Riverfront Times November 14, 2018 by Riverfront Times

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“ What we hear on commercial radio is the tip of the iceberg; there’s so much more. When they came out with CDs, I thought, ‘Oh, the majors are gonna control it.’ But now anybody can go buy a digital recorder four-track and put out their own CD for less than $500. So there’s so much more out there. The best stuff is when you go digging.”

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NEWS

For Senator, With Defeat Comes Freedom Written by

DANNY WICENTOWSKI

n Tuesday, November 6, Debbie Grayson made the three-and-a-half-hour drive to St. Louis, entered the Marriott Hotel downtown and took an escalator to a cavernous ballroom that was empty but for a gaggle of bored reporters and inert TV cameras. Grayson pulled up a chair next to a projector casting CNN on a wall. The seat would give her a view of the stage from which U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) would, later that night, concede defeat. But Grayson doesn’t know that yet. It’s just past 7 p.m., and the polls have only now closed. She sits with her legs crossed, watching the pundits fill time between commercials. “I wanted to participate in Claire’s victory,” Grayson says, explaining her eagerness to stake out her spot. “This is too nerve-racking to sit at home and watch alone, so I came for some comfort.” It hasn’t been easy being a McCaskill supporter in Missouri. Grayson started volunteering with the campaign in the summer, making calls and knocking on doors. Her hometown, Springfield, is heavily conservative (60 percent of Greene County went to Donald Trump in 2016), and so it’s no surprise that many of those doors slammed in her face. But with returns just starting to come in, the race between McCaskill and her opponent, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, still feels full of possibility. Maybe McCaskill will be the crest of the blue wave that retakes the U.S. Senate. Maybe her victory will prove that Missouri is still purple, deep down, and that its residents aren’t as blindly sup-

“Believe it or not, I really had to be kind of careful,” Claire McCaskill told supporters. “Not anymore.” | DANNY WICENTOWSKI portive of Trump’s culture war as Hawley’s campaign clearly believes. Maybe, just maybe, there’s still room in American politics for someone like McCaskill. To be clear, McCaskill is not Hawley’s dogmatic opposite, a true liberal to his Fox News conservative. In fact, it’s her unflappable centrism — and insistence on courting the middle ground in the state — that has long made her a unique Democrat, one who has generally voted with her party on key issues like reproductive rights and health care, but has also nabbed the endorsement of the National Border Patrol Council and framed her campaign in ways that, at times, makes her sound more like a transitional conservative than a progressive. That hasn’t always endeared McCaskill to her own party. For campaign workers like Grayson, questions about why McCaskill took so long to oppose the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh came up again and again while canvassing. Some of the doors slammed in Grayson’s face, she says, belonged to Democrats. But Grayson believes it’s McCaskill’s independence, even in the face of progressive ire, that makes her so suitable for Missouri. To illustrate, Grayson holds her

hands apart, at arm’s length. “You can’t get anywhere when you’re like this,” she says. She returns her hands to her lap. “Both sides have to come together.” As the night drags on, the vast ballroom begins to fill with McCaskill T-shirts and the telltale nervous energy of election night. Just after 8 p.m., CNN calls West Virginia for Senator Joe Manchin — himself a centrist Democrat — which sends the crowd into happy applause. “Holy shit!” one attendee exclaims, looking at the blue map of West Virginia like a plant that has suddenly sprouted a human head. And indeed, retaining the seat in West Virginia is a Holy Shit moment for Democrats. But so far, the numbers in Missouri aren’t good. Early returns show Hawley in a commanding lead. The pattern settles in over the night: Moments of other victories in other places projected onto the ballroom wall, a few seconds of clapping, and then a quick return to anxious wariness as attendees refresh their browsers again and again. By 8:45 p.m., people are starting to gather around the front of the ballroom, sitting cross-legged on the carpet near the projector. Still in her chair, Grayson hasn’t moved once, except to cross her

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legs and occasionally frown. In a different part of the ballroom, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson is projecting optimism, saying that she feels good about McCaskill’s chances. But when asked whether this race will reveal something about Missouri, she counters that this election is far bigger than just the state. “We can think about it saying something about Missouri, or we can think about it saying something about our country,” she says. “Is civility going to reign over hate? How are we going to deal with one another? We all have differences of opinion. But we need to be able to come together to work for the best of our country, our state and our city.” What she doesn’t mention is that the Trump presidency is bigger than anything in this election. So great is the influence of the MAGA crowd that Hawley, an Ivy League-educated lawyer, completely discarded the veneer of a traditional conservative to embrace the immigration fears and nationalism that feeds Trump’s base. And it’s working. After 10 p.m., with 75 percent of precincts reporting, Hawley is leading McCaskill by a near landslide, 54 to 42 percent. Grayson, still in her chair, shakes her head

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CLAIRE MCCASKILL Continued from pg 9

and clutches her hands. Forty minutes later, with the front of the ballroom packed with supporters, someone turns off CNN and replaces it with one of McCaskill’s own campaign ads. Over scenes of Missouri farmland, her voice carries over the ballroom’s PA system: “I won’t apologize for being a Democrat. I tell the truth about where I stand.” A side door opens, and in walks McCaskill herself. She’s about to give her supporters the hard truth. She’s lost. One supporter, a blonde whose shirt is covered in campaign buttons, shouts from the front row, “We love you, Claire!” McCaskill takes the mic and quiets the crowd. She opens with the bright side — the Democrats took the U.S. House and flipped multiple governorships, including those of Kansas and Illinois. That gets some applause. “Obviously,” McCaskill continues, “we fell short.” Over the soft rumble of groans, she tells her supporters not to give up their passion or activism, “because there is justice around the corner.” But as McCaskill addresses her own legacy in light of the campaign loss, the speech becomes a curious sort of swan song. She’s wistful about her state, she says, even if it sometimes drives her crazy. She’s been a public official since 1982, moving from state representative to auditor to the U.S. Senate. “We’ve had a lot of elections together, Missouri and me,” she says, smiling. “My record ends at 22-2. Not a bad record.” The supporter in the front

Cort VanOstran also lost his race. Supporter Katherine Greenstein was “wrecked.” | TOM HELLAUER row can’t restrain herself, and she bursts forth again, shouting, “CLAIRE! CLAIRE! INTEGRITY! INTEGRITY! NOBODY TALKS INTEGRITY!” She’s quickly shushed. Now McCaskill starts wrapping up, approaching the last moments of a campaign that, for all the gains of the Democrats, has only added to the evidence that America’s divisions go beyond the old model of left and right, and surely beyond centrist Democrats’ old consolation of the Big Tent. In other states, perhaps, the tent is big enough. While the purists may grouse that McCaskill’s quasi-conservative branding turned off progressives in Missouri, the fact that the national party flipped two dozen House seats in otherwise red districts shows that centrism is not dead, not by a long shot. It’s just not much in evidence in Missouri. McCaskill knows that her attempts to straddle that divide

STREAK’S CORNER • by Bob Stretch

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haven’t always worked. When her campaign aired an ad to reassure voters that she’s not “one of those crazy Democrats,” it raised the hackles of progressives. “I know my mouth gets me in trouble a lot, right?” McCaskill tells the crowd. “But believe it or not, I really had to be kind of careful. Not anymore.” The line receives thunderous applause, though the cheers come with the last reserves by campaign staff and volunteers. Even cheering, the supporters struggle to hold their composure. Their eyes are wet, and groups of visibly exhausted volunteers in campaign T-shirts are sharing embraces and whispering reassurances to those taking it the hardest. “I will be out there fighting with you, I am not going away,” McCaskill says. “I look forward to helping you, helping nurture the next generation of leaders for the values that we care about, and for

now, it is good night. But it is not goodbye.” McCaskill leaves the stage. The crowd churns in its own slow exit, a process slowed by the groups of volunteers still enmeshed in tearful embraces. By the projector, Grayson’s chair is empty. Somewhere, a campaign volunteer waves off a comrade offering of a glass of some unknown liquor, saying, “You know my rule; I don’t drink when I’m sad.” McCaskill’s Senate seat will now be taken by Hawley, who, during his victory speech in Springfield, pledged to secure the border with Mexico and bring back overseas jobs. He is the perfect Republican for this new political age. And what of this new version of McCaskill, the one who no longer needs to be careful? It’s interesting to note that she doesn’t explain the object of that carefulness she mentions in her speech — was she careful about veering too far to the right, so as not to further alienate her base? Or, as Republican operatives suggest, has she been hiding her liberal streak these many years? Which was it? Only McCaskill really knows just yet, but it’s fitting, perhaps, that her final campaign speech ends on the note of ambiguity, her own words indicating multiple possibilities for her next acts: Perhaps as a liberal unleashed and unburdened, free to disrupt a world of one-note Trumpian yes men. Or perhaps her next act is that of fearless truth-teller no longer constrained by her political dependency on either red or blue voters. Perhaps we have not yet met the real Claire McCaskill. Whatever happens, Missouri should keep close watch. We advise you to get a good seat, close to the front if you can. The McCaskill show may only be getting started. n

SWAT Team Insists Hammett Fired First Written by

DANNY WICENTOWSKI

ays after the hail of bullets that ended in Isaiah Hammett’s death in June 2017, all eight members of the SWAT team that killed him told similar stories. According to the internal police investigation after the shooting, the officers stated that their orders — to deliver a search warrant at 21-year-old Hammett’s house — had come with intel that their target was likely paranoid and had been seen carrying an AK-47-style rifle. The officers claimed that they announced themselves as they burst through the front door of the single-story bungalow on the 5400 block of South Kingshighway. And they recounted that upon entering, they were met with a blast of bullets coming from somewhere inside the house. There were “rounds coming through the closed wooden bedroom door towards them,” one officer said. Another recalled that he couldn’t identify the source of the shots “until he saw holes coming out from the wall towards him.” That officer said he returned fire, “shooting into the holes in the wall towards the shots being fired at him.” The interviews with SWAT team members were conducted by detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Force Investigative Unit, or FIU, which is tasked with investigating police shootings. Riverfront Times obtained a version of the FIU’s report on Hammett’s shooting through a Sunshine request. The report does not name the individual SWAT members involved in the shooting. The FIU’s completed report was sent to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office in September. It was only released to this newspaper late Friday after repeated requests. In the report, police investigators interviewed the SWAT officers as well as several witnesses, though none of the bystanders directly saw the gunfight alleged by

Isaiah Hammett (left) with mother, Gina Torres, and friend, Julian Cobb. | COURTESY OF JULIAN COBB the officers. Overall, the material in the report fits with the narrative offered by police in the immediate wake of the June 7, 2017 shooting. At the time, acting police chief Lt. Colonel Lawrence O’Toole told reporters that a “firefight” had broken out inside the home. He theorized that Hammett had been able to plan an ambush thanks to a surveillance camera mounted on the house. But that allegation, at least, is disproven by the report, which notes, “An inspection of the camera system revealed it was no longer functioning.” What is still unclear — and what has fueled protests by Hammett’s family and supporters — is the question of whether Hammett himself knew the men storming into his house were police. Hammett’s mother, Gina Torres, has said that her son was home that day taking care of his grandfather, and reacted to protect him. “They thought someone was trying to break in,” Torres told RFT hours after the shooting. She insisted that her son died believing he was protecting his grandfather from an attack on the home. Hammett’s grandfather, Dennis Torres, told FIU detectives that he’d been in a rear bedroom when he heard shots, “too many to count.” Then his grandson came into the bedroom and told him “someone was breaking into the house.” According to Torres, Hammett lifted him out of bed and put him on the floor. Only after the “firefight” did he see his

grandson’s dead body. What the interview with Torres does not address, however, is whether the older man heard SWAT members identify themselves as police when they bashed down the front door. According to the officers’ interviews with detectives, the officers claimed they yelled “police, search warrant” as they entered. One officer claimed they shouted their introduction “as loud as they all could.” Another officer said he had “started screaming at the top of his lungs.” In the FIU interviews, the officers generally claimed that they’d been warned to give Hammett clear warning. The suspect was believed to be “on edge,” one officer said. One officer told FIU investigators that the SWAT members “always announce their presence but were told to exaggerate it even more than normal because of suspect’s history.” Yet outside of recollections by St. Louis Police officers, the FIU report includes no witnesses who heard the police identify themselves prior to the gunfire. Three neighbors told FIU detectives they heard gunshots, and a nearby business owner said he heard about twenty gunshots before he heard officers shout “police” and order someone out of the home. None of those sources specifically told investigators that they heard the officers screaming, “Police, search warrant.” The report also does not mention whether the SWAT members wore body cameras during the operation. There is no video of the raid

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from dash cams: Although backup officers were on the scene prior to the shooting, no in-car cameras were operating at the time, the report notes. (SWAT vehicles are not equipped with in-car cameras, according to the report.) Even according to the officers’ accounts, the purported warning came just moments before they burst through the door with a battering ram. One officer claimed the SWAT team began shouting their warnings just before they broke through the door, “as the ram was swinging backwards.” Once the door was open, a SWAT member deployed a flash bang “just inside the front door.” The officer who deployed the flash bang told an FIU detective that he then entered the home and made it as far as the living room. Then, “the walls in front of him erupted in gunfire.” In the year following the shooting, Hammett’s family has mounted a public defense of the 21-yearold, hiring an independent forensic expert to evaluate the scene of the shooting. The family attests that the expert found no evidence that Hammett ever returned fire against the officers. The expert has claimed that all bullet damage to the home came from police, not Hammett. However, officers did recover a collection of weapons from the home, most owned by Dennis Torres. The arsenal included several rifles and handguns. According to the report, “several of the firearms were previously reported as stolen.” And while O’Toole suggested Hammett had been a drug dealer, the FIU report doesn’t mention any large cache of drugs. The report states only that officers seized two glass jars containing marijuana, as well as a gallon bag of the stuff, three digital scales and a glass pipe. The report does not tally the number of grams in the jars and baggie. In the FIU report, an officer said he sent the drug samples to the lab for analysis, but that analysis is not among the documents released by the department Friday. The report does note that the AK-47-style rifle recovered next to Hammett’s body had been legally purchased one month prior to the raid at a gun store in Affton. The police SWAT team again raided the home four months after Hammett’s death — with a flashbang device allegedly thrown into a room where his younger siblings were sleeping. The report doesn’t mention the results of that raid or the reason it was conducted. n

