The 2026 Winter Olympics are beginning in Cortina, Italy, and families around the world will tune in to watch the world’s top athletes compete. Parents of younger children may want to dedicate a story time or two to learning about and celebrating friendly competition as they wait for their favorite events to be televised. Start off your Olympic journey with “Tacky and the Winter Games” by author Helen Lester and illustrator Lynn Munsinger.
Tacky, who stars in a series of 10 picture books, is “an odd bird.” While Tacky’s pals are prim, proper, and pristine penguins, Tacky marches to a different drum. Tacky wears an ill-fitting flowered Hawaiian shirt and lavender bow tie, he is overenthusiastically loud, and he is endlessly challenged at walking in line with his friends.
In this tale, Tacky and the Nice Icy Lands team are taking part in the upcoming Winter Games. His teammates Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect
By Sheila Oliveri | Photo supplied
struggle to outfit Tacky in a gray athletic hoodie and sports shoes as they begin weeks of training for the events: “bobsledless” racing, ski jumping (using frozen fish as skis), and a speed skating relay. After weeks of running up steep hills, jumping rope, lifting weights, and doing 100 sit-ups each day, Nice Icy Lands reports to the competition. Hilarity ensues as Tacky’s team begins each competition working methodically as one, only to be overwhelmed and upended each time by Tacky’s exuberance. Readers young and old will enjoy learning the fate of Tacky and his crew.
Lester and Munsinger, a creative team that has produced more than a dozen books, offer direct parallels to the actual Olympic games including humorously tweaked sporting events, the awarding of medals to the winners, and the opening ceremony. Sharing this book with your favorite youngsters will allow children to feel a sense of familiarity when watching the games. When the games are finished, check out other Tacky the Penguin stories.
From Missouri’s Best to the NATION’S ELITE
By Drew Gieseke | Photos courtesy of Principia School
Principia School’s high school boys’ basketball team is making national headlines thanks to a pair of notable tournament appearances this season. The reigning Class 3 state champs recently participated in the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Florida, competing as the No. 1-ranked team in Missouri and finishing third overall after toppling national powerhouses like Columbus (Florida) and Wheeler (Georgia). Building on their national momentum, the Panthers traveled to Springfield in mid-January for the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, where they again placed third in the state’s premier eight-team bracket.
These finishes aren’t flukes. The Panthers have proved time and again that their success isn’t just a hot streak – it’s the result of a culture built on heart, unselfish thinking, and a relentless work ethic.
“Our slogan is TTW: toughest team wins. We talk about that every day,” Principia head basketball coach Jay Blossom says. “The intensity of our practices – putting our kids in situations that are tough to handle in practice – it makes the games easier for them because they’ve already faced it.”
Located in Town and Country, Principia School is a college-prep day and boarding school founded on Christian Science principles. With a 100% student participation rate in athletics, Principia champions a philosophy of “excellence beyond winning.” The basketball program’s success is built on this foundation of academic integrity and character development, a holistic approach recently validated by multiple
Our slogan is TTW: toughest team wins. We talk about that every day.
– Jay bLOSSOM
sportsmanship awards in tournament play.
The team’s grit extends far beyond the scoreboard and individual accolades. By mirroring the pace of a college program, Coach Blossom’s high-intensity practices demand constant mental agility. This level of excellence is made possible only by the deep foundation of trust he has built with his players over the last four years. “In order to coach kids hard today, they’ve got to know that you love them and that you have their back on and off the court,” Blossom says.
Principia athletics director Shawn Brown says that this approach is the school’s calling card. “The coaches here believe you can win at really high levels, and you can also win the sportsmanship award,” he says. “It’s just part
of the culture here. We talk about it all the time, and we see it translating on the fields and the courts.”
As the players head into the final stretch of the season – and hopefully another deep playoff run – Coach Blossom insists that Principia’s success is rooted in a timeless approach to teamwork. “People always ask me if kids are different nowadays. I don’t think they’re that different,” he says. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the team and not so much the individuals, playing for the front of the jersey and not the back of the jersey. Our kids have bought into that, and to me, that’s special.”
