All posts in Heart of Missoula Neighborhood
Farmers Market and Clark Fork River Market Start This Weekend
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
Clark Fork River Market and Missoula Farmers Market both start this weekend! Yahoo!!
Missoula Farmer’s Market:
Starting Date: Saturday, April 30, 2011
Ending Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Hours: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Clark Fork River Market:
2011 Market season is April 30th- October 22nd!!!
Hours: 8 am to 1 pm.
See you there!!
Young Writers Meet Downtown
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
When I was a teenager I was always looking for inspiration to write. I would have really enjoyed taking part in a teen writers group. I found out this week on the internet such a group meets at the Missoula Public Library. What a great resource for young adults to learn and grow. Here’s the information I found on the Missoula Downtown Page:
Description:
Are you a teen writer who needs a little inspiration and/or feedback? Come to the teen writers group and let your inner artist flourish. Meeting places vary, but the Young Adult Librarian on duty will know where to send you.
Age Group: Teens
Venue: Missoula Public Library
Address: 301 East Main Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: 406 721 2665
Diversity Day Celebrated in the Garden City
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
Here’s some good information that came my way this week. It’s an event being planned here in Missoula to celebrate diversity and our community. I’m proud to live in a city that has such an event and hope we get a great turn out for this event.
Diversity Day 2011
April 16th – 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
“Who’s Your Neighbor?” is this year’s theme. Saturday, April 16th will kick off with a non-motorized parade beginning at the Higgins St. XXXX’s, and conclude with a rally of speakers, music, and a good ‘ol celebration outside the Boone and Crocket Club at the south end of the Higgins Street Bridge.
Come and help us celebrate Missoula and all the folks who live in Missoula!
Want to be involved?
We invite you to think about what makes you and your organization/community/neighborhood unique. Then, come march together through the Garden City. Your group can put together a float, a banner, or any sort of non-motorized display for the parade. Youth participation and creativity are highly encouraged.
Best of all? There are no registration forms or fees. Show up at the Higgins St. XXXX’s by 3 p.m. on April 16th. For float ideas or further questions, please e-mail erin@ncbimissoula.org or call 406.541.6891.
At a time when many individuals and organizations are tightening their belts, Diversity Day helps us remember that relationships are the heart of community. Stronger connections between neighbors create safer neighborhoods, healthier families, and happier citizens. It decreases isolation and increases belonging. It creates a more livable city for all of us.
We hope you will join us this year, whether in the parade, at the celebration, or both!
WMCC Open House
April 16th – 6:30pn – 8:30pm
The Western Montana Community Center, in collaboration with the Montana Gender Alliance and NCBI Missoula, is hosting a WMCC Open House & Social at the Center, 127 N. Higgins, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.
This is a great opportunity to get to know other members in the community and to found out who your neighbors are in the community.
B.Y.O.D
The Center will be hosting a “Bring Your Own Dessert” social, in which we suggest that you bring some form of dessert to share with the group. We will be providing gallons of ice cream, but we can always use more and, given the large crowd, we may run out of our own dessert quickly.
Bring Yourself, your neighbors, those you meet on the street, and anyone else you can think of.
All are welcome at Missoula’s 2nd Annual Diversity Day!
Snow Geese Trip Offered by MNHC
One of the jewels in the heart of Missoula is the Montana Natural History Center. I’ve participated in a few of their events and have always enjoyed them.
The mission of the Montana Natural History Center is to promote and cultivate the appreciation, understanding and stewardship of nature through education. MNHC is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by a group of educators who had the vision to create a natural history center as a resource for schools and the public. Originally housed on the University of Montana campus, MNHC continued to grow and outgrow its rented space at Fort Missoula. In 2004, MNHC purchased its first home at 120 Hickory Street, at the edge of McCormick Park in the heart of Missoula. (taken directly from their website)
They are sponsoring and organizing an event that sounds like a lot of fun to me: a field trip to Freezeout Lake on the East Front near Choteau, MT. They will be meeting at 7:00 am at the Montana Natural History Center on March 26th and will return around 6 pm. They are planning to spend an inspiring day watching thousands of migrating snow geese (and other birds) at Freezeout Lake. The trip will be hosted by snow goose expert and FWP volunteer Mike Schwitters.
