417 Magazine | The Pets Issue | December 2025

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It’s more than a suicide hotline. A crisis looks different for everyone and the 988 crisis hotline is about more than crisis response; it’s about prevention and connection. No matter your situation, calling, texting or online chatting with 988 is all it takes to get connected with a trained crisis counselor who will listen and help you stay grounded while putting together a crisis plan. It can make a difference. Scan the QR

Design. Build. Renovate.

Pets!

We can all agree: Our pets are our life. Read about some of our favorite local pets and their devoted humans. Plus, learn where you can take your pup for some Ozarks fun.

It’s Mahjong’s Moment

The newest social trend to take over 417-land is American mahjong, a game of strategy, style and the satisfying click of tiles. Read about the local folks bringing this game to life.

ON THE COVER: This boopable snoot was photographed by Hannah DeVries of Portrait Novella. Her creative work captures the playful nature of pets.

December departments

From The Field

The Long Way

At Home

You’re invited to celebrate International Women’s Day with Lauren Daigle and Convoy of Hope.

• Performance by Lauren Daigle

• Shopping

• Co ee bar

• Opportunity to pack hygiene kits for women in need

• Plus, a FREE gift for you!

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR KATIE POLLOCK ESTES editor@417mag.com

MANAGING EDITOR & BUSINESS EDITOR DORI GRINDER dori@417mag.com

RESEARCH EDITOR JO JOLLIFF jo@417mag.com

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS EDITOR & STAFF WRITER JORDAN BLOMQUIST jblomquist@417mag.com

EDITORIAL INTERN ALYSSA RONEY

CREATIVE DIRECTOR SARAH PATTON sarah@417mag.com

ART DIRECTOR JORDAN DYKSTRA jordan@417mag.com

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER BRANDON ALMS brandon@417mag.com

PHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER KATY ST. CLAIR kstclair@417mag.com

DESIGNER SYDNEY ARLT sarlt@417mag.com

DESIGN INTERN ALEX GODDARD

DIGITAL EDITOR JAMIE THOMAS jthomas@417mag.com

DIGITAL MANAGER ELIZABETH VANFOSSON evanfosson@417mag.com

CONTRIBUTORS GRACE CHIPLEY-THOMPSON, TESSA COOPER, DESIGNING INDIE, HANNAH DEVRIES OF PORTRAIT NOVELLA, BRANDON GERHARDT, JENNIFER JOHNMEYER, SARA KARNES, HEATHER KOHLER, JOSH KINGHAM, RYAN KOWALSKI, SHERRI THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY, TARYN SHORR-MCKEE, LEAH STIEFERMANN, DAN WILLIAMS

BUSINESS

PUBLISHER LOGAN AGUIRRE logan@417mag.com

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS MEGAN JOHNSONmjohnson@417mag.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR LYNDSEY SLAGLE lslagle@417mag.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE KAYLIN HOMAN kaylin@417mag.com

ACCOUNTING MANAGER CARRIE POWELL accounting@417mag.com

OFFICE MANAGER BERNADETTE PRY bernadette@417mag.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR BETHANY BELL bbell@417mag.com

OPERATIONS MANAGER ERIN KINGHAM ekingham@417mag.com

ACCOUNT SERVICES MANAGER KATHY GRIEVE kathy@417mag.com

ACCOUNT COORDINATOR NICKI SHERWOOD nicki@417mag.com

SENIOR DESIGNER ABIGAIL MITCHELL amitchell@417mag.com

ADVERTISING & BRAND DESIGNER MCKENZIE KEY mckenzie@417mag.com

FOUNDERS

GARY WHITAKER gary@417mag.com

JOAN WHITAKER joan@417mag.com

Social Life

GET OUT

Sled’s Go!

417MAG.COM

A white Christmas isn’t a guarantee in 417-land, but we have our ngers crossed. When the snow falls in the Ozarks, check out our list of places to grab your sled and hit the slopes at 417mag.com/sled.

Tour the Twinkling Lights

417MAG.COM

Hands up: How many of us look forward to this every year? That’s right, the holidays mean Christmas lights across the Ozarks! Visit 417mag. com/christmaslights to see our roundup of the best places to visit to see holiday light displays. Don’t forget we also have a helpful list of local busi-

nesses who can hang your lights for you at 417mag.com/christmaslightpros.

There’s Still Time!

417MAG.COM

Still have an empty space in your living room where the Christmas tree should be? Check out our list of places where you can nd a natural Christmas tree around the Ozarks at 417mag.com/treefarms. Plus, keep 417mag.com/recycletrees handy after the holidays so you can nd the right place to recycle or dispose of your tree when the time comes, too.

CELEBRATE

Ring In the New Year

417MAG.COM

The countdown to 2026 is on! Celebrate the New Year at one of the many local spots you can nd

listed at 417mag.com/nye. Got your own New Year’s Eve celebration that you want to promote? Visit 417mag.com/ calendar and add it to our online event calendar.

GET TICKETS

Launch to the Next Level

BIZ417.COM

In 2025, Biz 417’s annual Ladies Who Launch leveled up to become a two-day event full of talks and networking opportunities for the women business leaders in 417-land. You loved it so much (and so did we) that we’re planning to do it again in 2026! Head to biz417. com/lwl to grab your tickets for the next two-day Ladies Who Launch experience at the Branson Convention Center.

DON’T MISS A THING

Visit 417mag.com/ newsletters to sign up for the best local newsletters. Table Talk brings you don’tmiss food news every Tuesday, Datebook o ers the top weekend events every Thursday, and House of 417 is your monthly passport to inspired living.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

The February issue features our annual Best of 417 list, filled with your picks for the tastiest eats and drinks in the Ozarks. Subscribe now at 417mag.com/ subscribe.

WE LOVE 417-LAND

We are a proud member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, the Branson Chamber and Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City and Regional Magazine Association, the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce, the Home Builders Association of Springfield and the Republic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Editor’s Note

TWO DECADES

Twenty years ago this month, I rolled into Spring eld with all my worldly possessions shoved into the back of a blue 1992 Chevy Astro van.

The weeks prior had been a whirlwind. After defending my master’s thesis and wrapping up grad school, I had gotten a job as Assistant Editor at 417 Magazine. That new career opportunity was followed swiftly by me getting red from my job at a café in Brooklyn right around the same time that my internship at Maxim Magazine was expiring. Good thing I had that new job lined up! I said goodbye to my friends, to the subway that I both loved and hated (living on the G line was a curse… IYKYK) and to the city that never sleeps.

Here was my plan: Learn all I can at 417 for a few years, then nd a job in either St. Louis (where my family lives) or New York City (where magazines abound). I had no connections to the Ozarks and hadn’t even entered Spring eld’s city limits before that day in 2005. I believed this job and this city were part of the journey, but certainly not the destination.

Here’s what actually happened: I learned that I loved city magazines and discovered that I found joy and ful llment telling stories with a deeply rooted sense of place. I made new friends who I love. I met Eli Estes, who I love even more. Spoiler alert: We got married. We had a son, and then we had a daughter. Our kids made friends. I became friends with their friends’ parents. You see what’s happening here? I believe there’s a term for this: putting down roots.

I still have moments (although very few of them these days) when I miss New York City. I still have moments (and I know I always will) when I miss St. Louis and really, really wish I lived closer to my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews.

But at this point, after 20 years at 417 Magazine, I’ve lived in Spring eld longer than anywhere else. I know the Ozarks like the back of my hand. I love the work I am lucky enough to do and am grateful for all the people and places I get to learn about, write about and share with you. I don’t know what the next 20 years will hold, but I do know that I’ve traded my beaten-down 1990s van for a high-tech 21st-century mom van—and midlife in the Ozarks is looking pretty darn inviting.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR KATIE@417MAG.COM

TALK TO US

Walden Certainly Was the Goodest Boy

What a fun morning at work! My Leigh’s Lost and Found page is being featured in 417 Magazine in the upcoming December pets issue, and we did the photo shoot today with Walden in the KY3 studio. Walden was beyond a good boy and obviously very photogenic! Can’t wait to see his sweet, wonky smile in print.

LEIGH MOODY

Turn to p. 77 to read about the work Leigh Moody does to reunite 417-landers with their missing pets. She’s just one of the pet-loving locals highlighted in our “Pets!” cover story. —Editor

Feedback from the Gals

We had such a fun night at 417 Magazine ’s Hot Flash Happy Hour. Between the laughs with comedian Missy Hall (who was absolutely hilarious!) and the real talk about women’s health and wellness, it was the perfect mix of joy and empowerment. Laughter really is the best medicine… but so is education and conversation. Here’s to more open talks about pelvic floor health, hormone balance, and all things women’s wellness.

ELIZABETH LUSK, VIA FACEBOOK

Elizabeth Lusk attended our first-ever Hot Flash Happy Hour, a 417 Magazine event all about perimenopause and menopause that was packed with education, humor and candid conversations. If you missed the event but still want information about all things perimenopause, visit 417mag.com/hotflash to read about some of the experts who were shared their knowledge that day.

—Editor

To send us feedback or story ideas, email editor@417mag.com.

Contributors

Part of the Family

GROWING UP, MY BROTHER, DYLAN, and I were determined to have pets, even if the results were... questionable. There was the time we lled an aquarium with cray sh from a creek in upstate New York. The next morning, they were gone. Did they scurry into the walls? Did my dad quietly dispose of them while we were asleep? We’ll never know. There were the lizards who met a frosty end one Christmas when we left town and my mom turned the heat way down to save on the utility bill. And nally, the gerbils. I’m still not sure how we convinced my mom to let us have rodents in the house. Eventually, we did get a dog. Her name was Pepper. Mom, who had been so against it, became completely smitten. Funny how that happens.

Fast-forward a generation. My daughter pulled a move straight from my own childhood playbook and made

a full PowerPoint presentation to convince us to get a golden retriever. I was a rm no. The shedding, the training, the lack of sleep. Guess who would be getting up in the night?

Then Captain arrived and completely commandeered our hearts. He came to work with me every day as a puppy. Now, I plan our lives around him. I’ve chosen road trips and RVs over air travel, so he can come along. He’s not just a pet. He’s part of the crew.

This issue is for every Pepper and Captain out there and for the people who swore they’d never get a dog... until they did.

PUBLISHER LOGAN@417MAG.COM

BEHIND THE SCENES

Boop the Snoot

Photographer Hannah DeVries has a talent for capturing the most charming moments with her four-legged clients. Dogs respond to all kinds of sounds and smells, and she has a variety of techniques she uses to get the pups to look her way. When it came to Olive, this issue’s cover model, DeVries relied on a little sensory input. “She loved smelling the treats I had in my hand, which is how I got the iconic ‘boop’ photo,” DeVries says. Olive was a dream to work with from the start, though. Although many Dalmatians are energetic and active, Olive had a calm demeanor and came into the studio as cool as a cucumber. Sometimes, reaching that point can take a little while. “Once a dog feels comfortable with me and the setting, it’s time to play!” says DeVries.

PHOTOS BY KATY ST. CLAIR, COURTESY HANNAH DEVRIES

A Guiding Light

ON HISTORIC COMMERCIAL STREET, YOU CAN FIND AN ECLECTIC CHRISTMAS STORE DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS MERRY AND BRIGHT.

BY ALYSSA RONEY

HIDDEN GEM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATY ST. CLAIR

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A BULL in a china shop? On Commercial Street, you can nd a much sweeter version: a bulldog in an ornament shop.

Miss Peppermint Piggie Patty is a 4-year-old English Bulldog and part-time security guard at North Star Christmas Company, a year-round Christmas store based in Springeld. To North Star’s co-owner and operator Jennifer Besse-Baker, Piggie was a Christmas gift of sorts. She adopted her at Christmastime.

As you peruse the quaint shop located across the street from La Roux Bistro, you might become lost in a forest of Christmas trees while a warm cinnamon smell wafts through the space to the sound of “Mele Kalikimaka.” Each tree incorporates its own distinct aesthetic, the handiwork of Besse-Baker and her family. During other holiday seasons, including St. Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day, some plastic evergreen trees take on a completely di erent seasonal character.

This passion for festivity started well before Besse-Baker opened North Star alongside her husband, Derek Baker, earlier this year. She said that they have always gone all-out for celebrations, something that was important when she and Baker discussed their family plans. “My husband and I both grew up in homes with great parents, but homes where they did not decorate,”

Baker

Jennifer

Besse-Baker says. “My parents are just not holiday people, and neither are his parents. They’re not birthday people. It’s a very regular kind of day for them.” When Besse-Baker and her husband got together and ultimately decided to get married, they talked through what their future might look like at home. They knew they wanted celebrations like birthdays and Christmas to feel extra-special.

The couple’s Christmas collection grew so big that they started a business, rst selling online then later in antique mall booths, including Relics. Around this same time, Baker began installing Christmas lights for customers, a service the shop still o ers alongside Christmas tree decorations. The move to a storefront was a natural progression as their demand increased.

Besse-Baker describes the couple’s business as a side hustle, as the two currently work in government and are set to retire in 2027. “We just want to give back to our community,” she says. “We have very stressful jobs, both my husband and I. This is the exact opposite of that.”

While Branson has its own array of Christmas shops, Besse-Baker says what di erentiates North Star is her Spring eld-speci c ornaments, often purchased as souvenirs, as well as her personal connection with customers. “We try to give really individualized customer service,” she says. “Especially me, ’cause I’m a chatty person.”

To Besse-Baker, the store prioritizes the magic of Christmas all year, something she de nes as the “feeling of giving and caring

and loving.” Some of the most endearing aspects of North Star Christmas Company are its Christmas elves—that is, the Bakers’ children. They are often hard at work around the store, greeting customers and working the cash register. Some of these children were adopted through the foster care system. Besse-Baker says their experiences reinvigorated her passion for festivity. She estimates that about 20 kids have passed through her home over the past six years, and she has made sure to go all out for holidays and birthdays. “I truly enjoy bringing kids into the home and letting them experience an over-the-top Christmas because it may be the only one that they ever have,” she says.

In her brick-and-mortar store on C-Street, she is helping spread this whimsy. In fact, she and her husband hand-selected the store’s location because of the street’s character; she wanted “a Christmas store and not a mall store.” C-Street, Besse-Baker says, is also a metaphor for her marriage. The street’s mix of historic architecture with eclectic shops matches her husband’s traditional nature and her love of unique items—items like the ornament of Michelangelo’s David in “red bikini trunks” or the chrome Buddha.

In the future, Besse-Baker hopes to keep the business in the family. In particular, she sees her 15-year-old daughter, Paige, taking over, citing her entrepreneurial spirit. ““She has shown a true initiative to want to have a business,” she says. Could that mean there will be a changing of the guard dogs when it’s time for Piggie to enjoy her retirement?

Derek

and

Besse-Baker (opposite page) share Christmas cheer all year.

“The mission is simple: Create tail-wagging experiences that leave a positive impact.”

Better Dogs, Stronger Bonds

At Howliday Inn Pet Resort in Rogersville, Missouri, dogs nd more than care and comfort. They discover a place to learn, play and thrive. The resort provides training, boarding and daycare, designed to give every dog a homeaway-from-home experience just outside Spring eld.

Watching dogs transform through training is the heart of the business. The team’s ideal customer is a dedicated dog owner who continues to apply the tools provided long after sessions end.

Time, education and hands-on experience set Howliday Inn apart. Years of learning, including mistakes along the way, have shaped a program that emphasizes growth for both pets and their people. The sta believes in being a lasting resource, not only during training but long after. When questions or challenges arise, they are always ready to step in and help.

For Howliday Inn Pet Resort, the mission is simple: Create tail-wagging experiences that leave a positive impact. By blending knowledge, compassion and a love of dogs, the Rogersville team provides care that builds partnership with owners, o ers ongoing support and gives pets a trusted place to feel at home.

BY

PHOTO

KATY ST. CLAIR

Summer and Brandon Gerhardt

Sweet Gifting

A Seat at the Table

LEARN HOW EMPOWER: ABILITIES VOLUNTEERS ARE MAKING DINING OUT MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE RESTAURANT ACCESS POINTS PROGRAM.

BY TESSA COOPER

RESTAURANTS ARE SPECIALPLACES.

Eating out is an opportunity to connect others, and a good meal leaves you full and a bit happier.

That’s why empower: abilities’ Restaurant Access Points Program (RAP) exists to help remove barriers that people with disabilities face when navigating, ordering and eating at restaurants. The organization created RAP in response to someone who shared their personal experience of visiting local restaurants that weren’t as accessible as they thought. This program trains local volunteers to conduct secret-shopper style evaluations of 417-land restaurants from an accessibility standpoint. After enjoying a meal, each volunteer lls out a survey based on their experience. This survey focuses on the accessibility of the parking lot, entrance, inside of the building and tables, restrooms and customer service. Then, another volunteer or sta member at empower: abilities reviews the survey and contacts the business. Depending on the responses, the restaurant will receive recommendations on

how to make its establishment more accessible. Restaurants that pass or make necessary changes receive a RAP decal they can display.

“This has been such an eye-opening experience for me,” says Cheri Montgomery, RAP volunteer. According to Montgomery, a lot of the reports reveal minor needed corrections, like lowering the soap dispenser in the bathroom to be more wheelchair accessible, removing damaged rugs that are potential tripping hazards or altering lighting for people with vision impairments.

“It is about working with the business to help them not only understand how removing the barrier can help people eat at their establishment, but it also just makes our community at large more accessible,” says Shelby Butler, director of advocacy and public policy. Local businesses like Leong’s Asian Diner, the Bambinos Cafe location on Delmar Street (pictured above), Van Gogh’s Eeterie and Georgia Mac’s are all RAP certi ed, and the list is getting bigger by the day. To see a list of RAP Certi ed businesses or to apply to become a secret shopper, visit rapapp.org.

SHOP IT Locally made peppermint bark is perfect for holiday gifting.

I’m a big fan of a consumableChristmas gi . They are great for people who are clutter-averse, or who already have just about everything and want very little. And when it comes to consumable gi s, my favorites are the ones that are locally made and let you share a little regional flavor. Take, for example, the peppermint bark from Askinosie Chocolate (askinosie. com). It comes in a cute little wooden crate, so all you need to add is a gi tag and a festive bow, and you’re good to go! The bottom layer of this dessert is single-origin dark chocolate. That’s topped with white chocolate and then a layer of crumbled pepper candies. It tastes exactly like Christmas—and pairs perfectly with a hot cup of co ee.

Bonus note for everyone else on your nice list: Askinosie Chocolate has a handful of other Christmastime treats, including a holiday chocolate tasting kit featuring five limited-edition bars. —Katie Pollock Estes

Cheri Montgomery (second from left) shares stickers (inset) for accessible restaurants to display.

Reimagining the Land

BLENDING CONSERVATION AND CREATIVITY, THE CHILES FAMILY HAS TRANSFORMED ROCKSPAN FARM INTO A LIVING CLASSROOM WHERE EXPERIMENTATION NEVER STOPS.

BY TARYN SHORR-MCKEE

ON A BREEZY AUTUMN morning along the Sac River in Bois

D’Arc, sunlight lters through a mosaic of trees and open ground, glinting o ponds and newly planted groves before disappearing into stands of old oak. Orchards of apples, gs and pawpaws sit near tangles of young walnut and bald cypress, and in between are expanses of prairie reclaiming their space.

The layout isn’t tidy—and that’s the point. Rockspan Farm is in constant motion, a living experiment in both land and life.

“When we’re living disconnected from the land, we’re disconnecting ourselves from the world we evolved in and all these relationships with the land,” says Will Chiles. “That’s what we’re constantly working toward here, to correct that.”

This particular land has been in the Chiles family for nearly half a century. What began as a dairy and later a cattle operation is now a laboratory for soil restoration, conservation

and silviculture, growing and cultivating trees with a clear objective. Chiles’ o cial title is Farm Operations Manager, but it’s clear within minutes that title hardly conveys the scope of his work. Along with his parents, uncle and brother, he’s reshaping the family’s 250 acres into a dynamic mix of native forests, fruit and nut orchards, and experimental ecosystems.

The Chiles family’s e orts are as much about healing the land and very literally getting back to its roots as reimagining it. Just a few of their recent projects include

PROFILE

Will Chiles (right) and his family tend to the land at Rockspan Farm.

PHOTOS BY BRANDON ALMS

transitioning to rotational grazing, installing drip irrigation systems with their own custom-fabricated posts and planting canebrake, a type of bamboo. They’ve also partnered with the USDA and NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) to fence o sections of the Sac River from cattle, planting 6,000 native trees along its banks to create a riparian corridor that lters runo , slows soil erosion and protects the river system feeding into Stockton Lake, a major source of Spring eld’s drinking water.

“This is part of a larger ethos of how we can, and should, think about ecosystems in the land, and in relation to the land, a bit more,” Chiles says. That ethos, and a distinct spirit of reinvention, runs deep in the family. His uncle, Dan, and father, Mike, are longtime xtures in Spring eld’s civic and nonpro t world: Dan served on city council, and Mike once led Ozark Greenways. Chiles’ grandparents bought the property in the late 1970s after retiring, setting in motion a decades-long evolution that doesn’t appear to have an endpoint.

“We’re restless inventor types,” Chiles says with a laugh, but completely seriously. “Always learning, always trying new things.” Over the years, those “things” have ranged from experimenting with controlled burns—which brought deer populations back in larger numbers, and unexpectedly

with thicker bodies—to building solar arrays and developing the PondArk, a device that simultaneously creates habitats for turtles, sh and birds.

Even the Chiles’ partnerships re ect their curiosity. They work with Missouri State University researchers studying the propagation of Gigantea Aruninaria, a once-abundant native bamboo species now almost entirely gone. They collaborate with the Missouri Department of Conservation to improve timber stands through selective clearing, and host everything from elementary school classes and foraging workshops to willow-weaving sessions and even political fundraisers. “People in the community know we’re willing to try things that other folks might not know about or may not have the bandwidth to experiment with,” Chiles says.

For all their projects, the Chiles’ collective work at Rockspan Farms is building something larger. They’re in the early stages of transforming a large portion of the property into an arboretum, a “nonpro t tree museum” as Chiles describes it. The arboretum will serve as a sanctuary for native species and an educational hub, expanding the farm’s existing partnerships with local schools and community organizations. The family is actively improving, building and naming trails, and adding identi cation signage on trees across the property.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, their long-term, big-picture dream is the most ambitious project yet: to establish a traditional folk school, largely inspired by North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota. The Chiles family envisions workshops in timber framing, woodworking and land stewardship, hands-on, practical skills that reconnect people to place. In keeping with their mission, the buildings for these classes would be built onsite, by the students enrolled in them. “So much of our socializing, traditionally, has been centered around working together,” Chiles says. “That’s hard to do when you’re working remotely or even at a desk— so creating, that’s something we all have to be intentional about nowadays.”

For Will Chiles, who is also a composer and artist, the intersection of creativity and ecology feels natural. His latest art piece centers on one of the farm’s tree groves. The work, like Rockspan itself, blurs the line between science and art, practicality and imagination.

“It’s really delightful that you’re interviewing me,” Chiles adds toward the end of our tour around the farm. “That’s an indication that this, what we’re doing here but on a bigger scale, is trickling to the surface level of culture. People are paying attention to the environment on a more granular level, things like trees.”

the farm.

PondArks (left) provide habitats for turtles. Will creates markers (right) to label trees at

Fruitful Abundance

AMID THE ROLLING HILLS AND CLEAR STREAMS OF AVA, MISSOURI, ASSUMPTION ABBEY PROVIDES SERENE SPACES, CALM LIVING AND A PRODUCT SOUGHT AROUND THE GLOBE.

BY JENNIFER JOHNMEYER

WHEN THINKING ABOUT HOLIDAY TREATS, CERTAIN CLASSICS ALWAYS spring to mind. One of the most infamous is fruitcake. This dense cake made with dried fruits and nuts has had a bit of a storied and checkered past. Fruitcake has found itself the butt of many jokes due to its longevity and shelf life—the main one centering around everyone gifting them, but nobody eating them. Rumors swirled that nobody actually ever ate fruitcake, they just regifted in perpetuity. Today, fruitcake recipes abound online, and those old rumors seem to be fading at last. However, for anyone still doubting, we ask you to meet the makers of a fruitcake to quiet the loudest critics. Located in Ava, Missouri, and established in 1950, Assumption Abbey is a secluded monastery composed of a community of monks of the Cistercian Order. The Abbey is one of many monasteries in the United States that supports itself through the production and sale of specialized food items. After attempting previous enterprises with cattle, orchards and a concrete block factory, the brothers found their niche in 1987 with their most successful endeavor that continues on today: fruitcake.

Assumption Abbey is not considered a commercial enterprise, however, but rather a way of life, translating to a special dedication to high quality. This has led to the Abbey making quite

PHOTO

a name for itself with its superior product. Ultimately, though, what is a superior product without an excellent, time-tested recipe? The Assumption Abbey fruitcakes are made in the rich, dark and traditional style: baked very slowly and aged under careful supervision. Every step of the process, from marinating the fruit to mixing, baking, packaging, aging and mailing, is done by the monks.

“Our fruitcake is an old English recipe given to the monks by Chef Jean-Pierre Augé, who was employed by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor,” says Bakery Business Manager Michael Hampton. The ingredients include raisins, pineapple, cherries, lemon peel, orange peel and English walnuts. Each individual cake weighs two pounds. The process of creation, from start to serve, is a lengthy one. The fruit soaks in burgundy wine for about a week. After that, it is mixed with batter and injected with rum. “It then ages for about three to six months on the shelf, and some magic happens as the avors meld together,” Hampton says.

While the fruitcake may be considered a seasonal item, it is certainly not a seasonal process, as the monks bake nearly yearround to ensure that they can meet the demand each season. “We usually have about 12 monks,” Hampton says. “They all work in the bakery except our senior monk, Fr. Cyprian, who is 95.” The monks generally sell in the vicinity of 32,000 cakes per year, baking from February through mid-December, six days per week, to reach the demand. Even with that busy schedule, they typically sell out by mid-December. Assumption Abbey ships 95% of their products within the United States, but they have also shipped around the world—Australia and countries in the European Union are regular destinations.

One location, though, beats them all. At the request of one of the astronauts, Hampton says, NASA purchased six fruitcakes and sent them to the international space station. “One of the astronauts actually called us from the space station thanking us for the cake,” he says. Hampton saved the recording from the NASA astronaut to this day.

To try these handmade creations, visit the gift shop at Assumption Abbey, order by phone at 417-683-2258, or purchase cakes online at trappistmonks.com.

