Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a Prosperous New Year to everyone and may you carry Butte in your heart wherever you go for the holidays. Here are some videos to ring in the season:
Uptown Butte Christmas past!And one more!
Remember, as if I needed to remind you, there are 7 more shopping days until Christmas so make them count as best you can in local businesses in Uptown Butte.
Organization Thank you to new and renewing members who have made a commitment of support in the last couple of weeks to Mainstreet Uptown Butte.
Business
Butte Stuff, 55 W.Park St., 565-1692Corette, Black, Carlson and Mickelson, PC,129 W.Park St., 782-5800
Community Counseling and Correctional Services, 471 E. Mercury St, 782-0417Empire Office Machines,206 W. Granite St., 782-4057
Headframe Spirits,21 S.Montana St., 299-2886Marchie's Tree Landscaping and Gift Shop, 500 Cobban St., 782-2725
Mark Rule and Co., 270 E. Park St., Suite 1, 723-3266Montana Resources, 600 Shields, 496-3200
Park Street Liquors,133 W.Park St., 782-6278Quarry Brewing Co., 124 W. Broadway, 723-0245
Riley's Meats,134 W.Park St., 723-3850Silver Dollar Saloon,133 S.Main St., 782-7367
Staack's, Inc 104 E.Mercury St., 782-3926Water and Environmental Technologies, 480 E. Park St., Suite 200, 782-5220
Individual
Mike and Jane Duffy
New members at all levels are always welcome. The easiest way is to go to the web site and join -- www.mainstreetbutte.org/join.htm. Or, please call 565-2249 and I will send more details or stop by.
You are Invited to Join Us for a discussion of BIDs on December 18 3:00 to 5:00 pm with Ellen Buchanan of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency
The board of directors of Mainstreet Uptown Butte invites property owners to join us for a discussion December 18th from 3 pm to 5 pm with Ellen Buchanan, the Executive Director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency. The discussion will be held at the Imagine Butte Resource Center at 68 W. Park Street.
Promotion
2014 Annual Ice Sculpting Contest and Breakfast with Santa Held on December 13
The chisels and chippers are still and nearly 50 sculptures have emerged on the streets of Uptown Butte after the 14th Annual Ice Sculpting Contest was held on Saturday, thanks to major sponsors KXLF-TV, the Hotel Finlen and Butte Silver Bow.
A trout leaps on East Park Street, and Evel Knievel leaps on West Granite. A bear dances on East Broadway, An icy hand is a wayfinding tool that points to Maloney's Bar. An eagle flies on the Courthouse steps. An angry penguin greets the street on East Front while an angel watches over East Galena. Here are the winners selected by the judges as the best:
Grand Prize - Headframe Spirits, 21 S. Montana Street - Frank Todaro Adult 1st - Wein's Men's Store, 66 W.Park Street - Trent Curnow
Adult 2nd - Daniel Insurance Agency,18 W. Galena Street - Justin DeShazo Adult Rookie 1st - Butte Stuff, 55 W.Park Street - Kelly McGonigal
Adult Rookie 2nd - Triple S Building Center, Inc.,100 E. Front Street - TJ ForrestYouth 1st - Jailhouse Coffee,116 W. Park Street - Miranda Bishop & Liam McCarvel
Youth 2nd - Pita Pit Butte, 1 N. Montana Street - Ashley Tracy & Fiona CarollDecorated 1st - Artistic Designs Hair & Skin Salon, 305 E. Front Street - Traci Stillwagon-Godman & Kayla Lacey
Decorated 2nd - Studio 3 Salon - Jon Bercier & Franki SalussoPower Tools 1st - Northwestern Energy,40 E. Broadway - Brian McKinney & Rita McKinney
Power Tools 2nd - Metals Sports Bar & Grill,8 W. Park Street - Katie Tregear Mattson & Brandon Mattson
The 14th Annual Uptown Ice Sculpting Contest is one of several events organized and presented by Mainstreet Uptown Butte throughout the year, including the recent Christmas Stroll. Thanks to Event Coordinator and sculptor Corey Gransbery and to the business sponsors that participated by purchasing ice blocks, and to the sculptors and judges who participated. A special thanks to the students of the Butte High Art Club led by President Michelle Anderson who through their talent and time bring art and style to the streets of Uptown Butte.
