Shopping

The Shift to Thrift

Once Upon a Child believes that we're in the golden age of resale Article and Photography by Chelsea Lyn Agro Desiree Dillavou is the owner of Once Upon a Child here in Missoula—a highly anticipated arrival to our community for its plethora of thrifted items for children. Everything from clothes to toys to book and baby equipment is here under one roof, and for a discounted rate when compared to buying brand new. Desiree is excited by the sustainable outcomes that are a direct effect from...

Food + Beverage

Holiday Charcuterie Board

Slip something pretty onto the table for your next holiday party Article by Angela Broockerd | Photography by Janie Janes The holiday season beckons a breadth of snackables, whether it be a spread of chips and dips, confections, savory nibbles, or any type of hors d'oeuvres presented in way that offers both practical and pretty presentation. A circular snack board, such as in the shape of a wreath for the sake of this Christmas season, is an easy way to assemble any type of snack plate for any...

Shopping

Pony Up for the Perfect Purchase

Montana Gift Corral guides you to the just-right gifts Article by Emma Trotter | Photography by Rick Szczechowski To wrangle holiday giving, mosey on over to Montana Gift Corral. Founded in Bozeman more than 30 years ago, the store opened on Front Street in Missoula in 2024. Inventory is 70 percent Montana made, and 30 percent Montana inspired, and the store places an emphasis on high-end customer service, offering free coffee and free gift wrapping. “I just like to find the perfect gift for...

Life + Culture

Helping Your Fellow Human

Jason Baker faces hardships and success from a heart-first perspective Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Rick Szczechowski & Bess Bird Photography Jason Baker has a message: “For anyone struggling, you are [expletive] worth it, and don’t you ever forget it.” Spend a little time with Jason Baker and it doesn’t take too long to figure out that he doesn’t mince words. If you were to live through some of what Jason has, it’s safe to say that you, too, would find no reason not to speak...

Local Services

Giving is the Gift

The Boys & Girls Club of Missoula recounts the ways in which our community has changed the lives of our children Article by Chelsea Lyn Agro | Photography by Taylor Martini Blustering winds, pelting snow, and a sky colored like that of a bruise. Director of Special Events & Community Outreach Julianne Bitely describes what the annual Blue Door Banquet for the Boys & Girls Club of Missoula (BGCM) looked like—a Hogsmeade themed evening, made to resemble the wizarding village in the Harry Potter...

Local Services

Rest Insured

Justin Ross helps shape the vision of community by offering a local helping hand Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Insurance . Exciting stuff, huh? Probably not for many of us. More likely it’s just another bill to be taken care of and ignored for the next 30 days, just one more expense on the monthly ledger. And it usually is just that. That is, until something goes horribly wrong. Then, insurance might be the difference between a slight inconvenience and...

Arts + Culture

Bringing Beauty to the Mundane

Traffic signal boxes in Missoula are another canvas for our local artists Article by Shelby Humphreys | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Next time you’re waiting at a stoplight in Missoula, look around for a decorated box. Perhaps you’ve spotted the popcorn machine at the corner of Mullan and West Broadway or the herd of neon horses just a few blocks down near Russell. However, if you’ve never noticed those boxes until they were decorated, you’re not alone. These traffic signal boxes (TSBs)...

Health + Wellness

Gratitude in Community and Healing

Dr. Stephanie Raven from Aralia Health reflects on how gratitude shapes her life and work Article by Dr. Stephanie Raven | Photography by Renske Photo Gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling—it’s a daily practice that shapes how we connect with ourselves, with others, and with the natural world. When I reflect on what first drew me to naturopathic medicine, gratitude is at the center. I wanted the knowledge and tools to care for my own health and to support the wellbeing of my family...

Home + Design

At Home Oasis

Bitterroot couple designs a home that they don't need a vacation from Article by Chelsea Lyn Agro | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Rick Szczechowski and Donna Godert are visionaries of our modern day. He, a lifelong photographer, and she, an interior designer who just struck a recent chord of fame when she designed the home that won the Peoples Choice Award in the 2025 Missoula Parade of Homes. The house had a mountain modern vibe, thoughtfully complete with warm but not-to-be-overlooked...

Food + Beverage

PLONK

Mediterranean food, cocktails and wine Article by Emma Trotter | Photography by Rick Szczechowski There’s something for everyone at Plonk, a Missoula staple for cocktails, wine, and Mediterranean food that opened over a decade ago. “It’s a country wine bar,” said regional manager John Prugh, in an effort to sum up Plonk’s welcoming ambiance and low-key decadence. In keeping with that description, the space above the bar—and across from a low wall displaying wine bottles—is decorated with...