St. Louis on the Air

The May 16 EF-3 tornado destroyed Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood in north St. Louis. One person died and two others were trapped beneath the rubble before they were rescued. In this episode, STLPR afternoon newscaster Marissanne Lewis-Thompson talks about their story. She also details how the people trapped below weren’t able to successfully reach 911 during the disaster.

Cultures around alcohol consumption run a range as broad as beverages on a drink menu. For some, drinking culture means afternoons at a vineyard, and for others it’s a night on the town full of raucous fun. In some cases, drinking habits can lead to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Thankfully, there are bar proprietors who focus on the “art of alcohol” — promoting responsible drinking that stems from the sharing of different histories and cultures linked to wines and spirits. Javia Gilliam-Sanford and Kaje Sanford are the married couple behind Passport Bar, Pour Decisions STL and a June 14 event called the “Art of Alcohol.” They share how they got involved in wine and spirits and what interests them most about the culture and history of alcohol in St. Louis and abroad.

The community response to St. Louis' May 16 tornado has involved hundreds of volunteers putting in thousands of hours over the last three weeks. But some volunteer efforts are now entering a different phase. On June 6, the People’s Response Hub closed its location in O’Fallon Park. We explore the current status of this ongoing, unofficial relief effort with Action St. Louis Executive Director Kayla Reed, and why the closing will result in a “gap” in aid services as volunteers work to reestablish in new locations. We also get to know three members of the STL Cleanup Crew who are also involved in tornado relief efforts.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and her daughter, poet and writer Ruby Aiyo Gerber, talk about co-writing the opera, “This House.” in this encore episode. Taking place in a majestic Harlem brownstone, the opera explores themes of gentrification and losing Black histories. It also delves into what connects – and binds – people to history and to one another. “This House” will have its world premiere at Opera Theatre of St. Louis this May.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s style, stage presence and sonic expression complement each other perfectly on their double-headlined Grand National Tour. The two have collaborated for much of their careers and their working relationship was evident at the sold-out appearance at the Dome at America’s Center. Host Elaine Cha and producer Miya Norfleet recount their experience at the GNX tour stop in St. Louis.

When Dorsa Derakhshani was banned from playing for Iran's national chess team because she didn't wear a hijab at an international tournament, she left the country to attend St. Louis University. Now a Mizzou medical student, St. Louis Chess Club instructor and U.S. citizen, Derakhshani is passionate about being an advocate for freedom of speech and expression — and for making room for women to be in traditionally men’s spaces. She reflects on what it meant to leave her home country for the U.S., the parallels between the competitive chess scene and medical school, and how the Trump administration’s new travel ban may affect people like her and her family.

More than 10,000 buildings were damaged from the May 16 tornado that tore through St. Louis. Soon after, affected city residents began seeing stickers affixed to their front doors — each signifying the amount of damage to the structure. Red stickers cautioned: “Danger: Entry Prohibited: Violators subject to prosecution.” City building division leadership shed light on how those assessments were made and what they mean. Later in the episode, a legal advisor with Tenants Transforming Greater St. Louis discusses the challenges being faced by renters who are displaced from the tornado — and how renters can empower themselves by knowing their rights as they advocate for temporary housing or changes to their lease agreements.

Circus Flora is back for its 39th season with a brand-new production starting this week under the Big Top in Grand Center. The new show, “Urban Legend”, is a monster story that features a new collection of talented performers, from acrobats to jugglers and even dogs. Circus Flora artistic and executive director Jack Marsh and St. Louis-native juggler Book Kennison take us inside the production to share their insights on bringing the magic of a circus act to life.

A city’s poet laureate does more than write and recite original stanzas. Pacia Elaine Anderson, St. Louis’ new Poet Laureate, shares how she looks forward to adding her voice and arts-forward sensibilities to decision-making tables at City Hall and being an advocate for the arts.

The biggest restaurant news each month usually centers on openings and closings. But the May 16 tornado that tore through St. Louis shifted the focus. We look at how restaurants in the Delmar Maker District were affected, then turn to the latest openings and closures in the St. Louis dining scene. Our guests are STLPR digital editor Jessica Rogen and St. Louis Magazine food writer Cheryl Baehr.