Located at 10 E. Main St. in the heart of Festus’ Main Street business district, a new bar concept called Central Tap brings a unique twist to the local beverage scene. Heading up the concept is Denny Foster, of Main and Mill Brewing Co., the new bar is now open. The unique venue promises to deliver a fun, flavorful and nostalgic experience for all who visit.

At the core of the concept is a varied drink menu that is designed to keep things fresh and exciting. With 24 taps in total, one-third will be dedicated to non-alcoholic beverages, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. Expect a wide variety of drinks, from lemonade, cold brew coffee, teas and yerba mate to a lineup of house-made sodas, including root beer, cola and ginger beer.  “The offerings will change weekly,” Foster said.

For those craving something a bit stronger, the bar will also feature a variety of craft beers, many of which will differ from the offerings at Main and Mill. There will also be eight slushies available, some alcohol-infused and some completely non-alcoholic, making it the perfect place for a refreshing drink no matter your preference. There will also be two cocktails on tap, which will also rotate depending on seasonality. Down the road there are plans to lean into ferments like kombuchas.

The bar’s interior will be an experience in itself. Designed with a heavy emphasis on a fun and vibrant pop culture aesthetic, the space will evoke feelings of nostalgia through its design and décor.  “Overall what we’re trying to do is add another level of fun,” he explained of the vibe.

A mural created by local artist Kenzie Wolk graces the back bar, and Wolk also designed the signage on the building’s exterior. Back inside, there’s nostalgic nods to TV shows, video games and pop culture located throughout the space. Exposed brick walls mix with some drywall, creating an eclectic vibe that’s both modern and vintage. The flooring, chosen for both practicality and style, is a ceramic that mimics the look of hardwood, making it perfect for the high-traffic environment.

Lighting also plays an essential role in the space, with built-in lights illuminating the bar area and spotlighting the atmosphere. To create an even more inviting environment, Central has an outdoor space with a small porch area that has hinged bar stools that are built-in as well as standing room for patrons to enjoy the fresh air, along with a prime view of Main Street. Seating on the front outdoor area has room just over a dozen, and standing room for several more guests, while the main seating area indoors has room for around 40, with around eight seats at the bar.

One of the most exciting features of Central is the back deck, which will be open throughout the year, offering a unique space for patrons to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. This area will include a stage, as well as a drop-down screen, perfect for live music or movie screenings. The back deck overlooks the production area located below, and enclosed glass provides a cool behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process. “We should be able to fit around 100-plus in our back deck area without any issue,” Foster explained. 

As the project continues to evolve, the team is committed to ensuring that the space remains a dynamic and engaging place for patrons to relax, drink and have fun. And if it seems like a lot of thought has went into the space, that’s because it has.

This project has been over six years in the making. The building was purchased with the vision of transforming it into a vibrant space that would bring something new to Main Street. After more than two years of renovations, including focused work since January, the team is excited to bring their vision to life. 

As the bar opens, they have plans to roll out additional concepts located under the same roof, with plans to launch a food concept and a cocktail bar called Six. Six will be an upscale cocktail bar designed as the perfect setting for date nights or a relaxing evening with friends. Although it was initially planned to be the first phase of the project, it has since pivoted to be the grand finale, capping off the development of this unique space.With so much to offer, this new venue is sure to become yet another go-to spot on Main Street for locals and visitors alike, with its ever-evolving drink menu, nostalgic aesthetic and exciting future plans. Stay in the know by following Central Tap on Facebook.

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October is a month that brings a noticeable crispness in the air and in the St. Louis area this month also features lots of food and drink celebrations. Tower Grove Park is the site of both the final Food Truck Friday of the year, as well as Harvest Festival, a one-day celebration that gives attendees samples of local restaurants, breweries, wineries and more. Other events include Ginweek St. Louis, Brew in the Lou, St. Louis Bourbon Fest, plus vegan festival VegFest is back this year, there’s also a multi-day taco festival, an apple butter festival and a lot more. 

Food Truck Friday
At the final Food Truck Friday event of the year, choose from 20 food trucks offering a variety of cuisines and enjoy live music by Silver Creek Bluegrass Band. Be sure to bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets to stay a while and enjoy the crisp fall afternoon outdoors in Tower Grove Park. 
Oct. 3 – 3-7 p.m., Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, saucefoodtruckfriday.com 

St. Louis Bourbon Fest
The St. Louis Bourbon Festival is more than just whiskey — it’s an experience. Held at the Lemp Grand Hall, attendees can enjoy the live music, local food trucks, cigar patios and, of course, hundreds of bourbon tastings.Tickets available online.
Oct. 3 – 6-9 p.m., Lemp Grand Hall, 1817 Cherokee St., St. Louis, stlouisbourbonfestival.com

Grove Fest
Manchester Avenue will transform into the ultimate block party for Grove Fest, a one-day event that features music, local vendors and food. The eclectic celebration is free to attend and has something for everyone, with kids activities, entertainment and music, crafts, food trucks, a variety of vendors and much more. 
Oct. 4 – Manchester Avenue in the Grove, stlgrovefest.com

St. Louis VegFest
St. Louis VegFest began in 2018 and is an annual one-day event celebrating a vegan plant-based lifestyle. Attendees can find a wide variety of vegan foods and non-animal based products, as well as live music, family-friendly activities, and more. Get more details online.
Oct. 5 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., World’s Fair Pavilion at Forest Park

