ABCs of Springfield

THE STANDARD

Standard staff

Advertising staff

Paris Wilken advertising designer

Makayla Malachowski advertising assistant

Editorial staff

Lillian Durr editor-in-chief

Casey Loving editor

Makayla Malachowski editor

Jenna Murray editor

Desiree Nixon editor

Makayla Strickland editor

William Bohlen copy editor

Eli Slover copy editor

Liliana Hayes copy editor

Reporters and visual artists

Allie Free reporter

Alyssa Farrar reporter

Angela Rechtfertig reporter

Dorottya Faa illustrator

Em Blackstone reporter

ABCs OF SPRINGFIELD

is published by The Standard, Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by the students on The Standard staff.

Hello hello! Welcome to The Standard’s 2023 ABCs of Springfield, this year’s entertainment issue. The origins of this publication run deep.

Hope Blaylock reporter

Jade Morrow sports reporter

Jen Crooks photographer

Jillian Smith reporter

Kylie Colbert sports reporter

Liliana Hayes reporter

Maddy Rice reporter

Maura Curran reporter

Mavis Parks reporter

O’Shayla Muldrow sports reporter

Patrick Walden photographer

Robin Garner reporter

Shane Sansom reporter

Sloane Galindo photographer

Professional staff

Jack Dimond faculty adviser

One day, the Standard editorial board met to decide what we wanted our entertainment tab to be. 30 seconds later I said, “Hey, what about the ABCs of Springfield?” And here we are, the issue now a reality. This tab is a one-stop shop for anyone wondering what there is to do in our fine college town. Looking for a night out with your friends? Learn more about Springfield’s bowling community (pg. 5) or head to Martha’s Vineyard (pg. 11). Want to take your significant other on a date? Go get brunch at Gailey’s (pg. 8) or take a trip to the theater (pg. 14). Want to wow everyone at the party with your knowledge of Springfield lore? Learn about the city’s history, culture and hidden treasures through Leong’s cashew chicken (pg. 10) and the Springfield Underground (pg. 15). So join me, visitors and fellow Springfieldianites, as we take a tour through the ABCs of Springfield.

-Casey Loving, Editor

Cover photo by Lillian Durr

A is for Askinosie

Local chocolate company stays committed to ethical industry practices

Askinosie Chocolate is a trailblazing chocolate company founded in 2005 by Shawn Askinosie alongside Lawren Askinosie, a father-daughter duo that has become well-known in Springfield and beyond.

After earning a place on Forbes’ 2016 list of America’s Best Small Companies, Askinosie has also been featured by MSNBC, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, O and many more news outlets. The brand is also sold in select Whole Foods and Target locations across the country.

After Shawn’s 20-year career as a defense attorney, he decided to leave his profession and founded Askinosie Chocolate in collaboration with his daughter Lawren.

“Mine was the kind of work that incites death threats, and I’ve received many … now, I eat chocolate every day – and nobody’s threatened to kill me – yet,” Shawn joked in a TEDx Talk in 2019. “Despite the sadness surrounding much of my work, I loved it, until I didn’t.”

As the business developed, more advanced recipes led Askinosie Chocolate to the final podiums and the winning spots of numerous awards from the Academy of Chocolate, the Good Food Foundation and the Special Food Association.

Throughout their time in the chocolate industry, Shawn and Lawren have consistently re-asserted their commitment to ethical sourcing, direct trade, fair payment and sustainability in their business practices. In the business’ most recent yearly transparency report, Shawn reported that in the past 15 years, Askinosie Chocolate paid farmers on average 45% above World Market Price and 35% above Fair Trade Price.

Furthermore, Shawn has spoken on his personal blog about his commitment to the prevention of child labor and slave labor from being a part of the cacao production process at Askinosie.

“Sadly, (the prevalence of child labor in mainstream chocolate production) is not new to us,” Shawn said. “In fact, when I founded Askinosie Chocolate in 2005 I was inspired to base our com-

pany on Direct Trade practices specifically to combat the issues of child and slave labor in cocoa … Vote with your dollars! Demand more of the companies you buy from. We all deserve better, especially the men, women and children on whose backs most of the world’s chocolate is made.”

A profit-sharing program has also been instituted with cacao farmers in Ecuador, Tanzania, Honduras and the Philippines, which distributes up to 10% of company profits to these farmers. Each kind of cacao isn’t blended with any other region’s cacao in each chocolate bar, allowing sales of each bar to be attributed to each region and therefore profits can be more easily split.

Askinosie Chocolate also funds Chocolate University, a 501(c)(3) charity organization committed to philanthropic efforts and international business education in southwest Missouri.

Domestically, Drury University has partnered with Chocolate University to provide an International Business Immersion Program for high school juniors and seniors in southwest Missouri and recently began reaccepting applicants after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The IBI program allows students to take a six-month introductory course about international business relations, entrepreneurship and goal-setting and finish the experience with a 10-day trip to Tanzania, one of the multiple overseas locations where Askinosie sources its chocolate.

Overseas, Chocolate University has created the Modern Early Learning Center – an elementary school that educates hundreds of students annually in Mababu, Tanzania, the Empowered Girls and Enlightened Boys education programs in the Kyela area of Tanzania and multiple sustainable lunch programs at schools in the Philippines and Tanzania.

As of 2019, when data was last found for the initiative, the sustainable lunch programs have provided 1.1 million meals to malnourished students.

Shawn runs a travel blog related to Askinosie Chocolate’s endeavors with farmers and cacao suppliers at askinosie.com/blogs/the-nib and at askinosiechocolate.tumblr.com.

Askinosie Chocolate’s mini-factory location is at 514 E. Commercial St. in Springfield. The mini-factory is open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ALLIE FREE Reporter D@free_allie

Photo by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

All Askinosie products are created with cocoa beans ethically sourced from partnering smallholder farms in countries including Tanzania and Ecuador.

Many people view March 13, 2020, as the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for Springfield. On that day, schools in the area were letting out for spring break, but there was a lingering feeling that people wouldn’t be returning to school, work or social activities.

For local bowling alleys Sunshine and Enterprise Park Lanes, the COVID-19 pandemic started when the centers closed on March 18.

“For a small business, this is a tough time,” Owner Steve Wiemer wrote in a Facebook post. “We care about our employees, customers and community, we are all in this together.”

Slowly, the centers reopened at a limited capacity starting at the end of May, 2020. Before long, bowling was back in the community.

On a national level, the pandemic had substantial impacts on the bowling community.

