Virtual Beauty Buzz, by Neiman Marcus and St Louis Press Club, was filmed and produced by Co-chair Miran Halen who went behind the scenes to film and collect clips from others to give us a more in-depth look at what it looks like to put together a Zoom event during a pandemic.
By the time Halen was done collecting, she had hours of material to present and ended up with a short documentary under seven minutes that has been said by critics to be “Very Entertaining” and “Fun to Watch” to name a few. She told a story about the Beauty Buzz event beyond the Zoom screen and what it entails to put one together.
St. Louis Press Club & Neiman Marcus Beauty Buzz Raises Over $12,000 for Journalism Scholarships
Jasmine Huda, Fox 2 News anchor and reporter, was the emcee for the show along with 100+ viewers from all over the United States. The exclusive online event aired on September 12, 2020 and was coined with the phrase “Bright Eyed and Ready to Face the Day.” This little soiree happened to raised over $12,000 for local students seeking scholarships for journalism.
We were all taught how to put on make-up and were given tips on skincare from beauty experts at Nieman Marcus who featured products such as Bobbie Brown, Chantecaille, and La Mer.
This years Beauty Buzz was a success beyond what was expected. We can’t wait for the trail-blazing Miran Halen and her posse from the Press Club have in store for next year’s Beauty Buzz.
“Our sincere thanks to our incomparable Beauty Buzz co-chairs Phyllis Langsdorf and Miran Halen for their incredible leadership during this difficult time. This year’s Beauty Buzz was truly a success thanks to their leadership as well as our event sponsors and our partner for the last 10 years, Neiman Marcus.“ William Greenblatt, President of St. Louis Press Club
Credits and Attendees Joan Lee Berkman Publicity Chair Beauty Buzz Meghan Gunn Scholarship Recipient St. Louis Press Club Jasmine Huda Celebrity Emcee Anchor/Reporter, KTVI Fox 2 William Greenblatt – Photographer President & Treasurer St. Louis Press Club Phyllis Langsdorf Co-Chair Beauty Buzz Miran Halen Co-Chair Beauty Buzz Film Producer/Director/Editor Photographer/Videographer Cheryl Dimauro Neiman Marcus St. Louis Lindsey Barile Neiman Marcus St. Louis Laura Schnarr Executive Director St. Louis Press Club Glenda Partlow Executive Director St. Louis Press Club Alice Handelman Advisory Chair Beauty Buzz Special Thanks to: Fox 2 News, Gazelle, Ladue News, St. Louis Jewish Light, Town and Style, Classic 107.3
These Saint Louis Fashion Fund party photos are all from pre-pandemic events which were highly successful. From fashion competitions to famous names like Karlie Kloss, SLFF attracts and supports everything that has to do with local fashion and manufacturing which benefits us all.
Susan Sherman, one of the co-founders of SLFF, is our Anna Wintour of St. Louis. She happens to be one of the main people responsible for getting Evolution STL, a high-tech knitting company to open in St. Louis. The company now makes apparel for the St. Louis Blues, a huge win for St. Louis and a big Kudos for the STL Fashion Fund.
All this said, SLFF did what it set out to do, to bring back apparel manufacturing to the Lou one company at a time. You can’t talk about SLFF without mentioning Sherman, a stunning woman that knows fashion like Einstein knew physics. It’s just that simple.
SLFF continues to work during the pandemic making masks for the masses including hat designer Dianne Isbell who is operating from home for now. Once the pandemic is over, you can count on an increase in apparel manufacturing in St. Louis thanks to amazing team and directors at the SLFF.
Below are just a few photos of what it looked like during these amazing fashion soirees before the pandemic. .
A farewell message from our owner, Andy Spann: Dear Friends and Family,
As most or all of you know I bought Stir Crazy on November 1. My intention was to operate through the end of 2020 and then, if profitable, sign a long term lease. Unfortunately, economic conditions and other factors brought on by the Coronavirus have forced me to close the restaurant permanently. Today, March 31, is our last day of business.
Our landlord, Altus Properties has graciously allowed us to exit the lease nine months early. Our employees will all receive 4 months full pay. This is partly due to the CARES Act which was signed last Friday. For those not fully covered by CARES, I am making up the difference. Although the employees are 100% understanding, they are quite disappointed. I am as well. I wish I could have done better for them.
Vendors, including Lucky Trading, Sysco St. Louis, Vaccaro and Sons Produce and many more were all exceptional and have been or will be fully taken care of. Any outstanding gift cards purchased after November 1st will be redeemed. We announced the shutdown a week ago to our customers, so much of that has already taken place. Any customers who still have a gift card are being asked to contact the restaurant by Friday April 3 to receive a refund.
