Fresh facts 2017 by Independent Publishing

photo by Chad Harder

Table of Contents On topic ................................................................................................6 Missoula media starter pack ...................................................9 Day trippers .....................................................................................10 What your bike says about you...........................................16 Ride or die ........................................................................................22 Zootopia.............................................................................................28 Making the scene.........................................................................34 The great indoors .........................................................................38 Plan: Fall semester events ...........................................................50 Spotlights: Trigger time .....................................................................................61 Footsteps .........................................................................................64 Best of Missoula ...........................................................................70

Advertising Focus Pages Explore Montana................................... 15 Downtown Missoula.............................26 Art, Antiques & Collectibles ................42 Real Estate................................................43 Dish.............................................................46 Play, Laugh & Learn...............................49 Rentals .......................................................53 Hip Strip ....................................................55 Healthy Living..........................................60 Sustainable Living ..................................62 Bitterroot Valley.......................................63 Community ..............................................67

PUBLISHER Matt Gibson GENERAL MANAGER Andy Sutcliffe EDITOR Brad Tyer PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Joe Weston BOOKKEEPER Ruth Anderson ARTS EDITOR Erika Fredrickson CALENDAR EDITOR Charley Macorn STAFF REPORTERS Alex Sakariassen, Derek Brouwer, Michael Siebert COPY EDITOR Jule Banville ART DIRECTOR Kou Moua

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Charles Wybierala CIRCULATION MANAGER Ryan Springer ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Steven Kirst, Beau Wurster, Toni Leblanc, Declan Lawson ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER Tami Allen MARKETING COORDINATOR Ariel LaVenture CLASSIFIED SALES Declan Lawson FRONT DESK Lorie Rustvold CONTRIBUTORS Scott Renshaw, Nick Davis, Matthew Frank, Molly Laich, Dan Brooks, Rob Rusignola, Chris La Tray, Sarah Aswell, Migizi Pensoneau, April Youpee-Roll, MaryAnn Johanson

Mailing address: P.O. Box 8275 Missoula, MT 59807 Phone number: 406-543-6609 E-mail address: independent@missoulanews.com

Most places, talk is cheap. In Missoula, it’s built into the price of every pint of craft beer, every cup of coffee, even the free water piped out of public fountains (yes, those still exist). Even if you This is a city of never leave talkers, most of whom are, in campus, one way or anthere’s other, deeply engaged with plenty to talk what’s going on about at the around them. University of Though by no means exhausMontana. tive, here are some of the issues you should get up to speed on if you want to converse like a local. Amphitheaters galore Little ol’ Missoula now has not one but two brewery-based amphitheaters. Lyle Lovett swang and Ween rocked opening-weekend shows at the KettleHouse Amphitheater in July, and Big Sky

Brewing—already the longtime host of a popular summer concert series—pitched in with a two-day festival headlined by the Decemberists in August. Big Sky has two September shows on deck (Michael Franti and Modest Mouse), and who knows what else is on the horizon. The KettleHouse Amphitheater wrapped up its soft-launch inaugural summer with Slayer on Aug. 24, but look for next summer’s bookings to start popping up any day now. Probably best to see what all the fuss is about. Downtown construction If you’re new to Missoula, you probably won’t get what people are talking about when the mention the Mercantile. (And they always mention the Mercantile.) Well, the Merc was a historic downtown building that went the way of the Dodo in early 2017 to make way for a new Marriott Hotel. That’s what the construction at the corner of Front and Higgins is all about. The construction farther east on Front is a new $38 million student housing complex. Which is not

to be confused with the deconstruction project along the 400 block of East Front—those houses are coming down to make way for the new city library, which crews are scheduled to start building in spring 2018. It’s probably best to just avoid driving down East Front for a while. Housing Stop yawning. Missoula’s median housing price in 2016 was about $255,000, which means affordable housing—or, more precisely, the lack thereof—is a concern that comes up often in casual conversation. Several projects, including the Old Sawmill District redevelopment, are attempting to alleviate the problem with a mix of condos, apartments and low-income housing. Others are focusing on the housing market at large—City Council this summer approved a zoning density change just west of Russell Street to accommodate more than a dozen new units at a single apartment complex. As Missoula’s population continues to grow,

Missoula from the North Hills photo by Chad Harder

this is a topic you’re going to have to come to grips with—especially if you’re one of those newcomers who decides to stay. Municipal elections City politics is going to be an increasingly hot topic this fall as Missoula gears up for its municipal ballot. Three incumbent City Council members are seeking reelection, along with Ward 2 special appointee Ruth Swaney and municipal judge Kathleen Jenks. But a bulk of the attention will undoubtedly fall on Mayor John Engen. Already the longest-serving mayor in Missoula history, Engen hopes to build on the city’s successful acquisition of Mountain Water and parlay that victory into another term. It’ll be up to voters to scrutinize this and Engen’s other track records on affordable housing and transportation infrastructure. And yeah, we’ll be covering all that too, so check back often. Trump and the resistance Speaking of elections, President Donald Trump’s victory last November resulted in the rapid rise of a national resistance

movement. Montanans have since marched in opposition to Trump’s stances—if you can call them that—on women’s rights, immigration and climate science. Montana’s a passionate state, after all, and Missoula is a hub of liberal unrest in the face of a White House run amok. As the school year gets rolling, expect ample opportunities to fly your activist flag on any number of hot-button issues. Bike paths: connecting the dots The bike-path system connecting the greater Missoula area is nearly complete. There’s a new pedestrian-bike bridge over Reserve, a new branch trail clear down to Lolo, and a recently opened extension linking the Kim Williams Trail to the bustling burb of East Missoula. All that’s left is for the city to pull the trigger on a several-block stretch of trail-to-be along the railroad tracks in midtown and you’ll be able to bike from Hamilton to Milltown State Park. Solar energy As Montana continues to lobby state leaders for a more robust alternative en-

ergy market, our Public Service Commission seems hell-bent on throwing up hurdles. The PSC recently caved to NorthWestern Energy’s demands to cut the rates utilities pay to small solar producers—in fact, one commissioner was caught on a hot mic in July saying, “At this low price, I can’t imagine anyone getting into it.” With that attitude, we can’t imagine it either. But that doesn’t mean that the state’s solar industry isn’t upping its game regardless. Choose your adventure at UM Even if you never leave campus, there’s plenty to talk about at the University of Montana. A student group called ReInvest Montana will be heading this fall into its sixth year of fighting to force the UM Foundation to divest its portfolio of fossil fuel investments. Work is wrapping up on the new Champions Center, likely leading to construction-related inconvenience at Griz games (hey, we hope we’re wrong). And with the enrollment slump as relentless as ever, UM administrators have embarked on a mission to cut costs by

streamlining course offerings through program prioritization. Also, the U recently tendered a round of buyout offers, so you pretty much can’t swing a dead cat at UM without hitting a bone of contention. The 2018 election Oh lord, another election? If there’s one thing people in Missoula talk about with as much or more frequency than the weather, it’s elections. And 2018 is going to be a biggie for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. So far the list of Republicans gunning for the Big Sandy farmer’s seat is composed mostly of low-tier party members with little to no name recognition, but the thirdparty attack ads have already started, and Tester has raised more than $2 million (as of press time) to fight back. Multiple national news outlets have speculated that Montana’s race will be among the most competitive in the country. And with newly minted Congressman Greg Gian-

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fresh facts 2017

Caras Park photo by Chad Harder

forte destined for his first reelection battle, you’ll definitely be hearing about his special-election-eve assault of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. Seriously, Google “Montana bodyslam.” Southgate Mall Missoulians talk about construction a lot, don’t we? Well, Southgate Mall is deep into its redevelopment. And when

it’s all complete, you’ll be able to drink a beer while you watch the latest Marvel movie at the new 900-seat dine-in Carmike. And you’ll be able to drink a beer while you shop for groceries at the new Lucky’s Market. You will not, however, be able to drink a beer while browsing for shoes, lingerie or anything else in the mall. There’s gotta be a line somewhere, right?

UM Campus from Mount Sentinel

News Missoula Independent (missoulanews.com) KPAX (CBS affiliate) KECI (NBC affiliate) ABC Fox Montana Missoulian (daily newspaper) Montana Kaimin (weekly newspaper) Missoula Current (online news)

Social media Twitter: Check out @Missoula_Indy to subscribe to our list of essential Missoula follows, and @8DaysMissoula for events and ephemera. Reddit: r/missoula

Podcasts/Shows Jamie & Travis Present: Two Missoula guys interview other locals Radio Last Best Stories: Crisp radio journalism about MonKBGA tanans, produced by UM J-school prof Jule Banville college radio, 89.9 FM The Outer Limits: DJ Dog Malik’s “scrapbook of the • Missoula Community human overmind” is a radio show like no other (with a Apps Radio, KFGM 105.5 FM side order of conspiracy theories), broadcast 2–4 p.m. Mountain Line bus system • Newstalk KGVO, 98.3 Saturdays on KBGA. Southgate Mall FM/1290 AM • MonThe Co-Main Event: Irreverent, unscripted discussion Missoula Fresh Market (grocery) tana Public Radio, of mixed martial arts, featuring Bleacher Report Lead MMA Missoula Family YMCA 89.1 FM Writer Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes of USA Today/MMAKayle (healthy meal delivery company) Junkie.com (both of whom live in town) Missoula County Public Schools Dear Hank & John: Missoula's Hank Green and his brother, author Missoula Marathon John Green (The Fault in Our Stars), take their Youtube skills to the Explore Big — Montana’s Historic Places podcast realm. University of Montana Tell Us Something: Missoula’s own The Moth. fresh facts 2017

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Like Walt Whitman, Missoula contains multitudes. One day it’s a sleepy little college town, the next it’s an recreCatch a ationist’s parashow at the dise, and the next Wilma, which i t ’s a n u r b a n e oasis in a rural was once a sea. Luckily, there are plenty of av- majestic movie enues into Mis- theater, and is s o u l a ’s v a r i e d now a stately identities, and venue for more luckily still, you don’t have to touring bands. choose. Here are three day-plans designed to dig you a little deeper into whichever Missoula you choose.

The Oxford Saloon & Cafe photo by Parker Seibold

The history buff • Start with breakfast at the Oxford Saloon (337 N. Higgins Ave.), a 24-hour bar founded in 1883 where you’ll find large photographs hanging on the walls

depicting Missoula and other Montana towns in their logging, m2ining and railroad heydays. Entertain yourself reading the old menu, which references such items as “Inside Job” (liver) and “He Needs ‘Em” (brains and eggs).

