Detours Winter 2014 Issue

Pushing the Limit: Photo Contest Winners

Winter 2014 Vol. 19 No. 1

Our Cover Story

lyceum theatre see big talent on stage in Arrow Rock

harr y

A bi-annual journal produced by the Truman Institute at Truman State University highlighting research and innovation. http://institute.truman.edu/harry

contents FOOD

12

08 A Batch from Scratch St. Louis baker on the rise

12 Explorations of Beer

Columnist takes a taste bud tour

15 From the Kitchen Detours recipes

ADVICE 16 Hooked

Tips for finding the cleanest streams

DESTINATION

42

32

20 Following the Trail

Refuge is home to native wildlife

22 Murals of Missouri

Local artists illustrate the past

ENTERTAINMENT 26 Theatre on the Rock

Small town hosts big talent on stage

32 Principles of Restoration

Kansas City shop teaches restoration skills

RESOURCE 34 Behind Bars

A conversation with a Midwest author

36 Pushing the Limit

Photo contest winners

42 Served from the Street 25 food trucks to try

48 Calendar

Upcoming events in the tri-state area

>>WEB exclusive

20

For more stories about Midwest restaurants, shopping, lodging and other travel destinations, visit our website, detoursmagazine.com.

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03 detours

Editor-in-Chief Melissa Bradford Executive Editor ABBEY NORTHCUTT Art Director REBECCA REITZ Digital Editor CARLY ROBISON Copy Editors MELISSA BRADFORD, ABBEY NORTHCUTT, ALLISON TRAy and SARA HETTEL Contributors Melissa Bradford, Rachel Foster, MADELINE HAUCK, Dawn Kohler, abbey northcutt, Mary Tomlinson, Allison Tray and Forrest Wilsey Designers Sarah BURNS, SAVANNAH EVERETT, GRETCHEN KUCERA, ROSE LINHARES and Theresa Wildhaber Photographers REBecca Reitz Adviser MARILYN YAQUINTO In Memoriam ELIZABETH KOCH (1991–2012) • WEB • Online Editor EMILY WICHMER Copy Editors Sara Hettel, ELSA KLEINSCHMIT and ALLISON TRAY Contributors Melissa Bradford, Rachel Foster, MADELINE HAUCK, Dawn Kohler, Mary Tomlinson and Allison Tray • ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY • Publicity Manager KELLY CUNNINGHAM TMN Advertising Manager COLBY BYCROFT TMN Advertising Representative Colby bycroft, david wilson and jacob masek Publicity Representatives Kelly Cunningham, Katherine Ginnard, julie staszko and shatorey street

detours 04 winter 2014

EDITORIAL POLICY detours Truman State University Barnett Media Center 100 E. Normal Kirksville, MO 63501 Phone: 660.785.7438 Fax: 660.785.7601

LETTER FROM THE

editor@detoursmagazine.com detoursmagazine.com

editor Dear Reader, Thinking back on moments of my life, the memories of little road trips I’ve taken stand out crisp and vivid in my mind — driving down a dark, empty highway at 2 a.m., only able to see as far as my headlights shine, stopping to eat at mom-and-pop restaurants along the road, until turning that last street corner and spotting a welcome sign confirming that, yes, we’ve finally made it.

These memories are more than just a mental photo scrapbook. I can remember that feeling of bubbly anticipation to be somewhere new, somewhere I would probably never have the chance to travel to again.

Sometimes we forget, though, that we don’t have to travel to the beach or take a weeklong vacation to the big city to experience the thrill of a road trip. The Midwest offers adventure in spots where you might not think to look. Our Winter 2014 issue of detours aims to inspire anyone and everyone to make their own memories and explore the world around them, showcasing travel destinations that might be closer than you think.

Our main feature puts the spotlight on Arrow Rock, Missouri, a small village with a population of 56 people. Visitors from across the country travel to Arrow Rock to

summer

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watch actors perform at the Lyceum Theatre, a 400-seat auditorium that attracts a full house almost every performance during its season (pg. 26). Arrow Rock has a downtown boardwalk where visitors can explore local restaurants, shop for antiques and visit preserved historical sites from frontier times.

Plan a trip that combines history and art by visiting the many murals of Missouri (pg.

22). We highlight the murals in Cuba, Cape Girardeau and Jefferson City and include interviews with the original artists who worked diligently to create these public pieces of art. Take a Kansas City shopping splurge to Restoration Emporium, a shop in West Bottoms that sells recycled and repurposed antique pieces (pg. 32).

For the outdoor enthusiast, take a tour of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge where visitors can hike, camp and watch native Missouri animals in their natural habitat (pg.

20). And for those who spend most of their free time “gone fishing,” learn what regions in Missouri have the cleanest bodies of water (pg. 16).

If you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, stop at SweetArt in St. Louis (pg. 8).

In this bakery owned by Reine and Cbabi Bayoc, you can taste freshly made treats made

by Reine and see original artwork on the

detours is a copyrighted publication, produced biannually by Truman State University students. No material can be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of the detours adviser and staff. The editor-in-chief is responsible for all decisions. detours is distributed across the country, mainly in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Opinions expressed in detours are not necessarily the views of staff. detours is not responsible for the full cost of an advertisement if an error occurs.

wall painted by Cbabi. If you want the food brought to you, find a food truck near you using our list of the top 25 food trucks in the tri-state area (pg. 42).

Read our author interview with fatherdaughter duo Larry Neal and Anita Neal Harrison who worked together to create the memoir “Unguarded Moments.” In his memoir, Larry Neal shares his humorous experiences working as a labor supervisor in the Missouri State Penitentiary side-by-side with inmates (pg. 34).

We challenged our readers to capture a photo of what they think is “pushing the limit,” the theme for this issue’s photo contest (pg. 36). Our tablet edition of detours is also available on iTunes so you can take us with you anywhere. As always, visit our website for more travel tips and destinations in the tri-state area.

Embrace life’s detours,

Melissa Bradford Editor-in-Chief

The theme for the Summer 2015 photo contest is Past and Future.

The contest is open to any and all kinds of photos. Entries must include the photographer’s name, address and telephone number as well as the photo’s location and title. We also encourage contestants to include a short caption about the photo.

The deadline for entries is February 6, 2015. The winning photo will be published in the Summer 2015 issue.

For full rules and regulations, visit detoursmagazine.com.

Submissions should be emailed to photo@detoursmagazine.com.

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archives

FROM THE

FOUCH’s Christmas Tree Farm

Mahaffie Stagecoach stop & Farm

Kirksville, Missouri

Olathe, Kansas

Winter 2013

Winter 2011

David and Janie Fouch have been growing and selling Christmas trees for more than 25 years. Their farm has 200 acres and more than 22,000 trees ready for the holiday season, along with other handmade Christmas crafts and many smiles to go around.

The couple and their family help other families find the perfect Christmas centerpiece for their home and create memories and traditions that last much longer than any tree.

Built more than 150 years ago on the Santa Fe Trail, Mahaffie farm still possesses the spirit of frontier life and offers the chance to learn what farm life during the 1800s was like firsthand. Visitors can ride a real stagecoach, visit the blacksmith, taste samples baked by the cook and help with farm chores. The farm uses hands-on experience as a way to teach tourists about the nation’s history and allows locals to take pride in their town’s history.

Vintage Vinyl music store St. Louis, Missouri Summer 2012 Vintage Vinyl is a St. Louis store that specializes in dealing music.

Hundreds of records and CDs fill the shelves, ready for the pickiest of patrons to find something they will love. The store also hosts free concerts and meet-and-greets from a variety of artists, both local and internationally known.

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on the cover

In Arrow Rock, Missouri, tourists from across the country drive miles and miles to see actors perform at the Lyceum Theatre, a 400-seat auditorium in a building that was once the town’s church. Learn more about how the residents of Arrow Rock support their theatre on pg. 26. (photo by Melissa Bradford)

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FOOD

ST. LOUIS BAKER ON THE RISE

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MADELINE HAUCK

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eine Bayoc, a baker in St. Louis, grew up frying chicken and making cookies in her mother’s kitchen. She never dreamed she would actually start her own bakery one day. Reine and her husband, Cbabi, own SweetArt, a bakeshop and art gallery in the Tower Grove neighborhood. Cbabi hangs his paintings on the walls while Reine fills the display cases with cookies and cupcakes.

Starting Small

Reine grew up in Tennessee with three brothers. None of them were ever in the kitchen, so when Reine wanted time alone with her mother that’s where she headed.

“I was always fascinated with putting things together,” Reine says. “It doesn’t sound by any means fancy, but I love seeing separate ingredients turn into something delicious.”

Years later, as Reine stood in her own kitchen making treats to satisfy Cbabi’s sweet tooth, memories of her mother’s kitchen came back to her.

SWEETART

“I just really enjoyed baking things from scratch,” Reine says. “It kind of reminded me when I was younger with my mom and would make dinner, or she would make these fantastic peanut butter cookies.”

Although Reine loved to be in the kitchen baking for her family, she spent her days working cubicle jobs. Reine says the jobs were not horrible, just monotonous. One day, after tasting one of Reine’s homemade chocolate chip chunk cookies, her brother Germaine thought she could sell them. He took some of the cookies to work, sold them and soon his coworkers were seeking him out, asking what Reine was baking.

That’s how Reine’s customer base grew from friends and family to local customers. She began selling her baked goods at the Tower Grove Farmer’s Market, and she even had the guts to ask if Straub’s, a gourmet grocery store in St. Louis, would try her cookies. Reine’s baked goods soon started showing up on their shelves.

SweetArt doubles as both a bakery and art gallery where Cbabi Bayoc’s paintings decorate the wall.

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FOOD

“I want to make sure I’m honoring myself and being authentic to myself first and hopefully that resonates with other people.”

Reine Bayoc

grocery store in St. Louis, would try her cookies. Reine’s baked goods soon started showing up on their shelves.

