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A Trek Through The Coffee Scene

Photos by L.G. Patterson Some days, we all could use an extra boost. For those of us who crave caffeine, there are moments where nothing can beat that perfect cup, whether it’s coffee, espresso or tea. And there’s plenty of options when it comes to where to enjoy that satisfying sip, each with its own […]

Cutest Pet Winner Loki

Meet Columbia’s Cutest Pets

Photos by L.G. Patterson Meet four of Columbia’s cutest pets. How do we know? You helped us pick! We sought out the most adorable animals to feature in our pages and received hundreds of entries of dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and even one zebu. (Unfamiliar? So were we. It’s a form of cattle.) Suffice to […]

Brightening Up Rainy Days

Styled by Madelyn Jones | Photos by L.G. Patterson You know what they say: “April showers bring May flowers!” But if the promise of a colorful May isn’t enough to get you through those gray, rainy spring days, then don’t wait. Make those April showers bright with these must-have rainy day items from area shops. […]

Fougere food

Dinner Made Easy

Photos by L.G. Patterson A few years ago, by necessity, we pivoted from a traditional catering business to a new venture, preparing family meals on a weekly basis. Our emphasis was to make easy meals that were a hit with the whole family, trying a lot of new recipes in the process and meeting a […]

Dining Out - Irenes

Local Pop-Up Finds Permanent Placement

Photos by L.G. Patterson Mid-Missourians are no strangers to barbecue — it practically runs in our veins. And soon, there will be a new place filled with smoky smells, hearty flavors and smiling faces. What was once an occasional pop-up has found a permanent spot just north of Logboat Brewing Co. Irene’s, which once ran […]

Madalyn and Melvin Wedding

Happy Couple Journeys From Puppy Love to Wedded Bliss

Photos by Molly Pasternock Three years after meeting, Madalyn Wells and Melvin Gabel exchanged vows in a non-religious ceremony at Sorenson Estates. For Madalyn, having the celebration in her hometown of Columbia was especially important. “COMO is where I was born and raised,” she says. “It’s where I met the love of my life. Having […]

Wrap Battle: Whose Gift-Wrapping Skills Need The Extra Tape?

Photos by L.G. Patterson Each issue, two on-air talents from two different Zimmer Communications’ stations will take on a seemingly simple challenge to see who comes out on top. This issue, Cosmo from Y107 and Trevor from 96.7 KCMQ battled to see who has the best gift-wrapping skills. Click here to see video of the […]

Sushi at home

Sushi to Your Taste: Explore the Different Varieties, Styles Possible

Photos by L.G. Patterson I recently had the pleasure of cooking with Jina Yoo. If you have been around Columbia and are a lover of sushi, you have probably been to her namesake restaurant, Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro, or her second Columbia restaurant, Le Bao Asian Eatery, featuring steam buns and ramen. Maybe you’ve tried […]

Five Tips For Staying Healthy During The Holidays

The holiday season is here. It began with a sugar overload on Halloween. Then came the daylong feast known as Thanksgiving. Now, in December and January come holiday parties, long days of shopping, trips to visit family and any number of disruptions to our typical routines. Nutrition suffers, workouts get postponed and extra pounds can […]

Bonbons from Tsokolatè Confiserie

Local Chocolatiers Soothe More Than Just a Sweet Craving

Photos by L.G. Patterson Tsokolatè Confiserie is about more than just a sweet treat. The local chocolate shop, which takes its name from the Filipino term for chocolate and is pronounced cho-ko-lat-eh, serves superfood-based bonbons. Jan Sanchez, who owns the shop with her sister, Elle, and serves as one of the chocolatiers, says their goal has […]

One Last Sip of Autumn: Cocktail Nods To Fall Memories, Warms on Winter Nights

Photos by L.G. Patterson Though fall is firmly in the rearview mirror as we head into winter, I’m not ready to let go. One of my favorite late fall traditions is getting a group of friends together and going to a different corn maze every year. (We’re getting close to running out of new mazes […]

Holiday cookies from Kiss Me Cookies

Decorate Your Holiday Cookies Like a Pro This Season

Photos by L.G. Patterson Everyone has their own personal holiday traditions. Maybe it’s a specific movie or a particular event, like gathering the family for a visit to the Magic Tree. Perhaps it’s volunteering with a local nonprofit, such as the Voluntary Action Center or the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. (Let’s all […]

The Big Tree in McBaine

A Truly Columbian Bucket List: Local Author Details 100 Things to do in New Book

If you’ve ever struggled to figure out the best things to do in Columbia on a Friday or Saturday night, there’s a new book for you. 100 Things to Do in Columbia, Missouri, Before You Die by local author Stephen Paul Sayers provides a bucket list of activities, sights and iconic traditions to explore in […]

Columbia’s Winter Bucket List: 10 Things to Do During Our Cold, Snowy Season

Photos by L.G. Patterson Winter in Columbia has arrived, whether you’re ready for it or not. And while spending the season hibernating inside can sound particularly tantalizing, there’s so much to do in our community during these cold, snowy months. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything this season, we’ve put together 10 […]

Sweet & Savory Snack Mixes Make the Perfect Holiday Treat

Photos by L.G. Patterson Christmas. I have what can only be described as a bittersweet relationship with Christmas. I LOVE the reason, decorations, traditions and, of course, food! However, I, like so many others, tend to get overwhelmed and overbooked during this time of the year. Often, I find myself thinking, “I just want to […]

Leitzas Open New Café With Focus On Family Recipes, Local Ingredients

Photos by L.G. Patterson Vanessa and Jake Leitza are no strangers to the mid-Missouri restaurant scene. As Jake Leitza says, the mother and son duo have spent their whole lives in the food industry, working at several restaurants over the years before they teamed up to reopen a local favorite in Katfish Katy’s in April […]

Vintage tractor seat collection

Tractor Treasures: Garnett’s Collection Is Seated In History

Photo by L.G. Patterson Rodney Garnett’s collection of farm machinery has been taking a front seat for decades. In fact, his father got him started on the hunt for cast iron seats. “My dad started collecting the seats and I’ve just been continually adding to it,” Garnett says. “We have a tool collection because when […]

Kee Groshong

Groshong Restores The History Of Agriculture One Tractor At A Time

Photos by L.G. Patterson Although he lives on 9 acres in the heart of Columbia and has three metal sheds full to the brim of tractors and engines, Kee Groshong isn’t about to get up in the morning and plow his small acreage. He’s more prone to start his day with a wrench in one hand […]

Melanie Karrick

Roll Call: Seniors Hit the Books to Continue Learning

Additional reporting by Melody Parry Photos by L.G. Patterson You’re never too old to achieve your educational goals. Lifelong learning has become increasingly popular in recent years as Baby Boomers have reached the age of retirement. For some, the purpose of going back to school is to finish their studies and accomplish a degree. But […]

Driving Dilemma: Program Helps Older Drivers Stay Safely On The Road

Keep Your Keys, an MU Health Care program, can make getting around easier and safer for older adults. Designed to help seniors stay on the road as long as safely possible, the program even tackles one of the toughest decisions every driver must ask: when to retire from driving. One thing is certain. Older drivers […]