2019

Gary Ward

On the way to his third-floor office, Gary Ward steps with an even, determined pace across the star-patterned floor tiles of Jesse Hall. It’s 8 a.m., and he has just finished his morning workout. His day started three hours earlier as he answered some emails and texts at home. In another 13 hours, he’ll put […]

John Ott Builds the Future from Columbia’s Past

John Ott is giving a new life to a Columbia building that housed an old funeral home. Located on the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets, Parker Funeral Home is being transformed into an events center with seating for 450 people and standing room for receptions of as many as 600. Ott will add the […]

Power Bars

If eating healthfully is your primary goal, granola bars might not be the best choice. Most store-bought granola bars and so-called protein snack bars are sugar-loaded candy bars disguised as healthy snacks. Nevertheless, almost all my clients — especially those who are always on the move — will request that I help them choose “healthier” […]

Girl Power

After searching through the entire store for T-shirts for Clara, her physical and fearless toddler, KOMU morning news anchor Megan Judy was frustrated: All of the shirts for girls featured princesses, unicorns and glitter, none of which reflected Clara’s personality. “I naively said, ‘Let’s make some shirts,’ ” recalls Megan’s husband, Cliff Judy. Less than […]

Farmhouse Living

A classic and timeless place with enough space to accommodate a growing family is what came to mind when college sweethearts Sarah and Tommy Purk envisioned their ideal home. In April 2018, the couple’s vision became reality as they embarked on the experience of building a house on three acres of land in south Columbia. […]

Getaway to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park has long been a mid-Missouri gem. For Columbia residents, and those who visit the city, the scenic park offers plenty of outdoor fun from hiking and mountain biking to cave exploring and wildflower spotting. The namesake of the park is a massive, tree-topped limestone rock bridge that was separated from […]

5 Places to Get Your Feet Wet

Summer’s here and the livin’ is easy. It’s also hot and humid. Definitely time to get your feet — not to mention the rest of your body — nice and wet. To this end, we’ve scouted five bodies of water within easy driving distance of Columbia where you can chill out and cool off. Lake […]

Table Rock Lake

Something unusual happens at Table Rock Lake and Indian Point Marina in January: People show up in their swimsuits, eager to get in the lake’s frigid waters. Of course, they first put on wetsuits and don oxygen tanks and other scuba gear, but indeed, Table Rock Lake is a popular destination in the Midwest for […]

Just Relax

Lets face it, between juggling a professional career, kids, social life and personal needs, it comes as no surprise that many individuals suffer from unmanaged stress, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, and frequently feel like underachievers. Studies have shown that stress can not only affect one’s mood but can also lead to weight […]

Hog Heaven

Have you ever eaten a sandwich that is as big as your head? If you have had a pork tenderloin sandwich, you have come close. The tenderloin sandwich was created in Nick’s Kitchen in Huntington, Indiana in 1904. It subsequently grew in popularity throughout Iowa and Missouri. It is a fabulous sandwich, but like many […]

Sun-Sational Accessories

Every outfit needs the perfect accessory, and nothing says summer like a spark of color. So, put away those dark and drab pieces and replace them with bold, dynamic colors that are perfect for warm weather. Consider topping off your look with a light and airy straw hat that keeps the sun off and keeps […]

Take off In Style

Mother-daughter duo Diahann and Briley Bieser are ready for fun in the sun with these stylish pieces. There’s no need to overpack. Mix and match key basics to create multiple outfits for different vacation occasions. featured image, from left: Gianni Bini navy sundress with buttons Dillard’s $129, Round Beach Gold Bali handwoven purse Dillard’s $85, […]

Spice it Up

Some nights call for a bit of Latin flavor. While you could pick up a quick bite at a chain restaurant, consider taking advantage of the authentic Mexican and Latin-inspired restaurants Columbia has to offer. And while you can never go wrong with tacos, there is a smorgasbord of dishes from which to choose. Columbia […]

Retiring 31

If greatness is born and not made, don’t tell Max Scherzer. The most decorated professional baseball player Mizzou has ever produced won’t believe you. “This is the place where I realized that work ethic is more important than talent,” the Chesterfield native and current Washington Nationals ace said after his No. 31 was retired at […]

Benefits of Mindfulness/Meditation to Reduce Insomnia

There is no dearth of information when it comes to the clinical significance of adding meditation or mindfulness to your routine if you deal with insomnia or trouble falling asleep. A study from UCLA’s School of Medicine reported that those who practiced mindfulness meditation reported less fatigue, insomnia and depression than their counterparts. It may […]

Colorful Creations

Everything about Cindy Lou’s Glass Studio goes toward making fused-glass art a fun and fulfilling experience. First, there’s the unlikely setting — a gas station, complete with gas pumps, a tall Sinclair dinosaur sign, reception area and service bays. Mondays through Fridays, mechanics push aside Cindy Mutrux’s glass fusing tools and work on cars and […]

The Lure of St. James

Whether you want to fish for trout, tour local wineries, explore Route 66 or enjoy the great outdoors, St. James has what you’re seeking. Originally a settlement called Big Prairie, the town was briefly known as Scioto, after the town of Scioto, Ohio, where some of the early settlers originated. In 1860, the name was […]

Hunger Games

The idea of “eating your feelings” is not a new concept, yet time and again we do exactly that. We eat our feelings before we find that magic diet, and we eat our feelings when that magic diet fails us, as many diets do. One of the primary reasons why diets fail is because they […]

The Power of Two

The CEO and the president of one of the Midwest’s fastest growing ecommerce sites are sitting next to each other on a large couch in their south Columbia home. Business titles don’t fit Sam and Jesse Bodine well. After 13 years of marriage, the birth of two sons, and with a puppy on the horizon, […]

A League of Their Own

Years ago, it was football. It was basketball. It was baseball. It was the threat of any sport-related scholarship undermining academics for the sake of athletics. Connecting collegiate funding to sports bucked the historical education system. “About a hundred years ago, people were rolling their eyes at the very idea of collegiate athletics,” says Columbia […]