Hello Missoula! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: New playspace upgrades, superhero night, and scientific illustration workshop + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Help shape local planning: Montana is asking residents 55 and older to share community needs. Missoula Aging Services says the survey will guide local planning. Online responses are open through July 10 -- take the senior survey.
New downtown hangout unveiled: Downtown Missoula is celebrating today the completion of Caras Park and Beartracks Underbridge Playspace upgrades, with color-changing lighting and new street skating features designed with American Ramp Company -- explore the new playspace.
Sustainable events in action: Home ReSource’s Green Team fanned out at Zootown Festival, staffing 60 sorting stations and diverting thousands of pounds, aided by volunteers and 100% compostable food vendors -- see the waste diversion.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees 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.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Quick park pick: Lafray Park is a low-key neighborhood spot with two legit playgrounds, real restrooms, and a reservable picnic shelter with power, right by the Missoula Food Bank. When the cabin fever hits, it’s an easy pick for quick kid laps or a laid-back lunch outside.
Need more green: Leaf + Quiet is a cozy indoor plant boutique stocked with low-maintenance houseplants, stylish pots, books, and small-batch gifts from local makers, plus friendly advice to keep everything thriving. Perfect for refreshing your space this week, whether your pothos is flourishing or your succulents keep staging dramatic exits.
Cue up a reset: When your week needs a small win, the University Center Game Room is perfect for a quick rival-chasing break with friends or coworkers, zero fuss and plenty of friendly smack-talk. Pop in, play a bit, and watch your stress levels call it quits.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧪 Scientific Illustration Workshop for Middle and High Schoolers @ Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:00 AM – Got a kid who sketches in the margins and communicates in sighs? This scientific illustration workshop lets middle and high schoolers study pollinators up close, nail anatomy, texture, and detail with artist-naturalist Timber Green. Real specimens, real pencils, and zero screens, just brag-worthy bug art.
🖼 1st Character Project - Youth Gallery @ Zootown Arts Community Center | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – First Friday at Main Gallery brings a pop of color, lyrics, cartoon nostalgia, and hidden messages with 1st Character Project, youth-led. Think Kendrick and Baby Keem nodding to Spongebob, lined in micron pens and finished with marker swagger. Art cred, and maybe your teenager's respect.
🐹 Pocket Pets and Friends @ Zootown Arts Community Center | Friday (6/26) at 1:00 PM – Skip scrolling and hit a sewing and textiles camp that lets you stitch up fuzzy monsters, snuggly pocket pets, and other soft-sculpture sidekicks. Part craft, part creature lab, all soothing chaos, with pattern-making that makes sense after one decent cup of coffee.
🦸 Superhero Night with the Missoula PaddleHeads @ Ogren Park at Allegiance Field | Friday (6/26) at 6:35 PM – Superhero Night is swooping into Ogren Park as the PaddleHeads salute the real caped crusaders, our brain injury survivors, caregivers, and families. Expect specialty jerseys, a sea of green, kids snagging capes and glow gear, and Missoula proving we never miss a good costume excuse.
🎪 Fups Summer Carnival @ McCormick Park | Saturday (6/27) at 8:00 AM – If you like your softball served with sequins, wigs, and sanctioned shenanigans, this summer carnival delivers. Ten to twelve teams are competing to win at having the most fun, not the most runs. Expect lawn chair commentary, big kid energy, and deeply local ridiculousness.
🌌 Galactic Bear @ Painting with a Twist | Saturday (6/27) at 7:00 PM – Pull up a chair for the last Galactic Bear cutout painting, a guided, all supplies provided project that saves you a frantic craft store run. These fill up because talent is optional, patience pays off, and your wall art finally graduates from college posters.
🍼 Adoption event! @ PetSmart | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – Nothing beats a pet adoption meet and greet where small talk is replaced by snout boops. Expect adoptable dogs and cats from local shelters, plenty of wagging tails, and a chance to snag a low-maintenance roommate with soulful eyes, zero gossip, and excellent cuddle benefits.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Missoula report Weather forecastToday — High: 86°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 2%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind around 2 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 83°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 43%
A slight chance of rain before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. This house is wildThe Nest is a 2019 mountain-modern retreat on five wooded acres above the Bitterroot River, wrapped in protected forest and total privacy. Frank Lloyd Wright inspired details, cedar, Corten steel, raw concrete, and reclaimed Mercantile Building beams give it soul, while walls of glass, accordion doors, a 14-foot bookcase, and a Trex deck keep the forest front and center.
Take a peek inside → |
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