Ginweek St. Louis
Ginworld is proud to host Ginweek St. Louis, the largest gin celebration in the world. The annual celebration is in its 10th year and began in 2015 at The Gin Room and has grown to a national celebration that takes place in 15 cities across the U.S. Ginweek brings together gin lovers, distillers and cocktail creatives and culminates with a Gin Festival on Sunday, Oct. 12, at Majorette, giving attendees the chance to sample hundreds of gin and cocktail tastings. Get more information and purchase tickets online.
Oct. 5-12 – Multiple locations, ginworld.com

Fest-of-Ale
Fest-of-Ale features over 20 local breweries offering beer tastings in the beautiful fall setting of the Garden. Enjoy live music, a commemorative glass and great brews.This rain-or-shine event is for 21+ only, with food available for purchase. Tickets are $40 members, $50 nonmembers and $15 Designated Drivers. Event proceeds benefit the Garden’s Outdoor Youth Corps education and workforce development program, which connects St. Louis region youth ages 16 to 24 with environmental stewardship projects, community engagement opportunities, and potential environmental careers. Advanced ticket purchases are encouraged, as this event can sell out quickly.
Oct. 10 – 6-9 p.m., Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, missouribotanicalgarden.org

Brew in the Lou
Join the 13th annual Brew in the Lou at the Lily Pond in Francis Park. Enjoy unlimited tastings from top local breweries, wineries and eateries, plus live music by Funky Butt Brass Band. Attendees can get unlimited samples from 2nd Shift Brewing, 4 Hands Brewing Co., Square One Brewery, Kansas City Bier Co., and Boulevard Brewing Co., along with local wineries like St. James Winery and Wild Sun Winery & Brewery and distilleries such as J. Rieger & Co. and Wood Hat Spirits. Food vendors range from 3 Gerards Pizza to K-bop food truck, Nonie’s Closet and STL City Eats. Don’t miss the Homebrew People’s Choice Competition and the debut of South City Eclipse, a custom Black IPA from Square One Brewery. This event is fun for the whole family, but has been known to sell out. Get your tickets online. 
Oct. 11 – 1-5 p.m., Francis Park, brewinthelou.com

Taco King Taco Fest
Taco King Taco Fest is St. Louis’ must-attend celebration of all things taco, held twice a year. Stop by the St. Peters festival, a one-day event or head to the Metro East for the two-day celebration, with both events giving attendees a chance to savor the city’s best tacos, enjoy live music all day and explore local craft and food vendors and contents. The winner of the taco-eating contest will earn a $200 cash prize and the new Hot Sauce Showdown winner gets a year’s supply of hot sauce, plus judges will crown one vendor as the Best Taco Spot, with Tacos La Jefa as the previous festival champion. Taco Fest serves up unbeatable flavor and entertainment for everyone, including family-friendly fun and a VIP experience featuring exclusive tastings, cocktails and swag. Don’t miss the ultimate taco party.
Oct. 11 & 18-19, St. Peters, and Granite City, Illinois., stltacofest.com

Harvest Festival
Celebrate the changing seasons in Tower Grove Park at Sauce Magazine’s Harvest Festival. This annual event gives attendees an opportunity to try restaurants, breweries, wineries and shop at the farmers market and dozens of arts and crafts vendors. Food vendors include FretFree Kitchen and  Tastachio Brands, along with food trucks Farmtruk, The Moobile, Tuk Tuk Thai, Beast Craft BBQ, Doughboys, Mr. Noodles and Cajun Seduction. Shoppers will discover a wide variety of vendors offering handmade and boutique goods, including Benton Park Prints, Beqi Clothing, Brixx & Stones, Ginger Snapped Candles, Izzy’s Barkin’ Bandanas, Macrame Mouse, Sarah Lady’s Art, Tatted Up Kat Designs, Vital Chi Wellness and many more. The live music soundtrack will kick off with Stone Sugar Shakedown from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and St. Louis’ best Grateful Dead cover band Alligator Wine will wrap up the day from 2-5 p.m.
Oct. 12 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tower Grove Park, harvestfeststl.com

Raise the Roof with Urban Harvest STL
Urban Harvest STL is hosting an evening under the stars at its annual Raise the Roof celebration honoring the individuals who bring life to the community through their work in food, farming and the fight for food justice. Guests will enjoy an evening surrounded by the beauty of the rooftop garden, with a curated selection of seasonal dishes, opportunities to win prizes in a St. Louis-themed raffle, and the chance to hear from community and program partners. All proceeds from the event support Urban Harvest STL’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a healthier, more sustainable St. Louis for all.
Oct. 17 – 6-8 p.m., 3224 Locust St., St. Louis, eventbrite.com

Pickle Palooza
Two Men & a Garden and The Original Pickle Shot present Pickle Palooza at Sports and Social in Ballpark Village. Pickle Palooza is the ultimate destination for all things dill-icious such as pickle-flavored foods, drinks, a pickle shot ice luge and more. Enjoy live music, local pickle vendors, pickleball courts, contests and prizing, bounce houses, face painting and more. Free admission for children 12 and under. Tickets are available online, use code SAUCE to get $5 off. Tickets include your first drink.
Oct. 18 – 12-5 p.m., Sports and Social, 601 Clark Avenue, St. Louis

Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival
Located just 30 minutes south of St. Louis, the town of Kimmswick hosts its annual Apple Butter Festival each October. Attendees of this free event can shop at the town’s unique boutiques and retail stores, eat at the town’s restaurants and explore the hundreds of homemade craft and food vendor booths that line the streets during the festival.
Oct. 25-26 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Kimmswick, cityofkimmswick.org

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September kicks off Oktoberfest festivities around the St. Louis area, with the celebrations continuing during the month of October. Don your lederhosen and dirndl and get ready to enter stein hoisting competitions, enjoy the German cuisine, beer, music and revelry happening throughout the area.

