It’s been two years since I decided to take Small Town Socialite from an idea in my head to a website and social media presence. Although the official launch date for the website didn’t happen until January 2025, I started planning the brand in August of 2024.
Even though I’ve never let my readers know, from the very beginning I have had BIG goals for this small town brand I’m building. I launched the website in Franklin County, Missouri and surrounding areas because that’s where I live, and being in the media industry writing for larger publications in nearby bigger markets like St. Louis, Jefferson City, and Lake of the Ozarks I saw firsthand how the publications in those areas didn’t have much interest in covering small businesses, events, or people in the rural towns in the Franklin County area.
I launched Small Town Socialite as a test, of myself, the brand, and the people in my community. I started with no money, and to this day I’ve still never spent a dime to advertise this website or my social media accounts. Could I have grown faster if I’d poured money into advertising? Probably, but I wanted to see if I could really do this, as an “outsider” who is a transplant to the rural community I write about. I wanted to know if the people would believe in what I’m doing or if this idea was just huge flop.
The brand recognition is not where I want it to be yet, but my website and social media traffic has only grown with time, purely through word of mouth and people spreading the word both on Facebook and in real conversations with their family and friends. That’s given me the confidence to go back to those BIG goals I set out for myself when I mapped out what I wanted Small Town Socialite to become back in August 2024.
Through my 20 years of working in the media industry I’ve watched publication after publication get bought out by corporations and huge media conglomerates. I’ve watched publications with a long history go belly up. I’ve been a part of the freelance staff that’s watched those beloved publications go away.
And nowhere has been hit as hard as the rural areas. Back in the day, almost every community had a small town, local paper. Now, it’s rare to find a weekly or bi-weekly news outlet in small towns, and it’s even rarer that they’re locally owned or aren’t a part of a larger corporation. To make ends meet, most local papers keep their online content behind a paywall, meaning readers can’t read any articles for free. While I get the reasoning for paywalls, it’s not helpful to the every day person in a small town that just wants to know what’s going on in their community or read an article about the small business down the street from them.
Now that you hopefully understand what motivates me to publish content for free on the internet in a rural community, I want to get to the real point of this post. On August 31, I’m launching Small Town Socialite southern Illinois, or Small Town Socialite SoIL for short.
I have big plans to launch in other rural regions that lack a centralized media outlet, but I chose to start in southern Illinois rather than another community in my current state because southern Illinois was my first home. Both sides of my family called the area home for generations, so what better way to honor my heritage than to expand into an area I already have a deep connection to, and that I know is deeply under-served when it comes to media coverage.
The SoIL site will work just like this one, but every two weeks I’ll be sharing event round ups for the entire southern Illinois region: from the Metro East, to an area I’m calling the Route 3 Corridor (Red Bud, Sparta, Chester), to Little Egypt, and areas in between. Eventually I’ll share small business and people features from the area as well.
The dog days of summer have arrived, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of things to do both indoors and outside over the next two weeks in Franklin County and nearby communities. There’s crafting events, car shows, touch-a-truck events, plus live music events, community markets, and much more.
As a reminder, always double check with event venues before heading out just in case an event gets canceled, rescheduled, or experiences weather delays.
Did I miss an event? Tag me on Facebook or Instagram and I can share the event in my stories.
Various dates and times Great 8 Cinema in Union and Sullivan 6 Cinema are also featuring a special kids summer film series that kicks off mid-May and runs through late August. Additionally, the admission is $2, and there are $5 value combos available. Get details on Facebook.
Multiple days The USDA Summer Food Service is partnering with the Washington Public Library to help area families to provide food service beginning Monday, June 29 and continuing on every Mondays until public school starts. The food service includes 7 days of breakfast and lunch, with fresh fruit, vegetable, and dairy. This service is for families with children ages 1-18. Pickup is at the Washington Public Library on Mondays between 4-6 p.m. Get more info.
