Vox Magazine June 2022 Issue

AUTONOMY, ABORTED

As I write this, half a century of human rights and an era of flawed and dwindling reproductive freedoms are poised to end. After the draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade leaked May 2 indicating the Supreme Court’s intent to strike down federal protections for abortion rights, the reaction was immediate and visceral.

In the aftermath, grappling with the reality of a post-Roe America looks different for many communities. While some took to the streets armed with signs covered in Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes, others scrawled their signatures on durable power of attorney documents to protect loved ones in case their currently federally guaranteed rights suddenly became disposable, too. Weeks after the news broke, the implications of this decision still shake me to my core.

The snowball effect of unraveling legal precedents is particularly detrimental to marginalized communities — but also has wide-reaching consequences for all Americans. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, an organization that advocates for reproductive freedoms, 25 states are expected to ban abortion if the Supreme Court’s decision stands, and 13 states, including Missouri,

have trigger laws that would make abortion immediately illegal. Under current laws, statistics show that one in four people get legal abortions. Of those, many are likely to be low-income women in their 20s and disproportionately Black.

If Roe is dismantled, however, reproductive rights won’t be the only human rights under fire. Roe was a marquee case in establishing a litany of (supposedly) inalienable core privacy rights, including marriage equality, interracial marriage, contraception, fertility treatments and digital privacy. And though reproductive freedom is the vehicle that drives this conversation, it will not be the only damage done without the protections that Roe provides.

Sarah Kate Ellis, the president of GLAAD, spoke out in a statement: “None of us are safe from the extreme anti-women and anti-LGBTQ ideology that now dominates this Court,” she says. Every passing day, especially for those in marginalized communities, human rights continue to be sabotaged by the very people appointed to protect them — it’s disheartening at best. But, with our heads up, we move, we listen and we stand next to one another in this, now and always.

Behind the issue

I was 12 or 13 when I heard my first punk album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. Whatever you say about their status as real punks, the Sex Pistols (right) had an innate power. For many young people since 1977, the opening stomp of “Holidays in the Sun” ignited a lifelong obsession. Punk rock has been my life fuel ever since. When I arrived in Columbia, I wasn’t surprised to find that the city has a vibrant underground punk scene. Musicians, label owners, DJs and concert promoters have fostered a self-sustaining scene for over 40 years. A lot of history is here — history I felt needed to be documented. So, like my favorite bands taught me, I did it myself. (See the story on page 14.) — Austin Woods

Corrections: In the May issue in a story about toxic workplaces, we misstated the name of the Be Well Initiatives team, an arm of Burrell Behavioral Health. In the story about period poverty, the correct bill proposed by state Rep. Martha Stevens is H.B. 1842.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF COURTNEY PERRETT MANAGING EDITORS EVAN MUSIL, REBECCA NOEL

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR GRACE COOPER ONLINE EDITOR HANNAH GALLANT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR MAKALAH HARDY ART DIRECTORS HEERAL PATEL, MOY ZHONG PHOTO EDITOR MADI WINFIELD

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR ANNA KUTZ ASSOCIATE EDITORS

CULTURE ALEXANDRA HUNT, ELIZABETH OKOSUN, JASHAYLA PETTIGREW, ABBEY TAUCHEN, MARISA WHITAKER

EAT + DRINK ISABELLA FERRENTINO, ANNA ORTEGA, LAUREN STONE, NIKOL SLATINSKA CITY LIFE KELSY ARMSTRONG, JANAE MCKENZIE, ZOIA MORROW, CEY’NA SMITH, OLIVIA SHEEHY STAFF WRITERS JESSE BERLIN, KARLY BALSLEW, JOZIE CROUCH, JOSIE HEIMSOTH, JACEY JOHNSON, ADRIAN MADDOX, AMILEE NUZZO, SYNDNEY SCALIA, MIKAELA SCHLUETER, MAX SHAPIRO, JORDAN THORNSBERRY, AUSTIN WOODS

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT BRADFORD SIWAK

DESIGNER SHULEI JIANG

ASSISTANT ONLINE EDITOR OLIVIA EVANS

SOCIAL & AUDIENCE DOMINIC BOLT, EMMA DALKE, BRENNA ERWIN, DESTINY GARCIA, HAILEY KEENAN, BRYNN JANKOWSKI, MARIE

MCMULLAN, CELA MIGAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ATHENA FOLSERBRAZIL, ERIK GALICIA, JARED GENDRON, MALCIA GREENE, OLIVIA MAILLET, MELANIE OLIVIA, NATALIE SMITH, LUCY VALESKI, ABBY WHITE

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER ISHERWOOD

EXECUTIVE EDITOR LAURA HECK

SENIOR EDITORS MADISON FLECK COOK, JENNIFER ROWE

OFFICE MANAGER KIM TOWNLAIN

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JUNE 2022

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6

PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN LEE HILLS HALL, COLUMBIA MO 65211

Cover Design: Heeral Patel

Photography by The Associated Press and courtesy of Courtney Perrett

Courtney Perrett Editor-in-Chief

CULTURE

11

Peace, love, Soul Sessions

Discover a few local artists overflowing with spirit and authentic expression.

13

That’s my best friend

Former rap duo Bobby Reil and AJ Canty find their solo flows.

29

Summertime sweetness

These bright flavors at local dessert shops will help you escape the heat.

31

Déjà brew

Meet Acola Coffee’s owners, and learn about their surprising joint venture.

32

Creating a roar in Ashland

Priding itself as a home away from home, The Dandy Lion is a safe space to grab a latte, socialize and be you.

CITY LIFE

33

Hidden gems

Get to know Missouri below the surface with this rock-hunting guide.

35

On course for

Local golf courses are getting greener by improving and preserving ecosystems.

Back in the picture

Vox

This

Photography by Joel Green, Josh Ellenburg, Lucas Owens and Zachary Linhares and illustrations by Moy Zhong

Leafing an impression

Pop in for a look into the blooming business of Kent’s Floral Gallery. Owner and seasoned florist Kent Anderson designs for all occasions.

BY KARLY BALSLEW

Photography by Zachary Linhares and Darby Hodge

VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

Kent Anderson retrieves flowers from the refrigerator at Kent’s Floral Gallery. “It’s been a journey,” Anderson says of the shop’s 22 years. “I’ve done a lot of things over my career. I’ve taught, done design shows and I’ve even done flowers for President Reagan.”

When sunrise approaches and most downtown shops are quiet, Kent Anderson is unlocking Kent’s Floral Gallery on Broadway. At 8 a.m., when the shop opens, warm light shines through the large display windows adorned with seasonal decor.

As you walk inside, you’re struck by strong floral aromas and aesthetically pleasing arrangements from the ceiling to the floor. Vibrant hues of tulips and daisies fill the space. Sprawling ferns and fragrant lilies welcome customers, and as you move through the shop, it seems you’re no longer in Columbia but rather in an enchanted garden — like a scene from a fairy tale.

The shop’s roots

The locally owned floral shop has dedicated its services to the community’s flower needs for the past 20 years. Anderson and his team rely not only on their charming

flowers, but also their customer service to continue the legacy of the shop.

Anderson’s floral designing career began in 1977, when he was introduced to the floral industry after his father died. His family was touched by all the floral arrangements at the funeral, and he fondly remembers the notes within each one.

“We received so many arrangements, and it was really nice to be able to have that time to pull away from the casket,” Anderson says. This led Anderson, his mother and his brother to purchase a floral shop in Huntsville, Missouri, that same year.

He opened the Columbia shop in June 1998, and ever since, customers have placed orders for design arrangements for occasions that are both simple and special.

High school dances generate a lot of flower sales at the shop. Misty Burkemper (above) bought a corsage and boutonniere with her daughter.

KENT’S FLORAL GALLERY

The floral shop is located on 919 E. Broadway. Orders can be placed online, over the phone or in person. Mon.–Thurs., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friends by nature

Anderson knows firsthand the impact flowers can make. His shop serves as a comfort during the most grand and simple occasions for the community.

“You get to know (customers) and their children over the years, and it’s so rewarding,” Anderson says. Customer satisfaction is a top priority for Anderson, so regardless of finances or circumstances, he and his team work to create items the customers will cherish and remember, just like he did.

“If they don’t have it, they get it, and he always goes the extra mile,” longtime customer Lyria Bartlett says. “He’s a wonderful person and offers customer service beyond compare, truly.”

