Photos of the Year 2011

Vox photographers gave us their favorite images from 2011

5 Things to know about reusing Christmas trees

Most Christmas trees go in the chipper after the holidays have passed. But some have found new uses for the bygone pines. Providing shelter for people, fish and plants are just the beginning of all the purposes these trees can serve.

Urgent care centers boom in Columbia

In the United States, the number of urgent care facilities is increasing by about 300 centers per year. Whether patients are choosing urgent care for the convenience or the cost, the trend has reached Columbia and is taking off. Read on to find out the benefits of these innovative clinics and why Columbians are going crazy for urgent care.

Vacation destination reads

Vacation is a great time to enjoy a scenic view or exotic destination, but that does not mean your imagination is tuned out. These four novels can slow the speed of time and allow your imagination to run free as you relax in a beach chair or on a comfortable couch in the mountains.

Rapid Fire reading with Scholastic

The twelve days of Christmas will come and go, but this year, Scholastic is offering a new kind of countdown for children to look forward to. The 39 Clues Rapid Fire eBook event will challenge young bookworms to read and decode a week’s worth of daily short stories that supplement their best-selling series by the same name.

Vox Asks Columbians: What are you most looking forward to in 2012?

A Conversation with Sasha Schmid

Sasha Schmid’s eyes follow the tennis ball as it bounces back and forth across the court. The smile on her face and ease with which she blends in with the players around her make it clear she’s happy to be there. Schmid, MU’s new tennis coach, replaced Blake Starkey, who coached at MU for 13 years.

Jessica Avery gives automobile upholstery new life

What do refurbished hot rods and handmade headbands have in common? For artist Jessica Avery, there’s quite a bit. The crafty local artisan gives car upholstery castoffs second lives and transforms the scraps into a variety of feminine accessories.

The Best of Vox 2011

Our staff has voted, and here are your winners for Vox’s 2011 content. Don’t worry if you missed a concert, film or restaurant opening. There will be more next year.

Editor's letter: Goodbye, for now

As those of you who have read my editor’s letter throughout this semester (Hi, Mom) might have learned, I tend to get emotional about unconventional things. My socks fitting correctly. My friends’ birthdays. Barbie dolls. I do, however, get emotional about normal things, too. One of those things is goodbyes.

See This: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Mystery, danger, lost treasure and international adventure await audiences this holiday season with the release of Steven Spielberg’s latest animated endeavor, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Based on the Belgian comic book series with the same name and shot in the same animation style as The Polar Express (2004), the new film opens on Dec. 23 and will feature the voices of a host of British stars.

Hear This: She + Him and Michael Buble

(Web Exclusive) Check out these brand new albums to brighten your season: She + Him bring indie-pop to Christmas time, and Michael Bublé's velvety voice warms up the holidays.

Best of 2011 Playlist

(Web Exclusive) 2011 has been a noteworthy year for music. Five-star indie albums peppered the airwaves, and Grammy-worthy rap mixtapes dropped. It was hard to narrow down Vox’s hefty list of favorites to 10 songs. Let us know what songs you thought were the best of this past year.

Columbia's workforce makes music too

For many musicians, platinum albums and chart-topping hit singles might not be a reality. But for these local acts, success isn’t all about the numbers. They keep their passion for music alive without making a living off it. These Columbia creatives are best known for their day jobs and careers outside of the artistic realm.