Riverfront Times, July 12, 2023

FRONT BURNER 6

MONDAY, JULY 3 Harrowing new details emerge on the two St. Louisans killed by Saturday’s storm. Sebastian Montes tells the Post-Dispatch he and other neighbors repeatedly called 911 after a tree struck a woman waiting out the storm in her car. Apparently emergency workers only came because a neighbor thought to call a personal connection at a fire department in the county, and someone else walked to the nearest firehouse — and then finally EMS workers were on their way. St. Louis: Where a carrier pigeon is faster than 911 dispatch. Details are equally grim in Jennings, where people apparently called for 45 minutes before getting help for a five-year-old boy whose bedroom was hit by a tree. Both the Jennings boy and the St. Louis woman died. Meanwhile, more than 40,000 remain without power. Ameren says it should be back on the grid by Wednesday or Thursday, leading to groans that could be heard for miles.

TUESDAY, JULY 4 This year’s mysteriously truncated Fair St. Louis features one night of fireworks on the Arch grounds,

Previously On

LAST WEEK IN ST. LOUIS

no bands and no additional vendors. And … it’s kind of great. It’s what happens downtown afterwards that sucks — illegal fireworks light up street corners downtown and in a broad swath of city neighborhoods until the not-wee hours of the morning. The Post-Dispatch reports that the region actually ran out of ambulances — a teen hit-and-run victim had to be taken to the hospital in a police cruiser. Sigh.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 The planet sets a new record for global heat. St. Louis is surely doing its part, but not to worry — everything’s fine! And forget all that: There’s coke in the White House, and the nation’s tabloids are riveted by what is surely some low-level staffer’s personal stash

QUESTIONS with country musician Taylor Fogel

How to describe the St. Louis-based band Glory N’ Perfection on the occasion of the release of its debut album? The easiest thing would be to call the group a five-piece country & western outfit. But that would belie how strange its songs are. You might call it goofy, but that would be an injustice to the members’ songwriting acumen and talent as musicians. It’s hard to say.

Take for example the single “Makin’ Eyes.” It’s a sub-three-minute, quietly poignant ode to charged eye contact between a motorist and pedestrian waiting to cross the street at an intersection. Like many a country-Western tune, it’s a love song. But it’s the shortest romance of all time.

We caught up with Glory N’ Perfection keyboardist and singer Taylor Fogel to tell us about what all the band has been up to. This conversation has been edited for clarity and for length.

Can you tell me a little bit about the origin story of the band?

We started early, early pandemic. Everything was shut down. I started writing these goofy country songs. I’ve always been a fan of country music, but I’d never been involved in making country music. I’d always been a rock & roll guy. I showed the songs to a couple buddies, and then they started writing songs, and before we knew it, we were making home recordings, demos and whatnot. We had amassed a collection of 40-some odd songs. Eventually it became a band.

At what point did this group transition from a pandemic-era project to like, “We’re making albums, we’re shooting videos, we’re a bonafide band?”

We got asked to do this Live on the Internet thing at the Sinkhole. They asked us to do it, and we weren’t a band. We were just playing around at home. So we threw the band together with like a month’s notice, literally. We went and did it and then just kept doing it, and it became a thing.

What’s next?

We’re gonna head down Iron Mountain Lake and start working on

THURSDAY, JULY 6 An aldermanic committee gives initial 7-0 approval to Alderwoman Cara Spencer’s bill banning the open carry of firearms without a concealed-carry permit. Aldermen also advanced a bill that would require police to provide more information — and business cards — to people they stop and search. Alas for Mayor Tishaura Jones: Text records garnered via a Sunshine request that go viral today show that she has a visceral hatred for Spencer, her closest rival in the most recent mayoral election. We can only imagine that today’s group text with Virvus Jones and Richard Callow is fire. Meanwhile, in Jefferson City, Governor Mike Parson vetoes a ban on, of all things, celebratory gunfire. Let the bullets fly in Missouri!

FRIDAY, JULY 7 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter celebrate 77 years of wedded bliss — like, how is that even possible? Back in St. Louis, the messed-up QuikTrip at Gravois and Chippewa sees its second deadly shooting in a week, while Mayor Jones apologizes for her bitchy texts.

SATURDAY, JULY 8 Some damn study names St. Louis the best place to live without a car — and every single St. Louisan without a car collapses in gales of bitter laughter

SUNDAY, JULY 9 House Minority Leader Crystal Quade is running for governor and has a kick-ass kickoff video making her case. Someone’s gotta be the Democrat led to the slaughter in the gubernatorial race, but we have to wonder about state Senator Karla May’s just-announced challenge to Josh Hawley. After all, both Lucas Kunce and Wesley Bell are already all in, so this is less about helping the party and more about, well, hurting it. Gotta tip a hat to the fundraisers who’ve managed to find yet another candidate to earn commissions from.

some new tunes, get the next album rolling.

Why Iron Mountain Lake? What’s down there?

Zeng’s [guitarist Nick Zengerleng’s] lake house.

Is that like a good space to be in to create things?

It’s sketchy as hell, if I’m being honest.

It’s in meth country?

Oh, absolutely. Let me just say there was a guy down there who got his house burglarized by the local chief of police.

Recently?

This was a couple of years ago. There was a news story about him. It was his whole saga. You can look it up. Washburn was the chief’s name.

Is that something you might one day write a song about?

Oh, we did. It’s not on the album, but it’s out there somewhere. You can find it. It’s called “Where the Hell Is Trish?” —Ryan Krull

Taylor Fogel (right, in overalls) is the keyboard player and singer for Glory N’ Perfection, a country act he started. | COURTESY PHOTO

WEEKLY WTF?!

CHRIS ANDOE’S SOCIETY PAGE

The Greater Alton Garden Tour

I’ve long been passionate about the Greater Alton area, feeling it’s grossly underrated considering its striking topography, scenic river vistas, interesting characters and historic architecture. The Melvin Price Lock and Dam on the Mississippi makes the river more like a lake up there, dotted with recreational boats.

Dog Watch!

This dog: is as friendly as it is lost

Starting location: on the steps of City Hall

Where it was picked up by a family who drove it to a shelter: the bus stop at the Civic Center

Distance from City Hall to bus stop: about a quarter mile

Time it took dog to travel that distance: more than an hour

Amount of that time spent rolling in the grass: a lot

Number of people who helped it on its journey: at least a dozen, including a parking lot attendant who let the dog crash in her air-conditioned workspace, City Hall workers, guys living in tents and tourists who gave the dog water and refuge

Number of drivers who stopped to let him cross various downtown streets: at least five, as well as a bus

Number of buses this dog boarded: one

Name of the family who ferried this dog to a shelter in their Jeep: the Morgans

The Morgans: were not here in town for the Morgan Wallen concert; they were seeing Taylor Swift the following night on the other side of the state. Where the dog wound up: the CARE STL Adoption Center

If this is your dog: Call 314-696-2444.

15 SECONDS OF FAME

TEXT-ASTROPHE OF THE WEEK

Tishaura Jones

Mayor Tishaura Jones texts the same way that everyone else does: candidly. She talks mad shit on political opponents, calling them bitches and joking about punching them in the neck. She even referred to a random Redditor as a twat.

Why she did all this from a cell phone subject to public records request is beyond us, but she probably won’t do it again after a records request resulted in the press getting a 134-page PDF of her texts that reporters (the Riverfront Times included) gleefully read and shared.

Virvus Jones seems to use the group text between the mayor and political advisor Richard Callow as a sounding board for drafting his tweets, which always staunchly defend his daughter. (And reflect some of the candor seen in the group text.)

The second illuminating aspect of the texts was the wide gulf between the mayor’s public and private comments on embattled Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. Other than saying Gardner lost the trust of the city, the mayor largely remained silent until Gardner resigned. But the tenor in the mayor’s group text was much more biting.

People may have appreciated Jones’ candor about the city’s embarrassing top prosecutor. Hopefully in the future, Jones will speak with us like we’re all in the chat together.

When friend and media personality Steve Potter told me about a Pride Garden Tour happening this past Sunday, I rounded up friends and made a day of it. We began with one of my favorite drives in the world, along the Great River Road. West of Grafton, we took the Brussels Ferry to Calhoun County, where we lunched at the historic Wittmond Hotel, which serves excellent family-style meals that wow any guest.

Some of the most stunning sites on the garden tour were in the Fairmount Neighborhood, a private, hidden enclave nestled high upon a blufftop on Alton’s western boundary. While I pride myself on my knowledge of the area, I hadn’t spent any time in the mysterious and monied Fairmount, aside from once circling through its winding, narrow streets.

Our first stop was the 15,000 square foot circa 1927 Olin Mansion, one of the Midwest’s finest estates. It is situated on 32 acres with unrivaled river views from several directions. United States presidents have visited the mansion throughout its nearly 100-year history, and the palatial compound, which has undergone a total renovation, is currently on the market for $8,450,000.

Frisella Nursery won a 2019 Bronze Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals for its work on the grounds, work which included restoring the original reflecting pool that’s the focal point in the landscape. The stone pool features metal cranes and is filled with water lilies.

One of my guests was visiting from Philadelphia, and earlier that day she told me she had moved to the U.S. from Trinidad in the 1980s because she thought the whole nation was like the TV show Dynasty. One of the most iconic scenes from that soap opera was a lily pond fight between the two main divas on the grounds of a mansion, and I

mentioned this was her big opportunity to recreate the signature scene.

After three stops in Fairmount, we drove to Alton’s Middletown Historic District to visit the home of Steve Potter. His garden is the scene of a story in my book, House of Villadiva, titled, “First Lady of Alton Embroiled in International Scandal.”

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Shannon Walker, wife of then-Mayor Brant Walker, was caught up in a raid at a pub-turned-speakeasy after a friend spotted her car and tipped off authorities. The story exploded, becoming international news. At the height of controversy, Shannon Walker was often holed up with friends in Potter’s cloistered garden.

“I’d known her socially through mutual friends, and she had visited when I was entertaining,” Potter, known for his legendary parties, told me in 2020. “She loved my garden and found it to be a safe haven when everyone was attacking her. Of course, she was glued to her phone, and I was sitting right beside her when the story broke on the BBC.”

Potter, who was serving wine on his bamboo-screened patio, said 250 people visited on Sunday during the garden tour. His lush urban oasis features meandering stone walkways leading to hidden seating areas and surprises around every bend. The ground plantings, including a variety of lilies, accompanied potted plants of cacti and succulents. Mixed in were concrete statues, art pieces, peaceful chimes and bird baths.

It was only when I sat down to write this piece that I realized this was not an Alton Pride event as I had thought, but one put on by a society organization called Pride, Inc. Founded in 1966, three years before the Stonewall Riots, the mainstream organization sponsors area parks and city beautification efforts. Because of the warm and welcoming way our diverse group was treated, we felt right at home. Not so at home that we recreated Dynasty’s lily pond scene at the Olin Mansion, fortunately. The only place we might have gotten by with a stunt like that would have been the Potter Palace.

St. Roch Fights ‘All Things New’ Closure Orders

The Archbishop’s plan highlights inequities, secrecy and distrust in the church since the 2002 sexual abuse scandal, parishoners say

Written by NINA GIRALDO

When you walk up the steps of St. Roch Catholic Church, you are met with a large wooden door framed in stone, with carvings culminating into the designs of the clock tower above.

For Bill Hannegan, one of St. Roch’s parishioners, this is the most emotional part of the church, where he has socialized with friends and family after mass for nearly six decades. Hannegan’s relationship to the church, like many other St. Roch parishioners, spans through generations of family — his grandmother was an original member, and the church was the site of his parents’ wedding.

“There’s something about that physical place,” Hannegan says. “It’s really, really special. The exterior of the church is one of the prettiest in St. Louis.”

Now, St. Roch is one of 34 St. Louis parishes scheduled for closure on August 1 — leaving many members wondering why.

On May 24, St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski signed a decree stating that St. Roch (6052 Waterman Boulevard) was to be subsumed, or absorbed, into Christ the King Church (7316 Balson Avenue) more than a 45-minute walk away. The technicalities of the closure, including what it means for the St. Roch Grade School, are unclear.

The amalgamation came as a

part of the All Things New plan launched by the Archdiocese of St. Louis in January 2022, recognized as the most sweeping reorganization of the Catholic church in St. Louis history. The archdiocese has said that its goals are to enhance evangelization processes and confront a lack of pastors, with parish reorganizations, including church closures and mergers, as well as 155 priest reassignments.

In an announcement to press on May 27, Rozanski maintained that the plan affects the entirety of the region, despite nearly half of the closures occurring in north St. Louis and north St. Louis County.

These closures follow a national trend of declining religious populations in the U.S. in the last three years, one often attributed to the ongoing sexual abuse scandals, a generational separation from Christian morals and the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 31, Ward 10 Alderwoman Shameem Clark-Hubbard and Executive Director of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council Mike Reid wrote to Rozanski requesting he revoke the decree closing St. Roch Parish. The letters highlight the role of the church in community engagement and stability, pointing to the more than 100-year history of St. Roch as a cornerstone to the area. St. Roch draws individuals from more 30 ZIP codes, many from the city. Of St. Roch students, 45 percent are not Catholic; 50 percent of people in the parish boundaries are people of color.

Reid wrote he was troubled that

a majority of closures and consolidations occurred in north St. Louis city and county, where the average household income is $45,543 per year.

“The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council is extremely concerned that the decision to close St. Roch was based on biased information,” Reid’s letter states. “One should not have to have a car in the city to celebrate one’s faith.”

Mike Stephens, president of the St. Roch Parish Council, assisted in writing the appeals, which were accompanied by letters of support from Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and Antionette Cousins, president of the City Board of Education.

“We don’t think St. Roch was evaluated in a fair manner and consistent with the ideals of the Catholic Church,” Stephens says. “It wasn’t given credit for evangelization and for our role in the community and as a strong, standing pillar of the city.”

Most closures occurred in areas that the archdiocese deemed underserved and where evangelization should most occur, according to Stephens.

“To whom are they evangelizing to? The west county parishes they already have?” Stephens asks.

The archdiocese says that the All Things New planning committee used hundreds of parish feedback summaries, interviews, surveys, listening sessions and financial data to develop a decree for each parish. St. Roch’s Community Council had been in com-

munication with the archdiocese for about two years prior to the decree and had been under the impression St. Roch would remain mostly unchanged.

“It’s unclear to everyone why there was a sudden reversal and the parishes who were going to be in the pastorate were closed, or subsumed or amalgamated,” Stephens says. “No one knows why, after almost two years of talking, this plan was dropped. I think we deserve an answer.”

The archbishop cites low attendance and financial debt as reasons for St. Roch’s closure, stating that the parish has operated “at a financial deficit in each of the past five years, with an aggregate deficit in excess of $1 million for those years.”

This information is blatantly incorrect, Stephens says, and St. Roch is financially healthy and independent. According to Hannegan, the archdiocese did not speak to the president of St. Roch’s Finance Committee before drawing these conclusions. As for the low attendance, both point to the pandemic and the delivery of remote masses by the church. St. Roch also had to cut down to one mass per weekend because the parish’s monsignor of 40 years, the legendary Salvatore Polizzi, became sick, passing away in April at age 92.

“The archdiocese didn’t give him any help in that regard, and now they’re holding it against us in terms of how many people showed up at mass,” Stephens says.

Many parishes affected by the decrees are frustrated by the lack of transparency and clear communication by the archdiocese, with many individuals undertaking their own initiatives to protect church accessibility to the public. One such individual is Jason Bolte, who founded Save Rome of the West when All Things New was first made public, with the mission to uphold and maintain sacralized spaces. Now, his organization has international reach as it confronts larger issues of power consolidation within the church, problems he ascribes to the lack of accountability following the sexual abuse crises and what he sees as the shift away from God following the Second Vatican Council.

