Finger-licking, soul-comforting Southern food. That’s one of my favorite things that I was introduced to when I moved to Joplin from Chicago over 20 years ago. I enthusiastically tried various smoked meats, hearty side dishes, and heavenly pies that were perfected by the fine cooks at mom-and-pop restaurants in my new home town. One of the restaurants whose homestyle food brought me such pleasure way back then continues to do so even today: Big R’s BBQ.   Located in between the city’s I-44 commercial district and downtown Joplin, Big R’s is a family-owned restaurant that has been here s ..read more

*At Visit Joplin MO, we care about the health and safety of our visitors, staff, and community, and we are pleased to be providing COVID Care Kits to our out-of-town guests. Each kit includes a mask, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. We want to ensure that everyone’s experience of Joplin is an enjoyable one, and that all who visit here feel comfortable as they explore our community. During the week, breakfasts for us are light, consisting of things like yogurt and fruit, or scrambled eggs. We’ve got schedules to keep, so our meals need to be quick. But when Saturday morning rolls around ..read more

*At Visit Joplin MO, we care about the health and safety of our visitors, staff, and community, and we are pleased to be providing COVID Care Kits to our out-of-town guests. Each kit includes a mask, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. We want to ensure that everyone’s experience of Joplin is an enjoyable one, and that all who visit here feel comfortable as they explore our community. Oh, the places you’ll go… These words from Dr. Seuss’ popular book popped into my mind on a recent trip to Just a Taste, just north of Joplin in Webb City. With a variety of rooms offering different ways fo ..read more

In this age of 24/7 accessibility, we feel impatient if we can’t get something right away. But there’s a lot to be said about learning to wait. There’s a buildup of excitement and anticipation, and when we finally do get the thing that we were longing for, we appreciate it more.   That’s how I feel about the baked treats from Frosted Cakerie. When I take a bite of one of the cupcakes, cookies, or other sweets from this bakery, I savor it just a bit more because I know that these goodies are only available to the public once a week on Walk-In Wednesdays.   During the rest of the we ..read more

It’s a pretty special thing to watch a business grow, to see an idea emerge into reality, then expand and thrive as people recognize its worth in their world.   I’ve seen this with Bearded Lady Roasters. Owned by Adam Francis, a man who is skilled in the art of roasting coffee beans, Bearded Lady Roasters’ products were first introduced to me, and many other Joplinites, at a Third Thursday celebration a few years ago. Third Thursday is a downtown event featuring art, music, and food. Local vendors can rent booths to showcase their goods, and that’s when I first tasted the good-tasting go ..read more

My husband Travis is not a picky eater. But when it comes to wings, he will only eat at Hackett Hot Wings.   He’s not the only one, either. Hackett’s has built a loyal following ever since Floyd and Jacqueline Hackett opened the restaurant in Joplin’s East Town in 2003, featuring hot wings inspired by the flavors of their home town of Memphis.   The restaurant quickly outgrew its space and moved downtown in 2008. Being on busy Main Street brought even more customers – and more fans.   In 2011, Hackett’s earned the top spot in 417 Magazine’s “5 Best Chicken Wings” article. T ..read more

I’m lured by her sweet song more often than I care to admit. Like countless others, I’m drawn to the irresistible sound of the siren that calls to me, enticing me with her assortment of caffeinated beverages nearly everywhere I go. But, she’s beginning to bore me. So I’ve been searching for alternatives for my Starbucks’ fix and I’ve found these coffee shops in Joplin that not only satisfy my caffeine craving, they offer a taste of local flavor, too. Local Coffee Shops Bearded Lady Roasters,  218 South Main Street Bearded Lady’s owner Adam Francis roasts his own coffee beans ..read more

Taking a bite of homemade pie is like taking a trip home. One taste of tender, flaky pie crust makes us think of our sweet, apron-clad grandma bustling about in her kitchen, pressing dough into a pan with her gently weathered hands, infusing love into her baked creations.   Pie has inhabited a special place at the American table, and at our family gatherings, for so long that it’s become more than a mere dessert item; it’s become a feeling.   There’s a bakery in Joplin that captures the essence of all that pies have to offer: the delicate crust, the sweet fillings, the warm comfort ..read more

I’m a sucker for windows. I crave natural light. Anywhere I go, I immediately seek out a spot near a window.   I especially need to be near one when writing. Being able to peer at the ever-shifting clouds, watch the movement of the wind through the trees, or follow the graceful flight of a flock of birds helps to spark a thought or two whenever I experience writer’s block.   So does coffee. Not just any coffee. Watery brown liquid mixed from powder will not do. I need the strong stuff, an elixir that is carefully crafted and not haphazardly mixed.   And when I drink deliciou ..read more

It’s 7:45 on Thursday night. We’ve finally arrived home after an evening of softball, soccer, and dance. Tired and hungry, my family members turn to me expectantly. What’s for dinner? Seriously? I’d literally been with them at the ball fields and the dance studio for the last four hours; when would I have had time to make dinner? There’s only one solution on a night like this. Pizza. Reflexively, I grab my phone to place an order with Papa John’s, which we’ve been regularly ordering from for years because its pizza is approved by my pickiest eater (the rest of us think it’s okay). I ..read more