COMO | December 2020 by The COMO Companies Magazines | COMO Magazine

DECEMBE R 2020 | T HE A RT & CULTU R E ISSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIM E S COM PAN Y

“IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER WHEN I’M ON STAGE.” —Symonne Sparks

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From the moment you turn up the Glenn Acres drive, you will be struck by the love and tranquility that infuses this incredible property.

Prepare to feel completely at home. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or why you’re there, there’s a place for everyone at Glenn Acres. Built in 1886, Glenn Acres is home to over a century of stories. After R.P. Glenn, a renowned 5-gaited American saddlebred horse trainer, purchased the farm in 1941, the property remained in the family until today, creating a legacy of lasting memories. Glenn Acres has always been a beacon of love and light. The property’s heart, a traditional-style, two-story farmhouse, is one of Columbia’s most original buildings. For so many, the farm has been an inspiring place of comfort and beauty and served as the backdrop for countless memories. The home’s covered, 45-foot porch is the perfect place to relax and admire Missouri’s sunsets, and the original wood-burning buck stove is exactly what you need to enjoy a cold winter night in cozy comfort. It wasn’t until 2017 that the property was approved for Planned Recreation Commercial Zoning, which greenlighted the future development of a banquet and reception hall, a guest ranch with a spa, and a large pavilion for outdoor events. As if that weren’t enough, nine fully outfitted barns make the estate a truly rare find for the discerning equestrian. Now is the critical time to buy this property so you can prepare to book events and weddings for the 2021 season. This is your once-ina-lifetime opportunity to own a beautiful farm in the heart of Boone County, conveniently located less than a minute from one of the country’s most traveled highways. The current owners have already invested the time and resources needed to rezone this property and transform it into your dream venue. The next step is up to you, but don’t wait to make this important investment in your future. These kinds of rare opportunities don’t come along often.

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Thank you to the 2020 Heart of Missouri United Way Pacesetter organizations for leading the way in our community. We live better when we LIVE UNITED.

This message is made possible with the support of

THERE IS NO ONE SOLUTION TO POVERTY ...except you ou! !

2020 PACESETTERS Companies/Organizations BMW of Columbia Boone Hospital Center Central Bank of Boone County Columbia Insurance Group Commerce Bank Daniel Boone Regional Library First State Community Bank Hawthorn Bank Mercedes Benz of Columbia Miller's Professional Imaging

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Letter from the Publisher

ART DIRECTOR’S PICKS

With Fresh Eyes

hen I moved to Columbia in 2005, I was immediately captivated by the culture. Coming from a smaller town in Missouri, I didn’t know that you could find such things outside of Kansas City or St. Louis. I was in awe of the art, music, sports, theater, and independently owned restaurants (try The Helios at 44 Canteen, page 39) all right here. The stadium was magical, the throngs of people on gameday were intoxicating, and the buzz of a thriving downtown was addictive. Everything here just seemed so big, bright, and pretty. And you know what? I still see it that way every day. I think sometimes it’s easy for people (both inside and outside of Columbia) to sleep on COMO, not realizing how much we have to offer outside of the big cities to our east and west. If art is what makes you happy, we have the Columbia Art League, the Sager-Braudis Gallery, the State Historical Society museum, and amazing public art (page 56). If live music brings you joy as it does me, then The Blue Note (my favorite place in the whole world, page 82), Rose Music Hall, We Always Swing Jazz Series, and the Missouri Symphony Society are waiting for you. Festivals? We got ’em. Roots N Blues, True/False (page 91), and Unbound bring thousands of visitors to Columbia. If you are bored in Columbia, I have one of my favorite sayings for you: a bored person is a boring person.

I am humbled by the talented artists in our town who are willing to share a piece of themselves with the world. There are too many gifted individuals to name, but here are a few small local businesses I hope to support this holiday season.

Everything here just seemed so big, bright and pretty. And you know, what? I still see it that way every day. I urge you to explore in new ways. If you are normally a trail person, go instead to one of the art museums. If you normally stay home and Netflix, try Ragtag with your favorite snack and adult beverage. I know it may feel hard to appreciate all of these things while we are dealing with a scary pandemic still, but now may be the best time of all. Remind yourself (in safe ways, of course) that our community still produces many beautiful things — and that the art and culture of our city still brings joy to newcomers and townies alike. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Please feel free to email me at Erica@COMOMag.com and share them with me. ’Til next month...take care of each other.

For the Hygge Enthusiast Niobrara Naturals If you are trying to buy local, soap is an easy place to start. I love Niobrara Naturals’ lavender bar soap. You can customize gift boxes on its website or order online at the Columbia Farmers Online Market for pick-up at the Columbia Farmers Market. For the Musician Tubes and Tapes Jim Atchley builds custom amps and preamps, among other things. Their unparalleled passion for music and engineering shows up in attention to detail and quality parts. Columbia is lucky to have Jim creating professionalgrade music equipment. For the Playful Sweet Tooth Chick’s Crazy Confectionary These hot chocolate bombs are adorable. Pour hot milk over the unicorn "flavor" and it cracks open to reveal multi-colored marshmallows. I’ll probably be adding Bailey’s to mine.

ON THE COVER Symonne Sparks, vocalist for Loose Loose, embraces a new way of performing amid the pandemic. Page 94. Photo by Anthony Jinson

ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER

COMOMAG.COM

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President Erica Pefferman

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Senior Vice President Fran Patrick Fran@comomag.com

EDITORIAL Publisher Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

Editor Fran Patrick

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Managing Editor Kim Ambra

Kim@comomag.com

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Hannah@comomag.com

DESIGN Art Director Cassidy Shearrer

Cassidy@comomag.com

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Director of Photography Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Account Executive Charles Bruce Charles@comomag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Taylor Boce, Keith Borgmeyer, Charles Bruce III Anthony Jinson, Grace Notebook

Director of Operations Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com

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To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reflects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.

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Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $39 for 12 issues for one year or $69 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag. com or by phone. COMO is published every month by Business Times Holdings, LLC. Copyright Business Times Holdings, LLC 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Downtown Columbia is vibrant, eclectic, and sensory, embracing even strangers when they explore the area. It's big-city excitement wrapped in a smaller package, and it's just as wonderful to open!

I love all the different arts and cultural options available in Columbia, from Art in the Park to the North Village Art District and more. There’s something for everyone to discover.

Lauren Sable Freiman Writer Columbia readily and proudly celebrates new ideas, embraces change, fosters creativity, and supports emerging businesses, and I’m constantly impressed by the people who create such positive energy and growth.

Cassidy Shearrer Art Director It all comes down to easy access to nature. We are rich with parks, gardens, and wilderness areas. When you live in a big city, you miss out on that.

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IN THIS ISSUE

45 STYLE Stay warm this winter with these personalitypacked pairs you’ll actually want to find under the tree.

DECEMBER 2020 | The Art & Culture Issue

Publisher’s

STYLE

Letter

Sole Mates

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Early Voting in Missouri

LIVING

51 FRIENDS & FAMILY

Making the Dream Work

ART & CULTURE

Curating Creativity

23 PET FRIENDLY Hound and Hue

25 WELLNESS Rain or Shine

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Joe Chevalier and Kelsey Hammond

WORKING 73 CLOSER LOOK

HOMES

Deck the Halls

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

GOURMET

’Tis the Season for Spice

MOVERS & SHAKERS

82 CELEBRATIONS The Blue Note

84 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT North Village Arts District

87 BUSINESS UPDATE Chris McD’s

91 PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Martin Kamau

106 THIS OR THAT Karen Grundy

FEATURES 56

MEET ME AT THE KEYHOLE The city’s Percent for Art program makes art accessible for all.

THE ROAD TO STARDOM How Columbia local Halle Kearns has become a rising country star in Nashville.

LIVE! FROM THE LOCKDOWN Columbia musicians forge ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic.

101

THE COVID AND COLLEGE-TOWN CLASH How the pandemic is affecting college-town culture.

Living

27 DECK THE HALLS Jonathan and Megan Higgins share their gift of hospitality through their holiday décor.

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR SPICE

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Warm up with these spicy cocktails from DogMaster Distillery, Barred Owl Butcher & Table, and 44 Canteen.

Owners of Yellow Dog Bookshop, discuss how they met, their passion for the bookselling field, and more.

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DECEMBER 2020

Living

ART & CULTURE

Curating Creativity How the Columbia Art League has kept art alive during the pandemic. BY A LYSSA SHIKLES

here’s something about stillness that breeds creativity. At least, that was the case for me during quarantine. During a time of chaos, confusion, and boredom, I found comfort and tranquility in picking up my long-forgotten paintbrush and letting my creative juices flow for the first time in years. For the Columbia Art League (CAL), the pandemic did not put a stop to encouraging creativity. Making a mission to promote artists and embolden people to explore art within their homes, the art league challenged Columbians to seek inspiration and beauty during a difficult time. An art institution since 1959, CAL has had a long and meaningful past in Columbia. So many people have a connection to the art league, whether they took drawing classes as a kid, attended art receptions as an adult, or got featured there for the first time as an artist. “It’s like an incubator for making Columbia an incredible artistic community,” Kelsey Hammond, CAL’s executive director, says. When the pandemic hit, the gallery had to learn to adjust like everyone else. Events such as art receptions and Art in the Park, a festival held every June, were canceled, and classes were moved online. In some ways, the transition was difficult. “You definitely see how it affects every piece of our nonprofit,” Kelsey says. “If we don't have people come into the shows, to see the work

or to buy things from us, then it's harder for us to do outreach to communities that need it.” However, CAL worked to maintain a creative atmosphere. The new online classes were taught on Zoom so that students would still be able to interact with teachers and classmates, and the nonprofit is planning to sell boxed art kits with instructions for kids to take home and complete. The art league also used social media to their advantage, posting challenges each week where people could engage with art and share their pieces to #ComoCALchallenge. “We just wanted to make sure that people were still engaging in art and making things,” Kelsey says. To help support Columbia’s artist community, the art league promoted artists online through a page on their website called Artists’ Village, a space where artists can highlight their work. CAL additionally features artists on their blog and social media, and art shows are still available to be seen in-person during visiting hours. “It’s all still here,” Kelsey says. “It’s all still good. It’s just not being appreciated in the way that it normally is.” Kelsey says that some of the best ways to support CAL are shopping in the gallery, spreading the word about local artists through social media, and donating, if possible. Even making a habit of visiting and appreciating the art can help.

“Our job as artists is to communicate something that we have felt from a larger experience, like a universal truth." “If you are going to go downtown and meet a friend for coffee, consider coming to the art league with your mask on,” Kelsey suggests. “See the show before you head off and do something else.” By continuing to embrace art in the Columbia community, CAL spreads beauty and creativity in a desperately needed time. By slowing down and appreciating art, people can find both self-expression and understanding of others when connection itself can feel rare these days. “Our job as artists is to communicate something that we have felt from a larger experience, like a universal truth,” Kelsey explains. “Then we want the viewer to step into that space and think about it in their own terms, applying it to their own experience. I really believe art is life.”

COMOMAG.COM

DECEMBER 2020

Living

PET FRIENDLY

two to six months to each piece her clients commission. She always paints with soul and a commitment to realism, but she’s also always pushing her art to higher perfection. “I really feel like I’m learning more every day,” she says. “I look at my paintings and I think, ‘I wish I could get them more realistic.’ I just feel like practice is the greatest teacher, so the more portraits I do, the harder I push myself [and] the better results I tend to have. Each portrait teaches me something new.” For aspiring artists, she advises: “Do it. Don’t give up. Just keep going.” Presently, Hound and Hue is a part-time job for Shannise. But if she is not working at her day job as a pet groomer, she is usually found in her art studio, passionately perfecting her latest subject. She believes her motivation and effort for each piece comes from her desire to bring joy to pet owners.

Hound and Hue A unique side hustle: painting Columbia’s pets. BY JESSICA JAINC HI L L

ew Zealander Shannise Finn has privately practiced art for years, but within the past year, she’s taken a leap with her artistic talent through her business called Hound and Hue. The business specializes in oil paintings of pets that attempt to capture the realism and the personality of each animal. “I have been an artist all my life. My mom has a ton of my childhood paintings all over her walls. I’ve pretty much been an artist since I held a pen,” Shannise says. “I just recently started painting animals in the last couple of years.” Hound and Hue started with Shannise’s own dogs, a standard poodle named Hera and an American Eskimo named Luna.

“I painted my own two dogs a couple of years back,” she says. “I posted it on social media, and a lot of people asked if I would paint their dogs. I said, ‘No,’ but in the last few years, somebody wanted me to paint their poodle. Ever since then, I’ve had a steady influx of people wanting me to paint their dogs.” Though Shannise originally favored graphite pencil art, a “mind-blowing” trip to Italy in 2017 inspired her to move to oil painting. She says: “I love the old masters. I love Renaissance painting. . . . it’s very forgiving. I love it! It was my dream to be able to paint with oils. I finally am just kind of living that dream.” A major portion of Shannise’s art skills comes from diligent practice and dedicating

“It makes me feel so special that I can bring this kind of joy to people.” “Just the reactions from them are what keeps me going,” she says. “It makes me feel so special that I can bring this kind of joy to people. I get a lot of people coming to me who are in the process of losing their animals or have just lost their animal. Knowing that I can bring them a big memorial piece that they will have forever — it’s a big honor that people trust me to do that for them.”

