Riverfront Times, October 2, 2019-BEST OF by Riverfront Times

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HONORS & AWARDS: • Charles Shaw Trial Advocacy Award • Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers • St. Louis Magazine, Best Lawyers in St. Louis DWI • Riverfront Times Best Lawyer • Best Lawyers in United States • 10 years of law enforcement training, including time as a narcotics agent • Invited to speak nationally on the topic of DWI defense • A proven record of successfully defending difﬁcult DWI cases • A graduate of the National College of DUI Defense at Harvard

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OCT TIM GAITHER Bob & Tom Show 2-6 Bud & Broadway

OCT MARY MACK Conan O’Brien 10-13 WTF with Mark Maron

OCT JOE MARLOTTI St. Louis Favorite! 23-27 Bob & Tom Show

NOV HEATHER MCDONALD 7-8 Chelsea Lately Juicy Scoop Podcast

NOV GIRLS GOTTA EAT Rayna Greenberg 15-16 Ashley Hesseltine

OCT BEN GLEIB “Idiotest” 2-6 “Today Show”

PRIZES, RAFFLES, FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS

BROWNS BACKERS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL MON 10/07 · 7:15 PM at San Francisco 49ers

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SUNDAY 10/13 vs Seattle Seahawks 12 PM

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SAT. 10/12

SAT. 11/23

Billy Peek

2019 Soul Blues Album of the Year “I’m Still Around”

St. Louis Blues Legend at Backstreet Jazz & Blues Club

John Rawls

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THE LEDE

PHOTO BY THEO WELLING

“Well, I went to college in pretty much her hometown. And she pretty much went up to my hometown. So we were two hours apart and still somehow ended up meeting.” LEXI TRIPLETT (RIGHT), PHOTOGRAPHED WITH GIRLFRIEND ASHLEY ANGEL, IN MIDTOWN ON SEPTEMBER 25

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Publisher Chris Keating Interim Editor in Chief Doyle Murphy

E D I T O R I A L Managing Editor Liz Miller Arts & Culture Editor Paul Friswold Music Editor Daniel Hill Digital Editor Jaime Lees Staff Writer Danny Wicentowski Restaurant Critic Cheryl Baehr Film Critic Robert Hunt Columnist Ray Hartmann Contributing Writers Mike Appelstein, Allison Babka, Thomas Crone, Jenn DeRose, Mike Fitzgerald, Sara Graham, MaryAnn Johanson, Roy Kasten, Jaime Lees, Joseph Hess, Kevin Korinek, Bob McMahon, Lauren Milford, Nicholas Phillips, Tef Poe, Christian Schaeffer Proofreader Evie Hemphill Editorial Interns Ella Faust, Caroline Groff, Ronald Wagner A R T Art Director Evan Sult Contributing Photographers Virginia Harold, Stephen Kennedy, Monica Mileur, Zia Nizami, Andy Paulissen, Nick Schnelle, Mabel Suen, Micah Usher, Theo Welling, Jen West P R O D U C T I O N Production Manager Haimanti Germain M U L T I M E D I A A D V E R T I S I N G Advertising Director Colin Bell Senior Account Executive Cathleen Criswell Account Managers Emily Fear, Jennifer Samuel Multimedia Account Executive Jackie Mundy 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 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 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

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.

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THRILLS!

CHILLS!!

SPILLS!!!

COVER Under the Big Top: The Best of St. Louis 2019 ÂŠ

Ladies, gentlemen and everything in between and otherwise, welcome to the unpredictable, unbelievable, undeniable, unholy three-ring circus that is the city of St. Louis! Please silence your phones, settle comfortably on the edge of your seat, and prepare to be amazed by what you see before you! Illustrations by

SAM WASHBURN

INSIDE The Lede Calendar

Best Place for a Grown-Up Birthday Party 30 Best Place to Live

Best Place to Meet Men

THE BEST OF ST. LOUISÂŠ 2019

Best Place to Meet Women

Best Politician

Best Renovated Building

Best Villain

18 | Introduction

Best Zoo Animal

20 | People & Places

36 | Sports & Recreation

Best Activist

Best Arrest

Best Dance Club

Best Blues Player

Best Disappearing Act

Best Bowling Alley

Best Lawyer

Best Cardinals Player

Best Lightning Rod

Best Coach

Best Local Boy Gone Bad

Best Dog Park

Best Local Girl Gone Bad

Best Hike

Best Local Journalist

Best Pinball

Best Old Building

Best Pool

Best Place for a First Date

Best Public Park

Best Place for a Last Date

Best Running Trail

Best Place for a Kids Birthday Party

Best Skateboard Park

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Best Sports Broadcaster

Best Clothing Boutique

Best Sports Team

Best Garden Center

Best Yoga Studio

Best Gift Shop

Best Yoga Teacher

Best Grocery Store

Best Hair Salon

Best Hardware Store

Best Mall

Best Pet Groomers

Best Place to Spend $10

Best Thrift Shop

44 | Arts & Entertainment Best All-Ages Venue

Best Art Event

Best Bar to Die in 2019

Best Blues Club

Best Comic Book Store

Best Dance Company

74 | Food & Drinks

Best Drama

Best All-Purpose Vegetarian Restaurant

Best Gallery

Best Bar

Best Jazz Club

Best Live Music Venue

Best Margarita

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Best Martini

Best Meat Market

Best Mexican Restaurant

Best New Bar

Best Barbecue

Best New Restaurant

Best Bartender

Best Pizza (Non-St. Louis Style)

Best Local Artist

Best Brunch

Best Pizza (St. Louis Style)

Best Movie Theater

Best Burger

Best Place for Day Drinking

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Best Museum

Best Chef

Best Place to Dine Alone

Best Musical

Best Chicken Wings

Best Restaurant to Die in 2019

Best Music Festival

Best Chinese Restaurant

Best Restaurant Service

Best Performance by Actor

Best Coffeehouse

Best Seafood

Best Performance by Actress

Best Desserts

Best Spot for Omnivores and Vegetarians

Best Punk Club

Best Doughnuts

to Eat Together

Best Radio Station

Best Fast Food

Best St. Louis Sandwich

Best Recording Studio

Best Food Truck

Best Steak

Best Rock Club

Best Fried Chicken

Best Sushi/Poke

Best Theater Ensemble

Best Frozen Treat

Best Taco

Best Gay Bar

Best Thai Restaurant

Best Greek Restaurant

Best Wine List

Best Indian Restaurant

Best Italian Restaurant

106 | Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice

Best-Kept Secret

Savage Love

58 | Goods & Services Best Antique Mall

Best Bike Shop

Best Bookstore

Best Car Repair

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CALENDAR

BY PAUL FRISWOLD

Mark Deutsch and his Bazantar return to the Sheldon. | COURTESY OF THE SHELDON

FRIDAY 10/04 Ol’ Ballet Eyes The Saint Louis Ballet (recently selected by RFT readers as the best dance company in town) opens its new season with a performance of Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs. The combined creative powers of two American entertainment icons shows the relationship arcs of seven couples. “Strangers in the Night,” “Somethin’ Stupid,” “That’s Life” and “My Way” are featured in the program. Also performed are George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and More Morra by company artistic director Gen Horiuchi. Nine Sinatra Songs is presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (October 4 to 6) at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus (1 University Boulevard; www.stlouisballet.org). Tickets are $35 to $69.

Statement Pieces For the exhibition It’s Not You, It’s Me: A Declaration of Independence, curator and fashion designer Michael Drummond selected fiber artists who use their art to address issues of gender and identity through the media of fashion. Body-disguising fabrics, masks, gender-bending and other similar ideas are explored in the show, which opens with a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, October 4,

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at the Sheldon (3648 Washington Boulevard; www.thesheldon.org). The show is presented in conjunction with the citywide show Innovations in Textiles and features work by Nina Ganci, Larry Krone and Yvonne Osei, among others. It’s Not You, It’s Me remains on display through November 30, and the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Saint Louis Ballet opens its new season. | PRATT KREIDICH/COURTESY OF SAINT LOUIS BALLET

Good Bye Lenin! is set in the dying days of the Soviet Empire. Alex lives with his mother in East Berlin, and they have their differences. She’s a staunch communist, while Alex is one of the protesters fighting to smash the (failing) system. When mom falls into a coma, she misses the fall of the communist regime and the Berlin Wall. When she eventually awakes from her months-long coma, Alex worries that life in reunified Germany would be too great a shock for a woman in her condition. He does the only thing he can, which is pretend nothing changed and attempt to recreate the drab, gray life she loves. The Webster Film Series shows Good Bye Lenin! at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 6, at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood Avenue; www.webster.edu/ film-series). Tickets are $5 to $7.

SATURDAY 10/05 Queens! In! Space! The Miss Gay America Pageant returns to the metro area this week to crown a new queen. The theme for this year’s competition is “Beyond the Stars,” which allows competitors to both interpret the science-fiction theme and imagine what drag will look like in the future. The preliminary rounds take place on Wednesday and Thursday night (October 2 and 3) at Hamburger Mary’s, while finalists will compete for the tiara ‘n’ sash from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, October 5, at Gateway Classic Cars (1237 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon, Illinois; www.mgatickets.com). Tickets are $45 to $650.

SUNDAY 10/06 Beyond the Wall Wolfgang Becker’s comic drama

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Nasheli Juliana, 2016, organic cotton, polyester, size: small; Shoes: Carolin Hozhuber; Mask: Cecilio Designs Accessories, Alina Alamorean; Photo by Benas Baranauskas; Model: Lily Gatins

TUESDAY 10/08 The Pearl Grab a seat with me and Bobby McGee as A Night with Janis

WEEK OF OCTOBER 3-9 Joplin hits St. Louis. Written and directed by Randy Johnson, this musical puts Janis and her musical influences back in the spotlight. Those influences include Aretha Franklin and Etta James, who show up to perform the songs that inspired Janis to sing. The musical includes hits such as “Cry Baby” and “Summertime,” and of course “Piece of My Heart” is in there. Mary Bridget Davies — who was nominated for a Tony Award during the show’s Broadway run – plays Janis, and the show is performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday (October 8 and 9) at the Stifel Theatre (1400 Market Street; www.stifeltheatre.com). Tickets $35 to $135. — Caroline Groff

Mark’s Sound World Mark Deutsch spent several years in the 1990s in St. Louis, playing and teaching the electric bass and the double bass. His passion for the sitar and the trance music tradition seeped into his work, and he embarked on an arduous journey to create an instrument that blended east and west, bass and sitar. The result is the Bazantar, an acoustic bass with frets, a widened neck and a redesigned bridge that supports the traditional four strings with a secondary framework passing underneath that holds the tension of 35 additional sympathetic and drone strings. In Deutsch’s hands, the Bazantar can sound like the music of the spheres or the song of destruction. It howls, it hums, it moans — it’s a polyphony of tone and timbre, an orchestra performed by one man. Deutsch introduced the Bazantar to a wider audience at the Sheldon twenty years ago. He then decamped to the West Coast for further sonic explorations. He returns to St. Louis for a 7:30 p.m. performance Tuesday, October 8, once again at the Sheldon (3648 Washington Boulevard; www. thesheldon.org), and tickets are only $10. Don’t miss it, or another twenty years may pass before you have the chance to hear Deutsch play it again.

Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te’tee. | PHOTO BY KIET THAI

WEDNESDAY 10/09 Memory Banks of Ganges Kevin Huizenga explores the nuances of married life and everyday

oddities in his new graphic novel, The River at Night. At the center of the story is married couple Glenn and Wendy Ganges, who are engaged in a distracted conversation at opposite ends of the sofa. When they go to sleep, Glenn is too awake to doze off, and begins reflecting on marriage, sleep meth-

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ods and the nature of time. Huizenga reads from and signs The River at Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, at Left Bank Books (399 North Euclid Avenue; www. left-bank.com). Admission is free, but only books purchased through Left Bank will be signed. — Caroline Groff

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Come one, come all!

ood people of St. Louis, visitors from far and wide, we bring you a show like none you have ever seen before. Why, just inside these pages, right here at your fingertips, reside tales of the vilest villains, the bravest heroes and sights and sounds you will find nowhere else in all the land. Step closer and peer inside. On the main stage — for the low, low price of absolutely free — we bring you the caged criminal, the corrupt cussing crook of Clayton Steve Stenger. Watch as this foulmouthed fiend of the ages re eals himself in his full, monstrous form right before your eyes. You’ll be shocked and amazed. But that’s not all, folks! Oh no, here in this very guide you will

find the most delicious, delectable, decadent treats you could ever imagine. Discover the tastiest, most exotic foods — the charblistered pides of Balkan Treat Box, hand-pulled noodles from orner 7 and fire-roasted hogs from BEAST Craft BBQ Co. Exotic elixirs await from skilled sorcerers at the Gin Room and young guns at Yellowbelly. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! This opportunity won’t last forever. Meet the illuminated king of the Loop Trolley, descend into the depths of the Sinkhole and marvel at the light show of the Grand Hall at Union Station. There is truly something for everyone, and it is all right here for you. Friends, you have seen the pretenders and the impostors, the fakes and phonies. But this is a circus like no other. This is the Best of St. Louis. Welcome to the show!

CIRCUS HANDS: Cheryl Baehr, Thomas Crone, Paul Friswold, Daniel Hill, Jaime Lees, Liz Miller, Doyle Murphy, James Pollard, Evan Sult and Danny Wicentowski

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FFF

BEST ACTIVIST

Heather Taylor

It’s been a banner year for reckonings in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and amid stories of bad cops making bigoted Facebook posts and other bad cops bragging about beating protesters, it was the voice of a good cop, Sgt. Heather Taylor, which rose to meet the occasion. Are there white supremacists on the police force? “Yes,” she said, shocking a CBS News reporter with the speed of her answer. he finished the inter iew by blasting the department’s “optional” implicit bias training. Taylor is blunt, to be sure, but her activism isn’t the same as those who take to the streets to protest the police. Taylor is a twenty-year veteran of the force and the president of the Ethical Society of Police, which represents a membership primarily of black o cers in the region. In that role, Taylor has walked a narrow line between cop and activist: One week she’s blasting a police shooting as a murder, the next week she’s tweeting heartfelt reflections about child homi-

cides or an o cer killed in the line of duty. In Twitter threads, she describes the experience of confronting armed suspects and refusing to shoot, and, in other cases, facing protests herself for her actions on duty. “We’ve murdered innocent people,” she wrote of the department, “but not all police shootings are murder.” It’s not a message you’ll find on protest signs or in a procop Facebook page. For Taylor, though, being the conscience of the St. Louis police force has taken its toll. In a September tweet, she announced her plan to retire in 2020 and cited the ethical intransigence of those who refuse to fight for what s right and call out wrong whether it’s an o cer or citi en. Taylor may be leaving the department, but she’s leaving behind an example for everyone, those with badges and without. She’s shown what it takes to protect the innocent and serve justice, a combination of an activist’s courage and a cop’s ethics, an activist’s outrage and a cop’s understanding. In Taylor, those elements combined into that thing every city needs more of: a force for good.

FFF

BEST POLITICIAN

Sam Page

Sometimes being a politician isn’t about what you are, but what you’re not. For Dr. Sam Page, that meant not being a tremendously corrupt garbage fire of a go ernment o cial something which, now several months into his tenure as St. Louis County executive, appears to be going pretty well for Page. For St. Louis County, that’s saying a lot: In April 2019, Page won the seat on a 5-1 council vote, which had come on a day that began with federal prosecutors charging then-County Executive Steve Stenger in a vast payto-play scheme. Stenger, now in federal prison in South Dakota, left behind quite a mess in St. Louis County. In response, Page made some smart moves, starting with promoting a el rby, the sole council member who voted against his nomination, to join his administration as director of diversity, equity and inclusion. And while touting transparency and ordering stronger ethics policies, Page successfully pushed forward a stalled mea-

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sure to purchase body cameras for the entire police force (something St. Louis City has yet to accomplish.) But with corruption’s fingerprints still all o er county government, expectations are high for Page, especially with his seat up for election in 2020. Page has to be more than just “not Steve Stenger.” He has to be something that the county voters haven’t known for a long time: a leader they can trust.

FFF

BEST LAWYER

Hal Goldsmith In the end, Steve Stenger and his corrupt circle of enablers have only themselves to blame for their delicious transformation from swaggering assholes to contrite schoolchildren called in front of the principal. But something tells us that as they’re sitting in federal prison in South Dakota or popping in to see parole o cers in t. ouis, they will think a little about Hal Goldsmith. The assistant United States attorney returned from a brief stint in private practice with white-shoe law firm ryan a e to prosecute

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St. Louis police Sgt. Heather Taylor has been a force for good. | DOYLE MURPHY the ex-county executive in a staggering case that is already a classic of political corruption. So thoroughly was Stenger nailed that he did not even put on the pretense of going to trial. He was indicted and resigned as county executive in the same day. He pleaded guilty to three federal felonies within the week. Why? Because Goldsmith was standing there with piles of transcripts, financial records and campaign documents and because Goldsmith definitely knows how to use them. The cra y part is that we’ve only seen what the longtime prosecutor has dribbled out in the charging documents and sentencing memos filed in federal court. Glorious as those bits of recorded conversations were, Stenger knew Goldsmith had so much more and is not prone to blu ng. The now-e -county e ecutive made the right call.

FFF

BEST LOCAL BOY GONE BAD

Steve Stenger In 2014, things were looking good for Steve Stenger. That’s the year the then-chairman of the St. Louis County Council defeated longtime incumbent Charlie Dooley in the Democratic primary for the position of county executive, in part by painting his opponent as corrupt and abusive of the public’s trust. Fast-forward to August 2019: A disgraced Stenger has resigned from o ce, been stripped of his law license and pleaded guilty to three felonies for his central role in a pay-to-play scheme that was uncovered through a yearlong undercover federal investigation. As

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Karma’s a bitch, Steve Stenger. | DOYLE MURPHY if that wasn’t shameful enough, the feds even came with receipts: pecifically, they had transcripts of Stenger speaking to his staff in no uncertain terms about his blatant corruption. “How about that, motherfuckers?” he was recorded saying after winning re-election in November 2018. “I don’t show up to the council meetings. I don’t do fucking shit.” Though he put on his best remorseful puppy dog face in court, the judge simply wasn’t buying it, and Stenger was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison, the maximum allowed under federal guidelines. Dooley, we’re assuming, popped himself a bottle of champagne. Karma’s a bitch, eh, Steve? How about that, motherfucker?

FFF

BEST LOCAL GIRL GONE BAD

Pam Hupp In this era of true-crime tales

changed the manner of death to “undetermined.” All told, the tale of Pam Hupp screams for seriali ation. aybe she ll be able to watch herself in prison.

