Known for its extravagance and decadence, Dubai inspires immediate awe and wonder. It its midst sits two hotels in what is sometimes called “the city of gold” — Atlantis The Royal, and Atlantis, The Palm. One will feel nothing but relaxed, sipping an ice-cold spritz atop the 22nd floor as the sun sets over the city of Dubai at The Atlantis. At The Palm, rooms with the undersea views beckon. Renowned chef Gordon Ramsey even located one of his premium restaurants at The Palm. The food and lodging at both is nothing less than extraordinary. Be sure to visit once the Middle East settles again. Well worth the trip.

“Don’t feel sorry for us — invest in us.” In a nutshell, this is what Microfinancing Partners in Africa is all about. On Friday, April 24, supporters of the St. Louis-based organization will gather in the Frontenac Hilton’s ballroom to help those who help themselves in a multitude of countries scattered throughout the continent such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Beginning at 5pm, the 20th Annual African Gala marks two decades of steadfast commitment to one of the world’s most pressing challenges: extreme poverty.

Vibrancy was on full display this past January at the bi-annual Paris design fair Maison & Objet. Paris Déco Off ran parallel to the fair. It is an annual premier international interior often dubbed the “Fashion Week” for the interiors design industry. It brings together top-tier fabric houses, wallpaper designers, and trimmings manufacturers to showcase their newest collections. About 2,300 brands from more than 60 countries were represented. Flocking to this global stage, industry leaders can identify the zeitgeist, discover material innovations and new talent. They explore the dialogue between tradition and modernity in design, and find unique pieces that lend authenticity to a space. 

Oh, that glorious sunshine! Warmer days are here and that means spring cocktails. Hallelujah! Self-proclaimed “Cocktail Evangelist”, Jennifer Brian, explores new versions of that refreshing cocktail — The Spritz. Here she takes a look at fresh takes on mocktails and lower-ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails, for those wanting something new that feels like a treat without being heavy or high-proof.

Ever wonder how the country’s largest park grew up in St. Louis. A new children’s book, “How Forest Park Was Made”, tells you how in picture and illustration. Forest Park has grown to be the crown jewel of St. Louis. Can you imagine Forest Park without the Saint Louis Zoo? What about the Art Museum or The Muny or the Jewel Box? Journey through time to see how all your favorite Forest Park destinations first came to be. The book is primarily written for children, but kids from 1 through 99 will enjoy it.

Experience the Robot Renaissance at City Museum in St. Louis now through May 31st. The museum exhibit coincides with the VEX Robotics World Championships at the the America’s Center Convention complex, which runs through the April 30th. These particular, peculiar robots are built with everyday objects by St. Louis artists Bill Christman and Dave Rudis. Guests can visit the Robot Renaissance exhibit at the Beatnik Bob's section of the museum.

Step into Kentucky Derby Day in a new way.

Fly 12 stories high onto the rooftop of the Gold Tower at Westport. Billed as the Skyline Stakes Soirée, this party guarantees an afternoon of racing-inspired revelry — it is truly unique. Where else can you watch “the most exciting two minutes in sports” with the in-crowd?

No where else can you ride in a private glass-enclosed elevator to a Derby event in St. Louis.

No where else can you see panoramic views 30-miles in each direction of St. Louis.

No where else can you sip on fine cocktails, gorge on a sumptuous buffet, and socialize with the St. Louis elite in true Derby fashion high in the sky.

Details here on Saturday, May 2nd, a day you will remember long after race day is done.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra just announced details of its May and June 2026 concerts, which include concerts across several genres and collaborations with award-winning artists. In addition to previously announced concerts, the SLSO has added performances that span musical styles from country to Americana and two nights of music accompanying animation. Concerts include additions to the SLSO’s Powell Hall Presents, a presentation series that showcases Powell Hall’s beauty in bold ways across genres. Take a look at what’s happening the rest of spring and all summer long.

The saying never ages. It’s a classic. And so are HATS by DI-Anne. Dianne Isbell, nationally award-winning milliner, has something new on her bonnet. In fact, it’s not for your head at all. Think lower. Think neckwear. Think DI’s Ties. Think a new fashion accessory collection. They will brighten up your spring and summer looks. DI’s Ties are a collection of one-of-a-kind Ladies Tie Necklaces. They are quickly becoming the latest craze in fashion available from Dianne and at April’s On Main, in Saint Charles.

From Kitchen to Corner Office is an upcoming event hosted by the St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Network on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Held at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex in Creve Coeur, the event will bring together chefs and restaurant founders shaping St. Louis’s culinary landscape, with some growing their concepts both locally and nationally, for a candid conversation about leadership, growth, and the journeys that define success. Panelists include Gerard Craft, Tamara Keefe, Kevin Nashan, and Ben Poremba.