• Walk downtown to enjoy the work of architect A.J. Gibson, who designed the Atlantic Hotel (519 N. Higgins Ave.), the old Carnegie Public Library that’s now home to the Missoula Art Museum (335 N.

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Pattee St.), and the Missoula County Courthouse (220 W. Broadway). • Historic Fort Missoula (3400 Captain Rawn Way), built in 1877, is a reminder of dark times, including its role in defending white colonialism and, decades later, as a detention center for nearly 2,400 mostly Japanese and Italian nationals during World War II. It’s also a strikingly beautiful place, where you can stroll the grounds and gardens and check out the museum’s latest exhibit. • Missoula has been training smokejumpers—firefighters who parachute into remote areas—since 1942. Check out the Smokejumper Visitor Center (5765 W. Broadway) to learn all about this tricky career choice. If it’s still fire season, you may even see smokejumper planes taking off. • Grab a bite of Cajun food and a beer at the Dinosaur Cafe, inside Charlie B’s (428 N. Higgins Ave.). Formerly known as Eddie’s Club, the watering hole was a favorite of legendary Missoulians including printmaker Jay Rummel and photographer

Lee Nye, whose work hangs on the walls. Flip open a copy of James Crumley’s The Last Best Kiss (which you bought at one of Missoula’s independent book shops) and order a shot of Patrón in honor of Crumley’s days holding court at the corner barstool. • Catch a rock, folk, country or bluegrass show at the Wilma (131 S. Higgins Ave.), which was once a majestic movie theater, and is now a stately venue for touring bands. No matter how contemporary the live music might be, the renovated Louis XIV-style interior still reflects the aspirational glamour of 1921, when it was built.

The Dinosaur Cafe located in Charlie B’s photo by Parker Seibold

The art lover or artist, starving or otherwise • If it’s a Saturday in season, take the morning to explore the Missoula Farmers Market (at the north end of Higgins Ave.) and Clark Fork Market (under the Higgins Ave. bridge) to pick up all the essentials: veggies, pastries and cut flowers.

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In between markets, stop by the Peoples Market (Pine and Higgins), where you’ll find an assortment of locally made arts and crafts, including soaps, barstools, leather shoulder bags and framed photographs. • If it’s not Saturday, or out of season, grab a coffee and pastry at any of Missoula’s multitude of bakeries and tour the downtown streets, where you’ll see several public artworks, including the commissioned lightboxes situated on almost every corner. • Starting at 11 a.m. every day except Sunday, drop in at the Zootown Arts Community Center (235 N. 1st St. W.). Check out the center’s art exhibit (it changes monthly) and tour Missoula’s only public printshop, where, with a little instruction, you can try your hand at silk-screening, relief and intaglio printing. • Spend the afternoon exploring Missoula’s art galleries. The Missoula Art Mu-

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Film Festival for several years, and it reopened post-renovation for year-round films in 2013. • Looking for a little arty, do-it-yourself rock music? Head back to the Zootown Community Art Center and descend into the basement at the ZACC Below, where there Potery at the Zootown Community Art Center is often a 7 p.m. all-ages show photo by Parker Seibold taking place. Here’s where you can get familiar with seum’s exhibits are always stunning, and some of Missoula’s best local bands the museum’s Art Park on Pine Street is a and catch underground and emerging great place to hang out if you’re looking touring acts. to be outside. Tour Higgins Ave. and downtown’s side streets to find other gal• Need one last stop to get your creleries, including the Dana Gallery (246 N. ative juices flowing? Karaoke and openHiggins), Radius Gallery (114 E. Main) and mic nights are easy to find at the Union E3 Convergence (229 W. Main). Club (208 E. Main St.), Badlander (208 Ryman St.) and VFW (245 W. Main). Some • Take in an arthouse flick or cult of the best singers in town frequent the classic film at the Roxy Theater (718 S. Badlander on Wednesday nights, when Higgins Ave.). The Roxy opened in 1937 karaoke is hosted by the charming theater and was closed after a fire in 1994. It’s actor Reid Reimers. been home to the International Wildlife

For the person who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sit still

â&#x20AC;˘ Take a brewery tour with Thirst Gear, a mobile bar that fits 15 people (or a minimum of six) and requires everyone to pedal to keep things moving. The tour will take any combination of strangers, so no worries if you only have a few friends. It offers a three-hour tour of Missoulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s microbreweries, beginning at the Dram Shop (229 E. Front St.). We recommend close-toed shoes and a large water bottle. $25 per person. Visit thirstgear.com.

â&#x20AC;˘ Grab one of the fast (and addictive) breakfast burritos from Market on Front (201 E. Front St.) and gather some friends for 18 holes of folf at Blue Mountain Recreation Area. The course is hilly with lots of trees and great views, sure to put a little burn in your legs and fresh air in your lungs. â&#x20AC;˘ Take a break from physical activity and put all your positive energy to use in a breakout room. Big Sky Breakout (307 N. 2nd St. W.) or Break Out (2100 Stephens Ave. #107) both offer interactive gaming experiences in which you have one hour to solve puzzles and search for clues in order to get yourself out of a locked room. You can book any of the themed rooms as a group, or be paired up with other people. â&#x20AC;˘ Demo a road bike from any of Missoulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many bike shops and ride the Bitterroot Trail. The route is easy to find on

â&#x20AC;˘ No matter the day of the week, you can almost always close out your night with a dance party. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a weekHellgate Chapel at Historic Fort Missoula end night, head down to the Badlander, where DJ Kris Moon plays all the photo by Parker Seibold club hits, past and present. Club hits not your jam? Try the Union Club Bar Google Maps, and a good place to pick it & Grill for some western-swing dancing. up is next to Bob Wardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (3015 Paxon St.). A recent rehab removed the longstanding The paved trail covers 51 miles, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mostly flat, paralleling US 93 through the pillar in the middle of their dance floor, Bitterroot Valley and ending at Anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so your risk of concussion is significantly lessened. Roost south of Hamilton.

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aybe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed: Missoula is a bike town. We ride our bikes to work. We ride our bikes for play. We ride our bikes to the farmers market and the bar and the river and just as far down the road as we can pedal them. We ride them on streets and paths and trails. (And sidewalksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sorry!) And because we ride our bikes everywhere, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a veritable smorgasbord of cycles locked to racks around town, leaning against windows, chained to poles and strapped to racks. They have as much personality and soul as the people who ride them, these bikes of Missoula. Which one matches yours?

Fat

Slow and steady wins the race. You’re perfectly satisfied with being passed by faster mountain bikers because you know that when they get to the leftover snow patch on the trail just a few miles ahead, they’ll have to get off and walk while you keep on riding. If you own a fat tire bike, you use it for everything, because it can go anywhere. You bought a second puffy to layer on for those 10-below days so you can ride every day of the year. You leave 15 minutes early from the pregame for a concert downtown because your fat tire bike works for everything, just at its own pace, and you sold all your other bikes to afford it so you have no other options. You’ve probably scaled McDonald Peak on your bike because it’s just that versatile. And when you’re alone together, it’s your “curvy” bike, never fat.

Racer

Things up for discussion: Rest days, watts, Leadville 100, Tucson, Peter Sagan, Team Sky’s budget, Skratch vs. HEED, Strava times, heart rate monitors, GPS units, proper tires. Also, which fish and rice combo is best post-ride? Your rules: When it comes to socks, white is cool, funky is okay, but if they’re black they should be no taller than 12 centimeters from the top of your shoes. Bags on the bike are gauche; all items go in pockets. Clipless? You had to ask? Never wear underwear under your bibs. Oakley arms are to be kept on the outside of the helmet straps. Event jerseys are only for those who rode the event. Things you say: “Flat pedals are a fun change of pace when I mountain bike with my wife/husband.”“What’s your preferred descent riding position?”

Mountain

Road? You don’t need no stinking road. (Though, be honest: that’s mostly where you ride it.) You never know when you’ll find yourself bombing down Big Mountain or cranking some backcountry terrain park that’ll put all 135mm of that dual-suspension travel through its paces, so you might as well have full-bore carbon racing capability at the ready. Besides, someday you’re going to gear this baby up and tackle the Great Divide trail, and you’ll need this much mountain bike then. Someday.

frankenbike

Bike grease under your fingernails is par for the course. It means you’ve been tinkering with your baby, and you do that a lot. She’s yours because you built her. You just couldn’t take your eyes off that weird old frame in the boneyard at Free Cycles. But it wasn’t long enough, or low enough, so you went the extra mile and cobbled it together with parts from some other frame. You found the perfect handlebars, set the seat just so. Now that frankenbike fits you like a glove, and after all those hours, you’ve got the know-how to keep her in tip-top shape. She may get the same arched-eyebrow look as your grease-stained hands do, but you hardly notice. Those people wouldn’t know a spoke wrench from a magnet.

Twofer

When you have a child, it can feel like you never really get a moment to yourself. With this bike, you never will. At least you’re getting your family out into the fresh air, keeping everyone in shape, and saving the environment in the process by not driving your kid around to every single activity you signed them up for. And that’s what makes you a better parent than everyone else.

Commuter

Gear-headed bike geekery holds no charms for you. This is transportation, not a freaking hobby, and anyone who tries to sell you special shoes for riding a bike can get bent. You wouldn’t even consider spending more that $35 on your ride, and when it finally breaks down on you, you’ll have no compunction about abandoning it in an alley and finding some other beater to get you down the road. Stepover frame for easy dismounts? Check. Blasted shocks to pretend to soak up the bumps? Check. Sensible handlebars to keep you alertly upright? Check. DIY cargo bin big enough to move the contents of the spare bedroom you call home? Check. Crappy enough to keep the most desperate bike thief from giving it a second glance? Check. This get-’erdone set up will get its owner anywhere she wants to go. Just don’t call her a “cyclist.”