FFF

BEST RENOVATED BUILDING

2755 Chippewa As one of several prominent corner properties under construction along a stretch of Chippewa Street between Jefferson Avenue on the east and Compton Avenue on the west, 2755 Chippewa has become the first completed pro ect of a goodly batch. “This was much more of an extensive renovation than we originally planned,” says developer Jason Deem of South Side Spaces. “We ended up re-engineering and rebuilding the entire interior structure from the ground up.” The end result is the arrival of four rent-capped affordable apartments, three market-rate apartments and four commercial storefronts. Also arriving: just a hint of mystery. “There’s also some interesting history on the building, which seemed to be a haven for illegal activity. The neighbors refer to it as Cheater’s Palace,” Deem says. “I’m not sure if that’s because it was allegedly filled with prostitutes (via many stories from neighbors and people driving by), or because there was a scheme to defraud the lottery that operated out of there, or if that was the actual name of a bar that was there. Maybe all of the above?”

FFF

BEST VILLAIN

Jeff Roorda Check out an aerial view of the old 2755 Chippewa Street (top), and a rendering of the renovated space. | COURTESY JASON DEEM/SOUTH SIDE SPACES

Pam Hupp’s story screams for serialization. | MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

dominating the airwaves, few stories are quite so made-for-TV as the shocking tale of O’Fallon, Missouri’s Pam Hupp. With three bodies connected to her one for which she is sitting in prison after being found guilty of murder and more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose, it’s a lock that her name will soon be more than just our local shame. And the identities of the dead send chills up the spine. Louis Gumpenberger, who suffered severe mental and physical impairments following a 2005 car crash, was shot to death in 2016 in Hupp’s home, where she lured him in an attempt to frame him in a murder-for-hire plot. That frame job was meant to draw the heat to Russ Faria, who

had recently been released from prison after being exonerated for the 2011 murder of his wife, Betsy a co-worker of upp s who, just before her death, had listed upp as the sole beneficiary of her life insurance. Hupp’s testimony had been key in Faria’s initial conviction; that murder case has since been reopened, with investigators looking at Hupp as a suspect. Unrelated to those two murders, though, is the suspicious 2013 death of Hupp’s own mother, hirley eumann because, hey, if you’re gonna be a monster, you might as well go big which resulted in a big payday for Hupp. Neumann’s death was initially believed to be an accident, but a medical examiner has since

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Jeff Roorda, a former police officer who was fired from the rnold Police Department back in 2001 for making false statements and filing false reports, has spent many of the years since losing arious runs for public o ce, defending police brutality and generally being a big red puffy it on the face of the St. Louis area. As business manager for the St. ouis olice cers ssociation, he gained national prominence after the death of Ferguson teen Michael Brown by acting as a loud bloviating jackass at every available opportunity, sporting an “I am Darren Wilson” bracelet at a meeting of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and even writing an unreadable book laughably titled Ferghanistan in an attempt to profit off of the death of a young black kid. Classy stuff. This year

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St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is making friends and enemies. | DOYLE MURPHY Roorda has stayed on his bullshit, encouraging o cers in the union to sport the Punisher logo on social media (because what better representation is there of the police than as a vigilante force that operates outside of the rules of law and regularly fires its guns indiscriminately) and even took the occasion of the fi e-year anni ersary of Brown’s death to publicly wish his killer, Darren Wilson, a “happy alive day.” In short, Roorda is a dick, was a dick and will remain a dick. We should retire this category.

FFF

BEST LOCAL JOURNALIST

Tony Messenger When the St. Louis Post-Dispatch departed from its longtime home at 900 North Tucker Boulevard, the venerable paper left behind a wall-si ed inscription authored by its founder oseph ulit er “Never be afraid to attack wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or by predatory poverty.” The words are doubly fitting for the Post’s metro columnist Tony Messenger, who won the ulit er ri e for commentary by e posing how county courts across the state trap poor defendants in a tenacious cycle of debt and prison. From St. Francois to Laclede to Camden, Messenger found people who had already served out their sentences were being thrown in jail for not paying the “board bills” incurred by their previous jail stays. If they couldn’t pay, they had to go back to court each month; if they missed court, they went back to jail, owing even more

Jeff Roorda still sucks. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI money. Messenger called this a system of “debtor’s prisons.” The Missouri Supreme Court agreed, issuing unanimous rulings this year that these rural courts were breaking the law. With his newsbreaking skill, Messenger helped change Missouri for the better. It’s not ust what old oseph ulit er would have wanted. It’s the kind of public service journalism the world needs.

FFF

BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Incredible Pizza 5254 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Sappington, 314-282-8742

There are plenty of places in St. Louis to entertain your kids, and many of them are even free. But most of them are completely unsuitable for a kid’s birthday party.

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Grand Hall at Union Station is sure to impress — and hopefully erase some of that awkwardness — on a first date with its hourly light shows and conversation-spurring ambiance. | JAIME LEES

For a birthday party, you need food. And decorations. And fun. And you also need an enclosed space so you don’t lose someone else s child. t ncredible i a you can have all of that and more. This warehouse-si ed party palace boasts indoor go-karts, rooms full of arcade games and a 150item buffet that includes kid faorites like pi a, brownies, hot dogs, pasta and mac and cheese. Birthday party packages with perperson pricing are available, too, so you can skip all of the planning and just show up with the rugrats and get to partying.

FFF

BEST PLACE FOR A GROWN-UP BIRTHDAY PARTY

Top Notch Axe Throwing 440 North Fourth Street #170, 314-885-1242

It’s your birthday! A day of

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merriment and cake, of libations and good friends, a day that brings you one step closer to the grave, spurred on by the relentless march of your fragile body’s mortal decay. Time to celebrate! And what better way to toast another trip around the sun than by getting blind drunk and hurling bladed weapons at a handpainted wooden target? Top Notch Axe Throwing has you covered. Sure, axes are the main attraction here, but Top Notch has even expanded its roster of ra or-sharp pro ectiles, adding ninja stars and throwing cards to its formidable arsenal. Best of all, the establishment has a BYOB policy, meaning you’ll barely even feel it when you land a funny bounce and end up with a bladed weapon sticking out of your arm. Just make sure to cover any vital arteries, lest that aforementioned march hasten to a sprint.

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FFF

BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE

Grand Hall at Union Station 1820 Market Street, 314-621-5262

First dates can be so awkward. Where do you go? What do you talk about nd on a first date, you don’t want to come off as cheap, but you don’t want to spend too much money either. How do you balance all of this? Well, to solve all of these problems, hit up the Grand Hall at Union Station. It’s the perfect destination for a first date. The beauty of the space will give you a conversation topic. You can show up knowledgeable about the history of the place, or you and your date can learn about the gorgeous space together from one of the spectacular videos that is projected onto the ceiling once per hour. The place is impressive, and the prices are more than fair for

such an grand experience. Do it up right at the Grand Hall.

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BEST PLACE FOR A LAST DATE

City Museum 750 North Sixteenth Street, 314-231-2489

There are two moves here, and both can be executed at the top of the ten-story spiral slide. our first option is to explain the various reasons why this is not working for you and will not work for you in the future. Be kind but direct. This is not a time for wa ing. hen you re done, drop into your ready-made escape hatch, yelling “wheeee!” all the way to freedom. The second option is similar, but in this version, you let your flickering flame climb into the mouth of the slide, lean down and just as you give this illsuited match a little nudge into the void, whisper, “It’s over.” Step out of line and go get yourself a grilled cheese at Beatnik Bob’s.

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Ambrose on the Hill, the Catholic church and school that serves as the epicenter for neighborhood life, and it’s the perfect place to kick back with a gelato while ga ing at the huge marble fountain. But it’s not just the daytime that impresses. At night, the quiet streets are filled with the scents of garlic and fresh-baked bread. The Hill is heaven.

BEST LIGHTNING ROD

Kim Gardner For a quiet person, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner sure seems to enjoy calling down the thunder. The ex-state representative has prosecuted the (now-former) governor, ticked off members of her own staff, pursued criminal charges against a stunning number of city cops and generally invited anyone watching to love or hate her. Since taking office in 7, Gardner has done the opposite of playing it safe. Along with prosecuting o cers for e cessive force, she has kept a running “exclusion list” of cops whom she considers so untrustworthy that her prosecutors will not accept cases from them. That’s made her more than a few enemies, but probably none as tantrum-throwing mad as the St. Louis Police cers ssociation and its business manager, Jeff Roorda, who has called for her to be removed from o ce by force if necessary. Gardner isn’t backing down, and there are more storms on the hori on as her old foe in the election, ex-prosecutor Mary Pat Carl, prepares for a second round in 2020.

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BEST PLACE TO MEET MEN

Whole Foods 1601 South Brentwood Boulevard, Brentwood; 314-968-7744

The Hill has a small-town vibe with old-world charm, making it the best place to live. | JAIME LEES

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BEST PLACE TO LIVE

The Hill

If you want to live in the city but have all of the familiar comforts of a small town, you have to move to the Hill. The Hill, that adorable little old neighborhood just west of Kingshighway along Highway 44, has a small-town vibe with old-

world charm. The Italian American neighborhood is packed with restaurants, bistros and sandwich shops. The small houses here are passed down through generations, but there is always something new to check out on Marconi Avenue. Just this year, the ia a mo was completed. This beautiful little chill one is situated just across the street from St.

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If you’re trying to pick up a man, the best place to visit is online. But if you’re trying to pick up a man in person, the best place to visit is the Whole Foods in Brentwood. The produce section there is a total meat market, if you see what we mean. For straight women and gay men, all they need to do is show up by the melons or the eggplants and men will come sni ng around. They’ll make some produce joke, you’ll giggle, and then the next thing you know you’ll be exchanging numbers and scheduling your first date. The best part of this exchange is that it’s in person, too. Skip the many mysteries

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Dang, dang, dang! Who was that hottie on the Loop Trolley? | DANNY WICENTOWSKI involved with online dating and get yourself to Whole Foods.

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BEST PLACE TO MEET WOMEN

loop Trolley You want to meet women, because women are great, but today’s world is a series of screens and everyone (including you) seems to be lost in a dating sea of two-dimensional strangers. Consider then, if you will, the Loop Trolley on Delmar. Consider the image of yourself riding in its wood-paneled interior, like the illuminated king riding in a royal carriage, alone but for the clanking sound of the wheels and also, very possibly, literally alone as the trolley’s sole passenger. Do not waste this opportunity! Imagine the sound of the trolley’s mechanical rocking, and something else, oh yes, there it is: the sound of intrigued feminine murmurs trailing behind, that most sultry of uestions s that someone actually riding the trolley floating abo e the street. “Dang, dang, dang,” the ladies will say as you rumble past, their ga es lingering on your fresh haircut and that one jacket that makes your shoulders pop. You look good, and everyone can check you out. Certainly they will ask, “Who was that hottie on the trolley and that hottie was you. And don’t you worry about actually meeting those women. You’ll be seeing them again, and soon, just as soon as the trolley turns around in about a mile.

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BEST DANCE CLUB

Just John Nightclub 4112 Manchester Avenue; 314-371-1333

For people of a certain age in St. Louis, the Landing was the place to be for dancing. For others it was one of the many clubs along Washington Avenue. Or the much-missed Complex. Or even Lo, that tiny little Asian-themed joint downtown. But if you want to dance in St. Louis now, there’s only one place to go: “Ju Jo.” Located in the Grove, Just John Nightclub is one of the best places in St. Louis to break it all the way off. There are plenty of spots in the bar to kick back and drink, but it s the dance floor where all of the action takes place. Take a twirl out there under the flashing lights or hang out around the edge if you’re just a spectator. Either way, you won t find a better dance club in St. Louis.

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BEST OLD BUILDING

Divoll Branch Library 4234 North Grand Boulevard, 314-534-0313

The Divoll Branch Library in the Fairgrounds neighborhood of north city, constructed in 1909, is one of fi e sur i ing arnegie libraries in St. Louis. Named after Ira Divoll, “the father of public libraries in St. Louis” and superintendent for the St. Louis Public Schools in the 1860s, it was one of the first in the country to feature children’s books. While the library closed in 1965, it is currently undergoing restora-

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RIVERFRONT TIMES AND mo Y’S PRESENT

3rd a ual

mo ys in sOULARD 11:30AM-2:30PM Grilled Oysters • Raw Oysters • Oyster Shooters Open Bar • Additional Food & Music

Celebrate your favorite briny bivalves at Riverfront Times' 3rd Annual Shuck Yeah! This party on the patio will bring together oysters from both coasts for a celebration of all-things-oyster and other bites from your favorite local restaurants at Mollys in Soulard. Plus enjoy craft cocktails and beer and live music from Funky Butt Brass Band.

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Adorable Somali wild ass Tobias was born in July at the Saint Louis Zoo. | COURTESY ST LOUIS ZOO

tion, with plans to create an arts and sciences museum in the space. And keeping watch over the old library is the Corinthian Grand Avenue Water Tower.

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BEST ZOO ANIMAL

Tobias, Somali wild ass The St. Louis Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best animal also happens to be among its youngest. Tobias, a Somali wild ass born July 30, 2019, can be seen daily at the ed ocks area of the oo. A critically endangered member of the horse family, the Somali wild ass can be found in the desert areas of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. With only 68 Somali wild asses in orth merican oos se en of which call St. Louis home), and only four other oos ha ing bred this species, a foal like Tobias is a rare sight. The oo is pretty pumped. t posted a video online of Tobias dancing that ass can mo e

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BEST DISAPPEARING ACT

Eric Greitens To be clear, it is an act. Eric Greitens may have dropped out of sight following his scandalous exit from the job of governor, but you know that weasel is still out there, planning his come back. He has already begun seeding the outline of a campaign-ready narrative, starting with his resigna-

Domestic horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ass ex-Governor Eric Greitens. DANNY WICENTOWSKI tion speech in which he painted his departure as an honorable sacrifice to stop the endless personal attacks designed to cause maximum damage to family and friends and not a hide-sa ing political calculation. In his ensuing life in exile, he has masterfully avoided the trap of attention seeking that further cheapens many a disgraced politico (cough, Chris Christie, cough), who lingers pathetically at the edge of the spotlight, begging for a way back in. Instead, Greitens has remained nearly silent, allowing secondhand accounts of him spending time with his kids and news reports of his return to action with the Navy to work on the public consciousness. Just remember, when he finally re-emerges, casting himself as a humbled but rededicated public servant, he was just biding his time. F

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BEST SPORTS TEAM

The Blues It’s the night of June 12, 2019 — Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoff Finals between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues. The Waiting Room in St. Ann is filled with hockey fans sporting their finest lues regalia, crowded around the bar s lone flatscreen T . Though our boys have held the lead throughout the night thanks in no small part to that dreamboat Jordan Binnington’s spot-on impression of a brick wall), the mood is tense. The diehard Blues fans here ha e been around the block a few times, and they know that any manner of heartbreak is still possible. They know the Blues have never won the Stanley Cup in their entire 52 years as an organization. Put plainly, they know that it ain t o er until it is over. But the moment the timer counts down to ero, the bar suddenly erupts in complete pandemonium. Grown men weep openly couples mash the softer, wetter parts of their faces together in celebration. The bar-

tender announces that it s dinner at the dick house, and we re serving up spoonfuls of shit!” — a common if rather odd rallying cry among this particular cohort of hockey fans while ringing a brass bell behind the bar. Overtaken by the celebration, he then jumps up and stands on the bar for which he is responsible and loudly declares, T as patrons slam down celebratory shots. The screaming is near-endless. t s a scene that played out at locations across the whole St. Louis area as our hometown team went from dead last in the league to world champions under the watchful eye of coach raig erube and for one night, all of St. Louis was united. We have the Blues, St. ouis best sports team, to thank for it. ow only one ob ecti e remains e must protect the up, from to infinity. et s go Blues!

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BEST BLUES PLAYER

Ryan O’Reilly ll due credit to ordan innington for doing what no St. Louis

Blues goalie had ever been able to do, but forward Ryan O’Reilly had a career year with the t. ouis lues. e e ualed his personal best in goals ) and broke his career highs in assists, points and plus-minus in the regular season. It was the sort of season you want to see from a new signing, but it was in the playoffs where he really mattered. O’Reilly was the engine for the lues, scoring, setting up goals and setting the tone in that delirious Game 7 when he deflected in Jay Bouwmeester’s shot for that first goal of the game. eilly hustled and checked, got back defensi ely and fought it out in the trenches behind the net, doing all the little things that add up to a complete game and a Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the playoffs.

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BEST COACH

Craig Berube n o ember , , raig erube became the interim head coach of the struggling t. ouis lues. t wasn t his first

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stint behind the bench he led the Philadelphia Flyers for almost two full seasons from 2013 to 5. e guided the lyers to the playoffs that first year but got bounced in the first round, and then missed the cut the ne t year. ot e en the most optimistic fan could ha e predicted what erube would accomplish in his second opportunity to lead an team from the bottom of the standings all the way to the last team standing at the end of the year. o one doubted Berube had the grit and mental toughness to do the job — you don’t earn 3,000 penalty minutes as a player, as Berube did, by backing down from a challenge — but the in-game responsibilities of coaching line changes, moti ating and criti uing players, e ploiting the other coach s mistakes) are something else. Berube’s former teammates knew him as a guy who studied the game in the hotel room and knew how to keep players on task. is forthrightness and honesty with his players was another plus. ow erube is a known uantity as a coach. e s seen the bottom of the standings, and he s reached the top with a team

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often divided. In short: Stop being so spoiled and show some respect to one of the best attractions the whole of St. Louis has to offer. It’s well earned.

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BEST BOWLING ALLEY

Saratoga Lanes 2725 Sutton Boulevard A, Maplewood; 314-645-5308

Craig Berube. | COURTESY ST. LOUIS BLUES

that could ne er uite get o er the hump under any number of highly successful coaches. cotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Ken itchcock they all won ups, but never in St. Louis. Only one man can say that he s done it, and he did as an interim head coach. It turned out that’s the only thing Craig Berube lost while leading the lues that interim tag.

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BEST PUBLIC PARK

Forest Park

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There s something at once secreti e and nostalgic about aratoga anes. uch like a speakeasy, entry feels e clusi e The second-floor bowling alley can only be accessed by climbing concrete stairs, and when you step inside, you feel as though you’ve been transported to a different era. There’s no pretense or retro theme here — after 100-plus years of business, Saratoga is an eightlane time capsule. ocated in aplewood, aratoga boasts being the oldest bowling alley west of the ississippi i er, and now, when you’re staring down your latest strike or spare, you re part of that long story, too.

