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Sex and the City 2 Movie Premiere Party

2010-04-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Rimrock Mall is again having a party for the premiere of Sex and the City 2 on May 27th, 2010 to benefit Relay for Life.

Here's a chance to get decked out, get out your Manolo's (or other sexy but more affordably priced heels) and get together with your girlfriends to be one of the first to see Sex and the City 2. The party includes appetizers, desserts, drinks by The Carlin and music by Zen. Then, at 8:30 the party moves indoors for the exclusive showing of the movie. Tickets are $40 and are available at Rimrock Mall. Tables of 8 are available for $500. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

2010 MontanaFair Entertainment

2010-04-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

MontanaFair announced their entertainment line up today.

MontanaFair will kick off with three concerts. Country artist, Jason Aldean will perform on opening night of the fair, Friday, August 13th at 7:00 PM. The McClymonts will open. Tickets are $45, $35, and $25.

Then on Saturday, August 14th, the Scorpions "Get Your Sting and Black Out Tour" comes to the Rimrock Auto Arena. Tickets are $45, $35, and $25.

The final concert will include rockers Hinder and Finger Eleven on Sunday, August 15th. Tickets are $35 for reserved and festival floor and $25 GA.

All of the dirt events are moving outside this year. MontanaFair is going to feature a Demolition Derby on its opening Saturday at 2:00 PM in the Grandstands. Arenacross will become Supercross and move outside to the Grandstands on Tuesday, August 17th.

MontanaFair Rodeo is going to PRCA Pro Rodeo for three nights in the Grandstands to finish out the fair August 19th-21st.

MontanaFair offers the ValuPass which includes a GA ticket for all of the concerts and dirt events plus gate admission every day of the fair for $75.

Tickets for all MontanaFair shows go on sale on Saturday, May 1st at 10am.

Win a trip to New York from Alberta Bair Theater

2010-04-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

You could win a trip to New York City while supporting the Alberta Bair Theater.

Prize includes:
Roundtrip Airfare for 2
3 Nights at the NY Marriott Marquise
Breakfast every morning
Dinner for 2 at "The View" on top of the Marriott Marquis
And Your Choice of a Broadway show, sporting event, or concert

Just stop by the ABT box office or call 256-8915. Drawing at Strawberry Fest, June 12th (need not be present to win).

Carrie Underwood returning to Billings this December

2010-04-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

MetraPark announced today that Carrie Underwood will be returning to the Rimrock Auto Arena on Friday, December 10th, 2010. Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 8th at 10am. Ticket pricing info has not yet been released.

Appearing with Underwood are Billy Currington and Sons of Sylvia.

Carrie last played in Billings in November of 2008.

Comedian, Kyle Cease this Friday and Saturday Night

2010-04-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Kyle Cease is live at Asian Nites this Friday and Saturday Night. Showtime is 8pm both nights. Tickets are just $10. Lukas Seely will open.

His Comedy Central 1 hour special “Kyle Cease: Weirder. Blacker. Dimpler. premiered in 2007 to extremely high ratings. Hís half hour special, “Comedy Central Presents Kyle Cease” was the most played half hour special on Comedy Central in 2006.

Since his memorable appearances as the ’slow clapper’ in “Not Another Teen Movie” and as Bogey Lowenstein in “10 Things I Hate About You”, Cease has had numerous TV, film and radio appearances. He is a frequent guest of the hit syndicated radio show, “Bob and Tom”, He has appeared on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”, “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “The Martin Short Show”, and has performed in several national commercials.

You can see his interview on the Big Jay Show on Hot 101.9 Here.

WIN NILE PBR Tickets and a Back Stage Tour

2010-04-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to see the top bull riders in the world AND get an insiders view of the NILE PBR Invitational with a back stage tour. Enter to win 2 premium tickets PLUS a back stage tour for the NILE PBR Invitational on Friday, April 23rd.

To enter for your chance to win, simply post your best caption (in the comments section of this blog post) for the photo below. We'll be accepting caption submissions through Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 5:00 PM. Then, Billings365.com will pick the top 3 and the public will vote on a winner. Voting will run through Tuesday, April 20th, 10:00 PM. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, April 21st. Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

Captions will be moderated so it may take some time for your submission to show up.

Elephants on Broadway today!

2010-04-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Elephants on Broadway is today in Downtown Billings at 5:30pm! See elephants parading the street in anticipation of the Shrine Circus which is this week - April 7-11, 11 performances total, Shrine Auditorium.

The street closure is from 3pm -9pm and will close North Broadway from 1st -3rd Avenues and 2nd Avenue between 27th-29th Streets.

Elephants on Broadway is free. Tickets for the Shrine Circus are $12 for adults and $6 for kids.

Foreigner, Styx, and Kansas coming to MetraPark for United in Rock Tour

2010-04-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

LMetraPark announced today that the United in Rock Tour is coming to the Rimrock Auto Arena on May 28th at 7:00 PM. The tour features co-headliners Foreigner and Styx with special guest Kansas. Tickets are $150 for VIP and then $75, $55, and $35 for other reserved seating levels.

Styx

Foreigner

Styx played the Rimrock Auto Arena in May of last year to a nearly sold out crowd along with REO Speedwagon and 38 Special. I didn't make it to that show but heard great things from those who went. We'll see if they can pull the same crowd size with Foreigner and Kansas this year!

MetraPark is having a great season of events lately (as is Billings in general). This week, Walking with Dinosaurs has been filling the arena. The NILE PBR Invitational is coming up in April. Gary Allan and Rob Zombie / Alice Cooper are at the beginning of May.

It's nice to have a city of our size bringing in some great quality entertainment. Seems to be something for everyone lately.

Win Tickets to Gary Allan or Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper

2010-03-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

We're giving away 2 Tickets to either Gary Allan (May 2nd) or Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper (May 4th)- Winner Chooses!

To find out how to enter, you've got to sign up to receive the email (contest has ended) with the contest details!

2 Great Concerts coming up this May at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark!

This contest has ended. Thanks to all who participated.

See Baby T at Rimrock Mall this Saturday

2010-03-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Baby T from Walking with Dinosaurs is making an appearance this Saturday at Rimrock Mall.

Families will have a chance to interact with Baby T, find out more about the show and chow down on some dinosaur cookies! The Baby T Appearance is free.

Details:
Date: Saturday, March 27th
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Inside Rimrock Mall near the Women's Dillards Entrance

Bozeman residents and visitors can see Baby T at the Museum of the Rockies on Friday, March 26th at 3:00 PM.

"Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular" comes to the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark for seven performances March 31st - April 3rd.

More Concert Announcements for Billings

2010-03-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Billings' concert scene is really heating up lately! We've got Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper, Gary Allan, The Used, Thrice and Manchester Orchestra, NOFX, and more in the next few months.
Here's a list of the latest concert announcements from 1111Presents and Jade Presents:

Minus the Bear
April 20th
Railyard Ale House
Tickets are $16

Seattle’s Minus the Bear have orbited the music world like a distant meteor, fine-tuning their unique brand of indie rock and discovering how technology can help enhance the band’s unique pop vision.

Tech 9

Tuesday, May 18th

Shrine Auditorium

Tickets are $23 in advance, $25 day of show

Tech N9ne's musical career has spanned 20 years, during which he has performed sold out shows from Los Angeles to New York City. He is also the best selling MC out of his hometown of Kansas City. Tech N9ne is known for his wide range of collaborations with other well-known artists.

Smile Empty Soul w/Soil
May 19th
Railyard Ale House
Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 day of show

Smile Empty Soul was formed while the band members were still in high school. The guys slowly evolved and perfected their modern melodic heavy-Rock sound over the next four years, regularly playing the two small clubs in their hometown, making the trek to the Sunset Strip and eventually scored a deal with Lava Records. In May 2003, the group released their self-titled debut album which included the snash single "Bottom Of A Bottle"

Flyleaf w/10 Years

June 1st

Shrine Auditorium

Tickets are $25

A focused fire burns bright at the heart of Flyleaf's second full-length album. The platinum-selling Texas quintet's latest offering is a collection of poignant, passionate and pensive hard rock songs.

Comedy Central's Ty Barnett this weekend

2010-03-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

This Friday and Saturday (March 19th and 20th) you can catch Comedy Central's Ty Barnett live at Asian Nites Lounge. Billings native, Lukas Seely will open. Showtime is 8pm both nights and tickets are $10.

