Vox Magazine - March 12, 2015 by Vox Magazine

V O X M A G A Z I N E / / 0 3 . 1 2 . 1 5 / / F R E E E V E RY T H U R S D AY

LIFE IN PLASTIC

Columbia’s most durable tradition stacks up decades of souvenirs PAGE 6

THE NEW CLASSIC

Strange Donuts is here, and its hometown recipe bucks custom from the doughy inside, out PAGE 5

MIXING IT UP

Food presentation is only one of Teller’s chefs’ creative talents PAGE 14

This week

Online

MARCH 12, 2015 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 9 | PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN

YOU’RE STILL THE ONE Don’t miss Shania Twain on tour for the first time in 11 years. Revisit her greatest hits to prepare for her Missouri performances.

320 LEE HILLS HALL COLUMBIA MO 65211 573-884-6423 VOX@MISSOURI.EDU ADVERTISING: 573-882-5714

GOING GREEN

V O X M A G A Z I N E / / 0 3 . 1 2 . 1 5 / / F R E E E V E RY T H U R S D AY

LIFE IN PLASTIC

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. Find out the deets on downtown parties and family-friendly fun.

Feature How do you take your CoMo cups? Explore the history behind the city’s plastic icon. Find out how far the cups have traveled and how to use one as an iPhone speaker. PAGE 6 NEWS & INSIGHT

BEAT THE TRUE/FALSE BLUES

PAGE 5

MIXING IT UP

Food presentation is only one of Teller’s chefs’ creative talents PAGE 14

CAN’T GET ENOUGH VOX? DOWNLOAD THE FREE IPAD APP FROM THE EDITOR

MUSIC Columbia is a Midwest destination for jazz. Local musicians talk about how the genre has grown in popularity and why it’s here to stay. PAGE 12 Two Home Tone Records bands will take the stage at The Bridge before heading to Austin for the MidCoast Takeover. PAGE 13

ARTS Teller’s chefs combine their jobs with other artistic talents. At any moment, they’re ready to drop a lyric, play a beat or draw a scene. PAGE 14

BETH CASTLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I’m a notorious hoarder, but I come by it honestly. My grandma owns a library’s worth of children’s books, my mom covets Tupperware, and my brother, well, he has an extensive Star Wars collection. My “thing” has always been magazines, however not-sosurprising that might be. Between ages 8 and 18, my nightstand comprised a stack of Seventeen magazines reinforced with longoutdated issues of National Geographic and Highlights. And since moving away from home, I’ve weighed down my desk with old Elle issues and tattered New York magazines. What can I say? I’m obsessed. But my fixation is nothing compared to Columbia’s, and this week’s feature will show you why: On page 6, writer Caleb O’Brien explores the life and times of a cup — about 100,000,000 times over. Columbia’s take-home bar cup is one of the most well-known souvenirs in the city and easily the one with the most alter egos. O’Brien talks polypropylene with downtown restaurateurs and customers to find out where the cups come from, who takes them home and what people do with them once they’re out the door. As with any collection, the stories he uncovers are sentimental. Post-beverage, the cups often become priceless, yet utilitarian, mementos. They serve as toothbrush holders, bathtub toys and coin jars. They show up at weddings. At schools. Sometimes they even make their way back to our cabinets. Thanks to an accidental tradition, Columbia boasts a worldwide network of loyal cup-users, people who have left the city with a sole reminder of their stay here stowed in their carry-on bags.

VOX STAFF Editor: Beth Castle Deputy Editor: Laura Heck Managing Editor: Anna Seaman Creative Director: Tracee Tibbitts Digital Managing Editor: Bryan Bumgardner Art Directors: Alex Jacobi, Allison Lewis Photo Editor: Shannon Elliott iPad Art Director: Roselyn Adams VoxTalk Editor: Rachel Rowsey Multimedia Editor: Adam Harris Calendar Editor: Sean Morrison News & Insight Editors: Alaina Lancaster, Danielle Renton, Aditi Shrikant The Scene Editors: Miles Dobis, Nicole Eno, Lauren Rutherford Music Editors: Stephanie Bray, Tess Catlett Arts/Books Editors: Cecilia Meis, Ashley Szatala Contributing Writers: Elizabeth Brown, Reid Foster, Christine Jackson, Abby Kass, Sarah Kloepple, Makenzie Koch, Carson Kohler, Carolin Lehmann, Kara Quill Editorial Director: Heather Lamb Executive Editor: Jennifer Rowe Reporting Beat Leader: Joy Jenkins Digital Director: Sara Shipley Hiles Writing Coach: John Fennell Office Manager: Kim Townlain

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF LILI SAMS; SARA COLLATON

Correction: Vox incorrectly spelled the last name of

COVER PHOTO: LILI SAMS

Strange Donuts is here, and its hometown recipe bucks custom from the doughy inside, out

We’re social.

Strange Donuts brings some St. Louis flavor to Columbia with the Gooey Butter Donut. Discover the anatomy of this tasty treat. PAGE 5

Lilly’s Cantina owner George Nickols in a story in the March 5 issue.

PAGE 6

THE NEW CLASSIC

If you want to reminisce about 2015’s Fest, Vox has compiled a list of where to find all the movies you missed or need to see again.

Upgrade your wardrobe on a budget by shopping second-hand. See how local stores change inventory each season to keep your fashion fresh. PAGE 4

THE SCENE

Columbia’s most durable tradition stacks up decades of souvenirs

Radar

Vox’s take on the talk of the week

TEXAS TAKE-OVER

VOX ASKS COLUMBIANS

What’s in your cup?

We want to know your alternative uses for souvenir cups.

The number of days it took MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin to name a new athletic director after Mike Alden announced his departure. University of Houston’s athletic head Mack Rhoades was formally introduced as Alden’s successor on Tuesday.

AVILA NILON, 57 I use them in the summertime to help me dig out my garden because they’re really sturdy.

PJ WILSON, 37 Plastic cups from businesses in downtown Columbia saved my business. When the roof started leaking, there was a waterfall coming into my office. If it wasn’t for quick, ready-to-grab cups from all around downtown, I wouldn’t be here today.

MARIO HAS LEFT THE PARTY

PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF JACK FLEMMING; BROOKE VAUGHAN; THE DAILY SHOW; AMBER GARRETT/ MISSOURIAN; DEVIANTAART/ WOOPWOOPWOOP11

E PARTY

REN ZHAOQIAN, 20 I use the cups to play dice. I shake them up and roll them out to see who got the bigger number.

Flip to page 6 to out more about the city’s favorite kitchenware in this week’s feature. Gunther’s Games is closing shop until April, with plans to return as a craft beer and old-school game bar. To free up space for new seating, games such as “Mario Kart”will be sold off. But have no fear: arcade favorites including pinball and “Pac-Man” are here to stay. TAKE TWO

17. N 9TH STREET // COLUMBIA, MO www.THEBLUENOTE.com

MAR. 12 - SATISFACTION: ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE MAR. 13 - BRIDGET EVERETT MAR. 13 - BREW ‘N VIEW: ROCKY HORROR MAR. 14 - GET LUCKY: A ST. PADDY’S DAY CLUB NIGHT MAR. 18 - RU PAUL’S DRAG RACE MAR. 19 - BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY MAR. 20- MIDWEST FUNK & SOUL REVUE II MAR. 21- 80s VS 90s ROUND 3 MAR. 27- THE DISCO BALL: 70s DISCO & FUNK PARTY MAR. 28- THE MASQUERADE BALL! APR. 1 - C I R C A S U R V I V E APR. 2 - BUCKCHERRY APR. 7 - YELLOWCARD APR. 9 - L I L D I C K Y APR. 10 - INTERSTELLAR OVERDRIVE

THE DAILY DEPARTURE

Samantha Bee and Jason Jones are leaving The Daily Show, which leaves us to wonder: Who is actually on Comedy Central, anyway?

