Riverfront Times October 17, 2018 by Riverfront Times

OCTOBER 17-23, 2018 I VOLUME 42 I NUMBER 42 MONTH XXâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;XX, 2015 I VOLUME 39 I NUMBER XX

RIVERFRONTTIMES.COM I FREE RIVERFRONTTIMES.COM I FREE

THE BINTELLI BEAST BINTELLI BREEZE

2633 COLUMBIA LAKES DR. COLUMBIA, IL 62236

SQUARE FOOTAGE 1 Bedroom 900 sq. ft. 2 Bedroom 1,050 sq. ft. RENTAL RATES 1 Bedroom $875.00 / Month 2 Bedroom $1,150.00 / Month

HAS ARRIVED! 49cc $1680

THE BINTELLI BREEZE STARTING FROM $1095

BINTELLI BEAST

Granite Counter Tops | Crown Molding | Stainless Steel Appliances Keyless Entry | Video Doorbell | Nest Thermostat

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

THE LEDE

PHOTO BY THEO WELLING

“ For a long time I was in a place where I felt very much like I couldn’t be myself. Now at this point in my life, being myself is more important than anything. And it’s good to find people who love you for who you are.” Chandler Crenladh, photographed at the St. louiS gothS’ walk at Bellefontaine Cemetery on oCtoBer 14

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Publisher Chris Keating Editor in Chief Sarah Fenske

COVER This Is Us This week the Saint Louis Art Museum opens its new show, Kehinde Wiley: Saint Louis, for which the acclaimed New York-based artist created eleven large-scale paintings of everyday St. Louisans. See our calendar section for more on the exhibit. Cover art: KEHINDE WILEY; ROBERT HAY DRUMMOND, D.D. ARCHBISHOP OF YORK AND CHANCELLOR OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER, 2018; © KEHINDE WILEY

8205 GRAVOIS ROAD • ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63123 • (314) 631-3130 MIDAMERICAARMS.COM • FACEBOOK.COM/MIDAMERICAARMS

S A DLON’TEMISS IT!

$20 OFF

10% OFF

ANY NEW OR USED FIREARM PURCHASE

NOT GOOD ON PREVIOUS PURCHASES. ONE COUPON PER PERSON. EXPIRES 10-31-18

ANY AMMO OR ACCESSORY PURCHASE NOT GOOD ON PREVIOUS PURCHASES.

RIFLES & SHOTGUNS

ONE COUPON PER PERSON. EXPIRES 10-31-18

HAND GUNS

SEASON FA L L H U N T IN G FA S T IS C O M IN G U P

VOTED BEST GUN SHOP OF 2015

-2015 RIVERFRONT TIMES BEST OF ST. LOUIS

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

A Star Is Born

5 9 12 22 27

Stage

Cafe Short Orders

Music & Culture

Out Every Night Savage Love

The Tempest

riverfronttimes.com

P R O D U C T I O N Production Manager Jack Beil M U L T I M E D I A A D V E R T I S I N G Sales Director Colin Bell Senior Account Executive Cathleen Criswell, Erica Kenney Account Managers Emily Fear, Jennifer Samuel Multimedia Account Executive Michael Gaines, Jackie Mundy Event Coordinator Grace Richard C I R C U L A T I O N Circulation Manager Kevin G. Powers E U C L I D M E D I A G R O U P Chief Executive Officer Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services Stacy Volhein Creative Director Tom Carlson www.euclidmediagroup.com

S U B S C R I P T I O N S Send address changes to Riverfront Times, 308 N. 21st Street, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63103. Domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $78/6 months (Missouri residents add $4.74 sales tax) and $156/year (Missouri residents add $9.48 sales tax) for first class. Allow 6-10 days for standard delivery. www.riverfronttimes.com The Riverfront Times is published weekly by Euclid Media Group Verified Audit Member Riverfront Times 308 N. 21st Street, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63103 www.riverfronttimes.com General information: 314-754-5966 Fax administrative: 314-754-5955 Fax editorial: 314-754-6416 Founded by Ray Hartmann in 1977

Temporal Marauder | Seashine | Twitturd

YOUR HOMETOWN FIREARMS RETAILER FOR OVER 15 YEARS!

RIVERFRONT TIMES

The Lede News Feature Calendar Film

A R T Art Director Evan Sult Contributing Photographers Mabel Suen, Monica Mileur, Micah Usher, Theo Welling, Corey Woodruff, Tim Lane, Nick Schnelle

N A T I O N A L A D V E R T I S I N G VMG Advertising 1-888-278-9866, vmgadvertising.com

INSIDE

Morgaine Segura at Olive + Oak 50/Fifty Kitchen | The Doghaus

! Y D A E R T E G 6

Photo of the artwork by: THEO WELLING

E D I T O R I A L Arts & Culture Editor Paul Friswold Music Editor Daniel Hill Digital Editor Jaime Lees Staff Writers Doyle Murphy, Danny Wicentowski Restaurant Critic Cheryl Baehr Film Critic Robert Hunt Editorial Interns Tom Hellauer, Desi Isaacson, Dustin Steinhoff Contributing Writers Mike Appelstein, Allison Babka, Sara Graham, Roy Kasten, Jaime Lees, Joseph Hess, Kevin Korinek, Bob McMahon, Nicholas Phillips, Tef Poe, Christian Schaeffer, Lauren Milford, Thomas Crone, MaryAnn Johanson, Jenn DeRose, Mike Fitzgerald Proofreader Evie Hemphill Cartoonist Bob Stretch

Riverfront Times is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of the current issue may be purchased for $1.00 plus postage, payable in advance at the Riverfront Times office. Riverfront Times may be distributed only by Riverfront Times authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of Riverfront Times, take more than one copy of each Riverfront Times weekly issue. The entire contents of Riverfront Times are copyright 2018 by Riverfront Times, LLC. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the expressed written permission of the Publisher, Riverfront Times, 308 N. 21st Street, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63103. Please call the Riverfront Times office for back-issue information, 314-754-5966.

UPCOMING THEME NIGHTS STLOUISBLUES.COM/THEME

BARKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; FOR THE BLUES

WWE NIGHT

THURSDAY, OCT. 25

SATURDAY, NOV. 3

Get a Blues pet collar with your theme night ticket purchase. Plus $5 of each theme night ticket will be donated back to local animal shelters.

Join the Blues for their first ever WWE Night! Get an exclusive Blues-WWE T-shirt with your theme night ticket purchase.

PROMO CODE: BARK18

PROMO CODE: WWE18

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

blues kids tees/caps $10

adidas soccer balls $10 new fall fashion hats $10

blues player TEES HATS-N-STUFF Sports Merchandise • Adults/Children’s Wear • Gift Ideas $19.99 Sports Merchandise • Adults/Children’s Wear • Gift Ideas LET’S GO BLUES blues kids onesies and tees blues ball caps SPORTS MERCHANDISE FOR LOCAL TEAMS ADULTS/CHILDRENS WEAR $10 $19.99 GREAT GIFT IDEAS @ UNBELIEVABLE PRICES

HATS-N-STUFF

blues youth jerseys $19.99 8

RIVERFRONT TIMES

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE LOCAL GUY!

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

H AT S - N - S T U F F. C O M

& F I N D U S AT S O U L A R D FA R M E R ' S M A R K E T O N S AT U R D AY S !

riverfronttimes.com

blues polos $29.99

NEWS

Turns Out St. Louis Got Soccer Right Written by

DANNY WICENTOWSKI

et off your ass.” That was the message delivered by Dave Peacock to the crowd of soccer fans and investors gathered in a hotel ballroom in April 2017, mere minutes after St. Louis voters conclusively rejected a proposal to funnel $60 million in public funds to a stadium for a professional soccer team. Peacock, a partner in the project rejected by voters, seemed to target those opposed to the tax giveaway as naysayers to the very concept of progress. “It doesn’t have to be soccer,” Peacock said at the time. “It could be whatever you want. But to me, people sit on the sidelines, chirp and bitch, and they don’t do anything.” In a way, St. Louis listened to Peacock’s advice, though perhaps not in the manner he had intended. Last week, a new ownership group announced plans to build a $250 million soccer stadium on the same site featured in the failed 2017 bid, land just west of Union Station in downtown. This time, the proposal includes no public funding — and no Dave Peacock. Instead, the ownership group, known as #MLS4THELOU, is composed of members of the Taylor family, which founded the car rental giant Enterprise Holdings, as well as Jim Kavanaugh, the CEO of World Wide Technology and a major backer of the failed 2017 bid. The plan calls for no public buyin on the stadium, though it does include a sales tax on stadium concessions and exemptions to the city property tax and ticket tax. Still, that means no tax increment financing and no tax hike affecting anyone other than those who choose to attend soccer games. While #MLS4THELOU is seeking state tax credits, the amount hasn’t been specified — though the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a previous version

Supporters were devastated when voters said no to a tax giveaway for an MLS stadium. Now the plan has new hope. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI

of the ownership group’s website listed amounts at $15 million in the next two years. And the ownership group is groundbreaking for another reason: Women make up the majority of the nine owners. That’s a rarity in the male-dominated world of sports, and would be the first such group in Major League Soccer. St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson, a soccer scarf wrapped around her shoulders, praised the deal and the Taylor family at a press conference yesterday. “Your commitment to this plan, with no contribution from city-wide revenues, and no [taxincrement financing], is a great proposal for the city, for MLS, for taxpayers and for our fans,” she said. “The city will collect almost a million and a half dollars in additional revenue per year from this venue.” But the fact that this plan even exists should put to rest what critics considered the central deception of the 2017 push: that public money was the only way to get a professional sports team to consider St. Louis. Indeed, the 2017 ownership group, helmed by Peacock, repeatedly emphasized that public buy-in was the only path forward

and maintained that $60 million in public funds was absolutely necessary to satisfy the league. The league’s commissioner, Don Garber, added to the pressure, remarking on a conference call that a public vote on the monetary outlay would represent a “referendum” on whether the city really wanted a team. That line of argument angered city watchdogs. It didn’t help when the ownership group made the misleading claim that the plan would foist “zero taxes” on city residents who didn’t use the stadium — conveniently ignoring the fact that a diversion of millions of tax dollars would be going from city services to stadium construction. In almost every way, the #MLS4THELOU proposal reads like a mea culpa, not only for 2017’s failed soccer-stadium push, but for St. Louis’ recent history of stadium boondoggles. Just three years ago, the city was contemplating giving the NFL’s Rams a billion-dollar riverfront stadium using $150 million in public funds. And earlier this year, tension over repairs for the Blues’ stadium — recently renamed the Enterprise Center — triggered a legal fight with the city’s comptroller. In contrast, #MLS4THELOU is

riverfronttimes.com

reportedly in talks to create a fund to pay for future upkeep and repairs at its stadium. And unlike the failed attempt at keeping the Rams, there’ll be no need for aldermen to reject the opportunity for a public vote. As no generalrevenue funds would go to the proposed soccer stadium, no vote is needed. There are plenty of questions left to be answered, and if previous stadium plans are any indicator, it’s likely that dollar amounts and details may shift in the coming months. There’s also the MLS to consider. The league is still considering candidates for its expansion to 28 teams, and St. Louis is no shoo-in, though it appears to be a frontrunner. The bottom line, though, is that St. Louis dodged a scammy sports bullet in 2017 when citizens rejected a sales pitch based on the bad-faith notion that a sports stadium deserves public subsidy. Dave Peacock was wrong. We didn’t need to get off our asses. We just needed a more generous ownership group — and this time, it looks like we’ve got one. And, yeah, according to the press conference last week, maybe even $1 hotdogs, too. Consider us cautiously intrigued. And hungry. n

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

State Gift Ban Comes Under Fire Written by

SARAH FENSKE

ike many public-policy nonprofits, the Institute for Justice seeks to sway politicians by informing them. That might mean sharing policy papers. It might mean books. It does not, generally, mean the sort of boozy nights out on the house that are all too common in Jefferson City. No matter. When lobbyists for the Virginia-based libertarian organization sought to distribute its scholarly books to workers in Missouri state government, they were told any such giveaways would violate the state’s ban on gifts from lobbyists. And that was a no-go. Now the Institute for Justice is suing. Its lawsuit, filed in federal court October 5, seeks to declare unconstitutional the executive order that stops any employee of Missouri’s executive branch from accepting anything of value from a lobbyist. Despite its libertarian focus, the organization has no interest in arguing that, say, everybody ought to be able to schmooze state employees however they see fit. Says Paul Sherman, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, “The only thing we’re challenging here is the order limiting our ability to give out documents that we think best communicate our position.” The executive order dates back to the early days of the administration of Governor Eric Greitens

Governor Mike Parson says he will abide by the total ban on lobbyist gifts enacted by his predecessor. A lawsuit could complicate matters. | TOM HELLAUER (remember that?). Eager to paint himself as a swashbuckling reformer, Greitens issued a broad order banning anyone in his branch of government from accepting anything from any lobbyist — whether it was a nonprofit public interest group sharing a position paper or a deep-pocketed utility executive offering box seats. For the Institute for Justice, that led to problems. Sherman cites the organization’s work on behalf of African American hair braiders, who had been forced to follow onerous regulations just to practice their craft. Members of the state board of cosmetology and barber examiners, who’d fought to keep the rules, are executive

STREAK’S CORNER • by Bob Stretch

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

branch employees. That meant IJ couldn’t share materials with them — not even a scholarly publication free to download from its website, but instead provided in a printed format for easy reading. IJ’s per-unit cost for having a printed copy made, according to its lawsuit? Just $6 to $10. Sherman says the organization sought to handle the matter without litigation, seeking an advisory opinion from the Missouri Ethics Commission (and hoping common sense would prevail). Instead, this past January, the commission issued an opinion saying that the books “constitute items of value” and therefore were subject to the order. A spokeswoman for Governor

Mike Parson, who inherited the order from his scandal-plagued predecessor, declined comment, citing pending litigation. However, she noted, “Pursuant to Executive Order 17-02, the Governor and his staff will not accept lobbyist gifts.” IJ thinks that’s a mistake — at least carried to the extreme suggested by the ethics commission. “What’s happened in Missouri is part of a broad trend of trying to pass government ethics laws that are as comprehensive as possible,” Sherman says. The organization, he notes, is also fighting a similar gift ban in Oklahoma. “Invariably, they will sweep in things that no reasonable person would believe should be regulated.” n

HAPPY& LATE HOUR NIGHT MONDAY-FRIDAY 3PM-7PM

FRIDAY-SATURDAY 9PM-11PM

@CARDINALSNATION

riverfronttimes.com

@CARDSFOODTRUCK

OCTOBER 17 - 23

@CARDINALSNATION

RIVERFRONT TIMES

CORT VANOSTRAN MID-RACE BY DOYLE MURPHY CORT VANOSTRAN PORTRAIT BY TOM HELLAUER ANN WAGNER PORTRAIT BY FLICKR/GAGE SKIDMORE 12

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

★ CAN A NICE ★ YOUNG MAN FROM ★ ★ JOPLIN

★ ★ ★ ★

DEFEAT CONGRESSWOMAN

ANN WAGNER ON HER HOME TURF

★ ★ ★ ★ BY DOYLE MURPHY ★ ★ ★ ★

n a Sunday morning in late September, Cort VanOstran steps outside to the parking lot behind his two-bedroom apartment in Clayton. It is about 7:20 a.m., shortly after sunrise. Cars shooting past on South Hanley Road still have their lights on. Campaign staffer Alex Dubinsky is already waiting beside an idling Honda Fit. He stashes a few “Cort VanOstran For Congress” yard signs behind the back seat and says he has the stereo cued up with some classic rock to get them going. VanOstran laughs. “Alex is nineteen, so what he considers ‘clas-

sic’ can be kind of offensive,” he explains. Not that VanOstran grew up in the era of hairbands, either. The lawyer with blond hair and a boyish face is just 30 years old. Dressed casually in a T-shirt, gym shorts and running shoes, he could be a grad student getting an (extra) early start on kegs and eggs. But today, like every day since VanOstran launched his campaign fourteen months ago, is a workday. Over the next eleven hours, he will hit four events scattered across Missouri’s Second Congressional District and fill the time in between calling as many potential donors as possible. It is a grueling schedule, to be sure, but one that seems to be paying off. He won a hardfought primary in August, capturing more

than 40 percent of the vote despite a field of four competitors. Political analysts now put the Joplin-raised Harvard grad within striking distance of U.S. Representative Ann Wagner (R-Ballwin), a three-term incumbent who has dominated a succession of Democrats going back to 2012. On the drive to the 5K, VanOstran and Dubinsky are in good spirits. Dubinsky jokes that he is racing to win, while VanOstran promises to jog instead at a “politician’s pace” — slow enough to smile and wave. In the parking lot, they meet up with VanOstran’s campaign manager, Claire Botnick, and 23-year-old sister, Callie VanOstran.

riverfronttimes.com

Continued on pg 15

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

AMERICA’S #1 COMEDY CLUB PRESENTING THE FINEST STAND UP COMEDY

FOR 30 YEARS NICK GRIFFIN KEVIN BOZEMAN

WOMEN OF WESTPORT OCT. 18-21

• CONAN O’BRIEN • LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN

OCT. 24-28

10/ 26 - 2 7 8: 30P M

• LAST COMIC STANDING • “CLEAN & UNFILTERED”

MATT ISEMAN TIM MEADOWS

NOV. 1-4

• AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR • THE NEW CELEBRITY APPRENTICE

JOE LIST

NOV. 9-10

• SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE • “THE LADIES MAN”

BEN BAILEY

Nadia M. Louis

S P E C I A L

Candy Principle

G U E S T

Tassandra Crush

T . B . A ...

