Tag: travel

Posted in Updates

What’s Happening in Franklin County June 9 – June 15, 2025

Posted on by Amanda

Summer’s here, and that means families are looking for things to do with kids. Luckily, there’s lots of fun in the air right now with outdoor events like fairs, concerts, and community movie nights, plus summer is always a perfect time for car shows, or to hop in the car take a little day trip to explore things to do in other small towns near Franklin County.

Tuesday, June 10
What could be better than a good summer read? Making it sparkle! Bring your favorite book, or choose from the selection the Washington Public Library provides, and spend the evening adding a little bling to your book. All bedazzle supplies provided (while supplies last). Fun for ages 12 & Up.
Learn more.

Thursday, June 12
Cinema 1 Plus in Washington continues its free drive-in movies with a showing of the classic “Grease.” The movie will start 30 minutes after sunset. Parking is first come, first serve for these free events.
Learn more.

Friday, June 13
On Friday afternoon from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., attendees of the family-friendly Summer Dance Party will rock out to some catchy tunes using shaky eggs, scarves, and bean bags. And since it’s hosted by the Washington Public Library, you’ll take a “Book Break” during the hour-long party!
More details.

Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14
Hot Rods for Heroes, a 501-C3 organization with the goal of funding heroes through sharing the love of automobiles, is hosting a two day event in Pacific. Whether you want to show up for the car cruise on Friday or participate in the car show Saturday, there is something for everyone at this event. All proceeds for this event benefit the Pacific Police Department, Pacific Fire Department, and the Veterans Community Project.
Find out more.

Friday, June 13
Head to Gerald for a special Movie Night at Legion Park hosted by the Chief Mason Griffith Foundation! Enjoy family fun with a 50/50 drawing, raffle tickets, and a free will offering benefiting Firefighter Via Family. Food will be available for purchase and attendees can choose from nachos, hot dogs, and popcorn.
Get all the details.

Friday, June 13
Pacific is hosting an evening of live music by Twist of Fate at the Sunset on the Rails event. Guests are encouraged to bring their blankets and coolers and settle in for an evening of fun, family-friendly music and yard games, plus Case & Bucks Food Truck “Patty Wagon” will be on site.
Get more info.

Saturday, June 14
This restorative yoga class focuses on gentle poses, deep breathing, and mindful meditation to help you release tension and find inner balance. It’s perfect for individuals of all skill levels, whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a complete beginner. The class is happening at Red, White, and Brew Coffee Company in Union, and the cost is $10.
Find out more and get tickets.

Saturday, June 14
Stop by and check out DeAnn’s Dazzling Designs’ new sewing space on Main Street in St. Clair Drawings for giveaways and more for those who attend the Open House.
Find the event on Facebook.

Sunday, June 15
Orchard Park in St. Clair will be the site of a Father’s Day car show.
Visit the City of St. Clair’s Facebook for further details.

Road Trippin’

Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.

Friday, June 13
Owensville is hosting a series of free, family-friendly movies this summer, with the kick-off event happening on Friday, June 13 with a showing of the film “Moana.” The movies will be shown at Buschman Park in Owensville, and Moana will start at 8:30 p.m.
Find the full list of days and times of each film.

Friday, June 13
The City of Eureka is hosting a Concert on Central event, featuring family fun, live music by That 80s Band, plus food and drink from area restaurants located on Central Ave. 
Find out more.

Friday, June 13 – Saturday, June 14
The Jefferson County Fairgrounds will host the Jefferson County Rodeo, a two-day event that will feature live music, mechanical bull riding, kids activities, and much more.
Learn more.

Saturday, June 14
Shop vendors, enjoy food, and take in the sights and sounds of a car show at the Belle Swap Meet & Extravaganza, happening from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Belle City Park. *UPDATE* as of June 9, this event has been canceled.

Saturday, June 14
Take a short drive to Bourbon for its annual BBQ Fest, featuring live music, vendors, BBQ competitions, and lots of family fun!
Find out more on the Facebook event page.