Montana Folk Festival July 10-12, 2015
It's not too early to plan ahead for the 2015 Montana Folk Festival. See the latest developments as they happen at www.facebook.com/mtfolkfest or at the festival web site at www.montanafolkfestival.com.
Economic Vitality
Butte's Taco del Sol on East Granite Street is changing hands and will soon be operated by Carrie and Buddy Fisher who successfully launched the Pita Pit this year.
The M&M remains closed and is heading toward foreclosure.
Look for the opening of a new restaurant in January on West Park Street underneath the Park Hotel.
Upcoming Events
December
December 17 -- The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will continue its Brown Bag Lunch series with a presentation by Nicole van Gaza-Reavis about historic glass restoration. She will bring one of her recent restorations, an historic Butte window, to the presentation. The presentation will begin at noon and run about an hour at the Archives at17 W. Quartz. Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Coffee and water will be provided. For more information, contact the Archives at 782-3280.
December 17 -- A Mining City Christmas with Curt and Karen Olds at the Mother Lode Theatre at 316 W. Park Street at 7:30 pm. For tickets and more information call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org.
December 18 -- Curious about what a Business Improvement District (BID) might do for Uptown Butte? All Uptown property owners are invited to join Ellen Buchanan from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Imagine Butte Resource Center (IBRC) for a discussion of how this funding mechanism has been used to provide enhanced services to property owners in Missoula and how it could be a benefit to Uptown Butte. Sponsored by Mainstreet Uptown Butte. For details, call George at 565-2249 or email geverett@montana.com.
December 18 -- The Butte-Silver Bow Public Library welcomes the Drum Brothers to lead a rhythm circle from 6-7pm. This event is free, open to all ages, and no experience is necessary! The Drum brothers is a high-energy world percussion group that has been performing since 1994. Their concerts feature ethnic sounds from around the world: West African djembe and doun-doun drums, Australian didgeridoo, Ethnic flutes, guitar, vocals, and hand percussion. They have performed at festivals throughout the Northwest and have been a featured act at the Seattle World Rhythm Festival and have performed with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Performers and educators, they teach classes and clinics around the U.S. and in Canada to enthusiastic groups of all ages. For more information, contact Nerissa at 723 3361 x6305 or ncook@buttepubliclibrary.info.
December 18 -- LAST CALL FOR ART Silent Auction @ The Carle Gallery in the Butte Public Library from 5-8pm. Join the gallery for refreshments and auction items. Several artists that have exhibited at the gallery in the past year have been welcomed back, and curated a selection of works for auction. This auction will provide 90% of the proceeds to the artists, and the remaining 10% will go to the operation of the Carle Gallery. You may have seen some of these works of art in past exhibits, and now is your second chance to consider purchasing them. Give the gift of ART! In addition to the opportunity to find that perfect gift by artists like Martha U Cooney, Jim Goebel, Dolores Cooney, Holly Morgan-Fitterer, and Meagan Thompson; there will also be opportunities to sponsor upcoming exhibits, and various operating costs to increase the quality of exhibitions and additional programming at the Carle Gallery.
through December 27 -- In celebration of Native American History Month, the Carle Gallery has invited Native American artists to share their art in an effort to foster cultural education and celebrate the first people's diverse heritage. Accepted works come from: Valentina LaPier of the Blackfeet tribe from East Glacier; Teri Loring Dahle of the Blackfeet Tribe from Cut Bank; Valerie A. Veis of the Little Shell Tribe from Fairfield; Robert Martinez of Mexican and Northern Arapaho descent from Riverton, Wyoming; Paul C. Reevis of the Blackfeet tribe from Browning; and Butte's own, John Bercier, of the Anishinaabe tribe. First People's Juried Art Exhibit will run through December 27th. For more information, contact Nerissa at 723 3361 x6305 or ncook @buttepubliclibrary.info.
