Vox Magazine Jan/Feb 2024

Meet the team that puts in the work — and the miles — in an iceless city.

TRUST FALL

Since early childhood, trust hasn’t been easy for me. My parents had to work and couldn’t always afford a babysitter, so often I’d be home alone. Every day before leaving for work, my mom would warn me not to trust anyone who shows up at our door. “Don’t open the door to anyone, even if they tell you I’m in danger,” she would say. “Always check.” So I did. And I do to this day.

My mistrust of people has kept me safe. I’ve been independent from a young age; I could travel by myself and have late curfews because my mom knew how cautious I am — how cautious she raised me to be.

While in most instances my skepticism comes in handy, sometimes it scares me because I never learned when to stop. That same mistrust has sneaked into my relationships, barricading me from people around me. That same mistrust means that every single seller/ buyer on Facebook Marketplace must be a serial killer. And that same mistrust forces me to ask 10,000 “trick” questions when renting a new

apartment in a big city just to make sure I’m not being scammed. (I was, in case anyone’s wondering.) As I navigate a December move to Washington, D.C., I had to confront both these issues many times.

In this month’s issue, we have several stories that are built around trust. Both of our features dive into sports — pickleball (p. 12) and hockey (p. 18) — where it’s essential to trust your teammates, to know that someone will be there when you pass the puck. When a fire broke out in the True/False Film Fest’s office building, the festival team believed that CoMo would come to the rescue (p. 11). And when Goldie’s kickstarted its neighbors’ fund, they trusted Columbians would pay it forward (p. 27).

I, too, have trusted Columbia and its people. The friendly faces in America’s Heartland have shown me the good in people. As I fell into its arms, this town made me feel safe and supported. It saddens me that I have to leave. The way I learned to trust here will always remind me that there’s good in the world.

Behind the issue

As someone whose world revolves around sports, both as a participant and as a photojournalist, I knew I wanted to tell a story about the commitment required to be a student athlete. And what better way to combine the two — school and athletics — than by putting fully uniformed athletes on locations around the MU campus? Hockey was an easy choice because the players’ uniforms stand out visually, but I also knew that as a club team, it receives limited support from MU, and that comes with challenges. I organized multiple photo sessions with the team with the help of club president and team captain Nick Spolec, and Owen Ziliak assisted me with a flash to make the photos stand out. See the results starting on page 18.

Lily Dozier

CULTURE MEGHAN LEE, MARJAI NEAL, SAM WILLS

EAT + DRINK MARA DUMITRU, MICHAEL SAPP

CITY LIFE MJ MONTGOMERY, RICKY SCHODL, JANE STEINBRECHER

STAFF WRITERS SAM BARRETT, LEVI CASE, KARA ELLIS, ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL, JONAH FOSTER, SETH HADLOW, SOPHIA KOCH, CHLOE LYKKEN, ANDREA MERRITT, GRACE PANKEY, ABIGAIL RAMIREZ, MADDIE SHANNON, MARY RUTH TAYLOR, ELENA WILSON

SOCIAL & AUDIENCE AYSIA GREY, NICK GLADNEY, GILLIAN KOPTIK, JOSH MARGHERITA

DIGITAL PRODUCERS ETHAN DAVIS, KIANA

FERNANDES, JULIE FREIJAT, NICK GLADNEY, EMILY

ANNE GRIFFITH, JULIEN JENSEN, JAMIE WHITESELL

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MAYA DAWSON, OLIVIA MAILLET, KHALIA SMITH, NICOLE VOSS, EGAN WARD, CAYLI YANAGIDA

ART ASSISTANTS MEGHAN ASLIN, QUINCY

HAYMART, THEO JOHNSON , VALERIE TISCARENO

M ULTI MEDIA ASSISTANT JULIA WILLIAMS

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS GABRIELLE LACEY, BRIANA

IORDAN, NATALIE SMITH

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER ISHERWOOD

EXECUTIVE EDITOR LAURA HECK

WRITING COACHES CARY LITTLEJOHN, JENNIFER ROWE

Photography by Megan Sundberg and Owen Ziliak

Photography by Alix Queen, Lily Dozier and Cam Medrano and courtesy of Stephens College and Slice Appeal

Getting into the weeds

Clear the clouds around marijuana regulations with these frequently asked questions.

BY ANDREA MERRITT

On Dec. 8, 2022, recreational cannabis became legal in Missouri after voters approved Amendment 3 the previous month. Medical use of cannabis has been legal in Missouri since 2018. But regulations around marijuana are far from an anything-goes free-for-all. The state of Missouri and the city of Columbia both have rules governing how residents

interact with the substance, and private businesses can make rules as well.

To cut through the haze, here are answers to some common questions.

Who can use marijuana?

Sorry, teens. It is illegal for anyone under 21 to possess, use, transport, consume, grow or sell cannabis or possess

Even though recreational use of marijuana has been legal since December 2022, the rules surrounding it can still be confusing.

paraphernalia except where authorized medicinal permission is given.

Where can I use cannabis in Columbia? It’s easier to list where you can’t light up or indulge. According to both local and state regulations, cannabis use is prohibited in public areas or any private areas that are open to the general pub-

Illustration by Campbell Biemiller

lic. These include places like sidewalks, parks, businesses and parking lots. In other words, keep it at home.

Both regulations also state that you can’t use marijuana while driving, on school grounds, at correctional facilities or at any place where smoking tobacco is prohibited.

Additionally, the University of Missouri prohibits the use of cannabis on university property or during any MU-sponsored or supervised activities. That means the only “lighting up” that can happen on university grounds is illuminating the Jesse Hall dome after a big Missouri football win.

What are the rules for growing personal cannabis in Columbia?

You can apply for a license to grow cannabis at your home for personal use through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You’re not allowed to sell this cannabis.

If you have this personal cultivation license, you can’t plant, cultivate, harvest, dry, process or manufacture marijuana anywhere except your home.

There are also rules for how many plants you can grow. You can only have 12 plants in total, with a limit of six each of specific types, such as flowering, nonflowering or clone marijuana plants.

These plants also must be in a “locked space not visible by normal, unaided vision from a public place,” says Rebecca Thompson, assistant city counselor for Columbia.

Who can legally sell cannabis?

You can’t just decide to sell cannabis and open a business. You have to get proper licensing from the MDHSS.

In February, the state approved all six existing medicinal dispensaries in the city to also sell recreational marijuana. MDHSS is not releasing licenses for comprehensive (medical and recreational) or medical cannabis dispensary facilities at this time, says Tara McKinney, public outreach director for Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation.

People can still apply for a microbusiness dispensary or wholesale facility license from the state. These are part of the state’s plan to allow underrepresented individuals to join the marijuana

industry. In October, 48 such licenses were issued statewide, including two in Columbia. An additional 48 will be licensed in 2024 and again in 2025.

What is the difference between a smoke shop and a dispensary?

People are often confused about this difference, says Patrick Dyson, regional manager for Shangri-La Marijuana Dispensary.

Dispensaries are licensed by the MDHSS to sell marijuana products. Smoke shops can sell products related to cannabis, such as glassware, clothing and other cannabis culture items.

