tucked on a coveted cul-de-sac in Ladue, this beautifully reimagined home offers refined one-level living with seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Sunlit open floor plan features a gourmet kitchen, elegant dining and living rooms, and inviting family room opening to a resort-style backyard oasis. Backyard features pool, fire pit, expansive deck and sophisticated hard scape entertaining spaces. Main level includes a serene primary suite, second bedroom with ensuite bath and large third bedroom. Lower level offers two more bedrooms, updated spalike bath, recreation area, laundry area and abundant storage. Three car garage and extensive recent updates including HVAC, Roof, Hot Water Heater and expanded driveway. Ideally located near nationally recognized public and private schools.
Road trips used to comprise the license plate game, a skipping CD player, and the magic words: “Are we there yet?” Although classics never die, today’s parents have a whole arsenal of tricks available to keep the kiddos in the back seat content enough to enjoy the journey ahead.
“Every child is different, and the key to keeping them entertained on trips is tapping into their individual interests,” says Betty Bayer, owner of Betty’s Books. “A road or plane trip is not the time to force educational outcomes or your personal book agenda – it’s a time to make sure they have materials that are fun and engaging.”
Keeping this in mind, Bayer recommends Usborne sticker books for young children. “They are the highest quality, most engaging sticker books I have encountered as a bookseller and a mom,” she says. The globally recognized brand is an independent book publisher based in London.
Bayer suggests Usborne’s “Build Your Own Monster Trucks Sticker Book,” the “First Sticker Book Dollhouse,” and the “Little Sticker Dolly Dressing Fairy Tales” option. If you’re a parent of tweens, she recommends a classic: Mad Libs. “I enjoyed these as a tween, and I have been delighted that my almost-tween loves them too,” Bayer says. “These hold our attention for a solid 30 minutes in the car or while waiting for our plane and usually get my kids giggling.”
According to Bayer, the most popular option is the “Dungeons & Dragons”-themed Mad Lib. She notes that there are a variety of options available including Taylor Swift selections and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Mad Libs.
Shawnta’ Ray, owner of local company Happy Up, Inc., says her most successful road trips with family always include “rowdy rest area breaks.” She adds: “We always have a parafoil kit in our glove compartment. It’s thrilling to pull a simple kite [out] and fly it. We also love to be outside for at least part of our trips.”
Ray appreciates gear such as Wildlife Outdoor Adventures’ bold explorer kit and foraging bag. But if you don’t have time for a long pit stop, she points to Speks-brand toys and Workman’s “The Reverse Coloring Book.”
“The Speks Odds are really satisfying, lightly magnetic, hand-size fidgets [that are] great for teens and adults – and for keeping your cool,” Ray says. “‘The Reverse Coloring Book’ lets you draw over the watercolors that are pre-printed. It is so peaceful to trace over and create new pictures, kind of like looking for pictures in the clouds.”
And while buying online can seem more convenient, both shop owners
emphasize the importance of supporting local businesses. “Although shopping on Amazon is quick and easy, it’s not a good place to get a personalized recommendation,” Bayer says. “At our shop or any of St. Louis’ fab local bookstores, the booksellers would be happy to help you find something that fits your kiddo.”
Plus, there’s the perk of engaging one’s senses. “We believe you should be able to see, touch, and get helpful advice when choosing for yourself and your children,” Ray says. “Happy content travels.”
Betty’s Books, 8772 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-279-1731, bettysbooksstl.com
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Love is in the air for fans of the sport of kings. With the warm weather, tennis players (both seasoned pros and beginners) are taking to the courts.
Played by folks of all ages, the sport continues to thrive locally thanks to several racquet clubs and organizations that cater to those needing a refresher or beginners wanting to learn how to play. Former pros, enthusiastic veterans, and lifelong fans of the game are on hand to help players nurture their competitive spirit, improve their backhand, or learn a new skill.
According to the United States Tennis Association (usta.com), over four million people played tennis for the first time in 2025. This number has increased annually in the last five years. Those looking to explore should check out some of the most notable locations for tennis lessons in the metro area.
