The Insider: 11.21.18

Delmar Gardens West resident Leona “Lee” McKee recently blew out the candles on birthday cake number 104. The Breese, Illinois, native attended Rosati-Kain High School and worked for the Stix, Baer & Fuller department store chain. She celebrated the milestone birthday with family and friends. Congratulations!

University City-based designer Karen Daniels of Tess Jewelry recently picked up some one-of-a-kind inspiration from the City of Lights. She attended Paris Fashion Week and immersed herself in runway shows, museum tours and meetings with other designers. One special tour experience allowed her to walk in the footsteps of the late Coco Chanel, whose creations have inspired the jewelry designer’s work. Daniels will hold a trunk show Nov. 30 at Giddy Up Jane; pictured are some of her latest pieces. Visit tessjewelry.net.

Speaking of what’s in vogue, the St. Louis Fashion Fund is set to graduate its inaugural class of featured designers next month. A few changes are being woven into the four-year-old nonprofit’s 2019 plans. Among them are a new collaborative rental workspace program called the Design Co-Op, an expanded speaker series, new education programs and a Fashion Consortium to create a stronger voice for the local industry.

Automotive history buffs, get revved up! Local author William Knoedelseder has released Fins: Harley Earl, the Rise of General Motors and the Glory Days of Detroit. The book, published by HarperCollins, chronicles the fascinating life of Earl, who left an indelible mark on the profession of automotive styling—and on the Motor City itself. Available at amazon.com.

the main events

Head to the Missouri Botanical Garden Dec. 2 for Chanukah: Festival of Lights, a traditional Jewish celebration with Israeli music and dance, a menorah-lighting ceremony and Chanukah merchandise from area vendors.

Step into the holiday season with the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 2 and 3, part of the ballet’s 100-city North American ‘Dove of Peace’ tour.

Tidings of good humor are on stage through Jan. 6 at Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas. The show, performed at The Playhouse @ Westport Plaza, takes you back to the quirky cheer of a 1950s Sunday school Christmas program.