JimDine,RobeinFrance,1986,color lithograph,soft-groundetchingand power-tooldrypointwithhandcoloring, ed.4/20,301//2 x 221/2"
N ow Acc ep t ing C ons i gnment s f orour
Dec em b er Gall ery Auct ion
fe a turing w ork sbyp abl o picasso , and yw arhol , keithharing ,c ons t antin brancusi,thor v aldhellesen,h. cl a udepissarro , ed w ard s teichen, albrechtdurer,isamunoguchi,josef hoffmann,williams.burroughs,ol ga albiz u, andmore
x 141/2inches
RAFineArtDecoBronzeChryselep-
The Very BestCare.
Our Promise: Youwillbecared for byattentive,experienced individualswhoarecommitted toyourpersonal wellbeing.
M e DIA S tr Ate GIS t Michelle Brown > mbrown@laduenews.com
SP ec IAL P r OJ ect S MANAG er Maggie Peters > mpeters@laduenews.com
c LASSIFI e D A ccOUN t MANAG er Lisa Taylor > ltaylor@lee.net
ART
A rt DI rectO r Laura De Vlieger > ldevlieger@laduenews.com
ASSIS tAN t A rt DI rectO r Christopher Oth > coth@laduenews.com
cON tr I b U t ING PHOtOG r APH er S Diane Anderson, Christina Kling-Garrett
A LEE ENTERPRISES PUBLICATION
AD D ITI ON ALARE A LISTINGS
24WoodcrestDrive(Ladue) C $3,399,000
2025WoodlandKnoll(Kirkwood) C $2,770,000
2033WoodlandKnoll(Kirkwood) C $2,745,000
923ClaymarkDrive(Town&Country) C $2,600,000
2017WoodlandKnoll(Kirkwood) C $2,525,000
2002WoodlandKnoll(Kirkwood) C $2,455,000
2005WoodlandKnoll(Kirkwood) C $2,370,000
2010WoodlandKnoll(Kirkwood) C $2,285,000
733DeerVueLane(Fenton) C $1,800,000
12869GoodsonRoad(DesPeres) C $1,275,000
115OrchardAvenue(WebsterGroves) C $1,200,000
11925SantinoCourt(CreveCoeur)$1,175,000
931St.RitaAvenue(Clayton) C $1,175,000
12031CarberryPl.(Town&Country) C $1,100,000
8045DaytonaDrive(Clayton) C $1,098,000
8023CrescentDrive(Clayton) C $1,050,000
512CoverdaleLane(Kirkwood) C $850,000
411W.KirkhamAve.(WebsterGroves) C $749,000
760HeatherstoneDrive(HighRidge) C $699,900
7527OxfordDrive#2W(Clayton) C $599,000
131GayAvenue(Clayton) C $595,000
7527OxfordDrive#2E(Clayton) C $589,000
2241FenwayFarmsTrail(Fenton) C $579,000
7266CrevelingDrive(UniversityCity) C $550,000
864RendererDrive(WarsonWoods) C $527,500
767RadcliffeAvenue(UniversityCity) C $449,000
16205WindfallRidgeDr.(Chesterfield) C $400,000
1189GlenwayDrive(Glendale) C $399,900
7400BrunoAvenue(RichmondHeights) C $385,000
11460NoraCourt(Bridgeton) C $385,000
4341ArcoAvenue(St.LouisCity) C $379,000
6227LoughboroughAvenue(StL) C $350,000 625SouthSkinkerBlvd.#902(StL) C $339,900 5744WalshStreet(St.LouisCity) C $335,500 15090GreenCircleDrive(Chesterfield) C $335,000 3340BentwaterPlace(St.Charles) C $319,000
1270WeatherbyDrive(St.Louis) C $299,000
7220CranstonDrive(Affton) C $285,000 1030WoodbineDrive(Crestwood) C $279,900
7740DaleAvenue(RichmondHeights) C $269,900 528TuxedoBlvd.(WebsterGroves) C $249,900 6809AlexanderStreet(St.LouisCity) C $237,900 1960MarineTerr.,#J(MarylandHghts.) C $165,000 4501LindellBlvd.#4D(St.LouisCity) C
Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis president Nathan Bill shared this adage as a call to patience for beginners in the art of bonsai. As associate editor Emily Standlee uncovers in her profile of the society on p. 40, styling the trees into their signature shape is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to bonsai artistry; the real challenge is keeping the trees alive and healthy, especially after a trim. As with so many aspects of life, it’s the daily rhythm of care that matters most.
