I was feeling naughty and rebellious so I popped in for a glass of wine + snack around lunch time (but pre-show 🤫😈).
Had this place on my list since day one, and with my Boise time wrapping up, I had to hit it - it didn’t disappoint. This cozy little French-inspired spot was so delicious it turned my “snack” into a full-on meal. I’ve been known as “Two Meal Taylor” in certain circles, when the eating has gotten good. Terroir brought TMT back out, and in her chewing dress.
⬅️ ⬅️ terroir bistro
A view down a barrel
I got there just as they opened. Because I love a bar all to myself.
Steak Tatare
Bison served with truffle fries & frisée. Paired with a Gruner Veltliner white wine.
Just a little bump
You know, to take the edge off.
The Alley Lounge ➡️ ➡️
Boise, ID
I’ve always wanted a bat-cave lair. Looks like I’ve found it in The Alley Lounge.
My final night, just after closing PRIMARY TRUST, I found myself at the bar of the Alley Lounge — an intimate reflective space, part watering hole, part Black history museum, listening to Marcus, the shop’s proprietor, artfully spinning vintage vinyl. He was curating the vibe while taking requests, making suggestions, and serving up the most perfect Ethiopian beer I’d come to love.
I’d been contemplating so many things that night at the bar — like you do when approaching any ending or beginning. I sat and processed, Marcus cleaned up for the night, unbothered that my friends and I had wandered in close to closing. We all discussed where we were headed and where we’ve been — Nina Simone asking, “Are you ready Black people?”Lauryn Hill echoing in the background. Both artists contributing heavily to my ‘70s/’90s POV, this album served as the spiritual mash-up I didn’t know I needed — until I was halfway through. Just one of those moments, I guess.
We packed up to go. Without a beat, Marcus said, “thank you for seeing me” and gave me this gift — his copy of The Miseducation of Eunice Waymon. The condition being that I find a way to share it — to “pay if forward” by spinning it myself, somewhere, and in my own way. So this is the first installation of me doing just that — spinning the story of this album. How it found its new home — with me — and at a time when I needed it most.
So a special shout-out to one of my new homes, The Alley Lounge. Thank you for seeing the people of your community and letting yourself be seen in return.
📣 SOUND ON
“Thank you for seeing me. This is is for you,” Marcus says to me — handing me a record, the copy of “The Miseducation of Eunice Waymon” that we’d been listening to earlier. I was shocked.
For those that don’t know, The Miseducation of Eunice Waymon is a concept record by Amerigo Gazaway, a mash-up of the famed Lauryn Hill album (with a dash of the Fugees), floating samples from the beloved Eunice Waymon (aka Nina Simone) — no chaser.
Beer goggles at the end of the road…
And we still look like a Hip-hop band. Go us.
Endings are never easy. This one was no different. So, I consider this a transition into the “what’s next” of it all when it comes to me and Boise.
It was like the date set-up that you didn’t expect to enjoy. The more time you spend with them, the more you love them, and you eventually learn just how much you’ve come to understand and appreciate each other.
I appreciate you, Boise.
Your city left me wanting more and in completely unexpected ways. So thank you for that, you wonderfully weird little gem of an adventure oasis. Thank you for welcoming me and for sharing a piece of your heart with me — hopefully I did the same. I love your art. I love your people. I love your beer. And your mayor is rad.
Let’s do this again soon.
Top left pictured from left to right: Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Malcolm Barrett, Ben Cain
Above: Cast of PRIMARY TRUST from left to right: Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Thomas Paul, Malcolm Barrett, David Anthony Smith, Ben Cain