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SH LOC MEET FIVE STORES MAKING IT WORK IN THE AGE OF AMAZON. AND THEN GO BUY SOMETHING

he shops are failing! The shops are failing! Across America, retailers are freaking out as the rise of online commerce has led to a wave of store closures. And while the rise of websites like Amazon have made it possible to get any number of products delivered to your door in 48 hours or less, the loss of brick-and-mortar shops has been tough on city dwellers. It’s not just that dollars leave our community for Seattle, or San Francisco. Or that good jobs helping customers have turned into jobs dashing desperately around warehouses or throwing packages onto porches. Even from a strictly selfish point of view, the trend is bad for shoppers. Consider this: In many parts of town, there’s no place where you can pick up a cute gift or a book or a sweater on the day you need it. (Should have thought

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of that 48 hours ago!) No longer can you benefit from the sensation of touching, smelling, weighing the product you’re about to purchase. No longer can you trust what you’re buying. No longer can you browse. But all is not lost. Not even close. The RFT’s Melissa Meinzer recently dug up a study by the Washington-based National Retail Federation, which collects data on Americans’ shopping habits. The organization’s Consumer View polled 3,002 consumers over five days in July 2017, and it found that half of millennial and generation Z consumers reported shopping in stores more than they did the year before. And only 21 percent made more than half their purchases online. It’s not easy to survive in this retail landscape, but those numbers suggest it’s possible — and, indeed, we found no

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shortage of St. Louis shopkeepers who are making it work. From the venerable Left Bank Books, which has staved off any number of challenges since its 1969 founding, to LARK Skin Co., which started online but recently opened a storefront in Webster Groves, some savvy retailers are finding ways not just to survive, but to thrive. In the midst of the doom and gloom of 2018, we’re excited to tell their stories — and we hope you’ll find them as inspirational as our writers did. Maybe reading about them will compel you to open that business. Better yet, maybe it will remind you to shop local this autumn. There are a ton of great stores out there; you just need to remember to get off your phone and show them a little love so it stays that way. —Sarah Fenske

HOP CAL E R E H E OU AR

Below left, a selection of succulents at Maypop. Left, a rack at LAUNCH. Below, Maya Harlan attends to the clothing at LAUNCH. | TOM HELLAUER

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YOU

SHOP LOCAL

Left Bank Books co-owners Jarek Steele and Kris Kleindienst (with Spike, left) aren’t just selling books. They’re also creating community. | THEO WELLING

The Survivors LEFT BANK BOOKS BY SARAH FENSKE

or Kris Kleindienst and Jarek Steele, the married couple who own St. Louis’ landmark Left Bank Books (399 North Euclid Avenue, 314-367-6731), the Great Retail Panic of 2018 has engendered more observation than trepidation. After all, the “Amazon effect” now disrupting clothing stores and groceries is something bookstores have been battling for almost two decades. “When Amazon started, it was looking for something to sell online,” Kleindienst recalls. “And we were the right people to go after. Books are cheap, and they don’t spoil. They picked our industry

and went after it.” Really, it’s not like things were easy for independent book shops even before that. Rom-com fans may remember You’ve Got Mail, the 1998 Nora Ephron movie that explored online romance in the age before Match.com. There, Meg Ryan’s plucky bookseller wasn’t threatened by e-commerce, but rather big chains offering coffee and T-shirts and three floors of stock. Left Bank — founded in 1969 and anchoring the corner of Euclid and McPherson in the Central West End since 1977 — lived through that disruption too, not to mention the fearsome threat that industry watchers were once convinced was posed by the e-book. “The chain bookstore problems rolled right into the online problems,” Steele recalls. “There was no breather,” Kleindienst says. Yet these days, as the pair’s equanimity should indicate, indie bookstores are doing alright... or at least the good ones are. And Left Bank is one of the good ones.

Shop owners like Steele and Kleindienst aren’t getting rich. (“This is not a profession you do to make a lot of money,” Steele hastens to note. “You do it because you love the thing you’re doing.”) But they are staying alive — and now that they boast several decades of survival in the midst of seriously trying times, they know they present something of a path forward for anxious retailers. Their strategy, alas, won’t work for everyone. They’re not selling books the way J. Crew is selling ballet flats and cashmere sweaters or Walmart is selling discounts. Left Bank is selling an experience. It’s selling its staff’s expertise and curatorial abilities. It’s selling community. And while J. Crew could maybe claim all that, it works especially well in Left Bank’s case because its owners do no part of that cynically. Their store is an expression of their values, its selection of items instinctual rather than focus-grouped. For this bookstore, it’s not just

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about the “Black Lives Matter” sign in the window (although there’s long been that) or the fact that Steele is a transman (Kleindienst, too, identifies as queer and had a long history as a lesbian activist before their marriage). Their politics are reflected not only in the obvious nonfiction areas, but also in the children’s book selection and the diverse group of authors they book for events. And while a high-paid bookstore consultant might argue that wearing their politics on their sleeve is bad for business, Steele and Kleindienst have seen enough to know otherwise. They know the people who shop at Left Bank aren’t just buying a book — they’re making a statement. “It’s a tribalism kind of thing,” Steele says. “If you shop here and buy your books here, it says ...” “Who you are,” Kleindienst finishes. Using your Left Bank bookmark at a coffee shop or on the MetroLink is a low-key way to mark that tribal identity; Instagramming it kicks it up a notch. But you can also take things much further — say, by showing up to one of the store’s many, many events. At this point, author visits are such a big part of what the shop does, two full-time staffers run them. Many others help out as needed. Some of the smaller events, with lesser-known authors, don’t contribute much to the bottom line. (The larger ones, held offsite to accommodate hundreds of book lovers, are a different story.) But Kleindienst and Steele are convinced they’re still worth it. It’s not just that readings get the shop’s name out there, or that they establish vital ties to authors who might later star in those offsite money-makers — although both, sure, are part of it. It’s more that, at these events, people can connect ... person to person, not just social-media avatar to social-media avatar. Left Bank has seen customers meet, fall in love and then return to the shop for their engagement photo shoot. They’ve also seen the way a real-life conversation can open eyes and form friendships across lines of race, class and geography. Kleindienst remembers a reading just after Ferguson, a night with a packed house. She recalls a white man standing up, earnestly asking, “What can I actually do to change things?” His neighbor, a young black man, turned to him. “You could

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SHOP LOCAL YOU

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LARK Skin Co. started online, but found that its custom products and consultations benefited from a physical space. | TOM HELLAUER

The E-tailer That Put Down Roots LARK SKIN CO. BY ALLISON BABKA

or many small businesses, the idea of a shop — an actual shop! — in a cute neighborhood has become an unimaginable luxury. Who has money for rent when all the customers are on Etsy? The retail game has become less about a lovely storefront and more about being able to ship quickly ... or game Amazon’s algorithm. Lisa Dolan, however, has turned that idea on its head at LARK Skin

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Co. (8709 Big Bend Boulevard, Webster Groves). And it’s working. What started as an online store, larkskinco.com (and very popular Instagram account, @larkskinco), is now a cozy Webster Groves storefront within a line of small businesses just off I-44. “I had no expectations,” Dolan says with a laugh. “But I feel like the community really embraces us, and a lot of the other businesses have been great too.” LARK focuses on all-natural beauty and wellness products — something that became especially important to Dolan a few years ago when she was pregnant with her son Liam and thinking through everything she put into, and onto, her body. A cosmetologist by trade, Dolan began mixing up her own chemical-free concoctions in her kitchen and offering samples to her clients. When those took off, she launched larkskinco. com. Her beauty balm and body scrubs soon garnered kudos from Teen Vogue. Urban Outfitters will

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begin selling her line this winter. For that, she credits Lark’s social media presence. “We were approached by Urban Outfitters just because of Instagram,” Dolan says. “It’s been great to get our name and products out there like that.” But despite the success of her digital shop, Dolan was convinced that a retail storefront was the next logical move. She was finding plenty of customers at craft fairs and private events, where her best-selling products were LARK’s custom face masks and personal consultations. Dolan tried to recreate those experiences by offering custom products online but found that the necessary backand-forth between LARK experts and customers via email or Skype was a bit too cumbersome. Then it hit her: Why not launch a space where personal interaction and tailored products could take center stage? “There’s nothing else like it in St. Louis. At all of our events, we

were doing the custom face masks for people, and that was by far the biggest seller. I just really saw the need to have that in-person experience for people to come in and actually touch the products, smell the products and really get great products that are completely tailored to their skin type,” Dolan says. “Just from traveling to the places that I have, I’ve seen it work in other cities. I thought if we brought this to St. Louis, people would be interested.” Dolan found the perfect location just down the street from her Webster Groves home. “We actually had been looking for a warehouse space where we can make the products and where I could do hair and skincare,” Dolan says. “We were going out of town and saw a sign on the window of this little storefront and were like, ‘Well, we’ll call if it’s still available when we get back.’” It was, and so she quickly committed; the store celebrated its grand Continued on pg 19

LEFT BANK BOOKS Continued from pg 17

start by talking to me.” “You could have heard a pin drop,” recalls Kleindienst. The two men, she says, later continued their conversation one on one. Interactions like that one have her and Steele convinced that there’s magic in the community Left Bank has created, magic when people leave their homes to partake in the ancient art of storytelling, or buying pages that contain it. It’s the kind of magic that leaves some patrons with stories of their own. “These people were listening — actually listening,” she says of the post-Ferguson reading. “You can’t do that on Amazon.” Nor can you find an arrangement of books that’s been chosen specifically to expand your horizons, or staffers eager to share their thoughts on which new release you ought to try next. Algorithms can be gamed, and Amazon’s “recommendations for you” can easily go off-kilter. A

LARK

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opening this summer. “This is exactly what I envisioned,” she says. The small store is a sunny, inviting space with ornamental blackand-white tile, high ceilings and displays of Dolan’s house-made skincare products (body scrubs, purifying toner, lotion bars, essential oils) on open shelving in Instagram-ready groupings. At the front, the best-selling LARK beauty balm has a place of honor, befitting its importance to any makeup bag or medicine cabinet (it’s a cleanser, makeup remover, skin moisturizer and hair conditioner all in one!). On the other side of the shop, customers can find a curated assortment of beauty and wellness products from external trusted brands, such as Pure + Native cleansing bars, Plant People CBD capsules, Wooden Spoon Herbs dietary supplements and Clove + Hallow vegan cosmetics. But LARK’s big draw is the Ritual Bar, where knowledgeable staff members help visitors choose and blend customized facial products. A rainbow of all-natural mask bases and facial oil fragrances gleam on shelves that hover above a station full of additional ingredients, take-home vials and pots, brushes and shallow pottery bowls for mixing products, created by Colorado artist Sarah

conversation with someone who knows the inventory backwards and forwards? That’s what you get from a good bookstore like Left Bank, and that’s irreplaceable. Of the shop’s staffers, Kleindienst says, “We all have one thing in common. We never stop getting excited about opening a box of books. And we’re able to convey that to people.” It’s how Kleindienst and Steele beat Borders, and e-books, and how they’re holding Amazon at bay. Well, that and the almost hypnotic peace that can overcome you upon walking into a shop filled with things to read, people to interact with and a cat to pet (however gingerly — Left Bank’s Spike being notoriously unwilling to suffer fools, or toddlers, gladly). “It’s a happy place, a supportive place in these dark times of late,” Kleindienst says. “We’re a refuge. And most days, we’re able to sell enough books to pay the rent.” You’ve Got Mail didn’t foresee that happy ending, but then again, it didn’t anticipate Tinder either. l

Welch exclusively for LARK. On event days or by appointment, visitors spend most of their time here, learning about their own skin and talking to LARK’s experts about items that will help them glow. The Ritual Bar has become a big draw for bridal showers, girls’ nights and gift experiences. “Just this weekend, we had a bachelorette party here, a little Ritual Bar party,” Dolan says. “We have a licensed cosmetologist and estheticians who can make recommendations, and people just get really excited about it. I just had this feeling that it would work!” “We have an expert here who has a holistic oils certification from Europe, and she’s incredible. She put together an encyclopedia of our oils — pages and pages of research on every single oil that we carry,” Dolan continues. “Some brick-and-mortar stores are going away, but people still really want unique experiences, so we’ve been having a lot of really cool, different events. I feel like that’s what draws people in.” Dolan has no regrets about shifting from digital to in-person sales, saying that meaningful face-toface interaction with customers has been a joy. But she has some advice for entrepreneurs looking to follow in her footsteps. “You’re going to have to pivot on what your goals were. Be ready to change a lot and just go with the flow.” l

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John Klynott, who owns Retro 101/Cherry Bomb Vintage with Janet Maevers, loves the one-on-one interactions the shop facilitates. | TOM HELLAUER

The Adapters RETRO 101/CHERRY BOMB VINTAGE BY DUSTIN STEINHOFF

etro 101/Cherry Bomb Vintage (2303 Cherokee Street, 314-769-9722) is that rare shop that’s managed not only to stay alive, with a storefront thriving even after eleven years of huge change on Cherokee Street, but to do so without maintaining a website. But that doesn’t mean the vintage store’s owners avoid technology. Instead, they’ve found a way to let other platforms, from Instagram to eBay, work for them. Co-owners John Klynott and Janet Maevers are 50/50 partners in the business, which Klynott describes as a vintage clothing store with a hint of mid-century modern and collectibles. They specialize in period clothing for both

men and women from the 1950s and earlier, but also carry ’60s, ’70s and some over-the-top ’80s clothing, as well as what Klynott calls “quirky, unusual and interesting” items and collectibles. Klynott has long been interested in salvaging older things, although his focus was originally furniture. As a kid on a paper route, he’d spot garage sales — and have to make a purchase. “I would bring stuff home and my mother would have a fit. ‘Why are you bringing all this garbage into my house?’ It was just in my blood since a really early age,” says Klynott. Vintage clothing followed when, years later, he bought a jacket from Vintage Haberdashery on South Grand and found himself falling in love with the history of fashion by decade, with a particular interest in the construction of garments. In 2002, he opened a shop of his own. At first, it was just Retro 101. But in 2004, he ended up merging with Maevers, who’d opened Cherry Bomb Vintage five years earlier. The two met when Klynott was considering opening a store on Cherokee Street; Cherry Bomb

Vintage was at the time located at 2016 Cherokee Street. “That was when we met and we instantly connected, became friends really fast and almost twenty years later, still going strong,” says Klynott. “I consider her a family member at this point. Some people think we’re husband and wife, others think we’re brother and sister. At the end of the day, it’s a constant in my life and I’m sure it will continue until the end.” Even as a joint entity, Retro 101/ Cherry Bomb Vintage has seen multiple location changes, but it’s been at home in its current spot since 2007. Racks hung with vintage clothing reach from one side of the store to the other, while necklaces, bracelets and other kinds of jewelry fill various glass cases. Glass figurines and toys are arranged on shelves, while purses line one wall. The store is packed with items, and Klynott enjoys helping customers find the perfect purchase. “I love interacting with people one on one and seeing the finished product. Someone comes in; someone leaves with something they really love,” says Klynott.

