Culture

[CRAFTINESS]

Written by JACK PROBST

Asmall town like Waterloo, Illinois, might seem like an unusual place for a shop like Philomena + Ruth to be found. The hip, artsy clothing store feels more like a place you might frequent in the Delmar Loop or over on Cherokee Street than on the cozy streets of the quaint municipality. But as it turns out, this seemingly quiet city is a hip place to be.

And that’s thanks, in part, to Philomena + Ruth owner Elizabeth Hahn, who opened the shop in April 2015. The business boasts original, handmade clothing, including designer tees, and other handcrafted items made within the shop and sourced from likeminded vendors across the country. The store was named after Hahn’s grandmothers as a reminder of the connection within community and tradition. As detailed on its website, “P+R believes in the power of good vibes, cat cuddles and changing the fucking world!”

It wasn’t a straight line that brought Hahn to this point, though, but rather a winding journey that included a change in career, a position in the Mafia no, not that one) and even a retail space in a decidedly less hip, now-dying monument to consumerism.

“I have my degree in fashion design and advertising, so I thought that I wanted to work in corporate fashion. I went that route for a couple of years, but it wasn’t really what I wanted,” says Hahn. “So I got back into creative mode and started my own line of handmade accessories and some clothing. It was called Just Live. I started that in 2007, and through that I was able to hook up with the St. Louis Craft Mafia, which doesn’t exist anymore. But we were this band of misfit crafters who put on craft shows and things like that, so I met a lot of people through that. And I had partnered up with a friend of mine on a store called the Foundry, and that was in Chesterfield Mall.”

While the Foundry had a similar vibe to Philomena + Ruth, it was mainly a consignment shop, Hahn explains. The experience helped Hahn shape her ideas on how she wanted to run her business moving forward.

“Immediately, I started looking for a building. I wanted to open up a store in downtown Waterloo. I wanted to do the dream, you know, where we live upstairs, I have my studio, and all that,” Hahn says. “And luckily, we were able to make that happen. So in October 2014, we purchased this building, and then April was when we were able to open the doors. So it was really cool to be able to make that happen. And also, at the same time we were opening, Hopskeller Brewery was opening, Stubborn German Brewery was opening — it was like all this sort of newness was coming to downtown Waterloo. It felt like a really great time to open up down here.”

Things were great — and then COVID-19 came along. On March 15 of last year, Hahn and her team had to shut down the brick-andmortar operation, uncertain how long it might be closed. But Hahn would not be deterred from her dream, so after taking a couple of weeks to figure out what her next steps would be, she dove headfirst into ramping up her e-commerce game. Pre-pandemic, the store’s site was home only to some of her designs — not the store’s entire inventory. Since last year, the site has gone through two redesigns; the most recent best displays the mantra and mission of the brand and store. It’s colorful, charming and, crucially, contains the entire inventory of what the store has to offer.

Even with its doors shut for the time being, the inside of Philomena + Ruth brings plenty of smiles. The displays that hold the product that lines the store during regular times are among boxes and boxes of the new items set to be added to the website’s inventory. Most of Hahn’s best-selling graphic tee designs — some funny, some displaying messages of hope — hang up on a wall of shirts: “HUMAN,” “FEMINIST,” the colorful “DON’T BE A DICK,” and “BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER” are all currently on display. Sadly, the customer favorite “HARDWORKING STONER” is missing from the wall, due to the fact they struggle to keep it in stock.)

Philomena + Ruth is constantly adding new items from vendors all over the country, and now that marijuana is recreationally legal in Illinois, Hahn promises new weed-related items are on the way. Some of Hahn’s favorite vendors include Pennsylvania’s Three Potato Four who make a bandana that says “FUCK” an infinite number of times on it and another that says “LOVE” in a similar fashion), the Five15, a Canadian illustrator that is all about empowering women and people in general, Kansas City-based candlemaker Untamed Supply and local crafter Flare City Supply Co. And Hahn

is always on the lookout for additional vendors to work with, ensuring the store is always stocked with fresh looks and accessories.

But while the business’s success online has been a welcome lifeline, two employees are desperate for customers to get back into the building. The store cats, Dottie and Pancho, miss all the pets they’re used to stealing from anyone who might stroll in, Hahn explains. Philomena + Ruth was set to open again in August, she says, but the rising infection and hospitalization numbers due to the delta variant made Hahn decide it wasn’t the right time to reopen their doors. While masks, social distancing and bottles of hand sanitizer are all well and good, Hahn says she has to consider her health and that of her husband, since they live above the store. It was a difficult decision, but one where she knew she needed to put her family first.

Hahn hopes to reopen as soon as possible, but she knows it’s going to take the help of the community at large — both inside and outside of the surprisingly hip town of Waterloo — to get to that point.

