1–29 OCTOBER
See STL Walking Tours
See STL’s fun and creative tours mix engaging storytelling and a deep well of historical knowledge with an infectious enthusiasm for the exciting changes the city is currently undergoing. Tours are 2 hours in length and are wheelchair accessible. $15–$20. Tour starting/ending points are included in your booking details. Missouri Historical Society.
3 pm, Oct. 1: Downtown Design; 4 pm, Oct. 1: Forest Park; 10 am, Oct. 6, Downtown Origins; 10 am, Oct. 7, The Hill; 11 am, Oct. 7, Laclede’s Landing; 11 am, Oct. 8, Central West End; 4 pm, Oct. 8: Soulard North and LaSalle Park; 2 pm, Oct. 9: Tower Grove; 11 am, Oct. 14: Beyond the Ballot; 11 am, Oct. 14: Gay Liberation in the Gateway City; 1 pm, Oct. 14: Vietnam in St. Louis; 10 am, Oct. 15: Soulard South; 10 am, Oct. 15: Central West End; 2 pm, Oct. 15: Downtown Evolutions; 1 pm, Oct. 19: Vietnam in St. Louis; 11 am, Oct. 21: Laclede’s Landing; 11 am, Oct. 21: Beyond the Grave; 4 pm, Oct. 21: Soulard South; 2 pm, Oct. 28: Gay Liberation in the Gateway City; 4 pm, Oct. 29: Soulard North and LaSalle Park
3 OCTOBER | 11 AM
Cemetery Iconography
DAN FULLER of Bellefontaine Cemetery discusses the iconography of cemeteries from the Victorian era through the mid 20th century. Hear about hidden histories in plain sight that decorate the graves of many St. Louisans in one of the most scenic cemeteries in the nation. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
4–22 OCTOBER
Twisted Melodies
This powerful one-man show is based on the life of St. Louis soul music icon Donny Hathaway. Twisted Melodies is an immersive and crushing play about the brilliant singer and composer’s compelling inner struggle. Torn between the muses that inspire him and the mental illness that torments him, Hathaway evaluates his life in a gripping performance by St. Louis native Kelvin Roston Jr. Post-performance discussions 2 pm, Sun., Oct. 15 and 2 pm, Wed., Oct. 18. $25–$75. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
COCA, Berges Theatre, 6880 Washington Ave., University City, 63130
4 OCTOBER | 6 PM
Robert Rosen, Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon (Author Talk)
By all appearances, John Lennon was working on a tell-all memoir in the final years of his life. Every day he poured into diaries his raw thoughts and feelings — about his jealous rivalry with Paul McCartney; his tumultuous marriage to Yoko Ono; his love for his sons, Julian and Sean; his hatred of the music business; his escape into programmed dreams; his acerbic opinions of England and America. Written by one of the few people to have read those diaries, and based on decades of research, Nowhere Man takes you on a journey through Lennon’s consciousness. Covering a range of topics close to John’s heart, from Abbey Road to the zodiac, the book offers vivid insights into his extraordinary life.
