Food & Fun 2011

ADVERTISEMENT 2September 14, 2010

FOOD AND FUN 3September 14, 2010

By Kaycie SurrellThe Standard

Sweet, sweet summer. In the threemonths allotted for our much anticipatedsummer break, eight businesses appearedin downtown Springfield, giving MissouriState students a valid reason to ventureaway from their usual haunts.

Bistro MarketOkay, unless you’ve been living under a

rock, you have probably seen, heard aboutor tasted something from the Bistro Mar-ket. Bistro popped up out of nowhere justover a month ago and has been amazingcustomers since the doors opened.

If you haven’t already done so, it’sabout time you get yourself down thereand sample something from their extreme-ly reasonably priced and tasty hot food barand salad bar, grab some sushi or a sand-wich from their ready-to-eat lunch cooleror traipse down their grocery aisles forsomething to make in your own good time.

Caffeine fiend? Never fear, Starbucksis here! Or rather, inside the market, offer-ing free Wi-Fi to boot.

What’s the added bonus, you ask? Youcan get a cold one from the bar and shopwhile you sip on the beer of your choosing.Pretty fabulous.

The CupIf you’ve been asking yourself what

downtown Springfield is missing, yourquestions have been answered in Spring-field’s newest dessert bar, The Cup. A cup-cake bakery dreamed up by friends ErickaFrank and Nicole Puryear in 2007, TheCup’s business is booming when it comesto delicious and well-thought-out bakedgoods that are definitely a bang for yourbuck.

Their standard cupcakes run for $2.75,made fresh daily for your enjoyment. Fla-vors range from traditional like their Con-fetti cupcake, a simple vanilla buttercreamon a French vanilla cake, to something alittle more special like their Cuppa CoffeeCake, cinnamon streusel topping on a sourcream coffee cake.

They also offer fresh coffee drinks and sig-nature sweet treats like the Cakewich, twolayers of cake sandwiching buttercream.

Doors opened in July, and since then,The Cup has been urging Springfieldiansto “rediscover your sweet tooth.”

Ophelia’sBack by popular demand, Ophelia’s

wine bar reopened their doors on down-town Walnut Street on July 15. Theyclosed a little over two-and-half-years ago,but thanks to their loyal patrons, they’vecome back with a vengeance.

Offering the largest selection of bottledwine in Springfield, this bar will surelybecome a staple of date nights and friend-ly get-togethers alike.

As for food, get ready to be impressed.They offer what’s known as tapas, a serv-ing of food comparable to an appetizerthat is meant to be shared. Mouthwateringchoices include their pressed herb cheesesandwich, smoked trout fillet with arti-choke cream cheese spread and grilledshrimp with spicy romesco sauce.

To drink, they have “cocktails your dadwould be proud of.” That means tradition-al drinks like the classic Mint Julep or aManhattan. Come January, they plan tostart offering hard-to-find beers on tap.

Missouri State faculty and staff get a 20percent discount on all food items, all thetime.

Gelato MioDrury University graduates Chantal

and Andy Drennen opened this gem of a

gelato shop, locat-ed at 207 ParkCentral East, onAug. 20.

Their story issomething straightout of a fairy tale.Andy Drennen isfrom Paraguay,and Chantal Dren-nen is fromArgentina. Bothfluent in Spanish,they connected at aSteak ‘n Shakewhile still in collegeand have sincegone into thedessert business.

They offer apremium product:a 25-year-oldrecipe that comesfrom an Italianfamily based inChicago. This isthe same familythat provides therecipe for the gela-to served at theCaesars Palacecasino in Las

Vegas. Pretty impressive.With more than 30 flavors available at a

time, each being about 50 to 100 caloriesper small cup, it’s a pretty sweet deal.

An art gallery that occupies the back ofthe restaurant features art from Spring-field’s sister cities, Tlaquepaque, Mexicoand Isesaki, Japan, as well as art fromlocal artists.

To those afraid to stray from the safetyof chocolate and vanilla ice cream, fearnot. One of Gelato Mio’s mottos guaran-tees, “the spoon is small because that muchflavor is dangerous to your taste buds inlarger doses.” Enjoy.

FriaGelato Mio isn’t the only sweet spot

that’s opened up in downtown Springfield.A soft-served yogurt bar, Fria, opened upabout two weeks ago.

