Ozark Farmers Market at Finley Farms
The new Artisans Market is located inside the Market Shed. Visitors can also enjoy local produce, food trucks, shopping, treats and beverages, plus kids’ activities and live music.

Artisans can visit OzarkFarmersMarket.com or email [email protected] for dewtails.

Did you find Waldo?
Skylark Bookshop, 22 S 9th St. in Columbia, caps a month-long extravaganza of Waldo-hunting with an open-to-all party at the bookshop at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 4. Learn more here.

Jammin’ at the Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo Young Professionals invite you to Jammin’ at the Zoo—a 21-and-older event of the summer at the Saint Louis Zoo.

From 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24, enjoy an evening with live music and wine and beer tastings, featuring over 50 selections of wines, specialty canned cocktails and beers from regional microbreweries.

Proceeds will benefit the Zoo and its conservation efforts both at the Zoo and around the world.

New group focuses on historic preservation
Are you tired of hearing about the demolition of historic buildings? Do you wonder whether historic preservation even makes economic sense? Are you interested in learning about how historic preservation is sustainable and eco-friendly?

A new group has been founded with a mission to tackle these issues. The Historic Preservation Alliance of Columbia held its first meeting in June. At its third meeting, on July 26, the group decided on a name to reflect its current focus.

“The Historic Preservation Alliance of Columbia wants to find ways to slow or stop the demolition of historic buildings,” said Dianna Borsi O’Brien, one of the group organizers. The group will also work to educate people about the value of preservation and in the future will provide a place where people can buy historic salvage materials.  

The Historic Preservation Alliance of Columbia will work with Columbia’s existing resources including the Boone County History & Culture Center (BCHCC), the city of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), and other organizations. 

“Our group will do the things that the BCHCC and the HPC can’t or don’t do such as lobbying and pushing for legislative changes to prevent the destruction of historic buildings,” O’Brien says. HPAC will also find ways to get the word out about Columbia’s and the benefits of historic preservation.

 The Historic Preservation Alliance of Columbia welcomes new members and partners as it grows. Its next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on August 30 in the Columbia Public Library.

Big BAM is as easy as riding a bike
Missouri’s Katy Trail State Park was nominated in March for “Best Recreational Trail” in the country in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The trail spans 240 miles with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. This trail is often on people’s cycling bucket list since it goes across the whole state.

Want to see what’s all of the hubbub about and see the Katy Trail in person? Join Big BAM on the Katy this fall for a fully supported ride from Clinton to Augusta in October.