Over the summer I started a new once-a-monthish series called Spend a Day. The thought behind the series was to give people ideas on how to spend a day in their local communities. I try to keep my ideas varied according to seasons, budgets, and interests.
The first Spend a Day Series was on things to do in the town of Rosebud, while my second was on Meramec Caverns, a local business that has opportunities for guests to spend the day, or longer, at its facility since there’s ziplining, caves to explore, a restaurant, and lodging onsite.
For the latest Spend a Day, I focused on how I enjoy spending the cozy days of fall, when the weather is cooler and perhaps there’s a bit of bluster in the wind or some raindrops. On days like that I love curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Generic latte art and fall leaves. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
For this Spend a Day series, I chose activities to do in Washington, like visiting the local book stores The Novel Nook and Neighborhood Reads, or heading to the library for some quiet reading. Of course, I also suggest getting your fall beverage of choice. While I love all the coffee spots in WashMO, my fave autumn drink is a pumpkin spice latte and I have a couple spots I love to visit when ordering that drink.
I love them hot or iced, and, of course, I have my go-to places for each. When I want a hot PSL, for me, it doesn’t get any better than The Washington Coffee Shop’s recipe (I think they add caramel!) and for the times when I want that pumpkin spice iced, iced baby, it’s Exit 11. Call me bougie, but I love that the iced latte comes all decked out with whipped cream and a little dash of extra pumpkin spice flavoring crowning the top.
Get into the fall vibes with this short Reel I made about spending a cozy bookish day in WashMO.
Have a suggestion for a future Spend a Day series? Send your ideas to smalltownsocialitemo@gmail.com
This week we’ve finally gotten a break from the heat and there’s lots of family-friendly fall events happening. The last Sunset on the Riverfront of the season is this week, it’s also time for another Music on Main, as well as the Union Farmers Market, plus there’s car shows, church picnics, the Washington Fall Festival of Arts & Crafts, as well as a hot air balloon glow in New Haven, a rodeo, a free drive-in movie, and so much more. Read on to get all the details.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 The Franklin County Silent Book Club is hosting its monthly meeting at underGROUNDS Espresso Bar in Washington. Bring your book of choice, order a beverage, and sit and read in companionable silence, followed by a short period dedication to conversation, or continued reading. Learn more.
Thursday, Sept. 25 Grab your lawn chairs or picnic blankets for the final Sunset on the Riverfront of the year is happening this week. Enjoy live music by Savana, food available for purchase from Big Boys and Miller’s Grill, plus kids activities. Get more info.
Thursday, Sept. 25 Visit downtown Union for Music on Main, a free event featuring free live music, plus food and drink available for purchase. This Music on Main event will feature music from Tom Norton, and food from Savy’s Food Truck and Elmer’s Tavern. Get all the info.
Friday, Sept. 26 The Union Farmers Market is happening from 4-7 p.m. at the corner of Oak and Main. Find items from local makers, produce, honey, plants, and more, as well as food truck vendors and live music. Find out more.
Friday, Sept. 26 New Haven is hosting a Balloon Glow, offering spectators a breathtaking view of inflated hot air balloons lighted by their burners. The Balloon Glow is held at the New Haven City Park and is a walk through event only — not a drive through event. The Balloon Glow is free and open to the public. Find more on Facebook.
Friday, Sept. 26 – Saturday, Sept. 27 Pacific is the place for rodeo fun this weekend, when Iron Horse Rodeo happens on Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature activities for kids like a bounce house, plus food, drinks, and lots of rodeo fun. Learn more.
Moms. Busy women. Goal-getters. You don’t have to do it alone. Fitness. Fuel. Focus. Grab your FREE guide!
Friday, Sept. 26 – Sunday, Sept. 28 Find items from 90 handmade artisans and crafters at the 25th annual Fall Festival of the Arts & Crafts in downtown Washington on Main and Elm Streets. Guests will find soaps, jewelry, original artwork, clothing, handmade wood furniture, home décor, leather, seasonal items, and more! There will be live music and a food court full of delicious treats all weekend long. Bring the whole family out to enjoy a fun-filled weekend in historic downtown Washington. Free admission and parking. Find out more.
Saturday, Sept. 27 St. Andrews Subdivision is hosting its fall neighborhood wide yard sale from 7 a.m. – noon, rain or shine. Get more info.
Saturday, Sept. 27 The St. Clair American Legion is the site of the 14th Annual Rods ‘n’ Rides event. Come out and see hot rods, bikes, and side by sides, or register your own vehicle in the event. Get the details.
Saturday, Sept. 27 The Gerald Lion’s Club for the 4th Annual Fall Festival at Legion Park. The event will feature food, drinks, family activities, and more. Find out more.
Saturday, Sept. 27 Cinema 1 Plus in Washington is hosting a series of free drive-in movies (weather dependent). The fall series kicks off with a showing of the 1980s film “The Goonies.” Get more info.
