The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

Organizing Your Coupons

By ERIN TURNER. So, have you spent your week clipping lots of coupons? Now, you probably are going crazy because what do you DO with all of them once they are clipped? To be a successful extreme couponer, yo... more

A Montana Road Split

By BILL SCHWANKE. coach Wayne Tinkle summed it up when he talked about Montana’s inability of late to perform well on the road. With the final two league games at Portland State and Eastern Washington next ... more

The Art of the Tamale

By BOB ZIMORINO. This was the beginning of my relationship with Mexican food. Many of the things that I learned from Luisa still show up regularly in my southwestern dishes. ... more

The Heart of the Matter

By KRISTA REDPATH PYRON. There are some stories that are worth telling. There are those "ahhh" moments where you hear a saying, reconnect with a friend, or just recall a memory that makes you stop and reflect.... more

Don’t Worry, Be a Happy Hour

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Now that I’ve had a chance to settle into and savor a taste of Boulder, Colorado, one of the things that has struck me, other than the super high density of craft brewers in town, is that ne... more

Griz Pound ISU, But Where to Begin

By BILL SCHWANKE. You wouldn’t think there would be much to write about in a 71-52 basketball game, but actually it’s hard to know where to start.... more

What Has Winter Brought?

By BILL CARAS. What has winter brought? For Montana gardeners, “What will spring bring?” might be the better question. Either way, the answers vary every year. What will survive unscathed? What might be wi... more

Q & A: Job Search – New to Missoula

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. So you’re ready to contribute to Missoula’s improving economy, but where is an industrious job seeker to start? In addition to online job lists, we’ve included links to help you sta... more

Coming Home to Montana – Part One

By SUZANNE MILLER. Dad’s ritual of making the entire family get out of the car and kiss the ground every time we re-entered Montana after a trip seemed fun and daring when I was about six. ... more

My Loyal Valentine

By VERINA PALMER MARTIN. I love Valentine’s Day. I always have – even when I wasn’t in love, even when my love was unrequited, even if I got the now-infamous skunk valentine. Because, without the hope of ... more

What’s Happening This Week

Tips from the Trail. What's happening this week.... more

Couponing 101 – The Basics

By ERIN TURNER- The Coupon Queen. So you want to save money on your grocery bill? That’s great! But if you were like me a year ago, I had no idea where to start! Here are the basic keys of saving:... more

Griz and Lady Griz Tough on Bears

By BILL SCHWANKE. If you’re into atmosphere - almost a tournament atmosphere - Dahlberg Arena was the place to be Saturday night as the Montana Grizzlies took on the Northern Colorado Bears for a share of fi... more

Taste It Video Blog – Pico de Gallo

Taste It Video Blog. An easy to make Pico de Gallo to go on top of the Chile Rellenos they made last week.... more

Valentine’s Day Contest – Win a $100 Gift Certificate

Win a $100 Gift Certificate to the Red Bird Restaurant...just for telling us about your favorite Missoula Valentine.... more

Can You Feel the Buzz?

Perhaps it is the chill in the air, the sunshine, or the wrap up of holiday’s spent with families and loved ones, but members of the Missoula community are experiencing an unmistakable buzz in the air.... more

A Man’s Guide to a Successful Valentine’s Day

By BOB ZIMORINO. When I think of Valentine’s Day, I am reminded of the disparaging term “Hallmark Holiday”. While Hallmark does a fine job of offering appropriate sentiments for those that suffer a disco... more

Griz, Lady Griz Handle Sac State

By BILL SCHWANKE. You’ve gotta love how the Montana Grizzlies continue to play defense right to the end, no matter who’s in the game and no matter how big the lead.... more

The Dude Can Dance

By ELKE GOVERTSEN. Valentine's Blog: After the sting from my first real heartbreak had subsided, I decided that my next fling would be simple. If he could dance, that would do. I wanted no complications, obli... more

Stop! In the Name of Love!

By JEN SLAYDEN. I am not one to go gaga over Valentine’s Day, but it is nice to be appreciated by my spouse, and to show him appreciation. Four years ago, when he was still working in the corporate world I d... more

Why Love is Like Riding a Bike

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. I met my wife when we worked together for a summer at a small New Mexican guest ranch. We were there as part of a college summer staff. I had come out there from Tennessee and she from her co... more

Learning to Cook Mexican with Luisa

By BOB ZIMORINO. Traditions in cooking sometimes last for centuries because regardless of what new fangled techniques or gadgets enter the picture, the old way is still the best. Changes are in the subtleties.... more

It’s All in the Cards – Valentines Cards

By CC THE TRAINED MONKEY. Valentine’s Day plays as much a role in my life as hitting myself in the head with a hammer does. It’s bad enough just being a regular loser 364 days of the year, I gotta be SUPE... more

‘Wise Frugality’ Versus ‘Cheap’ This Valentine’s Day

By ERIN TURNER. I love Valentines’ Day. It’s one of those holidays that seems so trivial but is a much welcomed break in the middle of winter. It always creates a cozy warmness in me and gives me a litt... more

Doubles are Here!