10/20

BILLY PEEK

10/26-27

WOMEN OF WESTPORT DRAGSHOW

10/27

BLUES MUSICIAN ASATA STORM 12-5PM

11/3

NOV. 15-17

• PODCAST “TUESDAY’S WITH STORIES” • ROAST BATTLES

NOV. 29 - DEC. 1 • “CASH CAB”

BILLY PEEK

11/17

JOHNNY RAWLS * HOME OF THE ST. LOUIS– CLEVELAND BROWNS BACKERS

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES NOW! CALL 314-469-6692 PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE @ STLOUISFUNNYBONE.COM 614 WESTPORT PLAZA • 314-469-6692 • SUNDAY – THURSDAY 7:30 FRIDAY 7:30 & 10:00 SATURDAY 7:00 & 9:30

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

CORT VANOSTRAN Continued from pg 13

After a quick greeting, they split up, each meshing easily into small clusters of the fit and politically active. The race is sponsored by Clean Missouri as part of its campaign for election and lobbying reforms, and so the crowd is packed with politicos. This morning is less about campaigning per se and more about checking in with supporters before the final weeks’ sprint. VanOstran glides from conversation to conversation, handshake to handshake. “He’s a mingler,” Dubinsky says. One of Clean Missouri’s goals is to revamp the process for drawing election districts. To illustrate the point, the route is a nonsensical series of twists, doubling back on itself and changing directions, gerrymandering in road-race form. As runners gather at the start line, the emcees call a young woman to the front and joke that in the spirit of Missouri elections they have declared her the winner before the race has even begun. VanOstran, a regular runner, gamely jogs alongside a friend and Dubinsky for two miles before Dubinsky dashes ahead — earning him office bragging rights. VanOstran finishes in a respectable 25:59 and is quickly back to working the crowd, sweating but smiling. Clean Missouri campaign director Sean Soendker Nicholson, no stranger to Missouri politics, predicts this could be a year of shakeups. “He picked a good year to run,” he says of VanOstran. The young lawyer makes it look easy, effortlessly chatting up strangers and allies, teasing Dubinsky about abandoning his running buddies. The people who’ve known him the longest say he’s always been good at this. He makes friends and moves forward, always excelling, always reaching out. He learned long ago how to thrive during the struggle.

Young Cort, center, with parents Cathy and Charles VanOstran and siblings Callie, left, and Collin, right. | COURTESY OF CORT VANOSTRAN day. “We did everything we could to make the best of it,” she says. In a bolt of inspiration, Riechman, now 74, came up with a detective contest for young Cort’s party. The rules are vague in her memory, but she remembers that kids and adults played together. “There was an hour there I could see all of those kids having fun,” she says. “I can tell you it was the best feeling.” When VanOstran mentions his father’s death, it is usually an introduction to his mother. He typically explains that after his dad

died, Cathy VanOstran devoted her life to her children. As a single mom, she raised two boys who would go from rural Missouri to Harvard and a daughter who has done humanitarian work across the world. Riechman says her daughter, a teacher, stayed single after her husband’s death in order to focus on the kids. Cathy VanOstran died in 2016, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. VanOstran cites her death as the impetus for his congressional bid, pointing out in campaign ads that Wagner

n August 1997, less than three weeks before Cort VanOstran’s ninth birthday, his father killed himself. Charles “Andy” VanOstran, a flight medic, had moved his young family from Joplin to Columbia, Missouri, the year before. He planned to go to medical school. Instead, he committed suicide at age 28, leaving a widow and three children. Cort was the oldest child. His grandmother, Barbara Riechman, remembers that birth-

Callie VanOstran says her brother grew up with more responsibility than most kids. | TOM HELLAUER

gleefully voted to eviscerate the Affordable Care Act, which his mother relied on during her last years. Even when he was young, VanOstran was included in important family decisions. He was suddenly the eldest male, and relatives say he grew up faster than most kids. “I know in those weeks after, Cort at eight years old had a sense that he needed to help out more than most eight-year-olds,” sister Callie VanOstran says. “I think it shaped both of us in who we are today. Caring for others is something we want to do with our lives.” VanOstran has posted the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on social media and called for more discussions of mental health. But his father’s death is not something he publicly dwells on. Often, when speaking to groups, he says he “lost” his father at a young age or his dad “passed away” before moving on to his mother. In an interview, he says he was “very aware” as a kid of the suicide. “I mean, I was there when he...” VanOstran says before redirecting. “I have very vivid memories of that day.” He looks back on that time with new understanding. “I think about, now I am about the age my mom was when my dad passed away,” he says. “So it’s only really Continued on pg 17

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

CORT VANOSTRAN Continued from pg 15

now that I realize what an absolute tragedy that must have been for my mom and what a sort of life-altering thing that must have been to have three kids under the age of ten and to have your partner, you know, take his life like that. I can’t imagine what she went through.” The family moved back to Joplin a year after the suicide. Callie VanOstran says their mom ensured theirs was a happy home. “My mom was very intelligent, very witty in fact,” she says. “She always had a comeback. She was the relaxed one. She made sure we were all enjoying life.” After his dad’s death, VanOstran read hungrily, tearing through Roald Dahl, the Boxcar Children, Goosebumps and Beverly Cleary series. He says that turned into a love of school and learning. “I think in any tragedy, you can find a silver lining, and I think you have to look at the good things that can come out of something bad,” he says. “That was a good lesson, frankly, to learn early.” Retired Joplin High School teacher Leann Stausing first met VanOstran in one of her English classes. He seemed more grownup than the other kids. “He is absolutely one of my most memorable students,” she says. “He has a brilliant mind. He is a hard worker, and he is so goaloriented.” He did a little of everything in high school. Profiles in the Joplin Globe list activities and awards including National Merit Scholar, show choir, Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society. He was the prom king, student council president and the male lead in two plays, portraying the wealthy Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly and the handsome Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie. A teenage VanOstran told the Globe he planned to study law and hoped to be a U.S. senator one day. Such ambition isn’t always easy to live with; he was such an orderly kid that he recalls taping a divider across the bedroom he shared with his younger brother Collin, hoping to protect his side from his sibling’s messier habits. Stausing says she knew early on that VanOstran wanted to go to Harvard and helped advise him on his application essays. Not many Joplin kids leap to Cambridge, but Stausing says his discipline and work ethic made it seem inevitable.

“I was glad when he got his acceptance and it was in hand, but I really never had much doubt he was going to get in,” she says. “And I don’t think anybody in the school was shocked.” Stausing retired in 2008 after 45 years and relocated to northwest Arkansas. She eagerly follows her star student’s campaign. “I’d sure come up and vote for him if I still lived in Missouri,” she says.

has been a perfect fit. Redrawn after the 2010 Census in a power play that wiped out Democrat Russ Carnahan’s district, it is majority Republican. It is nearly 90 percent white with good schools and covers the affluent suburbs to the west of the city, angling south into Jefferson County. It also includes the Clayton headquarters of rental-car giant Enterprise, where her husband’s ties as a company executive and lobbyist have been a fundraising

★★★★★★★★

HE NEEDS MORE NAME RECOGNITION,

MORE TV ADS, MORE MONEY. ADDING DIFFICULTY, HE HAS REFUSED

CORPORATE CASH.

IT PLAYS WELL WITH VOTERS, BUT

THE HIGH GROUND DOESN’T GET YOUR

ADS ON TV.

★★★★★★★★

ittle more than two hours after running 3.1 miles in Clayton, VanOstran takes a seat in his campaign office in Webster Groves and settles in for every candidate’s most-hated task — dialing for dollars. He has traded his gym clothes for the outfit of the casual attorney: Polo-brand blue-checked shirt, slim-fit Levi’s and dark leather boots. His blue blazer is draped nearby. He has a lot of work to do to beat Ann Wagner. The 56-year-old Republican has had a stranglehold on the district since winning her first House race in 2012, and she’s been a major player in the state party since at least the 1990s. The daughter-in-law of the late anti-abortion activist Loretto Wagner, she rose from local committeewoman to chair the Missouri GOP and co-chair the Republican National Committee. In 2005, then-President George W. Bush appointed her ambassador to Luxembourg, a post she held for four years. Historically, the Second District

windfall. “We have a going on two-decades relationship with Enterprise,” the congresswoman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2012, when the paper reported major donations from company employees and their relatives. “It’s a family.” Wagner has continued to excel at raising money. She took in more than $2 million in 2017, and she had nearly $3 million in cash on hand by mid-July of this year. Normally, it easily would be enough for Wagner to bury any challenger. But political analysts suspect this year could be different. Nationwide, there are signs that voters, particularly female voters, in suburban districts such as Missouri’s Second have had enough of a smack-talking president who continues to side with the NRA after school shootings, has no discernible plan for an Obamacare replacement and mocks the #MeToo movement. Shifting attitudes have put oncereliably Republican strongholds in play, analysts say. “As we’ve seen across the country, suburban

riverfronttimes.com

House districts have really swung to Democrats,” says Dave Robertson, a political scientist and professor at University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Pennsylvania Rust Belt district where Democrat Conor Lamb narrowly won a specialelection victory in early March was considered more Republican and more pro-Trump than Missouri’s Second, he notes. Trump’s margin of victory there was twenty points, compared to a little better than ten on Wagner’s turf. The more moderate Mitt Romney did better in 2012. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its view of the district from a “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” in September. The national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has also noticed, adding VanOstran to its Red to Blue program, designed to flip vulnerable Republican districts. Wagner, who has made opposition to sex trafficking a major focus, denounced Trump during the 2016 campaign after his “grab them by the pussy” comments but has since embraced his presidency, voting with his positions 97 percent of the time, according to analysis by FiveThirtyEight. She continues to push stalwart Republican issues: anti-abortion legislation, support for the military and increased security. (Wagner did not respond to interview requests.) VanOstran counters with support for health-care issues, such strengthening the Affordable Care Act. He also notes Wagner’s vote against the Violence Against Women Act, which designates resources to help battered women. He favors stronger gun regulation and a woman’s right to choose. So far, endorsements include United Steelworkers, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety. Kelli Dunaway, an early challenger in the Democratic primary, was initially skeptical of VanOstran. “I was like, ‘Goody, just what we need, more straight white guys,’” she says. But she dropped out of the race before the primary and endorsed VanOstran. “I know Ann Wagner is a woman, but she is such a privileged woman,” she says. “She has such a limited view.” Still, Wagner is a three-term incumbent and a Republican-party power broker for decades. “She is not just supported by the Republican establishment — she is the Republican establishment,” Robertson says, adding, “The fact that she is vulnerable speaks volumes about the Republican party.” Vulnerable, VanOstran knows, is

OCTOBER 17 - 23

Continued on pg 19

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

VanOstran talks with Democratic boosters Anne and John Bedwinek at their home in Kirkwood. | DOYLE MURPHY

CORT VANOSTRAN Continued from pg 17

a long way from defeated. He needs more name recognition, more TV ads, more money. Adding a degree of difficulty, he has refused corporate cash. It is a position that distinguishes him from Wagner, who by mid-July had accepted nearly $1.3 million from political action committees. It also plays well with voters, but the high ground does not get your ads on TV. And so, for 30 hours every week, VanOstran is on the phone, calling potential donors. In his Webster Groves office, he sits at a table with campaign finance director Clark Conlisk and deputy finance director Samuel Rebmann. By now, they have a routine. VanOstran and Conlisk both dial from a long list of potential donors. Most calls go to voicemail. But if Conlisk gets a live person on the phone it sets off a merry-go-round of action. After a quick greeting, he hands his cell over to VanOstran, who makes the pitch directly even as he passes his phone to Rebmann. Again, most calls go to voicemail, so Rebmann will likely leave a message. If someone picks up, he hustles out of the room, so he and VanOstran and possibly Conlisk are not all talking over each other. When the calls eventually clear, they begin again. The intricate choreography can be a bit confusing to watch, but the three seem at ease, chatting about fantasy football or campaign strat-

egy during the occasional dead spaces. VanOstran picks up a basketball from the worn carpet and tosses it in his palm as he wanders around the room. As much as anything, it is his ability as a fundraiser that first marked VanOstran as a serious contender. He had $454,219 on hand by the July reporting deadline — not Wagner money, but groundbreaking for a Democrat in that district, and enough to get on TV. By the end of September, he will have completed his best quarter yet, raising more than $750,000. On this Sunday, he plows through nearly two hours of rapid-fire calls, and then heads out the door to his next event. As he rides along, Conlisk texts him more names and numbers. He gets to dialing.

anOstran seems happiest bouncing from event to event. He describes the endless calls to beg donors for money as “energy-taking.” Canvassing, knocking on doors is “energy-giving,” he says. On this Sunday afternoon, he cheerfully rides shotgun in a Subaru Forester, while his campaign manager, Claire Botnick, preps him for the rest of the day. Botnick’s husband, Aaron Davidowitz, is in town for the weekend from New York City and is acting as chauffeur. The three were classmates, and close friends, at Washington University Law School. After graduation, Botnick and Davidowitz moved to New York,

where he became an assistant district attorney in Manhattan and she landed a position as an associate at Cravath, Swaine and Moore, one of the nation’s premier law firms. Botnick had never managed a campaign before, but when VanOstran decided to run, she agreed to take a sabbatical and return home to St. Louis. The work suits her. Just as much of a grinder as VanOstran, the 32-year-old has proven to be sharp tactician. Political watchers describe her as brilliant and credit her as the campaign’s secret weapon. “I don’t think it’s a secret,” says Mark Osmack, who would know — he finished second to VanOstran in the Democratic primary. As the trio cruises toward the first of three afternoon events, Botnick goes over the schedule and tries in vain to get VanOstran to eat lunch or at least a snack. They arrive at 1 p.m. at the Kirkwood home of Democratic boosters John Bedwinek, a prominent oncologist, and his wife, Anne, a speech pathologist. They’re mindful of their 2 p.m. town hall in St. Peters. “Everyone hold each other accountable for leaving at 1:20,” Botnick says as they get out of the car. The Bedwineks have a gorgeous place, set at the end of a long, curved drive. Anne Bedwinek greets them warmly and ushers them into a front parlor for a photo. “What time do you want me to introduce you?” she asks. “Whatever time works for you,”

riverfronttimes.com

VanOstran says. “I think we just have to leave about 25 after.” Like most fundraisers on this day, a constellation of candidates are on hand. The headliner is state Auditor Nicole Galloway, who has a key position this cycle as the lone Democrat holding statewide office. Normally, she would speak first, but knowing VanOstran is on a tight schedule, she graciously allows him the opening spot. He gives a version of his spiel in front of the Bedwineks’ fireplace, explaining to a crowd of nearly two dozen the reasons he decided to run and the difficulty he faces against an establishment incumbent. He comes off as genuine in person, but he’s not above a politician’s pun. “We are in the Show-Me State,” he says. “I wish someone could show me where Ann Wagner is because she doesn’t show up for us.” He speaks for about five minutes before handing off to Galloway. And then they are back out to the Subaru, minus Davidowitz. Gregarious to a fault, he somehow struck up a conversation on his way out. Botnick looks down the drive with lighthearted exasperation. “The man literally cannot make an exit,” she says. Moments later, Davidowitz comes sprinting up the drive, saying something about meeting a friend of a friend, which required a selfie. VanOstran laughs, and all three are grinning as they get back in the car at 1:26 p.m. On the ride to St. Peters, they return to campaign mode. Botnick quizzes VanOstran on potential questions he might face at the town hall: health care, the environment, support for police, NFL players kneeling for the anthem. They are constantly honing their message, sharpening their arguments. VanOstran seems to enjoy this, too — the National Merit Scholar happily churning through his homework. They cross the Missouri River into St. Charles County and make their way to an outpost of Llywelyn’s Pub. About 40 minutes after leaving Kirkwood, they pull into the parking lot. As they walk toward the door, a young man brandishing a smartphone tries to buttonhole VanOstran. “Cort, one question: Do you plan to repeal the tax cut?” he demands. Publicly, Wagner has ignored VanOstran. Following the strategy of many an incumbent, she never mentions his name in ads or engages. “I think she thinks she’s got this, which is a gross misunderstanding,” Osmack says. “Cort’s got a lot

OCTOBER 17 - 23

Continued on pg 20

RIVERFRONT TIMES

VanOstran spends about 30 hours per week calling potential donors. | DOYLE MURPHY

CORT VANOSTRAN Continued from pg 19

of support, a lot of backing.” The apparent theory is that engaging would only amplify VanOstran’s name recognition — and could only hurt her. Without much direct confrontation, the campaign remains relatively clean. Compared to the slugfest between U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and her Republican rival, Attorney General Josh Hawley, the race for the House is decidedly civil. However, the young man at the door signals that Republicans take VanOstran seriously. He’s a tracker, tasked with appearing at campaign events and recording in hopes VanOstran says something regrettable. “Hi, Freddy,” VanOstran says with a quick smile before breezing past. He has described GOP tracker tactics as cynical, but later he will use the episode to needle Wagner. “In the spirit of full transparency,” he says, “it’s pretty likely that we would send someone to her events, too — except she doesn’t hold public events.” The only town halls Wagner has held during any of her three terms have been by phone or at private companies, designed for their employees, according to Politifact. In response, VanOstran has made public events a key part of his campaign, appearing in libraries, meeting halls and the occasional bar all across the district. In Llywelyn’s, a side room is already packed with about 50 people, more than a third of them in T-shirts for Moms Demand Ac-

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

tion, an organization working for tougher gun laws. Campaign volunteers hustle to set up a sound system and pass out cards for people to write down questions. VanOstran opens with his critique of Wagner as an absentee politician. “I promise I will continue to hold town halls regularly,” he says. “I cannot promise there will always be beer.” Unsurprisingly, the first question from the audience is about preventing gun violence. “Let’s be clear, the gun-violence epidemic in this community does not have to be this way,” VanOstran says, before diving into his upbringing around the gun culture of southwest Missouri. He adds that he respects the protections of the Second Amendment. “But I also know that 80 to 90 percent of Americans agree that there is a lot more that we can do to keep our kids safe from the plague of gun violence.” He offers support for universal background checks, closing the gun-show loophole, limiting magazine capacities and legislation to keep domestic abusers and people on terrorism watch lists from owning guns. During the next 40 minutes, he will answer questions on the Environmental Protection Agency, partisan politics, teacher salaries, Obamacare, repairing roads, the opioid epidemic and even the Electoral College. He is asked his top three issues, which he lists as health care, gun violence and campaign-finance reform. Ken and Sara Snyder of St. Peters listen while minding their young daughter. “I wasn’t surprised by anything I heard,” Ken Snyder says, “but I was definitely impressed.” He compares

Campaign manager Claire Botnick and VanOstran pose with Democratic booster Anne Bedwinek. Botnick’s husband, Aaron Davidowitz, mans the camera. | DOYLE MURPHY VanOstran to Beto O’Rourke, the progressive Texas congressman whose campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has made him an online star. Sara Snyder says VanOstran’s passion about health care struck her as genuine. “I think there’s something really important about connecting on an issue at a personal level,” she says.

fter a quick lunch with campaign staffers at Llywelyn’s, VanOstran has a decision to make. He had penciled in a 4 p.m. fundraiser for Jean Pretto, an Oakville Democrat running for an open seat in the Missouri House. It was a late addition, and VanOstran had planned to meet his sister for the 5 p.m. service at the Gathering United Methodist Church. Pretto’s home is 40 minutes away in south St. Louis County. Dubinsky informs VanOstran they are already late, and if they go, there is no way church with Callie is happening. VanOstran thinks it over for a few moments. It is not even clear whether they have promised Pretto they would attend. “Maybe we should go, either way,” he says. He calls Callie to let her know, and Dubinsky steers them south toward I-270. You don’t make it to Harvard from smalltown Missouri — much less to Congress — by quitting work early. Pretto is happy to see them when they arrive. The daughter of a Teamster who worked for Anheuser-Busch, she taught mu-

sic in south-county schools. About a dozen people are gathered. Her husband Joe, also a Teamster who retired from Vess Soda, mans a tent with Budweiser, liquor and a spread of food that includes his own spicy sausages, which he urges VanOstran to try. While Pretto works the crowd, Joe introduces VanOstran to his brother, Richard. The two of them are Vietnam vets. They grouse about former Governor Eric Greitens. “I hated that guy,” Richard says. VanOstran replies, “He clearly wasn’t in it for the right reasons.” When he is called to speak, VanOstran gives a shortened version of his standard talking points. He is here more to support Pretto than campaign for himself. “She’s going to be a phenomenal rep in Jefferson City,” he tells the group. He and Dubinsky hang out for the other speeches. He has a few pieces of spicy sausage, which he says are pretty tasty. After about 30 minutes, he and Dubinsky say their goodbyes and walk back through the neighborhood to the hatchback. “That was a great day for me,” he says, enjoying his time away from the phone. “That was the lowest ratio of call time in a long time.” Dubinsky selects some Beatles and steers the Honda back onto the road. The song is “The Battle of John and Yoko”: You know they didn’t even give us a chance. Christ, you know it ain’t easy. You know how hard it can be. At the end of a long day, it feels spot-on. n

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

CALENDAR

BY PAUL FRISWOLD

Emil Jannings in Algol: Tragedy of Power. | PUBLIC DOMAIN

Kehinde Wiley, 2018; courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles. Photo by Brad Ogbonna

FRIDAY 10/19 Portraits of the Hidden City Artist Kehinde Wiley leaped into the public consciousness when his presidential portrait of Barack Obama was unveiled in February, but he’s been making vital work that explores the nexus of race and representation for years. In 2017 the New York City-based Wiley visited the Saint Louis Art Museum to review the collection with an eye toward a future exhibit inspired by the historic style of portraiture. While he was in St. Louis, Wiley went to north St. Louis and Ferguson to meet with people and find subjects for his own paintings. Kehinde Wiley: Saint Louis

RIVERFRONT TIMES

is an exhibition of eleven largescale paintings of everyday black St. Louisans dressed in modern clothing, posed in the manner of kings, statesmen and other powerful figures. Wiley’s new work will be on display in galleries 249 and 250 from October 19 to February 10 at the Saint Louis Art Museum (1 Fine Arts Drive; www.slam. org). Admission is free.