Principia School, 13201 Clayton Road, St. Louis, 314-434-2100, principiaschool.org
Summer Opportunities at rossman (S.O.a.r.) offers children ages 4 through grade 6 to learn, play, and connect in the same nurturing environment and high-quality programming that defines the school experience. Programs are educational, recreational, and full of opportunities for connection and joy. View the camp catalog and register today!
Saint Louis ballet’s Summer Programs offer something for every young dancer— from focused Summer Intensives for ages 7–18 that build strong technique, artistry, and confidence, to playful themed ballet and Dance Camps for ages 3–6 filled with imagination, movement, and joy.
Energy drinks are now a staple in the backpacks of many teenagers and young adults, often marketed as a quick way to boost focus or stay awake for late-night study sessions. However, what feels like a harmless boost is often a chemical cocktail that can have serious consequences for a growing body.
Unlike soda, energy drinks are packed with extreme levels of caffeine and stimulants like guarana and taurine. For a teenager, whose brain and heart are still developing, these ingredients can trigger:
Heart complications such as rapid or irregular heartbeats (palpitations) and increased blood pressure.
Mental health issues including heightened anxiety, “the jitters,” lightheadedness, dizziness, and mood swings.
Sleep disruption including severe insomnia that affects brain development and school performance.
Dehydration. Caffeine is a diuretic, which can be dangerous during sports or hot weather.
Many teens don’t realize that one can of a popular energy drink can contain the same amount of caffeine as six cans of cola (one 12-ounce can averages approximately 40 milligrams) or two to three cups of coffee (one standard cup typically contains 95 milligrams). For reference, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance says adults can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine per day, though there is no safe amount for children listed.
Medical literature documents several fatal cardiac arrests related to energy drink consumption, including cases of sudden cardiac death particularly when combined with exercise, and some in young healthy individuals who had no predisposed conditions. Among 17 cases of energy drink-related acute cardiovascular events, ranging in age from 13 to 58 years, the majority (15 cases) occurred in individuals under 30 years of age.
While everyone’s body responds differently to caffeine, certain health conditions and medications can make one more sensitive to its effects. Children taking ADHD medications appear to be at heightened risk. Cardiovascular complications can arise when energy drinks are mixed with pharmaceutical drugs, posing specific risks to children on various medications.
While no children or teens should be consuming alcohol, mixing energy drinks with alcohol creates additional hazards. High consumption of energy drinks, especially when mixed with alcohol, has been linked to adverse cardiovascular, psychological, and neurologic events including death. Combining energy drinks with alcohol speeds adverse cardiovascular events in teenagers. Of the 11 cases involving serious events (cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmia, or ST-segment elevations), four reported co-ingestions with alcohol or other drugs.
All this evidence is why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends energy drinks should never be consumed by children or adolescents. To boost kids’ energy without caffeine, focus on good sleep, hydration, balanced meals, regular movement, and stress management.
Dr. Dharam Goal is a Mercy Kids pediatric cardiologist. For more information, visit mercy.net/laduenews.
Experience the art of fine furniture-making with these antique reproductions.
The Sherborne I is a handcrafted mahogany staircase model, with a dramatic circular aspect. Distinguished by its intricate workmanship, the staircase measures 16-inches wide by 16-inches deep by 18-inches high. rosetarlow.com
Gilt details mark the Sheraton’s Dainty Chair by Theodore alexander, which features fluted legs and a carved ‘X’ back with a flame-veneered panel. The seat is made of cane and topped with a generously filled silk tie-on cushion in the barley colorway. brodylamp.com
The eye-catching interior compartment of the Grand Staircase fall-front desk from Theodore alexander is outfitted with faux books, hidden drawers, and a miniature double staircase. The bureau is part of the althorpe collection. shubertfurniture.com
Historic Character, Modern Sensibility
By Alecia Humphreys
This once narrow, closed-off galley kitchen inside a Webster Groves home now behaves as an organic, functional space thanks to McCoy Design Studio.
Lead designer Amy McCoy describes the former room as featuring “distressed cabinetry, heavy finishes, and a peninsula with a built-in cooktop that visually and physically blocked the kitchen from the rest of the home.”
According to McCoy, a staircase cut directly through the heart of the original kitchen. “While this feature was common in Victorian-era homes when the house was built, it no longer served the way a modern family lives,” she says. “It dominated the space both visually and functionally.”
