iLuvLocalPlaces.com

Main Street Not Wall Street‚ is that us?

2011-12-02T03:44:40Z

Vulgar acts and politics aside, I am sure most of us identify in some small way with the frustration, anger and feelings of helplessness on display in the "Occupy Wall Street" movements across the globe.

While I have not found myself in agreement with much of the debate from either side of the political spectrum and until recently didn't see much of a connection between myself and the protestors, it hit me this morning that Janet and I were actually "Main Street Not Wall Street" ideologues before there was such a movement.

I believe much of the fault for our current state of financial affairs in this country ultimately is due to the trend over many years away from the local, hometown mom & pop business to the national corporations.

Because of efficiencies in delivery and power in purchasing, many of the box stores and national financial institutions made it almost impossible for a mom & pop business to survive. In losing the local touch and concern for the community, combined with boards and stockholders demanding every greater profits, we the people have in the end, become the victim of our own desires and made possible the control of more money by fewer people.

At one time the non-local businesses appeared to deliver the goods and save us money and we took the bait hook, line and sinker! I don't think the same is true today, but we continue with the hook of bigger is better in our mouth because we are creatures of habit with nary a thought about why we continue to do what we have always done! Hang with me here, there is a point coming.

Today's mom & pop businesses have become more competitive by forming buying groups, just in time inventories or finding a niche market so that the national competition is not the overwhelming competitor it used to be.

As an example, we recently purchased Rubbermaid brackets for wire shelving. Needing quite a few brackets, price was an issue and we shopped several businesses. The exact same item was priced $2 higher at the national chain than it was a local lumber & hardware store. $2 more is hard to believe when the total price was only $4.98.

Time and again, in buying office supplies, food products or home & garden supplies, we have found locally owned businesses near the same price as their national competitor or in many cases priced lower.

So, if you find yourself thinking "Main Street not Wall Street" or bad mouthing corporate America, then pause and ask "where am I spending my hard earned money"? Not only your money, but where does your workplace spend money buying supplies.

If we are to change our country we have to change ourselves. It is truly up to YOU to make a difference. Why not start today by breaking those spending habits and find a locally owned business to support. You will be doing yourself, your community and all of us a favor!

I Luv Local Places is here to make the process of changing those habits easier. Support the businesses you see supporting us, but also support all the locally owned businesses you can find!

By supporting the locally owned merchants of Main Street with your money, you will protest in the most powerful way possible your dissatisfaction with Wall Street!

Jackson's Cowboy Hero Ty Atchison Performs at the National Finals Rodeo

2011-12-02T03:42:07Z

By Emily Sladek

Small town dreams have led to national notoriety for one local cowboy. Ty Atchison of Jackson will compete in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, NV, starting Thursday, December 1.

The spirit of rodeo has always been part of his life. His parents, Debbie and Clint Atchison, own and run the family's Diamond A Auction Barn where they raise, train and sell horses. "Ty and his sister have been riding horses since before they could walk," Debbie tells us.

Only eight years into bronc riding, Atchison's dream of making it into the NFR didn't rest only on this event. He grew up roping and wrestling steers, and didn't ride his first bronc until just before his senior year in high school. He took his life-long talent with him to college, achieving a rodeo scholarship to University of Tennesee-Martin. He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling, team roping, and bronc riding throughout his college career, with a second place finish in 2006 in what now seems to be his signature event, bronc riding.

Atchison has several accomplishments, outside of college, under his belt dating back to 2007. During his professional career he has won awards in rodeos and shows all the way from Georgia to Washington and placed as co-champion at the area's own Show Me Center Championships in Cape. Some highlights of his career include victories at the Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup Rodeo, Atlantic City (New Jersey) Boardwalk Rodeo, Livingston (Montana) Round-up, Goliad (Texas) County Fair Rodeo. and, of course, making it to the NRF.

Atchison came into the NFR ranked 12th in the world for bronc riding. "It's like the Super Bowl of rodeo," Debbie said. Boasted as the most prestigious rodeo in the world, the event brings together the top 15 contestants in several rodeo events with each of the contenders competing for their share of the multi-million dollar purse.

Encouraged by the support of his family and friends and blessed with all around talent in the sport according to his mom, Atchison is able to follow his dream. "I always told him growing up to find something you would do for free, and you'll never work a day in your life," Debbie said. "He's fulfilling his dream, and we're proud of him. "

NFR events will run through December 10, and will be broadcast on cable television's GAC. You can catch the events live as they happen.

Click here for TV program scheduling of the rodeo events.

NFR Website

Why i Luv Local Places.com!

2011-12-02T03:38:26Z

"What makes you special?"

Uniqueness and character are traits we like in people. The more you find to admire about a person the more you want to spend time with and get to know them.

Our attitude toward a community is no different than those we have toward people. We rarely frequent communities with nothing special or unique to offer us and we strive to spend as much time as we possible in those which offer the best experiences in dining, entertainment and shopping.

Think for a moment about the places you enjoy visiting the most and what attracts you to those places. What makes Beale Street in Memphis, Printers Alley in Nashville or the French Quarter in New Orleans a destination? Unique places such as Cafe du Monde in the New Orleans French Quarter, Bourbon Street Blues
and Boogie Bar on Printer's Alley in Nashville and Blues City Cafe on Beale Street in Memphis offer an experience unique to each locale. Both the New Orleans French Quarter and Memphis Beale Street offer dining, entertainment and a certain intrigue, but Beale Street focuses on the Blues where the French Quarter focuses on the French heritage of the region and the music has a sound all it's own. The cultural heritage of each region influences all
aspects of the places your visit, allowing you to truly experience a community and its people.

When we support our local businesses, entertainment venues and community based activities, the character and culture of our community is strengthened, jobs are sustained or created and opportunity for growth increases. The many locally owned businesses, restaurants and retail stores, as well as, our home grown artists and entertainers, all benefit from your patronage! Local businesses and their employees are the people who work, live and play with our families; we know them, they know us.

Our area is unique, because of the hard work and contributions of the many small businesses and their staff. Area charities, schools and civic or religious groups, are also beneficiaries of locally owned businesses.