Anderson has done seven weddings for Bartlett’s family. Bartlett recalls when the pandemic moved her granddaugh-

Photography by Zachary Linhares

ter’s wedding into her home. Anderson ensured that all the flowers arrived and were arranged for the big day. He even waited in his car after the ceremony in case the bridal party needed anything.

That commitment doesn’t go unnoticed, and many community members continue to shop from him because of

ees, and many of them have been with me for a long time,” Anderson says. “It’s a fun place to work.”

Longtime employee Lora Schnurbusch has worked with Anderson for 23 years. “The floral industry is more about a passion than it is a paycheck,” she says. She has been able to combine her creative

Photography by Zachary Linhares

VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

You grow, girl

Can’t keep a plant alive? Take Vox’s quiz to discover which hard-to-kill plant is right for you.

BY JANAE MCKENZIE

Summer is here, and plant life is blooming all across Missouri. If you’re looking for a way to bring green to your home but you’re afraid of turning your living room into a plant graveyard, consider low-maintenance plants that don’t die easily.

Tiger Garden employee Rosie Newman says it’s common to see plant owners who are overwatering, not using fertilizer and failing to repot plants. Low-maintenance plants don’t mind being moved around and can thrive in a variety of environments. Co-owner of CoMo Grow Supply Heather Yu says an advantage of such plants is that they’re not prone to pests and mold, unlike leafy greens that are susceptible to powdery mildew and bugs.

Having a living plant in your space can also be a mood booster by bringing a sense of life. A plant’s different textures and colors can make your space feel homier. Yu says that a low-maintenance plant can add to your daily routine and help with your mental health.

“I feel like when there’s no plants in the room, you just kind of get an industrial vibe,” Newman says. “I feel plants bring the aesthetic of a more lively environment. People like being in areas with plants, because it makes it feel like the area’s being cared for.”

1. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Heat vision

Shape-shifting

Immortality

Invisibility

2. You’ve got two tickets to anywhere in the world. Where are you headed?

New Zealand Chile Egypt Paris

3. It’s time to redecorate your home. Where are you starting?

Living room

Outside Bedroom Kitchen

4. What is your favorite part about summer?

Seasonal fruit

Backyard BBQs

Pool parties with friends

Summer vacations

THE PLANT FOR YOU IS A...

Mostly As: Red-edged dracaena

This is a unique pick, perfect if you have an eye for the unusual and colorful. The plant can come with red tips and change into a variety of colors. The red-edged dracaena gives your home a pop of color. These plants do well in low light and dry, well-draining soil. Red-edged dracaenas are available to buy at Hy-Vee Floral.

Mostly Bs: Cacti

Succulents such as cacti are perfect for you. They’re a durable plant, and they’re not prone to pests, mold or mildew. Cacti thrive in low light, and you don’t have to water them often — only when they start to wrinkle, Yu says. Cacti are available at CoMo Grow Supply.

Spending it! Life’s too short. Where did this money come from? Investing it — why have $1 million when I could have more? Saving it! You never know when you’ll need it.

Mostly Cs: Pothos

Do your friends say you have “mom friend” energy? No wonder you got the pothos plant. These plants like to be nurtured, so if you have a tendency to overwater, these could be the right option for you. Pothos plants love a lot of water, and indirect light is great for them. Pothos plants are available at Hy-Vee Floral and Tiger Garden.

Mostly Ds: Lamb’s ear

This mix between a succulent and a leafy green is perfect for your home. Named for their fuzzy texture, this adorable plant can be used for garlands and decorations. It only needs to be watered about once a week, even in the dead of summer, and it can do well in the shade or right in the sun. Lamb’s ear is in stock at CoMo Grow Supply.

Photography courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr, Patrick Standish and Unsplash

LAMB’S EAR

RED-EDGED DRACAENA CACTI

POTHOS

Back in the picture

Kelsey Hammond, executive director of the Columbia Art League, discusses the long-awaited return of Art in the Park.

BY AUSTIN WOODS

Since 1959, the Columbia Art League’s Art in the Park festival has showcased paintings, sculptures and other stimulating creations from artists across the country. This year’s festival at Stephens Lake Park will be a milestone for Kelsey Hammond, executive director of CAL, Columbia’s oldest art gallery and a nonprofit that provides art education services. After taking the position in 2019, Hammond was tasked with planning the festival for 2020 and 2021— both of which were canceled due to COVID-19. Although this is the third Art in the Park festival Hammond has planned, it’s the first one during her tenure that will be held in person.

Artists apply to showcase their work at the festival, and a jury of five to seven art professionals from the community assess the work. CAL board member Mellodie Wilson, who is also on the festival steering committee, says this process helps distinguish Art in the Park from other art festivals. “I’ve been to a couple (festivals) that didn’t have the same level of criteria for booths,” she says. “I’ve thought, ‘You need someone from Art in the Park to help run this thing!’ ” Wilson says CAL makes an effort to offer art at various price points. “We work really hard to make sure everyone feels comfortable,” she says.

After its two-year hiatus, Art in the Park will return to Stephens Lake Park June 4 and 5, complete with installations, live music and booths for both collectors and other art enthusiasts. Vox spoke with Hammond about the returning festival, CAL classes and her own experience with the art world.

What are some lasting changes to CAL from the past two years?

Now, all of our classes and gallery shows are in person, but we still keep (the gallery shows) online so that people can

see them. Every time we have a new show, I do a walk-through on Facebook where I show the artwork and talk about it. That’s good for our people because some of them are elderly or live farther away. We also started a project called the Art Bus, which brings a bus full of art projects to the neighborhoods where kids have the least resources.

How does Art in the Park help CAL fulfill

ART IN THE PARK

Stephens Lake Park, June 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, columbiaart league.org

Is there a particular festival activity visitors simply must check out?

One of my favorite booths is called the Young Collector’s Tent. It’s a space where the artists who come to show their work donate one or two little artworks for kids to pick out for only $5. Then we encourage the kids to go with their parents and meet the artists to thank them and look at other stuff they’ve made. The artists love it because they get to meet kids and talk to them about artwork. We’re really hoping to instill the value of handmade objects to the youth so that they will also support this really important piece of our culture moving forward.

After working for nonprofit arts organizations around the country, what distinguishes Columbia’s art scene? I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area.

Photography by Hunter Pendleton

Vox Picks for JUNE

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 ELIZABETH OKOSUN

Embrace...

Your inner child at the CoMo GrownUp Book Fair. The event, hosted by Rose Music Hall, is meant to celebrate the ’90s nostalgia of Scholastic book fairs. The fair will have curated book selections from the likes of Skylark Bookshop, Peace Nook, Distant Planet Comics and other local and independent booksellers. Adult Capri Suns and cafeteria-style square pizza from Pizza Tree will be available, as well as a ’90s trivia session and a vintage goods market to top off this tubular affair. It’ll be all

Attend...

Jamboree. The date recognizes the June 19 emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The Family Fun Fests event will commemorate this important American holiday and feature food trucks, live performances and more. Bring along the entire family to honor and learn about Juneteenth through dance, music, art and other cultural activities. Cosmo Park, 1615 Business Loop 70 W., June 15, 6-8 p.m., como.gov/ parks-and-recreation

Art in the Park, mid-Missouri’s oldest and largest fine arts festival. Organized by the Columbia Art League, the festival will feature 110 artists from across the country and art installations of all mediums, including photography, paintings, pottery and sculptures. Live music, entertainment and an arts market will be available, as well as the Kid’s Art Spot with tie-dying and face-painting stations. Kelsey Hammond, executive director of the Columbia Art League, discusses her experiences at the organization and the festival’s two-year hiatus on p.9. Don’t be a Dalí downer — discover the talents of midMissouri’s art community. Stephens Lake Park, 2001 E. Broadway, June 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., columbiaartleague.org

Bust a move...