Saturday, Sept. 27 Parents can attend a free Back to School Safety Event at First Christian Church in Union. Presented by Compassion Healing and Excellence, led by Timothy J. Fancher, MAPT, BA, AS, founder and 4th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate. This verbal seminar is designed to equip parents, older siblings, and concerned adults with tools to teach kids practical alternatives to “Stranger Danger,” de-escalating skills to handle bullies, safety awareness for public and school settings, and ways to make safety engaging for children. Due to direct discussions on street safety, we recommend attending without younger children to ensure open, focused conversations. Find out more.
Saturday, Sept. 27 Make plans to stop by the City of Union Auditorium from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., for an open house style viewing of story photos taken recently by The Missouri Photo Workshop. Learn more.
Sunday, Sept. 28 Immaculate Conception Church in Union is hosting a Fall Festival. Expect kids games, kettle corn and funnel cake, a corn hole and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, silent auction, chicken dinner, and more. Get the details.
Sunday, Sept. 28 Meramec Caverns is hosting its annual Fall Classic Car Cruise-In from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Get more info.
Sunday, Sept. 28 Assumption Church in New Haven is hosting its fall picnic, with a chicken dinner, as well as family games and activities like a cornhole tournament, bounce house, raffle, and more. Find out more.
Road Trippin’
Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.
Thursday, Sept. 24– Sunday, Sept. 28 Autumn Glow Festival is lighting up Eureka Thursdays-Sundays this fall at Brookdale Farms. This enchanting night walk, inspired by traditional Chinese lantern festivals, is the perfect autumn outing for friends and families. Explore 100s of intricately crafted lanterns, enjoy live acrobatic shows, try tasty local food, and discover a world of festive fun for all ages. Learn more.
Ad purchased by Freelance Services – residential architecture and design services. “My goal is to make your home your castle.”
Saturday, Sept. 27 The Hermann Harvest Festival is a one stop shop for all things fall. Find pumpkins and mums, home decor, antiques, clothing, permanent jewelry, and much more. Get the details.
Sunday, Sept. 28 It’s worth the short drive to Fenton to see the amazing cars at this free, family-friendly car event where you’ll find everything from exotics, to classic cars, imports, works in progress, and more. Find out more on Facebook.
Sunday, Sept. 28 Get lost in a maze made from beautiful, golden late summer flowers at the Sunflower Maze at Brookdale Farms. More info.
Sunday, Sept. 28 St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Marthasville is hosting its fall festival with a buffet style dinner, raffles, country store, and more. Get more info.
Whether we’re taking our friends or family who live outside of the Franklin County area out to lunch, or we want a date night, my husband and I love visiting The Tilted Skillet in Washington. Not only is the food good, like really good, there’s a wide variety of menu items, which makes it a great place to take a group, since there’s salads, sandwiches and burgers, as well as pizza and entrees like whiskey glazed salmon, steak, and pasta dishes.
In addition to food, there’s also craft beer selections, which are typically a variety of local and national craft brews. The full bar also features cocktails, wines, and a substantial spirit selection, including extensive whiskey and bourbon offerings, as well as soft drinks and mocktails.
Shrimp skewers appetizer served over wild rice. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
But, back to the dining options. As I mentioned in my last food review, I’m working on getting healthier, through exercise, as well as eating more protein, and watching my carbs and sugar intake, which basically means no beer for me right now *insert sad face*.
When we dined out at The Tilted Skillet recently, we were both quite hungry, so we did something we rarely do and opted to get an appetizer as well as each order a meal. We ordered the shrimp skewers from the appetizer menu, and while I can’t remember if the menu mentions the glaze or sauce they’re finished with, it tasted similar to the delicious whiskey glaze that I’ve tried on some of the other seafood dishes at The Tilted Skillet.
Bunless burger with the zucchini and squash side. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
As for our meals, I chose a burger and asked for it without a bun, and the side I selected was the zucchini and squash, which is served sautéed with a sprinkling of parmesan. I think the burgers are my favorite menu items here, since they’re thick and juicy and get loads of flavor from the grill. This was my first time ordering my burger without a bun (at least at this establishment) and I really appreciated that it was served on top of romaine, making it easier for me to make it handheld like a traditional burger.
My hubby ordered the brat burger, a huge burger made from brat meat, served on a pretzel bun, with bacon, cheese, avocado, and he added sauerkraut, and ordered the sidewinder fries with Cajun seasoning. He loves this sandwich, but usually ends up removing the bottom part of the bun since it’s so huge!
The brat burger with cajun seasoned sidewinder fries. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
On previous visits I’ve ordered the whiskey salmon, chop salad with chicken, rueben and brisket sandwiches, and the meat lovers pizza – and I have enjoyed everything I’ve ever ordered.
