FOOD & DRINKS
Twyford BBQ comes out on top this year for Best BBQ. With an impressive slate of BBQ awards, it comes as no surprise. Twyford isn’t your traditional brick and mortar, so if you want some of their mouthwatering BBQ, you’ll have to track down their food truck or cater them in.

ARTS, CULTURE & MUSIC
A longtime member of the local music scene, Eric has played in more bands than you can shake a Chapman Stick at (inside bass player reference!) and made them all sound good. It only takes four strings (or sometimes five) to lay down the low sounds that anchor a musical combo into a groove that grooves and Mr.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
If a charitable organization is going to successfully raise money for its cause, it helps to offer a product that people actually want. According to our readers, District 23 – the boutique which, per district23.

GOODS & SERVICES
You can buy records or CDs anywhere, really. Amazon has ’em. So do a handful of, bless their hearts, indie – and is there any other kind these days – record stores in town. Readers decreed Recycled Records the best, and it’s not hard to see, or better yet hear, why.

LIFE & WELLNESS
You know this place is a winner before you even walk through the door. All the organic produce and spices and supplements and cookies and oils and lord knows what else combine to produce a heavenly scent that wafts past the front door even when closed, like the aroma of fine wine that is a harbinger of great things to come.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Rogers & Nienhaus
A true classic rock duo that really rocks and really played with some of the classic performers from back in the 70s, these St. Louis-based musicians are among the select few of the real deal folks who are accessible and performing on a regular basis.

PUB CRAWL
The Timmys, Los Injectors and The Misfarts.

THE CALENDAR
Extreme Haunted Hayrides and Zombie Paintball.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | Hours of Halloween fun
On Saturday, Oct. 27, join the Kidzeum of Health and Science, the Old Capitol Farmers Market and businesses along Adams Street in downtown Springfield for the first annual “Adams Family Halloween.” The festivities begin at 9:30 a.m.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | A free, safe trickor-treating event
On Sunday, Oct. 28, families are invited to “Trick-or-Treat Street,” a free and safe trick-or-treating event for children ages 12 and under at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park.