Say goodbye to 2025 and hello to a brand new year with this selection of family-friendly and grown-up special events throughout St. Louis. From West County to the Downtown St. Louis folks will be ringing in 2026 in style. Whether you’ve got little ones who want to celebrate at 12pm or you want to party till 12am, we’ve curated a list of special ways to do it. Happy New Year, everyone. May it be the best year yet.

The recent release of St. Louis Parks, 2nd Edition by NiNi Harris and Esley Hamilton is an exploration of how dedicated green spaces in the St. Louis have flourished and spread throughout the region since its founding. St. Louisans are rich with the gifts they have inherited from their civic ancestors. Foremost among these gifts are the public parks—city parks, county parks, state parks, and the Gateway Arch National Park. Although it is winter, the parks are still thriving with activity. Take a trip here.

The age-old question is here next week — What is there to do in St. Louis between Christmas and New Year’s?? What is there to do for winter break?? We’ve pulled together a mix of can’t-miss St. Louis activities perfect for families, students home from school, and anyone looking for indoor activities to escape the cold. Here’s a list of fun things to do for Winter Break 2025.

Missouri is now entering its third year of adult-use cannabis, joining a growing list of states where legal access has reshaped how people connect and celebrate. Cannabis is no longer relegated to counterculture – it’s become a modern lifestyle choice, embraced by professionals and wellness-minded consumers alike. No longer does holiday entertaining only revolve around a familiar ritual: a cocktail poured, a wine uncorked, a toast raised. Today, those celebrations are evolving. Cannabis continues its steady move into the mainstream, edibles and tinctures are emerging as a sophisticated, intentional alternative for adults 21 and over.

Just in time for Hanukkah 2025, the St. Louis Jewish Community Center (the J) successfully hosted it’s annual J’la gala at the Factory in Chesterfield, with a record-breaking 550 guests and over $600,000 raised. The gala honored Jane Tzinberg Rubin for decades of service on both the St Louis and North American JCC Boards, and Ken Rubin for his leadership role with local organizations the support the St Louis J. 

2026 is on the horizon, and many high-end St. Louis destinations will help you ring in the new year in style. From all-inclusive events, to sit-down prix fixe menu experiences, celebrate New Year’s Eve & Day with Champagne toasts, raw bars, prix fixe menus, and more at places ranging from the glamorous Ritz Carlton’s Lobby Lounge, to None of the Above, the speakeasy-style cocktail lounge located underground at City Foundry STL.

Privé Padel has brought the global movement of padel to America’s Heartland. Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Watch a match, and it's easy to see why: It's a frenetic pace with balls bouncing off the walls and players running everywhere. It’s a fusion of tennis, squash, and pickleball. Most padel courts are outdoors, such as the one at the Montauk Yacht Club on Long Island in the town of East Hampton. There is one indoor padel court at Padel + Pickleball Club in Olivette, MO. There are plans afoot by Privé Padel to pepper St. Louis and the Midwest with more courts.

Recently, two luxury concept cars were introduced to the world. Milan, Audi unveiled its Concept C, an all-electric, athletic, and minimalist two-seat sports car. Bentley Motors also launched its concept car, the EXP 15. See for yourself here the majesty of both of these fine motor conveyances in both still photographs and video. Find out why Audi and Bentley are providing a glimpse into the future of motoring.

While we are all scrambling to get our holiday decor, shopping, and menus together, what is on our bar doesn’t need to be an added stress. A few versatile spirits and mixers can transform your bar from a disorganized mess into a curated work of beverage art. Jennifer Brian, the self-proclaimed Cocktail Evangelist released her first book, Classic Cocktail Revival, this past September. Learn about tips here to create a home bar and drinks to ensure a happy holiday for all.

‘Tis the season for… GIVING. It’s time to open your pocketbooks and give back to those less fortunate. On December 2nd, St. Louis and the world did just that by celebrating #GivingTuesday 2025, the global day of unity and giving. If you didn't get a chance to help out on Giving Tuesday a similar way to help is through our Sophisticated Giving program. It is a conduit for the year-round spirit of giving in St. Louis and in sister cities where Sophisticated Living is published.If you are a subscriber, your 2026 register will land on your doorstep packaged along with your January/February issue of Sophisticated Giving.