With underground rapper billy woods at Café Berlin. The NYC-based artist has been featured in Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Fresh off the release of his latest album, Aethiopes, woods will be performing alongside Nadir Smith and Eric Dontè. Dismal Niche describes Smith as an “abstract post-dancemusic enigma” from St. Louis, and Dontè, also from St. Louis, experiments with hip-hop, punk, R&B and house music. Grab a couple friends and get ready to jam out for the night. Café Berlin, 220 N. 10th St., June 8, 7-11 p.m., $10-20, cafeberlincomo.com

At the Pride Month Trivia & Brunch show. The family-friendly event, which will be hosted by Miss Venus O’Hara and a special guest, features a drag show, prizes and food, complete with a bar for soda, beer and mixed drinks. The show is organized by Nclusion Plus, a local LGBTQIA+ organization that promotes queer events and education within the community. The purchase of one $10 ticket will get you four rounds of trivia and a drag show, with brunch being an add-on. Bring a couple of your best Judys or invite the whole family out to test your trivia knowledge and enjoy a side-splitting performance by Columbia’s drag royalty. Dogmaster Distillery, 210 St. James St., June 12, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., nclusionplus.com

Photography by Darby Hodge and Madi Winfield

Peace, love, Soul Sessions

Meet artists in the Mo Soul Collective who give Columbians their monthly fix of music and mutual support.

BY ADRIAN MADDOX

On a weekend night under purple and magenta lights, a crowd anxiously awaits one thing: soul music. A tune explodes from a trumpet, and a strong drumbeat fills the room. The concertgoers shuffle closer to the stage, swaying along as the first singer belts out a hearty verse from a classic R&B track. This is Soul Sessions.

Every month, Missouri music lovers gather to experience live soul music, often accompanied by food and drinks. The event is fueled by the Mo Soul Collective, an ever-changing group of artists. Soul Sessions, creatively directed by musician Josh Runnels, began in September 2021 at Pressed. Since then, the event has expanded over the span of eight shows. In addition to the live music and featured visual art, the sessions

host vendor tables run by local business owners. Some of these guests will be at the city’s Juneteenth celebration.

Here are the stories of a few individuals who make Soul Sessions happen.

The Vibe Curator: Martin Solomon (DJ SOL)

On the long list of talent at Soul Sessions, Martin Solomon uses his passion for music and ability to read a room’s vibe in his role as DJ SOL. Solomon found his love for music growing up outside Philadelphia, where his mother’s large vinyl collection matched his tape collection. His tapes were filled with song recordings from either the radio or local events. “I grew up within music just from an ‘I love it’ standpoint, collecting it standpoint,

Photography by Katie Kriz and courtesy of Unsplash VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

Josh Runnels (center), a musician who goes by J. ARTiz, is the creative director of Soul Sessions. He also hosts the monthly event.

making my own CDs, burning CDs and doing all that type of stuff,” Solomon says.

He met Runnels while recording together , then Runnels asked him to DJ an upcoming event. Since their meeting, Solomon has performed his remixes at each session, changing up the playlist to match the crowd’s mood with songs to get them moving. The event has created a space for Solomon to listen to and perform soul music in mid-Missouri. “What was missing was the opportunity for everyone to connect to one place or at least just meet people and then connect that way.” Solomon says. He will be performing at the Juneteenth show.

The Artist:

Bini Sebastian

When thinking about a soul concert, live painting likely doesn’t come to mind. Visual artist and MU doctoral student Bini Sebastian’s work, often inspired by grief and loss, disrupts that belief.

Originally from India, Sebastian’s family moved to Dallas when she was 3 months old. Sebastian has found inspiration in her struggles with cultural norms and identity. “A lot of that is just figuring out what does it mean to be authentically me and to express my spirit authentically, despite, you know, what I’ve been through or what other people tell me I

can or cannot do,” Sebastian says. Art allows her to share her experiences with others. Outside of Soul Sessions, she also performs spoken word poetry.

Soul Sessions has given Sebastian a place to exhibit her artwork while discussing her cultural identity and spiritual journey. At a previous event, she painted a mural of a forest live. Although nerve-wracking at times, painting — and performance in general — has provided Sebastian with a sense of healing. “Yes, we have triumphs, too, and we’re still here,” Sebastian says. “And we’re gonna still keep going; things are not perfect. But we’re here in creating together in community with each other.”

The Rhythm Maker: Alex Rideout

Music has been on Alex Rideout’s mind since learning to play drums at age 4, although he ultimately found his calling at 12 when he started playing bass guitar. The St. Louis native has since been infatuated with bass and has played in a variety of local bands, such as Austin Jones and the Bootheel

Bassist Alex Rideout says Soul Sessions is a mix between a concert and a family reunion.

Boys and Mangosteen. In addition to performing, Rideout writes his own music. “Music is definitely probably the top (passion),” Rideout says. “I’ve been doing it all of my life.” Outside of music, Rideout spends much of his time outdoors with his girlfriend and dog, and playing football in a competitive adult league.

Rideout has performed at Soul Sessions since the first show at Pressed and has seen the growth to bigger venues such as The Blue Note and The Atrium. Soul Sessions gives the Black community a space to enjoy soul music outside of bigger cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City. “We have a lot of great singers and groups come together — poets, dancers — and it’s very performative,” Rideout says. “But at the same time, it’s also very social, like you actually say ‘hi’ to the people around you,” Rideout says. “You get to meet a lot of new people.”

In addition to her art and work as a doctoral student, Bini Sebastian offers yoga workshops.

Soul Sessions is a space to enjoy soul music, dance and art, but it has proven to be much more than that. It also allows community members to convene and express themselves unapologetically.

Photography courtesy of Bini Sebastian and Brendan Hawkins

That’s my best friend

AJ the Heartbreak Kid and Bobby Reil might have gone solo, but their friendship still fuels their music.

BY MAX SHAPIRO

In 2015 during his freshman year at Moberly Area Community College, Bobby Reil decided on a whim to spend nearly every penny he had on $1,000 worth of music equipment. He then called up Aaron “AJ” Canty, his longtime best friend with whom he had bonded over a shared love of music. He told Canty: “We’re gonna start making music. We’re rappers now. Like, let’s just do it.”

The two spent the next six years as a rap duo called AJ and Bobby Reil, with Canty adopting the stage name “AJ the Heartbreak Kid.” With the equipment Reil bought (which Canty calls “not very good”), they set up a studio in their house. They taught themselves the craft of making music, from vocal recording to sound mixing and audio compression.

After releasing about 50 singles as a duo in just under three years, they’re now forging their own paths as solo artists. Thankfully though, this wasn’t a Simon & Garfunkel situation.

When Reil first suggested a split in April 2021, Canty agreed it was time to branch out and find their own sounds. Both naturally have distinct musical styles, so embarking on solo ventures has given them the opportunity to further hone those skills.

“I’d say Bobby’s more alternative rap, whereas AJ is more hip hop,” says friend and videographer Kyle Gilleland. He says they both maintain a similar flow, but that Reil is more likely to also sing in his songs, while Canty has more of the Travis Scott rap sound.

Despite their different flairs, Reil believes “great artists can always be in sync

on the same song.” And for their ability to make music as a duo, Canty credits their persisting friendship.

Work hard, play hard Canty and Reil became friends on their middle school basketball team. The two carry a lifelong love for the Los Angeles Lakers, and they still enjoy playing the sport together. They’ve also “partied for three lives,” Canty says, but nowadays a relaxing night at home is just as enjoyable for them, and their priorities have shifted to focusing on their music careers.

Since 2019, they’ve frequently collaborated with Gilleland, who runs the creative visual marketing brand The Worst Production. Gilleland has designed cover art for them and shot several of their music videos, including “How You Feel” and “Balcony.” Canty and Reil have also become close with other artists on the local hip-hop scene, such as Taylor Thomas, HF Ghost and Mighty Daxter, all of whom performed at Reil’s “The Worst Night” concert on March 18 at The Gold Bar.

“I’ve met so many good human beings,

even putting the music aside,” Canty says. “Just genuine people that love to do the same thing that I love to do.”

Canty has released two solo singles since September and expects to unveil his latest, “Goodnight,” this summer. He hit a new peak of 35,000 monthly listeners on Spotify in April and plans to release an EP by the end of the year. Reil has six solo singles under his belt and recently performed at Neon Taco in Lake of the Ozarks for its Cinco de Mayo celebration, with another show scheduled for June 5 at The Social Room.

Collaboration over competition

As their music journeys continue, it remains essential to Canty and Reil that they maintain meaningful connections with not just each other but the music community as a whole. The two have formed a genuine friendship with Gilleland based on trust and accountability, and because of that, they often recommend him to other musicians. “In any industry,” Gilleland says, “you have to believe that the people who you’re surrounded with aren’t going to try to take advantage of you.”

On Dec. 16, 2015, the same day Bobby Reil (standing) spent all his money on music equipment, he and AJ Canty set up their home studio and began making music. Reil immortalized the date on a set of headphones.