Such is the case with the upkeep of local historical sites, which reward their caretakers by keeping a bygone era alive in a way that a photo or history book could never do justice. Standlee returns on p. 36, where she speaks with Bill Standard, executive director of the Chatillon-DeMenil House Foundation, which has preserved the iconic historic mansion – and told the stories of the families who lived there – for more than 60 years.
Preventative medicine is another example. Columnist Connie Mitchell speaks with WashU oncologist Katherine Weilbaecher who, alongside a team of fellow health care professionals and community leaders, investigated the concerning trends of Black women in North County presenting higher mortality rates for breast cancer. Weilbaecher details her journey to launching a pilot clinic for screenings in Florissant on p. 12.
Happy reading,
Ashley Klein, Managing Editor
LadueNews.com
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Enhance your feed with home, style and community news by liking and following Ladue News on Facebook.
Follow @laduenews on Instagram for a fresh look at content in our magazine and online, plus exclusive community insight.
SIGN UP TODAY
Get our best stories delivered daily, weekly or monthly to your inbox with our suite of newsletters by signing up on the laduenews. com homepage.
Keep up with our latest stories and updates by following @laduenews on X.
LN ONLINE
LN shares what to know about the public-private partnership evolving one of the St. Louis area’s most popular shopping and entertainment destinations. Visit laduenews.com to read more on the multimillion-dollar project transforming The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis.
Dr. Katherine Weilbaecher was concerned about the trends. As an oncologist specializing in metastatic breast cancer, she noticed Black patients from North County were coming to her office with more advanced cancers. So she recently created a mammography clinic targeted to the high-risk population to find those cancers earlier and ensure patients receive follow-up care.
“When I look at the data coming from my own backyard, there’s higher mortality rates from breast cancer in the north city and county area, especially in our African-American patients who are already higher risk for presenting with later-stage cancers,” says Weilbaecher, the Oliver M. Langenberg distinguished professor of the science and practice of medicine at Washington University. “I thought, ‘Enough. Let’s figure this out.’”
If breast cancer is detected before it’s palpable, usually during a screening mammogram, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%, she notes. “Whereas, if you wait until the tumors are much bigger, the five-year survival is significantly lower, more like 50 to 70%. We know our patients present with larger tumors and a decreased survival rate.”
The answer, at least in part, Weilbaecher says, is to improve screening access and awareness among Black women who are at higher risk of late-stage diagnosis and who often have more aggressive forms of breast cancer than other population segments. Weilbaecher began collaborating with WashU colleagues who were addressing breast cancer disparities. Oncologists, radiologists, public health specialists, researchers, physicians involved in community outreach efforts and representatives of community organizations came together to focus on the problem in North County.
The team identified a variety of concerns among North County women, including financial and transportation barriers, fears of diagnosis and
mistrust of the medical establishment. “We knew that more advertising alone wouldn’t do it – change in this area had to be community led, and a lot of these partners already bring the Siteman Mammography Van to churches and other locations, working to raise awareness about things that are already in place.”
The team realized that, to further encourage screening in the area, it would have to leverage existing clinical resources. Working with colleagues at Christian Hospital, Weilbaecher and the WashU team created a pilot program at Siteman Cancer Center at Northwest HealthCare in Florissant, featuring a mammography clinic staffed by on-site radiologists and a nurse navigator, which opened in September 2023. Messages to the community focused on the importance of annual screening mammograms for women 40 and older. Because Black women are more likely to get breast cancer younger, the clinic also promoted the benefits of risk assessments performed by the nurse navigator.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the pilot clinic’s services, however, is that patients receive results before leaving the clinic. “Within 20 to 30 minutes, the nurse navigator tells them the results of the mammogram and risk assessment,” Weilbaecher says. “If the mammogram has an abnormal finding, the nurse navigator helps the patient schedule follow-up diagnostic exams and biopsies within two to four weeks. A significant number of patients had been lost to follow-up, so now they’re getting the support they need.”
There’s higher mortality rates from breast cancer in the north city and county area, especially in our African‑American patients ... I thought, ‘Enough. Let’s figure this out.’
– Dr. KAtHerINe WeILbAecHer
Weilbaecher is enthusiastic about the changes she’s already seeing in identifying cancers earlier when they’re more treatable, yet she knows the work must continue. In tracking patients at the clinic, she found 34% were at high risk, a significant proportion that might have otherwise missed screening. She and her colleagues speak at community events and health fairs, and the clinical team continues to push ahead with new ideas for even more ways to ensure women are screened at the right age and follow up with the right next steps.
“We want breast screening to be a good experience so women come back every year. I would love to put myself out of business [as an oncologist] because women are getting diagnosed and treated early, before they have to come to me with advanced cancers,” she says.
