I don’t know if you’ve been to The Washington Coffee Shop lately, or if you’ve taken note of its Facebook posts, but the bustling staple in Washington’s coffee scene received a little facelift.
Near the fall of 2025, the shop’s mix of soft, cozy seats and table seating was rearranged and while that might seem like a simple action, I personally find that the new layout helps with flow (for example there’s a couple designated nooks with cozy seating that invite groups to linger). In addition to the seating, the retail area has also shifted and is located in a corner near the kitchen, but perhaps what I’m most excited about is that the new furniture layout is a little more friendly for those of us who are looking for a remote working space.
The Washington Coffee Shop might’ve received an interior tweak, but you can still expect the same great coffee and vintage, kitschy touches, like the ceramic salt and pepper shakers seen on this table.
While I typically write from home, some days getting out in public (and putting on real clothes!) helps to break up the monotony of working at my dining table. Not only does the shop’s new flow help me to visually find and take a mental note of the tables nearest an outlet, but also, I’ve noticed that when groups are there to sip coffee and chat, they tend to stick to the soft seating areas or the tables closest to those areas. This might not sound like a big deal, but there have been times when either myself or my husband have been working in a coffee shop and we need to take a work-related call and I sometimes feel like a jerk when I have to do that.
Why? Because I always feel a bit sorry for the groups sitting in a coffee shop who are there just to relax or chat about their latest book club read, and someone is working next to them talking on a Zoom, going into excruciating detail about spreadsheet data. While I know it can’t be helped, and sometimes you just gotta take work meetings in public, it can also be kind of a vibe killer for those in the space not working 🙂
The pastry case is always stocked with yummy baked goods, but I’m a complete sucker for the shop’s carrot cake muffins, which come with a decadent cream cheese frosting.
Change isn’t always good, but in this case, it is. And if you’re wondering, yes, you can still find the same yummy coffee drinks, along with a variety of teas, smoothies, and energy drinks. The pastry case features delectable treats like cookies and muffins that practically beckon, and there’s the option to order from the breakfast menu all day, as well as the lunch options like sandwiches, salad, and a soup selection. So if you haven’t been stopped by in a while, drop in, I think you’ll be pleased.
The Socialite recommends The Washington Coffee Shop!
Confession time. I love a theme. And since I get really excited over holiday flavored beverages – I’m talking peppermint, eggnog, hot cocoa, and all the warm, buttery, and spiced flavors of winter – I knew I had to share a post about holiday drinks.
Now that we’re two weeks away from the big day, I’m so excited that numerous establishments around Franklin County have rolled out their Christmas and winter-inspired sips. If you also find an indescribable amount of joy in small things like holiday beverages, you’re in the right place.
While I can’t try everything on this list, if that’s your mission this season, good on you! In the spirit of festive sips, I wanted to come up with a list of a few suggestions that hit several categories: non-alcoholic, coffee, non-coffee, and some cocktail options. In no particular order, here a few cheery selections I think are worth trying this season.
Eggnog Latte at Exit 11
When it comes to holiday coffee, I love leveling up my latte by adding winter flavors. I am a total sucker for a great eggnog latte and I love Exit 11‘s version. While I usually drink iced coffee, this one is creamy, cozy, and perfect when served hot.
Santa’s Cookies & Coffee Flight at Sarah’s on Central
If boozy coffee is your thing, you might want to try the December special flight at Sarah’s on Central in Eureka. This flight combines the yummy taste of coffee and cookies, but in a form you can sip and savor. Flight offering is Sugar Cookie, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Cookie, and Snickerdoodle.
Available at Sarah’s on Central in Eureka, the Santa’s Cookie & Coffee flight features boozy coffees made with flavorful spirits such as vanilla vodka, RumChata, Fireball, Irish cream, and more. Photo via Sarah’s on Central on Facebook.
Gingerbread House Crafted Soda at Good News Blooms, Sips, N’ Sweets in St. Clair
With a holiday drink menu that includes crafted sodas, teas, and lemonades, there’s a lot to choose from at this cute floral boutique and sweet shop in St. Clair. The crafted sodas include items like the Gingerbread House, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Candy Cane cooler, while the teas on the menu include the Yuletide Citrus and Nutcracker. There’s also the Holly Berry, Snowflake, and Santa’s Citrus lemonades. I’ve ordered the Gingerbread House, a blend of Coke, vanilla, brown sugar cinnamon, and hazelnut. Sweet and delicious! Check out the entire menu.
Grinch’s Heart Cocktail at Eight Nine Eight Cigar Lounge & Bar in Washington
With four festive holiday drinks gracing the menu at Eight Nine Eight Cigar Lounge & Bar in Washington, one stands out to me for its originality and whimsy – oh, and its use of color! The Grinch’s Heart cocktail, with its green hue and cherry garnish looks like a fun and nostalgic way to celebrate the season with an adult beverage. Not feeling Grinchy this season? Choose from the other holiday drinks – Jack Frost Margarita, Blizzard Martini, and Winter’s Kiss.
