Spring Awakening: New Shopping And Dining At The Village At Meridian

The Village at Meridian is quite the hot spot for shopping and dining no matter what part of the Treasure Valley you're from. We hall have our go-to places. Dinner at Twigs is a must for me and I'll always stop by H&M and stock up on clothes I don't need. Even when I'm not necessarily shopping for anything, I'll head over just to walk around. Sometimes I chill by the fountain and sip a hot vanilla soy latte from Royal Coffee Co. It's like a mini Bellagio the way certain songs are synced to the fountain show.  But it's always exciting when there's something new to experience at your regular haunts. The Village is set to open a few new places to make your spring and summer more interesting.

Cinnaholic has got you covered with cinnamon rolls. I highly recommend the Blueberry Pie Roll. 804 calories of decadent, fruity deliciousness. But what good is a cinnamon roll without its counterpart, the donut? Duck Donuts is set to open in April, taking up residence next to Rooster's Men's Grooming Center. Fellas, haven't you dreamed of getting your beard lined up and then eating a maple iced donut with chopped bacon and salted caramel drizzle? This will be one of two locations hitting Idaho. The other will be opening in Ammon, ID.

Cafe Rio will soon make its debut, giving Chipotle and Chick-Fil-A some competition across the street. This is exciting news if only for the tortillas. Have you had one of their glorious, buttery tortillas? White or wheat, you can't go wrong.

On the shopping front, toy geeks have much to celebrate. Your Toy Link was already up and running but is now moving to a larger space near Chick-Fil-A, as reported by Boise Dev's Autum Robertson. The Village at Meridian website describes the shop as offering a wide variety of collectibles "from Ninja Turtles to Star Wars and DC super heroes" and "caters to collectors of all ages." It's slated to re-open in April.

Speaking of geeks, Market Optical is also opening soon. I'm not saying geeks and glasses are inherently synonymous, but 90's sitcoms raised me so I can't help but link the two. Geek or not, you'll be able to buy fashionable frames from the optical shop that prides itself on 40 years of specializing in the art of lens crafting. You can find them near Big Al's next to Chip Cookies.

Spend this spring showcasing your perfect vision in a pair of stylish frames while enjoying a donut with your taco salad before stocking up on DC comic figurines. Perfect weekend, if you ask me.