According to the United States Bowling Congress’s 2020 Annual Report, the USBC had 1.21 million members and certified 33,467 leagues for the 2019-2020 season, whereas in the 2021 Annual Report, the USBC saw a decrease of 850,000 members and certified only 28,362 leagues in the 2020-2021 season.

Keegan Standage, general manager of Sunshine and Enterprise Park Lanes, said the league numbers at both centers were down in 2021, but things soon started looking up for the company. In 2022, both centers were either equal to their numbers before the pandemic or above what they were.

“Industry-wide – we’ve talked to other proprietors – all of our businesses right now really are thriving,” Standage said. “Across the country, you see a trend where people are getting out there and looking for things to do. Bowling is in front of that for a lot of people.”

From Feb. 8-11, the Professional Bowlers Association hosted a tournament at Enterprise Park Lanes as part of its national bowling tour.

B IS FOR BOWLING

SPRINGFIELD’S BOWLING COMMUNITY THRIVING AFTER CLOSURES AND COVID-19

Famous pro bowlers such as Jason Belmonte, E.J. Tackett, Anthony Simonsen and Kris Prather not only participated in the PBA’s Springfield Classic Tournament, but also bowled with local adult and youth league bowlers in the center’s Pro-Am Tournament.

Standage said the company was honored to be able to have hosted the events.

“It was awesome to see the community rally behind the owners, Steve and Carla (Wiemer), as they paid the money to bring the professionals here,” Standage said. “It’s not only the cost of bringing them, it is the lost income from not hosting leagues or open-play bowlers. For Steve, it was worth that loss to bring the pros here to give the community that experience.”

Standage said the company’s staff worked hard to come together and make the event memorable for everyone, including the professional bowlers and the spectators, as well as the youth and adult participants in the Pro-Am event.

Sunshine Lanes Youth Coordinator Joy Hogan said the tournament saw a combined total of 176 bowlers. For all of the participants, the night was filled with good memories. Youth bowlers Parker Watson and Aiden Lane said bowling with the pros was like a dream come true.

“It was absolutely surreal,” Watson said. “They were so great to talk to and meeting my idols really was incredible.”

While bowling alongside his idols, Lane said he scored a perfect 300 No-Tap game in which scoring nine pins counted as a strike, which is normally 10 pins. Lane scored a combination of regular strikes and No-Tap strikes to achieve his perfect game.

Keven Williams, a pro bowler from Springfield who participated in both the Pro-Am and the PBA Tournament, donated a bowling ball that had been signed by all of the other pros for a raffle. Hogan said the money went to a pro-

gram in the centers called Dollars for Scholars, which provides scholarships for youth bowlers.

Not only was the PBA Tour stop a great success for the centers, but Hogan said the stop regenerated interest in bowling.

“I think there’s a resurgence in bowling,” Hogan said. “I think for a while, things were waning. When businesses started opening up after being closed from the pandemic, bowling became an outlet for recreation and people started discovering it.”

As for the youth bowlers, Hogan said the opportunities from the Pro-Am may have inspired them to continue their bowling careers. Youth bowler Madi Phillips has been in Sunshine Lanes’s program for over 12 years.

Phillips, who also participated in the Pro-Am tournament, said in the past five or six years, bowling has been a big part of her life because she is constantly participating in bowling tournaments in and out of state. She plans on pursuing bowling at the collegiate level at Wichita State University, where she will bowl for four years and hopefully bowl on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association tour afterward.

Both Watson and Lane said they want to pursue professional bowling one day and bowl alongside their idols.

“Because I’m still so young, I still have a lot of improvements I can make,” Lane said. “Being in the bowling community has really opened my eyes to the endless possibilities that the sport holds. Whether it be the friendships you make or the constant learning you get from everyone around you, it’s just an amazing experience.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for the bowling community through closures, sickness and decreased membership, one thing can be said from the community now – bowling is alive and well in Springfield.

B is also for:

Every Missouri State University student knows about our mascot, Boomer the Bear. But did you know that Boomer has a partner in crime? Growl the Bear is a shorter, lighter member of Boomer’s Crew, a secondary mascot for MSU’s campus. A 2010 YouTube video titled “Missouri State introduces Growl” shows a fan’s view of what appears to be Growl’s debut, wherein the supposedly younger bear challenges Boomer to a dance-off. Growl, sporting a backward baseball cap and #3 jersey, isn’t the only addition to Boomer’s Crew.

“Over the years, we have had new mascots in addition to Boomer. We have had Growl, Buster and Buddy. Boomer has had the longest life span, though,” said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement, in a 2015 article for The Standard following the decision to not add another “fiercer” mascot to campus.

MAKAYLA MALACHOWSKI Editor D@MMal2024

Youth bowler Parker Watson prepares to throw a shot using a two-handed approach at Sunshine Lanes, one of three bowling alleys currently open in Springfield.

Photo by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__

C is for Historic C-Street Commercial Street houses

Springfield culture, cuisine and craft

ALYSSA FARRAR Reporter D@MoonaBlu

Commercial Street is a historic Springfield strip that is ripe with local art, food and culture. Founded in the spring of 1870, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad lining the back perimeter of the street still has trains running past the blooming plazas nearly every day.

On the south side of the street there are sitdown restaurants such as That Lebanese Place, Cafe Cusco and Van Gogh’s Eeterie that bring a diverse range of cuisine to their tables. The Pizza House is a family-owned business that has been operating since 1958 and has great prices for everything on its classic menu.

Coffee shops such as Eurasia Coffee Co. and Big Momma’s have space to study, talk with friends and watch the train chug by. On the north end of the street, there are fresh-baked pastries, chocolates and teas within the Alice-in-Wonderland luncheon at Miss Gilmore’s. A new bakery called the Blue Heron has a lunch and drink menu as well, and is currently open until 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Thrift stores vary in decades and prices, as they provide an extensive variety of antique knick-knacks and fashion. MJ’s Flea Market and Gypsy Girl junk resell furniture pieces, cooking supplies, shoes and more. Newer shopping locations include the hippy furniture and zodiac art merchandise store Hakaar’s Bazaar, and 314 Vintage — a women-owned business organized aesthetically and by-decade based on collective fashion expertise.

There are specialty shops that have been additions to Commercial Street since 2020. Soozeezbeez Honey Beetique with an array of honey flavors and waxes is farmed by the business owner and beekeeper Susi Aregnato. Bees Knees Roller Skate Shop has colorful roller skates and equipment such as glittery wheels, “pop-art” helmets, and toe stoppers.