Subterranean Books, 6271 Delmar Blvd., 63130
4 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Scott Berg, The Burning of the World: The Great Chicago Fire and the War for a City’s Soul (Author Talk)
In 1871, Chicagoans knew they were due for the “big one” — a massive fire that would decimate the city. There hadn’t been a meaningful rain since July, and several big blazes had nearly outstripped the fire department’s resources. On October 8, when Kate Leary’s barn caught fire, so began the biggest and most destructive disaster the United States had ever endured. And as quickly as the firefight ended, another battle for the future of the city began between the town’s business elites and the poor and immigrant working class. Historian Scott W. Berg presents an enrapturing account of the fire and the powerful transformation that followed. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Daniel Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd., Ellisville, 63011
5 OCTOBER | 5:30 PM
Nuestra Comunidad: Hispanic St. Louis Past, Present, and Future
Step into the heart of Hispanic Heritage Month as we explore the dynamic tapestry of St. Louis’ Hispanic community. Start your night at happy hour (5:30 pm) with food and drinks for purchase from Padrinos and Sal y Limon. Happy hour will also include a dance performance by Alma de Mexico St. Louis, a display of traditional clothing from Hispanic countries, artwork, a historians corner and a talk by St. Louisan José Garza about his design for the new Hispanic Heritage Month flag. At 6:30 pm, join us for a presentation about the complex relationships among Spain, Mexico and St. Louis during the colonial period in the late 1700s, as well as during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. Finally, Adam Flores of St. Louis Shakespeare will lead conversation with leaders in the community to explore how Hispanic influences shape St. Louis today and the importance of intentionally contributing to our city’s evolving historical narrative.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
5 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Ryan La Sala, Beholder (Author Talk)
Something evil is waking up and it’s compelling victims toward violence and chaos. Athan has felt this evil hiding behind his reflection his entire life. Waiting. Now, it’s taking over. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Grant’s View Branch, 9700 Musick Rd., St. Louis, 63123
6 OCTOBER | 1 PM
Drop-in Collection Tour: Significant Sculptures
Join a Saint Louis Art Museum docent for a lively and engaging tour of the museum’s collection. Tour themes change monthly. October’s theme is Significant Sculptures, which highlights diverse and varied three-dimensional objects throughout the collection. Other tour dates are Sat., Oct. 7, 1 pm; Fri., Oct. 13, 1 pm; Sat., Oct. 14, 1 pm; Fri., Oct. 20, 1 pm; Sat., Oct. 21, 1 pm; Fri., Oct. 27, 1 pm; Sat., Oct. 28, 1 pm. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110
6 OCTOBER | 6 PM
Lori Rader-Day, Death of Us (Author Talk)
One rainy night 15 years ago, a knock at the door changed Liss Kehoe’s life forever. On that night, Ashley Hay stood on Liss’ front porch and handed over her brand-new baby Callan. She was never seen or heard from again. Since then, Liss has raised Callan as her own, and loves him as fiercely as any mother would. But in the back of her mind, she’s always wondered whether Ashley is still out there somewhere — and feared what might happen if she comes back. When Ashley does reappear, it’s not in the way Liss expected. After all these years, Ashley’s car has been found ... in the quarry pond on Kehoe property. But the discovery of the car dredges up more questions than answers. What really happened on the night of Ashley’s disappearance? Was it a tragic accident, or something far more sinister? Someone in town knows the truth, and they’ll go to great lengths to keep it quiet. Watch the livestream on Left Bank Books’ YouTube Page. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
6 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Poets Naomi Shihab Nye and James Crews
Acclaimed poets and St. Louis natives Naomi Shihab Nye and James Crews present a conversation on nature, wildness, and mindfulness through the lens of poetry. The event will be a discussion with award-winning poet Travis Mossotti. St. Louis County Library.
Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, 63117
9 OCTOBER | 7:30 PM
Amarcord Discussion
Amarcord (1973) is a series of comedic and nostalgic vignettes, directed by Federico Fellini, set in a 1930s Italian coastal town. Cate Marquis, a Rotten Tomatoes certified film critic and film historian who writes for We Are Movie Geeks, St. Louis Jewish Light and Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and is a member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and the St. Louis Film Critics Association. Cinema St. Louis.
VIRTUAL – RSVP
11 OCTOBER | 1 PM
On Wings of Art Song: Cool Vocal Music for a Fall Season
In the Western classical art tradition, the art song is a great poem set to moving music. As a form, the art song originated in the Renaissance, developed in the Baroque and Enlightenment, and reached its zenith in the Romantic period. It continues to flourish in a wide variety of languages in the contemporary world. The art song can be found as an internal part of a theatrical masterpiece or as a standalone work. Join us to discuss art song masterpieces, their construction and how they compare, contrast and overlap with folk music. In the process, we’ll review some immortal poetry, as well as principles of construction of Western art music. Our 10-week discussion group will conclude with a live concert of art song and its transcription to elaborate instrumental presentation. Hosted by Stanley Misler with occasional commentary and musical illustrations by Kirt Pavitt and Jorge Modolell. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library – Central Library, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, 63103
11 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Ethel Morgan Smith, Path to Grace: Reimagining the Civil Rights Movement (Author Talk)
In conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jane Smiley, Ethel Morgan Smith discusses her new book. The civil rights movement is often defined narrowly, relegated to the 1950s and 1960s and populated by such colossal figures as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Many forget that the movement was bigger than the figures on the frontline and that it grew from intellectual and historical efforts that continue today. In Path to Grace: Reimagining the Civil Rights Movement, Smith shines light on unsung heroes of the civil rights movement, the ordinary citizens working behind the scenes to make an impact in their communities. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Grant’s View Branch, 9700 Musick Rd., St. Louis, 63123
12 OCTOBER | 1 PM
Gallery Talk: “I Forget I Am a Painter, not a Politician”
Charles E. Valier, chairman of the Bingham Trust, will lead a gallery talk about Missourian George Caleb Bingham. Bingham became a fervent Whig supporter after the collapse of the banking system in 1837 deprived him of his recent earnings. His genre paintings, river scenes, and crowded election depictions are peppered with political innuendo. The talk will explore Bingham’s election series paintings, part of the Saint Louis Art Museum’s collection, and show how politics and painting intertwined in those oeuvres. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110
13 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Ben Fountain, Devil Makes Three (Author Talk)
Author Ben Fountain will be in conversation with Politico reporter Kathy Gilsinan, award-winning, best-selling author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Devil Makes Three follows four Americans in Haiti in the aftermath of a violent coup — some are looking to gain an advantage in the chaos, while others are just looking to make it through another day. St. Louis County Library.
