It’s summer – time for long and sunny days, perfect for hosting barbeques and outdoor gatherings. If you’re looking to spruc , for hosting or relaxation,
Right now, the classrooms of Second Nature Zoo Preschool sit, for the most part, untouched. The chairs are new, the tables are clean, and everything is quiet. But not for long.
Come fall, the Saint Louis Zoo’s new preschool will welcome its first class of young students. The preschool sits within Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery, a new 2.8-acre experience coming to the Zoo later this year. In this one-of-a-kind learning environment, lessons won’t be given only by teachers. Students will learn by observing amphibians, exploring with otters, and stepping into a space that connects them with the natural world.
The Zoo’s manager of learning experiences, Laura Seger, says those early encounters have a lasting impact. “Preschool is when children develop empathy,” Seger explains.
“It lays the foundation for growth and compassion throughout life, including compassion for nature.”
At a time when many students spend most of their day indoors, Second Nature Zoo Preschool takes education outside. Students spend nearly half their time outdoors, learning alongside scientists, zookeepers, horticulturists, and the animals
of Destination Discovery. “The Zoo is an ideal classroom,” Seger says. Instead of worksheets, education grows from curiosity. The preschool follows a play- and project-based model, using the Reggio Emilia approach to create authentic, hands-on learning experiences.
A six-to-one student-teacher ratio ensures close, attentive engagement. With nature as their classroom, students learn to assess risk, advocate for themselves, and grow comfortable exploring in all types of weather. When they step inside, nature follows. Larger-than-life aquariums and vast zoo views offer unique opportunities to connect with wildlife from within the classroom.
Seger says students leave with a willingness to make mistakes and the confidence to try again. “It’s what scientists do all the time,” she says. In this environment, nature isn’t just observed but experienced. Those early moments leave a lasting imprint, helping students understand their place in the world and preparing them for a lifetime of curiosity, responsibility, and care.
Applications are open for the 2026-27 academic year. Learn more at stlzoo.org/preschool.
for the Saint Louis Zoo | Photos courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo
The Legacy of Bear Necessities
By Drew Gieseke | Photos courtesy of WSWu
This year marks a monumental milestone for one of Washington University in St. Louis’ marquee alumni organizations. Since 1966, the Women’s Society of Washington University has operated Bear Necessities, a nonprofit campus store offering a place to “shop where your dollars support scholars.”
Proceeds from merchandise sales fund scholarships, leadership awards, and student-led initiatives across campus. Through these efforts – and its steady presence on Shepley Drive – the shop has become a staple of campus life at WashU, making its 60th anniversary all the more meaningful. “It’s grown in ways I think those original founders would be so proud of,” WSWU president Judy Geczi says. “Generations of students, families, and alumni have supported the store, and in turn, the store has been able to expand its impact in very meaningful ways.”
Bear Necessities is an independent, not-for-profit store that offers products
like apparel, accessories, and alumni and graduate gifts. WSWU has awarded 59 full-tuition scholarships since 1976 (nearly $4 million in value) and contributed more than $600,000 to 500-plus campus projects. It also awards more than $25,000 annually in student-led grants. “Bear Necessities is unique, and it’s so much more than a store,” Geczi says. “Every purchase, every visit is part of something larger: It’s an investment in students and in the WashU community.”
However, the 60th anniversary also ushers in a changing of the guard. WashU recently informed WSWU that the university will discontinue its operational support for the organization and assume ownership of Bear Necessities as of June 30. “This decision brings to a close the Women’s Society’s role in operating the store and, ultimately, our organization’s work in its current form, where proceeds from the store are used to fund scholarships, student projects, and
leadership awards,” Geczi says.
Despite the transition, WSWU leaves behind an unforgettable legacy. For decades, the organization went above and beyond to serve the campus community through the shop – from Kleenex and cough drops to neckties and diplomas. “We are committed to building genuine connections with students and their families, fostering loyalty, and prioritizing human elements like personal attention during interactions,” Geczi says.
