tour/st –fall/winter 2019

st 

fall/winter 2019 

st. st. louis | st. charles 

INSIDE 

100 Things 

on Route 100 

Wine & Brews 

Local Haunts 

PLUS 

Grand Center 

Dining Guide 

Children's Museums 

Tastemakers 

Thom Sehnert 

& Lou Rook III

The National Museum of Transportation 

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contents 

2019 issue 2 | volume 1 

10 

Home Tour 

R&R Ranch is home to a whole 

lot of horsepower thanks to the 

passions of David & Stacy Rolfe. 

26 

Hands-on Fun 

Kids rule the day when it comes 

Chamois 

to interactive play. From St. Louis 

to St. Charles, it’s fun for all! 

32 

100 

Visionary 

Michael Staenberg Linn talks about his 

childhood, Stan Kroenke and his 

vision for Chesterfield. 

43 

Home Tour 

Considering some work around 

Belle 

the house? Transform your home 

with tips from local pros. 

49 

Media Maven 

Media personality Julie Tristan 

talks about her favorite de<strong>tour</strong>s 

from Forest Park to Kimmswick. 

55 

Dining Guide 

Looking to explore local cuisine? 

Check out these restaurants 

before you leave home. 

70 

Raise a Glass 

Hit the trails, or create your own, 

in search of Missouri’s finest in 

wine and best in beer. 

6 | st 

st. louis | st. charles 

50 

21 

100 Things 

Explore great eats, unique 

destinations and oddly named 

cities along Missouri Route 100. 

30 

Funny Man 

100 

Comedian Tim Hawkins shares 

some of his favorite “hidden gems” 

in Cottleville and beyond. 

38 

Ghost Tour 

Old cities share a commonality. 

They’re 19 haunted. It’s a fact paranormal 

researchers affirm. 

Owensville 

Hermann 

46 

A Grand Idea 

More than a theater district, 

Grand Center has become a 

modern masterpiece. 

53 

College Tour 

Finding the right college takes 

conversation, investigation and 

exploration. Here’s how to start. 

58 

Annie Gunn’s 

Lou Rook III and Thom Sehnert 

share a simple recipe for success: 

“Keep it fresh and innovative.” 

De/<strong>tour</strong>s 

A curated collection of 

diversions, distractions and just 

plain fun things to do. 

New Haven 

185 

47 

50 

47 

Warrenton 

Washington 

61 

Troy 

70 

Union 

100 

Wentzville 

94 

44 

30 

47 

Winfield 

79 

Pacific 

100 

Hillsboro 

10 

21 

32 

38 

St. Charles 

270 

67 

5 

Fes

St. Luke’s Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgeons Michael Ryan Reidy, MD, 

Ronald Leidenfrost, MD, Jeremy Leidenfrost, MD 

St. Luke’s Hospital is the only hospital in 

Missouri to be recognized as one of the 

2019 America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 

Cardiac Surgery by Healthgrades ® . 

Visit stlukes-stl.com/SecondOpinion or call 314-205-6801 to connect 

with a cardiologist or to schedule your second opinion today. 

1-2677



Local like a <strong>tour</strong>ist. 

Let’s meet some people 

exceptional adjective 

1. forming an exception: RARE 

2. better than average: SUPERIOR 

3. deviating from the norm 

Who was the last truly exceptional person you met? Think carefully before you 

answer. It’s a much tougher question than it first appears. 

In the local publishing business, we feel like we get to meet exceptional people 

all the time; but if we meet them all the time, they are not rare and therefore 

not exceptional. We have noticed that, almost without fail, the people we have 

labeled “exceptional” do not think of themselves as better or superior when 

compared to others. They do not consider themselves exceptional. 

By definition, we have been labeling those people incorrectly. We have not 

been meeting exceptional people. Rather, we have been meeting wonderfully 

normal people who have done or achieved or created something exceptional. 

That reality is so much better, is it not? 

It means we each are capable of the exceptional. It means that we can look 

at our neighbors, coworkers, family and friends and not be limited to the binary 

label of “exceptional” or “not exceptional.” It means that we can look within 

ourselves and ask this better question: What exceptional thing can I do today? 

This issue features people who are doing exceptional things. 

Michael Staenberg has stared down Stan Kroenke, donated millions to local 

charities and built some of the most important structures in the region. At a time 

when food fads melt away faster than the ice in your hard seltzer, Thom Sehnert 

and Lou Rook III have helped Annie Gunn’s achieve iconic status through simplicity 

and perfect execution. Grand Center stands proud as a beacon for the arts 

because of the people who saw promise in old buildings and gave them new life. 

We showcase some of the people who continue to help that area thrive. 

We ask that you also leave room in your minds and hearts for the people, 

whose accomplishments do not generally garner mass publicity but which are 

exceptional nonetheless. 

Consider, for instance, Michael Henry, Ph.D., director of St. Charles Ghost 

Tours. Henry isn’t in the haunting business for cheap scares, he’s in it for the 

history. His passion for his profession oozes from his very pores as he preaches 

about the historical basis of certain regional ghost sightings [on a related note, 

there are lots of ghosts in Grand Center]. 

What to make, as well, of David and Stacy Rolfe? Their R&R Ranch in Wildwood 

is a haven and rescue for oft-mistreated miniature horses, who they lovingly 

refer to as “The Minis.” Stacy routinely spreads the mission of the rescue 

through remarkably cute social media posts, which is logical enough. But what 

about those banners she posts along the ranch’s fence line with little quotes from 

The Minis? They do not exist to promote a cause or solicit support. They exist 

– in their purest form – simply to put a smile on the face of anyone fortunate 

enough to drive by. They are gifts of love. 

We consider all of this to be exceptional, indeed. 

Publisher 

Tim Weber 

Publisher Emeritus 

Sharon Huber 

Managing Editor 

Kate Uptergrove 

Associate Editor 

Jessica Meszaros 

Proofreader 

Sue Kendrick 

Business Manager 

Erica Myers 

Administrative Assistant 

Melissa Balcer 

Graphic Designers 

Ryan Moore 

Scott Dupree 

Graphic Layout 

Emily Rothermich 

Advertising Manager 

Vicky Czapla 

Advertising Account Executives 

Nancy Anderson 

Terry Buescher 

Denise Candice 

Ellen Hartbeck 

Linda Joyce 

Joe Ritter 

Sheila Roberts 

Contributing Writers 

Suzanne Corbett 

Cory Edwards 

Alexandra Hill 

Bonnie Krueger 

Lisa Russell 

754 Spirit 40 Park Dr. 

Chesterfield, MO 63005 

(636) 591-0010 • (636) 778-9785 Fax 

<strong>tour</strong>-st.com 

Tour/st is published twice a year by West 

Media Inc. and 21 Publishing LLC. Products 

and services advertised are not necessarily 

endorsed by <strong>tour</strong>/st and views expressed in 

editorial copy are not necessarily those of <strong>tour</strong>/ 

st. No part of <strong>tour</strong>/st may be reproduced in any 

form without prior written consent. 

© Copyright 2019 



fall/winter 2019

R&R RANCH 

David and Stacy Rolfe’s Passion Project 

By Lisa Russell 

Ryan Moore photos 

When David and Stacy Rolfe were making plans to 

develop the rolling 30-acre property in West County 

they purchased in 2014, they dreamed big. In addition 

to a family home that could accommodate generations to come, 

they envisioned barn and garage spaces large enough for them to 

pursue the uniquely individual hobbies that have become passions 

for each of them. Their Wildwood estate, R&R Ranch, is the 

realization of those dreams. 

The Rolfes share about 7,500 square feet of open and colorful 

living space with their three adult children, when they’re in town, 

and a new son-in-law following their daughter Belle’s wedding, 

which was held on the property in June. Like its gracious and 

inviting exterior, the home’s interior perhaps can be best described 

as beautifully eclectic. 

“I like a lot of color, and I have very unique taste … I don’t really 

follow any playbook or design advice,” Stacy explains. “I’m not an 

antique person, but I do like vintage, so I’ll bring in vintage things 

and mix them with modern. All of my art is contemporary, but it’s 

mixed with redone vintage pieces and other types of furniture.” 

The spacious lower level includes a bar and game tables, 




including pool and shuffleboard, and a bunk room [shown at botom 

right] that Stacy describes as “sleepover heaven, even for the grownup 

kids.” 

The home’s indoor and outdoor living spaces help to connect 

it with its peaceful wooded surroundings. R&R Ranch is currently 

home to 20 miniature and full-sized horses and donkeys, five birds, a 

cat, a couple of dogs and a house rabbit named Walter. Walter, in fact, 

has his own room in the house – complete with a tiny four-poster bed 

and a play castle. 

“When I brought Walter home [shown in his room at left], I 

started keeping him in the office with me, but the two of us could 

not peacefully coexist … so he ended up getting my office,” Stacy 

explains. 

Stacy will go to just about any lengths for her animals, especially 

little horses that have health problems or aren’t being treated well by 

other owners. That’s how her nonprofit miniature horse rescue was 

born. Unexpectedly, and quite exceptionally, Stacy’s love of animals 

became love, too, for the local community. On the corral fence 




| 11

Stacy and David Rolfe [above] 

have turned their R&R Ranch 

into a haven for family, friends 

and miniature horses, including 

Martha, a dwarf mini [at right]. 

that runs alongside Wild Horse Creek Road, the Rolfe family 

frequently posts banners from The Minis. A variety of sentiments 

are expressed, including back-to-school messages, holiday 

greetings and more. 

Among the ranch’s newest residents is Martha, a dwarf mini 

who stands only 24 inches high. Martha was rescued by Stacy 

and Belle in December 2018, when they saw her advertised on 

Craigslist as a Christmas present. After she rebounded from initial 

serious health problems in their tender care, Stacy posted a video 

of the tiny horse joyfully running and doing the “moonwalk” 

which has garnered more than 20 million views to date on the 

animal-themed site The Dodo and others. 

“The Marvelous Miss M” now has her own customized 

transport vehicle; and once Stacy completes the process of 

getting her certified as a therapy horse, will take her to various 

appointments and public appearances around St. Louis. 




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David’s passion resides in the ranch’s expansive two-level 

garage, where an array of meticulously restored, mainly 

classic American muscle cars are housed and pampered. He 

spends many evenings hanging out in this ultimate man cave. 

“One of the games my dad and I played when I was really 

young, about 4 or 5 years old, was with cars,” he explains. “He 

would teach me about the differences between each make and 

model of car every year … you know, why is it a ’69 Camaro 

and how is it different from a ’68? 

“We would go to Blues games [at the old St. Louis Arena], 

and we’d park at Forest Park and walk over from there. It was 

when Corvettes were manufactured nearby in St. Louis. We’d 

walk to the Arena, just hoping that three or four would be 

parked in the street.” 

The collection of cars “really brings him joy,” Stacy says. 

“He’s still just like a little kid when it comes to them.” 

“ 

“I’m glad my wife is kind 

enough to indulge me in 

this hobby. It’s horsepower 

of a different kind.” 

- David Rolfe 

” 




| 15

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A curated collection of diversions, distractions 

and just plain fun things to do. 

The wild, wild west 

Zedonks, emus, camels and kangaroos! 

Those are just a few of the exotic animals you are able to feed 

and touch at Big Joel’s Safari Petting Zoo and Educational Park. 

Located in Wright City just minutes from Hwy. 70 at 13187 State 

Hwy. M, Big Joel’s Safari is an intimate, boutique-style petting zoo 

that boasts over 60 species of animals. It has brought smiles and 

delight to Missourians since 2012. 

Big Joel [Clinger], a former pro football player and Mizzou 

graduate with a degree in animal sciences, created the sanctuary on 

his family farm. It’s easy to see that it’s a labor of love. From the 

special names given to the animals to the care and love each one 

receives, all creatures – great and small – are treated like members 

of the family by the Safari’s friendly and knowledgeable staff. 

Camel and pony rides are offered on weekends only through 

Nov. 3 when the 2019 season comes to a close. Big Joel’s Safari 

is closed to visitors during the winter and reopens each spring, 

typically in April. Admission is $8 per person and children under 

2 are free. 

[Hidden Valley ZipTour photo] 

Tour Wildwood 

from the sky 

Have you ever dreamed of soaring through the 

sky like a bird or superhero? Good news! You can 

live out your dream over the picturesque West 

County woods at Hidden Valley Ski Resort, 17409 

Hidden Valley Drive in Wildwood. 

Known widely for its skiing and winter sports 

activities, the resort’s latest year-round attraction 

is its ZipTour rides and scenic chair lifts. ZipTour 

allows riders to control their own speed. Whether 

you want to race to the finish or take it slow, each 

ride can be completely personalized based on 

comfort level and personal taste. 

ZipTour offers a total of four different spans 

of varying lengths. For those who want extra time 

communing with nature, ZipTour’s scenic chairlifts 

carry passengers to the top of the mountain, 

who then hike back to the lodge where they can 

enjoy food and beverages on the patio. 

Ziplines run from 9 a.m. to sunset Friday 

through Monday. Chairlifts are available on weekends 

only. Online reservations are recommended. 




Trains, planes & automobiles 

The National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road in 

Kirkwood, celebrates its 75th birthday this year. 

Since the museum’s founding in 1944, the staff has successfully curated 

what the Smithsonian calls “one of the largest and best collections of 

transportation vehicles in the world.” The collection has over 190 pieces 

and includes an array of planes, trains, automobiles and even trolleys. 

Some train cars in the museum’s collection date back to the 1800s. 

For young conductors, the museum’s Creation Station is the perfect way 

to explore vehicle-related games, toys and more. Public <strong>tour</strong>s, a miniature 

train and trolley rides are also available. Or, take a stroll through the 

Pollinary Pantry park to view Missouri flora and fauna. Enjoy lunch at 

Barrett’s Landing Café or make a stop at the Boxcar Boutique gift shop. 

Museum admission is $12 for adults; $5 for kids. Military and senior 

discounts available. All admission rates include trolley rides. 

[The National Museum of Transportation photo] 

[MNVM photo] 

A moment of reflection 

The Missouri National Veterans Memorial, 1172 Veterans Memorial Pkwy. 

in Perryville, is the perfect family day trip for those wanting a moment to 

remember and honor fallen veterans. 

A full-scale black granite model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial identical 

to the Washington, D.C., monument is inscribed with the names of more than 

58,000 soldiers who died or remain missing. Also on the 46-acre site is a welcome 

center and museum that serves to educate visitors about the history of 

the Vietnam War. All features are wheelchair accessible. 

There is no entry or parking fee, but a $10 donation per person is appreciated. 

The memorial wall and other outdoor areas have year-round access, day 

and night. The welcome center is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 

Stand-out artwork 

From Sept. 29 through Oct. 31, an army of scarecrows invades the city of 

Eureka, marking the return of the annual Scarecrow Festival. 

Colorful and artistic scarecrows pose in front of businesses, churches, schools 

and private homes. Can you find them all? 

Venture down Fifth Street and Central Avenue, into the downtown area and 

to some of the city’s more popular areas to hunt down each uniquely crafted 

scarecrow. These scarecrows aren’t your typical hardware store accessory. Each 

one is a work of art created by a local business or organization. They’re made 

from various materials and wear an array of costumes. No two scarecrows are 

alike. In previous years, almost 200 scarecrows were set up across the city. 

The 2019 invasion includes a wide array of related events, including drag 

racing at Brookedale Farms. Visit eurekascarecrowfestival.com for all the details. 

[City of Eureka photo] 




| 19

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100 things to do 

on Route 

By ALEXANDRA HILL 

You likely know it as Manchester Road, a busy thoroughfare 

that winds through St. Louis City and 

County but Missouri Route 100, as it is officially 

named, actually runs from downtown St. Louis to the tiny 

burg of Linn, Missouri. Along the way, it winds through 

thriving municipalities and sleepy little towns, and offers 

at least 100 things to do and try along the way, some 

listed here and some on the map, pages 22-23. 

