May 11, 2008

A night out with Dr. Pong

By SAIT SERKAN GURBUZ "I love the sound of pingpong in the background,” Erik Morse said. “It was a welcome to find a pingpong table outside at the bar.” Doctor Pong night at Mojo’s in downtown Columbia offered Morse and a couple dozen others the opportunity to play pingpong inside or on the patio while enjoying the electronic music played by disc jockeys Nick Newlin and Chris Bahn.

May 09, 2008

Making sense of foreclosures

By JONATHON BRADEN The terms that swirl around foreclosures and mortgages can often be more complicated than the process itself. Here’s a glossary to help make sense of the convoluted situations.

How to avoid foreclosure

By JONATHON BRADEN Homeowners who are confused, troubled or even just wondering about their status have options in securing their residential future.

Adjustable-rate mortgages can lead to confusion

By JONATHON BRADEN Adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, are complex because rates can differ from year to year, leaving homeowners confused and often troubled about how to move forward.

Foreclosures closing in on mid-Missouri housing market

By JONATHON BRADEN Although many agree Columbia and Boone County have suffered far less than many others in the nation, foreclosures have still had widespread effects on many group stakeholders in the Boone County mortgage market.

Poetry and art guide teacher through life

By VANJA PETROVIC Mike Barrett, who creates art for the sake of art alone, has written poetry for more than two decades. He has been active in the slam poetry movement and the Chicago Poetry Ensemble. Now this creative writing teacher at Moberly Area Community College is passing his love of poetry on to his students.

May 05, 2008

Missouri Theatre grand opening tickets are limited

By RACHEL SCHROEDER People are coming from as far as California to see Tony Bennett perform at the grand opening of the Missouri Theatre.

May 04, 2008

From harsh winter to budding spring

By ZACHARY SIEBERT We met the first April day of sun and pleasant temperatures. An appointment had been made with April’s glorious potential. Spring had undeniably arrived. In Boone County, we are blessed with a climate that provides the opportunity to experience all four seasons.

May 02, 2008

Do Columbia’s nachos make the grade?

By ALLISON BENNETT Four restaurants’ nachos get graded according to price, taste, crunch and toppings.

April 27, 2008

Donning the dancing shoes

By KATHLEEN BUHRMANN Chester and Marian Hilgedick navigate a two-step on the gym floor at the Ashland Senior Citizen Prom in perfect time with a grace acquired through 59 years as partners. The story goes that Marian tagged along with a girlfriend who was going to a dance in Jefferson City. Chester spotted Marian in the room and quickly walked over and asked her to dance with him.

April 25, 2008

Biking, splashing or exploring: The top five spots around Columbia for summer fun

By Missourian staff Ready to hit those biking trails? Is exploring a cave or floating a river is more your speed? Here are the five best places around Columbia to visit for each of these three summer activities.

Spill it: Dave Hestir, Gold Nugget Popcorn owner

By BROOKE FLETCHER

Marathon running reminds MU student of home

By Josh Wolff It took Zimbabwe native Munashe Chigerwe some time to warm up to Columbia, but a group of runners helped him find his stride and make the transition into his new life.

April 23, 2008

A soprano's song

By RICKY O'BANNON While most MU students are occupied with the winding down of the spring semester, Emily Bennett, a senior vocal performing major, has been balancing her academic commitments with gaining national recognition as a soprano.

April 20, 2008

Wii bowling tournament strikes against autism

By KATHLEEN BUHRMANN On a drizzly Friday evening, 6-year-old Duke Newsted was all smiles as he learned how to bowl on a Wii at Jayden Roberts’ Wii Bowling Tournament at Friendship Place Youth Center in Centralia. Nicole Henry and Jordan Roberts, Jayden’s brother, helped teach Duke how to use his hand to control, swing and release the virtual bowling ball. After a few practice swings, Duke was giggling and clapping as he knocked over virtual pins.

April 18, 2008

The Fairfield Gorget: The little white disk with a big, big history

By REBECCA DELANEY On display at the Museum of Art and Archaeology, there’s a little white disk in the middle of a room. It’s inconspicuous, at first — a simple bauble left by ancient American Indians who once called Missouri home. But peel away the layers of history, and you’ll see that the little disk is far more than an extremely old-school trinket.

25 ways to stretch your dollar in Columbia

By Allison Bennett and Nichole Wade You don’t need a full wallet to have a full stomach and a good time in Columbia.

'Objects of Affection' student art exhibit inspired by nostalgia

By Natalie Durkovich COLUMBIA– Jessica Forys created paintings and fabric sculptures, then she tore them apart and stuffed them with straw and sand. But it was all part of her plan. “I take these remnants and make and destroy, make and destroy,” said Forys. “I love the constant flux.” The fabric sculptures, or “unmades” as Forys calls them, were a part of “Objects of Affection,” her final exhibition as an MU graduate student. The installation was a mix of paintings, quilt-like hangings and fabric sculptures designed to provoke the viewer to “rekindle suppressed memories and feelings through the power of objects,” according to the information about her show.

April 16, 2008

'Elixir of Love' opera on tap for weekend

By RICKY O’BANNON The Show-Me Opera will perform the highlights from the opera “Elixir of Love” this weekend at First Baptist Church.

April 13, 2008

Satin & Chenille enchant through the power of love duets

By ZACHARY SIEBERT The most elaborate item on the bandstand stage at CAT 3 television studios on the Stephens College campus was a simple black lectern — the kind one finds in high school music rooms and cheap hotel conference areas. Often overlooked, a lectern will typically lead an anonymous life lest it find itself bestowed with a national seal or a religious emblem.