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Missoula Independent

Every public discussion of bicycles in this town attracts the same comment: Cyclists ride erratically, darting in front of cars and passing from sidewalk to street without signaling, through whatever crosswalks suits them and whichever red lights don’t. These complaints are “Never forget accurate. They also apply to Misthis strange soula drivers. phenomenon. While they have mostly disci- The golden rule plined themselves of riding a bicythe stay off the cle in Missoula sidewalks, the drivers of this is that cars are town plunge more afraid of heedlessly into you than you traffic, run stoplights routinely are of them.” and save their turn signals for special occasions. The difference is the stakes are lower. When you are driving and a car jumps out in front of you, the other driver is in a steel cage. If you react too slowly, you will send them to the body shop. The same accident can send a cyclist to the morgue. This point is often cited by cyclists as a reason for drivers to chill out. In the negotiation between car and bicycle, the bicycle 22

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takes all the risk and therefore deserves most of the deference. This argument has merit, but it imagines that to the driver, running over a cyclist is no big deal. For most drivers this is not the case, obviously. The asymmetry of safety between car and bicycle comes with a corresponding asymmetry of fear. It can be scary to ride a bicycle in traffic, but a lot of Missoulians are straight-up terrified to see a bicycle from their car. Many will come to a complete stop. Those who can bear to keep moving give a conspicuously wide berth, crossing the center line to pass whoever is in the bicycle lane. To the less confident driver, seeing that bicycle is the first stage in their recurring nightmare. It ends with you under the wheels of their Buick LaCrosse, because driving freaks them out. Never forget this strange phenomenon. The golden rule of riding a bicycle in Missoula is that drivers of cars are more afraid of you than you are of them. Approach them as Jane Goodall approached the chimps, i.e., conscious of this dynamic, even though they can paradoxically break your bones and tear off all your skin. The trick to riding a bicycle in Missoula is to project confidence and, above all, predictability. Start by putting on a helmet. In addition to protecting your various ideas, it conveys to drivers that you are a conscientious per-

son who cares about cycling safely. Signal your turns for the same reason. Make clear, decisive moves, so that even the most fearful driver feels certain what you are going to do next. Ride in the street. The sidewalk offers the illusion of safety, but it regularly intersects with the street. It also intersects with it irregularly, when drivers least expect it. The street/sidewalk interface is where accidents happen. That is why so many motorists who see a bicycle at an intersection will simply stop. That behavior is infuriating. It doesn’t work to wave them on; many drivers will simply wave back harder, refusing to take their right of way even as they grow impatient. Every cyclist in town knows the frustration of this moment, but I have discovered a solution: hide. Stop fifteen feet back from the stop sign, so oncoming traffic can’t see you. With no bike to spook them, drivers will pass through the intersection smoothly and go back to looking at their phones. It’s deception, I guess, but it’s for their own good. Jonathan Swift said that good manners is the art of making people feel comfortable. The bicycle discomfits the Missoula driver, but you can still ride one politely. You just need to take on a little noblesse oblige.

Townie

There is point A, there is point B, and there are two wheels that take you from one to the other. They don’t have to be fancy. They don’t even have to have gears. All you care about is the summer breeze in your hair and the next stop on your endless Missoula social circuit. You definitely don’t know much about bike laws. Honestly, there’s about a 50 percent chance you’re drunk.

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Fixie

Ah, the fixie: the official bike of unbathed crust punks. When you need to beeline for Grizzly Grocery to pick up 40s for you and your 12 roommates at your communal house, the fixie is there for you. When you’re speeding away from the cops because you’re drunk and it’s 3 a.m. and you don’t have a light or anything reflective on and you’re wearing too many back patches not to be up to something, the fixie is there. When you’re trying to gently come to a stop once you’ve reached your destination, you’re out of luck—but it’s the moments where you feel at one with your ride that keep you pedalling these single-speed death traps.

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Tourer

You don’t get asked much about your ride because, to the untrained eye, it looks like any old steel bike. Unless it’s loaded up.Then everyone wants to know where you’re going, and isn’t it hard to pedal with all that stuff on there? You love—love—these questions. Because you’re an evangelist who worships at the altar of endurance, granny gears, sleeping anywhere and seeing the world… slowly. You weren’t always like this. But then you went to college. You traveled Europe by train in college. You read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance while traveling Europe by train in college. That started the wheels turning, and now you own waterproof panniers stuffed with rice and smelly socks. You insist that this is the only—the only—way to travel. And that rolled-up pad on the rear rack of your Long Haul Trucker is for resting, not yoga. Actually, you probably use it for both.

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Missoula Independent

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Getting to know a new town sometimes feels like learning a new language. Sure, you can enjoy the art and culture of an unfamiliar place, but when you show up at your first backyard barbecue or strike up a conversation at a First Friday art gallery opening (or at the bar), ignorance of the local lexicon can make it hard to keep up. One good way to get a feel for Missoula and its surroundings is to learn about it through the books, movies, artworks and albums generated here. Missoula is entirely too culture-rich, too well populated with musicians, writers and artists who have defined and continue to define the place, to present an exhaustive sampling, but here are a few fine places to start studying up. Jim Welch’s Winter in the Blood (book and movie) When I first moved to Missoula for college some 13 years ago, my dad handed me a worn paperback copy of acclaimed Native American author Jim Welch’s gritty masterpiece Winter in the Blood. Read this, he said, and you’ll get a glimpse of a part of the state that other incoming freshmen might well overlook. Welch’s novel tells the tale of an unnamed anti-hero on Montana’s Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, a man forced to cope, by whatever means necessary, with the physical and emotional hardships of contemporary reservation life. It remains a personal favorite to this day. Years later, I eagerly attended the Roxy Theater’s premiere screening of a film adaptation of the book by Alex and Andrew Smith, the sons of Missoula writer Annick Smith. Shot on location at Fort Belknap and starring, among others, Blackfeet actor Lily Gladstone, the film—like the book—serves as a powerful modern tonic to all those crusty, stereotype-choked Westerns. (Alex Sakariassen) Lil Smokies In your first weeks and months sussing out Missoula’s eclectic music scene, you’re bound to stumble across several of the same bands more than a few times. And that list is bound to include the Lil Smokies. The bluegrass quintet popped to life about eight years ago, and Missoula toes haven’t stopped tapping since. Frontman/dobro master Andy Dunnigan told the Indy way back in 2013 that the band had sprung from a single Missoula party during which the founding members had jammed on Springsteen songs ‘til dawn. The lineup has changed a bit since then, but the sound remains just as good as it ever was—a driving bass, warm vocal harmonies, that plinky, impossibly fast mandolin. It’d be easy to recommend the band’s eponymous 2013 album, but half the fun of bluegrass is watching how fast the fingers, bows and slides can fly, and Lil Smokies has a fairly prolific YouTube presence. Want a primer before the next show? Check out video of the band rocking out (complete with standup bass) in a gondola in Aspen. (Alex Sakariassen)

Josh Quick

Shahs If you happen to be even remotely interested in local music beyond bluegrass, you will undoubtedly hear about Shahs. The five-piece band plays soulful, energetic art rock a la Roxy Music and early Brian Eno, but their transcendent live performances cater to all tastes. And while Shahs are undeniably a Missoula institution, frontman Tom Helgerson’s Minneapolis heritage provides an excellent example of how people from all walks of life make this place the eclectic grabbag it is. Start with the band’s most recent (and best) album, Vineland, and work your way backward from there. Early releases can feel like a completely different project, but Helgerson’s singular voice shines through. You’d be hard-pressed to find anything that lives up to its hype so spectacularly. (Michael Siebert) Josh Quick Few contemporary Missoula artist-designers create work that’s as instantly recognizable as Josh Quick. His whimsical, colorful, deceptively simple and charmingly childlike drawings and illustrations seem to generate smiles wherever they appear, and they’ve appeared seemingly everywhere, including Western Montana Fair advertisements, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival posters, Doma coffee packaging, Missoula Outdoor Cinema playbills, Submittable blog posts and, when we’re lucky, Independent covers. (Josh is also the tirelessly optimistic force behind the Indy’s annual Comix Issue.) But if you just can’t

and fine-dining options. That was the world of printmaker Jay Rummel, whose name is invoked any time people talk of Missoula’s art and music scene in the 1960s and 1970s. Rummel’s works are still on display all over town—in Charlie B’s, Bridge Pizza, the University Center and the Top Hat—and once you see one of his distinctively swirling, tattoo-style pieces, you’ll start to recognize them anywhere. Rummel captured other artists and characters from Missoula’s history in his highly detailed woodcuts, so spending some quality time with his work should give you even more insight into the town he helped put on the map. (Erika Fredrickson)

get enough of Quick’s work in the commercial realm, you might consider following quickjosh on Instagram, where he regularly posts endearing little four-panel black-and-white anecdotes and dreams and whatnot that provide a welcomely day-brightening tonic. (Brad Tyer) Decemberists/Tarkio You probably know the Decemberists, right? (If somehow you don’t, get thee to a record store posthaste, for goodness’ sake.) And if you’re lucky, you were here in Missoula for the inaugural two-day Travelers’ Rest music festival in mid-August, which was curated and headlined by the tweely rocking Portlandian band. Which is fronted, as you surely know, by ringleader Colin Meloy. Who, of course, is a Helena native who spent his college years at the University of Montana right here in little ol’ Missoula. It’s possible, however, that you aren’t yet familiar with the UM-centric Missoula band in which Meloy cut his musical teeth. It was called Tarkio (the Clark Fork river cuts the namesake gorge out near Alberton), and the best way to introduce yourself is probably via Omnibus, the 2006 double CD that, as its title implies, collects the band’s brief recorded

Courtney Blazon Courtney Blazon is one of the most Lil Smokies high profile and wildly prolific artists currently living in Missoula. She is reprephoto by Cathrine L. Walters sented by the Radius Gallery, and recently late-’90s output prior to Meloy’s post-grad- created a large exhibit for the Missoula Art uation departure for Portland and bigger Museum inspired by the volcanic winter things. What’s it sound like? Country-in- caused by the 1815 eruption of Indonesia’s flected college rock. And, according to a Mount Tambora. She’s also ingrained in contemporaneous review in No Depres- Missoula’s everyday landscape: Her sursion magazine, “a talented Montana kid real, colored-pencil drawings adorn Tseeking his true voice in a different world shirts at the Burns St. Bistro as well as entirely—and starting to find it.” (Brad bookmarks and a mural at Shakespeare & Co. (She also did our Fresh Facts Missoula Tyer) map on page 28.) (Erika Fredrickson) Jay Rummel This town used to be a lot rougher Jon Krakauer’s Missoula Alas, this city isn’t just good football, around the edges than it is now: more dive bars frequented by bikers and blue-collar good beer and good vibes. Missoula also artists, fewer college students (no offense) holds the ignominious distinction of being the only place in America to have a book about sexual assault titled after it. Published in 2015, Missoula: Rape and Justice in a College Town dissects, in graphic and relentless detail, how the University of Montana sexual assault scandal went down, beginning with the arrest of former Griz running back Beau Donaldson and ending at the blockbuster trial and acquittal of star quarterback Jordan Johnson. Journalist/author Jon Krakauer gave his book the title Missoula because his investigation led him to indict nearly every aspect of our town’s criminal justice system. Before you go asking, “Can you Courtney Blazon