Changing the Old Dogg Snoop Dogg has been many things in his life: a uniquely talented rapper, a compelling narrator for short nature documentaries, a reggae performer and even Martha Stewart’s co-host. But now he’s taking a stab at live theater. Working with writer/producer/di-

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

rector Je’caryous Johnson, Snoop has crafted the play Redemption of a Dogg. Snoop plays a man who chases fame and fortune at the expense of his family. When he wises up, he recognizes his mistakes and attempts to make amends by placing his family first and his career second. Redemption of a Dogg stars Snoop, Tamar Braxton and a selection of songs culled from Snoop Dogg’s 25 years in the music business. The play is performed at 8 p.m. Friday, October 19, at the Stifel Theatre (1400 Market Street; www.stifeltheatre. com). Tickets are $59.50 to $125.

SATURDAY 10/20 Party at the Old Haunt The expansion of the Halloween season is the far more enjoyable analogue of Christmas creep, and it’s in full swing with two weeks to go. At 8 p.m. Saturday, October 20, the Budweiser Brew House in Ballpark Village (601 Clark Avenue; www.stlballparkvillage. com) gets into the creepy act with its Zombie Apocalypse party. The bar will serve up themed cocktails and shot specials all night, and guests are invited to dress for the horrible occasion, mean-

ing costumes from beyond the grave. There are prizes for the best dressed, and DJ Jesse Plan will provide the soundtrack for the evening. The party is for the 21-and-older crowd, and admission is free. (For more comprehensive Halloween listings, see our guide in the following pages.)

Get It Out There is no road map for coming out to your friends and parents, because every person and situation is different. Telling people who you really are can be traumatic, joyous or a bit of a letdown — anything can happen. The Q Collective, a new local theater company, makes its debut with a showcase of short plays about the experience. The Coming Out Play Festival features six fifteen-minute plays, with subjects including two friends, soon to be separated by college, who wonder if their friendship will survive (“Where the Fireworks Come From”); a young woman who has to explain to her mother why she’s called off her wedding (“Something Old”); and the fallout from one man’s failed attempt to come out during his mother’s Christmas Eve party (“Baby Black Jesus: Part Four”). All six plays are performed at 7 p.m. Friday and 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday (October 19 and 20) at

WEEK OF OCTOBER 17-24 the Monocle (4510 Manchester Avenue; www.theqcollective.theater). Tickets are $15 to $20.

SUNDAY 10/21 Stargazers

Don’t Dream It, Be It

Henrietta Leavitt has questions about deep space and Earth’s place and role in the universe, so she gets a job at the Harvard Observatory in hopes of finding satisfying answers. Instead, she’s confronted by the unsatisfactory reality that women aren’t allowed to use the telescope. Her dream job turns out to be grunt work, as she’s expected to catalog all the stars revealed on the telescope’s photographic plates while men pursue the business of discovery. Yet women are capable of seeing what men cannot, and in those plates Leavitt finds something no one else has noticed, breaking new ground in astronomy. Lauren Gunderson’s play Silent Sky charts the lives and work of early-twentieth-century female astronomers and how they defied the odds to do great work in an age when society mostly demanded they stay out of the way and procreate. Insight Theatre Company closes its current season with Silent Sky. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (October 19

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is eternal because there’s always another generation that’s ready for its message of choosing personal joy over blind conformity. The Washington University Performing Arts Department ushers a new version into the world with its season-opening production of the Halloween favorite. See straight-laced Brad and Janet set off on a drive to visit their old science teacher (romantic, Brad), only to break down outside a very odd castle. Inside, pansexual freakazoid Dr. Frank-N-Furter is about to breathe life into the perfect man, but he’ll make time for (and with) Brad and Janet. But something is rotten in Frank-NFurter Castle. Will Brad and Janet survive their wild night? Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (October 19 to 28) at Washington University’s Edison Theatre (6445 Forsyth Boulevard; www.edison. wustl.edu). Tickets are $15 to $20.

Bernie Federko remains a St. Louis Blues legend. | BRUCE BENNETT

Gwen Wotawa stars in Silent Sky. | COURTESY OF INSIGHT THEATRE COMPANY to November 4) at the Kranzberg Arts Center (501 North Grand Boulevard; www.insighttheatrecompany.com). Tickets are $15 to $35.

WEDNESDAY 10/24 The Playmaker

MONDAY 10/22 Too Much Power

Bernie Federko is one of the greatest playmakers in NHL history, but his talents are mostly known only in St. Louis because he played at the same time as Wayne Gretzky. The kingpin of the St. Louis Blues from the mid-’70s to the late ’80s, Federko racked up assists and made every one of his wingers better. In due time his number was retired by the team and he was elected to the NHL Hall of Fame. Now serving as part of the Blues’ broadcast team, Federko has at last written the book that sheds light on how a kid from tiny Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, rose through the amateur and regional ranks to reach the Hall of Fame. Federko discusses and signs copies of My Blues Note at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, at the Ethical Society of St. Louis (9001 Clayton Road, Ladue; www. left-bank.com). He’s joined by his co-author, sportswriter Jeremy Rutherford. Admission for one person is $30 and includes a hardcover book. The $35 ticket is good for two people and one book. Please note that Federko will not sign any memorabilia, but he will pose for photos. n

The Kemper Art Museum’s Technofutures Film Series continues with director Hans Werckmeister’s rarely seen parable Algol: Tragedy of Power. Algol is a coal miner who receives a visit from an alien being who passes along the secret of unlimited power. Armed with the keys to the industrial world, Algol becomes a wealthy and important man. But what about all those poor miners — what can they do when their jobs disappear overnight? Art directors Walter Reimann and Paul Scheerbart built massive sets influenced by Expressionist art, giving the film an otherworldly look. The digitally remastered version of Algol screens at 7 p.m. Monday, October 22, at the Landmark Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City; www. kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu). Washington University professor Diane Wei Lewis introduces the 1920 film, which is silent except for the score. Admission is free.

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

Your Guide to Frightening Fun MULTI-NIGHT The Darkness

Ciggfreeds

liquid & lace

St. Louis’ longest-running haunted house is celebrating its 25th year. Rated as America’s best haunted house, the Darkness recently had a total renovation to make it longer and more terrifying than ever before, with Zombie Laser Tag, new special effects and a new three-minute Jigsaw Horror Escape Room. Mondays-Thursdays, Sundays, 7:30-10 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays, 6:45 p.m.-12:15 a.m.; Wed., Oct. 31, 6:45-11:45 p.m. Continues through Oct. 27, $25-$35. The Darkness, 1525 S. Eighth St., St. Louis, 314-631-8000.

Haus of Horrors Snuggle cats and be spooked at movie night at the cat cafe. Every Friday and Saturday night in October will feature a different public-domain horror film. These movies will be playing during open hours, from 6 to 8 p.m., so you can come and go during the films or purchase a two-hour reservation. Adults only. 10/19 Nosferatu; 10/20 The Killer Shrews, The Wasp Woman; 10/26 Dracula; 10/27 Night of the Living Dead. $5 to $15, mauhauscafe. com/horror. Mauhaus, 3101 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314-384-2287.

Evil Dead the Musical

VAPE - CBD - KRATOM - ADULT TOYS - LINGERIE - SEXY COSTUMES

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES 25% OFF 6839 GRAVOIS • ST. LOUIS, MO 63116 • 314-300-8750 • CIGGFREEDS.COM

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

What happens if you take Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 and smash it into the modern musical? You get Evil Dead the Musical, which grafts an emotional arc and frequent song breaks onto the gory, nightmarish story. Performances at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (October 11 to 27) at the Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue; www. straydogtheatre.org). Tickets are $25 to $45. Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave., St. Louis, 314-865-1995.

The Forgotten Leverage presents The Forgotten, an evening of immersive dance theater

that has audience members following performers through the mazes, hallways and stairwells of Intersect Arts Center. You may, at times, feel visibly part of the performance. Dress in theme: preferably in something black, dark, creepy or decaying. Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 19 to Oct. 27, 7 and 9 p.m. $15 to $20. Intersect Arts Center, 3630 Ohio St., St. Louis.

Nightmare in the Corn Indiana Jones found a piece of the shattered Ten Commandments in the Egyptian desert and was then kidnapped. Your mission is to solve who kidnapped him, with what weapon and where in the sea of corn. You’ll need a stout heart, sturdy shoes, keen powers of deduction, a flashlight and the price of admission. Saturdays and Sundays, 6:30 to 9 p.m. through Nov. 1, $12 for corn maze or escape tent; $20 for both adventures. 314-609-5488, www. nightmareinthecorn. St. Jordan Creek Winery, 2829 US-50, Beaufort.

THIS WEEKEND Gumbo Flats Pumpkin Run The Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce hosts its 17th Annual Gumbo Flats Pumpkin Run, with 5k, 10k and children’s fun-run routes. Sat., Oct. 20, 8-11 a.m., $25-$40, 636-532-3399, www.chesterfieldmochamber.com/ events/details/gumbo-flats-pumpkinrun-2018-5143229. Chesterfield Commons, Edison Ave. and Baxter Rd., Chesterfield.

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Parade Project Restore’s fourth annual Howl-OWeen Dog Costume Parade helps the nonprofit in its mission to address education, clean water and medical-care issues in developing countries. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with the parade at 12:30 p.m. Cash prizes. Sat., Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., $20 to enter costume contest; free to watch. 618-

781-4193, www.project-restore.org. Joe Glik Park, 710 E. Lake Dr., Edwardsville.

Spirits of Sappington House In the dark of night, they return to tell new tales from the beyond! Hear from costumed ghosts in Sappington House’s past during an illuminating museum tour. Experience Father Dickson Cemetery by lantern light. Gather around bonfires and enjoy cider, s’mores and an appearance by the macabre eighteenth-century surgeon Dr. John Murphy, demonstrating authentic colonial medical practices with rusty hacksaws, bloodletting leeches, brews and potions. Fri., Oct. 19 and Sat., Oct. 20, both from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $1-$7, 314-822-8171, Sappington House & Barn Restaurant, 1015 S. Sappington Rd., Crestwood.

Zombie Apocalypse Zombies invade the Budweiser Brew House’s Crown Room on Saturday, October 20. Come for a haunting night, with DJ Jesse Plan and themed entertainment from 8 p.m. to close. All biters and cold bodies can enjoy drink specials from 8 to 11 p.m., plus themed cocktails and shot specials all night. 21-plus. Sat., Oct. 20, 8 p.m., no cover. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-345-9481.

Drinks & Curios: Carnivale Step into a world of the strange, eclectic, spooky and wonderful as we celebrate the return of Drinks & Curios. Featuring pop-up shops from women creators and performances, the night is a fundraiser for Super Heroines Etc., a St. Louis nonprofit that empowers women to embrace their inner nerd. Sat., Oct. 20, 8 p.m. to midnight, $15 suggested donation, www.facebook. com/events/609139196147231/. The Crack Fox, 1114 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-621-6900.

NEXT WEEKEND Halloween Movie Night Welcome to a night of terror — and fun — when Nine Network and St. Louis Public Radio, in partnership with Johnnie Brock’s Dungeon Party Warehouse, present Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. A costume contest, live music and food round out the fun. Fri., Oct. 26, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., $10, publicmediacommons.org/schedule/. Public Media Commons, 3653 Olive St., St. Louis.

An Iconic Drag Show The Ready Room in the Grove will be

transformed on October 26 into the “spooktacular” setting for an iconic Halloween celebration featuring a celebrity drag show, Halloween costume contest and dance party benefiting Pride St. Louis and ArchCity Defenders. The party will include performances by top local female impersonators and music by DJ Rico Steez, with a costume contest focused on icons. Fri., Oct. 26, 7:30-11:30 p.m., $40 to $70, iconichalloween.eventbrite.com. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-833-3929.

Witches Night Out STL The popular Witches Night Out STL Halloween event has moved its annual ladies-only 21-plus costume dance party from Eureka to the Family Arena. Admission includes fire jugglers, a DJ dance party, and inclusion in door prizes and costume contests. Arena parking $10. Fri., Oct. 26, 5:30 to 10 p.m., $30, 314-852-3617, www. witchesnightoutstl.com. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Pkwy., St. Charles.

Halloween Spectacular Conjure up some creative crafts, play some ghoulish games and spin some silly stories during the Field House Museum’s not-so-spooky Halloween Spectacular. Don’t forget to dress up as your favorite character for this notricks, all-treats event. Sat., Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5 to $10, 314421-4689, www.facebook.com/ events/261810591125463/. Field House Museum, 634 S. Broadway, St. Louis.

The Event That Must Not Be Named Magic is coming — for all ages. Get out your wands, cloaks and brooms and get ready for a magical time. Come out and enjoy all of your favorite activities: Shop at Magical Alley, magical creatures, the history of magic, magical food, strolling characters, herbology, potion classes, photo ops, a balloon artist, costume contest, themed drinks and so much more. Sat., Oct. 27, 3 to 9 p.m., $34.40. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Pkwy., St. Charles, 636896-4200.

Down the Rabbit Hole Join the St. Louis paranormal group 3 Girls in the Dark for its fourth annual Halloween party, located in Soulard’s haunted 3rd district police station, next to the Anheuser Busch Brewery. Drag show starts at 8 p.m. with St. Louis’ own Maxi Glamour. Party in the jail cells, enter the cash-prize costume contest and check out the “Haunted Art Show” by Dekönstructive Collection. Drink specials every Continued on pg 26

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

HALLOWEEN 2018 Continued from pg 25

hour, with specialty drinks and shots. 21-plus. Sat., Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., $10 pre-sale; $15 at the door. 314-771-8230, www.madart. com. Mad Art Gallery, 2727 S. 12th St., St. Louis.

enjoy music from movies, theater and even some “spooky” classical works too. Kids who come in costume are welcomed on stage to get a small gift from the orchestra. Free. Sun., Oct. 28, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., www.tcsomo. org/events/halloween-concert-2018/. The Principia, 13201 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, 314-434-2100.

Ross Elementary Johnnie Brock’s Dungeon Fall Festival A fun-filled event with food, Halloween Party Johnnie Brock’s Dungeon and Ballpark Village team up again to throw the biggest Halloween party in town. Don’t miss an all-inclusive package from 8 to 11 p.m. with access to three venues, live entertainment by Joe Dirt band and DJ Deception, and the costume contest with a $5,000 prize package. Doors open at 7 p.m. 21plus. Sat., Oct. 27, 7 p.m., $40-$50. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-345-9481.

The Legendary CWE Halloween St. Louis’ most legendary Halloween street party returns Saturday, Oct. 27. Festivities kick off with fun daytime activities for the whole family. As the sun sets, the party continues with an adults-only bash and costume contest, known for its elaborate, complex and outrageous costumes and featuring $6,000 in cash and prizes. Free. Sat., Oct. 27, 11 a.m. to midnight, www.cwehalloween.com. Central West End, Euclid and Maryland avenues, St. Louis.

LATE SHOW AT 10:30P.M.

sunday BRUNCH BUFFET SHOW AT NOON don’t miss the halloween themed burlesque show for the month of october, boo-lesque T H E B O O M B O O M R O O M ST L .C O M

( 3 1 4 ) 43 6 -70 0 0

5 0 0 N . 1 4 T H ST. D OW N TOW N ST. LO U I S 26

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

Halloween Costume Party Cruise Break out your Halloween best on the Halloween Costume Party Cruise. Enjoy a live DJ, light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, along with Halloween treats. The winner of the costume contest will receive two tickets to the New Year’s Eve cruise. 21-plus. Sat., Oct. 27, 8:30 to 11 p.m., $26, 877-982-1410, www. gatewayarch.com/experience/riverboat-cruises/specialty-cruises/. Gateway Arch Riverboats, 11 N. 4th St., St. Louis.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT Welcome to Twin Peaks

A Halloween pub crawl on Cherokee Street. Venues include Foam Coffee And Beer, the Whiskey Ring, the Fortune Teller Bar, the B-Side, the Juice, Propaganda STL, Yaquis on Cherokee and the Livery on Cherokee. Lots of music and entertainment. Sat., Oct. 27, noon to 1 a.m., $10-$25, www.facebook.com/ events/262121634419470/. Lemp Ave. and Cherokee St., St. Louis.

