Visiting Pocatello

[twinprism]

MtnStates, at risk of drifting off topic.

Rumor has is that Costco could have their Pocatello store completed this summer and open in the fall. I don't know what level of confidence at that rumor, but maybe slightly above 50%.

And you're right, Pocatello is confusing, great news one day and more businesses closing the next. I'd like to see a stronger economic development team become a clearinghouse for information so you don't hear so many conflicting reports. Pocatello does have a bit of an inferiority complex among the residents due to events of the past and our faster growing sibling to the North. I see that changing and more positive signs that negative, but once in a while one catches me out of the blue like Dillard's closing, I think that is a big loss. They carried products and things that no one else does in Pocatello, and Costco is certainly not going to replace.

Breer23, I hope you had a good visit. Wish the weather was a little more spring-like for you! I'd love it if you shared what you found when you get a chance.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by twinprism

Breer23, I hope you had a good visit. Wish the weather was a little more spring-like for you! I'd love it if you shared what you found when you get a chance.

I'll be sure to share some of our adventures in Pocatello...but we haven't gotten there yet...we arrive on Saturday for a 4-day, action-packed tour.

[ayladog]

Dear Breer,

We just moved here last year and as far as a place to raise kids---we love it. Everything is less expensive and more accessible than the bigger cities in which we've lived. i have to say our absolute favorite restaurant is Senang's Wine and Tapas. It is in the back of the Co-Op in the Kinport Junction building. It is very upscale--great wine list--but the food is really good and it makes us feels we are in downtown New York or Chicago. We also like the Greek restaurant mentioned before, too.

Too bad you are not coming in the usual concert season-- Oct-May because the Stephens Performing Arts Center is our favorite "entertainment" here. You should at least go look at it while you visit---and get a calender of events...

Can't believe it is snowing again but it just makes us appreciate Spring! So far we are happy here...where a handshake still means something.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by ayladog

Dear Breer,

We just moved here last year and as far as a place to raise kids---we love it. Everything is less expensive and more accessible than the bigger cities in which we've lived. i have to say our absolute favorite restaurant is Senang's Wine and Tapas. It is in the back of the Co-Op in the Kinport Junction building. It is very upscale--great wine list--but the food is really good and it makes us feels we are in downtown New York or Chicago. We also like the Greek restaurant mentioned before, too.

Too bad you are not coming in the usual concert season-- Oct-May because the Stephens Performing Arts Center is our favorite "entertainment" here. You should at least go look at it while you visit---and get a calender of events...

Can't believe it is snowing again but it just makes us appreciate Spring! So far we are happy here...where a handshake still means something.

Thanks for info, ayladog! We head out tomorrow - can't wait to get there. Looked at the forecast for next week, and it looks like 60's for high's, and 30's for lows. Perfect!

I'll be sure to give an update once we get back - can't wait to try some of the restaurants mentioned here. When we were in Poky in 2006, we only got to try one local place (we only stayed one night) - it was Mexican food, right along Yellowstone Ave. south of the mall area, but can't remember the name.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Just noticed in another post that you'll be trekking up to IF for a few meetings. You might want to check out some of the places on the Greenbelt; The Snake Bite & Rutabaga's to name a few.

My favorite place for pizza is tucked away up in Heise Little bit of a drive, but we enoy that as well.

Breer23,

I hope you have a great time! I do agree with cleosmom that while you are in Idaho Falls, you might want to check out some of the hidden local favorites or chains.

I agree about The Snake Bite and Rutabaga's. Rutabaga's has won awards, been written up in west coast magazines. Both of these restaurants are in a redeveloped, former tractor dealership building! They aren't the run of the mill.

Also, Idaho Falls has a strong presence in Mexican food. I hesitate to mention names, as everyone seems to have their particular favorite. Garcia's, the Purple Grecco (spelling?) and others have some hidden treasures.

Also, while in Idaho Falls, if you have the time, drive north of where CAES is being built. Major development plan announced this week. Not that you necessarily want to drop $350K for a home on the river, but something to just think about in the business climate expected. Additionally, it is a gorgeous view, IMHO, to see the Snake River at a "calmer" entrance point than the typical falls. I'm talking about near the ISU campus in Idaho Falls, but more north.

As an FYI for you, as I don't know how much news you actually receive about what is happening at INL and associated university programs etc. BEA published while I'll call a RFP for companies to partner. Those buildings will be built in the CAES area. They will have research labs, along with everything else you'd expect to find in a nuclear-oriented R and D climate. This may be old news to you. But, per chance others are reading this thread due to similar interests, I just wanted to reiterate again the expanding national and international climate of INL. Currently, ISU, seems to be getting more dues about being the primary university involved.

However, I have to say I get a little confused of where CAES and the surrounding universities from ID, UT and WA fit in, compared to the teams coming from various universities throughout the U.S. However, I think all of the people coming together to bring their projects and share ideas benefits all students.

Hope you find everything you are looking for in this trip!

It sounds like you've gotten some good tips. Let us know what you liked as restaurants, local scenery (no the natives can't be included - there is a sign on the way to Jackson Hole from Idaho Falls that mentions that) and other.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

twinprism wrote,

"MtnStates, at risk of drifting off topic."

Twinprism,

You are right and I do apologize for asking those questions here. I don't want to take the focus off of breer23's visit. I was writing trying to "guess" what a person might encounter in Pocatello that will be consistent.

I apologize to all as this thread is to offer local tips, not other.

Anyway, glad you answered me, but more importantly, got us back on task about this thread. I think you and others have offered a lot of suggestions of what to explore further in Pocatello. Additionally, I do think Cleosmom makes a valid point about checking out Idaho Falls favorites, given that breer23 will be spending some time this visit in Idaho Falls.

