Month: May 2016

  • Tiny Town Tastes: Chim’s Thai Kitchen in Cooper’s Landing

    Tiny Town Tastes: Chim’s Thai Kitchen in Cooper’s Landing

    Chim’s Thai Kitchen is my go-to place for pad thai in Columbia. Once upon a time, they had three locations — downtown, off Nifong Boulevard and down by the river at Cooper’s Landing. Last fall, I called to to put in my weekly order and the phone rang and rang. No one picked up. I drove to the restaurant, and it was vacant. What was I supposed to do? Where was I supposed to get my pad thai? The other Thai joints had to suffice. I didn’t know where Chim’s went.

    Part of the Tiny Town Tastes blog series for Vox Magazine, Summer 2016. Read the full story here.

  • Tiny Town Tastes: Lula’s Tavern in Moberly

    Tiny Town Tastes: Lula’s Tavern in Moberly

    Lula’s Tavern was recommended to me from the very beginning by my friend’s husband who is a Moberly native. Moberly is not a tiny town compared to Missouri standards, population roughly around 13,700, but Lula’s fit the requirement nevertheless. Upon research of this place, the words “warm beer and lousy service” kept appearing in contrast to it’s high ratings and outstanding comments. What was going on?

    Written for Vox Magazine‘s Tiny Town Tastes blog series. Read all about Lula’s here.

  • Barbecue that Rocks

    Barbecue that Rocks

    Buckingham Smokehouse Bar-B-Q Owner Mark Brown, 62, did not grow up dreaming of owning a barbecue restaurant. He opened the restaurant out of desperation.

    Brown spent 20 years on the road, driving tour buses for some of the biggest bands and musicians of the century — and has tour passes, five platinum albums and stacks of memorabilia to prove it. Starting with a gig for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils from 1976-79, Brown, 23 at the time, grew up with a few of the members in Springfield. The band took him along to be a part of the stage crew.

    “I never asked for the job,” Brown said. “The phone rang one night, and before I knew it, I was on my way to L.A.” 

    Written for the Columbia Daily Tribune. Find the full article here.