Bolte’s own parish, St. Barnabas

Continued on pg 10

St. Roch is located near Washington University and Forest Park. | NINA GIRALDO

ST. ROCH

Continued from pg 9

the Apostle in O’Fallon, is being subsumed by parishes about 30 miles away. While he himself will continue to worship, many within his parish are elderly or disabled, leaving them unable to make the journey. Many have given up on their faith as a result, Bolte says.

The archdiocese is not addressing these inequities, and did not truly listen to any concerns that parishes had prior to the decrees being released, Bolte says.

“The whole thing has been so frustrating to deal with because we’ve tried to have the conversations because they say they want dialogue,” Bolte says. “Every time I’ve met the archbishop, he’s been very dismissive and walked away from me.”

When asked about Bolte’s allegations, Lisa Shea, the director of community and media engagement of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, wrote that the decisions took into consideration feedback from tens of thousands of Catholics from every parish and school in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

“Parishioners have many feelings about their parishes, each unique to the person and their experiences,” Shea wrote.

Ken Battis, a local lawyer and insurance claims professional, founded an organization with other members of the St. Louis Church Militant group calling for transparency from the archdiocese in regards to the All Things New Plan. Save Our St. Louis Parishes has garnered about 3,500 signatures in support — the largest number of Catholics to have signed mandates to oppose a merger in the history of the American Catholic Church, Battis says.

Battis recalls an email correspondence with the Catholic Leadership Institute, the for-profit consulting group from outside of St. Louis that pitched the All Things New Plan to the St. Louis archdiocese, where he asked for evidence of the “measurable data” that mega merger plans would increase mass attendance. While the institute did not respond, they did remove the phrasing from their website.

“While they’re getting your money to do information and changes about your diocese, and their own board members are telling them to respond, they refuse to respond,” Battis says. “That’s just indefensible.”

Some organizations tell a different story. With about 3,200

volunteers and 140 parish-based chapters, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a local, Catholic nonprofit organization that provides person-to-person assistance to those in need, according to Executive Director John Foppe, who also served on the Social Outreach and Catholic Presence committee of the archdiocese during the All Things New planning process. While the organization will lose 33 of its chapters with the rollout of All Things New, Foppe is hopeful that volunteers will continue their service in the new parish configurations. To do this, merging chapters are meeting to become better familiarized with one another, while their mission to serve those in need remains steady, he says.

“[Our members] understand that changes are necessary,” Foppe says. “While sometimes painful, I think that for the most part our members are really trying to view this positively.”

Battis says that a head leader of St. Vincent de Paul reached out to him two weeks ago asking how many parishes were under appeal, because they had not heard back from the archdiocese.

“I replied nicely but sort of straightforwardly saying, ‘Where have you been? I agree with you, they won’t reply to us either,’” Battis says. “‘Why do you or [other Catholic nonprofit organizations] let [the archdiocese] call us unfaithful Catholics and kick us off church grounds, when this is the very kind of question we should ask?’”

When asked whether he felt the archdiocese had communicated clearly and transparently with St. Vincent de Paul, Foppe said yes.

Chris Martin, the archdiocesan vicar for parish mission and vitality, spoke to members of St. Vincent de Paul to prepare them for the change, and the organization hopes to meet with Rozanski to discuss responses, Foppe says.

Neither Martin nor Rozanski was present at a single open session for parishioners, according to Battis. Instead, attendees were provided a pre-recorded video and a facilitator who wrote questions to pass on to the archdiocese.

Rozanski’s All Things New plan is not new to St. Louis, or to the archbishop himself — he closed several churches in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2016 and 2017 for the consolidation of financial and ministerial resources. Parish downsizing in other cities include strategic plans seen in Pittsburgh’s On Mission for the Church Alive and Cincinnati’s

Beacons of Light.

Battis draws a parallel between the secrecy by the archdiocese in All Things New and the secrecy by the church during the sexual abuse crises. Both are an abuse of power, Battis says.

“You could make an argument that God doesn’t care whether we have 100 more parishes or less parishes if we’re still serving the communities and saving souls,” Battis says. “But how will we know we’re doing that if there’s so much distrust and you won’t even meet with us or talk with us?”

Less than six months after being appointed by Pope Francis in 2020, Rozanski faced a civil lawsuit in Springfield alleging that he was part of “abhorrent attempts” to protect a bishop accused of sexual abuse by an altar boy. On June 27, Richard Stika, the Knoxville, Tennessee, bishop accused of silencing the rape of a diocesan employee, said he planned to relocate his ministerial activities to St. Louis following his resignation, where he was first ordained as priest in 1985, Crux reported.

“This morning we learned that Bishop Stika has made the decision to retire from the Diocese of Knoxville and return to St. Louis,” Rozanski said in a statement on June 27. “I am familiar with the allegations against Bishop Stika, and I believe he is making the correct decision for himself, the Church and the Diocese.”

Battis points to Rozanski as an example of why the public does not trust bishops, as well as a part of the larger issue of distrust that exists towards the church.

“Why would people trust you if you’re using the same tactics against the faithful flock that you used against victims and whistleblowers when they tried to tell the truth?” Battis says.

Bolte believes All Things New is a nefarious plan looking to maximize profit and detract from God.

“[The All Things New plan] was all pre-ordained as to what the outcome was going to be — and they’ll deny that until they’re blue in the face — but anybody with half a sense about them sees right through it,” Bolte says.

The archdiocese is treating the churches like Starbucks, he says: When they are not getting enough customers, they close their doors.

“It’s not about that,” Bolte says, “It’s not about how many we’re serving. We have to serve anybody and everybody that we can.”

Others, however, feel sympathetic to Rozanski. Hannegan thinks that he may have faced

pressure from consultants at the Catholic Leadership Institute.

“I think it’s partly just unfair to bring a guy in and say, ‘Here, do this major surgery on a city you’ve never been in before,’” Hannegan says.

In an interview with KMOX two weeks ago, when asked how he plans to restore any peace that was disturbed in the All Things New planning process, Rozanski asked those appealing to look past their individual church to the big picture of the archdiocese in the greater St. Louis community.

“To me, it’s very heartening to see that people are so attached to their parishes, but as we look at the demographics and to changes that have taken place, there is very, very much evidence that change has to be done in order to serve all of our people,” Rozanski said.

On June 29, Rozanski released a statement addressing the letters of appeal. He received almost 800 letters from 44 parishes with feedback, the letter states.

“I, along with the employees of the Metropolitan Tribunal, have read and considered every letter I’ve received, and I am responding to every one of them,” he writes.

Asked if parishioners would get the opportunity to meet directly with the archdiocese, Shea said in an email, “There have been many opportunities over the past two years for all parishioners to share their concerns regarding All Things New as it relates to their parish. The Archbishop has taken all of the concerns into consideration. In addition, there have been opportunities for pastors and their key parish leaders to validate or dispute the data collected from the parishes themselves.”

So far, the only communication received by St. Roch’s leaders has been a letter from the archbishop asking for donations.

“It just shows how insensitive they are,” Stephens says.

Last week, several St. Roch parishioners received rejections of their appeals. They plan to take them to higher authorities.

Parishioners who disagree with any decisions have 15 business days to respond with a letter that will be sent to the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome, Italy.

“I don’t want it to go to a court in Rome,” Hannegan says. “I want it to be decided here in St. Louis, and have [Rozanski] or his staff sit down with us and say, ‘Where are we in disagreement here? Is there something we can show you that would change your mind? n

City Squanders Money Fighting Discrimination Judgment

Appeals are costing the city more than $64,000 a year

Written by RYAN KRULL

The City of St. Louis has once again appealed a $300,000 judgment levied against it after losing a discrimination lawsuit brought against it by former SLMPD detective Heather Taylor.

After an unsuccessful attempt for a new trial in Circuit Court, the City Counselor’s Office has now filed notice that it will take the case to the Missouri Court of Appeals.

As all this plays out, the city’s bill for the case continues to climb.

In March, a jury awarded Taylor $300,000 after agreeing she had been retaliated against after speaking to the media in a manner the department claimed was unauthorized. She argued that white officers had spoken to the press in a similar manner and were not reprimanded.

Not long after the jury made its award, City Counselor Sheena Hamilton’s office filed a motion for a new trial, claiming Taylor had in her possession 400 audio recordings, some of which would have altered the outcome of the trial if the jury had heard them. Taylor not disclosing them was a “serious violation” of the

city’s discovery rights, the city said.

Those recordings came to the city attorney’s attention because they were related to a suit being brought by Milton Green, a Black former St. Louis city police officer who was shot by a colleague.

But late last month, Judge Joan Moriarty rejected the city’s request for a new trial, writing that though Taylor ought to have turned over some of the recordings, they wouldn’t have been consequential enough to sway the jury. In addition to the initial judgment, she also ordered that the city pay Taylor’s attorney’s fees, totaling $326,000.

Taylor’s attorney Brian Love tells the RFT that this current appeal to a higher court is based on the same premise as their previous request for a new trial.

Now, as the case works its way through the Missouri Court of Appeals, the city is also on the hook for interest on the money it owes Taylor. Like a credit card bill going unpaid, the $626,000 sum will continue to grow by 10.25 percent, or $64,165, a year.

Even pricier is Judge Moriarty’s order for the city to pay Taylor’s attorney’s fees, including her costs as the case goes through its current round of appeals.

Attorney Javad Khazaeli, who is representing Green in his case, tells the RFT that attorney’s fees for Taylor’s lawyers will run about $500 an hour and that the appeal will require at least 200 hours of work, for a total of $100,000.

When asked what Khazaeli thinks this money might be better spent on, he says, “A 911 operator.”

According to salary.com, the average annual pay for a 911 operator in the St. Louis area is $41,579, significantly less than the interest the city is now paying on the original judgment. n

Former police sergeant Heather Taylor won a judgement against the city for discrimination that it is appealing for the second time. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI

A Bit of Independence

Despite a scaled-back Fourth of July celebration, St. Louis partied

Photos by THEO WELLING

You had to be highly motivated to head downtown to see America’s Birthday Parade this Fourth of July. It was hot and muggy, and there was very little shade along Market Street where the parade took place. But that’s typical summerin-St. Louis stuff.

What made this year different was that there was no Fair St.

Louis after the parade. Typically, folks make their way down to the Arch grounds for concerts, air shows, cool drinks and more postparade. But Fair St. Louis scaled back this year’s celebration in order to make it even bigger next year with community input, the organization says.

Not a bad idea, since the whole Fourth of July celebration in St. Louis is problematic as hell. Originally Fair St. Louis was called the VP Fair and the VP Parade. This stood for Veiled Prophet, a local organization started by a former Confederate soldier in 1878. The group excluded Black members well into the ’70s, and it still doesn’t allow women. The fair only changed its name in 1992.

But people were more focused on America’s good side this Fourth of July and celebrated the nation’s 247th birthday with a parade, flags and on-theme fits. n

A CELEBRATION OF THE UNIQUE AND FASCINATING ASPECTS OF OUR HOME

ATOMIC

FALLOUT

BY ALLISON KITE

piles of nuclear waste left over from the war.

never aware of the situation.”

For kids like Sandy Mitchell, Ted Theis and Janet Johnson, childhood in the north St. Louis County suburbs in the 1960s and ’70s meant days playing along the banks or splashing in the knee-deep waters of Coldwater Creek.

They caught turtles and tadpoles, jumped into deep stretches of the creek from rope swings and ate mulberries that grew on the banks.

Their families — along with tens of thousands of others — flocked to the burgeoning suburbs and new ranch-style homes built in Florissant, Hazelwood and other communities shortly after World War II. When the creek flooded, as it often did, so did their basements. They went to nearby Jana Elementary School and hiked and biked throughout Fort Belle Fontaine Park.

Growing up, they never knew they were surrounded by massive

Generations of children who grew up alongside Coldwater Creek have, in recent decades, faced rare cancers, autoimmune disorders and other mysterious illnesses they have come to believe were the result of exposure to its waters and sediment.

“People in our neighborhood are dropping like flies,” Mitchell said.

The earliest known public reference to Coldwater Creek’s pollution came in 1981, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed it as one of the most polluted waterways in the U.S.

By 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was advising residents to avoid Coldwater Creek entirely. Cleanup of the creek is expected to take until 2038. A federal study found elevated rates of breast, colon, prostate, kidney and bladder cancers as well as leukemia in the area. Childhood brain and nervous system cancer rates are also higher.

“Young families moved into the area,” Johnson said, “and they were

Theis, who grew up just 75 yards from the creek and played in it daily, died in August at the age of 60 from a rare cancer. Mitchell is a breast cancer survivor whose father died from prostate cancer. Johnson’s sister has an inoperable form of glioblastoma and other family members, including her father, daughter and nephew, have had various cancers.

Families who lived near Coldwater Creek were never warned of the radioactive waste. Details about the classified nuclear program in St. Louis were largely kept secret from the public. But a trove of newly discovered documents reviewed by an ongoing collaboration of news organizations shows private companies and the federal government knew radiological contamination was making its way into the creek for years before those findings were made public.

Radioactive waste was known to pose a threat to Coldwater Creek as early as 1949, records show. K-65, a residue from the processing of uranium ore, was stored in deteriorating steel drums or left out in the open near the creek at multiple spots, according to government and company reports.

A health expert who, as part of this project, was recently presented with data from a 1976 test

of runoff to the creek concluded it showed dangerous levels of radiation 45 years ago.

Federal agencies knew of the potential human health risks of the creek contamination, the documents show, but repeatedly wrote them off as “slight,” “minimal” or “low-level.” One engineering consultant’s report from the 1970s incorrectly claimed that human contact with the creek was “rare.”

The Missouri Independent, MuckRock and the Associated Press spent months combing through thousands of pages of government records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and interviewing dozens of people who lived near the contaminated sites, health and radiation experts, and officials from government agencies.

Some of the documents, obtained by a nuclear researcher who focuses on the effects of radiation, had been declassified in the early 2000s. Others had been previously lost to history, packed away in government archives and not released publicly until now. (Read the documents and learn more about our methodology online.)

All told, the documents from the now-defunct Atomic Energy Commission; its successors, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Continued on pg 18

This reporting is a collaboration between the Missouri Independent, MuckRock, the Associated Press and the Riverfront Times

Top: Photos taken in 1960 of deteriorating steel drums containing radioactive residues near Coldwater Creek and aerial photos of the area, by the Mallinckrodt-St. Louis Sites Task Force Working Group. | STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI, KAY DREY MALLINCKRODT COLLECTION, 1943-2006

BoTTom: A sign warns of radioactive material at the West Lake Landfill. Thousands of tons of nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project were dumped there in the 1970s. | THEO WELLING

A new trove of records reveals how the federal government downplayed and ignored the health risks of St. Louis radioactive waste for decades

ATOMIC FALLOUT

Continued from pg 17

Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and the Environmental Protection Agency span the 75-year lifespan of the nuclear saga in St. Louis.

It starts in downtown St. Louis, where uranium was processed, and at the St. Louis airport, where it was stored at the end of the war; a monthslong move of the waste to industrial sites on Latty Avenue in suburban Hazelwood and a quarry in Weldon Spring, next to the Missouri River; an illegal dumping of waste at the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton in the 1970s by a private company; and the declaration of the landfill as a federal toxic Superfund site in 1990. Since then, the contaminated sites have been subjected to a seemingly endless cycle of soil, air and water testing, anxious community meetings attended by an ever-growing chorus of angry residents and panic when a subsurface smoldering event, similar to an underground fire, at the Bridgeton Landfill threatened the radioactive waste buried nearby. That fire sent noxious and hazardous fumes into surrounding neighborhoods. The company in charge of the Bridgeton Landfill now spends millions a year to contain it.

