Edwardsville girl’s Halloween costume prompts invite from ‘The Rock’

A 10-year-old wrestler who dressed as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for Halloween has been invited by Johnson to a movie premiere in California.

Experience Burger Perfection At This Timeless Old-School Drive-In Hidden Away In Beautiful Illinois

Somewhere in Wood River, Illinois, tucked along a quiet street and covered by a canopy that’s seen more happy customers than most restaurants ever dream of, King Louie’s Drive-In is waiting for you. It’s not hiding exactly, but it’s not shouting either, and that quiet confidence is part...

The 3 most beloved Missouri restaurants that are now gone

Missouri has already lost several longtime restaurant favorites, and another round of goodbyes has changed the St. Louis dining scene. Three very different local spots are now gone, each leaving…

Hallmark Just Crowned the 2026 Merriest Christmas Town in America

Want to visit a place that looks plucked straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie? Head to Carlinville, Illinois. The sweet little 5,000-person (and some change) town was just crowned the winner of Hallmark Channel's inaugural Merriest Christmas Town contest. Earlier this year, the network put out the call: Which...

Granite City Singer-Songwriter Dana Michael Anderson's Music

Dana Michael Anderson was a singer-songwriter from Granite City, Illinois, whose recorded work included albums and live performances. He died in 2023. Dana's recorded work included albums released during his lifetime. His brother, JB Anderson, said a coroner contacted him in August 2023 to inform him that Dana had died by suicide, as detailed by BroBible. Dana's obituary, published through Central Cremation Center, states that he passed away at his residence on August 10, 2023.

Zaxby’s plans for first St. Louis area location

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Zaxby’s has been approved for its first St. Louis area location. The restaurant will be in St. Charles County, north of Interstate 70 on Wentzville Parkway. It will be across the street from a Chick-fil-A. Zaxby’s is often seen as a competitor to Chick-fil-A.

The Unassuming Bar In Illinois That People Will Happily Drive Hours To Reach

There’s a yellow brick building on a corner in Alton, Illinois that doesn’t care about your expectations, and that’s precisely why Fast Eddie’s Bon Air is worth every mile of the drive. The outside tells you everything you need to know before you even touch the...

Local Food Inspections November 2 - 6

The following food establishments were inspected by the Madison and St. Clair County Health Departments between November 2 and 6. November 2 Trackside Bar & Grill- Collinsville 10 (Pf) Handwashing sink shall be provided with paper towels, continuous towel system supplying user with clean towel, heated-air hand drying device or air-knife system Reference 6-301.12. MENS RESTROOM MISSING PAPER TOWELS. PIC ADDED PAPER TOWELS TO DISPENSER DURING INSPECTION. CORRECTED. 51 ( C) Plumbing needs repair. Repair according to Illinois and local plumbing code. Reference 5-205.15.KITCHEN HAND SINK HAS A LEAK. REPAIR OR REPLACE. November 3 SOS Soup Kitchen-First United Presbyterian Church- Collinsville 19 (P) Food was not reheated to 165F within 2 hours, before being placed in hot holding. Reference 3-403.11. ROAST BEEF WAS COOKED AND COOLED YESTERDAY. BEEF IS BEING SLICED AND PLACED IN CROCKPOTS WITHOUT REHEATING MEAT TO AT LEAST 165F FOR HOT HOLDING. CORRECTED BY PLACING MEATS IN OVEN UNTIL REACHING AT LEAST 165F. Jimmy Johns- Collinsville 16 (Pf) Food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. Wash, rinse, sanitize routinely. Reference 4-601.11. ONION SLICER STORED ON RACK FOUND STILL DIRTY. CORRECTED BY PLACING IT INTO 3C SINK TO BE PROPERLY CLEANED AND SANITIZED.

New park opens with connection to Nobel Prize winner

William Knowles was a Nobel-Prize-winning chemist and a St. Louis-area resident who enjoyed nature. The land he and his wife used for weekend retreats is now the newest St. Charles County park. Spring Bend Park opened Oct. 30 at 2380 Upper Bottom Road in St. Charles County, featuring dozens of...

Free Santa Photos and the Historic Teller Room 1925 in Downtown Alton

Wine & Whiskey for the Watershed returns Nov. 12

Proceeds support conservation, habitat restoration and environmental education at the Watershed Nature Center.

St. Louis never forgot this soup. Now we’ve lost the man who perfected it.

I love soup. Always have. I’ve written about soup, collected soup recipes from readers and even launched a Wednesday Super Soup Spectacular in Morning Light. Yes, I actually called it that. But there is one soup that stands above the rest, at least in my memory. Famous-Barr’s French Onion...

Drive To This Remote Missouri Restaurant Where The Steaks Will Leave You Absolutely Speechless

Some restaurants are easy to find, and some restaurants are worth finding, and Annie Gunn’s in Chesterfield, Missouri is the rare kind that manages to be both at the same time. You just have to be willing to drive a little, and trust that what’s waiting for you at...

Maull’s barbecue sauce is back

Get those “park” steaks ready, St. Louisans. Maull’s is making a comeback. According to its website, the St. Louis barbecue sauce brand will return December 1, closing out its 100th year with new packaging and the promise of the same bold, tangy, flavor that generations of St. Louisans grew up with.

Seven Missouri Bakeries Still Making Gooey Butter Cake The Old St. Louis Way

Gooey butter cake is the dessert St. Louis claims as its own. It is a flat, sugary square with a soft, rich center and a dusting of powdered sugar on top. You will not find it at most bakeries outside Missouri, which makes the places still baking it a real treat. Here are seven shops across the state, from old neighborhood favorites to newer spots, that keep this classic going.

The Main House Offers Historic-House Dining On South Main Street In St. Charles, Missouri

Some dinners happen in a plain room with a parking lot view. Others happen in an old building on a brick-lined street, with a deck that looks toward the Missouri River. St. Charles has plenty of the second kind, and one South Main Street restaurant has quietly become a favorite for birthdays, anniversaries, business lunches, and lazy weekend brunches. People book tables here for the patio alone, and some of them stumble in by happy accident and come back on purpose.

Beyond a box of rice

The most “St. Louis” scene from Eric “Remrod” Mayes’ documentary Half Order doesn’t even take place on this continent. A Northside expat who has lived in China for the better part of a decade daps up his favorite street food vendor and greets him in Chinese. He orders some rice and sings its praises. But he still stands on the notion that St. Louis Chinese food is better than any he has eaten in China.

You Can Buy Salvaged Craft Supplies By The Jar, Bag, Or Pound At This Missouri Shop

Wine corks by the jar. Buttons by the bag. Fabric, yarn, and ceramic pieces by the pound. One shop in Missouri sells salvaged craft supplies this way, and every price sits below typical craft stores. The stock comes from things people no longer wanted. Old book pages, picture frames, salvaged...

This Missouri Gift Shop Is Packed With Hand-Painted Christmas Ornaments And Festive Collectibles

A tiny gold ornament shaped like Missouri’s first state capitol building sits on a shelf here, plated in 24K gold. That’s the kind of keepsake this little shop treats as normal. The shelves also hold hand-painted glass from Christopher Radko and Old World Christmas. I like how one...