Employees Jed Pierce and AlexCrisman are responsible for the amazinginterior design of the building and vouchfor the amazing flavor of their kosheryogurt. Most of their yogurts are non-fator low fat, and they even offer a non-dairyvery berry flavor for the lactose intolerant.

What is described as “mad toppings”

adorn their countertop with options likefresh kiwi and watermelon.

Whatever your dietary need, they offera sweet option to match in taste bud pleas-ing flavors like Georgia peach and Euro-tart.

The Blue BullThe Blue Bull is sports bar with a twist.

This bar moved into what used to be Riad, ashort-lived martini lounge.

The walls are a cool inviting blue, andthe menu is just as tantalizing. They evenhave a shot-wheel, and for $3.50, a bar-tender spins it. Whatever it lands on, youdrink.

The usual appetizers like spinach dip andmozzarella cheese sticks are on the menu,but they also serve reasonably priced mealslike the signature Blue Bull burger andchicken BLT wrap.

Ladies’ night is every Friday, featuringhalf-priced drinks from the time they open(11 a.m.) until close.

Pickleman’s Gourmet CaféThe former owner of a Jimmy John’s

franchise, Doug Stritzel, took a leap of faithand opened his own gourmet sandwich com-pany in 2005 in Columbia, Mo.

The downtown restaurant opened mid-August and offers signature sandwiches likethe Veggie and the Turkey Bacon Club, aswell as 12” thin crust pizzas, fresh choppedsalads and what’s marketed as “really goodsoups.”

Open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., withdelivery that is as freaky fast as their com-petitors, Pickleman’s is a soon-to-be favoritewith the downtown crowd.

Transformations Gallery andTattoo

This upscale art gallery and tattoo shopopened May 1. Working artists AustinEvans and Gabe Tenneson are both formeremployees of Sacred Art Tattoos, and withtheir new business, offer quality tattooing tothe masses.

“Art is my life,” Evans said. “You have nobusiness being a tattooist unless you’re anartist.”

The gallery space features their artwork aswell as the artwork of fellow Springfieldians,including beautifully traditional canvas piecesand large-scale, mixed-media pieces.

For those looking for somewhere to geta fresh piece of ink or just interested inchecking out some wonderfully aestheti-cally pleasing art, Transformations is aplace to keep in mind.

Illustration by Rachel Brown

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THE STANDARD4 September 14, 2010

DDoowwnnttoowwnn ooffffeerrss sshhooppppiinnggooppttiioonnss ffoorr aannyy kkiinndd ooff bbuuddggeettBy Megan GatesThe Standard

For students looking for great shoppingopportunities near campus, downtownSpringfield has a wide variety of options.

Vintage ViceLocated at 214 S. Campbell Ave., Vintage

Vice offers vintage and one-of-a-kind clothingat an affordable cost for males and females.“A lot of stores sell clothing; we sell indi-

viduality,” general manager Shawn Matthewssaid. “We are completely unique with a con-cept of modern vintage for the stylish individ-ual.”All store items are under $30 to offer cus-

tomers “cool clothing for a low cost,”Matthews said. In addition, Vintage Viceoffers “happy hour” on Tuesdays from 2 p.m.to 4 p.m. when students can by $30 worth ofitems for $20.Vintage Vice is open Monday through Sat-

urday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. with occasionallate night sales announced on Facebook. Tofind these sales, search Facebook for ‘VintageVice Store.’

Chic ChickOffering clothes for juniors and women,

Chic Chick at 400 E. Walnut St. has a varietyof casual clothing and vintage options.“The clothing is fun and different, and it’s

nice to go downtown and not to the mall,”assistant manager Laura Ayres said. “Wehave lots of vintage-type clothing and jewelryand are something totally different from any-where else in Springfield.”Chic Chick offered a student discount dur-

ing the first few weeks of the fall semester tostudents with IDs. It also has coupons in theCampus Special coupon booklets that areavailable around campus.Regular business hours are Monday

through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. andSaturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. During theFirst Friday Art Walk each month, ChicChick is open until 10 p.m.