The cost is $30 MNHC members/$40 non-members. Registration is required. Call 327-0405 to reserve your spot today! Full payment is due upon registration. Educators can receive 3 OPI credits. For more information or to learn more about this fantastic Missoula based organization go to http://www.montananaturalist.org/
Cuckoo’s Nest Saves Long Winter
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
You know, when this weather seems to drag on and on and it seems spring will never come, it’s the best time to hang out downtown in Missoula because there are so many events going on it gets you out of the house and brightens your spirits. Here’s the information on another promising Missoula Children’s Theater production.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Guest directed by David Mills-Low
March 11-13, 16-20
MCT VIP Night March 10
By Dale Wasserman. Based on the novel by Ken Kesey. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
If you appreciate great drama, don’t even think about missing this brilliant American classic. Into the confinement of Nurse Ratched’s tidy asylum, enters Randle Patrick McMurphy. The clash of their wills results in a primal fight for independence and even sanity. Both uplifting and heart-rending, Ken Kesey’s masterpiece will haunt your memory for days and nights to come.
Uncle Jim’s Straight Scoop
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is simply a great play. It will haunt you and it will make you think. It is one of my favorite pieces of American literature. MCT doesn’t often present a show with this much intensity, so give it a try, you won’t be sorry… but it’s babysitter time. The serious themes and the nature of the action are not suitable for most kids.
This show contains language which may be offensive to some and adult themes that are not suitable for children. General public tickets on sale February 22
Age Group: 18+
Venue: MCT Center
Address: 200 N Adams St. Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: 406 728 1911
St. Patrick’s Hospital
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
St Patrick Hospital in Missoula has long been a downtown neighborhood icon and communtiy resource.
While looking for something different to blog about this week, this event held at St Pats caught my eye. St Patrick Hospital is a huge part of my neighborhood and everything going on there, so it seemed about time I recognize something going on there in one of my blogs. Also, I’ve had a few friends who’ve suffered from brain injuries and having watched their challenges it has made me realize how important outside resources are to them. This one sounds great. Here’s the skinny:
The Montana Brain Injury Center, a program of the Montana Neuroscience Institute, and Peak Performance Physical Therapy are hosting a free and open to the public lecture on Saturday, March 12. The event will address various topics including: “Defining Brain Injury”, “Advances in Brain Injury Research”, “Brain Injury in Native American Populations”, and “Brain Injury Trends and Resources in Montana”. For more information, please contact Molly Considine at 406.329.5733 or email msabel@saintpatrick.org
St. Patrick Hospital
Broadway Building Conference Center 500 W. Broadway
Runners, On Your Marks … Downtown
Looks like we’ll be seeing all those enthusiastic runners in training running the streets downtown again this spring. I have so much admiration for their dedication and the time they put in for this great Missoula event. It appears the Runner’s Edge will be hosting another spring long training session this year. Here’s the scoop if you’re interested:
Run Wild Missoula’s Missoula Marathon Running Training Class 8:00 AM Runner’s Edge
Description: Class starts Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 8 a.m. and meets until the Missoula Marathon on July 10.
Class meets at Runner’s Edge, 325 N. Higgins Ave. every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and on Sunday at 8 a.m.
Get ready for the 2011 Missoula Marathon or Half Marathon with Run Wild Missoula’s training program for anyone. You don’t have to be a semi-professional athlete, former track star, 5 percent body fat or logging 30 miles a week to participate. All you have to be is someone who wants to complete the half or full Missoula Marathon on Sunday, July 10, 2011.
The class starts with distances as low as 2 miles, but how fast you run absolutely does not matter. For beginners there is a run/walk option. Beginners who have not run a step as of the first day of class will be encouraged to set the Missoula Half Marathon as your goal. (Yes, you can do this. You have 6½ hours to complete the Half Marathon course and you have 4½ months to train.)
The program begins conservatively but you’ll find the miles start adding up quickly, even if you’re a more advanced runner. By the end of this training class you will be ready for race day.
With the Training Program, participants receive:
* Coaching by Anders Brooker, Cross Country and Track Coach at Hellgate High School and Owner of Runner’s Edge
* Comprehensive Training Program for Full and Half Marathon Trainees
* Group Runs on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m.
* Pacers for All Levels
* Guest Speakers on Nutrition, Injury Prevention, Running Form and More!
* New This Year: Racing Singlet!