FREE BUSINESS CHECKING

From e Field

Welp, Dad’s Gone Full Santa

QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR AT THE PAUL MUELLER COMPANY CHRIS SLAGLE MOONLIGHTS AS A DRUMMER— AND, COME DECEMBER, SANTA CLAUS.

BY TARYN SHORR-MCKEE

BY DAY, CHRIS SLAGLE WORKS as a quality control inspector at Paul Mueller Company, where he’s spent the better part of 20 years over four separate stints. Come holiday season, he trades in the shop oor for sleigh bells, transforming into Santa Claus. Alongside his wife, Tracy, as Mrs. Claus, Slagle plays Saint Nick at parades, private

Book a visit with Santa at GigSalad or on Facebook at The Chris Cringle. LEARN MORE

parties and community events. The Santa side hustle started almost by accident. Five years ago—as a joke—Slagle’s daughters gifted him and Tracy Santa and Mrs. Claus out ts for a family photo shoot. His sons donned in atable reindeer suits, and his daughters dressed as what he calls “slightly more fashionable reindeer.”

Slagle says: “All my kids have great senses of hu-

OZARKS VIBES

PHOTO BY BRANDON ALMS

“I know what Christmas is really about. It’s not about me in a red suit, but I enjoy the kids.”

—Chris Slagle

mor.” The pictures came back just before Halloween, and he saw an opportunity. He already had a natural white beard, after all. When trick-or-treaters showed up, Santa greeted them. “It freaked them out, blew their mind,” Slagle says with a laugh. “I had the suit, so why not lean into it more?”

Lean in he did. A chance encounter at his wife’s nail salon with Spangle the Clown—a fellow professional Santa who happens to run Stu for Santa, a Fair Grove-based mobile business—was “another sign,” Slagle says. Soon he joined the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, bought prescription “Santa glasses” and added four Santa suits to his wardrobe. Slagle’s real beard and what he jokingly calls his “Santa physique” complete the look.

People’s reactions fuel him most. At one elementary school, parents cried when their son, who is on the autism spectrum and typically avoids physical contact, surprised everyone by asking Santa for a hug. Those moments, Slagle says, make the gig special.

“I know what Christmas is really about,” he says. “It’s not about me in a red suit, but I enjoy the kids. I don’t look at it from a business standpoint. Kind of like music. They don’t pay me to play. They pay me to set up and tear down. I’d play for free. I love playing, and I love playing Santa.” That’s right, being Kris Kringle is only one of Slagle’s side gigs. He’s also a drummer in two Branson bands: Donnie Ray Stevens and Tri County Hair Club for Men, and plays at church three times most weekends.

From e Field

December Calendar

Holiday events, local love and lots more are on the agenda this month.

CHRISTMAS WREATH WORKSHOP

December 2

Learn to make wreaths with fresh greenery at Cassidy Station.

BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES

The oral designers from Cassidy Flower Co. lead this hands-on class, where guests learn how to make beautiful holiday décor using local greenery. You’ll take home a freshly designed wreath at the end of the night.

$65; 6:30 p.m.; Cassidy Station at Estes Farms, 5176 N. Fremont Road, Nixa; cassidystation.com

THANK YULE FOR BEING A FRIEND

December 3

This Golden Girls drag troupe has toured the world and is making a stop in Spring eld. The comedy tells the story of a pre-holiday gift exchange between Dorothy, Blanche and Rose—and the winter storm that traps them at the airport. Where does Sophia come into the story? There’s some audience participation that takes care of that!

$30; 7 p.m.; Landers Theatre, 311 E. Walnut St., Spring eld; springeldlittletheatre.org

REINDEER AT THE FARM

December 3

Make your kids’ Christmas dreams come true by taking them to visit live reindeer (including festive photo opps) at Cassidy Station at Estes Farms. There’s also face painting, photos with Santa, hot chocolate, s’mores and re pits.

$10 per family; 4–8 p.m.; Cassidy Station at Estes Farms, 5176 N. Fremont Road, Nixa; cassidystation.com

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CELTS

December 4

Come hear a mix of Christmas tunes and Irish carols paired with impressive Irish dancing. The high-energy show features a variety of performers, including dancers, singers, a children’s choir, string musicians and more.

$37–108; 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

SIP AND STROLL

December 4

For one night during Gardens Aglow (when Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is decked out in holiday lights through the season), guests can come for a special Sip and Stroll event. There’s charcuterie and hot drinks like cocoa, co ee and cider. This event is for ages 21 and older.

$30; 6–8 p.m.; Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park; 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Spring eld

417 CHRISTMAS MARKET

December 5–6

Get loads of Christmas shopping done at this event, featuring gifts, crafts and décor from more than 200 local vendors. Also at the 417 Christmas Market: food trucks, meet-andgreets with Santa, bounce houses for the kiddos and more.

$5 adults, free for kids; 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday; Spring eld Expo Center, 635 E. Saint Louis St., Spring eld

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

December 5

See art by local and regional artists as you stroll through Downtown Spring eld galleries and shops, like Missouri State University’s Brick City Gallery, the Creamery Arts Center, Fresh Gallery, Obelisk Home and lots more. Free; 6–10 p.m.; Downtown Spring eld; spring eldarts.org

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE

December 5

Familiar holiday music meets progressive rock and enormous light shows and overthe-top stage presence in this holiday favorite. You can also purchase add-on tickets that get you perks like complimentary drinks, snacks, Club Vault Lounge access and more.

$55–158; 7:30 p.m.; Great Southern Bank Arena, 685 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., Spring eld; greatsouthernbankarena.com

DRURY VS. MISSOURI STATE ICE HOCKEY

December 5–6

Uh-oh. It’s a battle on home turf! Or, make that home ice. The Drury University Panthers and Missouri State Bears ice hockey teams face o against each other two nights this month, so you have two chances to cheer on your favorite home team.

Times vary; Brightspeed Ice Park, 635 E. Tra cway St., Spring eld; drurypanthers. com; missouristatehockey.com

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS HOMES TOUR

December 5–6

Spring eld’s Midtown neighborhood is a treasure trove of Victorian and historic homes, and this annual event features ve of them plus Sacred Heart Church—all decorated in their holiday best! The church was built in 1882, and the homes on the tour were all built between the 1880s and the early 1900s. Shuttles take tourgoers to all the tour stops.

$15 in advance, $20 day-of; Drury University Diversity Center at Washington Avenue Baptist Church, 803 N. Drury Lane, Spring eld

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARMSTEAD

December 6

Head to Gray/Campbell Farmstead for an afternoon lled with holiday crafting and sweets like cookies and cocoa. Kids can even get a photo with Santa Claus.

Free; 1–3 p.m.; Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Spring eld

IMAGINE: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF JOHN LENNON & THE BEATLES

December 6

Every year, Gillioz Theatre gathers local and regional musicians to come together and perform covers of hits by John Lennon and The Beatles. This year’s performers include the Hillbenders, Guinevere Goodwin, Red Light Runner and more.

$25–49; 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

LAKE LEATHERWOOD HIKE & HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN EUREKA SPRINGS

December 6

Let the pros guide the way on this 2.5-mile hike around Lake Leatherwood. After the hike, you’ll be taken to a brewery for food and drink and then to a holiday lights tour of downtown Eureka Springs.

$109; 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; meet at Farmers Park, 2144 E. Republic Road, Spring eld; 37northexpeditions.com

WINTER MARKET

December 6

Cassidy Station comes alive with festive fun. There’s cookie decorating, ice skating (for an additional fee), food trucks, holiday drinks and even a pop-up bar. Oh, and photo ops with Santa! Be sure to visit the tree lot to nd your Christmas tree.

$5 adults, free for kids; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Cassidy Station at Estes Farms, 5176 N. Fremont Road, Nixa; cassidystation.com

THE BOOK OF MORMON

December 7

As part of Hammons Hall’s Broadway series, this acclaimed musical comedy tells the story

of two missionaries to a remote village in Uganda. It has won nine Tony Awards for its humor and music.

$51–125; 7:30 p.m.; Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., Spring eld; hammonshall.com

FROZEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

Through December 7

Let it go, let it go! See Elsa navigate her ice-wielding powers while Anna embarks on an adventure to save her—all while Olaf, Kriso and Sven provide a little heart and humor on the side.

$30–50; showtimes vary; Landers Theatre, 311 E. Walnut St., Spring eld; spring eldlittletheatre.org

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS WITH THE MONARCH STRING QUARTET

December 11

There will be a warm re and cozy drinks like hot cocoa and holiday cocktails at this lovely, music- lled evening. Sip your drinks, munch on a grazing platter and enjoy a performance by Monarch String Quartet.

$55; 6:15 p.m.; The Workshop at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark; nleyfarmsmo.com

STEVE-O: THE CRASH AND BURN! TOUR

December 11

Steven Glover, aka Steve-O of Jackass fame, brings his stand-up tour to Spring eld. It features wild stories and “never-before-seen footage” from his o -the-wall career.

$38–131; 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

WHO’S HOLIDAY!

December 11–23

As part of Spring eld Little Theatre’s Late Night Series, this comedy puts a new spin on the stories of Cindy Lou Who. A grown-up Cindy Lou throwing a holiday party at her trailer near Mount Crumpit. This show is intended for adults only.

$25; 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; Nathan P. Murphy’s, 218 S. Campbell Ave., Spring eld; spring eldlittletheatre.org

CANDLELIGHT: COLDPLAY & IMAGINE DRAGONS

December 12

Head to Stone Chapel to hear Listeso String Quartet play songs from Coldplay (like “The Scientist” and “Clock”) and Imagine Dragons (like “Believer” and “Natural”). This unique experience combines the glow of candlelight, the beautify of a Victorian-Gothic chapel and the sensation of being enveloped in music.

$33–56; 6:30 p.m.; Stone Chapel, Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave., Spring eld; feverup.com

CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS

December 12, 20 & 21

Enjoy the show as Listeso String Quartet plays familiar and festive holiday carols, such as “The First Noël,” “Deck the Halls,” “Joy to the World” and more. This unique experience combines the glow of candlelight, the beautify of a Victorian-Gothic chapel and the sensation of being enveloped in music.

$32.50–57.50; 8:45 p.m. December 12 & 20, 6:30 p.m. December 21; Stone Chapel, Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave., Spring eld; feverup.com

MYSTERY HOUR HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR!

December 12

Described as “part holiday show, part latenight talk show,” this fun- lled annual event features Je Houghton as host, interviews with special guests, live music and tons of holiday humor.

$25; 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

ENCHANTED EVENING IN CONCERT

December 13

High Tide Theatrical presents an evening lled with music “inspired by fairytales, princesses and all things whimsical.” Dressing in your most enchanting attire is encouraged!

$15 in advance, $20 at the door, $50 for VIP table for two; 7:30 p.m.; Lightroom Lounge at Martha’s Vineyard, 215 W. Olive St., Spring eld; hightidesgf.org

Photo by Starboard & Port

From e Field Calendar

JOSH JOHNSON: THE FLOWERS TOUR

December 13

Get ready for big laughs from a comedian with chops. Josh Johnson is one of The Daily Show’s rotating correspondents. He has been nominated for an Emmy for his writing and is known for his stand-up comedy.

$50–72; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

THE SNOWMAN

December 13

As part of the Spring eld Symphony Orchestra’s pops series, this concert features holiday music—including the enchantingly beautiful score to the silent animated lm The Snowman, a holiday classic that has been around since 1982. The symphony is joined by Spring eld Children’s Choirs.

$54–79; 7:30 p.m.; Hammons Hall, 525 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., Spring eld; spring eldmosymphony.org

WEIHNACHTSMARKT CHRISTMAS MARKET

December 13

Modeled after a German-style Christmas market, the Christmas market at Wire Road Brewing Co. features holiday lights, local artisans selling their wares (accessories, ceramics, décor, ne art, crochet arts, woodworking and more). You can get a live watercolor portrait made, visit with Santa, eat roasted nuts and more.

Free entry; 3–9 p.m.; Wire Road Brewing Co., 4453 S. Timbercreek Ave., Battle eld; wireroadbrewing.com

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS TOUR WITH NATALIE GRANT & DANNY GOKEY

December 14

Natalie Grant has won ve Gospel Music Association awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, and Danny Gokey has been nominated for both Grammy Awards and Dove Awards. The two bringing their worship-style holiday tunes to the stage in Spring eld.

$45–75; 7 p.m.; Aetos Center for the Performing Arts, 510 S. Nicholas Road, Nixa; aetoscenter.net

QUEEN CITY SINGS: HANDEL’S MESSIAH

December 14

A talented ensemble of singers of Queen City Chorale are joined by a professional orchestra for a night of beloved music.

Free; 7 p.m.; Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2852 S. Dayton Ave., Spring eld; queencitychorale.org

GRAND OL’ CHRISTMAS SHOW

December 15

This musical comedy in the style of a retro radio program features sketch comedy, live music and lots of familiar holiday music.

$30; 7:30 p.m.; Aetos Center for the Performing Arts, 510 S. Nicholas Road, Nixa; aetoscenter.net

MISSOURI STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL

December 16 & 23

This month, head to Great Southern Bank Arena to watch the Missouri State Bears take on the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles on December 16 and the Lindenwood University Lions on December 23.

Game times vary; Great Southern Bank Arena, Missouri State University, 685 S. John Q Hammons Pkwy, Spring eld; missouristatebears.com

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE WORKSHOP: HOLIDAY EDITION

December 16

Gather a group of the smartest cookies you know, and compete in a festive holiday-themed trivia night. Take advantage of the tasty seasonal cocktail menu too.

Free; 5 p.m.; The Workshop at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark; nleyfarmsmo.com

DRURY UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL

December 17 & 21

This month, Drury Panthers fans can head to O’Reilly Family Event Center to watch them face o against the Central Christian College Saints on December 17 and the ArkansasFort Smith Lions on December 21.

Game times vary; O’Reilly Family Event Center, Drury University, 935 N. Summit Ave., Spring eld; drurypanthers.com

ANCIENT ALIENS LIVE

December 18

Fans of the History Channel series Ancient Aliens will love seeing the show’s familiar faces live on stage as they talk about their theories on out-of-this-world visitors to Earth’s ancient civilizations.

$40–89; 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

THE NUTCRACKER

December 18–22

One of Spring eld Ballet’s most beloved traditions celebrates its 40th year. The Nutcracker features the timeless music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky paired with a performance by the Spring eld Ballet’s dancers.

$29 kids, $38 adults; showtimes vary by date; Landers Theatre, 311 E. Walnut St., Spring eld; spring eldballet.org

COOL YULE

December 19

The Spyres Family & Friends are joined on stage by the Missouri Jazz Orchestra for a “high-energy, heartwarming, jazz-infused holiday spectacular.” There are familiar holiday songs and big-band vibes.

$40–60; 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS

December 19

Mannheim Steamroller recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, and it’s still going strong bringing holiday music to the stage.

$56–99; 7:30 p.m.; Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., Spring eld; hammonshall.com

THE TIPSY REINDEER POP-UP BAR

December 19 & 27

Cassidy Station transformed The Depot building into a festive pop-up bar featuring. Come for a karaoke night on December 19 or a disco party on December 27

The Depot at Cassidy Station, 5176 N. Fremont Road, Nixa; cassidystation.com

JAMIE LISSOW: THE BETTER OFF DAD COMEDY TOUR

December 20

This stand-up comedian has been seen on Last Comic Standing, The Late Late Show, The Tonight Show and more. If you’re a big fan, you can purchase an additional ticket to the post-show meet-and-greet event.

$32.86–79.44; 5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. show; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, Spring eld; gillioztheatre.com

KRINGLE & KRAMPUS FEST

December 20

Head to the Rountree neighborhood for a unique holiday event that is a little bit nice (hello, Kris Kringle!) and a little bit naughty (who invited Krampus?). There are Santa and Krampus photo opps, live performances from local carolers, warm sips like cocoa and wassail, wares from local vendors, and more! Noon–5 p.m. at the shops at the corner of Pickwick Avenue and Cherry Street

CANDLELIGHT: QUEEN VS. ABBA

December 21

This unique experience combines the glow of candlelight, the beautify of a VictorianGothic chapel and the sensation of being enveloped in music. You’ll hear a string quartet play ABBA favorites like “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo” and “Super Trouper” and Queen hits like “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “I Want to Break Free.”

$32–54.50; 8:45 p.m.; Stone Chapel, Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave., Spring eld; feverup.com

RUN FOR THE RANCH

December 27

Put on your warmest running gear for this wintry race! Run for the Ranch bene ts Good Samaritan Boys Ranch and features options for every level of runner. Race lengths are 1-mile, 5K, half-marathon, marathon relay and marathon, plus there’s a 6-hour endurance run.

$10–185; 9:15 a.m.; Missouri State Parking Lot #22, Grand Street, Spring eld; run4theranch.com

Blades of Glory

It’s o cial: We’re naming this the year of outdoor ice skating. With a handful of places to do it around the Ozarks, you’ll have no problem creating the perfect winter wonderland moment.

Cassidy Station at Estes Farms

5176 N. Fremont Road, Nixa, cassidystation.com

The rink: Here, $30 gets you half an hour of skating at the scenic Estes Farms, including skate rental. The rink is open through December 31, from noon–6 p.m. Sunday, 2–8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 2–9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Make a day of it: Cassidy Station goes all out at Christmastime, so you can stick around pre- or post-skating for lots of fun activities, like shopping at Kringle Crossing, sips from The Tipsy Reindeer Pop-Up Holiday Bar, fir-hunting at the Christmas Tree Farm and even some seasonal workshops. Check the website for event dates and details.

Big Cedar Lodge

190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, bigcedar.com

The rink: Located on the Swimmin’ Hole Lawn, overlooking Table Rock Lake and surrounded by decorated Christmas trees, this man-made real-ice rink is accessible through

GARDENS AGLOW

Through December 28

Feel the magic of the season as you walk through one of Spring eld’s prettiest parks. Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is decked out for the holidays with 250,000 sparkling lights decorating the park’s unique features. This event is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings through December 28.

$4–5 kids, $6–8 adults; 5–8:30 p.m.; Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park; 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Spring eld

AN OLD TIME CHRISTMAS

Through December 30

The number of holiday lights covering the buildings at Silver Dollar City is astounding. (It’s in the millions!) They create an unbeat-

January 12 every day from 4–10 p.m.

Overnight guests at the resort can skate for $25, and anyone else can skate for $30. Oh bonus: There’s a zippy tubing hill too!

Make a day of it: Plan extra time to enjoy festive holiday lights via Big Cedar’s self-guided tours, tram tours and private sleigh rides. Check the resort’s website for the full list of holiday activities, workshops, experiences with Santa Claus and more.

Bass Pro Shops

2011 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield; basspro.com

The rink: Tickets start at $15 per half hour every day of the week at this new-in-2025 real-ice outdoor rink that’s located in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot. The lot has been decked out in holiday decorations for a festive vibe.

Make a day of it: Nab a s’mores kit and head over to a fire pit for a little treat. Then pop inside Bass Pro Shops a er your skating sesh to do some kid-friendly cra s and get a photo taken with Santa Claus.

ably cheerful glow. New this year: The park has added a huge Christmas tree to The Plaza area! Don’t miss the beloved A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, delicious holiday seasonal treats and lots more. As always get a cup of hot wassail to warm your hands and treat your tastebuds as you stroll the park.

$92 adults, $82 kids, free for ages 3 and younger; Silver Dollar City, 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway; silverdollarcity.com

CHRISTMAS ICE SKATING

Through December 31

Cassidy Station at Estes Farms is o ering ice skating again this year, every day of the week. Thirty-minute sessions are $12 and are open to skaters age 6 and older.

$12; hours vary by day; Cassidy Station at Estes Farms, 5176 N. Fremont Road, Nixa; cassidystation.com

NATURE AT NIGHT

Through December 31

Visitors to Top of the Rock can hop onto a golf cart and ride along a 2.5-mile trail to see beautiful light displays and waterfalls. They can even make a stop at the Bat Bar that’s located inside Lost Canyon Cave for a festive sip to end the night.

$29.95 kids, $49.25 adults; Top of the Rock, 150 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale; topoftherock.com

A COZY NEW YEAR’S EVEN IN PARIS

December 31

Ring in the new year with a date night cooking experience. Guests get to participate in a cooking class as they prepare a luxe feast of croque monsieur tartlets, steak au poivre, chocolate mousse with cognac whipped cream and more. There are two seatings for this event. The earlier seating features a toast at 5 p.m. (when the clock strikes midnight in France) to ring in the new year. This event is

BYOB, and champagne is the perfect option for the holiday and the menu.

$199 per couple; 4–6:30 p.m. or 7:30–10 p.m.; Pickwick & Cherry, 607 S. Pickwick Ave., Spring eld; pickwickandcherry.com

HOLIDAY BAKING CLASSES

Through December

All month, Pickwick & Cherry is o ering baking and cooking classes that feature the yummiest holiday avors. There’s cookie decorating, holiday cheesemaking, Christmas Cookies of the World, gingerbread and more. Prices vary; pickwickandcherry.com

50/50: HALF A CENTURY OF HISTORY

Through January 4

To mark History Museum on the Square’s 50th anniversary, this exhibit honors 50 events and people that impacted Spring eld. History Museum on the Square, 154 Park Central Sq.; historymuseumonthesquare.org

ICE SKATING & TUBING EXPERIENCE

Through January 12

Head to Big Cedar Lodge this winter for an array of holiday activities, including an ice skating rink and tubing hill. The brand new rink features real ice surrounding a scenic Christmas tree with a pretty view of Table Rock Lake. This event is open to both overnight Big Cedar Lodge guests and visitors popping in for the holiday festivities.

$30 general admission, $25 Big Cedar Lodge guests; Big Cedar Lodge, 190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale; bigcedar.com

SEA OF LIGHTS ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS

Through January 31

Wonders of Wildlife gets all dressed up for the holidays with light displays, interactive multimedia projections and more. Included in regular museum admission; Wonders of Wildlife, 500 W. Sunshine St., Spring eld; wondersofwildlife.org

DISCOVER THE

SkinBar

417-470-1633 — skinbarmedstudio.com 1901 S Ventura Ave, Springfield

GIVING BACK PROFILES

Nonpro t organizations play a vital role in enriching the community. From supporting local education initiatives to providing essential services for vulnerable populations, these local organizations demonstrate a deep commitment to improving the community. Their dedication and collaborative e orts make for a stronger, more compassionate city.

Ways to give back

• Give a camper a life-changing week of adventure at Camp Barnabas.

• Empower a student to thrive at Barnabas Prep with a scholarship.

• Donate physical items such as food, sports equipment or school supplies to help support campers and students.

• Give online at http://campbarnabas.org/donate.

Volunteer

• Barnstormers (13-14 years) serve food and clean during a week of camp.

• Counselors (15-29 years) experience the week side-byside with a Camper.

• Cabin Parents (30 and up) provide extra support and encouragement for cabins.

• Nurses and physicians play a crucial role as Med Team members.

• Service groups come year-round to keep Camp Barnabas and Barnabas Prep looking beautiful.

• Teach a skill or volunteer in a classroom at Barnabas Prep.

Building a World Where Everyone Belongs

For more than 30 years, the Barnabas Foundation has been changing lives through disability ministry. Through CAMP BARNABAS and BARNABAS PREP, individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses are celebrated, empowered and equipped to reach their full potential.

Located in Purdy, Missouri, Camp Barnabas offers an adventure- lled Christian summer camp for individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Every activity, from ziplining to shing, canoeing, swimming and dance parties, is thoughtfully adapted so every Camper can fully participate. Each Camper is paired with a trained volunteer to foster community and faith in an atmosphere of joy and belonging.

In Branson, Missouri, Barnabas Prep provides a faith-based educational program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program includes both a Residential Program, where students live on campus and participate in classes, clubs, trips and retreats, and a Day Program, where students engage in classroom instruction and community partnerships while re-

turning home each day. Students gain practical life and job skills, grow spiritually and achieve greater independence within a safe and supportive environment.

Together, Camp Barnabas and Barnabas Prep exemplify the Barnabas Foundation’s commitment to inclusion and faith, ensuring every individual is valued, celebrated and recognized for their God-given abilities.

BARNABAS FOUNDATION 417-476-2565

CAMPBARNABAS.ORG | BARNABASPREP.ORG P.O. BOX 609, BRANSON

Ways to give back

• Open a donor-advised fund to support your charitable goals.

• Convert stock or other appreciated assets to charitable gi s.

• Put an IRA’s required minimum distribution toward an endowed fund.

• Open a designated fund to support your favorite nonprofit.

• Set up a scholarship endowment to support students.

• Establish a corporate grantmaking fund for your business.

417-Land’s Philanthropy Team

The mission of the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE OZARKS is to enhance the quality of life in Spring eld and southern and central Missouri. The lifeblood of this work is the generosity of hundreds of donors who share the CFO’s passion for strengthening communities.

The year-end giving season is an advantageous time for donors to assess their charitable goals and nalize their annual tax strategy. Options include establishing a charitable fund, converting gifts of stock or other appreciated assets into charitable gifts, and using a required IRA minimum distribution to start or add to an endowed fund. These assets can then be used to fund favorite causes, support local nonpro ts, schools, and churches, or support generations of students through endowed scholarships.

The CFO’s Donor Services team helps donors channel their passions and resources to improve life across the Ozarks. They are available to answer philanthropic ques -

tions and work with nancial advisors to nd options that are right for each donor and their family.

Now serving 417-land from its new home at 300 South Jefferson in downtown Spring eld, the CFO manages more than $550 million in charitable assets, supports 55 af liate foundations across the state and has distributed more than $650 million back to communities since 1973.

Joe Kammerer, Senior Director of Af liate Engagement; Ashely Silva, Vice President of Development and Philanthropic Services; Sarah Hinman, Donor Services Coordinator; Anna Dowell, Director of Donor Services

Ways to give back

Share

Encourage others to give locally and remind your community that neighbors helping neighbors is how southwest Missouri has always made it through hard times.

Serve

Lend a hand and transform compassion into action. Stock shelves, pack food boxes, deliver to home-bound seniors, or serve neighbors face-to-face.

A few hours of your time can change someone’s entire world.

Support

Your gi s make our work possible. Whether you donate money, food, diapers or hygiene products - every gi made to Crosslines stays local, making giving to Crosslines one of the easiest ways to bless your community. A er more than five decades of caring for our community, CCO has the systems, the network and the expertise to beautifully serve our neighbors in need!

Transforming Compassion into Action

When life gets hard, help should be easy to nd. When the spirit of generosity moves, it should be easy to give.

