The “art alley” in downtown Billings, as promised, is quickly changing. In the six weeks since I first ran a photo gallery on the alley, it has filled up and many of the original artworks have been painted over or have been so heavily altered that they are all but unrecognizable. (more…) Continue Reading →
downtown Billings
Recent Posts
Dazzling variety of films celebrate Montana
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If you’re reading this and it’s warm and sunny outside, you might want to stop right here and continue later. That’s because I want to tell you about a collection of one-minute films that attempt to capture various aspects of Montana, and you’re liable to think, as I did, “What’s the harm in watching a few one-minute films?” (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Prairie Lights, 'Real Montana', Audience Awards, Carter County, downtown Billings, Ekalaka, Montana Office of Tourism, Parker's Hangover Tonic
Downtown backers making best of a bad situation
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Editor’s note: The editors of Noise & Color, Billings’ independent monthly magazine of culture and entertainment, asked me to write them a piece expanding on my recent column about downtown Billings, and the intense reaction to a certain column about the downtown that appeared in the Billings Gazette. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Billings, Culture, Billings Gazette, Darrell Ehrlick, downtown Billings, Noise & Color
A different take on downtown Billings
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A week ago today, Billings Gazette editor Darrell Ehrlick opened his Sunday column with the words, “This is one of those thing that hurts to write.”
If it’s any consolation, Darrell, it was also painful to read. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Prairie Lights, Billings Gazette, Community Innovations Summit, Darrell Ehrlick, downtown Billings
Young blood, new energy fuel downtown renaissance
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Like a lot of people born and raised in Billings, Matt Blakeslee was used to looking to other cities for arts, culture and entertainment generally. Billings was a good place to make money and it was the biggest city in Montana, “but it had never felt like the most cultural or vibrant community,” he said. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Billings, Culture, Ann Kosempa, Art House Cinema & Pub, Bill Honaker, Billingds Open Studio, downtown Billings, Jason Corbridge
Downtown living and the best of both worlds
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I live in Montana. Most people, hearing that, especially if they weren’t from around here, would probably picture a log cabin surrounded by towering pine trees, alongside a racing stream, with snow-clad peaks over yonder. Not quite. I live on the second floor of a century-old converted warehouse 100 feet from the railroad tracks in the heart of the biggest city in the state. Out my windows I can just see the tops of the forest of pipes and stacks rising from the Phillips 66 refinery. Continue Reading →