February 2020

50 People, Places, and Things that are So Columbia

People J’den Cox Hometown hero J’den Cox easily captured Columbia’s heart with his winning moves on the wrestling mat, first for Hickman High School and then at the University of Missouri, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I national champion and four-time All-American. But he would go on to capture much more: a bronze […]

Museum Hopping in Mid-Missouri

Whether you are looking for diversion on a rainy afternoon or a deeper appreciation of local culture and history, you won’t need to hop on a plane to Chicago or New York for a first-rate museum experience. The best thing about mid-Missouri’s many museums isn’t that it takes only a quick drive to find one. […]

Birthday Buddy

Dr. Jahnae H. Barnett has been president of William Woods University since 1990. “My entire career has been dedicated to higher education, beginning when I started teaching at Northwest Mississippi Junior College at the ripe old age of 20!” she says. Four years later she and her husband Eddie moved to Missouri where he was […]

Big Cedar Lodge

Think outside that box of chocolates! There are other ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. A romantic getaway for two is ideal, not just for young lovers but for any age. Like the idea but don’t know where to start? Here’s a little help. Pick up the phone or go online and book a cabin for […]

Your Best Valentine’s Ever

This piece was originally published in our February 2020 issue. Please check with the restaurants, stores or other places mentioned to see whether the offerings mentioned are available in February of 2022. I don’t remember what year it began. I just know that the strawberries were big and juicy and covered in chocolate. They were […]

Bling It On

Although it may be a cliche, a small box with a bow on it is still one of the best — and safest — gifts for Valentine’s Day. We asked three local jewelers what the best choices for ring and bracelet gifts are this season, so that you don’t have to do the research; just […]

Fishing for Compliments

To my knowledge, there are three types of court bouillon (French translation of short broth). The first type is the very simple quick broth for poaching fish with a small amount of onion, carrot and celery with aromatics and white wine. Then there are two types of Cajun court bouillon (in Cajun country pronounced koo […]

Everywhere You Don’t Belong

Claude McKay Love isn’t sure what he’s doing in Columbia, Missouri. The protagonist of Gabriel Bump’s gut-punch of a debut novel, Everywhere You Don’t Belong, Claude knows nothing of Missouri. His world revolves around Chicago’s South Side — specifically Euclid Avenue, where Bump himself once spent his mornings walking to the Jeffrey Local bus stop, […]

Beyond Bread & Butter

When you think of baked goods in Columbia, Uprise Bakery and bleu probably come to mind. But there is a much smaller — okay, a one-person — bakery you should be considering. Julie Hutton, owner of Frenchy Treats, bridges the 4,000-mile gap between Columbia and France with authentic French pastries. Specializing in macarons and croissants, […]