St. Louis is a city of writers — and readers. Surely there is not another city in the U.S. this size that supports so many print publications, or has nurtured so many top-tier authors.
And so for this year's City Guide, we took a look at St. Louis through the lens of some of our favorite books. From a photo essay pairing ten classic works with ten local bars (and ten delicious drinks) to our guide to the area's best bookstores, you'll find plenty of reading recommendations throughout these pages. We've taken Martha Gellhorn's advice and offered twenty ways not to be a stranger here; we've also got an essay explaining how so many of our greatest scribes got this place all wrong. We've even offered up our very own Hitchhiker's Guide to St. Louis, because what could be a better way to explore this fascinating place than via Douglas Adams' brilliant conceit of explaining the earth to a space alien?
But it's not all literary allusions. Even bookworms need to eat, so food critic Cheryl Baehr has provided two lists: one compiling the buzziest spots in town, and the other a tribute to ten classic restaurants that have stood the test of time. You can't go wrong using either list as a guide.
And finally, we finish things off with a list of 40 things you must do in St. Louis before you die. Surely if great literature has taught us anything, it's that we won't be here forever. Seize the day, friends. Eat, drink, be merry — and thank you for reading, and supporting, this publication while you still can.