* Handheld Water Bottle
* Aid Stations every week
* Gels on 5 longest runs (the same brand used on the course of the Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon)
*Post Class Party
Cost: $75/RWM members, $100/non-members
Age Group: 18+
Montana’s 5th Annual Winter Gathering and Fundraiser Planned
I think there’s something exciting going on in my neighborhood every weekend! Here’s an event coming up downtown that sounds like a hoot. It mixes my love for the wilderness and my downtown social life, which is always a great combination for a fun time.
Montana’s 5th Annual Winter Gathering & Fundraiser
Thursday, February 24
6:30PM to 9:30PM
Downtown Dance Collective
121 W. Main St., Missoula
Join us in downtown Missoula for our 5th Annual Winter Gathering and Fundraiser. Come bid on some items in one of the best wilderness-oriented silent auctions around while filling yourself up on wine, beer and hors d’ouvres. Don’t forget to pick up some raffle tickets while enjoying live music. Downtown Dance Collective
For our keynote address, we are honored to welcome Bill Moore, who will present a tribute to his late father, Bud Moore. One of the fathers of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Bud’s impact on the protection of the Selway-Bitterroot was incalculable. Few knew the Selway country as well as Bud, who grew up exploring and trapping in these mountains. Bud’s progressive wilderness management during his Forest Service career set the stage for many of the management techniques that we use today. Please come on down February 24 to hear the story of one of the Selway-Bitterroot’s greatest champions. We’ll also be honoring John McBride, one of the founders of the National Smokejumper Association’s trails maintenance program.
F0r more information: selwaybitterroot.org/events
Documentary Film Festival Starting
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
OK, I freely admit it, I write about this event every year because I get so jazzed about it. The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is my favorite event in downtown Missoula and it’s starting this weekend!! I just love tapping into the cultural aspect of these great films and stepping outside of my own little world here in Missoula, if just for a short time.
If I can encourage you to do anything downtown this year, this would be it. Pick up the booklets that describe each film and go to at least one film this year.
I encourage you to go to their website and check out what it’s all about:
http://www.bigskyfilmfest.org/
And taken directly from their webpage, here’s a brief description to whet your appetite.
About the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Now in its 8th year, The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has become the largest cinema event in Montana and the premiere venue for non-fiction film in the American West. In 2010, the festival drew an audience of 10,000 and received nearly 1000 film entries from every corner of the globe. A unique setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and for audiences to see innovative new films and also classics in the genre, the festival presents an average of 125 non-fiction films annually at the historic Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, hosting over fifty visiting artists.
In addition to screenings, public events include panel discussions, workshops, pitch sessions, panel discussions, parties and receptions. Special retrospective programs have included the films of The Maysles Brothers, Kartemquin Films, Frederick Wiseman, Joe Berlinger, Doug Pray, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Academy Award® winning director Steve James (Hoop Dreams), Les Blank (Burden of Dreams), Greg Barker (Sergio) Joe Berlinger (Crude), Ron Mann (Grass), Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series) (Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution).
Recent Award winners at the festival have included Last Train Home (Lixin Fan), Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor), Gasland (Josh Fox), Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto), Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green) In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar), and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed).
Trail System Still Growing
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
Great news this week about our beloved Kim Williams Trail that runs through the heart of my neighborhood. I received this from Bob Jaffe, one of our local city council members from Ward 3.
“In Conservation we approved a contract for about $500,000 to build the section of the Milwaukee Road Trail between Russell and Reserve. Here is a link to see the preliminary drawings:
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3789
Pretty soon the trail will run all the way from Grove Street to the end of the Kim Williams Trail and then it will loop around the Canyon River Golf Course, under the highway, back across the tracks and then to the old tunnel. A few more years down the road there will be a bridge on the other side of the tunnel connecting it to the new state park on the other side of the Clark Fork. Maybe by then we will also have figured out how to get the bridge that goes from Grove Street across the river to the Mullan Road area. I’m sure we are looking at a decade or two before we see all this. “–Bob Jaffe
I have to think this is only going to add to the transportation options in and out of my downtown neighborhood and make it much more bike and pedestrian friendly for more people in our city. It sounds like soon you’ll be able to go from East Missoula to Reserve St and do it with your stroller, your wheelchair, your bike or on your own two feet much more safely and along the scenic river corridor. This main artery will connect so much of our community, it’s a real asset to us all and something to truly be proud of.