It’s a difficult moment for everyone who poured their heart into the project. However, Geczi remains focused on what Bear Necessities has built during its time under WSWU’s ownership. “The Women’s Society has always been made up of dedicated, thoughtful individuals who care deeply about students,” she says. “That spirit of giving and community is really the story here.”
Mealtime for babies and toddlers is anything but a calm and clean experience. While parents may want to find shortcuts to keep their little ones from ending up with food everywhere, think of mealtime as a daily – or multiple times per day – lesson.
From messy play with foods to learning how to use a spoon and sitting with family, eating is a multisensory and multicontextual experience. As occupational therapists, we recognize that mealtime supports much more than nutrition: It helps children develop fine motor, sensory processing, and social participation skills. The smells, colors, textures, and sounds of food all work together to build positive experiences and positive memories around eating.
Food pouches have become a popular alternative to baby food with a spoon. While they can be convenient when families are on the go, relying on them too often can reduce this rich multisensory experience to just one: taste. When pouches are used regularly at mealtimes, they may contribute to delays in feeding skill development. For example, if foods like yogurt or applesauce are primarily consumed by squeezing pouches, children may miss important milestones related to spoon and fork use. Over time, this may lead to resistance or avoidance of utensils altogether.
Limited exposure to messy eating can also impact sensory
development. Children who rarely have food on their hands, face, or clothing may develop tactile defensiveness, making it harder for them to tolerate new textures down the road. Additionally, when puréed foods are consumed from pouches, visual and olfactory input is reduced. This can contribute to hyper awareness or sensitivity to how foods look or smell when they are later presented on a plate.
Some children may also develop selective or restrictive eating patterns. One example we frequently see is brand dependence, where a child associates a specific food’s packaging with safety and acceptance. If that same food is offered in different packaging or served in a bowl, the child may refuse it altogether.
All things considered, food pouches do have a time and place. They can be helpful for busy schedules and minimize mess when needed. However, when convenience replaces regular opportunities for hands-on, exploratory eating, it can create challenges later.
Offering foods in a variety of textures, forms, and settings helps support healthy feeding development and builds skills that last a lifetime.
Russell Smith is a pediatric occupational therapist at Mercy Kids Therapy Services. For more information on the Mercy Kids Center for Neurodevelopment, visit mercy.net/laduenews.
4245 Forest Park Ave., 314-533-4245, independencecenter.org
Mental illness touches every person at some point in their lives, directly through diagnosis or indirectly, through a family member’s or friend’s own struggles. Independence Center provides the resources and community for those managing a serious and persistent mental illness to regain the independence to live a healthy, quality life.
By Maggie Peters
Stockell Custom Homes
636-938-5333, stockellhomes.com
Stockell Custom Homes takes pride in building homes with improved indoor air quality features and are excited to offer you a healthier, more comfortable, and safer home with the u.S. environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor AirPlus certification. Stockell homes are designed and crafted to give you peace of mind and a healthier living environment.
Inspired by the Brutalist movement, Bernhardt’s Sharaab storage cabinet is covered with bold geometric forms crafted from German silver. The doors open to reveal a painted interior with two adjustable shelves and one fixed shelf. The cabinet is 38 inches wide, 20 inches deep, and 73 inches tall. carolhouse.com
evoking the mystery of an ancient talisman, Global Views’ Sarastro sculpture is made of cast iron and finished with a soft verdigris patina. At 11 inches tall, it stands on a slender metal base and simultaneously feels both ancient and modern. designanddetailstl.com
Global Views’ ebonized Rafi dome bowl is hand-carved from solid wood. The dark finish amplifies its simple form and grounded presence, emphasizing contour and craft. donnellyinteriors.com
Playing With Tradition
Once designed in neutrals with traditional styling, this Ladue living room now offers a comforting oasis infused with personality oasis with personality thanks to the C&M Interiors team.
