A couple of weeks ago my husband and I spent a Saturday exploring the cute town of Rosebud. The goal for the trip was to try a new coffee shop I’d seen on Facebook, do some antiquing, and grab a bite to eat.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more details about all the spots we visited on that Saturday, but the focus of this post will be on my experience at the town’s coffee shop. A few months back, I’d heard some buzz online about Strike Axe Coffee & Tasting Room coming to Rosebud and since my love of coffee knows no bounds, I am always down to drive great distances to try out a new place.
In terms of ambiance, I love that Strike Axe is in a historical building that once housed the town’s bank.
The outside of Strike Axe Coffee & Tasting Room. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
The inside is quite cozy and features exposed brick on some of the walls, vintage furniture like a mustard hued couch, cozy chairs, a bank of old post office boxes, and a few tables. There’s also a vault inside, a carryover from the days when the building was a bank, that has been repurposed into a small room that houses apparel.
The inside of the coffee shop features vintage furniture, exposed brick, and a number of tables. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
We ordered iced lattes, size large, because go big or go home. And we split a cinnamon roll. There were other pastry selections, but if I’m going to indulge in something sweet for breakfast I love a cinnamon roll, and the one we had at Strike Axe was delightfully soft, with creamy icing, and it was served slightly warm.
In addition to the coffee and pastries, the establishment also has a refrigerated section where they sell take and bake meals like lasagna and meatloaf. And since the owners raise their own beef, the shop also carries a variety of cuts of locally raised beef, featuring everything from ground beef to steaks, roasts, and brisket. I wanted to purchase some meat, but I didn’t have a cooler and I knew it would be hours before I got home to my fridge.
It was really busy when we arrived, which is expected for mid-morning on a Saturday, so I didn’t get a chance to chat with the owner about the concept as well as their meat selections. Hopefully I can arrange some time to chat with them on my next visit, as well as purchase some meat to take home.
The Socialite recommends Strike Axe Coffee & Tasting Room!
Fourth of July celebrations kick off this weekend, so this event post covers two full weeks of community fairs, celebrations, festivals, and other events happening in Franklin, Gasconade, and Crawford Counties – and beyond. Read on for all the fun things going on over the next two weeks!
Tuesday, June 24 – Saturday, June 28 Spanning five days of fun, The Meramec Community Fair will include a parade to kick things off, pageants, truck and tractor pull, livestock exhibits, rodeo, demolition derby, carnival rides, food, concerts, and more. Find out more.
Wednesday, June 25 Head to the Washington Public Library at 1 p.m. for Tommy Terrific’s Wacky Magic Show, a laugh-out-loud comedy coupled with sensational magic that’s ideal for all ages. Get more information.
Wednesday, June 25 The Bubble Bus is pulling into the St. Clair Branch of Scenic Regional Library from 11 a.m. – noon. Register for this free event.
Wednesday, June 25 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 dedicated to conversation, or continued reading. Learn more.
Wednesday, June 25 Are you looking to reduce stress, release what no longer serves you and step into a more powerful, aligned version of yourself? Come together in a safe, judgement free space for a heart opening, healing, transformative evening of holotropic breathwork. Register for the event.
Thursday, June 26 Head to downtown Washington for the June Sunset on the Riverfront, held at Rennick Riverfront Park on the fourth Thursday of each month from 5 – 8 p.m. This family-friendly and free event features local bands, food vendors, beer, wine, and children’s activities.
Thursday, June 26 Cinema 1 Plus in Washington is hosting a free drive-in showing of the 1971 film “Willy Wonka” in its parking lot. Parking is first come, first served, with concessions available for purchase. Learn more.
Friday, June 27 Singles, here’s your chance to meet people in a fun, new way, at The Tipsy Keg’s Lock & Key event! This 21+ event starts off with drinks and music from a DJ. And attendees will sign up with the bartender to receive your lock or key. There will be beer pong, foosball, corn hole and pool for you to play while mingling, along with a raffle. Check out more details.
