Vox Magazine September/October 2023

WHO COOKS FOR COMO?

Behind every restaurant is a talented crew that makes it all work. P. 11

THEY FLY WITH THE BIRDS

THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

THE VOICE OF COLUMBIA SEPT/OCT 2023

PROGRESS AWARDS

Honoring those who move Columbia forward

Progress in Education: Recognizes an individual educator, administrator or support staff member or a program at an educational institution who has made an impact on his/ her/their school or community at large through innovative approaches to teaching, programs, community outreach or mentorship.

Progress in Health Care: Recognizes a health care provider who has made an impact in Columbia by delivering high quality and innovative care, supporting public health through outreach and education, and modeling responsible health practices and medical ethics.

Progress in Social Justice: Recognizes a community member or program that has made an impact in advancing the values of equity, diversity and inclusion in Columbia.

Progress in the Arts: Recognizes a community member who has made an impact in Columbia by advancing the role of art and artists in Columbia. The arts can include music, theater, poetry, prose, paint, photography, sculpture and any other creative art form.

Progress in Sustainability: Recognizes a community member who has made an impact on environmental sustainability through innovative practices, education and continuous improvement.

Progress in Entrepreneurship: Recognizes a business owner or business owners who have successfully launched a startup or small business based in Columbia for at least a year. The recipient ought to reflect a commitment to the community and support fellow entrepreneurs.

Progress in Community Nonprofits: Recognizes a nonprofit organization that demonstrates progress in meeting needs in Columbia and Boone County through advocacy or long-term strategies, investment of resources, community dialogue and partnership.

Progress in Civic Engagement: Recognizes an individual who holds a volunteer, elected, appointed or staff role in government or a civic organization and demonstrates a commitment to being engaged with citizens and upholds the ideals of open, fair and transparent local government.

The Sherman Brown Award: Recognizes a community member who, like its namesake, serves his or her neighbors, patrons or customers with the highest esteem and commitment to treating each and every person “like gold.”

AWARD CATEGORIES MISSOURIAN COLUMBIA

573.882.5700

The Missourian is hosting the seventh annual Progress Awards. The awards are designed to lift up people who are engaged in our community who may not be recognized for their contributions otherwise.

HOW TO NOMINATE AWARD SELECTION

All nominations must be submitted online. You may nominate as many people (or organizations) as you like for as many categories as you like. The last day to submit nominations is Oct. 13, 2023. Access the nomination form at columbiamissourian. com/progress

The editors of the Missourian and 2022 winners will select the winners based solely on the nominations received from the public.

All nominees will be honored at an event in late November.

SEARCHING FOR THRILLS

I looked up at the bright June sky, took one last baby step and jumped off a cliff. I was free-falling for about 10 seconds, with no control whatsoever, before the bungee harness bounced me back up. My heartbeat slowed down and the rocky landscape came back in focus. The swinging stopped, and I was hanging on my safety rope 20 feet above the ground. In those 10 seconds, I felt everything, all at once. Most importantly, I felt alive and fearless.

Rope jumping was by far the scariest thing I’ve done in my life. In 2020, I decided to try out a new and exciting activity every year for my birthday. Since then, I’ve tried ziplining, rock climbing, paramotoring, rope jumping and flying a one-engine plane. I don’t feel comfortable with heights, so I chose the air element to overcome that worry and fear.

As someone who obsessively maps out her trips and likes to feel in control, I can’t do extreme sports on a regular basis, unlike local paramotorists, Russel Duke and Conner

Ruhl (p. 18), or the mountain biking group Dirt Dames (p. 25). But a once-a-year dopamine boost reminds me to let go. After all, life is full of risk taking whether you want it or not. There’s risk in opening a coffee shop, like Rafael Bobea did with La Calle 8 Cafe (p. 23); there’s risk in speaking up, like Christi Kelly does every day at The Center Project (p. 8); there’s risk in kickstarting a music festival (p. 9) and risk in canceling one (p. 5). Risks are part of life and knowing how to navigate them is crucial.

Extreme activities don’t bring in additional stress and worries to my life — I have plenty of those naturally. On the contrary, they release stress, making daily worries irrelevant and small. When I was flying a plane, I didn’t care about that B I got in class, the bills piling up on my desk or my to-do list. Life seemed much bigger than that. And even though those issues resurfaced as I landed, I learned not to get hung up on them and find the thrill in life despite them.

Kristina Abovyan Editor-in-Chief

Behind the issue

Since the first festival in 2007, Vox has covered Roots N Blues. Its focus on culture, food and community fit right where our stories tend to reside. Coverage of the fest was intertwined with plans the staff talked about every August. Which is why, a month ago, we tore up this month’s magazine lineup. For the inaugural fest under the Treeline name, we’d planned stories about the local musicians, the food and the festival itself. Instead, our reporters talked to those same people for a different story: What does it mean for a community when a festival is canceled? As a city magazine, we are linked to what happens in Columbia. So when there’s a fire in the True/ False Film Fest offices or a new restaurant opens — or a major festival is put on hold — we care about that as neighbors as well as journalists who have stories to write. —Heather Isherwood

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KRISTINA ABOVYAN

MANAGING EDITOR GRACE KENYON

DEPUTY EDITOR MICAH BARNES

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR MAE BRUCE

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR DAVID TALLANT

ART DIRECTORS CAMPBELL BIEMILLER, AVA HORTON

PHOTO DIRECTOR LILY DOZIER

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR DOMINIQUE HODGE

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

CULTURE MEGHAN LEE, MARJAI NEAL, SAM WILLS

EAT + DRINK MARA DUMITRU, MICHAEL SAPP

CITY LIFE MJ MONTGOMERY, RICKY SCHODL, JANE STEINBRECHER

STAFF WRITERS SAM BARRETT, LEVI CASE, KARA

ELLIS, ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL, JONAH FOSTER, SETH HADLOW, SOPHIA KOCH, CHLOE LYKKEN, ANDREA MERRITT, GRACE PANKEY, ABIGAIL RAMIREZ, MADDIE SHANNON, MARY RUTH TAYLOR, ELENA WILSON

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

DIGITAL PRODUCERS ETHAN DAVIS, KIANA

FERNANDES, JULIE FREIJAT, NICK GLADNEY, EMILY

ANNE GRIFFITH, JULIEN JENSEN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS OLIVIA MAILLET, KHALIA

SMITH, NICOLE VOSS, EGAN WARD, CAYLI YANAGIDA

ART ASSISTANTS MEGHAN ASLIN, QUINCY HAYMART, RICKY SCHODL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER ISHERWOOD

EXECUTIVE EDITOR LAURA HECK

SENIOR EDITORS CARY LITTLEJOHN, JENNIFER ROWE

Photography by Megan Sundberg and Vox/Archive

Rising heat, cool heads

Is climate anxiety all too familiar? We have a few tips to help manage it.

Photography by Lin Choi, Toby Young, LG Patterson, Caroline McCone and Lauren Hubbard and illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

Treeline, uprooted

Cancellation of the once-evergreen fest leaves a hole in the community.

