July 2015 - Vital VOICE Magazine - The Nightlife Issue by The Vital Voice Magazine

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CEO & PARTNER • DARIN SLYMAN DSLY@THEVITALVOICE.COM PUBLISHER & PARTNER • JIMMY LESCH JIMMY@THEVITALVOICE.COM ART DIRECTOR • MELANIE LAYER-GASKELL MELANIE@MELANIELAYER.COM CONTENT MANAGER • KEVIN SCHMIDT KEVIN@THEVITALVOICE.COM WRITER • CHRIS ANDOE CHRIS@THEVITALVOICE.COM WRITER • DENNY PATTERSON DENNY@THEVITALVOICE.COM WRITER • KARLA TEMPLETON KARLATEMPLETON1213@GMAIL.COM CONTRIBUTORS ART: DARIN SLYMAN, MELANIE LAYER-GASKELL, MARK MOORE, JON BARBE, MAGNUS HASTINGS, OUTSPORTS, JAMES WHITE/E! TEXT: JIMMY LESCH, KEVIN SCHMIDT, CHRIS ANDOE, DENNY PATTERSON, KARLA TEMPLETON, CURTIS GALLOWAY DESIGN: MELANIE LAYER-GASKELL, GRANT SWANSON ONLINE THEVITALVOICE.COM FACEBOOK.COM/VITALVOICE TWITTER.COM/VITALVOICE YOUTUBE.COM/THEVITALVISION INSTAGRAM.COM/VITALVOICE CONTACT VITAL VOICE MAGAZINE 4579 LACLEDE AVE #268 ST. LOUIS, MO 63108 VV@THEVITALVOICE.COM ST. LOUIS: 314.256.1196 ADVERTISING VV@THEVITALVOICE.COM

July 2015

25K ISSUES PRINTED MONTHLY 400+ POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS AND KANSAS CITY AREA

JULY 2015 | Volume 16 | Issue 7

CONTENTS GUEST EDITOR LETTER

ALDERMAN SHANE COHN MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE

HALFWAY TO SOMEWHERE LUCKY YOU

LILLY’S MUSIC & SOCIAL HOUSE ROLODEX OF HATE

BIANCA DEL RIO BIG MOVES, ROYAL RESPONSES

26. WWE DIVA NATALYA

MATT SCHULTE DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

THE EMPEROR OF ST. LOUIS SEAL THE DEAL PUMP! UP FOR SUMMER SELLING ST. LOUIS PLAYDATES STL SCENE KC SCENE LAST CALL

35 36 38 40 44 46 49

HIRO ASIAN KITCHEN

Returns to E!’s Total Divas for Season 4 on July 7th at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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LIVE RIVER CITY

PETER FRAMPTON

8/18 • 8 PM • $49.50 – $100

CHIPPENDALES

8/28 & 8/29 • 8 PM $22.50 – $67.50 (Show open to both men and women)

LAST COMIC STANDING 9/25 • 8 PM • $27.50 – $47.50

RALPHIE MAY

10/2 • 8 PM • $29.50 – $49.50

JOSH TURNER

11/3 • 8 PM • $37.50 – $67.50 For tickets, visit RiverCity.com, Ticketmaster.com or call 800.745.3000.

July 2015

GUEST EDITOR

We survived hibernation, summer is upon us and in St. Louis, that means a hot time! Whether a native St. Louisan or a visitor, there’s an abundance of activities to explore and enjoy in the summer weather, or simply take a break from it altogether! July starts off with the celebration of Independence Day, and St. Louis does it BIG! Fair St. Louis, taking place again this year in Forest Park, is one of America’s biggest birthday parties! Following up from that is the regular free music festival in the world-renowned Missouri Botanical Gardens every Wednesday throughout the month, and while you’re there make sure to take time and visit the Chinese Lantern Festival. No summer in St. Louis is complete without at least catching one Cardinals baseball game, and some Ted Drewes Frozen Custard afterward (I’m a bit biased, but prefer the location on South Grand Blvd. since it’s close to home!), or a nice evening at The Muny watching some of the brightest actors and actresses performing classic and new Broadway musicals!

If you’re a little shy around crowds and want to explore the natural beauty of our great region, there are beautiful wineries in Missouri’s wine country. You can also take a bike ride around our area’s awesome Great River Trail system, or even take a drive a little further and go on a float trip down the Meramec River (It’s only a 20 minute drive in St. Louis-time, but for most others it’s about 45-60 minutes away). This July also has a new way for St. Louisans and guests to cool off: Slide the City! If you want to relive the fun of your childhood and slide down a gigantic slip-and-slide in the middle of downtown St. Louis, now’s your chance! Whatever your summer desires, St. Louis has a way to fulfill them. Enjoy and stay cool! Yours in pride, Shane Cohn

Alderman, City of St. Louis Member, CVC LGBT Task Force

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STL CVC AD

July 2015

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You met him on online, she moved away for a job. Hours of driving seems daunting and flights are at an all time high (minus the joke that is the Southwest sale and that the site that keeps crashing). Meet halfway or run away for a weekend with friends instead. Hit the road this summer and explore these hidden friendly meccas.

July 2015

St. Louis and Kansas City Columbia, MO Distance: 1 hr 55 min (124.7 miles)

Normally viewed as the pit stop on the I-70 trek to KC, Columbia is more than a spot to fuel up and stretch your legs - this college town packs a pretty good party. Catch live music at The Blue Note, lattes at Lakota, craft beer at Arch and Column Pub or kick back at lesbian-owned Tellers Gallery and Bar for the game. Rag Time Cinema offers unique options with indie films and documentaries. Overall, this town really is a hub for LGBT good times. Take advantage of AirBnB for a place to stay, and you can run wild.

