Billings: Call it the little apple
I was skeptical. The news release promised a taste of New York City. In Billings.
I’ve been to New York City. I love New York City. And never once have I thought to myself as I crossed Amsterdam Avenue from one Starbucks to another, “How Billingsesque.”
To be fair, my sole experience with the pride of southeast Montana involved a late-night drive-by in a rented Lincoln Town Car during an all-American road trip to Minneapolis with my brothers.
We did Mount Rushmore, the Corn Palace, Wall Drug, the whole bit. So Billings didn’t exactly stand out.
Consequently, I missed its Montana Avenue, “the Soho of Custer County’s largest and most magic city.”
Oooookay.
But if we can set aside the overreaching comparisons, Montana Avenue does seem to have something to offer.
The historic district, which recently underwent a $1.3 million facelift, plays home to art galleries, restaurants, cafes, an antique mall, nightclubs and more. Here are a few of the high points:
Venture Theatre, the venue for more than 100 productions since its founding in 1992, unveils “The Adventures of Lewis and Clark” on Feb. 3. Members of the theater’s Youth Conservatory will sing and dance their way through the expedition for six shows.
The theater also schedules play readings on Mondays and improv performances on Thursdays.
Frostbite, a winter music festival, also kicks off on Feb. 3. Over the course of two days, along with high school jazz bands, Johnny Winter, Los Lobos, William Lee Ellis and others will perform.
But the music doesn’t end with the festival. In the summer, Billings hosts Alive After 5, a 12-week series of live entertainment on Thursday evenings. The Carlin, a martini bar and nightclub, also offers live music and dancing.
But what’s a trip to Manhattan – or Billings – without a little shopping?
The Depot Antique Mall comprises more than 90 dealers and consignors. If art is more your style, try the Toucan Gallery. Or you can get both at Fine Things Art and Antiques.
Take a break at Q Cuisine, where “chandeliers gently radiating soft light throughout the comfortable and intimate atmosphere grace the original tin ceiling and modern design.”
Once you stop gawking overhead, you’ll find a menu with pan-roasted, mushroom-stuffed quail; black bean gnocchi; artichoke risotto; black pepper-rubbed tenderloin with a black plum port wine sauce; and other tasty-sounding dishes.
Montana Avenue also serves up sushi at Sweet Ginger, pastries and breads from Log Cabin Bakery, an eclectic menu drawn from local products at the 11 Cafeand more.
And unlike what you’ll find in New York, the parking is free.
There’s additional information at www.montanaavenue.com.
My furry Valentine
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Oregon Zoo is throwing a slumber party.
I don’t get the connection either.
Nevertheless, “I Love the Zoo – Overnight” brings children ages 7 to 13 together for a behind-the-scenes adventure from 5 p.m. on Feb. 18 to 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 19.
“It’s cool. It’s fun,” says Rex Ettlin, the zoo’s education program coordinator. “It’s like you have the zoo to yourself.”
The program includes guided tours, dinner, an evening snack and continental breakfast for $45 per child.
The animals most likely to be up and about – usually elephants, big cats, crocodiles, giraffes, sea lions and sea otters – get a visit, as do the veterinary hospital and the food distribution center for all the animals.
“The kids are very interested in the vet hospital,” Ettlin says. “One of the neat stops there is the X-ray lab. The staff will have a series of X-rays – there’s one of a pregnant penguin, one of a turtle – and the kids have to try to figure out what the pictures are. They’re really into that.”
A reptile show offers an opportunity for a little hands-on experience.
“The kids actually get to touch those animals – lizards, snakes. Almost always the tortoise is out,” says Ettlin.
The overnight can accommodate a total of 75 kids. They’re divided into groups of no more than 10, with one adult supervising each group.
To learn more, visit www.oregonzoo.com or call (503) 220-2781.
Astoria time
According to those who know best – their PR firm – there are at least 15 things to see and do in Astoria.
Actually, to get all the way up to 15, they threw in neighboring Warrenton, Ore., too.
Without further ado, here are the top 10:
1. Watch the ships navigate the Columbia River from the Pilot Suite at the Cannery Pier Hotel.
2. Walk the new Fort-to-Sea Trail, the same path Lewis and Clark took to the ocean.
3. Head to the top of the Astoria Column, a 164-step climb.
4. Get to know a sea lion or two at Astoria’s East End Basin or Warrenton’s Hammond Marina.
5. Paw through The Rain Store’s selection of more than 500 umbrellas.
6. Stop by the annual Fisher Poets Gathering, scheduled for Feb. 24 to 26.
7. Try your hand at sailing the interactive exhibit at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
8. Test the fare at Fulio’s Pastaria, home to “one of the world’s foremost experts on anchovies.” (Yum!)
9. Ride along the waterfront in a century-old trolley.
10. Let Seafood Consumer Center chef Erik Jenkins explain how to shake crab.
I’m not sure why you’d want to shake a crab. But that’s just me.
Astoria and Warrenton have teamed up at www.oldoregon.com. Or you can call (800) 875-6807.
Regional events
“Winternational XIX Sports Festival, Feb. 4-April 1, Butte. Eight weeks’ worth of sports hit southwest Montana. Events include indoor tennis, downhill skiing, speed skating, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and more. ( www.visitmt.com/800-735-6814)
“Annual Idaho Gem Show, Feb. 25 and 26, Boise. The show features gems, minerals and fossils, along with demonstrations, lectures, a garnet dig and activities for kids. ( www.visitidaho.org/208-375-8935)