Smoke shops also can sell delta-8 and delta-10 tetrahydrocannabinol products, Dyson says. These types of THC are both derived from hemp and have psychoactive effects. When hemp was removed from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of controlled substances in 2018, it created a loophole for such compounds.

The marijuana that dispensaries are licensed to sell contains delta-9 THC, the psychoactive part of cannabis.

How much cannabis can I have? You can’t have more than 3 ounces of cannabis at a time unless specific exceptions are made for medicinal use, according to state regulations. That amount is enough for 252 joints.

Can employers fire me for using cannabis outside working hours?

First, let’s address working hours. While cannabis is legal, employers are allowed to maintain a drug-free working environment, which includes restricting possession, use or being under the influence of cannabis during working hours, according to state regulations. However, Amendment 3 does offer protections from work sanctions for people with a medical marijuana license.

The law also allows employers to prohibit use for employees during non-working hours, perform random drug tests and take actions for positive tests that could include firing an employee. This includes businesses that need to operate under federal law, such as a trucking company following Department of Transportation regulations.

WORDS FOR WEED

Cannabis: The botanical name of three plant types with psychoactive properties.

Marijuana: The Spanish word for cannabis.

Tetrahydrocannabinol: THC is the main psychoactive part of a cannabis plant. It’s what makes you feel “high.”

Hemp: A part of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% of THC. It essentially doesn’t have intoxicating effects. The plant is often used to make rope, clothing and cosmetic items.

Cannabidiol: CBD is a chemical compound in the cannabis sativa plant. It doesn’t have psychoactive effects, and is often used in cosmetics or medicinal products. CBD is usually derived from hemp.

A portion of marijuana flower sits on a scale during a transaction at High Profile Dispensary in Columbia. The national dispensary chain opened its Columbia location in 2021.

Nationwide, pre-employment drug testing and marijuana prohibitions remain more common in industries like construction, manufacturing and transportation, according to a July 2023 Bloomberg Law article.

Locally, employers such as MU Health Care still require a pre-hire substance abuse test and its rules state it can perform random screenings. Basically, there’s nothing in the law preventing private employers from having marijuana prohibitions.

What happens if I don’t follow the law?

If you have more than 3 ounces of cannabis or are not following personal or medicinal cultivation regulations in Columbia, you could receive a Type I infraction from the city, which is a $250 fine.

If you use cannabis in public areas, are a minor in possession of cannabis or cannabis paraphernalia, drive under the influence of cannabis or smoke cannabis where smoking tobacco is prohibited by law, you could receive a Type II infraction, which is a $100 fine.

You could be charged with a misdemeanor, which is a $1,000 fine, if you have or use cannabis at a school or correctional facility or are supplying cannabis to minors.

Photography by Caroline McCone/Archive

Vox Picks for JANUARY FEBRUARY

Each month, Vox curates a list of can’t-miss shops, eats, reads and experiences. We find the new, trending or underrated to help you enjoy the best our city has to offer.

BY LEVI CASE, ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL AND GRACE PANKEY

WATCH true fish tales and lore during the annual Fly Fishing Film Tour at Ragtag Cinema. The traveling tour is a compilation of fly fishing stories from filmmaking anglers around the world. Presented by Mid Missouri Trout Unlimited, the film celebrates the fishing community and supports conservation efforts. Jan. 27, 10 a.m., Ragtag Cinema, $21, ragtagcinema.org

LAUGH with your friends and family during the Comedy Kickoff hosted by improv group The Ponies during the February First Friday. The First Friday shows are in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway? with small scenes or games played in the context of a game show. Everything is made up on the spot and the audience gets to be part of the show by making suggestions. “We use audience suggestions for items that they might have to guess personality traits, settings, characters, etc.,” says Adam Brietzke, who founded The Ponies in 2019. Feb. 2, 7-9 p.m., Talking Horse Productions, $10, poniesimprov.com

at Quad Con 2024 at the Columbia Mall. The playful Comic & Toy Show is dedicated to all things pop culture. Find video games, vinyl records, Funko Pops and comics galore at the event intended to “spread the gospel of geekdom,” according to its website. And if simply admiring childhood nostalgia isn’t enough for you, why not dress up for it? Quad Con encourages all ages to tap into their creative minds and participate in the cosplay showcase. Jan. 27-28, Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Columbia Mall, free, Comic & Toy Winter Show on Facebook or quad-con.com

FOLD a slice of fresh, New York-style pizza from Endwell Taverna, a new pop-up stand serving Italian fare at the Columbia Farmers Market. Ted Cianciosi of Pasta la Fata and Bryan Maness of Ozark Mountain Biscuit and Bar plan to open a brick-andmortar location on North Ninth Street in early March. Cianciosi, who grew up making pizza with his Italian-American family, returned to Missouri after 12 years of cooking in Brooklyn to bring pizza and Italian cuisine to CoMo. Endwell Taverna on Ninth Street will feature lunch and dinner service, a cocktail bar and late-night pizza menu. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, Columbia Farmers Market, $4 per slice, @endwelltaverna on Instagram

GET LOST AT SEA with

author Emily St. John Man

del’s 2022 novel, Sea of Tranquility, in preparation for April’s Unbound Book Festival. St. John Mandel will kick off the 2024 festival as the keynote speaker. Her novel Eleven was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2014 and was the 2015 Columbia One Read selection. “She’s a beautiful writer,” says Alex George, Skylark Bookshop owner and festival director. “She’s incapable of writing a boring sentence.” Free tickets for the keynote will be available early this year. April 19, 7:30 p.m., Missouri Theatre, free, unboundbookfestival.com

Photography courtesy of Adobe Stock

A voice for equity

Columbia’s DEI officer D’Andre Thompson contemplates the long-term implications of the city’s decisions.

BY ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL

In April 2023, the city of Columbia hired its first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion official, D’Andre Thompson. Thompson is one of the latest hires in the field of DEI, a sphere that has seen a global increase of 71% over the past five years, according to a LinkedIn study. Thompson grew up in Michigan and came to Columbia for his bachelor’s degree at MU. He got his master’s in business administration at Columbia College and later worked as a program DEI specialist for the Boone County Community Services Department.

What does a DEI officer do?

I think my job really does start with connection and relationship with our staff, dealing directly with our department leaders. Some of us know there’s a lot of education that needs to be had, but we know that the government has played a part in a lot of the disparities that we see in our community, in terms of dealing with challenges of growth.

My position is to support the direction of our city leadership and take a step back and think about how decisions are made, what the lasting ramifications are for those decisions and how equity can play a role in improving our decision-making process.

What did you want to be as a kid and how does your current job relate?

I wanted to be an aerospace or mechanical engineer, but I wasn’t adequately prepared to go into the engineering field, because I came from a Title 1 school that just didn’t have the resources necessary to prepare me to be an engineer.

But I still see myself kind of doing some of the things I love. I’m a very intuitive person. So you know, in engineering you kind of have to work with problem solving, using that part of your brain to work with complex issues. I still find myself doing that even in this field. But it’s not working with mechanics or

with different materials. It’s more so working with people.

How have DEI conversations evolved in recent years?