Missouri wheelchair basketball might make it back to nationals after last year’s fourth-place finish. If they beat University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Friday’s semifinals, they’ll advance to nationals and play for a chance to compete in the world championship in Incheon, South Korea.

Good luck at semifinals, Tigers!

1013 PARK AVE // COLUMBIA MO www.ROSEMUSICHALL.com

3/13 TURBO SUIT 3/14 TWIN PEAKS 3/14 THE MAIN SQUEEZE 3/15 PIANOS BECOME TEETH 3/17 ST. PADDY’S DAY CELEBRATION FEAT. THE ELDERS 3/19 BASS KITCHEN 3/18 RACHEL MALLIN + MERRY ELLEN KIRK + COURTNEY YASMINEH 3/21 DEAD SARA 3/25 SWEET ASCENT 3/26 JUSTIN ADAMS 3/27 THE HOOTEN HALLERS 3/28 WILLIE WATSON 3/28 THE DOCK ELLIS BAND 4/2 DOPAPOD 4/3 NORA JANE STRUTHERS 4/4 SPRING DUBTACULAR! 4/5 THE WYLDZ 4/7 RECKLESS KELLY 4/9 TIDAL VOLUME+RAY WILD+DANGERFIELD 4/10 MONOPHONICS 4/11 JOHN GALBRAITH 4/11 GOOD VIBES 4

Written by: Tess Catlett, Miles Dobis, Nicole Eno, Jack Flemming, Ashley Szatala, Brooke Vaughan 03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

NEWS & INSIGHT

Reused yet refreshed

Discover the process that helps second-hand clothing stores tackle today’s trends BY BROOKE VAUGHAN Just like the seasons, clothing stores are constantly rotating. Secondhand clothing shops keep their inventory fresh by using Columbians and consignors, which are people who supply clothes to shops and receive a portion of the profits for each item sold. Here’s how three shops thrive in Columbia’s fashion scene.

Maude Vintage Clothing and Costumes

Maude V. is now buying back maxi skirts, sandals an sneakers to stock up for the warmer months ahead. Photo by SHELBY BASELER

It’s March, which means Maude V. is slashing prices on its furs and relocating bulky sweaters to the back of the store. Owner Sabrina Braiden’s goal is “movement:” constantly cycle clothing throughout the store and switch up the feature displays weekly. She works with the public, as well as clothing-and-local-jewelry consignors who research clothing trends for a living to keep Maude V.’s collection growing. The store acquires a 5-foot rack of second-hand clothing each day. Braiden thinks of her store as a learning curve where management is constantly reassessing the criteria of which items to select from consignors. “It’s warm and friendly,” says manager Latoya Jackson. “It feels like home. Everything from ’80s and before, to modern, we have something for a variety of people.” Maude V., 818 E. Broadway, Monday–Thursday, noon–7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Muse Clothing

Muse’s boutique-style selection meshes with an upstairs full of edgy and contemporary second-hand clothing. Muse owner Nickie Davis says she is always looking for “totally weird” pieces for the store’s assortment. The Muse team familiarizes itself with clothing lines and seasonal trends so when local consignors come in with a pile of clothes, the staff can easily select what they want. Davis sorts through their selections and chooses the trendiest pieces. When the store needs a certain type of clothing, Davis says she’ll take a road trip to a “secluded town to pick something up from a thrift store.” However, Muse’s high quality inventory doesn’t mean high prices; their newer second-hand clothing sells for 75 percent off the original retail price. Muse Clothing, 22 S. Ninth St., Sunday–Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Muse doesn’t take clothes from the public, but works with a few consignors that are either friends or consistent customers. Photo by JENNY JUSTUS

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

Plato’s Closet manager Lauren Strain says most secondhand clothing stores adopt a boho or preppy feel, but Plato’s Closet includes all current fashions. A mix of returning and new clients contribute clothing to the store’s inventory to satisfy Plato’s teen to 20-something clientele. Before employees can buy back clothes, they must go through three months of in-store training to be familiarized with current styles and the quality checking process. They learn which items to buy back from the public and which items to turn down. Plato’s pays cash for clothing from brands such as American Eagle, H&M and PacSun, as long as the clothes are in good condition. All clothing is kept on the selling floor year-round, but out-of-season apparel is pushed to the back. “There are no crinkly hangers or low lighting,” Strain says. “We hope to be welcoming and friendly.” Plato’s Closet, 2609 E. Broadway, Monday– Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We’re pushing wearable couture,” says Maude V. owner Sabrina Braiden of her store’s eclectic inventory. “Mixing and matching patterns and prints, vintage and couture.”

“Relaxed, open, fun and different,” says Muse owner Nickie Davis of her store’s atmosphere. Muse’s signature pieces are flannels and cut-off shorts.

“We are very fun,” says Plato’s Closet manager Lauren Strain. “We are a franchise, but Columbia itself is about local and small businesses. That’s what we’ve turned into.”

PHOTOS BY SHELBY BASELER; JENNY JUSTUS; SHANNON ELLIOTT

Every day, Plato’s Closet has at least 10 new people sell them gently used, and sometimes new, clothing. Photo by SHANNON ELLIOTT

Plato’s Closet

FASHION LEADERS

THE SCENE

Hello, stranger Glorious gooey butter treat arrives in CoMo BY MARY HILLEREN If you’ve been to St. Louis, you’ve heard natives rave about the city’s classic gooey butter cake, a dessert with a golden, flaky crust and cream cheese filling. Strange Donuts, downtown’s newest sugar spot, imports St. Louis flavor with its Gooey Butter Donut: A treat that promises to be the highlight of any breakfast or latenight snack. Locals are now raving as well; Columbia’s new doughnut destination sold out of the Gooey Butter Donut during its opening weekend. Chef Mary Bogacki describes the doughnut as sweet and moist. At Strange’s two St. Louis locations, it’s usually the first order of the day and the first flavor to sell out. The doughnut made its Columbia debut during Strange Donuts’ grand opening on March 5. Bogacki dishes on the delectable ingredients and secrets used to create this top-seller.

Crumbly topping

Rich streusel topping made from flour, butter and sugar is sprinkled onto the icing. In order to polish off this masterpiece, Bogacki adds a heavy dose of powdered sugar.

Fluffy crust

The outside of the doughnut is golden and soft with a spongy texture. Bogacki adds sour cream to the batter to make the cake more moist.

Gooey Butter Donut, $2 1020 E. Broadway Sunday–Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday–Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Closes early if sold out 314-932-5851 Strangedonuts.tumblr.com

Smooth icing

PHOTO COURTESY OF STRANGE DONUTS

Bogacki slathers on the cream cheese icing. Unlike its namesake cake, the butter cream doughnut uses its cream cheese component as a topper, not a filling. It never quite sets and keeps the pastry gooey until the last bite. Napkins, please!

Soft center

Bogacki makes the inner crumb, or the core of the doughnut, extra soft.The inside is more dense and sturdy than traditional doughnuts.

03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

WHERE CUPS

RUNNETH OVER

Columbia’s plastic cups are more than just freebies; they’re tangible, 22-ounce keepsakes from good times gone-by.