C&M co-founder and principal designer Maria Hogrefe says that although certain aspects of the design remained classic, others needed some finessing. “The space featured heavy window treatments, textured wallpaper, and a muted palette that, while timeless, did not reflect the clients’ personality or the way they wanted the home to feel,” she says. “Overall, it lacked the sense of energy and youthful elegance they were hoping to bring into the space.”
The design team started by softening the walls and introducing lively patterns and textures – as well as integrating a few subtle, refined details into the living area. “The goal was to create a room that felt sophisticated yet playful: tailored, inviting, and full of personality and unique details, rather than overly formal or stuffy,” Hogrefe says.
One added detail exemplifies this: the pair of floral-print sofas. “We love that they move beyond the expected neutral upholstery and instead bring so much personality,” says Channing Krichevsky, who heads up C&M, alongside Hogrefe, as co-founder and principal designer. “The custom details, from the charming rolled arms and wood leg [component] to the green tape trim applied to the cushions, make them feel special and tailored.”
Similarly special are both the drapery and C&M’s signature layered lighting
elements. “The added sconces and lamps, paired with custom shades featuring geometric patterns and mini bullion fringe, create such an inviting glow,” Hogrefe says. “The drapery is another favorite; while subtle at first glance, the pink embroidered leading edge adds the perfect delicate detail.”
According to Krichevsky, the design elements and overall energy of the room came together in a unique way. “It was
truly an honor to design,” she says. “We’re incredibly grateful to the homeowners for their trust, kindness, and willingness to fully embrace a bold and personality-filled vision for their home. Collaborating with clients who value creativity and thoughtful details so deeply made this project especially rewarding from start to finish.”
C&M Interiors, 2855 Accomac Blvd., Fox Park, St. Louis, 314-328-1923, candmstudio.com
When hosting employee social or appreciation events, it’s important to plan around what truly makes them feel comfortable and valued. Brittany
Dwyer, CEO of the St. Louis-based event planning company DISCO!, specializes in curating experiences that people with busy lives will actually find enticing. Her startup officially launched in 2021 to reinvent in-person gatherings, and she often works with corporate clients to coordinate events that elevate their workplace culture. Keep reading for her tips and resources.
DEFINE THE EVENT’S PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE.
“Not every event is for every person,” Dwyer states.
Determine who it’s really for and how that group should benefit from attending.
Consider a specific department that could benefit from a teambuilding activity, or welcome new hires at an event that teaches or sharpens relevant skills. Other goals might be to reward
employees who achieved a milestone or to encourage more personal connections. Once decided, thoughtfully communicate the event details and expectations for the RSVP.
“You have to make your offering really tailored to that audience and appeal to them emotionally,” Dwyer suggests. “Make them feel like: ‘I’m going to have a great time. I’m going to experience something different.’”
PLAN AN INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE.
Having a great time starts with feeling seen. Send out a survey to better understand attendees’ preferences, including options for scheduling and refreshments. Wherever food and drinks are served, provide a spread that respects dietary restrictions and doesn’t pressure everyone to drink.
Additionally, take the pressure off those who are more introverted by organizing an easygoing group activity that naturally encourages some conversation, such as a cocktail- and mocktail-mixing class. If hosting outside of normal work hours, plan an experience that may include families and partners.
Merge a fun experience with something that inspires personal development. Consider an interactive dinner with a local chef: “If we’re having dinner at a newer, well-known restaurant, maybe we do a little chef demo or conversation,” Dwyer offers. “[Say] we’re working with a corporate company and an entrepreneurship group. Hearing the chef’s story of [their] journey to entrepreneurship and investment … is a topic that relates to them, and also there’s just a draw of access to that person.”
UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENT.
An intentional event can serve as a marketing and recruiting tool. When employees feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to stay at a company, put their best foot forward, and speak highly about their workplace. If orchestrating events like these feels overwhelming, outsource to a planner like Dwyer. DISCO! streamlines the process to make events more enjoyable for all involved, with tools for determining the best date, activities, and partners for unique events.
