A lot of the time when we think of art, we think of museums and galleries. But in Columbia, art is truly everywhere! From traffic boxes (seriously) to huge sculptures, just walking around Columbia can be like spending a day in a museum. Plus you can walk around with a soda and a sandwich, making it unlike most museums really.
Howard Meehan’s ‘Keys to the City’ welcomes visitors to Columbia City Hall.
The City Public Art Tour even extends onto the University of Missouri campus.
Recognize this guy? Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker attended the University of Missouri.
Competitors set up all day Friday and get cooking, staying through the night at the competition site to keep an eye on the prize. Once Saturday morning rolls around, you can smell all that smoke throughout the festival as the entrants get ready to submit their finest to the judges.
All of this may have you thinking, ‘I want to judge! I want to gorge myself on championship barbeque!’ The application is still on the Roots ‘n Blues site, but spots always go fast and it also helps if you’re sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
While you can’t actually taste what they’re cooking if you’re just an average festival goer, you should still take some time out from the musical acts and wander through the BBQ Village. Chat up the competitors, many of whom are more than happy to show you how they get it done. And don’t worry, there’s plenty of BBQ for sale in the festival, so you’ll never go hungry.
Every Wednesday night, the skies above Columbia open up. No, we don’t promise rain every Wednesday, but from 8:00-10:00 p.m., the Central Missouri Astronomical Association is on hand at Laws Observatory at the University of Missouri campus to give you a look at the wonder of the night sky.
You’re just steps away from space!
The Observatory is home to a Celestron Scmidt Cassagrain telescope and experts are on hand to help you identify what you’re seeing.
Just what am I looking at?
In addition to their Wednesday night openings, Laws Observatory is also open during special celestial events including meteor showers, comets and appearances of planets. Don’t miss out on this Uniquely Columbia learning experience!
Just a short 45 minute drive from Columbia is the village of Arrow Rock. The entire village is a designated National Historic Landmark and is full of friendly people, charming shops and fascinating historical attractions.
Arrow Rock Visitors Center
Start your day by checking out the visitors center and museum right on the edge of the village. Get visitor information and learn about the rich history of the era. Then head down the path into the village!
Now Entering: The Village of Arrow Rock
Just like that, you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as you explore historic buildings and merchants including antiques and a country store. You can also use this handy walking tour map to help you find all the can’t miss stops.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the calm of this charming village.
If you’re in Arrow Rock in May-November, be sure to see if you can add a performance at the Lyceum Theatre to your agenda. The theatre is one of Missouri’s oldest professional regional theatres and professional actors, directors, designers and technicians from across the country take residence in Arrow Rock for several months to bring our audience outstanding musicals and plays. This year’s season included the Music Man and Camelot with To Kill a Mockingbird and Sanders Family Christmas still to come. Buy your tickets early, these shows sell out fast!
From musicals to drama, don’t miss out on the Lyceum.
Next time you’re in Columbia, escape for an afternoon and immerse yourself in history in Arrow Rock. It’s just a short drive to the past.
Last week, we told you about a lesser know part of the Roots ‘n Blues ‘n BBQ Festival, the Half Marathon and 10K. For those of you who are more about dancing than running, this blog is for you.
This year’s music lineup for the Roots ‘n Blues ‘n BBQ Festival is, in a word, epic. But enough with the words, we’ll just let you listen to some of this year’s standout announced performers.
Al Green
He’s still got it, folks.
Rodriguez
Attendees at this year’s True/False Film Festival were mesmerized by the film Searching for Sugarman, which follows the search for a Mexican musical artist whose music was celebrated in South Africa. Now, Rodriguez comes to Columbia.
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
On the scene for decades, Marty Stuart brings his amazing live presence to Roots ‘n Blues.
Are you excited yet? Just these few examples make it easy to see why Roots ‘n Blues ‘n BBQ grows each year. Keep checking their site for all the artists and any last minute additions and check back here in a couple of weeks for some insight into what makes downtown smell so good during the festival…the BBQ contest.
The Missouri Theatre in downtown Columbia is truly a historical treasure. Sitting proudly on 9th Street, the theatre has been hosting world renowned talent for nearly 100 years. Originally a vaudeville theatre, the Missouri Theatre has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and is a must see on your next visit to Columbia.
The gorgeous interior pairs perfectly with the amazing talent that graces the stage throughout the year. In addition to performances by the Missouri Symphony Society, the University of Missouri Concert Series also holds performances there, with guests ranging from violinists to comedians.
Not only is the theatre stunning, but the lobby and upstairs reception area also feature beautiful art and lovingly restored features. You can also stop in to the adjoining Columbia Art League Gallery, which has rotating shows with local, regional and national artists displaying their work. Don’t miss out on this gem right in the middle of downtown Columbia on your next visit.
Every fall, thousands of music and barbeque fans gather in Columbia to attend the Roots ‘n Blues ‘n BBQ Festival. The two-day festival begins on a Friday night and concludes on Saturday, but there’s a part of the festival that not everyone sees. While concert goers sleep in and the BBQ teams tend to their smokers, hundreds of attendees wake up at the crack of dawn to run the Roots ‘n Blues Half Marathon/10K race.
This popular race grows each year as runners appreciate the beautiful routes through Columbia, the musical acts along the route and, of course, the BBQ and beer at the end! Both the 10k and Half Marathon routes combine roads and trails through scenic Columbia on a fall morning. In addition to the race experience, your registration fee also includes a free ticket to the festival for the day of the race…not a bad way to celebrate finishing!
So, whether you’re a seasoned runner or someone looking to complete their first race, there’s nothing like the festive atmosphere of Roots ‘n Blues to give you a fantastic experience. So get registered today and we’ll be cheering for you at the finish line!
Gotta Go CoMo 
August 28, 2012
0 Comments