Stomping Grounds Book Cafe

Stomping Grounds Book Cafe Cozy community café at Billings Library, offering quality, affordable treats perfect for book lovers.

Balloons are floating, birthdays are coming, and the oven is working overtime.Hi Friends!This weekend kicked off with on...
07/26/2026

Balloons are floating, birthdays are coming, and the oven is working overtime.

Hi Friends!

This weekend kicked off with one of my favorite sights of the summer—the Big Sky Balloon Rally. Now... did we actually wake up early enough to watch the balloons launch? Absolutely not. But thankfully those balloons stay in the sky long enough that we still got to enjoy them floating overhead. Let's just say we caught the "late showing."

Even with the summer heat in full force, Billings was buzzing all weekend long. Saturday brought another wonderful Yellowstone Valley Farmers Market, the Billings Flea Market out at MetraPark, and plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy everything our community has to offer.

For our family, though, this weekend was mostly spent hunkered down at home getting everything ready for one very exciting delivery—our new furniture! After nearly two and a half months of waiting, it's finally on its way. The house is starting to come together, and it's beginning to feel more and more like home.

One of the biggest blessings of this move has been our neighborhood. For the first time in a long while, we have neighbors with kids. At our last place, Benicio and Olivia mostly had each other for entertainment. Now? Well... let's just say our new Vivint doorbell has been getting a workout. There always seems to be another knock at the door from a group of kids wondering if Benny can come outside. They're not always thrilled when they discover it's naptime, but their persistence makes us smile every time.

Between reusable water balloons, the water table, dragging out the hose and sprinkler, and deciding exactly where the slip-and-slide should go, this summer has been filled with all the little moments that make childhood so much fun. Watching Benny make new friends has been one of the highlights of the season.

Back at the café, I have to admit, it's sometimes hard to remember just how hot it is outside. The library does a great job of keeping things a cool 70 degrees, but when you've got the espresso machine steaming away and an oven going full blast all morning, it can still feel like midsummer in the kitchen. If you stopped by this week, you probably saw me refilling my blue water bottle for the fourth time before lunch!

If you visited on Wednesday or Friday, you may have noticed another new face behind the counter. I'd like to officially welcome Shay to the Stomping Grounds family! She comes to us with coffee experience, a great work ethic, and a genuine desire to build a bright future for herself. We're excited to have her on board.

And don't worry—McKenzie isn't going anywhere! You'll likely be seeing even more of her in the coming weeks as she gets ready to open the café on her own from time to time. Bringing both of them onto the team couldn't have happened at a better time. As we slowly begin looking toward fall, the extra help will allow me to spend a little more time with my family during what promises to be a very busy few weeks.

This Friday we'll be celebrating my wife's birthday, followed by mine the next Sunday. Before we know it, I'll be heading to California to bring Olivia home, and suddenly the summer calendar is starting to fill up faster than I expected. Having a little extra help at the café is going to make balancing work, family, and everything in between much easier.

And perhaps the best update of all...

We're officially three weeks without a hospital visit! 🎉

All fingers and toes remain attached, no mysterious bumps or emergency room adventures to report, and we're hoping to keep that streak alive for a good long while.

With a great team, a busy community, and another fresh summer menu coming your way, I think we're in for another wonderful week.

Now... let's see what's cooking this week at Stomping Grounds Book Café.

🌆 Community Highlights

🎶 Alive After 5 — Tiny's Tavern
📅 Thursday, July 30 | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Tiny's Tavern, Downtown Billings

If you haven't made it to an Alive After 5 concert yet this summer, now's your chance! This Thursday marks one of the final concerts of the season, and Tiny's Tavern will be hosting an evening of live music featuring Graveyard Spiral, along with great food, cold drinks, and the kind of downtown energy that makes summer in Billings so much fun. Admission is free, with a small wristband fee only for those 21+ who wish to enjoy adult beverages.

Alive After 5 has become one of those summer traditions that reminds us why we love living here. Friends gather after work, families stroll downtown, local businesses stay busy, and our community comes together to celebrate another beautiful Montana evening.

If you've been telling yourself, "I'll make it to one before summer's over," this is your reminder. Grab a lawn chair, meet up with friends, support our downtown businesses, and soak up one of the last big Thursday evenings of the season. Who knows... you might even run into me after I finally get out of the café!