The pilot mammography clinic is located at 1225 Graham Road in Florissant and is open every Wednesday morning by appointment or for walk-ins. Screening mammograms can be scheduled online at siteman. wustl.edu/prevention/mammography/locations/mammography-atnorthwest-healthcare or by calling 314-747-7222.
take your retirement to new heights with elevated senior living at Aberdeen Heights. Offering an expansive range of services and amenities, maintenance-free living and a thriving social scene, this community goes above and beyond to ensure your retirement hits all the high notes. call today to schedule your personal appointment!
AccuCare Home Health Care of St. Louis 1185 N. Price Road, 314-692-0020, accucare.com
“Our Heart. Your Home.” Accucare Home Health care is St. Louis’ most-trusted, private in-home healthcare provider. As the only private duty home healthcare provider with 24/7 rN oversight, providing you and your loved one peace of mind knowing they are being cared for like family. celebrating 29 years of caring.
experience high-rise, elegant senior living tailored to everything you want and need out of retirement. Five-star hospitality, contemporary apartments with a view and exceptional dining, clarendale clayton is at the center of it all. It’s where you want to be.
for Seniors
By Maggie Peters
Friendship Village 646-898-8500 (Chesterfield), 314-270-7700 (Sunset Hills), friendshipvillagestl.com
Live independently at Friendship Village! enjoy the freedom to fill your days with what you love most, and if you need an extra set of hands, its dedicated staff are there when you need them. Plan your visit and see how independence is celebrated at Friendship Village!
The Gatesworth 1 McKnight Place, 314-993-0111, thegatesworth.com
the Gatesworth’s stunning grounds have been carefully prepared for the season, offering vibrant fall foliage and serene outdoor spaces for our residents to enjoy. Whether you’re taking a peaceful walk through our gardens or relaxing in one of our newly spruced-up courtyards, it is the perfect place to experience all the joys of autumn.
McGuire Moving & Storage
314-241-0600, mcguiremoving.com
Moving is tough, no matter your age. the team at McGuire Moving has a deep understanding of the need for specialized care of older adult customers. McGuire Moving & Storage are SILVer certIFIeD and participate in specialty training for moving older adults. trust McGuire to lighten the stress load moving can often cause.
McKnight Place Extended Care
2 McKnight Place, 314-993-2221, mcknightplace.com
McKnight Place extended care provides skilled nursing and support senior services who can no longer function day-to-day without assistance and when assisted living can no longer meet their needs. It also provides support from caregivers for those with complex diagnoses, extenuating circumstances, and/or multiple medical conditions and challenges.
TRUSTEDSUPERIORCARE
ThreeGrande Locations.
We’ve beenproudlyservingolderadultsinthegreater St. LouisareaatthreeluxuriousGrandelocationsand aroundthecountryatothercelebrated BridgeSenior Livingcommunities. Findouthowassistedlivingand memorycare providedby a trustednameinseniorliving canprovidetheutmostincomfortandpeace of mind.
Callone of our Grande communitiestoschedule a touror registerforanupcoming event.
YOU GOTTA HAVE H earth
By Megan Rubenstein > Photos courtesy of Hearth & Soul
Looking for a last-minute hostess gift? A cute new outfit for a holiday party? Somewhere to host a book signing? Look no further than Hearth & Soul, a boutique that opened in Ladue just over two years ago.
Best known for its careful curation of home décor, furniture, clothing and gifts, the boutique also hosts events and serves as a gathering place.
“What makes Hearth & Soul different is that it is a blend of hospitality and retail in a home-like setting,” founder and CEO Susie Busch-Transou says. “When you think about the name, ‘Hearth’ is a symbol of the home, and ‘Soul’ reflects the experiences that fill your soul and bring inspiration to people’s lives.”
The concept for Hearth & Soul was born out of a visit with a life coach while on a retreat with friends 10 years ago.
“In my one-hour visit, that is where Hearth & Soul was born. We talked about things that I love, and those things include special times with family and friends, my home as a both a comforting and social place in my world, and community engagement and hospitality. The woman we met with said ‘I see a storefront in your future,’ and then it was [decided]. Twelve months later, we opened in Tallahassee, Florida.”
Eventually, the St. Louis native decided to bring the shop back to her hometown nearly 25 years after she moved away.
“I put together a business plan, and if the concept was received well in Tallahassee, St. Louis, my hometown, was at the top of the list,” Busch-Transou says.
The biggest piece of positive feedback BuschTransou has received from the community is their appreciation for the “one-stop-shop.”
