Eight Ways to Spend the End of Autumn

The sky is gray, it’s cold and windy. Everything is covered in mud, and if it’s not mud it’s snow. It’s November in Bozeman. Besides the gloom of the overcast sky, this is the perfect time of year to curl up and give into the mid-semester slump after the sun-setting-at-6 p.m. begins. Too cold for summer activities, too warm for winter activities, what is there to do? If you are lacking inspiration, here are some ideas to get you out and about.

Wheelhouse Art Studio’s Open Studio

From noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays, Wheelhouse Studio offers a large workshop space equipped with a variety of materials and supplies. If unstructured art time isn’t in your wheelhouse, try one of the workshops like “Ladies Night Sip and Solder” or “Exploring Texture: 2D Painting 101.” 

Last Best Comedy Club

If you’d prefer to have a laugh, head down to the Last Best Comedy Club in downtown Bozeman. Try your luck this Wednesday at  “Montana’s Funniest Human Person Comedy Competition” or just sit back and have a laugh and a drink on Thursday’s “Night Out.” If you’d really want to be up on stage but you think you might be lacking the silliness-factor right now, try taking a stand up class. “The improv was cool, I didn’t know Last Best Comedy was there,” Bozemanite Max Grimes said. “I went for the punk rock show, and I stayed for the comedy.”

Skating at Haynes Pavilion or on wild ice

Take up skating: indoor or outdoor. Head down to Second Wind Sports and pick out a pair of cheap skates, race your friends down the hill outside of Montana Hall. Or, if you’re anticipating winter, head over to the Gallatin Ice Rink for an open skate on Saturday or Sunday.

Zocalo Coffee

 If you’d rather have a chill morning in on the weekend than anything else, find a buddy and go to Zocalo Coffee on Main Steet for a drink and a game of chess. The ambiance of Zocalo puts chess players in a heightened state of intelligence, allowing them to play riveting games endlessly. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself. 

Colombo’s Pizza and Pasta’s Trivia Night

Looking for a weekday activity? Colombo’s Pizza and Pasta hosts a Trivia Night every week on Tuesdays. Just like pong, you’re a little better at it after you’ve had a few. So, take advantage of the Family Night deals and try to dig up the random geography that’s left in your brain from ten years ago. “It’s really fun, especially when you win gift cards because then next time you can go and just eat and party for free,” MSU student and Colombo’s employee Makenzie Baker said.  

Adventuring into Dungeons and Dragons

Join a Dungeons and Dragons troupe. To start, check out Rook’s Games and More on Huffine Ln. “It’s the creativity and comradery of friends just getting together and goofing around but in a make-believe way,” MSU film student Shad Clark said.

Spire Climbing Gym

Another pastime of Clark’s is climbing at Spire. “Climbing in itself is a community that’s just really healthy to be around,” he said. Spire has everything you might need as a beginner, scope out a couple of the easier routes or, if you’re a little more advanced, practice your dynos. 

Comforting Movies

Cuddle up with a friend or loved one and watch a comfort film. Personally, The Lego Batman Movie and Fantastic Mr. Fox are on my list for this month. There are also some exciting new films in theaters this week including The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on Thursday, Nov. 16.