Vox Magazine May 2023 Issue

PAGE 15

HIV PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

PAGE 30

HOW MANY HAVE YOU DONE? P. 18

SWEET ON THAI DESSERTS

PAGE 35

FOSSILS LEAVE AN IMPRESSION

PAGE 42

FAULT LINES

Are you on drugs?”

I’ll never forget the way that question sounded — harsh and unexpected — from a nurse in the emergency room. I’d been lying on a bed, admitted to the ER for a panic attack neither me nor my parents knew how to treat. As a high schooler in at least five different extracurriculars, I was used to stress. But it had never sent me into a fight for my breath, with walls closing in.

“No,” I remember saying, but I can’t recall much after. They injected me with something to calm me down, and eventually, I went home. But that question still lingers. Of all the questions to ask to understand my condition, why that one? And why did it sound so cold and accusatory?

I’m still convinced that had I not been a Black woman — a Black girl, at that — the interaction would have gone a lot differently.

It was a small introduction to what I would later learn is a large, systemic bias against people of color within our country’s medical institutions. And no matter how kind, ambitious or forgiving I was, the reality of this country’s

systemic flaws wouldn’t change.

Missouri is no stranger to these startling discrepancies. This month, we explore how Missouri women, and especially women of color, are losing their lives at alarming rates to pregnancy-related deaths (p. 5). We also introduce you to a team that is actively addressing HIV’s troubling prevalence in Missouri, a frequency fueled by stigma and a lack of adequate education and resources (p. 30). Even treatments like Botox are becoming more popular to young people as a preventative measure against the systemic consequences of ageism (p. 41).

With these societal forces shaping our lives, it’s even more important to find the joy in community. There’s lots of fun to be had in this issue, namely through our impressive package about the “58 Things to Discover about Columbia” (p. 18). But as you take time to page through the newbie finds and townie treasures, do consider the cracks beneath the surface of the places we call home. For some of us, those cracks are more than inconveniences or startling headlines. They can cost us our lives.

Behind the issue

What defines a city? It’s a question we attempted to answer in our “58 Things to Discover about Columbia” package. We filled out this list (starting p.18) by talking to current and former residents, scouring online communities and digging through years of media coverage to find the most-mentioned mainstays and rarer hidden gems. This package became a love letter to what it means to make Columbia a home, whether it’s for a few years, for life, or somewhere in between. Still, we had to leave a lot of noteworthy tidbits on the cutting room floor. (As one former staffer and true townie asked: Where. Is. Sparky’s?) So we ask you, our readers: What did we miss? Share your Columbia favorites on social media with #CoMoThings. —Laura Heck

An early cover draft of Campbell Biemiller’s illustrations

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KATELYNN MCILWAIN

MANAGING EDITOR ABBEY TAUCHEN

DEPUTY EDITOR KRISTINA ABOVYAN

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR MARISA WHITAKER

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR GRACE KENYON

CREATIVE DIRECTOR HEERAL PATEL

ART DIRECTOR CAMPBELL BIEMILLER

PHOTO DIRECTOR SYDNEY LUKASEZCK

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR HALLE JACKSON

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

CULTURE JESSE BERLIN, LAUREN BLUE, LAUREN HUBBARD, EMMA LINGO, AMILEE NUZZO, KEARA SHANNON, MAX SHAPIRO

EAT + DRINK CHLOE KONRAD, NIA MARTIN, MELANIE OLIVA, PETRA RIVERA, ANNASOFIA SCHEVE, TAYLOR WILMORE

CITY LIFE ADAM ALLSBURY, CORINNE BAUM, ASHLEY BUTLER, SOPHIA DONIS, ABBY STETINA, TRINIDY THOMPSON, KAITLYN ZOGLMANN JENKINS

STAFF WRITERS MARA DUMITRU, TATEN JANES, SOPHIA KOCH, CHARLIE RECCHIA, KHALIA SMITH, JANE STEINBRECHER, SAM WILLS, CAYLI YANAGIDA

SOCIAL & AUDIENCE OLIVIA HOLLER, AINSLEY LOWTHER, IRELAND SHELTON, MEREDITH WENDLING, SHANNON WORLEY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS EZRA BITTERMAN, MEGHAN LEE, EILEEN LI, STEPHANIE MEININGER, GRACE ANN NATANAWAN, MCKENNA NEEF, COLIN RHOADS, NATALIE-ELIZABETH TAN, NICOLE VOSS, AUSTIN WOODS

DESIGNERS SIREEN ABAYAZID, LIN CHOI, ASPEN GENGENBACHER, AVA HORTON, JACEY JOHNSON, MEGAN SYDOW

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER ISHERWOOD

EXECUTIVE EDITOR LAURA HECK

SENIOR EDITORS CARY LITTLEJOHN, JENNIFER ROWE OFFICE MANAGER KIM TOWNLAIN

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ADVERTISING 882-5714 | CIRCULATION 882-5700 | EDITORIAL 884-6432

MAY 2023

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 4

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

Cover design: Campbell Biemiller with photography by Amanda Lee/Archive, Sydney Lukasezck/Archive and Anne Shifley/Archive

Photography courtesy of Olivia Evans and photo illustration by Campbell Biemiller with photography by India Garrish/Archive

KATELYNN MCILWAIN Editor-in-Chief

Correction: There was an error in the story about G&D Pizzaria in the April issue. Alex and Pano Terzopoulos’ first cousin Angelo Aslanidis is the current owner of G&D Steakhouse.

58

15 13

35

Match-a made in heaven

Pranlada Chompupong makes decadent Thai desserts at My Sweet Parlor.

37

Get sippy with it

Wash, rinse, repeat. This water bottle trend encourages constant hydration.

CITY LIFE

39

Not your mother’s hair

Black women embrace their natural beauty differently across generations.

41

Let’s ’tox about it

Gen Z is turning cosmetic procedures to keep aging at bay.

42

It’s fossil time, ya dig?

Explore the past with Vox’s guide to finding fossils around town.

Photography by Lin Choi, Lauren Spakowski, Bailey Stover, Nick Sheaffer, Aidan Boyd and illustrations by Heeral Patel

Too many mothers are dying

Health professionals seek change as the state experiences a high rate of maternal mortality.

BY KHALIA SMITH

Despite medical advancements, women in Missouri die from complications during and after childbirth at a higher rate than almost every other state in America.

Missouri is ranked 44th out of 50 states for maternal mortality, with 75% of pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri from 2017 to 2019 categorized as preventable, according to a 2022 report published by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS).

“It’s definitely unfortunate that here we are in 2023, and we have people dying that shouldn’t be dying,” says Ashlie Otto, maternal mortality coordinator for the MDHSS.

How does Missouri’s maternal mortality rate compare nationally?

The maternal mortality rate is calculated by the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The MDHSS report found that Missouri had a maternal mortality rate of 25.2 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2017 to 2019. At the time, that compared to the national rate of 20.1 deaths. Data released in March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed the 2021 national mortality rate was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. Missouri data from that same time period is not yet available.

Both reports explore the connection to race. The CDC found that the death

Photography courtesy of Unsplash and Illustrations by Heeral Patel VOX MAGAZINE •

Ranked 44th out of 50 states for maternal mortality, Missouri’s health professionals discuss issues causing the high death rate.

rate for Black women was more than two times greater than the death rate for white women. The MDHSS report found that the statewide death rate for Black mothers is more than three times higher than that for white women.

Why are Black women dying at higher rates?

“One of the things that I feel is an issue is systemic racism,” says Erica Dickson, founder of the Mid-Missouri Black Doula Collective.

Historically, health care misconceptions have led to the mistreatment of Black people, ranging from overestimation of pain tolerance to a lack of respect from doctors.

“I think that our socialization based on our different identities is being a barrier to us building the relationship that we need to build in order to give quality service,” Dickson says.

The 2022 MDHSS report estimates 57% of Black mothers “experienced late entry into prenatal care,” such as

BY THE NUMBERS

In 2022, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services published a report focusing on key factors contributing to maternal mortality in Missouri from 2017 to 2019.

44th of 50 states for maternal mortality

Missouri ranked of pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri were categorized as preventable 75%

physical exams, lab tests and discussing health history. Receiving prenatal care late into pregnancy risks missing detection of complications, according to the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health’s Office of Women’s Health.

Deaths and race

Black women had a maternal mortality rate of 187.6 deaths

100,000 live births compared to 54.1 for Hispanic women 65.7 for white women

Why does maternal mortality persist?

Otto says both the opioid epidemic and a rise in mental health conditions have contributed to the long lasting impact of pregnancy-associated mortality. In the MDHSS report, overdose was listed as

the most common form of fatal injury for pregnant women. Of the overdose related deaths, 72.7% had opioids found in the toxicology reports.

In terms of mental health conditions, Otto says the state has noticed a inconsistency in health care providers conducting mental health screenings, and many mothers experience issues when pausing medications during pregnancy.

“Conditions like depression and anxiety are exacerbated either in the postpartum period or during the pregnancy because they’re no longer on those medications,” she says.

Anxiety, perinatal and postpartum depression and birth-related PTSD are the most common pregnancy-related complications, with 75% of women affected not receiving help for these issues, according to the American Hospital Association. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the postpartum period.

Another factor affecting Missouri mothers is the lack of access to health care.

PREGNANCY SUPPORT

Mid-Missouri Black

Doula Collective

289-7667

Provides doula services and educational resources to Black women.

MU Health Care Group Prenatal Care

499-6084

Offers guided educational discussion groups for the second trimester.

MU Health Care

Low-Intervention Birth Program

499-6084

Offers childbirth with less medical intervention for low-risk pregnancies.

“We’ve had a number of both hospital closures over the last decade in rural Missouri,” says Tracy Greever-Rice, director of the MU Center for Health Policy. “Sometimes hospitals stay open, but they start to limit the services they provide.”

Otto says in addition to a limited number of OB-GYNs, expecting mothers can also experience transportation issues, especially in rural areas.

What legislation is being proposed to improve maternal healthcare?

On Jan. 18, Missouri lawmakers proposed a bill that would grant mothers up to 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage, as opposed to the current 60-day coverage. The bill is still in the legislative process. If passed, the state would use the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act funds and would provide about 4,600 women with extended postpartum coverage.

Both Greever-Rice and Otto say the passing of this bill would not only help women in the state but also lower

the amount of deaths that occur later in the postpartum period. According to the CDC, about one-third of maternal deaths happen between 40 days and one year postpartum.

The MDHSS report found that pregnancy-associated deaths for Missouri women on Medicaid was more than eight times greater than Missouri women on private health insurance.

When it comes to next steps for Missouri, there is much work to be done. In addition to Medicaid extension, the MDHSS recommends all health care providers screen for mental health conditions, substance use disorders and cardiovascular disease.

From her perspective as a doula, Dickson emphasizes the importance of women’s education on the birthing process to make it as smooth as possible.

“You’re going through the process with them being a part of the team,” Dickinson says. “You’re not there to do something for them, but with them.”