COMOMAG.COM

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Help Monarch protect the holiday magic— donate diapers today! 1 in 3 babies don't have enough diapers. Monarch Title Company is hosting a diaper drive throughout December, and we need your help! The Baby Bags program provides supplemental diapers and so much more to families in mid-Missouri. Baby Bags, along with our core programs, are here for families, even during COVID-19. You can help support our community during a time when diapers are needed most, or donate at fc4c.org/donate. Drop off any size or brand of diapers at First Chance for Children, 1010 Fay St. Columbia MO 65201, during the month of December. They’ll be donated to families in need in mid-Missouri.

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DECEMBER 2020

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Living

Believe it or not, the 56-year-old has not been a runner his whole life. Despite being a track star in high school, breaking and holding a few records at his high school in Sedalia, Todd stopped running after a bad race his senior year in 1983. “I didn’t perform well that day,” Todd says, remembering. “It took me out of contention for winning regionals when I was expected to win state. So, when that event occurred, I quit running.” It wasn’t until 31 years later, in 2014, that Todd was convinced by a friend from high school to give the sport another try. Registering for a half-marathon, Todd trained to catch up to his old track friends who had never stopped running. After a year of getting back in shape, Todd was challenged by another friend to run every day. “I said, ‘You’re not supposed to do that,’” Todd recounts. “‘You’re supposed to take a break.’ And he said, ‘It doesn’t matter. We’ve got a lot of people here in Columbia that run every day.’” That was all it took to persuade Todd. On March 8, 2015, he started his running streak. He hasn’t missed a day since. Todd’s wife and two kids, along with most who know him, understand that Todd is unavailable during the time he runs every day. He has a running community that supports his goals as well, built by his time on Columbia’s trail system. “I see people on the trail,” he says. “Not every day, but many days a week. I don’t really know them by name, but we know each other. It’s an interesting community.” Committing to run without fail has not come without complications. Todd has had his fair share of injuries, including a torn me-

WELLNESS

niscus and a completely severed muscle in his calf, and he has gone to the same massage therapist so much that the therapist’s wife knows Todd by the sound of his voice every time he calls.

“As long as I perform as long as I can on any given day, that’s all I care about.”

Rain or Shine Todd Thompson has challenged himself to run every day for five and a half years. BY ALYSSA SHIKLES

round 5 p.m., Todd Thompson begins to run. Parking by the Scott entrance of the MKT, he hits the trail. He doesn’t listen to music. He doesn’t have a running partner. Rather, he prefers solitude, using the time to reflect on what he needs to do that day. Rain or snow, weekend or holiday — the conditions don’t matter. Todd will run outside for about an hour before heading home for a shower. Tomorrow, he’ll do it all again. Todd has run every day for 2,049 days, more than five and a half years without a single break. In that time, he has covered over 12,681 miles, running an average of 6.2 miles a day at an average pace of 7:57 per mile. According to the United States Running Streak Association, Todd is ranked #803 for the longest active running streak in the world.

— Todd Thompson “There’s a lot of studies that say when people exercise to excess, their life expectancy is no different than a heavy drinker or smoker,” Todd says. “You can exercise too much to where it’s actually not healthy. I’m probably close to that. But I did nothing for 31 years, so I have some years to make up.” Still, Todd keeps running. In the past five years, Todd has run 24 half-marathons and 16 marathons, including the past four Boston marathons. Despite his three-decade-long running hiatus, Todd can still run a mile in 5:45. But when it comes to competition, Todd’s only competitor is himself. “As long as I perform as long as I can on any given day, that’s all I care about,” Todd says. “I want everybody else to do as well as they can do, too.” Ultimately, the push for himself to grow is what has kept him running after all these years. “If I fail, it’s my fault,” Todd explains. “If I succeed, it’s to my credit. Where so many other things in life are dependent upon other people and what they do, sports give you an opportunity to be as good as you can be at something.”

COMOMAG.COM

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DECEMBER 2020

Living

HOMES

Deck the Halls Jonathan and Megan Higgins share their gift of hospitality through their holiday dÃ©cor. BY BETH BR A M ST E DT | PHOTO S BY K E I T H B O R GM EYE R

COMOMAG.COM

Living

HOMES

The

scene is so tranquil that it appears surreal. Looking out the picturesque windows of Jonathan and Megan Higgins’ Katy Lake Estates home, you see the reflection of trees on the lake, observe the quiet rippling of the water, and hear the honking of geese. It’s a feeling that translates inside, too, as you glance around the rooms and absorb the festive yet classic feel of the holidays captured through the couple’s decor. You just can’t help but feel at peace. “I love to decorate for Christmas. It’s my favorite,” Megan says. “Jon also loves Christmas, so when we got married, we had double the decorations.” Jonathan and Megan met when they were younger, but reconnected as adults through Redemption’s Hill, a local church started by Megan’s cousin, T.J. Dreyer, that they were helping to plant. The couple married in May of 2017 and moved into their home less than a year later. They were drawn in by the lake. “It’s so close — it’s like we’re on the lake,” Jonathan says. “It’s an active lake community and a fun neighborhood.” Jonathan is a benefits and compensation specialist for Columbia Insurance Group, and Megan is the manager for retail services within the dining and nutrition services department at MU Health Care. “We love to host, so the decorations lend themselves to that,” Jonathan says. “We have lots of friends over during the week just to eat, hang out, and spend time together. The decorations make for a fun hosting environment.” Each room has a different feel. “We’re both from rural areas,” Jonathan shares, “so downstairs, you’ll see a rustic area. But we also both felt we were city-bound, so then you’ll see the posh city lights when you look into the living room. We have the glamorous part of the decorations without leaving out where we came from.”

Contemporary Glamour

After moving in, the couple tackled remodeling the dining room fi rst. It was covered in dark green trim with marble painting, and the hunter green walls extended to the exposed beams. Megan describes it as “medieval.” They opted for a neutral color palette, painted the trim white, and finished at mid-

DECEMBER 2020

night on Wednesday right before their family showed up for Thanksgiving in 2018. They love the exposed beams, vaulted ceiling, and shadow box trim. “It’s my favorite area because we put our expression into it,” Jonathan says. “And we did all the work ourselves,” Megan adds. For the holidays, the dining room will seat 12 and is adorned with a beautiful nativity scene on the sideboard and a glamorous red-and green-themed Christmas tree by the arched window. As Jonathan described earlier, the living room has a city feel that features a see-through fi replace and metallic adorned trees. Gold and silver ornaments shimmer in the sun as daylight streams through the expansive windows, and stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

Living

HOMES

COMOMAG.COM

Living

HOMES

In the kitchen, a hand-painted snowman sits by the fi replace, and the decorations are pulled together with the use of buffalo check. In the hallway, elves frolic on the most playful tree in the house and add a whimsical touch that the elves themselves seem to enjoy.

Rustic Roots

The basement game room, once fraught with bright orange and aqua walls and various colors of trim, now serves as the area they love to host small groups. Their favorite project was their Mizzou tree. “That’s where we got our start when we were young, so that was our fi rst tree, and we went from there,” Megan says. The remaining rustic décor features a rotating tree adorned with red ribbon, pinecones, and ornaments handcrafted by Megan. The area takes Jonathan back to his childhood in Boonville and reminds Megan of her roots in Moberly. A basket of handmade fabric candy canes accentuates the fi replace.

DECEMBER 2020

Living

HOMES

“We love to host, so the decorations lend themselves to that. We have lots of friends over during the week just to eat, hang out, and spend time together. The decorations make for a fun hosting environment.” - JONATHAN HIGGINS

“Megan loves to craft,” Jonathan says. “That’s part of what draws me to decorations,” Megan adds. “If Jon would let me, I’d quit my job and do crafts.” The couple loves to shop at estate sales, particularly to search for decorations for the holidays. Megan has found wreaths, garland, and even one of their larger trees. “It’s a great place to fi nd bargains and fi ll our house,” Megan says. Early on in their marriage, they loved touring houses in their free time. “So now we’ve replaced our house hunting with estate sales,” Megan says. The couple has a total of 11 trees inside, seven full-size and four others. And while that might seem daunting, it is tastefully done and a nod to the couple’s desire to make their home an inviting and comfortable place for their guests over the holiday season.

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DECEMBER 2020

W H AT T H E

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Still A Thriving Market By Bennett Arey Find more at tracyarey.com

e can all agree that this year has taken some unexpected turns. If you’re looking to the real estate market and wondering what might come of it, we have some answers for you! More than ever, we are now part of a “Seller’s Market.” What does that mean exactly? Most simply put, there are not many homes currently listed for sale. Thus, when buyers are looking to purchase, they have fewer options to choose from. At Tracy Arey Real Estate in a typical market, we have four to five months worth of homes to sell at any given time. As of today, we are working from an inventory of roughly one month’s worth. This means, with a lean pool of properties to choose from, things are selling quickly.

WONDERING HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU? 1.

If you’ve been toying with the idea of selling your home, even if you purchased it within the last few years, chances are, you have some equity built up. That means your home’s value has already increased since

you purchased it! Wondering if this might be the case for your home? Contact us for a free consultation! We can calculate your home’s equity and determine if now is the right time for you to sell. If you’re looking to buy a home right now, keep in mind that while things are selling quickly, that also means that the offers being placed

are competitive. It’s important to work with an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent so that your interests are protected. Still have some questions about our current market or your home? Contact us! Our consultations are always low pressure as we work to determine the best options for you, your family, and your home.

Bennett Arey

TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE Whether it’s buying or selling, new or existing, Bennett Arey is experienced in all aspects of residential real estate. Being an agent makes him feel so lucky — every day, he gets to work alongside amazing clients and help them to accomplish business and personal goals. Outside of real estate, he is blessed to come home to his high school sweetheart, Alexis, and their sassy two-year-old, Eleanor. One thing you might not know about Bennett is that he loves remodeling homes! Alexis and Bennett have completed three full home renovations in the last few years and Bennett can do most of the work from the floors up!

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DECEMBER 2020

â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tis the Season for

Warm up with these spicy cocktails f rom DogMaster Distillery, Barred Owl Butcher & Table, and 44 Canteen. BY HANNAH KUECK PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER

he cold weather is upon us here in Mid-Missouri, and while we may be chilly and wishing the sun would warm us up a little more, local restaurants are here to spice things up â&#x20AC;&#x201D; literally. DogMaster Distillery, Barred Owl Butcher and Table, and 44 Canteen are serving up some spicy cocktails to help warm us up inside and out, and better yet, you can make these signature spicy cocktails from the comfort of your own home. So cuddle up with your favorite blanket (or human) and your cocktail of choice, just in time for the cold weather and the winter holidays.

the Helios

Living

GOURMET

44 Canteen

As the hours of daylight shrink, Aaron Brown, bartender at 44 Canteen, has the perfect drink to warm you up and give you a taste of sunlight: the Helios. A creation of Brown’s, the beautiful golden beverage packs some heat, but with each sip, the unique drink leaves you wanting more. And it is unique. Aaron, who has been creating cocktails since 2005, has never seen anything like it. With the combination of egg whites and spice, The Helios is one of Aaron’s favorite creations. So bundle up, grab a taco (or three), and enjoy The Helios this winter.

The Drink: • 1 ounce egg whites • 1 ounce sour mix • 1 ounce honey and habanero simple syrup • 2 ounces saff ron gin • Red wine simple syrup Directions: Dry shake the egg whites and sour mix. Add the honey, simple syrup, and gin. Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Add the red wine simple syrup drizzle on top. Saff ron-Infused Gin: • Add approx. 1/2 gram saff ron to a fifth of gin Directions: Let steep for two to three hours. Honey and Habanero Simple Syrup: • 2 cups honey • 2 cups water • Approx. 10 habanero peppers Directions: Boil together, let cool.

DECEMBER 2020

Cold Black Heart Barred Owl

Creating a spin on the beloved margarita, Barred Owl Butcher & Table is bringing a little more spice to the classic beverage with its best-selling drink, the Cold Black Heart. The Cold Black Heart, according to bar manager Andrew Ruth, is a spicy grapefruit margarita that offers a depth of flavor and spice from the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house-infused spicy vodka, which is created with a variety of peppers, dried chiles, peppercorns, crushed red pepper flakes, and more. And while all of these peppers might sound intimidating, the spice offers more of a subtle background heat than a melt-your-faceoff one, making it a great drink for any time of the year, but especially as the winter weather begins to settle in.

The Drink: 1 ounce blanco tequila 1 ounce house-infused spicy vodka 3/4 ounces grapefruit rose 1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice 1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice Directions: Shake all ingredients together and serve with a half-rim mixture of sea salt and Hawaiian black lava salt. Add grapefruit wedge and jalapeĂąo slice as garnish.

