Advocacy, opinions and editorials from those on the frontlines of civic renewal

2006
Spring	Where Kids Can Feel Snowful and Whangdoodles Run Free	Why St. Louis kids need a place like 826 Valencia
Summer	Peace, Not Pieces, for Forest Park	Why a proposal to sell off part of the park violates the essence of its existence
Fall	What Is It Good For?	Just rampant military spending that destabilizes the world and undermines domestic concerns, if the folks at St. Louis' Peace Economy Project have it right
2005
Jan	The Hard Life of a Rehabber	When it comes to fixing up an old house in North City, being the change you wish to see takes time and money. A lot of time and money.
Mar	Robbing the Hood	Eminent domain has gone from tool for public good to trick for private gain, and St. Louis suffers as a result
May	River Relief: Cleaning up the Missouri River One Mile at a Time	Getting down and dirty in the Big Muddy
Sep	Putting Down New Roots	There are places in St. Louis where residents can't buy a banana for miles, but a new urban farm in north city aims to change that for their neighbors
Oct	Artica Unbound	The local arts festival known for its transformative spirit undergoes a transformation of its own
Dec	Sounds Like St. Louis	How, in a town with such a rich musical heritage, do we not have a music museum?
2004
Feb	A Better Way to Protect Our Environment	From childhood asthma to mercury-laden fish, St. Louis and Missouri have plenty of challenges to our public health, but solutions are there, too
May	A Life in Record Stores	As honest-to-God record stores join the endangered species list, Dale's nostalgic for St. Louis' early-'90s glory days
Jun	Preserving the Virginia Mansion	If Our Lady's Inn proceeds with its plans for demolition, a historic building — and the character of a neighborhood — could be lost forever
Nov	Biking in the Free World	Until my dream job with RATT comes through, you'll find me headed to work everyday in downtown St. Louis, fueled by pedal-power
Dec	We Lose More than the Century Building	Seemingly individual alterations here and there add up to an irreparable downtown fabric
2003
Jan	Up on the Gravois	Buy your ticket and hop on the bus for the traveling show with a cast of familiar strangers
Feb	The Matrix Unfolded	Same hundred people everywhere I go. Is St. Louis The Matrix?
Mar	Restored Vision	Forcing the State of Missouri to see its way to doing the right thing by Medicaid patients
Apr	And Now for a Word from Your Local Bookseller	But does it really matter if you just pop into the big box? You better believe it does — Left Bank's co-owner explains why
May	To Our Credit	Missouri's historic rehab tax credit drives development and restoration; read on to find out if you could benefit, too
Jun	Two Roads	Reflections on denials and acceptance
Jul	"Dude, Where's My City?"	Authentic business enterprises like MoKaBe's and Subterranean Books come together to keep St. Louis from becoming Anytown, U.S.A.
Aug	Choose the City If You Want a Safe Place with Top-Ranked Schools	Think the city is a lousy place to raise children? Think again.
Sep	What is Your City Saying?	Urban Convergence provides the kickoff for a national conversation
Oct	Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?	Marijean entertains world leaders and St. Louis notables, in the dining room of her fantasies
Nov	The Space Between Us	Growing up in the Midwest on both sides — and in the vast chasm in the middle — of the gender divide
Dec	Work Gloves, Not White Gloves	Are you among the many who need to rethink their assumptions about The Junior League of St. Louis?
2002
Jan	Model Citizens	Genesis Models launches the faces of international fashion, from their new home base in downtown St. Louis
Feb	Killing Kiel: How Not to Bring Back a Downtown	Ed Golterman, a.k.a. Kiel Man, explains his campaign to revive the bygone glory of the opera house on Market Street
Mar	Ain't I a Woman?	Transsexuals meet in St. Louis to fight for the right to enter a women's summer music festival
Apr	Gratitude Through Technology	A "big thank you" to patrons of St. Louis' cultural attractions shows how regional collaboration can work
May	In Search of David R. Francis	A chance phone call set Harper Barnes on the path of one of St. Louis' most colorful characters, as detailed in a new book
Jun	Adventures in Sound	Eric Hall's at the center of the St. Louis improvisational music scene, with collaborators galore
Jul	Talkin' Trash with Galen Garbage	The gimmick? Cleaning up the city streets. The goal? Increased city homeownership.
Aug	Maury's Neighborhood	A serial killer can live anywhere, even idyllic, close-knit Ferguson Hills, where the neighbors want to tell their own story
Sep	The Good, the Bad and the Hungry	Living down the block from a landmark city restaurant means never being lonely in your own front yard
Oct	Bon Voyage, Pops Farrar	A personal remembrance of the patriarch of the musical Farrar family, who loved wine, women, song and Belleville
Nov	What to Wear to a Peace Protest	The police wore riot gear. I chose business casual.
Dec	Adventures on Two Wheels	Tales from Missouri's Katy Trail, from a reluctant rider who found herself convinced by the beauty, the surprising acquaintances made...and the pickled beets
2001
Jan	The Case for Home Rule	Former Mayor wants to give power to the people
Feb	Where's the Party, Post-Nader?	Despite disappointing election results in 2000, St. Louis Greens keep the faith
Mar	Spinach and Citizen Engagement	We know both are good for us, but do we know why?
Apr	The Journey to "New Images"	A brief history of the Langston Hughes St. Louis World Black Poetry Festival
May	A Tale of Two Cities	It's all St. Louis, but two approaches to leadership here couldn't be more different
Jun	Justice and a Paycheck	A coalition of labor unions, churches and community groups seeks Jobs with Justice
Jul	Playing Hardball	The Coalition Against Public Funding for Stadiums wants a public vote on the Cardinals' backroom stadium deal
Aug	Metropolis at the Crossroads	Thoughts on the future of the civic organization from its new president
Sep	Restructure, Rebuild, Reform	One of the newest SLPS Board members sounds off on a frustrating first five months
Oct	Greenways, Here We Come	What's long and green and a great place to watch fireworks?
Nov	World Peace and a Large Popcorn	Sure, it's only the movies, but the cinematic offerings at the St. Louis International Film Festival can do their part to help increase cultural understanding in a confusing world
Dec	It Sure Beats An Extra Milk Bone	Dog parks in St. Louis could be man's best friend's best friend

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