June 2014 by Guided: Saint Louis

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JUNE 2014

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P R E S E N T I N G

S P O N S O R

THE WINE COLLECTION

Gary Stephan, (3), 2013, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 40 inches

Philip Slein Gallery 4735 McPherson Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63108 p 314.361.2617 f 314.361.8051 www.philipsleingallery.com

CONTENTS JUNE 2014

HE HOT 69 TLIST

All the things we love about St. Louis in one sizzling list.

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JUNE 2014

PHOTO BY JENNIFER SILVERBERG

CONTENTS JUNE 2014

FEATURES

26 ARTS SLAM’s expansive Impressionist exhibition presents a portrait of France,

50 COVER STORY Isaac Mizrahi brings his vision for movement and dance to Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ season opener. 56 SHOE BIZ Brown Shoe Company celebrates a century on the NYSE and looks ahead to its next 100 years. 60 FASHION Go wild with your summer wardrobe in a garden of fiery florals, radiant paisleys and kaleidoscopic tribals.

28 GAME CHANGERS Sweetology aims to make everyone a cake boss. 30 PEOPLE Police Chief Sam Dotson is always fighting for St. Louis.

STYLE 36 TRENDS Globally chic and full of color, summer’s tribal trend is a must. 38 ACCESSORIES Getting your fringe fix this season is an absolute necessity.

STL NOW

40 MEN’S No matter your lifestyle, there’s a leather bag for you.

20 7 THINGS You must do this month.

46 ENGAGEMENTS Two newly engaged St. Louis couples share their love stories.

22 HOT EATS Weekends are “crazy” at Cucina Pazzo. 24 FASHION Local fashion influencer Jan Givens launches Showroom 314 in support of STL designers. Plus, Women’s Closet Exchange opens a second location in Brentwood.

48 WEDDINGS Forest Park sets the scene for a romance of epic proportion.

EAT + DRINK 99 DINING The STL food truck scene is booming in more ways than one.

100 DINING GUIDE The best places in town to eat and drink.

AGENDA 113 CALENDAR Sing out loud with Cher, join the circus at Circus Flora, Race for the Cure and more. 117 SONG OF LIFE Opera Theatre of St. Louis vocalists perform in support of Siteman Cancer Center. 118 MUNY MAGIC Why this season of The Muny is not to be missed.

SCENE 123 SCENE IN ST. LOUIS Photos from Craft Alliance’s Artrageous Gold Ball, the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, William Shearburn Gallery opening and A Tasteful Affair. 128 ARCHETYPES An interview with Leon Sharpe, founder and principal at the Praxis Group.

Correction: In the “Where to Drink Now” feature in the May 2014 issue, Matt Obermark was incorrectly credited with creating Juniper’s cocktail menu. Bar Manager Joe Duepner created the Juniper cocktail menu. ALIVE regrets the error. ALIVE, June 2014, Volume 11, Issue 6 (Periodical #025092) is published monthly by ALIVE Media Group, L.L.C., 2200 Gravois Ave., #201 St. Louis, MO 63104-2848. Periodicals Postage paid at St. Louis, MO, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ALIVE, 2200 Gravois Ave. #201 St. Louis, MO 63104-2848. One-year subscription rate $12.00; twoyear subscription rate $18.00. To order a subscription call, 314.446.4059 x222 or log on to alivemag.com.

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Hot Eats and SLAM photos by Jennifer Silverberg. Wedding photo by Meghan Balcom.

three exclusive restaurants. 338 elegant guest rooms and suites.

cafe eau, the poolside dining and cocktail experience at the chase.

cafĂŠ eau

the tenderloin room

eau bistro

Love Your Museum

“What’s your favorite STL neighborhood?”

Publisher / Co-founder: Elizabeth Tucker Editor-In-Chief / Co-founder: Kelly Hamilton Fashion Director / Co-founder: Attilio D'Agostino Executive Editor: Jennifer Dulin Wiley Associate Online Editor: Rachel Brandt Copy Editor/Fact Checker: Barb Stefano Contributing Dining/Spirits Editors: Amy De La Hunt, Matt Sorrell, Brandi Wills Contributing Arts Editor: Christopher Reilly Contributing Calendar Editor: Katie Davis Contributing Web Editor: Kelsey Waananen Contributing Stylists: Attilio D’Agostino, Trudy Hayden Contributing Fashion Writer: Jennifer Wells Fashion Assistant: Jerrica Williams Editorial Assistant: Katlyn Moncada CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Katie Davis, Amy De La Hunt, Jeremy Nulik, Samantha Page, Matt Sorrell, Christopher Reilly, Molly Rippinger, Sarah Stallmann, Jennifer Wells ART

“There are few things better than strolling and shopping in The Loop on a sunny summer day!”

Associate Art Director: Stephanie Mohrhard Contributing Design & Production Coordinator: Billy Brown Contributing Creative Director: David Hsia

“You can spend the peferct Saturday in the CWE, with brunch at Brasserie or Crepes Etc., shopping at Ivy Hill and a stop in the World Chess Hall of Fame or Forest Park.”

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Attilio D’Agostino, Christopher Gibbons, Amber JoIvon, Matt Kile, Wesley Law, Jennifer Silverberg ADVERTISING

Senior Account Executive: Brigid Pritchard Account Executive: Molly Ross Account Executive: Susie Jensen MARKETING

Marketing Manager & Digital Strategist: Lindsay Pattan Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Michael Boerner Community Manager: Jessica Leitch BUSINESS

Business & Distribution Manager: Lindsey Heintz EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Showcasing both modern and classic spaces, the Saint Louis Art Museum is an elegant setting for your wedding reception. SLAM.org For information about hosting your event, contact Sarah Hunkins at 314.655.5387 or sarah.hunkins@cafebonappetit.com

“Definitely The Grove for dancing (Handlebar), seeing a show (The Ready Room), a comforting meal (Everest Café) and a good beer (Urban Chestnut)!”

Sara Burke, Rhonda Broussard, Reena Hajat Carroll, Sam Foxman, Sara Hentz, Cabanne Howard, Damon Johnson, Tuan Lee, Rosa Mayer, Darin Slyman INTERNS

Johnny Booker, Sarah Brix, Chelsea Carter, Brooke Cartwright, Taylor Conran, Daniel Darkside, Elizabeth Gerard, Corey Goldkamp, Laura Guelker, Courtney Kluge, Megan Knaus, Dirk Korczak, Carla Lafaurie, Taylor Roberts , Katelyn Schaefer, Kate Smiley, Kelsey Stays, Mackenzie Taylor, Rachel Vincenz ALIVE MAGAZINE

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PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

“My favorite neighborhood is Southampton because of all the great local businesses (Russell’s, the Record Exchange and Southtown Barbershop) that I can walk to with my dog.”

JUNE 2014

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FROM THE EDITOR

JENNIFER DULIN WILEY EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ON THE CALENDAR

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JUNE 2014

“THE MAGIC FLUTE” MAY 24-JUNE 28

THE HOT LIST PARTY SATURDAY, MAY 31

ULTRA WHITE PARTY SATURDAY, JUNE 28

Don’t miss Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ season opener, “The Magic Flute,” featuring costuming and creative direction by Isaac Mizrahi.

Toast STL’s best, and sample from select Hot List winners, at this summer soiree at Cortona at Forest Park.

Celebrate LGBT Pride Weekend at this VIP party at Lumen Private Event Space, complete with a Lanterns for Love midnight lantern release.

Photo by Wesley Law, shot on llocation at Lawrence Group.

LTHOUGH OUR HOT LIST ISSUE of the best in St. Louis is an annual occurrence, it feels like an even better time to be singing STL’s praises, given that this year marks the 250th birthday of our fair city. I always wonder how we’ll top last year’s list of all the incredible (and often award-winning) restaurants, fashion-forward shopping destinations, great cultural institutions and more—yet each year, St. Louis delivers. There’s never a shortage of new favorites to add to the list, giving us even more reasons to love our city. Be sure to spend some time perusing the 21 pages dedicated to STL’s best of dining, nightlife, shopping, fitness and more (p.69)—but don’t let the conversation stop there. To make it easy, we’ve compiled a Foursquare list for you to follow and track each spot as you visit. You can also share your photos and opinions using #HotListSTL to show your true STL pride. It turns out the city has more reasons than one to celebrate this year. St. Louis’ own Brown Shoe Company has reached 100 years on the New York Stock Exchange, joining the likes of massive brands like Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson and Wells Fargo. I was honored to be among the St. Louisans who joined Brown Shoe in New York for its anniversary celebration. And while the celeb-packed guest list including Jennifer Hudson, Fergie, Estelle and others was no doubt exciting, I was even more thrilled to be there to witness a milestone for a company that has been so important to St. Louis and the local and national fashion landscape. The fact that CEO, President and Chairman of the Board Diane Sullivan personally recognized the company’s St. Louis partners and how much their support has meant over the years only further proved that Brown’s St. Louis roots run deep—a point that Sullivan was sure to make during our interview for the in-depth piece on where the company has been—and, more importantly, where it’s going—on p.56. When you think about all of the places our cover celebrity Isaac Mizrahi could be going, St. Louis isn’t exactly No. 1 on the list. Yet, the famed designer is about to wrap up a month in town as creative director for Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ season opener “The Magic Flute.” ALIVE went behind the scenes with Isaac and OTSL for our cover story on p.50, which uncovers the fascinating collaboration that will bring Mozart’s famed opera to life on the Loretto-Hilton stage, May 24-June 28. While working with Isaac for the piece, we quickly realized he’s as animated and full of creativity as one would expect (probably more!); we also discovered he has some interesting St. Louis ties that go beyond his relationship with OTSL. His current assistant is coincidentally from St. Louis, and he vividly remembers his first view of the Arch when he came here as teen for a poster contest that he ended up winning (of course!). To me, it all adds up to the fact that there’s just something about St. Louis— reason number 1,001 why we all love this city.

NOW ENTERING THE

ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL O F YO U R W O R L D

Our entire city was built on one principle—that life should be fun. With headliner concerts, five unique restaurants and over four city blocks of games, it’s easy to find thrills around every corner. In fact, it’s more than an award-winning casino and luxury hotel. It’s the ultimate entertainment destination for everything you love.

888.578.7289 | rivercity.com Void for persons on the self or state exclusion lists or otherwise excluded from River City or any other properties owned by Pinnacle Entertainment. Must be age 21 or older to gamble. Gambling problem? Call 1.888.BETSOFF. ©2014 Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

BEHIND THE ISSUE

Mizrahi Magic

Momentous Milestones

STL

Proud to support the LGBT community.

Brown Shoe Company CEO, President and Chairman of the Board Diane Sullivan has always been on our list of top interviews to snag, and the company’s 100th anniversary on the New York Stock Exchange seemed like the perfect time to cash in. After just five minutes with the leader of the STLbred shoe empire, it was easy to see how deeply passionate Sullivan and her team are about the Brown Shoe mission. Writer Sarah Stallmann dove “feet first” into the story, uncovering the vast history that has made Brown Shoe the fashion influencer that it is today (p.56). Access to the company’s incredible database of images, including archive photos of Brown Shoe’s presence at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis and early advertising campaigns, round out the inspiring story of fashion success. “I was lucky enough to attend the amazing anniversary party that Brown Shoe threw in New York to celebrate 100 years on the NYSE. Of course, the fact that celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Fergie, Estelle and others were in attendance made it memorable, but it was most exciting to celebrate a St. Louis company that has come so far and still has so much ahead,” says Executive Editor Jennifer Dulin Wiley.

STL Pride

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We thought we had a lot of local pride, but after our in-depth interview with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson, we realized there’s some serious competition. It’s Dotson’s intense dedication to the city that has prompted him to change the conversation about crime in St. Louis. In the profile on p.30, writer Jeremy Nulik explores the serious side of Dotson, who is fiercely petitioning for changes to the way crime statistics are reported in STL. Meanwhile, photographer Matt Kile saw another side of Dotson while on location for the shoot. “Dotson is an incredibly friendly and gregarious guy,” Kile explains. “From the beginning of the shoot, he was making us laugh and we were getting very genuine portraits. In his office, he told us a story of a defining moment in his childhood that made him want to become a police officer—all the while sitting next to a bobble-head doll of himself. Chief Dotson is the kind of warm and quirky that you always want as a subject.”

Isaac Mizrahi photo courtesy of Wesley Law. Brown Shoe 100 Year Anniversary Party photo by Scott Rudd. Sam Dotson photo by Matt Kile.

We were thrilled to get not one but two chances to shoot fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi while he was in STL as acting creative director for Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ “The Magic Flute.” The dynamic designer was as generous and humble with his time with us as he has been with OTSL, where his vision will come to life on May 24. Writer Amy De La Hunt held multiple interviews with Mizrahi and the OTSL team to dig into the impressive collaboration for our cover story on p.50, while photographer Wesley Law pulled off two flawless photo shoots with the star for the cover and inside story. “I first met Isaac on a shoot back in 2000 when I assisted celebrity photographers in New York City,” Law recalls. “Now after almost 15 years, he’s the same vibrant and friendly person I remember from back then. Photographing such a legendary and creative talent was truly an honor.”

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T HIS M O NTH O N

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BROWN SHOE!

We were on the scene in New York when Brown Shoe Company celebrated its 100th year on the New York Stock Exchange, and the celebration continues in this issue with our “Shoe Biz” feature on p.56. After you’re finished taking in the historically packed, fashionfilled story written by Sarah Stallmann, visit the Style Notes blog and experience an incredible archive of Brown Shoe photos, featuring a diverse mix of styles and advertising from the last century. One click and we guarantee you’ll get lost in the historic images spanning more than 10 decades of Brown Shoe.

Be sure to make this year’s Hot List your go-to resource for St. Louis’ best restaurants, bars, shopping and more. When you need your info on the fly, visit ALIVEMag.com for a full list of the best in STL. We know that, like us, you have huge #STL pride. While on your tour through the Hot List, check in on Facebook and tag @ALIVEMagSTL so together we can get the conversation going about our fair city. To make it easy, we’ve compiled a Foursquare list for you to follow and track each hotspot as you visit. Take us with you and share your photos and opinions using #HotListSTL.

ON OUR BLOGS

WHAT TO WEAR THIS SUMMER Stumped on what to take out of town on Memorial Day weekend? Hurting for ideas on how to look haute at The Hot List party on May 31? Wondering what swimsuit is exactly right for your body type? Whatever your plans are this summer, we’ve got you covered with stylish pieces and outfit ideas worth trying. Subscribe to Style Notes so you never miss a post.

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LET YOUR LOVE GLOW Save the date for Pride Weekend’s ULTRA VIP White Party at Lumen Private Event Space featuring a special midnight lantern release. On June 28, experience the Lanterns for Love glowing lantern release celebrating equality, emotion and affection. Instagram favorite photos of you and your sweetheart and tag them #LanternsForLove. One lucky winner will be granted two tickets to ULTRA and the midnight release.

Brown Shoe photos courtesy of Brown Shoe Company. ULTRA White Party photo by Matt Kile.

SHOW YOUR #STL PRIDE

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CARDINAL NATION

The Cardinals’ baseball season is well underway, so what better way to celebrate than recognizing the people who make it happen? Whether they are on the field or at home capturing cherished moments, we can’t stop watching them. Here are a few of the most Cards-centric accounts we’re watching closely this season.

Get triple the thrill by following St. Louis sports team photographer Scott Rovak, where you can see his graphic, electrifying shots documenting the Cards, the Blues, the Rams—even Olympic history. 2/ @JonJayU

And the swaggiest Cardinal player goes to cool kicks wearing, 305-repping outfielder, Jon Jay. As his own page has proclaimed, “Ohhh kill ‘em Jay!” 3/ @dgoold

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Cardinals writer Derrick Goold’s intimate shots are unmatched. If you want insider access into what it’s like to be both a player and a sports writer, Goold’s photos are golden. 4/ @MWacha52

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We don’t know who has the better smile—Wacha Wacha or his adorable goddaughter. Stop here for an immediate heart-melting session along with some pretty rad family portraits.

5/ @Mattcarpenter13

Who said all athletes are players? Look to this Cards infielder for proof that love really does conquer all—at least on Instagram. Follow for snaps of his wife and puppy Brooks, and off-time adventures.

Tag photos with #inSTLgram to nominate them for inclusion on this monthly page.

Text by Jerrica Williams. #3 photo by Derrick Goold for St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis Cardinals players’ photos courtesy of the players.

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STL NOW

HOT EATS: CUCINA PAZZO | INSIDE SHOWROOM 314 | MEET SWEETOLOGY

ARTS

A Place in France SLAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansive Impressionist exhibition presents a portrait of the new French nation. CONTINUED P.26

PHOTO BY JENNIFER SILVERBERG

JUNE 2014

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STL NOW

ULTRA

Things 2

YO U MUST DO THIS MO NTH Join the Circus

Don’t miss Circus Flora’s 28th season production, “The Pawn,” from May 29-June 22 under the big top in Grand Center. Journeying to the ancient lands where the game of chess began, the show follows the Pawn through the mystic grounds of Persia and India, while a live chess game unfolds before your eyes. For tickets, visit circusflora.org.

For more info, visit stlbrewfest.com.

Be Proud

Celebrate LGBT Pride weekend in style at the ULTRA White Party, ALIVE’s VIP pride party downtown on June 28 at Lumen Private Event Space. Dress in all white and enjoy Pinnacle Vodka cocktails, Bud Light and entertainment provided by local DJs. The night will also feature Lanterns for Love, a midnight lantern release. A portion of the ticket proceeds benefit PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization. For tickets, visit ultra2014.eventbrite.com.

Get Festive

For more info, visit stlfringe.com.

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Celebrate summer with a taste of Italy at Alfresco at the Cheshire on June 12. Enjoy seasonal Italian dishes by Basso chef Patrick Connolly, along with refreshing summer cocktails. After starting the evening on the patio for food and drinks, guests can move to The Cheshire’s pool area for live entertainment. For more info, visit basso-stl.com.

Experience one of the largest independent art festivals in the city at St. Lou Fringe. Returning for its third year, the event features an eclectic lineup of performances, parties, plays and plenty more to pique your interest. The festivities begin June 18 with a kickoff at Strauss Park and wrap up June 22 at the Fubar Lounge.

Go Italian

Attention beer-lovers: Gather for the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival in Forest Park June 13-14, when 20 local breweries from the St. Louis area provide ticket-holders with unlimited beer sampling, food, live music and the chance to learn about beer varieties and brewing techniques from local experts.

JUNE 2014

Turn Back Time

Music superstar Cher brings her “Dressed to Kill (D2K) Tour” to the Scottrade Center on June 4. Known around the world for her powerful stage presence and record for the most successful tour ever by a solo artist, Cher will take St. Louis by storm alongside pop star Cyndi Lauper.

For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

Honor STL’s Roots

Honor the local culture that existed 1,000 years ago at Laumeier Sculpture Park’s newest exhibition, “Mound City,” through Aug. 24. Explore the world of the native Mississippians and the myths of American Manifest Destiny on Laumeier’s 105 acres and in its historic gallery space. For more info, visit laumeiersculpturepark.org.

ULTRA photo by Matt Kile. Circus Flora photo courtesy of Circus Flora.

Toast Summer

SUMMER

FUN WEDNESDAYS

Free children’s performances every Wednesday in June and July 1 pm in the Food Court

Registration starts at noon. Be one of the ﬁrst 100 to register and receive a free kids’ food voucher.* Join Taubman Prestige Outlets every Wednesday and enjoy all kinds of circus-smiling, science-astonishing, puppet-performing, music-making, animal-frolicking, magical fun and more. Every Wednesday is diﬀerent!

1-64/40 Boone’s Crossing Exit Entertainment schedule at TaubmanPrestigeOutlets.com. Like us to receive the latest event updates.

*Visit TaubmanPrestigeOutlets.com/events for food voucher rules and regulations.

JUNE 2014

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STL NOW / HOT EATS

Cucina Pazzo

Weekends are “crazy” at this modern Italian restaurant. by AMY DE LA HUNT CUCINA PAZZO FILLS A BIG FOOTPRINT in

the Central West End. Two, actually. There’s the square footage—two large dining rooms plus an open kitchen and bar—and there’s the legacy of the space’s former tenant, Duff’s. Both are opportunities fully embraced by the owners of OG Hospitality Group, which runs several well-known restaurants around town. American comfort food is the group’s forte—the Corner Pub and Grill’s two locations offer it as sports bar favorites; The Shack Pubgrub serves it WHERE TO GO up via massive burgers Cucina Pazzo and sandwiches; and The 392 N. Euclid Ave. Tavern has taken modern 314.696.8400 Entrees $16-$36 comfort food to the next Hours: Mon.-Thurs., level of gastronomy. With 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm. Sun. brunch its first foray into Italian 10am-2pm, dinner cuisine, the group has 4pm-9pm. extended its niche. And after a few months’ learning curve, their “crazy kitchen” (as the name translates from Italian) is working, too.

ITALIAN COMFORT Of course, this being St. Louis, Italian is really just comfort food by another name. You see telltale signs of this on the Cucina Pazzo menu again and again. Take the house-made Italian sausage grinders at lunch, for example. Likewise, the dinner menu’s rustic papardelle are tender enough to fold over the braised beef without breaking apart but sturdy enough to hold up to eating with a fork. With the newly introduced summer menu, chef Justin Haifley ventures into more ambitious entrées, too, emphasizing seafood in both the tasting boards, three or four variations on a protein theme like surf and turf or shellfish, and the fish market, where diners choose the species and match it with preparations like a pistachio lemon-herb crust or a dusting of fennel with sides of asparagus, saffron risotto and orange beurre blanc. For a leisurely happy hour, there are appetizers like the ricconi (ricotta balls with flash-fried basil and crispy pepperoni), meatballs with polenta and cheese fondue or Sicilian-style mussels (accompanied by an encore appearance of Italian sausage). Texture matters in Italian dishes, and risotto is a dish where errors are easy to spot. Cucina Pazzo’s is good, especially the Maine lobster risotto “carbonara” with two of our favorite add-ins: bacon

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JUNE 2014

Inside Dish Tips for a top-notch experience at Cucina Pazzo. Top dish: Wide, flat papardelle with braised beef shortribs and cipollini onions in a buttery roasted mushroom sauce Popular pour: Mantane Primitivo 2012 from Puglia, an easy-drinking red wine (In the US, we’d call it a zinfandel.) Best place to perch: Along the edges, where you can comfortably take in the ambiance of this bustling restaurant. Insider tip: The kitchen doesn’t put a surcharge on split dishes, which is a welcome way to expand the shared dining experience beyond the small plates.

lardons and peas. The house-baked rosemary mini-loaves offered to every table nail it in both flavor and texture. Then there’s the luxurious Nutella soufflé, exactly as velvety as it sounds. SEE, SIP, SAVOR Scanning the rear dining room

over a glass of wine, it’s hard to remember when the space looked any other way than it does now, with bright-yellow accent walls surrounded by wood paneling. We overheard other guests musing on the same tricks of memory—and at least one vigorously questioned her server on whether the room was ever even part of Duff’s. The bustling atmosphere may be part of the reason. It’s a popular choice for weekend gatherings of friends and family. Impressively, the staff’s energy level keeps pace.

The wine program is filled with Italian selections, which often require translation help to navigate the Old World varieties. If you’re looking to explore spirits or beer, a seat at the bar is an excellent idea, especially on busy weekend evenings— the bartenders are first rate. Sunday brunch is also well worth a visit. But arguably the best spot to take in the ambiance is at the chef’s counter, where patrons can watch Haifley and company in action. He and the OGHG team have a knack for building a loyal clientele, and Cucina Pazzo’s shift toward more complex flavors and upscale proteins on the summer menu shows that they’re honing in on their Italian niche quite nicely—and they’re having fun doing it.

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SILVERBERG

experience what the unexpected feels like

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STL NOW / FASHION

Best in Show

Local fashion influencer Jan Givens launches Showroom 314 in support of STL designers. LOCAL DESIGNERS HAVE A NEW ALLY on the fashion front with the launch of Showroom 314, a virtual showroom founded and curated by local fashion maven Jan Givens. The first-of-its-kind concept in St. Louis is designed to bring national exposure to local fashion designers through thoughtful representation, as well as branding and production consultation services. Tapping into her cross-country experience as a buyer, wholesaler and retailer, Givens will represent Showroom 314 designers at markets across the country, as well as provide consulting on critical wholesale and production elements—from pricing structure and line sheets to look books, key silhouettes, fabrics and fit. The fashion entrepreneur credits the incredible pool of local design talent as her inspiration for starting the showroom, which launched with successful St. Louis-based designers Laura Kathleen and Lori Coulter this spring. Givens plans to concentrate on local designers first, but envisions expanding regionally as the showroom grows. “When I moved to St. Louis, I noticed there was an abundance of talented designers,” Givens explains. “After several years of getting to know the city, the amazing people and the market here, I decided that opening a wholesale apparel showroom would be the best way to give back and expand on my experience and knowledge.” Givens got her start at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, where she worked for two years as an assistant contemporary sportswear buyer. Her career took her from luxury retail to designer denim, working for the likes of BCBG, Rock & Republic, Denim for Immortality, Jeanomix and Intermix. After holding positions as a buyer, wholesaler and retailer in industry hotspots such as Dallas, New York and Los Angeles, Givens moved to St. Louis in the summer of 2010 and immediately carved out her niche in the city’s fashion landscape. “I hit the ground running the day I moved here,” Givens says of her first days in the city. She quickly became involved in the editorial side of the industry, working as style editor for Avid Magazine, then St. Louis

A Royal Expansion The leading ladies of designer resale are expanding their empire. Women’s Closet Exchange, subject of the Style Network series “Resale Royalty,” has opened a second location in Brentwood. The 6,000-squarefoot store at 2325 Brentwood Blvd. is significantly larger than the current South County location, with lots of bonus shopping opportunities on the designer front. Owner Sue McCarthy and daughters Diana Ford and Laura Maurice captured the public eye last year when they became the subjects of the Rachel Zoe-produced reality series, which

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Magazine, and launched Jan Leach Style, her personal and editorial styling business. In addition, Givens has served on the board of the St. Louis chapter of Fashion Group International for the last four years, which has given her the opportunity to give back and help grow the local fashion community. The avid fashion supporter sees Showroom 314 as a natural next step, and one that will put local designers on track for success. Givens is already hard at work for Laura Kathleen and Lori Coulter, consulting on each of the designers’ collections and working her buyer contacts across the coasts. But she’s not stopping there. “The showroom is set up to expand and open in several other cities within the next five to 10 years—maybe Nashville, Naples, Chicago—the sky’s the limit,” she says. “My ultimate goal for Showroom 314 is to represent designers not only from the Midwest, but also from all over the country.” For more info, visit showroom314.com, or get the latest updates @showroom314.

focused on their lucrative business and the ins and outs of highend resale. The new Brentwood WCE houses an event space as well as Purple Cow, a resale shop for children and expectant mothers, which moved out of its South County location. It is also home to “The Vault,” a specialty space where McCarthy and her daughters keep exclusive couture pieces. With 15,000 suppliers from across the country, WCE has also launched online shopping at womensclosetexchange.net to support the new Brentwood location and the flagship store in South County. The opening of the new location was marked by a fab “Bag to the Bone” runway show, featuring designer handbags by Gucci, Prada, Chanel and more. -SP

Jan Givens photo courtesy of Ashley Gieseking. Hanger by Diego Naive from The Noun Project.

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STL NOW / ARTS

A Place in France

SLAM’s expansive Impressionist exhibition presents a portrait of the new French nation. by CHRISTOPHER REILLY FROM 1850 TO 1880, France underwent a great transformation as the country—formerly a collection of provinces—began to establish its identity as a nation. The old Paris, with its narrow winding streets, was being rebuilt into a city of wide boulevards flooded with light and lined with shops, cafés and trees. Photographers and artists spread out across the countryside to document what they saw—some capturing the rural and tradiWHERE TO GO tional, and others Saint Louis Art Museum focusing on the modern One Fine Arts Dr. and industrial. With Forest Park Hours: Tues.–Sun., “Impressionist France: 10am–5pm; Fri., 10am–9pm. Visions of Nation from Closed Monday. Tickets: $14 for adults, $12 Le Gray to Monet,” curfor seniors and students, rently showing at Saint and $8 for children ages 6 to 12. Children ages 5 and Louis Art Museum and under are free. co-produced with Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, curators Simon Kelly and April M. Watson elegantly tell the story of the transformation with 120 paintings and photographs. THE PLACE Early era black-and-white photographs hang unapologetically next to colorful grand paintings, and while they may struggle to compete visually, their content is meaningful. Adalbert Cuvelier, Gustave Le Gray, Adphonse-Louis Poitevin and Edgar Degas, to name a few, captured striking shots of trees, snow-covered peaks and other features of the French countryside that must have wowed those viewing them for the first time. But the paintings are the real stars here, which not only include the work of the Impressionists, but also that of their predecessors. Subdivided into seven areas, the paintings depict France from Paris into the countryside representing a stunning array of masterworks. In the “Paris and the Modern Cityscape” section, Claude Monet’s “Boulevard des Capucines” (1873) captures a moment in time on the Grand Boulevard that wasn’t there 21 years before. The scene looks quaint today, but at the time, it represented the height of modernity.