St. Louis and Fayetteville Eureka Springs, AR Distance: 4 hr 52 min (295.2 miles)

The streets are cobblestone, the buildings are from prohibitionand the fading paint advertising “miracle tonics” still remain after all these years. While no official gay bar exists in Eureka due to the overall acceptance of everyone, the whole town is a place for sanctuary. They have three seasonal diversity weekends throughout the year. Magnetic Valley Retreat offers an exclusive private men’s retreat, historic haunted hotels and a multitude of B&Bs. Ask the locals where to drink and dine. This city is so adorable that it makes you look into retiring there.

text KARLA TEMPLETON art MELANIE LAYER

HALFWAY TO SOMEWHERE St. Louis and Nashville

St. Louis and Tulsa

Land Between The Lakes Distance: 3 hr 27 min (217.0 miles)

Route 66 Road Trip/Lake of The Ozarks Distance: 2 hr 45 min (161.1 miles)

Created by JFK in 1963, Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky gives you access to more than 300 miles of underdeveloped shoreline, 500 miles of trails and 170,000 acres of forest and open land. This piece of heaven on earth is a camping weekend EVENT: Horseback riding, off-roading (atv), fishing, hiking, kayaking, even a planetarium to look at the stars. Switch up your camping style this year and go enjoy some new scenery.

Take on the Lake of the Ozarks or find the world’s largest rocking chair. Get your wine on at one of the many options in St. James, visit a cavern and count the ratio of churches to porn stores. Highway 44 in all of its glory is always an adventure, so staying in a seedy roadside motel for the inevitable stories is a must-do. Bonus points: find Sin City along the way. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure in a restaurant/strip club/tattoo shop combo you just can’t miss.

St. Louis and Louisville

St. Louis and Minneapolis

Holiday World/Splashin’ Safari Distance 2 hr 58 min (197.5 miles)

Cedar Rapids/Gay Vegas Distance: 4 hr 24 min (284.1 miles)

We know you love the HOLIGAYS! Want to go over the top for Christmas in July? Older than Disney World, this holiday-themed amusement park in southern Indiana gives you the chance to experience Christmas on a roller coaster in the middle of summer. Eat Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy free soft drinks and parking. A safarithemed water park is also a part of this epicenter of jingle jangle, nestled in the town of Santa Claus, Ind. Need we say more?

Like the sands of Nevada, the cornfields of Iowa embrace you as you enter this strangely accepting land. Cedar Rapids has the typical museums, bars and nightlife you would expect from any metropolis, except here you can get married- even before the “Notorious RBG” gives us the go-ahead everywhere else. Shake hands with a farmer and listen to the stories of the land. Club Basix is also a good time for a more “Britney” vibe. And don’t forget to check your Grindr- I hear this is a very handsome area for lumberjacks. V thevitalVOICE.com

July 2015

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Lilly’s Lucky You:

Welcome to your new bar: a home base for ladies who love ladies and all who celebrate good music, delicious drinks and great women. A new establishment in a historical building, Lilly’s reflects the past and present of our ever-evolving community. Lilly’s - Music and Social House is now open at 2321 Arsenal. Behind the bar sits a gift from the building’s previous occupants: a photo. In faded black and white, two men stand proud of the doors behind them in 1898. 2321 Arsenal was a butcher shop then, perfectly capping the edge of Benton Park as the history of our city was evolving all around. Lemp Brewery was functioning nearby with prohibition just around the corner in 1919. In the 1930s, the building housed a cigar shop that was proud to support

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St. Louis’ Musicians’ Mutual Benefit Association and, through the following years, a slew of staple businesses that provided a purpose for the community. Stamping her place in this historical timeline most recently is Lilly’s owner Kristen Goodman. With her partner Elizabeth Fuchs (Lilly), for whom the business is named, she has embraced the historical vibe, the stories of our past and created a new space rich in history for all of us to learn from and enjoy. “We need a place like this,” Goodman explains. “A place where you can have a nice glass of wine or a nice bite to eat- enjoy conversation, maybe a little bit of live music or just a casual atmosphere. We need somewhere you can sit on the patio and enjoy conversation with your friends.” Upon receiving the keys and the go-ahead, Goodman created a Kick-Starter campaign to help gain necessary financial support for the start-up business. The initial goal was $11,000, the favorite number of Goodman (11). The community received the invite and Goodman sang a song requesting the help to see her dream realized. In the end, $12,914 was raised by 150 backers on the popular crowd-sourcing site, which significantly contributed to the overall cost of the project. “I’m just really grateful,” Goodman says. “This is a dream come true and I couldn’t have done it without the help of so many people. There

were friends and family who were pulling long hours helping with the renovation and it’s been fun getting to know people better- friends who maybe I just sort of knew as acquaintances when this project got started are now some of my best friends because they were here all the time, helping out and helping me make this happen. And old friends have come out of the woodwork to show support. It’s just been really cool to have this community backing, and I couldn’t have done it without them.” The support shown to fulfill Goodman’s dream speaks to not only the bar owner’s character, but the community’s desire to fill an all-too-obvious void. “We know how powerful it is to have a community homebase where you feel welcomed and accepted,” she continues. “We believe in the power of creating a positive, happy and uplifting gathering place. At Lilly’s - Music & Social House, the product is not just the food and beverages, but the memories, friendships and experiences we create for our patrons.” In remodeling the space specifically to Goodman’s vision, friends old and new worked endlessly to get the doors ready to open for their premier night of June 6, 2015. From the moment you walk in, you can see the love, sweat and happy tears that went into this project. Unique in its refurbished and upcycled decor, the backdrop to the bar itself seems to tell a story of years past. The shelves are from The International Shoe Company, which was housed on the Lemp Brewery grounds after the brewery’s

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closing. The tables are handcrafted by Joe Fuchs’ (Lilly’s father) butcher block style - a sweet and coincidental throwback to the former butcher shop. Mason jars are used for drinks and for light fixtures. Quaint and intimate, the atmosphere inside is undeniably warm and inviting. It provides the perfect setting for musicians to serenade you from the refurbished piano that welcomes you as you enter from Jefferson and Arsenal. Lilly’s is the ultimate communitygathering place inside and out. The tavern compliments the music venue, and both are highlighted in the charming outdoor patio. The menu at Lilly’s is perfectly in line with Goodman’s vision for the space. In design and execution, it is clean and simple, yet there’s plenty to hold onto. Featuring craft beer, wine, pizzas, snacks, small plates and handcrafted cocktails, each item pays homage to the bar’s mission of appreciating women. Enjoy beverages

like the “Lily Tom-lin Collins,” the “Chely OhSo-Wright,” and the “Joan Jett Rocks”, among others. They’re fresh recipes catering to a variety of palates. The wine and beer selections are excellent as well, featuring a long list of import and domestic selections. Whether your taste is micro or macro, there’s something to fit the bill. Goodman is proud of the work put into the concept, the menu and the building itself. If you know this entrepreneur though, you know it doesn’t stop here. “I’m proud of owners like John and Jeromy (Just John), Jim and Chad (Rehab Bar & Grill), and others who continually update their spaces. They’re always improving on them and investing back in the bar. The community sees that and appreciates that. I definitely want to follow their example on that and continue to improve the space and, over time, make it better.