Shop for sneakers, second-hand items, streetwear and vintage clothing at the KC Pop Up Shop as it returns for its sixth Pop Up Zou event in Columbia. KC Pop Up Shop began in a barn in Liberty, Missouri, when Jake Lewis and Grant Gardner teamed up with a few friends to make their idea of a pop-up thrift shop come to life. Now, Pop Up Zou makes its way back to CoMo this May to give sneakerheads and fashion geeks a chance to shop from a variety of vendors. 12-5 p.m. May 7, Orr Street Studios, 106 Orr St., free, @kcpopupshop on Instagram

Watch…

Mizzou’s very own close-up for the camera. The Amazon Prime series The College Tour highlights dif ferent universities to give graduating high school se niors a glimpse into campus life. Mizzou’s 55-min ute episode is part of the show’s eighth season and features 19 students as well as alumni and some parents. Give it a watch to see a student-narrated take on the beloved traditions, lively downtown, various majors and MU’s strong community — and maybe spot a Tiger you know. May 23 on Amazon Prime and YouTube, thecollegetour.com

Picks for MAY

curates a list of can’t-miss shops, eats, reads and experiences. We

and fried morel mushrooms, enjoy food trucks and listen to live music by The Kay Brothers. The festival is free, but attendees can purchase a ticket to taste beers crafted by over 40 Missouri microbreweries. Proceeds from the festival go toward the development of Fulton’s downtown business district. beer tickets, thebrickdistrict.com/morels-microbrews

Rock…

Out with Bright Eyes at Columbia’s beloved Summerfest. The American indie rock band, adored by many Gen X fans, is making a pit stop during its national tour to play at the outdoor concert series. They are one of seven events happening during the summer-long fest at Rose Park and along Ninth Street. Bright Eyes has been covered by many artists, including Lorde, Mac Miller and Jason Mraz. 7:30 p.m. May 13, Rose Park, $35-$40, rosemusichall.com

Photography courtesy of Unsplash, Bright Eyes, MU News Bureau and BTB Kicks

The hits kept coming

Playing collegiate tennis was a dream; it turned into a nightmare.

BY VIVI ÁBRAHÁM

My journey into collegiate tennis began with a phone call in April 2018. I remember it clearly: I was on a walk along the Seine River in Paris, where I was visiting my brother. The voice on the other end was then-Mizzou Tennis Coach Colt Gaston — he was offering me a scholarship and a spot on the tennis team. It was everything I had hoped for, even though

I knew it was going to be bittersweet. I’m from Hungary, so attending MU meant moving over 5,000 miles away. However, the scholarship would give me the chance to play the sport I love and pursue a newfound interest in strategic communications.

After a scout saw me play at a tournament, I went on a recruitment visit to MU in March 2018, which was also my

Originally from Hungary, Vivi Ábrahám has been playing tennis since the age of 6. She was recruited to play tennis at MU in 2018.

first time in America. I quickly fell in love with the gorgeous campus and athletic facilities. I’d done research during the recruiting process and made dozens of phone calls to ensure I was making the right choice. But college visits are quick — by NCAA rules, only two days.

I hadn’t known Mizzou is the only SEC tennis team without a men’s team, and that MU’s Green Tennis Center has

Photography by Lauren Spakowski VOX MAGAZINE •

only four indoor tennis courts for a team of eight players, which makes it impossible for all six singles players to play at the same time during matches. More importantly, I didn’t know there was an ongoing conflict on the team that would soon lead to the head coach resigning and multiple players leaving.

Those were the first cracks in the perfect picture that was portrayed during my two-day recruitment visit. I was an international student far from home, and I wasn’t sure who I could trust or turn to. And I’d only been in America for a few days.

Who watches out for the players?

The power balance in college sports is tipped toward coaches over student athletes. Although the NCAA was founded in 1906 as an organization to protect college athletes, there are no NCAA penalties governing coaches’ behavior around issues like player injuries, according to an August 2019 The Washington Post article Former NCAA investigator Tim Nevius says he believes the system doesn’t do enough to protect athletes.

I can agree with that. I could have used more support.

My freshman year was a period of discovering my physical and mental limits. Every day was something new: tennis drills, conditioning exercises, taking lecture notes in a foreign language or simply adjusting to the new environment. A few players had recently transferred away, and the tension between the team and

the coach was palpable. There were daily conflicts and stress in the tennis facility. In a November 2020 Missourian op-ed, a parent of a player described Gaston’s coaching style as “fear-based,” saying he pitted players against each other, questioned injuries and threatened them with losing their scholarships.

Even with all of the challenges, I ended my first year feeling proud of my performance on the court. I’d started the season with a seven-match winning streak and finished with wins in singles and doubles matches in the SEC, one of the best leagues in women’s tennis. I believed this was just the start for me, which made me excited for the next season and my sophomore year.

head coach. He assured me that the negative things that happened in my first two years wouldn’t happen again. The sparks of love I had for tennis as a child were rekindled, and I looked forward to the end of the pandemic so I could return to MU and pursue my tennis dreams.

An uncertain future

While in recovery for her injuries, Ábrahám played one season before first the pandemic and then injuries sidelined her for two seasons. She continued to attend home matches to cheer on the team.

That season started well, and I moved up to the spot of No. 2 player.

But the pandemic put an end to that. Spring sports were canceled, and I was on a flight back home to Hungary.

In April 2020, Gaston resigned. According to the athletic department’s press release, his official reason for leaving was “to pursue other opportunities.” However, his tenure hadn’t been successful. Nine players left the program under his coaching, either by transferring to other schools or quitting tennis altogether, as reported by the Missourian in April 2020.

Chris Wootton became the interim

That spring, with tennis facilities closed and not knowing how long I’d be home in Hungary, I started to run every day. Casual running quickly turned into challenging myself with sprints. After I talked to him about my running, Wootton even connected me with the MU track coach to become a dual athlete. However, toward the end of summer, I started to feel pain in my right foot — a stress fracture. I was devastated.

In early September, after returning to Columbia, I had two screws surgically placed in my foot. Doctors and trainers told me it would be a long rehabilitation. I continued strength training in a seated position and went to physical therapy six days a week. Then, less than a month after the surgery, I dislocated my shoulder during a strength exercise. It took four months for me to convince doctors to do an MRI, and when they did, it showed I had torn my labrum and needed surgery. My right arm was in a sling for six weeks. The injuries meant I could not compete my junior year, but I was there for home matches to cheer on my team.

Wootton no longer showed interest in me. He did not contact me after my surgeries or during my recovery. At the end of my junior year, he asked me if I wanted to transfer to another school. It seemed he wanted his “own” players on the team instead of ones he inherited from Gaston. It was such a change from his reassuring words a year earlier.

Progress gained, then lost

By this point, I had been out of action for nearly a year. According to the recovery timeline, I’d be able to start hitting balls again in mid-June. I was in great shape. I’d been working out regularly and going to physical therapy. When the Columbia doctor cleared me to start playing tennis for 15 minutes at a time, I was bursting with happiness.

Photography by Lauren Spakowski

But in July, Wootton and then-Athletic Director Andy Humes asked to meet with me. They offered me a deal: I would voluntarily leave the team, giving me the freedom to work on tennis on my own — Wootton said to improve my chances of playing collegiately in graduate school — while also doing track. They told me that according to NCAA rules, a player recruited on scholarship for one coach can decide to leave the team if a new coach is hired.

I told Wootton that I wanted stay on the team, even though he was saying I’d be sitting on the bench. I had been playing this sport since I was 6 years old. I didn’t want to stop competing now.

The next morning, he asked for an in-person meeting, and we met at the courts 30 minutes later. He told me about the flip side of that NCAA rule, which allowed a new head coach to remove players from the roster, and that’s what he was doing. This was the first time he’d ever mentioned that rule.

It was the start of my senior year, and I was off the team.

Wootton soon removed my things from the locker room, placed them in a black trash bag and told me to pick them up at the front door of the tennis facility. Later, I learned that a player from South Carolina would be my replacement. She’d committed to the team in June, long before discussions about me leaving the team. I never even had a chance. With only eight tennis scholarships available, it was clear that I had been removed to open a spot for her.

I wasn’t going to transfer for my senior year, and I briefly considered going to another school for my master’s so I could continue playing. But instead, I decided to focus my remaining time at MU on excelling in the classroom.

The harsh reality

In some ways I was lucky — my scholarship was protected by a four-year contract — but that’s not the case for a lot of athletes. Although athletic scholarships are often portrayed as a ticket to four years of being a college athlete, the harsh reality is that most sport scholarships only last for one academic year. This makes it easier for coaches to cut players for injuries or

Ábrahám was forced out of the Mizzou tennis program in 2021.

In February 2023, her former coach, Chris Wootton, was replaced partway through the season. MU did not give a formal reason for his departure. The team had finished the 2021-2022 season with a 7-20 record. Ábrahám shares her experience adjusting to her injury and coping with her removal from the tennis program in a video on voxmagazine.com.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND MENTAL HEALTH

A 2015 assessment by the American College Health Association showed that psychological distress is common among college athletes, with 52% of athletes reporting “overwhelming anxiety” and 41% saying they had “felt so depressed it was difficult to function.” Careerthreatening injuries can instigate or uncover existing mental health problems for college athletes, including depression and disordered eating, according to the NCAA.

coaching changes. But it causes stress and turbulence in the lives of student-athletes who are — as the NCAA often emphasizes — students first. How can a student athlete focus on both schoolwork and coming back from injury under the threat of losing funding?

Wootton ended the 2021-2022 season with seven wins and 20 losses, making him the least successful tennis coach at Mizzou since the school joined the SEC. It really raises the question of whether it was worth the team turmoil, including four players leaving the team either by quitting or transferring.

I believe life adds up to more than points on the scoreboard. I absolutely love everything MU has given me outside of the tennis court. However, I will always reflect on my time here as bittersweet. When I received that call while on the banks of the Seine in 2018, I didn’t know I would be left with a big scar, a shattered dream and nearly lose my love for a game that has given me so much.

Vivi Ábrahám is a first-year master’s student studying strategic communication at MU. Her research focuses on the mental health of student athletes.

Photography by Lauren Spakowski VOX

Every smile has a story

Emilee Carleton founded the MU chapter of Operation Smile to help students understand the complexities of cleft conditions.

BY KHALIA SMITH

Emilee Carleton’s childhood was full of surgeries. She was born with a cleft lip and palate, which is when the facial structure of an unborn baby doesn’t fully develop, creating openings or slits near the lip, mouth, nose or both.

Two years ago, Carleton started the MU chapter of Operation Smile. Founded in 1982, the nonprofit orga nization works to improve the lives of low- and middle-income families in over 30 countries.

Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition, according to Op eration Smile. The organization pro vides free reconstructive surgeries and health care services for children with cleft conditions that could be necessary to maintain their well-being.

Vox spoke with Carleton, now an MU senior, about the positive impact of Operation Smile.

What was it like growing up with a cleft lip and palate?

Around 4 or 5 (years old), I realized my face didn’t look like everyone else’s. That’s the time when I entered kinder garten and social settings. As a child, I wished I had a normal childhood where I wasn’t taken out of school all the time. I actually had 14 surgeries to repair and make revisions to my face. Throughout high school, I went through drastic fa cial changes. I got a lot of scrutiny for having a lot of reconstructive surgery because some people didn’t understand that it wasn’t cosmetic; it was more re constructive.

Could you describe challenges you’ve had because of the condition?

(One) thing that I face is just a lot of worry and anxiety about how other peo ple think of me. I haven’t had as many interactions with people growing up,

and (I’m) not sure how to fit in in social groups. So, I’m still learning how to make relationships and maintain them.

How has Operation Smile helped you?

Operation Smile has literally changed my life because before I was with the

Emilee Carleton is president of the MU chapter and an intern for Operation Smile. Learn more about the nonprofit organization at operationsmile.org.

What are you hoping to change by bringing Operation Smile to MU?

I really hope that I can build a community where we advocate for other children’s health, and we advocate for them (as people). We can serve as role models to them and show them that no matter what they go through, no matter how different you are, you can flourish in life. You can do whatever you aspire to do. One big reason is I wanted to show that no matter our differences, we can all overcome them and become (the) best versions of ourselves.

What do you wish people knew about

I think a common misconception that not only the public has, but also people who grow up with conditions, is that you are defective or you’re not normal — you’re abnormal. (They say) “You don’t need the surgeries; the surgeries are cosmetic,” and “You have a disability. You can’t do as much as other people.”

People view you as inferior — and some of those were my feelings — but some of them were told to me. People are already biased toward you, and you realize you can overcome bias by loving yourself and other people and not being judgmental.

I just hope people know that no matter the differences we have, every struggle that we go through, it’s just a way of figuring out how to become better. I just want people to know that it’s OK to be yourself because the difference that you have can change the world.

