Meet the man behind the popular 'Grazing Guse' account in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, IL – If you're on a social media app, you may have seen the "Grazing Guse" posting about the food scene in central Illinois and in Springfield. The popular social media account has amassed close to 200,000 followers across Facebook , TikTok , Instagram and YouTube with over 1.8 million likes alone on TikToK. If you have never heard of the "Grazing Guse," you may have still seen the impact from the videos. The popular social media account's videos on The Lumpia House and Mel-O-Cream have both garnered close to or over one million views online. The Guse's video on the Twisted Pasta food truck during the Illinois State Fair helped lead to lines curve around Main Street. More: Two new food vendors share top prize at Illinois State Fair The man behind the account is Seth Ragusa, whose last name often led to him being called "Guse" as a kid and inspired the name of the account. The concept of the videos is a simple one: Ragusa samples food and then provides a rating for the food, something he didn't think was happening enough in Springfield. “Everybody else I ever saw videos (trying food) was Chicago, Chicago, Chicago,”

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...

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.

Edwardsville Veterans Day Parade returns Nov. 11

The Madison County procession features grand marshal Kimberli Goodner, a flyover, bands and a free American Legion Post 199 afterparty.

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

Presidential Library offers free admission Nov. 19 for Gettysburg Address anniversary

An original edition of the Gettysburg Address will go on display for a limited time this month at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the only place in America where the public can regularly see Lincoln’s most famous speech written in his own hand. The speech will be...

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.

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

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (First Alert 4) - 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. Brooklyn Kepler wrestles with the Edwardsville Wrestling Club. Johnson is her hero, and her 10th birthday party had a...

Her grandparents escaped the Nazis for Africa. Now she’s telling the story in St. Louis.

When Flora Cassen’s grandparents fled Nazi-occupied Europe, their escape took them somewhere many people might not expect: the Belgian Congo. That remarkable chapter of family history is part of the story behind “Stained Glass: A Reflective History of Antisemitism,” Cassen’s new book exploring how generations of Jews have lived with prejudice, persecution and the search for belonging.

Jodeci kicks off ‘Forever My Lady’ tour in St. Louis with appreciative fans

On Wednesday night at Stifel Theatre, St. Louis wasn’t judging Jodeci against their younger selves. The audience came to celebrate what they’ve meant for 35 years. Our city had the distinction of being the first stop on Jodeci’s tour commemorating the 35th anniversary of their genre-defining debut, Forever My Lady. The November 4 show launched a more than 30-city run that continues through January 2027.

Rizz Gets a Ticket, Wash Ave Food Hall & Vito’s Disco Send-Off

Rizz finally gets invited to an influencer event, immediately gets a parking ticket, and somehow that’s only the second-most memorable exit of the day. Welcome back to The Rizzuto Show, the St. Louis funny podcast where free food comes with hidden fees, parking enforcement becomes a personal enemy, and a 97-year-old man gives the Bee Gees the most unforgettable farewell performance imaginable.

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...

St. Louis Public Library Announces New Chief Executive Officer

ST LOUIS - The St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Driver as its next Chief Executive Officer, ushering a new chapter of leadership, focused on innovation, community engagement and expanding access to library services throughout the City of St. Louis. Driver, who will...

Veterans Day ceremonies planned in Warren County

With Veterans Day approaching next week, several ceremonies and events are planned in Warren County in honor of America’s military service members. Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, was initially established to mark the end of major hostilities in World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, so Veterans Day ceremonies are typically held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

Veterans Museum in O’Fallon Honors Local Vets

He was a U.S. Army combat engineer in France during World War II. She was a member of the French Resistance. They met at a dance one night and fell in love. After the war, they moved to the U.S., raised a family, and ended up retiring in St. Charles County.

The Muny Teams Up With Jazz St. Louis to Share Staff and Resources

The Muny and Jazz St. Louis have announced a new operational partnership under which the much larger outdoor theater organization will share resources to support the jazz nonprofit's day-to-day operations. Early implementation of the arrangement has already begun, with the announcement timed to Jazz St. Louis opening its 31st season this week.

From Ladue to Hollywood: Meet Gerry Rich

Ladue native Gerry Rich, who marketed blockbusters like Iron Man and James Bond, talks about his memoir Chasing Hollywood and his upcoming film marketing workshop. This segment is sponsored by Half Price Books.

This Missouri Airport Museum Lets Visitors Walk Within Arm’s Reach Of Golden-Age Airplanes

The propeller blades are still, but the stories are not. Walking through the hangar at this Missouri museum feels less like a visit to a collection and more like stepping into a living workshop. The fabric-covered planes seem to glow under the lights, their polished wood and vintage instruments reflecting...