Graduation Season Is Here -- Tassels Will Move Right to Left. Caps Will Be Tossed Airborne. Gifts Will Be Given.
Graduation commencement ceremonies will be taking place in St. Louis and beyond during the month of May. High school and college students who have labored for years will soon walk across the stage of various and sundry schools of higher learning, either in indoor auditoriums or platforms erected outdoors for the time-honored rituals. Diplomas and degrees will be handed them to certify their achievement. Here is a bit of trivia about some of our time-honored traditions and graduation gift-giving ideas.
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A Sophisticated May and June Stand Before You -- Glimpse The New Issue Today
The May/June issue of Sophisticated Living St. Louis is here. Flip through its pages virtually by clicking this link, or pick a hard copy up at one of our many advertisers and leaf through its glossy pages, or subscribe and have your postman bring it straight to your door. Sit back and savor the best your world has to offer locally, nationally and internationally.
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Since Nothing Comes Second to the Mother In Your Life -- Celebrate Mother's Day 2024 the First Class Way
Mother’s Day may be the second-largest spending holiday in America, but nothing is second to the mother in your life. Whether it be the mother of your children, the mother who gave you life, your grandmother, or any special mother in your life, no one would exist without a mother. Mother’s Day 2024 is Sunday, May 12th. Don’t be left empty handed. Following are some of the special ways that you can tangibly show your love for MOM.
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Old Dog, New Tricks
Praga is likely the oldest car brand you've never heard of. Founded in the late 1800s as a manufacturer of heavy industrial machinery, it moved into vehicle production in 1907 with its two-cylinder Praga Charon. The company recently reached a performance pinnacle when it announced that its first road-legal hypercar—the Praga Bohema. It will be hand-built in very limited numbers over the next four years. The company says it could well be the last all-new gas-powered hypercar. Learn more here.
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Wine on the Fly
Stephanie Franklin launched Fly Wines, a new subscription wine service in late 2023. Aiming to be more than just a wine seller, Franklin is passionate about bringing undiscovered and underrepresented wine regions to the US market. As a Black woman in an industry historically dominated by men, she feels it's essential to have a diverse portfolio and tell stories that show the vastness of the wine industry and the passion that goes into those 750ml bottles sent to customers' doors. Read how she made it happen.
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The Power of Alchemy
With her giant etching press and a healthy dose of alchemy, owner and Master Printer of Wildwood Press, Maryanne Ellison Simmons works with artists to bring new beauty to life. Simmons and her husband, Ted, a former Cardinals baseball player, met in junior high school and much later, began a life of collecting. In 2020, the couple donated 833 pieces of art to the Saint Louis Art Museum and held an exhibit called “Catching the Moment”. Read more about her story here.
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Things to Know About Passover and How St. Louis is Observing It This Year
While many Jews are well educated about Passover, many Christians know only what they were taught in grammar school, Sunday school, in church, or by watching the Cecil B. DeMille epic, “The Ten Commandments.” And while the 10th and final plague visited upon Egypt was the among the most remembered parts of the film, it does not tell the whole story. Read here about what this writer learned to school himself about the most important of Jewish holidays.
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Minimal to the Max
Amid an unearthly 900-acre landscape of towering mesas, slot canyons, and rust-colored sands, the tented retreat of Camp Sakira at Amagati in the desert heart of southern Utah promises back-to-back unforgettable experiences. There has certainly been no shortage of such properties featured on the pages of this magazine over the past two decades, but this destination is something that must be seen to be believed. Experience one of the most dramatic places on the planet with every earthly amenity. See for yourself here.
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Four African Women with Empowering Stories Visit St. Louis for the Microfinancing Partners in Africa Gala This Saturday
This Saturday, April 13th, Microfinancing Partners in Africa will welcome four women from Africa to St. Louis. These women diligently work with our local nonprofit to transform the lives of those living in extreme poverty through income-driven initiatives. These four women, referred to as ‘Sandals on the Ground,’ can offer stories of strength, resilience, courage, and perseverance for compelling interviews or appearances. Learn more here.
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Russell Jackson and Alex Gutierrez Host Metro Theater Company VIP Party at Portland Place Manse
Metro Theater Company, a longstanding pillar of the St. Louis arts scene, kicked off its annual gala festivities at the beautiful home of Russell Jackson and Alex Gutierrez. The event drew a diverse crowd, including longtime supporters and newcomers eager to learn about Metro's mission. See the night in pictures here.
