Arts & Entertainment
Amuse Bouche: If you build it, will they come?
Published
3 years agoon
Posted By
AdminBy Scott Mechura EBS Food Columnist
Data shows us that the Gallatin Valley has grown steadily for the better part of 100 years. However, that growth became exponential about five years ago and COVID has played a part in this growth. It seems everyone wants a piece of what we have in this fabulous part of America.
Anyone can see that all commerce throughout the valley is booming, but for some reason I have a particularly crisp memory of visualizing the bars and restaurants here that I patronize and when exactly they have been busy, and when they have not.
For the last several months, they are all busy, all the time, every day—at least those that are able to actually keep their doors open seven days a week.
With this growth comes the need for folks to find a roof over their head and this basic human need is proving far from basic. We all long for our local bar, restaurant or coffee shop to provide the experience we enjoyed not many years ago. Yet none of us want to live next to a mighty oak apartment building or housing unit that blocks our little maple lives, to reference one of my favorite Rush songs.
So where should everyone live?
One could make the argument that for years we have been dealing with a case of what is known as Windmilling.
The term originated from what is known as the Cape Wind Project when Cape Wind had a grand plan to build 130 massive wind turbines off the coast of Cape Cod, a cause supposedly near and dear to the Kennedys, the well-known political dynasty. That is until the late Ted Kennedy realized he would have to look at these wind turbines from the shore of his 26-acre oceanfront estate. Ted was a staunch environmental and clean energy advocate, yet became a participant of the “not in my backyard” mentality.
Thanks to years of lawsuits and political red tape, the Cape Wind project never happened.
Now, virtually all of us are faced with the reality that employment now almost always comes with a contingency. And that contingency is housing.
If I’ve written once, I’ve written 100 times about the many hats a chef, restaurant or bar owner has to wear. Now it sems we need to have a landlord hat on our rack as well.
It seemed unfathomable 10 years ago when my friend Megan was living in Jackson Hole and had a well-paying job as a manager at the Teton Village Four Seasons, yet she required not one, but two roommates to afford her rent.
Today the Gallatin Valley is singing that same song as we follow the unfortunate footsteps of our rival 180 miles to the south.
This all leaves us with the reality that, in an industry barely keeping its head above water, we now have to acquire or build places to live if we have any hope of retaining employees. It seems if you want to be in the hospitality business, you also need to be in the landlord and property management business.
Ever since the lifting of national travel restrictions, seating limitations and lock downs, the Gallatin Valley is busier than it has ever been and hasn’t looked back. If for no other reasons, we just don’t have the time.
Scott Mechura has spent a life in the hospitality industry. He is an executive chef, former certified beer judge and currently the multi-concept culinary director for a Bozeman based restaurant group.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
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Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
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Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
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the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
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Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during
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Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during their regular Toddler and Preschool Storytime on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:15 a.m. The free program, presented by the Bozeman Symphony is especially for children ages 3 to 5. Children will be able to listen to Montana Shakespeare in the Parks actor Emma Rather, who will be joined by Bozeman Symphony Bassoonist Sam Macken. The goal of the program is to encourage a love of music, literacy, and discovery. Additional programs are scheduled at the Library on April 10 and June 12. For more information, visit www.bozemansymphony.org or call 406-585-9774.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:15 am - 10:45 am
Location
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main St, Bozeman, MT