Living

GOURMET

Masterita DogMaster Distillery

A margarita with a DogMaster spin. Whether you like it tame or spicy, DogMaster Distillery reinvents the traditional margarita with its Masterita, a drink composed of DogMaster’s own unaged whiskey and house-made jalapeño simple syrup. While the Masterita is made with DogMaster’s unaged whiskey rather than tequila, Lisa Driskey Hawxby, co-owner and co-founder of DogMaster, says that the unaged whiskey brings a lot of similar taste properties to those you’d find in a silver tequila. And the best part about this Masterita? You can get it as spicy as you like it.

The Drink: • • • • •

3 lime quarters 2 ounces of unaged whiskey Splash of triple sec 1 ounce sour mix Jalapeño simple syrup to taste

Directions: Shake everything together and serve with a salted or unsalted rim. Jalapeño Simple Syrup: • 5 jalapeño peppers (or 2 habaneros) • 1 cup cane or white sugar • 1 cup water Directions: Slice the peppers into coins, remove stems. In a small pot, combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, simmer for 10-15 minutes. Pour through a strainer to separate out jalapeños. Store in air-tight container.

DECEMBER 2020

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jeff bezos doesn’t know that you like your martini extra dirty, BUT WE DO. (Made with DogMaster’s award-winning gin, of course.) When you purchase from small businesses, you build community with every dollar you spend. Thanks for your support. SHOP HOLIDA Y GIFT SETS!

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DECEMBER 2020

Living

ST YLE

Stay warm this winter with these personality-packed pairs youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll actually want to f ind under the tree. PH OTO G RA PHY BY KEITH BO RG MEYER

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Argyle Book Nerd Brand: Gibbs Smith, Read your socks off

Alpine Shop 1102 E. Broadway

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Floral Stop Talking Brand: Blue Q Socks

Binghams Traditional Clothing 827 E. Broadway

Green/Pink Polka Dot Brand: Lorenzo Uomo

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Black Guitar Brand: Mod Socks

DECEMBER 2020

Living

ST YLE

Maude Vintage 818 E. Broadway

Blue Rainbow Mouth Brand: Mod Socks

Alpine Shop 1102 E. Broadway

Ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t No Bad Joke Like a Dad Joke Brand: Blue Q Socks

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Binghams Traditional Clothing 827 E. Broadway

Gray/Red/Blue/ Orange Striped Brand: Pantherella Fine English Socks

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Living

ST YLE

Skylark Bookshop (22 S. Ninth St.) Yellow Library Card & Rainbow Book Nerd | Brand: Out of Print

DECEMBER 2020

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DECEMBER 2020

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Making the Dream Work Dream Club brings passion to life through collaboration and encouragement. BY L AU R E N S A B LE F RE IM AN PHOTO S PR OVI D ED BY M ICAL A AU ST I N, KYL I E HELE N, JAKE HULL , J O R DA N M A R C , JAK E NOWAK , A ND M AYA R O B I NS ON

wice each month, a group of people representing a range of creative industries come together for meetups in Columbia with only one goal: creating unique, memorable, breathtaking content for their social media channels. As members of Dream Club COMO, these models, fashion designers, photographers, videographers, dancers, makeup artists, graphic designers, and entrepreneurs — both working and aspiring — collaborate to showcase each other’s talents and passions.

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How It Began

Maya Robinson’s passion is social media, specifically using social media to help others promote themselves and their business. When Maya, 25, moved to Columbia from Peoria, Illinois, almost seven years ago to attend college, she realized after a semester at MU that school just wasn’t the right path for her. She left school to work in child care, where she still works today. But social media remained something she enjoyed and an area in which she says she excelled. That’s why, just over a year ago, she created an Instagram account called Dream Club COMO. Her goal was to gather a group of like-minded people in a creative environment, free of judgment, where they would feel encouraged to explore and hone their artistic passions and crafts. “We have such a young crowd here, and I wanted to create an environment where people who like to create content could feed off each other, network, and find encouragement,” Maya says. “No matter how old you are, everyone has a passion or something they’re really excited about. Anyone can come to our meetups. You don’t have to have any experience. It’s free, and it’s a great opportunity to be creative.” In the world of social media, content creation translates to producing photographs and video footage to promote a business, skill, or personality on social media channels like Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. Maya says many of the people who attend Dream Club’s meetups aspire to be a model or photographer or want to showcase their business or skills, like dancing or makeup application. Dream Club’s first meetup at Silverball last year attracted 25 people. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the club has continued to meet regularly in parks and other outdoor locations. Recently, members of the club traveled to a “selfie studio” in Kansas City, where they spent the day creating photos and videos.

DECEMBER 2020

Each meetup is promoted on Instagram and usually draws anywhere from 10 to 15 people, and Maya says every meetup has brought new faces. She adds that the youngest model to come by is 7 years old, while the oldest model so far has been in her mid-to-late 30s. Over the past year, Dream Club COMO’s following has steadily grown, and the Instagram account currently has more than 350 followers.

Opening Doors for Creatives Kylie Rifkin, who had known Maya through a similar but less organized meetup group, attended Dream Club’s first meetup at Silverball. While she enjoyed photography, she says she didn’t come to Dream Club anticipating a full-time career in photography. She was simply hoping to connect with other photographers and creative people around Columbia and expand her clientele. “I was just starting photography at the time, and my goal was just to see where it took me,” Kylie says. “Through building a portfolio with Dream Club, I was able to get a lot of contacts. Keena Lynch, a sports photographer who isn’t a member of the group, reached out to me through my Instagram, and now I’m his full-time intern. I’ve been using the portfolio I’ve been building through Dream Club to get other shoots and jobs, and it’s been great.” Together, Kylie and Keena have done shoots for a gym in Jefferson City, shot some portraits, and plan to do a shoot for Lincoln University’s athletic department. “I’ve gone with him on every shoot he has done and vice versa,” Kylie says. “It’s hard to build your portfolio in Columbia because you’re competing with the journalism school at MU, so Dream Club has been really helpful.”

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

DECEMBER 2020

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

“No matter how old you are, everyone has a passion or something they’re really excited about. Anyone can come to our meetups. You don’t have to have any experience, it’s free, and it’s a great opportunity to be creative.” — Maya Robinson While her company, Kylie Helen Photography, focuses on portraits and sports photography, Kylie says she has purchased new sports-specific gear in anticipation of more upcoming sports shoots. According to Maya, Kylie’s experience with Dream Club is exactly what she envisioned when she started the club. Giving people the space and support to try new things, to explore their crafts in new and different ways, and to network with other creative people was Maya’s number one priority. “Kylie had experience modeling and wanted to do some photography, and it has jumped off for her,” Maya says. “She is a rock star and a great example of why I started the club, and someone who has reaped the benefits of it. It’s so awesome to see people grow from promoting themselves through our club.” Kylie isn’t the only member who has launched a career through participation in

Dream Club. Maya says two other members have signed modeling contracts, and she has found opportunities to model, too. “I do a lot of modeling for the photographers we work with,” she says. “I never considered myself a model, but I have opportunities now.” While her work with Dream Club is on a completely volunteer-basis — she earns nothing from running Dream Club or coordinating meetups — Maya says that encouraging people to step outside their comfort zone and explore something new is extremely fulfilling. “This is something I like to do in my free time,” Maya says. “This is all free, and what you’re gaining is experience and a chance to network and get out of your comfort zone. When people stick around and grow, and different opportunities come from it, it is really rewarding to me.”

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Meet Me at the Keyhole

The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Percent for Art program makes art accessible for all.

BY KATI E PE R RY HA R R I S PH OTO S BY CH A R L E S B R U C E I I I

DECEMBER 2020

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ou’ve seen the iconic keyhole sculpture in front of City Hall in Columbia. It’s there in the background on newscasts, photographed for advertisements, lit up to celebrate different occasions, captured as the backdrop for selfies, and used as a symbol for the city. What you may not realize is that the keyhole sculpture is part of the Percent for Art program, run by the City of Columbia, designed to bring public art to construction projects. The keyhole, a sculpture by artist Howard Meehan officially known as “Keys to the City,” is the largest Percent for Art project undertaken by the city to date. Completed in 2010, the sculpture commemorates Columbia’s history, with photographs of local landmarks and historical figures, like Mary Paxton Keeley and “Blind” Boone. “It’s a much-loved, often-photographed symbol of Columbia,” says Marie Hunter, who served as the manager of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs when the project was commissioned. “I’m constantly texting Howard pictures of the sculpture and how people are using it. He intended it to become exactly what it is. If someone says, ‘Meet me at the keyhole,’ you know where and what it means.” “Keys to the City” is a monument that brought public art directly to the community, a key success of the Percent for Art program, which aims to make art accessible and available to all.

A HISTORY OF LEADING IN THE ARTS In May 1997, the Columbia City Council approved legislation to create the Percent for Art program. The program allows for 1% of the cost of any new city construction or renovation projects to be used for site-specific public art. Any above-ground capital improvement project with a budget of $1 million or more is eligible to have public art as a component of the completed site. The program is managed and administered through the Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs, assisted by a standing committee on public art appointed by the city council. The program came after a push by the city’s leadership, which had a strong interest in arts and a recognition of its economic impact. At that time, City Manager Ray Beck and Mayor Darwin Hindman, along with council members, attended a session on public art at a national conference in Phoenix. Mayor Hind-

DECEMBER 2020

man was particularly interested and enthusiastic, Marie recalls. “Columbia is progressive in its arts programming and support within municipal government for two main reasons: the Percent for Art program and the Office of Cultural Affairs,” says Marie. “At the time that Percent for Art was established in Columbia, there was only one other community that had a program, in Kansas City.” For a community Columbia’s size, it’s particularly impressive to have such a vibrant arts program with a public art component. The City Council also opened the Percent for Art program to both local and national artists with the recognition that artists far and wide should be able to participate and be selected for their work in other communities.

PHOTO PR OVI DE D BY T HE C I TY O F COLUM BIA

“The city has made such a commitment to beautification and making these opportunities for culture accessible. As we develop different areas of town, having artistic representations there helps us retain the culture that’s so unique to Columbia.” — Elise Buchheit, program specialist for the Office of Cultural Affairs COMOMAG.COM

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF COLUMBIA

The first two public art projects commissioned by Percent for Art were both completed in 1999. The parking garage at Eighth and Cherry Streets showcases a neon, ceramic tile mural of wheels called “Rolling Ahead” by Ron Fondaw. At the Oakland Family Aquatic Center, families coming to swim may not even realize they’re looking at public art by Mark La Mair, a Springfield artist who created the playful sculptures, called “Leap In To,” gracing the outside of the swim center. Susan Taylor Glasgow was the first local artist and the first woman to receive a Percent for Art commission. Her sculpture “Network” now lives at Fire Station No. 8 at Nifong Boulevard and Bearfield Road. “Network” is a series of colored and sandblasted glass blocks, some including traditional symbols of firefighting, all visible from the exterior. “It was an honor to be the first local artist and to share with the community,” Susan says. “My career has changed since then, but back then, I was an emerging artist, and it was a pivotal point.” Susan’s project also included an educational component after Marie set up an artist residency at New Haven Elementary School. Susan spent a week working with students, who then toured the fire station. “Those children are all grown up now, and every once in a while, I come across one who still remembers how fun the project was,” Susan recalls. Public art makes such an impact on our community and our environment, Susan says. It’s certainly one of the reasons why Columbia was honored as Missouri’s first Creative Community by the Missouri Arts Council in 2007, in recognition that Columbia’s arts industry has a proven economic impact. “That was a big one,” Marie says. “The nomination hinged on economic impact and arts-based tourism,

DECEMBER 2020

PHOTO PR OVI D E D BY T HE C I TY O F CO LU M B I A

and Percent for Art was definitely a component because it’s unique about Columbia.”