Photography by Molly Miller

Bars, beats, Blackcaveman

New to Columbia, an experimental musician expands his knowledge of the local music scene while growing in popularity.

BY SAM WILLS

Keshawn McCoy, who performs under the name Blackcaveman, moved to Columbia in May 2022 to be closer to friends and get a fresh start in music. At first, that meant standing on a downtown street corner to promote his work.

“The sign is still in my car that says ‘I make music, go stream my music,’ ” McCoy says. “I had 20 to 30 CDs that I would just try to give out.”

His musical career has been one of fits and starts as he moved from his home state of New Mexico to Colorado and now to Missouri. For years, his focus had been football, and he had a scholarship to play at Eastern New Mexico University, where he played for a season. But music runs in the family. His dad, Michael McCoy, who is a rapper in Albuquerque, taught him how to rap

Also known as Blackcaveman, Keshawn McCoy has released over 150 songs in the past five years.

and encouraged him to experiment with line delivery. “He would just have me freestyle at the table sometimes,” McCoy says. “He would take me to the studio when I was like 4 or 5 years old. He would write these little verses for me, and I would rap them.”

McCoy’s dad encouraged him to write more of his own material as he got older, but none of those high school

Photography by Bailey Stover and Aidan Boyd and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

flirtations with music were serious. That changed in college. “Once I got to college and found that my homie had a dorm room with this whole studio, that kind of just gave me access to making music,” McCoy says. “I ended up making a song by accident. It’s kind of embarrassing because it’s like a Lil Pump (song).”

McCoy released 37 songs while living in New Mexico and 76 songs while living in Colorado. “Songs are just moments that are frozen in time,” McCoy says. “Gotta live more to make more music.”

New kid on the block

McCoy was encouraged to move to Columbia by his high school football teammate Nicholas Horton. That’s when he started putting more effort into sharing his music. He made TikToks, posted on Instagram and even handed out promotional cards in places such as Lakota Coffee Company.

“Keshawn does a good job with networking,” says Horton, who also makes

HAVEN’T HEARD?

All of McCoy’s released songs can be found on Amazon, Spotify or Apple Music. Listen to albums it’s too rainy for trap, blackcaveman and is anyone listening?, his latest release.

his own music under the name Ghost and does videography for McCoy.

But McCoy admits he’s still figuring out how the Columbia music scene works, which has been frustrating at times. “I almost quit music a couple weeks ago because I had a mental breakdown because things aren’t moving, things aren’t happening,” McCoy says.

McCoy has released 39 songs since moving to Columbia, and his musical stylings have shifted to more of a punk focus. His latest album release, is anyone listening?, reflects this change. “I feel like rock music has a lot more emotion,” McCoy says. “The main thing for me is even though I can explain my feelings to you, if I can sing and allow you to feel what I’m feeling, that’s way more important.”

This has created another challenge — finding collaborators to perform this new style. He currently supplements vocal tracks with instrumentals from YouTube, but he also makes his own beats and is learning to play guitar. “I want to perform,” McCoy says. “I’m also self

by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken

conscious because I don’t have a band yet. Who’s going to want a weird rock instrumental with no band?”

Exploring music styles

Hunter Middleton is a local DJ and mixer who’s been working with McCoy on new music. “Even though we don’t make the exact same music, we can still take inspiration from each other,” Middleton says. He helps McCoy make connections in the local music scene, taking him to the KCOU recording studio and the venue PDM to watch local punk bands.

Middleton says McCoy has potential to explore more genres outside of rap and rock. “I could see Key releasing a primarily electronic bass track that he’s singing vocals over,” Middleton says.

What keeps McCoy going are the connections he’s making. “I think the people that I have met in my journey here so far have been authentic,” he says. “People I know aren’t afraid to be themselves. Columbia makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing.”

by Idris Goodwin Directed by Brandon Riley

Let the (board) games begin

This spring will see the opening of Hexagon Alley, a cafe where patrons can play a wide assortment of tabletop games.

BY TATEN JANES

Lifelong friends Kyle Rieman and Nathen Reynolds have played tabletop games together since high school. They, along with Rieman’s fiancée, Colleen Spurlock, hosted weekly game nights for many years. Eventually, the trio wondered: What if there were a space for anybody in Columbia to play board games together — and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee while they’re at it?

Cue Hexagon Alley, Columbia’s first board game cafe founded by Rieman, Reynolds and Spurlock. It will boast roughly 300 games for patrons to choose from, such as Dungeons & Dragons, Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Settlers of Catan and CULTivate, as well as old-school classics like chess and Monopoly. When it opens this spring, Hexagon Alley will be a place for Columbians to gather to play games, enjoy shareable snack boards and order beverages such as coffee, beer, soda and cocktails.

For a $5 fee on any given day, patrons can play games at the cafe for as long as they want. The venue itself consists of multiple gaming tables, as well

as two bar counters — one for ordering drinks and another for purchasing games and Hexagon Alley merch.

“I’m real excited to grow a sense of community,” Rieman says. “That’s really part of my passion in doing this: providing a space for people to leave the troubles of the world at the door and come together.”

The lore of Hexagon Alley

The origins of this weekly gaming group are rooted in a shared affinity for games as an escape. “It’s always been a core part of our social circle,” Reynolds says.

“But Kyle was the driving force behind getting people together to play — it’s something core to his social experience.”

During their time at Missouri State University, game nights became a part of Reynolds and Rieman’s weekly routine. The two would pool their money to buy new board games to play.

“I’ve always liked playing games, and I didn’t have a group to do it with for a long time,” says Cailie Carlilie, a friend of the group and regular game night participant. “Now different people

Hexagon Alley

co-owner Colleen Spurlock (left photo, center) shows gamers how CULTivate at a pop-up game night at Serendipity Salon and Spa. Spurlock, Nathen Reynolds (top center) and Kyle Rieman are opening a board game cafe called Hexagon Alley. It will give enthusiasts like Shawn Beatty (bottom center), an avid player of the card game Brink, the chance to find others to play with.

drop in, so we have a core group, and then there will be new people coming in at random. It’s really nice to meet people like that.”

After college, Rieman moved to Columbia and Reynolds remained in Springfield, but they both continued to host their own weekly game nights with friends.

For years, they entertained the idea of a board game business. “We had the time and opportunity over the course of this last year to put hands to it and see if we could make something out of it,” Reynolds says. In 2022, he decided to move to Columbia and bring his dream to life with Rieman and Spurlock.

The trio’s main goal is to create a safe space at Hexagon Alley. “I really like seeing that games, no matter what people’s philosophies are, tend to bring people around together at the same table,” Reynolds says. “It’s the same as (what) a good meal can do: it provides that sense of community, belonging and growth.”

Community collaborations

In addition to opening the cafe, Hexagon Alley also partners with groups and businesses in Columbia to host and run pop-up game nights.

LGBTQ+ advocacy organization

STAY IN THE LOOP (OR HEXAGON)

Hexagon Alley is located at 111 S. Ninth St. Find more information on its Facebook page or on Instagram @hexagon_alley.

The Center Project has regular game nights with Hexagon Alley. “The fact that they’ve helped with not only the supplies needed for these events but also the manpower to run the events allows us to continue to grow in programming without depleting our resources,” Camaron Nielson, The Center Project’s social media manager, wrote to Vox in a text.

Hexagon Alley will open it doors with enough games to bring players of all kinds to the table. “I think Columbia may be wanting and needing for just a community space for people to hang out and have fun, no matter what age, demographic, walk of life,” Spurlock says. “Just something for everyone.”

Photography by Bailey Stover

Big Star: the reunion heard ’round the radio

Columbia was the site of a pivotal rock reunion orchestrated by KCOU 30 years ago.

BY SAM WILLS

Three decades ago, Columbia made music history. A group of music lovers from the community and KCOU/88.1 FM convinced the former members of power pop band Big Star to reunite for a concert at MU.

That concert kicked off Big Star’s second life. With a new lineup and purpose, the group would continue creating music for nearly two decades. Big Star went on to be called “one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock and roll,” according to Rolling Stone in 2003.

And it never would have happened without the reunion show in Columbia.

Origin story

Big Star, from Memphis, Tennessee, was active from 1971 to 1975. Members included Alex Chilton on vocals and guitar,

Chris Bell and Jody Stephens on drums and Andy Hummel playing bass.

The band released three albums but struggled commercially. However, its collection of dust-covered records would go on to inspire legions of other bands including R.E.M. and The Replacements.

After the band broke up, Chilton recorded his own solo work for nearly 20 years. He began making stops in CoMo, as the town had become noteworthy for boosting underground artists through the college radio station KCOU.

A local hub for new music at the time sat right in the heart of downtown at Streetside Records. The crew at the now-closed record store were major fans of the band. It was there that Kevin Walsh, who would go on to manage the store for 26 years, began his fascination

for Big Star and Chilton’s solo career in the 1970s.

“When (Chilton) finally got a trio together and went out on tour for the first time as Alex Chilton, the first show was here in Columbia,” Walsh says.

As Chilton came in and out of town for shows, he developed an affinity for the city — a place with less pressure — and he liked its thrift shops and the funky Glenn’s Cafe.

“I think Alex really developed a kind of left-handed affection for Columbia,” Walsh says.

Getting the band back together

Chilton’s recurring appearances in Columbia set the stage for Big Star’s reunion here on April 25, 1993. When it came time to plan the year’s annual SpringFest lineup, a revolutionary idea struck Jeff Breeze and Mike Mulvihill, two KCOU staffers. They soon started making calls to Chilton about reuniting Big Star.

Despite the enthusiasm, there was one big issue with pulling off a reunion show: the band’s original members. Bell died in 1978, and the other bandmates had been pursuing other endeavors.

Chilton and Stephens, two of the surviving members of the band, enlisted Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies to perform with them. The pieces fell perfectly into place, and it was time for a reunion.

“These guys who are a huge underground influence coming out at the other end of a rock era, and getting together and redefining themselves was a real moment,” Walsh says. Although no one thought of it that way at the time, it ended up being a significant concert, he says.

RELIVE THE REVIVAL

The show was a precursor of the slew of band reunions that would happen in the following 30 years, with Coachella, for example, paying bands large sums of money to get back together.

“There’s that fucking joy that’s involved with any reunion,” Walsh says.

“And you can tell it’s rampant, it’s contagious. Now it’s quite common for bands to reunite like that. If you were an altrock band back then, you kinda took an oath to be so ‘too cool for school’ that if you quit, you would never ever go back.”

Photography courtesy of Sarah Marcus

The two surviving members of the 1970s group Big Star, Jody Stephens and Alex Chilton, joined up with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow starting with a 1993 concert in Columbia (above).

Stream the band’s Columbia show on Spotify. Search for Complete Columbia: Live at University of Missouri 4/25/93.

The show of a second life

Barry Hibdon’s band, Ditch Witch, was among the many bands that opened for Big Star at the reunion show. Ditch Witch was a local band that regularly worked with KCOU, and the band credits the radio station for being a driver in its career. “We were just in the right place at the right time, and we had performed well with KCOU,” Hibdon says.

He says the crowd’s anticipation for Big Star influenced how they played. “It was loose and energetic, but people adored them, and they fed off it,” Hibdon says. “Alex (Chilton) always strikes me as a bit of an enigma, but at the same time, you couldn’t take your eyes off of him.”

After the show, Hibdon says he talked to Ken Stringfellow, one of the members of The Posies who had filled in for Big Star, over beers. “I remember him thinking he thought he’d blew it,” Hibdon says. Stringfellow’s worries were unfounded; that Big Star lineup continued to tour together and even put out the album In Space in 2005.

“Epochs happen quietly,” Walsh says. A band lost in time could have been just another forgotten record on the shelf. And yet, for one moment, locals and the music industry alike were able to soak in the majesty of one of the country’s most treasured but hidden rock bands.

Big Star, featuring Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens (right), headlined KCOU’s SpringFest. Locals came to the show, as did record producers and Rolling Stone writers.

