Real Estate Blog - buying-in-boise

The Cabin: A Center For Readers & Writers

The Cabin is a Boise, Idaho literary arts organization. The Cabin forges community through the voices of all readers, writers and learners. The Cabin’s workshops, readings, lectures, camps and other educational programs provoke creativity and experimentation, foster literary excellence, and inspire a love of reading and writing.

The Cabin believes that connecting with writers and their writing will make us all more empathetic by giving us access to feelings and experiences we couldn’t possibly know if we didn’t read or write. This means that spreading the joy and craft of reading and writing doesn’t just create more readers and writers, but more thoughtful, understanding people.

The public is welcome to join in on the fun. For more information on upcoming…

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Buyer market? Seller market? COVID-19 market?

I’ve had this question a dozen times this past week. So many of you have reached out. Clearly the impact of the coronavirus on Boise’s real estate market (and the broader economy) is on everyone’s minds right now. In no particular order, I would like to share lessons learned from working and living through the Great Recession.

We are facing the start of the spring market with an economic challenge. Every spring from 2008 – 2011 (the downturn) prices rose (slightly) and activity increased, compared to the immediately preceding winter quarter. Even though there were net losses year over year, the spring market was stronger than any other time of year. In a few weeks we will know if inventory will grow and/or prices will shift. This information is…

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Randy Van Dyck: February 2020 Local Artist of the Month

We are pleased to highlight the work of Randy Van Dyck, our February 2020 artist of the month.

Much of Randy Van Dyck’s work is inspired and defined by the titles of his art. There is a joyful humor to his work, which often depicts literal imagery of colloquial phrases. His use of shadows creates a slight confusion in the two-dimensional plane, adding contrast between the subject and the landscape. Randy hopes to evolve this body of art to include more socially conscious subject matter. You can learn more about Randy by visiting his website.

In 2019 the Pettitt Group purchased this original piece for our ongoing art collection. As part of our annual…

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Pettitt Group Announces 2020 pARTners

The Pettitt Group is proud to support the Treasure Valley’s arts community. We believe that a strong, vibrant arts culture makes Boise a thriving place for everyone to live, work and give. The Pettitt Group supports art in all forms. We are proud donate $1,000 each month to our 12 designated nonprofit, local arts organizations in 2020.

To learn more about the history of this giving program, please see the ‘about’ page of our website.

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Story Story Night: Weaving Threads of Connection

Story Story Night brings its audiences together like family — with inspiration, insight, connections, revelation and change. They have been opening up their stage to our community of storytellers for almost 10 years, giving back to the community in a realistic and cooperative way. This alliance is built on trust.

The 2020 Season is based on the decades (and all the dated associations that go with them). Attendees will laugh and cry with recognition as they party like it’s 1999 (and any given era before and after).

See how it all adds up when we go there with true stories told live on stage and without notes. With featured storytellers intermixed with an open story slam, it’s like once upon a time without the fairy tales.

Story Story Night…

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Andrea Sparrow: January 2020 Local Artist of the Month

We are pleased to highlight the work of Andrea Sparrow, our January 2020 artist of the month.

Andrea Sparrow has been working as an artist and photographer for 30 years. With a focus on the impacts of climate change, her work has become more documentary in nature, capturing the natural world as it is altered by changes in temperature, weather and human impact. Andrea works in the Arctic documenting the science of climate change for The Arctic Arts Project and in the Colorado River Basin.  Follow Andrea on her Facebook page, Andrea Sparrow, on Instagram @apsparrow, or visit her website.

In 2019 the Pettitt Group purchased this original piece for our ongoing art…

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Ballet Idaho: Strength and Grace, Cultural Nourishment

We don’t have to sell you on the breathtaking beauty or tremendous talent of Ballet Idaho. But what you probably don’t know is how much this wonderful nonprofit does to strengthen the minds and bodies of young people in our community.

Ballet Idaho’s Learning Through Dance empowers children via interactive and performance-based arts programming. Participants gain confidence, creative thinking abilities, and communication skills. The program includes performances in Treasure Valley schools and other community venues by Ballet Idaho’s Youth Ensemble. The Student Matinees program brings first-through-twelfth graders into the theater to experience a professional ballet. Teachers receive a study guide that provides students with a broader understanding…

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Lisa Flowers Ross: December 2019 Local Artist of the Month

We are pleased to highlight the work of artist Lisa Flowers Ross, our December 2019 artist of the month.

Lisa Flowers Ross is a Boise artist who creates abstract textile art. She reduces core elements of a subject, or idea, into basic shapes and organic forms. Her hand-dyed fabric colors and distinct edges create a graphic quality. Added stitching enhances the tactile nature of the pieces. Ross’ artwork has been exhibited in national and international, solo and juried, group exhibitions. It is also included in private, public and corporate collections. She has received grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Alexa Rose Foundation.

To learn more about Lisa, and to view her…

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Opera Idaho: It’s the Voices That Speak to Us

“It’s the voices.” It’s Opera Idaho’s tagline. It refers, of course, to the glorious voices that make every performance memorable. On a deeper level, Opera Idaho gives some important points of view a chance to be heard. Alongside favorites from Puccini, Gilbert and Sullivan, Handel, and more, are works that challenge the very notion of what opera is and its relevance in today’s world.

This spring, Opera Idaho presented As One, a coming-of-age story about a transgender woman. This powerful work gave rise to a panel discussion focused on gender identity and social topics explored in the opera. Considering Matthew Shepard was a particularly prescient choice for Opera Idaho’s Critical Mass Vocal Artists during Pride Month. It was a moving musical…

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Sue Latta: November 2019 Local Artist of the Month

We are pleased to highlight the work of artist Sue Latta, our November 2019 artist of the month.

Sue Latta has been a working artist for over 20 years, and is currently an adjunct professor of art at Boise State University. She also owns and operates The Sculpture Studio, teaching a variety of 3-dimensional disciplines. Latta is tireless, prolific and accomplished in her art. A consummate craftsman, she works seamlessly across a variety of media, including photography, always pushing the boundaries.

To learn more about Sue, and to view her work, visit her web site

In 2018 the Pettitt Group purchased this original piece of artwork as part of our Supporting the Arts initiative.…

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