There are certain people in St. Louis who seem to possess a rare gift. They have the ability to bring people together. Not just for a party. Not simply for a social gathering. But for a purpose. Kelly Burrell Bagwe is one of those people. She is a successful model, actress, philanthropist, and fixture on the St. Louis social scene. What they may not know is that she dedicates to helping others through her “Premiere with a Purpose” events. Read about the latest when she helps host the “Hairspray” at the Muny.

On any given day, thousands of residents and visitors experience public art, see the Arch illuminated at night, enjoy a playground with their family, or attend a theater performance. Many of those experiences are supported or led by the Gateway Foundation. This year, the Foundation celebrates 40 years of enriching life and culture in the St. Louis area through supporting efforts to acquire, create, and improve tangible, durable, public art and urban design. 

For more than a century, Al’s has stood at the banks of the Mississippi beckoning those who want good food and service. There are multifarious reasons why it is the only local family run restaurant in the same location after a century. From its very beginning, the maven of Al’s, Louise Barroni attracted riverfront dock workers and railroad staff from far and near to the eatery. Her egg sandwiches were a magnet. Then in the 1960s, a fire sheared off the second floor and Al Barroni Jr. took the opportunity to transform Al’s into a fine dining establishment now known worldwide. Celebrities, heads of state, movies stars such as Henry Fonda and Frank Sinatra still have tables there. But “what happens at Al’s, stays at Al’s,” a phrase coined there long before Las Vegas borrowed it. Privacy is valued and is equal to the unparalleled, elegant tableside service and exquisite food. It is a hidden gem of luxury dining in St. Louis many have yet to discover.

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, Father's Day arrives with a fitting reminder that some traditions remain timeless. Since the earliest days of the Republic, beef has occupied a special place on the American table. From frontier cattle drives to the grand steakhouses that emerged in the country's growing cities, steak has long symbolized abundance, achievement, and celebration. It is little wonder, then, that Father's Day consistently ranks among the busiest dining days of the year for America's premier steakhouses such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse near the iconic Gateway Arch and the westward expansion in Chesterfield.

Queer Writes: An Evening of Selections by LGBTQ+ Writers in St. Louis for its fourth consecutive year on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Missouri History Museum. The event is part of the Museum’s Thursday Nights at the Museum series and its Gateway to Pride programming.

Ron Kitchens came home to lead Greater St. Louis, Inc. — and to reimagine what the region can become. As the newly appointed CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., he arrives with a national reputation as a builder of momentum, as someone who doesn’t just attract investment, but reshapes how communities see themselves. Clear-eyed about the scale of the challenge, he is leading by getting rid of the notion of St. Louis competing with where it has been — but with the fastest-growing regions in the country. Read here about his strategy to get us there.

Utilizing a the concept is called holistic defense, for 15 years ArchCity Defenders has started with a simple but radical premise: poor people don't have one problem. They have overlapping problems, and you can't solve one without addressing the others. Lead by Executive Director Blake Stode, the firm has three legal teams — municipal defense, housing and civil rights litigation — along with a social services team, a partnerships and organizing team and a communications team. Learn more about what they do and how they do it here.

The 2026 ALTBALL was the third outing for the alternative music, fashion, drag, and eclectic performance event. Thirty designers created avant-garde, eye-and-soul catching garments that kept the audience mesmerized. The sold-out event packed the Sovereign in the Grand Arts Center District, and raised an impressive $100,000 for an event of its size. All proceeds go to Doorways, a non-profit which provides housing and supportive services for those in our community affected by HIV, illness and poverty.

Set on a major crossway of Ladue, a homeowner built a home in a forest with a second slice of land sandwiched in the middle of it, with a creek meandering through the back of the lot. The homeowner had worked with a trusted trio: architect Susan Bower of Bower Fleet Design, builder Doug Cohen of Douglass Properties and interior designer Matthew Boland of MMB Studio in Scottsdale — the project into their hand again. The result — a house that is cantilevered on a plinth base that seems modest but floats in levels down into the forest. Read more on how they did it.

Tickets go on sale June 1st for the Tennessee Williams Festival’s highly anticipated production on the Tony Award winning play “Appropriate.” From September 17–27, 2026 the Berges Theatre at COCA will light up the night and glow with “The Tennessee Effect,” the massive way in which Williams affected the playwrights of today. The play marks the first time in its eleven years that the Festival will perform a play not written by Williams. “Appropriate” is penned by the Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who is considered by many to be the “heir apparent” to Williams. The play heralds a new era for the Festival in St. Louis.

“On this 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite the community to come together in remembrance of those who lost their lives while serving our country,” said Mark Sundlov, Managing Director of Soldiers Memorial Military Museum. Soldiers Memorial Military Museum will hold its annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 25 at 10:00 AM. This event is free and open to the public. This powerful event honors the memory of America’s fallen service members and includes a wreath-laying ceremony and musical tribute.