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THE PEOPLE Hanging beside Monet’s painting is “The Grands Boulevards,” (1875) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who eschews the bird’seye view, zooms in and focuses on the people: a woman with children, two top-hatted gents talking, a man reading the paper and a nun in full habit pausing to let a hansom cab pass. Activity is conveyed through the use of short brush strokes and blurriness, but for Renoir, the people on the boulevard take precedence, not the street itself. The color palettes of the two paintings—pastel blues and lavenders—are nearly identical. This pairing emphasizes how artists view the same subject differently, and one of the accomplishments of the exhibit is this juxtaposition of differing views of similar subjects as we traverse across the countryside along with the artists. THE NATION From “Paris” the galleries unfold

with an embarrassment of riches, through the “Monuments” gallery and then on to “Rivers and Forests,” where Gustave Dore’s stunning “Deer in a Pine Forest” (1865) dominates, with its towering trees and sunlight speckled on the mossy forest floor. “Rural and Agricultural Life” is a particularly rich gallery, with Millet and Daubigny, and Constant Troyan’s magnificent cows, but especially Jules-Breton’s “The Washerwomen of Breton Coast,” (1870) an impressive painting of a group of working washerwomen, who Breton elevates as the model of French womanhood—strong, formidable and hardworking—notably before Toulouse-Lautrec would present the feminine, high-stockinged, sensual woman as the quintessential French female, as in his “Woman Pulling Up Her Stocking.” Then on through “Mountains,” “Marine Views,” (with Le Gray’s photos of ships), to the

final gallery, “Railroads and Factories,” where Degas’ commanding painting of Henri Rouart in front of his factory—which includes a railroad track and smoking coal stacks—is emblematic of the Industrial Revolution. What becomes clear in this groundbreaking exhibit is that by documenting France unblinkingly, photographers and artists—particularly the Impressionists—were instrumental in constructing a new and formidable sense of nation in France through their work. The exhibit succeeds on several levels—for those interested in this period of French history and the birth of Impressionism, it’s clear how early photography helped document a changing countryside and advanced the art. Put simply, “Impressionist France” is sure to make an impression. The exhibition continues at SLAM through July 6. Above: Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “The Grand Boulevards,” 1875.

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SILVERBERG

Travel to France, here in Forest Park. Bon Voyage! One of the country’s premiere theatres, The Fabulous Fox hosts the first national tours of Broadway shows, holiday spectaculars and a variety of concerts in an opulent setting. For a current schedule visit FabulousFox.com 527 North Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO

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Pierre-Auguste Renoir, French, 1841–1919; The Grands Boulevards, 1875; oil on canvas; 20 1/2 x 25 inches; Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Henry P. McIlhenny Collection in memory of Frances P. McIlhenny, 1986 2014.60

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Impressionist France: Visions of Nation from Le Gray to Monet is co-organized by the Saint Louis Art Museum and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The St. Louis presentation of Impressionist France is supported by BMO Harris Bank. This exhibition is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities. Financial assistance has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

STL NOW / GAME CHANGERS

Sweet Success

A new St. Louis business aims to make everyone a cake boss. by CHRISTOPHER REILLY COULD THE NEXT BIG IDEA in family birthday fun be coming out of St.

Louis? The answer is yes, if Kara Newmark and DeAnn Bingaman have their way. The pair has launched Sweetology, a business where customers can design and decorate their own cakes for birthday parties, special events or just for the fun of it. For customers who prefer to create their cake masterpieces at home, there are custom take-home kits containing everything needed—the chosen bakery item, frosting, accent frosting, sprinkles, and a decorating bag and tips—to create edible art. Newmark and Bingaman, who were already friends, had been bouncing new business ideas off of each other for a couple of years when Newmark brought up a DIY chocolate business she knew of in New York. “This idea really resonated with both of us so we took off with it,” Bingaman says. The delicious result was Sweetology. The partners searched a lot of locations for the things all retailers look for: easy accessibility with adequate parking and a location that draws people in. Eventually they settled at 9214 Clayton Road in Ladue’s Clayprice Shopping Center next to Truffles restaurant. The space previously was home to another restaurant, The Woman’s Exchange. “The city is excited to have us so that’s another benefit,” Bingaman says. “Ladue has been great in helping us secure licensing.”

CAKE WALK To call Sweetology simply a cake decorating business is to do it a disservice. The shop also includes the “Drinkery,” where guests can order up a variety of gourmet coffee drinks, tea, beer, wine and even drinking chocolate, along with cupcakes, cookies and other assorted sweet treats, all while the kids are having their decorating fun. A retail area offers an impressive selection of candy and merchandise, including decorated

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cakes, cookies and cupcakes. Further back in the shop is the “Makery,” where guests can choose from cupcakes, sugar cookies and two sizes and flavors of cakes, then select a butter cream frosting or fondant, add color and flavoring, and ultimately finish their project with a staggering selection of more than 150 ready-made sugar decorations and approximately 60 varieties of sprinkles. If you happen to be a cake decorating neophyte, never fear. Trained staff are always on hand to assist customers with suggestions, direction and hands-on instruction. SWEET MOVE With an eye on possible future expansion and keeping it simple, Sweetology does not bake its own goods, instead it’s turning to The Cup to provide the unadorned bakery items. “They have a fantastic product,” says Bingaman. “You don’t have to put a full kitchen in future stores and that makes it easier to roll it out.” For now, Newmark and Bingaman are focusing on their flagship store in Ladue, where they are testing the processes and making adjustments as necessary. “If we see that we can support another store in the STL area, that would be our next move,” Bingaman says. “Then we’d like to expand regionally from that and see where we can take it.” The venture has been funded by Newmark and Bingaman, as well as several investors. The co-founders’ skill sets complement each other, although a venture like Sweetology is a first for both of them. Newmark, the CEO, previously worked in life sciences and Bingaman, who is COO, comes from a retail and ecommerce background. In the early days of business startups, however, job titles are illusory. “We’re both in the trenches,” Bingaman says. “When you own your own business, you have to wear a lot of hats.” 9214 Clayton Road, 314.736.4800, sweetology.com.

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STL NOW / PEOPLE

The Numbers Guy

Sam Dotson: The man in the middle of one of the most dynamic police departments in the country. by JEREMY NULIK THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE. And they don’t make St. Louis look good. Every year, when the national crime statistics are released from the FBI, a familiar cycle starts. St. Louis gets mentioned in some “Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in America” article on CNN or Forbes. Then comes the series of backlash articles arguing that St. Louis actually is a great place with lots of attractions and an ideal city to raise a family.

Those with an abundance of city pride take to Twitter in the vain hopes of shifting the perception of St. Louis away from being a den of violent crime. But most feel there is little that can be done to change things. That is generally where the conversation stops. But beneath the surface, there is yet another set of trending numbers—ones that paint a different picture of the city. At the center of that trend

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is Sam Dotson, chief of police for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Dotson is a numbers kind of guy. When we speak outside of his office on a small couch, the affable 44-year-old MBA comes off sounding more like a CEO than a stereotypical cop. His conversation is rich with paradigms, strategies and alliances. He’s a St. Louis native, so he can answer the high school question with Metro High School, which Dotson says was key in shaping his vision of the city. “When I think of St. Louis, I see a region that is diverse in race, gender, ethnicity and religion,” says Dotson, who once served as the director of operations for the City of St. Louis.”I am protective of the city and not just in a policing way. Everything I do is geared toward making St. Louis a little bit better today than it was yesterday.”

To that end, Dotson is reframing the conversation around those annual crime statistics. According to Dotson, the harsh characterization of St. Louis comes down to simple math. Unlike most cities in the United States, St. Louis’ crime statistics include only the urban core and not surrounding areas. This is due to a move that dates all the way back to 1876 when the city separated from the county and land-locked its reporting area. St. Louis is thus at a disadvantage as compared to other similar-sized urban areas in the reporting of crime. For example, St. Louis currently has around 62 square miles of reporting area, compared to Kansas City’s 319. “If we are going to solve the issues that lead to crime in our region, then we have to think like a region,” Dotson explains. “Criminals do not recognize the borders between the city and the county, so if we are going to characterize crime, then the statistics need to reflect reality.”

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STL NOW / PEOPLE

“They didn’t completely shoot us down, so I thought I would ask them why it can’t be done,” Dotson says. “That gave Fitch and I the chance to position our case. Once the Highway Patrol understood what we were doing, they submitted our request to the FBI.” Dotson expects that request to be considered by the FBI in the next six months. The concept paper must go to a committee and ultimately get the go-ahead from United States Attorney General Eric Holder. Some in the city’s leadership have criticized Dotson’s petition as skewing numbers. They argue that he is just increasing the denominator to dilute the issues in the urban core. But Dotson believes that his request to the FBI will help place St. Louis on an even playing field with similar cities. “I want St. Louis’ crime rates to be compared in the same way they are in Memphis, Louisville or Chattanooga,” Dotson explains. “The truth is that we live in a region so we should report as a region.” Changing the tone of how St. Louis’ crime is characterized reaches farther than civic pride or crude public relations. Dotson understands that a reputation as a dangerous city has far-reaching consequences. “Think of all the potential employers or individuals who Google St. Louis, and all of these stories about crime and danger pop up,” he says. “That means we don’t even get the chance to have a conversation about our city. This is not about changing reality. It is about telling the truth as a region.” Dotson’s efforts to help the city go beyond reshaping a conversation. Since he took over as chief in January of 2013, violent crime in St.

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Louis went down more than 10 percent from the previous year.

crime. They are now asked to engage in proactive policing behavior.

“Crime in St. Louis is going down and has been going down for the past eight years,” Dotson says. “Since 2006, our total crime rate has been cut in half.”

“Police are action people,” says Dotson. “They measure success on their number of arrests, but we need to change that paradigm. It is about how many people we keep safe. If we arrest someone, then that means there was a crime and a victim. We need to rethink our role as officers to prevent crime.”

BEYOND THE NUMBERS While the data looks

good, Dotson is anything but complacent. In his review of his first year, he wrote on his blog: “Every day, I continually remind myself, one crime is one too many, one victim is one too many. Even if we never get to zero, the numbers clearly show that we’re moving in the right direction.” Dotson’s earnestness for improved performance has created a higher regard for St. Louis among other municipal police agencies. “In the group of larger agencies across the country, St. Louis’ police department has leapt to the front of the pack when it comes to evidence-based policing,” says Rosenfeld, a professor of criminology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. “We are using close to realtime data to apply resources. It is an approach that has been accelerated under Dotson.” The evidence-based policing that Rosenfeld references is also called hot-spot policing—the process of analyzing levels of crime data, then using that data to more strategically apply resources. More patrols are dispatched to where and when crimes are likely to occur and officers are given specific tasks to perform. Hot-spot policing might seem like a no-brainer, but SLMPD is one of the few agencies in the country where hot-spot policing is not just a special program, but how the department conducts business every day. One of the major challenges is changing the way officers view their role in the community. Most of them have been used to riding the radio and reacting to

AN EARNEST RESOLVE In the face of this challenge, Dotson remains optimistic as usual. It’s a part of that CEO mindset—ask the tough questions, project a strategic vision and build alliances. It’s a mindset that has allowed the SLMPD to thrive during its most revolutionary period in generations.

Just before Dotson began as police chief, voters approved a measure to dissolve the state Board of Police Commissioners after 152 years of oversight, giving St. Louis local control of its police department. Within the last year, the SLMPD has begun the process of merging with the Lambert-St. Louis Airport police force, and the nine police districts that once divided the city into units for the past 50 years were reduced to six districts. Through it all, Dotson has not lost his resolve. He knows the problems that affect the urban core are numerous and the task at hand is larger than the SLMPD can take on alone. “I try to approach issues with the question of what is best for St. Louis,” says Dotson. “The issues that we are dealing with in preventing crime—jobs, economics, race—are bigger than police issues. We are a region, and we make St. Louis better when agencies think and act like a region.”

Portrait by Matt Kile; Image courtesy of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Last year, Dotson formed a partnership with then St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch and brought in Richard Rosenfeld, criminologist in residence at the SLMPD, to tangibly reshape the conversation about crime in St. Louis. Together they crafted a concept paper to combine the city’s crime statistics to include areas of St. Louis County and submitted it to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the agency that reports statistics to the FBI. The highway patrol came back with a “no.” But, Dotson thought, at least it wasn’t a “Hell, no.”

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STYLE

WE’RE FIXATED ON FRINGE FOR SUMMER | MEN’S STYLE GETS ROUGH & RUGGED

Tribal Time

Globally chic and full of color, summer’s tribal trend is a must. CONTINUED P.36

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ALIVEMAG.COM

STYLE /

TRENDS

Tribal Time

Globally chic and full of color, this summer’s tribal trend is one to follow. written by JENNIFER WELLS styled by ATTILIO D’AGOSTINO THERE’S NO DOUBT TRIBAL THEMES are dominating

this summer’s must-have list—and why shouldn’t they be? Glorious beadwork, vibrant color and natural tethering all feel very of-the-moment, and details like feathers, shells and intricate weaving have us ready to don any number of blatantly bold embellishments. We’re gaga for exotic prints, and no one does it better than Mara Hoffman, whose self-described “Rainbow Warrior” moment on the runway mixed African, Caribbean and Central American motifs. The result was a collection that inspired ample wanderlust—but, ultimately, our jet-set aspirations were duly satiated when we discovered that our desire for the far-flung could be satisfied right here in St. Louis.

7/ 4/

1/ STELA 9 HANDBAG available at Splash, Ladue, 314.721.6442. 2/ KATE POLLMANN BANGLES available at Byrd Designer Consignment, Ladue, 314.721.0766. 3/ GODDIS PONCHO available at Lusso, Clayton, 314.725.7205. 4/ NAMRATA JOSHIPURA BRACELET available at Splash, Ladue, 314.721.6442. 5/ JADETRIBE TOTE BAG available at Lusso, Clayton, 314.725.7205. 6/ NAMRATA JOSHIPURA HEADBAND available at Splash, Ladue, 314.721.6442. 7/ NECKLACE available at Ivy Hill, Central West End, 314.367.7004. 8/ FREE PEOPLE DRESS available at Ivy Hill, Central West End, 314.367.7004. 36

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STYLE /

ACCESSORIES

Ralph Lauren 2014

On the Fringe

Getting your fringe fix this season is an absolute necessity. written by JENNIFER WELLS styled by ATTILIO D’AGOSTINO

OUR INTEREST IN FRINGED ACCESSORIES was piqued with the emergence of designers’ spring lines, which featured the trend in all its tassled glory. The first item to catch our attention was Celine’s avant-garde taupe handbag, which resembled a creature plucked straight from the sea with its tentacle-like accoutrements and expanding, lung-like structure. Our interest soon turned to fixation with the viewing of Gucci’s runway show. While the models walked the runway, their handbags took on lives of their own, each motion set off a synchronized flight, swaying dramatically to the beat of the carrier’s every seamless step. From fixation to obsession, our last conquest, naturally, was shoes, where we were relieved to find Gianvito Rossi’s modern black stiletto to at last satisfy our obsession— just one of the fringe benefits of fabulous footwear. 1/ TESS JEWELRY STUDIO NECKLACE available at 10denza, Central West End, 314.361.1010. 2/ THE FEATHER JUNKIE BOOTS available at Splash, Ladue, 314.721.6442. 3/ GUCCI HANDBAG available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811. 4/ BOOTS available at Byrd Designer Consignment, Ladue, 314.721.0766. 5/ TESS JEWELRY STUDIO NECKLACE available at 10denza, Central West End, 314.361.1010. 6/ CLUTCH available at Ivy Hill, Central West End, 314.367.7004. 7/ GUCCI SHOES available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811.

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PHOTOS BY ATTILIO D’AGOSTINO

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MEN’S

Leather for Life

No matter your lifestyle, there’s a leather bag for you. written by JENNIFER WELLS styled by ATTILIO D’AGOSTINO FROM SLEEK AND SOPHISTICATED to downright utilitarian, summer’s must-have bags for men come in many forms with rich, sumptuous leather as the common denominator. It’s all about the classics and a decidedly strong nod to the past with burnished, weathered exteriors destined to only get better with time. Structure is entirely a matter of personal preference, but we’re most inspired by what a man’s man would don—a rough and rugged carry-all fit for a biker with rolling stone tendencies, a high-shine briefcase for the polished CEO type or a worn-in portfolio for the edgy art aficionado. Pick your persona and let your lifestyle aspirations be your guide—and remember, dress for the job (or lifestyle) you want, not the one you have. 3/

1/ MOORE & GILES SULLIVAN SHIRT PACK available at Mister Guy, Ladue, 314.692.2003. 2/ MOORE & GILES BO URBAN SATCHEL available at Mister Guy, Ladue, 314.692.2003. 3/ TERANISHI MARKET TOTE available at East + West, Kirkwood, 314.835.1419. 4/ FRYE LOGAN FLAP BRIEFCASE available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811. 5/ MOORE & GILES BENEDICT WEEKEND BAG available at Mister Guy, Ladue, 314.692.2003. 6/ BENCHKRAFT TABLET CASE available at East + West, Kirkwood, 314.835.1419. 7/ MOORE & GILES EVANS TIE CASE available at Mister Guy, Ladue, 314.692.2003. 8/ MOORE & GILES TABLET CASE available at Mister Guy, Ladue, 314.692.2003. 40

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The Transformation The renovation efforts started with the Goffs working with Right Bath to select the best options for their bathroom and home. From lighting to finishes, fixtures and more, they were given choices throughout the selection process. Then, the renovations started. “It was a five-day process, which worked well for us,” Evan explains. “It wasn’t a super-quick hit, twoday sort of job, but it also wasn’t a month-long ordeal. They struck the balance between really getting worthwhile updates but also being time-conscious for our busy family.” Evan was also especially thankful that the

carpenters, technicians and other workers were respectful of the family’s responsibilities in the home, including his robotics classes. He notes that the carpenters conscientiously kept their work and the tools of the trade from interfering with the family’s day-to-day activities and the rest of the house. They also arrived early and left early, so as not to disrupt his teaching. “They were so tidy and considerate,” Evan says. “[Bethany] joked that they were like ‘Cat in the Hat’ because they came in, did amazing work in a good amount of time and left without leaving much behind.” The Results At the end of the remodeling experience, the Goff family was left with a stunning and efficient bathroom. One of Evan’s favorite features is the Panasonic exhaust fan, complete with a timer, which is far more functional than the one it replaced. From glossy finishes on the countertops and around the trim to perfectly balanced lighting that spotlights wall-mounted photos and provides essential visibility throughout the room, the area looks and functions like a carefully planned space. “All of the little things, as well as the new shower, toilet, fixtures and everything else, is just amazing,” says Evan. “You can very much tell there has been attention to detail.” Evan says he’s glad he devoted the time and effort to prove that this particular bathroom deserved a great makeover, and he recommends anyone considering such a contest or promotion to take a shot at a win. “It can definitely be worth your time,” he says. “The day I stopped everything else for a bit and just organized some photos and put this together, I didn’t really know where this was going to go. We didn’t expect to win at all. But it was absolutely worth it.” For info on how to get your dream bathroom, call Right Bath at 314.909.1820 or visit rightbath.com.

A LI VE SPECI AL PROMOTI ON

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After submitting an entry to the “Right Bath Right Now” Pinterest contest by Right Bath, A Mosby Building Arts Company, Evan and Bethany Goff never imagined they’d eventually be top contenders for a brand-new bathroom with top-of-the-line design and fixtures. A handful of photos, numerous votes, social media shares and plenty of word-ofmouth promotions later, the Goffs were named the winners. Their prize was a gorgeous bathroom that not only met their needs but reflected their tastes as well. Busy barely describes the Goff family. Between Evan’s classes teaching robotics, Bethany’s time-consuming work as the supervisor of social work at Missouri Baptist Hospital and their kids’ school and multiple sports schedules, music lessons and more, this is one family with a full agenda. So, when Evan and Bethany realized they needed to renovate one of their bathrooms, they both knew that the design had to be clean and attractive, but also efficient. Thanks to the contest by Right Bath—a company known for speed, convenience, expert service, safety and a price guarantee for a dream bathroom all in five days—the Goffs’ goal was more feasible than they initially guessed. After submitting photos of their original bathroom, sharing their entry on social media sites like Pinterest and Facebook, bolstering their submission with videos, and heavily promoting it to friends and acquaintances, the Goffs catapulted to a win in the Right Bath contest.

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STYLE /

ENGAGEMENTS

Recently Ringed

Two newly engaged St. Louis couples share their love stories.

Abby Woody, 27 & Matt Foster, 30 Occupations: I am a corporate buyer at Baisch and Skinner, and Matt is a lead barista at Kayak’s Coffee. First Date: Matt and I went to a wine bar, sat on soft cushions on the floor and spent the evening talking about our pasts and where we imagined our futures would take us. The Proposal: I actually proposed to Matt. We were driving in the car, and I popped the question with tears pouring down my face. The ring had come loose and wasn’t facing out perfectly when I opened the box, and I didn’t say the speech I had rehearsed. But Matt said “yes,” we held each other and then went to 7-Eleven for Slurpees. It wasn’t the proposal I’d prepared, but in the end, it was really kind of perfect. Our Unique Love: Although we met while living and working overseas, we love our adopted hometown of St. Louis, where we plan to tie the knot. We’re excited to showcase the city we love to our families, who will both be traveling from out of state to attend our big day. But what makes this day even more special is that we planned our wedding despite Matt’s stage-four kidney failure. Matt recently received a kidney transplant,

and his donor was my mom! It all came together very suddenly but it is an awesome thing to happen right before our wedding. Matt has never viewed his kidney disease as a reason to slow down or not chase his dreams, so even though he has a long road ahead, it doesn’t define his life or ours together. Together We Like To: We love to spend time outside with our puppy, Brida, shop at the Galleria, try new restaurants or just spend an evening in with some popcorn and Netflix. Ideal St. Louis Date Night: We’d start off with predinner coffee at Blueprint in The Loop, move on to Korean barbecue at Seoul Garden in St. Ann, and then finish with skee ball and pinball at Orbit in Maplewood. Quirkiest Thing About Our Relationship: Matt and I are huge “Downton Abbey” fans. We each have our favorite characters and get completely wrapped up in the storylines. Our Song: “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove. The Big Day: June 15, 2014, at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park.

Occupations: I’m an account executive at FleishmanHillard, and Alex is a financial analyst at Monsanto. How We Met: We started talking through an online dating site, but it wasn’t until a chance encounter at the Clayton Walgreens that I made the first move. I texted Alex, trying to play off that we were in the same place, and months later, Alex admitted he knew exactly who the girl stocking up on candy was that night at Walgreens. First Date: We went to The Side Bar on Washington Avenue, and it wasn’t love at first date. Alex thought I was a little loud and obnoxious, and I thought he was too quiet and a little boring. We both left unsure about each other, but both of our moms insisted we go out on a second date. The Proposal: Alex took me to The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, for our anniversary. After a delicious dinner, I left for a quick restroom break and returned to a cleared table and Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” playing. I smiled and said, “It’s my song,” and Alex said, “I know.” The couple next to us turned out to be a hired videographer and photographer, and as Alex dropped to one knee and I started crying, they captured our proposal. My parents joined us afterward for Champagne and dessert. Ideal St. Louis Date Night: A delicious dinner at one of the many great spots around the city, followed by dancing and listening to live music. Our Relationship in Three Words: Silly, warm and timeless. The Big Day: Oct. 25, 2014, at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.

RECENTLY RINGED? Email your story to jennifer@alivemag.com, and your engagement could be featured in ALIVE! 46

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Top left photo by Steve Seebeck. Top right photo by Eco Photo.

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STYLE /

WEDDINGS

THE GROOM

Stephen Hayes

Marketing and Brand Manager of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis THE GROOM

Rick Dildine

Executive Director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Shakespeare in Love

Forest Park sets the scene for a romance of epic proportion. by SAMANTHA PAGE THEIR STORY The bicoastal love affair of Rick Dil-

dine and Stephen Hayes began four years ago when the couple met through Match.com. Rick was new to St. Louis, having just been hired as the executive director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. Stephen, an STL native, had recently moved back home after completing his degree at the George Washington University School of Business in DC. Their first date took place at Pi Pizzeria. “It was somewhat of a pity date, because I couldn’t say no,” Stephen says jokingly about the evening, which took place on

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Rick’s birthday. The twosome immediately hit it off, forging a strong bond that held even after Stephen left St. Louis to work in Los Angeles for a year. The couple got engaged in May 2012 while Stephen was still based in LA. The two often flew back and forth to see each other, and Stephen was back in St. Louis for opening weekend of the Shakespeare Festival when Rick popped the question. “I had been thinking I was going to propose for several months,” Rick explains. “Once the Festival opens, I basically live in Forest Park, so I knew it was going to have to

happen there. Forest Park is very special to us....We have walked the park, taken our dog there and had many picnics.” With help from his then-assistant, Carl, Rick found a nice, quiet place near Shakespeare Glen overlooking the Grand Basin, where he placed candles in mason jars to create a romantic atmosphere. The Festival opened with “Othello,” and it was during the second act that Rick asked Stephen if he wanted to go for a walk. “We had seen the show a couple of times by that point, so he wasn’t too surprised that we weren’t watching,” Rick remembers.

PHOTOS (THIS PAGE) BY MEGHAN BALCOM AND WHITE KLUMP PHOTOGRAPHY

“I walked him over to the area, and we noted how beautiful the setting was…then I looked him in the eyes, told him how much I loved him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, and I got down on one knee and proposed. He said yes and never noticed that he was surrounded by candles!” TO HAVE AND TO HOLD The couple planned every moment of the recep-

tion together. “We knew we wanted a modern, simple, clean aesthetic that was intimate and special,” Rick says of planning the evening. “We spent a lot of time thinking about things we loved and hated about weddings.” Stephen and Rick were inspired by their bicoastal lifestyle and knew they wanted to incorporate that sense of adventure into the reception. Invites were sent postmarked with meaningful locations from the couple’s time together. As a gesture to include friends and family in the ceremony itself, guests were encouraged to include vow ideas in their RSVPs.

ON LOCATION Although the couple was officially married in New York, the reception took place at St. Louis’ Ferguson & Katzman Photography, a studio located in an exquisite, historic space in Midtown. Several decorative touches focused on their bicoastal theme. Placecards were written on perfectly crafted paper airplanes that elegantly rested on bark-inspired chargers. And guests were invited to sign a beautiful vintage globe, as opposed to a traditional guestbook. Local musical ensemble The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra perfectly complemented the artistic ambiance. MATCHMAKERS With friends and family coming from all corners of the

country (out of 50 guests, only five were from St. Louis), it was important that the evening was packed with activities and conversation pieces. Guests were seated not according to family or location, but with whom they might have the most in common. The placecards at each setting let guests know who they were seated by and their commonalities. Quirky pop quizzes full of trivia about the couple were also placed on every table, giving guests talking points they could use to get to know one another.

MUSICAL CHAIRS Each of the six beautifully set tables was equipped with two extra place settings at which the newlyweds would sit—a different table for each of the six courses. At the start of each course, a different guest from each of the tables gave a toast with the help of one of six talking points that were meaningful to the couple: adventure, joy, friendship, humor, commitment and family. Each term represented a different facet of what it means to be in a marriage. Following dinner, the couple kept things intimate, hand-serving artfully decorated cupcakes from The Cup to their guests. ADVENTURE SEEKERS Rick and Stephen plan to continue their romantic

journey with more world travel. For example, a 10-day honeymoon in France is on the horizon. As usual, the couple has figured out a perfect arrangement for their personalities, starting off in the busy streets of Paris for Stephen, who loves an active vacation, and finishing up with a rejuvenating stay in beautiful southern France for Rick, who can’t wait to relax.

