The White House

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 >>

Racism in 2013: Redneck Space Travelers, Meth Smokers and Other Dumbasses

Editor: Tef Poe is an artist from St. Louis City. Through powerful imagery and complicated honesty, he has earned a reputation as one of the best rappers telling the story of St. Louis, which is about much more than one place. Poe has been featured in music publications such as XXL and Urb Magazine. ... More >>

Ten Songs for Celebrating President's Day

It is that time of year again. That special time after Mardi Gras, in the middle of Black History Month, when we drop our Valentine's Day chocolates and honor the past and present Presidents of the United States of America (for the shortest month of the year, February seems to really be collecting h ... More >>

Happy Presidents' Day to the Top Five Foodie Presidents

Washington has been focusing more and more on food and eating healthy lately, thanks to Mama Obama's presence in the white house. Michelle planted a garden on the White House grounds, which regularly provides produce to the prez and his family. She's working to make school lunches healthier, but she ... More >>

Five Comics Tell Their Best Stories from the Road

Every comic worth his weight in salt (why is that a saying?) has some good and bad stories they picked up on "the road." If you plan on having any sort of career in comedy it is something you have to go through. I have my stories. The night Steven Wright walked into the club I was in to do a set. Th ... More >>

Missourians File Petition With White House to Secede From Union

Missouri has joined a growing list of states petitioning the federal government for secession in the wake of President Obama's reelection. Residents in at least 20 states have posted petitions on the White House's "We the People" website. "We the People" allows anyone to suggest a policy initiativ ... More >>

Ten U.S. Presidents Who Could Be Mistaken for Boutique Bourbons (With Tasting Notes)

It's Presidents Day, and Gut Check is stuck behind the desk here at the International Headquarters, shaking our fists at all the lucky sons of bitches who have the day off. Just kidding. We're stuck behind the desk at International Headquarters, drinking ourselves blind. Which is how we got to thin ... More >>

Black and White

Black and White

Charlotte Mayor Says He (Too) Is In Dark Over Democratic National Convention

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx​Earlier this week Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill fretted that St. Louis may not win the bid for the 2012 Democratic National Convention because she's heard nothing in recent weeks about the event from the White House. Apparently, though, McCaskill isn't the only one ... More >>

Ten Epic Gingerbread House Fails

The Christmas season always brings news of impressive, even beautiful gingerbread houses. But for every gingerbread White House or Chartes Cathedral, there are dozens of creations where ambition outstrips skill and knowledge of architecture. Here are ten of our favorites.Image via​Or maybe this wa ... More >>

Angry Express Scripts, Inc. Workers Take Their Case to DC

Kase WickmanBensalem, Pennsylvania workers and union supporters outside Express Scripts, Inc. headquarters August 30.​Approximately 30 pissed-off Express Scripts, Inc. workers from Bensalem, Penn. are headed to our nation's capital to voice their complaints about their treatment at the hands of th ... More >>

Dark days: Readers ponder the death of a Cahokia teen and living off the grid

A Word About Helen Thomas and the Danger of Staying Too Long

After 67 years as a UPI White House correspondent and then columnist, Helen Thomas at last wore out her welcome.​Fame and notoriety has its perils. Often, when it lasts too long, one grows lazy, sloppy -- at the least, complacent. Then, judgment wanes. Foolishness is exposed. ... More >>

The End Is Near: But did the Mayans happen to say if Palin will survive?

Will a Budweiser Make Buds Out of Henry Louis Gates Jr. and that Cambridge Cop?

​For years Anheuser-Busch has used the slogan, "Making Friends is Our Business." But could a recent (and much publicized) feud prove too powerful for even the "King of Beers" to mend? That's the topic under intense debate in the nation's capital, where President Barack Obama this week plans to inv ... More >>

St. Louis Veterans' Group Calls For Obama Administration to Release Photos of Torture

St. Louis-based Veterans for Peace is circulating a letter it plans to to send President Barack Obama demanding that the White House release photos of abusive treatment of detainees at the hands of U.S. troops. Obama had supported the release of the pictures to the public, but changed his mind in Ma ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Who knew it would be such a political week here at Gut Check International Headquarters? We called out some Post-Dispatch commenters for their ridiculous (and sometimes racist) takes on Pi traveling to the White House, and then we chatted with Pi's Chris Sommers about the trip and the fallout.Speaki ... More >>

Pi's Chris Sommers Deep-Dishes on Cooking at the White House...and the Controversy

User "Wadester16," Wikimedia CommonsChris Sommers, owner of the Delmar Loop pizza restaurant Pi (6144 Delmar Boulevard; Web site), will appear on Fox & Friends tomorrow morning to set the record straight on his visit to the White House to cook pizza for President Barack Obama. The interview shou ... More >>