The documents have a familiar cadence: Year after year, decade after decade, government regulators and companies tasked with cleaning up the sites downplayed the risks posed by nuclear waste left near homes, parks and an elementary school. They often chose not to fully investigate the potential harms to public health and the environment around St. Louis.

Bob Criss, a now-retired geologist and geochemist, studied St. Louis’ history with nuclear waste at Washington University in St. Louis and wrote a report in 2013 critical of the EPA’s stewardship of the West Lake Landfill Superfund site.

In an interview last month, Criss said the waste changed hands so often and was overseen by an assortment of lightly regulated private companies, resulting in what he called a “ridiculous chain of events … driven by irresponsibility.”

“The government should have been responsible for this mate-

rial,” Criss said.

The Department of Energy has assisted with the costs of remedial studies at West Lake since 1993 under a legal agreement called a consent decree. It referred questions about the landfill’s history and other contaminated sites to the Department of Justice, which did not respond to a request for comment, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Presented with details of the newly revealed documents, Dave McIntyre, a spokesperson for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,

said in a statement that the agency conducted numerous investigations and studies at the West Lake Landfill over a period of almost 20 years that were “extensively documented.” It transferred authority to the EPA in 1995 and directed further questions to the agency.

The EPA has jurisdiction only over the West Lake site. Staffers for the agency acknowledged cleanup at the site had been slow, but there has been progress toward designing an excavation plan and placing a cap on the landfill.

Coldwater Creek runs by the St. Louis airport and through Florissant and Hazelwood before flowing into the Missouri River. The creek is contaminated by nuclear waste left over from the effort to build the first atomic bomb during World War II. | THEO WELLING

The West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton is contaminated by radioactive waste left over from the Manhattan Project. It’s a Superfund site, and the Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing efforts to design a cleanup plan. | THEO WELLING

St. Louis becomes vital piece of Manhattan Project war effort

The St. Louis region proved pivotal to the development of the first atomic bomb in the 1940s.

Old downtown factories, suburban storage sites and the landfill represent some of dozens of properties that were contaminated in pursuit of the nuclear bomb.

The West Lake Landfill is one of well over 1,000 EPA Superfund sites across the country. The Department of Energy, too, is the steward of other nuclear sites, like a complex in Hanford, Washington, on the banks of the Columbia River, in desperate need of cleanup.

Mallinckrodt Chemical Works processed uranium for the Manhattan Project, the name given to the effort to build the bomb, in downtown St. Louis. Uranium from the Mallinckrodt plant was used in the first sustained nuclear reaction in Chicago, a significant breakthrough.

By the end of the 1940s, there was already a risk of contamination, the new records show.

An internal Mallinckrodt memo from 1949 shows the company was storing highly radioactive residue called K-65 in deteriorating steel drums at the St. Louis airport near Coldwater Creek. The material was so dangerous, the memo said, that Mallinckrodt

couldn’t simply put it in new containers because “the hazards to the workers involved in such an occupation would be considerable.”

Mallinckrodt, which still exists as Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, declined to comment for this article. By 1960, the company had more than 1,000 employees at its uranium processing facility in St. Louis. It took some measures to protect its workers, such as putting them on timed shifts to limit exposure, but it determined possible pollution of Coldwater Creek was far less “serious and immediate” than the threat handling the waste posed to workers.

Many details about Mallinckrodt and other private companies’ storage and maintenance of nuclear waste — as the nation’s oldest such of the atomic age — have been well documented, first as part of a grassroots civic effort in the 1970s by environmental activist Kay Drey and then as part of a seven-part series published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1989.

More recently, the issue was the focus of a 2017 documentary called Atomic Homefront and a 2022 book, Nuked, by Linda Morice, who grew up near Coldwater Creek.

But the new documents reveal government agencies were plainly aware of the risks posed by prolonged storage and seepage of

waste into soil, groundwater and the creek — yet dismissed concerns about them.

Following the war, material from Mallinckrodt was trucked to a site next to the airport, which would later become the center of some of the region’s most populated suburbs. At times, waste fell out of trucks and spilled onto public roadways, only to be picked up by a single worker carrying a shovel and broom and loaded back onto the bed of a pickup truck. It was then left for years in the open, without a cover, where wind and rainwater dispersed it.

After a few years, the Atomic Energy Commission, which was later replaced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, began looking for a buyer for the waste. A private company would purchase the waste, process it to obtain any valuable materials — such as copper, nickel or cobalt — and dispose of the rest.

While the waste awaited purchase, a 1965 government report found drainage from the 20-foot-tall mounds of material — including almost 200 tons of uranium — had produced “some minor contamination in Coldwater Creek.”

The document doesn’t specify the level of radiation in the creek at the time, but it says the levels are “well within permissible and acceptable limits.”

Within a few years, most of the waste was sold and moved just up the road to a site on Latty Avenue in Hazelwood where it, again, sat exposed to the elements and adjacent to Coldwater Creek.

But despite the move, the airport would remain contaminated for years to come.

Between 50 and 60 truckloads remained buried there, and in the late 1970s, uranium, radium and thorium were found in the drainage ditches along a public road next to the site.

According to a draft report uncovered as part of the document release, four members of the health and safety research division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee tested the airport site in 1976 at the request of the Energy Research and Development Administration, which would become the Department of Energy.

The results showed onsite radiation sources were as high as 8.8 millisievert per year, five times the typical dose of radiation humans receive in a year and nine times the EPA’s limit for water pathways, according to an expert who calculated the annual dose for the Independent and MuckRock. The reading was 220 times higher than the EPA’s limit for drinking water pathways.

Though the federal government knew about the contamination, Continued on pg 21

Undated photos from the 1980s, of a child eating snow and a child swinging from a rope into Coldwater Creek, from a scrapbook kept by Sandy Delcoure, who lived on Willow Creek in Florissant and donated the scrapbook to the Kay Drey Mallinckrodt Collection. Only one of the photographs from the scrapbook includes any information, which reads: “Willow Creek children on Cold Water [sic] Creek. We can’t keep the children away from the creek. The only alternative is to get it cleaned up.” | STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI, KAY DREY MALLINCKRODT COLLECTION, 1943-2006

ATOMIC FALLOUT

Continued from pg 19

the public wouldn’t find out until 1990.

“These site doses are deadly because there is no safe dose of radiation,” said Kristin Shrader-Frechette, professor emeritus with the University of Notre Dame’s Biological Sciences Department and Environmental Sciences Program, who reviewed the 1976 study’s findings.

The runoff sources next to Coldwater Creek, Shrader-Frechette said, are “far higher than what is allowed. The only question is whether any scientific studies have documented these health problems.”

In 1979, the Department of Energy acknowledged the site was eroding, carrying contamination into the drainage ditch and Coldwater Creek. But a planned meeting that November, with representatives of multiple federal agencies and local elected officials, was abruptly canceled after then-U.S. Representative Robert Young openly fought with the federal agencies over a lack of funding for the cleanup.

In a description of a meeting between Young and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission official, the congressman railed against the federal government, saying St. Louis and its airport had been “hoodwinked” into taking ownership of the radioactive waste, which he described as a “Pandora’s Box.”

The airport site wasn’t fully cleaned up until 2009.

In 1986, then-St. Louis City Health Commissioner William B. Hope Jr. wrote to a city alderwoman that he had been “quietly” testing Coldwater Creek and city water supplies to ensure the city’s drinking water wasn’t contaminated. It wasn’t, he found, but he offered a blunt assessment of the federal government’s nuclear waste program in the St. Louis region.

“Sufficient information was known about the radioactive contaminants to have warranted a different type of decision regarding their disposal,” he wrote. “These materials should not have been deposited near populated areas and certainly not in areas where geographically the material could migrate into the water table or into adjacent areas as a result of erosion over time.”

Illegal dumping of radioactive waste

When the Atomic Energy Commission sold the remnant nuclear

waste, it anticipated being able to get rid of the more than 100,000 tons of toxic residues without spending any money.

The first company to purchase the waste, Continental Mining and Milling Co. of Chicago, borrowed $2.5 million to buy it in 1966 and then, shortly after, went bankrupt. Continental’s lender, Commercial Discount of Chicago, re-purchased the waste at auction for $800,000 and, after failing to get a bidder at a second auction, sold it to the Cotter Corp. To turn a profit, Cotter would ultimately dry the material and ship it to its uranium mill plant in Cañon City, Colorado.

By 1972, most of the valuable metals in the waste had been identified and shipped. Cotter was now looking to dispose of remaining waste that had little or no monetary value — 8,900 tons of worthless leached barium sulfate and “miscellaneous residues and debris.”

But the cost estimates to properly dispose of the waste were pricey: $150,000 ($1.1 million in 2023 dollars) to bury it onsite at Latty Avenue near Coldwater Creek or about $2 million ($15 million in 2023 dollars) to ship it hundreds of miles away to a commercial site in West Valley, New York, and bury it there.

A third location was proposed: a pit at the Weldon Spring quarry in St. Charles County, which was already a disposal site for other radioactive waste.

The Atomic Energy Commission had initially planned to allow it to be dumped in the Weldon Spring

quarry, just outside the banks of the Missouri River, when it was looking for a buyer for the waste in 1960, government records show.

But on the advice of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Atomic Energy Commission reversed course on the quarry plan. Among other issues, the agencies said there was a “high probability of contaminating the Missouri River shortly above the intakes for the St. Louis city and St. Louis County water supplies.”

Cotter asked the government to bury the waste at Weldon Springs multiple times, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but was rebuffed each time, meeting minutes show.

So over a period of 2 ½ months in the summer and fall of 1973, Cotter took the problem into its own hands without telling government regulators.

The company mixed the radioactive waste with tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil from the site and illegally dumped it in a free, public landfill called West Lake under three feet of soil and other garbage.

Within months, the Atomic Energy Commission discovered what Cotter had done.

Government records show staffers from the commission visited the site as part of a routine inspection in April 1974 and were told about the illegal dumping. Internal memos and letters show AEC staffers believed Cotter’s actions violated agency regulations and were misled about the amount of the waste involved.

Internally, the AEC struggled with how to respond to Cotter’s il-

legal dumping.

While noting Cotter was “clearly in violation” of a federal law “in that [the company] disposed of licensed material in an unauthorized manner,” “the large numbers involved need to be brought into prospective [sic].”

Cotter had mixed enough topsoil with the radioactive waste to, in theory, render it harmless, the agency concluded.

AEC’s enforcement division found that the waste in the West Lake Landfill was now “virtually unidentifiable and nonrecoverable.” Still, Cotter should provide evidence that the waste “does not constitute an undue hazard to the public or the environment.”

A draft letter by the AEC to Cotter was drawn up, requiring the company to study the potential environmental and health consequences of dumping the waste at the West Lake Landfill and propose solutions.

But that requirement was cut from the final letter, without explanation. The decision to let Cotter off the hook was not revealed to the public.

Cotter subsequently informed the AEC that it had finished processing the waste and decontaminating the property and asked the government to terminate its license and release it from responsibility over the site.

The AEC released Cotter from its St. Louis permit without immediate sanctions in 1974, but the company is partially responsible for the cleanup costs at the site.

Cotter’s parent company, General Atomics, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

By most government accounts, the human health risk at the West Lake Landfill is remote. Lee Sobotka, a chemistry and physics professor at Washington University in St. Louis, has studied the radiation levels at the West Lake Landfill site and noted that the waste is diluted enough to be considered “low-level.”

Despite the low risk of illness, Sobotka said the government, and by extension the surrounding communities, are left with a never-ending cleanup and maintenance problem. Federal and state agencies will have to be a “custodian in perpetuity” at West Lake.

“Looking back at history, you find a litany of mistakes by companies and contractors and so you can get very upset about that,” he said.

Looking forward, Sobotka said, “It’s not something you seal and forget.”

Continued on pg 22

Lee Sobotka, a professor of chemistry and physics at Washington University in St. Louis says of the West Lake Landfill, “You find a litany of mistakes by companies and contractors and so you can get very upset about that.” | THEO WELLING

ATOMIC FALLOUT

Continued from pg 21

‘Tip of the iceberg’

In 1999, when Robbin Dailey moved into Spanish Village, a neighborhood of only a few dozen homes with its own park less than a mile from the back side of West Lake Landfill, she had no idea she was living next to a Superfund site.

When the EPA decided initially in 2008 to cap the waste at West Lake and leave it in place, Dailey never heard about the plan. Two years later, in 2010, she was alerted to the radioactive waste when a “subsurface smoldering event” — a type of chemical reaction that consumes landfilled waste like a fire but lacks oxygen — sent a pungent stench into the air around her home.

Dailey and her husband had their house tested and found thorium in the dust at hundreds of times natural levels. They sued the landfill’s owners, Republic Services, as well as the Cotter Corp. and Mallinckrodt.

Dailey said she and the companies had “resolved” their legal issues, but she, like all of the residents in north St. Louis County, was still in the dark about where within the landfill site the waste actually was.

Court records reveal a bevy of lawsuits against the private companies involved, at various times, with the West Lake Landfill. Not only that, but the landfill operators sued Mallinckrodt in an attempt to force the maker of the radioactive waste to pay for part of the cleanup.

Since the late 1970s, federal regulators repeatedly failed to uncover the true extent of contamination at West Lake.

In October 1977, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission used a helicopter to take hour-long passes back and forth over the landfill from an altitude of 200 feet. The goal was to measure gamma radioactivity coming from the site using specialized equipment.

While the effort correctly identified two areas with high levels of radiation, it had serious limitations, experts say. A survey of that type can miss contamination if it’s buried deep underground or if the ground is obstructed by vegetation.

And it did.

Despite the shortcomings of that sort of test, the government’s conclusion that the radioactive waste was confined to two areas of the

West Lake Landfill would stand for more than 40 years.

Nathan Anderson, a director of natural resources and environment for the federal Government Accountability Office, said the federal government often fails to compile complete and reliable information in environmental cleanups.

“We’ve done a number of these evaluations where there is contamination that the federal government is on the hook for cleaning up,” Anderson said. “And we’ve found that oftentimes, it’s the tip of the iceberg.”

In May, almost 50 years after the waste was dumped at West Lake, the EPA acknowledged what many residents had long feared: Radiological waste was spread throughout the West Lake Landfill, not confined to two specific portions as officials had long maintained.

Bob Jurgens, the EPA’s superfund and emergency management division director for the region, announced at the community meeting in May that the health risk “remains unchanged.”

The additional radioactive waste is largely underground, he said, so “we believe that is protective at this time to the folks that are outside.”

EPA officials said the contamination was found all over the property — in some areas at the surface and, in other areas, at great depths.

The agency looked at the dates on newspapers above and below the radioactive waste in two areas of the site previously thought to be uncontaminated to approxi-

mate when it was dumped, said Chris Jump, the EPA’s lead remedial project manager for the site.

It’s likely been there the whole time.

In one area where contamination was at the surface, the EPA moved quickly to add gravel and rocks to cover it. The waste had migrated outside the fence line in some areas, the EPA said.

Readings showed contamination in a drainage ditch along a public road bordering the landfill. It migrated right under the EPA’s nose.

While the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry did not find any causal link between the West Lake Landfill and illnesses in and around Bridgeton, it said in a 2015 report that radon concentrations appeared higher than typical. It encouraged further testing using long-term monitoring devices.