In downtown St. Louis, Route 100 begins as Chouteau 

Avenue and boasts its first unique dining experience: The 

Eat Rite Diner, 622 Chouteau Ave., is a throwback to 

a simpler time serving up comfort food from slingers to 

sliders. Further west, Planter’s House, 1000 Mississippi 

Ave., and founded in 2013, hearkens back to the city’s 

Planter’s Hotel, a St. Louis landmark from 1817-1922. 

At 21st Street Brewers Bar, 2017 Chouteau Ave., 50 

local brews are on draft and over 80 are available by the 

bottle. Heck, that’s more than 100 things right there. 

Charleville Brewery and Tavern, 2101 Chouteau 

Ave., began its brewing history in Ste. Genevieve, the 

home of Charleville Winery, so it’s not surprising that 

among its brews is a Barleywine. With additional brews 

named Tornado Alley and Half Wit Wheat, there’s definitely 

a few interesting taps to try. 

The Grove Entertainment District, which stretches 

nearly one mile along Manchester Avenue between 

Kingshighway and Vandeventer, is home to more than 

Carl’s Drive-In in Brentwood/Facebook photo 

Alpenhorn Gasthaus in Hermann/ Facebook photo 

Vincent Van Doughnut in The Grove 

45 businesses, including a variety of night clubs and 

restaurants such as The Handle Bar, 4127 Manchester 

Ave., a bike-themed bar whose calendar is loaded with 

expected events and the not-so-obvious, including drag 

shows; the Everest Café and Bar, 4145 Manchester Ave., 

featuring Nepalese, Korean and Indian cuisine; Parlor, 

4170 Manchester Ave., featuring arcade games, pinball 

machines, skee-ball and pool; and Sanctuaria Wild Tapas 

and Diablitos Cantina, 4198 Manchester Ave., where you 

can enjoy Latin and South American cuisine in a 19th 

century French conservatory or Belgian gazebo. 

At Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, 4465 Manchester 

Road, Fido is welcome to join you. 

Continuing down Manchester, you’ll find Failoni’s, 

6715 Manchester Ave. Purchased in 1916 by Alex Failoni 

and operated today by matriarch Rosemary and grandson 

Joey, Failoni’s is a south St. Louis landmark. 

Carl’s Drive In, 9033 Manchester Road, is a not-tobe-missed 

item on this list – that is if you’re into burgers, 

onion rings and floats featuring homemade root beer. 

At Katie’s Pizza and Pasta, 9568 Manchester 

Story Continued on page 66 




| 21

100 things to do 

on Route 

Continued from page 21 

Hermann: Located in Franklin county, 

the city of Hermann is a picturesque 

river town that sits conveniently on the 

Missouri River Runner [Amtrak] 47 line. 

Filled with places to raise a glass and 

nosh on delicious food, Hermann also 

offers shops and galleries, museums 

and <strong>tour</strong>s, access to the Katy Trail and 

even a nearby zipline. 

Warrenton 

Hermann 

47 

Chamois 

100 

New Haven 

100 

Linn 

50 

Linn: If you’re wondering Where Pigs Fly, wonder 

no more. It’s in Linn, Missouri, where a farm of 

the same name offers the chance to interact with 

farm animals, learn about agriculture and visit a 

pig museum. Visitors also can spend a night in 

the farm’s 1882 rock house. The farm’s Annual 

Fall Festival takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on 

Sept. 28. 

Washington 

19 

50 

Washington: Nestled up against the Missouri River and 

close to the Amtrak, this historic river town is a great place 

for a weekend getaway with food places Owensville like Aldo’s Pizza, 

Big Boys Grilled Subways and Wings, The Hotdog Man and 

Donut Palace as well as places to stay – the Brick Inn Bed 

and Breakfast and Gottfried’s Cabin – and roadside attractions 

Belle such as Geisert Farms, Blumenhof Winery, Balducci 

Vineyards, Gary R. Lucy Gallery, Daniel Boone’s Burial Site 

and the Iron Spike Model Train Museum. Plus, shopping is 

plentiful in the historic downtown and the John B. Busch 

Brewery District. 

185 




61 

Troy 

70 

No hunger Zone: 

Winfield 

Route 100 in West County delivers 

plenty of places to dine. For classic burgers from a 

well seasoned grill, look no further than The Village 

Bar at 12247 Manchester Road. The 1890 feed store 

was transformed into a restaurant in 1948. Circa Pub 

Wentzville 

and Grill, 1090 Old Des Peres Road, offers a trip down 

memory lane with menu items 79inspired by some of St. 

Louis’ most iconic eateries. Surf & Sirloin, 13090 Manchester 

Road, seeks to make friends out of strangers. 

Reason enough to give it a try. At Hibachi Grill Supreme 

Buffet, 1282 Orchard Village Lane, you can ask the chef 

to cook a creation that is uniquely your own. At Smokee 

Mo’s, 110 Old Meramec Station Road, you’ll find traditional 

barbecue and, yes, vegan barbecue. It’s Mardi 

Gras every day at Bones French Quarter Bar and Grill, 

14766 Manchester Road. But if Italian cuisine is what 

you crave, head to Candicci’s Restaurant, 100 Holloway 

Road, or Massa’s, of Course!, 15310 Manchester Road. 

Both restaurants enjoy long histories as local favorites. 

At Clancy’s Irish Pub, 40 Old State Road, you’ll find 

classic American fare to enjoy on the restaurant’s sizable 

patio. In Wildwood, stop in at Benedetto’s on Main, 

16721 Main St., and Table Three, 16765 Main St. Both 

offer dining on the patio and live music through fall. 

St. Charles 

270 

64 

94 

170 

70 

St. Louis 

Alton 

255 

94 

100 

44 

255 

100 

Pacific 

Union 

44 

Arnold 

Stovall’s Grove: 

18720 Stovall Lane, is an 

authentic, historic, honky 

tonk music hall that has 

been drawing crowds since 

1935. Live music shows 

on Wednesday, Friday 30and 

Saturday continue to pack 

‘em in, as do the Thursday 

night dance lessons. 


47 

Hillsboro 

Maplewood: Home to 25-plus businesses and restaurants, 

including Boogaloo, 7344 Manchester Road, which 

features Cuban, 55 Creole and Caribbean cuisine and bar 

“stools” that swing. At the 103-year-old Saratoga Lanes, 

2725 Sutton Blvd., test your bowling prowess before 

heading to Escape from St. Louis, 7403 Manchester 

Road, where you can try to solve puzzles such as the 

Murder at Denbrough Mansion or WizardQuest. The 

Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd., is billed as “St. Louis’ 

premier folk music listening room since 1975” and hosts 

concerts, classes and more. 

67 

Festus 



| 23

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HANDS ON FUN 

for everyone 

By Bonnie Krueger 

Across the region, local museums offer kids a place 

where learning and imaginative play combine 

W 

hen a child is hungry for lunch but doesn’t want to leave that’s a pretty 

good indication that the museum you’re visiting is doing something right. 

Despite being more than ready for lunch, 9-year-old Sophie didn’t want 

to leave the HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis, which she and her 7-year-old 

sister, Kaylee, were exploring. The museum, located at 1100 Macklind Ave., is an 

intersection of science, life and just plain fun. 

Right inside the door, the girls were greeted by Interactive Dude, a 55-foot-long, 

25-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall human skeletal structure that also is an accessible indoor 

playground. Kaylee loved the slide that takes a trip down the fibula while Sophie 

preferred balancing on the opposite fibula before perching inside the dude’s hand – 

perfect for picture taking. 

The girls enthusiastically bounced back and forth between exhibits, starting with 

the Farmer’s Market; followed by the kitchen where they made delicious, healthy 

pretend food with the fruits and vegetables; and then to the physician’s and dentist’s 

offices where they took turns being doctor and patient, complete with X-rays. 

The permanent Grossology exhibit was a favorite with Kaylee, who was enamored 

with the Gurgle Glug, featuring stomach gurgles, air movement in the lungs, 

heart beats and gulping in the throat – in other words, burping. 

“It was fun to make him burp and the sound was funny!” Kaylee exclaimed. 

Inside The Mouth Theater, sponsored by Delta Dental and the Episcopal Presbyterian 

Health Trust, visitors take a virtual 10-minute <strong>tour</strong> that begins in the mouth 

and then follows an apple’s trip through the digestive system. Yep, the mouth bites 

into a big juicy apple, chews it up and takes visitors on the food’s journey through 

the digestive system. It’s an interesting – and sometimes gross – adventure. 

Clockwise from above: The Play Street 

Museum in Streets of St. Charles; 

Grossology fun at the HealthWorks! Kids’ 

Museum; Kaylee enjoys foam block fun at 

Myseum; the St. Charles Fire Department 

is celebrated at The Play Street Museum; 

Sophie feeds a giraffe at Myseum. 




HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. 

Louis grew up with support from Delta 

Dental of Missouri, whose Dental 

Theater existed as a field trip spot on 

Laclede’s Landing for 38 years. 

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m.- 

4:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays; 

closed on Sundays and Mondays. 

Admission is $7 for ages 3 and up. 

• • • 

Because HealthWorks! was so scientifically 

fun, Sophie, Kaylee and mom 

Andi headed west to Myseum, another 

interactive children’s museum, a few 

weeks later. Located at 283 Lamp & 

Lantern Village in Town & Country, 

Myseum is designed for children ages 

2 to12. Kids can pretend to be a paleontologist, 

an artist, musician or construction 

worker, with a special toddler 

section for its smallest visitors. 

Sophie was drawn to the imaginary 

play veterinarian center. “I think it’s just 

really fun to take care of the animals the 

way a vet actually would,” she said. 

Not surprisingly, Kaylee headed to 

the slide, which she said was her favorite 

activity because it records your speed. 

Andi loved that it kept her inquisitive 

kids busy all day. 

While food is not available at 

Myseum, patrons may bring a packed 

lunch, or even order in. Myseum is 

open from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday 

through Thursday, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 

Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5:30 

p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10.95 

plus tax for ages 2-17; $5.95 plus tax for 

ages 18-59. Discounts are offered for 

seniors and children under 2 are free. 

• • • 

On a mid-August Wednesday, the Play 

Street Museum Town Square at 1650 

Beale St. in St. Charles, was filled with 

toddlers pretending to be fire fighters, 

veterinarians, grocers and more. The 

venue is small but well-designed for 

both kids and parents. 

“I like that I can sit here and see the 

entire space,” said Wildwood mom 

Ally. “We wanted to meet somewhere 

where we [Ally and Chesterfield mom 

Amanda] could just talk and hang out 

without having to be right on top of the 

kids, making sure they are in the right 

area. This is laid out where you can see 

everything and you can actually sit down 

and watch.” 

The venue’s capacity is 25 children, 

who appeared to be having a wonderful 

time playing creatively together. 

“I like that it’s imaginative play and 

encourages sharing,” Amanda said. 

Proving her words, a youngster in 

a pint-sized fireman’s jacket with St. 

Charles County Fire Dept. emblazoned 

on it pushed a cart of groceries into the 

veterinary clinic to share with a little 

lady drawing on a Magna Doodle. They 

chatted for a minute before he went off 

to peddle his wares elsewhere. 

Town Square is open from 9 a.m.-5 

p.m. Monday through Thursday and 

9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday. Admission is 

$11.50 for children ages 1 to 8; children 

under age 1 are free with a paying sibling. 

There is no charge for adults. 

• • • 

Of course, St. Louis’ premier educational 

play spaces for kids remain. The 

Magic House, 516 S. Kirkwood Road, 

and Science Center, 5050 Oakland Ave. 

Through Memorial Day, the Magic 

House is open from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 

Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday; 

from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, and from 

9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission 

is $12 for ages 1 and above. 

Earlier this year, the popular children’s 

museum launched The Magic House @ 

MADE, which features a Makerspace, 

a multimedia Art Studio, a Design Lab 

and an Entrepreneurs’ Marketplace. 

Located at 5127 Delmar Blvd. in the 

Academy neighborhood, the creative 

learning center provides the opportunity 

to engage in hands-on STEAM experiences 

from 3D printing to learning to 

code to building a robot to launching a 

business. 

Both the satellite and main museum 

have the same hours; however, admission 

to The Magic House @ MADE is 

$5 per person for ages 1 and above. 

The St. Louis Science Center is open 

from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday 

through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 

on Sunday. Admission is free as it is for 

the St. Louis Zoo located across Interstate 

64 in Forest Park. 




| 27

Come find your treasure at the 12th annual 

Treasure Chest Holiday Expo!! 

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We are large enough to have excellent amenities, 

but small enough to feel like a family. 

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1 Strecker Road • Ellisville, MO 63011 

The 12th Annual Holiday Shopping Extravaganza 

2019 Show Dates: November 22 - 24, 2019 

Friday 1 - 6 PM • Saturday 9 AM - 6PM • Sunday 10 AM - 4 PM 

Over 200 booths filled with Unique Gift Items, 

Popular Product Vendors, One-of-a-Kind Arts 

& Crafts, Gourmet Goodies, Holiday and Home 

Decor, Toys, Books, Games, and so much more. 

Special events daily; raffles and prizes 

throughout the weekend! 

ST. CHARLES CONVENTION CENTER 

One Convention Ctr. Pkwy, St. Charles, MO 

Visit www.treaurechestshows.com

Discover Veterans Tribute Park 

Whether it’s the backdrop for a day of 

outdoor fun or a place of peaceful contemplation, 

Veterans Tribute Park, 1031 Kisker 

Rd. in St. Charles, is the place to be. 

A playground for children of all abilities 

is available onsite and provides social/ 

emotional, physical, sensory, cognitive and 

communicative experiences. The playground 

is divided into interactive and motion-activated 

water play, music play, adventure play 

with climbing features, inclusive swings and 

a hillside slide. 

Older adventurers can step foot on the 

walking and biking trail system, which spans 

1.6 miles, or cast a line into the park’s two 

lakes that are stocked for catch-and-release 

fishing. Three non-reservable, open-play 

fields make perfect locations for pick-up 

games and activities. A 3-acre off-leash dog 

park is divided into small and large dog 

areas. Looking for a scenic spot? Just follow 

the raised boardwalk to the park’s historic 

1916 silo and past the playground to view 

the park’s lakes through the surrounding 

canopy of trees. 

On Veterans Day [Nov. 11], the park 

unveiled its Veterans Memorial Garden. 

The area will feature a plaza, benches and 

memorial wall with water feature. Commemorative 

pavers will also decorate the location, 

immortalizing names of soldiers and local 

veterans in a year-round tribute. 

Check it out 

de 


St. Louis County Library opened the new Mid-County Branch at 7821 

Maryland Ave. in downtown Clayton on Wednesday, Sept. 4. 

Part of the Your Library Renewed campaign, the library is brand new and 

at approximately 18,860 square feet is 15% larger than its 1977 predecessor. 

The new branch features private study rooms, an interactive children’s area, a 

teen space, a computer lab and secure underground parking. 

So much more than a collection of books, today’s libraries are vibrant community 

centers that offer spaces for gathering and learning as well as quietly 

reading. Activities, story times and interactive learning stations keep kids 

engaged while classes and traditional resources cater to the older patrons. 

If you haven’t been to your neighborhood library lately, check it out. A list 

of local branches in St. Louis County is available at slcl.org. For local libraries 

in St. Charles County, visit mylibrary.org.

guided 

<strong>tour</strong> 

Tim Hawkins 

COMEDIAN/COTTLEVILLE 

Tim says he got his start in comedy out of 

“desperation really. I mean I tried everything else. I 

started doing clubs back in the days of The Funny 

Bone.” His comedy is clean and family-friendly and 

he says “all about telling the truth.” 

“People laugh because they relate to what you’re 

talking about. They want to connect. Today, there’s 

not a lot of shared experiences and that’s what 

comedy is – it’s an experience we can share.” 

“Making my wife laugh is my favorite thing to do.” 

HOMETOWN: I grew up in St. Charles. In ‘93, just 

after the big flood, [my wife and I] moved down 

to Texas. We were there 12 or 13 years and then 

moved back and everything had just exploded. We 

were like, “This is St. Charles? We have all these 

golf courses now, all these houses, all these high 

schools.” It was pretty amazing. 

