There’s a new place to get your coffee, baked goods, and cozy book store fix, and it’s all under one roof, at Sugar & Spice Book Cafe in Sullivan at 111 N. Clark St. Located in the former home of Clark Street Cafe & Bakery, the establishment is owned and operated by Jessica O’Dell.
Inside the decor has been completely reimagined, with hints of dark academia aesthetic found throughout. Jessica, who shares that she and her team did most of the work themselves, has incorporated dark hues on the walls, gold accents like a massive gold framed mirror in the cafe’s main dining area and gold framed book quotes, along with leather seating areas, warm lighting, and fireplace features.
A portion of the bookshelves at Sugar & Spice Book Cafe in Sullivan. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
Besides the unique, cozy decor greeting customers, the pastry case is filled with made in house goodies that practically beckon upon arrival. Some of the selections and flavors rotate, but typically include items like cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, pies, cakes, and more. Opening a coffee shop and book store was always something Jessica thought about doing at some point, but when the former cafe announced its closure earlier this year, she saw the opportunity to make her “some day” dream happen.
“I had only really planned to do a book store and coffee shop, but when this building came up I knew I would add food.”
There are multiple spots in the cafe to cozy up with a book and a drink. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
The food menu features breakfast and lunch offerings like biscuits and gravy, egg bites, salads, wraps, and sandwiches. And, since the business has recently been granted its alcohol license, there’s plans to launch cocktails, mocktails, beer, and wine, along with with some flatbreads and charcuterie boards, hopefully by the early fall.
Once everything is in place, the goal is to stay open later on Friday nights and offer the drinks and additional menu items as a way to be a new date night or girls night out spot.
The pastry case is filled with all kinds of tempting goodies, but I have a weakness for gooey cinnamon rolls and pumpkin-flavored items – and this treat checked both boxes, so obviously I couldn’t order something else! Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
“We’re planning on doing tropes or book boyfriend names for the drinks,” she shares about the cocktail menu.
Prior to opening her own business, Jessica worked as a manager at a bridal shop, as well as working in restaurants and coffee shops, and she said that the managerial experience has really helped her now on the entrepreneurial journey.
The drink menu
“I knew I wanted to make all the syrups for the coffees, and we’ve been having a lot of fun making the fall flavors and coming up with fun names,” she shares.
The fall drinks will also be made with homemade syrups, and when the cocktails roll out, those will also be made with in-house, real ingredients not mass produced bottled mixes.
My first visit to the cafe was on a rainy morning, making it the perfect time to order a hot chocolate. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
Currently, the coffee selection ranges from drip to lattes available hot or iced, and protein coffee, made hot or iced with the inclusion of various protein powders to help you reach your daily protein goals. There’s also matcha, lemonade, hot chocolate, and a variety of teas, as well as a number of Lotus energy drinks. And, if you want to take a drink with you for later or bring one to your bestie, you can get any iced drink canned for a small additional fee.
The bookstore
Jessica says that the community has shown a lot of excitement about the book selections and they’re in the process of making room for more bookshelves to increase the inventory. Currently, there’s multiple genres available, from thrillers and young adult novels, to a book shelf lined with books written by local authors to a wide selection of romance, including romantasy titles, which is Jessica’s favorite book genre.
Since the books and book shelves were a pretty significant initial investment, Jessica took to Facebook and presented local businesses with the unique opportunity of sponsoring a book shelf. Local businesses took advantage of the opportunity and each book shelf in the main book store area of the establishment features a gold plaque which names the business sponsor.
In addition to bringing in local businesses for sponsorships and hopefully becoming a Friday evening spot for dates and friends to gather, there’s one other way Sugar & Spice Book Cafe is building community, and that’s through an in-person book club.
“We also have a book club that meets once a month and we just have snacks and talk about the book,” Jessica explains.
Spots are limited for the Sugar & Spice Book Club, which currently reads romantasy or romance titles, but the book club is also expanding to include thriller titles as well. Visit the website to sign up for the book club.
I love the cafe so much that I chose it as the site for the first ever Coffee with The Socialite event, happening on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 12-1:30 p.m. I hope to see you there!
After promoting local events for the last 18 months or so, I’m excited to start an event series of my own! Coffee with The Socialite, will be monthly-ish events aimed at building community while supporting local businesses. The first event is all set and it will be held at Sugar & Spice Book Cafe, which is a new coffee shop, cafe, and book store (!!!) that’s in the former home of Clark Street Cafe in downtown Sullivan.
The event will be on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 12 – 1:30 p.m. You’re invited to come and stay for the whole thing, or just drop in any time during the 90 minutes and say hello.