Das Bevo Oktoberfest
Sept. 12-14 – 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, dasbevo.com
Enjoy free admission to Das Bevo’s Oktoberfest, a weekend-long event featuring food, beer, music, and prizes for best-dressed attendees, including dogs, all weekend. Live music will be performed by So Grand Polka Band, Die Spitzbuam, Beer Choir, Deutschmeister Brass Band, Wurst Bavarian Band and Nebraska-based Bolzen Beer Band. Find out more details online.

Belleville Oktoberfest
Sept. 19-21 – Belleville Public Square, bellevilleoktoberfest.com
The 44th Annual Belleville Oktoberfest will feature authentic German food, brews and live music. Happening on the Belleville Public Square at the intersection of East & West Main Streets and North & South Illinois Streets, the festivities include a weiner dog race and costume contest, stein holding contest, cornhole and washer tossing tournaments, kids activities and more.

9 Mile Garden OktoBEER Fest
Sept. 19 – 5-9 p.m., 9 Mile Garden, 9375 Gravois Road, 9milegarden.com
OktoBEER Fest at 9 Mile Garden, sponsored by Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., will feature live music from So Grand Polka Band, local brewery beer samples, stein holding competitions, delicious eats from food trucks and guests can shop from 30 local vendors. Attendees can grab souvenir steins for $25 and the first fill stein is free, with $5 refills during the festivities. Reserve your souvenir stein online.

Saint Charles Oktoberfest
Sept. 26-28 – Frontier Park, St. Charles
Happening the last weekend in September, Saint Charles Oktoberfest is a three-day event full of food, music, fun and of course, beer. Celebrating all things German, the festival includes light-hearted activities like weiner dog races, a stein holding contest, brat eating contest, plus activities for kids and much more. Admission is free. Find out more, including event schedules, online.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
Sept. 26-28 – Grove Brewery & Bierhall, 4465 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, urbanchestnut.com
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. is hosting three full days of live music, traditional German fare and beer at this family friendly, indoor and outdoor Bavarian festival. Spanning two locations, attendees can head to the Grove Bierhall on Friday and Saturday, then the party moves to the Midtown Brewery & Biergarten for a family-friendly Bavarian Brunch celebration on Sunday. This year’s festivities will include old traditions and new events. Expect several genres of live music, including traditional and polka style, plus stein holding competitions, a silent disco, Oktoberfest theme craft vendors and more. Get more details online.

Zootoberfest
Oct. 4-5 & 10-12, Saint Louis Zoo, stlzoo.org/events
Enjoy a daytime, family-friendly Oktoberfest at the Zoo from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Take advantage of the cooler weather and visit the Zoo’s animals, exhibits and attractions. Kids can participate in fun activities, including an obstacle course and arts and crafts. German-inspired food, including beer brats, giant Bavarian pretzels, turkey legs and more, is available for purchase, along with apple cider, root beer and other soft drinks. For the first time ever this year, enjoy the Zoo’s family-friendly Oktoberfest at night. For one night only, on Friday, Oct. 10, from 5-8 p.m., guests can participate in fall activities, purchase German-inspired food, sip on local brews, or warm up with non-alcoholic seasonal drinks, plus so much more.

Hermann Oktoberfest
Weekends in October – Hermann, visithermann.com/oktoberfest-in-hermann
Every October the charming river town of Hermann hosts Oktoberfest. Happening every weekend throughout the month, attendees can find a celebration of the town’s German heritage, through good food, wine, beer, music and more.

Stubbornfest
Oct. 3-4 – Stubborn German Brewing, 121 S. Main St., Waterloo, stubborngermanbrewing.com/events
In Waterloo, the Oktoberfest festivities are known as Stubbornfest, the annual celebration put on by Stubborn German Brewing. The event happens outdoors on Main Street and features live German music by bands such as Bolzen Beer Band from Lincoln, Nebraska, Waterloo German Band and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and sit back and enjoy the German brews, music and food available for purchase from food vendors, or area restaurants located near Main Street.

Ektoberfest
Oct. 5 – Eckert’s Farm, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville, eckerts.com
Experience a family-friendly Oktoberfest event at Eckert’s Belleville Farm. Take a wagon ride through the orchard, enjoy seasonal favorites like warm kettle corn, cider donuts and fresh-pressed cider. There’s plenty of farm-based activities for the littles in the kid’s corral, and sip on hard cider from the Cider Shed while taking in the sounds of live German-style music, including performances by local favorites like the Waterloo German Band. Find more information online.

Oktoberfest in Soulard
Oct. 10 & 11, soulard-oktoberfest.com
Oktoberfest is perfectly at home in the historic neighborhood of Soulard. The neighborhood’s annual celebration pays tribute to the city’s rich brewing heritage, featuring a variety of beer – from traditional German styles to local brews. Guests can also enjoy authentic German cuisine, stein holding competitions, family-friendly activities and live music throughout the event.

