Downtown Nampa: Bowl of Phở

phoAt 83,000 residents Nampa, Idaho is the second largest city in the state. Both the redneck and spiritual center of the state, Nampa is the rural, God-fearing workingman’s urban hub. But, after suffering a series of brutal economic blows and setbacks, downtown Nampa now teeters at the brink. Or maybe it’s a turning point.

Step aside BoDo. It’s time for another installment of DNT. (Official revival name yet to be determined, but work with me on this.)

Downtown should always be synonymous with diversity (in my opinion), so this week I’m proud to boast about Nampa’s best and only Vietnamese restaurant, smack dab in the middle of downtown.

The Little Saigon

I realize I am a whitey, like most of those here in Nampa (either hispanic or whitey). But I do own a Vietnamese kid and spent a couple weeks in country while acquiring him. My wife and I have eaten Pho in five states and two countries (including the one it originated in). So I have a little authority when I say Little Saigon makes a mean bowl of Pho. (Maybe a little more cracked pepper than traditional, but I find the twist a nice touch). My only criticism is they don’t have a large bowl option. The only size they serve is plenty satisfying for normal or healthy appetites. But there is occasion for a whopping bowl.

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Downtown Nampa: Shalom Diggity

Shalom Diggity tee shirtThere’s a new movement sweeping the nation. (Okay, maybe only Nampa, ID. And sweeping might be a tad exaggerative. But’s it’s a worthy new movement.) That movement can be summed up in two words (one isn’t exactly a word)–Shalom Diggity.

To explain to us what shalom diggity represents and how it pertains to downtown Nampa, here is the co-founder and director of the Shal-dig revolution, James Austin. The Green Porch is honored to host him, so pull up a chair.

Thank you David/Redneck Granola for giving me a few characters worth of world wide web to natter a bit. I’ll start by explaining the grand vision of Shalom Diggity, and funnel it down to what it means to all of us on a local level.

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Downtown Nampa: the Waving Guy

Downtown NampaWhile not exactly downtown, located where 7th Street S. turns into Yale, the waving guy embodies the ethos of the downtown revival movement nationwide. I want to infuse his neighborly vigor into Downtown Nampa (DNT until better name is created) as well.

Who is the waving guy?

I don’t even know who he is, but I waive to him whenever I drive by. On comfortable days the gentleman of note sits in his driveway in a plastic, white lawn chair waving to everyone who passes. Some days he waves to me multiple times as I scuttle back and forth from Home Depot.

Why is he so important?

It’s hard to pinpoint the waving guy’s importance. 

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