That is the goal of CROSSLINES COMMUNITY OUTREACH —to be an “easy button” for compassion in action.

Every day, hundreds of local families turn to Crosslines for food, clothing, shelter and support. From the working mom stretching every dollar to the senior choosing between rent and medication, Crosslines is there—meeting basic needs and helping neighbors move from scarcity toward security.

But Crosslines is not just for those in crisis. It is also where people who want to help can easily nd community and positively impact lives. Volunteers pack groceries, sort donations, shop for deals, visit seniors and mentor children. Churches and companies rally teams to give back. Donors provide the resources that sustain the work year-round. This season, #GiveLocal. Every dollar donated to CCO

stays right in the community—helping families nd safety, security, stability and hope. Whether making it easy to help or easier to nd help, the whole community wins.

CROSSLINES COMMUNITY OUTREACH

417-862-3586

CROSSLINES.ORG

3055 E. DIVISION ST., SPRINGFIELD

Ways to give back

Donate Least of These serves nearly 1,400 families monthly, and a $64 donation provides a week’s worth of food for a family. Food donations are also welcome on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Volunteer They match every skill and passion for anyone over the age of 18. If you want to volunteer to feed people and change lives, you can email volunteer@ leastofthesefoodpantry.org.

Advocate Looking for other ways to help? Visit the pantry for a tour, learn how they serve neighbors in need, and share that knowledge. Together, we can ensure no child goes to bed hungry and no senior skips a meal.

The Fight Against Food Insecurity

LEAST OF THESE, INC. , founded in 1998, is the only full-service food pantry in Christian County, Missouri. The county’s rapid growth has outpaced economic resources, leaving over 11,000 residents in poverty. The organization provides 5-7 days of supplemental food (about 50 meals) monthly to around 1,400 local families, offering essential proteins, fruits, vegetables, dairy and whole grains.

The number of families in need has steadily increased since 2020 and is expected to rise through the end of 2025 and into 2026. In addition to providing families food, donations also help offer local families education and other resources to move from struggle to stability.

Least Of These purchases food at reduced costs, providing a full cart of groceries to a family for just $64. This support helps families manage other essential expenses. The organization, supported by 300 volunteers, goes beyond food aid by identifying the root causes of food inse -

curity and connecting families to additional resources. In 2024, they served almost 43,000 individuals, distributing more than 2.1 million pounds of food. Food distributions occur every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and monthly on Thursday evenings, with mobile pantries serving Clever, Chadwick and Spokane.

LEAST OF THESE, INC.

417-724-2500

LEASTOFTHESEFOODPANTRY.ORG

1720 W. JAMES RIVER RD., OZARK

Hope and Healing

THE VICTIM CENTER has been fostering safety and health in southwest Missouri communities since 1976. Originally founded as the Rape Crisis Center, the agency began by providing crisis intervention services to adult victims of sexual assault. Services quickly expanded to include individual counseling for victims and their families, school-based prevention education and support for sexually abused children and non-offending parents. Today, The Victim Center serves men, women and children who have experienced violent or sexual crimes, family violence, stalking, human traf cking, armed robbery, kidnapping, the impact of homicide, DWI crashes, childhood trauma and other forms of violence.

All services are free of charge and include 24-hour crisis response, individual and group counseling, personal advocacy, court support and prevention education in schools and the community. In 2024, The Victim Center provided counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy and support to 2,794 people and prevention education to 11,264 students.

Ways to give back

Donate Donors with an individual or business-related tax liability have the opportunity to take advantage of state tax credits. By making a $100 or higher contribution to The Victim Center, you can apply for tax credits valued at 70% of your gi . Please reach out to Jen Battagler, Director of Development and Marketing, at jbattagler@thevictimcenter.org to find out more information.

Volunteer Our volunteer victim advocates are essential, front-line volunteers who provide victims with support, comfort and resources in the a ermath of a crime. The Victim Center’s crisis hotline is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, thanks to our volunteer victim advocates. To learn more, email hope@thevictimcenter.org or visit www.thevictimcenter.org/ volunteer.

Volunteer advocates are a vital part of the organization’s response, often serving as the rst point of connection for survivors and helping them access essential support. As The Victim Center approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026, the agency is re ecting on its beginnings and the many ways it has expanded to meet the community’s needs. To learn more about upcoming anniversary events and ways to get involved, contact The Victim Center.

THE VICTIM CENTER

417-863-7273

THEVICTIMCENTER.ORG

815 W. TAMPA ST., SPRINGFIELD, MO

Ways to give back

Donate Support the man on the corner or the mother who can’t make her dollar stretch this holiday season. Your support will bring families together this Christmas and give them tools to rebuild their lives.

Drink Coffee. Empower

Women Equip Coffee is a craft coffee company that provides workforce experience for women leaving homelessness and traumatic situations. At Equip, our interns are given the chance to gain real-world experience so that they can leave poverty behind for good, and you can start making a difference with something you’re already doing daily — having a cup of coffee. Shop Equip Coffee at equipcoffee.com.

More Ways To Give Help us build a new shelter. Sponsor a Restoration participant. Honor someone special. Make a legacy gi . Benefit from an IRA rollover. Make a stock or property gi . Host a drive.

No Life Is Beyond Repair

VICTORY MISSION + MINISTRY has reached those facing poverty in 417-land for nearly 50 years. Victory helps people coming from poverty gain independence. From the mother who isn’t sure if she’ll ever reconnect with her children after prison to the man you see panhandling on your commute to work, Victory walks alongside people to help them build a new life.

Victory paves the way to recovery by addressing not only immediate needs, but the underlying issues that led to this point. Victory’s step-by-step programs aid individuals in resolving legal issues, obtaining personal documents and promoting health and hygiene. They get back to work with the help of on-the-job training through social enterprises like Equip Coffee. They open bank accounts, pay off debt and learn to pay rent. Programs focus on repairing relationships with family and friends while encouraging a personal connection with Jesus for spiritual growth. At Victory Mission, women and men experience transfor-

mation in an accountable environment. Join the mission to help the woman in crisis or the man on the corner rediscover their worth, purpose and potential.

N. BOONVILLE AVE., SPRINGFIELD

Sponsored by:

TheLongWay

TAKE A STROLL (OR A FROSTY GOLF CART RIDE) TO SEE THE OZARKS’ BEST LIGHTS DISPLAYS.

BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES

e Long Way

DRIVING AROUND TOWN

to spot the best local holiday lights displays is an adored winter tradition. But there’s just something a little more exciting about a walk-through experience. You get to feel the chill of the might air and be immersed in the colorful displays. Here are a few faves to check out this year.

An Old Time Christmas

This annual Silver Dollar City festival is the OG when it comes to walkthrough outdoor lights that go all out. As you explore the roads snaking through the theme park, it feels like every single surface of every single building and tree has been completely covered in lights. As you make the rounds with a cup of hot wassail in hand amid the glow of 6.5 million lights, you can’t help feeling a burst of Christmas spirit.

HILLS, BIG CEDAR LODGE, SILVER DOLLAR CITY

Stroll through outdoor light displays at (clockwise from top left) Shepherd of the Hills, Top of the Rock, Silver Dollar City and Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden.

“More than 225,000 lights illuminate the quaint bridges, sparkling ponds and winding paths of Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden.”

Gardens Aglow

During the day, Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park is one of the most charmingly scenic spots in Spring eld. At night during the annual Gardens Aglow event, the park shines with more than 225,000 lights illuminating the Japanese tea house, quaint bridges, sparkling ponds, beautiful landscaping and winding paths of the park. There are also warm drinks and re pits to cut through the chill, plus local food vendors for a post-stroll snack.

Nature at Night

With Top of the Rock’s unbeatable Table Rock Lake views, you’ll want to make sure you arrive while there’s still some daylight. Eat dinner at Osage Restaurant and watch the sun go down, then head over to rent your golf cart for a drive through the Nature at Night lights displays. (Separate tickets required.) Yes, yes, we’re telling you drive for this one instead of walk. But you’ll be in an openair golf cart, enjoying the night air as you cross bridges and pass waterfalls—all accented by sparkling lights. The trail takes you to Lost Canyon Cave, where you can stop for a sip at the Bat Bar.

Sparkle in the Park

Every year, the city of Carthage becomes a glowy wonderland during the Sparkle in the Park event. Festive light displays are set up throughout Central Park. We rec-

ommend making a day of it, and spending some time exploring other Carthage holiday attractions while you’re there. In the Historic Carthage Square (walkable from the Central Park), the mayor’s Christmas tree and other decorations add a festive glow—and there are horsedrawn carriage rides around the area too.

Bagwell Lights

You might think of Bagwell Lights (the over-the-top residential display at the home of Mike Bagwell) as a drive-by experience. The lights dance to music that you can tune into from your car radio, after all. But we propose a di erent approach for anyone who lives close by: Avoid the never-ending carline that creeps slowly down the street, and arrive by foot instead. You get to enjoy the crisp night air and experience the lights in slightly more immersive way. Check it out at 2008 E. Cambridge St., Spring eld.

North Pole Adventure

At Shepherd of the Hills, the annual North Pole Adventure event brings an explosion of holiday cheer. After you experience the walk-through lights, you can visit with Santa and then hop onto the hayride to take it easy as you see even more glowing lights. While you’re there, take advantage of lots of kid-friendly activities, like a jump pad, tube slide, TreeTop Sky Trail, the thrilling Copperhead Mountain Coaster and lots more.

Road Trip: Lights of the Ozarks

If you want to venture a bit outside of 417-land for your festive stroll, head to downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the square is strung with 500,000 lights, peppered with food trucks and accented with holiday music. The city hosts some fun and unexpected holiday events in this glowing setting. For example, December 12 marks the Fayetteville Festival event. And at 1 a.m. on January 1, they ring in the new year with Lights Out & Goodnight to put a cap on the season.

e Long Way

CURRENTS

Paddling Together

instruction in canoeing through Scouting America. After giving birth to her second youngest daughter, Bolyard read the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Potawatomi author Robin Wall Kimmerer. Its rich excerpts about the author taking up kayaking inspired Bolyard to do the same.

“I would kayak with di erent people and then eventually found myself wondering if there are women out there who wish that they could kayak with a group of women because I found that kayaking with women did something di erent for me than kayaking with my husband,” Bolyard says. “I felt really empowered when I was with other women and we were loading our boats by ourselves and doing it all by ourselves.”

This idea became a reality alongside two other women: Julie Carey, the organization’s current education chair, and Brooke Widmar of the James River Basin Partnership. Through spring 2024, the three worked to become a Paddle America Club to be insured through the American Canoe Association, or ACA.

Show-Me Women Paddlers gathered for a kayaking trip on the James River.

Bolyard says that the three words that she uses to describe Show-Me Women Paddlers’ mission are education, connection and empowerment. Education, she says, because “that builds their con dence to get out.” Connection focuses on social time during and outside of events. Empowerment involves simple instructions for inclusivity like easy ways to get boats on cars for members with physical limitations.

SHOW-ME WOMEN PADDLERS, A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, FOSTERS COMMUNITY BY EMPOWERING WOMEN TO PADDLE OZARKS WATERWAYS AND LEARN OUTDOORS SKILLS TOGETHER.

BY ALYSSA RONEY

THIRTY MINUTES FROM Springfield’s center is the stillness of Fellows Lake. Here, a group of local women begins a moonlight paddle, one with nature as their oars slice through the lake’s still waters.

They are members of Show-Me Women Paddlers, Spring eld’s only women’s paddling club. It was rst conceived of by president Chloe Bolyard, an associate professor at Missouri State University, in fall 2023. She grew up paddling with her family in southeast Ohio, later receiving formal

Months ago, the paddling club was awarded the Club Fostered Community Grant, sponsored by the ACA and L.L.Bean. This grant primarily covered a free introduction to kayaking class at Fellows Lake, but it also covered membership fees through the ACA.

Soon, the remaining money will be used to purchase life jackets made speci cally for women’s bodies.

The group’s de nition of women is purposefully inclusive, as membership is open to trans, femme and nonbinary individuals. To Bolyard, de ning this was important so that Show-Me Women Paddlers was “empowering for groups that have felt dis-

BY

PHOTO

SARA KARNES

empowered, particularly in paddle sports,” she says.

Ultimately, the most rewarding part of paddling with the group, Bolyard says, is seeing individuals “get through something they feel they doubted themselves on.”

One of the biggest cheerleaders pushing newbies through uncharted waters is Sara Karnes, the group’s social engagement coordinator. “She’s a big, ‘Woo, good job!’” Bolyard says with a smile. “You’ll hear her down the river cheering people on.”

At the beginning of 2025, Show-Me Women Paddlers nally achieved their long-term goal of becoming a nonpro t organization with help from treasurer Jennifer Wilkinson. This was crucial to the group’s longevity in order to manage expenses.

One learning moment Bolyard encountered in the early days of the paddling club was that of a woman whose boat tipped multiple times and who subsequently did not come to other events. Because of this, Bolyard realized a need to keep members informed about the skill level of any given event or trip.

“We want to set people up to have a good time and feel successful,” she says. “Now we are really clear about the di culty of the particular body of water that we’re going to have an event on.”

Alongside Show-Me Women Paddlers, Bolyard’s long-term goal for herself is checking o as many bodies of water as she can from the book A Paddler’s Guide to Missouri. With the club averaging about one trip a month during the warm season, that should be done with ease.

Bolyard says her club is a good t for anyone who wants to check out kayaking in a low-pressure and supportive environment. The group o ers many opportunities to connect with others and enjoy the water while learning about Ozarks waterways.

This winter, the club will host multiple classes, including Wilderness First Aid and Leave No Trace training. For info, visit showmewomenpaddlers.org.

e Long Way

Sparkly Road Trip

Venture into Arkansas this year as you explore Christmas throughout the Ozarks. From twinkling lights at a gorgeous botanical garden to historic hotels and day spa pampering, Hot Springs is the perfect warm-and-cozy winter road trip.

BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES

Get Settled

Take a half day on Friday so you can hit the road early; the rst leg of your trip is the 4.5-hour drive to Hot Springs, Arkansas. You’ll roll into town right on time for dinner at The Ohio Club (theohioclub. com). It’s Arkansas’ oldest bar and has been open since 1905—with infamous diners over the years like Al Capone and Babe Ruth. With loads of warm woodwork, the historic restaurant space is the perfect spot to warm up on a cold day.

After your meal, check into your hotel for the night so you can rest up and get ready for day two of your weekend away. We recommend a stay at Hotel Hale (hotelhale.com), a former bathhouse that was built in 1892 and still has those historic Hot Springs vibes. There are beautiful wood and marble throughout the building, an original wallto-wall skylight spanning the ceiling in the hotel restaurant, and even soaking tubs in every room that you can ll with water from geothermal hot springs.

MAIN STREETS

Every winter, Garvan Woodland Gardens gets decked out for the holidays.

Explore Downtown

Since you’ll be staying along Hot Springs’ main drag, you’ll get to see the light displays set up throughout the historic downtown area as you come and go from your hotel. More than a million lights cover Bathhouse Row. Also downtown: carriage rides through the festive scene. Head to the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa to hop aboard.

While you’re downtown, nish your holiday shopping by popping into a few shops. For the bookworm on your list, Black Ribbon Books features a cozy interior and sweet local bookshop vibes.

Stroll the Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens (garvangardens. org) is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year, with its sprawling gardens, stunning treehouse lookout and beautiful glass chapel where they host a variety of events. During the holiday season, though, it’s a whole di erent sparkling experience. There are light displays set up all throughout the park. You can stroll along the paths to view them all, then warm up with a free cup of hot chocolate. If you want to take it easy and skip the walk, you can even rent a golf cart to ride through the displays.

Pamper Yourself

We really can’t think of a better time of year than winter to take advantage of the spas and bathhouses in Hot Springs. A few historic bathhouses are within walking distance of Hotel Hale. Quapaw Baths & Spa (quapawbaths.com) o ers typical spa services like massages along with several thermal pools, some private and some communal. Bucksta Bathhouse (bucksta baths.com) also o ers thermal bath and spa experiences. Both Quapaw and Bucksta are rooted in history and located inside buildings full of charming architectural detail.

Visit the Big Top

Piccolo Zoppé (piccolozoppe.com) is a boutique circus that has been around since 1842. The group o ers a special performance during the winter months. Its Winter Circus event in Hot Springs features all the same charming acrobatics and performances, with the addition of an enchanting, snowy vibe.

At Home

PEEK INSIDE

A Historic Holiday Party

MEET THE MIDTOWN COUPLE WHO FINDS HOLIDAY CHEER BY OPENING UP THEIR HISTORIC HOME TO NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.

WRITTEN BY HEATHER KOHLER

PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS

At Home

AFTER 26 YEARS OF LIVING IN MIDTOWN, HOMEOWNERS Steve and Carla Wiemer still see their annual holiday party as the best part of the season. Welcoming neighbors into their historic home has become a tradition they look forward to every year, and this year will be no exception. Steve sees it as a great way to meet new neighbors and for their community to connect. “Some people don’t want to go to neighborhood meetings,” says Steve. “But they will go to a party.”

The home’s entrance (left) and curving staircase (far left) give o storybook vibes. The Wiemers collect vintage music boxes (right).

With four replaces, beautiful stained glass and a library, the Wiemer home is the perfect cozy backdrop for their Midtown neighbors to gather in. The two-turn spiral staircase is the unique way guests get to the multiple levels of the home. On the lower level is the home’s main living, kitchen and dining area, and the top level is an art studio with a skylight. “It works well for people to ow through,” says Steve. “We have people set up in each part of the house, ready to introduce new neighbors around.”

Guests are encouraged to bring a dish to share. “It’s always fun to see what people bring, and we get a unique variety of food,” says Carla. With all of the preparations required, Carla and Steve don’t do any cooking for the neighborhood holiday gathering; however Carla, does enjoy making a frozen, non-alcoholic punch each year that both the kids and adults enjoy. “We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our home, including children,” says Carla.

The Wiemer home is known as a Norman-style house, built with brick, stone and a slate roof. “Ever since I was 8 years old, I knew I wanted to live in an old house,” says Steve. The nishes inside the home add to its historic and earthy charm. The library is full of English walnut, and knotty pine can be found throughout the rest of the home.

Guests always enjoy pursuing the Wiemers’ collection of old music boxes.

“Some people don’t want to go to neighborhood meetings. But they will go to a party.”

—Steve Wiemer

They were made as far back as the 1700s to about 1910. The Wiemers are fascinated by the beautiful sounds they emit, and the ingenuity and craftsmanship that went into creating them.

“What the music box industry was able to accomplish by hand and ear, prior to the technology we have today, is truly remarkable,” says Carla. “What I treasure most over the years of collecting is the lifelong friendships that I have made with people from all over the world within the Musical Box Society International.” Because of this collectors group, the Wiemers have been able to travel within the United States and abroad, visiting collections and homes that they never would have been able to do otherwise. “I am so very grateful for those opportunities,” says Carla.

TOUR

IT

Holiday Homes

With Charm

This year, the Wiemers are excited to be a part of Midtown’s Victorian Christmas Home Tour on December 5–6. This is an event open to the public that celebrates the beauty of historic homes during the holidays. For more information head online to facebook. com/midtownsgf

A Do-It-Yourself Upgrade

Armed with the knowledge she’s gained over the years as a professional furniture re nisher, Sheri Abernathy turned her builder-grade kitchen into a modern space that she now loves.

BY HEATHER KOHLER, PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS

Sheri Abernathy (below) breathed new life into her home’s builder-grade kitchen.

SHERI ABERNATHY, FURNITURE REnisher and owner of The Brass Walnut (brasswalnut.com), never really liked her builder-grade kitchen, but she didn’t have the funds for a huge kitchen renovation. “The typical kitchen remodel is between $20,000–80,000,” says Abernathy. “My

At Home

kitchen was an eyesore to me, and it was important to me to gure out what it could be.” After watching many episodes of For the Love of Kitchens and searching for ideas on Pinterest, Abernathy settled on a rustic-inspired kitchen design with open shelving and no upper cabinets. “I liked the way the European kitchens mixed and matched,” says Abernathy. “I knew I could achieve this look.”

The rst thing to go was the tile on the oor. “I didn’t want to lay my own ooring,” says Abernathy. “I went to Mourey’s Flooring, and they were able to lay planks on top of my tile.”

Abernathy removed the dated double-level bar area and added beadboard. “I chose the wide seams board,” says Abernathy. “It seemed more unexpected

than the narrow style.” After removing her upper cabinets and microwave, Abernathy found shelving online to sit on top of the countertops.

The revamped kitchen (above) features a mix of quartz and butcher block counters.

To stay on budget, Abernathy chose to use a quartz countertop with a simple and subtle veining for the peninsula and then a butcher block for the rest of the counters. “I nished the butcher block myself and used a tongue oil,” she says. Above the stove she added battery-operated sconces, which helped give the space a designer look without the added cost of adding electrical. “I would love to have a big hooded vent, but my house isn’t vented,” says Abernathy. “I made sure to leave room for it.” Abernathy installed a simple white tile above the stove, which pulls

“I liked the way the European kitchens mixed and matched. I knew I could achieve this look.”

—Sheri Abernathy

together the white quartz countertop and all the white dishes she displays on the open shelving.

To achieve an earthy look, while staying true to her modern aesthetic, Abernathy chose a gray paint with warm undertones: Graphite by Amy Howard Home. This one-step paint with a matte sealer is easy to use and durable if you like a matte nish. “I’ve gotten a lot of ack for using gray, but it looks di erent in certain times of day,” says Abernathy. “I really like it, and that’s what matters.”

Abernathy used the same color on the cabinets as she did on the walls, but she did a lime wash e ect on the walls. Abernathy also updated the space with a new stove and undermount quartz composite sink. The result: Abernathy says she’s now happy cooking in her kitchen, in a space she loves.

Although Abernathy is a seasoned doit-yourselfer, she tried a lot of new things during her kitchen remodel—like learning how to use a miter saw. The whole remodel took about a month to do, and she spent around $7,000. “I spent a lot of time looking and just doing research,” says Abernathy. “I think we all just need to open our minds up a little to what a kitchen really is.”

Pets have a way of bringing people together and bringing out the best in us all. Across southwest Missouri, they’re tagging along on hikes, brewery visits and photoshoots, and stealing the spotlight at home. This feature is a love letter to our local pet community and the four-legged (or feathered) friends who make life a little sweeter.

BY JORDAN BLOMQUIST

Pets & Their People

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT’S REALLY IN YOUR DOG’S TREATS?

Doggone Good Treats

BONE APPÉTIT DOG TREATS’ MISSION IS SIMPLE: TO PROVIDE HEALTHY, TASTY TREATS FOR DOGS— ALL TESTED BY THE OWNERS’ OWN FURRY FRIEND WITH A TASTE FOR QUALITY CONTROL.

Jim and Debbie Doherty had that same thought about 10 years ago when they decided to start making their own for their late dogs, Abby and Izzy. Debbie says she knew she could make them treats lled with healthy ingredients.

What started as a simple hobby quickly grew into something more. Debbie shared her homemade treats with friends, who kept insisting she needed to start selling them—their dogs just loved them. After about a year and a half of perfecting her recipes, she decided to turn the hobby into a full- edged business. They rst started selling at the

PHOTO

Greater Spring eld Farmers Market, with their lab Savannah often tagging along as the mascot. “It’s morphed and taken on a life of its own,” Debbie says.

Today, Bone Appétit Dog Treats can be found not only at outdoor markets around town but also at Cassidy Station, Galloway Mercantile and The Barker Shop. The Dohertys hope to expand to a few more local shops, but they want to keep the business rooted in its original values. “We’re more interested in keeping it a small mom and pop feel than branching out and losing track of our mission,” Jim says.

Each 8-ounce bag contains about 33 treats, with peanut butter banana and honey ranking as the top seller among their six avor options. At festivals and markets, they also o er a soft, chewy cookie version. “If we can’t eat them, we don’t make them,” Debbie says. “We don’t make designer treats, but we specialize in simplistic treats that never sacri ce avor or nutrition.”

The Missouri Department of Agriculture inspects their kitchen quarterly and regularly tests samples in its lab to ensure the treats meet the nutritional guidelines listed on the labels. The treats are also tested by an independent laboratory. “All of our treats are lab tested and lab approved,” Jim jokes.

Over the years, the Dohertys have heard from countless dog owners who say their pups refuse to eat any other kind of treat. “That’s what keeps us going,” Debbie says. “That’s what makes our hearts happy.”

Do Good

Rescue Rolodex

WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING TO ADOPT A RESCUE OR JUST WANT TO HELP OUT, HERE’S YOUR GUIDE.

4 THE LOVE OF K9S

Springfield, Nixa and Ozark 4theloveo 9s.com

4 The Love of K9s works with local animal control agencies to give discarded and unwanted dogs the vet care they need and place them in safe, loving forever homes—no matter their age, breed or medical needs.

ANIMAL ANGELS NETWORK

Rogersville animalangelsnetwork.org

Animal Angels Network is a 501(c)(3) licensed animal rescue and education organization that rescues and rehomes dogs in southwest Missouri. It also gives the community opportunities to adopt, foster or sponsor a dog in need of a second chance.

C.A.R.E. RESCUE

Southwest Missouri carerescue.org

Castaway Animals Rescue E ort

(C.A.R.E.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. Its mission is to rescue adoptable animals from death row, in addition to providing medical care for sick and injured strays and running spay/neuter and adoption programs. C.A.R.E. also provides lifelong care for unadoptable pets and partners with other shelters to reduce the kill rate in southwest Missouri.

HAVAHEART RESCUE

Springfield havaheartrescue.org

HavaHeart Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that places foster dogs with fami-

lies through a network of homes across the region. Its mission is to serve dogs that are unwanted, neglected or abused, especially those from the commercial breeding industry.

HUMANE

SOCIETY

Southwest Missouri swh.org

The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri operates the region’s largest no-kill shelter. Funded by private donations, the nonprofit provides shelter and care to 300+ dogs and cats, places pets in homes, o ers multiple low-cost services and works to reduce pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering.

RESCUE ONE

Springfield rescueonespringfield.com

Rescue One is a 501(c)(3) foster-based rescue in Springfield, Missouri. The organization rescues animals without regard to breed or age, places them in permanent homes, promotes responsible pet ownership and o ers low-cost spay/ neuter services.

WATCHING OVER WHISKERS

Springfield watchingoverwhiskers.org

Watching Over Whiskers takes a threepronged approach to feline care in southwest Missouri. The organization supports routine vetting to place cats in loving forever homes, as well as provides Trap-Neuter-Return assistance to manage community cat populations and o ers emergency vet care for owned cats on a case-by-case basis.