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BEST DOG PARK

Ellen Clark Sculpture Park

5595 Grand Drive

1 North Grand Boulevard

t s easy for t. ouisans to take orest ark for granted. t s always there, it’s always great, it always contains the oo, which is always free. So what else is new? In this way, we can be a bit spoiled. ut it s worth stepping back e ery now and again to acknowledge the fact that, hot damn, we have it good. From the aforementioned gratis animal jail to the untouched ma esty of ennedy orest to the city-uniting sledding utopia of rt ill, orest ark ust might be unmatched by any city park in the country. t houses t. Louis’ art museum, history museum, science center all free of admission fees, too — as well as a lake for paddling boats, a si mile bike trail and the uny, the open-air amphitheater that has operated for more than 100 years. ou could easily get lost in orest ark s , 7 acres of land. ell, you could probably e en li e on that land undetected for months if you really tried. orest ark has long been the place where St. Louisans of all shape and size come and gather with no concern for class or race, a neutral ground where any and all are welcome to take in its natural beauty, an oasis of inclusi ity in a city that is too

ree admission ranks high on the list of reasons to isit the llen lark culpture ark at the corner of Lindell and Grand boulevards, but it’s not the best one. Although the sculpture park, which is owned by Saint Louis University, is not o cially a dog park, locals in the neighborhood ha e claimed it as territory for their four-legged friends. s the park s name implies, there s ust as much for humans to enjoy here as their pups, including colorful sculptures by the late rother el eyer of ianney igh chool in irkwood. The university even seems amenable to the fenced-in park s uno cial status for furry friends, having installed waste bags and posted a sign re uesting humans to pick up after their pups.

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BEST PINBALL

Silver Ballroom 4701 Morganford Road; 314-832-9223

If you want to really play some pinball, don’t slow your roll at Dave & Buster’s or drop all of your uarters on some little crappy game at a di e bar. ead to the place where you know it s going to

It just does not get any better than a Blues Stanley Cup Championship, and St. Louis was ready. The epic celebration will be remembered long after 2019 is toast. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI be on fire the il er allroom in e o ill. amed after the sil er ball that is the star of any pinball game, this joint has a whole room dedicated to the pastime, with a barroom to match. The pinballknowledgeable staff can point you in the direction of the newest or rarest games in the room, some of which get switched out fre uently so that the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many regulars can try something new. ou can e en make a night of it at the iler allroom now, because arty Bear Pizza and Tiny Chef (tasty pie and orean street food) are

ser ing hot and delicious meals right out of the tiny kitchen in the back. hy would you need to go anywhere else?

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BEST POOL

Concordia Turners 6432 Gravois Avenue, 314-352-9388

ools are like se and pi a even the bad ones are good. If there is a hole with water in it, there is a reason to splash. But at oncordia Turners in south city,

the pool is only part of the party. This comple also offers gymnastics, dance, martial arts, guitar lessons and trampoline and tumbling. There are e en classes for adults on site. our ne t party could be here too. ith the huge a arian-style lack orest oom and also their ig Gym) a ailable for rent for only $100 per hour, this acti ity center could be the site of all of the fun you have during the year, not just swimming during the summer. For a birthday party or ust a night filled with fun e ents, check out on-

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cordia Turners where something is always happening.

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BEST YOGA TEACHER

Josh Wolf Kundalini yoga is not the most athletic or physically ta ing form of yoga, with much of the acti ity taking place in the noggin and the lungs. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still plenty of mo ement, cardio work and the energy rush of a two-hour session that ne er lacks for ariety. osh

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olf takes the teachings of ogi ha an, who brought kundalini to merica, and runs them through the individual needs of the day. If the class is collecti ely stressed, it s time for deep rela ation. f the group is lacking energy, it s time for a boost on that front. nside of an adaptable south-city storefront on Thursday nights at p.m. and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., olf takes his small groups through a couple-hour ourney into a collecti e bit of goodwill. e sends participants out into the world with a renewed sense of vigor and vitality and, routinely, a class ends not only with real physical benefits but also a few words of wisdom to chew on through the day. ind class info at o o , short for South St. Louis Bliss & odyworks, on acebook.)

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BEST HIKE

River Scene Trail in Castlewood State Park 1401 Kiefer Creek Road, Ballwin

Pinball reigns supreme at the Silver Ballroom in Bevo Mill. | JARRED GASTREICH

BEST CARDINALS PLAYER

Jack Flaherty fter sleepwalking through the first half of the season, the ardinals sprang to life after the Alltar break, thanks in no small part to ack laherty. The young pitcher was dominant in the midto-late summer. In August, he took home ational eague lay-

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er of the onth honors. uring that month, Flaherty went 4-1, including se en shutout innings in a big ictory o er the ubs. is second-half surge helped propel the Cardinals from an even 44-44 record to first place in the entral Division. As the Cards headed toward the postseason, the 23-year-old right-

hander had already topped 200 strikeouts, making him the youngest edbirds pitcher to do it since the s. is performance has helped assuage some of the fan frustration after the Cards front office failed to land a frontline starter by the trade deadline. eading into the playoffs, he was looking like the ace they needed all along.

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n minutes, you can be out of the city and working your way through a tree-co ered hillside. The three-mile loop hits you with a steep ascent to start before rewarding you with car eouts that offer spectacular iews of the eramec i er curling along below. en if you ust parked on one of the benches up there, ate a snack and walked back down, it would be a nice morning. ut if you crest the peak, you ll enoy picking your way down the backside alongside the ruined staircase of long-gone resorts before slipping through a tunnel in a railroad trestle. From there, it’s a pleasant and flat) walk along the river’s edge, passing massive, gnarled trees and more old ruins from the area’s party-haven past. This lowland part of the trail also includes great birding habitat. The loop eventually swings you around back to the park s wide fields and parking lots. t can get

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St. Louis skaters were kind enough to let Tony Hawk roll all over the Peters Mathews Memorial Skate Garden, a scene captured on video during his 2017 visit. | SCREEN SHOT busy in nice weather, but come early and you’re almost guaranteed to be rewarded with a uieter trail and wildlife sightings.

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BEST SPORTS BROADCASTER

Bob Ramsey Over time, Bob Ramsey has played a role on multiple outlets in the alphabet soup of sports talk radio stations in town. But to most, he’ll be most tied to his gig as the radio oice of the aint ouis illikens men s basketball team. n mic with longtime analyst arl ustin r., amsey adds a particular twist to e ery game s action. hen the team is up, his oice has the confidence of a possible win. hen the Bills are down, he’s living that moment of near despair, too. ou can almost determine the up-down nature of the game without so much as hearing an actual score, just basing your guess on the tone and timber of amsey s energetic and informed commentary. nd woe to an o cial who blows a call, as a uick, uippy tongue-lashing is gonna come. ou don t become known as illiken ob without a rooting interest in the home team, and Ramsey has got blue blood running in his eins. To know that going in is to en oy his call, peppered with pop-culture references, deep illkens history and the occasional ear-burst, timed to a decisi e three ball or monster dunk.

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Bob Ramsey, he’s a good one.

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BEST SKATEBOARD PARK

Peter Mathews Memorial Skatepark 4415 Morganford Road

uilt by skaters on the gra e of a failed gas station, eter athews emorial katepark is a southcity refuge of sloped concrete and angle-iron ingenuity. Tony awk himself supported the spot and e en showed up to skate a few turns carrying a t. ouis flag ) during a 7 isit. is foundation, along with carmaker ini, selected the pro ect for some pretty serious grants, but it was the locals who put in the sweat e uity to build this oasis in e o ill. n the early days, skaters and a few helpful friends literally shaped this place by hand and sho el, working long hours to build something on the site out of nothing. ow, you will find them there, picking out new lines and generally enjoying the spoils of all that hard work. They did it right.

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BEST RUNNING TRAIL

Tower Grove Park 4257 Northeast Drive

f you re one of those masochists who is really into running long,

steep hills, this probably isn’t the one for you. But for the rest of us, Tower Gro e ark is the perfect place for a head-clearing og. The main path cuts a roughly threemile loop, mostly under the co er of a nicely curated collection of trees. That tree co er keeps it livable even in the middle of a issouri summer. There is also enough ariety to make it interesting. The park is a long rectangle, but it s bisected by Tower Gro e enue, so you can run loops around the west side one day, and the east another. Or do the whole thing, splitting off to follow any of the little paths that branch off the main roads. Go on a cool morning, when a light fog ho ers across the wide, shimmering lawns, and running feels like magic.

FFF

BEST YOGA STUDIO

Kiener Plaza 500 Chestnut Street, yogabuzz.org

Oh, you wanted a studio studio? Tough tadasanas. ou can do that anywhere, in any city. ou can even do that in a suburban strip mall. But the free — emphasizing that part sunrise classes on Tuesdays from mid-April to midctober offer irreplaceable rch

A look into the eyes of Justin “Protect the Cup” Poole reveals the gaze of a champion. | SCREEN SHOT iews in the heart of the city. eriously, you could ust get coffee and sit uietly for 5 minutes in Kiener Plaza, and you would feel better about your day. But this is an opportunity to get a little of the e ercise you know you ha e been missing while connecting to the place you li e. t s not like we can go for a run in the mountains or swim in the ocean before work in St. Louis. And yet, there’s something en about the rch, especially when it s catching the first

light at sunrise. Take ad antage.

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BEST ARREST

Justin ”Protect the Cup” Poole n the criminal ustice system, arrests are often considered a moment of utter demoralization for the unfortunate soul in handcuffs. But not so for Justin Poole, a Blues

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fanatic whose arrest at a usch tadium watch party during Game 7 of the tanley up finals went from good to bad to legendary — all in the span of a single acebook ideo. oole, drunk on both the lues championship ictory and, well, booze, had been singled out by an usher for e pulsion from the stands. Poole responded by refusing to move. As a bystander filmed, o cers attempted to handcuff the long-haired superfan. ll the while, Poole held onto something far more important than a municipal iolation for trespassing: his glass, Stanley Cup-shaped commemorati e beer mug. s the arms of the law closed around him, oole thrust the cup toward the person filming, and with three words rotect the cup inoked the spirit of the miniature championship hockey trophy in his hand. las, the cup fell to the ground, and oole was briefly detained, but his local legend was made, the ideo documenting what he d later call one of the best nights of my life. hich makes sense. This year, the Blues will try to protect their cup you know, the real, non-beer-containing tanley Cup. And even if they don’t, and the Cup falls, what matters is that it’ll still be one hell of a thing to watch. F

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FFF

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

BEST BLUES CLUB

The Pageant

BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups

6161 Delmar Boulevard, 314-726-6161

If you’ve ever been to the Pageant, you’ll understand in an instant why we picked it as our favorite live music venue in St. Louis. The sound is top notch, the concert calendar is always packed and the layout of the 2,300-capacity space accomplishes a bit of a magic trick by ensuring that concertgoers are never more than 70 feet away from the stage. Regardless of whether you’re ponying up to one of the bars, watching from the balcony or standing down in the pit, you have a prime view of the action. This year the venue has already played host to some fantastic names — including Angels & Airwaves, Die Antwoord and Adam Ant — with upcoming shows by Lizzo, the Raconteurs, Sleater-Kinney, Indigo Girls and even comedian Eric Andre. And it’s not just us local folks that think the Pageant is one of the best venues in town to see a concert: Trade publication Pollstar ranked it No. 4 in the world on its annual Top 200 Club Venues list in 2018.

700 South Broadway, 314-436-5222

With Beale on Broadway’s highly lamentable closure at the start of 2019, St. Louis’ lauded “Broadway Blues Triangle,” which consisted of three roots-musicloving venues in close proximity to one another on Broadway, is now down to a straight line. Broadway Oyster Bar and BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups remain, and each still serves up a heaping helping of the blues every single day of the week. Honestly, it’s pretty much a toss-up between the two as to which should be named the city’s best blues club. But equivocation is for equivocators, whereas RFT is decisive, dammit, so we gotta pick a favorite — which means we gotta pick BB’s. Why, you may ask? It’s that sublime catfish po boy sandwich, a standout of the form. Sure, Broadway Oyster Bar has those delectable sammies too — they ha e a menu o erflowing with delicious cajun seafood, in fact — but for our money, BB’s version simply can’t be topped. So

by all means, head to BB’s if you seek blues and tasty fried fish — but remember, it’s also just a straight-line walk to Broadway Oyster Bar if you’re still hungry for either when your time there is through.

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BEST PUNK CLUB

The Sinkhole 7423 South Broadway, sinkholerecords.com

Carondelet venue the Sinkhole stands as a monument to the D.I.Y. ethos that drives punk rock. Opened in 2016, the small shotgun-style space has quickly carved out a niche for itself as the home of everything from hardcore punk to garage-rock to metal to experimental music, with no stage to separate showgoer from performer. And now, with the completion of a recording studio in the back of the space and a foray into releasing records, the Sinkhole has become something of a one-stop shop for bands. “The concept of a record label was always part of the concept for the venue,” owner Matt Stuttler told RFT back in August. “The band could play here, record here and put out a release.” And on top of all that, the audience gets a show in one of the city’s most

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intimate spaces. What more could a young punk ask for?

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BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

Pu Fest Scholars of St. Louis music history will remember that there was once a local fest whose name rhymed with Pu Fest. Who Fest? You Fest? Boo Fest? It doesn’t seem to matter anymore — and it certainly never mattered to the organizers and attendees of Pu Fest. A determinedly underground festival that just wrapped up its sixth year in September, Pu Fest unites the city’s music scenes with a stunning range of genres and top-notch performers both local and national. This year’s standouts included Columbia, Missouri, blackened speed-metal act Acid Leather, the charming surf-pop of Minneapolis’ Miami Dolphins, a reunion of the impossible-to-categorize but much-missed Demonlover, the jazz/hip-hop fusion of PRYR and the last show by local post-hardcore dynamos Anodes. The variety would be enough to cause whiplash at a lesser festival, but with Pu Fest it all coalesces into a whole: music made by weirdos, for weirdos.

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Basil Kincaid sews together his various pursuits, sometimes literally. | ©BASIL KINCAID

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BEST ALL-AGES VENUE

Off Broadway 3509 Lemp Avenue, offbroadwaystl.com

With precious few of its shows ever carrying a 21-and-up restriction, Off Broadway has long been a great, family-friendly spot to bring the kids to see some live music. And its Broad Daylight series of shows is surely the family friendliest of them all. On weekends throughout the summer, the venue sets musicians loose on its spacious and inviting patio for daytime performances that start as early as 1 p.m. The Neil Salsich Duo, Ryan Koenig and Friends, and Diesel Island are just a few of the high-caliber acts that have performed as part of the series, with parents able to bring their children out without having to worry about bedtimes. Best of all: Each show in the series is 100 percent free! It doesn’t get more all-ages than that.

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BEST JAZZ CLUB

The Dark Room 3610 Grandel Square, 314-776-9550

Since its reopening in the lobby of the Grandel Theatre in 2017, the Dark Room has rapidly become a hub of jazz in Grand Center. The space hosts live music every

night of the week by t. ouis finest musicians — Tommy Halloran, Kaleb Kirby, Anita Jackson, the Kasimu-Tet and the Ryan Marquez Trio are just a few of the sharply skilled acts that populate the venue’s concert calendar. It’s not just the jazz bringing people through the doors, though. The Dark Room simply oozes class, serving as a photo gallery, wine bar and restaurant as well, with small, shareable plates and an effortlessly cultured atmosphere that makes you wonder if you should have come clad in a blazer (but don’t worry, this is a judgment-free zone). The jazzy soundtrack is simply the icing on the cake that is the Dark Room experience.

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BEST ROCK CLUB

Fubar 3108 Locust Street, 314-289-9050

It is plain to see that Fubar rocks. Sure, the venue plays host to a slew of musical genres — expect everything from indie to metal to hip-hop and more on the venue’s two stages — but at its core, Fubar is at its best when it brings the rock & roll, especially that of the punk variety. And recently it has been at the top of its game. September alone saw a bonkers roster of acts populating Fubar’s concert calendar. Turbonegro vocalist Hank von Hell came all

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SAINT LOUIS ORCHESTRA Saint Louis Philharmonic Subscription Concerts 2019-2020

ROBERT HART BAKER Conductor

CONCERT 1

PASSPORT TO EUROPE Friday October 11, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. William D. Purser Auditorium, Logan University 1851 Schoettler Road Chesterfield, MO 63017

Our continental tour of musical favorites includes the rarely heard dances on popular themes by Sinigaglia, a 100-year old treasure from our archives. Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 Leone Sinigaglia: Danze Piemontesi, Op.31, Nos. 1 & 2 Verdi: Aida Ballet Music Rossini: The Italian Girl in Algiers Overture Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70 Reservations and Information available by calling (314) 421-3600, online at www. stlphilharmonic.org or by mail. Please make checks payable to philharmonic Society of St. Louis and mail to P.O. Box 220437, St. Louis, MO 63112. All contributions are taxdeductible to the extent allowed by the law

FOR TICKETS OR INFORMATION

(314) 421-3600

www.stlphilharmonic.org

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Flo STL eschews traditional arts venues and creates thoughtful, site-specific work that captures the imagination. | VIRGINIA HAROLD the way from Norway to shake the venue’s very foundation (and his ass, naturally) alongside the Motorhead-worshipping Overdose at the start of the month; New York punks Murphy’s Law came “back with a bong” to bring the party on the 18th; and fellow NYHC act Agnostic Front came through just a week later with the 35th anniversary tour of its seminal album Victim in Pain. The spiritual descendant of bygone venue the Creepy Crawl (in vibe alone, not in business practices), where owner Bob Fancher worked as bartender for years, Fubar is the perfect spot to down some beers and pump your fist in time.

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BEST DANCE COMPANY

Flo STL flostl.com

Not content to perform at traditional arts venues alone, Flo STL has been active in creating events that live and breathe within spaces built specifically to the needs

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of their vision. This fall, for example, the company has brought to life a three-part performance piece called Secrets of the Bower House, which kicked off at the St. Lou Fringe Festival before a stop at a converted south-city basement and is scheduled to finish at downtown’s annual Artica. Curated by Blaize D’Angio and Audrey Simes, the pair more than live up to their mission of creating “contemporary, immersive, dance theater. We are collaborative in nature, fluid in membership, and multidisciplinary in form. We create art using practices that fulfill our needs and desires for deep play, exploration, and detail-oriented work.” To date, the young choreographers/dancers/directors have been successful in making thoughtful, site-specific work that captures the imagination of even those with only a passing familiarity/interest in contemporary dance.