ART AVAILABLE TO ALL Public art from the Percent for Art program is now all across the city and allows us to experience and enjoy art in everyday life. Going to swim or exercise at the Activity and Recreation Center? As you enter the main lobby, it’s hard to miss the scale of the large sculpture suspended in the atrium. “Taking the Plunge” is a 12-foot-tall, 15-foot-wide figure created by Norman Courtney as part of Percent for Art in 2002. Head downtown to Wabash Station to check out two pieces of Percent for Art works, from David Spear’s four-painting series featuring local Columbians in the interior to Don Asbee’s forged steel train on the exterior. “The city has made such a commitment to beautification and making these opportunities for culture accessible,” says Elise Buchheit, program specialist for the Office of Cultural Affairs. “We see a huge value in it. As we develop different areas of town, having artistic representations there helps us retain the culture that’s so unique to Columbia.” More recently, the city’s new field house at Perry Philips Park carries the latest Percent for Art project, with three different sculptures by David Spear. The largest of the three pieces, “Boundaries,” was created to work in harmony with the mission of the field house and to inspire visiting athletes, David says. The largescale sculptures are a mix of materials, LED lighting, and digital transparencies. “This was an opportunity to get outside of painting and use these newer materials,” David says. Next up will be two different Percent for Art projects at the new Columbia Regional Airport

terminal, where travelers will pass by the artwork daily. The airport project will feature local artist Chris Morrey and a nonlocal artist, David Griggs, from Colorado. The artists are working on proposals now, with public comments expected to start by the beginning of next year. In addition to the Percent for Art program, the cultural affairs office works on traffic box art, which is hard to miss as you drive around downtown Columbia. The traffic box art program began in 2007 as a way to deter graffiti and beautify street corners. Currently, 16 traffic boxes around town feature work by local artists. The latest traffic box will be at Ash and Eighth streets by the Boone County Government Building, with artist Roy Fox depicting workers building the city’s armory as part of the Works Progress Administration. This year, during a pandemic, we can’t attend large, live performances or experience art in the same ways. That’s why the Office of Cultural Affairs plans to focus heavily on helping people give to Columbia’s arts organizations, Elise says. She encourages community members to find an arts organization they connect with and to support them. For art enthusiasts, Elise reminds us that “participating in art lowers stress levels, increases civic engagement, and fosters civic pride in the community.” It’s easy to experience Columbia’s public art, much of which is outside and can be viewed from a car or a walking tour. You can also download the city’s app or online guide and take a public art tour of all that the city’s Percent for Art program offers. In a time when we need art in the everyday experience, the opportunity is there to appreciate the unique art around our community and find the hidden gems among our public spaces. You might even start by meeting at the keyhole.

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The Road to Stardom How Columbia local Halle Kearns has become a rising country star in Nashville. BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE

DECEMBER 2020

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alle Kearns performs with such effortlessness and passion that you’d never guess the self-made country singer-songwriter from Columbia was once a shy little girl who was nervous about singing in front of people and who struggled with stage fright. Halle, 23, now lives in Nashville, where her smooth voice, catchy pop-country tunes, and Midwest girl-next-door authenticity are garnering acclaim. If her name sounds familiar, you may have seen her play Taylor Swift covers at open mic night at The Bridge, or at a show at the Blue Note, or a sold-out gig at Rose Music Hall with local artist Alec Davis, or on Clear 99 FM. This rising star demonstrates that no dream is unreachable when you have talent, drive, a level head, a dose of good luck, and the unwavering support of people who love and believe in you.

The Early Years

“With four girls, everything was always pink and purple,” Kevin Kearns, Halle’s father, recalls. “We had a little built-in stage in the house, and we bought a life-size Barbie stage that went on top of it for Halle when she was 6.” Halle remembers putting on little performances with her friends on that stage. When she was still small enough to be riding in a car seat, she was asking her mom to put on one of three CDs in the car: Faith Hill, Martina McBride, or the Dixie Chicks. “I would sing along, tucked away in my car seat, and I guess I would hide so [my mom] couldn’t see me in the mirror, and sing along before I ever knew what the words were. I’d make up my own words and sing along. I was so shy all of the time,” Halle says. That shyness would follow Halle into high school at Rock Bridge. She had picked up the guitar at age 13, and after two weeks, she abandoned traditional lessons in favor of YouTube, where she quickly learned the chords she needed to sing along as she strummed. In school, she didn't participate in choir or theatre or even take voice lessons. Instead, she found alimentation in a creative writing class that helped her explore the urge to write her own songs through poetry. The encouragement she received from her teacher, Mr. McGinty, who knew that she played guitar and sang, still sticks with her. Halle’s dream of becoming a country musician started to take shape in 11th grade. When all of her friends were making college plans, Halle knew she didn’t need a degree to pursue her dream. “I was pretty reserved about music until my junior year when I decided that’s what I wanted to do. No one really knew I sang, and if they did,

DECEMBER 2020

I wouldn’t sing for them because I was so nervous about it,” she says. “I think I was way too concerned about what other people thought when I was in high school.” But she wasn’t reserved about telling the person in her life who it was safe to tell — her dad. “I remember going up to my dad and telling him I wanted to be a musician full-time. If it weren’t for his unconditional support, I wouldn’t be doing this. He reminds me not to give up on my dream just because it’s hard,” Halle says. Kevin, a pragmatic businessman who works in construction and real estate, quickly formulated a plan. “We made a deal. I said if you really want to prove to yourself that you’re going to do this, you should do 150 gigs — they say it takes 10,000 hours to master something — because you might do 50 shows and decide you don’t like it,” he says. “She played all of those gigs. I was proud of her.” Instead of heading straight for Nashville after graduation in 2015, as Halle had intended, she and Kevin moved to the Kansas City area, where he grew up and where there were more opportunities for Halle to explore her dream. And she started working on those 150 gigs. “She booked all the gigs herself. She would walk into a place with her music and say she wanted to play there — for free or for $50,” Kevin remembers. “It was about the experience, not the income.” One day, while in a music store in Kansas City, Halle met a fellow female country singer-songwriter. After talking, the musician offered to mentor Halle. “She said she’d like to teach me a thing or two about songwriting if I was interested,” Halle remembers, and of course, Halle said she was. The musician also was doing a campaign to benefit farmers, and Halle joined her team behind-the-scenes, promoting her song to DJs and scheduling what turned into a seven-state, seven-week, 70-radio-station tour across the Midwest. Halle says it taught her a lot about being on the road and how unglamorous it is — and how, despite that reality check, she still wanted to pursue her dream. After that, things started happening for Halle in Kansas City. She started applying what she’d learned on the road to her own shows and says it snowballed: She ended up playing some 250 to 300 shows in the four years she was in Kansas City. She played the bar circuit extensively, playing lots of covers and some original music. “Then she started playing Missouri wineries. I liked that better than the bars, which could be a little seedy . . . and wineries paid better,” Kevin says. “The feedback was phenomenal. I don’t think she’s ever played a gig where they haven’t asked her back.”

“There’s nothing worse than whatifs. I always tell the girls there’s always time for the cubicle job later. Let’s figure out why you’re on this earth, and I’ll support you all the way.” Kevin Kearns, Halle's father COMOMAG.COM

Life in Music City

In March of 2019, Halle took the plunge and moved by herself to Nashville. After having played so many shows in Kansas City, Halle slowed down when she got to Nashville. “Once I made it to Nashville, I decided to take a break from [playing shows] for a while and focus on the writing element of things, make sure I had figured out what I wanted to say and be as an artist, and make sure that fi rst impression of my music was really authentic to who I am and what people know as Halle Kearns the artist.” And then another lucky break came when Halle secured her publicist, Craig Brooks. Halle played Whiskey Jam — an open-mic type of event at a popular music venue in Nashville known for featuring talented aspiring artists. After her performance, Craig, who was in the audience, approached Halle. “He came up to me and told me he followed me on Instagram and that he loved what I do. He said he had some contacts he could help get my music out to,” Halle says. Craig immediately went to work, getting exposure for Halle’s music. “He’s one of the best things that’s happened to me this year, all because he truly believes in me.” “I've been blown away by Halle's passion right from the beginning,” Craig says. “Th is girl pours every bit of her heart and soul into all that she does in her career. Her work rate and desire is like nothing I've ever seen before and [motivates me daily]. While striving for her goals, she always manages to lift those around her and make people like me feel so valued and appreciated.” A little more than a year after moving to Nashville, Halle released her fi rst single, “Pick Me Up,” in July 2020, along with a music video. The song received positive reviews. It was named song of the week in the U.K. and Australia, and was been picked up by Disney Radio, Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music. It was on one of Spotify’s editorial playlists, curated by genre experts for six weeks; making such a list is considered an exciting milestone for up-and-coming artists. But perhaps the cherry on top was Country Music Television picking up the music video, which Halle’s youngest sister, London, shot for her. “CMT picked up the ‘Pick Me Up’ video, which is a milestone I wrote down in my journal that I figured was years away, and it happened on my fi rst release. It’s wild,” Halle says, her excitement tempered by an innate sense of humbleness. To follow “Pick Me Up,” Halle released “I Drink Whiskey” in September, accompanied by a carpool-karaoke-style music video. The second single also received strong reviews. In October, Halle released her third single, “Shoes to Fill,” a ballad that pays tribute to the father who has believed in and supported Halle every step of the way. For Kevin’s part, backing Halle’s dream was the only logical choice. “There’s nothing worse than what-ifs,” Kevin says. “I always tell the girls there’s always time for the cubicle job later. Let’s figure out why you’re on this earth, and I’ll support you all the way. It wasn’t about protecting her — it was about her doing the work. And she’s killing it. It’s a labor of love, of passion, not fun.”

What’s Next

Halle plans to release a five-song EP in December, which normally would be accompanied by a tour, but COVID-19 has put that plan into question. That hasn’t stopped Halle from asking, “What’s next?” It’s a question her dad has asked to keep Halle observant of her intentions — to make sure they’re always pure and striving for a greater goal

DECEMBER 2020

than fame and fortune. The question has had such an impact on Halle that she has it tattooed, in her dad’s handwriting, on her wrist. “Going on tour to open for someone — that’s the dream for what’s next,” Halle says, mentioning Brett Young or Seaforth as artists she thinks she’d pair well with. Opening for Kasey Musgraves would be a huge dream come true for her as well, as would playing the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and Bridgestone Arena. “I would love to play Roots N Blues. That’s pretty much the only Columbia-based thing I haven’t been able to do — that would be incredible,” she says. Recognizing that overcoming her shyness to succeed took some work, Halle reflects on some advice a good friend once gave her that she would like to offer to other aspiring artists: “I think some of the best advice I got early on is to get out of your own way. It’s something that I struggled with in the beginning and still do sometimes because it’s easy to compare yourself to others and get in your head and get down on yourself. But as soon as you allow yourself to dream and fully go for what you want, worlds of possibility open up to you. As soon as I got out of my own way, as soon as I got out of my head and allowed myself to create the music I wanted to create and put it out to the public, regardless of what people were going to think or if they’re going to judge me, my whole life changed.”

Living

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

We bought the bookshop and changed the name to Yellow Dog Bookshop in 2013. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ART/CULTURE ACTIVITY IN COLUMBIA? J: Ragtag’s awesome movie selection,

openings at Sager Braudis Gallery, or CAL. I’d like to get to more theater and music productions at Stephens and MU. K: Art in the Park, Roots n’ Blues, and True/

False Film Fest. True/False is probably our favorite because it brings in so many folks who are also big readers, which makes it one of the biggest weekends of the year for us. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? J: Read! Also playing with the children, going Photo by Taylor Boyce

Joe Chevalier and Kelsey Hammond The owners of Yellow Dog Bookshop discuss how they met, their passion for the bookselling f ield, and more. HOW DID YOU MEET? Joe: We met at Kepler’s Books & Magazines

in Menlo Park, California. I had worked there previously but left for my first two years of graduate school and stopped in to see about returning to work. I happened to see Kelsey shelving books on the display tables and thought she was smart, a little sassy, and cute. She thought I was weird. WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY DURING THE WEEK? Kelsey: When you own your own business, run

a nonprofit, and have two kids, you spend a lot of time working. But when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. Joe is primarily working on Yellow Dog, either working at

for a walk, or taking in a movie when we can.

home or at the shop. I am at the Columbia Art League or working on behalf of CAL at home.

K: We don’t have a ton of free time together, but we like to read and spend time with our kids and dogs. I’m an artist, so I spend a fair amount of my free time in my studio.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER?

WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY

J: We don’t often work next to each other,

OF YOUR PARTNER?

but we share out our work according to our strengths — whether it’s Kelsey developing the social media voice of the shop and coordinating the window displays while I work on the nuts and bolts of inventory and accounting, or me editing CAL brochures while Kelsey develops relationships with artists and community partners. We have a good sense of how to help each other in whatever we’re doing.

J: Her creativity. She brings her creative,

artistic sensibility to bear on just about everything she does. K: Joe is committed to social justice and

making things better for others. Through his work at Yellow Dog, he is able to connect readers with books that they want to read, but also need to read. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

WHAT INTERESTS OR EXCITES YOU ABOUT WORKING IN THE BOOKSELLING FIELD?

K: I hope this isn’t unique, but we really like each other, and we aren’t afraid to be silly.

J: I love the energy and passion people have

J: We always try to make each other laugh.

around books — whether it’s sharing books they love with others or the excitement of getting into a new topic or author.

Also, we have a stuffed monkey named Omelet who talks to us.

K: I love that we are creating connections between people by encouraging people to read authors they haven’t read before.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE

WHAT BROUGHT YOU BOTH TO COLUMBIA? K: We moved here in 2006. Joe attended MU,

and I found a great job at the MU Craft Studio.

PROJECT TO WORK ON TOGETHER? J: Opening Yellow Dog was a true team effort:

developing our vision for the shop, planning out all the steps necessary to open, reorganizing and repainting with our friends, and turning the sign on our first day. I always carry with me the memory of all we did to bring the shop from crazy idea to thriving reality.

COMOMAG.COM

November and October were full of surprises...