Venues hold events that take place weekly for the community to enjoy. Askinosie Chocolate hosts factory tours on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the dance floor at the Savoy Ballroom is in full swing on Thursday evenings from 8:30-11 p.m. The Moon City also hosts improv shows every Friday starting at 7 p.m. and has a discount of $5 off for student ID holders.

Monthly events on C-Street, such as Pupcrawl and Mutt Mile in June and Queen City Shout in March and August, aim to raise money for different Springfield charities. The C-Art

Festival is a street event that started in 2020 where businesses, artists and bands perform live to celebrate Commerical Streets’ artistic mark on the city. C-Art will be taking place this spring on April 23.

C-Street City Market is where local and regional vendors sell fresh produce, herbal soaps, tinctures and homemade jewelry. Located at 321 E. Commercial St., pop-up shops gather across from Pedaler’s Bike Museum and Crystal Cuts in the public parking lot. This outdoor market takes place Thursday evenings at 4-8 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 9 a.m.-2 p.m. from April to October. City Market participates in days such as Small Business Saturday and C-Street’s Culturefest. This market is volunteer-run and is open year-round for new vendors such as farmers, artists and chefs. Any small business interested in learning more about the permits and regulations of being a City Market vendor can apply at cstreetcitymarket. com.

Along with the many businesses housed in Commercial Street’s historic buildings, the district is also home to outdoor attractions, including the C-Street City Market and public art installments “Dr. Tickle” and “Toot Toot Much Fun.”

Photo by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

F is for First Friday Art Walk First Friday Art Walk helps make art more accessible to the community

MAVIS PARKS Reporter

The First Friday Art Walk gives a space to a number of vendors and artists in downtown Springfield. Occurring on the first Friday of every month, excluding January, the art walk invites local creatives to share their work at a time designated for visitors to explore and observe downtown.

According to Claire Utley, who coordinates FFAW for the Springfield Regional Arts Council, FFAW started over 20 years ago as a way to revitalize the area and to celebrate the arts and culture in Southwest Missouri. The walk previously operated as a local non-profit group, but now the council oversees operations, she said.

During each day that the walk occurs, a variety of businesses and galleries are open. Some host visual and performance art, while others offer certain specials for the day. Every venue sets their own times, but a majority participate sometime in the evening.

“It’s great to see new faces experience what the Springfield art scene has to offer,” said Laura Ingalsbe, who is the co-owner of art walk participant Formed Gallery.

Formed has been a participant since the walk returned from a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ingalsbe said her favorite part of the walk is getting to connect with fellow art lovers. “They’re just looking for something that speaks to their soul,” she added.

One of 45 local artists featured in the gallery is Dana Neuenschwander, who primarily produces acrylic-based paintings. Neuenschwander mostly paints cityscapes and landscapes and takes much inspiration from the scenery of the Ozarks. Along with Formed, Neuenschwander has work in Fresh Gallery, which also participates in the walk.

“I encourage everybody to go out and enjoy it,” Neuenschwander said.

The next FFAW will occur on April 7. This month’s walk is special because the SRAC will be hosting an exhibition called “Recognize, Release, & Transform” in partnership with Project HEAL, which works to prevent sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking on the campuses of Missouri State University and Ozarks Technical Community College. This exhibition will feature artwork inspired by the artist’s personal trauma and will take place at the Creamery Arts Center.

“My favorite part about FFAW is that we are helping make the arts accessible to the community,” Utley said.

Utley explained that it’s oftentimes difficult to become involved with the art scene if

F is also for:

you are not familiar with it and that FFAW makes the process less intimidating. For more information on who participates in the walk or what time specific locations will be open, visit the SRAC website.

The world’s largest fork, located on Chesterfield Street, is 35 feet tall and weighs nearly 11 tons, according to the City of Springfield website. Noble and Associates Advertising Agency originally designed the fork in 1990 for a restaurant on Glenstone Avenue, but it has found a new home at Noble and Associates’ office. The Springfield fork is the largest fork in the world by mass but as of March is no longer the world’s tallest fork, according to the World

Photos by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__

The Creamery Arts Center houses an Exhibition Hall which displays monthly exhibitions during First Friday Art Walk. The Creamery Arts Center also houses Springfield Regional Arts Council’s offices. The council runs the monthly First Friday Art Walk.

Many galleries and businesses in downtown Springfield take part in First Friday Art Walk. Recent venues include Fresh Gallery, Bookmarx and Brick City Gallery.

G is for Gailey’s Springfield

drugstore of their own, setting up shop in downtown Springfield where it remains today.

“Local regulars would fill the counter seats throughout the day as they read the paper and shared stories and laughs with one another,” the Gailey’s website reads.

At the time, the Gaileys ran their shop together, with Joe working the pharmacy and Beulah serving chili, milkshakes and burgers. Though Beulah still ran the diner following Joe’s passing, the cafe largely transitioned into what it is today when ownership passed hands.

El Jefe skillet and the Julia’s Tacos are pretty popular.”

The restaurant has evolved in many ways since expanding into the Hotel Seville. Now, they use this space to host live music events, such as a performance by the local folk band King Size on March 25. They’ve also begun expanding their hours into new windows.

Located on the corner of Walnut and Robberson, Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe is a popular dining establishment in downtown Springfield. Though the cafe itself has only been around for most of the 2000s, the Gailey’s name has held this location for nearly a century as a piece of Springfield history.

“Gailey’s has been a part of downtown Springfield since 1942,” manager Katelyn Laubaugh said. “It functioned as a drug store back in the day, but after Joe Gailey (the pharmacist) passed away, his wife Beulah operated it more as a diner.”

According to Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe’s website, Joe and Beulah met at a fountain drugstore when they were younger. After getting married, the two set out to open a fountain

“His corner location became an iconic symbol of Springfield’s past; surviving long after downtown ceased to be the hub of Springfield Commerce,” the website says. “Today the old drugstore combined with the former lobby of the Hotel Seville has been refurbished into a full service café offering a unique diner experience while celebrating its exciting past.”

Though a lot has changed over the years, Laubaugh said customers still come in remembering some of the cafe’s previous iterations to this day.

“Customers still talk about lining up for a bowl of (Beulah’s) chili,” she said.

Menu items have evolved quite a bit from the old days of Gailey’s, where regulars could order Beulah’s humble food selection at the pharmacy.

