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!

Flowers and Weeds on Cherokee Street is a great small business alternative to grocery store flowers or hardware store garden supplies. I've used them for a delivery to our real estate agent who rocked our recent move and I picked up some marigolds there for Day of the Dead. The cowl I'm wearing for Siblings Day today is extra special because each color represents the birthstone of myself and my 2 sisters. I made them each cowls of a slightly different pattern, but with their birthstone color in the center, so that they all coordinated, but didn't exactly match.

I am mildly obsessed with Greetabl. It's a local company that offers gifts that are more than just a card, but less than a full-on present. Examples are a small bag of toffee, a cute enamel pin, soap, or a small candle. The gift goes in a square paper box that unfolds to reveal pictures that you add along with your personal message. I have sent over a dozen Greetabls over the years and they are always a big hit. It's the perfect way to send a little smile.

If you want a classic New York slice or a giant 20" pie, then Pizza Head on South Grand is the place for you. Everything is vegetarian and vegan, even the meat. They even do vegan cheese as well. The vegan pepperoni completely fooled one of my meat-loving friends. No frills, just pizza, cheap beer, and punk rock.

One perk of moving to UCity is that we are now within walking distance of Frida's St. Louis. They are a plant-based deli that is a favorite among St. Louis Blues players. We've seen Magnus Pääjärvi there in the past.

After watching a zillion different cooking shows on YouTube and Netflix, I realized that I needed to get my knives properly sharped. I found Jansen Sharpening and knew she was the one.

I have been going to Felixs Dogtown about every other week for probably 5 years now. It's a friendly Dogtown hangout with delicious pizza, the best waffle fries in town, and incredible staff. On Tuesdays they have bar trivia, which is always a blast and one of the main reasons we go there so much. I stopped by today to meet up with a friend to get some face masks from her, but I also saw that Felix's is doing takeout (call them at 314-645-6565!). In classic Dogtown fashion, we saw a dad and his kid ride up to Felix's in a golf cart, grab a pizza, and ride back home. Love you, Dogtown and love you, Felix's.

The Heavy Anchor is the absolute quintessential South City dive bar. Cheap drinks, laid-back attitude, local music, and other fun community events like comedy shows, karaoke, and even craft fairs! My handknit beer cozies were always a big hit at those events. Just today, my sweet shiny gold beer cozy arrived along with a T-shirt that smelled exactly like the bar. I love it.

Buy some merch and tip the bartenders on Venmo at @theheavyanchor

Maven Bath & Candle Co. is our go-to shop for soaps, scrubs, candles, face masks, you name it. My husband Brian is a complete sucker for pretty much everything they have. Everything smells soooo good and all the products are high quality and sustainable. They are currently doing curbside pickup plus delivery within 10 miles of the store. I placed an order today because I have gone 2 weeks without my sugar scrub and my skin is having Maven withdrawal.