Over the past year, our team of editors, writers, and freelancers at SLM has captured our arts and culture community through scores of stories. We got behind-the-scenes looks at theater productions, interviewed authors and artists, toured fresh new spaces, and so much more. Here are some of our favorites of 2025:
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
JANUARY
- The year started off on a bright note with a look at the Neon Museum of St. Louis and its glowing collection of art pieces and artifacts.
- Joseph Hess, who this year began lending his talents to SLM as one of our Music newsletter editors, kicked off 2026 by checking in with The Mall before Mark Plant’s big move.
- SLM’s executive editor, Sarah Fenske, continued to cover the saga of KDHX, the former champion of local music that has since been taken over by new ownership.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
FEBRUARY
- SLM contributor Max Havey bid a fond farewell to Plaza Frontenac Cinema, which rolled credits on more than 25 years at the ritzy Frontenac mall.
- Speaking of farewells, Steve Leftridge caught up with Frankie Muriel of Dr. Zhivegas as the party band prepared to call it a night after 30 years.
- We celebrated a dozen musical artists that St. Louisans need to know about, including Aida Ade, Sir Eddie C, Emily Wallace, and many more.
Photography by Sarah Rogers
Photography by Sarah Rogers
MARCH
- It was easy to enter a flow state as you wandered through the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis this past spring, as water-themed exhibitions filled the cutting-edge art space.
- Local law student John Sansone hit TV screens across the nation as one of the boot-clad bachelors on Farmer Wants a Wife.
- The New Jewish Theatre offered St. Louis audiences an intimate production of Broadway classic Cabaret, a bucket-list show for NJT artistic director Rebekah Scallet.
Photography by Ann White
Photography by Ann White
APRIL
- Sharp-eyed St. Louisans may have seen film crews around the city working on Soul on Fire, the film inspired by John O’Leary’s book On Fire. In this piece, SLM’s Jeannette Cooperman dove deep on the story behind the film.
- Sarah Fenske shared how one St. Louis librarian is working to preserve local history by saving the content of deteriorating videotapes.
- Roaring rolled into the Saint Louis Art Museum, bringing with it historic vehicles, fantastic fashions, and other striking objects.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
MAY
- Opera Theatre of St. Louis celebrated both its 50th season and the world premiere of This House, the much-lauded first opera from Lynn Nottage, Ruby Aiyo Gerber, and Ricky Ian Gordon.
- Former SLM editorial intern Ashlynn Couch checked in with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival as they prepared to mount Hamlet for their 25th anniversary season.
- Following the May 16 tornado that devastated parts of St. Louis, Ymani Wince launched a project to help prevent the loss of stories and memories that could have been swept away in the storm.
Courtesy of Missouri Historical Society
Courtesy of Missouri Historical Society
JUNE
- We spoke with author Caroline Fraser ahead of her visit to St. Louis in support of her book Murderland, which has been named a best book of 2025 by The New Yorker, NPR, Vulture, The Los Angeles Times, and others.
- SLM intern Jackson Cooper got the scoop on Soldiers Memorial Military Museum’s temporary exhibit on the Tuskegee Airmen, as well as the dedication of a stretch of Chestnut Street to permanently honor the fearless flyers.
- SLM contributor Austin Woods broke the news that Free 4 All, a new fest celebrating local music, would revive the spirit of the former Riverfront Times Music Showcase.
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Courtesy of Live Nation
Courtesy of Live Nation
JULY
- Max Havey checked in with local band Direct Measure, who planted a flag for the St. Louis hardcore scene with their latest album, Might and Might Alone.
- We checked in with the folks behind the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis as they prepared to celebrate 10 years of productions with one of William’s greatest plays: A Streetcar Named Desire.
- SLM intern Grace Schnapp got a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater’s new fan experience, The Backyard.
Courtesy image
Courtesy image
AUGUST
- Contributor Mike McHugh cleared up an amusing bit of confusion about the Muny’s production of Jersey Boys, which had some audience members convinced they were looking at the actual Four Seasons.
- St. Louis native Kelly Slawson took on an operatic feat as Salome in Union Avenue Opera’s production of the biblical tale.
- Filmmakers prepared to tell the bizarre true story of a 1972 hijacked flight out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport in American Skyjacker.
Coutesy of Charlatan Films
Coutesy of Charlatan Films
SEPTEMBER
- St. Louis’ Hi-Pointe Theatre was one of the first to host a screening of hit indie comedy D(e)ad, an autobiographical tale of death, ghosts, and grief from comedian Isabella Roland.
- Grace Schnapp spoke with art collector Komal Shah about Making Their Mark, which highlights Shah’s landmark collection of work by international and intergenerational women artists.
- Before she took over as artistic director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Patricia Racette first took on the role of Edith Piaf with a show at the Sheldon dedicated to the French chanteuse.
OCTOBER
- SLM got an early look at the Saint Louis Art Museum’s monumental fall exhibition, Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea, featuring massive paintings and career-spanning works from the German artist.
- Contributor Lauren Warnecke discussed the past and future of 50-year-old dance company MADCO with artistic director Arianna Russ.
- Actors shared the stage with an impressive menagerie of puppets, including life-size tiger Richard Parker, during Life of Pi’s stop at the Fox Theatre.
Photo by Rosalie O'Connor
Photo by Rosalie O'Connor
NOVEMBER
- Local author Emily Bain Murphy found inspiration for her latest release, The Ivory City, in the galleries of the Missouri History Museum.
- Dance St. Louis kicked off its landmark 60th season with an eye turned toward the future of the city’s dance scene.
- Biannual magazine The New Territory celebrated the release of its first book, an anthology called Lingering Inland featuring 73 short essays dedicated to literary locations across the midwest.
Photo by Carrie Zukoski
Photo by Carrie Zukoski
DECEMBER
- SLM contributor Siran Babayan visited the Field House Museum, where a new exhibition titled Sanctuaries of the City, celebrates community, faith, and architecture.
- As celebrated St. Louis band Foxing prepared for two sold-out final hometown shows, SLM contributor Bob McMahon caught up with guitarist Eric Hudson about life with and without his bandmates.
- Christian Schaeffer dove deep with Peter Martin and Adam Maness of You’ll Hear It about their online jazz empire and the podcast that helps them share it with the world.