Cbabi knew Reine wanted to open her own shop someday, so when he noticed an empty storefront around the corner from their house, he asked if she wanted to go for it.

“We had three kids, and at the time, our youngest was two-and-a-half or three, and I just thought it was too much,” Reine says. “But I went for it, and you know what? It was too much.”

When SweetArt opened, there were only four employees, including Reine and Cbabi.

Reine worked 14- to 18-hour days, and when she was not enjoying the work anymore, she knew she needed help.

Reine started hiring employees to balance out the workload. Today, SweetArt has 12 parttime employees. That may seem like a large staff for a small bakery, but SweetArt bakes everything from scratch. That means sifting their own flour, creaming their own butter and buying local, hormone-free eggs from the farmer’s market.

Mixing It Up

To stay motivated, Reine and her team of bakers change the menu whenever they get bored. This keeps the bakers happy, but it can be hard to explain to customers. Reine has

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learned there are certain menu items she can’t touch. For example, the Harmony Cupcake — a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting — is a permanent fixture.

“I took that off once and people uproared,” Reine says. “I was bored with it. I was like, ‘This isn’t creative. Everybody has vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.’ People were like, ‘No, not everyone has this vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.’”

Another permanent menu item and SweetArt’s claim to fame is the Sweet Burger, a veggie burger Reine says is “chock full of good stuff.” Reine spent six or seven years perfecting the recipe.

“It is probably my proudest accomplishment with this space,” Reine says.

“When we first started introducing [The Sweet Burger] and we immediately got recognition for it, and people wanted to come and see how we made it and people were interviewing us about the burger, I thought, ‘Okay, people must really like it. This one is a winner.’”

Reine knew when the Sweet Burger was finally complete because she loved it.

“Sometimes you make things and you don’t know if anyone else is going to like it.

And I loved it,” Reine says. “You have to go with how you feel, so I thought, if I love it then it’s working. I can’t worry about what someone else wants.”

SWEETART When SweetArt opened, there were only four employees, including owners Reine and Cbabi Bayoc.

“I want to make sure I’m honoring myself and being authentic to myself first and hopefully that resonates with other people.”

Reine Bayoc

Reine spent several years of her career in what she called “the please-everyone stage.” She admitted it took a couple of years to get out of, but now she is at a stage where she bakes what she knows is good.

“I want to make sure I’m honoring myself and being authentic to myself first and hopefully that resonates with other people,” Reine says. “I’m at a space where I’m really clear about what I want to produce. I’m really clear about what I’m passionate about. It took six years, but finally I’m there.”

Six years later and Reine is living her dream. More than anything, she wants others to do the same because opening a bakeshop started as a small, far-flung idea.

“Everyone has one of those ideas, those thoughts of, ‘One day I’m gonna try x, y and z,’” Reine says. “For me, that’s really what this was. For me, it was, ‘One day I wish I could have a bakery.’ It just started from that far little dream. So if you can just keep propelling yourself and have faith, all things are possible.”

Sharing the Dream

Reine’s passion has certainly rubbed off on others. Tamar Eiford has been a baker at SweetArt for three-and-a-half years. When Tamar started, she had never frosted a cake

in her life. She had never even made a tray of brownies from scratch.

“My first cupcake I frosted was horrendous. It was absolutely terrible,” Tamar says. “And now I can frost a whole tray of cupcakes in 90 seconds. I’ve learned a lot, and Reine is a fantastic teacher. She’s very nurturing.”

Reine makes work fun, too. Tamar says she and Reine have impromptu dance parties in the kitchen just to shake off the stress of the day. Working side-by-side with Reine in the kitchen, Tamar has developed a lot of passion for SweetArt. “It’s rubbed off for sure. I care about this shop,” Tamar says. “Not just about the baking aspect of the shop, but I am very invested in the shop as a whole and where they’re going.”

SweetArt’s customers care about the shop as well. Katie Shields has been going to SweetArt for four years.

“It really is incredible. I’ve never had a bad meal and I’ve never not felt happier after going there,” Katie says. “I try to be a SweetArt evangelist. I just talk about it all the time. If people want to get lunch with me, I’m cool with that, but I prefer it to be at SweetArt.” Cbabi talks about expanding the business, hosting more events and even

selling baked goods online. He wants SweetArt to be a household name.

“We’d love to be a destination spot when people come to St. Louis,” Cbabi says. “We’d like to become one of those places you have to visit before you leave. That’s our grand vision for ourselves.”

Tamar shares that vision for SweetArt’s future, and she says SweetArt deserves some long-overdue attention.

“SweetArt is very much underrated,” Tamar says. “I want the word to get out because it’s such a fantastic place to work, and we’re proud of everything that comes out of here. It’s an exceptional place. It really is. It can’t be a hidden secret for that long.”

>>web exclusive Read more about Cbabi’s passion for art on our website, detoursmagazine.com.

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food

Explorations of Beer Columnist Takes A Taste Bud Tour STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALLISON TRAY

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N

Backpocket Brewing

W E

A

fter turning 21 during the summer, I visited Backpocket Brewing on a mission to explore of the realm of brewpubs. I made my younger brother sober drive to Coralville, Iowa where I learned that there is a lot more to beer and its craft than just picking up a 24-pack of Bud Light from the grocery store.

Beer produced at brewpubs has more diverse flavors and is made in different styles. There are light beers, dark beers, beers with a lot of hops and beers with fewer hops. You can’t know what you like until you try them all. Each brewpub is its own entity, has its own style and brews beers that are particular to that place. There is no better way to find out what beer you like to drink than visiting brewpubs, sitting down for a meal and sampling their different craft brews.

Backpocket Brewing is in Iowa River Landing, an up-and-coming industrial neighborhood filled with brick buildings and sculpture art. The industrial theme continues inside the building where the all the brewery equipment gleams silver and bright against the wood seating and concrete floors. As I sat down at my table, I could see that my beer was made right there in the towering cauldrons. I could smell the rich scent of hops, mixed with yeast and barley combined with the brewery, which smelled like alcohol and bread. The bitter smell made my taste buds tingle in anticipation.

It looked like a lot of thought was put into the interior design, with the repetition of blue in the lamps above the table and the mugs that lined the bar.

Because Coralville is just northwest of Iowa City, the college town environment

carries over into the casual nature of the taproom. People came in and seated themselves as popular music plays overhead.

Backpocket’s menu includes classic bar foods such as nachos and chili mixed with brick oven options like pizza and flatbreads. These food choices can be paired with a variety of craft beers. I sampled the Classic Selection, which includes the Gold Coin Helles, Penny Whistle, Slingshot, Wooden Nickel and Jack Knife.

Personally I enjoyed the lighter beers. The Gold Coin Helles is a blonde, which is a classic light beer. It’s refreshing and very easy to drink. The Penny Whistle is the other light beer. It was light, spicy, flavored with cloves and nutmeg and had a sour finish. It kind of tasted like the holidays.

I was hesitant to try the darker beers.

I learned that I didn’t really like the taste of too many hops, the flower used to flavor beer, but the Slingshot was pretty good. It had a rounded flavor of bitter roasted nuts. The Wooden Nickel had hints of bitter coffee and a harsh finish so it wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy the combination of espresso and yeast, but I understand that the Wooden Nickel is similar to a stout, which is creamy and dark with notes of coffee. Stouts are a pretty popular choice of beer. The last beer I tried was the Jack Knife, a pale ale filled with hops, so again, it wasn’t for me but the people at the table in front of me seemed to enjoy it.

To go with my beers, I ordered the Produce Pie — one of Backpocket’s signature pizzas. It was topped with kalamata olives, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, melted cheese and a

S

parmesan crumble. The cook made the pizza right in front of me in the brick oven behind the bar. I could see the flames roasting my food. My brother chose to create his own pizza so we watched our pizzas being cooked together. When they got to the table, the cheese was hot and oozing on the surface.

It made my mouth water.

Halfway through my meal, a crowd of hungry college students came in, wearing Iowa Hawkeye gear. They ordered their beers, chose to create their own pizzas and ordered nachos.

Backpocket really caters to the younger crowd. The beer they make is specifically flavored for young taste buds. Backpocket brews according to the Belgium style, which means they throw out the rules and add exotic flavors to their beers so it’s a less traditional experience. The casual set-up of the restaurant and the tours of the brewery they offer are great for the college town. Backpocket also delivers pizza, but they don’t deliver beer.

However, they do carry out orders and you can pick up a bottled six-pack with the pizza.

The beauty of brewpubs is they are everywhere. It only takes a quick search at the Beer Mapping Project to find one near you. Each place brews according to a different style. Backpocket brews by Belgium style, which means they favor the use of yeast more than the German, British and American styles. Go to brewpubs and microbreweries and find a brewing style that fits your tastes. It’s a rewarding experience to know that the maybe the Belgium style isn’t right for your taste buds and that IPA and pale ales have way too many hops.

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FOOD

THE DONUT PALACE

THE CUSTOMER IS STILL KING

Open 7 days a week 215 E. Charles St. Kirksville, MO 63501 304 Independence Ave. Clinton, MO 64735 660-956-4145 5 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Saturday 5 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday

516 N Baltimore St, Kirksville MO 660-665-7665 Hours Sun-Thurs 10:30am-10pm Fri-Sat 10:30-11pm bellacinosgrinders.com

https://www.facebook.com/TCBYKirksvilleBellacinosPizza

TRUMAN STATE- ZETA XI CHAPTER Developing men of principle for a principled life

detours 14 winter 2014

CONNECT

Facebook Twitter Chapter Website

RECIPES

Muffin Tin Scalloped Potatoes STORY by Abbey Northcutt PHOTOS BY MELISSA BRADFORD

Ingredients:

Directions:

4-5 medium russet potatoes 1 small onion finely diced (optional) 1/2 cup flour Salt and pepper to taste 12 pats of butter 1 cup of shredded cheese 1 small carton of whipping cream 12 cup muffin tin, sprayed well with cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Slice potatoes into 1/8” slices. Toss with flour, salt and pepper until evenly coated.