I love ... special times with family and friends, my home as a both a comforting and social place in my world, and community engagement and hospitality. – SUSIe bUScH-trANSOU
“We carry men’s and women’s clothes and home décor. There are gifts for people who love to entertain or who love to read. It brings everything together in one place,” Busch-Transou says. “Everyone is so busy, so people love to be able to go to one place and check everything off their list.”
Visitors can choose to purchase just about anything they see in the store – the staged furniture and clothes in the closets are all for sale. Busch-Transou adds: “Our customers love that they can buy furniture, lighting and accessories right off the floor. We can do custom orders, but
what people have found to be really convenient is being able to find unique pieces that they can take home immediately.”
The shop, which is styled to look like a home, makes it easy for shoppers to envision each piece in their own homes – and also makes for a cozy event venue for book signings, floral workshops and other community events.
Hearth & Soul partners with one nonprofit and one artist each month, highlighting their work, hosting related events and selling a candle to benefit the nonprofit. Connecting with the community is at the core of the shop’s mission.
“The thing that’s so important to me is the warmth and the feeling people have when they visit,” Busch-Transou says. “They feel welcome, they feel comfortable, they feel included. That’s so important today, to have a place to go where you feel those things.”
Anew holiday tradition will soon open for the Christmas season in the St. Louis metro.
JINGLE!, a pop-up experience for visitors of all ages, promises twinkling lights, ice skating, visits from Santa Claus and memories that will last a lifetime.
“In real simple terms, we’re making magic memories,” JINGLE! Holiday president and “Chief Reindeer Herder” Mack McKee says. “It is a celebration of the holidays with lights, family, friends, activities and wonderful food and beverage. We try to think about when we were all kids and the merriment of the holidays.”
The pop-up experience will feature a 10-lane snow tubing hill, a quarter-mile-long ice skating trail to artisan vendors, live entertainment, themed cocktails and more. Open Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, JINGLE! will transform CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri, into an immersive winter wonderland.
JINGLE! debuted last year in Kansas City, welcoming more than 180,000 guests during the 2023 holiday season, encouraging the JINGLE! team to expand to O’Fallon and Springfield, Missouri, in 2024.
“We’ll have artisan vendors, local food trucks and our light maze – where every time you turn a corner, you discover a new lighted element,” McKee says. “We’ll have more than 4 million lights throughout the event.”
JINGLE! will offer seasonal experiences for both kids and adults. Youngsters can meet Santa and enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus, while those of legal drinking age can sample sips from five unique holiday bars. Kick back and relax at a Hamptons-themed Christmas lodge or visit the Bah Humbug Piano Bar for live music. Attendees can expect other merriments like special tree lighting ceremonies, carolers, magicians, dancers and more.
In addition, JINGLE! is debuting “The 12 Days of Giving,” through which it will partner with 12 different charities on 12 different nights to help them raise money.
McKee hopes JINGLE! becomes a new tradition for the St. Louis area: “It just comes back to what creates those magic memories,” he says. “It doesn’t really matter if you’re young or old; you’re going to find something fun to enjoy.”
Tickets are available now at jingleholiday.com/stl.
It doesn’t really matter if you’re young or old; you’re going to find something fun to enjoy.
– MAcK McKee
GLAM Gothic
By Nancy Robinson > Photos supplied
Get your spooky on just in time for Halloween with some gothic-chic home décor.
Waterford’s bestselling Lismore pattern takes a dramatic turn with the Lismore black collection. rich, opaque black color adds a striking contrast to the sparkling clear crystal, emphasizing the deep cuts of the pattern. Makes for a dramatic bar display. (salliehome.com)
Conciergeservice n Entryaccesscontrol
Packageconcierge n Coffee&Winebar Fitnesscenterwithweight,cardio&therapyrooms
Maitland-Smith’s edgy eclipse metal wall-light sconce is designed with a hammered matte black and antique gold leaf finish with a tassel accent. It is 38 inches tall and 21 inches wide. (shubertdesign.com)
Karges Furniture co., a division of Kindel Furniture, presents the Louis XVI three-tiered server. One of the company’s bestselling designs, this stunning piece features burly grafted walnut on top, shelves and drawer fronts as well as a brass grille and gallery. the cast brass hardware is made in Florence, Italy. (kindelfurniture.com)
Autumn Bounty
By Pat Raven, Ph.D. and Julie Hess
When the autumn air is crisp and fresh, so are the apples. October is peak season for apple harvest across the country. “New Crop” apples are always the best. Whether you grow them in your garden, pick them yourself at Eckert’s Farms, find them at a roadside stand or farmers’ market, or hand select them from the grocer’s counter, apples taste the best when freshly harvested. If you get a mealy apple, chances are that it has been stored for as long as a year! Get them now and remember what an apple should taste like.