Old Town Eureka Oktoberfest
Oct. 12 – 1-6 p.m., South Central Ave., Eureka, eureka.mo.us
Mark your calendars for Oktoberfest in Eureka, as Old Town transforms into a festive hub of food, fun and fall celebration at the Second Annual Oktoberfest. This year promises to be even bigger and better, featuring mouthwatering local fare, crisp craft beers and one-of-a-kind treasures from local shops. Families can enjoy a dedicated Kid’s Corner, while adults join in on games, enjoy live music from local bands and take in lively performances from traditional German dancers.

Oktoberfest at Westport Plaza
Oct. 17 & 18 – 111 Westport Plaza Drive, westportstl.com
Oktoberfest at Westport Plaza brings Bavarian flair and festive energy with lively performances by Russo & Co Band, Die Spitzbuam, The Wurst Bavarian Band and Übercool, along with traditional German dancers. Find German eats like bratwursts and pretzels that will be perfectly paired with the German brews available at the event.

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September’s a month where we’re saying farewell to summer and welcoming autumn’s crisp temperatures. The milder weather means there’s lots of festivals and outdoor activities to enjoy all month long, from illuminated evening walks through local farms, music and art festivals, cider and spirits festivals, plus this month there are two opportunities to eat delicious food and hear live music at Tower Grove Park at Sauce’s Food Truck Friday events.

Autumn Glow Festival
Every Thursday to Sunday in September through Oct. 26, 8004 Twin River Road, Eureka, brookdalefarms.com
Celebrate autumn like never before at Autumn Glow Festival at Brookdale Farms in Eureka. This event combines art, tradition and technology to light up the night. Take a magical stroll through dazzling Chinese lantern displays that are perfect for a cozy, family-friendly night out. Tickets for each evening are limited and can be purchased online.

La Vie Al Fresco
Weekdays through Oct 31 – 4 to 8 p.m., Cafe la Vie, 7730 Bonhomme Ave, St. Louis, cafelaviestlouis.com
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, located in the heart of downtown Clayton, will feature outdoor dining for the first time on its terrace with La Vie al Fresco. Dining on the terrace is on a first-come, first-served basis and features a special La Vie menu of five chef-crafted petit plates and full bar service. Some of the dishes include braised pork belly tartine, housemade salt and vinegar chips, island spiced braised pork Wellington, artichoke and Boursin croquette and local Baetje Farms goat cheese.

Art Outside
Sept. 4 to 5 – Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, schlafly.com/events
Schlafly Bottleworks in historic Maplewood is proud to sponsor and host the 22nd annual Art Outside Art Fair. This is an alternative art festival, in which every piece of artwork is unique and made by the artists. This annual festival features over 60 local artists and an array of mediums including acrylic, ceramics, glass, jewelry, metalwork, oil, pastel, ink, photography, stonework, tempera, textile, watercolor, woodworking and much more. Find more information, including festival times for each day online.

AppleFest
Every weekend in September – Eckert’s, eckerts.com
Happening at all three Eckert’s Farms on Saturday and Sunday throughout September, AppleFest features wagon rides, live entertainment, kid’s activities, apple picking and festival foods like kettle corn, funnel cakes, cider donuts and caramel apples.

Ballwin Craft Beer Festival
Sept. 6 – 3 to 6 p.m., Vlasis Park, Ballwin
The 2025 Ballwin Craft Beer Festival happens at Vlasis Park and will feature a variety of beer, seltzers and live music. Each tasting ticket includes a complimentary tasting glass and attendees will have a three-hour tasting time block for sampling. All ticket holders will be carded and must be 21 to participate in the tasting portion of the event, but soft drinks and water will be available for purchase from food vendors. Vlasis Park will be open to all during the festival but the tasting area will be open only to ticket holders. Tickets can be purchased online until Friday, Sept. 5.

Summer Concert Series
Sept. 12 – 4 to 9:30 p.m., Defiance Ridge Vineyards, 2711 S. Missouri 94, Defiance, defianceridge.com
Defiance Ridge Vineyards’ Summer Concert Series concludes with a fun-filled evening featuring Dancing Queen and Night Fever – A Tribute to Bee Gees and Abba. Concert-goers can enjoy a fireworks show in front of the vineyards.

Music at the Intersection
Sept. 12 to 14, Midtown St. Louis, matistl.org
Hear musical performances from artists like Common, De La Soul, Patti LaBelle, and many more at this three-day festival. With over 100 performances and presentations across 19 stages and venues, the festival also features food and beverages, carnival rides, an artisan market, workshops and much more. Passes are available for single day admission and weekend admission, with $10 donated to 4TheVille and their boots-on-the-ground tornado relief efforts. Purchase passes online.

Mosaics Fine Art Festival
Sept. 12 to 14 – North Main Street, Historic St. Charles, stcharlesmosaics.org
The 30th annual Mosaics Fine Art Festival will feature over 80 juried artists from more than 15 states exhibiting and selling their artwork. Media categories include clay, drawing, glass, leather, metal, pastel, oil/acrylic, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. The event also includes hands-on art experiences for children, musical performances throughout the weekend, and the Artists for Adoption Pet Pavilion, located at the north end of the festival, will be open to families interested in adopting pets from Stray Paws Adoptables.

Sauce Food Truck Friday
Sept. 12 – 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 26 – 3 to 7 p.m., Tower Grove Park, saucefoodtruckfriday.com
This month there’s two Food Truck Friday events, on Friday, Sept. 12, and again two weeks later on Friday, Sept. 26. At every Food Truck Friday event, you’ll find lots of food and drink to choose from – with around 20 food trucks per event, as well as live music. Enjoy music from Moon Valley on Sept. 12 and a performance by Neil Salsich & Friends on Sept. 26.