Canty admits to being a competitive person by nature, but Reil helped him realize the value of collaborating with others. “Working with other extremely talented artists only makes you better,” Reil says. “The only person you’re in competition with is yourself.” They both view their fellow musicians not as rivals but as members of a community. In the world of music, friendship goes a long way.

“Any successful individual realizes you’re strongest when you’re supporting the people around you,” Reil says. “We’re just gonna keep going up.”

Photography by Josh Ellenburg

Photography courtesy of The Blue Note, Unsplash and Wikimedia Commons

A Doctor Borders

STORY BY Irina Matchavariani

DESIGN BY Makalah Hardy

without

When Dr. Patricia Blair heard from colleagues in the country of Georgia in 1991, the former Soviet state was facing the worst humanitarian crisis in its recent history. Her response led to the creation of an aid organization, launched camps to help Georgian children and formed a lasting connection between Columbia and Georgia. This is her story.

In 1996, Kutaisi,Georgia, andColumbia becamesister cities

In1992,Patricia Blair founded A Call to Serve International , the frst international organizationthatworkedinGeorgia

I came to Columbia after I applied to the Fulbright Graduate Student Program in the Republic of Georgia, where I am from.

When I received the call of congratulations in 2020 saying I had been accepted into MU’s journalism program, I didn’t know exactly where I was going. A quick Google search told me that Columbia, Missouri, and Kutaisi, Georgia, were sister cities. At the time, I laughed it off as a coincidence. Columbia was thousands of miles from home, and I wasn’t looking for any connections between Columbia and Georgia. Rather, I was thrilled to embrace a new environment.

But the coincidences continued when I explored the connection for a class assignment. I found Patricia Blair’s obituary. After moving around the United States for her father’s military job, her family eventually settled in Rolla. In 1994, Blair moved to Columbia. Blair died of ovarian cancer

Iin 2018, but a large part of her life was split between our two nations. Blair was known for her humanitarian work, as the founder of A Call to Serve International, or ATCS International, the first international organization that provided humanitarian relief in Georgia following the country’s independence.

I told my dad, a gynecologist in Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi, about Blair’s work. “Wait,” he asked. “Are you talking about Trish?” He met Blair during medical training sessions in the early 2010s. Minutes after our conversation, he sent me pictures of him, Blair and several other colleagues beaming at the camera after a work meeting in a Tbilisi hotel.

The family connection sealed the deal for me. I wanted to tell Blair’s story. But I never had the chance to meet her. Instead of conversations with her, I have stories from others and piles of documents from those who knew Blair. As I read and asked more questions, a clear picture of Trish Blair emerged: persuasive, caring, passionate.

Thousands of lives were saved through training programs Blair created, such as those focused in neonatology, ophthalmology, diabetic care for children and others. By 2015, ACTS International had raised more than $8.5 million, including grants, and more than $350 million in medications and medical supplies.

These numbers are staggering for Georgia, a country with a population of 3.7 million people. They can be credited to the unceasing enthusiasm of a visionary.

Blair stood by Georgia in its darkest moment in recent history, when the country woke up from the 70-year reign of the Soviet Union. It emerged free and confused — unsure how to exist in the present and unsure how to catch up with the modern world.

From the beginning

After Blair received her medical degree from MU in 1975, she worked at several of hospitals

around the U.S. before becoming a board member at Santa Teresa Kaiser Hospital’s emergency medicine department in California.

Her career eventually led to a visit to Georgia in 1989, as a member of a delegation assessing the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear explosion and the Spitak earthquake in Armenia, which both happened in the late 1980s. She was instantly captivated by the country.

In 1991, Georgia formally proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union, which was falling apart. As Soviet authorities withdrew, an economic and political crisis ensued. Georgian hospitals were stripped of medicine and equipment, and the broken supply chain could not fill the gaps. The country descended into a humanitarian crisis. Essentials were scarce in Georgia during the early days of independence. The country was plunged into civil unrest and a war with breakaway Abkhazia, which is now a de facto state recognized by most countries as part of Georgia.

Blair received a fax that said the country needed urgent help. It was from Gia Tsilosani, a vascular surgeon and president of ACTS Georgia.“We can help,” Blair responded. At the time, she was working as a trauma surgeon at Santa Teresa Kaiser Hospital.

With the support of the California National Guard, Blair was able to arrange aid shipments. She created ACTS International in 1992. The organization provided humanitarian relief, such as medical supplies, used textbooks, glasses, iodized salt and other items.

In 1994, Blair attended the annual gala for the Boone County Medical Society. The keynote speaker was unable to attend due to weather, and Blair was asked to speak about her experiences in Georgia, says Dolores Shearon, the current ACTS International director. Inspired by Blair’s account, BCMS sent its first delegation of American physicians to Georgia to work and share knowledge on the ground.

“If she wanted to get something done, she figured out how to do it,” says Mila Cunningham, who worked with Blair at ACTS International.

A children’s camp

During Blair’s time in Georgia, she developed a love for Georgian children. She wanted them to receive proper medical attention.

In 1996, Blair partnered with the Lions Club and started the Diabetic Children’s Camp in Georgia, modeling it after Dr. Ronald James’ Camp Hickory Hill in Columbia, which also supports those with the diabetes. The camp in Georgia brought modern diabetic care to the country, with a focus on children. At the time, Georgian children diagnosed with the disease rarely survived to adulthood.

Tsilosani says that even practicing essential medicine would be impossible without Blair’s involvement. “We had no food for infants, let alone medicine,” Tsilosani says. “And suddenly we were able to get milk powder.”

The Diabetic Children’s Camp was something Blair visited every year. She wanted to make sure they received adequate care, especially in rural areas. So, she moved her main operating base from the capital to Kutaisi, the second-largest city in Georgia.

Each year since the founding of the Diabetic Children’s Camp, local churches have provided spaces for annual events in summer resorts around Georgia, but Dolores Shearon, the secretary of the ACTS International board of directors, says Blair had a vision for a permanent place in the eastern part of the country. Dolores Shearon says ACTS International has completed two buildings in the municipality of Dmanisi — both at the site of the permanent camp. Because of COVID-19, opening the camp at new location hasn’t been possible. The pandemic also forced the camp to close for the first time, and the vaccination rate has not increased to the point where ACTS International is comfortable putting vulnerable people with diabetes at risk.

As writer Irina Matchavariani discovered this story of Dr. Patricia Blair, she realized just how small the world can be. Columbia felt closer to her Georgian home than she had previously thought.

Heart in two places

Georgia became Blair’s second home, and she spent half her time there. Thanks to her love for the country, when she was back in Columbia, Blair would speak about Georgia everywhere: at Walmart, on the street or at a dinner out with family. “She would get to know the waiter or the waitress,” Greg Blair, her nephew, says. “And she would not only uncover their life story but would find a way to connect literally anybody to Georgia.”

To bring the cities of Columbia and Kutaisi closer, Blair initiated the signing of the sister city agreement between the mayor of Columbia at the time, Darwin Hindman, and his Georgian counterpart, Teimuraz Shasiashvili. Children from Grant Elementary School in Columbia and Kutaisi’s No. 3 School started exchanging pen pal letters. Also, students in Georgia could come study at MU through an exchange program.

Georgians embraced Blair’s dedication. Tsilosani says authorities at Tbilisi International Airport recognized and welcomed her. Georgians are hospitable and fun-loving to excess, and people invited her to countless supras, gatherings with food, local wine and conversation in between toasts. Blair never refused, even though she spoke little Georgian.

“Friend” was one of the few words in the Georgian language that Blair knew. Nani Dvali, an English-Georgian translator and later an active member of ACTS International, remembers the first time she heard Blair say it in 1997. Dvali was translating a lengthy meeting between Americans and Georgians. “I was torn between two delegations translating every word,” Dvali says. “She was trying to encourage me, but I

Photography by Joel Green VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

Beforethe creation of a medical camp for diabetic children, the life expectancy foraGeorgianchildwith diabetes was 10yearsold .

could hardly understand what she was saying.” She says that the word she was hearing made no sense in the conversation. That’s when Blair stopped her: “Friend, Nani, friend! Megobari.”

Dvali also remembers Blair’s energy. One time at a feast, Blair was offering ideas, suggesting contacts and giving assignment. Dvali, invited to translate the meeting, was “catching words midair” to match Blair’s train of thought.