Hundreds of dog lovers will gather at Gateway Arch National Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026, for Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s annual Arch Bark presented by Purina to celebrate sustainability in action and the ongoing mission to nurture thriving spaces where pets and people flourish together. The annual event is the ideal place for St. Louis dog lovers to explore the Foundation’s mission to preserve 91 acres of parkland in the heart of downtown from 10am - 2pm.

Missouri History Museum in Forest Park will host St. Louis’ largest celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a four-day festival April 30 through May 3 featuring live music, classic car displays, family activities, film screenings and talks exploring the complex history of the Mother Road, which has multiple historic routes across the region. The festival reflects the Museum’s broader civic storytelling initiative, I Am St. Louis, which invites residents to explore the history that connects the region’s past with its present. The long weekend celebration kicks off on Thursday, April 30 - Sunday, May 3.

After decades in traditional Fair Oaks houses, Marlene and Jake Wilson moved to a new build in Huntleigh – then proceeded to make it entirely their own. They purchased the 12,000-sq.-ft. home in October 2024 that was built four years earlier. The five-bedroom house is undeniably impressive. Designed by Schaub Projects, it boasted all the bells and whistles of modern construction. But for Marlene, who gravitates toward an eclectic style and the character of older homes, the pristine spaces fell short. With the help of designer April Jensen and architect Paul Fendler, she made the home their own.

Spring. Ah, glorious spring. The parties. The food. The activities. St. Louis loves the warm weather. We embrace it. There is so much to do here. We all want to live our lives like they are golden. The stores glimmer throughout the metropolis like flowers on a sunny day. The restaurants and bars across the St. Louis area are welcoming guests back outdoors with vibrant patio spaces, seasonal menus, and warm-weather specials. From sunny brunch spots to lively happy hours and sunset dinners, patio season offers locals and visitors new ways to enjoy the city's most beloved destinations. From Passover, to Easter, to Derby Day and Earth Day, and of course, Mother’s Day, St. Louis in the spring is magical. Drink it up!

The STL Jewish Light presents the 3rd Annual Passover Project at City Winery St. Louis on Wednesday, April 8th at 7pm. The Passover Project is an annual interactive, musical alternative seder. It features the Brothers Lazaroff and various local artists. Created by St. Louis Jewish Light Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman, it blends traditional seder elements with music, poetry, and special menu items, acting as a "friend raiser" for Jewish journalism.

In St. Louis, Route 66 is not nostalgia. It’s geography. As Route 66 marks its centennial in 2026, St. Louis finds itself not at the margins of the celebration, but at its emotional center. From here, the Mother Road, crossed the heartland, climbed deserts and mountains and eventually reached the Pacific Ocean. One hundred years later, the centennial lets St. Louisans see familiar streets as the opening chapter of one of America’s most enduring stories. Here, explore the “Mother Road” of America.

When the envelopes are opened at the 50th anniversary ceremony of the prestigious Olivier Awards on April 12th, Jack Lane may join the ranks of other famous producers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats ), Mel Brooks (The Producers), Matthew Bourne (Swan Lake), Sonia Friedman (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and Cameron Mackintosh (Les Misérables). Lane co-founded STAGES St. Louis in 1987, and is now a famous multi-Tony Award wining Broadway producer. Best known in St. Louis for bringing the pre-Broadway premier of The Karate Kid, The Musical to the STAGES St. Louis before it became big hit, he now stands to receive international acclaim.

Bill Edwards — a civil engineer turned teacher — and his students have been constructing a tiny home since last year. It is a two-year project funded by the Ladue Education Foundation. Students from the Ladue Horton Watkins High School expect to complete the micro-home this May. The goal of the program is not just building, and performing tasks that in bygone years would have been called “shop class,” but to also teach teenagers critical thinking skills, peer, collaboration, and facilitate social and emotional development.

Out of smoke comes fire. The new Mainlander Restaurant in the Central West End is indeed on fire. After it was gutted by a fire in 2022, Mainlander has moved a few blocks north and now occupies the far bigger space at 392 Euclid. You loved it the first time. You’ll love it even more now. The vibe is part-Brady Bunch family room and part “Mad Men” slink. It’s dark, but what low light there is catches on a row of jewel-like candy dishes. Kitschy cocktails and its menu of glorious multifarious foods come from the owners. Blake Askew has German roots and a deep knowledge of French culinary techniques, which meld into a delightful fusion with co-owner Gordon Chen’s Taiwanese influences. Read more and see their amazing food here.