I want to single out the following exceptional individuals. Sally Evans, Hot House Digital, for her boundless optimism and exceptional creativity. Chef Luis Lopez, for his dedication to Stir Crazy for 18 years, as well as his exceptional skills as a Chef and a manager. Managing Partner Jeff Daniels, for his integrity, work ethic, “aggressive hospitality” and above all his friendship. All the kitchen and front of the house staff for their hard work and sense of humor. God Bless You!!
I am very sorry to see Stir Crazy go. I love the customers, the staff and the food. It has been a family tradition since it opened. This is the end of an era, we are the last open Stir Crazy, once a national chain.
With regret but best wishes for all of you and your families to get through the current crisis in good health.
Andy
Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill Asian fusion restaurant 10598 Old Olive Street Rd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Eat Right Diner on S. 7th and Chouteau Ave. in downtown St. Louis permanently closed its doors in December 2020. Joel & Shawna opened it in 2017 and revived the famous eatery. The restaurant was doing better than before the pandemic. They posted the letter below on their official Facebook on December 19, 2020. (2017 – 2020)
St. Louis, we are deeply saddened to announce we have permanently closed our doors downtown. We want to thank all of the patrons who have supported and dined at the Eat Rite Diner since we took ownership in 2017. Our opening day, the Cardinals Home Opener, in 2018 kicked off a refreshed and rejuvenated Eat Rite Diner.
The start of 2020 was predicted to be the diners best year yet. Our sales were setting the tone for a phenomenal year. Unfortunately, that did not last long due to the pandemic. We thank all of our employees that worked for as long as they could or were allowed to. And a special thank you to our last standing employee who stuck with the diner from the beginning of our ownership to the last day, Mitraya Dixon aka “Mickey”.
You never know what the future holds! Goodnight St. Louis and remember to Eat-Rite or Don’t Eat at All. – Joel & Shawna
https://www.facebook.com/eatritestl/
About Eat-Rite Diner is located at 7th & Chouteau just a few blocks south of Busch Stadium on Route 66. We our Famous for our Smashed Burgers & the Iconic Slinger! Our food is made fresh right in front of your very own eyes! We serve breakfast & lunch all day!
Eat Rite Diner 622 Chouteau Avenue (10.75 mi) St. Louis, MO, MO 63102 Google Maps https://www.facebook.com/eatritestl/
A new Amazon Sorting Center will be opening this year in Berkeley, MO in the NorthPark Business Center creating hundreds of jobs $15/hr plus.
Amazon in Berkeley, MO is currently under construction at 8850 Springdale Ave. at N. Hanley Rd. in North St. Louis County. St. Louis-based CRG and Clayco are doing the management and construction of the sorting facility.
Sortation centers At sortation centers, associates sort customer orders by final destination and consolidate them onto trucks for faster delivery. Amazon’s sort center network provides full- and part-time career opportunities and is powering our ability to provide customers with everyday delivery, including Sunday delivery, which customers love. https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/facilities
Missouri Bar & Grille opened in 1983 and closed its doors permanently on December 5, 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In its heyday, the bar was filled with workers from the Saint Louis Globe Democratic and the Saint Louis Post Dispatch.
After 134 years, The Globe Democrat closed its doors in 1986. The Post Dispatch, in 2019, moved a few blocks away into a miniscule building compared to the 6-floor monstrosity it formally resided in on Tucker Blvd. The former building had over 1000 workers in the 90s and has decreased rapidly over the years due to tech.
The service of the bar never dwindle, it was the people. From the production crews to the writers at the Post, they would stop in morning, noon and night since the “Paper” had people working around the clock.
From blue-collar workers to big business moguls, MoBar had them all. Every now and then you would see umpires come in to cool down after working a Cardinals game to boot. It was a busy bar in its day!
The pandemic has changed the entire landscape regarding bars and eateries. The tough question is will it ever get back to normal? I hear a lot of smart people saying that wearing a mask is here to stay since doctors are reporting that Covid-19 will never completely go away. With that said, I guess masks won’t either.
St. Louis losing MoBar is a tragedy for all of us and the memories will be cherished. The website is still active for now at https://missouribarandgrille.com
The Jefferson Arms Hotel in downtown St. Louis is going to be redeveloped by Dallas-based Alterra Worldwide. The 13-story building at 415 North Tucker Boulevard will feature restaurants, offices and retail at street level, apartments on the top two floors, and about 240 hotel rooms will occupy the rest of the building.
HISTORY: Hotel Jefferson was a 13-story hotel that opened in time for 1904 World’s Fair and was converted into apartments in the 1970s.