With thousands of varieties in existence and a dozen or so different varieties available at any time in the market, how do you choose? First, determine your purpose. A snacking apple is not the same as a baking apple or a sauce maker. Some varieties are better for storing or “good keepers.” Others are slower to brown when cut – but it is easy to delay browning (caused by oxidation) by dipping slices into water with a little salt, lemon juice or honey for a few minutes and then draining them well.
To me, Red Delicious is suited only to use as a table decoration, where it could easily be substituted with a wax apple. Golden Delicious is not much better in flavor, but is slow to brown. Jonathan and its offspring Jonagold are older varieties with a loyal following. My mom was partial to them for their gentle acidity.
Whether you choose a modern apple or a heritage variety, find the one with a flavor profile that suits your palate. For me, the perfect snacking apple has tender and colorful skin, crispy texture with juicy flesh, a balance of flavor that has enough tartness to offset the sweet and an intriguingly floral or spicy fragrance. I first met Empire on a blind tasting panel more than 40 years ago. As I was accustomed to Jonathans and McIntoshes, the Empire was an apple awakening for me: tart, sweet, crisp, juicy, aromatic and pretty. It is still on my short list, but only during harvest season.
Honeycrisp is the new modern classic for snacking and keeping. It can be rather expensive due to production issues. Cosmic Crisp and SweeTango are descendants of Honeycrisp and are best
Whether you choose a modern apple or a heritage variety, find the one with a flavor profile that suits your palate.
enjoyed from the fresh fall crop. If you prefer a sweeter apple, try Jazz, Envy, Evercrisp or Fuji. Gala and Braeburn are good multipurpose apples – they are crisp enough for snacking, good in salads and delicious in a pie. Also good for salads and slow to brown are Honeycrisp, Empire, Fuji and Pink Lady. Great for baking are Cortland, Rubyfrost, Granny Smith, Jonathan and Crispin (also known as Mutsu). However, the best apples are the ones you actually enjoy eating. Don’t waste your time or money on the duds. There are simply too many great choices!
Enter yourphoto throughNov.24: STLtoday.com/contests
Discoveracommunitythatgoesaboveandbeyondtoen sureyourretirementhitsone highnoteafteranother.Everymeal—moredeliciousthanthelast.Everyactivity—more excitingthanyouhopedfor.Everyfriend ship—moreenr ichingthanyouimagined.Withan expansiverangeofservicesandamenities,maintenance-freeliving,andat hr ivingsocial scene,it’seasytoreachnewh ei ghtsinretirementatAberdeenH ei ghts.
Gold-
GETTER
By Amanda Dahl
Nory Beebe is no one-trick pony. The hair and makeup artist owns a salon in St. Louis where she sees her regular clients. She gives brides that extra boost of confidence on their wedding days. She also works magic on music and video sets, at media days for professional sports teams and even for Olympians.
“It was huge for St. Louis, [and] it was huge for me as an artist,” Beebe says of her work at the 2021 Olympic trials, “being in interviews with people like Nastia Liukin and Simone Biles and Suni Lee before we even knew Suni was going to be a medalist.”
Beebe describes the experience as surreal, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and into a global space where she watched greatness unfold on the gymnastics mat. In the years following the pandemic, she launched a line of brow-perfecting products called Shady Brows, partnered with St. Louis City SC on media days to promote the city’s first Major League Soccer team, and opened her own studio.
“I feel so honored and lucky every time I’m found by these people and their teams,” Beebe says. “When it’s happening, I’m going through the motions and showing up for work. In hindsight, I look back and think, ‘Wow, that experience was really cool!’”
The high-achieving woman is now looking ahead to the next milestone in her career: evolving Club BB – her salon and retail outlet for cosmetics and accessories – into a larger studio from which other talented artists can rent space. Even as the beautician expands her skillset, she reminds herself and those with whom she works to always stay grounded.
“Beauty is always going to be important – in moderation, like everything else,” Beebe says. “Don’t get consumed by it. I would hate for anyone, from a young girl to an older woman, to take their makeup off at night and not love themselves. The skin we are in is already so beautiful, and all I do is help my clients enhance it.”
Club BB, 9993 Manchester Road, St. Louis; Nory Beebe, norybeebe.com
byJoan
Visit laduenews.com to spy Nory Beebe’s work in music videos for Alexandra Kay, a country artist currently on tour with Jelly Roll. Kay hails from Waterloo, Illinois, just 30 minutes from St. Louis. She and Jelly Roll made Billboard news with two collaborations on the “Twisters” movie soundtrack.
