At Lizzi and Rocco's, Santa’s lap has gone to the dogs.

Thomas Nagel and Allison Seibel/ Missourian

At Lizzi and Rocco's, Santa’s lap has gone to the dogs. Pet owners were invited to bring in their animal for pictures with Santa at the pet shop on Saturday. The event was a fundraiser for the Central Human Society and Columbia Second Chance, which finds homes for rescued pets. Kyle Schlosser, the store’s owner, said a little under $1000 was raised over two weekends to benefit the organizations. The store also hosts pet friendly photo events for charity on Easter and Halloween.

Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture to accept electronic food stamps

At the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture’s production farm, labor that began in January 2010 bears fruit as summer delivers ripe produce. The farm, at corner of Fay St. and Smith St. will make it’s fruits, vegetables, and herbs available to people in a new way by adopting the EBT system, which is similar to food stamps but uses debit cards. Staffed by volunteers, produce is sold at the site on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between 4 and 8 p.m. President of CCUA’s board of directors Adam Saunders explains the new system.

Summer at the Columbia Missourian

Saxon Brown separates rope to strengthen and straighten tomato vines at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture's production farm on Smith St. and Fay St. in Columbia. Brown volunteers at the farm while home from college for summer break.

Road captain Dan Olsen follows the pack of riders on their way to Centralia via Route Z. Olsen is one of Heart of Missouri H.O.G.'s eighteen road captains who are responsible for planning group rides. The group prefers outer roads to avoid traffic and enjoy more scenery.
Photographer Terry Simmons sits in front of the lens at Mississippi Fish Shack, on June 24, 2010, on the corner of Broadway and 9th St, where his photography is currently display. Simmons tried to reflect the atmosphere of the restaurant with his work featuring pictures from New Orleans and other travels. He called his pieces unique yet familiar and comfortable. In August, more of Simmons’ work will be on display at Teller’s Gallery and Bar downtown. Simmons moved to Columbia in 2008.
Madison Berry adjusts the mortarboard of Peter Stringfield as they prepare for Columbia Independent School's commencement ceremony at the Missouri Theatre on Thursday evening. One of seven seniors, Berry will attend Northwestern University next fall.


Table dancing, fog machines, and flashing lights mean serious dancing at the comedy club Déjà Vu on Thursday, July 29, 2010. Popular for stand-up comedy, the club is a destination for dancing and drinks in the later hours of the night.Kristina Grant playing Ophelia and Jacquelyn O'Brien playing Juliet talk about love as Rachel Diemler playing Desdemona watches in a 5th Wall production of "When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet" at Courthouse Square on Thursday, June 3, 2010. In the comic play, six female characters of Shakespeare meet over cocktails to discuss the subject of their lovers. The free show marked opening night of the Columbia Shakespeare Festival, which will feature productions of "The Tempest" on June 10-13 and 17-20 at 6 pm at Courthouse Square.


Gov. Jay Nixon greets Madeleine Carter, age 7, who has autism, after signing legislation that requires insurers to cover the treatment of autism in children 19 years old and younger on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at MU. "It's a joyous day," Paula Carter, Madeleine's mother, said. "It means that autism counts."
Trayton Wiyrick, age 10, left, of the Cubans strikes from pitch from his coach Kena Flores, right, at a Douglass Youth Baseball League game on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at Douglass Park. Ray Kelley, who refereed the game, said of the league, “We don’t worry about scores as we try to teach the game a bit. We stress fun.” Kelly is the president of the board of directors of the Douglass Athletic Association. As Thursday was the last day of games, athletes and volunteers will celebrate with a barbeque at Douglass Park on Sunday, and about 40 children will visit the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City on Tuesday.




Kenny James, center, makes a break to the basket between Carl Bivens, age 15, left, teammate Deaudre Johnson, second from left, and Justin Seamon, age 16, right, at Moonlight Hoops on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at Douglas Park. "It's for the kids and for the community. They come to support the kids," said coach Michael McClain of James’ team, The Beast, sponsored by Stuart Insurance Agency. Moonlight Hoops Summer Basketball League is organized by Columbia Parks and Recreation and the Columbia Police Department. Eleven teams will compete through July with a tournament in August. Games are played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 4 and 11 p.m.