EnvyJust a stones throw from Chic Chick, at

323 E. Walnut St., Envy is great for thoseshopping on a tight budget.Envy offers weekly promotions with regu-

lar sales of $5 camis, T-shirts and sunglasses,manager Ann Clark said.“Everything in the store is under $40 and

is straight out of L.A.” Clark said. “We getnew products in every week and stuff goes

extremely fast because of the prices.”Additional sales and discounts for students

are posted on Envy’s Facebook page at EnvySpringfield.Envy is open Monday through Thursday,

11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.;Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 to5 p.m.

IndieAlso on Walnut Street at 210 E. Walnut

St., Indie features clothing, furniture andhome items by local designers.Camille McCallister opened Indie in 2007

and finds designers who bring in pieces toshow. She also stops people on the street andasks about their clothing to see if it’s an origi-nal piece.“We represent independent, up-and-

coming designers with pieces by 70 localdesigners,” McCallister said. “We try to beunique and original and don’t follow trends.We want customers to define their own style.”Indie also tries to keep prices low for all

items in the store.“We have an assortment of clothing to fit

any budget with nothing over $100,” McCal-lister said. “All our home items are reallycheap. We have hand-painted, one-of-a-kindpieces for $200 and try to keep it really afford-able.”Also available to students is “discount

day.” Every Tuesday, students who show anID receive a 10 percent discount on their pur-chase.

Staxx ApparelAround the corner from Indie at 331

South Ave., Staxx Apparel offers a wide vari-ety of contemporary clothing for males andfemales.All the employees at Staxx are either fash-

ion majors or minors, store manager AbbyPoland said.“We love to help, especially when people

ask for help or tell us what they’re lookingfor,” Poland said. “We’ve seen an increase inbusiness because downtown is growing andthe new Bistro Market next door.”“Staxx has a variety of prices ranging from

earrings for $5 to jeans for $300. We also have‘happy hour’ from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. once amonth on a Thursday where everything in thestore is 25 percent off.”Staxx is open Monday through Saturday

from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Global FayreLocated at 324 S. Campbell Ave., Global

Fayre is owned and operated by David andCheri Crump.“We opened with the concept of a fair

trade store,” said David Crump, whoexplained most of their merchandise isbought through co-opts owned by women indeveloping countries. “We help them devel-op through trade instead of through charity.”The concept of fair trade also allows the

Crumps to get to know the co-opt owners.“We correspond with them through e-

mail, and through that, we get to know thepeople and see the impact we have on theirlives,” David Crump said.The Crumps were attracted to Spring-

field because of the lack of fair trade stores inthe middle of the U.S. and wanted to bringthe concept to downtown.“We are really passionate about down-

town Springfield,” David Crump said. “Wewanted to know our neighboring retailersand customers.”In addition to having a variety of clothing,

accessories, toys, collectibles and householditems, Global Fayre hosts discussions aboutthe benefits of free trade, and these discus-sions are posted on its Facebook page.Prices of items in the store vary from $4

for accessories to $200 for house-hold items.

They also offer a 10 percent discount to stu-dents who have IDs. Global Fayre is open Monday through

Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridaysand Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sarah Hiatt/THE STANDARD

Shawn Matthews, general manager at Vintage Vice, said his store sells “individuality.” Vin-tage Vice is located at 214 S. Campbell Ave. and sells clothes for males and females.

Sarah Hiatt/THE STANDARD

Vintage Vice store items are under $30.


AAllccoohhooll iiss cchheeaappeerrdduurriinngg wweeeekkddaayyssBy The Standard

Finding a good drink in Springfield isn’thard to do, but finding it cheap requires care-ful planning and maybe a calendar.Every bar in town has a happy hour and

daily drink specials. With an idea of who’s serv-ing what and $20 in your pocket, you couldeasily have a very, very fun night on the town.Because we care about the size of your wal-

let, we compiled a neat list of some of ourfavorite, budget friendly drink specials.Remember, have fun and don’t drink more

than Captain Jack Sparrow.Important note: This is not a comprehen-

sive list of drink specials/happy hours in down-town Springfield. In fact, this is just the tip ofthe iceberg that sank the Titanic. The goal ofthis story is to help you begin your quest to findcheap drinks downtown.

Happy HourFor those of you who are quality beer fans

and like to get your buzz on at 2 p.m., head toPatton Alley Pub. Happy hour is from 2 p.m.to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and allday Sunday, and as of this summer, Patton alsohas a late-night happy hour starting at 10 p.m.During happy hour, Patton serves half-

priced appetizers and domestic draught beers.