Dawn Chapman, who left her job and co-founded Just Moms STL to advocate for the community around the landfill, said the EPA used to treat her and other activists like their fears were hysterical.

“We spent more time fighting them as an agency than we did the goddamn polluters,” Chapman said.

EPA officials, in an interview last month, acknowledged the flyover and previous testing missed considerable areas containing radioactive waste. But they said they did not need to test soil over the whole site before deciding on a partial excavation strategy.

“It doesn’t change anything

about the remedy itself. It doesn’t change anything about the risks that the site poses,” said Tom Mahler, a remedial project manager for the EPA. However, Mahler said finding all of the contamination was important for the next step of the work at the site: designing and executing the excavation.

State pleads for help

By the time the EPA listed the landfill on the National Priorities List in 1990, state officials had already been sounding the alarm for years.

A staffer with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wrote in 1980 that contamination at the landfill was more severe and widespread than previously thought. In 1986 and 1990, on-site sampling showed possible radiological contamination in the groundwater in areas outside the sections of the landfill thought to be radioactive.

In 1987, the state classified the landfill as a hazardous waste site. The radioactive waste was in direct contact with the groundwater, the agency said in its annual report.

“Based on available information, a health threat exists due to the toxic effects of chemicals and lowlevel uranium wastes buried at the site and the possibility that off-site migration of these materials might occur,” the agency wrote.

The next year, Missouri began lobbying the EPA to designate the landfill as a Superfund site, contending that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission knew the site needed to be cleaned up but had no intention of taking action, and the Department of Energy said the site didn’t qualify for its cleanup program.

Yet there was little movement from the federal agencies — despite growing evidence.

A 1982 study commissioned by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission showed that, as the waste in the landfill decays, radium activity will increase by nine times over 200 years.

Despite that finding, as of 1984, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission believed stabilizing the waste and leaving it onsite was the best solution, in part, because of the high cost of alternative solutions, such as excavating the site or new construction to control groundwater.

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission report from 1988 shows radioactivity in the groundwater on site anywhere from 2 to 30 times levels it would occur naturally.

“Based on monitoring-well

Karen Nickel, left, and Dawn Chapman flip through binders full of government documents about St. Louis County sites contaminated by nuclear waste left over from World War II. Nickel and Chapman founded Just Moms STL to advocate for the community to federal environmental and energy officials. | THEO WELLING

sample analyses, some low-level contamination of the groundwater is occurring,” the report says, “indicating that the groundwater in the vicinity is not adequately protected by the present disposition of the wastes.”

Even after the Superfund declarations, Missouri and the EPA sparred over how the contamination was quantified.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources told the EPA in 1997 that it feared the extent of the contamination was underestimated. Until disagreements around how to calculate the severity of the contamination and whether sampling showed false positives were resolved, the agency said, “We cannot concur with the conclusion that the … extent of the contamination has been defined.”

Ryan Seabaugh, project manager for the West Lake site for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said in an interview that the state agency asked the EPA to do more testing or provide information to confirm the boundaries of the contamination.

“We just had concerns that there might be a little bit more,” said Seabaugh, who has overseen the site for the state for eight years. “We were pretty surprised at the relatively large extent that we did find.”

It wasn’t until around the time the EPA settled on a plan to excavate parts of the site in 2018, Seabaugh said, that the federal agency started “listening” to its Missouri counterpart.

After several studies, the EPA designated the groundwater at West Lake as its own “operable unit” to be investigated and, potentially, remediated. That work is ongoing.

Still, even by the EPA’s admittedly slow process for classifying and cleaning up toxic sites, the West Lake Landfill timeline was glacial. For Superfund sites listed in 1996, it took an average of more than nine years from discovering the site to placing it on the National Priorities List. Cleanup took an average of 10 ½ years, a Government Accountability Office review found.

The West Lake Landfill contamination was discovered in 1974. It was designated a Superfund site in 1990, and there is still no date

certain for when the cleanup will begin.

John Madras, who worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at the time it was asking the EPA to classify West Lake as a Superfund site, said that, even among slow-moving government cleanup projects, West Lake stands out: “They’ve given us a new understanding of what a really long time is.”

Back to the drawing board

The Environmental Protection Agency’s first plan for the site would not have included moving the radioactive waste at all.

In 2008, the EPA approved a plan for the landfill’s “primarily responsible parties” — the government and private contractors responsible for the site — to place a cap over the landfill and leave the waste in place.

Following criticism from the surrounding communities, the EPA asked the Department of Energy, the Cotter Corp. and the landfill’s owner, Republic Services, to test the site again.

In the meantime, an underground fire brought a new level of scrutiny.

Starting in 2010, the Bridgeton Landfill, which sits adjacent to the West Lake Landfill, has been experiencing a subsurface smoldering event.

The smell from the heated trash got the attention of the Bridgeton

community when it worsened in 2013. The situation also caught the attention of then-Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, who sued the landfill’s owner, Republic Services, for its track record at the Bridgeton Landfill.

And as Koster’s office investigated the site, it too became concerned the EPA was underestimating the risk. Testing performed in preparation for a fire barrier to keep the reaction from reaching the radiological contamination, Koster wrote, appeared to demonstrate that the waste was not confined just to where the EPA thought.

Koster’s office would release additional findings as part of its investigation for the lawsuit against Republic Services, including reports in 2015 that radioactive waste had been found in vegetation offsite and the fire was moving closer to the onsite contamination, which the EPA dismissed as “unhelpful” at the time and continues to dispute.

In the midst of strife over the stench and studies conducted in search of a new plan, the owners of the landfill decided to fence off one of the two areas then thought to contain the radioactive waste.

But as it turned out, they were digging in close proximity to radioactive waste.

After construction of the fence began, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources visited the site in June 2013 with a portable radiation reader. State officials

found radiation at levels 35 to 50 times what is normal in the tire ruts leaving the site and just a short distance from the post holes dug along the planned fence line.

The department flagged the finding for the EPA, the documents show.

“Elevated readings indicated an area of radiologically contaminated soils located within close proximity to the new fence installation and also in close proximity to the exit route from the landfill,” Shawn Muenks, then the project manager for West Lake for the Department of Natural Resources, wrote in an email.

Muenks warned the contaminated soil could be spread by trucks leaving the site. A consultant for the government and private companies wrote back, saying crews realigned the fence so the contamination would be contained within the boundaries. The consultant’s email said testing along the new fence line showed no elevated levels of radiation.

“Therefore no ‘track out’ or erosional transport had occurred,” the email said.

But since then, testing in preparation for the remediation at the site has uncovered radioactive contamination all along that fence.

“Knowing what we know now based on the new EPA findings, I don’t see how they couldn’t have been digging in it,” said Christen Commuso, a spokesperson for the nonprofit advocacy organization, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.

The EPA has said the additional contamination found along that fenceline is below the surface.

The depth and severity of the new contamination the EPA found is not yet clear. The agency is preparing to release a report that will include the readings, a spokesperson said. A remedial design portion of the project is underway, the last step before the excavation begins.

But the EPA doesn’t have a date certain as to when work on the project might start.

Curtis Carey, a spokesperson for the EPA, said despite decades of delays, the agency is planning next steps for the landfill “with a great deal more information because of our purposeful approach than was available 10, 15, 20 years ago.” n

Contributions: The following people contributed reporting, writing, editing, document review, research, interviews, photography, illustrations, analysis and project management: Chris Amico, Dillon Bergin, Kelly Kauffman and Derek Kravitz of MuckRock; Jason Hancock, Allison Kite and Rebecca Rivas of the Missouri Independent; Michael Phillis and Jim Salter of The Associated Press; Sarah Fenske, Theo Welling, Tyler Gross and Evan Sult of the Riverfront Times; EJ Haas, Madelyn Orr, Sydney Poppe, Mark Horvit and Virginia Young of the University of Missouri; Katherine Reed of the Association of Health Care Journalists; Liliana Frankel, Erik Galicia, Laura Gómez, Lauren Hubbard, Sophie Hurwitz and Steve Vockrodt; and Gerry Everding and Carolyn Bower of the original St. Louis Post-Dispatch team that published the seven-part “Legacy of the Bomb” series in 1989.

Gas extraction wells help limit the odor emanating from the Bridgeton Landfill. The facility, which is adjacent to the radiologically contaminated West Lake Landfill is experiencing a subsurface smoldering event, a chemical reaction that creates heat like a fire but lacks oxygen. | THEO WELLING

CALENDAR

BY RIVERFRONT TIMES STAFF

THURSDAY 07/13

Flower Power

The Missouri Department of Conservation has a very important announcement: It’s Sunflower Season, baby, and you and your peasant dress are invited to come selfie the day away at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area (801 Strodtman Road, 314-8776014) again. The spot became famous on St. Louis Instagram a few years back when all of the women with the floppy straw hats realized that there was a perfect place in town at which to show off their hotness. And good for them! A pretty woman, a flowing dress, a field of sunflowers and a sunset? It’s the perfect combination if you’re looking to score likes on the ’Gram. It’s practically a Sofia Coppola movie set over there. You definitely do not want to miss a chance to get the perfect selfie or family photo this year, so plan to head over there soon — they say the sunflowers will be in full bloom until sometime in August. More info at mdc.mo.gov.

Stacked and That’s a Fact

Anyone who’s lived in St. Louis for any length of time knows our city’s architecture is defined by its brick homes. (Frankly, other places’ wooden buildings just seem wrong by comparison.) But how St. Louis and brick became synonymous is a tale with many threads. The Missouri History Museum (5700 Lindell Boulevard, 314-746-4599) will trace those stories during Brick City, which is part of the museum’s Thursday Nights at the Museum series. The event will look at everything from how the rivers and their clay deposits supply the raw materials to how St. Louisans built lives centered around the brick industry. The event is presented in partnership with Great Rivers Greenway. It runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. There will be drinks and food from Sugarfire available for purchase. For more information, visit mohistory.org/ events/brick-city.

FRIDAY 07/14

All the White Horses

Ginger pianists with mezzo-soprano vocal ranges are hard to come by these days, but local fans of Tori

Amos will be excited to know that their favorite redheaded goddess is hitting St. Louis this week. The “Winter” singer is booked to play the Stifel Theatre (1400 Market Street, 314-499-7600) on Friday, July 14, as part of her Ocean to Ocean Tour, supporting her 2021 album of the same name. It’s not often that Amos graces St. Louis

with a tour stop — the last time she came through was in 2014, and before that was way back in 2002 — so fans of her work shouldn’t sleep on this one. Ticket prices for the show range from $36.50 through $111.50. (Those prices are before the exorbitant service fees, of course, so maybe pick up some extra shifts at work.) Visit ticketmaster.com for more information.

Glowed Up

What do you get when you jam hundreds of blacklights, an untold amount of foam, a foam cannon to shoot said foam from, four DJs and hundreds of painted-up people in swim attire into one room? Well, the answer is a no-brainer, dummy: You get the Blacklight Foam and Body Paint Party at Europe Nightclub (710 North 15th Street, 314-621-5111). St. Louis’ wildest party goes down this Friday, July 14, and it’s sure to be a memorable one (or not, depending on your level of intoxication). Glowin-the-dark items, hula hoops and light-up poi toys are encouraged, and there’s no dress code (but you’ll obviously want to wear

Tori Amos will play St. Louis on Friday. | DESMOND MURRAY

Get a dreamy shot for Instagram at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. | BRADEN MCMAKIN

something that can get a bit wet). The foam starts flying at 10 p.m., and the party goes until 3 a.m. Tickets start at $20. More info at facebook.com/europeniteclub.

Shiver Me Timbers

Avast, ye landlubber! It’s all hands on deck this Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, for a night of mystery and pirates at the Lemp Mansion (3322 Demenil Place, 314-664-8024). Join the Jest Murder Mystery Co. for the Death of a Blackheart Mystery Dinner Theatre, a hilarious show full of fair maidens, lost boys, rival pirates and wenches. Slap on that eye patch and bust out your pirate finery for an evening packed with murder and intrigue on the high seas. If “Talk Like a Pirate Day” is your favorite holiday, you’ll feel right at home. Death of a Blackheart runs each Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. through August 26. Tickets are $68.95 each and come with a three-course meal. For more info, visit jestmurdermystery.com

Nautical Nonsense

Do you love Spongebob Squarepants? (Who doesn’t?) Do you look askance at all of these people doing things outdoors even when it’s hot as hell? Do you like activities where you strap blades to your feet and move around? Most importantly, how do you feel about rhetorical questions?

If you’ve read this far you must enjoy them, and if you answered “yes” to any of the above then you’re going to love Summer Skate: Spongebob Night at Centene Community Ice Center (750 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights; 314-451-2244). The event costs $12 (plus $5 if you need skates) and includes ice skating, music, giveaways and a photo booth. Wear your best Spongebob-inspired attire (or just yellow or pink) to really get in on the festivities. The party starts at 7 p.m. Details at centenecommunitycenter.com.

Negative Ghost Rider

Get ready to see Tom Cruise and Jack Black in Forest Park this summer. The beloved Art Hill Film Series returns this week to the grassy lawn between the Saint Louis Art Museum and Post-Dispatch Lake. Kicking things off will be Top Gun: Maverick on Saturday, July 14, followed by Akeelah and the Bee on July 21 and School of Rock on July 28. The fun starts each night at 6 p.m., with food trucks curated by Sauce Magazine. (You can also bring your own picnic basket.) Films begin at 9 p.m. This year’s slate of movies has a “Teacher Feature” theme, which the art museum ties to its 100th anniversary of educational programs, as well as its summer exhibition Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s1970s, which “tells the story of the Institute of American Indian Arts and its revolutionary approach to faculty that left an impact on the

WEEK OF JULY 13-19

field of abstraction.” That exhibit will be on display through September 3. See slam.org for more details.

SATURDAY 07/15 Stranger Than Friction

If you don’t know Fred Friction, you’re missing out on one of the finest citizens St. Louis has to offer. The spoon-playing, poetryreading, song-singing scrawny southside legend who ran the immortal Frederick’s Music Lounge (and a few other joints) will be celebrated this weekend at Fred Friction’s 65th Birthday Bash. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, Friction fans will descend on Jack’s Joint (4652 Shaw Avenue, 314-773-6600), the new event space/music venue upstairs at O’Connell’s Pub, for a very special gathering. The party may be in celebration of Friction’s newfound senior citizen status, but that doesn’t mean that he has settled into old age. Fred Friction is just as likely to get naked as he is to breathe air, so head out for a full evening of entertainment courtesy of an open mic, Jesse Irwin and the Maness Brothers. Maybe if you’re extra lucky, Fred will take the stage and sing one of his classics, like “Little Baby Dreams,” and you can go home with a wistful tear in your eye. Visit.facebook.com/jacksjointmusiques for more information.

Life in Plastic

Come on Barbie, let’s go party! As Greta Gerwig’s newest film Barbie prepares to hit theaters July 21, Mattel’s Barbie Truck hits the road for the Barbie Truck Dreamhouse Living Tour . The cross-country trek makes a stop at West County Center (80 West County Center Drive) outside Restaurant Village on Saturday, July 15, at 8 a.m. Selling exclusive Barbie merch, it’ll have everything you need to get dolled up for Barbie’s time on the big screen. More information at shop.mattel.com/pages/barbietruck-tour.

Get your foam on at Europe Nightclub on Friday. | VIA FLICKR / AMNESIA IBIZA

A South City Gem

Tim’s Chrome Bar serves whimsical cocktails, fun food and vintage vibes

Written by CHERYL BAEHR

Tim’s Chrome Bar

4736 Gravois Avenue, 314-742-7881. Wed.Thurs. 5-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5p.m.-midnight; Sun. noon-8 p.m. (Closed Monday and Tuesday).

