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Tips to Decorate Your Outdoor Living Area

11 Of The Best Kept Secrets of Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO is such a great place to live, and there are so many undiscovered secrets!  Please join us for our series Secrets of Columbia.  If you are thinking about living in Columbia or currently do and would like more information, head to Dale Robyn Siegel’s blog on Columbia.  If you have any other secrets of Columbia, MO, please let us know about them by emailing us at info@PrudentialVision.com.

Chim’s Thai Kitchen at Cooper’s Landing

Hours:

Wednesday – Friday from 5:00 to 10:00 PM

Saturday from 12:30 to 10:00 PM

Sunday from 12:30 – 9:00 PM

Location:  11505 Smith Hatchery Road Columbia, MO

Contact:  509.295.3810

If you have reached a trailer…… you are in the RIGHT place!

Lupus Chili Fest

The Chili Fest is held every year in October drawing several hundred people from surrounding areas to the tiny town of Lupus, MO whose population is a mere 29.  This festival features chili, homemade pies and music!

Where in the world is Lupus, Missouri, you ask?  It is just west of the Missouri River from McBaine, Missouri and Sapp, Missouri.  Still not sure?  Let’s just say it is southwest from Columbia.

Reptile Display

Location:  202 Stewart Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

Hours:

Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Weekly feeding on Fridays at 9:30 AM

Snakes alive! Kids, families and other brave souls are invited to a weekly food fest with Missouri’s species of native snakes and amphibians. Only the creatures will be eating, however, when dinner is served. Menu choices typically offered to the eager eaters are mice, goldfish, worms, crickets and crayfish. As an educational experience, the exhibit identifies the reptiles and amphibians likely to be encountered in Missouri. Twenty species of Missouri’s native snakes are displayed, including all of Missouri’s venomous snakes — cottonmouths, copperheads and three varieties of rattlesnakes — as well as non-venomous species, such as milk snakes (red and brown), rat snakes, garter snakes, ribbon snakes, green snakes and large constrictors. Among the 10 turtle species displayed are two alligator snapping turtles, examples of North America’s largest fresh-water turtles.

Admission: FREE

Contact:  573.884.7279

Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream- FREE ice cream on your birthday!

Location:  21 S. Ninth St Columbia, MO

Hours:

Sunday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Not only do they serve out of the ordinary ice cream flavors but they will also give you FREE ice cream on your birthday! You may have recently heard of them for their creative Cicada ice cream!

Broken Gait Trail Rides

Contact:  Melinda: 573.796.3789 or gopintos@embarqmail.com

Broken Gait Trail Rides provide seasoned trail horses that you can lease for a scenic horseback trail riding adventure through Central Missouri year round. We offer you the unique opportunity to experience Missouri’s natural beauty in a most natural way – by horseback! One to three hours are available, with a lunch break out on the trail. Take a picnic and snacks to enjoy on the trail, beside a creek, lake or other scenic area. Helmets, tack, saddle bags and water bottle holders are provided. No experience necessary. Riders ages 7 and up.

Locations:

Include Big River Ranch (near Lexington), Three Creeks (near Columbia), Katy Trail (between Sedalia and Calhoun), Scrivner Conservation Area (near Jefferson City), Cedar Creek, Prairie Home Conservation Area, Marion Bottoms, Knob Noster State Park, Lark of the Ozarks State Park, and Panther Creek.

Mugs Up Drive- In

Location:  603 Orange Street

Contact:  573.443.7238

This little secret is hidden behind Sherwin-Williams on Business Loop.  Mugs Up has been serving Columbians their popular chili cheese dogs and cheese zips with a cool root beer from their old fashioned drive-up location since 1965.  Be prepared though, they only take cash and checks.

Catacombs Art Market & Bazaar

Location:  1019 East Walnut (Below Artlandish Gallery)

Hours:  Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Pottery, Glass, Jewelry, Fine Art, Wearable Art, Funky stuff, Holiday Gifts and more!  They are the home to over 23 artists (at last count) who have their own individual gallery space. Here artists can create their own environment to show and sell their work. This consortium of fabulous artists work hard to hold special events and programs for all to enjoy.  We invite the public to engage in the arts on all levels including music, dance, visual performance and anything creative that can be displayed.

Mighty Mo Canoe & Kayak Tours

Contact: 573.698.3903

Come paddle the Missouri River through its most picturesque Mid-Missouri scenery. The towering bluffs and forested banks rekindle the aura of the days of Lewis & Clark.  Join our guided canoe & kayak excursions for a first-hand exploration of our country’s great river and our nation’s epic history.  Our small groups of canoes and kayaks offer both beginners and experienced paddlers an intimate trip setting and scenery they will never forget.