I hope we have a pretty good start.” The start has been phenomenal to say the least. Beginning with an incredibly successful crowdsourcing campaign, the new community staple opened their doors to a sold out crowd on night one. With such a successful beginning and the promise to continually improve, it appears Lilly’s - Music and Social House is here to stay. For the latest news on operating hours, live performances and events, check out Lilly’s on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” their page and show support by visiting this new community gem in person. It’s not to be missed. V

text KARLA TEMPLETON art DARIN SLYMAN thevitalVOICE.com

July 2015

ALL SUMMER LONG

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ROLODEX OF HATE

ROLLS INTO ST. LOUIS

text DENNY PATTERSON art MAGNUS HASTINGS

A self-proclaimed “clown in a dress,” Del Rio is a costume designer, theatrical performer and insult comedian who is best known for being the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race sixth season. Global accolades, along with a Live Nation comedy tour, have brought this controversial comedian and drag queen into the public eye. Del Rio received the Best New Television Personality award from NewNowNext in December 2014, earned a commercial debut for Starbucks and even chatted in bed with the late Joan Rivers on her popular YouTube series, “In Bed With Joan.”

Vital VOICE Magazine in association with Murray & Peter is proud to present a night of outrageous comedy as Bianca Del Rio storms the stage of the Sheldon Concert Hall on August 15.

Del Rio now continues to tour the world, enthralling fans with her raw and racy aesthetic. There’s no way to hide from her sharp wit, dismembering humor and perceptive commentary, which will deflate anyone’s ego. Step into her line of fire- it’s an experience you won’t want to miss. Vital VOICE received the pleasure to chat with Del Rio about her upcoming visit to St. Louis, touring with other queens and her time on RuPaul’s Drag Race. So tell me, how does it feel to step off the throne and pass on the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar? [Laughs] Well let’s be honest: I’m not going anywhere, but it’s been an amazing ride. The advantages and all of the groundwork that you do in those first few months after you win prep you for the next year or so. Luckily, I have been very fortunate to have my schedule booked for the rest of the year, which is quite exciting as I enjoy working. I wish the next person the best of luck. It’s definitely an amazing opportunity that has changed my life in many ways. Everybody has a different past as we know, so I look forward to seeing what they do with it. How has the “Rolodex of Hate” tour been going for you? It’s been amazing. This show started by my manager asking me to write a show. I was kind of hesitant at first because I’m not really a good writer. I don’t write jokes per se. For me, it’s a lot of improv, and thinking about coming up with an hour and a half of material was a little overwhelming. So I did my first show in New York at the Gramercy Theatre, and the interesting

July 2015

thing was that the show was already sold out for three nights before I even wrote it. It was a weird process for me, but once I got into it I never shut up. Now, it’ll be a four hour show. But it’s been amazing because we’ve been all over the U.S. and Australia, and I’ll be doing it in London and Manchester as well. I’ve been lucky because when you first begin Drag Race, your first gigs out are usually in bars or special events, which are fun and great, but I wanted to transition into more of a theatre setting. So, it’s been nice to actually be in a space where people want to hear what you have to say, not just a bunch of drunk people coming to get a picture because they saw you on TV. What exactly can audiences expect from your show? Give us a hint. I always tell people to expect the unexpected. There’s a portion of the show that’s scripted only because it’s the particular content of the show, so people will feel like they’re getting the same show. Otherwise, there’s always some bitter queen in the back complaining that she heard I said this or that and flips out on it. So expect the unexpected. You know, I also have a glass of wine during my show, so it depends on how much I drink and where it goes. Sometimes, I’m watching the clock in my head and other times I forget there’s a time limit. How is “Rolodex of Hate” different from “Battle of the Seasons?” “Battle of the Seasons” is only a 15-20 minute set, and that was just portions of things I talk about. Of course, I talk about the other queens on the tour. They get a kick out of that. I was luckily placed in the middle of the show. Everybody was doing two numbers, usually much to the audience’s dismay, I must say, for some of the. But I was in the middle of the show and it was just easier for me to call out everybody at that point who we’ve already seen. You know me, whenever Sharon Needles is involved, there are always 20 jokes. So that worked out well, but it’s more fun at diffrent levels. It’s kind of hard to get an audience on your side without the proper setup when you only have 15-20 minutes.

What would you say is your favorite part about performing? I would have to say the audience laughing – there’s nothing better than that. The energy you get off of people. I mean, I’ve been lucky enough to be at a funeral to make people laugh. Most of the time, I don’t know what I’m going to say or where I’m going to go with it. But 90 percent of the jokes come from someone else’s response to some stupid shit, so I love that. You know a huge part of me is being honest, and audiences are usually brutally honest. If they don’t like something, you know immediately. I like treading that line. Are you really a bad bitch or was that just all in the editing in Drag Race? No, I am. I mean, I’m perfectly capable of it without a doubt! People have called it bitchy, I just call it honest. It doesn’t mean I’m right, but it doesn’t mean you have to like it. I stand by that, which is why social media and people that particularly don’t like me or my aesthetic don’t bother me. Has anyone ever read you that left you speechless? Uh, no [laughs]. But honestly, there’s nothing better than going to lunch with someone like Jackie Beat and cackling and just going at each other. Or getting a random, hateful call from Bunny will set me off and we’ll laugh forever. Even Michelle Visage, she can be so goddamn shady, and it’s so much fun. Never has something stopped me dead in my tracks, but I’ll give credit when credit’s due. On occasion, all of them have gotten me with something good. Even Sharon. I’m like “all right, that was a good one. I’ve give you that, bitch.” Don’t miss Bianca Del Rio’s performance at the Sheldon Concert Hall on Saturday, August 15 at 8 p.m. For more information and ticket prices, please visit thesheldon.org. VIP tickets include a pre-show meet & greet at 6:30 p.m. V

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SEARCHING FOR A CITY WITH A PULSE ON THE GAY COMMUNITY?

