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riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Publisher Chris Keating Editor in Chief Rosalind Early EDITORIAL Managing Editor Jessica Rogen Editor at Large Daniel Hill Digital Content Editors Jaime Lees, Jenna Jones Food Editor Cheryl Baehr Staff Writers Ryan Krull, Monica Obradovic, Benjamin Simon Copy Editor Evie Hemphill Contributors Zoe Butler, Thomas K. Chimchards, Joseph Hess, Reuben Hemmer, Andy Paulissen, Famous Mortimer, Mabel Suen, Graham Toker, Theo Welling Columnists Ray Hartmann, Dan Savage Editorial Interns Kasey Noss ART & PRODUCTION Art Director Evan Sult Creative Director Haimanti Germain Production Manager Sean Bieri Graphic Designer Aspen Smit MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Colin Bell Account Manager Jennifer Samuel Directors of Business Development Rachel Hoppman, Chelsea MARKETINGNazaruk Director of Marketing & Events Christina Kimerle Marketing Coordinator Sydney Schaefer BUSINESS Regional Operations Director Emily Fear CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Kevin G. Powers EUCLID MEDIA GROUP Chief Executive Officer Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers Chris Keating, Michael Wagner Executive Editor Sarah Fenske VP of Digital Services Stacy Volhein VP of Marketing Emily Tintera, Cassandra Yardeni Executive Assistant Mackenzie NATIONALwww.euclidmediagroup.comDeanADVERTISING VMG Advertising 1-888-278-9866, SUBSCRIPTIONSvmgadvertising.com Send address changes to Riverfront Times, 5257 Shaw Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110. Domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $78/6 months (MO add $4.74 sales tax) and $156/year (MO add $9.48 sales tax) for first class. Allow 6-10 days for standard delivery. www.riverfronttimes.com The Riverfront Times is published weekly by Euclid Media Group | Verified Audit Member Riverfront Times PO Box 179456, St. Louis, MO, www.riverfronttimes.com63117 General information: 314-754-5966 Founded by Ray Hartmann in 1977 Riverfront Times is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of the current issue may be purchased for $1.00 plus postage, payable in advance at the Riverfront Times office. Riverfront Times may be distributed only by Riverfront Times authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of Riverfront Times , take more than one copy of each Riverfront Times weekly issue. The entire contents of Riverfront Times are copyright 2022 by Riverfront Times, LLC. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the expressed written permission of the Publisher, Riverfront Times PO Box 179456, St. Louis, Mo, 63117. Please call the Riverfront Times office for back-issue information, 314-754-5966. INSIDE Hartmann 7 News 8 Missouriland 10 Feature 12 Calendar 18 Cafe 21 Short Orders 27 St. Louis Standards 30 Reeferfront Times 33 Culture 34 Music 37 Out Every Night 41 Savage Love 45 COVER Reefer Madness Is Missouri’s legal weed amendment too good to be true? Cover illustration by BRIAN SCAGNELLI
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Honoring the failed skyscraper as “historic” would insult St. Louis’ real treasures Written by RAY HARTMANN S t. Louis ranks as one of the premier architectural cities in America, with no fewer than 439 landmarks honored on the National Register of His toricThisPlaces.isnot the time to cheapen that legacy. A proposal sits before the Na tional Park Service to add an un acclaimed, vacant downtown St. Louis skyscraper from the forget table 1980s to its registry. That would be the AT&T Tower, a.k.a. One Bell South, a 44-story, 1.4-mil lion-square-foot monument to miscalculation.Thebuilding opened in Decem ber 1984 (though construction wasn’t completed until 1985) as the business community — ruled by Civic Progress — mined for fool’s gold with its obsession for new downtown construction. Their accompanying disregard for St. Louis’ history resulted in the destruction of some wonder ful historic Southwesternbuildings.Bell,a Civic Prog ress leader, built the tower. But just seven years later, it shocked St. Louis by yanking its corporate headquarters and moving to San Antonio, Texas, at least in part — lo cal legend has it — because its CEO was rejected for membership in the St. Louis Country Club. Now that wasByhistoric.2017,when the last departing AT&T employee had turned off the lights (by then, the companies had merged), the former One Bell South had become a white elephant. It’s sat vacant since. This was a fine building for its time, designed by the internation ally famous design firm HOK. The firm was in part helmed by Gyo Obata, who passed away March 8, leaving a wondrous legacy. The fact that a building is connected to a master of his stature is relevant to any future designation as historic. But the National Register of His toric Places has an age requirement for admittance. It’s stated quite clearly on its website: “Generally, properties eligible for listing in the National Register are at least 50 years old. Properties less than 50 years of age must be excep tionally important to be considered eligible for listing.” By that standard, the AT&T Tow er needs to get carded. The large majority of those 439 buildings al ready on the register met the 50year standard, and the rare excep tions — such as the Gateway Arch — were obviously exceptional. Thirteen years from now, this former telephone-company office building might present its debat able case for admission, premised largely on being one of HOK’s downtown designs in St. Louis. But the Metropolitan Square Building (in 2039) and the Thomas F. Eagle ton Federal Courthouse (in 2050) could argue admission on the same premise.Fornow, the AT&T Tower only fits the category “exceptionally im portant cautionary tales.” It was constructed at a cost of $150 mil lion in 1985. That amount was the equivalent of $358 million in 2019 — the year the building was ac quired for $4.1 million. As of that point, it was valued at 1.15 percent of what it cost to build. It was a co lossal disaster.
I like that style. Let me just say that in the rationalizations mis characterizing the building, one can see embodied an early expres sion of the three Post-Modern prin ciples of avoiding accountability: deny, deflect and diffuse.
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Since many historic tax-credit programs — such as the one in Mis souri — have their total capped an nually, one project’s gain can mean another’s loss. For example, any dollar wasted on, say, an unquali fied 37-year-old skyscraper is a dol lar not going to support any of the truly historic buildings — large and small — that deserve it more. In that context, it’s quite puzzling that AT&T Tower has become a fa vorite of the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office. So much so that it requested that the St. Louis Preservation Board approve its nomination for the national regis ter, according to the St. Louis Busi ness Journal.
One fix, albeit a quite expensive one, might be to invest in convert ing the bottom 5 to 10 floors for parking. It’s not impossible and might be the only way to attract a big company to take over the giant building.Butguess what sort of thing you likely cannot do with a historic building if it receives historic tax credits? Yep, a project like that one. There’s something funky going on here.Allwe know for sure is that when it comes to historic preservation, St. Louis is exceptional. And the phone company’s deserted white elephant is not.
AT&TAboutExceptionalNothingThere’stheTower
That’s where the story gets murky. You’re never going to believe this, but I think it has to do with money.
“SomeraRoad has declined to talk publicly about its plans for One Bell Center. But the developer has a his tory of pursuing historic tax credits for its redevelopment projects. Ear lier this year, the firm sold another former AT&T office building, the Ohio Bell Building in Cleveland, to an investor after landing historic tax credits that will help convert the former office tower into apart ments. That building, constructed in 1983, was listed on the National Register as part of a broader histor ic district that was granted official status last year.” Now that sounds helpful to Mis souri. Nothing like having a New York company swoop in, buy our white elephant for a song and flip it for a tidy profit. And did I men tion the part about worthier histor ic projects here missing out on tax credits?Itturns out, however, that per haps we in St. Louis shouldn’t be lieve our lying eyes. Rosin Pres ervation, a Kansas City firm that specializes in presenting proposals like the one at hand, assures us that AT&T Tower is far more special than any of us knew. Here’s what Rachel Consolloy, a preservationist at Rosin, told the Business Journal:
Speaking of Rosin, I found it inter esting that its sophisticated report on behalf of the building seemed to come forth so quickly relative to the April 25 sale to SomeraRoad. So, I contacted the company this past Friday. Amanda Loughlin, Rosin’s national register and survey co ordinator, told me that, indeed, a project like this was a year or more in the making. I asked directly who had hired Rosin to advance the AT&T Tower’s cause. Her response: “No com ment.”Thisis an unusual story. Might I throw in that one of the building’s major liabilities is that it has no parking? Or perhaps I should say, “It’s an important exam ple of the 1980s genre of buildings whose owners lacked the foresight to include parking in a freaking downtown skyscraper.”
The tower isn’t even owned by a Missouri interest. It was sold on April 25 to a limited-liability com pany affiliated with the New Yorkbased developer SomeraRoad. The company hasn’t seemed effusive about the building’s future. Here’s more from the Business Journal:
The local board then gave its ap proval “without discussion” at a June 27 virtual meeting, the news paper added. Call me crazy, but I’d like to know why this dubious ap plication has become so important to preservation officials.
The financial reality is not tech nically disqualifying, but it hardly cries out “Make an exception for this building!” So why the rush to haul this Titanic to the boat show?
site to qualify for a wide range of federal and state historic tax cred its. These are make-or-break for many worthy projects.
“’This is an important building in [HOK’s] portfolio as an early expres sion of Post-Modernism,’ Consolloy said. ‘One Bell Center embodies three design principles commonly associated with Post-Modernism, particularly contextualism. For ex ample, the stepped top of One Bell Center is a subtle reference to the earlier Southwestern Bell building on the adjacent block and shows how HOK expertly used the sur roundings to inform design.’”
Getting listed on the National Register of Historic Places is an honorary thing. Contrary to popu lar belief, the designation neither protects a building nor impacts how it can be used or renovated go ingButforward.thehonor does come with one crucial benefit: It’s a prerequi
Because fentanyl has become so cheap, it is being added covertly to street drugs such as crack cocaine, and counterfeit versions of com mon prescription drugs such as Xanax and Adderall. As a result, the number of mass drug-overdose events is spiking nationally. The worst mass drug-overdose event in St. Louis history occurred in early February, about three miles south of the empowerment center, at Parkview and Park Place apartments in the Central West End neighborhood. Eleven residents of those apartments overdosed after
“Some family members want to put them near where their loved one may have passed or where they know where it’s really, really bad,” Hawkins-Hourd says. The Narcan stations are the brainchild of Amy Ford, a recov ery-center counselor. In March of this year, she lost two close friends to drug overdos es. In her grief, she searched for ways to make Narcan available 24/7 to people who need it.
Hawkins-Hourd hopes to contin ue that downward trajectory, with the help of the Narcan stations and, she hopes, St. Louis city officials. During a luncheon meeting for last Friday, Hawkins-Hourd spoke to representatives of Mayor Tishau ra Jones about a partnership “to expand our services, to bring the awareness of the services, which is really, really important, to the north side.” n Marsha Hawkins-Hourd wants to put Narcan stations around St. Louis city to fight the opioid epidemic.
“
Got Narcan?
“I thought, ‘That’s it,’” she says. “We need that all over the city.”
ingesting crack cocaine tainted with fentanyl. Eight of them died from fentanyl Nationwide,poisoning.thenumber of drug-overdose deaths in America continues to set new records each year, with no end in sight. At least 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, with twothirds attributable to fentanyl and other opioids — an average of nearly 300 people dying per day.
“We want to put these in the hot spots in the neighborhoods so that they have immediate access to Narcan,” Hawkins-Hourd says. “That’s what we’re doing, trying to save a life.”
The center, which provides resi dential treatment and recovery services to male and female sub stance users, plans to install at least five Narcan stations across the city’s north side by Wednes day, August 31, which is Interna tional Overdose Awareness Day. One has already been installed in front of the empowerment center.
Nonetheless, the number of drug-involved deaths combined in St. Louis County and St. Louis city dropped to 437 for the first half of 2022 — a decline of 11 per cent compared to the first half of 2021, according to the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
On Thursday afternoon, HawkinsHourd stood next to the Narcan station set up outside the recovery center. The old mailbox sat atop a fence post with the word NARCAN pasted to one side. Affixed to the box itself was the photo portrait of a young man named Tanner, who died last year at the age of 25 from a drug overdose. The fentanyl crisis has hit the St. Louis region especially hard. State figures show the region’s overdose mortality rate was 48 per 100,000 people in 2021.The mortality rate for Black males in St. Louis city is 50 percent higher than that, state figures show.
| MIKE FITZGERALD We want to put these in the hot spots in life.”tryingwhattoimmediatesoneighborhoodsthethattheyhaveaccessNarcan.That’swe’redoing,tosavea
A recovery center in north St. Louis is trying to save lives with Narcan stations
Written by MIKE FITZGERALD S oon, if things go according to plan, St. Louis neighbor hoods hit hardest by the opi oid epidemic will be stocked with old mailboxes repur posed to offer free Narcan, the life-saving drug that awakens people who’ve lost consciousness because of an overdose on heroin and other opioids. The Narcan stations will also of fer strips to test for fentanyl, the synthetic opioid up to 100 times more powerful than morphine; a mouth guard for CPR; and pam phlets providing information on accessing treatment and recov ery services, according to Marsha Hawkins-Hourd, the executive di rector of the Child and Family Em powerment Center.
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“I felt like I had to do some thing,” she says. Then she noticed the Little Li brary located next to the treat ment center. These libraries offer free books to anyone who wants them, books that are housed in familiar glass-and-wood cases that dot city and county neighbor hoods.Why can’t the same idea work for people who need Narcan?
Written by RYAN KRULL T hree “Kia Boyz” led a police heli copter on a chase throughout St. Louis city and county on August 17.
Eddie Allen from Quincy, Illinois, was at the plaza before the game when the statue was revealed for the first time. A lifelong Cardinals fan, Allen, 82, has de cades of memories seeing the Cardinals play live, including being in Sportsman’s Park in 1954 when Stan Musial hit five home runs in one game.
“The parents of one of the boys ap peared,” the resident says. “My son said that both mom and dad looked pissed when they saw what had happened.” n
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A police helicopter surveilled the teens driving the Santa Fe through both the city and the county. According to one resident who observed the end of the chase, the helicopter tracked the teens using its search light.
“The back-forth, pitcher-batter rela tionship signifies the ongoing relation ship between the two cities,” Hermann says. “It connects the two cities through something that’s important to us.” Baseball is growing in popularity in China, though it does remain a somewhat obscure sport in the country. Hermann says that makes the statues of the ball players ideal. He points to the fact that Nanjing gifted the Missouri Botanical Gar den a pair of bronze Ming Dynasty chairs, objects with historical importance most St. Louisans aren’t aware of until they en counter them at the garden. In October 2019, then-Mayor Lyda Krewson traveled with a delegation for the installation of the seven-foot-tall stat ue of ButWainwright.theinstallation of the statue of the Nanjing player was delayed due to COVID-19.Now,more than two years later, the bronze Waino in Nanjing finally has his man at bat located right across Clark Street from Busch Stadium in the To gether Credit Union Plaza. Neal Perryman, an attorney with Lewis Rice and president of the St. Louis – Nan jing Sister City Committee, kicked off the unveiling.“Thestatues of the pitcher and batter will be permanent symbols of the sistercity relationship,” Perryman said.