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Charles West 

FAVORITE MEMORY: One of my favorite 

memories is just playing outside, going to the park, 

playing with my friends in any season. Playing baseball, football, 

going to Blanchette Park when it was snowing and sledding down 

the terror bowl. It was a bowl [the intersection of three hills] that 

had an ambulance on hand because people were always running 

into each other but still … I always get excited when it snows and 

I think can we get over to Blanchette Park. 

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS: I’ve got several that we like. I 

grew up a meat-and-potatoes Midwestern boy. Eating Ragu – that 

was exotic food to us. When I met my wife – she’s Italian – that 

kind of opened my eyes and now I’ll 

eat anything. One of my favorite places 

is an Ethiopian place called Meskerem 

on Grand. Our friends adopted two 

Ethiopian kids several years ago and 

they turned us on to it. That’s my 

favorite place if you ask me to go to one 

place. There’s a place over on California 

Avenue called Lona’s Lil Eats. It’s like real 

healthy wraps with kind of an Asian flare. Really good beer. Good 

cookies, too. Fantastic place. I love that place. Then, Corner 17 in 

the Delmar Loop. It’s a Chinese place. We love bubble tea. Great 

menu, just really good stuff. Closer to us in Cottleville is one of 

the best restaurants in the state, Stone Soup Cottage. That’s the 

best eating experience I’ve ever had. That’s a hidden gem. 

FAVORITE DETOUR: One of the things we really like to do is 

to take the bikes over to Defiance. There’s a seven-mile run on 

the Katy Trail that goes into Augusta where there 

are wineries and little places to get something to eat, 

listen to live music; then ride back. The river valley 

is just so beautiful here in Missouri. Of course, we 

love downtown Saint Charles, we always bring people 

down there. Streets of St. Charles is great, too. They 

have a great theater. Picasso’s is a great coffee shop. 

The trail system is getting so good in St. Charles 

County. 

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE 

REGION: We have a number of great, paved trails in 

Cottleville. We have a golf cart we jump in and go up 

to Mannino’s – another gem. It’s a little grocery store 

that’s just awesome. It’s small, nice and everything 

you want is in that store. They have Italian cookies 

and cannoli there, which is my favorite dessert. 

We also go to Upshot Coffee Shop to get a treat. 

They’ve started doing cold-pressed juice and they do 

homemade ice cream. It’s a great little place. 




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249662.indd 1 

6/22/18 9:54 AM

Michael 

Staenberg 

‘Still Having Fun’ 

by Cory Edwards 

The office building at 2127 Innerbelt Parkway is a beautiful 

place to work. Green and efficient, it was cool on this hot summer 

day thanks to LED lighting and a white roof adorned with solar 

panels. The interior features bare brick walls, skylights and a glassenclosed 

metal staircase. 

The brick walls are covered in colorful modern art: abstract 

paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed media creations 

from all over the world. 

The building’s owner, The Staenberg Group [TSG], occupies 

its second floor. 

TSG’s lobby contains photos created by local artist Diane 

Katzman. Each one displays the wit and wisdom of the 

company’s CEO, Michael Staenberg. Staenberg himself took the 

lead in rehabbing and beautifying the 20-year-old building, a job 

he took seriously. 

Throughout his career as a commercial real estate developer, 

Staenberg has come to believe “it’s the little things” that can lift 

a person’s spirit, ultimately helping those who pass through his 

developments become better citizens. 

Born in 1954 in Omaha, Nebraska, Michael Staenberg said he 

often felt out of place. 

He was a Jewish kid growing up in a middle-class neighborhood 

and he found few who shared or understood his heritage. 

His father, Martin, was a commercial real estate broker who 

instilled in his children a strong belief in helping those who are 

less fortunate. 

Staenberg had a profound respect for Martin. 

At age 13, while watching “The Wonderful World of Disney,” 

Staenberg and his siblings were devastated to learn that their 

father had died suddenly. He said he felt completely unmoored. 

While learning to deal with the loss, he longed for a new sense 

of belonging. That’s when he started spending afternoons and 

weekends playing basketball at Omaha’s Jewish Community 

Center. 

“I just remember feeling I was at home,” he said. 

From then until now, Jewish Community Centers have played 

a pivotal role in Staenberg’s life, helping him develop lifelong 

friendships along the way. 

Staenberg graduated from Arizona State University in 1976 

with degrees in economics and finance. In school, he worked as 

a brick tender [think errand boy for a brick mason] and also sold 

mobile home plots, a job that gave him a taste for setting his own 

salary by working on commission. 

After college, he turned down jobs with Gulf Oil and May 

Company. Instead, he became a commercial real estate broker for 

The Leo Eisenberg Company in Kansas City. His first two years in 

business didn’t go well, causing him to wait tables to supplement 

his income. He only made $2,290 his first year and $7,900 in his 

second. But in year three, he said, “The lightbulb went off.” 

Looking at McDonald’s listings in the Yellowpages, he realized 

how much real estate the fast-food chain had been acquiring. 

He called a McDonald’s estate acquisition director named Webb 

Blessley and said, “Mr. Blessley, I’d like to do your McDonald’s 

deals.” 

When Blessley asked Staenberg how many restaurant 

transactions he had brokered, Staenberg honestly answered, 

“None.” 

Blessley replied, “At least you can tell the truth.” 

At the time, McDonald’s had been unsuccessfully trying for two 

years to acquire one of four specific corners in Red Oak, Iowa. As 

a test, Blessley sent Staenberg out to seal the deal, telling him, “If 

you can figure this out, you can have my business.” 

Though it was a tough deal to close, Staenberg got it done and 

Blessley made him McDonald’s exclusive agent in Omaha. 

That year, he earned $100,000 and went on to broker land deals 

for over 250 McDonald’s restaurants in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska 

and Missouri. 

In 1979, McDonald’s was looking for land in Liberty, Missouri. 

The only suitable property was on a parking lot owned by 

Walmart. When he called the company, he learned he would 

have to speak to Sam Walton personally. Rather than talk over 

the phone, he got in his car and drove to Bentonville, Arkansas, 

relying on his motto, “You can’t put a pencil through the phone.” 

Walton asked what Staenberg thought the parcel was worth. To 

which Staenberg replied, “Well, Mr. Walton, the farmer values his 

own oats, so you need to tell me what you think it’s worth.” 




Staenberg recalled Walton as saying, “I want $65,000, and I 

don’t pay a commission.” 

“I got him $70,000,” Staenberg said. “I exceeded his 

expectations and I told him I was getting paid by McDonald’s as 

a broker. He stood up and he said [to an employee in a cubicle], 

‘Hey Tom C., give this kid a chance.’” 

From there, Staenberg went on to represent Walmart in more 

than 200 land transactions. 

Meeting Stan Kroenke 

In 1981, McDonald’s was looking to build a franchise in 

Clinton, Missouri. Staenberg found a spot he thought would be 

ideal, a property owned by Stan Kroenke, who refused to sell. 

Since Kroenke owned the only land at the intersection zoned 

for a restaurant, Staenberg took it as a challenge. He brokered 

the purchase of four homes across the street and worked 

with the city to get the property rezoned. McDonald’s built its 

restaurant there. 

When all was finished in 1983, Staenberg sent a photo of the 

newly opened McDonald’s to Kroenke. He included a note that 

said, “What’s the next challenge?” 

That same year, Staenberg opened a branch of The Leo 

Eisenberg Company in St. Louis. By 1989, the brokerage was 

imploding. Staenberg called up Kroenke and asked if they could 

partner together in a new business. Kroenke turned him down, 

but said they should try one deal together. 

Staenberg found property he thought would be ideal for a retail 

center in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. He knew Walmart would 

want to be one of its anchors, but the failing Leo Eisenberg 

Company had put a strain on Staenberg’s finances. He asked 

Kroenke to contribute $50,000 to the deal. Kroenke agreed. 

Meanwhile, Supervalu came to Staenberg, wanting to place a 

new store in the development. They were willing to put up the 

money for the entire down payment. Staenberg didn’t have to 

bring any of Kroenke’s money to the closing table. 

“I went down to Columbia and said, ‘Stan, I’ve got good 

news and better news … I don’t need your money, and you’re 

still in the deal.’ This is 

how I roll,” Staenberg 

said. “You always leave 

the dance with the 

woman who brought 

you to the dance. You 

don’t leave with the girl 

with the prettiest dress.” 

That was the start of 

a business relationship 

that would result in 

approximately 130 

shopping centers. 

When Kroenke 

asked Staenberg what 

he’d like to call their 

joint venture, Staenberg 

suggested THF: To Have Fun. 

“You know, I hadn’t been having a lot of fun at [Leo 

Eisenberg Company],” he said. “I had a lot of money in the 

bank, and back then the banks could just wipe out your account 

if you defaulted on a loan even if you weren’t on the loan – and 

they took all my money.” 

It was time for some fun. THF’s logo even featured 

Staenberg’s favorite colors: orange, purple and green. 

Meanwhile, Staenberg was looking for land in Chesterfield 

on behalf of Walmart. Initially, he wanted to build near 

Chesterfield Mall, but he needed help from then mall owner 

Louis Sachs. One of Staenberg’s mentors, I.E. Millstone, helped 

the two connect. 

Sachs said he didn’t want a Walmart near the mall, but he 

promised to advocate for THF and Staenberg with the city of 

Chesterfield. 

In 1993, Staenberg saw his opportunity. Viewing the flooded 

Chesterfield Valley from the hill near the DoubleTree by Hilton 

hotel, he said he knew: “Where there are lemons, you can make 

lemonade.” 

Staenberg said he called Sachs, who convinced the city they 

could fix the levees and build a new interchange on I-64 in the 

Valley. Staenberg said Sachs also encouraged them to allow 

THF to develop there. The result was Chesterfield Commons, 

now among the most prominent features of Chesterfield 

Valley. Using Tax Increment Financing [TIF], the company was 

able to develop the land and help finance the valley’s 500-year 

Monarch-Chesterfield Levee. 

Chesterfield City Manager Mike Geisel said Staenberg’s drive 

to create Chesterfield Commons was crucial to the currently 

reinforced levee. Without it, no new development in the Valley 

could obtain flood insurance. 

Geisel added that he believes there would be no interchange 

at Boone’s Crossing without Staenberg’s “tireless effort.” 

Life after THF 

Though his relationship with Kroenke eventually soured, 

leading to bitter legal proceedings in 2011, Staenberg claims he 

doesn’t hold a grudge. 

“If he walked in the office today, I’d say, ‘Thank you.’ No 

hard feelings,” Staenberg said. “Zero hard feelings. I learned a 

lot. I think he learned a lot from me. You know, it’s like when 

you play tennis. You don’t want to play with yourself; you want 

to play with someone a little better. 

“And he was good. I wish him only the best. You know, I’m 

sorry he moved the Rams, but I can’t change that, and you 

know, everybody does what they have to do in life.” 

Staenberg said he has been very fortunate to have a lot of 

mentors. 

“There’s been a lot of people who have made a difference in 

my life,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here without them.” 

One of the places where Staenberg is, is the city of 

Chesterfield. Since 1993, he has been a driving force in the city’s 

development. In addition to Chesterfield Commons, his 

A very young Michael Staenberg on a “business call” with dad 

st | 33 

st. louis | st. charles

holdings include: Chesterfield Valley Square, a retail center 

located just west of the Commons and anchored by Bar 

Louie and Oishi; The District, formerly Taubman Prestige 

Outlets [shown above], which is to become a “retailtainment 

center complete with a 3,300-capacity, indoor music venue; 

13 acres of raw land at 17511 Chesterfield Airport Road, 

adjacent to the existing Lou Fusz Ford dealership and the 

former Sears building at Chesterfield Mall. 

Repairing the world 

Harkening back to his father’s lessons about helping those 

who are less fortunate, Staenberg pointed to a blue Tzedakah 

Box, or charity box, on a table near his desk. 

“My dad always made sure we understood that we had a 

roof over our head, food on our plate, and that there were 

people more important that needed more help than we did. 

So early on, we got the lessons,” he said. 

Those lessons, which he integrated from an early age, are 

rooted in the Hebrew teachings of tikkun olam, meaning, 

“repair the world.” Inspired by the Torah, he said he always 

gives at least 10% of his money to charity. 

“And the highest form of charity is to give it to an 

organization where they don’t know who you are, and then 

they give to someone who doesn’t know who you are,” he 

said. These guiding principles led him and his wife, Carol, 

to form The Staenberg Family Foundation, which gives to 

causes both Jewish and secular. 

Grateful to the Jewish Community Centers to which 

he has belonged throughout his life, Staenberg funded the 

Staenberg Family Complex at the I.E. Millstone campus of 

the JCC in Creve Coeur. 

His wife, Carol, and their three daughters – Rachel, 

Hannah and Leah – are “all in” on the idea of repairing the 

world. Carol is heavily involved in local causes and in 2019 

was named Variety St. Louis’ Woman of the Year. 

Among the causes the foundation supports are the 

Siteman Cancer Center, Crisis Nursery St. Louis, College 

Bound and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. 

One of his favorite efforts is buying baseball tickets for 

underprivileged young people, making sure each kid has $10 

for a hot dog and a Coke. 

“I’ve been there before, the College World Series when I 

was growing up, someone gave me a ticket,” he said. “[But] I 

didn’t have money for food. It’s a bad feeling.” 

His philanthropy also is closely linked to his love of music 

and art, donating to Jazz St. Louis, the Sheldon Concert 

Hall, COCA and Craft Alliance. “I believe we give where we 

live. If we don’t support ourselves here, nobody else will,” 

Staenberg said. 

He has tried to teach his children the values he learned as a 

boy. However, he said he wanted to impart principles without 

“playing the helicopter.” And, while the Staenbergs are a 

tight-knit family, he has a rule at TSG: “No daughters, no 

sons-in-law.” 

“Just because you’re born into a family doesn’t give you the 

right to utilize that business,” he said. “I’ve watched too many 

family businesses ruined because [the children] shouldn’t 

have been there to begin with.” 

Staenberg enjoys working out, riding his bike and skiing. 

An avid reader, his favorite book is “Pillars of the Earth” by 

Ken Follett. Daily, he reads the New York Times, the Wall Street 

Journal and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

Though not a musician himself, Staenberg enjoys jazz, 

classical, country and rock, citing his favorite musical artists 

as The Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. He 

recently finished the Jim Morrison biography, “No One Gets 

Out of Here Alive.” 

At THF’s headquarters in Overland hang “some of the 

quotes I’ve enjoyed throughout my 40 years in business.” 

Some of these “Quotes to Live By” are from his 

grandfather and dad, others are from friends and mentors. 

All are shared on his personal website, michaelstaenberg.com, 

in the hope that they may resonate with and inspire others. 

Of life, he said, “I’m still having fun. It’s a different kind 

of fun … I’ve been able to sit back and mentor kids and help 

people and give back ... because of my success. I was raised 

that way.” 




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FACILITY RENTALS : 

Weddings / Ceremonies • Showers • Business Meetings 

Birthday / Corporate Party Packages 

We’re part 

of your 

community. 

Mad Science 

Halloween Party 

October 26 • 1:30-2:30pm 

Ages 5-12 • $20/child 

This party will feature a host of 

wicked activities. This eerie event 

will take party goers into the 

haunted Mad Science lab where they 

will learn about air pressure and attempt 

to help a vicious vampire into 

his coffin after a night of feasting. 

UPCOMING EVENTS : 

Christmas 

at the Carousel 

December 7 • 9:30-11:30am 

All Ages • $25/child 

Children will be able make a 

craft, play a game, have a snack, 

ride the carousel and meet with a 

very special person. Parents are 

encouraged to take pictures during 

the party and help the little ones 

with their craft. 

Spacing is limited, so be sure to call to reserve your place 314-615-8345 

314-615-8344 • 15189 Olive Blvd. • Chesterfield, MO 63017 

The Kids Are Getting Older... 

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A toast to Oktoberfest 

Crisp cool air, a warm bratwurst, a stein of beer … it must be October 

or rather Oktoberfest. The traditional German festival is observed 

in Munich from mid-September to early October. But you don’t have 

to travel to Munich to get a taste of the real deal. From Hermann to St. 