JUNE 2014

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JUNE 2014

IT HAS TO BE

Isaac Mizrahi brings his vision for movement and dance to Opera Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season opener. BY AMY DE LA HUNT COVER/STORY PHOTOS BY WESLEY LAW

JUNE 2014

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Once upon a time, a New York fashion designer set out on an adventure. He had fame, fortune, followers and a reputation for creating beauty in everything from wedding dresses to tweezers. But “in some crazy way,” he felt drawn to an opera company in St. Louis where he had once designed the costumes and sets for a production of Mozart’s “A Little Night Music.” It is there that our story begins…

By day, our protagonist is chief designer for the Isaac Mizrahi empire, owned and managed by Xcel Brands. It’s a good fit for someone with as many ideas—from shoes and eyewear to fragrances, handbags and clothing—as the 52-year-old Mizrahi. But he doesn’t stop there. He also leads TV talk shows, designs sets and costumes for opera, ballet and theater, performs cabaret and more. He’s a perennial judge on shows like “Project Runway All Stars” and is a frequent guest on the late-night talk show circuit. Best of all for St. Louisans, at the end of May, Mizrahi will spend a month with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, culminating a multi-year process resulting in OTSL’s season opener, “The Magic Flute.” “This is going to be a tremendously exciting production,” promises James Robinson, OTSL’s artistic director. It was Robinson who facilitated Mizrahi’s involvement in 2010’s “A Little Night Music,” which Mizrahi designed and directed. After that show’s success, “I told him the door is always open,” Robinson says. “Isaac had done due diligence. He was such a terrific collaborator. I feel like he’s a member of the [OTSL] family.” And although, at the time, the a-ha moment of nailing down their second collaboration was still a ways off, Robinson says, the idea of staging “The Magic Flute” was already percolating. 52

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Love at First Sight “I absolutely adore ‘Magic Flute’—and I adore it in English,” Mizrahi says. “The first time I saw it was at the Met when I was a kid…It was probably acted by really famous people, but all I remember is that it was really gorgeous and that David Hockney designed it.” His memory—of the staging rather than the directing—isn’t unusual for this particular opera, which over the years has attracted multitudes of well-known artists, thanks to its fantastical story. From Marc Chagall’s swirling colors to Maurice Sendak’s wild things to Jun Kaneko’s bold Japanese-style screen projections, the interpretations are endless. Mizrahi’s own interpretation starts with the music. “I’ve been listening to ‘Magic Flute’ forever and thinking about it forever,” he says. “To me, the best part is the music. The story is there to allow for all of that unbelievable music. The characters are vivid and wonderful because the music has brought them to life.” Mizrahi called a choreographer he loves, John Heginbotham, to help him realize the “dance event,” a theatrical dream ballet in a 1950s Hollywood context. “Somehow I got it into my head that it was extremely danceable.” When asked whether he was inspired by period movies—like the Bette Davis and Susan Hayward classics that helped inspire the runway designs featured in the 1995 Movie “Unzipped,” Mizrahi bristles a bit. Then he launches into a

rapid-fire description of his creative process. “It’s not even inspired, it’s just what makes the most logical sense, and then you get into the natural progression of thinking about a passionate idea. It just becomes. It grows. You don’t deny or lie, you just keep thinking in this honest way….All of a sudden, when I hear that first aria, all I can see is Pamina dancing a jazz ballet. I see it as a dance event that lends itself to a sound stage and the making of a movie.” Then he pauses for breath. “It was an inspiration, but God knows—I don’t know where it came from!” Though Mizrahi has little time in his already overwhelming schedule, “He clearly wakes up in the morning thinking about this production,” says Steve Ryan, director of production and operations. “He’s absolutely pushing what our limitations are, and he knows it. I know he’s going to push, he knows I’m going to pull back, and we both know that’s great collaborative tension. You can’t ask for a better situation.” Stephen Lord, OTSL’s music director, glowingly describes the collaboration as a “love-fest,” echoing a sentiment shared by all of his colleagues. “We have to trust each other—like a naïve person on a blind date.” Lord will conduct two of the 10 “Magic Flute” performances, filling in for the renowned Jane Glover, who recently conducted “The Magic Flute” at Metropolitan Opera (she is one of three female conductors

to have conducted there) and is conducting the other eight performances. Though he’s a newcomer to directing operas, Mizrahi has a track record with both Lord and Glover. “We’re very comfortable around each other, and that puts people at ease…We all know what we’re good at and where to ask for help,” Ryan explains. Combined with that continuity is a conscious effort to bring in new ideas and nix the things that aren’t working. Meticulous planning ensures that very little is left to chance (even if that planning is something that happens via email and text, as it so often did with this particular production)—but even so, the creative process is inherently hard to predict. Mizrahi, a brilliant collaborator with everyone from TV channels to tissue manufacturers, sums it up this way: “You have this inspiration of what you think someone should be, but then the minute you start working with them, you realize you’re going to have to alter what you think. A lot.” Initiation Rites and Other Trials To stage an elaborate fantasy, show producers have to overcome a full spectrum of real-world constraints. Budgets and timeframes might not be as gripping as the ordeals of fire and water faced by the heroic Pamina and Tamino, but they can end a quest just as easily. Wielding a keyboard and cell phone instead of an enchanted flute, Ryan protects the company against the perils—and he fully admits that it can be a lonely role, especially when delivering bad news to directors and designers. His goal is to be egalitarian, even with celebrities like Mizrahi. “I had to test this [equal treatment] in a very big way, because his original design for ‘A Little Night Music’ was significantly over budget, and I was the one who had to tell him,” Ryan says. “I’m about to tell a major fashion designer that he’s got a $300,000 design in costume materials alone and a budget of $30,000 for those materials. I have that conversation every year with every director. And that conversation [usually] never goes well with anybody.” Let alone somebody who was on live TV just moments before taking that call and would go back on camera moments afterward. “He was on QVC during a 10-minute break,” Ryan recalls. “I watched him walk off the screen. My phone rang. I told him, ‘OK, look, we’re not even in the ballpark with you.’ He said, ‘Wow, OK. I’ll call you by noon tomorrow with a solution of how we’re going to get this in the ballpark.’” And, to Ryan’s surprise and delight, “That’s exactly what happened. Usually there’s screaming, ranting, not understanding.” This season’s “Magic Flute” will use the Andrew Porter translation commissioned for OTSL in 1980 (the first of its three previous productions, followed by shows in 1984 and 2002). But the dialogue has been newly revised, and the 2014 version also involves an unusual element for an opera: professional dancers. Mizrahi’s vision wouldn’t be complete without them.

Four of Mizrahi’s original costume sketches for “The Magic Flute.” There are over 70 costumes in the production, 60 of which were built in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ costume shop. Clockwise from top left: Shriner, Chick, the Queen of the Night and Serpent. Images courtesy of Isaac Mizrahi.

And then there are the costumes: 60 being built by OTSL’s costume shops, plus another two dozen from DeMoulin Bros & Co., a band uniform manufacturer in Greenville, IL, with the depth of knowledge to reproduce a vintage Shriner look. When Mozart debuted the opera in 1791, he imbued the words and music with liveliness and humor, but he couldn’t have imagined the diversity of materials and options that would become available for future productions. For the birds alone, says costume shop manager Stacy Harris, there are a multitude of decisions based on Mizrahi’s sketches. “Real feathers? Fabric painted like feathers? Custom-made pointe shoes?” Back in 2010 for “A Little Night Music,” Opera Theatre bought and adapted one of the costumes due to limitations on staff time and budget rather than producing it in-house as they typically do. “I could tell he didn’t really

like it,” recalls Pat Seyller, director of the costume shop, “but he went with it and was agreeable. He understood.” Seyller and Harris both love that this time Mizrahi gave them fully realized sketches rather than fashion design renderings, which can be hard to build off of for the costumes. He also includes historical info about the costumes— Mizrahi is famously well-prepared with background knowledge. And, on Opera Theatre’s end, “My staff is very, very good at trying to do what designers want,” says Seyller. About 40 people work on costumes and accessories in teams for the four shows. They start with the first opera to open—in this case, “The Magic Flute” kicked off in the costume shop on March 31—and go down the line. “The Elixir of Love,” (May 31-June 25), the world premiere of “Twenty-Seven” (June 14-June 29) and “Dialogues of the Carmelites” (June 18-28) round out this 39th festival season. JUNE 2014

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I RELY ON WHAT APPEALS TO ME AND WHAT I HOPE THE AUDIENCE IS GETTING FROM IT. I LOVE TO PLEASE A CROWD. “I don’t think that people realize how much work is being produced by the costume shop and how little time the drapers and their teams get to focus on one costume,” says Harris, who takes pride in the fact that OTSL creates almost all costumes for each production from scratch, unlike most operas around the country that rent them, often from OTSL. Seyller concurs—and admits that she herself is in awe of their productivity. “I’m always amazed at how much gets done in limited time.” Opera is unique in the scope: “Sometimes you wish you were doing a theater production that has 30 actors in it as opposed to 65 people, each with several outfits. Sometimes you’re overwhelmed by the size of opera, but the clothes are always much more spectacular!” For opera purists, the biggest question may be Mizrahi’s street cred for directing an opera in the first place. “He’s a terrific musician inside,” says Lord. When they worked together in 2010, Mizrahi impressed the veteran music director. “He knew exactly what he wanted, but he had to come up with a vocabulary that worked for opera singers.” Ironically, the singers—with whom the audience identifies the most—are among the last to gather. After they arrive for rehearsals, they spend two or three days exclusively on the music, then work on the dialogue—in English at OTSL, all the better for hearing and understanding the jokes Mozart threw in—then do about three weeks of “room rehearsals.” Only then, Lord says, do they add the stage and orchestra to the mix. “Even the easiest-looking piece is a great soufflé if it all comes together,” says Lord. “The great thing about live theater is that you never know. It’s an experience.” The adrenaline of getting it right every time drives all of the production departments, according to Ryan. “There’s going to be a number of moments in ‘Magic Flute’ where we’ve got all the elements coming together—lighting, video, scenic, costumes, et cetera. Like the Queen of the Night…any one of her scenes. And the symphony. All of that has to work. The Queen of the Night’s entrance has to be amazing in almost 360 degrees.” 54

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Mizrahi directing one of the first days of rehearsal for “The Magic Flute.” As both creative director and costume director, Mizrahi’s days leading up to the opening included multiple costume fittings and two rehearsals, often stretching 15 hours. Photo by Wesley Law.

The Happy Ending Sadness and evil are vanquished. Pamina and Tamino are blessed and live happily ever after. Even the spunky bird catcher uses his magic bells to find true love. And the intrepid director? How does he gauge a show’s success? “If I love it as much as I loved the vision,” Mizrahi says without hesitation. “I don’t really rely on critics or a lot of things other people might rely on. I rely on what appeals to me and what I hope the audience is getting from it.” With the self-deprecating candor that charms everyone from journalists to models—and a hint of laughter in his voice—Mizrahi adds, “I love to please a crowd.” Five months before “The Magic Flute” opening, Mizrahi was convinced that opera fans in St. Louis were already well on the way to embracing this production, sight unseen. “It’s a very learned audience,” he explains. “It knows what it’s looking at. I love that idea—I love playing to a smart common denominator.” And this particular singspiel—in fact, “The Magic Flute” was the fourth-most performed opera in the world during the 2012-13 season—“It’s beloved,” Mizrahi says. “You have your audience built in, so you’re not really worried because you know they’ll be there for you. That will only make your show better.” Robinson is likewise convinced of the St. Louis audiences’ support—and he can’t wait to see the show himself. He has directed it twice (“There’s so much of it that I love!” he says), but this year his directorial attention is on the world premiere of “Twenty-Seven.” For Harris and Seyller—spoiler alert!—the crucible of success hinges on the Queen of the

Night’s spectacular entrance. “I’m very excited to see how the Queen of the Night’s train works out,” Harris says, in reference to the complex entrance pattern that was still being perfected as this issue went to press. Seyller adds, in an awed tone, “I am very excited to see how it all comes together.” Ryan, meanwhile, will be assessing the night elsewhere. “I hang out in the lobby on opening night because I love to hear what the buzz is at intermission,” he says. “If there’s a great excitement, that’s when I feel like we’ve done a great job.” The challenge of pleasing that audience, of “reaching out and grabbing them,” is ultimately the reason Mizrahi is working with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. “This production is something I’ve been thinking about my entire life, since I saw it when I was a kid,” he says. “It’s been in my soul for so long.”

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ “The Magic Flute” runs from May 24 to June 28, with multiple performances each week at the Loretto-Hilton Center in Webster Groves. Tickets available at opera-stl.org.

JUNE

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“REVELATORY”

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“While it’s running, it’s the best thing going in the St. Louis region.”

SUMMER WRITERS INSTITUTE

– St. Louis Post-Dispatch

T HE WE LLS FA R GO A DV I S O R S 2 01 4 FE ST IVA L SE AS O N THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “27” June 14 – June 29 THE ELIXIR OF LOVE May 31 – June 25 DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES June 18 – 28 SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT $79. SINGLE TICKETS START AT $25. All operas are sung in English and performed with members of the famed St. Louis Symphony.

Opera Theatre gratefully acknowledges 2014 season presenting sponsor

ExperienceOpera.org / (314) 961- 0644

SHOE BIZ Brown Shoe Company celebrates a century on the NYSE and looks ahead to its next 100 years. By Sarah Stallmann | Photos courtesy of Brown Shoe Company

BOLD BUSINESS MOVES and big brands have secured Brown Shoe Company a coveted spot in the world of footwear. A vast 136-year history with countless milestones and accomplishments—including the recent celeb-packed celebration of its 100 years on the New York Stock Exchange—marks a huge turning point for the multi-billion dollar enterprise, whose growing contemporary fashion brands (Vince, Via Spiga, Franco Sarto and more) and sizable retail presence (including Famous Footwear and Shoes.com) are expected to take the company to new heights in its next 100 years. This past year alone has proved to be monumental for the St. Louis-based empire. CEO, President and Chairman of the Board Diane Sullivan was honored with the prestigious ACE Award for Business Visionary by the industry-respected Accessories Council—joining the ranks of high-profile fashion influencers like Iman, Warby Parker, Nordstrom and Vogue Europe Editor-at-Large Hamish Bowles. The award is at the pinnacle of Brown Shoe’s success. Since 2011, the company has doubled its earnings (reporting a 45 percent increase in stock price just last year), and its multitude of brands—including the booming lifestyle line of Sam Edelman—are at the top of their game. It’s fitting that this year also marks Brown Shoe’s 100 years on the New York Stock Exchange. After all, it’s the 24th oldest public company in the country to have reached the honor, joined by the likes of massive corporations including Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and

Wells Fargo. The company went all out to mark the milestone, taking the chance to ring the closing bell at the NYSE on April 23 and holding an A-list after-party featuring entertainment by Jennifer Hudson and a star-studded guest list that included Fergie, Estelle, Kenneth Cole and Derek Blasberg, among others, at the recently unveiled 4 World Trade Center. The gravity of the achievement isn’t lost on Sullivan, who sees the milestone as the jumping-off point of what will undoubtedly be an eventful next 100 years. “Our company is filled with passion and drive, and I’ve never been more excited about our future as I am right now, tonight,” Sullivan said during her celebratory speech in NYC. “We’ve been on a mission to transform Brown Shoe from a company you’ve never heard of to one you won’t forget. And it’s our unrelenting focus on our consumers, our brands, the belief in our people, our values—and you—that will help make it happen.” Strength in Numbers The Brown Shoe portfolio is nothing if not diverse. Its impressive roster includes fashion-forward in-house brands like Via Spiga, Sam Edelman, Carlos Santana, Vince, Fergie Footwear and Franco Sarto; top-tier comfort brands Ryka, Naya, Naturalizer and Dr. Scholl’s; more than 1,300 Famous Footwear and Naturalizer retail locations nationwide and a massive e-commerce presence with Shoes.com, FamousFootwear.com and 14 other branded e-commerce sites.

Via Spiga Elizabetha

The fact that each brand has its own distinct design lead and a team to facilitate trend forecasting, product development and execution has proven to be a winning formula for Brown Shoe. “We don’t just make shoes; we develop brands that are competitive and fashion forward in the national market,” Sullivan explains. “Our motto is also our number one policy: ‘Inspiring people to feel good and live better feet first.’” The reallignment of its portfolio in 2011, initiated by Sullivan, has been a game changer as well, setting the stage for the bold business moves that have defined the current era of Brown Shoe. In the last year alone, the company acquired high-performing fashion brand, Franco Sarto, for $65 million; it announced plans to develop a Sam Edelman clothing and accessories line and ecommerce site; and it orchestrated a collaboration with HGTV’s “Color Splash” host David Bromstad for a new Naturalizer line. The ventures could extend into several of its other contemporary brands 58

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in the future, including Fergie Footwear, Sullivan says. Although the contemporary sector currently makes up a relatively small portion of Brown Shoe’s portfolio, it is expected to be a key area of growth moving forward. “We think in the next three years it will represent 20 to 25 percent of our business, which is substantial,” Sullivan explains. In the retail sector, the past few years have brought on a major shift in focus within Famous Footwear, a sector of the company that accounts for 63 percent of Brown Shoe’s revenue. Sullivan points out that simply opening more stores isn’t enough for retailers to stay competitive. “We are looking at the way our Famous Footwear customer is shopping and how much they are shopping online. It’s all about omni-channel marketing, knowing your customer and factoring in how and why they shop,” she says. New ideas and fresh marketing concepts have led to a more customer-focused environment. Most recently, Famous Footwear released a mobile app that not only helps generate business in stores, but assists customers at keeping qualifying discounts and deals right at their fingertips. “It’s been about finding the trend and the stories that are important to our customer and a higher focus on who that customer is, offering expanded size runs and interior visual enhancements to provide ease and familiarity,” says Rick Ausick, division president of Famous Footwear. Historically Speaking The past decade since Sullivan came onboard at Brown Shoe isn’t the only time the company has enjoyed some serious momentum. Historically, Brown Shoe has a track record of growth and development, and it’s prouder than ever to have stayed fully grounded in its rich St. Louis roots. When the company was founded in 1878, its creator, George Warren Brown fully believed St. Louis could become the manufacturing epicenter for the shoe industry. By the early part of the 20th century, the original core brand Buster Brown was already a household name, spearheading a century of impressive growth.

1. Brown Shoe's popular Sam Edelman brand family is predicted to be one of the company's largest areas of growth. 2. The company held a swank anniversary celebration in New York, April 2014. 3. CEO Diane Sullivan on the red carpet before the ACE Awards in New York, 2013.

Although times have undoubtedly changed, Brown Shoe’s original vision is alive and well within the company walls. “We test things, we put ourselves out there… our past has given us the confidence and reputation in the industry of being a reliable company,” Ausick says. “Now it’s about doing our part to keep the company moving in a positive direction.” Being headquartered in the same city for well over a century has also granted Brown Shoe the ability to change with the consumer. “We aren’t short-termers and we don’t make decisions based on short-term solutions,” explains Michael Oberlander, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. “But that doesn’t mean we’re not quick and agile when it comes to developing up-to-the-minute trends.” From the rapid growth of the American industry in the late 1900s, through the Great Depression, World Wars and the tech boom, Brown Shoe has weathered the ups and downs, holding tight to its core principles of respect and integrity, while pushing the boundaries of what it means to be in the shoe business. The company was among the first to harness the power of major national advertising campaigns with its series of creative ads that ran in major publications, including Vogue, Life, Sports Illustrated and Seventeen in the mid-1950s. Fast forward to the ’70s and Brown Shoe was pushing the boundaries again, restructuring the corporation to become Brown Group Inc., to better position the company to compete in the then rapidly growing and changing shoe industry. Today, Sullivan continues to lead the charge of innovation. A major focus for the CEO and her team

has been to encourage Brown Shoe to “step out of the footwear space,” and lead its transformation into a highly competitive global brand. “We are nice,” says Sullivan, when referring to the company’s strong Midwestern roots and sensibilities. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t competitive.” Growing Contemporary Although Brown Shoe has made great strides in the contemporary sector with its growing list of brands and celebrity collaborations, Sullivan believes there’s more work to be done when it comes to the visibility of the company as a contemporary fashion source. “There are still people out there who don’t know who we are and what we’re capable of, but people are starting to really realize the impact we’re having on the contemporary fashion market,” she says. There’s no doubt Brown Shoe has unlocked the secret to turning celebrity collaborations into money-generating brands. Take Fergie, for example. The Grammy-winning pop princess began developing not one, but two lines—Fergie Footwear and Fergalicious by Fergie—and, in her six-year partnership with Brown Shoe, she remains one of the company’s highest performing contemporary brands. The same goes for Carlos Santana, who combines up-to-the-minute trends to create hip footwear inspired by the energy and passion of his music. “In terms of being the go-to place for both footwear and people that have the know-how and confidence to develop successful brands— we are the first call that people, including celebrities, will make if they are interested in footwear,” Sullivan says. A celebrity in his own right, Sam Edelman has also launched Brown Shoe to new heights with his namesake brand. Described as the biggest growth opportunity for the company by several top-level executives, the powerhouse brand encompasses a huge portion of the company’s contemporary fashion arena. Already a fashion industry veteran when he created the brand in 2004, the designer credits Brown Shoe—which purchased Edelman Shoe Inc. in 2010—for taking his company to the next level. “Brown Shoe acquired Sam Edelman when we were a much smaller brand,” Edelman says. “With their help in areas such as sourcing, IT and finances, we have been able to develop creatively to become one of the most influential companies in womenswear.” To develop his soon-to-be-introduced clothing line, a first for Brown Shoe, Edelman and Sullivan found a partner in another native St. Louis fashion business, Kellwood Company, a manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of brands including XOXO and Rebecca Taylor. Kellwood is set to produce the Sam Edelman contemporary collection that will launch this fall, with women’s, juniors’ and girls’ apparel in a similar design aesthetic to the brand's already well-established footwear. “We really believe that Sam Edelman can become a global lifestyle brand,” Sullivan says. “It has a huge crossover appeal amongst various age groups of women and is known for trend-driven fashion.”

For 2014 and beyond, there’s much in the works with Brown Shoe’s additional in-house designed contemporary brands, Franco Sarto, Vince and Via Spiga. The company has brought on a new designer to act as Via Spiga's creative lead, luxury footwear expert Paul Andrew, whose first collection will hit stores this fall. Meanwhile, Franco Sarto is coming off its highest sales year to date. John Schmidt, division president of contemporary fashion, sings the praises of the transition of the Franco Sarto brand from a traditional, classic aesthetic to a more modern, feminine competitor in Brown Shoe’s portfolio. “[Franco Sarto has] maintained the authenticity, fit and quality that has made the brand so loved by consumers…culminating in the brand reaching a record high for 2013,” he says. Sam Edelman is also set to perform at record highs in 2014, and a move into men’s footwear with Vince is a strong possibility on the horizon. “It’s all about execution,” says Sullivan. “Searching for and developing new and existing talent and continuing to make modern and relevant changes and developments in our brands while continuing to evolve within the national market.” Ausick, a 14-year veteran of the company, agrees and sees Brown’s current initiatives as the modern progression of what the company has been about all along. “When other companies were focusing on fads, we saw an opportunity in women’s fashion, family and healthy living,” he says. “Our history gives us the confidence to keep pushing forward, developing new brands—we expect to be here for the next 100 years.” 1. Naturalizer's "A Perfect Fitting Shoe" advertisement, 1944. 2. Brown Shoe's former Connie line, circa 1960s. 3. Brown Shoe Company's booth at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.

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A BLOOM WITH A VIEW

Etro blouse, Rag & Bone pants, Oscar de la Renta earrings and Gucci heels available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811.

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Down in Jungleland

Go wild with your summer wardrobe in a garden of fiery florals, radiant paisleys and kaleidoscopic tribals. Photography: Attilio Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Agostino | Styling: Trudy Hayden for Talent Plus Model: Stefanie Elsperman for Centro Models Hair: Valerie Brown for Talent Plus | Makeup: Kat Hinkle for ABTP Shot on location at Bowood Farms (bowoodfarms.com) in the Central West End.

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LONG-STEM POSES

Robert Rodriguez top and Alexis Bittar earrings available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811. Shorts available at Cha, Ladue, 314.993.8080. Shoes, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

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FLOWER BED

Milly blouse available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9200. Hanky Panky boy shorts, necklace and Stephanie Kantis cuffs available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811.

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BRIMMING WITH COLOR

Haute Hippie blouse and pants and Equipment Femme tank available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9200. Eugenia Kim hat, Stephanie Kantis ring and Alexis Bittar earrings available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac 314.567.9811.

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FEELING VINE

Alice + Olivia pants, Alexis Bittar bracelet and Chanel sunglasses available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811. Yigal Azrouel tee available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9200. Shoes, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

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ARMS RACY

Alexis blouse available at Vie, Ladue, 314.997.0124. Haute Hippie shorts, Alexis Bittar ring and earrings available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811. Tory Burch sandals available at Byrd Designer Consignment, Ladue, 314.721.0766.

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JUNGLE CAMOUFLAGE

Clover Canyon top, Tom Ford sunglasses and Stephanie Kantis ring available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811. Alexis pants available at Vie, Ladue, 314.997.0124. Bracelet available at GiddyUp Jane, Ladue, 314.993.9944. Stylist Assistants: Casherel Anais and Abbey Endres. Special thanks to Katherine McPheeters, Lizzy McPheeters-Rickard and David Kirkland at Bowood Farms (bowoodfarms. com).

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2O14 EDITED BY JENNIFER DULIN WILEY AND KELLY HAMILTON WRITTEN BY AMY DE LA HUNT CHRISTOPHER REILLY MOLLY RIPPINGER SARAH STALLMANN AND JENNIFER WELLS PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SILVERBERG ILLUSTRATIONS BY CARTEL CARLOS ZAMORA & GABRIEL LARA LEÃ&#x201C;N

ALL THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT ST. LOUIS IN ONE SIZZLING LIST

SHOPPING

Best New Boutique

THE CLOVER The Clover has quickly become one of STL’s top boutiques for fresh new finds, thanks to owners Jen Rieger and Chris Rubin de la Borbolla’s passion for experimenting with unique, fashion-forward lines. Well-curated brand staples include a massive selection of denim from Hudson, Joe’s Jeans and Henry & Belle, casualwear favorites like Susana Monaco and Super Maggie, and various independently-owned and fashion-forward labels, including Coconinno by STLFW vet, Eva Franco. Webster Groves, 314.467.0436. People’s Choice: Ivy Hill, Ladue, 314.721.7004.

classic aesthetic of Chanel, one hop, skip and jump around the well-merchandised collection of seasonal footwear can satisfy every whim for both men and women. Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9200.

Best Handbags

NEIMAN MARCUS For a fashion-loving gal, Heaven looks very similar to the handbag department at Neiman Marcus, which boasts top-of-the-line designer offerings from Chloé, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Valentino and more. Styles range from crossbody, clutches and hobos to totes, backpacks and wallets that appeal to consumers of all types, but have one serious fashion calling. Plaza Frontenac, 314.567.9811.

Best Contemporary Selection

CHA Fashion-forward styles and a commitment to offering the best in contemporary have secured Cha a top spot on our list of local shopping destinations. Shoppers can snag printed tees and basics alongside a large selection of dresses and separates by brands such as Parker, Joie, 7 For All Mankind and Free People to create outfits that take you seamlessly from day to night. It’s no wonder the boutique just announced its expansion to Columbia, MO, this fall. Ladue, 314.993.8080.

BLUSH With summer in full swing, women everywhere are on the hunt for the perfect festival wear essentials to sport at the many outdoor concerts and events in STL and beyond. Thankfully, Blush keeps its racks packed with the hippest selection of festival-friendly gear, as well as one of the largest selections of clothing by Free People in the region. Owner Sarah King’s commitment to one-on-one service and wardrobe building sets Blush apart as a must-stop shop on your quest for the perfect boho-chic look. Kirkwood, 314.965.4411.