Look for the heart. You don’t need a coast to pick a side. Equality is right here in Kansas City. And with attractions like our vibrant Power & Light District, numerous art galleries, and some of the best dining and nightlife you’ll find, there’s more to love in KC than ever before. VisitKC.com/LGBT Win a KC Pride Fest Getaway, including a one-night hotel stay and VIP tickets to the event. Enter at VisitKC.com/Pride-Fest.

July 2015

Bold Moves, Royal Responses Matt Schulte has been settling into his own skin these days since his courageous coming out story last fall. Working as Marketing Coordinator for the Kansas City Royals, Schulte himself is breaking barriers in one of the toughest industries to be openly gay in. text KEVIN SCHMIDT ART OUTSPORTS

t’s more than just a dream job for Schulte, it’s about being part of a baseball family that was an inspiration to him when he was young, and now even more so in the past year. Following such a remarkable season in 2014, the Royals nearly clenched the World Series title before falling to the San Francisco Giants. That sense of drive and pride drove Matt to be bold himself, ultimately publicly coming out of the closet via Outsports following the Royals’ postseason. As baseball kicks into full swing this summer, Vital VOICE caught up with Matt to see how both he and the Royals are doing following such an explosive season. /// What was the inspiration behind your coming out back in November? I connected with Sid, the founder of Outsports, and talked a little bit last summer. When the Royals went to the postseason during the World Series, Sid reached out to me and said, “I’d like to do a story about you after it’s all over.” I had no hesitation. It’d be a great way to get my story out because I had really struggled telling my story to people and coming out. I grew up a big Royals fan, and for me it was just that perfect way that sports can transcend life and affect you. It changed me in a way that I just needed to come to my senses with everything and be proud of who I am and enjoy who I am. And so after the World Series, it all made sense. /// I know Billy Bean inspired you. How did he help you with all of this? I got to meet him during the World Series in San Francisco. Just

to have someone up above, from a major league baseball level as a kind of blanket, was really helpful to me. I knew of his story before I met him, but he’s just been an encouragement for me. The one thing for me was to have someone from major league baseball say, “Hey I’m here for you. If there’s anything that you need, reach out. What you’re doing is okay, and it will be all right.” /// How worried were you about breaking tradition, both professionally and personally? A little bit. Baseball is more of a traditional sport- more of a conservative sport. But that still did not prohibit me from being who I am or being proud of who I am. I was never really worried about the reaction, or with the Royals. While baseball is kind of set in our ways, which is fine, that’s how the sport kind of runs. I was still not too worried about it or too concerned about it. I didn’t want to let that distract me from getting my word out. /// How do you think that players’ coming out stories have helped inclusion in professional sports? It’s helped a ton, and it’s helped me a lot. To see how everyone would react to them, and to see them come out is definitely influential to the others, including myself. I’ve just been very surprised by how positive the reactions have been to everybody. They’ve been just tremendous leaders in terms of this whole movement on the sports side where masculinity kind of takes over in a way. It’s probably the toughest industry to be gay and to still feel like you’re a man and that sort of thing. So having them go first thevitalVOICE.com

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July 2015

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and having that sort of courage has been awesome- not only for me but for everybody, on the players’ side and the business side. /// What have been some of the positive and negative reactions you’ve received since your coming out? Good question. I actually don’t know if there has really been anything bad. I’ve been shocked, I have received nothing negative at all from anybody. I received all positive comments from people at the Royals, and all baseball- from my family members, my grandma to people I used to work with. I almost feel like people respect me more, especially around the office. People will shake my hand at work and say “congrats, that story was awesome.” I think it changed the perception of me a little bit for some people, and it changed me. You know, obviously coming out changes you for the better- you feel more free and more self-confident. So, I guess the next step for me is learning to live an openly gay life, which I’m not used to doing. The next transformational step for me is being open about it, talking to people at work about stuff I’m doing or telling my dad that I went to a show with a guy. I’m still working on being comfortable with myself in situations and figuring out where my role is. I want to be a leader, in a way, but I’ve got to just figure out where my place is. People are encouraging me to step up a little bit. I want to take some risks and do some things, non-profit, civic, or pride-related, but it’s just figuring out where my comfort level is with those things.

/// Can you touch on the “Out with the Royals” event this month? It’s a grassroots effort this year created by a few people who are very passionate about baseball and also Pride. There are several teams that sponsor a pride night and the teams do pretty well. This year, they decided to do a grassroots effort. The Royals do not sponsor it, but it’s more of a group ticket initiative that got approved. They’re doing a tailgate out in the parking lot, and I know part of the ticket sales gets donated back to our local AIDS chapter, which is great. So there’s a charity component to it, a tailgate component to it and then enjoying a Royals game. It’s gotten some nice momentum on social media and ticket sales are doing very good, so we’ll see how it goes. If sales go well, then I might approach them about having the Royals sponsor something like that in the future. There seems to be a lot of Royals fans that want to do it, and there are a lot of gay sports fans. /// What is the difference that you notice between Royals fans and Cardinals fans? Things have kind of changed now, but I feel like the Cardinals are the big brother and the Royals are the little brother in a way. I’ve got to hand it to the Cardinals fans- they’re probably one of the best in baseball: they’re very loyal, they act the same everyday, they wear their red and travel and show up when the Cardinals play in Kansas City. I think the rivalry is great- it’s good to have that, and I feel like it’s been revitalized now and there’s now more of a battle between the two teams. I think the rivalry is at its best stage it’s been in 20 years.