There’s also a statue of Adam Wainwright in Nanjing, China Written by RYAN KRULL S ince 2019, a statue of two-time Gold Glove winner Adam Wain wright has stood in a popular urban park in the city of Nanjing, China. Created by Harry Weber, the sculptor behind the Busch Stadium Ozzie Smith statue and countless others, China’s bronze Waino is depicted having just released the ball, his eyes watching, waiting to see if the pitch finds its mark. But who is Wainwright pitching to?
“It’s serendipity,” Hermann says. Hermann and JP, both avid photog raphers, were instrumental in arrang ing a series of St. Louis–area photogra phy exhibits highlighting the sister-city relationship.With2019 being the 40th anniversary of the original agreement signed by Con way, both sides wanted to do something special.Thestatues were Hermann’s idea.
old near Vandeventer and Forest Park avenues driving a Hyundai Santa Fe that had been reported stolen that same day.
Tom Holt is a Michigan State Univer sity criminology professor who studies the way technology facilitates crime. He’s followed the Kia Boyz viral trend and says that the techniques being shared on Tik Tok are probably not enough to teach a total novice how to steal a car.
The boys went from a stolen Hyundai to a stolen Kia
“I think you’ve already got to have a layer of knowledge to do it correctly,” he says. “If you have no clue about what you’re doing, you’ve never tried to hotwire a car, you’re probably not going to be able to do it right the first time just by seeing it on TikTok.” Holt adds: “But if you’re already vaguely familiar with how to break into a car, or have any loose familiar ity with how to make it work in a quick fashion, you could probably be more effective.”Aresident who witnessed the end of the pursuit, says that after the three teens were arrested, the parents of one of the youths showed up on the scene.
“We wanted to beat San Francisco,” Conway told the RFT for a 2018 cover story about the sister-city pact. (San Francisco became the second U.S. city to establish such a relationship with a city in China, becoming sister cities with Shanghai a year later.) Nanjing is a fitting partner for St. Louis. The two are river cities with deep, storied pasts: Nanjing was once the capital of China, which echoes St. Louis once being the nation’s fourth largest city. They both sit amid agricultural areas in their respective countries and have rivalries with much larger cities to their east — Chicago and Shanghai. Nanjing, like St. Louis, is incredibly beautiful and welcoming.Inrecent years, the St. Louis – Nan jing Sister City Committee has gotten renewed vigor from Tim Hermann, of Col lins and Hermann, a multi-million-dollar specialty construction outfit. In 2008, Hermann started spending more and more time in China, where he later met his wife He Jian Ping, who goes by JP and is from Nanjing.
“I like my statues to move,” he says.
Perryman said that leading up to the ceremony Saturday, part of him worried that news of increased tensions over Taiwan may cause some passersby to heckle.Perryman’s son, however, reminded him that it’s when relations between the two countries hit a rough patch that these city-to-city exchanges are most important.Perryman’s worries were unfounded anyway.
“One of our hopes was that kids in Nanjing would look at this pitcher throw ing a baseball, not understand anything about it and ask questions,” Perryman added. “And learn more about St. Louis andTheAmerica.”newstatue is modeled on a man highly involved in the sister-city relation ship who wishes to remain anonymous because he wants the statue to repre sent the city as whole rather than any one person from Nanjing. The batter’s left foot is raised, which Weber says conveys that the pitch would be halfway between the mound and home plate, and that a pivotal moment is about to happen.
The newest addition to Ballpark Village: a Nanjing ballplayer at bat. | RYAN KRULL
“Kia Boyz” refers to a viral phenom enon that has received nationwide atten tion recently as teens teach each other via TikTok how to steal Kias and Hyun dais using USB chargers.
New Ballpark Village Statue Celebrates China
The bustling crowd in the plaza be fore the game was excited about the new statue and even more enthused about the 900-pound Wainwright representing St. Louis on the other side of the globe.
The woman sitting next to him added: “It will be even more neat if we beat the Brewers.”Alas,the Brewers beat the Cards 3-2.
According to Evita Caldwell with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Depart ment, on Wednesday, August 17, police observed two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-
But Wainwright, perhaps feeling the mojo from his Nanjing statue finally get ting its counterpart, pitched nine innings and only gave up three hits. n
Where’s the batter? For three years it was a valid question. Then, on August 13, before the Cardi nals took on the Milwaukee Brewers, the statue of Waino 7,200 miles away got its counterpart in St. Louis, right outside Busch Stadium in Ballpark Village. This statue, also crafted by Weber, depicts a baseball player from Nanjing at bat, right in the moment of deciding whether to swing or not. His uniform says Nanjing in both English and Mandarin. St. Louis has a storied history with Nanjing. The two have been sister cit ies since 1979, when then-Mayor James Conway flew with a small delegation there and inked an agreement that es tablished St. Louis as the first American city to have a sister city in China.
When asked what he thought about the statues, Allen said, “That’s pretty cool. Yeah, that’s really neat.”
‘Kia Boyz’ Swap Stolen Cars During Police Chase
Las Vegas Minus the Sinning
Branson, Missouri, is a tourist destination with a heavy dose of Jesus Words and photos by REUBEN HEMMER F or more than 55 years, Bran son, Missouri, has been a Midwestern holiday destina tion featuring Vegas-style en tertainment — but without all of the sinning. Nestled deep in the Ozarks about an hour south of Springfield, this country oasis en capsulates rural Missouri values and capitalizes off of those ideals. The Simpsons once said Branson was “Las Vegas if it were run by Ned Flanders.” The influence of Christian conservatism is hard to ignore. The largest cross in North America (160 feet) greets you as you drive in, followed by Cold War comedian Yakov Smirnoff’s the ater stating that the “Laughter Vac cine Kills COVID-19.” You can get a Confederate flag on just about everything at the Dixie Outfitters store or catch a showing of Jesus: The Musical. You can even eat a de licious Indian buffet next door to a Let’s Go Brandon flag store. n
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riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 11 A CELEBRATION OF THE UNIQUE AND FASCINATING ASPECTS OF OUR HOME[ ]
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annabis enticed Marne Madison at an early age. When she started college at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, she learned how marijuana’s ac tive compounds alter the way the hu man brain receives chemical messages — and offer a range of potential health benefits. Madison was fascinated. She’d long lived with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder — symp toms, she says, of growing up in north St. Louis. A gifted student, she felt like she didn’t always fit in with her peers.
BY MONICA OBRADOVIC C
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It didn’t work. Madison’s two ap plications to open a dispensary in St. Louis were both declined, despite exceeding minimum qualification requirements.SinceMissourians legalized medical marijuana in 2018, the program has come under fire for its handling of li cense applications. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services oversees the med ical-marijuana program and began re viewing medical-marijuana license ap plications in August 2019. It received a deluge of submissions that exceeded the license caps allotted for the state’s eight congressional districts. The state had set the cap for dispensaries at the minimum required under the new constitutional
Is Missouri’s legal weed amendment too good to be true?
“I found myself to be a loner at a very young age as I navigated through early adulthood,” Madison says. But cannabis called to her. In April of 2019, she took a four-week course of fered by Minorities for Medical Marijua na on how to enter the cannabis indus try. After earning first place in a pitch competition upon the course’s conclu sion, she won a scholarship to Oakster dam University, the world’s first canna bis college, in Oakland, California. There Madison earned two certifications — one in cannabis science and the other in cannabis business. Equipped with these credentials on top of the bachelor’s de gree in accounting and finance she’d earned at UMSL, Madison believed she could break into the ultra-competitive medical-marijuana market.
“My goal was to have all this infor mation and documentation to add onto my application,” Madison says. “You would think I would be able to sell my expertise.”
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The group estimates its peti tion, if passed, would bring in at least $40.8 million in tax revenue to the state, with funds going to veterans’ services, drug-addiction treatment and the state’s under funded public-defender system.
Joy Sweeney, who serves as the deputy director of training, tech nical assistance and community outreach for the Community AntiDrug Coalitions of America, filed a lawsuit on August 19 with an antidrug political action committee in Colorado to block the amendment from ballots. The lawsuit claims Legal Missouri did not gather enough signatures and that its proposal would change multiple sections of the state’s constitution in violation of state law.
“I guarantee you this has been written probably by lawyers ... and none of us in this state is going to be able to understand 450 pages of what it all means,” Parson said. (The petition is actually 39 pages.)
COURTESY PHOTO
Missouri’s governor also has slammed the amendment. In Kan sas City last week, Governor Mike Parson said he thinks the propos al is “a disaster,” and that it could be “a real trap.”
On the surface, the petition is enticing. Activists and politicians have tried and failed for years to legalize weed in Missouri, and here is a measure that would seemingly allow pot lovers to use cannabis freely while bringing sweeping criminal-justice reform to boot. Unsurprisingly, the petition has attracted hate from groups opposed to drug legalization.
ers could immediately request the change after Amendment 3 goes into effect. They’d receive their li censes within 60 days.
The catch: The state would only be required to issue the same number of recreational licenses as medical licenses, which have already reached their max.
Supporters of the amendment contend that allowing medical facilities to almost immediately convert their licenses will allow the recreational market to start as soon as Whenpossible.askedifhe thinks the state would allow for more licenses as needed, Jack Cardetti, spokes man for MoCannTrade, says DHSS has been “very responsive.” He adds that adult-use legalization could lead to more demand in an already-booming industry in Mis souri. The state has three times more dispensaries than Illinois, where adult-use cannabis has been legal since January 2020.
Many whom the state did grant licenses to were members of Mo CannTrade, a political action com mittee that’s been a staunch sup porter of Legal Missouri. Under the new amendment, the same players would have first dibs on coveted recreational licenses.
“There’s huge patient access here in Missouri, and it’s only go ing to expand when [Amendment 3] passes,” Cardetti says.
But many cannabis advocates are the strongest critics of the amendment. Some claim the amendment’s calls for criminaljustice reform are not as sweep ing as they seem. Others fear the amendment would only benefit existing license holders, and its provisions to make licen sure more equitable are, in their words,“People“bullshit.”donot know what they vote for,” warns state Representa tive Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, who sponsored a bill to legalize adultuse marijuana that died in com mittee earlier this year. “I know that; I’m a legislator. I’ve used it to my advantage more than once, but now I’m telling the people that.”
Hicks is sure the proposed con stitutional amendment will pass, despite what he and a growing force opposed to it warn.
John Payne, campaign manag er for Legal Missouri, is quick to point out that the campaign’s peti tion provides “no cap” on the num ber of licenses, “only a minimum.”
“All they want is legalization,” he says of voters. “They don’t care how they get it.”
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amendment: 24 dispensary licens es per district. More than 2,000 ap plications were submitted, but less than 360 were awarded. Madison is a Black woman, and her rejection hardly appears to be a statistical anomaly. The first Black-owned dispensary in Mis souri didn’t open until earlier this year, nearly four years after med ical marijuana became legal, and many critics contend that minori ties are still underrepresented in theDHSSindustry.touts a fair and impartial scoring process, but its awarding of licenses has come under seri ous scrutiny. Rejected applicants have filed lawsuits saying they were unjustly denied (the state has settled some suits, including one alleging “pervasive dispari ties” in its assessments). In Kansas City, a federal grand jury sought records in a criminal probe ap parently tied to former Missouri lawmaker Steve Tilley, now a lob byist, whose clients include the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association, or MoCannTrade.
Now the same group that brought medical marijuana to electoral success in 2018, Legal Missouri, is going back to voters — seeking to double down on can nabis with a new initiative peti tion: Amendment 3. In addition to legalizing can nabis use for residents ages 21 or older, the amendment would ini tiate “automatic expungements” for nonviolent marijuana-related criminal offenses for tens of thou sands of EarlierMissourians.thismonth, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft certified that Legal Missouri’s pe tition qualified for the November 8 ballot. Legal Missouri, support ed by Missouri’s cannabis indus try, spent at least $6 million fund ing the measure.
Ultimately, Missouri DHSS granted 60 cultivation licenses, 192 dispen sary licenses and 86 licenses for product manufacturing facilities.
“Big money, big lobbyists, big companies, they want to monopo lize this corner of the market and allow no one into it,” Hicks says.
Marne Mardison gives a presentation for her organization Exit Now. |
John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Mis souri 2022. | JAIME LEES
W hen Missouri’s medicalmarijuana program rolled out, the state initially re ceived 582 applications for cultivation licenses, 1,218 applications for dispensary licenses and 430 applications to operate manufacturing facilities for marijuana-infused products.
REEFER MADNESS Continued from pg 13
“The medical-marijuana indus try automatically gets put into the adult-recreational industry,” Hicks says. “They don’t have to apply for licenses or nothing. If they want it, they got it.”
DHSS may “lift or ease” any li cense limit to “ensure a competi tive market” while also preventing an over-concentration of facilities, the amendment states. However, with no written assurance that the state will do so, critics question whether anyone other than cur rent medical-license holders could receive a recreational license.
Amendment 3 allows existing license holders to convert their medical licenses to recreational ones. Medical cannabis provid
“The department could increase the licenses and has already,” Payne says. “I expect they’ll con tinue to do that through appeals granted.”Yetfor many everyday Mis sourians, particularly minorities, doubt persists as to whether the industry will be more accessible this time around. Marne Madison lost nearly $80,000 in pursuit of her medi cal cannabis dispensary. Each of her two license applications cost $6,000. Plus, she spent additional money on attorneys and consul tants to beef the applications up. She traveled to Black-owned dis
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In 2020, Thampy pled guilty to charges after he illegally helped to distribute marijuana from Or egon, where it was legal, to Mis souri, where it was not. His con viction would not be eligible for expungement under Legal Mis souri’s proposal. Even so, he says his concern with the initiative is that it’s “designed for the current industry to completely control and sustain its monopoly on the recreational market.”
Unlike owners who would oper ate their businesses under stan dard recreational licenses, micro business owners can only hold one license at a time. Microbusiness dispensary owners could not culti vate and sell their own marijuana, and such license holders could only do business with other mico businesses.LegalMissouri touted the par tial licenses as an unprecedented effort to “broaden participation in the legal cannabis industry by small-business owners and among historically disadvantaged populations” in a release upon the petition’s certification.
• if they’re a disabled veteran.
“The first thing was to make sure they had the ability to enter the marketplace and enter it at a level which lines up with their income,” Pruitt says. “That’s first and foremost, and then as their business grows, they would then be able to convert their business into a regular license.”
“They should want to have a mentorship program to help those that have been disenfranchised and excluded from these opportu nities,” Madison says. Legal Missouri set up its mi
Tom Gilio, founder of the Mis souri Marijuana Legalization Movement, questions why the amendment carves out smaller op erations for Missouri’s downtrod den instead of standard licenses.
• if they graduated from or lived in a ZIP code with an unaccred ited school district for three of the past five years.