Multiple days Scenic Regional Library and Foundations for Strengthening Families are partnering to help area families with summer food service beginning Monday, June 29 through Monday, August 17. The service will provide one week’s worth of breakfast and lunch items for kids, available while supplies last. Food pickup will be in each library branch’s parking lot and pickup times and days vary by each branch. Find pickup days and times.
Multiple days in August Old Farm Winery in Catawissa has a number of events like a car show, karaoke, and live music throughout August. Get all the details.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Each month, the Washington Public Library hosts a crafting event, providing all the supplies attendees need to make a themed craft. This month, attendees can opt to create disco-themed fall crafts and can choose from a ghostie or a disco ball inspired mini pumpkin. Find out more.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Washington Historical Society is hosting The American Zither Verband for its monthly Evening at the Museum event. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Get more info.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 The St. Clair Branch of Scenic Regional Library is hosting an author event with Sue Blesi. Attendees will explore the legacies of some of St. Clair’s most notable residents through lively storytelling by local historian and author, Sue Blesi. Register here.
Friday, Aug. 14 The next City of Union Market off Main is happening from 4-7 p.m. Find food from Savy’s Food Truck and Hot Tamales Love at First Bite, as well as numerous items for sale from local vendors. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 14 Glittering Grapevine Line Dancing will guide guests in line dancing at Ace’s & Eagles The Office Bar in Washington. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 14 The American Legion in New Haven continues its America 250 live music series with a live performance by Brooke Bockting from 5-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14 American Street Edge Self-Defense Systems in St. Clair is hosting a Women’s Safety & Self-Defense Seminar from 6-8:30 p.m. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today. Reserve your place.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitor Center in Pacific is hosting the Gateway HET Car Cruise from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 First Christian Church in Washington is hosting a Touch-a-Truck event from 9-10:30 a.m. Get up close and personal with a variety of big trucks and vehicles in the church parking lot. Honk the horns, check out the equipment, and enjoy a morning of hands-on fun for all ages! Find out more details.
Saturday, Aug. 15 It’s been one year since Andy’s Produce Too in Union moved from its original location on U.S. 50 to its current location on Main St. in Union. To celebrate, Andy’s is hosting a customer appreciation event from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. that will include local vendors to shop from, a seafood boil, and beginning at 10 a.m., free burgers and chips for the first 50 customers. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Goddess Gowns in Union is hosting a bridal and beyond pop-up event from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. This event is perfect for anyone getting ready to say “I do” as well as women looking to refresh their accessories. Shop permanent jewelry and upgrade your hat collection with Burned Wildflower Creations, a custom hat business that creates beautiful burned designs on hats. Get more details.
Sunday, Aug. 16 Aset Center in Washington will welcome Michelle Nolan Sanchez of Akashic Soulwork to lead an akashic dance, and later a sound bath led by Allison Chrisman will bring attendees into deep relaxation as she creates restorative sound with her gong and other instruments. Register and learn more.
Sunday, Aug. 16 St. Patrick’s Old Rock Church in Catawissa is having its church picnic. Find chicken, cold beer, hot dogs and snow cones, as well as kids games, plus custard cups from Hoffmans. Find out more.
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Tuesday, Aug. 18 Head to Scenic Regional Library’s St. Clair Branch to learn more about all things gardening at the branch’s monthly club called Growers and Sowers. The meetings are from 6-7 p.m. and this month’s topic is backyard birds. Register to save your spot.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 Join Project Linus of East Central Missouri at the Union American Legion and help make an impact for area children in need of comfort. Bring your own sewing supplies and make blankets any time during the hours of 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Get more info.
Thursday, Aug. 20 After a brief hiatus, Music on Main returns to downtown Union. The fall concert series kicks off with music from Bag Lunch Blues Band, and food and drinks available for purchase from Sip on Main, White Rose, Boxcar Express, and Sip Chicks. The fun happens at Hansen Park, beginning at 6 p.m. Find out more.
