Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

Tips for Avoiding Rental Scams

A trend that has developed in the past several years is for these scammers, most often residing overseas, to skim rental property ads or vacant homes for sale and list them for rent at unbeatable prices. ... more

Missoula is Like . . . Relaxed Fit Jeans?

By JEN SLAYDEN. Jeans come in such different shapes and styles, each feeling a bit different to wear. Kind of like the styles of each of the town you travel going east and back again through the great state of... more

Green Your Kitchen with a Cast Iron Skillet

By PAUL WHEATON. Learn about the benefits of Cast Iron cookware and watch an egg fry and not stick!... more

Missoula Musician David Boone

By MARGARET HORTON. During the past couple of years visiting Missoula I’ve been fortunate to have been introduced to the talent of Missoula-based songwriter and musician, David Boone. I quickly purchased a co... more

Dilly Beans – Preserving the Summer Bounty

By KRISTEN LEE-CHARLSON. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the taste of summer long after the first snow flies, is by opening a jar of Dilly Beans, a recipe from a cult classic book on fermentation - Wild Fermen... more

Whitewater Kayaking – Taking That Next Step

by JASON SHREDER. It’s crazy but as many kayakers as there are in Missoula one would think that it would be easier to find people to paddle with, but it’s a struggle for people that start out on their own. ... more

Running with Co-workers

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG. One of the best things I did when I started one of my first jobs out of college was to start running with my co-workers during my lunch hour. I was the only woman in my office and at least ... more

Be a Winner – Brew at Home

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Now that the Western Montana Fair has left town and the smoke from nearby forest fires has arrived, it’s time to stay inside and think about drinking – or to think about making a drink.... more

What’s Happening This Week

IT'S MAKE IT MISSOULA MONDAY. Here's what's happening the week of 8/29/2011... more

2011 Grizzly Football Season Outlook

By MICK HOLIEN. Can you even believe it’s been nine months since the Grizzly football season ended on a sour note? So what about this year’s edition of Grizzly football?... more

Budget Meal Planning

By ERIN TURNER. As I’m preparing all the backpacks, washing “first day of school” clothes and getting football gear ready for practices, I have to admit that meals are the last thing I am worried about! ... more

When a Horse Likes to Move

By DANIELLE LATTUGA.In the last year with this horse, I’ve seen glimmers of connection. Little bright shining moments where we are working together perfectly in sync, or times when we stand shoulder to should... more

Missoula Restaurant Owners & Chefs:
Raul Gomez – Fiesta En Jalisco

By BOB ZIMORINO. Chefs and Owners: Raul Gomez of Fiesta En Jalisco. I met Raul at their original N. Reserve Street location at Deano’s. He was always a genial host and I do love their food. They have since mo... more

Bonner Fire Photos – Check these out!

Check out these Bonner Fire Images by Paul Queneau--or submit your own!... more

Dolce — as in Caffe Dolce

By MARGARET HORTON.I spent a few minutes trying to get a feel for the use of the Italian word dolce. In reference to food it speaks of something sweet and agreeable to the palate.... more

Summer Feet

By ELKE GOVERTSEN. Say it ain’t so… summer is, gulp, over? But I don’t have my summer feet yet.... more

One-Way Ticket to Brown Town — Ode to Brown Trout

By BRYCE MCLEAN & MATT DEVLIN. Their habits are clandestine, their legend strong, and their choice in living accommodations impeccable. The word brown falls pitifully short when describing these stream kings. ... more

Earth, Wind, and Fire – Bonner Fire

By JEN SLAYDEN. If it takes an act of God to fill up the usually vacant church parking lots on my side of the mountain, I think he has spoken. For in a brief period of twelve hours we felt an earthquake and our... more

Super-Saving NOT Super-Sizing

By ERIN TURNER. If you stay in any hotel these days, your room will more than likely be supplied with a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner. Do you leave those behind when you leave? Well, you shouldn’t... more

What’s Happening This Week

IT'S MAKE IT MISSOULA MONDAY. Here's what's happening the week of 8/22/2011... more

Whitewater Kayaking and Learning to Roll

by JASON SHREDER. I remember back to my first days kayaking. I was thinking to myself “what options do I have besides pulling my skirt and swimming if I can’t roll my kayak?”... more

Missoula Restaurant Owners & Chefs:
Will & Kiira Bauerle – Bob’s Pizza, Pretzel Place and Freemo’s

By BOB ZIMORINO. Chefs and Owners: I am seated with Will and his wife Kiira for my first husband/wife interview for the series. They are the managing partners for the Missoula based restaurant chain.... more

A Symphony of Cyclists – Annual Cycle for the Symphony

By BEN WEISS. If you have been out and about around town lately, you have no doubt noticed a new symbol in the road. It is a bicycle with two chevrons above it, and it is called a “sharrow”. Derived from t... more

My Top 10 Things . . . About Missoula

By MARGARET HORTON. I don’t make top ten lists, mostly because if I did, I know they would be in a constant state of flux. Here are a few things I look forward to when visiting Missoula. In the interest of s... more

Ultra-marathons: Running to Find Stick Bee Guy

By KEVIN TWIDWELL. Some people run ultra-marathons for the physical challenge. Others run them for the endorphins. I run them for the Stick Bee Guy. In 2001, I signed up for my first 100-mile race, the Vermont ... more

Back to School Shopping on a Budget

By ERIN TURNER. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but school starts in less than two weeks for most Missoula kids. I’d better get into gear in order to save some cash on the boys’ school supplies.... more

The Four Stages of Fly Fishing

By BRYCE MCLEAN & MATT DEVLIN. A wise man once told me that every fly fisherman goes through 4 distinct stages throughout their fishing life. At first I thought that he was simply spitting B.S., but I have rec... more

What’s Happening This Week

IT'S MAKE IT MISSOULA MONDAY. Here's what's happening the week of 8/15/2011... more

Killing Me Softly: The Art of Deconstruction

By LISA HENSLEY. I’m somewhat addicted to HGTV, especially the “Crashers” shows (Yard Crashers, House Crashers, etc.). It could be because I’m secretly wishing someone would offer to come to my house an... more

So…..Why Missoula?

