A Closer Look: October
- DogMaster Distillery
The North Village Arts District is now home to a planned “teaching bar” where customers can learn to make cocktails. That’s a service that owner Van Hawxby can offer on top of selling general liquor. According to the business’s official website, Hawxby, along with his wife, Lisa, wanted to mix a traditional manufacturing facility with a bar environment and retail liquor store.
DogMaster Distillery will also sell white liquor such as vodkas and white whiskeys, with brown liquors such as gins and bourbons coming soon. For now, the bar on St. James Street will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Contact: Van Hawxby, 573-825-6066
- Back 2 Basics
Always wanted to learn to cook, but unsure of how to start? Back 2 Basics is here to help customers build their skillsets. But it won’t just teach you to cook any dishes; owner Ashley Sturgeon aspires to help people work with healthy ingredients and produce wholesome meals. Cooking classes range from $20 to $36 per group for children under 12 and $17 to $43 for adult classes. All classes are hands on and include recipes and money- and time-saving tips. For those who would like additional personalized help, Sturgeon also offers one-on-one classes for either $30 or $50 for in-person or Skype sessions, respectively. To sign up for classes, visit back2basicscooking.net.
Contact: Ashley Sturgeon, 573-268-2248
- BidsterOnline
When owners Cuong and Tabby Nguyen realized there could be a way to solve their dilemma of finding a provider for a household project they were working on, they went to advertising agency Caledon Virtual with a new business idea in June. Caledon Virtual account executive Rob Roach says the agency jumped on board with the business, which would serve as a database to direct homeowners to service providers they could trust. The providers can bid on the homeowners’ projects, and once a provider is selected, the value of their services goes up, Roach says. Homeowners will no longer need to shop around for a provider while being unsure of what quality of service they might receive; instead, the providers can come straight to the homeowners for faster service and better results. The website, bidsteronline.com, officially launched Sept. 5.
Contact: Cuong Nguyen, 417-576-7957
- NanoElectromagnetics LLC
NanoElectromagnetics LLC, or NanoEM, is making contributions to the area of engineering research through developing various engineering materials such as high-voltage capacitors and compact antennas. Both technologies will further scientific developments in the military and commercial fields and help the national organization NanoTechnology Enterprise Consortium, of which NanoEM is a member. President Randy Curry is also a Logan Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Missouri; additional staff members are professors and senior electrical engineers Kevin O’Connor and Randy Cooper.
Contact: Randy Curry, 573-864-6819
- Sticks and Bones Studio
The new private appointment-only tattoo parlor, which opened in July, is owned and operated by Adya Crawford. Crawford has more than 15 years of experience as a professional tattoo artist and is locally known as one of the founders of Columbia tattoo parlor Living Canvas. Prior to that, she sharpened her skills while working in Fort Leonard Wood. Now, customers who were fans of her individual work can find her at 3815 Evergreen Lane, where she tailors appointment times and needs to her clients. Appointments can be scheduled by phone or at [email protected].
Contact: Adya Crawford, 816-377-7848
- Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe
“Sit and knit to your heart’s content” is Hillcreek Yarn’s motto, and the shop indeed enables its clients to do just that. Hillcreek Yarn sells everything a knitting enthusiast or beginner could use, with different yarn, needlework, fibers and crocheting equipment available. Additionally, interested customers can also attend Saturday morning classes that run for three hours (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and go over individual topics such as cabling without a needle or making toe-up socks, says store owner Bex Oliger. The store is located on 601 Business Loop 70, and anyone can come and hang out in the store for casual group knitting sessions outside of the Saturday classes.
Contact: Bex Oliger, 573-449-5648