The clock is ticking toward the end of 2025. Although precious few days remain there are still some ways that you can take advantage of the time that you have to save megabucks when it’s time to file in 2026. Although it may be true that you do have until April 15, 2026 for some things, with others you have until December 31, 2025. Following are some ways that you can take advantage of laws old and new brought to you by the Missouri Historical Society.

About 800 people attended Saint Louis Fashion Fund's annual "Speaking of Fashion" speaker series - in partnership with Washington University in St. Louis and Caleres - featuring globally acclaimed fashion designer Carolina Herrera Creative Director Wes Gordon The nationally recognized speaker series has featured American fashion legends such as Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenberg and the late André Leon Talley. There was also a special guest appearance by Supermodel, Super Entrepreneur and former St. Louisan Karlie Kloss.

Jim Slattery has had his own restoration, furniture design and fabrication business called Gilders Tip for almost 40 years. He is a master gilder, sign writer, and expert at the art of gold leafing. He creates impossibly beautiful precious metal into frames, signage, tabletops and liturgical furnishings. Learn more about his craft and his story here.

MR. BLUE SKY‍ ‍plays tribute to the Electric Light Orchestra, one of the greatest bands of the 1970’s and ‘80’s on Saturday, December 13th. They create all the majestic splendor that is the music of ELO, as the band was known. With a Focus on the band’s hits from the 70s, 80s and latest records, and mixing in selective deep cuts, Mr. Blue Sky produces the ultimate ELO experience. Whether you knew them back then, or want to discover the band that sold over 50-million albums worldwide, this concert will be a gift to your senses for the holidays.

More than 100 guests attended a special fundraiser on the Opening Night of Broadway's sensational hit "The Notebook, The Musical" at the Fabulous Fox. The event raised more than $30,000 benefiting three nonprofits - Memory Home Care Solutions, The Caregiver Club and Alzheimer's Association of Greater Missouri - to help raise awareness and vital funding to find a cure for dementia. See highlights from the evening here.

Brandon Benack, Truffles Restaurant’s long time executive chef, a master of hand-rolled pasta, is now making house calls. He shows up to your house looking like he's about to commit a crime. He’s got a gun case slung over his shoulder and a massive cutting board tucked under his arm. Fear not. That case holds his collection of antique pasta-making tools. That cutting board becomes the stage for the resurrection of centuries-old Italian pasta traditions that most people have never seen. He is the “pasta assassin.”

From ragtime and jazz to civil rights and community life, Mill Creek’s legacy comes alive through never-before-seen images and stories when the Missouri History Society unveils its Mill Creek: Black Metropolis exhibit, A Journey Into a Lost Community’s Legacy at the Missouri History Museum. It will run from November 15, 2025, through July 12, 2026. Focused on the remarkable, powerful, richly textured neighborhood, the exhibition will restore the long-silenced story of Mill Creek Valley, a dynamic, vast African American neighborhood that was erased yet never forgotten.

Hearth & Soul kicked off the holidays with the reveal of its fourth annual holiday window. The debut of a life-size advent calendar happens every year and brings to life a different theme bringing the community together to take part. Reminiscent of the iconic New York style window displays, Peace on Earth came to life sending an important message of the importance of community, unity, and harmony. Daily drawings each day will bring joy throughout the month of December.

This fall, fashion designer Shanna Britta hosted MUSE at the iconic 21C Museum Hotel St. Louis, where guests savored a four-course gourmet meal as couture creations moved through the gallery like living works of art. Surrounded by art installations on The Future is Female, the evening was designed to awaken every sense - taste, touch, sight, sound and smell. For her, couture means not something distant or untouchable, but something deeply personal and profoundly luxurious. For Britta, fashion is not about what you wear, it’s about how you feel.