Jay Rummel

believe Kirsten Pabst did that?” at your first dinner party, know that locals have strong opinions about the book. Its release ripped off a scab and made Missoula into a very particular case study in the nationwide travesty that is institutionalized rape culture. What Krakauer gave us, far more than a black eye, is the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. It’s an opportunity any good citizen should jump at. (Derek Brouwer) Norman Maclean’s Young Men and Fire “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” So wrote Norman Maclean in his quintessential Missoula book, A River Runs Through It, which might as well replace the bible (do they still do that?) in local hotel nightstands. But for Maclean, who grew up here, it was Young Men and Fire that, as a publisher’s note points out, “near the end, all the lives he had lived”—woodsman, firefighter, scholar, teacher, and storyteller—“would merge.” Maclean spent his final years writing Young Men and Fire, a nonfiction account of the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire outside of Helena, which claimed the lives of a dozen smokejumpers and a firefighter. The book, published posthumously, doesn’t carry the iconic status that attached to A River Runs Through It, but it reveals as much or more of the spirit of western Montana, a place haunted by both water and fire. (Derek Brouwer) fresh facts 2017

Missoula Independent

or prospective students, one of the main selling points of attending the University of Montana is the wealth of outdoor activities available at a moment’s notice. Hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, camping, backpacking—practically anything you could want to do outdoors is little more than a five-minute drive out of town. Western Montana is one of the most gorgeous parts of the country. Why would you say no? Well, for some of us, saying no is incredibly easy. For one thing, it’s always either too hot or too cold. For another, nature is literally riddled with bugs. Like, scary ones, the kind that can give you lyme disease or the plague. And worst of all, the comforts of home are all but annihilated once you leave the house. That means no videogames, no running water, no comfortable bed and no take-out. Heaven, for some. Hell on earth to others. But those in the latter category, fear not. Missoula may provide a rich tapestry of outdoor ac-

tivities, but for the shut-ins who prefer the great indoors, there’s still plenty to do. Here, then, is Missoula for nature-haters, an incomplete guide to the wonders of your living room.

Fighting Games Plenty of Missoulians play video games. And plenty of stores, including Fun Trade and the local Gamestop, will help satisfy that urge. But if you’re looking for an honest-to-god community to get involved in, one with all the rivalries, vigor and excitement of a sports league, look no farther than Missoula’s rich fighting game scene. Fighting games have a long history of competitive play, but their prominence has reached a nadir in recent years, with national events like Las Vegas’ annual Evolution taking games like Super Smash Bros., Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat to new heights. And while Missoula may not have the resources to put together grand e-sports tournaments, local players seem to spend just about all of their time perfecting these games.

Tournaments are held in town semi-regularly, but if you’re just looking to hone your skills, finding folks to play with is a breeze. There are multiple Facebook groups (“Missoula Smash” being one) aimed at both city-wide groups and the state at large, where players new and experienced can plan friendly matches, talk smack and discuss upcoming competition. Many locals spend their time practicing Super Smash Bros. Melee, but if there’s another game you’re interested in, chances are you’ll find a handful of folks willing to play. Even if you aren’t very good, it’s an excellent way to spend your afternoon indoors, and some of the tournaments even offer cash prizes. Tabletop and Card Games Video games are fun and all, but unless they’re fighting games, they can be tough to play with a big group. You’re usually limited to four players, and party games like Mario Party that are designed for lots of

players tend to lose their luster after a dozen or so rounds. Luckily, board and card games have seen something of a renaissance in the past decade. Through the magic of crowdfunding and DIY production, there are now scores of available games that can keep a room of eight people engaged for hours. Want to escape a house riddled with monsters with your best friends? There’s Betrayal at House on the Hill. Want something deception-based? There’s the endlessly replayable Spyfall, or the mafiastyle One Night Ultimate Werewolf. And there are plenty of places in town to try out and pick up as many games as your heart might desire. Muse Comics and Retrofix Games have stacks of board games, both obscure and universally enjoyable. Retrofix even offers a rental system, where you can take a copy home for the evening for 10 percent

of the game’s retail price. If you like it, and decide to buy it, you get 10 percent off the purchase. If you’re more of a card game fan, both Retrofix and Muse regularly offer their space to players of Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and plenty of other collectible games. And if you want to dive into the world of role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, they’ve got you covered there, too. It’s all but guaranteed that you’ll find your niche.

Record Collecting It’s entirely possible that games just aren’t your thing. Maybe you find yourself geeking out not over foil cards or new D&D modules, but rare punk and jazz records. Perhaps you’ve caught yourself scoping German import techno singles on eBay or Discogs at 3 in the morning. Good thing, then, that Missoula has two absolutely phenomenal record stores. Ear Candy Music and Rockin Rudy’s Record Heaven, located within blocks of each other on Higgins, are the kinds of places where you can spend entire days, flipping through the displays until your fingers cramp. If you’re more of a casual music listener, you’ll find your Fleetwood Mac and Beatles records no problem. But if you spend all your free time learning about avant garde jazz, or if you’ve ever found yourself talking about harsh noise at parties, you’ll find those genres and more. Staffers at both stores are endlessly helpful, and both also offer a wide variety of stereo equipment and turntables. Each store has its strengths, to be sure—Ear Candy has a much wider se-

Ear Candy Records photo by Cathrine L. Walters

lection of new vinyl, while Rockin Rudy’s is practically one giant used section. Ear Candy has electronic music on lock, while Rudy’s is the place to get your classics. But as any record collector knows, you just have to check the selection as early and often as possible. After all, you need that Replacements first

press more than anyone else in town, right? And also make sure to keep your eye out for flea markets and the annual Total Record Swap, organized by Indy contributor Josh Vanek, for opportunities to sell off and pick up new items for your collection.

fresh facts 2017

Missoula Independent

Shakespeare and Co. photo by Amy Donovan

Books Collecting books is a lot like collecting records. Both hobbies see their enthusiasts spending an inordinate amount of time in stores, poring over the selection, looking for a new or exciting volume that catches their eye, and generally spending way too much money. And as with the city’s excellent record selection, Missoula has plenty of

spaces for bookworms looking to fill out their shelves. If low prices and wide selection are what you’re looking for, the Book Exchange in the Tremper’s Shopping Center on Brooks has your back. You’ll almost always pay well below list price, and the selection covers just about every genre or subject you could want. You can also trade in your old books for credit, and even get

cash for certain titles. Green Ribbon Books, on Higgins near Hellgate High School, and the Bird’s Nest, also on Higgins, downtown, are excellent options for augmenting your used-book fix, often with low prices and eclectic selections. Shakespeare and Co., at 103 S. 3rd St. W., just off the Higgins bridge, is more of a boutique operation, featuring titles from small and independent presses alongside some of the bigger names. If you’re looking for the interestingly weird and obscure, you’d be hard-pressed to find much better— Shakespeare’s shelves are packed with some of the best titles you’ve almost certainly never heard of. There are even chairs to camp out in for a few hours. Meanwhile, Fact & Fiction, with locations downtown and on campus, is another excellent outlet for new titles, and is especially convenient for students who might be too ambivalent about the out of doors to wonder off campus.

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Biga Pizza 241 W. Main Street 728-2579 Biga Pizza offers a modern, downtown dining environment combined with traditional brick oven pizza, calzones, salads, sandwiches, specials and desserts. All dough is made using a “biga” (pronounced bee-ga) which is a time-honored Italian method of bread making. Biga Pizza uses local products, the freshest produce as well as artisan meats and cheeses. Featuring seasonal menus. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. Beer & Wine available. $-$$ Burns Street Bistro 1500 Burns St. 543-0719 bursstbistro.com We cook the freshest local ingredients as a matter of pride. Our relationship with local farmers, ranchers and other businesses allows us to bring quality, scratch cooking and fresh-brewed Black Coffee Roasting Co. coffee and espresso to Mis-

soula’s Historic Westside neighborhood. Handmade breads & pastries, soups, salads & sandwiches change with the seasons, but our commitment to delicious food does not. Mon-Fri 7am - 2pm. Sat/Sun Brunch 9am - 2pm. $-$$ Doc’s Gourmet Sandwiches 214 N. Higgins Ave. 542-7414 Doc's is an extremely popular gathering spot for diners who appreciate the great ambiance, personal service and generous sandwiches made with the freshest ingredients. Whether you're heading out for a power lunch, meeting friends or family or just grabbing quick takeout. Doc's is always an excellent choice. Delivery in the greater Missoula area. We also offer custom catering...everything from gourmet appetizers to all of our menu items! $-$$

fast & lunch spot. All our food is made from scratch, we feature homemade corn beef hash, sourdough pancakes, sandwiches, salads, espresso & desserts. MC/V $-$$ 19th Annual Maverick BrewFest Caras Park Pavilion Friday, 9/15/17, 4-10pm Find us on Facebook

Hob Nob on Higgins 531 S. Higgins 541-4622 hobnobonhiggins.com Come visit our friendly staff & experience Missoula’s best little break-

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Come on down and enjoy some of Montana's best micro-brews, wine, some great food and live music. All proceeds go towards supporting Missoula area youth athletes. Tickets at the gate or from a MAVERICK member. Ten dollar admission includes 2 beer tickets and a commemorative glass or $20 includes a glass and 8 beer tickets. Plan on joining us for another fun night in beautiful Missoula and help us continue to support a worthwhile cause.