📚 Library Events

🐉 Take & Make Fire-Breathing Dragon Craft
📅 Available Beginning Saturday, August 1
📍 Billings Public Library – Children's Desk
👶 Perfect for Babies, Children & Tweens

Calling all young knights, dragon tamers, and fantasy lovers!

Beginning Saturday, August 1, the Billings Public Library is offering a Take & Make Fire-Breathing Dragon Craft Kit that's sure to spark plenty of imagination. Using simple household materials, kids can build their very own interactive dragon that really "breathes fire"—no magic spells required!

Kits are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to stop by the Children's Desk early while supplies last. No registration is necessary, making it a perfect spontaneous activity for families looking to add a little creativity to their weekend.

As someone who spends plenty of time watching little imaginations at work, I can already picture Benicio running around the house pretending to be a dragon after making one of these. If you've got a young adventurer at home, this sounds like a great excuse to visit the library, pick out a few books, and head home with a fun project to enjoy together.

🍲🥗 Soup & Salad Specials

This week we're leaning into the best flavors of late summer with a rustic Italian soup, a nostalgic café classic, and a crisp, colorful chopped salad that's full of crunch.

🌿 Summer Zuppa
Our Summer Zuppa is a rustic Italian-inspired soup featuring savory Italian sausage simmered with zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, cannellini beans, and fresh herbs in a rich tomato broth. Finished with freshly grated Parmesan and basil, it's a lighter take on an Italian classic that's perfect for summer.

🥚 Garden Egg Salad Plate
Perfectly cooked eggs are folded into a creamy dressing made tangy with Dijon mustard, finely diced onion, dill relish, and our house seasoning before being served atop crisp butter lettuce. We finish the plate with fresh sliced tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and buttery crackers for a light lunch that's simple, satisfying, and timeless.

🥕 Rainbow Crunch Salad
If you're looking for something fresh and full of texture, this one's for you.

Our Rainbow Crunch Salad starts with finely chopped cabbage and is piled high with shredded carrots, snap peas, cucumber, sweet red bell peppers, edamame, juicy mandarin oranges, toasted sliced almonds, and crispy wonton strips. Everything is tossed with our bright sesame-ginger vinaigrette, creating a salad that's crisp, colorful, and packed with flavor in every bite.

🌟 This Week at SG Book Café

🥪 Turkey Bacon Ranch Club Hoagie

Sometimes you just can't beat a really good club sandwich.

This week we're piling thinly sliced Boar's Head oven-roasted turkey, crispy applewood smoked bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, crisp shredded lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and our house ranch aioli onto a toasted hoagie roll for a sandwich that's simple, fresh, and incredibly satisfying.

It's everything you love about a classic deli club, made the Stomping Grounds way. The toasted hoagie gives it the perfect bite, while the ranch aioli brings everything together without overpowering the fresh ingredients.

Whether you're grabbing lunch between errands or settling in with a good book, this one is sure to hit the spot.

✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99
Enjoy a ½ Turkey Bacon Ranch Club Hoagie paired with your choice of:

🌿 Summer Zuppa
🥚 Garden Egg Salad Plate
🥕 Rainbow Crunch Salad

Plus a bag of chips.

It's a classic deli lunch with plenty of fresh summer flavor—perfect for escaping the heat and enjoying a relaxing afternoon at the library.

🍰 Daily Baked Specials

This week's pastry case is full of café favorites, from savory breakfast puffs to homemade tiramisu. Plus, we're excited to welcome a talented local baker to Stomping Grounds for a limited-time sweet treat!

🥓 Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Puff — Tuesday & Thursday
Flaky puff pastry is filled with fluffy eggs, crispy bacon, and melted cheese for a warm, satisfying breakfast that's perfect alongside your morning coffee.

☕ Tiramisu — Available All Week
Layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers, silky mascarpone cream, and a dusting of rich cocoa powder come together for a dessert that's light, creamy, and just the right amount of indulgent.
It's the perfect companion to an afternoon coffee.

🍭 Cake Pops by Pop'd By Madisyn
Available all week — while supplies last!

This week we're excited to feature Pop'd By Madisyn, a wonderful local small business created by Billings mom Madisyn.

After welcoming her youngest son, Madisyn traded construction work for life as a stay-at-home mom. Wanting to stay creative while helping support her family, she launched Pop'd By Madisyn earlier this month—and we're thrilled to help introduce her delicious cake pops to our café family.