“Why not give them the same
pensaries in states where weed is legal to learn how to operate her own. She used her savings to lease an empty building to show she had a location ready for operation.
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“My license is in appeal,” Madi son says, “but I no longer want to operate in the Missouri industry.”
L egal Missouri has a plan to make licensure more equita ble this time around. To “level the playing field,” its amendment provides a pathway for prospective business owners to start their own cannabis facilities without spending exor bitant amounts of money for the standard recreational licenses. Applicants with proven finan cial or social disadvantages could apply for one of 144 licenses to op erate “marijuana microbusiness facilities,” which include dispensa ries and wholesale operations for cultivating, processing and manu facturing marijuana or marijuanainfused products. Each congressio nal district would eventually get at least 18 of these microbusinesses if the amendment passes.
Hicks, Thampy and several more cannabis advocates who spoke with the RFT about the mi crolicenses wonder how anyone who qualifies for them would have a shot at success.
• if they live in a financially disad vantaged ZIP code where 30 per cent or more of the population lives below the federal poverty level, where the rate of unemploy ment is 50 percent higher than the state average rate of unemploy ment, or where the rate of incar ceration for marijuana-related offenses is 50 percent higher than the rate for the entire state.
Those who qualify for micro business licenses would have to prove significant financial disad vantages. Applicants qualify:
crobusiness provisions with the help of the NAACP, and St. Louis NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt supports the petition. He ac knowledges that it’s not perfect, but thinks “it’s a first step.”
Institutional support is on the way, he adds. The NAACP is work ing with the national arm of Minor ities for Medical Marijuana to bring assistance in the form of workshops to prepare eligible microbusiness owners for the industry. But Pruitt says critics of the measure have “stereotyped” eli gible applicants, as if they “have this mental incapacity or deficit” where they cannot start a small business without help.
• if they have a net worth less than $250,000 and earned less than 250 percent of the federal pov erty level in at least three of the past 10 years.
After her applications were denied, Madison gave up on Mis souri. She now owns a dispensary in Oklahoma, which has adopted a “free market” approach to can nabis with no license caps. She still lives in Missouri but travels as a cannabis business consultant. Even if she wanted to try again to operate a dispensary in her home state, her chances of securing a license are slim, with hundreds of appeals from reject ed applicants still pending.
Existinglicenses.medical license holders would receive their recreational licenses within 60 days of request ing to convert. Current medical li cense holders are the only people allowed to receive a recreational license for the first 548 days af ter DHSS begins issuing licenses. Microbusinesses would be the only exception. People pursuing a microbusiness license, however, would have to wait a maximum of 300 days for the state to issue the first 48 licenses, according to the amendment. Licensing would continue at an aggregated pace until the state finally issued all 144 licenses — which could be up to 800 days after medical license holders had an opportunity to set up their recreational operations.
“Their 144 microbusiness li censes are a joke,” Hicks says. “They are not going to help the minorities in this state.”
• if they, or a parent, guardian or spouse, have been arrested, pros ecuted or convicted of a non-vio lent marijuana offense, as long as the offense didn’t involve providing marijuana to a minor or driving under the influence. The arrest, charge or conviction must have occurred at least one year before recreational mari juana becomes legal.
Brennan England operates Cola Private Lounge in south city. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI
“I believe we have plenty of craft growers who are out there growing a very good product,” Pruitt says. “Unfortunately, they probably do it as a black market. But here they have the ability to take their product and do it in a legal way in areas that have been disenfranchised.”Evenmoreconcerning among critics is the timing of when the state would dole out microbusi ness
“They keep you in a box,” Hicks says. “They only let you do your business within a certain param eter, unlike them.”
Amendment 3 would require DHSS to appoint a “chief equity officer” to provide communities impacted by marijuana prohibi tion with education on the licenses and industry. It does not, however, provide enough institutional sup port for the license grantees to jumpstart their businesses, Madi son argues. By contrast, programs, grants or classes on how to run a successful business would truly set up for success the minorities who’ve been systemically stomped on for generations, she says.
Yet for some, these licenses are downright“Amendmentoffensive.3’s microlicense proposal is a racist, Jim Crow, second-class licensing scam,” says Eapen Thampy, founder of Mis souri lobbying firm Great State Strategies and a longtime advocate for legal cannabis in Missouri. The microbusiness licenses are “predatory” on financially disad vantaged Missourians who want to break into a competitive indus try, Thampy says. “What ends up happening is the existing industry players will find those applicants and say, ‘Hey, we’ll offer you capital at an ex orbitant rate of interest, or we’ll give you capital and we will get the management and operations contract for your microbusiness license,’” Thampy says.
“There’s a lot of problems with [the amendment] and it’s going to be in the constitution — I’m not good with that,” Lovasco says.
“It was blocked by lobbyists, Steve Tilley’s group,” Hicks says. “Bottom line is they did not want HB 2704 to go legal because then they would lose out on their mo nopoly and all their money.”
Tilley, a lobbyist for MoCann Trade and close friend of Gover nor Parson, represented clients who received medical licenses. He’s also a lobbyist for Legal Mis souri 2022, according to the Mis souri Ethics Commission.
Private Lounge, a members-only consump tion facility and community space in south St. Louis. It’s a place “where buds meet,” per the lounge’s slogan. England grew up in south St. Louis. He had his first legal blunts at Cola in 2019 — a “liberating mo ment,” he told the RFT in February. As president of the Missouri chap ter of Minorities for Medical Mari juana, he’s spent years fighting for recreational weed in Missouri. Yet England did not pursue a dispensary license when Missouri legalized medical cannabis. If Le gal Missouri’s amendment passes, as most think it will, England says he will not pursue a recreational license
16 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com equal business?” Gilio says. “Or maybe give these people a bigger advantage?”AddsMadison: “I don’t think we should have any type of applica tion process that goes beyond showing that you are able to oper ate a Forbusiness.”Brennan England, the ra cial equity provisions of Amend ment 3 are “weak” and represent a missed Englandopportunity.ownsCola
Payne points to Hicks’ bill’s fate as an example of why Legal Mis souri found it necessary to pursue legal marijuana through an initia tive petition in the first place. He says asking Missouri’s general as sembly to legalize adult-use can nabis through legislation is sim ply “barking up the wrong tree.”
It’s extremely difficult to change a constitutional amendment, ac cording to Joani Harshman, a Mis souri lawyer specializing in can nabis law. She says any law, no matter how well thought out, has problems once it’s implemented.
“The constitution should be re served for restraining govern ments. The statutes should really be where any regulation or re straints on people come from.”
O n a recent Thursday af ternoon, the Waier family munches on takeout from Pizza-A-Go-Go in the hour before their garden supply
conservative-led leg islature has consistently denied bills aimed at drug reform. In 2020, Representative Wiley Price, D-St. Louis, introduced a bill simi lar to Hicks’ that also died in com mittee. Another bill sponsored earlier this year aimed to legalize certain psychedelics for medici nal use and saw a similar fate.
Tony Lovasco, RO’Fallon, says he plans to propose legislation to counteract Amend ment 3 if it passes in November. If Lovasco’s measure passes through each house of the Missouri Gen eral Assembly, voters would then decide its fate in the next closest general election, unless a special election were called beforehand.
House Bill 2704 never made it past the committee stage, how ever. According to Hicks, the bill was “blocked in every aspect.”
“There’seither.no real path for me to apply for a recreational license,” he says. “That’s part of the prob lem. Right out the gate, all of the existing medical license holders are the first ones to get adult-use licenses.”
“We endeavored to try that years ago, and we were met with a lot of hostility, and probably even more apathy,” Payne says. “I don’t think a whole lot has changed.”
“The legislature is never going to do this,” says Cardetti, with Mo CannTrade. “There wasn’t even enough support among Represen tative Hicks’ own caucus to get this to the floor, and that says nothing of the Missouri Senate where this has been a non-starter for literally the last Representativedecade.”
The petition has its flaws, Eng land acknowledges, but he’s not particularly for or against it. If voters pass it in November, he’ll consider applying for a microli cense, despite his criticism of how it only allows access to one side of the business. If he finds it worth the effort, he says, “Not only will I be trying for a microlicense, but I’ll be develop ing with my organization an ac celerator to help other minorities get the most out of this program as possible.”
As a constitutional amend ment, Legal Missouri’s proposal would allow Missouri officials to maintain control over who sells marijuana in the state, even if the federal government were to legal ize marijuana nationwide. If Mis sourians wanted to amend what’s included in the proposal, they’d have to go through a costly initia tive petition process and gather signatures from 8 percent of Mis sourians. The measure would then have to pass an election.
“With adult-use legalization, I think it would be better if legisla tion were enacted versus a consti tutional amendment because it’s going to be much easier to make fixes on new problems,” Harsh manButsays.many argue that the only path to cannabis legalization in Missouri is by circumventing the state’s assembly and getting mea sures on ballots through petitions.
E arlier this year, Hicks spon sored a bill in the Missouri House that would have le galized adult-use cannabis under a “free market” ap proach. Most residents 21 or older would have qualified for a recre ational marijuana license under Hicks’ bill, which instilled no li cense caps and included no pos session limits or penalties. The bill also would have stripped the state’s classifica tion of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. Missouri currently lumps marijuana in the same drug clas sification as heroin.
REEFER MADNESS Continued from pg 15
From left: Dylan Waier with his son, DJ Waier, and wife, Lila Waier, in the garden behind their store Grow Gear. | MONICA OBRADOVIC
Payne, with Legal Missouri, says MoCannTrade is one of many enti ties that supports Legal Missouri, but “lobbyists don’t have a vote.” He says Hicks’ beef should be with his fellow Republicans, not the tradeMissouri’sgroup.
“If he wants to look for people that held it up, it’s people in his own caucus,” Payne says. “As I un derstand, they caucused up, took a vote, and didn’t support bring ing it to the floor.”
The ordinance prevents the pos sibility for citation, but prosecu tors could still bring charges as long as marijuana possession con flicts with state and federal law.
“After Amendment 3 passes, public use will still be prohibited, but it will be decriminalized,” Car dettiLilasays.Waier points out that local ordinances in St. Louis and Kan sas City already allow for canna bis possession in small amounts.
Dylan Waier ended up serving 18 months in prison for his role in the cultivation operation. He be lieves Missouri is following a simi lar path to legalization as Califor nia, where small weed farms face extinction and people still receive charges despite legalization.
The Waiers sold their pot to medical dispensaries in an area called Potter Valley, where Lila says the majority of residents cul tivated and sold marijuana the same way her family did. Medical marijuana was the backbone of the region’s economy for decades.
“It certainly opens the door, but I think ‘good cause’ to deny an ex pungement is going to need some legal basis,” Harshman says. “It would certainly be better if the language didn’t make the expunge ment ruling so discretionary.”
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“Everybody in those cities al ready [has] those freedoms,” she says. “They don’t need to vote this in to get them.”
business closes for the day. Inside, the shop is small but packed with products. Shelves are stocked with bags of soil, peat moss and horticultural lighting. Music plays in the background and crickets chirp in the yard behind the store. It’s warm outside, so Lila Waier opens the store’s back door to reveal a lush garden of flowers, vegetables and herbs. She and her husband, Dylan Waier, opened Grow Gear Gar den Supply in Lindenwood Park last year after moving to Missouri from California in 2018. They have an 11-year-old son named D.J. Cannabis has been a big part of the couple’s lives for the past sev eral“Wedecades.were farmers before we were on the other side of this cash register,” Dylan Waier says. “When I met my wife at 18, I took her straight to my indoors and outdoors [operation] in northern California.” After high school in 2005, Lila Waier moved to the country’s larg est cannabis-producing region, the Emerald Triangle in northern California, where medical can nabis was legalized in 1996. Her father, a veteran, grew his own weed to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder. Lila and Dylan Waier cultivated cannabis in their own medical cannabis collective until about 11 yearsTheirago.50-acre operation was compliant with California state law, which at the time allowed growers in the Waiers’ municipal ity to cultivate several hundred plants covered by doctors’ scripts. But in 2012, the Mendocino Coun ty Sheriff’s Department stumbled onto their property and told them that what they were growing was illegal.Caregiver laws often only of fer a “figure it out in court” level of protection for cultivators, and the sheriff and district attorney on the Waiers’ case were known for “shaking down growers,” Lila Wai er says. Those law-enforcement of ficials have since been accused of eradicating hundreds of marijua na farms to sell most of the seized marijuana on the black market.
Marne Madison has little faith the expungement provisions would serve minorities well.
National and state analysis has consistently shown that law en forcement stops Black drivers more than other motorists.
“In most instances in the Black community, someone is pulled over just by looking a certain way,” Madison says. In Oklahoma, Madison was granted a dispensary license af ter spending just $2,500 for her application — significantly less than the $80,000 she spent in her rejected Missouri bid. Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018 with one of the loosest mar kets in the country. The state re cently had to place a moratorium on new licenses after a swarm of businesses flooded in.
Now based in Kansas City, Madi son directs Exit Now, a minorityrun nonprofit working to create equity in cannabis.
After the pitfalls she faced in Missouri, Madison hopes to use her experience and knowledge of the industry to help others.
“It still is,” she says, “but be cause of laws similar to Amend ment 3, the small family growers are rapidly being pushed out by large-scale, multi-state operators who intentionally produce more than can be consumed and bot tom out prices so low the small farms can’t Amendmentcompete.”3allows adults to obtain a registration card to culti vate up to six mature marijuana plants, six immature plants and six clones at a time as long as the plants remain in locked places not visible to the Missourianspublic.would also be al lowed to purchase and carry three ounces or less of marijuana at a time. Smoking marijuana in a public place, other than “in an area licensed for such activity,” could result in a civil penalty up to $100. Delivering marijuana to people younger than 21 would be prohibited.Anyonewho possesses or pro duces more than three but less than six ounces of marijuana would be subject to a civil infrac tion with a fine no larger than $250. On a second offense, the fine rises to $500. A third violation would result in a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine no larger than $1,000 and forfeiture of the marijuana. Offenders have an option to perform community service in lieu of paying fines.
In December, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed a bill that al lows city residents to possess two ounces of marijuana or less and grow up to six cannabis plants.
“Many people that are serv ing time or have served time for a possession charge are serving time for more than three pounds,” shePeoplesays. with most classes of felo nies would have to serve out the remainder of their sentence. The circuit courts would order their expungements at the end of a per son’s incarceration, including any supervised parole or probation.
“We’ve lived through this, and it just doesn’t pass the smell test,” WaierAddssays.hiswife: “The initiative is less about your freedom to con sume, grow and use marijuana, and more about who will have the right to sell it to you.” Lila Waier chairs an advocacy and inclusion committee with We Are Jaine, a Missouri organization for women in cannabis. The group hasn’t tak en a public stance on Legal Mis souri’s petition, but Lila Waier is a fervent detractor.