AC Hotel Jefferson Marriott (Jefferson Arms Hotel) 415 North Tucker Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63106
Fun Birthday Magazine Cover Featuring Mentor & Mentee for Jana’s Birthday on January 14th. Photo credit Purposed Productions via Saint Louis University Service Leadership Student Alyssa Jimenez.
A Habit of Mentoring to Make a Difference…. Servanthood While Surviving the Pandemic
ST. LOUIS, MO. | USA – To celebrate her birthday a local entrepreneur chose to honor the program that has kept both her business and her family lifted throughout the global crises and emotional rollercoaster ride of 2020. Jana M. Gamble found a flyer for Habitat for Neighborhood Business at Saint Louis University (HNB-SLU) back in 2019 outside of her home.
She was instantly intrigued about the program, but didn’t apply until months later. HNB-SLU strives to restore urban neighborhoods with new and additional business activity, job growth, and business role models.
Jana, owner of It’s A Gamble, LLC DBA Purposed Productions was accepted into HNB-SLU’s program in September 2019 and shared with Dr. Gladys Smith (Program Director), and Mrs. Linda M. Jones (Executive Director) how much it meant for her to know that she would finally be on the cusp of being paired with a mentor.
“For years I was searching for a woman mentor in film- someone that speaks my language and that can help me grow into the creative I was purposed to be! ” JANA M. GAMBLE
(Standing) Jana M. Gamble – Mentee (Seated) Monica R. Butler – Mentor Photo credit Purposed Productions via Saint Louis University Service Leadership Student Alyssa Jimenez.
It’s been said that during the most difficult times one’s character is tested and their true colors are revealed. During these dueling pandemics, Habitat For Neighborhood Business at SLU proved to Purposed Productions that they are a solid force of leadership and strength for small businesses in our community.
In 2020, HNB-SLU paired Gamble with the perfect mentor for her- Producer Monica R. Butler, QuickBooks, Website Design, connected her with a SLU Service Leadership Team, provided all of the HNB-SLU Mentees with COVID grant resources, COVID education resources, SBA resources, food coupons to support fellow business owners’ establishments, and more.
(Seated) Dyawna Gamble, (Left to Right) Monica R. Butler, Jana M. Gamble | August 9th, 2020 following Virtual Celebrity Town Hall in honor of Michael Brown, Jr.
The most special characteristic that Habitat for Neighborhood Business at SLU, Saint Louis University and their Service Leadership Program, Jana M. Gamble and her Mentor Ms. Butler has in common is this beautiful quality called servanthood.
Having a heart to serve others at the core, besides their love for film is why Gamble and Butler connect so fluidly. Both women have a vision that is bigger than them and are reaching beyond the stars to make these dreams a reality for the future of film in St. Louis thanks to their HNB-SLU partnership.
(Left to Right) Producer Jana M. Gamble dropping gems on actress Aliyah Muhammad before her shooting her scene for a proof of concept on November 29th, 2020. Photo credit: Monica R. Butler
“The great part about this mentorship program is that we get to learn from one another and grow together. We feed off of one another. It is truly a beautiful thing.” MONICA R. BUTLER
Leadership is more important now than ever before, and no matter how old you are you can be a leader. Saint Louis University is molding students to think ethically and to embrace servant leadership and social change in both their professional and personal philosophies through their Service Leadership Program (SLP).
In December Gamble contacted Alyssa, a SLU Service Leadership student who was assigned to study Gamble’s business in a SLU Leadership course partnership with Habitat for Neighborhood Business at SLU, to join her for the photo shoot and virtual round table that Jana and her mentor were co-producing.
Now, just as Alyssa took the time to sow her graphic design skills into Purposed Productions- Jana provided her student the opportunity to not just be at a photoshoot for the first time, but to actually take the reigns, and try shooting her first photos which she did an absolutely phenomenal job!
Monica R. Butler in her mask at the camera observes the previous shot taking place during the production on November 27, 2020 as Producer and Director Craig Thomas instructs the talent in the background. Photo credit: Purposed Productions
Purposed Productions and The Butler Group would like to thank Habitat for Neighborhood Business at SLU for the extraordinary work they are doing in the community to uplift and restore small businesses like ours- On Purpose!
Link to the Habitat For Neighborhood Business Program at Saint Louis University Saint Louis University’s Service Leadership Program
For more information on how you can join Habitat For Neighborhood Business at SLU contact HNB-SLU at 314.977.3625 or visit www.habitatforneighborhoodbusiness.org
PURPOSED PRODUCTIONS’s SOCIAL MEDIA: For the latest news and updates, follow Purposed Productions on Facebook, Instagram @PurposedProductions, and Twitter @Purposed_Prods Hashtags include #PurposedProductions #HPNStL
ABOUT HABITAT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS at SLU: HNB-SLU partners with Saint Louis University students and volunteer business people to help restore economic vitality to under-served neighborhoods through mentoring, networking and education for existing and aspiring minority entrepreneurs. In addition, HNB collaborates with developers, the government and others sharing our interests in strengthening neighborhood commerce.