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“That is the ideal situation.” At the time the two shops came together, the partners created a website. But in recent years, Klynott and Maevers have abandoned it. They now utilize Instagram, Facebook and eBay to reach online shoppers. To Klynott, their business is much different than other retailers and should operate as such. “With sellers such as Amazon, they have a product and they have five million of it and they’re just trying to push it out the door,” says Klynott. “What we’re selling is unique, generally one of a kind. Something you can’t get at a mall or a department store.” When he posts a picture of an item on Instagram or Facebook, people will like the post or comment to say they want to buy it. At that point, Klynott direct-messages back, giving the customer more specifics, and then gets their PayPal information and sends them an invoice. “It is interestingly licketysplit,” says Klynott. Still, all those one-on-one interactions take time. “It’s a full-time job. I don’t Instagram every day

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Co-owner Janet Maevers surveys Retro 101/Cherry Bomb’s extensive inventory. | TOM HELLAUER

RETRO 101/CHERRY BOMB Continued from pg 21

because I can be completely bombarded for a whole eight hours on Instagram messages,” says Kly-

nott. “It gets overwhelming.” Instead, he chooses a day where he spends the morning washing, pressing and photographing a dozen hand-chosen pieces of clothing. He’ll dedicate the afternoon to posting them

and messaging back and forth with customers until he’s made his sales. If an item bombs, he’ll sometimes reintroduce it on social media at a later date. “Sometimes I’ll post something and it just wasn’t

the right time for that specific item,” says Klynott. Retro 101/Cherry Bomb Vintage also has an eBay store, which is generally fully stocked with around 200 items. Local shoppers beware: The items Klynott lists on eBay are often triple or quadruple the price he would realize in the storefront. “There are things that I list that people would think I was insane if I had it here,” he says of the shop. The online sales, unlike the brick-and-mortar ones, can easily take over his life. But the shop’s online presence allows it to reach a much wider consumer base than would be possible with a single location. “We build friendships with people through Instagram and Facebook with people that we would have never been able to meet from all over the country,” says Klynott. Despite that online success, Klynott would much rather work with customers face to face. Much like the people he sells vintage clothing to, he yearns for a simpler time. “If I could just depend on the storefront to generate all our income that we need to sustain, I would love to just completely disconnect from my iPhone,” he says. l

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Lia Glynias knows the clothes she sells at LAUNCH are best experienced in the flesh. | TOM HELLAUER

The Fashion Experience LAUNCH CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES BY MELISSA MEINZER

n the brave new cyber world in which we live, it would be madness to open anything as quaint as a clothing boutique. Right? Don’t tell Lia Glynias that, nor her stylish cadre of loyal customers. Her boutique, LAUNCH Clothing & Accessories (2008 Marconi Avenue, 314-3256785), has become a Hill mainstay in the two years it’s been open. She has a web presence, sure — she’s not nuts. But the best stuff often doesn’t even make it online, and the IRL experience is far and above the digital one. To call LAUNCH’s wares distinctive is an understatement.

Glynias, 37, stocks vegan leather jewelry from a desert-dwelling couple working from science fiction and architecture references. Structural coats and dresses come from hard-to-find Greek and Israeli lines. Elevated basics share space with bold asymmetrical statement-making pieces. Glynias traces her roots — St. Louis roots and fashion roots — to her great-grandparents, Stephanos and Evangelia Constantinides. The pair emigrated from Greece in 1919 and set up a dry-cleaning business in St. Louis. Glynias’ grandmother Olympia worked there as a seamstress until it closed in 2006. As a teenager attending Clayton High School, Glynias worked at the Gap, and the company subsequently allowed her to transfer to New York. There, she amassed experience in retail, importing and private-label production. After traveling the world and immersing herself in the business of fashion, though, the pull of home was strong. “It was very important to me to be in St. Louis,” says Glynias. She returned to St. Louis in

2014, and struck up a relationship with Nina Ganci, the creative force behind Skif International, the knitwear boutique and workspace on Marconi Avenue in the Hill neighborhood. In June 2016, LAUNCH Clothing & Accessories was born. The shop is within the Skif showroom, with the register and about half the merchandise in a nook off a side entrance; the rest of the clothing is displayed close by in the larger showroom. Skif’s whimsical pieces and LAUNCH’s sleek looks hang near each other, which makes for intriguing interplay. Glynias took the business online in 2017, but the ease and convenience of online shopping can’t really compete with the synergy and personal touch that LAUNCH offers. Visiting her shop on a recent sunny Saturday morning proves to be a full-on sensory experience. Skif isn’t just a store, but the actual design-andmanufacturing site for Ganci’s knitwear — Glynias calls it “City Museum for clothes” — and you can see manufacturing in process. The site also boasts the

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unmistakable scent of freshly made soap, which wafts from Herbaria next door. Artists and artisans come and go, chatting about the previous night’s artist talk at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Breakfast goodies from La Patisserie Chouquette are shared, and a big brindle dog begs more or less politely. Glynias encourages a visitor to move from admiring to trying on a full-length gray coat done half in a boucle-effect fabric and half in a smooth one, from Greek line Ozai N Ku. On the hanger it’s lovely — on the body, it’s breathtaking. “In the generation of the internet, how could you be so crazy to open up a brick-and-mortar?” Glynias jokes. The sensory thrill of experiencing the coat’s cut and luxurious texture in real life more than answers her question. Online sales only account for around 20 percent of her business. When Glynias opened, she fully intended to compete for the inperson dollar, not the online one. “I never want to be someone who’s shipping 500 boxes out every day,” she says. l

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“We wanted to create a space where people connect to nature,” says Tammy Behm of Maypop Coffee and Garden Shop. | TOM HELLAUER

The Oasis MAYPOP COFFEE AND GARDEN SHOP BY PATRICK COLLINS

n some ways, Maypop Coffee and Garden Shop (803 Marshall Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-764-2140) has an easier sell than other retailers trying to make it in a digital world. Who wants to buy living and breathing plants online? But the women behind this new shop aren’t taking their advantages for granted. They’re doing everything they can to give customers the feeling of having stepped almost immediately into a calm and tranquil natural oasis. So much so, in fact, that your visit may leave you likely to forget the names Amazon and PayPal. You may even forget the existence of the Internet altogether. Opened earlier this year, Maypop is tucked into an easy-to-miss blip of a commercial district with

general-store vibes in a residential neighborhood in northeast Webster Groves. An artful blend of caffeine, pastries, horticulture and occasional alcohol, Maypop is a café cocooned by a nursery, a greenhouse that feels at once enormous and cozy, and a thoughtfully restored 1897 classic brick home with bourbon-hued hardwoods, a fireplace and deep windowsills — all of it arranged (in a way that feels unarranged) on a large corner lot. The name stems from passiflora incarnata, a hardy perennial vine that’s considered a common wildflower in the southern U.S. The love child of entrepreneurowner Tammy Behm and her twowoman brain trust, Laura Caldie and Laura Tetley, Maypop holds as a primary goal giving visitors an opportunity to connect with nature. Those connections begin with plants. “As humans, we naturally bond with other things that have life in them, that grow,” Behm says. Behm subscribes to the theory that being surrounded by growing things constitutes a homecoming of sorts, a return to an earlier period on the evolutionary calendar. “We evolved in natural set-

tings, but now most of us live in cities,” she says. “So we wanted to create a space where people connect to nature.” Mimicking nature, the plants at Maypop are not arranged in neat rows with squared corners. They’re clustered based on function, with a free-form look and feel. Even the rectangular greenhouse has a circular, flowing vibe. With entrances on each of its four sides and large openings in the roof, it’s passively heated and cooled, eliminating machine noise and freeing the ear to listen instead to birds, frogs and the crunching of gravel underfoot — Behm selected it because it drains well, but now she reveres its sensory-engaging sound. But plant-inspired engagement is only the beginning. Inside the shop are drinks from St. Louis favorites Blueprint Coffee and Big Heart Tea Co. and pastries from Whisk. Beyond the daily offerings, Behm & Co. are doing their best to give you plenty of reasons to stop by (and maybe buy something while you’re there). Happy hour begins every Wednesday at 4 p.m., and starting Thanksgiving weekend, the holiday season kicks

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off with trees for sale (proceeds to the local Boy Scouts troop), classes and workshops. On the evening of December 7, Maypop will welcome former Nixta chef Tello Carreón for a tasting event. Tickets, available through Maypop’s website, are $50. Behm is beyond pleased with customer turnout thus far. Even though construction delays prevented Maypop from opening at the start of the gardening industry’s most lucrative season — spring — she says the shop is thriving, financially and otherwise. “It’s amazing how much support we’ve received from customers across St. Louis who are committed to local, independent businesses,” she says. “We’ve really connected with a lot of people.” Many options for expanding food and drink offerings are under consideration, but for now Behm remains focused on providing customers with a nourishing experience. “A visit to Maypop can be as simple or have as much depth as you want,” she says. “My hope is that we’ve created an environment you’ll want to return to.” l

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CALENDAR

BY PAUL FRISWOLD

Garden Glow is back. | COURTESY OF MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN

THURSDAY 11/15 Peace on Earth On November 11, 1918, World War I ended after four exhausting years of destruction and unimaginable horrors. But even in the worst of times, humanity’s innate decency can shine through the darkness on occasion. During the first year of the war, Christmas morning was marked by an official cease-fire on both sides. On the front lines troops from both sides of the conflict crossed No Man’s Land to celebrate the holiday with their erstwhile enemies. Carols were sung, gifts were exchanged and a spontaneous game of soccer kicked off. All Is Calm, the Peter Rothstein, Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach a cappella musical about that quiet morning when brotherhood won out, has been a favorite with Mustard Seed Theatre audiences since the company first presented it in 2014. It’s back again at Mustard Seed to mark the centenary of the last day of the War to End All Wars. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday (November 16 to December 16; no show on Thursday, November 22) at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre (6800 Wydown Boulevard; www. mustardseedtheatre.com). Tickets are $15 to $35.

FRIDAY 11/16 A New Classic Tattoo fans, there’s a new convention in town. The St. Louis Old School Tattoo Convention is taking

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a break this year, so the St. Louis Classic Tattoo Expo has stepped up. The inaugural classic features three days of tattooing and contests at the Downtown Holiday Inn (811 North Ninth Street; www. stlclassictattoo.com). A ton of artists will be there ready to ink, including the local crews from Self Inflicted Studios, the Alchemy Tattoo Collective and Inkwell Tattoos. Noah Moore, Joshua Bowers, Timmytats and Brad Fink are all among the show’s featured artists. Hours for the St. Louis Classic are 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday (November 16 to 18), and tickets are $20 for one-day entry, $30 for two days or $40 for the weekend pass.

the story at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday (November 16 to 18) at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts (425 South Lindbergh Boulevard; www.dancesofindiastlouis.org). Sunday’s show will feature the student dancers and kids in the first half and The Forgotten Ramayana in the second half. Tickets are $15 to $20.

Rules for Living The unnamed child at the center

of Duncan Macmillan’s one-person show Every Brilliant Thing is only seven when her mother first attempts suicide. She takes it upon herself to create a list of worthwhile things in life, hoping her mother will find comfort in them and stop trying to die. She writes her favorites on numbered slips of paper (“1654. Christopher Walken’s voice.” “2001. Films that are better than the books they are adapted from”), and leaves them around the house for Mom to find.

The Long Nap Every year Dances of India presents a fully scripted and narrated dance concert based on a beloved Indian tale or an adapted Western story. This year’s performance is something slightly different. The Forgotten Ramayana: The Tale of Urmila, the Sleeping Princess is based on an obscure story from the Hindu epic The Ramayana. In it Princess Urmila willingly sacrifices herself to save her beloved husband, her brother Prince Rama and sister-in-law Princess Sita. Urmila’s sacrifice takes the form of a fourteen-year slumber, and it’s almost for naught. While she slips deeper into the realm of dreams, the ten-headed demon king Ravana abducts Sita. Can Urmila escape her endless dreaming? Can she even tell the difference between the real world and the dream realm after so long abed? Dances of India recreates

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Show off your tattoos, or get a new one. | THEO WELLING

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 15-21 She grows to realize the list can help herself as well; depression is hereditary, after all. R-S Theatrics presents the life-affirming Every Brilliant Thing at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday (November 16 to December 2) at the Kranzberg Arts Center (501 North Grand Boulevard; www.r-stheatrics.com). Tickets are $18 to $20.