“Most of the reasons you cannot be expunged seem to target the minority community,” Madison says.The ACLU documented dispro portionate marijuana arrests in a 2020 report. It found that Black people are 2.6 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in Missouri — even though their national us age rates are comparable.
Exit Now hosts workshops on the decriminalization of cannabis and what expungement means for nonviolent marijuana offend ers. The nonprofit has granted three students full-ride scholar ships to Saint Louis University for the school’s cannabis science op erations program.
Offenders currently on proba tion or parole for misdemeanors or certain felonies will have their sentence automatically vacated, the petition states, as long as their crimes did not involve more than three pounds of marijuana, driving under the influence or distribution to a minor. Anyone no longer incarcerated or under supervision of the Department of Corrections would receive ex pungements within six months of Amendment 3’s enactment if their crimes under Amendment 3 are no longer illegal. These exclusions eliminate ex
“We want to make sure we make a community that looks like us,” Madison says. “People who have been born and raised in this state, people who have owned their own farms, should have the opportunity to be inside the regu lated cannabis industry.” n
pungement qualification for a lot of people, according to Harshman.
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has said she will not prosecute sus pects accused of possessing less than 100 Backersgrams.ofLegal Missouri say Amendment 3 would provide clean slates to people with lowlevel, marijuana-related convic tions. The measure would provide automatic expungement for such crimes — a criminal-justice re form that, if passed, would make Missouri the first state to do so. Not all misdemeanors would be expunged, however. The amendment allows anyone serving a sentence for a marijuanarelated misdemeanor or certain felonies involving three pounds of marijuana or less to petition the court to vacate their sentence and expunge marijuana offenses from their record. Charges involving distributing to a minor or driving under the influence would not be eligible for expungement. “Such expungement from all government records shall be granted for all of the person’s ap plicable marijuana offenses, ab sent good cause for denial,” the amendment states. The phrase “good cause for de nial” worries some critics who say Black Missourians have histori cally not received positive discre tion from Accordingcourts.toJoani Harshman, who serves on the board of the Canna Convict Project in addition to operating her cannabis-focused law practice, “good cause” is a common legal phrase. Its lack of specificity here sparks some con cern, however.
Water FestivalLantern
’90s Dance Party Gone are the days of having to keep the music down in your parents’ basement as the radio played Ala nis Morissette or Mariah Carey. But ’90s music cannot be contained any longer. In accordance, Ballpark Vil lage is hosting a ’90s dance party JENNA JONES
You know that one scene in Tan gled where the whole reason Ra punzel leaves the tower is to go see the lanterns in the sky? Well, get psyched, because that festival is happening here — but the lan terns will be floating instead of soaring. The Water Lantern Fes tival travels to different cities and is coming to St. Louis this week. Each festival attendee designs a lantern, which are all launched as the sun sets. Don’t worry about the environment — the festival will take care of lantern retrieval and water cleanup. Each ticket comes with a wristband for entry, a floating lantern kit, an LED can dle, a commemorative drawstring bag and a marker. The Water Lan tern Festival is at Creve Coeur Lake (13725 Marine Avenue, theadvanceSeptemberGateslanternfestival.com/stlouis.php).wateropenat4:30p.m.Saturday,3.Ticketscost$45inandare$55onthedayofevent.
SATURDAY 09/03
FRIDAY 09/02 St. GreekNicholasFestival
CALENDAR BY
Tour de St. Louis Amateur and professional cyclists take on four races in some of St. Louis’ iconic neighborhoods at the Gateway Cup. On Friday, Sep tember 2, is the Tour de Lafayette in Lafayette Square. Tour de Fran cios Park (Francis Park) is on Sat urday, September 3, and Giro Del la Montagna is Sunday, September 4 in the Hill. Finally, Monday, September 5 is the Benton Park Classic. The event is incredibly spectator friendly, cyclists race in a 1 mile+ lap, meaning cyclists are whipping past every few min utes. For more information visit gatewaycup.com.
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Trip to Japan Celebrate and learn about the his tory of Japan at the Japanese Fes tival this weekend. The Missouri Botanical Garden has been putting on the event since 1977, and it fea tures collaboration with several local Japanese American organiza tions. Authentic Japanese music, food, entertainment, art and dance will be on display, including sumo wrestling, tours of the garden and candlelight walks. Guests can pe ruse a variety of merchandise for sale. Food vendors include Drunk en Fish, PokeDoke, Red Apron and more. The Japanese Festival takes place at the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Septemberday,org/japanese_festival)events.missouribotanicalgarden.Boulevard,onSaturSeptember3,andSunday,4.
THURSDAY 09/01 So Long, Summer Summer is winding down and, with it, most pools. Take one more dip at the Au Soleil Rooftop Pool Deck Soiree at the Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton and kick back. Relax poolside on the rooftop, take in the views and sip on some cocktails. The hotel serves a rosé and lemonade cocktail menu, and food can be ordered from your chair from Café la Vie. Alexan der Ruwe and the Red Jackets will play live while you’re enjoying the last hurrah of your summer. Seating is first come, first served, and the pool is open to the public. Visit Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton (7730 Bonhomme Avenue, 314863-0400) on Thursday, Septem ber 1, at 6 p.m. The event is free to attend.
18 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com
Labor Day weekend kicks off with what’s billed as St. Louis’ larg est ethnic festival: the St. Nicho las Greek Festival. The festival has gone on for decades, and this year’s delights will be no differ ent. Sample authentic Greek food and catch some live Greek music — or take it a step further and dance your heart out. The festival encourages you to “be Greek for a day,” and you’ll feel like you’re on the islands with this festival. The gift shop even has souve nirs imported from Athens. The church offers tours for guests; “ooh” and “aah” at the historic church’s architecture and beauti ful iconography. The St. Nicholas Greek Festival kicks off on Friday, September 2, at 5 p.m. at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (4967 Forest Park Avenue, opastl. com). It’s free to attend and runs through Monday, September 5.
SUNDAY 09/04
Take one last swim this summer. | COURTESY LE MÉRIDIEN Eckert’s is open for apple picking. | COURTESY OF ECKERT’S
Apples to Apples
It’s almost your dog’s favorite day of the year — when the pooches are finally allowed to splash around in the people pool. At the very end of the swim season, many com munity pools across the country open up and allow dogs to come in and have one fantastic swim day. These special days not only give your four-legged friend a chance to frolic in a big ol’ fancy puddle; they’re often turned into events to help support canine-related chari ties. On Tuesday, September 6, the Kirkwood Aquatic Center (111 South Geyer Road, 314-984-6971) will open up its pool to doggos for a couple of hours, and the event will raise money for the Missouri Alli ance for Animal Legislation. The organization aims to protect, advo cate and legislate to help stop the cycle of neglect and abuse faced by animals in Missouri. From 5 to 7 p.m. the pool will become a dog heaven where your furry compan ion can have a swim party with all of their best buddies. Tickets are $10 for one dog plus one human companion. If you’d like to bring in another human companion, it will cost an additional $5. For more information on the Pool Paws For Humane Laws swim party, visit the Facebook event page. —Jaime Lees
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 19
In Plain Sight
You can almost hear the leaves crunching underfoot as Eckert’s opens its doors for the apple-pick ing season. Crisp apples are yours for the taking at the Belleville and Grafton, Illinois, farms, while the Millstadt farm will open on Wednesday, September 7. The Bel leville and Grafton farms will have Honeycrisp and Gala apples, and the Millstadt farm will have Jona than apples. Be sure to grab some cider from the Cider Shed, which opened earlier this year, Visit Eckert’s (multiple locations in cluding 951 South Green Mt Road, Belleville, Illinois; eckerts.com) to snag some apples on Monday, September 5. Operating hours and prices vary by location. You can purchase tickets and check crop availability at eckerts.com.
A breath of fresh air is needed after a long week, and you can get some even indoors with It Appeared Out of Plein Air. A celebration of the plein-air genre, the exhibition will feature the work of two pleinair artists: Andrea Vadner and Jodie Maurer. A wide variety of artwork is on display: expansive, sweeping landscapes; cool rivers and streams; vivid sunsets; busy cities and roads; and more. View the pieces on dis play on Wednesday, September 7, at the Angad Arts Hotel (3550 Sam uel Shepard Drive, angadartshotel. com) on the first floor. The exhibit runs until November. n Have an event you’d like consid ered for our calendar? Email cal endar@riverfronttimes.com.
The exhibition It Appeared Out of Plein Air celebrates paintings done in the outdoors. | COURTESY ANGAD ARTS HOTEL / THE ARTISTS
WEDNESDAY 09/07
following the Cubs vs. Cardinals game. Fool House puts on the event and will pay homage to the “gold en era” of boy bands, pop, hip-hop and pop punk artists. Sing along or learn the choreography to your favorite tunes of the ’90s. Music by the Spice Girls, St. Louis’ own Nelly, Blink-182, the Backstreet Boys and more are all on the roster. The ’90s Dance Party starts at 4 p.m. Sunday, September 4, in the Together Credit Union Plaza (601 Clark Avenue). It’s free to attend.
WEEK OF MONTH SEPTEMBER 1-7
TUESDAY 09/06 Market Mania Tower Grove Farmers’ Market Tuesday Evening Markets will soon come to a close, but there’s still a few more chances to grab your goodies there. The market is always one of the best places in town to check in with your com munity, meet with your neighbors and grab fresh, local produce and other goods. The evening mar kets are a fantastic alternative to the Saturday morning markets for those who’d prefer a smaller, less bustling way to get all of the same farm-to-table goodness. Starting at 4 p.m and closing at sunset, this is a great option for busy folks who just want to pop in after work to grab a few fresh tomatoes for dinner that night or to get their grocery shopping done for the week so they can en joy their weekends. The market is open on Tuesday, September 6. Tuesday evening markets run through September 27 at Tower Grove Park (west of Center Cross Drive at 4256 Magnolia Avenue, tgfarmersmarket.com). —Jaime Lees Splashing Around
MONDAY 09/05
20 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com
yshaun Harvey was tired of giving Howard Schultz her money. After developing de bilitating migraines at the age of 14 following the death of her father, Harvey could only find relief in one thing: caffeine. It led to a Starbucks addiction that saw her visiting the coffee chain multiple times a week to drop some serious cash.
Over time, Harvey began to wonder whether or not there was a better option. Instead of shell ing out money to a multinational corporation, surely she could find a way to take her funds and invest in her community. After a brief stint in college led her to realize she wanted to carve out her own path, she decided to open a small daycare in a Florissant strip mall. She loved her work, but when a storefront a few doors down from her childcare center became available, she decided it was time to take the leap and finally follow her coffee dreams.
Their joint venture, the flagship Latte Lounge, opened November of last year in the sprawling, loftlike space just west of Jefferson Avenue on the eastern edge of Midtown. From the outside, the restaurant looks like an average, small downtown loft building. Once you step inside, however, the atmosphere takes your breath away. The space is massive with a soaring, multistory-high ceiling and black-metal-paned windows that make up two entire walls.
Larry Green and Nyshaun Harvey are the co-owners of Latte Lounge. | MABEL SUEN
That coffee shop, Latte Lounge, opened in November of 2020 as a small neighborhood cafe serv ing a variety of coffee drinks, latte flights and a modest menu of baked goods. It was an instant success, thanks to the cafe’s signature Side by Side lattes, which allow guests to pair two different coffee drinks in one divided cup. North-county coffee lovers took notice; so did her stepdad, Larry Green, a business owner who operated a construc tion company and special events venue on Washington Boulevard in Midtown. Green was so impressed with Harvey’s ideas that when the massive restaurant space next to his venue came up for lease, he asked her if she’d be interested in expanding her concept to include a full-service restaurant.
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CAFE 21
Latte Lounge’s (clockwise from top left) latte flight, breakfast platter, avocado toast, shrimp and grits, veggie pizza and red-velvet waffle. | MABEL SUEN
Banquettes line the interior pe rimeter, and a large, open kitchen takes up the middle of the room.
A large bar, whimsically sur rounded by swings, occupies the left side of the space. Charcoal gray, tan leather, shades of blush and feathers create an elegant but comfortable aesthetic that softens the loft’s industrial feel.
It’s a gorgeous setting made even more special by what comes out of the kitchen. Inspired by Green and executed by head chef John Pointdexter, Latte Lounge’s brunch fare is flawless in execu tion. Chicken and waffles, for in stance, pair breaded chicken ten ders with outstanding, miniature Belgian waffles that have a crispy golden exterior that yields to a soft inside. In place of the usual maple syrup, the dish is lightly drizzled with hot honey; sweet without being overbearing, tin gly without over-the-top spice, it’s an ideal condiment that brings together the chicken and waffles’ sweet and savory flavors. Biscuits and gravy, too, are the quintessence of the form. Two flaky biscuits are smothered in peppery sausage gravy; its rich ness skirts the edge of decadence without crossing over into it. Hunks of mild breakfast sausage fleck the creamy sauce, which is enriched with the yolk of two over easy eggs. A side of breakfast peppers accompanies the biscuits and gravy; beautifully seasoned and studded with bell peppers, it adds a pop of spice that balances
Midtown’s Latte Lounge serves flawless, often surprising, brunch fare Written by CHERYL BAEHR Latte Lounge 2617 Washington Avenue, 314-833-3087. Tues.-Sun. 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (Closed Mon days.)
A Bright Spot
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LATTE
My server recommended the Thai chili version of the wings (they are also available tossed with Buffalo sauce or lemonpepper seasoned), but it was only one of his many acts of kindness throughout the meal. Attentive, genuinely warm, knowledgeable and infectiously enthusiastic, he was the embodiment of the sort of fresh hospitality you yearn for af ter a few hard years of dining out. The hostess, too, was a bright light from the moment I walked in the door, as were the food runners, bartender and other servers. Har vey says this is intentional; that every morning, she and her team send out good vibes to each oth er and the customers they have yet to serve so that they can be a bright spot in people’s days. Be tween the excellent food and the welcoming tone, they’ve more than succeeded.
theThatdish.balance is also present on the avocado toast. Here, two slices of rustic, whole-grain bread are griddled and topped with creamy avocado mash and thinly sliced strawberries. What turns it from good to great, however, are the pomegranate arils that are liber ally sprinkled atop the toast. The combination of their tartness with the rich, smashed avocado is a stunning marriage of opposites. Latte Lounge’s pancakes must be immediately added to the city’s growing list of extraordinary hot cakes. Crispy around the edges, custard-like on the inside, the va nilla-scented pancakes have a fla vor that’s evocative of funnel cake. The cakes are so perfect on their own, you don’t even need to driz zle on the accompanying maple syrup to enjoy them to their fullest. Perhaps the biggest surprise on the Latte Lounge menu is the breakfast fried rice. This sleep er dish sounds simple — bacon, ham, fried egg and scallions are tossed with soy sauce and rice — but there is something magical about the way the flavors all come together. The onion is more pro nounced; the caramelized flavor they release is both earthy and sweet, which mingles with the soy sauce to form an umami bomb. Pointdexter shows his chops by taking something ordinary and turning it into the transcendent. In addition to breakfast items, Latte Lounge offers lunchtime fare, including a delicious smash burger that somehow manages to have that decadent, beefy taste of a thin, griddled patty, while also maintaining the heft of a backyard burger. It might seem like a minor point, but the meat perfectly matches the size of the bun. Not too big, not too small, thick enough to hold up yet not so bulky as to dwarf the burger, the buttery bun feels like it was tailormade for this particular patty. However, the lunch menu’s must-try dish is the crispy fried chicken. Technically, these are chicken wings, but to call this col lection of flats and drummies the same thing as your average bar of fering seems like sacrilege. These plump, hefty wonders are excel lent on their own thanks to their juicy meat and beautifully crisp exterior. However, when tossed in a sweet and spicy Thai chili sauce, they become lip-tingling magic.