BY KARA ELLIS

Last year, the festival formerly known as Roots N Blues rebranded as Treeline Music Fest. The new name was a chance to celebrate the festival’s roots — with the canopy of a tree as its most essential part. “The canopy is the community: the faces, the businesses, the streets and parks,” according to the fest’s website.

Just above that explanation is a cancellation notice for this year’s event. A month before it was scheduled to kick off Sept. 29 in Stephens Lake Park, the music festival announced Aug. 31 that it would not take place in 2023.

The community reaction was swift and intense. Ticketholders were upset over the cancellation of a beloved festival, business owners worried about the loss of tourist revenue, and supporters rose up to share encouragement.

Many Columbians were wondering why — and wanting a deeper answer than what the festival provided. Why was a festival that has been part of the city’s fabric for 16 years and saw over 10,000 attendees last year canceled? And what does that mean for our city?

Harsh growing conditions

Treeline’s official statement cited that organizers were “facing significantly higher than expected expenses.” In an interview with the Columbia Daily Tribune published Sept. 3, Shay Jasper, co-owner of Treeline, said no single factor led to the decision to cancel. Rather, she said, costs had been increasing dramatically.

Photography by LG Patterson and courtesy of Springfield Gallery/Adobe Stock and tannujannu/Adobe Stock

Roots N Blues N BBQ began in 2007 as a free event outside Central Bank of Boone County downtown. In its first year, the festival drew a crowd of over 75,000.

Jasper and co-owner Tracy Lane took over the festival in May 2019. The Treeline website notes that infrastructure costs for the festival increased more than 60% in 2022 from 2019. To support the fest, one of the goals of its Friends of the Festival nonprofit organization is “establishing an endowment that ensures the longevity of Treeline.”

“The post-pandemic environment is exceptionally more expensive than the world we bought into,” Lane told the Tribune

There is no current answer to the questions about how, when or if Treeline will return. And certainly there’s no simple answer to the why — not one that would satisfy the people anyway. But cancellation and the furor that followed says something about how intertwined festivals are with Columbia’s identity.

Establishing roots

The event began downtown in 2007 as Roots N Blues N BBQ, a barbecue festival and celebration of Central Bank of Boone County’s 150th anniversary. The musicians, such as Taj Mahal and Tab Benoit, were strictly R&B with the occasional bluegrass performer. There was a stage near Broadway and a barbecue contest. Richard King’s Thumper Productions purchased the festival, and in 2009, it became a ticketed event. In 2013, the festival moved to Stephens Lake Park, and before the 2021 fest, it dropped the “N BBQ” from its name.

“It has evolved somewhat since I was there,” says King, owner of the festival until 2019. “But I do think that the goal, and it always has been the goal, is to bring the best possible music you can to Columbia.”

The festival rebranded as Treeline Music Fest in February, with Jasper noting that the name “pays homage to all communities that contribute to American Roots Music.”

A cultural destination

For a city of about 128,000, Columbia hosts many festivals. In addition to Treeline, there is True/False Film Fest, Unbound Book Festival, Mo Jazz Music Festival and Columbia Experimental Music Festival (which recently announced that 2023 is its final fest). The city both depends on and anticipates

The festival once had a BBQ Village with vendors and a large cook-off featuring ribs, pork, beef brisket and chicken.

FINAL ENCORE

In November, the Columbia Experimental Music Festival presents its eighth and final fest with performances and film screenings Nov. 2–5. It will feature artists such as The Sun Ra Arkestra, The James Brandon Lewis Trio and SUMAC. The performances take place at different downtown locations.

Dismal Niche, which puts on the festival, announced to its fans Sept. 20 that 2023 will be its final fest, citing higher costs and amount of labor needed to produce it. The group says it will host smaller events throughout the year.

each of these events, the people they bring in and the businesses they support.

But with Treeline’s cancellation, Columbia is expecting to feel the pinch. Amy Schneider, director of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, estimated the loss of business revenue would total more than $1 million, according to Missourian reporting.

The organizers of other festivals know just how much of an impact their events have on the city financially, but also to the city’s artistic ethos. “We are bringing the world to Columbia, the very best in the world to Columbia,” says Alex George, the founder of Unbound Book Festival.

George says he was both surprised and dismayed by Treeline’s news but that he understands the difficulties and that sponsorship money is becoming increasingly hard to come by.

Chloé Trayner, True/False Film Fest’s artistic director, and Ashwini Mantrala, its music director, say they have both seen post-pandemic inflation affect costs. Availability of corporate sponsorships has also changed; there’s less money to go around and more events vying for the same money.

But fest directors agree that Columbia’s festival scene feels unique. Trayner moved here from the U.K. and says she thinks festivals like True/ False and Treeline could only exist in a place like Columbia. “One of the things I always talk about is how incredibly open-minded our local audience is,” Trayner says. “People really do want to take risks.”

There is community support behind these events that is out-of-the-ordinary.

Each festival leans on a large, volunteer-based crew and collaborates with local businesses, artists and vendors before, during and after the festivals. “It’s in the community, and for the community, but it’s also by the community,” George says.

Think of the art

Many of the artists scheduled to appear at Treeline feel the loss of the festival, as well as its importance to the city.

“(Columbia is) a smallish town that thrives off of a burgeoning arts community,” says Chase Mueller, bassist of Post Sex Nachos, a local band on Treeline’s 2023 lineup. “I think live music is super, super important in that aspect.”

On Facebook, fellow mid-Missouri band The Lonesome Companions shared: “We were looking forward to it — but we love the Treeline team and hope they’ll be able to continue to work toward an event for next year if that’s what they decide to do.”

Media sponsor COMO 411 had planned to film coverage before and during the festival, and the company’s creator, Adonica Coleman, says the cancellation is devastating, considering the broad impact of the fest. “I just know how important the arts are — period,” Coleman says. “Not just for the artists, but also for the consumer of the art.”

In the wake of the cancellation, Ozark Mountain Biscuit and Bar moved its Rocheport-based Biscuits, Beats & Brews event up a week, and some of the same artists will appear at that festival, including Post Sex Nachos, The January Lanterns and Western States. But Ozark Mountain also was an established vendor at Treeline, and owner Bryan Maness says, “we’ll definitely take a hit.”

Audra Sergel, the artistic director of The Quorus, a Columbia choir that was set to perform at 2023’s Treeline, says she appreciates just how much community matters to both Treeline and herself. “I know that Treeline is a national, and even international, event at times,” Sergel says. “But at the end of the day it’s still our CoMo thing.”

For now, Columbians will have to wait to know when — and if — this particular CoMo thing will return.

Additional reporting by Levi Case, Tayler Gilmore and Seth Hadlow.

