Nightlife

Watering Holes for Any Taste

There are plenty of watering holes in Missoula, whether your buzz of choice is alcohol or caffeine induced. Sean Kelly's, 130 W. Pine (tel. 406/542-1471), serves Irish pub-style food -- bangers and mash, pot roast, Irish stew -- in addition to your alcoholic beverage of choice. The weekend jazz is wonderful, and there are also pool tables in the back. Iron Horse Brew Pub, 501 N. Higgins Ave. (tel. 406/728-8866), has one of the city's best selections of Montana-brewed beer and myriad TVs to watch the game. Bold, bawdy, and bedecked with black-and-white photos of regulars, Charlie B's, 428 N. Higgins Ave. (tel. 406/549-3589), is one of the best dives in the northwest, serving a cross section of Missoula: blue-collar types, professionals, and college kids. The exterior doesn't have a sign; just follow the laughter and chatter.

There are a number of good breweries in town, with taprooms where they can pour customers a maximum of 48 ounces of beer a day due to Montana state laws. My favorite is the Kettlehouse Brewing Co., 602 Myrtle St. (tel. 406/728-1660; www.kettlehouse.com), a neighborhood brewery that supplies excellent craft beer to many local restaurants. Its taproom -- open Monday through Saturday from noon to 9pm -- is a funky hangout with old couches and a jovial atmosphere. A second location opened in 2009 at 313 N. 1st St. W. Big Sky Brewing Company has a taproom near the airport at 5417 Trumpeter Way (tel. 406/549-2777; www.bigskybrew.com), open Monday through Friday from 11am to 6:30pm and Saturday from 11am to 6pm. Touting itself as the only German brewery in the Rockies is Bayern Brewing, 1507 Montana St. (tel. 406/721-1482; www.bayernbrewery.com), with taproom hours of 10am to 8pm Monday through Friday and noon to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.

The Performing Arts

The Montana Repertory Theater, located at the University of Montana campus (tel. 406/243-6809; www.montanarep.org), is the state's only Equity company, performing new and classical works. The Missoula Children's Theater is the largest touring children's theater in the United States, performing original musical productions and featuring hundreds of talented children from communities across the States, Canada, and the Pacific Rim. The theater season starts early in June and continues through the end of March. The MCT Community Theater provides a year-round calendar of family entertainment. Both the Children's Theater and the Community Theater are located at 200 N. Adams St. (tel. 406/728-1911; www.mctinc.org).

The Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, 320 E. Main St. (tel. 406/721-3194; www.missoulasymphony.org), is composed of university students, Missoula residents, and other regional musicians, who often perform with featured guests in the University Theater on campus. The String Orchestra of the Rockies, P.O. Box 8265, Missoula, MT 59807 (tel. 406/493-2990; www.sor-montana.org), a statewide professional string ensemble, is based in Missoula and performs almost exclusively there. At the University of Montana's Music Recital Hall (tel. 406/243-6880), the school's music department often brings in outstanding musicians to perform. Regularly scheduled recitals include solo and ensemble performances by faculty and students.