Goods & Services

an maze, one guarded by the evasive, orange-aproned Keepers of the Tools, and why must we answer a series of riddles just to secure the products we’ve come to purchase? If you’ve ever found yourself asking that question while traversing the expansive grounds of one of the big-name chains, you need to bring your business to Overland Hardware Co. A cornerstone of the Overland community, this shop harkens back to the days of small-town service and knowledgeable staff in a hardware store — a simpler, more merciful time when compared to the experience in your average Lowe’s or Home Depot. Here, the secrets of the hardware store game have been passed down to employees for decades — family secrets, even, being that the shop’s current owners are the sons o those who first opened the Overland Hardware Co. all those years ago. In short, they have what you need, and they are ready to answer your questions. Just don’t ask them why people waste so much time and money at the chain stores — no one in their right mind has a good answer for that. DANIEL HILL

BEST SMOKE SHOP Emporium Smoke Shop

6254 Delmar Boulevard, 314-721-6277 With the legalization of medicinal marijuana in the state of Missouri a done deal, the wink-wink, nudge-nudge days of raising an eyebrow at a head shop employee and telling him you want, um, a “water pipe“ for your, er, “tobacco” are now solidly in the rearview mirror — but you can bet they haven’t been forgotten by the proprietors of Emporium Smoke Shop. That’s because the Delmar Loop establishment has been in this game for decades now — since 1997 — and with all that time and experience comes a whole lot of institutional knowledge. This is good for new, er, “patients” (we’ll still be using that terminology for the time being) who don’t know a batty from a zeppelin, a dab rig from a dugout, or if it’s really necessary to drop $800 on a bespoke handblown glass piece with magic mushroom detailing (it’s assuredly not, but hot damn that Chad G fella has some serious skills). The friendly staff at Emporium will be more than happy to walk you

Kris Kleindiest and Jarek Steele have been perfecting the art of bookselling for decades. | THEO WELLING

through their wares and help to meet your needs, whether you’re dealin with flower or etract or vapes, or even keeping it low-key with CBD. And when you spot an intriguing piece of glassware among the many lining the walls, do feel free to call it a “bong,” but don’t call it a comeback — Emporium has been here for years. DANIEL HILL

BEST ANTIQUE MALL Treasure Aisles Antique Mall

2317 South Big Bend Boulevard; 314-647-6875

If you think about it, it’s kind of weird that we go to antique stores looking for something new to buy. But not all antique stores are filled with ust dusty old books and rusted “decorative” farm equipment from last century. Treasure Aisles Antique Mall has something for everyone, from classic antique furniture to clothing styles from the ’80s that are so retro they’re back in style again. Because it’s an antique mall (and not just a single antique store), the items displayed have been put up for sale by people with all different kinds of taste. The individually styled booths offer a wide range of goods, and some are frequently switched out, meaning that each visit to Treasure Aisles could reveal a new previously hidden treasure. JAIME LEES

BEST THRIFT SHOP Found By The Pound

3232 South Grand Boulevard, 314-833-3252 and 6740 Romiss Court, Berkeley; 314-524-5493

This thrift shop outlet lets you buy your clothes for $3 per pound at its north St. Louis County location, called The Factory. Its South Grand location, The Boutique, offers clothes sold by the piece. Found By The Pound’s two locations embrace “the different aspects of resale and encourage you to explore both!” The clothes come in quantities of hundreds of pounds and hit the shelves for St. Louisans. The clothes are meant to match the “hip, funky, bohemian vibe of South St. Louis City.” The company also recycles any clothing that is not used for retail. MATT WOODS

BEST WEED DOCTOR Dr. Pratistha Strong, Kathmandu Clinic

10807 Big Bend Road Suite 1, Kirkwood; 918-814-3996

Sure, there are ways to get your hands on a medical marijuana card without the doctors oce experience. There is, in fact, something of a cottage industry around the practice. Consider the case of the Brentwood-based Health City MD and its so-called “CannaBus,” a van that traveled the state throughout the summer of 2019 making stops at head shops and the like for the express purpose of providin physicians certifications en masse to long lines of would-be patients. But that rather slapdash approach can feel shady as hell — consider the fact that the CannaBus came under investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol last fall for allegedly selling weed illegally. For those legitimate patients with medical

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Coee, tea and thee at Maypop Coee & Garden Shop. | CHERYL BAEHR

conditions for which marijuana can be helpful — especially those with little prior experience with weed an actual oce visit can ease some stress and answer some important questions. Enter Dr. Pratistha Strong of the Kathmandu Clinic. Dr. Strong is a fully licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine who conducts medical exams and consultations out of an actual brick-and-mortar office. orn in epal, r. tron incorporates elements of eastern and western medicine for a holistic approach that, when appropriate, ust so happens to include the use of marijuana. hes nowledeable and ind, and doesnt even try to sell you weed out o a van in act, shes happy to put you in touch with resources so you can grow your own. DANIEL HILL