NO ONE GETS A DIPLOMA ALONE.

If you’re thinking of finishing your high school diploma, you have more support than you realize. Find teachers and free adult education classes near you at FinishYourDiploma.org.

In addition to the highly anticipated Big Star reunion, SpringFest 1993 included carnival rides, tattooing and drinks in Shakespeare’s cups.

Photography courtesy of Sarah Marcus

WITH OUR GUIDE, YOU’LL FIND NEW REASONS TO LOVE THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME, WHETHER YOU’RE A NEWBIE, A TRANSPLANT OR A TOWNIE.

BY MARA DUMITRU,

TATEN JANES, CHARLIE RECCHIA, KHALIA SMITH, JANE STEINBRECHER AND CAYLI YANAGIDA

DESIGN BY CAMPBELL BIEMILLER

EDITING BY MELANIE OLIVA, ABBY STETINA AND TRINIDY THOMPSON

TOTAL NEWBIE

Columbia attracts a lot of fresh faces. If you’re still figuring out the basics — or why cars line up along Stadium on fall Sundays — we compiled a cheat sheet of activities and places that newbies shouldn’t miss.

HONK TO SUPPORT WORLD PEACE

From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

every Wednesday, at the intersection of South Providence Road and East Broadway, Missouri Peaceworks activists spread awareness of social issues, such as the war in Ukraine and gun violence. Honk your horn as you drive by, and don’t forget to throw up a peace sign. —TJ

Mark Haim, the director of MidMo Peaceworks, greets traffic with a peace sign and a smile at the corner of East Broadway and Providence Road. Haim has been director of the nonprofit since 1985.

The 8.9-mile MKT Nature and Fitness Trail winds and curves around Hinkson and Perche creeks, woods and Twin Lakes Recreation Area for some of the best hiking Columbia has to offer. The trail — named for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad path it follows — includes bike repair stops, playgrounds, restrooms and drinking fountains. —JS

SAVOR A SLICE OF SHAKESPEARE’S

Happy 50th birthday, Shakes! The pizza joint has become a symbol of the city’s vibrant cultural scene since it opened in 1973. The chewy crust is made from scratch using hand-tossed dough.

Although the food is certainly the star of the show, Shakespeare’s Pizza also prides itself on its warm and inviting atmosphere. The original downtown location is such an important part of the community that it was rebuilt brick by brick in 2015 after it was demolished to make way for student apartments. Its three locations provide a gathering spot for generations of Columbia residents. “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the community,” manager Toby Epstein says. Children are always welcome and can even ask for samples of dough that they can toss in the air, just like the workers who are make the pies — with the classic “Have you had a piece today?” T-shirts.

Shakespeare’s was named one of the top 10 college town pizzerias in America by TripAdvisor and is featured in Food & Wine and The New York Times. 225 S. Ninth St. —MD

BELLY UP TO THE BAR FOR A BURGER AT BOOCHES

With its impressive selection of beers brewed on-site, Logboat Brewing Company is a muststop destination. Located in the now-burgeoning Arcade District, the brewery houses indoor bars and a large outdoor space that’s sprinkled with picnic tables and yard games, a major plus on sunny days. Its 2023 expansion of 21,000 square feet brings more packaging and distribution to mid-Missouri. With craft favorites such as Snapper and Bobber, Logboat’s beer is distributed to 504 Fay St. —MD

Booches has been flipping burgers longer than sliced bread has been on store shelves. Those thin patties come fresh off an age-old grill onto a small square of waxed paper. Opening its doors in 1884 as a gentleman’s billiard hall, today the bar is a go-to for American food, beer and pool. The no-frills atmosphere and cash-only policy add to the charm of this beloved landmark. Booches has rightfully earned its place among the best burger joints in America, as recognized by the Travel Channel. 110 S. Ninth St. —MD

2 STROLL OR RUN THE MKT TRAIL

Sara Williams/Archive, Owen Ziliak/Archive, Elisa Day/Archive and Daffy Liu/Archive

SIP A LOCAL BREW AT LOGBOAT

EXPLORE THE CAVES AT ROCK BRIDGE STATE PARK

You don’t have to be a hiking expert to visit Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and explore its wondrous trails and caves. Although tours of the Devil’s Icebox cave are currently closed to the public to protect the bat population, you can still take advantage of the other sights at the park. The state park has about 25 miles of trails, some of which include wooden plank pathways with handrails.

Connor’s Cave is open for people to tour on their own, says Roxie Campbell, park naturalist at Rock Bridge. “People do need to bring flashlights, though, and expect to get their feet wet,” she says. The cave itself is home to breathtaking views of natural streams and plants, as well as a number of creatures, from bats to the pink planrian, a rare flatworm found in this cave network.

Keep an eye out for more updates; Campbell says the state park will consider opening Devil’s Icebox cave for tours in summer 2023.

5901 S. Highway 163 —KS

COLLECT SOUVENIR CUPS FROM

One of the best ways to show your Columbia pride is to have a cupboard full of souvenir plastic cups. This college town has a number of iconic bars and restaurants, but many locals consider Shakespeare’s Pizza, Harpo’s Bar & Grill and The Heidelberg the legendary three. There’s no better way to solidify your status as a CoMo local than to round up a collection of 22-ounce keepsakes. (Fun fact: Both Shake’s and Harpo’s cups are manufactured by Kansas City’s Churchill Container Company.) Next time you’re in one of these spots, don’t shy away from walking out with a cup in hand. —KS

SHAKESPEARE’S, HARPO’S, THE ’BERG AND MORE

Daniel Moak looks up through the opening of Devil’s Icebox at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

Sound like a local: Nifong Boulevard is “ny-fong” not “knee-fong.”

BROWSE THE SHELVES OF INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES

In a town this size, you might not expect to stumble upon two independent bookshops on the same block while wandering down Ninth Street — Yellow Dog Bookshop and Skylark Bookshop.

The ever-changing used selection at Yellow Dog includes novels, textbooks and magazines that owners Joe Chevalier and Kelsey Hammond find from book fairs and local publishers. But most of the collection comes from Columbians who sell and trade their tomes. “We have things that you can’t get or are highly unlikely to get at any sort of chain bookstore,” Chevalier says.

Skylark has two levels filled with books and offers a lot to its loyal customers, such as an online shop, newsletter, book signings and clubs. Manager Carrie Koepke says Skylark reflects Columbia’s reading community “with (the shop’s) reading tastes and curation.”

The shops are close to each other, but the experiences and collections are distinct. Yellow Dog Bookshop, 8 S. Ninth St.; Skylark Bookshop, 22 S. Ninth St. —JS

BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE MAGIC TREE

Randy Fletcher, also known as Will Treelighter, began outlandishly decorating a tree in his yard with Christmas lights in 1995. When the little neighborhood couldn’t handle the number of admirers, Treelighter moved the decorating tradition of over 75,000 lights to a cherry tree in the Village of Cherry Hill. Multiple magic trees have since popped up around town. This year, the tree debuts Nov. 23. Scott Boulevard. and Chapel Hill Road —KS

When Missouri became a state in 1821, about 85% of the population worked in agriculture. Food production is different today, but the importance of agriculture in our region remains. Local farmers around Columbia provide necessary and delicious produce, pantry goods, dairy and meats. Here are a few ways to get locally produced food.

NEWBIE: SHOP AT THE FARMERS MARKET

Start your Saturdays at the Columbia Farmers Market. Stroll among fresh bread from Fiddle and Stone Bread Co., eggs from Hedge Holler Harvest, lavender products from Battlefield Lavender and lots of fresh produce. In 2021, the market was named the best in the nation through a contest by American Farmland Trust. And with a growing list of sellers, it has only gotten better. columbia farmersmarket.org, 1769 W. Ash St.

TRANSPLANT: GET A CSA BOX

Once the farmers market is part of your routine, your grocery habits might grow to include Community Supported Agriculture. CSA programs provide locally grown food directly to people, which benefits growers and consumers. There are several CSA programs in Columbia. One is through Root Cellar, a local market. Customers choose from three food subscription boxes and can snag weekly or biweekly subscriptions. Another CSA option, Happy Hollow Farm, offers four subscription boxes that vary by season. rootcellar mo.com, happyhollowfarm-mo.com

TOWNIE: DIG INTO A COMMUNITY GARDEN

You’ve stocked your pantry with regional produce — now it’s time to plant seeds. You don’t need a green thumb to volunteer through programs such as the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, which teaches people gardening skills and provides food to folks who need it. If you’d like to sprout community gardens in your neighborhood, the Community Garden Coalition can help get you started. You can also rent a plot in the coalition’s existing 12 neighborhood and 20 group gardens. comogardens.org, columbiaurbanag.org —CY

Photography by Alessia Tagliabue/Archive, Tim Tai/Archive, Sarah Hoffman/Archive and Zac Boesch/Archive

Skylark Bookshop

Grab a wine (and maybe some nutritional yeast for your popcorn) for a movie at Ragtag Cinema.

LEVEL TWO

DEVOTED TRANSPLANT

You’re no rookie Columbian. You no longer jump at the monthly tornado siren, and you have a list of favorite haunts (and know when they’re crowded or not). Level up your status by checking out these iconic spots that transplants need to know.

STARGAZE AT LAWS OBSERVATORY

Gaze into our galaxy and beyond at Laws Observatory, which sits atop MU’s Astronomy and Physics building. Named after MU president Samuel S. Laws, who paid for some of the original equipment around 1880, the observatory has three telescopes that are available to the public from 8-10 p.m. on Wednesdays, weather permitting. 701 S College Ave. —TJ

The Katy Trail stretches 240 miles across Missouri, making it the longest rails-totrails project in the country. The trail utilizes the abandoned route of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, and about half of it traces the westbound path of explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Accessed via the MKT Trail, the Katy connects surrounding communities such as Boonville, Rocheport and Hartsburg, making it a perfect way to spend the day (or weekend). Don’t miss the only tunnel on the entire trail, which is less than a quarter mile from downtown Rocheport.

One of the best ways to explore the Katy is on a bike. If you don’t have your own, you can rent bikes in the trailside communities, such as the Meriwether Café and Bike Shop in Rocheport or the Hotel Frederick in Boonville. If you are up for the challenge, you can even rent tandem bikes at the Hotel Frederick. Launch from nearby trailheads — the Meriwether Café sits alongside the trail — and enjoy the mostly flat, historic passageway. Meriwether Café, 700 First St., Rocheport; Hotel Frederick, 501 High St., Boonville —CY

Photography by Jacob Hamilton/Archive

Vance Arrant watches a spinning astronomy globe during a 2013 event at Laws Observatory.

FROLIC WITH CLYDESDALES AT WARM SPRINGS RANCH

If you’re looking to horse around, pay a visit to the home of the Budweiser Clydesdales at Warm Springs Ranch, west of Columbia. The 300-acre training and breeding facility has about 70 horses, and 20 to 25 foals are born between April and October. Warm Springs offers a variety of tours and experiences to explore and interact with horses. When the holiday season rolls around, the ranch turns into a winter wonderland with a drive-thru lights display. 25270 State Highway 98, Boonville

HIT ROCK BOTTOM COMICS

Opened in 1973, Rock Bottom Comics says it is the second longest-running comic book store in the state. The shop offers comics, action figures and other merchandise for any rookie or OG to choose from. 1013 E. Walnut St. —KS

SMELL THE FLOWERS AT SHELTER GARDENS

Behind the Shelter Insurance headquarters off West Broadway sits 5 acres of beautiful and biodiverse gardens. With winding walking paths and swathes of green lawns, Shelter Gardens boasts more than 15,000 flowers and over 300 types of trees and shrubs. The Gardens is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk, free of charge.