Photography by LG Patterson

TWIRL across the ballroom and waltz the night away at Columbia’s first Bridgerton Ball. Inspired by Bridgerton, the hit show and bestselling book series, COMO 411 invites the lords and ladies of CoMo to its inaugural gala for a night of food, dancing and music. A portion of ticket sales benefits local non-profits, including The Missouri Symphony, Mareck Center for Dance and The WE Project. Gather your Regency-inspired attire and you might be named the diamond of the season. 7 p.m. Oct. 19, The Atrium, tickets start at $79, como411/bridgertonball2023

WATCH first love bloom onstage in Talking Horse Productions’ show Girlfriend. Based on Matthew Sweet’s 1991 album of the same name, the musical follows Will, a social outcast, and Mike, a popular football player, as their relationship evolves after high school graduation. Get your tickets to experience all the soaring emotions of adolescent love and coming of age in a small town. Musical theater fans won’t want to miss this one! Oct. 13-15 and 19-22, Talking Horse, $20, $18 senior/student, talkinghorseproductions.org/girlfriend

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

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.

BROWSE the extensive collection at Columbia’s newest record store, King Theodore Records. Named for owner Jesse Slade’s corgi, the shop offers buy-and-sell services for new and used records, stereo equipment, CDs and cassette tapes. The CoMo location opened in May, but vinyl fanatics might have visited the original Ashland location, which opened in 2021. It’s now in the North Village Arts District — in what the store calls the “coolest basement in town.” 1026

E. Walnut St. Studio 6, open Monday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 434-1407

STREAM Columbia rock band Black Bear Boxer’s sophomore album, Tranquilizer, which came out Sept. 1. Written and recorded over a five-year span, the Columbia rock scene is well represented in the album’s featured artists. Tranquilizer employs the talents of CoMo’s own Don’t Mind Dying, Last American Cowboy and The January Lanterns. Such a cast creates an epic sound in the tradition of all great rock concept albums — theatrical and at times desperate and at times triumphant. Tranquilizer is available on Spotify and Bandcamp

Photography courtesy of Adobe Stock

Centering community

The Center Project President Christi Kelly is helping assure safe spaces for Columbia’s queer youth.

BY MADELINE SHANNON

Columbia-based LGBTQIA+ organization The Center Project has been around for almost 20 years. The organization is dedicated to providing safe spaces in youth groups for trans and nonbinary young people. The Center Project organizes resources like a clothing closet and lending library and provides support to those struggling with the repercussions of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. The Center Project’s President Christi Kelly says creating a community, supporting queer parents and fighting feelings of helplessness are all vital in the face of an adversarial political climate.

Kelly joined The Center Project in 2018 to give her son an opportunity to see other queer families like theirs. The long-time Columbia resident got her undergraduate degree in journalism at MU. She also holds an MFA in creative writing and has a professional background in communications. She sat down with Vox this past spring to discuss the center’s work. This is an excerpt of an interview for the Vox Voice podcast.

What is The Center Project and why was that name chosen?

The Center Project is a community organization for mid-Missouri LGBTQIA+ people. We have a community center, a youth group, support groups, trans and nonbinary social groups. We have a clothing closet, a lending library and some other things. Almost 20 years ago, we started in the Unitarian Universalist Church, not affiliated with the church, but just using their space. The idea originally was to start a youth group, and to build toward having a center. So, it was The Center Project, and the name stuck.

What led you to do volunteer work for the organization?

I joined The Center Project in 2018, when we were a couple of years into some changes in the political landscape

that made it feel even more dangerous to be out as LGBTQIA+. I was a single parent at the time. (My son) has two queer parents. It is very important to me that he could grow up seeing other families like us. That’s when I came to The Center Project. They put a call out for board members and needed some help with communications. So I said, “Sign me up, that would be great.” When there are these big cultural struggles, it’s hard to know what you can do. It’s easy to feel helpless, and I definitely felt like that for a while. Then, I saw this opportunity to do some tangible work in the community.

How do you balance this work with your personal life?

Whenever legislation gets stirred up, we have a lot of people reaching out to us — distraught and scared and frustrated and needing support and help. To be able to provide that, you really do have to find your own source of energy, and I’d say what keeps me going is that sense of mission.

What memory sticks out to you as a time when The Center Project’s community was invaluable?

There was the shooting in Colorado Springs last year that took five lives in the queer community. We did a candle light vigil at the community center. That was really powerful, because it was one of those things where everyone really needed to be together. We were able to provide a really safe space to do that where everybody felt welcome and included. There are also smaller moments, like when we started the parent group, Rainbow Family Alliance. We will just be sitting across the table from each other talking about things that are really specific to queer parenting,

THE CENTER PROJECT

805 Fairview Ave. Donate, volunteer and learn more at centerproject.org.

like donors or the family dynamics that go along with being queer or things that your kids have heard or faced at school.

What words of encouragement do you have for members of the LGBTQIA+ community?

There is a lot of support out there. So even if it doesn’t feel like it, whether you’re queer, or if you’re an ally, wherever you are in supporting the community or being part of it, there is a lot more

Listen to Christi Kelly’s full interview on episode 24 of the Vox Voice podcast.

The shows must go on

Biscuits, Beats and Brews takes center stage with music, food and a little grape stomping.

BY ELENA WILSON

Festivals can uplift and bring together communities. In the case of Biscuits, Beats and Brews, its Rocheport location gives attendees a chance to explore the nearby Katy Trail and the town’s businesses. Ozark Mountain Biscuit and Bar owner Bryan Maness says this has been the goal since launching the free festival in 2021. In light of Treeline Music Fest’s cancellation, this community aspect became even more important to festival runners Maness and Colin LaVaute.

The fall festival, which includes music, food and crafts, snagged local artists scheduled to play Treeline and moved its own festival date up. “This year is an opportunity for us to step up to the plate and provide a soft place for folks to land, whether they’re artists that were going to play Treeline or music lovers that were going to the festival,” LaVaute says.

With Biscuits, Beats and Brews quickly approaching, here are four festival features you won’t want to miss.

Post Sex Nachos (above) was one of the Treeline artists added to the Biscuits, Beats and Brews roster.

The Betsy Farris Memorial Run will take place in Columbia, while other events like grape stomping are at the Rocheport fest.

BISCUITS, OF COURSE: As the name suggests, the festival will have selections from Ozark Mountain Biscuit’s food truck menu. Bryan Maness says all of the dishes capture the essence of his grandmother’s cooking. Maness recommends the Chicken Fried Chicken. The dish comes with a fried chicken breast, collard greens, an egg and sausage gravy. “It’s one of our most popular and one of our oldest ones,” Maness says. There will be tacos from

Photography by Toby Young, Riley Newton/Archive and Adobe Stock

The Boss Hog sandwich from Ozark Mountain Biscuit comes with pulled pork, greens, sausage gravy, crispy onions, barbecue sauce and a fried egg atop a biscuit. This is one of many options available to attendees.

Kokomo Joe’s and Cajun and Creole cuisine from Roux Pop-Ups.

MISSOURI MELODIES: One of the festival’s highlights is the live music from local Missouri bands throughout each day. Several scene stalwarts will step onto the stage, including headliners Post Sex Nachos and The Hooten Hallers. Other popular Missouri acts featured are Steve Ewing of St. Louis band The Urge and The Western States, which includes Maness as bassist. Atmospheric indie folk artist Ruth Acuff and singer-songwriter Noah Earle are among the other performers. Find the rest of the lineup on the festival website.