Each of us has a significant role in the distinctive character of our area. This is the motivation behind iLuvLocalPlaces.com. iLuvLocalPlaces.com will make finding and supporting‚ "locally owned‚" easy and rewarding. Help us support all things Local! We all win!

The Local Management!

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Arthur Lee Land--A One Man Band Genius

2011-10-04T11:14:33Z

By Amanda Helfrich

At first listen, you would assume the heavy beat and smooth sounds of an Arthur Lee Land track were crafted by a group of creative instrumentalists. But the source of the music is actually a one-man-band genius, who is scheduled to return to Cape for an upcoming show.

Arthur's musical interest began when he was only 5 years old. He would tap out beats on his first drum set, and went on to pick up the guitar in his early teenage years. His talents first landed him in various country bands before his vision pushed him toward a recording career. “Lessons of the Heart,” his first official, major album, was released by Arthur Lee & The Next Step.

Years later, Arthur’s diverse musical talent continued to flourish. Today he is known for his unique “on-the-fly” live looping-the art of recording and repeating a short section of sound to create a seamless performance. Forms of looping were first used in recording tracks in the early 1960’s. Today, musicians use digital devices to achieve the popular effect that is well known among many famous artists. Arthur says he combines the gift of looping with eclectic influences of Folk Rock, World Beat and Bluegrass to create a new genre he calls ‘Afrograss Folk Rock’.

“I do mostly original music, with a couple of my unique Afrograss Folktronica arrangements of classic cover songs,” said Land. “People can expect to be thoroughly entertained, engaged and hopefully feeling the joy.”

Fans can catch a sneak peek of his upcoming album “Cracked Open” at Rude Dog Pub in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, September 29th, 2011. The album is expected to be released in early 2012 and will feature original tracks written by Land and his co-writer and wife, Carol Lee.

“This is the album I’ve been wanting to make for years,” said Arthur. “I’ve been able to loop in the studio and play all the instruments and collaborate on arrangements.”

For more information about Arthur Lee Land visit the official website at www.arthurleeland.com

LST 325, A Living Floating Museum Docks At Chester, IL

2011-09-10T18:51:16Z

LST 325, A Living Museum, Docks at Chester, Ill.
By Amanda Helfrich

There’s a big piece of history sailing up the Mississippi River set to dock in a small town in Southern Illinois. The massive USS LST 325 will soon be mooring on the riverfront of Chester, Illinois on part of its honorable River Tour.

The LST 325, a military vessel, was launched on October 27, 1942. The operational vessel was utilized in numerous military missions from 1942-1999, most notably it’s service in Vietnam. The ship was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2009. “They were in use by our services through Vietnam by all of the military branches, so they have wide appeal,” said Brian Congiardo, event organizer. “There are quite a few local Vietnam veterans who can recall being on them.”

Tours and opening ceremonies will begin on Friday, September 16th at 9 am and tours will continue throughout the day until 5 pm. A WWII living camp with reenactments and a historical military vehicle display will also be available daily throughout the weekend until Sunday, September 18th when the event ends.

Every year the LST 325 participates in a River Tour. This year marks the first time the ship will dock in Chester as part of the annual event. The mission of the living museum is to educate people about the role the LST had in obtaining our freedom. It dually serves as a memorial for those who served our country and lost their lives on the historic vessels. The names of those soldiers are displayed on the ship.

“Previously the tours have been on the East Coast. The ship has sailed by Chester before, up the Mississippi, but this is the first time Chester will be hosting the event and it’s a really big honor,” said Congiardo. The LST 325 is one of a kind and remains docked in Evansville, Indiana when it’s not active on a River Tour. Congiardo said the vessel, that will be arriving to the area on Thursday, September 15th, is the only one left in the United States that has been restored and remains active.

Tours and opening ceremonies will begin on Friday, September 16th at 9 am and tours will continue throughout the day until 5 pm. A WWII living camp with reenactments and a historical military vehicle display will also be available daily throughout the weekend until Sunday, September 18th when the event ends. Visitors to the ship will be allowed to tour the vessel with members of the LST crew located throughout the ship to explain the story of the LST 325, and answer any questions visitors may have.

“The reenactments in the military camps will be setting up camp on the riverfront ,” said Congiardo. “They really get into character and have military gear, haircuts and uniforms specific to that time period. There will also be a military weapons display and later model military vehicles along with support equipment, generators and communication shelters.”
Tours of the ship are free to children under 5; $5 for ages 6-17 and $10 for adults. Family rates are available for $20. Military camps, displays and parking for the event are free of charge.
For more information about the Chester LST 325 historical tour, visit their event webpage at www.lst325chesteril.org.

Laurie Everett of Annie Laurie's Wins Award of Excellence

2011-09-10T18:10:56Z

Laurie Everett and Heather Brooks Receive Prestigious Awards of Excellence at the State Level for Impact on Downtown Revitalization
Staff Writer

Recently, two Missouri Main Street Awards were received by Laurie Everett and Heather Brooks, at the Missouri Main Street conference in Kansas City. They were nominated by Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape. Outstanding Public Official, received by Assistant to City Manager, Heather Brooks, and the Business Excellence Award, received by Laurie Everett, of Annie Laurie's Antiques on Broadway, are the highest home state level awards in this category given by Missouri Main Street.

Marla nominated these women to recognize their accomplishments in going above and beyond in areas of downtown revitalization. She explained that it is important to recognize what is outstanding so the public becomes aware of all the behind the scenes work and planning that goes into shaping the downtown area. "There's so much work at so many different levels you can't see," she said. "I'm always impressed by people that work so hard because they really want to see a better community."

Laurie, owner and operator of Annie Laurie's Antiques on Broadway, was unaware of her nomination for the award. Surprised and excited about receiving the award, she said, "I'm absolutely excited about the future of downtown and will do whatever it takes to improve the area. I'm willing to spend time, effort and the funds to make it happen."