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Moonlight Kitchens 1951 Kensington Ave. 926-2720 moonlightkitchens.com Cook your own meal! Get together with a group of friends and some groceries, do a little planning, and you’re set for a cooking extravaganza to rival Anthony or Ina. Moonlight Kitchens offers two complete commercial kitchens, cooking equipment, and a private dining area to make cooking, serving, and especially cleaning a breeze. Do you have a birthday, team-building event, or a holiday lunch to plan for? Create something unique at Moonlight. Big screen TV, sound, Wi-Fi, fireplace, seats up to 12. Available 24/7/365. $$-$$$ Orange Street Food Farm 701 South Orange St. 406-543-3188 orangestreetfoodfarm.com We know food!!! Voted number one in all kinds of ways. Fried chicken, fresh meat, great produce, vegan, gluten free, all natural, a HUGE beer and wine selection, and ROCKIN' music. What deal will you find today? $-$$$

Missoula Independent

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Paul’s Pancake Parlor 2305 Brooks • 728-9071 (Tremper’s Shopping Center) Our famous breakfast is served all day! Try one of our 18 different varieties of pancakes or an omelet, crepes, waffles and all kinds of breakfast specials. Check-out our homecooked lunch and dinner specials. Monday is allyou-can-eat spaghetti and Wednesday is turkey night with all the trimmings. Eat in or take-out. Mon-Fri 6am-7pm, Sat/Sun 6:30am-4pm. $-$$ Pearl Cafe 231 E. Front St. 541-0231 • pearlcafe.us Country French meets the Northwest. Idaho Trout with King Crab, Rabbit with Wild Mushroom Ragout, Garden City Beef Ribeye, Fresh Seafood Specials Daily. House Made Charcuterie, Sourdough Bread & Delectable Desserts. Extensive wine list; 18 wines by the glass and local beers on draft. Reservations recommended for the intimate dining areas. Visit our website Pearlcafe.us to check out our nightly specials, make reservations, or buy gift certificates. Open Mon-Sat at 5:00. $$-$$$ Qdoba 1001 E. Broadway Eastgate Plaza 549-0020 Enjoy authentic Mexican food at Qdoba: custom burritos, tacos and more, including health-ori-

ented options. Conveniently located in Eastgate Plaza close to UM. Delivery available, charges may apply. $ Red’s Bar Home of “Dead Pecker Row” DPR Inc. 127 Ryman 728-9881 redsbar.net Red’s has a huge sports memorabilia collection including the largest football helmet collection in the state as well as two full service bars, 14 HIDEF TVs, keno-poker games, AND an Official Montana Lottery Terminal to accommodate our patrons. Come on down, support your favorite team. Have a good time with your friends, family, & acquaintances at Red’s Bar, Missoula’s Sport’s Bar since 1952. $-$$ Union Club Bar & Grill 208 E. Main St. 406-728-7980 unionclubbarandgrill.com Are you looking for great food, thirst-quenching drinks and local entertainment? Enjoy a delicious burger and fries or snack on one of our appetizers. Listen to live music, sing your heart out at karaoke or enjoy a few laughs on open mic night! You’re sure to find something to enjoy at the Union Club Bar & Grill. $-$$

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Future Islands plays the Wilma Wed., Sept. 27. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $22.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit play the Wilma Sat., Sept 9. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $49.50/$42 advance.

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Tech N9ne plays the Wilma Wed., Oct. 11. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $35/$32 advance.

Turkuaz plays the Top Hat Wed., Sept 20. Doors at 7:30 PM, show at 8:30. $18/$16 advance.

Flogging Molly plays the Wilma Thu., Oct. 19. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $38/$35 advance.

Iron and Wine play the Wilma Tue., Oct 17. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$40.

Nelly plays the Adams Center with Florida Georgia Line and Chris Lane Fri., Sept 21 at 7 PM. Head to ticketnetwork.com to save your seat. $142.

Modest Mouse plays the Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheater Sun., Sept 24. Doors at 5:30 PM, show at 7. $40.

Texas-based country music artist Cody Jinks plays the Wilma Thu., Aug. 31. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $27

August

THURSDAY AUGUST 24 Missoula’s favorite evening music and food festival continues with 406 playing at Downtown ToNight. Enjoy local food and local tunes at Caras Park every Thursday night between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Free. Let’s just say there are certain people with political power that are afraid of this band. Jeff Crosby and the Refugees play the Top Hat at 10:15 PM. Free.

FRIDAY AUGUST 25 River City Roots brings more than 15,000 people to the heart of Downtown Missoula for two days of activities and exceptional music. Visit rivercityrootsfestival.com for more info and a full schedule. Watch stars under the stars during another season of Missoula Outdoor Cinema. A wrinkly alien with an obsession for Reese’s Pieces befriends a young boy in E.T. The Extraterrestrial. The film starts at approximately 8:30 PM at Headstart School. Free, but donations encouraged That’s also a good description for most Missoulians on Grindr. Dodgy Mountain Men play the Top Hat Lounge. Doors at 9:30 PM, show at 10:15. $5.

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Explore planets, nebulas and distant galaxies during Free Observation night at Blue Mountain Observatory. 10:30 PM. Visit hs.umt.edu/physics/ blue_mountain_observatory to reserve your spots.

SATURDAY AUGUST 26 The Clark Fork Market features farmfresh produce, live music and delicious food every Saturday in the Riverside Parking Lot below the Higgins Avenue Bridge. 8 AM–1 PM. Run Wild Missoula’s Saturday Breakfast Club takes you on a run through Missoula. A free breakfast follows. 8 AM. Email hillaryo@runwildmissoula.org for more info and registration. The Missoula Farmers Market continues its 45th season with local produce, artisanal meats and cheeses and diverse delicacies. Join the fun every Saturday through September. Circle Square by the XXXXs. 8 AM–12:30 PM. River City Roots brings more than 15,000 people to the heart of Downtown Missoula for two days of activities and exceptional music. Visit rivercityrootsfestival.com for more info and a full schedule.

TUESDAY AUGUST 29 Missoula Farmers’ Market’s Tuesday Evening Market runs every Tuesday through September. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and more at the north end of Higgins at the XXXXs. 5:30 PM–7 PM.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30 Out to Lunch features the music of Jameson & the Sordid Seeds in the riverfront setting of Caras Park. Enjoy a variety of food and drink from 20 vendors. 11 AM–2 PM. Free.

THURSDAY AUGUST 31 University Center Art Gallery hosts its opening reception for artist Anne Yoncha’s exhibit Tell Me There’s a Mathematical Equation For Being Alive. 4 PM–6 PM. Missoula’s favorite evening music and food festival continues with Ghost Pepper playing at Downtown ToNight. Enjoy local food and local tunes at Caras Park every Thursday night between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Free. Texas-based country music artist Cody Jinks plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $27.

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Tribal Seed headlines the second annual Montana State Hemp & Cannabis Festival in Lolo Hot Spring running Fri., Sept. 8 through Sun., Sept. 8. $20/day or $80 for a weekend camping pass.

September

Sarah Jarosz plays a seated show at the Wilma Fri., Sept 29. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4

Enjoy good music, good art and free wine at the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Missoula. Visit arts missoula.org for more info and previews of opening exhibits. 5 PM–9 PM.

The Missoula Area Central Labor Council celebrates Labor Day in Bonner Park with music, games and free chow. 1 PM–5 PM.

The UM School of Music ushers in the fall semester with a woodwind concert featuring the works of Quantz, Dring, Puchihar and others. 7:30 PM.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2 The Missoula Farmers Market continues its 45th season with local produce, artisanal meats and cheeses and diverse delicacies. Join the fun every Saturday through September. Circle Square by the XXXXs. 8 AM–12:30 PM. Grizzly football kicks off another season with a grudge match against the Valparaiso University Crusaders. Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Head to gogriz.com for tickets and kickoff time.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3 Formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad, AJJ plays Monk’s. Doors at 9 PM, show at 10. $17/$15 advance.

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 5 Missoula Farmers’ Market’s Tuesday Evening Market runs every Tuesday through September. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and more at the north end of Higgins at the XXXXs. 5:30 PM–7 PM.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7 Hip-hop supergroup Deltron 3030, made up of Del The Funky Homosapien, DJ Kid Koala and Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, play the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, Show at 8. $28/$25 advance.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8 Reggae band Tribal Seeds headlines the second annual Montana State Hemp & Cannabis Festival in Lolo Hot Springs. Visit montanastate hempfest.com for a full lineup, schedule of events and registration. Running Fri., Sept. 8 through Sun., Sept. 8. $20/day or $80 for a weekend camping pass.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Robert Redford’s iconic film A River Runs Through It at the Norman Maclean Festival in Seeley Lake and Missoula Sept., 8–10. Visit macleanfootsteps.com for a full schedule. $25-200. Missoula’s YMCA turns 50 with a birthday bash featuring food, games and more. 4 PM–7 PM. Free. The drag kings and queens of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the State of Montana celebrate a new beginning with the 23rd Coronation at Ruby’s Inn and Convention Center. Doors at 6 PM, show at 7. $50/$20 for members. Jay Kettering’s new play, Raised in the Saddle: The Phantasmagorical Journey of a Future Rodeo Queen, opens at the Masquer Theatre in the PARTV Center. 7:30 PM. $11. Watch stars under the stars during another season of Missoula Outdoor Cinema. This week’s offering features Hollywood’s tribute to the Garden City with A River Runs Through It. 8 PM at Headstart School. Free. Reverend Slanky preaches the gospel of funk at the Top Hat. 10 PM. Free.

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being the change 406.543.3955 | peace@jrpc.org Open Mon-Sat 10a-6p, Sun 12p-4p 519 S Higgins Ave.

Michael Franti brings his pop-reggae band Spearhead to Big Sky Brewing Company Mon., Sept 11 at 6 PM. $39.

The Clark Fork Market in the Riverside Parking Lot below the Higgins Avenue Bridge. 8 AM–1 PM. The Missoula Farmers Market in Circle Square by the XXXXs. 8 AM–12:30 PM. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit bring that Nashville sound to the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $49.50/$42 advance. I wonder if he’s also in that ceird wult? Com Truise plays the Top Hat. Doors at 9 PM, show at 10. $20/$18 advance.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10 Tell Us Something hosts a live storytelling show at the Wilma as part of the Norman Maclean Festival. 7 PM. $12/$10 advance.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11 Rapper, musician and poet Michael Franti brings his popreggae band Spearhead to Big Sky Brewing Company. 6 PM. $39. Calvin Johnson’s Selector Dub Narcotic plays the ZACC Below with Sandman the Rappin’ Cowboy and Ancient Forest. 7 PM. $6.

