Ice Skating

In most of the northern states ice skating on frozen ponds is the premier thing to do during the winter.  And in many of the other states there are a lot more ponds and lakes that will freeze over to provide this opportunity.  But Billings is not without a few places to practice figure eights and pirouettes.  When the temperature drops and stays below freezing for a long enough period of time Lake Elmo in the Heights and Lake Josephine at Riverfront Park will freeze over.  If it has snowed recently some shoveling may be required to clear a smooth skating surface.  Just be careful, where water enters the lakes will cause the ice to be thinner and falling through could prove deadly.  During warmer weather, such as we’re experiencing this year, it is best to stay off the ice completely.

If there is no ice to skate on outdoors, there is still hope.  Centennial Ice Arena on Bench Boulevard in the Heights offers public skating on most weekends during the winter months.  Check out all the details on www.centennialicearena.com where you can learn more about public skating, skate rentals, and booking the arena for a party or your own private group skate.

Hiking

There is no need to drive for hours to find a great place to hike.  Billings is rich with parks and trails that offer a great escape, even during the winter months.  For great views you can head up on top of the Rimrocks and hike for miles.  One of the most popular places to hike is near the airport along Black Otter Trail.  Recently updated, the trail is part of a vast and expanding network of bike and walking paths that are weaving their way through and around Billings.  Whether you want to have a quick hike, or a long one, this trail will offer excellent views of the downtown area.

For a more rustic experience, Two Moon Park is one of the lesser known parks in the area.  Hugging the Billings Bench on one side, and the Yellowstone River on the other, Two Moon has several trails that wind their way through Cottonwood and Aspen trees.  Getting “lost” in the park is a great way to spend a winter afternoon.  Follow the signs guiding you off Bench Boulevard just behind Centennial Ice Arena to find the trail head.

Biking

Normally winter does not call for bike rides.  However, when we see 60+ temperatures in January there is no reason to not take advantage of the warm weather.  The trails described earlier are perfect for an afternoon bike ride, or an all day adventure.  With miles of trails around town, you can get out there and ride for hours seeing parts of the city you never knew were there.  Find maps and more information on Bikenet.org.

Finding things to do in the winter is not difficult in Billings.  There are probably many more that I have completely missed or forgotten about.  The important thing is to get out there and explore.  If there is something you want to do, chances are it is offered in Billings or just a short drive away.  What have I missed?  What do you love to do when the mercury drops?

There was only one problem.  Okay, there were a couple of problems.  I knew this movie centered around Liam and his band of misfits fighting off wolves.  Wolves creep me out.  Watching this movie might equate to a week of nightmares.  Also, when I asked 3 different people, “On a scale of 1-10, how bad do you want to watch Liam Neeson fight off a pack of hungry wolves?” everyone was “busy.” Super.  That meant I was going to have to cower in my chair and bite my nails by myself.

I haven’t been to the movies in a while, so I was shocked to see so many people in line at 7:00 p.m. on a Wednesday night.  I HAD to be there!  What was their excuse?  THEN, I was charged $11.75.  Where was I when the price of a movie went up $3????? On a Wednesday night????  I coughed up the ransom, er, ticket price and found my way to the movie screen.  There I sat down, strapped in and prepared myself for an adrenaline rush that would likely haunt me for days.

Whilst I waited for the visual rollercoaster to begin I spotted a little boy, who appeared to be about 4 years old, sitting with his parents.  Whaaaaaaaa?  As a full grown adult I had to mentally prepare for this movie!  Knowing a preschooler was going to be scarred for life was seriously going to impair my enjoyment of this film.  (Luckily the little guy started screaming that he was afraid before the wolves even made an appearance and the parents left.)

Here is what you need to know about The Grey if you decide to go.  Bring a blanket because your core temperature will drop by about 30 degrees just listening to the wind.  Be prepared to be further repulsed by wolves (although if I lived in those conditions, I’d be hostile, bitter and grouchy too).  Mentally prepare for a-little-too-authentic dying scene after the plane crash.  That was hard to watch.  Plan to see Liam Neeson put the bad in bad ass.  Gear up for a tale of faith and unparalleled hardship (it wasn’t bad enough these guys crashed in a Donner-Party like setting, with intensely harsh weather conditions and severe injuries? They had to be hunted by wolves too?).  You might also get ready for an unusual ending. 

If you decide to check it out, you should also know there were a couple small holes in this movie, like why the men put so much energy into carving make-shift rifles, when they could have just used the huge KNIVES they carried.  Liam Neeson’s job is never really fully fleshed out.  Do oil-rigging companies pay people to shoot wolves that approach the rigs?  How much does that pay? I’m still trying to figure out exactly how one would put that on a resume.  And don’t think the whole, “I just got out of freezing cold water but I’m not suffering from hypothermia” got past me either. 

By now I’m sure you’re screaming, “Kat, do I go see this movie or not?”  I can’t really answer that for you.  Twelve bucks is a lot to pay to watch so much suffering.  On the other hand, Liam Neeson does an incredible job with this role, and one does leave with a sense of, “Huh.  I guess my life isn’t so bad.  I’m not in the middle of the frozen tundra being hunted by wolves.”  Dudes will love this movie.  Women will probably be divided.  While it’s not exactly a movie to go to on Valentine’s Day, it is worthwhile in its own special way.