During December, we’re supporting... In October, for City of Refuge, we made “mom packs,” bags filled with necessary baby items, and ran a $5,000 matching campaign with them all month long! Learn more about City of Refuge: cityofrefugecolumbia.org

To serve our community this month, Joe Machens Toyota is teaming up with Coyote Hill and donating $5000 to support their winter fundraising efforts. Coyote Hill exists to give children in foster care a safe place to be a child. They know safe children today make safe families tomorrow. Help this great organization by donating today at: coyotehill.org

To learn how to contribute, visit: joemachens.com/community

In November, we teamed up with Logboat to take items to the Rainbow House and surprised them with a 5,000 check! The Rainbow House works to keep children safe and supports families in crisis through prevention, assessment, and intervention in child abuse and neglect. Give alongside us at: rainbowhousecolumbia.org

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A LOUD AND LIVELY LEGACY

PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

A COMMUNITY OF ECLECTIC TALENTS

Looking back on The Blue Noteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four decades of concerts and community.

Meet Martin Kamau, music director for True/False Film Fest and Ragtag Film Society.

The North Village Arts District supports a community of artists, musicians, and other businesses in downtown Columbia.

Your Trusted Attorneys

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Ernie Ueligger represented me in a wrongful death suit this year. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say enough about his compassion and professionalism. He always answered my emails and phone calls within 24 hours. He kept me well-informed throughout the entire process, and we achieved a very good result. He was exceptionally kind and caring. I would not hesitate to recommend Ernie to anyone with a personal injury issue. He is an amazingly committed and conscientious young attorney.â&#x20AC;? - Julia D

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DECEMBER 2020

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CLOSER LOOK

DECEMBER 2020

service that put me in the position to be able to help pretty much anybody.” So far, the company has been seeing success with its rebrand, but, Mikel says, they’re not done yet. The company is working to expand, too, and now offers on-site services so customers can stay at home and have their devices fixed. From iPhone to Android to laptops to tablets, for battery or small-parts replacements or even gaming console repairs, Cracked Up Mobile’s services go beyond cell phones. Mikel says: “We’re growing into becoming more of a local tech shop. We’re trying to grow into becoming a mix between a local Geek Squad and a local tech shop.” 904 ELM ST., STE. 212 573-529-5633 CRACKEDUPMOBILE.COM

Chi-Town Eats

Waves Cider Company

About two and a half years into opening Logboat Brewing Co., Judson Ball, one of the brewery’s co-founders, learned that he had a severe food allergy to wheat and barley, causing him to be unable to try any of the beer the brewery was making. With this discovery came the creation of Waves Cider Company, a hard cider company that offers gluten-free beverages. Since opening in the late summer months of 2020, Judson explains that Waves Cider Company has collaborated with several other local restaurants that also offer gluten-free menu items to host food-pairing events in the company’s new space. The company also has plans to expand its cider portfolio and also add some other gluten-free beverages. “This [allergy] opened our eyes to all of these cool and delicious beverages that are out there

and that aren’t really being made regionally,” Judson says. And now, he can get a taste of the company’s flavorful success. 604 NEBRASKA AVE. INSTAGRAM: @WAVESCIDER WAVESCIDER.COM

Cracked Up Mobile

As a marketing consultant, Mikel Fields was looking to get into some new business opportunities. In April of 2019, he did just that as he purchased and took over ownership of Cracked Up Mobile, a mobile phone repair shop that was established in 2013. “This was an opportunity where I could help with the rebrand and business brand strategy of the company,” he says. “It’s a

“I’ve been [in Columbia] for almost a year, and I couldn’t take not having Chicago food here,” Angelo Smith Jr., a 20-year-old Chicago native, says. “No one else has it here, so why not me?” Angelo was ready for Columbia to meet Chicago cuisine, and in October, he opened Chi-Town Eats. With a menu full of wings, seafood, burgers, and nachos, Angelo is bringing a taste of Chicago to his new home, including a few of his own favorite dishes, like the Pizza Puff and Italian beef sandwich. “Something unique for everyone is our mild sauce and lemon pepper — our mild sauce is a Chicago favorite, and our lemon pepper is nothing like what people have heard of,” Angelo says of Chi-Town Eats’ Chicago-style spin. Once Chi-Town Eat’s first location gains the success and attention that Angelo wants it to, he plans to expand to different college campuses across the country. 2900 TRIMBLE RD., STE. 105 573-832-3352 CHITOWNEATS.NET

COMOMAG.COM

Briefly in the News D EC EMB ER 2020

DECEMBER 2020

ART

Columbia College Gifted Collection of Photographs An anonymous donor recently gifted a collection of more than 360 photos taken by world-renowned photographer Bruce Davidson to Columbia College. The photos have an appraised value of $1.2 million, according to Penelope Dixon and Associates of New York. Bruceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work has been published in The New York Times, Time, LIFE, Vogue, and Esquire, and he has exhibited in several well-known museums. The college has some of the photos on display in New Hall and will also be hosting a special exhibition highlighting a selection of photographs from this collection in the future.

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BRIEFLY

G IVI N G B AC K

U.S. Cellular Donates to Boys & Girls Club U.S. Cellular has donated $8,000 in new technology tools to Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbia. Donations included laptops, iPads, and the establishment of an additional Wi-Fi access point in the main building for those utilizing the club’s Virtual Day Learning Center, which will help the club continue to offer a mix of in-person and virtual programming throughout the school year and make it easier to communicate with kids, teachers, and parents.

“Throughout the past several months, we’ve seen how vital technology and connectivity are as many people have been virtually learning, working, and communicating. During this challenging time, Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia has continued to support local youth, and we hope these new technology resources can help staﬀ and members stay connected to the people and information they need to be successful." — NAKEITA STEWART, MISSOURI DIRECTOR OF SALES FOR U.S. CELLULAR

AWA R D S

ED UCATION

Children’s Grove and Missouri Business Alert Announce Honorees

Columbia Public Schools Foundation Makes Donation

Children’s Grove and Missouri Business Alert have announced the inaugural honorees of the Kindness in Business Awards, a celebration of Boone County businesses and nonprofits that have shown and promoted kindness in dealing with customers, employees, youth, and the community at large. Th is year’s honorees in the Kindness to Youth category are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia, Broadway Diner, Grade A Plus, and Jabberwocky Studios. Honorees in the Kindness to Employees category are Burrell Behavioral Health, Columbia Housing Authority, Donut D-light, and Influence & Co. Honorees in the Kindness to the Community category are City of Refuge, Dive Bar, EquipmentShare, and Turning Point. Among the honorees for Kindness to Employees, Burrell Behavioral Health’s award comes at a time when Burrell’s Central Missouri staff continues to grow. In an interview with Missouri Business Alert, Burrell Behavioral Health’s CEO and president C.J. Davis cited a free selfcare initiative called Be Well Community as one of several ways the mission-based nonprofit promotes hope and healing for clients and staff .

The Columbia Public Schools Foundation donated more than $59,000 as part of its Kits for Kids campaign to provide school supplies for elementary students at Columbia Public Schools. CPSF had to cancel its annual event, typically held in October, and instead asked its sponsors and donors to contribute to the campaign to help families get prepackaged school supplies kits for kids. In total, CPSF raised $34,230 from donors and sponsors. C ELEBR ATIONS

OATS Transit Receives Grant OATS Transit, a Missouri-based nonprofit transportation provider, announced that they have received a Community Service Grant for $1,000 from the Community Foundation of Central Missouri. Th is grant will be used toward transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities in Boone County. OATS Transit provides transportation for medical appointments, essential shopping, nutrition, and work for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and rural residents of any age.

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We want to be YOUR HERO when you need repairs! Our staff is ready to serve you in your time of need!

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Please join us in thanking all the Heroes in our community that work hard every day to make our lives safe!

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Investment Strategy

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Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services. Advisors, Inc. Brockmeier Financial Services, LLC is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

DECEMBER 2020

A N D R E A WA N E R

Andrea Waner announced she will seek election to the Columbia City Council representing the city’s Second Ward. Andrea serves as chair of the Human Rights Commission for Columbia. As a leader on the commission, Andrea worked to broaden Columbia’s nationally recognized workplace, fair-housing, and civil rights ordinances to include contractors. She has also worked with multiple public and private health agencies, including the Columbia/ Boone County Health Department, the Institute for People, Place, and Possibility, and MU Health Care. Her work has led her to tackle food insecurity, discrimination, access to childcare, and mental health issues. Andrea was born in Columbia and received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MU.

ABRA SPISSO

Klingner and Associates welcomed Abra Spisso to its Columbia office as a water and wastewater engineer. Abra specializes in water and sewer main design, stormwater pollution prevention plans, report preparation and inspections, specification development, and permitting. Abra holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the

University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Arts in physics from Duquesne University.

JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ

Jennifer Rodriguez joined SuretyBonds.com as its content strategist. In this role, Jennifer will develop and manage the execution of SuretyBonds. com’s content marketing strategy, driving traffic to the website alongside a team of content creators. Jennifer has nearly a decade’s worth of experience in content marketing and public relations, serving as managing editor at two Columbia-based companies before joining SuretyBonds. com. She previously worked in higher education, most recently as Columbia College’s associate registrar.

W A L LY P F E F F E R

The Mizzou Alumni Association announced that Wally Pfeffer has been named the 2020 Alumni Legacy Award winner after nearly four decades of service to MU. Wally has been a member of the MAA’s Boone County chapter for 37 years, where he has served as co-chair, treasurer, and membership chair. He has also served as president twice, from 2004 to 2006 and from 2018 to 2019, in addition to serving on a multitude of other volunteer boards on

campus. These awards are given alumni who exemplify leadership and service to MU through their volunteer work with the MAA; the Alumni Legacy Award in particular honors a lifetime of exemplary service.

WA N E R

MICHAEL CARRAHER

Michael Carraher joined ThermAvant Technologies as the IT manager and LabVIEW specialist. Aside from his IT duties, Michael’s role at ThermAvant is to manage and govern the company’s NIST 800-171 protocols and maintain the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification security standards. Michael brings over 14 years of computer, technological, electrical, and research experience, including dual degrees in both computer and electrical engineering from MU. In his previous roles, Michael worked as the senior research specialist and technician for the University of Missouri Department of Bioengineering and Civil Engineering, where he supervised the operations, upgrades, repairs, maintenance, and training for several material testing labs. In that role, he also assisted faculty with experimental designs and implementation. Michael is CompTIA A+ certified, Network+ certified, and a LabVIEW developer certified.

SPISSO

RODRIGUEZ

PFEFFER

CARRAHER

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Early Voting in Missouri Despite misinformation across the nation, a review shows early voting in Missouri proved to be successful.

ot e

BY KRCG 13’S KERMIT MILLER

ven though virtually everyone knew it was coming, the controversy surrounding the extended counting of ballots in the 2020 presidential election was unabated. It remains to be seen what evidence, if any, the attorneys for the Donald Trump campaign can produce to undercut the state laws that allow the counting of ballots received after election day, including the protracted effort in states such as Arizona and Pennsylvania to count the crush of mailed ballots submitted over the weeks before election day. Between the higher-than-usual volume of mailed ballots and disputes over the proximity granted to campaign representatives to observe the ballot counting process, skeptics have convinced themselves, without verified evidence, that illegitimate ballots were being “found” and added to influence the outcome of the presidential election. The process in Missouri has differed in one significant way. State law here allows county clerks and other election officials to begin processing mailed ballot documentation five days ahead of the election. And it allows them to begin counting those ballots while the polls are open on election day. As a result, the ballots cast before election day can be added to the election day total the moment the polls close, greatly reducing the time it takes to get out total tally results. A last-minute “pandemic voting” law expanded early voting options in Missouri to a point where 827,978 voters chose to take advantage. That’s nearly a third of the 2.99 million people total who voted in the November 2020 election and a 287.5% increase over the number of pre-election day votes cast in 2016.

