Life + Culture

Community is the Common Ground

The Missoula County Fairgrounds is really about community Article by Susie Wall | Photography by Isaac Rowland, Austin Smith, Rick Szczechowski Certain words come to mind when you hear the phrase “county fair.” Words like carnival, rodeo, blue ribbon, 4-H, and if you’ve ever been to the Western Montana Fair in Missoula, Viking and Lemondairy. For the last several years, the hardworking team behind the Missoula County Fairgrounds has made it their mission to add another word to that...

Home + Design

An Ode to Indoor Plants

Vine Plants + Design offers the opportunity for a lively presence Article by Emma Trotter | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Vine Plants + Design opened last August on Higgins, and for months, every time I drive by I want to go there. Finally, after a critical mass of houseplants die off over the course of winter, I tally up the free space we have in our various containers and set out to run the errand. Except, “errand” isn’t exactly the right word, because, walking into Vine, the vibe is...

Entertainment

Folf, Frolf, Disc Golf!

Garden City Flyers is Missoula's disc golf club Article by Emma Trotter | Photography by Rick Szczechowski “Everyone talks about the moment they got hooked,” said Matt Doughten, vice president of Garden City Flyers, Missoula’s club for disc golf. “The dream flight they envisioned.” Maybe it was a specific shot shape on a woods course like Pattee Canyon, requiring players to throw down hallways. Or maybe it required brute strength, on a bomber course like Linda Vista. Just like what disc golf...

Arts + Culture

37 Years of International Song

The Montana International Choral Festival is a flagship for choral festivals worldwide Article by Chelsea Lyn Agro | Photography by Montana International Choral Festival Let's go out on a limb (or wing) and say that penguins—while not traditionally songbirds—should assemble here in Montana for the annual Montana International Choral Festival. After all, Antarctica is the only continent left in the world that hasn't had a presence at this recurring notable event. Sillies aside, this really is a...

Professional Services

A Turning Point

Homeowners and landlord insurance markets begin to stabilize Article by Chelsea Lyn Agro | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Dear Missoula, After a few turbulent years in the property insurance market, we’re finally seeing some welcomed signs of stabilization, especially for homeowners and landlords here in Missoula and across Montana. For the past several years, rising costs (largely due to inflation, increased claims from severe weather events, and supply chain challenges in construction)...

Wellness

The Backbone of Missoula

Dr. Gregory Chapman of ProAdjuster Chiropractic Clinic is devoted to each patient Article by Susie Wall | Photography by Rick Szczechowski The latest technology in pain management is on full display in Dr. Gregory Chapman’s ProAdjuster Chiropractic Clinic, but it is his deep passion for helping all who walk through the door that has brought devoted patients into his office for over 40 years. Dr. Chapman and his wife Jill moved to Missoula in 1984 upon his graduation from the National College...

Arts + Culture

Playing His True Self

Local musician John Floridis never deviates from who he is and his music has become a Missoula staple Article by Emma Trotter | Photography by Rick Szczechowski John Floridis is a Missoula-based guitarist, singer-songwriter, and composer—and recipient of Arts Missoula’s 2024 “Individual Artist Award.” His music spans folk rock, blues, and solo acoustic guitar. Long-time host and producer of Montana Public Radio’s Musician’s Spotlight program, he has interviewed more than 200 musicians from all...

Food + Beverage

He's in the People Business

Paradise Falls co-owners, a father-and-daughter duo, share how Missoula has changed and how business is really about the people behind it Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Some things are just sturdy and stand the test of time, while the world around them keeps moving. Think about the many mountain peaks surrounding Missoula, waypoints that haven’t changed all that much across millennia as countless lives have come and gone around them. Missoula’s Paradise Falls is...

Health + Wellness

Meet Dr. Payton Robertson

Redefining men’s health through longevity and performance Article by Arielle Wilson | Photography by Renske Photo For too long, men’s healthcare has been reactive—treating disease only after it manifests. Dr. Payton Robertson is changing that narrative. With a deep passion for longevity medicine, he helps men not just live longer but thrive longer, focusing on healthspan rather than mere lifespan. His approach echoes the philosophy of Dr. Peter Attia’s Outlive: true longevity isn’t about...

Arts + Culture

Made by "Maid"

Stephanie Land shares a snippet of her world with MVL Article by Susie Wall | Photography by Rick Szczechowski You may recall a certain Netflix mini series called “Maid,” which aired in 2021 and quickly became wildly successful. The series follows a young mother who fled a bad relationship and finds a job cleaning houses to provide for her daughter. Her dream, though, is Missoula—pursuing an education here and building a better future. While the series strays from the accuracy of real life...