Now, as we know, authorities believe that Arnold is deceased although her remains have not been recovered yet.  And we continue to feel helpless.

While we can’t do anything to bring Sherry back, we can unite to honor her and offer support to her family.  “Running for Sherry Arnold,” a virtual run organized by Sherry’s cousin, Beth Risdon of Colorado, has been organized to do just that.

On February 11th, participants are asked to dedicate a run to Sherry Arnold.  Do so individually or as a group.  A running bib has been designed just for this purpose and you are asked to print it out and pin it to your shirts.

The full details of the run, the running bib download, and more information can be found at shutupandrun.net. A donate button can also be found on that site and all funds will go to Sherry’s children.

Or you might be like myself, always putting off these kinds of things because it is so overwhelming and let’s face it, a little boring.  There comes a point, however, when you have to realize “Ummm, I’ve been out of college for 8 years! I guess I’m officially an adult. I have a child. I better get my ‘stuff’ together!” and you decide to do the adult thing and get these things in place for yourself and your family.

The Family Life Expo taking place at MetraPark’s Montana Pavilion this Saturday, February 4th will help you do just that! Families will be able to get the latest information on just about any subject from childbirth to death, such as education, financial planning, healthcare, community resources, insurance, vacations, home buying, retirement, jobs, and more.

You can also take advantage of the many free mini seminars that will take place throughout the day. Local professionals and providers will be speaking on subjects such as preparing for college, helping your child with school, investing and retirement planning, family emergency preparedness, legal protection, identity theft, healthcare, and more.

Don’t worry, there’s some fun activities for the kids on site.  Children can enjoy many activities such as face painting, art activities, contests, and dressing up in costumes provided by The Western Heritage Center. Families can visit with animals from Zoo Montana.

Admission to the event and the seminars will be free and door prizes will be awarded all day long.  Hours are 10am to 7pm.

Also look for FamilyLifeExpo.com to launch on Saturday. The site will offer news, forums, and the opportunity to “Ask an Expert” for advice. Most importantly, the website will provide families with a direct link to local community professionals and providers who can assist families with their needs.  FamilyLifeExpo.com will hold a qualifying drawing during the Expo for a chance to win a family trip for 4 to Walt Disney World. The final prize drawing will be held at Zoo Montana this summer.

Recreational Family Time
While Billings offers many promising activities and recreational services, it now has a place where kids, teens & adults can work to enhance their athletic abilities. Fielder’s Choice is a place where families can enjoy quality time after a long days work by partaking in their favorite sports. FC offers a 6,500 square foot baseball training facility which includes a 70-foot batting cage, 60-foot batting cage, professional clay mounds, soft toss drill stations, and many more services that will help enhance the playing ability of baseball and softball players. Fielder’s Choice also offers a 3,500 square foot weight-training center that focuses on increasing athletic abilities through a cross-fit type of training.

Fielder’s Choice is not only a facility where aspiring athletes strive to reach their goals, but it’s also a place where families and teams can come together and learn together. We are aware of the importance of providing today’s youth with after school programs that maintain a positive environment, and we ensure all who walk through our doors can see our dedication, passion & positivity.

FC also offers after school baseball training classes three days per week! Visit our website or contact us today to learn more!

Fielder’s Choice is located at 1705 Montana Avenue.

• Have you ever spent the day in the mountains and later find that you received a bit of a tan or maybe even a sunburn? Spending time in higher elevations allows for an increased chance of acquiring skin damage. Thus, for all those skiers & snowboarders out there, ensure that you have applied a generous amount of sunscreen on your skin to protect against UV damage. And don’t forget, you should be prepared to reapply throughout the day!

• Guarantee that you are receiving enough Vitamin D! Vitamin D provides an array of benefits to all of us. A few benefits of Vitamin D include more energy, decreased chances of illness, and increased overall wellness & health. Don’t worry, the sun isn’t the only place to receive Vitamin D. Instead, resort to a supplement!

• Pay attention to your sensitive skin. With the fluctuating temperatures, it is common to feel your skin becoming increasingly irritated. Ensure that you are using sufficient skin care products and are being gentle to the most sensitive parts of your body, such as your eyes. Therefore, when you’re washing your face at night, avoid irritatingly scrubbing our eye make up off. Instead, use products that will gently remove any unwanted makeup, dirt, etc.

Sledding

Pioneer Park is the easiest and best place to go sledding in Billings.  Every time it snows, hundreds of people will gather on the hills for their trip down.  The park is great with its range of low incline for those with smaller children, to steep with a creek at the bottom for those looking for a thrill.  Nearly all of the parks around Billings offer some slope, so if crowds are going to be a bother, the other parks will offer more seclusion.  People who are looking for a real thrill though should look south.  The South Hills contain some of the steepest terrain around, and will propel sledders to dizzying speeds.  If you go, make sure you are on public land, and well prepared in case of emergency.