IVY HILL Best Boutique

VIE If you’re looking for top-notch fashion brands with that one-on-one, boutique customer service feel, Vie is the place to be. The roster of labels includes fashion staples like Nicole Miller and Alice + Olivia; denim from the likes of J Brand and Current/Elliot; Kai beauty products; and jewelry by Safia, Miguel Ases and Virgins, Saints & Angels. Owner Melodie Tauben is a master at curating merchandise at various price points and styles ranging from t-shirts to black-tie, offering an effortlessly glamorous selection of goods for the modern shopper. Ladue, 314.997.0124. People’s Choice: Blush, Kirkwood, 314.965.4411. 70

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Best Menswear

EAST + WEST Fashion-savvy guys know the best place to snag the top trends is at East + West. A perfect mix of casual and professional, the menswear boutique sports indie brands like Benchkraft and Shades of Grey alongside established staples like Naked & Famous Denim and Redwing. East + West has even launched an exclusive house brand, offering up a style-savvy collection of modern classics at competitive prices. Kirkwood, 314.835.1419.

Best Festival Wear

Best Accessories

By Sarah Stallmann

hefty selection of party dresses by Dolce Vita, MM Couture and Aryn K. As if the must-have brands aren’t enough—the friendly atmosphere and personalized service will keep you coming back for more. Town & Country, 636.220.6110.

Best Swimwear

From celeb-loving brands to classic selections, Ivy Hill boasts a wide variety of jewelry, handbags, belts, scarves and more, all carefully curated to accent any wardrobe. With the shop’s extensive selection of must-have brands including House of Harlow and Big Buddha, it’s only natural that owner Hillary Dutcher’s second location in Ladue has been so successful at complementing the boutique’s original digs in the CWE. Multiple locations, ivyhillboutique.com.

St. Louis veteran boutique Splash has become synonymous with summer, offering up one of the largest selections of fashionable swimwear in the area. From beachy cool to boho-chic, there’s a style for everyone inside the Ladue destination, organized according to style and theme within the brightly lit space. Ladue, 314.721.6442.

Best Shoe Selection

Best Girls Night Looks

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

KLUTCH

For the ultimate lust-worthy selection of designer footwear in the city, turn to the shoe department at Saks Fifth Avenue to fulfill your every desire. From the quirky styles of Sophia Webster to the

Whether you’re feeling sassy or leaning toward sweet, you’re sure to snag the perfect outfit for a night out with the girls at Klutch. Top designer brands include Bailey 44, Wildfox and Zoa with a

SPLASH

People’s Choice: Nordstrom, multiple locations, nordstrom.com.

Best Denim

SOLE & BLUES Throughout the many stages of retail in its 10-plus-year span, Sole & Blues has stood the test of time, thanks to one of the most extensive selections of high-quality denim in the area. A favorite stop for rock ’n’ rollers and fashionistas alike, Sole & Blues offers denim selections from staple brands like J Brand, G-Star, AG Denim and Hudson for both men and women, with a full selection of clothing, shoes and accessories to boot. The Loop, 314.863.3600.

Best Fine Jewelry

ELLEARD HEFFERN FINE JEWELERS The fine jewelry experts at St. Louis’ own Elleard Heffern have been providing beautifully crafted gold, platinum and sterling silver jewelry featuring fine gemstones, diamonds and pearls for more than 100 years—and it shows. As the foremost authority on estate jewelry with an expert staff, we simply wouldn’t consider shopping anywhere else. Clayton, 314.863.8820. People’s Choice: Tiffany & Co., Plaza Frontenac, 314.692.2255.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

The Clover

Best Department Store

NORDSTROM

Say hello to the destination shoppers turn to for the latest fashions and exclusive offerings, like the popular SJP and Kate Moss for Topshop collections. Multiple locations, nordstrom.com.

pulls together a highly curated selection of international and local vendors, including The Eye Bar, East + West, Ivy Hill and K. Hall Designs, and individual items by local designers Wai Ming and Lori Coulter, among others. Need we say more? Downtown, 314.241.5420.

Best Kids Apparel

ALBARRÉ JEWELRY Albarré specializes in one of the largest selections of timeless pieces in the area, replete with watches and estate designer gems and jewels in styles ranging from modern to classic, with brands including St. Louis’ own Laura Kathleen to Rolex, Jorg Gray and Phillip Stein. A local staple since 1976, you know you’re in good hands for both selection and repair. Ladue, 314.997.1707.

Best International Pieces

PACE FARIAS Owners Suzanne Pace and Ricardo Farias Nicolopulos have combined their love for culture, color and wearable art at this Plaza Frontenac boutique. The vibrant storefront offers a hefty selection of garments from around the world, supporting designers from locales such as Mexico, Italy and Greece. Pace Farias is also active in its support of local artists; don’t miss its printed silk scarves by local painter Mary Sprague. Plaza Frontenac, 314.983.0781.

Best Boutique Curation

10DENZA From the moment you walk into 10denza, you know it’s something special. A smart mix of men’s and women’s apparel, music and pop culture, the CWE boutique features an unprecedented 72

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selection of up-to-the-minute styles alongside a sizable inventory of books, art, footwear and tech gear. Case closed. Central West End, 314.361.1010.

Best Showroom

DEVIL CITY For those passionate about high-quality American-made goods and workmanship, Devil City offers three house brands of countless retro-inspired wardrobe staples to tickle your fancy. Owners Deborah and Brad Fink recently opened the Delmar Loop showroom as a vintage-inspired locale to house the design team of Devil City Women’s, Devil City Tees and kids line Frad Bink, in addition to the wholesale business and web store. The Loop, devilcity.com.

Best New Shopping Destination

TAUBMAN PRESTIGE OUTLETS Taubman Prestige Outlets is the ultimate deal-hunters’ paradise with over 300,000 square feet of retail space in an open-air shopping format. The eclectic mix includes shops for popular brands like Juicy Couture, Restoration Hardware, Bebe and Polo Ralph Lauren. Take your four-legged friend shopping, and enjoy Summer Fun Wednesdays, complete with entertainment for the kids. Chesterfield, 636.812.0570. People’s Choice: St. Louis Premium Outlets, Chesterfield, 314.399.8163.

Best Knitwear

SKIF A fashion staple in St. Louis and nationwide, Skif is as much a local institution as its creator, knitwear master Nina Ganci, whose bold colors, unique shapes and a broad crossover appeal have been pleasing shoppers for years. Look for signature pieces from collaborations with independent designers Michael Drummond, Qun Liu and Cynthia Ashby, as well as an atelier collection of covetable hand-made garments. The Hill, 314.773.4401.

CITY SPROUTS This adorable boutique provides a comprehensive selection of stylish finds for babies and kids from an impressive roster of brands, including Peppercorn Kids, BabyLegs, Jellycat, Manhattan Toy and more. Snag necessary gear like strollers and highchairs while shopping the well-curated selection of fashionable duds at the new location in Colonial Marketplace. Ladue, 314.726.9611.

Best Online Shopping

ARTEMISHOP.COM Best Western Wear

GIDDYUP JANE There’s no better place in town to score the perfect western wear than this charming boutique. GiddyUp Jane offers an unbeatable selection of sophisticated Wild West-inspired goods, including owner Jane Lavey’s signature vintage belt buckles. Additional stock includes cowboy boots from the likes of Luccese and Old Gringo, accessories from Made in the Deep South and apparel by Whish, Cattelac and more. Ladue, 314.993.9944.

Best Place to Shop Local

THE COLLECTIVE AT MX We call it the ultimate local shopping destination, because—with more than 40 mini-stores in a comprehensive retail co-op concept in the heart of Downtown—it is. Founder Nicole Benoist

Avid online shoppers can now shop indie without ever leaving home, thanks to this online destination for vintage-inspired clothing, shoes, accessories, outerwear and home decor. The recently added Midwest base works with made-in-theUSA vendors, local crafters and bloggers to showcase a wide variety of wares. Happy shopping. Artemishop.com.

Best Activewear

DIMVALOO Dimvaloo is proof that fashion and fitness can coexist, thanks to its exclusive Australian activewear line, Lorna Jane. From sporty separates to accessories and gym bags, the shop satisfies the desire for comfort and style while keeping you dedicated to your fitness goals with weekly events like sessions with local trainers and athletes in a variety of workout techniques. Ladue, 314.824.8224.

The Clover photo by Wesley Law courtesy of The Clover.

Best Timeless Pieces

Best Designer Resale

Best Kept Secret

Best Local Book Store

Best Eyewear

BYRD

Q BOUTIQUE

LEFT BANK BOOKS

ERKER’S

Designer resale takes on a whole new meaning at Byrd, where fashionistas can snag high-quality labels at a fraction of the price. Named one of Lucky Magazine’s Favorite Stores, Byrd provides an exceptional selection of gently used, consigned designer items by Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Chanel and more, all at prices that won’t leave you with a case of buyer’s remorse. Ladue, 314.721.0766.

For an eclectic mix of unique chess memorabilia, books, gift items and collectables by independent artists, look no further than this gem at the World Chess Hall of Fame. The shop is stocked with a perfectly curated selection of everything from home decor and kids items to unique gifts. As a bonus, Q Boutique launches an exclusive pop-up boutique, FLUX, once a year that features quality high-fashion merchandise by designers (last year’s featured April Johnston and Laura Kathleen). Central West End, 314.367.9243.

A large selection of both new and used books coupled with a commitment to the community has earned this literary staple a nod on our honor roll. No matter your fancy, you’ll find the perfect book to sink your nose into—and perhaps meet the author at one of the many in-store events and signings throughout the year. Become a member of the Friends program and your purchases will support the LBB Foundation, a nonprofit that provides books and programming to those in need. Central West End, 314.367.6731.

Best Vintage

People’s Choice: ScholarShop, multiple locations, scholarshopstl.org.

People’s Choice: Clarkson Eyecare, multiple locations, clarksoneyecare. com.

People’s Choice: Left Bank Books, Central West End, 314.367.6731.

RETRO 101 While on the hunt for the perfect vintage finds, you’re sure to make a very long pit stop at this hub of nearly flawless vintage clothing, shoes and accessories for both men and women, in addition to an unbeatable selection of home decor items, furniture, hats and leather goods to please even the most critical shopper. Don’t let the gigantic selection of merchandise overwhelm you—the knowledgeable staff can point you in the right direction (and often give you a full history lesson) of nearly any item in the store. Benton Park, 314.762.9722.

As one of the oldest and most trusted eyewear providers in the city, Erker’s is the top stop for celebrities and sports stars alike in search of the perfect specs. Clients are hooked thanks to its well-stocked shelves of exclusive brands and big-name designers (David Yurman, Cartier, Barton Perreira and more), boasting current trends and styles that are both classic and chic. Multiple locations, erkers.com.

Best Streetwear

Best Gifts

CLR-MNSTR This trendy Downtown boutique brings a youthful edge to the St. Louis shopping scene, providing a much-needed outlet for local artists and T-shirt brands to get their goods into the hands of stylish shoppers. The influx of streetwear brands to the area has made CLR-MNSTR’s mission of rejuvenating the garment district a successful one, and its ongoing support of aspiring designers means there’s always something fresh from your favorite artisan to keep you coming back for more. Downtown, 314.241.1930.

LUSSO

Best Shopping for a Cause

RUNG You know you can always feel good about shopping at Rung, where every purchase makes a difference. A portion of all proceeds from the top-notch selection of resale fashion labels—including the much coveted Diane von Fürstenberg, St. John, Trina Turk, Free People, Zara and more— benefits the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis and its efforts to support at-risk women and their children. Rock Hill, 314.918.0575.

WE HEART HANDMADE

Lusso is equipped with a charming selection of gifts for nearly any person on your list. Feminine home accent pieces from Sir Madame and Barefoot Dreams reside next to items that have a more masculine touch, while kids have plenty to love from the likes of Haba and Little Nest. The goods will get you, but the customer service is tough to match— Lusso’s staff is one of the friendliest in town. Clayton, 314.725.7205. People’s Choice: Cat’s Meow Personalized Gifts, Des Peres, 314.909.1415.

STL’s handmade artisans give us a lot to love.

Best Handmade Jewelry

Best Etsy Buzz

Best Handmade Accessories

Best Place to Buy Handmade

SCARLETT GARNET

FABLE + LORE

JUST LIV

THE FOUNDRIE

Designers Katie Miller and Garnet Griebel have created one of the most recognizable and stylish local brands, featuring distinctive jewelry crafted from coveted natural materials, including carved metals, bone, leather and stone. Benton Park, 314.540.0300.

Designer Chelsie Hellige scours the urban wilderness of St. Louis and beyond to locate the perfect natural materials to build her modern bohemian jewelry creations, most recently featured in Australian fashion magazine, Frankie. Etsy.com/Shop/FableAndLore.

From festival-chic to flapper-inspired, Just Liv provides quality handmade accessories made locally by indie market pro Elizabeth Hahn-Lawrence, who uses vintage fabrics and salvaged items from estate sales and other hidden gold mines. JustLiv.com.

One step inside The Foundrie, and you’ll no doubt feel like you’re in handmade Heaven. Thousands of items are housed in mini designer shops, highlighting countless talented crafters and artisans from St. Louis and beyond. Chesterfield, 636.730.4130.

Cutest for Kids

Best Handmade Home Decor

Best Handmade Men’s Items

Best Handmade Beauty Products

RILEY CONSTRUCTION

1933 DESIGNS

BENCHKRAFT

BLISSOMA

The fact that local designer April Tate hails from a family of passionate crafters makes her adorable handmade rag dolls and plushies almost too cute for words. Etsy.com/Shop/RileyConstruction.

With its classic American revival style, 1933 offers up a variety of rustic home decor items handmade from whiskey barrels, including coat racks, lamps, wine holders, bar stools and more. Etsy.com/Shop/1933Designs.

Crafting quality leather goods to last a lifetime is the passion of the brothers of Benchkraft, whose wallets, belts and cardholders have made their way onto the shelves of countless local boutiques. Benchkraft.com.

Skincare is a science and Blissoma creator Julie Longyear is a master, whipping up a full line of all-natural products from soaps to moisturizers that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Blissoma.com. JUNE 2014

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Best City Living

Best Flower Shop

ROCKET CENTURY

CORTONA AT FOREST PARK

FLOWERS TO THE PEOPLE

If it’s sleek lines, classic wood grains or a hint of nostalgia that you seek, Rocket Century is the place for you. Well-crafted, historically relevant, midcentury modern pieces are a given, but we’re especially in awe of the new Vintage Modern Collective, formed so even more connected buyers can be seeking out those rare and timeless items for you to snatch up on your next visit. South Grand, 314.875.0705.

The resort-like amenities alone have us prepping for a summer full of outdoor fun and poolside lounging. The community’s three-tiered swimming space features a lap pool, hot tub and tanning ledge, while the cabana negates any need for a summer vacay. The half-acre courtyard (complete with outdoor grills and a 24-foot fire table) extend living spaces far beyond residents’ designated apartments, presenting endless opportunities for outdoor entertaining. The lifestyle afforded is on par with elite hotel living, and the location (directly across from one of the most beautiful city parks in the country) leaves little to be desired. Forest Park, 314.553.9322.

This Cherokee shop is the antithesis of standard online flower delivery. You don’t choose from a yawn-worthy catalog of last year’s floral trends—but rather—rely on the instinct, originality and inspiration of Flowers to the People to guide you through choosing a locally grown, sustainable and fresh flower bouquet. Floral arrangements are thoughtfully presented in repurposed vases, but if being a responsible consumer isn’t motivation enough, feel free to base your purchase on aesthetics alone—the shop’s fabulous florals are as beautiful as they are eco-conscious. Shop in the summer for the best variety, when the STL growing season is at its peak. Benton Park, 314.762.0422.

Best Home Accessories

SAVVY SURROUNDING STYLE You’ve seen their design work around town (we loved the window display they did for Bissinger’s CWE shop) but if you’re a home decor aficionado, you simply must stop by the Ladue store. It’s the finishing touches—mantle makers, foyer features and a bevy of other stylish solutions that really have the potential to add so much zest to your nest. Our current reason for frequenting is to browse the meticulously curated selection of abstract art while contemplating the purchase of a jewel-toned, Moroccan-inspired mirror. Ladue, 314.432.7289. People’s Choice: Crate & Barrel, Richmond Heights, 314.725.6380.

By Jennifer Wells

Best Furniture

Best Gifts for the Home

CENTRO MODERN FURNISHINGS

K. HALL DESIGNS Taking the treachery out of gift-giving is K. Hall Designs, a store fully stocked with shelf upon shelf of nothing but sure things. With chic, perfectly packaged assortments of candles, diffusers, hand soaps and more within reach, you’ll find gifts to please the haughtiest of hostesses and the most nitpicky of newlyweds. We’re especially fond of the Hobnail glass candles, which come in tons of fashion-forward colors and can be repurposed as vases after you’ve enjoyed their fragrance and flame. Multiple locations, khalldesigns.com.

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Attainable art is in no way an overstatement when describing Centro’s modern furniture offerings. In fact, you can currently find examples of its pieces on display at the Saint Louis Art Museum as part of its permanent modern furniture exhibit. The difference at Centro is that you can not only admire your favorites, but also touch, feel, test—and even purchase the piece you’re most fond of. The showroom offers a number of exclusive brands including B&B Italia and Cassina (need we say more?), many of which are considered by those in the know to be the best in the world. Central West End, 314.454.0111.

Gardener’s Go-To

BOWOOD FARMS A relaxing respite in the heart of the city, Bowood Farms allows you to peruse the best of nature’s bounty while enjoying an atmosphere that is nothing short of delightful. Although avid gardeners are sure to revel in Bowood Farms’ many botanical offerings, die-hard shoppers will find there’s plenty for them as well—like shopping for home decor, planters and vases, followed by a delectable nibble at the on-site garden-to-table restaurant, Café Osage. Central West End, 314.454.6868.

Centro Modern Furnishings

Best New Home Store

WEST ELM If we were to pick one word to describe West Elm, it would have to be timely. Nearly everything on the floor is something we want—and we want it now. From the thoroughly on-trend home decor (we’re dying for the monogram mirrored butler tray), to the ridiculously fabulous collaborations (Minted, Carla Peters, Craftmark, Etsy), there’s nary a home goods category that doesn’t have something worth coveting. Saint Louis Galleria, 314.863.5287.

Centro Modern Furnishings photo courtesy of Centro Modern Furnishings.

HOME

Best Vintage Furniture

DINING

Best Restaurant

Best Ambiance

NICHE

BAR LES FRÈRES

Birds taking flight above the kitchen is apt artwork for this no-holdsbarred restaurant from celebrated local chef Gerard Craft. Not only has he soared to the top of the national food scene—2014 marks his fifth time as a James Beard Best Chef: Midwest finalist—he consistently manages to surprise and delight denizens of the local food scene with Niche’s modern American cuisine based on humble (often local) ingredients like rhubarb, beans, rice and chicken livers. Clayton, 314.773.7755.

This petite bistro doubled in size and charm recently, adding a chartreuse dining room to the deep-red bar. Owner Zoë Robinson intentionally plays to both feminine and masculine tastes, juxtaposing elegant decor with playful accents like antlers. But the restaurant is more than a feast for the eyes—with a French-inspired menu and a firstrate staff, it’s the gastronomic equivalent of a Parisian spa day. Clayton, 314.725.8880.

People’s Choice: Pappy’s Smokehouse, Midtown, 314.535.4340.

Best New Restaurant

JUNIPER The crave-inducing chicken and waffles with pickles and peanut butter is just a prelude to all the tricks chef John Perkins has up his sleeve at this temple of Southern cuisine. Shrimp and grits. Blue corn spoonbread. Buttermilk biscuits. A flight of country ham. Chess pie. And to wash it down, cocktails like none other in town, featuring old-school sodas with high-end spirits. Fans of his underground, pop-up restaurants anxiously waited for Perkins to settle down in his own space— and now that he has, they’re living it up Dixie style. Central West End, 314.329.7696. By Amy De La Hunt

People’s Choice: Billy G’s, Kirkwood, 314.984.8000.

Best Chef

KEVIN NASHAN By the numbers: For 10 years, Nashan and his wife, Mina, have owned the iconic Sidney Street Café—and they’ve taken it to new heights year after year. Five times a semifinalist for the James Beard Best Chef: Midwest award, Nashan competed for the top honor again this year. He can often be found dashing across the street for herbs and produce from the kitchen’s 100-yard garden. And, if all goes according to plan, he’ll be on the run even more—rumor has it Nashan is taking over the former Niche space for a brand-new, much-anticipated endeavor. Benton Park, 314.771.5777.

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Best Fine Dining

ELAIA If you’re not already in a transcendent mood when you arrive at Ben Poremba’s restaurant in the Botanical Heights neighborhood, his food will get you there. The Mediterranean-inspired dishes draw on his background, but without nostalgia, with new twists on ingredients, like foie gras parfait and bison-lamb meatballs. It all adds up to Poremba getting noticed nationally: as a James Beard Best Chef: Midwest semifinalist this year and as one of the contenders for Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef: Midwest. Botanical Heights, 314.932.1088.

views of the Arch and downtown, is one of the most versatile terraces in the city. Thanks to its size, Cielo’s outdoor dining space can simultaneously host hungry travelers intent on their meals, boisterous gatherings in the cabanas, romantic couples lounging in corners and a wine dinner around the pool. Being attached to one of the best Italian kitchens in the city has its perks— the cuisine is as elevated as the views. Downtown, 314.881.5800.

Most Innovative Concept

ELEMENT Best Menu

THE LIBERTINE Vegetables, meat, seafood, dessert— what else does a menu need, really? But look closer, because within these categories are the creative and inspired ingredients that set Executive Chef and co-owner Josh Galliano apart. He can pull off kale chips with cauliflower puree right next to a Southern “breakfast” of granola, peppercorns, rhubarb, cream cheese and lime. Two perennial favorites embody the fun the staff is having: the pigs’ tails, served like buffalo chicken, and the candy bar, constructed of ice cream and ganache. Clayton, 314.862.2999.

With a team leader like Element’s Executive Chef Brian Hardesty, collaboration couldn’t sound more delicious. Hardesty’s resume on the local restaurant scene has given him insights into what works, and his latest Lafayette Square venture is a prime example. The concept is for his fellow chefs, including Chris DiMercurio and Sam Boettler, to keep the menu simmering with new ideas for sea urchin or scrapple or sorghum or steak. Best of all, the open kitchen lets you watch the team in action as they work on the final project: your meal. Lafayette Square, 314.241.1674.

Best Locavore Menu Best Wine List

THE RESTAURANT AT THE CHESHIRE With 1,700 wines—including 30 different varieties by the glass—this is clearly a destination for oenophiles. Beverage director Patricia Wamhoff, a certified wine educator and advanced sommelier working toward a master sommelier honor, ensures the wines are approachable as well, in part by offering the best domestic producers from California to New York. Enjoy the visual of a floor-toceiling glass wine cellar—then ask Wamhoff for a recommendation. Clayton, 314.932.7818.

Best Outdoor Dining

FARMHAUS To sum up just how closely chef Kevin Willmann connects his menu to local farmers—and to see the snout-to-tail philosophy at its finest—you only need to look at one dish: the Butcher’s Plate. His adventurous selection might include sausage, pig ear terrine, pork pie, cow’s milk and goat’s milk cheeses, port gastrique, marmalade, apple butter, pickles and house-made bread. It’s no small wonder that Willmann was again honored as a James Beard Best Chef: Midwest semifinalist this year, or that his dining room is packed every night. South City, 314.647.3800.

Best Contemporary American Cuisine

CIELO

SCAPE AMERICAN BISTRO

Located on the eighth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, with incredible

The chefs at Scape understand your senses better than you do. They

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know what scents draw you in, what presentations catch your eye and what textures perk up your taste buds. Roasted butternut squash soup is scented with sage; vegetable lasagna is a square of tastiness bundled with zucchini and goulash with spaetzle gains umami from a fried egg on top. Thus, the menu of American classics is at once familiar and unexpected, serious (dry-aged steaks) and playful (deconstructed desserts). Central West End, 314.361.7227.

Best Restaurant Across the River

CLEVELAND-HEATH Plenty of St. Louisans have discovered a new destination across the river, thanks to Jennifer Cleveland and Eric Heath. When they set up shop two years ago, the chefs/owners quickly became a culinary magnet with their simply prepared versions of everyone’s favorite dishes,

from $32 steaks to $9 street tacos. Let’s just say, it’s worth hanging around the Illinois side and having a drink or two while marveling that the river really isn’t that big of a barrier after all. Edwardsville, 618.307.4830.

younger crew scarfs French toast and fingerling potatoes. Central West End, 314.932.5595.

CENTRAL TABLE FOOD HALL Craving sushi? Pasta? Octopus? Steak? Pizza? Kale? You’ll find some of everything under this European-style food hall’s very large roof, and all of it is cooked with such skill that even the curmudgeons in your group will leave satisfied. Ditto for the wines—a cross section of varietals from around the world, and even a few sakes—and the cocktails, both classic and inventive (we recommend the Night on Euclid with vodka, peach liquor, lime juice and prosecco). But the best meal for an all-ages crowd is brunch, where parents can nibble oysters while the

STL FAVORITES

LULU’S LOCAL EATERY

The downstairs expansion means more opportunity for private events, classes and dinners—which only further enhance the character of this beloved emporium of miscellaneous housewares, baked goods, books, takeout, groceries and more. During breakfast and lunch hours, the hustle and bustle is part of the charm that comes with enjoying your seasonal quiche or house-made granola. Evenings are mellower, giving the chefs a chance to stretch their creativity into gnocchi with nettle pesto and roasted chicken with charred ramps and horseradish cream. University City, 314.725.7559.

With its signature verdant rooftop garden, this food truck stands out from the crowd of 40-plus competitors on the streets of St. Louis. Owners Lauren Loomis and Robert Tucker score points for visual appeal, but it’s their approach to promoting healthfulness in their food, environment and community that draws loyal customers to wherever they park on any given day (and to their newly opened bricksand-mortar café on South Grand as well). An example: Lulu’s was the first local food truck to be certified sustainable by the Green Dining Alliance. The food is all vegan (and often gluten-free). We highly recommend the loaded nachos or the sweet potato-quinoa chili or the African peanut stew. Who knew healthy could taste this good? @lulusfoodtruck.

People’s Choice: Benton Park Café, Benton Park, 314.771.7200.

People’s Choice: Seoul Taco, @SeoulTaco.

Best Café

WINSLOW’S HOME Best Crowd-Pleasing Selection

Best Food Truck

It’s not St. Louis dining without these local staples.

Best Steakhouse

Best Mexican

Best Pizza

Best Burger

THE BLOCK

MISSION TACO JOINT

PASTARIA

SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE

From house-made pork rinds to the butcher’s cut of grass-fed beef with special sauce, this is a meat-lover’s paradise. And, because bacon makes everything better, it shows up often—in jam, mac ’n’ cheese and, yes, salads. Multiple locations, theblockrestaurant.com.

This popular stop for booze and California-style tacos has won over our tastebuds, thanks to delicious salsas and fillings like beef brisket, fish, duck, tofu, pork shoulder, chicken, cactus and flank steak. Look for version 2.0 in Soulard soon. The Loop, 314.932.5430.

We like that there’s an app to help us secure a spot on the waiting list for a coveted table ahead of time, but the wait has always been worth it for chef Gerard Craft’s take on Neapolitan-style pizzas, right down to the little charred pockets on the crust. Clayton, 314.862.6603.

High-quality beef is one of the secrets to these delectably juicy patties. Work up an appetite standing in line—that way you can order a double, topped off with a chocolate-pb-bourbon shake. Multiple locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com

People’s Choice: Tucker’s Place,

People’s Choice: El Maguey, multi-

People’s Choice: Pi Pizzeria, multi-

Soulard, 314.772.5977.

ple locations, 314.832.3632.

ple locations, restaurant.pi.com.

People’s Choice: O’Connell’s Pub, Southwest Garden, 314.773.6600.

Best Sushi

Best Italian

Best Mediterranean

Best Barbecue

TANI SUSHI BISTRO

I FRATELLINI

CAFÉ NATASHA

PAPPY’S SMOKEHOUSE

Specialty rolls like the flaming Oh My God roll are a trademark, but fans of nigiri and maki equally revel in the deliciously fresh fish. Clayton, 314.727.8264.

Intimate and elegant, this café has an Old World feel, right down to the classic pasta dishes and hearty protein-and-potatoes fare. Clayton, 314.727.7901.

Pappy’s has it in the bag, thanks to pitmaster Mike Emerson, his Memphis-style dry rub and cooking times from four to 14 hours. Midtown, 314.535.4340.

People’s Choice: Drunken Fish, multiple locations, drunkenfish. com.

