For those not familiar with Donald Quist’s work, his stories are warmhearted, sensitive and unapologetically honest. Growing up, Quist was raised in two homes; he lived part time with his father in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and with his mother in Silver Spring, Maryland. From a young age, Quist knew he wanted to write. Still, it wasn’t […]
A flashing, red neon sign in the window of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Alley A reads, “Open now;” signaling that Big Mama Chim is back at a new location in downtown Columbia. On a chilly January night, or any night really, she can be found in the kitchen with her sleeves rolled up preparing for […]
At some point in our lives we become primary caregivers for an aging family member. My most recent patient wasn’t a parent or a pet. It was a Pontiac. From the tow truck’s shotgun seat, looking through a shoebox-sized side mirror at my car in chains, I had time to reflect on her journey. In […]
Humans spend an average of one-third of their lives asleep. Therefore, it’s clear that adequate sleep is essential for the human body to function optimally. For more than 18 million American adults, sleep apnea interrupts those few hours of much-needed slumber every night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder […]
At face value, Columbia, Missouri, has the standard makeup of a true college town with education serving as its economic backbone. Contributing to this narrative are several factors, including a major public university belonging to one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences, additional public and private colleges and a thriving secondary education system. This seemingly […]
There is something magical about the combination of crisp December air and twinkling lights that makes the holiday season special for many Columbians. That magic is felt when darkness falls over the Village of Cherry Hill shopping center. Thousands of tiny colored lights, wrapped around every branch of a tree, illuminate the grassy block in […]
Stephen Johnson has been playing Santa Claus during the holiday season for 25 years, but the 65-year-old says he has looked the part since he was 40. The only difference between then and now is the amount of theatrical dye necessary for him to get into character. “The last time I was clean-shaven was Oct. […]
Former Columbia Daily Tribune sports reporter Dave Matter, who now covers University of Missouri athletics for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has given Mizzou fans a new reason to cheer. In “100 Things Missouri Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” released in September, Matter puts his expertise as a Mizzou Tigers connoisseur at front […]
Around noon on weekdays, the parking lot is typically packed at Cajun Crab House, where Kevin Dinh and Linh Nguyen have been serving Southern-style seafood to Columbia residents for a little more than four months. The way Dinh tells it, though, the restaurant’s ongoing success is a bit of a happy accident. “I had not […]
Your children were perfect angels when they visited Santa. They get that from you. But not everybody’s Santa experience was perfect. Not mine. My bad Santa experience happened when I was a grown adult. My first job out of the Mizzou School of Journalism was selling advertising for the Rolla Daily News. As the rookie […]
As the holiday season approaches and the scent of spice fills the air, it’s time to remember the purpose for the celebrations and tummies full of mashed potatoes. November offers Columbia residents the opportunity to show gratitude and give back to those who need it. Volunteering for local organizations is a meaningful way to express […]
Although wedding bells ring at regular intervals during the sizzling summer months, some brides are choosing to tie the knot after the trees have lost their leaves. With twinkling lights and nature’s magic touch, winter can be a romantic season, but it’s important to consider one of the toughest decisions a winter bride can make: […]
To Chef Jeff Guinn, a meal is a masterpiece. Like an intricate theatrical production, he says a multicourse dinner presents a suspenseful storyline, interlaced with interesting peaks and plot-thickening valleys. Instead of viewing a meal as a means for satisfying a momentary hunger pain, The Broadway Hotel’s Executive Chef sees it for what it truly […]
When doctors released Joshua Williams Sr. from the hospital in December 2017 — after an almost fatal gunshot wound — he immediately started cooking. Despite orders to rest, the 30-year-old chef-owner of Papadoo’s Soul Food & BBQ says feeding people was the best way he could show gratitude to those who supported him as he […]
One of my favorite things that come from the season change and cooler weather is a warm, boozy, delicious cocktail. Apple cider buttered rum has all my favorite spices and is sure to be just the treat you are looking for when partaking in fall festivities. Apple Cider Buttered Rum (Serves 4) 4 cups apple […]
This story has been adapted from Hilary Scott’s Inside Columbia Magazine cover and editorial in December 2005 The confident, articulate woman sharing stories from her childhood might have been a doctor or a CEO. It’s not for lack of intelligence that she chose to become a musician. In fact, she argues convincingly that a career […]
In 2017, Jennifer Hecker began noticing fatigue and pain in her leg. With a little massage, it would go away, so she dismissed it as perhaps a developing cardiovascular issue or diabetes. The pain began to migrate to her arms — first her left, then the right — so she scheduled a physical with her […]
There is almost an embarrassment of talent extant on the Columbia music scene, partly due to accommodating local venues but also thanks to a variety of support systems. These systems run the gamut from performance spaces such as record stores or ice cream shops to the Compass and CoMo Girls Rock summer music camps and […]
One could argue that family-owned businesses, in tandem with the University of Missouri, built the foundation for the Columbia we know today. And according to eight leaders of local family-owned companies, their essential goal is to nurture that legacy and continue growing Columbia. Recently these leaders sat down for the summer CEO Roundtable at The […]
In a few weeks, trees throughout the Mark Twain National Forest will begin their annual transformation from the greens of summer to autumn’s deep golds, oranges and reds, and Dr. Shelley and Barry Williams have a front row seat. At their home on the edge of the timber stand, button bucks and does with their […]