The J, 2 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146
14 OCTOBER | 5 PM
Alex Squadron, Life in the G (Author Talk)
Welcome to the G League, the official minor league of the National Basketball Association. Life in the G is about the arduous quest to achieve an improbable goal: making it to the NBA. Zeroing in on the Birmingham Squadron and four of its players — Jared Harper, Joe Young, Zylan Cheatham and Malcolm Hill — sports journalist Alex Squadron details the pursuit of a dream in what turned out to be the most remarkable season in the history of minor league sports. Left Bank Books.
Pi Pizzeria, 400 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
14 OCTOBER | 5:30 PM
Safety Zone: LGBTQIA+ Sports and Recreation
Over the past half century, many LGBTQIA+ sports and recreation leagues have emerged in St. Louis as safe and comfortable spaces for those who identify as members of queer communities seeking out social interaction, physical activity, fun and friendly competition. Commemorate LGBTQIA+ History Month with this program featuring a brief history of LGBTQIA+ athletes and sports in St. Louis, followed by a conversation with individuals who have been involved with various sports and recreation leagues, as well as the Gay Games. We’ll end the night with a special ballroom dance performance featuring dancers from St. Louis Equality Dance! Before the panel program, enjoy a happy hour with food and drink for purchase from the Key Bistro, resources tables, and a special sound bath session with Aria Thome from Yoga Buzz.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
15 OCTOBER | 1 PM
F for Fake Screening & Discussion
Orson Welles’ 1973 documentary details the lives of infamous fakers Elmyr de Hory and Clifford Irving. De Hory, who later committed suicide to avoid more prison time, made his name by selling forged works of art by painters like Picasso and Matisse. Irving was infamous for writing a fake autobiography of Howard Hughes. Welles moves between documentary and fiction as he examines the fundamental elements of fraud and the people who commit fraud at the expense of others. Intro and discussion by Joshua Ray, film critic for KMOV and co-founder and contributing editor of The Take-Up. Cinema St. Louis.
Hi-Pointe Main Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 63117
16 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Fergus Bordewich, Klan War: Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction (Author Talk)
The Ku Klux Klan, which celebrated historian Fergus Bordewich defines as “the first organized terrorist movement in American history,” rose from the ashes of the Civil War. To repel the virulent tidal wave of violence, President Ulysses S. Grant waged a two-term battle against both armed Southern enemies of Reconstruction and Northern politicians seduced by visions of postwar conciliation, testing the limits of the federal government in determining the extent of states’ rights. Klan War is a bold and bracing record of America’s past that reveals the bloody, Reconstruction-era roots of present-day battles to protect the ballot box and stamp out resurgent white supremacist ideologies. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Daniel Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd., Ellisville, 63011
17 OCTOBER | 11 AM
Black St. Louis with Calvin Riley
CALVIN RILEY, founder and executive director of the George B. Vashon Museum, discusses his work founding a museum and building a collection that reflects the stories of St. Louis Black culture over the past 250 years. Located on St. Louis’ historic “Millionaires Row,” the George B. Vashon Museum holds more than 10,000 artifacts, including the newly added Julius B. Hunter Collection.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
17 & 24 OCTOBER
The Life and Times of Albert Lambert
From his entrepreneurial ventures to his philanthropic endeavors, we will learn how the love of aviation and Albert Lambert's commitment to innovation led to the Spirit of St. Louis flight and the building of the Lambert airport. St. Louis County Library.