CHESTERFIELD ATHLETIC CLUB
Since opening in 1974, the Chesterfield Athletic Club (chesterfieldathleticclub.com) has scored big points as a vibrant community hub. It is home to the Apex Tennis Academy, which presents lessons and camps tailored to the needs of various age groups and skill levels. In addition to the nine indoor and six outdoor courts, the
club has an indoor and outdoor pool, exercise facilities, a walking trail, and a pro shop.
DWIGHT DAVIS TENNIS CENTER
Balls are always flying at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center (dwightdavistennis.com). Located in Forest Park, this St. Louis institution offers clinics, classes, social leagues, and private instruction to players of all ages and abilities. The center’s 18 lighted courts are open until 10 p.m. to accommodate evening play.
FOREST LAKE TENNIS CLUB
Nestled in Town and Country, the Forest Lake Tennis Club (forestlaketennisclub.com) serves Chesterfield with eight indoor and five outdoor courts. Players of all ages and types can enroll
in classes from coaches dedicated to helping players take their game to the next level through individualized comprehensive progression plans. The club also offers leagues and camps for juniors.
FRONTENAC RACQUET CLUB
Frontenac Racquet Club (frontenactennis.com) offers 10 indoor courts, modern locker rooms, and year-round access. The club’s relaxed atmosphere and experienced instructors make it ideal for newcomers who are learning the sport or returning players who are sharpening their skills.
VETTA RACQUET SPORTS SUNSET
Home to many of the best tennis leagues in the area, the seven courts at Vetta Sunset (vettasports.com) also host clinics and classes for all players.
WOODSMILL TENNIS CLUB
Conveniently located near I-64, the Woodsmill Tennis Club (woodsmilltc.com) – like its partner club, the Frontenac Racquet Club – caters to men, women, and juniors looking to improve their forehand, framing, or just learning how to ace the sport. Since opening in 1972, it has scored match points by offering summer camps as well as early morning and late evening play on eight indoor courts.
Photo by Jorge Flores, Courtesy of Woodsmill Tennis Club
Photo courtesy of Forest Lake Tennis Club
Photo courtesy of Forest Lake Tennis Club
Foods to
PROMOTE LONGEVITy
By Connie Mitchell | Photos supplied
How do you know you’re making the best dietary choices for yourself and your family? It can be hard to tease out solid, proven advice from hype, especially with influencers and “wellness companies” promoting all kinds of questionable plans.
Dr. F. Gerald Wade is co-director of the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital Comprehensive Metabolic Center (slu.edu/medicine/ internal-medicine/gastroenterology-hepatology/centers/metabolic-center.php), where he and colleagues treat patients for obesity and obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. He works closely with patients, creating personalized weight-management strategies, and he recommends starting with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s “Healthy Eating Plate, for its simple, evidence-based principles that emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy protein, healthy oils, and water.” (nutritionsource. hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-plate)
“In addition, the Mediterranean diet, which is a heathy eating pattern common in Mediterranean countries, is not only sustainable but consistently linked to lower risk of heart disease and diabetes and increased life span,” he says. “Foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts, beans, fish, and olive oil consistently show benefits, but it’s the combination of these eaten regularly that drives better health.”
Wade suggests caution in trusting information, even when it seems to be from a solid source. For instance, he notes that the new inverted food pyramid that illustrates the U.S. Dietary Guidelines gets some things right, such as reducing ultra-processed foods and emphasizing protein. “However, it remains somewhat controversial, as some experts believe it may overcorrect by downplaying whole grains and promoting saturated fat-rich foods like steak and whole milk,” he says. “Overall, the strongest evidence still supports a balanced dietary pattern.”
Nutrition influencers without medical or dietetic training; diets that eliminate entire food groups; programs that rely heavily on supplements, detoxes, or expensive add-ons; and anything that sounds extreme or promises rapid results require greater caution, Wade says. But the biggest mistake he sees people make is consuming calorie-containing beverages. Get rid of sugary drinks, sweet tea, alcohol, coffee drinks with added creamers and syrups, energy drinks, and smoothies with added sugars, he advises. Instead, drink water, black coffee, or unsweetened tea.