Posted in News and Features

La Finca Coffee in Eureka: Serving Up Coffee and Food With Latin Flavors

Posted on by Amanda

Being that I’m a coffee aficionado, I like to try as many coffee shops as I can, and sometimes that means exploring in areas outside of Franklin County. When I’m headed that way, one of my favorite places to stop for an iced latte and food is La Finca Coffee in Old Town Eureka.

The coffee shop is in a charming and walkable part of Eureka, on Central Avenue, a street that has shops and a few other eateries. Although I was bummed (and still am) when La Finca Coffee closed the doors on its short-lived Washington location at the end of 2024, it’s definitely worth the trip to Eureka to enjoy a cup of their coffee.

An iced churro cold brew with cold foam on the left and iced latte with housemade coconut syrup on the right. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Besides coffee, the drink menu also features teas like matcha and chai, along with smoothies and bottled sodas like Mexican Coca Cola and Jarritos. There’s a lot more than just drinks on the menu, so it’s hard to pass up ordering a snack or full meal whenever I visit. While their empanadas and pastries are divine, when I am there during breakfast hours, my husband and I can’t resist splitting the breakfast burrito, made with refried beans, eggs, chorizo, and cheese.

The breakfast burrito from La Finca Coffee is large enough to share, or save half for another meal. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Although it’s really tasty, it’s so huge we always split the burrito. However, on our last visit, we deviated from this plan because the menu now features a housemade sourdough bagel sandwich. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try the sandwich made from a sourdough sharp cheddar bagel that has a fried egg, mayo, lettuce, bacon, and what I believe was cubed jamón, a dry-cured ham that is typically produced in Spain.

The housemade sourdough bagel sandwich at La Finca Coffee in Eureka. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

With two kinds of pork, eggs, and cheese, plus the subtle tang from the sourdough, the flavors on the breakfast sandwich are sooo, so good. And it’s also quite large. We cut it in half so we could split it as well.

The only things I would do differently next time, is not order two breakfasts, since we took food home, and also request that the bagel be toasted/heated for a shorter amount of time, since the cheese that’s baked into the bagel got a little too crispy for my liking and made it a slightly tougher bite than I prefer.

The breakfast menu also features eggs benedict and heuvos rancheros, while the lunch offerings range from the Cuban sandwich, which is amazing and you guessed it, large enough to share! There are also street tacos and quesabirria tacos, a chicken salad sandwich, and asada fries, which are fries topped with carne asada, cheese, pico, and cream, these are on my list to try soon!

The next time you’re near Eureka, I hope you’ll stop by this great eatery.

The Socialite recommends La Finca Coffee!

The details:
104 S. Central Avenue, Eureka
Find La Finca on Facebook
Follow on Instagram
Visit their website

Posted in News and Features

Find Food, Drinks, and Elegant, Rustic Vibes at Triple 3 Vineyard in Washington

Posted on by Amanda

It’s prime time for dining al fresco, and we’re blessed with a number of wineries here in Missouri, which typically have outdoor dining options that often feature picturesque views of the rolling hills located throughout the Show Me State. Triple 3 Vineyard is located just minutes from downtown Washington, yet offers its guests a relaxed, rural atmosphere.

With its multiple seating areas that offer an elegant, yet rustic vibe, both inside and out, it’s a great place to meet friends or enjoy a romantic date. I recently spent a Saturday afternoon with friends at Triple 3, and although it was my first time just hanging out at the winery, it wasn’t my first visit. The establishment is also an event venue and is often the site of weddings, banquets, fundraising dinners, and more, so I was already familiar with the space as I’d spent time at an event held in the gorgeous Trinity Hall.

If you plan to come to the winery to enjoy some food and drinks, you can expect a wide selection of wines, of course, but its drink menu also features cocktails, beer, and soft drinks. If you’re a loyal reader of the website, then you already know I’m a craft beer chick, so on my visit I enjoyed a can of local craft brand Deep Sleep Brewing’s Helles lager, but the menu also features domestic beers as well.

When it comes to the food menu, there’s a number of starters that are sized to share with others, such as the charcuterie board, Bavarian garlic pretzel (which is almost as big as a car steering wheel!), and more. Since I was there with a group, I got to sample a couple of shareable items that someone else ordered like the bruschetta and pretzel. Both were absolutely tasty, with the bruschetta topped with cherry tomatoes, pesto, and a generous drizzle of balsamic, while the Bavarian pretzel was soft, yet chewy, and had a delectable buttery garlic flavor.