MondayDuring NFL football season, Springfield

Brew Co. has a sweet deal where you can get apitcher and either a pizza or 20 wings for $12.This deal is offered from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.Year-round on Mondays, you can get $1

domestic mugs at Trolley’s as well as $2 importmugs and 2-for-1 bombs. We recommend the$1 domestic mugs. Steal.Right across the street from Trolley’s, Big

Whiskey’s serves half-priced drafts and burg-ers. We hear those burgers are tasty.

TuesdayThere’s this little dance party called Make

Out going on at The Outland Tuesdays, and it’sfree for 21-and-ups. Party.Trolley’s serves $1 domestic bottles, and

Ernie Biggs serves $2 wells and domestics, $2grapebomb, cherrybomb and Starburst shotsand $3 Red Bull and vodka.Feeling classy? Head to Fedora. They serve

$1 Bud Light and Miller Light bottles and $3bombs.

WednesdayHow do you feel about drinking an entire

pitcher of beer by yourself? If you ever want totry, we recommend heading to The Boogie ona Wednesday for a $3 pitcher of Coors Light.They also serve $2 well drinks and shots.Right across the street, Ernie Biggs serves

$1 drafts and well drinks. If you’re feeling likesome Jägermeister, head to Fedora for $1Jägermeister, cherry and grape bombs.

ThursdayYou know what Thursday is? $5 martini

night at the Mudlounge. The Mudlounge has aplethora of martini options, everything fromthe gin and vodka classic to the chocolate mar-tin. Challenge: the fish bowl martini. It’s meantfor two, but that doesn’t mean you can’t accom-plish the task yourself.Also serving martinis on Thursday night are

Trolley’s and Fedora. You can get $3 CandyStore martinis at Fedora and $3.50 martinis atTrolley’s.Besides martinis, there are also 2 wells for

$1 and Coors Light bottles at The Boogie and$1 bottles at Tropical Liqueurs. While you’re at“Trops,” try one of their delicious alcoholic,smoothie-type, tropical beverages.

FridayEven though Friday is a busy night down-

town, there are still cheap drinks to be hadsomewhere.At Ernie Biggs, you can get a $2 Coors

Banquet draft, and at Trolley’s you can get a“Big Boulevard” for $4 and the martini of theday for $5.Of course, if you feel like beating the down-

town rush, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., you can get$6 pitchers at Trops.

SaturdayAnother busy night, but no fear, $2 Coors

Banquet on draft is still here, courtesy of ErnieBiggs.Also, there’s a $4 bartender’s choice “big

beer” at Trolley’s as well as the $5 martini of theday.

SundayAh, Sunday, to do laundry and study or to

go downtown and drink all day?As on Mondays, Springfield Brew Co. has

their NFL football season deal. In the mean-time, Big Whiskey’s is serving $2 domestics.


DDaattiinngg ddooeessnn’’tt hhaavvee ttoo bbee cclliicchhééwwiitthh tthhee ooppttiioonnss ddoowwnnttoowwnn ooffffeerrss By Dillan ConnThe Standard

It’s date night, and you have $20 toyour name. There are plenty of cheapchoices downtown to fit your budget andyour level of commitment.

A Classy Affair: Flame SteakhouseIf you’re trying to impress the pants off

of someone, think about Flame Steak-house at 314 Walnut St.

Happy hour runs Monday throughSaturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in thedownstairs “Red Room.” During the spe-cial, they have $3.50 premium hamburg-ers, $3.50 plates of fried calamari and$4.50 plates of steamed mussels.

These dishes are awesome and theatmosphere is dark enough to mask yourwrinkled shirt but still lend a classy andromantic feel.

For the 21-and-up crowd, happy hourin the Red Room also serves 2-for-1 spe-cials. On Wednesdays and Thursdaysfrom 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., there are wine and

martini specials.

KaiAnother impressive dining spot – for

the sake of a date – is Kai After Dark,located right across from the CampbellAvenue Parking Garage.

Kai is a partner of Haruno Sushi Bar &Grill, so its sushi is preceded by a qualityreputation.

The best time to class it up and keep itcheap is Kai’s “college night” on Wednes-day from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. when they run$2 to $3 specials on appetizers like springrolls and steak skewers and have twoselect sushi rolls for $4.