So, what’s in Wade’s fridge, freezer, and pantry? Here’s a list he says covers the nutritional bases and offers options for easy and healthy meals.
Frozen fruit (great for smoothies without added sugar)
Frozen meat (fish such as salmon and cod, chicken, ground turkey)
In the pantry:
Canned beans and lentils
Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, oats)
Nuts and seeds
Olive oil
Low-sodium canned tomatoes
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SUITE Luxury
By Nancy Robinson | Photos supplied
The contrast of clean lines and loose impressionistic art sets the tone for a sumptuous, modern bedroom.
“Ghost” is one of the many unique works created by artists at Los angeles-based Zoe Bios Creative. The collective offers a wide variety of modern art in custom colors, sizes, and framing options. (zoebioscreative.com)
Wesley allen’s Kenton bed combines a unique metal canopy and upholstered frame. Shown in the old copper finish with archer navy fabric panels, it is available in an extensive range of finishes, fabrics, and sizes: queen, king, and California king. (shubertdesign.com)
Worlds away presents the Tadeo tray made from natural black marble with oval-shaped brass handles. It’s perfect on a chest, vanity, or bedside table. The tray is 18 inches wide and seven inches deep. (donnellyinteriors.com)
By Andrea Smith | Photos by Marie White Photography
Lymphatic drainage and inflammation reduction treatments can help sculpt your face, defining cheekbones and your jawline without even a smidge of makeup, plus improve skin elasticity and blood flow. Spas and estheticians in the St. Louis area offer various solutions, and you can adjust your selfcare routine at home to better serve your face and body.
It’s normal for lymphatic fluid to accumulate in the body, and when working properly, the lymphatic system naturally gets rid of the excess. Gently massaging certain areas of the face and body can stimulate this process – as can anti-inflammatory lifestyle habits like exercising, staying hydrated, practicing breathwork, and avoiding processed foods.
“I always try and recommend doing some stuff at home, maybe with a gua sha stone,” says licensed esthetician Lauren Staebell, referencing the traditional Chinese medicine tool. “Do some light lymphatic drainage on your neck and along your jaw, gently stretching out and massaging your shoulders and your neck. Sometimes you can kind of mix these treatments with things that you can do at a med spa, like microneedling, to get the best of both worlds.”
Staebell is the owner of Face + Forme Aesthetics in Brentwood, which specializes in connecting skin care and facial massage techniques with nervous system wellness. She offers a lymphatic drainage facial as well as more comprehensive facials that provide natural contour and address tension.
“I typically blend techniques like
lymphatic drainage with fascia release, heated stones, and intraoral massage, which is also known as buccal massage where we work inside the mouth,” she describes. “Facial massage work is gentle enough [that] usually you could come in once a week if you wanted to. It’s just what your time and budget allows.”
Some clients might require clearance from their doctor to ensure a massage is safe after a procedure, and pregnant clients might need modifications. Prevalent or uncomfortable swelling is another reason to consult with a doctor, as that could indicate a health problem. For education on how to step up your home-care routine, Staebell points clients to “The Book of
Lymph: Self-Care Practices to Enhance Immunity, Health, and Beauty” by Lisa Levitt Gainsley.
Other metro area spas offering lymphatic drainage facials include Avani Derm Spas and Rhythm and Ritual. A detailed guide to face and body sculpting solutions is also available at rhythmandritual.com/blog/get-a-sculpted-face.
Face + Forme Aesthetics, 8920 Manchester Road, Brentwood, faceandforme.com
Rhythm and Ritual, 1064 S. Woods Mill Road, Town and Country, 636-220-4873, rhythmandritual.com
ST. LOUIS FASHION WEEK RETURNS
By
St. Louis Fashion Week is returning to the metro under new ownership and direction from the leadership behind Kansas City Fashion Week, but this isn’t a copy-and-paste event, they promise. It is a thoughtfully rebuilt platform that will recognize St. Louis’ distinct and evolving fashion identity; support local creatives; and integrate regional and national talent to expand exposure, collaboration, and economic opportunity.