Her team removed the staircase to create a calm, grounded, and inviting kitchen that balanced historic character with clean, modern sensibility. “The kitchen feels bright, open, and architectural,” McCoy says. “It’s layered, intentional, and highly functional, with thoughtful details that elevate everyday living.”
McCoy achieved this elegance by using soft wood tones, layered neutrals, and purposeful simplicity to create a sense of warmth and approachability. Take the plaster range hood, for example – an undeniable
focal point in the kitchen.
“Custom crafted with soft, sculptural curves, it brings a sense of quiet drama while grounding the entire room,” McCoy describes. “The organic form adds warmth and a subtle femininity, creating contrast against the clean architectural lines throughout the space.”
The designer says reimagining the space was incredibly rewarding not only because of the accomplished aesthetic, but also because of “how it lives.”
“We were able to honor the history of the home while completely reshaping the way the family experiences it day to day,” McCoy says. “The transformation allowed the kitchen to finally become what it always should have been: a welcoming, functional heart of the home.”
The project became a beautiful reminder for McCoy that “good design isn’t just about how a space looks, but how it supports the people who live in it,” she says. “This kitchen was designed to gather, to function effortlessly, and to feel like home – and that, to me, is always the ultimate success.”
These frigid temperatures call for a beach vacation. Light a spark this Valentine’s Day with looks that sizzle seaside.
JUAN DE DIOS Saint Tropez one-piece in red, $385, Tuckernuck
TOM FORD Linda sunglasses, $370, Hearth & Soul (hearthandsoul.com)
MIGNONNE GAVIGAN Vega bracelet in maroon, $95, Tuckernuck (tnuck.com)
FOLLOW SUIT Cleo one-piece with scarf in poppy and pink, $268, Tuckernuck
ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
Clarita laser sport sandals in Ambar Sand, $595, Tuckernuck
KIVARI Maddie minidress in red stripe, $229, Tuckernuck
MISA LOS ANGELES Stella chiffon maxi dress in floral, $550, Saks Fifth Avenue
L’AGENCE Seridie silk slip dress, $675, Vie Boutique (viestlouis.com)
BEACH RIOT Charlotte maxi dress in floral, $178, Saks Fifth Avenue (saks.com)
HANNAH ARTWEAR Lumi minidress in flora pink, $455, Tuckernuck
Alice blouse, $205, Rungolee (rungolee.com)
A BETTER BACHELORETTE
Not every bride wants the main attraction of their bachelorette party to be a bar hop or bottomless mimosa brunch. Consider these ideas for a celebration in St. Louis that honors the bride’s personality, hobbies, or interests.
FOR THE BRIDE WHO WANTS TO BE PAMPERED
Oftentimes, a break from wedding planning and decision making is what a bride truly craves. The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis has it all – serene rooms, a rooftop pool, and a variety of food and drink options. Plus, the hotel will unveil its reimagined spa this spring, where services are provided in a space “designed to reflect balance, flow, and a deeper connection to the natural world,” according to the hotel’s website.
For more privacy, book a lavish vacation rental like the Pink Posh Place in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood or the Modern Luxury house near Dogtown, which features a saltwater pool and home gym. Both can host up to 10 guests, according to the Airbnb postings. Invite party-planning expert Jamean Flowers over to set up creative self-care stations, like a custom perfume bar. She’ll provide a curated scent library, blending tools, bottles, and labels as well as assist everyone in designing unique fragrances.
Through her new business, Iconic Design Studio Co., you can also book interactive candle-pouring, embroidering, and mocktail-making activities.
FOR THE BRIDE WHO’D RATHER BE OUTSIDE
In St. Louis, a walk through Forest Park is scenic and free, whether strolling around Art Hill, through the zoo, or into the Jewel Box. In the Shaw neighborhood, plant lovers will swoon over the Missouri Botanical Garden, where special events like Grapes in the Garden with wine and live music are worth scheduling around.
If the bride is a sports fan, snag tickets to a major league Cardinals baseball game or St. Louis CITY SC soccer match, and enjoy eating, drinking, and shopping through Ballpark Village or Energizer Park. Airbnb houses in the Lafayette and Soulard neighborhoods offer ample, aesthetically pleasing spaces just a short drive from the stadiums.