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BEST GALLERY

REESE gallery 3410 Wisconsin Avenue, 314-954-7638

If you use galleries to encounter intriguing new ideas in form, in texture and in language, Reese Gallery is probably already on your rounds. If not, now it can be. In most cases, shows pair two artists in different media — often sizable ceramic pieces alongside twodimensional works, hung sparely around the room — whose work has overlap in some direction. What that resonance is can easily become the thesis of the show. The artists are reliably fascinating, and the atmosphere of the gallery, especially on opening night, is impeccable, offering the warmth of a neighborhood-nestled, century-old building thoughtfully remodeled with the cool artistic acumen of a demanding curator. Recent shows include work by punk-marinated fabulist Jerome Gaynor, ceramic remixer Malcolm Mobutu Smith, beauty spelunker Casey Miller and

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pop intuitionist Jessica Bremehr. Shows have included handmade paint, gra ti grief, a stark fashion show and perfectly lovely, functional dishware. Great galleries are like satisfying art: Each encounter is a new trick of the mind.

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BEST LOCAL ARTIST

Basil Kincaid It’s a little weird to single out Basil Kincaid here. Rather than standing apart, his work has largely been about weaving the world together, often literally in quilts and the shattered bits of St. Louis that he collects in his wanderings and then reimagines. He melds the Metro with Ghana, where he had a residency. And he is a master spider-web builder when it comes to connecting forces such as poverty and consumerism, broad historical themes and individual identity. He writes, performs and builds collages. One of his best-known projects, the years-long, multi-part Reclamation is itself a collaboration between Kincaid and fellow St. Louis artists Damon Davis and Eric “Prospect” White. So while he spends his days focused on the greater collective, the larger “We” of St. Louis can be united in a little hometown pride in

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Austin (William Humphrey, left), and Lee (Isaiah Di Lorenzo) face the return of their mother (Susan Kopp) in a masterful True West. | PATRICK HUBER a talent such as his.

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BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTOR

William Humphrey and Isaiah Di Lorenzo, True West It may seem like a hedge to name

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two actors in the same show, but only if you didn’t see True West at St. Louis Actors’ Studio. William Humphrey and Isaiah Di Lorenzo played warring brothers in Sam Shepard’s drama, and in the course of the play, they very subtly exchange roles. Humphrey’s good son Austin, seemingly nailed to his typewriter in the early going, works diligently on a spec script for a Hollywood producer. Lee, played by Di Lo-

renzo, bounds around his brother, peppering him with meaningless questions and bragging about his nerve as a casual burglar. Even if you pay close attention — and it was impossible not to the moment when ee first takes over the script and Austin transitions into burglary is hard to nail down. Is it when Lee talks his way into a golf game with the producer? Is it when Austin starts drinking for more than

bination of science fiction and Mountain Dew to offer a warning about the dangers or over-reliance on technology. With a little luck, New Line’s production of Be More Chill could become a yearly event, like the forever-returning touring production of Wicked.

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BEST MOVIE THEATER

St. Andrews Cinema 2025 Golfway Street, St. Charles; 636-947-1133

St. Andrews Cinema, a dollar theater in St. Charles, is heading into its 50th year, and it is better than ever. | VIRGINIA HAROLD enjoyment? Did they begin to become each other somewhere in the past, when their father headed out to the desert for good? Humphrey and Di Lorenzo are unrecogni able in the play s final moments, locked in total war with each other and themselves. It was a remarkable transformation, one that depended on the actors’ individual skill and their trust in each other.

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BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTRESS

Nicole Angeli, Photograph 51 Nicole Angeli does many, many things well on stage, but her ability to reveal the inner life of whomever she’s playing this month may be her greatest gift. In West End Players Guild’s production of Photograph 51, Angeli’s performance as pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin was remarkable. Franklin is solitary by nature, preferring to work at night as she attempts to discover the then-unknown structure of DNA. Quietly scrutinizing her photographic plates, Angeli’s Franklin loses herself in private joy at seeing things no man nor woman has ever before seen. At times, the ghost of a smile flickers across her mouth, the only sign that another barrier to knowledge has fallen. In these silent passages, Angeli conveys the rewards of pure science put in service to the pursuit of knowledge. It was a subtle, marvelous

performance that showed us the world through her eyes, if only for those moments.

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BEST THEATER ENSEMBLE

LaBute New Theater Festival One of the built-in features of the LaBute New Theater Festival is that you get to watch local actors play a number of different roles across both halves of the fest. Black comedies about the racial divide, quasi-thrillers about white privilege, a psychopath using reality TV as a ruse to lure in ictims, sci-fi slapstick and surreal plays about the future of womankind — this year’s LaBute Fest had it all. The large ensemble — Jaz Tucker, Carly Rosenbaum, Chuck Brinkley, Shane Signorino, Colleen Backer, Eli Hurwitz, Jenney Smith and Spencer Sickmann — performed with an enthusiasm and skill that carried the festival to new heights. Whether playing a waiter or a mythical character in relationship counseling, each of them assayed their momentary character as if it was the best role in the show.

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BEST DRAMA

The Crucible, Stray Dog Theatre Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is never an easy play to sit through,

but in 2019 its conspiracies and witch hunts felt like a recap of the nightly news. Over the course of its three-plus hours, paranoia gives way to rage, and rage becomes despair, eventually modulating into acceptance: John Proctor (Graham Emmons) realizes the only way to escape the witch hunt with any semblance of humanity is through death. Director Gary F. Bell marched his talented cast down this line all the way to the dark terminus, and it was impossible to look away. By the end more citizens are swinging from nooses than walking the streets, and the true cost of fanaticism is made plain. Stray Dog Theatre’s production was stark and chilling because it felt real.

Earlier in 2019, the RFT featured a real unicorn in the local movie presentation game, the St. Andrews Cinema. Next year, the space will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. That’s notable enough, but what’s really a kicker is that the films shown there in 2019 come with a cheaper ticket price than they did in 1969. The region’s sole remaining dollar show, the St. Andrews features three screens. They rotate between about a half-dozen movies at a time, meaning that the thrifty moviegoers of St. Charles County can see pretty much e ery film in second-run release for about $20 to $25 a month, a crazy notion. While the industry has moved toward high comfort in moviehouse experiences, the St. Andrews is an old-school type of place, though the theater’s young management staff is attacking an ambitious updating process over the next few months, all while providing a home for the ultimate camp classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, on alternating weekends.

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BEST ART EVENT

Artica

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articastl.com

BEST MUSICAL

Be More Chill, New Line Theatre New Line Theatre’s production of Joe Tracz and Joe Iconis’ Be More Chill was highly anticipated, because how often do you see a musical in St. Louis while it’s still a first-run show on roadway odirectors Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor gave us a show that was razor sharp in execution and far more entertaining than even the word of mouth promised. The songs were clever and sharp, the young cast impressed with their naturalistic performances and the plot felt familiar and yet fresh. There are many iterations of the “outcast kid becomes cool” trope, but few use the heady com-

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Held in an oft-overlooked pocket of the riverfront, Artica’s been hosting an annual arts festival just north of Laclede’s Landing since 2002. Run by a board of directors with long histories within Artica’s small, freewheeling organization, the event showcases a variety of on-site installations, generally built on a Friday for public enjoyment over a single autumn weekend. Every year, the event kicks off with Saturday’s interactive Boat of Dreams Parade, in which attendees set compostable, floating totems into the Mississippi River; and it ends with Sunday night’s The Burn of Our Lady of Artica, a controlled fire show setting alight the fest’s largest temporary artwork. In between, there’s a lot of time to roam through this

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Artica has taken place annually on the waterfront since 2002, and the weekend-long installations never disappoint. | ROBERT CROWE old warehouse district, as you find art and art finds you. By Monday, a few artists will be found at the grounds, breaking down their structures and displays, and after a couple more days, there’s not a lot of evidence that the event happened at all. Save, of course, for the memories created by one of St. Louis’

most-intriguing, long-running and public-participatory arts events. (This year’s Artica will be held Saturday and Sunday, ctober 5 and , with an o cial, GPS-friendly address of 1322 Lewis Street. Or just look for the friendly weirdos and you’ll be there.)

It’s WAY better than a photo booth!

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Wassan Al-Khudhairi arrived at the museum in August 2017 with a mandate to rethink both what CAM meant to St. Louis as a local institution and to engage with the national and international art world. Since her arrival, CAM has landed major exhibitions by Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Paul Mpagi epuya, uperfle , my herald, Trenton Doyle Hancock and Christine Corday, all of which prove definiti ely that is on the right path. The artists are more diverse, the work shown is more rigorous in addressing contemporary issues, and St. Louis — and the world — has taken notice. Various outlets (the New Yorker, Artsy, Vice) have covered these shows and artists, which keeps CAM in the national dialogue. Meanwhile, the Great Rivers Biennial continues to promote local artists, and St. Louis has a contemporary arts institution that looks more like the actual city.

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BEST MUSEUM

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis 3750 Washington Boulevard, 314-535-4660

What a difference a chief curator can make. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis chief curator

BEST BAR TO DIE IN 2019

Beale on Broadway 701 South Broadway

The tragic shuttering of beloved blues venue Beale on Broadway at the very start of 2019 turned the local blues scene on its head. For

Weddings, B’nai Mitzvah, School Dances, Graduation Parties, Lock-Ins, University Events, Corporate Parties, Brand Activations, Conventions, Fundraisers, Festivals, and More!

314.621.8638 | Info@FishEyeFun.com | FishEyeFun.com riverfronttimes.com

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nearly twenty years — eighteen years, three months and three days, to be exact — the bar and venue had been a reliable place to take in some roots music by some of the city s finest performers. s one-third of the famed “Broadway Blues Triangle” alongside nearby venues Broadway Oyster Bar and BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups, Beale on Broadway helped to make that particular portion of downtown a point of pilgrimage for local blues fans, who flocked from all o er the metro area to see a show. Local legends Roland Johnson and Kim Massie performed at the juke joint’s last shows on January 2 and 3, with audiences spilling out into the street during their performances — a proper send-off for a space that gave the city so much for so many years.

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BEST RECORDING STUDIO

Firebrand Recording 11708 Lackland Industrial Drive, Maryland Heights; 314-781-0493

Louis has logged hours at Firebrand Recording near Westport Plaza. Hidden away in an industrial area, this is a popular place to record anything from albums to audiobooks to podcasts. Since Brian Scheffer opened the studio’s doors in 2006, Firebrand Recording has built a strong reputation as being the affordableyet-professional go-to studio spot in town. From established musicians who need to record a commercial bit to young bands that crawled straight out of a basement practice space, this top-of-the-line studio has everyone covered. One day the studio might host Richard Fortus from Guns N’ Roses, and the next it could be local heavyweights like Fister. You never know what you ll find in this studio. Firebrand even has an inhouse studio dog, Roscoe, who will help you make your recording extra special. Roscoe is by all accounts a very, very good boy.

It seems like every band in St.

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BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

Apotheosis Comics & Lounge 3206 South Grand Boulevard, 314-802-7090

As a comics store, Apotheosis Comics & Lounge has plenty of the basics, including sections of new and used comics, manga and graphic novels. But in a short period of time, the multiple owners of the space have transitioned their South Grand shop into a truly enhanced comics store, with a Saturday night comedy series, regular musical performances, gaming instruction sessions and, as referenced in the name, Missouri’s only comic book shop/bar. With a canonly lineup, Apotheosis actually complements the other bars on its block with a very representative sample of beers, wines and spirits, though the heart of the business remains rooted in its colorful stock. In a relatively short period of time, the store, located in the same space as the late, lamented Whiz Bam!

video shop, has quickly become a staple of the South Grand scene; heck, it’s already hard to remember the place without it.

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BEST RADIO STATION

KSHE KSHE 95.5 is the sound of St. Louis. If you’re born in the Lou, this classic rock station is as much a part of you as Provel cheese and toasted ravioli. You remember the commercials on television when you were a kid of the KSHE dad ripping his shirt open to Dee Snider of Twisted Sister screaming “I wanna rock!” The songs they played invaded you psyche, and to this day you have a special spot in your heart for AC/DC and Sammy Hagar. Even today, you still trust KSHE to bring you the rock, and you will always rush to get a selfie with KSHE’s mascot, Sweetmeat, whenever you see him at Riverport. You love KSHE. And that’s fine, because lo es you, too. You both just wanna rock. F

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BEST GROCERY STORE

Jay International Food Corp. 3172 South Grand Boulevard, 314-772-2552

So you need a whole durian or maybe a jar of legit kimchi; you’re not satisfied with the noodle selection at Schnucks or maybe you just ate something amazing at one of South Grand’s Vietnamese restaurants and are feeling inspired. Jay not only has you covered — it will show you so many foods that you never even considered. The aisles are marked with the flags of different countries in the same way that more mainstream grocery stores hang signs designating where to find canned beans and peanut butter. And the prices are cheap. This is the place where new immigrants and refugees do their everyday shopping alongside south city home cooks. Wherever you fall into the mix, Jay has what you need.

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BEST THRIFT SHOP

Savers 9618 Watson Road, 314-849-1179

There are certain things you can reliably e pect to find at bog-standard thrift stores — your Goodwills, your Salvation Armys, your St. Vincent de Pauls. There will be suit jackets of widely ranging age and wear. There will be a dazzling array of wholly worthless electronics. There will be cowboy boots, which you’ll consider picking up — today’s the day you make that Western-wear leap, you’ll declare while plunging your foot into a morass of congealed goo that once was an insole and a whole lot of skin cells — before thinking better of it. But Savers is different: Its shelves are neatly organized and bursting with things you’d actually want to buy. The racks are even sorted by size and filled with clothing of the stylish variety. Essentially, it feels like a filter through which all other area thrift stores have been shaken, with only the cream of the crop remaining. Naturally, this means you’ll pay a little extra (not too

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much, though we re still firmly in “thrift” territory here) but considering the remarkable lack of strange goo you’ll encounter in the process, the few extra dollars are decidedly worth it.

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BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

STL-Style 3159 Cherokee Street, 314-898-0001

Since getting its start as an online operation way back in 2001 and especially since the opening of its brick-and-mortar location in 2010, STL-Style has been the city’s one-stop shop for hometown pride that is hip and hilarious rather than hokey and homogeneous. A mundane stock image of the Arch along with the city’s name ust isn t gonna fly in a city as weird and wonderful as St. Louis — a simple truism brothers Randy and Jeff Vines recogni ed when they first opened up shop. ere, instead, we find sly references to T -specific injokes (a shirt depicting a stop sign that says “ROLL” instead, because “that’s how we stop”), clever wordplay (“St. Louis: The

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Perfect Ghettoway”) and even profanity-riddled civic pride (the “Saint Fuckin’ Louis” shirt is an all-timer). This year, STL-Style released one of its most spot-on creations yet, a shirt featuring the infamous Delmar Loop Trolley depicted as the hell-on-tracks monster it is, completely empty and murdering a bicyclist while wearing the shorn doors of its vehicular victims as earrings. It’s a testament to the shop’s ability to keep its finger on the pulse of t. Louis — and further proof that STL-Style is an unparalleled local treasure.

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BEST ANTIQUE MALL

Manhattan Antique Marketplace 10431 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann; 314-733-5285

Opening last December in a sleepy strip mall in St. Ann, Manhattan Antique Marketplace is far more than a simple antique mall. The 44,000-square-foot space also houses a record store, an indoor farmers market, a cafe and an event space, with plans down the road for a tap room and commissary kitchen. It’s an ambitious

plan, made all the more so by the fact that its owners have chosen to set up shop in the county rather than within St. Louis proper. But it’s a gambit that is paying off, with city and county dwellers alike making the trek through its rows after rows of booths while sipping on beers and snacking on sandwiches. And with its recently launched Big Apple Fest, held at the space in September, MAM has made live music a part of its personality as well, bringing the Holy Hand Grenades, Tommy Halloran, Ben Bounce, Matt Sawicki and DJ High Rent to provide a soundtrack to shoppers’ bargain hunting.

Don’t look now, but that sleepy strip mall is starting to wake up.

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BEST HARDWARE STORE

Southside Hardware 6401 Hampton Avenue, 314-351-0204

Sometimes you don’t want to deal with Home Depot or Lowe’s. Maybe you just need a key copied or some duct tape, but at those huge places you’re going to have to navigate an entire hardware comple to find the one simple item that you need. That’s not the case at Southside Hardware. This little hardware store located on Hampton has just what you need and nothing else. If you need tons of lumber, sure, visit one of the bigbox stores. But for small projects and tools, places like Southside Hardware can’t be beat. Everything you need is so much easier to find in a neighborhood hardware store like this. If you need glue, it’s right where the glue should be — no surprises, no annoyances. And if you need to track down something specific, it s always easy to find an employee to help you out. Shop small. Shop Southside.

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BEST MALL

West County Center 80 West County Center Drive, Des Peres; 314-288-2020

So many of the malls in St. Louis have died. Rest in peace X mall, X mall and X mall. And if they’re not dead, most of the remaining malls are zombie malls — mostly empty and still selling, but everybody knows that they’re already dead. If you want a poppin’ mall experience that includes a stop into classic storefronts like Claire’s, the best place to visit is West County Center. Here, you’ll never know that the internet has all but wiped out retail as we knew it. Not only is there a Macy’s and a Nordstrom, there’s even a freakin’ food court where you can get an Auntie Anne’s pretzel like it’s 1992! Take a trip back to simpler times at this throwback locale.

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BEST PET GROOMERS

Blue Ribbon Grooming 330 Selma Avenue, Webser Groves; 314-968-5566

For show-dog style at shop-on-thecorner prices, the only place to visit is Blue Ribbon Grooming. The chorus of barking dogs here is joyous

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South City Scooters @ the corner of Connecticut & Morgan Ford

314.664.2737

DO YOUR PART TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING! Up to 100 MPG

Hours: Tue-Wed-Thurs 10-7; Fri 10-5; Sat 10-4; Closed Mon

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Fish Monger on Duty Wild King Salmon Now Available

Wine • Beer • Spirits • House • Roasted Coffee Fresh Bread • Gourmet Foods • Smoked Meats

314.781.2345 | Big Bend & 40 in Richmond Heights

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Locally Owned Since 1979

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W E WA N T T O B U Y YO U R V I N TA G E T E E S H I R T C O L L E C T I O N STOP BY THE STORE OR CALL US TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT

T H E C I T Y â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S B E S T S E L E C T I O N O F 9 0 S V I N TA G E , MODERN STREETWEAR AND SNEAKERS

BUY - SELL - TRADE O P E N T U E S D AY T H R O U G H S AT U R D AY 1 2 - 7 P M

id you need a tiny flashlight ou definitely need some batteries. You didn’t know you needed a phone tripod until now, did you? Oh dang, a universal remote could really be useful. And that bit of stylized molded plastic to wrap your headphone cord around would really help you be a better, more organized person, wouldn’t it? Go ahead, blow $10 on something you don’t need at all in this aisle. You work hard. You deserve it.