She offers an incredible variety of flavors, including:

🍪 Cookie Dough • 🍓 Strawberry Cheesecake • 🫐 Blueberry Lemon • 🍌 Banana Cream Pudding • 🥜 Butterfinger • 🍫 Cookies & Cream • 🍓 Strawberry Shortcake • 🌈 Fruity Pebbles • 🍫 Rocky Road • 🍓 Chocolate Covered Strawberry... and many more!

Every cake pop is handcrafted with care, and they're the perfect sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee—or to take home for later.

If you fall in love with them (and we think you will!), be sure to look up Pop'd By Madisyn on Facebook for custom orders, parties, birthdays, and special events.

🚚 Friday's $10 Take-Out Special: Chicken Florentine Manicotti

Few dishes say Italian comfort food quite like manicotti.

The name manicotti translates to "little sleeves" in Italian, referring to the large pasta tubes designed to be generously filled before being baked with sauce and cheese. While Italian-Americans made manicotti famous, the tradition of stuffed pasta has roots dating back centuries throughout Italy, where families gathered around the table to enjoy baked pasta dishes for Sunday dinners, holidays, and special celebrations.

Our Chicken Florentine Manicotti takes that tradition and gives it a Stomping Grounds touch. Two cheese-filled manicotti are baked with tender roasted chicken, sautéed spinach, and our house creamy Alfredo sauce before being topped with a blend of Romano, Asiago, and Parmesan cheeses and baked until hot, creamy, and beautifully golden.

The term "Florentine" simply means the dish is prepared with spinach, a style traditionally associated with the city of Florence, Italy. The combination of spinach, creamy sauce, and rich cheeses has become a timeless pairing that perfectly complements roasted chicken.

This week's take-out is rich, comforting, and made for slowing down around the dinner table. Whether you're feeding the family or simply treating yourself after a busy week, it's the kind of meal that reminds us why classic Italian comfort food never goes out of style.

Why You'll Love This Dish:
🍽 Perfect for Sharing: A cozy Italian favorite made for family dinners.
💥 Authentic Flavors: Roasted garlic Alfredo and three Italian cheeses.
⏱ Quick & Convenient: Simply heat, serve, and enjoy.
💰 Incredible Value: A handcrafted Italian dinner for just $10.
🌾 Customizable Option: Gluten-free pasta available by preorder.

Preorder your Chicken Florentine Manicotti today and treat yourself to a comforting Italian dinner delivered straight to your doorstep. Don't miss out on this delicious opportunity!

📲 How to Order
Ready to enjoy this week's café specials?

🛒 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site/home
☕ Visit Us: 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.

Pick-Up: Friday from 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Delivery: Friday afternoon beginning around 2:30 PM

After-hours pick-up is also available. Your order will be stored securely in the café refrigerator, and library staff can assist with retrieval.

As July begins to wind down, it's hard not to notice summer quietly slipping by. Between hot afternoons, neighborhood kids knocking on the door, balloon rallies, farmers markets, birthday celebrations, and another busy week at the café, we're doing our best to soak up every minute before backpacks replace beach towels.
We're grateful for all of you who continue to stop in for lunch, grab a coffee, or simply take a few minutes to say hello. Watching familiar faces become friends—and welcoming new ones like Shay to the café family—is one of the greatest joys of this little corner inside the library.

Here's to another week of great food, good company, and making the most of what's left of summer.

We'll see you at the café!

With gratitude,

Oscar

Click here for an update from Stomping Grounds Book Cafe!

Billings is buzzing—and thankfully, it’s not just the mosquitoes.Hi Friends!We hope you had a fantastic week! Things at ...
07/19/2026

Billings is buzzing—and thankfully, it’s not just the mosquitoes.

Hi Friends!

We hope you had a fantastic week! Things at the café stayed nice and steady, and we even had a couple of big groups join us for lunch—which is always fun. There's something special about seeing tables pushed together, conversations flowing, and people gathering over lunch while the usual summer buzz of the library carries on around us.

Outside the café, summer has certainly been making itself known. With the hot weather this week, our family found ourselves bouncing between The Reef and Oasis more than once, looking for just about any excuse to get in the water and cool off. At this point, I think that's simply part of surviving a Montana summer.

Olivia is getting eager to come home, and we're getting excited to have her back. I'm hoping we can squeeze in at least one family camping trip before summer officially comes to an end. Of course, somewhere between camping and enjoying these last weeks of freedom, there's that other adventure waiting for us—the dreaded back-to-school shopping. I don't know how we're already talking about school supplies, but here we are.