Ballwin Man's Nuisance Trial Delayed, Buying Time for Presidential Pardon

photo by Kit KellisonLewis Greenberg and a small sampling of his art.At 1 p.m. yesterday, Lewis Greenberg, his lawyers, his lucky hat, a small group of supporters and a slightly larger contingent of belligerent neighbors gathered in a Clayton courtroom to determine once and for all whether Greenberg ... More >>

Pi Delivers to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Ian FroebThen-Senator Barack Obama, shortly after falling in love with Pi.As George Mahe first reported on Feast last week, President Barack Obama has invited Delmar Loop pizza restaurant Pi (6144 Delmar Boulevard; Web site) to cook for him at the White House. Sommers dropped me a line today to repo ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

This was the week that Gut Check jointed Twitter. What more do you need to know?OK, so that's not all. Maplewood Farmers' Market opened, Pi is headed to the White House -- ! -- and the fried-chicken special at OB Clark's ain't half bad.Java Enabled showed that local coffee houses are handling the re ... More >>

Plant Power: Local Harvest Café embodies a welcome new concept in sustainable chowing-down

Wednesday, April 1: Calendar Pimp Suggests

I found myself driving past convenience stores ... that weren't on the way home.     I tried to stand up and fly straight, but it wasn't easy with that sumbitch Reagan in the White House. I dunno. They say he's a decent man, so maybe his advisors are confused.

The Good Doctor: William Chignoli, who spent the last decade constructing a safety net for local Hispanics, recently turned 70. But he's far from retiring.

A Glimmer of Hope for Missouri Auto Industry

smithelectricvehicles.comNationally the news ain't good for the beleaguered U.S. auto industry. Just yesterday, in fact, the White House forced the resignation of General Motors' chairman Rick Wagoner and told Chrysler to seek a partnership with Italian car maker Fiat if it wanted any more governmen ... More >>

Is Governor Nixon Taking Cues From That Other Nixon -- "Tricky Dick"?

Wikimedia CommonsAs history has shown, Richard Milhous Nixon was an extremely paranoid man. The 37th president installed a secret taping system in the Oval Office that allowed him to record conversations and phone calls and then use those tapes to strong-arm anyone -- friend or foe -- who dared to g ... More >>

Presidents & Food: George H. W. Bush

Wikimedia Commons In honor of Presidents' Day, Gut Check celebrates great moments in presidential food history.How will history remember George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States? If you say badly, then there's a good chance you're a broccoli fan. In one of the oddest controversies to e ... 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

The Morning Brew: Monday, 1.19

In today's news: don't eat peanut butter snacks, look back at White House chefs and consider raccoon.

Happy Thanksgiving from Gut Check

I can only hope that, next year, there is a picture of President Obama and the pardoned White House turkey that is this awesome. On the eve of Gut Check's favorite holiday, I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving. Safe travels to those headed out of town. Gut Check will return Monday to kick ... More >>

RFT readers love Laurell K. Hamilton's vampire stories, Albert Pujols, and foodie trivia

Who's Going to be Obama's White House Chef?

Drink of the Week: Long Strange Tripel

Newstead Tower Public House
4353 Manchester Avenue
314-535-7771

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 5.20

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 4.29

Mr. Ed-sident

A little presidential horseplay

Assassins fires a seldom-seen blast from the Sondheim canon

Bad Folk
Bad Folk/Rats and People

"That Great Atomic Power Scared Charlie Louvin More than God" 7"
(self-released)"Saw a Circus" / "I Sang to Heather Nethereye" split 7"
(self-released)

No news is good news.

The questions Steven Colbert didn't ask.

Film Openings

Week of June 15, 2005

Best Bowling Lanes

Arcade Lanes

If You Could Walk a Mile in Anybody's Shoes, Whose Would They Be?

Week of September 25, 2002

Emmy or Not to Emmy?

That's been the long, hard decision for TV academy chairman Bryce Zabel

EYE OF THE NEEDLE

Kellwood's taking fashion forward by making virtually all our clothes in the Third World. But the St. Louis giant carefully cloaks its operations, its plant locations and its monitoring of labor conditions.

WHO DO YOU THINK DESERVES TO GET A LUMP OF COAL IN HIS OR HER STOCKING THIS YEAR?

(Part 2 of 2)

TOOTING BUSH'S HORN: IS THIS THE NEXT CLINTON?

GHOSTS OF MISSOURI

Former St. Louisan George Hickenlooper collaborates posthumously with Orson Welles in The Big Brass Ring, now appearing on Showtime

Short Cuts

Letters to the Editor