A helping hand

Although Blair spent half the year in the U.S., she made sure to keep returning to Georgia, especially to the Diabetic Children’s Camp.

In 2008, Greg Blair accompanied his aunt to Georgia for the first time. With them, Tsilosani and the camp’s staff traveled to Bakuriani, a mountain resort in the east, to attend the camp. Greg noticed that his aunt knew each child’s name.

The overall situation in Georgia was growing uncertain. There had been tensions on the

Blair would often visit historic landmarks, especially churches, which are abundant around Georgia. This church (left) is in the capital,Tbilisi.

border with South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia controlled by Russia, in August 2008. Russian troops took Gori, a town roughly 53 miles from the capital, which blocked the main highway that runs through the country.

The August War resulted in the loss of Georgian territory to Russia and the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from occupied South Ossetia. It is estimated that at least 20,000 Georgians were forcibly displaced from South Ossetia.

Because of the blocked highway, Blair and her colleagues were trapped in the mountains with insulin supplies for about 50 children running low. “We decided to take a detour,” Tsilosani recalls. His colleague contacted a bus driver, and the crew embarked on what Greg Blair describes as a “bumpy ride” through mountainous roads. The typically 3-hour journey to the capital took 10 to 12 hours. Tsilosani brought the Americans to his house, and children were safely reunited with their families near Tbilisi.

Americans were set to be evacuated to the U.S. the next day, but Blair was not planning to leave what she called her Georgian family. “There wasn’t even a question,” Greg Blair says. “She said this was where she belonged.” He wasn’t surprised and made no attempt to dissuade her.

From Kutaisi, where she worked with people injured during the conflict, Blair sent short, level-headed emails to people in Columbia asking for antibiotics, plasma and other essential medications.

Photography by Shakh Aivazov/The

Press

She reported how Russians bombed the city of Gori and the port in Poti at the coast of the Black Sea, cutting off humanitarian aid deliveries. “We want to work with the State Department to airlift the supplies to ACTS,” Blair wrote in a letter the Columbia Daily Tribune published on Aug.14, 2008, “We have the capacity to distribute [them]. All the ACTS warehouses in Georgia have been emptied of supplies, due to so many injuries of civilians.” She also urged Columbians to help a country immersed in conflict.

The city came together to help people by raising money and donating essentials for a country more than 6,000 miles away. Knowing that she had done her part in Georgia, Blair returned to her American family.

Blair’s legacy

The connection between Georgia and Columbia that Blair helped create is diminishing as more and more of ACTS International’s original supporters age. Thirty years have passed since the first meeting, and since then, many of the doctors, clergymen and politicians involved have died, Dvali says.

Blair’s charm is dearly missed. Shearon says ACTS International continues to honor her by raising money for the Diabetic Children’s Camp. Locally, donations are still accepted through CoMoGives. Shearon says rotary clubs around Missouri raised $125,000 to start Breathing Life into Georgian Babies, which trains and equips health professionals to resusicate at-risk newborns.

“All I know is that her passing left an emptiness I can’t fill,” Dvali says.

Because of Blair’s efforts, some Georgians still live and work in Columbia after arriving in the city on educational and cultural exchanges.

George Chikhladze, an MU economics professor, is one of them. Chikhladze was a freshman at Kutaisi Technical University when he first met MU representatives. He and another student packed their suitcases and arrived in Chicago in 1997 before coming to Columbia to attend MU.

Neither knew what to expect and had little information, but Blair was there to welcome them.

Chikhladze divides his time between work in Columbia and vacations in Kutaisi. He says he is always excited to see Georgian students arrive in Columbia. When I first met Chikhladze, he proudly told me that I had increased the local Georgian population by 20%.

On Sept. 24, 2021, people who worked with Blair visited the memorial swamp white oak planted in her memory at Carnahan Quadrangle.

The tree was dedicated to Blair and her work. Tsilosani and Georgian MU alumni offered speeches and spent the day remembering Blair. For a day, she was back with them.

A tribute

Blair gave Georgians hope for the future, which all began with a message sent from a fax machine in 1991. Tsilosani had to hide the message from his Soviet supervisors.

Thirty years later, coming to Columbia from independent Georgia, I was unknowingly

AID TO UKRAINE

Not unlike the conflicts with Georgia, Ukraine now faces a war with Russia. To show support for Ukraine, Columbians are holding rallies, organizing fundraisers and donating to grassroots organizations. You can get involved by donating to these nationally recognized grassroots organizations: the Ukranian Association of Washington State and Save Life in UA. If you are looking for more ways to show your support, go to supportukrainenow.org for a guide of trusted aid organizations.

GEORGIA

Kutaisi Gori Tbilisi

SOUTH OSSETIA

ABKHAZIA Pot‘i

TURKEY ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN

RUSSIA

BLACK SEA

Bakuriani

AJARIA

continuing a legacy. Blair had crossed paths with my family years before I had a clue where Columbia, Missouri, was.

After talking to many people about Blair, I am still not sure why she did it all, but I am glad I am the one to tell this story. Because of my parents’ involvement in medical training, I have seen countless Western specialists come and go in Georgia. Helping a newly independent state must have been a point of pride on

their resumes. But Blair came and never left. She chose Georgia for a home and Georgians as her family. I wish I could ask her what she saw — in our hospitality and supras, in the eyes of children she loved as her own — that moved her so much. I wish I could ask her why she stayed behind to help people being affected by the war. And most of all, I wish I could thank her.

In summer 2008, Patricia Blair (third from right) arrived in Georgia with her nephew Greg (far right). Inspired by his aunt’s legacy, he decided to pursue medicine and become a doctor himself. The plaque (below) marks the memorial oak in Carnahan Quadrangle.

Friends and colleaguesdescribePatricia

This story is a tribute to a visionary. I don’t have answers from Blair, but I have them from those who loved her and loved Georgia because of her. I have them from my father, too, who could instantly distinguish Blair’s smiling face from all his Western colleagues over the past 20 years.

Tsilosani compares Blair’s work to a miracle, and now that I think of it, maybe he is right. Not everything in life needs an explanation. Some things, we simply must embrace.

Photography by Joel Green and courtesy of Irina Matchavariania

“Trish” Blair as persuasive, caring andpassionate.

Summertime sweetness

Take your mind off triple-digit temps with a triple helping of fruity cookies, sorbets and pies.

BY JOZIE CROUCH

You’ve been there before, and you’re about to be there again — watching the numbers on your weather app skyrocket past 90 or even 100 degrees. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, this summer will be remembered as a hot one nationwide, and Columbia is predicted to be even hotter than normal.

Luckily, the summer heat also ushers in bright seasonal produce. Lemons, raspberries, blueberries and watermelon are among the in-season ingredients that local dessert shops are excited to mix into summer sweets. If anything can distract you from the grueling temperatures, it’s these mouth-watering local treats.

FLUFFYBUTT COOKIES

2200 Forum Blvd.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday

Key summer flavors: Strawberry, banana and lemon blueberry

Fluffybutt Cookies is bringing back old favorites and introducing new flavors this summer. It will revive the 3-ounce Lemon Blueberry cookie by adding blueberries into its classic lemon cookie recipe. “There’s nothing artificial,” says store manager Mandi Canada. “It’s all lemon zest and lemon juice. Everything that you’re going to be getting in them is 100% fresh.”

The summer menu will also debut a new 6-ounce Banana Pudding cookie — a sugar cookie filled with banana pudding

Photography by Lucas Owens, Hunter Pendleton and George Whit Frey VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

ACOLA ME BY MY NEW NAME P. 31

Sparky’s will release more summery sweet flavors that are as light and bright as its triple berry sorbet.

that’s topped with vanilla wafers. Making its first appearance is the Strawberry Fields cookie, a 3-ounce treat filled with fresh strawberries, graham crackers and white chocolate chips.

“You have to work with what’s available at certain times of year,” Canada says. “I don’t know if anything besides lemon and blueberries and strawberries scream summer.”

SPARKY’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

21 S. 9th St.

11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Saturday Key summer flavors: Watermelon, cucumber and cantaloupe

Although this beloved downtown ice cream shop doesn’t release new flavors on a seasonal schedule like many restaurants, it will be rolling out fruit-based flavors to keep customers cool this summer, Sparky’s manager Tony Layson says. “A lot of our sorbets will become a little bit more summery,” Layson says. “More of your seasonal fruits, things you would associate with a nice picnic.”