Photos courtesy of Nory Beebe with St. Louis City SC
Photo
Fisher
“OPEN
WINDOW”
By Madeleine Ackerburg
The doors of First Congregational Church of St. Louis opened wide on Friday, Oct. 18, inviting the public into an entirely different kind of sanctuary – one that brims with art, conversation and a sense of community. “Open Window,” the latest exhibition at The Red Gate Gallery, transforms the historic, religious space into an unexpected canvas for creativity, offering a meeting place where art, faith and open dialogue converge to create something beautiful.
Co-curated by Adrienne Outlaw and Ben Bradshaw, the exhibit, which runs through Dec. 1, celebrates the one-year anniversary of The Red Gate Gallery by bringing together more than 30 artists from different creative disciplines. The historic church’s architecture serves as both a backdrop and a participant in the unfolding narrative of the show. “The church has been a generous host, and that openness has really allowed the artists to push boundaries,” Bradshaw says. “We’re inviting people to come together, reflect, engage and connect on a deeper level.”
For many of the artists, “Open Window” isn’t just a chance to showcase their talents – it’s also a platform for change. Outlaw and Bradshaw selected works that provoke thought, challense viewers to look beyond the surface, and see art as more than just an aesthetic experience. “The art in ‘Open Window’ isn’t just about beauty,” Bradshaw says. “It’s about making you think. It’s about holding up a mirror to society and asking: What role do we each play in creating or challenging the systems around us?”
On opening night, the space buzzed with energy as performances unfolded. From live dance pieces to musical interludes, the artists used every corner of the venue to explore themes of identity, resistance and empowerment.
And yet, amid the creativity and activism, there’s a unifying thread of community. St. Louis can feel like a city of silos – neighborhoods and cultures that don’t always intersect – but “Open Window” seeks to change that. “St. Louis is such a rich tapestry of cultures and communities, but too often we don’t cross paths,” Bradshaw explains. “This show is about breaking down those barriers, inviting people to step out of their usual spaces and connect in new ways.”
The Red Gate Gallery, First Congregational Church of St. Louis, 6501 Wydown Blvd., St. Louis, 314-721-5060, firstcongregational.org/theredgategallery
> Images courtesy of the Red Gate Gallery
“Cold Stratification” by Natalie Baldeón
“Peacock 2” by Virginia Liu
“Orderly Chaos” by Jonathan Reycraft
“Poeta” by Olga Rusinova
Burger 809
Story and photos by Mabel Suen
One of downtown St. Louis’ most scenic structures has an exciting new tenant. After a one-and-ahalf year sabbatical, Burger 809 reopened in July with a new home at the Terrace View location in Citygarden, filling the picturesque space previously occupied by Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.
As reported by Feast last April, Burger 809 has developed a following over the years for its variety of premium sliders with different flavor profiles as well as indulgent sides, signature sandwiches and salads. After debuting in 2015 as a catering company, the brick-and-mortar concept got its start on Cherokee Street in 2019 at a bite-sized 300-square-foot storefront, later moving the business down the street to fill the kitchen at Bluewood Brewing in 2022 until the lease ended in December of that year.
Chef-owner Tasha Smith is now back to cooking up her specialties on a flat top griddle. Her sliders each come on their own devoted roll, including potato buns, pretzel buns and Hawaiian rolls. She and her staff hand-patty all the burgers with signature spices to infuse each bite with savory flavor. Smith recommends new customers to try the slider trio to sample a bit of everything.
Popular sliders include the Hi Thai, featuring chicken breast basted with sweet, spicy Thai sauce and topped with pickles. The South Side Salmon comes with fresh Atlanta salmon marinated in garlic-herb butter and topped with fresh jalapeño Larger sandwich options include the B809 Melt with beef, grilled onions, bacon, Colby Jack, mozzarella, and jalapeño bacon jam.
Pair the fare with fresh salads or a few different side options including beer-battered onion rings and loaded cheese fries. Fresh lemonade, available by the bottle in regular and fruity flavors, and desserts of the day round out the set of offerings. A separate brunch menu – available Sundays from 9 to 11 a.m. – features options such as a turkey leg and a fresh take on a classic: chicken with blueberry pancakes.
“I’m excited to connect with old customers and meet new ones. I’m most excited about opening up the space with special events and music so people can really enjoy it,” Smith says. “I want to help be part of the revitalization of downtown.”