Story by Caleb O’Brien // Photos by Lili Sams 6

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

n Dawn and Craig Heimburger’s first date in May 1996, they ate pepperoni pizza and sipped from Shakespeare’s cups downtown in the full booth closest to the front windows. They were both from Illinois and both student athletes at MU — Dawn played softball, and Craig was an offensive lineman. Although they grew up only 15 minutes apart, they had not met until a chance encounter in the university’s weight room. Three quick years later, Craig proposed to Dawn on the campus quad. The couple moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Craig would play for the Packers from 1999 to 2000. “Every time you move, you’re obviously a little homesick for where you come from,” Dawn says. So, the couple brought along a memento of college: a sizable collection of Shakespeare’s cups. Those cups and their replacements have accompanied Dawn and Craig through the years, from Green Bay to Buffalo, New York, where Craig played for the Buffalo Bills until 2002, and then to the St. Louis area where Craig owned a construction business. The cups followed the couple through other changes, such as the birth of their daughter Brooke in 2007, followed by their daughter Bree and son Brody in the ensuing years. Now, when Dawn and Craig return to Columbia, they always try to dine in that same Shakespeare’s booth. And at home, they’re busily indoctrinating their children in the ways of MU. “Every morning, we give the kids vitamins, and we fill their Shakespeare’s cups up with water,” Dawn says. “We use them as propaganda. They know what those cups signify.”

Dawn and Craig are not alone; millions of cups from Columbia businesses fill pantries and cupboards all over the world. In fact, if you’re reading this, chances are high that you have a plastic souvenir cup from Columbia, a sturdy, reusable vessel emblazoned with the logo of a local restaurant, club or bar. When those cups leave businesses and take up residence in our apartments and homes, they continue serving the company as unobtrusive advertisements. But to customers the souvenirs are more than just freebies. They are relished mementoes of places left behind, utilitarian tools and powerful icons of bygone days. From the factory to the kitchen table, each cup embarks on its own unique journey.

How they’re made

Many of Columbia’s cups come from Churchill Container Company, a Kansas City-based purveyor of all things cups. The company supplies stadium concessionaires and stocks bars and restaurants around the country, says Matt Eshelby, a regional sales manager at Churchill. The company sells to many of Columbia’s popular spots, but two of the biggest accounts are with Shakespeare’s and Harpo’s, Eshelby says. Cups start their lives as polypropylene beads, a synthetic resin that the company buys by the rail-car load. Employees dump the beads into injection-molding machines that melt and meld the beads together to form a variety of cup styles and sizes. Then, when a customer places an order, the company pops the cups into a printer for logos and decorations and ships them off. Eshelby says the 22-ounce fluted cup, the Harpo’s or Shakespeare’s variety, is by far the most popular. Kurt Mirtsching, a longtime cup devotee and manager of Shakespeare’s Pizza, extols the virtue of the 22 fluted. It makes for a generous portion, and the squat design is less liable to spill than a taller, narrower cup, he says. The translucent plastic lets staff keep tabs on what patrons are drinking — exposing freeloaders and outing aspiring underage drinkers. And those vertical ribs around the vessel’s walls? The ribs, or fluting, keep a wet stack of freshly washed cups from suctioning together.

Half full

Souvenir cups are more expensive than disposable alternatives. Eshelby estimates that Churchill’s containers cost about 8 cents more per cup than disposables. Multiply that by the half a million cups Shakespeare’s uses every year, and it adds up to a pretty penny. But for Mirtsching, the cups are well worth the higher up-front cost.

“It’s not that much more expensive than throwaways when you factor in the idea that they can be reused,” he says. “Every time you wash a cup, you cut its cost in half, and when you factor in the marketing and advertising value of having your name all over the place, I think they’re a lot less expensive than disposables.” The cups’ top-of-mind advertising value is an important element for potential buyers, Eshelby says. “Businesses use them as walking billboards. It’s a relatively inexpensive way for a company to put their name on something and have it go and sit in someone’s home. Every time a kid has a drink of water, they’re going to pull that cup out.”

A cup’s shifting meaning

While Dee Dee and Jay Shelton lived in Columbia from 1987 to 1994, petite promotions from Harpo’s and Shakespeare’s became essential elements in their pantry. “At the time when we were in college, the Harpo’s cups were badges of honor,” Dee Dee says. For the Sheltons and their friends, the cups served as crude barometers of how much partying had gone down. An abundance of new Harpo’s cups meant, “Wow, they really had a good time last weekend.” In the 1990s, Dee Dee and Jay were just beginning their lives together. Now that they’re comfortably established in Jefferson City, the cups still maintain an important, albeit more sentimental, role in their lives: “They represent happy memories,” she says. But as ubiquitous, practical objects, those cups become incorporated into other kinds of memories, too. “We had our first child in 1991,” Dee Dee says, “and for some reason, the Shakespeare’s cup then took on a different meaning: It became the cup we used in the bathroom to give her baths, to rinse her hair. Over the years, we have always had one in the bathroom under the sink.” These days, when Dee Dee needs a gift for high school graduates planning on attending MU, she gets them a gift certificate to Shakespeare’s and presents it to them in a brand new cup.

Classy cups

Becky Ross, a first grade teacher at Mill Creek Elementary School, keeps 30 souvenir cups stacked in a bin on a shelf in her classroom. When her students work with manipulatives, which is “a fancy word for blocks,” Ross uses the cups to quickly distribute the vibrant cubes and tiles. “You can take a cup and scoop it through the bin and have a serving for a single kid,” she says. As her class size has grown over the years, time-savers like this one

Numbers Game

500,000

Number of cups Shakespeare’s goes through per year. If each cup were used once, the liquid would fill an average 19,000-gallon swimming pool 4 1/2 times.

455

The height of Jesse Hall measured in cups.

75¢

The price of a triple well at Campus Bar & Grill on a Thursday night — one of the cheapest drinks you will find in a souvenir cup.

22 ounces The standard size of the souvenir cups.

Type of plastic used to make the cups. They’re now recyclable.

03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

have become vital when managing a full classroom. The cups serve other functions, too. The class will pick dandelions from the playground and use the cups as vases or turn them into pencil holders during summer school. And while Ross’ fourth grade son waits for his mom before or after school, he entertains himself by erecting and then demolishing perilous cup pyramids.

Fluid dynamics

Shakespeare’s!” To reduce its environmental footprint, the restaurant switched over to a cheaper reusable cup that’s a different size and shape than the traditional version but uses the same material and ink. “We feel a lot nicer about ourselves not throwing away all that landfill,” Mirtsching says.