When & Where: Depart each Saturday (from May through the end of October) at 1 p.m. from the Katy Trail Bed & Breakfast in historic Rocheport, Missouri. The guided tours go from Rocheport to Huntsdale past the Manitou Bluffs, the most photographed portion of the river valley in Mid-Missouri.  This is a by reservation only event.  The $35 per person cost includes canoe or touring kayak rental, guide service & shuttle back to Rocheport.

The Mud Room Studio

Contact: 573-441-1MUD (1683) or info@mudroomstudio.com

Hours:

Tuesday: 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm

Wednesday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Thursday &Friday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday: 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm

Location:  1103 East Walnut (Next to Boone Tavern which we think is one of The Best Patios In Columbia.)

The Mud Room is a place to create, experiment and express yourself as you make one of a kind pieces of art. Choose from decorative and functional pieces, select colors and tools, such as stencils, stamps or sponges and get creative. Our staff is friendly and eager to share tips to make your painting experience pleasant and satisfying. Come back in a few days to pick up your glazed and fired masterpiece.  Come to The Mud Room with your friends, family or for some time by yourself. You will be inspired by your own imagination.

The Columbia Star Dinner Train

Contact:  573.474.2223

Hours: For Reservations: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Evening Dinner Train:

Fridays & Saturdays:

Boarding: 6:00 PM

Departure: 7:00 PM

Dinner train guests will enjoy a 2 1/2 – 3 hour ride onboard a classic passenger train from the golden years of train travel. Enjoy a fresh, onboard, Chef-prepared four course meal as you travel through the scenic Missouri countryside. Choose from our current month’s beef, seafood or chicken entrees. This four-course meal features an appetizer, the house salad, your entree selection, all topped off with a deliciously prepared dessert.  Popular imported sparkling and mineral waters and a well stocked bar are made available at reasonable prices.

Sunday Brunch Train

Sundays:

Boarding: 10:30 am

Departure: 11:30 am

Brunch train guests will enjoy a 1 1/2 hour trip onboard our classic passenger train from the golden years of train travel. Enjoy a fresh brunch prepared onboard by our executive Chef while you take a nostalgic journey. Choose from our current months brunch favorites like Quiche, scrambled eggs and sausage or Belgian Waffles and a delicious dessert. All of our brunch trips come with freshly brewed coffee and hot or iced tea. Our full bar service is also available so enjoy a mimosa or your beverage of choice.

Wild Cave Tours- Devil’s Icebox

Contact:  449.7402

Devil’s Icebox Cave is a wild cave, which can be visited on spelunking tours guided by park rangers. There are tours of four different difficulty levels offered, from level A to D, where level A does not include crawling, and D requires a proof of caving abilities and excellent physical condition. All tours include a 45 minutes long briefing about safety issues and equipment, and a 400m walk to the cave entrance, where a canoe has to be carried. The cave tours include stooping, crawling, climbing and of course wading in cold water.  The first 800m of the entrance passage is a water passage which is done by boat. The difficulties are the Low Spot and several shallows, where the canoe has to be carried by the spelunkers. The low spot is a three meter long section where the ceiling comes down to the water surface and participants have to lie flat on their canoe to fit through.  The park provides helmets, canoes, paddles and life jackets.

Patios Around Columbia, MO

Patio season is in full force!  Here are some patios you might want to check out.  Why not head out to watch to watch that baseball game on a patio instead of on your couch? Or go out with a friend(s) to people watch?  Or hang out with friends and family over dinner?  No matter the reason, you might enjoy the atmospheres at these patios.

Bengal’s Bar & Grill

Bengal’s Bar & Grill is located downtown at 6th & Elm St. They boast 21 high-definition flat-screen TVs (showing all sports, all the time), plus a spacious patio (with TVs outside so you don’t miss that game you have been wanting to watch), late night menu, daily drink specials, etc!

Bengal’s also offers carry-out service and private party reservations. Invite your friends tonight and enjoy an evening of good company, great food and drinks, and fantastic sports!

Boone Tavern

Boone Tavern is located just north of Broadway in the District on the corner of Walnut and 8th next to the Court House.  Street side parking is available on Walnut and on 8th, there is also a parking garage less than a block away on the corner of Walnut and 7th.

This patio hosts 2 large gazebos to protect you from the summer sun, large seating area so you can have a great time with all your friends, and Sunday’s they offer a brunch so you can spend time with the family!

Flat Branch Pub & Brewing

Flat Branch Pub & Brewing offers a diverse menu as well as a variety of hand-crafted beers. Enjoy your stay in the upscale industrial setting of our restaurant, in our spacious outdoor beer garden, or over Columbia’s largest bar. The fresh handmade food compliments their brews but is delicious enough to stand on its own.

Surrounded by great landscaping, this patio allows you to kick back and relax while takes you away from the downtown hustle and bustle after a long day.

Harpo’s

Boasting its delicious food, friendly bartenders, and that down-home sports bar  & grill atmosphere, Harpo’s of Columbia has been serving Missouri for 39 years. With over 13,000 total square feet, and over 100 feet of bar space spread amongst five fully stocked bars on the busiest of days.