Farm Crawl
Sept. 13 to 14 – multiple locations, neighborhood.coop/farm-crawl
Take a road trip to southern Illinois to participate in Neighborhood Co-op Grocery’s Farm Crawl. Proceeds of this annual event will benefit Food Works, a nonprofit facilitating the development of a regional food economy in southern Illinois. Local farmers open up their farms to share a bit of their lives with the community, allowing attendees of the self-guided farm tour the chance to connect with local growers, while also celebrating local agriculture and food. Purchase tickets online.

Jack’s Lighted Trail
Sept. 13 through Nov. 1, Eckert’s Farm, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville, eckerts.com
A new fall attraction is coming to Eckert’s Belleville Farm, and the  walkable attraction immerses visitors in glowing displays of pumpkin sculptures, thematic photo opportunities and festive surprises around every corner. Guests will stroll through the half-mile Lighted Pumpkin Trail, featuring giant carved pumpkins and whimsical illuminated scenes through towering corn stalks. Along the way, visitors can enjoy seasonal bites and sweet treats before and after their adventure at Eckert’s Cider Shed. Guests ages 21+ can slip into the adults-only Spook-Easy for themed cocktails, a perfect stop for friends and family to enjoy even more fall fun after dark. The Cider Shed will feature farm-fresh food, craft hard ciders, and, on select nights, live music. The Spook-Easy will pop up on special dates, adding an extra festive twist to the evening. Advanced tickets are required. Tickets are available online.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race
Sept. 19 & 20 – Forest Park, greatforestparkballoonrace.com
Each fall, The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race takes over part of Forest Park. This free event features food trucks, live music and family fun activities that include inflatables and games. Friday evening is the glow portion of the event, with attendees encouraged to walk the grounds to take in the sight of dozens of balloons aglow, as well as talk with pilots and crew members, with the race set for Saturday afternoon. Attendees are welcome to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs as well as soft-sided coolers and canned beverages.

Brick River’s Ciderfest
Sept. 20 – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Brick River Cider Co., 2000 Washington Ave., St. Louis, brickrivercider.com
Brick River Cider Co. is hosting a one-day cider festival with a new cider release, family-friendly activities and live music performances by Lo Stone, Andrew Dahle and Ranya Iqbal. There will also be free behind-the-scenes tours, giving an up close view of the cider-making process, along with free trivia, cider and brandy classes and more.

South Grand Fall and Music Fest
Sept. 20 – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., multiple locations along South Grand
Now in its eleventh year, South Grand Fall and Music Fest will include 70 retail vendors ranging from handmade, boutique and vintage participants as well as a DIY Craft zone along with free face painting and balloon art. Businesses located on Grand will offer varying specials, discounts and entertainment, with vendors 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., DIY Craft Zone 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and music from 4 to 9 p.m.

Tenacious Eats Presents “The Goonies” 40th Anniversary
Sept. 20 – 6:30 p.m., Work & Leisure, 3015 Locust St., St. Louis
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film “The Goonies” at Work & Leisure. This film and food pairing event is presented by Chef Liz Schuster of Tenacious Eats. Guests will find themed cocktails and mocktails made by Work & Leisure’s mixologist Raven Weinrich, snack on popcorn, search out clues and prizes, play “Goonies” trivia, watch the movie and enjoy four courses plus a surprise course from Sugarwitch titled “Dead Guy in the Cooler.” Purchase tickets online.

Copita
Sept. 21 – noon to 4 p.m., 4749 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis
Copita is St. Louis’ first and only festival dedicated to traditional Mexican spirits. Attendees will find small-batch mezcal and tequila, ancestral rums, sotol, wild Mexican wines and rare liqueurs, and be able to meet the people who make them. Copita is rooted in culture, education and unapologetic flavor. Sample over 150 of the best traditional and terroir-driven brands from Mexico. Tickets can be purchased online.

Evolution Festival
Sept. 27 & 28 – Langenberg Field, Forest Park, evolutionfestival.com
Back for its third year, Evolution Festival is a celebration of music, art and St. Louis culture. The two-day event features multiple stages, a variety of food and beverage vendors, and a lineup of diverse musical acts, with headlining performances by Sublime and Lenny Kravitz. Additional performances throughout the weekend by Father John Misty, Sam Fender, Public Enemy, The Hives, TLC and many more. Evolution Festival was created to celebrate music, food and community, and this year, a portion of festival sales will benefit United Way’s efforts at local tornado relief, with Evolution Festival pledging a minimum donation of $100,000 toward the cause. Daily and weekend passes are available for purchase online.

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Chesterfield Valley has a new restaurant, located at 104 Chesterfield Towne Centre, in the former home of El Maguey. Owned by cousins Jose Pedro Iniesta Flores and Abelino Piascencia Romo, Blue Agave Cocina y Margaritas is bringing a new style of Mexican food to the area.

With a focus on fresh ingredients, proteins like steak, chicken and seafood, Blue Agave’s offerings aren’t what you’d typically find at a Mexican restaurant. While there are traditional selections like nachos, tacos, fajitas and burritos, along with rice and beans, the menu also boasts items like shrimp fettucini in a cream sauce or grilled chicken served with mashed potatoes.

“We have a lot of the most popular Mexican plates, but we also have things like mashed potatoes. We tried to make something different,” Iniesta shared of the menu.