“My personal favorites are a tossup between the blackberry stuffed french toast or the Eggs Benedict with a side of sweet browns,” Laubaugh said. “Overall though, the

“Gailey’s has changed a lot since its origin, even in these past few years,” Laubaugh said. “People mostly associate us with ‘breakfast cafe hours,’ but we’ve opened up our Wednesday through Saturday until 9 p.m. and will continue to extend our hours as a few more updates are made.”

More information about Gailey’s history and menu can be found at gaileysbreakfast. com. Here, patrons can also request to host private parties or display their art at the location.

“I was 7 before I realized you could eat breakfast with your pants on,” reads the main page of their website, a quote from author Christopher Moore.

What started as a corner drug store has since become a restaurant representing Springfield’s history, as Gailey’s evolved into the breakfast cafe it is today. In this sense, Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe remains inextricable from its downtown location and local history.

“Lots of people have asked us about franchising Gailey’s,” Laubaugh said. “But you simply can’t franchise the history that makes us who we are.”

Photo by Sloane Galindo

Q@slee.createsthings

Located at the corner of Walnut Street and Robberson Avenue, Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe is surrounded by unique businesses to visit after a meal, such as Hawthorn Galleries, Stick it in Your Ear and the Landers Theatre.

H is for Hammons Field Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State Bears find home in Hammons Field amid new ownership

Created by street art initiative Chroma 417, the outside of Hammons Field is decorated with a mural of the field’s home team — the Springfield Cardinals. While Cardinals decorate the field, they are not the only team who has found a home in Hammons. The field has also been home to the Missouri State Bears baseball team since 2004.

MAKAYLA STRICKLAND Sports Editor

D@m_strickland28

Baseball season is in full swing for the Bears. Just a few blocks from the center of Missouri State University’s campus, the Bears battle any opponent that comes to town at Hammons Field.

Luckily, for Springfield residents who double as baseball fans, Hammons Field isn’t just for the Bears. The field is also home to the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the 11-time Major League Baseball World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

The Springfield Cardinals have found their home in Springfield since 2005, while the Bears have played all their home games at Hammons Field since it was opened in 2004.

According to the city of Springfield website, the idea of Hammons Field was implemented by John Q. Hammons, a late Springfield developer and benefactor. In 2002, he was granted a bond from the city to take on the construction of this attraction. Hammons passed away in 2013 and the John Q. Hammons Charitable Trust was created under his name.

The field was under the jurisdiction of the trust until recently, when the field came under the ownership of the City of Springfield after many city council hearings and a council vote.

His also for:

The city council approved the $12 million purchase agreement for the stadium and parking lots in February 2023.

That vote also approved $4 million in stadium improvements as well as an agreement to keep the Cardinals in town until at least 2038.

“We have the Double-A franchise of the most popular Major League team in the Midwest,” said Springfield Mayor Ken McClure in a press release following the vote. “We plan to be the home to the Springfield Cardinals for generations to come.”

Almost 200 Springfield Cardinal players have made their debut in the MLB, 126 of those players making their big break as St. Louis Cardinals.

City ownership will not affect the Missouri State baseball team, as they will continue to play at Hammons Field under head coach Keith Guttin.

Twenty players have made it to the Major Leagues during Guttin’s 40 seasons, including six first-round selection picks. Three students who played for the Bears just last season got their chance to go pro this summer.

In July 2022, right-handed pitcher Jake McMahill signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization, catcher Drake Baldwin was taken by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft and outfielder Dakota Kotowski joined the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hurts Donut is one local business making its mark across the country. The doughnut shop opened its first Springfield location in 2013 and currently has two locations — one on East Republic Road and the other on East Sunshine Street, near the Missouri State University campus. Though Hurts Donut got its start in Springfield, the doughnut shop has expanded to 14 other locations in states including Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

The Bears are 6-2 at home this season, and 11-8 overall. They will return to Hammons Field on April 7. The cost of admission for Missouri State students with a valid Bearpass is $2.

The Springfield Cardinals will throw their first pitch during the home opener on Thursday, April 6. Tickets start at $10.

Photos by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

Hammons Field has been home to both the Springfield Cardinals and the Missouri State Bears since it opened in 2004. The field’s construction was funded by John Q. Hammons.

DESIREE NIXON Editor

@DesireeNixon17

Any ABC list of Springfield must include the essential “C” – Springfield-style cashew chicken. David Leong was the creator of the dish, which has been imitated but not replicated by many other restaurants across town.

In previous Standard coverage, David Leong spoke on his personal history and how Springfield-style cashew chicken originated.

According to Leong, he came to the United States from China when he was 19 years old to meet his father, a railroad worker in America. David joined the U.S. Army in 1942 as a part of the terms of his citizenship and trained in Virginia for a year.

For nine months, Leong trained in England and learned the skills necessary for survival in Normandy. During downtime, he honed his cooking skills.

“The head chef was sick and he goes, ‘Does anyone else cook?’ My dad said he can cook,” Wing Yee Leong, David’s son and current executive chef of Leong’s, said. “He was cooking for all the enlisted men and the colonel came in to eat with them.”

The colonel loved the food, and Leong became the crew’s personal chef.

After World War II, David cooked in Florida for Dr. John Tsang, a prominent neurosurgeon. After cooking for him for a while, the neurosurgeon offered for David to come back with him to Springfield to start a Chinese restaurant.

He worked at that restaurant for years. David said that after being taken advantage by the restaurant, he wanted to open his own restaurant – which would become Leong’s Tea House – in 1963.

Before its grand opening, the restaurant was hit with dynamite; however, no one was ever formally charged.

The involvement of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives prompted the Springfield Police Department to post an officer there every day, Wing Yee said. The grand opening proceeded to go on as planned, and Leong’s Tea House enjoyed several decades of success until 1997 when David closed its doors following his wife’s death.

According to previous Standard coverage, 13 years after closing Leong’s Tea House, Wing brought up the idea to his father to open a new Leong’s. His father, at the age of 90, wanted to reopen. Wing said his dad was sick of everyone

File photo/THE STANDARD

Leong’s Tea House, now Leong’s Asian Diner, is the originator of Springfield-style cashew chicken as well as a force behind the dish’s fame in Springfield.

telling him that people did not operate a restaurant the same way he used to.

Now, over a decade later – and nearly three years after David Leong’s passing – his restaurant, Leong’s Asian Diner, is still open and operated by his six children.