Laurie's outstanding work in promoting Annie Laurie's Antiques in exceptional ways includes partnerships with students, artists, musicians, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and Old Town Cape for special events and volunteering. Whether it's participating in First Friday Gallery Openings, Old Town Cape's Historic Home and Garden Tour or other events promoting the revitalization of downtown, Annie Laurie's Antiques opens its doors to the community to provide opportunities for fun and appreciation of the valuable downtown culture that connects people to their community.

As a member of the Community Improvement District steering committee, Laurie has worked to enhance the commercial area of downtown Cape Girardeau. She also volunteers for St. Mary's, Lutheran Family Children Services, area veteran's golf tournament and donates to the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

One of her favorite projects was a Dorm Room Makeover she did at SEMO's Welcome Back picnic last year. Any dorm student was eligible to receive a $500 makeover package which included small furniture, bedding and school supplies--everything a new college student needs. She said, "It was great to be able to do something for someone and make a difference."

Her antique business at 536 Broadway is also her home. She and her husband completely renovated the building the business is housed in, which includes an attached apartment the family lives in. "She embraces the challenges of living downtown and uses it as an opportunity," said Marla.

"Heather is our city liaison who goes above and beyond," said Marla. She is on the Old Town Cape board of directors. "All our board members are volunteers," said Marla. Besides serving in that role, Heather has worked with the DREAM Development Team and Downtown Strategic Plan and assists with the Cape Girardeau Downtown Community Improvement District Steering Committee, United Way of Southeast Missouri, River Corridor Connections, Bicycle Committee, Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board, Zonta Club, and more.

"Heather is so excited about what is happening downtown and taking it to the next level," said Marla. As an outstanding public official, she has continually demonstrated effort and support of local downtown revitalization efforts and has at least 5 years of public service.

Hats off to these two women who work hard at upholding the important revitalization of Old Town Cape.

Cape Splash Soon to Open

2011-05-16T21:50:00Z

By Heather Jenkins

Despite what the thermometer has read the last few days, summer is right around the corner. We better enjoy the unusually mild temps because before too long we are going to be enduring the sweltering Missouri heat. A great local way to beat the heat is to spend the day at Cape Splash. The opening day for this season is coming up soon-May 28th.

Cape Splash has something for everyone, especially families and kids. There is a 700 ft long Lazy River that is perfect for relaxing in a tube and soaking up the sun. There are also Fun Umbrellas and a Swirl Pool. The little guys will love the Spray Pad and the Leisure Pool. If your kids are anything like my little rockstars, they are already squealing with anticipation every time you pass Cape Splash. Got a little one with a summer birthday? There are four different birthday packages with varying amenities for various sized groups ranging in price from $85-$325. Planning a party of another sort? After hours rates are also available for specific areas of the park to the entire park. Rates vary from $200-$1400 depending on the amount of guests and how much of the park you are wanting to reserve.

Cape Splash is an awesome way to spend the day (a mini staycation, perhaps?) without spending a lot of money or traveling far away from home. A concession stand, picnic area, family pavilion, and locker rooms make it to where you wouldn’t have to leave the park the entire day. Hours of operation are 11 am to 7 pm daily. Day and season passes are available for kids, adults and senior citizens. Day pass prices are as follows: kids (ages 0-13) $5, adults (ages 14-59) $6, and seniors (ages 60 and up) $5. Season passes are: kids $100, adults $125 and seniors $100. Family passes for a family of four are also available for $200 with each additional family member costing only $20 each.

If you have any other questions about planning a day trip, birthday party, or just a few hours in the water, you can find more information on their website.

For more information and video click here.

Enjoy the summer by supporting local and having a great time in the process!

Adult "Only" Easter Egg Hunt!

2011-03-17T15:30:00Z

Start a new tradition & support Southeast Hospice too!

By Chris Pagano

Do you miss the fun of hunting eggs or watching the fun youngsters have while they're hunting eggs? Here's a new tradition to start that benefits Southeast Hospice too.

It's the second annual Easter Egg Hunt for Adults. Held from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at the Bavarian Halle, Jackson, be prepared for delicious barbeque catered by Cook's BBQ & Catering and a variety of entertainment that offers something for everybody.

While you're hunting eggs, music by "Charlie's Music Review" will be on the sound system, there will be a cash bar and an Easter Basket Contest will be held. Besides hunting eggs for candy and prizes, auction enthusiasts can seek out that special item they've been searching for and get in on the bidding.

With over 300 in attendance last year, a change in venue was necessary. But proceeds from the event will still benefit Southeast Hospice, a program with a special approach in caring for individuals who are on a journey though life's final stages. Last year the Adult Easter Egg Hunt raised $11,000 for Southeast Hospice.Tickets are $25. Must be 21 or over to attend.

Click here for more information and details about ticket availability.

Lazy L Safari Park Reopening in April...

2011-03-16T20:07:00Z

Check out the first time ever Safari Egg Hunt

By Chris Pagano

Lazy L Safari Park, located right in Cape Girardeau, will reopen April 2 for the 2011 season. Weekend hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during April, May, September and October. New this year is the first Safari Egg Hunt. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 16. Details are forthcoming.

Is your schedule too full this spring? The zoo is open daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Like feeding the animals? It's okay at this zoo. Pygmy goats are hungry and so are the baby animals at the Petting Zoo!

A picnic shelter, and snack shack are on-site for hungry humans. And if you want to relax or shop, there are benches and a gift shop. Visiting guests can enjoy walking through the main barn, petting zoo, animal nursery or gazing into the fields to watch zebras or antelope graze. How's that for getting up close with the animals?

The zoo is filled with hundreds of exotic animals and over 20 different species. Some of the animals on location include alpacas, antelope, aoudads, birds, camels, cavies, deer, donkeys, emus, goats, ibex, kangaroos, llamas, ostriches, porcupines, reptiles, rheas, tortoises, wallabies and zebras.

Group tours and birthday parties are available by reservation from April thru October. A tour guide to enhance the educational experience is available upon request.

History

Opened in 2010, this family owned business is community oriented too. You may have seen Lazy L Safari Park animals at fairs and at special events, including nativity scenes. Some of the animals are even celebs-and have been in movies and commercials!