Thursday, Aug. 20 – Sunday, Aug. 23 New Earth Fest is a music, wellness, and arts festival happening at Lost Hill Lake in St. Clair. Find workshops on things like yoga and breathwork, as well as creative and hands on activities like art, shop from vendors, and sway to a live music show complete with lights and lasers at night. Tickets range in prices and access, with day passes to full weekend access available. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 & Saturday, Aug. 22 *Rescheduled from Aug. 14 & 15 due to heat* The St. Clair Saddle Club is hosting rodeo fun on Friday and Saturday. Find 5D barrel racing and more. Get more details on Facebook.
Friday, Aug. 21 The Book Booth in Washington is hosting a Meet and Greet Book Signing event for the book Porch Time with Lynnie: A Place for Healing. The event starts at 5 p.m. Get more details.
Friday, Aug. 21 Head to Union City Park for an outdoor showing of Wicked for Good, the Lawn Chair Movie Night event of August. The movie begins at dark, and guests should arrive early with their lawn chairs to get their preferred seats. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 Sip, snack, and create your own dragonfly sun catcher at The Eclectic Dragonfly in New Haven from 5-7 p.m. Get more info.
Friday, Aug. 21 Sugar & Whisk Cafe in New Haven is hosting a Back to School Bash from 2–5 p.m. The afternoon of fun will include face painting, bubbles, and outdoor games, plus food and drink selections including coffee, sweet treats for the whole family, and BBQ plates and hot dogs. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 21 Glittering Grapevine Line Dancing will guide guests in line dancing at McKelvey Vineyards in Washington. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 The Roundup Event Space in St. Clair is hosting another Tailgate Sale in the grassy area located near the event space (at the corner of Main and Hibbard in downtown St. Clair). The event happens from 5-8 p.m. and will feature food trucks, dirty sodas, and a number of vendors including plants, jewelry, boutiques, and more. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 21 The American Legion in New Haven concludes its America 250 live music series with a live performance by Eric Englebrecht from 5-8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 With August being the Dog Days of Summer and everyone needing a little something to look forward to, from 2-6 p.m. hang out on the patio at Pinckney Bend in New Haven for its Wieners & Dieners event. Josh Lang & Pinckney Bend will cook up hot dogs, sausages, and brats on the big grill, with live music by Matt Diener. Get more details.
Saturday, Aug. 22 The annual Foodstock event in Washington is happening from 5-10 p.m. at the Washington Farmers Market. This event benefits local food pantries and features live music by area musicians and admission is either a monetary donation or non-perishable food. Find out more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 The Back to School Farmers Market is happening at Frisco Farms from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Find goods from local vendors and makers, as well as locally grown produce, local honey, and meat. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Downtown Sullivan is the site of a cruise in car show that has various hot rods, trucks and Jeeps. Get more info.
Sunday, Aug. 23 The Alley cordially invites all princesses and princes to its Princess Brunch event. Kicking off at 9 a.m., attendees will have brunch, a meet and greet, and arcade games with four iconic princesses. All ages are welcome to attend, but tickets are limited, so don’t wait! Cost is $35 admission includes brunch, a meet and greet, and a $20 game card. Learn more.
Road Trippin’
Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.
Thursday, Aug. 13 Tour The Historic Daniel Boone Home in Defiance free of charge. All ages are welcome and admission is first-come, first-served. Tours are open-house format, allowing guests to explore all levels of the house and speak with docents about the Boone family and the history of the Femme Osage Valley. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 RGM Farms in Bourbon is hosting a monthly event called Social Saturdays, which are an opportunity to come together with friends new and old, enjoy food, and entertainment from 3-7 p.m. Get tickets.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Onondaga Cave State Park is hosting a series of night sky viewing events with astronomy enthusiast Joe Parish in the visitor center parking lot. These events are free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Although a telescope will be provided, visitors are welcome to bring viewing devices of their own. Find out more.
Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21 & 22 Mid-Missouri Rodeo Association is coming to the Rolla Saddle Club. The rodeo fun kicks off at 7 p.m. each evening. Get more info.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Want to volunteer your time with an organization making an impact in the lives of veterans? Head to The Freedom 13 Healing Camp in Bourbon for a day of giving back and helping the nonprofit build cabins and a recreational space that veterans and their families can use. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Head to Brookdale Farms in Eureka, for the Back-to-School Bash, a family celebration packed with fun, entertainment, and community spirit. Spend the afternoon exploring the farm with giant inflatables, hayrides, pony rides, our petting zoo, bubble zone, sunflower photo opportunities, yard games, and more. Dance in the foam party, enjoy live music, and grab dinner from local food vendors. Get tickets.
Have a public event coming up? Submit your event details like time, location, and cost to attend. Be sure to include your website and social media details so I can help spread the word about your event!
A wellness, music, and arts festival all rolled into one, New Earth Fest is happening Thursday, Aug. 20, to Sunday, Aug. 23 in St. Clair. This all ages, family-friendly, alcohol-free gathering aims to create a more present and connected festival experience for its attendees and is founded and organized by St. Louis resident Christine Kick.
“I love the idea of being able to create events that can build culture, specifically around positive things,” Christine shares. “It’s a way to come together around the idea of envisioning the world in a positive way.”
Prior to creating New Earth Fest, Christine had been a part of other festivals in various ways: as an aerialist performer, teaching yoga, and as a singer and musician, since she also makes electronic music under the name Harmony Om. After attending other festivals, she noticed a couple of things that were missing at most events.
“I noticed the need for spaces that are family-friendly and clearly focused on wellness,” she says.
Although she lives in St. Louis, when Christine started planning the festival she knew she wanted it to happen somewhere that was close to the city, yet at a location that was nature focused and would allow attendees to stay for more than one day.
“Having people stay together creates more of a vibe and a community,” Christine explains.
More than a music festival, New Earth Fest offers ways for attendees to connect and form community through wellness and arts workshops, as well as through spending time together in nature at Lost Hill Lake in St. Clair. Photo via Christine Kick, New Earth Fest.
She found what she was looking for at Lost Hill Lake Events. The St. Clair venue features an onsite lake and Meramec River access, glamping as well as RV hookups, outdoor showers, and an outdoor dry barrel sauna, making it an ideal setting for a festival that’s rooted in wellness, embracing nature, community, and positivity.
Workshops, music, and activities
Even though it’s a multi-day event, attendees can choose attendance options that are right for their schedule, with day passes available, as well as a multi-day ticket option that allows for glamping onsite. No matter if someone plans to come out for the day, or stay for the entire festival, there’s activities that span across interests and wellness areas.
The festival features daily workshops centered on wellness practices like yoga and breathwork, as well as arts, and spirituality. Photo via Christine Kick, New Earth Fest.
The daily workshops center around wellness and somatic practices like yoga and breathwork, as well as sound healing, which is a practice of using frequencies, vibrations, and tones from sources like chimes, singing bowls, and gongs to promote relaxation and mental well-being.
Attendees can also expect to find spiritually focused workshops on things like manifestation. There will also be interactive workshops focused on crafts, painting, and making things, plus kid oriented activities, as well as windows of time where kids can be dropped with staff so parents in attendance at the festival can have solo time to attend workshops.
And for those who plan to stay onsite for multiple days, the festival schedule features breaks in the afternoons so attendees can enjoy the lake, explore the hiking trails, or simply relax and take in the natural landscape.
At night, expect a full production music experience, with lights, lasers, and plenty of room for dancing. It should be noted that the music performances go until 2:30 a.m., and it’s recommend people staying onsite bring earplugs if they’re not planning on attending the full music performances at the event.
New Earth Fest features musical performances each night, complete with lasers and lights. Photo via Christine Kick, New Earth Fest.