SATURDAY 11/17 Electric Flora One of the most popular holiday traditions in St. Louis returns this weekend, when the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Boulevard; www.mobot.org) officially opens Garden Glow. More than one million lights wrap the trees and buildings of the garden, creating a seasonal spectacle. In keeping with the garden’s mission, many of the lights are solar powered, and electrical use for the event has been offset with Renewable Energy Certificates,

making this one of the few guiltfree Christmas treats. The 1.3mile path through the park has a few concession areas serving hot chocolate, s’mores and the like, and both the Sassafras Cafe and Cafe Flora (Friday and Saturday nights only until December) will be serving food until 9 p.m. Garden Glow takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly (November 17 to January 1; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Tickets are $3 to $18 and are sold for specific start times; you can’t get in before the time on your ticket.

Think Rink It’s not officially winter yet, but that won’t stop the outdoor ice rink at Kiener Plaza (500 Chestnut Street; www.archpark.org/events/ winterfest) from opening. The Winterfest Ice Rink, to use its full name, officially opens at noon on Saturday, November 17, with some fanfare, a little hoopla and the Festival of Lights from 4 to 8 p.m. The rink is then open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (November 17 to December 23) and noon to 8 p.m. daily December 24 to January 1. Skating is a full-body workout and a lot of fun, especially when you have a great view of the Arch. The new Kiener Plaza has a playground if you need more exertion, or you can take a break and enjoy a hot chocolate al fresco. Admission is free. While skate rentals are $7 to $13, they’re free for kids ages three to fifteen on Thursday and Friday, courtesy of the St. Louis Blues.

The Ghost Dance It’s no exaggeration to say that the Lemp family shaped St. Louis. Adam Lemp not only introduced lager to the city but began a brewery to produce the great quantities of it demanded by St. Louisans of the mid-nineteenth century. The Lemp Brewery’s Falstaff beer outsold Budweiser near the dawn of the twentieth century. The next generation of Lemps married into both the Pabst brewing family and a railroad supply family, further concentrating their wealth. But the family is mostly remembered today for its slow destruction, which

The police and fire departments put up their dukes. | COURTESY OF GUNS ‘N’ HOSES was brought about by Prohibition and a series of suicides. Big Muddy Dance Company explores the Lemps in the dance concert Lemp Legends: A Ghost Story. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (November 16 and 17) at Washington University’s Edison Theatre (6445 Forsyth Boulevard; www.thebigmuddydanceco. org). Tickets are $25 to $35.

WEDNESDAY 11/21 A Bout of Charity Tonight, Budweiser’s Guns ‘n’ Hoses celebrates its 32nd anniversary by once again pitting city and county firefighters and police officers against each other in threeround boxing matches. There’s no malice here — the combatants are fighting for a good cause, after all. Proceeds from Guns ‘n’ Hoses go to the St. Louis BackStoppers, the group that provides financial support to the families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. Bouts start at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 21, at the Enterprise Center (1401 Clark Avenue; www.stlgunsnhoses.com). Tickets are $12, and 90 cents of every dollar goes to Backstoppers. n

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The legend of the Lemp family. | GERRY LOVE

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FILM

[REVIEW]

Truly Absurd West The Coen Brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an anthology of ordinary people behaving badly Written by

ROBERT HUNT The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Tim Blake Nelson, Zoe Kazan, Tom Waits and Tyne Daly. Opens Friday, November 16, on Netflix and at the Landmark Tivoli Theatre.

oel and Ethan Coen are nothing if not willfully, gleefully eclectic, whether they’re recreating film noir in a Texas border town or a Los Angeles bowling alley, rewriting the Odyssey as a Depression-era comedy set in the South, rewriting it a second time as a drama set in the early 1960s folk scene or simply letting Nicolas Cage run loose as a wild-haired human reincarnation of Wile E. Coyote. They’re satirists but have an unusual gift for hiding their comic point of view behind a misleadingly sober veneer. With The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coens return to the Western, a genre they last explored with the somewhat underrated True Grit, their lyrical adaptation of the Charles Portis novel. Buster Scruggs was originally announced as an anthology series for Netflix, but in true Coen style, they’ve packed the entire thing into a single film, a six-episode anthology of Western stories in a variety of emotional tones: grim, comic, thoughtful and bitter. Anthology films tend to be a risky proposition, resting on arbitrary sequencing rather than a straightforward narrative, and are often hampered by the simple fact that the segments may not be equal in appeal. Buster Scruggs draws a luckier hand than most. There’s no particular dramatic order at play (the first two episodes are brief and comic, the remaining four considerably less so), but the six episodes, tied together by

Tom Waits plays a prospector on the hunt for gold in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. | NETFLIX the pages of an illustrated book of Western stories, unite to form a multi-faceted portrait of life in the unruly frontier. Although the literary framing device reminds us that the American West was almost always as much a collective fiction as a real place, the Coen’s West is not the dime-novel world of clean-living, straight-shooting heroes and rough-edged but likable villains. Those stereotypes are tossed into the boneyard in the first two segments. One is a slight shaggy-dog story with James Franco as an unsuccessful bank robber, and the other is the film’s prologue, in which the titular Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson), an insufferable white-suited singing cowboy, wreaks havoc with a Looney Tunes ferocity that recalls Raising Arizona (only bloodier). With pulp heroes and villains so easily cast aside, the remaining episodes take their cues from nineteenth-century writers such as Bret Harte. They are stories of ordinary people facing the struggles of the West with nary a Randolph Scott or Glenn Ford in sight. It’s an unusual assortment: A bilateral amputee, accompanied only by his unscrupulous manager (Liam Neeson), shares his ora-

tory skills with settlers for the cost of a few coins. An old prospector (Tom Waits, in an inspired performance that earns him the “Grizzled Old Man” crown last held by Harry Dean Stanton) spends solitary weeks digging holes, panning gold samples and muttering to himself. A young woman (Zoe Kazan) finds herself alone without family or prospects on the Oregon Trail. A group of people from markedly different social positions — including a proud matron (Tyne Daly), a trapper and a pair of bounty hunters — discuss morality and the nature of humanity in an uncomfortable stagecoach ride that recalls what might have happened in John Ford’s 1939 film if John Wayne hadn’t arrived to shake things up. Beautifully photographed by Bruno Delbonnel (this is the first Coen film to use digital photography) and scored by longtime collaborator Carter Burwell, Buster Scruggs nods to a few familiar generic models but doesn’t subscribe to any of them. It’s not the revisionist West of Peckinpah, nor does it aim for a post-historic reading of the wilderness-vs.-civilization account of Western Expansion. It is also, in spite of its comic mo-

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ments, a very dark vision. What gives the film a subtle depth and weaves the six episodes together is the Coen’s perception that, when you strip away the fancy six-guns and the reputations as embroidered as the shirts of the men holding them, the Western has, to borrow a famous description from Sergio Leone, “something to do with death.” Mortality dominates all but one of the episodes, and even that exception (the story of the prospector) is far from a walk in the spring rain. Death is a constant presence, rarely more than a few steps away, and several episodes feel as if they’re just a plot twist away from turning into ghost stories. And yet, despite the encroaching sense of mortality, Buster Scruggs isn’t morbid or even — for the most part — callously dark-humored. Life can be harsh, unfair and even vicious, but the filmmakers never lose their bemused respect for its many forms. As we’ve come to expect from the Coens, their version of the cruel and arduous West is tempered by a generous but constantly absurdist view of humanity, of characters who act less from reason than from instinct (and often very bad instinct at that). n

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STAGE

[REVIEW]

Descent of a Woman In Slightly Askew’s new Doctor Faustus, our protagonist supports the girls — with tragic results Written by

PAUL FRISWOLD Doctor Faustus Written by John Wolbers and Kit Marlowe. Directed by Ellie Schwetye. Presented by Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble through November 17 at the Chapel (6238 Alexander Drive; www. slightlyoff.org). Tickets are $15 to $20.

ould you exchange something you don’t value to remake the world as a kinder, more equitable place? It seems like a better-than-even trade, but as the title character of Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble’s Doctor Faustus discovers, one doesn’t remake the world without being remade in turn. Liberally adapted from Christopher Marlowe’s original drama by local playwright John Wolbers, this Dr. Faustus is a woman who sells her soul to the Devil for the power to elevate all of womankind to the same first-class citizenship enjoyed by men. Driven by smart writing and quality performances from star Ashley Bauman and the cast, director Ellie Schwetye’s production is a thought-provoking, engrossing play that examines modern problems through the lens of the seventeenth century’s cosmology. Faustus (Ashley Bauman) is a doctor of both medicine and philosophy who has far surpassed what’s expected of women, yet is frustrated by a sense of inadequacy. She may be famous for her golden achievements, but that doesn’t stop men from harassing her on the street. Her relationship with women is just as fraught, as her friend Val (Lex Ronan) resents her overachieving ways. Only her beau Wagner (Michael Pierce) values her, but even he sulks when she chooses

Faustus (Ashley Bauman) does it all for the ladies. | JOEY RUMPELL to spend time studying. Under pressure from all sides, Faustus agrees to join Val’s coven of witches and discovers in a scene enhanced by simple but chilling practical effects that she can summon demons. Being a woman of science she dismisses the inherent value of her soul and strikes a quick bargain with Mephistophilis, the henchman of the Devil: She will be granted infernal powers with which she plans to smash the current socialpolitical system, freeing women everywhere to become whatever they wish. Aided by Mephistophilis and the personification of the seven deadly sins (Nicole Angeli), Faustus plans to bring about a golden age for the ladies. Unfortunately hell is essentially a bureaucracy and her new powers can’t undo whole system in the blink of an eye — although they can be used to castrate her harassers. Faustus’ world is one where people dress in seventeenth-century fashion but carry cellphones; her first act of vengeance is disseminated on YouTube. Emboldened by violence, she makes bloody-handed changes — a far cry from the bridge she’d imagined to a better, more woman-centric future. Wolbers’ script plays with Marlowe’s original, which sparks several interesting wrinkles in the play. Angeli’s The Seven speaks like a disaffected teenager, a foodie and a tyrant, depending on which sin she represents at any given moment. It’s a brilliant

performance enhanced by her stark makeup, which makes her face not quite human. Mephistophilis is a shapeshifter in Marlowe’s work, and here is played by every member of the cast except Bauman and Angeli. Lex Ronan plays Mephistophilis hidden behind the face of a dead-eyed Helen of Troy to eerie effect, while Joe Hanrahan is a sullen Mephistophilis caught in the shabby clothes of a beggar. Faustus’ world becomes more claustrophobic as everyone in her life proves to be a servant of hell. These hollow faces cajole her into increasing brutality, soiling her once-shining humanity. Is it too much to call Mephistophilis “the internet made flesh?” Perhaps. But what else would you call it? The great coup of Wolbers’ and Marlowe’s work is that Faustus recognizes everything she’s lost in the bargain. Her soul, which she thought a lie told by religion, aches at the despair she’s brought to the world. She realizes that souls encompass many elements: compassion, empathy and love — all of which she gave away. In a play fairly littered with remarkable performances, Bauman’s silent despair at this moment is eloquently manifested. The Faust story, whether Marlowe’s, Wolbers’ or any other retelling, is fungible enough to allow you to choose your ending. Will she escape eternity in hell? It depends on how kindly you view a woman who strives for greatness and is tripped up by human frailty. n

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CAFE

[REVIEW]

Two of a Kind Excellent Vietnamese classics coexist with above-average bar fare at Florissant’s Spot House Written by

CHERYL BAEHR Spot House 20 Mullanphy Garden Shopping Center, Florissant; 314-755-1500. Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

ny number of things may strike you on your first visit to Spot House. If the neon sign hanging on the façade above the entrance looks familiar, it’s because the font is the same one used by Hot Shots. Or it might be the dining room that gives you flashbacks, its cavernous layout reminiscent of an elementary school cafeteria or a VFW hall. Nothing breaks up the space, save the maroon pleather booths and matching tables and chairs scattered throughout the room. But what is perhaps most noticeable, and certainly most poignant, is what’s on the tables at this sixmonth-old spot in Florissant. As at many sports bars, the centerpiece consists of ketchup and mustard bottles and salt and pepper shakers in an empty Budweiser sixpack. However, in addition to the all-American condiments, you’ll also find a bottle of soy sauce, some hoisin and a squirt bottle of sriracha — you know, in case your dining companion opts for pho instead of a buffalo chicken sandwich and wants to amp up the flavor. An American-sports-bar/Vietnamese-restaurant hybrid might sound like a shaky concept to many restaurateurs, but not the refreshingly optimistic Jay Nguyen. An entrepreneur through and through, Nguyen has worked in a variety of industries since immigrating to the United States from his native Vietnam decades ago. He’s been an auto mechanic, a house-flipper and a conveniencestore owner, often working in these different roles concurrently. The entrepreneurial lifestyle

Spot House’s pad Thai stir-fry special shows its mastery of classic pan-Asian fare in addition to American-style bar food. | MABEL SUEN kept Nguyen busy, and his wife, Lisa Pham, was always behind him, offering support through each new venture. Eventually, though, she let her husband know that she was ready to move forward with her own career. A talented home cook, Pham was eager to try her hand at running a restaurant. Nguyen obliged, and in 2011 the pair opened a classic bar and grill, Cedar Hill Resort, on Illinois’ Great River Road. Cedar Hill Resort showed Nguyen and Pham that they could be successful in the restaurant business, but they wanted more. Though their eatery enjoys great success during the summer months, its location along the river makes it a seasonal spot for the area’s boaters. The pair wanted a year-round place, ideally somewhere closer to their northcounty home where they could provide a service to their com-

munity. When they came across a double storefront on the north side of Florissant, they knew they’d found their spot. If the Spot House concept is ambitious, its large space makes it even more so. You could hold a sizable wedding reception in the main dining room — and it would provide a blank canvas on which to work. The restaurant is sparsely decorated, conspicuously so. Save for some beer advertisements and a couple of flatscreen televisions, there is little to break up the brightly lit space. A potted plant and some faux citrus trees sit atop a half-wall partition that separates the booths from the tables. Even the service bar is nothing but an open counter completely exposed to the rest of the restaurant. If you want a more intimate (or at least less glaringly open) experience, the separate bar area, complete with several high-top tables, is