Louis, you’ll find authentic food, drink, music, dance and more. 

Located in Gasconade County, Hermann hosts its version of Oktoberfest 

every weekend in October. The festival includes an arts and 

crafts festival, fall-themed activities and tastings at many of the city’s 

breweries and wineries. For details, check out visithermann.com. 

In St. Charles, Oktoberfest is held Sept. 27-29 with events throughout 

the weekend for both kids and adults. With events like the Wiener 

Takes All Race, Brat Eating Contest, Antique Car Show and more, the 

weekend is sure to be full of fun. In the kids area, youngsters can celebrate 

Oktoberfest by painting pumpkins or having their faces painted, 

jumping in a house made of air or showing off air-filled animals. Festival 

hours change daily. For details, visit saintcharlesoktoberfest.com. 

Although famous for Mardi Gras, the Soulard neighborhood hosts 

an Oktoberfest celebration on Oct. 11-12. Located not too far from 

Anheuser Busch Brewery, it’s the perfect place to celebrate St. Louis’ 

German heritage. A full schedule of bands and activities, including 

those for kids, is at soulard-oktoberfest.com. 

Zootoberfest, the St. Louis Zoo’s annual celebration, is Oct. 5-6 and 

Oct. 12-13. Admission is free for all guests. In addition to live music 

and fall-related kids’ games and crafts, German beers – root beer for 

the kids – and other German treats are available for purchase. 

Though not billed as an official Oktoberfest, the city of Augusta’s 

annual Harvest Festival, Sept. 20-21, is fun for the whole family with 

events like a pancake breakfast, harvest parade, pie walk and more. For 

a schedule of events, visit augusta-chamber.org. 

Brookdale Farms, located at 8004 Twin River Road in Eureka, also provides 

autumnal entertainment, including the biggest corn maze in the 

St. Louis area. Kids can enjoy inflatables, a petting zoo, a kid’s zipline, 

hayrides and more. Details at brookdalefarmsinc.com. 

No matter where you go, don’t forget to make a simple toast. Lift your 

glass, mug or stein and say it loud: ‘’Prost!’’ 

Fun in the sun & 

under the stars 

[Adobe Stock photo] 

Want to explore local history but don’t feel like spending 

a day indoors? Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Hwy. DD in 

Defiance, is the perfect combination of active and educational 

fun for both two-legged and four-legged visitors. 

The park is comprised of 494 acres of land with 

several large lakes for fishing and more than 9 miles of 

multiuse trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use. The 

4.7-acre off-leash dog area boasts a large pond for dogs 

to splash around and play. Free for all, it was also voted 

“Best Dog Park.” 

Night owls can rejoice as well. The park’s Astronomy 

Viewing Area, 1615 Schwede Road, is the first of its 

kind in St. Charles County. Members of the Astronomical 

Society of Eastern Missouri offer public viewings 

and stargazing opportunities every Friday at dusk, 

weather permitting. 

The site is the former home of Jack and Betty Broemmelsiek, 

who lived on the property for over 30 years 

before the land was donated and the house converted 

into a museum and educational space. 

[St. Charles Oktoberfest photo] 




Explore French Colonial heritage and culture in Missouri’s oldest European community 

Downtown Historic Landmark District / Antique Stores / Art Galleries / Charming Shops / Historic Homes / Dining / Wine Tasting / Museums 

Upcoming Events 

September 14 • Civil War Interpretive Event 

September 21 • Ste. Genevieve History Conference 

September 25-29 • Plein Air Art Competition & Sale 

September 27 • Fourth Friday Art Walk 

September 28 • Sainte Genevieve Encampment 

October 19 • Night of the Werewolf 

October 25 • Fourth Friday Art Walk 

October 26 • Rural Heritage Day 

October 26 • Déjà vu Spirit Reunion 

November 9 • Cookie Crumb Trail /Shopping 

November 30 • Shop Small/ Small Business Saturday 

December 7 & 8 • Holiday Christmas Festival 

December 31 • La Guignolee / French Singers 

February 1, 2020 • Chocolate Walk Event 

February 1, 2020 • The King’s Ball 

LOCATION: 

Historic Downtown Ste. Genevieve 

For more information on any of these events, contact The Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center • 66 South Main Street, Ste. Genevieve MO 63670 

Begin your journey at the Welcome Center / 66 South Main St. 

VisitSteGen.com | 800.373.7007

Local Haunts 

In search of the supernatural 

by Suzanne Corbett 

Old cities, no matter their location, share a commonality. 

They’re haunted. It’s a fact paranormal 

researchers affirm – the older the city, the greater its 

ghostly activity. With over 200-year histories, it’s no wonder St. 

Louis and St. Charles are a ghost hunter’s dream. Making good 

on their reputations as hot beds for apparitions and hauntings, 

both attract curious and serious ghost hunters. 

“When it comes to the paranormal if I can point to a ghost 

I can point to history,” said Mark Farley, founder of the St. 

Louis Paranormal Research Society. The SLPRS began investigating 

and documenting reported apparitions and haunted 

sites in 2003. It prefers to focus on St. Louis history, including 

battle sites and numerous forgotten cemeteries. 

“Downtown St. Louis alone is littered with cemeteries that 

have been exhumed or built over, Farley said. “Chief Pontiac’s 

grave is located near Busch Stadium. Roosevelt High School 

and the Shepard School were built on old graveyards. Then, 

there’s the old forts and Civil War camp sites such as Lafayette 

Park [where Union troops mustered].” 

Alton, Illinois, may not be as old as St. Louis but thanks to 

its checkered past, it has more than its fair share of ghosts with 

ties to the Mississippi River, the underground railroad, abolitionist 

murders and a Confederate prison. Recently added to 

Alton’s list of haunted places is the YMCA, whose ghostly past 

had been kept a secret for 80 years. No more. 

“We vetted the site and were able to find the back stories to 

its hauntings,” Farley explained. 

Along the Missouri River, ghosts, including “ghost dogs,” 

still inhabit the river town of St. Charles. 

“It’s quite active paranormally speaking,” explained Michael 

Henry, Ph.D., author of “Haunted St. Charles” and director of 

St. Charles Ghost Tours. 

“St. Charles is a lot older than a lot of people think and a lot 

more historic than a lot of people realize,” Henry said. “The 

city just celebrated its sestercentennial but the settlement goes 

back 5,000 years or more depending on who you talk to. It was 

originally connected to the Cahokia Settlement, and I always 

postulate that because so many people have lived there for so 

long that this is the reason that St. Charles is so very active.” 

There are, for example, two graveyards on Main Street, one 

of which they did not move all the bodies from – the so-called 

“lost graveyard.” Most of its former inhabitants were moved 

in the mid 1850s to the current St. John Borromeo Cemetery. 

But not all. 

[Chatillon-DeMenil House /Ryan Moore photo]

“There’s at least 300 to 350 people still there,” Henry 

said. “About 10 years ago I found a misfiled plat map of 

the area and it shows the [original] Borromeo Cemetery 

being more than nine square blocks with 16,000-plus 

people being there and that’s not counting the Potter’s 

Field where people were buried who were completely 

undocumented. So, yeah, it’s a really active area.” 

The Mother-in-Law House is pretty famous, Henry 

said, though he disputes the findings of SYFY channel’s 

“Ghost Hunters,” which claimed to encounter the ghost 

of a little boy there. “I think they were stretching their 

observations a little bit. We’ve never had a report of a 

little boy at that location. It’s the mother-in-law that’s very 

active.” 

While some of the apparitions are well known, others 

are not; either way, the proof of a haunting is in its documentation 

or hard evidence, Henry said, which means 

delving into the history and events surrounding the 

apparition. 

“Ghost stories often are sad stories – unrequited love, 

died suddenly, perhaps a murder,” Henry said. And while 

those events might be easy to document, paranormal 

activity simply is not. 

“I’ve done this for over 40 years,” he said. “Maybe in 

another 40 I’ll understand exactly what’s happening but 

by then you’ll need a Ouija Board to reach me. The reality 

is that systematic research into the paranormal is only 

about 150 to 175 years old, and we simply do not have 

sufficient objective data to draw conclusions at this point. 

Of fellow researcher Farley, Henry said, “Mark is ruthless 

about making sure that what he shares is accurate.” 

Like Henry, Farley offers year-round ghost <strong>tour</strong>s and 

lectures on the paranormal. He also turned the SLPRS 

into a business, that builds investigative equipment. When 

asked about some of his favorite <strong>tour</strong> sites, Farley named 

Onondaga Cave. 

“The cave once ran boat <strong>tour</strong>s in its underground 

river. At the turn of the century a woman fell overboard 

and drowned,” Farley said. “People still hear a woman’s 

screams coming from the cave. Sometimes they also hear 

whistling and see motion-activated lights kick on in the 

distance when there’s no one there.” 

Ghosts also seem to enjoy the theater, specifically The 

Fox Theatre, which is known for its ghost, an electrician 

who fell to his death and now hangs out along the catwalk. 

He’s credited with saving stagehands in danger of 

falling while setting up lights. Reportedly he grabs them 

by their belts and pulls them to safety. Then, there’s the 

couple who strolls through the theater after the final curtain 

call, hours after the theater closed. 

“Theaters seem to attract ghosts,” Farley said. “Powell, 

The Fox, the Grandel Theatre and the Loretto Hilton 

[The Rep] – all have reported sightings.” 

As for haunted neighborhoods, Farley’s favorite is the 

Lemp Neighborhood. 

[Lemp Mansion /Ryan Moore photo] 

The Lemp Neighborhood also is the favorite of Stephen 

Walker, author of “Lemp: The Haunting History,” 

and “Ghosts Among Us: True Stories of the Paranormal.” 

As far back as Walker can remember he loved a good 

ghost story. Today, he collects stories in lieu of hunting 

the supernatural. His collection begins with the Lemp 

Mansion, a place that’s considered to be St. Louis’ spook 

central. 

“I fell in love with the Lemp Mansion years ago when a 

buddy took me for lunch there [it’s open Monday-Friday 

11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.],” Walker said. “From that day I wanted 

to learn everything I could about the mansion and the 

Lemps, who are far more interesting as people than they 

are as ghosts – although the ghost stories are pretty interesting.” 

The Lemps’ suicide history seems to fuel the apparitions 

along with what Walker calls ghostly pranks – unexplained 

missing items and locked doors. William Lemp Sr. 

committed suicide in 1904 in the master bedroom on the 

home’s second floor. Billy Jr. committed suicide in 1922 

in the front office, now called the suicide room and where 

you can enjoy a chicken dinner each Sunday. Charles killed 

himself 70 years ago this past May in his upstairs bedroom. 

It’s a sad history that has become the foundation 

of Walker’s investigations. 

“I’m a historian first and a collector of ghost stories. I 

poke around and look for things but I don’t use detectors 

like others. I work with the history because its verifiable. 

Prohibition really happened, and I think William killed 

himself as a direct result of that,” Walker said. 

He has documented countless sightings and experiences 

at Lemp. One story involved a couple who took 

their bags upstairs. The husband went downstairs to 

the front desk to finish check-in. When the wife came 

down the stairs screaming and ran out the front door, the 

husband went back to get the bags. Within minutes, he 

came running back, without the bags, and ran out the 

st | 39 

st. louis | st. charles

We’ll make your house 

a home. 

Three French Hens is a one-stopshop 

for any home decor or interior 

design need you may have. With a 

wide array of styles – no matter the 

budget, no matter the request – 

we have what you need to make 

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In-home design services available 

Let Jeanie Hood help you make your 

house a home. With over 15 years of 

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she will help you – start-to-finish – within 

your budget and with whatever project 

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THREE FRENCH HENS 

TIMELESS FURNISHINGS & INSPIRED DESIGNS FOR THE HOME 

16935 Manchester Road • Wildwood, MO 63040 

Phone: 636.458.8033 • Mon-Sat 10a-5p & Sun 12p-4p 

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& 

Photos courtesy of ShelbyFoley.com

door with no explanation. Another apparition happened late one 

Sunday night after one of the Lemp’s family-style chicken dinners. 

A well-dressed man walked in just before closing. The waiter told 

him he was a little too late for dinner but the man passed him and 

went upstairs. The waiter followed into one of the bedrooms and 

the man vanished. 

“I’ve not seen a Lemp ghost yet, but I have attended a midnight 

séance in the rathskeller,” Walker said, reporting how tables bounced 

and shook, which drove some participants from the room. 

After visiting the Lemp Manison, Walker encourages people to 

visit the Lemp’s next door neighbor, the Chatillon-DeMenil House. 

“I didn’t realize the activity at the house until I started collecting 

stories and interviewed some of the volunteers,” Walker said. 

“During a <strong>tour</strong> outside Mrs. DeMenil’s bedroom, a guide saw a 

smoky cloud moving back and forth about 2 feet below the ceiling. 

It appeared for about 10 seconds and then, instantly vanished. She 

wasn’t the only one that saw this – others on the <strong>tour</strong> saw it, too.” 

Walker reminds ghost seekers that you can’t make plans to go 

out and see a ghost. It’s unpredictable. However, you can visit the 

places where spirits are known to hang out. Places like those featured 

on haunted <strong>tour</strong>s of St. Louis and St. Charles. 

[Historic Main Street Saint Charles/St. Charles Ghost Tours photo] 

Want to see a ghost? Try these contacts: 

• St. Louis Paranormal Research Society: www.seeaghost.com • St. Charles Ghosts Tours: www.stcharlesghosts.com 

COC Logan Ad 7.5 x 4.875:Layout 1 8/21/13 • The Lemp 4:57 Mansion: PM Page www.lempmansion.com 

1 

The Purser Center 

at Logan 

A venue as exquisite as you deserve 

Embrace the modern elegance and unique design that is the 

Purser Center. Three walls of windows showcase the artful 

campus and beautiful fountain that is the centerpiece of Logan 

University. The expansive 10,000 square foot lobby provides 

seating for up to 400 guests or the design creativity for more 

intimate receptions. Select from multiple caterers to guide you 

through the planning process and turn your vision into your 

wedding day. 

To schedule a private <strong>tour</strong>, contact: 

Jennifer Lewis at jennifer.lewis@logan.edu or 636-230-1867. 

The Purser Center is located at 1851 Schoettler Road 

on the beautiful campus of Logan University in Chesterfield.

Grafton, Illinois 

Chamber of Commerce 

The Inn has two Riverside rooms 

plus the Delta Queen Suite. Suite 

includes Sitting Room & Whirlpool Bath. 

Three Cottages have a total of eight suites, 

all have a den with fireplaces, Bedrooms 

all have king size beds & Whirlpool Baths. 

Tara Point is located just 12 National Scenic Byway miles upriver from Alton, atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi 

River. Many say it’s the most beautiful view in the Midwest. All Inn Rooms & Cottage Suites have great river views. 

For Brochure or Reservations 618-786-3555 • www.tarapoint.com 

Award Winning Seafood 

& Cajun Creole 

Experience the history, stay the night 

& take home new memories 

Live music every Saturday & Sunday 

$1 Gulf Oysters every Tuesday all day 

Midwests only Floating Restaurant 

Located in the Grafton Harbor Marina 

215 West Water Street • Grafton, IL 62037 

618-786-3000 • www.graftonoysterbar.com 

618-786-2331 • PMLODGE.NET 

Historic Attraction | Lodge & Cabin Rooms | Restaurant | Winery 

Indoor Pool | State Park | Conference Center | Hiking & Biking Trails 

Scenic Drive | Tennis, Volleyball & Shuffleboard 

2019 EVENTS IN GRAFTON 

ART IN THE PARK SEPTEMBER 7-8 

Art, Entertainment and Family Fun with 35+ Artists - Grove Memorial Park 

KING KAT RIVER RAT CATFISH CLASSIC OCTOBER 19 

Get Hooked on Grafton 

WITCHES ON THE WATER OCTOBER 19 

ICE SKATING RINK OPENS NOVEMBER 15 FOR THE SEASON 

SANTA’S CHOCOLATE EXPRESS DECEMBER 7 

RIDE THE GRAFTON FERRY MAY THROUGH NOVEMBER 

GREAT FOOD...GREAT VIEWS...BIG DRINKS 

& Big Fun for the Whole Family! 