In the dining room at Zen Me, visitors will find charming illustrations of the restaurant’s two chefs on the wall. In one image, a smiling Packy Pisutvong is drawn holding up her signature Thai crêpes, and next to it, her husband Paul Pisutewongse is shown happily cooking noodles with chopsticks in hand. The whimsical art demonstrates the concept’s specialties: crispy crêpes stuffed with sweet or savory fillings and a variety of unique Asian noodle bowls.
Since 2006, the husband-and-wife team have owned and operated Zen Thai and Japanese Cuisine, which relocated a mile down the road to 403 Watson Plaza in 2023. Zen Me debuted in Zen Thai’s former Crestwood storefront last fall, featuring some of the dynamic duo’s personal favorites from throughout their many years of experience in the restaurant industry. The couple works together with their daughter, Pun Pisutvong – with additional support from her siblings – to offer their one-of-a-kind menu to the same community they’ve served for so many years.
Noodles and crêpes make up the bulk of the menu alongside a selection of appetizers, fried rice, and housemade beverages including Thai tea and coffee. A dozen different noodle bowl
options draw upon the family’s traditions as well as their experiences. Thai options include Beef Noodle Soup with tender beef flank, ribeye, tendon, and fried garlic oil as well as Thai Curry Noodles with yellow curry, tofu, fried onions, boiled egg, and your choice of meat and noodles.
Some menu items riff on Packy’s Chinese heritage such as Barbecue Pork Noodles with egg noodles, tender slices of marinated house-roasted pork, fish balls, chicken wontons, and bok choy. Another signature near and dear to her heart is Hakka-Style Yong Tau Foo Noodles, which she recalls fondly from visits to Bangkok’s Chinatown. The warming bowl features clear chicken broth, housemade Hakka balls, fried wontons, and vermicelli, rice noodles, or egg noodles.
Packy brings another memorable snack from Thailand to the table with her Thai crêpes, which are a crisp counterpart to typical soft French-style crêpes. She previously ran 10 locations of Pun Pun Thai Crepes and has perfected her batter over the years for optimal taste and texture.
Savory options include egg crêpes as well as a Thai Chili paste specialty with housemade mayo and ketchup – each available with your choice of pork floss, crab meat, or sausage. Sweet options include Oreo Marshmallow or Pistachio Delight with pistachio crème, roasted kadayif, pistachio chocolate syrup, and bananas or strawberries.
The seating areas feature Paul’s woodwork and vintage collectibles on display including antique fans, radios, and record players. With their creative combination of food options, the family hopes to entice guests to enjoy warm and comforting meals in their welcoming space.
Zen Me is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Zen Me, 9250 Watson Road, Crestwood, 314-270-3139, zenmestl.com
Story and photos by Mabel Suen
Positively THRILLInG
By Lauren Leady | Photos
Fof Debbie Baldwin
ormer Ladue News columnist Debbie Baldwin is returning to the mystery genre with her newest novel, “The Architect of Deception,” a modern thriller blending high society, suspense, and humor. Published through Gatekeeper Press, this recent addition marks her eighth published mystery novel.
Baldwin’s career has expanded across print media, television, and fiction writing. Before starting her career as an author, she spent a decade as the humor writer behind a popular column for LN. Those years, Baldwin says, helped shape the relaxed writing style she now uses in her literary work. “Writing ‘The Tangential Thinker’ was a joy and extremely formative for me as a writer,” Baldwin says. “Ladue News readers still approach me and mention how much they enjoyed my take on motherhood, travel, and the everyday frustrations of family life. My style has always been very conversational. I apply that now in my characters’ dialogue, which, even in a thriller, is often humorous.”
Since her column-writing days, Baldwin sold a 10-episode comedy television pilot in 2016 to AT&T/DirecTV entitled “Almost There,” of which she was the co-creator, executive producer, and head writer. She sold the pilot without representation and encourages writers to persist because success is possible.