3. Place a layer of potatoes in each muffin tin cup, then add a small amount of onion and top with a pinch of cheese. Repeat the layers 2 or 3 times in each cup.

4. Top each cup with a pat of butter.

5. Pour about a teaspoon or so of whipping cream over each muffin cup.

6. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

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advice

TIPS FOR FINDING THE CLEANEST FISHING STREAMS STORY AND PHOTOS BY forrest Wilsey

O

ne of the greatest and most understated natural resources of Missouri is its number of watersheds. With a wide variety of aquatic environments that house species native only to Missouri’s streams and tributaries, the state offers a diversity of water activities, especially fishing. Quality streams in south and central Missouri also contribute to these diverse species and excellent fishing conditions, which means that Missouri offers a huge opportunity for any angler.

Gone Fishing

Despite Missouri having two large rivers bordering the state, these rivers are largely industrialized near the urban centers, making them unfavorable for diversity. Likewise, the amount of water traffic contributes to a scarcer number of fish, making fishing conditions more difficult along certain stretches of the rivers.

While many people are content with fishing just to enjoy the scenery, a number of fishers go with the intent of catching as much as possible.

While each fisherman’s intent is different, the methods tend to be the same. The first step is to consider what is wanted in a fishing spot, whether it is large catches, small catches, numerous fish, specific types or species of

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fish. The second step to net the desired catch is to think of a place where this catch could be found. Finding the appropriate equipment is a task that has to be tackled next, but once all of the right pieces are in the fisherman’s net, the scene is set for a clear afternoon of sport. After that, fishing really is just a matter of going out and angling.

“Fishing location all depends on what you’re looking for.”

LaRoy Brandt Dr. LaRoy Brandt, an entomologist and one of two professors heading Truman State University’s Stream Team initiative, says fishing is all about where you go.

“If you’re talking trout fishing I go to Bennett Springs, but if I just want a bunch of fish to take home, I’d be looking for a city lake to catch crappie. I’ve been fishing on the Grand River, the Missouri River and down around Truman Lake. Each place has its own draws, but fishing location all depends on what you’re looking for.”

clean streams

One of the great allures of fishing is the scenic views of remote fishing spots.

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ADVICE

Worthwhile Waterways

Streams harbor wide ranges of species, both in the water and along the river banks.

Lakes and streams have very distinct ecosystems, each with their own diverse range of fish to be caught and other species to be seen in the water.

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When it comes to fishing, cleaner water means higher quality catches. A good way to ensure that the fish is clean is by finding one of the cleaner waterways of Missouri, and the easiest way to find the best streams is by looking for a good source of information.

Missouri’s Stream Team program has been surveying the quality of streams across Missouri for more than 25 years. Using a combination of methods to analyze oxygen content, nitrogen content, number of parasites and diversity of animals that live in the streams, the program aims to find the overall livability of streams across the state. Where streams are more livable for animals, the fishing is better.

Missouri’s Stream Team has been documenting 270 sites across Missouri, looking at what invertebrate life is able to thrive in aquatic environments. Many varieties of larvae and nymphs are sensitive to pollution, as are gilled snails, meaning that streams full of these invertebrates are generally in good quality water. Streams with fair quality ratings may include clams, mussels, and crayfish, as well as certain other orders of nymphs. The final group includes certain types of aquatic worms, leeches and pond snails, which may thrive in many forms of pollution.

Studies of these invertebrates yield strong evidence on what the overall water quality in a stream is like. These analyses by the Stream Team, beginning during 1993 and ending during 2010, help biologists determine the healthiness of the streams across Missouri. If a stream is able to host many types of specific invertebrates, it is considered to be a healthy water source.

Alexis Brown is one of the Missouri Department of Conservation-certified Stream Team members operating out of Truman State University.

“Finding invertebrates in the waterways is important because seeing certain macroinvertebrates will determine whether or not certain sections of the stream are healthy,” Brown says. “If a lot of macroinvertebrates are missing from the waterways, then we can determine that the stream is probably unhealthy. One good indicator of a healthy stream is a lot of biological diversity.”

CLEAN STREAMS

“I remember how clean [the water] was, with plenty of wildlife. It was definitely one of my best outdoor experiences.”

Missouri’s Adair Branch of the Department of Conservation offers a range of outdoor activities, research labs and immense learning opportunities.

Nick Ponche

Rating the Region

The Stream Team’s analysis of stream life has rankings of “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” and “poor.” The test being used to determine the healthiness of a stream is determined based on what invertebrates thrive in the given waterway. The Kansas City area is ranked as one of the best areas for the development of invertebrate life, with no streams being listed as having a poor rating and a large number rated as good quality-ranked streams.

Other trends in the data from the Stream Team analysis show that northern Missouri has a wide distribution of excellent to poor ratings, especially in the northeastern section, but on the other end of the state, across the Ozark Plateau, a large proportion of the areas analyzed consist of entirely good and excellent quality streams.

The data suggests that the best streams for supporting life are centered in southwestern to mid-Missouri, especially in the Ozarks area.

This area of lakes and offshoots of the Lake of the Ozarks offers a geographic range that

is unlike any other water system in Missouri.

The United States Geological Survey recorded during a 2013 analysis that the Ozarks is home to more than 100 fish species including bass, trout and sturgeon, with 56 of them exclusive to the Ozarks.

This enormous variability in fish species provides one of the most diverse and highquality areas for fishing across the state of Missouri. This is an area that is a popular outdoors spot for adventurers and weekend campers alike, like hobby outdoorsman and Truman State University student Nick Ponche.

“The Ozarks area was thriving when I went there,” Ponche says. “We only went boating, but I remember my dad losing his phone, and the water was so clear in the stream that we all could see it sink to the bottom. I remember how clean it was, and with plenty of wildlife, it was definitely one of my best outdoor experiences.”

The area surrounding Lake of the Ozarks is often noted in conservation department reviews as being one of the best outdoors

spots in Missouri, especially for fishing. From a biologist’s perspective, the major Ozarks area has some of the cleanest offshoots in streams. In western Missouri, Kansas City offers numerous fishing prospects that are rated as good quality streams. However, it is the cleanliness of the streams and the impressive amount of fish that are located exclusively in the Ozarks area that makes southwestern Missouri the go-to spot in Missouri for clean streams and fishing.

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DESTINATION

FOLLOWING

THE TRAIL REFUGE IS HOME TO NATIVE WILDLIFE PHOTO AND STORY BY DAWN KOHLER

T

he scenic auto tour roads of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge give visitors the opportunity to see a variety of animals native to Missouri. Located in the Bootheel, Mingo has some of the last remaining tracks of bottomland hardwood forest with trees as large as three or four feet in diameter. The 21,500-acre refuge was established during 1944 to protect migratory and nesting waterfowl and to preserve the last remaining track of forest and swamp habitat.

Visitor Ian Vogel was surprised by the variety of wildlife in the swamp. “Wildlife starts exploding everywhere around you as you turn into the park,” Vogel says. “Mingo is one of the most diverse places I know. You can go bird watching, look for snakes and other reptiles, fish and even hike. It is almost like the swamp in Louisiana except there isn’t Spanish moss hanging from the trees.”

The population of animals has increased through proper management and conservation.

During 1984, Tom Humphrey worked with the Missouri Department of Conservation at Mingo where he helped release captive-bred bald eagles back into the wild. The populations of eagles have greatly increased since the 1980s. While working at Mingo, Humphrey says he was amazed by the variety of wildlife.

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“Red-shouldered hawks were a rare site for us in the 1980s,” Humphrey says. “They were more of a swamp bird at that time. Now Red-shoulders can be seen throughout the eastern half of the U.S.” During 2007, employees reintroduced alligator gar into the refuge and more were released during 2009. They benefit the ecosystem by eating hundreds of the invasive carp species.

Universities use Mingo as a place to do research on the swamp and the organisms within it. Park Ranger Peter Rea says there is currently a study going on in the refuge regarding the mud snake’s diet and habitat loss. Mud snakes — jet black snakes with red-checkered bellies — eat legless aquatic amphibians, called sirens and amphiumas. Both mud snakes and their prey are declining in number due to past deforestation.

Mingo is one of the last habitats they have left.

The swamp is home to a variety of snake and turtle species. Snakes inhabit the land along the auto tour roads and around the bodies of water in the refuge. Some species of non-venomous snakes that live in the park include water snakes, black rat snakes and ribbon snakes. Water snakes are everywhere sunning on rocks and logs along the road, near the local fishing hole and even in the trees. Turtles crawl along the Swampwalk Nature Trail and in the ponds where cypress roots poke through the tea-colored swamp water.

Park Ranger Rea oversees the public use and the maintenance of the refuge, as well as organizes conservation programs. Rea says it is critical to conserve places like Mingo so people can continue to enjoy hunting, fishing, watching the animals and taking photos.

Rea says visitors can see different wildlife depending on the season. Migratory birds, waterfowl and snakes are commonly seen during the spring and fall. During summer, fawns lay twenty yards off of the boardwalk. Many species of birds nest on the refuge during spring, including bird of prey species like barred owls and bald eagles. The peak season for waterfowl is winter.

MINGO WILDLIFE REFUGE

“Some of these birds will migrate all the way to South America, and Mingo provides them with critical habitat to rest, refuel and gain energy on their migration,” Rea says.

Mingo staff has recorded 247 species of birds on the refuge. Some of these birds nest on the refuge while most just pass through. Bright yellow prothonotary warblers settle in the swamp during spring and summer months. Mississippi kites silhouette against the sky as they soar high above the swamp or swoop down to catch insects.

American bitterns, heron-like birds, stand with their necks extended, blending into the green and brown marsh grass.

On his last trip to Mingo, Vogel and his friends used a spotting scope to look at a bald eagle that sat in a large bald cypress tree growing out of the swamp. This was one of the first times he had seen a bald eagle up close.