Pets & Their People

The Cutest Crew in 417-Land

MEET THE ADVENTUROUS PUPS OF THE @417DOODCREW.

SCROLLING THROUGH YOUR FEED JUST GOT A little brighter thanks to the @417doodcrew. The Dood Crew is a group of local doodles whose owners get them together for play dates, photoshoots, hikes and community events. The group was started toward the end of 2020 by Anna Martin, Sherri Thompson and Baylee Greenstreet. It all began when the three met in dog training classes. Greenstreet works at Bass Pro, and the company sent out a call for dog photo submissions. The three of them took their pups on a playful photoshoot with boats and ATVs. “The rest is history!” Greenstreet says.

The Dood Crew members include Anna’s Koda James, Thompson’s River James and Rocki Blake, Greenstreet’s Dixie and Hannah Trujillo’s Oaklynn. Greenstreet’s cocker spaniel, Dug, and Anna’s German shepherd, Dorthea Iris, are honorary members of the crew. The group has two angel members as well: Trujillo’s Guiness and Leah Martin’s Luna—another German shepherd and honorary member. “We always joked that her mom and dad were German shepherds, but her heart was a doodle,” Leah says.

The dogs have become the best of friends, exploring places like Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and Pa’s Posey Patch. Always photogenic, they sport matching Dood Crew bandannas from Thompson’s business, Urban Rebel Pet Boutique. “The Dood Crew gave my pups incredible socialization, people I can trust to love my dogs as their own and lifelong friendships for both them and me,” Trujillo says.

Pets & Their People

Furever Portraits

SPRINGFIELD PHOTOGRAPHER HANNAH DEVRIES TURNS HER LENS TOWARD PETS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM THROUGH HER BUSINESS, PORTRAIT NOVELLA PETS.

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE PHOTOgraphing weddings, Spring eld photographer Hannah DeVries wanted a new creative challenge. When she couldn’t nd anyone locally o ering the kind of artistic, personality-driven pet portraits she envisioned, she decided to learn how to do it herself.

“Through photographing animals, I’ve discovered this is truly my passion and has changed my outlook on life in such a positive way,” she says. After photographing dogs on and o for over a year, DeVries o cially launched Portrait Novella Pets in early 2024 and quickly built a following for her colorful and playful style. Every shoot is unique—some dogs respond best to treats, others to toys or a ection—and she adjusts her

approach to each pet’s personality. Her inspiration comes from her own rescue dog, Mira. “She helped me through a di cult season in my life,” DeVries says. “I wanted to originally get photos of her to honor her and what she’s done for me in my life.” That sentiment extends to her Golden Year Sessions, which capture aging pets in their favorite spots at home. A portion of each session bene ts an animal nonpro t chosen by the owner. “The time we have with our pets is precious,” she says. “That’s why I also o er golden year sessions. These sessions allow people to honor their own pets and be able to cherish these beautiful and sentimental photographs of their four-legged family members forever.”

PHOTOS

SHERRI THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY, KATY ST. CLAIR

Bringing Pets Home

Pets & Their People IF YOU LIVE IN THE OZARKS AND HAVE A PET, ODDS are you follow Leigh’s Lost and Found on social media. Raised in a household where strays were welcomed with open arms and with a mom who brie y worked in a veterinarian’s o ce, Leigh Moody grew up with a love for animals. So when Animal Control reached out to KSPR in 2012, where Moody had been anchoring for about a year, asking for someone to help raise awareness about lost pets, she embraced the opportunity.

WHEN A PET GOES MISSING IN THE OZARKS, CHANCES ARE LEIGH MOODY IS ALREADY ON THE CASE.

Moody had already imagined starting something like this but was waiting for the right moment. She proposed featuring a lost dog every week from Animal Control to get the word out. At the same time, she started a Facebook page where people could submit lost or found pets.

The Facebook page now has more than 110,000 followers and receives at least 50 submissions a day from people looking for their pets or reporting found animals. She relies on 10 volunteers to help manage submissions, and together they reunite an estimated 300 to 400 animals with their owners each month.

Moody’s work doesn’t stop on Facebook. Her current role as a KY3 anchor ampli es the mission through weekly TV segments with guests and digital streaming, spotlighting lost pets, local rescues, adoption events and animal education. “It gives Leigh’s Lost and Found a bigger stage,” Moody says. “I love doing success stories on TV, because I think it gives people hope that are out there that still have lost animals.”

Pups on the Job

Sta Directory

MEET THE 417-LAND OFFICE PETS WHO ARE ALWAYS UP FOR SCRITCHES FROM CUSTOMERS.

Manny

Breed: Goldendoodle

Employer: Groom’s O ce Environments

Job Responsibilities: Manny greets every visitor with tail wags or enthusiastic head tilts. He keeps a careful eye on lunch breaks for any potential snack-sharing opportunities and makes his rounds through the o ce, keeping the atmosphere light and upbeat.

Squash & Ms. Cyrano

Breed: Maine Coon and domestic shorthair

Employer: BookMarx

Job Responsibilities: Squash trains his new sister, Ms. Cyrano, in the proper ways to be a bookstore cat, lessons he provides in between sleeping, dozing, napping or loafing. Ms. Cyrano handles costumes and paws at guests’ feet for attention.

Pippin

Breed: Pomeranian, Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise Mix

Employer: Justice Jewelers

Job Responsibilities: Found on the highway eight years ago, Pippin became Justice Jewelers’ beloved greeter and morale booster. With her charm and signature howl, she’s the store’s real “closer,” and she moonlights at The Royal cocktail bar.

Luca & Carrara

Breed: Blue Russian and Siamese

Employer: Unique Tile

Job Responsibilities: Luca is the heart of the showroom’s emotional support team—snuggles are his specialty. Carrara welcomes guests at the door and o ers her expert opinion on color selections, especially those that match her own beautiful fur tones.

Millie and Cammy Jo

Breed: Golden Retrievers

Employer: Artistree Pottery

Job Responsibilities: Millie and Cammy

Jo’s roles are greeting guests at the door and circling the store in search of head pats, hugs and love. Artistree Pottery is located near the MSU campus, so students o en stop in just to see the girls.

Gilligan and Dusty

Breed: Domestic shorthair and cockatiel

Employer: All Pet Supplies

Job Responsibilities: Gilligan is All Pet Supplies’ Chief Feline O cer, and he is retired to the o ce now because his public persona can be a little spicy. Dusty is the security alarm and morale booster. He likes to wolf-whistle to customers, welcoming them into the store.

Finn

Breed: Golden Retriever

Employer: Springfield-Branson National Airport

Job Responsibilities: Finn is the pawject manager at SGF. He oversees construction, ensuring all projects run smoothly. Plus, Finn helps educate the public about the changes caused by construction that may impact them while traveling.

Frankie

Breed: Baja pup

Employer: Tie & Timber Beer Co.

Job Responsibilities: Frankie’s the uno cial greeter at Tie & Timber, always flashing guests a toothy grin. He’s got a bum leg—but don’t mention it, he doesn’t seem to notice!

Copper

Breed: Shih Tzu

Employer: FourOneSeven

Job Responsibilities: Copper is the door greeter and security dog. She keeps the kitchen crumb-free with expert precision, and she loves running down the hallway, saying good morning to everyone as they arrive. She is also the most well-dressed member of the FourOneSeven team!

Pets & Their People

Four-Legged Farm Friends

IF YOU’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE FLUFFY, PHOTOGENIC HIGHLAND COWS EVERYONE’S OBSESSED WITH, YOU’LL FIND THEM AT PERFECT PICTURE PONY.

YOU’VE NEVER SEEN MORE PERSONALITYIN a cow than the miniature Highland crew at Perfect Picture Pony in Stra ord, Missouri.

The business all started with Cristi Stockwell’s miniature horse, Whiskey. After she got her LLC, tragedy struck when a neighbor’s three dogs attacked him, leaving him with a 10% chance of survival. It took months of extensive, daily care.

“I almost quit the business, but I was sitting on my porch one day, and I was watching him out in the eld and thinking, ‘If he didn’t give up, why should I give up?’” Stockwell says.

While Whiskey healed, Stockwell’s husband suggested adding miniature cows to the business. Today, her photogenic herd includes Remi, Stella, Steel, Georgia, Maverick and Goose, and this spring, Whiskey nally made his photoshoot debut.

The business quickly expanded beyond 417-land. Her Brews with Moos events— where guests sip local beer and snap sel es with her cows—now take place in Kansas City and Bentonville, in addition to where the event started at 4 By 4 Brewing Company in Fremont Hills.

The animals are one of the best parts of Stockwell’s day. They’re surprisingly social and love to be brushed, petted and spoiled with treats. “They’re really just like big dogs,” she says. “Honestly, they might be better. They don’t mess up your house.” Each one has a distinct personality, from at-

tention-loving Georgia to Ruby, an 8-year-old Angus, who, though double the size, requests the exact same treatment as the miniature Highlands.

As she looks ahead to events in Hermann and beyond, Stockwell’s main goal remains: to keep creating joyful, truly original experiences that bring people closer to animals and each other. “My goal is to continue to get creative and bring the community more fun and unique events,” she says.

Pets & Their People

Not Your Average Pets

THEY’RE SMALL, BRIGHT AND ANYTHING BUT YOUR TYPICAL HOUSE PET.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PETS, MOST PEOPLE THINK about cats or dogs, maybe even hamsters or guinea pigs. Brandon Alms, senior photographer at FourOneSeven, has seven poison dart frogs. No, they’re not cuddly, but they are stunning. Their upper bodies shine orange, their lower halves are a vibrant blue and they’re spotted black all over. “We did a lot of research and were really drawn to the ones we have now,” Alms says. “They’re called Varadero poison dart frogs.”

Alms’ frogs are classi ed as Thumbnail Dart Frogs, reaching only half an inch to three-quarters of an inch when full-grown. Bought from a breeder in Kansas City, they’re native to Peru. Originally four, they successfully bred three more frogs in the past few months. They identify each one by the markings on their heads and have named the original four Ghost, Chester, Jack and Spot—they’re still thinking up the perfect names for the babies.

You might be wondering why Alms would want poisonous creatures as pets, but when bred in captivity, they have no toxins. Their diet in the wild is what gives them their poisonous toxins. Alms and his wife, Martha, never handle them, though, because of their delicate skin.

The couple custom-built the vivarium the frogs live in using animal-safe spray foam, water sealant and paint. Alms used sanders and drills to handcarve a natural rock background, added real plants and mosses, and installed an automated misting system. It’s a tiny piece of the rainforest right in their home.

Pets & Their People

Marci the Cat Queen

WATCHING OVER WHISKERS SHOWS HOW SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS CAN BUILD A BIG-HEARTED MISSION.

MARCI BOWLING WASN’T ALWAYS A CAT person. “Now I can’t imagine my life without them,” she says. Growing up in a military household, pets were never part of the plan. She graduated from Drury College with a degree in marketing and business and then received her Master’s degree from Drury University the rst year it made the transition. Years later, Bowling was at a family event where a barn cat had just had kittens, and one tiny kitten was left behind. She took him home and quickly learned young cats shouldn’t be alone, so she adopted another. Today, when asked how many cats she has at home, her answer is delightfully vague: “several.”

Bowling started Watching Over Whiskers (WOW) after realizing how few resources existed for cats and kittens in southwest Missouri. “I kept saying, ‘someone needs to x this,’” she says. “And my friends said, ‘I think that someone is you.’”

WOW operates with a three-pronged mission: funding routine vetting for cats headed to forever homes, supporting Trap-Neuter-Return e orts for community

cats and o ering an ER fund to help owners cover emergency vet costs. In the past 10 years, the organization has helped place 3,716 cats in forever homes, raised more than $1.7 million for cat care and trapped, neutered and returned 3,758 community cats to their outdoor homes.

When you walk into WOW’s location on East Sunshine Street in Spring eld, you’re greeted by dozens of the prettiest, cleanest cats you’ve ever seen. Each one has a story, and Bowling is eager to share it.

After more than a decade of growth, Bowling is now focused on the future. She recently launched The Next Nine Lives campaign to help WOW move from a volunteer-run model to a sustainable longterm operation.

It costs roughly $350,000 a year in cat care alone to keep the organization running. For Bowling, every day is about nding ways to engage with the community, encourage donations and support, and be able to say yes when the calls come in. “What we operate on is fosters, funding, forever homes and fabulous feline-teers,” she says.

A Peaceful Goodbye

Choosing to say goodbye to a pet is never an easy decision. Two local businesses, Peaceful Crossings and Dr. Maggie, make the experience more bearable by o ering inhome euthanasia. “It gives families the option to say goodbye at their own pace,” says Samantha Sellers, owner of Peaceful Crossings. “Many families choose in-home euthanasia because it allows their pet to be in the environment where they feel safest and most loved, surrounded by their favorite people.”

Clinics can be loud, and the car ride there can be especially stressful. “I saw firsthand how much better it can be for both the patients and for the families during a sensitive time,” Dr. Maggie Schibler says.

In-home euthanasia begins with a phone conversation about the pet’s quality of life and what to expect. On the day of the appointment, the veterinarian and assistant arrive at the home. Families can spend as much time as they need with their companions.

“During the procedure, my No. 1 goal is keeping the patient comfortable and minimizing stress,” Dr. Schibler says. “I take care to let the families know what to expect at each step along the way and give additional time if needed.” Dr. Schibler makes ink impressions of paw prints and nose prints for keepsakes, and people sometimes request locks of hair as a way to remember their pets.

Seeing families navigate this experience with their pets at home shows just how meaningful this service can be. “I didn’t know the impact of what in-home euthanasia really would be like until I started this practice,” Sellers says. “If you can plan ahead, it’s one of the best ways to say goodbye to your pet.”

They Love Pets, and Pets Love Them

FETCH PET SUPPLY

1332 E. Republic Rd., Springfield; fetchpet417.com

Fetch is a locally owned pet supply shop that brings high-quality products, unique finds and locally made goods to Springfield’s pet lovers. The shop even o ers a self-service dog wash and gourmet bakery treats.

ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD

Several locations; eatandys.com

Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? Andy’s makes sure pups don’t miss out with their pup cones, which are tiny cones filled with vanilla frozen custard or whipped cream, finished with a mini dog bone on top.

ALL PET SUPPLIES & EQUINE CENTER

1611 W. Republic Rd., Springfield; allpetsupply.net

All Pets Supplies focuses on o ering hand-picked, high-quality products that help pets live longer, healthier lives, without breaking the bank.

417 PET SITTING 417petsitting.com

417 Pet Sitting is a licensed, bonded and insured pet care service passionate about providing the best possible care for your pets. They o er in-home visits, daily walks and drop-in services.

URBAN REBEL PET BOUTIQUE urbanrebelpets.etsy.com

Owned by Sherri Thompson, Urban Rebel Pet Boutique is a local online shop o ering handmade pet bandannas and matching accessories.

PET THERAPY OF THE OZARKS ptovisits@gmail.com

Pet Therapy of the Ozarks spreads joy and comfort by providing emotional therapy visits at hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other care facilities.

Trail Buddies

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES ARE MADE BETTER WITH A FURRY FRIEND by your side. Jenna Shuster and her partner, Anthony Hales, know that all too well. The couple loves spending time outdoors hiking local trails, camping under the stars, exploring Arkansas and visiting the lakes near home with their two dogs: Finn, a 2-year-old golden retriever, and Popi, a 3-year-old blue heeler. Shuster adopted Finn from a local breeder, while Popi spent some time in the wild before being rescued by Hales.

A yoga and barre instructor, Shuster says life with dogs has made her more active and helped her enjoy all the little moments, like seeing the sunrise and fresh snow.

“Things that you might find annoying now become a little more exciting,” she says.

Popi tends to be the trailblazer. On hikes, she’s the fearless leader with Finn following close behind. She’s even dabbled in rock climbing with Hales. “She’s a boss lady,” Shuster says. “She’s more independent.” Their perfect adventure day starts at Eurasia Coffee and Blue Heron Farm & Bakery to fuel up before heading to a Greenway trail, Two Rivers or Fellows Lake. Finn and Popi hike around, swim and run through the fields. Shuster says they spend the whole day walking around, exploring and spending as much time as possible outside.

Mahjong Fever

From glossy tile sets to sold-out socials, mahjong has sparked a new community craze in 417-land.

Written by Taryn Shorr-Mckee

• Photographed by

Katy St. Clair

A couple times a month at Brown Derby International Wine Center, the clink of cocktail glasses blends with the distinctive shuffle of glossy tiles and sporadic shouts of “Charleston” and “pung!” Dozens of players lean intently over card tables, squinting at the intricate, colorful symbols on their mahjong sets and debating strategies. Within minutes of being announced online, Brown Derby’s Mahjong Socials events sell out—despite consistently increasing the number of players, currently up to 50. In 417-land, mahjong isn’t just having a moment. It’s becoming a movement.

From Qing Dynasty to Queen City

Mahjong traces its origins to 19th-century China, where players used the game’s 144 intricately decorated tiles in a fast-paced contest of strategy, skill and chance. Like with anything else, regional variations developed across Asia over time, each with distinct rules and tile combinations.

American mahjong, the version now sweeping the Ozarks and not to be confused with Western mahjong, has its own identity.

First seen in the 1920s, the American game brought the tile count up to 152, added a standardized card of winning hands and introduced a slightly di erent set of rules. Also sometimes styled as “American mah jongg” or “American mahjongg,” it caught on quickly, particularly among upper-class women’s circles. It’s the kind of game played in country clubs and living rooms, usually with a batch of fresh cocktails nearby. Popularity spiked again in the 1950s and ’60s before slowly fading from modern-day culture.

Now, a century after it rst arrived on American shores, mahjong is once again thriving, enjoying a renaissance spreading rapid- re across the world. This time, social media is driving its resurgence, attracting a younger generation to the game’s mix of tradition, strategy and style.

The Style Factor

If mahjong feels practically tailor-made for Instagram and TikTok, well, that’s because it is. Not literally, of course. But the ornate tiles, traditionally made of bamboo or bone (and in more contemporary fashion, acrylic or melamine) and decorated with everything from owers and dragons to Chinese characters and candy, have always had an enviable glamour. In recent years, brands like Oh My Mahjong (a Dallas-based, woman-owned company), The Mahjong Line, My Fair Mahjong, Charleston Mahjong Club and others have pushed the aesthetic even further with multicolored racks, bold fonts and limited-edition designs that sell out quickly.

“Mahjong room ideas” on Pinterest, videos tagged #MahjongTok and the broader “granny era” trend have introduced the game to a younger demographic who may never have encountered it otherwise. At the same time, lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic gave people extended stretches of time at home, creating a perfect opportunity to pick up new hobbies— like games that happen to be both engaging and visually appealing. These factors helped fuel a renewed interest in mahjong, particularly in the South and on the East Coast, where the game has long had a following. Slowly but steadily, that revival continues to spread westward, and now the Ozarks are in the mix.

Building Community, One Tile at a Time

Few people embody the mahjong boom more than Stephanie Hornickel, a orist and quilting business owner from Ozark. (Find her on Instagram at @bambirdsocialclub.) She describes herself as “the type of person who gets genuinely excited about things, and who wants to share that excitement with others.” After interviewing Hornickel, I can attest to that: I went into the conversation knowing next to nothing about mahjong and by the end, we were making plans for her to teach me.

Hornickel dabbled in mahjong here and there, learning casually with friends, but admits they never fully grasped all the rules. Determined to learn more, she began watching videos online. That’s where she discovered Oh My Mahjong, a brand known for its stylish, upscale tile designs and luxury price tags. Soon, Hornickel had her sights set on one of the sets, and when

The popular Oh My Mahjong brand of tiles is sold at Brown Derby International Wine Center. This set belongs to Stephanie Hornickel, who helps lead mahjong groups at The Local Bevy and Brown Derby.

she realized she could earn a discount by becoming a brand mentor, she jumped at the chance. From there, interest among her family and friends unexpectedly “skyrocketed.” Authentically and enthusiastically sharing about her new tiles on social media quickly drew attention, and before long, people in Hornickel’s circle began asking her to teach them to play. “I can’t get away from teaching now,” she says playfully.

Hornickel plays with three di erent groups weekly, but also o ers private lessons two to three times per week and helps run the Brown Derby open play socials. She even uses her Oh My Mahjong discount to buy tile sets to donate them to Spring eld libraries, where requests for mahjong are steadily increasing. “One of the things I love most about this journey is I’ve been teaching women I never even would have had a conversation with,” Hornickel says. “Our paths would have never even crossed.”

Local Mahjong 101

In Spring eld’s Rountree neighborhood, The Local Bevy has become another hub for curious newcomers. The eclectic gift shop, curated with locally made art and other goods and owned by Andrea and Justin Petersburg, started hosting monthly Mahjong 101 classes in September—in partnership with Hornickel, naturally. The two women have known each other for years (Hornickel sometimes has quilted items for sale in the shop), and when Hornickel approached Petersburg with the idea that The Local Bevy could host classes, it was an immediate yes. Other than Brown Derby, mahjong enthusiasts don’t have many other places in town to play consistently.

The Local Bevy’s two-hour 101 sessions cover fundamentals, then move into a few quick rounds. Participants don’t need to bring anything; tiles, racks and teaching materials are provided. However, most will eventually purchase their own playing card, a key component of American mahjong.

“There are a lot of rules,” Petersburg says. “It’s a complicated game, not at all as straightforward as other card or tile games, and nothing like the computer game millennials probably remember from their childhood. But once you learn how to play, everyone loves it.”

Speak the Language

Like any cultural moment, mahjong has its own language. Although it has rummy-like elements (pairs, runs and suits), those elements get unique-to-mahjong names. Get to know the lingo before you play.

Charleston:

Unique to American mahjong, this is the tile-passing stage that precedes regular gameplay.

Pung:

A set of three identical tiles

Kong:

A set of four identical tiles

Quint:

A set of five identical tiles

Chow:

A run of tiles in the same suit

Bam:

One of three mahjong tile suits, short for “bamboo” because the tiles’ artwork is usually green with images of bamboo. The “one” bam tile almost always features a bird.

Dot:

One of three mahjong tile suits. The tiles’ artwork is usually blue and features dot configurations representing di erent numbers.

Crak:

One of three mahjong tile suits, short for “character” because the tiles’ artwork is usually red and features Chinese characters.

She adds: “Playing mahjong is a wonderful way to get back to the tradition of board game nights and build community at the same time. It sounds so cliché, but this game lets you get away from your phone, from social media, and leave your problems behind for a little while.”

To meet Spring eld’s ever-growing demand for more opportunities to play, Petersburg and Hornickel have plans in the works to add regular open-play nights to their current monthly 101 classes. Word spreads quickly in Spring eld’s tight-knit creative community. A single Instagram post can ll a whole class.

Hornickel also hopes to eventually bring major mahjong tournaments to Spring eld, pointing to other cities around the country that host mahjong tournaments, including Dallas and Charleston. With the new 500-person capacity Hatch Auditorium opening at the Library Center in January, where Hornickel recently accepted a tting position as the event space coordinator, the infrastructure is certainly here.

If you’re willing to travel a bit to get your x, Ozark Mah Jongg in Fayetteville, Arkansas, opened a permanent game lounge where individuals or groups can rent tables or book an instructional session.

The group even collaborated with local artists to design its own tile set, the Art Deco–inspired Winslow 1920 line, which launched in October.

Mahjong’s Enduring Appeal

This game is more than just strategy; it’s social glue. It generally requires four players, creating a built-in reason to gather. Sessions can be as casual as a weeknight with friends in your kitchen or as organized as a sold-out event at Brown Derby. “Mahjong is something you don’t have to prep for in advance,” Hornickel explains. “You just play, maybe enjoy some cocktails, then go home. It’s great for getting us all o our phones for a few hours and bringing us together as a community, something that’s really gotten lost in the years since the pandemic.”

That combination of tradition and novelty, structure and style explains why the game resonates so strongly right now. It’s rooted in history, yet new. Sophisticated, yet approachable. Exactly like the Ozarks.

in 417-land 2025

We simplify nding the top local lawyers by identifying the most highly respected attorneys in Spring eld and southwest Missouri to help you navigate the court system.

Edited by Jo Jolli

The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America are published by BL Rankings, LLC, Augusta, GA. and can be ordered directly from the publisher. For information call 803-648-0300; write 801 Broad Street Suite 950, Augusta GA 30901; email info@bestlawyers.com; or visit bestlawyers.com. An online subscription to Best Lawyers® is available at bestlawyers.com.

Disclaimer and Copyright // BL Rankings, LLC has used its best e orts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. All listed attorneys have been verified as being members in good standing with their respective state bar associations as of July 1, 2024, where that information is publicly available. Consumers should contact their state bar association for verification and additional information prior to securing legal services of any attorney. Copyright 2023 by BL Rankings, LLC, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of this list may be made without permission of BL Rankings, LLC. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of this list without permission. “The Best Lawyers in America,” “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” “Purely Peer Review” and “Best Lawyers” are registered trademarks of BL Rankings, LLC.

