The World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries, the leading chess cultural center in the country, will present “Charles Houska: Master of Play,” a joyful and colorful retrospective celebrating the vibrant, whimsical world of Charles “Charlie” Houska—one of Saint Louis’s most beloved and iconic pop artists. This unique collection reflects his lifetime cannon of work, and will be on view from May 1, 2025, through April 5, 2026. This exhibition marks the artist’s 60th birthday and the 25th anniversary of his Central West End-based Houska Gallery.

The Fashion Group International Saint Louis presents THE red carpet fashion event of the year! Join them at the Ritz-Carlton Solarium for a watch party of the Met Gala held live in NYC on Monday, May 5th. This year’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” honoring the museum’s exhibition, which will highlight the archetype of the Black Dandy. The FGI Met Gala Watch Party runs from 5:30-9:30pm. Learn about the party and background on the gala itself.

Parents can now feel safer each time their child or teen picks up a mouse, types on a keyboard, or commands a game controller or joystick. Once they enter the world of online video gaming, they are exposed to possible threats. Youth engaging in esports in the St. Louis region and beyond can now have the unparalleled protection of Kidas' AI-powered ProtectMe technology at Contender Esports.

Although Earth Day 2025 is officially Tuesday, April 22nd, many people are working or in school. So Earth Day Weekend is the is the time to honor the planet and all the ways to sustain it. Celebrate the earth this year at the river’s bend in Alton at Old Bakery Beer Company on Saturday, April 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. More than 30 regional vendors and earth lovers with gather for an afternoon filled with live music, environmental education, earth-friendly retailers, a native plant sale, great food and drinks, and more.

One Cardinal Way epitomizes downtown luxury living. No expense has been spared to create an unparalleled living environment for residents—whether they’re here full-time or seeking a home away from home. See here how the iconic Gateway Arch and the steady flow of the mighty Mississippi on one side, while Busch Stadium and a sprawling cityscape stretch as far as the eye can see, offering breathtaking 360-degree views from its apartment homes.

Dog lovers are invited to join the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Purina at Gateway Arch National Park on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the bond between pets and their owners with a group dog walk, fun activities, entertainment, and enjoying stunning views and iconic surroundings of Gateway Arch National Park. Learn more.

Orchestrated by global who's who in the worlds of architecture, culinary, and interior design, two recently opened luxury hotels demonstrate the staying power of the Eternal City. ROMEO Roma is situated within a historically significant 16th-century palazzo on Via di Ripetta, and Casa Monti, a 5-star boutique hotel that opened last summer are worth a trip to Rome.

Porsche adds a new Carrera S to the 911 lineup for the 2025 model year. The 911 Carrera S is available in both Coupé and Cabriolet versions. It bridges the gap between the 911 Carrera and the more performance-oriented 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid. See the new additions to the storied brand of luxury automobiles here.

Spring 2025 is in full swing. Soon April showers will bring May flowers. That means that St. Louisans will come out of hibernation and start buzzing like butterflies across the metro. Spread your wings and catch spring fever with our annual Sophisticated Guide to Spring. Ready, set, go! Watch the sophisticated rainbow that is St. Louis show off its myriad of colors here.

2025 brought a trio of highlights from the global tradeshow in Las Vegas to the world of luxury motoring. Following its exhibition at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Italdesign brought its Quintessenza concept to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas. Aptera Motors unveiled its Launch Edition, a solar electric vehicle equipped with 700 watts of integrated solar cells. To round out the trio The BMW Group presented its new BMW iDrive – complete with its centerpiece, BMW Panoramic Vision. See more.

The Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis continues its Streetcar & Beyond 10th Anniversary Season with the second of many events to celebrate the milestone season. Famed author and scholar Tom Mitchell will sign copies of his book, Early Stories by Tennessee Williams at 6pm on Wednesday, April 2, at Left Bank Books in the Central West End.

