Kristie McClanahan

Commatose! Hundreds of Copyeditors Descend on St. Louis

Copyeditors don't have the splashy bylines of reporters or the lovable kookiness of art directors. They sit at their desks with bowed heads, poring over their well-worn copies of the Chicago Manual of Style, checking to see if "postimpressionism" is one word, two words or hyphenated. They hear "und ... More >>

First Look: SOHA Bar & Grill

In the nearly four years since the low-slung building that used to house Off the Vine has been closed, the space at Hampton and Columbia avenues sat dark and empty, acquiring cobwebs. Nearly three weeks after it has reopened, 2605 Hampton Avenue, now known as SOHA Bar & Grill, is still rather dark. ... More >>

Dierbergs: "Check Out the Size of Our Cherries." Gut Check: "We've Seen Bigger."

The space below the fold in this week's Dierbergs ad is dominated by a side-by-side comparison of its Bing cherry when compared to the Bing cherry of "most stores." "As a cherry grows its seed stays the same size, so you get MORE FRUIT on a larger cherry," the copy screams. "That seems obvious eno ... More >>

Wine on the Haus: Lunching at 3500 Winehaus

The Place: 3500 Winehaus (3500 Watson Road; 314-353-9463) The Lunch: The "Memphis Blues" sandwich, with a side of fruit and a glass of pinot grigio ($9) 3500 Winehaus has been open for about a year and a half in Lindenwood Park. It offers something different from the nearby corner bars and neighbo ... More >>

Spice World: When Being Vanilla's a Good Thing

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. History: We've got the ancient Aztecs to thank for lots of long words ending in "atl," awesome mythology and the patience to figure out how to c ... More >>

Seven St. Louis Foods That Should Be Stuffed Inside of Easter Eggs (Instead of Jelly Beans)

Easter-egg hunts are all fine and good: there's the thrill of the chase, surreptitiously throwing elbows to be the first one to grab the brightly colored plastic ovum, the victorious score, and finally, the sweet second of anticipation before breaking open the loot to find...stupid jelly beans. Now ... More >>

Brunching at Aya Sofia

Where: Aya Sofia (6671 Chippewa Street; 314-645-9920) When: Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We Tried: Eggs benedict ($9.95), the mushroom and kasar cheese omelet ($7.95), peynirli gozleme ($7.50), Istanbul, not Constantinople ($7) The Verdict: Brunching at Aya Sofia is to keep the party rolli ... More >>

Spice World: You're a Star, Anise

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. History: Star anise, the brittle, woody fruit of an evergreen tree native to Vietnam and China, has the sharp smell and taste of black licoric ... More >>

Holiday Cocktail Countdown #1: Cinnamontini at Aya Sofia

Like any red-blooded American, Gut Check uses liquid medication to cope with holiday stress. Not only does a good winter cocktail make it possible to tolerate family members, say, inquiring about your procreation plans, it helps keep you warm, too. From now until Christmas, we're calling upon local ... More >>

Getting Maced in the Kitchen

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. Kristie McClanahanWhole mace from Penzey's Spices.​ History: Mace is the webbing that encases a nutmeg, itself a kernel from the fruit of ... More >>

The Muppets and Fozzie's Sandwich Emporium

​Walter grew up in Smalltown, USA, the kind of place whose population number (literally) flips every time a vehicle rolls into or out of town. He's the adorable felt brother and best friend of Gary (Jason Segel) who, after stumbling across old episodes of The Muppet Show, becomes enchanted with th ... More >>

Dinner Deals: $30 Wine & Dine at Barrister's

​Barrister's (15 North Meramec Avenue, Clayton; 314-726-5007) The Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 5 p.m.-close The Deal: Barrister's Wine & Dine: Two salads (house or Caesar), two entrées and a bottle of red or white wine for $30 The Scene: Clayton plus sports bar plus the UK equals Barrister's, a much ... More >>

Spice World: One for the Sages

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. History: Sage has made its mark on several different cultures: There's Greek sage, Mexican bush sage, fragrant pineapple sage and sacred sage ... More >>

50/50 and Lunch at Half & Half

Kristie McClanahanHalf & Half's salmon BLT.​ Here's a joke: What's the difference between dogs and cancer? People actually want to talk about dogs. That's an original, by the way, not one culled from 50/50, the recently released Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt dramedy (brocom?) about canc ... More >>

#58: Chicken Kabob at Al Waha

Kristie McClanahan​Chicken and rice is ubiquitous the world over: Stick it in a tortilla and call it a Mexican dish in Chihuahua, or blend it with coconut milk and curry in Chiang Mai and call it Thai. No wonder, though -- chicken and rice is uncomplicated, versatile and, when flawlessly prepa ... More >>

Somebody Sumac Me!