Ben Mense has worked as Mingo’s manager for the last seven years. He oversees the management of the refuge and makes sure that

Mingo carries out its mission of preserving the swamp and providing a resting and wintering area for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Mense recommends visitors call the nature center to inquire about which areas are open for the public to use for activities during the year.

Between March and September, fishing, hiking, canoeing and kayaking are allowed almost anywhere on the refuge. In certain parts, morel mushrooms, pokeweed greens and blackberries can be harvested during its specific seasons.

Visitors can fish for bass, bluegill and catfish.

Bowfin, a large predatory fish with several rows of needle-like teeth, can be caught at the spillway at the end of Ditch Eleven and in the other ditches that run throughout the swamp. These small creeks make up the main channels of the swamp The Mingo National Wildlife Visitor Center has displays that show some of the history of the area, the habitat and the animals found there.

Mingo’s management also hosts a wide variety of educational programs from Eagle Days in

February to Swamp Saturday programs, which vary every month. Some of the Swamp Saturday programs include family fishing days and education programs on birds, bats and owls Ian Vogel says he plans to use his visits to Mingo National Wildlife Refuge as a place to teach his young son about wildlife.

“I am glad this diverse habitat is protected for more generations to see for years to come,” Vogel says. “I can’t wait for my son two-year-old to be old enough to hike in Mingo with me.”

>>web exclusive Read more about our columnist’s personal experience at Mingo on our website, detoursmagazine.com.

What to Look for birds

repitles

mammals

American White Pelican Waterfowl Birds of Prey Shorebirds Tanagers Water Snakes Western Cottonmouth Cooters Southern Painted Turtle Musk Turtle Beaver Muskrat Swamp Rabbits Minks River Otters

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M

DESTINATION

of URALS

ISSOURI

LOCAL ARTISTS ILLUSTRATE THE PAST

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARY TOMLINSON

H

idden in small towns and in rooms of the State Capitol, Missouri’s murals have stories to tell. These works of art, all painted by Midwesterners, teach local and state history in an unconventional way.

Travelers looking to learn more about the region and admire enlightening work on a grand scale can do so at the murals of Cape Girardeau, Cuba and Jefferson City.

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MURALS OF MISSOURI

The Missouri Wall of Fame along Cape Girardeau’s riverfront depicts 45 famous Missourians, such as Lou Brock, T.S. Elliot and Laura Ingalls Wilder, May 29. Thomas Melvin repainted the mural after completing the Mississippi River Tales Mural to restore it to best condition.

CAPE GIRARDEAU For travelers along Highway 55 in eastern Missouri, Cape Girardeau offers easy access to the Mississippi River. The riverfront area has a natural beauty, with the Mississippi flowing right behind the walls. Painted alongside the levee wall for 1,100 feet is the Mississippi River Tales Mural, featuring larger-than-life figures with realistic detail and vibrant colors.

The mural illustrates the history of Cape Girardeau through the citizens’ interactions with the Mississippi River. Though the mural focuses on Cape Girardeau history, it still features an even mix of recognizable historical figures and individuals specific to Cape Girardeau. Visitors will see Lewis and Clark and William Howard Taft alongside Jean Baptise Giradot, the town’s namesake, as well as Mike Fink, a legendary keelboat native. Thomas Melvin is the Chicago artist who designed and painted the Mississippi River Tales Mural.

“It took some convincing, but we need to recognize that Cape’s history is reflected on a larger scale, making it a part of the bigger picture,” Melvin says. “So often, people want to celebrate their own region, but you don’t want to encourage any sort of xenophobia. We want to be a part of the world, even if just aesthetically.”

The Missouri Wall of Fame, the second mural along the levee wall, displays portraits and figure paintings of 45 famous Missourians. All figures are framed intermittently by the Missouri state flower, the Hawthorne.

Melvin painted both murals within the last ten years. Margaret Dement originally painted the Missouri Wall of Fame during 1995, but the community later requested Melvin to repaint it to bring it back to its original glory. When the Cape Girardeau mural committee first asked him to design the Mississippi River Tales Mural during 2003, he recognized the importance of such a project.

“The murals celebrate the local region,” Melvin says. “They tell a story and bring people down to the waterfront and downtown, which for many years was neglected. This was the work to try and enliven the neighborhood. This project was large enough to make an impact.”

When the project began, it quickly became community-wide. Melvin spent a year living and working in downtown Cape Girardeau to complete the mural. In that time, he quickly assimilated himself into the downtown community, which influenced his work as well. Local artist Craig Thomas helped with the painting, and numerous locals posed for the figure work.

Many local business owners still remember when the River Tales Mural was revealed.

Though the information panels along the mural tell the historical aspect of each panel, local residents can tell personal stories about the history of the mural itself, acting as impromptu tour guides. Christy Smith, owner of The Plant Lady gardening store in downtown Cape Girardeau,

recalls the feeling of community the mural brought.

“We became very good friends,” Smith says, fondly remembering the time when her daughter was even used as a model to help Melvin with figure painting. “He loved to go out dancing with us. He just loved to enjoy our downtown. It was definitely a community.”

The involvement of the downtown community during and after the painting of the mural embodies the idea of public art. Unlike art in a museum, the murals in Cape Girardeau are surrounded by people who saw the murals come to life and can share their own story with all who visit.

“It was such an exciting time with all of the art and watching it come together before your eyes,” Smith says. “We all become a downtown family.”

PORT CAPE Port Cape, a locally owned downtown restaurant, offers a view of Cape Girardeau’s murals right from the table. In addition to hickory-smoked barbeque, an ice cream parlor and live entertainment, this restaurant also has a direct connection to the murals. Thomas Melvin often visited Port Cape after a long day’s work and became a regular. As a parting gift to the restaurant, Melvin gave his signature hat to the owner, and to this day it is on display as a reminder of the connection between the mural artist and the town.

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DESTINATION

MISSOURI HICK BARBECUE & WHAGON WHEEL MOTEL These neighboring establishments both have a long history in Cuba and are found along the same street as the murals. Missouri Hick Barbeque, which is decked out like a log cabin, is known for their barbeque. Diners can mix and match any of the six barbecue sauces found at every table. For those staying overnight in their area, the Wagon Wheel Motel is filled with charm and history. The establishment has been around almost 80 years and has a spot on the National Registry of Historic Places, giving it that old time atmosphere for travelers.

CUBA

Route 66, or the “Main Street of America” as it once was called, brought people and commerce to many small towns across the country, including Cuba, Missouri. The decline of Route 66 since the completion of the Interstate Highway System impacted those small towns along the way. Even so, Cuba has put itself back on the map with its burgeoning mural scene, earning the name “Route 66 Mural City.”

The 12 murals in Cuba that decorate buildings along Historic Route 66 Washington Street celebrate the town’s history before, during and after the prevalence of Route 66. Though the events shown in the murals all pertain directly to Cuba, they have a larger scope. Julie Brand is a mural artist who lives in Cuba.

“The history of Cuba is the history of the United States,” Brand says. “It was built on a lot of little towns and businesses. Over time a lot of those little towns have gotten neglected, but I think there’s that resurgence in things that were

handmade, like old buildings, things that have character because they were started by little businesses.”

Viva Cuba, a community beautification group, set out to revive the town during 2001 by hiring artists to paint the murals. After sifting through Cuba’s history, they handpicked 12 events they thought represented Cuba and its history.

“There’s a lot of stories that wouldn’t be told or aren’t being told that the murals depict,” Brand says. “It’s a fun way of teaching history, and it’s a fun, engaging way to learn history.”

One highlight is the Bette Davis mural, which portrays a famous event in Cuba history when local Reporter Wilbur Vaughn snuck a picture of Academy Award-winning actress Bette Davis while she was in Cuba, and still got the picture published in the paper despite being immediately chased by Davis’s infuriated husband.

“Reporter Wilbur Vaughn was alive when I did the mural. Him and his wife would give me drinks in the afternoon while I painted,” Ray Harvey, mural artist, says. “We became friends.”

Other murals include scenes depicting canoeing and rafting in the region, Harry S. Tru-

This mural celebrating the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s 75th Anniversary is one of 12 murals in downtown Cuba. All of the murals are within walking distance of each other on Washington Street.

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man’s visit to the Cuba Homecoming Fair and Amelia Earhart’s emergency landing in Cuba.

The typical visitor at the murals can range from local resident to international traveler.

In a mere few hours, Harvey witnessed travelers from Belgium, Czech Republic, Shanghai and Austria pass through to see Cuba’s murals.

“I was down in Cuba for the day, and a man steps out of a 1940s car and gets out a camera,” Harvey says. “He hardly spoke English and it turns out they were from Belgium. That same day, I saw a motorcycle group called the ‘Route 66 Club from Czech Republic.’ These Europeans will ship their own vehicles to the U.S. to travel across America. I also saw two people from Shanghai and another motorcycle group from Belgium as well, and some folks from Austria.

This all happened in the 30 minutes I was there.

Many Europeans’ idea of a fantastic vacation is seeing America and driving across Route 66.

It’s amazing. I hope you realize what you have here. Cuba is known for something, and it’s quite impressive to draw people to go to Cuba.”

For travelers from far and wide, Cuba’s murals have found a way to bring important pieces of American history to life.

MURALS OF MISSOURI

The House Senate Lounge with Thomas Hart Benton’s A Social History of Missouri is open during normal business for public viewing. The room is also a stop on Missouri State Capitol Tours, where the tour guide explains elements of the mural.

JEFFERSON CITY Missouri’s State Capitol not only holds the legislative offices of the state, it also holds the crowning achievement of a famous Missouri muralist. Thomas Hart Benton’s “A Social History of Missouri” decorates the walls of the House Lounge in the Capitol.

