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

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

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

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

Level Two