Congrats to T&S columnist Joan Berkman! She was honored by the National Federation of Press Women as a winner of its 2026 Professional Communications Contest. The Velvet Hammer was selected from more than 2,000 entries from across the country.
best of the fest
The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is returning Nov. 1-10 with its full speaker series running from Oct. 12-Dec. 17. This year’s headliners include Israeli screenwriter and actor Lior Raz, award-winning composer and producer Marc Shaiman, and St. Louis-native restaurateur and entrepreneur Danny Meyer. For a full schedule of events, visit jccstl.com.
Pictured: Danny Meyer
history home run
Baseball fans won’t want to miss the Missouri History Museum’s newest exhibit. St. Louis at Bat: 100 Moments in Baseball History celebrates more than 165 years of teams, players, fans and traditions that shaped the StL into a baseball city. The free exhibition covers everything from the city’s first known game in 1860 to the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series win. Find out more at mohistory.org/baseball.
Laumeier Sculpture Park welcomed a new work this month! Honey Chile was commissioned from acclaimed artist Alison Saar as part of Laumeier’s 50th anniversary curatorial theme Begin Again. The series of projects invites artists to revisit a past project that has since been decommissioned. Standing eight feet tall, Honey Chile features a feral child with a honeybee hive nestled in one of the branches sprouting from her hair.
Get crafty! St. Charles County Parks Department is hosting the Hands-On Heritage: Gourd Crafting workshop on Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Held outside the Historic Daniel Boone Home, the event offers the opportunity for crafters 12 and up to design custom holiday decorations. Admission is $5 per person, and pre-registration is required as space is limited. Learn more at stccparks.org.