A Missouri State Senator commissioned Benton in 1935 to paint a mural depicting the evolution of everyday life in Missouri. Though he was born in the area, Benton grew up as part of an affluent political family, giving him a narrow outlook on life. Still, he didn’t let his upbringing hinder his expression of life in Missouri.

Bradley Bailey, an art history professor at St. Louis University, specializes in studying American art.

“A key thing about Benton are his travels through the south, the Midwest and southwest,” Bailey says. “Every summer, he would grab a bunch of notebooks, throw them in a bag and go on these hobo journeys. He would draw all the people he met. These are the people who are representative of this American scene that he’s painting, whether it’s the farmers, the hobos or the cowboys.”

The mural, which took Benton six months to complete, starts with Missouri before it became a state during the 1700s then moves through various scenes of farming, industrialization and the urban areas of St. Louis and Kansas City. Mini-scenes on each wall also feature Missouri lore, such as Huck Finn and Jim floating along the Mississippi River and infamous outlaw Jesse James. Some scenes in the mural incited controversy, especially for the time period.

“The most controversial thing about the Missouri mural, which shows the provincial attitude at the time, is in the front of the scene that is very near a political gathering, there’s a baby being changed,” Bailey says. “Benton painted what he saw, he included these everyday people

that he thought were the real Americans. But Benton was so into making sure that he included the broad spectrum and not just the pretty parts.

That’s something that Benton will always be remembered for is this very inclusive kind of understanding of what the United States is all about.”

This controversial element, though risky, is what makes Benton’s work inside the Missouri Capitol building so monumental, Bailey says. He wanted his depiction of the evolution of life in Missouri to represent the entire population.

Olivia Gerling, a Kansas City resident, visited Benton’s murals.

“I have to agree with the whole ‘showing the good and the bad.’ It was interesting for that time because most people probably wouldn’t have done that,” Gerling says. “One of the first things I saw when I looked at it was the lynching.

I was surprised that he showed that.”

Benton paints these scenes — the good and the bad — in a style that is characteristically alive. Visitors of the mural will find themselves surrounded not by painted figures, but by people, these everyday Missourians of the past, who almost appear to be moving. These people are working, building, speaking and simply living their everyday lives. Despite the amount of action Benton packs into his mural, the delicate balance he creates in his scenes keep the work from being overwhelming to the eye.

The room allows visitors to either rest their feet and sit on the couches alongside the outer wall while admiring the mural as a whole, or venture up to the mural to see every detail and stroke.

Either way, the free tours offered at the Capitol provide context for each scene in the mural. Julie Gerling, a Kansas City resident, appreciated how the tour guide was able to point out everything.

“Even being a Missouri history teacher, if I would have gone in and sat down and looked at

it, it would have taken me a while to pick through it,” Gerling says.

For Missouri natives and tourists alike, Benton’s monumental work allows travelers to learn about an important time during history through the work of a American artist.

“The mural represents the entire spectrum from good to bad, from things that you’re proud of to things that you’re not so proud of, but that are an important part of the place anyway that you don’t want to forget,” Bailey says. “It’s the best of what an American mural can be.”

>>web exclusive

Read more about the mural in Kirksville, Missouri, on our website, detoursmagazine.com

CENTRAL DAIRY & ARRIS’ PIZZA For a break from touring Jefferson City’s murals and the rest of the Capitol grounds, Arris’ and Central Dairy both offer proximity and quality. Arris’ Pizza, a familyowned restaurant staple in Jefferson City for more than 50 years, serves a combination of thin crust pizza and traditional Greek cuisine. After lunch or dinner, dessert at Central Dairy is a must. The dairy has a classic ice cream parlor ambiance, and with 60 flavors to choose from, everyone leaves happy.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Lyceum Theatre

ON THE

Small town hosts big talent on stage STORY AND PHOTOS BY melissa bradford

I

In Arrow Rock, Missouri, where the sidewalks are paved with stone and the Boardwalk downtown stretches one block long, visitors arrive by the busload just to see a live performance at the Lyceum Theatre.

The village has a population of 56 people, yet its productions consistently draw in a crowd large enough to fill the 400-seat auditorium throughout its season.

Within walking distance from the Boardwalk storefront is the Lyceum Theatre.

The theatre, which was once a church, still retains its original look with a steep roof, white exterior and lancet-style windows. Previously, actors performed for their audience in what is now the lobby, but the theatre has since then expanded to the full-sized auditorium it has today.

Producing Artistic Director Quin Gresham is in charge of selecting and casting the shows for the Lyceum Theatre, as well as working with the design team and keeping the production within budget.

Gresham says the hiring process is a puzzle. Actors are typically hired for multiple shows, and selecting people who can play multiple characters throughout a season of both musicals and plays can be tricky.

“Finding an actor that for one makes a significant and special impact on stage — that’s part of it,” Gresham says. “But also finding somebody that really meshes with our feeling and family is another part of it.”

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ENTERTAINMENT Gresham received more than 12,000 submissions from actors when casting for the 2014 season. Each year, auditions take place in New York during February.

“Almost everybody who comes to work here comes from a major urban center,” Gresham says. “And here they are where they can see the stars and they can hear the coyotes in the distance, and it is therapeutic in a lot of ways.”

Michael Haney, director of the production “Lend Me a Tenor” during the Lyceum’s 2014 season, worked with Gresham to bring the comedy to stage. Haney ran rehearsals and consulted with designers about everything from costumes to lighting. Like every director who has a contract with the Lyceum, he stays in Arrow Rock from the first rehearsal up to opening night.

“I always feel like when I come here it’s like coming back from the holidays,” Haney syas. “And, you know, I get two weeks of working with wonderful people in the middle of the country, and I look forward to it every year.”

Gresham says one exciting characteristic of the Lyceum Theatre is its feeling of intimacy — and not just in terms of size. Audience members, especially those who live in the village, develop a relationship with the actors they see on stage as the season goes on.

“You can always feel from these audiences that they’re all leaning forward and wanting to grab every little piece of whatever play or musical we’re doing,” Gresham says.

The producing artistic director is in charge of holding auditions in New York each year and has the challenge of casting actors who can act roles in multiple shows.

“I get two weeks of working with wonderful people in the middle of the country, and I look forward to it every year.”

Michael Haney

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Lyceum Theatre “And that’s really meaningful to know that what we’re doing is happening before an audience that really, really appreciates it.”

Tempe McGlaughlin, postmaster of Arrow Rock, can be found sitting outside of the post office greeting those who walk down the Boardwalk past antique shops. McGlaughlin says she goes to each play at least once and has even had roles in past shows.

McGlaughlin shares a love for theatre with her daughter, Katy, who remembers acting in plays when she was younger. When the Lyceum Theatre needs child actors, local kids are often hired to take the stage.

The Lyceum Theatre lobby, which was originally where performances were held before the 400-seat auditorium was built, is now filled with eager visitors buying tickets and waiting for the auditorium doors to open before the show.

A sign points travelers toward downtown Arrow Rock where antique shops, historical sites, local restaurants and the Lyceum Theatre are located.

“I was in ‘Brigadoon’ when I was seven and they let me run the fog machine opening night,” Katy says. “I was hooked.”

Now Katy is a professional stage manager in Colorado Springs, but she says she definitely thinks living in Arrow Rock influenced her to pursue that career path. During her first show at age 10, she met an actor who played Valjean in “Les Miserables” on Broadway and whom she now considers a good friend. However, both the theatre and the town has changed since then.

“We’ve had a lot of people move, pass away, restaurants open and close,” Katy says.

“Every year it’s kind of a different place but it’s always got the same spirit to it.”

Tempe McGlaughlin recalls what Arrow Rock was like years ago.

“Our kids could run up and down the street and have a tab at the country store, you know, pay it off once a week,” Tempe McGlaughlin says. “That sort of thing.”

The Lyceum Theatre previously was a repertory theatre. Instead of running the same

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ENTERTAINMENT

THE

Arrow Rock Antiques & Mercantile

This antique store has scarves, candles, dishware and more, but the highlight of its collection is Mariana’s jewelry. Mariana’s jewelry is handmade in Israel with gemstones, designed to “spiritually uplift the wearer with good energy.”

Arrow Rock Antiques & Mercantile

J. Huston Tavern

J. Huston Tavern is known for being the oldest continuously serving restaurant west of the Mississippi River.Visitors can eat lunch or dinner at the tavern before performances begin at the Lyceum Theatre across the road.

Friends of Arrow Rock The members of Friends of Arrow Rock work to preserve the history of the Arrow Rock village as well as teach others about the area since 1959. Members also offer guided

tours on a regular basis, and its store on the Boardwalk has educational books and trinkets for sale.

Arrow Rock Craft Store

A little off the Boardwalk is the Arrow Rock Craft Store. Local residents make everything that is for sale inside, including homemade handbags, beaded bookmarks, knitted buttons, wooden bowties and painted wine bottles.

The Boardwalk

Local antique shops, craft stores and restaurants welcome tourists on the Boardwalk.

Friends of Arrow Rock

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Lyceum Theatre show for a week or so, the plays would rotate so each night a different one was performed.

Actors would stay in town the whole season, allowing Arrow Rock residents to get to know the cast personally. Tempe McGlaughlin says she misses how the town used to have bonfires and barbeques with the cast. Now actors come and go with each show with little free time to connect with the town they are in.

“I think it’s kind of hard for them too because they don’t know the history of the theatre and the history of the village,” Tempe McGlaughlin says. “So they’re just coming in all raw and green.”

However, because the Lyceum Theatre switched from a repertory theatre to a stock theatre, its casting decisions are more flexible.

The right actor can be hired to play a role in a single play if necessary instead of trying to find one person who fits into all of the plays.

Twice a day during the Lyceum’s season, visitors drive through the quiet, hilly roads that lead to Arrow Rock to experience what the village has to offer. Mary Alice Lyon, along with the other members of WD-40, a women’s travel group who say their name stands for “Witty Dames Over 40,” drove a bus from Warrensburg, Missouri, just to see another Lyceum performance.