CREATIVE JUICES: Also returning this year will be an old-fashioned grape stomping event on Sept. 30 from noon to 4 p.m. It’s a partnership with The Blufftop at Rocheport. Another signature of the festival is the craft fair. Artisanal crafts will be available for sale from vendors. “There’s always really talented artists, and I think that we’re going to have even more talented artists this year,” LaVaute says.

BETSY FARRIS MEMORIAL RUN: Originally part of Treeline Music Fest, the Betsy Farris Memorial Run is on Sept. 30. Betsy Farris served as the Roots N Blues festival director from 2009 to 2016. This year, the run has teamed up with Biscuits, Beats and Brews to keep the event going. Runners will start at Flat Branch Park and can choose between running a 5K, 10K or half-marathon. Festival-goers can also choose to join “virtual runs” through a monetary donation of $30 on the Betsy Farris Run website.

THREE W’S FOR THREE B’S

Where: Welbern Park, Rocheport

When: Sept. 29 from 5 to 9 p.m., Sept. 30 from noon to 9 p.m. and Oct. 1 from noon to 5 p.m.

Website: biscuitsbeatsbrews.com

Courtesy of Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co.

BEHIND MENUS

Who bakes the sourdough? Who creates the sushi rolls? Who keeps the place running smoothly? Meet the workers who make it all work: the bartenders, managers, bakers, chefs and owners of Columbia’s favorite restaurants.

STORY BY MARA DUMITRU EDITING BY MJ MONTGOMERY

DESIGN BY AVA HORTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIN CHOI AND MOLLY MILLER

Sarah Brodson is a bartender at Chris McD’s, and one of the people powering restaurants throughout Columbia.

Columbia is home to a vibrant restaurant scene, nudging you to explore the variety of American cuisine or sample other cultural fare. Behind every memorable dining experience, you have a team of dedicated individuals working tirelessly to bring these flavors to life. From line cooks perfecting the art of plating, to servers navigating the chaos of a busy dining room with grace, to bartenders mixing up the perfect cocktail with precision and flair, these are the unsung heroes of Columbia’s restaurant scene. Some are culinary school graduates, while others chanced into the food industry, each bringing a unique perspective and skillset, creating unforgettable experiences that keep customers coming back. Vox brings you these bites from a few members of the restaurant community in CoMo.

CAFÉ BERLIN

SAM JOHNSON, HEAD CHEF

Coming from Alaska, Sam Johnson worked odd jobs like landscaping and construction before finding a home in the restaurant industry nine years ago. After working at restaurants in Austin, Texas, and then Columbia, Johnson started at Café Berlin as a line cook. "I just really love the environment,” he says. “It's the family aspect here, and it's kept me here ever since.” While Café Berlin wasn’t his first experience working in the food industry, it quickly became one of his favorites.

Johnson's commitment to the success of Café Berlin goes beyond creating a delicious menu. With the large staff, Johnson strives to put his workers first. Making sure everyone feels comfortable and wants to be there is a priority. “Our cooks are just as important as our servers and as our customers,” he says. “So if it's not working for a dishwasher back there, then it's not working for anybody.”

Johnson draws inspiration from a variety of sources to create a menu that is both innovative and familiar. "I try to hit as many other brunch restaurants and local restaurants and see my friends who own and operate other restaurants around town to see what works," he says. But the real fun comes from the weekly waffle specials, which are designed to be playful and creative. "Whatever sounds fun to make to me in the day, that's what I'll do."

OPEN SINCE: 2006

• KNOWN FOR: BRUNCH • 220 N. TENTH ST. CAFÉ BERLIN IS A CULINARY CORNERSTONE IN COLUMBIA, OFFERING LIVE MUSIC, PASTRIES AND A HIP ATMOSPHERE IN THE NORTH VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT FOR 17 YEARS. AND A LOT GOES INTO KEEPING THE BACON CRISPY AND THE INSTAGRAM HOT.

Sam Johnson calls out orders at Café Berlin. Johnson is originally from Alaska but has worked at Café Berlin for nine years.

ADRIENNE LUTHER, MARKETING DIRECTOR

Promoting a restaurant is challenging, and Adrienne Luther, Café Berlin’s marketing director, had to adjust to the service industry after coming from an advertising and journalism background. Luther managed social media for many different companies and organizations in Columbia, but after she joined Café Berlin, she realized it was the place she wanted to commit to. The cafe was a creative haven for Luther.

Luther’s day-to-day work is mostly online. It includes answering emails, posting on social media and organizing events such as the night market, an event hosted at Café Berlin in collaboration with First Fridays. She enjoys interacting with Columbians and representing the people who work in the service industry. “It feels actually like I’m building something,” Luther says. “I didn’t think that was going to happen to me when I was in school.”

Luther says she believes that the traditional restaurant system needs to be redesigned, and more dialogue should take place between customers, servers and business owners. Café Berlin prioritizes community, which aligns with Luther’s personal values. “The reason their social media posts resonate with the community is because they have a voice,” Luther says. “It’s honest and unique, showcasing the day-to-day of Café Berlin and its people.”

CHRIS FOLEY, BAKER

Foley’s passion for baking began more than two decades ago when he got a summer job at a bakery in Ashland as a 14-year-old. Foley’s skill was apparent, and the owner of the bakery told him, “You just have a knack for it,” Foley remembers. With almost a decade of baking for Café Berlin under his belt, he has become known for his exceptional sourdough bread. He bakes it using his own 144-year-old sourdough culture that he acquired from a San Francisco bakery.

Foley spends his days moving between ovens and tending to his sourdoughs. He describes baking as a highly practical and hands-on process, and he encourages others to “get in there and get your hands dirty as quickly as possible.” Now that Foley has perfected his bread-baking craft, he tries his hand at pastry-making, including croissants. “Nothing crazy,” he says.

Baking can be tough. It requires stubbornness and a lot of hours. “Very few people get the desired result the first time,” Foley says. Despite having no formal training, he has honed his skills with practice, repetition and tenacity — one of the most important skills he has. Foley says you have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to develop the necessary knowledge and skills. There’s no substitute for practice.

Café Berlin’s marketing director Adrienne Luther takes photos for Instagram. “I feel like when I come to work, I just play,” Luther says.

Chris Foley, the baker for Café Berlin, prepares dough for the day. Foley has his own side business for his bread, which he makes from a 144-year-old starter.

JINA YOO’S

OPEN SINCE: 2008

• KNOWN FOR: ASIAN FUSION

• 2200 FORUM BLVD. JINA YOO’S ASIAN BISTRO HELPS SATISFY COLUMBIA’S APPETITE FOR SUSHI AND ASIAN FUSION. COMBINING

WESTERN AND ASIAN FLAVORS, JINA YOO’S OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM PORK GYOZA TO ZUCCHINI FRITTERS, ALL COOKED UP BY AN ACCOMPLISHED STAFF.

JINA YOO, CHEF AND OWNER

While Jina Yoo, local chef and owner of Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro, is the managing force at the restaurant, she still finds a way to express her joy for cooking. “As a matter of fact, I love cooking,” Yoo says. And her customers love her cooking too: A decade after the opening of Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro, she opened a second restaurant in downtown Columbia: Le Bao.

