in Food: The Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee introduced a bill on Tuesday that would mandate consumers be made aware in labeling if âvaccine materialsâ are in food. Read the full report from the Idaho Capital Sun.
- Fatal Dog Attack: Sadly, a young boy was mauled to death by a pack of dogs in Eastern Idaho. The Idaho Statesman has more.
- Idaho âGo onâ Rates: According to Idaho Education News, data from the State Board of Education for the 2020-21 school year shows that âgo-onâ rates for groups that typically see more college-bound graduates â white students, female students and students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price lunches (FRPL) â dropped at higher rates during the pandemic than demographics with lower go-on rates.Â
- Road Rage Sentence: A 28-year-old Boise man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday for a road rage incident and shooting a man outside of a Boise concert venue. Read more from the Idaho Press.đ
Things To Do
- Film Festival: The Banff Film Festival, which focuses on mountain culture, sports, environment, and adventure and exploration, is happening at the Egyptian starting tonight through Saturday. Get tickets here.
- Salem Witch Trials BSUâs Department of Theatre presents âAfflicted: Daughters of Salem,â which tells the story of the Salem accusers and the events that led up to the infamous Salem witch trials. The performance is on Friday from 7:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $20.
- Wine & Music: Potter Wines in Garden City is having live music on Saturday from 4-6 p.m.
- Free Concert: Local chill rockers Lo Fi and The Family Dog are putting on a free concert at The Neurolux on Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Pet of the Day
Awww meet Rudy! Owner Alexandria Trimble says Rudy is a very chill, free-roaming little man. He adores pineapple snacks and joining his mom for yoga (even if heâs not invited). đ
Submit your petâs photo here, and we may feature it Monday-Thursday! Plus, our friends at Zamzows will send along a prize to the winning pet (owners)!