1505 West Main St., Grafton, IL 62037 618-786-3500 

Grafton Chamber of Commerce 

www.enjoygrafton.com • www.GraftonILChamber.com 

GraftonChamber@Gmail.com

Transform your home with tips from local pros 

home 


We like to recommend a 

material called ‘phase change’ in 

mattress toppers and sheets. It’s a 

material that cools you down if you 

get hot. If you stay in a cooler temperature 

range, you achieve more 

comfortable, deeper states of sleep 

for longer periods of time. 

— Pat McCurren, president/CEO, 

Mattress Direct 

Lanterns are one of the most 

versatile accessories. They can be 

used anywhere in your home from 

the dining room table to a covered 

porch to your mantle. A lantern is 

the best place to showcase layers 

of decor and accessories that allow 

warmth to make its way into your 

interior design. 

— Jeanie Hood, owner, 

Three French Hens 

Using the right products to clean 

your floors not only impacts the 

visual quality of your floors but 

also their warranties. Wood and 

laminate floors are prone to streak 

or to build up a film on the finish 

with the wrong products. Carpets 

should be cleaned professionally 

every 18 months to maintain the 

manufacturer warranty. 

— Patty Beseda, business 

manager, Beseda Flooring 

We’re seeing a lot of gray and 

lightly stained surfaces lately … 

whiter and brighter kitchens have 

become a recent trend. People 

come in and purchase the stains 

and paints as well as the actual 

cabinets and doors. In-home 

estimates can help people see 

how those lighter colors will look in 

their homes. 

— Kevin Sulin, owner, 

Mid-America Cabinet Refacing 

Remember: The disappointment 

of poor quality lingers long after 

the sweetness of cheap price is 

forgotten. There’s value in working 

with professionals who can create 

functional room designs, take 

precise measurements and install 

quality products. 

— Duenke Cabinet Co. 

Looking for fall or Christmas 

decorations? Try creating a custom 

home decor package with decor 

and flowers, like the White Glitter 

Poinsettia above, that bring cheer 

and unique style to any space. 

— Fahr’s Greenhouse 

Backyard playsets shoud be as 

safe as they are fun. When used 

in playsets, Pacific Cedar solid 

beams resist warping and cracking, 

and are naturally resistant to pest 

infestations, fungus and decay – 

helping to promote safe, fun play 

for decades. 

— Bergfeld Recreation 

Some jobs are best left to the 

pros – tree care is definitely one of 

them. If you notice that your tree’s 

limbs are dead, dry and hollow, the 

branches may be diseased. A professional 

can assess the condition 

of the tree and recommend the 

best course of action. 

— Gill’s Tree Service 




| 43

home 


Transform your home with tips from local pros 

It’s more important than ever 

that you know what you’re buying in 

terms of product construction. Not 

all stainless steel is created equal. 

In fact, 304 grade stainless steel is 

ideal, die-cast aluminum is ideal. 

They’re elevated products that can 

elevate your barbecue – and they’re 

durable pieces of equipment that 

are going to last a long time. 

— Frank Schmer, owner, 

St. Louis Home Fires 

Fall is Mother Nature’s last big 

color parade before winter sends 

us back indoors. To get the most 

color out of your landscape give 

your plants, trees and shrubs a 

boost with a dose of fertilizer. 

Enhance the colors, strengthen 

growth for hardiness and encourage 

root development. It’s like 

giving your landscape vitamins. 

— Passiglia’s Nursery 

Build and tell your story through 

your home decor. Look for those 

hard-to-find pieces or elements to 

either build on or to complete a 

room. Customers often state they 

are looking to create and tell a 

unique story, and that often means 

mixing and matching different style 

elements. 

— Doug Strobeck, co-owner, 

Encore Consignment Gallery 

When remodeling your bath, 

consider installing Onyx walls and 

shower bases. Beautiful, durable 

and easy to clean, Onyx comes in 

a large selection of colors. Add a 

hand-held shower, accessibility 

features such as seats and grab 

bars [available in many styles] and 

frameless shower doors to create 

a space that will age gracefully 

alongside you. 

— Chuck Motycka, owner, 

Tile & Bath Service, Inc. 

When regular vacuuming is 

neglected, soil particles become 

embedded in the carpet fibers. 

This damage is the main reason 

carpets age prematurely. To avoid 

damage, try using vacuums and 

other equipment with the Carpet 

and Rug Institute Seal of Approval. 

— All Surface Flooring 

Today’s shades come with 

a variety of features, including 

those that provide variable light 

control, insulate rooms, lower 

energy bills and protect from 

damaging UV rays. Most even 

have the ability to sync with personal 

assistant devices. 

— Victor Shade Company 

When searching for fine 

linens, add a cloudlike duvet to 

your bedding story. Then, add 

a timeless matelasse coverlet 

and shams to create depth and 

texture. It’s luxury you can see 

and feel. 

— Amelia’s Fine Linens 

High-quality products are 

the first components of an 

outstanding renovation. The 

second is having the experience 

and equipment to install them 

properly. 

— Allen Roofing & Siding 




Kennedy Farms 

Equestrian Center 

Imagine your home... transformed. 

Envision heightened function, newfound utility, and 

lasting quality. Mostly, imagine a unique expression 

of who you are, and what you want your home to be. 

If you can imagine it, we can help make it happen. 

We can get your remodeling project off to a great 

start. Stop in and visit our lovely showroom, or 

call us at 636.227.5188. Where Dream Kitchens 

and Baths Become Reality! 

Adult Clinics 

Why Should the Kids Have All the Fun? 

September 15th & 29th • Time: 2-4pm 

All Levels of Experience Welcome 

Boarding • Lessons • Training • Sales 

Contact us at KennedyFarms@KennedyFarms.com 

(636) 532-7274 • www.KennedyFarms.com 

1122 Deep Forest Drive • Chesterfield 

636.227.5188 • www.duenkecabinet.com 

14436 Manchester Road (1/4 mile west of Hwy. 141) 

Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4:30 • Sat 9-2

Modern Masterpiece 

Grand Center’s evolution as 

a landmark for the arts 

By Jessica Meszaros 

Scenes from Grand Center [clockwise from 

above]: The rooftop of the Kranzberg Arts 

Center, overlooking Grand Boulevard, Strauss 

Park, venison at Bulrush and Jazz at the Dark 

Room. [Photos by Carmen Troesser, Ed Aller 

(Bulrush) and Chris Bauer (Grand Boulevard)] 

Think about art for a moment. What comes to mind? 

For some, it may be museum galleries lined with marble statues, 

impressionist oil paintings or modern pop art. To others, it might be 

the vocals of a Broadway musical or the seat-shaking orchestral score 

delivered from a curtain-adorned stage. It may even evoke images of 

precise preparation and plating for a new culinary masterpiece. 

Whatever one’s definition of art is, it has a home within St. Louis’ 

very own Grand Center Arts District, a designated Midtown St. Louis 

Historic District between Grand Boulevard and Washington Avenue 

that has a history of artistic success dating back over a century. 

Whether it’s under or behind the spotlight, local flair never leaves 

the block. 

A grand history 

In the 1900s, the Grand Center Arts District was known as the 

Grand White Way of Midtown, named in homage of the bright 

lights from the six-story signs that graced movie palaces and vaudeville 

venues. 

The 1904 World’s Fair put the city on the map, and entertainment 

venues flooded into the city. Theaters like the American, Garrick, 

Shubert, Empress, Missouri and more popped up across the city. 

The area became a destination for arts and culture alongside the 

rising fame of the one and only Fabulous Fox Theatre and its winning 

combination of Hollywood films, distinct Siamese Byzantine 

architecture and air conditioning. 

In 1968, the St. Louis Symphony renovated Powell Hall, formerly 

the St. Louis Theatre, another Grand Center staple, and world-renowned 

theater productions replaced movies at the Fox Theatre. 

In the mid 1900s, Grand Center fell into jeopardy. The blow came 

after a rise of de-industrialization caused citizens to leave the city. 

Many popular theaters such as the New Grand Central theatre were 

razed in the 1950s and 1960s. 

In the 1980s, a leaky roof and worn furniture mandated the Fox 

Theatre’s repair. St. Louisians Leon Strauss, Robert Baudendistel, 

Dennis McDaniel and Harvey Harris came together under Fox 

Associates, LLC to privately purchase the institution. Leon’s wife, 

Mary, served as director of restoration, and one year later, the $2 

million program got the theater up and running. 




“Grand Center just blossomed 

since 1981, because 

that’s when they restored 

the Fox,” Judith Cullen, 

executive director of the Fox 

Performing Arts Charitable 

Foundation, said. 

Mary Strauss, a St. Louis 

native, remains active in the 

local scene as president of 

the Fox Performing Arts 

Charitable Foundation Board 

of Directors. 

“She is just an amazing 

woman,” Cullen said. “Every 

year she tries to do more.” 

Robert’s daughters, Lisa 

Baudendistel-Suntrup and 

Julie Baudendistel-Noonan, 

currently serve on the Grand Center Arts District’s 

board of directors. 

The restoration of the Fox Theatre often is credited 

with returning the area to its glory. 

“They really got the ball rolling,” Cullen said. 

Today, Grand Center includes over 60 arts and 

cultural organizations, 16 theaters, 17 museums, 10 

music venues, 18 event space rentals and 22 restaurants. 

Jazz St. Louis’ Harold and Dorothy Steward 

Center for Jazz and Jazz at the Bistro sit within the 

heart of the district, adding to its “something for 

everyone” philosophy. 

Grand Center is one of the region’s few historic 

communities that continues to expand annually. 

Cullen, a St. Charles native and Lindenwood University 

alum, has a theory about that. 

While she spent 12 years with Broadway productions 

in New York – after cutting her theatrical 

teeth at the Westport Playhouse and STAGES St. 

Louis – something about Grand Center called her 

back home. 

“There are a lot of wonderful people here, and 

we’re all connected,” Cullen said. 

A living gallery 

The Grand Center neighborhood is also home to 

an array of art galleries and exhibits as well as historic 

churches, hotels and educational institutions 

such as the Grand Center Arts Academy. 

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis 

[CAM], 3750 Washington Blvd., contains galleries 

of modern art alongside educational programming. 

The International Photography Hall of Fame, 3415 

Olive St., serves as a gallery and museum showcasing 

the science and art of photography. The High 

Low is a new venue for writers-in-residence at 


3301 Washington Ave. The twostory 

complex includes a library 

featuring rotating collections of 

books, magazines, newspapers 

and articles curated by local 

literary arts professionals and 

institutions. 

The High Low is the brainchild 

of the Kranzberg Arts 

Foundation, which serves as 

an infrastructure agency for art 

and artists headquartered in 

the Grand Center Arts District. 

Since the foundation’s inception in 2006, it has 

given life to multiple venues, including .ZACK, The 

Big Top, The Kranzberg theater, The Dark Room 

at The Grandel, the Grandel Theater, The Marcelle 

and The Kranzberg Gallery. 

“We serve and support through infrastructure, 

by building theaters [and] utilizing the latest tools 

of technology to help artists and arts organizations 

increase their production value and increase their 

audiences,” Executive Director Chris Hansen said. 

Beyond the stage and gallery, the foundation 

announced, in June 2018, a collaboration with the 

Regional Arts Commission to purchase 25 properties 

and renovate them into affordable housing and 

studios for local artists. 

Hansen explained, “We take the majority of our 

space, we anchor it with beautiful arts venues, amenities 

and tools, and we support it with mixed-use. 

Then, we invite our partners and special events and 

food and beverage partners to come around these 

spaces and help us generate an economy to support 

GRAND CENTER continued on page 64 



| 47

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An Emmy-nominated media specialist, Julie has been 

a professional photographer, writer and editor for close 

to 20 years, most recently was the second half of “Billy 

and Julie in the Morning” on 103.3 KLOU-FM and 

before that as host of Show-Me St. Louis on News 

Channel 5. Today, she is the owner of 8 Dogs Video. 

Julie, obviously, has a passion for animals [yes, she 

really does have eight dogs] and is involved with several 

local charities that are focused on the welfare of 

animals and people. “If you’re looking for a new furry 

family member, please rescue one at a local shelter!” 

she suggests. 

HOMETOWN: I grew up in Creve Coeur. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Pattonville High 

FAVORITE MEMORY: As a kid, I used 

to love to go to the carnivals at the Catholic 

schools and in the municipalities. Even now, 

as an adult, I look in the newspaper to see 

who’s having a carnival ‘cause you just want 

to feel that fun feeling again. Creve Coeur 

Days was so fun. We used to ride all the rides, 

get the funnel cakes and any other crazy food 

we could convince our parents we needed – 

all that sugar! Creve Coeur Days was the best. 

That really is one of my favorite memories. 

FAVORITE RESTAURANT: I’m vegetarian and I love Layla’s 

in Webster Groves [and in The Grove] because they have these 

Buffalo cauliflower wings and they’re amazing. Layla’s has a lot of 

really good vegetarian options for people. So good. I may have to 

go there tonight. Fridas is also on my list. It’s in The Loop, right 

off North and South [622 North and South Road, to be precise]. 

It’s vegetarian/vegan. It’s delicious. You’re not eating 

meat [say, in a taco or the Mushroom Rueben] and you 

can’t even tell. 

FAVORITE DETOUR: I love Kimmswick. I think it is 

such a cute little town to go to. I love Mary [Hostetter] 

and The Blue Owl. The Mile-High Apple Pie is so 

good, and I may be able to eat the whole thing by 

myself. There’s a lot of apples in there so it’s totally 

healthy. I love going to the Cookie Walk that they have 

over the holidays where you get a Christmas cookie at each shop 

and you end up with like 35 cookies that I pretty much eat on 

the ride home. Kimmswick is just such fun. It has so many great 

festivals. It’s definitely my favorite. 

FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS: 

As someone who worked on Show-Me St. Louis, I got to visit 

all the attractions and do stories on them … but my favorite 

is Forest Park. You can walk around Forest Park and go to so 

many different places within that one area. The Jewel Box is 

so beautiful. The History Museum is so interesting and they 

have a lot of free exhibits and the ones that aren’t free are 

really inexpensive. Then, the Art Museum is huge and it gives 

you a little culture; its relaxing walking through there. We are 

so lucky, too, to have a great zoo in St. Louis and it’s free. 

WHAT’S THE SINGLE BEST THING ABOUT THE 

REGION: The people. I love the people of St. Louis. I’m 

a born and raised St. Louisan. I never wanted to move and 

go work in another city for a while even though that’s what 

you have to do a lot of times in my field. I never left here, 

I always made it work because I just love the people of St. 

Louis. I’m friends with people I went to grade school with 

and high school and college [Mizzou]; I just think this place 

is so friendly. 




| 49

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Fishing, hiking, biking, oh my! 

Indian Camp Creek Park, 2679 Dietrich Road, is St. Charles County’s 

largest park at 603 acres and with over 10 miles of sprawling trails for 

hiking, biking and equestrian use. 

An 18-hole, state-of-the-art disc golf course in the park features long 

and short tee pads at each hole, as well as three pin placements that are 

rotated throughout the year. 

Fishing fans will feel right at home at the large lake on the property, 

which is stocked with bluegill, bass and catfish. 

A hike to the park’s restored silo, which serves as an observation 

tower, offers views of the surrounding prairies, wooded hills and protected 

habits. A group camping area is open year-round for large groups. 

In homage to the park’s past, a “ghost structure” gives visitors a sense 

of the property’s original log cabin, believed to have been built in the 

late 1800s. 

[St. Charles County photo] 

de 


[Purina Farms photo] 

Fun on the farm 

Something is always happening at Purina Farms. 

Located in Gray Summit at 500 Danforth Way, it’s a perfect 

day trip for fall. Dog shows take place almost weekly in the large 

Events Center and out on the fields, guests are likely to find 

high-flying disc dogs competing in toss and fetch competitions. 