By MARGARET HORTON. Although I don’t live in Missoula, throughout the past many years our family has spent a lot of time here. We initially arrived as visitors and vacationers. What began as a convenient stop... more

Running Goals for the Back of the Pack

By PAM GARDINER. We learn, almost from birth, that running is about speed. What is running without the race? What is winning without the gold medal? There is, however, an obvious truth: only one person can b... more

Maiden Missoula Review: Zootown Surfers

By LEAH LEWIS. This summer some of the rivers are a little too high and fast for me to be comfortable navigating the Alberton Gorge without some expert advice. So I turned to fellow Make It Missoula blogger a... more

Have Beer, Will Travel: Missoula-Based BeerTrips.com Creates Trips for Beer Lovers

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Since 1998, Missoula-based Beertrips.com has launched hundreds of travelers into international beer scenes, taking them Abbey-hopping and Oktoberfest-ing so they can immerse themselves in the ... more

The Dog Days of Missoula’s Pet Ordinance

By DANIELLE LATTUGA--DOGTOWN MISSOULA. We need to get more creative about the “dog issues” that arise in our community. Responsible dog ownership doesn’t seem to be intuitive for a lot of folks. It is a l... more

You Again

By CC THE TRAINED MONKEY. Ah, summer. I have to say that mine has been pretty good so far, mostly because I’m still coming down off the high of being in Missoula for two weeks for my high school reunion. Do... more

What’s Happening This Week

IT'S MAKE IT MISSOULA MONDAY. Here's what's happening the week of 8/8/2011... more

Wallet Bustin’ at the Western Montana Fair

By ERIN TURNER. Well, you’ve heard of Mutton bustin’ at county fairs but have you heard of Wallet Bustin’? Probably not, but all of you have probably participated in this wild event at any fair you have ... more

The Trip of All Trout Fishing Trips

By BRYCE MCLEAN & MATT DEVLIN. Every year we pile in to our trucks and take off across Montana for a week of absolute trout fishing chaos. This year seemed to be more chaotic than any other, and it all added up... more

Mullein Heals the Earth

By PAUL WHEATON. Mullein is a biennial plant with fuzzy leaves. Often called "cowboy toilet paper," mullein will grow in the worst soils on earth -- improving the earth as it grows. More about this amazing pla... more

Thomas the Tarantula

By CLAY SPRINGMEYER. I spent the summer volunteering for Missoula's Summer Arts and Leadership Camp, a free camp for 68 homeless and at risk of being homeless kids in Missoula. There I met Thomas the Tarantula.... more

Cherry Hoppin’: Exploring Missoula’s Cherry-Inspired Cocktails and Drinks

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. August marks the beginning of the cherry harvest in the Flathead Valley, and it could be a very good one this year they say. Sweet, plump and delicious, Flathead cherries are an annual local f... more

Running While on Vacation

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG. I’ve always found running while on vacation a challenge. As I mentally plan how I’m going to spend my days during an upcoming vacation to southeast Alaska I’ve started thinking about... more

Driving Miss Dixie – and the Art of Towing a Trailer

By SUZANNE MILLER. My love affair with Miss Dixie, my Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax diesel pickup with an Allison towing transmission, took me completely by surprise. I am not a motor head. For most of my lif... more

What’s Happening This Week

IT'S MAKE IT MISSOULA MONDAY. Here's what's happening the week of 8/1/2011... more

Maiden Missoula Product Review: Jax Hats

By LEAH LEWIS. I know this may be a shocker, but the Maiden does, in fact, have a bad hair day every so often. Instead of fighting this minor inconvenience I have learned to embrace it, and sometimes even hope... more

The Great Tube Hatch

By BRYCE MCLEAN & MATT DEVLIN. As summer wears on in earnest, the air and water temperatures approach each other and Missoulians get hot. What do Missoulians do when they get hot? Well they pile into the rive... more

Frugal Camping – Tips for Camping on a Budget

By ERIN TURNER. As I was putting together a list of food and snacks, it dawned on me how expensive camping can be if you aren’t penny wise. My husband asked for some quick and easy snacks and easy prep meals ... more

Welcome to VISIT MISSOULA

By MARGARET HORTON. ALL NEW VISIT MISSOULA BLOG. I’m not a Missoula local or even a Montana native. What I am, however, is a frequent visitor to this beautiful city and the surrounding area and each visit ha... more

Mind Over Matter: One Runner’s Struggle with Marathon-Induced Hypochondria

BY JENNIFER SAUER. Like its name suggests, marathon-induced hypochondria rears its ugly head as a big race nears, right around the time taper begins. After months of injury-free training, a phantom pain appear... more

Repurpose Grass Clippings as Mulch

By LISA HENSLEY. By this time of year, if you bag your grass cuttings, you’re probably starting to think fondly of those winter months when there’s no mowing to do. (Actually, you’re probably thinking tha... more