While critics of the 2020-only early voting law challenged certain aspects of it in court before the election (notable among the issues was the notarization requirement for mailin ballots in most cases), thus far, no one has challenged the outcomes of the election based on that law. So, it begs the question: Even when COVID-19 is behind us, why not allow this option at every election? “I do think there will be a great debate in the legislature going forward,” Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, told me during an on-camera interview on election day. Ashcroft did not favor Missouri’s expanded absentee voting law as it was drafted, but he recognized the process had worked to produce a fair election. “I think anyone has to look into this election, dig into the data, and say, ‘Would it be good to continue some of this?’” Missouri Republicans have, for decades, balked at early voting as a general practice, citing both a potential for voter fraud and the burden on both taxpayers and election author-

ities. And had the pandemic not forced this issue, they likely would not have gone down that road this year. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Missouri is one of just six states that, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, had not offered a pre-election day voting option beyond the standard absentee ballot. The early voting protocol adopted by state lawmakers here applied only to the 2020 elections. NCSL says 25 states now provide weekend voting options, and nine more give local county clerks the option to implement such a system in their counties. Early voting advocates, such as the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, cited not only the convenience to voters, but shorter lines and improved poll worker performance on election day, plus the ability to identify and correct registration errors and voting system glitches early. In addition to potential fraud, early voting critics, such as the Heritage Foundation, point to increased costs, decreased voter participation, and the

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“I want to do everything that makes the process smooth, makes it efficient, and makes it to where the people of Missouri can trust the process.” – CA L E B R OWDE N

fact that voters cannot change their votes in response to late-breaking information about candidates or issues. Nevertheless, Missouri’s overall positive experience with early voting this year could have traditional critics re-thinking their opposition. And while mailed ballots might remain suspect in the eyes of some, skeptics now could be hard-pressed to find fault with proposals for secure, in-person voting options during regular business hours at county clerks’ offices. “I would be good with that,” Republican State Representative Dave Griffith, of Jefferson City, told me after the November vote. “If we can do it like we did this election, I think that would be adequate,” added Jefferson City’s Mike Bernskoetter, a Republican member of the state senate. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Republican from Columbia, was a bit more measured. “I want to do everything that makes the process smooth, makes it efficient, and makes it to where the people of Missouri can trust the process,” Rowden observed. Still, he said it was something lawmakers should revisit. The level of early voting this year allowed election officials to produce a running count sufficient to allow Governor Mike Parson to step before the television cameras at the top of the 10 p.m. newscasts and claim his election victory. That’s something that rarely happens before midnight in Presidential election years. During a capitol news conference two days after the election, I asked Parson if he now was prepared to support legislation that would provide for “no excuses” early voting and absentee voting, which would not require voters to sign a statement claiming one of several accepted reasons for not being able to wait until election day, as they must do under the current absentee voting law. “If that’s a good way to go, I don’t have any objections to it,” Parson responded with the caveat that he had not yet reviewed what happened with early voting across Missouri, nor spoken with Ashcroft about the experience, nor seen any legislative language on the subject. “But I know this,” Parson said in conclusion, “our election went off really well here in the state of Missouri.”

Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com

DECEMBER 2020

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P R E - SAV E C H E C K O U T M Y L AT E S T S I N G L E

N OW!

A N D M U S I C V I D E O “ S H O E S T O F I L L ” – O U T N O W O N A L L S T R E A M I N G P L AT F O R M S COMOMAG.COM

A Loud and Lively Legacy Looking back on The Blue Note’s four decades of concerts and community. BY LIZ GOODWIN

owntown Columbia is full of icons. You can find plenty of the city’s staples there, from restaurants to art galleries and more. The Blue Note — one of Columbia’s most iconic music venues — also calls downtown its home, and it just turned 40. The Blue Note family is feeling grateful and honored to carry on the legacy and is determined to bring the city of Columbia plenty of great concerts for years to come.

THE BLUE NOTE’S BEGINNINGS In 1980, Richard King and Phil Costello purchased a music venue on the north side of

DECEMBER 2020

Columbia, away from the foot traffic of the university and downtown. As a new decade came along, Richard, who was the sole owner at that time, decided to move The Blue Note to the building Columbians know and love today. In 1999, Richard also purchased Mojo’s, a smaller venue just down the way, which people now know as Rose Music Hall. In the ensuring decades, the sister venues have hosted some big names — The Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Arcade Fire, and The Black Keys are just a few of the big-name bands who have made their way to Mid-Missouri through these concert halls. Richard sold The Blue Note and Rose to its current owners, Matt Gerding and Scott Leslie, in 2014. Matt and Scott own other venues, including the Majestic Theater in Madison, Wisconsin, but Matt says The Blue Note will always have a special place in his heart.

KEEPING THE LEGACY ALIVE Matt, 42, is a Columbia native. He fell in love with music during his punk-rock high school days and has been passionate about the culture and experience of live shows ever since. His interest in a music career was solidified while attending shows at The Blue Note in college, which he said makes his current ownership all the more special. “I just decided at some point during college that I wanted to do something in the music

business,” Matt says. “I graduated from Mizzou in 2002 and then moved to LA. I worked out there for about four years, and then decided that I wanted to move back to the Midwest and open a live music venue.” Matt has seen many memorable shows at The Blue Note both before and after he took ownership. His favorites include Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg, and My Morning Jacket. But he said that one show that sticks out to him most was the Local Natives — for both the music and the memories. “The Local Natives are actually managed by Phil, one of the founders, and Richard came in for the show as well,” Matt says. “So it was me, Scott, Phil, and Richard for this sold-out show, the founders and the caretakers. And it was just a really special moment, a rare moment in time.” Mike Nolan, 31, is the general manager of The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall. He started as an intern at The Blue Note in his early 20s and feels lucky to have grown up in such a great organization — and to have seen many performances. “Being at the forefront of the live music scene in our town has meant a lot to me,” Mike says. “All the relationships that I’ve forged with staff, bands, and tour managers — it has been an awesome experience from the start . . . I remember seeing Gary Clark Jr. for the fi rst time at The Blue Note, and I just

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1980 Richard King and Phil Costello purchase The Blue Note’s original space on the north side of Columbia.

had a realization that [music] was something I wanted to pursue full time as a career.” Many shows at The Blue Note have had to be canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting Columbia ordinances. Matt says, although it’s been crippling for the music industry, it has made him appreciate what they have and how the community has been supporting them. “When you’re in the throes of a really busy season, you take some of the normal stuff for granted sometimes,” Matt says. “But when something is gone, people remember how great it was and appreciate it, and that certainly goes for me. And it goes for all the concert-loving people in Columbia.”

1990

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

Richard King

With 2020 marking 40 years of The Blue Note, Matt and his staff had big plans for an anniversary celebration. But due to COVID-19, their plans had to be canceled. He hopes that they will eventually be able to celebrate such a milestone. “We’re hopeful we can still celebrate at some point when things get back to normal,” Matt says. As for the immediate future, they have something exciting coming up in November called “The Revival Concert Series.” They’ll be opening their doors at a limited capacity of about 150 people for cabaret-style concerts of reserved tables and chairs. The Blue Note staff has coordinated closely with the Columbia and Boone County health department to make sure that they can bring live music back in a safe manner. “It will allow us to put staff to work and keep music alive on some level in the city, which means a lot to us,” Matt says. “There’s nothing that I love more than bringing people together from different ages, backgrounds, and musical tastes into a single space to celebrate live music together.” Looking back on four decades of The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall, Matt feels lucky to have such a great community of music lovers supporting them. He says he feels grateful to be entrusted with such a special part of Columbia’s culture. “To be in charge of such a staple in Columbia — it’s just an honor,” Matt says. “It’s a legacy we feel that we need to keep alive and roll forward.” Mike is thrilled that he has been able to keep things up and running throughout the years and looks forward to things to come. “We’re happy that we’re able to carry it on,” Mike says. “I’m glad [Richard] passed it to Matt and Scott, and I’m glad to get to run things. It’s a gem in Columbia that people can come into such an old space and see all kinds of music.” Richard King thinks Matt and Scott are doing a wonderful job. “They’ve taken all of the things that I had been developing and only made them better,” Richard says. “I feel very lucky to have owned the Blue Note for 30 something years, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And they’ve done an unbelievable job.”

moves The Blue Note to the historic Vaudeville theater location downtown.

1999 Richard King purchases Mojo’s, a smaller venue also downtown.

2014 Matt Gerding and Scott Leslie purchase The Blue Note and Mojo’s.

2014 Matt and Scott rename Mojo’s to Rose Music Hall after Forrest Rose, who was a columnist for the Columbia Daily Tribune.

CELEBRATIONS

THE BLUE NOTE 17 N. NINTH ST. 573-874-1944 THEBLUENOTE.COM

Photos, top to bottom: Richard King and Chris Nadler tending bar; Kevin Walsh and Richard King; Walsh leaning over the bar with King in the background; Phil Costello and King taking out trash.

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A Community of Eclectic Talents The North Village Arts District supports a community of artists, musicians, and other businesses in downtown Columbia.

North Village Arts District

BY MICHELLE TERHUNE | PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTH VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT

hink “North Village Arts District” and visions of galleries, artists, and musicians come to mind. But this community, bounded by Rogers Street, the Walnut Street alley, College Avenue, and Eighth Street, is so much more. “It’s such an interesting and eclectic place,” says Tootie Burns, artist and president of the North Village Arts District Board of Directors. “There are law offices, an aquarium shop, yoga studios, the music component — it’s a great area.” Founded in 2009, the NVAD set out to create a space where everyone could access cultural activities. Members benefit from the promotion of the area and traffic created by NVAD events. It’s truly all about location.

DO YOUR OWN THING Founded in 2015, First Fridays routinely brings hundreds of people into the NVAD on the first Friday of every month. “There were art happenings at the community level two or four times a year,” says Tootie. “We decided that we were secure enough and would have enough participation that we could put on a monthly event. Ultimately, it came from recognizing the support of arts in the community,” she says. If you head to the NVAD on a First Friday evening, you’ll hear live music, wander through art galleries and studios, enjoy drinks and dinner, and absorb the

Mission Statement:

To enrich the quality of life in the Columbia, Missouri, area by providing an inspirational civic gathering place where regional, national, and international cultural activities illuminate, educate, and entertain. The NVAD will celebrate the diversity of Columbia by offering an array of affordable cultural opportunities designed to appeal to and be accessible to all.

Founded:

NVAD was founded in 2009 and obtained nonprofit status in 2014.

Board Members: • Tootie Burns, president • Dave Elman, treasurer • Lisa Bartlett • Nickie Davis • Luana Fields • Kenny Greene • John Ott • David Parmley • Marissa Whitley Tago

DECEMBER 2020

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vibrant atmosphere of this creative area. Although it’s a district-wide event, the members who participate all do their own thing. And when you’re working with a community of creative people, that freedom is what makes the event so engaging. The pandemic has put a damper on First Fridays, which Tootie says “were going gangbusters” until the COVID-19 outbreak. But she’s hopeful they will return when it’s safe for crowds to gather again. Until then, NVAD has to get, well, creative. “We hosted a drive-by music festival for the June First Friday and had limited success,” Tootie says, “and a treasure hunt in October where we scattered small, handmade works of art for kids to find a treasure or two and take home an original piece of art with them.” “We’re still trying to find ways to get people to the area, promote our businesses, and interact with the community,” Tootie says.

IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY Shannon Webster lives in an apartment in NVAD with his wife and operates a studio and gallery space in the Wabash alley. A former member of the NVAD Board, Shannon moved here two years ago. As an artist, he knew this was the place to be. “Part of moving downtown was being part of a community of like-minded peers I can talk to about art,” Shannon says. “I now have close friends here who are other artists.” Shannon first planned to rent space in Orr Street Studios, but it was full. Instead, he found a standalone space next door to Kenny Green and Monarch Jewelry. (Affectionately referred to as “Mayor of the North Village Arts District,” Kenny has been creating handmade jewelry there for 36 years.) The pandemic has wreaked havoc on businesses in NVAD just like everywhere else. But as a community, they’ve tried to pull together, check on each other, and help others when they can. Shannon, who’s a painter as well as a graphic designer and commercial website builder, has created signage for new stores in the NVAD to help make them more discoverable. “In this community, we’re trying to help each other out,” Shannon says.

ART IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS Tootie says she knows artists, in particular, are struggling. Some are creating a prolific amount of art right now, and others are finding new things to do.

“Several of the artists here are retired and are more focused on making art versus being concerned with selling it,” Shannon says. “Other artists have rents to pay and rely on selling their art to pay them. People are adapting in different ways.” Many have ramped up their online presence since the pandemic began. Sager Braudis Gallery, for example, put its entire collection online, as well as the monthly exhibits it used to unveil on First Fridays. Rose Music Hall hosts outdoor concerts. And then there’s Mayor Kenny, who’s busy despite Monarch Jewelry’s absence from the internet and social media. Shannon says people continue to buy art from studios, galleries, and collectives like Artlandish, Artworx, and Orr Street Studios. He says customers want to help in whatever way they can — the larger village helping the smaller one. People are still coming into businesses in the NVAD. Masks are worn. Tables are spread out. Appointments are required at some to control crowds. And when the world is free to move about again, there will be plenty to experience in this little village.

CULTIVATING DIVERSE TALENT In the wake of George Floyd’s killing, someone spray painted Black Lives Matter graffiti on the side of Orr Street Studios. As Mallory Donohue, Orr Street Studios director, was trying to figure out what to do with it, another person altered the graffiti to say “All Lives Matter,” a phrase that has come to be seen as a critical retort to the BLM movement for social justice. Mallory says they decided to restore the original graffiti until Orr Street could figure out what to do with it. The BLM movement and ongoing racial justice protests made Orr Street Studios look at what they were doing to promote racial diversity. The answer was “nothing.” So, the studio launched its Black artist in residence pro-

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

gram, offering rent-free studio space and other resources to three young Black artists who otherwise would be unable to afford access. In less than three months, a volunteer committee had requested, received, and reviewed 15 applications and opened three of its amazing works-of-art doors to the inaugural class of Black artists in residence. Askia Bilal is a landscape and abstract artist who creates plein air and studio paintings using acrylic and dry media. Jaye is a digital artist who uses video, computers, animation, photography, and graphic art to create video installations. And Candice Malveaux is a painter who uses acrylics on stretched canvas to depict her faith in God, life journeys, and self-discovery.

