Riverfront Times, July 21, 2020 by Riverfront Times

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“My brother didn’t do anything to deserve to be locked up. Period. And he never came out. He was here four days … and he never came out. He was here four days. Four days.” — CHRISTOPHER BROWN’S SISTER MARTHA MOORE AND HER HUSBAND TIM MOORE PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE CLOSE THE WORKHOUSE VICTORY LAP ON JULY 19

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Dream Defenders

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THE FUNNY BONE WILL OFFICIALLY BE REOPENING JULY 28TH FOR OPEN MIC NIGHT! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL AND LIVE COMEDY! WE CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE YOU BACK!

ust across the river, the keepers of Katherine Dunham’s dream are fighting an important fight. If you’re not familiar with her, Dunham was a famous dancer, choreographer and academic who traveled the world, but adopted East St. Louis for what may have been her most important work. In partnership with the Pulitzer Center, RFT contributor Eric Berger focused on the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, a campus that the big-hearted polymath established as a hub for dance and learning. The centers have helped launch countless children toward success in the arts and life, but keeping the ambitious operation going long after its namesake’s death has only gotten more difficult in the pandemic. Berger details the current situation, where resources are running out but the will of volunteers is as strong as ever. — Doyle Murphy, editor in chief

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Publisher Chris Keating Editor in Chief Doyle Murphy

FEATURING THE LIKES OF GREG WARREN, TIM CONVY, DUKE TAYLOR, JOE MARLOTTI, AND DAN CHOPIN. PLEASE CONTACT THE CLUB FOR EACH NIGHT’S PERFORMERS.

E D I T O R I A L Digital Editor Jaime Lees Hero In A Hot Dog Suit Daniel Hill Contributors Trenton Almgren-Davis, Cheryl Baehr, Eric Berger, Jeannette Cooperman, Thomas Crone, Mike Fitzgerald, Judy Lucas, Noah MacMillan, Andy Paulissen, Justin Poole, Christian Schaeffer, Chris Ward, Theo Welling, Danny Wicentowski, Nyara Williams, Ymani Wince Columnist Ray Hartmann

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Survival Dance The fight to keep alive Katherine Dunham’s dreams for East St. Louis Cover illustration by

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HARTMANN Fear Factor Rex Sinquefield ‘promotes’ St. Louis with outsourced racism BY RAY HARTMANN

ave you ever wondered what keeps people up at night in Cape Girardeau? OK, neither have I, but the answer is still pretty interesting. They’re afraid they might become like us. “Don’t let St. Louis racialism sweep into our neighborhoods,” proclaims a dire warning, nestled strategically beneath images of three “Black Lives Matters” signs, another reading “Defund the Police” and, of course, the faces of a couple of menacing folks who don’t appear altogether white. “Vote no on Swampy Swan.” As you might have inferred, these

are the words of a Republican campaign flier, aimed at one far-right conservative, State Rep. Kathy Swan, by another far-right conservative, State Rep. Holly Rehder. The two are vying for the vacant seat in Missouri’s 27th state senate district in deep-red southeast Missouri. This is Rush Limbaugh country, where they don’t bother with racial dog whistles. You want to warn about “the Blacks,” as our president calls them, you screech your message with the 150 decibels of an NHRA dragster. Especially in a Republican primary for which sinking to the depths of St. Louis lurks as the scariest of prospects. Normally, the St. Louis angle to the southeast Missouri race would constitute no big deal: Outstate hostility to the state’s “urban” population isn’t breaking news. But this one’s a little different because the fellow who’s ultimately funding the racist messaging is none other than Rex Sinquefield, proud native and self-appointed guardian of St. Louis.

Sinquefield has funded Rehder’s “Holly PAC” with a generous $50,000 donation of his own and another $2,500 from his “Grow Missouri” PAC for good measure. That would represent the large majority of Holly PAC funding to date, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records. Certainly, Sinquefield would deny any part in messaging that stokes racial fears, denigrates his beloved hometown or in this case, both. But if Holly Rehder owes a huge portion of her campaign treasury to you, then you own a huge portion of how she spends it. It’s Rehder’s good fortune that she embraces two precious Rex causes that Swan does not, at least not as passionately: Private school vouchers and the elimination of state tax credit programs. These were formerly known as “Defund Public Education” and “Defund Historic Preservation.” For her part, Swan is also not afraid to stick out her neck for Trumpism. Her anti-abortion

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stances are as extreme as it gets — and as if her positioning as an anti-women’s rights woman weren’t enough — she stood on the floor on the House in March as a registered nurse and proclaimed that all this COVID-19 stuff was “boring Doomsday talk.” Fortunately for Swan, the pandemic went away like magic in April, or she might have looked bad. It won’t matter to us who winds up casting creepy votes from the fighting 27th senate seat. But it should matter that a self-proclaimed civic guardian is participating in such a horrid misrepresentation of St. Louis. Sinquefield arguably looks worse than Swan. Not only is he subsidizing garbage about creeping St. Louis radicalism, but the campaign piece also contains a bizarre reference to how Swan “voted to send billions of tax dollars to a St. Louis mega-corporation and wealthy developers.” That does seem a bit overstated, but also implies that

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Sinquefield and his own priorities are not far from the Rehder effort. Sinquefield is an e entri noted for twin hobbies as a master of hess and as an a id olle tor of politi al souls. he two passions often interse t as the se reti e quasi-billionaire arranges his pie es on the politi al hessboards of St. ouis and statewide issouri. Sometimes the passions don’t interse t so well. Right now, Sinquefield is in the midst of trying to onin e people of olor that they will be people of more money if only they’d support his pet libertarian dream of airport pri ati ation. e seems to be selling the pro e t as a i il rights ause to the C and others, whi h is bi arre to begin with. wonder what they’d think of the message his andidate is selling in Cape irardeau. long those lines, it’s also disomforting that Sinquefield takes omfort in politi al onsultant eff Roe, whose ompany apparently was responsible for the ampaign pie e. Roe is not your e eryday hampion of hi anery. e has built quite a national enterprise with his xiom nterprises and an proudly boast that he was on e des ribed by disgra ed ex- o ernor ri reitens as a snake, liar and oward. t is fitting, then, that Roe has signed on to eam reitens. hat re lamation pro e t will need to wait as Roe and others with national onne tions will fo us on stoking fears as the only means of rump’s reele tion. f fear is the strategy, St. ouis will be ground ero, and that means e eryone’s fa orite neighbors from hell — ark and atri ia Closkey — will remain enterstage in pla es like Cape irardeau. o matter how mu h people in St. ouis would like to forget they are here. he Closkeys gained international repute for themsel es — and one more ni e round of ra e-related humiliation for St. ouis — by training their firearms on those most frightening of all riminal elements pea eful protesters walking down the street past one’s house. Cir uit ttorney im ardner harged them onday with Class felony ounts of unlawful use of a weapon. hen, as if that won’t make their heads explode enough, ardner kindly offered them parti ipation in her di ersion program, one of the riminal usti e reforms that make right-wing Republi ans

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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Rep. Kathy Swan proclaimed in March that all this COVID-19 stuff was “boring Doomsday talk.” howl that she’s soft on rime. ow, that’s poeti usti e. t will remain to be seen how ra ed the Republi ans are to get in trying to martyr these flawed figures. resident rump tweeted on their behalf, presumably ust to honor the ause of pointing guns at people of olor. Senator osh awley arguably hit a new low — whi h is saying something in his ase — when he alled upon ttorney eneral illiam Barr to in estigate ardner for in estigating the Closkeys. hat might the iolation be termed rose uting hile Bla k inally, there was o . ike arson umping on the pile by promising to pardon the Closkeys without the benefit of a single fa t other than what is in the media. ow that’s good go ernan e, onsistent with that famous Se ond mendment pro ision, he go ernment will pass no law restri ting the use of firearms by white residents of gated ommunities. But to those of you who want to ridi ule and ilify the Closkeys for their meanness, for their fashion tragedy, for being despised by their neighbors, for ha ing gi en rump , in 2 , for playing the i tim in a mess of their own making, sure, go ahead and take all the heap shots you want. e want to help the Closkeys. n fa t, ’ e got a good idea, one that Rex Sinquefield ould help with. et’s raise enough money for oms emand tion, a gun- ontrol organi ation, to purhase the Closkeys mansion from them at fair market alue. nd then let’s organi e a ound e to o er all the mo ing osts to send the Closkeys to Cape irardeau. hey an buy another ni e mansion. nd ’m ertain they will feel safer there. n Ray Hartmann founded the Riverfront Times in 1977. Contact him at rhartmann@sbcglobal.net or catch him on St. Louis In the Know With Ray Hartmann and Jay Kanzler from 9 to 11 p.m. Monday thru Friday on KTRS (550 AM).