Ty Barnett was runner up on season 4 of NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and appeared in his own 30 minute "Comedy Central Presents". His approach to performing: “FUNNY IS FUNNY”, and making the audience feel like “we’re just hanging out”.

Lukas Seely will open. Lukas grew up in Billings where he started his comedy career. Later he moved to Seattle where he quickly became a local favorite. He now resides in Hollywood, CA. Although he no longer lives in Montana, Lukas has continued to promote comedy in his home town with his own stand up performances. Recently he launched Stand Up or Sit Down open mic comedy at Asian Nites where local comedians have a chance to test their skills in front of a live audience.

Latest Event Announcements

2010-03-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of big event announcements recently. Many are coming from 1111 Presents and Jade Presents. Here are a few of the most recent--

Paul Wall & Chamillionaire
Wednesday, April 17th, 8pm
Babcock Theatre
Tickets $28
More Info

Indigo Girls

Friday, April 16th, 8pm

Babcock Theatre

Tickets $37.50

More Info

The Used
w/Chiodos & New Medicine
Tuesday, April 27th, 7pm
Shrine Auditorium
Tickets $25

More Info

Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper

Gruesome Twosome Tour

Tuesday, May 4th, 7pm

Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark

Tickets $39.50-$45

More Info

Henry Rollins
Spoken Word Tour

Wednesday, May 19th, 8pm
Babcock Theatre
Tickets $25

More Info

According to 1111 Presents Facebook page they will be announcing 3 more shows this Monday. Stay tuned for details!

Country artist, Gary Allan coming to MetraPark

2010-02-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Details:

Gary Allan live with special guest Jack Ingram

Sunday, May 2nd at 7:30 PM

Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark

Tickets are $29.75 and are on sale Saturday, March 6th at 10 am. Available at the MetraPark Box Office, Rimrock Mall, local Cellular Plus stores, by phone at 406-256-2422 or online at www.metrapark.com.

Country music fans will enjoy!

Thrice / Manchester Orchestra announce co-headline tour

2010-02-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

In an imposing paring, two distinctly different powerhouses of indie rock have come together for a co-headline tour: California post-hardcore band Thrice and Atlanta, Georgia indie rock five-piece Manchester Orchestra.

Billings slips into the last leg of the tour and hosts one of 18 concerts the bands will co-headline. The show will take place April 29 at the Railyard Alehouse. Read Full Story...

Upcoming Rock in Billings

2010-02-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

Tonight (Feb. 17th) you can catch Five Finger Death Punch live at the Shrine Auditorium along with Shadows Fall, Death Punch, and more.

Next Thursday, the Shrine Auditorium will be hosting Theory of a Deadman with Halestorm, Adelita's Way, and Taking Dawn.

Christian Rock fans can catch the Rock and Worship Roadshow on March 23rd at MetraPark for just $10 at the door. Bands include Mercy Me, David Crowder Band and more.

Then, in April, those who are a bit more into punk can see NOFX with Teenage Bottlerocket and Tony Sly (Of No Use for a Name) April 23rd at the Shrine.

May 13th, Mastodon with Between the Buried and Me, Baroness, and Valiant Thor play the Shrine for metal fans.

Today, MetraPark was polling on their Facebook and MySpace pages for input on rock acts for MontanaFair. Acts included Taking Back Sunday, Shinedown, Chevelle, Papa Roach, Saving Abel, Hinder, Blue October, Alice in Chains, and Sublime. I'd say if any of those materialize, it should be a great MontanaFair show. What do you think?

Lots of rock coming our way!

$5 Tickets available to the NRA Rodeo Finals

2010-02-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

A limited number of tickets to the Northern Rodeo Association Finals on Feb. 18-20 at MetraPark are available for a short time for $5. At the NRA Rodeo Finals you'll see the northern region’s top 10 rodeo athletes in every event, along with colorful pageantry, talented rodeo clowns, a concert by Grammy-Award winning Kentucky Headhunters, and more.

The $5 tickets are available at the MetraPark box office or by calling (406) 256-2422 or toll free (800) 366-8538. This is a limited time offer with only 150 tickets available per night at the $5 price. So if you want them, you better get them quick.

Walking with Dinosaurs coming to MetraPark

2010-02-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

Today MetraPark announced a BIG show (literally and figuratively)--WALKING WITH DINOSAURS. Seven shows will take place in the Rimrock Auto Arena from March 31st through April 3rd.

This show looks amazing--it's a theatrical experience but with the educational component. It is based on the BBC Television Series. Ten species are represented from the entire 200 million year reign of the dinosaurs. The show includes the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the terror of the ancient terrain, as well as the Plateosaurus and Liliensternus from the Triassic period, the Stegosaurus and Allosaurus from the Jurassic period and Torosaurus and Utahraptor from the awesome Cretaceous. The largest of them, the Brachiosaurus is 36 feet tall, and 56 feet from nose to tail.

The show depicts the dinosaurs’ evolution, complete with the climatic and tectonic changes that took place, which led to the demise of many species. The history of the world is played out with the splitting of the earth’s continents, and the transition from the arid desert of the Triassic period is given over to the lush green prairies and forces of the later Jurassic. Oceans form, volcanoes erupt, a forest catches fire -- all leading to the impact of the massive comet, which struck the earth, and forced the extinction of the dinosaurs.

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS is the most successful family touring show right now and is the 4th Biggest overall touring show only behind Bon Jovi, UT, and AC/DC. I think this will be a show like nothing we've seen in Billings before. We're lucky that it is headed our way.

Check out more info about the show at: MetraPark.com and DinosaurLive.com.

Reggae comes to Billings

2010-02-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

The Carlin is hosting a night of live reggae music with Rising Lion on February 13th at 10pm. $5 Cover at the door.

Rising Lion is a roots reggae, urban and dub artist based in New York and Florida.

Find out more about the band:
Facebook
MySpace
Twitter

Get $10 Off Jesus Christ Superstar Tickets

2010-01-28T09:50:00.000-08:00

MetraPark is offering you the chance to get JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tickets at a discounted $10 off.

You can enter to win the discount voucher on their website.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is at MetraPark's Rimrock Auto Arena this Friday Night at 8pm. The show stars Ted Neeley who also starred in the motion picture. The show tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. SUPERSTAR dramatizes Jesus' entry in Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, and his ultimate crucifixion.

Regular ticket prices are $35.50, $42.50, and $47.50.

Rock and Worship Roadshow returns to MetraPark

2010-01-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

The Rock and Worship Roadshow is returning to the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark on March 23rd, 2010 at 7pm. Admission is $10 at the door.

This year's line up of christian rock artists includes Mercy Me, David Crowder Band, Family Force 5, Francesca Battistelli, Fee, Remedy Drive and Sidewalk Prophets.

Last year The Rock and Worship Roadshow packed the Arena with a crowd of over 6,000.

The Video Spot:

The Roadshow 2010! from The Roadshow on Vimeo.

Wine and Food Festival kick off events

2010-01-14T10:50:00.000-08:00

MSU-Billings Foundation's popular event and fundraiser, the Wine and Food Festival is May 10th to the 15th but you can get in the spirit early with two special preview events--Wine 101 on February 23rd and 24th and Wine 201 on March 9th and 10th, 7pm-9pm. The courses will cover wine basics and wine tasting and will be taught by Stella Fong.

Stella shares her personal love of food and wine through her classes on Asian style cooking, wine seminars and her writings. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis and a General Cooking Certificate from the Culinary Institute of America, and in 2009 earned a Wine Professional Certification. She has taught cooking classes on the west coast for Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, Macy’s Cellars and Gelson’s, as well as after-school enrichment programs for elementary and middle school children. In Billings she has instructed at the Billings Depot, Wellness Center, Copper Colander and the YWCA.

Born in the San Francisco Bay area and raised in a traditional Chinese family, Fong devises culinary creations that include a mixture of old and new. Her understanding of food for the consumer came from working at her father’s grocery, Martin’s Market, in Berkeley, California. In California, she developed recipes for San Diego State University food services and the Kids Cooking Club. Now she features locally grown food when cooking for the Good Earth Market Sunday Suppers and last summer she contributed to the first Field-to-Table dinner at Danly Farms.

Fong’s articles have appeared in Cooking Light magazine, the San Diego Union Tribune, and Fine Cooking magazine. More recently she has written for Yellowstone Valley Woman, Big Sky Journal, Distinctly Montana, Magic City Magazine and Montana Quarterly. She has volunteered for the MSUB Wine and Food Festival for many years and was co-chair of the festival in 2008 and 2009.

