As the weather cools and fall approaches, the arts in St. Louis take center stage. There are countless events to choose from, so we’ve compiled a list of our top picks to add to your agenda.
City of Clayton
Second Saturdays in DeMun will continue into the fall months-on Sept. 8 and Oct. 13-in the picturesque DeMun Business District. The event series shares the neighborhood’s community offerings with St. Louis through a block-party-style gathering as the area’s restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops and businesses feature a variety of exclusive specials for Second Saturdays. Participating businesses include Seedz Cafe, Clementine’s Creamery, Kaldi’s Coffee, Sasha’s Wine Bar, Dot Dot Dash Boutique and more. Join us in DeMun this fall and enjoy this unique opportunity to discover food, music, cocktails, shopping, local vendors and more.
Contemporary Art Museum
CAM presents, supports and celebrates the art of our time. The fall exhibitions feature “Basquiat Before Basquiat: East 12th Street, 1979–1980,” an intimate study of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s early artistic life; Sanford Biggers’ “BAM” series, which memorializes Black victims of gun violence in America; “SUPERFLEX: European Union Mayotte,” the U.S. premiere of a video installation that explores human migration; “William Downs: Sometimes it hurts,” a site-specific drawing on CAM’s Project Wall; and “Jennifer West: Emoji Piss Film,” a deconstruction of the language of emoji projected on the museum’s facade.
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Laumeier offers a range of educational programs that engage participants of all ages in art and nature. Designed to encourage artistic development and self-expression, programs are taught by local and experienced artist-instructors in small group sizes to provide participants with individualized attention. Projects are designed to allow participants the freedom to explore their own creative potential, and materials are always provided. Laumeier’s education programs are created for audiences with diverse interests in art, creativity, nature, recreation and more. Visit their website to learn more about the exciting Fall 2018 lineup.
Midwest Metalsmiths
Join us for the ninth-annual Midwest Metalsmiths Art Show at The Ethical Society of St. Louis on Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13, where 25 talented local artists will unveil handmade metal works made from silver, gold, copper, precious gemstones, mixed media and more. The show will primarily feature a range of art jewelry for sale-from elegant, timeless items to earthy and boho pieces-alongside an array of other stunning creations. It’s the perfect opportunity to find a unique gift for a love done or spoil yourself with a new accessory.
MOSAICS Fine Art Festival
MOSAICS Fine Art Festival brings fine-art experiences and arts and cultural appreciation and education to Historic Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri, the weekend of Sept. 14-16. MOSAICS invites people from across the Midwest to come and enjoy live entertainment alongside 90 juried and invited artists and special featured exhibitions-including the Children’s Village, a hands-on arts experience for kids, and the Art for Youth Gallery, where children can purchase professional works of art for a nominal fee.
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
The Pulitzer Arts Foundation offers direct experiences with historic and contemporary art, bringing people and art together within the serenity of its Tadao Ando-designed spaces. This fall, visit the Pulitzer to experience “Ruth Asawa: Life’s Work.” Featuring nearly 60 sculptures-including many works made in wire, her signature material-and more than 20 drawings, paintings, prints, and collages, this exhibition sheds light on Asawa’s innovative artistic vision. Sept. 14, 2018–Feb. 16, 2019; Wed–Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free entry and parking.
Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association
Located on the tree-lined parkway of beautiful Flora Place at Tower Grove Avenue on Oct. 6-7, the Historic Shaw Art Fair is one of the St. Louis area’s premier fine art and fine craft fairs, highly rated by patrons and participating artists alike. 135 top-caliber nationwide artists and craftspeople are selected each year to participate in the professionally juried weekend event. Local musicians and food and beverage vendors add to the mix, plus children’s activities are available. Find it, love it, buy it-at the Historic Shaw Art Fair.
The Sheldon Concert Hall
The Sheldon Concert Hall is well known in St. Louis for its perfect acoustics and penchant for attracting world-class artists. Tickets are on sale now to see performances from a range of musical styles, including jazz, folk, classical, world, bluegrass music and more. A highlight of upcoming artists include pianist Jon Batiste on Oct. 20, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lila Downs on Nov. 11, singer and mandolinist Sierra Hull on Dec. 7, and more. The 2019 calendar will include sitar player Anoushka Shankar on March 14, and the legendary bluegrass Del McCoury Band on April 26.
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum
After a multimillion-dollar revitalization, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum reopens Nov. 3, featuring free exhibits focused on military history through the lens of St. Louis. The architectural and historic integrity, including beautiful design details of this 1938 Art Deco building, have been carefully preserved and restored, inside and out. Across Chestnut Street, the Court of Honor-which was created as a WWII memorial in 1948-now includes a Five Branches Fountain and reflecting pool. Opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Nov. 3, special events continue through Veterans Day. See website for complete schedule.
This post has been brought to you in part by the businesses and organizations mentioned. All photos are courtesy of the organizations. Top photo by Martino Pietropoli. Thank you for supporting the businesses that keep ALIVE and GUIDED: Saint Louis growing.
Designed by Hugo K. Graf and Wilber Tyson Trueblood, Jackson Park Elementary School opened in 1933. Famed architect William Ittner added on some additions in 1952, late in his career. The school is a wonderful example of late Romanesque Revival architecture, much like would be seen in Italy, such as I recently covered in Bologna.
I find the Marine Villa neighborhood to be an interesting mix of architecture, largely because of its rural setting for much of its early history around the hospital for former mariners. It has some nice half flounders, such as the one above, and more typical Second Empire buildings like the one below.