Lazy L Safari Park is a privately funded and licensed facility. No funds are received from the government or other organizations. All income from the zoo is used for feed, supplies and zoo and operation of the facility.

Want to get more involved?

An Adopt-an-Animal Program is in place for children, families, schools, classrooms, church or scout groups, businesses, or organizations to help care for and feed animals at the zoo. Giving an animal adoption as a gift may be what's perfect for that special someone. All adoptions are valid for one year from the date of purchase.

Zoo Memberships are a great way to enjoy unlimited free admission to the zoo for a year. You can come everyday or every week during regular zoo hours. Other benefits include free admission to zoo sponsored special events; subscription to zoo newsletter, invitation to "members only" events, and two one-day admissions passes for guests.

For those of you who miss visiting the animals while Lazy L Safari Park is closed, there's a parakeet exhibit open during November and December at West Park Mall. Over 250 parakeets are available to interact with you and feeding is okay!

Click here for more information.

A Culmination of Expression in Music and Cinematography!

2011-03-15T15:46:00Z

By Chris Pagano

"The video is like a summary of our lives and what we understand about each other…things we mutually enjoy about music, history and life," said Fox.

JACKSON, Mo.--March 8, 2011
The goal of the soon to be released video, My Brother's Keeper, is to be a feature film.The result is a collaboration of the talent from Jefferson Fox of Jackson and Tim Gill of Savannah, GA, creating an artistic video you'll want to watch numerous times. Fox, an eclectic writer who is well known at area clubs also travels nationally to perform as well. Gill is a cinematographer whose client list includes such names as MTV, Food Network, Trading Spaces, A&E, ABC, NBC, FOX and the US Army. Merging the music with visual images in a story plot about human struggles has a powerful effect. The Dockside Banquet Hall in Cape Girardeau was chosen by Fox to debut the video "My Brother's Keeper" and the CD, Chronicles of Harvey, because the musicians who recorded the song, "My Brother's Keeper," are all from the Cape Girardeau area. Fox also said My Brother's Keeper will be used at the National Association for Broadcasting's April convention in Las Vegas, NV--the largest national film convention.

So what can viewer's expect? Well, the scene is set in in all black church in the late 1930s. The lyrics begin with,

"Everybody wants to go to Heaven
Even the folks who swear it don't exist
The hardest part about life is searching for excuses
For desire, in lieu of death's kiss…"

The images you see are mainly black and white with an accent of color--for effect--set in really slow motion. The impact of the images you see does not happen in slow motion however. It is a video you need to watch several times because suggested, multiple meanings are being unveiled simultaneously. Besides the content of the video, worth mentioning is the cutting edge technology used in filming the video. The Phantom V641, a camera of high resolution and definition was used. With rental of the camera came a technician too. Only three of these cameras exist in the entire world. The other two cameras were tested at this year's Superbowl.

What's particularly special about the video is that it represents total contentment, a goal not easily achieved by any artist. Whether it becomes a feature film or a video receiving major attention is not important to Fox. The end result of the work of two artists telling a story effectively and showcasing their talents at the same time is what has caused this feeling of contentment according to Fox. "It was like we had the exact same vision from the beginning," said Fox.

When Fox wrote the song, "My Brother's Keeper," he sent the song to Gill's email. Fox said "He called me within 15 minutes. I was playing at a bar in Kansas City. I stepped outside to take the call. He said, "This is the best thing you've ever done!" My reply was, "Thanks for inspiring me to write it." The two had a conversation a few days earlier and as a result the lyrics and music just came to Fox. The lyrics were especially meaningful to both Fox and Gill because they identified with the symbolism. They both decided it was important to share the content with everyone else. Incorporating the mystery of Johnson's life and death was agreed upon almost immediately. Johnson, a wandering performer who received little success in his lifetime, is said to have died from drinking poisoned whiskey at a juke joint. It was believed that due to Johnson's flirtation with the juke joint owner's wife, the poisoning was planned by him.

An interesting myth that Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for mastery of the guitar surrounded him.

Johnson is credited by many rock musicians as an important influence. Eric Clapton, for instance, referred to Johnson as "the most important blues singer that ever lived."

Ideas for portraying the song in video continued over five weeks and in seven weeks they were done shooting. The production of the video was like the culmination of expression in music and cinematography. "The video is like a summary of our lives and what we understand about each other…things we mutually enjoy about music, history and life," said Fox.

Born in Southeast Missouri, Fox lived the life of a military family, changing residence about every three years. The impact of living this type of life may have been a catalyst for his writing career. When he met new people, Fox learned he had to develop relationships faster in comparison to others because his relationships had a limited shelf life. Fox believes this way of processing information about people helped to heighten his sensitivity and awareness of how their situations impacted their lives, making him a a better writer.

The collaboration between Fox and Gill has deep roots. Little did either of them know that their high school musings would someday lead to working so closely and realizing their potential . Best friends in high school, the glue that cemented them together included a love for Zeppelin, Aerosmith and well…guitars. The two also spent every waking moment together, wrote poetry relentlessly and even produced several large paintings.

Their love for the music and story of Delta Blues songwriter and guitarist, Robert Johnson was shared. But like many friendships formed early on, the two went separate ways to explore individual endeavors. They kept in touch though and filled each other in, enjoying each other's individuality and growth.

Seventeen years went by before the two worked on an artistic project together. It was in 2008 that they collaborated to produce Nobody's Fault, a video from the CD, Animule. Fox said, "I called Tim and said I need you to be here. He showed up ahead of time at Los Angeles International Airport and we shot video four hours later." Having the support of your best friend was something Fox really appreciated, but it was then the two began to realize that showcasing their talents might lead to something. "My Brother's Keeper" is where it lead. The two artists are currently working on their next music video. According to Fox they have lots of things brewing including a silent film idea.

Individual Needs Met by Yoga!