Join the Mahler Ballroom at Club M and travel to Twin Peaks, Washington (population 51,201). Featuring a special reunion show of the band Baby Baby Dance With Me, the celebration will include pop-up performances from the series, cocktails, dining and “a damn fine cup of coffee.” Tickets include entry and one drink ticket. Wed., Oct. 31, 7-10 p.m., $20$25, 314-361-4411, www.facebook. com/events/463951790678413/. Mahler Ballroom, 4915 Washington Blvd., St. Louis.

Downtown Bar Crawl

Witch Please!

Spookapalooza

friday & saturday DINNER SHOW AT 7P.M.

games, crafts, Halloween maze, Halloween dance party, contests (adult and kids), prizes and face painting. Sun., Oct. 28, noon to 4 p.m. Email awbland28@ gmail.com for more details. Ross Elementary, 1150 Ross Ave., St. Louis.

Party downtown. If you are into dressing to impress for Halloween, enter the Halloween costume contest for a chance to win $500 and bragging rights. More info at www.facebook. com/events/340127470062808. Sat., Oct. 27, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., $12, 312-600-9035. Lucas Park Grille, 1234 Washington Ave., St. Louis.

Halloween Concert The Town & Country Symphony Orchestra presents its annual Halloween concert in costume. Bring the kids, and

GutterGlitter’s fourth annual witch dance is back to celebrate queers and femmes and non-binary/trans babes. Don your sexiest cloak and be ready to celebrate at this non-corporate-sponsored, underground, working-class/poor, queer dance party. DJ Vinca Minor will spin only music by women and queer/femme bois, and the organizers promise “witches in the house, binding Trump and his goons.” Wed., Oct. 31, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., $5, 314-664-7638, www.facebook. com/events/301329340689652/. Way Out Club, 2525 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis.

FILM

[REVIEW]

Star Warts Bradley Cooper’s Hollywood fable A Star Is Born is more indulgent than inventive Written by

ROBERT HUNT A Star Is Born Directed by Bradley Cooper. Written by Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper and Will Fetters. Based on a screenplay by Moss Hart. Starring Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott and Andrew Dice Clay. Now playing at multiple theaters.

t would be foolish to expect much original or inventive about A Star Is Born, the sour show-business fairy tale so familiar that even the most sensitive of the no-spoilers brigade must know exactly what to expect. The latest version, starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga (with Cooper making his directorial debut), is the fourth film to carry the familiar title and plot of a celebrity couple whose careers are rapidly heading in opposite directions. (The earliest version, though not officially credited, was George Cukor’s 1932 What Price Hollywood?, so clearly a precursor that Cukor originally declined to direct the 1954 version for fear of being sued for plagiarism.) Is the story really so timeless? Or is it just so simple that filmmakers can spruce it up with a few contemporary trappings –— Hollywood glamour in one era, fauxhippie duds in another — hoping that its melodramatic spine will hold up all? The latest telling takes most of its cues from the most immediate and arguably the worst of its predecessors. The 1976 version shifted the story from the movie business to the world of rock music (writers Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne originally conceived it as a vehicle for James Taylor and Carly Simon), but was hijacked by the ambitions of producer/star Barbra Streisand and her inamorato of the day, Jon Peters, to reflect their own consider-

Ally (Lady Gaga) is a rising star, while Jackson (Bradley Cooper) falls. | NEAL PRESTON © 2018 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES INC. able egos. Cooper plays hard-drinking good old boy Jackson Maine (because no hard-drinking good old boy can be named Norman), riding the charts with the kind of generic country/rock that you only hear in films like this. Somewhere along the road he meets Ally (Lady Gaga), who, as the only nonlip-synching, non-drag performer in a lip-synching drag show, is performing an Edith Piaf song. He immediately determines that she is in fact a sensitive and introspective songwriter who’s been denied her chance to shine and, within days, lures her on stage for a duet and — deus ex YouTube — instant stardom. Earlier versions of A Star Is Born showed Hollywood being simultaneously self-critical and self-congratulatory, an industry where it takes a lot of collective energy to build up stars and knock them back down. The new film is less generous in its view of the entertainment world, suggesting it takes the works of the exceptional (Cooper’s character seems to subscribe to a hazy Ayn-Randmeets-American-Idol philosophy that celebrity comes only to those who deserve it) and forces them onto an assembly line of image manufacturing, packaged sexuality and marketing schemes. As a narrative, this Star is almost nothing but loose ends and undeveloped plot points. As with

This is, curiously, the first telling of the story to show more sympathy for the declining alcoholic star than the wife and colleagues who endure his excesses. the crazy-quilt ‘76 version, the writers seem to feel that as long as they hit all the familiar beats — the initial romantic collaboration, the public embarrassment at an awards show, the stint in rehab — everything else will fall into place. The result is often confusion, and the viewer may be taken aback to learn more than 30 minutes in that Maine’s crusty manager (played by Sam Elliott) is actually his brother (that’s even though Elliott is more than 30 years older than Cooper) or that a passerby (Dave Chappelle) who finds Maine passed out on a Memphis sidewalk is actually a long-time friend.

riverfronttimes.com

Previous versions of A Star Is Born have inevitably been seen as projections of the off-screen images of their female leads. Streisand’s control over the ’76 production is an obvious example, while Judy Garland’s appearance in the ’54 version (produced by her husband) was widely regarded as a comeback vehicle after four years of absence and bad publicity. It may be unfair to accuse director Cooper of playing favorites — Lady Gaga does an admirable job of creating a Streisand-like presence, and Cooper’s only evident directorial touches are limited to a fondness for staging scenes in showers and bathtubs — but this is, curiously, the first telling of the story to show more sympathy for the declining alcoholic star than the wife and colleagues who endure his excesses. In Cooper’s version (he also shares a writing credit), stardom is a burden, the unfortunate baggage that comes with being an artist. As the title suggests, part of the continued appeal of this story comes from seeing Garland, Streisand or Gaga earn stardom while working their way up the musical ladder. Indifferent to that process, Cooper casts his sympathy with the character who takes a fall and declares that he never wanted to be on the ladder in the first place. It’s an indulgent revision, taking pleasure mostly from its own messiness. n

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

Locally Owned We specialize in ensuring the proper fit in running footwear and bra’s.

NOW AT RUNNING NICHE!

4131 Manchester Ave St. Louis, MO 63110 314-405-8006 facebook.com/RunningNiche Runningniche.com

THIS WEEK THE GROVE SELECTED HAPPENINGS

Day or night, there’s always something going on in The Grove: live bands, great food, beer tastings, shopping events, and so much more. Visit thegrovestl.com for a whole lot more of what makes this neighborhood great.

2 4 R RI VI VE ER RF RF RO ON NT T T IT MI ME ES S MF EJAUBRNRCEUHA2R104Y- -22680,-, M220A0R118C8 H r5ri,ivve2er0rf1frr8oonnt trt ti ivmmeeersfs.r.coconomtmt i m e s . c o m 28 RIVERFRONT TIMES OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018 riverfronttimes.com

WEDNESDAY, OCT 17

HAROLD NIGHT

THUNDERPUSSY

$6, 8PM AT THE IMPROV

$15-18, 7PM AT THE READY ROOM

GAME KNIGHTS

3 MILE RUN

$6, 8:15PM AT THE IMPROV

6:30PM AT RUNNING NICHE

FRIDAY, OCT 19

THURSDAY, OCT 18

EDEN-VERTIGO WORLD TOUR, KACY HILL

PLEXUS POP-UP PARTY 6PM AT THE MONOCLE

BROTHER LEE & THE LEATHER JACKALS

9PM AT THE READY ROOM

$20-25, 7PM AT THE READY ROOM

THE TILLERS, CARA LOUISE BAND $13-15, 9PM AT ATOMIC COWBOY

NEW MENU

OCTOBER 17TH

4130 MANCHESTER AVE. IN THE GROVE FIRECRACKERPIZZA.COM

SATURDAY, OCT 20 S.M.A.S.H. FEST W/ TEF POE, ACE & WAN, OG RACH, RIP THE GENERAL, ACESO, CHE, JU, BODEAN, INDIANA ROME, THE KNUCKLES, TDUBBO $10-15, 7PM AT THE READY ROOM

BLUE WATER HIGHWAY

$12, 8PM AT ATOMIC COWBOY

TURTLE CLUB'S FAREWELL SHOW $10, 10:30PM AT THE MONOCLE

2, 4 & 6 MILE RUN

8AM AT RUNNING NICHE

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT THE SHOP $10, 8:15PM AT THE IMPROV

CLASSES. SHOWS. FOOD. BAR.

TUESDAY, OCT 23 JONATHAN DAVIS OR KORN

$25, 7PM AT THE READY ROOM

WEDNESDAY, OCT 24 3 MILE RUN

6:30PM AT RUNNING NICHE

riverfronttimes.com riverfronttimes.com

JUNE 20-26, 2018 OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES RIVERFRONT TIMES

25 29

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

STAGE

[REVIEW]

Fantasy Island St. Louis Shakespeare’s version of The Tempest is as fresh as it is magical Written by

PAUL FRISWOLD The Tempest Written by William Shakespeare. Directed by Patrick Siler. Presented by St. Louis Shakespeare through October 21 at the Ivory Theatre (7620 Michigan Avenue; www. stlshakespeare.org). Tickets are $15 to $20.

he Tempest is about magic, and letting go of the past. The plot is straightforward for Shakespeare, who generally couldn’t resist piling on mistaken identities, disguises and cross-dressing, but that doesn’t mean the story is simple. Forgiving old grudges and forgoing revenge is difficult, especially when you have your enemy at your mercy. And in the new gender-swapped version at St. Louis Shakespeare, that’s right where Prospera has her sister Antonia. Exiled to a remote island after Antonia usurped her place as Duke of Milan, Prospera has had a dozen years to grind away at her grudge. She’s also been able to hone her mastery of magic, and now she commands a storm that swamps the ship bearing Antonia and royal court members including Queen Alonza. Director Patrick Siler and his cast take this tale in some unexpected directions, winnowing out new details and delivering a fresh and truly magical production that succeeds even as it satisfies. Every director of The Tempest faces the challenge of showing how the protagonist’s magic manifests on stage. Siler uses music to evoke the spells being wrought, which opens up some interesting avenues. The eldritch storm that sets everything in motion is made real through pounding drums played by the ship’s crew and musician David A.N. Jackson, a one-

Ariel (Karl Hawkins) does the bidding of his mistress, Prospera, in dramatic fashion. | RON JAMES man orchestra. Bowed and buffeted cymbals become the wind and traditional hand drums pelt down rain, while the crew’s drums are the surging sea, knocking passengers from stem to stern. Prospera’s spirit Ariel (Karl Hawkins) sits with Jackson, conducting the storm with waving hands and a swaying body that mirrors the sea’s churning. It’s a beautiful scene. After everyone goes overboard, they awaken separated on Prospera’s island. Prospera’s daughter Miranda finds noble Ferdinand and the two are simultaneously smitten. Antonia and Sebastian find themselves with Queen Alonza, while low-ranking dinguses Stephano and Trinculo discover a dead body. As Miranda and Ferdinand, Erika Flowers-Roberts and Ian Carlson make a well-matched couple. Miranda has never seen a human man before, and so Flowers-Roberts reacts with hushed awe at the tall, handsome Ferdinand. His over-eager courtly speeches are somewhat fumbling, but his wide eyes and dreamlike movements imply he’s besotted. There’s no such warmth between Antonia and Sebastian, but

how can there be? Teresa Doggett makes a shrewish Antonia, furious at their predicament, while Charles Winning’s Sebastian is thick-headed and dull-witted. They’re perfect foils, and get to show off their rapport when Antonia tries to remain patient while explaining her very simple plot to kill the sleeping Queen Alonza (Laura S. Kyro). The other comedy triad is Stephano (Jeff Lewis), Trinculo (Anthony Wininger) and Caliban (Dustin S. Massie), the son of a witch who’s only playing dead when the trio first meets. Lewis and Wininger are entertaining drunks, while Caliban hatches his own murder plot with Prospera as the target. The trio are hilarious, one coward plus two sots being the Shakespearean equation for chaos. But what of Prospera? Donna Northcott plays the wizard weaving all these strands together, and she’s not as menacing or haunted as most men play the character. Instead her time on a tropical island seems to have mellowed her, an impression strengthened by ever-present sandals. (No one is a hard-ass in Birkenstocks.) With a smile always tugging at the cor-

riverfronttimes.com

ners of her mouth, she indulges Ariel’s tantrums and demands to be released from her service with kind words and the promise to do as he wishes. Hawkins plays Ariel with a boyish charm, and Prospera responds with motherly kindness. Only when Caliban bellows does Prospera display any anger. The island’s original master, Caliban is petulant and impulsive, yet strangely non-threatening. Massie’s performance shades toward boyishness as well, his outbursts and hyperventilating dance of joy evoking the hyperactive problem child whom many mothers guide into responsible adulthood. Prospera seems to have succeeded with that too. After everyone is forgiven, engaged and sailing away toward home at last, Prospera releases both Ariel and Caliban. Ariel’s exit feels muted (it was always expected), but Caliban responds with sheer joy and no signs of resuming his former dictatorial ways. Only Antonia seems unchanged by her island interlude, still bitter, still sneering at her sister. Prospera’s work may not be done, but what woman’s ever is? n

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

FREE side of pasta with each sandwich purchase

2619 Cherokee St. St. Louis, MO 63118 | (314) 833 - 3034 Parmpasta.com

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

CAFE

[REVIEW]

Home Run At Levant, Ahmad Hameed gives the Central West End a delicious, and sophisticated, take on Syrian home cooking Written by

CHERYL BAEHR Levant 386 North Euclid Avenue, 314-833-4400. Tues-Fri. 4:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.; Sat.-Sun. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Closed Mondays.)

hmad Hameed has been cooking professionally since he was fourteen. He’s worked in the kitchens of some of the Middle East’s most luxurious properties, including the awe-inspiring, seven-star Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. And yet when his mom comes into the kitchen to check his cooking, he still holds his breath. You’d think Hameed would be confident in his abilities at this point in his career, and indeed he is — and has been ever since he entered Damascus’ premier school for hospitality studies as a teen. At first, he thought of cooking as a purely practical career path, but when he got into a professional kitchen, something clicked. Mixing professional techniques with what he’d learned by watching his mom in their home kitchen, he began to cultivate a skill set that would take him around the world. From Abu Dhabi to Dubai, Damascus to Thailand, Hameed worked the line at one luxury hotel after another. Though he was happy with the direction his career was taking, he felt the pull of family and decided to join his brother, Aboud Alhamid, in St. Louis. Hameed arrived in St. Louis in February 2015 and immediately began cooking at his brother’s restaurant, Ranoush, a Loop favorite for its repertoire of Middle Eastern specialties. Hameed was proud of the food he was putting out, but he couldn’t help but feel that authentic homecooked Levantine cuisine — the food his mom cooked for him and

Clockwise from top left: yogurt cucumber salad, mixed grill, hummus, lentil soup, baba ganoush, mouhamara and dawood basha. | MABEL SUEN his brother back in Damascus — was missing from the city’s dining scene. He searched high and low at local Middle Eastern restaurants, and when he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he decided to take matters into his own hands. In June, Hameed realized his vision with his debut restaurant, Levant. Though not necessarily an homage to his mother, the place evokes the experience you’d have feasting on traditional comfortfood dishes around his family’s dining-room table. Her presence is always felt, sometimes literally: Whenever she is in town, Mama Hameed makes a point to check on what her son is up to in the kitchen, tasting his dishes to ensure that the thread of authenticity runs unfrayed from the Central West End to the kitchen in Damascus that inspired them. Hameed’s embrace of Syrian comfort food does not mean a homey environment. Located in the old Kopperman’s space on Euclid Avenue, Levant has trans-

formed a Jewish delicatessen into a sultry lounge-like restaurant painted wall-to-ceiling in black. Along with its lovely street-facing patio, the space is divided into two rooms: One consists of the bar, the other is a dining room. To the back of both is a roped-off “VIP Lounge” with couches and low tables. Gold décor provides an accent, mostly in the form of paintings of the hamsa; the image of an eye inside of a palm is found all around the restaurant, including its logo. Lore holds that the hamsa is meant to ward off the evil eye that brings back luck. Hameed needs no such protection, as his cooking alone is good fortune incarnate. His deft hand takes a dish as ubiquitous as hummus and turns it into a masterpiece — heavily flavored with tahini, then brightened with fresh-squeezed lemon and olive oil. The deeply nutty chickpea concoction is so smooth it’s the texture of velvet. It’s flawless. If the hummus is rich, the leb-

riverfronttimes.com

neh is positively decadent. The thick yogurt, a staple of Lebanese cuisine, is as silken and rich as Ted Drewes custard; slathering it over a slice of pita bread is as indulgent as spreading triple cream cheese over baguette. Equally satisfying is the housemade halloumi cheese, its mild, briny taste reminiscent of an Italian stracchino. Flecked with dried mint and served warm with a side of pita, it’s a deconstructed Syrian cheesy bread. You might mistake the vibrant red kibbeh naeh for tomato paste, but its flavor is infinitely more complex. Made from crushed bulgur wheat, red peppers, tomatoes and pomegranate, the dip has the tang and texture of a sun-dried-tomato puree, with a suggestion of heat that lingers at the back of the throat like a mild Indian masala. The flavor is electrifying. Sapanikh arrives at the table looking like a bowl of simple steamed spinach; it proves anything but. The delicate leaves are enlivened with pomegranate mo-

OCTOBER 17 - 23

Continued on pg 35

RIVERFRONT TIMES

Authentic MexicAn Food, Beer, And MArgAritAs!

4494 CHRISTY BLVD. 314-351-6000 KEETONSDOUBLEPLAY.COM

HEAT UP YOUR NIGHTS & WEEKENDS $14 BUCKETS SHOT & DRINK SPECIALS DURING EVERY HOME GAME

"THAT'S A WINNER" WE HAVE THE NFL SUNDAY TICKET EVERY GAME, EVERY SUNDAY

WE BLEED BLUE, DO YOU??? THE BIG SCREEN PUTS YOU DEEP IN THE ACTION!!