There will be vendors onsite, as well as food and drinks available for purchase and in place of serving alcohol at the festival, expect beverages made with cacao or adoptogens such as mushroom powders, plus sparkling waters, juices, and cannabis seltzers through a partnership with Mighty Kind, as well as CBD drinks.
Day pass and multi-day ticket sales are available in advance online, or onsite at the event. Find out more about New Earth Fest on Facebook or by visiting the festival’s website.
When Meg Lang, owner of the long-standing eatery Lang-a-Tang Cafe & Catering in New Haven made a vulnerable post on Facebook at the beginning of summer outlining her plans to close the cafe and pivot to private chef and catering, her community, while sad to see the cafe close, rallied behind her decision. After years of running the business with her mom Myrna, it was time for them to pursue other projects and interests. In her post, Meg shared her hope that someone would purchase the cafe so that it could get a new life and remain a staple for the New Haven community.
And just a few weeks after that fateful social media post, another post outlined how a family had bought the business from Meg and had plans to rebrand it to Sugar & Whisk Cafe. The new owners, Venus and Freddy Mendoza, are a local couple who took over the business at the beginning of this month and are slowly rolling out new menu items, as well as keeping some tried and true customer favorites.
“I had a cottage bakery before this and when I saw at the bottom of Meg’s post that this was a turnkey cafe for sale, I thought this is my chance,” Venus shares.
Since taking over the business, Venus says that everything has moved fast, but that she and her husband are loving the journey so far. The cafe offers catering for Franklin County and parts of Crawford County, and over the next few months customers can expect to see some new menu items available.
“We’re going to be adding some gluten-free options,” Venus explains of some of the planned changes.
The menu
The cafe serves traditional drip coffee and espresso beverages, as well as bubble tea, and smoothies, which are a new drink option. One popular menu item that’s familiar to anyone who visited the cafe under the former ownership is the Butter Beer latte, an espresso made with toffee, caramel, and cinnamon. Another popular menu favorite is the turkey and fig sandwich, which combines turkey, cheese, crisp greens, and a fig spread, giving it a delightful slightly sweet finish.
Other sandwiches include a turkey club, chicken salad, and a wrap available with chicken or turkey, plus bacon and ranch. Each sandwich or wrap comes with a generous side of chips and a pickle spear.
The menu also features a selection of breakfast options, including a sandwich made with choice of bacon or sausage, plus an egg and cheese, as well as a burrito and breakfast bowl, or a parfait for a lighter, vegetarian option.
The peach cobbler cookie features a sugar cookie topped with peach cobbler filling. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
There’s a number of sweet treats available, including muffins and cookies, along with unique and tasty rotating options in the pastry cases that reflect Venus’ creativity as a baker. On my visit I tried three delectable baked goods. One of those was the peach cobbler cookie, which is a soft sugar cookie topped with peach cobbler filling, and despite it being the largest item I tried it was in no way heavy. The pillowy texture of the cookie held the peach chunks in place, providing a soft, yummy base and a flavor profile that’s strikingly similar to a slice of peach cobbler.
The breakfast cupcake combines moist red velvet cake with maple flavored frosting, adorned with a piece of waffle, and crispy bacon. The sweet and savory combo brings several delectable breakfast flavors together in one bite. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
I also spied something called a breakfast cupcake that intrigued me before I’d even tried it. This cupcake combines moist red velvet cake with maple flavored frosting, adorned with a piece of waffle, and crispy bacon. The sweet and savory combo brings several delectable breakfast flavors together in one bite.
The chocolate chip cookies at Sugar & Whisk Cafe are $3 and you receive two soft cookies loaded with chocolate chips for that price. Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.
Although I loved the creativity shown with the cobbler cookie and breakfast cupcake, I’m a sucker for a classic that’s done really well, and for me, the chocolate chip cookies at Sugar & Whisk fit that description. They’re made just the way I (try to) bake them at home: soft and loaded with melty chocolate chips, with a slightly gooey center.
Follow Sugar & Whisk Cafe on Facebook to learn more about its menu options and hours of operation.
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