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dimly lit and cozier. Nguyen and Pham’s plan to fill the space is based on the theory that if you have something for everyone, you will attract a large crowd. They’re off to a good start: Despite its massive size, the dining room felt fairly full on a Friday evening, the bar even fuller. You’d expect such a broad menu to result in lackluster food, but at Spot House, quantity is not a substitute for quality. Granted, the “American” side of the menu is standard bar fare — burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, potato skins — but Pham makes everything in-house. A fried mushroom appetizer, for instance, consists of fresh mushrooms that have been hand-breaded in a bright orange batter, seasoned with a subtle chile spice. Unlike their gummy, straight-from-the-freezer counterparts, these mushrooms are

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SPOT HOUSE

Continued from pg 37

plump and meaty, fried al dente and served with zesty chipotle ranch for dipping. It’s bar food, sure, but it’s house-made bar food. The difference is evident. Potato skins, too, benefit from being freshly prepared. A thick layer of fluffy spuds, encased in their seasoned skins, serves as a base for chives, bacon, onions and cheddar cheese. Pham does not reinvent the wheel, but she executes a classic well. Likewise, shrimp poppers underscore the beauty of deep-fried cream cheese; here the shellfish is surrounded by a large slice of red bell pepper, filled with cream cheese, breaded and then fried until it’s a molten, gooey pleasure. It’s so delightfully decadent, it should come with a surgeon general’s warning. Burgers at Spot House are massive half-pound discs of ground beef, hand pattied to about an inch-and-a-half thick. Though cooked throughout (our server did not ask for a temperature), the fat content ensured that the burger was still juicy. Simply dressed with crisp lettuce, onions, pickles and sliced tomatoes, it’s what you want

when you go out for a hamburger. “Big Dave’s Chicken Sandwich” is equally satisfying. Pham smothers a perfectly cooked, seasoned chicken breast in gooey Swiss cheese, thick slices of bacon, and white onions that are cooked enough to release their natural sweetness but not to the point of losing their snappy texture. Some sort of sauce to brighten and cut through the cheese and bacon richness would have been welcome, but it’s an otherwise good sandwich. As a rule, I refuse to order any form of seafood taco at a restaurant that looks as if it has no business serving seafood tacos — meaning, yes, a sports bar in north county. (I’m a native; I can say such things.) Spot House’s shrimp tacos may provide the one asterisk to my theory. Three flour tortillas are stuffed with succulent sautéed shrimp, crunchy cabbage, avocados and a rich mango salsa that is both sweet and tinged with the subtle spice of Thai chile sauce. This is not an authentic Baja fish taco, but it’s a pleasing, Vietnamese-American take on the dish. And while Spot House offers good bar food, it’s at its most thrilling when delivering Vietnamese specialties. Pho dac biet shows Pham’s deft touch on the

classic noodle soup. Delicate, yet powerful, beefy broth tastes of anise and black pepper. In it bob vermicelli noodles, fatty slices of medium-rare beef, meatballs and tendon; their deeply savory flavor is cut by accompanying Thai basil, jalapeños and lime that you can add to taste. It’s a quintessential rendering of the form. The bánh mì dac biet is another well-executed take on a classic. Here, a crusty baguette is sliced in half and spread with luscious pâté and mayonnaise. This serves as a base for slices of anise-scented sausage, thinly cut roast pork, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs that are so overstuffed onto the bread you can barely fit the sandwich in your mouth. It ticks all of the flavor points you want in a bánh mì: earthy, rich, savory, verdant, piquant. It’s no wonder it’s become one of the restaurant’s top sellers, even to diners previously unfamiliar with Vietnamese cuisine. Spot House’s most dazzling dish, though, is the bánh xèo, two massive crepes that have a rich, earthy taste, as if they have been fried in turmeric oil. Shrimp, pork and bean sprouts fill the crepes with rich, savory flavor, while sprigs of fresh mint and cilantro add bright refreshment. The dish is flavor-

packed on its own, but the accompanying fish sauce, served on the side for dipping, adds a complex funk that pairs beautifully with the egg concoction. It’s masterful. I’d expected to see a clear pattern as to who orders what at Spot House — jersey-clad, Bud Heavydrinking north-county natives opting for burgers, Vietnamese clientele leaning toward the pho. To my surprise, I didn’t see such culinary self-segregation. Instead, I witnessed a family of six fill its table with a mix of both Vietnamese and American dishes. Spring rolls and jalapeño poppers for the table, bánh mì for dad, buffalo chicken for mom. And I saw scenes like that time and again on both my visits. Spot House isn’t just a downhome county bar and grill, and it isn’t just a Vietnamese restaurant. It’s both, and in that, it’s hope for the future. I like to believe Nguyen and Pham are on to something. If Heinz and hoisin can beautifully coexist in a north-county sports bar, there may yet be hope for us all.

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SHORT ORDERS

[SIDE DISH]

A Celeb Chef Brought Her to STL Written by

CHERYL BAEHR

n college, Kate Wagoner was well on her way to a lobbying career, studying political science and in need of only a few extra credits to complete her degree. During her junior year, she thought it would be fun to add a home-economics-style class to her schedule. It was a decision that would change her life. “I just re-fell in love with food,” Wagoner explains. “It just fell into my lap, and I knew this was something I could see myself doing. I reevaluated, and about a year later, I was moving to Atlanta and enrolled in culinary school.” Wagoner, who currently serves as the sous chef at Yellowbelly (4659 Lindell Boulevard), was well positioned for a career in the kitchen. Growing up in rural West Virginia, food was not just something to eat, but a way of life. Her most striking memories involve food-centric activities with her family, whether they were fermenting sauerkraut, making apple butter or pickling vegetables. They were not gourmands, per se, but just regular folks utilizing whatever ingredients the seasons produced out of necessity. “I remember this time of year standing around at 4 a.m. making apple butter or breaking down whole hogs to make sausage,” Wagoner recalls. “It didn’t register to me at the time as anything special; it was just who we were. Looking back, I see the romanticism of it and that it was a huge part of my life.” Wagoner drew on these experiences in culinary school, and her talent impressed one of her culinary instructors so much that he introduced her to celebrity chef Richard Blais. Wagoner began working for Blais at his Atlanta-

A West Virginia native, Kate Wagoner learned her trade in California and now works with the flavors of the sea at Yellowbelly. | JEN WEST based operations, first as a sous chef and eventually as his personal assistant and culinary production assistant. The job took her around the world, and eventually, she landed in California to help Blais open the acclaimed Juniper & Ivy. Wagoner enjoyed her transient culinary lifestyle, but when she and Blais got involved with Travis Howard and Tim Wiggins on the Yellowbelly project, something told her she wanted to settle down. When Blais asked Wagoner to be his person on the ground in St. Louis to help execute their vision, she jumped at the chance to settle in a place that brought her back to her roots. “The ingredients and culture here share so much with my background, and I identify with it,” Wagoner explains. “That’s so important.” She was also excited about the concept. “I was jazzed about bringing something new and exciting to a

city that can’t just drive to Baja or Tijuana for the weekend,” Wagoner says of the restaurant’s seafood focus. “Hawaii is just a hop, skip and a jump away from San Diego, but the fact that we could bring that food here, using local ingredients, is really exciting.” However, her biggest reason for settling down with Yellowbelly has to do with her respect for Howard and Wiggins, a management team she describes as kind, genuine and two of the best she’s worked with. “Travis and Tim are the cream of the crop in the industry anywhere, not just in St. Louis,” Wagoner says. As sous chef, her job is to work alongside Yellowbelly’s executive chef, Jason Gethin, as they execute Howard’s and Wiggins’ vision for Yellowbelly, as well as to serve as the eyes, ears and tastebuds on the ground for Blais, who oversees the restaurant’s culinary direction from California. Currently, that involves rolling out the restau-

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rant’s brand-new lunch program, which translates the restaurant’s Hawaiian and seafood theme to a daytime crowd. Wagoner can’t help but smile thinking about the way her highprofile job working side by side with a celebrity chef has brought her full circle. Fermentation, pickling, whole-animal butchery — the things she and her family did when she was a child in West Virginia are now industry buzzwords and duties she performs on a regular basis. It’s helped her stay connected to who she is, quite literally. “Now it’s this hip thing, but as a kid, it was all about just using what we had,” Wagoner says. “In my home kitchen, I have my grandmother’s paddle we used for making sauerkraut. It brings it back full circle.” Wagoner took a break from Yellowbelly’s kitchen to share her thoughts on the St. Louis foodand-beverage scene, her love of

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KATE WAGONER Continued from pg 43

podcasts and pizza, and how she’d love to have some super-human powers to execute Yellowbelly’s “Oysters and Pearls” dish. What is one thing people don’t know about you that you wish they did? I spent some time working in California. A lot of the Baja influences on the menu are my way of sharing the amazing food I had on Tuesday night trips to Mexico. What daily ritual is non-negotiable for you? Listening to my favorite podcasts, specifically Starving for Attention. It’s witty and insightful. If you could have any super-

power, what would it be? To be able to handle liquid nitrogen without freezing myself. It would make serving our “Oysters and Pearls” dish a lot easier! What is the most positive thing in food, wine or cocktails that you’ve noticed in St. Louis over the past year? I can’t speak to St. Louis solely this past year, but the most encouraging thing I’ve experienced lately is our ability to be fans of each other. I look at other restaurants and I’m proud and excited for them. What is something missing in the local food, wine or cocktail scene that you’d like to see? I didn’t think I would miss this as much, but lately I’ve been craving a California burrito. Who knows? Maybe it will pop up in some vari-

ation on our secret menu soon. Who is your St. Louis food crush? My list of must-eat spots grows with every single person I talk to, but the spot at the very top of my list goes to chef Michael Gallina of Vicia. Who’s the one person to watch right now in the St. Louis dining scene? Okay, so I’m going to kind of cheat on this question and answer with my whole team at Yellowbelly. There’s just so much excitement and creativity happening in our kitchen. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. If you weren’t working in the restaurant business, what would you be doing? I studied political science in college, but I can’t seem to stay away from restaurants. At the end of

the day it’s where I really want to be. Name an ingredient never allowed in your restaurant. Over-fished product. Sustainability and caring for our environment are key to good products for future generations. What’s your food or beverage guilty pleasure? At the end of the day, I just want a slice of pizza. I don’t care where it comes from ... just a greasy slice of pie. What would be your last meal on earth? The Crack Shack! I would want a “Firebird” sandwich and a “Cookie Monster” shake, made by one of my favorite friends and kitchen comrades, Laney. If you find yourself in Southern California, it’s an absolute must. n

[ H O L I D AY S ]

The Turkeys Want to Cuddle With You Written by

SARAH FENSKE

llie Laks first cuddled a turkey because the turkey insisted on it. The turkey followed her around. She chattered. And she just kept chattering. “I started thinking she was trying to tell me something,” Laks says. Then the turkey took matters into her own hands: She crawled into Laks’ lap and, comforted, promptly fell asleep. “Since that day, we have been cuddling our girl turkeys,” Laks says. Laks is the founder of the Gentle Barn, an animal rescue that houses everything from cats and dogs to pigs, sheep and, yes, turkeys. Founded in California nineteen years ago, the Gentle Barn has expanded to Tennessee and, last year, Dittmer, Missouri — a 45-minute drive southwest of St. Louis, where Laks grew up. That Midwest expansion means that you could cuddle a turkey this November — and also spend your Thanksgiving day feeding turkeys rather than eating them. Each year, Laks says, the Gentle Barn hosts a gourmet vegan dinner on Thanksgiving. The one in Los Angeles draws 300 people from all over the world. And while the Missouri event is expected to be much smaller, it will have the same hoopla: plant-based food, a drum circle and a bonfire. “It’s the most wonderful, joyous event of the year,” Laks says. (For tickets, see www.gentlebarn.org.) And yes, there will be turkey cuddling — both on Thanksgiving and any day the

Did you know turkeys are intelligent, create lasting social bonds and enjoy hanging out together under trees? | COURTESY OF THE GENTLE BARN Gentle Barn is open to the public, which is basically every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Dittmer location has eight turkeys, and all of the females are into it, Laks says. Not so the males. “Male turkeys like to show off,” she says, laughing. “They’re like, ‘Don’t touch me, but tell me I’m handsome.’ The gals are the ones that want to talk and cuddle.” And they’re perfectly happy, Laks insists, to do it for hours — both domestic

turkeys and even the wild turkeys who’ve made the Dittmer acreage their home. “These are very unique conditions we have there,” she says. “In most of the world, turkeys are not given the opportunity to be cuddle turkeys. But they’re just like cats or dogs or people. Under the right conditions, they blossom.” The right conditions, in this case, include a gourmet feast, prepared just for them. Gentle Barn tradition holds that turkeys are given a host of options to try

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in the week before Thanksgiving, from various pies to popcorn. Whatever they seem most interested in is what they’re fed during the feast. “We’re very excited to see what they’ll choose,” Laks says. And if the whole thing — from cuddling fowl to feeding them on the very day they’re traditionally eaten — seems a bit too California for Dittmer, Missouri, Laks has a gentle admonition befitting her Gentle Barn. “Don’t knock it until you try it,” she says. n

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[BARS]

A Blues Bar, Plus Tacos Written by

DESI ISAACSON

wo new spots are open in Downtown West, and they have the same address. The Note Bar and Vaya Con Dillas (200 North 13th Street, 314-241-5888) share not just a roof, but also a kitchen and chef Ryan Hecht. The concepts share the space in the Park Pacific building that previously held Alumni St. Louis, which closed in May. The Note Bar is a St. Louis Blues-themed sports bar with a shuttle to games, while Vaya Con Dillas serves fast-casual quesadillas and tacos. Hecht previously worked as a chef at both Alumni St. Louis and Kota WoodFire Grill, which had a three-year run in Grand Center. He says the split concept owes itself to feedback from Alumni regulars and others in the neighborhood: “We saw what customers wanted in the area and tailored it to that.” They came up with two ideas: a sports bar and a taco spot. Rather than picking between the two, they decided to roll with both. Each concept has its own order counter (although the Note Bar’s also offers booze, complete with a dozen local beer options). You take a number, and a waiter will bring your food to the table. You can order from either side and sit anywhere you please. Have a quesadilla on the bar side or a slider on the Vaya Con Dillas side. The Note Bar has seven different slider varieties, ranging from beef to salmon to veggie patties (most are $8), as well as five pizza options (around $15 for a large). Vaya Con Dillas has eight taco options