BEST GARDEN CENTER Maypop Coffee & Garden Shop

803 Marshall Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-764-2140

ew thins have the minduietin satisaction o ardenin, or even tendin to a ew potted plants. We’re mentioning that for no specific reason, because these are completely normal times and it is in no way overwhelmin to have a narcissistic maniac running our country during a plaue. nyway, should you eel the need to direct your thoughts toward something relaxing and ood, aypop oee arden Shop is a wonderful resource. Set in a repurposed old house with the greenhouse around bac, aypop oers a pleasant escape. One window at the front porch is set up for your coffee order, while another on the side is the picup window, which helps avoid any customer ridlock. The shop offers curbside service or its wide variety o lovely plants, and you can even sign up for a monthly subscription service. he idea o havin a new plant to loo orward to every month seems appealing. You can also watch instructional videos, streamed throuh aypops Facebook page. That’s probably a better use of your time than the doom scrolling you had planned. DOYLE MURPHY

BEST HAIR SALON Naturally Pure Salon

564 South Gray Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-963-7101 What do you do about all of the aniety, ear and weiht ain brought on by the pandemic? You stay as pretty as you can and suck it up — that’s all you really can do in these terrible times. And if youre desperate to visit a proessional who can fi that traic mess that youve been tryin to inore on your head, aturally ure alon in ebster roves provides not ust hihend haircuts and color, but theyre also super strict about saety. heyve one out o their way to provide a socially distanced environment or their clients, includin rear-

ranging their workspace, spreading out their stations, providing masks, wearing face shields and requesting that customers stay outside in their cars until they’re called inside for their appointment. Customers appreciate both this regimented approach to their safety and the results in the mirror. JAIME LEES

BEST GIFT SHOP St. Louis CITY SC Online Shop

stlcitysc.com

People in St. Louis have been hyped for years about the possibility of getting a professional soccer team, and now our time has finally arrived. ith the landing of St. Louis CITY SC, all of our soccer dreams have come true and we’re all ready to show our pride. The St. Louis CITY SC online shop is already up and poppin’, ready to sell you a stack of merchandise that you can wear proudly, knowing that you were representin even beore the first game. The shop offers branded Tshirts, decals, banners, magnets, keychains, can coolers and more. You can even get the all-important soccer scarf here. So if you’re looking for a place to buy presents for your loved ones this year but you’re not interested in visiting a mall, one of the best places to visit virtually is the St. Louis CITY SC online shop. You can have your gifts delivered and also support St. Louis sports. That’s a win-win. JAIME LEES

BEST PLACE TO SPEND $10

Tipping Your

Delivery Driver eve all allen into the trap o buying impulse items in checkout lanes. Buying gum, chapstick, batteries or a candy bar are the little ways that we treat ourselves while we’re out in the world. But now that we’re having more items delivered than ever, the best way to spend a few extra bucks is to use it to add to the tip for your delivery driver. Not only are they bringing exactly what you want directly to your door, they’re keeping you safe from a deadly pandemic. They are out there risking virus

exposure from the public every day so that you don’t have to do it yourself. They deserve so much more than they get paid per hour. So if you have an extra $10 that you would’ve just spent on a lighter and some junk food at the gas station during normal times, make sure to slip it to your next delivery driver. They’ve earned it. JAIME LEES

BEST BIKE SHOP Maplewood Bicycle

7534 Manchester Road, 314-781-9566

A pandemic trend that we hope lasts is a renewed enthusiasm for biking. In the early days of the lockdown, when a shift to working from home left the streets particularly quiet, one of the most reliable stress relievers we had was pedaling along blissfully clear pavement. Bicycle sales doubled nationwide in those early days, and a combination of demand and kinks in the international supply chain caused shortages. That’s been a pain, but a run on bikes sounds like a good problem for those in favor of a healthier, cleaner world. And that brings us to local bike shops. Greater St. Louis is loaded with excellent choices, whether you’re a competitive racer or a weekend warrior pulling a child trailer around the park. Maplewood Bicycle has been one of the standouts for nearly half a decade. heyve ot topfliht mechanics, helpful service people and a strong selection. They also support tons of charitable cycling events around the metro area. The logistics of running any retail shop during the era of COVID-19 is tricky, but Maplewood has shifted as smoothly as possible to curbside options and over-the-phone consultations, which is still a great option even as they have cautiously reopened their showroom with limits on the number of people allowed inside. The pandemic will eventually end, and a lot of the workfrom-home set will be headed bac to the oce. ut well hopefully remember how wonderful it felt to cruise those quiet streets and carry it forward into a better time. Maplewood Bicycle will be there, running the support team. DOYLE MURPHY

Sports & Recreation

Oh, the viciousness of 2020 to St. Louis sports fans — reduced to cardboard cutouts of themselves in Busch Stadium or peering in from outside of the NHL bubble to catch a few Blues games.