NEWS

‘Back Up, or You’re Going Next’ Written by

DOYLE MURPHY

T St. Louis aldermen voted unanimously to close the notorious city Workhouse jail, a move activists championed for years. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI

St. Louis Aldermen Vote to Close Workhouse Written by

DOYLE MURPHY

t. Louis’ Workhouse jail seems to be headed for retirement. The Board of Aldermen voted unanimously on Friday to close the notorious facility, moving a bill to Mayor Lyda rewson’s desk for final appro al. “I’m excited and anxious and it’s about time!” says Diedre Wortham, one of the activists who fought to close the jail. “Too many people ha e suffered for too many years in the Workhouse, and ’m proud to be part of this incredible movement.” he ail, o ially known as the Medium Security Institution, is the older of two city correctional facilities. Built in 1966, it’s long been criticized as grimy, dangerous and inhumane. Inmates often languished for months awaiting trial. In the summers, people lo ked inside omplained of insufferable heat, eventually

prompting the ity to install an air-conditioning system. Grievances against the jail were common over the years, but a formal ampaign, Close the Workhouse, launched in 2018, pressuring ity o ials to shut it down. For more than two years, the organization lobbied relentlessly, putting together datahea y reports and mapping out a pathway for the ity to sa e money by closing the jail. he ampaign in ludes former inmates and founding organizations Action St. Louis, the Bail ro e t-St. ouis and r hCity efenders. he group has made steady progress, but there was a ma or shift as C hit the city. A concerted effort to reduce the ity’s ail population saw the Workhouse’s numbers dwindle to just dozens as of today. Aided by the added incentive to pre ent outbreaks of the irus in holding facilities, advocates for closing the jail have been able to point to the urrent situation — just 86 inmates in the Workhouse as of last week, more than 2 empty spots in the newer ail, the City usti e Center — as proof that the aging omplex wasn’t worth its $16 million annual budget. Five years ago, the city’s total ail population a eraged ,7 per day. here were 7 inmates counted on Friday. he bill passed riday — Board Bill 92 — calls for winding down the facility over the coming

“Too many people have suffered for too many years in the Workhouse, and I’m proud to be part of this incredible movement.” months, mo ing orre tions o cers into other city jobs and shifting the jail’s budget toward other causes, such as assigning social workers to inmates with mental health problems and establishing a fund to aid high-crime neighborhoods. he passage of Board Bill 2 is a histori step towards usti e, equity and re-en isioning publi safety in the ity of St. ouis, Cofounder and Executive Director of Action St. Louis Kayla Reed said in a statement. ur ampaign has always alled for the closure of Workhouse as a means to invest directly into communities and this legislation does that with the creation of the Division of Supporti e Re-entry and Reimagining Public Safety Fund.” n

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he C is suing two St. ouis ops, alleging they took revenge on an advocate for the city’s unhoused because she re orded them making a pair of arrests. Sharon Morrow, director of street outrea h for the nonprofit Street it hen, was filming o ers last year outside of City all when she was ordered out of her S , slammed fa e first to the ground and arrested in front of City all. hese o ers retaliated against Ms. Morrow because she exercised her right to record their misconduct,” Tony Rothert, legal dire tor of the C of issouri, said in a written statement. he in ident began on pril , 2019. Morrow was in a downtown park to hand out food and other supplies, a ording to the lawsuit. hen she saw poli e arresting a man, she crossed the street and started recording. Parts of the onfrontation were aptured on two ideo lips — one re orded by Morrow and another by a witness — that were pro ided to the Riverfront Times by the C . n orrow’s ideo, she approa hes as St. ouis poli e er Stephen gun obi and another offi er are questioning a man who is handcuffed and seated outside of City all. he ideo from the C has been edited to blur his face and bleep out his personal information. But judging by the conversation, he seems to be unhoused. “Y’all ain’t got no warrants,” he tells the o ers. ust got a summons up there earlier today for so- alled trespassing on the ent, trying to keep warm. s soon as gun obi sees orrow, he tells her to move back. She retreats a few steps and ontinues filming. he hand uffed man is upset, but he doesn’t make any mo e to get up. gun obi tells another obser er, ar us unt,

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to move back. “I’m not going to tell you again,” Ogunjobi says. Ogunjobi and his partner then help the handcuffed man to his feet and place him in the back of a police cruiser. For a moment, it appears the interaction is ending. But then Ogunjobi turns and walks toward Hunt, pausing briefly to look at Morrow, who is still recording. The ACLU suit notes that Ogunjobi walks about twelve paces to where Hunt is standing and then demands his name. Hunt says, “I’m not telling you shit.” Ogunjobi turns to his partner er Bridget ournie and says, “You got a second set of cuffs, Bridget?” It’s worth noting here what police say happened, according to an incident report: “While conducting a pedestrian check relative to a call for drug sales, suspect #1 [Hunt] started to yell, and told multiple homeless individuals to surround the police and videotape the incident. Suspect #1 refused to vacate the immediate area. He was advised he was under arrest. Offi ers grabbed a hold of him and attempted to place his hands behind his back. During the struggle an er fell to the ground with suspect #1 falling on top of him. Once on the ground suspect #1 still refused to place his hands behind his back. After he was tased all resistance ceased. He was then placed in handcuffs.” That’s not exactly the way it played out in the video. Morrow’s footage shows another person trying to play peacemaker, but Ogunjobi has made up his mind. “Put your hands behind your back,” he tells Hunt. In response, Hunt lies down on his back and stretches his arms out at his sides. Morrow tries to talk Ogunjobi down. “This guy didn’t do anything,” she says. “He really did nothing, guys.” Ogunjobi tells Hunt to roll over and starts u ng his right wrist as a handful of other o ers arrive to help. “Stop resisting,” an o er yells as unt starts to get to his feet. It escalates quickly from there. ne o er grabs Hunt around the neck, others try to force his arms behind his back, and Ogunjobi knees Hunt in the thigh as they drag him back down to the sidewalk. “Put your hands behind your ba k, an o er says.

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SLMPD Officer Stephen Ogunjobi pounds on Sharon Morrow’s window before arresting her. | SCREENGRAB “Nope,” Hunt says. “Nope.” Police shock him twice with a stun gun before rolling him over and u ng him. Here is the police version of what happened: “Suspect #2 [Morrow] had responded to the incident and began videoing the resisting on her phone. She was told during the incident to back away; however, she continued to stand within 3 feet of the o ers. uring the resisting with suspe t , the o ers had to step around her. While in the process of being detained suspect #2 retreated to her vehicle and locked her door. Suspect #2 was told to exit the vehicle and when she did, she refused to place her hands behind her back, she was taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs.” In the video, Morrow doesn’t appear to interfere with police. By the time Hunt is cuffed, it again seems the incident is coming to a close, but that’s not what happens. “Get back,” Ogunjobi tells people nearby. “Get back, or you’re going next.” nother o er steps in front and ushers Morrow back to her SUV. Ogunjobi yells, “Get in your car and leave before you don’t have the option.” Morrow says, “I’m leaving right now, and I don’t really have to leave.” Morrow gets in her vehicle and turns it on. You can hear the clicking of a turn signal. By this time, police vehicles are parked in front and behind her on Market. Another o er is standing in the street in front of her. The ACLU suit says Morrow couldn’t see around the police vehicles. Ogunjobi leaves the other o ers and unt and comes to her window. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to arrest you,” he is heard saying through Morrow’s rolled up