APPELLATE PRACTICE

James E. Meadows Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield

Richard L. Schnake Neale & Newman 417-670-2520 Farmers Park, Springfield

ARBITRATION

Michael J. Patton Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton 417-883-2102

1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield

BANKING AND FINANCE LAW

Cory L. Collins Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 East Sunshine Street, Suite 300, Springfield

Charles Cowherd Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E, Republic Road, Suite B300, Springfield

Dan R. Nelson Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Rodney Nichols Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 East Republic Road, Suite B300, Springfield

Lee J. Viorel III

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Randell D. Wallace Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS / INSOLVENCY AND REORGANIZATION LAW

J. Kevin Checkett

Checkett & Pauly 417-358-4049

517 S. Main St., Carthage

Dan R. Nelson Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

David E. Schroeder David Schroeder Law O ce 417-890-1000

3804 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield

Lee J. Viorel III

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS (INCLUDING LLCS AND PARTNERSHIPS)

Julie T. Brown Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Michael J. DeArmon Neale & Newman 417-670-2520 Farmers Park, Springfield

Glenn P. Green Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

W. Bradley Risby Neale & Newman 417-882-9090

Farmers Park Suite F-402, Springfield

CANNABIS LAW

Joseph Dow Sheppard III Carnahan Evans

417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW

William Fleischaker Fleischaker & Williams 417-623-2865

320 W. 4th St., Suite 5, Joplin

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Brian K. Asberry Neale & Newman

417-670-2520

Farmers Park, Springfield

J. Michael Bridges Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St. Suite 300, Springfield

Charles Cowherd

Spencer Fane

417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

Frank M. Evans III Ellis, Ellis, Hammons & Johnson 417-866-5091

2808 S. Ingram Mill, Suite A104, Springfield

Dan R. Nelson Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Judson B. Poppen Neale & Newman

417-670-2520

Farmers Park Suite F-402, Springfield

Jay Preston Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Randy P. Scheer

Baty Otto Scheer 417-281-5100

1855 South Ingram Mill Rd., Suite 207, Springfield

Joseph Dow Sheppard III Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 South Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Jason C. Smith Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300, Springfield

Chris Weiss Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS / UCC LAW

Joseph Dow Sheppard III Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 South Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

CONSTRUCTION LAW

J. Michael Bridges Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Cory L. Collins Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Michael D. Textor Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW

David C. Agee Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

CORPORATE LAW

David C. Agee Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Brian K. Asberry Neale & Newman 417-670-2520

Farmers Park, Springfield

Julie T. Brown Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 South Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Russell W. Cook

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Michael J. DeArmon Neale & Newman 417-670-2520

Farmers Park, Springfield

Lauren M. Hawkins Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Jason Smith Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

Randell D. Wallace Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: GENERAL PRACTICE

Shane Cantin Cantin Mynarich 417-831-6363

2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Suite C, Springfield

Thomas D. Carver Wampler & Passanise 417-882-9300

2974 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield

William Fleischaker Fleischaker & Williams

417-623-2865

320 W. 4th St., Suite 5, Joplin

Marsha D. Jackson

417-886-4477

901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 303, Springfield

John Kail

John Kail

417-869-4680

939 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield

Erica Mynarich

Cantin Mynarich

417-831-6363

2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Suite C, Springfield

Joseph S. Passanise

Wampler & Passanise

417-882-9300

2974 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield

Bert Twibell

Twibell Pierson Criminal Law 417-862-1741

901 E. St. Louis., Suite 1000, Springfield

Branden Twibell

Twibell Pierson Criminal Law

417-862-1741

901 E. St. Louis., Suite 1000, Springfield

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE-COLLAR

Shane Cantin

Cantin Mynarich

417-831-6363

2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Suite C, Springfield

Thomas D. Carver

Wampler & Passanise

417-882-9300

2974 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield

Joseph S. Passanise

Wampler & Passanise

417-882-9300

2974 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield

Branden Twibell

Twibell Pierson Criminal Law 417-862-1741

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 1000, Springfield

DUI / DWI DEFENSE

Shane Cantin Cantin Mynarich 417-831-6363

2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Suite C, Springfield

John Kail John Kail 417-869-4680

939 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield

Joseph S. Passanise Wampler & Passanise 417-882-9300

2974 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield

Adam Woody Law O ce of Adam Woody 417-720-4800

2121 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield

EMPLOYMENT LAW: INDIVIDUALS

Tina G. Fowler Ellis Ellis Hammons & Johnson 417-866-5091

2808 S. Ingram Mill, A104, Springfield

EQUIPMENT FINANCE LAW

David C. Agee Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

FAMILY LAW

Shannon D. Grisham

Pratt Grisham LLC 417-883-8200

3432 S. Culpepper Court, Suite A, Springfield

John S. Pratt

Pratt Grisham LLC

417-883-8200

3432 S. Culpepper Ct., Suite A, Springfield

Andy Scholz

Rooney McBride & Smith LLC

417-708-9681

1445 E. Republic Rd., Suite 300, Springfield

F. Richard Van Pelt

Van Pelt & Van Pelt P.C.

417-886-9080

1524 E. Primrose St., Suite A, Springfield

Roy E. Williams, Jr.

Henry & Williams

800-526-1949

1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd., West Plains

INSURANCE LAW

Je Bauer

Strong Law Trial Attorneys

417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Steven Garner

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Brian Malkmus

Malkmus Law Firm LLC 417-447-5000

305 Park Central West, Springfield

Joshua Mareschal

Mcanany, Van Cleave & Phillips 417-865-0007

1546 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite 100, Springfield

Michael J. Patton

Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton P.C. 417-883-2102

1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield

Mathew L. Placzek

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Kory D. Stubblefield

Stubblefield Law 417-447-0697

1903 E. Battlefield St., Springfield

INTERNATIONAL MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Michael Cosby Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

LAND USE AND ZONING LAW

J. Michael Bridges Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Cory L. Collins Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Patrick J. Platter Neale & Newman 417-670-2520 Farmers Park, Springfield

Bryan O. Wade Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Randell D. Wallace Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Chris Weiss Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic R., Suite B300, Springfield

LEGAL MALPRACTICE LAW: DEFENDANTS

Kent O. Hyde Hyde, Love & Overby 417-831-4046

1121 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield

LITIGATION: BANKING AND FINANCE

Charles Cowherd Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

Dan R. Nelson Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Lee J. Viorel III Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

J. Taylor White Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

LITIGATION: BANKRUPTCY

J. Kevin Checkett Checkett, Pauly, Bay & Morgan 417-358-4049

517 S. Main St., Carthage

Dan R. Nelson Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Lee J. Viorel III Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

LITIGATION: CONSTRUCTION

Michael D. Textor Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

LITIGATION: HEALTH CARE

Joseph Reid Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

LITIGATION: INSURANCE

Je Bauer

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Mathew L. Placzek

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Randy J. Reichard Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

LITIGATION: REAL ESTATE

Andrew K. Bennett Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Cory L. Collins Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Christiaan D. Horton Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

James E. Meadows Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

J. Taylor White Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

LITIGATION: SECURITIES

Joseph Dow Sheppard III Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

LITIGATION: TRUSTS AND ESTATES

Glenn P. Green Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Emily J. Kembell Kembell Woods & Martinsen 417-893-5288

3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310, Springfield

Catherine Moore Kembell Woods & Martinsen 417-893-5288

3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310, Springfield

Jay Preston Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Daniel K. Wooten Neale & Newman 417-670-2520 Farmers Park, Springfield

MASS TORT

LITIGATION / CLASS ACTIONS: DEFENDANTS

Jason Smith Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

MEDIA LAW

Bryan O. Wade Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

MEDIATION

Michael J. Patton

Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. 417-883-2102

1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW: DEFENDANTS

Frank M. Evans III Ellis, Ellis, Hammons & Johnson

417-866-5091

2808 S. Ingram Mill, Suite A104, Springfield

Kent O. Hyde Hyde, Love & Overby 417-831-4046

1121 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield

Brian Malkmus

Malkmus Law Firm LLC 417-447-5000

305 Park Central West, Springfield

Joseph Reid Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Randy P. Scheer

Baty Otto Scheer 417-281-5100

1855 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Suite 207, Springfield

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW: PLAINTIFFS

Shelly Dreyer

Dreyer & Tinney 417-782-6822

2230 E. 32nd St., Suite 202, Joplin

Steve Garner Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

H. Lynn Henry Henry & Williams 800-526-1949

1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd., West Plains

Roger Alan Johnson Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci 417-222-4878

510 W. Sixth St., Joplin

MORTGAGE BANKING FORECLOSURE LAW

Lee J. Viorel III Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION: DEFENDANTS

Rodney E. Loomer Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. 417-883-2102

1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield Editor’s Note: Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. was voted into this category but no longer practices litigation.

Cara R. Rose Franke Schultz & Mullen 417-863-0040

1919 E. Battlefield, Suite B, Springfield

Randy P. Scheer Baty Otto Scheer 417-281-5100

1855 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Suite 207, Springfield

PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION: PLAINTIFFS

Je Bauer

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Shelly Dreyer Dreyer & Tinney 417-782-6822

2230 E. 32nd St., Suite 202, Joplin

Ryan D. Frazier Monsees & Mayer P.C. 417-868-8688

1021 E. Walnut St., Springfield

Steve Garner

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Chandler Gregg Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Steven D. Harrell Harrell Law Firm 417-887-2740

2838 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

H. Lynn Henry Henry & Williams 800-526-1949

1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd., West Plains

Edward J. Hershewe The Hershewe Law Firm P.C. 417-782-3790

431 S. Virginia Ave., Joplin

Paul S. Jameson

Placzek Winget & Placzek 417-883-4000

2750 E. Sunshine, Springfield

Eric Jensen

SJP Law Firm 417-812-8006

431 S. Je erson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield

Roger Alan Johnson Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci 417-222-4878

510 W. Sixth St., Joplin

Kurt Larson

Larson & Miller

417-890-6677

3331 E. Ridgeview St., Springfield

Brad Miller

Larson & Miller 417-890-6677

3331 E. Ridgeview St., Springfield

Rob Palmer

SJP Law Firm 417-812-8006

431 S. Je erson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield

Mathew L. Placzek

Lowther Johnson

Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Randy J. Reichard

Lowther Johnson

Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Tim Sifers

SJP Law Firm 417-812-8006

431 S. Je erson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield

PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION: DEFENDANTS

Kent O. Hyde

Hyde, Love & Overby 417-831-4046

1121 South Glenstone Avenue, Springfield

Rodney E. Loomer

Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. 417-883-2102

1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield

Editor’s Note: Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. was voted into this category but no longer practices litigation.

Brian Malkmus

Malkmus Law Firm LLC

417-447-5000

305 Park Central West, Springfield

Joshua Mareschal

McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips 417-865-0007

1546 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite 100, Springfield

Michael J. Patton

Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. 417-883-2102

1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield

Editor’s Note: Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C. was voted into this category but no longer practices litigation.

Joseph Reid Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Randy P. Scheer

Baty Otto Scheer 417-281-5100

1855 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Suite 207, Springfield

PRODUCT LIABILITY

LITIGATION: PLAINTIFFS

Je Bauer

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Steven Garner

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Chandler Gregg

Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

Steven D. Harrell

Harrell Law Firm 417-887-2740

2838 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Roger Alan Johnson Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci 417-222-4878

510 W. Sixth St., Joplin

Rob Palmer SJP Law Firm 417-812-8006

431 S. Je erson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield

PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE LAW: PLAINTIFFS

Chandler Gregg Strong Law Trial Attorneys 417-887-4300

901 E. St. Louis, Suite 1800, Springfield

REAL ESTATE LAW

J. Michael Bridges Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St, Suite 300, Springfield

Cory L. Collins Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Glenn P. Green

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

Mike Nichols

Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

Rodney Nichols

Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

Jason Smith

Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

Kory D. Stubblefield Stubblefield Law LLC 417-447-0697

1903 E. Battlefield, Springfield

Michael D. Textor Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Bryan O. Wade Husch Blackwell 417-268-4000

3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300, Springfield

Randell D. Wallace Kutak Rock 417-720-1410

300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield

Richard Walters

Spencer Fane 417-888-1000

2144 E. Republic Rd., Suite B300, Springfield

TAX LAW

Frank C. Carnahan Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

John M. Carnahan III Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Emily J. Kembell Kembell Woods & Martinsen 417-893-5288

3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310, Springfield

TRUSTS AND ESTATES

John M. Carnahan III Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Michael J. DeArmon Neale & Newman 417-670-2520

Farmers Park, Springfield

Courtney L. Fletcher Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Emily J. Kembell Kembell Woods & Martinsen 417-893-5288

3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310, Springfield

Douglas D. Lee Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

Anne Sallee Mason Neale & Newman 417-670-2520

Farmers Park, Springfield

Catherine Moore Kembell Woods & Martinsen 417-893-5288

3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310, Springfield

Thomas D. Peebles, Jr. Carnahan Evans 417-447-4400

2805 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield

W. Bradley Risby Neale & Newman 417-670-2520

Farmers Park, Springfield

WORKERS’

COMPENSATION LAW: CLAIMANTS

Randy J. Reichard Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law 417-557-3407

901 E. St. Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield

ATTORNEY

PROFILES

The jury is in on nding the attorney that is right for you. Browse our Attorney Pro les to learn more about some of 417-land attorneys and their practices. These legal experts are ready to take on your case.

CANTIN MYNARICH, LLC

417-831-6363

CANTINMYNARICH.COM

2560 S. GLENSTONE AVE., SUITE C SPRINGFIELD

Cantin Mynarich, LLC, aggressively defends people against a wide variety of criminal allegations including sex and pornography-related offenses, serious drug and conspiracy offenses, assault, rearm, fraud and white-collar crimes. They represent clients in state courts throughout southwest Missouri and in federal courts in Spring eld, Jefferson City and Kansas City.

Being accused of a crime can be confusing and scary, so Shane and Erica prioritize frequent communication with their clients.They use their experience, skill and resources to fully investigate the facts and all possible defenses in order to achieve the best outcome for each client. Because Shane and Erica only handle criminal matters, they have developed strong relationships with prosecutors and courts. Due to their reputation and results at trial and on appeal, other lawyers often refer their most complex cases to the attorneys at Cantin Mynarich.

Shane Cantin and Erica Mynarich

EVANS & DIXON, LLC

Evans & Dixon, LLC, is a full-service, regional law rm trusted by both small and large business owners throughout southwest Missouri.

They represent clients in a multitude of areas, including bankingrelated litigation and loan review; business organization; employment matters; estate and succession planning; general civil litigation; insurance-related litigation and claims; mediations; shareholder agreements; transactions and outside general counsel for corporations.

By operating with the client’s best interest in mind, Evans & Dixon, LLC, is committed to helping business owners and insurers throughout 417-land achieve business success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur delving into a new small business venture, an established owner looking to merge or sell, or a CEO seeking counsel to protect your company, their business attorneys have the experience to tailor advice to your speci c needs.

Your needs come rst in Evans & Dixon’s approach to Workers’ Compensation law. Their attorneys are well-practiced at different claim handling philosophies and, with a long-standing reputation of timely communication, are often involved in legislation. Of course, in litigation, there is nothing more important than experience. Evans & Dixon’s Civil and Commercial Litigation attorneys approach complex tort cases, involving a multitude of industries, with necessary aggression and a focus on timely results.

Learn more about their strengths, resources and 80-year history at evans-dixon.com.

Back row: Joshua Baker, Member; Kevin Dunaway, Of Counsel; Karen Johnson, Member; Garrett Grellner, Associate; Brittany Perry, Member; Front row: Lynn Rodgers, Of Counsel, Brittany Holloway, Associate; Jacob Eddy, Senior Associate; Kirk Kaczmarek, Senior Associate; Shari Lockhart, Member

KUTAK ROCK

(417) 720-1410

KUTAKROCK.COM

300 S JOHN Q HAMMONS PKWY #800, SPRINGFIELD

Kutak Rock consists of over 600 attorneys across 21 of ces in 15 states and Washington, D.C. The Spring eld of ce has 15 attorneys serving clients throughout Missouri and beyond.

Five Spring eld attorneys were recognized in Best Lawyers in America for 2025: Dan R. Nelson (banking and nance law, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, commercial litigation, litigation–banking and nance, litigation–bankruptcy), Joseph Reid (litigation–health care, medical malpractice law–defendants, product liability litigation–defendants), Michael D. Textor (construction law, litigation–construction, real estate law), Randell D. Wallace (banking and nance law, corporate law, land use and zoning law, real estate law) and J. Taylor White (litigation–banking and nance, litigation–real estate).

Ariel Sparrow (corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law, real estate law) was named to the Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list. Two attorneys were also named Lawyer of the Year: Dan Nelson (bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law) and Joseph Reid (medical malpractice law–defendants).

Kutak Rock’s multidisciplinary platform spans more than 25 practice areas and dozens of specialties, allowing the Spring eld team to deliver practical, business-minded counsel that exempli es the rm’s dedication to excellence nationwide.

Back row: Joseph Reid, Collin Elliott, Jeffrey Coffey, Paul Link; 2nd row: Ariel Sparrow, Mike Textor, Amanda Cooper, Randell Wallace, Megan McCollough, Hailey Merz, James Jeffries; Seated: Taylor White, Emily Allen, Dan Nelson

LARSON & MILLER

If you or your family are victims of an impaired or distracted driver, Larson & Miller will protect you. However, if you injure or kill someone while driving impaired, this rm will sue you and hold you accountable for the damages you cause.

Larson & Miller has prosecuted hundreds of impaired driving cases and secured settlements in thousands more for clients who were seriously injured or lost a loved one. They are trial lawyers with a history of taking cases to court and winning. Even if you prefer to settle your case, it is best to come prepared for a ght by arming yourself with lawyers with a proven record of success. When you or a loved one is injured, you deserve the best help available. The insurance industry knows which personal injury lawyers pose a real threat, and which ones do not, so choose your lawyer carefully.

Aside from their day jobs, the lawyers at Larson & Miller also aim to prevent impaired driving crashes before they occur. Safe and Sober, a nonpro t founded by Kurt Larson, has a mission to prevent substance misuse. Established 21 years ago in 417-land schools, Safe and Sober has now reached over 1.4 million students in schools and after-school organizations throughout Missouri and in all 50 states.

Kurt Larson & Brad Miller

With a dynamic team of more than 25 attorneys and business professionals, the Spencer Fane Spring eld of ce is uniquely positioned to advise clients on a wide range of legal issues. The deeply experienced team provides exceptional services in several areas of law, including business transactions and litigation, bankruptcy restructuring and creditors’ rights, tax and estate planning, regulatory, and real estate and construction.

Yet again, the rm is proud of its six attorneys who have been named Best Lawyers and ve others who are recognized as “ones to watch.” The talent brings fresh perspectives, innovative solutions and a proactive approach to tackling complex legal challenges.

Thanks in large part to this elite, industry-renowned legal talent, Spencer Fane continues to maintain its pace as one of the fastest-growing law rms in the country, according to the Am Law 200. Today, the rm boasts more than 600 lawyers and serves clients nationwide from 30 of ces in 16 states and Washington, D.C. The Spring eld of ce is a testament to this growth, re ecting the rm’s dedication to providing top-notch legal services and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

PHOTO

Back row: Shelby Wood, Chris Weiss, Rod Nichols, Richard Walters, Charles Cowherd, Henry Sivils; Front row: Mike Nichols, Alec Martinez, Ben Shantz; Not pictured: Jason Smith, Camber Jones

W417-882-9300 ENTRAPPED.COM 29744 E. BATTLEFIELD, SPRINGFIELD

ampler & Passanise has provided the highest-quality legal representation for over 50 years. Managing Partner Joseph S. Passanise, Thomas D. Carver, Of Counsel, and James R. Hayes, Attorney at Law, use a team approach to managing cases, leading paralegals and investigators to create winning defense strategies.

The rm defends serious and complex charges, including Federal cases, homicide, weapon and drug violations, domestic violence, assault, felony and misdemeanor DWI, and white-collar crimes.

Passanise has been with the rm for 36 years, handling over 7,500 cases. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for 18 years and Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers for 19 years. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers and a National College of DUI Defense State Delegate.

Carver has practiced for over 50 years, representing more than 300 clients in Federal cases and thousands in Missouri State courts. He received the Robert Duncan Award for Appellate Excellence and has been recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for more than a decade.

Hayes joined the rm in 2025, bringing nearly two decades of experience. He’s the recipient of the Terry T. Thomas Trial Practice Achievement Award and was named to the Order of Barristers. He has built a reputation as a erce advocate in criminal defense, ghting tirelessly to achieve the best client outcomes.

James Hayes, Thomas D. Carver, Joseph S. Passanise PHOTO BY

HUSCH BLACKWELL

417-268-4000 | HUSCHBLACKWELL.COM

3810 E. SUNSHINE ST., SUITE 300, SPRINGFIELD

As Spring eld’s only Am Law 100 rm, Husch Blackwell is uniquely positioned to serve as a trusted legal partner for local business leaders. By prioritizing the client experience, the rm empowers its people to develop collaborative legal solutions that draw on the collective knowledge of its 1,000+ attorneys nationwide and the business acumen of its professional staff. Backed by the experience of world-class business teams, Husch Blackwell lawyers don’t just solve legal problems, they help clients make data-driven decisions, optimize their operations, and gain competitive advantages.

SCHMIDT KIRBY & SULLIVAN PC

417-882-2828 | SKSLAWFIRM.COM

2838 S. INGRAM MILL RD., SPRINGFIELD

Since 1989, the rm of Schmidt Kirby & Sullivan, PC, has served 417-land in legal matters, including estate planning, probate, trust administration, business organization, commercial and real estate transactions, and landlord/tenant matters.

Attorneys Matthew N. Schmidt and David F. Sullivan will be forever grateful for the leadership and vision of John H. Schmidt, who lost his battle with cancer in April 2023 at the age of 75. John’s son, Matthew N. Schmidt, honors his father’s legacy by continuing to represent clients with the utmost integrity, knowledge and respect.

Trust the legal guidance of Schmidt Kirby & Sullivan, PC, with the most precious assets and transactions of your life and business. They will always stand with you.

Matthew N. Schmidt, David F. Sullivan

PHOTOS BY KATY ST. CLAIR

Spring eld Partners: Cory Collins, Christopher Peterson, Bryan Wade, David Agee, Ryan Olson, Lauren Hawkins, Michael Cosby

TWIBELL PIERSON

417-862-1741 | TWIBELLPIERSON.COM 901 E. ST. LOUIS ST., SUITE 1000, SPRINGFIELD

The Twibell Pierson Law Firm began in 1975 when attorney Bert Twibell left the Greene County Prosecutor’s Of ce for a career in private practice, helping people solve their problems. Today, the attorneys of Twibell Pierson have over 90 years of combined experience and strive to provide unmatched criminal defense and client service.

What separates Twibell Pierson from other rms is the team approach they take to every client and case. When you hire them, you are hiring their entire rm, not just one attorney. Twibell Pierson is also the proud recipient of recognition that includes Branden Twibell being honored by The Best Lawyers in America® for Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White Collar. Twibell was also chosen by his peers as “Lawyer of the Year” in 2025 for both White Collar and general practice categories.

The Midwest’s premier women’s leadership experience returns August 13–14 to the Branson Convention Center, bringing two days of insight, inspiration and impact to southwest Missouri.

sponsored by

Bryan Delleville, Bert Twibell, Cole Roberts, Kristie Pierce, Scott Pierson, Branden Twibell

TURN THE PAGE TO FIND PIPING HOT DINING NEWS AND SOME EXTRADELICIOUS OZARKS EATS.

Taste is

ARE YOU READY TO DIG INTO THE YUMMIEST STUFF AROUND? LET’S EAT!

DIG IN!

Small Town Hotspot

Raku Sushi & Hibachi brings trending treats, classic hibachi avors and to-diefor ramen to the city of Ozark.

BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS

Taste is

WHEN RAKU SUSHI & Hibachi opened its doors in Ozark, the sta was met with a hoard of instant fans. The place was packed right from the jump. Preopening teasers on social media had shown brightly colored walls, ower-accented sushi rolls and Instagram-trendy grab-and-go treats like fruit sando and homemade onigiri. The rst time my husband, Eli, and I tried to dine there with our kids, we never made it in the door. The crowd was huge, the wait was long, and our kids were hangry. A week or so later, Eli and I went back for a date night. This time, the restaurant seemed to have streamlined its system. Although the restaurant was full, the wait was reasonable and the employee manning the door was the perfect combo of e cient and friendly. Before we knew it, we were seated at the sushi bar with menus in hand.

After studying the options for a bit, I ordered the Mango Tango Roll with a poke salad for my meal, and Eli went with the tantan ramen. The Mango Tango Roll features tempura shrimp, cucumber and crab inside, with seared tuna, mango salsa and wasabi aioli outside. It’s one of those rolls that’s a bit precarious to eat. There are a lot of toppings! But once you get that perfect bite, everything works well together. I loved the crunch and the fresh avors of the mango salsa, and seared tuna is a weakness for me. In retrospect, although I enjoyed this roll, I sort of wish I had gone with something

Raku Sushi & Hibachi

1487 W. South St., Ozark, 417- 551-4168

rakuozark.com

Open Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

$–$$

a little simpler. If you’re a “put everything on it!” kind of sushi-eater, you’ll adore this. If you’re a “focus on the fresh sh” kind of sushi eater, you might enjoy something more like the hamachi jalapeño appetizer featuring sashimi simply but boldly dressed with jalapeños and ponzu sauce.

Eli loved his tantan ramen (one of six ramen varieties on the menu), and I admit I stole more than my fair share of bites. I always nab one nibble (for science!) so I can write about the avors. With this ramen, I dipped in multiple times. The noodles were tender and bouncy, the cured egg was soft boiled to jammy perfection, and the fresh scallions and cucumber added just the right amount of brightness to the umami explosion of the well-seasoned ground beef.

Raku’s hibachi is one thing we didn’t get a chance to try yet, and I’ve heard from others that trying it in a bento box is the way to go.

On our way out, we peeked at the graband-go shelves to pick a few items to take home. We bought some fun fruit-shaped breads for our kids (one looked like a watermelon slice, the other like a banana) and a slice of the ube tiramisu for me and Eli to share. The kids loved the fruity sweet breads, especially the banana that you could actually peel! And the ube tiramisu was such a delightful meal ender: not too sweet, delightfully avored, extremely craveable.

BITE-SIZE REVIEW

Cozy Comfort Food

Pimento cheese fans, listen up: We found your new favorite lunch.

BY TESSA COOPER

NEXT TIME YOU’RE in downtown Ozark and craving a hearty buildyour-own sandwich

with some soup, go around the gazebo and follow the charming red brick sidewalk to Lolli’s Off the Square. If the picturesque, small-town setting isn’t enough to make you feel like an extra in Gilmore Girls, a trip here will do the trick. We love that several items on the menu are named after people, like Regina’s Homemade Pimento Cheese on a Crois -

Creamy pimento cheese meets a buttery croissant in this sammy.

sant, which is a nod to co-owner Regina Maidlow. The business itself also has a namesake. Co-owner Donna Bradley’s grandkids lovingly refer to her as Lolli. Donna opened Pop’s Smoke Shack in Branson West with her husband, Kelly Bradley, aka Pops, so you’ll also find some barbecue options on the menu. One last thing: Don’t forget to take a look at the daily specials list. Your Tuesday lunch hour may just become the highlight of your week thanks to the pepperoni and mozzarella pizza melt served on a fresh baguette. (We can confirm.)

Bourbon & Barbecue

BY TESSA COOPER

STUSQUATCH’S ROCKSTAR BBQ AND Where House Bar are neighbors at Metro Eats, and the two businesses just happen to serve very complementary o erings: barbecue and adult beverages. After placing an order at Stusquatch’s

Rockstar BBQ, head to Where House Bar to order a drink and snag a table. While

you can certainly ask the bartender for a recommendation on what will taste best with your meal, we highly recommend pairing the old-fashioned with the three-meat platter and going with the ribs, pork belly and brisket. There’s just something about the way the smoky bourbon from Ty Iechyd Da Distillery brings out the smokiness in the meat while

cutting through the fat perfectly. This drink is all about the details. The bitters and syrup are house-made, and the garnish is a craft bourbon cocktail cherry paired with an orange peel that gives o a delightful aroma. And of course, the three-meat platter doesn’t forgo the sides. The potato salad and beans do not disappoint.