I think, of course, after the unfortunate publicized death of George Floyd in 2020, a lot of the conversation around what diversity, equity and inclusion look like in the workplace really became more prominent. How do they really engage and interact with a diverse population and ensure that their workplaces are inclusive, you know, really looking at equity to ensure that there is a streamlined way of approaching the conversation about what equity looks like in the workplace.

And so, as of late, we’ve seen a lot of organizations really invest in positions similar to mine, to really bring on experts or bring on individuals who have either lived experience or have valuable credentials that they’ve gained through working in the space of diversity, equity and inclusion to be able to help their organizations ensure that they are in the best position to adjust to the changing workforce.

What is fulfilling about your job?

What’s fulfilling to me is being able to come into our organization that is historically very bureaucratic and slow to see change happen, but to be a part of something that is going to defi -

D’Andre Thompson is the city’s first DEI officer and has been in the position since May 1.

nitely have long-lasting implications for improving the community — and again with our departments internally and how we approach the work that we do. So being a part of those conversations, being a part of seeing the organization kind of live up to its core values and live up to its mission and vision is very much rewarding.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I’m very much a person of faith. So I spend a lot of time at my church, Urban Empowerment Ministries. I also enjoy the arts in this community. I think we have a very eclectic art scene here in Columbia, and our community values arts and heritage and culture. So I think that’s great and I engage with that aspect of our community a lot.

Photography by Cam Medrano

From Neverland to Columbia

Former Peter Pan star

Maude Adams spent the end of her career teaching at Stephens College.

BY OLIVIA MAILLET

In 1937, Maude Adams could be found sitting in the back of the house seats of Stephens College theater. But at the height of her acting career in 1905, she was starring as Peter Pan in soldout New York City theaters and was one of the highest-paid ac tresses of her time. She came out of retirement to teach at Stephens, and now many students see her as a queer icon.

Michael Burke, assistant professor and director of pro duction for Stephens Conservatory for the Performing Arts, says Adams helped to formalize the department. “I appreciate that Stephens, the college itself, had an idea that they wanted to do a program so they brought in somebody of that high quality to start it.”

The lost girl

Maude Adams grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, traveling around the West Coast with her actress mother, Annie Adams. Maude Adams first appeared in front of an audience as an infant in

After blazing trails on Broadway as Peter Pan, Maude Adams created a pathway for theater professionals retiring to the classroom.

Lost Baby, and at 10 she debuted in New York in Esmeralda. Broadway producer Charles Frohman discovered her at 16 and gave her leading roles. He also paired her with the most well-known male actors of the time.

Adams was the first actress to play the role of Peter Pan on Broadway in J.M. Barries’ play

Peter Pan; The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up in 1905. She retired from the stage in 1918 but came back in the mid-1930s to appear in regional productions of Shakespeare plays. In 1935, Stephens College’s President James Madison Wood beckoned her to “make the (theater) program what it needed to be.”

Lights, curtain, action

Adams began organizing the department in 1937. The fall semester of that year, the department put Chantecler, written by Edmond Rostand, which was Adams’ favorite play to teach. It follows a talking rooster who goes through a realization that the sun will rise with or without him. Adams liked the play as a teaching tool so much that she put it on almost every year she led the department. She liked how the play emphasized vocal projection and enunciation.

Photography courtesy of Stephens College

Because of her emphasis on projection, Adams tended to direct her students from the center of the rows and columns of the seats in the audience. Adams thought clear, loud and expressive voices were the most important acting skills to develop.

“When she came out of retirement, she decided that she was going to teach the young women how to be professional on the stage, from the ground up,” says Rob Doyen, a retired Stephens acting professor.

Adams’ spirit lingers at Stephens in many ways. Her identity as a queer actress resonates with Stephens students today. “We like to say that she’s the lesbian that haunts the theater,” says Sutton Dycus, a third-year musical theater major at Stephens. “It really makes a lot of our queer students, including myself, feel seen. It’s not uncommon for people to say hello to her walking through the theater, especially late at night.”

Not one for a simple retirement Adams also set the standard for bringing theater professionals out of retirement and into the world of teaching. The the-

ater professors Stephens hires are not far removed from their careers, making it easier for them to connect with students. Stephens has staff who have worked in regional theaters like the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and The Muny in St. Louis, as well as staff who have traveled here from Broadway.

When the last class to have Adams as a theater professor in 1946 came back for their reunion, they created the Maude Adams Award “to be dedicated to an actress who had given their whole life to American theater.” There were five cameo

Maude Adams’s portrait decorates the wall of Macklanburg Playhouse. The theater is home to a Maude Adams exhibit with various artifacts from her career and life, from her time on Broadway to her role in Stephens’ theater program.

jewelry pieces created of Adams by an Italian artisan, each individually made to be given as the award.

Adams’ spirit lives on in Stephens’ Macklanburg Playhouse, where there’s a room dedicated to her. The room has artifacts from her past, like the giant brass lamps from Empire Theatre, where she awed audiences as Peter Pan. “I used to tell all the students all the time, the first day in, to turn around and look at the back wall. That’s Maude Adams,” Doyen says. “Every time you are on the stage up here, Maude’s watching.”

Photography by Adam Runge

True/False rises from the ashes

After a fire destroyed their office of 16 years, the True/False Film Fest team rebuilds and prepares for the 2024 festival.

BY KARA ELLIS

An unusual smell filled the air in the True/False Film Fest office on Ninth Street and Broadway one September afternoon. Eight people were in the office that day when Grace Piontek, True/False’s operations director, investigated. Piontek found smoke and fire intensifying near the exit. “I basically had to decide if I thought I could put it out or if I should go get everybody out,” Piontek says.

As Piontek shouted, the staff realized the gravity of their situation was growing as quickly as the fire. The office, up nearly three flights of stairs, posed a challenging escape route. Black smoke

The True/False team is rebounding from the Sept. 15 fire that gutted its office, temporarily closed the street and led to water damage at Tellers Gallery and Bar, which remains closed. was everywhere. The group evacuated as the fire escalated.

It was only after escaping from the building that True/False’s leaders understood the magnitude of their good fortune and how serious the circumstances had become.

Things lost

Ten Columbia Fire Department trucks arrived at the scene. After the fire department doused the fire and ventilated the building, the staff was allowed to return. Little remained of the office space.

When the dust settled, they found one door still shut. They opened it to a room smeared gray and black from smoke damage, but with less destruction. “You just sort of wonder, ‘Oh my gosh, what if I had just thought to shut the door behind me, would that have made a difference?’ ” says Ragtag Film Society’s Executive Director Arin Liberman.

Closing other doors wouldn’t have helped much. Water and smoke caused nearly $75,000 worth of damage. Yet the question of “Should I have done something?” still lingers for Liberman.

Moving forward

Liberman and the rest of the True/False team are pushing forward. “The festival goes on,” Liberman says.

From immersive movie screenings to horror homecoming fundraisers, the group is not slowing down. The initial adrenaline and community support has helped them adapt, Piontek says. They have been working out of Ragtag Cinema with the support of the four businesses at 10 Hitt St. — called Hittsville — and are moving to a temporary office in the Guitar Building at Eighth and Walnut streets.