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Officers pull Morrow’s arms behind her back, and one of them sweeps her legs out from under her, slamming her to the street. “Her face hit the concrete!” a woman cries. window. Morrow responds, “I can’t see, sir. I’m trying.” At this point, Ogunjobi yanks open her door, and Morrow appears to pull it closed. She continues to plead that she is trying to lea e. he o er pounds his fist on the window. “Step out of the car,” he says. Morrow tries to appeal to another o er off amera. “Hey, this guy is out of bounds, man,” she says, referring to Ogunjobi. “He is out of bounds. I couldn’t leave. I was trying to leave. This guy was behind me. I couldn’t see to go.” The clip of Morrow’s video ends there. The ACLU says another offi er, a ob Stein, threatened to smash Morrow’s window if she didn’t get out of the SUV, and she complied. A second video, recorded by a witness across the street, shows Morrow outside the SUV, surrounded by o ers. eople are screaming for police to let her

go. ers pull her arms behind her back, and one of them sweeps her legs out from under her, slamming her to the street. “Her face, her face hit the concrete!” a woman cries. Morrow was charged with interfering with a poli e o er and resisting arrest. The ACLU says charges were later dropped without explanation. Charges against Hunt were also dropped — a pattern that would repeat itself earlier this year when he and another man were accused by federal prosecutors of posting threatening messages on Facebook related to the George loyd protests. n une, those harges were also dismissed as part of an agreement with prosecutors. The ACLU lawsuit says Morrow is a breast cancer survivor and multiple surgeries caused mobility issues. Being manhandled by o ers left her bruised and sore, the complaint says. “It also reactivated severe neuropathy and shooting pains in Ms. orrow’s arms, hands, and fingers — something that had previously occurred as a side effect of the treatment she had undergone for breast cancer but had since dissipated,” the suit says. Ogunjobi and Stein are listed as the two defendants. A police spokesman and City Counselor ulian Bush declined to comment on the suit. This is at least the third time the city has been sued for Ogunjobi’s actions. A pastor and another ado ate were ited by the o er in October 2018 for handing out sandwiches to the homeless. The ensuing lawsuit alleges that the city violated the men’s constitutional rights, including the right to freely exercise their religion to minister to people in the street. That case is still pending. In February, a jury awarded University City’s school board president , in a lawsuit she filed after Ogunjobi shocked her three times with a taser following a 2015 protest. Kristine Hendrix, represented by ArchCity Defenders, sued the city on multiple counts, including assault. The jury rejected several of the claims but found Hendrix had proved a battery allegation against Ogunjobi. After the verdict, Hendrix had mixed feelings. “I am trying to see the positive in that they recognized that battery occurred,” Hendrix told the St. Louis American. “I’m disappointed they didn’t see the extent of Ogunjobi’s actions because when they are not held accountable, there’s a danger that the practice and culture of misconduct will continue.” n

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Survival Dance The fight to keep alive KATHERINE DUNHAM’s dreams for East St. Louis BY ERIC BERGER

atherine Dunham, a worldrenowned dancer and choreographer, had big plans for East St. Louis in 1977. Leverne Backstrom, president of the board of the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, still does. But Dunham, who was Black and held a doctorate in anthropology, had hoped to spur a “cultural awakening on the East Side,” she told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1978, by bringing the art and dance forms she collected from around the world to the area. Instead, Dunham, who died in 2006, and the people who have tried to carry on her legacy have had to shimmy around problems related to the systemic poverty

ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN SULT

that exists in the predominantly Black city just east of the Mississippi River. And just when a piece of good news showed up earlier this year — the promise of a $250,000 grant from the state of Illinois — some bad news crept in right behind it. In March, problems poured on the organization’s headquarters, which are located in an old mansion at 1005 Pennsylvania Ave. in a largely desolate area. When board members showed up for their monthly meeting on March , they dis o ered flooding in the museum’s music room, which contains instruments such as drums as well as a balafon and a kor, a type of xylophone and string instrument played in West Africa. The museum’s leaders thought they had identified and fixed the source of the water — then

This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. For more stories about the effect of COVID-19 on museums, please visit the Prairie State Museums Project at PrairieStateMuseumsProject.org.

it flooded again two weeks later. Repairing that damage will eat up at least some of the state money, which they had planned to use for pro e ts like fixing the underground lighting in the African village outdoors. “Praise God, we didn’t lose any artifacts,” says Backstrom, a retired teacher who lives within walking distance of the museum. Around the same time as all this, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker also issued a shelter-in-place order in response to the spread of the coronavirus, which meant the Dun-

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ham Centers could no longer offer tours, dance workshops and other programming. In spite of the cascade of problems, Backstrom remains committed to Dunham’s vision for East St. Louis because of her promise to a previous board president, Lena Weathers, who died in 2017. “When I gave my word to Dr. Weathers that I would come on board and serve as a board member and help to maintain the Dunham legacy, not only in East St. Louis but in the world, it’s kind of like, your word is your bond,” Backstrom says.

unham is best known for bringing dances from various Black traditions to a wider audience on stages in America and around the world. In the 1930s, she founded the coun-

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set of challenges that impede their efforts to a hie e finan ial sustainability. African American museums are under funded due to historical barriers, cultural preferences for charitable giving, institutional youth, and a dearth of professional business and museum skills.”

Katherine Dunham at home in East Louis in the mid 1980s. | MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS try’s first self-supporting Bla k modern-dance troupe and led it to more than 50 countries on six continents, according to the New York Times. She pioneered what is now known as the Dunham Technique, which combines Caribbean dance, ballet, African rituals and African American rhythms. She was also a widely respected anthropologist and one of the first fri an meri an women to attend the University of Chicago, where she earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the field, a ording to the unham Centers. And she was a political activist who spoke out against racism and tried to use the arts to alleviate poverty. In 1969, the Federal Bureau of Investigation published a bogus newspaper containing sex smears again civil rights leaders, including Dunham, who the agency considered an “effective black leader,” the St. Louis PostDispatch reported. Today, the museum that is part

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of honoring her legacy sits across from a vacant grass lot containing a small sign alerting visitors that it was the home of Malbern Stephens, a former East St. Louis mayor and “a decent man who fought corruption,” the sign says. After the 1917 East St. Louis race war, when white people, during a labor dispute, rampaged through the city killing at least 39 or — according to some estimates — more than 100 Black people, Stephens oversaw reparations to victims. Dunham, who was from a Chicago suburb, developed a love for the Metro East in the 1960s, when she was invited to serve as an artist-in-residence at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In 1975, she purchased a group of neighboring houses in East St. Louis from the university for use as a personal residen e, an o e, and a residence for students, instructors and visitors, according to the Dunham Centers. One of the homes — the museum damaged by the flooding

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— now contains over 250 African and Caribbean art objects from more than 50 countries. But that wealth of cultural heritage stands in contrast to some of the Dunham Centers’ struggles over the years. At one point, the centers owed back taxes to St. Clair County, which auctioned off the three other properties, Backstrom says. he finan ial issues stem in part from a $50,000 loan taken out by Dunham’s assistant in which she listed one of Dunham’s houses as collateral. The assistant died in 2005, the loan went unpaid, and the organization was unable to find the money to keep the three buildings. Thieves also stole copper wiring from the other properties, which are now vacant and deteriorating. The problems facing the Dunham Centers are not unique to it. A report from George Washington University, “African American Museums and Financial Sustainability,” found that “African American museums face a unique

n spite of those hurdles, Heather Himes, 38, still spent much of her childhood in East St. Louis dancing inside the Children’s Workshop, a dance studio at the Dunham property. The classes were free. “We didn’t have a lot of money, so I know that I wouldn’t have had the chance to have that kind of world-class training anywhere else,” says Himes, who is now company manager of the Black Rep theater in St. ouis, a ertified Dunham Technique instructor and an active volunteer at the centers. Her early experiences there not only gave her “a solid foundation” as a dancer but also as “a Black child and Black woman now.” It spurred “my commitment to activism and politics. They taught us how to pay attention to what is going on in the world and to speak out against what you feel is wrong,” she says. Himes echoed the conclusions issued in the George Washington University report about lack of a ess to finan ial resour es. She is critical of local organizations like the Center of Creative Arts, or COCA, that have instructors on staff who were trained at the Dunham Centers and are much healthier finan ially than the ast St. Louis organization. “Those ideas came directly from the work that Ms. Dunham had already been doing, so we have these institutions that have the infrastructure to get all this money and none of it is giving back, so the museum is not getting the proper support that it should be getting,” Himes says. Saroya Corbett, who is the same age as Himes, is now pursuing a doctorate in world arts culture and dance at the University of California, Los Angeles. But her family goes back generations in East St. Louis, and she describes it as “my ancestral home.” Corbett says her time dancing at the Dunham Centers “sculpted the trajectory of my career. I wouldn’t be a dance artist, and I wouldn’t be a dance educator, if I hadn’t been taking classes down there.” She also sees the impact Dunham had on East St. Louis more broadly. “My mom was taking classes from her before I was born. My

aunt was taking classes. And it wasn’t just Dunham Technique. She was teaching humanities. She was teaching acting classes and anthropology classes and language classes, and so she really did leave a major stamp on this community,” Corbett says. And yet the funds aren’t there to demonstrate the impact she had. “You see the Muny and all these major institutions get that money, and oftentimes, they are getting that money off the Black artist,” Corbett says. In 2018, the Dunham Centers received less than $50,000 in donations, a ording to a tax filing. That year, COCA received $14.1 million, and the Muny received $58 million. Lee Nolting, a former professional dancer with Dean Martin’s Golddiggers, spent signifi ant time with Dunham and taught for a decade in the Children’s Workshop. She is also the former artistic director of COCA’s dance program and has spent decades teaching dance at the organization. “I think COCA makes a strong attempt at not only providing scholarships for students of color but also hiring teachers of color, and I think they do a good job in that area,” Nolting says. As to the Dunham Centers, she adds, “There needs to be someone who has a foot in the community of money and an interest and passion for dance and understands the importance of keeping her legacy alive.”

