Winter entertainment is limited, in my opinion, because it’s confined indoors.   We face months without bike rides or sunset happy hours on the patio.  But there is one thing I always look forward to during the dark, cold months – performances at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.  Running from September to April, this season’s last show ends on April 7th.   My wife and I couldn’t wait to attend the noir thriller Double Indemnity and it did not disappoint.  Ingeniously staged and infused with sarcastic humor, it was a great interpretation of the 1930s film classic.

The Rep is located in the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Webster University.  Located inside the Hwy 270 loop, Webster Groves is one of St. Louis County’s inner-ring neighborhoods.   Straddling Hwy 44, it is conveniently located just 2 miles west of the city limits.  The city was incorporated in 1896 by combining the Webster, Old Orchard, Webster Park, Tuxedo Park and Selma communities running along the the Pacific Railroad line, under one unified government to promote the area as “a great place to live, work and play.”  So did they succeed?

From my perspective, they did.  Money Magazine agreed and named Webster Groves in it’s 2011 list of America’s Top 100 Best Places to Live.  It was fun to discover the names of a few famous folks that also agreed and have called Webster Groves home:  Baseball broadcaster Harry Caray, award-winning novelists Jane Smiley and Jonathan Franzen, comedian Phyllis Diller,  and a girl that competed on the Survivor television show in 2003 (how did that name get on the list?),  just to name a few.

Webster Groves hosts myriad independent retailers and restaurants in two separate business districts.  The Old Orchard Business District was named for the fruit orchards that populated the area in the 1850s.  While the orchards are gone, you can still find locally grown produce at the Webster Groves Farmers Market from May through October.  Several of my favorite restaurants in the city are located in the Old Webster Business District.  The Block uniquely combines a restaurant, butcher and bar in a neighborhood gathering style establishment while Milagro Modern Mexican offers reinvented mexican dishes in a non-traditional upscale environment.  From the freshly made margaritas to the grilled fish tacos, this is definitely high on my list of go-to dining.  

Over the years, many of Webster’s large lots have been subdivided and filled in with homes of various architectural styles.  Queen Anne, Greek Revival, American Foursquare and Bungalow are a few styles commonly seen. Here’s a sample of listings from 7/11/16.  Contact me to find out more about what’s currently available. 

So when you find yourself looking for something to do, take a look at the calendar of events on the Explore Webster Groves website for options ranging from taking in an art exhibit, to attending a concert or festival.  And don’t forget to grab a snack at Yo My Goodness to enjoy while watching the trains go by on a sunny afternoon.