Latte Lounge Breakfast fried rice $15 25 Pancake $10 95 Crispy fried chicken ���������������������������� $12�95 LOUNGE Continued from pg 21 Chef John Pointdexter heads up the food program at Latte Lounge. | MABEL SUEN Pizza is on Latte Lounge’s lunch menu. | MABEL SUEN Latte Lounge serves a breakfast platter that comes with French toast. | MABEL SUEN
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[FOOD NEWS]
While Bahrami is thrilled with the slate of Gin Week events, the brands and makers that will be present at Gin Festival St. Louis and the amount of respect St. Louis is getting from the global gin industry, what she’s most ex cited about is connecting with her peers and fellow gin enthusiasts after a pandemic-induced hiatus. That gin can be a catalyst for such fellowship is what inspires her to do what she does.
excited about a first-ever Gin Week event hosted by her own restaurant, Salve Osteria (3200 South Grand Boulevard, 314-771-3411). Thanks to the number of distillers coming to town from all over the world for Gin Week, Bahrami, Fricker and Salve chef Matt Wynn put to gether a special “Dinner with the Distillers” on Thursday, Septem ber 15, that will allow guests to dine with some of the world’s most prestigious distillers, makers and spirits legends. The tasting-menu event will feature food and cock tail pairings, as well as informal storytelling and mingling with the industry’s top professionals.
“This year’s festival feels like it has such a glow about it,” Bahrami says. “The world is kind of putting itself back together again, and this is what we’ve missed. We’ve missed connecting with people and being social and festivals and coming together from around the world. We haven’t been able to do these things, and I think this shows that the world is rebuilding again.” n
The ravioli took nearly three days to make, and Toscano’s created more than 250 pounds of it daily, earning the busi ness a feature on the Food Network. The doors at Mama Toscano’s have been locked for months, but it wasn’t clear if the closure was temporary or per manent. Recently, a sign was posted in a window directing people to L3 Corpo ration, a real estate company. Thessen says the building has been up for lease for less than a month. n
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The building has been up for lease for less than a month. | BENJAMIN SIMON
Rebecca Thessen of L3 Corporation, commercial real estate broker for owners Patty and Nick Toscano, confirmed that the nearly 4,000-square-foot building is up for lease. She says the Toscanos are stepping away for retirement. The closure marks the end of a busi ness that has served the Hill for over 100 years. Owned by multiple generations of the Toscano family, the business began in 1910 as the neighborhood market and blossomed into one of the premier toasted-ravioli locations.
“Twenty nineteen was our last one, and our biggest one to date,” Bahrami says. “We took a break because of the pandemic, and this one is going to surpass it. The ven ues are larger, the number of glob al distillers flying in is triple, and the amount of brands that will be in town has doubled. It feels like we are in this resurgence after COVID — if you can say after — and people are wanting to come outTheagain.”Ginworld Gin Festival St. Louis 2022 will be held Sunday, September 18, at Majorette (7150 Manchester Avenue, Maplewood; 314-224-5775) and promises to be an all-day celebration and edu cational opportunity about gin, amaro, vermouth and zero-proof spirits. Bahrami describes the fes tival as a “mix and mingle” event where attendees can meet some of the biggest names in the spirits world. In addition to tastings, Gin Festival St. Louis will provide op portunities to meet the makers and includes an outdoor zero-proof spirits garden — something Bah rami and her husband and fellow bar professional, Michael Fricker, are excited to launch this year. “The garden will allow you to have cocktails but have a zeroproof experience,” Bahrami says. “It will be nice because sometimes these events are so deeply about the alcohol, but ours isn’t.” In addition to the festival, Bah rami has an entire week of events leading up to Sunday’s celebra tion. Dubbed “Gin Week St. Louis,” the festivities run from Monday, September 12, through Sunday, September 18, and include func tions at a variety of area bars and restaurants such as Platypus, the Golden Hoosier, Polite Society and LuckyBahramiAccomplice.isparticularly
Gin Is Back, Baby!
Farewell to Ravioli Hill staple Mama Toscano’s closes after more than a century
“Once we realized who was all coming to town, we created this dinner because we figured we should do something more for mal,” Bahrami says. “Getting them all in the same room is a big deal. We have distillers coming from Ireland, Sweden, the Philippines, England — it’s an experience you won’t get again.”
Written by CHERYL BAEHR S ince 2014, Natasha Bahrami and her Ginworld team have been treating St. Louis spirits enthusiasts to a world-class celebration of gin with their annual event Gin Festival St. Lou is. Now, after a two-year hiatus, the festival returns, promising to be bigger and better than ever.
The Gin Festival St. Louis returns this year after a break. | COURTESY NATASHA BAHRAMI
Gin Festival St. Louis is back in September after a two-year hiatus
Written by BENJAMIN SIMON M ama Toscano’s Ravioli (2201 Macklind Avenue), a neighbor hood staple on the Hill known for its handmade ravioli and meatball sand wiches, is officially closed.
Written by CHERYL BAEHR
Prapaisilapa’s grandmother Nivat opened the store with his uncle Jay. The family had relocated to St. Louis from Thailand and started the store to make sure immigrants and other folks from abroad who came to St. Louis could get the provisions they needed that would remind them of home.
Three words prove this list wrong: Stellar Hog Brisket. | MABEL SUEN
The beloved South Grand store got new floors.
Written by ROSALIND EARLY D uring the pandemic, Jay’s Interna tional Foods (3172 South Grand Boulevard, 314-772-2552) decid ed to do a bit of a face-lift. The shop now jokingly says it needs to be called Trader Jay’s after adding a new floor and redo ing the front entrance. “People have loved it so much,” says JoJo Prapaisilapa, whose family owns thePrapaisilapastore. says that the changes started in 2020 when the store got a new awning and glass front. The new floor was a more recent addition, since the old one was worn down with “stickers all over the place,” Prapaisilapa recalls. Jay’s International opened in St. Louis in the 1970s catty-corner from where
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n
Smack Talk
| COURTESY JAY’S INTERNATIONAL
Cafe Mochi is now on South Grand Bou levard. In 1988, it moved to its current space down the street.
A nother day, another click bait-y article on a virtually unknown website down playing the St. Louis food scene. This time, the offend er is Clever, a real estate site that matches buyers and sellers with agents (in other words, not a food website); the subject is barbecue, a sacrosanct St. Louis culinary in stitution that anyone born within 100 miles of the Arch is bound by duty to defend. In a recent analysis conducted by Clever to determine the “Best BBQ Cities in America,” St. Louis comes in at number 26 out of 50 — a ranking that puts our fair city in the bottom half of the list, com ing in under such places as Las Ve gas, Nevada; Jacksonville, Florida; and Sacramento, styletheingcanMaull’sbackyardbutdeterminetitativeLouistive,thingaboutbad,uppatecostterstionatelyhasdicator,theSeriessastaurantsdistancerestaurantscatorscuethelishmentssheerilyCleverheardSacramento-styleCalifornia.ribs?Neverof’em.Inlayingoutitsmethodology,revealsthatitreliedheavonfactorsthatmayspeaktothenumberofbarbecueestabinacitybutdonotgettoheartofwhatmakesabarbecitysogreat.Usingsuchindiasthenumberofbarbecuepercapita,theaveragebetweenbarbecueresandthenumberofKanCityBarbecueSocietyMastercompetitionshostedwithinlast10years—afraughtinasthecompetitioncircuitbeencriticizedfordisproporexcludingBlackpitmasduetobarrierstoentrylikeandtimerequiredtopartici—Cleverarrivedataroundof50placesthat,whilenotallraisessomeseriousquestionshowonecanquantifysomethat,atitsheart,isaqualitaculturalphenomenon.Theshortanswerisyoucan’t.St.maynottickallofthequanboxesthatCleverusestobarbecue“greatness,”whatitdoeshaveisthejoyofporksteaksslatheredinandenrichedwithhalftheofBuschthatyourjorts-wearunclepoursonwhilemanningWeberkettle.IthasSt.Louis-spareribscookedinbigblack
“I remember back in the day [my fam ily] would drive up to Chicago, grab as much inventory as they could and try to sell it here in St. Louis,” Prapaisilapa says. Back then, the clientele was mostly Hispanic and European, with Irish, Ger mans and others making up the bulk of those looking for treats from home. Now the store is a “melting pot,” Prapaisilapa says, with folks from the Caribbean, Bos nia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Nepal, South America and other areas of the world.
Prapaisilapa’s family has always owned and worked at the store. “It gets passed through the family tree,” he says. But he credits Noy Liamsiriwatana, president of operations, with growing the business more recently. “He served on the board of South Grand [Community Improvement District] for over 10 years and has helped improve the district,” Prapaisilapa says.
Clueless real estate website places St. Louis in the bottom half of its rankings of the nation’s best barbecue cities
Trader Jay’s Jay’s International on South Grand got new floors and is looking fiiine
In addition to providing food for refu gees and internationals, Jay’s also works with the International Institute of St. Lou is to hire new arrivals. Giving opportunity to those newly in the country, Prapaisi lapa says, “resonates with our roots.”
smokers on Saturday afternoons in the grocery store parking lot. It has snoots and rib tips piled atop a slice of white bread lining a sty rofoam container, Stellar Hog’s weekends-only beef ribs that will take your breath (and maybe a few years of life) away, BEAST Craft BBQ’s outrageously delicious pork steak and Mike Emerson, a bar becue ambassador whose tireless efforts have helped put our city’s entire food scene on the map. If measuring greatness by these inyour-soul metrics means we rank lower than San Jose, California, on some silly list, so be it. This is not the first time a real estate company failed to grasp the grandeur of our city’s culinary de lights. Last November, Rent.com all but ignored St. Louis’ robust doughnut culture when it released its list of the “Best Cities for Donut Lovers”; we didn’t crack the top 50. Stick to interest rates and com missions, realtors. Let us handle the smokers. n
[FOOD NEWS]
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| ANDY PAULISSEN
At Ruiz the margaritas are a popular drink.
G rowing up, John Marshall had a close, loving relation ship with his grandfather and Ruiz Mexican Restau rant founder, Jose Ruiz. However, the stories he hears from the Florissant mainstay’s guests re veal a side to his grandfather he could have never imagined — and they never cease to amaze him.
|ANDY PAULISSEN
The restaurant features an installation of vintage cigar boxes in honor of Jose Ruiz, whose favorite cigars were Te-Amo brand.
Now, 56 years after Grandpa Ruiz took his shot, the restaurant that bears his name continues to serve as one of north county’s definitive restaurants. No longer schoolchildren doing homework in the dining room, his grandkids John and Rachael are working alongside their parents to keep their family’s legacy alive. They appreciate just how much the din ing scene has changed since their grandfather first opened Ruiz; diners now not only see their food as a staple of their regular food experience, but they are also
30 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com
A SensationCountyNorthRuiz Mexican Restaurant is a vital gathering place that feels like home
“I learn more about my grand father from our customers than from spending time with him,” Marshall laughs. “It was a whole other aspect to him, so it’s always fun to hear the new stories that are unearthed. Some of them are quite outlandish and always riv eting. Of course, libations were involved, and customers still talk about the parties he threw. Some of them still come in because of those times.”
Written by CHERYL BAEHR Ruiz Mexican Restaurant 901 North Highway 67, Florissant; Established314-838-35001966
Marshall’s grandfather may have been a character, but he was also a successful entrepreneur, launching Ruiz as one of the first Mexican restaurants in the St. Louis area with a mere $300 loan from his father. When he opened the Florissant restaurant in 1966, Mexican food had not yet made its way into the American dining landscape, and taking a leap on such an untested concept, espe cially as a young, first-generation Mexican American, was a risk. However, Ruiz was as confident in his culinary heritage as he was in his business acumen. Already the owner of an established bak ery in Old Town Florissant, Ruiz parlayed his shop’s loyal following into a Mexican food concept that he ran out of a neighborhood tav ern called Roy’s. Almost instantly he outgrew the space, and when a small storefront in a strip mall off North Highway 67 became avail able, he jumped at the chance to turn his popular food counter into a full-service restaurant. That spot, which Ruiz named La Cocina Mexicana, became a north-county sensation, draw ing guests from all over the area thanks to its easy accessibility to the then-bustling St. Louis Lam bert International Airport. The restaurant was originally one of several storefronts in the strip mall, but Ruiz took every opportu nity to acquire additional real es tate when neighboring businesses closed or moved; eventually, he was the strip mall’s sole tenant. In 1971, Ruiz changed the busi ness’s name to Ruiz Mexican Res taurant, proud to put his moni ker on such a thriving part of the area’s food scene. Thanks to his outgoing, larger-than-life person ality and the cooking of his wife Hortensia (“Tencha”), the place became a wildly popular, mustvisit dining destination. From regular phone calls with the late KMOX personality Jack Carney to
visits from such icons as Eric Clap ton and Sean Connery, Ruiz was more than simply a place to grab a bite to eat; it was a vital northcounty gathering place. That continued when Ruiz’s daughter and son-in-law, Marisa and Doug Marshall, took over the restaurant operations in 1987. Through their capable stewardship, the restau rant was able to survive several difficult times, such as the closure of north-county employment an chors McDonnell Douglas and the Hazelwood Ford plant. They saw recessions, lesser economic down turns, wars and the 9/11 attacks, all the while finding a way to thrive in the midst of such uncertainty.
“It feels like our house,” Marisa Marshall says. “It’s where I grew up, and it was my kids’ living room — not their second home but their first home. There is a lot to be said about that energy and the vibe of the place where people feel like it is our home.”