Saturday was a perfect example of what I like to call the "summer buzz" in Billings. There was so much happening around town that the library was unusually quiet—and, yes, I may have taken full advantage of that opportunity to sneak out of the café a little early.

I mean, can you blame me? The Yellowstone Valley Farmers Market celebrated its opening day downtown, Brews & BBQ was happening at MetraPark—which you all know is one of my favorite events of the entire year—and the Mexican Fiesta was bringing another celebration to South Park. When you can wake up on a Saturday morning and have that many choices for how to spend your day, it's a pretty great reminder of just how much our community comes alive during the summer.

That's the summer buzz. ☀️

There are never quite enough weekends to fit everything in, but there's still one thing sitting near the top of our family's summer to-do list: catching a Billings Mustangs game. Hopefully we'll make it to the ballpark before the season gets away from us.

For now, we're soaking up these final weeks of summer—the heat, the swimming, the community events, and all the little adventures in between. Before long, Olivia will be home, school will be starting, and we'll all be wondering where summer went.

But we're not there quite yet.

Now, let's turn the page and see what's happening around Billings, at the library, and of course, what's cooking this week at Stomping Grounds Book Café!

🌆 Community Highlights

🎨 Billings Creative Arts Pop-Up
📅 Friday, July 24, 2026 • Starting at 8:00 AM
📍 Coulson Park, Billings

If you're looking for another reason to get out and enjoy summer in Billings, the Billings Creative Arts Pop-Up is bringing local creativity and good vibes to Coulson Park this Friday!

This outdoor gathering is all about celebrating the artists, makers, small businesses, and creative minds that help make our community unique. Spend some time exploring local art and handcrafted goods, meet the people behind the work, and enjoy a summer morning along the Yellowstone River.

Events like this are also a great reminder that supporting local doesn't have to stop at your favorite café or restaurant. Every time we show up for a local artist, maker, vendor, or small business, we're investing right back into the people who make Billings such an interesting place to call home.

So grab a friend, take a stroll through Coulson Park, discover something new, and show some love to our local creative community. You never know—you might just find a new favorite artist or bring home something one-of-a-kind!

📚 Library Events

🍞 Junior Explorers: The History of Bread
📅 Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
📍 Community Room, Billings Public Library
👧🧒 Geared toward ages 6–12

Now here's a library program that feels particularly close to our hearts at Stomping Grounds—because who doesn't love a good loaf of bread?

This Wednesday, the Junior Explorers are taking a journey through one of the oldest and most beloved foods in human history. Kids will have the chance to learn about the history of bread and participate in hands-on activities that bring the story to life. It's a fun way to combine history, food, creativity, and a little learning along the way.

Bread is one of those foods that connects nearly every culture around the world, and its story stretches back thousands of years. From simple ancient flatbreads to the sourdoughs, baguettes, and sandwich breads we enjoy today, it's pretty incredible to think about how something made from such basic ingredients became such an important part of the way people eat and gather together.

🍲🥗 Soup & Salad of the Week

This week's soup and salads are all about soaking up the flavors of summer while we still can. We're using the last of our beautiful peak-season sweet corn, bringing Mediterranean flavors to a classic wedge, and putting our own Stomping Grounds spin on a Sonoma-inspired summer salad.

🌽 Summer Corn Chowder
Sweet corn is the star of this creamy summer soup, simmered with tender potatoes, onions, celery, garlic, herbs, and just enough cream to bring everything together. It's hearty and comforting while still letting the natural sweetness of fresh summer corn shine through..

🥒 Mediterranean Wedge Salad
We're giving the classic steakhouse wedge a Mediterranean makeover. A crisp wedge of iceberg lettuce is topped with fresh cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, Kalamata olives, tangy feta cheese, crispy roasted chickpeas, and fresh dill. Everything is finished with our creamy house dill tzatziki dressing, made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon, and plenty of fresh dill.

🍇 SG Sonoma Summer Salad
A fresh blend of spring mix and mixed greens is topped with juicy red grapes, fresh blackberries, creamy Gorgonzola cheese, toasted sliced almonds, crisp cucumber, and fresh basil. Finished with our house blackberry-balsamic vinaigrette, it's a beautiful balance of sweet summer fruit, tangy Gorgonzola, toasted almonds, and plenty of fresh flavor and crunch in every bite.

