Arts + Culture

Where Handmade Still Matters

For more than 40 years, Bluestem has connected shoppers, local artists and meaningful handmade craftsmanship. Article by Shea Sullivan In downtown Columbia, Bluestem Missouri Crafts is the kind of place where a hand-thrown mug, a carved wooden bowl and a pair of handcrafted earrings each come with a story worth keeping. That story began in October 1983, when five artists—Sandy Litechy, Mary Benjamin, Marilyn Verner, Sue Luger and Cindy Messer—shared a dream of creating a place where...

Life + Culture

Unchained at Last

Giving neglected dogs the freedom every family companion deserves. Article by Shea Sullivan For many dogs, freedom is something most of us never think twice about. It's chasing a tennis ball across the backyard. Curling up on the couch after a long walk. Greeting their family at the front door with an excited tail wag. But for far too many dogs, life has looked very different. When Melody Whitworth moved from South Florida to Missouri, she was shocked by what she saw. Neighborhood after...

Life + Culture

Raising Kids Intentionally

A business runs on mission, vision, and values. So should the most important organization you'll ever lead. Article by Julia Myers The strongest influence on a child usually comes from family. I grew up eating PB&Js in the parking lot of Six Flags, because I'd logged 600 minutes of summer reading to earn the ticket inside. I knew my parents valued two things: reading, and affordable fun we could share as a family. What I didn't know then was that they were teaching me with their actions as...

Travel

The School House

A Historic Stay in Rocheport Where Missouri's Past and Present Meet Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by The School House The bell that once called students to class now greets visitors arriving at the School House in Rocheport. More than a century after it first opened as a school, the historic building continues welcoming guests, offering a stay rooted in Missouri history, hospitality, and small-town charm. For Andy and Chandrika Hickman the School House wasn't part of a long-term...