Iniesta and Piascencia also own a restaurant in Jerseyville called Casa Tequila, which serves more traditional-style Mexican fare. He chose the Chesterfield area since he has a house nearby, and he saw it as a good opportunity to bring something different to the community. The transition from the former restaurant to the new concept happened quickly, with the entire process taking about two months. “It was a lot of work,” Iniesta said.

The team replaced almost everything in the kitchen as well as in the bathrooms, and the dining area received a coat of paint along with a few other minor changes. Although there’s more work to be done, the main goal was to open as soon as possible. 

Later down the line, Iniesta plans to revamp the bar area to make space for around a dozen bar seats, which will add to restaurant’s current seating for 150, as well as add different tables that can accommodate larger groups. Those future plans also include updating the style of the booths and tables in the dining room from the current wood pieces with crimson accents to reflect the current brand’s colors of black and deep azure blue.

Although the establishment opened earlier this month, there’s been chatter on social media about the food, as well as a great response from the community when dining in the restaurant. 

“It’s been really busy and people have been talking about the food on Facebook,” he said.

The menu features a number of sauces, or moles, which are all housemade, and incorporate many flavors and styles. Ranging from a cream sauce that’s lightly seasoned with chipotle to a traditional mole poblano and a green sauce that tops the veggie enchiladas entree, which is made from pureed spinach. 

With seafood selections ranging from favorites like ceviche and shrimp diablo, to unique offerings such as the costa marina, mahi mahi and shrimp atop a bed of rice, topped with a sweet roasted garlic sauce, onions, tomato and avocado slices. The menu also features seafood dishes with a tropical influence, like the Pacific Shrimp served with pineapple in a creamy coconut sauce with rice and vegetables, or the Salmon Mango Tropical, a pan-roasted salmon fillet served on a bed of mashed potatoes, topped with a chipotle-mango sauce and topped with fresh mango chunks. 

Other protein offerings include classics like arroz con pollo, fajitas available with steak, chicken, shrimp, pork or chorizo, as well as steak entrees, such as the Steak El Rancho, a grilled T-bone served with rice, mixed vegetables and a loaded baked potato, which comes topped with sauteed shrimp and a chipotle cream sauce. There’s also a few desserts available, like flan, sopapillas with ice cream and fried ice cream. 

The margaritas at the establishment are available in a variety of flavors, from the more traditional like strawberry or mango, to the unexpected like apple, blueberry or jalapeno, and are served in 12-, 27- or 46-ounce glasses, or by the pitcher. There’s also a selection of beer and wines, in addition to soft drinks like fountain drinks, tea and lemonade. 

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Eight Nine Eight Cigar Lounge & Bar is a new business in Franklin County that offers a membership program, a cocktail menu and a walk-in humidor, located at 20 W. Second St., Suite 110, in Washington.

Friends turned business partners Scott Dieckhaus and Doug Maune opened the lounge in mid-July. The idea of opening a cigar lounge was something that Dieckhaus had wanted to do for about a decade, and when the ideal location became available, he and Maune moved quickly to make the idea a reality.

The building is located in a historic area of Washington, and dates back to the 1800s. Recently renovated by Patke Restoration, a contracting company in Franklin County specializing in historical restoration projects, the space features natural light, wood details and a balance of dark and light tones. The restoration company is owned by John Patke, who also owns the building. Dieckhaus and Patke ran into each other at an event and Patke suggested the space to Dieckhaus, and within about three months from that conversation, the business opened.

With some exposed brick walls, wood flooring and recessed lighting that’s complimented by soft leather seating and dark wood bar, the space has a classic lounge vibe that’s upscale, yet warm and inviting. “I think it’s upscale, but not uptight,” Maune described the aesthetic.

The walk-in humidor is glass enclosed, with lighter wood accents, while the painted ceiling features exposed ductwork, giving the entire space an open feeling. With a mix of bar seating, sofas and chairs, the total seating capacity of the 1,300square-foot space is around 30 indoors, with an adjacent patio that seats another two dozen guests.

The blend of seating options make it a place that people can hang out for hours, whether a group of friends looking for a conversation space to enjoy a cigar and drinks, couples having post-dinner drinks, or even people who want to come in and sit at the bar and work on their laptop.

The classic lounge vibe extends to the cocktail menu, which features 12 drinks such as an Old-Fashioned, one of the best-sellers. Other popular drink choices include the espresso martini, made with cold brew from underGROUNDS Espresso Bar located in Washington, along with Tito’s, vanilla vodka, turbinado and Kamora Coffee Liqueur.

The cocktail menu was developed by Kaleb Harvey, owner of Harvey’s Coffee & Cocktails in Midtown.

“We spent a little over an hour in a phone conversation with Kaleb,” Dieckhaus shared. Harvey used the phone conversation to help create the Eight Nine Eight cocktail menu, and his help didn’t stop there.

“Kaleb made a couple trips out to train our bartenders, and he made a video showing how to make each drink so we can use that to train future bartenders,” Dieckhaus shared.

Another stand out is the lemon-lavender martini, which is the same cocktail that’s on the menu at Harvey’s Coffee & Cocktails. The visually stunning drink is made with Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, house-made lavender syrup, lemon juice and is topped with a dehydrated lemon wheel. Dieckhaus calls the purple-hued drink “Instagram worthy.”

In addition to the cocktails, there’s also an extensive selection of bourbon and whiskey, a beer and wine list, as well as non-alcoholic beers, zero-proof spirits and soft drinks. Currently there aren’t food options available, but the team is still in talks about what type of options may be available in the future, with hosting food trucks to having charcuterie boards available as a couple of possibilities.