People’s Choice: Zia’s, The Hill,

We simply love this mom-andpop café for its delicious platters of falafel, curried rice and veggies, kabobs and Persian stew. Not to mention, the unlimited hummus bar at happy hour is always a hit. South Grand, 314.771.3411.

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314.776.0020.

People’s Choice: Pappy’s Smoke-

house, Midtown, 314.535.4340.

Best Business Lunch

Olio

J. BUCK’S Surprises are great—except when you’re out with clients or the boss. Then you want everything to be just right—from the salads (topped with shrimp, salmon, tenderloin and more) to the burger (grass-fed, of course) to the beer. The staff’s experience and attitude can make or break a meal, as can the variables of menu selection, speed and flexibility with special requests. No worries: All of these add up to just another day at the office for the servers and kitchen staff at the J. Buck’s locations in Clayton and downtown. Multiple locations, jbucks.com.

Best Date Night

FRANCO French food and romance go hand in hand—whether or not edible aphrodisiacs such as oysters, asparagus, chocolate and foie gras are on the menu. As it happens, they almost always are at Franco, but that’s not all the romantic bistro has going for it in the date night department. There’s the rustic, yet chic location (off the beaten path in Soulard), the farm-fresh ingredients (there’s nothing sexy about preservatives!) and the cocktails (everything from classics to award-winning mixology). Even the floor plan gets it right, inspiring intimacy with plenty of elbow room between tables. Soulard, 314.436.2500.

Best Late-Night Menu

Olio photo by Greg Rannells courtesy of Olio.

OLIO It’s no surprise that a menu inspired by Mediterranean cuisines embraces the attitude that midnight is a perfectly reasonable hour to be noshing on baby octopus salad with chickpeas and edamame, charred eggplant or beets with fresh ricotta. Lighter appetites can mix and match salume from chef and owner Ben Poremba’s artisan cured meat company with cheese or pâté. Either way, take advantage of the award-winning staff’s wine, beer and spirits expertise with pairing suggestions from the extensive selection. It goes without saying that when we’re looking for the perfect midnight snack, this is our go-to. Botanical Heights, 314.932.1088.

Best Coffeehouse

Best Bakery

Best Deli

RISE COFFEE

LA PATISSERIE CHOUQUETTE

BLUES CITY DELI

This newcomer steals the show with its spunk and determination to add a bit of morning cheer to a neighborhood better known for late-night shenanigans. But, since “morning” is a relative term, the specialty coffee, sandwiches and munchable bakery treats from Whisk aren’t limited to the forenoon. Other maneuvers to get the blood flowing include pop-up concerts, snacks for the kiddos and eclectic, colorful decor. Because as long as you have to rise, you might as well shine. The Grove, 314.769.9535.

Peek into the glass-fronted display cases of this charming storefront French bakery and the rest of the shop melts away into a kaleidoscope of colors that demands your full attention. Pastry chef and co-owner Simone Faure knows her sweets, from the basics like muffins and lavender-olive oil bread and ice cream to macaron towers, pain au chocolat and more cakes than we can count. Grab some to go the next time you host brunch, or enjoy a leisurely in-house tea service and marvel at the delights of Faure’s edible works of art. Botanical Heights, 314.932.7935.

There’s a reason for epic lines at this South City sandwich joint: By 1pm, your favorite special might be sold out. So get there early for the muffaletta, the Redbird po’boy (turkey, capicolla, bacon and Provel) or a 1904 World’s Fair hotdog with chili, cheese and onion. On Thursday nights and Saturdays, stop by for Blues City’s signature live music acts. Plus, look for news of expansion plans this coming year, including a backyard patio and outdoor smoker. Benton Park, 314.773.8225.

People’s Choice: Kaldi’s Coffee, Clayton, 314.726.2900.

People’s Choice: Blues City Deli, Benton Park, 314.773.8225. JUNE 2014

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Best Vegetarian

FRIDA’S Natasha Kwan’s 2-year-old eatery and juice/smoothie bar is popular beyond the realm of vegan and vegetarian diners. Maybe it’s the comfort foods sprinkled across the menu— there’s a BLT (with tempeh), a burger (black beans), a gyro (seitan) and toasted cheese (cheddar). Perhaps it’s the fun little touches like an onsite garden, outdoor patio, to-go cases and hydroponic growing pods. Or maybe it’s Kwan’s previous career in marketing. Nah, scratch that last one—this food stands on its own, enough to merit an expansion that will soon double the restaurant’s size. University City, 314.727.6500.

Frida’s

Because there’s no better way to spend your weekend mornings in STL.

Most Adventurous Brunch

Best Diner

Best Brunch for Vegans

THE SCOTTISH ARMS

SOUTHWEST DINER

LOCAL HARVEST CAFÉ

The Smokin’ Mary with single-malt Scotch is just the liquid courage one needs to overcome the language barrier and chow down on bangers and Scotch eggs. Not to worry—they won’t foist haggis on the uninitiated. Central West End, 314.535.0551.

The roadrunner on the door (and long line outside it) is your first clue this New Mexican-themed joint is spicier than your typical diner. Chile fans will find it hard to resist Jonathan’s Famous Fiery Scramble. South City, 314.260.7244.

Whether it’s in a pot pie or a burrito, the vegan chorizo is reason enough for a visit to this favorite locally focused café. Or, if it’s sweetness you’re craving, check out the stuffed French toast. Tower Grove, 314.772.8815.

Best Brunch

Best Vegetarian Brunch

Best Bloody Mary Bar

Best Coffee Selection

BRASSERIE BY NICHE

TREE HOUSE

HERBIE’S VINTAGE 72

HALF & HALF

Say bonjour to your Sunday morning with a French-inspired meal at this cheerful bistro. And if sunlight and eggs Benedict aren’t enough to get your blood pumping, there’s always a Corpse Reviver from the bar. Central West End, 314.454.0600.

Slinger? Check. Biscuits and gravy? Check. Lox and cream cheese? Check. Chef and owner Bay Tran has figured out meatless versions of classic brunch dishes, but there’s still plenty of room for her own specialties (like the johnny cakes with black beans, chimichurri and housemade escabeche) as well. South Grand, 314.696.2100.

With delicious house-made fixin’s like habanero- and jalapeno-infused vodka, Bloody Mary mix with the perfect amount of spice and pickled cucumber, asparagus, okra and peppers, this bottomless Bloody Mary bar is a lot more fun than your average mimosa. And, it’s a bargain to boot. Central West End, 314.769.9595.

If your preferred coffee questions are not about size, but rather brewing methods, in-season beans and countries of origin, this is the brunch spot for you. Snag a seat at the counter and cozy up with a cup and the proper reading material, or come with friends to properly caffeinate. The food’s not near “half” bad either. Clayton, 314.725.0719.

People’s Choice: Rooster,

Downtown, 314.241.8118.

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Frida’s photo courtesy of Frida’s. Brasserie photo courtesy of Jennifer Silverberg.

BEST OF THE BRUNCH

Winslowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home & Farm 7213 Delmar Blvd. winslowshome.com

NIGHTLIFE

Best Lounge

BLOOD & SAND You’re guaranteed to feel right at home in owner TJ Vytlacil’s stylish cocktail haven. Here, the members-only philosophy ensures every guest receives exceptional attention. Not sure what cocktail to order? Have a quick Q&A with a bartender who will craft a drink to suit your specific tastes. Don’t worry about remembering the exact proportions either, because your new goto cocktail is recorded in a little black book for your next visit. Downtown, 314.241.7263. People’s Choice: Three Sixty, Downtown, 314.241.8439.

Best Cocktail Menu

PLANTER’S HOUSE

By Molly Rippinger

Best Bar

TASTE A mainstay of STL’s cocktail culture, Taste never fails to impress, thanks to its top-notch cocktail menu, speakeasy decor and innovative fare. In the hands of the talented bar staff, carefully curated spirits and housemade ingredients become crisp renditions of cocktail classics. Sip on a Southside (Broker’s gin, sugar, lemon and mint) while snacking on an order of the addictive spiced cashews, and there won’t be any question why Taste was a James Beard nominee for Best Bar Program. Central West End, 314.361.1200. People’s Choice: McGurk’s Irish Pub, Soulard, 314.776.8309. 82

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Veteran mixologists Ted and Jamie Kilgore have combined their unparalleled cocktail expertise at Planter’s House—so it’s no surprise that the duo has already transformed the historic corner building into a hotspot for cocktail connoisseurs to sip on swizzles, fizzes, spritzes and aperitifs. Although almost anything on the cocktail menu (filled with unexpected Kilgore creations in constant evolution) is a sure thing, we recommend the Planter’s House Punch—a dangerously delicious combination of Camus VS cognac, El Dorado 5-year rum and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao—before moving to the more intimate Tom Bullock Room for a spicy, yet smooth Manhattanite or a Dutchtown Collins with Bols Genever, blackberry-black pepper syrup, citrus and club soda. Lafayette Square, 314.696.6203. People’s Choice: Sub Zero Vodka Bar, Central West End, 314.367.1200.

Best Wine Bar

BRENNAN’S This classic Central West End haunt offers a wine list that’s well worth a close read and some serious sipping. Look for the red door as you approach the entrance and take the stairs up to Brennan’s Maryland House, an intimate space where you can swirl, sniff and sip a glass of wine, uninterrupted by the bustle of Maryland Plaza below. The list includes a wide range of vintages and varietals to keep everyone from the serious oe-

nophile to the casual enthusiast coming back for more. Central West End, 314.361.9444.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE Best Casino

People’s Choice: Sasha’s Wine Bar, multiple locations, sashaswinebar. com.

Best Rooftop Bar

THREE SIXTY The absolutely stunning views from almost 400 feet above downtown St. Louis at Three Sixty are what keep us coming back time and time again to this upscale rooftop hangout atop the Hilton at the Ballpark. As the name implies, guests enjoy uninhibited views of the Arch, Downtown and even the baseball diamond at Busch Stadium. The outdoor bar offers plenty of perches to catch the Cardinals, and sleek fire pits surrounded by couches offer ideal spots for sipping cocktails in the company of good friends. Even in less than ideal weather, the 6,000-square-foot space has stunning indoor views for bar-goers, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. Downtown, 314.241.8439.

Best Happy Hour

BASSO Come 4:30pm, the Cheshire’s basement gastropub, Basso, is packed with people who have ducked out of work a little early for a late afternoon libation—and rightfully so. Pull up a chair at the 40-seat bar or gather with friends around a community table for happy hour deals on pints of craft beer, tasting flights and the Italian wine of the day—or nosh for a little less on build-yourown pizzas and 2-for-1 deals on antipasti. Specials run Monday through Saturday until 6pm, but night owls can enjoy happy hour too, thanks to Basso’s discounted drinks and pizzas Monday through Thursday from 10pm-1am. Clayton, 314.932.7820.

LUMIERE PLACE It’s safe to bet on the worldclass entertainment available at your fingertips inside Lumiere Place, thanks to its more than 2,000 slots, 55 table games and sophisticated poker room. Downtown, 314.881.7777.

enjoy the all-day happy hour prices, or get a group together for a fierce round of karaoke on Tuesday and Thursday nights. In the summer, the patio is the only place to be for drinks, live performances and dance parties on the weekends. The Grove, 314.371.1333.

Best Drag Shows

MEYER’S GROVE Every Friday and Saturday night, The Painted Ladies take the stage at Meyer’s Grove for the best drag show in town. The intimate theater setting gets you up close and personal with the hilarious leading ladies, who—paired with delicious drink specials—make for an unforgettable night out. Be sure to arrive early to snag a table near the stage, because plenty of regulars ensure the house is always packed. The Grove, 314.932.7003.

Best Dance Parties

HANDLEBAR There’s no better place to get your dance on than the HandleBar’s ’80s Dance Night extravaganzas featuring none other than London Calling. Hit the dance floor at 10pm every second and fourth Saturday of the month; plan on leaving…never. The Grove, 314.652.2212.

Best DJs Best LGBT Hangout

JUST JOHN An anchor and longtime hotspot for the LGBT community in St. Louis, Just John is the ultimate go-to if you’re looking for a hot after-dark scene and even hotter entertainment. Swing by for Sunday Show Tunes and

THE PEPPER LOUNGEE Catch some of the best DJs in the Midwest spinning tracks for the Downtown denizens that flock to The Pepper Lounge every weekend for one of the hottest dance scenes in the city, featuring DJ Greasy, DJ Big D, DJ Costik and more. Downtown, 314.241.2005.

Best Late-Night Hangout

ECLIPSE Why call it quits early when you can keep the party going with good company and an out-of-this-world atmosphere at Eclipse’s New Moon Room or the always happening rooftop terrace? Both have equally spectacular views to enjoy until 2am and 3am respectively, and with a top-notch mixology program, you’ll have no shortage of delicious drinks to sip all night long. The Loop, 314.726.2222.

Best Whiskey Selection

GAMLIN WHISKEY HOUSE The options are almost endless for lovers of all things whiskey at Gamlin, where guests have roughly 300 carefully curated bottles to choose from behind the bar. Purists have their pick between the finest American, Canadian, Irish and Scottish varieties, while nearly 40 cocktail options help mix things up for those looking to try something new. Whiskey even sneaks its way into the kitchen with Gamlin’s bourbon-brined fried chicken and bacon-wrapped, whiskey-sauced meatloaf. Central West End, 314.875.9500.

deli sandwiches and numerous riffs on the class burger are crowd-pleasers every time. Get there early to snag a seat on the always hopping rooftop overlooking the CWE. Central West End, 314.932.6040. People’s Choice: Llywelyn’s Pub, multiple locations, llywelynspub. com.

Best Live Music Experience

OFF BROADWAY For more than three decades, Off Broadway has been the spot where serious music lovers go to catch a live performance in St. Louis. The intimate setting means every seat offers a great vantage point to catch a set from your favorite local band or up-andcoming talent. Get close to the action on the often standing-room-only first floor or grab a chair on the balcony to take in the whole scene. While the on-point acoustics are a signature feature inside the venue, Off Broadway’s outdoor patio is a fun space for a show come summertime. Historic Cherokee Lemp District, offbroadwaystl. com. People’s Choice: The Pageant, The Loop, 314.726.6161.

BEER BUZZ Producing stellar brews isn’t the only thing on the menu at these local craft breweries. People’s Choice Best Brewery

Best Collaborations

SCHLAFLY

4 HANDS BREWING CO.

There’s a reason why Schlafly is Missouri’s largest locally owned independent brewery. Each year, the STL favorite brews 50 unique styles of fresh beer to be enjoyed by the bottle (select beers and styles) or on tap at one of its two popular brewery-restaurants. Multiple locations, schlafly.com.

There’s nothing better than a beer brewed specifically for a local restaurant. Try 4 Hands’ PiPA with a slice at Pi Pizzeria or its Smoked Pigasus with a slab of Pappy’s ribs and you’ll understand. LaSalle Park, 314.436.1559.

Best Biergarten

URBAN CHESTNUT Best Special Events

SCHLAFLY Annual beer-centric festivals, weekly farmers’ markets and an endless stream of live music performances all make Schlafly Tap Room and Bottleworks the top spots for events you won’t want to miss. Multiple locations, schlafly.com.

It’s easy to forget you’re in Midtown when you sit on the wooden benches at Urban Chestnut’s biergarten. Between the Bavarian brews and German-style courtyard setting, don’t be surprised if you feel transported to Munich. (Be sure to hit up the massive new open-air bierhall in The Grove as well.) Multiple locations, urbanchestnut.com.

Best Sports Bar

LESTER’S No matter the season, Lester’s 30plus HD screens ensure STL sports fans can catch every slap shot, slam dunk and home run. The laid-back vibe and tasty bar food featuring house-smoked meats, New York-style

Best Local Distillery

SQUARE ONE BREWERY AND DISTILLERY Small batches are the name of the game for the distillers at Square One, where all of the spirits begin

with high-quality ingredients and an almost obsessive attention to detail. For a great introduction, try the award-winning J.J. Neukomm Whiskey or Vermont Night oak-aged liqueur, both of which are are equally delicious as solo sippers or the star ingredient in your favorite cocktail.

Handcrafted bottles of the distiller’s Midwest Wheat Vodka, Island Time Spiced Rum, Regatta Bay Gin and seasonal infusions round out the rest of its line of must-try small-batch spirits. Still perplexed? Snag a spot at the Beer and Spirits School to learn more. Lafayette Square, 314.231.2537.

Three Sixty photo by Debbie Franke courtesy of Three Sixty.

Three Sixty

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You make the party, we make the venue.

2014 WINNER

2013 WINNER

BEST DJS

BEST LOUNGE WE CAN HOST EVENTS FOR 50 TO 500 PEOPLE.JUNE 2014 EMAIL INFO@LOUNGECONCEPTS.NET TO SET UP A TOUR OF ANY ONE OF OUR VENUES.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Best Use of Technology

Best Art Classes

MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM

CRAFT ALLIANCE

Visiting an exhibit at the Missouri History Museum is always a multisensory, multimedia experience. Curators and designers at the museum make use of everything at their disposal to tell the stories that matter to Missourians. In the current “250 in 250” exhibit, for example, guests can listen to audio recordings of firsthand accounts of local history, view informative films or become part of a historical photo using green-screen technology. Forest Park, 314.746.4599.

For 50 years, Craft Alliance has been teaching craft technique to citizens throughout the region and has always been driven to experiment with new ideas and adopt new technologies. In addition to classes on working with clay, glass, fiber, metals and wood, CA recently added a graphics studio where students can utilize 3-D printers to solve complicated design problems, a fashion design curriculum with a fashion lab, and Global Studios technology that allows students to interact with fellow artists across the world. Multiple locations, craftalliance.org.

Best Special Events

WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME When it comes to special events, the World Chess Hall of Fame thinks outside the chess board. Its groundbreaking exhibition, “A Queen Within,” which ran from October 2013 to April 2014, featured clothing from many of the world’s great designers, including Alexander McQueen, Gianfranco Ferré, Jean Paul Gaultier, Gucci and Iris van Herpen exploring the various archetypes of the queen. This fall, WCHOF will focus on the strong chess culture in hip-hop with avid chess players Rza and Gza of Wu-Tang Clan. Checkmate. Central West End, 314.367.9243.

Most Innovative Programs By Christopher Reilly

Best Art Space

CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM It’s been a year of celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Brad Cloepfil-designed CAM building, beginning with “Place is the Space,” a collaboration between five noted artists and the architect. Heralded as a “simultaneous act of enclosure and invitation,” the structure takes on a new personality for each exhibit. Designed to display art of the future before anyone knows what that art will be, CAM and its hallowed halls are the go-to for art that’s fresh and forward-thinking. Grand Center, 314.535.4660.

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PULITZER FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS The Pulitzer rolled up its sleeves last January when it launched its new programming series, “Reset,” which takes place during the museum’s normally dark days between major exhibits. The inaugural program featured a cornucopia of hip, surprising events that brought big crowds to experience the Pulitzer like never before. Among the highlights were the Ultimate B-boy Championship Open emceed by Mr. Freeze, a drag performance by famed drag queen Raja, and the American premiere of John Cage’s “Thirty Pieces for Five Orchestras,” featuring the entire St. Louis Symphony Orchestra spread throughout the museum under the direction of David Robertson. Now that’s innovative. Grand Center, 314.754.1850.

Best New Arts Destination

SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM EAST BUILDING Construction of SLAM’s $162 million new East Building had the art world salivating over its unique grid of skylights, 21 galleries with floor-toceiling windows, automatic lighting and environmental elements that earned it a LEED gold certification for features such as its low-flow bathrooms and “green” roof that utilizes sustainable wood and recycled materials. It’s also thrilling visitors who enjoy fine dining at Panorama or a casual bite at the new snack bar and a stroll through the expansive, pristine galleries. Case in point: The massive “Impressionist France” exhibit currently wowing visitors features 120 works divided into seven sections that seamlessly fill several conjoined galleries. Forest Park, 314.721.0072.

chance to build their skills, learn and express themselves in a variety of artistic ways through poetry, drama, dance, songwriting, videography and other creative pursuits. Where else will you find classes with titles like Ice Cream Camp and Going Godzilla, or get to spend a whole day focusing on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet?” Let’s go camping. University City, 314.725.6555.

Best Gallery

PHILIP SLEIN GALLERY Now in its second year in its new home in the Central West End, Philip Slein Gallery continues to mount exciting exhibitions from renowned artists with an international reach. Recently, Slein featured explosive works from Catherine Howe, who has been shown in Manhattan, Paris and Munich, as well as the sensual dreamscapes created by artist Jamie Adams, whose work is in museum collections in New York, Brazil, Wales, Los Angeles and more. Central West End, 314.361.2617.

Best Place to Buy Local Art

SOHA STUDIO AND GALLERY If that blank space on your wall is crying out for company, art from a local artist might fill the need. SOHA Studio and Gallery regularly rotates exhibits so there’s always fresh art for sale. This year’s rich bounty has included Howard Jones’ funky “Tool Shed” sculptures, outsider art, several amazing photographers, Hap Phillips and Nita Turnage’s “New Magic” and more. In addition, the gallery offers family days (where kids make their own art), artist talks and other special events—like painting with the great apes from the Saint Louis Zoo—that have established it as a solid fixture in the quaint Southampton neighborhood. Southampton, 314.497.5202.

Best Arts Community Builder

Best Summer Art Camp

COCA Featuring some of the most creative camps around, COCA (Center of Creative Arts) offers its campers the

REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION The Regional Arts Commission’s goal has always been to create a more vibrant, creative and economically thriving community through the

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PEOPLE’S CHOICE Best Cultural Institution

SAINT LOUIS ZOO Over 3 million visitors each year marvel at the Zoo’s more than 600 species and 19,000 animals in creative habitats like Sea Lion Sound and Elephant Woods—in addition to an insectarium, children’s zoo, and miniature train. And, it’s still free. Forest Park, 314.781.0900.

arts. To that end, they’ve awarded an impressive 5,800 grants totaling $76 million, and have generated an additional $1 million in ticket sales through the collaborative marketing initiative, DART. They also run myriad programs to foster community development, like Community Arts Training (CAT)—an intensive cross-sector training of artists and community activists of all kinds— as well as the ArtsZipper catalog, the free online Marketing Toolbox for artists and organizations and more. The Loop, 314.863.5811.

perusing paintings, sculpture, photography and virtually every medium in between. Nonstop live entertainment from three stages gives visitors a chance to relax, and a plethora of food trucks serve up traditional fare and St. Louis specialties. Clayton, 314.863.0278.

Best New Entertainment Destination

BALLPARK VILLAGE At a cost of $100 million, the first phase of Ballpark Village, the 10acre, two-city-block entertainment multiplex, offers something for everyone, whether it’s game day or not. Hungry? Dine at Budweiser Brew House, Cardinal Nation, Tengo Hambre or Drunken Fish, kick it like a cowboy at PBR St. Louis, or just get your spirit on at Howl at the Moon or The Lounge. The heart of the complex, Fox Sports Midwest Live, is a whopping 20,000-square-foot entertainment market space with a 40-foot LED screen, a stage for live concerts and performances, and a retractable glass roof. Whew. And we didn’t even mention Ted Drewes. Downtown, 314.345.9481.

LOUFEST

Best Art Fair Experience

SAINT LOUIS ART FAIR Artists and visitors come from across the country to take part in the Saint Louis Art Fair, considered one of the top fairs in the US. Artists display their work as tens of thousands of visitors stroll the booth-lined streets 88

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Best Lecture Series

ST. LOUIS SPEAKER SERIES AT POWELL HALL Since 1998, the St. Louis Speaker series has featured the world’s most intriguing individuals, from Hollywood royalty to world history-shaping power politicians. Mikhail Gorbachev, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Carl Reiner, author and journalist Tom Wolfe, Robert Redford and even Frank Abagnale—the conman portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in “Catch Me if You Can”—are just a few of the notable speakers from past series. The upcoming season won’t disappoint either, with legendary actor Martin Sheen, historian David McCullough and theoretical physicist and TV darling, Michio Kaku, among this year’s guests. Grand Center, stlouisspeakerseries.org.

Best Place to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SUMMER WRITERS INSTITUTE

Best Music Festival

In just four short years, LouFest has grown into a powerhouse music festival featuring big names in indie-rock, funk, soul and alt-country. With three stages, including a children’s stage and village, a vendor area that’s environmentally friendly and a food court dishing up eats from local neighborhood restaurants, fair-goers have plenty to keep them dining and dancing. This year’s lineup includes Outkast, Arctic Monkeys, Cake, Matt & Kim and more. The festival, Sept. 6-7, marks the second year with producers C3 Presents, the brains behind Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza. All we can say is: Bring it on. Forest Park, loufest.com.

ing of the live presentations, which are then made available online. tedxstlouis.com, tedxgatewayarch.org.

Best Idea Bounce

TEDX TEDx, the wildly popular speaker event that presents “Ideas worth spreading,” began licensing the series to local event producers several years ago, and has become so popular that there are not one but two series in town: TEDxStLouis—whose recent TEDxStLouisWomen event was a big success—and TEDxGatewayArch, whose upcoming TEDxCity2.0 takes place at Central Library and features presentations on the “core elements of urban life and ways to make improvements through citizen powered change.” An integral part of TEDx events is the videotap-

Need to sharpen your writing skills? The Washington University Summer Writers Institute is a literary whetstone. This intensive, two-week program features workshops in each of six genres: fiction, flash fiction, literary journalism, modern humor, personal narrative and poetry. Students work with published authors and get lots of feedback in a relaxed, non-competitive format that gets writing gears going, regardless of skill level. Institutes are held on evenings and weekends, so quitting that day job isn’t necessary. Housing options are available for out-of-towners, and all participants are encouraged to make use of campus libraries and quiet, outdoor areas for writing and reflection. Washington University, 866.340.0723.

Best Theater Festival

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ST. LOUIS You can always count on the Shake-

START HERE Top contributors to the St. Louis startup boom. Best Real-World Innovation

LAUNCH CODE The program to put programmers in jobs by pairing them with seasoned professionals now offers free in-person and online training in partnership with Harvard University through the massive open online course (MOOC) platform EdX. Hundreds of computer coding job-seekers have enrolled.

Best Business Incubator

T-REX A co-working space and technology incubator, T-REX recently expanded by purchasing the Lammert Building and increasing its occupants to more than 80 startups and organizations, including LaunchCode, Arch Grants and more.

Best Innovation Hub

CORTEX As mid-America’s premier hub for bioscience and technology research, development and commercialization, Cortex provides state-of-the-art facilities for promising biotech startups, including custom lab space, millions of dollars worth of equipment and access to venture capital.

Best Startup Competition

ARCH GRANTS Awarding $1 million dollars in $50,000 non-dilutive grants to 20 companies each year, plus pro bono services like accounting, marketing, legal and IT, Arch Grants has helped bring more startups to St. Louis than any other organization.

TRY SOMETHING NEW THIS

WEEKEND THE PULSE OF THE ST. LOUIS ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE IS NOW AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

Download the app starting June 1, 2014.

ANDROID APP ON

DOWNLOAD THE APP STARTING JUNE 1, 2014. Download the Regional Arts Commission’s new free arts and cultural calendar app, available on iPhone and Android. As St. Louis’ Best Arts Community Builder Organization, and a member of ALIVE’s Hot List 2014, RAC makes it easy for to you discover arts and culture like never before.

racstl.org

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speare Festival for a pleasant day of picnicking and beverages amidst the carnival-like atmosphere and a world-class performance of Shakespeare under the stars. This year, the festival will—for the first time in its history—present more than one play: “Henry IV” (parts one and two condensed) and “Henry V.” We’re sure after you’ve seen one, you’ll want to see the other. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.” Forest Park, 314.531.9800. People’s Choice Best Performing Arts Organization: The Muny, Forest Park, 314.361.1900. People’s Choice Best Performing Arts Venue: The Fox Theatre, Grand Center, 314.534.1111.

Best Radio Show

ST. LOUIS ON THE AIR St. Louis Public Radio veteran journalist Don Marsh talks local issues, hosts discussions and voices concerns pertinent to the citizens of St. Louis on the popular “St. Louis on the Air”—all while exuding the comforting persona of a concerned uncle. Mon.-Thu., noon-1pm, KWMU-FM, 90.7, @Dlimbo.

Best TV Personality

MELANIE MOON St. Louis loves a friendly face, which is probably why KPLR’s Melanie Moon

has been charming FOX 2 evening news viewers for more than 10 years—earning her the reputation as both a respected journalist and avid supporter of countless local causes and organizations. KPLR 11 at 7pm, @Moon_Melanie.

