Shawl Every Day 2020
For several years now, I have participated in a self-imposed challenge to wear a different handmade shawl or cowl every day until I run out. Last year, I started on January 1st and included new information about mental health. This year, I will be wearing and posting a new shawl every day in the month of April and showcasing a local business I love. I will encourage you to patronize them if you can, or donate to the Gateway Resilience Fund, which is providing help to local businesses who are affected by COVID-19.
April 1 - Whisk and Poptimism
Kaylen Wissinger is a certified badass. She bakes amazingly delicious cookies, cupcakes, duffins, and more. She freezes up all sorts of flavors of pops, including PROVEL!!!! She is a fantastic entrepreneur and supporter of other women entrepreneurs. I'm so grateful that she exists in the world and I know she could use a little extra help right now. Please consider buying a gift card to get some of her yummy goods once the shop reopens. You won't regret it!
April 2 - Blues City Deli
Blues City Deli is a Benton Park staple with amazing sandwiches (frequently inspired by many of the blues music cities on the "Blues Highway") and wonderful live music. Their veggie Reuben is an absolute must-have, complete with dripping sauce and perfect rye bread. The line is often long, but it is definitely worth the wait.
April 3 - Maven
Maven 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 order pickup and 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. :D
April 4 - The Heavy Anchor
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
April 5 - Felix’s Pizza Pub
I have been going to Felix's 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.
April 6 - Jansen Sharpening
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 love supporting women entrepreneurs and as a bonus, she works the Tower Grove Farmer's Market which was basically down the street. But I didn't stop there! I invited her to the startup I worked for at the time and she set up shop and sharpened the knives of everyone in my office. :D If you can, I highly recommend taking advantages of her services. You will end up like me, wondering how you let your knives be so dull for so long.
April 7 - Frida’s Deli
One perk of moving to UCity is that we are now within walking distance of Frida's. They are a plant-based deli that is a favorite among St. Louis Blues players. We've seen Magnus Pääjärvi there in the past. :D They are currently doing carryout of pre-made mains, sides, pizza, plus ingredients like various plant-based burger patties, vegan jerky, select groceries, and alcohol. We placed an order yesterday for pickup today and everything looks sooo good. Even if you're not vegetarian or vegan, everything is really healthy and delicious. If it's good enough for Ryan O'Reilly, it's good enough for you!
April 8 - Pizza Head
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.
April 9 - Greetabl
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. :)
April 10 - Flowers and Weeds
Flowers & Weeds on Cherokee St 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.
April 11 - Series Six
Series Six 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!
April 12 - Sprouted Designs
I have known Amanda Gray-Swain since 2012 and she never ceases to amaze me. She is the one-woman-show of her main brand, Sprouted Designs, which specializes in screen printed tea towels (of which I have many!), napkins, and baby/toddler clothing. She hosted my second-ever bra shop pop-up event. She marched in the Women's March in 2017. Then as part of the #MeToo movement, she launched her second brand, Believe Women Apparel, which not only rocks it in terms of messaging, but also donates a portion of sales to the ACLU. I am proud to call her my friend and I hope that you consider supporting a kick-ass woman entrepreneur who is making a difference in the world.
April 13 - The Vine
The Vine 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. They are currently offering take-out frozen meals, smoothies, and juices, so give them a call (314-776-0991) and your taste buds will thank you!
April 14 - Apotheosis Comics
Apotheosis Comics is the only comic book shop + bar in St. Louis and now they are currently operating as a bar that also delivers comics! :P 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. I highly recommend following the shop on social media, ordering some comics and beer, and hitting up the shop once they are back open.
April 15 - Jay’s International Foods
If you are in need of any "weird" ingredient, Jay's 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. They are currently closed until 4/30, but once they reopen, I highly recommend browsing their aisles for food inspiration.
April 16 - 12oh7 Herban Eatery
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.
April 17 - The Whiskey Ring
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! They are currently offering a bunch of beer, alcohol, and cocktail kits for curbside pickup, but also make sure to bookmark them for a future stroll down Cherokee Street.
April 18 - Binx Ceramic
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). I'm pretty sure Binx was the actual reason mom would help me at craft fairs - so she could buy more creatures. :P Binx just posted a massive spring update on her website, which includes things such as farm animals, forest creatures, garden stuff, rainbow unicats, a Sasquatch, ocean creatures (including mercats), and a sweet 80's style set which I just might need for my birthday. :D Start or grow your collection today!
April 19 - Mac’s Local Eats
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. They are currently offering no-contact curbside pickup, which I plan to take advantage of later this week. I cannot recommend this place enough, and I encourage everyone to go there and be amazed.
April 20 - The Royale
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. They are currently closed, but I look forward to going back once they reopen.
April 21 - Jam & Bee Ceramics
Jam & 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. :P They are adding new stuff daily, so I'm sure you'll find something that would the perfect gift for anyone on your list.
April 22 - Four Muddy Paws
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.
April 23 - Venice Café
My husband Brian and I will always have a soft spot in our hearts for Venice Café. 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. We had our engagement photos taken there, Ellen played at our wedding reception, and we have gone back many times since then. The décor is eclectic to the max, the live music is always local and new, and I'm pretty sure they never run out of Stag. I am sad to say that they are currently closed indefinitely, but I hope they will be able to weather this storm and that we will be back again to enjoy the crazy art vibes of this Benton Park icon.
April 24 - Amsterdam Tavern
Amsterdam Tavern on Morganford is primarily a soccer bar, but in June 2019, all eyes were on hockey. For game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, we knew we wanted to be around people, and Amsterdam happily obliged. The place was packed with Blues jerseys and sported its own janky Stanley Cup topped with a mixing bowl. The atmosphere was incredible and drinks flowed freely. It was an incredible experience and one I'll remember for a long time.
I was in a knitting funk lately and my therapist told me to go back to basics to give myself a small win, so I should knit something I'm confident in, like a hat I've made before or something. But did I listen? NoOoOo. Instead I learned an entirely new stitch called the brioche stitch and ended up with this cowl that looks amazing. It's soft, warm, and reminds me of a stained glass window.
April 25 - Unstitched Embroidery
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. 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.
April 26 - The Crow’s Nest
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. The décor will never leave you bored and all of their food is delicious. They are currently closed, but are hosting a stay-at-home version of HMB. Take a pic of your brunch, tag The Crow's Nest, and they will gladly critique it for you. Bonus points for metal puns! I can't wait to go back so we can see what everyone is complaining about. :P
April 27 - Bridge Bread
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. They are currently offering weekly deliveries based on zip code, so place your order today! We have never been disappointed.
April 28 - STL Style
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 own too many of their shirts to count, but that didn't stop me from ordering one for our new home in UCity. They have been a cornerstone of Cherokee Street for 10 years, and Jeff and Randy are such an integral part of the St. Louis community.
April 29 - Yoga For Healing
Yoga for Healing 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.
April 30 - 2nd Shift Brewing
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. When I worked on the Hill, 2nd Shift was my go-to bar after work. I know my coworkers and I spent a lot of time hanging out on the couches, enjoying the chill atmosphere and yummy brewery smells. Libby and crew have been through a very rough patch, requiring the layoff of many employees, but they are currently offering beer to go, so I highly recommend grabbing a 6 pack or 2 or 5. In addition to the Gateway Resilience Fund, you can also donate to the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Foundation, which is supporting furloughed brewing industry employees.