Each Soulard intersection has its own tribe and vibe during Mardi Gras, and the stretch of Russell near Menard is ground zero for LGBTQ+ folks and those who love the spectacle we put on. Known as “The Sequin Circuit,” the compact area is bookended by Bastille and The Hi-Hat Lounge, offering options for shelter should…
I Believe Cori Bush is the Fighter We Need
The Epstein Files have pulled back the curtain on how power often operates — dividing and distracting the public while wealth and influence concentrate at the top. At a moment like this, it’s critically important that we scrutinize our candidates and ask where their loyalties truly lie. When you follow the money, the contrasts in…
Year-In-Review: Remembering Bonnie Blake
At 89 years old, sitting behind her big wooden desk at the front of her sleepy South Broadway antique store, Bonnie Blake could have never imagined how interesting her life was about to become. In walks Geoff Story, a documentary filmmaker seeking to interview her for a documentary about found footage of a 1940s gay…
Where to Sip Your Christmas Day Cocktails
No, they won’t look anything like this photo, but your drinks will be sloshed together with love by beloved bartenders who want to spend Christmas with you. Bar culture runs deep in St. Louis, and bar families will gather and will welcome guests as they celebrate. Here’s your Christmas Day guide to what’s open, what’s…
At Home With Fundraising Power Couple Heather and Lacie Brown-Hudson
By day, Heather Brown-Hudson raises funds for Shriners Children’s Hospital, and her wife Lacie does the same for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization. But what do they do in their off hours? They raise more funds — for others. This dynamic duo is known for hosting extravagant gatherings at their West…
2025 Luminary Awards: Sister Pattie O’Pounder
Sister Pattie O’Pounder, lovingly dubbed “Drill Sergeant” by the legendary Sister Roma of the San Francisco House of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, currently serves as the Abbess of the Fourth City Sisters, Abbey of the Glittering Arch. As radiant and resilient as the Gateway Arch itself, Sister Pattie has become one of the city’s…
2025 Luminary Awards: Matthew R. Kerns
For more than a decade, Matthew R. Kerns has been the fearless heart and visionary force behind St Lou Fringe, the region’s vibrant independent performing arts festival that champions bold voices, celebrates innovation, and ensures that the arts remain accessible to all. As President and Artistic Director, Kerns has transformed St Lou Fringe from a…
2025 Luminary Awards: Luann Denten
On the surface, the word socialite can sound frivolous. But for those who know how to harness the power of connection, being social can be a superpower—especially when it’s used in service of the community. “Maven of Mardi Gras” Luann Denten has done exactly that. As founder of The Krewe of Vices and Virtues…
2025 Luminary Awards: Q&A With Vivent Health’s Board Chairman Emeritus, Arvan Chan
Whether he’s mapping global growth strategies for companies like Centene Corporation, or speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Arvan Chan brings a rare mix of strategic rigor and social commitment to the healthcare-and-impact sector. Arvan is not just an executive; he is a global thinker, a healthcare strategist, and an advocate for inclusive…
2025 Luminary Awards: Joe Hedley
At 80 years old, beloved bartender Joe Hedley describes the three defining eras of his life as the three legs of a tripod: his time in the US Army, his years in San Francisco at the dawn of the AIDS crisis, and his 14 years at Just John. Though he has received awards from Fair…