What's the happs?
A Busy Wednesday Night in MissoulaWednesday night is packed this week with goodies to check out.
First, there's a baseball game. I gotta tell you, we took in an Osprey matchup on Monday and there are few things better than a Big Sky IPA in the sun watching the crowd -- or sorry, the players -- at a baseball game. (Game time is 7:05 p.m.)
Second, Sean Kelly's has a wicked show on the bill tonight. Micky and the Motorcars from Austin Texas take the stage tonight. It's $5 at the door, $1 PBR drafts and $2 Sailor Jerry Rum drinks. Paul over at Sean Kelly's says this one is quite worth the mention.
Third, if you're a Missoula Community Market fan like I am, join the market folks at the Kettlehouse starting at about 4 p.m. for a little beer and a little support.
Lastly, if you're still up after all of this, the Ear Candy Experiment is back after about five years -- a dj jam of epic porportions no doubt -- at the Loft above Higgins Alley. It's free.
Whew.
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Blogvertorial
A Year-Round Recreation Destination
The Bitterroot Team aspires to build a family-friendly recreation venue that is accessible to and benefits all members of the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley communities. Bitterroot Resort is designed to be a year-round recreation destination with alpine, snowboard and cross-country ski venues, signature golf, fly-fishing, mountain biking, ice skating and other amenities existing alongside a four-season resort village and residential community.
Bitterroot Resort has recently submitted a special use permit application to the forest service requesting 1,680 acres of federal land, adjacent to the Maclay Ranch in the northern Bitterroot Valley, be designated as part of a destination ski resort. This proposal represents only a small portion of the envisioned 12,800 acres of potential skiable terrain on Lolo Peak and Carlton Ridge.
Show your support and sign the Bitterroot Petition online.
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Missoula Events
Lewis and Clark Festival Kick Off Draws Large Turnout
A crowd of about 1,000 people flocked to Caras Park during this week's "Out to Lunch" where the Lewis and Clark in the Rockies Bicentennial Festival held its opening commemorative ceremony. After buying their food and drink from the vendors, the attendees gathered with friends and family to watch the beginning of the festivities. [more]
New West Music Review
Review: New Heathens Debut Pulls Up a Bootful of Great Songs
Nate Schweber -- he's one of a kind, with a lot on his mind. The sprawling subject matter on the New Heathens' debut disc, "Heathens Like Me," will attest to that. From the autobiographical "141," to the topical "Kansas Romeo," to the wistful "Goodnight Paterson," he's all over the map with nine original tunes and one cover of a Yayhoos song.
The scarves-to-riches story of Missoula's Favorite Son is well known to a lot of us here in his hometown: Journalism school wünderkind embraces gonzo writing in the college paper, hijacks the airwaves of KBGA (winning Best of Missoula polls in the process), creates a bizarre spectacle at U of M Grizzly games by dancing, half-naked, in the stands while playing his tuba with the pep band, and fronting various rock bands with an outrageous, flamboyant, Bowiesque persona that has half the town buzzing.
And like Bowie, Nate has reinvented himself, emerging fully formed as a swaggering, sweaty alt-country rocker with an ass kicking band and a bootful of great songs.
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Missoula Events
Western Montana’s Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Kicks Off Festivities Tomorrow
Starting tomorrow, over 100 Lewis and Clark and Native American activities, presentations and performances will begin spreading throughout five Western Montana valleys in more than 25 locations for 19 days.
The Lewis and Clark in the Rockies Bicentennial Festival commemorates the 200-year anniversary of Lewis and Clark's return journey through Western Montana through a multiday extravaganza of activities, exhibits, reenactments, entertainment, outdoor experiences and Native American programs from June 21 to July 9 in the Missoula, Bitterroot, Lolo, Blackfoot and Mission valleys.
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From the Bookshelf
Meredith Brokaw’s “Big Sky Cooking”
The Seattle P-I today features the new cookbook from Meredith Brokaw and Ellen Wright focused on recipes from Montana, where Meredith shares a ranch with her husband, Tom Brokaw.
"Big Sky Cooking," is all about cooking with what is within arm's reach. As P-I Food Editor Hsiao-Ching Chou writes, Mrs. Brokaw "has to consider meals from the perspective of what her pantry and garden can provide. With the nearest market 17 miles away, spontaneous trips to pick up a missing ingredient just don't happen."
The book touts itself as a celebration of the American West and the "straightforward, unpretentious fare, as honest as Montanans and guaranteed to make every hour of the day an opportunity to enjoy the good life." I'm not so sure about that, but the Frontier Eggs don't look half bad.
Alternatives to Dying Out
A New Publication for Eastern Montana’s Wide Open Spaces
There's about to be a new magazine in town-- or should I say, in 'the country.' Alternatives, an online publication based out of Plentywood, Montana, will explore topics like alternative energy development, eco-tourism, health and fitness, obesity and other issues facing communities in the vast, open spaces on the east side of the Great Divide.
Montana is a big state. 56 counties make up 147,046 square miles. An estimated 935,670 people live here. Montana is to the road tripper of the West what Ohio is to the road-tripper of the East, which is to say, if you’re just driving through, it will dominate your day, your life and your entire conscience until you cross out of its borders.
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New Sounds in Town
SnowGhost Productions Presents Brightblack Morning LightThere's a new production company in town, and they hope to change music as we know it in Whitefish. SnowGhost Productions, the brainchild of Whitefish music enthusiasts Dave Gawe and Brett Allen, is geared toward producing and promoting new music and fresh sounds. SnowGhost is working on a ten concert series that'll unroll this summer. Its first band, Matador-signed Brightblack Morning Light, will play tonight at Grouse Mountain Lodge. [more]
Going Tribal at The Red TentThe Raven Café Presents The Red Tent Dance Studio: An Evening of World Fusion Dance Performance featuring Rosa and students, on Friday, June 2nd, with performances at 7:00 and 8:30 PM. [more]
New West Fun!
Ryan Mitchell’s Ceramics Headline New West First Friday Outdoor Exhibit
New West's First Friday showing this month will feature the work of Ryan Mitchell, a Denver native who graduated last year with an MFA from the University of Montana and is now a resident artist at the Missoula Clay Studio.
Ryan's work will be shown as a special summer outdoor ceramics exhibition in the brick alley adjacent to our offices at 415 N. Higgins (out the back door of the Old Post).
As Ingrid says, it's "going to be fun and funky," so drop by Friday, June 2, from 5-9 to see some great art, have some great conversation and help us drain the keg.
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