The True/False team has also used this time to go through things they saved from the fire and account for materials they lost. Even though they preserved a lot digitally, it will take time to rebuild. Liberman is focusing on the fact that everyone is OK. That is what’s important. Stuff is replacable.

How to help

While insurance covers part of the cost, donations are also necessary. The Ragtag team launched a fundraiser Oct. 18 to raise part of the funding. About a month later, it had raised 57% of its goal.

FUTURE FEATURES

The True/False Film Fest returns Feb. 29 through March 3. The theme is The Human Paradox, which “embraces the contradiction of True/False.” Passes are on sale now, and individual tickets will be available starting at 10 a.m. Feb 19 at truefalse.org.

They are accepting donations of supplies, equipment and volunteers. Attending events and movie screenings is also vital. Piontek has seen a shift in attendance since the fire, and the support has been appreciated. “When people do purchase a ticket, that money does directly go to our organization,” Piontek says.

Events like True/False are important to this city, and the fire is a reminder not to take them for granted. After the Treeline Music Festival’s cancellation earlier this year, Liberman says she sees the community’s need even more. “(Festivals) can go away; they’re not fixtures,” she says. “If we don’t actively support them, they could go away.”

But going away is not the plan. True/ False Film Fest is working to remain a staple of the city — with CoMo’s help.

Photography by Lily Dozier/Archive

IT’S PICKLE BALL Y’ALL

,For the past couple of years, it seems everyone is picking pickleball. The of games can be heard in Columbia, too. The ShowMe Pickleball Club has grown to over 300 players, the distinct green and blue courts have appeared at

STORY BY KARA ELLIS DESIGN BY AVA HORTON

Columbia parks and rec centers and a new facility is under construction at Discovery Park. Get to know this game with Vox’s pickleball guide, and meet some local players who started for the game but have stayed for the connections. Let’s play!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALIX QUEEN EDITING BY MARJAI NEAL

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. In the past three years, the number of people playing increased by 159%, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Columbia is no exception. Here’s what and who you need to know before picking up a paddle.

The sport began in 1965 when a few Washington dads and their kids had free time, an unused badminton court and some rackets. After improvising game rules, they introduced the idea to their friends. Eventually, the first pickleball court was constructed in their backyard.

Whether you are 16 or 61, pickleball players return to the courts for friendship, but also friendly competition.

What the heck is pickleball?

In the simplest terms, pickleball is a cross between tennis and badminton. The court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, with marks similar to a tennis court. There are right and left service courts and a non-volley zone known as the “kitchen.”

The game is typically played as doubles, but if you are looking to go head-to-head with someone, the game can be played as singles. Players typically play to 11 points, unless they are in a tournament that plays to 15 or 21, and games must be won by 2 points.

Before you play

Forging friendships between the lines

Players say making connections with new people is a main draw for the sport.

Of the nearly 5 million players in the U.S., more than half play fewer than 10 times

Schwandt has been playing pickleball since 2018, and is the former president of Show-Me Pickleball Club.

Skip Deming discovered pickleball around 2005 with his wife, Jerri. He had just torn his rotator cuff and was giving up tennis when he saw people playing pickleball. He told his wife if he ever played that sport to just shoot him. “I thought it was the dumbest game I’ve seen,” Deming says. “Next year I was down there begging them to teach me how to play, and I quickly became addicted.”

Deming envisioned a pickleball club that could support both the players and the sport in the city. He secured sponsorships from Shakespeare’s Pizza and Missouri Senior Benefit Services, and in 2008 he founded The Show-Me Pickleball Club. Eventually, it offered free lessons, clinics and socials. It now has over 300 players.

Jerri Deming began a ladies’ group in the club. What started with six women has now grown to over 80 players. Even when it rains, the group takes time to sit at Panera Bread and just talk.

One woman in the club told Skip Deming the sport pulled her from the state of depression she had been suffering. “Finding these new friends and a sport that she could play was a life-saving encounter for her,” he says. “I think she still feels that way.”

Journey to the court

Doug Schwandt had no clue what pickleball was the first time he saw someone play back in 2018. On a cold day, his neighbor and her son were hitting a ball back and forth with a paddle in the cul-de-sac.

Not long after, Schwandt bought a temporary net to play. He painted lines on the pavement that followed the official measurements, and soon, he began to play several days a week.

Schwandt was on a mission to get better at the sport. He ran drills, found a partner and grew a network of friends to practice with. As he played, his skill and love for the sport grew. “ ‘One more game — let’s play one more game,’ and it just became very infectious and addicting,” Schwandt says.

When did you start playing? 2005

Favorite court: Anywhere there is a court

Why pickleball? “My favorite part of the game is the people and the many new friends the sport has brought me.”

Deming, who at the time was the school principal for Schwandt’s children, introduced Schwandt to the club. “I like to think they made a little bit of a positive impact over the last few years in the pickleball world here in mid-Missouri,” Schwandt says.

Schwandt served as the president of the ShowMe Pickleball Club. He wrapped up his term this October.

Playing for connection

Deming says the club members feel pickleball gives them an expanded family and social circle.

Rebecca Besaw discovered the sport one day at the gym and then reached out to the Show-Me Pickleball Club. Besaw and a few friends got free lessons, and after a year or so she joined the club. “I play with people who are in their 80s, and I play with people who are 16,” Besaw says. “So that’s the cool thing, that all ages can kind of play at the same time together.”

Michael Grewe began playing pickleball with his brother outdoors at their farm. They started inviting people to join in and grew to a group of 16 players. As the weather became cold, they needed an indoor location. So they built it.

Grewe now owns the Missouri Pickleball Club, an indoor facility in Fenton. Grewe loves the sport because he gets to spend time with his family. He says his kids might be superior athletes, but that doesn’t stop his wife and him from playing as a family. “They can get out of it what they want out of it, which is trying to beat Dad, and we can get out of it what we want, which is spending time with our kids,” Grewe says.

Regardless of what draws people in, they return for connections; knowing that someone out on the court cares and is looking forward to seeing you again. Knowing if it rains, you can just go grab a coffee and chat instead. Knowing that playing one game means a full hour of time with your kids.

Those are the points that really count.

ZAC SHOOK, 32

a year. The sport has grown the most for players under the age of 24.

While pickleball is considered easy to pick up, it is still important to prepare yourself before playing. Just like any sport, stretching and learning the rules beforehand are important. YouTube videos can offer explanations of the rules of the game and how to practice or warm up.

The right equipment

First, assure you have tennis shoes that fit well and provide ankle support.

How long have you played pickleball? 8 years

Favorite court: Missouri Pickleball Club, Fenton

Why pickleball? “The strategy involved in pickleball makes it so unique and kind of like a chess match. There are so many different types of shots and so many different ways to hit certain shots in pickleball, so there are always things you can learn and improve upon.”

Beyond that, a wiffle ball and a paddle are the only equipment. Test paddles prior to purchasing to find one that works best for you. They can be found locally at stores like Academy Sports + Outdoors or Dick’s Sporting Goods.

REBECCA BESAW, 49

Finding paddle mates

Show-Me Pickleball Club offers lessons for anyone looking to practice. The club’s website features the instructors available for sessions. It has a sign-up for upcoming events and tournaments on its website. Most of these events are open to all interested players, but members of the club are able to play at a cheaper price.