2817 cherokee st. st. Louis, Mo 63118 314.762.0691 onco.coM www.tAqueriAeLBr 34

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

BEST STEAK SANDWICH IN ST. LOUIS FRIED CHICKEN WEDNESDAYS 1/2 CHICKEN+2 SIDES $7.95 TAKEOUT WELCOME

LEVANT

Continued from pg 33

lasses and lemon juice, making them pleasantly mouth-puckering. And if the flavor is thrilling, the texture is positively stunning: Somehow, Hameed manages to soften the leaves without breaking them down, leaving them downright creamy. I can’t think of a better use of spinach. Levant’s falafel is different than other versions in town. Instead of a coarse, rustic fritter, this version is dense and finely ground, creating a texture reminiscent of a doughnut (perhaps the cinnamon undertones also lead to that association). Personally, I prefer fluffier, more savory takes on the Middle Eastern staple, but this was a welcome change from the norm. Is it laughable that Levant’s best dish may be its chicken wings, a dish you’re more likely to find at a sports bar than a Syrian home kitchen? Perhaps, but Hameed does not let that stop him from making what may be St. Louis’ best interpretation of wings and drummies. The key to their success is how succulent the meat is. Even the outer edges of the drummy fall apart in your hands like chicken confit. The meat is so sumptuous, it’s as if it’s been poached in olive oil. Gently seasoned with garlic and herbs, the wings are accompanied by a side of a creamy garlic puree that will make you question why anyone wastes their time with ranch dressing — or, for that matter, any other chicken wing in town. The kitchen’s prowess with poultry is also evident on the shish tawuk, a master class in how to properly cook white-meat chicken. The meat is so tender and juicy you’d think it was injected with olive oil and lemon, but Hameed explains it’s the result of a marinade technique he’s perfected over the years. Simply served over a bed of rice with garlic puree for dipping, this is pure comfort. Even in the mixed grill, where it’s served with a tender beef kabob and wellseasoned, perfectly charred lamb chop, it’s a scene-stealer. Though Hameed excels in his grilled items, he is particularly proud of the more traditional Levantine main courses that remind him of home. These include the kibbeh labaneh, in which tender fritters of beef, bulgur wheat and spices bob in a warm yogurt sauce. The savory kibbeh soaks up the yogurt, softening so it breaks apart when prodded and stews in

the rich liquid. Molokhiya is another uniquely traditional item. Made from the leaves of the corchorus olitorius plant, also known as “Jew’s mallow,” it looks like a simple stew of greens but has a complex flavor that evokes fenugreek, cardamom and sweet black licorice. Studded with whole cloves of roasted garlic and meant to be ladled over rice, it’s like a Middle Eastern version of saag. It’s enjoyable, but an acquired taste. More approachable is the kossa be al laban, a stew-like concoction of sliced zucchini that has been simmered in a delicate yogurt garlic sauce. The savory zucchini infuses the yogurt, softening its tartness and transforming it into a light cream sauce with nutty undertones. Our server highly recommended the sharhat motafayeh, a dish of thinly pounded beef (you can also opt for chicken) drenched in olive oil, lemon and garlic, and it did not disappoint. It sounds so simple — and it is — but what more do you want than the simple pleasure of savory beef enlivened with oil, garlic and citrus? It’s satisfying as is, but the razor-sharp, briny olive salad that dresses the meat adds an extra layer of brightness that cuts through the beef’s richness. The highlight of the dish, however, is the potatoes that accompany the meat. Fried like golden potato croquettes, they are clearly the handiwork of someone who knows how to cook. If one dish exemplifies what Hameed is trying to do at Levant, it’s the dawood basha, or Syrian meatballs. Fork-tender spheres of ground beef are simmered in a tomato sauce that has the subtle warmth of cinnamon and baking spices. As the meatballs slow-cook in the sauce, their beefy flavor enriches the sweet tomato concoction, each component picking up the best parts of the other. You can just picture yourself sitting around the kitchen table in Damascus as Mama ladles serving after serving onto your plate. It’s a heavenly vision. You can also picture Hameed’s mother standing in Levant’s kitchen, glancing back at her son as she watches a pot of dawood basha bubble on the stove. It’s a nerveracking experience, for sure, but Hameed can comfortably exhale. Not only is he doing his mom’s cooking justice, but he’s also surely making her proud.

“BUBBLE TEA!” BOBA

enjoy a power-lunch at kalbi! 314-240-5544 • 2301 CHEROKEE ST kalbitacoshack.com | WED-SUN 11 AM-5:30 PM DELIVERY AVAILABLE | vegetarian, vegan & GF options

Downtown 2000 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63103 (314) 421-1388

Sunset Hills 3828 S Lindbergh Blvd St. Louis, MO 63127 (314)842 - 7678

Levant Chicken wings ...................................... $7.50 Dawood basha ...................................... $7.50 Levant mixed grill .................................... $19

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

FEATURED DINING

6 RESTAURANTS YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT...

THE BLUE DUCK

THURMAN’S IN SHAW

314.769.9940 2661 SUTTON BLVD, MAPLEWOOD, MO 63143

314.696.2783 4069 SHENANDOAH AVE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110

There aren’t many businesses named after Adam Sandler movies, but at the Blue Duck, the food is as whimsical as its “Billy Madison” reference. Originally founded in Washington, Mo., owners Chris and Karmen Rayburn opened the Blue Duck’s Maplewood outpost in 2017, bringing with them a seasonal menu full of American comfort-food dishes that are elevated with a dash of panache. Start the meal with the savory fried pork belly, which is rubbed with coffee and served with a sweet bbq sauce and root vegetable slaw. For the main event, the Duck’s signature DLT sandwich substitutes succulent smoked duck breast instead of the traditional bacon, adding fried egg and honey chipotle mayo along with lettuce and tomato on toasted sourdough. Save room for dessert; the Blue Duck’s St. Louberry pie – strawberries and blueberries topped with a gooey buttercake-like surface – is a worthy tribute to the Gateway City.

In January, Doug Fowler made big changes to Thurman’s in Shaw, and it’s paid off big time. A year and a half after taking over the old Thurman’s Grill location, Fowler switched from burgers and traditional bar fare to hearty handheld Mexican grub to great acclaim. Everything on Thurman’s menu now is designed for maximum portability – perfect for both full dinners and light bites on the go. The street tacos and giant burrito have earned love from Shaw residents, with tortillas bursting with a choice of mouthwatering meats, fish or vegetable mix plus all the fixings. Looking to scoop up deliciousness? Try Thurman’s chips with frijoles dip (traditional or vegetarian), spicy salsas, queso (chorizo or vegetarian) or smooth guacamole. Polish off a meal with churros sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and served with warm chocolate dipping sauce. Don’t forget drinks! Thurman’s goes well beyond its tasty margaritas, with plenty of craft cocktails, wines and beers available.

STONE TURTLE

J. SMUGS GASTROPIT

STONETURTLE.COM

JSMUGSGASTROPIT.COM

314.349.1933 6335 CLAYTON AVE, ST. LOUIS MO, 63139

314.499.7488 2130 MACKLIND AVE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110

At Stone Turtle, a classic American gastropub menu finds a way to fit right in with Dogtown’s Irish history. Principal owner and general manager Nick Funke drew on his years in the restaurant business in both St. Louis and New York and on Stone Turtle chef Todd Bale’s expertise to develop the signature menu. In a neighborhood known for burgers and drinks, Stone Turtle instead offers elevated dinners that are perfect for date night. Fried burrata serves as a much-lauded appetizer, exploding when a knife cuts into the breadcrumb-coated molten cheese. Mushroom gnocchi continues the cheesy goodness, mixing marsala mushrooms and garlic alongside spinach and goat cheese in tiny pasta curls. The highlight of the menu is the savory pork chop, cut thick and served with jus and creamy grits. But true to Dogtown roots, whiskey does take a star turn, with the Smoked Old Fashion appearing on many “must-try” lists in St. Louis.

Housed in a retro service station, J. Smugs GastroPit serves up barbecue that can fuel anyone’s fire. Married teams of Joe and Kerri Smugala and John and Linda Smugala have brought charred goodness to the Hill neighborhood, nestled among the traditional Italian restaurants, sandwich shops and bakeries. Part of St. Louis’ ongoing barbecue boom, the J. Smugs’ pit menu is compact but done right. Ribs are the main attraction, made with a spicy dry rub and smoked to perfection. Pulled pork, brisket, turkey and chicken are also in the pit holding up well on their own, but squeeze bottles of six tasty sauces of varying style are nearby for extra punch. Delicious standard sides and salads are available, but plan on ordering an appetizer or two J. Smugs gives this course a twist with street corn and pulled-pork poutine. Several desserts are available, including cannoli – a tasty nod to the neighborhood. Happy hour from 4 to 7pm on weekdays showcases half-dollar BBQ tastes, discount drinks, and $6 craft beer flights to soothe any beer aficionado.

CARNIVORE STL

BLOOM CAFE

314.449.6328 5257 SHAW AVE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110

314.652.5666 5200 OAKLAND AVE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110

Carnivore fills a nearly 4,000-square-foot space on The Hill with a dining area, bar lounge, and adjoining outdoor patio gracefully guarded by a bronze steer at the main entrance. Always embracing change, Joe and Kerri Smugala, with business partners Chef Mike and Casie Lutker, launched Carnivore STL this summer. As the Hill’s only steakhouse, Carnivore offers a homestyle menu at budget-friendly prices appealing to the neighborhood’s many families. Steak, of course, takes center stage with juicy filet mignon, top sirloin, strip steak and ribeye leading the menu. Customize any of the succulent meats with sautéed mushrooms, grilled shrimp, or melted housemade butters, such as garlic-and-herb and red wine reduction, on top of the flame-seared steak. Other main dishes include a thick-cut pork steak (smoked at J. Smugs) and the grilled chicken with capers and a white wine-lemon-butter sauce. St. Louis Italian traditions get their due in the Baked Ravioli, smothered in provel cheese and house ragu, and in the Arancini, risotto balls stuffed with provel and swimming in a pool of meat sauce. With an exciting new brunch menu debuting for Saturday and Sunday, Carnivore should be everyone’s new taste of the Hill.

A new restaurant with a meaningful cause has sprouted up near the Saint Louis Science Center. Bloom Café is a breakfast and lunch spot with a mission – empower people with disabilities through job training while providing a tasty menu full of sandwiches and sweets. An endeavor from Paraquad, a disability resources nonproft, Bloom Cafe makes good on its promises. Trainees work under culinary director Joe Wilson to prepare a variety of fresh dishes (including plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options) that are perfect for a lunch date, a business meeting or a family meal before fun in Forest Park. For a morning jolt, try the breakfast burrito, stuffed with sausage, egg and pepperjack cheese and topped with tomato salsa. At lunch, the reuben stands out, making mouths water with a smoky, juicy corned beef brisket, sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese and tangy Thousand Island sandwiched between swirl rye bread and toasted. A rotating array of pastries is available daily, but you’ll definitely want to pick up the cinnamon roll – cinnamon and sweet glaze make their way into every nook of the light dough for a delight in every bite.

BLUEDUCKSTL.COM

THURMANSINSHAW.COM

CARNIVORE-STL.COM

RIVERFRONT TIMES

SPONSORED CONTENT

THEBLOOM.CAFE

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

SHORT ORDERS

[SIDE DISH]

A Bartender Who Started Early Written by

CHERYL BAEHR

o say that Morgaine Segura’s parents inspired her love of cocktails is an understatement. They actively cultivated it. “My parents have always been fairly liberal as far as drinking goes — as young as eight, they thought I was old enough to start trying things with them,” Segura recalls. “My dad did sommelier classes, and he would bring back what he tasted and have all these spices laid out on the table, and we would have to pick out what we smelled. That’s just how I grew up. We were allowed to enjoy it, and it wasn’t an issue.” Looking back, Segura seems destined for her current role as bar manager at the wildly popular Olive + Oak (102 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-7361370). It wasn’t just that her parents encouraged her to smell and taste; they raised her to approach making drinks in the same way as cooking, viewing spirits like any other ingredient. Even at an early age, she would ask to make their drinks for them. It’s how she perfected her negroni. “To me, it was like cooking, following recipes and paying attention to what flavors were going on,” Segura explains. “Spirits were never some contraband I had to sneak off and chug.” But it wasn’t just at-home cocktail creations that helped shape her career path. Segura often found herself accompanying her mother, a local cocktail connoisseur and influencer nicknamed the “Cocktail Ambassador,” on photo shoots at bars to take pictures of cocktails. Though Segura would drink nothing but water and sat quietly alongside her mother as she worked, she observed everything the bartenders did. Eventually, she

Morgaine Segura got into cocktails as a kid — and never looked back. | JEN WEST began asking questions, and when those same bartenders showed up at her parents’ parties, they helped guide her burgeoning interest. Segura did not pursue bartending as a career right away, though. She went to college in Vermont where she studied political science, history and English. She became active in Vermont politics and envisioned working in local government after graduation. Instead, Segura found herself in Brooklyn, New York, where she worked for a travel company that did tours to destinations like Cuba and Iran that were typically off-limits to Americans. Though she loved what she was doing, she realized that she could not afford New York and moved back to St. Louis to reset. It was a move that would prove fateful. “I had no money, no car and no place to stay, so I moved back in with my parents, who lived in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood,” says Segura. “I needed a job somewhere that I could walk to, so that’s how I ended up at Moonrise.” Hired as a bar-back at the Moonrise Hotel, Segura learned the art of the cocktail from some of the city’s top bartenders. She began to understand the difference be-

tween being a professional bartender and a cocktail enthusiast. Now, as bar manager at Olive + Oak, Segura is getting the chance to show off what she’s learned at one of the city’s premier restaurants — alongside her fellow bartender and husband, Charlie Martin, whom she met while working at the Moonrise. “It’s not even work anymore; it’s just fun,” says Segura, calling owner Mark Hinkle “the best boss.” She adds, “I get to come in and experiment, and there are so many regulars. It’s just fun every day.” Though professionally satisfied, Segura hasn’t left behind the part of her that wanted to pursue government and the humanities. In fact, what she has learned about bartending over the years is that she doesn’t have to abandon anything — that being behind the bar provides enough of a context for her to explore both interests at the same time. “All these fields are intertwined, in my opinion,” Segura says. “I feel like I don’t have to choose — that I can bridge everything together, and I’m really excited to do that. I’m fusing everything I have done my whole life.” Segura took a break from the bar to share her thoughts on the

riverfronttimes.com

St. Louis food-and-beverage community, her love of Topo Chico and the special ingredient at the heart of her wedding “cake.” What is one thing people don’t know about you that you wish they did? Honestly, I’m pretty introverted, so I want people to know less about me. So that might be something I want people to know: I’m introverted. That doesn’t mean I don’t love speaking with people (I wouldn’t be very good at my job if that were the case), but I am best able to replenish my energy when I’m alone. I feel there is a real misconception of what it means to be an introvert. Many great bartenders I know are introverted — they drain themselves every day for their customers’ benefit. Once the introverts clock out, it’s time to sit silently somewhere and enjoy the sounds of other people chatting. The alcohol helps, but I will never feel comfortable reaching out and making the first effort. It’s hard! And intimidating! But always worth it. What daily ritual is non-negotiable for you? I am horrible at ritual! The

OCTOBER 17 - 23

Continued on pg 38

RIVERFRONT TIMES

MORGAINE SEGURA Continued from pg 37

only thing I can do consistently is brush my teeth. On the other hand, one of my cats, Averna, is all about habit. There is always a point in the morning that she comes and lays on my chest and we cuddle. I think, for her, that is non-negotiable. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? The ability to pause time. It would be so nice to stop the clock and squeeze in a nap every once and a while. What is the most positive trend in food, beer, wine or cocktails that you’ve noticed in St. Louis over the past year? It’s been awesome to see people starting to take risks over this past year. That’s how we grow as a community. I’m so impressed with people like Tim Wiggins and the Retreat crew for opening Yellowbelly, and Ely Logan with Savage. These people are out there doing what is important to them and trusting the other members of the community to support them, even if their concept is a little more adventurous than other places in St. Louis. I’m also loving the degree of collaboration in St. Louis right now. I recently attended Alex Salkowski’s Young Blood dinner at Good Fortune — what a fun idea! I love that we aren’t competing with each other but celebrating each other’s talents and bringing young professionals into the spotlight. It feels like we are all lifting each other up. What is one thing missing or that you’d like to see in the local

RIVERFRONT TIMES

food-and-beverage scene? Late-night food. This city shuts down so early, and I’d love to have a few places that serve awesome food late at night. I love going to the Gramophone, but I can only eat so many sandwiches. Who is your St. Louis food or drink crush? This one’s easy: Charlie Martin. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with such a dedicated and uplifting industry professional. Charlie is the one who really got me excited about creating cocktails and being a part of this community. It’s a privilege to have worked with him at Eclipse, and I’m certainly lucky he followed me over to Olive + Oak. Who’s the one person to watch right now in the St. Louis food-andbeverage scene? Loryn Feliciano-Nalic, no doubt. Balkan Treat Box is the best food in St. Louis right now. I am so excited that they will be opening up a brick and mortar right down the street from Olive + Oak! I could eat a pide every day and never get tired. Loryn and her husband Edo are some of the kindest and most humble people. Which ingredient is most representative of your personality? Amaro. It is an ingredient that has so many different expressions. I can totally relate to that. I am always growing and changing, not dissimilar to the Amaro Charlie and I recently made. Depending on the proof of the spirit, the ingredients added, and many other factors, the taste of the final product will be so different. I also feel I am a good “modifier” that can fill in and bring something unique to any situation.

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

If someone asked you to describe the current state of St. Louis’ foodand-beverage climate, what would you say? It’s finding itself. It seems like there are a lot of restaurants opening and closing right now. Consumers are figuring out what they want to support. We’re in our early twenties, experimenting and failing a lot — but always learning from our mistakes. I had a long talk about this recently with Angela Ortmann and Holly Nickels Fann. St. Louis has just graduated college and is now deciding what it wants to do with its life, pulling what it likes from the big cities and tweaking it to fit its own lifestyle. It’s a pretty awesome time to be here. We are paving the way to a more unique food-andcocktail scene every time we walk into a bar or restaurant. Whether we’re working or just dining, all of our decisions are changing the climate. What we’re not ordering is just as important as what we are — we’re weeding out the mundane and bringing something uniquely St. Louis to the table. If you were not tending bar, what would you be doing? Special-effects makeup. Makeup is my side hustle right now, but I’d always like to do more. Other than that, I’d like to spend more time planning and executing private events or small, in-home cocktail dinners and classes. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to write more. Name an ingredient never allowed behind your bar. My initial reaction is to say flavored vodkas. If I had a choice I would have no vodka at all, hon-

estly. But there is a time and a place for everything. I guess I’d say there is no room behind my bar for a negative attitude. We are there to provide a fun and positive experience; personal issues should not get in the way of that. What is your after-work hangout? We often go to CJ Muggs or Llywelyn’s in Webster when we get off work. It’s a good time to reflect on our service and bond with people over a shot and a beer. If we leave work early enough, we will try to hit Taste, Mission Taco Joint or Gramophone. What’s your edible or quaffable guilty pleasure? I don’t really feel guilty about enjoying anything. I could survive solely on Topo Chico and charcuterie. I had Wendy’s for the first time the other day and I guess I felt pretty guilty after eating that Baconator — but more like I just needed a long nap. What would be your last meal on earth? Cheese! I love charcuterie, and a giant meat-and-cheese board, like the one at Acero, would certainly be my last meal. Parker’s Table also has a killer selection of cheese. They actually made my wedding cake, which consisted of 45 pounds of cheese stacked a foot high and filled in with meat flowers. I would be drinking Topo Chico and shots of tequila would be interspersed through the meal. As far as wine goes I’d drink Von Buhl Sparkling Riesling, Robert Sinskey Vin Gris and the Field Recordings Petit Syrah. I’d finish strong with a Civil Life Brown Ale and a Ferrari (the beautiful combination of Fernet Branca and Campari). n

BREAKFAST. LUNCH. OPPORTUNITY. O RD ER O N L I N E FO R PI CK U P O R D EL I V ERY 5200 Oakland Ave. in St. Louis 314-65-BLOOM | thebloom.cafe Open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

A social enterprise program of

Bloom Café serves a fresh take on casual dining while helping people with disabilities grow their independence through a unique job training program. Just steps away from Forest Park and the St. Louis Science Center, Bloom Café serves breakfast and lunch six days a week.