Vaya Con Dillas offers an assortment of tacos and design-your-own quesadillas. Get them to go or linger at the companion Note Bar. | DESI ISAACSON (about $3 each) and a bunch of quesadilla options (including design-your-own). “The idea behind the menu was to get something that hits everybody,” says Hecht. Some of his favorite items are on the Vaya Con Dillas menu because it is all homemade from scratch, but he also grew up a die-hard Blues fan and loves the atmosphere on the bar side. The Vaya Con Dillas side is pretty small compared to the Note Bar. It has a single television and a few tables with burnt orange chairs. It is designed for a quick bite for people on the go. In the main dining area, which sits between the two themed areas, people can relax and enjoy options from either side. “Pick your poison” is painted in large letters on the wall, with an arrow toward the bar that reads “Beer” and an arrow toward Vaya Con Dillas that reads “Tacos.” It offers eight to ten tables in which to enjoy the limbo of being between two restaurants. After that, the dining area quickly morphs into the Note Bar, which has a large, oddly shaped bar that seems to be

fashioned like the Blues logo, along with high-top tables, TVs and many, many Blues jerseys on the walls. The dark wood tables and comfy chairs make the bar a clean and pleasant place to hang out and catch a game. Back when the spot was still Alumni St. Louis, Hecht noticed a lot of his regulars were Blues season ticket-holders who would come in before games. His goal was to make them more comfortable and to make the bar a viable place for hockey fans to hang out before, during and after games. “Alumni looked too nice for hockey fans, and they didn’t feel comfortable coming in,” Hecht notes. The Note is much nicer than your average sports bar, but the interior makes it clear they want Blues fans hanging out. Hecht says, “People know they can get in and out quickly and not miss any of the game.” And Blues fans will enjoy the menu at the Note Bar. Appetizer names include “Red Wings Suck” (chicken wings) and “Loaded Pucks” (loaded tater tots). Every

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slider has a different number, each for a different retired Blues number, and each pizza has been given the number of a Blues enforcer. When asked if the Note Bar will try to entice Cardinals fans during baseball season, Hecht was hesitant, saying Ballpark Village takes up too much business for the effort to be worth it. He has, however, begun discussions with the Blues to become an official bar of the team and to work with them on some charity events and other arrangements. The Note Bar also has a shuttle to and from every home game, so you can enjoy your reasonably priced pre-game meal, and then just hop on the shuttle with plenty of time to spare before the puck is dropped. Vaya Con Dillas is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m The Note Bar is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, as well as being open for two hours before and after every Blues home game no matter what day of the week or how late the action. n

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MUSIC & CULTURE

[HOMESPUN]

Better Late Than Never More than a year after performing at LouFest, Starwolf releases its debut EP CHRISTIAN SCHAEFFER

s it too soon to start talking about LouFest again? Are we, as a city, over our collective grief and frustration over 2018’s lastminute cancellation of St. Louis’ flagship music festival? Even if we don’t dare prognosticate about the (un)likelihood of a 2019 iteration, can we cast our minds back to the young and innocent days spent in Forest Park, bobbing our heads along to an old favorite or new discovery? For the three guys in Starwolf, the memories of LouFest 2017 stand tall. In fact, their 4 p.m. slot on Saturday was only the band’s third show ever, and the group hasn’t played much since then. So it was a fair question of how a relatively unknown local band got so advantageously booked — right before Huey Lewis & the News, no less — and what they’ve been up to since then. It turns out the band’s three members — Tim Moore, Max Sauer and Chris Rhein — were longtime friends and bandmates who turned their old ambientindie band the Sun and the Sea into the lithe, synth-pop trio Starwolf. A year after its auspicious debut, Starwolf’s LouFest experience lingers. “The response was really overwhelming,” says Rhein, who sings and plays bass. “Of course it’s everybody’s dream to be a festival band, but we felt like it would translate well in that atmosphere. It was a really good experience and it took the songwriting up a few steps, to capture that vibe and get people moving.” The band has been relatively quiet since then, holing up in its studio to write and record the six

Starwolf surprised everyone with its 2017 slot on St. Louis’ largest music festival — only the band’s third performance overall. | VIA THE BAND tracks that comprise its debut EP Ti Amo, Stargazer, which came out earlier this month and will be feted with a release show at Blueberry Hill on November 23. The EP’s songs bear traces of ’80s pop and light-touch R&B — glossy synths, falsetto vocals and the occasional saxophone solo. In the wrong hands, those signifiers can feel cheaply wrought, but Starwolf is smart enough to take cues from everyone from Chic to Chromeo in recognizing that danceable beats and steely grooves are enough to get the party started. Rhein notes that the band members’ long tenures in various groups prepared them to aim for the pleasure center in these songs. “We’ve all been writing songs our whole lives, and ever since we started recording our own demos, the most efficient and the best way to write is taking a beat or a drum groove or a bassline,” says Rhein. Some of the band’s tutelage came from its work with Jason Kingsland, a producer based in Atlanta who worked on Starwolf’s first two singles, released last year. “We went down to Atlanta and learned a lot from [Kingsland], at least from the analog synth world,” Rhein recalls. “That was

really amazing experience for all of us. We went down there and it was just a playground.” For these recordings, drummer Tim Moore took the lead and used his home studio, located outside Springfield, Illinois, to build off of what Starwolf learned in Georgia. “It’s a really perfect place for us to have this studio,” Rhein says of the band’s exurban headquarters. “It’s a place where we can be completely secluded.” While much of the album buzzes with a glammy, neon-lit energy, traces of dark sarcasm bubble up from time to time. The EP’s last track, “The Meaning Of Life” has all the earmarks of a disco hit — swelling strings, bright piano melodies, razor-sharp hihats — along with a lyric that preaches dance-fueled hedonism. But under the soft funk lies a deeply modulated vocal track offering stentorian, end-of-days prophesies, not unlike Vincent Price’s intonations on “Thriller.” Rhein sees that dark humor as part of the band’s yin-yang personality. “At least with those verses, we wanted to be a little cheeky, but the chorus is this uplifting, joyful thing,” Rhein says. “Half the people are gonna hate this song —

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there’s not much middle ground.” Rhein points to an earlier track on the EP that helped solidify the band’s sound. “Tu Es Belle” was the first track that Starwolf wrote after its sojourn to Atlanta, and while the trio didn’t have a professional studio at its disposal, it found a way to cement its sound. “It’s super simple, just a few chords and that groove. Once we wrote the melody and threw the vocoder on there, it felt like a dark funk track,” Rhein says. “That was the one where it felt like we were getting somewhere.” Ti Amo, Stargazer was, Rhein admits, a little overdue in its completion and release, but the band hopes to continue building off the energy it garnered after its LouFest slot. “We want to play shows — don’t get me wrong — we want to play not just in St. Louis,” Rhein says. “But our number-one priority is the recording. What really matters is the product. We could play our favorite venues in town once a month, but our heads are always in the songs.”

Starwolf Record Release Show 8 p.m. Friday, November 23. Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City. $10 to $12. 314-727-4444.

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RIVERFRONT TIMES

[PREVIEW]

For Joe Park Trio, the Jazz Is Gypsy Written by

THOMAS CRONE

t turns out that Peoria, Illinois, is a five-jazz-band kind of town. No more, no less, according to one expert on the topic. That’s Joe Park. He’s spent a good amount of time in one of the five, playing guitar for his teacher’s band, John Miller and the Romaniacs, still occasionally gigging with them six years into a life in St. Louis. Regarded as a true player’s player since moving here a half-decade ago, Park shares his talents with a few groups. There’s Sarah Jane & the Blue Notes, which mixes club work alongside private event gigging. He’s frequently found in duo and trio settings with Tommy Halloran. And there’s his own, selfnamed trio, which is releasing an album at the Focal Point on Saturday, December 1. If ever there was a natural blend of venue, artist and need, this is that show. “I like Focal Point,” the softspoken Park says. “It’s an intimate concert setting, and it seems like every show is kinda special. There’s something magical about the place, and it seemed a cool spot to do it. They asked me to do a gig that night and asked what the theme would be. ‘Well, I have a CD to put out, how about that?’” The album is Park’s first as a bandleader, and he’s joined on the disc by the same players that

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Out of Nowhere is the first release by a highly regarded player in St. Louis’ jazz scene. | VIA THE BAND accompany him for his weekly Wednesday night residency at Yaqui’s: Guy Cantonwine on bass, Drew Weiss on drums, Park on guitar. The band plays a modified form of the gypsy jazz that serves as Park’s primary inspiration, but instead of the classic gypsy jazz formation of guitar, bass and one instrument from accordion, violin or clarinet, Park’s trio features drums. “I wanted to present the style with more of an American rhythm section, with bass and drums,” he says. “I’m playing American jazz guitar, because I’m an American. It’s something fun and neat and interesting to do. So we go into a lot of the gypsy jazz standards, but they’re presented in this other way.” The twelve tracks on Out of Nowhere were each recorded live, three times apiece over the course of a single day in February. Wellrehearsed thanks to its weekly gig at Yaqui’s as well as other one-offs, the band didn’t feel stressed pushing those 36 takes in one session, and spent minimal time selecting the best takes on the second of a two-day recording experience in Nashville. There, they worked at

NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2018

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the Attic Recording Studio, where Greg Magers and Graham Burris handled production duties. “My brother-in-law has a studio down there,” Park says. “They’d just moved down there from Chicago and all kinds of big name acts have recorded in their studio. We went there and recorded it live and it went great. They were able to get the guitar sounds I wanted pretty easily. We listened to Barney Kessel and Johnny Smith and Kenny Burrell. We wanted to get that Blue Note sound, and we played some Blue Note records and he heard and mixed it exactly like that. We were going for a 1950s jazz album, overall. Cocktail-party music. I was born to play cocktail parties, man. That’s my lot in life.” His life as a player began at the time a lot of kids find the muse, in fifth grade. “I was probably about ten years old,” Park says. “I’d always liked it, and my uncle was a guitar player and he’d hold it sideways for me to play. I wanted to be a guitar player from when I was a little kid. I started by playing rock music, then played classical guitar

when I was in high school. And I played old-timey American music when I was in my early twenties, stuff like bluegrass. I started playing jazz in my late twenties and I was really interested in Django Reinhardt, and that’s what I’ve been after for fifteen years now. I’m pretty happy. I still have a long way to go perfecting the art of being a good jazz guitar player. That’s a lifetime battle. I’ve got my work cut out for me.” A lot of contemporaries and fans would suggest he’s further along than he may suggest, but Park is as humble as he is soft-spoken. Content to wait for the right opportunity to share his work, Park has patiently watched the months tick by, from recording in February and through these final weeks of waiting. “I’ve played in a lot of bands,” he says, “and I’ve recorded a lot of albums. But this is my first as a bandleader. I’m excited to get it out, get my sound out, based on my ideas.”

Joe Park Trio CD Release Show 8 p.m. Saturday, December 1. The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Boulevard. $12. 314-560-2778.

OUT EVERY NIGHT

[CRITIC’S PICK]

Joy Williams. | VIA HIGH ROAD TOURING

Joy Williams 8 p.m. Friday, November 16. Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City. $20 to $22.50. 314-727-2277. The end of the Civil Wars, the four-time Grammy-winning duo of John Paul White and Joy Williams, hit the lead singer the hardest. Overnight, it seemed, the band had become the flag bearers of an ascendent Americana genre (in truth White and Williams had been working the folk scene unknown for years), when White called the whole thing off. It’s taken Williams four years to return with a full-

THURSDAY 15

BEARTOOTH: w/ Knocked Loose, Sylar 7 p.m., $25. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720. BRIAN WILSON: w/ Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin 6 p.m., $55-$100. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St Charles, 636-896-4200. BROTHER JEFFERSON DUO: 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. FLESH MOTHER: w/ Coffin Fit, Dear Satan, Vacation Drugs 8:30 p.m., $7. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. J D HUGHES AND THE FUZE: 9 p.m., $5. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. JACOB REBER: w/ Ella Fritts 9 p.m., $5. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. JEREMIAH JOHNSON ACOUSTIC DUO: 4 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. JULIEN BAKER: w/ Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus 7 p.m., $23-$25. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. KRISTEN COTHRON: 7 p.m., free. The Wolf Public House, 15480 Clayton Rd, Ballwin, 636-527-7027. LASSO SPELLS: w/ Desire Lines, Boreal Hills 8 p.m., $7. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson

length album (titled Front Porch, and due out in early 2019). The lead singles are stunning: spare and acoustic and aching. Fans of Williams’ dazzling voice, the kind of voice that steals your breath and seeps into your soul, that makes the listener as vulnerable as the singer is, will fall in love all over again. Kindred Spirit and Singer: Like Williams, Anthony Da Costa makes his home in Nashville and has recently collaborated with Kenneth Pattengale of the Milk Carton Kids. Followers of both acts will not want to miss his opening set. —Roy Kasten

Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. MAXWELL: 8 p.m., $32-$122. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600. MICKY AND THE MOTORCARS: 8 p.m., $13. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. OF MONTREAL: w/ Reptaliens 8 p.m., $20-$23. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. PAUL BONN & THE BLUESMEN: 8 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. PIERCE CRASK: 6 p.m., free. Beale on Broadway, 701 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-7880. ROBYN ADELE: 7 p.m., $15. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. SOMEBODY TO LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN: 8 p.m., $15. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. TORREY CASEY & SOUTHSIDE HUSTLE: 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.

FRIDAY 16

ASSUMING WE SURVIVE: w/ Riot Child, Dose, Conman Economy, Community Sadness, My Remedy 7 p.m., $12-$15. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT: 8 p.m., $25-$65.