Fishing

If sledding is too much action, or you need a change of pace, there are still great fishing spots near Billings.  The Yellowstone River stays mostly free of ice, especially if you head east of Billings.  Near Huntley the rivers slows down enough that a person can catch Ling (Burbot) during the night and Trout during the day.  Check out The Minnow Bucket in Huntley for live bait.

For the fly fisherman a little more of a drive is involved.  About an hour and half east of Billings is the world famous Bighorn River.  During the summer the river is packed with tourists from all over looking to catch some of the immense Brown Trout in the river.  But the traffic comes to all but a stop in the winter.  The water coming out of Yellowtail Reservoir stays warm enough to keep the river open, even in sub zero temperatures.  If you can handle the cold air, the Bighorn will reward your effort.

Another change of fishing pace can be found at Deadman’s Basin Reservoir, an hour and half north of Billings.  This 2000+ acre reservoir contains Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow and Brown Trout, as well as many other species.  In mid-December the Salmon are moving and can be snagged through the ice.  Later in the winter minnows and night crawlers work well for these fish.

Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing and Ice Climbing

Heading toward Red Lodge, a mere hour south of Billings, a person is opened up to a vast variety of day trip activities.  A little ways out of town toward the Beartooth Pass is the Lake Fork Trailhead.  Here a person can strap on their snowshoes or skis and head along the upper reaches of the Lake Fork Creek.  There are miles of trails that can be skied or hiked.  If one is out looking for more of an adventure, Silver Falls is located about 3 miles in.  It freezes up around the beginning of December and stays frozen through March in most years.  Although a shorter ice climb, it is easy to access and situated in a gorgeous valley.  Just remember, if you do not have proper equipment and training, stay away from even the base of the falls.  The ice is slippery and many people have been injured, or worse, just walking near the bottom of frozen waterfalls.

There are so many things to do in or around Billings in the winter; this list only scratches the surface.  With a little planning and some imagination, the outdoor activities are nearly endless.  Take just one from the list and make plans to get out there and have some fun.  If you are not the one who wants to risk life and limb for some excitement, getting out there and taking pictures of our city is always a great way to pass the time.

What do you love to do in Billings in the winter?  Leave a comment and share your favorite cold weather outdoor spot.

I’ve known the owner, Chris, for years so writing this blog was a good excuse to go in and catch up with him.  Which is exactly what we did.  I asked him about his impressive collection of Anne Taintor stuff (you know- the genius who has morphed images of women from the 50s into wise-cracking divas).  If you want a coin purse that says, “I love not camping,” Chris has that.  If you need a shopping bag with a woman holding a cake that reads, “Say it with carbohydrates,” Chris has that too.  Maybe you’ve been in the market for a flask that says, “Medicated and motivated.”  Well, you get the idea.

In addition to other funny, unique and clever gifts, Chris has an impressive selection of signs you can personalize.  The body of the sign is a vintage image, and up to 20% of the sign can be personalized. Ladies, these would make an AMAZING gift for the guy who has everything.  Many of the images are of the things your guy may like to do like fishing, hunting, golfing, drinking beer and skiing.  Chris says he sells quite a few of these novelty signs for all gift giving occasions.  Don’t forget, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner- and the signs can be personalized and returned to the buyer in about a week.

Chris and I got visiting about his business, and I asked him with Internet how much shipping he was actually doing these days.  He said that part of his business has always been steady, but that it has evolved over the years.  Right now Chris and his wife really enjoy finding humorous, unique gifts for their store.  I asked Chris why he doesn’t change the name of his store to, “Super cool smart ass stuff.”  He laughed and said he’d consider it.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered is located at 1212 Grand Ave. and remains one of my favorite places to find funny stuff for my kids and friends.  Next time you’re in that neck of the woods, pop in and have a look.

That means all of the stores you love to window shop on your way to the Brew Pub or Jake’s have some great deals going on.

I love to shop Downtown Billings for high quality, unique items for gifts or of course, for myself!  However, whenever I am shopping for myself, I tend to be on the price conscious side.  So, I like to capitalize on the great deals as stores are making way for the next season.

Happy Shopping!

El Ten Eleven just finished up in the studio where they were working on tracks for their upcoming fifth record. These songs blend dancy electro-rock with hip-hop beats and post-rock atmospherics.

El Ten Eleven’s live show is a technical marvel as the duo recreate their pounding instrumental landscapes without the help of a single computer or sequencer. Instead, Kristian Dunn wields a double-neck combo bass/guitar and a fretless bass and records and loops himself live while his feet dance on an extensive floorboard of pedals. His partner in crime, drummer Tim Fogarty, wreaks havoc on his drum kit and electronic drum pads while also occasionally looping himself.

The band’s latest disc, It’s Still Like A Secret, was self released on their own own Fake Record Label in 2010. Filter exclaimed: “They drive somewhere between a roughed-up version of Sigur Rós and Ratatat you wouldn’t dare bring home to your parents,” while Relix featured them as one of their “5 Artists You Should Know.”

• Check out El Ten Eleven on Soundcloud
• Free Download of El Ten Eleven Single “Falling”