“When we first started, it was my great-grandmother’s recipes, and then my grandfather tinkered with them to make them his own,” Rachael says. “Then, my mom and dad took over and made them his own, and now my brother [John] is doing the same. The basics are all still there, but we adjust with each generation. People who have been coming in for years say our food has the same essence, but every one has put their touches on it.” However, the family knows that their guests are not simply coming in for the food. As one of the met ro area’s oldest restaurants, Ruiz has developed a loyal following of regulars that spans generations. Their connections to the restau rant’s patriarch live through them and through his family, creating an unbreakable bond of connec tion among Marisa, Doug, John and Rachael that makes Ruiz feel like more than a restaurant. “I’ll be working in the dining room, and someone will tell me that they remember watching me grow up,” John Marshall says. “But now people who I’ve watched grow up come in with their first dates or are having graduation parties here. There have been so many proposals — many of them,
The front door at Ruiz is as unique as what’s inside. | ANDY PAULISSEN Shrimp, steak and chicken fajitas are on the menu at Ruiz. | ANDY PAULISSEN
Rachael Rogers and Lex Marshall work alongside their parents at Ruiz. | ANDY PAULISSEN
my grandfather was the one who brought out the ring. It’s really awesome to be a part of people’s special memories.” His sister concurs. “The walls here are filled with a lot of love,” Rachael says. As the heirs apparent to the Ruiz restaurant legacy, John and Rachael do not take their duty lightly. With the pandemic upending all aspects of restaurant life, they have had to adapt in ways they never could have imagined. Through it all, their customers have come along for the ride, supportive of the family and willing to adapt with them so that the restaurant can continue to be a thriving part of north county for years to come — just as Grandpa
n
“Between our connection to our customers and our family’s place in the restaurant, it’s almost as if this is a living being,” Rachael says. “We’ve kept it alive for so long and through so much hard ship. My grandpa, grandma, mom, dad — their traits are all in us, and their DNA runs through us.”
John Marshall, too, feels a re sponsibility to honor all his family has created. “I’m just so proud of what we’ve done,” he says. “The odds of a restaurant making it as long as we have must be like one in 20,000. I’m proud we’ve made it as long as we have, and I want to see us here for another 100 years.”
Ruiz would have wanted.
ICONIC PEOPLE, PLACES & DISHES THAT ANCHOR STL’S FOOD SCENE[ ]
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more open to trying new things than in the late ’60s and early ’70s. This has allowed for an evolution that the family believes keeps the restaurant current.
32 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com MUNCHIE MONDAY: 15% off edibles including: beverages, tinctures, and topicals. 25% off Mama J’s TOP SHELF TUESDAY: 15% off all eighths 45 and above, corresponding grams too. Teal 25% off WAXY WEDNESDAY: 15% off concentrates, 25% off Gas Carts; Rainbow and Notorious 25% off TWISTED THURSDAY: 15% off all Prerolls; AiroPro 25% off, Vertical 25% off FUN FRIDAY: 15% off everything; 25% off Heya STOCKUP SATURDAY: 25% off Beach; Buy any eighth 40 and above get a Heya or Mama J’s eighth 40% off; Vivid 25% off SUNDAY - SPEND 5% off for 20$- 45$, 10% off for 45$-75$, 15% off; MORE, SAVE MORE: 75$ and above - Curador Live Resin Pens 25% off, Farmer G 25% off FIRST TIME PATIENT DEALS 1st visit: 30% off entire store, 40% off in house brands 2nd visit: 25% off entire store, 30% off in house brands 3rd visit: 20% off entire store, 25% off in house brands 4th visit: 15% off entire store, 20% off in house brands “Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of a particular medical marijuana products”
Records of signatures and voter rolls have not yet been provided under a request made under Mis souri’s open records law, the law suitAdditionally,notes. the lawsuit con tends the marijuana petition vio lates the single-subject rule by containing multiple subjects and unrelated matters. Under the Missouri Constitu tion, initiative petitions amending the constitution “shall not contain more than one amended and re vised article of this constitution, or one new article which shall not contain more than one subject and matters properly connected therewith … .”
“Not only does the language de ceive voters about the harms of legalization, it is in violation of state law and the Missouri Consti tution,” Niforatos said in a state
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| TIM BOMMEL/MISSOURI HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS
The lawsuit asserts that Ash croft “certified and counted signa tures that were marked through by the local election authorities and, absent this action, the mari juana initiative petition would not have had a sufficient number of valid signatures in six of eight congressional districts.”
BlockedDocket
The lawsuit argues the initiative petition to legalize recreational marijuana in Missouri was improperly certified by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and should not appear on the November ballot.
ment. “We hope the courts will rule on this issue expeditiously and spare Missouri’s children from targeting by Big Marijuana.”
A n anti-drug-legalization activ ist has filed a lawsuit arguing a recreational-marijuana ini tiative petition was improp erly certified by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and should not appear on the Novem berTheballot.lawsuit was filed August 19 in Cole County Circuit Court — the final day within the 10-day win dow outlined under state law for challenges to be brought to initia tive petitions once they’re certi fied. It did not appear in the on line court docket until last week.
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JoDonn Chaney, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office, said last week that the office had not been officially served and could not comment on the law suit’s specifics but that the signa ture totals and process “speak for themselves.”“Theindividuals responsible for submitting this [initiative pe tition] met the constitutional re quirements as required by stat ute, therefore Secretary Ashcroft certified Amendment 3 to the bal lot,” Chaney said. “The secretary followed the law and fulfilled his statutory duty and stands behind hisJohncertification.”Payne,a spokesman for the Legal Missouri campaign be hind the initiative petition, says that it was the only one that had the grassroots support necessary to collect enough signatures to make the ballot. “This lawsuit lacks merit and in less than three months Missouri will be the 20th state to regulate, tax and legalize cannabis,” Payne says.If the petition’s certification had been based on just the sig natures that were verified by lo cal election authorities, then it would not have had enough valid signatures to make the ballot, the lawsuit argues.
In order to qualify for the ballot, proposed constitutional amend ments need to gather enough registered voters’ signatures to equal 8 percent of the vote from the 2020 gubernatorial election in each of six of the state’s eight con gressionalUnofficialdistricts.tabulations last month showed the Legal Missouri campaign 2,275 signatures short of that threshold. But after the campaign initiated a review by the Secretary of State’s Office — a move that surprised longtime ob servers of the petition process — it had a surplus of signatures that qualified it for the ballot.
It argues that the petition chang es multiple sections of the Missouri Constitution in violation of singlesubject rules and that its backers did not secure the minimum num ber of signatures to warrant its in clusion on the November ballot.
The lawsuit was filed on be half of Joy Sweeney, a Jefferson City resident, who also serves as the deputy director of training, technical assistance and com munity outreach for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, a group of community coalitions that aim to prevent substance use andProtectabuse.Our Kids PAC, a Colo rado-based super PAC launched earlier this year that opposes the legalization of drugs, is helping support the lawsuit. Luke Nifora tos, the group’s CEO, called the ini tiative petition “a scam.”
Citing a 1990 Missouri Supreme Court opinion that affirmed a lower court’s decision to strike an initia tive petition from the ballot for con taining more than one subject, the lawsuit notes the single-subject rule is to prevent “logrolling … whereby unrelated subjects that individually might not muster enough support to pass are combined to generate necessary support.”
The lawsuit argues the mea sure not only would legalize rec reational marijuana, but that it would also criminalize posses sion of certain amounts, create a process for licensing and grow ing marijuana, establish taxing guidelines, create a new position to oversee licensure “on a prefer ential basis,” and create a system to expunge nonviolent marijuana offenses from criminal records.
Lawsuit asks judge to block marijuana legalization from appearing on Missouri ballot
As outlined in state law, the law suit will be advanced on the court docket and heard and decided as quickly as possible. n
Written by TESSA WEINBERG This story was originally published by the Missouri Independent.
One wall features a colorable timeline of 21 common residential building styles, an approachable way for visitors to learn about the architecture that likely impacts them the most. Styles include the St. Louis gingerbread homes, two-family duplexes and even the Meet Me in St. Louis house as well as the home Sally Benson actually inhabited.Inaddition to the colorable walls, Coloring STL includes in teractive exhibits exploring other facets of St. Louis architectural history, including the different va rieties of red bricks and those iron stars that can be seen on brick homes throughout the city.
Written by JESSICA ROGEN P ops of color peek out from black-and-white outlines on the walls of the Missouri His tory Museum (5700 Lindell Boulevard, 314-746-4599, mo history.org). All along the walls of the 6,000-square-foot special exhibition space are illustrations of 50 local structures printed on a whiteboard-like material. Buckets of dry-erase markers sit out for visitors’ use. Here and there attendees from the previous night’s member pre view have added drawings: spider webs and people in windows, a plane shooting at King Kong climb ing up Union Station, a ghost wom an with her hair blowing in an un worldly wind atop Lemp Brewery.
CULTURE 34
Coloring on the Walls
The Missouri History Museum’s new interactive exhibit explores St. Louis’ architectural history
Visitors should grab markers and start drawing.
“The creativity is already com ing out,” says Andrew Wanko, Missouri History Museum public historian and content lead for the exhibition.Thecolor, the drawings and the outlines are all part of Color ing STL, an interactive show that invites attendees to learn about St. Louis architectural history by drawing on the walls. The exhibi tion opened to the public on Au gust 20 and will run through Fri day, May 5, 2024. The illustrations, which were created by St. Louis artist Rori!, run the gamut from historical to modern. The oldest structure rep resented is a 1700s-era Illinois longhouse, and the most recent is the 100 Above the Park Central West End building. Others repre sented include the Homer G. Phil lips Hospital, Tony Faust’s Oyster House and Restaurant, Tower Grove Park shelters, and Univer sity City’s City Hall.
Turns out those stars are func tional, not decorative, and were installed to keep brick walls from buckling“Sometimesoutward.you’ll see them randomly in a spot,” Wanko says. “That’s the sign something went wrong on that building later.”
[ARCHITECTURE]
“We picked across sizes, styles, era, everything,” Wanko says.
Other sections include origi nal plans for several buildings; stained-glass windows; com mon building materials such as sandstone; the history that’s lost when buildings are demolished; and alternative designs from the competition that resulted in the Gateway Arch, including a design that featured a 40-foot statue of Thomas Jefferson (by Gyo Obata, the founder of HOK who passed away this year).
Wanko and others at the muse um have long wanted to do an ar chitecture exhibit because of the frequent questions the museum receives from attendees on that topic. They knew they wanted to make it interactive but weren’t initially sure how to do so. Then the coloring idea came up. Almost immediately there was a sense that this would be a hit, even if it was a crazy thing that no one had done before at thisRightscale.at the beginning of the pandemic, Wanko began work on the exhibition, a fairly quick turn around from start to finish. He’s excited to now see visitors experi ence the fruits of those efforts for themselves.“It’smyhope that, long term, in its own small way, this exhibit helps build pride and owner ship in St. Louis, gets people ex cited about the city,” Wanko says. “There are so many stories and fascinating things hidden in the blocks we walk along every day. That is ultimately what I hope the takeaway is — that this inspires people to love St. Louis more and to explore the city even more.” n
Visitors try out Coloring STL during a member preview. | COURTESY MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM
“It was buildings that are huge landmarks, buildings that are lost buildings, some that are more like neighborhood-scale treasures.”
Newspapers at the time touted it as holding more people on a busy day than the entire city of Dallas, Texas.“Ifyou were alive in 1914 St. Louis, that would have been the landmark you would have want ed to see,” he says.
| COURTESY MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM
34 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com
He points out the Railway Ex change Building, built in 1914, which takes up an entire city block and once housed a giant Fa mous Barr as well as office space.
Written by JESSICA ROGEN
Paint Louis Turns
“We need to call it something.”
ways since its inception. Along side those artists painting the walls now are artistic vendors, like glass blowers, jewelry mak ers and sculptors. There’s even a masseuse, a dog rescue and some food, though those vendors must maintain their own permits, so people are fed mostly by runs to nearby fast-food establishments.
“One year, we was like, ‘Yo man, we got like 300 people showing up … we can, you know, sell some water or sell some shirts or some thing like that,” Harrington says.
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 35 [GRAFFITI ART]
St. Louis’ celebration of graffiti and mural art marks a quarter century with KRS-One, community collabs and artists from around the world
Sometime after the Great Flood of 1993, the group relocated to the area by the city’s floodwall.
“I’m happy that we’ve been able to keep it real and keep it on the ground for 25 years,” Harrington says. “Artists coming from around the country, around the world to, like, see the new techniques, to see what new caps you got, to talk about politics within the graffiti world, West Coast and East Coast, north meet down south, Miami Beach, Seattle — everybody com ingKeepingtogether.”things going is an ac complishment, especially when you consider that the event’s or ganizers don’t take corporate sponsorships, instead paying for expenses out of pocket. For the most part, the city has been sup portive of the event, except for a few years after 2001, when artists painted beyond the designated ar eas, causing a permit hiatus. Since then, Harrington has been espe cially emphatic on what can and can’t be painted.
“It’s kind of mentoring, pass on the art form,” he says. “It’s a way to get younger people involved.”
Soon, it became an every-weekend activity, and the original crew began inviting more and more people to join. Graffiti artists from across the country began showing up.
Another community event is the First Look with Artists First, an in clusive art studio in Maplewood that has programming aimed at underserved community mem bers but is open for anyone’s walkin use. On Saturday, August 27, the nonprofit held a kickoff anniversa ry event that brought in local graf fiti artists to the Yale Green Space at Manchester Road and Yale Av enue in Maplewood to teach tech niques and styles of street art. They painted the studio’s tables, some of which were then sold during an evening auction. A group from Artists First will also be among those painting over La bor Day weekend.
25
Eventually the group got kicked out of the space and moved to the West End. But then they got kicked out there, too. They tried Forest Park with similar success.
Too many confuse graffiti art or street art with gang art and tagging, Harrington says, which is different than muralism. He has a vision of the city where many buildings are covered with graffiti murals, simi lar to Wynwood in Miami or even some areas of Kansas City. But to get there, St. Louis will need a lot of artists and a lot of appreciators of graffiti art, which is where community engagement events come in. “I’m trying to have a legacy,” Harrington says. “I’m trying to have Paint Louis go on forever.” n Paint Louis will take place Friday, September 2, through Sunday, Sep tember 4, at the floodwall just south of the Arch. Paint Littles will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 3.
“Both of our organizations, we’re about inclusivity and diver sity,” says Maria Briceño, develop ment coordinator for Artists First, who notes that Paint Louis’ invita tion to work on the wall last year opened doors for Artists First. “It was just an amazing opportunity to really highlight that people with disabilities can be artists, too. … We wanted to continue to work with people like that.”
“It’s really starting to catch on,” Harrington says. “People are starting to say, ‘Oh man, when’s Paint Louis this year? We’re really excited to see it.’” That growth has begun to hap pen as Harrington and others have made efforts to reach out to the local community. For the last five years, they’ve included an event called Paint Littles where parents can bring children and teens to learn techniques.
That was the start of Paint Lou is, which got formalized in 1997.