Despite a blizzard raging outside in January, the Independence Center sparkled. Nearly 400 people came to the 19th Dancing with the Stars evening held at the Ritz Carlton. By the end of the night more than $555,000 had been raised to support clinical services, community connection, employment opportunities and housing for programs for adults across the region with severe and persistent mental illness. Dancing with the Stars St. Louis is one of the city’s longest-running fundraising traditions — nearly two decades. It has become one of the most highly anticipated fundraising events in the region, and this year was no exception.

The Stranger Than Fiction: Gets A Clue Gala brought all the intrigue of film noir and mystery fiction, with attendees donning their best sleuth attire. More than 430 guests attended and raised $252,000 for St. Louis Public Library. Throughout the evening, attendees could find literary inspired activities such as a clue-inspired mystery game featuring actors from Brickworks Theatre Company. Attendees could also look for red herrings, or sip on one, as the signature cocktail was named after the famous term and created by Tim Wiggins, owner of Extra Wavy, Yellowbelly and Lazy Tiger. Get a clue and you just might find your face inside this article.

On March 28, community and corporate leaders gathered at The Ritz ‑Carlton for the 2026 St. Louis Breakthrough T1D Dream Gala, an elegant evening centered on progress, purpose and hope. Approximately 240 guests attended, which raised an extraordinary $1 million plus  and counting, fueling life‑changing research and advancements for the T1D community. Guests enjoyed a seated dinner‑Carlton, silent and live auctions, a live sweepstakes drawing and a powerful Fund A Cure program. More than a celebration, the evening reflected a collective commitment to accelerating cures and improving lives while honoring the resilience, innovation and progress shaping a brighter future for the Type One Diabetes community.

With record-setting attendance, more than 400 supporters gathered at Energizer Park on May 1 for Hear the Future, St. Louis Public Radio’s annual celebration in support of independent local journalism, the city heard the call. This support comes during what has been a defining year for public media, with challenges including the loss of federal funding. In response to those cuts, community members have stepped up to become members of STLPR, with over 28,000 supporters in total – another record for the station. See how supporters of STlPR lit up the night at the 2026 Hear the Future Gala.

Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST headlines the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival 26th the mainstage production in Forest Park’s Shakespeare Glen. Directed by the Festival’s former artistic director Rick Dildine and featuring Nancy Bell as Prospero, THE TEMPEST, will begin free public performances in Shakespeare Glen on Wednesday, May 27 and run Tuesday - Sunday nights through June 21.

An invitation was sent to St. Louis for the 2026 Three-Sixty Westport Kentucky Derby Soirée, and with it came an unspoken understanding: one does not simply attend—one arrives properly. What awaited atop the Gold Tower at Westport on May 2nd, was not merely a party, but an interpretation—St. Louis’ answer to the pageantry of Churchill Downs. And it was convincing. The details were intentional. As Lodging Hospitality Management Chairman and CEO Bob O’Loughlin has noted, the intention has been clear: to elevate Westport into a premier destination for both visitors and the local community. On Derby Day, one of the crown jewels in the LHM firmament of properties, Three-Sixty Westport, ran for the roses and brought them home.

On April 26, inside the dignified halls of the Missouri History Museum, approximately 150 figures from the arts and cultural community gathered not simply to honor Joan Lipkin, but to affirm the scope of a career that has long extended beyond any single stage, city, or discipline. The occasion: her receipt of the 2026 Margo Jones Medal—an honor bestowed annually upon one citizen-of-the-theatre nationwide. In its 65-year history, it had never before been presented in St. Louis.

Chairman and CEO of Stifel Ronald J. Kruszewski has branded the financial corporation not only in St. Louis with sports teams such as the Cardinals and Blues, but across the globe. With their Stifel Snow Team they caught in Ron’s words, “lightening in a bottle,” by having the name Stifel on everyone’s lips. On a cold night at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy racers drop, carried across the mountain is name repeats: Stifel. For Ron, that moment — quiet, global, unmistakable — is the point. In 2026, not only has Stifel branded itself on the jerseys of the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Cardinals and above the marquee of the Stifel Theatre, it has gone international. Watch the Sophisticated TV interview and read more about the strategy here.

Each day in America, 12 children die from gun violence. Local photographer Lou Bopp recently reverently entered the rooms of some of those children and took hundreds of photos that were made into an Academy Award winning documentary. The piece, “All the Empty Rooms” is now playing on Netflix. Here, we tell the story of how the documentary came to be.

First recognized as a week-long observance in 1978 and expanded to a full month in 1990, May was chosen to commemorate two key moments: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843. It is both a celebration and a correction—an acknowledgment of contributions that were too often overlooked. Their professional presence is significant—spanning medicine, finance, engineering, technology, academia, and entrepreneurship. They are physicians, executives, innovators, and business owners whose economic contributions help drive both local and national growth. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the importance of this recognition only grows.