The fascinating early vernacular house below, which I looked at before, is still waiting for a new owner to renovate it. It predates the creation of the alleys that are behind most houses in the city.
But then there are Modern anomalies such as the workshop below.
And there’s this grand turreted house on the corner.
Along Broadway, there are many extremely old buildings that lined the main thoroughfare between Carondelet and downtown, and this storefront below has had its front bricked up.
But this cool little Modernist storefront sits next door.
St. Louis is a great place to be a sushi-lover, with a strong lineup of restaurants that fly in fresh fish and master chefs who craft them into delicious rolls.
Cafe Mochi
You may already know how much we love the crunchy bagel roll at Cafe Mochi, but this delectable sushi-lover’s paradise has so much more to recommend. There’s also a plethora of classic nigiri and sashimi sushi available, the inimitable volcano roll, a selection of elegant artisan cocktails, and the perfect summer-night patio.
Sub Zero Vodka Bar
Pair the selection of sushi at this swanky Central West End bar with one of their premium vodkas from all over the world. We love the Sweetheart Roll, made with snow crab, spicy mayo, cucumber, tempura crunch, onion and cilantro and topped with tuna, as well as the Green Goddess Roll, served with tempura-fried asparagus, green onion, cucumber and avocado.
Photo courtesy of Drunken Fish.
The Drunken Fish
A longtime staple of the Central West End experience, The Drunken Fish has expanded to encompass three addition locations across Missouri, a tribute to its popularity amongst audiences. The kamikaze roll is one of our favorites, made with shrimp tempura, oshinko, asparagus, crab, white tuna, tempura crumbs, honey wasabi mayo, eel sauce and tobiko. And yes, it is as delicious as it is elaborate.
Sapporo 2
With classic Asian-fusion fare, this Midtown locale boasts a large sushi menu alongside classic entrees, appetizers, cocktails and desserts. Head in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for the sushi lunch special, where you can enjoy classics like shrimp tempura and spicy tuna rolls with a soup or salad at a reasonable price point.
Tani Sushi Bistro
Enjoy bites from the wide swath of sushi available at this elegant Clayton restaurant, where you’ll see a lineup of classics like tuna and soft-shell crab before spotting rolls like one of our favorites for the adventurous: the Futomaki, made with crab, tamago, kampyo, oboro and pickled radish.
Wasabi Sushi
If you didn’t already know: yes, sushi does taste better when it’s served on a miniature wooden boat, like it is at this local sushi spot with locations across Missouri and Illinois. We love the Supercrab Roll, made with fried soft-shell crab and avocado topped with crunch mix, crab mix and wasabi-trio sauce.
Sushi Ai
A great option for delicious sushi in a more casual setting, Sushi Ai is the perfect spot to try out. Once sitting down, you’ll be confronted with a menu boasting dozens of rolls to try, from the Spider Roll served with soft shelf crab tempura, cucumber, avocado and masago to the St. Louis Roll, made with salmon, honey, cream cheese, crab meat, seaweed and sushi rice.
Photo courtesy of Sushi Koi.
Sushi Koi
If you have a hankering for sushi but aren’t near this Central West End hangout, Sushi Koi prides itself on its fast and efficient delivery service. In addition to a full lineup of traditional and classic rolls, nigiri and sashimi sushi, you can even find vegan and vegetarian rolls on this restaurant’s forward-thinking menu.
Blue Ocean
Enjoy a delectable sushi menu at this elegantly-styled locale in the Loop, where you can find an upscale crowd trying out updated items like the fried sweet potato roll or the Hello Kitty roll. Get your fill with the Godzilla or Cardinal roll while sipping on specialty cocktails and drinking in the ambiance.
Cover image courtesy of Bady.
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land!
– claptrap poetry by Sir Walter Scott
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a small apartment there, a pied-a-terre so we could visit New York more often? So I looked online for one bedroom apartments. A fully rehabbed one-bedroom costs well into the 300’s. That’s thousands of US dollars. Sigh.
So to console ourselves, we went to our favorite neighborhood restaurant, Soleluna. Very tight storefront Italian place with just delicious food, wonderful people and good prices for NY. They have a gumball machine out front, which I think is charming. We got acquainted with they people at the next table, whose story is too long to repeat here. It was the third time I’ve been there in the last year, once with the family and once with Olivier. We may return when we are back in town in July.
If you’ve frequented the Tower Grove Farmers Market in St. Louis this spring, you may have come across a pair of entrepreneurs dishing out samples of their famous vegan cashew-cheese sauce. But any skepticism the concept may incite at first glance will evaporate once you try it. Made from local startup founded by Candi Tenney and Rita Childers called Core + Rind, the brand’s signature vegan cheesy sauce and current flagship product earned them a $5,000 award from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership last year and a burgeoning base of followers, who await with bated breath to taste the pair’s next set of tasty vegan treats.
Both certified in the field of nutrition, Tenney and Childers spent years perfecting the recipe for their cheesy sauce before bringing it to market, inspired by the nationwide demand for vegan and vegetarian fare. And with a wave of restaurants offering diners vegetable-forward entrees, the timing couldn’t have been better. While the cheesy sauce pairs well with a variety of dishes that traditionally make use of melted cheese-like nachos and tacos-you can easily find even more creative ways to cook with it on the website’s recipe page. Tenney and Childers have developed recipes like the cheesy-cauliflower rice, cheesy broccoli, biscuits and more.
St. Louis, Missouri
Images courtesy of Core + Rind.
An inside look at the Rams 2018 NFL Draft Class, in their own words.
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