The planned flavors include a watermelon sorbet, a cucumber lime sorbet and Layson’s personal favorite, the cantaloupe ice cream. “There’s a nice milkiness to a cantaloupe that comes out in the flavor,” Layson says. “We add a little bit of salt in there, and it just really brings out that melon flavor.”

Along with collaborating with local brands, such as its neighbor Boone Olive Oil Co., Sparky’s buys its ingredients from grocery stores including Lee’s Market and A&Y Global Market. Every once in a while in the summer, employees harvest berries at local pick-your-own farms.

PEGGY JEAN’S PIES

503 E. Nifong Blvd. and 421 N. Stadium Blvd.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday Key summer flavors: Lemon and raspberry Employees at Peggy Jean’s Pies host customer tastings to test new flavors. After hearing feedback, they will add three new pies from these tastings to the online menu and both locations this summer.

The first is a lemon raspberry pie that has already gained a loyal following after its debut at a March tasting. “Hands down, that was the No. 1 from the 48 people,” owner Rebecca Miller says. This pie features a lemon filling (made with Miller’s great-grandmother’s recipe), a layer of raspberries and a topping of pink raspberry whipped cream.

Peggy Jean’s will also offer two more pies reminiscent of childhood treats: a peanut butter and jelly pie and a s’mores pie, which is Miller’s personal favorite. “It’s part of nostalgia and the summer in Missouri,” Miller says. “It’s so hard to find somebody who does not like all those things, or at least one of them.”

Photography by Lucas Owens

Fluffybutt Cookies’ Strawberry Fields and Lemon Blueberry cookies are generously topped with rich icing.

Déjà brew

The owners of Acola Coffee Company are expanding the former Three Story Coffee shop with aspirations of creating a welcoming space.

BY AMILEE NUZZO

With a new name and plans for expansion, Acola Coffee Company picks up where Three Story Coffee left off. New owners Nick and Autum McKague worked with Three Story’s previous owners and bought them out with plans to renovate and expand into the space previously occupied by Root Cellar. Changes include more seating, a 14-foot tree to create a warm environment and lots of “nooks and crannies that you can tuck into to read a book,” Nick McKague says.

Originally based in Jefferson City, Three Story Coffee opened in Columbia in 2020. But on April 1, the Columbia location underwent a name and ownership change to become Acola Coffee Company run by the McKagues. The couple owns an unlikely pair of companies: the coffee shop and the Parker-Millard Funeral Home. The coffee shop often provides a comfortable space to discuss funeral plans. The funeral home has existed since the 1800s, and has passed through generations of various families before landing in the hands of Nick and Autum.

They hope that each customer who comes into their coffee shop feels comforted by the space and the baristas.

In Portuguese, acola means “there.” Along with the “ola” in the name, it says “hello there,” Nick McKague says.

“For Nick and I, our biggest thing was having a place that people felt welcome because we live in a world where that’s not always the case,” Autum McKague says. “Regardless of your background or religious preference or ethnicity, we want everybody to feel loved.”

Vox spoke to Nick McKague about the journey of owning and redefining Acola.

What inspired you and Autum to become sole owners?

When we were Three Story, I was going through a lot of challenges in my life, and I always wanted a coffee shop

to have a place for people to celebrate occasions — be with their friends in a setting that was warm, inviting and welcoming. In my relationship with the funeral home, I wanted a place for people when it was time to preplan. When things were going to come around full circle, and funeral home customers needed to talk about things, sometimes going to the funeral home is uncomfortable. I wanted a place that we could meet over coffee and talk about things. We created this environment and we outgrew our space.

What brought you and Autum together? Autum’s first husband passed away to cancer, and they owned a coffee shop where they served Three Story. I was going through a divorce, and (Autum and I) met at Coffee Fest. We both were from (Missouri), but we met in Denver. And we felt that there was this fun side — that we should provide this environment that

ACOLA COFFEE COMPANY

300 N. 10th St., Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mon.– Sat. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 447-8050

allowed us to meet and hopefully help other people meet as well.

What does it mean to you to own this space?

This place brings me joy; my other job has a lot of sadness. I love helping people through hard times. I feel like that was my calling, to help people, but this place gives me energy because of the plants and the sun and the welcoming baristas. We wanted to be a place that was an energy filler, not a taker. I always tell our baristas that it’s not about the coffee, but it’s about the coffee — meaning when they come in, they don’t know what the person on the other side of the counter has went through that day. If you’re kind to them, the rest takes care of itself.

What are you adding to the shop?

We’re bringing the flower shop, Busch’s Florist, from Jefferson City, so there will be a flower shop upstairs. You’ll see fresh flowers on the table and decorations to help create a homey environment with coffee and flowers.

Customers sit with their drinks studying and conversing in the coffee shop’s second–floor space.

What are your favorite drinks?

Autum gets a 16–ounce, either hot or cold, caramel latte with skim milk. I stick with a cappuccino or a cortado.

Photography by Hunter Pendleton/Archive

Creating a roar in Ashland

Education and representation run wild at The Dandy Lion Cafe.

BY MELANIE OLIVA

When you walk into The Dandy Lion Cafe, you are greeted with paintings by local artists, plants, witty signs and Caitlin Cunningham.

Cunningham, the cafe’s owner, created a welcoming space and opened their doors for members of the Ashland community who are in need of a safe place to feel seen and heard.

Outside the restaurant are Black Lives Matter, pride and transgender community flags. Cunningham is well aware that their cafe is in an area that might not otherwise feel welcoming for their customers from the queer and people of color communities. These are only small efforts of the many that Cunningham has made to cultivate inclusion in their space.

“That is what this space is for — and that is why I wanted it to be here,” Cunningham says. “There was a need for a space that everyone could belong, if they wanted to be a part of it, with love and kindness.”

Dandy Lion taking root

While working at an Ashland tattoo parlor, Cunningham would muse about the town’s need for a coffee shop. When a nearby building went up for lease, the Columbia native saw their chance. A friend helped Cunningham develop recipes with local ingredients, and the restaurant opened at the end of March.

The name The Dandy Lion Cafe comes from dandelions and the flowers’ importance as pollinators. Dandelions are often seen as a nuisance, but the plants’ resilience inspires Cunningham. “They represent, for me, this persever-

ance, this ‘I’m coming through these cracks no matter what,’ ” Cu nningham says. “You might see me as a nuisance, but in fact I am incredibly important.”

They changed the word “dandelion” to “Dandy Lion” to express the courage that their business represents. “If you are a lion, and you’re a little fancy, you have to be really confident about that,” Cunningham says. “Because lions are supposed to be these fierce things — so m y whole thing is we are fiercely authentic.”

The cafe has employees of various ages, backgrounds and values. Assistant manager Jess Porter was immediately drawn to working with Cunningham. “The authenticity, the level of comfort and safety that I saw when they went out of their way to provide for not only me, but for strangers — I was immediately drawn to that,” Porter says.

Reading is fundamental

The Dandy Lion hosts various events, including Bingo and Brunch and Drag Queen Story Hour. The cafe and Nclusion Plus have collaborated with comedian drag queen Autumn Equinox for story time.

Equinox, originally from Seattle, performs pop-up shows all over Columbia. They began by reading at the Skylark Bookshop for story hours, then later they were invited to read for The Dandy Lion Cafe. “I plan on reading this book every time I do story hour, From the Stars in

the Sky, to the Fish in the Sea, about a non-binary child,” Equinox says.

They bring books that talk about gender identity in humorous and educational ways. They aim to create a safe space for each reading and hope to educate audiences one book at a time.

Fabulous food

Alongside The Dandy Lion experience comes great coffee, food and local goods. The cafe offers different types of lattes, baked goods, meals and alcoholic beverages. Almost all of the food is freshly sourced from local vendors, from the meat and milk to the bread and coffee. The rest of the food is made in-house. Cunningham recommends the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich and the caprese grilled cheese for lunch.

Two popular drinks at The Dandy Lion are the Camo and Miracle lattes. The Camo latte is a mix of caramel and mocha syrup, and the Miracle latte is named after a regular customer’s last name. “She orders (a latte) with vanilla and lavender, so we call that the Miracle,” Cunningham says.

Porter also aims to create a customer connection in the cafe that is memorable and comfortable. Whether it’s making an iced latte to-go or serving lunch, the cafe’s warm and welcoming environment remains the same.

“You come in and you feel like you are home ... and (can) be yourself even if you are just a customer,” Porter says.