Harrington adds: “It just brings new artists into the fold. I think it’s good to have events like this where you can explain graffiti to people and explain art.”
Paint Louis was established in 1997 and has grown in the 25 years since. | JOHN HARRINGTON
“You had, like, Grateful Dead hippy kids, skaters, metal kids, everyone just hanging out,” says John Harrington, Paint Louis co founder and a member of hip-hop group Midwest Avengers. “The more we hung out, the more peo ple started showing up.”
T he origins of Paint Louis, the city’s annual celebration of graffiti and mural art, stretch back to the Delmar Loop in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Where the Chuck Berry statue is now, there was a wall that served as a meetup spot for a wide swath of people from different backgrounds.
“That was no man’s land,” Har rington says. “Nobody hung out there.”They’d found a home for what would eventually become Paint Louis, a community gathering ev ery Labor Day weekend to paint a two-mile stretch of the floodway. This year marks the event’s 25th anniversary, and the cofounders have planned a special weekend — including a performance by rapper KRS-One — to commemo rate it as well as a preview event, First Look, with Artists First. But things didn’t start out so or ganized.Atthe same time the group set tled by the flood wall, hip-hop had started to get really big, and the group expanded to include graffiti artists, break dancers, DJs and un derground hip-hop acts. At night, people would turn their cars’ lights onto the wall, and everyone would start painting.
Thanks to word of mouth among the graffiti community, Paint Lou is is perhaps more famous outside St. Louis than within. But that’s started to change.
Paint Louis has grown in other
Written by ZOE BUTLER A fter a 10-year-plus drought, rapper Chingy is finally gear ing up to release a new stu dioThealbum.artist born Howard Bailey Jr. released his latest single, “Can’t Blame Me,” last week, the first track to be featured on his forthcoming album Chinglish. The St. Louis native wrote the lyrics for the new song, which was pro duced by Fresco Kane and centers on the trials and tribulations of Chingy’s career. It’s a bouncy, clas sically Chingy track with an easy beat and smooth lyrics that keep the listener nodding along. “I’m just talking about a lot of the things that happened in my life that hurt my career and a lot of people who were not as loyal as I thought,” Chingy tells RFT about the new track. “And then it comes to the point where I don’t mess with those people no more, so you can’t blame me.”
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 37 MUSIC 37 [HIP-HOP]
“If you appreciate me, you’re gonna appreciate this album,” Ch ingy says. “If you appreciate a dif ferent sound and growth, you’re gonna appreciate this album.” n
COURTESY ADKINS PUBLICITY
“That’s gonna be a new side of me for people,” Chingy says. “It’s got elements like [my earlier mu sic], but it’s a different sound.”
his sons were both born on the ninth, like Chingy. “The numbers just all match up,” Chingy says. He’s best known for his main stream success on Jackpot, his debut 2003 album, featuring hit songs “Right Thurr,” “Holidae Inn” featuring Snoop Dogg and Ludacris, and “One Call Away” featuring J-Weav. More recently, Chingy’s single “Right Thurr” was featured in the opening scenes of Netflix’s 2021 film Don’t Look Up featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. That track’s unique and St. Lou is-specific pronunciation of the word “there” is another example of how Chinglish got its album name.
Chingy likes finding connections with astrology. He explains that in numerology his life-path number is three, which “has to do with death of the old and birth of the new.”
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LanguagePlain
The name “369” takes a spiritual meaning for Chingy. He likes find ing connections with astrology and overlapping meaning, and through that, he explains how in numerology his life-path number is three, which “has to do with death of the old and birth of the new.” His children all contribute to this numerological meaningmaking, too, as his daughters were both born on the third and
“We grew up to learn English. Well, I have a different type of terminology, so I just called it Chinglish,” Chingy says. ‘It’s the language of me, myself and I. My truth and my being.” The full Chinglish album is due to drop at the beginning of 2023, which will mark the 20th anniver sary of “Right Thurr,” Chingy’s big gest hit. The timing is something he says he couldn’t have planned better considering this new mate rial deals with connecting to the past and future, all selves linked.
Chinglish is the rapper’s first studio album since 2010’s Success & Failure. According to Chingy, the album has been several years in the making and synthesizes a variety of styles, including his classic party music and his newer, mysticism-influenced lyrics and beats. In one song, Chingy says it’ll seem like he’s talking about a girl, but he’s actually referring to his “seven chakra system.”
Chinglish will be the rapper’s first studio album since 2010.
Another one of the songs fea tured on Chinglish is called “Ball ing,” which doesn’t refer to ball ing in the materialistic sense but rather having an inner wisdom and spiritual currency. While he’s keeping some of the early-2000s hip-hop vibes of his prior music, he’s creating new dimensions that develop his spiritual side.
Chingy teases first studio album in 10-plus years with new single “Can’t Blame Me”
Chingy grew up in north St. Louis and has been writing songs since he was nine years old, producing them just a cou ple years later. As pre-teens, he and his friends would gather in one of their houses that had a studio setup. He’d work on cre ating beats there, a practice that would eventually develop into his music career, including his work as a platinum-selling hiphop artist and more recent role as a record producer for his own label, dubbed 369 Creative Mind Records.
38 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com
Second Life for the Second Floor
On the walls hang bright, colorful paint ings crafted by local artist Dana Smith. Each painting is of different musicians playing in the St. Louis area; for example, a painting of beloved, bygone St. Louis mu sician Anne Tkach tuning her bass hangs on the wall, the canvas filled with blues, greens and hints of yellow. Smith was a natural first choice to be on display in Jack’s Joint. Parker and Smith met about 10 years ago at CBGB. Maxi mum Effort and Shaved Women were play ing a show that night, Parker recounts, and the energy was palpable, a “real punk-rock show,” he says. Everyone was buzzing af terward, when the two met.
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 39 [NEW VENUES]
“Dana just made a hell of a lot of sense,” Parker says. “He was always on the list as I was trying to figure out this business and how I was gonna do Jack’s Joint.” Smith’s paintings are for sale, some for hundreds of dollars, some for thou sands. Parker is mulling setting a rule that paintings in Jack’s Joint cannot exceed a $2,000 price point. He’s working to make the gallery affordable for the working per son, a place where people can come take in music and find a painting they like to takeHe’shome.open to feedback from artists on price range to make sure he’s not “mess ing anything up.” He wants Jack’s Joint to flow together, where someone can walk up to the area to enjoy the music because they love rock & roll, see the paintings in spired by musicians and want one. While $700 is a lot of money, Parker says the paintings are worth it.
Overall, though, he wants it to be a space where people can get lost in the art.
The art is what is most important to him. So whether he’s hanging more paintings at Jack’s Joint or setting the stage for upcoming Musique Nights — this fall’s lineup already includes pianist Jonathan Danis, the DG Pavilion Sextet and Jason Swagler — Parker will always be focused on the art. “At the end of the day, everybody just wants to be cool,” Parker says. “It’s really a big part of life. I think if you want to be cool, you just got to focus on something beautiful. So if that’s what you want, just stay focused on beauty and everything else will take care of itself. And in the art world, there’s a lot of beauty. It’s just overwhelming.” n Jack’s Joint puts on concerts mainly on Friday and Saturday nights. Visit O’Connell’s Pub’s Facebook page for event details. The revamped space features work by local artists. | JENNA JONES
O’Connell’s Pub revamps its upstairs for new art and music space
“The art takes you to a different place, you know, different part of your brain per haps,” Parker says. “That’s what I want this place to be, just some place that takes you to a different place.”
Parker asked Smith if he had taken a picture of the show — and Smith had while peering in from a window, looking in on the band and the audience. Parker com missioned him to paint it, and it still hangs right at the back of Jack’s Joint, next to the desk that was once Jack Parker’s.
T he late Jack Parker loved antiques — he collected and sold mainly arts-and-crafts furniture with a spe cial interest in Navajo rugs, Stickley fur niture and work from Missouri painters from the second floor of his restaurant, O’Connell’s Pub (4652 Shaw Avenue, 314-773-6600). The shop was known as Second Floor
Written by JENNA JONES
Fast-forwardSecondhand.some50 years, and Parker’s son, John Parker, has taken over both the pub and its second floor, morph ing Jack Parker’s antique shop into an art gallery and live-music venue aptly called Jack’sJack’sJoint.Joint embodies the passion the younger Parker feels for art and music, a parallel to how his dad felt about antiques. The space has musical instruments near the windows — a microphone, some guitars and a baby grand piano. Parker describes himself as a maintenance man of Jack’s Joint. He wants to set the stage, literally, for the artists and let them shine.
ERIN BODE: 8 p.m., $15-$20. Joe’s Cafe, 6014 Kingsbury Ave, St. Louis. THE GASLIGHT SQUARES: 5:30 p.m., free. Mis souri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 314-746-4599.
LOVE JONES “THE BAND”: 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
THEM DIRTY ROSES: 8 p.m., $10-$12. Off Broad way, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. VOODOO PRINCE: 8 p.m., $15-$20. The Big Top, 3401 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, 314-533-0367.
E ach 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 CO VID-19, so do check with the venue for the most up-to-date information before you head out for the night. Of course, be sure that you are aware of the venues’ COVID-safety requirements, as those vary from place to place, and you don’t want to get stuck outside because you forgot your mask or proof of vaccination. Happy showgoing!
THE DRIVER ERA: w/ Summer Salt 7:30 p.m., $30-$105. The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, 314-423-8500.
BILLY BARNETT BAND: 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
NERF BLASTER LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL: 7 p.m., $30. Aim N’ Play, 6189 Minerva Ave, St Louis, 314-916-4282. P.A.M. (POETRY AND MUSIC) WITH CAM & FRIENDS FUNDRAISER: 7 p.m., $35-$40. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
MISS MAY I: 7:30 p.m., $22-$50. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
MATT “RATTLESNAKE” LESCH BLUES BAND: 11 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
PITBULL: w/ Iggy Azalea 8 p.m., $29.95-$565.
STUDIO 314: w/ DJ Nico Marie, Makeda Kravitz 9 p.m., $10. Blank Space, 2847 Cherokee St., St. Louis. SWAMP RATS: 6:30 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 S. Kingshighway, 2nd floor, St. Louis, 314-376-5313.
WIZ KHALIFA: w/ Logic 6:30 p.m., $29.50. Hol lywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.
SATURDAY 3 ALTON JAZZ & WINE FESTIVAL: w/ The Alton Jazz Confluence, The Kendrick Smith Trio, Mardra Thomas, Reggie Thomas 6 p.m., $8.50-$99.50. Alton Riverfront Amphitheater, 1 Henry St, Alton.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX: 7:30 p.m., $25-$45. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA: w/ Stray From the Path, Dying Wish 7:30 p.m., $25. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. DHORUBA COLLECTIVE: 11 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
RANDY ROGERS BAND: w/ Wade Bowen 7 p.m., $20-$65. Chesterfield Amphitheater, 631 Veter ans Place Drive, Chesterfield. SAUCIER: 7:30 p.m., $10. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
JAI IMANI: w/ Slow Spread Love, LouTribe Jigg 8 p.m., $20. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.
CHRIS SHEPHERD & THE ALL STARS: 10 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
Indie rock act Snail Mail will perform twice in St. Louis in the next two months, including this weekend at the Pageant.
| VIA ARTIST BANDCAMP [CRITIC’S PICK] Continued on pg 43 OUT EVERY NIGHT 41
SKEET RODGERS & INNER CITY BLUES BAND: 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
RAGING NATHANS: w/ Slow Death, Breakmouth An nie, the Haddonfields 8 p.m., $10-$15. Off Broad way, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
MOM’S KITCHEN: 10 p.m., $12. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
THE HAMILTON BAND: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Bier garten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
JOE PARK & THE HOT CLUB OF ST. LOUIS: 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.
DREA VOCALZ: 7 p.m., $10-$50. The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square inside Grandel Theatre, St. Louis, 314-776-9550.
KEVIN BUCKLEY: 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.
Snail Mail w/ Momma, Hotline TNT 8 p.m. Saturday, September 3. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard. $25 to $40. 314-726-6161. By the time indie rock outfit Snail Mail debuted in 2015, then 15-year-old bandleader Lindsey Jordan already had several years of experience playing on stages both big and small, ranging from restaurants and coffeehouses to punk clubs. The young songwriter’s trajectory is so unique that Snail Mail’s first show was, in fact, at the Unregistered Nurse Festival in Baltimore, Maryland — an event that featured performances from Screaming Females, Sheer Mag and Priests. In a true rock & roll dream sce nario, that event set off a series of record deals and opportunities that, in many ways, culminated with the release of the hit 2021 record Valentine. Sure, “mini malist” is one way to describe Jordan’s approach to what at first seems like simple, straightforward songs, but her intentionality and attention to negative space ultimately results in an aesthetic that feels massive and even grandiose. Not everything has gone so smoothly for Jordan, who, shortly after the release of the new album, had to halt all upcom ing tours in order to undergo surgery to address polyps found on her vocal chords. But concerts can and have been rescheduled, and following a speedy re covery Snail Mail has had a banner year in 2022, with an appearance on the Tonight Show back in May and a Euro pean tour over the summer. Jordan and Co. come to St. Louis as headliners on a string of shows that also feature L.A. indie rockers Momma and Minneapolis hunks Hotline TNT. Second Verse Same As the First: If this show sells out or you’re looking to hit the repeat button, Snail Mail will be back yet again in October, this time as part of a tour that includes Baltimore’s Turnstile and JPEGMAFIA. —Joseph Hess
BROTHER FRANCIS AND THE SOULTONES: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
BOREAL HILLS: w/ Solipse, Cyanides 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 41
FRIDAY 2 CROWNING: w/ the Vast, Mindclot 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH SISTERS: w/ Finn’s Motel, Soft Crisis, Trauma Harness 8 p.m., $15$18. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. GAELIC STORM: 8 p.m., $35. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505.
THAYNE BRADFORD & GARY HUNT: 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.
BOXCAR: 7 p.m., free. Crooked Creek Winery Downtown, 107 N Oak St, Centralia, 618-918-3814.
JEREMY TAYLOR: 8 p.m., $10-$25. The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square inside Grandel Theatre, St. Louis, 314-776-9550.
THURSDAY 1
42 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com 89.1 KCLC PRESENTS OH, BIRTHDAYWORLDINVERTED-21STTOUR THE SHINS PLUS JOSEPH Tue, Sept 06 THE AUSTRALIANPINKFLOYDSHOWSat,Sept10 40TH ANNIVERSARYTOUR CHRISTOPHERCROSSFri,Sept16TROMBONESHORTY&ORLEANSAVENUEThurs,Sept22JUDAH&THELION PLUS SMALLPOOLS Fri, Sept 23 KSHE KLASSIC CAR SHOW & CONCERT FEAT. JACKYL & PEARCYSTEPHENOFRATTSUN,SEPT25WHEELERWALKER,JR.SAT,OCT1 SUPERACHE TOUR Mon,CONANGRAYOct3 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR RACHELHOLLIS RACH TALK LIVE! Sat, Oct 8 KILLER QUEEN A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN PATRICKFEAT.MYERS AS FREDDIE MERCURY Wed, Oct 12
SNAIL MAIL: w/ Momma, Hotline TNT 8 p.m., $25. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. STEVE EWING: 8 p.m., $20. Joe’s Cafe, 6014 Kingsbury Ave, St. Louis.