Yoo’s approach to cooking is based on a philosophy of creating dishes that “make sense.” She strives to create dishes that are both delicious and meaningful, with each ingredient carefully chosen to complement the others. “Creating is one of my favorite parts,” she says. Her favorite dishes she’s created are the Grilled Edamame and the Madre de Dragon sushi roll, which combines spicy tuna, jalapeños and lime juice in a perfectly wrapped bite.

Yoo is committed to ensuring customer satisfaction. She says a big part of her job is helping customers understand the menu. Yoo listens and works with customers to understand their desires. “There’s a lot of cases that people don’t know what they’re talking about,” Yoo says. “So then I talk to them and figure out what they want.” Through this approach, she has cultivated a loyal following who appreciate her attention to detail and dedication to making each dish meaningful.

JARED MEISEL, CHEF

With seven years of experience in the food industry, Jared Meisel is responsible for managing the bistro’s kitchen, ensuring prep work is done, orders are placed and food goes out quickly. He learned his skills by working in various restaurants and watching his colleagues.

Meisel recognizes the vital role of communication in the kitchen. He emphasizes the importance of getting everyone on the same page. “Whenever you’re cooking, (communication) is a huge key, making sure dishes come out in a timely manner,” he says.

One of Meisel’s favorite parts of being a chef is the sense of camaraderie he experiences in a bustling kitchen. “I really enjoy working weekends on busy nights,” he says. “(Watching) the staff get through it together and have a drink after makes it a very fun work environment.” Overall, Meisel enjoys the freedom he has in the kitchen and the opportunity to grow. “I started up here wanting to learn a different cuisine and enjoy working here,” he says. “And here we are.”

Jina Yoo, the owner of the restaurant, gets ready before their dinner crowd at Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro.

Jared Meisel, a chef at Jina Yoo’s, prepares the fry batter in the kitchen before the dinner rush. Meisel is in charge of all the food prep work as well as timing when dishes go out.

WILLIAM HATCH, BARTENDER

Bartending is a unique job that requires a variety of skills, including the ability to make drinks, communicate effectively and provide excellent customer service. Hatch started as a server at Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro but quickly found himself behind the bar. Hatch started taking more shifts as a bartender and quickly grew to love them. He had never been a bartender before, but had previously worked as a barista. “It really translated into it, and kind of gave me some of the skills that I needed for busy nights.”

Hatch enjoys the opportunity to come up with his own special drinks and experiment with flavor combinations. “Being able to take my time with a drink and making sure that it’s perfect is really, really gratifying,” he says.

He notes that sometimes it can be surprisingly difficult to understand exactly what customers want in a drink. Being able to talk to them and get the information he needs is important to make sure they’re satisfied. Another challenge that Hatch faces is balancing the needs of bar customers and those at the tables. This requires skillful multitasking and attention to detail as he keeps track of who needs what and when.

William Hatch readies the bar at Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro before dinnertime. He credits his affinity for bartending to his barista experience.

CHRIS M c D’S

OPEN SINCE: 1991 • KNOWN FOR: FINE DINING • 1400 FORUM BLVD. FOR THE DISCERNING DINER, CHRIS MCD’S IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR STEAKS, SEAFOOD AND A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE. GOURMET FOOD IS THEIR SPECIALTY, MADE POSSIBLE BY THOSE POPPING THE CORKS AND SEARING THE FILET MIGNON.

SARAH BRODSON, BARTENDER

At just 22 years old, Sarah Brodson is already making waves as a bartender at Chris McD’s restaurant and wine bar. Despite her youth, Brodson has quickly risen through the ranks to assistant manager, allowing her to process orders and assist servers with their responsibilities.

Being a bartender in an establishment like Chris McD’s is no small feat. Brodson’s job entails much more than just mixing drinks. She must have a deep knowledge of classic cocktails, wine varietals and flavor combinations to curate unique and sophisticated beverages for her patrons. She does it all with a smile on her face, striving to create an atmosphere that encourages patrons to return. “I love the people I work with and the people that come into our restaurant and enjoy the food and drinks,” Brodson says.

Brodson enjoys mixing mocktails for nondrinkers, ensuring that every customer feels welcome and accommodated. As she puts it, “There’s no one bad thing about the job. I just love making people happy.”

Sarah Brodson pours an espresso martini at Chris McD’s. Brodson is a bartender at Chris McD’s and enjoys creating unique beverages.

Amos Tramel has been passionate about cooking since his early childhood. “I love cooking because it’s like creating art,” Tramel says. “I get to be creative and experiment with different flavors and ingredients.”

AMOS TRAMEL, LINE COOK

Amos Tramel, a double major in philosophy and linguistics at MU, says his passion for cooking dates back to his childhood and led him to work as a line and prep cook.

Despite not having formal culinary training, Tramel has learned a great deal in the past two years while cooking on the job. One of the most important skills that Tramel has acquired is the ability to organize tasks efficiently. He has developed a prepping system, which involves setting up his station completely, tackling big tasks first and then managing smaller ones.

Tramel has also purchased a few of his own knives, which is a common practice among experienced cooks. This investment reflects his dedication to the craft and his desire to continue learning and improving. Tramel says his favorite part of the job is “feeding people and leaving the restaurant feeling like I’ve done something good.”

LEXI MILLER, FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

Lexi Miller has been in the industry since she was 16. She started as a cook at Chris McD’s, where she worked for two years with the original owner. After graduating from Hickman High School, Miller went to culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and worked as a pastry chef and cook at Disney World for three years. She later started training for her current management position when she returned to Columbia in November 2021 and fully took on the role in March 2022.

Miller’s job includes taking reservations, scheduling and helping servers and bartenders as needed. She leads the daily staff meeting with the owner and manages the floor during service, visiting tables to ensure patrons are enjoying their meals. One of the most important skills Lexi has gained throughout her years in the restaurant industry is time management.

While Miller eventually wants to return to her roots as a cook, she is content with her current position, as it allows her to interact with people on a daily basis and maintain strong relationships with her staff. She also loves getting to know regulars. “It’s kind of just a big relationship thing,” Miller says. “My favorite part about currently what I’m doing is just interacting with people. It’s just like having a big family here.”

Photography by Molly Miller

Lexi Miller checks the reservation sheet at the hostess stand while Sydney Hughley answers the phone. Part of their jobs include making reservations for Chris McD’s private dining room.

HEADS IN THE CLOUDS

Story by Sam Barrett

Design by Campbell Biemiller

Photography by Minh Connors and Lauren Hubbard

Editing by Meghan Lee

ON COLUMBIA’S OUTSKIRTS, YOU CAN FIND PARAMOTORISTS SOARING OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE. EVERY TIME THEY FLY, THEY WEIGH RISK AND REWARD.

Russell Duker (right) says when he’s paramotoring in Boone County, he likes to fly in the morning or the evening. “The sun will glow red off the river and the bottoms of the clouds,” Duker says. “When you see a sunset from the ground, you don’t usually see it reflecting off the river, the trees and the ponds like you do when you’re up there.”

