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How Does a Small Band Book a Tour?

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls' Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to help you ... More >>

UFO Over St. Charles County? Probably Not, KTVI Fox 2 Investigation Finds

Did Google Street View capture an unidentified flying object over St. Charles County? KTVI Fox 2 says that "many are still debating" the content of an image that could maybe, possibly be a mysterious UFO. And who exactly is debating this? Not John Lakey of the St. Louis Science Center -- the only pe ... More >>

Win Chick-fil-A 2013 Cow Calendar, Gift Card and Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

It doesn't quite feel like the holidays until Chick-fil-A (multiple locations) sends you its annual cow calendar that you didn't know about until today. Apparently this year marks the sixteenth anniversary of the cow calendar, and Gut Check is giving ours away. It comes with a "Chick-fil-A Calendar ... More >>

Weezer's Lost "Songs From The Black Hole" Album Finally Released... By A Message Board

Twenty years ago, the people who yesterday released a complete, remarkably full-sounding version of Songs from the Black Hole, the lost Weezer rock opera begun and abandoned before Pinkerton, probably would have just started a zine or something. The internet's amplified a lot of things--celebrity s ... More >>

Battleship: Because every generation needs an Armageddon

Beware the Killer Chitlins!

File under: "Things You Were Already Afraid Of But For Other, More, Shall We Say...Visceral Reasons ." This just in from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service: Undercook those holiday chitlins at your peril. (Or, more precisely, at the peril of Grandma, Gramps and ... More >>

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Band of Bookstores: Facing extinction, indies unite to show us everything they bring to St. Louis that Amazon can't

Happy Hour in St. Louis? There's an App for That.

Soulard Oktoberfest Cleavage Controversy: Botched German Translation Edition

Image viaWe know nutzing about zee German translation.​Last week, Daily RFT reported on a controversial decision by Metro and JCDecaux to cancel a deal with Soulard Oktoberfest for $10,000 worth of bus stop advertising because the festival wants to promote itself with a poster that features four f ... More >>

Interview Outtakes: Emily Haines of Metric on Her Internet Admirers and Vampire Love

Metric is finally coming back to St. Louis.​Later today, I'll be trekking out to Maryland Heights for Lilith Fair. Expect photos and a recap tomorrow. In the meantime, please check out our interview with Metric's Emily Haines -- and some outtakes below. Snag Metric's Daytrotter session right h ... More >>

St. Louis Blogger "The Beautiful Kind" Fired for Writing About Sex

Emily GoodSt. Louis sex blogger The Beautiful Kind had her cover blown on Twitter -- and lost her job.​Two months ago Riverfront Times featured local pseudonymous sex blogger The Beautiful Kind as part of our "Bloggers Bakers Dozen [scroll down]." "The Beautiful Kind might make you blush," R ... More >>

Fun Facts: The Knack Once Played at Kirkwood High School

The Knack's "My Sharona" spent over a month at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard singles chart in late summer 1979 -- from August 25 to September 29. In that period, the band apparently performed to 900 people at Kirkwood High School, at least according to the book So, Where'd You Go to High School? ... More >>

Foreigner, Vince Neil Coming to the Bottleneck Blues Bar

Very quietly, next year's concert calendar at the Bottleneck Blues Bar has already been filling up. On January 21, Foreigner will be performing tunes from its new album, Can't Slow Down, and allllll of its hits. And then on Thursday, February 11, that lovable scamp Vince Neil from Motley Crue will b ... More >>

Introducing Sweet Scout: The Sweet Scout is Introduced to Crème Brûlée

User "Jellyfish Juice," Wikimedia Commons​Adrienne Jones is a writer, photographer and world-class eater who blogs at A Girl and Her Camera. She loves desserts and has been known to take to a frosting tub with little more than a spoon and a well-tuned sweet tooth. She will report on her lates ... More >>

What the Hell is a Michigan Left?

The Post-Dispatch reports today that St. Louis County officials plan to solve the traffic clusterfuck that is the intersection of Manchester and Hanley Roads with something called a "Michigan Left," rather than the overpass solution that was previously being considered.No, it's not a football play. ... More >>

The Dive Bomber: Weber's

Robin Wheeler writes for the blog Poppy Mom. She also has a strange attraction to drinking establishments with jars of pickled -- or possibly fossilized -- eggs. She reports on these dives for Gut Check every Friday.No, the Dive Bomber didn't get confused and visit the popular Webster Groves sports ... More >>

A Table for How Many? at Nipa Hut

Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences twice a month for Gut Check.Nipa Hut1810 Woodson Road, Overland314-423-1850Time to Call in the Extra ServerThis ... More >>