A Sauce From Scratch

Fried chicken dishes obviously aren’t a groundbreaking o ering at 417-land Chinese restaurants. But there’s one thing that really sets Triple Eights’ namesake fried chicken dish apart from the crowd, and that’s the sauce. They make it in-house, using their sweet-and-sour sauce as a base. It gets its tangy-sweet flavor from fruit juice

Triple Eights Chicken (left) is sweet, spicy and perfectly indulgent.

that they blend themselves. Then, they level up the flavor by adding their signature spicy sauce to it. We recommend enjoying this dish at the new Triple Eights location, which opened at 1313 W. Kearney St., Springfield, in March. It’s a beautiful, cozy space filled with stunning woodwork and rattan light fixtures.

FRIED & TRUE | BY TESSA COOPER

Yuletide Yum

Where to nd a traditional holiday treat made by a Frenchtrained chef.

BY TESSA COOPER

French-born pastry chef Roland Parnyputs the utmost care into every confection he makes, and his Bûche De Noël cakes are no exception. He’s been decorating them the same way ever since he first learned to make them in culinary school in France at age 17. Each traditional buttercream Yule log cake showcases incredible attention to detail. Parny imitates the texture of wood, adds on a mushroom and gives it all a pop of color with holly using frosting as his medium. These Yule log cakes come in chocolate, mocha or Grand Marnier flavors, and you can order one directly through Parny at 417-683-9903. Empire Co ee is also taking orders at 714-589-9339 for pick up in Rogersville. When picking up your order at Empire Co ee, you can also purchase one of Parny’s other pastries and a latte for the road. Parny begins making his Bûche De Noël cakes mid-December, so the sooner you place your order, the better.—Tessa Cooper

THE SWEET SPOT

A Tasty Christmas With Chef Tiny

When Brandon Moore (aka Chef Tiny) of Retro Metro looks back on what made his childhood Christmases so special, it wasn’t what was under the tree. It was the magic his mom, Jill, was cooking up in the kitchen.

BY TESSA COOPER

IF YOU WANT TO SEE CHEF BRANDON MOORE LIGHT up, just ask him about his childhood Christmases. “My mom always had the house looking like the North Pole,” he recalls. “She was an incredible decorator, much to my dad’s chagrin. ‘It’s just too much,’ he would always say. My dad was festive, but we always considered poor Pops to be grumpy because his cheer just wasn’t as big as ours.” Twinkle lights, garland and ornaments aside, it is the food that Moore is always the most nostalgic about.

He and his sister knew the drill from a young age. Christmas Eve was reserved for party food like croissant sausages, dips, charcuterie, veggies and fruit. But when Christmas day rolled around, his mom, Jill, would begin whipping up a feast of roast, ham, rolls and extravagant casseroles that was always ready come dinnertime.

The Moore family has an unwavering love for their Christmas traditions, which are still going strong to this day. “Today, nothing has changed except that my sister and I inherited most of

PHOTO

IN THE KITCHEN

my mom’s decor and use it in our houses,” he says. “That way my dad can be happier with less ‘clutter.’”

But there’s one new tradition Brandon has added. Every Christmas Eve, he teams up with his family, with fellow local chef

Jill Barron and with Retro Metro sta and regulars to deliver Christmas dinner to law enforcement across Greene, Christian and Webster County. Moore spreads the Christmas spirit the best way he knows how, and that’s through good food made with love.

RECIPES

Although Brandon Moore has spent the majority of his life living in Springfield, he’s originally from Dallas. His Southern roots are evident in his love for hospitality, as well as his family’s Christmas recipes. Here, he shares the recipe for two of his mother’s famous holiday dishes that have to be on the menu each year.

Oh La La Potatoes

“You literally say ‘Oh la la’ in your head every bite,” Brandon says. “It’s corny, but true.”

From the Kitchen of: Jill Moore Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

6 medium russet potatoes

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

6 tablespoons butter

¾ cup sour cream

3 green onions (thinly sliced)

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 pinch of garlic powder (optional) Paprika for dusting (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Cook potatoes in skins, then cool. Peel and crumble with fork.

2. Combine cheese and 4 tablespoons butter in large saucepan. Heat and stir until cheese is almost melted. Remove from heat.

3. Blend in sour cream, onions, salt and pepper. Add a pinch of garlic powder (optional).

4. Fold in potatoes.

5. Spoon into greased 2-quart casserole dish. Pat with 2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle with paprika to add flavor and color (optional).

7. Cover and bake for 25 minutes.

Cherries in the Snow

This Mama Moore classic is a perennial family favorite.

From the Kitchen of: Jill Moore Serves: 9

Ingredients

Graham cracker crust

1½ cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs

1⁄3 cup white sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling

13 ounces cream cheese

½ cup white sugar

¼ teaspoon vanilla

1 cup whipped cream or Cool Whip

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1 15-ounce can cherry pie filling

Directions

1. Press graham cracker crust into the bottom of a square 8x8x2 pan. Place crust in the refrigerator to cool.

2. Beat cream cheese and sugar until flu y.

3. Add vanilla, then fold in whipped cream and marshmallows.

4. Spread mixture into the prepared pan with crust.

5. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. 6. Cover with cherry pie filling. Slice into squares, and serve.

Dining Guide

OUR DINING GUIDE FEATURES A SELECT LIST OF RESTAURANTS IN THE Ozarks. The magazine’s editors recommend all these restaurants, and we don’t accept freebies in exchange for reviews or listings. Entries are updated often and appear based on space availability. Specially featured restaurants are chosen by editors in service to readers.

$ = less than $10, $$ = mostly $10–20, $$$ = $20 or more

B, L, D = Serves Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner d= Outdoor seating

14 MILL MARKET

203 E. Mount Vernon St., Nixa, 14millmarket.com

Food hall. There are 10 restaurants, the full-service Wisner Bar and a fun outdoor entertainment area. Stop by for Korean barbecue bowls at The Gochu, sweets at Liege Love Wa e Co., tacos at No’cho Ordinary Taco, pretty desserts and boba tea at Keikeu, burgers at MO Slider Company, British pasties at London Calling, shaved ice at Sno Biz, poke bowls at Fresh Poke, barbecue at Uptown Hog, pizza at Classic Pizza Co., and more. $–$$ L D d

ANDY B’S ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

1127 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-8831234; 405 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, bowlandybs.com.

American fare. The restaurant at Andy B’s Entertainment Center offers lane-side food service and a menu full of hearty, tasty fare like burgers, pizzas, pasta and more. If you have any pint-size bowlers, get the hot pretzel. It’s a kid-pleaser. Bonus: $ L D

AVIARY BY LAVENDER FALLS

2144 E. Republic Road, Suite E120, Springfield, 417-881-9736; aviarycafe.com

Crepes and bistro fare. This spot has long been known for being one of the few places in the area to get freshly prepared crepes—which you can find there in both savory and sweet varieties. There are also beautiful salads and delicious entrees that have a little bit of French flair. $–$$ B L D d

BAIR’S SPORTS GRILL

3821 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-3685919; 1644 Highway 60 East, Republic, 417-7325077; 701 N. McCroskey St., Suite 1, Nixa, 417-7253777; bairsburgers.com

Burgers. There are 22 appetizers and 50 burgers on the menu at Bair’s, plus plenty of non-burger sandwiches, great chicken wings and salads. We love the burger that is topped with ranch dressing and fried pickles. For an appetizer, be sure to dig into a plate of fried green beans or spicy cheese curds. $ L D d

BIG WHISKEY’S

Several 417-land locations, bigwhiskeys.com American. Springfield’s go-to for bu alo chicken dip, burgers and the staple pub foods has locations spreading throughout the Midwest. Fans rave about the spin dip too—a cheesy concoction with spinach and a little bit of heat. Don’t miss the ever-popular burgers, including the pretzel burger with horseradish aioli, bacon and cheddar. $$ BL D d

BLACK SHEEP BURGERS & SHAKES

BIG EASY GRILL

3641 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-832-0040 Cajun. The jambalaya is fantastic, and we like to order it extra-spicy. The oyster po’boys are customer favorites, and the boudin (Cajun sausage balls) are not to be missed. Try mix-and-match dishes to create a meal full of your favorite Cajun flavors (you can order a side of red beans and rice with a po’boy, for example). Or you could just keep it simple and dig into the peeland-eat shrimp. $ L D dK

BIGSHOTS GOLF

1930 E. Kearney St., Springfield, 417-4273040, bigshotsgolf.com American. Come for the golf but stay for the good eats. There are great burgers (like the double smash burger with Hatch green chilis), pizza, wings and lots of shareable apps like the crispy red chili cauliflower. Don’t miss the fun cocktails. We loved the Bee Sting, made with tequila, agave, grapefruit, lime juice and jalapeño. So good! Be sure to stop by for brunch on the weekends. $$ BL D d

CAFE CUSCO

234 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-8688088, cafecusco.com

Peruvian. This menu is packed with fun and unexpected dishes that are inspired by the cuisine of Peru and the Andes Mountains. A few standouts: the black bean quinoa burger with avocado spread, the Lomo Saltado, and a host of delicious entrees. $$ L D d

CANYON GRILL RESTAURANT

Four Springfield locations; blaaacksheep.com Burgers. This burger joint is located in downtown Springfield, with outposts in Chesterfield Village and on East Sunshine Street. Chow down on the Good Yogi; two grass-fed patties are topped with white cheddar, lettuce, onion, pickle and baaad sauce—house-made Thousand Island dressing. The shakes are great here too, with both kid-friendly options and grown-up versions with alcohol. $ L D

BLUE HERON FARM & BAKERY

206 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-701-1130 Farm-to-table. All of the freshly baked pastries and breads are amazing here. They do some creative things with pastry, from tender galettes filled with loads of luscious lemon curd to flaky pot pies filled with savory meats and veggies. We love the sausage roll served with pickles and whole-grain mustard. The almond croissant is oh-sodreamy. $ BL

If you have a foodie story idea, news about a local restaurant, or a correction to one of our Dining Guide listings, email our editorial team at yum@417mag.com.

at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, 2038 W. State Highway 86, Lampe, 800-225-6343, dogwoodcanyon.org

American. Located on the grounds of Dogwood Canyon nature preserve, the Canyon Grill Restaurant has a menu inspired by its surroundings. Try the bison burger made with bacon and caramelized onion topped with fire-roasted poblano peppers and pepper-jack cheese. $–$$ L D d

CELLAR

417

15058 Business Highway 13, Branson West, cellar417.com

Bistro fare. With a great wine list and a huge deck overlooking the gorgeous Ozarks hills, this is a great spot to sip and eat with friends. A lot of the dishes have an Italian flare. Start with the hummus and whipped feta shareable to munch on with your friends, or order one of the entrees like cacio e pepe. $$–$$$ L D d

CELLAR+PLATE

2916 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, 417-3681739, cellarandplate.wine Wine bar. Find exceptional wine and tasty food in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. Customers love the steak medallions and the seafood ravioli. Cellar+Plate has a great wine menu. $$ D d

CHATEAU GRILLE

415 N. State Highway 265, Branson, 417-243-1777, chateauonthelake.com

Contemporary American. Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center, Chateau Grille o ers gorgeous views of Table Rock Lake. And you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here. The restaurant focuses on upscale, seasonal cuisine, flying in fresh seafood and sourcing local ingredients for the menu.

$$$ BL D d

CHERRY PICKER

PACKAGE + FARE

601 S. Pickwick Ave., Springfield, 417-986-5800

Contemporary American. What do you get when you combine a co ee shop, bar, cafe and liquor store?

Cherry Picker Package + Fare. A small selection of sandwiches, soups and salads is served daily. We’re big fans of the To Brie or Not to Brie—an Artisan Oven baguette topped with salted butter spread, thinly sliced ham, apricot preserves and a slice of brie. $ BL D d

CIVIL KITCHEN & TAP

107 and 222 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-501-8456, civilkitchenandtap.com

American. Specializing in upscale comfort food, Civil Kitchen and Tap draws inspo from Southern and Midwestern staples. Try the huge salads or the onion rings. $ BL D d

DERBY DELI

2023 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-883-4066

Bistro fare. Located inside Brown Derby International Wine Center, this eatery features sandwiches, salads, cheese plates, a hummus board and more.

We love the Martin’s salad, topped with oven-roasted chicken, or the Local Goat salad. Don’t miss the weekend brunch. $ BL D

DEVIL’S POOL RESTAURANT

at Big Cedar, 612 Devil’s Pool Road, Ridgedale, bigcedar.com

American. Here you can enjoy a tasty meal while watching a gorgeous view of Table Rock Lake. For an appetizer, the smoked trout is fantastic. The entrees change with the season and are always the perfect blend of rustic and upscale. Brunch Sundays. $$–$$$ BL D d

DOBYNS DINING ROOM

1 Opportunity Ave., Point Lookout, 417-690-2146, keetercenter.edu

American. College of the Ozarks students grow produce and raise meat to use in the restaurant, so the menu has a very farmto-table quality. The Keeter Center also has a creamery that o ers up some homemade ice creams and sorbets. $$ L D d

DOWNING STREET POUR HOUSE

24 Downing St, Hollister, 417-320-6106; dspourhouse.com

American. Downing Street Pour House is the brainchild of the award-winning barbecue slingers who own Gettin’ Basted. Musttry dishes include the giant Bavarian pretzel appetizer and the blackened mahi mahi. Don’t miss the wagyu burgers. $–$$ L D

FARMERS GASTROPUB

2620 South Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, 417-864-6994, farmersgastropub.com

Contemporary British and American. The menu here features locally sourced ingredients wherever possible and changes regularly. The entrees are well priced and satisfying, like the Scotch eggs and the chicken chop salad (arugula, kale, cabbage, blue cheese, boiled egg, pumpkin seeds, buttermilk dressing). $$ BL D d

FIRE & ICE

2546 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-8665253, oasisfireandice.com

Global cuisine. This spot (located inside Oasis Hotel & Convention Center) specializes in dry-aged steaks and certified Angus beef and has a delicious menu that changes with the seasons. Be sure to try the Fire & Ice Whiskey Burger with a Maker’s Mark whiskey glaze and crispy fried onions. $$ L D d

THE GARRISON

at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, 417-210-6644, finleyfarmsmo.com

Shareable fine dining. Located beneath the Ozark Mill at Finley Farms, The Garrison features a dark and moody speakeasy vibe, a fine dining menu and a beautiful riverside patio. Try the mini pot roast, the forest panzanella salad or the delightful rosemary pound cake. . $$$ D d

THE GROTTO

301 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-886-9600 gogrotto.com

West Coast–style

American. The menu is accessible to meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. The super-indulgent warm blue cheese chips are a favorite appetizer. Customers like the burgers, the grilled salmon and the super-tasty salads. $ L D d

HACKETT HOT WINGS

520 S. Main St., Joplin, 417-625-1333, hacketthotwings.com

American. Hot wing flavors range from tame barbecue sauce to super-fiery hot sauces that pack a punch. We’re partial to the delicious hot and honey sauce and the house dry rub. Ini addition to wings, you can find tasty treats like sweet potato pu s, breaded cheese curds, fried dill pickles and more. $ L D

Party Pack Feeds ten

HARVEST RESTAURANT

8011 E. State Highway

AD, Rogersville, 417-8303656, harvestmo.com

Farm-to-table. Owners, Craig and Tamara Von Foerster, have created a restaurant focused on hyper-seasonal, local cuisine. The menu is always in flux depending on what is in-season. $$$ D d

HY-VEE

1720 Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-8818224; 2150 E. Sunshine St., Springfield; hy-vee.com

American and more. It’s a great place to find something for every member of your family—even the picky ones! You have a hibachi grill, a pizzeria, hearty comfort food, sushi, Chinese dishes and burgers. $–$$ B L D

JW’S KITCHEN

2111 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-306-9997

British and American Southern. This tasty spot comes from the owners of Farmers Gastropub, Andy and Misty Hampshire. It features excellently prepared brunch options, like biscuits with chocolate gravy (a southern American favorite) or a full English breakfast (black sausage included) and everything in between. For dinner, find comforting fare like fried chicken or roasted Scottish salmon. $$ BLD

LA ROUX BISTRO

300 E. Commercial St., Springfield, larouxbistro.com

Cajun/French/Ozarks cuisine. The menu at this unique spot is a fusion of flavors from Louisiana

A Holly Jolly Time at J.O.B. Public House

J.O.B Public House has opened the doors to its Christmas pop-up bar, J.Ho.Ho.B. (located next door), and you’d best prepare to be dazzled. We can con dently say that just a few minutes inside will get you in the Christmas spirit. We’re talking loads of Christmas lights, full-sized Christmas trees hanging upside down from the ceilings, wrapping paper covering so many surfaces and holiday tchotchkes and sparkle in every nook and crannie. And as far as festive cocktails go, they deliver.—Tessa Cooper

with a French inflence and southwest Missouri roots—all in a restored 1885 building brimming with character. Don’t miss the blue crab beignets, the green tomato po’ boy or the shrimp and grits. Reserve a seat in the beautiful Phenix Vault room downstairs if you can. $$–$$$ LD

MAMA G’S KITCHEN

2463 W. Sunshine St., Ste. 124; 210 S. Market, Ste. 124; Springfield; mamagkitchen.com

Southern. Mama G’s Kitchen started out with a spot at Metro Eats (the Sunshine Street location). Now, they’ve added a second outpost (the Market St. location). Come here for comforting dishes like fried pork chops, catfish, meatloaf and more. Sides are great too, with options like collard greens, hush puppies and cheesy potatoes. $$ L D

METROPOLITAN

GRILL

2931 East Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-889-4951, metropolitan-grill.com

Eclectic fine dining. Known for its delectable flash-fried spinach, this restaurant specializes in steaks and seafood. We love that the menu is always changing, giving us something new to be excited about—served in a familiar space. The wine menu is wonderful, and the service is top-notch. $$$ D d

MUNDOS LATIN KITCHEN & BAR

5493 N. 17th St., Ozark, 417-485-2160, mundoslatinkitchen.com Latin. The menu features dishes from many Latin cuisines, including Mofongo (mashed plantains with chicarron), lomo saltado, tostones, street tacos and more. We love the jicama taco filled with coconut shrimp. $$ L D

NEARLY FAMOUS DELI & PASTA HOUSE

2708 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-8833403, nearlyfamous.net

Deli and Italian. Regulars love the weekly specials: egg salad on Fridays, pear sandwiches on Thursdays and more. The tomato soup is fantastic, and it goes well with just about any sandwich at this friendly spot. It’s hopping at lunchtime, and the dinner hours o er a menu filled with tasty pasta dishes. $$ BL D

NEIGHBOR’S MILL CAFÉ & BAKERY

1435 E. Independence St., Suite 110, Springfield, 417-720-4162; neighborsmill.com

Deli and bakery. This full time bakery o ers a hearty menu packed with sandwiches, soups and salads. Don’t miss the honey pecan chicken salad, which comes on Bronze honey wheat bread, or the Reuben, which comes on pumpernickel rye bread.

$ BL D

OCEAN ZEN PACIFIC RIM RESTAURANT

4117 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-8899596, eatoceanzen.com Asian fusion fine dining. Try Chilean sea bass or the macadamia nut chicken. We particularly love ordering the Hawaii Five-O sushi roll; with seared rare tuna and a pineapple salsa, it’s a tasty combination of savory, sweet, spicy and refreshing. Don’t miss the delicious top-notch steaks that are on the menu here, too. $$–$$$ L D d

THE ORDER at the Hotel Vandivort, 305 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-8321515, theordersgf.com

New American. Step inside the Vandivort Hotel and turn le for a downtown-Springfield dining experience not to be missed.

The atmosphere is trendy but relaxed while the food is an elevated take on American cuisine prepared in a from-scratch kitchen. Try Executive Chef Calvin Davis’s spin on cashew chicken or the market fish specials that change daily. Brunch is excellent here too. $$–$$$ D

OSAGE RESTAURANT

at Top of the Rock, 150 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, 1-800-2256343, topo herock.com

American fine dining. Take in beautiful views from the dining room at Osage Restaurant, located at Top of the Rock, and enjoy fine dining that includes steaks and roasted chicken. The fried chicken is stellar, and the cocktails menu always o ers created and delicious options. Downstairs is the End of the Trail wine cellar with a wine bar and whiskey room. $$$ B D

THE OZARK MILL RESTAURANT at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, 417-210-6644, finleyfarmsmo.com

Farm-to-table. Inside the beautifully restored Ozark Mill, you can order upscale farm-to-table meals that are made with ingredients grown right at Finley Farms or produced in their on-site apiary. Don’t miss the incredible risotto fritters appetizer made with artichoke, sausage, mozzarella and served over a pickled pepper aioli. $$–$$$ L D d

PALM & PADDLE GRILLE

2515 S. Campbell Ave., Ste. 400, Springfield, 417-605-7500, palmandpaddlegrille.com Caribbean. Everything has an island flair here. The coconut shrimp is a must-try, and so is the mango-habanero chicken. Their jerk chicken is a filling option for the tiki tacos. $$–$$$ L D d

PIER 28 PIZZA & GRILL

344 Nautical Circle, Kimberling City, 417-5271580, pier28pizzagrill.com

American. Come for lakeside views and a menu filled with pizza, burgers, tacos and more. If you love fried pickles, get an order of the spicy pickle chips to share. Check website for seasonal hours. $$ L D

QUEEN CITY SOUL KITCHEN

1626 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, 417-3798614, facebook.com/ QueenCitySoulKitchen Soul food. The menu changes from week to week here, but the o erings are always delicious. Find comforting fare like meatloaf, fried chicken wings, smothered pork chops and more. Make sure you leave room for peach cobbler or bread pudding. $–$$ L D

REBAR KITCHEN & TAP ROOM

2902 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-5974569, rebar-taproom.com. American. This spot features elevated takes on taproom fare. A few menu highlights include charbroiled oysters, duck bacon wontons, pizza, wings and more. There are several burgers, like the Hoglager BBQ Burger topped with bacon, onion strings, cheese and barbecue sauce. $$ BL D

RED ONION CAFÉ

204 E. Fourth St., Joplin, 417-623-1004, redonioncafe.com

American and Italian The Tuxedo Chicken is a customer favorite. Diners also love the bacon-wrapped shrimp, the blackened tuna sandwich or Dave’s fried chicken salad. Try the BLT&A. (The A stands for avocado… yum!) There’s even a section of the menu with keto-friendly options that are low-carb and gluten-free. $$ L D

ROSIE JO’S CAFE

1711 S. 15th St., Ozark, 417-581-6047

American. This place is a very popular hangout at breakfast time with great daily specials, and it also has great homemade pies, including surprising ones like gooseberry. The fried chicken is delicious at this eatery, and so are the fried dill pickles and the onion rings. $ BL D

RETRO METRO

2150 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-7201708, eatretrometro.com

Contemporary American

This throw-back concept brings back decades of old Metropolitan Grill favorites and quite a few brand-new flavors too from owner Chef Tiny. The menu serves some of Metropolitan’s greatest hits, including flash-fried spinach and chicken spiedini. $$$ D

SHOW ME CHUY

1410 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-7715357, showmechuy.com

Italian-Mexican fusion.

This spot o ers Italian options like pasta carbonara, Mexican options like shrimp aguachile and fusions of the both cuisines. For example, the penne poblano features rigatoni pasts in a poblano sauce with Mexican cheese. Brunch is served on Sundays. $ BL D

SPLIT SOCIAL KITCHEN

3027 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-7557155, splitspringfield.com American. Come for creative shareables and hearty entrees, served a teeny restaurant space that packs a lot of good vibes. We love the macaroni and cheese (get fried chicken with it). The menu changes with the seasons, but recently we’ve loved the Ooo Mami Tacos filled with seared sashimi-grade tuna. $$ L D

A Morning Stop

The Daily Blend, a new co ee shop, has opened on the rst oor of Plaza Towers. The o ering we are most excited about is the bagels, delivered fresh three times a week from New York. They’re serving three types of loaded bagels, including smoked salmon, bacon and cheddar and lemon and blueberry. On the beverage side of things, you’ll nd signature co ee drinks and smoothies. The brown butter and salted caramel is particularly calling our name, and the smoothie lineup also sounds delicious with offerings like a peanut butter, banana and dark chocolate smoothie.—Tessa Cooper

ST. MICHAEL’S SPORTS BAR & GRILLE

301 South Ave., Springfield, 417-865-2315 American. The burgers are top-notch, and the huge salads topped with deliciously seasoned grilled chicken breast are a favorite (try the one with spicy Cajun chicken—yum!). Come hungry enough to order dessert because the cakes are stellar. $–$$ L D

THE TABLE

610 Prospect Ave., Springfield, thetable.restaurant Bistro fare. This beautiful eatery features lovely decor, a nice patio area and great eats all day. For breakfast, try the Figgy Toast. Later in the day, don’t miss the street corn dip app. $–$$ BL D d

TEA BAR & BITES

621 S. Pickwick Ave., 417-883-2462, teabarandbites.com

Bistro fare. Everything we’ve tasted at Tea Bar & Bites has been fantastic. Try the curry chicken salad or the yummy quiche with beautiful, flaky crust. We love any of the menu items that have a Mediterranean flair. The menu features plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. There are tasty baked goods too, like giant caramel rolls. $ BL D d

VAN GOGH’S EETERIE

334 E. Commercial St., 417-344-0085, vangoghseeterie.com

Indo-Dutch. Dutch pancakes, chicken witlof and other Indo-Dutch and Dutch-inspired cuisine populate the menu at this Commercial Street hotspot from Joe Gidman of Cafe Cusco. We love the pancakes—especially the Farm Near Auvers topped with goat cheese, apples, honey, arugula and thyme. $$ BL D

VOLLEYBALL BEACH OZARK

1198 State Highway NN, Ozark, 816-838-1664, volleyballbeachozark.com

American. You can play sand volleyball year-round at Volleyball Beach Ozark, plus grab dinner and drinks. They o er chicken wings with several sauce options (including some fun ones like apple-habanero barbecue), pizza, burgers and more. $–$$ D

WHEELHOUSE

307 S. Je erson Ave., Springfield, wheelhousefood.com. Asian fusion. The pad Thai and drunken noodle are longtime favorites, but the restaurant’s new location and menu also have some new dishes. The Banchan Fries topped with homemade kimchi are a musttry! $ L D

BARBECUE

BUCKINGHAM’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ

2002 South Campbell Avenue, Springfield, 417-886-9979, buckinghambbq.com

Diners love the ribs and the burnt ends at this classic barbecue eatery. We can’t get enough of the smoked salmon topped with horseradish sauce. $ L D d

CITY BUTCHER & BARBECUE

3650 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-7201113, citybutchersgf.com

At this Texas-style barbecue spot, the meat is smoked in small batches for optimal freshness. Killer brisket, pulled pork and other favorites are sold first-come, first-served with a few simple but delicious side dish options. The smokehouse beans are delish, and the smoked chocolate chip cookies are super-fun. $–$$ L D d

CROSSTOWN BBQ

1331 E. Division St., Springfield, 417-862-4646

Try the ribs or the brisket. The Big Pappa Dinner is a signature dish, and it features tons of meat including ribs, brisket and hot links. We loved the smoked chicken salad for something that feels healthy and indulgent at the same time. Try the fried catfish. $–$$ L D

GETTIN’ BASTED

2845 W. Highway 76, Branson; 606 W. Mount Vernon St., Nixa; gettinbasted.com

Come here for award-winning barbecue in all your favorite varieties: brisket, ribs, pulled pork and more. The seven wagyu burgers on the menu are fully loaded, and the apps game is strong with homemade pimento cheese, barbecue nachos, pulled pork tacos and more. $–$$ L D

HEADY BAR-B-QUE CO.