1817 W. Broadway —JS

ROAD TRIP TO JEFFERSON CITY FOR THOMAS HART BENTON’S

Take the scenic route south on U.S. 63 to our state capitol, where a storied 40-foot mural awaits. Both art and history lovers will enjoy painter Thomas Hart Benton’s monumental mural spanning the House Lounge on the Capitol’s third floor. The mural took the artist six months to complete. Benton’s expressive realistic style shows the good and the bad parts of Missouri’s social history. It artistically validates the experiences of historically disenfranchised groups, including Indigenous people and Black Americans. Your best bet to view the room-sized mural is to take a free tour of the building. Afterward, don’t leave Jeff City without stopping by Central Dairy Ice Cream Parlor for an array of flavors, classic shakes and famously huge banana splits. The business started in Columbia in the 1920s before moving to Jeff in the ’30s. Missouri Capitol Building, 201 W. Capitol Ave. Jefferson City; Central Dairy, 610 Madison St., Jefferson City

BENEATH ARTLANDISH GALLERY

Near the back of Artlandish Gallery in the North Village Arts District, art-splattered stairs lead visitors down into catacombs. Although it sounds ominous, the subterranean art gallery is teeming with quirky works from dozens of local vendors. Before it was filled with paintings, drawings, textile art and more, the catacombs were a Wabash Railroad loading dock. The gallery is also a hub of activity during First Fridays — the district’s monthly art crawl. Stop for a Fretboard Coffee as you emerge from the catacombs. 1019

E. Walnut St. —TJ

Photography by Greg Kendall-Ball/Archive, Gracie Smith/Archive, Bill Badzo/courtesy/Flickr and Tanishka R./Archive

White Chocolate Strawberry Pie PeggyJean’sPies

Three generations of women run nationally recognized Peggy Jean’s Pies, which now has two locations. Named one of America’s Best Pies by Food Network, the White Chocolate Strawberry is layered with white-chocolate cheesecake surrounded by baked strawberries and topped with fluffy strawberry whipped cream. 503 E. Nifong Blvd. and 421 N. Stadium Blvd.

Nachos Bianco

Addison’s Fan favorite Nachos Bianco comes in two sizes: Big or Less Big. The na chos pile high with housemade Italian pasta chips, an asiago sauce, olives, to matoes, banana peppers and chicken, chorizo or black beans, combining to create an ambitious appetizer.

Cherry St. and 4005 Frontgate Drive

Post-midnight anything El Rancho

With a Columbia-centric mural, El Rancho is a common stop for night owls or those looking for a post-bar snack. With hours extending to 2 a.m., customers can fix their latenight cravings including nachos, burritos and lunch specials of enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, fajitas and chimichangas.

1014 E. Broadway

Take a bite out of Columbia’s food scene

Columbia might be a smaller city, but our food scene is mighty. Vox compiled a baker’s dozen of some iconic local dishes. Dig in.

Chocolate-covered Strawberries

CandyFactory

This local candy shop is an attraction for visitors. Tours are available by appointment to watch the chocolate-making process. The Chocolate-covered Strawberries are a stand-out treat. The shop only makes the strawberries for Valentine’s Day and during the spring and summer from Thursday to Saturday. Even sweeter: The strawberries can be picked up in-store, delivered or sent across the country as a gift for someone

Pierogies Café Poland

Opened in 2013 by Polish immigrant Robert Burlinski and run by his mother, Iwona Galijska, Café Poland brings a little piece of Poland to mid-Missouri. One favorite dish is the savory pierogies, traditional dumplings filled with cheese and potatoes, bacon and potatoes, or beef. 807 Locust St.

Pad Thai BigMamaChim’s Before Big Mama Chim’s Noodle House opened a small downtown location in 2018, it was a longtime staple at Cooper’s Landing. Pramuan “Chim” Duncan and her daughter serve authentic Thai curries, soups and noodle dishes — and the pad thai 905 Alley A

its name from the creek that was the water source for the town’s settlers. Come for the house-brewed craft beer, but stay for the Chokes and Cheese, an artichoke dip with parmesan and cream cheese served hot in a bread bowl. 115 S. Fifth St.

Don Panchos

Father-son duo Pancho and Francisco Rutiaga run Taqueria Don Pancho. The restaurant has a menu of dishes that have been passed down in the family, like the discada taco, a mixture of beef, pork, bacon, sausage, ham and chorizo. One local favor handmade tortillas that customers can pur chase to take home.

3907 Peachtree Drive

The Sub Shop is a mainstay, thanks in part to the Veggie Sub. The sandwich has olives, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, three cheeses and tomato — all squeezed between madefrom-scratch buns. Visit one of three 208 S. Eighth St., 601 W. Business Loop 70, 2105 W. Worley St.

Uprise Bakery’s Columbia

Sourdough loaf is iconic with its flakey, golden-brown crust that encapsulates the fluffy, tangy inside. Uprise’s stand at the Columbia Farmers Market often sells out of sourdough early, but fear not: Find Uprise’s fresh-baked goodies at the store itself, local grocery stores and various restaurants. 10 Hitt St.

Apples and Sausage

Cafe Berlin

Open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cafe Berlin is the place to be for brunch classics, as well as many plant-based options. The restaurant sources products locally, including Patchwork Family Farms pork, Fretboard coffee and Stanton Brothers eggs. Its Apples and Sausage combines sweet and savory with apples, garlic, red onion, andouille sausage, chili powder and cinnamon cooked in brown sugar. 220 N. Tenth St.

This south Columbia staple is known for its live jazz, with artists performing live multiple times a week and on Saturday evenings, usually in coordination with the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series. Murry’s carries Brock’s Green Pepper Rings, a simple recipe of fried green peppers that adds a twist: powdered sugar. The dish is named after co-owner Bill Sheals’ longtime friend, Brock, who tried a similar dish in New York and loved it. 3107 Green Meadows Way

Mac and Cheese Pizza Pizza Tree

Pizza Tree is known for its unusual pies, such as Truffled Crimini and Kimchi. But the Mac and Cheese Pie might be the epitome of comfort food with garlic cream, elbow noodles and cheeses piled on top of sourdough crust. Be sure to top it with the housemade ranch sauce. 909 Cherry St.

Veggie Sub SubShop

Columbia Sourdough UpriseBakery

VISIT THE BIG TREE DURING A FULL MOON

The Big Tree and its outstretched branches cast spectacular shadows on Missouri River bottom land, but have you ever checked out the 400-year-old bur oak by moonlight? Grab a flashlight and a blanket, and head out to count the stars through the branches of the largest bur oak tree in the state. Bonus points if it’s a full moon.

SLED AT STEPHENS LAKE PARK

When it comes to sledding, transplants don’t flake on heading to Stephens Lake Park when there’s measurable snow. With its picturesque setting, a thrilling hill on the east side and a bonfire pit for warming up, the park is the perfect spot to plunge down powdery slopes. 2001

E. Broadway —MD

DISCOVER THE AVENUE OF THE COLUMNS

The columns that bookend Eighth Street have similar, striking histories. Both sets stand after the original buildings, Academic Hall and the Boone County Courthouse, were destroyed.

Along with the six columns in Francis Quadrangle, only a handful of items survived the inferno that struck MU’s Academic Hall in 1892, including a taxidermied elephant named Emperor and a whale jaw bone. The pieces were in a natural history museum in the building. MU President Samuel Laws gathered the items, and the payment for the elephant eventually led to controversy and his resignation.

Five blocks north, the second, smaller set of columns are the remains of another destroyed building. The four columns at Eighth and Walnut streets were once part of the second Boone County Courthouse, built in 1847 by Columbia’s second mayor, William Jewell. When the building was ordered to be razed, townspeople petitioned for the columns to be preserved. —CR

No matter how long you’ve lived in Columbia, you can build experience by sharing your time and skills. As a town with many festivals, events and community-minded programs, Columbia is chock full of ways to get involved.

NEWBIE: VOLUNTEER FOR FESTIVALS

One of the easiest ways for a newbie to get involved in Columbia’s culture is through CoMo’s biggest festivals: True/False Film Fest in early spring, Unbound Book Festival in late spring and Treeline Music Fest (formerly Roots N Blues) in fall. Each takes over long weekends and are possible thanks to hundreds of volunteers. True/False boasts 22 different volunteer teams ranging from box office to booze. Bookworms can get involved at Unbound and help with social media, author travel and event operations. Music lovers can volunteer at Treeline to help with accessibility, sustainability and safely running the festival.

TRANSPLANT: HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Want to lend a helping hand for more than a weekend? Columbia has community organizations, nonprofits and special events that could use your help. If particular organizations align with your values, sign up for newsletters, and follow on social media to watch for opportunities. Otherwise, the city makes it easy to get involved at como.gov/ volunteer. You could coach a T-ball team, pitch in with the Special Olympics or teach a skill-based class through Parks and Rec. For folks wanting to spend time outdoors, there are plenty of ways to help tidy the city, with Adopt-A-Trail programs, Cleanup Columbia and Missouri River Relief.

TOWNIE: JOIN A CITY BOARD OR COMMISSION

To make a long-term impact, consider lending your talents to a city board, commission or council. There’s a regulatory body for just about any interest, including human rights, climate change, transit, marijuana, and arts and culture. For example, the Tree Board focuses on educating the community about tree care and preventing historic ones from being chopped. The Disabilities Commission works to make the city accessible and right injustices. Check out como.gov for a list of open board and commission positions. —JS

Photography by Heather Cajandig, Gracie Smith, Timothy Tai and Sarah Hoffman

Burr Oak Road —CR

Hometown stalwarts have seen our city grow. You might even think nothing new is left. This list for townies proves there’s more to discover.

46

MARVEL AT THE FIRESTONE BAARS CHAPEL

Nestled on the Stephens College campus right off Walnut Street, the Firestone Baars Chapel is an often-missed architectural wonder. The chapel soars with a sky-scraping steeple, ornate stained glass and a golden 19th-century organ behind the altar. You might be inclined to gaze up, though, at the impressive woodwork that covers the ceiling.

PLUCK THROUGH CLOVERS

Branded as a crunchy haven, Clovers Natural Market lives up to that promise. Richard Catlett made it his goal to grow food organically and sustainably when he opened the store as Columbia Specialty Foods in 1965. When two employees, Patty Clover and Scott Nirmaier, purchased it from him in 1991, they continued Catlett’s legacy by providing allergy-friendly foods and a broad selection of vitamins, supplements and local meats and cheeses at two locations. 2012 E. Broadway, 2100

TALK TRASH ABOUT ROLL CARTS

— CY

TRAVERSE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TRAIL 47

The chapel was designed in 1956 by Eero Saarinen, who would go on to design the St. Louis Gateway Arch in 1965. The chapel was created as a worship space for Stephens students — and still is — but has become a popular wedding venue (it can seat almost 300 guests). You can exchange your vows in this elegant space, come to pray or simply soak in the architectural history by a renowned designer. 1306

E. Walnut St. —JS

The 2-mile African American Heritage Trail was finished in 2019 and spans roughly two centuries of history. The urban walking trail focuses on the former Sharp End, which was a hub for the Black community in the early 20th century. Much of the thriving business district and neighborhood was razed in the 1960s. Today, the district is memorialized with more than 20 markers that commemorate about 30 significant locations. One marks the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church and Fifth Street Christian Church, which were founded in the 1800s. Other markers include Trubie’s Market, one of the only desegregated businesses in Columbia between the 1940s and 1960s, and homes like the one that belonged to John W. “Blind” Boone, a Black ragtime composer and pianist. —CR

TASTE THE COLUMBIA CULINARY TOURS

It’s a rite of passage to bemoan trash collection with other Columbians. For more than a decade, quarrels about roll carts have littered city gathering places and social media communities. Pile onto the garbage heap of discourse while you still can; on March 20 the Columbia City Council — finally — approved roll carts for 2024, perhaps opening a whole new set of arguments. —CR

Amuse your bouche at various restaurants around The District through Columbia Culinary Tours. Each tour visits four to five restaurants and features on- and off-menu dishes. “We want them to get a chance to see the good food and the good people that run the restaurants that we stop in,” says Joe Knight, founder of Columbia Culinary Tours. Prices range from $38 to $60 per person. columbiaculinarytours.com —MD

Photography by Megan Matty/Archive, Maya Morris and courtesy of Clovers Natural Market

Chapel Plaza Court.

lovers Natural Market

WANDER COLUMBIA CEMETERY AND JEWELL CEMETERY

The Columbia Cemetery was founded in 1820 on a hill of about 35 acres near the Columbia Public Library and boasts views of MU and downtown. On the other side of town, Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site is a trove for local history lovers. It’s the forever home of memorable Missourians related to the Jewell family, including William Jewell, the second mayor of Columbia, and Charles Hardin, Missouri’s 22nd governor. The graves at the back are believed to be for Jewell’s slaves, though they remain unmarked. Columbia Cemetery, 30 E. Broadway; Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site, —TJ

LEAF THROUGH ADAMS WALL OF BOOKS

Townies must have impeccable timing to uncover this family-owned hidden gem. Adams Wall of Books has been around since the 1920s, but it’s only open three hours a week, from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays. The store’s collection of 60,000 books includes quirky selections nestled among the ceiling-high stacked shelves. Special collector items are available by request to owner Nancy Duncan. 218 N. Eighth St. —TJ

UNWRAP THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE

While the newbies bask in the glow of the Magic Tree(s) during the holidays, the townies follow gumdrop dreams to the Gingerbread House. Decking the house with more than 100,000 LED lights, the Richards-Eubank family welcomes the community for viewings, complimentary refreshments and even meet-and-greets with Santa. You can visit the Gingerbread House most evenings from 6-9 p.m. after Thanksgiving until early January.

