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, at B&B Theatres in Creve Coeur with six days of international cinema that brings audiences together through powerful storytelling, conversation, and community. 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.

Take a trip back to yesteryear when the typewriter was the essential tool for literature, business, and personal use. Typosphere, a vintage typewriter museum and art gallery on Cherokee Antique Row in St. Louis, is your portal. Every third and fourth Saturday of the month, visitors can take a trip back in time by using vintage typewriters with workshops conducted by founder Louise Lawler and renowned St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Elaine Anderson. Hop into a “type” machine to use these relics of the past that echo the paperless keyboards still in use today.

Experience a tropical, warm climate year-round, with average outdoor high temperatures consistently in the 80’s. It’s just what the doctor ordered when St. Louis temps range 24 and 45 in the winter months. Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club sits on the island of Anguilla and embodies the Caribbean at its finest. It is rife with vibrant tropical colors and textures, evoking balmy breezes, soft white beaches, temperate waters, and exotic fruit beverages to savor. Journey with us. Better yet, pack your bags and get on over there.

Flowers. Chocolates. Cannabis. Yes, cannabis. Though recreational marijuana has been legal in Missouri for a few years now, many have not discovered the many ways THC has evolved since the days of “Reefer Madness”. There is still a stigma and most people don’t want to walk around smelly like a stoner…yet they still want the positive benefits. Cannabis infused products to the rescue. Many couples and singles are choosing to add cannabis to the mix for Valentine’s Day and beyond. Learn why.

Galentine’s Day is less than a week away at your favorite chic emporium for all things women — Lusso. Celebrated this year on Friday, February 13th, and for many all week long, it is a day where gal pals get together to eat, shop, and just be together in the spirit of love. It is a perfect place to shop ‘til you drop at Lusso. Details here.

Amóre! With recent memories of a wonderful holiday season fresh in our minds, it is now time to turn our attention to the season of love! Following are some of the ways Susie Busch-Transou, owner of Hearth & Soul in Ladue suggests spreading the love. Here, she presents in “show and tell” fashion the many ways you are loved.

It’s February – the month where romance brings couples closer, cupid’s arrow strikes for lucky singles, gal pals play Galentine’s games, and winter fun abounds. Padel, the new craze on the courts is taking the world by storm, much like pickleball did. With many similarities, padel is faster. It's a mix between tennis and squash with the competitive energy of a 100-meter dash. And it’s the perfect sport to bring people together during these frigid winter days in St. Louis and beyond for Valentine’s Day. Find out how.

Sophisticated Living was thrilled to have a front-row seat at this past Paris Fashion Week as Moda Productions staged a group SS26 runway of independent designers. This ode to the future of fashion was a reflection of the creative world Moda intends to build across Europe’s fashion capitals. Strut with us across the catwalk with us into the world of luxury fashion.

It's love month in the Lou! Whether you're going on a date night, celebrating Galentine's, planning an office outing or enjoying a friends and family parties, these Valentine's events and activities offer something special to warm everyone's heart during February 2026.

Zookeeper Carolyn Mueller Kelly is the author of several books on St. Louis and Missouri, from their history to their natural wonders. She has spent the last two decades working at the Saint Louis Zoo and learning everything she possibly can about animals. Her new book, Amazing Missouri Animals, introduces readers, young and old alike, to the weird and wonderful wildlife of our state.

Valentine’s Day 2026 falls on a Saturday this year. All weekend long, romance will be in the air. Lovers will be in search of romantic spots where Cupid’s arrow pierces the heart of their paramours because they chose a place where discriminating palates marry distinctive atmospheres. Here are some of those places.

Red wine is a cornerstone of any Valentine’s Day celebration, setting the mood for romantic dinners, heartfelt toasts, and moments meant to be lingered over. Elegant, personal, and timeless, wine is the perfect gift for expressing love. This Valentine’s Day, Aperture Cellars offers a curated selection of Cabernet Sauvignons designed to elevate the occasion. Aperture Cellars wine pairings are sure to make Valentine’s Day and the entire season of love flow with delicious liquid reds.

The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is offering couples an evening of timeless romance this February. Valentine's Day offerings at the historic, luxury hotel live up to the elegance and sophistication which are the hallmark of the storied St. Louis treasure. Treat your significant other like royalty this Valentine’s Day with a refined romantic dinner at The Preston. Extend your experience with the choice of two overnight packages where every detail is thoughtfully curated for an unforgettable escape for the season of love. Details here.

Previously scheduled for January 24, the free, family-friendly event will instead take place on January 31, 2026, featuring a day of fun with more than 40 ice sculptures, live performances and a drone show in the heart of the Delmar Loop.

Red Gate Gallery presents two concurrent exhibitions—Spirit of the Trees and Coming of Age in 2026: A Counterstory—with a free, open-to-the-public reception from 5–7 pm on Friday, January 30, 2026. Together, the exhibitions bring professional artists and middle school students into conversation around identity, ecology, and collective care. The Coming of Age Exhibit runs through February 2nd. The Spirit of the Trees exhibit runs through April 12th.

Ireland will be at the epicenter of the world golf stage when the 2027 Ryder Cup comes to Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland from September 13-19, 2026. Adare Manor's manicured greens are the sole attraction. Adare Manor, named after the adjacent storybook village, is actually an opulent family manor house. It sits on an 842-acre parcel of land (just one acre shy of Central Park) with a settlement history dating back to the 12th century. Travel with us to the Emerald Isle to the updated resort.

As Valentine’s Day 2026 fast approaches next month, newly appointed general manager Joey Kelly is poised to create an unparalleled experience at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for couples and singles alike for the season of love. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, the storied restaurant is celebrating all week and weekend. Singles, gal pals, friends and lovers alike are expected at Ruth’s Chris Chesterfield in the expert hands of Joey and his team.

SOPHI Award 2025 Finalist in the kitchen design category, Faith Berger is a multidisciplinary artist, interior designer, and writer whose work bridges fine art, bespoke design, and community engagement. Known for her expressive, layered paintings and refined sense of spatial storytelling, Berger’s work embodies an effortless dialogue between texture, emotion, and timeless design. Experience some of her impressive body of work here.

Even if you’re not Catholic, perhaps you have driven down Lindell and seen one of St. Louis’ most unique edifices, The Cathedral Baslica. Also known as the Saint Louis Cathedral or the New Cathedral, it is a Catholic cathedral in the Central West End that was completed in 1914. In his new book published by Reedy Press, author John Gunther explores this glorious addition to the landscape of St. Louis — its history, architecture, and significance.

Operation Food Search is fighting an uphill battle to resolve food insecurity. The statistic is staggering: Nearly one in three children in the city of St. Louis doesn't know where their next meal is coming from. Leading the charge to make a dent in the hunger crisis, Operation Food Search is pushing beyond the traditional food bank model to tackle hunger with both urgency and innovation.

A development called Container on Vessel could dramatically change the volume of the area’s river traffic. Instead of shipping products from Asia to Los Angeles or New York and trucking them across the country, products can be unloaded at Gulf ports and put on specially designed vessels and bring them up the Mississippi to St. Louis. The project could take an already thriving port system to the next level. The all-water north-south trade lane that connects the Midwest to the lower Mississippi River from there goes to worldwide destinations.

This January, The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum opened Resilience–A Sansei Sense of Legacy. Told from the point of view of Sansei (third generation) Japanese Americans, the retrospective is an exhibition of eight artists whose work reflects on the effect of EO9066, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the forced imprisonment of all Japanese Americans living on the west coast of the United States, and the effect on subsequent generations. The exhibit is timely and of significance in present day America. The exhibition will run through April 4, 2026.