/// Tell us about what you do as marketing Coordinator for the royals? I’ve been with the Royals for five years now. I’m probably the “all hands on deck guy” in the marketing department, which I like because I get to wear a lot of different hats. The giveaways: bobble heads, t-shirts and the kind of stuff that you get at the gates when you sometimes walk in. And theme nights: we do a girl’s night, retro night, student night, family day and a day where you bring your dog to the park. More of those sort of promotional nights, my department handles that. Coming up in August we do retro night, which is a lot of fun. We turn back the clock to the 1970’s, we’re giving away a retro jersey, we encourage people to dress up in 70’s clothes and we play 70’s music. /// How do you think the Royals are doing so far this season? What we’ve been impressed with so far is the fan support in Kansas City. That was one of the cool things of the postseason last year, how we revitalized the fan base. They’ve lost really my entire life, so we lost an entire generation of Royals fans, but they really came back last year when we went to the postseason. That ride is still going: our attendance and TV ratings are at an all-time high. People used to just wear normal clothes when they came to a Royals game, and now they’re wearing blue and their Royals gear. It’s been really cool to see the city get behind this team and really support them.

/// Is there anything you would like to do to link the LGBT community and professional sports? I mean, I’d like it to be very seamless- not a big deal and more of a natural progression. I just kind of see being gay as a small part of me and it doesn’t define me. That’s something that I really struggled with- having it define me or my life. And I’m learning that it doesn’t have to define me, it doesn’t have to be a label. I can live a normal life, and just this small part of me is that I like guys. It doesn’t have to rule my life, and it just should be this “no big deal” thing, you know? And so, I think it should just seamlessly all connect itself. We’re getting there, we’re working very closely on getting there. V

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July 2015

Stages of St. Louis

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COVER STORY

July 2015

TOTAL text JIMMY NO SHOW art JAMES WHITE/E!

WHEN YOU SAY THE WORD “DIVA,” YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK OF A POWERHOUSE POP VOCALIST OR SOMEONE KNOWN FOR HER LESS THAN MILD TEMPER — THE TITLE GETS A BAD RAP. THAT’S OKAY WITH NATALIE NEIDHART; SHE’S USED TO BREAKING STEREOTYPES... thevitalVOICE.com

NEIDHART IS BEST KNOWN AS WWE DIVA NATALYA. IN THIS INSTANCE, A DIVA REFERS TO ONE OF THE WWE’S FEMALE WRESTLERS, KNOWN MORE FOR THEIR POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCES IN THE RING RATHER THAN ON THE STAGE. In addition to her starring role in the ring, Neidhart is also a star of the E! reality series Total Divas, which gives viewers a behind the scenes look at the real lives and professional relationships of WWE’s Divas. Now in its fourth season, the show has struck a chord with both wrestling fans and curious bystanders, drawn in by the Diva’s charm and her surprising ability to be relatable. Admit it: You don’t immediately think you’ll have much in common with a female professional wrestler. But viewers have found that Neidhart is, if anything, relatable. With the rest of the Divas cast, Neidhart has given the general public a much needed, eye-opening experience on just what WWE is today. Natalya describes Total Divas’ fourth season as their most explosive season yet. Her personality is a huge part of the chemistry that lends to series’ sparking points. “Nobody wants to see somebody whose life is perfect. Nobody wants to be around somebody who’s a goodytwo-shoes or never has had a problem in their life,” she explains, when asked why she thought audience’s identify with her so easily. “I think for me, my secret has been being able to connect with people in general, not just on TV,” she says. “My general rule of thumb with human connection is being myself and being relatable.” Neidhart is third-generation WWE wrestler— a member of the Hart dynasty. Despite her family history with the organization, that didn’t make her a shoe-in for being a WWE Diva. She had to work for it. “I was trying to get into WWE for five years, sending tapes and pictures, showing up at arenas and trying to be an extra,” Neidhart recalls. “I have been an underdog at WWE for most of my career.” Part of what makes her resonate with audiences is the fact that she inspires people with her hard work, while still struggling with things anyone can relate to, like body image. “I didn’t have a quintessential model look,” she explains.

July 2015

“My body is definitely more muscular. Sometimes it felt like I was the ugly duckling, and that’s when I started realizing that the best, most successful and the most confident Nattie is just Nattie being Nattie.” When Neidhart learned to embrace and accept herself, that’s when she started to shine both on screen with Total Divas and in the ring as a WWE Diva. “When you’re happy from within, it just radiates and people can really connect with you,” she continues. “I’m certainly not perfect, but I really like being able to showcase that.” It’s easy to gloss over Neidhart’s crossover qualities at first glance. Consider this: She’s a female working in a male dominated industry that not only can hold her own in the ring with WWE fans, but also be feminine and relatable enough to the unconverted masses on Total Divas. “I thought of Total Divas as a huge opportunity to reach a different audience and we have,” she says of her the show’s crossover success. “We have reached more women and it’s really cool when they come up and say, ‘I’ve never watched WWE, but I love you girls on Total Divas. Now I’m taking my son [to see a WWE match]. My kids are into it.’” “That’s the best feeling— getting all these different people who never watched WWE before,” she continues. Part of what connects Neidhart to fans, both of the show and WWE, is the shared experiences of being bullied when she was young. She’s a huge supporter of WWE’s Be a STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect) program. Be a STAR visits schools to address bullying by raising awareness and with education. The program has over 70 alliance members, including GLAAD. “WWE Superstars go to raise our hands and show these kids we were bullied too,” Neidhart explains. “It’s important for people to know that on TV we may seem larger than life, but in real life we went through the same hardships.” “There are ways now that we can talk and get everybody on the same page so we can stop it with the youth, because it starts when you were young,” she continues. That common background of being bullied at a young age just adds another layer to Neidhart’s relationship with her fan base. These shared emotional experiences help Neidhart be cheerleaders for her fans, as much as they have become cheerleaders for her. Outside the ring, her fans have started a social media movement called #NattieTaughtMe. Fans share what Neidhart has taught them both inside the ring and on Total Divas. “It’s just caught fire with people,” she explains. “They would send in pictures wearing my shirt and have five things that Nattie taught them. So I posted it on my

