05/31/2026
From braces to BBQs, summer is off to a strong start.
Hi Friends!
This week our house slowly started feeling a little more like home.
With summer just around the corner, we’ve spent the week welcoming friends and family over to see the new place, catch up, and help us settle into this next chapter. It’s been a wonderful reminder that while moving boxes eventually get unpacked, it’s the people who walk through the front door that truly make a house feel like home.
We’re also preparing for another big transition in our family as Olivia gets ready to head down to San Diego for the summer to spend time with her mother. If you know Olivia, you know she lives her best Hannah Montana life — one foot in Montana and one foot in California. From the Beartooth Pass to the Pacific Ocean, she gets the best of both worlds.
This week also brought another milestone: braces! Olivia was incredibly excited to get them put on… right up until later that evening when the aches and pains started reminding her that orthodontics is a long-term investment. In what feels like a perfectly Olivia fashion, her final day of elementary school was also her first — and last — day wearing braces as an elementary student. Quite the entrance and exit before returning in the fall as a middle schooler.
At the café and library, things were pleasantly quiet this week. If you stopped by on Saturday, you may have caught Omar and me tackling our end-of-month deep cleaning and inventory projects as we prepare for what is always one of our busiest and most exciting seasons of the year. Summer at the café has a rhythm all its own, and we’re looking forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new visitors through the doors.
As for the weather, it looks like Montana is planning to give us a little bit of everything this week. A few rainy days, a brief stretch of sunshine in the middle, and what I can only assume will turn into humid, cloudy summer weather by week’s end. So naturally, this week’s menu follows suit. We’ll lean into some chilled, bright, and refreshing flavors for those warmer afternoons while still keeping a few cozy comforts around for the rainy days at the beginning of the week.
School is out, summer is arriving, and the days are stretching a little longer. Around here, that’s always something worth celebrating.
Now, let’s turn the page and dive into this week’s specials!
🌆 Community Highlights
🏓🍻 SCHEELS Pickleball Social
📅 Monday, June 1, 2026 • 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Meadowlark Brewing Co.
Looking for a fun way to kick off June and ease into summer? The SCHEELS Pickleball Social returns to Meadowlark Brewing this week, offering a laid-back evening of friendly competition, community, and plenty of laughs on the court.
Whether you’re a seasoned pickleball player or simply looking for an excuse to get outside and try something new, this event is designed for all skill levels. Courts are reserved in 30-minute blocks, giving everyone an opportunity to play, socialize, and enjoy one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in the country.
One of the things I love about events like this is that they’re less about winning and more about gathering. Much like a library or a neighborhood café, they’re another reminder that community often happens in the simple moments — sharing a game, meeting someone new, and spending a summer evening outside.
So grab a paddle, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of movement, laughter, and local community. Registration is free, but court reservations are required.
📚 Library Events
📚 Library Events
🎵📚 Books & Babies: Music Edition
📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026 • 10:15 AM
📍 Story Tower, Billings Public Library
One of the library’s most beloved early childhood programs continues this week with Books & Babies: Music Edition, a special musical spin on the popular program designed for children ages 0–2 and their caregivers.
Through stories, songs, movement, and hands-on musical play, little ones are introduced to language and literacy in a fun and engaging way. Research continues to show that music helps build important early language skills, making this a wonderful opportunity to bond with your child while supporting their development through play.
As a parent myself, I can tell you there’s something special about watching young children discover music. Whether it’s clapping along to a song, shaking an instrument for the first time, or simply hearing a story read aloud, these moments create connections that last long after the program ends. If you have a little one at home, this is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday morning together at the library.
And if you’ve ever seen Benicio running around the library, you already know I have a soft spot for programs that help create the next generation of readers, musicians, and lifelong library lovers.
🍲🥗 Soups & Salads of the Week
As summer begins to settle in, we’re embracing the best of both worlds this week: fresh, crisp salads showcasing peak-season produce and hearty soups perfect for those cooler rainy evenings.
🍅🌿 Vegetable Minestrone
A classic Italian vegetable soup featuring tomatoes, beans, pasta, and seasonal vegetables simmered together in a savory herb broth. Bright, comforting, and packed with garden flavor, it’s the perfect bridge between spring and summer.
🦐🔥 Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
A rich and flavorful Southern classic featuring tender chicken, savory sausage, vegetables, and rice simmered together in a deeply seasoned broth. Hearty, satisfying, and exactly the kind of bowl that makes a rainy afternoon feel a little cozier.
🦐🥗 Shrimp Louie Salad
One of my personal favorites and perfectly timed for the season. Crisp peak-season lettuces are topped with chilled shrimp, cucumber, tomato, hard-boiled egg, avocado, and our house Louie dressing. Fresh, vibrant, and packed with texture, this classic West Coast salad feels right at home during the first warm days of summer.
There’s a reason Shrimp Louie has been a favorite for generations — it manages to feel indulgent and refreshing all at once. This week, with our lettuces at their absolute best, it might just be the star of the menu.
🌟📅 This Week at SG Book Café
🥩🥖 The Big Sky Dip
Our Montana-inspired take on the classic French Dip.
