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...

Shopping

Your Neighborly Grocers

Pattee Creek Market thrives on personal connection and regional products Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Rick Szczechowski Have you ever met the CEO of Albertsons, or know what they look like? Might the finance manager of Wal-Mart be invited to dinner with your family? Is there a chance that WinCo’s director of human resources would lobby to put your name on a product? It’s not a stretch to presume the answer to each above question is ‘no.’ For Tim Hines—who owns Missoula’s...

Food + Beverage

Land is Kin

The Mannix Ranch Story Article by Abigail Thomsen | Photography by Abigail Thomsen, Avery Kapitan, and Sarah Kingsbury It’s a brisk Tuesday morning on a 50,000-acre ranch in Helmville, Montana. Family members gather for their ranch meeting. Irrigation challenges are discussed, crews assigned, and the team disperses for a long day’s work—just as they have for more than a century. Welcome to Mannix Family Ranch, dating back to 1882 when their ancestors settled in Montana. Marked by resilience...

Food + Beverage

Team Caffeine

Four of our favorites for a caffeine fix Article by Emma Trotter Missoulians are lucky enough to be steeped in choices for locally roasted coffee. We sat down with five local roasters to percolate through how they roast and source beans, interact with customers, and create community through coffee.   James Chapman Co-founder and co-owner, Black Coffee   How do you help a customer decide which roast to buy? The blends tend to be a little more approachable for someone who isn’t sure...

Food + Beverage

Montana Grown Grains

Organic grains are the magic behind Grist Milling & Bakery Article by Susie Wall | Photography by Rick Szczechowski It hits you the minute you open the door at Grist Milling & Bakery. That enticing, mouth-watering aroma of fresh baked bread. But it is not just the loaves of tangy sourdough or the menagerie of sweet and savory pastries that make Grist a welcome addition to Missoula’s bakery scene. Nor is it the fact that Grist was named a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist for outstanding...

Shopping

Story, Spirit, Soul

Amanda Krolczyk of Plaid Beaver draws a mesmerizing connection between nature and art Article by Emma Trotter | Photography by Rick Szczechowski To contemplate Amanda Krolczyk’s art—made of reclaimed wood, cut and painted into nature scenes—is to be drawn in by the scale, then enthralled by the details. Her pieces typically have a broad frame, evoking a reliquary—an ornate container designed to hold something sacred. And for her, that something sacred is nature itself. “I’ve always had this...