Welcome to Fall: St. Louis’ Season of Celebration in our September/October Issue
by Grayling Holmes
Labor Day weekend begins next weekend. The kids—and for many of us, the nieces, nephews and grandkids—are already back in school. And just like that, summer 2026 is beginning to fade into the rearview mirror.
But in St. Louis, fall hardly means slowing down.
September and October mark the beginning of one of my favorite times of year, as our city’s gala season swings into full gear. Invitations fill our calendars, tables are reserved, tuxedos and gowns come out of closets, and many of St. Louis’ most generous citizens gather to support the arts, education, healthcare and the countless nonprofit organizations that make our community stronger.
Then, before we know it, Thanksgiving will arrive, the holidays will be upon us and we’ll be heading full steam into 2027. Where does the time go?
As we begin the final quarter of 2026, Sophisticated Living St. Louis remains your invitation to enjoy the very best of life—while introducing you to the people making an impact on the place we call home.
Throughout this September/October issue, you’ll find extraordinary St. Louis homes and design, fascinating personalities, philanthropy, culture and some of the movers and shakers helping shape our region. And because sophisticated living certainly doesn’t stop at the city limits, we’ll also take you beyond St. Louis to explore the worlds of travel, automobiles, wine, fashion, food and the other pleasures that make life interesting.
And be sure to spend some time with what has become one of our most-read sections: Celebrations.
Consider it our look back at summer 2026—and don't be surprised if you recognize a few faces. These are people you may have run into at a cocktail party, fundraiser, museum opening or charity event this summer. Many are also among our community’s most ardent philanthropists, generously giving their time and resources to organizations that improve lives throughout our region. Celebrations may capture the parties, but behind so many of those photographs is a much bigger story of generosity.
That spirit of community runs throughout this issue.
Craig Kaminer offers a deeply personal remembrance of John Ferring, the quiet giant whose philanthropy, leadership and remarkable sincerity left an indelible mark on St. Louis. Rather than simply writing checks, Ferring invested his time, intellect and heart in organizations and leaders, strengthening institutions throughout our community and leaving a legacy that will endure for generations.
We also explore the fascinating St. Louis roots of one of the most iconic pieces of furniture ever created: the Eames Lounge Chair. Long before Charles Eames changed modern design, he was a young man walking the streets of St. Louis with a sketchbook, absorbing the architecture and craftsmanship surrounding him. His remarkable journey from St. Louis to international design legend is particularly timely with the arrival of the city’s first dedicated Herman Miller showroom.
And Craig introduces us to another St. Louis visionary, restaurateur Ben Poremba, whose newest work along Delmar Boulevard suggests that restaurants can accomplish far more than serving memorable meals. At Maker’s Yard, Poremba is using Nixta, Florentin and Del Bono to create places for people to gather, linger and rediscover community—part of an ambitious effort to bring new energy to Delmar through the simple but increasingly precious act of bringing people together.
These are just a few of the stories waiting inside.
So pour yourself a glass of wine, settle into your favorite chair and enjoy our September/October issue. Fall in St. Louis moves quickly, and there is much to experience before the holidays arrive.
Here is a synopsis of each article—and when something catches your eye, click the Print Issue link and enjoy the entire September/October 2026 edition of Sophisticated Living St. Louis.
Welcome to fall. I hope to see you out and about.
Cover Story: Hospitality Begins at Home
by Craig Kaminer / photos by Carmen Troesser
Ben Poremba
Our September/October cover story introduces readers to acclaimed St. Louis restaurateur Ben Poremba, who is using food as a catalyst for something much bigger: rebuilding community along Delmar Boulevard. At the Maker’s Yard, his three distinctive restaurants—Nixta, Florentin and the newly opened Del Bono—surround a lively outdoor commons designed to give families, friends and neighbors reasons to gather, linger and reconnect. Born partly from the challenges following the devastating May 2025 tornado, Poremba’s ambitious vision seeks to transform perceptions of Delmar through dining, music, markets and shared experiences. Inspired by his travels, his mother’s lessons about generosity and a deeply personal philosophy of hospitality, Poremba believes restaurants should do far more than serve great food—they should create a genuine sense of belonging. It’s a fitting cover story about food, resilience, placemaking and one visionary St. Louisan’s determination to give people a reason to leave home—and create a place that feels like home when they arrive.
Remembering John Ferring: The Quiet Giant Who Changed St. Louis
by Craig Kaminer / photos courtesy of Contemporary Art Museum
John Ferring
St. Louis lost one of its most consequential yet quietly influential civic leaders with the sudden passing of John Ferring. In this moving remembrance, Craig Kaminer explores a legacy defined not simply by extraordinary philanthropy, but by sincerity, humility and an unwavering belief in the potential of St. Louis. Alongside his wife, Alison, Ferring championed the arts, education, healthcare, Forest Park and numerous organizations serving the community, approaching philanthropy as a true partnership rather than simply writing a check. Leaders from the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and other organizations recall a man who generously shared his intellect, time and resources while inspiring those around him to think bigger and do better. His name may never be known by everyone whose life his generosity touched—and he likely would have preferred it that way. John Ferring’s enduring legacy is a stronger St. Louis and the countless people and institutions made better because he believed in them.
The Chair That Changed the World Began in St. Louis
by Lou Ann Wilcox
Charles and Ray Eames working at the Eames Office in Venice, California, circa 1960.
One of the world’s most iconic pieces of furniture has a remarkable St. Louis origin story. Long before Charles Eames and his wife, Ray, revolutionized modern design with the legendary Eames Lounge Chair, Charles was a curious young St. Louisan roaming the city with a sketchbook, studying its architecture and developing the creative instincts that would eventually influence design around the world. Introduced in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair remains coveted nearly 70 years later for its timeless beauty, craftsmanship and extraordinary comfort. The story comes full circle with the opening of St. Louis’ first dedicated Herman Miller showroom in the Central West End, bringing Eames’ most celebrated creation home to the city where his design journey began. From St. Louis schoolboy and Washington University architecture student to international design icon, Eames proves that world-changing ideas sometimes begin right in our own backyard.