Deborah Fristoe enjoys the view from her porch at 107 Sexton Rd., where she moved with her daughter and two grandchildren on June 1, 2010. "I think it's great they're in the neighborhood to make affordable housing," Fristoe said about the City of Columbia's purchasing of the houses across the street from her house. "There are so many people in need." The houses, at 106 and 108 Sexton Rd., will likely be refurbished as affordable housing.
Erica Leach looks out the back door of the church, which is being renovated into a craft space for children, on the corner of Hickman Ave. and 6th St. on Thursday, June 17, 2010. Leach and her husband purchased the property in February and hope to complete work on the building in August. "I just like to do crafts with kids," she said. "I don't want to limit it." Leach has worked with children for the past ten and has worked at Walnut Street Day School for six. She and her husband have two boys ages 10 and 12.
Aaron Dow works on sealing the roof of an old church, which is being converted into a craft space for children, while his son, Plais Dow, age 10, watches on Thursday, June 17, 2010. Erica and Chris Leach, who purchased the building in February, have been renovating the buidling with the help of friends and hope to have it ready for W.A.C.K.Y (Walk-in Activity Centery 4 Kids Yippee) in August.
Mike Rapp demonstrates his flexibility while Mac Abernathy , Leo Agnew and John Lory of team Second Wind warm up for a game in the Columbia Parks and Recreation over 50 summer softball league at Cosmo Park on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. The league consists of six teams and meets through July.


Karen Taylor has been advocate for downtown surveillance cameras since similar cameras led to the arrest of suspects who attacked her son in the Tenth Street parking garage in June 2009. "It's been an interesting year," Taylor said. "It's opened our eyes to paying attention to crime and safety." She is a founding member of Keep Columbia Safe, which got the issue on last April’s ballot via a successful petition campaign after the city council voted against the idea a year earlier. Though voters approved the initiative, the cost, location and camera type have yet to be determined.

Here's how it happened. Note: the flash is an optical slave. The assistant is lovely.

Ice-9, also known as Macy Pruitt, rap battles Ayvee at the Hair Hole on Saturday night. No Coast Battles, a Columbia based rap battle league of which Pruitt is member, organized the event. Ayvee, a visiting rapper from Rockford Ill, says the hip-hop scene in Columbia is, "more chill," because people are concerned with having fun rather than being tough.

Also, I'm a big fan of this shoe-cord-in-frame and over-explosion.

The construction of the image above.

A less conspicuous East Campus resident explores the backyards of Rosemary Ln. on a sunny spring afternoon. Fortunately, this Eastern Garter Snake, the most common garter snake in Missouri, is non-venomous and mostly harmless according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis reside mainly in city lots, near farm buildings, and in meadows. Their diet consists of earthworms, small amphibians, and small rodents.

Bounce flash with gel. As seen above.

Matt Fox checks out a unique find by Jeremy (Moose) Rappaport at Slackers on Tuesday afternoon. The CD, "The Amazing Adventures of Pleaseeasaur," feature fascinating cover art but was not purchased. The pair was more interested in video games that day.

A favorite outtake:
Meredith Berkowitz poses in her special sandwich making gloves at Lakota Coffee Company in downtown Columbia. Here favorite coffee is seasonally influenced. An iced latte with a hint of vanilla is ideal from spring through to summer.

Using a single flash, here's how it happened.

John Klaas anticipates Shay Prince's next move having threatened his queen with the black rook. Klaas eventually checkmated Prince, who was attending the chess club for the second time. The MU Chess Cub meets Monday nights at 7 o'clock in Memorial Union.

Arjun Khurana, a junior at Rock Bridge High School, watches Justin Hull, 25, make a move during a speed chess match after a chess club meeting on Monday night in Memorial Union. Though he is returning from a year off from the game, Khurana has placed first in high school chess contests in Missouri and New York City. Hull is a highly rated player who has played masters in Stockholm and once played for money in Washington Square Park while living homeless for a week.

This is how it happens.

A collection of found objects reveals the past. The "H" is for the Herring family, who kept in touch through letters from the 1940's to the 1970's.

Here's how it happens.

Dan Brenner says he stepped out of his box when he left Colorado to study photojournalism at the University of Missouri. He considers himself to be extreme while also having a reflective personality. Also, he loves snowboarding.