Entertainment & Amusements

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courtesy of St. Louis Aquarium

This story appears in our 2020 A-List feature.

IMAGINATION STATION

Union Station

First, the neon St. Louis Wheel provided a colorful addition to the city’s skyline last fall. Then the equally colorful Soda Fountain opened its doors. Finally, the St. Louis Aquarium, the crowning jewel of the ambitious $187 million redevelopment, greeted crowds on Christmas Day. After the new attraction temporarily closed its doors during the pandemic, the aquarium’s staff found new ways to teach the public about the life aquatic, hosting virtual visits and family-friendly activities—ways to keep tykes engaged.

ANTICIPATED STAYCATION

Live! by Loews

Without baseball at Busch Stadium this spring, all we could do was plot. Rather than head to Jupiter next spring, we thought, we’ll book a room here. We can almost taste that Delmonico steak we’ll order at Clark & Bourbon, the whiskey we’ll sip at Bar Bourbon (sneaking a peek in the Whiskey Room at the red travel trunks the Cards toted in the ’30s), and the beer we’ll enjoy while watching the game on the big-screen at The Bullock’s outdoor terrace. We might just skip the ballpark and stay at the hotel. 799 Clark.

HOCKEY HAT TRICK

Centene Community Ice Center

Before the NHL’s season was put on ice during the pandemic, St. Louis experienced a year in hockey unlike any we’ve witnessed. First, there was the Blues’ historic Stanley Cup win and ensuing celebration. Then there was the 2020 NHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition, where Jordan Binnington starred once again. And between passes of the national spotlight, St. Louis scored yet another goal: the $83 million Maryland Heights facility where the defending champs now practice. It boasts three indoor rinks, a restaurant, and a covered outdoor rink set to be transformed into the Saint Louis Music Park.

RETAIL REINVENTION

The District

Having already dramatically shaped much of Chesterfield Valley—from the 2-mile stretch of retail south of I-64 to the new Maryville University Hockey Center—The Staenberg Group set its sights on two ambitious redevelopments. First, it announced plans to transform the Taubman Prestige Outlets into The District, with family fun at Main Event and concerts at The Music Factory. Next, they plan to turn Chesterfield Mall into the multifaceted Downtown Chesterfield development. At a pivotal time, the investment could be transformational.

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courtesy of City Foundry STL

FOOD HAUL

City Foundry

Though City Foundry’s unveiling to the public wasn’t quite what developer Steve Smith first imagined, it was even more meaningful in some ways. In late April, the much-anticipated Midtown development hosted the Restaurant Rally fundraiser, benefiting the Gateway Resilience Fund and The Little Bit Foundation. Patrons in cars got a sneak peek at the former industrial site, whose plans call for a food hall, beer garden, a movie theater, and more. Shortly before the event, Smith (who matched $25,000 in donations, in partnership with 1Stone Foundation, Advantage Capital, and Lewis and Clark Ventures) told SLM, “It’s really exciting to unveil it, and I’m thrilled that we can unveil it with a good cause to boot.”

POWER OF THE PRESS

RFT Journalists

In mid-March, a day after the RFT announced it had laid off seven staffers, music editor Daniel Hill proclaimed that he wasn’t about to stop. “I don’t care if I get paid or not for doing it,” he wrote. Alongside some of his colleagues, Hill continued producing timely, candid stories. The alt-weekly also launched the Riverfront Times Press Club, an initiative to raise funds and support. As Hill wrote, “The work the RFT does is more important than ever right now as we are facing down a threat the likes of which none of us have ever seen before. Local journalism is as necessary as it ever was, and frankly doubly so at this exact moment.”

SUPPORTING STARTUPS

Venture Café + STL Startup Week

Last November, the inaugural STL Startup Week provided a much-needed hub where local innovators could connect. The idea built upon the efforts of such initiatives as Venture Café, which supports budding entrepreneurs through events and programming—doing so digitally even during the pandemic and despite economic challenges.

MULTITALENTED JOURNALIST

Sarah Fenske

The accomplished journalist first made a name for herself as editor of LA Weekly and the Riverfront Times. Then, last summer, she took the reins at St. Louis Public Radio’s St. Louis on the Air. The transition was seamless, proving that a solid understanding of the region, the ability to ask insightful questions, and a knack for delving into compelling subjects translate no matter the medium.

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J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP

NET GAIN

MLS4TheLou

As St. Louis grapples with the present, we take some solace in looking toward the future—not just the day when businesses and baseball are back in full swing but also what’s even further beyond. Take Major League Soccer, for instance. Our soccer-loving city’s team is slated to take the field in a shiny new Downtown West stadium in 2022. It will mark a milestone not only for the region but also for the league, with the first majority-female ownership group at the helm—yet another sign of a brighter future.

RETAIL REINVENTION

POWERPlex

On the heels of the Blues’ move to their new Maryland Heights practice facility, Centene Community Ice Center (see p. 64), St. Louis Mills is being transformed into a destination for youth sports (see p. 14). The $63 million Hazelwood development encompasses six sports venues (catering to baseball, basketball, pickleball, volleyball, hockey, dance, and more), restaurants, and sports-focused retail. And though one pro team may have left, another pro (NBA star and St. Louis native Bradley Beal) is supporting it. Beal said in a statement, “This place will change lives and impact kids for decades to come.”

IN AN INSTA

Whatever your interest—art, interiors, fashion, wellness, food, architecture, street art, parenting—St. Louis Instagrammers offer a wealth of entertaining, engaging, and unexpected options. Here’s just a sampling.