Photography by Joel Green

The Dandy Lion Cafe owner Caitlin Cunningham pops confetti for employee Alex Steffes17th birthday.

Hidden gems

Missouri’s diverse geology comes with a rich history. Vox’s guide to rock-hunting sites will help you leave no stone unturned.

BY OLIVIA MAILLET

The geology of the Show-Me State is fascinating, thanks to volcanic eruptions and erosion. Hidden within our reach are rocks, agates, which are semiprecious stones with striped coloring, and stones with crystals inside called geodes.

“Missouri’s quite varied (in geology),” says Ted Craig, a retired geologist and current member of the Central Missouri Rock and Lapidary Club. Burlington limestone is particularly abundant in Boone County. “That’s the rock you see when you’re on Stadium and going through the deep road cuts,” Craig says.

Don Rice, who is also a member of the Central Missouri Rock and Lapidary Club, has a collection of rocks and geodes from Missouri, elsewhere in the United States and Morocco. Rice estimates that he has thousands of rocks and geodes in his collection, enough to fill up an entire semitruck trailer. He describes the places in which you can find other colorful rocks. Western Missouri, including Springfield and the Ozarks, is home to Missouri’s state rock, Mozarkite. The pale pink rock contains quartz and is about 450 million years old.

Among south Missouri rocks near Park Hills and Potosi, Rice notes a peculiar change in formation. Unlike the geodes found in northeast Missouri, crystals are formed on the outside of the rocks, as opposed to the inside.

Photography by Zachary Linhares and illustrations by Moy Zhong VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

BIRDIES ON THE GREEN

Don Rice once heard that geodes are like people: “Sometimes they’re real ugly — until you get to know them. What’s on the inside can be beautiful.”

With so much regional diversity, how on Earth do you know where to look? Let’s get down to the specific places recommended by rock fanatics, who have spent years scouring Missouri for its most captivating rock formations.

SHORT DRIVE: Capen Park

1600 Capen Park Drive

Rocks you’ll find: Burlington limestone, chert and gravel

Capen Park boasts a limestone bluff that overlooks Hinkson Creek. Looking at it, you might just see a big beige rock like many others. Don’t judge this bluff by its crust, however. Craig says that when further examined, this particular exposure can be separated into two layers of Burlington limestone. Both layers are brown, but the first layer is more grainy and the second layer is coarsely crystalline. These small calcite crystals appear alongside ancient fossils of sea creatures such as starfish and sea urchins.

Chert is littered throughout the limestone bluff. This white stone was formed when dissolved minerals in shallow ocean water reached a point of saturation. Below the bluff lining Hinkson Creek is smooth, sloping limestone, gravel and sand. Not only is the view from the bluff beautiful, but knowing the history of the land adds to your experience.

MEDIUM DRIVE: Pinnacles Youth Park

850 E. Pinnacles Road, Sturgeon Rocks you’ll find: Burlington limestone If you are ready for the next level of rock hunting, head to Pinnacles Youth Park. The park possesses the largest geological structure in northern Missouri, with 75-foot-high limestone cliffs that are perfect for hiking.

Phillip Burk, president of the park’s board of directors, says because of creeks on either side of the ridge, the rock formation sinks into the water about 6 to 15 feet. Make sure you look closely during your hike because this large bluff harbors minuscule sea creature fossils, much like Capen Park. On the southwestern side of the park, visit the Shelving Rock, a 40-foot-deep, 125-foot-long cave-like overhang. The shaded overhang is an effect of the floodwater from Sil ver Fork Creek and is per fect for cooling off after a hike.

The ridge is only a few feet wide at some points, leaving gaps throughout the formation. Unfortunately, according to Geocaching.com, its days are numbered — geologically speaking. “At some point, probably in a few thousand years, either one of the streams will breach the ridge or it will collapse,” the site reads. This is all the more reason to high-tail it over to the Pinnacles and see the marvel that could slip away within the next few generations.

LONG DRIVE: Johnson’s Shut-Ins

State Park

148 Taum Sauk Trail, Middle Brook

Rocks you’ll find: Rhyolite porphyry and granite About three hours from Columbia is Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. Travel billions of years into the past with this park’s geology.

“There you have igneous rocks, which formed from the cooling of magma and molten rock about a billion and a half years ago,” says MU geological sciences professor Martin Appold.

Rhyolite porphyry is volcanic rock that is found in the Shut-Ins. The rock ranges in color from pink to maroon. Formed by volcanic eruptions, it has an explosive beginning. Precambrian granite rock, which is 1.5 billion years old, was formed when it crystallized from molten magma below the surface of the Earth. The Shut-Ins themselves are a result of the East Fork Black River eroding and eventually hitting the igneous rock below. Due to the igneous rock’s resistance to erosion, a “shut-in” occurs, or a section of stream that is channeled through a narrow gorge. Visitors can hike through these pathways, but proceed with caution on the slippery surfaces.

Missouri rocks, geodes and agates are a portal into the state’s volatile past, as well as a window into its Earth-shaking future. Although it can be fun to admire these rocks, be sure you have permission from landowners before taking anything home. Missouri’s history is in these rocks, and with this guide, you’re now among its keepers.

Missouri lace agate, known by its inner thin red line, is commonly found in southern Missouri near Potosi.

Photography by Zachary Linhares and courtesy of James St. John and Wikimedia Commons and illustrations by Moy Zhong

MOZARKIT E

HYOLITEPORPHYRY

On course for sustainabili-tee

Columbia’s golf courses are getting greener with native plant plots, housing for wildlife and electric golf carts.

BY JOCELYN HEIMSOTH

It started with 26 birdhouses. In 1996, the A.L. Gustin Golf Course became part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, an educational initiative that helps organizations protect the environment. Jim Knoesel, director of golf operations, arranged birdhouses around the course and monitored them with the goal of giving eastern bluebirds a home during nesting season. Those houses are still monitored to this day and have been homes to 3,200 birds since. The staff wondered if they could take such initiatives a step further. Isaac Breuer, the course’s superintendent, took on the challenge.

Golf courses aren’t typically considered environmentally friendly. In the United States, there are over 18,300 golf courses that span 2.7 million acres. They often use harmful pesticides, a great deal of water and create uninhabitable environments for native wildlife and plants. The good news is the steps toward environmental sustainability can be small, yet effective. MU biology professor Ray Semlitsch and his research team conducted a study that found golf courses provide a suitable habitat for salamanders, aquatic organisms and other amphibians. The study suggested numerous management strategy adjustments to improve ecosystems, such as maintaining natural habitats between grass and water on golf courses.

The pandemic also has nurtured sus tainable practices. Travis McCubbin, gener al manager of The Club at Old Hawthorne, says pesticide and fertilizer shortages have driven up prices. “It makes us think about how much we really need,” McCubbin says. “We’re starting to be way more selective because of availability and pricing.”

Two local golf courses are addressing similar issues of consumption, preservation and renewable energy.

A.L. Gustin

18 Stadium Blvd.

Since joining the Audubon program, the course developed pollinator plots with 20 to 25 different native flowers, such as milkweed for monarch butterflies. Additionally, the course still has two of four beehives that were installed in 2016.

“It’s been wonderful,” Breuer says. “We’re seeing lots of different types of birds, butterflies and bees we haven’t seen in the past.”

For the past six years, the course has partnered with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Quail Forever, a national organization that addresses wildlife habitats, to educate kids about wildflower identification and pollinators. The groups planted a new pollinator plot on the course on March 17 and taught volunteers how to create a seed ball of wildflower seeds and clay.

A.L. Gustin’s first efforts toward sustainability were installing birdhouses and beehives. Recently, it has planted pollinator plots and grasses that require less water and reduced the number of sprinkler heads.

These pollinator plots reduce lawn maintenance, prevent wear and tear on mowers and reduce fuel usage. The areas mowed once a week were turned into plots, “so, we’re technically taking away 35 to 36 mowings a year in that area,” Breuer says. This has saved tens of thousands of dollars in fuel costs.

Lake of the Woods

6700 E. St. Charles Road

In 2018, the city adopted the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), which is a strategy to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of that effort, Lake of the Woods Golf Course is replacing 52 gas-powered carts with electric battery-powered carts and building a charging facility to house them.

“In terms of emissions and that carbon footprint, we are going to reduce that,” says Gabe Huffington, assistant director of Columbia Parks and Recreation. The project is set to be completed in August.