The Heidelberg

Serving Columbia since 1963, The Heidelberg offers a unique environment indoors and out.  Feel like you need to get out of your rut?  Try some of their German beers while relaxing on the rooftop patio.   You can also join them for Sunday brunch, Tuesday Trivia night, or for any of their numerous specials.

Quinton’s Bar & Deli

Stroll down 9th Street to Quinton’s to discover this truly beautiful patio.  Style was not an afterthought of this location.  This patio is perfect for a night out with a group of friends.  Sit back and relax in their comfortable “living room” set up or at a table while enjoying their unique sandwiches.

Quinton’s offers three full-service bars; each unique from one another. Travel three stories to the top for a breathtaking, open-air view of the Columbia skyline.

Shiloh Bar & Grill

Shiloh Bar and Grill is located in the historic Katy Station Building in downtown. Join the staff for Lunch or Dinner and try the house-made pizzas, salads, sandwiches or appetizers. Featuring drink specials every night and 12 Plasma TV’s!

The huge patio facing Broadway Street offers another unique place for you to enjoy all the great things that Shiloh Bar and Grill has to offer.

Sophia’s

This elegant patio (along with their food) will take you to Southern Europe.  The beautiful flowers and shrubbery will help you relax after a day’s work.  This is a perfect location for family get togethers, catching up with an old friends or even a first date.

The overall environment is one you have to experience for yourself.  Words do not serve justice to this great selection of food and service.

Willie’s Pub and Pool

Come in and enjoy your favorite beer as you watch the game you want, or rent out the V.I.P. room and party with your friends with your own big screen and private bartender! Willies will cater any event you would like and can be found tail-gating at Mizzou Tigers home games. 

This patio is PERFECT for people watching, as well as, game watching while eating wings smothered in Willie’s award winning wing sauce!

October 27, 2009 — Realty Times Feature Article by Bob Hunt

The clock is ticking. Time is running out. To be exact, time runs out midnight, November 30, 2009. Many readers will know what I am referring to. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, November 30 is the last day for a home purchased by a first-time home buyer to qualify for the $8,000 tax credit. The purchase must be closed and title transferred by that date. It will not be sufficient simply to be under contract or in escrow.

By way of a brief refresher:

1. The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence for the past three years.
2. The credit does not have to be repaid.
3. The tax credit is equal to 10% of the home’s purchase price, up to a maximum of $8,000.
4. The credit is available for homes purchased (closed) on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
5. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
6. The credit can be taken for either 2008 or 2009 taxes. In the former case, an amended return can be filed.

By all accounts the program has been extremely popular – which is to say, successful. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) estimated that, by September, about 1.1 million first time home buyers had used the program; and another 700,000 are expected to do so. Already, the Treasury Department has reported nearly 315,000 people have claimed the tax credit after filing an amended 2008 return.

As enacted, the program is set to expire at the end of November. A number of bills have been introduced to extend and/or expand it. Representative Eddie Johnson (D-Texas) introduced a bill to extend the program through 2010. Another would also expand it to all home buyers. In the Senate, a bill co-sponsored by Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) would expand the tax credit to $15,000 and make it available to any buyer regardless of income.

One would think that at least the modest proposal for an extension would be a no-brainer. It is a government program that is working, for goodness sakes. But even that legislation is in doubt. Two obstacles are cited. One is the cost. Extending this program would result in reduced future revenues. The second problem is that such a bill will have a hard time receiving any attention while the Congress is – for the next foreseeable months – focused on considerably higher profile items such as health-care and Afghanistan.

The first so-called problem seems just crazy. Suppose an extension generated an extra 1 million sales. That would result in $8 billion in unrealized tax revenues. Now that is a lot of money; but it is chump change compared to the amounts that have been lavished on financial firms and auto makers, with yet to be determined beneficial effects. The tax credit program only costs money if it works. Its cost is proportional to its success. If it didn’t work at all, it wouldn’t cost a dime. Imagine that for a government program.

The second problem is realistic. There’s a lot of heavy-duty stuff going on. But, it would seem a simple extension of the program could be achieved with very little ado and virtually no distractions from the “big issues.”

Meanwhile, what should interested parties do?

1. If you are a first-time home buyer, you had better get off the dime. There’s certainly no guarantee the program will be extended.
2. If you are a real estate agent, pass #1 along to every potential first-time buyer that you know.
3. Whether you are a Realtor® or not, if you believe in extending the program, let your representatives know.
4. If you are a member of the Realtor® organization, respond to NAR’s call for action, supporting its lobbying efforts.

For more information, call Prudential Vision Properties at 573-449-6200 to speak with a real estate expert without any obligation or cost. You can also email your questions to info@PrudentialVision.com (email responses usually come back within the hour)