Continued on pg 54

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RIVERFRONT TIMES

[CRITIC’S PICK]

[WEEKEND]

BEST BETS

Five sure-fire shows to close out the week

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 B|_ank w/ Syna So Pro, Body Leash 9:30 p.m. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Avenue. $5. 314-772-2100.

Drummer Will Hicks has the Visa Platinum Card of street cred. In the last two years alone, he’s backed up indie legend R. Stevie Moore, worked with members of Deerhoof and booked a ton of DIY shows in Nashville’s music scene. But as a solo artist, he works under the name B|_ank (pronounced “blank”) to explore a fusion of polyrhythmic beats, blissful noise and straight-up shredding around the drumset. Earlier this year he found himself on the big stage, supporting the Flaming Lips on a short stint of tour dates through the country. Foam is an intimate yet eminently suitable setting to see the drummer’s electro-acoustic body of sound and be engulfed in a pulsing and percussive performance.

Let’s Not Release Show w/ Mammoth Piano, the Defeated County 8 p.m. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue. Free. 314-498-6989.

Between his comedy label Helium Records, running a studio at Listless Sound and touring the country as a standup comic, St. Louis supernova Jeremy Essig (also an occasional RFT contributor) somehow still finds time to play in Shark Dad, the Defeated County and other bands. One of his Continued on pg 55

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Looprat. | VIA THE BAND

Looprat and Mathias & the Pirates 8 p.m. Friday, November 16. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Boulevard. $20. 314-533-9900.

Like it or not, hip-hop is the dominant musical genre in the United States in 2018. For some it’s long overdue, proof of the vitality and cultural significance of the oft-misunderstood art form; for others it is cause for concern, as traditional live instrumentation increasingly goes by the wayside in favor of DJs and backing tracks. Enter the Sheldon’s “Hip-Hop Live” series, a multi-show affair bringing St. Louis’ finest live hip-hop acts — that

OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 53

.Zack, 3224 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. BLANK: w/ Syna So Pro, Body Leash 9:30 p.m.,

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is to say, the ones who incorporate actual traditional instrumentation into their performances — to one of the city’s most prestigious stages. Curated by Illphonics frontman Larry “Fallout” Morris, the series aims to prove what rap fans have known all along: that hip-hop is just as important to American culture as any of the other musical art forms the country has ever produced. Double Trouble: Both acts on this November 16 show are well worth your attention. Looprat is a University City-based group that blends jazz sensibilities with hip-hop grooves, while Mathias & the Pirates is one of St. Louis’ standard bearers for hiphop with a classic, golden-era feel. —Daniel Hill $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. CLUSTER PLUCK: 10 p.m., $7. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. CYCLES: 8 p.m., $7-$10. The Bootleg, 4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-775-0775.

DAVID DEE & THE HOT TRACKS: 8 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. THE DUSTCOVERS: 9 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090. IVAS JOHN BAND: 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. JOY WILLIAMS: w/ Anthony da Costa 8 p.m., $20$22.50. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. LET’S NOT RECORD RELEASE SHOW: w/ Mammoth Piano, the Defeated County 8 p.m., free. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. LOOPRAT: w/ Mathias and the Pirates 8 p.m., $20. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900. MARC BROUSSARD: 8 p.m., $22-$25. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. THE MARQUETTE WEEKEND: w/ Fairwell, Pilots 8 p.m., $12-$15. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. THE NEIL SALSICH DUO: 1 p.m., free. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. NICK MOSS & THE FLIP TOPS: 10 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. O.A.R.: 8 p.m., $40.50-$55.50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. PONO AM: w/ The Schizophonics 9 p.m., $7. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. QUEEN NAIJA: 8 p.m., $20-$65. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. REDISCOVERY: 7 p.m., $5-$15. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 3 14-421-3600. ROAST OF RONNIE RADKE: 8 p.m., $20. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. THE ROSS BELL BAND: 9 p.m., free. 1860 Saloon, Game Room & Hardshell Cafe, 1860 S. Ninth St., St. Louis, 314-231-1860. SENSOR SHAKE: w/ Lumet, Golden Curls 9 p.m., free. Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., St. Louis, 314-241-2337. UNEARTH: w/ Fit For An Autopsy, The Agony Scene, Traitors 7 p.m., $18-$20. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. VINCE GILL: 7 p.m., $56.50-$72. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600. WAITING FOR FLYNN: 11 p.m., free. Halo Bar, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-1414. WHISKEY & THUNDER: w/ Kill the Creature 8:30 p.m., free. Red Fish Blue Fish, 7 Hawks Nest Plaza, St Charles, 636-947-4747.

SATURDAY 17

ALL ROOSTERED UP: noon, free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis,

[CRITIC’S PICK]

Elvis Costello. | DANIEL BERGERON

Elvis Costello and the Imposters 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 21. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market Street. $35.50 to $125.50. 314-499-7600.

For a few years there, it seemed like Elvis Costello was done releasing new music. Having spent various stages of middle age as a talk-show host, a playwright and a memoirist, Costello could have been content to dabble in other art forms while making regular returns to the stage to spin through his peerless songbook. So it was a relief when Costello dropped Look Now this season, a collection of

314-621-8811. AMANDA KIRKPATRICK: 7:30 p.m., free. The 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-421-3600. BEN WAH BOB: 9 p.m., free. Nightshift Bar & Grill, 3979 Mexico Road, St. Peters, 636-441-8300. COWBOY RANDY ERWIN: 7 p.m., free. Gaslight Pub, 10070 Natural Bridge Road, Woodson Terrace, 314-426-2232. DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER AND THE MEMPHIS SOULPHONY: 8 p.m., $30-$45. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900. HANDS LIKE HOUSES: w/ Emarosa, Devour the Day 6 p.m., $20. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. JEANETTE HARRIS: 7 p.m., $25-$30. .Zack, 3224 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. JEFF AUSTIN BAND: 9 p.m., $17-$20. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. JEFF TWEEDY BOOK TOUR: w/ Jon Hamm 7 p.m., $31-$36. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. JON MCLAUGHLIN: w/ Matt Wertz, Scott Mulvahill 8 p.m., $25. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. THE KAY BROTHERS: 8 p.m., $7-$10. The Bootleg, 4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-775-0775. KEITH ROBINSON ALL STAR BAND: 9 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. LES GRUFF AND THE BILLY GOAT: 11 p.m., free. Halo Bar, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-1414. LITTLE “G” WEEVIL: 7:30 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. LUCERO: w/ Strand of Oaks 8 p.m., $25-$35.

new songs, reclaimed strays and a few co-writes with legends including Burt Bacharach and Carol King. And since his last few records were made with Americana string-band session players and hip-hop icons the Roots, Costello’s longtime backing band the Imposters are especially welcome. They deployed in expert fashion on the album and will no doubt do so again as they back up Elvis at this week’s concert. We Gather Together: As this show falls the day before Thanksgiving, take this moment to thank your maker that one of the top ten rock & roll lyricists of all time is playing in your town. —Christian Schaeffer Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. MISSOURI BREAKS: 9:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090. ONE WARM COAT BENEFIT SHOW: w/ The Midlife, Better Days, Slow Damage, Tensions Rising, Arm’s Length 7 p.m., $7. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. ROSS BELL BAND: 3 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. RUSTY NAIL: w/ Lumet, Golden Curls 9 p.m., free. Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., St. Louis, 314-241-2337. THE SEAMUS EGAN PROJECT: 8 p.m., $20. Blanche M Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Dr at Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, 314-516-4949. SKEET RODGERS & INNER CITY BLUES BAND: 10:30 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. SMOKING POPES: w/ Amuse 8 p.m., $15-$18. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. THE STINGERS: 9 p.m., free. 1860 Saloon, Game Room & Hardshell Cafe, 1860 S. Ninth St., St. Louis, 314-231-1860. THE THROWBACK: 9 p.m., $5-$20. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. TOM HALL: 5 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. A TRIBUTE TO MIKE G: w/ Hounds, Austin McCutchen, The Ragstripes 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. THE WRECKS: w/ Badflower, Deal Casino 8 p.m., $16.50-$20. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd.,

Continued on pg 57

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OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 55 St. Louis, 314-726-6161.

SUNDAY 18

BRETT YOUNG: w/ Tyler Rich, Rachel Wammack 7 p.m., $30-$35. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. ERIC LYSAUGHT: 6 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. FOR LOVERS ONLY: A TRIBUTE TO BABYFACE & EL DEBARGE: 6 p.m., $20. Voce, 212 S. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, 314-435-3956. G HERBO: w/ Southside, Queen Kay 7 p.m., $15$130. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720. THE HAMILTONES: 8 p.m., $25-$35. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929. JANET EVRA ALBUM RELEASE PARTY: 2 p.m., $10. .Zack, 3224 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-533-0367. JAZZ BENEFIT: 4 p.m., $15. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. JOHNNY FOX: 2 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. LIL DUVAL: 8 p.m., $40-$62.50. Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd, North St. Louis County, 314-869-9090.

BEST BETS

Continued from pg 54

more recent endeavors is Let’s Not, a power-pop trio that he’s deemed too personal to let anyone else front. With a revolving cast of players sourced from the Fade and Other People, the band combines sharp musicianship with an unyielding sense of melody. Tonight’s Off Broadway show celebrates the release of the group’s latest single — a precursor of the full-length to come in early 2019.

Queen Naija 8 p.m. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Avenue. $20 to $65. 314-833-3929.

Ever wonder what happens when a famous YouTube couple has a public and very messy split? Sure, fans of the Chris side of the former “Chris and Queen” channel might cry foul at Queen Naija’s apparent airing of the pair’s dirty laundry, but her output since the breakup has been artful if not savage. Dropped back in March, the video for “Medicine” features a lookalike of her ex, who has since taken over their joint account with all the followers they accrued together. Yet Queen Naija is better off, as she’s broken out as a YouTuber-turned-R&B star with half a million more subscribers than her beleaguered ex, who can’t seem to stay out of legal trouble. Her self-titled EP dropped this summer to critical acclaim, gaining well-deserved accolades, all controversies aside.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 One Warm Coat Benefit Show w/ Outcast, the Midlife, Brief, Tensions Rising, Arm’s Length 7 p.m. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway. $7. 314-328-2309.

LOVE JONES “THE BAND”: 8 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. LUCERO: w/ Strand of Oaks 8 p.m., $25-$35. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. RUSTON KELLY: w/ Katie Pruitt 8 p.m., $12-$15. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444. WOOD CHICKENS: w/ Bucko Toby, Echo Shampo 8 p.m., $5. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309. ZIGTEBRA: w/ Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship, Bounce House, Party Dress 9 p.m., $7. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100.

MONDAY 19

BOTTOMS UP BLUES GANG: 6 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. LIL YACHTY: w/ Bhad Bhabie 8 p.m., $27.50-$30. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720. ROCKY MANTIA & THE KILLER COMBO: 7 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. SOULARD BLUES BAND: 9 p.m., $5. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.

Richmond, Kentucky’s Outcast bills itself online as “Heavy Dudes, Heavy Tunes.” While that descriptor is all most people interested in this headbangable brand of hardcore would need to hear, it downplays the band’s activist overtones. For instance, the cover for last fall’s single “No Justice” shows a protester with a gas mask standing tall amid a wall of armored officers. We’ve all heard the old cliché “put your money where your mouth is,” and Outcast will do just that by traveling to St. Louis to play a benefit show — a guarantee of little to no money for the band itself. Presented by Gateway City Hardcore, proceeds from the show go to benefit One Warm Coat, a nonprofit organization that provides free coats to people in need.

Smoking Popes w/ Amuse 8 p.m. The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street. $15 to $18. 314-535-0353.

That Smoking Popes just dropped Into The Agony, the first full-length with its original lineup in two decades, is both a blessing and a curse. For a group that’s been around for nearly 30 years, there’s bound to be expectations, especially when the bulk of its fanbase was formed in the ’90s. Fret not. The new record dropped last month to much critical acclaim, attaining those precious words most diehards will want to hear: return to form. If anything, this tour with an original lineup in tow just ups the chances that the group will fill the set list with tried and true classics. —Joseph Hess Each week we bring you our picks for the best concerts of the weekend. To submit your show for consideration, visit riverfronttimes. com/stlouis/Events/AddEvent. All events subject to change; check with the venue for the most up-to-date information.

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wednesday november 14 9:45 pm Urban Chestnut Presents

the voodoo players tribute to john hartford thursday november 15 9 pm

jd hughes & the fuze friday november 16 10 pm

clusterpluck picken to feed fundraiser friday november 16 5-11 pm saturday november 17 noon-11 pm

bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best of bob food festival

saturday november 17 10 pm

hillary fitz band with special guests brother francis & the soul tones wednesday november 21 9:45 pm Urban Chestnut Presents

the voodoo players

tribute to sweet soul music

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OUT EVERY NIGHT Continued from pg 57

TUESDAY 20

EMILY WATSON: 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. KASBO: 8 p.m., $15-$25. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. ST. LOUIS SOCIAL CLUB: 8 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. STREET SECTS: 7 p.m., $10-$12. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. WHITECHAPEL: w/ Chelsea Grin, Oceano, Slaughter To Prevail 7 p.m., $20-$24. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.

