The Whimsical Whimsy of 573
- Thomas Smugala
- 24 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 13 minutes ago
The latest buzzword, “whimsical” (and its noun form, “whimsy”), has surged in popularity in 2026 because it captures a widespread cultural craving for lightness, playfulness, and joy amid ongoing stress, digital overload, and uncertainty. It’s not just a fleeting trend—it’s emerging as a mindset and lifestyle counterbalance to years of hustle culture, hyper-polished aesthetics, and the constant productivity pressure of living tethered to a cell phone ruled by AI.
Oh, the glorious absurdity of chasing the next online buzz. We wake up, check our phones like it’s oxygen, and bam: Now it’s “whimsy goblin mode,” and we’re all racing to the thrift store for ribbons, mismatched socks, and the perfect hashtag. One viral post, and suddenly 47 million people are filming themselves “romanticizing” folding laundry like it’s an indie film festival entry. “Soft life aesthetic achieved!” they caption—while their actual life… well…
Today it’s maximalist clutter; tomorrow, minimalist zen; next week, “quiet luxury.” The algorithm dangles glitter, and we lunge like cats at a laser pointer, telling ourselves we are original and well-informed. So how is it that we mock the last trend while speed-scrolling to adopt the new one, convinced THIS time the internet will crown us “viral” and brilliant?
573 Magazine would like to offer an alternative to the polished, retouched, viral AI world—serving up a little real-life whimsy instead. From Cape Girardeau to quiet Caledonia, the Whimsical Whimsy of 573 lives on, with history and hearty food intertwining across the 573. Our communities, rich with river tales, mining lore, and vintage charm, offer authentic places to savor good meals and explore the past with curious delight—if you dare.
Begin in Cape Girardeau, where the Mississippi frames historic downtown. Try 36 Restaurant & Bar. Your meal will be influenced with flavors and techniques from France, Italy, Wales, and New Orleans, as well as great old-world dining rooms and American chop house favorites, while gazing at barges cruising past on the mighty Mississippi. Stroll to Celebrations Restaurant, housed in an 1850s home, for elegant plates; pretend you’re at a Gatsby-era gathering, toasting with “vintage” sodas. Pair it with a wander through the Cape River Heritage Museum for historic details on Lewis and Clark.
If you love steak, 36 will not disappoint.
Great deserts at 36. Tell me that isn't fill filled with delicouis whimsy!
Originating as the old police and fire station in 1908, The Cape River Heritage Museum is a local landmark.
Head to Perryville for cozy nostalgia. Stop at Ewald’s Bar-B-Q, a 1946 gem, for smoky ribs and ice cream. Turn lunch into a retro road-trip picnic by packing checkered napkins and sharing “grandma’s secret recipe” stories. Nearby, Mary Jane Burgers & Brew Perryville’s speakeasy vibe calls for dramatic flair. Housed in one of Perryville’s oldest buildings on the historic courthouse square, it invites you to sip handcrafted brews in vintage style and enjoy comfort foods served up by area serial entrepreneur Carris Stark.
Mary Jane burgers are loaded with whimsical taste—egg, bacon burger.
Plenty of brew choices at Mary Jane Burger and Brew.
Maybe check out the American Tractor Museum while whimsing in Perryville.
Off to Ste. Genevieve for some old history at Audubon's. Back in 1903, The City Hotel opened on the corner of Main and Merchant in Downtown Ste. Genevieve. In addition to being a hotel, it housed a restaurant and attached business offices. Thanks to the vision of Audubon founders, the building has been completely refurbished and returned to its former glory as a destination for local residents and tourists while providing Ste. Genevieve with a unique dining experience.
The main floor of the building has been converted to include a renovated kitchen with wood burning brick oven, dining and bar areas, and private dining space for parties.
Dishes like Pan Seared Rosemary Chicken, make Audubon's a fun stop with lots of history.
In Farmington, historic downtown shines at Old No. 102 Tap House for gourmet brick-oven pizza in a cosmopolitan setting. Elevate the meal by imagining the 1884 Braun Opera House, hotel, and saloon that once operated in the building. Venture to Old Mine Crab House for Cajun boils that transport you to Louisiana; on the patio, play “seafood storyteller,” spinning yarns about lead miners who once dined nearby.
Built in 1884 the old opera house is now the Old no. 102 Tap House in Farmington.
Brick oven pizza and fresh salads make Old 102 steeped with whimsy.
Head to tiny Caledonia, a National Register gem, and step into Old Village Mercantile—a 1909 mercantile turned candy wonderland. Scoop award-winning ice cream or old-fashioned fudge, then create a “sweet scavenger hunt”: sample hundreds of varieties of vintage candy while exploring the antique gallery upstairs. Next door, grab hot dogs at the eatery and imagine you’re in a frontier trading post, trading “gold nuggets” for treats.
After a visit to Elephant Rocks State Park, head to Arcadia Valley for great cornbread and BBQ at Baylee Jo’s BBQ, or visit The Abbey Kitchen at the historic Arcadia Academy. Indulge in fresh, made-from-scratch meals, then tour the old all-girls academy, left much as it was nearly 100 years ago. It served as a Union Civil War hospital (1861–1863) and a girls' boarding school (1877–1971). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 16-acre campus features 19th-century architecture, including a chapel with stunning stained glass, and now operates as a restaurant, bed-and-breakfast, and event venue.
The Old Village Mercantile is a kids dream come true.
Old-time candies make great eye-candy at the Old Village.
Maybe while in the Valley, check out Johnson Shut Ins.
In Bonne Terre, celebrate with local eats—perhaps a hearty diner plate at Hubs Pub—then head over to The Family Fun Centre in Bonne Terre, MO, and have a whimsical glow in the spirit of discovering this 15,000 sq. ft venue featuring 20 bowling lanes, indoor electric go-karts, water bumper boats, black-light min-golf, and over 60 arcade games.
Hubs Pub in Bonne Terre serves it.
These places remind us: whimsy isn’t far away—and whimsy can be real. Amid century-old walls, shared laughter with a friend doesn’t need to be a post for AI to rush off into the mindless collective. It can simply become your very own viral memory. So GET OUT THERE! Do something. Do anything. Visit some places. Walk around and see your world unfiltered by a fake, retouched version of the world. Get out there—573 Magazine commands you!
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