Idid a Jell-O shot at Tim’s Chrome Bar. Actually two: one fruitpunch-flavored and the other grape. I can’t put my finger on the exact point at which this seemed like a good decision, but it was likely somewhere between the spicy strawberry margarita, the sixth episode of Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting playing on the bar’s TV and the discovery of a working vintage bingo machine that I decided to forget I was a grown-ass woman and surrender to the freespirited energy of this south city gem.

Tim’s Chrome Bar has a way of doing this to a person. Though it’s only been open since the end of February, the Bevo-area bar has already developed a loyal following among industry folks, south St. Louis denizens, artists and musicians for its come-as-you-are quirky vibe that feels more like a vintage Elk’s Lodge community center than a simple place to grab a drink. On the night of my Jell-O shot incident, there was a guy randomly plucking a standup bass in the parking lot, a handful of folks playing spades at a corner table and an open-mic rendition of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” filling the air. How south city ever existed without such an establishment is downright unfathomable.

In some ways, it hasn’t. Owned and operated by Tim Pappas since 1977, the bar was the quintessential south city dive, recognizable thanks to the vintage neon sign that emblazoned its facade. Pat and Carol Schuchard became familiar with the bar after taking over and spearheading a historic

renovation of the Bevo Mill in 2016; when Pappas was ready to sell the place in 2022, they jumped at the chance to take it over and put their stamp on a prominent building just across the street from the neighborhood’s iconic windmill. Originally, their plan was to simply polish up the space and open, business as usual. However, once they got inside, they saw that the interior needed a complete gut rehab, forcing them to spend a year repairing equipment, remediating years of cigarette smoke

and doing long-deferred general maintenance.

Once the place got cleaned up, the Schuchards enlisted the help of Pat’s daughter, Anne, to give the bar its distinctive late-1970s/early-1980s aesthetic. Anne, who had spent several years as a designer in Los Angeles, used a black, white and orange-red wallpaper for one corner of the bar’s main room as a jumping off point for the retro vibe, then added in painted wood paneling, funky artwork, cartoonish daisy accents on the ceiling

and furniture the mustard yellow, avocado green and burnt orange colors of 1970s appliances. Nostalgic touches, like serving trays from Ozark Airlines, stereo receivers and leopard-print wallpaper accents complete the look.

Three weeks before opening, the Schuchards hired industry veteran Chelsea Pfister to run the operation and handed over creative control of both the bar and food menus. Drink-wise, Pfister leaned into the nostalgic feel of the place with whimsically named cocktails like Turn the Beet Around, an earthy twist on a Paloma that pairs sorrel and beet-infused tequila with hibiscus, rose hips and orange peel. The Gimme Gimme Gimlet is another riff on a classic drink; here, strawberry and basil add round and herbaceous notes to the cocktail’s traditional bright citrus flavor. The Marsha Marsha Margarita, offered on draft, makes you wonder why you’d ever want another version. Jammy strawberry, brightened by lime, makes the initial impression, but jalapeño spice soon creeps up on you, coating your mouth in a pleasant, tingly heat that balances out the intense fruit. It’s the cocktail you’ll want to drink all summer.

Though Pfister was tasked with

Continued on pg 44

In addition to cocktails, Tim’s Chrome Bar offers a menu of appetizers such as sloppy Joe sliders, pizza rolls, deviled eggs and more. | MABEL SUEN

Pat and Carol Schuchard are the owners of Tim’s Chrome Bar. | MABEL SUEN

TIM’S CHROME BAR

designing the bar’s food menu, she never envisioned that role involving anything more than sketching out some ideas to get the place open, and planned on handing over creative culinary control to a kitchen manager once things got up and running. However, when that fell through, she stepped into the kitchen role in addition to her front-of-house duties, jokingly referring to herself as Chef Chels, a tongue-in-cheek moniker because of her lack of professional cooking experience.

Even so, Pfister has a keen understanding not only of how to translate the bar’s vintage vibe into its food offerings; she also knows her limits and has designed a menu that is fun and nostalgic while being easy enough to execute. Deviled eggs are emblematic of this dual approach. The taste of 1980s family reunions, Pfister’s eggs are classics — creamy, the perfect ratio of mustard to mayo and garnished with a single bread-and-butter gherkin slice. Those bread-and-butter pickles also make an appearance on her Sloppy Joe sliders, which taste so much like lunchtime at my Catholic grade school cafeteria, I almost walked up to the kitchen window to ask for a side of white bread with government butter after finishing my plate.

Hummus is equally excellent. Pfister’s version is luxuriously smooth with a prominent tahini taste — a welcome note for those of us who can’t get enough of the deeply earthy sesame flavor. Halfmoon-shaped house fried pita chips and sliced red-and-yellow bell peppers are served alongside

the appetizer. Brussels sprouts are another relatively healthful bar nosh. Playfully named Do the Brussel, the sprouts are brined in pickle juice, fried, then accented with roasted garlic. Crispy on the outside and deliciously rich with garlic flavor, they are an unexpectedly perfect pairing with an icy cold lager.

Pfister is particularly proud of her crab Rangoon nachos, a dish she learned how to make years ago from a chef she worked for at an area country club. It was one of the first things she knew she had to include on her menu, and you understand why after the first bite. Delicate fried wonton chips serve as the base for a silken, real crabmeat-flecked cream cheese topping. In place of the usual ruby red sweet-and-sour sauce served with traditional crab Rangoon, Pfister drizzles the dish

with a pungent sweet chili sauce, then accents it with jalapeños and everything bagel seasoning to cut through the richness. It’s a deeply satisfying and surprisingly complex mix of flavors.

She also shows her knack for finger foods with her pizza rolls. Far from the usual out-of-thefreezer stoner staple, Pfister’s housemade version features a crispy wonton wrapper stuffed with garlicky pepperoni, gooey cheese and green peppers that tastes like a rolled-up supreme pizza. As delicious as the meat ones are, her vegetarian version is the showstopper — perhaps of the entire menu. Here, the wontons envelop a decadent concoction of spinach, portobello mushrooms, feta and mozzarella cheese. It’s like spinach dip in pizza roll form.

Those pizza rolls exist because

things didn’t go as planned with the opening kitchen situation. Similarly, about three weeks after opening, a strong gust of wind ripped not only the iconic Tim’s Chrome Bar sign off the building, but took most of the facade with it. Now, instead of a neon-lit Tim’s Chrome Bar sign greeting its guests, bar-goers have to enter the building under and through scaffolding that takes up the entire block. Of course, it’s been decorated with the same daisy aesthetic as inside the restaurant, as well as well wishes from the community the restaurant has already fostered — perhaps not the entryway that was intended, but one that feels so fitting.

Tim’s Chrome Bar Marsha Marsha Margarita… $10 Primo cheese and veggie rolls… $13 Crab Rangoon nachos… $15

Continued from pg 43

General manager Chelsea Pfister mixes a drink behind the bar. | MABEL SUEN

The interior design is definitely retro. | MABEL SUEN

There is a late-1970s/early 1980s aesthetic to the interior. | MABEL SUEN

Flip and Fold

The French Crêperie brings authentic French-style crêpes to Chesterfield

Written by SCOUT HUDSON

Behind murals of busy Parisian streets, Natacha Douglas is doing what she does best — making, or rather crafting, crêpes. On any given weekend, she pours, flattens and flips more than 600 crêpes at her newest restaurant The French Crêperie (17409 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield; 636-7780188, frenchcreperie.com), which opened earlier this year.

By her speed and skill, you’d assume she’s been making crêpes for a lifetime, and in fact, she has. But in between crêpes, she’s picked up a few titles in addition to chef — doctor of health professions, vice president of enrollment, entrepreneur, author and speaker.

“It hasn’t been easy, but I’m not afraid of the work,” Douglas says. “I love playing the pressure.”

Douglas has never backed down from a hard day’s work. After moving to Arizona from the French Caribbean island Guadeloupe for college, Douglas continued her studies in the states, earning an MBA in international business and a doctorate in Health Professions Education, not to mention launching a fashion line and self-publishing a series of video tutorials for climbing the corporate ladder. Now serving as the vice president of enrollment management at Logan University, Douglas’s schedule is full, to say the least.

“I want to give everything at the Crêperie all the attention, but I also have about 70 people reporting to me on my other job,” she says. “Balancing both and giving all the attention to both has been a little difficult, but it’s not so bad because I love the French Crêperie so much.”

Crêpe-making has always been

a passion for Douglas, starting when she first learned to make them as a young girl living in Guadeloupe. Her love of crêpes lingered for her entire life, but for most of her time in the U.S., she reserved her skills as a treat for visiting house guests.

She began noticing that American-made crêpes were rarely prepared in the authentic French style. Hoping to share her pas-

sion for crêpes with Chesterfield, she found the location in February and began serving her favorite dish only three months later.

Serving soft, thin pancakes filled with traditional hazelnut spread and sliced fruit, Douglas teases, “If you’ve been here, you’ve been to France.”

The menu is a tour de force of classic French fare, all thematically named with simple French

phrases. The La Vie En Rose folds egg, cheese and your choice of meat in a soft buckwheat crêpe drizzled with a béchamel sauce. The Déjà Vu is the cornucopia of crêpes, served with baby leaf spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and red bell peppers with a pesto aioli.

The crêperie also caters to the typical mid-American palette, with the culinarily-cavalier Crêpe Dog — a crêpe-wrapped hot dog coated with mustard, or choice of condiment — and the Le Saint Louis touting smoked barbecue pork.

“I get nervous because Americans aren’t always used to French authentic crêpes,” she says. “But people seem to think it’s delicious.”

Currently open Friday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the crêperie has exploded in popularity since opening early May. Often selling out by early afternoon, Douglas is already looking toward expansion.

However conversations of expanded hours, a secondary St. Louis location and interstate enterprise remain on the back burner — the dedication to serving authentic French-style crêpes remains at the forefront.

Throughout the week, Douglas leads crêpe-cooking classes. Participants are invited to sip wine and learn a little French as they master the art of crêpe-making. Douglas’ biggest lesson to the perfect crêpe — and perhaps to a fulfilling life — is simple.

“It needs to be the right balance,” she says. n

Natacha Douglas first started making crêpes as a child in Guadeloupe. | COURTESY PHOTO

“I get nervous because Americans aren’t always used to French authentic crêpes,” she says. “But people seem to think it’s delicious.”

CHERYL BAEHR’S CRAB RANGOON PICKS

Triangle shaped and flat, or upright and pinched on top. Sweet or savory. Served with cherry-red sauce from a styrofoam to-go ramekin or yellow-orange goo from a packet. Everyone has their favorite style of crab Rangoon, but there’s one thing we can all agree on: These five serve the area’s best.

Sum Tea House

You wouldn’t think a bubble tea shop would have some of the best crab Rangoon in town, but Sum Tea House (8501 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-222-1540) delivers outrageously delicious, savory triangles based on a longtime family recipe.

Zang Chi

Tucked in a Creve Coeur strip mall, Zang Chi (733 North New Ballas Road, Creve Coeur; 314-993-8835) is the champion of the sweet ’goon form. Oversized and bursting with slightly sugary cream cheese, these beauties deliver exactly what you want.

Cafe Mochi

This South Grand staple may be known for its approachable sushi, but Cafe Mochi’s (3221 South Grand Boulevard, 314-773-5000) crab Rangoons are a favorite thanks to their delicate, half-moon shaped package. Fans of the former VP Square’s much-beloved Rangoons take note; these are the same owners.

Yen Ching

Upright and pinched together — but still open enough to see the cream-cheese filling — the Rangoons at Yen Ching (1012 South Brentwood Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-721-7507) are an absolute classic. The restaurant receives bonus points for a robust, welltextured wonton wrapper that is surprisingly not greasy.

Sesame

Not completely savory but definitely not overly sweet, triangle-shaped but plump and curved upright so that they almost veer toward the pinched-together style, the Rangoons at Sesame (10500 Watson Road, Sunset Hills; 314-821-5038) hit that perfectly balanced sweet spot that is the quintessence of the form.

BerryBox Superfood Bar Opens

The fast-casual pop-up at City Foundry STL serves smoothie bowls, cold brew coffee and other drinks

Written by JESSICA ROGEN

There’s a new source for smoothie bowls in town.

BerryBox Superfood Bar, a fast-casual smoothie-bowl-focused concept, opened a popup location in the City Foundry STL food hall last Friday.

BerryBox, which will become a permanent stall toward the end of July, is now open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It serves “health-forward” cuisine such as the aforementioned bowls, cold brew coffee from Kaldi’s and grab-and-go drinks.

Customers can choose from a variety of smoothie bowl bases such as açaí, pitaya, coconut, mango pineapple, cocoa, blue majik, chia seed pudding and overnight

oats. Then they can top it with a variety of fruits, add-ons such as cacao nibs of bee pollen, nut butter drizzles, granola and more.

The menu also includes a variety of preconceived bowls, such as the PB Paradise Bowl, which is

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

BY JESSICA ROGEN

OPENINGS

Daily Flavors, Festus

Friendship Fli-Hi, Wentzville

Neon Banana, Clayton

Blissfully Popped, Maplewood

Napoli Sea, St. Charles

Zanti’s Deli, Sappington

Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh, Vinita Park

Billy G’s Finer Diner, Chesterfield

Clementine’s, Edwardsville, Illinois

World’s Bistro, St. Peters

Taco Buddha, Kirkwood

Condado Tacos, Downtown

La Calle, Forest Park Southeast

Billy’s on Broadway, Downtown

Tealux Café, Ballwin

The Wood Shack, Soulard

Big Rod’s Roadhouse, Waterloo, Illinois

Anita Café & Bar, Midtown

BerryBox Superfood Bar, Midtown

CLOSINGS

Lousie’s on the Loop, University City

Gather, McKinley Heights

Frankie Tocco’s Pizzeria, St. Charles

The Sweet Divine, Soulard

an açaí base topped with granola, strawberries, bananas, peanut butter and agave nectar.

This is BerryBox’s second location. The first opened in Clayton at 7447 Forsyth Boulevard earlier this year. n

CC’s Vegan Spot, Princeton Heights

Pasta Plus, Clayton

The Greek Kitchen, Kirkwood

Juniper, Central West End

The Main House has opened up in St. Charles. | SCOUT HUDSON

BerryBox Super Bar’s smoothie bowls have a variety of bases. |Courtesy Jasper Paul PR & Marketing

Breakfast Revolution

Chickpea oatmeal company ChiChi from Wash U students launches this month

Written by JESSICA ROGEN

When Izzy Gorton first heard that her friend and fellow Washington University student Chiara Munzi was whipping up a brand new type of chickpea oatmeal in her dorm room, she thought Munzi was a bit crazy.

“I was a little skeptical at first,” Gorton says. “But then when I first tried it, I was insanely surprised by the taste. I don’t like oatmeal, actually. And the taste is just so amazing. It’s like nutty and hearty, and it’s not mushy, like oatmeal, which I really just can’t deal with that texture.”

With that bite, Gorton says, she knew they’d “hit gold.”

That gold is ChiChi, the duo’s chickpea oatmeal brand, which is scheduled to launch the results of its largest production run yet on July 20. ChiChi will go on sale on that date at chickpeaoats.com, and it will be in St. Louis stores such as Fresh Thyme, Straub’s and one Dierbergs location.

There are currently three flavors of ChiChi that will be available for sale: apple cinnamon, dark chocolate blueberry and peanut butter banana. They come in single-serve pouches and only require the addition of water or milk, just like an oatmeal packet.