Una copa

Every day, Traci Henry and her 4-year-old host brother, Businesses might appreciate the added advertising of Jorvin, brush their teeth together. Traci, a Peace Corps take-home cups, but they do try to limit the number volunteer in a small mountain town in León, Nicaragua, that leave with customers to keep things cost efficient. trains professors to become more proficient English Déjà Vu’s owner, Matt Istwan, has been at the club 22 teachers. She’s lived with Jorvin and his family for years and says a “Vu Cup” has existed since it opened. four months, and she’s been teaching him English and These days, the club goes through sharpening his dental hygiene skills about 25,000 cups per year. “When on the side. you’re in a college town, to be The pace of her new life brutally honest when you’re in differs greatly from what she was any bar, glassware is destroyed or accustomed to in the U.S., Traci stolen so quickly,” he says. “For one writes in an email. Electricity is 20-ounce (glass) mug, you can have irregular, and cows or people on 10 or 15 (plastic) cups. If they’re horseback amble down the street. going to disappear at the same rate, She takes bucket baths under the you’re better off with plastic.” nighttime stars, uses a latrine and Campus Bar & Grill is happy takes a Shakespeare’s cup full of to let customers walk off with their water outside to brush her teeth. cups, too — within limits. During Traci, a Columbia native, the day, folks are free to take them graduated from MU in May. “I home, says general manager Matt brought the cup with me because Hudson, but “at night, we try to I had to take a piece of Columbia, — Traci Henry, Peace Corps volunteer hold onto as many as we can.” Missouri with me,” she wrote. Since the volume of cups given out “There was no way I was going to increases during the busy evenings, leave it behind; it reminds me of the bar works harder to keep track home.” of its cups. Jorvin knows that cup well. Its When intoxicated patrons start to wander off with appearance means it’s time to grab a toothbrush and unwieldy stacks of cups, the bar’s bouncers step in. And practice English. “Every time he sees the cup he shouts Campus Bar does seem to part with relatively few cups: to his mom, ‘BRUSH MY TEETH!’” Traci writes. Hudson estimates the restaurant orders between 3,000 and 4,000 cups each year. Cupville, USA Another way to defray the cost of souvenir cups Columbia’s cups have reached near and far because is through sponsorship. In exchange for their logo the city fits many of Eshelby’s criteria for a good cup appearing on the cups, beverage manufactures will foot market. The abundance of college students and the part of the bill. The red cups at 10Below, the club in city’s multitudes of transient residents mean there are Harpo’s basement, come courtesy of Skyy Vodka. plenty of shelves waiting to be stocked with free cups. Harpo’s further lowers costs by ordering cups for And because several companies have used souvenir cups the Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City locations at for decades, both customers and other companies are once, says A.J. Perry, bar manager at the Columbia familiar with the concept and more likely to use the locale. Here in town, it warehouses its cups in a storage cups themselves. “You need to introduce it with one locker packed to the gills with boxes of 500 cups each. person,” Eshelby says. “If you get one (company using And though disposable cups are less expensive, they souvenir cups), within five years you’ll have a dozen.” do exact an environmental cost. Until fairly recently, He’s right. When newer joints such as Bengal’s Shakespeare’s gave disposable cups to customers who Bar and Grill serve up beer in a souvenir cup, they’re ordered water. “That was just crazy,” Mirtsching says. following in the footsteps of storied establishments such “I mean we’re throwing away three, four, five cases as Shakespeare’s, Harpo’s and the Heidelberg, whose of cups a day. Think of the landfill from just little old earliest souvenir cups are now old enough to buy beer

I brought the cup with me because I had to take a piece of Columbia, Missouri, with me ...

Cup Superlatives Most likely to be dropped by a stumbling student on Ninth: Campus Bar & Grill cup.

Most likely to be used as a cereal bowl: Harpo’s cup. For when you’re too lazy to wash the dishes.

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

Most likely to be destroyed in the dishwasher: Shiloh cup. They crack after a few rinse cycles.

Most likely to be kept for a decade: Shakespeare’s cup. Be honest, you take visitors here at least once.

Most likely to not remember taking it home: Heidelberg cup. Curse those double Long Islands.

themselves. Columbia’s climate is another factor that makes the town a souvenir-cup hotbed. In some areas, Eshelby says, Churchill’s product struggles to compete with foam cups. “In the deep South where it’s very humid, they don’t want a plastic cup that’s going to sweat all over you,” Eshelby says. “What’s funny is that in the winter we’ll do more business (in that region) because it’s not as hot — that’s when they’ll do winter promotions.” Although the air is drier, business in Columbia also drops off in summer months due to the absence of students.

How to kill your cups The only downside to Columbia’s surfeit of cups? They’re just too durable. If you’ve accumulated a surplus and need to thin the herd, here’s a handy flowchart to help you cull your collection. Start here!

Do you own a car?

Way up north

Souvenir cups haven’t reached the restaurants of Palmerston, Ontario, but they have a home in the cabinets of MU alum Barb Riti’s family. Barb, a native Canadian, studied and played softball at MU from 1994 to 1998, and brought Heidelberg cups with her on visits home. And though she now lives nearby in St. Louis, Barb maintains a collection of cups from Columbia. “Ever since I’ve been in college, I’ve had Heidelberg cups in my house,” Barb says. “They’ve been a mainstay.” Barb, who now teaches high school U.S. and world history, fondly remembers long hours spent at The Heidelberg: happy hour celebrations with her teammates, late Sunday night study sessions and, eventually, meals shared with her daughter. She still makes it to the ’Berg a couple of times each year. Usually, it’s just a pit stop on the way to other destinations, a quick lunch and, maybe, a new cup.

Far flung cups

The owners and employees of companies that give away souvenir cups know firsthand how important their cups can become and the lengths to which people will go to maintain their collections. “We’ve had alums come in every year to grab a drink and just to say, ‘I’ve run out my Vu cups,’” says Déjà Vu owner Matt Istwan. A few months ago, he sold 50 cups to a man who bought them on behalf of a couple in California. They’d met at Déjà Vu and planned to use the cups in their wedding. Heidelberg manager Richard Walls has also mailed cups to California, and recently a neighbor now deployed in Kuwait sent Walls a photo of a Heidelberg cup. “We’ve shipped them all over,” he says. And the cups do tend to turn up in odd locations. Once, returning home to the U.K. after a visit to Columbia, Shakespeare’s owner Kurt Mirtsching’s relatives spotted a customs agent at London’s Heathrow airport storing his pens in a Shakespeare’s cup.

YES

Oh, so you’re a filthy, tree-hugging hippie? SURE AM You’ve already reused; go ahead and recycle. (They’re #5 plastic.)

Demolition derby much? NO YES

Own a dog?

HECK NO!

Chuck them in a stream*.

YES

Daub a spoonful of Peter Pan peanut butter in the bottom and let Rufus go to town.

NO How about a gun?

YES

Target practice, obvs.

Do you actually want fewer cups?

YES Are you sure?

Use the cups as traffic cones and set up an obstacle course. Then obliterate it.

NO WELL ...

Thought not. Keep all your cups, and use them until the print wears off and the plastic turns as brittle as egg shells.

*We don’t actually condone throwing garbage into streams. In fact, we discourage it. Should we find you polluting, we’ll sic some peanut butter-crazed hounds and bright-eyed, sign-toting environmentalists on ya.

03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

Convertible cups

How do you use your CUPS?

Souvenir cups can be used for many things besides drinking. Countless horses, mules and donkeys around Columbia have their grain allotted to them in 22 oz. increments. Former Shakespeare’s employee Ralph Wahlers soaks rice in his, and frequent Harpo’s patron Dee Dee Shelton uses a souvenir cup to replenish the black-oil sunflower seeds in her bird feeder. Even Churchill Container’s regional sales manager Matt Eshelby doesn’t just drink from the cups. “I use a small 16 fluted for my dog’s food,” he says. “It’s a good scooper.”

We asked Vox followers to share ways they put their cups to work.

If you’re looking to get more out of your CoMo cup, try some of these practical suggestions: - paint mixer - improvised iPhone speaker (just try it) - makeup holder - cereal bowl - cookie or dough cutter - bookend (when filled with the loose change you have lying around) - trapper of spiders (keeps them in sight while you pump yourself up for the kill)

Adrienne Henry on Facebook: “I use my #CoMoCups for mixing ink.”

Jamie on Twitter: “start off the day every morning with a breakfast shake in Shakes cup. ”

Take it with you

Souvenir cups have become an integral part of dining

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

Traci Henry on Facebook: “I’m a Peace Corps volunteer serving in León, Nicaragua, and I’m using my cup as a toothbrush holder!”

Becky Ross on Twitter: “I use them to distribute math manipulatives in my first grade classroom in CoMo!”