Grinch Matcha Latte at BB Coffee Lab in St. Clair
And speaking of Grinch-inspired drinks, BB Coffee Lab in St. Clair has released its Christmas drink menu, and there’s lots of festive drink choices from peppermint and cinnamon flavors to eggnog and amaretto. If you’re not a coffee drinker, the coffee shop has a holiday themed matcha, called Grinch Matcha Latte, which combines white chocolate and matcha for a lovely green drink.
Holiday Energy Elixirs at Simply Sweet in Owensville
Simply Sweet is a coffee, sweet shop, and cafe in Owensville. The establishment has a full menu of Christmas drinks that includes flavored hot cocoa and dirty sodas, such as the Jack Frost pictured below, as well as Energy Elixirs made with Alani energy drinks. There are two elixirs on the Christmas menu, but the Frosty’s Frostbite sounds extra special to me. It combines a cherry slushy flavored Alani, along with cupcake and vanilla syrups, plus cream, and is topped with whipped cream, and Christmas sprinkles.
Simply Sweet in Owensville has coffee, cocoas, dirty sodas and dirty Alani energy drinks. The Jack Frost dirty soda at Simply Sweet. pictured here, is made with Starry soda, coconut and vanilla syrups, cream, and topped Blue Raspberry cold foam. Photo via Simply Sweet’s Facebook.
Cranberry Kringle at Scarlett’s Bar & Grill in St. Clair
Located on Main Street in St. Clair, Scarlett’s Bar & Grill has released their Christmas bar menu. With a handful of cocktails along with festive shot selections, there’s a few merry drink choices available. The offerings range from White Russian Eggnog to a Merry Mai Tai, but to me there’s something uniquely festive in the Cranberry Kringle, with its cranberry and peach flavors along with a cranberry and rosemary garnish, it offers both the colors and flavors of the season in a glass.
Peppermint Mocha Smoothie at SmoothEs and More in Sullivan
I love a smoothie because it’s something I can drink on the go, they’re delicious, and usually, they’re healthy. SmoothEs and More is a locally-owned smoothie shop that also serves coffee, breakfast, and lunch offerings, and it has a salad bar. The winter smoothie menu features items like pumpkin and cinnamon flavors, but the Peppermint Mocha smoothie has caught my attention. Its made with coconut milk, hot chocolate powder as well as regular cocoa powder, plus chocolate chips, banana, and peppermint extract for that holiday chocolate, minty flavor.
Holly Berry White Mocha at Clark Street Cafe in Sullivan
In a season where the flavors trend toward peppermint, cinnamon, and buttery flavors like toffee or caramel, the Holly Berry White Mocha from Clark Street Cafe in Sullivan stands out. The cafe released its holiday drink menu just before Thanksgiving, and while so many of the offerings sound up my alley – Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toast Latte or Gingerbread Dreams – I just had to add this merry berry beverage to the list.
Try a Grown Up Slushy at Serendipity Slush Co. in Washington
There’s a number of rotating boozy slush flavors at Serendipity Slush Co. in downtown Washington. Perhaps nothing says Christmas quite like eggnog. And if you’re looking for a unique twist on this holiday beverage, the Salted Caramel Eggnog from Serendipity Slush sounds like a delicious twist on a classic – combining eggnog liquor, spiced rum, salted caramel whiskey, and eggnog. Try it or one of the other flavors available for a grown up version of a slushy treat.
Hot Chocolate at White Rose in Union
This isn’t exclusive to Christmas, but when it’s cold and blustery outside, few things are as comforting as a mug of hot chocolate. I had the hot chocolate at White Rose on a really cold day and it absolutely hit the spot. Chocolatey and creamy, and topped with a generous portion of whipped cream, I could’ve stayed at White Rose all day and sipped mug after mug.
Holly Jolly Tea at The Washington Coffee Shop
Last, but not least, The Washington Coffee Shop has released its winter drink menu and here you’ll find some flavors reminiscent of Christmas treats reimagined as drinks. While I can’t wait to try a couple of the coffee specials, like the Orange Chocolate Mocha (does anybody else have a core memory of opening those chocolate orange balls at Christmas time?) or the Gingerbread House, I also really love the shop’s flavored teas. On the winter menu is the Holly Jolly, a cinnamon and cranberry tea, which sounds like the perfect iced beverage to take along while doing some Christmas shopping.
I realize this list doesn’t cover all the wonderful holiday drink options available at the various cafes, restaurants, and bars across our community. My hope with compiling the list is that when you’re out and about this season, you will consider supporting one of the many locally-owned businesses in the area, from the ones I’ve highlighted here, and the many others I didn’t get to with this post.
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
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.
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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.
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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 