Recently, our publisher, Craig Kaminer, welcomed his firstborn grandchild into the world. Here he contemplates the significance of this milestone event. He says that, “Becoming a grandparent is a milestone of a different kind. It feels less about achievement and more about legacy, connection, and love. It’s about witnessing life’s beautiful, continuous cycle and embracing the joy of watching it unfold anew.” Read more.

The Gateway Arch National Park and Gateway Arch Park Foundation are having a ribbon-cutting and programming to celebrate the reopening of the Park’s historic Old Courthouse, following only the second major renovation in the building’s history, the Old Courthouse will reopen its doors on May 3, 2025, ushering in a new era of accessibility, educational programming, and community engagement. Learn more.

From St. Louis To Cooperstown: Legends Born and Made in the Gateway City, tells the stories of some of St. Louis's most beloved players. These collective stories go beyond the individual and record-setting careers that made each a Hall of Famer. Walk through the chronology of baseball history and the moments each player had on their roads to Cooperstown. Pre orders are now being taken.

Celebrating its 25th year, the Shakespeare Festival unveils its 2025 season, including a joint venture with the Saint Louis Zoo. Through the years, the Festival has welcomed upwards of 50,000 people to the park for its summer shows, making it the largest free outdoor Shakespeare Festival between either coast. In 2025, big things are planned when you schlep your picnic basket to Forest Park’s Shakespeare Grove for an evening of free theater under the stars with fellow lovers of The Bard.

Industry projections show the gourmet and specialty markets industry will top $12.4 billion in the coming year. Local chefs and restaurateurs are cashing in. Many of the area’s high-end grocers and specialty markets aren’t new, but rather solo extensions of existing St. Louis restaurants, providing customers with specialty items and menu favorites. There are some new players on the scene. Read about them, their shops, and their wares.

Spring has sprung — officially. Time to break out! Get out! Spring break is not just for college kids. After all, as a grownup you have the means for more refined escapades. St. Louis residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy a well-deserved escape. Boasting sun-drenched beaches, charming coastal towns, buzzing city escapes, award-winning dining and world-class attractions, Florida destinations offer the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure for spring break just a short flight away.

Recently, Gent Men's Fashion Week celebrated its 10-year anniversary with over 300 attendees and an explosive runway show, featuring 24 designers and over 100 pieces on the catwalk. This year’s show introduced the Blue Jacket Segment, dedicated to raising awareness for men’s prostate health. Doctors and patients took to the runway wearing custom-made blue jackets, created by local designers—many of whom are members of Fashion Group International St. Louis, which played a key role in curating this impactful show. Take a look.

A 62 acre lot outside Millstadt, Illinois, became the place where Kevin Voges had his proverbial dream home built. He picked a peninsula jutting straight onto the lake on which to put his Modern Mountain dwelling. The house was all about designing for the land. Designed by architect Dave Schaub and decorated by Amy McCoy of McCoy Design Studio, the lakeview fantasy sailed and is now reality. See more here.

The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail encompasses three principal wine regions: Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and Marlborough in New Zealand. Together, these regions account for over eighty percent of the country's wine production and provide wine enthusiasts access to 230 wineries and 120 cellar doors. This 240-mile, sign-posted self-guided journey is ideal for a five to ten-day trip. A myriad accommodation options to suit every traveler, from luxury lodges and boutique B&Bs to serviced apartments and historic cottages. Take a trip with us here.

In its 30th season, the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival returns to its new home at the B&B Theatres in Creve Coeur for two weeks of cinema excellence from March 30 – April 8, 2025. Dramas, documentaries, comedies, and an October 7 retrospective highlight the six-day, 13-film schedule. Full details on the powerhouse season as well as movie trailers here.