“It’s amazing how many people said they have such a fond memory of my dad,” Wing said. “He has a legacy here and we are trying to keep that legacy going. We carry on. We feel his presence here.”

Wing wanted people to know that Springfield cashew chicken is common in the Ozarks, but it can be found all over the world. On one of David’s final visits to China, Wing said, they were serving cashew chicken in Hong Kong. While it can be considered a regional food, it is beginning to expand beyond its borders.

As for Wing, he says he is of retirement age and is beginning to think of passing the reins to start a new chapter of Leong’s Asian Diner.

“We are looking to update some menu items and create new customers,” said Wing. “The issue I have with being a restaurant that has been here so long is creating new memories with younger customers.”

He explained that his dad’s generation is passing away. Leong’s Asian Diner must create new memories for the next generation.

Leong’s Asian Diner is located at 1540 W Republic Rd. For more information on Leong’s Asian Diner, visit leongsasiandiner.com. To view previous coverage on Springfield-style cashew chicken, visit www.the-standard.org/.

L is for Leong’s A local delicacy with a lasting legacy

M is for Martha’s Vineyard Nightclub creates safe space for Springfield LGBTQIA+ community

MAKAYLA MALACHOWSKI Editor

D@MMal2024

Martha’s Vineyard, a nightclub and bar in downtown Springfield, fosters a safe and supportive community for everyone, including LGBTQIA+ individuals.

According to Martha’s website, the nightclub opened in the mid-1990s and has since ushered in a new era of culture for the LGBTQIA+ community in Missouri.

The nightclub was first named “Mr. Jones” before transitioning to “The Downbeat”. Upon changing the name to Martha’s Vineyard in 1994, the nightclub has seen several transformations. Robert Hazlette, talent and event coordinator for Martha’s, said the business has added on pieces such as a dance floor, stages and the cellar lounge over the years.

Hazlette said Martha’s has become a chosen family for many in the LGBTQIA+ community.

“We’ve always tried to instill that in our staff,

W

exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest.”

Missouri followed suit by presenting House Bill 494 on Jan. 24, which uses the same language. If passed, the proposed effective date of the bill would be Aug. 23.

When asked about the legislation, Hazlette said the option to attend drag events should be left up to parents and legal guardians.

performers and each other,” Hazlette said. “It’s not just something about the patrons; we’ve got members of our staff who have experienced that same trauma at home. It’s always been about making sure that we’re doing our due diligence to be leaders in the community and step up where we can.”

Martha’s has worked closely with organizations including the Aids Project of the Ozarks and the GLO Center promote sexual health and safety. Additionally, Hazlette said Martha’s works to be inclusive and validate all forms of artistic expression.

The nightclub is most commonly known for its drag shows, which are hosted every Friday and Saturday night at 10:45 p.m. and some weeks Tuesday through Thursday as well.

Where Martha’s looks to make sure everyone knows they’re accepted, recent legislation is making some feel as though they’re not.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation that would prevent “adult cabaret performances on public property.” Senate Bill 003 defines an adult cabaret performer as “topless dancers, go-go dancers,

“I don’t think we should punish people for freedom of expression,” Hazlette said. “We have to overcome it in a tactful way. I don’t believe that legislation will change someone from being able to express who they are, and I don’t think it should.”

Hazlette said that even if there are legal boundaries present, Martha’s will go through those boundaries for the people who need them.

Martha’s has several upcoming events, including an in-house drag race featuring guest judge Widow Von’Du. Von’Du, who was a contestant on the television series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” And will be at the nightclub for the company’s anniversary event on March 31.

In addition to the events, Martha’s has created a theatrical division called High Tide Theatrical. Hazlette serves as the artistic director for the division.

“We just had our first ever theatrical production this (month), ‘Sordid Lives,’” Hazlette said. “It played for over 300 people, and four out of six shows sold out.”

Hazlette said there will also be a dinner theater event held in August, which will feature the play

Martha’s Vineyard is a nightclub and bar located at 219 W Olive St. Along with typical service, Martha’s also regularly holds events, such as karaoke nights and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” watch parties.

“The Sweet Delilah Swim Club.” In November, Martha’s will be presenting a production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The plays will be hosted next door in the record store, Heavy Heads Records, to accommodate more people and have different forms of entertainment available at the same time.

To learn more about the events and Martha’s upcoming anniversary weekend, visit marthasvineyardmo.com.

Photo by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__

P is for Park Central Square

Explore the square at the heart of Springfield

Photos by Sloane Galindo Q@slee.createsthings

Among the many businesses on Park Central Square are several restaurants and coffee shops offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Locations offering food and drink on the square include Civil Kitchen, Rise, The Golden Girl Rum Club and The Coffee Ethic.

Not only is Park Central Square the site of many historic events in Springfield, it is also home to the History Museum on the Square. According to the museum’s website, visitors can “Journey through eight interactive galleries to see how Springfield, Missouri and its region shaped American history.

In the heart of downtown Springfield, Park Central Square provides a community space for the public. The square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 2010.

The open plaza at the center of Park Central Square is decorated with trees, concrete structures and a fountain. As the center of the city the square is often the location of civil protests, gatherings, festivals and celebrations in the city.

Photos by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

S is for Sweets Local companies provide sweet summer treats for Springfield residents

LILIANA HAYES Reporter D@lilidarleen

Springfield is home to its fair share of famous summer sweets. If you’ve lived here for longer than a month, you’ve probably heard of the two biggest ones: Andy’s Frozen Custard and Pineapple Whip. What makes these two dessert shops so integral to the Ozarkian experience?

Andy’s sells, you guessed it, frozen custard. Their signature menu consists of sundaes, concretes, shakes, malts and more, with seasonal flavors featured every other month. If nothing on the menu entices you, there’s also an option to make your own creation from Andy’s list of flavors and mix-ins.

In August 2022, a new Andy’s was constructed on the corner of National Avenue and East Elm Street at the edge of the Missouri State University campus. This location marks the seventh shop in the city.

“We feel like this is a great location to connect to the midtown of Springfield, Missouri,and the university,” Andy Kuntz, current president and owner of Andy’s, said.

As of 2023, Andy’s has established 100 locations throughout 14 states, but it got its start back in 1986. According to their website, during a visit to Wisconsin, John and Carol Kuntz were enchanted by the taste of frozen custard and left the state determined to kickstart their own business down south. They were guided by Milwaukee’s most influential custard stand owners, Leon and Doris Schnieder, throughout their journey.