Slow-roasted beef is piled high onto a toasted hoagie roll with melted provolone, caramelized onions, and a touch of horseradish cream, then served with rich house-made au jus for dipping. Savory, hearty, and packed with flavor, it’s everything you love about a French Dip with a little Montana café personality mixed in.
The Big Sky Dip feels right at home this week — substantial enough for a rainy afternoon, but still perfect alongside a crisp summer salad or bowl of soup.
And let’s be honest, few things are more satisfying than a sandwich that requires both hands and a stack of napkins.
✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99
Enjoy a ½ Big Sky Dip, paired with your choice of:
a cup of soup (Chicken & Sausage Gumbo or Vegetable Minestrone), or
a side salad (Shrimp Louie Salad),
plus a bag of chips.
🍰 Daily Baked Specials
🍪🥐 Biscoff Cookie Cinnamon Rolls — Available Monday & Wednesday
Made in small batches and worth arriving early for. Soft cinnamon rolls are filled with rich cookie butter, swirled with warm spices, and topped with Biscoff crumble for the perfect balance of gooey, buttery, and crunchy. If you’re a cookie butter fan, these may become your new favorite morning indulgence.
🥨🍫 Caramel Pretzel Brownies — Available Tuesday & Thursday
The coveted chocolate vices are back. Rich chocolate brownies layered with buttery caramel and finished with crunchy pretzels for that perfect sweet-and-salty combination. Fudgy, decadent, and nearly impossible to stop at just one bite.
🥚🫑 Denver Puffs — Available Friday & Saturday
Inspired by the classic Denver omelet, these flaky puff pastries are filled with eggs, ham, peppers, onions, and cheese, then baked golden and crisp. Perfect for breakfast on the go, a quick lunch, or anyone looking for a savory start to the weekend.
🍫 Flourless Chocolate Torte (Gluten-Free) — Available All Week
Simple, elegant, and timeless — like a little black dress. When you’re craving a knockout chocolate punch in an unassuming package, the flourless chocolate torte delivers. Deep, rich chocolate flavor with a velvety texture and naturally gluten-free, this dessert proves that sometimes the simplest things are the most memorable.
🚚 Friday’s $10 Take-Out Special: Huckleberry BBQ Meatloaf Dinner
with Creamy Mashed Potatoes & Broccoli (Naturally Gluten-Free)
We are excited to offer this week’s take-out special: Huckleberry BBQ Meatloaf Dinner with Creamy Mashed Potatoes & Broccoli.
Did you know huckleberries have long been one of Montana’s most beloved wild treasures? Found throughout the mountains of the Northwest, they’re known for their sweet-tart flavor and have become a staple ingredient in everything from pies and jams to sauces and barbecue favorites.
Our chef-inspired twist on a classic comfort dish starts with locally sourced ground beef and gluten-free oats, creating a tender, flavorful meatloaf finished with our sweet and tangy Huckleberry BBQ Sauce for a true taste of Montana. Served over creamy mashed potatoes with a side of steamed broccoli, this meal delivers all the comfort of a traditional meatloaf dinner while remaining naturally gluten-free.
Comforting, nostalgic, and satisfying, it’s the kind of meal that feels right at home after a long day, whether you’re escaping a rainy afternoon or enjoying one of those long summer evenings ahead.
Enjoy this delicious meal with the added perk of free local Friday delivery or easy café pick-up.
Why You’ll Love This Dish:
🍽 Perfect for Sharing: A comforting favorite that’s always welcome at the table
💥 Authentic Montana Flavor: Huckleberry BBQ paired with locally sourced beef
⏱ Quick & Convenient: Fully prepared and ready to heat and enjoy
💰 Incredible Value: A complete homestyle dinner for just $10
🌾 Naturally Gluten-Free: Made with gluten-free oats instead of breadcrumbs and packed with local flavor
📲 How to Order
🛒 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site
☕ In Person: Stop by the café inside the Billings Public Library
📞 Call or Text: 406-894-8464
✉️ Email: [email protected]
Friday Take-Out Specials are available for café pick-up or free local delivery, with pick-up between 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM and deliveries beginning at 2:30 PM.
After-hours pick-up is available — your order will be stored securely in the café refrigerator, and library staff can assist with retrieval.
As always, thank you for supporting our little café inside the Billings Public Library. Whether you’re stopping in for coffee, lunch, a pastry, or a Friday dinner, we’re grateful to be part of your week.
This week feels like one of those milestone moments. The school year has come to a close, summer is officially beginning, and our family is settling into a house that finally feels like home. Between braces, moving boxes, deep cleaning the café, and preparing for Olivia’s summer adventures, it’s been a season of change around here.
As June arrives, we’re looking forward to everything that comes with it: cold brew season, summer reading, library programs, fresh produce, longer evenings, and all the familiar faces that continue making this café such a special place to gather.
Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your routines, your celebrations, your lunch breaks, and your Friday dinners. We truly couldn’t do this without you.
We’ll see you at the café.
With gratitude,
Oscar
Stomping Grounds Book Café
📞 406-894-8464
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