This issue marks a first of its kind for St. Louis Magazine: We’ve given away our cover feature.
Irresponsible? Let me explain... In early summer, our editors, who spend most of their time reporting on future projects planned for St. Louis, posed a collective question: What if we asked some of the city’s most creative, influential, and informed citizens what the future should look like? We’ll give each of them a theoretical $10 million, 200 words of space in the magazine, and the freedom to introduce a single idea or project that could transform St. Louis.
It was a risk: Editors like to control magazine content—especially 18-page cover stories. It’s kind of our thing. But in this case, it was more than worth it. As the participants signed on—a university president here, a celebrated architect there—we knew we were creating a special editorial package for our readers. Once the proposals began arriving in our inboxes, we knew we’d be delivering something meaningful for the city. The final result—“What’s the Big Idea?”—begins on p. 70. We can’t wait to hear what you think.
This issue also marks a turning point for me: It will be my last as editor. This summer, my wife, Tamara, and I learned that she’d been named a 2010–11 Fulbright Scholar, with a generous grant coming her way to spend about a year researching and writing in Berlin as a final step toward earning her Ph.D. in art history. We were thrilled—and briefly conflicted. Should I hold down the fort in St. Louis (keep the house, the job, the Missouri plates) or should I tag along and make it a couple’s adventure? We chose adventure.
So we’re off to Germany, and I’m ending my tenure as EIC. It’s been a pleasure to be leading the publication for the last 3½ years, speaking directly to you and working alongside a talented staff. Certainly among the top work blessings I’ve received is having my predecessor as editor, Jeannette Cooperman, remain at the magazine in the role of staff writer. As is the case for many of you, one of my monthly highlights is reading Jeannette’s profiles of Iraq War veterans and legendary artists, her explorations of issues like homelessness and the proposed multibillion-dollar NorthSide project.
Jeannette’s co-writer on the last of those—the five-part “North Side Story,” published last November in print and online—was SLM executive editor Jarrett Medlin. He’s a sharp journalist, an astute editor (he’s put together our Forest Park and Best Doctors cover packages, among others), and a kind guy. I’m very pleased to say that Jarrett has been named St. Louis Magazine’s next editor-in-chief, and he’ll be greeting you from this page starting next month.
As for me, I’ve packed up my MacBook for a return to the freelance life, writing and editing from the coffee shops (and biergärtens) of Berlin. With that in mind, perhaps it’s time to turn the tables and extend an invitation: If you’d like to write me a monthly note about what’s happening in my hometown of St. Louis, I’d read it with a smile.
