union station | Just in case you haven’t noticed, soccer is a big deal in the Lou. Now, if you’re a mom or dad driving a minivan full of muddy, rowdy kids—with all due respect, we’re not talking about you. We’re talking about our new Major League Soccer club, the first MLS expansion club ever to win its first three games. Restaurants and bars throughout the city are enjoying an increase in business thanks to the St. Louis City Soccer Club as well as the Battlehawks. (In a minute, it’ll be baseball, too, of course!) Win or lose, it’s nearly impossible to dampen the enthusiasm of an StL sports fan, and The Pitch at Union Station aims to capitalize on that. A brand-spanking-new athletic club and tavern opened Feb. 27 at Market and 20th streets on the northwest corner of St. Louis Union Station. You can swing by to eat, drink and cheer (or all three) Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday until 1 a.m. And on weekends, bring your outside voice bright and early for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Why? Ever heard of Manchester United? Well, you’ll be right chuffed to learn that European and other international soccer matches will be on the large TVs in view everywhere in this pub-themed joint. And, of course, things can get quite Messi if a certain star of the 2022 World Cup champion team steals the ball. Messi? Come learn something new at The Pitch. Now, our current StL soccer elite are not the only team celebrated all up in here. Remember the Steamers? Of course you do. No? Well, certain high school, college and university teams have triumphed in the Lou, too, of course. Come sample classics from NYC’s famed Carnegie Deli, including the Reuben, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. If you don’t end up being a citizen of the world, you might just become a St. Louligan yourself, cleats not required. Mouthwatering begins at thepitch-stl.com.
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Anyone curious about Story Stitchers’ volunteer work to reduce gun violence can see first-hand what the organization is all about in a monthly podcast series called StitchCast Studio LIVE! The StitchCast on March 28 will feature young leaders talking about community challenges and solutions during a live podcast recording at High Low, the group’s new production and performance center at 3301 Washington Ave. Not only can you watch, you can also be part of the live discussion in a family-friendly open mic! Story Stitchers artists and guest artists will round out each presentation with live art interludes. StitchCast Studio podcasts are published and available on Podbean, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, where you can check out what these artists have been up to. Scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m., the live podcast sessions are free, but registration is required at eventbrite.com. The Stitchcast next month is slated for April 25 and will concentrate on violence in music. Youth between the ages of 16 and 24 motivated to raise up our community and eliminate the horrors of gun violence may join Stitchers Youth Council at storystitchers.org. Meanwhile, the organization seeks a young person interested in working and gaining skills as an artist and audio engineer in a collaborative studio.
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The Million-Dollar Quartet is one of the first miracles of rock ’n’ roll. In Memphis, Tennessee, on Dec. 4, 1956, four giants of the genre—still under construction and called ‘rockabilly’ by many radio disc jockeys and record producers—gathered at Sun Studios for an impromptu jam session. Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins were there with the not-quite-coronated ‘King of Rock ’n’ Roll,’ some greasy-haired kid named Elvis Presley. The tape started rolling, and history was made. Historians estimate that as much as 95% of the master tapes are still in working condition. Haven’t heard the recordings? Well, then, you’re in for a treat from STAGES at the Ross Family Theatre in the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center because Million Dollar Quartet will be performed Sept. 8 to Oct. 8. With a book by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott, the musical dramatizes the session. You’ll hear classics like “I Walk the Line” (Cash), “Blue Suede Shoes” (Perkins) and “Great Balls of Fire” (Lewis). And count on hearing plenty of familiar Elvis songs, and if they don’t do “Don’t Be Cruel” and a gospel song or two, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. The songs won’t sound all scratchy, like the 45 RPM singles some of us had back in the day, and female vocals will round out the show. (Elvis’ then-girlfriend Marilyn Evans can be heard requesting a song on the full jam session, but no women graced the 1956 recordings.) And it won’t be off the cuff, like it was in Memphis more than six decades ago; these professionals rehearse and perform over and over again. Don’t feel like rockin’? Well, OK then. It doesn’t make you a bad person. Elton John and Tim Rice’s version of a classic love story, Aida, will be at STAGES from June 2 to July 2, followed by Clue, the musical, which runs July 21 to Aug. 20. Visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314.821.2407.