Although they’re passionate about cigars and spirits, neither owner has a background in the hospitality industry. Maune is a trained electrician and is employed full-time with Butler Supply, and Dieckhaus has a background in political consulting, as he previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives for four years.

The owners took their enthusiasm for cigars one step further and took the required coursework to become certified tobacconists. Another way Dieckhaus and Maune help people feel welcome in the space is through sharing their expertise with guests who want to try a cigar, but don’t have a lot of experience with selecting or preparing them. The team can also share about proper smoking technique, since unlike other forms of smoking, you don’t inhale a cigar when you partake.

“There’s something that’s almost therapeutic about sitting down with a cigar,” Maune said of the experience.

For those who have already established their love of cigars, the bar offers memberships, with members gaining access to temperature controlled lockers. The owners shared that so far the local response to the membership option has been strong.

“We’ve sold about half our member lockers within the first month of opening,” said Dieckhaus.

Find out more about the establishment, including its membership options, by following it on Facebook.

The post Eight Nine Eight Cigar Lounge & Bar opens in Washington appeared first on Sauce Magazine: Intelligent Content For The Food Fascinated.

Taste of St. Louis returns this week and the three-day celebration will feature food and drink vendors, as well as market vendors such as local apparel and jewelry merchants and live entertainment throughout the weekend. Recognized as the region’s largest food event of the year, past festivals have had 100,000 attendees. This year’s event will take place Friday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 17, in downtown Clayton at 40 S. Central Ave.

Find bites and sips from a variety of cuisines – from Cajun to Asian, along with desserts, snacks and vegan selections, plus a lot more. Vendors will offer full entrees as well as smaller plates for guests who want to try multiple restaurants.

This year, dozens of local eateries are taking part in restaurant row, including 2024’s Spice Wars winner Juan Taco, as well as FUFU n’ Sauce, Seoul Taco, Honey Bee Tea and Steve’s Hot Dogs. Other festival participants include dirty soda vendor Crispy Sips, Pearl’s Plant Kitchen, The Queen of Macaron and many more.

Unique to the event this year is a private pre-event kickoff party hosted atop Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton’s rooftop pool deck. It will feature the weekend’s chefs, as well as some of the area’s biggest influencers and content creators in the food scene.

Attendees can catch live musical performances all weekend, with The Fabulous Motown Revue performing Friday, on Saturday, Mike Mattingly and The Samurai 5 will each perform and on Sunday The Samurai 5 returns to the stage.

Taste of St. Louis is proud to collaborate with Make-A-Wish Missouri and Kansas, helping to raise funds to support their mission of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Guests will have opportunities throughout the weekend to contribute to this cause.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the website.

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Although August means back to school time, summer’s not over yet. This month there’s plenty of food and drink festivals happening around the metro area to help you have fun and soak up these late summer days. This month, don’t miss Sauce Food Truck Friday event at Tower Grove Park, plus Le Meridien Hotel invites parents to relax poolside on the first day of school and find cannabis-infused foods at the Munchie Market at The Little Bevo. Some of the amazing festivals in the area include the Alton Food Truck Festival, a barbecue, beer and bourbon festival in Affton, the Festival of Nations is back for another year, as well as the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and a lot more.

The post 16 things to do around St. Louis this August appeared first on Sauce Magazine: Intelligent Content For The Food Fascinated.

Creve Coeur has a new grocery store that sells locally grown and sourced produce and meat, a bakery offering fresh breads and pastries, plus a variety of dry goods. In addition to groceries, Pierce Creek, located in the former home of Kohn’s Kosher Deli at 10405 Old Olive Street Road, serves food as well.

The market’s owners are Kent Evans and Rachelle L’Ecuyer, who are also the team behind The MOObile food truck, a Sauce Food Truck Friday favorite, as well as Pierce Creek Cattle Co., located about an hour west of St. Louis in Lonedell. The food truck serves smash burgers as well as its tallow-fried French fries, and the cattle company focuses on offering pasture-raised beef with no added hormones or unnecessary antibiotics.

Offering local foods, beverages and dry goods as well as items that are grown or produced without unnecessary additives or ingredients is important to the owners. Inside the store’s dining area, guests will find a fountain soda machine that serves Excel, a local brand that uses cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. Coma Coffee is available to purchase by the bag in store and will be served at the store’s coffee bar, which is currently in development.

“Our motto is ‘as local as possible,’ and we’re hoping to work with as many local purveyors as we can,” L’Ecuyer said of the new business.

Browsing through the produce section, customers can find salad greens and in-season produce grown by area farmers, plus locally-sourced meats in the butcher shop, including beef from Pierce Creek Cattle Company, and dry goods made by local, smaller producers, such as chocolate from Wanderlust Chocolate in nearby Washington.

Currently Pierce Creek is serving lunch inside the store Tuesday through Saturday and The MOObile food truck also makes appearances in the store’s parking lot, currently on Tuesdays, with other days added depending on the truck’s schedule each week.

The establishment held a series of soft openings earlier this month and so far the team has received very positive feedback on the food. The menu is led by chef Max Crask, one of the owners of the nitro ice cream shop Ices Plain & Fancy. Crask created the soft opening menu which features sandwiches and burgers.

