"Les Miserables" by The Capital City Players in Jefferson City, Missouri

Disclosure:  My trip to Jefferson City, MO was sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own! 

Normally I have a strict policy that I will not review an attraction or destination, unless I have fully

The Capital City Players performing in the streets of Downtown Jefferson City

experienced it.  However, I am making a small exception today.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to briefly see a performance by The Capital City Players during the Friday Night Art Stroll in Downtown Jefferson City, Missouri - there will be more to come about the Art Stroll later.

If you know me, you know I am a huge fan of the arts, but I have never truly felt the way about a performance or art as I did on Friday night. 

During the brief performance I literally had tears in my eyes (that is my excuse for shaky recording) - the singers voice just moved me.   Which says a lot, considering I have no clue what "Les Miserables" is even about - yes I am that clueless. 

The musicians are obviously very talented and to be honest I was sad that I was not going to have the opportunity to see their full performance, but have most certainly added The Capital City Players to my next trips list. 

A little about The Capital City Players - again this is not a review of their show, this only of their performance at the Art Stroll in Jefferson City, MO.  I have not been to their show, yet. 

The Capital City Players is a dinner theater that performs various act year around.  The food is provided by Argyle Catering Company with Chef Ryan P. Davis

Each show appears to run for several weeks including evening performances and matinee performances.  For more information about The Capital City Players please visit their website or Facebook page. 

Madison's Cafe in Jefferson City, Missouri

Disclosure:  My visit to Madison's Cafe in Jefferson City, MO was sponsored by TBW Group, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own!  

Last month my gal pal Jessie and I visited our Missouri State Capital, Jefferson City, MO and on our trip we had the pleasure of dining out at Madison's Cafe in downtown Jefferson City.   If I am completely honest with you, I have fear of trying new restaurants as you never know what you are getting...to be completely frank, I have a limited vocabulary when it comes to food, seriously in our house it's meat, taters, and beans!  Giving that I have no clue what to pair my food with, how to say six different types of cheese in Italian, or a clue how to order many appetizers in 5 different language.

I have developed my own technique for getting a true experience when visiting a new restaurant, when the waiter or waitress comes to take my order I simply tell them what I can or can't have ( I am allergic to shrimp, and have intolerance to aspartame) and tell them not to let me down.  Of course this often catches the folks I am dining with off guard, but never fails I get the best of the best and truly get to experience the restaurants unique flavor.

I pulled my unique technique at Madison's Cafe in Jefferson City...I remember my waiter standing there stumped for a while, but he did me right as he carted out our delicious appetizers, picked me out the most delicious entree, and all with a smile on his face.


My appetizers:  

Calamari - Lightly floured calamari rings with flash fried red peppers and fresh spinach, served with our chipotle raspberry dipping sauce.

Mad Crab Stack

Okay, confession here I could have made an entire meal on Calamari....seriously, this stuff was like a little piece of heaven melting in your mouth.   I have had calamari before, but the sauce that Madison's use was like no other I have tasted, it left a sweet, but spicy taste lingering in my mouth.

Mad Crab Stack - Stacks of chunked avocado, pico de gallo, quartered artichoke hearts, chopped red
peppers, lump crab meat, served atop a basil pesto swirl with sweet red wine vinaigrette dressing on the side.
Talk about too pretty to eat, I never would have thought anything with artichoke hearts could be so pretty, well this was....and even better it was so yummy I think I could have just ordered this for lunch and been just fine!

My Entree: 
After all my mouthwatering appetizers, I had decided that my waiter either knew how to read my mind, or he wanted to make sure I didn't need to eat for a few days!  For my lunch he carted me out a giant plate of Rigatoni Quatro Fromage, okay I am not Italian, I am from the Midwest, but there is one thing you have to know about us Midwest girls we like to eat our dairy....especially our CHEESE.   Rigatoni Quatro Fromage  is a combination of FOUR CHEESES.....as my momma always tells everyone "Becky is my cheese lover" and she is soooo correct!

The proper description of Rigatoni Quatro Fromage (okay, I stole it from Madison's menu) is:
Rigatoni noodles prepared in a cream sauce with fresh diced tomatoes and a blend of parmigiano, asiago, muenster, and gorgonzola cheeses....to sum it up, you probably better just wear your stretchy pants!

Now for me, not matter how yummy the food is, how cute the restaurant looks, the thing I judge the most when dining out is my service....Madison's did not let me down either.  Madison's is located just blocks from The Capitol Building, so it is obvious that there are far more important people than me dining at this place, however, I felt like I was my waiters only customer (even though I saw him waiting on others).  He remembered what I was drinking, even remembered that I was allergic to shrimp, and he always had a smile on his face.  If I was to return to Madison's (and I am sure I will someday) I would not hesitate to have a gal pal lunch date, dine out with my kids (age 5 & 9) or even have a late evening romantic dinner....the place is just that diversified!

To see Madison's full menu, hours, specials, and learn more about this "happy place" in Jefferson City, MO visit their website.

Have an Adventurous Day!

Gal Pal Road Trip Summer 2013: Riversong Spa in Jefferson City, MO

Jessie & I at the Missouri Capitol Building

What is a gal pal road trip without a trip to the spa?  In my book that is nearly impossible!  My gal pal Jessie and I have made it an annual tradition to go have a gal pal road trip each summer!  This year we road tripped to Jefferson City, Missouri.  I have so much to share, but today as I glanced down at my still perfectly manicured feet I had to share my experience at Riversong Spa….

I am probably the world worst person about taking care of my feet; I am constantly wearing flip flops, mud boots, and messing around in my garden in sandals….needless to say my feet are GROSS.   Not to mention I was traveling and walking the streets of Jefferson City, to be frank about it I felt bad for the girl giving me a pedicure! 

Being that I am not “good” on my feet they folks at Riversong Spa had decided to give me what they call an Aloe Herbal Treatment Pedicure.  Now I have had plenty of pedicures, mostly because Jessie gets annoyed at me and decides it’s time for me to have some girly treatment on my feet, but I have never had a pedicure like an Aloe Herbal Treatment Pedicure.  

Foot Wrap at Riversong Spa

The manicurist explained to me that this pedicure sucks the toxins, illnesses, and junk right out of your feet.  She also explained the herbs in the mixture is healing…..after sitting in the chair having my feet cleaned, groomed, and wrapped in plastic and warm towels I am not sure what toxins they pulled out of my feet.   The mixture smelled similar to Bath and Body’s Menthol wash, but had a more feminine feeling to it.  To be completely honest (and I am not exaggerating one bit) I could have sat in their chair all day with that stuff covering my feet…I seriously thought (or my feet did) that I was in HEAVEN.     

While my pedicure was a little piece of heaven here on earth, I have to say the staff of Riversong Spa was truly angels here on earth.  Not only because of their excellent pedicure, but for their customer service, as someone who travels a lot, it is hard sometimes to find great customer service, especially when you have nasty old feet like mine.   The spa was clean, friendly, relaxing, and yet still fun….I always fear I will walk into a place that will be to “upscale” for me, but Riversong Spa was perfect and a place I would visit with my gal pal, my mom, and would even feel comfortable enough to drag my 9 year old Lesse in there!  

Happy Adventures,

~Becky

Becky is the Missouri Traveling Mom, her blog site is Adventures Among Us. She not only shares a unique passion for traveling with her family, but traveling in Missouri. For more of Becky’s adventures find her on facebook Adventures Among Us, or follow her on Twitter @BeckyAdventure. 
 

Disclosure:  My visit to Riversong Spa was sponsored by TBG, but all thoughts and opinions are my own!