Instagram and now thousands of people are reaching out to me with what I taught them.” Common themes are: Nattie taught me how to be unbreakable, how to be myself, how to stand up to bullies, how to be courageous and how to have fun. “It just makes me feel good,” she shares. “Sometimes when I need to find strength, I’ll read those messages from my fans and they have no idea how much it affects me.” But how does a WWE Diva so perfectly walk that line of being strong yet still feminine, while still being a perfectly relatable role model? “Oh, it’s just because I’m spoiled,” she begins with a laugh. “Basically, I want to do everything,” Neidhart continues. “I want to do batons. I want to do Olympic power lifting. I want to do hot yoga. I want to get facials. I want to get pedicures. I want to do Jiu Jitsu. I want to wrestle with the boys. I just want to do it all.” “So it’s nice to have a balance in knowing I am a woman and being beautiful, but I’m also strong,” she concludes. “I need that strength and resilience in the ring for what I do and for my regular, everyday life.” That strength and resilience, along with her message of being yourself, is what makes her so identifiable to members of the LGBT community, who so often struggle with self identity, self esteem and finding the courage to be yourself not only within, but also to those around you. “To me, whether you are straight, gay, lesbian, whatever, I see everybody the same,” she points out.

For Neidhart, it isn’t just philosophy for her fans; it applies to co-workers too. Back in August of 2013, WWE Superstar Darren Young made history as the first professional wrestler to come out. One of my best friends at WWE is Darren Young,” Neidhart shares. “Darren stood up loud and proud and said, ‘This is who I am.’ And like a lot of our fans, that’s who he is and he is proud of who he is. He’s not going to hide who he is anymore.” Perhaps Neidhart could relate, given the common ground of fearing being seen as less-than in a machomale driven industry, only to discover how open and tolerant the organization actually could be. “He is one of my greatest friends at WWE and one of our greatest inspirations in this company because he did something that was really courageous,” she says. “He stood up for what he believes in and he stood up for who he is inside and we all rallied behind him because it takes a lot of courage to do that.”Neidhart also cites Caitlyn Jenner, who also appears on the E! Network alongside Total Divas, as an example of shifting attitudes in a professional athlete being their most authentic self. “It just shows how much the world is changing,” she says in closing. “WWE has always been about coloring outside the lines and being bold, bright and beautiful, but also just being you. Be who you are and be proud of who you are. Don’t ever let anybody tell you that it’s not okay, and what we are all about at WWE is really diversity and standing up for who you are.” V

E!’S TOTAL DIVAS RETURNS FOR SEASON 4 ON TUESDAY, JULY 7TH AT 9PM ET/PT. thevitalVOICE.com

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text KARLA TEMPLETON art DARIN SLYMAN

Not since Charles Bukowski have I found myself so submerged into the life and times of so many colorful characters. Acclaimed writer Chris Andoe brings a modern flair to such a missing style of literature today. I felt intrigued, enlightened, dirty, amused, outraged, betrayed and in awe of all that is Delusions Of Grandeur. The stories’ demographic range is nationwide: Tulsa, San Francisco, New York and here in St. Louis. The Emperor has been collecting these stories for years, and this book of short stories highlights some of what he has researched. Delusions of Grandeur gives us the inside scoop on places most of us will never go - abandoned buildings shrouded in murder, haunted houses and dingy basements of sex clubs. The sordid tales of scandal, sex and abuse of power mix with those of sentiment that tug at our heartstrings. This collection of stories and characters showcases the diversity we have in our community: the good, the bad and the ugly. Without tiptoeing around the details, Andoe releases the back story of the rumors

some have heard murmured on the streets or overheard in slurred drunken declarations at our local taverns. Whether you have lived in the background of these stories or are reading without any knowledge, these characters grab you by the throat and slam you down in the backseat of a rusty Cadillac, speeding off into a blur of chaos. Being able to know The Emperor himself, the man behind the mirror treated Vital VOICE to an inside look at what made his debut novel. Was there a specific moment that sparked you to take on this controversial challenge for your debut tell-all? It began as the modest project of cataloguing my stories. I’m the storyteller among my friends, and at parties they’d ask me to tell their favorites. Since my dad died in his early forties, I’m obsessed with my mortality, so I decided to write them all down so they could still be enjoyed when I’m gone. That was seven years ago, and in that time life became a lot more interesting. The more stories I told, the more people came to me with new material. thevitalVOICE.com

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SHARE & WIN! Pick up Vital Voice sunglasses at our next event & share your snap on Instagram using #VitalVoice. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be featured in our September Issue & entered to win a Pearl Vodka Prize Package!

July 2015

Are there any characters you’ve met over the span of writing this book that you’ve encountered who were actually too much for print?

You have many villains in Delusions of Grandeur. Who wore it best: Benny or Rustin?

The book is filled with dozens of larger-than-life characters with broad appeal. In the past year, I’ve spent a good deal of time covering the crimes and antics of some seedy local criminals. But many are uninteresting outside of the Grove and unworthy of being immortalized in this work, so I left them out. People who’ve followed me will be as surprised by who’s not in the book as they are by who is.

Rustin is a prolific conman. Though his scams have cost people a fortune, he’s not motivated by malice. Benny Babbish, on the other hand, is unrivaled in his wickedness. A wealthy master manipulator obsessed with sex and power, he finds peoples’ vulnerabilities and exploits them for his amusement. Though he infiltrated and undermined my relationship, eroded my self-esteem and basically cost me everything, he does make a delicious villain.

Who is your favorite character and why?

Have you considered having it adapted into a Screenplay?

It’s difficult to choose, but the heavily armed Rita Revlon is a lot of fun with her constant plots to take down the city’s LGBT community in revenge for their support of her archrival Simone Shasta.

The manuscript is in the hands of two Broadway producers who were involved with Hairspray, so anything could happen.