Ralph Wahlers worked at Shakespeare’s while in graduate school at MU from 1988 to 1991. Afterward, he moved to Korea for eight years. When he packed his bags to go abroad, a few Shakespeare’s cups made the cut. “They’re very useful, multipurpose-type cups,” he says. “It was also probably the nostalgia of having worked there … It’s a reminder of home; it’s a reminder of someplace you’ve been.” Wahlers now lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, but his Shakespeare’s cup collection still maintains a place of honor in his cupboard. On a trip back to Columbia last Thanksgiving, he stopped by Shakespeare’s for some new additions. “They’ve been on river trips out here in Utah and Colorado,” he says. “They fit in the ammo boxes, and heck, if you’re feeling really lazy in the morning and want one less dish to wash, just put all of your food into the Shakespeare’s cup.”

Dawn Dugan Heimburger on Facebook: “Training the next generation of pizza consumers.

Clayton Howard on Facebook: “We use our Shakes cups for sangria at the beach Newport Beach, CA”

and drinking in Columbia. Restaurateurs treasure the cup’s durability and advertising prowess, and customers, well, like free stuff. Some businesses actively disseminate their cups outside Columbia. When employees at Harpo’s go to out-of-town football games, they’ll take a sleeve of cups and distribute them to the crowd, says bar manager A.J. Perry. Shakespeare’s sells sets of new cups online, and soon aficionados can even purchase a set with used cups — for a higher price. So maybe it’s inevitable that Columbia’s cups turn up in airports, that they line shelves from Hong Kong to Nicaragua, that they stock timeshares and mountain cabins and crowd cupboards the world over. Diffusion is a natural process, after all. “When you’re going through half a million a year, they tend to get spread around,” Mirtsching says. But it’s more than just sheer numbers. For those who’ve grown accustomed to Columbia’s cups, who’ve made friendships and memories and found love in the presence of those cups, they’re hard to leave behind.

Harpo’s hasn’t strayed from the gold hue of the original cups. “We believe since they’ve been around so long it’s iconic,” general manager Matt Hudson says. Photos by SHELBY BASELER

The cup of life: a hypothetical journey When a cup makes its way to a home, it follows its owners through every stage of their lives 2 months:

O, those first newborn baths! These weeks, the world has slowly crystallized around you: shapes, colors and sounds are beginning to make sense. In the bath, your father looms above you, in his hand is a pale plastic vessel that he uses to douse you in warm, soapy water.

dishwasher. Why wash something before you put it into a machine that does the same thing? And these crummy plastic cups: Your parents only drink water from them. Why even bother washing them? Frankly, the entire endeavor seems futile. Sisyphean. Everything will be dirty again tomorrow.

21 years: 6 years:

You’ve always liked painting, and you know you always will. Well, not the painting so much as the mixing. When you squeeze vibrant dollops of paint into the bottom of a cup and mix them together with a paintbrush, the colors swirl and vanish into a completely different hue.

16 years:

The sheer mindless drudgery of it is overwhelming. These stacks of dirty dishes you rinse and scrub and slip into the

Please stop this room from spinning. Too many cups of jungle juice.

30 years:

Here you are bathing your own daughter. Her charming giggles and coos put a smile on your face. You scoop a cupful of water and pour it gently over her head. She seems mesmerized by the cup and the water, the dancing lights and shadows.

63 years Retirement has come, and you finally have

the time to travel. You pack up the car and drive to the coast, and here you sit watching the waves crash on the shore. In your left hand you hold the first of many books, and in your right is a cup of ice cold beer. Paradise.

82 years: Wheel of Fortune’s over, so you hoist yourself up from the recliner and slowly putter off to the bathroom. You look in the mirror, and ease the dentures from your mouth. You give the teeth a cursory brushing and plunk them into a plastic cup half full of denture cleanser. The cup is old, too, its plastic brittle, but it possesses a certain well-worn solidity. Its form echoes of the years of your life — passed from hand to hand; nested in cabinets; on countless tables and counters, condensation sliding slowly toward the earth.

MUSIC

Columbia’s jazz community bops along The swingin’ genre is doing just fine

BY JACK FLEMMING

America has a rich history of bestowing cultural gifts upon the world. Basketball. Quentin Tarantino films. Beyoncé. But perhaps the most distinctly “American” art this country has produced is often taken for granted by its own citizens: jazz music. The genre established a comfortable niche in Columbia, sustained by dedicated performers and passionate festival programmers. Now in its 20th season, the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series has become the local showcase for musicians both internationally successful and locally renowned in the area, as well as a testament to the durability of the genre. Executive Director Jon Poses started the Jazz Series in 1995 with the goal to present, promote, preserve and celebrate the great American art form of jazz. “There aren’t many areas with this small of a population that have an active jazz scene like Columbia,” Poses says. “The ‘We Always Swing’ Jazz Series is the hub of the city’s jazz activity.”

”

Jazz was born in the U.S. and spread to the entire planet. It’s America’s gift to the world, and that’s cause for celebration.

— JON POSES

The Jazz Series started with Poses setting up the box office in his own kitchen, but it soon grew and established Columbia as a key stop on the jazz circuit. The organization scours the musical landscape, looking for world-class jazz musicians to perform here. The first year, Columbia hosted six concerts. Now, that annual number has nearly doubled in addition to movie screenings, discussions and education programs focusing on jazz. Since originating in New Orleans during the early 20th century, jazz has evolved into a slew of different forms,

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series, and April kicks off Jazz Appreciation Month. Not coincidentally, the program has a lot to celebrate.

The “We Always Swing” Jazz Series has increased its budget tenfold since it was established in 1995. It’s now one of the preeminent jazz programs in the Midwest.

including swing, traditional and avant-garde. The Jazz Series aims to provide a showcase for these various styles and musicians, and audiences have given warm feedback. Local jazz pianist Tom Andes says that over the years, the organization “opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of jazz.” Andes has witnessed the spread of jazz in Columbia develop over the course of his career. Since graduating with his music degree from MU in 1981 and establishing himself as an area performer in 1985, Andes has dedicated his life and career to fostering jazz appreciation in area schools and venues. “It’s my one dimension,” Andes says. “I live and breathe it. I sometimes play for six hours a day.” The effort appears to be working; in the past few decades, Columbia has seen steady attendance at its jazz showcases. Andes started performing at Murry’s Restaurant, now Columbia’s premier jazz venue, in 1986. At first, he played one night a week, but after a few years, that turned into two and eventually three. The pianist realized the popularity of the genre and that a career in jazz might be viable. Andes still plays live at Murry’s several days a week and serves as the leader for the Tom Andes Trio, which is the restaurant’s house band. He now teaches at Stephens College and MU and performs at private functions. But live jazz is no longer limited to Murry’s. Because the community has grown over the past few decades, there are more opportunities for performers to educate people on the merit of the genre, says Joel Anderson, a local jazz guitarist. “There’s always been a core group of jazz musicians in Columbia, but there haven’t been many venues and opportunities to perform until recently,” Anderson says. The guitarist began performing in Columbia during the late '90s and now plays at Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen as well as art receptions. He notes that venues like Murry’s, Jazz and The Bridge now all contribute to the growing appreciation for the genre in the area. These venues bring in great musicians, which leads to more public interest and exposure. “(The venues) keep jazz in people’s minds, and there’s been an increased interest from Columbians,” Anderson says. Creating a worthwhile jazz scene took dedicated performers and plugged-in audiences, and Andes, Anderson and Poses all believe in the cultural power of jazz. With their help, more and more Columbians are coming to understand and appreciate the merit of America’s gift to the world.