The doublers are here! And they will be here until Tuesday night! Any manufacturer coupon you have that is valued up to $1.00 will be doubled with an Albertson’s twice the value coupon (found in their flyer f... more

Missoula Job Service – Workforce Matchmakers

In our very first Work It Video, I told you I planned to interview employers and employment experts in order to share with you Missoula Job Seekers some of the resources available to help make your job hunt a s... more

Ditto for Saturday: Home Court Advantage Wins Again

By BILL SCWANKE: Robin Selvig showed he still has a sense of humor Saturday afternoon after his Lady Griz pummeled Northern Arizona 84-61 at Dahlberg Arena. Tinkle’s post-game comments were right on point. T... more

Big Sky Brewing’s ‘Terrible’ Beer a Terrible Misnomer

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Big Sky Brewing Co. released its 2010 Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout in mid-January, and if you want to sample it for yourself you better hurry, as production is limited to only 3,800 750 m... more

Home Teams Prevail Thursday Night

By BILL SCHWANKE. Home teams held serve Thursday night as the Montana men took on Weber State in Ogden, Utah and the Montana women took on the Wildcats in Missoula.... more

Taste It Video Blog – Baked Chiles Rellenos

Taste it Video Blog. Join Bob and Emily as they cook Chiles Rellenos! ... more

Once a Lady Griz, Always a Lady Griz

By KRISTA REDPATH PYRON. If there’s one word I would use to sum up the Lady Griz basketball program, it would be family. Little did I know that a summer day in 1994 would change my life and my family forever... more

Hector and Luisa

By BOB ZIMORINO. Tradition has played a huge part in ethnic cuisine forever. That being said, they only last until something better comes along. Somewhere along the line, after the discovery of fire, “Grog... more

Golden Memories

By CC THE TRAINED MONKEY. I read somewhere that a memory becomes solidified thanks to a burst of adrenaline in our systems at the time of the incident. I totally call BS on that. Why would the sight of my de... more

Raising a Glass with Friends, the Original ‘Social Network’

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Sharing a pint of brew with friends after work grew to be big business over the centuries. Last year, Montana earned the #1 spot in the country for “Most Beer Consumed” per capita at an a... more

Meet the Coupon Queen – New ‘SAVE IT’ Blog

By ERIN TURNER. I’m looking forward to sharing with you ways of saving money and managing your budget. Whether you are trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck or wanting to be a full-time stay- at- home m... more

What’s Happening This Week

Tips from the Trail. What's happening this week.... more

Make Mine a Double: Griz Women, Men Sweep Bobcats

By BILL SCHWANKE. A second doubleheader in a row featuring Montana and Montana State, this time in Bozeman. And what a sweet Saturday it was for the University of Montana, albeit perhaps an unexpected one.... more

Taste It Video Blog

Taste It Video Blog. Local restaurateur Bob Zimorino and The Good Food Store’s Emily Seitz have collaborated to create a one-of-a-kind cooking experience with the Taste it Missoula video blog. They’ll not ... more

All Real Estate is Local – Even in Montana

We’ve all heard the national news about housing prices plummeting and foreclosure rates soaring. Fortunately, in most of Montana, we have come through without the astounding foreclosure rates and falling home... more

Art Studios and Lebowskifests

By CLAY SPRINGMEYER. After a long week of struggles in the studio, I celebrated the completion of my winter session course by heading over to Lebowskifest at the Wilma theater on Saturday night. This movie wil... more

The Rocky Mountain Front

By BOB ZIMORINO. I had a life changing moment in which I realized I would not have to return home to Western New York after “sowing my wild oats” to get a real job and become a respectable American with a w... more

The Job Interview: It’s Not Coffee Talk

Video Blog By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Allow me to share a secret about the job interview: It’s not coffee talk. Every question an interviewers asks is to determine two things: can you do the job and can you work w... more

Bedtime

By ELKE GOVERTSEN. I am usually out of gas at bedtime. I am ready to quit. I don’t know how I will make it through the next hour of showers, towels, flushing and brushing. But once we hit the bedroom I am go... more

Griz-Cat Weekend – A 50-50 Deal

By BILL SCHWANKE. The Grizzlies, led by Will Cherry, jumped the Cats early, racing to a 20-6 lead. UM had its biggest first half margin with just under 10 minutes left, 27-10.... more

The Sheepman Cometh

By BOB ZIMORINO. This is how to get lost in the Targhee National Forest of Northern Idaho. Oh but you aren’t all from here, so first I’ll tell you a little bit about the Montana highway system.... more

Griz & Lady Griz Basketball Contest

We've been inspired by "Grizzly" Bill Schwanke's latest blog post, so we want to know: What's your best Griz or Lady Griz b-ball moment? Tell us about it in the comments below now through Jan. 20 to enter th... more

JFK and Your Job Search – Video Blog

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. When John F Kennedy famously said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” he asked us to shift our thinking in a big way.... more

A Double Dose of “W” for UM Hoops

By BILL SCHWANKE. The win over ISU put Montana at 14-5 overall this season, 6-1 in Big Sky play. Not bad for a team with seven new players and a couple of key ones out with injuries.... more

Northern Girl

By CC THE TRAINED MONKEY. Here’s a little weather trivia for you - January is traditionally the coldest month of the year. At the time I’m writing this, it’s 36 degrees in Missoula. In L.A. it’s 80, ... more

The Mystery of Big Sky Conference Hoops

By BILL SCHWANKE. When I was the Voice of the Grizzlies on radio all those years I more often than not would see an official call something that seemed totally wrong or at best out of place, and would label it... more