MUST-SEE SHOWS The best theater productions of the year. The Fox Theatre

KINKY BOOTS

People’s Choice: Tim Ezell, FOX 2, @TimEzellTV.

With music by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, Kinky Boots tells of a struggling shoe factory owner who saves his business by selling kinky boots for men. Winner of six 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Best Online Personality

ASHLEY “LUX” ELZINGA From giving us the backstage details at the hottest local music venues to making rush hour more tolerable with the Wayback at 5, Lux Elzinga has turned her love for music and radiating personality into one of the most envied jobs in St. Louis—which she shares with us, uncensored 24/7 @lux1057. Weekdays 2-6pm, KPNTFM, 105.7 “The Point.”

Opera Theatre of St. Louis

THE MAGIC FLUTE International fashion design phenom Isaac Mizrahi returns to OTSL to direct and design both the costumes and set for “The Magic Flute,” Mozart’s fantasy tale in which Mizrahi’s sartorial magic and creativity takes center stage. Starting May 24, this is the most buzzed-about show of summer.

Best Blogger

RACHEL BRANDT OF THEDAILYWILD.COM Rachel Brandt shares her life and passions through her seriously addictive personal blog, featuring her musings on everything from fashion and events to food and music in a well-composed, serial tale of a modern day adventurer based in St. Louis. TheDailyWild.com.

Stages St. Louis

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING This satire of big business and all it holds sacred recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a hit Broadway revival. Next month, Stages is picking up the briefcase for a spirited romp through the hallowed halls of corporate America.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE This Christopher Durang comedy that draws on Chekhovian themes took Broadway by storm in 2013, winning the Tony, Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics’ Circle awards for Best Play. The run at The Rep in spring was its St. Louis premiere.

The Muny

THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS This reimagined revival of the stage classic “Porgy and Bess,” which played Broadway to critical acclaim in 2012, will hit The Muny boards next month with a topnotch cast, including St. Louis native Kingsley Leggs.

Kinky Boots photo by Matthew Murphy. Shakespeare Festival photo by David Levy.

Shakespeare Festival

FITNESS & BEAUTY

Best New Workout

BURN 1000 As the name implies, burning 1,000 calories during the studio’s hour-long class is an attainable goal, and if owner Liane Levy’s client history is any indication (she worked with Rams Legend Isaac Bruce), you can expect stellar results. The new-to-STL concept incorporates specialized, high-incline treadmill action with short bursts of floor work guaranteed to leave you sweating. Town and Country, 636.220.1010.

Best Gym Membership

NUTRIFORMANCE It’s versatility that makes the Nutriformance membership a must for anyone up for a good workout. Whether you’re the pop-in type (you’ll love the five- or 10-visit punch-card option) or someone who demands a workout on the daily (unlimited classes, anyone?), Nutriformance has a membership for you. Our personal favorite? The Gym + Massage Membership, which includes a set number of massages per month and unlimited small-group personal training, group fitness classes and facility access. Frontenac, 314.432.6103.

Best Salon

KINK HAIR SALON

By Jennifer Wells

Best Workout

THE DAILEY METHOD Bellying up to the barre takes on a much healthier meaning when it applies to The Dailey Method, where you’ll find an intoxicating cocktail of Pilates, ballet and yoga, resulting in an exhilarating, total-body workout. Small-range, repetitive movements strengthen and lengthen muscles, while a steady mix of core-specific moves keep your abs looking fab. Newbies are not only welcomed but encouraged by way of timely instructor cues and helpful modifications. Ladue, 314.569.9073. People’s Choice: Club Fitness, multiple locations, clubfitness.us.

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KINK owner Josh Nichols has trained under the best in the business (including hairstylist and runway/editorial darling, Kevin Murphy), and the fashion influences are obvious. Case in point: the multitude of magazine covers KINK stylists have had a hand in, the revolutionary style labs hosted at its chic Clayton locale, and most important, the fashion-forward cuts and colors clients have come to expect. Clayton, 314.721.5465. People’s Choice: Ginger Bay Salon and Spa, multiple locations, gingerbay. com.

massage menu—the Stress Fix Body Massage, the Headache Massage and the Sports Massage all offer solutions to life’s everyday aches and pains, while treatments like the Tandem Massage (two therapists working in synchronicity) offer the ultimate indulgence. Multiple locations, gingerbay.com.

Best Spa

THE SPA AT THE FOUR SEASONS Lately, when we go to our “happy place,” we’ve noticed that it looks a whole lot like The Spa at The Four Seasons. With one of the most chic interiors in St. Louis, it’s easy to bask in the 11 beautifully appointed treatment rooms and endless list of high-end service options. We recommend the “Taste of Spa” package, a choice of three, 30-minute services from a list of spa favorites. Downtown, 314.881.5800. People’s Choice: Ginger Bay Salon and Spa, multiple locations, gingerbay. com.

GINGER BAY SALON AND SPA With an impressive list of luxurious massage options, Ginger Bay hits all the right spots when it comes to relaxation. Sure, they offer the basics, like the ever popular deep tissue massage, but it’s almost as if they’ve peeked into our hectic lifestyles to craft the rest of their

SHARK FITNESS Shark Fitness is the real deal. Its trainers don’t promise an easy ride (each class consists of calisthenics, resistance training, short runs, drills and plenty of abdominal work), but hard work and a great attitude are rewarded with results. Perhaps the best testament is the longevity of program participation— clients stay five-plus years on average. Sharkfitness.net.

Best Mani-Pedi

STONEWATER SPA & BOUTIQUE Obviously Oprah Winfrey can buy any beauty product or treatment she desires, but if she were dropping by St. Louis for a mani-pedi, there’s a good chance she’d swing by Stonewater. Why? The spa uses the Farmhouse Fresh line (the scrubs made her famed “O-list”) in all of its featured mani-pedi services. It’s premium products like these that set Stonewater apart from the competition. Watch out, Oprah! We’re first in line. Plaza Frontenac, 314.569.2111.

Best Yoga Studio

URBAN BREATH YOGA Offering the most innovative methods for incorporating yoga into your everyday lifestyle, Urban Breath’s menu of classes takes aim at all the standard excuses. Five-dollar community classes (taught by students) make yoga affordable, while early-bird, lunchtime and happy hour sessions fit into nearly any schedule. Gentle yoga is a great option for the novice while Power Vinyasa offers a challenge for even the most practiced yogi. Multiple locations, urbanbreathyoga.com. People’s Choice: Southtown Yoga, Lafayette Square, 314.353.1004.

Best Barbershop Services

V VEGAZ A clean razor shave (complete with hot foam lather) appeals to just about every man—but a hip and modern barbering space to have as your go-to? That’s a little tougher to find. Enter the new barbering corner at V Vegaz, the place for guys who dig good grooming. Make an appointment with barber William Carney, and feel right at home in the retro vibe, complete with classic cabinetry and all the right services. The Loop, 314.725.7900.

Best Personal Training Best Group Workouts

COMPLETE FITNESS RESULTS Best Massage Therapy

Best Boot Camp

Complete Fitness Results’ group training combines the perks of a personal trainer (you’ll get goal and fitness assessments, a quick-start nutrition plan and unlimited email support) with affordable rates and the camaraderie of a boot camp. You choose the number of training days that are right for you, and then pick from any one of their flexibly scheduled offerings. Brentwood, 314.402.2238.

THE FITNESS EDGE Peruse the credentials of the fitness professionals on staff at The Fitness Edge, and you’ll start to notice a trend: They’re exceptionally well-educated. A Bachelor of Science here, a laundry list of certifications there—and the accolades are endless. Owner Michael Jaudes is a first-degree black belt and former Mr. Missouri, and he’s trained a bevy of pro athletes—confirming the notion that you’re in great hands here. Creve Coeur, 314.993.3343.

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outdoor

dining guide ALIVE takes you on a delicious tour of St. Louis’ best outdoor dining locations.

CHEVYS FRESH MEX Chevys serves up full-flavored food and drinks in a vibrant, energetic atmosphere, with authentic Mexican cuisine made entirely from scratch. Known for its energetic ambiance, Chevys is perfect for couples or foodies on the lookout for the next exciting place to grab a bite. MUST-TRY MENU ITEM: Sizzling Steak Fajitas with certified black Angus steak—great with a handmade Cadillac Margarita made with Espolon Tequila on the rocks.

SUMMER HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS: Happy hour is every day, starting at 3pm in the Cantina. With $3 domestic drafts and $4 house margaritas, Dos Equis drafts, well drinks and house wine, you can bet you’ll be happy you went to Chevys! Try one of our delicious Starters for $2 off during Happy Hour! TOP SUMMER DISH: Fresh fish tacos with tableside guacamole 5 area locations! facebook.com/chevysstl @chevysstl · chevys.com

ALIVE SPECIAL PROMOTION

RUTH'S CHRIS

Ruth's Patio in Clayton is a great spot to unwind after work and gather with a group or just a few Patio seating for dinner or casual lounge seating for before and after dinner cocktails and conversation

Live music features and of course you can enjoy the Sizzle, Swizzle & Swirl Happy Hour menu Mon-Fri from 4p-6:30p in the bar or on the patio 1 N. Brentwood Blvd., Ste. 150, Clayton, MO 63105 314.783.9900 Website: ruthschrisstlouis.com

BIG DADDY’S SOULARD

mollY’S in SOULARD

Big Daddy’s expansive beer garden has a full-service bar and an unmatched ambiance. Find out about daily lunch, dinner and drink specials at the website, check out Big Daddy’s on Facebook or download the mobile app. Big Daddy’s also has a full-service upstairs bar available to book for private parties.

Known for its patio and bars, enjoy the other side of Molly’s in Soulard with a dining experience that you could only find in the French Quarter. Featuring a new menu, find produce and meats from local farms, a fresh spin on a few classics and all the fun and excitement you love. Take part in the famous Sunday brunch and weekly happy hour specials with Blue Point Oysters, a summer cocktail menu and other New Orleans fare.

DID YOU KNOW? When the Big Daddy’s shuttle is not taking customers for free to Cardinals and Blues games, it is available for private rentals as well. MUST-TRY MENU ITEM: Big Daddy’s roasted-and-shaved-daily Roast Beef Cadillac Sandwich is known worldwide for its supreme flavor. If you like wings, try the signature sauces. UPCOMING PATIO EVENT: For lunch, happy hour and late-night gatherings, Big Daddy’s beer garden has been a favorite meeting place and playground for 20- and 30-somethings for over 15 years. 1000 Sidney St. · St. Louis, MO 63104 · 314.771.3066 · bigdaddystl.com

816 Geyer Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104 • 314.241.6200 • mollysinsoulard.com

ALIVE SPECIAL PROMOTION

JOHN D. MCGURK’S IRISH PUB & GARDEN This Irish bar offers something for every St. Louisian, from scandalous Mardi Gras parties to wedding rehearsal dinners. McGurk's always provides mouth-watering, authentic dishes and deliciously refreshing beers and cocktails—ever since its opening in 1978! TOP SUMMER DISH: Satisfy summer cravings by ordering this unique and elaborate dish: five jumbo bacon-wrapped shrimp with cheddar cheese grits and a refreshing ginger barbecue sauce! MUST-TRY MENU ITEM: Order the always-popular corned beef with

OLYMPIA KEBOB HOUSE AND TAVERNA

UPCOMING PATIO EVENT: Patrons can party inside to live Irish bands or relax on the patio, which features gardens, a waterfall and a third outdoor bar opening in June! 1200 Russell Boulevard · St. Louis, MO 63104 314.776.8309 · mcgurks.com

THE DAM

Reminiscent of an authentic European Greek restaurant, nights on the patio at Olympia Kebob House and Taverna are perfect for enjoying cocktails and authentic Greek comfort food. Try a fresh Sangria accompanied by the must-try gyro on pita vertically broiled on a rotisserie with onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce. The family-run eatery also offers catering, takeout and is an ideal host for special events in its private room. Olympia Kebob House and Taverna 1543 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117 314.781.1299 olympiakebobandtaverna.com

cabbage or the stacked Reuben sandwich and pair with a Guinness for a genuine Irish dining experience.

Enjoy a brand new beer garden and outside dining area! Located in the historic Tower Grove neighborhood just blocks from Tower Grove Park, The Dam and Amsterdam Tavern offer local craft beers and seasonal, sustainable foods. World Cup games will be televised on more than 10 big screens with a special outside menu. The patio is the place for the best burgers and beers in South City. 3173 Morgan Ford Road St. Louis, MO 63116 314.771.3173 thedamstl.com

ALIVE SPECIAL PROMOTION

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EAT + DRINK THE BEST PLACES IN TOWN TO EAT + DRINK

DINING

Park it Right Here

The STL food truck scene is booming in more ways than one. by AMY DE LA HUNT THE ST. LOUIS FOOD TRUCK CRAZE has become a staple of sorts on the STL dining scene. Now, food on four wheels is coming full circle, as popular trucks expand with bricks-and-mortar locations and well-known foodie destinations get behind the wheel.

Trucks to Bricks Since Seoul Taco anchored itself to an eatery in October 2012 in The Loop, other trucks have followed suit, including Hot Aztec (Fenton), The Sweet Divine (Soulard), Bombay Food Junkies (St. Ann) and Burger Ink, whose owner eventually took to the curb permanently to open The Tattooed Dog (Wentzville). Fundraising for a new restaurant by Guerilla Street Food got a springtime boost after the truck’s first-place finish in The Munchies: People’s Choice Food Awards. Owner Brian Hardesty is currently scouting locations and hopes to work quickly to open a physical location serving up Guerilla Street Food’s signature rotating menu of Filipino-inpsired cuisine. CONTINUED P. 100

Loaded Nachos, Lulu’s Local Eatery

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER GIBBONS

JUNE 2014

ALIVEMAG.COM

EAT+DRINK / WHERE TO GO

Park It Right Here

Russell’s Café

CONTINUED FROM P. 99

When Lauren Loomis and Robbie Tucker of Lulu’s Local Eatery opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant on South Grand in early May, they added menu items, expanded their hours and spread the Lulu’s food philosophy of fresh, often local, vegan and vegetarian fare with new dishes. “The restaurant is an extension of what the food truck is providing: a fast, casual, affordable, sustainable dining option,” Loomis says. “We’re excited to be a part of the South Grand neighborhood because they are also committed to sustainability.” Opening a bricks-and-mortar also meant they could focus on ambiance. Lulu’s incorporates both greenery and reclaimed materials from Refab St. Louis in its decor. “We’re really excited to be offering a new brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays,” says Loomis, “and we’ll have a beer garden as well!”

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St. Louis Restaurant Guide

VISIT ALIVEMAG.COM/RESTAURANTS for an expanded list of recommended spots to eat

and drink.

MIDTOWN/ DOWNTOWN

BAILEYS’ RANGE Creative, upscale takes on the classic burger, as well as boozy milkshakes and craft sodas. Lunch and dinner daily. 920 Olive St., 314.241.8121. $$

AL’S RESTAURANT A St. Louis landmark, featuring award-winning steaks and seafood. Dinner Tue.-Sat. 1200 N. 1st St., 314.421.6399. $$$

BLOOD & SAND A members-only spot boasting bold and exciting creations in the kitchen and behind the bar. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 1500 St. Charles St., 314.241.7263. $$$

ALUMNI ST. LOUIS Reimagined local classics and comfort foods like toasted ravioli and French onion soup. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 200 N. 13th St., 314.241.5888. $$

KEY $ Entrées average under $10 $$ Entrées $10–$17 $$$ Entrées $18+

BRIDGE A large craft beer and wine selection, as well as meat and cheese plates, sandwiches and salads. Lunch and dinner daily.

Hot List 2014 Winner Kitchen open past 11pm Outdoor seating NEW Opened in the last 6 months B Serves brunch

1004 Locust St., 314.241.8141. $$ CAFÉ PINTXOS A bright, busy breakfast shop by morning, a trendy tapas bar by night. Located inside Hotel Ignacio. Breakfast Mon.-Sat.; dinner daily. 3407 Olive St., 314.338.2500. $$ CAFÉ VENTANA An extensive lunch selection, including sandwiches, beignets and pastries with your coffee. Open daily. 3919 B W. Pine Blvd., 314.531.7500. $ CIELO Quality Italian cuisine, dynamic beverages and stunning views. Open daily. 999 N. 2nd St., B 314.881.2105. $$$ COPIA Modern twists on classic American cuisine with a legendary

Photo by Christopher Gibbons.

Bricks to Trucks The call of the open road is still plenty strong, which is why established venues like Zia’s, Sarah’s Cake Shop, Yemanja Brasil and L’Ecole Culinaire are among the local fleet of 40-plus food trucks rolling around town. For Jane Callahan, who launched a Pie Oh My! truck in March, going mobile “is our next incremental growth step.” It complements the Maplewood shop both in terms of customer base and menu items. “While we sell ready-to-bake potpies in our shop, we’re introducing individual-sized savory pies on the truck,” she says. “We’re excited to use the truck to test new savory flavors, including veggie options and empanadas.” But as she has already learned, just like opening a bricks-and-mortar establishment, getting a truck up and running is an adventure in and of itself. “I bought the truck at the Hostess auction last fall,” Callahan says. “I’ve never participated in an auction before, let alone a vehicle auction, so it was a real baptism by fire for me!”

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EAT+DRINK / WHERE TO GO wine garden. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 1122 Washington Ave., 314.241.9463. $$$ THE DARK ROOM A progressive wine program with a menu of small plates and desserts featuring locally sourced items and rotating photo exhibits. Dinner Tues.-Sun. 615 N. Grand Blvd., 314.531.3416. $$

NEW

DIABLITOS CANTINA Fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine with more than 100 types of tequila, some house-infused. Lunch and dinner daily. 3761 Laclede Ave., 314.644.4430. $ THE DOCKET A café and bistro dishing up Mediterranean entrées, seasonal small plates and wood-fired pizzas. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri. 100 N. Tucker Blvd., 314.977.4615. $$ THE FOUNTAIN ON LOCUST Freshly made appetizers, entrées, fine ice creams and retro cocktails in a hand-painted Art Deco interior. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 3037 Locust St., 314.535.7800. $ HARRY’S Great food, happy hour and view of the Arch with a casual atmosphere. Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner Mon.-Sat. 2144 Market St., 314.421.6969. $$ HIRO ASIAN KITCHEN Bold and diverse flavors of regional Asian cuisines like bahn mi and kimchi. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.; dinner Sun. 1405 Washington Ave., 314.241.4476. $$ B LUCAS PARK GRILLE A seasonal menu featuring soups, salads and New American entrées. Lunch and dinner daily. 1234 Washington Ave., 314.241.7770. $$$ B MIKE SHANNON’S STEAKS AND SEAFOOD A St. Louis landmark serving upscale American cuisine. Also visit Mike Shannon’s Grill in Edwardsville. Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner daily. 620 Market St., 314.421.1540. Edwardsville location, mikeshannonsgrill.com. $$$ MORGAN STREET BREWERY Upbeat microbrewery and pub with great drink specials and live music. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 721 N. 2nd St., 314.231.9970. $$ PAPPY’S SMOKEHOUSE Memphis-style barbecue, featuring slow-smoked pork, brisket, chicken and more dressed with Pappy’s signature sauces. Lunch daily;

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dinner Mon.-Sat. 3106 Olive St., 314.535.4340. $$ PICKLES DELI Classic sandwiches like New York pastrami and one of the best roast beef sandwiches in town. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Fri. 701 Olive St., 314.241.2255. Multiple locations, picklesdelistl.com. $

breakfast menu including breakfast pizzas, burritos and omelets, plus a full array of lunch and dinner entrées. Open daily. Open 24 hours Fri.-Sat. 1900 Arsenal St., 314.771.7200. $

PRIME 1000 High-end steaks in a chic setting. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 1000 Washington Ave., 314.241.1000. $$$

BLUES CITY DELI A charming turn-of-the-century storefront with an expansive menu of sandwiches, salads and po’ boys. Lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner Thu. 2438 McNair Ave., 314.773.8225. $

ROSALITA’S CANTINA A happening Tex-Mex restaurant offering Mexican favorites. Lunch and dinner daily. 1235 Washington Ave., 314.621.2700. $$

BOGART’S SMOKEHOUSE Smoky, Memphis-style barbecue with generous portions. Lunch Tue.-Sat.; dinner Fri.-Sat. 1627 S. 9th St., 314.621.3107. $$

SAUCE ON THE SIDE Gourmet calzones featuring a wide array of fresh ingredients and sauces, from the Meat Me in St. Louie to the Costanza. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 903 Pine St., 314.241.5667. $ SMALL BATCH A vegetarian restaurant and whiskey bar serving up small plates and entrées. Dinner daily. 3001 Locust St., 314.380.2040. $$

NEW

THREE SIXTY Located on the rooftop of The Hilton at the Ballpark with a spectacular view of the city, stellar cocktails and small plates. Dinner daily. 1 S. Broadway, 314.241.8439. $$$ TONY’S A St. Louis institution with fine Italian cuisine and an extensive wine list. Dinner Tue.-Sat. 410 Market St., 314.231.7007. $$$

LAFAYETTE SQUARE/ BENTON PARK/

SOULARD

ATHLETE EATS All-natural, local foods and smoothies that are Paleo-friendly and gluten-free. Open daily. 2837 Cherokee St., 314.932.5566. $ NEW

BAILEYS’ CHOCOLATE BAR A mix of savory and sweet items with desserts such as Baileys’ chocolate brownie and bread pudding. Open daily. 1915 Park Ave., 314.241.8100. $ BENTON PARK CAFÉ An extensive

CHAVA’S Authentic Mexican cuisine, known for large portions and tangy margaritas. Lunch and dinner daily. 925 Geyer Ave., 314.241.5503. Multiple locations, chavasmexican.com. $ ELEMENT Small plates and entrées with a variety of flavors, created by a collaborative chef team. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 1419 Carroll St., 314.241.1674. $$ ELEVEN ELEVEN MISSISSIPPI Culinary classics from Tuscany and northern California. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 1111 Mississippi Ave., 314.241.9999. $$$ FRANCO Country-French fare with a modern twist. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 1535 S. 8th St., 314.436.2500. $$$ JAX CAFÉ Chef Brian Hale provides an eclectic menu of gourmet variations on American comfort food. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sat.; Lunch Sun. 2901 Selena St., 314.449.1995. $ B MOLLY’S Southern Creole favorites with one of STL’s largest outdoor patios. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.; lunch Sun. 816 Geyer Ave., 314.241.6200. $$ B THE MUD HOUSE Fresh-roasted coffee, sandwiches, soups and pastries. Breakfast and lunch daily. 2101 Cherokee St., 314.776.6599. $B PARK AVENUE COFFEE Chauvin coffee, bagels, house-made muffins, smoothies and a selection of more than 70 gooey butter cakes. Open daily. 1919 Park Ave., 314.621.4020. Multiple locations,

parkavenuecoffee.com. $ NEW PLANTER’S HOUSE Enjoy a sophisticated dinner and drinks where the menu is crafted to pair with an extensive list of cocktails. Dinner Tues.-Sun. 1000 Mississippi Ave., 314.696.2603. $$

PW PIZZA Classic pies and one-of-a-kind recipes with a focus on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Lunch and dinner daily. 2017 Chouteau Ave., 314.241.7799. $$ THE SHAVED DUCK A cozy atmosphere, live music and meats smoked to perfection. Lunch Tue.-Fri.; dinner Mon.-Sat. 2900 Virginia Ave., 314.776.1407. $$ SIDNEY STREET CAFÉ Traditional favorites like lobster turnovers and steak wasabi balanced with seasonal, local dishes like Missouri lamb and pork. Dinner Tue.-Sat. 2000 Sidney St., 314.771.5777. $$$ SQWIRES A seasonal menu featuring fresh interpretations of American classics. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 1415 S. B 18th St., 314.865.3522. $$ TRIPEL BRASSERIE Restaurant and beer house serving up rustic Belgian and French dishes with plenty of European beers on tap. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 1801 Park Ave., 314.678.7787. $$$ LA VALLESANA Authentic Mexican options, from tacos, tortas and burritos to house-made ice cream for dessert. Lunch and dinner daily. 2801 Cherokee St., 314.776.4223. $ VIN DE SET French cuisine served under the stars at the rooftop bar and bistro. Lunch Tue.-Fri.; dinner Tue.-Sun. 2017 Chouteau Ave., 314.241.8989. $$$ B

CENTRAL WEST END/ THE GROVE ATLAS Simple, elegant dishes and desserts in a cozy atmosphere. Dinner Tue.-Sat. 5513 Pershing Ave., 314.367.6800. $$$ BIXBY’S Located on the second floor of the Missouri History Museum with breathtaking views of Forest Park. Lunch Mon.-Sat. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 314.361.7313. $ B

JOIN US ON OUR PATIO GRASS-FED BEEF Missouri grass-fed beef FREE-RANGE CHICKEN Free-range poultry LOCAL BREWS Schlafly and 4 Hands Brewing Co. Enjoy these and other local eats like Mama Toscano’s on the Hill and Companion Bread

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BRASSERIE BY NICHE Casual French dining with an evolving menu of bistro fare, an impressive beer list and classic desserts. Dinner daily. 4580 Laclede Ave., B 314.454.0600. $$$ CENTRAL TABLE FOOD HALL A dining experience like no other with seven display kitchens, and locally sourced food and talent. Lunch and dinner Tues.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 23 S. Euclid Ave., 314.932.5595. $$ CRÊPES: ETC. An upscale patisserie serving sweet and savory crêpes and a variety of pastries, soups and sandwiches. Breakfast and lunch daily; dinner Fri.-Sat. 52 Maryland Plaza, 314.367.2200. $ DRUNKEN FISH Japanese sushi lounge with everything from tuna tataki to traditional rolls. Lunch and dinner daily. 1 Maryland Plaza, 314.367.4222. Multiple locations, drunkenfish.com. $$

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EAU BISTRO Masterfully crafted dishes, enhanced by locally grown and organic produce and a 300bottle wine list. Breakfast daily; dinner Tue.-Sat. 212 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 314.454.9000. $$$ B NEW EVANGELINE’S A bistro and music house serving up Cajun and Creole fare. Open daily. 512 N. Euclid Ave., 314.367.3644 $$

GAMLIN WHISKEY HOUSE An extensive selection of whiskeys accompanied by fine steaks and small plates. Lunch and dinner daily. 236 N. Euclid Ave., B 314.875.9500. $$$

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HERBIE’S VINTAGE 72 Contemporary American cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. Dinner daily. 405 N. Euclid Ave., 314.769.9595. $$$ B JOYIA Pan-Mediterranean tapas and treats, with a focus on local ingredients and house-made sauces and breads. Lunch and dinner Mon-Sat.; dinner Sun. 4501 Manchester Ave., 314.531.5300. $$ JUNIPER A taste of traditional Southern food and cocktails served in creative ways. Dinner Wed.-Sat. 360 N. Boyle Ave., 314.329.7696. $$ KAMPAI SUSHI BAR Fresh Japanese cuisine and creative rolls at great prices. Lunch Mon-Fri;

dinner daily. 4949 W. Pine Blvd., 314.367.2020. Multiple locations, kampaistl.com. $$ LAYLA A Middle Eastern fusion eatery with shawarma, shakes and craft cocktails blended with Mediterranean ingredients. Lunch and dinner daily. 4317 Manchester Road, 314.553.9252. $$ B NATHALIE’S A farm-to-table concept with foods sourced from Overlook Farm. Dinner Wed.-Mon. 4356 Lindell Blvd., 314.533.1580. $$$

NEW

PANORAMA Inside the Saint Louis Art Museum with a view of Forest Park, local seasonal ingredients and undeniable artistry on the plate. Lunch Tue.-Sun; dinner Fri. 1 Fine Arts Drive, 314.655.5490. $$$ B