Although it doesn’t feel like it outside, we’re inching towards fall a little more with each passing day. This week is filled with events that celebrate autumn, family-friendly activities like festivals and free outdoor movies, live music events, markets, and more.
Thursday, Sept. 18 Union’s Dinner on the Square event is on Main Street, right in front of the Historic Old Courthouse. Get ready for a night filled with delicious food, live music by Tom Norton, and vibrant community spirit. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of a memorable evening under the stars! Get the details.
Friday, Sept. 19 Head to Scarlett’s Bar & Grill in St. Clair for a trivia night to support retired firefighter Rob Slinkard in his battle with cancer. There will be food specials from 5–9 p.m., a silent auction from 5–8:30 p.m., and trivia from 5:30–7 p.m. Learn more.
Friday, Sept. 19 Want to learn some new moves, but don’t know where to start? McKelvey Vineyards is hosting an evening of fun, beginner-friendly line dancing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get the details.
Friday, Sept. 19 Calling all ’90s kids and music lovers! Extremely Unplugged will be kickin out the jams from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Front Street Cellars & Inn in Washington. Grab a bottle of wine and listen to them play acoustic ’90s covers. Get more info.
Friday, Sept. 19 On the third Friday of each month, The Washington Coffee Shop hosts an Open Mic Night. Singers, musicians, poets, and spoken word artists are welcome to share their talents with the crowd. Learn more at The Washington Coffee Shop’s Facebook page.
Saturday, Sept. 20 R&R Ace’s annual craft fair is happening in the front parking lot at R&R Ace in St. Clair. Find unique gifts and hand-crafted treasures at this event. Get more details on Facebook.
Moms. Busy women. Goal-getters. You don’t have to do it alone. Fitness. Fuel. Focus. Grab your FREE guide!
Saturday, Sept. 20 Head to downtown Sullivan for the fall market from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Shop vendors during the market, or arrive early and watch the band parade, where students from all over the state will show off their musical skills as they march through downtown. Learn more.
Saturday, Sept. 20 The St. Clair Farmers Market happens the first and third Saturday in the Elks parking lot. Find local produce, meat from Bardot Farms, cottage baked goods, and more.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Four Rivers Car Show is happening from noon-5 p.m. at Washington VFW. Find out more.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Astral Glass Studio is hosting its annual Pumpkin Palooza from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and will be unveiling this year’s stock of glass pumpkins made by Lance Stroheker. Don’t forget to grab your free ticket to enter into a glass pumpkin giveaway at 2 p.m. More info.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Come see a variety of machines, farm equipment, and trucks at the Meet the Machines event at FBC in St. Clair. This is a free event for the entire family that will feature games, a craft station, food, and lots to see. Get all the details.
Saturday, Sept. 20 St. Clair Christian Church is hosting a free drive-in movie. The movie will be “King of Kings” and it will start as soon as the sun goes down. Interested attendees are encouraged to get into a parking space for this movie night. Find out more.
Saturday, Sept. 20 OxFest Music Festival happens at the fairgrounds in Washington from noon until 10 p.m. Since 2017 OxFest has donated more than $322,000 to charities that support children. Get your tickets and get ready for a day of great music for a great cause. Get ticketing info.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Join the Franklin County Deputy Sheriff’s Association at it’s second annual Fall Dance. The theme this year is Western, so dress in your best cowboy/cowgirl outfits. Included in your tickets is a live band, dinner, and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 per person. It is recommended to get your tickets in advance, and all proceeds for this event aid in supporting Franklin County First Responders. Learn more.
Road Trippin’
Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.
Ad purchased by Freelance Services – residential architecture and design services. “My goal is to make your home your castle.”
Thursday, Sept. 18– Sunday, Sept. 20 Autumn Glow Festival is lighting up Eureka Thursdays-Sundays this fall at Brookdale Farms. This enchanting night walk, inspired by traditional Chinese lantern festivals, is the perfect autumn outing for friends and families. Explore 100s of intricately crafted lanterns, enjoy live acrobatic shows, try tasty local food, and discover a world of festive fun for all ages. Learn more.
Friday, Sept. 19 Life House in Cuba will host an outside movie night, and admissions is free. Concessions will be available for sale. Grab your blankets and chairs and don’t miss out on the showing of the film “Spiderman.” Find out more.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Taste of the Ozarks is happening in Steelville. Expect food trucks, vendors, and live music. Get more details.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Fall at the Farm at Smith Valley Event Barn in Salem is the perfect place to get that fall decor and start shopping for the Christmas season. Make plans to get the friends together and enjoy a day of shopping. Learn more.
Saturday, Sept. 20 Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg is hosting a free stargazing event. The public is invited to meet in front of the visitor center to view the unobstructed night sky and learn about some of the objects that can be seen. Astronomy experts will be demonstrating the use of telescopes and identifying stars and planets. Find out more.
Small Town Socialite 