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BEST HAIR SALON

Naturally Pure Salon 564 South Gray Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-963-7101

Come to Naturally Pure Salon for the complimentary drinks, and stay for the top-notch stylists, who will make you a believer. | JAIME LEES

instead of the usual tortured howls, because these dogs know that they are in the hands of greatness. The owner and lead groomer has a history of grooming show poodles, and it shows in your dog’s stylish, precise cut. Her steady hands are all about precision and e ciency as she produces show-quality trims while keeping your pup calm and happy during what might be an otherwise stressful situation. Dogs know, you see. And in the case of Blue Ribbon Grooming, they know that they are not only getting freshened up but also being cared for by a person with decades of experience who understands them. Blue Ribbon Grooming deserves a spot in the Winner’s Circle.

museum and you ll find The rch Store waiting for you. Everything down in that beautiful new complex is free to see until you want to see the documentary movie, ride on the riverboat or take the Tram Ride to the Top.

FFF

BEST PLACE TO SPEND $10

Micro Center 87 Brentwood Promenade Court, Brentwood; 314-252-3961

If electronics stores leave you frustrated, you simply must try a visit to Micro Center in Brentwood. Best Buy is boring and old-style, but Micro Center is exciting and has tons of things you didn’t even know that you wanted. t s easy to find an employee here to help service your high-end needs, but the real fun comes while you’re waiting in the serpentine checkout line. Scanning those shelves stuffed with lowdollar items will test your impulsepurchase skills like never before.

FFF

BEST BOOKSTORE

FFF

Left Bank Books

BEST GIFT SHOP

399 North Euclid Avenue, 314-367-6731

The Arch Store 11 North Fourth Street, 314-678-1500

If you want everything you own to have the Gateway Arch on it (and who doesn’t?), the only place you’ll need to visit in the whole city is The Arch Store located next to the museum beneath the Arch. As part of the $380 million in upgrades that were completed last year, this store showcases the history and importance of our favorite St. Louis monument. The brightly lit store offers books, figurines, mugs, keychains, T-shirts and more that all honor our big beautiful Gateway to the West. And best of all, you don’t have to pay to get into the actual Arch to visit the store. Just go through security like you normally would, skip through the

Not all hair salons are equal — that’s a lesson you’ll learn immediately at Naturally Pure Salon. Upon entry, a friendly receptionist will offer you a complimentary selection of drinks, and a 10 a.m. glass of wine is not at all frowned upon. Not only are the top-notch stylists at Naturally Pure all experienced professionals, but the products they use are high-end and fabulous. This is an Aveda salon, so these superior stylists are all continuously training to learn all about the latest haircuts, styles and trends. Enjoy free services like a hand massage while you wait for your color to process, and don’t forget to look around at the other clients in the room to see the stunning hair transformations that happen within these walls. Once you visit Naturally Pure Salon, you’ll never want to visit any other salon ever again. It is luxurious and exceptional.

Jeff and Randy Vines of STL-Style have their fingers on the pulse on the city. | BEN SCHERLISS

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When Left Bank Books was established 50 years ago, there was no need to distinguish it as an “independent” bookstore, because there were no behemoth chains to compete with. But even so, the shop arrived with a radically independent spirit befitting its name it foregrounds authors from the cultural margins, be they gay or female or minority or socialist or just uniquely insightful and original. Times have gotten a hell of a lot tougher for bookstores like Left Bank, which makes its survival all the more significant and its presence in St. Louis all the more dear. Left Bank is responsible for the majority of author readings and signings that happen in our city, and they have provided a crucial

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PET CONNECTION LIKE US ON FACEBOOK & RECEIVE IN STORE SPECIALS MON-FRI 10AM-6PM SAT-SUN 10AM-4PM 314-773-7387 2214 S. VANDEVENTER ST. LOUIS, MO 63110

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Michael Osia has done right by the family name, earning a reputation as an honest broker, skilled mechanic and steward of his corner of the neighborhood. It’s no wonder that arl s is the first suggestion for any Tower Grove newcomer asking around for a reliable mechanic.

FFF

BEST BIKE SHOP

St. Louis BWorks 2414 Menard Street, 314-827-6640

BWorks has a cool storefront in an old brick livery in Soulard. And it has a good collection of used bikes along with some hardto-find parts, which is also cool. The workers are nice. On those merits alone, it’s a pretty great bike shop. But it is also the economic engine for the Earn-A-Bike program, which lets kids, yep, earn a bike if they go through a course that teaches them bicycle safety and maintenance. About 350 kids take part in the volunteer-fueled program each year, and BWorks has been running it for more than three decades. So if you’re looking for a cool-looking place with nice people to spend your money, guilt-free, on a bike, this is your spot.

FFF

BEST GARDEN CENTER

Flowers & Weeds 3201 Cherokee Street, 314-776-2887

Left Bank co-owners Jarek Steele and Kris Kleindienst, and the late, great master of ceremonies Spike. | THEO WELLING lifeline to the international literary community for half a century now. This year, to the dismay of book lovers citywide, the store lost its dear shop cat/spirit animal Spike. Spike’s plush black fur could be spotted lounging among the children’s books, brushing along the art shelves or, occasionally, interrupting readings in progress with his own attention-grabbing techniques. He has been eternalized in the store’s art and merchandise, but his presence is still sorely missed. This anniversary year is a great excuse to put your local values into action and get yourself in the Left Bank Books storefront doing what you know you love to

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do: browsing the shelves, falling into conversations about beloved authors, sitting down for a reading and just reveling in the analog glory of books and the people who have committed their lives to bringing great books into your life.

FFF

BEST CAR REPAIR

Carl’s 66 Service Station 3973 Humphrey Street, 314-776-5116

There was a time when just about every neighborhood had its own

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filling stations and small mechanic shops. Over the years, more than a few have lost the battle to the Jiffy Lubes and Valvolines, leaving their distinctive buildings to be repurposed as stylish restaurants and shops in some cases and empty eyesores in others. But Carl’s has not only held on since opening in 1963, it’s thrived. On any given morning, you will see the denizens of Tower Grove South dropping off their cars and SUVs for everything from oil changes to major repairs. It’s a small business in the best sense. Founder Carl Osia ran the shop for years before he got lung cancer and died too young in 1988. In the three decades since, his son

Flowers & Weeds did, in fact, take over a space occupied by another, prior garden center. But the transition between what was and what is couldn’t be more stark; in the still-evolving story of Cherokee Street’s continued reinvention, F&W is one of the real wins. Since its arrival as a brick-andmortar store in 2014, Flowers & Weeds has grown steadily with, its website notes, our own flower cutting garden, greenhouse, garden center, floral cooler and terrarium station.” The latter, in fact, is one of the more interesting spaces in F&W’s delightful interior and, on the weekends, it s not uncommon to find a few folks creating on the spot. Outside, there is a significant amount of room given over to Missouri native plants, as well as seasonal vegetables and herbs. While other centers will offer more variety, if only due to added space, Flowers & Weeds does a lot with less. It’s become a lovely little rectangular sliver of the south side, part of a sturdy business district at the remarkably creative intersection of Compton and Cherokee. F

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DAILY LUNCH BUFFET : WEEKDAYS - $9.99 WEEKENDS - $10.99

DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK

MAKE YOUR DINNER SPECIAL WITH A BOTTLE OF WINE & GET OTHER 1/2 PRICE

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FFF

eating this delicious food out of the truck where it all began.

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Balkan Treat Box

FFF

www.balkantreatbox.com

When Loryn Nalic fell in love with her husband Edo, she also fell in love with the cuisine of his homeland, Bosnia. That passion for Balkan food turned into an all-consuming love affair — one that prompted Nalic to learn everything she could about the cuisine and devote herself to being its ambassador. The product of that love is Balkan Treat Box, a food truck that has turned into a roving testament to the glory of Balkan-inspired food and culture. Out of this vibrant turquoise truck, the Nalics turn out not only some of the best food-truck eats in town but some of the city’s best food, period. The key is the woodfired o en, which turns out glorious, char-blistered pide, or flatbread, that serves as the base for toppings like cheese, cevapi, brisket, döner kebab and a variety of Balkan condiments. One bite and you’ll realize why the Nalics have developed a devoted following and earned national acclaim in the process. These days, you can experience Balkan Treat Box at its new brick-and-mortar spot, but there’s something magical about

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BEST PIZZA (ST. LOUIS-STYLE)

Nick and Elena’s Pizzeria 3007 Woodson Road, Overland; 314-427-6566

At Nick and Elena’s Pizzeria, the employees wear shirts warning their customers that there are “real Italians working in the kitchen” and to expect the sort of passionate outpourings — and accompanying curse words — that can happen when you put a bunch of Sicilians together in front of a pizza oven. Even if they operated in monastic silence, however, you’d know that this Overland old-school pizzeria is the real deal. Nick and Elena’s St. Louis-style pizzas are perfection of the form, a cracker-thin crust that somehow manages to stay crisp, e en at the typically flimsy, STL-style middle. This allows the pizza to hold up to whatever toppings and cheesy goo you decide to pile on top of it. And that goo! Nick and Elena’s Provel and sweet tomato sauce amalgamation is balanced into near-equal parts so it’s more like a rich

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sauce. Nevermind the noise in the kitchen; this pizza will leave you speechless.

FFF

BEST PIZZA (NON-ST. LOUIS STYLE)

Union Loafers 1629 Tower Grove Avenue, 314-833-6111

Great pizza starts with quality crust, and of course, the bakers at Union Loafers know a thing or two about perfecting different types of dough. When baked in the same ovens used to make its excellent breads, Neapolitanstyle pizzas come out with a blistered, lightly charred crust with a mouthwatering chew. Must-try pies include the spinach, bacon, garlic, lemon, grana padano and mozzarella as well as the spicy pepperoni with Calabrian chiles, herbs, tomato, grana padano and mozzarella. Pizza is only served for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and can be paired with a range of beers and wines, as it should be.

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BEST BRUNCH

The Clover and the Bee 100 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-942-1216

There’s something magical about dining at The Clover and the Bee. aybe it s the bright mural of flowers in the dining room, the comforting menu items or even just the restaurant’s name, a reference to an Emily Dickinson poem about following your dreams. Whatever the alchemy, it all coalesces into an experience like no other. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but its greatest joy is brunch, offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you prefer a sweet start to your day, the pearl sugar wa e is a must-try, made in the hexagonal shape of a honeycomb. Savory fans, meanwhile, should opt for the stone-ground grits with white cheddar, farm eggs, herbs and tomato ragu with crusty bread.

BEST CHEF

Rob Connoley of Bulrush 3307 Washington Boulevard, 314-449-1208

Rob Connoley is obsessive. It’s a character trait that made his longawaited restaurant, Bulrush, take

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bomb is just one example that shows The Chocolate Pig isn’t your standard “cake and pie” dessert spot. | MABEL SUEN more than three years to come to fruition. It’s why he’ll devote a tome’s worth of text to explaining his flatware and napkin decisions and why, once he decided to delve into Ozark cuisine, he went so far down the rabbit hole of research he was rummaging through boxes of handwritten notes from church ladies in the 1800s. However, that compulsion for perfection is also what has earned the entirely selftaught Connoley innumerable accolades and has resulted in what’s currently the most exciting restaurant in town. At Bulrush, Connoley has not just created a great restaurant; he (with the help of his righthand man Justin Bell) has resurrected a forgotten way of eating from a marginalized culture and is at the forefront of a movement to define what eating in this part of the country means. In this sense, Bulrush is more than a restaurant; it’s a testing ground for making us rethink what we eat from a man who is much more than a chef.

FFF

BEST ST. LOUIS SANDWICH

The Hot Salami and Roast Beef at Gioia’s Deli Multiple locations including 1934 Macklind Avenue, 314-776-9410

By this time, everyone in St. Louis knows the glory of Gioia’s Deli’s hot salami. Heck, the decadent

meaty wonder has a following even outside of our fair city considering that the restaurant won a James Beard America’s Classics award in 2017. It’s no wonder people are so enamored; the fatty, peppery, garlic-laden beef and pork sausage is an utter masterpiece so perfect, you wonder how anything but a little mustard and some crusty bread could make it better. Then, you have the hot salami and roast beef sandwich, which pairs the salami with thinly shaved roast beef and gooey, Provel-covered garlic bread. The “goosh” from the buttery cheese bread smothers the beef and salami, wrapping them in creamy magnificence. t sounds like too much of a good thing, and it is. And that’s not a bad thing.

FFF

BEST SPOT FOR OMNIVORES AND VEGETARIANS TO EAT TOGETHER

Banh Mi So #1 4071 South Grand Boulevard, 314-353-0545

BEST ALL-PURPOSE VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

SweetArt 2203 South 39th Street, 314-771-4278

One secret that could stand to be less secret is this one: Vegan desserts are often even more delicious than their counterparts, especially when we’re talking cupcakes. At SweetArt, where the glass case is full of both dairy and dairy-free delectables, the proof will leave you weak in the knees. ut first lunch. weet rt is all about indulging the senses, so whether you order the Southwest

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Burger with its pile of onion rings, the banh mi sandwich’s lemongrass-sesame tofu on hoagie or the Church Basement Plate full of chik n fried cauliflower, mackin cheese, black-eyed peas, greens and a sweet-potato-pecan biscuit, you can have a vegan meal that makes you feel glad to be alive. Recently SweetArt introduced its own entry in the chicken sandwich wars, immediately ending the opeyes . hik-fil- debate with a single bite: SweetArt brings the fla or that no fast-food chain could ever catch up to.

The trick to having a successful first or third, or hundredth) meal with someone who eats like you don’t is to pick a place where neither of you is at a disadvantage. Banh Mi So #1 represents the absolute ideal for this situation. Not only is the menu stocked with richly delicious fare, but everyone can agree that spring rolls don’t need meat to be perfect — and (as advertised in neon) their fried mung bean version truly is the best in town. t can be hard to find eggie pho, but the restaurant has both a beef and a vegetarian version that are

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Authentic Hong Kong Style Cuisine

VOTED ST. LOUIS’ #1 CHINESE CUISINE! FRESH & HEALTHY.

WE CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU EAT!

OPEN DAILY

DIM SUM

EVERYDAY 11AM-3PM

11AM-10PM 8116 OLIVE BLVD. • (314) 567-9997 • WONTONKINGSTL.COM

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matched for deeply satisfying flavor. And for every savory cut of pork or beef, there is an equally delightful and complex vegan option — the tofu curry noodle soup, for instance, or the banh xeo chay, scrumptious pan-fried crepes made with tofu and jicama. But the real reason to bring your meat-eating friend here is to make sure they order the Joe B., a miracle of marinated vegetarian beef laid inside a flaky, pillowy French baguette that will leave anyone of any stripe desperate for an encore serving. It’s a banh mi well worth switching sides for.

FFF

BEST FAST FOOD

Lion’s Choice Multiple locations including 6630 Chippewa Street, 314-352-5466

When Marv Gibbs and Clint Tobias founded Red Lion Beef in Ballwin 52 years ago, their vision was simple: Serve high-quality roast beef at an affordable price to compete with the burgeoning crop of fastfood chains popping up across America. They had this same goal in mind two years later when they changed the restaurant’s name to Lion’s Choice, which hearkened back to a term from their childhood that signaled something was the best. Five decades later, Lion’s Choice is still widely known as the best fast-food chain in St. Louis, serving not only the best quickservice roast beef sandwich in town (get ta steppin’, Arby’s) but some of our favorite fast-food fries and ice cream as well.

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BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Grace Meat + Three 4270 Manchester Avenue, 314-533-2700

Perfectly cooked fried chicken should have an airy and crispy outer breading with a solid crunch that gives way to juicy and fla orful meat. This is precisely the sort of fried chicken that has made chef Rick Lewis famous and exactly what you’ll find at Grace eat Three, the restaurant he operates with his wife, Elisa. The aptly named St. Lewis Fried Chicken is offered as a quarter, half or whole bird or as a plate of four wings or chicken tenders with house pickles (hot or original). Stop in for weekend brunch to try the fried chicken atop an heirloom corn wa e, or visit during happy hour for half off a fried chicken plate plus discounts on beer and cocktails.

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BEST CHICKEN WINGS

Frisco Barroom 8110 Big Bend Boulevard, Webster Groves; 314-455-1090

If you think you don’t like chicken wings, the ones coming out of the kitchen at Frisco Barroom in Webster Groves are sure to change your mind. To wit: On a recent visit with friends — if you can even call them that! — who don’t care for wings, the ones at Frisco were such a hit that a pal remarked, “Do all chicken wings taste this good?” The simple answer is no, they do not. What sets Frisco’s wings apart is twofold: They are grilled instead of fried, achieving a pleasing smokiness and char on the outside that brings out the pepper and spice in their seasoning, and they are then served with either Buffalo sauce or a Peruvian green pepper sauce on the side.

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BEST BARBECUE

BEAST Craft BBQ Co. Multiple locations including 20 South Belt West, Belleville, Illinois; 618-257-9000

We’re spoiled with an embarrassment of barbecue riches in St. Louis, but until BEAST Craft BBQ Co. quietly hit the scene in 2014, it somehow didn’t feel like we had a uniquely St. Louis destination for quality ’cue. Maybe that’s because pitmaster and owner David Sandusky focuses so much of his menu on St. Louis, from serving the best pork steaks in town to fall-off-the-bone pork spare ribs. The menu isn’t limited by geography or barbecue traditions, though, also serving smoked kielbasa, pulled pork and stacked burgers and sandwiches. Now with two locations in the St. Louis area the flagship in elle ille, llinois, and an expanded satellite in the Grove), BEAST is poised to reach an even larger audience — and we’re all the better for it.

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BEST MEAT MARKET

Wenneman Meat Co. 7415 State Route 15, St. Libory, Illinois; 618-768-4328

In an age when foodborne-illness recalls feel more perfunctory than panic-inducing, it’s especially important to know where your food comes from. At familyrun Wenneman Meat Co., a processing plant and butcher shop in St. Libory, Illinois, livestock is sourced from local farms and

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humanely slaughtered on-site. Founded in 1927, Wenneman has been a trusted name in southern Illinois for almost a century, and word has spread to St. Louis, with chefs and pitmasters across town sourcing its quality beef and pork. Wenneman products are sold in local markets across St. Louis, but the best selection and experience can be had at the retail shop in St. Libory, where the meat case is filled with uality cuts, fla ored sausages, charcuterie and more.