At the Visitor Center, pet lovers of all ages can enjoy wagon rides, 

interactive exhibits and demonstrations, a baby animal petting area 

and trainer talks. 

Special events for fall include Barks N Books Reading Days 

on Sept. 25 and Oct. 30 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; The International 

Cheese, Wine & Canine Festival on Sept. 28 from 6-9 p.m.; and the 

always popular Howl-o-ween Fest Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27 with 

Trunk-or-Treat events on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. Visit purinafarms. 

com for details. 

Retro rinks 

Looking for a way to connect with your kids? Dust off your skates and 

head over to Skateport Plaza or Great Skate Roller Rink for some good, 

old fashioned fun. 

Skateport, 408 Weidman Road in Ballwin, has been around since the mid 

1990s and not much has changed, explained owner Randy Kline. Its decor 

and ambiance have retained its retro, vintage charm that second generations 

of skaters now are enjoying. 

“Kids might change, but some things remain the same,” said Kline, who 

has owned Skateport for the last 20 years. 

Great Skate Roller Rink offers a rolling good time at 130 Boone Hills 

Drive in St. Peters. The rink has been around since 1990, but Rob Egan, 

owner since 1995, said updates like LED lighting and a computerized 

sound system keep it fresh and modern. 

For those hankering for days gone by, an 80s-themed party is available. 

For field trips, Egan has created a STEM program where teachers can 

choose between seven lessons, such as friction, sound waves or even art. 

Skating and roller hockey lessons also are available, too. 

[Great Skate St. Peters photo] 




| 51

Fahr Greenhouse honored as 

Farm Family of the Year 

Patrick and Mary Bellrose, of Wildwood, have 

been named St. Louis County’s Farm Family 

of the Year for 2019. The Bellroses own Fahr 

Greenhouse, located at 18944 St. Albans 

Road, which boasts a 69-year history of flower 

farming. Since 1950, Fahr Greenhouse has 

grown up to 1,500 varieties of flowers in their 

75,000 square feet of greenhouse space, 

with an additional three acres of outdoor 

production areas. The business was started 

by Mary’s parents, Dorothy and Leonard Fahr, 

and includes wholesale, retail and internet 

sales. The Farm Family of the Year award is 

given by the University of Missouri County 

Pat and Mary Bellrose with their family inside the Fahr 

Greenhouse in Wildwood. 

Extension Council and the Missouri Farm Bureau and recognizes the outstanding contribution and 

economic impact that Missouri farm families have throughout the state of Missouri. The Bellroses 

were presented with the award at a ceremony during the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on Aug. 12. 

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Making the most of 

your campus <strong>tour</strong> 

If you’re lucky, there’ll be a moment during 

your student’s campus <strong>tour</strong> when he or she knows: “This 

is it. This is the place I want to call home for the next four 

or more years.” 

But getting to that “ah-ha” moment doesn’t happen by 

chance. It takes considerable conversation, investigation 

and exploration. 

Let’s start with conversation. College is a big step. But 

that step looks remarkably different depending on who’s 

looking at it. It’s important for students and parents to get 

on the same page early on about things like college costs, 

financing, grade expectations, housing and transportation. 

Experts suggest that parents and students can begin the 

college conversation as early as middle school. Those early 

discussions can be as simple as investigating what various 

colleges cost and the types of programs available to assist 

with college tuition. Savings plans, such as the Missouri 

529 Plan, provide investment opportunities that come 

with tax benefits. Parents, grandparents, other relatives and 

friends can set up 529 accounts and name the student as 

their beneficiary. Some restrictions on use do apply, but 

largely 529 plans can be used to pay for tuition, books and 

other expenses at colleges across the country. 

According to the experts at the nonprofit College 

Board, the average cost of one year of college – tuition, 

fees, room and board – increases at an average college-cost 

inflation rate of 6%; by 2023 those costs could be close 

to $25,000 per year for a public college and more than 

$56,000 per year for a private college. Planning is essential. 

“We encourage prospective students to really look at 

the pros and cons, things that are important to them as 

Story by Kate Uptergrove 

Clockwise from above: Lindenwood University and St. Louis 

Community College Wildwood. 

they start their college search whether that be from the 

academic side of things or the student involvement side of 

things,” explained Kara Schilli, assistant vice president for 

Lindenwood University. “We encourage them to do their 

homework ahead of time.” 

Having realistic expectations, especially in regard to 

costs, can help a student prepare for college long before 

taking campus <strong>tour</strong>s, which usually take place in a high 

school student’s junior and senior years. But cost is just 

one factor in choosing the right school. Fit is another. 

When it comes down to 

investigating college options, 

the first questions asked should be directed to the student. 

Where do they envision themselves? Big university? 

Smaller one? Close to home? Far away? 




| 53

“Students need to think about the type of campus 

culture they’re hoping to attain,” Schilli said. 

Talking with an admissions counselor can be 

tremendously helpful, as are questions like: Are 

internships available? Does the 

school offer career services? 

Are there opportunities to 

build leadership skills on 

campus? Do employers recruit 

students on campus? Who are 

some of the college’s notable 

graduates? 

Keeping a notebook of 

questions and answers is an 

important tool for campus 

<strong>tour</strong>s. 

“Here at Lindenwood, our 

student ambassadors lead our 

campus <strong>tour</strong>s, which really 

provides prospective students 

a wonderful opportunity to 

connect with a current student 

and ask them about day-to-day 

life inside the and outside of the classroom. 

“We also allow students and their families to 

customize <strong>tour</strong>s. Whether they’re hoping to meet up 

with a faculty team member or an academic advisor, 

we certainly can set up one-on-one time when they 

can meet someone to dive a little bit deeper into the 

curriculum, outcomes, experiences, etc.” 

On <strong>tour</strong>, students have the 

opportunity to visit many of the shared 

spaces that make up the campus, such as dorm rooms, 

recreational centers, auditoriums and sports centers. 

But Schilli also suggests that students and parents visit 

the campus’ public spaces, such as the library and book 

store, cafeteria and common areas. Sit on campus a 

while and watch the comings and goings of the student 

body. Beyond the campus, Schilli suggests exploring the 

local community. 

“We invite prospective Lindenwood students and 

their families to explore St. Charles, visit Main Street 

and just kind of get an understanding of not just 

campus but the community around us,” she said. 

Maryville University, located in West St. Louis 

County, takes campus <strong>tour</strong>s a step further by offering 

targeted visit days such as its Design and Visual Arts 

Day on Oct. 12. On that day, visiting students will have 

the opportunity to explore Maryville’s design labs and 

studios, meet current students, <strong>tour</strong> the campus, meet 

with faculty and learn about scholarship opportunities. 

Much the same happens on other targeted and general 

<strong>tour</strong> dates [visit maryville.edu to learn more]. 

According to Schilli, campus <strong>tour</strong>s can be 

transformative. 

“When you step on campus and meet with the folks, 

walk through the buildings and really get to see campus, 

you really have to trust your gut. If you have a sense 

of belonging, that this is a community that you can see 

yourself a part of, that’s the goal. While we want every 

prospective student to become a Lindenwood Lion, 

we know that’s not reality. So we encourage students 

to always <strong>tour</strong> at least the top five schools on their list. 

Finding the right fit means they’ll be happy freshmen 

and proud alumni.” 

Schilli acknowledged that many students have 

dream schools, someplace they, or Mom or Dad, have 

envisioned them attending for years. 

“But then the student gets on campus and it just 

doesn’t feel right,” she said. “Touring helps to put things 

back into perspective. When you experience campus 

firsthand you learn a lot more than you can just by 

reading about it or seeing it in videos.” 

At top: Maryville University students with the university’s mascot, 

Louie Jr.; the St. Louis Blues mascot, Louie; and Fredbird; [at 

left] Lindenwood University students. 

[Photos courtesy of the universities] 




estaurant 

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St. Charles, MO 63301 

636.493.6332 

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Reservations recommended 

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Photos by Brenden Brooks and Elizabeth Phelps

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ALL STORES HAVE PATIO SEATING!

Lou 

Rook III 

& 

Thom 

Sehnert 

The dynamic duo behind Annie Gunn’s 

by Suzanne Corbett 

Great things often are born from disasters. Case in 

point, Annie Gunn’s, which along with its sister 

operation, The Smokehouse Market, was devastated 

in the wake of the ’93 flood when the Monarch Levee broke 

and the Missouri River swallowed Chesterfield Valley. The 

event proved to be a dream opportunity for restaurateur 

Thom Sehnert and Chef Lou Rook III, who came together to 

relaunch Annie Gunn’s in 1994. 

Named for Thom’s great grandmother, Annie Gunn, the 

restaurant originally opened in 1989. Ten years earlier, Thom 

and his wife, Jane, had purchased the adjacent Smokehouse 

Market from Jane’s parents, Frank and Claire Wiegand, who 

bought it in 1966. The Smokehouse, originally the Chesterfield 

Mercantile, has been a fixture of West St. Louis County since 

Andy Kroeger opened it in 1937. Back then it served up 

gasoline, libations and sundries. 

Today, its shelves are stocked with culinary treats that aren’t 

easy to find elsewhere and which make great gifts for foodies. 

A full service meat counter offers many of the same cuts 

offered in the restaurant, a cheese-laden dairy counter and 

select prepared food round out the store’s provisions. Jane, a 

culinarian in her own right, continually searches for food finds 

to add to The Smokehouse’s specialties, but it’s the market’s 




counter service meals that have customers willing to 

wait in line for service. 

“When Annie Gunn’s opened the concept was 

simple – reflect The Smokehouse’s mission to use 

the finest food, finest beverage and the finest quality 

service as a catalyst to make our community a better 

place in which to live. We’re still doing that,” Thom 

said. “When we bought The Smokehouse our goal 

was to build on its roots not to compete against 

Schnucks or Dierberg’s but to complement what they 

do. When we opened Annie Gunn’s, the restaurant 

was to complement what we had at the store. If you 

were over at the store and saw a great meat display 

but didn’t feel like cooking you could come to Annie 

Gunn’s. Conversely, if you were at Annie Gunn’s and 

loved the foie gras or smoked shrimp ... you could go 

next door to the store.” 

That simple recipe, and the addition of Lou, has 

made The Smokehouse Market and Annie Gunn’s 

a culinary jewel, earning it multiple national dining 

awards, including 17 consecutive Wine Spectator 

Restaurant Awards and recognition by the James 

Beard Foundation along with invitations to cook at 

the prestigious Beard House, twice. 

“After the flood, I knew I would rebuild and I 

knew I had to include Lou. I told him, ‘I would 

love to have you join us,’” Thom said. “That was in 

October ’93 ... 26 years later it’s still working out.” 

Sehnert and Rook built on their roots. 

“We didn’t talk about staying the same,” Lou said. 

“We talked about where we were going and how we 

were going to keep it fresh and innovative without 

forgetting our roots. That was important to me, 

because that’s what brought us to the dance. So in the 

beginning, we made minimal changes. As time went 

on, so did the evolution of the food and wine list but 

we still kept our identity.” 

Lou, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, 

brought a wealth of experience to the Chesterfield 

restaurant. He credits Chef Bill Cardwell with 

strongly influencing his culinary philosophy. 

“Bill Cardwell was the first one to buy local, farm 

to table,” Lou explained. “It seems a little passé now 

but back in ‘89, nobody else was doing it.” 

Working with Cardwell, Lou learned how 

food innovation is fed by quality ingredients. It’s 

a philosophy of freshness that has yielded an 

innovated menu at Annie Gunn’s, one that Thom 

calls “a world of flavors.” A menu designed to satisfy 

a gourmet and a meat-and-potatoes guy. 

“I can get as creative as I want,” Lou said, “but you 

don’t have to overthink it. What we do here is make 

food the best we can and present it in a sensible 

fashion.” 

Sensible cuisine based on fresh and unique 

ingredients has made Annie Gunn’s a destination 

for the culinary curious and savvy foodies alike who 

appreciate Lou’s innovation and high-quality plates. 

In some cases, plates built on products that 

have yet to be harvested. Case in point, seafood. 

Technology now allows for fishermen to discern 

what might be coming in on the next catch. They 

contact the restaurant at 9 a.m., forecasting what they 

think will be in the catch of the day. 




| 59

“I can place an order by 10 a.m. and it’s 

here at our door by 10 a.m. the next day. 

It’s an incredible program. Last week, I 

was offered Ehu [Hawaiian deep water red 

snapper]. I had never heard of it but it was 

luscious, rich and had a nice flakiness.” 

Ehu is exactly the kind of product Lou 

loves to work with – something different, 

something flavorful, something fun. 

Having fun in the kitchen is a family trait. 

At age 9, Lou began working alongside his 

father – and favorite mentor – Lou Rook Jr. 

It was at that time that “Papa Lou” left 

his job as a welder to open King Louie’s, 

a hamburger and root beer joint in Wood 

River, Illinois, before working his way up to 

executive chef at Sunset Hills Country Club 

in Edwardsville. Throughout his father’s 

culinary career, Lou watched and learned. 

After reopening Annie Gunn’s in 1994, 

Thom and Lou hired then-retired Papa Lou 

as their day chef. It was a perfect fit. 

“I’ve learned a lot from my dad, and it was 

great working side-by-side with him here at 

Annie Gunn’s,” Lou said. “Dad would come 

in early to get things going; then I would 

come in later and stay late.” 

It was a simple but successful synergy, 

much like the food Lou serves. 

“Day in and day out you want to come in, 

sit down and have a great meal,” he said. 

Though his creations often are cutting 

edge, Lou has never been a big proponent 

of mixing too many flavors. His goal is to 

enhance and maximize the flavor potential 

of the dish, even with simple dishes such as 

hamburgers, sandwiches or meatloaf – all 

items that will never leave the menu. 

“It’s unusual to have a menu like ours,” 

Thom explained. “Lou does five different 

daily specials, which sometimes have been 

known to change hourly, depending on 

accessible ingredients. But beyond all that, 

we still have sandwiches on the dinner 

menu. Most of our friendly competitors ask 

why we would do that – missing a chance 

to sell an entrée. But our whole concept at 

Annie Gunn’s is to have something on the 

menu at all price points, and that includes 

our wines.” 

Annie Gunn’s was one of the first 

restaurants to offer and expand the “wine by 

the glass” concept, believing that, if you have 

a great steak, you should be able to order a 

great glass of wine without having to buy 

the bottle. Wine Director Glenn Bardgett 

made that happen. Under his direction, 

Annie Gunn’s has garnered two James Beard 

nominations for “best wine program.” 

Bardgett oversees a catalog of nearly 800 

wines, making Annie Gunn’s wine list one of 

the best reads in town. Among its pages are 

43 wines currently listed by the glass. 

“Thanks to Glenn, you can enjoy an 

incredible glass of wine, moderately priced, 

and you don’t have to second mortgage your 

house to enjoy a bottle,” Thom said. “We’re 

proud of that.” 

For the Chesterfield couple, whose roots 

go deep into the community, and the awardwinning 

chef, there’s just one goal. “We plan 

to continue to evolve,” Thom said. 

“ 

I can get 

as creative 

as I want. 

” 

– Lou Rook III 




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in Leading National Consumer Magazine 

July 2017 

Ranked 2nd 

in Nation 

Local Produce Quantity 

Your 

Hometown 

Store SINCE 

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Ranked Top 5 

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& Store Cleanliness 

11 th Best Grocery Store in the Nation 

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in Missouri 

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Reader’s Choice Awards 

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The Best 

in Steaks, Seafood, 

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Cuisine 

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Traditional Gourmet Preparations 

Superbly Served in Relaxed Elegance 

For Over 40 Years! 

Extensive Wine List • Daily Happy Hour 

Live Music On Patio • Private Event Room 

Catering To Go! 