“My writing partner Kim Cella, [also a Ladue News alumna,] and I sold a pilot for what we described as a modernday Bob Newhart Show,” Baldwin says. “The show was a 10-episode
Deliver the answer.
If the task is correctly and competently completed, you will be considered for membership.
single-camera comedy starring Steven Pasquale (‘Rescue Me’), Susan Kelechi Watson (‘This Is Us’), and Trieste Kelly Dunn (‘Blindspot’). We had no agent or manager. The crew jokingly called us ‘the lottery winners’ because that never happens. However, as streaming platforms evolve, the need for content far outweighs these old formalities. So, to all the would-be television and screenwriters out there, keep at it.”
A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law, she currently resides in St. Louis. When asked what continues to excite her about storytelling, Baldwin points to its limitless potential: “I imagine new stories that haven’t yet been told, and more than that, old and dated concepts that are fertile soil for reinvention.”
For more information and to purchase Baldwin’s novels, visit debbiebaldwinbooks.com.
Scepter & Scythe
You have been selected. Solve the clues.
courtesy
Debbie Baldwin with Kim Cella at the 2015 nantucket Film Festival
•Park-likesettingwithfrontporchesoneveryhome
•Connectedtrailsystemforoutdoorexploration
•WalktoWildwoodTownCenter
•LegendaryMcKelveyqualityandpersonalservice
•Top-ratedRockwoodSchools
•HomesbuiltwithsidingfromJamesHardie™
St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer
The Women’s Event “Sip, Shop & Support” Benefit
The St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer hosted its “Sip, Shop & Support” Women’s Event at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis this past April. Guests enjoyed an evening of boutique browsing and champagne sipping, with proceeds going toward funding for cancer research, prevention, and care programs for men across the St. Louis region. The program began with a warm welcome from executive director Anita Kraus and event co-chairs Sue Lesser and Lisa Deutsch, followed by the night’s Fund-a-Need segment. Cancer survivors also relayed their success stories to the crowd. Since 1969, STLMGAC has raised over $6 million for more than 40 local organizations, providing support for individuals and families battling cancer.
“The
Women’s Event is so much more than just a special evening out. It reflects the enduring commitment of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer, an organization that has spent decades supporting local organizations that bring hope and help to St. Louis families affected by cancer.”
– ANITA KRAUS, eXeCuTIVe DIReCTOR, ST. LOuIS Men’S GROuP AGAInST CAnCeR
Sue Lesser, elizabeth Mannen Berges, Lisa Deutsch
Suzanne Bakewell, Marc Alper, Kathy Weilbaecher
Betsy Lewis, Tracy Liebe, Sarah Reedy, Abigail George
Laura Simunich, Linda Scoville, Sandy Spirtas
Carly Kleiman, Iris P. Shepard, Marci Mayer eisen, Sylvia Manewith
Story and photos by James J. Anderson
Vicki Groswald, Jane Holtzman, elaine Korn
Tamar and Barbara Sher
Sandy Koller, Tracy Brees, Suzanne Meyer
Linda Baylis, Kelly Pollock
Meika and Katheryne Morschl
Kenita Collier, Sherrill Jackson
Linda Kraus, norma Appelman, Fran Zellinger
Debbie Lefton, Marcy Mamroth, Amy Bennett
Lisa and Hannah Suffian
Lisa Kramer, Susan Frank
Debbie Dalin, Megan and Amy Wallis, Stacey Prelutsky
Gardener/Handyman for Creve Coeur home, 0.3-acre lot. Maintain small culinary garden, flower beds, light handyman work, must pass background check, 5-10 hours per week. 314-576-0024, leave msg
Loving, Reliable, Experienced Nanny Needed
We are a down to earth, active family seeking care 3 days a week (7:10am-3pm) for our 3 children, aged 6mos, 3 & 4.5yrs. We need someone who can engage them in developmentally appropriate activities & lots of outdoor time. We are a smoke & pet free home. Willing to negotiate pay. Contact Kevin 513-520-2650 if interested. 52
