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The Hot List 2009

56 Things We Love Right Now

(page 5 of 8)

Hot Beer Selection

Old Chicago

Drive past Old Chicago on James River Freeway and you can’t miss it, it’s right there on the sign: 110 Beers. What we love about Old Chicago, though, is that they dare you to drink them all, and you hold a place of honor if you do it. If Old Chicago’s World Beer Tour is Mt. Everest, then Billy (left, above) and Shooter are vying for the title of Most Prolific Sherpa, having completed multiple tours each. Even if you’re still at base camp, we wish you luck in your journey to the top. 2040 E. Independence St., 417-887-0100

Hot Indie Scenemakers

Forever Endeavor Productions

Local musichead Dan Magnum’s company has booked The Weiss Family (mewithoutYou), Drop Dead, Gorgeous, and Evergreen Terrace… and that’s just for starters. myspace.com/forendpro

Hot Urban Legend

The Joplin Spooklight

As our readers proved, Weird, floating orbs don’t stop being creepy just because your grandpa knows the legend as well as you do.

Hot 140-character trend

Local media types on Twitter, facebook

Local media folks have found Twitter, and they’re the Tweetingest Tweeters who ever Tweeted a Tweet. 2009 20 Under 30 honoree David Catanese is only the most prolific; special nods also go out to Michelle Sherwood, Dave Snider and Joy Robertson, who has uploaded many of her  KOLR10 stories to her Facebook page.

Hot Guilty Pleasure

Dixie Stampede

Go ahead, chow down on that whole chicken. Eat that apple turnover with your bare hands. Drink that cream-of-whatever-it-is soup straight from the bowl... these here are Western times, ya’ll. Not even the not-at-all-historically-accurate portrayal of American Indians domesticating horses can detract from the pure camp and competitive thrill of watching Branson’s most talented riders zoom around an arena on magnificent steeds. And, hey! Pig races! 1525 W. St. Hwy. 76, 800-520-5544, dixiestampede.com/branson.php

Hot Seat

The swings at Rokbar

What at first looks like a death trap for drunk people turns into the best seat in the house the minute you sit down. Bartenders at the new Rokbar tell us that ladies will “hover” for the three swinging seats—suspended from the ceiling by super-strong cables—and pounce the minute one is vacated. They’re fun, they’re sexy and they’re in-demand… that’s Hot List to a tee. Unless you spill your martini. 504 W. College St., 417-831-0754

Hot Sign of Progress

We’re hosting a regional gay pageant

On Sunday, September 13, University Plaza will host the Miss Gay Central States Pageant. It’s only $15 to attend the pageant (which begins at 8 p.m.), where you’ll see regional finalists compete in five categories. There will also be two cash bars at which to wash down the fabulousness.

Hot New Hoops Face

Nafis Ricks

Sportswriters covering MSU men’s basketball might as well put his name in their spell-check libraries now, because they’re going to be typing Nafis (pronounced Naf-EES) Ricks’s name a lot over the next two seasons. As the reigning Junior College Player of the Year, the junior point guard is the first major recruiting coup for second-year coach Cuonzo Martin. Local guys are nice and all, but we look forward to some big-time talent at The Q this season.

Hot Recession-Savvy Retailers

Flame & Flair, Uptown Angels on Battlefield

Man, do we love some discount shoppin’ that doesn’t include going to the Tanger mall. Flame & Flair and Uptown Angels are locally owned, cuter-than-cute boutiques where you can buy new or (at Uptown Angels) resale threads, something for your home, or a great gift, and feel 100 percent good about your purchases.  Flame & Flair: 1550-D E. Battlefield Rd., 417-881-1905, flameandflair.com. Uptown Angels: 1314 E. Battlefield Rd., 417-882-2645, shopuptownangels.com

Hot Singers

The Beartones

In April, armed only with their voices, Missouri State’s men of a cappella took third place at the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, a lofty feat that followed their Midwest regional championship. What’s even better is their YouTube Channel (just search “Beartones” at youtube.com), which is time-waster gold. There are videos of the guys singing everything from the classics to The Fray to the Beatles to a Folgers coffee commercial.