After choosing to name the shop after their son, the couple opened the first Andy’s on March 19, 1986, in Osage Beach, Missouri. They became a go-to sweet at the lake soon after and then opened their first shop in Springfield on Sunshine Street the following year. From there, their popularity soared to heights previously unimaginable by the duo.

John and Carol taught Andy and his wife, Dana, everything that the Schnieders had taught them about manning a successful business. Throughout the 1990s, Andy and Dana pushed to expand the business by working 100-hour weeks. By the early 2000s, Andy’s grew into a budding franchise.

Andy’s now holds the title of being the world’s largest dessert-only franchise. Despite having locations in larger states like Colorado, Florida and Texas, Andy and Dana have kept the headquarters in the heart of Springfield. But make no mistake, Andy’s is not the only seasonal sweet treat beloved by Springfield-

ians.

Pineapple Whip is another legendary sweet that has stayed more local compared to Andy’s national reach; however, to Springfield audiences, it is no less iconic. The phrase “Want to go get some P-Whip?” has become a signature phrase tossed around from midApril to October every year. When the weather warms up, Pineapple Whip’s dancing hula girls come out for the season.

In 2015, the current owner, Zach Fortner, experimented with a three-day event in the winter which he called the Whip Solstice. The turnout astonished him, and ever since then, the Pineapple Whip cart has been open for business during the annual Whip Solstice.

There are three fixed locations in Springfield and one in Junction City, Kansas. There is also a traveling cart in Springfield that can be found at community events like Cider Days and the Ozark Empire Fair.

In 1974, Dan Fortner first introduced the dairy-free soft serve to his concessions stand at the Ozark Empire Fair, where customers quickly flocked. Fans of his creation urged him to open a permanent shop in Springfield. With his two sons’ help, the trio constructed trailers and fulfilled their customers’ wishes of expanding the business.

In the nearly 50 years since opening, the Fortner family has never changed the original pineapple recipe. However, they have added five more flavors that rotate throughout the season: mango-peach, strawberry-kiwi, grape, orange and banana-pomegranate.

Zach’s first ever summer job was working alongside his family, serving customers. He originally pursued a career in banking but returned to be the third-generation owner of Pineapple Whip. That might be an interesting career change to some, but Zach said he wouldn’t trade it for the world.

The way this small, family-owned business

has grown within the community for half a century has made it a key aspect of the Springfieldian way of life.

File photo/THE STANDARD

Pineapple Whip’s iconic shops can commonly be found in four locations throughout Springfield. The shops can be found on East Sunshine, West Battlefield, South Campbell and South Glenstone, as well as at select local events.

Photo by Sloane Galindo Q@slee.createsthings

The newest Andy’s Frozen Custard location in Springfield can be found near the Missouri State University campus. The Andy’s, located at the corner of National Avenue and Elm Street, neighbors multiple FSL residences and is less than a mile from the Plaster Student Union.

LEARN A LANGUAGE THIS SUMMER!

T is for Theaters

Jumpstart or get ahead in your study by taking a course this summer! We offer all of our courses online, for more info scan below

If you find yourself in Springfield on a Saturday night looking to see a show, there’s a good chance you’ve got your bases covered. The city houses a number of diverse theaters, each showing a different selection of cinematic and theatrical productions.

Springfield Contemporary Theatre is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing new, adult-oriented theatrical productions to Springfield. Managing Artistic Director Rick Dines said SCT usually sticks to works created in the last 30 years for its traditional eight-show annual season.

“Our mission is also twofold,” he said. “It’s to take some classic works or older works and look at them through a contemporary lens, and also part of our mission is producing things that other organizations in town aren’t looking at, aren’t producing, trying to look at some of those holes as well.”

Most of Springfield Contemporary’s shows hold open auditions for local actors in the Springfield area. SCT is currently running a production of “Hedda Gabler,” a contemporary look at the classic play. They will also run “Urinetown” at The Historic Fox Theatre from mid-June to early July.

“Our focus is not only on just pure entertainment but also bold, more thought-provoking work, things that ask a lot of questions but don’t necessarily provide a lot of answers,” Dines said.

For more information about these shows and more, visit springfieldcontemporarytheatre.org.

Audiences looking for more staged productions can also check out Springfield Little Theatre, another of downtown Springfield’s nonprofit community theaters.

“Springfield Little Theatre is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization energized by the highest artistic ideals that strive to entertain, educate, and involve the community in live theatrical productions and in the preservation of the historic Landers Theatre,” their website reads.

Springfield Little Theatre, which started in 1934, hosts about eight productions each season at The

Landers Theatre on Walnut Street. As part of their 86th season, SLT will have a production of the musical “Pippin” running April 14-30, as well as a production of “Beauty and the Beast” from June 9-25.

More information, including how to audition and where to buy tickets, can be found at springfieldlittletheatre.org

“We are not just in our community, we are our community,” the SLT website reads. “The moments, feelings, conversations and relationships that are created by experiencing live theatre live in all of us. That’s magic. That’s Springfield Little Theatre.”

Springfield also has a number of venues available for those looking for a night at the movies. Though Regal recently closed the Hollywood Theaters, there is still one location for film fans in downtown Springfield: The Moxie.

“The Moxie is a premier non-profit independent movie theater, bringing the best in cinema to Springfield, Missouri since 2004,” their website reads.

While other first-run theaters in the city are currently showing widely-distributed blockbusters, The Moxie’s two screens almost exclusively show smaller-budgeted films with limited runs that you may not find elsewhere in Springfield. Located on Campbell Avenue, the theater also hosts a number of repertory screenings, such as their upcoming showings of “Harakiri” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

Currently, The Moxie is showing the Best Picture-winning “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and the IFC-distributed “The Lost King.” For more showtimes and information, visit moxiecinema.com.

“We exist to enrich our community through film’s power to engage, educate, and inspire,” the Moxie website reads. “Yes, we show movies and sell tickets, but at our core, we exist to make our community a better place to live.”

In addition to The Moxie, Springfield primarily has two other movie theaters: an AMC Theatre on East Montclair Street and an Alamo Drafthouse on South Avenue. Current showings at these theaters include “John Wick: Chapter 4,” “Creed III” and “Scream VI.”

Springfield theaters host a variety of film and stage productions

Photo by Casey Loving

Decades of history and hard work live just under the city’s surface U is for Underground

LILLIAN DURR Editor-in-Chief

D@lillian_durr

One year ago, Reddit user Krodus asked a question that put Springfield, Missouri at the forefront of online discourse once again: Why is 1.4 billion pounds of cheese stored in a cave underneath Springfield, Missouri?

