Let it Sway - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

This band just makes me want to put on my favorite sweater, drink a favorite beer, and talk to my favorite friends.

Sounds like The Hold Steady, except made of nice boys from Springfield, Missouri who probably bake cookies when they're drunk.

If you're in Springfield, the band is playing Saturday night at Randy Bacon's. If you're not in Springfield, check their tour schedule because they're probably coming to you soon.

At time of publication, the new mp3 album is going for $5 on Amie Street.

The first single can be downloaded for free:

Sink / Let it Sway - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

The Container Store

I grew up in Springfield, MO where Wal-Mart is a one-stop for most of one's needs, from orange juice to trampolines. My first year at school in Manhattan, I remember feeling as if I was wasting vast amounts of my time going to separate stores for groceries and drugstore needs.

The Container Store is a place so specialized in its merchandise that it always feels to me delightfully, maddeningly Manhattan.

The Container Store is having an Organized Traveler Sale. This exactly reflected my container needs a few days ago. I went to the store, held travel-size bottles and vials and jars of various volumes in my hands, and imagined the empty spaces filled with the liquids that structure my daily routines.

Written on the City

written on the city is a website devoted to graffiti that sends a message.

At left--graffiti from Honolulu.

Cities from all over the world are represented on the website.

I only wonder why Springfield, MO isn't represented yet. We have great graffiti.

Fine European Market in Springfield, MO

The Fine European Market is located at 3630 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield, MO. It opened a year ago, and stocks not only European goods but Middle-Eastern goods as well. It is not just expensive finery, but also everyday goodies like British digestive crackers and French limonade.

Charm Bracelet

Springfield, MO artist Denise Kozal makes a delightfully simple charm bracelet.

Charms include Scrabble letters, Mah Jong pieces, inspirational words, and more.

Kozal offers a lifetime guarantee on all her original jewelry.

Denise Kozal is stationed at the Farmers' Market at the Battlefield Mall on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:30 am to noonish.

Laptop + Work Tote: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Junior year at my school is filled with interviews from the moment you step foot on campus.

Luckily, my little brother found me the perfect work tote.

Microfiber exterior with a convincing and durable faux-leather trim, the Kenneth Cole Laptop Tote is both practical and classy. It comes with a laptop sleeve that fits screens up to 15.4". The accents on the tote are silver in tone.

Plus, the tote was reasonably priced at my local Sam's Club. Check here for your local availability.

Missouri: State Tax-free Weekend

Today is the last day of the annual Back to School MO State Tax-free Weekend.

Pay zero state tax on school supplies, clothes, computers, and computer software and accessories.

There are price limitations, so read the official details here.

Park Central Branch Library

I'm totally spoiled by the Springfield-Greene County library system. I'm sure the New York City library system is pretty good for a system of its size, but it can't hold a candle to Springfield's in terms of courtesy, community, aesthetics, atmosphere, and convenience. For example, in New York City, there's no way to return a book after the library closes. And the library is only open during hours when you'd either be at work or in class.

So every time I come home, I marvel at the awesomeness of my town's libraries. The Park Central Branch is the newest addition to the system, and it is located on the Square. It's nice--Barnes & Noble nice. You know how sometimes you go to Barnes & Noble not to buy anything, but just to sit in a nice place, read, and drink a cup of coffee? You can do that at the Park Central Branch library, too (The Coffee Ethic is right next door), except at the library, you can take home any of the books, CDs and movies on display for free.

Plus, the Park Central Library has sofa cubes. Yes, the inner walls of this cube are lined with plush, red sofa.

That would be my friend Mark sitting in a sofa cube.

Kinetic Man

Besides my own house, Jordan Valley Park is my favorite place in Springfield, MO. Prime water fountains for playing, excellent hills for rolling, AND A GIANT ROBOT.

Kinetic Man is the work of Missourian artist Russ RuBert (all photos are from his online portfolio). Whenever out-of-towners come to visit me in Springfield, I always take them to visit Kinetic Man. He's simply lovable!

To see Kinetic Man in action, you have to turn a wheel that looks like it could steer a pirate ship. As the wheel turns, Kinetic man's arms and legs move as if he's walking. Also, his square head rotates a full 360 degrees.

If Kinetic Man could talk, I feel like he would be a wise man. He would be a great listener and a great storyteller.

Long Live Kinetic Man!

The Coffee Ethic: Trash Art Contest

The Coffee Ethic in Springfield, MO just kicked off a Trash Art (Recycled Art) Contest. Entries are due Sep. 1, and the top 15 entries will be on display for the October Artwalk and put on silent auction.

No element in your piece of art can be purchased, and nothing can be painted.

[More details]

High School Musical 2 at the Vandivort Theatre

(Photo credit: Mark Shiefelbein for The News-Leader)

Ever since I started being more honest with my Netflix ratings about what movies truly entertain me, I've been a lot happier. My Netfix movie suggestions have gone from wads of pretentious movies that I would watch in theory but not in practice, to "Hey! Want to watch High School Musical 2 again?"

Why, yes! Yes I do.

Lucky for me, High School Musical 2 is playing at the Vandivort Theatre in Springfield, MO through Aug. 2. Gretchen Teague directs a wonderful cast, and together they bring out all the campy fun (and more!) of the original movie.

Sally Trtan and Micah Scoggins play Gabriella and Troy, and in addition to having wonderful voices, the actors are great at capturing all the giddiness of teen romance.

Paige Deragowski plays the rich bitch Sharpay better than Ashley Tisdale ever did. Deragowski's Sharpay is a complex character--dominant and demanding but clearly fragile and insecure. Tisdale's Sharpay is pretty much just annoying.

I thought that the flamboyant character of Ryan would be the most difficult for an teenage actor to play, but Christian Cook does a fabulous job, with sweet dance moves to boot.

The chorus is delightful, and includes cheerleaders, poolboys, and Sharpettes (girls who follow Sharpay around). The antics of the chorus make for extra humor in the Vandivort production that was missing in the movie.

Special props go out to Malia Hu, who plays a Sharpette named Blossom. Despite not being the official understudy, Hu played the role of lead Gabriella at a moment's notice when Trtan fell ill during last Saturday's performance.

For more information on how to get tickets, check out the Vandivort's website, or RSVP to the Facebook event.