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOGTOWN

lunch • dinner

sunday brunch come enjoy our

new fall menu 6335 Clayton Ave. St Louis,MO 63139

314-349-1933 stoneturtlestl.com

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

[FIRST LOOK]

50/Fifty Has Something for Everyone Written by

TOM HELLAUER When Bob Madden, the owner of 50/Fifty Kitchen (3723 South Kingshighway, 314-875-9623), switched to a vegetarian diet for health reasons, he found that not everyone shared his enthusiasm for a meat-free lifestyle. “I have adult children who have never turned down a free meal in their life, but I couldn’t get them to come eat with me,” Madden says. So Madden began concocting plans for 50/Fifty, a restaurant based on a premise of inclusivity and providing something for everyone in a true yin-and-yang fashion. The left side of the menu features colorful vegan and vegetarian dishes, while the right side appeals to omnivores. “It’s an approachable way for everyone to come eat together,” says Tim Chalcraft, 50/Fifty’s event coordinator. Although Madden’s family did not initially share his passion for plants, they are fully on board for

his newest venture, which opened in the Northampton neighborhood two months ago. Madden and his wife Liz designed and brought to life the aesthetic for the restaurant and event space, painting and arranging the interior themselves. Bare walls are tones of light and dark green, with dark navy ceilings drawing attention to bright Edison light fixtures, including one made of former ladders, string lights and crystals. Matching curtains hiding further padding provide acoustic value for the many bands 50/Fifty hosts. Like all things at 50/Fifty, the live music nearly every night has something for everybody. “One night might have 70-plus-year-old people here and the next night there will be twenty-somethings listening to hippie jam bands,” Chalcraft says. Drinks show a similar diversity. Several non-alcoholic craft beers from local Wellbeing Brewing are offered in contrast to Mark Twain Brewery’s Kolsch, Blonde Ale and Red Ale. Traditional cocktails such as Manhattans are joined by several “mocktails” for non-drinkers. 50/Fifty also boasts an impressive wine list, with a wine passport program in the works. The restaurant’s new chef, Miss Leon, is also finding balance in her life. Famous for her fried-chicken pop-ups, the chef/drag queen (real name: Leon Augustus Braxton Jr.) also recently switched to a vegetarian diet for health purposes.

Beets give Miss Leon’s pink pesto pasta its unique coloring. | TOM HELLAUER “My body is a temple, not a playground,” Braxton says. It didn’t take long for Braxton to become infatuated with vegetarian fare, experimenting and combining unique ingredients for memorable flavors. “She’s the MacGyver of cooking. She has a love and passion for food and life that every restaurant should have,” Madden says of his new chef’s abilities. “Who ever thought sweet potatoes, kale, chickpeas and onions would go together?” Braxton remarks about her new sweet-potato-kale salad. Besides her, maybe

[FOOD NEWS]

New Soulard Spot Will Let the Dogs Out

he space that formerly held Tropical Liqueurs’ Soulard location will see new life as the DogHaus (1800 South 10th Street). Owners Joe Schiro, Stephen Walters and Laurie and Kevin Simpson announced the news on Facebook October 4, saying they planned to open “a dog friendly, energetic, fun & family friendly venue.” And for that, it’s hard to imagine a better location — the standalone building has a decentsized fenced yard and is directly across the street from the Frenchtown Dog Park. The four friends are all St. Louis natives. In their post, they say they’ll have an off-leash area for dogs, as well as “a kitchen run by professionals who have recently had rave reviews by the RFT.” Their Facebook post continues, “We will have space for corporate events, TVs to watch the ballgame, or an area

RIVERFRONT TIMES

The DogHaus will be located right across the street from the Frenchtown Dog Park. | SARAH FENSKE for you to just hang out with your fourlegged friend. We will be partnering with local companies, dog trainers, pet supply

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

stores, & local charities to provide services for dogs, including health check ups & rescue opportunities.”

no one — but for Braxton, openmindedness and creativity are necessary ingredients in cooking. Fret not, though, if you are hoping to try some of Miss Leon’s famous fried chicken — and remember that 50/Fifty has something for everyone, vegetarian or not. Starting this Sunday, 50/ Fifty will have its first of monthly “Soulful Sundays,” complete with special menus highlighting Braxton’s creations. Offerings include brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a fried-chicken dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. and live music. n Reached by email, Walters declined a phone interview on behalf of the group, saying they want to get construction done before doing any media interviews. “We are grateful to the Soulard neighborhood for their welcoming support and are looking forward to being able to contribute to the community in any way we can,” he added. While it’s just one block from Soulard’s main drag, the 10th Street location is on a quiet block that proved problematic for Tropical Liqueurs. The slushy bar opened in the summer of 2015 and closed a year and a half later after the city revoked its liquor license following complaints from neighbors — and charges of racism from the owners. Trops has since reopened in a much larger space in the Grove. But the DogHaus may prove a better fit. For one thing, the block is already frequented by dog lovers. For another, the owners seem to be positioning the place as less “bar” and more “community hangout.” For more info, check out www.facebook.com/TheDogHausSoulard.

—Sarah Fenske

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

MUSIC & CULTURE

[HOMESPUN]

Myth Rock Prolific St. Louis artist Joseph Raglani teams with Erica Sparks to form Temporal Marauder CHRISTIAN SCHAEFFER

ou can never accuse Joe Raglani of slacking. The largely instrumental musician, whose output has ranged from shoegaze-kissed guitar loops to modular synth-driven exercises in noise, has released more than 25 albums and EPs over the past fifteen years. Several have been released in handsome vinyl editions on labels such as Editions Mego and Kranky, while others have been self-released under his own Pegasus Farms imprint. His love of vinyl and physical media isn’t surprising given his day job, which involves sorting and grading 45s for a local vinyl distributor. And while his output is, on the whole, voluminous, the last official Raglani album was released in 2012. He recently broke that silence with Extinctions, a full-length release available digitally through Bandcamp. But it’s another project that has Raglani most animated these days. The longtime solo artist has linked up with Erica Sparks to form Temporal Marauder, a duo that marries the mutant pop styles of Stereolab and Broadcast with a wide palette of samples, guitar twang and synth textures. The pair’s debut single is forthcoming, and final mixes are underway for a fulllength album. It’s not the first time that Raglani has made music under that name. In 2011, Temporal Marauder released the LP Makes You Feel, which coupled a largely instrumental soundtrack reminiscent of German motorik groups like Can and Neu! with an intentionally obscure backstory. “Temporal Marauder has always been a fake band, or a make-believe sort of thing,” says Raglani, who created a press release that claimed that the music was an archival release from the

Erica Sparks and Joe Raglani started as romantic partners, but soon began making music together. | VIA THE BAND ’70s, attributed to Jean Logarin (an anagram for Joe Raglani). It ended up being one of his mostloved releases despite, or because of, the obfuscation. “It’s the only album of mine that ever broke even, and it doesn’t have my name on it. So, oh, I get it,” he says, laughing. When he and Sparks began making music together, he felt like it was time to bring Temporal Marauder back to the present day. “I really liked the name and it was always meant to be a band — it was a band with a bunch of make-believe people and pseudonyms and all this stuff, because I didn’t have anybody to play that kind of music with,” Raglani says. “Now that I have someone to make music with, I thought I’d revitalize that idea.” “The myth turned into a reality,” Sparks notes. The albums that brought Raglani the most acclaim, at home and abroad, are made up of music composed on his modular synthesizer, an interconnected matrix of plugs, knobs and wires that, in his hands, can generate patches that move with the speed and serenity of an iceberg, or by contrast, dizzying polyrhythmic movements. But

for the Temporal Marauder material, he takes on the role of both producer and instrumentalist, largely performing on guitar. The songs often have roots in samples — symphonic swells or spy-movie grooves — but the reliance on recognizable pop structures and the up-front nature of Sparks’ vocals differentiates this from much of Raglani’s earlier albums. The pair, who are romantic as well as musical partners, didn’t conceive of starting a band together. He initially wanted a female voice for one of his tracks, and she offered to sing on it. “She added a nice little vocal melody hook to it, and the next thing we did after that happened really easily too,” Raglani says. “So then I started to see some potential of working together.” Raglani still composes the words to the songs, but it is Sparks who delivers them, with a clear and guileless approach that lends itself well to some of the tracks’ sing-song melodies. She also fills in keyboard, adding organ and harpsichord touches that sound plucked from an old Italian horror soundtrack. “I have an ear, which I think helps greatly with this project,”

riverfronttimes.com

says Sparks, who has more of a rock & roll background and whose musical upbringing encouraged her forays into musical theater as a student. “It’s a passion — I love to sing.” If Raglani was more accustomed to working alone — creating patches, manipulating samples, working behind a bank of wild and wooly electronic gear — Temporal Marauder taps into his collaborative mode. And as he and Sparks navigate their artistic and domestic roles, it’s not surprising that those two spheres continue to overlap in the pair’s south-city apartment. “The genesis of the songs, and the words, all come from me, and she can do harmony and some arrangement and also some keyboard chords,” Raglani says. “I basically have the sound in my head and I sit at a piano and play it, and she’ll be in the kitchen and I’ll say, ‘What do you think of this?’ She’ll come in and she’ll watch me, over my shoulder, and write down what I’m playing. If that doesn’t happen, we’d have forgotten what we had played.”

Temporal Marauder 9 p.m. Friday, October 19. The Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust Street. Free. 314-241-2337.

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

[PREVIEW]

Seashine Brings a Wall of Shoegazey Sound to St. Louis Written by

MIKE APPELSTEIN

hoegaze.” As a descriptive term for a musical subgenre, it’s about as vague as “punk” or, for that matter, “rock.” Blame the late ’80s British press if you like, always looking for a new dismissive turn of phrase. (We won’t even bother to explain one of shoegaze’s alternate names of the time, “The Scene That Celebrates Itself.”) Yet there are certain expectations that come with the term: loud, effects-laden guitars, thick and reverb-heavy production, with ethereal melodies and fragile vocals floating above the maelstrom. The contrast is often striking, like a bright helium balloon levitating over thunderstorm clouds. It’s a musical form that’s proven both versatile and durable, influencing such current American indie artists as Beach House and Diiv, as well as Austin, Texas’ Saint Marie Records’ roster. Here in St. Louis, local quartet Seashine has put its own spin on the form. Describing itself alternately as shoegaze and dreampop, Seashine’s songs strike a nice balance between ambient beauty and thick, controlled chaos. On its four-song demo, lead singer/guitarist Demi Haynes and guitarist Kate Hayes sculpt a wall of sound that, at its climactic moments, is nearly symphonic. Bassist Paul Rieger cuts through the din with well-defined melody lines that fall somewhere between the Banshees’ Steven Severin and New Order’s Peter Hook, while Bill Hudgins’ drumming is strong and frequently inventive. Haynes’ vocals and melodies are wistful but clear. The result: a unique take on the shoegaze sound. “We love so many bands from here, but we’ve never really found a band like ourselves in St. Louis,” Haynes says. “But I think that’s

RIVERFRONT TIMES

Led by singer/guitarist Demi Haynes, Seashine is nearing the completion of its debut album. | VIA THE BAND the great part about it: We’re on shows that are kind of diverse, which brings out audience members who appreciate different genres and sounds. We all influence each other. It’s kind of nice.” For Haynes, Seashine is the fulfillment of an ambition she’s had since high school. Growing up about an hour west of St. Louis in an artistic family (her father is an oil painter), a friend introduced her to the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Chapterhouse, as well as classic records on the 4AD label by Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil. “He was the only person I knew who knew anything about it,” she says. “Slowdive was the first thing I fell in love with. I found (shoegaze) to be kind of a lost genre that seemed to fit my taste. I thought it would be fun to play with other people.” Haynes debuted her initial solo project, Two Souls, in 2013. Over the next two years, Two Souls released two singles, “Forever” and “A Ghost, A Shadow,” and one album, Illusion, all recorded at home. In particular, Illusion’s eleven songs are ambient and introverted, with brief, almost haiku-like lyrical portraits of loneliness, comfort and distance. “My lyrics are here and there, inspired by true events or ones made up in my head,” Haynes says. “Mostly they are written during the writing of the songs.” Two Souls’

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

Soundcloud page also gives some clues as to early influences, with covers of Beach House, the Dodos, Slowdive, and even a Nick Drake song (“Harvest Moon”). Seashine came together in 2016. “I actually put out an ad on Craigslist, advertising literally for a shoegaze/dream-pop band needing a drummer, Haynes says. “That’s how we got our previous drummer, as well as Kate.” While Haynes writes most of Seashine’s material, she very much characterizes it as a group effort. “Usually when I bring a song to them, it’s something that I’ve recorded,” she explains. “But when you bring it to other people, it gets louder; there’s so much more power behind it, and each person kind of put their little touch on it. It becomes more of an…experience, I guess. We have a song called ‘Earth Eater,’ where at the end we kind of just do our own thing and make it transition into another song. It was definitely a collaborative effort where we melded different influences together. And it was something I hadn’t actually written, so it was interesting.” Currently, Seashine is working on its debut album. Recording began in August 2017, when the group did the drum tracks in a cabin in southern Missouri. At the moment, they’re in the process of fine-tuning the vocals. “It’s been a slow process, but it should

be a ten-track self-titled album,” Haynes says. The band hopes to begin touring once the album is out. Other than a one-off appearance next month in Michigan at the Kalamashoegazer festival, the band is staying local for now. In the meantime, Haynes is working on some collaborative projects with other producers. She has contributed vocals to projects by British writer/musician Nicolas Pierre Waddell. He was so entranced by Seashine’s “Shangri-La” — calling it “the best shoegaze song I have heard since 1993” — that he recruited Haynes to sing on his Xeresa project. Additionally, she said, she is working with Jacob Ware of Rapt and Andy Jossi of the Churchill Garden. Beyond that, though, Haynes is keeping Seashine’s future open. “Honestly, I try not to think too much about that,” she says. “It seems a little more natural to me with writing to just let it flow the way it does. I just want to continue to be able to do this with my friends and continue to get better. We’re pretty go-with-the-flow.” Oh, and Haynes’ favorite guitar effect, in a genre known for their use? “Hmm. I’d say the Mooer Shimverb, probably. It isn’t a super-popular reverb pedal, which makes it unique, and it has lots of neat tricks.”

Seashine 8 p.m. Thursday, October 18. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue. $7. 314-352-5226.

The

MadCrab FRESH SEAFOOD

CATER

“ Deliriously Good Time” -CHERYL BAEHR RIVERFRONT TIMES RESTAURANT CRITIC

Urban Chestnut Presents

the voodoo players

SEASONAL FRESH CRAWFISH

tribute to the highwaymen

BUY 5 POUNDS, GET 1 FREE

DELIVER

thursday october 18 9 PM

jd hughes & the fuze

(Market Price)

friday october 19 10 pm

•FRIED OYSTERS

waterseed - funk, r&b, soul, hip

NEW S! EM •SWEET POTATO FRIES MENU IT

hop, fusion & future funk from nola

•BLUE CRAB IS BACK!

HAPPY HOUR

Wednesday october 17 9:45 PM

MONDAY-THURSDAY 3-5PM

WORLD’S FINEST SANDWICHES

saturday october 20 10pm

jakes leg

friday october 26 10pm

50% OFF BEER & SODA 50% OFF 1LB. SEAFOOD

mia borders band from nola

or 50% OFF FRIED BASKET

saturday october 27 10pm

(CLAM, SHRIMP, MUSSELS OR CRAWFISH) (SOFT SHELL CRAB, CATFISH OR SHRIMP)

LUNCH & DINNER • OPEN WEEKDAYS AT 3PM • WEEKENDS AT NOON 8080 OLIVE BLVD. • 314-801-8698 • NOW SERVING BEER & WINE

EAT SNARF’S

the new orleans suspects new orleans supergroup

riverfronttimes.com

4 ST. LOUIS LOCATIONS

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

The six-inch toy Twitturd features a bird-brained Tweeter-in-Chief in his natural habitat. | VIA SNAFU STUDIO

[SHITBIRDS]

For St. Louis Company, Viral Rooster Inspired the ‘Twitturd’ Written by

DANIEL HILL

St. Louis company hopes to make a big splash with a toy depicting a chickenlike Donald Trump using Twitter while sitting atop a golden shitter. The brainchild of two friends from St. Louis, the “Twitturd” is the star of a recently launched Kickstarter campaign. Kevin Kelly, 35, is a marketing professional and former techstartup guy who decided to start making physical objects “instead of apps that never get made,” as he explains it. He’s partnered with Casey Latiolais, 32, a 3D motion and character designer who designed the infamous Trump chicken/rooster frequently seen at protests in recent years. The two met while the latter was working at the Bruton Stroube production studio in downtown St. Louis. Latiolais, who is also a St. Louis native, later moved to Seattle before settling in LA. During Latiolais’ time in Se-

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

attle, in November 2016, he was contacted by Chinese real estate company Beijing Reliance Commercial Land. The company wanted him to design a statue to commemorate the Chinese calendar’s then-upcoming Year of the Rooster. Given that November 2016 also happened to host a rather consequential U.S. election, Latiolais opted to give the statue some Trumpian qualities. The character design immediately went viral, earning writeups from the New York Times and CNN, and soon started popping up in balloon form at all manner of anti-Trump protests, including an appearance on the White House lawn in August 2017. Latiolais saw an opportunity. “When it first went viral he hit me up because he knows that I’m an entrepreneur — I have a couple companies here in St. Louis,” Kelly explains. “And he’s like, ‘We gotta figure out a way to do something with this.’” Kelly already runs one local business, Snake Bite Co., which makes bottle openers and other bartender tools. That gave him valuable experience distributing a physical product. Kelly and Latiolais formed SNAFU Studio, and soon noted the huge number of bootleg Trump chickens that had already started selling on Etsy — crochet ones, ceramic ones, vinyl versions, all just unlicensed versions of Latiolais’ design. “We saw this and we’re like, ‘My god, these are all over the place,’” Kelly says. “So what if we made a design that was equally viral — and even what I think is a better concept — and started off with a vinyl toy to see what the response would be?”

