Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Decades-long planning effort advances: Lolo National Forest’s plan revision includes community meetings sharing updates and process details. Missoula’s session is today at the University of Montana Education Building from five thirty to seven pm -- get all the details.

Inside emergency readiness efforts: Missoula Fire Department recently trained for a hazmat emergency at Glacier Ice Rink, simulating an ammonia release. The regional exercise posed no public danger and strengthens support for smaller departments -- read the full story.

Homegrown craftsmanship scales up: Montana Knife Company has opened a 50,000 square foot Missoula facility after starting in a garage. The expansion adds jobs and includes a new Black Rifle Coffee shop -- read the full story.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Cozy bowl upgrade: Whether you’re thawing after a river walk or craving a midweek reset, Pho Vi quietly delivers: rich, aromatic broth, slurpable noodles, and that basil, lime, jalapeño pop. It’s a low-key staple that earns repeat visits. Bring chopstick skills, not a hunger for frills.

Montana-made gift gold: Whether you need a host gift, a birthday fix, or just an excuse to treat yourself, The Last Best Store corrals work from over 170 Montana artists and small businesses. Their in-store studio turns out slick wood-and-leather patch hats and handles custom orders, so your gifts feel local and very Missoula.

Gear up, Missoula: Whether your week calls for big miles or quick backyard missions, The Trail Head has you covered with hiking, camping, climbing, and winter gear, plus smart rentals and solid repairs from folks who actually get outside. Ideal for refreshing your kit before the next outing.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🌷 Spring Garden Tour @ Montana Natural History Center | Tuesday (4/28) at 9:00 AM – Stroll the Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula with the Montana Natural History Center’s Master Naturalist, Elena Ulev, spotting blooms, arriving birds, and proof we outlasted Missoula winter. Hear classes and volunteer gigs, then enjoy homemade cookies, a drink, and zero weeding. Suggested donation: $10.

🎠 Pony Keepers Night @ A Carousel for Missoula | Tuesday (4/28) at 7:00 PM – Think you can still wield a wrench without Googling it? Tuesday nights, help keep the carousel spinning by painting ponies, polishing brass, greasing gears, and swapping out a steed or two. No experience needed, just old clothes, steady hands, and community pride.

🎬 The Plastics Detox Screening @ Free Cycles | Wednesday (4/29) at 6:30 PM – Free Cycles hosts a free screening of The Plastics Detox, a documentary that makes you side-eye plastic and question your shampoo. Stay for a community dialogue with MT Plastic Free Missoula, enjoy free refreshments, and leave motivated and ready to clean up your act, Missoula-style.

🧁 Sip & Swirl Cupcakes @ Cambie Taphouse + Coffee | Thursday (4/30) at 6:00 PM – Trade your Pinterest fails for frosting wins at a beginner-friendly cupcake decorating class in a relaxed, social setting. No experience needed, if you can hold a coffee, you can pipe a rose, plus step-by-step guidance. Seats are limited, it’s $50 per person, book at sugarandskillsstudio.square.site.

🎬 Screening: The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause @ The Roxy Theater | Thursday (4/30) at 7:00 PM – Hot flashes get equal billing with facts at a free screening of The M Factor at the Roxy, courtesy of the Missoula Menopause Initiative. Expect a 56 minute doc, comedy, and commentary from Rosie Seitz Ayers, and honest chat your group text avoids.

🔨 MT State Wood Carvers Event @ Missoula County Fairgrounds | Friday (5/1) at 6:00 AM – Celebrate Montana’s finest whittlers at the Missoula Fairgrounds, where shavings fly, patience reigns, and every bear starts as a block. Five bucks gets you in, kids under 12 are free, and yes, the air smells like cedar, nostalgia, and grandpa-level craftsmanship.

🍺 32nd Annual Garden City BrewFest @ Caras Park | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – For its 32nd year, Montana’s original BrewFest pours 50-plus local and regional beers, seltzers, and ciders in the Heart of Missoula, plus a wine bar and food vendors. It’s the one everyone copies, so pace yourself, call a ride, and flaunt your pretzel necklace.

This certified-organic 21.5-acre Ten Spoon Winery and Vineyard sits in Missoula’s Rattlesnake Valley inside city limits near downtown. A Mediterranean 3-bed, 2-bath plus office home shines with skylights and a south-facing window wall. A 4,000-square-foot winery with wine bar, a 7.5-acre vineyard with senior water rights, and a conservation easement allowing commercial use and up to four dwellings complete it.