2011-03-15T15:39:00Z

By Chris Pagano

If you're looking for a studio that meets your individual needs, the Source Yoga n' More is it. Offering classes that are a custom fit to a variety of individuals seems to be what they specialize in. For instance, besides yoga for core strength, a slower paced yoga, restorative, Pilates, and tai chi; some classes are designed for athletes, kids, teens, dancers, those with joint stiffness and those with alignment issues. There's more though. What if you want to learn more about vegan cooking or specific yoga that will cleanse the body? They have that too. In addition, private and group private yoga are available as well as on-site yoga.

So if your company is interested in increasing productivity; decreasing employee absenteeism, stress and turnover, conducting yoga classes at work may be the solution. But on-site yoga classes are not limited to just the workplace. Certified and qualified teachers also offer instruction at senior centers, assisted living facilities, hospitals, schools and more.

Focusing on harmony between body and mind is what defines yoga. Yoga uses movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation to establish this. Do you want to increase mobility and mental stamina, move toward strength, re-shape your body or relax through yoga? Yoga n' more has a variety of classes that match individual needs including specific age groups, lifestyles and limitations.

Some of the benefits of doing yoga include:
-calming the mind through restoring mental agility
-decreasing nervousness, irritability, and confusion
-helping to detoxify the body
-reviving attention and willingness
-increasing metabolism and overall energy
-decreasing nervousness, irritability, and confusion
-helping to detoxify the body
-strengthening the whole body
-helping reduce stress and mental fatigue
-increasing flexibility and physical comfort

Classes, most about an hour long, are currently open to all levels and can vary in vigor depending on the style of class. In addition to classes in yoga, Yoga n' More offers adult ballet, beginner jazz/hip-hop, children's movement and dance.

Caution! Lifelong learning may impact your future.

2011-03-10T17:25:00Z

By Chris Pagano

Ready to learn something new? Some of the personal enrichment courses available through continuing education at Southeast are Cookin’ for Canines, Jewelry Making, Zen Meditation, Belly Dancing 101, Sushi Made Simple. But personal enrichment represents only a portion of Continuing Education’s lifelong learning choices. Other options include professional development, youth programs, online career training programs, computer training and more.

Whether you’re new to the community or well acquainted, Southeast’s Continuing Education options offer the opportunity to strengthen community roots. Why? Local instructors and those who enroll tend to be neighbors. Besides fulfilling your objective of learning, you’ll be getting to know your neighbors!

For example, Stacy Busch, owner of Busch Pet Products in Cape Girardeau will teach the basics of pet nutrition and discuss the benefits of cooking your own quality pet food. You’ll learn about what ingredients to look for and stay away from in purchased pet food and even prepare an entrée for your dog.

With more than three decades of experience in the pet industry and the legacy of Busch’s Kennel of Cape Girardeau behind her, Busch’s commitment to keeping pets healthy and happy is genuine. In this three-hour workshop, students will also benefit from a question and answer format and receive handouts on recipes and information to bring home.

Happy Birthday Cookie for Your Pet!

You’ll understand more about how fillers in pet food may be affecting your pet’s health. Watch out. The impact of your new knowledge on nutrition may result in a more powerful kitchen!

Other potential lifelong learners who find preparing specialty cuisine for your favorite friends and family an attractive hobby, can enroll in Sushi Made Simple. Local restaurant owner, Su Hill of Saffron’s Restaurant, Cape Girardeau will teach sushi rice preparations, maki rolling and proper sushi presentation. Hill will also demonstrate fresh and roasted vegetable rolls, traditional California rolls and more.
One of Hill’s students, Suzanne VanderFeen, is the owner of Vines 2 Wines Excursions LLC of Cape Girardeau along with her husband, Tom. VanderFeen said, “I’m excited about making sushi and finding a wine to pare with it.” The VanderFeen’s have been in business for about two years offering winery excursions.

The idea for Vines 2 Wines Excursions LLC was inspired by VanderFeen’s involvement in Southeast’s Continuing Education courses. A woman who described herself as all about wine and food, she said, “I come from four generations of winemakers. It was all homemade.” A combination of VanderFeen’s family history and what she learned from courses on wine appreciation, -making , -tours; Pan Asian Cooking and others, VanderFeen applied what she learned to launch Vines 2 Wines Excursions LLC.

“A hobby gone wild,” is how VanderFeen described Vines 2 Wines Excursions LLC. The couple purchased a shuttle bus with their savings and despite the recession, grew the business to reflect everything they loved about wine. The tag line on their website, “Education is an important element in the wine making experience,” is one Not only do the VanderFeens love sharing what they know about making homemade wines, paring, grape growing and the insecticides and kits you can buy to get you started making wine, they are willing to help you find answers to any questions you might have on the subject.

Do You Really Support Local!

2011-02-24T15:19:00Z

by Wes Wade

Do you make a conscious decision to put your money where your mouth is?

Almost everyone I talk to tells me they support local and love what we are doing with I Luv Local Places.com. And I am confident they mean every word.

It is often necessary to shop at the big box, corporate stores and we are not saying you are wrong to do so. National stores are national because they are good at what they do, make buying from them convenient (especially online) and advertise often to keep their brand top of mind.

Your buying patterns are influenced by the above and are rooted in habit. You truly have to stop and think, to change a habit. We are asking you to put forth the effort to think of where you spend your money and how you can change the buying pattern to a locally owned source.

A good example for office supplies and products for business is Offices Unlimited. They are locally owned, take pride in their products and service, competing head to head with the national corporations.

If you buy office or janitorial supplies, office or medical furniture, why not call them and see what they can do for you. They have an online ordering system available and deliver most items the following day, to your location.

Good people, products and service, locally owned. Any reason you shouldn't be using them???

And yes, Offices Unlimited does support us through advertising. However, we have been preaching this message from day one when we had no supporters. It is in our name "I Luv Local Places", duh! This is not simply about a particular business, it is about each one of us and how we spend our money. Changing the programmed, automatic buying process by consciously seeking local alternatives takes effort and we hope you will put forth some effort and help our local businesses be strong.

The next time you spend money, whether it is eating out or buying whatever you need, stop and think about your locally owned options. If you need help, visit our site, we have a restaurant directory and are building a business directory to make the process easier for you.

