OT: Columbia, MO

One word - VIBRANT! I grew up in a small town near Columbia called Centralia but have been gone over 40 years. Then for a couple years recently we have been to Columbia on numerous occasions. It's the epitome of urban sprawl and rampant growth. Money seems to ooze out of the ground there and new commercial and residential construction of all types abound. IMO it's a pocket of prosperity. Geographically it is essentially half way between stogy old St Louis and exciting Kansas City with the trip being under 2 hours either way. On top of that it's only about an hour's easy drive to Lake of the Ozarks. Being home of the University of Missouri also means constant excitement and entertainment. You won't be sorry moving there!

PS there's even a BGE dealer in Columbia!

Lived there from '76 to '80 while attending the University of Missouri. Go back from time to time for football games or just to visit the campus. RRP's enthusiastic report is pretty much on target. It's a very nice small city. It grows from around 65K to nearly 90K when school is in session.

If you visit before making a decision, one meal at Shakespeare's Pizza on the edge of campus will convince you to make the move. I'd walk across broken glass for a Shakespeare's Pizza.

Then I judge him to be a fine human being. :woohoo:

Honestly, I love pizza and used to travel a lot for my work (a little less now, thank goodness). I've eaten pizza from coast to coast and only a few can compare with Shakespeare's.

Outstanding crust, both white and whole wheat. The best quality pepperoni I've ever had in the United States. Really good mozzarella, and lots of it. A sauce that is neither too thin nor too chunky, with just the right blend of spices. A superb array of quality toppings. And, 40 year old ovens that have been cranking out pizza night and day.

It isn't fru-fru pizza --- no white pizzas, no margherita, no BBQ chicken. It's campus pizza, and the best I've ever had. Hide-Away in Norman and Stillwater is close.