Vox Magazine, 2/25/10

The Reel Story: True/False in Columbia
By Lauren Zima

When the Vox staff began discussing what we would write about this year’s True/False Film Festival, we found ourselves almost out of ideas. What was left to say about this fabulous festival? It’s a cultural mecca that takes over downtown, consumes Columbians and brings in business. Community members are so invested in it that hundreds volunteer every year, no payment expected. So, we decided to go behind the scenes. Our feature examines how True/False documentaries are chosen, covers what volunteers really do, gets the inside scoop on what some directors think and more. It is, in essence, Vox’s written word documentary of True/False.

This year’s True/False theme is “There are no small stories.” With that in mind, we kept our other pages True/False-free and devoted them to the stories of Columbians: Read about MU alum Greg Warren’s comedy career. We also interview author Peter Hessler, a Columbia native who’s been to Beijing and back. His story is anything but small.

Vox Magazine, 2/18/10

Get your fix
By Lauren Zima

A few months ago, after getting dressed up for a presentation, I headed toward my car. As I stepped in, I heard — and felt — my favorite I’m-a-professional dress rip at the seam along the back. Luckily, my wardrobe had not malfunctioned during my speech, but I had one of those classic Laverne & Shirley moments when I got home and tried to walk into my apartment (up a flight of stairs) with my tote bag strategically held behind me.

Life happens, and things break. This is nothing new. But we’re usually naive to the best places to fix the fractured. I didn’t know whom to trust with this precious dress, a cornerstone of my closet, but our feature got me well-read on repairs: It covers everything from cars to clutter.

And often it’s the everyday person who finds solutions. We have a story on the slow food movement: Locals are volunteering at schools to teach our kids where what they eat comes from. We also cover BiblioCommons, a new program that brings social networking to avid readers. So, read on, Columbia, and get your Vox fix.

Vox Magazine, 2/11/10

Mountain lions, barbershops and Vox, oh my!
By Lauren Zima

Bigfoot. The Loch Ness monster. Area 51. As a child I was enthralled by legends and lore — I pored over books about the Bermuda Triangle, and I loved the Indiana Jones movies. My juvenile obsession with these monster myths reared its dorky head when I read our feature on mountain lions in Missouri: Are they real? Could they be in your back yard? Use your cat-like reflexes to discover what’s fact versus fiction.

Another childhood quirk: I hated getting my hair cut. I loved my long (we’re talking past-my-waist long) hair, and looking back at pictures of myself, I wonder why my mother allowed me to resemble Cousin Itt so closely. I clearly could’ve used the razor-sharp wit and classic cuts offered by the local barbershops profiled in our feature. Of course, I might have felt a bit out of place. For these old-school barbers, theirs is a man’s world.

Other businesses turn a focus beyond Columbia’s residents: We have a story on local efforts to raise money for relief in Haiti. Oftentimes it’s the true stories that are the most fascinating.

Vox Magazine — 2/4/10

Spring into Columbia
By Lauren Zima

When I first moved from Chicago to Columbia, my family and friends scoffed at this fair city. They wondered what people did for fun here — how, they pondered, could life in a small (in comparison to Chicago) town in Missouri stack up against Chi-town? I quickly provided tales of Mizzou football games, weekend nights out with friends, Wednesday evening concerts at The Blue Note, big-name comedians at Déjà Vu and afternoons window shopping in The District with a Main Squeeze smoothie in hand. Columbia has a smorgasbord of stuff to do. So this week, Vox’s annual spring preview helps you prepare for the next few months by highlighting some of the biggest and best events. Whip out your iPad, and mark your virtual calendar.

As for what to do right now, we’ve got a story about the Heartland Men’s Chorus, a Kansas City choir that’s singing its way into Columbia’s progressive heart. And we cover the literal ups and downs of The District — check out the best places to visit above and below ground. So until the sun comes out, grab a blanket, mark your calendars, and catch an early spring fever.

Vox Magazine — 1/28/10

Boys II Men:
By Lauren Zima

Dozens. I can count dozens of men and women I know who got married the year after they graduated college. Marriage at 22? Kids by 25? No thanks. I’m not ready for marriage, kids or anything along those lines. Like many 20-somethings, I’m stunted in an in-between kind of adulthood. Legally and biologically, I’m an adult, but I’m not mature enough for so many of the milestones we consider part of adulthood in our society. In a time when both men and women are marrying older, I plan to wait a while. Apparently, many of the men of Columbia share my attitude. In this issue, Vox explores what it means to be a man in this town, whether that be the ability to grow a beard, land a job or simply be strong-willed enough to choose a lifestyle that doesn’t fit stereotypes. It might or might not be time for Columbia to man up — you decide.

For those who would rather read about strong women, check out our story on Beth Pike, a Mid-America Emmy winner. Or if you want to avoid a battle of the sexes altogether, read about personalizing your car. If bright yellow rims on your Range Rover aren’t symbols of manhood, I don’t know what is.

Illustration by Erica Mendez