Downstairs is styled as somewhat of acocktail lounge and allows smoking;upstairs provides a more elegant datingexperience. “College night” also serves $2domestic beers.

A Bit More Casual: Bruno’sPizzeria Evan Melgren/THE STANDARD

The Bistro hosts several options for your date, whether eating out or cooking at home.� See DDAATTIINNGG,, page 7


When you hear “casual,” don’t thinkBruno’s Pizzeria Ristorante Italiano onSouth Ave. is anything less than fine. Itcould easily be included in the sophisti-cated joints above, but with lunch specialsless than $4, there’s no need to dress up.

Bruno’s produces legit Italian food. It’sa nice place with a warm vibe and anupstairs bar and dining area that opens at5:00 p.m.

The prices aren’t exorbitant, but out-side of the lunch special, they wouldn’t beconsidered cheap. However, it is still pos-sible to split a couple of appetizers andhave a drink under $20. Also, splitting apizza is a solid choice to fill up two.

Bistro MarketSurely, you’ve heard of the Bistro

Market by now. If you haven’t, this mightbe the first day of your newfound down-town life.

The Bistro offers so many things wecan’t list them all; but as far as dates go,you can get sushi, coffee, breakfast,lunch, dinner, drinks, gelato or groceriesto whip up a meal and woo her back atyour place.

There’s a big-city vibe, and you choosehow ritzy you want to make it.

Totally Different Style: The CupNew to downtown, The Cup cupcake

shop, across from Jimmy John’s on Wal-nut Street, offers “sweet treats anddrinks,” according to its slogan.

This is a darling little shop; pastels andtrendy chairs, plush pillows, a cool staffand a laid-back atmosphere make this agreat first date destination.

The cupcakes are oversized and comein a mix of traditional and truly originalflavors from Red Velvet and Confetti toGrasshopper, Banana Split and PeanutButter Cup – all iced with buttercreamtopping.

Gailey’sFinally, there’s Gailey’s Breakfast Café

located at 220 Walnut St. As the namesays, they specialize in breakfast food andare open Monday through Friday from7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Saturday andSunday until 2:00 p.m.

No one ever said you had to go on adate before you spent the night together,so if you care enough not to cut out in themorning, take your date to Gailey’s to seeif it’s really going to work out.

Sunday mornings are graced with atalented guitar and harp duo.

DDaattiinnggCCoonnttiinnuueedd ffrroomm ppaaggee 66


AAllll aaggeess ccaann hhaavvee ffuunn ddoowwnnttoowwnnBy Abby WebsterThe Standard

Justin Windsor, junior wildlife biologymajor, told me his favorite activity to partakein after 9 p.m. is drinking. When I asked himwhere, he replied “in an alleyway.”

Let’s not allow this to happen to you.Instead, here are some safer and more inter-esting late-night spots to visit in downtownSpringfield.

21 +Fedora300 E. Park Central St.417-832-9514This bar tries for a more upscale feel. It’s

a great place to go to celebrate. They haveunbelievable martini choices, including onecalled a “Cherry Smacker” that contains aFruit Roll-up and a Twizzler straw. Theyalso have great fondue.

Tropical Liqueurs420 South Campbell Ave.417-832-9067“Trops” is a cool place because the

majority of their drinks are, well, tropicaland juicy. It’s a great place to go and have asmoothie-esque beverage served in a styro-foam cup. It’s a little small, but the environ-ment is upbeat and friendly.

The Outland326 South Ave.417-869-7625Events here vary, but this is mainly a music

venue. Located across from the Mudhouse onSouth Avenue, The Outland is home to BlackBox Revue every Friday night, which is a DJ-hosted dance party. Other bands play hereduring various days of the week. It’s a prettygrimy place, but it’s a lot of fun.

The Outland allows smoking.Billiards541 E. Saint Louis St.417-866-4319Play pool. Eat hot dogs. Drink beer out

of plastic cups. It’s as if a typical Wisconsinbar came and visited Springfield. This is oneof the more traditional, American-style barsdowntown.

The Mudlounge321 E. Walnut St.417-865-6964The Mudlounge is known for its exten-

sive martini and diverse beer selection. Thisplace provides a hip, classy atmospherewhere you don’t have to yell at people tocarry on a conversation.

Aside from being a good place to talk,Mudlounge has fondue, cheese plates and acozy back patio.