“Going to Agatha Christie to farce and ‘Camelot’ last year was just beautiful,” Lyon says. “Made you think some wonderful thing is going on here.”

Lyon sits on a bench in the theatre’s crowded hallway next to fellow group member Connie Siever as they and many others wait for the auditorium doors to open for the play, “Lend Me a Tenor.” Siever agrees the Lyceum always had beautiful productions, photos

“We keep coming back because we’re impressed with what we see. Some of the best theatre is right here in Arrow Rock, Missouri.”

Mary Alice Lyon

of which are framed and hanging on the walls behind her. Lyon says she cannot even remember the number of times WD-40 has traveled to this small town.

“It’s kind of a general opinion that some of the best acting and the best plays is right here at the Lyceum,” Lyon says. “We keep coming back because we’re impressed with what we see. Some of the best theatre is right here in Arrow Rock, Missouri.”

>>web exclusive Read more about the history of Arrow Rock on our website, detoursmagazine.com.

Tempe McGlaughlin and her daughter Katy relax outside the Arrow Rock Post Office.

Both have previously been involved with past Lyceum Theatre productions.

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entertainment

RE-NEW. RE-PURPOSE. RE-FINISH. RE-STORE.

Kansas City Shop teaches restoration skills STORY AND PHOTOS BY RACHEL FOSTER

A

cool breeze blows through the air of Kansas City, a sign that the holidays are on their way. For Chrysy Huff, owner of Restoration Emporium, this means her store is full of shoppers.

Restoration Emporium is one of the boutiques in the West Bottoms Business District that brings a renewed meaning to vintage décor.

Restoration Emporium, locally known as RE, has quickly become a recognized business by local shoppers in the Kansas City area. Established in the West Bottoms during January 2012, it was the seventh store to start restoring the district and homes with fresh interior decorating ideas. RE is now one of the few original 2012 businesses amongst today’s 20 stores.

Chrysy Huff says the first draw to this shopping experience is the buildings, which have maintained the original architecture and the wooden beams to preserve an organic and old-fashioned impression.

Chrysy and her husband, Jeff Huff, run their business on four principles: restore, renew, refinish and repurpose.

For them, restoring old furniture and décor, then selling

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it, isn’t enough. A huge part of the RE business model is teaching its guests how to incorporate the principles in their homes through classes offered by RE. “Even if we did this for 100 years, we still can only do so much ourselves,” Chrysy Huff explains. “I think it’s good for people. It’s healthy, it feels good. It’s good for stress.”

Jeff Huff has played an important role throughout the entire growth of RE. He began by helping customers carry their new furniture and goods to their cars, calling himself “lead junk hunk.” Now as the shop’s family has grown and they have many helping hands working, Jeff says he sees himself as a vision caster, spending time planning the look of the shop and ensuring the store is giving customers what they are hoping to find.

“We spend a lot of energy watching trends and maintaining relevance in the store,” Jeff Huff says. “We want to engage customers on a lot of different levels. All of the West Bottom stores take this seriously.”

In the building that RE calls home, history seems to live not only within the vintage items being sold, but throughout the structure itself, too. The building, when first built during

west bottom 1912, was known as Fairbanks Morse and Company — one of the first companies to produce gas-powered engines in the United States. Even though this was more than 100 years ago, Restoration Emporium is only the fourth business to occupy the building.

On the fifth floor, what is now nicknamed “The Loft,” is the classroom for all of the creative classes hosted by RE. Chrysy and Jeff Huff say they are excited about this new space because of all the opportunities it presents for people to come and be creative.

Amy Howard Paint is used on the furniture sold as well during the classes taught. The paint’s tagline is “rescue, restore, redecorate” — all RE words, which instantly caught the Huffs’ attention. The creators of Amy Howard Paint have a similar mission to that of RE, and the paint has a smoother finish and faster drying time than most paints.

Visitors of RE can create something new for their home and learn a new skill during the painting and DIY classes. Huff teaches a new series of classes that take a set of Pinterest-like crafting projects and let visitors create several holiday or season-themed pieces.

Shaun Sullivan lives to the north of Kansas City and drives 40 minutes south over the Missouri River to West Bottoms once a month knowing she will find antiques and handmade, vintage décor at RE. “The things found in RE can’t be found anywhere else,” Sullivan says. “They definitely have a vision.”

Not only does Sullivan shop in the West Bottoms during First Friday weekends, she also has taken several classes offered by RE, including a wreath class, a chair painting class and a fall-themed Pinterest series. Sullivan says the classes are enjoyable and useful outside of RE walls. She has also taught

Build Your Own Shadow Box Bookshelf What You Need • Four pieces of wood that create a rectangle together • Wood stain color of your choice • An old T-shirt • Electric drill and screws • Fastener to hang to wall

a wreath-making class in her own home with friends and painted several pieces of furniture using skills she developed in RE classes.

The West Bottoms Business District Association is making strides to revive its neighborhood and enhance the quality to live, work, shop and visit in the area. The district is less than a few miles from downtown Kansas City and the River Market, and is considered to be the original Kansas City. Through the celebration of a new month and the creativity during the weekends of First Friday that business owners, residents and stakeholders see all of their hard work come together. First Fridays originated as one of the nation’s largest art walks in Kansas City’s Crossroads Art District but now has a more general name and includes vintage shops.

“Every age, every kind of person can enjoy the West Bottoms,” Chrysy Huff says. “Every shop appeals to different people.”

>>web exclusive Read about more West Bottom stores on our website, detoursmagazine.com.

step will take several layers until the wood is the desired color. Be sure to do this outdoors or on an old sheet to avoid staining anything besides the wood.

Step 4: Once your wood stain has dried completely, you can attach your fastener to the back of your new bookshelf. Depending on its size, two fasteners may be necessary.

Step 5: Pick a place on your wall to hang your shelf that has a stud to ensure your bookshelf doesn’t fall. Now you can hang your shelf and fill it up with books, art or your favorite collectables.

For more do-it-yourself, eco-friendly home ideas with Rachel, visit ecouniversity.wordpress.com

Step 1: Attach the four pieces of wood together using your drill and screws.

Wood glue can help keep the pieces sealed but isn’t necessary. A friend can help hold the pieces together two at a time as you attach them to one another.

Use two screws on each side of the boards, totaling 16 screws all together.

Step 2: Once all four corners are attached, make sure the shelf is sturdy, the corners are 90 degrees and any glue you used is dry.

Step 3: Rip a piece of cloth from an old T-shirt or towel and shake your bottle of wood stain up. Dab your cloth into the stain and slowly rub into your wood in the direction of the wood grain. This

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Resource

A CONVERSATION WITH A MIDWEST AUTHOR

STORY BY MELISSA BRADFORD PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANITA NEAL HARRISON

W

hen Larry Neal would come home from his job as labor supervisor at the Missouri State Penitentiary, he would tell his kids stories about what crazy incidents happened that day while he worked sideby-side with inmates. Neal wrote down his memories in the penitentiary’s newsletter.

Years later his daughter, Anita Harrison, pieced together his stories to create the memoir “Unguarded Moments: Stories of Working Inside the Missouri State Penitentiary.”

Do you feel like your time working at the penitentiary changed either your outlook on prisons or life in general?

NEAL: It absolutely did as far as prisons. You do see them less like some monster and more like another human being, just a person like anybody else. And then some of them aren’t like that at all. I’ve worked with people that absolutely had no conscience whatsoever, could talk to you about killing people and have less feeling about it then you would if you run over an animal on the road and was telling somebody about it.

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In some of your chapters, like when you describe scenes of being injured and you’re bleeding from your head, you still keep a sense of humor. Do you think a sense of humor is necessary to work in a place like the Penitentiary?

NEAL: Not necessary, but it sure makes things a lot better. I think that’s just life. I mean, I’ve always been that way. I’ve always seen the funny side of life, and I think if you can see the humor in situations and never take yourself too serious, you just enjoy life a whole lot better so that’s kind of been my philosophy.

“Unguarded Moments” provides a first hand account of what is essentially Missouri history. What do you hope your readers take away?

NEAL: Oh my goodness. Probably more than anything, I hope that people laugh. I hope that they can see the humor in the situations and can really enjoy a good laugh about what happened there. At the same time, it is a segment of history and the prison in the ‘50s was just an extremely violent place. “Time Magazine” once called it the bloodiest 47 acres in America. And it was bloody.

author interview

A

fter reading and rereading her father’s stories, Anita Neal Harrison arranged the anecdotes into the collection it is today, working to create the narrative flow in a way that readers can follow along. Harrison is currently the assistant editor for “Inside Columbia Magazine” and managing editor for Inside Columbia’s “Prime Magazine.”

You talked about your morbid fascination with the execution chamber. Why are people are fascinated by that part of prison life?

NEAL: I don’t know. Of course, people are fascinated with death, I think anyway. If somebody gets killed in a car that gets burned on the road, people will watch for that burned area where the guy was killed. So there’s just some of that — that’s just natural. The gas chamber, I don’t really know, I kind of thought I was weird because I did have a fascination with thinking about it and wondering about it, what it was like. But the tours — in fact, now when they do the tours, that’s the last stop.

Did you remember these stories from when your father told them to you while you were growing up?

HARRISON: Yes, absolutely. Probably my favorite story out of them was the one about the plunger. I think we named that chapter “Plungers Are Weapons, Too.” That’s just something, whenever I think about that story, I think I still have some of the images in my head that I had as a kid hearing that story — you know, your dad putting this plunger on this bald inmates head.

Definitely the plunger on the head has a strong image.

HARRISON: The way that he would tell it — jerking on the plunger and the guy’s reaction — I mean, he is a good storyteller. He really paints that picture for you and helps you see what he saw and feel what he felt, which I think is also important because that’s where a lot of the humor comes in. He’s not afraid to let the joke be on him.

Looking back on the time you spent working on this book, what was the highlight for you personally throughout the experience?

