Edition: David Sanborn Riffs on St. Louis
St. Louis Stories: The Word Around Town
Author: Beth M. Custer
From T.S. Eliot and Tennessee Williams to a score of contemporary novelists, St. Louis has bred more than its share of great writers. Many of our native authors have used their hometown as a story backdrop, writing what they know while bringing a Midwestern aesthetic to their books. A world of details about life in St. Louis is revealed in this selection of literary works, all set in the shadow of the Arch.
St. Louis Noir
St. Louis and its environs have served as the setting of countless fictional mysteries, both deadly serious and darkly humorous. In Ridley Pearson's latest entry, Cut and Run, he establishes the surroundings immediately with mentions of Creve Coeur Lake (M5;B1) and the Arch (M2;C5) on page one. The book's opening scene in the Fox Theatre (M4;B6) is an instant attention-getter; the description of the interior decor will make you look at the theatre in a whole new light.
Webster Groves native John Lutz has penned an entire series of mystery novels that take place in and around the city. The Nudger Dilemmas: A Short Story Collection includes thirteen stories that feature Alo Nudger, a quirky private investigator who manages to solve crimes in spite of a nervous stomach. Lutz's frequent references to St. Louis's major thoroughfares, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (M5;A2) and attractions like the Saint Louis Art Museum (M4;B3) ring true for locals while providing an authentic backdrop for readers unfamiliar with the area.
Hometown writer Elaine Viets, formerly of South St. Louis, concocts light, comedic mysteries fairly bursting with local color. The recently published Dying in Style is the first in her new Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper series. Josie is a resident of Maplewood (M4;C2), a hip, recently revitalized neighborhood a few miles west of downtown, were she works as a mystery shopper, raises her daughter, and sleuths to solve murder mysteries. Readers will recognize well-known spots like the Saint Louis Zoo (M4;B3) and the Saint Louis Galleria (M4;B1).
St. Louis Lit
St. Louis locales figure prominently in the stories of Daniel Stolar. The Middle of the Night is a collection of short stories full of references to St. Louis streets, schools, and neighborhoods like the Central West End (M4;B5) and Soulard (M4;D7). The stories deal with universal themes that are appealing no matter where you're from, but St. Louisans in particular will instantly recognize many of the settings. The book's dust jacket features a photo of the brilliantly lit Arch silhouetted against the blackness of the night sky, a perfect pictorial reference to the book's content.
The Game of Their Lives by Geoffrey Douglas is based on the true story of an inexperienced American soccer team that manages a stunning win over the British champions at the 1950 World Cup. The team includes five working class Italian-American men from The Hill (M4;D4). The 2003 movie of the same name was shot on location in St. Louis; many locals worked in the film as extras.
A.E. Hotchner's King of the Hill is the story of a young boy growing up in Depression-era St. Louis. Much of the action takes place near Kingshighway and Delmar Boulevard (M4;B5), with several mentions of Forest Park (M4;B4); residents will recognize descriptions of Kirkwood (M5:D2) and Creve Coeur (M5;C1). In one memorable scene, Charles Lindbergh flies the Spirit of St. Louis under the Eads Bridge (M2;B6), to the delight of hundreds of school children. In 1993 the book was made into a movie directed by Steven Soderbergh and shot on location in St. Louis.
The Redbirds
The pride many of us feel for our city is due in no small part to the Cardinals. Ask a St. Louisan about his fondest memories of growing up here, and he's sure to include a tale of games at Busch Stadium (M2;D4). Baseball fans can enjoy the off-season with Three Nights in August by Buzz Bissinger, an in-depth look at a three-game series between the Cardinals and the Cubs. Bissinger was given unprecedented access to Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and the entire team while he wrote this book, resulting in an intimate view of a team's subculture and a manager's decision-making strategy. If you need another Cardinals fix to hold you until opening day, try The Memoirs of Bing Devine: Stealing Lou Brock and Other Brilliant Moves by a Master G.M. In it, Mr. Devine collaborates with award-winning sportswriter Tom Wheatley to describe his decades-long career in pro baseball, most of which was spent with the Cardinals. It includes fascinating details about Lou Brock, Mike Shannon, Jack Buck, Whitey Herzog, and other famous names in baseball.
More Local Color
Contemporary non-fiction selections about the city are abundant and can be found at many local bookstores. The Hill: Its History - Its Recipes by Eleanore Berra Marfisi is both an introduction to the superior Italian restaurants on The Hill (M4;D4), and a cookbook filled with treasured family recipes. Still Shining! Discovering Lost Treasures from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair by Diane Rademacher is a nostalgic look at buildings, statues, and other relics that survived the fair. Two of its best-known treasures are the Saint Louis Art Museum (M4;B3) and the recently renovated Grand Basin (M4;B3). Finally, no roundup of books about St. Louis would be complete without Meet Me in St. Louis by Sally Benson, recently reprinted in an anniversary edition. The heartwarming story of the Smith family, set in St. Louis at the beginning of the World's Fair, is a much-loved favorite.
Gateway Arch
707 N. First St., St. Louis, MO 63102
Since 1965, when construction workers placed the final piece of steel at the apex of the Gateway Arch, over 25 million sightseers have journeyed to its top. Also known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Arch stands as the 630-foot tall gatekeeper to the Midwest, making it the tallest national monument in the U.S. , and the 4 th most-visited tourist attraction in the world. Its juxtaposition between the Mississippi River and the historical city of St. Louis provides sightseers with much more than a bit of vertigo at journey's end. Whether you pop into a museum, patronize one of the unique eateries at river's edge, or indulge in souvenirs, a visit to the Gateway Arch grounds offers anyone and everyone a memorable experience and a bit of American history.
The Fox Theatre
527 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63103
An exotic, restored venue from the days of the grand movie houses.
St. Louis Art Museum
1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110
Originally constructed as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1904 World's Fair, the Saint Louis Art Museum's elegant stone exterior has and always will bear the motto “Dedicated to Art and Free to All.”
Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110
The St. Louis Zoo is located within Forest Park, and free to the public.
Saint Louis Galleria
Clayton Rd. and Brentwood Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63117
This popular shopping destination for visitors offering 165 retailers is a big draw for residents of St. Louis and visitors alike.