April 18: Two nationally renowned jazz musicians grace the “We Always Swing” building: Anat Cohen and Bruce Barth. Cohen specializes in the clarinet and saxophone while Barth plays the piano. The performance promises to be a dynamic collision of styles. Cohen’s energetic and lyrical woodwind runs are inspired by Latin and South American musical tradition, and Barth’s piano playing acts as an elegant and sophisticated counterpart. Tickets are going fast, but the price tag includes the concert, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Murry’s Restaurant, 6:30 p.m., $100, 449-3009. April 26: The Jazz Series hosts two shows at Murry’s Restaurant featuring the National Pastimes Productions All-Star Quartet. The quartet includes Bobby Watson on saxophone, Donald Brown on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. The quartet members have played in The Tonight Show Band, recorded for major labels and taught at prestigious conservatories but have never performed together until this collaboration. The show is set to end Jazz Appreciation Month on a high note. Murry’s Restaurant, 3:30 and 7 p.m., $20–42, 449-3009.

Check out upcoming concerts on VoxMagazine.com.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HALEY REED/ADAM HARRIS; JOEL ANDERSON

Jazz guitarist and local performer Joel Anderson has managed a sustainable career performing jazz for more than 20 years thanks to Columbia’s expanding audience for the genre.

JAZZ SERIES APRIL CALENDAR

MUSIC

Home Tone grown

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOME TONE RECORDS

Two local bands perform send-off show before traveling to Austin BY MEREDITH MCGRATH Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the festivals. Each year, tech buffs, film gurus and music fans flock to Austin in mid-March for the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival. Last year, the music portion of the festival reported 2,300 acts, representing 57 countries and more than 100 venues. This year, Home Tone Records, a Columbia-based record company, joins in on the action with five groups from the label set to play an unofficial showcase during SXSW. Coyote Union, Black Daniels and the Bears, Don’t Mind Dying, Kevin Hambrick and The Many Colored Death will perform at MidCoast Takeover. Before hitting the road, Don’t Mind Dying and Black Daniels and the Bears will play a send-off show on March 14 at The Bridge. Take a look at how the label landed a spot at the unofficial show, and find out what the Home Tone team plans to do next.

The Beginning

Home Tone Records owner Wes Wingate founded the label in 2006. Before starting Home Tone, Wingate worked at Emergency Umbrella Records but parted ways with the label when it took a different direction. He was working on a handful of projects and needed an avenue to produce them. At the time, Wingate recorded everything at his friend Adam Roehlke’s house, and they decided to name the label Home Tone Records.

The Vision As the business grew, Wingate’s ultimate goal was to showcase Home Tone at SXSW. He attended the festival several years before Home Tone began. He saw the opportunity to earn more recognition and network with other record companies that shared his passion for the business.

The Deal In early 2013, Wingate began talking with Don’t Mind Dying and Black Daniels and the Bears about joining the record label. Wingate brought up the idea of SXSW during these discussions. “That was one of the things that turned us on,” says Jason Caton, guitarist for Don’t Mind Dying. Blaine Daniels, the frontman of Black Daniels and the Bears, liked Wingate’s approach to music production: a mutual give-and-take relationship between artist and producer.

The Future Today, there are 12 active artists signed to Home Tone, and they have produced 22 albums, including Black Daniels and the Bears’ album Copacetic in March 2014. Wingate says they are producing record No. 23, which drops in two to three months. In terms of the business, Wingate wants to keep putting out great records and take Home Tone’s bands to the next level.

Don’t Mind Dying

Black Daniels and the Bears

SXSW PERFORMANCES Home Tone will send five groups to MidCoast Takeover, an unofficial showcase that features bands from across the Midwest on a national stage. Founded in 2010, Midwasteland Takeover was created out of an appreciation for great music and talented performers. The showcase changed its name to MidCoast Takeover in 2011 to accurately represent the acts that performed.

Home Tone Records Send-Off Show The Bridge, 8 p.m., Tuesday, $7; $3 minor surcharge, 442-9627, thebridgecolumbia.com

Blues in the Schools Benefit Presented by:

March 17, 2015 • 5:30-9pm • The Tiger Hotel How well do you know your music? Roots N Blues music, rock icons, country, gospel, folk and soul. Now is the chance to pit your memories against those of your friends and neighbors. Come on out to Name That Tune, and help support the Blues in the Schools program. For more information, on tickets go to rootsnbluesnbbq.com/foundation 03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

ARTS

Garnish with creativity Tellers’ chefs serve up eats and a side of arts BY MEREDITH MCGRATH PHOTOS BY SHANNON ELLIOTT Sautéing and shading, frying and rhyming, stirring and strumming. Meet the culinary staff of Teller’s Gallery and Bar, a team of creative minds whose expressions stretch beyond the kitchen. The resulting products represent their unique translation of the world around them. From rapping to drawing, these five men are serving up style in and out of the kitchen. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the dual lives of these artists — er, artisans.

APOLLO S.T.U.N.T. ^3

JAKE BRODERICK

MIKE ELSON

Duck is Darryl Dixson Jr.’s (Apollo S.T.U.N.T. ^3) favorite food to make. He enjoys sautéing duck breasts and coming up with complementary sauces. “I try to create new things and broaden my knowledge of the culinary world,” he says. Dixson earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from MU in 2012, but now he’s focusing on music. With an ear for rhythm, Dixson started rapping at the age of 12. The name Apollo comes from his admiration of the Greek god and the similar personalities they share. He has performed in Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City. In November 2013, Apollo released his first album, The Untitled. “The writing process is really easy to me,” he says. “but it’s hard to match a beat to it. I sit and listen to the beat for hours and hours.”

Jake Broderick likes to read comic books, especially Watchmen and Transmetropolitan because of their unique color schemes. They influence his art; his drawings and paintings depict different illustrative scenes. Broderick starts with a sketchbook then translates his art to digital form by inking and coloring it in Photoshop. Broderick has created posters and album covers for bands such as The Hooten Hallers and Decadent Nation. His work is also displayed at Living Canvas, a Columbia tattoo shop. He says the idea of composition connects cooking and art, especially when it comes to food presentation. Broderick strives for balance in both worlds. “I try to make my art more technically correct with perspective, proportion, lightness and realism,” he says

Mike Elson loves to draw eyes. “They are a window to the soul,” he says. “It’s like a human connection.” He has worked at Teller’s for more than a year, but when he’s not there, he is devoted to his art. He dabbles in a little bit of everything but draws people the most. Elson describes his work as illustrative and cartoonish. Sketchbook in hand, he is always ready for inspiration. He works carefully to translate what he observes into his art, making sure he fully encapsulates the character of his subjects. At Teller’s, Elson channels his artistic side while plating food. “I make food look like I want to eat it,” he says. “If you take five extra seconds to fluff lettuce leaves in a salad and arrange things to where it forms a visual pattern, it makes a difference.”

Rap musician

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

Sketch/Digital artist

Sketch/Paint artist

KYLE LEE

Drummer Kyle Lee began drumming in high school. In 2012, he earned a bachelors degree in music from MU. After playing in several bands, he became the drummer for Cinder Block, previously known as Gyttja. Lee is also the house drummer at the Penguin Piano Bar. He describes Teller’s as a family environment. “It’s tight knit,” he says. “I get a lot of creative freedom here to try new things.” Lee says drumming and cooking have improved his reaction speeds and ability to adapt. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as passionate about cooking,” he says. As an artist, Lee says he’s learned to simplify his music while increasing his range and ability to play multiple styles. “I think it offers more flexibility as a player,” he says.