🌟📅 This Week at SG Book Café

🍋🌿 Lemon Herb Chicken Ciabatta

With the summer heat still hanging around, we're keeping this week's sandwich fresh, bright, and full of flavor.

Our Lemon Herb Chicken Ciabatta starts with tender roasted chicken layered with creamy garlic-and-herb Boursin cheese, crisp cucumber, ripe tomatoes, and arugula on a lightly toasted ciabatta roll. Everything is finished with a drizzle of our house lemon-herb vinaigrette for a bright, refreshing finish.

It's creamy without being heavy, packed with fresh summer flavors, and just the kind of sandwich we want to enjoy on a warm July afternoon.

✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99

Enjoy a ½ Lemon Herb Chicken Ciabatta paired with your choice of:

🌽 Summer Corn Chowder
🥒 Mediterranean Wedge Salad
🍇 SG Sonoma Summer Salad

Plus a bag of chips.

Whether you're escaping the summer heat, meeting a friend for lunch, or settling into the library with a good book, we've got lunch covered.

🍰 Daily Baked Specials

This week's pastry case has a little something for everyone—from a hearty breakfast you can hold in one hand to homemade jam tucked inside flaky pastry, plus a bright summer cake that's perfect for dessert.

🍳 Denver Breakfast Puff — Monday & Wednesday
Our Denver Breakfast Puff is filled with fluffy eggs, bell peppers, savory sausage, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, then baked until golden and flaky. Think of it as a loaded breakfast omelet—but handheld, wrapped in pastry, and ready to grab alongside your morning coffee.

🚦 Traffic Jam Turnovers — Tuesday & Thursday
These flaky homemade turnovers are filled with a rotating mix of fruit and berry jams, depending on what's looking good and what we have on hand. Wrapped in buttery puff pastry and baked until golden, you never quite know which fruity combination you'll get—and that's half the fun.

🍋🫐 Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cream Cake — Available All Week
This week's dessert is all about bright summer flavors. Layers of tender lemon cake are paired with fresh seasonal berries and a light, creamy mascarpone filling for a dessert that's refreshing, just sweet enough, and perfect for a summer afternoon.

🚚 Friday’s $10 Take-Out Special: Honey Dijon Herb Salmon/Chicken & Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Pilaf

Our Honey Dijon Herb Salmon features tender oven-roasted salmon glazed with a sweet and savory blend of honey, Dijon mustard, fresh lemon, garlic, and herbs. It's served alongside our hearty Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Pilaf, made with jasmine rice, red quinoa, sweet corn, roasted red peppers, green poblano, and fresh cilantro, plus roasted broccoli.

Not a seafood fan? As with our usual seafood specials, you can substitute a grilled chicken breast with our Honey Dijon herb glaze at no additional charge. Just select the chicken option when placing your order.

Why You'll Love This Dish:
🍽 Perfect for Sharing: A colorful summer dinner to enjoy with family and friends.
💥 Authentic Flavors: Sweet honey, tangy Dijon, fresh lemon, garlic, and herbs.
⏱ Quick & Convenient: A homestyle dinner without the cooking or cleanup.
💰 Incredible Value: A chef-inspired salmon or chicken dinner for just $10.
🌾 Customizable/Gluten-Free Option: Choose salmon or grilled chicken to suit your taste.

📲 How to Order:
🛒 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site/home
☕ Visit Us: Inside the Billings Public Library
📞 Call or Text: 406-894-8464
✉️ Email: [email protected]

Pick-Up: Friday from 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Delivery: Friday afternoon beginning around 2:30 PM

After-hours pick-up is also available. Your order will be stored securely in the café refrigerator, and library staff can assist with retrieval.

As always, thank you for continuing to support our little café inside the Billings Public Library.

These summer weeks seem to fly by faster and faster. Between busy lunches at the café, afternoons spent cooling off at The Reef and Oasis, and trying to squeeze in every last bit of summer fun before Olivia comes home and school starts again, we're doing our best to enjoy the season while it's still here.

There's something pretty special about summer in Billings. On any given Saturday, you can find a farmers market, a festival, live music, great food, or something completely unexpected happening somewhere around town. It's that summer buzz that makes this time of year so much fun—and occasionally gives me the perfect excuse to sneak out of the café a little early.

