Dear friends and neighbors,
It is difficult to comprehend how quickly our hometown has changed. Just over a week ago, my wife and I surprised our daughter by picking her up at school and enjoying dinner at her favorite restaurant. Today, as the COVID-19 crisis grips the metro region, that evening seems a faint memory, replaced with a new reality and an overarching concern for loved ones, neighbors, and the world at large. We are all grappling with how this pandemic will shape our future.
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Seemingly overnight, this crisis has challenged our city in powerful, sweeping ways. It has forced businesses large and small to quickly adapt or, sadly, shutter. It has impacted healthcare providers, educators, nonprofit leaders. It has reshaped the very fabric of our daily lives in countless ways.
Over the past several weeks, we have raced to cover this rapidly developing issue on stlmag.com, providing vital updates about COVID-19, ways to support local businesses, and a look at how the coronavirus is impacting local charities. At the same time, we’ve shared encouraging stories about neighbors who are rising to the occasion, displaying compassion, courage, and resources in a time of need. We’ve also strived to share practical advice: how to talk to your kids about coronavirus, where to find carryout and delivery from local restaurants, ways to practice social distancing while still connecting with St. Louis. And, to provide temporary respite from the weight of the world, we aim to sprinkle in a few lighter-hearted offerings: recommendations from local bookstores, longform reads, a recipe for chewy oatmeal cookies, the type our daughter would delight in making together while out of school.
For more than 50 years, St. Louis Magazine has strived to share stories that inform, inspire, and help us all connect with the metro region. We remain committed to highlighting what makes our hometown so special while providing in-depth analysis about salient community issues. Our April issue, for example, offers an in-depth look at the heart of the city, examining how we might build on the momentum that downtown St. Louis has experienced in recent years, from the newly revitalized Arch grounds to the forthcoming soccer stadium, while addressing other challenges.
That story went to press shortly before the impact of COVID-19 began to ripple through St. Louis, temporarily bringing many downtown businesses, attractions, and events to a halt. (Likewise, given our monthly print publication’s schedule, other articles in the issue may now feel a step behind the times—yes, we too were looking forward to Opening Day.) In some ways, though, the story of downtown is a reminder that our city is no stranger to daunting challenges, that we’ve found ways to adapt and endure over the years. It’s also a stark contrast to just a few weeks ago and where we find ourselves now, in the wake of this crisis. In many ways, it’s a pressing call to action. This pandemic has forced us apart. We will all need to come together to move forward.
It is with a deep love for our community that we aim to provide support to the readers and partners who have supported us for so many years. As we move forward, we know it will take courage, creativity, and a genuine commitment to helping our neighbors. It’s in that spirit that we provide coverage of this evolving situation, both online and in print. Together, we hope to help make sense of today while looking ahead to tomorrow.
Thank you for reading and your support. We hope you and yours stay safe and healthy.
Warm regards,
Jarrett Medlin
Editor, St. Louis Magazine
