Olivia DeSmit

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Three Women Find Their Start-Up Niches

Photos by L.G. Patterson Over the past 15 years, women-owned firms have grown by one and a half times the rate of other small enterprises and now account for almost 30 percent of all businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  These three local entrepreneurs are joining the growing numbers of female-led businesses. Emma […]

MU Game

10 Things Every Columbian Must Do

There are so many things that make Columbia a wonderful place to live and work — certainly more than 10, but if we listed out all the things you should do in Columbia, well, we would fill decades worth of magazines (see what we did there?).

Feel free to disagree with our list, but if you haven’t done one of the below things, just trust us and try it out. There is just something special about the energy at a University of Missouri football game and something awe-inspiring about the Big Tree. Better yet, when you do head to these local favorites, snap a pic and tag us. We can’t wait to see your experiences!

The Charcuterie Cure

Most people hear the term food waste and think of HyVee’s Misfit produce section, or backyard compost piles. But what if we told you that you could cut down on food waste by eating more soup, sausage and salami?

Tigers In Tokyo

One of the biggest impacts that COVID-19 had on the professional athlete world was the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Feels Like Home

Most people hire an interior designer when they want to freshen up their home, or when they’re designing a new one. But for Deanna and Milt Harper, it was to allow Milt, who had developed mobility problems after becoming ill in 2014, to stay in the home they had built in 1990 in the Grasslands.

Gone Country

Newly branded Fringe Western Wear owners Riley Arends, Morgan Pingel and Charlotte Smarr are expanding their western-inspired boutique to offer a wider range of apparel — and boots, of course — at what used to be the Ruby Tuesday by Bass Pro Shops.

Food Truck Switches Gears

Sometimes the best things in life start out in a whirlwind of chaos. Such is the story of the Ozark Mountain Biscuit Company.  Flashback to August 2013: The truck’s production is behind schedule with the manufacturer in Florida, but its debut was scheduled for that weekend. Owner Bryan Maness flies to Florida to drive the […]

TACOS

Tacos are taking the country by soft-shelled storm. Whether you prefer yours atop a corn tortilla or tricked out with all the toppings, Columbia’s Mexican food scene is nothing to shake a side of salsa at.

2021 Cutest Pet Winners

For the second year, we went searching for the most adorable animals in Columbia. We received entries in the form of dozens of dogs, a cache of cats and a passel of pets to populate our unique pet

Catch of the Day

After Katfish Katy’s closed at the end of 2020, employees, customers and frequenters of the Missouri river scene alike lamented. But, this spring, hope emerged in the form of mother-and-son team Vanessa and Jake Leitza. Katfish Katy’s reopened this April with a new take on river food, thanks to the culinary training and inventions of […]

Forward Focus

The beginning of the new decade didn’t go the way anyone had expected, with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on both small and large businesses, as well as consumers. With 2020 officially in the rearview mirror, local leaders are looking forward to

Les Bourgeois Bistro

Brunch Bunch

We are big believers that brunch is not a specific type of food or a set hour, but rather a mental state. Any remotely breakfast-themed item can be deemed brunch if eaten before 2 p.m. at a leisurely pace and with more enjoyment than you typically have scarfing down a piece of toast on your way to

Gift Ideas

Editor’s note: Prices and availability of items may have changes since this article was first published.  GIFTS FOR THE BABIES & TODDLERS IN YOUR LIFE Who doesn’t like to shop for this age group? Keep an eye out for educational items — such as this book that explains why grandparents can’t hug during the COVID-19 […]

Finding Humor in Aging

JILL ORR’S NEWEST RELEASE EXAMINE INTERGENERATIONAL ALCHEMY. Jill Orr, formerly solely a mystery-genre writer, decided to step out of her comfort zone this fall and launch a new humor non-fiction gift book, How Not to Be Old (Even if You Are). Orr’s first foray into the world of humorous books explores how those across different […]

Holiday Spirits

Editor’s Note: The featured cocktails may not be on the menu at these local spots anymore, but you can still create them at home! Since March, bars and restaurants have been scrambling to pivot their food and drink offerings into pandemic-friendly options. One such “invention” is the to-go cocktail.You can go to your favorite restaurant […]

An Attic Alteration

Kaitlyn & Will Schlacks decided to revamp their attic space in 2019 from insulation and rafters to a beautiful second living space with rooms for their two daughters, ages 6 and 12.

Economic Effects of a Pandemic

During many past nationwide disasters and downfalls, Columbia has tended to remain steady. However, no city or county was safe this year from the effects of COVID-19.

pumpkins that are stacked

A Mid-Missouri Thanksgiving

You can get most of your Thanksgiving meal ingredients from local farmers right here in mid-Missouri. And while we all enjoy the entire meal at Thanksgiving, let’s be honest: The best part is always the pie. 

Natural Immunity

Whether you’re concerned about catching the flu, a common cold, or the more-feared COVID-19 this fall and winter, there are preventative measures you can take to promote a healthy immune system.

fashion

Style Setters

When it comes to personal style, everyone has their own unique take on fashion trends and ways to make popular looks their own. We asked our readers and followers who they thought were the most fashionable people in Columbia and narrowed down nominations to the five featured in this article. They come from a wide […]