2 pm, Oct. 17: Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., St. Louis, 63122
10:30 am, Oct. 24: Jamestown Bluffs Branch, 4153 N. Highway 67, Florissant, 63034
18 & 19 OCTOBER
Indigenous Use of Native Plants
Explore the herbs used by indigenous people as well as the historical and cultural significance of those plants. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. St. Louis County Library.
10 am, Oct. 18: Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd. S., Florissant, 63031
2 pm, Oct. 19: Cliff Cave Branch, 5430 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis, 63129
18 OCTOBER | 6 PM
Greggor Mattson, Who Needs Gay Bars? (Author Talk)
Author Greggor Mattson will be in conversation with founder of the St. Louis LGBT History Project, Steven Louis Brawley. Gay bars have been closing by the hundreds. The story goes that increasing mainstream acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, plus dating apps like Grindr and Tinder, have rendered these spaces obsolete. Beyond that, rampant gentrification in big cities has pushed gay bars out of the neighborhoods they helped make hip. Who Needs Gay Bars? considers these narratives, accepting that the answer for some might be: maybe nobody. And yet... Jarred by the closing of his favorite local watering hole in Cleveland, Ohio, Mattson embarks on a journey across the country to paint a much more complex picture of the cultural significance of these spaces. Watch the livestream on Left Bank Books’ YouTube page. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
18 OCTOBER | 6:30 PM
Greg Olson, Indigenous Missourians: Ancient Societies to the Present (Author Talk)
The history of Indigenous people in present-day Missouri is far more nuanced, complex, and vibrant than the often-told tragic stories of conflict with white settlers and forced Indian removal would lead us to believe. While previous Missouri histories have tended to include Indigenous people only during periods when they constituted a threat to the state’s white settlement, Olson shows us the continuous presence of Native people that includes the present day. Olson served as the curator of exhibits and special projects at the Missouri State Archives from 2000 to 2018 and is the author of six books, including The Ioway in Missouri; Voodoo Priests, Noble Savages, and Ozark Gypsies: The Life of Folklorist Mary Alicia Owen; and Ioway Life: Reservation and Reform, 1837–1860. Richmond Heights Memorial Library.
The HEIGHTS Community Center, 2nd Floor, 8001 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, 63117
19 OCTOBER | 5:30 PM
The American Experience Through Storytelling
Presented in collaboration with the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, this event features three nationally renowned storytellers as they share inspiring, thought-provoking, personal stories. Dovie Thomason (Lakota and Kiowa Apache) utilizes the art form of traditional Native storytelling to tell stories of her own life and her people’s experience; two-time Moth StorySLAM winner Jitesh Jaggie is a recent immigrant from India who has learned that despite our different backgrounds, our fears and hopes are surprisingly common; and Charlotte Blake Alston is a veteran international storyteller who was named the official storyteller, narrator and host of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2021. Before the performances, enjoy happy hour with food and drink for purchase from the Key Bistro. You'll also find resource tables, activities and literature readings from UMSL Honors College students.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
20–21 OCTOBER
Translations, Transgressions, and Transformations: The Global Movement of Objects in Catholic Cultures
This international interdisciplinary conference examines the cultural mobility of Catholicism through the physical movement of objects. One of the hallmarks of Catholicism throughout its long history has been its inherent portability and its protean assimilation across the visual cultures of societies, peoples and landscapes worldwide. Catholicism has entangled with cultures over time in such diverse ways that distinct innovations and transformations are readily on display through the arts and material culture at Carnevale in Italy, Día de los Muertos in Mexico, Celtic pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Candomblé healing rituals in Afro-Caribbean communities, the feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines, as well as countless other popular expressions. Material objects, including refined artworks, textiles, books, and mundane, everyday objects, have long been central to encounters between Catholicism and local cultures. Diverse media of exchange can work to transfigure both Catholicism and local cultures in surprising and unpredictable ways. This conference brings leading scholars from various disciplines into conversation to break new ground and open new lines of inquiry into the translation, transgression and transformation of Catholicism as it has circulated globally across cultural spaces through the traffic and transfer of material cultures. See website to register. Saint Louis University Center for Research on Global Catholicism.