Munzi says that ChiChi is higher in protein and fiber than oatmeal and only contains six ingredients.

“Our slogan is, ‘Oats are dead, long live the chickpea,’” Munzi says, noting that they hope to produce a kid-specific flavor, a chickpea breakfast bar, cold-flake cereal and more down the line.

But first, they have to make ChiChi a success, which is what this production run is all about. Munzi and Gorton are investing approximately $40,000 — raised through accelerators and startup competitions — in

the product and marketing.

If all goes well, it will be a proof of concept that will lead to a bigger run in the winter.

“I’m feeling very excited, but also very stressed,” Munzi says. “We just got our final samples. It tastes really good, way better than the last version that we were making. … So I’m very excited to see how consumers react, and I feel like it’ll lead to repeat purchases.”

But before ChiChi was a product poised to sell on St. Louis’ shelves, it was just Munzi mixing up concoctions in her dorm room during the pandemic. She’d long mixed protein powder in with her oatmeal to give it a boost. But it was a bit chalky and just not that good. Then, she moved on to chickpeas.

“When I was stuck at home, I was so bored,” Munzi says. That led to her experimentation.

Then Munzi signed up for an entrepreneurship class at Wash U designed to help students launch businesses. On the first day, she met Gorton, and the two clicked and decided to launch ChiChi together.

The two began by developing the product recipe, testing upwards of 100 versions that they shared with family and friends for feedback. In December, they felt they’d nailed it and got certified by the FDA and health department to produce ChiChi in a commercial kitchen.

They then began doing samples and selling it at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, United Provisions and through their website chickpeaoats.com. In April, they took all the feedback gained from those experiences to revamp the product, making the serving size larger and adding some more cinnamon.

Almost right away during that process, both say they knew this was going to be an effort extending past the end of that entrepreneurship class.

“I was always all in,” Gorton says, who is juggling launching ChiChi with her junior year and running on the track team.

Munzi, who graduated last year, is so serious about it that she is working on it as her full-time job.

“I wake up every day feeling very grateful to be able to be doing this,” she says. “I’m happy to be here being my own boss as a 22-year-old.”

ChiChi is launching with three flavors. | COURTESY CHICHI

REEFERFRONT TIMES 51

Grape Expectations

Vibe’s award-winning Gelato Live Rosin packs a flavorful punch

Written By ACE LOUIE

As far as concentrates go, live rosin has quickly become the star of the show thanks to its solventless extraction method and purity. Intrigued by its growing popularity, I decided to dive into a live rosin product from the Missouri market, and what’s a better candidate than Vibe’s award-winning Gelato strain?

This strain made a remarkable market entry. Greenway Magazine nominated it for Strain of the Year in 2022 within five months of Vibe introducing it. The concentrate also earned a nomination for Concentrate of the Year and was awarded Best Hash at the KC CannaFest in April 2023.

One vital question loomed large: Will this strain, one of Vibe’s earliest and a personal favorite, remain in the company’s cultivation repertoire? As a cannabis enthusiast, I’ve observed certain beloved strains fade away or be substituted with newer varieties over time. Nevertheless, I held out hope that Vibe recognized the significance of keeping this renowned strain in its arsenal for the foreseeable future.

To answer this, I reached out to Jonathan Milo, the CEO of Vibe, which is based in downtown St. Louis. I was eager to uncover if this adored strain had a secure future, or if we were on the verge of saying goodbye. We’ll address this and more, but first, let’s break down what sets live rosin apart from the pack of existing concentrates.

Unlike other concentrates like live resin, shatter, sugar wax and live sauce, which have been on the market since legalization, rosin is chemical-free in its extrac-

tion. Unlike live resin, typically extracted with a blend of butane and propane solvent, live rosin extraction uses only water, ice and pressure. The process is more laborious than other solvent-based extractions, and it yields a smaller quantity, which is reflected in the higher cost of live rosin. However, in my opinion, the cost is justified given the absence of chemicals and the cleaner, more natural taste compared to other available concentrates.

Given its popularity, Gelato rosin is a quick sell-out. I was fortunate to secure a gram at Proper Cannabis’ Bridgeton location. Packaged in a sleek case with pink and blue tones and a distinctive flavor description — “warmed blueberry muffin smothered in Welch’s grape jelly” — Vibe’s Gelato Live Rosin is sure to captivate any concentrate enthusiast.

Cannabis companies often resort to extravagant descriptions as marketing tools. Surprisingly, this one hits the mark. One sniff of this creation, and you’ll understand why the description fits so well.

Upon opening the container, apart from the incredible terpene profile, you’ll first notice its light yellow color, a desirable attribute for quality rosin. The smell is reminiscent of grape jelly, while the taste is sweet blueberries on the exhale. The Gelato Rosin’s terpene profile is unparalleled, and the calming effects combined with its unique flavor make for a remarkable concentrate experience.

Dabbing this hybrid strain provides a soothing balance of indica and sativa. A trial at around 11:30 a.m. alleviated my stress, leaving me feeling revitalized and ready for the day without any drowsi-

ness. After the dab, I enjoyed my usual gym workout, something I find particularly pleasing after using cannabis, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and soreness-alleviation properties. My gym session was followed by a quick visit to 710 Glass Co. in St. Peters, where I wanted to try rolling a “donut,” an innovative rosin-smoking method gaining traction on Instagram.

The term “donut” stems from the way the rosin is rolled into a snake shape, placed atop flower and then rolled so the hash sits at the center, creating a donut holelike appearance. With some advice from the owner of 710 Glass Co. and some YouTube tutorials, I successfully rolled a donut. The donut joint smoked smoothly, burned slowly and exploded with a blueberry flavor as soon as the rosin began melting. In small doses, Gelato Live Rosin can leave you feeling refreshed and stressfree, while larger doses can have you couch-bound, gazing at the Netflix home screen.

Not wanting my experience with Vibe’s Gelato Rosin to be a one-time affair, I reached out to Vibe CEO Milo to learn about the future of the strain. Based on my interactions with him and his encounters with consumers on social media, Milo seems to be one of the most honest and open CEOs of a Missouri cannabis company. He emphasizes the importance of honesty to cannabis consumers, answering questions that other companies might sidestep.

Fortunately, he said that Vibe’s Gelato strain is classified as a Forever Strain, indicating it will continue its cultivation indefinitely. Chem Reserve, a unique sativa strain with impressive qualities, also holds the Forever Strain status. Interestingly, Gelato and Chem Reserve were the first two cultivars to be harvested back to back.

So whether you’re trying the flower version or my favorite, the live rosin version, I highly recommend Gelato to any cannabis user, be they a beginner or seasoned veteran. The flavor alone is worth the trial; the effects merely confirm its status as one of the best strains on the Missouri market. Having tried several Gelato versions from different cultivation companies in Missouri, I can confidently assert that no one does Gelato better than Vibe.

Live rosin has become a star in the concentrate market, and Vibe’s Gelato strain is the cream of the crop. | ACE LOUIE

St. Louis Teen Wins Essay Contest

The Queer Youth of Faith National Essay Contest empowers LGBTQ+ teens to embrace their identities

Written by SCOUT HUDSON

Avery Anderson was told faith would “fix” her identity as a lesbian shortly after coming out during her freshman year of high school. Her mother, determined to rid her daughter of what she deemed sinful, forced Anderson to attend Christian services. But instead, through the church, Anderson says she found a “love she felt she wasn’t made to receive” that gave her the support she had long needed.

Now, the St. Louis resident advocates for fellow queer youth of faith and shared her experiences

Free Outdoor Gear

A new lending library from the River City Outdoors nonprofit is making nature more accessible

Written by RYAN KRULL

ASt. Louis city-based nonprofit is trying to make the outdoors a little more accessible to anyone who wants to do some exploring.

River City Outdoors announced last week that it has opened a Gear Lending Library in the Central West End. The gear library allows for approved organizations to come by and borrow equipment for hiking, camping, paddling, bikepacking

in an essay titled “The Veiled Virgin: Me” that recently won a national contest.

“I began to fill my hollowed heart with hallowed words from those who believed in a God who loves all,” Anderson writes in it.

Anderson’s essay, detailing her experience as both a Christian and lesbian, was selected for the Queer Youth of Faith National Essay Contest hosted by Beloved Arise, a national multi-faith organization that empowers LGBTQ+ youth to embrace their identities as both religious and queer. As one of five high school seniors who won the essay contest, Anderson will receive a $10,000 scholarship to a college of her choice.

But it’s not only about the money for school. Through Beloved Arise, Anderson has found a community of fellow religious and queer teens.

“There’s a lot of prejudice that I faced, and that I still face,” Anderson says. “It was nice to be able to talk about that but also to be able to talk about the brighter side, which is having my faith to help guide me.”

On June 30, Beloved Arise hosted the Queer Youth of Faith Day, when it called upon 1.8 million individuals to join in prayer for LGBTQ+ youth. That number represented the 1.8 million LG -

BTQ+ youth who seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., as estimated by the Trevor Project.

The timing for the essay is key. The American Civil Liberties Union has identified 491 bills in 2023 as anti-LGBTQ+. Amid such a surge in legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, Anderson and Beloved Arise want to

empower queer youth and uplift their moments of joy.

“Communication and understanding is the best way to address hate in our world right now,” Anderson said before the event. “I really hope that the Day of Prayer shines light not only on the hardships but also their triumphs and how their faith has helped them overcome.” n

profit focused on food justice, environmental stewardship and youth empowerment.

Jay-Marie Hill, founder of Black Trans Bike Experience, said of the new initiative: “For most of our participants, it’s unrealistic and alienating to require they spend extra money to buy gear or tools and just use them one time or for one trip. Offerings like these are essential to making the benefits of experiencing the outdoors more comfortable, fun and accessible for all.”

A representative from Ujima said they will use the gear to expand their outdoor education programs. The gear in the library is currently available to organizations who work with St. Louis youth as well as school groups.

and other outdoor excursions.

“One of the common barriers we see when it comes to getting kids and families outside is the availability and access to quality gear,” River City Outdoors Director Rebecca Weaver said in a state-

ment. “This resource will help make experiencing the outdoors more accessible to hundreds of people and partners.”

Two of the organizations already working with the gear library are the Black Trans Bike Experience and Ujima, a non-

The Gear Lending Library is located at the Big Muddy Adventures Guide Shop at 4662 Washington Avenue. For more info about the nonprofit and the gear available to borrow, check out its website at rivercityoutdoors.myturn.com. n

Avery Anderson wrote about her experiences coming out as a lesbian and finding solace in Christian services in her winning essay “The Veiled Virgin: Me.” | COURTESY PHOTO

The River City Outdoors Gear Lending Library is open in the Central West End. | COURTESY PHOTO

MUSIC

[INDIE ROOTS]

Flying High

St. Louis’ Yard Eagle is poised to take the stage at the Evolution Festival

Written by STEVE LEFTRIDGE

Yard Eagle, the St. Louis indieroots band led by singer/ songwriter/guitarist Jakob Baxter, is one of just three local acts invited to play the inaugural Evolution Festival, the two-day music, bourbon and barbecue festival being staged in Forest Park in August featuring such big-name acts as Brandi Carlile, the Black Keys and the Black Crowes.

“It’s something that just legitimately fell into our laps,” Baxter tells me over soups and salads at the Fountain on Locust. How the group caught the attention of Evolution’s organizers remains a mystery to Baxter, but given the high visibility of Yard Eagle in the St. Louis scene it is unsurprising that the band showed up on the festival’s radar. After all, Yard Eagle maintains a breakneck pace — at press time, the band was about to play eight shows over the next nine days — and Baxter himself is ubiquitous around town as a sideman and collaborator.

Baxter’s connections to the music scene run deep. For example, our server at the Fountain is, as it turns out, Allie Vogler, formerly of River Kittens, with whom Baxter served as touring guitarist. In fact, Baxter is now roommates with the other half of the Kittens, Maddie Schell and her fiancé Nate Gilbert, who is co-producing Yard Eagle’s new album. Baxter remains equally loyal to both Kittens after their recent split: He plays with Schell at her biweekly Venice Cafe show and is working on Vogler’s next project. Known for his clean, hyper-melodic playing, Baxter also stepped in earlier this year during the Mighty Pines’ shows for guitarist Neil Salsich while he was in LA competing on The Voice

Not bad for a farm boy from

teensy Rutland, Illinois — geographically situated at the Cards/ Cubs dividing line — where Baxter grew up helping his dad grow corn and soybeans and raise beef cattle. Despite the isolated rurality, his parents were huge rock fans: His dad was the biggest (perhaps only) Frank Zappa fan in LaSalle County, and his mom, with whom Baxter split time in O’Fallon, Illinois, attended Stevie Ray Vaughan’s last-ever concert, the night the musician died in a helicopter crash.

Baxter, likewise, grew up a rock fanatic: His first tattoo was the Rolling Stones’ tongue-andlips logo on his right middle finger as a teenager, and he was already playing guitar in rock bands in middle school. A brief taste of college took him to Chicago, where he dropped out to become a full-time side guitarist at age 19 for country singer Craig Gerdes, who gave Baxter a crash course in classic country music and its twangy guitar idioms.

Baxter credits Gerdes with not only key six-string tutelage but also with teaching him frontmanship and stage conducting. Not to mention the art of hard partying on the road: “We toured all over the Midwest playing four-hour dive-bar gigs, and we would have a full bottle of whiskey on stage, and it would be empty by the end of the show,” Baxter says.

Eventually, the Gerdes gig ran its course (“It was great until it wasn’t,” Baxter says), and he ended back in O’Fallon, settling on solo acoustic gigs, eventually starting the first version of Yard Eagle with a buddy to play folky duet sets around town. The band’s name was inspired by a lawn ornament that came with the house the two bandmates were renting at the time.

“It was a concrete patriotic eagle. It was falling apart. It was hideous,” Baxter remembers.

“We thought it was hilarious. We loved the idea that people would show their version of patriotism by putting an ugly concrete eagle

in their yard.” Baxter says that the group pushed the concept to cartoonishly parodic extremes. “We wrote this whole manifesto pretending that Yard Eagle was a communist front and that the followers of Yard Eagle were a cult, even though we were this really tame acoustic folk duo,” he says with a laugh.

That kind of playful subversion has followed Baxter through all of the iterations of Yard Eagle to the current day. The band has long favored semi-ironic imagery inspired by ’50s Red Scare propaganda, American iconography in its song titles (“The Ghost of Nancy Reagan,” for instance) and stage accoutrements such as red, white and blue guitar cables and drum heads.

The use of such patriotic aesthetics comes, not coincidentally, at a time in history when images of American flags and “USA!” chants have been hijacked and turned into the calling cards of the right-wing MAGA move-

Jakob Baxter is the only member of Yard Eagle still around from its very start. | COURTESY PHOTO

ment. Baxter believes in taking that imagery back. “We love taking the classic American aesthetics or country aesthetics — the fonts, the pictures — and taking it somewhere else,” he says.

Baxter, who is gay, is especially invested in the concept of an America for all Americans. “I’m an American, and I have a right to that imagery. And I want those. Those are mine,” he says. But he’s also interested in sticking it to those who think they own those images for their own narrow worldviews. “Sometimes we do Yard Eagle shows in drag,” he says. “We will put on standard Western wear but with lipstick and makeup, so we are presenting this very masculine thing and then completely subverting it by putting makeup on.”