There are certain holidays that arrive with obligation—and then there are those that arrive with reverence. Mother's Day belongs, unequivocally, to the latter. In St. Louis, the second Sunday in May is not simply marked; it is curated. It is a day when gratitude is translated into beauty, indulgence, and, increasingly, experience. And for the city’s most discerning families, the question is no longer whether to celebrate—but how exquisitely. Because in St. Louis, as in New York City or Paris, sophistication is not defined by how much is spent—but by how thoughtfully it is given. On Sunday in May, 10, 2026 nothing is more luxurious than getting it exactly right.

There are evenings that flirt with glamour—and then there are evenings that fully surrender to it. On Monday, May 4, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis becomes precisely that kind of place: a portal where Midwestern ease meets the intoxicating theater of the Met Gala in New York City. The occasion is The Art of Style—an evening presented by Fashion Group International of St. Louis—and while its invitation is open, its most compelling story is written in the language of VIP. Be there.

If you are reading this, you are the FIRST to see our May/June 2026 issue. In it, we explore how St. Louis continues to leave its imprint on the world stage. Our cover story, “The Rooms That Speak: Lou Bopp and the Art of Photographing Absence,” is a deeply moving piece that will leave a lasting impression on you. It is a poignant look at the creation of a 2026 Oscar-winning documentary by a St. Louis photographer. It is, quite simply, unforgettable. We also take a deep dive into two other St. Louis institutions, the 101-year-old Al’s Restaurant, which was the very definition of fine dining in yesteryear and carries the torch today in St. Louis and beyond. Also read about how Stifel Financial Corporation Chairman and CEO Ronald J. Kruszewski ensures that their brand is carried throughout the nation and the world.

Two resorts in Jackson, Wyoming balance outdoor adventures with indoor pampering — Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole and Teton Mountain Lodge at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Occupying the coveted crest of East Gros Ventre Butte, the adults-only Hotel Yellowstone, is mountain modern, fully capitalizing on seemingly infinite views of the Teton Range with huge expanses of glass. Teton Mountain Lodge offers a serene alpine escape, blending nature's healing power with luxurious amenities, including signature Thai body rituals, a eucalyptus-infused steam room, an infrared sauna, an oxygen bar, and a salt chamber. Both destinations are exceptional getaways.

Aston Martin kicked off its 2026 Experiences program in April. It offers enthusiasts a curated portfolio of exclusive lifestyle and adrenaline-focused track programs, designed to immerse participants in the ultra-luxury world of the iconic British brand. Anchored by the flagship invitation-only ASCEND and UNLEASHED programs, customers and admirers of Aston Martin will have the opportunity to connect with the brand through lighter formats via its Supertours and Supercharged experiences. 

A different kind of supermodel hit the red carpet at the Expo Porte de Versailles in the City of Lights this past January.  Coinciding with the biannual Paris Haute Couture Week, over four days, the 50th annual Rétromobile drew close to 150,000 motoring enthusiasts to this comprehensive lifestyle motoring event.  To mark the milestone, Rétromobile’s official 2026 poster featured BMW’s first Art Car, a BMW 3.0 CSL with graphics designed by Alexander Calder half a century earlier.  Since then, BMW has teamed up with an esteemed roster of artists, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons, to name a few, whose one-of-a-kind works were displayed alongside one another in one of three sprawling halls at Rétromobile.

Hosted by Stifel Chairman and CEO Ron Kruszewski and Amanda Perkins, more than 400 guests gathered for La Notte Bianca, “White Night in Cortina,” inspired by Cortina d’Ampezzo from the 2026 Winter Olympics. Guests embraced the “all white” theme in glamorous style, turning the night into a dazzling alpine celebration. The record-setting event raised $1.375 million to support the athletes of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, who mingled with guests throughout the evening.

The Saint Louis Art Museum’s 2025 gala, Elements: The Alchemist’s Garden, on December 6, was inspired by the monumental exhibition “Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea.” The evening, co-chaired by Lisa R. Carnahan and Brooke Ray, celebrated 40 years of the museum gala and featured an immersive dining experience and high-energy after party where elegance and art converged. Proceeds from the event ensure that world-class exhibitions, transformative programs and unparalleled art experiences continue to inspire the community.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis hosted their 3rd Annual Holiday Benefit. The event brought community, artistry, and festive spirit together for an unforgettable winter celebration supporting St. Louis theatre. This year’s event welcomed Emmy Award–winning actress Britt Lower — star of Apple TV+’s Severance and a proud Midwestern artist with St. Louis roots — who shared stories from her creative journey and reflected on the power of live theatre. Embracing the theme Home for the Holidays, guests enjoyed performances by Broadway star Taylor Louderman, unique auction experiences and exceptional food and drinks, all contributing to raising more than $300,000 to support The Rep’s educational and community programs, world-class productions, and overall presence in St. Louis’ vibrant arts community.