You can find more info at www.winefoodfestival.com and on the festival's Facebook Page.

2 Concerts Announced today

2010-01-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

1111 Presents and Jade Presents announced two upcoming shows today.

Rock is coming to Billings with Theory of a Deadman and Halestorm plus Adelita Way and Taking Dawn at the Shrine Auditorium on February 25th.

Then, get ready for a punk rock show on April 23rd with NOFX with Teenage BottleRocket, & Tony Sly (of No Use for a Name).

Tickets for both shows go on sale this Friday and will be available at The Shrine Box Office, Ernie November, Rimrock Mall, 800-514-ETIX, and jadepresents.com. Theory tickets are $23 in advance and $25 day of show. Tickets to NOFX are $21 in advance and $23 day of show.

The two promoters are also responsible for bringing us Five Finger Death Punch with Shadows Fall on February 17th.

I'd say, Billings is pretty lucky. The spring is shaping up quite nicely with some great rock shows.

2009: A look back

2010-01-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

Exactly one year ago I posted my first blog as a freelance writer, saying, “After a stint in the corporate newspaper world, I found myself with an ignited desire to create my own place.”

As 2010 dawns, I’m pleased to say 2009 was a healthy year for music in Montana. I won’t dish out a “Top Ten” or “Best Of” on this blog, but I do want to reflect on the year in music and remind my fellow Montanans that we’re fortunate to live in a state that provides us front row access to some top notch performers. Read Full Story...

What are you doing for New Year's Eve?

2009-12-29T14:20:00.000-08:00

Super Mario Brothers Rocks

2009-12-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

Dustin got me Super Mario Brothers for the Wii for Christmas and it is awesome. He always seems to know what I want better than I do.

My sister-in-law, Trisha and I pretty much hogged the Wii (sorry nieces and nephew) all weekend. We managed to unlock 4 worlds.

The game's got the best of Super Mario Brothers. Mario, Luigi and friends get to use all of their classic powers--the mushroom to make you big, firepower and the star to help you zoom through the koopa troopas and other bad guys. Plus the more modern powers like the penguin suit, ice power, and the propeller suit to help you fly. Fun-loving Yoshi is even there to offer a ride and eat some bad guys along the way. And of course, the music and sounds are traditional to all of the older games.

The game is 2D just like the old Super Mario Brothers on the older Nintendo systems but with better graphics. And it is 4 player. We only tried 2 player. I imagine 3 or 4 player gaming would offer an all new level of fun...and frustration as many of our mistakes would happen by running into or jumping on top of one another.

The controls are the same as the old-school Mario as well. You turn your Wii remote sideways and the 1 and 2 buttons are the same as A and B used to be. There's a little bit of use with the Wii's motion sensing technology. For example, when you fly in the propeller suite, you shake the remote up and down.

If you love classic Mario and have a Wii, then you should definitely spend some of your "gift" money on this game. (As an aside, I got Mario Galaxy last year which is 3D play and is also really fun but much different than the Super Mario Games.)

Just writing about this makes me want to play it right now.

Clintons Cheesy Christmas Party

2009-12-18T12:14:00.001-08:00

After the Griz game tonight you can help The Clintons Band celebrate the release of their latest album at The Clintons Cheesy-Ass Christmas Party at Bones Brewery.

The new album titled "Decade" is a collection of 14 "must-have" Clintons songs.

Hurry up and get your tickets in advance at Bones to get them for just $10 or pay $12 at the door.

Although not required, to get in the spirit of the season, be sure to wear your cheesiest Holiday garb. Everyone's got a cheesy holiday sweater. You probably got it as a gift from one of your family members.

Missoula band, Fiancee will open!

Shopping for the Holidays

2009-12-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year! Billings is bustling with Holiday shoppers. I was off of work yesterday morning and needed a couple of things at Costco and the place was packed! How can Costco be so busy on a Tuesday morning? I suppose it is a good sign for our local economy.

Once again, Christmas crept right up really fast after Thanksgiving and now I am in a panic as I have very little shopping done! I just can't get in the mood to do my holiday shopping until after Thanksgiving. Those who begin their shopping in August absolutely baffle me. Then, there's those really prepared people who start their shopping the day after Christmas for the next Christmas and they get in on the dirt cheep deals. I'm partially envious of their preparedness but think they are nuts at the same time.

My plan is to try to do Rimrock Mall, Best Buy and other West End stores in the next few evenings after work when they aren't quite so busy. Then, I'd like to make it Downtown over the weekend to check out the specialty stores and boutiques. I always find something fun at Marcasa and I haven't had a chance to check out the new Bottega Men's and Women's Clothing Gallery yet. Several of my friends have had great things to say about the boutique. They've said that they have some really unique clothes and that they range in price from very affordable to...well, luxurious. I can't wait to take a peek. Hopefully, I can keep my focus on shopping for gifts for others!

Poetry Slam: HS or College Students could open for Mayhem Poets at ABT

2009-12-07T19:46:00.001-08:00

Venture Theatre and the Alberta Bair Theater are hosting a Poetry Slam!

The Poetry Slam will take place at Venture Theatre on January 10th at 2pm. The winners of the Poetry Slam will go on to open for the Mayhem Poets at the Alberta Bair on January 12th.

High School and College students may apply for participation in the slam as individuals or as part of a group.

Click Here for the full details regarding submission and judging. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 16th.

The Mayhem Poets combine hip-hop, theatre, and improv to perform their unique style of poetry show.

Learn more Here.

Let the Holidays Begin

2009-11-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's a great weekend in Billings for kicking off the Holidays. If you've got friends and family in town, there's plenty to keep them entertained.

Of course, today is Black Friday so you can spend some time catching some great deals at Rimrock Mall, at the fine shops in Downtown Billings and throughout the city. With Billings being the retail capital for the area, the town is sure to be buzzing with busy shoppers.

Tonight is the Holiday Parade in Downtown Billings. Should be a fun event to take your out of town visitors to.

At the Alberta Bair Theater tonight and tomorrow night is The Nutcracker Ballet with the Billings Symphony.

Peter Pan is playing at Billings Studio Theatre and Willy Wonka is at Venture Theatre. While these two productions aren't necessarily Holiday themed, they've got that element of nostalgia that is just perfect for this time of year.

The Billings Bulls Hockey team is taking on Missoula this Sunday at the Centennial Ice Arena.

There's live music around town, comedy and more. Often, I think visitors come to Billings and don't even realize all of the entertainment available to them. Why not show your guests that our city has more to offer.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great Holiday weekend!

Comedian, Auggie Smith in Billings this week

2009-11-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

Auggie Smith is scheduled for 4 shows at Alley Kats (next to Bones Brewing in the Doc and Eddy's plaza) this weekend. 7:30 and 9:30 shows on both Friday and Saturday night.

Auggie grew up in Billings prior to moving to Portland to launch his comedy career. He is a frequent guest on the Bob & Tom Morning show on radio.

Auggie is known for his energetic, hysterical rants.

Tickets can be purchased at Bones and are $12 in advance or $15 at the door (if there are any left by then).

Jokes.com

Auggie Smith - Poor Get Poorer

comedians.comedycentral.com

Joke of the Day

Stand-Up Comedy

Free Online Games

Emmylou Harris plans Montana stop

2009-11-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

With a wondrous ability to transform her creativity into song, country and folk music veteran Emmylou Harris has been composing acclaimed music for nearly 35 years. Harris will perform with her band, the Red Dirt Boys, in her only Montana appearance on her current tour, on Nov. 17 at the Alberta Bair Theater.

Harris is touring on her latest album, 2008’s All I Intended To Be.

“Most of my career I’ve been a finder of songs, a gatherer of songs, so this showcases, in part, that side of what I do,” she said in a press release regarding the album, her first solo recording since 2003’s Stumble Into Grace. Read Full Story...

Halloween is Here!

2009-10-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it is the end of October already. But it is and that means Halloween is here.

Some friends and I were discussing costume ideas-what to be this year, what we've been in the past. We got to talking about what we were when we were kids. I remember often times wanting to be a pop star, cheerleader, princess.

I think my favorite costume though had to be Punky Brewster. I don't remember the age that I was when I dressed up as Punky, maybe 5. Pigtails, drawn on freckles, vest, torn jeans (one side rolled up), tennis shoes, and handkerchiefs tied on my legs. I don't remember the show all that well--I remember that I liked it when I was a kid and also watched the cartoon series--but as a child of the 80's, it's impossible to forget the iconic character of Punky Brewster. I'm actually thinking that it might be a good costume for this year if I dress up. At least it would be comfortable.