“St. Louis has always had such incredible and creative talent – the designers, stylists, photographers, entrepreneurs, models – but it hasn’t, in the last decade, had a real consistent, large-scale platform,” says Teisha Barber, owner and CEO of STLFW. “After purchasing Kansas City Fashion Week in 2023, I started really thinking about, ‘What’s next? How can we grow?’ And it’s not just about producing runway shows … it’s about building sustainable fashion ecosystems in the Midwest as a whole.”
Kansas City Fashion Week has hosted semiannual runway shows for 15 years and established an infrastructure to support participants year-round. Alongside Layne Whitehouse, the organization’s president who hails from St. Louis, Barber built a team of about half Kansas City and half St. Louis professionals
We talk with Brandin Vaughn, designer outreach coordinator for STLFW, and other local designers as they prepare behind-the-scenes. Scan the QR code to read more.
to launch a new show here. The long-term goal is to transition to a majority-St. Louisan team that, starting in 2027, produces shows in April and in October, hosts pop-up events, and grows educational programming locally.
“We’re working closely with Saint Louis Fashion Fund because they’ve already laid really important groundwork in supporting designers and strengthening the business side of fashion in St. Louis,” Barber adds. “They have been an incredible resource to us in the relaunch of STLFW.” Additionally, a portion of the event’s proceeds will go toward a scholarship fund with SLFF for students pursuing fashion-related careers.
STLFW will showcase 33 designers, and
in keeping with what’s been successful in Kansas City, the organization has accepted local designers among others from across the country. STLFW prioritizes local designers but welcomes qualified creatives from across the Midwest and beyond to foster industry connections and broaden exposure to St. Louis talent.
“We’re looking at their brand identity, the cohesion of their work, their production quality, and … whether they’re prepared to present at a professional runway level,” Barber explains. “Once [designers are] selected, we then curate each night of the runway shows very intentionally. We don’t really group designers together randomly. We try to build a flow and balance between emerging and established talent throughout each night with different aesthetics, different price points, and … a different storytelling approach [in each show].”
STLFW kicks off June 8 with a cocktail celebration at Powell Hall, followed by runway shows June 10 through 13 at City Foundry STL’s 18Rails venue. On-site shopping opportunities will be available through the vendor market or a QR code on the event program.
St. Louis Fashion Week, stlouisfashionweek.com
Andrea Smith | Photos courtesy of St. Louis Fashion Week
Warmer weather provides the perfect backdrop for grilling season, and St. Louis has no shortage of independently owned spots to stock up for a cookout. Ahead of your next barbecue or outdoor gathering, visit these four exceptional local butcher shops for high-quality meats and grill-ready favorites.
BAUMANN’S FINE MEATS
8829 Manchester Road, Brentwood, baumannsfinemeats.com
This centrally located butcher shop promises “a cut above the rest,” offering quality cuts of meat alongside an impressive selection of homemade specialties. A neighborhood staple since 1946, the business has operated from its current location since 1988. Its extensive lineup of signature items caters to a wide range of tastes, featuring smoked beef and pork tenderloin, filet mignon, brined and smoked turkey, handmade sausages including andouille and apple-cinnamon bratwurst, tasso (Cajun smoked pork), smoked wings, and an assortment of spare, baby back, and short ribs.
BOLYARD’S MEAT AND PROVISIONS
2733 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, bolyardsmeat.com
Since 2014, chef and butcher Chris Bolyard has specialized in whole animal butchery with an emphasis on local, pasture-raised meats and housemade provisions. The Maplewood mainstay offers a masterful butcher’s menu at the counter featuring beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fresh sausage, charcuterie, smoked meats, and deli meats. Guests can also
choose from tasty grab-and-go provisions in a set of coolers such as stock, fermented veggies, sauces, and more. The butchery-slash-restaurant gives a glimpse behind the scenes, with front windows overlooking the team at work in the cut room.
