It was a friend who first planted the seed for the idea. After hearing how much fun Jacob Leffert had growing pumpkins, RJ Bechtold decided to plant a patch himself, and got permission from his Dad to use a one-acre plot behind his family’s business, the Midway Truck Stop.
Whether you’ve been to Napa every year since you can remember or still prefer Moscato as your wine of choice, chances are you’ll find a Missouri wine you love. Missouri’s wine-making history began in the 1850s in the Hermann area and expanded in the 1870s as Italian immigrants founded wineries near St. James, according to […]
Rachael Renee Buxton and Kendall Lee Pearl chose a historic — and majestic — site for their wedding ceremony: The Big Tree, aka The Champion Bur Oak, in McBaine. History is something of a common thread for the couple. They met in 2010 at a spot with a historical sounding name, the 1839 Taphouse. Rachael […]
The idea for Logboat’s newest venture, Waves Cider Company, has actually been brewing for a while. Though fermenting would be more accurate. According to Judson Ball, from Logboat’s very beginning, he and the other co-founders wanted it to have a diverse line of beverages. But it wasn’t until Ball was diagnosed with a severe allergy […]
Amanda Byler and Ethan Roussin were married on June 15, 2019, at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center. The ceremony site held a special meaning for the couple. Both come from Catholic families and Newman Center served as their spiritual home when they were students at Mizzou. In fact, their first date as an official couple […]
When you have a love of lavender — and all shades of purple — it’s bound to be evident on your big day. It certainly was for bride Katherine Caldwell. She incorporated her favorite color into many aspects of her wedding, from her floral choices to the attendants’ attire to the table linens. Andrew and […]
Whether they’re athletes, movie stars, musicians, models or moguls, celebrities are often asked to endorse products, with many signing lucrative deals to do so. Other celebs come out with their own product lines — everything from clothing to wine. But there a few celeb/product pairings that seem like natural fits that haven’t happened. Yet. Here […]
Grilling is a primal process, cooking outdoors over an open flame, similar to how our early cave ancestors did. It has a ritualistic flavor, and there’s often a social component, too — the gathering of family and friends to share in a communal feast. Whether you’re gassed about gas, or you place your bets on […]
“You’ll think of The Paris Hours for many hours after you’ve finished it, haunted by its shocking ending.” Paris in the 1920s was a magnet magnifique, attracting all manner of artists, both acclaimed and aspiring. It hosted the likes of literary legends such as Ernest Hemingway, Marcel Proust and Gertrude Stein, musicians such as composer […]
Michele Spry takes giving back to heart. The business she and her husband Brandon run, Midway Electric, Inc., is a Partner in Education with Midway Heights Elementary School and she’s also involved with Central Missouri Honor Flight and Honor Everywhere. In addition, three years ago, she donated her wedding dress to Real Imprints through the […]
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our local businesses are having to adapt and adjust. But, not only are our local businesses adapting, they’re responding to needs in the community and encouraging customers that brighter days are ahead. We spoke with some of these leaders about how they’re adjusting, adapting and helping our community — as well […]
An herb’s essence is a powerful thing: The scent of thyme can transport a hungry Midwesterner to the Mediterranean; one whiff of cilantro might send another to the tropics. Herbs’ power extends well beyond the dinner table, but most people use them for cooking, either dried or fresh, home-grown or bought from a local grocery […]
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 […]
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 […]
No secret in vegan and vegetarian circles, jackfruit has been gaining traction in mainstream cuisine as many look to eat fewer meat-based meals or try more exotic foods. Jackfruit is having a moment. A species of tree in the fig, mulberry and bread-fruit family native to southwest India, the jackfruit produces a large, bright green, […]
There’s nothing like a nice piping-hot mug of hot chocolate to chase the chills, but the modern version of sweetness had a more bitter beginning. This welcome winter warmer dates to about 500 BC, when the Mayans first drank a concoction of ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water and other ingredients, including chili peppers. Originally, […]
Marty O’Connor Shaw, who goes by “Connor,” is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as photographing wildlife. So when he wanted to propose to his girlfriend, Ciera Marie Dawson, he had the perfect spot: S & S Farm in Eldon (a whitetail deer farm). He told Ciera he needed to stop […]
You could almost call Amy Fuemmeler and Andrew Hanke childhood sweethearts — after all, they first met when they were in second grade. But they didn’t begin dating until they were juniors in high school. The couple got engaged on a trip to Jamaica in July 2016 and wed on Nov. 11, 2017, in Firestone […]
Everyone likes a good “I knew them when” story, and at Inside Columbia, we’re no exception. We knew singer/songwriter Hilary Scott when she was just starting out, living and performing here, and chose her to grace our ninth cover back in December 2005. She was the first woman featured on the cover. Check out […]
This summer’s hottest concert ticket isn’t actually a single ticket, but rather a series: The Missouri Symphony Orchestra’s Hot Summer Nights Music Festival. Under the direction of Maestro Kirk Trevor, the festival ambitiously presents 24 concerts in 42 days, kicking off on June 7, and running through July 14. Hot Summer Nights started in 2004, […]