Punky Power!

Billings has so much stuff happening into the weekend for Halloween. For kids and families there's Boo at the Zoo, Halloween at Rimrock Mall, Treatapalooza at Faith Chapel, Healthy Halloween Party at the YMCA and more.

Live music is all around town. The Clinton's are playing at Bones, 7th Avenue Band at Bugz's, Firehouse Band at Yellowstone Valley Brewing. Rap at the FOE during Halloween Havoc. More parties on the weekend include the Michael Jackson pre-Halloween party on Friday night (a chance to get out your MJ swag and dance to his hits) at The Carlin, Sinister Circus Halloween at the Loft, and more.

There is a Wicked Wine Walk at the Zoo, Dracula performed by High School talent at the Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Ghost Tours, Haunted Houses, Zombie Walk downtown; there's honestly too much to list it all here...you'll have to visit the event calendar on the site to find it all!

For the Love of Soup!

2009-10-21T20:36:00.001-07:00

When it's a bit chilly outside, there's nothing better for lunch than a good bowl of soup. I needed to catch up with my pal, Haley last week and we decided to meet at The Soup Place.

We both got the special of the day--a potato, sausage, spinach soup. It was so good. A starchy soup like potato is usually very filling but I just can't go to The Soup Place and not have one of their delicious grilled cheeses. So I went for the small bowl (plenty filling) and half a grilled cheese. I opted to build my own instead of going with one of the suggestions on the menu. I went with sour dough bread, cheddar, green peppers, and tomato. Yum! My only suggestion to The Soup Place would be to add green chillis to their grilled cheese veggie choices. I had a grilled cheese in Albuquerque, NM once that had 3 cheeses, green chillis and tomatos. That was years ago but I still remember it.

We asked about your favorite local soup spots in Billings on our Facebook Page. Suggestions we received included--The Back Porch Deli, Soups and Such, The Soup Place, Staggering Ox (I always think sandwiches there and never even consider soup! Might have to try it), Caramel Waffle Cookie, Grains of Montana, Great Harvest, Pickle Barrel, Old Chicago's Cheddar Broccoli, Olive Garden, and French Onion from Bin 119. We've got a lot of great places to try. Are we missing any?

The Hold Steady returns

2009-10-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

New York rock band The Hold Steady packed the Railyard to capacity in July 2008, and the band returns to the venue Monday for another rock-your-face-off performance.

A sweaty, rollicking bunch of Brooklyn boys, lead singer Craig Finn and his roving band have been described as “America’s bar band,” and onstage Finn tells the tale of a man that’s had one too many sour girlfriends and surly encounters in the bar.

Read Full Story...

The Full Monty at Venture Theatre

2009-10-13T20:58:00.000-07:00

My friend, Katie, and I went to The Full Monty at Venture Theatre last weekend. Now, to be completely honest, Katie had to clue me in on the whole premise of the show before we went. I hadn't seen the movie or the play before.

The show starts off with a provocative male dancer and this Catholic girl was already blushing. I started wondering what I had gotten myself into and wondered if all of the guys in the audience were thinking the same thing!

However, it quickly became clear it wasn't going to be some thunder down under show. It's really about regular guys who've found themselves unemployed and down on their luck. You know the saying "desperate times call for desperate measures," so they decide to take a que from the Chippendale's dancers who had been at the local bar and create their own male review. Along the way they learn a lot about their friendships, relationships and themselves.

I had such a fun time at this show. It's been so successful that Venture has extended it another week. You've got two more chances to see them "bare it all" this Friday and Saturday, both shows at 8pm.

Coincidentally, The Men of Playgirl are slated to be at the Wild West on October 24th. Tickets are $10 and $15 for VIP and available at The Wild West and Surfer Joe's.

Secondhand swindle, Pestle escapes unscathed

2009-10-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

Friday was a difficult night for Hana Pestle, who was in a car wreck that nearly took her life hours before her performance at the Babcock Theater. Pestle was visibly distracted onstage, and told her audience, “We’re lucky to be alive.”

Pestle’s car, driven by her record producer and boyfriend Ben Moody, hit ice on the highway between Butte and Billings as the couple returned from a performance in Missoula the previous night. Moody lost control of the car, which slid into a semitrailer, bounced back into their lane and spun into a roadside ditch. The vehicle was totaled, but Moody and Pestle were remarkably unhurt.

Read Full Story...

Cirque, Sesame and more coming to MetraPark

2009-10-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

MetraPark's got some fun shows coming up this fall and into the spring.

Theatre Council Productions is bringing a three show series to Rimrock Auto Arena. Slated for November 5th, Cirque Dreams: Illumination--a cirque style show full of acrobatics and theatrics. Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the arena on January 29th and Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles is on May 5th. Tickets for all three shows are: $35.50, $42.50, and $47.50.

Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up will have three shows at MetraPark running December 15th and 16th. Tickets range from $14-$27.

Sera Cahoone lite

2009-10-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

Sub Pop artist Sera Cahoone didn’t stay away from Billings long, returning to a room less occupied than it was during her full band performance in May. However, the presence of close friends and fans provided an informal, communicative atmosphere for her to perform with pedal steel player Jay Kardong, who said such informal shows are often his favorite.

Though Cahoone typically performs with a full band, she and Kardong reduced their lineup to the essentials to open for Son Volt on a cross-country three-week tour, which exposed the duo to larger crowds and plenty of potential new fans.

Read Full post and see more pictures...

Christian Rock coming to Billings

2009-10-01T14:39:00.001-07:00

Christian Rock Fans rejoice...The Creation Festival is coming to Billings at the Shrine Auditorium on November 8th.

Bands on the tour include Jars of Clay, Thousand Foot Krutch, Audio Unplugged, B. Reith, This Beautiful Republic and FM Static.

Tickets are just $20 for General Admission and for $50, you can get a Meet and Greet Ticket. Tickets are available at Harvest Church, Berean Christian Store, Rimrock Mall, Off the Leaf and on iTickets.com.

2009 Tuney winners announced

2009-09-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

The 2009 winners are as follows:

Best Local CD: 1090 Club, Natural Selection

Best Blues Act: Soul Brat

Best Bluegrass Act: Anonymous String Association

Best Country/Western Act: The Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers

Best Folk/Americana: Dan Page and the Barn Cats

Best Soul/R&B/Jam: Funk in the Trunk

Best Jazz Act: 4 or More

Best Metal Act: ENDever

Best Punk Act: The Montana Law

Best Rap Act: Impurity

Best Rock Act: ZeN

Best Alternative Rock Act: Past Mars

Best Banjo Player: Wade Steinmetz

Best Bass Player: Parker Brown

Best Drummer: Marco Castro

Best Female Vocalist: Linda Villareal

Best Guitar Player: Art Eichele

Best Horn Player: Jeff Long

Best Keyboard Player: Dave Green

Best Male Vocalist: Nate North

Best Mandolin Player: Dennis Nettiksimmons

Best Percussionist: Matt Devitt

Best String Player: Megan Dibble

Best Harmonica Player: Dan Page

Best Live Venue (21 & Over): F.O.E.

Best Live Venue (All Ages): Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.

Best Musical Instrument Store: Hansen Music

Best CD Store: Ernie November

Best Radio DJ: Big J (Hot 101.9)

Freeman Lacy Award: Tim and Pam Goodridge

Read Anna's Full Review of the Tuney Awards Show...

Tuney Awards this Saturday

2009-09-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Tuney time has new meaning for me this year. Before, I was a casual spectator enjoying the show. Now, as a sponsor of the event and a coordinator of all things Tuney, I’ve got a behind-the-scenes look, which has included counting boatloads of ballots, coordinating the performers’ schedules and the awards presentation, and the last-minute kinks we’ve been ironing out. And that’s just the work that goes in before the first award is handed out. Read Full Story...

Sera Cahoone returns to Billings

2009-09-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

After wrapping a tour with Son Volt in Minneapolis, alt country musician Sera Cahoone is gigging her way home to Seattle and plans her only Montana stop in Billings on Sept. 30.

Frontwoman for her self-titled band, Cahoone was last in Billings in early May. Read Full Story...

The Mighty Modest Mouse

2009-09-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

At times when Isaac Brock speaks, he’s unintelligible. But when he sings, it’s a different matter.