KENRICK’S MEAT & CATERING
4324 Weber Road, South St. Louis County, kenricks.com
St. Louis’ largest butcher shop originated in 1945. Since 2004, the longtime destination for specialty foods has operated out of a spacious store near Affton, where shoppers are spoiled for choice. Ready-to-grill and ready-to-bake favorites, including stuffed pork chops and assorted kabobs, make meals and entertaining easy. The meat market also carries more than 80 varieties of specialty sausages, along with bundled meat packages designed to help customers get the most bang for their buck.
PIERCE CREEK
10405 Old Olive Street Road, Creve Coeur, piercecreekstl.com
In Creve Coeur, Pierce Creek Cattle Company brings together a restaurant, bar, bakery, butcher shop, and market under one roof. The homegrown company’s motto is “as local as possible.” Co-owners Kent Evans and Rachelle L’Ecuyer became the fourth generation to take the reins at Pierce Creek Farm with the goal of providing healthy beef. In addition to local pasture-raised beef free of added hormones and unnecessary antibiotics, the butcher counter features 4 Health Farms wagyu raised in Missouri. Pro tip: You can select any cut from the case and have it cooked to order with sides.
Kenrick’s
Pierce Creek
Baumann’s
Bolyard’s
Story and photos by Mabel Suen
Revisiting
St. Louis Modernism
By Emily Standlee
Back by popular demand, we return to our “Nine Lives” series on the city’s modernist structures and how they’ve evolved. Modernist architecture in the United States, a movement spanning the 1920s through 1970s, is defined by minimalism over ornamentation, clean lines, concrete, glass, and steel, and a “form follows function” approach.
The popular architecture media platform ArchDaily calls modernism “one of the most optimistic styles in architectural history, drawing from notions of utopia, innovation, and the reimagination of how humans would live, work, and interact.”
In a region constantly evolving, reshaping, and in some cases making something out of nothing (ahem, the iconic Gateway Arch, a pioneering design), here are two more examples of modern architecture in St. Louis that have stood the test of time – whether reimagined or mostly unchanged.
B’NAI AMOONA SYNAGOGUE, 524 TRINITY AVE. (1950)
The architect of B’nai Amoona – now the historic Mendelsohn Building on the Center of Creative Arts campus in University City – was Erich Mendelsohn. A forerunner of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne, he helped shape modernism, and both styles can be seen in St. Louis as part of the movement. “Mendelsohn practiced architecture in Germany, Holland, England, and Palestine before arriving in the United States as a refugee in 1942,” writes Samuel D. Gruber, architectural historian for the “Synagogues of the South: Architecture and Jewish Identity” exhibition at the College of Charleston. “His buildings reflect different styles – he was a restless artist. Still, throughout his career, he was an expressive modernist with a love of concrete and glass.” The synagogue itself, with its sloping, parabolic, cantilever roof, was Mendelsohn’s first American project, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
EAST LADUE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, 9701 CONWAY ROAD (1959)
Known now, of course, as Ladue Middle School, this dynamic midcentury structure is hard to miss from Clayton Road. And how many other schools have you seen with a copper roof? “This International Style complex is punctuated by a classroom building featuring an enormous overhanging vaulted copper roof, resting on dramatically expressed structural supports,” writes Built St. Louis author Robert Powers. Like Saint Louis Abbey Church in Creve Coeur, built in 1962, and the domes of Lambert International Airport’s Terminal 1, designed in 1956, Ladue’s once-rural farmland became less pastoral around the mid-century.
Along with environmental shifts came political and social change, as the school saw graduates drafted into the Vietnam War, the start of special education services, its renaming in 2001, and other historic events. Its architects were Murphy & Mackey, who designed the Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden.