The plan has been underway for the last two years with a budget of $80,000, which includes the carts, maintenance and electrical systems for the charging stations. Long term, electric carts and gas carts have similar costs of upkeep and maintenance, Huffington says. “It’ll be one of those projects we talk about for a long time with our CAAP plan and sustainability within the city of Columbia,” Huffington says. Its next goal is to do the same thing at L.A. Nickell Golf Course.

Golf courses continue to battle negative perceptions associated with the overuse of natural resources and destruction of habitat. The golf industry has an opportunity to show leadership in finding a sustainable way forward.

Illustrations by Moy Zhong

TO-DO LIST

Your curated guide of what to do in Columbia this month.

ARTS

Shrek the Musical

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre presents Shrek the Musical, a fairy-tale adventure based on the award-winning DreamWorks film. A fun hit complete with all the movie’s beloved characters, Shrek will teach you that heroes can look like anything, even ogres. June 2, 7:30 p.m.; June 3 and June 4, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; June 5, June 8 and June 9, 2 p.m.; June 10 and June 11, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; June 12, 2 p.m., Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, $20–46, 837-3311

Black Artists in Residence Annual Show

Appreciate masterpieces from local Black artists in this show from Orr Street Studios. To bolster inclusivity in the art community, Orr Street Studios dedicates studio space to artwork by Black artists in Columbia, which culminates in an annual show. The exhibit

will be accompanied with live music by the Missouri Symphony. June 3, 6–9 p.m., Orr Street Studios, 875-4370

Paint the Town

Spend a summer night at Serenity Valley Winery painting your own work of art. Through step-by-step instructions, learn how to paint spring gnomes and flowers on a canvas with a glass of wine on standby. June 3, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Serenity Valley Winery, $35, 287-3335

Art in the Park

Columbia Art League presents the 64th annual Art in the Park, which returns to Stephens Lake Park after a two-year hiatus. The event features a wide variety of art, including paintings, sculptures, clothing and jewelry from about 110 creators from across

the country. With food, music and a kids area, the festival offers everything for a full day of fun. June 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stephens Lake Park, free, 443-8838

Columbia Art League Members’ Summer Show

Throughout June, the Columbia Art League highlights its members with a summer show. Any member of the art league can submit art for the show, and it is open to the public to view. There is no theme and no required medium; it is simply an opportunity to enjoy a range of art from the community. June 10 and June 11 entry drop-off; June 14–July 21 show, Tues.–Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $15 for one artwork submission for members; $10 for one artwork submission for student members, 443-8838

Brilliant Traces

In this play from Talking Horse Productions, a cabin in remote Alaska becomes a place of refuge for Henry Harry and Rosannah DeLuce. As they are snowed in, watch them reflect on their futures and process grief. June 17 and June 18, 7:30 p.m.; June 19, 2 p.m.; June 23–25, 7:30 p.m.; June 26, 2 p.m., Talking Horse Productions, $17; $15 seniors and students, 607-1740

FOOD

MidMo Strawberry Festival

Enjoy a family-friendly day of fun at the annual MidMo Strawberry Festival. The festival benefits Central Missouri Honor Flight and will include food trucks, vendors, a children’s area, live music and fireworks at dark. June 11, 4–9:30 p.m., Serenity Valley Winery, $5, free for children under 3, 642-6958

CIVIC Family Fun Fest:

Juneteenth Jamboree

Columbia Parks and Recreation invites the community to celebrate Juneteenth

with music, food trucks, art, hands-on learning and more. The fest will help teach about the holiday and is sure to be a fun and memorable learning experience for participants of all ages. June 15, 6–8 p.m., Cosmo Park, free, 874-2489

MUSIC

Columbia Jazz Orchestra at Broadway Brewery

Close out May with Columbia Jazz Orchestra’s monthly show at Broadway Brewery. The orchestra promises a wide variety of styles within its performance and includes some of Columbia’s

June 19 has been recognized as Juneteenth Celebration Day nationwide, celebrated with Black joy and liberation.

best big-band jazz musicians. May 30, 8:30–10:30 p.m., Broadway Brewery, free, facebook.com/ColumbiaJazzOrchestra

Voices of Columbia

The annual Voices of Columbia fundraiser is back. Halle Kearns, a Columbia native and country music singer, will headline the event, and six local music acts will compete to win the Voices of Columbia trophy. Donate to Heart of Missouri CASA in honor of your favorite artist to help them win.

June 16, 6:30 p.m. doors; 7:30 p.m. show, The Blue Note, $25, 874-1944

Singing in the Key of Freedom

Honor Juneteenth with this concert celebrating soulful music. Guest conductor Brandon A. Boyd will lead a community chorus in traditional favorites such as “Wade in the Water” and “Ride On, King Jesus.” June 18, 7–9 p.m., Missouri Theatre, $25, 882-3781

Joe Vann

Joe Vann’s Columbia concert promises “a night of Americana-pop and stellar songwriting,” according to the Café Berlin

Photography by Zephyrus Li/Archive VOX MAGAZINE • JUNE 2022

website. Vann’s debut solo LP, Found In the Smoke, combines musical traditions from his childhood and experimental aesthetics in what he calls an “emo-meetsoutlaw” sound. Hear these influences collide alongside an opening performance by indie pop group Dream Squeeze. June 18, 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show, Café Berlin, $10, 441-0400

The Arcadian Wild Indulge in some folksy escapism when The Arcadian Wild performs at Rose Music Hall. Fiddle- and bass-driven music will fill the hall as these Nashville natives invite you to wander and find rest within their songs. Joining The Arcadian Wild is Dawson Hollow, a five-sibling indie folkrock band from the Ozark Mountains. June 21, 6:30 p.m. doors; 7:30 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $15, 874-1944

Jimmie Vaughan

Four-time Grammy winner Jimmie Vaughan will bring country-blues fusion to CoMo’s Summerfest. After over 50 years in the music industry, Vaughan will share his talent on the Rose Park stage.

Relax to these tunes on a warm summer evening. June 22, 7 p.m., Rose Park, $30 in advance; $35 day of, 874-1944

OUTDOORS

2022 Rainbow Ride

Celebrate Pride Month with this cycling event benefiting The Center Project. Bikers of all ages and identities are invited to ride 10 miles out-and-back on the MKT Trail. If you’re not in the mood for biking, then enjoy some music from local artist Audra Sergel, plus free food and drinks from Goldie’s Bagels, Fretboard Coffee and Pizza Tree. June

11, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; ride begins at 10 a.m., Peace Park, suggested donation $25, thecenterproject.org/rainbow-ride

Hope for Heroes 5K

Support mid-Missouri veterans by participating in this 5K. Whether you choose to run or walk, you’ll get your steps in and help The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri provide extra nutrition to food-insecure veterans. Proceeds benefit the VIP Veteran Packs program, which provides “ready-to-eat entrees, soup, and

As one of the featured Summerfest performers, Jimmie Vaughan will bring a country-blues sound to Rose Park in June.

fruit and vegetables in easy-to-open cans, as well as toiletries such as razors, body wash and deodorant,” according to the event’s website. June 25, 7:30 a.m. to noon, Cosmo Park, $35, sharefoodbringhope.org/hope5k

Bittersweet Garden Club

22nd Annual Garden Tour

Need garden inspo? Visit six community gardens in Jefferson City and take notes on the beautiful landscaping. The Bittersweet Garden Club will lead the tour, and proceeds from the event go to scholarships for local students. June 26, noon–4 p.m.; $10 in advance; $12 day of, 230-5203 or 690-9058

SHELTER PET & LIFE OF THE PARTY

Photography by Amy Harris/Invision/AP

FEEDING TRADITION

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACHARY LINHARES

Nani Agha dishes up a yogurt salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, mint and spices for his family. Preparing food on specially designated blankets and rugs, as well as dining together on the floor, is how Afghan families traditionally share meals. A father of seven sons, Agha escaped from Afghanistan’s second largest city, Kandahar, after Taliban fighters overtook Afghanistan’s government in August 2021. Ensuing civilian evacuations displaced nearly 700,000 people, according to the U.N. By December, 248 refugees, including Agha’s family, had settled in Columbia, as reported by the Missourian. Agha, his wife and their sons are the subjects of a short documentary by Zachary Linhares and Beatrice Bankauskaite. The film details the family’s journey to the U.S. and their life here as Agha attempts to preserve in his children a sense of reverence for their religion and heritage. Find the documentary at columbiamissourian.com.

photo finish