Tag: travel

Posted in Events

What’s Happening in Franklin County Feb. 17 – Feb. 23, 2025

Posted on by Amanda

Weather permitting, here’s what’s happening around Franklin County, Missouri this week.

Wednesday, Feb. 19
Explore your creative side and choose from making a St. Patrick’s themed Highlander cow or a Mardi Gras painting at a paint night held at Sip on Main in Union. Included in the ticket price is a pre-traced canvas, plus $5 off food/drink at Sip on Main for that evening.  *UPDATE* Due to snow, this event has been rescheduled to March, 5.
Find out more and register.

Thursday, Feb. 20
Learn how to make and use a sourdough starter, while also learning about sourdough’s amazing gut health benefits. 
Find out more and how to pay for the workshop.

Thursday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, Feb. 23
Escape the ordinary at the area’s newest brewery and winery, Fugitive Bluff Brewery and Winery, located in Berger. The opening weekend festivities will include food, beer, and wine. *UPDATE* Due to snow, Fugitive Bluff has postponed its opening and may open Saturday and Sunday. It is expected to announce its opening plans on Facebook on Friday, Feb. 21.
Find out more.

Photo via Fugitive Bluff Brewery and Winery’s Facebook

Friday, Feb. 21
Do you write poetry, can you deliver a joke with impeccable comedic timing? Are you a singer or musician? All are welcome to share their talent at The Washington Coffee Shop’s Open Mic Night. Or, maybe sitting back with a coffee or tea in hand taking in the music or spoken word of the guests is more your thing. Either way, stop by the coffee shop for an entertaining evening. 
Learn more.

Saturday, Feb. 22
The same great food and music you’ve come to love at the summertime CajunFest is being held this year indoors in February. The Cajun Night event will feature live music from from Dennis Stroughmatt with Creole Stomp.
Find out more.

Posted in News and Features

Grab a Burger and a Beer at This Sullivan Brewery

Posted on by Amanda

When hunger (and thirst) strikes, those that know me well know that I’m a burger and a beer kind of gal. Nothing can hit the spot quite like a well-seasoned patty or two and a pint of craft beer. One of my favorite places to satisfy both cravings is Muddy Banks Brewing in Sullivan.

With a name like Muddy Banks, it should be no surprise that the interior vibe focuses on the outdoor recreation in the area, with Meramac State Park just a couple miles away, and the food menu boasts burgers, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers.

Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Drinks include house brewed beers, with around eight on tap at any given time, cocktails and wine, plus items like nitro lemonade, coffee, and a variety of soft drinks.

On a recent visit, I ordered the Bacon Jam burger, which is topped with American cheese, bacon, bacon jam, lettuce, onion, and the house made burger sauce. It’s a big and wonderfully messy burger that will have you licking your fingers and savoring every single bite.

Bacon Jam burger and fries. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

My husband ordered the wings, which are one of his favorite menu items. A true wing connoisseur, he can’t get enough of the way they’re made at Muddy Banks: smoked, then flash fried and tossed in a generous amount of sauce. There are comforting sides like mac and cheese, potato salad, and baked beans to choose from, but we both love the crispy, yummy fries.

Wings and fries. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

The Socialite recommends Muddy Banks Brewing!

The details:
725 Acid Mine Rd., Sullivan, MO.
muddybanksbrewery.com
Like the brewery on Facebook
Follow them on Instagram

Posted in Events

What’s Happening in Franklin County Jan. 20 – Jan. 26, 2025

Posted on by Amanda

Here’s a few things that are happening around Franklin County over the next week.

Wednesday, Jan. 22
The Franklin County Silent Book Club is hosting its monthly meeting at underGROUNDS Espresso Bar in Washington. The event is open to all, since attendees can bring a book of their choosing and join fellow readers at the coffee shop. Attendees are asked to purchase a beverage before sitting down to read in companionable silence. After the designated reading time, there’s an opportunity to chat with others in attendance, or continue reading.
Find the event time and venue address.

Thursday, Jan. 23
Whether you want to brush up on your moves, or are a line dancing novice, you’re invited to attend the line dancing class at the Tri-County Community Senior Center in Pacific. The class is free, but donations are appreciated.
Learn more.

Saturday, Jan. 25
Put on your dancing shoes and head to the VFW Post 2661 in Washington to attend the Wash MO Blues Society’s Membership Appreciation Ball. All are welcome to attend the society’s annual membership appreciation, which will feature live music by the Jeremiah Johnson Band.
Get all the details.

Photo via Wash MO Blues Society’s Facebook event

Saturday, Jan. 25
The Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual dueling pianos show and dinner event, Pianos for a Purpose, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Tri-County Community Senior Center’s parking lot project. Ticket price includes dinner and the piano show, and a cash bar will also be available at the event.
Purchase tickets and get all the details.

Sunday, Jan. 26
Coffee lovers won’t want to miss the tasting event at Stacked Coffeehouse in Villa Ridge, starting at 9 a.m. Attendees will try coffee blends that are perfectly paired with a grazing board designed to elevate the coffee flavors. Find out more and purchase tickets.

Photo via Stacked Coffeehouse’s Coffee Tasting event
Posted in Updates

What’s a Small Town Socialite, Anyway?

Posted on by Amanda

I can’t wait to share the full website experience once it launches on January 20, but in the meantime, this post will provide readers with a background on the site’s creator and why I created it.

First, who is the writer behind Small Town Socialite? It’s me, Amanda Bretz, and I’ve been a journalist for almost 20 years. I’ve written for print newspapers and magazines, as well as web-only news sites. I got my start in community journalism, writing about local businesses and doing profile pieces on interesting members of the community.

Over the past seven years or so, my writing has shifted to focus on food and beverage writing, along with some travel and lifestyle pieces. In 2022 I moved to Franklin County and started looking for lifestyle magazines or food-focused publications that I could freelance for. I was disappointed to find there weren’t any.

What I did find is that there are newspapers in the area, and while they share dining features and some lifestyle articles, that’s not their sole focus. There’s also lifestyle magazines in St. Louis and Jefferson City, and those publications will occasionally write about Washington, but they don’t often cover events or the small, locally owned restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops in towns like Union, St. Clair, Villa Ridge, or Sullivan.

That’s the gap I hope Small Town Socialite can fill. I envision sharing roundup articles about the different events happening throughout Franklin County, as well as focusing on short reviews and features about the many wonderful locally-owned restaurants in the area. I believe in spending your money where you live and supporting the small business owners who live in your own community.

Often when we want to have a celebratory dinner or get out of the house, we think of those bigger restaurants and events that happen in the city, and there’s nothing wrong with heading into the city to do things. But sometimes we all need to be reminded of how much there is to see, do, eat, and drink, right here in Franklin County.

And, that’s why I named my website Small Town Socialite. In almost every friend group I’ve had since my teen years, there’s always been that one friend who just knows what’s happening. She’s telling us what we should do that weekend, the best spot to grab coffee on the way, and where to eat dinner afterwards.

Somehow, she’s always in the know. And with this website, I hope I can keep you in the know.