ackstrom now awaits the money from the state of Illinois. She plans to use it to repair the damage caused by the flooding and omplete as many of the following projects as the money allows: replace the so t and fas ia outside the building repla e guttering fix the roof fix the lighting in the fri an illage, which features huts and an outdoor stage; and renovate the floors and bathrooms in the Children’s Workshop, among addresing other needs. Backstrom still would like the organization to be able to get the properties it lost back. “It was Ms. Dunham’s dream that once you visited the museum and the Children’s Workshop, you would be able to walk down the street and see where she lived and see the library and have a bed and breakfast, so that’s one of those dreams that has been deferred,” says Backstrom, who works part time at a funeral home and is also very involved in her church. unham spent signifi ant time in East St. Louis on classes and seminars. When Backstrom joined

the board in 2004, there were still classes on sewing, spoken word, music, drama and poetry. They now charge only a small fee for classes, but enrollment has still decreased in recent years. A decade or so ago, there were between 20 and 25 students — most of them from East St. Louis — enrolled in classes at any one time. When the pandemic hit, there were only about a dozen, Backstrom says. “I think that has a lot to do with the economy, because parents are struggling to provide the basic needs for their children, so dance and art classes are just not part of the priorities,” says Backstrom, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1966. In East St. Louis, 38 percent of residents live at or below the poverty line, according to U.S. Census data. These days, even if the organization and families had more money, it would be di ult to safely hold classes because of the pandemic. The organization had planned to hold its 36th Annual Dunham Technique Seminar from July 25 to August 7, featuring dancers and teachers from around the world. Backstrom intended to use some of the state funding for the programming. “Dancers come to study and practice and get better with their Dunham Technique, and we do South African dancing and Bollywood dancing. … We were going to finally ha e some money where we could do some really good publicity and solicitations to get students in from various colleges and make it a really big seminar and then, of course, COVID said, ‘Nah, you’re not doing any of that,’” Backstrom says and then laughs. When Backstrom joined the board, she intended to serve a few years and help make some decisions — “never thinking that I would become the chief cook and bottle washer, everything from raising the funds to maintaining the physical structure of the building to doing tours and planning seminars,” she says. But Backstrom still sees supporting the arts via the Dunham Centers as a worthwhile way to spend her time. “Plus, I live a block and a half from the museum. I have a vested interest in East St. Louis and in the neighborhood,” she says. “I could have been gone a long time ago, like a lot of other folks, but I think if some of us don’t stay and try to fix the problems from within, don’t think it’s going to get fixed from the outside in.” n

The Katherine Dunham Museum in East St. Louis was damaged by flooding. | COURTESY KATHERINE DUNHAM CENTERS FOR ARTS AND HUMANITIES

A few of Dunham’s artifacts, including her drum collection, her kimono and a wall overflowing with commendations. | COURTESY KATHERINE DUNHAM CENTERS FOR ARTS AND HUMANITIES

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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ROM 25+ RESTAUR F S R E ANT RG U B S 6 $

#STLBURGERWEEK

JULY 27 - AUGUST 2

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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COMMANDMENTS

St. Louis Burger Week has created such strong, lusty, even insane feelings, that we decided it needed its own little manifesto. Please read on.

1. THEY COULD RUN OUT

We expect that the restaurants will be extremely busy. So, if a place runs out toward the end of a shift, handle it like an adult, go back the next day, earlier, order your burger and thank them for working hard. Please be nice to our restaurants.

2. THERE’LL LIKELY BE WAITS

People have been talking about Burger Week 2020 for months. Don’t be surprised if restaurants have waits. In fact, be surprised if they don’t.

3. TIP LIKE A PRO

$6 brings out the cheap in all of us, but really, you’re likely getting a $10+ burger, so please tip at least 20%. The people who are serving you are working harder during Burger Week than an average week. A kind word will also be welcome - these people are our friends and neighbors.

4. YOU SHOULD BUY A DRINK AND/OR OTHER FOOD

Purchase of sides and extras are not a requirement, but we think it says a lot to those working hard to bring you extraordinary experience. Grab some fries, a Schlafly, a Bulleit Bourbon and say thanks!

5. CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA

Restaurants will be encouraged to post their waits and remaining burgers for the day on their social platforms. Also don’t forget to share and tag your photos with #STLBurgerWeek.

*Note: Burger Week Restaurants may offer carryout this year but please be aware there may be additional charges.

THANK YOU!

A huge thanks to our sponsors: Schlafly, Bulliet & Green Dragon!

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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O U R G H H SUN T K E E W GERS FROM 25+ RESTAUR DAY S I ANT TH $6 BUR S !

JULY 27 - AUGUST 2 PRESENTED BY:

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JULY 22-28, 2020

Defiant Dough Duke’s in Soulard Eat-Rite Diner Franchise Bar and Grill Good Times Saloon Green Dragon CBD Hi-Pointe Drive In J. Smug’s Gastropit Jack Nolen’s Johnny’s West Nick’s Irish Pub

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The Pat Connolly Tavern The Piccadilly @ Manhattan Pitstop Pizzeoli Wood-Fired Pizza Schlafly Bankside Schlafly Bottleworks Schlafly Tap Room SharpShooter Pit & Grill Super Smokers BBQ The Tattooed Dog The Wood Shack

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SM UG’S GASTRO m Grilled 5oz PIT 5oz. patty ma . burger with jsmugsgas de with bee beer cheese tropit.com lettuce,and f, pork, chorizo Topped with tomato, on a , fried onions Top Of The pepper jack , and bacon. , brioche bun Hill cheese, srir infused with blackened and Burger: 6 oz of ground acha aioli “The Green SHA bee gril Dra RPSHOOTER f lightly led to your likin and a sunny gon CBD Oil” cheese, app PIT side up egg , g. Fre & Dre GRI nch sse lew LL ban fries, d with swiss ood smoke . Perfect cur ggoodbbq. drinking! jalapeño jelly d crispy bac e after a day com on, homemade Option 1: The and fresh aru of gula Stanley: 1/2l b. burger top fresh smoke CARNIVORE d pull ped with JACK NOLAN’ vinegar colesla ed pork, house made S carnivore-st sweet jacknolans.c w, and melted l.co butter toaste om cheddar on Bacon Chedd m d bun Single Smash a soft, ar Melt: 6oz Option 2: The burger ma liking topped . patty cooked de with a bris and ground Cowboy: 1/2l with bacon to your chuck blend ket, short rib, our signature b. burger top and housecheese sau ped with BBQ sauce, made chedda ce served on pepper che onion rings, r a Vitale’s Bak ese, crispy and cherry JOHNNY’S WE ery bun sm oked bacon butter toaste ST SPORTS CRISPY EDG on a soft, d bun BAR & GRILL johnnyswe E st.com crispyedge.c Firestarter: om SUPER SMOKE burger with The Ground buffalo sauce, cheese, and RS BBQ er Potsticker pepperjack freid jalapen supersmoker Select Ground : Onion Dough os s.com filled with Beef and Che Option 1:To Bibb Lettuce, ddar, All wra mmy Diablo NICK’S IRIS top pped in H PUB Jal Smoked Bu Tomatoes and ped with Tomato Aioli, rger - topped apeno Popper nicksirishpub Relish, Cherry Sesame See stuffed with with a smoke .com ds brisket and J-MAC Burge cream cheese d jalapeno wrapped r: CRUSOE’S and bacon American che double smashburger, dou Option 2: Do ese, double dineocr.co bacon, topped ble c’s Full Choke Served with m homemade smoked and d - Burger pat with Ranch. 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THE DAM pub cheese Texas toast, com , harissa ma house-made Sticky Goat: thedamstl. yo, mint-hazeln House made crispy onion com ut pesto, and strings cheese, cris bacon marma The Belgai py bacon, roa n: single pat sted garlic aio lade, goat greens on a ty, gouda che coleslaw, with but li, and spring tere ese , bacon, and d kaiser bun a Belgian Dip the People’s ping Sauce -- 1st Place Choice Bur THE WOOD in ger Battle SHACK thewoodsh DEFIANT DOU acksoulard.c GH om 6 oz. spicy defiantcooki smoked bur edough.co ger chipotle col m Vanilla who eslaw and pep with ham, provolone, opie cake gla peroncini reli zed with car and sesame sh. amel sauce seeds (bun), Coco Krispy • PLEAS dough (burge chocolate E DRINK r), cream che RESPON butter chips, ese icing with S I B LY • and hint of salt pea mustard, and (secret sauce) nut ketchup - all made with but , lettuce, icing. tercream