The result, of course, is the Twitturd, a six-inch-tall representation of the president of the United States in bird form, phone in hand, sitting atop a golden, er, throne. Its design is very similar to Latiolais’ Trump rooster, but it evolved slightly to interpolate the Twitter bird. “I really worked to try to make this something that would make both liberals and conservatives kind of chuckle,” Kelly insists of the final product. “This isn’t necessarily a protest; this is more of a calling out of an erratic social behavior that I think whatever side you’re on you can kind of find humorous.” Since its launch, the Twitturd Kickstarter campaign has raised $3,940 of its $70,000 goal, with 90 backers. Among the rewards for pledging money are a MAGA-style hat sporting the slogan “MAKE HIM STOP TWEETING” and a Twitter-blue T-shirt featuring the white outline of a pile of poop. If you simply want the toy, you’re looking at dropping $25 for the “Early Turd” pledge. Kelly and Latiolais hope the design will go viral and the money will follow. “It’s something that we’re trying to put out there to see if it’ll get any traction,” Kelly says. “And Trump keeps providing some pretty good fuel each day. “I think yesterday he walked onto Air Force One with some toilet paper attached to his shoe,” Kelly laughs. “So right now I’m trying to capitalize off of that.” The Twitturd Kickstarter campaign still has nearly a month to go. For more details, visit kck. st/2E5KpML.

OUT EVERY NIGHT

BLUES

[CRITIC’S PICK]

WE’VE GOT EVERY NHL GAME! CaveofswordS is just one of the bands playing at Synthfest III. | VIA THE BAND

Synthfest III 7 p.m. Saturday, October 20. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Avenue. $15. 314-352-5226.

Hang around the nerdier corners of the internet and soon enough you’ll stumble into the robust synthesizer subculture, which ranges from collectors drooling over five-figure Moogs to mad-scientist creators who construct their own rigs with little more than baling wire and a

THURSDAY 18

ALEX CLARE: 8 p.m., $15-$20. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. BILLY F. GIBBONS: w/ Matt Sorum & Austin Hanks 8 p.m., $30-$42.50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. BROTHER JEFFERSON DUO: 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. CITY WIDE SOUNDS: w/ Karen Choi, The Good Deeds, AV & The Dirty Details 8 p.m., $5. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. CLANG!: w/ Cricketfish, Sunsulking 9 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. CLUTCH, SEVENDUST: w/ Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown 8 p.m., $36-$40. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720. JEREMIAH JOHNSON ACOUSTIC TRIO: 4 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS: w/ Kraus 8 p.m., $15. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. ROADDOGG’S GOING AWAY PARTY: w/ Brother Lee and the Leather Jackals 10 p.m., free. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. RUSSIAN CIRCLES: 8 p.m., $16-$18. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. SLUIVILLE: w/ Nikee Turbo, Arshad Goods, J’demul, Najii Person, Myrion Two$, DJ Benny

nine-volt battery. And while some synth enthusiasm centers on theory and aesthetics, the locals that will perform at the third annual Synthfest use their gear the way it was intended — in a band, on a stage, twisting knobs and manipulating sound across a wide swatch of electronic styles. Oscillate Wildly: Performers include CaveofswordS, Wax Fruit, Hands and Feet, Modern Welfare and Captured Planet. —Christian Schaeffer

Honda 9 p.m., $10-$14. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. TORREY CASEY & SOUTHSIDE HUSTLE: 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

duke’s

VOTED ST. LOUIS’ BEST BAR & BEST SPORTS BAR

NFL SUNDAY WATCH EVERY GAME

FRIDAY 19

BLUES CARAVAN TOUR: w/ Mike Zito, Bernard Allison, Ally Venable 8 p.m., $15-$18. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. BOXCAR: 7 p.m., free. 50Fifty Kitchen, 3723 S Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, 314-875-9623. THE CULT OF LIP: w/ Seashine, Golden Curls 9 p.m., $7. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. CURSIVE: w/ Meat Wave, Campdoggz 8 p.m., $18-$20. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. DAVID DEE & THE HOT TRACKS: 8 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. DYLAN BECKER: w/ Dan Bell, Kenneth Sheppard, Tom Kennedy 7 p.m., $7-$10. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. EDEN: w/ Kacy Hill 8 p.m., $20-$25. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. GLADYS KNIGHT AND PEABO BRYSON: 8 p.m., $47.50-$152.50. The Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314-534-1111. HARDCORE HALLOWEEN 2018: w/ Dying For It, Miracle Drug, Better Days, Kill Their Past,

AT THE CORNER OF MENARD & ALLEN IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC SOULARD

Continued on pg 48

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

[CRITIC’S PICK]

[WEEKEND]

BEST BETS

Five sure-fire shows to close out the week

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 Cursive w/ Meat Wave, Campdoggz 8 p.m. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue. $18 to $20. 314-498-6989.

Cursive dropped The Ugly Organ in 2003, gaining the band enough critical accolades to sustain it through goth-bending albums for years to come. For nearly two decades, its sound has landed between pop and post-hardcore, and pleasing both camps requires an impressive musical gymnastics. While it’s not clear whether 2018’s Vitriola will stack up to The Ugly Organ’s acclaim, keep in mind that we’ve had fifteen days to chew on one and fifteen years to ingest the latter. Yet even on first listen, longtime fans will find that the new Cursive, with original drummer Clint Schnase, is more a return to form than a retread.

Gladys Knight w/ Peabo Bryson 8 p.m. The Fox Theater, 527 North Grand Boulevard. $47.50 to $152.50. 314-534-1111.

When Gladys Knight alluded to having “the same disease” as Aretha Franklin to a Detroit TV station, she gave voice to her fans’ worst fears. But with a little time, and clarification, we know that Knight not only had a different form of cancer, but that she’s since managed to beat it. The Empress of Soul would rather give than receive, as she did with an uplifting (if at times gut-wrenching) tribute to Franklin at the American Music Awards earlier this month. How lucky is St. Louis that, mere days after she delivered such a touching performance, we can witness her talents live and in person?

The Cult of Lip w/ Seashine, Golden Curls 9 p.m. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Avenue. $7. 314-352-5226.

Growling bass blends with cymbalheavy beats that pulse in kind, making a thick bedrock for sinewy riffs to skate across. Minneapolis’ Cult of Lip dabbles in dark, occultist vibes delivered with a thick mesh of shoegazing grunge rock. Shape-shifting elements of static and feedback make for songs that tend to drone but never bore. Local opener Seashine provides a melodic foil to the show with St. Louis’ own Golden Curls erring on the side of pop to build a diverse night of noise. Continued on pg 49

RIVERFRONT TIMES

Jon Batiste. | VIA MICK MANAGEMENT

Jon Batiste 8 p.m. Saturday, October 20. The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard. $35 to $50. 314-533-9900.

In New Orleans, musical dynasties are more than lineages for historians to trace. They are the living, breathing, second-lining essence of the music, and no name looms larger than Batiste. Spiraling back even further than legendary Treme bass drummer Uncle Lionel Batiste, the bloodline leads straight to Jon Batiste, the pianist now best known as the leader of Stay Human, the house band for Stephen Colbert’s Late Show. An effusive entertainer, Batiste has

world-class jazz chops, a passion for the street-party groove of New Orleans music and a plastic melodica that he plays like a Stradivarius. His latest recording, Hollywood Africans, may be his most genteel outing (including a stunning take on a Chopin nocturne), but his inspiration remains inseparable from the music of New Orleans — a sound and spirit Batiste renews with every improvisation. Have Melodica, Will Travel: When not helming the band for Colbert, Batiste works as the creative director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and as music director for the Atlantic. —Roy Kasten

FLEETWOOD MAC: 8 p.m., $66.50-$226.50. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888. GARY ROBERT AND COMMUNITY: w/ The Scatterguns 9 p.m., $5. The Haunt, 5000 Alaska Ave, St. Louis, 314-481-5003. GHOSTFLOWER: w/ Pealds, Tenants, Other Suns 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. HOODIE ALLEN: w/ Gianni & Kyle 7 p.m., $29.50. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. ILIZA: 8 p.m., $35. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. JOEY GRACEFFA: 7 p.m., $43.50-$138.50. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. JON BATISTE: 8 p.m., $35-$50. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900. KANSAS: 8 p.m., $45-$125. The Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314-534-1111. MARQUISE KNOX BLUES BAND: 10 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. MATT “THE RATTLESNAKE” LESCH CD RELEASE PARTY: 7 p.m., free. Hwy 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen, 34 S Old Orchard Ave, Webster Groves, 314-968-0061. RICH MCDONOUGH & THE RHYTHM RENEGADES: 3 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. S.M.A.S.H. FEST: w/ Tef Poe, Ace & Wan, Og Rach, CHE, Indiana Rome, The Knuckles, TDubb-O, Bo Dean, UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley, St. Louis Humanitarian Honoree Kayla Reed 8 p.m., $10-$15. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. THE SAFES: w/ The Wargs, The Radio Buzzkills 7 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. SONIC MISCHIEF: 9 p.m., free. Nightshift Bar & Grill, 3979 Mexico Road, St. Peters, 636-441-8300. SYNTHFEST III: w/ CaveofswordS, Sea Priestess, Hands & Feet, Modern Welfare, Ethik’s Mind, Captured Planet, Wax Fruit, Kudzu 7 p.m., $12. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. TENGYUE ZHANG: 8 p.m., $24-$28. Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd, Richmond Heights, 314-991-0955. THE QUEEN’S SIX: 8 p.m., $19-$42. Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 314-373-8200. TIM ALBERT & THE BOOGIEMEN: 9 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. TOM HALL: 6:30 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TRIVIUM: w/ Avatar, Light The Torch 7 p.m., $25-$28. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.

SUNDAY 21

OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 47

Time and Pressure, Brute Force 7 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. JAKE OWEN: w/ David Lee Murphy 7 p.m., $25.50-$60.25. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., St. Louis, 314-977-5000. LEROY JODIE PIERSON: 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. LOLA AND THE RYAN MARQUEZ TRIO: 7 p.m., $10$15. Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. NEW MAYANS: w/ Big Tobacco, Thames 10 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE: 8 p.m., $25-$27.50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. SEVEN LIONS: 8 p.m., $30-$32. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. SKEET RODGERS & INNER CITY BLUES BAND: 10 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. SLOTHRUST: 8 p.m., $16. Blueberry Hill - The

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. THE TILLERS: 9 p.m., $13-$15. The Bootleg, 4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-775-0775. TWENTY ONE PILOTS: w/ Max Frost, Awolnation 7 p.m., $36.50-$76.50. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888.

SATURDAY 20

120 MINUTES: 9 p.m., free. Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave, Maplewood, 314-241-2337. ALICE COOPER: 8 p.m., $29.75-$179.50. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600. ANTIGAMA: w/ Violent Opposition 8 p.m., $12-$14. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. THE ATARIS: w/ the Eradicator, Cuban Missiles, Horror Section 7 p.m., $15-$17. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. BLUE WATER HIGHWAY: 8 p.m., $12-$15. The Bootleg, 4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-775-0775. BUDDY MONDLOCK: 8 p.m., $18. Music Folk, 8015 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, 314-961-2838. COVEN: HALLOWEEN: DJ Dorian Dolore, DJ Digital 10 p.m., free. HandleBar, 4127 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-652-2212. THE DARRELLS: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.

THE APPLESEED CAST: w/ Flow Clinic, Lightrider 8 p.m., $12. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. BLACK & WHITE BAND: 5 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. ECHOES FROM THE BALTIC COAST: 3 p.m., $10$45. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 1413 N. 20th St., St. Louis, 314-421-5948. GHOSTWRITER: w/ Shaughn Uebinger 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. LOVE JONES “THE BAND”: 8 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. MY CHILDREN MY BRIDE: w/ Secrets, Capture, Kingdom of Giants, Half Hearted, Anima/Animus 6:30 p.m., $15-$20. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. POLYPHIA: w/ Hail the Sun, Covet 8 p.m., $18$22. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. ROOMFUL OF TEETH: 7 p.m., $15-$25. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. RYAN KOENIG: 1 p.m., free. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. SOJA: w/ Collie Buddz, Xiuhtezcatl 8 p.m., $27$30. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis,

[CRITIC’S PICK]

SOULARD’S HOTTEST DJ DANCE PARTY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT

Action Bronson. | TOM GOULD

Action Bronson 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 24. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Avenue, Sauget, Illinois. $30 to $35. 618-274-6720.

The only major complaint that can be readily leveled against Action Bronson is that he sounds almost exactly like fellow rapper Ghostface Killah. In a genre that doesn’t take kindly to biters, emulating another’s style is something of a cardinal sin, and Ghostface himself has even admitted to confusing Bronson’s verses for his own on songs for which they’ve collaborated. But nevertheless, Bronson has made a hell of a career for himself and his soundalike voice, snagging a record deal and two television shows

314-726-6161.

MONDAY 22

DOG FASHION DISCO: 6:30 p.m., $15-$17. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. GO FOR BAROQUE: 7:30 p.m., TBA. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900. MC LARS & MC FRONTALOT: w/ Mega Ran, Schaffer the Dark Lord 8 p.m., $18. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. PUMPKINSEED: w/ Sunset Over Houma 8 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. THIRD SIGHT “SPECIAL EDITION”: 8 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

TUESDAY 23

ALLA VOSKOBOYNIKOVA: w/ Christine Brewer,

through Vice over the years. To be fair, Bronson’s lyrical content sets him apart from the Wu-Tang legend — the former gourmet chef is known to rap about food a lot, as opposed to the goings-on in the rugged lands of Shaolin — but his rhymes would surely be tasty even if he didn’t. Come Correct: Back in 2015, during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsNation, Bronson made some remarks insinuating that he is actually a better rapper than the man he sounds like. Ghostface responded with a fiery, threatening rant in a video posted to social media, recommending in no uncertain terms that Bronson show some respect. Bronson was lightning quick to very wisely apologize. —Daniel Hill

Bjorn Ranheim 7:30 p.m., $25. Blanche M Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Dr at Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, 314-516-4949. DAVE MASON: 7:30 p.m., $29-$69. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. DEAD TENANTS: w/ Space Cubs, Whsky Janetor, Body Leash 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. JONATHAN DAVIS OF KORN: w/ The Birthday Massacre, Julien-K 8 p.m., $25-$30. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. PAUL BONN & THE BLUESMEN: 8 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. THE STRUTS: w/ Spirit Animal 7 p.m., $23.50$27. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.

Continued on pg 50

duke’s MORNING AFTER

BRUNCH

SATURDAY & SUNDAY MORNING riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 49 TALL HEIGHTS: w/ Old Sea Brigade, Frances Cone 8 p.m., $14-$16. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. TITUS ANDRONICUS: w/ Ted Leo 8 p.m., $22-$25. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.

WEDNESDAY 24

ACTION BRONSON: 8 p.m., $30-$35. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720. BIG RICH MCDONOUGH & RHYTHM RENEGADES: 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. CUB SPORT: 8 p.m., $10. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. DAVID NANCE: w/ Jack Grelle, Mark Plant, Brainpal 9 p.m., $7. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. EMILY KINNEY: w/ Paul McDonald 7 p.m., $20$25. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. ERIC LINDELL: w/ Sam Ravenna 8 p.m., $22-$25. The Bootleg, 4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-775-0775. JASON COOPER BLUES BAND: 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. JULIA BULLOCK: 8 p.m., $30-$35. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900. RECKLESS KELLY: 8 p.m., $22-$25. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. RYAN KOENIG: w/ Charles Hill Jr., Jenny Roques, Michaell Sandman 8 p.m., $7. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. SONGBIRD CAFE: 7:30 p.m., $20-$25. The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd, St. Louis, 314-560-2778.

THIS JUST IN

HAPPY HOUR 3-6 PM APPY PEOPLE ONLY)

SLIDER HOUSE 2.0 $3 (H $4 New Menu Expanded Patio Live Music Thursday-Saturday $5 $6 Well Cocktails Bud Select "True" Sliders

Blue Moon House Wines Chips & Cheese Fried Pickles

Slider House IPA Slider House APA

"Sprarti" Dip Six Wings Buﬀalo Chicken Dip Bean Dip

9528 Manchester Rd | (314) 942-6445 | Slider-house.com

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

13TH ANNUAL LAST WALTZ & THE BAND CELEBRATION: W/ The Stag Nite All-Stars, Wed., Nov. 21, 6 p.m., $15. South Broadway Athletic Club, 2301 S. Seventh St., St. Louis, 314-776-4833. ADIA VICTORIA: Tue., Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $12-$14. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. AMANDA KIRKPATRICK: Sat., Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., free. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. AMERICAN ENGLISH: TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES: Sat., Feb. 23, 8 p.m., $28-$38. River City Casino

& Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT: Fri., Nov. 16, 8 p.m., $25-$65. .Zack, 3224 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. BERT KREISCHER: Sun., Jan. 20, 10 p.m., $37.50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. BIG RICH MCDONOUGH & RHYTHM RENEGADES: Wed., Oct. 24, 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. BLACK & WHITE BAND: Sun., Oct. 21, 5 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. BONEY JAMES: Fri., April 26, 8 p.m., $35-$50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. BROTHER BIRD: Thu., Dec. 6, 8 p.m., $13-$15. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. BROTHER JEFFERSON DUO: Thu., Oct. 18, 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. BUDDY MONDLOCK: Sat., Oct. 20, 8 p.m., $18. Music Folk, 8015 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, 314-961-2838. CANNABIS CORPSE: Wed., Dec. 12, 8 p.m., $12-$15. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. CLANG!: W/ Cricketfish, Sunsulking, Thu., Oct. 18, 9 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. CMSSL CLARINET MASTER CLASS: W/ Diana Haskell, Mon., Nov. 12, 4 p.m., free. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. DAUGHTRY: Wed., Dec. 5, 7 p.m., $59-$69. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. DEAD TENANTS: W/ Space Cubs, Whsky Janetor, Body Leash, Tue., Oct. 23, 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. DENNIS DEYOUNG: Fri., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., $45-$65. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. DR. DOG: W/ The Nude Party, Mon., Feb. 25, 8 p.m., $20-$28. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. DRAKE AND MIGOS: Sat., Nov. 10, 7 p.m., $49.50$179.5. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888. ECHOES FROM THE BALTIC COAST: Sun., Oct. 21, 3 p.m., $10-$45. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 1413 N. 20th St., St. Louis, 314-421-5948. EL MONSTERO: THE DEFINITIVE PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE: Thu., Dec. 20, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50. Fri.,

BEST BETS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20

The Callous Daoboys w/ the Threats, Ronnie Rogers, Man the Manipulator

S.M.A.S.H Fest w/ Tef Poe, T Dubb O, Ace & Wan, Og Rach, CHE, Indiana Rome, the Knuckles, Bo Dean

7:30 p.m. El Leñador Bar & Grill, 3124 Cherokee Street. 314-875-9955.