St. Louis is the city of the 3 1 4.  And 314 Day, March 14th, is the special day that we celebrate all things St. Louis. 314 Day was created by Terrell “Young Dip” Evans and Tatum Polk in 2006 with the goal to bolster St. Louis spirit and support. 19 years later, the regional holiday is more robust than ever, with metro area business, restaurants, cultural institutions, and more offering their own twists on the festivities. Other than an Arch tram ride, chatting with the gathered South City crowd on Chippewa with a cup of Ted Drewes, going to The Hill for some toasted ravioli, ordering some Imo’s for delivery, or watching the Cards on TV during a spring training game, here are some ways to celebrate the holiday…

After a phenomenal debut season in 2023, St. Louis CITY SC struggled in 2024. The new gaffer, Olof Mellberg, is charged with reversing that tide. He comes to St. Louis with five years of experience as a head coach, primarily in Sweden. During his four seasons there he consistently demonstrated an ability to get the best out of his team, improve young players and deliver results above expectations. The team, franchise, and entire city is psyched for what lies ahead.

As the days gradually lengthen, we look forward to warmer days ahead, but not before partaking in a final schuss in slushy late-spring snow.  Take a fantasy trip with us to the Alps and imagine wearing Blackbough Swim, which stylishly straddles the seasons with its latest Après Ski Collection, representing a fresh take on snow-inspired swimwear for the ultimate winter-into-spring getaways. See for yourself here.

Celebrated worldwide this year on Saturday, March 8, International Women’s History Day is celebrated in the middle of March, which is Women’s History Month. The month is dedicated to women’s achievements in social, economic, cultural, and political realms. On March 8, women across the globe stand proudly and metaphorically cry the anthem that singer Helen Reddy made famous in the 1970’s — “I Am Woman.” Learn about the origins of the day and month of the woman.

Famed fine art publisher Robert Lococo stands next to his recent gift to the Saint Louis Art Museum in an immaculate peacock blue Tom Ford suit. The suit (and similarly “peacock” alligator shoes) went extremely well with the very large, very red painting on the wall behind him. That painting –“Coca-Cola Girl 25”–is part of artist Alex Katz’s “Coca-Cola Girls” series. Take a journey with us and find out why his prints hang in galleries worldwide.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel "The Great Gatsby" turns 100 this year. To commemorate, Clementine's Naughty & Nice Ice Creamery has created four new flavors themed to the book. These indulgent treats were certainly something Gatsby, Daisy and Nick would have loved in the sweltering heat on Long Island and in NYC. In addition, The Hi-Pointe movie theater will be showing the 2013 film "The Great Gatsby" on March 16 along with a meet-up with the Novel Neighbor book club. Enjoy some liquor-spiked or virgin ice cream while you celebrate the charming bootlegger. Details here.

Regardless of if you have ever been to Florence and Tuscany, our newly launched Sophisticated Traveler is in-depth 7-night experience is intended for motivated travelers who want to learn more, see more and experience more of Florence with Florentine experts than they have in the past. Travelers will have a choice of 4- or 5-star accommodations, access to the best tour guides, and experiences that no tour of Florence can offer. The maiden voyage is October 2025. Email Craig Kaminer at craig@slmag.net to book your spot.

The “We Are St. Louis” is both a movement and 36-million-dollar capital campaign announced on the St. Louis City’s 261st birthday on February 14, 2025. The campaign is The Missouri Historical Society’s commitment to showcasing the diverse tapestry of stories that make St. Louis unique. It strives to create an understanding of the rich past of the city so it can better shape its future. Learn more here about how the tapestry was woven for 261 years and plans to continue to unfurl its threads for decades down the road ahead.

We are in the home stretch till Spring 2025 is OFFICIALLY HERE on Thursday, March 20th, when the Spring Equinox hits. To herald the big day, the Sophisticated Living March/April issue will soon hit your doorsteps. Drip, drip, drip online or through social media, articles like the feature on world-renowned fine art publisher and St. Louis’ own Robert Lococo will dazzle you. Read all about how the news of St. Louis CITY SC Olof Mellberg being selected as their new head coach is rippling across the soccer world like a thunderclap. Help herald the 25th anniversary of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. Preview the new issue here.