At Modest Mouse’s appearance in Billings Thursday night, Brock mumbled a few statements between songs, but it was his musicianship that impressed the most.
Brock fronts an accomplished lineup of performers (albeit Johnny Marr, former guitarist of the Smiths, was missing, perhaps out gigging with his Wakefield indie group The Cribs. Jim Fairchild played Marr’s guitar parts), and his poetic connection to language creates eccentric verses, which, in song, are quite infectious. Read Full Story...

(Source: Pen and Paige)

Modest Mouse rocks the Alberta Bair Theater

2009-09-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

I love seeing Modest Mouse live. We saw them for the first time in Bozeman a few years ago. Up until that point, I enjoyed and had downloaded some of their songs--everyone's heard "Float On" as it was a top 40 hit for a long time--but I didn't really consider myself a "fan." After seeing them live though, I had to download every album they had put out and was excited to discover each and every song. So, when I heard they were going to be playing the Alberta Bair Theater here in Billings, I was thrilled to get to see them again.

(photos are taken by cell phone so no, they aren't the greatest)
Some concerts seem to be more about the "production" of the show than they are about the music. A Modest Mouse show, to me, is purely about the music. The band members are musicians not performers. The stage is covered with instruments and nearly every band member switches out instruments at least once during the show. Most impressive in this regard would be Tom Peloso who plays everything from the upright bass to the trumpet, keyboard, etc.

Modest Mouse has so many great songs. They started a bit late, around 10pm or so and I think the show got over (including the encore) around 11:30pm. The set list was great and they played so many songs but they left out just a few of my favorites--"Ocean Breathes Salty," "Paper Thin Walls," and "3rd Planet." They also did not play "Float On" which isn't one of my favorites but is the song that seemed to bring their career to a new level so when it isn't played, it is noticed.

The Alberta Bair Theater proved to be a great venue for the show and I think brought a whole new audience in its doors. It was a much more fitting venue than the dirt floor barn I saw them in at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds in Bozeman a few years ago. But it doesn't really matter what conditions they play in, if Modest Mouse is in the area, I'm there.

$12,000 Diamond Ring Treasure Hunt in Billings

2009-09-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

Montague's has a pretty cool--Amazing Race style--promotional event happening on Saturday, September 12th. They are going to hide a $12,000 diamond ring somewhere in Downtown Billings. Teams of two (couples or friends, 18+) can register to participate in the event.

Teams will meet on the courthouse lawn on Saturday at 11am. Clues and challenges will be delivered to couples’ mobile phones via text message taking the teams all around the city. One lucky couple will find the South African $12K Diamond Ring.

There will be an after party, post-hunt, at Hooligan's with drink specials, food and prizes for all.

Kudos to Montague's for being inventive with this promotion. It involves competition, physical activity, technology, a party, and one heck of a great prize! I like it.

Vote on your favorite local bands and musicians

2009-08-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Billings Outpost Tuney Awards nominations are under way. 2009 marks the 9th year. This year, you can even cast your vote online!

The award celebration will be held September 19th at the Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company at 4pm. Past Tuney Award winners such as ENDever, Dan Page and the Barncats, The Peach Pickers, Matt Rogers, and Earthshine will perform. There will be a $2 cover with the proceeds benefiting Gy Moody a local musician who recently suffered a heart attack.

Find the Tuney Awards Facebook Group Here.

Have you been to Cafe DeCamp?

2009-08-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

When one of my co-workers came back from lunch raving about Cafe DeCamp another co-worker and I decided we had better give it a try. Cafe DeCamp is in the old Mamacita's location. I had never been to Mamacita's but I've heard that it was a favorite local spot for many.

So, what's so great about the place? Well, Cafe DeCamp focuses on serving local Montana grown foods and you can definitely taste the freshness. I went for the quiche of the day served with potato hash and a small salad with a vinaigrette dressing. My co-worker went for the empanadas which were served with Mamacita's salsa. There was a meat loaf sandwich on the menu that was also calling my name but I didn't want to go back to work so full. You won't find the usual soft drink and beverage selections. They serve peppermint iced tea, Italian sodas and espresso drinks.

Cafe DeCamp is small and quaint. I only stepped inside briefly so I can't explain the decor. We decided to sit outside on the patio wich seems more like a "courtyard" as it is fully fenced with a brick wall on one side and all sides are nearly fully covered with leaves. It's a nice shady spot to have lunch on a warm day.

The only bad thing is that it, like Mamacita's is just in a weird location. Most of the businesses around it are industrial and it just seems a bit out of place. But, it was busy so the location doesn't seem to affect them much. And the new First Interstate Building is just a block or two away so I'm sure they'll catch some patrons from there.

I thought it was a great place to take a break from the daily grind and have lunch that was fresh, healthy and local.

Billings Band will open for SlipKnot

2009-08-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

This Monday at the Railyard, 3 Billings bands will compete to open for SlipKnot at MetraPark on Wednesday, August 26th.

Last week, 20 local bands submitted their demos to The Zone 96.3 and listeners voted on their favorites to determine the finalists. The three lucky bands include EndEver, Grudge, and Zen In Zion. Each band gets a 30 minute set at the Railyard on Monday to determine the winner.

Good Luck to all three. I'm sure they've all had several sleepless nights practicing up for the opportunity.

Anthrax cancelled their tour dates slated with Slipknot back in July due to the departure of vocalist, Dan Nelson. This left room for the Battle of the Bands competition...a fun way to promo the show, get the locals involved, and make one local bands dreams come true.

Inglourious Basterds

2009-08-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Dustin and I went to Inglourious Basterds on Friday at Shiloh 14. The film is Quentin Tarantino's take on WWII.

The film follows a couple of story lines. The Inglourious Basterds are a troup of Jewish American Soldiers lead by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) who are set out to kill every Nazi they encounter and are eventually tasked with taking out members of the Third Reich. The other story line follows a young Jewish girl who saw her family executed by the Nazis and she narrowly escaped. She flees to Paris and takes on a new identity as the owner of a cinema. She finds herself in a position to get revenge on the Nazis and her plans coincidentally overlap with those of the Inglorious Basterds. We watch to see if either one of their plans will succeed in the end.

I don't pretend to be a film critic of any sort. I just know if I liked a movie or I didn't and I thought this was an excellent movie. 1) It had a great bad guy to love to hate (double oximorons there, I know). 2) Brad Pitt had a stellar performance (you will love his character). 3) And you know how certain movies kind of suck you in and when it's over you kind of feel like you were there right along with the characters kicking ass?...Obviously, I can't explain it clearly, but it was like that.

There are graphic parts (i.e., scalping) that will make you want to look away and your stomach turn but that's to be expected with a Tarantino film.

Elephant Revival tiptoes into town

2009-08-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Elephant Revival was anything but elephantine in their performance in Billings last night. The an Americana folk music revivalist group’s delicate and graceful music reminded more of tiptoeing than of a large, lumbering pachyderm. Read Full Story...

(Source: Pen and Paige)

Railroad Earth lights up the Babcock Theater

2009-08-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

Amongst the flying glowsticks and wafting pot smoke, the New Jersey jam band Railroad Earth took the stage at the Babcock Theater last night.

It’s been a while since the Babcock, located on Second Avenue North in downtown Billings, has seen such action. Sure, it’s been sweated upon by boxers for years, but only recently has the theater been available for live musical performances.

Read Full Story and see more Pics...

(Source Pen and Paige)

Hana Pestle sells out Venture Theatre

2009-08-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Hana Pestle can make finding a dead girl in a lake sound delightful.

Her original songs—themed around dark, imaginative worlds where lake swimmers entangle their fingers in the hair of the deceased or guests at the “Red Death Ball” perish—are disturbing on paper, but enchanting in song. Read Full Story...

Source (Pen and Paige)

Have you seen the Extreme Canines at MontanaFair?

2009-08-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

In addition to carnival rides, critters, and fair food, MontanaFair's got free entertainment for everyone.

Have you seen the Extreme Canines? This is a fun family friendly show with some of the cutest and most talented dogs. What's really special about this show is that all of the dogs performing have been rescued from pounds and shelters across the country. Chris Perondi, the show's creator posted an entry on his blog about the show-Check it out Here The Video below is footage from the show at MontanaFair.

Also performing at MontanaFair are Comedy Hypnotist-Alan Sands, Gwen Sebastian (a little bit rock and a little bit country), Hotel California (Eagles tunes), The Bad Larrys (so fun over at the Exchange Club Beer Garden), John Dunnigan (James Taylorish), The Blond Curly Haired Magician, and Hedrick's Exotic Petting Zoo.