1054 N. Woods Mill • Chesterfield • 314.878.4449 

2275 Bluestone Dr. • St. Charles • 636.916.1454 

View the Full Dinner Menu at 

www.spirosrestaurant.com 

16721 Main Street • Wildwood, MO 63040 

(Just 20 Minutes West of 270 & Manchester) 

636-821-3535 

www.benedettostl.com

The Original Since 1981 

Party Pans & Catering Menus Available 

O’Fallon - 8645 Veterans Memorial Parkway - 636-272-3499 

St. Charles - 1938 Zumbehl Road - 636-724-7800 

St. Charles - 3831 Elm Street - 636-723-7800 

St. Peters - 652 Jungermann Road - 636-447-7800 

Chesterfield - 103 Chesterfield Towne Centre - 636-530-9200 

Winghaven - 3002 Winghaven Blvd - 636-625-3333 

www.StefsPizza.com 

Local Favorites 

Steaks, Chicken, Seafood, Grouper, 

Walleye, Chops, Burgers and Sandwiches 

Carryout | Children’s Menu | Daily Happy Hour 

165 Lamp & Lantern Village • Town & Country 

636.207.0501 

631 Big Bend Road • Manchester 

636.207.1689 

www.lazyyellow.com 

11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Saturday • 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday

GRAND CENTER from page 47 

The High Low will house KAF’s forthcoming 

Writers-in-Residence program 

designed to support local writers and 

attract national and international writers, 

while also offering space for other turnkey 

arts organizations. 

According to Hansen, the inspiration 

for the project was an outcry from the 

community and local universities regarding 

literary programs. 

“For all of our properties and all of 

our projects, the first measurement is: Are 

we responding to a legitimate need in the 

arts community?” Hansen said. “We are 

listening at all times, and we’ve had many, 

many people over the years approach us 

about noninstitutional landscapes for the 

literary arts.” 

The facility will include multifaceted 

uses such as a gallery and performance 

space, and a library/café featuring Blueprint 

Coffee, which frequenters of the 

Delmar Loop will recognize. 

According to Hansen, the goal of 

many venues within Grand Center is the 

incorporation of multiuse areas that are 

available to residents and visitors alike. 

“There are a lot of great thinkers and 

visionaries throughout the world that are 

very intentional with the way they curate 

space. They build community and culture. 

I think we do it uniquely well in the Grand 

Center Arts District,” Hansen said. “We 

have great collaborators.” 

A tasteful affair 

For those not in the mood for a quiet 

café, there are plenty of other places to 

find entertainment for any taste, literally 

and figuratively. Included among the 

dozens of restaurants worth exploring is 

the newly opened Bulrush, 3307 Washington 

Blvd. It’s headed by James Beard Best 

Chef-Southwest semi-finalist Rob Connoley, 

a St. Louis native who returned home 

after 30 years to open the contemporary 

Ozark restaurant. 

The Dark Room at The Grandel is 

located inside its namesake theater and 

offers fine wine and artisan cuisine alongside 

live music performances. Rise Café 

serves breakfast and snacks from inside 

CAM. Stage Left Grille, 541 N. Grand 

Blvd., offers pre-show dining options 

and extended hours for Fox theatergoers. 

The Curtain Call Lounge, also adjacent 

to the Fox Theatre, is the city’s first-ever 

champagne bar. It bases its schedule on 

theatrical show times, including matinées. 

Meanwhile, Sophie’s Artist Lounge & 

Cocktail Club, located on the second floor 

of the .ZACK building, serves as a gathering 

place for local artists, musicians and 

arts patrons. 

“It’s a really great hang before a show or 

after a show,” Hansen said. 

Encore! 

One common thread ties the community 

together – the desire to make local 

entertainment an unforgettable experience. 

As for what the future holds, well, everyone 

loves an encore. 

“It doesn’t just stop after a day,” Cullen 

said. “There’s a wonderful community 

spirit around arts organizations. 

“St. Louis [is] a wonderful place with 

wonderful art, wonderful creativity, a 

music scene, a jazz scene, a theater scene, 

a dance scene. There’s so many amazing 

things going on, and we, as local St. Louisians, 

want to [celebrate] that pride.” 

Proudly serving St. Louis and the surrounding area 

for over 20 years, Harpo’s Bar & Grill is a Missouri staple. 

Harpo’s has built it’s reputation on a friendly and energetic staff, 

delicious food, and the best nightlife in the Chesterfield area. 

Located in the heart of West County, Harpo’s Chesterfield offers an excellent 

sports bar atmosphere, a spacious patio voted best in West County, 

great specials and the classic Harpo’s menu that’s made us famous. 

COME HELP US CHEER ON OUR MIZZOU TIGERS & ALL OUR LOCAL TEAMS! 

2019 MIZZOU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

8/31 Mizzou at Wyoming 

10/19 

9/7 Mizzou vs. West Virginia 10/26 

Mizzou at Vanderbilt 

Mizzou at Kentucky 

9/14 Mizzou vs. SEMO 

11/9 Mizzou at Georgia 

9/21 Mizzou vs. South Carolina 11/16 

10/5 Mizzou vs. Troy 

11/23 

10/12 Mizzou vs. Ole Miss 

11/29 

Mizzou at Florida 

Mizzou vs. Tennessee 

Mizzou at Arkansas 

136 Hilltown Village | Chesterfield | 636.537.1970 | www.harposstl.com 

Visit Our Two Locations 

Rich & Charlie’s 

Family Owned & Operated Since 1967 

SUNDAY - THURSDAY SPECIALS 

Taste of Italy: Italian Dinner Special 

Only $15.50 Featuring pasta, Famous Rich 

& Charlie’s Salad, cheese garlic bread, Italian 

bread and butter and a mini cannoli 

MONDAY NIGHT 

ALL THE PASTA YOU CAN EAT 

For Only $15.50 

Visit our website for 

EARLY BIRD SPECIALS $10.50 

Monday - Friday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 

DINE-IN ONLY 

NOT AVAILABLE DURING HOLIDAYS 

1081 S. Woods Mill Road 

Town & Country, MO 63017 

636-227-8965 

richandcharlies.com 

Rich & Charlie’s Pizza 

Over 25 Years in Business 

FRIDAY NIGHT 

FAMILY NIGHT SPECIAL 

Two 14” 

One Topping Pizzas 

Plus Salad and Garlic Bread 

for $ 

27 95 

only 

CARRY OUT ONLY 

1091 South Woods Mill Rd. 

at Clayton 

636-230-7060

The Best Italian “On the Hill” 

Come See Us At Our New Location! 

Dine Al Fresco All Year On Our Patio 

343 South Kirkwood Rd. #101 • Kirkwood, MO 

314.462.9112 

www.thegreekkitchen.net 

Reservations: 314-772-4454 • 5201 Southwest Avenue, St. Louis, MO 

Favazzas.com 

20% OFF LUNCH 

purchase of $15 or more * 

Offer good from 11 am- 3 pm. Lunch only. Expires 4/30/20 

The Most Awarded All - Missouri Winery 

Loaded 

Lobster Club 

Sandwich 

OPEN EVERY DAY YEAR ROUND 

FREE WINE TASTING DAILY 

DAILY 

SPECIALS 

HAPPY 

HOUR 

TUE - THU 3-6PM 

FRI 11AM-6PM 

FEATURING CLASSIC 

COMFORT FOODS 

& SEASONAL DELIGHTS 

GREAT DRINK SPECIALS 

505 LONG ISLAND ICED TEA - $ 5 05 

DOMESTIC BOTTLE BEER - $ 2 00 • DRAFT $ 3 00 

WELL DRINKS - $ 3 00 

LIVE MUSIC WEDNESDAY THRU SATURDAY AND FROM 3PM-6PM ON SUNDAYS 

Closed Mondays | 11a-9p Tues-Thurs 

11a-12a Fri/Sat | Noon-8p Sunday 

www.theparksidegrille.com 

505 Strecker Road | 636.422.8483 

at the corner of Clayton & Strecker • 1 mile west of Clarkson 

*Offer excludes Happy Hour Priced Drinks & Entrees 

events • live music • entertainment 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday • 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Friday • 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Saturday • 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Sunday • Noon - 5:30 p.m. 

Closed only Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day 

and New Year’s Day 

Hwy 94 • Dutzow, MO 

636.433.2245 

www.blumenhof.com

Vlasis Park in Ballwin /Facebook photo 

Continued from page 21 and 22-23 

Road, the menu is, well, self-explanatory but also delicious 

and award-winning. Love Mexican food but need 

it to be vegetarian or gluten-free? Not a problem at 

Nachomama’s, 9643 Manchester Road. 

Feeling creative? The Painted Zebra, 10907 Manchester 

Road in Kirkwood, provides everything you need to 

paint your own pottery. 

After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and 

working in a Michelin 3-star restaurant, pastry chef 

Nathaniel Reid returned home to Missouri and opened 

Nathaniel Reid Bakery, 11243 Manchester Road in 

Kirkwood. 

Des Peres Park, 12325 Manchester Road, is a little 

gem located almost directly across Manchester from 

West County Center, one of the region’s last surviving 

– dare we say, thriving – enclosed malls. 

After shopping, catch a movie at the Des Peres 

Cinema,12701 Manchester Road, in fully reclining 

comfort. 

The Range in Ballwin /Facebook photo 

At Amp Up Action Park, 13901 Manchester Road, 

kids and adults alike can enjoy an elevated ropes challenge, 

go-kart racing, becoming a human hamster ball, 

fighting virtual zombies and the very real sport of axe 

throwing. 

Slightly off Route 100 but worth the half-mile de<strong>tour</strong> 

is Edgar M. Queeny Park, 550 Weidman Road, which 

features a lake and equestrian trails among the usual amenities. 

The Greensfelder Recreation Complex is home to 

year-round events, a roller hockey arena and a seasonal 

ice rink. 

A half-mile de<strong>tour</strong> down Route 141 takes you to Paul 

A. Schroeder Park, 359 Old Meramec Station Road, 

home to a disc golf course, nature trails and more. 

Located at 14523 Manchester Road, Breakout 

Games’ private escape rooms offer up a life-sized game 

of twists and turns. A different type of game awaits at 

The Range, 14803 Manchester Road, where a Ti Gunfighter 

shooting simulator provides entertainment for 

shooters of all skill levels. 

Vlasis Park, Ballwin’s largest park, is located adjacent 

to The Range and covers 31 acres with four tennis courts, 

two ponds and a sand volleyball court. When the weather 

isn’t park-friendly, but the kids are crawling up the wall, 

let them, literally, at Flying Spider, 14820 Manchester 

Road. 

At St. Louis Home Fires, 15053 Manchester Road, 

owner Frank Schmer offers up barbecue advice along 

with a variety of locally produced rubs and sauces, grills 

and grill equipment. 

Looking for cool refreshment check out Andy’s 

Frozen Custard, 15501 Manchester Road. Try the Jackhammer, 

you’ll thank us. 

Restoration Alley DIY Co, 15626 Manchester Road, 

you can create one-of-a-kind decorative home pieces or 

custom cookies. 

Fun for the whole family, West County Lanes, 15727 




Manchester Road, features live music on the weekends, an 

arcade, sports bar and, of course, bowling. 

Need more exercise? Take a hike at Ellisville’s Bluebird 

Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road, through the Klamberg 

Woods Conservation Area. 

In Wildwood discover Three French Hens, 16935 

Manchester Road, and The Porch, 16957 Manchester 

Road, for home décor; Pure by Jen, 16739 Main St., for 

fashion; Milk and Honey, 101 Plaza Drive, and Patterson’s 

Family Farm featuring Maura’s Market, 16943 

Manchester Road, for home and gift ideas. 

If shopping makes you tired and thirsty, head to B&B 

Theatres Wildwood 10, 16820 Main St., where you can 

watch the latest blockbuster with a signature cocktail in 

hand. 

Wildwood’s Community Park, accessible by taking 

Hwy. 109 to Pond Grover Loop Road, is just north of 

Route 100 and offers hiking and outdoor play amenities. 

Point Labaddie Brewery, 1029 Thiebes Road, is an 

independent craft brewery located on 17 acres in Labadie, 

Missouri, owned and operated by the Brothers Grimm, 

Andy and Rob, that is. Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome 

outdoors, which is ideal since Purina Farms, with 

its many dog-themed activities, barn <strong>tour</strong>s and hay rides, 

is literally right down the road. 

In New Haven, discover Robller Vineyard and 

Kuenzel Valley Winery, the Pinckney Bend Distillery, 

the Walt Theatre, and an ice cream shoppe that’s 

the perfect place to stop at after exploring main street. 

A stay at Berger Guest House, in Berger, Missouri, 

of course, offers opportunities to hike, fish and swim 

while also being close to festivals and wineries, including 

Bias Vineyards. 

The town of Chamois boasts the Townley House 

Museum, which was built in 1856 by Charles Phelps and 

placed on the National Historic Register in 1999. 

In Morrison, travelers can stay at the Nesting Box 

Bed & Breakfast, visit the Nolte Hills Nursery and 

dine at Derailed. 

Don’t miss Frankenstein, though it might be easy to 

do so. The tiny town is not named after the monster, but 

rather after Gottfried Franken who donated land for a 

church. It’s the only town in America named Frankenstein 

and for that reason alone draws visitors year-round. 

On the road again 

Local author helps would-be wanderers navigate Missouri’s historic roadways 

By Bonnie Krueger 


If the open road is calling you to explore quaint towns 

on two-lane highways with the Mayberry vibe – either in 

person or from your armchair – let “Historic Missouri 

Roadsides” be your guide. 

Author Bill Hart, executive director of the Missouri 

Alliance for Historic Preservation, was inspired to pass on 

11 years of knowledge – gained by traveling through more 

than half of Missouri’s 114 counties and capturing their 

essence in photos – with the writing of his book. 

“You’ll notice rusted cars and dilapidated old buildings 

pictured throughout the book. I never knew if an older 

building I photographed would still be standing when I 

returned at a later time,” Hart said. “It might be the only 

time it was documented and I wanted to capture it. We 

need to consider that some of these buildings are historic 

and should be preserved.” 

Part travel, part history and part photography, the 244- 

page, full-color book encourages travelers to see all the 

beauty small towns have to offer. Organized like a travel 

planner, the book suggests several routes for day trips, 

weekend visits and week-long stays. Those routes feature 

history, local attractions, eateries and lodging suggestions. 

But don’t expect big box stores or chain hotels and restaurants 

to be included. Hart’s ultimate goal is to celebrate 

the richness of mom-and-pop businesses. 

Beautiful sites and scenery along two-lane highways set 

the criteria for the towns Hart selected for inclusion in his 

book. With some maps and general driving directions provided, 

the routes are along contiguous roadways making 

for easy navigation. 

His favorite towns? “Every time I go out, I have a new 

favorite,” he joked. “There are some sweet towns in here 

like Bonnots Mill and Louisiana. Brunswick is another 

cute little town. Ste. Genevieve has some French colonial 

architecture. The stretches of road along the Missouri and 

Mississippi rivers are beautiful.” 

If visiting a town with a unique name inspires a road 

trip, be sure to visit Missouri’s own Tightwad, Lupus, 

Cooter, Peculiar and Frankenstein townships. Whether 

you want to take a drive down iconic Route 66 or along 

the Lewis & Clark Trail, Hart shared this advice: “Explore, 

discover and appreciate all that Missouri has to offer.” 

• • • 

Hart will be signing copies of his book at 6 p.m. on 

Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Daniel Boone Branch of the St. 

Louis County Library, 300 Clarkson Road in Ellisville. 



| 67

de 


[Discoverstcharles.com photo] 

Get spirited away 

Craving some seasonal fun without the fright? Catch a carriage 

over to Historic Saint Charles for the annual Legends & Lanterns 

Festival, which runs Oct. 12-13, Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 25-27. 

Explore the shops and attractions of Main Street while meeting 

a cast of ghostly characters – such as Lizzie Borden, Sweeney 

Todd, Medusa and more – that come alive by the light of the festival’s 

enchanted lanterns. Each ghostly character also has a stamp 

that visitors can collect in their official Legends & Lanterns Passport, 

which can be picked up at the Tourism Center, 230 South 

Main Street. 