Probably, breer23, will tell us all about a great discovery or something we've failed to mention. I hope it is a productive and fun trip.

Thanks!

MSR

[breer23]

Hi all!

Well, we are finally back, and have been dealing with the effects (and aftershocks) of an earthquake that occurred early this morning in southern IL. Nice "welcome home" present, eh? Check out the threads for IL & MO for more info, if you like.

So, without boring everyone to tears, the trip to Idaho went really well! We're looking to move there come August.

Some details (since folks have asked):

- We visited Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and INL (the chairperson got us passes to the Site). It was my wife's first time at a gov't lab, and I think she feels better knowing that she won't be turning into Marge Simpson (she expected the whole smokestack-reactor scenario...with maybe a few three-eyed fish) .

- Restaurants that we visited (all in Pocatello): Portneuf Valley Brewing Co. (our favorite, with awesome pizza), Oliver's, Butterburr's, Sandpiper's (East), Buddy's, & Senang's (excellent, also). Unfortunately, our time in IF was short, so we only grabbed a bite on the ISU-IF campus, and did not try any of the local cuisine.

- We didn't get as much time to play as we had hoped; our schedule was pretty full with driving between IF & Poky to meet faculty and to check out housing. We did drive up to Pebble Creek, and although it was closed for the season (very recent), we got the gist of the area - the view was breath-taking! We wish we could have slipped away to Lava Hot Springs, and of course, to Yellowstone, but that will have to wait until the fall!

The only decision we have not made yet is whether to live in Pocatello or Idaho Falls. Even though the main campus of ISU (and the surrounding area) has a lot to offer, most of the faculty I'd be working with are in IF. However, my wife was stuck on the mountain view as soon as we pulled into Idaho, so if I were a betting man, I'd say 2:1 in favor of Pocatello.

Thanks to everyone for all of their advice; if you'd like more info, feel free to DM me and we can chat more.

[Mtn. States Resident]

breer, Glad the two of you were able to make it to eastern ID. You probably encountered some of the infamouns ID wind. Wind in UT, WY, one of the Dakotas, and elsewhere, I've recently read, are much stronger than eastern ID.

I always laugh when people who think they "know" about INL and INL in Idaho Falls etc., but haven't physically been present in Idaho for more than 2 decades, write as if they are the experts about the weather in eastern ID. It certainly puzzles me how some living on the east coast continue to promote themselves as the most reliable source of information, when they haven't lived in the area for so many years.

So back to your trip - - excellent that your wife got to tour what she could of the lab! Smart move on your part. It sounds like the Dean or local professors are really working with married students moving to Idaho to get advanced nuclear training, to make it more "spouse" and/or "family friendly." IMHO, it is wise of INL, BAE, ISU-IF, and all others involved to "welcome" new students so spouses and families feel a part of the nuclear community the week before they moved.

Additionally, I believe that was one of the mandates, at some level, to BAE et al of how to build the university programs. Sometimes, when we read or hear about projects and all the new acronyms of new projects or alliances, but we don't necessarily know anyone who has personally been involved, it is hard to understand how far reaching this program is. Thanks for taking the time to help some of us get more connected and understand what brings others thoughtout the U.S. and world to our own back yard.

breer23, feel free to pm me if you want and you don't even need to answer my question. Somehow, I keep thinking about your wife. Is she going to school, working or what will she be doing? In deciding where to live, what is most important to HER, your commute time (her commute time, if she has one) etc. she may end up making a different decision than anyone thinks. As long as the two of you are happy, it works for me. And, I suspect if your wife is happy, I suspect YOU will be much happier too

It sounds like you discovered for yourself the realities of what some of us tried to explain that the main campus of ISU is in Pocatello, but for advanced studies like yours....the majority of time is in Idaho Falls or INL. Maybe - ISU needs some feedback about that, if it was confusing to you. Not everyone is necessarily as wise as to find sites where locals could give you tips on more than just restaurants (not that they don't count... they do). I'm just saying you aren't moving to become a chef, so the tips you've received from others may help you or others in the future who may read this thread

So sorry to hear about the midwest! The weather this last year regardless of where one lives - has been awful at it remains that way.

I'd recommend talking to your wife about what will make her the most happy and remember to factor in your drive time (and the cost of gas). I don't know if you are eligible to ride the yellow INL buses or not. It sounds like regardless of where the two of you call home, eastern ID is going to get two great new residents! It's wonderful to have those who move to an area be as positive as you are.

Good luck and keep us updated, per chance you have other questions. I'm sure the two of you will make the best decision for the two of you!

MSR

[breer23]

Thanks for the heads-up, MSR.

FYI, I'll be starting a new thread, posing the question of Pocatello vs. Idaho Falls...it's ridiculous how things are split right down the middle on every issue regarding where to live...I guess we could always have worse issues.

I also heard that Pocatello and other parts of the area broke record lows for temperatures last night...while single digits certainly aren't always a lot of fun, I'll take record lows in the singles vs. record highs in the triple-digits!?!

[Idaho mom]

Having lived in both cities, I'm going to put my vote in for Idaho Falls. Pocatello does beat out on the view/valleys and such, and a bigger college campus set-up, but that was all for us. If you start the Poc/IF thread, maybe you and your wife can ask specific questions about your areas of needs and interests in different areas of both towns. For instance, shopping of all kinds, rec. activities in and outdoors, restaurants, population, layout, neighborhood type or land desired, social life, etc. We have found as a family and as a social couple the IF area is better lined up with our wants and needs.

Is it cold lately? Oh yeah! One learns here not to pack away winter gloves and coats until Memorial Day weekend!