Don’t be afraid to show up alone. Show-Me Pickleball members use a Facebook group called Como Pickup Pickleball and the app TeamReach for people looking to find someone to play with. The club also has designated times during the week for games between members, so players can drop by and find someone to compete with.

For MU students, the

How long have you played? About 3 years

Favorite court: Albert-Oakland Park

Why pickleball? “My favorite part about playing is all the new friendships I’ve made. It opened up a whole new world of friendships of people in all walks of life.”

Angie Siddall (left) “paddle fives” with Skip Deming after winning a point during a game at the Country Club of Missouri. Wanting to find a new hobby, Siddall started playing pickleball two years ago as a second sport when not playing golf.

Missouri Pickleball Association is an organization on campus that offers tournaments, informal sessions and chances to play with experienced members. “Get some battles and go out and play,” says Doug Schwandt, president of the Show-Me Pickleball Club.

Where to play

Columbia Parks and Recreation has jumped on the trend, with many local tennis courts overlaid with pickleball lines. The adaptability of pickleball has enabled communities to enjoy the game in familiar and accessible settings, enabling the city to contribute to its growth.

“Columbia’s parks always feel like a positive and welcoming environment for the community,” says Alex Savas, who has played pickleball at several local parks. “Overall, Columbia feels pretty safe and inviting, but the parks especially do.”

How to score

Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault, which is any time they break a rule. Once points are scored, the servers on that team continue switching back and forth until a fault is committed, and the first server to

fault loses the serve. The second server continues serving until they fault and lose the serve to the opposing team. The same rules apply to the other side’s service.

Only the team that’s serving can score points.

How does hitting work?

When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning as well. After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit it out of the air) or play it off a bounce.

The kitchen, which is the non-volley zone, is 7 feet from the net on both sides and has its own rules about when and how players can step into the area. “As long as the ball bounces, you can step in as much as you want,” says Missouri Pickleball Club instructor Zac Shook. “And you can step in before the ball is even played.” But you can’t be in the kitchen when the ball is in the air.

A ball must land anywhere in the service areas to be considered in. But a serve contacting the kitchen line is short and a fault. A player may be in the kitchen at any time except when volleying a ball.

MICHAEL GREWE, 55

How long have you played? About 3.5 years

Favorite court: The Missouri Pickleball Club, Fenton

Why pickleball? “The most enjoyable part of the game is the complete joy, camaraderie and friendships that are being formed by people who were complete strangers prior to showing up. As opposed to any other sport where competition is involved, pickleball players tend to be super chill.”

DOUG SCHWANDT, 66

When did you start playing? “I started playing pickleball in 2017 in our cul-de-sac after being introduced to the game by my neighbor. We painted the lines and got a temporary net. Then I found out about the courts at Oakland Park and started playing there.”

Favorite court: Albert-Oakland Park

Why pickleball? “It is fun to play, it is exercise and it is social. Those three elements combined make it a perfect lifetime sport.”

Lisa Dresner (from left) Lesley Pugh and Skip Deming chat between matches. Pickleball is known as a social sport.

Skip Deming holds his wiffle ball and paddle at the Country Club of Missouri. After discovering the sport in Arizona in 2004, Deming brought his love of the sport back to Missouri and founded the Show-Me Pickleball Club, which has grown to over 300 members.

LOCAL PICKLEBALL’S BREAD AND BUTTER

Where to play

Columbia has both indoor and outdoor courts, with some that are dedicated to pickleball and some that share space with other sports.

Outdoor public courts

Albert-Oakland Park

1900 Blue Ridge Road

12 lighted pickleball courts

Rock Quarry Park

2002 Grindstone Parkway

Two tennis courts with pickleball lines

Shepard Boulevard Park

2717 Shepard Blvd.

Two tennis/pickleball courts

Indoor facilities — there are fees for using these courts

Activity and Recreation Center

1701 W. Ash St.

Three shared courts

Columbia Sports Fieldhouse

4251 Philips Farm Road

Three courts

Missouri Athletic Center

2900 Forum Blvd.

Six courts

The kitchen Non-volley zone Left service area

Centerline

Sideline Right service area

Helpful resources

• MizzouRec offers free-to-rent pickleball paddles and balls to its members.

• Show-Me Pickleball Club offers instructors for anyone looking to practice.

• Show-Me Pickleball Club members use a Facebook group called Como Pickup Pickleball and the TeamReach app for individuals looking to find other players.

Tear out this guide and keep it on your fridge!

Missouri Pickleball Club

747 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., Fenton

18 courts

MizzouRec

1000 Rollins St.

Can set up two indoor courts

• The Country Club of Missouri houses a pickleball team and encourages people of “all ages and skills levels” to join pickleball program.

• The Kitchen Grill and Games at Discovery Parkway is a entertainment hub currently under construction that will have six indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts alongside live music and food.

Show-Me Pickleball Club events

City of Columbia pickleball courts

PHOTOGRAPHY

LIGHTING

SKA TING T HRU SCHOO

Mizzou Club Hockey players open up about the challenges and rewards they experience on and off the ice.

Playing on the Mizzou Club Hockey team means spending a chilling amount of time traveling on U.S. 63. Columbia is an iceless city, so the team commutes to the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City for practice and games multiple days a week.

Club sports at MU are student-led organizations with limited school funding. Student team leaders organize all the details, whether that’s finances and business strategy, competition and practice times or building a fan base. Team captain and senior Nick Spolec, who has been the club president since April, says he has noticed a rise in interest over the past year, including attendance, social media following and conversations with potential players.

The team’s success surely helps. During the 202223 season, it won the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association Regional Tournament.

But Mizzou Club Hockey is more than just a team. It’s a tight-knit community of passionate individuals who are dedicated to the game despite the hurdles. For example, sophomore Danny Rudman says it can be hard to earn money since hockey takes away time he might spend on a job. Social sacrifices, such as missing out on typical student activities like football games and college parties, are also part of the trade-off. In the end, hockey comes out on top.

“The life skills that we’re learning, the connections that we’re making with the community, with ourselves, the bond that we all grow as a team — I feel like all that kind of pays its own dividend,” Spolec says.

AND STORY BY Lily Dozier

BY Owen Ziliak

DESIGN BY Campbell Biemiller

EDITING BY Mara Dumitru

As a club sport, the hockey program has a hard time turning heads. “Even having the label as a club kind of draws attention away from it,” says junior Drew Driscoll. “But since we are the only team, since Mizzou doesn’t have an NCAA team, it draws a lot of guys that still just genuinely love the sport.” The team has 27 players.

For Drew Driscoll, being a part of the team has been a great way to make friends outside his other interests. “I have so many more options to go and do things,” Driscoll says. The team has two more home games this season, both against Dallas Baptist University on Jan. 26 and 27. There will also be a border war game Feb. 29 against KU in Independence.

“I think anytime you’re talking about a team that’s playing at this level, the two things that kind of dovetail are commitment and discipline,” says Locke Thompson, the goaltending coach. “You know, you don’t want to drive down to Jeff City at 10:45 on a Monday night after a long day of classes, right? And they show up, and they’ve always got a great attitude. It seems like a group that has bonded very, very well together.”