Saturday, June 28 Pacific’s 23rd Annual Car Show includes food, live entertainment, and lots of cars. Learn more.
Saturday, June 28 Be part of history and catch an amazing fireworks display at the Missouri State Record 1 Million Firecrackers event in Union, happening from 6 – 8 p.m. The free event will also feature an adult hot dog eating contest and kids ice cream eating contest. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chair and settle in for an evening of fun. Get location and other details.
Saturday, June 28 St. Clair is hosting Freedom Fest at Orchard Park. The all-day event kicks off at 11 a.m. and will include food, a bounce house and kids activities, a beer garden, live music, and a fireworks display. Learn more.
Saturday, June 28 St. Gerald’s Catholic Church in Gerald will host a cafeteria style meal on Saturday, June 28 from 2 – 7 p.m. The dine in or carry out meals consist of choice of fried chicken or kettle beef, plus sides and desserts. Get more information.
Thursday, July 3 The City of Union is hosting an Independence Day celebration at Veterans Memorial Park that includes live music, a beer garden, food trucks, activities for kids, and a fireworks display after dark. Find out more.
Thursday, July 3 Cinema 1 Plus in Washington will host a free drive-in showing of “Independence Day” with concessions available for purchase. Parking spaces are first come, first served. Get more details.
Thursday, July 3 New Earth Fest is a conscious music and healing arts gathering, kicking off its first iteration July 3 – 6 at Lost Hill Lake in St Clair. Activities include yoga, meditation, music, hiking, breathwork, connection with likeminded people, and more. Admission varies from day passes to the full weekend event, which includes on-site camping, or glamping. Learn more and get tickets.
Friday, July 4 Celebrate Independence Day with a dazzling fireworks display in Sullivan. The event is open to all area residents. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and patriotic spirit. Find out more.
Friday, July 4 This year’s fireworks celebration at Lions Lake in Washington will mark its 100th year. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and watch the magic unfold in the night sky! Find out more.
Saturday, July 5 Head to New Haven to watch a truck and tractor pull, hosted by New Haven Community Youth Fair. Get all the details.
Road Trippin’
Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.
Thursday, June 26 Follow the yellow brick road to Movie Night in The Gardens! Enjoy a timeless classic under the stars and watch “The Wizard of Oz” in the beautiful setting of the Gardens at St. James Winery. It’s the perfect night out for the whole family, pets included. Get more details.
Friday, June 27 The town of Owensville is hosting a picnic and fireworks festival on Friday, June 27. There will be a flag raising, beer garden, cake walk, bake sale, food, kids events, and a fireworks display at Memorial Park in Owensville. Get the details.
Saturday, June 28 Do you bake, sew, grow a garden, or create handmade goods? Connect with other likeminded people at The Homemade Exchange, happening at the Owensville Library from 9 – 10 a.m. Bring items like homemade jam, cookies, fresh veggies from the garden, or a handmade craft and swap it, one-for-one, with an item another person brought to the exchange. Learn more.
Saturday, June 28 Bland is hosting a fireworks and fundraising event on Saturday, June 28. Bland Police and Bland Fire Department will run the concession stands, which will serve fish sandwiches and tater twisters, with proceeds going to kids in need in the community. Learn more.
Saturday, June 28 Head to Salem for an antique and vintage junking day with a homestead farmers market twist, happening at Smith Valley Event Barn. Get the details.
Saturday, June 28 Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg is hosting a 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.
Sunday, June 29 It’s worth the short drive to Fenton to take in the amazing cars at a free, family-friendly car event at 1st Phorm Headquarters. You’ll find everything from exotics, to classic cars, imports, works in progress, and more at this car show. Get more information.
Wednesday, July 2 – Saturday, July 5 Rolla Lions Club 90th Annual Carnival will feature several games, food, and carnival rides. Lions Club Park, located at 1061 S. Bishop Ave. in Rolla is adding a sensory-friendly celebration to the always popular free fireworks shows on July 4 and 5. This year’s event will include a brand new drone show on July 3 at 11 p.m. SkyGlow Drones will present a dazzling display of lights, movement, and music that promises to be a can’t-miss experience. Find out more.