FOR THE FOODIE BRIDE
St. Louis is filled with flavor and home to James Beard Foundation Award finalists. City Foundry STL is the solution for foodies who want to taste-test a variety of local restaurants and where you’ll find something to satisfy any appetite.
For a more intimate, immersive experience, stay in the Airbnb apartment just above Esca, an upscale coastal Mediterranean restaurant operated by Bengelina Hospitality Group. “Ex-tra Above Esca,” as the group calls it, sleeps only four guests but hosts up to 20 for exclusive gatherings, such as a cooking demonstration and tasting with Bengelina chef-owner Ben Poremba. Poremba, a three-time James Beard Award semifinalist, has multiple restaurants in the Delmar Maker’s District, so simply walk down the street to find your next bite.
St. Louis Actors’ Studio each year designates a new tagline for its productions. Now in its 18th season, the local professional theater company is presenting shows under the umbrella title: “The Female Lead.”
STLAS, which performs at the Gaslight Theater at 360 N. Boyle Ave. in the Central West End, opened its 2025-2026 season with Jane Wagner’s one-woman show, “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.” Michelle Hand played the role for which Lily Tomlin won a Tony Award in 1986.
Hand is co-founder, along with Meghan Baker and Brooke Edwards, of the widely lauded local professional theater troupe, The Orange Girls. Edwards now lives out of town. Hand and Baker, however, have returned
to collaborate with STLAS’ founder and artistic director William Roth and enhance this season of “The Female Lead.”
Baker will join Hand on stage at the Gaslight Theater from April 3 through 19 for a presentation of playwright Lauren Gunderson’s drama, “The Half-Life of Marie Curie,” directed by Nancy Bell. “I have wanted to do a female-centric season and would have waited until they said they were ready or had said, ‘no.’ Meghan and Michelle [then] picked their show, [‘Marie Curie’],” Roth says.
The relevance and timeliness of this particular show is what compelled The Orange Girls to renew activity. “Right now, there seems to be a push on the national level to narrow the definition of what women get to be, and certainly so of women of science,” Hand says. “So, this is our counternarrative, a gorgeous invitation to see women for all that they are.” Gunderson’s writing, she adds, highlights ambitious women of integrity, complex characters who feel authentically human.
Gunderson’s drama focuses on Marie Curie, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911 but in 1912 was subjected to ruthless gossip over an alleged affair with married Frenchman Paul Langevin. The harassment all but erased Curie’s achievements from public memory. Weakened and demoralized, Curie joined her friend and colleague Hertha Ayrton, an electromechanical engineer and suffragette, at the latter’s English summer home.
“I also think that, unfortunately, we still live in a world where events in a woman’s personal life – whom she marries, dates, loves, is seen with –can overshadow her accomplishments with incredibly shallow, judgmental virality,” Baker says. “And it’s often the support of our female friendships that helps us endure those attempts to minimize or label us and remember who we truly are.”
Visit stlas.org for tickets and information on “The Half-Life of Marie Curie” and other upcoming productions.
Mark Bretz | Photos courtesy of St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Michelle Hand in STLAS’ ‘The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe’ | Photo by Patrick Huber
SCAN THE QR CODE TO REVISIT THE HISTORY OF THE ORANGE GIRLS THEATER TROUPE
Meghan Baker with Bridgette Bassa in STLAS’ ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ | Photo by Patrick Huber
Over the past 30 years, John Parker has worked diligently perfecting his neighborhood concept, Parker’s Table, to give St. Louisans a dynamic destination for wine and specialty foods. He rolled out the small independent retail market’s latest extension last spring: The Yale Bar.
The warm and welcoming gathering place invites visitors to partake in thoughtfully prepared shareable plates, charcuterie boards, and housemade desserts alongside a curated, ever-evolving list of wine, beer, and spirits. “The goal is to always play off of what we already carry in the shop to showcase the products we have in a different light,” Parker says.
Parker’s Table originally opened in 1995 on Maryland Avenue in Clayton. In 2011, its permanent home debuted inside a former post office building in Richmond Heights, at which Parker has personally chiseled away over the years, filling the charming interior with salvaged decor, local art, and culinary delights. He brings a wealth of experience to the table – including stints at A. Bommarito Wines, St. Louis Club, and Mount Pleasant Winery – to share his passion for fine food and beverage with the community.