We still have a few things left on our family's summer list, including a camping trip and hopefully a Billings Mustangs game. And yes, eventually we'll have to face the dreaded back-to-school shopping—but we're going to pretend that can wait just a little longer.

Until then, we'll be at the café serving up fresh summer lunches, cold drinks, good coffee, and plenty of food to keep you fueled for whatever adventures you have planned.

Thank you for spending another week with us. We hope to see you around the café!

With gratitude,
Oscar
Stomping Grounds Book Café ☕📚

Click here for an update from Stomping Grounds Book Cafe!

Hot weather, slow-braised beef, and a toddler who refuses to slow down.Hi Friends!I hope everyone is staying cool and su...
07/12/2026

Hot weather, slow-braised beef, and a toddler who refuses to slow down.

Hi Friends!

I hope everyone is staying cool and surviving this summer heat! It was nice settling back into the café after the long Fourth of July weekend and getting back into our summer routine. The library quickly found its familiar buzz again, the café was humming along, and McKinsey continues to settle into her new role behind the counter. If you happened to stop by this week, I hope you had a chance to meet her. She’s learning quickly, mastering everything from lattes to the lunch rush, and it’s been exciting to watch her confidence grow each day.

While things were running smoothly at the café, family life had a different plan for us this week.

On Wednesday evening, Benicio took his very first trip to the emergency room. Like so many adventurous toddlers before him, he discovered that spinning and hardwood furniture don’t always make the best combination. One enthusiastic twirl ended with him meeting the corner of our nightstand forehead first, and the moment I saw it, I had a pretty good feeling we were headed for the ER.

Having earned a few stitches myself as a kid—and watching my brother do the same—I couldn’t help but think this must be some sort of family tradition. Apparently, in our family, getting acquainted with the sharp corner of a wooden piece of furniture is practically a rite of passage.

Thankfully, the incredible doctors, nurses, and staff at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital took wonderful care of him. Instead of stitches, they were able to close the wound with medical adhesive. The procedure itself, however, was another story. It took three nurses, a doctor, and a PA student to hold down one determined little boy who spent the entire time yelling, “Don’t touch it!” and insisting that he wanted to go home.

If I’m being honest, I think it was harder on his mother than it was on Benicio. Hearing your child cry like that—even when you know they’re in good hands—is something no parent ever gets used to. But true to form, once everything was finished, Benny dried his tears, thanked every doctor and nurse for fixing him up and checking his bones, and proudly walked out of the hospital with us just before midnight.

I’m officially putting in my request to the universe: No more hospital visits for my family for the rest of July, please.

Now that we’re settling into the second half of summer, the heat has definitely arrived. Today’s forecast is looking like a scorcher, so I have a feeling we’ll be seeking refuge at a splash pad, water park, or maybe even an arcade where the air conditioning works overtime. Once this heat wave finally eases up, I’m hoping to squeeze in a camping trip with the kids before school starts back up.

Speaking of summer winding down, my trip to bring Olivia home is officially on the calendar. I’ll keep everyone updated as we get closer, but I’ll be heading to California during the second week of August. While McKinsey has been doing an incredible job learning the ropes, I think we’ll give her just a little more time before handing her the keys and asking her to run the café solo. We’ll make sure lunches are covered, schedules are adjusted, and everyone is well fed while I’m away.

Until then, we’ve got another week of summer ahead of us, plenty of cold drinks to pour, fresh food to prepare, and a café full of friends to welcome.

Now, let’s turn the page and see what’s happening around Billings, at the Billings Public Library, and of course, what’s cooking this week at Stomping Grounds Book Café.

🌆 Community Highlights

🥕🌻 Healthy By Design Gardeners’ Market
📅 Every Thursday • June 11 – October 1, 2026 • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 South Park, Billings

One of my favorite things about summer in Billings is that fresh produce is finally making its way from our gardens to our tables, and there’s no better place to celebrate that than the Healthy By Design Gardeners’ Market at South Park. Running every Thursday from June 11 through October 1, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the market is a wonderful opportunity to connect directly with the people growing food right here in our community.

More than just a farmers market, the Gardeners’ Market is a community gathering place. You’ll find fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, plants, homemade foods, and handcrafted goods—all sold by the people who grow and make them. It’s a place to catch up with neighbors, support local growers, and enjoy a summer evening while making the healthy choice the easy choice. The market is also designed to keep fresh, local food affordable and accessible for everyone in our community.