All ages and 18 + activitiesThe Albatross

320 E. Walnut St.417-862-2522This is a dimly lit hookah and tobacco

lounge. You can bring your own beer, butmake sure you have an ID with you. This isa great place to go with friends and chat. Italmost feels like you’re in somebody’s bigliving room.

The Bistro Market401 South Ave.417-869-1840With a name like “Bistro Market,” you

may think it’s just a grocery store, but it’snot.

The Bistro reminds me of a New YorkCity market. It is open until 2 a.m. everynight and has a bar with several beers ontap, including Fat Tire, and a late-night buf-fet.

They also have gelato, Starbucks and anawesome booze section. Along with theirstrictly organic produce, there’s a candy-store-style wall covered in grains and nuts.You can also make your own almond butterand peanut butter.

So, if you’re in need of groceries after along day of studying, or you just want tograb something to eat at the buffet, head toThe Bistro.

The Mudhouse323 South Ave.417-832-1720The Mudhouse is the Mudlounge’s alco-

hol-free relative. Located at the heart ofSouth Avenue, this popular coffee house

contains a wide selection of coffee drinksand baked goods. If you decide to visit theMudhouse before 8 p.m., you should try oneof their simple but delicious lunch options.

This is a great place to hit the books on alow-key night. The coffee is fair trade, andthe atmosphere is unique and comfortable.

Pickleman’s Gourmet Café333 E. Walnut St.417-851-6900If you’re hungry late at night and don’t

want to resort to greasy fast food, orderPickleman’s or head there to pick up a sand-wich. Not only do they have creative gour-met sandwiches, they also have salads, piz-zas and cookies. They’re open until 2 p.m.every night.

Jimmy John’s322 E. Walnut St.417-832-0500 These sandwiches are a little simpler

than Pickleman’s, but they’re faster to make.Located on Walnut Street right across fromthe previously mentioned sandwich shop,this is a classic favorite. Order one to bedelivered or go pick it up. Open until 2 a.m.

Whisler’s208 W. McDaniel St.417-864-5565This is an old-fashioned, hole-in-the-

wall, slider-style burger place. They have asmall but magnificent selection. The pricesaren’t bad, and you get your food fast. Thereisn’t a place to sit in there, but you can takeyour burgers anywhere you want. They

close at 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday,but on the weekends, they’re open until 2a.m.

Patton Alley Pub313 S. Patton Ave.417-865-1188Patton Alley is a great place to go if you

love beer. This bar is huge and hosts triviaevery Thursday and Sunday night at 7:30p.m.

There are 36 different beers on tap aswell as 85 different bottled beers. Theycarry great American bar-style food, includ-ing one of my personal favorites, fried okra.They also often host live music, especiallybluegrass.

Farmers Gastropub431 S. Jefferson Ave.417-864-6994Modeled after a traditional English style

pub, this place carries locally grown, organ-ic food. I recommend this bar to anyone whowants to eat great food with their beer or getaway from typical bar menus.

The restaurant is open until 10:30 p.m.with the exceptions of Tuesday andWednesday when they close at 9 p.m.However, the bar section is open untilmidnight or later Thursday through Sat-urday.

The Outland Ballroom326 South Ave.417-869-7625The Outland Ballroom is located just

above the Outland. Smoking is allowed hereas well. More often than not, it’s 18 and up,but there’s still a bar. This graffiti-coveredmusic venue is one of my favorite spots towatch a band perform. It’s compact, andsometimes you sort of feel like the groundmay cave in.

The Front Porch310 South Ave.417-865-2673The hours for this venue vary. It’s non-

smoking, and there’s no bar. But it’s a funplace to go if you just want to sip some cof-fee and watch a band play. The inside is cozyand loft-like.

Ebbets Field1027 E. Walnut St.417-865-5050This is a fun sports bar located closer to

campus than some of the other’s mentioned.It hosts live music on Sunday nights. AtEbbets, you can get great burgers and eatthem on the huge back patio.

Jordan Valley Park635 E. Trafficway St.417-864-1049Go play in the water after hours before it

gets too cold. The way that this long foun-tain is set up makes me feel like I’m in eithera fairy tale or a different country.

Evan Melgren/THE STANDARD

Saint Louis Street and the rest of downtown Springfield is full of activities for all ages.


