My town Forsyth MO - March 26, 2017!

 It was a Sunday in late March and I thought it to be a good idea to get out and shoot some pictures of various businesses and other sights in and around town, (just for the historical record of course). Forsyth is a small town (population at around 1400) that is located in Southwest Missouri, not very far from Branson – our local claim to fame. As of that date, we had ourselves something like three banks, thirteen eateries, an O'Reilly auto center, a smattering of hair styling venues, a hardware store and a couple of parks! What more could anyone ask? I've called this area home for many a year and it really hasn't changed very much. Something I really like a lot!

#1 White River Plaza – Beginning at the northern edge of town, we have a nice strip mall that houses a neat collection of stores. I generally stop there to visit the Dollar General ( a nice store), the Subway and the excellent laundromat that's located in the back!

#2 National Enzyme Company – I worked at this supplement manufacturing company for a long time and have many fond memories from that experience. And, while it's changed ownership over the years, it's still is a viable place to seek and find good work in the area!

#3 McDonald's – You aren't a genuine 'town' unless to have a McDonald's and a Sonic's! Forsyth MO has both and while I don't frequent them as much as I used to, it still is a pleasure to eat food that tastes great even as it's killing you! I've  done a number of articles on both establishments along with some of the other eateries and have a love-hate relationship depending on the size of my waistline....

#4 O'Reilly Auto – In Forsyth, if you need something for your vehicle, O'Reilly's probably has the part in stock. I go there for parts and visit the Tire Crew for oil changes and any other serious automotive work! I've found both establishments to be very helpful whenever I've had a problem.

#5 Frosted Mug – A venerable local watering hole, the Mug is also one of the older businesses in Forsyth. I've enjoyed their signature 'frosted mugs' of beer and have eaten and enjoyed the varied menu that they offer. This is a good place to kick back on those really hot summer days that hit our neck of the woods in the summertime and enjoy a cold one!

#6 Courthouse and County Jail – Since Forsyth is the County Seat of Taney County, we enjoy excellent city services, a courthouse and a state of the art jail. and no, I've never been incarcerated there, I've only heard about it.

#7 Charlie's Ribs, Steak and Ale – In terms of offering finer dining, Charlie's and perhaps a couple of other eating establishments are where to go when you're hungry and also desire a taste of class. The establishment is non smoking, has a fully stock bar and excellent service. over the years, I've written a number of articles about eateries in this class including the Long Horn Family Dining establishment and Fat Daddies, where a lot of the town locals like to hang out.

#8 Shadowrock Park – Rounding out my tour this day, I visited a well known park that has a long and interesting history – everything from being the site of a civil war battle, way back when, to being one of the nicest places to hang out and fish during the warmer months of the year!

Forsyth Library Annual Potato Bake and Raffle!

For reasons that completely escape me, this event is a perennial favorite that generally sees large crowds in attendance!

Popular convenience store has new owner!

Owner Peggy Reichard

Forsyth MO. - The Park Place Convenience store has been located at 17463 US-160 for a very long time. It's a popular stopping and shopping venue for many area residents due, in part to its wide selection of products offered at very fair prices! Recently Peggy Reichard and her husband Ray took over ownership of the enterprise and are working tirelessly to satisfy the demands of a hungry clientele. 

Park Place is open from 6 to 10 PM seven days a week, so if you need stuff when other stores are closed, this is the place to go! You can reach then by calling 417-546-5845.

Great care at the Forsyth Care Center!

On an overcast day in late December, I discovered a friend of mine named Pat Betz, (who had recently undergone a series of surgeries at  Springfield hospital)  had been moved to the Forsyth Nursing and Rehab Center located in Forsyth MO, in order that he could mend and recuperate. I had called him and we agreed to meet for a lunch at the cafeteria they had located on the premises.

As it had been some time since I had visited this care center, I was happy to see that it was still operating at a high level of efficiency. (The site offers a full spectrum of healing services including; IV therapy, rehabilitation, housekeeping and laundry just to name a few). Their full service cafeteria also puts out abroad selection of meals that can be customized to any special dietary needs!

Pat appeared to be in great spirits and looked forward to only short stay as on site therapists got him back into full health.The care center is located at 477 Coy Blvd, Forsyth, MO 65653 and can be reached by calling  (417) 546-6337!