JOHN MCVEY BAND: 8 p.m., free. Hammer stone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. THE USUAL SUSPECTS: 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MONDAY314-436-5222.
VOODOO PIGPEN: 9 p.m., $12. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
PAUL NIEHAUS IV: Tue., Sept. 6, 7 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314773-5565. RANDALL KING: Sat., Oct. 8, 8 p.m., $20. The Ready Room, 4140 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929.
5 HOT KOOLAID: 3 p.m., free. Don’s Place, 3006 S Highway 94, Defiance, 6189171885. MONDAY NIGHT REVIEW: w/ Tim, Danny and Randy 7 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. SHINEDOWN: w/ Jelly Roll, John Harvie 7 p.m., $29.50-$125. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944. THIRD SIGHT BAND: 7 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TUESDAY 6 BAND OF HEATHENS: w/ Dalton Domino 8 p.m., $20/$25. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. CHRIS SHEPHERD BAND: 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
SKEET RODGERS & INNER CITY BLUES BAND: Fri., Sept. 2, 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 41
TRAUMA HARNESS: w/ Finn’s Motel, Soft Crisis, Electric Toothbrush Sisters 7 p.m., $15. Off Broad way, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
DREA VOCALZ: Thu., Sept. 1, 7 p.m., $10-$50. The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square inside Grandel Theatre, St. Louis, 314-776-9550.
FOOL HOUSE: THE ULTIMATE 90S DANCE PARTY: 4 p.m., free. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, 314-345-9481.
DALE WATSON: Wed., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., $22-$25. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314498-6989. DHORUBA COLLECTIVE: Sat., Sept. 3, 11 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
JOHN MCVEY BAND: Sun., Sept. 4, 8 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314773-5565.
TOGETHER PANGEA: W/ the Cavves, Wed., Sept. 21, 8 p.m., $15-$18. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. n Rat Bath w/ Dee Bird, Mold Gold, Horse Magik 6 p.m. Sunday, September 4. The Record Space, 8716 Gravois Road. Donation-based admission. 314-437-2727. We’ve all had that classmate or co-worker who plays in a band and, when asked what type of music they play, they respond with, “Oh it doesn’t fit into any one genre.” It’s hard not to roll your eyes — it’s a haughty claim for anyone to say that their music exists beyond any known musical boundar ies in 2022 — but some bands do actually pull off their grand aspirations of clashing styles. Milwaukee’s Rat Bath doesn’t so much claim such a status (its Bandcamp clearly states cowpunk and a few other genres), yet the band takes a kaleidoscop ic approach, cherry-picking different songs to cover while recklessly mixing a multi tude of sounds that make up wholly origi nal compositions. Rat From Hell, released back in February, offers a solid starting point for the band’s exploration of alterna tive country and rockabilly sensibilities, but where Rat Bath really excels is in its the atrical live show, which incorporates horror and more into a lengthy and wide-ranging set of songs. Not only is the group prolific, with a constant stream of recorded music since 2019, but Rat Bath keeps a rigorous tour schedule — this show is its second ap pearance in St. Louis this year. Home Base: With an ever-expanding selection of music for sale, including a treasure trove of artists from St. Louis’ past and present, the Record Space oc casionally operates as a DIY venue with live music. Sure, Affton might not be the first part of town locals think about when record shopping or going out to see a show, but this shop is an island oasis that should definitely be on any music fan’s radar. —Joseph Hess
MARGARET & ERIC: 7 p.m., free. Hammer stone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
SUNDAY 4 BENEFIT CONCERT FOR TERI ROSE: 3 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
SPONGE: W/ Misplaced Religion, the Ricters, Fri., Oct. 21, 8 p.m., $25-$30. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
JAI IMANI: W/ Slow Spread Love, LouTribe Jigg, Sat., Sept. 3, 8 p.m., $20. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.
TIM CAPPELLO: w/ DJ Sex Nintendo 7:30 p.m., $10-$13. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 43
JINJER: W/ P.O.D., Vended, Space of Variations, Wed., Nov. 9, 7 p.m., $37-$42. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
DREW SHEAFOR: 10 a.m., free. Das Bevo Biergar ten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
JEREMY TAYLOR: Fri., Sept. 2, 8 p.m., $10-$25. The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square inside Grandel Theatre, St. Louis, 314-776-9550.
LJ & THE SLEEZE: w/ Weed Tuth, the Public 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
DANNY KALAHER: 7:30 p.m., free. Steve’s Hot Dogs, 3145 South Grand, St. Louis.
CHEER-ACCIDENT: W/ Season to Risk, Fri., Oct. 14, 8 p.m., $16. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
MOM’S KITCHEN: Fri., Sept. 2, 10 p.m., $12. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
WEDNESDAY 7
SKAMASALA: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
SET IT OFF: 7:30 p.m., $25-$49.50. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
OVERBORED UNDERPAID: Sat., Sept. 17, 8 p.m., $12. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. P.A.M. (POETRY AND MUSIC) WITH CAM & FRIENDS FUNDRAISER: Sat., Sept. 3, 7 p.m., $35$40. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
SHINYRIBS: Thu., Oct. 27, 8 p.m., $20. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505.
THIS JUST IN \ALTON JAZZ & WINE FESTIVAL: W/ The Alton Jazz Confluence, The Kendrick Smith Trio, Mardra Thomas, Reggie Thomas, Sat., Sept. 3, 6 p.m., $8.50-$99.50. Alton Riverfront Amphithe ater, 1 Henry St, Alton. BENEFIT CONCERT FOR TERI ROSE: Sun., Sept. 4, 3 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
SANTINI THE GREAT: W/ DJ Sno, Repo Marley, Venny Vicciii, Gudda Gang, Sat., Oct. 29, 8 p.m., $15-$20. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
DAYSEEKER: w/ the Word Alive, Moodring 7:30 p.m., $22-$39.50. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
LOVE JONES “THE BAND”: Sat., Sept. 3, 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
CHRIS SHEPHERD BAND: Tue., Sept. 6, 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
THIS IS CASUALLY HAPPENING: A COMEDY SHOWCASE: W/ Scott James, Meredith Hopping, Brandon Taylor, Mollie Amburgey, Wed., Sept. 28, 7 p.m., $15. The Golden Hoosier, 3707 S Kingshighway Blvd, Saint Louis, (314) 354-8044.
PAUL NIEHAUS IV: 7 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
BIG RICH MCDONOUGH & THE RHYTHM REN EGADES: 7 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
CLERKS III: THE CONVENIENCE TOUR: Thu., Oct. 27, 7 p.m., $37-$55. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
THE SHINS: 8 p.m., $45-$145. The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, 314-423-8500.
[CRITIC’S PICK]
Milwaukee’s Rat Bath will bring its genre-bending sound to the Record Space on Sunday. | VIA ARTIST BANDCAMP
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.
ST. LOUIS WORLD’S FARE: Welcome to the St. Louis World’s Fare Heritage Festival & Games September 2, 3, & 4th! St. Louis World’s Fare Festival features the region’s best Food Trucks with a focus on diversity being represented on an annual basis. This festival is designed to cel ebrate the City’s Heritage through educational programs while uplifting the Region’s talent of today through art, food, music, and dance., Fri., Sept. 2, 5-11 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 3, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 4, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Free. Forest Park, World’s Fair Pavilion, St. Louis. THIRD SIGHT BAND: Mon., Sept. 5, 7 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
TOM HALL: 3 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
44 RIVERFRONT TIMES AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 riverfronttimes.com WEDNESDAY, 8/31/22 Sean Canan's Voodoo Players Presents: Voodoo Uncle Tupelo & Wilco! 9pm THURSDAY, 9/1/22 Cotton Chops 9pm FREE SHOW! FRIDAY, 9/2/22 Gerard Erker 4:30pm FREE SHOW! Mom's Kitchen 10pm SATURDAY , 9/3/22 All Roostered Up 12pm FREE SHOW! Saint Boogie Brass Band 10pm SUNDAY, 9/4/22 Drew Lance & Friends 4pm FREE SHOW! Brother Francis & The Soultones 9pm MONDAY, 9/5/22 Alex Ruwe Band 5pm FREE SHOW! Soulard Blues Band 9pm TUESDAY, 9/6/22 Duhart Duo 5pm FREE SHOW! TBA 9pm ORDER ONLINE FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP! Monday-Saturday11am-9:30pmSunday11am-8:30pm HAPPYSPECIALSHOUR MONDAY-FRIDAY 11AM-4PM
Playing BY DAN SAVAGE
riverfronttimes.com AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 RIVERFRONT TIMES 45
JOE NEWTON
I’m mainly just thrown by the lack of alignment between his words and actions. Should I just accept this relationship for what ever it is and date other people? The sex is great, but I feel very ro mantically involved — four months in — and I’m not sure it’s wise to get more involved. Behaves Like A Boyfriend But Excludes Romantic Stamp Telling someone to disengage ro mantically is easy, BLABBERS. Ac tually disengaging romantically is hard.I’ve heard from so many people over the years who were strug gling to smother romantic feelings for lovers who did them wrong. People pining away for exes who fucked their best friends, emp tied their checking accounts, and refused to respond to their texts. So, while I could tell you to adjust your romantic expectations down ward while you keep fucking this boy, the odds of you being able to keep your romantic feelings in check — much less smother them — while he’s hosting birthday par ties for you and sucking your dick are close to zero. If you keep see ing this guy, the emotional hits (“I don’t want a relationship,” “I feel no spark”) will keep coming. So, what’s up with this guy? If he acts like a boyfriend and fucks like a boyfriend, why doesn’t he want to be a boyfriend? Maybe he’s still exploring his sexuality — maybe it’s just what he told you — and he worries that labeling the relationship, e.g., be coming boyfriend official, is going to limit him. He is a recent refu gee from Straightland, after all, and most residents of Straight land have no concept of roman tic relationships that aren’t sexu ally exclusive. (Except for straight people who read my column and listen to the Lovecast!) Just be cause he’s out doesn’t mean he’s up to speed. Or maybe he’s not gay. You say he just came out, BLAB BER, but you don’t say what he came out as. You also say the sex has been great, and I believe you. Guys sometimes discover they like having sex with men and then assume they must be gay; they see enjoying sex with other men as disqualifying where straight ness is concerned. And so it is. But it’s not disqualifying where bi sexuality is concerned. So, if this guy came out as gay because he thought he had to be gay because otherwise he wouldn’t enjoy your dick so much, his lack of roman tic feelings for you — if coupled with ongoing romantic and/or sexual attractions to women — could mean he’s bisexual and het eroromantic (BAH). It’s a thing. BAH guys can confuse gay men; while some BAH guys don’t want anything to do with their male sex partners before or after sex, other BAH guys are open to being “buds.” These BAH guys — BAH guys who wanna hang out, go on dates, host your birthday party — not only confuse gay dudes, they sometimes break our hearts. Or maybe this guy knows you could be boyfriends without be ing exclusive (maybe you ex plained that to him) or maybe he’s gay and not into you the same way you’re into him (also a thing, and a sad one). But whatever his issues might be, BLABBERS, you should see other people while he explores/sucks/fucks his way through those issues. And if hang ing out with him right now is too painful — if seeing him hurts too much — don’t hang out with him, don’t socialize with him, don’t take turns sitting on dicks with him. He was honest and di rect with you, BLABBERS, and you should be just as honest and direct with him. Getting the boy friend treatment from a guy who not only insists he isn’t your boy friend but also doesn’t have any romantic feelings for you — the gap you perceive between his ac tions and his words — is going to make you miserable if you can’t disengage romantically, BLAB BERS, which you most likely can’t.
Hey Dan: I’m a 29-year-old gay man just shy of five years sober. I’ve had to do a lot of work on my self in recovery to accept and love myself after being dragged to con version therapy when I was a teen ager by my narcissistic evangelical parents. I met a guy in AA in May who at the time was nine months sober. His sobriety coincided with him coming out. He’s 27 years old and still unpacking a lot. He broke up with a girlfriend a few months before we met and I’m the first guy he’s ever dated. I was initially hesi tant about getting involved with him, given these parameters, but I went for it anyway. The first two months were great. We had great chemistry and great sex, we went on dates, etc. A month ago he hit me with, “I don’t want to be in a relationship as I’m explor ing my sexuality.” My initial reac tion was to step back and assume this was the end. However, noth ing changed. He continued to ini tiate affection and even threw me a birthday party at his home with decorations he bought. A week later he hits me with, “I’ve lost the romantic spark but I still want to hang out, have sex, and go on dates.”
There is more to this week’s Sav age Love. To read the entire col umn, go to Savage.Love.
Hey Dan: I’m a gay boy in the big city. I had a threesome with two married guys and it didn’t go well, to put it mildly… Go to Savage.Love to read the rest.
SAVAGE LOVE 45 Guys
Checkquestions@savagelove.netouttheSavageLovecast.@FakeDanSavageonTwitter
Tell him you’re not angry, you don’t hate him, and you still like him very much. And that’s the problem: you like him way more than he likes you. As much as you enjoy his company, as much as you enjoy his dick, continuing to date or fuck him means feeding your self-esteem into an emotion al P.S.shredder.Congrats on your sobriety — and while I hope your parents apologized to you at some point, I’m guessing they haven’t, seeing as they aren’t just evangelicals, but narcissists to boot.
iswhereaswithseemustthenwithlikediscoversometimestheyhavingsexmenandassumetheybegay;theyenjoyingsexothermendisqualifyingstraightnessconcerned.
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Name: Mariah Bevineahliving in Belleville, Illinois. Hereby inform of a petition for appointment of legal guardianship of Antonio and MekyahTravlus-Bey. The natural father and mother of Antonio and Mekyahare Antonio Beyand Kelsey Ratcliffeand last known location of Kelsey Ratcliffeand Antonio Beyboth living in the St. Louis, MO area. The parents are hereby informed, a Written Objection to Guardianship of the minors must be filed within 30 days or the guardianship may be entered without further hearing in St. Clair County in Illinois. The 30-day period for objection to end is 9-302022. Please contact Helena Viehweg, Childrenʼs Home and Aid, Office Number (618)235-5335. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE Senior capabilitiesmaintainpositionsDevOpsEngineer(ElektaInc.;St.Charles,MO).Build&System/DevOpstosupportagilesoftwareproductdvlpmnt.Emailresume:recruitingna@elekta.com.Ref6265453.
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