Home + Design

Craftsmanship Set in Stone

Silver Tile & Stone brings precision, practical beauty and skilled installation to bathrooms across southwest Missouri Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Leigh Love Precision in Every Detail Silver Tile & Stone owner Nicolae Andritchi brings two decades of installation experience and a craftsman’s attention to Springfield-area homes. Tile has long done more than cover a surface. Across centuries, it has carried pattern, color, and craftsmanship into bathhouses, villas, cathedrals and...

Style + Beauty

Springfield Hits the Cinema

A conversation with makeup artist Caroline Murray about her work on Dust to Malibu, a film shot in Springfield Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided When director Stephen Ward chose Springfield as the backdrop for his latest movie, Dust to Malibu, it didn’t just capture a location, it captured a community. For makeup head Caroline Murray, that meant translating the Ozarks’ natural beauty and the originality of its residents onto the big screen. Q: How did you get your start in...

Beauty

Beyond the Crown

Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided When Shae Smith heard her name called as Miss Missouri, the moment felt surreal. A year earlier, she had stood on the same stage as first runner-up. That year, she was one of the youngest competitors in the field. She stood wondering if life experience was the one thing that held her back from the title. She returned determined to overcome that mental hurdle. And overcome she did. But even after the crown was placed on her head, the reality...

Style + Beauty

Architects of Style

How six Springfield creatives are building the art of living well Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Hanna Sher Style is not limited to what we wear. It shapes the spaces we inhabit, the places we explore, the objects we preserve and even the way we see ourselves. Across the Springfield area, creative professionals are using observation, experience and careful listening to help people live with greater beauty, confidence and intention. To Kristal Hicks, owner and travel designer at...

Entertainment

Silver Ball Revival

Retro games, modern competition, and community connection thrive in small-town Missouri Article and Photography by Ashley Grant On a busy side street, located just off of the main road through Willard, Missouri, lights and chimes spill from the Pinball Social Club, hinting at something nostalgic. For owner Matt Darst, the venue is more than a hobby, it is an intentional effort to build community around simple, old-school fun. Matt’s professional life might not immediately suggest an...

Food + Beverage

A Better Start

Helping families and their pets start life together on the right paw Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided Bringing home a new pet is a milestone moment for many families, but owning a pet can come with plenty of questions. At All About Dogs and Cats, Leigh and Dennis Daniels have built their business around helping pet owners start these moments off on the right paw. From guiding owners through a wealth of pet food choices to supporting local rescue adoptions, the couple has...

Life + Culture

The Scout Effect

Building confident kids who are prepared to positively contribute to their communities Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided In a growing city like Springfield, where urban meets small-town values, it doesn’t take long to realize the heart and soul of the community are the people. For Travis Rubelee, Scout Executive serving the Ozarks with the Ozark Trails Council, Scouting America, that realization came quickly after moving into the area. “As a recent transplant, it became clear...

Local Services

Dogs That Serve

How K9s for Camo changes lives one service dog at a time Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Bailey Hough For nearly a decade, a Springfield-based non-profit has been transforming the lives of veterans, inmates, and rescue dogs through a multi-layered restorative program. Summer Gerhardt, owner of Howliday Pet Resort and vice president of K9s for Camo, has been involved since the beginning alongside her husband who also serves on the board. The nonprofit was officially launched by...

Food + Beverage

Route 66 Eats

Family of Virginia Bowler shares savory memories from "Ginny Lee's" Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided Before dawn on any given morning in 1970s Springfield, the lights at Ginny Lee’s were on. Long before most of the city began to stir, Virginia Bowler, aka “Ginny Lee”, was already in the kitchen of her West College Street restaurant, now the College Street Cafe. As the sun rose, her hands were busy brewing coffee, baking rolls, and cutting potatoes for hand-cut fries. What...

Home + Design

Smooth Sailing

Family cruising makes travel easier, calmer, and more memorable Article and Photography by Ashley Grant Family vacations don't have to be stressful. Cruising offers an easy way to keep everyone happy, with meals, entertainment, lodging, and transportation all in one place. Kids can enjoy pools, youth clubs, games, and activities designed for their age, while parents relax knowing they're having fun in a supervised environment. Each port introduces families to new destinations without the...