Some commenters on the post theorized the building of a food surplus for possible apocalypses, while others shared details of similar storage sites across the country.

One user, feralfantastic, suggested the cheese had a far more sinister use.

“Our city has been chosen as bait for the dreaded Ratzilla. Once it is finished devouring the moon, it will leap free of the lunar rind and strike Springfield, Missouri like the fist of an angry god,” said feralfantastic before offering a more grounded suggestion. “Also I would guess that Kraft made it and it just cut down on shipping?”

The answer to the aforementioned cheese storage beneath Springfield certainly won’t be found in apocalypse-prepping conspiracies or the luring of a monstrous rodent. Instead, the real answer lies in the Springfield Underground, and the Underground reveals much more than a cave full of cheese.

The original Reddit post claimed the cheese stored in the Springfield Underground is government-owned, but John Griesemer, CEO of Erlen Group — the company that owns and operates the Springfield Underground — said this isn’t the case.

“It’s public information how much cheese is in storage in the US,” said Griesemer. “If you store food, you’re regulated by the Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration, so you report monthly how much you have in storage and that’s where those numbers come from for the US. That doesn’t mean it’s owned by the government.”

According to the Center for Land Use Interpretation website, Kraft does utilize storage in the Springfield Underground as some Reddit users suggested. However, they are only one of many clients that have been housed in the Springfield Underground throughout its extensive history.

The Underground is a private, family-owned business. John Griesemer is the third-generation of the Griesemer family to serve as CEO for Erlen Group, following his father and grandfather.

According to the Springfield Underground website, what is today known as the Springfield Underground originally opened in 1946 as the Joseph J. Griesemer Quarry. “The quarry provided crushed limestone products to the construction and agricultural markets.”

The Griesemer Stone Company later partnered with General Warehouse Corporation to provide warehouse space beneath the city, before the two companies merged in 1994 to become the Springfield Underground.

Today, the Springfield Underground continues to sell material removed from underground — including to concrete and asphalt companies — and provide space for numerous clients, not only for storage but for distribution.

“We’re probably three-quarters food products, and that goes back to the temperature advantage,” said Griesemer. “That change in temperature is not nearly as big as it would be in a surface building where you’re taking it from on a summer day … So, that’s your big utility savings right there and probably the most quantifiable advantage of being underground.”

According to the Underground’s website, the facility has a constant ambient temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Dry buildings can be humidity and temperature controlled,” says the website. “Our refrigerated buildings range from -20 degrees to 55 degrees and are cooled by ammonia refrigeration systems.”

Griesemer said that Underground clients do not have to be local, but that the facility looks for tenants that benefit from being underground. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re local, regional or national, but if they can take advantage of the underground space, then it’s a win for us and them.”

Along with the ambient temperature, Griesemer said the Underground also benefits from its safety and security and the ability to tailor spaces to client needs.

But upon entering the Underground it becomes clear that the facility is much more than just the space it provides. The Underground is a constantly-developing and moving system of parts made possible by an extensive team of professionals.

“I just happen to be the guy that gets to lead a fabulous team; we have long-term committed people and client relationships that are multi-generational,” said Griesemer. “So we have everything in our company from human resources specialists, recruiters, mining engineering, me-

As a distribution and storage facility, the warehouses in the Springfield Underground include docks for semitrucks transporting material.

Within the Springfield Underground are multiple numbered warehouses, each providing storage space for different tenants.

chanical engineering, our refrigeration systems mechanical engineers … If you think about our refrigeration, it’s all monitored remotely and our temperature monitoring, so that’s all an IT function.”

Griesemer said the company also includes opportunities for working with logistics networks, warehouse management, accounting, heavy equipment operation and explosives work.

While traveling through the Underground with Chris Ferrer, systems and logistics supervisor at the Underground, it was undeniable that the wonder and efficiency of the facility is made possible by dozens of dedicated individuals. From the maintenance of pump systems keeping the Underground dry to the maintenance of the vast underground road systems, the organization and effort that goes into maintaining the Underground was quickly visible.

So even though Krodus’ original Reddit post did contain a half-truth — there is cheese stored underneath Springfield, Missouri — the Springfield Underground remains much more than just a cave full of cheese.

While the majority of the Underground houses food products, it’s not just cheese. The refrigeration and adaptable storage capabilities allow for the storage of other food products, like the eggs pictured above.

U is also for:

Open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Union Club is a culinary gem housed right on campus inside the Plaster Student Union. According to the MSU dine on campus website, the Union club offers, “A beautiful and intimate dining atmosphere with a lunch designed and created by Chartwells catering team, a full salad bar and meals that change daily.”

Photos by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

W is for Wonders of Wildlife

Best Aquarium” awarded to Wonders of Wildlife for the fifth time

JENNA MURRAY Editor

D@Jenna_Murray5

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium was recently voted “America’s Best Aquarium” in 2023 by USA Today. This is now their fifth win of this title, having previously won in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

According to USA Today, after a panel of experts narrowed the list down to 20 nominees, the top 10 best aquariums were picked by readers. In a city news release, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure congratulated Wonders of Wildlife on their win.

“We are very fortunate to have the country’s best aquarium right here in Springfield,” McClure said. “This award is richly deserved, but we also know in order to keep them and maintain them, it’s a continued effort to make (WOW) better, more instructive, more informative.”

Anna Seymour is a junior at Evangel University studying applied science and sustainability. Since September 2022, she has been working as an unpaid animal care volunteer at Wonders of Wildlife.

“They genuinely care about their animals and their well-being,” Seymour said.

As an applied science and sustainability major, Seymour hopes to do something similar to what she’s doing now at Wonders of Wildlife in her future career.

“I’ve always wanted to go into the conservation field,” Seymour said. “When I found out how cool the volunteering thing was and how hands-on it is, I thought it was perfect for what I’m going to do someday and thought it would be a great way for me to get my foot in the door with the Bass Pro enterprises.”

As an animal care volunteer, Seymour’s duties include maintenance, cleaning, feeding the animals and monitoring their overall health.

Seymour said Wonders of Wildlife also works with her and is flexible with her schedule as a

college student with another job.

“If you have any problems with scheduling you can reach out to them and they’ll let you do half days,” Seymour said.

Wonders of Wildlife also offers internships in life sciences, education, administration, marketing and life support systems, for college students interested in conservation. According to their website, interns “work closely with our professional staff to learn new skills, get real-world experience and help advance our conservation mission.”