HARRISON: It took a lot of time, and I read some of those stories dozens if not some of them hundreds of times before it was all done.

And even after reading some of them that many times, there were still places that I would chuckle just because they’re funny. Another highlight would be getting the book, and all the people that were proud of us for it — family and my sisters, aunts and uncles, and even just people at my church — and say “I want that book, I want you and your dad to sign it.” That feels really good.

What was it like working on a book with your father?

HARRISON: It’s a very different thing to have a book with my dad than to have a magazine article. It’s a different feeling. This is my first book. I’ve never done a book. So I would have been very proud anyway and very excited anyway to have a book with my name on it.

But to know my kids and my grandkids are going to be able to go find a book that I wrote about my dad’s history — now that’s really special.

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PUSHING THE LIMIT

2014

PHOTO CONTEST detours 36 winter 2014

Photo Contest

Winner

Vincent Fank

“Summertime�

Gulf Shores, Alabama

winter 2014

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Honor Ment Emily Hahn

“Lake at Dawn” Mono Hot Springs, California

Anna Grace

“The Climb” Columbia, Missouri detours 38 winter 2014

Photo Contest

rable tions Olivia LaMartina

“Clouds settling in the gullies of Mount Pilatus” Mount Pilatus, Switzerland

Megan Horn

“Oriental Pearl Tower” Shanghai, China winter 2014

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Joseph Wright

“Glow” Brookfield, Missouri

Bob Overmann

“Little Blue Bird” Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado detours 40 winter 2014

Photo Contest

Facebook Fan Favorite Kat Kernel

“Saint Paul’s Cathedral” London, England This past summer my family and I left the comfort of our home in St. Louis, Missouri, and traveled together across the Atlantic Ocean to London, England. Leaving home for this trip was out of the ordinary for my family since my father came after undergoing chemotherapy and with a PleurX catheter in his lung. However, he pushed himself to navigate my family and me around the streets of London for a week. This photograph was taken on top of Saint Paul’s Cathedral.

My parents climbed as far as they could, and my three siblings and I completed the 365-feet ascent to the top. By reaching the summit and taking this picture for him, I captured my dad’s attitude of “pushing the limit” during our vacation and throughout his entire life. Unfortunately, three months after our trip my dad lost his battle with cancer. I will forever treasure the memories and photographs from my family’s last vacation together. I will try to live every day with my dad’s motto, “It’s all good.”

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Served from the Street

25 food trucks to try

BY ABBEY NORTHCUTT

Food trucks are a coastal phenomenon that is quickly spreading across the country.

Instead of people driving to get food, the food is driving to them. These trucks are swiftly rolling in, and here’s our top five for five cities in the Midwest.

Chicago

1

Haute Sausage — After a temporary hiatus during the summer of 2013, Haute Sausage has returned to the Sheboygen area. The underground restaurants in his South African home inspired creator Rich Levy, and he wanted to bring the feel of these “shebeens” to Chicago. Despite the simplistic idea of serving only sausage, Levy finds ways to make the staple exciting with multicultural menu choices. Smoked alligator and okra form one of the more unconventional bratwurst, and the South African sausage boerewors is another signature pick.

2

Babycakes — “He who goes to bed hungry dreams of pancakes.” Or so Leah Wilcox’s slogan goes, and there is a smorgasbord of pancakes available on her truck.

The cakes come in both sweet and savory, from fluffy Spinach and Artichoke and Chipotle Chicken to the colorful Raspberry White Chocolate and Birthday Cake varieties. The truck also delivers in the area with a 24-hour advance order.

3

Getta Polpetta — Italian meatballs are the order of the day at Getta Polpetta.

Anna Caterinicchia took her mother’s recipe and adapted and expanded it to an entire menu for her food truck. One of the major differences was creating a vegetarian “meatball,” a small ball of fried dough and vegetables slathered in sauce. Caterinicchia’s personal twist is a meatball slider, topped with onions, pickles and a slice of American cheese.

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4

The Tamale Spaceship — Clad in the masks of the luchadores, the Tamale Spaceship’s crew cooks up entrées inspired by the Mexican wrestling tradition.

The eponymous tamales, served in pairs, are the stars on this truck, and they form the entirety of the menu aside from the “Space Guacamole” and corn chips. Highlights include the Victorious with Adobo chicken and poblano mole, and the Seasonal de Pato with peking duck and dried cranberries.

5

Giordano’s — A trip to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without a taste of its world-famous pizza. The Giordano family takes the pizza on the road and adds their own flair to the deep dishes. Their signature pizza stuffed with cheese, sauce and toppings, but a “skinny” version of the pies is also available for those who want thinner crusts and less cheese. The Chicken Milanese sandwich is a signature with tomatoes, arugula and lemon vinaigrette on a ciabatta bun.

Kansas City

1

Detroit Coney — Their motto is “Skip the bologna, have a Detroit Coney!” and that is exactly what cook Rob Johnson does. Johnson defines his coneys as an all-beef hotdog with meat chili, garnished with onions and classic yellow mustard. Though messy, the signature dog is hearty, spicy and dripping with sauce. Other offerings include nachos, burgers and seven different varieties of fries.

2

Wilma’s Real Good Food — A mural of three working men and the grinning namesake decorates the exterior of Wilma’s. Cook Brett Atkinson devises combinations of traditional American foods to fill out Wilma’s menu, along with familiar favorites like cheesesteaks and fried grits. The signature item is the Pork Belly Beignet, a slightly sweet, doughy bun filled with slow-roasted pork and cheese. For the more adventurous, frog leg tacos are another option.

3

Beauty of the Bistro — Owner Sidney Fish uses her farm childhood know-how to whip up fresh burgers, sides and salads for the wandering lunchgoer. The truck has a menu that changes with customer demand, but highlights include the Boom Boom Burger — covered with pepper jack, broccoli slaw, salsa and jalapeño aioli — and crawfish mac n’ cheese. For dessert, try a surprise with the Sweet of the Day.Moose

food trucks

4

MOOSE Truck — Owner KC Hopps playfully refers to this truck as “Moose on the Loose,” referencing a legendary blue moose that is supposedly hiding in the Kansas City area. Moose stands out among other food trucks by offering two options, a standard entrée-based menu and a combination of all of the offerings in breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets.

The Moose has a menu ranging from barbecue to Mexican, with small plate samplers changing with the seasons. Hopps even offers a “Mini Moose,” five items from any menu in small portions served together.

5

Indios Carbonsitos — Adrian Bermudez created Mexican street food, modified for the modern taste, on a whim back during 2010. Indios Carbonsitos roves around Kansas City to this day. After a few hardships and hiccups, he managed to get the truck on the street full-time. He calls his particular take “Maxi-Q,” and specializes in more upscale versions of old recipes. The Picadillo Sopes has hamburger and potatoes with verde sauce in a coaster-sized, fried corn bowl topped with beans. For something simple, try a churro with a choice of vanilla, caramel, strawberry or chocolate sauce.

PHOTO BY LEAH WILCOX Babycakes pancakes are hot and ready to eat, an ideal meal for a cloudy Chicago day

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PHOTO BY MADELINE HAUCK LuLu’s Local Eatery is committed to organic, sustainable, and delicious vegetarian cuisine.

food trucks

St. Louis

1

Seoul Taco — Known for creating a blend of Mexican and Korean cuisine, Seoul Taco’s cooks combine Korean barbecue with chipotle-spiced “Seoul Sauces” and lime juice in their namesake tacos.

Gogi bowls, another specialty, are filled with rice, gojuchang sauce, julienned vegetables and topped with a fried egg. Customers favor Kimchi, or marinated cabbage, as a side. Seoul Taco also has a brick-and-mortar location in the Delmar Loop.

2

LuLu’s Local Eatery — Lulu’s puts the focus on organic ingredients and sustainable methods in order to provide the freshest vegetarian dishes.

The Buddha Bowl, a blend of udon noodles and crisp veggies with optional baked tofu, also comes in a gluten-free form for inclusive dining. Owners Robert Tucker and Lauren Loomis stock the truck with a bevy of beers, teas and organic Izze sodas.

3

The Meltdown — This truck brings a nostalgic selection to the St. Louis streets. The menu is full of everything grilled, pressed and gooey — grilled cheeses, quesadillas and meaty melts.

Cooks Randy and Alyssa specialize in soups, with a tomato and red pepper soup constantly

available and a soup of the week changing throughout the month. Randy and Alyssa also make their own chips by hand daily to pair with the entrées. Not all of the options are savory, either — check out the Nutella, banana and powdered sugar Frenchie sandwich.

4

Sarah’s Cake Stop — Sarah’s serves a rotating menu of their most successful flavors in cupcake form, along with brownies, Everyday Wedding Cake slices and their popular cheesecake bombs.

Try a Razzmatazz, a chocolate raspberry cake with white chocolate ganache and hazelnutcappuccino frosting, on Wednesdays. Another flavorful choice is the Saturday Lemon Bear, a lemon cupcake with mascarpone icing.

The truck specializes in catering, as does the permanent shop location in Chesterfield.

5

Completely Sauced — Bob and Julie Komanetsky present Cajun dishes with a St. Louis spin from their gold, red and purple truck in downtown St. Louis and the surrounding Metro area. Stop by to view the selection of sandwiches, jambalaya, étouffée and other Creole specialties. The Komanetskys have a sense of humor in naming their dishes — for instance, the jumbo blackened shrimp Po’Boy sandwich is christened “Oxymoron.”

Columbia

1

Pepe’s of Columbia — This black truck emblazoned with a cheerful, futbol-playing donkey usually runs the circuit south of the University of Missouri, occasionally making stops at Lucky’s Market and the Macadoodles liquor store. Pepe, the truck’s owner and main cook, makes his specialty burritos with help from his wife, Katy. Other items that make Pepe’s stand out are the sweet candied tamales and variety of dips, like the Mexican ground sausage chorizo dip.

