Few places define the character of St. Louis quite like Forest Park. For nearly 150 years, it has served as our city's front yard, cultural crossroads, and peaceful retreat—a place where generations have gathered to celebrate, reflect, exercise, explore, and create lasting memories. Now, that remarkable legacy is captured in a stunning new hardcover book, Forest Park: St. Louis's Gathering Place Since 1876, by acclaimed local historians Amanda E. Doyle and Cameron Collins.
Read MoreTens of millions of Americans nationwide are currently taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Approximately 12% or St. Louis adults are taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro, about 300,000 to 340,000 people. These drugs not only provide a dramatic weight loss of up to 70 pounds, they also have significant benefits for those with heart disease and diabetes. But there is a cost. In this article, plastic surgeon Dr. Charles Nathan and Dr. Michael Nayak discuss the booming plastic surgery trend resulting from these ever-popular medications.
Read MoreThe annual Flower Power fundraiser once again brought together a devoted community of supporters to celebrate the enduring beauty and legacy of Tower Grove Park. One of St. Louis' most anticipated charitable gatherings, the event showcased breathtaking floral artistry by more than 20 of the region's most talented designers, an inspiring program, and special recognition for the individuals whose dedication continues to help this historic landmark flourish year after year. Welcoming 250 guests, Flower Power raised more than $95,000 to support the Park's renowned gardens, enhance the visitor experience, and safeguard this historic landscape for generations to come.
Read MoreFrom the moment you turn the first pages of our July/August issue and gaze upon the tranquil waters of the Chesapeake Bay, you'll find yourself transported to a world of quiet anchorages, breathtaking sunsets, and endless horizons. Whether you're mentally cruising the calm waters of the Mid-Atlantic or imagining yourself sprinting across a padel court, this issue invites you to experience the very best of midsummer—both in St. Louis and far beyond its borders. Click here to enjoy a virtual edition of the July/August issue of Sophisticated Living St. Louis.
Read MoreFor ten years Saint Louis Fashion Week had been absent from the city before this year which kicked off June 8. With a stunningly stylish reception at Powell Hall, this year’s line-up included a series of four unique and innovative runway shows featuring models and designers throughout Missouri. Designers, models, sponsors, volunteers, media, and fashion lovers came together to prove that fashion belongs in St. Louis and that the community is ready for something bigger. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer acknowledged the comeback of STL Fashion Week with a proclamation on June 13th at the final show at 18 Rails. A portion of the week-long event proceeds - $10,000 - was donated to support Saint Louis Fashion Fund’s scholarship program.
Read MoreThe annual pool party is the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis' signature summer fundraiser, helping ensure that one of the Midwest's premier literary and theatrical festivals continues to thrive. Every ticket purchased, every auction bid placed, and every donation made helps sustain a nonprofit organization that works year-round to bring world-class theater, educational programming, and literary scholarship to our community. This year's event—cleverly titled "An In-Appropriate Afternoon by the Pool"—takes place Sunday, July 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the magnificent Central West End home of philanthropist Andy Arnold. The title, of course, is a playful nod to this fall's headline production, the Tony Award-winning play Appropriate.
Read MoreDuring the summer and fall, weddings in wine country are becoming increasingly more popular. For sophisticated couples in St. Louis, a wine country wedding can be as close as a winery along the Missouri River Valley, from Augusta to Hermann. Yet for those dreaming of an extraordinary destination celebration, California's Sonoma County continues to set the gold standard for luxury vineyard weddings. See more about California nuptials dreamin’ here.
Read MoreIt’s been quite a year for Stages St. Louis Co-Founder and Broadway producer Jack Lane. He was not only nominated for the prestigious Olivier Award in April, but the multi-Tony Award winner just snagged his 5th Tony as a co-producer of the Musical Revival of “RAGTIME” hosted by Pink in New York City. Yes, on June 7th, millions around the world watched Jack and the cast make the hometown proud. Read and see more here.
Read MorePlayback Now! St. Louis returns on Wednesday, June 17, with its popular interactive performance, Rant and Rave!, an evening of improvisational theater that transforms audience stories, frustrations, observations, and celebrations into spontaneous scenes, music, movement, and laughter. Rant and Rave! is especially important in a time when everyone seems to have something to say—about politics, traffic, social media, cicadas, or simply the pace of modern life. Get it all off your chest. Admission is free. All you have to do is show up.
Read MoreThe Met Gala may take place on the storied steps of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, but for one evening in May, St. Louis proved that fashion, art, and imagination can be every bit as captivating right here at home. The annual Met Gala Watch Party hosted by Fashion Group International of St. Louis transformed the Contemporary Art Museum into a celebration of style, creativity, and community unlike anything else on the city's social calendar. Relive the first Monday May 2026 if you were there that night. Or glimpse it from afar in pictures and words.