September

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9

fresh facts 2017

Missoula Independent

From appearances in Westerns alone, the horse has ingratiated itself into popular culture as a symbol of the freedom promised by the frontier. Despite being the definitive image of the American West, the horse isn't native to North America. There were some proto-horses running around thousands of years ago, but that species went extinct, leaving our continent completely horseless until the Spanish reintroduced them to the continent in the early 16th century. From there the horse spread across the continent, becoming the iconic image of a free and open land.

trigger time

all equines through movies, television and other media. The theme of this year's festival is the global impact of the horse. Throughout the weekend panels and WHAT: Equus International Film Festival field trips punctuate the film screenings. WHERE: The Roxy Theater The films themselves stretch across genWHEN: Thu., Sept 14—Sun., Sept 17 res, but all focus on our friend the horse. Standout panels include a presentaINFO: equusinternationalfilmfestival.com tion by husband and wife jockeys Braulio Baeza and Janice Blake about the behind-the-scenes world of race horses and Since 2011, the Equus International Film Festival has celebrated the contribu- talk on horses in Native American Traditions. tions made by the horse in film, while educating the public to improve the welfare of —Charley Horse Macorn

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15 The Equus International Film Festival celebrates the majesty of horses in film and television at the Roxy Theater. Gallop to equssinternationalfilmfestival.com for a full schedule of films and events. The UM Dancers perform a sitespecific dance concert at Mansfield Mall. 5:30 PM. Free. Canadian singer-songwriter and one-man-band Mac Demarco plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $24.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16 The Clark Fork Market features farm-fresh produce, live music and delicious food every Saturday in the Riverside Parking Lot below the Higgins Avenue Bridge. 8 AM–1 PM. The Missoula Farmers Market continues its 45th season with local produce, artisanal meats and cheeses and diverse delica-

September

Spotlight

Country music maverick Chase Rice plays the Wilma Thu., Sept 21. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $35/$30 advance.

S MIS K NEco-friendly SOU A LA Cleaners TH "Missoula's Clean Spots"

BEST DRY CLEANER BEST LAUNDROMAT

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The University of Montana Grizzly Football team takes on Savannah State Tigers. Oh my! Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Head to gogriz.com for tickets and kickoff time. The Equus International Film Festival celebrates the majesty of horses in film and television at the Roxy Theater. Gallop to

equssinternationalfilmfestival.com for a full schedule of films and events. Author Robert Madrygin reads from The Solace of Trees, his new book about a refugee from the Bosnian War trying to escape his past and the American War of Terror at Shakespeare & Co. 1 PM. It’s the dance, not the chip dip. Salsa 406 returns with Latin music and dancing at the Dark Horse every third Saturday of the month. 8:30 PM. Free.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17 The 13th Annual Festival of Peace at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee starts with the annual Walk-A-Mile for Peace. 10 AM–7 PM. Visit ewambuddhagarden.org for a full schedule of events. The Equus International Film Festival celebrates the majesty of horses in film and television at the Roxy Theater. Gallop to equssinternationalfilm festival.com for a full schedule of films and events.

September

cies. Join the fun every Saturday through September. Circle Square by the XXXXs. 8 AM–12:30 PM.

337 W. Main St. Hamilton, MT • 406.363.4552

Who needs the stage when you can dance anywhere? The UM Dancers perform a site-specific dance concert at Mansfield Mall. 12 PM. Free.

music, food and demonstrations. 10 AM– 10 PM. Free.

new work by nine local and regional artists. 5 PM–7 PM.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24

The String Orchestra of the Rockies presents piano soloist and Steinway artist Gilles Vonsattel at UM Music Recital Hall at 7:30 PM. $30/$10 students.

Can you believe how long Minnie’s skirt is? Modest Mouse plays the Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheater. Doors at 5:30 PM, show at 7. $40.

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz plays a seated show at the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $35/$25 advance.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19

Jamaican reggae artist Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $35.

September

Missoula Farmers’ Market’s Tuesday Evening Market runs every Tuesday through September. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and more at the north end of Higgins at the XXXXs. 5:30 PM–7 PM.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20 Powerfunk powerhouse Turkuaz plays the Top Hat. Doors at 7:30 PM, show at 8:30. $18/$16 advance.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21 Country music maverick Chase Rice plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $35/$30 advance.

Lentil Underground author Liz Carlisle gives a free lecture at the Dennison Theatre as part of Griz Read. 8 PM.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22 Country duo Florida Georgia Line, hip-hop icon Nelly and Chris Lane play the Adams Center. 7 PM. Head to ticketnetwork.com to save your seat. $142. The Fox Den DJs head over to the Badlander for Foxxy Friday on the fourth Friday of every month. Doors open 9 PM. Explore planets, nebulas and distant galaxies during Free Observation night at Blue Mountain Observatory. 10:30 PM. Visit hs.umt.edu/ physics/blue_mountain_observatory to reserve your spots.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23 The Clark Fork Market and the Missoula Farmers Market continuess. Join the fun every Saturday through September. The University of Montana Grizzlies take on the Eastern Washington Eagles. Their mascot is named Swoop. That’s a terrible name for a mascot. Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Head to gogriz.com for tickets and kickoff time. Free Cycles hosts the 22nd Annual Festival of Cycles. A day of games,

Missoula Independent

fresh facts 2017

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26 Missoula Farmers’ Market’s Tuesday Evening Market runs every Tuesday through the end of September. 5:30 PM–7 PM.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27 The way the icecaps are melting, this is also what we can call most of Montana. Future Islands plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $22.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29 Radius Gallery hosts a reception for the opening of its new exhibition featuring

Spokane’s Folkinception mixes roots with soul at the Top Hat. 8 PM. Free.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30 The Clark Fork Market features farm-fresh produce, live music and delicious food every Saturday in the Riverside Parking Lot below the Higgins Avenue Bridge. 8 AM– 1 PM. The Missoula Farmers Market continues its 45th season with local produce, artisanal meats and cheeses and diverse delicacies. Join the fun every Saturday through September. Circle Square by the XXXXs. 8 AM–12:30 PM. Humorist and woodworker Nick Offerman brings his Full Bush comedy tour to the Adams Center. 6 PM. $39.50– $59.50. Head to umt.edu/griztix for more info.

Spotlight

footsteps

“The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana.” It's the movie moment, in a book built around our fair city, that Missoulians keep in their hearts year round. Twenty-five years ago, audiences across the world first heard actor Craig Sheffer say these words in Robert Redford's adaption of A River Runs Through It and I don't think Missoula–or at the very least our flyfishing industry–has ever been the same. To celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the release of that film, the In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Festival honors not only Missoula's biggest mark on cinema, but also the life and work of author Norman Maclean. The three day festival features a cornucopia of events, including a with actor Tom Skerritt, screenwriter Richard Friedenberg WHEN: Fri., Sept 8 through Sun., Sept 10 and the film's proHOW MUCH: $200 for a full weekend pass, or by event. ducer Patrick Markey. Each event can be atMORE INFO: macleanfootsteps.com tended individually, or a weekend pass will get you into all of the festivities. wine tasting, tours of the Blackfoot River and —Charley Macorn a panel on adapting the book to the screen WHAT: In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Festival

British indie darlings Alt-J play the Wilma on Wed., Oct. 18. Hope you’ve got your tickets, because this one is sold out. 8 PM.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4 At the Phish Happy Hour you can enjoy Phish music, videos and more at the Top Hat every Wednesday at 4:30 PM. But I know you’ll show up at 4:20. Free. All ages. Wednesday Night Brewery Jam invites all musicians to bring an instrument and join in. Yes, even you with the tuba. Hosted by Geoffrey Taylor at Imagine Nation Brewing Co. 6–8 PM. Free. Canadian electronic icons Black Tiger Sex Machine plays the Top Hat. Doors at 8 PM, show at 9. $18/$16 advance. Kraptastic Karaoke indulges your need to croon, belt and warble at the Badlander. 9 PM. No cover.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 5 Contrapposto, artist Casey Schancher’s new exhibit has its opening reception at the University Center Gallery. 4 PM–6 PM. Free.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 Enjoy good music, good art and free wine at the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Missoula. Visit arts missoula.org for more info and previews of opening exhibits. 5 PM–9 PM.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 7

evening of masterworks and chamber music at the Music Recital Hall at 7:30 PM. $12/$8 students.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11 As You Like It, the play that dumb-dumb anti-Stratfordians say proves Shakespeare wasn’t who he said he was, opens at the Masquer Theatre in the PARTV Center at 7:30 PM. $16/$14 students. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong perform from the prime phunk playbook and promise precipitous pleasure at the Top Hat. Doors at 8:30 PM, show at 9. $15/$12 advance.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 12 The truest poetry is the most feigning. William Shakespeare’s As You Like It continues at the Masquer Theatre in the PARTV Center. 7:30 PM. $16/$14 students.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 13 There once was a group of hunks, who came to strip down to their trunks. They exposed their abs, which were totally fab, a great show for all at Monk’s. Catch the Hunks dance troupe at 9 PM. $30/$25 advance.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 14

Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $22/$20 advance. The 8th Annual Tweed Ride takes you on a community bike ride around Missoula in your finest tweed. After part with music, food and silent auction at Free Cycles. 1 PM–5 PM.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 17 Acid-tounged hardcore band Every Time I Die plays the Top Hat with Knocked Loose and Hollow Earth. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $22/$20 advance. Artist Patrick Zentz talks about his Missoula Art Park installation at a free lecture at Missoula Art Museum. 7 PM.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18 British indie darlings Alt-J play the Wilma. Hope you’ve got your tickets, because this one is sold out. 8 PM.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 20 The Missoula Masquerade Ball raises funds for the American Cancer Society. This year’s theme is The Roarin’ ‘20s. I’m going dressed as the ennui felt by a lost generation of Americans. The Barn on Mullan. 7 PM.

Celebrate Homecoming when the University of Montana Grizzlies take on the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Head to gogriz.com for tickets and kickoff time.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 21

It’s really sad that its being driven out of business by Asteroid Uber. Moon Taxi plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $20.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 10

SUNDAY OCTOBER 15

Clarinetist and Director of the UM School of Music Maxine Ramey performs an

The Grim Reaper is getting pretty pissed. Every Time I Die plays the Top Hat.

It’s the dance, not the chip dip. Salsa 406 returns with Latin music and dancing at the Dark Horse every third Saturday of the month. 8:30 PM. Free.

Missoula Independent

fresh facts 2017

German folk group Milky Chance plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $36.50/31.50 advance.

BECOME THE STAR YOU ARE MCAT can help; media production made easy and made well. • We offer training on digital cameras and digital computer video editing. • We check out cameras for a $20 per year membership fee or in exchange for volunteering a few hours. • We also offer auxiliary gear: microphones, lights, tripods and reflectors. • We are a nonprofit corporation dedicated to empowering and entertaining Missoula through media. • Past student programs have included feature films, comedy improv, political views, documentaries on wildlife and environment, and more. Make your school projects media projects and run them on MCAT!

