Virtual Conversation: On the rocks: Bars, restaurants and music venues in the time of Covid

The global pandemic has affected business and industry in countless ways, but few sectors have been as disrupted as the very places where we have always turned when we wanted to eliminate our social distance: bars, restaurants and music venues. 

Spikes in COVID-19 have forced these food and entertainment venues — so many small businesses run by local entrepreneurs — to simply close for weeks, and to be on the front lines of enforcement and scrutiny when they have been able to reopen in fits and starts. Experts expect many of these businesses may simply not make it through. 

But this great challenge has spurred great creativity among Idaho business owners. A group of restaurateurs and local farmers created an ingenious way to keep talented chefs and other workers employed and keep locally grown food in demand — all while serving very real needs in the community. Another coalition developed protocols and approaches designed to keep patrons safe while they are being social. Music promoters and performers have been forced into creative approaches as well — outdoor shows, online concerts and more.  

Though the city has tried to increase its flexibility on outdoor dining and gathering to help local establishments stay open, winter weather threatens this approach. This will be a crucial few months for locally owned businesses. 

Join the City Club of Boise as we explore the challenges facing Boise's food and entertainment businesses. We will hear from Dave Krick, managing partner of Bittercreek Alehouse, Red Feather Lounge and Diablo & Sons Saloon, Board President for City of Good, Board President for FARE Idaho and Community Board Member for Boise Farmers Market; Rocci Johnson, the doyenne of Downtown's music scene, owner of Humpin' Hannah's bar and venue, board member of the Downtown Boise Association, and co-secretary of FARE Idaho ; and Eric Gilbert, a founding leader of the Treefort Music Fest and owner of The Duck Club, a major music promoter in Boise, and member of Save our Stages.  

Moderator: City Club President Kâren Sander.

Attendees will be able to pose questions to the panel, via the moderator, using the Zoom Q/A feature or email questions directly to morgan@cityclubofboise.org

**UPDATE 10/21/2020: Boxed Lunch registration has closed.**

We are pleased to partner with City of Good for this program and offer the option for you to pre-order and pick up a boxed lunch to enjoy during this program.

Each lunch is $15, and will be available for pickup at the Boise Co-Op (Fort Street or Village location). $5 of the meal price will support the City of Good Weekend Fuel Kits Program, the program that helps feed hungry kids over the weekend.

City of Good Boxed Lunch options:

Omnivore:

Herb and lime marinated chicken sandwich: Local Acme baguette with pesto marinated chicken, arugula, parmesan, H&H tomatoes, and mayonnaise.

Side: Roasted (local) winter squash salad

Sweet: House made Boise chocolate chip cookie

CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK, EGG, SOY  

Herbivore:

Garden sandwich  (veggie): Local Acme Focaccia, cucumber, H&H tomatoes, local sprouts, dijon mustard, house made hummus, sumac, and lemon vinaigrette.    

Side: Roasted (local) winter squash salad

Sweet: House made Boise chocolate chip cookie (does contain egg)

CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY, SESAME 

City of Good is a collective of socially-conscience restaurants and businesses working to solve some of our city's most pressing problems through innovative means. Our Weekend Fuel Kits Program is designed to help feed food-insecure children all weekend, every weekend. Partner restaurants are paid to create fresh, nutrient-dense meals, helping to ensure their culinary staff remains employed during this critical time of kitchen lay-offs and closures. They produce six meals for every kit, and meals are made with no less than 30% of locally-sourced ingredients, helping to protect our delicate local-farm ecosystem. Today, City of Good produces 150 meal kits weekly, helping to bridge the weekends when many vulnerable, hungry children within the Boise School District's Community Schools do not have access to school lunches or fresh, healthy food.