The Richards-Eubank family embraces the spirit of giving by gathering donations for The City of Refuge. “We get to visit and meet so many people,” says Sarah Richards-Eubank, owner and decorator of the Gingerbread House. “People appreciate it, and it’s really nice to feel like you’re doing something for the community. I try to teach my kids the same thing.” 5403 Dalcross Drive —KS

SHOP FRESH FROM LOCAL MEAT AND SEAFOOD MARKETS

Established in 1983, the Mizzou Meat Market offers prime cuts of beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Just east of the corner of College Avenue and Rollins Road, it also sells a range of house-made sausages, jerky and snack sticks. Another local favorite, Cajun Crab House Seafood Market, boasts a large variety of fresh, high-quality seafood, including crab legs, crawfish, shrimp and lobster. The market receives deliveries directly from the Gulf Coast a couple times a week. Mizzou Meat Market, 147 Stringer Wing; Cajun Crab House Seafood Market, 308 Business Loop 70 W. —MD

HOW TO SOAK UP SUMMER MUSIC

In warmer months, Columbia is a hub for music. Check out these venues and events made to match your mood, whether that’s relaxing jazz or funky pop.

NEWBIE: SUMMERFEST HOSTED BY THE BLUE NOTE

The Blue Note has been hosting its Summerfest series for the past two decades. This year, performers such as Bright Eyes and Cat Power will appear in Rose Park, and artists such as Modest Mouse and Father John Misty will play on Ninth Street from May to August. This might become your favorite summer pastime. thebluenote.com

TRANSPLANT: COOPER’S LANDING

Bring a chair, grab a bite, and listen to live music on the riverside at Cooper’s Landing.“It’s right between the Missouri River and the Katy Trail,” says General Operations Manager Michael De Leon. ”It’s great for people, for kayaking or going on a bike ride. You can literally throw a rock and hit both the Missouri River and the Katy Trail.” 11505 Smith Hatchery Road

TOWNIE: FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Missouri Symphony Orchestra hosts the Firefly Music Festival each summer, formerly known as Hot Summer Nights. This year, featured artists include Hollywood composer ChingShan Chang and the Matsuo Duo at Missouri Theatre. Previously, the festival took place outdoors over six to eight weeks, but this year’s fest is indoors over four weeks. “It’s going to be a little different than it has been before, so we hope a lot of people come out to check out the new changes,” says Trent Rash, executive director for the Missouri Symphony Orchestra. Missouri Theatre, 203 S. Ninth St. —CR

Photography by Megan May/Archive, Claire Meyer/Archive, and Jordan Kodner/Archive

Sit in the bleachers for Hickman vs. Rock Bridge football to see which end of Providence Road reigns supreme.

Nancy Duncan

Columbia Cemetery

Jewell Cemetery

One condom at a time

The health department’s three-person HIV prevention team works to end the HIV epidemic by spreading information and protection.

STORY BY CAYLI YANAGIDA

DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIN CHOIEDITING BY SOPHIA DONIS

If there’s one thing that’s consistent about the routine for the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services HIV prevention team, it’s that no day is ever the same. For HIV Prevention Health Educators Cody Jenkerson, Mia Millard and Jessi Woodward, activities range from educating people about sexual health to HIV testing and outreach. The team is part of the HIV/STI Prevention and Intervention unit within the county’s Health Department. As a team, they collaborate with community partners and provide condoms, HIV tests and educational resources to 37 counties in Missouri.

“We are preventing illness, disparity, disease before it resonates,” Millard says. “That’s the goal of public health. Instead of reacting, we’re proactive and trying to intervene with programs.”

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified states with high rates of HIV and launched the “Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S.” initiative with the goal of reducing new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. Missouri was identified as a priority state, with Kansas City and St. Louis having the highest rates of HIV. The state received federal funding to implement programs to advance HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and response.

Cody Jenkerson (from left), Jessi Woodward and Mia Millard are the three members of the Health Department’s HIV prevention team.

Central HIV Care Region

The team covers a care region of 37 counties. From Nov. 2021 to Dec. 2022, they conducted 69 rapid HIV tests in their clinic and 107 rapid HIV tests in outreach settings. Residents able to order free at-home HIV tests, condoms, lubricant and dental dams in discrete packaging from ShowMeCondoms.org

On a daily basis, the team meets to go over project planning and presentations for community partners. In 2020, the team gave seven presentations, attended 61 outreach events and participated in 17 community -wide events.

Diminishing stigmas through education

With a home base in Columbia, the team works to inform Missouri communities through open conversations. Sometimes the team goes to high schools and colleges to discuss sexual health, safety and healthy relationships.

The team also holds large testing events and quarterly meetings with the North Central Community Advisory Group, an organization that promotes sexual health, STI prevention and education in Missouri. NCCAG oversees the Show Me Condoms website and makes decisions regarding the website, while the HIV prevention team runs the dayto-day operations.

Jenkerson, who joined the HIV prevention team in Nov. 2021 and has held multiple roles at the Missouri Health Department since 2020, says HIV and sexual health aren’t topics people are comfortable being open about. “A lot of our job is starting conversations and creating places where people feel safe and open enough to express things,” he says.

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding HIV, as well as stigmas surrounding conversations about sexual health. One common misconception is that HIV may be fatal. While HIV can’t be cured, Millard says there is effective treatment to control HIV to an undetectable and untransmittable level. Millard was the second member to join the team in July 2022.

Another misconception is that HIV is a disease that only affects certain groups of people, such as the LGBTQ+ community. But anyone can contract HIV, as well as other STIs. Spreading awareness about prevention encourages people to get tested and know their HIV status while also fighting stigmas around the virus.

The team hopes to overcome these barriers when educating Missourians about HIV prevention. Millard says it’s important to build upon successes and tailor them to the community using new, evidence based-approaches.

“Instead of using scare tactics, we’re giving people the education and tools to make decisions and support their sexual health,” she says.

One resource available to Missourians is the ability to order up to two HIV at-home tests within a 90-day period on the Show Me Condoms website. The tests are delivered straight to a person’s home, as long as they live in the 37-county care region. Residents of the care region can also order free condoms, lubricant and dental dams.

Resources for priority populations

When it comes to planning events and discussions, the group will go wherever they are asked to. They’ve partnered with MU’s Wellness Resource Center, promoted at-home HIV tests through social media campaigns and even distributed condoms to Columbia businesses and bars at drop sites.

Millard says the team does see a lot of college students for STI prevention, but there are other groups who are disproportionately affected by HIV, like the LGBTQ+ and Black communities. This is why the team works with several community partners in order to create presentations that cater to priority populations.

Condom tins are included in each swag bag the team distributes at outreach events. The tin allows for condoms to be taken on the go without being poked or ripped.

The team is currently working with Live Well by Faith to create a presentation for predominantly Black churches in Columbia discussing sexual health and HIV prevention. Through the Live Well by Faith program, seven Black churches have a health ministry to educate members about the importance of healthful foods, exercising, diabetes and blood pressure.

Carla Tigue, a Disease Intervention Specialist for the Health Department, says sexual health isn’t openly discussed in church settings. “It’s a taboo topic,” she says. Tigue added the HIV prevention components to the health program as a way to start conversations about sexual health.

Millard says the presentation will also include information on the medication Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV, or PrEP, because CDC data shows disparities in Black communities include high rates of HIV and low rates of PrEP usage.

PrEP is used as a preventative measure against HIV and is for anyone who is HIV negative. The medication comes in two different forms: a daily pill or a long-acting injectable.

HIV IN MISSOURI

Men are diagnosed with HIV 4.6 times more than women, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

“Disproportionate rates of HIV are seen among Black men who have sex with men, Latino men who have sex with men, white men who have sex with men, Black women, transgender women, people with a higher likelihood of acquiring STIs and drug users,” HIV Prevention Health Educator Mia Millard says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 14,500 Missourians living with HIV.

Millard demonstrates the step-by-step process of testing an individual for HIV. After their finger is pricked, the blood sample is collected and inserted into a buffer solution for 15 minutes.

Millard says it is important for people to understand that PrEP is a tool they can use to protect themselves from HIV. “It’s empowering and can give you that peace of mind,” she says.

HIV testing and treatment

Woodward, the newest member of the team who joined in November 2022, says the reasons people get tested for HIV vary and are unique to the needs of the individual. For some, getting tested is part of their sexual health routine. Others get tested because they have sex with a person of unknown HIV status.

“HIV can take several years to show symptoms, so that is not usually a reason that we see folks getting tested,” Woodward says. She adds that people can get tested for STIs and HIV after starting a new relationship so they can share their status with their partner.

Anyone can get tested for HIV with the help of the team at the Health Department building on Worley Street. The free rapid test is relatively non-invasive; a simple finger prick will do. Afterward, a team member sits and provides the patient with sexual health counseling during a 15 to 20 minute waiting period. The calm atmosphere can ease a patient’s nerves and provide them some comfort while they wait for results.

Jenkerson says the team put a lot of time into making the clinic space as

comfortable as possible for patients. The space was designed to look different a traditional doctor’s office. A brown leather couch, mini fridge, paintings on the walls and lamps provide a more relaxed setting.

If someone does have a positive test result, Millard says it’s important to make sure people understand that HIV is not what it used to be.

“Patients can feel every single emotion, and we’re with them every step of the way. We give them options for resources and treatment.”

Woodward says that individuals who test positive for HIV can utilize Antiretroviral Therapy, or ART. ART consists of taking a combination of HIV medications

HIV BY THE NUMBERS

The team distributed 131 at-home HIV test kits and over 30,000 condoms to individuals in the Central Care Region.

The Central HIV Care Region, where Boone County is located, had 791 people living with HIV in 2021, according to the MDHSS. About 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States, according to the CDC.

HIV is spread through bodily fluids like blood, vaginal fluid, semen and breast milk. HIV can’t be spread by saliva, urine, nasal mucus, air and physical touch like holding hands.

In 2021, there were 4,076 people living with HIV in the Kansas City HIV Care Region and 6,594 people living with HIV in the St. Louis HIV Care Region, according to the MDHSS.

everyday and makes the virus become undetectable in the blood. Although the drug can’t make an individual HIV-free, the pill allows people to go about their daily lives and prevents them from transmitting it to others.