Time management is a skill that must be mastered for the players to keep grades up while being on the hockey team. For Drew Driscoll, who’s studying mechanical engineering, that means making sure he is being productive on a daily basis. “It was difficult at first, but I would say I’ve gotten a lot better at time management because of the hockey team,” he says. The players represent a variety of MU schools, with majors ranging from economics to health sciences.

The lack of significant school funding is a hurdle for the team, but Nick Spolec says the payoff of building relationships with sponsors is huge. “It really incentivizes us to grow closer connections with the community, and that’s something we’ve been able to do really well,” Spolec says. “Ultimately, we love being part of the community.”

“Our coach tells us this a lot, but he always tells us these are the guys we’re gonna keep our friendships with through the next years of our life after college and these are the bonds that matter, ”Danny Rudman says. “He tells us a lot to enjoy the time we have here and cherish it. If we can do that, and win, it just makes it a better experience for everybody.” Starting in the 2024-25 season, the club will move up to Division 2 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

The Mizzou Club Hockey team has a mission beyond participating in the sport. “We don’t treat this like ‘just show up and play hockey,’” Nick Spolec says. “We’re build ing an organization. We’re building something that people want to be part of.”

Legends in the baking

Home bakeries are on the rise. Explore a few of CoMo’s bakers and their sweet treats.

BY ELENA WILSON

During the pandemic, home bakeries became a popular way for people to explore a new hobby while stuck indoors. Add in the 2022 changes to Missouri’s cottage food laws, which regulate what home bakers and cooks can sell and how; it is easier than ever to convert a home kitchen into a baking business.

That’s just what several professional and amateur bakers in Columbia did. “People just really find it fun to do,” says Laurel Harlan, owner of Kiss Me Cookies. “I also think for some of them it is a way to bring in supplemental income for their families.” Here’s a snapshot of Columbia’s home baking community.

The Bakery

Originally hailing from San Francisco, Rebekah Irby opened her European-style home bakery in April. She specializes in croissants and other enriched doughs while incorporating a variety of sweet and savory seasonal flavors into her pastries.

Irby used to work as a chef for a California restaurant with three Michelin stars. When she moved to Columbia in 2020, she found that her skill set was unique and entered the baking sphere. Known for: Viennoiseries (leavened French pastries)

Baker’s favorite: Apple compote and brown butter sage streusel canotto

Prices: Start around $5

Location: Pickup at Como Cooks Shared Kitchen, 14 Business Loop 70 E. or the seasonal Orr Street Farmers and Artisans Market

Website: thebakerycomo.com

Photography by Lily Dozier and courtesy of Adobe Stock

Hannah Kallmann Ariew of Sarina’s Bakes ices a cinnamon roll. Kallmann Ariew specializes in French pastry, like the croissant and pain au chocolat.

Dough x Batter

Laura Cristina Vientos left her job as a fashion designer in New York City to pursue her other passion — baking. Vientos spends holidays baking with her family in Puerto Rico. However, when separated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vientos began perfecting a sugar cookie recipe that could be easily shipped. This led to the creation of Dough x Batter.

Turned off by unsustainability in the fashion industry, Vientos adopted sustainable practices for her business, from homemade cookie cutters to composting food waste.

Known for: Sweets for large events and individual customers

Baker’s favorite: Brown butter pecan cookies

Prices: Cookies start at $65 per dozen

Website: dough-x-batter.square.site

Julie Vanessa Cake Boutique

Born in Colombia and raised in Valladolid, Spain, July Ramirez came to the United States as an au pair. She found love in Columbia and stayed. “When COVID happened, we (stayed) at home,” Ramirez says. “That time is where I started to bake more and more, and I found passion in decorating.”

Ramirez, whose business psuedonym is Julie Vanessa, prioritizes making cakes that “taste as good as they look” by using quality ingredients and paying extra attention to detail.

Known for: Custom cakes

Baker’s pick: Delicate and detailed cakes, particularly ones that include fresh flowers and edible gold leaf

Prices: Cupcakes start at $35 per dozen, cakes start at $50 Website: julievanessacakes.com

Kiss Me Cookies

When Laurel Harlan made cookies for her daughter’s baby shower 11 years ago, it “lit up (her) brain.” After finding any excuse to make and decorate sugar cookies, Harlan opened her own business with encouragement from her daughter.

“It seemed like there was a demand,” Harlan says. “People have really loved decorated sugar cookies.” Now, she teaches classes, creates decorating kits and makes custom sugar cookies with intricate designs and flavors.

Known for: Detailed decorated sugar cookies

Baker’s favorite: Designs with different techniques and textures

Prices: $50 for two dozen, $4 to $6.75 for individual cookies

Location: Pickup at Plume Bake Shoppe, 5751 S. Route K Email: kissmecookies@hotmail.com

Sarina’s Bakes

Hannah Kallmann Ariew has always had a passion for baking. Her dream came true when she studied at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris. Kallmann Ariew fell in love with the rigor and precision of culinary school and Frenchstyle pastry.

Kallmann Ariew changes her menu on a weekly basis and is often so inspired she bakes in the middle of the night. Her viennoiseries emphasize “less sugar, more flavor.”

Known for: Viennoiseries

Baker’s pick: Almond croissants

Prices: Individual baked goods start around $5

Location: Pop-up shop and pick up at 107 Park Hill Ave. Website: hotplate.com/sarinasbakes

Slice Appeal

Zoe McDermit splits her time between being head baker at Beet Box and running her own home bakery, Slice Appeal. McDermit developed a sweet tooth on her sobriety journey and now uses baking as a creative outlet. Along with cakes, Slice Appeal serves pies, doughnuts, cupcakes and more. All of Slice Appeal’s spice cakes include a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, cardamon and other spices.

McDermit also customizes her cakes with designs she has perfected through trial and error. “I love florals,” McDemit says. “I love squiggles and sort of abstracts.”

Known for: Cakes

Baker’s favorite: Date spice cake with cream cheese frosting

How to order: Direct message on Facebook or Instagram

Prices: $50 to $120 for a standard, 8-inch cake, depending on design

Location: Pick up at Beet Box, 602 Fay St.

Facebook: Slice Appeal

Instagram: @slice_appeal

Sugar, Butter & Flour

Dough x Batter supplied intricate sugar cookies for The CoMo 411 Bridgerton Ball in October.

Julie Vanessa Cake Boutique offers individually wrapped cake pops. Baker July Ramirez says she enjoys detail and beauty in her cakes.

Alanna Ti’a began her home baking career after making her daughter’s wedding cake. Since starting her business, Ti’a has worked to expand the cottage food law’s cap on how much money home cooks can make with their products.

In her tiny kitchen-turned-workspace, the self-taught baker tackles all things cake in addition to other sweets, such as brownies, cookies and macarons.

Known for: A range of desserts including cakes, cookies and brownies

Baker’s pick: The Dessert Box, which includes cookies, cupcakes, hot chocolate bombs and more

Prices: Small, single-tier cakes start at $55

Location: Pickup at 451 Hackberry Blvd.

