“I miss seeing my alma mater and all the great theater coming from the theater department. I miss seeing productions by Insight Theatre and meeting up with my dear friends and classmates… I especially miss Tony’s, where I celebrated many birthdays.”
▴ Actress and Webster University alum Marsha Mason, who sold her organic farm in Abiquiú, New Mexico, in late 2014 to return to acting and directing.
Stay up-to-date with the local arts scene
Subscribe to the weekly St. Louis Arts+Culture newsletter to discover must-attend art exhibits, performances, festivals, and more.
“I do miss living downtown, shopping at Culinaria, eating at Niche and Anthony’s, walking in Forest Park with my dog, chicken salad from Straub’s, breakfast at Goody Goody… The list, as you see, is quite long!”
▴ Vickie Newton, former KMOV-TV anchor who’s now a professor at the University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff and founder of The Village-Celebration, an online magazine and radio show/podcast.
“Since my son was born in St. Louis—and, indeed, there are four generations of Slatkins who lived there—I guess I miss the connection with my own roots. So not a specific place but more a feeling of where I come from.”
▴ Maestro Leonard Slatkin, now music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre National de Lyon
“Living in the high desert of Santa Fe, I miss the water! I miss the ponds and lagoons that punctuate Forest Park. I miss the majesty of the Mississippi River. I was fortunate to live right on the river in Godfrey and Grafton. I loved observing the changes of the seasons: watching herons fly to their riverbank nests at sunset, hearing giant blocks of ice break free and crash together in a springtime thaw, and seeing the moon rise over the dark river.”
▴ Former KSDK-TV anchor Karen Foss, who’s now painting in Santa Fe.
“Pi. Pappy’s. Hoops at Fairground Park. The cobblestones at Euclid and Maryland. Windermere Place. Crown Candy’s ‘Big Cheese’ and shake. Fries and chipotle mayo at Atomic Cowboy. The Ortmanns at the Cat’s Meow and their willingness to put it on your tab, Cheers-style. And, of course, Imo’s.”
▴ Jeff Smith, author of Mr. Smith Goes to Prison and assistant professor at NYC’s New School
