Welcome to Boise's famous Basque Block. If you're not Basque or not a Boisean you might be asking yourself what is Basque? Well knucklehead, the Basques are a group of people who's culture and language originate from a region located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-eastern Spain and south-western France. Boise is home to one of, if not the largest, population of Basques in the United States.
The Boise Basque Block is the cultural hub of Basque pride and activity. If you've never been to a party on Boise's Basque block do yourself a favor and get down here.
There are a number of elements that make the Basque Block a very pedestrian friendly, aesthetically pleasing and popular Boise destination.
The Block features three restaurants with outside patios, one of which, Bardenay, is a distillery and makes KILLER gin. The street is decorated with large colorful designs, lined with trees, artwork and information on the Basque culture.
For special events like weddings, receptions and Basque holidays the street is closed to automobiles and people get crazy Beale Street style. The Block doesn't have any curbs which makes this space fantastic for foot traffic when all fueled up on Kalimotxos.
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| Look Ma. No Curbs. |
The only real drawback the Basque Block has is the large open parking lot on the north side of the street.... Are you seeing a pattern here? We don't like parking lots. At all. Especially in downtown Boise. If it was up to us there would be no surface parking anywhere near downtown Boise. Infill projects are desperately needed to help make the downtown area a more urban, usable, attractive place. Parking lots are sooo 1950. Let's get with the times Boise.
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| Parking Lot. Booooo. |
So how does this rant about parking lots and my favorite Gin relate to landscaping? The Gin doesn't really. But the design elements of the Basque Block can be easily incorporated into a residential or commercial design. Openness, pedestrian friendliness, no parking lots, gin and kalimotxos. Perfection.
I feel a fullblown rant on Boise's ridiculous parking lots coming on... Stay tuned for that.
Topa!
Krisjan
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