Hearth & Soul St. Louis CEO and Founder Susie Busch-Transou will unveil her fourth annual window on Monday, November 3rd from 5:00-7:00pm. Entitled Peace on Earth, the window is inspired by the universally embraced sentiment during the holidays - symbolizing unity, goodwill, reflection and hope. It reminds us to pause, reflect and experience the season’s deeper meaning.

Celebrated, Grammy nominated legend Marilyn Maye comes to St. Louis will perform a musical tribute to Johnny Carson, the King of Late Night, on Wednesday November 19th, 7 pm at The Sheldon Concert Hall in the Grand Arts Center in St. Louis. Marilyn Maye was called a "Super-Singer" by Johnny Carson himself and appeared on The Tonight Show 76 times - a show record for singers! 2025 marks the centennial of Carson’s birth and Marilyn returns to St. Louis for a don’t-miss-one-night-only musical tribute to her years singing for Johnny.

Soon we will be singing Auld Lang Syne as we say farewell to 2025. Throughout 2025, we’ve shared with you the good life, both near and far. We are the region’s leading luxury lifestyle omnichannel publication. From print, to digital, to social media, we make sure that you have your finger on the pulse. Let’s take a look back at 2025 through the lens of our issues of the last 10 months, and say hello to our newly-minted November/December issue, which will be available soon.

Saint Louis Fashion Fund, a nonprofit and long-recognized face and voice of fashion for the St. Louis Region, has named Brian Bristow to its Board of Directors. Brian will serve as the Fund’s Finance Chairman. Brian managed multimillion-dollar partnerships for global brands like Amazon, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom and will bring those skills to the table in his new board position with the storied organization leading the fashion charge in St. Louis.

The Gateway Outdoor Summit kicks off the Gateway Outdoor Expo + Summit 2025, a weekend celebration designed to inspire, educate, and unite people of all backgrounds in outdoor recreation. While the Summit focuses on industry stakeholders and leaders, the Expo will open to the public November 15th and 16th with 165+ exhibitors, hands-on activities, live entertainment, and presentations in the Basecamp area on the show floor.

Magnatone may not be a household name today, but for connoisseurs of rock, blues and vintage tone, the brand is steeped in near-mythical status. First founded in Los Angeles around 1937, Magnatone was once a thriving American manufacturer. The company became known for its stylish, high-fidelity amps. In 2013, Magnatone CEO Ted Kornblum began building new amplifiers in a dedicated St. Louis facility and resurrected the brand. Magnatone’s artist roster has quietly expanded to include Slash, Neil Young, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, and Brandi Carlile. Learn more about how he made high fidelity music again play in the industry.

The 22nd annual Art of PAWS & People, presented by Purina, returns Saturday, November 1 at The Gatsby Ballroom at The Alverne. The beloved fundraiser pairs art, pets, and purpose to raise critical funds for Vivent Health’s Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program, ensuring that people living with HIV in St. Louis never have to choose between caring for their own health and keeping their beloved pets. Learn more and see pics of past PAWS galas here. Tickets now on sale at artofpawsandpeople.com.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is known nationwide for their excellent service and food, but some may not know it for its unique appetizer menu and broad selection of fine wines. Here, we explore the Ruth’s Chris experience in an evening of wine pairings with delectable starters as only Ruth’s Chris can do them.

St. Louis might be a relatively small market, but it has garnered national attention as a foodie destination. Many restaurants and purveyors here have been recognized by esteemed organizations like the James Beard Foundation, Food & Wine Magazine, and Food Network. If you’re a curious culinarian looking to further your flavor adventures, then let food writer Matt Sorrell help you discover some of the high points in St. Louis’s vibrant culinary landscape with St. Louis Food Story: Bars, Restaurants, Shops, and Other Purveyors, by Matt Sorrell.

Tower Grove Park’s 21st Annual Martinis at the Mansion was a tremendous success! Held on Friday, October 10, the event brought together more than 180 guests for an unforgettable evening celebrating and supporting the Park’s mission to preserve its beauty and history for generations to come. Thanks to the generosity of their sponsors, attendees, and donors, the event raised over $52,000 to support Tower Grove Park’s ongoing preservation and community programs.