DALE PARKER

Bassist and back-up vocalist A recorder, given to him by his mom, helped spark Dale Parker’s interest in music as a kid. His mom, a music teacher, put him in classes where he learned to play the piano and guitar and eventually became the bassist for local soul metal band Cinder Block. He describes their sound as the culmination of each of the band members’ personal musical influences. His is Guns N’ Roses. “(It) is responsible for me being who I am.” Parker says the work of a chef requires the same ambition and creativity as being a musician. “What you put in is what you get out,” he says. “I started as a dishwasher. It’s all about wanting to better yourself.”

03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

THIS WEEK IN COLUMBIA

The to-do list ARTS & CULTURE Women in the Arts

The Craft Studio Gallery is hosting this event celebrating female artists. Submissions for artists are open until March 20 and can include clay, pottery, painting, drawing and more. Visit craftstudio.org for entry guidelines. Thursday, 4 p.m., The Craft Studio Gallery, Free, craftstudio.org

Josh Sneed

Josh Sneed has opened for the likes of Dave Chappelle and Dane Cook. He placed second in Comedy Central’s annual Stand-up Showdown. Sneed makes people laugh with satire and his frank personality. Thursday, 9 p.m., Déjà Vu, $8, 443-3216

Weekend Movie: Selma

Selma captures the Civil Rights Movement at its peak in Selma, Alabama. Watch this Oscar-nominee for only $1. Friday, 7–9:30 p.m., Jesse Wrench Auditorium, Memorial Student Union, $1, 882-3780

Bridget Everett Comedy Performance

Bridget Everett is one of the funniest people you’ve ever seen on TV. She’s been in Two Broke Girls and Whitney Cummings’ Bleep Show. Friday, 9 p.m., The Blue Note, $10, 874-1994

Brew ‘n’ View: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The camp classic time warps its way to Columbia just in time for Friday the 13th. Grab your props and outrageous genderbending costumes for this movie-musical famous for its audience participation. Friday, 11 p.m., The Blue Note, $8 in advance; $10 day of, 874-1944

Brides of D ownton Abbey

Downton Abbey arrives at Stephens College with a presentation by wedding folklorist and costume historian Cornelia Powell. She speaks on the inspiration behind the wedding dresses featured in Masterpiece Classic’s hit series. Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Historic Senior Hall Recital Hall, Stephens College, Free, 876-7105

CIVIC First Ward City Council Candidate Forum on Development and Infrastructure Ask the First Ward City Council Candidates pressing questions about development and infrastructure. This is the second of three forums on the topic. Thursday, 6–8:30 p.m., 702 Wilkes Blvd., Free, 819-8958

SASHAcon

If your idea of religion is hate-watching AMC’s The Walking Dead, come to SASHAcon, and mingle with other non-religious students. Libby Cowgill is back to discuss the topic of evolution in education. Friday, 12–3 p.m., Mumford Hall, MU, Free, 876-7105

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 03.12.15

Day of Service

Want to give back to the community? Meet for a prayer service, and then break into groups to volunteer for non-profits around the community. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Newman Center, Free, 449-5424

Women Crush Wednesday

Mizzou Black Women’s Initiative is hosting an event to acknowledge women in leadership positions around campus. Dinner will be provided, and students will have an opportunity to network. Wednesday, 6:30–9:30 p.m., Mark Twain Ballroom, Memorial Student Union North, Free, 314-269-4977

FOOD & DRINK Taste the Tropics

Celebrate spring with the Rotaract of Columbia’s third-annual frozen tropical drink tasting. A ticket includes three drink samples and food. Proceeds go to PET MO-Columbia and Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity. Thursday, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Tropical Liqueurs South, $10, rotaractofcolumbia.org

Macadoodles Exquisite Wine Event

Enjoy a grand group of reds and whites at Macadoodles’ wine event. Selections include Numanthia, Veuve Clicquot and BV Tapestry. Thursday, 7–9 p.m., Macadoodles, $25, 443-1825

Jack’s Gourmet Interactive Dinner Theatre

Channel your inner detective as you analyze clues in this audience-propelled murder mystery. The actors aren’t the only suspects, and the killer might even be hiding in the crowd. Friday, 7–9 p.m., Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant, $40, 441-0252

Big Tree IPA Kickoff

Bur Oak will launch its new pale ale creation: Big Tree IPA. The debut includes an afternoon of music from Austin Jones and the Bootheel Boys, food from Como Dough Woodfired Pizza, plenty of prizes and craft brews. The admission fee comes with two pints of your choice. Saturday, 2–6 p.m., Bur Oak Brewing Company, $10, 814-2178

Gluten-free Dessert Workshop

Indulge and learn to prepare flourless zucchini brownies, apple cinnamon cookies and chocolate chip espresso banana bread muffins in an event hosted by Back 2 Basics Cooking. Preregistration is required. Saturday, 3:10–4:50 p.m., Culinary Connection Kitchen Rental, $34.95, 268-2248

“We Always Swing” Jazz Series Celebrity Invitational Ping Pong Tournament

Think you have ping pong skills? Come and prove it. The winner of this tournament will receive a cash prize. Proceeds will benefit the James Williams Jazz Series Education Program. Sunday, 1–9 p.m., Top Ten Wines, $75 for individuals; $500 for teams, 449-3001

Run All Night (R)

SPORTS Big Lil’ Run 5K

Take a jog for the local little brothers and sisters. The proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri. Friday, 9–11 a.m., MU Student Memorial Union, $15, 314-971-4199

Missouri Tennis vs. South Carolina

The first 100 spectators will receive a complimentary Missouri watch. You can use it to time how long it takes for Tiger juniors Kelli Hine and Madison Rhyner to dominate their doubles match. Friday. 5 p.m., Mizzou Tennis Complex, Free, 884-8341

Wheelchair Relay

Athletes will race to become Wheelchair Relay champions. Registration ends March 12. Friday, 5:30 p.m., MU Student Recreation Complex, $20 per team; free to attend, 882-4182

DON’T MISS: WHISKEY WILD GRAND REOPENING

SCREEN

Whiskey Wild returns to the Columbia nightlife scene. Gather with friends for a dance party and $5 bottomless cups. Friday, 8 p.m., Whiskey Wild Saloon, $5, 21 and up; $10, minors, 866-402-8880

30th Annual Taste of Mid-Missouri

Sample the best culinary creations from over 30 area restaurants. Everything from artisan cheeses to the choicest cuts of meat will be available. All profits will go to area restaurant associations’ scholarship programs. Monday, 5:30–8 p.m., Reynolds Alumni Center, $25 in advance; $30 at the door, 882-2586

Join Y107’s DJ Mike to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Listen to today’s hit songs, and dance the night away. Pro-tip: If you wear green, you get in for free. Saturday, 9 p.m., The Blue Note, $5, 874-1944

MUSIC

Fort Defiance

The international touring tribute show is rolling into town. Experience more than 45 years of rock ‘n’ roll hits with the group Satisfaction. Thursday, 8:30 p.m., The Blue Note, $10, 874-1944

Clockwork, Lesserhasbeens and Jacob Latham

The rock trio Clockwork will, in their words, “rock your faces off.” Lesserhasbeens boasts an alt-rock sound. Eighteen-year-old Jacob Latham is an up-and-coming musician whose music has a classic folk-rock feel. Friday, 8 p.m., The Bridge, $5; $3 minor surcharge, 442-9645

Turbo Suit

Hailing from Indianapolis, this trio, formerly known as Cosby Sweater, strives to create danceable beats and sensual saxophone melodies. The group will be releasing a full-length album later this year. Friday, 9:30 p.m.,Rose Music Hall, $10 in advance; $12 day of, 875-0588

Cinderella (PG)

Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden and Helena Bonham Carter star in this retelling of the classic fairy tale. F, R RUNTIME = 1:45

Still Alice (PG-13)

A linguistics professor is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. In this drama, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart star alongside Julianne Moore, whose performance earned her an Oscar. RT RUNTIME = 1:41

Still playing

American Sniper (R) R Chappie (R) F, R The Duff (PG-13) F, R Fifty Shades of Grey (R) F, R Focus (R) F, R Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (R) R Jupiter Ascending (PG-13) R Kingsman: The Secret Service (PG-13) F, R The Lazarus Effect (PG-13) F, R McFarland, USA (PG) R The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG) F, RT The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (PG) R Unfinished Business (R) F, R The Wedding Ringer (R) R

Theaters F = Forum RT = Ragtag R = Regal Check out movie reviews on VoxMagazine.com.