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BEST SUSHI/POKE

Indo 1641D Tower Grove Avenue, 314-899-9333

Nick Bognar has been making some of the best nigiri in town for awhile — and in 2019, he’s finally getting much-deser ed attention for it. In March, just days after he was nominated for a coveted James Beard Rising Star award for his work at Nippon Tei, Bognar announced a concept of his own, Indo, which debuted in Botanical Heights in June. For the best nigiri experience in St. Louis, make a reservation at the chef’s counter, where you can watch Bognar work as you dine on single bites of A5 Wagyu beef, cured and marinated masaba and bluefin tuna. ery indi idual piece of nigiri is artfully plated, yet it’s the intense and balanced fla or and rich te ture of each

that forms lasting memories.

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BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

Himalayan Yeti 3515 South Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-354-8338

Fresh, high-quality ingredients and modern riffs on classic Nepalese and ndian specialties define the dining experience at Himalayan Yeti. Located in a former Long John Silver’s fast-food restaurant, Himalayan Yeti doesn’t stand out from the sidewalk, and the sparse decor inside doesn’t inspire much more confidence, but ne er fear it’s chef-owner Dipak Prasai’s cooking that you’re here for, and rest assured, it’s plenty impressive. Get a taste of Prasai’s talent with favorites like the lamb vindaloo, chicken tikka masala or samosas stuffed with lightly spiced potatoes, peas, chickpeas and dried fruit. Be sure to order the kulcha bread, filled with a mixture of herbs and onion, to soak up extra sauce.

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BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Louie 706 De Mun Avenue, Clayton; 314-300-8188

Although not yet two years old, Louie already feels like a St. Louis dining institution. That is entirely to the credit of owner Matt McGuire and his team, who understand the key role that warm,

The bone-in ribeye at Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar is unbeatable. | MABEL SUEN welcoming hospitality plays in any dining experience. The kitchen crew, led by executive chef Sean Turner, puts that same level of attention and care into every dish, including must-try favorites such as the Roman gnocco, roasted chicken and polenta. Louie’s seasonal specials shine just as bright; in the summer, regulars look forward to sa oring the wood-fired cherry tomato, burrata and basil pizza and sweet corn ravioli, while the winter brings comforting bowls of tortellini en brodo and wood-roasted radicchio with green beans, almonds and shallots.

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BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Mi Tierra Bonita 3203 Collinsville Road, Fairmont City, Illinois; 618-271-7311

In 2018, Mi Tierra Tienda y Taqueria in Fairmont City, Illinois, relocated — but diners needn’t go far to find it, as i Tierra onita is located just next door to the original. i Tierra first hit the local food scene radar in 2013, when then-Riverfront Times food critic Ian Froeb lauded menu items such as the barbacoa taco and the torta milanesa, a sandwich stacked with paper-thin steak that’s been coated in breadcrumbs and fried to crispy perfection. At Mi Tierra Bonita, the expanded dining room means that even more lucky customers can congregate over those beloved menu items as well as chicken mole, fajitas and chimichangas.

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BEST THAI RESTAURANT

Thai Table 7403 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-449-6919

A newcomer to St. Louis’ restaurant scene, Bait serves the city’s best seafood and presents it with a flair you won’t soon forget. | MABEL SUEN

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Natthinee “Joy” Teerakawanid has been cooking in Thai restaurants since she moved to the U.S. six years ago, but she never felt she was making actual Thai food — at least not the traditional recipes she’d learned to cook from her grandmother. Longing for an authentic taste of her homeland, Teerakawanid decided to branch out on her own and opened Thai Table in Maplewood in October 2018. Though the names of the dishes at Thai Table might read like those you d find in other Thai restaurants around town, what differentiates them is their

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314.925.8505

626

N. 6th Street

BREAKFAST, LUNCH TACOS AND BRUNCH At the corner of 6th & Lucas

• Home of the 7 Day a Week Bottomless Mimosa • Happy Hour Every Thursday & Friday 3-8PM • Catering Available for Office & Private Parties • Book Your Holiday Parties Here Now! riverfronttimes.com

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FEATURED DINING SEDARA SWEETS

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6 RESTAURANTS YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT...

CLUSTER BUSTERS

SEDARASWEETS.COM

CLUSTER-BUSTERS.BUSINESS.SITE

314.532.6508 8011 MACKENZIE RD AFFTON, MO 63123

314.297.8846 3636 PAGE BLVD ST. LOUIS, MO 63113

In May of 2019, Sedara Sweets joined the community of Affton. Sedara serves a variety of baked goods including fifteen types of baklava—both Iraqi and Turkish. Just like the name says, Sedara sells ice cream, using products from Wisconsin-based Cedar Crest, and milkshakes. The cafe offers a small savory menu featuring breakfast bread, falafel and shawarma sandwiches, with rotisserie versions of beef or chicken both on offer. Whether you are looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, or a new option for lunch and dinner, Sedara has you covered. “We want to have something for everybody” Sedara Sweets is both family owned and operated. They offer dine in and take out food services, as well as an amazing Baklava gift box that can be ordered online, or even delivered! Owners George and Esraa Simon look forward to meeting their new neighbors and sharing some of their favorite dishes with the community!

Located on both Page Avenue, as well as the upcoming location in the Saint Louis Galleria, Cluster Busters hopes to provide Saint Louis with high quality seafood at affordable prices. Cluster Busters offers both dine in and carry out seafood, with recipes from Chef Deion Woodard. You will find all your favorites dishes such as seafood, pasta, gumbo, and fried fish. Whether you want to try their flagship “Cluster Buster” or the Lobster Mac and Cheese, Cluster Busters offers something for everyone. Since 2017, Cluster Busters continues to grow as part of a staple of the North Saint Louis community, and is very excited to bring their offerings to the Galleria. Keep an eye out for menu additions as well as daily specials. Cluster Busters is also available for catering and private events, so consider them for your next event. At Cluster Busters, you’re invited to come catch this drip!

POKE DOKE

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CARNIVORE STL CARNIVORE-STL.COM

314.449.6328 5257 SHAW 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.

BLKMKTEATS.COM

314.328.3421 6730 PAGE AVE ST. LOUIS, MO 63138

314.391.5100 9 S. VANDEVENTER AVE. ST. LOUIS, MO 63108

Looking for the best seafood in St. Louis or the Midwest—don’t fret, Crawling Crab is now open! Here, we drizzle everything in garlic butter and then sprinkle on our magic dust! In a fun and casual atmosphere, you’ll enjoy fresh, hand-cleaned seafood ranging from lobster, shrimp, and of course crab legs. All platters come with corn sausage potatoes and Cajun boiled eggs and shrimp that won’t disappoint. For those pasta and veggie lovers out there, there is a spot for you here too! Enjoy our double dipped garlic butter rolls along side with your meal. And if you are still not stuffed, we have homemade dessert on the menu too! Have a big family coming in or an event coming up? Enjoy our family meal options and our beautiful seafood tables. As we continue to grow, we are excited to add new items to the menu, get creative with new recipes, and give back within the community. Join us on the first Tuesday of the month for $20 platter specials, and $5 appetizers on every Wild Wednesday! Open Tuesday thru Saturday 4pm-10pm, currently located in the 24:1 Coffee House Cafe.

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Poke Doke offers St. Louis their energized recipes intertwined in a fast-casual model. Best part is every bowl is customizable to the patron -- whether you know what you want and can come up with your own flavor pairings — but it’s certain your heart will be content with the rich, high-quality seafood. Customers choose a size, a base, (such as rice, greens, or soba noodles) and choose from proteins (such as salmon ahi tuna, spicy tuna, shrimp or tofu), then add as many toppings and drizzles as they wish. If you’re less interested in the simple pleasures of fish and more in playing around with accoutrements, both the shrimp and tofu are neutral enough that they benefit from the enhancements. The menu also offers appetizers such as pork-filled pot stickers, miso soup, and crab rangoon, along with an assortment of bubble milk teas and soft serve ice cream. With locations in both the Central West End and the Delmar Loop, Poke Doke is the perfect spot to grab a quick bite!

BLK MKT EATS

CRAWLING CRAB

314.833.5900 8 S EUCLID AVE ST. LOUIS, MO 63108 314.553.9440 6316 DELMAR BLVD UNIVERSITY CITY, MO 63130

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The fast-fresh, made-to-order concept has been applied to everything from pizza to pasta in St. Louis, but the sushi burrito surprisingly had no Gateway City home until BLK MKT Eats opened near Saint Louis University last fall. It was worth the wait, though, because BLK MKT Eats combines bold flavors and convenience into a perfectly wrapped package that’s ideal for those in a rush. Cousins and co-owners Kati Fahrney and Ron Turigliatto offer a casual menu full of high-quality, all-natural ingredients that fit everything you love about sushi and burritos right in your hand. The Swedish Fish layers Scandinavian cured salmon, yuzu dill slaw, NOT YOURAnother AVERAGE Persian cucumbers and avocado for a fresh flavor explosion. favorite, the OGSUSHI Fire, featuresSPOT your choice 9 SOUTH VANDEVENTER DINE-IN, jalapeño TAKEOUT and OR DELIVERY MON-SAT 11AM-9PM of spicy tuna or salmon alongside tempura crunch, masago, shallots, piquant namesake sauce; Persian cucumbers and avocado soothe your tongue from the sauce’s kick. All burrito rolls come with sticky rice wrapped in nori or can be made into poké bowls, and all items can be modified for vegetarians.

out and try Lisa Nichols’ shockingly good Greek cooking. Nichols, together with co-owner Joe Kandel, serves the real deal — Greek food so good you’ll think you’ve somehow stepped through one of its paintings of the mother country and landed smack-dab in Santorini. The spanakopita and pastitsio are otherworldly, and even a simple gyro is anything but thanks to its tender ground beef and lamb and rich tzatziki. It’s so good it will almost make you forget those lamb shanks. Almost.

FFF

BEST PLACE TO DINE ALONE

Pie Guy Pizza 4189 Manchester Avenue, 314-899-0444

Balkan Treat Box chef-owner Loryn Nalic fell in love with her husband, Edo, and his family’s Bosnian cuisine — and now everyone benefits. | MABEL SUEN nuance and depth of fla or. ere, pad Thai is not the red, stickysweet platter of noodles so often peddled but is instead an umami bomb of soy and fish sauces with just a whisper of sweetness. Her curries, like the magnificent lemongrass-spiked massaman beef of Panang curry, are outstanding. However, if there is one musttry dish, it’s the nam tok beef, a thrilling platter of tender, charkissed flank steak electrified by lime juice.

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the place famous, but when Corner 17 expanded a few years ago and added even more traditional dishes to its repertoire, it gave us even more reasons to love it. If you’ve had the mala tofu or the hong shao pork, you’ll be thankful the restaurant didn’t just stick to noodles, no matter how wonderful they are. Taken together, these magnificent dishes are quickly turning the spot into an institution and helping it define the new Delmar Loop.

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BEST GREEK RESTAURANT

The Greek Kitchen 343 South Kirkwood Road #101, Kirkwood; 314-462-9112

You can’t get the Greek Kitchen’s famous lamb shanks every night of the week. After all, these marinated, fall-off-the-bone beauties take two days to prepare. While this may seem disappointing on its face, it’s actually a good thing because it allows you to branch

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

Corner 17

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BEST BURGER

The Double Cheeseburger at the Midwestern 900 Spruce Street, 314-696-2573

6623 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-2402

While we’ve all been focused on the clang (or lack thereof) of the controversial Loop Trolley, perhaps the most interesting story about the Delmar Loop is how it is quietly being remade into a hub of international cuisine that rivals South Grand or University City’s Chinatown. The anchor of that movement is six-year-old Corner 17, a noodle bar, bubble tea spot and bastion of authentic Chinese food that has become the hangout for the neighborhood’s sizeable international student population, as well as anyone who loves some of the best noodles this city has to offer. Those noodles — hand-pulled fresh in the restaurant — are what made

It’s closing time on a Friday night in the Grove, you’ve had one (or ten) too many drinks, and you’re not quite ready to go home. If all that booze is making you crave carbs, or you just don’t want the party to end, head to Pie Guy Pizza for a slice. Fortunately for you, Pie Guy stays open until midnight Tuesday through Thursday and ’til 3:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Owner Mitch Frost knew that late-night eats were needed in town when he opened Pie Guy last year, and boy was he right: The later the hour, the crazier the scene at Pie Guy’s walk-up window. Now no night out feels complete without grabbing a pepperoni or vegan pesto slice before calling a Lyft home.

You will never feel alone in the company of a Pie Guy Pizza slice. | MABEL SUEN

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When chef Ben Welch was coming up with the menu for the Midwestern, he took inspiration from other restaurants in town that were doing the best versions of particular dishes, then ran what he found through his own culinary sensibilities. When it came to burgers, he had no shortage of inspiration to draw from, but what he developed for the Midwestern is so extraordinary it’s in a class of its own. Made from dry-aged brisket, Welch’s burger has an intense, concentrated beef fla or with a backbeat of tangy funk that would make George Clinton shed a tear. The loosely ground meat is like a composite of the fatty brisket, wonderfully juicy and crispy around the edges; these little hunks of beef crumble off

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Thai Table serves a taste of chef-owner Natthinee Teerakawanid’s homeland. | MABEL SUEN the side like bite-sized meat crunchies that could be a menu item themselves. And Welch doesn’t stop there. He tops this magnificent meaty delight with gooey pub cheese, mayonnaiseheavy fry sauce, tomato jam and pickles, and then nestles it all onto a potato bun. You can tell it’s glorious without even taking a bite — though how you could resist for more than a second is beyond comprehension.

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BEST-KEPT SECRET

Korean Fried Chicken Wings at O! Wing Plus 10094 Page Avenue, Overland; 314-395-0180

t first glance, you are likely to think that O! Wing Plus is simply a knock-off of any of the number of generic wing joints around town; its humble, strip-mall location makes it look like the sort of place you’d grab some limp, hot-barstyle Buffalo wings with a handful of ranch packets. However, once you take the leap and step inside this Overland chicken spot, it becomes abundantly clear that you are in for so much more than basic Super Bowl fare. Owned by the Song family, O! Wing Plus serves chicken wings and strips that may not be officially called Korean fried chicken, but they are definitely in that genre. The secret to their success is the chicken’s shockingly crispy exterior, a breading that retains every ounce of its crunch even when tossed in

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sauce. And the sauce! The restaurant offers several to choose from, like the fiery east ode, the Thai Chile Lime and the signature O’s Original, a chile-infused brown sugar glaze that has the perfect balance of heat and subtle sweetness. Bring an order of these beauties to your gathering, and you’ll be the toast of the night — that is, if you can refrain from gobbling them all down en route.

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BEST DOUGHNUTS

Old Town Donuts 508 New Florissant Road, Florissant; 314-831-0907

Even the most casual doughnuteater knows that the key to a good one is to get it fresh out of the fryer. Sure, no one’s going to turn down a doughnut that’s been in the case for a few hours — or even a day-old if times are tough enough. But through some feat of magic, Old Town Donuts manages to create the fresh-from-thefryer effect no matter what point in the day you enjoy one of its yeasty treats — an especially difficult task considering the place is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Old Town runs three shifts a day, so every few hours, you’re getting one fresh from the fryer, fluffy, airy and glistening with just enough grease. But what’s even more shocking is that, even the next day, these glorious glazed beauties are as good as the fresh ones at other stores around town. Not that you could ever wait so long before gobbling an entire dozen of these masterpieces.

ing. First and foremost, there was chef-owner Matthew Daughaday, a talented cook who made his name running the kitchen at Gerard Craft’s Taste. He was so well respected by his peers, in fact, that he had the city’s most talented restaurant professionals eager to work for him: Andrey Ivanov, a now-master sommelier and one of St. Louis’ premier wine professionals; Summer Wright, a pastry chef whose resume includes working for Daniel Boulud; Alisha Blackwell-Calvert, who joined the team after it opened and has gone on to become one of the city’s most respected sommeliers — the list goes on and on. That industry firepower was not wasted: Reeds went on to become that perfect balance of upscale restaurant and neighborhood eatery and had an air of approachability that was shocking considering all of its talent. Its closure this past July came as a surprise to the city’s dining community; the only thing that tempers its loss is knowing that this is not the last we will hear of Daughaday and his impressive crew.

At Oaked, every bottle in its astonishing collection is available by the glass — one of the reasons it is St. Louis’ premier wine destination. | MABEL SUEN

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BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE

Billie-Jean 7610 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton; 314-797-8484

The moment you walk into BillieJean, you know you are in a Zoë Robinson restaurant. It’s impossibly stylish, the aroma coming from the kitchen is intoxicating, and the entire place has a lively energy that’s not always found in such upscale restaurants. However, if there is one mark of the Rob-

inson experience that transcends all others, it’s surely the gracious hospitality that permeates every moment of the dining experience. At Billie-Jean, Robinson and her crew nail that perfect balance of being capable and knowledgeable while making you feel utterly relaxed. It’s like being taken care of by your best friend who happens to be the best server on the planet. Her crew will tell you that comes from the top — that Robinson is so great to work for, it makes them want to be better.

Whatever she’s doing, it certainly works.

Elmwood 704 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-261-4708

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BEST RESTAURANT TO DIE IN 2019

Reeds American Table 7322 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-899-9821

When it opened in September 2015, Reeds American Table had a team so stellar it was almost blind-

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BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Much has been made about Elmwood’s Josper grill and oven — a piece of kitchen equipment so special it’s the only one of its kind in North America. What makes the Josper so unique is its restraint. t s wood-fired but clean-burning, primal but controllable, resulting in fla ors that are in perfect balance: char without bitterness, smoke that’s surprisingly gentle.

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In many ways, the Josper, in all of its beauty, is a microcosm for Elmwood. Owned by Niche alums Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling, this magnificent aplewood spot has all of the makings of an ultrafine-dining restaurant sophisticated, flawlessly e ecuted dishes magnificent design a top-notch bar program and impeccable service. However, Altnether and Kelling manage to pull this off while still making the restaurant feel like the type of place you can roll into for a burger while wearing jeans. It’s nothing short of wizardry, and it’s the reason Elmwood has the sort of slow-burn staying power that has already put it on its way to becoming a St. Louis institution.