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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$6 CBD BUNDLES July 27th - August 2nd

Burgers STL

$6 CBD Burgers

July 27th, 29th, & August 2nd from 4pm-7pm

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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(636) 220-7278 14856 Clayton Road, Chesterfield MO | 63017

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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BLT’S stlblts.com 1/4lb. 100% Angus green chile burger, topped with pepper jack cheese, a hatch green chile filet and chipotle mayo - served with house-cut fries. BLUE DUCK blueduckstl.com Griddled burger with Swiss cheese, crispy fried pickled red onions, roasted mushrooms, and roasted garlic aioli on a potato bun

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BOOTLEGGIN’ BBQ bootlegginbbq.com Our flagship burger! Made with 100% house ground brisket. 1/4lb. burger topped with American cheese, Bootlegger sauce, and your choice of lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. (We recommend pickles!) Served on buttered, and toasted brioche bun BREW HUB TAP ROOM tapbrewhub.com BBQ Turkey Burger: House made turkey burger drizzled with honey BBQ sauce and topped with caramelized onions, swiss cheese and cole slaw. Served with parmesan fries.

BURGERS STL burgersstl.com 5oz. patty made with beef, pork, chorizo, and bacon. Topped with pepper jack cheese, sriracha aioli infused with “The Green Dragon CBD Oil”, French fries, and a sunny side up egg. Perfect cure after a day of drinking!

CARNIVORE carnivore-stl.com Bacon Cheddar Melt: 6oz. patty cooked to your liking topped with bacon and house-made cheddar cheese sauce served on a Vitale’s Bakery bun CRISPY EDGE crispyedge.com The Grounder Potsticker: Onion Dough filled with Select Ground Beef and Cheddar, All wrapped in Bibb Lettuce, topped with Tomato Aioli, Relish, Cherry Tomatoes and Sesame Seeds CRUSOE’S dineocr.com Broadway Bluffs Brahma: Cajun patty served with pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, red onion, and Bam sauce

DUKE’S IN SOULARD Firehouse Burger: Our jucy half-pound burger, peppered bacon, melted pepper jack cheese and flash-fried onion rings with a spicy aioli

EAT-RITE DINER Option 1- Ooey Gooey Cheesy Bacon Louie: Two seared Angus beef patties overloaded with cheese, bacon, and grilled onions Option 2- Slinger Burger: two sausage patties, American cheese, hash browns, chili, and sliced onion, topped with a sunny-side up egg FRANCHISE BAR AND GRILL franchise-sports-bar-grill.business.site/ 1/3 lb choice ground beef on a grilled bun. Served with chips, pickle, and onion. GOOD TIMES SALOON Firecracker Burger: A char-grilled half-pound burger topped with house-made white queso cheese and our “firecracker” hot onion rings with a Sriracha ranch sauce GREEN DRAGON thegreendragoncbd.com Build your own CBD bundle: Choose from different CBD products such as sleep and energizing tablets, gummies, honey sticks. HI-POINTE DRIVE IN hipointedrive.com Classic Single cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle

J. SMUG’S GASTROPIT jsmugsgastropit.com Top Of The Hill Burger: 6 oz of ground beef lightly blackened and grilled to your liking. Dressed with swiss cheese, applewood smoked crispy bacon, homemade jalapeño jelly and fresh arugula

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JACK NOLAN’S jacknolans.com Single Smashburger made with a brisket, short rib, and ground chuck blend

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JOHNNY’S WEST SPORTS BAR & GRILL johnnyswest.com Firestarter: burger with buffalo sauce, pepperjack cheese, and freid jalapenos

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NICK’S IRISH PUB nicksirishpub.com J-MAC Burger: double smashburger, double American cheese, double bacon, topped with Ranch. Served with homemade chips THE PAT CONNOLLY TAVERN patconnollytavern.com All beef smashburger on Texas toast, house-made pub cheese, harissa mayo, mint-hazelnut pesto, and crispy onion strings

THE DAM thedamstl.com The Belgain: single patty, gouda cheese, bacon, and coleslaw, with a Belgian Dipping Sauce -- 1st Place in the People’s Choice Burger Battle

THE PICCADILLY AT MANHATTAN thepiccadilly.com BLT Burger: 5oz. patty topped with Swiss and American cheese on a bed of lettuce, tomato, and bacon, tossed with ranch dressing sandwiched between a shine top bun.

PITSTOP pitstop-stl.com Fajita Burger: 6oz. beef patty grilled to your liking with lettuce, onion, bell pepper, tomato, jalapeño, and cheddar served on a sesame seed bun with avocado mayo

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PIZZEOLI WOOD-FIRED PIZZA pizzeoil.com BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger Pizza: Local grassfed Beef, local bacon, Welsh cheddar, House-made bourbon BBQ sauce, onion, and arugula

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SCHLAFLY BANKSIDE schlafly.com Cajun Burger with pepperjack cheese, sauteed peppers and onions, with a zesty lime aoili on a brioche bun

SCHLAFLY BOTTLEWORKS schlafly.com Smash Burger with Bottleworks’ burger sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle

SCHLAFLY TAP ROOM schlafly.com Grilled 5oz. burger with beer cheese, fried onions, lettuce,and tomato, on a brioche bun

SHARPSHOOTER PIT & GRILL banggoodbbq.com Option 1: The Stanley: 1/2lb. burger topped with fresh smoked pulled pork, house made sweet vinegar coleslaw, and melted cheddar on a soft, butter toasted bun Option 2: The Cowboy: 1/2lb. burger topped with our signature BBQ sauce, pepper cheese, crispy onion rings, and cherry smoked bacon on a soft, butter toasted bun

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SUPER SMOKERS BBQ supersmokers.com Option 1:Tommy Diablo Jalapeno Popper Smoked Burger - topped with a smoked jalapeno stuffed with brisket and cream cheese and bacon wrapped Option 2: Doc’s Full Choked - Burger patty smoked and topped with our house made Mac N Cheese and smoked bacon

THE TATTOOED DOG thetattooeddog.com Sticky Goat: House made bacon marmalade, goat cheese, crispy bacon, roasted garlic aioli, and spring greens on a buttered kaiser bun

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THE WOOD SHACK thewoodshacksoulard.com 6 oz. spicy smoked burger with ham, provolone, chipotle coleslaw and pepperoncini relish.

DEFIANT DOUGH defiantcookiedough.com Vanilla whoopie cake glazed with caramel sauce and sesame seeds (bun), Coco Krispy chocolate dough (burger), cream cheese icing with peanut butter chips, and hint of salt (secret sauce), lettuce, mustard, and ketchup - all made with buttercream icing.

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• P L E A S E D R I N K R E S P O N S I B LY •

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ALPHA BREWING COMPANY alphabrewingcompany.com Bacon Smash Burger: 1/4lb. of 100% ground tenderloin, 2 slices of applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, romaine, onion, tomato, sour beer pickles, grain mustard and ketchup Vegan option: black bean quinoa burger

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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JOIN US AUGUST 15, 2020 1 - 6 P.M. as PrideSTL takes the celebration virtual! National and local entertainment comes together for a professionally produced virtual festival by 201 productions and Schunk Entertainment.