PI Creative cocktails, homemade desserts and delicious San Fran-style pizza. Open daily. 400 N. Euclid Ave., 314.367.4300. Multiple locations, restaurantpi. com. $$ SAMEEM AFGHAN RESTAURANT Hearty Middle Eastern cuisine rich with lamb, rice, veggies and authentic Afghan spices. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 4341 Manchester Ave., 314.534.9500. $$ SANCTUARIA Fresh Pan-Latin tapas paired with a world-class menu of handcrafted cocktails. Dinner Tue.-Sun. 4198 Manchester Ave., 314.535.9700. $$$ SCAPE AMERICAN BISTRO A wide range of New American dishes with a great patio and happy hour. Dinner Tue.-Sun. 48 Maryland Plaza, 314.361.7227. $$$ B SCOTTISH ARMS Authentic Scottish fare, including the best-selling lamb burger and Celtic crisps, with an extensive single malt scotch list. Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner daily. 8 S. Sarah St., B 314.535.0551. $$ SOHO RESTAURANT + LOUNGE A chic lounge with sophisticated southern cuisine and cocktails. Dinner Wed.-Sat. 4229 Manchester Ave., 314.932.5554. $$ B SUB ZERO More than 300 international labels of vodka with a sushi bar and build-your-own burger menu. Lunch and dinner daily. 308 N. Euclid Ave., 314.367.1200. $$

TASTE Small plates and handcrafted cocktails made with strong attention to detail. Dinner daily. 4584 Laclede Ave., 314.361.1200. $$ TAVERN OF FINE ARTS Fine wines, seasonal appetizers and small plates, surrounded by art from local artists. Lunch Sat; dinner Mon.-Sat. 313 Belt Ave., 314.367.7549. $

SOUTH CITY/ HAMPTON/ THE HILL AYA SOFIA Exotic Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine combining Middle Eastern, Greek and Southern Italian flavors and cooking styles. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Fri.; dinner Sat.-Sun. 6671 B Chippewa St., 314.645.9919. $$ BAIDA South Grand’s new Moroccan restaurant serves authentic eats, from tajins and couscous dishes to Moroccan cookies and pastries. Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sat. 3191 S. Grand Blvd., 314.932.7950. $$$ THE DAM Unique burgers and new-American dishes served alongside homemade sauces and craft sodas. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 3173 Morgan Ford Road, 314.771.3173. $ ELAIA & OLIO Choose between the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes featured in the fine-dining setting of Elaia and the more casual wine bar atmosphere at Olio. Dinner Wed.-Sat. at Elaia; lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. at Olio. 1634 Tower Grove Ave., B 314.932.1088. $$$/$$ FARMHAUS Edgy Southern and Midwestern food with a locavore focus from chef Kevin Willmann. Lunch Mon.-Thu.; dinner Tue.-Sat. 3257 Ivanhoe Ave., 314.647.3800. $$ GIOVANNI’S ON THE HILL Family-owned restaurant serving classic authentic Italian dishes in a friendly atmosphere. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 5201 Shaw Ave., 314.772.5958. $$$ GUIDO’S A distinguished mix of Italian and Spanish cuisine. Lunch and dinner daily. 5046 Shaw Ave., 314.771.4900. $$

LOCAL HARVEST Seasonal dishes made with sustainable, fresh local products, including delicious vegan and vegetarian options. BreakfastMon-Fri.; lunch daily. 3137 Morgan Ford Road, 314.772.8815. $ B

- Cafe & Rosticceria -

MELT Upcycled retro café diner favorites like waffles, ice cream, specialty alcoholic drinks and milkshakes in mason jars. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Thu; breakfast, lunch and dinner Fri-Sun. 2712 Cherokee St., 314.771.6358. $ MODESTO Among a sea of Italian restaurants, Modesto serves up classic Spanish tapas and flatbreads. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 5257 Shaw Ave., 314.772.8272. $

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O’CONNELL’S PUB Famous for burgers, fish ‘n’ chips and Coney Island hot dogs. Lunch and dinner daily. 4652 Shaw Ave., 314.773.6600. $ NEW THE PURPLE MARTIN Mediterranean-style fare from flatbreads to Tunisian chickpea stew along with a craft cocktail menu. Dinner Tues.-Sat.; brunch Sun. 2800 Shenandoah Ave., Fox Park, 314.898.0011. $$ B

THE ROYALE A tavern-style restaurant and bar with drinks named for different parts of the city. Lunch and dinner daily. 3132 S. Kingshighway Blvd., 314.772.3600. $$ RUSSELL’S CAFÉ A cozy neighborhood café with a focus on local seasonal ingredients and fantastic brunch offerings. Breakfast and lunch Tue.-Sun.; dinner Tue.-Sat. 5400 Murdoch Ave., 314.553.9994. Multiple locations, russellscafe.com. $ B SASHA’S A cozy neighborhood wine bar with a tasty selection of small plates and crêpes. Lunch and dinner daily. 4069 Shaw Blvd., 314.771.7274. Multiple locations, sashaswinebar. B com. $$

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THREE MONKEYS A lively spot with a variety of coastal cuisine and an extensive wine list. Lunch and dinner daily. 3153 Morgan Ford Road, 314.772.9800. $$ B TREE HOUSE VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT Contemporary vegetarian offerings with Latin American and Vietnamese influences. Dinner Tue.-Sun; lunch Sat-Sun. 3177 S. Grand Blvd., 314.696.2100. $$ TWIN OAK Specialty wood-fired pizzas with toppings like seasonal veggies and roasted chorizo. Lunch

SEARCH RESTAURANTS, CAFES, BRUNCH SPOTS AND MORE ALIVEMAG.COM/RESTAURANTS

EAT+DRINK / WHERE TO GO and dinner Tue-Sun.; dinner Mon. 1201 Strassner Drive, 314.644.2772. $$

UNIVERSITY CITY/THE LOOP BLUEBERRY HILL Joe Edwards’ flagship restaurant, known for its beer selection and great burgers. Lunch and dinner daily. 6504 Delmar Blvd., 314.727.4444. $ CICERO’S A wide variety of pizza, Italian entrees, desserts and more with 55 beers on draught. Open daily. 6691 Delmar Blvd., 314.862.0009. $$ ECLIPSE Located in the Moonrise Hotel, featuring cosmic decor and a creative American menu. Open daily. 6177 Delmar Blvd., B 314.726.2222. $$ FORK & STIX Northern Thai cuisine featuring spicy curries and cooling coconut milk with plenty of charm. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 549 Rosedale Ave., 314.863.5572. $ FRIDA’S This meatless café dishes out vegetarian and vegan-friendly smoothies, soups, sandwiches and more. Lunch daily; dinner Tue.-Sat. 622 North and South Road, 314.727.6500. $ MISSION TACO JOINT Tacos with a twist, with fillings like roasted duck, grilled cactus and chilegrilled local tofu. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 6235 Delmar Blvd., 314.932.5430. $ MOMOS Mediterranean tapas in a festive setting. Lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner daily. 630 North and South Road, 314.863.3511. $$ NICO A seasonally inspired Mediterranean menu, featuring items like crab croquetas and Moroccan lamb. Lunch and dinner Mon-Sat.; lunch Sun. 6525 Delmar Blvd., 314.727.0200. $$$ B SEOUL TACO Korean barbecue from the well-known food truck, including tacos, quesadillas, pot stickers and gogi bowls with steak, chicken, spicy pork or tofu. Lunch and dinner daily. 571 Melville Ave., 314.863.1148. $ SNARF’S Toasted sandwiches, salads and soups, best washed down with the wide selection of 106

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microbrew beers. Lunch and dinner daily. 6301 Delmar Blvd., 314.725.4800. Multiple locations, eatsnarfs.com. $ TAVOLO V Neapolitan-style pizza and modern Italian cuisine, served in an airy, STL-inspired space in The Loop. Lunch and dinner Sun.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 6118 Delmar B Blvd., 314.721.4333. $$ THREE KINGS Upscale pub fare with a Mediterranean influence. Lunch and dinner daily. 6307 Delmar Blvd., 314.721.3355. $$ WINSLOW’S HOME Farm-fresh foods in a constantly rotating seasonal menu featuring hearty, thoughtfully prepared dishes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat.; breakfast and lunch Sun. 7213 Delmar Blvd., 314.725.7559. $ B

CLAYTON/ LADUE/ RICHMOND HEIGHTS BAR LES FRÈRES French cuisine with a rotating menu and an intimate, romantic atmosphere. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 7637 Wydown Blvd., 314.725.8880. $$ BARCELONA A see-and-be-seen hotspot to nosh on Spanish tapas. Lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner Mon- Sun. 34 N. Central Ave., 314.863.9909. $$ BASSO A sleek basement pub at The Cheshire, with 32 beers on tap, Italian wines, wood-fired pizzas and small plates. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 7036 Clayton Ave., 314.932.7820. $$$ BOCCI WINE BAR An eclectic wine selection highlighted by a revamped menu. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 16 N. Central Ave., 314.932.1040. $$ BRAZIKAT A Brazilian steakhouse with a variety of meats and seafood cooked in the churrasco style over an open fire. Dinner daily. 172 Carondelet Plaza, 314.727.1007 $$$ BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE Delicious Tuscan-inspired food that’s upscale yet affordable. Lunch and dinner daily. 1601 S. Lindbergh Blvd.,

314.432.4410. $$

CITY COFFEEHOUSE & CRÊPERIE Sweet and savory crêpes, Belgian waffles and more. Breakfast and lunch daily. 36 N. Brentwood Blvd., B 314.862.2489. $ COASTAL BISTRO & BAR Fresh-from-the-coast oysters and low-country cuisine. Stop by during happy hour for oyster shooters. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 14 N. Central Ave., 314.932.7377. $$$ COMPANION Acclaimed for fresh ingredients and signature sandwiches and soups. Breakfast and lunch daily. 8143 Maryland Ave., 314.721.5454. Multiple locations, companionstl.com. $ THE CROSSING A seasonal menu of farm-to-table fare. Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner Mon.-Sat. 7823 Forsyth Blvd., 314.721.7375. $$$ CRUSHED RED Urban bake and chop shop serving pizzas and salads made with the freshest ingredients. Lunch and dinner daily. 8007 Maryland Ave., 314.725.8007. Multiple locations, crushed-red.com. $ DEMUN OYSTER BAR The ultimate destination for seafood enthusiasts with fresh oysters from the West Coast daily. Lunch Sat.- Sun.; dinner Tues.- Sun. 740 DeMun Ave., B 314.725.0322. $$$ FIVE STAR BURGERS Gourmet burgers with grass-fed, hormone-free beef or your choice of patty. Lunch and dinner daily. 8125 Maryland Ave. Multiple locations, 5starburgersstl.com, 314.720.4350. $$

LESTER’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL Every sports-lover’s dream, with TVs at every post and top-notch bar fare. Open daily. 9906 Clayton Road, 314.994.0055. Multiple locations, lestersrestaurant.com. $$ THE LIBERTINE Executive Chef Josh Galliano brings reimagined comfort food to this neighborhood eatery. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Fri.; dinner Sat.-Sun. 7927 Forsyth Blvd., 314.862.2999. $$ MAD TOMATO A seasonal, farm-to-table menu and fine selection of Italian wines, desserts and pastries. Lunch Tues.-Fri.; dinner Tue.-Sat. 8000 Carondelet Ave., 314.932.5733. $$ NADOZ A bakery and cafe serving crepes, salads and more with an expansive coffee menu and juice bar. 12 The Boulevard, 314.726.3100. $ B NEW THE

NEST A stay-and-play cafe and modern-day community center for women and families. Breakfast and lunch Tue.-Wed.; breakfast, lunch and dinner Thurs.-Sat. 10440 German Blvd., 314.942.3521. $$ B

NICHE An award-winning bistro with a fabulous menu of American cuisine. Dinner Tue.-Sat. 7734 Forsyth Blvd., 314.773.7755. $$$ OCÉANO Premier seafood bistro known for fresh selections and exquisite flavor. Lunch and dinner daily. 44 N. Brentwood Blvd., 314.721.9400. Multiple locations, oceanobistro.com. $$$ B PASTARIA Gerard Craft’s fresh approach to Italian dining, featuring house-made pastas, pizzas and gelato. Lunch and dinner daily. 7734 Forsyth Blvd., 314.862.6603. $$ B

HALF AND HALF A quaint café renowned for inventive recipes with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Breakfast and lunch Tue-Sun. 8135 Maryland Ave., 314.725.0719. $$ B

POMME CAFÉ & WINE BAR Daily specials, plus a unique menu of wines, cocktails and espresso drinks. Open daily. 44 N. Central Ave., 314.721.8801. $$$ B

I FRATELLINI Fine Italian dining with an intimate atmosphere and mouth-watering entrées and desserts. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 7624 Wydown Blvd., 314.727.7901. $$$

POMME RESTAURANT Contemporary American cuisine with fresh ingredients. Dinner Tue.-Sat. 40 N. Central Ave., 314.727.4141. $$$

J. BUCK’S A Clayton staple for business lunches and happy hour. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 101 S. Hanley Road, 314.725.4700. Multiple locations, jbucks.com. $$

ROXANE A cozy tapas-style spot with a Bohemian atmosphere and eclectic menu. Lunch and dinner Tues.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 12 N. Meramec Ave., 314.721.7700. $$ THE RESTAURANT AT THE CHESHIRE Seasonal American fare featuring wood-fired meats and

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O p e n 7 d ay s a w e e k | 1 1 a m - 1 a m fac e book . c om / E van g e li nesST L E van g e li n e s STL . c o m

Private Rooms, Patio Seating and Wi-Fi Available

4501 Manchester Ave., The Grove 314.531.5300 joyiatapas.com Belly Dancers Monday - Saturday Jim Manley Jazz Duo Thursday Nights

HOURS

MONDAY-SATURDAY Dining 11am to 11pm Bar until 1am SUNDAY Dining 4pm to 10pm Bar until midnight HAPPY HOUR Monday-Friday 3pm to 6pm Sunday 10pm to Close

Italian Shared Plates | 32 Beers on Tap | Inventive Cocktails 7036 CLAYTON AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63117 | 314.932.7820

EAT+DRINK / WHERE TO GO seafood, in a beautifully restored historic building. Dinner Tue.-Sun. 7036 Clayton Road, 314.932.7818. $$$ B

Cherries Jubilee and World’s Fair Éclair. Lunch and dinner daily. 603 E. Lockwood Ave., 314.963.3232. $$

RUTH’S CHRIS Steaks and seafood in a fine dining atmosphere, or the more casual RBar lounge. Dinner daily. 1 N. Brentwood Blvd., Ste. 105, 314.783.9900. Multiple locations, ruthschris.com. $$

HOME WINE KITCHEN Seasonal American comfort food and wine pairings with service that treats you like family. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. 7322 Manchester Road, 314.802.7676. $$$ B

THE SALTED PIG Innovative takes on new American cuisine and barbecue dishes. Open daily. 731 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 314.738.9373. $$ NEW

TANI Sushi bistro with traditional and fusion-style rolls. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 16 S. Bemiston Ave., 314.727.8264. $$ TRUFFLES Aged prime beef, imported seafood and ingredients locally sourced or crafted in-house. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 9202 Clayton Road, 314.567.9100. $$$ Z PIZZA California-style artisan pizza, sandwiches and salads, all made with fresh, additive-free and organic ingredients. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 7600 Wydown Blvd., 314.727.3555. $$

KIRKWOOD/ MAPLEWOOD/ WEBSTER GROVES

ACERO Traditional, seasonal Italian cuisine, with a multiple-course tasting menu. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 7266 Manchester Road, 314.644.1790. $$$ BILLY G’S American and Italian dishes with St. Louis-style pizza and in-house smoked barbecue. Open daily. 131 West Argonne Drive, 314.984.8000. $$ BLIND TIGER NYC-meets-Neapolitan house-made pizzas, ribs and more in a casual bistro space. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 7376 Manchester Road, 314.646.8822. $$ THE BLOCK Restaurant, butcher shop and bar with a farm-to-table, contemporary American concept. Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner daily. 146 W. Lockwood Ave., 314.918.7900. Multiple locations, theblockresturant.com. $$ CYRANO’S CAFÉ Upscale café fare, famous for unique desserts like 108

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JUNE 2014

NEW KATIE’S

PIZZA & PASTA Hand-crafted, innovative pizzas and artisan pastas made with local and seasonal ingredients. Lunch and dinner daily. 9568 Manchester Road, 314.942.6555. $$ MAI LEE RESTAURANT Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 8396 Musick Memorial Drive, 314.645.2835. $$ MAYA CAFÉ Pan-Latin cuisine with house-made salsas and margaritas and live music regularly. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat.; dinner Sat.-Sun. 2726 Sutton Blvd., 314.781.4774. $$ MILAGRO MODERN MEXICAN Quality Mexican cuisine and cocktails in a festive and friendly atmosphere. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 20 Allen Ave., Ste. 130, 314.962.4300. $$ B

specialty and vintage cocktails with an enticing menu of small plates. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 7268 Manchester Road, 314.646.8355. $$

WEST COUNTY ANNIE GUNN’S Known for heartwarming dishes and seasonal specials. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. 16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, 636.532.3314. $$$ BELLA VINO An expansive tapas menu with a variety of high-end wines in the heart of historic St. Charles. 325 S. Main St., 636.724.3434. Lunch and dinner Fri.-Sun.; dinner Tues.-Thurs. $$ B BISTRO 1130 Contemporary French cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. Lunch Tues.-Fri.; dinner Tues.-Sun. 1130 Town and Country Crossing Drive, 636.394.1130. $$$ BRISTOL SEAFOOD GRILL Fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails in a modern setting. Dinner daily; lunch Sun.-Fri. 11801 Olive Blvd., 314.567.0272. Multiple locations, bristolseafoodgrill.com. $$$ B

ONE 19 NORTH Tapas paired with an impressive wine list. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.; dinner Sun. 119 N. Kirkwood Road, 314.821.4119. $$

CHEVYS FRESH MEX Authentic Mexican food and drinks in a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily. 9119 Olive Blvd., 314.997.3700. Multiple locations, chevysstl.com. $$

OLYMPIA Greek classics like gyros, spanakopita and kebabs with traditional baklava. Lunch and dinner daily. 1543 McCausland Ave., 314.781.1299. $$

CIRCLE 7 RANCH Fun appetizers and hand-patted hamburgers, with the added benefit of private table taps. Lunch and dinner daily. 14412 Clayton Road, 636.220.9707. $

RANOUSH Classic Middle Eastern cuisine like shawarma, falafel and tabbouleh. Lunch and dinner daily. 200 N. Kirkwood Road, 314.984.8899. Multiple locations, ranoush.com. $$

NEW

ROBUST The Robust Factor helps you navigate an impressive wine list and pair vino with unique tasting plates. Lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner daily. 227 W. Lockwood Ave., 314.963.0033. Multiple locations, robustwinebar.com. $$ B SOUTHWEST DINER Diner classics with a New Mexican twist and plenty of spice and color. Breakfast and lunch daily. 6803 Southwest Ave., 314.260.7244. $ WATER STREET Excelling in

COOPER’S HAWK A fusion of winery and restaurant, featuring sophisticated dishes created to complement the selection of handcrafted wines. Lunch and dinner daily. 1146 Town & Country Crossing Drive, 636.489.0059. $$$ EDGEWILD RESTAURANT AND WINERY A unique twist on American comfort food expertly paired with premium wines. Lunch and dinner daily. 550 Chesterfield Center, 636.532.0550. $$

and pastries. Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner Mon.-Sat. 127 Hilltown Village Center, 636.532.6686. $$ J. GILBERT’S Western-inspired wood-fired steaks and seafood, with artful presentation. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.; dinner Sun. 17 West County Center, Ste. A102, 314.965.4600. $$$ HENDRICKS BBQ World-class St. Louis-style barbecue, accompanied by the Moonshine Blues Bar. Lunch and dinner daily. 1200 S. Main St., 636.724.8600. Multiple locations, hendricksbbq.com. $$ MARCELLA’S MIA SORELLA Simple, light-hearted Italian fare including house-made pastas and hand-thrown pizzas baked in a brick oven. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. 14426 Clayton Road, 636.333.1015. $$ PRASINO With a focus on sustainability in decor and dining, Prasino’s fresh offerings range from lamb meatballs to gooey butter cake. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 1520 S. 5th St., 636.277.0202. $$ B SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE Inspired barbecue fare, using local meats and veggies. Lunch and dinner daily. 9200 Olive Blvd. Multiple locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com. 314.997.2301. $ THE TAVERN KITCHEN & BAR Contemporary American cuisine served in a sophisticated setting. Dinner daily. 2961 Dougherty Ferry Road, 636.825.0600. $$$ VIVIANO’S An Italian café and catering company with a grocery storefront offering imported pastas, spices and more. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 150 Four Seasons Plaza, 314.878.1474. Multiple locations, vivianosmarket. com. $$ WILDSMOKE A traditional smokehouse featuring briskets, burnt ends and more with a modern twist. Lunch and dinner daily. 12316 Olive Blvd., 314.548.2222. $$

NEW

GIANFABIO’S ITALIAN CAFÉ Italian dishes, brick-oven pizzas

MORE ONLINE! Log on to alivemag.com for our searchable, comprehensive directory of St. Louis restaurants, bars, nightclubs, bakeries, coffeehouses and more.

SUMMER 2014

WHAT’S #TRENDING

Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Gamlin Whiskey House

Taha’a Twisted Tiki

#vodkabar

#gamlinwhiskey

#tahaatiki

The coldest drinks in St. Louis at the the nation’s best vodka bar. Cool off on the patio with a new candy fishbowl or pitcher cocktails served in hand chiseled ice cups.

Taste Chef Ivy Magruder’s summer inspired specials paired with bourbon slushes — be seen on St. Louis’ premier patio until 1:30 a.m.

Taste the island life on The Grove’s newest double-decker patio, offering fresh coconut cocktails during the “No Hurry Sundays” day party, and a weeknight happy hour featuring $3 tiki cocktails.

308 N. Euclid Ave. 314.367.1200 subzerovodkabar.com

236 N. Euclid Ave. 314.875.9500 gamlinwhiskeyhouse.com [In the Central West End]

[In the Central West End]

4199 Manchester Ave, 314.202.8300 tahaatiki.com [In The Grove]

#TRENDING SOON Gamlin Events & Catering #GAMLINEVENTS ADVERTISEMENT

GAMLINRG.COM

HAPPYHOUR GUIDE

GETTING OUT GUIDE The top places in town to eat, drink and be merry.

Your guide to St. Louis’ best Happy Hour specials.

ROXANE

From lunch to late-night crowds, Roxane’s hospitable spirit welcomes all. Delivering an unmatched dining experience tops the priority list, especially with the launch of an exciting new menu that delivers something for everyone. Whether you stop by for a drink or an appetizer(special pricing offered), the mission in the kitchen is twofold: to make the food so tasty it doesn’t need even a hint of seasoning, and for customers to walk away happy. 12 N. Meramec Ave. St. Louis, MO 63105 314.721.7700 roxaneonmeramec.com

RUTH’S CHRIS

Join Ruth’s Chris at both St. Louis locations for the Sizzle, Swizzle and Swirl happy hour. Featuring a new bar menu and handcrafted cocktails like the Blushing Harlot, guests can enjoy great happy hour prices Monday through Friday from 4-6:30pm. View the full menu at ruthschrisstlouis.com.

1 N. Brentwood Blvd., Ste. 150 Clayton, MO 63105 314.783.9900 ruthschrisstlouis.com

SPARE NO RIB

Take part in Spare No Rib’s happy hour, Monday through Friday from 3-6pm, with great deals on delicious barbecue and tacos alongside a house cocktail or beer from a large selection of brews. Enjoy $4 beer and $5 cocktails, large beer bottles for $15 and 20 percent off all food. 2200 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63104 314.202.8244 sparenorib.com

Bella Vino Wine Bar and Tapas Bella Vino is an eccentric blend of Spanish and Italian cuisine, with an atmosphere of modern elegance that is inviting to all guests! Come in for Tapas Tasting Thursdays wine pairing event, a three-course menu ($28 per person). There is a specialty seasonal menu offered the first Thursday of every month. Call today to make your reservation for their next tasting event. 325 S. Main St. St. Charles, MO 63301 636.724.3434 | bellavinowinebarstl.com

Olympia Kebob House and Taverna Home to some of the best authentic Greek food in town for the past 33 years, Olympia is open daily for lunch and dinner. Savor homemade Greek specialties like gyros and kebobs in a cozy European atmosphere complete with a full bar and the patio is now open. Find Olympia on Facebook! 1543 McCausland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63117 314.781.1299

Vino van Gogh Paint, drink and be merry! Vino van Gogh is the only mobile sip and paint company that consistently brings business to local neighborhoods. Vino supports your community by hosting events at your favorite local restaurants throughout St. Louis! Use promo code “STLOCAL” to save $13 off June events when registering online. VinoGogh.com 866.390.9917

Helen Fitzgerald’s Irish Grill & Pub Best live music + delicious food + daily drink specials + perfect patio setting = an amazing time to be had, daily at Helen Fitzgerald’s Irish Grill & Pub. Helen’s is conveniently located and has something to offer everyone from birthday celebrations and bachelorette parties to luncheons and business gatherings. Call to reserve space today! 3650 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63127 314.984.0026 | helenfitzgeralds.com

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Bring the Family and Enjoy Our All-You-Care-To-Eat Sunday Chicken Dinner A Lemp Mansion Sunday tradition, our Family-Style Chicken Dinner was the first meal ever served by the Mansion, and continues to be shared by generations of St. Louisans. $17.95 per person. FEATURING: Pan Fried Chicken, Pineapple Glazed Ham, Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Milk Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese, Whole Kernel Corn, Cole Slaw, German Style Green Beans, Stewed Cinnamon Apples, Marinated Vegetable Salad and Buttermilk Biscuits

314-664-8024 3322 DEMENIL PLACE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI WWW.LEMPMANSION.COM

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3630 Corporate Trail Dr. Earth City, MO 63045 314.373.1280 M-F 8a-6p Sat 11a-4p 112

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OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS SINGS FOR SITEMAN | THE MUNY’S FRESH 2014 LINEUP

HOT PICK

Circus Flora

Photo courtesy of Circus Flora.

Through June 22, Grand Center

Circus Flora is back at it again with this year’s brand-new story and theme, “The Pawn,” a unique show featuring strong narratives, mesmerizing lights and costumes, talented performers and majestic scenes. Tickets at circusflora.org (Grand Center).

JUNE 2014

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Free

CALENDAR

Hot Pick

O.A.R.

CHVRCHES June 2, The Pageant

Since alt-rock band CHVRCHES released its first big song in 2013, the group has continued to explode in popularity, ranking on BBC charts, headlining big tours in both the US and UK and achieving an award-winning performance at SXSW. Tickets at thepageant.com (6161 Delmar Blvd., The Loop). CHER AND CYNDI LAUPER June 4, Scottrade Center

After “The Farewell Tour” and the “Never Can Say Goodbye Tour,” Cher is back at it again as the diva who just can’t walk away from performing with her new 2014 “Dressed to Kill Tour.” She’s welcomed to the stage by ’80s pop-rock star Cyndi Lauper. Tickets at scottradecenter.com (1401 Clark Ave., Downtown). WHITAKER MUSIC FESTIVAL June 4-August 6 (Wednesday evenings) Missouri Botanical Garden 114

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JUNE 2014

Pack a picnic, blankets, lawn chairs and bug spray for the outdoor concerts at MOBOT this summer. Between jazz pianist Peter Martin, Al Holliday and his rhythm-and-blues band, Latin pop-rocker Javier Mendoza and more, this month is sure to be festival heaven. More info at missouribotanicalgarden. org (4344 Shaw Blvd., Shaw). ROD STEWART AND CARLOS SANTANA June 6, Scottrade Center

Gritty vocals pair with smooth guitar in this mega-concert filled with jazz and Latin tunes and soulful, high-energy lyrics. Don’t miss Grammy Award-winning musicians, Rod Stewart and Santana. Tickets at scottradecenter. com (1401 Clark Ave., Downtown). STYX, FOREIGNER AND DON FELDER June 7, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

“Come Sail Away” with ’70s and ’80s progressive pop-rock group Styx this June. Arrive early to rock out with Foreigner and Don Felder before the

headliner takes the stage. Tickets at livenation.com (14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights). FLAMING LIPS June 10, The Pageant

The true royalty of edgy, alternative music, Brit progressive rockers The Flaming Lips put on a bizarre but sureto-be exciting show at The Pageant this month. Don’t wait too long to get tickets; they’ll go quickly. Tickets at thepageant.com (6161 Delmar Blvd., The Loop). JOHN BUTLER TRIO June 11, The Pageant

John Butler is known as one of Australia’s and the world’s most introspective and consistently successful musicians. Fans look forward to witnessing his intricate music, emotional lyrics and powerful stage presence. Tickets at thepageant.com (6161 Delmar Blvd., The Loop). O.A.R. AND PHILLIP PHILLIPS June 12, The Fox

O.A.R., known for wowing audiences at sold-out live shows, has teamed up with “American Idol” winning musician Phillip Phillips for a top-notch tour. Tickets at fabulousfox.com (527 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center). TOMMY EMMANUEL June 12-13, The Sheldon

Internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated Australian musician Tommy Emmanuel performs at The Sheldon, drawing from five decades of musical expertise. Tickets at sheldonconcerthall.org (3648 Washington Blvd., Grand Center). STL SYMPHONY LIVE: MUSIC OF THE WHO June 13, Powell Hall

Conductor Brent Havens leads the St. Louis Symphony in this unique concert in which the musicians perform hits from The Who’s biggest albums like “Tommy” and “Who’s Next.” Tickets at stlsymphony.org (718 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center).

