Being in in the middle of the state, halfway between two large cities (Kansas City and St. Louis), Columbia sometimes gets overlooked. Many people don’t understand the happenings of this college town – not big enough to be considered a large city, but definitely too big to be considered a town. Columbia, Missouri is the home of the Mizzou Tigers, as well Columbia College and Stephens College. While we may not look like a large city, we are definitely a growing one. Big names such as Hooters, Chuck E. Cheese, Macy’s, and Starbucks are some of the newest additions to our city. But while we are growing, there are also a few places unique to our city. Places that you should go to at least once.
Bambino’s is a small Italian restaurant located in downtown Columbia. Its quaint atmosphere is inviting, and they have a small stage for live acts. Off-street parking is also a plus. El Rancho is another restaurant in downtown Columbia, this time it’s right on Broadway. As the name suggests, it’s a Mexican restaurant. Walking in feels like you’ve been transported from CoMo right into Mexico, and the food is delicious.
There are also a multitude of options for shopping in Columbia. While there are the bigger places such as the Columbia Mall, Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Old Navy, there are also smaller, locally owned places. One place is Gotcha!, a store that specializes in costumes and accessories. Cool Stuff is another store located in downtown Columbia. They have odds and ends – things that you wouldn’t necessarily find in other stores – all in one place. There are also great antique stores such as The Antique Mall right off I-70 and the Business Loop, or the Ice Chalet on Nifong.
There are also two really great music and game stores. Slackers, right on Broadway in downtown Columbia, sells, trades, and buys movies, music, and games for cheap prices. They also sell a few posters and tees. StreetSide Records is located on Providence and sells mostly music. Their collection is large, and their staff is knowledgeable. If music is what you’re looking for, there are also several music venues in Columbia. The local music scene is Columbia is ever growing, and while venues such as the Hearnes Center bring in the larger names, the smaller venues like to cater to the local bands. The Blue Note, who host shows by big names as well as small names, is one of the more popular venues. They are located on ninth street and have a band playing nearly every night. The Cherry Street Artisan is a great for the more artsy people – they have live music and the setting is very calm and relaxing. Mojo’s and Club Shattered also offer live music, and Club Shattered holds Retro Dance Parties every weekend.
If outdoors activities are what you are looking for, there are places for that as well. You can catch a baseball or soccer game over at Cosmo Park, or jump over to Stephen’s Park and walk around their gorgeous lake. Devil’s Ice Box has nature trails, or you could go to Finger Lake or Twin Lakes to go swimming.
Of course there are plenty more things to do in Columbia. There are festivals, such as the 9th Street Summer Fest – with a free concert on 9th street every summer month through September and the True/False Film Festival, showcasing independent films at venues all around downtown Columbia. There’s even a museum – the Boone County Historical Museum – on Nifong if that suits your interest. There are also sports bars, such as The Field House, and comedy clubs, such as Deja Vu. No matter what you’re looking for, unless it’s skyscrapers or White Castle, you can find it in good ol’ CoMo.