According to their website, Wonders of Wildlife is 350,000 square feet and features over 1.5 miles of exhibits and over 800 species. Their wildlife galleries are made up of 4-D dioramas of natural habitats, including the Native American Hall and National Parks exhibit. They also have 17 separate aquarium sections and several museum exhibits.

Wonders of Wildlife has several interactive features, including a tidal pool with small sea creatures and a stingray touch tank. With the purchase of an additional ticket, guests also have the opportunity to go shark diving inside a metal cage without diver certification. According to Seymour, the stingray touch tank is the aquarium’s most popular exhibit, while her personal favorite is the penguin encounter.

In addition to exhibits, Wonders of Wildlife offers educational opportunities. According to their website, they facilitate field trips, day camps, an outdoor learning camp called WOLF (Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility) School and several special learning programs for students.

General admission tickets for adults vary between $34.50 and $55, depending on how early in advance the ticket is purchased. Tickets for children aged 4-11 range from $20.75 to $24.95. Children 3 and under are free. They also offer discounts for seniors and veterans and have membership opportunities.

To learn more about Wonders of Wildlife, visit wondersofwildlife.org.

“America’s

Photo by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__

Wonders of Wildlife is adjacent to Springfield’s Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World — the first ever Bass Pro location. The chain’s CEO and founder Johnny Morris is a Springfield native.

Job Opening: Editor-in-Chief of The Standard for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Required qualifications: To be eligible, candidates must be enrolled as full-time undergraduate or graduate students at Missouri State University, must be committed to full-time enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year, must be in academic good standing with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or higher, and must be eligible for student employment.

Preferred qualifications: Candidates should be able to demonstrate an adequate background to carry out the duties of this position, through academic coursework and/or work experience.

Duties: The successful candidate will begin work in summer 2023. (Summer enrollment is not required.) Duties include overseeing the newspaper's editorial operation; supervising the writers, copy desk, section editors, graphic designers and photographers; establishing and maintaining consistent editorial deadlines; organizing copy flow; guiding staff in the overall production of the newspaper; selecting the editorial staff in consultation with the faculty adviser; and upholding The Standard's ethical and professional standards.

To Apply: Applications may be submitted at The Standard's office in Clay Hall, 744 E. Cherry St. Each candidate’s application must include a letter of application, a resume, three letters of reference, the candidate’s proposed fall 2023 class schedule, and samples of work that demonstrate the candidate’s ability to perform the duties of the position. Applications must be emailed to Standard@MissouriState.edu no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2023.

Interviews: The Advisory Board for Student Publications will interview candidates in April at a time and location to be determined.

...And Z: Meet Springfield area icons

D is for The Discovery Center of Springfield

Located in the heart of Springfield, the Discovery Center is a nonprofit interactive science center.

I is for Incredible Pizza

Springfield is home to the first ever Incredible Pizza, now one of eight locations for the pizza and entertainment based franchise.

K is for KSMU

KSMU is the Ozarks’s local National Public Radio affiliate, located on the Missouri State University campus.

Q is for Queen City

“Queen City” is one nickname attributed to Springfield, although the origins of the nickname are unclear, according to the Springfield-Greene County Library website.

R is for Route 66

As the birthplace of the famous Route 66, Springfield is home to the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center, as well as the annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival.

V is for Vantage Rooftop

Vantage Rooftop Bar Lounge and Conservatory is sat atop the Hotel Vandivort, giving it an elevated view of Downtown Springfield alongside its menu of specialty drinks.

X is for Xurros

Xurros is a dessert shop food truck owned by brothers Eddie and Jorge Aceves, which serve unique churros, inspired by those made in Barcelona, Spain.

Z is for Dickerson Park Zoo

Dickerson Park Zoo is a division of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board first opened 100 years ago in 1923.

N is for Nathanael Greene Park: The Springfield park features many amenities, including the Roston Butterfly House, access to the South Creek Greenway and gardens.

J is for Jordan Valley Ice Park: Jordan Valley Ice Park is a part of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and houses two indoor ice rinks open for public skating, figure skating and hockey.

Photo by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

Y is for Yum Yum Bowl: Yum Yum Bowl is one locally owned and operated restaurant — located on Battlefield Road — serving their own spin on Asian and Chinese Cuisine.

Photo by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__

Photo by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

and attractions from the letters we skipped

E is for Ernie Biggs: Ernie Biggs is one of many venues for live music in Springfield, featuring live performers in their Chicago style dueling piano bar.

Ask the Editors

1) Favorite place to eat in Springfield

2) Favorite place to experience the outdoors

3) Best place to go out with friends

4) Best place to take a date

5) Favorite local organization to support

6) Best local food/drink

7) Best attraction to show guests from out of town

MAKAYLA

O is for The Outland Complex: The Outland Complex is comprised of three interconnected venues — The Outland, The Outland Ballroom and Front of House Lounge — perfect for those looking for live music and entertainment in Downtown Springfield.

MAKAYLA MALACHOWSKI

JENNA

1. Canton Inn

2. Missouri State Campus

3. Comic Force

4. Any Springfield coffee shop

5. The Moxie

6. Imo’s Pizza

7. Blue Room Comedy Club

1. Hong Kong Inn

2. Doling Park

3. Jordan Valley Ice Park

4. Springfield Little Theatre

5. Special Olympics of Southwest Missouri

6. Cashew Chicken

7. Springfield Art Museum

1. Leong’s

2. Nathanael Greene Park

3. Alamo Drafthouse

4. Ocean Zen

5. Rescue One, Watching Over Whiskers and CARE Animal Rescue

6. Cashew Chicken

7. World’s Largest Fork by Mass

1. Bambino’s

2. Springfield Nature Center

3. MudHouse Coffee

4. Nonna’s Italian Cafe

5. Springfield Regional Arts Council

6. Andy’s Frozen Custard

7. Wonders of Wildlife

1. O’Hana Japanese Steakhouse

2. Downtown Springfield

3. Great Southern Bank Arena

4. Jimm’s Steakhouse

5. Downtown Springfield Association

6. Pizza House pizza

7. The original Bass Pro Shop

1. Kai

2. Sequiota Park

3. Kingdom Coffee

4. Bambino’s

5. Clean Green Springfield

6. Black Sheep

7. Bass Pro Shops

Photo by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__

Photo by Makayla Malachowski Q@mxkxlo__