“Do your part to make things safe for your small businesses, because that’s what will make them survive,” Hahn says. “It is hurting worse for small businesses than during the first shutdown, because this has been so prolonged, and even if we’ve been chugging along, the bleeding is still happening, you know? And a lot of that intense need to help, and all of those things to help the businesses at the beginning when things were shutting down, aren’t necessarily available now.

“Be patient with businesses if we do have to close our storefront, or if things take a little bit longer — we’re dealing with staff shortages and things like that,” Hahn adds. “P+R will be back open. So keep ordering online, but also, don’t give up on our brick-and-mortar yet. We are here.”

For more information and to shop Philomena + Ruth’s wares, visit philomenaandruth.com for curbside pickup, or have items shipped to your door. n

[VACCINES]

Written by JENNA JONES

If you’re ready for hockey to begin and aching for a chance to witness the quest for the Blues’ second Stanley Cup in person, you’re going to have to follow a couple more rules this season beyond the unspoken mandate to wear the blue-and-gold jersey.

The St. Louis Blues announced Friday the need for proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours to enter the Enterprise Center. The Blues are the sixteenth team in the National Hockey League to announce this policy.

The measure goes beyond just Blues games. If you’re attending another event at the venue or at the Stifel Theatre, the rule still applies.

“We have introduced and adjusted policies for our fans and guests throughout the pandemic to reflect the evolution of the virus and the best safety practices available,” Chris Zimmerman, president and CEO of Business Operations of the St. Louis Blues, Enterprise Center and Stifel Theatre, says in a release.

Zimmerman says the plan is “in line” with policies implemented by division rivals in Chicago and Nashville, as well as dozens of other stadiums, sports teams, festivals and other places “people come for a good time.” He adds in the release that the center strongly encourages people to get the vaccine.

“That is the quickest and most effective way to put this pandemic behind us,” Zimmerman says. “In the meantime, we will do our part to protect our fans and guests by requiring vaccination or a negative test result as they arrive at the Enterprise Center and Stifel Theatre. It’s the right thing to do for ourselves, and for others.”

Fans age twelve and older are required to follow the new policy. If a guest is under the age of twelve no proof is necessary, but they must wear a mask. All guests are asked to wear masks inside the Enterprise Center. Just this week, Harry Styles required all concertgoers at the venue to wear masks during his show, as well as provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination.

“We all want the same thing — Blues hockey as it was meant to be. We want everyone getting back together as one, with players and fans alike feeding off the energy as we remember it not that long ago,” Zimmerman says in the press release. “The same holds true for a concert or performance. The experience of enjoying a headlining act is something we’ve missed, and we look forward to again hosting the biggest artists and tours at Enterprise Center and Stifel Theatre this fall and beyond.”

Zimmerman adds that the most important thing is to return to the shows or games safely and responsibly.

The policy begins on October 15. The first game of the season at the Enterprise Center is October 23, where the Blues will face the Los Angeles Kings. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. n

Written by JENNA JONES

The sounds of blues and soul music will fill the National Blues Museum (615 Washington Avenue) this fall. After COVID-19 shut down most forms of live music last year, the museum is now returning to its concerts and has announced this year’s lineup.

Evening shows begin on Friday, September 24, and run weekly until October 15. After that, the show schedule switches up to Saturday, October 23. Another Friday show follows on November , and the finale takes place on Friday, November 19. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

“We need live music now more than ever,” the museum’s deputy director, Erin Simon, says in a press release. “I am thrilled that we are restarting the arts safely and that we can come together again to experience music.”

There’s also a “bluesy brunch” concert series that has recently been introduced. The new addition kicked off on September 18. Two more brunches are available on Saturday, October 9, and Saturday, November 13. The brunch shows begin at 10 a.m.

A tribute to Stevie Wonder is also on the calendar for November, performed by Paige Alyssa.

“The fall NBM calendar is filled with outstanding examples of today’s blues talent and celebrates the legacy of the Blues while embracing its impact on contemporary genres,” Alyssa, who is also the marketing and community manager for the museum, says in a press release. “As we prepare for the fall, I’m looking forward to seeing the blues community back at our concerts along with embracing folks who may be coming to NBM for the first time.”

Concerts will take place inside the museum in the Lumiére Place Legends Room. All guests, staff and performers either must have a negative COVID-19 test or be vaccinated against COVID-19. Tickets are $15 for the evening shows and $25 for the brunch shows.

Purchase tickets by going to nationalbluesmuseum.org, calling 314-925-0016 or visiting the box office. The full lineup is below • Jake Curtis Blues Band, September 24, 7 p.m. • The Renaissance Band, October 1, 7 p.m. • Justin Hoskin, October 8, 7 p.m. • Robert Nelson, October 9, 10 a.m. • Ms. Hy-C and Fresh Start, October 15, 7 p.m. • Jeremiah Johnson Band, October 23, 7 p.m. • Cheri Evans, November 5, 7 p.m. • Be.Be, November 13, 10 a.m. • A Tribute to Stevie Wonder featuring Paige Alyssa, November 19, 7 p.m. n