The ‘Why’ behind Coffee with The Socialite
I’ve seen so many people posting on local social networks that they want to make friends, but don’t know where to find their people. I hear you, and guess what? I want to make friends, too! Although the events are called Coffee with The Socialite, they’re not really about me, they’re about building community! I created Small Town Socialite to tell the stories of the people and businesses in the small towns in East Central MO, and as much as I love being able to share information with people online, it’s time to take a break from the screens and meet people.
The first goal of Coffee with The Socialite is to create community, especially for those who are a little more introverted. If that’s you and you’re worried about how you’ll talk to a group of new people, just show up and if you’re not good at making conversation, no worries, I can yap with the best of ’em and have no problem facilitating the convos.
The second goal is to support local businesses. I’m hosting these events at local coffee shops, cafes, and maybe down the road I’ll look at places to get a cocktail or mocktail for some meet-ups.
And, my third goal is that community means UNITY. I believe hard times shouldn’t keep someone from being able to attend my event. I know what it’s like to have a budget with no room for extras, even a cup of coffee, so I’m setting aside $50 for each event that will be on a first come, first serve basis. If you’re unable to make room in the budget but want to attend the event, you can have a coffee on me!
If you’re a home owner and you’ve ever looked at that unfinished basement filled with clutter and wished it could instead be your dream living space, now is the time to do something about it. Although we can use them as an area to keep holiday decor and those forgotten toys kids have outgrown, a basement can also be the perfect place for an entertainment area, your dream master suite, dwelling for aging relatives, a home office, or just about any other space that can add to the functionality of your home.
Architectural draftsman and designer Brandon Bretz, owner of Freelance Services, a residential architectural drafting and design business, advises that late summer to early fall is the ideal time to start a basement addition project. Doing the work during the early fall and into the winter puts home owners in a sweet spot, since the outdoor projects that many contractors are tied up with throughout the spring and summer are wrapping up, and may even place some contractors in a slight lull.
An example of a basement addition project drawn by Brandon Bretz. The drawings for this project depict the existing basement with the planned renovations of a great room, bathroom, and home gym area. Document credit: Brandon Bretz_Freelance Services
“I like to help my customers get the most out of their projects, not just from a design perspective, but also when it comes to timing,” Brandon shares.
Besides the possibility of finding contractors with a lighter workload during this season, there’s another reason to get started on that basement project now. That’s because the basement project would be fully completed before the weather breaks in the spring, a time when many contractors can be slammed with everything from roofing projects to spring storm repairs and other jobs that require good weather to complete.
“Having a finished design drawing before reaching out to a contractor makes good sense from a lot of different perspectives. It helps contractors get a better scope of the work, and can help them provide a more accurate bid as well as a more precise project timeline,” Brandon explains.
Another thing that can slow down projects before they’re even started is that people will often go straight to a contractor with their ideas about the project, but some contractors want to see drawings that outline design intent before they’ll bid a job and start working on the project.
Working with Brandon on a design means clients will have drawings that show design intent to a perspective contractor. These drawings can help contractors provide a more accurate bid and project timeline. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
“By reaching out to a design professional like myself first, I can work with the client to find out what they want to do, I can get that design down on paper, and then the client has the project drawings in hand to take to a contractor to get accurate project bids.”
Basement finishes or other indoor renovations can often take longer in the summer and a shorter amount of time to complete in the winter and early spring when contractors’ workloads can be slower. And if your project requires incorporating access from the existing house into the project design, such as the case if a client wishes to finish their walkout basement and also add a patio or overhang feature, it’s important to remember that can also add to the project’s completion timeline.
Brandon describes possible project scenarios and why timelines can be crucial to meeting a customer’s needs. Video credit: Produced by Alex Don Media Group
If you’re thinking about finishing your basement, designing an addition, or building your dream home, view Brandon’s portfolio of work on his website. Want to learn even more about Brandon, his professional background, and why he started Freelance Services? You can find out more about him in this advertorial that was published last month.
You can also connect with Brandon on Facebook or call/text him at 314-799-9272.
The dog days of summer have arrived, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of things to do both indoors and outside over the next two weeks in Franklin County and nearby communities. There’s crafting events, car shows, touch-a-truck events, plus live music events, community markets, and much more.
As a reminder, always double check with event venues before heading out just in case an event gets canceled, rescheduled, or experiences weather delays.
Did I miss an event? Tag me on Facebook or Instagram and I can share the event in my stories.
Various dates and times Great 8 Cinema in Union and Sullivan 6 Cinema are also featuring a special kids summer film series that kicks off mid-May and runs through late August. Additionally, the admission is $2, and there are $5 value combos available. Get details on Facebook.