The Main Squeeze

This is not your typical cocktail party. Join fellow students, and enjoy some savory finger foods while talking about body image and self-love. The drinks are alcohol free. Monday, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Gaines Oldham Black Culture Center, Free, 314-303-5698

Satisfaction: A Tribute to The Rolling Stones

This romantic comedy explores the modern tangles of relationships and reveals how important it is to live courageously. RT RUNTIME = 1:35

Get Lucky: A St. Paddy’s Day Club Night

Get funky with The Main Squeeze, a band built on soulful vocals, tight grooves and ripping solos. If you’re a football fan, you should know the group hails from Bloomington, home of Indiana University. But you can put aside your feelings for a night. Saturday, 10:30 p.m., Rose Music Hall, $8 in advance; $10 day of, 875-0588

Mocktails and Me

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR/DOMINICK

Boy Meets Girl (PG-13)

Mobster Jimmy Conlon needs to choose between his son or his best friend. If he doesn’t choose to stay loyal to his friend, Conlon’s son dies. Liam Neeson and Ed Harris star in this action film. F, R RUNTIME = 1:45

Did you know that we have a downtown Community Media Center right here in Columbia? If you live or work in Boone County, you can check out high-tech cameras and video gear and work in CAT’s edit suite of loaded iMac computers. Just $60/yr or $25/yr for students, seniors and military personnel.

This indie-folk trio from Nashville knows how to write toe-tapping songs and harmonies that tug at your heartstrings. If you are a fan of Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan, then Fort Defiance is the group for you. Wednesday, 8 p.m., The Bridge, $5; $3 minor surcharge, 442-9645

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons share your Shimmy along with drag show host and series judge Michelle Visage. Past winners Bianca Del Rio, Jinkx Monsoon, Sharon Needles and Raja will join fan favorites such as Adore Delano, Courtney Act and Manila Luzon at various stops on this 35-city tour. Wednesday, 9 p.m., The Blue Note, $25 in advance; $28 day of, 874-1944

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03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

Don’t Worry, FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS MISSOURI

PLUNGE APPY! H s (3101 Bas

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Polar Bears Receive: • Official Polar Plunge shirt • Incentives for reaching fundraising levels • Eligibility for great prizes • Bragging rights for freezing your fur off for a great cause!

MISSOURI

The Polar Plunge is one of many events hosted by law enforcement to benefit their charity of choice, Special Olympics Missouri. All proceeds benefit year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

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SOMissouri

Q&A

A CONVERSATION WITH ANDREW HUTCHINSON AND T’KEYAH THOMAS

Besties turned business partners give local poets a regular venue BY KATELYN LUNDERS PHOTOS BY JENNY JUSTUS T’keyah Thomas will never forget the day she saw Andrew Hutchinson perform at a hip-hop-themed spoken word event in 2012 in Columbia. “This little redheaded white boy came on stage and just shut it down,” Thomas says. Regardless of how much Hutchinson’s performance impressed her, she didn’t recognize him when they began working together at the Tiger Hotel last February. But while hanging out at Hutchinson’s house last year, she finally made the connection. Thomas says she doesn’t believe in coincidences and took their reunion as a sign that there was a greater purpose to their friendship. After the two friends began collaborating on poetry, they discovered their shared desire for a consistent place for poets to perform in Columbia. In October, managers at the Tiger Hotel agreed to host their poetry open mic at The Vault. The show, One Mic, featured 15-minute poetry sets and 5-minute open mic performances. The pair pulled together the first One Mic in a week and half. Although the first event was stressful, now they’re pros: Hutchinson is in charge of determining logistics and promoting the event while Thomas handles the creative aspects of One Mic, such as coming up with new ideas and finding the feature poets for the events. Growing from 50 attendees in October to 150 at their third event in February, it seems that the duo’s hunch about Columbia’s need for open mic poetry was right. Why is One Mic unique? Andrew: Even people who have gone out and forgotten an entire poem and restarted three times still get close to a standing ovation. It’s really hard to be really bad at poetry. As long as you’re out there doing something and being honest and truthful about what you’re saying, people are going to like it. T’keyah: We are trying to fuse both sides of the poetry spectrum, poetry of the stage and poetry of the page, to create a safe space for everyone to come and snap to the poetry. And then, the other side is respecting people baring their souls no matter how they’re delivering it. How did you become interested in poetry? Andrew: I got started my junior year of high school. Poetry is one of the most

basic expressions of yourself. You get on the stage and the goal is to make the audience understand that experience or that emotion for two or three minutes with your words. If you can do that, it’s a really incredible experience. T’keyah: I have been writing and performing since I was 12. I got started when I was living in D.C., and even before then, I was always writing stories. I started joining workshops and clubs, and I got really into theater. I just loved being on stage, recreating a character and telling a story. What is your favorite memory from One Mic so far? Andrew: During the first One Mic, it was me and her having to do 15-minute sets just to fill three hours. It was stressful because everyone we thought was going to come didn’t. That compared with the last event where we are stressed because half of the place couldn’t even find a chair. We looked at each other and we’re like, “Wow, in three months this went from 50 to 150 people.” T’keyah: Andrew wrote a piece that he performed at the last one, and it was a very heavy piece. He almost didn’t perform it, but he decided to and I cried. He is so business-oriented, so sometimes I get worried that he’s not writing as often. Then he does something like that and I’m like “Damn, he’s still got it.” What is the coolest thing about One Mic? Andrew: It’s cool seeing the impact of the events on people. An old friend of mine is pursuing short story writing and has never tried his hand at poetry. I really wanted him to come out and read his short stories. Now he does a 15-minute set that is so unbelievably funny. T’keyah: There are so many different kinds of people who come on that stage; there’s so many different styles of poetry. Really, it’s all kind of overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like I’m not really there, like I’m just kind of floating and then it ends, and the room empties, and me and Andrew look at each other like, “We did it again.” ONE MIC The Vault 7 p.m., March 31, 875-8888, artistsunite@thetigerhotel.com

03.12.15 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM

TURE FILM)

UNIVERSITY CONCERT SERIES

Good People. Great Performances.

GET THE LED OUT: A LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE Sunday, March 15, 2015, 7PM FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (FEATURE FILM) Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 7PM WILLIE NELSON Monday, March 30, 2015, 7PM POTTED POTTER: THE UNAUTHORIZED HARRY EXPERIENCE Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 7PM SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (FEATURE FILM) Sunday, April 5, 2015, 2PM A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (FEATURE FILM) Monday, April 6, 2015, 7PM SING-ALONG THE SOUND OF MUSIC (FEATURE FILM) Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 7PM THE CHANCELLOR’S ART SHOWCASE Monday, April 13, 2015, 7:30 PM CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES PM

MU CHORAL UNION: OUR TRADITION AND FUTURE: A PROPHET OF LIGHT PM

MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE: RAPUNZEL Saturday, May 9, 2015 3PM and 6PM

TICKETS (573) 882-3781