WEDNESDAY 21

AARON KAMM & THE ONE DROPS: 9 p.m., $10. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. ADVANCE BASE: w/ Hunter Dragon, From a Cloud 8:30 p.m., $7. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. ASHES TO STARDUST: THE MUSIC OF DAVID BOWIE: 8 p.m., $10. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. BASSAMP & DANO’S 3ND ANNUAL PRE-THANKSGIVING TURKEY TOSS BASH: 9 p.m., $7. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226. BIG RICH MCDONOUGH & RHYTHM RENEGADES: 7 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. BLAC YOUNGSTA: 8 p.m., $13-$15. Fubar, 3108 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-289-9050. BOXCAR: 7 p.m., free. 50Fifty Kitchen, 3723 S Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, 314-875-9623. ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS: 8 p.m., $35.50-$128.50. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600. JASON COOPER BAND: 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. 13TH ANNUAL LAST WALTZ & THE BAND CELEBRATION: w/ The Stag Nite All-Stars 6 p.m., $15. South Broadway Athletic Club, 2301 S. Seventh St., St. Louis, 314-776-4833. THE MIGHTY PINES: w/ The Way Down Wanderers 9 p.m., $12-$15. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. RAZAKEL AND THE SLICE GIRLS: w/ Histio, Douuble You, Hard Jawz, Crackle Capone 6:30 p.m., $10-$13. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. ROGERS & NIENHAUS: 7 p.m., free. Hwy 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen, 34 S Old Orchard Ave, Webster Groves, 314-968-0061. SONIC MISCHIEF: 9 p.m., free. Nightshift Bar & Grill, 3979 Mexico Road, St. Peters, 636-441-8300. THE STATE PROPERTY REUNION TOUR: w/ Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Young GUNZ, Peedi Crakk 8 p.m., $25-$50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. THANKSGIVING EVE WITH THE RUM DRUM RAMBLERS: 7:30 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521. WHY? PLAYS ALOPECIA: 7 p.m., $15-$18. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929.

THIS JUST IN AHMAD JAMAL: Sat., March 30, 8:30 p.m., $40$50. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900. AJ MITCHELL: W/ Marteen, Fri., March 1, 8 p.m., $15-$18. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. BACKSTREET BOYS: Fri., Sept. 6, 6 p.m., TBA. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888. BROTHERS OSBORNE: W/ Ruston Kelly, Fri., March 8, 8 p.m., $34-$37. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF ST. LOUIS’ 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA: Mon., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., $35.50$265. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900.

CHERUB: W/ Mosie, Sat., Jan. 19, 8 p.m., $20$23. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. DENNIS DEYOUNG: Fri., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., $45. Sat., Feb. 16, 8 p.m., $45. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. JEFF TWEEDY BOOK TOUR: W/ Jon Hamm, Sat., Nov. 17, 7 p.m., $31-$36. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. JIM JEFFERIES: Fri., May 3, 8 p.m., $36.50$46.50. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600. JUDY COLLINS: Sun., Dec. 2, 7 p.m., $150. Espenschied Chapel, 317 County Road, Mascoutah, 618-566-7425. LANY: Tue., April 30, 8 p.m., $25-$30. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. MAGGIE ROSE: Fri., Jan. 11, 8 p.m., $18-$20. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. MICHAEL BUBLÉ: Fri., March 22, 8 p.m., $65$135. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., St. Louis, 314-241-1888. MICKEY GILLEY & JOHNNY LEE: Sun., March 3, 7:30 p.m., $34.50. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. MIKE STUD: Wed., Jan. 23, 8 p.m., $25-$27.50. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. MOZES AND THE FIRSTBORN: W/ The Parrots, Fri., Feb. 8, 8 p.m., $10. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. NEEDTOBREATHE: W/ Matt Maeson, Mon., Feb. 18, 7 p.m., $26.50-$76.50. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600. ROLAND JOHNSON & SOUL ENDEAVOR: Fri., Nov. 23, 8 p.m., $3. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565. SEAN CANAN’S VOODOO PLAYERS: $8. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. SKEET RODGERS & INNER CITY BLUES BAND: Sat., Nov. 17, 10:30 p.m., $10. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. SOULARD BLUES BAND: Mon., Nov. 19, 9 p.m., $5. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811. ST. LOUIS SOCIAL CLUB: Tue., Nov. 20, 8 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. SUPER DIAMOND: THE NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE: Sat., Feb. 9, 8 p.m., $35. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, 314-388-7777. THE MONKEES: MICHAEL NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ: Sat., March 16, 7:30 p.m., $50-$100. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St Charles, 636-896-4200. THOR AXE: W/ Lazer Wulf, Double Ferrari, Sun., Dec. 9, 8 p.m., $10. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. TOM HALL: Sat., Nov. 17, 5 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TORREY CASEY & SOUTHSIDE HUSTLE: Thu., Nov. 15, 10 p.m., $5. BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222. TRAIN, GOO GOO DOLLS: W/ Allen Stone, Sat., June 22, 7 p.m., TBA. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944. A TRIBUTE TO MIKE G: W/ Hounds, Austin McCutchen, The Ragstripes, Sat., Nov. 17, 8 p.m., $5. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-772-2100. VAN BUREN ALBUM RELEASE SHOW: W/ Alan Smithee, Slow Damage, Kilverez, Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., $8-$10. The Firebird, 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, 314-535-0353. VOODOO BEATLES PERFORM REVOLVER: W/ Sean Canan’s Voodoo Players, Sat., Dec. 1, 9 p.m., $12-$15. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505. WHISKEY MYERS: Thu., June 13, 8 p.m., $25-$30. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161. WILLIAM CLARK GREEN & BRENT COBB: Fri., Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m., $20-$35. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989. ZAC BROWN BAND: Fri., April 26, 7 p.m., TBA. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944. n

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SAVAGE LOVE BOUND AND GAGGING BY DAN SAVAGE Hey, Dan: I’ve always wanted to tie girls up, but I can never convince a woman to let me. Lately, I’ve been exploring “bondage singles” sites online, but I’m totally new to this. How do I know which ones I can trust? There are hundreds of profiles, but it’s hard for me to believe I can really just answer an ad, meet a girl in a hotel room, and tie her up. It can’t be that simple, can it? The Internet’s Enticing Dates It can’t be and it isn’t, TIED, because no woman in her right mind is going to let some man she’s never met before tie her up in a hotel room. That’s not to say it couldn’t happen or hasn’t ever happened, but women stupid enough to take that risk are rare — and it should go without saying that any singles website promising to provide lonely guys with an endless stream of stupid women is a scam. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Justin Gorbey is a bondage practitioner and educator, as well as a professional artist and tattooer. Gorbey ties up a lot of women, as you can see on his Instagram account (@daskinbaku), and he doesn’t think you’re going to find someone on a “bondage singles” site, either. “I would recommend this person step away from the dating sites and step into some educational group meet-ups or ‘munches,’” said Gorbey. “TIED or any new person should focus on groups that match their own desires/interests, and connections will develop organically with time and effort — with a lot of fucking time and effort!” Kink social and education groups organize online but meet up offline — face to face, IRL, in meatspace — at munches (educational talks, no actual play) and play parties (actual play, hence the name). To find the kink organization(s) in your area, TIED, Gorbey suggests that you create a profile on FetLife, the biggest social network for kinky people, and start connecting with other likeminded kinksters at munches. “Going to munches will not only give TIED a chance to meet peo-

ple,” said Gorbey, “they’ll give him a ‘guide’ for how to act — most groups generally go over house safe words/etiquette/rules and consent/risk awareness at the beginning of a munch — and they’ll also give what I call a ‘visual vocabulary’ of what a real-life scene looks like. Porn and fetish fantasy often distort our perceptions of what is plausible or even possible for real people in a real-life scenario. Just watching others play helped me identify the things I found attractive as both a top and a bottom.” There are lots of men and women out there who are interested in bondage, TIED, and the organized kink scene is the best place to find safe and sane play partners. You’ll be able to interact with kinky women at munches and parties, women who will be a lot likelier to let you tie them up after you’ve demonstrated you’re safe and sane yourself. “There are hours of intimacy before and after the moment captured for an Instagram photo,” said Gorbey. “These relationships require trust, vulnerability and communication. These acts require a lot of hard work and commitment, and they expose a person to risk. That’s why the only responsible answer to TIED’s question is to seek education first and play partners second.” Justin Gorbey teaches workshops and intensives on a number of subjects centering on bondage and power exchange dynamics. To see his work and learn about his workshops, follow him on Instagram @daskinbaku. Hey, Dan: I’m a monogamous woman in a committed relationship with a nonmonogamous man. I try to be cool about his other relationships, but I’m trying to figure out how to bring some fire back into ours. I miss oral sex, but that’s not on the table because he “doesn’t like” how I taste. I’ve suggested bondage and anal, but he says he’s “too tired.” He can make plans with others to have exciting new experiences, but he doesn’t have any energy for me. I’m at a loss. Counseling is not an option for us because he doesn’t believe in that stuff. Any suggestions? Seeking Adventurous Monogamishamy Yes, stop doing his laundry or

“There are hours of intimacy before and after the moment captured for an Instagram photo.” paying his rent or preparing his meals — stop doing whatever it is you’re doing that your shit boyfriend values and is reluctant to give up, SAM, because it’s clear he doesn’t value you. DTMFA. Hey, Dan: I’m a 44-year-old straight woman. I’ve been married for fourteen years to a husband I love very much. We have two small children. Early in our courtship, I discovered his interest in bottoming during fem-Dom pegging sessions. I GGG’d his desires, and we explored them. He bought a variety of dildos, strapon harnesses and kink ephemera, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the few times we’ve done this. But I’ve grown less interested over the years. We both work, there are kids to look after — and when we have sex, I just want to get it over with and move on with our day, not deal with the pageantry of dress up, stiletto heels, collars and cuffs, lubricating buttholes, graduating to bigger dildos in a session, etc. The vanilla-leaning sex we have is great, and we are both into it, but I know being bound and pegged is his fantasy and he is less fulfilled by not having it on the menu. How do I get more motivated to indulge him? Do I have to give him a pass to seek out a pro-Dom to indulge this? (Not sure how I feel about that.) Ultimately, I don’t hate indulging his fantasy, and it really does it for him. Not sure what to do. Frequently Evading My Dude’s Obsessions Mostly You discovered your husband’s kinks during your courtship — an unspecified period of time prior to the wedding, the kids, etc. And while you say you’ve GGG’d his kinks over the fourteen-plus years you’ve been together, FEMDOM, it’s hard to square that claim with this: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed [pegging him] the few times we’ve

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done this.” Indulging someone a few times over fourteen-plus years hardly counts as GGG’ing their desires. Being “good, giving and game” for anything — within reason — doesn’t obligate us to do whatever our partners want. But if something is truly central to your partner’s erotic self, then being GGG — being a loving partner — means making an accommodation, FEMDOM, finding a work-around that allows your partner to express this aspect of their sexuality without requiring you to do something you find tedious, a turnoff or traumatizing. That accommodation can be something as simple as cheerfully allowing your partner to indulge their kinks with porn or during solo play (emphasis on the word cheerfully) to something as challenging as allowing your partner to explore their kinks with others, e.g., play partners or professionals. If your husband isn’t feeling neglected — if he enjoys hurry-upand-get-it-over-with sex as much as you do and wants to be tied up and pegged only once every five years — then you don’t have a problem. But if he’s feeling resentful, you do have a problem. Resentment has a way of metastasizing into bitterness, and bitterness has a way of curdling into the kind of anger that can doom a relationship. So check in with your husband, FEMDOM, and be clear about your feelings: You don’t hate indulging his fantasy, but you’re both busy, you have small children, and his fantasies require a lot of prep and setup. Tell him you want him to be happy — and, hey, if he is happy, then great. But if he’s not, then it’s time to talk accommodation. You don’t want him to go without, you don’t want him to see a pro, and you don’t want him to feel bad about the sex you do have and both enjoy. So how about this: You get grandparents or good friends to look after your kids once a year while you spend a restful weekend in a nice hotel pegging the husband’s ass between spa treatments. Listen to Dan’s podcast at savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter ITMFA.org

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HARPO’S

St. Louis’ ONLY Axe Throwing Bar and Grill

By any measure, Harpo’s is synonymous with the University of Missouri, though no official link combines them. Instead, an organic symbiosis has occurred since the homegrown food-and-drink chain opened its first location in 1971. Though Mizzou alumni make up a natural customer base, they’re not the only folks who’ve discovered Harpo’s appeal. Locations are now flourishing in St. Louis, Kansas City and, of course, the home base of Columbia. An ideal place to meet up with friends or have a solo bite/sip on the way home from work, Harpo’s has “proudly served Saint Louis and the surrounding area for over 20 years,” according to its website. “A Missouri staple.” Our local outpost is found in the Hilltown Village Center of Chesterfield, where Tiger fans mix and mingle with folks interested in Harpo’s wideranging menu of American comfort food, along with a full bar featuring all the usual favorites and what’s one of the best patios in west county. It goes without saying that the Tigers will be featured any time they kick off on a fall Saturday or hit the hardwood over the winter, with the TVs glued to the local pro teams the rest of the year. With multiple screens, you need never worry about missing the Cards or Blues.

For those who’ve yet to visit Harpo’s, arguably the best time to stop by is in the afternoon, when happy hour specials extend across both the food and beverage menus. From the latter list, folks can enjoy savings from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. On those days, you can also ﬁnd $2.50 domestic drafts and domestic bottles, $4 house wines and $5 jumbo wells. If you order an appetizer, you can take $2 off of the normal price. A wide range of food specials are available daily as well, so you can double-dip your savings and enjoy a nice meal with your afternoon sip seven days a week. On Monday, it’s a chicken Parmesan sandwich, served with a side. On Tuesday, three tacos (along with chips and salsa) are on special, while Wednesdays offer a 10-ounce strip steak with two sides. On Thursdays, it’s an American classic: meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. The Friday ﬁsh special is a beer-battered cod with chips. Saturday’s a bit of a wild card, with a rotating specials list changing weekly. And Sunday brings burger madness, featuring a burger with or without cheese that runs only $5.99 when you also order a beverage. All are detailed at harposstl.com.

FREE Axe Throwing with Food and Beverage Purchase!

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

HARPO’S | 136 Hilltown Village Center Chesterfield, MO 63017 | Harposstl.com

HAPPY HOUR MONDAY – SATURDAY 4 TO 7PM

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

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1740 S. Brentwood Blvd

HAPPY HOUR @ BARCELONA M-F 3:30 – 6:30

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

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

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

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

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•The ONLY place where you can get $12 Pitchers of SANGRIA in Town!!! •The BEST Calamari! •The BEST VIBE!

•The Usual stuff everybody else does!

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

NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2018

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HAPPY HOUR WEEKDAYS TIL 7PM $2 WELLS & DOMESTICS 1730 South 8th Street | Soulard

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