Saturday, July 5 Rosebud is hosting a fireworks display at the Rosebud Community Park. Be sure to arrive early and grab treats from the concession stand, open from 5 – 8 p.m., and catch candy from the kids candy cannon at 7:30 p.m. Find out more.
Although I don’t get to Labadie often, whenever I am in the area, I try to stop into a cute bar and grill called Coal Fire Grill & Tap. The menu offers casual dining options like burgers, house-smoked pulled pork, Cuban and Rueben sandwiches. The sides are some of my favorites, like crispy fries, baked beans, and potato salad, to name a few.
On my most recent visit I ordered one of my favorite burgers ever, the patty melt. The Coal Fire version, called The Frisco Melt, plays up all the classic flavors that make this option such a hit for me: a juicy burger, caramelized onions, and Swiss cheese, served on toasted marble rye with a side of thousand island dressing.
The Frisco Melt at Coal Fire Grill & Tap. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
In addition to the sandwiches, there’s also pizza, wraps, and salads to choose from. And, the eatery typically has a number of daily specials and on the day we visited, one of the specials was a bourbon glazed ribeye sandwich. My husband ordered the steak sandwich, which was very tender and was served on a sturdy hoagie style bun.
A ribeye sandwich was one of the restaurant’s daily specials. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
Although I love The Frisco Melt, I’ve also ordered a couple of their other burgers on past visits and have been impressed with both The Stackhouse, which is a burger topped with pulled pork, bacon, cheese, and onion straws, and the Black & Bleu, which is a burger served with Bleu cheese crumbles.
For drinks, there’s soft drinks like sodas, plus a full bar and a decent selection of beers on tap, and there’s even ice cream for dessert, although I never save room for it! If you get out to Labadie, give the restaurant a try.
During the summertime I love to be outside. Yes, this time of year can be hot and muggy, and you may encounter your fair share of insects during a Missouri summer, but you can also hit trails, swim in rivers, creeks, and lakes, and take in nature. And since Franklin County is near the Katy Trail, it provides the perfect opportunity to walk, jog, or bike on the scenic trail. However, if you’re anything like me, all that fresh air, sunshine, and movement can make you hungry and thirsty.
If you’ve never ventured off the trail for food or drinks, please find some suggestions of places to visit that are near the Katy Trail trailheads that are in the Warren, Franklin, and St. Charles County areas.
On the Warren County side at the Marthasville Trailhead, you’ll want to make sure you hit Depot Street and stop by Country Grounds Coffee Shop for an iced coffee, tea, energy drink, or pastry.
Country Grounds Coffee Shop in Marthasville serves coffee, energy drinks, and teas. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
And if you’re hungry for an actual meal, then you’ll also want to check out Philly’s Pizza or Mavericks, both of which are also located on Depot Street in Marthasville. Or, head up First Street to Cory’s Twin Gables, at the corner of First Street and Highway 94.
And on the Franklin County side of the Katy Trail check out Dutzow Deli. You can see this eatery from the Dutzow Trailhead, and its menu features breakfast items, sandwiches, salads and a variety of other meal choices.
If you want to adventure further along the trail into St. Charles County, you can venture into the Defiance and Augusta areas. In Defiance, you will find Good News Brewing, located parallel to the trail. The brewery serves craft beer as well as small bites like wood-fired pizza. There’s also Circle 6, serving items like burgers and fries.
Just a short distance off the Augusta Trailhead, you’ll find a number of choices, like Augusta Winery, Good News Brewing’s Augusta location, Root Food + Wine, and Augusta Bakery & Coffee Shop.
The Socialite suggests you stop into some of these small locally owned coffee shops and restaurants the next time you’re on the Katy Trail.
Small Town Socialite 