Culinarian Natasha Kwan, owner of Frida’s Vegetarian Restaurant, represented the STL in a recent episode of Guy’s Grocery Games on The Food Network. It aired Dec. 26 and was the first time the competition show featured vegetarian chefs. Kwan wasn’t ultimately the victor but said she was excited to highlight plant-based cooking and called the appearance “a bucket-list experience.” She and husband Rick Roloff plan to open Diego’s Mexican Restaurant in U. City this spring.
Literary arts in the Lou are about to get a big boost from the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. The organization is funding the High Low, a new downtown venue that will include a library, gallery, cafe, event center and collaborative workspace. It’s scheduled to open this summer in a renovated two-story building at 3301 Washington Ave. and will offer rotating collections of curated books, magazines, newspapers, art and more. James Beard Award-nominated chef Rob Connoley will help develop the fast-casual cafe.
Late St. Louis Blues chairman Mike Shanahan Sr. is set to be immortalized at the new, 84,000-square-foot Chesterfield Sports Complex opening late this summer. The $21.5 million facility will be home to the Mike Shanahan Sr. Family Arena, a competition ice rink. Shanahan, who passed away in January 2018, was chairman and CEO of Engineered Support Systems Inc.
Congratulations are in order for Haitian-American author and essayist Edwidge Danticat, winner of the 2019 St. Louis Literary Award from the Saint Louis University Library Associates. Danticat has written fiction and nonfiction works about the lives of Haitian citizens and is known for titles such as Breath, Eyes, Memory and The Dew Breaker. She will receive her award at a ceremony this fall.
the main events
Float over to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield for Friday Night FlightsFeb. 1 and 8. The event features themed appetizers, desserts, drinks, music and more against a backdrop of 2,000 bright blue morpho butterflies.
The award-winning Jasper String Quartet will perform selections from Haydn, Mendelssohn and Akira Nishimura Feb. 7 at the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall at 560 Music Center. First violinist J Freivogel is a St. Louis native.
In celebration of Fat Tuesday traditions, The Dark Room @ The Grandel Gallery will feature a new exhibit by photographer Stan Strembicki titled The Flambeaux of New Orleans Mardi Gras. It runs Feb. 7 through March 8.