Website: sugarbutterandflour.com

Photography courtesy of Julie Vanessa Cake Boutique and Dough x Batter

Crunch on some Munchi’s

Owner of bodega Essentialz

CoMo adds Midwestern soul to Columbia’s diverse foodie scene.

BY SAM BARRETT

Missouri native Dimetrious Woods has been a hustler his whole life.

Woods has started multiple businesses in Columbia, from bodegas and window tinting operations, to his

own clothing line, Motivated The Brand. But recently, it’s his food trailer that has been turning heads.

Woods was born in St. Louis. When he was 17, his family moved him to Columbia to get him away from the bustle of a bigger city. Woods fell in love with Columbia the minute he arrived. Soon after, he founded Tiger Tinting and Motivated The Brand, his first two businesses, in 2003 and 2004.

Then in 2007 he was convicted of nonviolent drug trafficking. He spent 11 years in prison, where he developed insomnia and anxiety, but the hustle never stopped.

When Woods was convicted, he was not eligible for parole. Later legislative changes made parole possible, but Woods had to fight for it. He spent hours at the prison library and learned how to write a legal motion. Woods was finally granted a parole hearing and

Dimetrious Woods seasons a plate of fried chicken, a menu item that draws a crowd to his trailer. “This is the best chicken you’ll have in your life. If it wasn’t, I’d change the recipe,” Woods says. “That’s all I know, is to do better.”

released from prison in March 2018.

Soon after, he started Woods Auto Spa, his next business. In December 2019 Woods opened Munchi’s Fish & Chicc’n, a food trailer parked in the lot of Woods Auto Spa on Business Loop 70 East.

The Munchi’s method

Woods describes Munchi’s as “a taste of city for your soul,” which is also its slogan. Woods was raised around a lot of fish and chicken restaurants in St. Louis and the concept is something he wanted to bring to Columbia. “I grew up with my mom cooking a certain type

Photography by Cam Medrano

of way. Cooking chicken hard (a chicken frying method using lower moisture for crispiness), cooking it consistent — same seasoning, by hand — every time,” Woods says.

Although Munchi’s takes a lot of inspiration from St. Louis cuisine, Woods likes to incorporate a little bit of everything. “It’s kind of like a city taste, but not just St. Louis. We carry pizza puffs, which is a Chicago tradition, with the mild sauce. (Chicagoans) demand mild sauce — is something I’ve learned,” Woods says.

They also have unique desserts, like deep-fried cheesecake and funnel cake fries. The food is meant to be enjoyed on the go.

Munchi’s is a fitting name for a food trailer with such a wide array of options to choose from. The pop culture term munchies means, “light snack foods” or “a feeling of hunger,” and Munchi’s certainly serves both with items like birria tacos, chicken wings, fish fillets, cheesesteak sandwiches, turkey burgers, shrimp, corndogs and more.

Woods says after only a couple days of parking the food trailer outside of Woods’

Auto Spa, Munchi’s was getting requests to bring the food trailer out to different events and locations. This prompted him to purchase another trailer.

Food for good

The food trailer was offered a spot to serve at Missouri football and basketball games in 2021 and again this year. “We invited him back (this year) because we just thought they do a great job with a diverse menu,” says Steve Covey, the director of operations at Levy Restaurants, which operates concessions at MU.

Covey says Munchi’s is guest-driven and cares about sanitation, which is just as important as the food quality.

“For a lack of a better term, they’re just a good group of people to work with that care,” he says.

Coming from a life of struggle, Woods’ favorite part about being in the food business is putting a smile on people’s faces. As a successful business owner, Woods loves to give back to his community. He often brings Munchi’s to locations like local prisons and high schools.

GOT THE MUNCHI’S?

MUNCHI’S FISH & CHICC’N: 922 Business Loop 70 E., Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

MUNCHI’S FISH & CHICC’N FOOD TRAILER: Check Facebook for location updates.

“I never imagined to be on that stage and be satisfying this number of people,” Woods says. “These types of people who are out to spend money. They’re trying to have fun. You know, I’m from another part of life.”

Dimetrious Woods pulls hushpuppies from the fryer at Munchi’s Fish & Chicc’n. “I talk to the food through the bubbles,” Woods says. “I’ll know when it’s done and how it will taste.”

Photography by

The power of giving back

Columbians are paying it forward, giving dignity back to their neighbors.

BY ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL

Walking into the warm interior of Goldie’s Bagels feels like coming home to a family member’s kitchen. The yellow dining room is decorated with generations of bar and bat mitzvah photos. It’s filled with laughter and folks chatting over fresh bagels. It’s a little crowded, a little loud. And like a family home around the holidays, everyone gets fed, no payment necessary.

A sign on the counter explains Goldie’s neighbor fund, an account that paying customers can choose to donate to on top of their total. All donations to the fund go directly toward feeding those who are unable to pay. Goldie’s staff refers to these individuals as “neighbors.”

Amanda Rainey opened Goldie’s in December 2021 and soon began giving

Amanda Rainey (above right) rolls out challah dough while Jill Rostine cuts the dough into pieces. Goldie’s bakes challah every Friday in preparation for Shabbat, which begins at sundown and lasts through Saturday.

bagels and coffee to people in need. “It was winter,” she says. That’s all the reason she needed to give out food. She prioritizes charitable giving because of a value in Judaism called tzedakah, which translates to “justice” in Hebrew.

Rainey officially set up the neighbor fund in June 2022. She estimates that in the beginning, they were feeding between two to five people a day through the fund.

Photography by Lily Dozier/Archive

When a post about the fund went viral on Facebook in August that year, more donations and neighbors began coming in. Now, the fund serves an average of 20 neighbors a day. In October 2023, the neighbor fund provided 482 bagels and coffees, totaling $2,410, and received $1,544.42 in donations to cover the cost. “Sometimes you have to give people an opportunity to do something kind,” Rainey says. “And it’s not that people aren’t generous, I think that our society in general is just not set up bring that out of people.”

Mutual aid in Columbia

Paying it forward through a program like Goldie’s is just one example of how mutual aid networks function in a community.

The CoMo Mobile Aid Collective is a nonprofit mutual aid organization that provides resources to Columbia’s unhoused community. The organization began as a mobile soup kitchen in 2018, and has since expanded to provide medical aid, mental health resources, survival gear, food and water.

“There’s different ways to perceive the idea of mutual aid,” says Catherine Armburst, the group’s executive director. “Our version of mutual aid is less about expecting the people that we serve to

DROPS IN THE BUCKET

At Goldie’s Bagels, customers can ask for a donation to be added to their total at the store or they can email goldiesbagels@ gmail.com. CoMo Mobile Aid Collective and The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri both accept donations online. Catherine Armbrust (at left), the director of the CoMo Mobile Aid Collective, and other volunteers prepare to hand out supplies to unhoused people.

give back to us, and more about community mutual aid, looking to see who has resources that we don’t have and how we can share and collaborate.”

A number of local restaurants and farms partner with the organization, either through donating scheduled meals, providing ingredients or filling gaps when needed. Main Squeeze, Pizza Tree, CoMo Smoke and Fire, Beet Box, Belly, Patchwork Family Farms and Café Berlin are just a few of the businesses that partner with Armburst. Local doctors, dentists and veterinarians also provide resources.

