Political Families

Michelle Obama: First Lady Headed to Springfield Walmart For Anti-Obesity Campaign

First Lady Michelle Obama has chosen a Walmart in Springfield, Missouri to promote her "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign. To what do we owe this honor? It may not hurt that Missouri is on track to have incredibly high rates of obesity in the coming years, at least according to some studies. And ... More >>

Daddy of the Dynasty

Gut Check's Ten Snacks to Pair With Democratic Convention Coverage

Last week, Gut Check offered up a list of ten snacks to pair with Republican National Convention coverage. Of course, the fun doesn't stop there. On Tuesday, September 4, the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Charlotte, North Carolina, prompting Gut Check to brainstorm another set of them ... More >>

Your Weekly St. Louis Bestseller List

​Here's your weekly St. Louis bestseller list for the week ending January 22, as compiled by the St. Louis Independent Booksellers Alliance and based on sales at Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books and Sue's News. It's election time, which, as you know, m ... More >>

Report: AB-InBev Outraged Over World Series Bet Excluding Budweiser

Cardinals and Budweiser: Nothing to make light of.​St. Louis gossipmeister Jerry Berger writes this week that Anheuser-Busch InBev "is pissed" with a friendly wager that Mayor Francis Slay made with Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck over the World Series. The bet would have Slay winning some Texas stea ... More >>

1,050-Calorie "Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo"? Michelle Obama Says Yes, We Can!

​Gut Check ain't exactly nostalgic for the good ol' days of the George W. Bush administration. Still, a phrase that Dubya once used has stuck with us over the years: "the soft bigotry of low expectations." He was talking about education, but you can apply it to all sorts of things.Like, say, the h ... More >>

More Weiner Problems. This Time With Hot Dogs

Wikimedia CommonsWither, Tony Packo's? Hot-dog lawsuits in Toledo and Chicago.​ At least these problems aren't Congressional in nature. Some of the nation's favorite hot dog institutions have troubles more judiciary and executive in nature. In Chicago, Vienna Beef is suing Scott D. Ladany, a ... More >>

John Steffen Re-Indicted; Feds Claim St. Louis Developer Defrauded Bank

In 2007, John Steffen (far left) and another developer, Craig Heller, received recognition from First Lady Laura Bush.​Nine months after a court dismissed a federal indictment against John Steffen, the U.S. Attorney's office is again filing charges against the developer, who's best known for trans ... More >>

The Obamas Still Proud of That Chili Recipe

Ian FroebThe Obamas' chili, as prepared by Gut Check in 2008​Skimming Eater this morning, I couldn't not click on the link to an article titled "Michelle Obama, Your Chili Is Bullshit" -- and not just because that's one helluva compelling headline.You see, three years ago, Gut Check made the chili ... More >>

Let's Talk About Sex ... Without Bristol Palin

Without Palin, attendance was limp. ​Remember that Wash U sex panel that was supposed to feature Bristol Palin, until she bowed out in the face of protest? Well, it turns out that the students who fought for her ouster weren't exactly gung-ho about the Palin-less panel, which addressed sexual ... More >>

Charlotte Wins Democratic National Convention

Mayor Francis Slay says St. Louis must get off the mat, try again for 2016. ​It's official. St. Louis has lost its bid for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. This morning Michelle Obama emailed members of the Democratic National Committee informing them of the decision to host the convention ... More >>

Hypocrisy Alert! Bristol Palin to Lecture Wash U. Students on Abstinence

​Update: Wash U. Dumps Bristol!Student leaders at Washington University have approved spending thousands of dollars to bring Bristol Palin to St. Louis next month to talk at the school's annual "Sexual Responsibility Week." Palin will serve as the keynote speaker February 7 and discuss abstinence ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Former Wash. U. Student Bristles at Bristol's Invite to Sex Week

Today's comment comes in response to news that Bristol Palin will be paid thousands of dollars to speak to Washington University students about abstinence with students during the school's Sex Week. That's the same Bristol Palin, btw, who's ridden her teen pregnancy to fame and riches.  Writes ... More >>

Missouri Flunks Food Safety Test

Missouri, you get an F in reporting foodborne illnesses. TheHill.com shared a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, grading states on their ability to report outbreaks of foodborne illness. The more a state reports, the better chance they have of getting it under control. "' ... More >>

Organic Ground Beef Recalled

Organic doesn't mean perfect. 34,000 pounds of organic Nature's Harvest ground beef has been recalled for possible E. coli contamination, according to KTVN in Reno, Nevada. The beef was sold in California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Washington State.Flights from Newark migh ... More >>

At Last, a Link Between Michelle Obama and the Mud House

image via​This picture of Michelle Obama reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C. is very sweet and heartwarming, especially because First Dog Bo was also present, but Casey Miller, one of the owners of the wonderful Cherokee Street cafe ... More >>

Vanity Fair Article on Sarah Palin Hatches Local Conspiracies

The article that started it all.​The political blogosphere is on fire with allegations surrounding writer Michael Gross's profile of Sarah Palin in this month's Vanity Fair.Much of that brouhaha comes from the opening two graphs of the article, a seemingly innocuous scene-setter describing Palin b ... More >>

The Laws Are Changing. School Food Bill Approved By Committee.