500 N HIGGINS SUITE 104 406.542.6228 | mcat.org

FRIDAY OCTOBER 27

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29

He’s going to see his name everywhere here. I mean EVERYWHERE. Griz plays the Wilma. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. $27.50.

Here we go again! The music of ABBA tells the story of a young bride-to-be trying to discover the identity of her father on the Greek island of Kalokairi. Mamma Mia opens at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. 7:30 PM. $25.

Indulge your inner Lisa Simpson with live jazz and a glass of craft beer on the river every Sunday at Imagine Nation Brewing. 5 PM–8 PM.

The Fox Den DJs head over to the Badlander for Foxxy Friday on the fourth Friday of every month. Doors open 9 PM.

Kitchen Dwellers and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades perform a spooktacular show at the Top Hat. Doors at 8 PM, show at 9. $15.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 24 Turns out Darth Vader is a heck of a seeker. Bring your brooms to Halloween Costume Quidditch on the Oval at 7 PM. BYOBrooms.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 31

October

SUNDAY OCTOBER 22

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11

The University Center Gallery hosts its opening reception for April Werle and Nick Gilbert’s Flesh & Food. 4 PM–6 PM. Free.

Before heading in for another year of hibernation, Grizzly football ends with an interspecies battle with the Northern Colorado Bears at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Head to gogriz.com for tickets and kickoff time.

Singer-songwriter A.J. Croce plays the Dennison Theater. 7:30 PM. Visit griztix.com for more info and to reserve your spot.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3 Enjoy good music, good art and free wine at the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Missoula. Visit artsmissoula.org for more info and previews of opening exhibits. 5 PM–9 PM.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4 The University of Montana Grizzlies take on the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks. How many trees can their be in Arizona? Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Head to gogriz.com for tickets and kickoff time.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19 The String Orchestra of the Rockies present the Pacific Northwest’s lute master John Lenti performing in Apollo’s Lute at the University of Montana’s Music Recital Hall. 7:30 PM. $30/$10 students.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21 Rick Elice’s prequel to Peter Pan, Peter and the Starcatcher, opens at the Montana Theatre in the PARTV Center. 7:30 PM. $20/$16 students.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22

See new dances generated by students, faculty and guest artists at Dance Up Close at the Masquer Theatre in the PARTV Center. 7:30 PM. $16/$14 students.

The University Center Art Gallery hosts an opening reception for Transmission Park, a new exhibit by artist Jesse Blumenthal. 4 PM–6 PM.

November

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong plays the Top Hat Wed., Oct. 11. Doors at 8:30 PM, show at 9. $15/$12 advance.

B est of Missoula 2017 Recapping readers’ choices

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FASHION & BEAUTY

Best Art Gallery Dana Gallery 2. Radius Gallery 3. 4 Ravens

Best Cosmetics Smooch Cosmetic Boutique 2. Skin Chic 3. Ulta Beauty

Best Band Lil' Smokies 2. Shakewell 3. Dodg y Mountain Men Best Museum Missoula Art Museum 2. Children's Museum 3. Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

Best Day Spa Sorella’s Day Spa 2. Spa at the Peak 3. Cedar Creek Salon & Day Spa

Best Musician Tom Catmull 2. Tie: Travis Yost and John Floridis 3. Bob Wire

Best Kids' Clothing La Stella Blu 2. Kid Crossing 3. Carter’s

Best Photographer Slikati 2. Mike Williams 3. Brian Powers

Best Women's Clothing Betty’s Divine 2. Dillard's 3. Cloth & Crown

Best Writer Dan Brooks 2. James Lee Burke 3. Erika Fredrickson

Best Men's Clothing Betty's Divine 2. Dillard's 3. Desmond's

Best Movie Theater Roxy Theater 2. AMC 12 3. Wilma Theatre

Best Lingerie Victoria’s Secret 2. Adam & Eve 3. Mood Boutique

Best Actor/Actress Jeff Medley 2. Lily Gladstone 3. TIE: Howard Kingston & Rosie Ayers

Best Men's Haircuts ManCave 2. Canvas Studios 3. Boom Swagger Salon

Best Artist Monte Dolack 2. Courtney Blazon 3. Jack Metcalf

Best Womens' Haircuts Canvas Studios 2. Boom Swagger Salon 3. Tres Chic Salon

Best Dancer Heather Adams, DDC 2. Joy French, Bare Bait Dance 3. Aimee Bartel

Best Shoe Store Hide & Sole 2. Dillard's 3. Runner's Edge

Best Filmmaker Marshall Granger 2. Andrew Rizzo 3. TIE: Andy Smetanka & Michael Workman

Best Tattoo Parlor Blaque Owl Tattoo 2. Painless Steel 3. American Made

Best New Band Fantasy Suite 2. Close, But No Seger 3. Rhotgut Whines

Best Tattoo Artist Kyle Handley, Every Mother's Nightmare 2. Buck Miller, Blaque Owl Tattoo 3. TIE: Bridget Stoltz, Blaque Owl Tattoo & Ian Caroppoli, Blaque Owl Tattoo

Comedian Michael Beers 2. Sara Aswell 3. John Howard 70

Missoula Independent

fresh facts 2017

Best Jewelry Rockin Rudy's 2. Adair Jewelers 3. Studio Pandora

Best Body Piercer Brenda, Altered Skin 2. Jackie, Painless Steel 3. Morgan, Painless Steel

Best Thrift Store Secret Seconds 2. Goodwill 3. Bargain Corner Best Eyewear Costco 2. Rocky Mountain Eye Center 3. Uptown Optical Best Facials Sorella's Day Spa 2. Skin Chic 3. Salon 406 Best Hairstylist Janae Naab, Tres Chic Salon 2. Andrea Wyman-Caffrey, Canvas 3. Rachel Kenck, Shear Art Salon Best Waxing Canvas Studios 2. Skin Chic 3. Grizzly Bare Waxing Studio

FOOD & DRINK Best Appetizers Top Hat Lounge 2. Tamarack Brewing 3. Jaker's Bar & Grill Best Asian Food Mustard Seed 2. Sa Wad Dee 3. Iza Best Bakery Bernice’s Bakery 2. Black Cat 3. Le Petit Outre Best Barbecue The Notorious P.I.G. 2. Famous Dave's 3. Dickey's Barbecue Pit Best Breakfast Paul’s Pancake Parlor 2. Catalyst 3. The Shack Best Brunch Burns St. Bistro 2. Old Post 3. Catalyst Best Budget Lunch Five on Black 2. Taco del Sol 3. Bridge Pizza Best Coffee Black Coffee Roasting Company 2. Florence Coffee 3. Loose Caboose

[best of missoula] Best Tea Lake Missoula Tea Co. 2. Butterfly Herbs 3. Liquid Planet

Place to Buy Meat Diamond Bar Meats 2. Cloven Hoof 3. Good Food Store

Best Supermarket Orange Street Food Farm 2. Good Food Store 3. Missoula Fresh Market

Best Delicatessen Tagliare 2. Worden's Market & Deli 3. Good Food Store

Best Restaurant Service Pearl 2. Jaker's Bar & Grill 3. Red Bird

Best Retail Beer Selection Orange Street Food Farm 2. Worden's Market & Deli 3. Pattee Creek Market

Best Doughnuts Rosauers 2. Krispy Kreme 3. Tandem Doughnuts

Best Restaurant Wine List The Red Bird 2. Plonk 3. Caffe Dolce

Best Retail Wine Selection Worden’s Market & Deli 2. Good Food Store 3. Orange Street Food Farm

Best Burger Missoula Club (Mo Club) 2. Five Guys Burgers & Fries 3. Flipper's

Best Outdoor Dining Finn & Porter 2. Plonk 3. Iron Horse

Best Vegetarian Food Good Food Store 2. Masala 3. Green Source

Best French Fries James Bar 2. Five Guys Burgers & Fries 3. Hoagieville

Best Wings Desperado Sports Tavern 2. Buffalo Wild Wings 3. Bridge Pizza

Best Food Truck/Cart El Cazador 2. Burns St. Bistro's Beastro 3.Big Thai Country

Best Coffee Hut Florence Coffee Company 2. Loose Caboose 3. Good Americano

Best Fresh Produce Good Food Store 2. Orange Street Food Farm 3. Farmers' Markets

Best Convenience Store Ole’s Country Store 2. Grizzly Grocery 3. Holiday on S. Higgins

Best Desserts Mustard Seed 2. Bernice's Bakery 3. Black Cat Bakery

Best Liquor Store Grizzly Liquor 2. Krisco Liquor 3. Magic Diamond on Brooks

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt Big Dipper 2. Sweet Peaks 3. Dairy Queen

Best Pizza Delivery Bridge Pizza 2. Howard's 3. Pizza Hut

Best Milkshake Uptown Diner 2. Big Dipper 3. Butterfly Herbs

Best Romantic Dining Pearl Café 2. Red Bird 3. Plonk

Best Place to Eat Alone Five on Black 2. Taco del Sol 3. Good Food Store

Best Mexican Food El Cazador 2. Fiesta en Jalisco 3. Tia's Big Sky

Best Salad Good Food Store 2. Romaines 3. Jaker's Bar & Grill

Best All-Night Dining Oxford 2. Denny's 3. 4B's

Best Pizza Biga Pizza 2. Bridge 3. Pie Hole

Best Sandwich Shop Doc’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop 2. Tagliare 3. Worden's Market & Deli

Best Barista Sammy Rodriques, Liquid Planet 2. Kendra Bell, Drum Coffee 3. TIE: Bri @ Loose Caboose & Racquelle, Burns

Best Restaurant Pearl Café 2. Red Bird 3. Scotty's Table

Best Sushi Sushi Hana 2. Nara Korean BBQ & Sushi 3. Kobe Seafood & Steakhouse

Best Caterer Burns St. Bistro 2. Silk Road 3. Bravo! Catering

Best New Restaurant Tia's Big Sky 2. Poke Bowl 3. Green Source

Best Seafood Sushi Hana 2. Depot 3. Jaker's Bar & Grill

Best Chef Walker Hunter & Ryan Smith, Burns St. Bistro 2. Scott Gill, Scotty's Table 3. Bob Marshall, Biga Pizza

Best Family-Friendly Restaurant Red Robin 2. Montana Club 3. Top Hat

Best Steak Lolo Creek Steakhouse 2. Depot 3. Jaker's Bar & Grill

Best Waiter/Waitress Matt Maddox, Sushi Hana 2. Cheryl Nickey, Jaker's Bar & Grill 3. Kate, Scotty's Table fresh facts 2017

Missoula Independent

[best of missoula]

GOODS & SERVICES

3. Holiday Inn Downtown

Best Adult Store Adam & Eve 2. Fantasy for Adults on Brooks 3. Fantasy for Adults on Main

Best Motorcycle/ATV Dealer Grizzly Harley-Davidson 2. Maverick Motorsports 3. Kurt's Polaris

Best Auto Repair Kent Brothers 2. Master Technician, Inc. 3. Roemer's Point S

Best New-Car Dealer Karl Tyler Chevrolet 2. Lithia 3. Subaru of Missoula

Best Bank/Credit Union Missoula Federal Credit Union 2. First Security 3. First Interstate

Best Used-Car Dealer Lithia Toyota 2. Eide Motors 3. Jim's Used Cars

Best Bookstore (New Books) Shakespeare & Co. 2. Fact & Fiction 3. Barnes & Noble

Best New Retail Store Campfire Collective 2. Flower 3. Castle & Pony

Best Bookstore (Used Books) Book Exchange 2. Green Ribbon Books 3. Bird's Nest Books

Best Pet Supplies PetSmart 2. PetCo 3. Go Fetch!