As someone who loves cooking with seasonal ingredients, I can’t say enough about the difference fresh produce makes. Many of the flavors you’ll find on our café menu throughout the summer are inspired by what Montana growers are harvesting each week. If you’ve never visited the Gardeners’ Market before, I encourage you to stop by this Thursday. Fill a bag with fresh produce, meet the people behind the harvest, and enjoy one of the best parts of a Montana summer.

📚 Library Events

🦌🎨 Teen Thursday: Faux Taxidermy
📅 Thursday, July 16, 2026 • 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 CO+LAB Makerspace, Billings Public Library

If you’ve been reading these newsletters for a while, you know one of my favorite things about the Billings Public Library is that it’s always finding creative ways to introduce young people to something new. This week’s Teen Thursday is one of those programs that’s guaranteed to spark some imagination—and probably a few laughs too.

Teens ages 12–18 are invited to the CO+LAB Makerspace to create their own faux taxidermy by upcycling toys, trinkets, and found objects into unique works of art. It’s a fun mix of creativity, craftsmanship, and a little quirky humor that encourages participants to see everyday objects in an entirely new way.

One of the greatest skills we can encourage in young people is creativity. Whether it’s building, painting, writing, inventing, or simply learning to think differently, creative experiences help develop problem-solving skills and confidence that last far beyond the project itself. Programs like Teen Thursday provide a welcoming space where teens can experiment, make something uniquely their own, and spend time with others who enjoy creating.

If you have a teen looking for something different this summer, this is a fantastic opportunity to spend an evening in the CO+LAB Makerspace making art, meeting new friends, and discovering just how much fun a little imagination can be. Registration is required, and don’t forget that a parent or guardian must complete a CO+LAB waiver before attending.

🍲🥗 Soup & Salad Specials

Summer is in full swing, and this week’s menu celebrates the season with fresh herbs, peak produce, and a few timeless café classics. Whether you’re looking for something cool and refreshing or a light lunch that lets summer ingredients shine, we’ve put together a menu that’s perfect for slowing down and enjoying the season.

🌿 Cream of Asparagus Soup
Fresh asparagus is gently simmered with sweet onions, garlic, herbs, and a touch of cream before being blended into a silky, velvety soup that’s rich without feeling heavy. Finished with fresh herbs, cracked black pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, it’s a simple yet elegant celebration of one of the season’s finest vegetables.

Enjoy it served warm for a comforting lunch or chilled for a refreshing summer treat—it’s delicious either way.

🍑 Peach, Goat Cheese & Crispy Brussels Salad
Fresh mixed greens are topped with juicy ripe peaches, creamy goat cheese, crispy Brussels sprout leaves, toasted pecans, and ribbons of fresh basil before being finished with our house honey-lemon vinaigrette.

🥗 French Chicken Salad Plate
Our house-made chicken salad begins with tender roasted chicken breast tossed in a light dressing of Duke’s mayonnaise, creamy Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, shallots, and fresh herbs, creating a bright, refreshing chicken salad that’s both elegant and satisfying.

Served atop crisp butter lettuce with heirloom tomato wedges, fresh cucumber slices, and artisan crackers, it’s a timeless summer lunch that’s light enough for a warm afternoon yet hearty enough to keep you going.

🌟📅 This Week at SG Book Café

🥪 SG Deluxe Deli Sub

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a really great deli sandwich.

This week we’re taking inspiration from the neighborhood delicatessens that have made the classic American sub a lunchtime favorite for generations. Our SG Deluxe Deli Sub starts with a toasted hoagie roll layered with premium Boar’s Head London Broil Roast Beef and Boar’s Head Tavern Ham, topped with melted provolone cheese, crisp shredded iceberg lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, and banana peppers for just the right amount of crunch and brightness.

What brings it all together is our house deli dressing—a flavorful blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, black pepper, and just enough mayonnaise to create that unmistakable deli flavor. It’s fresh, hearty, and packed with everything you’d expect from a great East Coast-style sub, with a Stomping Grounds touch.

✨ Café Lunch Special — $9.99

Enjoy a ½ SG Deluxe Deli Sub paired with your choice of:

🌿 Cream of Asparagus Soup

🍑 Peach, Goat Cheese & Crispy Brussels Salad

🥗 French Chicken Salad Plate

Plus a bag of chips.