The House Education and Labor Committee approved a bill on Thursday that, if passed by Congress, would set standards for school food. The Associated Press says that the bill will cost $8 billion over a decade. It will also provide more free lunches to low-income students. First Lady Michelle Obama s ... More >>

Ever Had the Urge to Dress Up Like a Cow? Today's Your Day!

Chick-fil-A will give you a free meal today if you show up dressed like a cow. No, really. Chipotle wants you to know it has its sustainably raised heart in the right place. But it's not a marketing strategy. Except it is a marketing strategy. First Lady Michelle Obama has had it up to here with c ... More >>

Blagojevich Trial, Radio Silence Start Tomorrow

Image source​It's been a grim week so far -- oil continues to spill out into the Gulf, the Israeli Army fought a Gaza aid flotilla and Al and Tipper Gore are separating -- and it's about to get grimmer. Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has been going to hilarious lengths to protes ... More >>

Show Review Setlist: Ben Folds and a Piano Triumphs Despite a Distracted Crowd

​ Ben Folds and his piano rocked the Chaifetz Arena last night, despite the less-than-intimate venue and somewhat-inattentive crowd. The personable popstar didn't chat as much between songs, possibly because it's hard to unite a crowd in an oversized venue like the Chaifetz. For such an intim ... More >>

What Was Laura Bush Thinking?: Former First Lady to Speak (Finally) at County Library

Simon & Schuster​Admit it. Even before you read Curtis Sittenfeld's novel American Wife, a fictionalization of the life of Laura Bush, you wanted to know what was going on inside the former first lady's head. Was she really a secret Democrat at heart? What was it that made George so gosh-darn ... More >>

First Lady of United States of America Settles Pizza Rivalry: New York is Better Than Chicago

But what about St. Louis? Pi: Not even in the running.​Many of us know by now that President Barack Obama dug the pizza from St. Louis' own Pi so much when he ate it here during his campaign, he invited Pi's staff to the White House to prepare it there.

Isaac Mizrahi Just Dressed Michelle Obama...Now He's Toiling to Outfit Opera Theatre of St. Louis

Image via​Playbill.com reports today that Isaac Mizrahi, a man of the people among fashion designers, will stage and do costume design the first time for theater...right here in St. Louis.Opera Theatre of St. Louis will put on A Little Night Music in June. Mizrahi will create sets and costumes. Mo ... More >>

How FOX and Major League Baseball Can Really Support Our Troops

Though last night's World Series opener lacked a compelling plot line on the field, the dramaturgs at Major League Baseball and FOX saw to the heartstrings-pulling with a flag-waving tribute to Our Troops.​​As MLB announced in a press release yesterday, Game One was "dedicated in support of Welc ... More >>

Laura Bush Defends Obama's Right to Speak to School Children

Former First Lady Laura Bush sat down yesterday with CNN to discuss her husband's presidency and to comment on the first nine months of the Obama administration. Asked about all the fuss over the President Barack Obama's televised speech today to school children, Bush told CNN: "I think there i ... More >>

Obama Responds ... to the Daily RFT?

Last week we posted a short article asking readers their opinion on which of President Barack Obama's fashion statements was worse at the All-Star Game: his White Sox jacket or his creased, obamama jeans? Did the POTUS catch wind of our blog post? Perhaps. This week, Obama told an NBC reporter "I he ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 6.9

The public fascination with what the Obamas are eating, including a certain St. Louis pizza joint. (AP)Russia expands its ban on pork imports from the U.S. (Washington Post)European winemakers stop a proposal to allow rosé wine to be made from blending red and white wines. (Guardian)

The Morning Brew: Monday, 6.1

The Obamas dine at Dan Barber's acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, Blue Hill. (Washington Post)A New York Times editorial argues that, for all her support of local and organic foods, Michelle Obama doesn't give the act of cooking enough support.China cracks down on a dish that begins with killing a ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 1.21

In today's news: the dispute over the White House chef, a new study on willpower and food and recreating restaurant dishes at home

Richmond Heights' "American Wife" Author Imagines Inauguration Day

There are plenty of writers this week who are trying to make George W. Bush appear likeable and, yes, even sympathetic. It is his last week in office, after all. But let it be known that Curtis Sittenfeld was there first, and before the Bushes have even left the White House, she's already moved on.T ... More >>

Eat Like Obama!

www.amazon.com The election of Barack Obama has apparently turned us into a nation of twelve-year-old girls, with Newsweek, the New York Times and 60 Minutes our Tiger Beat, YM and TRL (RIP). Here at Gut Check, we follow the reports on the new cabinet with interest -- OMG, is he really g ... More >>

Expand Your Mind

Unreal has a few questions for Mr. Corporate Takeover Architect, checks in with dear old dad and the potential first ladies, and chooses a new favorite war

Too Hot? Boycott.

Elbows off the Table

Waterson:Carthy

8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, February 24 and 25. Focal Point (2720 Sutton Avenue, Maplewood).

Ladies First

Big River Hurricane Relief Concert

Thursday, December 29; The Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington Boulevard)

Jane Monheit

Saturday, November 5; Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington Boulevard)

The Neville Brothers

Thursday, July 21; Roberts Orpheum Theatre (416 North Ninth Street)

Guided by Voices

Half Smiles of the Decomposed (Matador)