573 E. Elm St., Republic, 417-732-4227, headybbq.com

This spot specializes in Kansas City–style barbecue. Among stellar ribs, brisket and more perfectly prepared meats, you can find unexpected dishes with a barbecue spin: nachos, salads, a burrito.

$–$$ L D

BREAKFAST

BILLY GAIL’S CAFE

5291 State Highway 265, Branson, 417-338-8883; 1882 James River Road, Ozark, 417-582-2600; billygailsrestaurant.com

Billy Gail’s in Branson has been a beloved breakfast hotspot for ages, and it’s still going strong. The Ozark spot and has become just as popular. Come for massive pancakes and other breakfast fare. The Ozark location serves dinner on the weekends. $ BL D

THE BRUNCHEONETTE

424 N. Main St., Joplin, 417-781-3447, thebruncheonette.net

We love the creative takes on eggs Benedict that we’ve found at The Bruncheonette, whose menu changes weekly but is always interesting. Don’t miss your chance to order a plate of poutine, handcut fries topped with gravy, shredded cheese and a poached egg. $ BL

FIRST WATCH

2946 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-8890601; 3103 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-6337094; firstwatch.com

Go traditional with a plate piled with crispy bacon, eggs and toast. Or order something more creative like the breakfast power bowls, lemon-ricotta pancakes, or chia pudding. Don’t miss the lunch treats, too. $ BL

GAILEY’S BREAKFAST CAFÉ

220 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-866-5500

The sweet potato hash browns are super-delish here. We also love The Bear Hug: biscuits and gravy, choice of meat, two eggs and either hash browns or sweet browns. Breakfast and lunch are served all day, and the weekly dish and cocktail specials are always a fun change of pace. $ BL

THE EUROPEAN

105 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-986-4646, theeuropean417.com

The pastries are picture-perfect and taste just as good as they look. The cardamom buns are luxurious comfort food. We love the mousse cakes, the macarons and the strawberry pancakes—or the shakshuka for something savory. $ BL d

SLEEPY OPOSSUM CAFE

1423 E. Cherry St., Springfield, Ste. 101, 913730-6224, sleepyopossumcafe.com

This darling spot serves creative, classic and always delicious breakfast fare. We are obsessed with their hashbrown quiches, and the homemade biscuits topped with everything seasoning are to die for. Any baked sweet is a dream here too, especially the creative cakes. $ BL

CHINESE

BAO BAO CHINESE BISTRO

2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Suite A104, Springfield, 417-877-7505

This little spot in Chesterfield Village has a chef who used to own a restaurant in Shanghai, so there are several authentic items on the menu. Try a seafood hot pot. $ L D

CHINESE CHEF

3029 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-8834770, facebook.com/ chinesechefcampbell; 1731 S. Enterprise Ave., Springfield, 417-889-2433

Owner Joe Fong has been serving Springfield for over 40 years, and some of his customers’ favorite dishes include Kung Pao chicken, made-from-scratch cashew chicken, crab rangoon and egg rolls. The Campbell location o ers a Sunday bu et. $ L D

CORNER 21

1730 E. Republic Road, Ste. A, Springfield, 417-771-5666, corner21sgf.com

This restaurant’s menu o ers a large variety of authentic Chinese dishes, including several Szechuan-style meals. You’ll even find dishes that aren’t common on local Chinese restaurant menus, such as braised pork belly with rice noodles, ribeye and enoki mushrooms in a curry broth, crispy fried pumpkin, spicy Szechuan fish and more. $ L D d

LEONG’S ASIAN DINER

1540 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-887-7500

The Leong family serves its original cashew chicken at this tasty eatery, among lots of other yummy stu . The crab Rangoon are especially delicious here, and we like to dip them in the bold and spicy mustard sauce. The egg rolls are a classic, made from scratch with a peanut butter flair. $–$$ L D

LUCY’S CHINESE FOOD

Multiple locations, lucyschinesefood.com

We like the sweet and sour chicken and the cashew chicken here. But if you’d rather eat something mega-spicy than something fried, order the hot chicken. It’ll have you reaching for your water glass with every bite. $ L D

TRIPLE EIGHTS

1710 S. Kansas Expy., Springfield, 417-832-8889

While you can find Springfield Chinese favorites like cashew chicken on the menu at Triple Eights, you can also dig into more traditional Chinese fare. The mapo tofu is a must try, with its rich and spicy sauce. The Sichuan Maocai stew is worth a taste too. $ L D

CAFE CUBANO

3650 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-8877777, facebook.com/ countrygirlsespresso

Try the authentic Cuban sandwich, served pressed on Cuban bread. Cafe Cubano’s’ signature is its Cafe Con Leche with scalded milk. We also love the guava pastry, a treat that costs less than $2 and is filled with tropical sweetness. Come by Tuesday, when you can Cuban tacos. $ BL D

ARCHITECT COFFEE

1604 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-7715030; 1300 E. Battlefield; architectco eeco.com

This co ee shop o ers a bright and cozy atmosphere with warm drinks and hearty food. The breakfast burritos are stellar. We love the seasonal drinks that change every so o en, especially when they o er some version of a refreshing espresso tonic. Battlefield Road location is drive-thru only. $ BLD

BIG MOMMA’S COFFEE & ESPRESSO BAR

217 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-8659911; 1010 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, 417-868-4157; bigmommasco ee.com

This spot o ers co ee, espresso and blended frappes. But there is more on the menu than just drinks. Be sure to try the super-delicious sandwiches that are served here, too. The Juliette is one of our favorite sandwiches here. $ BL D d

THE BLACK LAB COFFEE CO.

545 E. Elm St., Republic, 417-647-5125, facebook. com/theblacklabllc

Try the Goldendoodle, a signature combination of caramel and brown sugar. The shop serves full lunch and breakfast menus too. $ BL

CLASSIC ROCK COFFEE

1900 West Sunset Street, Springfield, 417-881-7625, classicrockco ee.com

This co ee shop o ers espresso drinks with rock ‘n’ roll–inspired names. Try the Sweet Emotion latte (with chocolate and caramel) and a ham and cheese pu pastry breakfast pocket to start your day. $ BL D d

THE COFFEE ETHIC

124 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-8666645, theco eeethic.com

Try the single-origin coffee, brewed one cup at a time, or any of the creative and delicious seasonal drinks. The cappuccino is fantastic (truly one of the best we’ve ever had), and the shop also serves wine, cra beers on dra and a small selection of quality liquors. The food game here is strong too. $ d

DANCING MULE COFFEE COMPANY

1945 South Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, 417-883-5114, dancingmuleco ee.com

The mochas are great here—chocolatey but not too sweet. Try the Peanut Butter Fandango Frappe if you’re in the mood for something a little more funky, and if you’re on the run, swing through the drive-thru. $ B

COFFEE SHOP FARE

ECHELON COFFEE

2407 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-3742739, echelonco ee.com

This sunny co ee shop (with a drive-thru!) has excellent espresso drinks, drip co ee, pour-over and more. The cortado is always well done. And we love The Formation (espresso with vanilla, cinnamon and honey) prepared as a frappe when we’re feeling indulgent. Don’t miss the delish breakfast and lunch fare too. $ BL D d

EURASIA COFFEE & TEA CULTURE CAFE

445 E. Commercial St., 417-720-1949, culturecstreet.com

This co ee roaster with a mission also serves some tasty fare in its Culture Cafe. In addition to carefully cra ed cups of co ee, there are excellent lunch items. Recently we’ve enjoyed a naan’wich and the smoky chili. $ BL D d

KINGDOM COFFEE

211 S. Market Ave., Suite 100, Springfield, 417-3501234; 2896 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield; kingdomsgf.com

The co ee menu features classic espresso drinks, like cappuccinos, macchiattos, mochas and more. We love the classic cortado the most, and the not-toosweet and super-creamy iced matcha latte is truly delicious. For your sweet tooth, order a slice of cake made by Kyle Davis of Buttermilk. $ BL D d

MUDHOUSE COFFEE

323 South Ave. Suite B, Springfield; 5401 N. 22nd St., Ozark; mudhousecoffee.com

The co ee is always fantastic here, at Springfield’s OG downtown co ee shop. Plus, Mudhouse also o ers a wide variety of loose-leaf teas. The cheesecake here is a musttry—so decadent! $ BL D

THE PRESS COFFEE & JUICE

BAR

2710 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield, 417-771-5950

Asian fusion. This wholefoods cafe o ers organic dishes with ingredients from local market vendors. Juices are organic and cold-pressed. The draw here is the Mexican-Korean fusion menu, featuring gogi nachos, kimchi fried rice and tacos. $ BL D d

ROOTS COFFEE BAR

1645 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-8776889, facebook.com/ rootsco eebar

Grab a cup of joe on the go or stay awhile and order a breakfast sandwich at this versatile co ee shop. Be sure not to miss the Smash Brown: a fried egg, cheese and hash brown sandwich topped with sausage, house-made brisket or pecan smoked shoulder bacon and served on a potato bun. $ BL D d

URBAN GROUNDS

COFFEE & PLANT LAB

5557 N. 21st St., Ozark, urbangrounds417.com

Try classics like lattes and cappuccinos, or opt for a flavored options (like salted caramel to ee) or a botanical latte made with things like beetroot, turmeric and more. When you’re hungry, munch on one of the loaded toasts, a grazing tray, a smoothie bowl and more. This co ee shop doubles as a plant store and boutique. $ BL

THE WORKSHOP AT FINLEY FARMS

840 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, 417-210-6644, finleyfarmsmo.com

The Workshop is a co ee shop and gathering space. The menu includes classic co ee and tea o erings plus super-sized suped-up toasts (the avocado toast is fully loaded and fully delicious). Don’t miss the delicious creamy chicken salad. $ BL d

Hours: Sun.–Thurs: 11:00am–9:30pm Fri.–Sat: 11:00am–10:00pm

Habanero’s Mexican Restaurant + Cantina has become a 417-land favorite, expanding to multiple locations across the Ozarks. Experience vibrant flavors, festive ambiance and authentic Mexican cuisine!

Carthage, Joplin, Republic & Springfield habanerosmexicancantina.com

Taste is Dining

DELIS

THE ALMIGHTY SANDO SHOP

208 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-422-0912

The sandwiches on the menu here are excellent, with options like The Mighty Burg (smash patties, garlic-bacon mayo, white American cheese), The Hamela Anderson (ham, Swiss cheese, candied jalapeños), several vegetarian options and more. This spot has a walkup window. $ LD d

J. PARRINO’S QUEEN CITY DELI

1647 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-8871148, queencitydeli.com

This spot serves pasta, soups, salads and some super-delicious sandwiches. Don’t miss The Burnes (beef tenderloin on garlic bread) or the Italian beef sandwiches. You can’t go wrong with the pastrami sandwich that’s incredibly meaty—piled high just like they do it in New York City delis. $ L D

MYTHICAL ‘WICH

113 E. Main St., Branson, mythicalwich.com

This sandwich shop comes from the owners of another Branson favorite: Gettin’ Basted. It o ers a large selection of bold lunch and breakfast sandwiches, like the Holy Hand Grenade topped with pastrami hash and a fried egg. There are also soups, salads and desserts. $ BLD

THE SUB SHOP

1721 E. Seminole St., Springfield, 417-8873804; 456 W. McDaniel St., 417-831-8077

The Fighter Pilot sandwich comes fully loaded with salami, pepperoni, cheese, banana peppers, lettuce and sub sauce. Hit an ATM on the way there, because The Sub Shop is cash only. $ L d

DESSERTS

ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD

Multiple 417-land locations, eatandys.com

Frozen treats. Don’t miss the rotating seasonal toppings (our sta ers love the key lime pie and blackberry in the summer, and the apple pie and pumpkin pie in the fall). There are several sundae and concrete options, plus root beer floats and Italian ice pops. Or you can order your own creation. We like to get a sundae with raspberries, pecans and marshmallow flu . $ d

BUTTERMILK

1458 E. Cherry St., Springfield, instagram. com/buttermilkrules

Ice cream. Pastry chef Kyle Davis has brought madefrom-scratch ice cream to the Rountree neighborhood. You might have tried Davis’s work at Progress (RIP); now you can taste it at the walk-up window at this adorable ice creamery. Fun flavors include espresso ice cream with chocolate crumble, blood orange sorbet, buttermilk ice cream with short bread and more. $ d

HURTS DONUT

1231 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-3680279; 1580 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson, 417-5983474; wannahurts.com

Donuts. Outside-the-box toppings cover these super-delicious doughnuts, available 24 hours a day. $

LUCKY CAT BOBA TEA & TAIYAKI

3424 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-351-3136

Boba tea. There is a he y menu of bubble tea plus sweet snacks like mitarashi dongo skewers. The taiyaki are fish-shaped wa e-like cakes with tasty fillings. For something savory, try the pork steamed buns. $

PARLOR DOUGHNUTS

1109 E. Battlefield Road, Ste. A, Springfield; 82 Branson Landing Blvd., Suite 105, Branson; parlordoughnuts.com Donuts. This spot is known for their “layered donuts,” which have a unique textures, are super-indulgent and come in a dozens of toppings-laden flavors. Our very favorite is teh coconut cream filled donut. You can also get keto-friendly donuts, vegan and gluten-free donuts, great espresso drinks, and savory breakfast items (like tacos). $ B L D

PRAIRIE PIE

621 South Pickwick Ave., Springfield, prairiepie.com Pie and cookies. Prairie Pie makes stellar all-buttercrust pies in flavors that range from classic to inventive. The caramel apple pie is an elevated take on a classic and is quite popular. Any of owner Eleanor Taylor’s pies made with rhubarb are superb. You can get savory pot pies and slices of quiche too. Prairie Pie is located inside Taylor’s other business storefront, Tea Bar & Bites. $–$$

SOCIETEA

1653 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-7204094, facebook.com/ societea.

Boba tea. Bubble tea is the name of the game at this authentic spot where the matcha milk tea and the matcha roll cake are both must-try o erings. Whether you’re a bubble tea veteran or looking to try something new, this is your place. We love that you can customize the sweetness level of your drinks and top them with options we don’t see o en at other boba tea spots (like big pieces of co ee jelly, or creamy cheese foam). Our favorite is the fresh strawberry milk tea with crystal boba. $

ST. GEORGE’S DONUTS

3628 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-8817515; 3012 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417882-1718; 1415 W. State Highway J, Ozark, 417425-7885; stgeorgesdonuts.net

Donuts. Lots of luscious doughnuts are made fresh daily here. We love the glazed blueberry and the oh-so-fresh chocolate cake donuts. $ d

ON THE HORIZON

Rama Thai 2.0

Recently, local foodies alerted us to a new sign at 2808 S. Campbell Ave. (formerly home to Simply Thai) that reads “Rama Thai.” We got in touch with one of the managers at Rama to get the details, and they told us they are indeed planning to open there, and they are still in the early stages of renovations. This will be a second Rama Thai location, and they plan to keep the original location open too. That one is only open on weekends for the time being while they work on repairs and upkeep on the historic home. Their sister business, Thai Square, has been serving Rama Thai’s full menu to help out until they get back to fulltime hours.—Tessa Cooper

DINERS

BILLY BOB’S DAIRYLAND

1901 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson, 417-337-9291

Burgers. Billy Bob’s is a greasy-spoon institution that has long served delicious sweets and tasty American food on the strip in Branson. There are 24 flavors of fried pies here, cheeseburgers, foot-long hot dogs with chili and cheese and more. $ L D

CASPER’S

937 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-2277377, caspersdiner.com

Chili. This local favorite is filled with bright colors and a kitschy vibe. The spot serves overflowing bowls of great chili and a few other yummy diner options (like burgers and hot dogs). Don’t forget to order some luscious chili cheese fries while you’re there. Another yummy favorite: ham and beans with cornbread when you can get it on special. $ BL D

DRUFF’S

331 Park Central East, Springfield; 417-7191719, yumdru s.com

Grilled cheese. Dru ’s brings glorious cheesiness to diner fare with a menu of grilled cheeses, soups and creative sides. For a little heat, try the Good Doctor, made with cheddar, cream cheese, bacon and jalapeño. Dru ’s also o ers a robust brunch and breakfast menu. $ L D

THE SQUEEZE INN

404 RB Road, Stockton, 417-276-6302

Burgers. Order the Squeeze with Cheese, a ⅓-pound griddle-cooked burger that’s smothered in so much shredded cheddar cheese that it overflows the patty and creates a “cheese skirt” of crunchy cheddar. It’s huge and so delicious! $ L D d

INDIAN

INDIA CLAY OVEN & GRILL

2005 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd., Suite 209, Branson, 417-973-0044, indiaclayovenandgrill.com

We loved the karahi lamb (tender lamb, bell peppers and onion in a spicy sauce) and the mushroom aloo matar (mushrooms, potatoes and peas swimming in a creamy sauce). Stop by for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays to take advantage of the bu et. $$ L D

INDIA PALACE

1908 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-771-5270

The huge menu here o ers Indian favorites and fun flavors you may not have tried. We love the pani puri appetizer, the samosa chaat and the lamb rogan josh. Be sure to pop in for lunch on the weekends, when they o er a stacked bu et. $$ L D

NAWAB’S INDIAN CUISINE

3654 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-844-5050

Find all your favorite classic Indian dishes here (the tandoori chicken and the makhni paneer are both excellent) along with some others you might not have seen around town before. For example, the gol gappay is a crispy little hollow fried ball filled with chickpeas, potato, onion and spices. $$ L D

TAJ MAHAL INDIAN RESTAURANT

1250 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-719-4573

There is a variety of naan bread (and it’s so, so so and perfect), many types of curry and rice dishes and fun desserts like rice pudding and gulab jamun (donuts soaked in syrup). We are obsessed with the lamb rogan josh. Try their lunch combos, which are a steal. $$ L D d

ZAYKA INDIAN CUISINE

311 S. Je erson Ave., Springfield, zaykaspringfield.com

There’s a lot to love about this downtown Springfield Indian restaurant. The vegetable korma, chicken tikka masala and malai ko a are just a few of our favorite dishes. If you’re new to Indian food, try the pre-set combo meals that feature a lot of di erent flavors. $–$$ L D d

ITALIAN

AVANZARE ITALIAN DINING

3240 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, 417-567-3463,avanzareitaliandining.com

Pasta is always a hit at Avanzare, a longtime Springfield favorite. Customers love the Bistecca Rosemarino steak and the pasta with seafood in a spicy tomato-based sauce. Indulge in the chocolate torte for dessert. $$$ L D d

BAMBINO’S CAFÉ

1141 E. Delmar St., Springfield, 417862-9999; 2810-D E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-8814442; bambinoscafe.com

The Poppa is a popular pasta dish: It comes with penne pasta, Italian sausage, mushrooms and a spicy tomato-cream sauce. Another fave: portobello mushroom ravioli. $ L D d

BRUNO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

416 South Ave., Springfield, 417-866-0007

The bucatini with panchetta, chili oil and basil is a must-try pasta dish. Get it with the arugula salad with pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. Also on the menu is pizza, wagyu steak and lots of excellent entree options. The ever-changing specials always sound extra-tasty. $$$ D

Get a Seat at the Table

I drive past the old silos at National Avenue and Chestnut Expressway at least several times a week, so I’ve gotten a front-row seat to watch sisters Sheri Perkins and Renee Textor’s dream restaurant come to life. The Table, which opened October 20 at 619 N. Prospect Avenue, is a stunning restaurant that adjoins this little piece of Spring eld history. Although it’s a new build, it looks as if it’s already been there for decades with all of its ornate details and bits of architectural salvage. The inside is even more beautiful than I imagined. I’d describe it, but you should just go check out the Reel I posted instead ( nd @417mag on Instagram). They are serving some of their favorite family recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Think Cajun pasta, grain bowls, salmon, steak and smash burgers. They also have a full espresso menu. Reservations aren’t required, so come expecting casual dining in a stunning atmosphere.—Tessa Cooper

GILARDI’S

820 East Walnut Street, Springfield, 417-862-6400, gilardisonwalnut.com

Owner James Martin focuses on handmade pasta and fresh ingredients at this charming little Italian restaurant that makes a wonderful date-night spot. Don’t miss the amazing meatballs in red wine rosemary cream sauce that are served over a bed of creamy goat cheese polenta. $$$ D d

NICOLA’S RISTORANTE

3631 East Sunshine Street, Springfield, 417-886-3700, nicolasspringfield.com

Try the lumache: fresh snails sauteed in garlic butter and baked with Parmesan cheese. Glutenfree pasta and pizza are available. The chicken parmigiano is a highlight definitely worth ordering. The Nicola’s pizza here is also super tasty, and the dessert menu is impressive. Enjoy the outdoor patio when the weather permits, or belly up to the bar for happy hour with friends. $$–$$$ D d

SALVATORES FRESH RISTORANTE ITALIANO

1932 W. Retail Lane, Ozark, 417-485-3838, salvatoresfresh.com

The menu here is packed with handmade pastas. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of them making the fresh pasta—you can see it from the dining room. The menu boasts everything from fried artichokes to a T-bone steak. $–$$ L D d

JAPANESE

ARIAKE SUSHI & ROBATA

1110 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, facebook. com/arikake.spfd

NONNA’S ITALIAN CAFÉ

306 South Ave., Springfield, 417-8311222, nonnascafe.net. The seafood lasagna is a must-try dish, and the spicy arrabbiata lasagna is crazy-good. The Tuscan pappardelle ragu is excellent, and the pesto linguine is a delight. For dessert, we particularly love the delectable chocolate torte and the rich and delicious tiramisu. Plus, the homemade cheesecakes are always top-notch. $$ L D

PICCOLO

107 West Aldersgate Drive, Suites 1 and 2, Nixa, 417-374-7291, eatpiccolo.com

When you’re craving indulgent Italian fare, Piccolo delivers with a range of piled-high pastas, pizzas, steak and chicken entrees. Start things o with the Italian Nachos (fried wonton chips, homemade Alfredo sauce and toppings), or the Balboa balls stu ed with mozzarella and finished with goat cheese and marinara. Leave room for dessert; you won’t want to miss the cannolis. $–$$ L D d

This restaurant from the owners of Haruno, Kai and Karai o ers excellent nigiri and sashimi, as well as small plates and tapas. You have to try the delicious tuna cigars or the hot rock dish that uses wagyu beef. For dessert, the matcha crème brûlée is our favorite. Be sure to order from the excellent sake menu. $$–$$$ L D d

CRAFT SUSHI

251 E. Sunshine St., Suite 116, Springfield, 417319-5887, facebook.com/ cra sushi

At Cra Sushi, you’re in control of your meal as you customize your own sushi and poke bowls. Try a salad bowl topped with marinated tofu, asparagus, mushrooms, jalapenos, edamame and spicy wasabi sauce. $$ L D

HARUNO JAPANESE SUSHI BAR

3044 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, 417-8870077, harunosushi.com

The Oh My God roll and the Sex and the City roll are trademarks here. Try the fresh mango-jalapeño ahi tuna entree. If you love a spicy bite, try the seafood soup. Pair it with the tuna sampler. $$– $$$ L D

HINODE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

4301 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-877-1777

Come to see the show at the hibachi grills. Hinode is known for wonderful hibachi meals with perfectly cooked proteins and all the extras: rice, stir fry noodles, veggies and that luscious seafood sauce. $$ L D

KAI

306 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-8320077, kaia erdark.com

This lounge-like restaurant in downtown Springfield has fantastic sushi. It has the same owners as Haruno, which is famous for their incredible rolls—so you know it’ll be delicious! Don’t miss the restaurant’s black cod or sea bass entrees with delicious wasabi risotto. $$–$$$ L D

KARAI RAMEN + HANDROLL 640 W. Republic Road, Suite 100, Springfield, 417-319-5225

The Karai Ramen with a flavorful and spicy housemade broth is incredible, and we like to get it with pork and a seasoned soboiled egg added. Don’t miss the steamed buns filled with shredded pork, spring onions and teriyaki sauce. $ L D

NAKATO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

2615 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-8817171, nakato.com

Performance-style hibachi dining is what Nakato is known for. And they are super-good at it! A little entertainment plus a great meal. $$ L D

NIJI SUSHI

3938 S. Lone Pine Ave., Suite 100-B, Springfield, 417-851-1707

We love the Cherry Blossom Roll and the seven types of ramen soups. Try the Japanese cheesecake dessert. $$ L D

OMO JAPANESE SOUL FOOD

2215 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Springfield

The ramen and udon soups are some of the tastiest items on the menu here, and they come with lots of fun toppings. We like to order it with spicy broth and either chasu pork or chicken katsu for the protein. $$ L D

SAKURA

3230 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-882-8000

There’s a solid sushi menu (the Sam’s Roll never disappoints if you like a roll with a lot going on), and you can order a sushi donburi box to really get some bang for your buck if you prefer to keep your sushi meals simple and refreshing. The bento boxes are great too; we recommend getting teriyaki salmon in your bento box. $$ L D

SUSHI VILLAGE

1440 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-8901016, facebook.com/ springfieldsushivillage

This cozy sushi spot has a warm date-night atmosphere with cherry blossoms and plants around every corner. All the sushi is fresh and flavorful, but some custom creations pack fun ingredient combos. $$ L D

KOREAN

BAWI KOREAN BBQ

4121 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-8862777, bawikbbq.com

Bawi Korean BBQ brings an authentic Korean dining experience to Springfield, where you’ll pay a flat fee of $25 for an all-you-can-eat meal. You cook the meat of your choice yourself on tabletop grills—with plenty of fun toppings. Keep an eye out for Korean-style fried chicken, which is sometimes o ered on special. $$ D

GOLDEN KOREAN RESTAURANT

1406 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-832-1093

The beef bulgogi and dolsot bibimbap are best sellers here. Try the tasty kimchi fried rice or spicy octopus stir fry. If you’re in the mood for something really comforting on a cold day, opt for the kimchi chigae. You also get a variety of Korean side dishes alongside your meal, which adds a lot of fun and flavor to the meal. $ L D

KORIYA

4121 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, 417-882-0077

This spot serves createyour-own bibimbap dishes, and you can choose between chicken, beef bulgogi, tofu and shrimp for your protein. One of our favorite dishes is the japchae, made with slippery and sweet stir fried potato starch noodles and lots of veggies—it’s fun to eat and so satisfying. $ L D d

KUICK NOODLES

3165 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-901-1803

Get the Korean ramen shop experience here, where you can choose from a variety of instant ramen and make it yourself using special self-serve machines. You can add toppings, order a side of dumplings or a steambed bun, and more. $ L D

MEDITERRANEAN

CRAVE

MEDITERRANEAN CAFE

1111 E. Republic Road, Ste. 164, Springfield, 417306-9749, cravemediterraneancafe.com

Come for shareable dips like hummus and baba ganoush, shawarma, kabob, gyros, falafel and more. Don’t miss the flaming cheese appetizer or the manakeesh flat bread with toppings like sumac chicken. $$–$$$ L D

GREEK BELLY

320 E. Walnut St., 417597-3382, greekbelly.com

We love everything we’ve tasted here! Try a tasty pork or chicken gyro topped with creamy tzatziki, tomatoes, onions and French fries on a so pita. Our favorite, though, is the loukaniko wrap. It’s an orange-spiced pork sausage served in a pita with spicy feta dip, fresh veggies and French fries. $ L D

THAT LEBANESE PLACE

338 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-536-6677

The kibbeh is fantastic if you like herbaceous and satisfying eats, and any of the delicious and meaty kebabs is a great choice. We love the stu ed grape leaves appetizer, served with a delicious tahini dipping sauce. Don’t miss the baklava made with Lebanese rose water.