MMaakkee yyoouurr oowwnn aarrtt iinnddoowwnnttoowwnn SSpprriinnggffiieellddBy Karen BlissThe Standard

Downtown Springfield offers art enthu-siasts several outlets to express themselveswhether it’s through blowing glass or draw-ing still life.

Art Factory 417The Art Factory started out as a “brain-

storming” idea, said Carlynn Forst, who ison the board of directors at the factory.

“It was a collaboration between lots ofpeople,” said Forst, a senior art educationmajor. “Last January was when we startedoffering all of these services.”

Forst said John Coleman and JeremyMosher are two of the main founders. Thereare six people on the board of directors andsix additional members listed on the ArtFactory’s website.

The Art Factory is open to anyone whowants to come create their own work, Forstsaid.

“It is a venture of working in the field,”she said. “The whole purpose is to get peo-ple that are not currently involved,involved.”

Forst said they offer open studios almostevery Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. aswell as life drawing and additional eventsposted on their website,http://artfactory417.org. In addition to theclasses being offered, there is no price foradmission; the factory just asks for dona-tions.

“We ask for donations of $5 to $7,depending on whether you are a factorymember or not,” she said. “It’s a suggesteddonation, so we won’t really refuse anyonebecause they can’t pay it. It helps to pay forour facility.”

Forst said they have lots of fundraiser

events as well, and help is always appreciat-ed. Art Factory 417 is a non-profit business,but it has not qualified for a tax write-offyet. Thus, the business pays for rent throughdonations.

Springfield Hot Glass StudioStudents can learn how to make all sorts

of glass creations in classes at the Hot GlassStudio. The cost of the classes varies from$50 to $300, according to their website.

Gabriel Bloodworth, who works with hisfather at the studio, said the furnace glassblowing class fills up fast. The class not onlyfills up in advance: It is also the most expen-sive.

“We limit the class size to three stu-dents,” he said. “That allows the students tohave individual time and attention. Since weonly offer the class two times a month, wefill classes about six months in advance.Right now, we are offering classes for 2011.”

Other classes offered include glass beadmaking, glass fusing and borosilicate pen-dants making. Bead making costs $50, glassfusing costs $75 and learning to make pen-dants costs $60.

Bloodworth said his father, Terry Blood-worth, is the master glass blower. His fatherlearned to blow glass at Silver Dollar Citywhere he worked for 25 years.

“He worked at Silver Dollar City as themaster glass blower,” he said. “Then abouteight years ago, we opened our studio down-town.”

Art is important no matter what kind ofart it is, Bloodworth said.

“I believe that people have to have anexpression of some sort, even if it’s just bak-ing,” he said. “You have to have some sortof release or valve that you can dedicateyourself to. To me, (glass blowing) is medi-tative.”

File photo by Evan Melgren/THE STANDARD

Springfield HotGlass Studio

offers classes forpeople to learn

many things,including furnace

glass blowing.Act fast because

classes fill upquickly, and stu-dents sign up six

months inadvance.


By Bobbie SawyerThe Standard

From Art Walks to pub crawls, there’salways something to do in downtownSpringfield. The following guide is made upof weekly, monthly and annual events; itsdesigned to keep you boredom-free yearround.

Patton Alley Think ‘n Drink TriviaNightIf you ever worry about losing brain

cells at the bar, fear not. Patton Alley Pub’sThink ‘n Drink Trivia Night, taking placeat 7:30 p.m. every Thursday and Sunday, isdesigned to stimulate the mind.Tonia Castaneda, a Patton Alley employ-

ee, said trivia night was developed aroundtwo-and-a-half years ago upon the sugges-tion of regular customers.“We have a highly educated group of

patrons that come in,” she said. “Peopleexpressed interest in it.”Castaneda said she thinks the most

enjoyable part of trivia night is the compet-itive nature.“The questions are stimulating,” she

said. “It makes people think and gives thema sense of satisfaction.”Castaneda said there are usually about

15 to 30 people on Thursday nights, whileSunday nights bring in a crowd of morethan 75. Teams are made up of two to sixparticipants.Perhaps the best part? It’s completely

free.