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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CARDINALS LANYARDS HATS-N-STUFF CARDINALS MEN’S AND EARRINGS AND WOMEN’S TEES Hats-n-stuff.com

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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SHORT ORDERS

Dreams Deferred Tiffany Unger was ready for her best year yet with Wandering Sidecar Bar Company Written by

CHERYL BAEHR

his year, Tiffany Unger was excited to see her business, the Wandering Sidecar Bar Company (www.thewanderingsidecarbarco.com , finally achieve its full potential. Though she was happy with the response she’d re ei ed during the past fi e years she’d been operating the ro ing bar, this was the first year she had a liquor license, and she was looking forward to doing big, public events. That all changed when COVID-19 hit. “When everything blew up, and it was clear [the city was] shutting down, we had about twenty events that were canceled,” Unger says. Be ause this was our first year with our liquor licenses — before, guests had to provide alcohol — we were looking forward to events like Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Opening Day, Pridefest. Luckily, we do a lot of private events, but 35 of those have been postponed. We’re not charging anyone for moving or anything. We’re trying to be as accommodating as possible because we know it’s a stressful time for everyone.” Unger’s accommodating spirit has been forged by a 25-year-long career in the service industry. She got her start as a counter server at Steak ’n Shake at the age of sixteen and then moved on to a family-owned restaurant a year later. Though she loved the business, she always considered it a “meantime” sort of job — something she would do until she got her “real career.” However, when that came in the form of a mortgage industry job, she quickly realized how much she hated being away from the hospitality industry. Fate intervened when she lost her ob during the finan ial risis of 2008. Laid off, she went back to the service industry as a bartend-

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Tiffany Unger has learned to adapt the Wandering Sidecar Bar Company to weather the COVID-19 storm. | ANDY PAULISSEN er at Tony’s on Main in Alton, Illinois. There, she had a revelation. “At some point, my thought process went from thinking about this as a meantime job to, ‘This is my career,’” Unger says. “It happened once I realized not just how much money you can make in this industry, but how you can leave your work there. I was making great money, spending time with my friends and not bringing stress home. Once I was able to let go of the apprehension and the feeling that had to get an o e ob, was really able to blossom in this industry.” Bartending at Tony’s on Main suited nger well until fi e years

JULY 22-28, 2020

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ago. A new mother of twin boys, Unger felt the pressure of working late nights, then coming home to newborns who needed their mom. She knew she needed to adapt to fit the needs of her family, but she wanted to find a way to do that while continuing to work in a career she loved. That chance came when she was flipping through a maga ine and saw an article about a mobile bar company in Australia. It was as if a light swit h flipped on. Two weeks later, she had bought a camper and set out to execute her vision for the Wandering Sidecar. Immediately, she received an outpouring of support and enthu-

siasm for her business — something that continues during adaptations forced by the storm that is COVID-19. “We’ve certainly had periods of time where it wasn’t as bad as COVID and we’ve had to reevaluate what we were doing and learn to do things better,” Unger says. “It feels like we have a good handle on it, but e en after fi e years, we keep on learning.” Unger took a break from the Wandering Sidecar to share what it’s like to be in her position during these unprecedented times and what gives her hope for the future.

As a hospitality professional, what do people need to know about what you are going through? Just the uncertainty of it all. We were gearing up for our busiest season yet and feeling so good about the direction that business was heading. I was really blindsided by the shut down, but I knew it was the right move. he first two weeks were filled with emotion. I really thought we were destined to throw in the towel. That feeling quickly lifted and we found a way to pivot. However, the familiarity of what we once were has dissipated. We are only about a third of what we used to be in regard to how we are functioning and making money. That’s a little exciting and scary. This is our livelihood. I have a mortgage, two sons, insurance ... all of those adulty things. I’m typically a risk-taker, but generally on my own terms. he pandemi definitely took the wind out of our sails in 2020, but we are hustlers. What do you miss most about your job? Oh man, PEOPLE!! I have 25 years in the industry this year, and much of that was spent behind the same bar. I always loved it be ause ’m a so ial butterfly at

heart. The people that I’ve worked with for years are my family. There’s such a special camaraderie amongst restaurant/bar folks. I would love to tell you it’s the good stuff that brings you together, but the bonds are really built on the bullshit you put up with on a long Saturday double. There’s nothing like sitting down with your buds after twelve hours on your feet, cracking a beer and just having a bitch session. My crew now is made up of friends and old industry buds. I miss cutting up with them. I’m super lucky to have them and can’t wait to have that back. What do you miss the least? Did you know that Saturdays off are super rad? I’ve been sleeping in, making breakfast and taking my kids swimming. I miss out on a lot of that, normally. It’s been pretty nice, and I’m reveling in it and looking at it as a silver lining to this mess. What is one thing you do every day to maintain normalcy? The day to day on the admin side of the business is the same. People are still inquiring and booking. e are keeping busy and finding new ways to reinvent what we do Have you been stress eating/ drinking?

Schnucks Mandates Masks for Customers

stand that there are a variety of opinions about masks, however the CDC and other health experts are aligned on the benefits of facial coverings in reducing the spread of COVID-19.” And if customers don’t have a face covering to wear, Schnucks “will provide complimentary masks — one per customer — for a limited time and while supplies last.” Schnucks has been training employees on the new protocols and preparing signage to explain the change to customers who haven’t heard of the update to store policy. In a statement announcing the change, Schnucks said: “Signs will be posted at every store entrance informing customers of the facial covering requirement and directing those without one to request a mask from the first Schnucks teammate they see upon entering the store. Stores will have teammates available to greet customers at each entrance from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, and during designated senior

Written by

JAIME LEES

ow that Walmart has announced that it will require customers to wear face coverings in all of its locations, other chains are also stepping up to protect their shoppers. On Monday, Schnucks grocery stores started requiring masks at all 113 locations. “We have been monitoring this situation closely, and given the escalating number of positive COVID-19 cases in the regions we serve, we believe requiring masks for teammates, vendors and, now, customers is in the best interest of public safety,” Schnucks Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said in a prepared statement. “We under-

Oh yeah, quarantine has not been kind to this bod. t first it kind of felt similar to my twin pregnancy in 2014. I was on bedrest with nothing to do except eat. Except this time, I was stuck at home and could drink, too. My girlfriends and I sit in the front yard and drink wine and chat a couple of times a week. I’ve chilled out a bit on the snacking, but definitely ould get this butt moving more. What are three things you made sure that you don’t run out of? Wine, beer, tacos. You have to be quarantined with three people, who do you choose? As a mom, I’d feel like such a jerk if I didn’t say my sons, Sam and Otis and my husband. I also can’t live without my girlfriends though — Sarah, Kim and Jackie. Now, if I were to choose for real people that I don’t know — Brandi Carlile so I could listen to her sing all day, Lizzo to party with and Natalie Maines to chat with. Once you feel comfortable going out and about again, what’s the first thing you’ll do? Go to Mexico with my girlfriends. Our yearly trip has been delayed twice. We’re going to make that shit happen ASAP. What do you think the biggest

challenge to the hospitality industry will be once things go back to normal? It’s so hard to say. I think the recovery will be tough. For small business, you are often playing catch-up, and this was a big setback. I’ve put my heart, soul and any extra money into this little dream for fi e years. know so many are in the same boat. I don’t know if normalcy will ever be what it was. I really hate the phrase, “the new normal,” but I don’t know another way to say it. I think the industry will be altered in the way we go about dayto-day operations forever. There’s no more willy-nilly when it comes to procedure. I think everyone will be moving forward in a different way. I just really hope that we can all survive this. What’s one thing that gives you hope during all of this? Hope is hard to come by these days. Often, it feels like the entire world is crumbling to the ground. Each day you hear something more heinous than the last. I feel the weight of all of that and often have to check out mentally. On the other hand, I know some amazing people that want to see real change in the world. That inspires me daily, and I hold on tight to that. n

Schnucks is now requiring customers to wear face coverings at all of its 113 locations. | DOYLE MURPHY hours. These teammates will help customers understand the facial covering requirement, offering masks to those without one and sanitize shopping carts.”