THEORY OF FLIGHT

There are four forces at play in flight — lift, drag, thrust and the weight of the thing that’s flying. Each part of the flying object plays a role.

A paramotorist is no different.

Conner Ruhl and Russell Duker check their gear prior to a flight. Ruhl says as paramotoring’s popularity grows, so does the risk. He says there are more fatalities now that more people are participating. However, the sport can be safe if you’re properly instructed and educated. “It’s not as dangerous as you think after you learn,” Duker says.

MOTOR

A paramotorist’s motor and propeller provide the thrust that pushes them forward.

PARACHUTE

A paramotorist’s parachute, often called a wing, creates both the drag and the lift to pull them off the ground and then keep them in the air.

PARAMOTORIST

The paramotorist and their equipment add the weight that keeps the other flight elements balanced.

One of Russell Duker’s favorite things about paramotoring is the peaceful alone time. He calls his paramotor his “magic chair,” a thing that can carry him up, up and away into the clouds where he can think more clearly.

get above the clouds. And the motor means elevation and speed can be maintained longer than when paragliding.

Ruhl says there were only one or two other motorists in Columbia when he first started seven years ago. Now there’s a community of flyers.

More people trying paramotoring means a need for more safety education on the sport. Drowning used to be a common cause of par-

Believe

RUSSELL DUKER

amotoring deaths. When people crash into the water, their heavy equipment can cause them to sink. Advancements like inflatable gear have helped prevent drowning. Ruhl says technology has improved immensely, making the sport safer and easier to learn.

Both Ruhl and Duker agree that paramotoring involves a lot of quick decision-making. Ruhl emphasizes that if you fly with caution, the sport can become safe. Duker says it’s all about understanding the risk versus reward, something he also learned during his time in the Air Force.

“Believe in yourself. Calculate the risk. And determine if you can accept it,” Duker says. “Once you believe in yourself, then the world opens up to you.”

Additional reporting by

Ezra Bitterman and Lauren Hubbard.

Warm welcomes, hot coffee

La Calle 8 Cafe is a new Latin coffee shop in downtown Columbia that we think you’ll like “a latte.”

BY ABIGAIL RAMIREZ

If there’s one thing Rafael Bobea likes to do when he travels, it’s visit coffee shops. Whether he’s in Mexico or Florida or any other corner of the world, he tries out local coffee spots to get in touch with the community.

During regular trips to Miami, Bobea would wait at a local coffee house while his wife, Itzel, was at dental appointments. He dreamed of recreating a space that captured that same welcoming and warm atmosphere — somewhere you want to stay.

After frequent Miami trips and a trip to Cancún, Mexico, the drive to do something bigger overcame him. “I wished I could have a good place and bring my own style to town, and that’s how it started,” Bobea says. “It’s always been a thing I wanted to accomplish.

Rafael Bobea (left), is the owner of the new cafe that aims to be a warm and welcoming place, with an infusion of family and Latin flair. Family members often help out behind the counter, including Adrian Nava, his brother-in-law.

What better way than to have my own coffee shop?”

Bobea switched gears from his job selling cars to chasing his dream business venture. Soon, he found a location and rented the space that would become La Calle 8 Cafe, which translates to the Eighth Street cafe. The cafe is nestled between Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant and Dawson’s Shoe Repair Shop on Eighth Street. It opened its doors Aug. 5.

When it came to choosing a name for the new business, Bobea was again inspired by his love for the vacation spots he visits. “I remembered Miami, you got La Calle Ocho,” Bobea says. “They have a lot of festivals and Cuban food and stuff like that. We’re on Eighth Street, so how about we make this an iconic place for the street?”

Photography by Sharon Quintana Ortiz

An important aspect of Bobea’s business is family and unity. Itzel sometimes stops by the shop to help out. “One thing about Spanish families is that everything is run together,” Bobea says. “We’re a team, and we want unity. Her business is my business, and my business is her business, too.” Bobea’s brother-inlaw, Adrian Nava, also helps him run the coffee shop. Rafael and Itzel Bobea also started Lola’s Bilingual Daycare Center.

Like La Calle Ocho, Bobea wants his cafe to be a place for anyone to work or have fun with friends. The front half of the cafe is quiet and calm with round tables and stools. There’s another area with comfortable seating, dimmed lighting and upbeat music — a space to take a break and recharge.

Columbia residents and MU students are already making La Calle 8 Cafe a regular coffee stop for morning coffee or lunch. Among those patrons is Cinthia Martinez, who was missing something from Columbia’s coffee shop scene. “I first heard about it through the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ group chat,” Martinez

says. Last year they met up at Sagua La Grande, a Cuban restaurant. After finding out the restaurant was closed, they went to La Calle 8 Cafe.

La Calle 8 Cafe is a representation of Bobea at his core. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Bobea followed his family to Missouri in 2011, and he has been here ever since. “Half of my life or a third of my life, I’ve been here in Columbia,” Bobea says. “I’m part of Columbia, as you can say, because this is the first place I came to since I moved to the States.”

For the last 12 years, he has immersed himself in the Spanish community in Columbia, whether that meant DJing Latin events at local bars, attending Latin nights or opening a bilingual daycare with his wife.

Moving forward, Bobea is looking to add more food items and drink flavors that call back to his roots in the Dominican Republic. He plans to announce a drip coffee rotation with beans from the Caribbean. While the coffee beans are hard to get, Bobea considers them

HAVE A BREW-TIFUL DAY

La Calle 8 Cafe, 214 S. Eighth St., 825-8960, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Try these favorites: Avocado Chipotle Chicken Panini, Aguas Tropicales and Caramel Macchiato

special because it’s the coffee he grew up with. New menu items will most likely be available on Oct. 14 for The District’s Caffeine Crawl and other events will be announced on the cafe’s Instagram.

Bobea took the lively nature of Hispanic culture and brought it to the Midwest. From its history to the welcoming atmosphere, thought and love have been put into the business. “If you’re not doing business with passion, you’re not doing business at all,” Bobea says.

Adrian Nava pours out fruit into one of their refreshing Aguas Tropicales. Moises Sosa, a regular customer, visited the cafe with his wife because of the Caribbean taste of their drinks.

Photography by Sharon Quintana Ortiz

Blazing a trail

For bikers at all skill levels, Dirt Dames is a mountain biking community for female, trans, femme and nonbinary riders.

BY SAM WILLS

Even the name of the sport is a bit daunting — mountain biking. While the term can mean riding actual ridges, it typically refers to biking on any terrain that is rougher than roads.

Dirt Dames is a Columbia-based organization that seeks to teach and encourage women, trans, femme and nonbinary people to mountain bike by going on a monthly group ride and creating friendships on and off the trail. The group was founded in 2018 by Angela Peterson and Sarah Ashman, who is co-owner of Walt’s Bike Shop.

Peterson first came to mountain biking as another way to explore trails, though she was already an avid hiker and trail runner. “I really gravitated towards it to get into the woods and get off the roads, just because of the whole car factor,” Peterson says.

