The River Festival was an amazing weekend! Thank you to all of the businesses and community organizations that came together to make the events happen. But most of all, thank you to all of the people who came out to celebrate our city’s art, food and jazz music!

Here are a few highlights from the weekend:

The Taste of Idaho 2009

James Billman, Owner of Hard Hat Steakhouse, our newest restaurant in Snake River Landing

Kids art activities at The River Rocks

Jazz on the River

The annual Taste of Idaho will be held tonight, Thursday, June 18 at Snake River Landing.

The event begins at 6 pm and will be held on Pier View Drive, across from The Pier. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce or the Snake River Landing Discovery Center.

With culinary tasting from area restaurants, live music by Derek & The Dynamos along with a specialty Idaho Wine & Cheese Tasting - this an event you don’t want to miss!

Participating restaurants include:

• Hard Hat Steakhouse
• Iggy’s Sports Grill
• Jimmy John’s
• Sol Rio
• Red Robin
• Okies Burgers & Chili
• Bajio’s
• Smitty’s Pancake House
• Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant
• Bubba’s BBQ
• BJ’s Bayou
• Morenita’s
• Texas Roadhouse
• The Little Deli
• Gandolfo’s
• TGIFriday’s

For more information, please call the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce at 208-523-1010 or Snake River Landing at 208-557-5300.

Snake River Landing is pleased to announce that Bella Vita Coffeehouse is opening at 901 Pier View Drive at Snake River Landing. The coffeehouse will serve not only coffee, but will include a variety of hot and cold specialty drinks, breakfast and lunch options, desserts and other baked goods.

Bella Vita will be owned by Melanie Hines, who was previously the co-owner of The Villa Coffeehouse, in downtown Idaho Falls. Melanie is excited to open a coffeehouse with a warm, inviting atmosphere, free wireless Internet, live music and her homemade cheesecake. The coffeehouse plans to be open in August and will serve the community Monday thru Saturday, from 7 am to 6 pm, with extended hours for Snake River Landing events.

For more information, please contact 557-5300.

The Great Race for Education is upon us!

It is time to have a little fun, challenge and competition. Join us July 17th for The Great Race for Education! This is a race that will test you and your team members. You thought you were smart and in good shape - test it at The Great Race for Education! This fund-raising event, designed to promote and enhance EITC’sfoundation scholarship program, will take place in the new and old parts of downtown Idaho Falls. Teams, sponsored by business and individual “Owners,” will come from near and far to pit their wits, fortitude and patience in the ultimate race. This event is a large-scale scavenger hunt where teams of 4 will be challenged to compete for the best finish time. Although intellectual and physical challenges will be included - all ability levels are encouraged to enter.

The race will kick-off at Snake River Landing with a 21 gun salute with City of Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman. Worried you won’t cut the mustard? Become a Team Owner and enjoy lunch, dinner and an after party as an owner of a team. Owners will assist teams with clues from base camp (Snake River Landing). Owners will be in the know about where their teams are in the course and the team with the most owners wins a grand prize.

TOP PRIZES FOR WINNING TEAMS:

• 1st - $1500 ($1000 cash, $500 scholarship in team’s name)
• 2nd - $1000 ($750 cash, $250 scholarship in team’s name)
• 3rd - $750 ($500 cash, $250 scholarship in team’s name)

But…HURRY! As of June 4th, we only have FIVE TEAM OPPORTUNITIES LEFT!

Teams of 4 are $62.50 per person ($250 per team) and Team Owner registration is $35.00.

For an entry form, please call 208-557-5300.

Current professional teams includes:

• Snake River Landing
• INL
• Mountain View Hospital
• Idaho Falls Magazine
• Portage
• East Idaho Credit Union
• Riverbend Communications
• Fast Signs
• Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC)
• Edward Jones

And many more!!  REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE BY JUNE 15 - DON’T WAIT!

Hard Hat Steakhouse & Grill presents:

Cary Judd - LIVE IN CONCERT

Friday, May 29

10:30 PM

$3 cover charge

Must be 21+