8 p.m. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave. $10 to $15. 314-833-3929.

Anyone into the history of subgenres — and hey, who isn’t? — might note grindcore as the little asterisk next to “scene” music in the early aughts. And while the Callous Daoboys have given the world “She Thinks My Tractor Beam Is Sexy,” there’s no doubt that the band takes its mangling of metal seriously — or at least approaches it with the utmost skill. The shriek of violin strings offers a sharp and unyielding howl that soars above the band’s heaviest moments. The Threats will join the Daoboys on this tour, bringing a heat-seeking sound with former members of metalcore pioneers the Chariot in the cockpit.

These days Tef Poe rarely breaks from his work as an activist, academic and artist to perform live, but it was rapping that brought him to the public eye, and this night sees him join with many of St. Louis’ foremost figures in the hip-hop scene for a multi-disciplinary show that brings politics, sports and live art to the Ready Room. Special guests include state Representative Bruce Franks Jr. (D-St. Louis), UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and activist Kayla Reed, with comedian Willie C taking up hosting duties. S.M.A.S.H Fest isn’t just a catchy name; it’s the St. Louis Music, Arts, Sports & Humanitarian Festival. —Joseph Hess

Continued from pg 48

OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 50 Dec. 21, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50. Sat., Dec. 22, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50. Thu., Dec. 27, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50. Fri., Dec. 28, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50. Sat., Dec. 29, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. ELLEN FULLMAN AND THE LONG STRING INSTRUMENT: Fri., Nov. 9, 8 p.m., $10-$20. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. EXTRAVISION: W/ Brooks Strause, Sparrowhead, Holy Posers, Thu., Nov. 22, 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. FLYOVER COMEDY FESTIVAL: BEST OF THE LOU: W/ Jeremy Essig, Thu., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., $10. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. FRANKLIN COHEN, BETH GUTERMAN CHU, BJORN RANHEIM AND PETER HENDERSON: Sun., Nov. 11, 7 p.m., $5-$20. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. FUNKY BUTT BRASS BAND 10TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRASSTRAVAGANZA: Fri., Dec. 14, 9 p.m., $18$30. Sat., Dec. 15, 9 p.m., $18-$30. Sun., Dec. 16, 7 p.m., $18-$30. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. FUNKY BUTT BRASS BAND HOLIDAY BRASSTRAVAGANZA KIDS MATINEE: Sat., Dec. 15, 3 p.m., $5-$12. Sun., Dec. 16, 3 p.m., $5-$12. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. GHOSTFLOWER: W/ Pealds, Tenants, Other Suns, Sat., Oct. 20, 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. GHOSTWRITER: W/ Shaughn Uebinger, Sun., Oct. 21, 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. HARDCORE HALLOWEEN 2018: W/ Dying For It, Miracle Drug, Better Days, Kill Their Past, Time and Pressure, Brute Force, Fri., Oct. 19, 7 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. JAKE’S LEG: Fri., Nov. 23, 8 p.m., $20. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. JASON COOPER BLUES BAND: Wed., Oct. 24, 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. JAZZ CELEBRATION CONCERT: Fri., Nov. 30, 8 p.m., free. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. JB SMOOVE: Fri., April 12, 8 p.m., $35. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. JEANETTE HARRIS: Sat., Nov. 17, 7 p.m., $25. .Zack, 3224 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. KAHSAN & THE BADMASH: Thu., Dec. 20, 8 p.m., $10-$15. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. LEROY JODIE PIERSON: Fri., Oct. 19, 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. LIL DUVAL: Sun., Nov. 18, 8 p.m., $40-$62.50. Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd, North St. Louis County, 314-869-9090. LOJIC: W/ Common Jones, Midwest Avengers, Mathias and the Pirates, Sat., Nov. 24, 8 p.m., $10-$12. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. LOLA AND THE RYAN MARQUEZ TRIO: Fri., Oct. 19, 7 p.m., $10-$15. Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. LOVE AND THEFT: Thu., Nov. 29, 8 p.m., $20-$25. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. LOVE JONES “THE BAND”: Sun., Oct. 21, 8 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. MARK CHESNUTT & JOE DIFFIE: Sun., Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., $39.50-$49.50. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. MARQUISE KNOX BLUES BAND: Sat., Oct. 20, 10 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. NEAL MORSE BAND: Wed., Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $30$50. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.

NEW MAYANS: W/ Big Tobacco, Thames, Fri., Oct. 19, 10 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. PAUL BONN & THE BLUESMEN: Tue., Oct. 23, 8 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. POKEY LAFARGE: Fri., Dec. 28, 8 p.m., $20. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. PUMPKINSEED: W/ Sunset Over Houma, Mon., Oct. 22, 8 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. RADAR STATE: Sun., Feb. 3, 8 p.m., $12-$14. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. REDISCOVERY: Fri., Nov. 16, 7 p.m., $5-$15. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. RIPE: Thu., March 28, 8 p.m., $14. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. THE SAFES: W/ The Wargs, The Radio Buzzkills, Sat., Oct. 20, 7 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. SKEET RODGERS & INNER CITY BLUES BAND: Fri., Oct. 19, 10 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. SOMEBODY TO LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN: Thu., Nov. 15, 8 p.m., $15. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. STRFKR: W/ Shy Boys, Sun., March 3, 9 p.m., $20-$24. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. TAB BENOIT: Wed., Dec. 19, 8 p.m., $22-$25. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. THIRD SIGHT “SPECIAL EDITION”: Mon., Oct. 22, 8 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TOM HALL: Sat., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TORREY CASEY & SOUTHSIDE HUSTLE: Thu., Oct. 18, 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TRAVIS GREENE & MOSAIC MSC: Sat., Feb. 16, 8 p.m., $27.50-$75. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. THE U-TURNS: Sat., Dec. 22, 9 p.m., free. Pat Connolly Tavern, 6400 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, 314-647-7287. WARD DAVIS: W/ Clint Park, Fri., Nov. 23, 8 p.m., $20-$75. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. WEEZER, PIXIES: Sun., March 24, 7 p.m., $25$125. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888.

THE BEST DESTINATION PATIO BAR AROUND

UPCOMING

BLACK LIPS: W/ Surfbort, Wed., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., $18-$20. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. BOB LOG III: Tue., Oct. 30, 8 p.m., $10. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. BOUNCE HOUSE: W/ Sorry Scout, Granddad, Tiger Rider, Wed., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., $10. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. BREAKMOUTH ANNIE EP RELEASE: Fri., Oct. 26, 9 p.m., $5. RKDE, 2847 Cherokee Street, St. Louis. CHIEF KEEF: Fri., Oct. 26, 8 p.m., $30-$35. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. ELTON JOHN: Tue., Oct. 30, 8 p.m., $46.50$221.50. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888. THE ENGLISH BEAT: Sun., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., $27.50$30. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. GWAR: W/ Hatebreed, Thu., Oct. 25, 7 p.m., $25$28. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720. LUDO: W/ Tidal Volume, Sat., Oct. 27, 7 p.m., $25$35. Sat., Oct. 27, 11 p.m., $25-$35. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. MISFITS TRIBUTE NIGHT BY WE BITE: W/ Somewhat Damaged, Gravitational Constant, Wed., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., $10-$12. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. WILLIAM ELIOTT WHITMORE: Sun., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., $18-$20. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. n

JUST 15 MINUTES AWAY OFF ROUTE 3 200 N. MAIN IN DUPO, IL LIKE & FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK @GOODTIME.PATIO.BAR

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

SAVAGE LOVE JACKS BY DAN SAVAGE Hey, Dan: I have a secret: For the past three months, I’ve been attending a local Jacks club (a men-only masturbation event). As someone recovering from sexual abuse, I find the party to be safe, therapeutic and just sexy fun. I feel like I need this! Unfortunately, I spotted one of my employees at last week’s event. Although I’m openly gay at my workplace, being naked, erect and sexual in the same room as my employee felt wrong. I freaked out, packed up and departed without him seeing me (I hope). I’m his manager at work, and I feel that being sexual around him could damage our professional relationship. It could even have dangerous HR consequences. I realize he has every right to attend Jacks, as much right as me, but I wish he weren’t there. I want to continue attending Jacks, but what if he’s there again? Frankly, I’m terrified to discuss the topic with him. Help! Just A Cock Kraving Safety “I hate to say it, but now that JACKS knows his employee attends these events, he really has to stop going,” said Alison Green, the management consultant behind the popular Ask a Manager advice column (askamanager.org) and the author of Ask a Manager: How to Navigate Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses and the Rest of Your Life at Work. And why do you have to stop going to your beloved JO club? “In an employment relationship where he’s in a position of power,” said Green, “JACKS has a responsibility to avoid any remotely sexual situation with an employee.” Green also strongly advises against pulling your employee aside and working out some sort of shared custody agreement — you get Jacks to yourself every other week — because initiating a conversation with a subordinate about when and where he likes to jack off would be a bad idea. She also doesn’t think you can just keep going in the hopes that your employee won’t be back. “If he continues to attend and it got back to anyone at their work-

place, it would be really damaging to his reputation — not the fact that he was at the event to begin with, but the fact that he continued to attend knowing an employee was also participating,” said Green. “It would call his professional judgment into question, and it’s highly likely that HR would freak out about the potential legal liability that arises when you have a manager and a subordinate in a sexual context together.” It seems crazy unfair to me that you should have to stop going to parties you not only enjoy, JACKS, but that have aided in your recovery. And Green agrees — it isn’t fair — but with great power (management) comes great responsibility (avoiding places where your employees are known to jack off). “It’s never going to feel fair to have to drop out of a private, outof-work activity just because of your job,” said Green. “I’m hoping it’s possible for JACKS to find a different club in a neighboring town. Or he could start his own club and offer a safe haven for other managers hiding out from potential run-ins with employees — Jacks for Middle Managers or something!” While I had Green’s attention, I asked her about other sorts of gay social events that might toss a manager and an employee into a sexual context — think of the thousands of men who attended the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco last month. Gay men (and others) walk around in various states of undress or dress up, and a lot of flirting, groping and more goes down. Should gay men in management have to skip events like Folsom lest they run into men they supervise? “Public events are different from private clubs,” said Green. “A private club is more intimate, and a public event is, well, public. And it’s not reasonable or practical to expect managers to entirely curtail their social lives or never attend a public event. But a private club that’s organized specifically and primarily for sexual activity is in a different category.” However, gay managers who run into employees at events like Folsom or circuit parties shouldn’t ogle, hit on or photograph their employees. “If someone who reports to you is in a sexual situation,” said

With great power (management) comes great responsibility (avoiding places where your employees are known to jack off). Green, “you should keep moving and give them as much space as you reasonably can.” I’m going to give myself the last word here: You’ve been attending that JO club for months and saw your employee there only once, JACKS, so I think you can risk going back at least one more time. I would hate to see you deprived of release (and see your recovery set back!) if your employee was there only that one time. Follow Alison Green on Twitter @AskAManager. Hey, Dan: My husband and I are visiting Italy right now. We decided to try out the local hospitality and have had two bad hookups. Both of us knew early on in the encounters that we weren’t enjoying it, but we didn’t know how to extricate ourselves. What is the proper way to end a failed hookup with minimum insult/hurt to the third person? Texans Seeking Amore 1. The unvarnished truth: “We’re sorry, but we aren’t really feeling it.” 2. The little white lie: “Oh, my goodness. I think the clams we ate earlier were off. I’m so sorry, we’re going to have to call it a night.” Hey, Dan: My wife recently came out as bisexual after spending time with a woman who awakened her feelings. I suspected for a long time that my wife was probably bisexual, so I had no issues telling her to explore this side of her sexuality. My only caveat for opening our marriage was that I wasn’t comfortable with her entering into a relationship with an-

riverfronttimes.com

other man. This pissed my wife off, she told me I was being irrational, we fought about it, blah blah blah. Fast-forward a few weeks. My wife swiped right on a guy on Tinder and then checked in with me to see if the boundaries had shifted. I have a hotwife-type fetish, so I gave her the OK to swap sexy texts and we agreed on a possible threesome. It didn’t pan out, my wife was bummed, we moved on. She has started chatting up other guys on Tinder. Nothing has happened yet between them, but I feel like I’m being pulled ahead of where I’m comfortable in exploring an open marriage. I’m not opposed to simple hookups, but a separate relationship with a man? The intimacy and affection parts bug me. How do you acclimate to this kind of adjustment? Or do I throw the brakes on and reverse? Personally Feeling Fearful Today So you gave your wife permission to explore her bisexuality — with other women — and she jumped on Tinder and started swiping right on men? Even though you’d told her that wasn’t something you were comfortable with? And it now appears that your wife doesn’t just want to have sexual experiences with women and men (but mostly with men), but relationships with other women and men (but mostly with men)? And she only checks in with you about your boundaries to see if they’ve crumbled yet? This isn’t how someone opens up a marriage, PFFT, unless that someone isn’t interested in staying married. So you’re going to need to hit the brakes and get some clarity from your wife. You’re willing to open your marriage up to allow for outside sexual experiences, preferably ones you get to take part in (hot-wifing scenes, threesomes), but you’re not interested in polyamory — that is, you don’t want your wife to have a boyfriend. If a boyfriend is what she wants, and she’s unwilling to compromise and can’t negotiate with you in good faith, you don’t want to be her husband. Listen to Dan’s podcast at savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter ITMFA.org

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

OCTOBER 17 - 23

RIVERFRONT TIMES

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS SPONSORED CONTENT

HOT SHOTS

HAPPY HOUR 4-7 Tuesday–Friday

ALL THE GAMES. ALL THE TIME. ENJOY THE BIG 3 FOR $3.50 EACH

HOTSHOTS BURGER 9” PIZZA BONELESS WINGS MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 - 6PM

HOTSHOTSNET.COM

St. Louis’ ONLY Axe Throwing Bar and Grill

That is the motto. Hot Shots Sports Bar & Grill, and their eleven locations across the St. Louis Area always provide a good time. Hot Shots is the place to be for Happy Hour with their “Big 3” special, Monday through Friday 3-6pm. The Hotshots Burger, Boneless Wings, and a 9 inch pizza are all $3.50, that’s right THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS. Make sure to wash that down with their ice cold beer. If you want to check out your favorite sports team, or just wind down after a day, Hot Shots will take care of you. Whether you are drinking with a couple friends or fifty friends, all eleven of Hot Shots Location will be

able to accommodate you. There is no place better to catch a game in the Lou. Happy Hour is a great time to be at Hot Shots, but make no mistake you are going to want to check this place out at all other times of the week. Your favorite St. Louis Sports bar now has a menu featuring St. Louis favorite chip, the Red Hot Riplet. The menu includes a Red Hot Riplet Burger, Riplet Dust Wings, Triple Threat Riplet Fries, and you can add Red Hot Riplet dust to any item for just one dollar. If you’re an avid sports fan, or just looking for some good food and cold beer, Hot Shots is your place.

FREE Axe Throwing with Food and Beverage Purchase!

720 N. 1ST ST, ST. LOUIS, MO 63102

HOT SHOTS SPORTS BAR & GRILL | Hotshotsnet.com

$2 Tall Boys $3 Wells $4 Wine $15 Buckets $18 All-You-Can-Eat Wings

1933 Washington Ave, STL MO

HAPPY HOUR @ BARCELONA M-F 3:30 – 6:30 •The ONLY place where you can get $12 Pitchers of SANGRIA in Town!!! •The BEST Calamari! •The BEST VIBE!

•The Usual stuff everybody else does!

314.863.9909 BARCELONATAPAS.COM 34N. CENTRAL AVE. ST. LOUIS, MO 63105

HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3PM – 6PM

“The Other Office” GROUP HAPPY HOUR SIGN YOUR WHOLE OFFICE OR GROUP UP TODAY & GET:

Group HAPPY HOUR Program @ Big Daddy’s on the Landing • One hour free happy hour buffet -

SIGN YOURYouWHOLE can even pickOFFICE the food! OR GROUP• Discounted UP TODAY & GET: $3 you-call-it beers & cocktails & $5 premium & specialty drinks.

• Large or small groups welcome into program -

One Hour Free Happy Hour Buffet from 20 to 400 people. Discounted Beers & Cocktails • Book once a month, Monday-Friday. free - takes two minutes to sign up. Book Once aHassle Month, Monday-Friday • Book online today @ lacledes-landing.bigdaddystl.com From•20 to 400 People Entertainment requests (DJ, karaoke, trivia, live music) FREE upon request with large groups.

Book online today at lacledes-landing.bigdaddystl.com

Make Big Daddy’s “THE OTHER OFFICE” for happy hour. Book it today. Totally free to sign up!

HAPPY HOUR

MONDAY–THURSDAY 3–6 PM (ALL LOCATIONS) SUNDAY–THURSDAY 10 PM–CLOSE (DELMAR) THE LOOP

314-721-3388 6307 DELMAR BLVD. UNIVERSITY CITY, MO 63130

DES PERES SOUTH COUNTY

314-858-1067 11925 MANCHESTER RD. DES PERES, MO 63131

314-293-3614 40 RONNIE’S PLAZA ST. LOUIS, MO 63126

LAMBERT AIRPORT TERMINAL 2

THREEKINGSPUB.COM

Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3pm-7pm

$2 Domestics • $3 Wells

Tues - $2 tacos • wed - steak night

thurs - 1/2 off all pizzas 1432 N Broadway

HAPPY HOUR MONDAY – SATURDAY 4 TO 7PM

Domestic Buckets..........................$15 Select Drafts...........................$2 off Wells...............................................$3 Pizzas........................................$3 off Select Appetizers.....................$2 off

see our website for party reservations doubledstl.com

1740 S. Brentwood Blvd 56

RIVERFRONT TIMES

OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2018

riverfronttimes.com

CLASSIC COCKTAILS $7 CLASSIC MARTINI’S $8 DOLLAR OFF LOCAL BEERS THURS – SAT BAR NOW OPEN UNTIL 11PM NatashasGinRoom.com

314-771-3411