ABOUT PURPOSED PRODUCTIONS: It’s A Gamble, LLC DBA Purposed Productions was established in 2014 in St. Louis, MO. Purposed Production is bringing Hollywood to St. Louis through film, tv, and providing youth opportunities to explore history & the healing art of filmmaking. Representing dynamic Artists and Speakers transforming the world by Speaking on Purpose. Purposed Productions also produces virtual events catering to our clients with customized Concierge Service to serve your virtual event needs.
ABOUT THE BUTLER GROUP: The Butler Group is a film corporation based in St. Louis, MO. TBG is fueled by mentor driven and creative professional industry partnerships that allow youth and learners of all ages to gain priceless hands-on real-world experience that cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting.
The 1909 International Shoe Company building was rebuilt by PARIC Construction into a 142-room boutique hotel called The Last Hotel in the heart of the Historic Garment District on Washington Ave. in Downtown St. Louis.
VIDEO: A rooftop view from The Last Kitchen + Bar known for its tasty pre-Prohibition style whiskey and cocktails.
The old ten-story 160,000 sq. ft. building was originally designed by Union Station architect Theodore C. Link. Period originals are still intact including the terrazzo floors, exposed brick walls, and barrel ceilings. The Last Kitchen + Bar located on the rooftop is known for its beautiful view of downtown’s Garment District and its tasty pre-Prohibition style whiskey and handcrafted cocktails.
The Next NGA West is under construction and the video is an update on the progress. The Next NGA West is a $1.7B construction project that is in charge of building the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis. The video of the Next NGA construction site was filmed with a car-cam while driving on Jefferson Ave.
“The 97-acre project site is located in the historic St. Louis Place neighborhood at the intersection of Jefferson and Cass avenues.“ NextNGAWest.com
VIDEO The video of the Next NGA construction site was filmed with car-cam while driving on Jefferson Ave.
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency NGA W. St. Louis | NextNGAWest.com Construction by McCarthy HITT with Black & Veatch Gensler JV MccarthyHittNGA.com
Fifty tiny homes for the Homeless on Jefferson Avenue and MLK Drive was talked about by Mayor Lyda Krewson in press release in November of 2020. She lived up to her word and I got a chance to see the community from a distance. People are already living in this gated community and have 24/7 on-site security for piece of mind.
Krewson announced in the release that the “tiny house community will provide additional access to safe shelter and compassionate care for members of the unhoused community, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
“This forward-thinking, innovative, and efficient approach to housing has been done in some other cities, but never in St. Louis. I’m proud that we continue to invest more resources than any other governmental entity in the region to address various issues associated with homelessness. This tiny house community expands our current capacity to help more people and builds on our longstanding commitment to connecting those in need to more stable housing environments,” said Mayor Lyda Krewson.
The tiny homes sits at 900 N. Jefferson Avenue, formally a St. Louis RV Park. St. Louis City received $600,000 in federal CARES Act money in Spring 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. The funds help with the deleterious effect COVID-19 placed on its heath systems, humanitarian needs and economic loss.
Krewson went on by adding, “I’m grateful to my staff and the various City departments who came together collaboratively and proactively to prioritize this project and the needs of the most vulnerable among us.”
This marks the second tiny house village announced by Mayor Krewson for unhoused individuals located in the City of St. Louis. The first one, announced by Mayor Krewson, was the Veterans Community Project (VCP) in partnership with the Kansas City, Mo.-based non-profit.
Construction of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital has begun at Jefferson & Cass Avenues in St. Louis. When completed it will be a three-bed hospital with an emergency room.
The hospital is part of a Northside Regeneration plan with an estimated cost of $20.5 It is being built on the same land where former Pruitt-Igoe housing project once stood. Across the street from Homer G. Phillips Hospital is where the new NGA building is currently under construction.
Homer G. Phillips Hospital Jefferson Ave & Cass Ave St. Louis, MO 63106
This virtual fireworks display with the St. Louis Gateway Arch in view was rearranged for New Year’s Eve. Since there were no big fireworks displays in St. Louis, I thought it would be nice to do an artsy arrangement of some old footage from July 2019 filmed from from Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park in East St. Louis.
VIDEO: Virtual fireworks display with St. Louis Gateway Arch in view re-edited for New Year’s Eve.