Free events include horse-drawn hayrides, ghost stories at the 

Missouri First State Capitol, scarecrow displays, scavenger hunts, 

live music and more. The Plaza del Dia de los Muertos highlights 

Mexican Day of the Dead traditions and the Writer’s Block at the 

OPO Plaza allows visitors to brainstorm alongside Edgar Allan 

Poe, Mary Shelley and the Brothers Grimm. 

Other exhibits include Morbid Curiosity: Mourning Traditions 

of the Victorian Age and Tinseltown Terror: A Salute to the 

Golden Age Of Monster Movies. For a full list of events and 

hours, visit discoverstcharles.com/events/legends-and-lanterns. 

Looking for an event that’s a little less Ichabod Crane and a 

little more Headless Horseman? Take a de<strong>tour</strong> to wine country 

for Spirits of the Past on Oct. 19 from 6-10:30 p.m. at the Historic 

Daniel Boone Home, 1868 Hwy. F in Defiance. As night 

descends, walk the lantern-lit paths of the pioneer village and 

listen to murder ballads, tales of the 1800s, and the “Legend of 

Sleepy Hollow” told by storyteller Anne Williams. Limited tickets 

are available. Reservations are highly recommended. Pre-registered 

admission is $6; $10 at the door. Children ages 4 and under 

are free. 

[Discoverstcharles.com photo] 

Make merry memories 

Come November, Main Street becomes the temporary home for 

another group of hauntings. This time, it’s the ghosts of Christmas past. 

Saint Charles Christmas Traditions comes to Historic Saint Charles 

from Nov. 29-Dec. 24. Decorated in Victorian finery, the street is home to 

a weekly Santa Parade, candlelight readings at the Missouri State Capitol, 

live carolers, an Ice Block Party with Jack Frost, and a Krampus Karnival 

with games and crafts. 

The gazebo at Kirster Park is the site of a weekly Land of Sweets 

Dance Party with Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and Sugar Plum Fairy. Of 

course, visitors can pay Santa Claus a visit in his cottage to share holiday 

wish lists, take commemorative photos and even visit with the loyal fleet 

of reindeer. For those craving a more historic stroll, check out the free 

exhibit, “Oh, Christmas Tree: The Evolution of an Icon.” 

The holiday magic doesn’t live only on Main Street. Christmas Candlelight 

returns from 6-10:30 p.m. on Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14 at the Historic 

Daniel Boone Home. Thousands of candles will illuminate a picturesque 

frontier setting and allow guests to step back into the early 1800s to 

experience Christmas as it was celebrated in the past. The event includes 

stories, music, and of course, hot cider. Limited tickets are available. 




Buying Estates/Collections/Single Items 

Buying Watches, working 

or non-working, even parts 

Buying 

Old Paper 

Money 

Buying 

American 

Indian 

Artifacts 

Buying Diamonds, 

Loose Stones, 

Estate Jewelry, 

Costume Jewelry 

Buying Vintage 

& Collectibles 

including 

Lladro, Hummel 

& Lalique 

Mike Says... 

“Younger generations are not necessarily 

interested in inheriting vintage items. 

Don’t let those items continue to lose 

value over time – let Manchester Coin 

& Jewelry help with your collectibles 

now. Clearing out a lifetime of clutter is 

daunting, try one drawer – or one room 

– at a time.” 

Michael Wilke, owner 

“You can bring in a violin or a guitar and some gold, an 

old toy, some military memorabilia and a big diamond – 

and we’ll buy it all.” 

“Unlike other buyers, Manchester Coin & Jewelry assesses 

fine jewelry and watches in terms of resale, not meltdown 

value.” 

Buying 

Military 

Items 

Buying 

Gold & Silver 

in any form 

STOP BY OR 

CALL FOR AN 

IN-HOME 

APPOINTMENT 

• Buying and selling vintage wares of all kinds 

• Making sure customers receive the highest price possible 

• Your LOCAL expert for FREE appraisals & evaluations 

14360 Manchester Rd. 

Just West of Hwy. 141 across from Goodwill 

636-686-7222 

Highest Quality Professional Ear, Nose and Throat Care 

J. David Dahm 

M.D., F.A.C.S 

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M.D., F.A.C.S 

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M.D., F.A.C.S 

• Adult and Pediatric ENT disorders 

• Allergy Testing & Treatment 

• Medical and Surgical ENT Treatment 

• Balloon Sinuplasty (Balloon Sinus Dilation) 

• Dizziness and Balance Assessments 

• Treatment of Sleep Disorders and Snoring 

• Inspire Therapy for obstructive sleep apnea 

• Newest technology in home sleep study 

• Facial Plastics 

• Audiology Services including Hearing Loss 

• Hearing Aid Products 

Three Convenient Locations 

226 South Woods Mill Rd., Suite 37 West 


314.523.5300 

17000 Baxter Rd., Suite 102 


314.523.5330 

4651 Highway K 

O’Fallon, MO 63368 

314.523.5300 

Ent-STL.com

IN SEARCH OF 

the finest in wine 

& best in beer 

By Suzanne Corbett 

No matter where the grapes are crushed or the 

barley is malted, Missouri’s wine and stein destinations 

are a unique experience to sample and savor, 

well worth raising a glass and toasting. 

Missouri’s wine trails and beer hubs offer visitors 

a chance to taste what the French call “terroir” – a 

sense of place, culture and environment, which 

gives food its characteristics and flavor. Throughout 

eastern and central Missouri, you’ll find the 

local wine and beer has French and German accents 

– a reflection of its terroir. Easily accessible on a 

fine fall day or weekend are five of Missouri’s 11 

defined wine trails, specifically the Augusta Winemaker’s 

Trail, the Hermann Wine Trail, the Mississippi 

River Hills Wine Trail, the Route du Vin and 

the Meramec River Wine Trail. 

Brew pubs don’t have trails so to speak, but there 

are plenty of fine, local breweries in the St. Louis 

and St. Charles communities to experience individually 

or as part of a pub crawl – just be sure to have 

a designated driver or chauffeur in the group. 

While the Augusta and Hermann wine trails 

obviously are located in and around those cities 

of the same name, the Mississippi River Hills Trail 

stretches from the center of Perry County southward 

through northern Cape Girardeau County and 

Route du Vin captures the spirit of Ste. Genevieve 

County. Sandwiched between the Meramec River 

and Ozark Highlands is the Meramec River Wine 

Trail with the city of St. James as its epicenter. 

Many discover the area’s wineries and breweries 

after a day of fishing, rafting or <strong>tour</strong>ing the region’s 

This page, Chaumette Vineyards & Winery in Ste. Genevieve; facing 

page, from left, grapes awaiting harvest at Montelle Winery in Augusta; 

the Biscotti Bar at the Cave Vineyard & Distillery in Ste. Genevieve.

natural wonders, including Meramec Spring 

Park and Meramec Caverns. 

To pick a trail, decide your direction and do 

a little research. Missouriwine.org, operated 

by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board with 

help from regional wine associations and 

visitors centers, is an excellent place to start. 

There, you can research each of the state’s 

wine trails and pick up a few viticulture tidbits 

with which to tantalize your friends. Missouri’s 

state wine? The Norton/Cynthiana varietal, 

so named by legislation in 2003. The first 

official viticultural area [AVA] named in the 

U.S.? Hint: it’s not Napa, a fact that turns the 

California valley green with envy. Let’s just say, 

America’s first AVA had a decidedly German 

accent. 

Both the Augusta and Hermann wine 

trails were founded by Germans who also 

brewed a lot of beer. Today, we’d call them 

microbrewers. By definition, a microbrewery 

is any facility that produces fewer than 15,000 

barrels of beer annually, colloquially known as 

craft beers. 

A brewery becomes a brew pub when food 

is added – and food should be added. The No. 

1 tip for a beer, or wine, tasting trip is “Eat!” 

Empty stomachs and alcohol are not a good 

combination. 

While defined trails for beer tasting <strong>tour</strong>s do 

not exist, there are defined rules for making 

the most out of any stein adventure – and no 

you don’t have to be a certified Cicerone. Hint: 

Before you head out, head over to stlbeer. 

org and click on the “Breweries” tab to map 

out your local craft beer trail. The directory 

defaults to a map but if you turn on the “list” 

feature on the right, you might find it easier to 

navigate. 

Once you’ve mapped out your beer trail, 

visit craftbeer.com to check out the “Tasting 

Tools” section under the “Food” tab. There, 

you’ll find advice on everything from glass 

style [yes, it matters] to food pairing [please, 

do eat] to a downloadable Beer Tasting Mat 

you can take on your journey. Think of it as 

your flight guide, as in a flight of craft beer, 

usually served in order of color and intensity 

of taste. Wine flights, by the way, range in 

taste – rather than color – from sweet to dry. 

On the topic of wine, did you know that 

Missouri winemaking began in the mid-1800s? 

One hundred years later, it was reborn in 

Augusta, the jewel of St. Charles wine country. 

Once a bustling river town, Augusta was 

left high and dry when the Missouri River cut 

a new channel in the 1870s – a tragedy then, 

but a plus today. The river left behind a fertile 

valley yielding picturesque views that visitors 

can drink in along with spectacular sunsets. 

Both are best enjoyed in hilltop gardens and 

on the decks of wineries and breweries in, you 

guessed it, America’s first AVA. 

Spend a day in St. Charles County on 

the Weinstrasse – German for “road to the 

wineries” – or as locals call it, Hwy. 94. You 

can learn all about the Weintrasse by visiting 

augusta-chamber.org or simply heading west 

on Hwy. 94 from its intersection with Interstate 

64. Hint: the 2019 Harvest Festival takes 

place in downtown Augusta Sept. 20-21. A 

variety of activities are planned for all ages, 

but even if you can’t make the festival, Augusta’s 

city limits are worth a departure from the 

trail. With cute shops, galleries and the nearby 

Katy Trail State Park to explore, you’ll need 

more than one day on the trail. 

Travel further down Hwy. 94 to get your 

German on in Hermann. 

Perched on the Missouri River bluffs, Hermann 

is situated in the middle of Missouri’s 

Rhineland. Its terraced hillside vineyards ladened 

with grapes are eye candy as well as the 

home of Norton, Missouri’s signature grape. 


WINERY & BEER TOURS 

A select list of our favorites. 

Aerie’s Winery 

14 West Main St . 

Grafton, Illinois 

(618) 786-8439 

aeriesview.com 

Augusta Winery 

5601 High St. 

Augusta, Missouri 

(636) 228-4301 

augustawinery.com 

Blumenhof Vineyards 

13699 S. Hwy. 94 

Dutzow, Missouri 

(636) 433-2245 

blumenhof.com 

Defiance Ridge Vineyards 

2711 S. Hwy. 94 

Defiance, Missouri 

(636) 798-2288 

defianceridgevineyards.com 

Montelle Winery 

201 Montelle Drive 


(636) 228-4464 

montelle.com 

Noboleis Vineyards 

100 Hemsath Road 


(636) 482-4500 

noboleisvineyards.com 

The Rack House 

5065 Hwy. N 

Cottleville, Missouri 

(636) 244-0574 

Tompkins by the Rack House 

500 S. Main St. 

Saint Charles, Missouri 

(636) 493-6332 

thompkinsrh.com 

Brew Hub Taproom 

5656 Oakland Ave. 

St. Louis, Missouri 

(314) 833-5453 

tapbrewhub.com 

John G’s Tap Room 

109 Main St. 

Washington, Missouri 

(636) 239-5010 

Melvin’s Brewing Co. 

110 Hilltop Village Center Drive 

Eureka, Missouri 

(636) 549-9231 

melvinbrewing.com 

Third Wheel Brewing Co. 

4008 N. Service Road 

St. Peters, Missouri 

thirdwheelbrewing.com 

Compared to a French Cabernet, Norton grapes are 

transformed into a rich red, full-bodied wine with a 

spicy complexity. 

Before raising a glass or a stein – it is a German town 

after all – stroll down Main Street and explore the city’s 

unique boutiques and eateries. Every weekend in October 

oompah bands play while Rhineland-style wines 

and Old World-style beers flow. 

Leave driving behind by taking the train to the trail. 

Adventurers and romantics can board Amtrak’s Missouri 

River Runner line for a no-hassle trip right into 

the heart of Hermann. Board the train at the Kirkwood 

Station in St. Louis County or in Washington, 

Missouri. Check amtrak.com for running times. 

In the mood for all things French? Head an hour 

south of St. Louis down Interstate 55 and exit at 

Missouri Hwy. 32. Turn left for a trip into the area’s 

French Colonial past in Ste. Genevieve or make a right 

to travel the winding roads connecting the wineries and 

breweries of the Route du Vin. 

In Ste. Genevieve County’s lush foothills you’ll find 

everything from caves to tigers. Yes, you read that right. 

Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary is a nonprofit big cat 

rescue and educational facility that provides permanent 

lifelong care for abused, neglected or unwanted big 

cats. Tours are offered year-round Thursday-Sunday. 

Follow the signs to encounter a re-created French 

Colonial Village and a saltpeter cave where picnics are 

welcomed or simply enjoy the landscape mix of corn 

fields and grazing buffalo alongside vineyards adjacent 

to palatial tasting centers. Visitstegen.com can help 

guide your travels and provide details on upcoming 

events such as the Déjà vu Spirit Reunion, a ghostly 

encounter for all ages taking place on Saturday, Oct. 26. 

To taste the area’s French heritage, sample wines produced 

from French-American hybrids such as Vignoles, 

Seyal or Chambourcin, and Belgian-style beers, just 

one of the brews tapped at restaurants along Ste. 

Genevieve’s old town square, a place where delicacies 

produced by local culinary artisans can be found to fill 

a picnic basket. 

Leaving Ste. Genevieve, the Mississippi River Hills 

Trail encompasses Perry and northern Cape Girardeau 

counties and highlights three picturesque wineries. 

Want to sample them all? Consider the trail’s Taste of 

an Ozark Holiday event from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, 

Nov. 9. Along with wine and food tastings, guests can 

enjoy live music and get in the spirit of the winter holiday 

season. 

Back in the city, it’s easy to fill a stein or wine glass 

at a bevy of local breweries, brewpubs, restaurants and 

wine bars – just remember what you learned on the 

trail and don’t forget to toast! 

This page, second from top, the Chicken Pretzel Sandwich at the Brew Hub Taproom in St. Louis; 

third from top, the scenic Saline Valley near Chaumette Vineyards & Winery in Ste. Genevieve. 


Finish & Trim Carpentry Co. 

• Custom Woodworking • 

• Bookshelves • 

• Mantles • Surrounds • 

Gills Tree Service 

• Tree Removal 

• Tree Trimming 

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• Emergency Tree Service 

• Custom Cabinets • 

• Media Centers • 

• Custom Kitchens • 

• Doors • 

• Wine Cellars • 

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Since 1979 

(636) 391-5880 

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Whether your tree is hazardous, interferes with your view, or just isn’t 

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safely and securely. If you are considering removing a tree, speak with our team 

of St. Louis tree removal experts. 

636.274.1378 • Gillstrees.com 

A SPECIAL PLACE, A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE 

Rooted in the hills of Historic Missouri Wine Country, our property 

boasts 42 acres of vineyards, lush gardens and a tranquil lake. 

OFFERING FINE WINES FROM OUR ESTATE VINEYARD AND 

EXCLUSIVE VARIETALS FROM THE WEST COAST. 

ENJOY VINEYARD-TO-TABLE CUISINE FOR 

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WINE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS. 

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2711 S Missouri 94, Defiance (636) 798-2288 

DEFIANCERIDGEVINEYARDS.COM



A connected world 

Sure, our world is tied together by ones and zeroes. 

Our digital selves plug in, but too often our physical 

selves tune out. 

The remarkable people and places that make up our 

hometown share one thing in common, they create 

connections. Real, tangible connections. These places 

are where we commune together. These people greet 

us with open arms and open hearts. 

Online you might see the phrase IRL. It’s an 

abbreviation that stands for “in real life.” Maybe we 

should not let our digital lives shorten our real lives. 

The things we remember most – appreciate most – 

happen when we gather together, in real life. 




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Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Free In Home Estimates!

tour/st –fall/winter 2019

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