International Award Winning Song, Pearl River, Flows Through Cape

2011-02-24T13:52:00Z

by Wes Wade

Pearl River was recognized as Song of the Year at The Blues Music Awards* in 2010. Tuesday Night, February 22nd, Pearl River was performed live by Mike Zito, the man who co-wrote and co-performed the song with Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers Fame.

Mike Zito, took a little time out of his busy touring schedule to share his thoughts about winning the highest honor bestowed on a blues artist and his life as a touring musician.

Mike was raised by a father who “loved” Big Band and Swing music. As a teen, listening to Rock & Roll, Mike would be told by his father entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Count Basie and Ray Charles performed “Real Music”. Mike now admits he agrees with his father’s assessment of what real music sounds like.

At age 18, Mike’s preference for Rock & Roll started taking a turn toward the blues with the likes of B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Hendrix.

Around age 25, at a time when Zito, was working in a record store and playing gigs around St. Louis, he had a chance to audition in Nashville, TN. It was during the Nashville audition Mike decided to make a career of playing music.

Mike Zito , who grew up in St. Louis and spent a few years performing around the Cape Girardeau area, has worked hard and hard experiencing many of the ups and downs familiar to those in the music world. Now living in Nederland, TX, Mike tours extensively around the United States and Europe.

When asked what winning Song of The Year from the Blues Music Awards (formerly known as the W.C Handy Awards) meant to him, Zito said, “It is the most important thing in my musical career- it signifies that I am doing something positive and real, and definitely justifies all the 1000's of hours I have spent playing in a bar somewhere- it means the world to me and to get to share it with Cyril Neville is beyond belief.”

When asked what has changed since winning this monumental award, Mike shares “I have more offers now to play and more offers to make records. I have people asking me to write songs with them and for them- I am also getting opportunities to produce records now.”

In addition to performing Pearl River and other great songs Mike has written, Mike will have a few new songs to share. Mike also has a new CD released called “Live From The Top”. The new CD was recorded live in Winter Park, Colorado during the Blues From The Top Festival in June, 2010 at Smokin' Moe's. Live From The Top features guests: Teresa James, Nick Moss, Jimmy Carpenter, Ana Popovic and Curtis Salgado. No overdubs, totally live - raw energy!

Mike Zito Performing with Local Favorite Nicky V.!

Mike Zito's "One Step At A Time"

Co-written and co-performed with Anders Osburn, who has numerous hit songs to his credit.

Link to Zito's Website

*The Blues Music Awards (formerly known as WC Handy Awards) are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. The Blues Music Awards are produced by The Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization established to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. The Foundation consists of a worldwide network of 185 affiliated Blues societies and has individual memberships spanning the globe.

Midget Wrestler Realizes Big Dreams

2011-02-21T17:12:00Z

By Chris Pagano

First and only Midget Wrestling is coming to the Pink Galleon
Thirty five-year-old Buck Blevins, a.k.a. Buck the Viking, has identified with wrestling since he was a kid. He'll be at the Pink Galleon,  February 24th, 2011. The story goes like this: Jimmy Valiant, a household name in wrestling for over 30 years, was Blevins’ idol back then. Valiant came to Blevins’ hometown of Pulaski, Virginia to promote a show. Blevins rushed to the event for the chance to see Valiant and express his serious, wrestling interest. The Viking’s interest in wrestling was well received and two weeks later Valiant’s black, stretch limousine pulled up in front of Blevins’ house. Valiant had come back to talk with Blevins and before long, the 15-year-old kid from Pulaski began his wrestling career.

The Viking and crew from Reality TV's Champion Midget Wrestling will deliver face slams, body slams and midget jokes at The Pink Galleon’s upcoming Champion Midget Wrestling Show—a show that goes beyond the ordinary and promises something for everyone when it comes to entertainment. Show promoters say the event transforms straight-faced, humorless individuals into laughing hyenas. The three-hour show includes audience participation, comedy, a sexy dancing contest, an auction and a battle between all five wrestling personalities.

The five midget wrestlers—packed with personality—include the Viking, the Bronx Thug, Joe Kidd the Mardi Gras King, Bad Boy Brian and Marty the Soldier. These bad guys and good guys or “heels and baby faces” enable the crowd to interact and elicit strong feelings of love and hate. But these champs are really good at heart. Besides whacking each other with garbage can lids, leaping from stepladders to crush their opponents or using cookie sheets to flip them over easy, these guys auction off their weapons and use part of the proceeds to donate to charity.

The three-hour show features five midget wrestlers who play the good guys and bad guys or “baby faces and heels” while working the audience for response, support and worship! Buck the Viking knows the audience loves him especially at the start of a show when “I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night” screams from the sound system and Buck’s wild and crazy energy revs up the crowd. The 4’3,” 140 lb. midget wrestler will debut his Viking persona at the Pink Galleon February 24. Complete with horned Viking cap and megaphone to match, this baby face has two decades of wrestling experience.

Blevins, an advocate for youth who volunteers for Special Olympics, Children’s Miracle Network and Make A Wish Foundation said his advice to kids is, “If you have a dream, you need to stick with it. I did and I’ve been living my dream for 20 years.”

In addition to midget wrestling, four women in the audience will have an opportunity to dance to the midget and be judged by the audience for a winning title. Club owner Chris Seib said quite a few advance tickets for ringside seats have already sold. The 12’ by 12’ ring will be erected on the dance floor with 80 ringside seats surrounding it. Seib expects the event to be a sellout.

Click here for more on Pink Galleon

Awesomeness Delivered on Skates at the Arena Building

2011-02-21T15:51:00Z

by Chris Pagano

“The connection that the CGRG has is not something that can be formed overnight. We sweat hard and we laugh hard. I’ve gained something by joining this team that I didn’t know I was missing. These girls are amazing teammates and friends. There is not a single story or background that is the same—which I think makes this sport unique. We have all learned from each other and our own experiences as members of the CGRG.”
—Grenade O’Connor

Bobbie Soxxx - #8 Grenade O’Connor- #41

All female, flat-track roller derby leagues –Cape Girardeau Roller Girls and Southern Ilinois Roller Girls--will wreak havoc on February 26 at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. The Arena Building—CGRG’s Corral—is where their three-hour practices requiring blood, sweat and tears are undertaken weekly. CGRG is Southeast Missouri’s only roller derby league. Their link to Southern Illinois Roller Girls (of Marion, Illinois) is significant because it was at a SIRG bout-- the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre--that the idea to form CGRG was formed. Roughly a year ago Bobbie Soxx and Sylvia Smash (a CGRG league member) were so impacted by witnessing the energy of powerful women and a crowd that fostered it, they started a Facebook group to see if there was any interested in starting a team. Out of an explosion of interest, the fledgling, skater enthusiasts enlisted the help of SIRG to teach them the ropes of forming a strong league.