Lunch at Forsyth's Subway!

At some point last summer, I stopped at a Subway located near my home in Forsyth Missouri and fell in love with their Cold Cut Combo 6” meal deal! (A great lunch time selection and hopefully a healthy addiction over time)!

And so it was on one of the coldest mornings of the 2016- 2017 winter, that I stopped at the 14974 US Hwy 160 venue (a location that was just to the north of small town of Forsyth Missouri), to grab a midday lunch! And, yes, I knew exactly what I wanted to chow down on!

Their Cold Cut Combo is just one of many sandwich offerings to be found at Subway, but it had tickled my fancy mostly because it was a healthy combo of veggies and meats on bread - simple and wholesome, just like myself. [OK. So, maybe I'm just simple].

I arrived at the popular eatery early on a Tuesday morning, at around about11:30 AM, in order to skirt the crowds that always seem to show up right at about the noon hour. I ambled into the always spotless eatery and found that there was only one person at the order counter. Perfect! But, now a word of caution! When you approach the counter of any Subway in the US, there is most always a great looking display of 'chips-in-bags', just begging to be snatched up. But, don't do it! These little bags of joy are actually 'caloric weight bombs'! And when they detonate, they can wreck even the most carefully devised diet! Thus, as I approached the counter that morning... I quickly grabbed myself a bag of Lays chips! [So, go ahead and sue me]!

Bag in hand, I then got the attention of the person I like to call the 'Facilitator'. (That's the guy or girl who assembles your sandwich according to your instructions). From a strictly procedural standpoint, you first call out the base and style of the sandwich. 'White bread, 6 inch cold cut combo,' I stated assertively that morning. The Facilitator eyed me casually and then asked, 'Ya'll want that toasted?' 'Yes, I do', I answered back. (My mouth had began to drool a bit, at that point. A troubling, but well understood development from past visits).

That chore accomplished, the last item in the order process was what most always got me flustered. My 'virginal white bun' had just come out of the flash oven and it smelled terrific! It was hot-to-trot and merely awaited my personal selection of veggies from what looked to be a cornucopia of mouth watering selection bins that contained every condiment imaginable. (On this day, however, excessive drooling forced me to forego normal speech in favor of a cannibalistic form of grunting and pointing. Thankfully, the Facilitator interpreted these strange gyrations correctly). [FYI - I prefer hot peppers, mayo, lettuce and onion on my cold cut combo]. In no time, the meal was expertly 'wrapped up' and I then paid up.

OK, just a word about Subway and the cost of their food. It's atrocious! Seriously, I sometimes feel like an addict scoring some drug for a hundred dollars. OK, may be not as bad as all that. Still, the 6 inch sub and the bag of chips cost $5.25 including tax! Personally, I think that a little costly! But hey, I'm a true culinary addict, like I said...

Critique: Fat Daddy's Piglet Pork meal!

Forsyth MO. - Nestled along Hwy 160 in a small town located in southwest Missouri is a restaurant that I enjoy eating at. The place is called Fat Daddy's and for someone on a diet, you'd think I'd avoid something like that like the plague! And while Fat Daddy's does offer up a host of man-sized meals, they also have very tasty creations available that have much smaller caloric footprints!

 One such place you can find more 'sensible' meals is in the section they call their 'Lil' Piglet Meals'. In that section you can choose from a number of offerings that all taste great, but do so with perhaps a little less adding to the old waistline. One selection I choose fairly often is the Piglet Pork which is a quarter pound of smoked pulled pork in a bun with a medium order of French Fries. There are sauces available at each table so you can slather on your could of mild and hot varieties. For myself, I like the hot stuff!

Above is an estimate only

As you can see from the graphic at right, this meal won't break the diet budget and at just $4.99, it's very affordable also!

Hair's the Place owner has moved!

Forsyth MO. - Colleen Barnes, long time proprietor of Hair's the Place, recently moved to 233 Main Street in Forsyth, just across from City Hall where she joined forces with the other professionals at the Town and Country Salon. I'd been a long time customer, and so followed her over to her new location when it came time for a haircut.

Colleen is always is a good mood and it was nice getting my haircut at a location right in the center of town! Customers can reach her to make an appointment by calling 417-546-3039 during normal business hours.