Saint Louis Fashion Fund, a leading voice and advocate for the St. Louis fashion industry, has announced a “Call for Submissions” for its Second Annual Susan Sherman Fashion Scholarship program and invites college/university students - freshmen, sophomores, juniors and-seniors – who are Missouri residents and attending a school with a fashion/business-related sequence to apply. To learn more about the 2026 Susan Sherman Fashion Scholarship or to enter a scholarship application submission, visit: saintlouisfashionfund.org/scholarship

Kevin Lemp and 4Hands Brewing redefined what a St. Louis Brewery can be. Few brands in St. Louis have embedded themselves into the emotional fabric of the city quite like the innovative brewery. At the center of it all is founder Kevin Lemp, whose path into craft brewing was anything but traditional. His forward thinking business plan, innovative beverages, and his team — particularly longtime collaborator Andy Burgio, whose fingerprints are on every new beer, have propelled the Midwest into the nationwide explosion of small-batch breweries. Drink up to the many hands who have embedded 4Hands into the civic pride of the city.

Patricia Racette officially assumed the role of Artistic Director of Opera Theatre Saint Louis last fall, and the 2026 Festival Season already bears her unmistakable imprint: bold without being brash, welcoming without being diluted and unafraid of emotional truth. It is a season that signals continuity and change — and Racette is clear-eyed about the responsibility that comes with that balance. Find out more about her path to the position and plans for the town’s premier opera theater group.

As we all know, St. Louis is a baseball town with an historic franchise, the St. Louis Cardinals. As the new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom strives to get the storied team back to their roots as an organization. Bloom sees a franchise not in need of reinvention, but one in need of reconnection to its own legacy as an innovator. To recognize the reality of where the team is now and then be smart and strategic about how to get where the organization where it should be is his goal. Read the article and watch the 10-minute Sophisticated TV-St. Louis interview to get a glimpse into how Chaim is helping the team reclaim its place in baseball history one base at a time.

Just in time for Passover season, which starts on April 1st, The 31st Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival returns March 15–26, 2026. The thought provoking films will be shown at B&B Theatres in Creve Coeur and one at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema City Foundry in St. Louis. For six days, audiences will be brought together to experience powerful storytelling, conversation, and community through international cinema. The festival will present twelve films from around the world, including documentaries, dramas, and comedies that explore Jewish identity, resilience, memory, and the universal human experience.

On the cover of our 2026 Spring issue is Chaim Bloom, the new President of Baseball Operations for the St. Louis Cardinals. He replaces John Mozeliak and is tasked with breathing new life into to the once mighty St. Louis Cardinals. Craig Kaminer sits down with him in a revelatory interview found ONLY on Sophisticated TV St. Louis, which underscores the story Craig authored. Like our entire March/April issue, we continue the long-established custom of bringing you the exclusive, the new, the now — things that affect you in the ever-changing landscape that is St. Louis. Read the article for excerpts from the issue, as well as ways to “play ball” with ways to rediscover St. Louis old and new.

From the sleek lines of a vintage Ferrari to the mighty roar of a muscle car, car museums around the world serve as temples to automotive history, showcasing a captivating blend of engineering, design, and cultural impact. These institutions range from sprawling national collections to specialized, privately-run havens, each offering a unique journey through the evolution of the automobile and its influence on modern society. Vroom Vroom with us around the globe.

From THE DOLLI to Judith Leiber’s Couture Collection of exquisite bags, Sophisticated Living takes a look here at some fashion forward looks which with you may want to round out your collection of couture clutches.

Sited directly on Healdsburg, California’s bustling square, The Healdsburg Inn (formerly the former Hotel Le Mars, a 20-year-old French chateau-inspired property) reopened this past summer as 27 North, offering outsized amenities for a 16-room boutique property. In addition to enjoying the lux inn, you can amply fill an afternoon or two perusing clothing, home and jewelry boutiques, tasting rooms, restaurants, and art galleries as well as 425 wineries in Sonoma County. Travel with us there.

Vitamin String Quartet is one of the most popular string ensembles in the world. Erasing the boundaries between classical, dance, hip-hop and pop, VSQ performs spellbinding renditions of everything from Billie Eilish to BTS, Taylor Swift to The Weeknd, and Danny Elfman to Daft Punk. Praised by the likes of Buzzfeed, The New York Times, Consequence of Sound, Nerdist and more, VSQ has garnered over 2 billion streams and numerous Billboard chartings since its inception. VSQ can also be heard in numerous hit shows, including Netflix’s “Bridgerton”, HBO’s “Westworld,” and ABC’s “Modern Family.” See them live on March 11th at the Sheldon.

True Caliber's introduction of the color of the year, Espresso, propels the brand into a new era of dark neutrals. Launching at the 2026 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, the new finish is a deep, full-bodied brown that exudes a rich, velvet-matte warmth. Whether anchored in a sleek indoor bar or a sun-drenched outdoor kitchen, Espresso brings a refined sense of quiet luxury to True Caliber's full suite of refrigeration curated custom finish now allows designers and homeowners a choice of 96 alluring color combinations.