Read MoreFor many men, classic automobiles occupy a special place in the heart. They evoke memories of first cars, summer road trips, Sunday drives, and a time when craftsmanship and style seemed to go hand in hand. On Father’s Day Eve, Saturday, June 20th, guests will have the opportunity to admire an impressive collection of classic cars while enjoying live music and mingling with fellow enthusiasts — and shop for that special gift for the father in your life. The atmosphere is relaxed, festive, and distinctly St. Louis—a gathering of neighbors, friends, families, and car lovers enjoying a summer afternoon together.
Read MoreThe St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum is proud to announce the opening of its newest original exhibition, Nazis Next Door: St. Louis Faces Nazism in the 1930s, a powerful new exploration of how Nazi ideology and antisemitism took root locally, and how members of the St. Louis community chose either to support or resist extremism during one of history’s darkest periods. Opening to the public on June 12, 2026 in the Museum’s Karpati Gallery, Nazis Next Door examines the ways Missourians, particularly St. Louisans, made the choice to support or resist Nazi ideas of extremism and antisemitism right here at home.
Read MoreIt's summertime in the city. And the living is easy. Father's Day is almost here. We've celebrated the mothers. Now it's our turn, fellas. For generations, Father's Day has been built around some of America's most enduring traditions: firing up the grill, enjoying a great steak, gathering family and friends, and perhaps raising a glass or two in celebration. Though those traditions remain alive and well, since its legalization in Missouri, adding cannabis to the mix is rapidly becoming a new practice at gatherings.
Read MoreThere are certain people in St. Louis who seem to possess a rare gift. They have the ability to bring people together. Not just for a party. Not simply for a social gathering. But for a purpose. Kelly Burrell Bagwe is one of those people. She is a successful model, actress, philanthropist, and fixture on the St. Louis social scene. What they may not know is that she dedicates to helping others through her “Premiere with a Purpose” events. Read about the latest when she helps host the “Hairspray” at the Muny.
Read MoreOn any given day, thousands of residents and visitors experience public art, see the Arch illuminated at night, enjoy a playground with their family, or attend a theater performance. Many of those experiences are supported or led by the Gateway Foundation. This year, the Foundation celebrates 40 years of enriching life and culture in the St. Louis area through supporting efforts to acquire, create, and improve tangible, durable, public art and urban design.
Read MoreFor more than a century, Al’s has stood at the banks of the Mississippi beckoning those who want good food and service. There are multifarious reasons why it is the only local family run restaurant in the same location after a century. From its very beginning, the maven of Al’s, Louise Barroni attracted riverfront dock workers and railroad staff from far and near to the eatery. Her egg sandwiches were a magnet. Then in the 1960s, a fire sheared off the second floor and Al Barroni Jr. took the opportunity to transform Al’s into a fine dining establishment now known worldwide. Celebrities, heads of state, movies stars such as Henry Fonda and Frank Sinatra still have tables there. But “what happens at Al’s, stays at Al’s,” a phrase coined there long before Las Vegas borrowed it. Privacy is valued and is equal to the unparalleled, elegant tableside service and exquisite food. It is a hidden gem of luxury dining in St. Louis many have yet to discover.
Read MoreAs our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, Father's Day arrives with a fitting reminder that some traditions remain timeless. Since the earliest days of the Republic, beef has occupied a special place on the American table. From frontier cattle drives to the grand steakhouses that emerged in the country's growing cities, steak has long symbolized abundance, achievement, and celebration. It is little wonder, then, that Father's Day consistently ranks among the busiest dining days of the year for America's premier steakhouses such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse near the iconic Gateway Arch and the westward expansion in Chesterfield.
Read MoreQueer Writes: An Evening of Selections by LGBTQ+ Writers in St. Louis for its fourth consecutive year on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Missouri History Museum. The event is part of the Museum’s Thursday Nights at the Museum series and its Gateway to Pride programming.
Read MoreRon Kitchens came home to lead Greater St. Louis, Inc. — and to reimagine what the region can become. As the newly appointed CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., he arrives with a national reputation as a builder of momentum, as someone who doesn’t just attract investment, but reshapes how communities see themselves. Clear-eyed about the scale of the challenge, he is leading by getting rid of the notion of St. Louis competing with where it has been — but with the fastest-growing regions in the country. Read here about his strategy to get us there.
Read MoreUtilizing a the concept is called holistic defense, for 15 years ArchCity Defenders has started with a simple but radical premise: poor people don't have one problem. They have overlapping problems, and you can't solve one without addressing the others. Lead by Executive Director Blake Stode, the firm has three legal teams — municipal defense, housing and civil rights litigation — along with a social services team, a partnerships and organizing team and a communications team. Learn more about what they do and how they do it here.
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