through January -- Writers' Group will continue on Thursdays, at the IBRC at 68 W. Park Street at 7pm. If you interested in joining the group or excited to have a night to get some feedback on your writing, email Writers' Group organizer, Colin Cote atcolin .j.cote@gmail.com
through January 11 -- The Clark Chateau is featuring a new exhibit, “Christmas at the Chateau.” The exhibit features Santas, angels, and nativity sets from local private collectors. Because the courthouse rotunda is under construction, the county has generously allowed the Chateau to display some of its trees as well. A standout item in the exhibit is Santa’s Chair from Hennessy’s Department Store. The chair was recently donated to the Butte Archives by Dave and Cathy Isakson. It is ornately carved and upholstered in red velvet, well suited for the jolly old elf. Holiday hours are Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5:00 pm. Admission is $5 per person (age 3 and under are free) or $15 for families up to six. For more information, call the Butte Archives at 782-3280.
through January -- The Arts & Culture Survey: Your Voice (Really, Really) Matters Here, We want to hear your thoughts on arts and culture happenings in Butte. Please take a few moments to fill out this survey . Your response is exceptionally important. (Share the survey link with your networks: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MQxtsheesBLJEfO_H6R-ZJ_LDws3fVNq2JugTmKd3Is/viewform )
December at the IBRC -- A Few More Inspired Hours in the IBRC Print Studio
This time of year is tremendous for the making of creative gifts and implements for random acts of kindness. Decorations, greeting cards, fine art prints and more--If you're interested in taking advantage of the IBRC's print studio resources, let them know! Mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, whenever you're most inspired--send a description of your scheduling needs to imaginebutte@gmail.com and the IBRC staff we'll do their best to accommodate. Never printed before? No problem. We can arrange a meeting with an IBRC printmaker to show you the ropes and help you get started.
December Crafternoons -- Each Tuesday afternoon (3pm-close) in December, the IBRC will be hosting a series of holiday themed Crafternoons. Community members of all ages are welcome to participate in group crafting activities. Kids will be offered after-school sessions here to work with IBRC art instructors on special crafting projects. Parents may take time to work on holiday correspondence or gift making. More experienced crafters are also welcome to bring in their own supplies, work on independent project ideas or share their skills with the community. Interested? Be in touch! Learn holiday skills like how to make your own gift wrap sheets, holiday greeting cards (printmaking!), ornamental objects and other handmade gifts for friends and loved ones.
January 2015
January 5 -- Smokey Joe's Cafe featuring the Coasters, a tribute to songwriters Leiber and Stoller at the Mother Lode Theatre at 316 W. Park Street. For more information, call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org.
January 23 -- The Butte Arts Symposium Returns at 6:30 pm at the IBRC at 68 W. Park Street. Since 2012, The Butte Arts Symposium has been dedicated to "uniting Butte's creatives to survey and support ongoing projects while celebrating the exchange of new ideas". Each year, this celebration has featured a program of speakers bringing fresh projects to the forefront. The event has allowed Butte's art community an annual conference to reflect and plan new pathways for progress in the coming year.
January 27 -- Jekyll & Hyde at the Mother Lode Theatre at 316 W. Park Street. For more information, call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org.
January 30 -- Paint, Drink and Be Merry. Social Painting Society night at the IBRC at 68 W.Park Streetfrom 8pm to Midnight. Admission is $8 which covers paint, panel surfaces, and refreshments.All of these dollars support future arts programming at the IBRC. (The Social Painting Society loves well curated music. Interested in being a featured DJ? Call 782-5217 or email imaginebutte@gmail.com .
February
February 3 -- The Great Gatsby at the Mother Lode Theatre at 316 W. Park Street. For more information, call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org.
February 17 -- Memphis at the Mother Lode Theatre at 316 W. Park Street. For more information, call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org.
February 21 -- The Imagine Butte Resource Center Becomes One. Join the IBRC at 68 W. Park Street to help celebrate their first anniversary.
March
March 17-- St. Patricks's Day Parade. For details, contact Linda with Butte Community Celebrations at lredfern1731@yahoo.com or call 565-7689.
For a roundup of UPcoming UPtown events,visit www.mainstreetbutte.org/events.htm.