2

Buck’s Ice Cream — Despite having a permanent home at Buck’s Ice Cream Place on the University of Missouri campus, Buck’s Ice Cream Truck is a year-round, mobile favorite of the students. The truck’s crew roams around campus to deliver the icy treats to anyone who doesn’t want walk to the east side of campus. Customers can try the most famous of Buck’s flavors — the Mizzou-inspired Tiger Stripe — in a scoop, quart or half-gallon.

3

Ozark Mountain Biscuit Company — Ozark Mountain’s cooks take pride in their dishes, most sandwiched between the buttery, cottony biscuits that give the truck its name. Seekers of the simple should try ham and cheese with freshly made pepper jelly, while those who crave something less

traditional can try the “Haughty Hillbilly,” a fried green tomato with tempeh, pimiento cheese and arugula.

4

Como Dough — Wood-fired pizza is not something one would expect from a truck, but owner Mark Risch made that his goal with Como Dough.

The Forno Bravo oven housed inside can cook a pizza — like the Sausage and Apple — in less than three minutes, and Risch makes a point to use fresh, organic toppings from the Columbia area by buying from local businesses. The truck parks at the North Village Arts District Farmers and Artisans Market every Sunday to sell breads and Risch’s cinnamon buns.

5

Jamaican Jerk Hut — Outfitted with a large, outdoor grill, the Jamaican Jerk Hut truck can serve the namesake jerk chicken to dozens of hungry patrons. The meat is not the only thing in the spotlight, though — the Rasta Lemonade and Jamaican sodas are a good way to wash down the spicy, salty curry chicken or jerk wings. The Jamaican Jerk Hut is also known for its steady participation in Food Truck Fridays, a fall festival that celebrates the rolling meal.

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Resource PHOTO BY BEN NORRIS The Spot’s signatiure chicken sandwich, The Royal Bird, continues to be a crowd-pleaser.

Des Moines

1

Tacos Y Pupusas Las Palmas — The pupusas mentioned in the name are the truck’s specialty. These soft, doughy discs stuffed with chicken, beans or squishy fried pork rinds come with tangy slaw and salsa on the side. The cooks call their chorizo “birrio” to distinguish the more firm meat from the others.

For the brave, Las Palmas also offers dishes made with cow tongue and head meat.

2

Magnolia Kitchen and Grocery — Owners Mike and Suzanne Wedeking created a roving counterpart to the Des Moines restaurant Flying Mango with their colorful truck. The Wedekings’ wheelhouse is southern homestyle cooking with flavorful twists, like the Peace Tree Root Beer and Molasses Braised Pork. This pulled pork sandwich is marinated in the local soda and comes on a plateful of goat cheese grits and apple salsa. Menu items change daily to encourage customers to taste new dishes.

3

The Spot — Ben Norris and Hunter Wilson call their truck “Des Moines’ first modern food truck.” Norris and Wilson own one of the only trucks that serves American food and moves from place to place instead of staying in a single, licensed location.

The crowd-pleasing “Royal Bird” chicken sandwich is the crown of the menu with its fried prosciutto, onions, vinegar mayo and shredded Parmesan. The Spot also sells t-shirts and other merchandise from its mobile kitchen.

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4

Antojitos Mexicanos — This truck showcases a colorful, handpainted menu and specializes in tortas — round, doughy balls that are filled with roasted meat, salsa, sour cream and guacamole. Their quesadillas are also made with corn instead of flour tortillas for a softer, sweeter taste than many other trucks in the area. Antojitos Mexicanos is usually found on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

5

Tacos Degollado — Fronted by a pair of picnic tables and a tent, the Tacos Degollado truck is easy to spot in its University Avenue location. As its name implies, tacos are the item to try here. Customers can pair the asada tacos, made with tongue and beef intestines called tripe, with the sweet and cinnamon-blended horchata water. Vegetarian options, like the huge veggie burrito, are also available.

food trucks

PHOTO BY MELISSA BRADFORD From country-style favorites to more fanciful dishes, Ozark Mountain has a variety twist on the biscuit.

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JANUARYevents COLOR KEY

Hipbone Sam’s Woodson

Mixology Night Des Moines

The annual New Year’s Party at the Triangle Bar and Grill! Free food!

(217) 673-6841

Drinks, music, science and mingling! Learn about the chemistry of booze.

(515) 274-6868

Bernard Perlin: An Artist Goes to War Kirksville

01 02 03

Illinois Iowa Missouri

Propagandaartist-turnedpainter’s gallery show.

(660) 665-0500

“A Christmas Story” St. Louis

Tree Huggers Iowa City

Museum After Hours Jefferson City

Shadows of History Cedar Rapids

Bald Eagle Days Rock Island

The Fabulous Fox wraps up their annual production for the season.

(314) 534-1678

Come see over 135 handknitted “tree sweaters” all over the city!

(319) 354-0863

Visitors can peek back in time to see Missouri capitol buildings old and new.

(573) 751-4127

The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War inspires this gallery of photographs.

(319) 366-7503

Environmental consciousness and powerful animals join for the lectures and activities.

(309) 788-5912

Dinousaur Stampede!

Marble Hill

Dancing Pros Live Sioux City

L. Phillip Trutter Springfield

New dinosaurs, have arrived at the Bollinger County Natural History Museum.

(573) 238-1174

Boone and Crockett Workshop Winona

A breathtaking dancing competition show featuring Karina Smirnoff.

(800) 745-3000

Learn about a mix of art and architecture that commemorates the artists’ 100th birthday.

(217) 786-2200

Monster Truck Nationals Sioux City

Three death-defying monster truck performances for all ages.

(800) 745.3000

Learn to score and carve deer antlers at this “open house” workshop.

(573) 325-1381

Okoboji U Winter Games Arnolds Park

Nature and the Arts Cape Girardeau

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Under the Ice Highland Park

Winter Horseback Riding Golconda

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Bring the little ones to learn about the creatures that live in frozen ponds.

(712) 545-3283

Take to the trails in the winter chill with a trusty horse.

(618) 949-3737

“The Miracle Worker” Des Moines

Crystal Wagner: Immersion

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 The classic, tale of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan is brought to life on stage.

(515) 277-6261

Benjie Heu Cape Girardeau

Noted mixed media artist Crystal’s various works on display.

Broom-ball, fireworks, and more! Indoor and outdoor activities available.

(800) 839-987

Musical and artist demonstrations inspired by the natural landscape.

(573) 290-5218

Woodstock Groundhog Days Woodstock

Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show Marion

Wing Fest Quincy

(573)651-2260

EnviroLiterature Club Ames

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 The artist and professor’s work will be on display at Transition Spaces.

(573) 651-2265

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Join naturalist Rebekah Beall in a chat about environmentalist books each month.

(515) 232-2516

Free movie showing in the town from “Groundhog Day.” (815) 334-2620

Many models and makes are on display for outdoor enthusiasts.

(309) 788-5912

Chefs from all over Illinois bring out their wings for tasting. for one low price.

(217) 223-1000

Calendar

FEBRUARYevents Tango Buenos Aires

Central Illinois Jazz Festival Decatur

Hot Winter Big Fun Show Branson

Cape Girardeau

The top bands on the festival circuit give their annual concert at this festival.

(217) 422-8800

Live music and entertainment is sure to take the chill off.

(417) 339-3003

The sensual and exciting dance from Argentina comes to the Midwest.

(573) 651-2265

Old House New House Spring Showcase St. Charles

Succulent Society Show Kansas City

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Exhibits and workshops on interior and exterior design.

(630) 584-6300

Cacti and gorgeous succulents are for sale at Powell Gardens.

(816) 697-2600

12th Annual Chocolate Festival West Branch

“Tommy” Aurora

St. Louis Symphony Columbia

The Beach Boys Cedar Falls

“La Cage aux Folles” Linconshire

The great rock opera, set in 1940s America with music by classic band The Who. (630) 896-6666

America’s second oldest symphony orchestra performs with director David Robertson.

(573) 882-3781

Enjoy some “good vibrations” in the cold of winter with the hit band.

(319) 273-7469

A musical dramedy focusing on LGBTQ issues and family dynamics.

(847) 634-0220

08 09 10 11 12 13 14 Alton Brown Live!

Rockford

St. Michael’s Parish Carnival Whittemore

“Berried in Chocolate.”

Auctions, tastings, and competitions!

(417) 469-1190

Chicago Auto Show Chicago

Celtic Thunder St. Louis

“Snow White” Waterloo

Maple Festival Makanda

North America’s largest auto show returns with more than different vehicles.

(312) 791-7000

Dramatic lighting and sets highlight the nationallyrenowned singing group.

(314) 534-1678

The Black Hawk Children’s Theater puts on a production of the classic fairy tale.

(319) 291-4494

Events with maple syrup demonstrations, tree hikes, and a pancake breakfast.

(618) 453-1121

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Food Network star sings, cooks, and experiments his way through this stage show (815) 968-0595

Homemade food, raffles, prizes, and fun games for children.

(515) 884-2618

Beers to You! Cedar Falls

“No Way to Treat a Lady”

More than sixty beers and forty meals form this delicious tribute to beer and food pairings.

(319) 273-7469

Chase after a serial killer with a penchant for disguise in this stage show. (630) 584-6342

St. Joesph Sculpture Walk St. Joseph

Des Moines Area Bluegrass Festival Johnston

Rally in the 100 Acre Woods Salem

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 St. Charles

Walk through city sidewalks filled with beautiful and bizarre artwork.

(816) 233-0231

Five bands from all over the Midwest perform.

(641) 799-1442

Racing fans rejoice!

Sports cars speed over rugged, unknown terrain.

(573) 729-6900

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Kirksville MISSOURI’S NORTH STAR Remember Kirksville? Remember the home of the Palonza and the home of the secondbest hamburger? Remember the lake?

Remember all the good times here?

Come back to Kirksville and see what is new!

K

KIRKSVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.visitkirksville.com • (660) 665-3766