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check looks at overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you probably don't own -- and probably should. History: As summer begins its nosedive into fall, with it go certain plants we won't think of again till springtime, like the itchy trio of p ... More >>

Project Nim and Three Monkeys

Kristie McClanahan​The argument of nature versus nurture seems to be a sure-fire way to pass the time on cable-news shows, particularly when it comes to the "born gay" versus "became that way" argument, but it also pops up during discussions about birth order or, when we were in college, putt ... More >>

Spice World: Dill, Dull, Lull, Zzzz

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. Kristie McClanahanWhole dill seed. Perfect for pickling if you're not in a hurry.​History: Though today the word "dill" is right at home n ... More >>

Lavender: Love Me Now, Remember Me In the Morning

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. Kristie McClanahanLavender growing in south city.​History: That the retail market is so flooded with who-gives-a-whit presents like candle ... More >>

Jimmy Buffett at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 5/3/11: Review Photos

Parrotheads in action. Photo by Kristie McClanahan​Even if you've never been, a Jimmy Buffett show is pretty much exactly what you think it will be: Otherwise normal people swishing around in raffia skirts -- friendly, if a little unsteady on their feet, but doing a decent job of not spilling ... More >>

It's Cardinals Time! St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day 2011

Tee's Golf Grill in Chesterfield Mixes Drinks with Virtual Links

courtesy Tee's Golf Grill​Golden Tee's explosive popularity brought with it the omnipresent thunk of palms beating the living hell out of trackballs ever since it clamored onto the bar scene two decades ago. Tee's Golf Grill (103 Chesterfield Valley Drive, Chesterfield; 636-489-2848), with its ... More >>

Cloves: Sachet on Down!

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. Kristie McClanahan​History: Even Rodale's somewhat technical Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs can't contain its giddiness when it comes t ... More >>

Fenugreek: It's What Makes Your Breasts Better!

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check zeroes in on overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you may not own -- and probably should. Wikipedia | Wikimedia Commons​History: Lest you feel sorry for fenugreek -- its stock overflowing at Whole Foods while its alphabetical ne ... More >>

SLIFF brings Icelandic improv, French rom-com, a Civil War spoof and more through November 21

Lafayette Fire Company No. 1 vs. The Stable: Whose Mystery Platter Reigns Supreme?

image via​When money's tight, going out for dinner is almost always anchored to an event: "it's a special occasion"; "there's a little extra money on this week's paycheck"; "there's an insatiable craving for Chinese/pizza/bar food." But sometimes the event itself is merely handing over the r ... More >>

Marjoram: The More You Eat, the Less You Fart?

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check looks at overlooked spices from around the globe, introducing those you probably don't own -- and probably should. Forest and Kim Starr​History: What do you get when you strip oregano from its wild roots? Marjoram: It's oregano's earthy, demure next ... More >>

Sippin' on Gin and Juniper

Welcome to Spice World, in which Gut Check looks at overlooked spices from around the world, introducing those you don't own but probably should. Kristie McClanahan​History: After the garden produced a comically large number of cucumbers -- and after giving them away to family, friends, stranger ... More >>

Colombo's vs. JackSons': A Steak Sandwich Throwdown in Dogtown

​Colombo's Café & Tavern (6487 Manchester Avenue; 314-647-2661) and JackSons' (6655 Manchester Avenue; 314-645-4904) are two similar-looking bars in the same third-of-a-mile stretch of Manchester on Dogtown's southernmost edge. Both appeal to an unfussy happy-hour crowd and both tout their s ... More >>

2009 in Review: October

​Waldo Jaquith, Wikimedia Commons​October saw the return of Drink of the Week, the column founded by Randall Roberts and continued by Kristie McClanahan that muses on life and libations. Alicia Lohmar is the new author, and we're thrilled to have her as part of the Gut Check family. The rest of ... More >>

Parting Shots: The St. Louis International Film Festival wraps Sunday, but there's still plenty worth checking out

Choice Cuts: The St. Louis International Film Festival's eighteenth year brings together films shot around the world and in our back yard

Drink of the Week is Back!

In This Week's Issue: Pork, Deluxe and Spanish Coffee

This week's issue is now available online. Kristen Hinman presents a feature story on Russ Kremer and the Ozark Mountain Pork Cooperative. I review Deluxe Fine Food & Spirits, a comfort-food joint and bar in Maplewood. Kristie McClanahan's Drink of the Week visits Cafe Ventana for a Spanish Cof ... More >>

Congratulations to Drink of the Week!

This Week's Issue

This Week's Issue

This Week's Issue

E-mail Thread of the Day

Help Wanted: Smartypants Seeks Same

This Week's Issue

In This Week's Issue

Letters Column

Week of March 2, 2006

Go, Speed Racer, Go!

Go-cart power

South of the Border

Just west of the Mississippi

Game of the Week

The only game this year

All These Females Crawl

And so do the males

Extreme Reading

It's elemental

St. Louis in Verse

Instead of in chorus

A Turbid Time

Turbid means "muddy"