What does life look like for Chris Andoe, The Emperor of St. Louis, after the book’s highly anticipated release? Deafening howls from my detractors - if the past six months are any indication - but also a lot of good times meeting new people. I love this city and hope I can serve as an effective ambassador as I go on the book tour. You refer a lot to Andoetainment. What is it? As a collector of colorful characters, my Facebook page is like a show in itself. My friend Nikki Guiney dubbed the phenomenon, “Andoetainment.” How does the Emperor of St. Louis unwind?

Chris Andoe’s highly anticipated book of short stories, Delusions of Grandeur, has writers around the country buzzing. T. Scott King of The Bay Area Reporter says it is “Spit out your food funny,” and Stefene Russell of St. Louis Magazine called it “The best Southern literature.” Paul Hagan, the Manhattan-based editor of Metrosource, writes: “St. Louis has offered the world a variety of artistic gifts, from the Oprah-inspiring poetry of Maya Angelou to the scintillating star power of Tina Turner, but in choosing [St. Louis] as a playground and battlefield for his epic exploits, Chris Andoe has ensured for the city a twisted new chapter in our shared cultural history. No wonder they call him ‘The Emperor.’” This is a book for the generations. Stories are meant to be told, and this book is meant for a read. Bravo Emperor, Bravo. V

I’m a road trip guy and love traveling to see friends and family. If I just have an afternoon, I like to drive up the Great River Road north of Alton. In the past year I’ve driven from San Francisco to New York, stopping to see people along the way. Sitting around with my people telling and hearing stories is as good as it gets. What is Brawny’s (The Emperor’s pet Yorkie) take on St. Louis? Brawny’s favorite place in the world is Tower Grove Park. Dog parks in Manhattan have pebbles instead of grass, and when we returned to St. Louis I took him there and he rolled around in delight and didn’t want to leave. Of course having grass is common here, but for some reason he’s always the most excited about Tower Grove. That park is special for me too, and maybe he picks up on that. When will I be able to purchase a copy? The book will be released July 23rd. I am having a book signing event at Brennan’s in Central West End.

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ummer is the time for romance. For those who don’t already have a significant other, summer can be a time to relax and unwind in solitude, or a time to go out with friends. For those who prefer to have a companion, the exciting, but scary, first date must take place. Granted that the date went well, there are some who are not ready to leave their date’s company after dinner. Instead of calling it a night at 7 p.m. or wandering the city looking for something to do, here are six sweet spots to make a final stop on a date.

Taste.

4584 Laclede Ave (314) 361-1200

Jilly’s Cupcake Bar

Gelateria del Leone

Sub Zero

Bailey’s Chocolate Bar

8509 Delmar Blvd (314) 993-5455

3197 S Grand Blvd (314) 776-3500

For those who have more of a love for tropical fruit, Taste in the entral West nd is the stop for your date. pen until a.m. midnight on Sunday , Taste leaves plenty of time to enjoy its elegant atmosphere and have a good conversation. Taste offers many cocktails, but the Walla Walla ing ang is our choice for the list. The cocktail is a glorious mixture of l orado Spiced um, orth Shore ighty in, Smith ross um, passion fruit, cinnamon, lime, and grapefruit that is sure be end the night with a bang.

The Fountain on Locust 3037 Locust St (314) 535-7800

The Fountain on Locust is most famous for its ice cream and its beautiful art deco theme. For those in the mood for an evening cocktail and ice cream, the fountain has just the drink for you. Their menu includes an entire page of ice cream martinis. The “Wicked” martini is the perfect drink to sip while sitting in a curtained booth with your date. This cocktail consists of vodka, dark crème de cacao and Zanzibar chocolate ice cream- a glorious mixture for sweet intoxication. The Fountain stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so take your time before you attempt to seal that deal.

Six Sweet Spots For

308 N Euclid Ave (314) 367-1200

1915 Park Ave (314) 241-8100

Located in Lafayette S uare, ailey s hocolate ar offers an array of desserts, most of which have a chocolate theme. Their late hours make it a perfect place to stop after a date and have good conversation over a plate of sweets. The “ phrodisiacs,” as it is called, is a sample plate made for two that samples all of their popular desserts, from brownies to sorbets, cheesecake to signature ice creams. nd at , it s a sweet splurge for the end of a hopefully perfect date. V

text CURTIS GALLOWAY art DARIN SLYMAN

Your Final Date Stop

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July 2015

text KEVIN SCHMIDT art DARIN SLYMAN

PUMP! up for summer

It’s summertime, a time for trips to the lake, lazy days at the pool and playful outings at the park. Whatever the occasion may be, more than likely you will be wearing a lot less clothing than usual. Show off what you have been working for these past few months, and hopefully you have kept up with that New Year’s resolution of staying in shape. Most importantly, cover your goods in style with PUMP! Underwear. The underwear combines a sense of sport with fun fashion trends and daring ideas, and their collections generally display a look of revolving around youth, fitness and sport. PUMP! Underwear is made in boxer brief, brief and jockstrap styles, but the brand’s designs and stylistic decisions are in no way limited. Their prominent use of bold, eye-catching color contrasts sets them apart from other, more generic underwear designs and styles. PUMP! also prides itself on choosing fabric carefully, and often has custom fabric made for their underwear specifically. Being a somewhat sporty brand, PUMP! believes their underwear should “feel natural and comfortable yet also be durable and of the highest quality.” V

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July 2015

“The sentiment among leisure travelers was that this could’ve happened anywhere, and it wasn’t a factor in their decision about where to spend a weekend,” Hall says.

CONVENTION PLANNERS WERE A DIFFERENT STORY.

Selling St. Louis

Post Ferguson

Business focus groups in Chicago and Washington D.C. said their organizations would think twice before coming to the city, because the organizations’ social values may be in conflict with the real and perceived institutionalized racism brought to light. “25% would not consider, 50% took a wait and see, and 25% said the events had no impact,” Hall recalled.

PART OF THE SOLUTION “Marketing does not mitigate social issues, and our aim is not to sweep things under the rug,” begins Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Officer for the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Commission, when asked how the organization is promoting the region in the wake of Ferguson. Convention and tourism is a big and highly competitive industry, with cities scraping for market share and thousands of jobs reliant on booked rooms. Under the best circumstances the stakes are high, but marketing a region in the midst of a literal and figurative firestorm put the CVC to the test.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT As events continued to unfold over the past year, the CVC had to go all “Olivia Pope” in order to keep the conventions already booked from bolting. This required a lot of outreach, ongoing conversations, assurances and convincing arguments. The efforts were a success. There have been no cancellations in the wake of last summer’s unrest, and the room occupancy rate is higher this year than last.