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BEST COFFEEHOUSE

Meshuggah CafE 6269 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-726-5662

ack in the day specifically, back in the grungy, burgundy hair dye, r. artens, flannel shirt, clo ecigarette-fueled ’90s — Meshuggah Cafe was a dingy, smoky spot on a little side street off the Delmar Loop where poets, chess players and everyone in between formed an almost comically quintessential band of coffeehouse misfits. en Kaslow knew this Meshuggah, and when she bought the cafe from its longtime owner, she vowed to keep its identity intact. In the past four years that she’s owned the place, she’s done just that, maintaining its indie spirit even as she’s instituted some much-needed updates (hooray for all of those electrical outlets!). Even more importantly, she’s kept the house coffee the same — a roasty, strong-as-hell Americano that regulars made her swear she’d never change. Close your eyes and sip, and you’ll swear you can hear the Singles soundtrack somewhere in the background.

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BEST STEAK

The Dry-Aged, Bone-In Ribeye at Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar 2101 Chouteau Avenue, 314-241-2333

At Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar, the whopping 22-ounce dry-aged ribeye is ser ed with a mound of flaming sea salt a dramatic flourish considering the steak and salt

Tiki cocktails take center stage at Yellowbelly, the Central West End bar and restaurant. | COURTESY ANDREW TRINH PHOTOGRAPHY

come out on a wooden platter. It’s showy, indeed, but the scene stealer is the steak itself: a massive hunk of Iowa Premium Black Angus gilded with so much rendered fat it sparkles in the flame s light. The meat is positively magical, but what pushes it over the edge is its rub, a secret blend concocted by owner Paul Hamilton that forms a coarse crust over every edge. There’s black peppery heat, but the spice is mitigated by salt, smoke and a hint of sweetness, a perfect balance that enhances the deep umami fla or of the beef without covering it up. And there’s a special pleasure when you bite into a little pocket of rubcovered beef and buttery fat; the experience is similar to the decadent enjoyment that comes from feasting on marrow, but better.

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BEST SEAFOOD

Bait 4239 Lindell Boulevard, 314-405-2797

As soon as a server walks out of the kitchen with Bait’s seafood boil, all eyes in the dining room turn to this stunning feast. A gigantic, bubbling cauldron of the sea’s bounty, this masterpiece is to Cajun seafood boils what the A5 Wagyu is to beef: pure and utter perfection. Chock full of thick crab legs, plump jumbo shrimp, andouille sausage and potatoes so butter-soaked they may as well

be a sponge, the marvelous dish dazzles at every turn — especially the caramelized bits of seasoning, browned butter and garlic that, when scraped off, serve as a mouthwatering tapenade you’d want to butter bread with. And this is only one of Bait’s impressive seafood dishes. At every turn, the Central West End restaurant impresses with dishes like a whole red snapper, fish and chips that could rival what’s served in the best nglish pub and flaming prawns ser ed in a fiery bowl. Like all of Bait’s dishes, it’s a feast for the eyes, though it’s your palate that’s in for the real show.

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BEST TACO

Taco Circus 4940 Southwest Avenue, 314-899-0061

It’s been a big year for Taco Circus: In September, the beloved TexMex spot relocated from its original home in Bevo Mill to Southwest Garden. The new digs aren’t the only change: Taco Circus now serves an expanded menu, but don’t worry, all the fan favorites are still offered. We especially lo e the hippewa taco, filled with pork steak, carnitas, avocado, cilantro and onion. As at the flagship location, the housemade salsas are a highlight, including the fiery salsa erde and milder red chile; to get a taste, try the Mother of All Tacos, which packs

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brisket from Stellar Hog with bacon, refried beans, a sunny-sideup egg, queso and salsa into one e tra-large flour tortilla.

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BEST FROZEN TREAT

The Taco & Ice Cream Joint 2738 Cherokee Street, 314-224-5799

For both kids and the young at heart, stepping inside The Taco & Ice Cream Joint feels like sensory overload. Equal parts taqueria and ice cream shop, this Cherokee Street staple excels at both of these specialties. Opt for a classic cup or cone, and then pause to appreciate the myriad ice cream fla ors on offer, ranging from avocado and cucumber with chile powder to blackberry and bubblegum. One of our personal favorites is the chocolate de abuelita, which riffs on spicy Mexican hot chocolate to delightful results. The shop stocks more than ice cream to satisfy sweet tooths: Don’t miss the candy-colored paletas, chocolatecovered frozen bananas or a towering banana split.

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BEST DESSERTS

The Chocolate Pig 4220 Duncan Avenue, 314-272-3230

The Chocolate Pig is located inside

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lists, but the fact that it offers every bottle — yes, every single bottle — by the glass is nothing short of mind-blowing. Not only does it allow you to indulge in a wine that might be otherwise out of your price range, it also gives you the freedom to drink out of your comfort zone and enjoy less familiar varietals without the investment of a full bottle. It’s an ambitious and commendable wine program that must be painstakingly managed by the team at Oaked, but it pays off in the form of an incomparable beverage experience that makes it the city’s premier wine destination.

the Cortex Innovation District, a fact that determines not just its address but the spirit in which it approaches its desserts. Not content to be the standard “cake and pie” sort of place, the restaurant is a bona fide dessert destination with sweet treats that evoke familiar fla ors but are artfully presented to push the limits of what pastry can be. Though the restaurant’s opening pastry chef, the talented Tyler Davis, has left, his impact on the dessert menu remains in offerings such as the signature Chocolate Peanut Butter Bomb, a stunning, softball-sized sphere of dark chocolate surrounded by peanut butter crumbles and freeze-dried berries. The dish is served with a warm berry sauce that, when poured over the chocolate, melts the exterior layer to reveal a silken peanut butter mousse with more cookie crumbles and berries inside. It’s as dramatic as it is delicious.

BEST WINE LIST

Oaked 1031 Lynch Street, 314-305-7517

When you are seated at Oaked, your hostess or server will present you with a leather-bound

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BEST BAR

Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge 1811 Pestalozzi Street, 314-773-8646

At Bulrush, chef Rob Connoley serves many foraged ingredients. | VIRGINIA HAROLD wine list so thick, you could use it as a booster seat to prop up your toddler. The list is shockingly comprehensive and thoughtfully put together, and, despite its size, the

entire ser ice staff can confidently guide you through tasting notes on even the most esoteric bottles. This alone would put Oaked in the upper echelon of St. Louis wine

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In the midst of St. Louis’ über cool craft cocktail spots and Stag-slinging vintage dives, the bar at Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge sits as that cool, quintessential neighborhood spot. Frazer’s surprises with a positively solid bar program that is every bit as good as the bigger names in town, yet somehow remains slightly under the

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Flawlessly executed dishes and excellent service have already put Elmwood on track to become a St. Louis institution. | MABEL SUEN radar. Since taking over the beverage side of the ship about fi e years ago, Terry Oliver has quietly transformed Frazer’s from a solid neighborhood restaurant into the insider’s place to go for some of the best drinks in town. Oliver’s extensive cocktail list belies the work of a master barman, but just as impressive as these sophisticated ingredient combinations is that you can sit at the bar, order an Old Fashioned and know it’s going to be the best Old Fashioned of your life. That uiet confidence is what makes the place so special.

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BEST NEW BAR

Yellowbelly 4659 Lindell Boulevard, 314-449-1509

Tim Wiggins is so talented, he could make pond water into a wonderful libation. Put rum in front of him, however, and the results are utterly transcendent. The acclaimed barman used his favorite spirit as the jumping-off point for Yellowbelly, the Central West End bar and restaurant he co-owns with Travis Howard. The pair knew they wanted to do a sea-and-spirits-style concept, but they resisted defining that as a kitschy, throwback tiki bar. Instead, they created a stunningly modern restaurant with nods to the acific slands without being a caricature. Yellowbelly’s bar is so special not just because of

Wiggins’ cocktail prowess — and it’s certainly there on full display — but because it pushes guests to rethink what a rum-based cocktail can be. f course, you ll find wonderful, balanced versions of the classic tiki drinks, but Wiggins has also created a selection of “new school” cocktails that show the spirit’s striking range. Enjoy one of these in this stylish, airy setting and you’ll understand his love of rum — and will develop an affection for it of your own.

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BEST GAY BAR

Grey Fox Pub 3503 South Spring Avenue, 314-772-2150

Stepping inside Grey Fox Pub in Tower Gro e outh, your first impression is likely that it resembles so many other bars in south city. Neon beer signs frame the large wooden bar, where regulars are sipping Budweisers and rail drinks. Yet walk to the back of the bar, enter the theater and you’ll find the real party. raped in red velvet, this is the Grey Fox Cabaret, where, every Friday and Saturday night, former Miss Gay Missouri America Jade Sinclair hosts the La Cage Aux Foxes drag show, featuring a rotating cast of versatile and talented performers. The theater hosts other drag shows throughout the week plus special events, but no matter what ensemble you’re there to see, you’re in for a rollick-

ing night filled with great music and even better performances.

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BEST BARTENDER

Dave Greteman at Elmwood 2704 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-261-4708

Dave Greteman has worked at some of the best bars in town. He got his start at Sasha’s on Shaw and Handlebar before logging what he calls formative experience at Taste, followed by stints at Sardella and Parlor. Now the bar director at Elmwood, which opened in Maplewood in January, Greteman has used his experience and expertise to curate a nuanced and relevant yet thoroughly unpretentious bar program. Cocktails are offered in three strengths — full proof, low proof and zero proof — and feature buzzy ingredients like amaro and pisco without ever feeling overly trendy or highfalutin. Greteman’s zeroproof, non-alcoholic cocktails are especially creative and fun; order the orange-thyme-sumac-beet number to get a taste.

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BEST MARTINI

The Gin Room 3200 South Grand Boulevard, 314-771-3411

If you’re looking for the best

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Made with dry-aged brisket, The Midwestern’s cheeseburger is the best in town. | MABEL SUEN martini in town, that means you’re also looking for the best gin selection. Natasha Bahrami isn’t just St. Louis’ resident gin expert — she’s quickly becoming one of the most knowledgeable and voracious promoters of gin education in the country. Since opening The Gin Room inside her family’s restaurant, Cafe Natasha, in 2014, Bahrami has expanded her programming and offerings at the bar as well as her outreach to the local and national spirits communities. Several martinis are offered at The Gin Room — including one made with pomegranate molasses, a nod to Cafe Natasha’s Persian roots — but purists will want the Right Perfect made with Right Gin, Dolin rouge and dry vermouths and Regan’s orange bitters.

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BEST PLACE FOR DAY DRINKING

Form Skybar 705 Olive Street, 314-241-4300

There are plenty of worse backdrops for drinking in St. Louis than the downtown skyline, and at Form Skybar, the Old Courthouse and all her neighbors are available to gaze in full panoramic. The rooftop restaurant and bar opened inside Hotel Saint Louis in March and is named for famous architect Louis Sullivan and his philosophy that form follows

function. Personally, we follow the philosophy that sweeping skyline views are best appreciated before sunset, so we prefer to stop in Form early. (Also, doesn’t day drinking just feel more deserved when it’s happening in classy digs?) Classic and signature cocktails are all priced at $12 a pop, and a selection of wine, beer and non-alcoholic cocktails are also offered.

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BEST MARGARITA

Lily’s Mexican Restaurant 4601 South Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-352-1894

Some things never change, and fortunately for us, that includes the Lily’s Special Margarita at Lily’s Mexican Restaurant. Ten years ago the Riverfront Times named it the best marg in town, and after some extensive research, we’re happy to report that it’s still very much deserving of this distinction. Maybe it deserves it even more today, considering that the quality has never wavered and that the prices are still incredibly affordable ($7.50 for a “small” and $13.50 for a “large,” which is roughly the size of the sun). Like the home-style Mexican eats served here by the Esparza family, the margs don’t just hit the spot — they make memories that will last, if not a lifetime, at least hopefully another ten years. F

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PING PONG TABLE • POOL TABLE • BOARD GAMES WEDNESDAY TRIVIA • LIVE MUSIC / DJS 5 DAYS A WEEK

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.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2

THE STORY COLLIDER: LET'S GET PHYSICAL 7:30 PM AT THE READY ROOM

BOWLING FOR SOUP $25, 8 PM AT THE READY ROOM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4

KIM MASSIE LIVE

DRAG BINGO: CAMP HALLOWEEN

8 PM AT JUST JOHN

8:30 PM AT HANDLEBAR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3

GROVE FEST 2019

LESS THAN JAKE &

2 PM AT THE GROVE

4130 MANCHESTER AVE. IN THE GROVE FIRECRACKERPIZZA.COM

PHARMAKON + GHOST ICE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8

$26-100, 6:30 PM AT THE READY ROOM

SIGRID

CORAL CREEK

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

$10, 8 PM AT ATOMIC COWBOY

$15, 7 PM AT THE READY ROOM

$10, 7 PM AT ATOMIC COWBOY

OBITUARY, ABBATH

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13

SEGO

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

$26, 7 PM AT THE READY ROOM

DEATH VALLEY GIRLS

KID QUILL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

8 PM AT THE READY ROOM

THE MONTHLY CYCLE PRESENTS

105.7 THE POINT PRESENTS

THE 6TH ANNUAL DIVA CUP!

THE DISTILLERS

$7, 8

PM AT

ATOMIC COWBOY

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

KAMELOT, SONATA ARCTICA, BATTLE BEAST

$13, 7 PM AT THE READY ROOM

GEORGE SHINGLETON W/ CRAIG GERDES

$10, 8

PM AT

ATOMIC COWBOY

$25, 1 PM AT HANDLEBAR

$30, 8

PM AT

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THE READY ROOM

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Arts & Entertainment FFF

BEST ALL-AGES VENUE

Delmar Hall

6133 Delmar Boulevard, 314-726-6161

Runner up: The Loading Dock

401 East Front Street, Grafton, Illinois; 618-786-3494

BEST ART EVENT

Strange Folk Festival

BEST BLUES CLUB

BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups 700 South Broadway, 314-436-5222 736 South Broadway, 314-621-8811

BEST DANCE COMPANY

Saint Louis Ballet

BEST CONCERT

Matt F Basler ”20 Years of Smooth” Runner up: Janelle Monáe

BEST BOOKSTORE

Left Bank Books 399 North Euclid Avenue, 314-367-6731

3206 South Grand Boulevard, 314-802-7090

BEST ART GALLERY

BEST COMEDY CLUB

1 Fine Arts Drive, 314-721-0072

Museum St. Louis

3750 Washington Boulevard, 314-535-4660

BEST BAR TO DIE IN 2019

Southtown Pub 3707 South Kingshighway Boulevard Runner up: Propaganda

2732 Cherokee Street

stlouisballet.org

Runner up: COCA

presents

saintlouisartfair.com

Runner up: Contemporary Art

Runner up: HandleBar

Runner up: Broadway Oyster Bar

Runner up: Apotheosis Comics

Saint Louis Art Museum

Club Viva

408 North Euclid Avenue, 314-361-0322 4127 Manchester Avenue, 314-652-2212

strangefolkfestival.com

Runner up: St. Louis Art Fair

BEST DANCE CLUB

& Lounge

cocastl.org

BEST FILM SERIES

St. Louis International Film Festival cinemastlouis.org

Runner up: Saint Louis Art Hill

Film Series slam.org

BEST HAUNTED HOUSE

Funny Bone

614 West Port Plaza Drive, Maryland Heights; 314-469-6692 Runner up: Helium Comedy Club

1151 St. Louis Galleria Street, Richmond Heights; 314-727-1260

BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

Apotheosis Comics & Lounge 3206 South Grand Boulevard, 314-802-7090 Runner up: Fantasy Shop

The Darkness

1525 South Eighth Street, thedarkness.com Runner up: CreepyWorld

1400 South Old Highway 141, Fenton; creepyworld.com

BEST HIP-HOP CLUB

The Ready Room 4195 Manchester Avenue, 314-833-3929 Runner up: Pop’s Nightclub

1403 Mississippi Avenue, Sauget, Illinois; 618-274-6720

Multiple locations including 7329 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-644-3070

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Matt Basler is St. Louis’ smoothest musician. | CHRIS WARD

BEST JAZZ CLUB

BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups 700 South Broadway, 314-436-5222 Runner up: Jazz St. Louis

3536 Washington Avenue, 314-571-6000

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

The Pageant

6161 Delmar Boulevard, 314-726-6161 Runner up: Off Broadway

3509 Lemp Avenue, offbroadwaystl.com

BEST MOVIE THEATER

Moolah Theatre & Lounge 3821 Lindell Boulevard, 314-446-6806

Runner up: The Hi-Pointe Theatre

1005 McCausland Avenue, 314-995-6273

BEST MUSEUM

City Museum 750 North 16th Street, 314-231-2489

Runner up: Saint Louis Art Museum

BEST ROCK CLUB

Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-4444 Runner up: Old Rock House

1200 South Seventh Street, 314-588-0505

BEST THEATRICAL ENSEMBLE

The Muny muny.org

Runner up: Shakespeare Festival

St. Louis sfstl.com

FFF

Food & Drink FFF

BEST BAR

Broadway Oyster Bar 736 South Broadway, 314-621-8811

1 Fine Arts Drive, 314-721-0072

Runner up: Tamm Avenue Bar

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

1227 Tamm Avenue, 314-261-4902

Festival of Nations festivalofnationsstl.org

Runner up: Riverfront Times

Music Showcase

BEST BARBECUE

Salt + Smoke

6525 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-0200

rftshowcase.com

Runner up: BEAST Craft BBQ Co.