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Earth Day 2024 is Here -- Learn How to Reduce Your Plastic Waste Footprint at Local Artist Exhibit
In celebration of Earth Day, an exhibit addressing plastic pollution opens on April 20th at artist Adrienne Outlaw’s studio and showroom. The show, entitled Consumed, addresses the critical need for creative solutions to the pressing plastic pollution problem with an elegant and joyful exhibition. The family-friendly event includes activities for easily reducing, recycling, and repurposing. Learn more and see some of her work here.
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Two Fashion Icons Touch Down in the STL as Part of The Saint Louis Fashion Fund's 10-for-the-10th Anniversary Celebration
Famous fashion designer and former “Project Runway” judge, Michael Kors and St. Louis-born supermodel and former host of “Project Runway,” Karlie Kloss, were the talk of the town this Monday. Both fashion icons touched down in St. Louis for separate events as part of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund’s 10-for-the 10th Anniversary Celebrations. See the glitz and glamour of the full day’s events here.
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Walk the Red Carpet to THREADS at the Missouri Historical Society -- Make It Bold. Make It Patterned. Make it Work.
Walk a grand red carpet into the newly-renovated North Plaza entrance to the Missouri History Museum to the awe-inspiring MacDermott Grand Hall at the THREADS gala and fundraiser on Saturday, April 13th, 2024. Celebrate the fashion of yesterday and today. Embrace this year’s theme, Make it Bold. Make It Patterned. Make It Work. Learn here about how you can “thread the needle” to a St. Louis red carpet event.
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"Harmony in Music" Brings Classical Indian Music Blended with Jazz and New Age Music to The Grandel in the St. Louis Theater District
Join Seema Kasthuri and Tom Mosby for "Harmony in Music" TOMORROW NIGHT, April 6th, as they showcase what traditional Indian music can offer when presented with a jazz twist. The night of April 6th will be alive with the sound of music. Styles dotting the globe at The Grandel in the St. Louis Theater Arts district will surround you. Learn more here.
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Storming the Castle
Entering the hallowed halls at Ashford Castle feels a bit like emerging from a time capsule. Built in 1228 as a medieval fortress, it was passed among noble owners, most notably the Guinness family, who fashioned it into a "grand retreat" to impress well-to-do guests. Step inside an glimpse a bygone era at a place catapulted into 2024. A massive multi-million-dollar renovation has breathed new life into the castle and reestablished its pre-eminence among the world's luxury hotels. Take a look inside.
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Easterseals Midwest Festival Gala Breaks Fundraising Record
A new fundraising record for Easterseals Midwest — $888,968 — was set as over 400 local attendees gathered for the 40th annual Festival Gala and Auction. The funds will support Easterseals’ work to provide life-changing services to the nearly 6,500 adults, children, and families who count on the organization for daily support. Learn more about the organization and see party pics here.
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Tennessee Williams Festival Sparks Red Hot Season Ahead with Donor Party -- Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Expected to Set the Stage Ablaze
The Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis celebrated its 9th annual season with a kickoff party at the home of Ann Sheehan Lipton on March 7th. Sparkling repartee, stimulating aperitifs, and delectable hors d’oeuvres filled the manse with color — the color red. The festival board of directors brought together major donors and theater lovers to celebrate the brilliance of St. Louis’ own acclaimed playwright, Tennessee Williams. Party pics and details on upcoming season events, including the cabaret and pool party here.
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Eternal Spring
The debut of La Fantaisie last summer in Paris' 9th arrondissement has created more buzz than a beehive. The hotel is maximalist's dream. The lobby and its cozy lounge, covered floor-to-ceiling in color and pattern, is slightly retro, very funky, and totally unique. One look at the opulence of La Fantaisie will have you boarding a flight to gay Paree.
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Celebrate! the Season of Passover at The 2024 Jewish Film Festival
Passover is celebrated this year from the evening of Monday, April 22 - Tuesday, April 30. Prepare for the spring observance by attending The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival, which runs from April 7-18. The festival showcases international cinema that explores universal issues through traditional Jewish values, opposing viewpoints and new perspectives. Trailers for each festival film are here for you at the stroke of your keyboard.
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Get Outside
St. Louis was lucky to have its two largest parks founded during the Victorian era, Tower Grove Park in 1868 and Forest Park in 1876. Both have grand sweeping thoroughfares and easy to navigate footpaths. At more than 1,300 acres, Forest Park is the largest park in the United States, and though considerably smaller than Forest Park at just 289 acres, Tower Grove Park is today a National Historic Landmark. The future is now at both St. Louis bastions of nature nestled in the heart of the city. Read on to learn about things you may know and what’s on the horizon.
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