ASSESSING THE DAMAGE Racially diverse focus groups assembled in Chicago, Indianapolis and Memphis were questioned about leisure travel. To the CVC’s surprise, Ferguson didn’t even come up, and the only two cities where safety was cited as a major concern were Detroit and New Orleans. The groups were then questioned about St. Louis specifically, and how the Ferguson unrest might impact their decision to visit the city.

The pitch to organizations hesitant about gathering in St. Louis involves encouraging them to instead become part of the solution, and through partnerships with the Urban League, Boys & Girls Clubs and local businesses, the CVC has many avenues for them to choose from. “Don’t write us off. We have some great ways you can come here and make a difference,” Hall continues. “Maybe hold meetings in Ferguson and patronize hard-hit business, many which are minority-owned. And we also talk about all the progress already under way, like municipal court reform.”

ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES “Chicago is one of our main feeder cities because of the enormous population,” Hall says, “but we think we can afford to take a one year hiatus from that market and instead focus on smaller cities within a four hundred mile radius, where people are likely to be more impacted by the [Ferguson] coverage.” St. Louis is the big city for many Midwesterners, and the #FunnestFamily campaign highlights the family friendly attractions while inviting people to enter to win a weekend getaway by posting fun family photos. In addition to ensuring the overall marketing campaign reflects the diversity of the Gateway City, several campaigns are targeted to specific groups, including Hispanic outreach, the LGBT Friendly campaign and “Explore the 314,” aimed toward the African-American community and featuring gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee. “Diversity is paramount,” Hall says, and the CVC’s holistic approach to promoting St. Louis while striving to ensure it’s an inclusive and equitable community for all will likely have an impact well beyond the next fiscal year or tourist season. V text CHRIS ANDOE

thevitalVOICE.com

7/1-7/29

Whitaker Music Festival

Missouri Botanical Garden

P l ay

Dates St. Louis

MoBot.org Birds singing in the warm and rose-scented evenings signal it’s time for the summer Whitaker Music Festival. The open-air festival presents free Wednesday evening concerts under the stars every June through August. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic supper, baskets or coolers. Picnic fare, beer, wine, soda and sno-cones are also available for purchase on-site. The festival is funded by the Whitaker Foundation, which supports St. Louis arts and parks to promote common heritage, celebrate diversity and encourage vitality within the community.

7/6

7/10

7/11

The Muny’s 97th Season

10th Annual Let Them Eat Art

St. Louis Surge Rep Your School

Forest Park

Historic Downtown Maplewood

UMSL

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7/11-7/12

7/12

7/16-7/19

Slide The City

Concerts in the Park

International Puppy Weekend

Downtown St. Louis

Carondelet Park

JJ’s Clubhouse

SlidetheCity.com

CarondeletLiving.com

JjsClubouse.com

7/17 opening night

7/23

7/24

Anything Goes

Fifth Harmony

Move Live on Tour

Stages St. Louis

Peabody Opera House

Fabulous Fox Theatre

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July 2015

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Kansas City

Out With The Royals

J U N E

2015

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Kaufman Stadium Kansascity.Gaycities.com The Boys In Blue have gotten off to a great start this year, and it’s time to show your LGBT support with this grassroots effort: Out With The Royals: Forever Proud Forever Royal! A large tailgate is planned outside before the game, and there will also be a section of seats reserved during the game for those wishing to participate. Afterward, head to Hamburger Mary’s, the new Sports Bar, Industry, Missie B’s, Sidekicks or Bistro 303 for the after party! The majority of the money raised from the tailgate will go to AIDS Service Foundation. Join in for this great event, and awesome opportunity!

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Cinderella

RUSH

New Theatre Restaurant

Starlight Theatre

Sprint Center

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Patti Labelle

Uptown Arts Bar

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Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

7/18

7/28

7/31

2015 KC Fringe Festival

One Direction On The Road Again

Indigo Hour

Union Station

Arrowhead Stadium

Blue Room Club.

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Ticketmaster.com

AmericanJazz Museum.org

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Cucumber Ginger fIZZ 2 oz Pearl Cucumber 2 oz Ginger Beer Fresh Mint Sprigs Black berry Club Soda Try it with the Curry Chicken Snack Pie or the Crispy Veggie Pouches, a couple of their signature bar appetizers.

Bernie Lee As owner, you can almost always find Bernie at Hiro, but his favorite time to work is Sunday Brunch. And with a DJ, bottomless mimosas, great music, food and, of course, awesome customers, Hiro is the place to be for brunch to keep the excitement of your weekend going. The best part of his job is feeling rewarded when customers enjoy the cuisine and concepts, and have a great time with their Asian-infused cocktails. When Bernie is not at Hiro, he keeps it casual by making himself a few cocktails of his own or sipping on a glass of bubbles or two. Overall, he is most proud of being part of St. Louis’ bustling culinary scene, where he has an opportunity to give back and support the LGBT community.

Hiro Asian Kitchen “Local, friendly, relaxed.” That’s how Bernie Lee describes the vibe at Hiro on any given day. Located in the heart of the Wash Ave Loft District, Hiro is the perfect spot for an after work drink, special night out or a twist on the classic Sunday brunch. The ramen and their slinger remain iconic dishes, and for don’t forget about the pork belly sliders and green tea waffles, which are not to be missed. Hiro’s comfortable and stylish atmosphere remains the place to be to find contemporary interpretations of traditional dishes from East and Southeast Asia. V

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Pamper Yourself. Support the Cause. Book a 50-minute Your Choice Massage or a 50-minute Classic Facial and ask for the “Pride St. Louis Spa Package”. Guests will pay the retail rate and Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis will donate a portion of sales to Pride St. Louis, Inc. Call 314-881-5758 or visit fourseasons.com/stlouis/spa_and_salon

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