The BPT, a massive breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, is one of Crask’s creations and playfully referred to as “modest,” and is served on a bun, topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion. Another delectable offering includes a grilled ribeye steak sandwich, served with caramelized onions and pub cheddar on a toasted hoagie-style bun. There’s also a beef birria, which comes with consomme, and other choices like BLT and Reuben. Each lunch sandwich is served à la carte, with tallow fries, Billy Goat brand chips or potato salad available as sides, and there are plans to add more housemade side selections in the near future.

There are plans to offer breakfast and dinner service, and the establishment is in the process of building a bar and obtaining its liquor license, to sell bottles and cans of local wines, craft beers and spirits, and to serve cocktails on-site.

If it seems like there’s a lot planned for Pierce Creek, that’s because there is. With just over 7,000 square feet of space, Evans and L’Ecuyer have created a business that, when it’s fully rolled out, will be able to provide customers with their weekly grocery shopping, as well as prepared meals that can be taken home and reheated, and offer them a meal in store, all of which can be done in one trip.

“We’re going to keep adding things as more and more people show up,” Evans promised of the store’s roll out process.

In terms of the store’s aesthetic, some interior details haven’t changed, such as an existing mural on the wall that depicts second-generation Kohn’s Kosher Deli owner Lenny Kohn’s parents. The Kohn’s were immigrants and holocaust survivors who originally started Kohn’s in University City before moving the business to Creve Coeur.

“We painted over a couple other murals, but when we looked at that one, we didn’t want to erase something like that,” L’Ecuyer said.

The store’s color scheme has shifted to periwinkle, green and yellow – colors L’Ecuyer said are prevalent on the cattle farm in Lonedell, while the wood table and chairs in the dining area are existing furnishings that may be upgraded in the future.

Also in the future will be more variety on the store shelves and on the food menu as the owners continue to establish relationships with local producers.

“We’re looking for people to hire to work in the store and we want to partner with people who make things that are local and ethically produced,” Evans said.

While the plans to extend the dining service to include breakfast and dinner and adding the bar doesn’t have a firm timeline, but the team hopes to roll those things out as soon as possible.

Pierce Creek is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for lunch, the market is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the food truck is there Tuesday evenings now from 5 to 8 p.m.

Check out the slideshow below for a look at their space and some of their offerings.

The post The MOObile food truck and Pierce Creek Cattle Co. launch market and deli in Creve Coeur appeared first on Sauce Magazine: Intelligent Content For The Food Fascinated.

Three Kings Public House will launch its fourth location later this year in Cottleville. Currently slated to open in early fall, the eatery will be located at 5045 State Highway N and will take over the space that most recently housed Salty’s Bistro, as well as the adjacent suite, which was formerly occupied by Cottleville Sports Pub.

Currently, the eatery has locations in South County, Des Peres and inside Lambert Airport, and with the growth in St. Charles County, particularly in Cottleville, the area seemed like the right location for the growing brand.

“I feel really good about the decision we made. I’m really excited and I can’t wait to be part of the community here,” said Three Kings owner Derek Deaver.

It took about a year and a half of searching before finding the Cottleville spot. A few of the criteria Deaver had in mind for the fourth location included being able to create an enclosed patio space, a private event space and have plenty of seating in the main dining and bar areas.

“Our South County location has a private room that seats around 50 and we wanted to find a way to create something like that [in Cottleville],” he explained.

The Cottleville location will come in at 4,000 square feet and will have a total of 125 seats indoors, with seating that will be a blend of around 10 booths, 13 tables and a bar that will seat between 12 to 15. The part of the building where Salty’s Bistro was located has an existing outdoor patio, which will be enclosed, making it a three seasons room that will feature seating for 60 with fans and TVs mounted on the exterior wall.

“It’s going to be really similar to the Des Peres footprint,” Deaver said of the space.

Deaver took possession of the building in the spring and renovations are underway. The inside will feature the aesthetic that guests of the South County and Des Peres locations will be familiar with, and will include brick walls along with a lot of wood accents, including a wood ceiling.

The menu at the Cottleville location will also mirror the selections at the other Three Kings locations. Starters include Three Kings’ Wings, which are breaded and fried, along with the Tres Reyes smoked wings, as well as lobster bisque, toasted ravioli and nachos. Main courses range from a number of salads, half a dozen different flatbreads, a variety of smash burgers, including plant-based options like the black bean or Impossible Burger. There are also sandwiches, pastas and seafood offerings, as well as several desserts like a chocolate layer cake, bread pudding and cheesecake.

The eatery recently launched a gluten-free menu, which has proven to be a welcome option to the restaurant’s guests. Deaver said the team spent four months developing the menu and tested out multiple gluten-free flours to find just the right one they could use for breading.

The extensive gluten-free offerings include pub fare selections such as chicken tenders and wings, fried pickles and flatbread pizzas, as well as sandwiches, burgers and pastas. There are even gluten-free kids items and a double fudge brownie à la mode for dessert.

Sales at the restaurant are up, and Deaver praises the success of the gluten-free menu as a driving factor.

“Our food is up 10 to 11 points and we attribute that almost entirely to the gluten-free menu,” he said. Deaver said his friend Brant Baldanza, who co-owns the Corner Pub & Grill, also saw a lot of success by incorporating gluten-free choices on the Corner Pub’s menu, and he credits a conversation with Baldanza as the inspiration for adding to the Three Kings Menu. The process of creating the gluten-free menu began last fall and the menu rolled out to the public earlier this year.

Stay current on the Cottleville location’s opening date by following the eatery on Facebook or Instagram.

The post Three Kings Public House is expanding to Cottleville this fall appeared first on Sauce Magazine: Intelligent Content For The Food Fascinated.