Tracey Bathe, HIV/STI prevention and intervention supervisor at the Health Department, says the team members are well trained on all aspects of their job and still continue to receive training. They’re state certified to conduct rapid HIV and Hepatitis C tests, counsel patients on their likelihood of HIV transmission, give patients positive test results and link them to treatment options.

“Sometimes, even just the conversations can be difficult when we do an assessment and (patients) tell us about life situations that they have gone through that have led them to come here,” Bathe says. “We need to listen with empathy and make sure we are non-judgmental and inclusive in our language.”

Working to understand the perspectives of patients is key to the work the team does. For them, it’s about education and identifying barriers in underserved communities.

“I love that I get to serve the community and make connections with the community,” Jenkerson says. “My favorite thing about this job is that I get to give back to a community that has given me so much. I love working with people. I love working with the community; that’s what gets me going.”

Woodward (from left), Millard and Jenkerson create an assembly line to package swag bags for an outreach event. Items in the bags include condoms, educational brochures and condom tins.

Match-a made in heaven

My Sweet Parlor brings Thai desserts to downtown Columbia.

BY MARA DUMITRU

Pranlada Chompupong grew up surrounded by her grandmother’s baking supplies. Sitting between bags of sugar and flour, Chompupong watched as her grandmother prepared traditional Thai desserts. The intricate cakes would be sold at the family’s bakery, a small store located in Chompupong’s hometown in Concan, Thailand.

“She’s always been inspired by her grandma when she was little,” translates Kittikoon Chompupong for his wife. Fast forward 30 years and now across the Pacific Ocean, Chompupong’s passion became My Sweet Parlor, which opened Feb. 1 in downtown Columbia.

The Asian-style dessert shop features delicacies with Southeast Asian roots:

coconut cakes, taro custard cakes and matcha red bean cake are a few options on Chompupong’s menu. My Sweet Parlor also serves as a gathering place for Columbia’s Asian community. Kittikoon Chompupong says about half the shop’s sales come from Asian customers.

Southeast Asian cuisine is diverse and dynamic, reflecting the unique histories and traditions of its people.

James Chiang, an MU student from Taiwan and frequent customer at My Sweet Parlor, says Chompupong’s desserts are authentic to cuisine back home. “It’s pretty much the same environment and the same concept,” he says. “I think it adds flavor to the Columbia downtown scene.”

Photography by Nick Sheaffer

My Sweet Parlor owner Pranlada Chomupong places toppings onto a slice of matcha red bean cake. In addition to unique desserts like croffles — a combination between waffles and croissants — the shop serves many Thai coffees and teas.

Although Chompupong and her husband moved to the United States seven years ago, she continued to travel to Thailand to finish her culinary studies in Bangkok.

Creating a Thai bakery in a small Midwestern city wasn’t easy, and it took time for the desserts to pick up popularity. For Chompupong, this was just another obstacle she had to overcome. “It does take time to get used to this type of dessert,” Kittikoon Chompupong says. “And then she got a boost, an emotional boost, from people buying it.”

When it comes to desserts, Asian and American cuisines take different approaches. Thai desserts have flavor profiles that often feature combinations of sweet, salty and sour from ingredients such as coconut milk, pandan leaves and palm sugar. They also tend to be more fragrant and less sweet than American counterparts. The textures of Thai desserts are distinctive, with sticky rice and chewy tapioca pearls as popular components.

Among My Sweet Parlor’s most popular menu items is bingsu, a Korean dessert that typically consists of shaved ice topped with sweetened condensed milk, red bean paste and various fruits such as strawberries, kiwi and mango. Although the traditional bingsu flavor profile features red bean paste as the primary ingredient, the shop has different variations available, including green tea bingsu, chocolate bingsu and fruit bingsu. Other options include curry and croffles, which is waffles made with croissant dough.

As My Sweet Parlor continues to grow, Chompupong and her team of seven bakers remain committed to upholding the quality and authenticity of Thai desserts. Each dessert is crafted with precision and care, using traditional recipes that have been passed down through generations.

In addition to her regular menu, Chompupong also offers custom orders for special events, such as weddings and birthdays. Her ability to cater to a variety of tastes and preferences has made her a sought-after vendor in the local events

Many of My Sweet Parlor’s dessert recipes come from Thailand. Owner Pranlada Chompupong studied the culinary arts in Bangkok.

TREATS FROM THAILAND

industry. “They want to make sure that she’s the one who makes it, no one else,” Kittikoon Chompupong says.

As Chompupong continues to innovate and experiment with new flavors and techniques, baking is the constant in her life — from being surrounded by baking supplies as a child in Thailand to celebrating that heritage with her own shop thousands of miles from home.

Photography by Nick Sheaffer

Get sippy with it

Move over security blankets. Reusable water bottles are the emotional support companion that we can carry into adulthood.

BY CHARLIE RECCHIA

Water bottles — we typically think of them as soccer game necessities, a musthave for a hike or simply a way for us to cart beverages on the go. In recent years, more people carry them everywhere and have developed deep attachments to them.

Jennah Klein, an Alpine Shop employee, says that with sustainability trends on social media, water bottles have taken on an entirely different identity. This is especially true when it comes to reusable brands such as Hydro Flask and YETI. She adds that Generation Z is starting to buy these water bottles more as accessories and statement pieces rather than function.

That’s when the emotional support water bottle entered the chat.

The hashtag #emotionalsupportwaterbottle reached 196.9 million views on TikTok as of April. The videos flooding this hashtag include people showcasing their reusable water bottle collections and recommending which ones are worth the money.

You will stumble across popular audio clips of users saying phrases like, “Gorgeous, gorgeous girls have emotional support water bottles,” and “My non-negotiables are a straw, insulation and that it looks hot.”

MU student Ally Waltemyer is so devoted to this phenomenon that they have three emotional support water bottles. “I started carrying around an emotional support water bottle when I was a freshman (in high school) because of sustainability, and I had severe anxiety,” Waltemyer says.

Their favorite one to carry around is a bright-blue Simple Modern water bottle. Waltemyer not only uses their water bottles for school settings, but also in social situations so they can reliably keep themselves hydrated. It keeps them busy and stops them from bouncing their leg.

This reusable water bottle trend speaks to the sustainability goals of younger generations who want to stay hydrated while avoiding waste. But even though they are often touted as the most sustainable option, a reusable water bottle needs to be used about ev ery working day of a month to bring its environmental impact below a dis posable plastic bottle, according to the

Illustrations by Heeral Patel

Stanley uses 90% recycled stainless steel for its popular, giant cups.

Rettig says. “I can put it with ice in the morning, and it will still be there by the end of the day.”

Reusable water bottles also allow for creativity and individuality. Klein says she decorates her water bottle with stickers to show the “cool places that (she’s) been” and to look back on good memories.

Jen McIntyre, a kindergarten teacher at Cedar Ridge Elementary, has seen firsthand how the water bottle trend is spreading beyond Gen Zers. At Cedar Ridge, she has noticed that groups of fifth grade students are also carrying around Hydro Flasks decorated with stickers.

McIntyre is an avid TikTok user and hopped on the 2022 trend for Stanley Cups along with the rest of the internet. The features of the 40-ounce Adventure Quencher appealed to her, and now she uses it on a daily basis.

“I never have time to get drinks or do anything like that, so when I fill it up, it’s really cold, and then I also feel like I have quite a bit of water to last me throughout the day,” McIntyre says.

Although the company does not make water bottles, the founders of Colum bia-based Burnout Mugs also understand the importance of connecting creativity and utility in the temperature-controlled beverage container market.

“For my company (and) for (my) product, my goal is to try to make people enjoy life,” Burnout Mugs CEO Bill Ma says. Ma is also the chair of MU’s mechani cal and aerospace engineering department.

Burnout Mugs began with a coffee cup designed to cool down hot beverages to drinkable temperatures quickly. The company is comprised of engineers who utilize common rocket science heat-ab sorbing materials in a consumer item.

“You know, you drink coffee, or you drink Diet Coke, or you drink beer, and you should drink the right temperature,” Ma says.

Even as water bottles continue to evolve (we see you, Owala), many of us are still taking our day one emotional support bottle on a ride, denting them up along the way.

Illustrations by Heeral Patel

Columbia-based Burnout Mugs is a coffee traveler equivalent of reusable water bottles.

brand is also known

Not your mother’s hair

and views as well.

BY MCKENNA NEEF

Although 65-year-old Verna Laboy was raised to use a pressing comb to straighten her hair, 16-year-old BreAnna Clark has never touched one.

Hair trends come and go, symbolizing changing styles and new fashions. Across generations, Black women are embracing hair autonomy and wearing styles that best fit them.

Styling their hair is not about conforming to Eurocentric standards, but rather reclaiming aspects of previously suppressed African American culture — and doing whatever they want with their hair.

Embracing the natural Natural hairstyles for Black women gained significant traction during the Black Power movement in the mid 1960s and ’70s. However, chemically treated hair remained common during and after the decade for Laboy’s generation. Now, for Clark and her peers, natural styles are the norm.

Bridget Williams, 44, is the owner and head stylist of Artistry Salon, previously under the name Peace of Mind Salon and Spa. After being a hairstylist for 22 years and a salon owner for 16, Williams has seen firsthand the changes in Black hair trends among her female clients.

Laboy, Williams’ longtime client and friend, once had chemically treated hair.

Photography by Adam Runge and courtesy of Pixabay and Unsplash

A cultural shift across generations meant changing hairstyles

Bridget Williams, owner and head stylist of Artistry Salon, has seen many changes in Black hair trends. For her, hair is part of her artistic expression.

“I come from an era when we were beginning to integrate and get good jobs,” Laboy says. “We wanted to fit in and not scare anybody.”

About 15 years ago, Laboy decided to embrace her natural hair both in texture and color. “I’m embracing every strand that comes out — every antenna that comes out of my head — the way it is, and I’m loving it,” she says.

But this decision didn’t come without its struggles. When Laboy began her natural hair journey, she was working for a local insurance agency. She remembers the pressure she felt to keep her hair “small” in order to avoid judgment. “I had to ease into letting my hair expand because I was the only person of color in the company,” Laboy says.

Identities shift

Hair’s role in identity often varies for Black women by age group. This comes

to life in the conversations between Williams and her daughter, BreAnna Clark. Williams explains that as a 44-year-old woman, her identity is closely connected to her hair.

“When you feel like your hair looks good, you feel good, and it just makes you radiate confidence,” she says. “It kind of introduces you before you even open your mouth.”

However, Clark, a sophomore at Battle High School, views hair differently. “I feel like it contributes, but I don’t feel like your hair is your identity,” she says. “It gives you that confidence boost and everything that you need, but it’s not you because it’s not your personality.”

Hair transitions

For many years, natural hairstyles were pushed aside by Eurocentrism and white supremacy. As explained in a 2021 Refinery29 article, “Smoothed,

straightened hair became very desirable, and it’s evident in the trends we see throughout history.”

Williams used relaxers for years. However, after a chemical in the product — sodium hydroxide — burned her scalp one day, she decided to make the move to natural styles.

Williams says she knew the dangers of relaxers and, as a result, never advised her daughter Clark to use them. Instead, Williams has long helped Clark embrace her natural hair by showing her products and practices that promote hair health.

“It’s just evolved to where like 90% of my clients are all-natural and embracing their natural textures,” she says.

When Williams and her clients took interest in natural hair styles, the only platform for her to learn how to do them was YouTube. “I started getting names of women that were the pioneers of the natural hair movement,” she says. “I started to follow them, and then a lot of them were on the forefront of introducing the natural products.”

BreAnna Clark (from left), Verna Laboy and Bridget Williams embrace their hair in different ways. Their hair journeys speak to the trends and norms experienced by each generation of Black women.

COIF THAT CROWN

In addition to finding supplies at local hair salons, these stores specialize in hair products.

