September 2026

The Pasta Factory celebrates 50 years of food, family, and fête.

Community, In This Issue, September/October 2026, The Dish

The name “The Pasta Factory,” elegantly announced in mosaic stained glass overlooking the dining room, conveys only part of the longtime restaurant’s legacy. Although a bounty of pasta dishes grace the menu, many loyal patrons swear by the crispy eggplant parmigiano, sweet-and-savory chicken marsala, or an unexpectedly spectacular bacon cheeseburger with hand-cut fries. Likewise, “factory” […]

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The Great Pyrenees of Mizzou

COMO Creatures, In This Issue, Living, September/October 2026

Descendants of MU legend Harlan keep the tradition of free dog therapy on campus alive. Are you a student stressed out by hard assignments and tests? Having a bad day and need something to cheer you up? Or do you just love petting cute dogs with fluffy fur? Every Wednesday, from 12:30 p.m. to

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Cookin’ With Hoss: Spinach Con Queso Dip

Gourmet, In This Issue, Living, September/October 2026, The Dish

Long ago in a previous lifetime, before pursuing the entrepreneurial dream and having children involved in sports, Scouts, and other various activities, we used to host soirees at our home with regularity. Some were large, some were small, but they all featured a changing cast of family and friends. Occasionally the menus were thematic, but

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The Last Word

Community, In This Issue, September/October 2026

WE ASKED OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS… What advice would you give to your younger self? Some things aren’t worth fighting for if the fighting is one-sided. It’s OK to let go of people and things that no longer bring you happiness. — Ashley Lasiter Be kind to yourself (and go to therapy). — Brittany Reuss

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Theirs for Life

Features, In This Issue, September/October 2026

For 35 years, Coyote Hill has been helping to change future generations one child at a time. For 35 years, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries has been helping children in foster care feel more safe and secure. Over 1,000 children have had their lives changed for the better thanks to the services Coyote Hill

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The COMO Mojo: In Case of Doubt, Be Delusional

Community, In This Issue, September/October 2026, Voices

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” Maybe you read that, and your eyes immediately rolled out of your head, or you gagged a little into your sleeve. It’s cheesy. It’s cliché. But, annoyingly enough, there’s a reason clichés become clichés. (Hint: it’s because they’re true!) Last month, I went for a walk

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Strawberry Shortcake, Gooseberry Pie: Looking Toward Its 100th Year Is Hickman High

Extra!, In This Issue, September/October 2026

David H. Hickman High School (Burton L. McNeil Photographs, P0025. P0025-17. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Photograph Collection.) Part 2: HHS works through its integration struggles and hones the “Hickman style.” Like it or not, by 1960, all of Columbia’s Black high schoolers were now officially Kewpies. Though Hickman’s white students tended not

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College Town Showdown

Features, In This Issue, September/October 2026

We compared COMO to the same cities from 10 years ago. How did we measure up this time? Ten years ago, the COMO Business Times team, led by then-editor Brenna McDermott, put an intriguing focus on Columbia’s growth and development by asking: How do we measure up, what can we improve, and what are

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Combining Art With CARE

Community, In This Issue, September/October 2026, The Scene

Access Arts touts benefit of interns from city’s summer jobs program. Amid the “little bit of chaos” that is an art studio full of kids, Mae Cyr quietly goes about her work — gathering and handing out supplies, then supervising two young campers as they roll out clay and shape it into dragon eyes.

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Why Does the City Spend Money the Way It Does?

Community, In This Issue, September/October 2026, Voices

It is budget season for the city of Columbia, and a common question I hear around this time is, “Why does the city spend money the way it does?” It’s a fair question. The city’s budget is one of the most important documents we produce. It reflects our community’s values, our priorities, and our vision

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