NORTH VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT 1019 E. WALNUT ST. NORTHVILLAGEARTSDISTRICT.ORG

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What is REDI?

Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI) is a nonprofit, public/private par tnership created to enhance the vitality of business and increase the number of quality, sustainable jobs in Columbia and Boone County.

Attract

Expand

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New Businesses

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Entrepreneurship

For more information, visit our website or give us a call!

(573) 442-8303 â&#x20AC;˘ REDI@CoMo.gov â&#x20AC;˘ columbiaredi.com 86

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BUSINESS UPDATE

Photo by Keith Borgmeyer

When Cooking Becomes The Calling Chris McD’s maneuvers growth, business during COVID, and an imminent reopening. BY PRINCE CHINGARANDE

olumbia has multiple must-go-to restaurants, and Chris McD’s is, without a doubt, at the top of this list. One cannot make mention of mouth-watering food, tasty wine, and great service without calling to mind this restaurant, tucked away in the corner of a strip mall on Forum Boulevard.

Since 1991, this restaurant has not only cemented its position in Columbia as a provider of some of the best gourmet experiences one can have in this town, but it has also set the example for how to establish a business that continuously grows and maintains longevity.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED The story of how Chris McDonnell, the restaurant’s owner, got into the culinary world is one he has not tired of telling. “I went from property to property, hotel to hotel. I worked for amazing chefs and went to culinary school before I got out into the

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workforce, which was a very big start for me. So, the day I decided I wanted to be a chef, I had a very good plan: Every three to four years, I would go work at a property for a chef, get what I could out of them, and then move on to work for somebody else,” Chris remembers. During this period, Chris zoned in on learning as much as he could about the culinary arts and perfecting his execution to the point that opening his own restaurant was not at the forefront of his mind. It wasn’t until he got a call while working in Hawaii from his current business partners that he opened himself up to opening what has become the well-celebrated Chris McD’s. “There was never an idea to own my own restaurant; I always wanted to be an executive chef of a large resort property. However, I got a phone call from my business partners. They’ve been with me since 1991. They asked if I’d be interested in moving back to Columbia, putting my name on a building, and opening a restaurant. It really wasn’t my desire, but I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to learn more of the front,” says Chris. Chris rose to the challenge and opened his restaurant, which has stood firm ever since. It even withstood a fire in 1994 that forced him to rebuild and reopen his restaurant. In addition, running the restaurant exposed Chris to marketing and accounting, both important facets of entrepreneurship that he polished the longer he ran the business.

WITHSTANDING THE PRESSURES OF COVID When COVID-19 broke out, many challenges presented themselves to businesses around the country. For small businesses, the pandemic proved to be an enormous beast to tame as generating revenue became almost impossible. For Chris McD’s, this was not the case. Although Chris had to close the restaurant for all of March and April (and also the end of 2020 for personal reasons), the restaurant’s reopening in May proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with. “With great support from our existing clientele, our great followers, carry-out and curbside service increased by 60%. We really got our value back again. Even

DECEMBER 2020

with the limited seating, we got to about 70% capacity.” Chris and his staff also added 20 outside seats that made up for their closed bar. They converted their banquet room into a dining room and added 20 more seats to it. In summary, they maintained 60 seats indoors and 20 seats outdoors, which got them to 80 seats total out of a possible 150 — a number they were satisfied with. “I’m very pleased and happy with my staff and the way they took on the new challenges that we faced,” says Chris. During the two months that the restaurant was closed, Chris used the closure as an opportunity to make necessary refreshes for both his staff and customers. “When we were closed for the two months, we took that time to fix things that needed fixing. We remodeled bathrooms and even added new equipment to the kitchen,” says Chris. “This was crucial — so much that when the staff came back, they saw the effort that we put in and were very happy with it. Especially the kitchen guys!” Reflecting on those two months and how this made his staff’s lives easier, Chris mentions: “It worked and turned out to be a good idea that we spent money instead of trying to save money during the time that we were shut down. We put money into the

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BUSINESS UPDATE

restaurant — to make it a better place to work and a cleaner and safer place for our customers.”

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE? As Chris looks forward to their reopening, he still abides by the three principles that have guided him throughout his tenure running the restaurant: food quality, great service, and consistency. “Without a doubt, we understand the importance of service. We can put out great food, but if we do not have great service, it doesn’t matter. There’s a lot of good meals out there. But if you don’t treat your customers wonderfully, that is going to be at the top of their mind the next time they decide to dine at your establishment,” says Chris. Regarding the future of Chris McD’s, Chris mentions, “As long as I’m healthy, have the passion to be in the back, create and cook, I will be here running business as usual and growing the business.” Chris is also gearing towards finishing out 2020 strong, leaving the year behind, and taking with him the lessons he has learned. “I want to get this restaurant back to where people are happy to be inside. Happy they don’t have to wear face masks and social distance. To where there’s interaction inside, and people can go from table to table because they know someone. To where people enjoy themselves and not have to sit back and be concerned indoors,” says Chris.

“AS LONG AS I’M HEALTHY, HAVE THE PASSION TO BE IN THE BACK, CREATE, AND COOK, I WILL BE HERE RUNNING BUSINESS AS USUAL AND GROWING THE BUSINESS.”

WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO Food is at the center of what Chris does. “Food is everything to me. I’ve worked so hard. I took culinary school and my career seriously. I’ve had some amazing positions in my past. I worked with some of the best chefs in this country, and I was fortunate enough to travel the world — I lived and trained in Switzerland. And so, [food] is what I know, and I love it.” Chris McD’s is not only a manifested goal, but it has also become an avenue for Chris to share his love for food with others. As he embarks on reopening in December, his story and that of his restaurant are both a testament to a fulfilled calling.

CHRIS McD'S 1400 FORUM BLVD 573-446-6237 CHRISMCDS.COM

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Enjoy a beautiful view from the comfort of your own igloo! COME ENJOY THIS UNIQUE WINTER EXPERIENCE ... Bring the family and a blanket! Our heated igloos keep you and your guests (up to 8!) warm, and have an unobstructed view of our beautiful Columbia skyline. The igloos can be reserved online at our website and reservations are encouraged. Due to COVID-19, igloos can only be occupied by one party at a time (up to 8) and reservation times of 90 mins will be strictly enforced to allow for proper disinfecting.

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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

Martin Kamau Music Director, True/ False Film Fest and Ragtag Film Society PHOTO BY KEITH BORGMEYER HOMETOWN

San Francisco, California. YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA

16. JOB DESCRIPTION

I’m a music curator, booker, and organizer for the True/False Film Fest. Overall, there are over 200 individual musical performances throughout the festival, and we’ve expanded the program to include off-season shows that promote current, former, and future festival musicians throughout the year. True/False is ostensibly a film festival, but music has played an integral role since its inception with concerts and parties throughout the four-day weekend, a parade that takes over downtown Columbia, events with musicians around every corner, and, perhaps most uniquely, the live concerts that precede each film screening (of which there’s usually around 140). PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

I came to Columbia to study at MU and then stuck around afterward working as a barista and bartender with the intention of reading a lot of books and writing a lot of words in my free time and eventually writing the next Great American Novel. That novel thing obviously didn’t work out, but luckily people liked the music that I played at the places of my employment, and I started booking shows. This upcoming year will be my fifth at True/False and fourth as music director, and I had been booking shows at Cafe Berlin prior to the pandemic.

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QUOTE YOU LIVE BY

I wish I had one. If I could live my life by one quote, I’d be set. I think “The Golden Rule” is a most profound collection of words, but I definitely struggle to live by it. FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/ COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

I have a late-night radio show on KOPN, and I’ve been guest-hosting a couple of others. I’ve always been a big radio enthusiast, so it’s been a privilege and a joy getting into the studio and further subjecting people to the music I like, mostly in the low-stakes theatre of midnight community radio. FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT

With the pandemic and its effects, this year’s festival is going to be a completely different entity than it has been in the past, with a shift from March to May and from downtown to Stephens Lake Park. Music should play an even more expanded role with concerts and buskers throughout the park and throughout the day until it’s dark enough to screen films. I’m excited for the challenge and its opportunities. A COLUMBIA BUSINESS PERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

I’ve always admired Richard King and how he was able to transform the town through his many ventures in music, and I’ve always been equally impressed by his humility and genuine connection to the community. WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB

I get to reach out to some of my favorite artists and convince them to come out to my town and hang out for a while, which is really cool. Also, I think that I’ve always been drawn to being a host in the sense that I like controlling the space around me and making sure that everyone is having the best possible time. WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION

True/False has long been my favorite thing that happens in Columbia. I was a longtime pass-holder before I started working for the organization, so it’s been an honor to have an impact in a meaningful way for something that’s so meaningful to me. WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION

There’s lots of emails.

DECEMBER 2020

“I hope what I do makes people happy, or at least makes them think.” IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD

I used to want to be a doctor, but I didn’t have the patience. THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY

We’re currently unable to hold live music events indoors — at least in any substantive way — so that’s quite the hurdle. I do think that a lot of interesting art will come out of this peculiar joint trauma we’ve been all experiencing, though, and I think that when things can go back to normal, it will come back with a force and come back to a hungry and appreciative audience. YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL

I’d eventually like to have my own venue somewhere down the line, and perhaps even my own festival.

makes honesty not only the best policy, but also a good investment. HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY

I hope what I do makes people happy, or at least makes them think. GREATEST STRENGTH

I think I have good instincts. For this job, that means having good taste and understanding what the audience will appreciate, but also knowing when to defer to the people around me. GREATEST WEAKNESS

I’m pretty hard on myself, which perhaps is a different way of saying, “I’m a perfectionist” — that clichéd answer to this classic question — but I’d definitely be more efficient if I gave myself a break. WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN

I listen to a lot of music and watch a lot of things on screens, as my occupation would suggest. I also enjoy reading and writing, and I’m pretty obsessed with sports. FAMILY

I’m the oldest of five with four younger sisters. My wonderful sister Malaika moved to Columbia about eight years ago. FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA

Hittsville (Uprise Bakery, Hitt Records, Ragtag Cinema) and Coffee Zone. ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF

Festivals aren’t tangible things that have a permanent place in our lives. They exist because a group of people want it to exist, so they work hard and put it into existence for a fleeting moment in time. I have high standards, and I’m proud that my team doesn’t make concessions. We take a modest budget and book the best possible music we can find and throw the best concerts and the best parties, and we manufacture a special experience that didn’t exist before we decided to make it so.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN BUSINESS

Go for what you want and tell the truth. Even if you don’t immediately get what you want as a result of your honesty, sincerity is both hard to replicate and hard to forget, so there’s a good chance it will eventually pay off. That

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU

I’m an extremely private and guarded person, and I’ve never participated in any social media, so I’m sure everything I’ve said thus far is a revelation to most.

Your FOREVER Agent

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julia@bhhsvision.com

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vision Real Estate 22 N. 8th Street Columbia, Missouri 65201 Office: 573-449-6200 | Cell: 573-808-3460 COMOMAG.COM

DECEMBER 2020

LIVE! FROM THE LOCKDOWN

COLUMBIA MUSICIANS FORGE AHEAD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. BY JO N HA DU S EK | PH OTOS OF SYM ON N E BY A N TH ON Y J IN SON COMOMAG.COM

olumbia singer Symonne Sparks remembers her last concert she performed in before the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down most live music around the world. As the vocalist for jazz ensemble Loose Loose, Symonne headlined a music showcase for the True/False Film Festival on March 7 at Cafe Berlin. The festival occurred on the cusp of the COVID outbreak in Missouri, and an air of tension permeated the weekend as organizers, attendees, and participants moved ahead with cautious apprehension. For Symonne, this meant a more restrained performance and interaction with both fans and bandmates, behavior that’s now commonly known as “social distancing.” “I remember saying, ‘Let’s just be cautious — let’s not hug and embrace like we’re used to,’” Symonne says of the sold-out True/False showcase. “Just to be able to come into a space and enjoy each other — it’s a gem to say that was the last one.” Little did she know that the Cafe Berlin show would be the only chance she’d have to perform for months. Locally mandated lockdowns and safety measures closed most bars and small venues like Cafe Berlin, and many operations remain shuttered — or at least unfeasible — during the ongoing pandemic. Without venues, artists had nowhere to perform during lockdown, which wiped out the prospect of touring and the income that comes with it. The Great Touring Blackout of 2020 has rocked the music industry to its core,

from the major label world down to tight-knit local music communities like Columbia’s. “We’re trying to do our best,” Symonne says. “A lot of people have been working [on music] out of their homes with studio setups. It’s been difficult, but we’re trying for the sake of music.” Artists, venue owners, and record labels have had to improvise new ways to interact with fans, promote content, and generate revenue as live music gradually returns. Rose Music Hall, with its large outdoor park, has become a haven for groups like The Burney Sisters, especially as colder months loom. Symonne and others have embraced socially distanced live performances and online streaming content. Still, the fact remains that a massive cavity exists in the Columbia music community without abundant live shows, forcing artists to adapt both their lifestyle and mentality toward making music.

