Column: Making it in Missoula

Missoula: Theme Party Heaven

By Little Sis, 11-06-06

Missoulians love to celebrate. We’ll jump at any excuse to wear a costume, have a parade, or check out a society party. Especially when it’s all in the same week.

We start Halloween early, so we can utilize at least two separate costumes. Saturday boasted countless house parties involving mature, adult activities such as apple bobbing, leaf pile jumping, and wrestling. Home brew and cake—apparently half of the population was born at the end of October—were in alarming abundance. The best costume of the night: he was a plug and she was a double outlet.

This was the also the night that our friend Blondie introduced me to her friend with the proclamation to both of us, “You should already be dating each other,” which kicked off some awkward conversation attempts as Blondie watched expectantly. The question that kept popping into my head as I tried to be witty and desirable: will he have any idea who I am when I’m not wearing a funky outfit and giant sunglasses? He, of course, was considerately dressed in carhartts so I could recognize him later.

Halloween night at Charlie B’s was a lesson in why you don’t wear wide costumes involving appendages or elaborate headpieces in a crowded bar. The novelty wears off pretty quickly when you’re wearing a king-sized mattress or a huge, vision-obstructing golf ball on your head. Especially when you’re in the way of thirsty people in politely non-space-consuming costumes. I ran into Carhartt Boy again, wearing a totally different costume this time. He was still dressed normally. Halloween is not the best time to meet someone. . .

Showing no sign of slacking, the town turned out in impressive numbers (especially since it was sleeting) for the Day of the Dead parade. Missoulians go all out for it in this freezing, mostly-white region thousands of miles north of where this Latin American holiday generally occurs. One friend responded to my confusion with, “You know, any excuse to have a parade.” I should have known. The procession marched haphazardly down Higgins with its dancers, drummers, banners, and the giant puppets—no march is complete without unwieldy, falling-apart puppets. . .

The parade culminated in Caras Park with the inexplicable program lineup of belly-dancers, fire-dancers (who periodically set themselves on fire—reasons not to wear a lacy costume near flaming, high-velocity balls), and African dancers wearing newspaper while the 30-foot skeleton puppet danced in the background. The crowd wasn’t at all puzzled.

Still undaunted, Missoula jumped at the chance to celebrate First Friday. The venues include clothing stores, galleries, offices, and the odd street corner. All in one night, you can watch dance performances, check out the latest art, and run into pretty much every you know while drinking free wine. The Clark Fork Coalition, with their good wine, free food, live music, and local-hero names, drew everyone within a two-mile radius to celebrate their office’s grand opening. Plus they had a space heater.

And finally, I ran into Carhartt Boy without any form of costume, in the midst of dancing in a very uncoordinated fashion to Broken Valley Roadshow at the Union Club. I’d never seen this guy before Saturday, and suddenly I see him three times in a week? The Missoula vortex strikes again. Luckily, he recognized me in normal clothing and still carried on a conversation, assuring me that I wasn’t just fulfilling some weird fantasy by always appearing in costume. Not that it won’t happen again. The Samba party is this weekend, so I might need to pull out a giant headdress. And wear it into a crowded bar later.

Question of the week:
What was the best Halloween costume you saw? (So I can steal it for next year. . . )

Quote of the week:
"Did you test drive that truck you were going to see?"
"No. He didn't tell me on the phone that it had hit a moose."

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