Best Music & Vinyl Rockin Rudy’s 2. Ear Candy 3. Electronic Sound & Percussion

2. Dazzlers 3. Splash Best Farmers Market Vendor Ninja Mike’s 2. Mmmm...Waffles 3. Poppy Bakery Best Florist Bitterroot Flower Shop 2. Habitat Floral Studio 3. Garden City Floral Best Home Accessories Cost Plus World Market 2. Green Light 3. Real Deals on Home Decor Best Laundromat Green Hanger 2. Sparkle 3. Grimebusters Best Lawyer Paul Ryan 2. John Velk 3. Joanne McCormick Best Pawn Shop Downtown Pawn & Gun 2. 1st Interstate Pawn 3. A Nickel's Worth Pawn Shop

Best Dry Cleaner Green Hanger 2. Missoula Textile Services 3. Fresh Natural Cleaners

Best Property Management Company Garden City Property Management 2. Missoula Property Management 3. Plum Property Management

Best Furniture Store Wagner’s Home Furnishings 2. Donation Warehouse 3. Living Room

Best General Contractor Property Solutions 2. JM Moran & Co. Construction 3. Ayers Construction, Inc.

Best Garden Center Caras Nursery 2. Pink Grizzly 3. Ace Hardware's Fancy Plants

Best Real Estate Agent Anne Jablonski, Portico Real Estate 2. Liz Dye, Portico Real Estate 3. Mindy Palmer, Berkshire Hathaway

Best Green Business Home ReSource 2. Green Light 3. Good Food Store

Best Ranch Supply Store Murdoch’s Ranch & Home 2. Mountain West Co-Op/Cenex 3. Tractor Supply Co.

Best Hardware Store Ace Hardware 2. Home ReSource 3. Lowe's

Best Pet Care/Boarding Quick Paws 2. Alpine Canine 3. Cats on Broadway

Best Store for Gifts Rockin Rudy’s 2. Green Light 3. Butterfly Herbs

Best Head Shop Mellow Mood 2. Piece of Mind 3. Atmosphere

Best Storage Unit River Road Storage 2. Copperstone Stor-All 3. Mr. T's Self Storage

Best Store for Musical Instruments Morgenroth Music Center 2. Electronic Sound & Percussion 3. Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments

Best Marijuana Dispensary Flower 2. Lionheart Caregiving 3. Starrbuds

Best Veterinary Clinic/Hospital Missoula Veterinary Clinic 2. Alpine Veterinary Clinic 3. Pruyn Veterinary Hospital

Best Toy Store Imagination Station 2. Rockin Rudy's 3. Whippersnappers

Best Hobby/Craft Shop Treasure Chest 2. Michael's 3. Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts

Best Antiques Montana Antique Mall 2. Circle Square 3. Zootown Thrift

Best Lodging Doubletree Edgewater 2. C'Mon Inn

Best Car Wash Happy Days

Missoula Independent

fresh facts 2017

NIGHTLIFE Best Bar Top Hat Lounge 2. Charlie B's 3. James Bar Best Bar Food James Bar 2. Top Hat Lounge 3. Dinosaur Cafe

[best of missoula] Best Bar for a Stiff Pour Al’s & Vic’s 2. Charlie B's 3. The Rhinoceros

Best Happy Hour Jaker's Bar & Grill 2. Top Hat 3. Finn & Porter

Best Sports Bar Press Box 2. Desperado 3. Thomas Meagher Bar

Best Beer Selection The Rhinoceros 2. Dram Shop 3. Tamarack Brewing Co.

Best Karaoke Bar Bowl Dog Lounge, Westside Lanes 2. Badlander 3. Dark Horse

Best Bartender Anne Hancock, The Rhino 2. Eric, Plonk 3. Jack Metcalf, Al's & Vic's

Best Bloody Mary Tamarack Brewing Company 2. Last Run Inn, Snowbowl 3. Montgomery Distillery

Best Late-Night Munchies Pie Hole 2. Oxford 3. El Cazador's Taco Truck

Best Brew Cold Smoke Scotch Ale, Kettlehouse Brew 2. Summer Honey, Big Sky Brewing 3. Eddy Out, Kettlehouse Brewing

Best Cocktail Selection Plonk Wine Bar 2. Montgomery Distillery 3. Iron Horse

Best Microbrewery Kettlehouse Brewing Company 2. Draught Works 3. Bayern

SPORTS & RECREATION

Best Margarita Plonk 2. El Cazador 3. Jaker's Bar & Grill

Best Place to Dance Union Club 2. Sunrise Saloon 3. Badlander

Best Casino Silver Slipper 2. Flipper's 3. Diamond Jim's

Best Place to Hear Live Music Top Hat Lounge 2. The Wilma 3. Union Club

Best Distillery Montgomery Distillery 2. Montana Distillery 3. Rattlesnake Distillery

Best Pool Table Union Club 2. Feruqui's 3. Flipper's

Best Bike Shop Hellgate Cyclery 2. Bicycle Hangar 3. Bike Doctor Best Fly-fishing Shop Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop 2. King fisher 3. Missoulian Angler Best Fly-fishing Guide Chris Dombrowski 2. Drew Miller 3. Stacy Jennings Best Golf Course University Golf Course 2. Canyon River 3. Larchmont Golf Course

fresh facts 2017

Missoula Independent

[best of missoula] 2. Danielle Maxwell, MaxWellness Massage 3. Taylor Beckman, Sorella's

Best Health Club Peak Health & Wellness 2. Women's Club 3. The Source Best Place for Paddle Sports Gear The Trail Head 2. Strongwater 3. Love Boat Paddle Co./LB Snow Best Place to Get a Snowboard Board of Missoula 2. Bob Ward & Sons 3. Gull Ski & Snowboard Best Sporting Goods Store Bob Ward & Sons 2. REI 3. The Trail Head

Best Physical Therapist Jeff Brooks, Western Montana Clinic 2. Anna Soulia, Alpine 3. TIE: Brent Dodge, Alpine & John Fiore, Sapphire Best Personal Trainer Rhea Black, Momentum 2. Laura Bender, Bodies by Bender 3. TIE: Rachel Plumage & Kimberly Agnew Best Yoga Instructor Laura Bender, Bodies by Bender 2. Brian Baty, Inner Harmony 3. Brandon Sheehan, Hot House Yoga

PEOPLE & MEDIA

Best Store For Guns Bob Ward & Sons 2. Axmen Firearms 3. Cabela's

Best Athlete Mike Foote 2. Sam Schultz 3. Megan Fischer

Best Store for Mountaineering Gear The Trail Head 2. REI 3. Bob Ward & Sons

Best Journalist Dan Brooks 2. Martin Kidston 3. Erika Fredrickson

Best Store for Skis Gull Ski & Snowboard 2. Bob Ward & Sons 3. The Trail Head

Best Meteorologist Mark Heyka, KECI 2. Erin Yost, KPAX 3. Russ Thomas, KPAX

HEALTH & WELLNESS Best Doctor/Healthcare Provider Eric Ravitz, Blue Mountain Clinic 2. Mae Bixby, Western Montana Clinic 3. Heather Maddox, Western Montana Clinic Best Alternative Healthcare Provider Mindy Opper, Red Willow Center 2. Christine White, Black Bear Naturopathic 3. Erika Krumbeck, Montana Whole Health Best Gynecologist Janice Givier, Western Montana Clinic 2. Jennifer Mayo, Western Montana Clinic 3. Timothy Burke, Western Montana Clinic Best Chiropractor Ivan Van Eerden 2. Anthony Lambert, Lambert Chiropractic 3. Matz Family Chiropractic Best Dentist Joshua Green, Discovery Dental 2. Ike Heaphy 3. Ryan Huckabee, Twin Cranes Dental Best Optometrist William Thomas, Family Vision 2. Kim Everingham, Rocky Mountain Eye Center 3. Peter Babcock, Rocky Mountain Eye Center Best Health Clinic Blue Mountain Clinic 2. Western Montana Clinic 3. CostCare Best Massage Therapist Farrah Lachina, Therapeutic Massage Therapy 74

Missoula Independent

fresh facts 2017

Best Politician Mayor John Engen 2. Senator Jon Tester 3. Rob Quist Best Radio Personality Craig Johnson, Trail 103.3 2. Angel, 96.3 The Blaze 3. Charene, 94.9 Kyss FM Best Radio Station KUFM 89.1 2. Trail 103.3 3. 89.9 KBGA Best Religious Leader Jeff Valentine, Missoula Alliance Church 2. Terri Grotzinger, Holy Spirit Church 3. Scott Klaudt, Zootown Church Best Newscast KPAX 2. KECI 3. Montana PBS Best TV Personality Jill Valley, KPAX 2. Mark Heyka 3. Erin Yost & Heidi Meili Best UM Professor Tobin Miller-Shearer 2. Kyle G. Volk 3. Ona Renner-Fahey Best Website missoulaevents.net 2. grizzlyhackle.com 3. missoulanews.com

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