BEST LOCAL ARTIST

Multiple locations, 314-944-6003

Don Bailey

Runner up: Tonina Saputo

BEST BARTENDERS

Duke’s

2001 Menard Street, 314-833-6686

Runner up: Planter’s House

1000 Mississippi Avenue, 314-696-2603

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BEST BRUNCH

The Shack Multiple locations, including 13645 Big Bend Road Suite 105, 636-529-1600 Runner up: Rooster

3150 South Grand Boulevard, 314-772-3447

BEST BURGER

Mac’s Local Eats 1821 Cherokee Street, 314-479-8155

Runner up: Hi-Pointe Drive-In

1033 McCausland Avenue, 314-349-2720

BEST CHICKEN WINGS

Kimchi Guys

612 North Second Street, 314-766-4456 Runner up: Syberg’s

Multiple locations including 2211 Market Street, 314-231-2430

BEST CHINESE

Wonton King 8116 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-567-9997 Runner up: Lona’s Lil Eats

2199 California Avenue, 314-925-1888

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

Anyone who has explored the ingenious weirdness of City Museum knows it is a St. Louis treasure. | RYAN GINES

The Mud House 2101 Cherokee Street, 314-776-6599 Runner up: Sump Coffee

3700 South Jefferson Avenue, 917-412-5670

BEST DESSERTS

Cyrano’s Cafe 603 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-963-3232

Runner up: Baileys’ Chocolate Bar

1915 Park Avenue, 314-241-8100

BEST CHEF

Katie Collier, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

3515 South Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-354-8338

887 Kingsland Avenue, University City; 314-863-1880 2801 Cherokee Street, 314-776-4223

Runner up: Chris Bertke, Utah Station

8501 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-567-6850

BEST FROZEN PIZZA

BEST ITALIAN

Dogtown Pizza

1904 South Vandeventer Avenue, 314-776-9975

BEST FAST FOOD

Byrd & Barrel 3422 South Jefferson Avenue, 314-875-9998 Runner up: Shake Shack

60 North Euclid Avenue, 314-627-5518

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Balkan Treat Box balkantreatbox.com

Runner up: Seoul Taco

6730 Page Avenue, Pagedale; 314-328-3421

BEST FROZEN TREAT

BEST MARGARITA

BEST PIZZA (ST. LOUIS STYLE)

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Multiple locations including 6726 Chippewa Street, 314-481-2652 Runner up: Clementine’s Naughty

& Nice Creamery

Multiple locations including 1637 South Eighteenth Street, 314-858-6100

BEST GAY BAR

Just John Club Runner up: Rehab Bar And Grill

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

4054 Chouteau Avenue, 314-652-3700

Runner up: Byrd & Barrel

3422 South Jefferson Avenue, 314-875-9998

BEST GREEK

Olympia Kebob House and Taverna 1543 McCausland Avenue, 314-781-1299

Runner up: Michael’s bar & Grill

7101 Manchester Avenue, 314-644-2240

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Balkan Treat Box

3600 Watson Road, 314-352-7706

Runner up: Lena’s

seoultaco.com/food-truck

2100 Gravois Avenue, 314-776-7292

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

lenaspizzastl.com

dogtownpizza.com

Runner up: Trattoria Marcella

El Burro Loco 313 North Euclid Avenue, 314-224-5371

Runner up: Mission Taco Joint

Multiple locations including 398 North Euclid Avenue, 314-930-2955

BEST MARTINI

Drunken Fish Multiple locations including 1 Maryland Plaza, 314-367-4222

Runner up: The Fountain On Locust

3037 Locust Street, 314-535-7800

4112 Manchester Avenue, 314-371-1333

Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar

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Anthonino’s Taverna

Runner up: La Vallesana

8103 Big Bend Boulevard, Webster Groves; 314-733-5700

Donut Drive-In Runner up: World’s Fair Donuts

Runner up: House of India

Mi Ranchito

2225 Macklind Avenue, 314-773-4455

BEST DOUGHNUTS

6525 Chippewa Street, 314-645-7714

Himalayan Yeti

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BEST MEAT MARKET

Kenrick’s Meats & Catering 4324 Weber Road, 314-631-2440

Runner up: Bolyard’s Meat

& Provisions

2810 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-647-2567

Runner up: Crawling Crab

Dogtown Pizza dogtownpizza.com Runner up: Joanie’s Pizzeria

2101 Menard Street, 314-865-1994

BEST PIZZA (NON-ST. LOUIS STYLE)

Felix’s Pizza Pub 6401 Clayton Avenue, 314-645-6565 Runner up: Pizza Head

3196 South Grand Boulevard, 314-266-5400

BEST PLACE FOR DAY DRINKING

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air 1530 East Fourth Street, Alton, Illinois; 618-462-5532 Runner up: Blueberry Hill

6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-4444

Lulu’s Local Eatery is a vegetarian spot that everyone can love. | JENNIFER SILVERBERG

BEST NEW BAR

Up-Down

405 North Euclid Avenue, 314-449-1742 Runner up: OAKED

1031 Lynch Street, 314-305-7517

BEST PLACE TO DINE ALONE

Tucker’s Place

2117 South Twelfth Street, 314-772-5977 Runner up: Shake Shack

60 North Euclid Avenue, 314-627-5518

BEST RESTAURANT FOR VEGETARIANS

Lulu’s Local Eatery 3201 South Grand Boulevard, 314-300-8215 Runner up: Frida’s

622 North and South Road, University City; 314-727-6500

BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE

Sidney Street Cafe 2000 Sidney Street, 314-771-577

Runner up: Anthonino’s Taverna

BEST ST. LOUIS SANDWICH

Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

Multiple locations including 3722 Laclede Avenue, 314-802-7410 Runner up: The Gramophone

4243 Manchester Avenue, 314-531-5700

BEST STEAKS

Tucker’s Place 2117 South 12th Street, 314-772-5977 Runner up: Twisted Tree

Steakhouse

10701 Watson Road, 314-394-3366

BEST WINE LIST

Sasha’s on Shaw 4069 Shaw Boulevard, 314-771-7274 Runner up: OAKED

1031 Lynch Street, 314-305-7517

BEST TACO

Mission Taco Joint

2225 Macklind Avenue, 314-773-4455

Multiple locations including 398 North Euclid Avenue, 314-930-2955

BEST RESTAURANT TO DIE IN 2019

4940 Southwest Avenue, 314-899-0061

Reeds American Table Runner up: 50/Fifty Kitchen

Runner up: Taco Circus

BEST THAI

Pearl CafE 8416 North Lindbergh Boulevard, 314-831-3701

Runner up: Basil Spice Thai Cuisine

3183 South Grand Boulevard, 314-578-9541

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BEST SEAFOOD

Broadway Oyster Bar 736 South Broadway, 314-621-8811 Runner up: Peacemaker

Lobster & Crab

1831 Sidney Street, 314-772-8858

BEST SUSHI/POKE

Drunken Fish Multiple locations including 1 Maryland Plaza, 314-367-4222 Runner up: BLK MKT Eats

9 South Vandeventer Avenue, 314-391-5100

BEST-KEPT SECRET

Party Bear Pizza and Tiny Chef 4701 Morganford Road, 314-832-9223 Runner up: Wood Shack

1862 South Tenth Street, 314-833-4770

FFF

Goods & FFF

BEST BIKE SHOP

Big Shark Bicycle Company

You will never be too old to celebrate your birthday with animal snuggles at the Gentle Barn. | DANNY WICENTOWSKI

Multiple locations including 1155 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-862-1188 Runner up: South Side Cyclery

6969 Gravois Avenue, 314-481-1120

BEST CAR REPAIR

Froesel Tire 9273 Manchester Road, Rock Hill; 314-962-2422 Runner up: Combs Auto Service

& Tire Center

10520 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood; 314-821-6100

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

Urban Matter

3179 South Grand Boulevard, 314-456-6941

Runner up: Paperdolls Boutique

Multiple locations including 12095 Manchester Road, Des Peres; 314-858-9355

BEST ANTIQUE MALL

The Green Shag Market 5733 Manchester Avenue, 314-646-8687 Runner up: Treasure Aisles

Antique Mall

2317 South Big Bend Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-647-6875

BEST ANTIQUE STORE

Emporium St. Louis 9410 Manchester Road, Rock Hill; 314-962-7300

Runner up: The Green Shag Market

5733 Manchester Avenue, 314-646-8687

BEST GROCERY

ALDI

BEST GARDEN CENTER

Flowers & Weeds 3201 Cherokee Street, 314-776-2887

Runner up: Bayer’s Garden Shop

3401 Hampton Avenue, 314-781-2314

BEST GIFT SHOP

STL Style House 3159 Cherokee Street, 314-898-0001

Runner up: Garden Gate Shop

4344 Shaw Boulevard, 314-577-5137

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Multiple locations including 3865 Gravois Avenue, 855-955-2534 Runner up: Trader Joe’s

Multiple locations including 48 Brentwood Promenade Court, Brentwood; 314-963-0253

BEST HAIR SALON

ChopShop

4139 Manchester Avenue, 314-629-3733 Runner up: V Vegaz

6174 Delmar Boulevard, 314-725-7900

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BEST HARDWARE STORE

BEST SMOKE SHOP

3130 Gravois Avenue, 314-357-1392

Multiple locations including 8506 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-736-4121

Refab

Runner up: Kirkwood Hardware

139 West Jefferson Avenue, 314-821-0164

Mr. Nice Guy

Runner up: Jon’s Pipe Shop

42 North Central Avenue, Clayton; 314-721-1480

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Paramount Jewelers

7348 Manchester Avenue, Maplewood; 314-645-1122 Runner up: The Silver Lady

Multiple locations including 4736 McPherson Avenue, 314-367-7587

BEST PLACE TO SPEND $10

Apotheosis Comics & Lounge

BEST THRIFT SHOP

Habitat for Humanity ReStore 3830 South Grand Boulevard, 314-531-4155 Runner up: Found by the Pound

3232 South Grand Boulevard, 314-833-3252

FFF

People &

3206 South Grand Boulevard, 314-802-7090

Runner up: Civil Life Brewing Co.

3714 Holt Avenue, thecivillife.com

BEST SEX SHOP

Patricia’s

FFF

BEST LAWYER

Multiple locations including 10210 Page Avenue, Overland; 314-423-8422

Brown and Crouppen Law Firm

9802 Natural Bridge Road, Berkeley; 314-428-5069

Runner up: Travis Noble

Runner up: Hustler Hollywood

brownandcrouppen.com travisnoble.com

Cold beer, good food and plenty of space — including a solid patio — make Fast Eddie’s Bon Air the perfect spot for day drinking. | AIMEE KNIGHT

BEST DOG PARK

Benton Park Dog Park 3300 Nebraska Avenue, 314-881-8048 Runner up: The DogHaus

1800 South Tenth Street, 314-809-1817

BEST PINBALL

The Silver Ballroom 4701 Morganford Road, 314-832-9223

Wednesday October 2 9:30PM

Runner up: Up-Down

Sean Canan’s Voodoo Players

405 North Euclid Avenue, 314-449-1742

Tribute To Van Morrison

BEST PUBLIC PARK

Forest Park

5595 Grand Drive, forestparkforever.org

Runner up: Tower Grove Park

4257 Northeast Drive, towergrovepark.org

BEST PUBLIC POOL

Kirkwood Community Center 111 South Geyer Road, Kirkwood; 314-822-5855 Runner up: The Cheshire

6300 Clayton Road, 314-647-7300

BEST RUNNING TRAIL

Forest Park

5595 Grand Drive, forestparkforever.org Runner up: Grant’s Trail

bikegrantstrail.com

Friday October 4 10PM

Shamar Allen and the Underdawgs

Apotheosis Comics & Lounge, as the name implies, has everything you need. | DANIEL HILL

BEST YOGA STUDIO

Urban Breath Yoga Multiple locations including 4237 Manchester Avenue, 314-421-9642 Runner up: Cherokee Yoga

3333 Iowa Avenue, cherokeeyogastl.com

BEST GYM

YMCA

Multiple locations including 3150 Sublette Avenue, 314-644-3100 Runner up: Club Fitness

Multiple locations including 6554 Manchester Avenue, 314-732-0529

BEST MINI GOLF

Swing-A-Round Fun Town Multiple locations including 335 Skinker Lane, Fenton; 636-349-7077 Runner up: Concord Bowl

Funk, Brass and Rock from NOLA

Sunday October 6 9PM

Kim Massie

The Blues, Soul and Pop Diva of STL

Wednesday October 9 9:30PM

Sean Canan’s Voodoo Players

& Recreation

11801 Tesson Ferry Road, Sappington; 314-843-9200

Read more about all of St. Louis’ best people, places, art, entertainment, food, drinks, goods, services, sports and recreation every week at

RIVERFRONTTIMES.COM riverfronttimes.com

Tribute To The Beatles and John Lennon’s Birthday

Thursday October 10 9PM

Al Holliday and the East Side Rhythm Band

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SAVAGE LOVE BAD GUYS BY DAN SAVAGE Hey, Dan: I met a guy right around the time my boyfriend dumped me. I met him on a dating site, but he was really only interested in my boobs and me giving him head. I really like having him in my life and he’s very attractive, but he won’t do anything with me other than let me give him head while he watches porn. I’m very insecure, so I feel like part of the reason this has been going on for so long is because I’ve never had someone so attractive be into me. He asked me to sign a “contract” that requires me to drop everything and send him pictures whenever he asks. I’m not allowed to have a boyfriend, but he can have as many girls as he likes. I do a lot of stuff for him, and he doesn’t do a single thing for me. I should have said no, but I was feeling very shitty about myself and thought I had nothing to lose. Currently he lives a two-hour bus ride away and he won’t pick me up. He’s also only available on weekdays. He keeps telling me to come out to see him, but I can’t justify a two-hour bus ride with nothing in it for me. I almost cut him out completely after an older co-worker touched my butt — I confided in this guy, and he told me it would be hot if I showed my co-worker a photo of my boobs. That he would say something like that makes my blood boil, yet I still haven’t cut him off. Maybe I’m just overreacting and expecting too much of him, as he’s told me multiple times that he doesn’t like sex and he never wants to see my lower half. Don’t Understand My Behavior Stop seeing this guy — or stop servicing this asshole, I should say. This piece of shit swooped in when you were obviously feeling vulnerable (right after your boyfriend dumped you), and he’s been leveraging his good looks against you ever since. And it’s not just head he’s after, DUMB. He gets off on seeing you debase and degrade yourself — he wants to watch as you feed your self-esteem into a shredder — maybe because it affirms how attracti e he is or may-

be because he’s just that sadistic an asshole. And while you may think you have nothing to lose, this asshole clearly sees what you have to lose: your self-esteem, which he is disassembling bit by bit. I know people with similar blow-and-go arrangements; they provide what’s called “no recip” oral to selfish and sometimes sadistic tops. But they do it for the right reason — they do it because it turns them on. If being this guy’s on-call cocksucker turned you on and got you off, DUMB, if this was a thrilling adventure for you and a break from your regular routine, a brief/erotic escape from the person you knew yourself to be (sexy, attractive, valued, etc.), this could be a healthy and playful release. The guys I know who do this — and they’re all guys — don’t have any illusions about the men they’re servicing catching feelings for them. And most importantly, they get off on it. It turns them on to be treated this way, to play this role, to have this kind of cocksucker-on-call arrangement with someone who plays the role of the selfish, domineering top. But this doesn’t turn you on, DUMB, it makes you feel terrible about yourself. And I can tell you where this is headed: This guy’s assholery is going to escalate over time. Cut this guy off now. Hey, Dan: I’m a 26-year-old woman in a two-year relationship with a 32-year-old man. I love him and we live together. He recently revealed that he thinks the word “vagina” is disgusting. He likes the word “pussy,” but “vagina” turns him off and he hates when he hears the word. I think this is ridiculous, immature and, honestly, a bit insulting. I am proud of my vagina — I love it, and I love what we do with it together. I don’t have a hang-up with names for parts. He assures me he loves my pussy, but vagina is a word that grosses him out. Am I crazy to be a bit upset about this terminology conflict? Vaginas Always Love Useful Erections “First of all, VALUE is correct,” said Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB/GYN and author. “There is nothing disgusting about the word ‘vagina.’ However, to many people, the word ‘vagina’ has this connection because telling people that vaginas are dirty

If being this guy’s on-call cocksucker turned you on and got you off, if this was a brief/erotic escape from the person you knew yourself to be (sexy, attractive, valued, etc.), this could be a healthy and playful release. or gross or disgusting is a core tenet of the patriarchy. Vulva and clitoris have sadly been along for this societal shame-driven ride. I can see how a heterosexual man might have trouble with the word vagina because he has received that messaging since birth.” But just because we can see how your boyfriend might have developed a problem with the word, VALUE, doesn’t make your boyfriend actually having a problem with the word okay. “There’s an issue when a grown man finds the word agina disgusting,” said Dr. Gunter. “I am curious if her boyfriend’s inability to say ‘vagina’ is a ‘bedroom-only’ phenomenon or an ‘everywhere’ phenomenon. If it’s bedroom-only, maybe she can help him work up to using the word by introducing it more. Exposure therapy! However, if his disgust at the word is an ‘everywhere’ phenomenon, then I can appreciate how that is a sticking point for VALUE. I wrote a whole book, The Vagina Bible, for this very reason. If he read it and appreciated how not saying the word ‘vagina’ has been oppressive for women, maybe it might help? Again, exposure therapy!” Follow Dr. Jen Gunter on Twitter @DrJenGunter. The Vagina Bible is on sale now — and on the New York Times best-seller list! Congrats, Dr. Gunter!

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Hey, Dan: My husband likes to give and receive enemas during sex. I was very inexperienced sexually when we met in our early twenties and very much in love. He introduced me to enemas, and I went along at first and almost enjoyed the novelty. But in time, it started to feel less appealing. After we had kids, there was less opportunity for this sort of thing, and I eventually realized I didn’t like anal play. The enemas began to feel physically and psychologically violating. He introduced anal plugs as an alternative, but I still felt violated and frightened whenever he put one in me. I went to a sex counselor who told me I had the right to say no. My husband began pursuing his anal interests alone. Now we’re both 68. My sexual drive has waned, but his has not. I don’t want to give up on the experience of PIV intercourse, but he doesn’t seem to understand that at this stage of life, sex for me is more about closeness and feeling loved and being held than about intense sexual pleasure. He is disappointed that I am not receptive to his need for anal stimulation. I have told him he is free to find people online who will do this, or if it is so important to him to have a partner who does this, we can separate. He would prefer that I be more accommodating. Absolutely No Anal Love You can and you should continue to say no to any and all sex play — anal or otherwise — that leaves you feeling violated and frightened, ANAL. You can also say “I’d like a divorce” to a man who has proven himself incapable of taking “no” for an answer decade after miserable decade. And while your offer to allow him to find anal playmates online falls under the “perfectly reasonable accommodation” header, ANAL, I’m more concerned with your unmet need for love and tenderness than I am with your husband’s unmet needs. To that end, I think you should go find a tender lo er right after you find yourself a kick-ass divorce lawyer. Check out Dan’s podcast at savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter ITMFA.org

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HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS CRISPY EDGE Located in the heart of Tower Grove South, Crispy Edge is St Louis’ first and only potsticker restaurant. Voted as one of St. Louis’ best new restaurants, Crispy Edge’s menu boasts an impressive list of internationallythemed dumplings seared to perfection. Many of its potstickers, like the savory and sweet ‘Chorizo Date’, are also available as vegan version. The restaurant is elegant, modern, and dark. Purple grow lights accenting a hydroponic living wall create warm mood lighting and an atmosphere worthy of date night. A dog-friendly