Multiple days The USDA Summer Food Service is partnering with the Washington Public Library to help area families to provide food service beginning Monday, June 29 and continuing on every Mondays until public school starts. The food service includes 7 days of breakfast and lunch, with fresh fruit, vegetable, and dairy. This service is for families with children ages 1-18. Pickup is at the Washington Public Library on Mondays between 4-6 p.m. Get more info.
Multiple days Scenic Regional Library and Foundations for Strengthening Families are partnering to help area families with summer food service beginning Monday, June 29 through Monday, August 17. The service will provide one week’s worth of breakfast and lunch items for kids, available while supplies last. Food pickup will be in each library branch’s parking lot and pickup times and days vary by each branch. Find pickup days and times.
Multiple days in August Old Farm Winery in Catawissa has a number of events like a car show, karaoke, and live music throughout August. Get all the details.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Each month, the Washington Public Library hosts a crafting event, providing all the supplies attendees need to make a themed craft. This month, attendees can opt to create disco-themed fall crafts and can choose from a ghostie or a disco ball inspired mini pumpkin. Find out more.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Washington Historical Society is hosting The American Zither Verband for its monthly Evening at the Museum event. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Get more info.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 The St. Clair Branch of Scenic Regional Library is hosting an author event with Sue Blesi. Attendees will explore the legacies of some of St. Clair’s most notable residents through lively storytelling by local historian and author, Sue Blesi. Register here.
Friday, Aug. 14 The next City of Union Market off Main is happening from 4-7 p.m. Find food from Savy’s Food Truck and Hot Tamales Love at First Bite, as well as numerous items for sale from local vendors. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 14 Glittering Grapevine Line Dancing will guide guests in line dancing at Ace’s & Eagles The Office Bar in Washington. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 14 The American Legion in New Haven continues its America 250 live music series with a live performance by Brooke Bockting from 5-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14 American Street Edge Self-Defense Systems in St. Clair is hosting a Women’s Safety & Self-Defense Seminar from 6-8:30 p.m. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today. Reserve your place.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitor Center in Pacific is hosting the Gateway HET Car Cruise from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 First Christian Church in Washington is hosting a Touch-a-Truck event from 9-10:30 a.m. Get up close and personal with a variety of big trucks and vehicles in the church parking lot. Honk the horns, check out the equipment, and enjoy a morning of hands-on fun for all ages! Find out more details.
Saturday, Aug. 15 It’s been one year since Andy’s Produce Too in Union moved from its original location on U.S. 50 to its current location on Main St. in Union. To celebrate, Andy’s is hosting a customer appreciation event from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. that will include local vendors to shop from, a seafood boil, and beginning at 10 a.m., free burgers and chips for the first 50 customers. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Goddess Gowns in Union is hosting a bridal and beyond pop-up event from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. This event is perfect for anyone getting ready to say “I do” as well as women looking to refresh their accessories. Shop permanent jewelry and upgrade your hat collection with Burned Wildflower Creations, a custom hat business that creates beautiful burned designs on hats. Get more details.
Sunday, Aug. 16 Aset Center in Washington will welcome Michelle Nolan Sanchez of Akashic Soulwork to lead an akashic dance, and later a sound bath led by Allison Chrisman will bring attendees into deep relaxation as she creates restorative sound with her gong and other instruments. Register and learn more.
Sunday, Aug. 16 St. Patrick’s Old Rock Church in Catawissa is having its church picnic. Find chicken, cold beer, hot dogs and snow cones, as well as kids games, plus custard cups from Hoffmans. Find out more.
Advertisement – Thinking about adding on to your home? Contact Brandon with Freelance Services, to help you with the design and permit drawings.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 Head to Scenic Regional Library’s St. Clair Branch to learn more about all things gardening at the branch’s monthly club called Growers and Sowers. The meetings are from 6-7 p.m. and this month’s topic is backyard birds. Register to save your spot.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 Join Project Linus of East Central Missouri at the Union American Legion and help make an impact for area children in need of comfort. Bring your own sewing supplies and make blankets any time during the hours of 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Get more info.
Thursday, Aug. 20 After a brief hiatus, Music on Main returns to downtown Union. The fall concert series kicks off with music from Bag Lunch Blues Band, and food and drinks available for purchase from Sip on Main, White Rose, Boxcar Express, and Sip Chicks. The fun happens at Hansen Park, beginning at 6 p.m. Find out more.
