St. Louis Magazine August 2024

“My husband and I got married at Bluewood Brewing, so it will always be a very special place for us. Plus, great beer, beautiful ambiance, and fascinating history-the building was formerly the Lemp Brewery stables.” —Monica Lazalier Dunlap, Senior Marketing Manager“RateBeer named Side Project Brewing the No. 2 Brewer in the World… and that was before acclaimed chef Adam Altnether introduced a stellar food program.” —George Mahe, Dining Editor“I love that most breweries in St. Louis are both dog- and kid-friendly! Rockwell (both the Vandeventer location and the beer garden) has the perfect casual vibe to meet up with friends who also have dogs and kids in tow.” —Emily Wells, Art Director…

OUR BIGGEST ISSUE of the year, August squeezes in more stories than any other print edition. The dilemma: With so much content, it's easy to miss some essential reading. So to help navigate the issue, here are just a few of the articles worth earmarking: TOP DOCTORS (P. 63): A go-to resource for many readers, Castle Connolly's list highlights leading physicians across the region, as chosen by their peers. We also shine a light on 10 doctors who share insights about their careers, triumphs, and new advances. TAKE CARE (P. 103): Providing a snapshot of the local medical scene, this package notes new facilities, treatments, and more. It also takes a look at the latest in cancer care, mental health support, AI and predictive modeling, and the inspiring stories of patients who…

PICK YOUR HUSTLE. Maybe it's a vintage resale shop you want to open on Cherokee. Or a garage in Dog-town you want to flip into an Airbnb listing. Or a chic new townhouse you want to build and sell in Old North. These days, the likelihood that such endeavors will need a variance—an exception to the city's zoning rules—is high. And that can require a hearing at the Board of Adjustment, letters of support (from neighbors and the alderperson), months of waiting, and possibly money. Assuming you don't give up. “Our zoning code creates many barriers that are quite difficult to comply with, even for very reasonable things,” says Miriam Keller of the city's Planning and Urban Design Agency. “I hope in two years we're not in that position anymore.” Between now…

1918 St. Louis becomes the second major U.S. city to create a zoning code separating residential and industrial areas. 1947 A comprehensive city plan reserves more land for single-family homes and declares certain areas “blighted” for urban renewal. 1950 City adopts a comprehensive zoning ordinance that reserves pockets of the North Side and nearly all of southwest city for single-family homes. 2005 City adopts its current Strategic Land Use Plan. It is later amended more than 20 times. 2023 To create a new SLUP, the city starts engaging residents, developers, and others via surveys, workshops, focus groups, and presentations.…

TRAILS WHERE SPINY ORBWEAVER WEBS PROLIFERATE (AND DON'T) A trail's web density in August and September will depend on hiker foot traffic and width/openness. More webs: Rockywood Trail (Washington State Park) Whispering Pines Trail South Loop (Hawn State Park) Lewis Trail (Weldon Spring Conservation Area) Fewer webs: Chouteau Island Levee Trail (Madison County, Illinois) River Scene Trail (Castlewood State Park) Chubb Trail (West Tyson County Park) WHY WEBS PROLIFERATE IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER M. gracilis only lives for a year, so by mid-summer, they've reached maturity and are building their biggest webs. The frames can span almost 10 feet, though on average, the sticky spiral part is no bigger than your hand (3 to 7.5 inches in diameter)—and, alas, often at face height. The point of the web is to ensnare prey (duh). If the web…

If ever thine eyes see the glory of a new St. Louis Lambert International Airport, it will be because a host of things went right—and the person running point right now is Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge (pronounced HOMM-nee-BREE-gee). As airport director, she has labored to make last year's federally approved master plan a reality by attending to many constituencies: airlines, passengers, businesses, government bodies. This isn't quite the same work that she envisioned for herself when, in the '80s, she applied to the CIA. But early in the process, she took an entry-level job at an airline and never looked back, joining TWA and then American Airlines, where she helped downsize its St. Louis hub. Upon assuming her current role, in 2010, she sensed residual anger over that blow to the region…