The two attended a women’s summit in 2018 sponsored by the International Mountain Bicycling Association in Ben-

Angela Peterson (above) and Sarah Ashman founded Dirt Dames in 2018. It’s an “apologyfree zone,” where mistakes are just part of the process of mountain biking.

tonville, Arkansas. It provided the inspiration to create a community for women mountain bikers. “We had heard from a lot of women that there was definitely interest in group rides that were catered specifically to women,” Ashman says. “It quickly grew into a core group of maybe six or seven women who were actively involved in planning the monthly rides.”

PEDAL TO THE METAL

If you enjoy biking find more information on Facebook and Instagram @comodirtdames

Ashman has since stepped down and given her leadership role in the group to Peterson and members Sue Cunningham and Meghan Biggs.

Back to basics

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the group had about 40 riders attend their monthly ride on the second Saturday of every month. Peterson says the atten-

Photography by Caroline McCone and illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

dance now is about 20 riders.

During the monthly ride, groups form based on skill level and ride distance. Cosmo Park, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the Binder Lake trails are a few of the locations where the rides are held.

Having riders of various skill levels on group rides can present challenges when dealing with difficult terrain. Peterson tries to alleviate these concerns by creating a no-apology zone. “If someone doesn’t clear an obstacle and has to put a foot down and stop for whatever reason, there’s no need to say sorry,” Peterson says. “One of the first things that we teach (is) if you try something and it fails, that’s OK.”

Peterson says this is particularly important to understand in the context of gender norms. “Society has taught a lot of women to always apologize for sometimes just breathing, and so we work through those things on the trail,” Peterson says. “That translates to increased confidence on the bike (and) off the bike.”

Dirt Dames also works with riders on trail etiquette, like proper distancing from the riders ahead and communicating if somebody needs to stop. However, the riders need more than just trail etiquette to get over rocks, tree roots and difficult inclines.

Angela Peterson walks her bike up a turn slope at Cosmo Park. The suspensions on Peterson’s bike help stabilize her as she rides over rougher terrain, like rocks and tree roots. “My heart rate is at its highest when I do steep drops,” she says.

DID YOU KNOW?

A 2015 survey found 82% of Columbia households use Columbia’s trails.

“Sometimes we stop and session different parts of a trail,” Peterson says. “If there’s an obstacle or feature that one of the riders is getting a little hung up on, we’ll talk it out.”

Part of being able to ride is proper bike care. Riders learn to keep their bikes in good shape, whether that’s dealing with low tire pressure or a squeaky chain.

Bikes and bonds

Peterson says she hopes her teachings can facilitate riders exploring trails on their own or with others they have met through the group. Such connections are important. Although Dirt Dames only meets once a month, Peterson likes to see these friendships extend beyond the Dirt Dames environment.

“Women tend to have more responsibilities in terms of childcare and errands and running around,” Peterson says. “A barrier is sometimes just finding childcare and finding the time with all of these other things going on in their daily lives.”

Peterson also stresses the importance of representation in sports to create inclusive spaces for women, nonbinary individuals and people of color.

“We know that when you see someone doing the thing you want to do, it shows that you can do it too. Representation in sports creates inspiring role models for young humans,” Peterson says.

Meghan Biggs (left) and Sue Cunningham became leaders in Dirt Dames after co-founder Sarah Ashman stepped down.

Dirt Dames’ social media presence on Facebook and Instagram has allowed it to connect with similar women’s cycling groups throughout the region. One group is the St. Louis Area Mountain Bikers Dirt Divas, who have participated in some of the Dirt Dames group rides.

Even with the enthusiasm the group has created, there are still many barriers to women wanting to get into mountain biking.

Ashman adds that sometimes riding groups aren’t as inclusive as they can be. “I think it’s really common for women to feel intimidated,” Ashman says. “When there’s a mixed group (of riders) or mostly men, in my experience, (it) tends to be a little less inclusive.”

Dirt Dames remains a safe place to explore a sport with a dangerous-sounding name. “By creating this space in mountain biking for people to feel safe showing up and showing others they belong here too, that will change lives,” Peterson says.

Photography by Caroline McCone and Cara Penquite

Rising heat, cool heads

Struggling with anxiety about climate change? You’re not alone. Here are 5 proactive ways to manage your fears.

BY JANE STEINBRECHER

In a time of devastating floods, rampant forest fires and withering heat, it’s natural to feel disheartened by the state of our environment and want to take stock of what more you could be doing.

Individuals aren’t the main problem or the solution. It’s not the everyday person — buying single-use plastics, commuting to work or eating red meat — that does the most damage. Instead, it’s the large-scale burning of fossil fuels that generates the majority of the carbon emissions at tremendous rates that are the main contributors to the changing climate.

If this makes you feel helpless, you’re not alone. In 2021, Google searches for “climate anxiety” increased by 556%, according to a Yale study. However, there are ways to make the situation feel less hopeless. Here’s Vox’s guide to keeping your climate anxiety under wraps.

Dig into the earth

A major source of climate anxiety, and most anxieties in general, is feeling a lack of control.

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture provides several programs to acquaint people with the environment and emphasizes taking control over your corner of the world. The Opportunity Gardens Program creates free guides on growing a home garden for low-income individuals. In the Planting for the Pantry program, donors can sponsor a garden row or help cultivate produce that is then donated to Columbia’s food pantries. Such programs allow Columbians to get in touch with the environment and make a real difference in their community.

Katie Molitor, programs director for CCUA, says she feels relief from climate

anxiety by focusing on her corner of the world. “My little space here in Columbia is where I can make a difference,” Molitor says. “Some are big, some are small, some things in clude just planting trees in my backyard.”

CCUA’s programs have many benefits to those grappling with climate anxiety. “We get all sorts of feedback from people that our programs can impact their physical health or their mental health in a positive way, which is just so exciting to hear,” Molitor says.

To learn more about CCUA’s pro grams, visit columbiaurbanag.org or contact info@columbiaurbanag.org.

Join a mental health program

In addition to taking action outdoors, there are programs that focus on turning inward to address the emotions around climate anxiety and determine how to cope with them.

One is the Good Grief Network, an online, 10-step program with a mission to “create spaces to gather in commu nity, process the painful feelings and realities of our time and commit to meaningful action.”

Director LaUra Schmidt founded GGN with her wife, Aimee Lewis Reau, in 2016. While studying environ mental sciences and biology

at Central Michigan University, Schmidt began to feel isolated and helpless about the state of the environment and the future. “I realized that if I was going to continue to try and do this work, or be a changemaker, that I needed support and I needed community,”

The 10-step program starts with accepting the severity of the climate situation. As the program moves through its steps, participants build confidence in their ability to create change through meaningful efforts. GGN helps participants progress beyond cookie cutter activism to find actions that best suit their passions. It’s not a therapy program, it’s a peer support program with a central focus on bringing people together.

Here in Columbia, Mark Haim — the director of Peaceworks — says life as an activist consists of “big defeats and little

Illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

victories.” Haim, 73, who has been an activist for peace, justice, sustainability and clean energy issues since he was a teenager, says staying motivated about the state of our climate is the only option right now. “You can hide your head in the sand,” he says, “but it’s going to get worse unless we do something.”