Senses Fail, Bayside to perform Billings in off day from Warped Tour

2009-08-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

Denver-based indie rock band The Photo Atlas returns to Billings Aug. 10 to perform with national acts Senses Fail and Bayside (appearing during an off-day from the Vans Warped Tour) Aug. 10 in the basement of the Shrine Auditorium. Read Full Story...

(Source: Pen and Paige)

Concert for a Cause raises money to benefit local charities

2009-07-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

This year’s Concert for a Cause, an annual benefit festival featuring local and regional bands, raised a little more than $2,000 in ticket sales and donated bar proceeds, according to event organizer Eric Grider. Bands from Billings, Missoula, and Rapid City, S.D. came together to raise money for two local organizations, the Meadowlark House and Art Without Boundaries. See Photos...

(Source: Pen and Paige)

Stimulate this Tour, Good but...

2009-07-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

We went to the Stimulate This Tour at MetraPark last night. The tour features bands Staind, Shinedown, Chevelle, and Halestorm. And to our surprise Lo Pro opened up the show early.

Because Lo Pro played before the official showtime, they had a small crowd but they definitely played as if they were playing to thousands. Halestorm and Chevelle were high energy and interacted with the crowd. And Shinedown stole the show. They had the entire room on their feet rocking out to every song. They said, "Are you ready for Staind?" and the crowd responded in cheers of "YEAH!"

So then Staind comes out, begins with a pretty good hard rock song and next they go into one of their ballads. Lead Singer, Aaron Lewis sounded great but he either stood at his mic playing guitar and singing or slowly paced the stage. My younger brother put it best when he said "this has turned into a cuddling concert" and sure enough the couples around us were snuggling during the ballads and the rest of the crowd was just somber.

So the crowd that came to rock quickly began leaving. You could see 100s of people at a time filtering out of the arena. So then, Staind starts leaving really big spaces between songs. Eventually, Aaron Lewis asks how we're all doing and then he says "I apologize" and walks off. After a few seconds he comes back and says "Alright, Billings, I'm going to give you all I've got for one more song". Plays and is gone. The show was over at 10:30 or so and I would guess they were supposed to play until 11pm.

To the crowd, I think it felt like Staind just really didn't care to play for us. Billings has great rock fans and whatever the band gives, the crowd gives back. So a somber lead singer, gets a somber crowd. I think something must have been wrong. Maybe Aaron wasn't feeling his best... I don't really know for sure. But I'm certain that last night's show was not the norm for a Staind concert.

Regardless, the other acts definitely made up for it. I think I could see Shinedown over and over and not get bored with them.

Bane sticks underground

2009-07-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

Bane (noun): That which causes ruin or woe. Also, an underground hardcore b and based in Worcester, Mass. Created in 1995, Bane is a project of guitarist Aaron Dalbec (former member of Converge). Bane has sporadically released albums, including 1999’s It All Comes Down to This and 2001’s Give Blood, an album touted for revitalizing the east coast’s stagnant hardcore scene. Read Full Story...

(Source: Pen and Paige)

So much Entertainment headed our Way

2009-07-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

In the next few months, Billings has a whole lot of National touring acts headed our way. Here's a quick run down:

Headliners Staind with Shinedown, Chevelle and Halestorm come to MetraPark next Wednesday, July 29th in the Stimulate this Tour.

Magic City Blues Festival is on August 7th and 8th. 2 Stages and 6 acts each night. Friday Night's Main Stage includes Shannon Curfman, The Tommy Castro Band, and Little Feat. The Main Stage on Saturday Night includes Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Los' Lonely Boys.

MontanaFair is August 7th-15th. The concert lineup includes The Gaither Vocal Band, August 7th; Nat & Alex Wolff from Nickelodeon's Naked Brothers Band on the afternoon of August 8th, Trace Adkins the evening of August 8th, Peter Frampton on August 9th, and Kelly Clarkson on August 10th.

Senses Fail and Bayside will be playing Shrine Auditorium on August 10th as well.

Then at the end of August, the 26th, MetraPark will host SlipKnot and Anthrax.

On September 1st, you can see another Idol, David Cook at the Shrine Auditorium.

September 3rd, Modest Mouse plays the Alberta Bair Theater.

Whew! We are going to have a jam packed month or so of entertainment. Which shows are you going to?

Concert for a Cause Lineup Announced

2009-07-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

Concert For A Cause, a benefit music festival founded by local music lover Eric Grider, is back. After taking a year off, Grider regrouped and put together his sixth concert, taking place July 25 at Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co., to raise money for two local organizations, the Meadowlark House and Art Without Boundaries. Read Full Story...

(Source: Pen and Paige)

Bones Brewing Hosts Chamber After Hours

2009-07-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

BILLINGS CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT BONES BREWERY-Each month (2nd Wednesday of every month) the Billings Chamber puts on an event called Business After Hours. It's a chance to do some networking in a casual atmosphere. It's hosted at a different business location each month.

Tomorrow Night (7/8), it's at Bones Brewery. It starts at 5pm and ends at 7pm. Drop your business card and you might even win a prize.

Business After Hours is just $5 and anyone can attend. I'd have to say, it truly is a good networking opportunity. I've made professional contacts at this event as well as some good friends!

Maybe, I'll see some of you there tomorrow night.

Billings Best Spots Photo Contest

2009-06-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

BILLINGS BEST SPOTS PHOTO CONTEST- Submit a Photo of yourself out and about in Billings and you could win a $100 Rimrock Mall Give Style American Express Gift Card for you and a second $100 Rimrock Mall Gift Card for a friend!
Your photo can be at a Billings restaurant or bar, at the park, at an event, anywhere in Billings except at home! Post your pic and then get your friends to vote for it. The contest runs through July 23rd. The sooner you enter, the more time you have to get votes.

Right now, Big J (from Hot 101.9's Big J Show) is winning with a Graffiti pic (apparently some jokesters spray painted this not so nice saying across town). Now, I'm not against Big J winning (and the person he is giving the second card to is certainly deserving) but the title of the contest is "Billings Best Spots". Can we really let graffiti on a fence win? Enter your photo and give Big J some competition.

SlipKnot coming to MetraPark August 26th

2009-06-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

SLIPKNOT COMING TO METRAPARK
Jade Presents is bringing another great rock show to MetraPark (in addition to Staind in July)--SlipKnot is coming to the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark on August 26th. Anthrax and The Black Dahlia Murder will support. Tickets are $39.50 for Festival Floor and $34.50 for Reserved Seats.

I'm sure Dustin will be attending this one. If I go, I'm definitely going with reserved seats.

Dueling Pianos at Rimrock Mall

2009-06-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

DUELING PIANOS COMING TO BILLINGS-Rimrock Mall, The Carlin, and The Planet 106.7 are bringing Dueling Pianos from the New York New York in Las Vegas to Billings! The event is a fundraiser for Relay for Life and is on Friday, June 26th.

The night starts off with a women only pre-party at 7pm. Great food, drinks and cabanas for rent. Then at 9pm the guys are welcome to join for the entertainment. There will be a full bar and a chance for prizes. Tickets are $35 for the entire evening and just $10 for the 9pm portion.

You can find the full details HERE.

I would totally go to this event. It sounds like such a fun time. Funny enough, Dustin and I will be in Las Vegas the very same weekend and the New York New York Dueling Pianos are on our entertainment list! Would have loved to see them in Billings too!

What's Your Favorite Summer Event Series?

2009-06-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SUMMER EVENT SERIES?
Vote on our poll and tell us. Is your favorite not listed? Post a comment below and submit your favorite.

The Hangover

2009-06-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

The Hangover = INSTANT CLASSIC!

There are chick flicks and there are guy movies; and this is definitely a guy movie. This is the type of show where you start the night with a few drinks with your boys and then go see. It's got a ton of laughs; mostly male humor, so you might want to leave your wife or girlfriend at home. And believe me this is an R rated movie, so you definitely don't want to take the kiddies. It all starts when some friends decide to throw a bachelor party for their buddy in Las Vegas; they wake up with the worst hangover and don’t remember their whatever-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas night. They spend the entire show back tracking and attempting to find their lost friend the bachelor to be.

There really isn’t a star studded cast, but that doesn’t stop anything from being absolutely HILARIOUS;Ed Helms (Andy Bernard on "The Office"); Bradley Cooper; and the man that steals the show – Zach Galifianakis.

I have nothing bad to say about this movie.

