2nd Shift Brewing has such a wonderful place in my heart. Not only do they make delicious beer (shout out to Katy, my favorite!), but they have hosted countless pop-up events where I have sold my shawls. They have also begun hosting events to get the brewing industry in St. Louis talking about mental health, which is even more important now than ever.

Yoga for Healing St. Louis is a trauma-sensitive yoga class started by my sister-in-law Julie in order to support healing. She began the practice as a way to help survivors of sexual and domestic violence. However, it is profoundly clear that we are all experiencing a collective trauma, so she has started posting her classes on YouTube so that anyone can participate. If you are feeling overwhelmed or scared or worried, take some time for self care and do some yoga with Julie. You are safe and you are loved.

STL-Style is an absolute city treasure. Their designs beautifully capture what we love about St. Louis and all its quirks. From Ferguson to South City to Clayton to the East Side, they have you covered.

We have sung the praises of Bridge Bread before, but it bears repeating how great of an organization it is. They provide supportive employment to people without safe and stable housing plus their cinnamon rolls are the best in St. Louis.

The Crow's Nest in Maplewood is one of our favorite dive bars/restaurants. Their drinks have wonderful puns, they always have a weird movie projected next to the bar, and their signature Heavy Metal Brunch is just the best.

Unstitched Embroidery creates beautiful, fun, and sometimes cheeky hand embroidered art. I have several of her pieces, but my favorite is the one I commissioned for my husband of Tucker's Law (Google at your own risk). Her work is also hilariously feminist and she donates 10% of all sales to Planned Parenthood. I highly recommend her uterus works, Bob's Burgers pieces, and of course, custom commissions.

Amsterdam Tavern on Morganford is primarily a soccer bar, but in June 2019, all eyes were on hockey.

My husband Brian and I will always have a soft spot in our hearts for Venice Cafe St. Louis. We went to an open mic night hosted by Miles Long and Ellen the Felon (who has since dropped the "Felon") and had our first kiss on the absolutely incredible patio.

Four Muddy Paws is our go-to pet store. We originally started going there because of their self-service dog washing stations, but we now get all our stuff there from pet food to treats to collars and toys. They are highly focused on pet nutrition and being a community hub for everything pet-related. They are currently offering curbside pickup, which we have already taken advantage of! We highly recommend them as a local alternative to big-box pet stores.

Jam and Bee Ceramics makes some of the cutest stuff around. What caught my eye was a kitty planter, which I repurposed into a pen/pencil/scissors holder for my desk. They feature lots of adorable animals, spooky skulls, and a little bit of profanity. They are adding new stuff daily, so I'm sure you'll find something that would the perfect gift for anyone on your list.

The Royale is easily my favorite bar/restaurant in St. Louis. Their menu is very vegetarian friendly and the atmosphere is just delightful. I have tried almost every cocktail on their extensive drink menu and I have never been disappointed. Their patio is doggo-friendly and is often the host to many political watch parties.

The best veggie burger in St. Louis can be found at Mac's Local Eats. They take great pride in their smashburgers as well as their whole supply chain, using farmers who do things right. They have also revolutionized the french fry by dusting them with Red Hot Riplets seasoning.

Binx Ceramic is the creator of the absolute freaking cutest ceramic animals, gnomes, succulents, home decor, and more. She was one of my mom's favorite artists and my mom had sooo much of her stuff (which I now have).

The Whiskey Ring is a relatively new bar staple on Cherokee Street. They focus on whiskey (obviously), classic cocktails, and local beers. The vibe is old-timey but relaxed and offers high class alcohol with a dive bar feel. And of course, who can say no to Western Wear Night!

12oh7 Herban Eatery is a black-owned, plant-based pop-up restaurant and caterer. Everything they make is delicious, but by far our favorite is the Crunchy Wrap, fashioned after the Taco Bell classic. Being plant-based is more than just quinoa salads and kale! 12oh7 scratches that itch of not-quite-good-for-you food with their tacos, fried mushrooms, ramen, and melty sandwiches. They are currently offering curbside pickup + meal kits.

If you are in need of any "weird" ingredient, Jay International Foods should be your first stop. They carry things from all around the world from Taiwanese to Japanese to Lebanese to Greek to German to Vietnamese to Hungarian to you name it. We love to play the game of "pick up a food product and guess where it's from." It's definitely a regular stop of ours after going to a traditional grocery store.

Apotheosis Comics & Lounge is the only comic book shop + bar in St. Louis and now they are currently operating as a bar that also delivers comics! They carry traditional comic books as well as graphic novels, geeky gifts, plus tons of local beer and cocktails. Owner Martin Casas is a devoted St. Louis-an and incredible community builder.

The Vine Cafe and Market is the best Lebanese restaurant not just on South Grand, but in St. Louis. Per my husband Brian, it is straight fire. They have the falafel against which we judge all other falafel. Easily the best baba ganoush in the city. We love them so much, they even catered our wedding, including baklava for dessert.

I have known Amanda since 2012 and she never ceases to amaze me.

Series Six Company is unabashedly St. Louis. Their t-shirts and other apparel have a fun, modern design that celebrates everything we love about this city from the St. Louis Blues to Red Hot Riplets to baseball and everything in between. They currently have several shirts that are supporting local businesses as well as community organizations, so definitely pick up a shirt or two or five!