The Dive Bomber: McLain's Corner

Robin Wheeler writes for the blog Poppy Mom. She also has a strange attraction to drinking establishments with jars of pickled -- or possibly fossilized -- eggs. She reports on these dives for Gut Check every Friday.Saturday morning, I got the following quasi-anonymous text: "Hey, Wheeler. Why do ... More >>

Old Coca-Cola Syrup Plant Gets Sweet New Deal

SLPDAn old South City structure on the National Register of Historic Places just got a little federal love. The company in possession of the Coca-Cola Syrup Plant has snagged $1.2 million in remediation tax credits through the Brownfield Redevelopment Program, according to a state press release. The ... More >>

FoodWire: Celebrate Pi Day at Sugaree Bakery

Courtesy Sugaree BakeryReceived an e-mail from Pat Rutherford-Pettine, owner of Dogtown's Sugaree Baking Company (1242 Tamm Avenue). The bakery is celebrating Pi Day -- tomorrow, March 14, or 3.14 -- with those pi-shaped cookies pictured here and plenty of pie. The bakery is open to the public Frida ... More >>

FoodWire: Celebrate Pi Day at...Pi

Saturday, March 14, is Pi Day, when math geeks everywhere celebrate 3.14. (The holiday doesn't officially start till 1:59 p.m., I'm told.) It also happens to be the first birthday of the Delmar Loop pizzeria Pi (6144 Delmar Boulevard; Web site). Since its opening last year, Pi has gained quite the f ... More >>

A Table for How Many? at Gokul

Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences for Gut Check.Gokul Snacks & Sweets10633 Page Avenue, Overland314-428-8888When 12 Turns Into 22When I called ... More >>

FoodWire: The Map Room Now Open

Ian Froeb The Map Room, a café and wine bar is now open at 1901 Withnell Avenue in Benton Park. Check out the menu of coffee, tea, wine and pastries. The Map Room is open Tue.-Fri. 7 a.m.-11 a.m. and 5-10 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sun. 8 a.m.-noon.Oddly, the Map Room had quite a few admirers ev ... More >>

George Clooney, Have You Considered...

Dear Mr. Clooney,We here at Gut Check International Headquarters are big fans of your work, dating all the way back to your turn as Jo's boyfriend on The Facts of Life.When we heard you were filming a new movie in St. Louis, we couldn't contain our excitement. We know people are claiming to have spo ... More >>

George Clooney, Have You Considered...

Dear Mr. Clooney,We here at Gut Check International Headquarters are big fans of your work, dating all the way back to your turn as Jo's boyfriend on The Facts of Life.When we heard you were filming a new movie in St. Louis, we couldn't contain our excitement. We know people are claiming to have sp ... More >>

A Table for How Many? at Thai Sawadee

Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences for Gut Check.Thai Sawadee171 Hilltown Village Center, Chesterfield636-728-0308 Booking was a BreezeThe friendly ... More >>

FoodWire: Beechwood Bistro Now Open

Ian Froeb Beechwood Bistro is now open at the entrance of Union Station. The new restaurant should make a lot of noise at Union Station -- if only because the retail is so very quiet./rimshot/Beechwood Bistro comes to us from the same folks who opened Sage (1031 Lynch Street; Web site) in 2007. The ... More >>

Review Slideshow: The Bleeding Deacon

Jennifer SilverbergMy review of the Bleeding Deacon is now available online. The Bleeding Deacon is located at 4123 Chippewa Street. You can find the menu and more info at its Web site.In this week's Back of the House slideshow, photographer Jennifer Silverberg shows off the Bleeding Deacon and take ... More >>

The Dive Bomber: The Cat & Fiddle Tavern

Robin Wheeler writes for the blog Poppy Mom. She also has a strange attraction to drinking establishments with jars of pickled -- or possibly fossilized -- eggs. She reports on these dives for Gut Check every Friday.The Cat & Fiddle Tavern is located in an old house on the edge of Belleville. T ... More >>

FoodWire: "Vintage Rock" Wine Dinner at Fleming's

Fleming's (1855 South Lindbergh Boulevard) is holding a "Vintage Rock" wine dinner on Tuesday, March 10, and Friday, March 13. The dinner features wines from Mick Fleetwood and, uh, the manager of the Doobie Brothers. (I would have been really impressed if they had chosen a wine by Maynard James Kee ... More >>

Gut Check's Swag Bag: Michelob Hop Hound Amber Wheat

Ian FroebStill Life with Hop Hound and Black CatPeople send Gut Check stuff to try. So we try it.The typical Monday morning here at Gut Check International Headquarters goes something like this: Stumble into office, clutching thermos of coffee. Check voice mail, bracing self for angry messages from ... More >>