LIVE FROM LOCKDOWN When lockdown took effect in Columbia, local musicians, like many, were forced to ask themselves: “What do I do now?” As some of the most active performers around town, local duo The Burney Sisters faced this dilemma head-on by deciding to get to work. Olivia and Emma Burney say they’ve actually seen a surge in new fans during the pandemic thanks to a multifaceted approach to fan interaction. The sisters constantly post on social media and engage their audience with digital content. They also live streamed shows from their basement every Saturday during quarantine.

“We got some good donations, and there were a lot of people showing up,” Emma says. “We had it set up so that people could get on a Zoom chat and cheer us on, and we could see them.” Other Columbia artists like Rae Fitzgerald find performing to a camera somewhat impersonal. Though she hasn’t recorded a livestream, Rae did put together a series of video clips to promote her new EP, “Lonely Listener,” released on August 28. Without the concerts or tours to promote new releases, many artists opted to delay or cancel impending album drops. However, Rae felt the need to move forward with the project. “I had to keep on a steady roll, but it certainly wasn’t ideal because live performances are a good way to get new followers and sell more records and get new people excited,” Rae says. “It’s hard to promote yourself when you’re just doing it on the internet and not playing live. For me, ideally, the internet complements the live stuff, and now it’s in reverse.” Symonne also hasn’t quite settled into the nature of virtual performances, mainly because her talents are amplified and augmented by the presence of a physical audience. This effect can’t be replicated over Zoom or TikTok. Instead, Symonne has had to change her performance mindset. “I vibe off of energy,” Symonne says. “I read the energy that’s in the room. I see people’s smiles — to see what they’re feeling. It makes me feel better when I’m on stage. Singing out to an audience of none is difficult because I have to look out into the sky, into an empty room, straight into the camera, just hoping and trying to understand what’s behind it.”

Left: Rae Fitzgerald. Above: The Burney Sisters Opposite page: Symonne Sparks of Loose Loose

DECEMBER 2020

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THE SLOW RETURN In the months following lockdown, warm weather allowed some venues to host socially distanced outdoor concerts. Rose Music Hall’s Forrest Rose Park became a nightly sanctuary for roots and folk artists like The Burney Sisters, who began to regularly perform there this summer. The venue enacted mask requirements and social distance measures, with concertgoers encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. “They’re doing it the best that you can,” Olivia says of Rose’s safety protocols. “It’s great being able to listen to yourself through [stage] monitors and actually play a real show with a real audience.” But what happens when it’s cold outside? The Burney Sisters suggest that indoor concerts could become more commonplace with proper mask wearing, social distancing, and capacity limits — similar to the rules The Blue Note has put in place. The sisters also played an indoor “listening room” show at Old Rock House in St. Louis in October. Even though, with audience members seated six feet apart, it wasn’t the cramped, sweaty rock ’n’ roll experience of yore, Olivia says it went smoothly and could be a template for other venues moving forward. “That’s one of the only shows we played indoors, and that’s the safest we’ve seen for sure,” Olivia says. “They sanitized everything and have it all distanced. I think if venues are willing to put in the effort and the people are willing to obey the guidelines, then it could work.” Meanwhile, Symonne and Loose Loose made their first live pandemic appearance at Ragtag Cinema’s 20th-anniversary drive-in event in August. The band performed to an audience who sat inside or next to their vehicles in a socially distanced environment. Symonne applauded the event organizers for the safety measures. “I definitely felt safe, and the way that Ragtag had this setup was a phenomenally thought-out process on how to make people feel safe and special at the same time,” Symonne says.

KEEP THE SCENE ALIVE The biggest challenge for the local music community is inherent in the name: A “community” implies multiple people interacting and sharing ideas. But in an era of social distancing, the pillars for this communi-

DECEMBER 2020

ty — the bar, the venue, school, etc. — have been upheaved or drastically altered for safety. For Symonne, that’s the iciest reality of the situation. She joined Loose Loose in 2017 and became entrenched in Columbia’s vibrant music culture, from performing at the burgeoning Columbia Experimental Music Festival to headlining showcases at True/False. To see that go away would be devastating, she says. “You want to make sure that everybody is safe and comfortable — that we don’t ignore the active pandemic that’s

“It’s hard to promote yourself when you’re just doing it on the internet and not playing live.” —Rae Fitzgerald

happening right now,” Symonne says. “To respect that and move accordingly as an artist is part of our responsibility to humanity that we have, for the people that we want to interact with. “But on the other side, as an artist and performer, I don’t blame anyone for wanting to say, ‘I still need to go out and do this’ and try to find the safest way possible for these moments to still happen. Especially in places like Columbia where [we have] that community of local artists and the audience that comes to see them — you don’t want that to die,” she adds. For the musicians themselves, a theme of persistence runs through their words and actions, even if they’ve each had to act independently. Loose Loose returned for the Ragtag benefit; The Burney Sisters provide an optimistic example of live music moving forward; and Rae Fitzgerald bravely released new music during the pandemic. Most importantly, they’ve all turned toward their art in a time when they needed it most. Soon enough, they can hopefully share it safely with audiences once again, in all of Columbia’s many venues.

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The

COVID and COLLEGE-TOWN

CLASH How the pandemic is affecting college-town culture.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR. | PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

ary Ward has a keen understanding of COVID-19 fatigue. He also has a treatment — at least temporarily — for the ubiquitous anxiety over social distancing, uncertainty, and daily case number reports that expand the pandemic’s physical and psychological footprint throughout Columbia. Gary, the vice chancellor for operations and chief operating officer for MU, was quarantined at home with his wife the morning after Election Day. “She asked me where I keep the shovel,” Gary says with a wide grin via Zoom, proving that a self-deprecating laugh is good medicine right now. Three months ago, though, Gary was at the center of Columbia’s pandemic picture when returning college students incubated a surge of local COVID-19 cases that spurred new occupancy and operating hours restrictions for local bars and restaurants. The surge also led to a rapid response from university leaders.

STEMMING THE SURGE Case numbers “went up like a rocket and fell like a rock,” Gary says, pointing to the university’s measures that clamped down on social gatherings and ratcheted up social distancing rules. “When we saw the spike in September, there was an, ‘Oh, no,’ from all of us. We addressed that quickly,” he adds. Combined with new health department restrictions on hours of operation and occupancy, the university’s changes — including tactics like rearranging the seating in campus dining facilities — helped bring the COVID-19 case numbers back down. “Socialization is a big part of life, especially for our students,” Gary says. One change, for example, was to limit each table in the dining halls to one person. This shift was not popular among the young adults who live on campus, just as the COVID-19 surge wasn’t popular with the wider Columbia community. The sudden uptick in cases was one of the first times that Matt Pitzer, city councilman for the Fifth Ward, “felt a little bit of tension” between the community and the university. He says the misgivings were from community members, not necessarily businesses, “who were just starting to feel better about getting out and about.” But the tension didn’t last. “I was impressed with how [the university] quickly responded with new protocols,” Matt

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says. “All the cases in the community declined. I think we were all feeling a lot better about the place we were [heading].”

LIGHTS OUT AT 10:30 Maintaining and nurturing the community’s symbiotic relationship with its college students is daunting with social distancing rules in place. No tailgating for Saturday football games, seating limits at Memorial Stadium, and a closing time of 10:30 p.m. for bars — all these measures change the fundamental experience of Columbia for many. But Columbia’s college-town culture extends far beyond game days, higher education, and popular gathering places. Columbia

Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick notes that students are also an integral part of the community’s workforce and economic activity. “Columbia isn’t Columbia without that student population,” he says. “We’re such a college-driven community.” He adds that he doesn’t detect any lingering animosity toward the college-age crowd for the September surge in COVID cases. Instead, businesses are busy evolving and adapting, “problem-solving the same issue over and over again — sometimes multiple times a day,” he says. “It has been amazing to see how our businesses have been resilient through this.” For instance: DogMaster Distillery shifted

from making alcohol to producing hand sanitizer practically overnight. Thousands of employees for companies all over the city suddenly became remote workers. Restaurants developed pick-up and curbside services that will certainly still be part of the economic ecosystem when COVID-19 finally subsides. “We keep pivoting to new things,” says Molly Wagner, owner of Billiards on Broadway. “We learned to do curbside fast.” Savvy marketing, and the loyalty and expertise of restaurant manager Tom Weyerick, have helped. The restaurant and its bar rely more on college sports than on college students for its customer base, Molly says. That puts Billiards in the group of businesses feeling the pinch of local health orders that restrict occupancy and hours of operation. Rather welcoming in post-football game patrons at 10:30 p.m., these businesses must be closed. Molly, who was honored with the Restaurateur of the Year award by the Mid-Missouri chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association, says she’s not so sure there’s still tension between the community and the seasonal, college-age crowd.

“There are some efficiencies that have been gained through this whole thing. We had no playbook for this. No one did. We have one now.” — Gary Ward, vice chancellor for operations and chief operating ofﬁcer at MU.

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“It’s not just the college kids,” she says. “Yes, they got the rap for being super-spreaders early on, but the virus doesn’t discriminate.”

says. “But 99% of our customers are gracious enough to know we’re learning on the fly.”

CALLING AN AUDIBLE

The notion of grace resonated with Matt McCormick, as did the idea that businesses and residents are all dealing with a situation that few, if any, could have anticipated. “We’re building the airplane as we’re flying it. We’re all on the same plane,” he says. “I believe grace could go a long way because each person is coming at this from a different angle.” The proximity of Stephens College, Columbia College, and MU in the community’s footprint, as well as the growing Moberly Area Community College presence on The Loop, is unmistakable evidence of higher education and students fueling and anchoring the local economy. Matt Pitzer says the college-town culture and higher education presence in Columbia, alongside health care, financial services, and insurance businesses, is the main reason Columbia has thrived and overcome other troubling times through the decades. That economic engine was humming just nine months ago. “People are just completely retooling their entire business model in the blink of an eye. They’re doing that because they need to survive,” he adds. “Government is trying to do the same thing. Nobody ever thought, in the spring, we’d be talking about shutdowns and mask ordinances.”

Half of the 60 employees at D. Rowe’s Restaurant and Bar are college students. “The college kids that work for us, they’ve got rent, school — they’ve got expenses just like anybody else does,” says D. Rowe’s owner, David Rowe. “You want to hold on to them.” He’s more concerned about the long-term mental health effects of the pandemic and restrictions that limit socializing than he is about Columbia’s college-town culture, which he doesn’t think is damaged. “I think we slid back into what we were,” David says. “Columbia has shown that to the business community. They have supported us. I do think we come back from this.” The need for repetitive, rapid-fire decision-making isn’t unlike what’s required of a quarterback who calls a play in the huddle, gets to the line of scrimmage, and sees the defense shift. Sometimes, you have to change the play just before the snap. David says he’s been calling audibles — a new play or approach — sometimes several times a day. His wife, Meghan, has the especially challenging chore of scheduling staff, “to be sure that everybody has earning opportunity.” A COVID-19 infection or even exposure to the virus that puts an employee in quarantine wreaks havoc on the schedule. Inadequate staffing can be the difference between serving just a few tables or closing the doors for the day — or longer. Some of the pivots restaurants like D. Rowe’s have made will remain part of the business plan beyond the pandemic, like curbside pick-up. “It’s been a learning process. We’ve made mistakes, we’ve messed orders up,” David

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HAVING GRACE

BOUNCING FORWARD For Columbia, college parents weekends are a community-wide event. A jam-packed Memorial Stadium is a boost for business and community coffers. These events, like graduations, tailgating, and theatrical and musical productions, are part of the cultural and economic fabric of Columbia. Now, the city is learning just how much they mean to the people and businesses here.

“We talk a lot in our office about how we need to look at how we bounce forward,” Matt McCormick says. That will involve taking the community’s pre-COVID strengths and creating “an even better college community.” Gary says he is encouraged by lessons learned so far in the pandemic response. Technology allows for distance learning and campus- or system-wide meetings without quarantining. And the sanitizing equipment and methods used to clean classrooms between classes also “work great for flu and colds,” he adds. “There are some efficiencies that have been gained through this whole thing,” Gary says. “We had no playbook for this. No one did. We have one now.” Meanwhile, the local restaurant industry continues to call new plays and make new pivots. Supply chain disruption is one of the wild cards of business, David says, comparing the availability of food handling gloves in the restaurant industry to the race for toilet paper among the general public in the spring. Molly says a case of gloves went from $39 to $140 – and a pound of ground beef vaulted from $2.06 to $6.36. That was one reason Billiards added pulled pork to the menu alongside Molly’s signature ’Bout Died Fries. Future pivots are certainly on the table, especially since there’s no end date on COVID restrictions and the virus’s ubiquitous presence. Creating local supply chains where possible and fostering a deeper sense of collaboration among restaurateurs will be key for what life and business look like post-COVID. Billiards was just two weeks away from marking its eighth anniversary when the pandemic arrived in Columbia in March. “I’m weary. And heartbroken,” Molly says. “We’re paying our bills. And we’re keeping 27 employed. But we’ll come back. Billiards will make it to the other side.”

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