Thursday, Aug. 20 – Sunday, Aug. 23 New Earth Fest is a music, wellness, and arts festival happening at Lost Hill Lake in St. Clair. Find workshops on things like yoga and breathwork, as well as creative and hands on activities like art, shop from vendors, and sway to a live music show complete with lights and lasers at night. Tickets range in prices and access, with day passes to full weekend access available. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 & Saturday, Aug. 22 *Rescheduled from Aug. 14 & 15 due to heat* The St. Clair Saddle Club is hosting rodeo fun on Friday and Saturday. Find 5D barrel racing and more. Get more details on Facebook.
Friday, Aug. 21 The Book Booth in Washington is hosting a Meet and Greet Book Signing event for the book Porch Time with Lynnie: A Place for Healing. The event starts at 5 p.m. Get more details.
Friday, Aug. 21 Head to Union City Park for an outdoor showing of Wicked for Good, the Lawn Chair Movie Night event of August. The movie begins at dark, and guests should arrive early with their lawn chairs to get their preferred seats. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 Sip, snack, and create your own dragonfly sun catcher at The Eclectic Dragonfly in New Haven from 5-7 p.m. Get more info.
Friday, Aug. 21 Sugar & Whisk Cafe in New Haven is hosting a Back to School Bash from 2–5 p.m. The afternoon of fun will include face painting, bubbles, and outdoor games, plus food and drink selections including coffee, sweet treats for the whole family, and BBQ plates and hot dogs. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 21 Glittering Grapevine Line Dancing will guide guests in line dancing at McKelvey Vineyards in Washington. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 The Roundup Event Space in St. Clair is hosting another Tailgate Sale in the grassy area located near the event space (at the corner of Main and Hibbard in downtown St. Clair). The event happens from 5-8 p.m. and will feature food trucks, dirty sodas, and a number of vendors including plants, jewelry, boutiques, and more. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 21 The American Legion in New Haven concludes its America 250 live music series with a live performance by Eric Englebrecht from 5-8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 With August being the Dog Days of Summer and everyone needing a little something to look forward to, from 2-6 p.m. hang out on the patio at Pinckney Bend in New Haven for its Wieners & Dieners event. Josh Lang & Pinckney Bend will cook up hot dogs, sausages, and brats on the big grill, with live music by Matt Diener. Get more details.
Saturday, Aug. 22 The annual Foodstock event in Washington is happening from 5-10 p.m. at the Washington Farmers Market. This event benefits local food pantries and features live music by area musicians and admission is either a monetary donation or non-perishable food. Find out more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 The Back to School Farmers Market is happening at Frisco Farms from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Find goods from local vendors and makers, as well as locally grown produce, local honey, and meat. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Downtown Sullivan is the site of a cruise in car show that has various hot rods, trucks and Jeeps. Get more info.
Sunday, Aug. 23 The Alley cordially invites all princesses and princes to its Princess Brunch event. Kicking off at 9 a.m., attendees will have brunch, a meet and greet, and arcade games with four iconic princesses. All ages are welcome to attend, but tickets are limited, so don’t wait! Cost is $35 admission includes brunch, a meet and greet, and a $20 game card. Learn more.
Road Trippin’
Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.
Thursday, Aug. 13 Tour The Historic Daniel Boone Home in Defiance free of charge. All ages are welcome and admission is first-come, first-served. Tours are open-house format, allowing guests to explore all levels of the house and speak with docents about the Boone family and the history of the Femme Osage Valley. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 RGM Farms in Bourbon is hosting a monthly event called Social Saturdays, which are an opportunity to come together with friends new and old, enjoy food, and entertainment from 3-7 p.m. Get tickets.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Onondaga Cave State Park is hosting a series of night sky viewing events with astronomy enthusiast Joe Parish in the visitor center parking lot. These events are free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Although a telescope will be provided, visitors are welcome to bring viewing devices of their own. Find out more.
Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21 & 22 Mid-Missouri Rodeo Association is coming to the Rolla Saddle Club. The rodeo fun kicks off at 7 p.m. each evening. Get more info.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Want to volunteer your time with an organization making an impact in the lives of veterans? Head to The Freedom 13 Healing Camp in Bourbon for a day of giving back and helping the nonprofit build cabins and a recreational space that veterans and their families can use. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Head to Brookdale Farms in Eureka, for the Back-to-School Bash, a family celebration packed with fun, entertainment, and community spirit. Spend the afternoon exploring the farm with giant inflatables, hayrides, pony rides, our petting zoo, bubble zone, sunflower photo opportunities, yard games, and more. Dance in the foam party, enjoy live music, and grab dinner from local food vendors. Get tickets.
Have a public event coming up? Submit your event details like time, location, and cost to attend. Be sure to include your website and social media details so I can help spread the word about your event!