Whether you’re grabbing lunch between errands or settling in with a good book, this week’s special delivers everything you want from a classic deli sandwich—fresh ingredients, premium meats, and bold flavor in every bite.

🍰 Daily Baked Specials

🥬🥚 Spinach, Egg & Cheese Puff — Available Monday & Wednesday
Flaky, buttery puff pastry is filled with fresh spinach, fluffy eggs, and melted cheese before being baked until perfectly golden. Warm, savory, and satisfying, it’s the kind of pastry that’s equally at home alongside your morning coffee or as a quick lunch on the go.

🍋🥐 Lemon Turnovers — Available Tuesday & Thursday
Our flaky puff pastry is generously filled with a smooth, tangy lemon filling before being baked until golden and finished with a light vanilla glaze. Every bite balances sweet and tart with layers of delicate pastry, making this a perfect summertime treat.

🥧🥥 Key Lime Pie — Available All Week

A little taste of the Florida Keys right here in Montana.

Our Key Lime Pie features a buttery graham cracker crust filled with a smooth, creamy key lime custard made with fresh lime juice and sweetened condensed milk, then topped with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of lime zest.

Cool, refreshing, and just the right balance of sweet and tangy, it’s the perfect dessert to enjoy on a hot summer afternoon.

🚚 Friday’s $10 Take-Out Special: French Onion Beef & Potato Bake

We’re bringing the comforting flavors of a French bistro to this week’s Friday Take-Out Special.

Inspired by the timeless flavors of French onion soup, this hearty bake transforms everything we love about the classic into a satisfying dinner that’s perfect for sharing with family or enjoying after a busy summer day. Rich caramelized onions, slow-braised beef, savory herbs, and bubbling cheese come together in one comforting dish.

Our French Onion Beef & Potato Bake begins with tender slow-braised shredded beef, simmered low and slow in a rich beef broth with garlic, fresh thyme, and plenty of deeply caramelized onions. It’s layered over herb-roasted potato wedges, allowing every bite to soak up the rich French onion gravy, before being topped with a blend of Swiss and provolone cheeses. The casserole is baked until hot, bubbling, and beautifully golden, then finished with crispy French fried onions and fresh parsley for the perfect finishing touch.

It’s everything you love about French onion soup—rich, savory, cheesy, and comforting—reimagined as a hearty summer dinner.

As always, enjoy free local Friday delivery or convenient café pick-up with every preorder.

Why You’ll Love This Dish:
🧅 Caramelized Onions: Slow-cooked until rich, sweet, and flavorful.
🥩 Braised Shredded Beef: Fork-tender and slow-cooked in savory broth.
🥔 Herb-Roasted Potato Wedges: Crisp edges with tender, fluffy centers.
🧀 Swiss & Provolone: Melted until golden, bubbly, and irresistible.
🌿 French Bistro Comfort: Classic flavors in every satisfying bite.
💰 Amazing Value: A chef-inspired comfort dinner for just $10.

Preorder your French Onion Beef & Potato Bake today and let us take care of Friday dinner while you enjoy another beautiful Montana summer evening.

📲 How to Order
🛒 Order Online: stomping-grounds-book-cafe.square.site/home
☕ Visit Us: 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.

Pick-Up: Friday from 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Delivery: Friday afternoon beginning around 2:30 PM

After-hours pick-up is also available. Your order will be stored securely in the café refrigerator, and library staff can assist with retrieval.

Preordering is always encouraged, as Friday dinners frequently sell out.

As always, thank you for supporting our little café inside the Billings Public Library.

This week was another reminder that summer rarely slows down exactly when we expect it to. Between training a new team member, keeping up with the café, planning the weeks ahead, and making our first family trip to the emergency room with Benicio, life has certainly kept us on our toes.

Thankfully, Benny is doing well, McKinsey continues to find her rhythm behind the counter, and we’re looking forward to another week of cold drinks, fresh summer lunches, familiar faces, and good books.

Thank you to everyone who continues to stop by, share our newsletter, order Friday dinner, introduce friends to the café, and offer patience during our busiest moments. Your support allows us to keep growing, experimenting, and serving this wonderful community.

Stay cool, enjoy the long summer days, and make a little time for the people and places that bring you joy.

We’ll see you at the café.

With gratitude,

Oscar
Stomping Grounds Book Café
📞 406-894-8464

☕ Good coffee, great food, and even better community.

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Address

510 North Broadway
Billings, MT

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

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