In addition to the starters, there are some main course items like salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. While I really debated on about four different items: the Greek salad, Reuben sandwich, Texas bistro sandwich (made with brisket), and the hot Hawaiian flatbread, the latter won out. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good flatbread.

Hot Hawaiian flatbread at Triple 3 Vineyard. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Let me start off by saying this is definitely large enough to feed two people, and I did end up sharing my flatbread! The delightfully crispy crust was topped with ham, bacon, red onion, pineapple, mozzarella, Baklouti oil, which gives the olive oil a yummy green chili flavor, as well as jalapeños, and is finished with dollops of a smoky and slightly sweet barbecue sauce. I love the salty, sweet, spicy, smoke flavors that this combination brings, so if you’ve got a similar palate, I think you’ll really dig the Hot Hawaiian.

If you’re team “no pineapple on pizza” or can’t handle spiciness, don’t worry, there’s a few other flatbread selections that are topped with brisket, or Italian meats like salami, pepperoni, plus bacon, or the Portobello and bacon option.

Whether you take my food or drink suggestions or not, I do hope you’ll get out and support some of the fabulous locally-owned dining options we have in our area!

The Socialite recommends Triple 3 Vineyard!

The details:
3665 Sunny Road, Washington
Visit Triple 3 Vineyard’s website
Find the winery on Facebook
Follow Triple 3 on Instagram

Posted in Events

What’s Happening in Franklin County May 12 – May 18

Posted on by Amanda

From a choir performance, to dance fitness classes, a plant swap and more, here’s what’s happening in Franklin County this week!

Tuesday, May 13
The East Central College Choir and Choral Association will present their spring concert at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. This concert will feature songs about nature including music by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Elaine Hagenburg, Ola Gjeilo, and featuring “Make Our Garden Grow” by Leonard Bernstein. Admission is free.

Tuesday, May 13
Bad Beats Dance Class is a fun way to get fit. This hour-long class will feature a blend of music genres and decades such as music from the 90s to present day, with dance moves that encompass Latin, jive, country, hip-hop, and more. Register for the class at https://badbeatsdf.com/

Wednesday, May 14
If you’re unable to attend on Tuesday evening, there’s a second hour-long Bad Beats dance class. Register for the class at https://badbeatsdf.com/

Friday, May 16
The Washington Police Department and Dunkin’ are teaming up to raise funds for Special Olympics with Cop on a Rooftop at Dunkin’ Donuts in Washington on May 16, from 6 a.m. to noon. 
Learn more.

Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18
The 44th annual Art Fair & Winefest is happening in downtown Washington. The weekend will be filled with food, live music, wine tastings, and art.
Get more details and tickets for the wine tastings.

Photo via Art Fair & Winefest Facebook event page.

Saturday, May 17
Together Treasures in St. Clair is hosting a parking lot sale in honor of its second anniversary of being open for business. Guests can enjoy grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, cold drinks, music, and more.
Visit Facebook to learn more.

Saturday, May 17
This free event allows attendees to swap plants, cuttings, pots, and gardening accessories. Attendees do not have to bring anything to come! The swap is at the main pavilion at the city park in Pacific, near the pool. 
Learn more.

Saturday, May 17
Fugitive Bluff Brewery & Winery in Berger will host a one day Maifest BBQ event that will feature a special barbecue menu as well as live music.
Learn more on the business’s Facebook page.

Saturday, May 17
The Mighty Pines return to Paddle Stop Brewery in New Haven. Music starts at 7:30 p.m .and goes until 10 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Find out more.

Sunday, May 18
Join CiCi’s Devine Designs for a fun workshop where creativity meets beauty! In this workshop, all of the supplies will be provided. This hands on class will guide you through selecting your materials, teaching technique, and providing support throughout your class.
Learn more at the Facebook event page.

Road Trippin’

Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.

Saturday, May 17
The Hermann Maifest Maker’s Market is from 10 a.m. until
6 p.m. The market will be located on Schiller and Third streets and showcasing a variety of artists, local makers, craftspeople, food, beverages, and more.