Goldie’s neighbor fund and similar pay-it-forward systems not only offer people the opportunity to give back, but provide an environment where unhoused

Below left: Dee Campbell-Carter (left) talks with Lucia Freeman during a focus group run of The Food Bank Market. Below right: Grace Reynolds (left) and Andrea Daley pack grocery items at The Food Bank Market on Business Loop 70 West, which opened Nov. 1.

people can be served in the same spaces as paying customers. Rainey says this restores a sense of dignity to the exchange, and brings often stigmatized members of the community into the same spaces as everyone else.

“For a person, it feels different to get a meal from somebody who is serving a meal at a soup kitchen and to get a meal at a restaurant in the same place where other people are getting a meal,” Rainey says.

Breaking stigmas

At the beginning of November, The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri opened The Food Bank Market. The large space is organized like a conventional grocery store, with items categorized in aisles. “Making our resources accessible means making the facility comfortable, treating our neighbors with dignity and making sure that we are serving the whole person rather than just a piece of the person,” says Katie Adkins, director of communications for The Food Bank.

Armburst says that it’s important to think about how to ease the stigma around asking for help. “How do we make it easier for people who do need something to not feel bad about it?” Armburst says. “What kind of access can we offer people so that it’s easier for them to get those things?”

Photography by Rebecca Smith/Archive and Sharon Quintana Ortiz/Archive

TO-DO LIST

Your curated guide of what to do in Columbia this month. BY MAYA DAWSON AND OLIVIA MAILLET

ARTS

The Cover of Life

When a Life Magazine reporter writes a story about three brides of World War II soldiers in 1943 rural Louisiana, she must grapple with feelings of self-worth and powerlessness in a man’s world. As part of Stephens College’s Conservatory for the Performing Arts 2023-24 season, this dramatic comedy gives a glimpse of feminism during wartime. Jan. 26-27, 7:30 p.m. and Jan 28, 2 p.m., Macklanburg Playhouse, $15, free for college students with ID, stephens.edu/academics/ conservatory-for-the-performing-arts

Paint Night at Dive Bar

Welcome the new year by getting your creative juices flowing while showing gratitude for loved ones. COMO

Creative Traveling Art Parties and Megan Steinlage, founder of Painting on the Rocks, collaborate with Dive Bar for a night of relaxing step-by-step painting with the theme of Conversation Hearts in a Jar. Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m., Dive Bar, $40 (supplies included), paintingontherocks. com, 314-620-4302

North: The Musical

The debut performance of this new musical follows Lawrence and his mother, Minnie, as they escape the Deep South on the Underground Railroad in the 1850s. Author and jazz composer turned playwright and director Ashli St. Armant based North off true stories of escapes from slavery throughout history. Feb. 6, 7 p.m., Jesse Auditorium, $25-$35, concertseries.missouri.edu

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Tony-nominated musical retelling of the Biblical story is coming to Columbia. The familiar tale of Joseph, his colorful coat and 11 brothers is told entirely through song, and this

Columbia Entertainment Company is completely volunteer-driven, including its actors, musicians and staff.

In 2017 (above) the company produced Little Shop of Horrors and is now preparing for its 2024 presentation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

production features a mixed cast of both adults and children. Feb. 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 11, 18 and 25, 2 p.m., Columbia Entertainment Company, $15-$20, cectheatre.org

CIVIC Winter Garden Forum

Leaf it to the Discovery Garden Club to provide fresh ideas for the upcoming gardening season. Emily Gustafson of the Missouri Prairie Foundation will focus on Missouri native plants for the home garden, and retired forester Doug Wallace will talk about trees and landscaping. Feb. 4, 1:30 p.m., Columbia Public Library, free, facebook.com/ DiscoveryGardenClub.COMO

FOOD

MO Bacon & Bourbon Festival

Pig out and enjoy live music at the

ninth annual MO Bacon & Bourbon Festival. Tickets give attendees access to unlimited samples of spirits and food products from festival vendors, with proceeds going to benefit Central Missouri Honor Flight. Feb. 3, 1-4 p.m., Bur Oak Brewing Company, $40, facebook.com/mobaconbourbon

MUSIC

Missouri Country Fest

Howdy hoot! Grab your partner and mosey on down to The Blue Note. This year’s Missouri Country Fest features Missouri natives Travis Feautz & The Stardust Cowboys, Forrest McCurren and Matt Jordan. The event, along with Punk Fest at Rose Music Hall, kicks off three weekends of MO Fest, consisting of shows like Indie Fest on Jan. 12 and Reggae Fest on Jan. 20. Attend one show or buy a $50 MO Fest pass to take in all

Photography courtesy of Columbia Entertainment Company

the music. Jan. 5, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, The Blue Note, general admission $10; $15 day of; $15-20 reserved seating, thebluenote.com

Wikipedia Edit-athon

Here’s a music event for all the Missouri music nerds out there. Join Matt Fetterly of the Boone County Historical Society for a guide to editing Wikipedia pages. The focus will be on editing pages on Missouri music. Lunch will be provided, but laptops and devices won’t, so bring whatever you use to access the internet. RSVP requested. Jan. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sinquefield Music Center, room 385, megan.murph@missouri.edu

Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman

Join nine-time Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton and accomplished pianist Tamir Hendelman for a Sunday at Murry’s. Hendelman, former music director for Barbra Streisand, works with the Jeff Hamilton Trio and the ClaytonHamilton Orchestra. Part of the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series, there are two shows with doors opening an hour before each. Jan. 14, 3:30 and 7 p.m., Murry’s, $27-$50, wealwaysswing.org

Joseph

Columbia welcomes this sister trio from Oregon. The band Joseph has been channeling the indiepop trend for nearly a decade, and its third and latest album, The Sun, explores the unseen forces of psychological manipulation, gaslighting and cultural brainwashing, combining these concepts with seamless three-part harmonies. Jan. 19, 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show, The Blue Note, $29.50-$49.50, thebluenote.com

OUTDOORS

ROC 7K Trail Run

The 11th annual Rhett’s Outdoor Challenge trail run features 4.3 miles of winding trails, dense woods and racing heartbeats. Take on the Rhett Walters Memorial Mountain Bike Trail on foot and compete to be awarded in this chip-timed race. Call or register online prior to race day. Jan. 20, 9 a.m., Cosmo Park, $35, 874-7460, parks.como.gov

Runnin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis 5K Run or walk to fight against multiple sclerosis with the MU’s Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis philanthropic organization. All proceeds will be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of Mid-Missouri. Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to noon, race starts at Tiger Plaza on Rollins Street, $25, runsignup.com/Race/MO/ Columbia/RunninAgainstMultipleSclerosis5k

BORN TO TUMBLE

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

EILEEN WISNIOWICZ

MU junior Amari Celestine performs a floor routine during the Mizzou Gymnastics’ Black & Gold exhibition Dec. 10 at the Hearnes Center. The exhibition includes floor, beam, vault and bars. The event gives fans a sneak peek at the program’s plans for 2024 after the 2023 season set school records for attendance and team scores. The Tigers begin their regular season with the Mizzou Invitational at 6 p.m. on Jan. 6 at Hearnes. The team will face Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri and Northern Illinois.

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FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 3, 2024

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