Cityscape

St. Louis native Shepherd Mead used his own experiences to write his satirical best-seller “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” His work was then turned into a musical, and Stages St. Louis is bringing it back to St. Louis.

Cast members Heather Ayers, Betsy Dilellio and Ben Nordstrom talked about the musical comedy, in which window washer J. Pierrepont Finch (played by Nordstrom) moves up to vice president of advertising at the World Wide Wicket Co.

Modern art and furniture is getting its due (again) as collectors return to the styles made popular in the early 1900s through about 1970.

“Young collectors have become very eclectic,” said Stephanie Stokes, manager at the Kodner Gallery. “People appreciate vintage.”

The “Modernism: Art + Design” exhibit at Kodner Gallery in Ladue features modern paintings, drawings, sculptures and furniture. Stokes described the modern movement as artists’ reactions to a changing world.

Lovers of St. Louis Public Radio and classical music may have learned something new on Cityscape today from St. Louis fiddler Justin Branum and guitarist Gary Hunt: the difference between a violin and a fiddle?  "You don't spill beer on a violin," they explained.

As farmer’s market season hits its summer stride, fresh from the farm ingredients often take center stage.  But Missouri is also home to many wild ingredients, which are highly sought after by area chefs, and in many cases next to impossible to cultivate. 

In the first of a new series called Sound Bites, created in partnership with Sauce Magazine, producer Libby Franklin goes into the woods with forager Ryan Maher, owner of Missouri Wild Edibles.

St. Louis' Joe Marrocco of Kaldi's Coffee is already a champion barista.  As the top scorer in the South Central regional competition earlier this month, Marrocco heads to the United States Barista Championships this weekend as a man to beat.  Nationals are underway in Houston, where competitors are judged on a number of factors, including taste, technical skills, and presentation.  We caught up with Marrocco during a recent practice session.

For the third year in a row, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis is host to the U.S. and U.S. Women's National Chess Championships.  Play continues through next week at the Chess Club, which has become somewhat of a national hub for the sport.

On January 18, 2011, the very last batches of Kodachrome film were processed at Dwayne's Photo Lab in Parsons, Kansas. Webster University students and faculty were there to witness that last run, which included 100 rolls of their own.  

The dance and percussion company STOMP is in town this weekend for its Dance St. Louis performances at the Fox Theatre.