Shows at The Skinny ImprovThe Skinny Improv is probably the only

place downtown where you can see vam-pires being slain for under $5.On the third Saturday of each month,

the Improv presents Buffy: The VampireSlayer, a comedic interpretation of the trialsand triumphs of everybody’s favorite ass-kicking Sunnydale High School student.House manager Austin Barton said the

Skinny show brings out the classic teendrama’s most dedicated fans.“That show has a cult following,” Barton

said. “It’s a comedy reading of a very popu-lar drama, and it’s an awesome show.”Other performances at the Skinny

include the Mainstage Show on Thursday,Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 andMystery Hour, a late night talk show thattakes place the first Friday of every monthat 10:15 p.m.Admission is $12 for the Mainstage

Show ($10 with your student ID), $6 for

Mystery Hour and “pay what you will” forBuffy: The Vampire Slayer.Barton said the humor at the Skinny

Improv is something college students canrelate to.“We have a young crowd,” he said.

“From (college) seniors to people in theirlate 20s. Everything they’re dealing with issomething we can make fun of.”

Cider DaysCider Days, taking place Sept. 18 and 19

from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is the area’s first fallfestival. The two day celebration featureslocal live music, cider for sale, a scarecrowcompetition and a wine barrel race.Rusty Worley, executive director of

Urban Districts Alliance (a non-profit com-munity development organization dedicat-ed to hosting and bringing attention todowntown community events), said CiderDays was developed after the success ofArts Fest, a 30-year-old event that bringsapproximately 25,000 people to downtownSpringfield each May.“Out of (the success of Arts Fest) and the

thousands of people who flock to WalnutStreet, we decided that a second fest in thefall would be a good idea,” he said. “The two(events) bookend our two seasons well.”Worley said he anticipates Cider Days,

which is now in its 13th year, will bring outaround 15,000 people.

Taste of SpringfieldThe 4th annual Taste of Springfield event

will give community members an opportuni-ty to sample the best of downtown restau-rants Oct. 2. in Park Central Square.Worley said attendants will be able to

taste-test dishes from 27 restaurants whileenjoying live music fromMembers Only, an80s cover band, and a beer garden fur-nished by the Springfield Brewing Co.

Plays at The VandivortUsually, Halloween night in downtown

Springfield is marked by hundreds of cos-tumed Time Warpers making their trek tovenues such as the Landers Theater andThe Shrine Mosque to participate in aviewing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”But this year, the Vandivort Theater is giv-ing fans the chance to see Brad, Janet andDr. Frank-N-Furter live in the stage ver-sion that spawned the cult movie classic.“Rocky Horror” begins Oct. 8 at 7:30

p.m. and will end Oct. 31.Lou Schaeffer, a producer at Vandivort,

said the theater does nine productions eachyear with each production running for

three or four weekends.Schaeffer said it’s the intimacy that sets

Vandivort apart from other theaters.“It’s a very small theater,” he said. “We

seat just over a hundred. The stage is close.The audience isn’t oceans away.”Schaeffer said the Vandivort doesn’t shy

away from more serious subject matter.“We generally do things that other the-

aters in town do not or will not do,” he said.“Plays that have more adult subject matter,topical issues, plays with nudity. Some ofour most successful plays are the ones thataddress social issues.”Prices for college students are $10 for

plays and $14 for musicals if purchased 30minutes prior to showtime. Tickets can alsobe purchased at a half-price ticket booth atCoffee Ethic.

Friday Night Farmers MarketThe Friday Night Farmers Market,

located in Park Central East, features livemusic and local products and opens upshop at 6 p.m. every Friday. If you want to

experience the Friday Night Farmers Mar-ket, act fast. Oct. 1 is the final weekend ofthe market for this year.

Pub crawlsThroughout the year, students 21 and

over attend a variety of pub crawls duringwhich about 20 downtown bars open theirdoors with no cover charge. From theupcoming Halloween pub crawl, whichWorley said is attended by approximately10,000 to 12,000 patrons in crazy costumes,to the New Year’s Eve, Mardis Gras, St.Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo boozefests, it’s usually a holiday downtown.

First Friday Art WalkArt Walk is a long-running tradition in

downtown Springfield. The first Fridayevening of each month, downtown’s widevariety of galleries are abuzz with commu-nity members viewing work from localartists, while streets are filled with streetperformers, vendors and the sounds ofnightlife.

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Michael Gulledge/THE STANDARDPatton Alley hosts Think ‘n Drink Trivia Night every Thursday and Sunday night at 7:30.Teams are made of two to six participants.



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Food & Fun 2011