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The grocery chain is also offering curbside pickup and delivery for those who prefer not to enter the store at all. Details on delivery service can be found at SchnucksDelivers.com. n

JULY 22-28, 2020

RIVERFRONT TIMES

CULTURE

Divine Intervention is a collaboration between Jesus Christ Supercar and Alpha Brewing Company. | VIA THE BAND

[CANS]

Local children answered questions about race and the world around them for a new photo project. | DANIELLE FAITH

[PHOTOGRAPHY]

A Clear Picture What do St. Louis kids think about race? A photographer finds out Written by

JUDY LUCAS

hotographer Danielle Faith set out on a mission to hear from St. Louis children, ages two to eleven, about their thoughts on racism and protesting. A former educator, Faith wanted to use art to help facilitate some of those tough discussions within families. So she put together a list of questions and gave them to parents to ask their kids. She later met them in the Grove for portraits among the street art and boarded-up businesses. She’s now compiled the results in a photo series she calls “Lets talk STL.” The project began a few weeks ago, when Faith started a Facebook group to reach out to parents of young children, asking if they

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would be interested in joining her first photo series. o her surprise, more than 60 parents volunteered to participate with their children. There was overwhelming interest from a wide array of parents who support the Black Lives Matter movement and wanted to help her out. Her goal was to spark conversation between children and their parents about the current climate. The questions are worded for young minds but cover hard subjects. Here are a few examples: Why are people protesting? How does protesting make you feel? A ten-year-old responded, “People are protesting because cops are hurting people because of the color of their skin. I don’t know why other people think they are better than anyone else because of their skin color.” A seven-year-old answered, “Good that people are standing up for other people that don’t look like them. It is good that people are sticking up for Black lives and not just themselves.” Why do you think that some people do not get treated the same because of what they look like? Do you think that’s fair? A child, age eight, answered, “No, it’s not fair. I just think it’s dumb. Like, why are people racist? Just because I look different

JULY 22-28, 2020

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does not mean I’m bad. Do people think that?” Have you seen any wrongdoings toward any one of your friends or family members from someone who doesn’t look like them? “No, it has happened, but not that I saw myself. My dad (he’s Black) has told me stories and my uncles too, but I never saw it yet,” an eight-year-old said. Faith says, “Kids are extremely powerful and beautiful. They wowed me in so many ways.” As a former educator, Faith was interested in exploring how we shape our children. In a press release, she writes “Now is the time to have the conversations to ensure our children live with the intention of dismantling the cycle of racism and hate.” “We must teach them how to utilize their voice and have the tough conversations that POC have been having with their children for years,” she writes. “It may not be easy, and it may be uncomfortable, but if we continue to just teach our children that everyone is created equal, all while celebrating our differences without acknowledging the injustices they are witnessing daily, we are a part of the problem.” The entire series with every question and answer is available on Danielle Faith’s website. Check it out at daniellefaithphotography.com. n

What Would Jesus Christ Supercar Drink? Written by

THOMAS CRONE

e it an official trend, pattern or some other term, there’s been a distinct, growing movement toward regional breweries and bands hooking up on short-run projects of late. The list now includes offerings from: Public House Brewing Company (The Urge-inspired Receiving the Gift of Flavor Belgian Wit), Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (Pokey LaFarge & The South City 3 Pilsner), Logboat Brewing Company (Falling Fences Irish Red Ale) and Earthbound Beer (iLLPHONiCS’ iLLiXiR, a blueberry blonde ale). The newest member of this collaborative club involves the band Jesus Christ Supercar, which has teamed up with Alpha Brewing Company for Divine Intervention, a five percent blonde ale brewed with blood oranges. The genesis of the beer dates back to late 2019, when the band became friends and patrons of the Tower Grove South neighborhood’s Alpha. The group’s Christo Bachmann notes that after becoming regulars, his indie rock trio eventually took promo photos inside Alpha’s barrel room. Upon their posting of the results, a friend jokingly asked if the group was working toward its own beer. If only meant as a quick gag, that short note (plus an impromptu acoustic set on the patio) resulted in An Actual Thing.

[ A P O C A LY P S E S O U N D T R A C K ]

Pande-Mix: An End of the World Mixtape

Jesus Christ Supercar had big plans to celebrate its new EP. Most were scrapped due to COVID-19 -- but not the beer. | VIA ARTIST BANDCAMP Alpha’s founder/head brewer Derrick Langeneckert says that COVID-19 put a few crimps into what he hoped would be a big beer for the south-side brewery, which was timing the beer’s release in accordance with the band’s own springtime offering of the four-song EP, PostMadonna. The band’s planned show at that same barrel house did take place on May 23, but without an audience. Instead, the group livecast the concert, and the brewery still canned and shipped their collab to area retailers. Not quite the original, bigger plan, but the best that could be done under the circumstances. “We still wanted to put out the beer, because we really liked the concept of a summertime, highly crushable blonde ale,” Langeneckert says, adding that the band “wanted to use blood orange because of its tongue-in-cheek connotation to their band name, Jesus Christ Supercar.” The color orange is also prominent on the 16-ounce cans of Divine Intervention, which are available now at a variety of area locations such as Randall’s, Friar Tuck Beverage and the Saint Louis Hop Shop. Of the beers mentioned earlier, several had a single run. That said, Falling Fences Irish Red Ale is smartly available for a natural reappearance every St. Patrick’s Day. For Divine Intervention, Alpha sees a possible fit for reappearances. “We may try to can it again if the band will come back and play a show, although it is difficult to plan events for the future right now,” Langeneckert says. “I see this beer making periodic returns to tap and cans. It is a very popular brew in our taproom right now.” The band’s holding pat-

“The band wanted to use blood orange because of its tongue-incheek connotation to their band name.” tern is the same as that of their musical contemporaries: Everything’s on pause. For example, a springtime show opening for the popular Of Montreal was shelved until fall, though even that date’s up in the air. Other opportunities to push their EP have been hung up, too, though their mini-album is available for sale/streaming on Bandcamp. Bachmann figures that the group will stay true to “one of our goals when we formed, which is how we could continue with this specific brand and branch out into things we hadn’t done before.” Having a signature beer is a bit of that eclectic plan, for sure. Bachmann notes that the band was hoping the beer would be of quality, which he’s satisfied is the case. And the brewer had to hope that the group wouldn’t implode during the brewing process, which it didn’t. “We had a little bit of a binding contract,” Bachmann jokes, noting that in the end, “we wanted a crisp, refreshing beer that we could enjoy all year round.” n

BY CHRIS WARD Each week, former KDHX DJ Chris Ward examines a song from his quarantine-based playlist dealing with isolation, loneliness, hope and germs. Find them on the Spotify playlist “Pande-Mix: An End of the World Playlist”: https://spoti.fi/2WZGTJZ.

“Don’t Check the Score” from The Loves of Your Life (2020) by Hamilton Leithauser “Right now, don’t login.”

’ve been thinking about it daily since November of 2016 when the hellmouth opened: We all need a win, and soon. But it doesn’t come. As Hamilton Leithauser’s old band, the Walkmen, announced on their arrival: “They’re winning.” Now every day since this all started, I wake up, “The sun is coming up/And my heart is filled with hope/ The sidewalks are empty/Seven stories below.” Hope is a dangerous thing, “maybe the most dangerous of things,” an old man named Red once told me in prison. But cut off from the world, on our own islands, forced isolation is sometimes nice in its own way, isn’t it? As predicted, the center did not hold. The science was right. We pushed the world — ourselves, our emotions, our nonstop working, our nonstop everything — to the limit before the entire system overheated (figuratively and ice-caps-wise) and we were all put in a much-deserved time out by nature. Maybe we’ll have our Big Moment again. Maybe they’ll all go to prison. Maybe they’ll be shouted into the

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streets and flayed. Maybe we’ll stop voting against our own interests. Maybe we’ll Wake Up, as the Walkmen also pleaded with us in track two of their big debut. But as any avid newspaper reader could have told me for about four years running now — as we strain and grasp for glimmers and cracks in the monolithic wave of daily dread — when it comes to that kind of news, don’t check the score. NOTE: The hard lessons of the stock market and the economy are another unlikely subject of this song. Leithauser says of this new track: “My friend introduced me to ‘day trading,’ which is just compulsive gambling on the stock market. … It was incredibly fun when you were up, and not as fun when you were down. This was around 2001, so we only had a dial up connection on one shared computer,” he told DIY Mag. “When things looked sour, you’d say, ‘Don’t login!’ Out of sight, out of mind — sort of. In reality, you’d just be biting your nails thinking of nothing else. Anyhow, the title is a metaphor for looking the other way, or avoiding an inconvenient truth. … Eventually, I stopped trading, because the house always wins. So today this song goes out to all the gamblers, bettors, troubled souls, long-lost friends and sad-sack day-traders who can’t face logging in. Right now, don’t login.” n