$–$$ L D

VASKEN’S DELI

3200 Gretna Road, Suite D, Branson, 417-3349182, vaskensdeli.com

The gyros are fantastic here. Make sure you get them with traditional gyro meat, and don’t skip the tzatziki sauce! Everything’s better with tzatziki sauce, right? We are nuts for the beef shawarma too, though. It makes for a super delicious and satisfying meal and tastes amazing with tahini. $ L D

MEXICAN

CABOS BONITOS GRILL & CANTINA

3637 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-2213490, cabosbonitos.com

Come to this east Springfield spot for all your Mexican favorites plus some fun and unique dishes like the fried avocado appetizer filled with your choice of meat and topped with sour cream and chipotle ranch sauce. $$ L D

CASA BELLA MEXICAN CUISINE

4610 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield; 300 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield

The menu is huge at Casa Bella, which has two Springfield locations. Try the tasty ceviche, any of the street tacos, or the spicy camarones a la diabla. The Battlefield Road location is huge, so there’s plenty of room to bring your whole crew. $$ L D

CESAR’S OLD MEXICO

2627 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-881-8252

Indulge in authentic Mexican food at incredibly reasonable prices. We love the birria taco, which is filled with succulent shredded beef. Don’t miss the Salvadorian pupusas stu ed with beans and cheese; they are delightful. The carnitas torta is also excellent. $ L D

EL PARAISO MEXICAN KITCHEN

610 W. College St., Springfield; 305 E. Chestnut St., Stra ord; elparaisokitchen.com

This Stra ord-based Mexican restaurant now has an outpost in Springfield. They have a great lineup of margaritas and all your favorite Mexican dishes. For an entree, try the piña a la parrilla—a fresh pineapple bowl filled with grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, scallops, veggies and more. $$ L D

HABANERO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT + CANTINA

Locations in Springfield, Republic, Carthage and Joplin; habanerosmexicancantina.com

This popular Mexican restaurant o ers faves like quesabirria tacos with consomme for dipping. The nachos, enchiladas and guacamole are hits too. Try one of the hand-cra ed margaritas. $$ L D

IGUANA ROJA

107 W. Church St., Ozark, 417-485-8585; 12051 MO-13, Kimberling City, iguanaroja.net

There are delicious margaritas at this little eatery located on the square in Ozark. Don’t miss the one made with jalapeños; it has a kick that’s so much fun to drink. The chips are excellent here, with a yummy seasoning sprinkled on top of every one. $–$$ L D

LA PALOMA

3041 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-7194484, dienlapaloma.com; 1425 W. Battlefield St., Springfield, 417-8892985, thelapaloma.com

This spot o ers a huge range of Mexican dishes including fish tacos, which are excellent. Battered and fried fish is topped with fresh pic de gallo, cabbage and a creamy chipotle sauce and then served with Mexican white rice. $–$$ L D d

LUNA MODERN

MEXICAN

2925 Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-3501006, dineluna.com

This spot serves delicious Mexican options like guacamole made tableside, fried plantains, quesabirria tacos, spicy Yucatan shrimp (our fave!) and lots more—including plenty of classic faves like enchiladas, quesadillas and more. $$ L D d

MEXICAN VILLA

Multiple 417-land locations, mexicanvilla.net

This spot is a favorite among longtime Springfield locals, and it is known for its sweet sauce served with tortilla chips. Also popular is the Sancho Enchilada Style—a huge burrito that is completely swimming in red enchilada sauce. You can even purchase the customer-favorite sweet salsa in a jar to go. $ L D d

OXO BAR & GRILL

2550 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-3069808, oxospringfield.com

Try modern takes on Mexican street food, like pork belly street tacos, chorizo burritos, chilaquiles, aquachile, elote and more. Come on Saturday for Latin Night for Latin dancing. Brunch available on Sundays with items like morning tostadas. $$ B L D d

PRIMA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

3662 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-8901212; 5557 N. 21st St., Ozark, 417-582-2776; primasmexicangrill.com

Diners love the pollo abovado, an 8-ounce chicken breast that’s grilled and topped with homemade chorizo, white queso and tomatoes. Try the asada tacos: three so corn tortillas filled with steak, cilantro and onions and served with rice, beans and avocado. $–$$ L D

SEÑOR JULIAN

MEXICAN BAR & GRILL

3405 E. Battlefield Road, Suite 100, Springfield, 417-240-2120

This tiny restaurant packs big flavors, with a menu that features traditional Mexican soups, handmade-to-order flour tortillas, quesabirria tacos, massive quesadillas, fajita baked potatoes and more. The tacos especiales are a favorite. $–$$ L D

TEAM TACO

1454 E. Cherry St., Springfield, teamtacosgf.com

Let the little ruby-red building near Pickwick Avenue and Cherry Street be your guiding beacon to flavor-packed tacos, nachos and rice bowls. This tiny cafe serves major flavors in its taco menu. We’re fans of the Globetrotter pork belly taco for its big flavors. $ L D d

TINGA

TACOS

308 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-8318007, tingatacossgf.com

This downtown taco shop is open late slinging shells of its wildly creative combinations. We are partial to the Fu Yu made with super-flavorful marinated tofu or the Fruity Piggles with juicy pork and fig jam for a salty-sweet combination. $ L D

TORTILLERIA PERCHES

1601 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-864-8195

This tiny little authentic Mexican restaurant makes its own tortillas and chips fresh every day. Try a Mexican soda, a traditional Mexican soup or a tamale when you visit. $ BL D

PIZZA

ARRIS’ PIZZA

1332 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-881-7260, arrispizzaonline.com Greek-influenced. Thincrust pizzas have a Greek flair at Arris’ Pizza. Be sure to order the Athena (a pizza made with feta, pepperoni, olives, mushrooms and green peppers) if you want to try one that bursts with flavor. The bruschetta is a great appetizer, and it’s unlike bruschetta we’ve had other places. $–$$ L D

THE BIG SLICE

1450 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-7201928; 4126 S. Kansas Expy., Springfield, 417720-4108; thebigslicespringfield.com New York–style. You can get big New York–style brick oven pizza by the slice here. Or buy a whole pie if you prefer, but either way make sure to try to the chicken bacon ranch pizza. We love the creamy spinach pizza too, when we’re in the mood for a white pie. The pepperoni pinwheels are a fave. $–$$ L D

CHERI’S HAPPY PLACE

located at Metropolitan Grill, 2931 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417889-4951, metropolitan-grill.com

Wood-fired. It’s all about perfect pizza paired with champagne at this spot. Cooked in a wood-fired oven, this pizza is something like a mix between New York–style and Neapolitanstyle. Try the Hotter Than Jacquez pizza with smoke mozzarella, bacon, pepperoni and fresh jalapeños. So, so good! There are occasional bingo night events here, and we’ve heard they are a blast and fill up quickly. $$ D

GARBO’S PIZZERIA

2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Suite C101, Springfield, 417-8839010, garbospizzeria.com

St. Louis–style. If you love a loaded St. Louis–style pizza, try the toppings-packed Grandiose. Or try the Bavarian pizza for something a little different; it is topped with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut. Customers are big fans of the Garbo’s house salad and its tasty homemade dressing. It’s honestly so hard to resist.

$–$$ L D d

MASO PIZZA BAR

3653 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-720-1047 Wood-fired. Maso Pizza Bar is owned by Nicola Gilardi and located just a few door down from his other restaurant, Nicola’s Ristorante. And just like at Nicola’s, everything on the menu is delish. We can’t wait to try options like the Nic Rise and Shine, Italian Stallion and vegetarian-friendly Monica Healthy pies. The menu also spans salads, panini, pasta, soups and more. $$ D d

ONE 2 FIVE TAPROOM

1846 Highway 125, Rogersville, facebook. com/One2FiveTaproom Wood-fired. This taproom and micro-distillery is the first outpost of Springfield Brewing Company, and its menu specializes in wood-fired pizza cooked in a brick oven. The Bourbon BBQ pizza is topped with fire-roasted chicken, smoked mozarella, homemade bourbon barbecue sauce and more good stu . $$ L D d

PAPPO’S PIZZERIA

221 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-8661111; 900 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417306-9091; pappospizzeria.com Stonebaked. Try the spicy chicken Cholula pie topped with a mixture of red sauce and olive oil, grilled chicken marinated in Cholula sauce, garlic, mozzarella cheese, red onions, cilantro. Also, be sure you try the meatballs. We really like the salads here as well. $–$$ L D

THE PITCH PIZZA & PUB

2924 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-368-0277

Hand-tossed. With a menu full of pizza, pastas, salads, sandwiches and pub fare and a killer beer selection, there’s something to please everyone. We love to build our own pizza with Alfredo sauce and a ton of mushrooms. Try the Brussels sprouts. $$ L D

PIZZA HOUSE

312 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-881-4073

Thin-crust. This restaurant has been a tradition in Springfield for more than 50 years, and the pizza they serve is super-thin and cut into super-tiny pieces. It’s a classic that’s not to be missed and is a favorite of lifelong locals. Our favorite thing there: any pizza that includes bacon. $ L D

SCHULTZ PIZZA

+ PUB

2210 W. Chesterfield St., Ste. 8683, Springfield, 417-885-0060, schultzpub.com

Neopolitan. The pizzas here are made using cold-fermented dough, a sauce of San Marzano tomatoes and a special pizza oven. Try the Blanco Formaggio white pizza made with garlic oil and five cheeses. $$ L D

SLAP BOX PIZZA & WINGS

2932 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, 417-886-3333

Brick oven. There are a bunch of creative pizzas on the menu here, with sourdough crust that’s the perfect ratio of chewy to crunchy. We like the Arma Segreta, topped with caramelized and charred pepperoni, mushrooms, ricotta, basil and more. Wings are tasty here too. $$ L D d

PUBS & BARS

BEFORE AND AFTER BREWING

2940 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, beforeandaerbrewhouse

There are excellent beers, espresso drinks and cocktails on the menu here, along with zero-proof cocktails. The loaded hot pretzel is an indulgence, and they serve tasty boards (with all the accouterments) that feature high-end tinned fish as the centerpiece. $$ L D

BEST OF LUCK BEER HALL

313-B S. Je erson Ave., Springfield; 417-522-9009; bestofluckbeerhall.com

There’s killer food and more beers than you can count.Try a seasonal cocktail or one of the dra alcoholic punches. We love the spicy kimchi-topped fried chicken sandwiches. $$ BL D d

BLACKSTONE GASTROPUB

1521 E. Broadway St., Joplin, 417-553-0665

Damien Tiregol of Crabby’s Seafood Bar & Grill now has another Joplin eatery. Blackstone Gastropub features hand-cra ed cocktails and 16 beers on tap alongside some great-looking eats like the crispy fried chicken, grilled salmon on a bed of gnocchi. Keep an eye out for Blackstone’s super-creative daily specials. $ $ L D

CLEAR LOUNGE

At Hilton Branson Convention Center, 200 E. Main St., Branson, 417243-3433

Just across the street from Branson Landing at the Hilton Branson Convention Center is Clear Lounge, a great place to grab a cocktail with friends. This spot is home to tasty food, good music and drinks. D d

GEORGIA MAC’S

1440 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-3195770, georgiamacs.com

The food is hearty and comforting with a southern flare at this south Springfield eatery. You can find loaded burgers (like the one topped with jalapeño bottle caps), fried catfish, country fried steak, loaded fries with tons of toppings, and lots more. The Georgia Hot Chicken sandwich packs a big flavor with mild heat. $ $ L D

HARRY’S COCKTAIL LOUNGE & BAR at Big Cedar Lodge, 612 Devil’s Pool Road, Ridgedale, 417-339-5200, bigcedar.com/dining

This cocktail spot is located downstairs at the Worman House. It’s a great place to stop by for a drink (they have excellent cocktails and a great wine and whiskey selection), and they also o er a rotating menu of small plates and appetizers. $–$$ L D d

THE GOLDEN GIRL RUM CLUB

137 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-4255162, thegoldengirl.com

This rum bar serves handcra ed cocktails and a made-from-scratch, eclectic, internationally inspired menu. The pizza specials always come topped with creative ingredients for a seriously delicious and shareable pie. As for drinks, everything on the menu is reliable well-done. Our favorite: Mr Guava Lava, which is both fruity and spicy. $ L D d

GOOD SPIRITS & CO.

1424 E. Cherry St., Suite A, Springfield, goodspiritsandco.com

The owners of Good Spirits & Co. are behind some great local food and drink concepts (like The Golden Girl Rum Club, Sweet Boy’s Neighborhood Bar, Cherry Picker Package & Fare and Best of Luck Beer Hall), and their chic headquarters on Cherry Street is home to fun foodand-drink events. Check their website fro things like monthly Supper Club dinners, seasonal cocktail events and more. $$–$$$

J.O.B. PUBLIC HOUSE

319 E. Walnut St., Springfield, job417.com

This spot is known for its excellent bourbon selection and elevated bar food. Longtime favorites include the Full Ride burger, the Codi Brah falafel sandwich, and the pepperoni pizza balls. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, try the O ce Crush. $$ L D

LINDBERG’S TAVERN

318 W. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-8688900, lindbergsbar.com

This storied watering hole o ers creative takes on hearty comfort food classics. The burgers are delicious, the specials are always creative. We love the brunch menu. $ L D d

THE ROYAL

1427 E. Cherry St., Suite B, Springfield, theroyalmusichall.com

This tiny and beautiful spot serves well-cra ed cocktails, bottled cocktails and finger foods like warm olives or rosemary and bitters glazed nuts. Be sure to visit when there is live music. $ D

SPRINGFIELD BREWING COMPANY

305 S. Market Ave., Springfield, springfieldbrewingco.com

Try the fish and chips paired with the beers that are brewed on-site. Also delicious are the burgers and the mac and cheese. Live music. $$ BL D d

SWEET BOY’S NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

310 South Ave., Springfield, 417-7194224, sweetboysbar.com

Come for pinball, a laidback atmosphere and a small but very well done cocktail list. For something more like dessert, try the HellBoy. $

SEAFOOD & FISH

CRABBY’S SEAFOOD BAR AND GRILL

815 W. Seventh St., Joplin, crabbysjoplin.com

The Chilean sea bass is a specialty. Try some of the small plates, like portobello mushroom fries, steamed mussels or a lovely charcuterie board. There are also some great entree salad options. $$–$$$ L D

ROCKBRIDGE RESTAURANT

4297 County Road 142, Rockbridge, rockbridgemo.com

The super-fresh fish dishes are made with trout that are caught on the property. We love the trio appetizer, which comes with trout salad, smoked trout and a trout dip that is so craveable! $ BL D

VANTAGE ROOFTOP LOUNGE & CONSERVATORY

260 E. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-8511768; roo opvantage.com

The cocktails are refreshingly creative and classically well-done, and the menu of shareables and snacks bring the concept of bar food up several notches with items like the pork rillette tartine. Make sure you try something from the super-fresh, beautifully prepared raw bar. $$ d

STEAK

CHAR STEAKHOUSE & OYSTER BAR

1620 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-823-8383

There are excellent o erings of Waygu steaks, lamb shank and fish dishes. Indulgent lobster potato puree and crispy flashfried Brussels sprouts round out the sides, and oysters, ceviche and bone marrow pique the appetite as starters. $$$ D d

FLAME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR

314 West Walnut Street, Springfield, 417-862-4444, flamesteakhouse.com

The restaurant specializes in dry-aged steaks that are truly delicious. Don’t miss the lobster macaroni and cheese (we’re serious; you have to try this stu ). The desserts are divine. $$$ D

JIMM’S STEAKHOUSE & PUB

1935 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-8865466, jimmssteakhouseandpub.com

We love the tasty steaks that are always perfectly prepared. The stu ed Peppadew peppers are a must-try appetizer! And if you love a good salad bar, Jimm’s has one of the best. The desserts are always a treat here as well. $$–$$$ L D

LEVEL 2 STEAKHOUSE

The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, 200 E. Main St., Branson, 417-243-3433, level2steakhouse.com

This Branson restaurant specializes in steaks, but its gooey butter cake dessert is gaining a following. Try the Kansas City strip steak and the egg noodles with cheese. If you like to start your meal with greens, the Caesar salad is a must-try. $$$ B D

RED OAK STEAKHOUSE

Downstream Casino Resort, 69300 E. Nee Road, Quapaw, Oklahoma, 1-888-396-7876, downstreamcasino.com

Dry-aged prime steaks are served in this restaurant’s fine-dining atmosphere. The sides are delicious too, with options like garlic potato puree and tru e creamed corn. Be sure to try the charcuterie board with all the usual goodies. $$ D

WILL’S CHOPHOUSE

2058 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-8696947, facebook.com/ KobeClubSteakhouse

The menu here features wagyu and Japanese A5 steaks, along with a variety of seafood dishes inspired by New Orleans and South Texas. The Gulf Flounder Opelousas features blackened flounder and Creole cream sauce with shrimp, crab and oysters. $$$ LD

TEA ROOMS

BETH’S BAKE SHOPPE & TEA ROOM

1645-D West Republic Road, Springfield, 417-866-5533, bethsbakeshoppe.com

Try a chicken salad sandwich—served on cinnamon raisin bread. We love the spinach salad served with warm bacon vinaigrette, and the gigantic couscous salad. $ L

MS. GILMORE’S TEA ROOM AND VINTAGE SUITCASE

211 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-8867000, robinsvintagesuitcase.com

The daily specials and desserts are the star of this tearoom and pastry shop on Commercial Street. There is always a quiche and soup of the day, plus desserts. $ L

SPRING CREEK TEA ROOM

107 S. Third St., Ozark, 417-582-1331

The homemade desserts are to die for. Don’t miss the veggie sandwich, the strawberry soup or the chicken salad. $ L

THAI

EVERYDAY THAI

220 W. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-770-0147

This spot serves consistently delicious Thai dishes. Some of our favorites are the tom kha gai soup, yellow curry and mango sticky rice. $–$$ L D

RAMA THAI CAFÉ

1129 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-865-3204

Located inside a charming house on Historic Walnut Street, Rama Thai features excellent entrees like the addictive curry noodles or the spicy curry options. Try the avocado egg rolls. $–$$ L D d

THAI GARDEN

3454 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-8895280, thaigardenspringfield.com

There are so many great Thai options here, like nam tok beef, shareable bowls of noodle soup, stir fry and curry options and lots more. Get the fried bananas or Thai custard for dessert. Fun little extra: They bottle their Thai iced tea and Thai iced co ee. $ L D

THAI SQUARE

307 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-7715300, facebook.com/ Thaisquare307

Our favorite dish is the salmon choo chee, but the spicy papaya salad and the traditional pad Thai are both tied for a close second. $$ L D

THAILAND STATION

1730 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-3501001, thailandstation.net

Find all your favorites (a variety of curries, stir fried noodle dishes and soups) plus some surprises like crispy duck and stir-fried pork belly. We’re super-excited about the salad options, like the som tum (papaya salad) and the laab (ground chicken salad). $ L D

VIETNAMESE

BAMBU

1338 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-881-9881

The pho is a specialty here. You can add spice, herbs, jalapeños and sprouts to customize it. Don’t miss the refreshing bun bowls too! The one made with lemongrass beef is a flavor bomb. $ L D d

HONG YEN

2926 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-3513915, facebook.com/ hongyenrestaurant. Come to Hong Yen when you’re in search of excellent beef pho. The chicken pho is good too! $ L D d

PHO KIM

3433-C S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, phokimspringfield.com

Fill up on Vietnamese staples like pho, fresh spring rolls, bahn mi sandwiches and more. The chicken fried rice is extra crispy, and the chicken pho is just as tasty as the classic beef variety here. It’s comfort in a bowl. $ L D

Make this year’s holiday special and book a reservation today!

Monday–Saturday: 4:30–11 p.m. Sunday: Closed Lunch Hours

Monday–Friday: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Hours

417-501-1675

Midwest Goodbye the

HEY, WE HAVE A FEW MORE OZARKS MOMENTS TO SHARE WITH YOU BEFORE YOU GO.

Cattle Baron’s Ball

This year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball raised more than $1 million to support the American Cancer Society.

Continued on p. 130 >>

Pictured: Ashley Casad, Jessica Olson

People Pics e MidwestGoodbye

Cattle Baron’s Ball

The 17th annual Cattle Baron’s Ball was held September 13 at Wilson Logistics Arena. Over 950 guests enjoyed fantastic food, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. The event exceeded its goal, raising over $1 million for the American Cancer Society.

Date: September 13, 2025

Benefiting Organization: American Cancer Society

Location: Wilson Logistics Arena at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds

Sponsors: 417 Magazine, PRIME Inc., Thompson Cadillac, Chevrolet & Buick, Wilson Logistics, Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic, CoxHealth

1.

& Lori Wilson

PHOTOS BY RYAN KOWALSKI

Darrel

2. Katrina Kerns, Caitlynn Westbrook, Nicole Womack, Aubrey Womack, Kristina Dean

3. Michael & Jodee Smith

4. Tom Schmidt, Maddie Conklin, Jeremy Rabe

5. Dave & Logan Aguirre, Krystal & Luke Simon

6. Lawana & Robert Lowe

7. Ashley Casad, Jessica Olson

417 Magazine’s Hot Flash Happy Hour

From hormone myths to belly laughs, 417 Hot Flash Happy Hour brought the realness 180 women in 417-land deserve. Guests sipped cocktails, soaked up honest insights on women’s health from a powerhouse panel and laughed out loud with comedian Missy Hall.

Date: October 23

Location: Hickory Hills Country Club

Sponsors: 417 Magazine, DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic, Mercy Springfield Communities, Serotonin Centers, Skin Bar Medical Studio

1. Amanda Ponder, Rachel Kopsas

2. Amy Kilz, Nancy McClain

3. Eden Mozzy, Jenni Pace, Emily Little

4. Leah Young, Aimee Swisshelm, Malayna Woods

5. Missy Hall, Logan Aguirre

6. Judith Martinez, Rebekah Stewart

7. Lori Arbeitman, Tonya Murfin

e Midwest Goodbye

WHERE’S417?

Bring 417 Magazine on your next adventure—whether you’re traveling or exploring close to home.

1. Cocoa Beach, Florida Rylan Stubblefield, Camryn Summers, Caitlin Summers

2.Chantilly, France Alan & Cathy Tong

3. Prague, Czech Republic Elizabeth VanFosson

Take a snapshot with the magazine, and send us a hi-res copy with caption information about where the photo was taken and who is in the photo to art@417mag.com. Don’t forget to share your travels on social media with #wheres417

4. Las Vegas, Nevada Caleb Davis, Megan Neyer, Kendra Claxton, Anton Popyk, Grace Olson, Jay Casey, Jessica Harmison-Olson, Dustin Gerleve

5. Paris, France Bernadette Pry, Aimee Ball

6. Húsavík, Iceland Patty Shilling, Kathy Tipton

7. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica Maegan, Eliza, Clint Cooper

Oh,OneMore Thing

Richard was adopted from Rescue One a few months ago. Once known as a bit of a bad boy (who garnered some social media fame for his antics), he’s now living his best, well-behaved life in a loving home.

BY JORDAN BLOMQUIST

QHow did you feel when you first arrived at your forever home?

At rst, personally attacked. I had a tough, lone wolf reputation and suddenly people were petting me. Rude. Then they gave me a plush bed and snacks, and I thought, “Wow, being loved is kind of luxurious.” So yeah, adoption, 10/10.

How would you describe your personality in three words?

Judge-y, legendary, complicated.

You’ve been called a reformed bad boy. What was your wildest adventure?

Just one? Please. Every single day at Rescue One was the purge. I chased the sta with zero warning. I popped around corners, I held volunteers hostage on the couch. I wasn’t on an adventure. I was the adventure.

If you could say one thing to all the dogs still at the shelter, what would it be?

Stop peeing in your kennels—you’re killing the vibe. Hit them with the sad eyes. Add a dramatic sigh, maybe a limp. The humans will feel sorry for you, adopt you and buy you lots of snacks. Trust me, I was a full gremlin, and now I live a pretty normal life.