FoodWire: Billy Goat Chip Company Now Open

The Billy Goat Chip Company is now open at 4993 Loughborough Avenue. This is the relocated and transformed Billy Goat Restaurant & Bar, which closed in December. The new Billy Goat sells its homemade potato chips as well as a selection of food to go. The menu, available on its Web site, includes ... More >>

Mardi Gras The Way It Used To Be: Fat Tuesday in Carondelet

flickr.com/photos/supercerealA few weeks back I mentioned how a group of people fed up with the draconian rules and overt commercialization of St. Louis Mardi Gras were planning an alternative festival this year. Well, I now have specifics. The event will take place this coming Tuesday, February 24, ... More >>

FoodWire: El Pollo Loco Opening in St. Louis

Yesterday, just minutes after an eagle-eyed reader passed along an online job listing for the first St. Louis location of the grilled-chicken chain El Pollo Loco, Joe Bonwich posted news of its location, 4103 Lemay Ferry Road. Look for an April opening.Unfamiliar with El Pollo Loco? From the company ... More >>

FoodWire: Veruca to Become Niche Taste Bar

Jennifer Silverberg Just spoke with Gerard Craft of Niche (1831 Sidney Street; Web site) about the news -- first reported by Sauce -- that the restaurant is closing its bake shop, Veruca. In its place will be Niche Taste Bar, where Niche's staff will serve up a selection of small plates.Craft said h ... More >>

Pappy's Smokehouse 1st Birthday Celebration

Ian Froeb Amidst all the recession-fueled doom-and-gloom that has settled around the local restaurant industry, it was just plain terrific to stop by Pappy's Smokehouse (3106 Olive Street; Web site) today for the Midtown barbecue joint's first birthday celebration. The line was long -- at noon, I wa ... More >>

FoodWire: Saleem's in U. City to Become Ranoush

A sign outside the former Saleem's location at 6501 Delmar Boulevard in University City says that the space will become Ranoush. The sign describes Ranoush as a "Middle-Eastern restaurant -- the Syrian experience." No further details at this time.

FoodWire: Downtown Starbucks Among Closures

The St. Louis Business Journal reports that the Starbucks at 521 Olive Street downtown is among the 200 stores nationwide (300 total) being closed. According to the article, the downtown location will close next month.

Cheesesteak Quest: City Diner

Hot chocolate, grilled cheese and tomato soup: Snow days put me in the mood for any or all of those three things, and when my wife and I made the short, but treacherous, walk from our house to nearby City Diner (3139 South Grand Boulevard; Web site) during yesterday's snow-sleet day for lunch, I ha ... More >>

Review Slideshow: The Wedge

Jennifer SilverbergMy review of the Wedge, a new South City bar that turns out some pretty good pizza, is now available online. The Wedge is located at 442 Bates Street; visit the Web site for the menu and more info.In this week's Back of the House slideshow, photographer Jennifer Silverberg shows y ... More >>

FoodWire: Erato on S. Grand to Become Parkside Lounge and Fusion Cuisine

Erato, the wine bar at 3117 South Grand Boulevard, has closed. I live nearby, so I received a postcard from Excise Commissioner Robert W. Kraiberg informing me that a restaurant called Parkside Lounge and Fusion Cuisine has applied for a liquor license at that address. No further details at this tim ... More >>

FoodWire: Parker's Table Closing

Both Joe Bonwich and Sauce report that Clayton wine and food shop Parker's Table (8137 Maryland Avenue) is closing. Stop by for discounted wine and, on Saturday, a "farewell toast."

FoodWire: McCormick & Schmick's Opening 2.24

The much-anticipated opening of St. Louis' first McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant will take place on Monday, February 24 at 4 p.m. The restaurant is located next to the new Barnes & Noble in the West County Shopping Center.From the press release I received today:McCormick & Schm ... More >>

Painting Space

My heavens, that's nice art

Would You Notice If Someone Shot You In the Head?

A man from Belleville didn't, and apparently that's not entirely uncommon. From the Belleville News-Democrat:BELLEVILLE -- A doctor said Thursday it's possible for a person to get shot with a small-caliber bullet and not know it.That's what apparently happened to Robert Bunn Sr., 69, who was found d ... More >>

Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed Responds to Audit and Chides Street Department Over Bike Lanes

Radiohead Made a Video. Without Cameras.

What Is Suadero? (Besides Tasty, That Is)

Todd Snider

Saturday, June 18; Mississippi Nights (914 North First Street)