The idea of a football or baseball cane Katrina is just one example game as the uniting salve for di- of the dumbness of the sports-assaster has always been a cliché of healer theme. But it’s also true overwrought sportswriting. The that drinin a couple o beers in myth that George W. Bush throw- the crowd of a Cards game sounds in out the first pitch at a anees pretty good. And watching the game following 9/11 redeems the thoroughly enjoyable progression lies about weapons of mass de- o the attleaws rom messae struction or the blundering that board legends to a real-life excitscrewed thousands after Hurri- ing football team only dissolve in early coronavirus casualties was pretty crappy.

There are plenty of reasons to mourn the sports seasons, but there has never been a better time for the head-clearing run. We’ve du orotten bies out o storae and tuned them up with the help of a constellation of great local shops, and St. Louis’ world-class pars have become our savior. ere looin orward to finding a spot in the bleachers again, but an aternoon in orest ar is more than a consolation prize. DOYLE MURPHY

BEST PLACE TO RIDE YOUR BIKE Great Rivers Greenway

6174 Delmar Boulevard; 314-436-7009

Since it’s never a bad time to get out of the house and get some exercise, the Great Rivers Greenway is always available to offer the impressive array of parks and trails that snake around the metro area. And since keeping healthy and escaping the house has become a priority during the pandemic, it’s nice that this network of (mostly) paved paths connects not just neighborhoods but entirely different landscapes, from city to river to plains to creeks to parks and back again. Great Rivers Greenway spans 128 miles of path on which to stretch your legs and roll with the breeze on your face. But you won’t just be out there in the wild all on your own. They’ve also set up benches, bike racks and water fountains along the way so you can rest, repair and enjoy. JAIME LEES

BEST PLACE TO START EXPLORING MISSOURI Katy Trail

With international and even regional travel suddenly stopped, many people have been keeping themselves busy by exploring closer to home. The Katy Trail is one of the best places in Missouri to explore, and a trip down the trail can show you much of the state. As the longest recreational rail trail in the country, the Katy Trail runs for 240 miles across the state, from the St. Louis area all the way past Jefferson City to linton. ith a hard, flat surface made of crushed limestone, the path is enjoyed by both runners and cyclists as they curve through the countryside and enjoy the sights. Beginning at mile marker 27 on the Missouri River, most of the trail runs alongside the water which provides gorgeous views and lots of opportunities to glimpse some of our state’s wildlife. JAIME LEES

BEST PLACE TO HAVE A PICNIC Picnic Island in Forest Park This spot in the center of Forest Park is the perfect place to lay down a blanket and have a Sunday afternoon picnic, as the name suggests. There are two bridges that connect the island to the rest of the park, separating it from other spots like Art Hill, which is just to the south. The suspension bridge makes a great spot for a post-picnic photoshoot for all you Instagrammers out there. There are no picnic tables, so a blanket might be a good idea. And just like everything else in 2020, don’t forget to socially distance from other visitors while you chow down on a ham and cheese sandwich. MATT WOODS

BEST NEW SPORTS TEAM (ALIVE) St. Louis CITY SC

We love St. Louis CITY SC. We think. We haven’t really met them yet, and their 22,500-capacity soccer stadium is at the moment a very large pit in the ground in the Downtown West neighborhood. But we’re still pretty sure we’re going to hit off. The Cards and Blues are great, and we missed going to games this season. (No, we didn’t buy one of the cardboard cutout proxies to sit in Busch Stadium.) But St. Louis is a big soccer town, and now that the owners of our new MLS team have reworked the original plan to stick us with a huge chunk of the stadium costs, we’re ready for the honeymoon to begin. Here’s to opening day 2023. DOYLE MURPHY

BEST NEW SPORTS TEAM (DEAD) The BattleHawks

Truly, the cruelest thing about the XFL going belly-up at the start of the COVID-19 crisis is the fact that St. Louis fans never got to see their beloved BattleHawks go up against their most hated rivals, the detestable Tampa Bay Vipers. Much ado had been made about the Vipers and their contemptible fans, particularly when it comes to their bathroom habits (as any real BattleHawks fan will tell you, Vipers fans famously poop standing up and wipe sidetoside. he very first matchup between the storied enemies was slated for March 14 (314 Day, even — we frankly were a lock to win), but the coronavirus pandemic upended those plans and led to the suspension of the season just two days before the big day. A month later the XFL shut down operations entirely, putting the future of all the teams on the roster in serious doubt. There’s recent reason for hope, though: In August, a group