Learn more at goodgriefnetwork.org or by contacting info@goodgriefnetwork.org or 707-968-7446.

Don’t panic — vote

Worrying about climate change isn’t productive, says Frank Mitloehner, professor and director of the Clarity and Leadership for Environmental Awareness and Research Center at the University of California, Davis. The CLEAR Center promotes sustainability in the animal agriculture sector.

Mitloehner says he sees this heightened anxiety particularly in younger generations. “This panic is really not getting us anywhere; it’s not getting these individuals anywhere into a healthy place. It will not really have a significant impact on anything, not even on politics.”

While panic won’t cause change, being involved in politics might. “The greatest contribution that you can make is to vote,” Mitloehner says. Paying attention to local City Council meetings or legislative action can lead to change as well. For instance, Haim is working toward a Columbia that uses 100% renewable energy by 2030. It likely won’t ever be a ballot item. Instead such issues will be decided by the council members Columbians elect.

Learn more about the city’s Climate Action and Adaption Plan at comocimateaction.org/action-plan.

Root kids in education

Understanding what individuals can do to help is useful for everyone, especially kids. According to a study published in the medical journal The Lancelet in December 2021, 62% of young people reported feeling anxious about climate change. The Missouri Environmental Education Association aims to ease these worries by helping Missouri learners “care, understand and act for the environment.”

MEEA and the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council accomplish this through Show-Me Green Schools, a set of action-oriented programs in Missouri schools that help young students come up with projects such as clean water or energy initiatives.

Lesli Moylan, Missouri Environmental Education Association’s executive director, says the program is not all doom and gloom. “We’re not introducing kids to things too early that they are not equipped to handle,” she says. “We don’t want to give them statistics that are just so depressing, and then not offer any

LaUra Schmidt (left) and her wife

Aimee Lewis Reau founded GGN in 2016. Their 10-step program helps individuals manage their climate anxiety.

Linda Okamura (below) volunteers at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture and works on plants in the garden. One of the ways people can relieve some anxiety about climate change is by volunteering with climate-conscious groups.

kind of avenue for making a difference.”

To learn more about the school initiatives, visit showmegreenschools.org.

Find community

Talking with like-minded people is the simplest way to reduce your climate anxiety. Find people who share your passion for the environment, and build each other up.

When Katie Molitor with CCUA was asked what she thought was the most beneficial way to calm climate anxiety, she urged people to find community and root themselves in it.

“When you can find your people and find your community, it’s really refreshing. One, just to find people that feel similarly to you, but also to know that with more people and more voices can come with more change and more power to do positive good in the community,” Molitor says.

Facing climate anxiety alone is daunting. But the good news is, you don’t have to.

Photography by Baxter Stein and courtesy of LaUra Schmidt

TO-DO LIST

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

BY MARY RUTH TAYLOR

ARTS

An evening with Elif Batuman Elif Batuman visits Columbia for a reading sponsored by the MU Visiting Writers Series. As an author, academic and journalist, she excels in fiction and nonfiction alike. Her widely acclaimed debut novel, The Idiot, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Sept. 28, 7:30-9 p.m., 022 Tate Hall, free, 882-6421

Bright Star

The Lyceum Theatre brings the Tony-nominated Broadway musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell to the stage. Based on a true story, a literary editor meets a young soldier just returning to the Blue Ridge Mountains from World War II and they embark on a journey. Bop along with the toe-tappin’ bluegrass and see where their

adventures take them. Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 30, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 1 and 3-5, 2 p.m.; Oct. 6-7, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 8, 2 p.m. Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, $20-49, 660-837-3311

Rachel Feinstein

Need a good laugh? The CoMo Comedy Club series has you covered. Rachel Feinstein is a nationally touring comedian and actress — you may know her from a handful of collaborations with Amy Schumer — and she’s sure to have you in stitches. Oct. 6, 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show, The Blue Note, $25, 874-1944

Points, Pots, Pipes and Powwows

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, tune into local author and historian Greg Olson’s talk on Missouri’s Native American history, including

how their traditions survived into the 21st century. Powwow dancers from Missouri will demonstrate different dance styles at 6:30 p.m., and the talk will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Launer Auditorium, Columbia College, free, events.dbrl. org/event/9014789

CIVIC

Things That Matter:

Barbara Buffaloe

Columbia’s mayor will be the October speaker for the Boone County History & Culture Center’s new speaker series. Things That Matter was created to give a space for building community understanding through topics like history and art to social issues. Head to Montminy Gallery for an insightful discussion with Mayor Buffaloe. Oct. 12, 1-2 p.m., History & Culture Center, free, 443-8936

CALENDAR

FOOD

Trivia & Brunch at Dogmaster Distillery

Come out for a family-friendly trivia and brunch show hosted by LGBTQIA+ organization Nclusion+. Venus O’Hara, Miss Gay MidMissouri America 2023, as well as other special guests, will be there. Tickets are sold by the table and brunch is an add-on ticket. Oct. 14, 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dogmaster Distillery, $10 for tickets, another $10 for brunch, nclusionplus.com

MUSIC

Happy Landing: Up All Night Tour

Fresh off a year of touring with hit folk rock band

The Head and the Heart, musical folk rock act

Happy Landing is bringing its tour to Rose Music Hall to perform hits such as “Carry On, Carry On” and “Jam in the Van.” This band’s indie rock sound blends southern rock, folk and punk on its latest EP. Oct. 4, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $12 advance, $15 day of

BXR’s 30th Birthday Bash featuring Grace Potter

Singer Grace Potter headlines 102.3 BXR’s 30th Birthday Bash, performing alongside other artists like The Cactus Blossoms. Attendees of the local station’s birthday party might get a present themselves, according to the Rose Music Hall website. Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $39.50-$44.50

University of Missouri Champion of Champions Marching Festival

Marching Mizzou and Mizzou Drumline will perform at a marching music festival, in which marching bands will compete in a “prelims/finals format,” showcasing the best marching band talent from around the state. Oct. 14, 8 a.m., Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, $12, free for children under 5, limited availability VIP tickets are $30, music. missouri.edu/champion-champions-faqspectatorinfo

Samara Joy

Jazz singer Samara Joy is stopping at Columbia’s Missouri Theatre on her latest tour to promote her new Verve Records album, Linger Awhile. The 22-year-old singer from the Bronx will perform some original music from her latest album, as well as songs made popular by artists who influenced her sound, like Blue Mitchell, Gloria Lynne and Sarah Vaughan. Oct. 24, 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show, Missouri Theatre, wealwaysswingjazzseries. thundertix.com

MUSICIANS IN THEIR FIELD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY OWEN ZILIAK

In the cool shade of nearby trees, members of the Southern Boone County High School band practiced as the sun set over a field of soybeans — a scene that seems quintessential for a small town. That night, fans filled the seats at the nearby Southern Boone football field to cheer on their Eagles against the rival Booneville Pirates. The Eagles triumphed, 44-26.