In 2016, The Oakland Room opened as an on-premises private events venue. With The Yale
Bar, Parker hopes to complete the bigger picture of his compound by giving guests a spot to relax on a regular basis. “It’s a place where we can open bottles for people to try new things we just got in that we’re excited about,” he says. “You can come hang out and have a glass of wine or beer and a snack, or stop by before you go out to eat somewhere else.”
Parker filled the 800-square-foot space with paintings and photographs by area artists and eclectic furnishings featuring found and
repurposed materials. Chef Jonathan Lorentzen refined a menu of scratch-made dishes. “It’s globally curated but nothing fussy. It’s a cute, quaint menu that’s right to the heart in its simplicity,” Lorentzen says.
His wholesome pastina soup, or “Italian Penicillin,” as he calls it, features house chicken broth with pastina, mirepoix, herbs, spices, and parmesan. Fresh breads are crafted with care such as a sliced baguette served with creamy white bean hummus. Toasted house rye bread (rugbröd) comes with one of the menu’s most popular picks: a smoked whitefish spread, served with wholegrain mustard and house pickles.
Dessert specials include options such as pecan chocolate chip cookies and a pavlova with vanilla cream, sable crumb, rum-flambéed currants, lime, and citrus fruits. The sweets represent the spectrum of goods on offer across Parker’s concepts – from simple pleasures to sophisticated treats, all served with a healthy helping of sincere hospitality.
The Yale Bar is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 8:30 p.m.
The Yale Bar, 7120 Oakland Ave., Richmond Heights, the-yale-bar.square.site
Story and photos by Mabel Suen
February27
ST. LOUIS ARMY VS. NAVY
38th Annual Football Game Celebration
Celebrating the oldest collegiate rivalry in the nation, the Saint Louis Annual Army vs. Navy Football Game Celebration was recently held at the Missouri Athletic Club. The event welcomed 2025 Guest of Honor Capt. George Casey, the last United States Marine Helicopter Pilot to lift off from Vietnam. Guests enjoyed classic cocktails and a lunch buffet as they watched the Army vs. Navy football game live from Baltimore, Md., with proceeds supporting the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign.
“The Saint Louis Annual Army vs. Navy Football Game Celebration gives guests an opportunity to give back to the city we love. Providing St. Louis families in need with something that can put a smile on a face at Christmas is a blessing. In conclusion, our mission has been accomplished.”
– JIM NAUMANN FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN OF THE SAINT LOUIS ARMY VS. NAVY FOOTBALL GAME CELEBRATION
Story and photos by Diane Anderson
Emma Hicks, Rylee Bolte, Loga Andrae, Makayla Sahno Tracy and Cathy Beckette
Carson, Ryan and Oliver Spell, Nikki Hogan
Nina Abboud, Gary Gossett, Kelly Stavros
Ben Keathley, Capt. George Casey Debbie and Bennett Howe, Laura Rick
Crystal and Steve Poulsen
Susan and Eric Keller
CAROL HOUSE QUICK FIX PET CLINIC
Comedy 4 the Paws Benefit
Friends of the Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic recently gathered at Bogey Hills Country Club in St. Charles for the annual Comedy 4 the Paws Benefit, supporting efforts to reduce the number of animals that enter local shelters. Guests enjoyed the silent auction and cocktail hour before dinner in the main banquet hall. The event also included a live auction and a comedy routine by Tim Convoy of The Courtney Show on 106.5 The Arch and Brendan Eyre from NBC’s Comedy Central.
“The most e ective way to reduce the stray and shelter population is to spay and neuter!”
– AMY LEVIN, VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE CAROL HOUSE QUICK FIX PET CLINIC BOARD
Story and photos by Christina Kling-Garrett
Mary Russo, Stacey Thomas
Sam Calhoun, Jaci Street
Derek Barkey, Cynthia Reyes, Angela Barkey
Michael Warden, Debbie Nack, Robert Baker, Julie Baker
Brook Dubman, Melissa and Chris Wright
Teri Seiler, Tim Convoy, Wendy Heckman
Les and Wendy Borowsky Andrea Schwartz, Mike Armour