I will probably go see it again. GO SEE IT NOW!!

The Weekend's Events

2009-06-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Nightlife:
The Fix@6 Series began last Friday and continues this week at SantaFe Red's with music by the Jared Stewart Band. A Great way to begin the weekend.

Bones Brewery is starting Friday Barbeques: Live music and $4 plates with your choice of a burger, hot dog or brat, and 2 sides. $2 drink specials too. Over in Alley Kats there will be comedy by Lukas Seely (who I'm told grew up in Billings) and Edi Zanidache.

Did you know you can catch national touring live comedy every Friday night at the R-Club in the Billings Hotel? This week's comedians are Nick Hoff and Law Smith.

Punk Rock Fans can take in the Queers with the Hot Toddies and more at the Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company on Sunday.

Family Fun:
It's Bruno the Bear's Birthday at Zoo Montana on Friday! Wish Bruno a Happy Birthday, watch him eat cake and check out all of the beary special exhibits!

Rain or shine, the Moss Mansion will be hosting it's annual Springfest! There will be craft vendors, live entertainment, a kid's corner and more.

Sports & Rec:
The Billings Outlaws take on their rival Sioux Falls Storm again this Saturday at the Rimrock Auto Arena.

You can catch some racing action this weekend at the Billings Motorcycle Club, Yellowstone Dragstrip and BMP Speedway.

Getting Ready for the Summer's Events

2009-05-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Summer in Billings is a great time of year. People are out and about and the feeling around town is much more relaxed. Restaurants and bars open up their patios and the locals will be found there having casual conversations in the sun with their sunglasses on and an ice cold brew in a frosty glass.

With summer come the summer parties! The weekly Friday event--Fix @ 6 begins this Friday at Hudson's. Meet up there with your friends to kick off your weekend and the summer with music by Zen.

In just a couple of week's Thursdays get even better in Billings when Alive After 5 begins June 4th under Skypoint with music by Primal Nation Reunion.

The Micro Brew Festival is this weekend at the Shrine Auditorium from 1pm to 11pm on Saturday. Music, entertainment, and over 60 micro brews, ciders and root beers.

There's lots of great events happening all weekend long. Just Check Out the Billings365.com Calendar. You'll have a hard time deciding which event you'd like to go to.

Aahhh, the long weekend.

2009-05-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

Long weekends are just so nice. Now, I really do like my job very much but sometimes the routine of things gets tiring. My regular weekends usually consist of a lot of housework (laundry and cleaning), running errands (getting groceries, etc.), and updating Billings365.com. The three day weekend gives you one day to get all of that stuff done, one day to go out and do something fun, and one day to do nothing and just relax...it's perfect. Alternatively, you might go on a weekend getaway. That's a great way to use the extra day too. This

memorial day however, we just wanted to take advantage of the time to slow down a bit.

This weekend was great. I got some yard work done, got some cleaning done, did some errands but those things didn't seem like such a chore because there was no rush to get them done. Dustin golfed a couple of days and got to see a couple of his friends who were in town. One of the things I wanted to do this weekend was go to the Weapons Grade Cynicism comedy show at Bones on Saturday. It looked like so much fun but the Lakers were playing the Nuggets and Dustin is a die hard Lakers fan so we had to skip it this time. (If anyone attended please leave a comment and tell us how it was). We took our Jack Russells to Riverfront Park on Sunday mid-morning. See them pictured above with Dustin. Then on Monday we drove out to Lake Elmo and jogged them one lap and then circled around again to stop at the little dog park area. Jack loves to swim and heads for the water the second he gets there. I also got to do some reading (Chelsea Handler's books--sarcastic and hilarious; and good old SELF magazine) and got to meet up with a friend for dinner. A three day weekend just leaves you feeling so refreshed. If only every weekend could be this perfect....then, we'd probably just want 4 day weekends:)!

Of course, Memorial Day is a great time to spend with friends and family or just relaxing but it's also important to remember those who gave their lives fighting for us to give us our freedoms. A Big Thanks to all who served and serve today in the military.

Carmike Cinemas Shiloh 14 Opens this Weekend

2009-05-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

The new Carmike Cinemas movie theater opens this weekend, Shiloh 14--it includes 14 theaters 3 of which are 3-D screens. Last night, the theater hosted a VIP Night as a fundraiser for the Scottish Rite Masons and Pediatric Therapy Clinic in Billings which I attended with a couple of friends.

They rolled out the red carpet and we were greeted by gentlemen in suits as we entered the building. First impressions are quite impressive. The lobby is big, open, bright and colorful. Digital screens replace movie poster holders as they change through upcoming movies and of course include the movie trailers on the screen. The concessions area also includes digital menus. Shiloh 14 includes a gourmet popcorn menu with flavors like Cheddar, caramel, raspberry, and chocolate.

We checked out a few of the different theaters, one features a screen that is 75ft wide and nearly 3 stories high. The new seats are oh, so comfortable with lots of leg room.

What was most impressive about the evening was how polite and helpful all of the staff were. Hopefully, that level of service will continue beyond the grand opening because it really made you feel like you were at something special.

Check Out Showtimes at Shiloh 14 Here and enjoy the upgraded movie viewing experience!

ANGELS & DEMONS

2009-05-17T06:46:00.001-07:00

Well, I went to Angels & Demons last night , I am sure most of you have heard of the movie with all of the hype. It is the follow up to the Divinci Code (The Divinici Code was banned by the Catholic Church, but not this one; it is was far less controversial). Basically a symbologist (Tom Hanks) chases ancient symbols around town to save the Vatican from destruction from an evil organization.

I feel it was slightly above average, but very entertaining. This movie has been done plenty. It is a cross between National Treasure and Armageddon. Both good movies in their own right, but it just seems it has been done. It was very entertaining and had some nice twists that kept you thinking, but there were a lot of parts where you were like "really, come on".

Angels and Demons is a very enjoyable mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat and I have to recommend it.

A Full Weekend: Cafe Italia, Cabaret, Women's Run, ZPizza

2009-05-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was packed with fun with friends and family. Some girlfriends and I decided to end the work week with dinner and then a show at Venture Theatre on Friday Night. We decided to try out the new Cafe Italia on Montana Avenue before the show and were not disappointed. We started out with a bottle of Layered Cake Primavito (which was a great choice by my friend Katie) and they served a couple of different types of bread with vinegar and oil. We all tried a different pasta dish, traditional alfredo, carbonara alla zucchi, and mushroom ragout. It was all great.

After dinner we went to Cabaret at Venture Theatre and it was a full house. Set in Berlin on the brink of the Nazi era, Cabaret was edgy, thought provoking and entertaining--we all had a great time.

Then, up bright and early for the Women's Run. Holly, Katie and I wanted to be a part of the walk but decided to take it easy on Saturday morning by just walking the 2mile. I placed at number 1,876...I beat Katie and Holly:). The Women's Run was very well attended with nearly 7,000 runners and walkers.

Saturday Night, I hung out with Dustin and we tried out ZPizza a new place out on Shiloh near the Red Door. It's a cute little place. You can dine in, take out, or get it delivered and you can order by the slice or get a whole pizza, salads and sandwiches available too. What's unique about ZPizza is that all the ingredients are natural or organic. They use low-fat mozzarella cheese and even have gluten-free crust available (excellent for those with food allergies). It was delicious. They're pizzas have a very California style to them. Dustin went with straight up Pepperoni and I tried the Napoli-garlic sauce, tomatos, basil--good stuff!

Sunday of course was Mother's Day. Hope everyone got to spend time with and appreciate their Moms!

Leadership Billings

2009-05-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

I have participated in Leadership Billings for the past 8 months or so. Today was our last day and I have to admit, I am so bummed that it is over!

Leadership Billings is a program put on by the Billings Chamber. Basically, you enroll and are in a class of about 40 fellow business people and they come from all different backgrounds. We meet for one full day once a month and each day focuses on a different topic. We have speakers that address those topics and often get to tour different organizations and facilities related to the topic. We've had a Social Services Day, Education Day, Health Care Day, Government/Judicial Day, Business/Economy Day, Tourism Day, etc. So for example for the Social Services day we got to tour and learn about organizations like Friendship House, the Women's and Family Shelter, and other organizations that make such a big difference in the well-being of our community. Linda Gleason at the Chamber programs each day and does an outstanding job!