Photo courtesy of The Fox.

MUSIC

SA I NT LO U IS SC I E N C E C E NT E R We specialize in making science fun! Investigate and explore over 700 interactive exhibits and take in a film on one of the world’s largest domed screens in our OMNIMAX® Theater. Come, play and exercise your brain! General admission is always free. Visit slsc.org/alive1.

Modernism

art + design June 14th-Aug 30

Please visit us for this exciting collaboration including a unique selection of Modern paintings, drawings, fine prints and sculpture, highlighted with examples of Mid-Century Modern furniture and design. Opening Night Preview: Saturday, June 14 6-9pm Cocktails and Hors d’œuvres Complimentary Valet Parking RSVPs Appreciated A portion of the proceeds from sales will benefit Food Outreach

9650 Clayton Road - (314).993.4477 www.kodnergallery.com

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CALENDAR

STL SYMPHONY LIVE: MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES June 14, Powell Hall

Listen to The Rolling Stones’ hit songs “Under My Thumb,” “Paint It Black,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and more in a new form as the St. Louis Symphony makes a go at rock ’n’ roll. Tickets at stlsymphony.org (718 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center). XAVIER RUDD June 18, Old Rock House

Combining a hypnotic balance of guitars, didgeridoos, stomp boxes, percussion and more, Australian musician Xavier Rudd performs his imaginative music for fans. Tickets at oldrockhouse.com (1200 S. 7th St., Downtown). MS. LAURYN HILL June 18, The Pageant

Known across the world as a talented singer, songwriter and rapper, recognized as a producer and actress, and admired for her honest approach to music and life, Ms. Lauryn Hill is back in town to regale fans with a soulful and spectacular performance. Tickets at thepageant.com (6161 Delmar Blvd., The Loop). RAY LAMONTAGNE June 18, The Fox

Growing in success and musical talent since his debut album, “Trouble,” 10 years ago, Ray LaMontagne has performed in venues worldwide, created a handful of albums and EPs and earned some Grammys. Catch him live on The Fox stage. Tickets at fabulousfox.com (527 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center). JAMES TAYLOR June 24, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Legendary for his songwriting and guitar-centric performances, James Taylor plays some of his more recent work, as well as classic hits. Tickets at livenation.com (14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights). TIM MCGRAW June 28, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Serial award-winning Country singer-songwriter Tim McGraw makes his way to St. Louis this summer. Expect to hear recent big hits like “Lookin’ for That Girl” and “Highway Don’t Care.” Tickets at livenation. com (14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights).

Visual Arts AMERICAN SPIRITS: THE RISE AND FALL OF PROHIBITION Through Aug. 17, Missouri History Museum

Learn more about the beginning and end of the Prohibition era and all of the characters who made this time notable, from Al Capone to suffragists and bootleggers. More info at mohistory.org (5700 Lindell Blvd., Forest Park). NATURE CONNECTS ART WITH LEGO BRICKS EXHIBIT Through Sept. 7, Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden showcases this nationally recognized and completely handmade LEGO bricks exhibit over the next few months. Witness larger-than-life LEGO sculptures of animals and plants in the world-famous Climatron. More info at missouribotanicalgarden.org (4344 Shaw Blvd., Shaw). SIGHT LINES: RICHARD SERRA’S DRAWINGS FOR TWAIN March 28-Sept. 7, Saint Louis Art Museum

Paying homage to the Twain building in downtown St. Louis, this exhibit features drawings, a steel model, manipulated photographs and more, all focused on the architecture and history of this unique structure. More info at slam.org (1 Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park). GREAT RIVERS BIENNIAL Through Aug. 10, Contemporary Art Museum

Artists from all across the city and region are showcased in this annual exhibit set up to show off and recognize talented local work. More info at camstl. org (3750 Washington Blvd., Grand Center). PEAT WOLLAEGER June 1-TBD, Hoffman LaChance Fine Art Gallery

Artist Peat Wollaeger’s unique work and photographs are on display for visitors to Hoffman LaChance’s gallery this month. The exhibition focuses on the theme of transportation. More info at hoffmanlachancefineart.com (2713 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood). MOUND CITY April 12-Aug. 24, Laumeier Sculpture Park

The area around St. Louis, particularly the geography of locations like Cahokia Mounds, is explored in “Mound City.” Man-made hills and unusual

Song of Life

Want to hear some great music for a greater cause? For the fifth consecutive year, vocalists from the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis will perform at “Sing for Siteman,” during a benefit performance for Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center’s Discovery Fund. Seven vocalists from around the world will perform selections from opera, the Broadway stage and art songs, accompanied by internationally acclaimed pianist Carol Wong. Wong founded the event in honor of her mother and late father, both of whom battled cancer. The intimate evening, emceed by music critic and cancer survivor Sarah Bryan Miller, will also include international opera sensation Stephanie Blythe, who stars as Gertrude Stein in OTSL’s world premiere of “Twenty-Seven.” Following the performance, guests have the rare opportunity to meet the performers during a wine and dessert reception. The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as being among the top cancer facilities in the nation, The “Sing for Siteman” benefit concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 9, 2014, in the new 730-seat Performing Arts Center at John Burroughs School in Ladue. – CHRISTOPHER REILLY landscaping make up a large part of this new Laumeier exhibit. More info at laumeiersculpturepark.org (12580 Rott Road, Sunset Hills). 2014 ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE June 13-Aug. 24, Craft Alliance

Check out the new work from the 2013-2014 artists-in-residence this month. Fiber, clay and metal artists all show their best new pieces, revealing what they’ve investigated during their residencies. More info at craftalliance.org (501 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center). HONOR AWARDS 2014 EXHIBIT June 14-July 10, Art Saint Louis

Curator Kathryn Adamchick oversees this annual curated exhibit featuring the artwork of 10 award-winning artists from the 2013 juried exhibitions. Adamchick is particularly knowledgeable about juried pieces and has worked with all the major art institutions in the St. Louis area. More info at artstlouis.org (1223 Pine St., Downtown). WORKS FROM THE STUDIOS June 27-Aug. 10, Craft Alliance

See beautiful new work from the Craft Alliance’s top students. You can check out the pieces from now until early August. More info at craftalliance.org (6640 Delmar Blvd., The Loop).

Theater/Dance HANDS ON A HARDBODY Through June 21, Washington University South Campus Theatre

Created by Trey Anastasio of the rock band Phish and Amanda Green, famous for the films “High Fidelity” and “Bring It On,” this musical is all about Texas, hardbody trucks and a contest to help some down-and-out folks. Tickets at newlinetheatre. com (6501 Clayton Road, University City). CIRCUS FLORA Through June 22, Grand Center

This unique show features strong narratives, mesmerizing lights and costumes, talented performers and majestic scenes. Circus Flora is back at it again with this year’s story and theme, “The Pawn.” Tickets at circusflora.org (Grand Center)

Now Open! Presented in St. Louis by American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition was created by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Library of Congress images

Missouri History Museum Forest Park | 314.746.4599 | mohistory.org Tickets: 314.361.9017 or mohistory.org

OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE May 31-June 25 (select dates), Loretto-Hilton Center

Don’t miss Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ rendition of “The Elixir of Love,” a light-hearted, comical opera about a young man, his one true love and his desperate attempts to win her heart. Tickets at opera-stl. org (130 Edgar Road, Webster Groves). LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! June 12-28, Tower Grove Abbey

Stray Dog Theatre performs this unique comedy about eight gay men, a few weekends of vacation, a home in upstate New York and plenty of love connections along the way. Tickets at straydogtheatre.org (2336 Tennessee Ave., Tower Grove).

WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

Offering three day silent preached retreats year round. For booking and available dates 314.416.6400 or whretreat.org.

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Muny Magic Of the seven shows in The Muny’s spectacular 2014 season, four are Muny premieres, two are big-time Muny favorites and one will be the first time The Muny has hosted a national tour in many years. But, oh, what a tour. “There’ll be something fresh and new onstage every show,” says Mike Isaacson, executive producer at The Muny. The iconic theater’s season kicks off June 16 with “Billy Elliot,” the heartwarming story about a boy who wants to be a dancer, starring Broadway actress Emily Skinner as the ballet teacher. Another casting surprise is the return of John Tartaglia —who impressed local audiences as the Genie in “Aladdin” two years ago—playing Cat in the Hat in “Seussical.” Arguably most surprising is the national tour of “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess,” winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival, which will play at The Muny July 7-13. It’s a rarity for The Muny to bring in a tour, but the show, which is very difficult to stage because of the large cast of operatic talent it requires, was too good an opportunity to pass up. “That Gershwin music is probably some of the greatest American music written in the last century,” Isaacson says. “To have it on our stage—to hear ‘Summertime’ under the stars and under the trees—that’s just going to melt everyone’s heart.” “Porgy and Bess” features St. Louis native Kingsley Leggs as Sporting Life, who sings “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” The remaining shows in The Muny season are “Tarzan,” “The Addams Family,” “Grease,” and “Hello, Dolly!” – CHRISTOPHER REILLY A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION June 14, The Fox

Based on a live radio show that has aired every Saturday evening since 1974, “Prairie Home Companion” comes to The Fox with guests like Rich Dworsky, The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Joe Newberry and more. Tickets at fabulousfox.com (527 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center). OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS: TWENTY-SEVEN June 14-29 (select dates), Loretto-Hilton Center

Take a trip to 1920s Paris in this historical opera about the life of Gertrude Stein (played by international sensation Stephanie Blythe), her partner Alice B. Toklas and their friendships with artists the likes of

Fitzgerald and Picasso in her salon at 27 Rue de Fleurus. Tickets at opera-stl.org (130 Edgar Road, Webster Groves). BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL June 16-22, The Muny

Featuring original music by Elton John, spectacular choreography and a heartfelt story about a young boy who wants to be a dancer, “Billy Elliot” is a musical you don’t want to miss this summer. Tickets at muny.org (1 Theatre Drive, Forest Park). ST. LOU FRINGE FESTIVAL June 18-21, Multiple Venues in Grand Center

If you’re in the mood for a colorful festival featuring artists from theater, dance, acrobatics, music and more,

this is your kind of event. Head down to Grand Center, and experience this weekend of edgy but tasteful events. More info at stlfringe.com (Grand Center). OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS: DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES June 18-28, Loretto-Hilton Center

Opera Theatre of St. Louis puts on the dramatic and beautiful story by Poulenc about sisters in a Carmelite convent during the chaos and terror of the French Revolution, featuring an all-star cast including Christine Brewer and Kelly Kaduce. Tickets at opera-stl. org (130 Edgar Road, Webster Groves). TARZAN June 25-July 2, The Muny

Perfect for Muny-goers of all ages,

“Tarzan” features a Disney storyline, music by Phil Collins and the touching love story of a jungle man, the beautiful Jane and what it means to be human. Tickets at muny.org (1 Theatre Drive, Forest Park).

Literary/ Speaking HEATHER WEBB: BECOMING JOSEPHINE June 7, St. Louis Public Library Kingshighway Branch

Author Heather Webb reads from and discusses her new novel about a woman from Martinique who leaves her home for Paris with a new husband, only to be abandoned and forced to go it alone during the start of the French Revolution. More info at left-bank. com (2260 S. Vandeventer, Kingshighway). HUNGRY YOUNG POETS SERIES – RIVER STYX June 16, Tavern of Fine Arts

The Hungry Young Poets Series continues this June with even more young poets debuting their work. More info at riverstyx.org (313 Belt Ave., Central West End). EDDIE IZZARD June 19, The Fox

Hilarious British stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard brings his laughout-loud stories to the States. Tickets at fabulousfox.com (527 N. Grand Blvd., Grand Center).

Photo courtesy of

WHERE MOMENTS BECOME LIFETIMES Celebrate the happiest day of your life at Peabody Opera House in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The classical elegance of Peabody Opera House has played host to some of the city’s greatest moments, making it the perfect place to host your unforgettable event. Call today to begin planning the wedding of your dreams. For More Information Contact Director of Special Events Angie Carr at acarr@peabodyoperahouse.com

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THE CHOUTEAU NARRATIVE: A SYMPOSIUM IN HONOR OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF ST. LOUIS June 26, UMSL Mercantile Library

One of the Mercantile Library’s greatest treasures, the August Chouteau handwritten narrative about St. Louis will be commemorated, explored and read during this anniversary event. More info at umsl.edu (1 University Blvd., Maryland Heights).

Charity 29TH ANNUAL CASSIDY TURLEY RMHC GOLF TOURNAMENT AND DINNER AUCTION June 1-2, Meadowbrook Country Club

Support the Ronald McDonald House this month with this twoday golf tournament featuring a kickoff dinner, silent and live auctions and more. More info at rmhcstl.com (200 Meadowbrook Country Club Estate, Ballwin). CRAWL FOR CANCER Ballpark Village, June 7

Benefiting research for those affected by cancer, grab your friends and spend an afternoon drinking for a cause. Travel in teams to five bars for pitchers of beer before heading back to Ballpark Village for an after party filled with music and more brews. More info at crawlforcancer.org. (601 Clark Ave., Downtown).

MILES AGAINST MELANOMA June 7, Chesterfield Amphitheater

Raising funds for melanoma research, this event features a 6.2k, educational materials, advocacy information and more. More info at milesagainstmelanoma.com (631 Veteran’s Place Drive, Chesterfield). RACE FOR THE CURE June 14, Downtown

One of the city’s biggest downtown events, Race for the Cure is back in 2014 with numerous participants, a huge cause and plenty of pink. More info at komenstlouis.org (Downtown).

a cure. More info at webstl.alsa.org (Forest Park).

Special Events BALLWIN DAYS FESTIVAL AND PARADE June 6-June 8, Vlasis Park

Food, music, games and fireworks make this 36th annual community event a not-to-miss. More info at ballwindays.com (Vlasis Park, Ballwin). INTERNATIONAL CHEESE, WINE AND CANINE FESTIVAL June 14, Purina Event Center at Purina Farms

Live music, dancing, delicious food and open animal exhibits all make up an evening that benefits the Saint Louis Zoo and its many conservation efforts. More info at stlzoo.org (1 Government Drive, Forest Park).

Learn more about more than 35 different dog breeds from experts while sampling international wines and cheeses at this annual event. Entertainment includes belly dancing, African traditional dance, Scottish folk dancing and more. More info at purinafarms.com (200 Checkerboard Loop, Gray Summit).

SEIZE THE DAY 5K RUN/WALK June 21, Kirkwood Park

POLLINATOR DINNER June 17, Saint Louis Zoo

A ZOO ADO BY WELLS FARGO ADVISORS June 20, Saint Louis Zoo

Help put an end to epilepsy by participating in this 5k run or walk through gorgeous Kirkwood Park. More info at seizetheday.kintera.org (111 S. Geyer Road, Kirkwood). ST. LOUIS WALK TO DEFEAT ALS June 28, Forest Park

Presented by the ALS Association for amyotropic lateral sclerosis research and support, this walk allows anyone who has been touched by the high-impact disease to move toward

Sample multiple dishes and beverages—from regions all across Mexico, the US and Canada—all made from flowers or plants that the monarch butterfly pollinates during its migration. More info at stlzoo.org (1 Government Drive, Forest Park). 2014 JUNIOR U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

June 20-July 1, Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis

Witness some of the most talented junior chess competitors from around the country in these championship games right here in St. Louis. More info at saintlouischessclub.org (4657 Maryland Ave., Central West End). AROUND THE WORLD WINE DINNER – CHINATOWN June 20, Missouri Botanical Garden

Building on its increasingly popular wine dinners, the Garden hosts a “Chinatown” themed experience this month. Expect to taste delicious wines, learn from a wine expert and enjoy perfectly paired cuisine. More info at missouribotanicalgarden.org (4344 Shaw Blvd., Shaw). PRIDEFEST AND PRIDE 5K June 28-29, Soldiers’ Memorial

Celebrate St. Louis’ diversity and the LGBT community by heading downtown and participating in the annual parade, a Pride 5k and other attractions, including a VIP tent, now in its second year. More info at pridestl. org (Downtown). ART IN THE GARDEN SOULARD GARDEN TOUR June 21, Mad Art Gallery

Organized by the Soulard Restoration Group, the annual garden tour showcases some of the neighborhood’s best gardens, sculptures, hidden areas and beautiful nooks. More info at soulard. org (2727 S. 12th St., Soulard).

MORE ONLINE!

Log on to alivemag.com/calendar to search and browse our full listings of events and shows around St. Louis.

PEABODY OPERA HOUSE UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR Presented by

TORI AMOS BRIAN REGAN PHOTO CREDIT J METELLUS

JACKSON BROWNE PHOTO BY ANDREA BEHRENDS

MONDAY, JULY 7

FRIDAY, JULY 18

SUNDAY, JULY 20

FRIDAY, AUG. 1

To see our complete upcoming events schedule, please visit PeabodyOperaHouse.com

FRIDAY, OCT. 24

summer in St. Louis Heat up your summer with these STL cultural events.

City of Maplewood

Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries

Somewhere between Mardi Gras and the Christmas Tree Walk is Let Them Eat Art, Maplewood’s whimsical tribute to Bastille Day, Friday, July 11 from 6-11pm. You will find more than a dozen local and regional musicians performing throughout historic downtown Maplewood. Let the music take you along this self-guided tour of live art, entertainment, kid’s activities with awesome food and drink specials.

Enjoy your favorite artists with the perfect acoustics of The Sheldon! From jazz and folk to classical and bluegrass, the 2014-2015 Sheldon season features Chick Corea, Peter Martin, Leo Kottke, David Halen, Marty Stuart, Cecile McLorin Salvant and many more. Subscriptions available now at TheSheldon.org or 314.534.1111.

7300 Manchester Ave. · Maplewood, MO 63143 314.645.3600 · cityofmaplewood.com/ltea

3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 314.533.9900 · thesheldon.org

ALIVE SPECIAL PROMOTION

B U D LI G HT PR ESENTS

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WHITE PARTY VIP DOORS 6.28.2014 | lumen | 7PM 8PM GA DOORS VIP $45 | GENERAL $25

Pride Weekend â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s VIP White Party

Featu r i n g La nter n s fo r Love: A M i d n i g ht La nter n R elease

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Artrageous Gold Ball

April 12, The Palladium

Craft Alliance celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary with an elegant, gold-filled ball at The Palladium that I was more than happy to attend. Supporters of the art-centric nonprofit came dressed to impress with a touch of gold—or full-on gold ensembles—as they bid on the silent auction items made by Craft Alliance artists. Executive Director Boo McLoughlin led guests through the elegant evening, introducing key speakers including RAC’s Jill McGuire and successful student artists who have benefited from Craft Alliance’s programming. A highlight of the evening was the acrobatic dance performance by local performers dressed in head-to-toe gold as they introduced the new name of the organization—Craft Alliance: Center of Art and Design—that will take the organization into the next 50 years. -JENNIFER DULIN WILEY, EXECUTIVE EDITOR 1 RAC’s Jill McGuire 2 Phyllis Langsdorf & Debra Bass 3 Kahlil Robert Irving & Robert Longyear 4 Jason Busch & Jordan Gaunce 5 Carrie Gilbertson & Kevin Smith 6 Paula Reed, Susan Barrett, Stephanie Tussey & Amy Soper 7 Boo McLoughlin, Phyllis Langsdorf & Mont Levy

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St. Louis Teen Talent Competition

April 4, The Fox

Twelve high school acts competed on the stage at The Fox in the 4th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. After judging 107 groups, performing arts professionals narrowed down the list to these dozen finalists. A reception was held prior to the Broadway-style event. The winning participants received more than $25,000 in scholarships, prizes and awards. Finalists also have the opportunity to perform at area events throughout the year. 1 Yvonne Mwyer Hare & Gia Valenti 2 Redd Williams & Carol Christie 3 Haylee Capstick performing “Fix You” 4 Donesha Buhr performing “Overture” from CHICAGO 5 Ben Nordstrom 6 Ron Gibbs & Cynthia Prost 7 Mary Strauss wishing St. Louis a Happy 250th Birthday with the Fabulous Fox Tellerettes 8 2014 4th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition scholarship winner “Daring Donesha” Buhr

PHOTOS BY AMBER JOIVON/ALIVE SCENE TEAM. FOR MORE PHOTOS, LOG ON TO ALIVEMAG.COM/PHOTOS. JUNE 2014

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William Shearburn Private Gallery Opening April 3, William Shearburn Gallery

William Shearburn Gallery hosted a private event to celebrate its opening in The Dorchester at Forest Park. A portion of the night’s sales benefited the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis’ “AP Portfolio Day” program, in which high school art students from St. Louis Public Schools share their work with art professionals in an effort to help advance their art practice. 1 Susan Sherman & Atul and Anjali Kamra 2 Carmon Colangelo & William Shearburn 3 Helene Sayad, Paula Reed, Julie Shearburn & Tania Beasley-Jolly 4 Alan Brainerd, Lisa Melandri & Ken Gerrity 5 Dorte Probstein & Susan Barrett

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PHOTOS BY AMBER JOIVON/ALIVE SCENE TEAM. FOR MORE PHOTOS, LOG ON TO ALIVEMAG.COM/PHOTOS.

CHARITY

A Tasteful Affair

April 6, The Four Seasons St. Louis Charitable foodies gathered for Food Outreach’s 26th annual fundraising event, A Tasteful Affair. Guests sampled delicious bites prepared by some of the area’s top chefs and catering crews while browsing hundreds of unique silent auction items. Proceeds benefited Food Outreach’s mission of providing nutritional meals to people living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in the St. Louis area.

1 Don and Reshma Chamberlin & Jacob Laws 2 Noah Ragland, Danieal Taylor & Darryl Herndon 3 Justin Scarborough & Food Outreach Executive Director Greg Lukeman 4 Heidi Glaus, Marsha Wolf & Missy Glassmaker

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Archetypes

Leon Sharpe

An interview with Leon Sharpe, founder and principal of the Praxis Group, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in leveraging workforce diversity, building inclusive communities, coaching effective leaders and advancing institutional change for universities, school districts, corporations and nonprofit organizations. Sharpe is an adjunct professor at Webster University’s School of Communications and a consultant to FOCUS Leadership St. Louis. Last month, he and co-author, Linda Holtzman, published the second edition of “Media Messages: What Film, Television, and Popular Music Teach Us About Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation.” He also serves on the boards of Neighborhood Houses, the Ethics Project, and the Griot Museum of Black History, where this interview took place. What is your current frame of mind? Upbeat. What is your favorite smell? Fresh baked dough; a burst of fragrance when a woman brushes past; the smell of an infant—unless they need a new diaper. What is one word that describes you? Unflappable in most situations, inquisitive, attentive, attuned. What did you eat for breakfast today? I had some yogurt with pears and walnuts, though I wanted pancakes. What is your most marked characteristic? I can walk into most rooms where people are engaged and read the dynamics of interaction in a short time.

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What is your greatest weakness? I battle with time. I try to fit too many things into finite temporal space. What trait do you most admire in others? I admire people who treat others well and don’t feel the need to be grumpy and short just because they’re talented or powerful. People who own the space they occupy and yet also respect what others have to offer. People who regularly make the effort to do things with integrity. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? The presence of God. I’m reminded of it every single day. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I accept my imperfections, but I would like to be better at being me; I relish the potential that resides in that. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being a father; raising my children. Which living person do you most admire? Muhammad Ali for the stance he took and the way he faced down his fears. With which historical figure do you most identify? W.E.B. Du Bois. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, who or what would it be? An eagle on a higher perch, or a scientist. What is your most treasured possession? My sense of humor. What is your greatest fear? My fear is that we as a society will let current trends toward increased social and economic disparities continue unchecked without doing what we can to interrupt them. We’ve already allowed an imperfect democracy to become

even less than that. Who are your favorite writers? Langston Hughes, Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison, Isabel Allende, Alice Monroe, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison and August Wilson. Which artists do you admire most? I admire the big band guys like Duke Ellington and Count Basie for their savvy, creative leadership. Also, the jazz innovators–Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Contrane–who dared to break new ground. If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be? With my parents, who are no longer here. I have some wonderful pictures I’d like to show them. What is one thing you wish would happen? That we would stop the madness and get serious about protecting our planet before any more species go extinct or we extinguish ourselves. That as humans we begin to get some of the primitive “isms” out of the way so we can fulfill our evolutionary potential. What is one thing you want to do before you die? To watch my grandkids grow to adulthood and become who they are called to be. To have a few more really good adventures in the time I have left. If you could say something to your younger self, what would it be? Listen to that inner voice, young man; take heed. Interview by Kelly Hamilton Photography by Wesley Law ‘Archetypes’ are off-the-cuff interviews with St. Louis' most inspiring, well-known personalities based on the 19th century Parisian parlor game known as the Proust Questionnaire.

INTERNATIONAL

CHEESE CHEESE WINE & WINE & INTERNATIONAL

CANINE CANINE

FESTIVAL E S T RHINELAND I V A L KENNEL CLUB PRESENTED BY F MISSOURI PRESENTED BYUP MISSOURI RHINELAND KENNEL CLUB PINKIES (AND PAWS) FOR FLAVORFUL WINES AND STUNNING CANINES! PINKIES (AND PAWS) UP FOR SATURDAY What do fine winesWINES and the AND finest STUNNING dog breeds FLAVORFUL CANINES! have in common? They're products of selection, What do fine refinement andwines and the finest dog breeds have in common? They're products of selection, good taste! refinement and Meet than 40 different breeds of goodmore taste! dogs originating from all parts of the Meet more than 40 different breeds of world while sampling an dogs originating from all parts of the international smorgasbord of wines, world while sampling an cheeses and snacks. Also, enjoy international smorgasbord amazing cultural dances suchofaswines, cheeses and snacks. Also, enjoy Scottish and German dancing. amazing cultural dances such as Scottish and German dancing. NEW in 2014 Mt. Pleasant Estates Winery NEW in 2014 will host a special wineWinery bar Mt. Pleasant Estates inwill the host Northa American section special wine bar ofinthe event and offer the North American section samples of their of the event and offer award-winning samples of their local wines. award-winning local wines.

JuneSATURDAY 14, 2014 June 14, 2014 6:00-9:00 pm AT THE INDOORpm 6:00-9:00

Purina Event Center AT THE INDOOR Purina Event Center Here’s just a sampling of the breeds in attendance: Hound (Egypt) Kerry Blue (Ireland) Here’s justTerrier a sampling of theIbizan breeds in attendance: Border Collie (UK) Kerry Blue Terrier (Ireland) Chihuahua (Mexico) Border Collie (UK)

Dalmatian (Croatia) Ibizan Hound (Egypt) Pembroke(Croatia) Welsh Corgi (UK) Dalmatian

Dachshund (Germany) Chihuahua (Mexico)

St. Bernard (Switzerland) Pembroke Welsh Corgi (UK)

Basenji (Africa) Dachshund (Germany)

Chinese Crested (China) St. Bernard (Switzerland)

Basenji (Africa)

Chinese Crested (China)

Purchase tickets at www.purinafarms.com Purchase tickets at www.purinafarms.com

Ticket price for tasters is $30 before the event and $35 at the door (21+only). Ticket price forDesignated tasters isdrivers $30 before the event and at the door (21+only). and non-drinkers are $35 $15 for soda, water and food. Designated drivers and non-drinkers are $15 for soda, water and food.

All the International wines are provided by All the International wines inareSunset provided by MO. The Wine Barrel Hills, The Wine BarrelWinery in Sunset Hills, MO.MO. Local wines provided by Mt. Pleasant Estates in Augusta, Local wines provided by Mt.dogs Pleasant Estates Winery Augusta, No outside may be brought in byinthe generalMO. public.

No outside in bybethe public. The onlydogs dogsmay at be thebrought event will at general the breed booths. The only dogs at the event will be at the breed booths.

Enjoy Responsibly