Despite those gestures, Baxter, who came out at age 21, says he does not try to use his sexual identity as a way to promote his art. “Yard Eagle is inherently a queer band because that’s the perspective that I’m writing from,” he says. “I’m not necessarily saying anything overtly queer or making it this hill that I’m dying on, but it is coming from a queer perspective because it’s coming from my perspective.”

That kind of auteur approach reflects the fact that Yard Eagle has had revolving personnel over the years, with Baxter as the sole continuous member. After the original duo, Yard Eagle 2.0 was formed as a four-piece of hometown buddies after Baxter had relocated to St. Louis and immersed himself into the local scene. This version made its St. Louis debut in 2018 and incorporated psychedelic liquid light shows into the sets, complete with clock faces and oils.

Yard Eagle 3.0 headed into purer rock & roll waters with Old Souls Revival’s Neil C. Luke on bass and Hunter and Alex Hamilton — now of the popular blues Americana brothers group the Hamilton Band — on guitar and drums, respectively. That version of the band recorded Yard Eagle’s 2020 three-song EP I Only Dream in Black and White, an amiably songful collection representing Baxter’s muse at its most rootsrockingly dreamy.

Then, as with all recent band bios, COVID-19 dropped the ham-

mer on the group’s momentum. Baxter took a job at the very diner in which he tells me these stories, and once the world opened back up, he assembled Yard Eagle 4.0, expanded to five members with guitarist/dobroist Matt Maher, bassist Britton Wood, drummer Isaac Chosich and keyboardist Dan Turner. It’s this incarnation that made a splash at the 2021 Open Highway Festival, performing a scintillating version of the Danny O’Keefe classic “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues,” subsequently released as a Yard Eagle single made indelible by Baxter’s tender tenor.

It’s a delightfully surprising cover from a bunch of furry rock rascals in their twenties, but Baxter’s, and therefore Yard Eagle’s, musical phylum is tough to pin down. Amid all of his classic-rock upbringing, his country teethcutting and Americana elements, Baxter lists indie-rock bands as key inspirations, including Wilco, Andy Shauf, Parquet Courts and Father John Misty. Thankfully, we will soon hear what the latest Yard Eagle has been cooking up in the studio.

Next month, Baxter plans to release the band’s first full-length album, currently untitled — eight newly recorded tracks, including a recut “The Ghost of Nancy Reagan.” What’s more, the band is currently working on an additional EP set for release in the fall that will take on a more synthy, Radiohead-style direction.

In the meantime, Yard Eagle will continue to play once a month at Venice Cafe and is particularly excited about hosting Nashville band Them Vibes, featuring drummer Sarah Tomek from Aerosmith legend Steven Tyler’s solo band, in October. “They are so pro!” Baxter says, his eyes wide with excitement. “I don’t really want to play after them, so we’re opening that night.”

It’s a telling gesture from a musician who thrives on being social and supportive of fellow artists. Still, the Evolution Festival will put Baxter at center stage for his close-up for the band’s biggest showcase to date. True to that festival’s name, it’s a spot Baxter has been evolving toward since he was a kid. Indeed, it’s been a circuitous approach, but this time Yard Eagle is poised to take flight. n

Along for the Ride

In Joy Ride, a trio of Asian American women brings a fresh perspective to raunchy comedy, with mixed results

Written by KAYLA MCCULLOCH

Joy Ride

the subgenre didn’t die. It simply changed hands. Producing team Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (in essence, protégés of the Frat Pack) and their latest co-production, Joy Ride, are proof enough that the Rrated Hollywood comedy is alive, even if not always well.

Concerned moviegoers have been mourning the death of the R-rated studio comedy for far too long now. This lingering concern for the current state of raunchy Hollywood productions was no doubt borne from the phasing out of the Frat Pack: Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Owen and Luke Wilson, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and all the other guys who used to crack you up but now front Marvel projects or dramas for streaming services. The thing is, the R-rated studio comedy never really went anywhere. Sure, your Judd Apatows, Todd Phillipses, and Adam McKays aren’t nearly as prominent (or as prolific) as they once were, but

Audrey (Ashley Park) and Lolo (Sherry Cola) have been best friends ever since they first met on the playground as kids. Audrey’s Caucasian adoptive parents walked up to Lolo’s Chinese parents and introduced the girls, and the rest was history. Growing up as the only two Asians in a primarily white suburb, Audrey and Lolo’s friendship was practically predestined. Strong together all through their K-12 years, they now find themselves in their late 20s on wildly separate paths. Audrey’s a lawyer on partnership track, while Lolo is a starving artist living in Audrey’s garage and making works not so subtly depicting genitalia. When an opportunity presents itself for Audrey to travel to China to seal a deal for her firm, she extends an invitation to Lolo. However, both are hiding a secret: Lolo’s cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu) and Audrey’s college-roommate-turnedfamous-actress Kat (Stephanie Hsu) will also be tagging along.

The film arrives hot on the heels of No Hard Feelings, another dirty farce seemingly transported straight from the 2000s. But instead of following the sex comedy formula like the aforementioned Jennifer Lawrence comeback vehicle, Joy Ride sticks to a different tried-and-true recipe: the trusty

girls trip gone wrong. Scribes Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, a frequent Seth MacFarlane collaborator, and Teresa Hsiao, cocreator of the oddly titled (and ongoing) Comedy Central show Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, throw every to-be-expected trope and story beat into the pot. There’s the spontaneous drug trip, the lost luggage meltdown, the run-in with the cops, the gross-out over local cuisine and all those obligatory miscommunications that push long-gestating tensions to the surface. If you’ve seen any previous road trip comedy, you’re likely to recognize quite a few of these setups throughout.

Joy Ride recycles more than just bits. Every one of its character arcs should feel familiar, too. Audrey is searching for the meaning of family. Lolo is trying to balance her lofty dreams with the harsh reality of getting older. Deadeye is a socially awkward introvert looking for true friendship. Kat is struggling to have it all while remaining authentic to herself. I could be describing the basic personalities of the characters from Girls Trip, Sex and the City, a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants film, or even Book Club: The Next Chapter. Looking past the unquestionably groundbreaking nature of a predominantly Asian cast and crew by Hollywood’s standards, Joy Ride is disappointingly risk-averse. For a movie rooted so strongly in identity, this is undoubtedly a serious problem.

Conventional plot and stock characters aside, does Joy Ride at least deliver laughs? Sure.

For the most part. Even when a joke didn’t land for me personally, I understood why someone somewhere in the auditorium was laughing hysterically at the punchline. Chevapravatdumrong spent more than 15 years in the writers’ room on Family Guy Hsiao devoted nearly a decade to an array of MacFarlane joints as well. As these resumes suggest, Joy Ride’s sense of humor is the same brand of broadly accessible raunchiness that has kept MacFarlane’s animated sitcoms on the air for much of the 21st century. I might not have been laughing for 90 minutes straight, but I could recognize the cadence of a joke more often than not — an exceedingly rare thing in a time when topical references are passed off as finely crafted gags.

Though it might not sound like the kind of project Crazy Rich Asians co-writer Adele Lim would choose for her directorial debut, Joy Ride nevertheless fits squarely in line with her film career thus far. After lending her talents to the box-office-breaking book adaptation, as well as Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, Lim’s decidedly less family friendly endeavor is still concerned with many of the same themes at the center of her previous credits. The nuances of Asian identity, embracing cultural heritage, navigating the complex web of class and race all permeate Lim’s work, but are especially prevalent in Joy Ride. Beyond its outrageous jokes or its femalefocused talent in front of and behind the camera, this unabashed embrace of Asian customs and culture is what’s most surprising — and welcome — to see from a mid-budget American production.

So: Is the R-rated studio comedy dead? If yes, what comes next? If not, who are we supposed to believe is picking up the torch? Instead of hand-wringing over such questions, I’m choosing to look at Joy Ride as one of many potential paths forward. As streaming services continue to falter and tentpoles struggle to stand against the weight of toxic fandoms and the impossible standards of nostalgia, could we see a return to the halcyon days of unabashedly silly, emphatically middling theatrical outputs such as Joy Ride? It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. n

Directed by Adele Lim. Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao and Adele Lim. Starring Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Ashley Park and Sabrina Wu. Opened July 7.

Sabrina Wu, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Ashley Park fill roles you may remember from Sex and the City or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. | ED ARAQUEL/LIONSGATE

OUT EVERY NIGHT

Each week, we bring you our picks for the best concerts of the next seven days! To submit your show for consideration, visit https://bit.ly/3bgnwXZ. All events are subject to change, especially in the age of COVID-19, so do check with the venue for the most up-to-date information before you head out for the night. Happy showgoing!

THURSDAY 13

ALEX WILLIAMS: w/ Russo & Co. 8 p.m., $15-$20. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505.

BLOOD RED SHOES: 8 p.m., $20. Blueberry HillThe Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.

COUNTRY WESTERNS: w/ Glory N’ Perfection, Boreal Hills 8 p.m., $12-$15. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

JAKE CURTIS BLUES: 7 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

JUST FINE: MARY J. BLIGE TRIBUTE: 8 p.m., $25. City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 314-678-5060.

NATE LOWERY: 3 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

REFINED ROOTS: 9:30 p.m., $9. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

RICH FLEETWOOD: 4:30 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

TEARS FOR FEARS: 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$399.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.

FRIDAY 14

BROTHER FRANCIS AND THE SOULTONES: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.

THE DUSTCOVERS: 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

FLIGHT RISK: 7:30 p.m., $16. The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd, St. Louis, 314-560-2778.

HAKI N’ DEM: 8 p.m., $20. The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square inside Grandel Theatre, St. Louis, 314-776-9550.

HEARTCAVE ALBUM RELEASE SHOW: w/ Night Hike, Waiiist 8 p.m., $12. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.

JOYBOMB: w/ Power of Dusk, The Chandelier Swing, Fight Back Mountain 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

THE LAST DANCE - A TOM PETTY TRIBUTE: 5 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 South Kingshighway Blvd., 2nd Floor, St. Louis, 314-376-5313.

LUCKY OLD SONS: 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

POST MALONE: 8 p.m., $45-$249.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.

PUDDLES PITY PARTY: 8 p.m., $35-$55. City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 314-678-5060.

RIVERBEND BLUEGRASS: 7:30 p.m., $15. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.

SERENADE OF SILENCE: w/ Cold Rooms, Augmented Hearts, Killer Burke, Three Way Stop 7:30 p.m., $12. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.

TORI AMOS: 7:30 p.m., $36.50-$111.50. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600.

SATURDAY 15

ALL ROOSTERED UP: noon, free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

BLUE MOON BLUES BAND: w/ Kent Ehrhardt 3 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St.,

Snoop Dogg w/ Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort

6 p.m. Sunday, July 16. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights. $59 to $249.50. 314298-9944.

You don’t need us to tell you that you should go see Snoop Dogg. You know that you should go see Snoop Dogg. It’s as self-evident as the sky above your head, as obvious as the ground beneath your feet. The man born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. is an international icon, an American treasure and one of the biggest rap superstars of all time. If the only music he’d ever given us in his entire life had been that of The Chronic and Doggystyle, he’d still be rightly regarded as one of the best to ever do it, and those two Dr. Dre-produced, era-defining land-

St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

ERIC CHURCH: 7 p.m., $39.75-$149.75. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.

FUTURE AND FRIENDS: 7 p.m., $55-$240. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888.

LADIES NIGHT PART 2: w/ Kayy Layy, Ariana

Nicolee, Dae Smooth, Tiff Tiff, JayceeJo, RHM

Baby D, Asiaa Marie, Rekha, Alli Mays, Shanelle

Scott 7:30 p.m., $10-$20. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.

LAST GNOME STANDING: 5 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 South Kingshighway Blvd., 2nd Floor, St. Louis, 314-376-5313.

LITTLE FEAT: 6:30 p.m., $49-$79. Chesterfield Amphitheater, 631 Veterans Place Drive, Chesterfield.

NO ALTERNATIVE: 9 p.m., $5. Sky Music Lounge,

marks of the G-funk style preposterously were released within just the first two years of his career. Thirty years later the Doggfather is still grinding out hits, with a full-album collaboration with Dre slated to drop later this year as his 20th full-length studio release Missionary. You don’t need us to tell you to check that out as soon as it comes out. You know that you should.

High Times: Joining Snoop on this tour is Wiz Khalifa and the legendary Too $hort. The former is one of the only people on the planet who is as consistently high as Snoop, with a like-minded fanbase to match, meaning all it will take to catch a secondhand buzz at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre this week will be to simply show up. Be extra careful navigating the venue’s nightmare parking lot after the show, is what we’re saying.

—Daniel Hill

930 Kehrs Mill Road, Ballwin, 636-527-6909.

ONE WAY TRAFFIC: 10 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314621-8811.

PROJECT PAT: 9 p.m., $30. The Hawthorn, 2225 Washington Avenue, St. Louis.

UNCLE ALBERT: 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

UNDER THE BIG TOP: w/ Jackson Stokes, Mattie Schell 8 p.m., $15-$20. The Big Top, 3401 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, 314-533-0367.

WURST FEST: noon, free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.

SUNDAY 16

BALLYHOO!: 8 p.m., $20. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.

DREW LANCE: 9:30 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

ERIK BROOKS: 8 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

FRANK AND THE HURRICANES: w/ Perverted, Ra Child, Richard Edge / Zak M. Duo 6 p.m., donations. William A. Kerr Foundation, 21 O’Fallon St., St. Louis, 314-436-3325.

JOHN MCVEY BAND: 3 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

JUAN CARMONA: 7 p.m., $30. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.

KEVIN BUCKLEY: 10 a.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.

LURK: w/ Public Opinion, Shitstorm, Kato 8 p.m., $12-$15. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

RESPLENDENT: 7:30 p.m., free. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600.

SANGUISUGABOGG: w/ Kruelty, Vomit Forth, Deterioration, Gates To Hell 7:30 p.m., $20$39.50. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.

SNOOP DOGG: w/ Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort 6 p.m., $35-$249.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.

VIVIAN GREEN: 6 p.m., $48. City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 314-678-5060.

MONDAY 17

MONDAY NIGHT REVIEW: w/ Tim, Danny and Randy 7 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

PARDONER: w/ Shady Bug, Nick G Band 7:30 p.m., $10-$13. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

SOULARD BLUES BAND: 9 p.m., $8. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

TUESDAY 18

105.7 THE POINT BIG SUMMER SHOW: w/ Godsmack, Staind 7 p.m., $25.50-$149.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.

BACKSTAGE PASS CONCERT SERIES: noon, $40. Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd, St. Louis, 314-361-2881.

ERIC LYSAGHT: 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

FOIL: w/ Thlurm, Q, Man with Rope 8 p.m., $10. Platypus, 4501 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, 314-359-2293.

JD SOUTHER: 7:30 p.m., $35-$45. City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 314-678-5060.

JEFF TWEEDY: w/ Le Ren 7:30 p.m., $50-$60. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900.

JEFFREY LEWIS & THE VOLTAGE: w/ Nerve Estate 8 p.m., $12-$15. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

NAKED MIKE: 7 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

UNIVERSITY CITY SUMMER BAND: w/ Wayne Du Maine 7 p.m., free. Heman Park, 1028 Midland Blvd, University City.

WEDNESDAY 19

DREW LANCE & FRIENDS: 6:30 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

FOREIGNER: 7 p.m., $29.50-$399.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.

JOHN MCVEY BAND: 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

MARGARET & FRIENDS: 3 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

SHAGGY 2 DOPE: 7:30 p.m., $30-$54.50. Pop’s

Snoop Dogg. | COURTESY PHOTO

[CRITIC’S PICK]

Puddles Pity Party

8 p.m. Friday, July 14. City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way. $35 to $55. 314-678-5060.