Our last day, today, was a work day...We were split into about 8 different groups and went to do some volunteer work with different organizations. Some of us did yard work at Big Brothers Big Sisters, some painted benches at one of the local schools, washed windows, painted, and the lucky group got to pick up garbage on top of the Rims (you can imagine what they found up there!).

Anyhow, the program has been so eye opening--I have a much better understanding of my community and what makes it tick and the areas that still need some work. And I feel inspired to stay involved and help shape the future of Billings. And, I've made some great friends along the way who I hope I will stay connected with.

Leadership Billings has a program for adults and also does a program for high school students. You can find out more about the programs on the Billings Chamber website.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

It's Cinco de Mayo!

From Wikipedia: "Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico.^[1]^[2] The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio

Zaragoza Seguín.^[3]^[4]
While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.^[8]"

Want to celebrate? Here's a few parties happening this evening:
Cinco de Mayo Party at Hooligan's
Cinco de Mayo Party at The Wild West
Cinco de Mayo Party at The Railyard

This Weekend in Billings

2009-04-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

If you do a search on the event calendar of Billings365.com and set a start date of 5/1 and end date of 5/3, it's pretty amazing to see how much we've got going on in this town!

First of all, MSUB Graduation is at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark this Saturday. A Big Congrats out to all of the grads!

MetraPark's also got the Sustainable Living Expo in the Montana Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday. If you want to learn more about incorporating sustainable living into your life, then this is the place to be--learn about recycling, sustainable foods, home products and more. There'll be learning and activities for everyone. Zoo Montana will even have live animals at this event.

Any ladies who own or want to own a Harley out there? If so, then you'll want to get out to Beartooth Harley Davidson Buell for the Women's Only Garage Party on Friday at 6:30pm. Learn how you can find more time to ride with an interactive seminar by Genevieve Schmitt.

Cabaret opens on Friday at Venture Theatre. You can catch showings on Friday thru Sunday this weekend. I've got plans to check this out next week with some friends. And Footloose is playing at the Alberta Bair Theater. This sounds like fun too.

The Billings Motorcycle Club's season is off to a start with Spring Classic Motocross on Sunday out at the BMC grounds.

There's lots of fun stuff going on with Nightlife this weekend too! Cinco de Mayo parties begin: You can catch the Clinton's at Santa Fe Red's on Saturday and Hooligan's will also be hosting a Cinco de Mayo Party on Saturday. The 7th Avenue Band plays Bugz's Casino on Friday and Saturday Night. On Friday Night at Bugz's, I hear there's a chance to win Jimmy Buffet Tix from My92.5. The Railyard's got live music on Friday Night: Murder by Death (not a metal band like you might expect) and 1090 Club.

You'll have to check the website for more because there's just too much to list it all here. No one should be bored this weekend, there's plenty to do!

Get Together & Give at Rimrock Mall

2009-04-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

So, Rimrock Mall and St. Vincent Healthcare have come up with a fun way to volunteer. On May 7th, mothers and daughters or groups of friends are invited to get together at Rimrock Mall to help assemble 400 care kits for women for when they leave the womens and family shelter.

From the listing on the mall website: "While doing good, participants will have a good time, with a wide range of fun events planned including great food, drinks, a guest speaker and shopping discounts!"

What a great way to get together with friends while doing something good for our community. I've signed up myself and 3 of my friends already: attention: Holly, Katie, and Cathy, you'll be doing this with me!

The event begins at 6:30 PM. Register to Volunteer on the Rimrock Mall Website: www.rimrockmall.com.

Taproot Impress at FOE!

2009-04-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

Had a great weekend at the FOE. I went to the concert with 3 friends. The Bands included Sonic Crown, Adakain, Dear Enemy and Taproot.

Sonic Crown opened things up. They are a local band from Bilings, MT. They were quite impressive. They lacked polish that the other bands possessed but had great energy and I enjoyed them. I am sure they enjoy my expertise (or lack thereof) in the music industry saying that they need to polish their sound. Come on right? I did “friend them” on MySpace, so it’s not all bad. Go check them out.

AdaKaiN was next. This was more my style a combination of scream rock and melody. For some reason these guys impressed me. They opened up with a lot of energy and I enjoyed their sound. The song that stuck out for me was “The Only One”.

Dear Enemy was also very impressive. A few my friends were really impressed with this band. Their live show was the best of the three non headliner bands. Their interaction was great. Additionally, after their show they came out in the crowd to talk (or sell their albums); but still they were very approachable. Check them out on MySpace. “Falling Down” was the song that stuck with me.

Taproot was far and away the most impressive (but then again they were the headliner). They were exactly what I expected. I even got a little out of control made my way into the pit for a while. I got stuck up in the front for the last 30 minutes. I really like Taproots sound; they have something for everybody (very hard, radio hits, they have it all). “I” was my favorite song of the night, but they finished off with “Poem” appropriately.

The night was great, I probably had TOO much to drink and let loose; but definitely had a BLAST at the FOE. I hung out with great friends which probably made the night better.

Sonic Crown will be at The Railyard – Cinco De Mayo Bash as well May 5th; go support the local acts.

Fudd Fries, Shopping, and a Movie. A pretty good Saturday.

2009-04-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend Dustin and I had good friends in town--our friend Ryan from Baker and Jace and Amie from Bozeman. The guys had plans to take in the Taproot show at the FOE Saturday Night and watch the draft that afternoon.

We all started out with lunch at good old Fuddruckers. I know Fuddruckers is known for their burgers but for me it's all about the Fudd Fries with Nacho Cheese...good stuff.

Next on the agenda, the NFL Draft. I will never understand how anyone can endure watching the entire draft. My attention span is far too short. But Dustin and his friends are all about it. They've got their notepads there full of names circled and crossed out and they compete to see who can predict the most picks all the while strategizing about who their team's ought to be picking.

Amie and I decided an afternoon of shopping sounded much better. I was in need of new couch pillows and Amie needed a few things for their baby room. World Market, Target and Hobby Lobby proved to have some good finds.

Our night topped off with a movie while the guys went to the FOE. We decided to go to the Soloist. Amie had seen the 60 minutes special on the true story behind the movie. I had heard about it and thought the movie looked interesting. In all honesty, it fell a little flat for me. Although, I think that's what happens when movies are a little bit over-hyped. It was good just not great. But a nice way to spend the evening nonetheless.

Dustin said the show at the FOE was really good, but he'll have to tell you more about that. All in All, it was a pretty nice Saturday with friends.

Taproot -- FOE (4/25/09)

2009-04-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

Get to the legendary FOE! Tomorrow night! I have never been to the FOE, but what the heck, I am going to give it a go and let you know how it is. The tickets were actually pretty cheap $15/per. The opening acts appear to be be decent for no names(Adakain, Dear Enemy), I haven't heard of them (some of their stuff sounds OK). I am a HUGE fan of Taproot. I hope to see you all there.

We've Launched!

2009-04-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Billings365.com has launched. We are so excited to see this day come. Billings365.com will strive to be your source for finding "Things to Do" in Billings, MT. We hope that you will find the site useful. You'll be able to look up Billings Events including Nightlife, Sports & Rec, Music & Entertainment, and more! Our Directory will feature great restaurants, attractions, shopping opportunities, and other businesses that help make Billings the great town it is.

So why did I start the site? Well, I grew up in Baker, MT--a small town way in the southeast corner of the state. Growing up, Billings really was the "Big" city. When we visited Billings it was a treat. We would go to the mall, go out to eat, and maybe catch a movie. When my husband and I moved here after college in Bozeman, I still loved all of those things about Billings but also wanted to find out what was authentic and inherently local about Billings. I felt like it was not always so easy to find out what was going on in town, where you could catch live music on the weekend, or just find something to do in general.

What I have discovered after living here for almost 5 years now (hard to believe it has been that long already) is that Billings is a community with a great quality of life. From the public parks and other nearby outdoor recreational opportunities, the many cultural organizations (theaters, museums, etc.), and the various businesses that make up our community, we really do have a lot to offer. I hate when I hear people say, "There's nothing to do in Billings". I really think that if you feel that way, you probably aren't trying hard enough to find something to do. We've got live music in various venues several nights a week, live theater and other cultural events nearly every week, Big events at MetraPark and Alberta Bair on a regular basis and so much more. I hope that this site will help bring together all of the assets of Billings and will help people seek out and support our local businesses and local events. I believe that support will help us to continue to build a thriving community.

We're Getting Ready to Launch

2009-03-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

Billings365.com is launching soon. The site will feature events and entertainment, shopping, dining and all things happening in Billings, MT.