Sally Beauty 27 Conley Road, 875-5944

Lux Beauty Supply 705 E. Business Loop 70, 441-1118

Now, Williams has noticed wigs, extensions and color treatments growing in popularity. It’s a trend among Black women known as hair autonomy: embracing their hair by choosing to wear whatever style they prefer, whether it’s protective styles that promote growth for Black hair such as locs, braids and sewins or just their natural fro. A 2021 New York Times article describes it as being in full command of one’s own aesthetic, because, “while society has yet to imagine a Black woman full of possibility, it’s a reality she has envisioned for herself.”

Fighting false perceptions

When it comes to shifting perceptions surrounding Black hairstyles, the mother-daughter duo share the same belief: Clark and Williams chose to not conform to society’s Eurocentric beauty standards and will continue to reevaluate what “beauty” looks like in hair. “It’s not fair to just say one culture is the ideal beauty,” Williams says.

Laboy echoes a similar sentiment. “I just think when people present themselves as their full, authentic selves, they’re not hurting anybody,” she says. “They’re doing life, enjoying life. What’s the big deal about hair?”

Photography by Adam Runge

Let’s ’tox about it

More and more younger people are turning to Botox to postpone the signs and lines of aging.

BY ABBY LEE

Aweek in the blinding Florida sun would make anyone squint their eyes and furrow their brow. Logan Wise, 23, was no exception. She returned home to Missouri with pale lines between her eyebrows that stood out from her tan — and a new mission against wrinkles.

Wrinkles can start to appear in someone’s 20s. And in an ageist society, people often turn to treatments such as Botox injections, rhinoplasty and soft tissue fillers to delay the reality of looking their age.

In the past, Botox (botulinum toxin) has been used to fill wrinkles once they appear, but that is changing.

Shifting demographics

Although 80% of those getting Botox injections are over age 40, the treatments are gaining popularity among a younger crowd as a form of “preventive care” with the intention of stalling the formation of wrinkles. Close to 75% of surgeons from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery have reported an increased number of patients under 30 requesting cosmetic surgery or injectables.

That is what Wise decided to do. After getting advice from her two sisters in their 30s, she started getting Dysport injections, a product similar to but not as potent as Botox. “When I get older, (my goal is) not to have those really deep-set lines,” Wise says, gesturing to where her so-called 11s — the lines between the eyebrows — would be.

Social media also plays a role. A study published in Current Psychology in 2019 found that “social media use was a stronger predictor of a participants’ desire for cosmetic surgery than body dissatisfaction.”

This suggests that if someone spends a significant amount of time on social media and follows others who have received cosmetic enhancements, they are more likely to receive cosmetic surgery.

Lynn Itagaki, an associate professor of English and women’s and gender studies at MU, describes cosmetic procedures as a tool for avoiding signs of and punishments for aging. At work, for example, she says becoming older can be viewed as a sign of broadening responsibilities — such as having children — and having less time to devote to being an employee.

“(Botox) is an easy and relatively cheap solution to the larger problems of misogyny, control of women’s appearances, viewing women as possessions, treating women as objects and objectification, and then also ageism,” Itagaki says.

Like most cosmetic procedures, injectable treatments are targeted toward women. In 2022, 92% of cosmetic procedure recipients were women worldwide.

A form of self care

Wise advocates for her decision to receive Dysport. “If that makes someone feel better, then why should anyone care?” she says. “If that’s their way of life, they look in the mirror and like themselves more, then sure, they can get it all over their face if they want to.”

Dysport is a type of botulinum toxin that is injected into a person’s glabellar lines. Often called 11s, the lines are the vertical wrinkles between eyebrows.

A study published in 2015 in Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery found that improved self esteem and improved subjective appearance are two of the main reasons women get Botox. Another study published in 2021 in Nature found that Botox injections can also reduce anxiety. This study suggests that the progressive muscle relaxation might induce mental relaxation, too.

Wise says she sees the injections as a form of self-care. “Honestly, it adds a little bit more structure to my life,” she says.

“The Botox makes my at-home routine a little more strict because I want to keep up with it.” Because her main goal is avoiding deep-set wrinkles or looking older, it would be counterproductive to get Botox and then not protect herself from sun damage through an intentional skin care routine.

UNDER THE NEEDLE

Botox and similar products, including Dysport, Xeomin and Jeauveau, are used to reduce wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles. They do this by blocking signals that make muscles contract. When the muscles relax, it reduces wrinkles.

Itagaki says that the self-reported reasons and societal pressures behind getting injections don’t exist in total conflict with each other.

“Maybe one of the reasons why it reduces anxiety is because if you look younger and if you’re more attractive, then people will treat you better,” Itagaki says.

Coexisting pressures to enhance natural beauty and to conform to traditional beauty standards continue to push the Botox industry forward. Although the quest for everlasting youth is no new phenomenon, younger generations are embracing this new skin care routine without even raising an eyebrow.

Photography by Adam Ryerson

ARTS TOUCH

TO-DO LIST

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

The Columbia Art League invites you to interact and feel art in their latest display, “Touch.” The exhibit of 2D and 3D artwork challenges artists to create pieces across varied mediums. Artists have the option to stick to the traditional “forbidden touch” of most art displays or to let the audience interact with the art.11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 2-June 8, Columbia Art League, 443-8838

Curtain Up: A Celebration of the Work

If you’re a fan of all things theater, the Stephens College Conservatory for the Performing Arts variety show is right up

your alley. Come for “a celebration of singing, dancing and acting, featuring new works in musical theatre, vocal ensembles and maybe a few surprises.”

7:30 p.m., May 4-5, Macklanburg Playhouse, $20, 876-7199

Winchester

Based on the true story of Sarah Winchester, this new play by Elizabeth Braaten Palmieri is a production by her own GreenHouse Theatre Project. The original work follows the Winchester firearm company heiress after the death of her husband. A psychic told her to build a house and Winchester spent her life on the building project — adding new rooms and hidden passageways — in an effort

JOIN US

for our State Summer Games

June 2 - 3, 2023 at Hickman H.S.

Come out and enjoy our Opening Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. at the MIZZOU Rec and to volunteer and cheer on our athletes.

DON’T MISS IT

The Orr Street Farmers and Artisans Market kicks off its season April 30 with Sunday events through October. The market offers what it says on the tin — produce and art — as well as weekly musical entertainment. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, Wabash Bus Station, 126 N. Tenth St.

to appease her guilt over those killed by Winchester company guns. 8 p.m. May 11-14, Missouri United Methodist Church, $12-$18, greenhousetp.org

CIVIC

State Historical Society

125th Anniversary

The premier destination for history collections and presentations in the Boone County area is celebrating its 125th anniversary. This month’s edition of the History on Elm series features an interview with Gary Kremer, State Historical Society of Missouri executive director, about the society’s legacy and future.

Noon-1 p.m., May 9, Center for Missouri Studies, free, shsmo.org/events

For more information, visit www.SOMO.org/Competitions. State Summer Games – June 2 & 3 (Hickman H.S.)

Saturday Morning Science

Scientist and former NASA astronaut Linda Godwin is the guest speaker for the next MU Saturday Morning Science event. Godwin earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from MU and is now a professor in the university’s department of physics and astronomy. She worked at NASA for 30 years and completed four space flights. 10 a.m., May 13, Ragtag Cinema, free, 882-7957

FOOD 2023 Missouri Beer Festival

It’s almost time for mid-Missouri’s 13th annual beer festival celebration. Enjoy live music and good food while sipping craft brews from Missouri and across the country. Johnny Henry, the house artist for the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, will perform throughout the afternoon. 1-4 p.m., May 20, Lakeside Ashland, $50 general admission, $100 VIP, missouribeerfestival.com

Sushi Party Cooking Class

Have you ever wanted to know what goes into the perfect sushi roll? Now

SHELTER PET & LIFE OF THE PARTY

you can with Back 2 Basics Cooking. Participants will learn how to prepare sticky rice and three different types of sushi. All food, utensils and recipes will be provided. 3-4:45 p.m., May 21, Back 2 Basics Cooking, $65 per person, 268-2248

MUSIC Missoula Children’s Theatre: Aladdin

The classic story of Aladdin, performed by the traveling Missoula Children’s Theatre, will take you on a carpet ride to find a magic lamp, encounter wise genies, challenge a powerful sultan and chase after the promise of love. 6 p.m., May 6, Missouri Theatre, $15 adults, $10 children, 882-3781

Larry June

San Francisco rapper Larry June brings his West Coast style to Columbia. June is making his way around 47 cities as a part of his “Larry’s Market Run” tour, with guest performers Monroe Flow and DVME. Prepare yourself for a chill night and a chance to hear his latest album,The Great Escape, which dropped in March. 7 p.m., May 10, The Blue Note, $29.50-$45.50, 874-1944

David Wax Museum

David Wax and Suz Slezak, the eccentric husband-wife duo behind Mexo-Americana band David Wax Museum, are tour-

HAMILTON 75K+ Instagram Followers

rescues.

Gerald Cuningham (left) represents Bucksnort Saloon at the 2013 Missouri Beer Festival.

CINCO DE MAYO

Friday 7pm

May 5, 2023

First Baptist Church

Ensemble Concert with Friends

5/20

Sat 3pm

2pm Instrumental Petting Zoo

First Baptist Church 1112 E Broadway

Featuring Students of MMAMTA Teachers and Odyssey’s Columbia Music School: Mozart, Debussy, Carmen, Bumble Bee, and more!

FREE ADMISSION

ing for their new album, You Must Change Your Life. Enjoy an evening of traditional Mexican music — mixed with Slezak’s charismatic fiddle-playing and Wax’s onstage frenetic energy — with special guest The Onions. 7 p.m., May 20, Rose Music Hall, $17-$20, 874-1944

Sunny Bleau and The Moons with Robert Ethridge

Sunny Bleau and The Moons are an indie pop blues band formed in Rochester, Michigan, whose debut single came in at No. 31 on the Billboard UK charts in 2021. On Memorial Day weekend, you can catch them live at Sticky’s Cabana, with an opening performance by guitarist Robert Ethridge. 7 p.m., May 27, Sticky’s Cabana, $10, 529-4408

RECREATION The Smurfs Great Escape

Bring the whole family to this Smurfs-themed activity that’s part scavenger hunt, part escape room. The objective is to complete challenges and puzzles in a race against the clock to rescue every Smurf from the evil Gargamel. The average game takes two to three hours, and two to six players are allowed per team. The starting location is revealed two weeks before the event. Start anytime 9 a.m. to 2.p.m., May 6, $40 per team, cluedupp.com

Mother’s Day Goat Yoga and Brunch

Nothing says relaxation and meditation like outdoor yoga with a few furry friends. Join Pierpont General Store for a relaxing afternoon of animal-assisted therapy mixed with a guided yoga class. No prior yoga experience — goat or otherwise — is needed. Come early for bottomless mimosas, and stay late for live outdoor music. Mats available to rent for $5. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., May 14, Pierpont General Store, $35, 808-3310

Family Fun Fest

From May to September monthly, Columbia Parks & Recreation Family Fun Fest events include music, food trucks, live performances and hands-on activities about different topics. In support of Mental Health Awareness month, this event focuses on the healing power of nature. 6–8 p.m. May 17, Cosmopolitan Park, free, como.gov/parks-and-recreation/special-events

featuring Mexican composers Daniel Catán, Arturo Márquez, Elpidio Ramirez, Jose Padilla, Silvestre Revueltas

FROM FARM TO TABLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIA WU

pours morning milk into glass jars at The Mother Farm. Located 10 minutes south of Columbia, The Mother Farm has 31 acres of land with a farm share membership program that allows people to participate in growing their own food. The mission of the farm is to provide “hands-on access to regenerative agriculture to increase human health and happiness, while regenerating soil and building community,” according to its website. In addition to tending crops, members can milk cows to get fresh milk and bring home organic produce and pasture-raised meat. Nagel started the farm share program in 2021 after leaving her research job as an MU associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health — and she has never looked back.

Susan Nagel

photo finish