JULY 22-28, 2020

RIVERFRONT TIMES

JULY 22-28, 2020

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SAVAGE LOVE COMMITTED BY DAN SAVAGE Hey, Dan: Is it terrible to believe you can still have a truly monogamous and loving relationship with one partner after twenty years? Or can we walk into a relationship knowing that within those decades of being together that situations like infidelity or being attracted to another is completely unavoidable? And if we acknowledge that in some cases it’s truly unavoidable, should we mentally prepare ourselves for this possibility during our “monogamous” stage? Early on in dating? Hopelessly Optimistic Person Enquires Be prepared. Knowing what we do about infidelity and how ommon it is o er the ourse of long-term relationships, , it’s a good idea to ha e a on ersation early in a relationship about what you will do if and or when one and or the other and or both of you should heat years or de ades later. t’s best for this on o to happen at the tail end of the infatuation stage but before you’ e made any sort of formal ommitment — you know, after you’ e had your first fight but still at that stage when the thought of e er wanting to fu k someone else seems ridi ulous. Committing at that point to at least trying to work through an infidelity doesn’t guarantee the relationship will sur i e and it doesn’t obligate you to remain in the relationship. But it ups the han es the relationship will sur i e an infidelity that it ould and perhaps should sur i e. Be ause remember when it omes to heating some types are worse than others. There are differen es in degree. f you found out your husband fu ked your sister on your wedding night, well, that’s probably not something you’ll be able to forgi e. But an instantly regretted one-off on a business trip remember those or prolonged affair after twenty years and two kids and both partners long ago started taking their sexual onne tion for granted and

both allowed it to wither hat’s something you an work past and are likelier to work past if you agreed to at least try to work past it before the kids and the taking for granted and the business trips. ooming out for a moment he ulture en ourages us to see heating as a relationshipextin tion-le el e ent — an unforgi able betrayal, something no relationship an sur i e. hi h seems nuts when you pause to onsider ust how ommon heating is. efining heating as always unforgi able sets up for failure otherwise good and lo ing relationships that might be able to sur i e an infidelity. f, instead of telling us that no relationship ould e er sur i e an infidelity, the ulture told us that heating in monogamous or nonmonogamous is always serious betrayal — it’s not at all tri ial — but it’s something a relationship an sur i e, , then more relationships that should sur i e infidelities would hope you’re sitting down a tually wind up sur i ing infidelities. he truth is, many relationships don’t ust sur i e infidelities but a tually wind up thri ing in the wake of the dis losure or exposure of an affair be ause the healing pro ess brings the ouple loser together. (This is not a good reason to have an affair, of ourse, nor is it the reason why anyone has e er had an affair. Reinfor ing the idea that affairs always destroy relationships Couples who remain together after an affair usually don’t talk openly about the heating while ouples who separate or di or e after an affair an hardly bring themsel es to talk about anything else. ow to qui kly answer your first questions es, it is possible for two people to remain monogamous for twenty years. t an be done — of ourse it an — but there are lots of people out there who think they’ e done it but are mistaken. Some people who think they’ e been in su essfully monogamous relationships for twenty years ha e been heated on — or they themsel es ha e done something their partners might regard as heating — and the one-off infidelity or the ongoing affair or the happy endings were ne er exposed or dis losed.

nd your partner is going to find other people attra ti e — and not in twenty years. oday, right now, your partner is going to lay eyes on someone else they find attra ti e, , ust as you will probably lay eyes — but only eyes — on someone else you find attra ti e. aking a monogamous ommitment doesn’t mean you don’t wanna fu k other people, it means you will refrain from fu king other people. f the lie we’re told about lo e and attra tion were true — if being in lo e with someone left you inapable of finding someone else attra ti e — we wouldn’t need to make monogamous ommitments. e wouldn’t need to promise to not fu k anyone or extra t that promise from someone else if being in lo e rendered us in apable of e en noti ing how hot your barista is. Hey, Dan: What is the etiquette for breaking up with an escort you’ve been seeing regularly? A little background: I’m married and have been seeing an escort for the past three years about twice a month. The sex is amazing. We’ve developed a friendship and get along very well. The issue is that I’ve gotten emotionally attached. I constantly think of her and she’s always on my mind. It’s negatively affected my marriage and I need to break it off. I don’t want to hurt her as I have genuine affection but I need to stop seeing her. Do I send a note with an explanation? Or do I ghost and stop sending her text messages? I’m the one who initiates contact. She never reaches out to me first. Thanks for your advice. It’s Me Not You on’t thank me, , thank all the ni e sex workers and sex workers’ rights ad o ates who were kind enough to share their thoughts after tweeted out your question and asked Sex orkwitter to weigh in. he general onsensus was for you to send a brief note letting this woman know you won’t be booking her again. short sele tion from the responses alee . oddess alee ’ e had this happen a few times before and the ouple that wrote me a note with honesty were so deeply appre iated. he others, always wondered what did

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wrong or if they died in some freak a ident. aya idnight s aya idnight ’d be worried if a longtime regular disappeared during a pandemi Send a qui k text or email saying you’re taking a break but you’ e en oyed your time together. o need for more detail about why. parting gift would be a ni e gesture. SoftSandalwood SoftSandalwood ro omme here. efinitely let her know what’s going on, so she doesn’t wonder if you’re , if she did something wrong, et . t’s the ob of a pro to understand and respe t boundaries. hanks for a thoughtful question. addy an e an e a arro greed . he ma ority of us are deeply empatheti and prefer losure o er mystery. final thought from me Sex workers alue trustworthy regular lients and S S S and the orona irus pandemi ha e made it in redibly di ult for sex workers to find new regular lients. Sending this woman a generous final tip — perhaps the pri e of a session, if you an swing it — would soften the blow of losing you as a regular lient and would tide her o er until she an repla e you. Hey, Dan: That was great advice you gave to “Virgin” in last week’s column. I was a 39-yearold virgin and started seeing sex workers. I found one that had the kind of qualities mentioned by the sex worker you quoted in your column. She was a kind, caring, and compassionate person that I saw regularly for a year. Being with her gave me confidence in my sexual abilities and allowed me to experience physical affection. A little while later I met my future wife. I was even able to tell her about my experiences with sex workers and she wasn’t offended and didn’t shame me. She was actually intrigued. I hope VIRGIN takes your advice. If he finds the right sex worker, like I did, it will change his life. One Grateful Client hanks for sharing,

Check out Dan’s podcast at savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @FakeDanSavage on Twitter

JULY 22-28, 2020

RIVERFRONT TIMES

JULY 22-28, 2020

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JULY 22-28, 2020

RIVERFRONT TIMES

THE GREEN DRAGON CBD

IS A ST. LOUIS, FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS THAT RECENTLY OPENED ITS FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN CHESTERFIELD Did you know that your body already produces cannabinoids every day as part of a key system that runs throughout your body and helps to regulate almost every part of your body’s functions? CBD is one of many natural cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, and is used to promote overall health and wellness, as well as to deal with many health challenges. Our company’s mission, and the physical store itself, was constructed with the intention of helping to educate both existing and brand new potential users on every aspect of CBD. The education center includes video, wall displays and printed material to help customers explore CBD and related topics. The inviting environment, much like a spa, is supported by knowledgeable and friendly associates. We are excited to have created an animal friendly establishment, where 5% of all pet product sales go to benefit Stray Rescue of St. Louis. When you are ready to buy CBD, you have the largest selection of top-quality, trusted brands and

products anywhere. Select from many product categories to find the best method based upon personal preference:Jack CBD Oils & Tinctures, CBD Flower or Pre-Rolls, CBD Topicals, CBD Gummies, Edibles, Drinks, CBD for Pets, CBD Vaping…and more! In addition to the store resources, the online presence, at www.thegreendragoncbd.com has dozens of blog posts covering many topics of CBD usage, CBD myths, and unique testimonials from CBD users. You can also place orders online for delivery at-home. 15% off for all first time customers in-store, or go online for special web offerings!

The Green Dragon CBD www.thegreendragoncbd.com 14856 Clayton Rd Chesterfield, MO 63017 (636) 220-7278 Open Mon-Sat 8am-9pm, or Sun 9am-6pm