On paper, nothing about Puddles Pity Party seems like it should work. Here we have a seven-foot-tall giant of a man clad in Pagliacci-style clown finery exhibiting symptoms of a serious case of clinical depression in between vocal performances of modern pop songs. But what sounds like a bewildering mishmash of artistic elements actually comes together to create something remarkably original. An alter ego of Atlanta-based singer Mark Geier, Puddles Pity Party has managed to secure international fame through Geier’s striking baritone and imposing stage presence. Being such a unique act, Puddles has put together a resume that’s nearly as whiplash-inducing as his persona: He put in time as an

Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.

VOODOO ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND: 9 p.m., $14. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

THIS JUST IN

ALL ROOSTERED UP: Sat., July 22, noon, free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

ANDY COCO’S NOLA FUNK AND R&B REVIEW: Sat., July 22, 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

AS THE CROW FLIES: Sat., Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

BAJA: Fri., Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco

opener on Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s 2010 live tour, secured a regular position as part of New York’s immersive theater production Sleep No More throughout 2011, advanced to the quarterfinals on the 12th season of America’s Got Talent in 2017 and even made a guest appearance on the finale of the fourth season of The Conners in 2022. It’s a rather eclectic series of accomplishments, but it’s surely no less oddly impressive than the artist himself.

p.m., $9. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

CLAUDIO SIMONETTI’S GOBLIN: Mon., Nov. 6, 7 p.m. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.

CLOUTCHASER: W/ Lobby Boxer, Shinra Knives, Windows Facing Walls, Wed., July 26, 7:30 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

COLT BALL & FRIENDS: Sat., July 22, noon, free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

CRYSTAL LADY: Fri., July 28, 7:30 p.m., $25. Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), 210 E Monroe Ave, Kirkwood, 314-759-1455.

DIESEL ISLAND: Sat., Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

EMBLEM3: Tue., Oct. 24, 8 p.m., $20. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.

ERIC NAM: Fri., Oct. 27, 7 p.m., $40-$60. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.

ERIK BROOKS: Sun., July 23, 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

ETHAN JONES: Tue., July 25, 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

FEEL: Sat., Sept. 9, 8 p.m., $12. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.

FLIGHT RISK: Fri., July 14, 7:30 p.m., $16. The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd, St. Louis, 314-560-2778.

FOSTER AND THE FELLOWSHIP: Thu., July 27, 7 p.m., free. St. Louis County Library, 16400 Burkhardt, Chesterfield, 636-728-0001.

THE GASLIGHT SQUARES: Sat., Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

GENE JACKSON’S POWER PLAY BAND: Fri., July 21, 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

GREG WHEELER & THE PMC: W/ Edging, Shitstorm, Topomaka, Sat., July 22, 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

GUSTO: W/ Papi Tone, Fri., July 28, 7:30 p.m., $10. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.

HARD BOP MESSENGERS: Sat., July 29, 7:30 p.m., $25. Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), 210 E Monroe Ave, Kirkwood, 314-759-1455.

LOCATE S, 1: W/ Pealds, Fri., July 21, 8 p.m., $12$15. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

LOMELDA: Mon., July 24, 7 p.m., $18. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.

MARGARET & FRIENDS: Wed., July 26, 3 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

MISS JUBILEE: Fri., Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

MJ LIVE: MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE NIGHT 1: Fri., July 21, 7 p.m., $39. Westport Playhouse, 635 W Port Plaza Dr, St Louis, 314-328-5868.

MJ LIVE: MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE NIGHT 2: Sat., July 22, 7 p.m., $39. Westport Playhouse, 635 W Port Plaza Dr, St Louis, 314-328-5868.

MONDAY NIGHT REVIEW: W/ Tim, Danny and Randy, Mon., July 24, 7 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. MR. WENDELL: Mon., July 24, 5 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

MSPAINT: W/ Destiny Bond, Pink Strap, Eunix, Mon., July 24, 8:30 p.m., $10. The Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee Street, St. Louis. NAKED MIKE: Tue., July 25, 7 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

NEIL SALSICH & FRIENDS: Fri., Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

OPTIC SINK: W/Soup Activists, Kids, Sun., July 23, 8 p.m., $10. CBGB, 3163 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. PAUL BONN AND THE BLUESMEN: Thu., July 20, 7 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

R&B KICKBACK: W/ Trey Songz, Monica, Tamar Braxton, Silk, H-Town, Jon B, Keke Wyatt, Sat., July 29, 7:30 p.m., $22.50-$225.50. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888. RICH FLEETWOOD: Sun., July 23, 2 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

RICH MCDONOUGH & THE RHYTHM RENEGADES: Sat., July 22, 2 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

ROUGH SHOP CHRISTMAS IN JULY MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA NIGHT 1: Fri., July 21, 8 p.m., $20. The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd, St. Louis, 314-560-2778.

High Praise: Even as he’s been popping up in these disparate stage and television appearances, Puddles Pity Party has also been criss-crossing the globe and making famous fans all along the way. No less than New Zealand pop powerhouse Lorde even went so far as to dub his Postmodern Jukebox-assisted cover of her hit “Royals” her favorite she’s ever heard.

HONKY TONK HAPPY HOUR: Fri., July 21, 4 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

IVAS JOHN BAND: Fri., Sept. 22, 8 p.m., $20. Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle Ave., St. Louis.

JASON COOPER TRIO: Sat., July 22, 3 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

—Daniel Hill

Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

BEHEMOTH: W/ Twin Temple, Imperial Triumphant, Tue., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., $34.50. The Hawthorn, 2225 Washington Avenue, St. Louis.

BIG GEORGE JR. & THE NGK BAND: Sat., July 29, 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

BOB ROW ORGAN TRIO: Sun., July 23, 6 p.m., $15.

BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

BRIAN CURRAN: Thu., July 20, 3 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

BROTHER JEFFERSON: Sun., July 23, 3 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

THE BUTTERY BISCUIT BAND: Thu., July 20, 9

JASON’S BIRTHDAY BASH: W/ NoPoint, PFR, The Haddonfields, Modern Angst, Sun., July 23, 7 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

JOE PARK & THE HOT CLUB OF ST. LOUIS: Sat., Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

JOHN MCVEY BAND: Sat., July 22, 8 p.m., $5. Wed., July 26, 8 p.m., $5. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.

KATIE HUBBARD: Sat., Aug. 19, 8 p.m., $12. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.

KORIDOR: W/ Nag, Jenerator Jenkins, Anais Sin, Pineapple RNR, Thu., July 20, 8 p.m., $10. William A. Kerr Foundation, 21 O’Fallon St., St. Louis, 314-436-3325.

LADY J HUSTON: Thu., July 20, 7 p.m., free. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road, Concord, 314-842-3298.

LITTLE IMAGE: Mon., Sept. 4, 8 p.m., $15. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.

ROUGH SHOP CHRISTMAS IN JULY MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA NIGHT 2: Sat., July 22, 8 p.m., $20. The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd, St. Louis, 314-560-2778.

SOULARD BLUES BAND: Fri., July 21, 10 p.m., free. Mon., July 24, 9 p.m., $8. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

STEPHANIE STEWART: Fri., Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.

STEPHEN MARLEY: Fri., July 21, 8 p.m., $32.50$80. The Big Top, 3401 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, 314-533-0367.

SWEET KNIVES: W/ Prunes, The Disappeared, Wed., July 26, 8 p.m., $10-$12. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.

TERRY GROHMAN WITH THE DREW PROJECT: Fri., July 21, 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

TIM SCHALL: Sun., July 23, 6 p.m., $15. Sun., Aug. 6, 6 p.m., $15. Sun., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., $15. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.

TOM HALL’S MEMORIAL CELEBRATION OF LIFE

FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS: Sun., July 23, 2 p.m., donations. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

TRIPPIE REDD: Mon., Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m., $34.50$109.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944. n

Puddles Pity Party. | EMILY BUTLER PHOTOGRAPHY

[CRITIC’S PICK]

SAVAGE LOVE

First Trap

BY DAN SAVAGE

Hey Dan: I’m a 25-year-old woman who has never been in a relationship. As a consequence, I’ve never kissed anyone and obviously never had sex. I’m not from a conservative family, and sex has never been a taboo for me, however as a teenager I disliked my body, and I’ve always been shy and introverted, and I felt awkward interacting with the opposite sex. At 22, when I finally felt ready to date, the pandemic started. Now, it has been three years, and my life isn’t going the way I was expected it to when I was younger. I’m dealing with mental health issues, and I lost whatever confidence I had in my early 20s.

As I’m getting and feeling older, I’m anxious and desperate about this situation. Irrationally, I think that I’m the only 25-year-old in the world who’s still a virgin, and I’m extremely ashamed of this. I’m worried that I’m missing a lot of opportunities and that later on I’m going to regret this. At this point, I don’t mind the idea of meeting someone through a dating app and having disinterested sex (I’m not looking for a serious relationship), but I’m worried that my potential partner might notice that I’m completely inexperienced. At this point I feel like that I will never have the chance to be intimate with someone.

My questions:

1. Should I tell them?

2. Should I look for someone older and more sympathetic of my situation?

3. Are dating apps the only solution?

4. I generally feel more attracted to men once I get to know them. How long can I reasonably ask someone who is looking for something casual to wait?

5. Anything else I should know?

This Desperate Girl

My answers:

1. Yes, you should tell them. I know, I know: the thought of telling someone you’re inexperienced before having sex for the first time fills you with anxiety. But you know what will cause you more anxiety? Worrying that someone — your first someone — is going to realize you’re inexperienced before he can fill you with his dick. Now, you’re still going to feel anxious when you have sex for the first time; a lot of people feel anxious about sex the hundredth time. But pretending you’re someone or something you’re not pretending you’ve done this a hundred times already — is going to make you feel

more anxious in the moment than you need to or should. Also, being honest about your inexperience will simultaneously decrease your chances of winding up in bed with someone who wouldn’t want to be with an inexperienced partner and increase your chances of winding up in bed with someone who will be patient and understanding.

2. The right person, i.e., the more sympathetic person, might be older (by a little or a lot), he might be younger (by a little or a lot) or he might be close to your own age (by hours or days or weeks). You’re not looking for the right number, TDG, you’re looking for the right guy. Someone you feel comfortable being honest with, someone who’s willing to invest a little time getting to know you, and, most importantly, someone who regards your inexperience as a responsibility. Not a burden, not an opportunity, but a responsibility. Some guys won’t want that responsibility; they’re the wrong guys for you. Some guys won’t be willing to get to know you; they’re the wrong guys for you. Don’t think of guys who pass or even ghost as having rejected you, TDG, think of them as having done you a favor. If the wrong guys get out of your way, TDG, the right guy (or guys) will get your attention.

3. Most people — mildly experienced, moderately inexperienced, severely experienced — meet on dating apps these days. According to the Pew Research Center, one-in-five partnered adults under the age of 30 met their partners or spouses online. Pew doesn’t have a stat for people who met their last hookup online, but if one-in-five people your own age met their committed romantic partners online — and one-in-10 of all partnered adults met their committed romantic partners online (according to the same study) — then we can safely say that one-in-way-more-than-five people your age met their last (or first!) hookup online. Get on the dating apps.

4. We’re in the midst of a sex recession. According to a study conducted by Indiana University — a study conducted just before to the pandemic — one-inthree men between the ages of 18 and 24 hasn’t had sex in the past year; according to a study conducted by New York University in 2022, 34 percent of young women are single and 63 percent of young men are single. Now, some of those single men are unfuckable hate nerds, as comedian Marc Maron famously described them (think guys sitting in front of their computers all day, watching porn, playing video games and attacking women), but they’re not all unfuckable hate nerds. Some of these guys have histories similar to your own: They were shy, slow to launch, and then the pan-

demic hit. Which means there are lots of men out there, including millions of men close to your own age, who are just as inexperienced as you are. So instead of being something that complicates your ability to connect with the right guy (or guys), TDG, your inexperience could be something that helps you connect. Don’t put “inexperienced and terrified!” in your profile — don’t lead with it — because that could attract the attention of guys seeking to leverage your inexperience against you. No, this is something you’ll want to share with a guy you’ve been texting with for a bit and have a good feeling about. Meet up for a quick coffee in a public place, TDG, and have un-cancellable plans immediately after your date. If the guy passes the vibe check — if he doesn’t come across like an unfuckable hate nerd, if he resembles his photos and if he doesn’t try to pressure you to cancel the plans you made for after your coffee date — tell him you’re interested in seeing him again and that you’re a pandemic virgin. There’s a pretty good chance he’ll be one too.

5. You’re telling these guys one thing they need to know about you — you’re inexperienced — but their reaction will tell you everything you need to know about them.

Hey Dan: Can something count as an affair if you never do anything physical with the other person? I reconnected with an old friend, who is married. At first, it was fairly innocent. We had hooked up a long time ago, but it was kissing only. Years passed, and then we reconnected during the pandemic and began texting. And then the floodgates opened. He confessed he loved me then and loves me still. And he started describing all the things he wanted to do to me. Then we started describing them together. This has all been via text, but it’s not like sexting. Nothing porn-y. No genital pics. Nothing crude. It’s poetic, it’s erotic, it’s passionate. It’s like the perfect blend of love and sex, and there’s a huge amount of trust, support, friendship, everything you’d ever want in a partner. It feels like it’s love. It feels like I’ve found the person I was supposed to be with, if such a thing exists.

But there are obstacles. First and foremost, as mentioned, he’s married, even though he and his wife — from the way he describes it — married so she could get a green card. Things are tense with her now. Not because of “us.” She doesn’t know about “us,” and they had issues before there was an “us.” She has anger issues, he says, and is emotionally abusive, but he has no plans to divorce her. He is thinking about buying her a separate place, so they can live apart. I know it’s a cliché: the married man com-

plaining about his marriage to get some on the side. But he’s never made a move to have sex with me in person, which makes him seem more credible. Additional complications: I also have a partner, although we haven’t had a sexual relationship in ages.

My “affair,” if that’s what it is, has been going on for months, but I put the sexting on pause as I felt guilty. But the love part didn’t stop. I want to resume the sexting, even if it’s only talk, but I want to understand what we’re doing and how we might be able to really be together without hurting other people.

Sexless In Nearby Seattle

There’s no “being together,” assuming that’s even something he wants, without leaving your current partners, SINS, and there’s no leaving your current partners without hurting other people — namely, his wife and your partner.

Zooming out for second: What you describe sounds like a pretty unambiguous example of an emotional affair. And here’s the thing about emotional affairs … they take up a lot of space. They eat up a lot of emotional and erotic energy that might otherwise get plowed into an existing marriage or relationship. If you weren’t taking up so much of his time and meeting some important needs, he might be motivated to work on his marriage; if he weren’t taking up so much of your time and meeting some important needs, you might be motivated to work on your relationship. But if two people can honestly say that nothing they do or say will make their existing commitments any better (maybe you’ve tried and tried and nothing has worked), and you don’t have it in you to join hands and jump together (you’re not willing to go through the conflict and chaos of a pair of breakups for something that might not work out) … well, then no one who isn’t married to you would blame you for doing what you need to do to feel alive.

But if his marriage is as awful as he says it is … and your relationship is as sexually unsatisfying as you make it sound … the two people you’re cheating most are yourselves. By staying, you’re cheating yourself out of the chance and it’s only a chance — that you could have everything you wanted (or come close to having everything you wanted) with one person. Passionate sex, loving words, someone living with and for you, for as long as it lasts.

It’s a difficult choice, and there is no easy or obvious answer.

Send your burning questions to mailbox@savage.love. Podcasts, columns and more at savage.love!