Development of the league came quickly and within a year, the league membership is at 35 skaters. Besides commitment to the sport, CGRG skaters remember where they come from. CGRG donates proceeds from all their home bouts to local organizations. Proceeds from the February 26 bout will benefit Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill animal sanctuary in Cape Girardeau County. And while Julie Mouser, a.k.a. Bobbie Soxxx, may be the owner of both a cat and dog, she believes the impact donations have on the community expand on what it means to be in the CGRG league. Mouser said, “I’m discovering more about the community” when asked about how league members decide on what organizations to donate to. SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence was on the list for future support and Mouser explained that when suggestions are made, league members benefit from the new information and become linked to the community. “We want to get involved with the community. While we started CGRG to play the sport of roller derby we also want to give back to southeast Missouri since it is the place we all call home,” she said.

The league members seem to share other ideas on the value of their close-knit group. Through organization of the league and networking between league members and other leagues, Mouser said being involved in the group has opened up her life. Not only does it enable her to find creative solutions because of networking, Mouser believes she is realizing her potential as a person.

Gabrielle LeGrand, a.k.a. Grenade O’Connor said, “The connection that the CGRG has is not something that can be formed overnight. We sweat hard and we laugh hard. I’ve gained something by joining this team that I didn’t know I was missing. These girls are amazing teammates and friends. There is not a single story or background that is the same—which I think makes this sport unique. We have all learned from each other and our own experiences as members of the CGRG.”

CGRG battled SIRG in September, 2010. Mouser said, “They demolished us!” Besides the advantage of being on home turf, CGRG will be playing a lot of the same girls and they’ve had ample time to practice. Now more of a contact sport than a race when it originated in the 1920s, skaters rely on the protection of knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, helmets and mouth guards. Keeping your booty low and knees bent is important for derby stance and falling properly is an essential drill that is reinforced until it becomes second nature. Skaters quickly get over the fear of falling and learn to allow protective gear to take the impact.

“The object of the sport is to make it through the pack, get a lap and gain points by passing through opponents. For me, the hardest part is trying to anticipate the moves of nine other girls around you—who either want to help you or hurt you (sometimes literally),” said Grenade.

Cape Roller Girls Website

2011 Face of Annie Laurie

2011-02-10T19:09:00Z

by Chris Pagano

Laurie Everett, owner of Annie Laurie’s Antiques on Broadway is looking for the new face of Annie Laurie’s for 2011. At a shop where you can expect the unexpected, one may wonder just exactly what that face may look like. One thing for sure is you’ll be seeing a lot of that face because this top model will be used in primarily in all of Everett’s promotional shoots and a spread in Flourish Magazine.

In addition to seeing themselves published, models 14-29 who wish to enter the top model contest at the Cape Girardeau antique store are eligible to win a cash prize of $500, a year of products from Concept’s Styling Salon and jewelry from Glitz Boutique.

Everett said the models need no experience. Most importantly, if contestants think they’re not pretty or skinny enough, then they’re probably the perfect candidates. “We’re not looking for perfection, but someone with a unique style of their own,” said Everett.

Limited to the first 100 entries, contestants must fill out a consent form and mail it to Annie Laurie’s. Contestants must show up for a casting call at Annie Laurie’s, 536 Broadway, between 6 and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23; walk -ins will be accepted on casting call night if space is available.

Among the judges is celebrity and Cape Girardeau native, Ali Turner. Turner recently competed in the Victoria’s Secret Angel Boot Camp model competition. Her modeling career began at 15. Now 25, the blue-eyed, dark blonde model that loves horses continues to work toward her dream of owning a ranch. During the casting call, contestants will go before the judges, answer questions and have snapshots and videos taken. The questions may range from why do you want to be in the contest? to what is your personal style?

Of all the contestants, 10 will be chosen and posted by 12 p.m. February 28 at www.capeantiqueshop.com/tomodel. The next step is a live photo shoot at Annie Laurie’s during Cape Girardeau’s First Friday art event, March 4. Photos from the live shoot will be uploaded to the website and three contestants will be chosen by public voting on Thursday, March 10. The final three will be announced by 12 p.m. Friday, March 11; the winner will be announced after the judge’s consideration by 12 p.m. Friday, March 11 on the website.

Breakaways Owners Stay True!

2011-02-10T15:31:00Z

by Heather Jenkins,

Staying true to their passion and to history, made 2010 a good year for Breakaways owners Mike and Amy Hess.

For starters, they celebrated Breakaways’ 10 year anniversary. In addition to the anniversary celebrations, Mike and Amy Hess also won the 2010 John Boardman Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation Award and Missouri Main Street Connection Revitalization Award. I sat down and talked to Mike about the award, the anniversary, and a little bit of everything else.

My first impression of Mike was that he was a genuinely nice guy who adamantly believes in his local community. He was born in Jackson and has lived in the Cape/Jackson area all his life. Mike was interested in getting into the bar/billiards business because he was an avid pool player as well as someone who enjoys being around people. He got his chance when the current location for Breakaways was empty for a couple of years. Formally Sharkey’s, a night club, the building was vacant for two years, so Mike talked to the owner and leased the space for a while before purchasing it. Instead of a night club, he wanted a venue for local, live music and an adult gaming place. In addition to being a great place to hear live music and play pool, Breakaways also serves a full menu. Mike (and a patron sitting at the bar during the interview) claims that they have the best burger in town. What makes it so good? Well you just have to come in and try it. Now I can’t say that I have tried the burger but I know for a fact that the fried pickles are AMAZING. I happen to be a fried pickle connoisseur, so be sure to get an order the next time you’re at Breakaways.