Burger 809 is Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Burger 809, 808 Chestnut St., St. Louis, burger809.com
If you’ve visited the Lemp Mansion in Benton Park, you know the area is rich in historic homes. One that truly stands out is the ChatillonDeMenil House, whose back porch, with its towering Greek columns, faces DeMenil Place on the east end of Cherokee Street. The building’s front, which boasts even grander columns, faces Interstate 55. However, its previous residents once enjoyed a view of the Mississippi River from the second-story balcony. The mansion is one of St. Louis’ best examples of late Greek Revival-style architecture, and its history is certainly storied.
Now maintained by the Chatillon-DeMenil House Foundation, the building was originally constructed as a four-room farmhouse in 1849 by Henri Chatillon, a fur trapper and trader. “Henri went out west with [men] from Harvard, and when they came back, they wrote ‘The Oregon Trail,’” Bill Stanard, executive director for the foundation, says. A retired boat captain and author, Stanard, along with his corgi colleague Lulu, oversees the building’s upkeep and gives tours to visitors.
In 1876, St. Louis constructed 13th Street; since the original wooden rear section of the home extended into the roadway, it was demolished and could only be rebuilt up to the sidewalk. Visitors wandering the mansion’s elegantly preserved rooms today can still see the seam from the 1876 renovation. “Since the house faced the street, guests would enter back there, and they put pillars back there too. So you have a double Greek Revival,” Stanard says. “The third floor in the old part is 9 feet below the third floor in the new part.”
Upon returning to St. Louis, Chatillon married Odile Delor Lux, granddaughter of Carondelet founder Clement Delor de Treget, and settled down in the farmhouse. “They lived here for five years, and then they sold the house and opened a saloon down on the levee,” Stanard explains. “Henri enjoyed hanging out with the guys and telling tall tales.” In 1856, French doctor Nicolas DeMenil and his wife Emilie Sophie Chouteau, a descendent of St. Louis founder Pierre Laclède, bought the small home. “Sophie had relatives with very fancy residences, so she asked [Nicolas] for a house with white pillars,” Stanard says. “In 1861, they hired British architect Henry Pitcher.” In 1863, renovations were finished, transforming the farmhouse into an expansive Greek Revival-style mansion.
After Nicolas DeMenil died in 1882, his son Alexander inherited the mansion. Alexander died in 1928 and left the mansion to his son Charles.
“Charles didn’t want to live here,” Stanard says. “The DeMenils had sold off most of their land between here and the Mississippi River to industries.” In 1929, the building became a boardinghouse. In 1945, Lee Hess purchased the property with the intention of turning the limestone caves beneath it into a tourist attraction, the Cherokee Caves. In 1960, the foundation took over operations. Today, most of the interior furnishings are not original to the DeMenil family, though an astonishingly intact piano, plus ornate mirrors and more, survived. One of Standard’s favorite pieces, a hanging lamp depicting Aphrodite in an oyster shell, also made it through the home’s time as a boardinghouse. “She’s a very strong goddess,” he laughs. “I’m sure she had to have been strong to survive that.” Thanks to modern preservation efforts – and the dedication of the original families – the Chatillon-DeMenil House lives on, giving us a glimpse into St. Louis’ formative years.
Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion, 3352 Demenil Place, St. Louis, 314-771-5828, demenil.org
Story and photos by Emily Standlee
OPeN DOOr ANIMAL SANctUArY
Paws for Party gala
In late summer, Open Door Animal Sanctuary held its annual fundraising event at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac in the Ambassador Ballroom. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while browsing a selection of silent auction items. The evening continued with a formal sit-down dinner. Valerie Johnson was honored as Volunteer of the Year for her exceptional dedication to Open Door, and Mary Kitchen received the Don Nichols Compassion Award for her heartfelt care toward rescued dogs and cats. Open Door Animal Sanctuary remains committed to providing a nurturing environment and finding loving homes for animals in need in the St. Louis area.
Visit laduenews.com to see more photos from this event >
Paws to Party is our largest fundraiser of the year and is crucial for Open Door Animal Sanctuary. As a fully donationfunded organization, this event helps sustain our mission. The funds raised go directly to the care of over 100 dogs and 250 cats, ensuring each one is spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. As one of Missouri’s largest no-kill shelters, and as we enter our 50th year of serving the community, this fundraiser is more important than ever.
