Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/11137
I.F.’s Little Inner City Rediscover the charms of Historic Downtown From historic buildings to street festivals, antique shops, inviting eateries and a thriving cultural district, the modest but captivating atmosphere of downtown Idaho Falls is hard to resist. This is espe- cially true in the summer months, when the streets come alive with tourists, art exhibits and open-door sales events. The Idaho Falls Cultural District includes a multitude of important ingredients such as the commercial art galleries, glass and ceramic studios, dance studios, a film theatre (Centre Theater) that shows inde- pendent films and Chesbro Music Company with the largest offering of printed music in the west. Delightful public art such as the Fur Trapper on B Street, Wilson Rawls statue on the Library Lawn, historic Taylor’s Crossing replica and Japanese Stone Lanterns in Sportsman Park graces the Cultural District. Led by the organizational efforts of the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation, work is under way to strength- en and revitalize the heart of the city, from cultural tours in the spring to weekly street festivals and a variety of beautification projects. Most exciting of all is the corporation’s vision for downtown’s future. The focus: connecting downtown to the city’s greatest asset—the beautiful Snake River. According to the IFDDC, the general idea is to “blend 34 | EAST IDAHO SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2010 Buildings Back in Time From the Old Post Office (pictured here) to the Bonneville Hotel, County Courthouse and numerous other registered “historic” properties, downtown Idaho Falls offers visitors and residents alike the chance to delve into the rich history of local architecture. the district into an expanding park and river-walk. As a result, the community and visitors will have an exciting gather- ing place filled with an array of activi- ties.” However it all shakes out, the march forward should be quite an adventure for Historic Downtown Idaho Falls. “Springing” Downtown Forward Each spring and summer, downtown is touched by magic. One day the planters that line the sidewalks contain dull, brown hibernating plants, and the next, they are bursting with color and life. Beautiful hanging baskets filled with cascading color are dramatically accented by a blue sky. Although these hanging baskets and planter box flowers seem to appear like magic, there are many individual volunteers and business sponsors behind the scenes who make this picturesque setting a reality each year. For several years, the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC) has collaborated with local gar- den clubs to organize the spring activity.