East Ladue Junior High School photo by Emily Standlee
B’nai amoona Synagogue photo by Warren LeMay
FUFU n ’ Sauce
At FUFU n’ Sauce, chef Adjo Honsou is so confident in her housemade namesake cuisine that she graciously gives out free samples to first-timers who might not be familiar. The warm welcome serves as a heartfelt introduction to boldly flavored West African homestyle food. “If you’re yearning for something out of the ordinary, this is the place to be,” she says.
Honsou grew up cooking wholesome traditional Togolese dishes by hand alongside her grandmother in a small village. Forged over countless generations, this scratchmade fare has traveled all the way from Togo, West Africa, to an inviting storefront in Vinita Park that has become a hub for community connections.
A bioscientist by trade, Honsou originally started hosting food-fueled gatherings called FUFU n’ Chat with friends as a hobby in 2021. She founded FUFU n’ Sauce a year later, hosting pop-ups to meet the rapidly growing demand for her food; in 2023, a food truck rolled out to take it to events all over town.
The following year, Honsou joined a casting call for season 3 of “The Great American Recipe” show on PBS, where she put her well-honed recipes to the test and came out victorious. FUFU n’ Sauce’s brick-andmortar restaurant debuted last summer, where the charismatic self-made chef proudly shares her culinary heritage in an effort to bridge the African diaspora.
Honsou made the carryout-focused space feel as much like home as she could, filling it with terracotta-inspired tones, cushy wicker chairs, and West African fabric and woodcarvings to transport guests to her happy place.
For the uninitiated, a banner breaks down menu items including fufu – a foundational staple served alongside sauces such as the entrée that won Honsou TV gold: tender, fall-off-the-bone oxtail in rich palm nut
sauce. Her version of the ubiquitous African accompaniment is made with plantain and yam flour (jollof rice and crisp sweet fried plantains are also available as sides to any meal).
Honsou describes Togolese cooking as “fresh, flavorful, balanced, and very savory,” with a foundation of garlic, ginger, and curry made up of spices specially imported from Africa such as star anise, cumin, and cinnamon. Highlights from the menu include beef stew, goat pepper soup, and egusi – a comforting vegan-friendly signature made from ground melon seeds and leafy greens.
Going forward, Honsou hopes to bring even more locations of FUFU n’ Sauce to St. Louis to reach as many people as possible with her hearty dishes. “Making sure people are aware of West African culture and what that means to us and what community means to us is the goal in what we do,” she says. “Blending, merging, and accepting cultures is really what we’re doing here through food.”
FUFU n’ Sauce is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
FUFU n’ Sauce, 8100 Page Ave., Vinita Park, St. Louis, 314-200-5581, fufunsauce.com
Story and photos by Mabel Suen
KVC MISSOURI
Purses with a Purpose
KVC Missouri celebrated their annual Purses with a Purpose luncheon recently in The Solarium at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Guests had the opportunity to bid on a wide array of designer purses while sipping on their favorite beverages. KSDK anchor Anne Allred served as the emcee, Roberta Boswell spoke about her foster parenting, and the Moneta group was awarded the 2026 Sue Rapp Distinguished Volunteer Award.
“Every day at KVC Missouri, we see the difference that compassionate, communitydriven support can make in the lives of children and families facing complex challenges. The generosity people show at Purses with a Purpose helps ensure we can continue providing critical mental health services, strengthening families, supporting foster care families, and educating youth and adolescents across our state.”
– LINDSEY STEPHENSON KVC MISSOURI PRESIDENT
Cindy Munich and ann Rexford
Tina Dubuque, Bridget O’Flynn-Hof, Susan Ryan
Liz Erker, Peggy Barnhart
Roberta Boswell, Lindsey Stephenson
Story and photos by Diane Anderson
Jasmine Chen, Justin Hsieh Erin Stucky, Michelle Lawrence
Mary Ciapciak, anne allred
Jeanne Nowicke, Tara Hogan
Nancy Brown, Liz Gibbons, Debbie Monterubio
Patty arnold, Jenny Rapp, Emily Rapp
Susan and Fran Petruso
Bridget Fahy, Christine Byers Tim Smith, Leslie Gubitz