– Tracie Quackenbush EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
richard and Laura Francisco
Natasha Wells, Amy and Julie Dubman
brian Stevens
Shawny Norris, brook Dubman
Marcia and Mike benz
Story and photos by Diane Anderson
Susan ryan, ellen bornhop
er in connor, ryan Kanatzar
MISSOUrI
URBANAIRE: Untamed PrOMO
By Emily Standlee > Photos by christina Kling-Garrett
In September, PROMO Missouri, the state’s LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization, held its
URBANAIRE: Untamed event at The Smith at the Moto Museum in Grand Center This year’s gathering urged attendees to advocate for queer and BIPOC rights while building connections within the St. Louis community. The evening began with cocktails and live painting by artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer, set amid the museum’s motorcycle collection. Guests then moved to the ballroom for a dynamic drag performance and Fund-A-Need hosted by Akasha Royale, followed by an address from Missouri gubernatorial candidate Crystal Quade. Musicians Paige Alyssa and DJ Jillian closed out the night as attendees mingled and enjoyed light bites.
Visit laduenews.com to see more photos from this event >
This gala is another way we are showcasing just how powerful we are as a community. People from across the state, including business, community and elected leaders, all come to this event because it has never been more important for us to show Missouri that there are clearly more people who support equality than those w ho do not.
– Lacie Jett PROMO DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
toni and Katie Finch
robert Fischer, Katy erker-Lynch, Hemla Singaravelu, Min Liu and Maya Phan
Lisa Marie thalhammer
ted Wight and Sarah bruno
Michael Meyer and Abbey Schumacher
Sage Hall, Sharee Adams-Hall, Paula-Jo and Mike Pyrchla
I have beeninterestedinbonsai forlongerthan I can remember. While obtaining my Ph.D. inorganic chemistryatthe Universityof TexasatAustin, I happenedupontheBonsaiSocietyofAustin’sannualshow inZilker Parkand was blown away. This wasthefirsttime I hadseen“nice”treesinperson;thepictures youseeonlinedon’t come closetodoing[them]justice.I immediately got a tree – or four – andstartedmaking“bonsai,” aka sticksinpots,which iswhere 90% ofpeoplestartout.[After my]postdocinMadrid, my wife and I cameback toSt. Louisto raiseour family.…I immediatelylookedupBSGSTL. Afewweekslater, in March of2016,[we] were attendingourfirstmeetingwithour 2-month-oldbaby intow.We now have [around]100treesin variousstagesofdevelopment.
What’s your favoritepartofthe workshops?
My favoritepartofthe workshopsisteachingothers. I lovegettingnew people intothehobbyandhelpingthemlearntoimprove their owntrees.Oneofthe greatestbenefitsto[bonsai]isthatitbridgesdivides.Our club consistsofpeople acrossallpolitical, generational,educationalandsocio-economicspectrums –allbroughttogetherbytheirlovefortiny trees.Inthe ever-increasing worldof onlineecho-chamberswhereyoucanlimit yourinteractionstothosethatthink inlockstepwith yourself, the world yearns for commonground.TheBSGSTL, andbonsaiin general,provides aframework forthat commonground:Eldersare valued fortheir experience, and youtharevalued fortheirpotential.Intheend,the treesare meanttooutlive usall. …We may “own”thetreestemporarily, butasan allegorytoourlivingartformthatisnevertruly“finished.”We all eventuallylearn tounderstandthat,withoutpropercare, our communityandculturecollapses.
Howto bonsaiwiththeBSGSTL
“All of ourmeetingsare open to the generalpublic, regardlessof membershipstatus,whichis$20 for the year,” Billsays.“They are typically heldthefirst Tuesday of mostmonths at the Commerce Bank Educational Center of the MissouriBotanicalGarden.” Membershipis required to participate in club-sponsored eventssuchaslectures and workshops on techniqueandmore. Signup at stlbonsai.com.
Whatare sometips you’d give someonejust startingoutinbonsai?
E mbroideredcre wnecksandprinted t eesandsw e atshirtspairwithhatsand beanies tokeep you we ather-re adyno matterthemood of theseason. W hether Ta ylor Swiftpiqued yourinterestin foo tballor you w ere alre ady a dedicated f an, thevintage-styleKansasCitysw e atshirt isaninstant “add toc art.”
FROM R OMANTIC TREEHOUSERETREATS TOLUXURYLODGES, THESESCENICCABIN RENTALSOFFERTHE PERFECT E SCAPE THIS AUTUMN.
ByMadeleineAckerburg
Just afew hours’drivefromSt. Louis, thelandscapeshiftsfromtall buildingsandcityscapestoserene forests,windingriversandrolling hills,offeringtheperfectopportunity foranunforgettablecabinescape. Whetherit’sthe cozy warmthof awoodburningfireplace, the charmof a treehouse perchedhighin a canopy ortheluxuryof a lakesidelodge, thesenearby retreatsare designedtowhisk you away intonature’s embrace this fall.Here’s a selectionofstays thatguaranteeserenity, alljust a short road trip away.
