Boom Magazine

While businesses that last generations are rare, Columbia is host to a number of companies that have served mid-Missouri throughout the ages. They have survived the ups and downs of business cycles, but they keep their doors open and…

Our antique furniture has a story to tell. Are you open to “listening” to their stories? All you have to do is study the clues and you’ll know some of what they’ve been through. For example, I own an early dry sink in its original…

This tornado went right through the streets of Columbia, devastating several stores and residences. According to the Missouri Climate Center, Missouri recorded a total of 65 tornadoes in 2010, the eighth highest on record since 1950. On…

Oatmeal, twigs, rocks and pieces of shoe. These are the type of inanimate objects that talk to Kaye Gray-Manolov. And she gladly keeps the conversation going. She collects an odd assortment of these objects, storing them in her dining…

Photos by L.G. Patterson Like many other retirees who woke up on a balmy June morning this year, Bob Jones went for a swim. He had been preparing for this particular swim for more than a year, and he had flown from Hartsburg, Mo. to…

There’s no denying that brunch is a popular favorite, but you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to enjoy a delicious spread with family and friends. Enjoy this weekend luxury every day and bring brunch home with premium…

For most of us, our county fairs happen in the summer. But in our house, they’re year around affairs. You see, my husband, Bob, spends all winter and spring testing recipes for cookies, so that he can win baking competitions. So far, he’s…

Photos by L.G. Patterson After 86 years of experiencing life, most of those spent as a Ph.D. entomologist, Richard has developed an extensive understanding of monarch butterflies and a commitment to making a place for them in the world. At…