Originally, Mike didn’t really have a preference as to whether or not to refurbish Breakaways in a historical manner. However, after a little encouragement from Marla Mills, Teri Fowley, and Karen Baxter, he decided to look into the historical preservation of the building. He actually started the remodel before the he knew if he was eligible for historic preservation. Karen Baxter, a historical preservation expert, helped him tremendously because she was well versed in what needed to be done to preserve the historic properties of Breakaways. Over the course of the 14-16 month remodel, Mike managed to only close his doors for 2 weeks. Mike told me that he has had heard nothing but great things from the public about the remodel. He said that several local business owners had come in and had great things to say about it. That is something that I believe Mike is really happy about-the other local business owner’s positive feedback.


Mike has something in common with our own Wes Wade; they are both partners in business with their wives. Again, Mike was completely positive about this aspect of his life. He said that the business part of the relationship was very good and that they had very few struggles over the years. They each bring different strengths to the table and they tend to feed off of one another. Amy, his wife, is great at doing the schedules, they front side of the business, and is always ready to jump in and do whatever needs to be done. Mike handles more of the paperwork, vendors, and people management. Mike said that it was much easier to go into business with Amy than not.

    One of the areas of the business that Mike seems most passionate about is the live music. He feels lucky to have a venue for live, local bands and musicians. When talking to him about Cape’s local music scene, he is visibly more animated. Again, this is evidence of Mike’s love for his local community. So what are some of the good and bad things about being a live music venue? Without hesitation Mike says that cleaning up the mess after the event is the worst part. However, the good far outweighs the bad. He likes being able to see quality musicians in his own place and witnessing the great types of music that Cape has to offer. Possibly the best thing about being a live music venue is meeting new people and musicians and maintaining the quality relationships that stem from those meetings.

So what’s in store in the future for Breakaways? Well, phase two is to put in 3 apartments above Breakaways. This will be happening sometime in the future. A more immediate goal is to continue to be blessed with good people and 10 more years of great service. When asked about his success with Breakaways, answered that he just operates by the KISS theory: “Not fancy, not pretty”. He also said that he “Treats people good, provides great entertainment, and low prices”. I think he has succeeded so far.

To find out more about Breakaways and their entertainment schedule, Click Here

Locally Owned Sometimes in the Crapper!

2011-01-20T20:58:00Z

by Wes Wade

A female friend related a story about shopping for a toilet, at a locally owned, plumbing supply business. During the course of shopping, she experience the typical male chauvinistic attitude regarding a woman doing men's work.

To quote the guy behind the counter, "Well, its not hard to do. I think even a woman could do it. And at least your not blonde."

Rather than make a scene, she left the business and proceeded to go to a non-locally owned source, where she was taken care of and proceeded to go home and install the toilet.

So, why am I sharing this story? Simply to state the obvious, being a locally owned business does not guarantee you customers. Corporate companies have grown large and national by being good at what they do. Not necessarily "great" but usually good. They have certain advantages due to size and volume, which put many locally owned businesses at a disadvantage.

I believe the disadvantages can be overcome in most cases, but only by diligent, hard working, professional, caring owners and employees.

Treat the customer as though nothing else matters but their satisfaction, do everything within your power to exceed their expectations and they will reward you with their patronage. This is ground zero, from there creativity, uniqueness and other factors like quality products and timely delivery are important, too.

People want to support locally owned places, but they also want to be treated as the most important customer in the world by that business.

Job well done! Cat approved!

We are always looking for stories to share regarding experiences people have with locally owned establishments and welcome your testimonials. We prefer the positive ones, but will occasionally share one like this as a reminder to all of the importance of great customer service.

Share your stories with us at newsletter@iluvlocalplaces.com

Lego Exhibit @ Southeast River Campus

2011-01-19T14:46:00Z

by Heather Jenkins

In addition to being a Local Girl, I am also a Local Mama to two (and a half!!) little boys. While I love going out and listening to some of our local bands play, I am also very interested in what Cape has to offer in terms of family entertainment and activities. With that in mind, I began to look for different, fun, local activities that people with children would enjoy. However, as every parent knows, as fun as we think an activity or place is, if our kids don’t like it, we are in trouble! So I will be using my little boys as guinea pigs to get a better idea as to how kids think about the place/activity. Also, of concern to me is the cost of an event or place. It seems as if everyone is tightening their purse strings a little bit and I am no exception. It is with these objectives in mind-free/inexpensive, fun, and local-that I have set out on a mission to find child friendly activities in and around the Cape Girardeau area.

One of the best places to take children is the Southeast River Campus. The River Campus has traveling art shows as well as plays and other events throughout the year. The exhibit that is showing right now is the Lego exhibit by Nathan Sawaya. It is absolutely incredible! When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was a gigantic T-Rex skeleton in the middle of the room. It was 20 feet long and took over 81,000 Lego bricks to create. My boys kept running from sculpture to sculpture, pointing and talking excitedly. They were amazed at how the same Legos that they play with could be turned into such big, awesome things. In addition to the T-Rex, there were several different sculptures and portraits. That’s right-I said portraits. The artist actually made portraits (including a self-portrait) complete with Lego frames. He also created an anatomically correct heart out of the little bricks. Another sculpture that stood out was a pencil. This was no ordinary pencil though! It started at the bottom with only about 4 bricks and then grew to several feet in height. It was taller than me! I am not sure who enjoyed the exhibit more-myself or my boys. They loved it because it is a way of looking at their normal, everyday toys in a new, exciting, and unexpected way. I loved it because it is unusual, shows creativity and can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. While people aren’t allowed to touch the sculptures for obvious reasons, there is a little play area set up outside of the museum with what else - Legos! This exhibit is definitely something that every family with children should go see. The cost is absolutely free and the exhibit runs until February 20, 2011. If interested in more of Mr. Sawaya’s work, you can visit brickartist.com.