July 2022

Healthy cocktails

The Best Ways to Add Nutrients to Your Favorite Indulgences

Photos by L.G. Patterson Healthy drinking — it’s hard to think the two can be talked about together because alcohol is toxic no matter how you use it, but there are ways to incorporate nutrients while enjoying an adult beverage. Alcohol in any form is going to be a toxin to your body. If you […]

Banned/challenged books

Skylark Offers New Subscription to Support Freedom to Read

Photos by L.G. Patterson The freedom to read is something that’s held particularly dear at Skylark Bookshop. So when reports of banned and challenged books began to increase, staff members took note. Just last year, there were more than 700 reported book challenges in the United States, according to the American Library Association’s annual State […]

Laurie Kingsley and Paul Wagner at Gallery 717

Gallery 717 Encourages All to View, Contribute and Take Miniature Art

Photos by L.G. Patterson Many communities have adopted the concept of little free libraries over the past decade, small boxes installed in neighborhoods that encourage anyone to take or bring books. But it’s not that common to see an art gallery version. Unless you frequent the area near Rollins Road and Westport Drive in Columbia. […]

BOC22

Best of Columbia 2022

Photos by L.G. Patterson Welcome to our annual Best of Columbia awards, where we celebrate the people, places and activities that make our community truly special. While we are always on the lookout for the true standouts among the CoMo community, it’s you, our readers, who help us find these amazing people and businesses, and it’s you […]

Shelly La Fata

Pasta La Fata Makes A New Home

Photos by L.G. Patterson It’s been nearly six years since Shelly La Fata held a pop-up event at Cafe Berlin, selling giant, hand-made toasted ravioli and marking the official start of Pasta La Fata. And after several phases, from pop-up to community kitchen, the business is making a new home in a permanent location. Pasta […]

Libby Hampel, Give MASU

Gift-Giving Genius: Libby Hampel’s New Company is Wrapped in Luxury

Photos by L.G. Patterson Libby Hampel is a surface pattern artist, an entrepreneur and someone who is making the planet a greener and more cheerful place. Not coincidentally, she has a lot in common with the eco-friendly gift-wrapping papers she designs, prints and sells through her online store at givemasu.com. “MASU is playful, thoughtful and […]