Saint Louis University, Pere Marquette Gallery, DuBourg Hall, 221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 63103
21 OCTOBER | 10:30 AM
Literary Ladies of St. Louis
Explore the lives and writings of St. Louis’ 20th-century women writers, from the bayou tales of Kate Chopin, to the romantic poetry of Sara Teasdale, to the plays and screenplays of Hollywood writer Zoe Akins. The program is free, but registration is required due to limited space.
Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center, 225 S. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, 63105
22 OCTOBER | 4:30 PM
Schuyler Bailar, He/She/They (Author Talk)
Anti-transgender legislation is being introduced in state governments around the United States in record-breaking numbers. Trans people are under attack in sports, healthcare, school curriculum, bathrooms, bars and nearly every walk of life. He/She/They clearly and compassionately addresses fundamental topics, from why being transgender is not a choice and why pronouns are important, to more complex issues including how gender-affirming healthcare can be lifesaving and why allowing trans youth to play sports is good for all kids. With a relatable narrative rooted in facts, science and history, Schuyler Bailar helps restore common sense and humanity to a discussion that continues to be divisively coopted and deceptively politicized. Watch the livestream on Left Bank Books’ YouTube page. Left Bank Books.
The High Low Listening Room (entrance on N. Leonard Ave.), 3301 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 63103
23 OCTOBER | VARIOUS
ARCE-MO Papyrus Workshop
Roger Bagnall will lead small groups in viewings of the papyri in the Special Collections at Washington University’s Olin Library. Bagnall, the Leon Levy Director Emeritus at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World and honorary professor of classics at Washington University, is a world-renowned papyrologist, classicist and historian, whose wide-ranging scholarship has contributed to our understanding of life in Egypt during the Greco-Roman and late antique periods. He previously co-organized the 2018 Summer Institute in Papyrology using the Olin Library Special Collections, giving him special insights into what these papyri tell us. Additionally, the workshop will include a Kalamoi Reed pens hands-on activity to help participants understand the mechanics of producing manuscripts using papyrus and reed pen. This event is free, however, space is limited to only 10 participants per time slot. Register by October 13; limited participation for two time slots. American Research Center in Egypt, Missouri Chapter.
Washington University, Olin Library, Special Collections
23 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Observable Readings: Tommy Archuleta and Ariana Benson
TOMMY ARCHULETA is a native northern New Mexican. Most recently his work has appeared in the New England Review, Laurel Review, Lily Poetry Review, The Cortland Review, Guesthouse and the Poem-a-Day series sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Susto, his full-length debut collection of poems, published by the Center for Literary Publishing, is a 2023 Mountain/West Poetry Series title. Ariana Benson was born in Norfolk, Virginia. Her debut collection, Black Pastoral (University of Georgia Press) won the 2022 Cave Canem Poetry Prize. She has also received the Furious Flower Poetry Prize and the Porter House Review Poetry Prize, and the 2021 Graybeal Gowen Prize for Virginia Poets. $5. Livestream available here. St. Louis Poetry Center.
High Low, 3301 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 63103
24 OCTOBER | 6 PM
Patrick Bringley, All the Beauty in the World (Author Talk)
Millions of people climb the grand staircase to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every year. But only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. Former New Yorker staffer Patrick Bringley spent a decade as a museum guard. In his absorbing memoir, we follow him as he guards delicate treasures, strolls the labyrinths beneath the galleries and marvels at the beautiful works in his care. All the Beauty in the World is an inspiring portrait of a great museum, its hidden treasures and the people who make it tick, by one of its most intimate observers. Advanced registration highly encouraged; see website. Saint Louis Art Museum and St. Louis County Library.
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110
24 OCTOBER | 6 PM
Michael O’Leary and Patrick Morrissey
MICHAEL O’LEARY is the author of Out West (2023) and The Reception (2016). The Reception’s narrative and lyric poems draw one in, word by word and line by line. Rooted in a desirous present, they reach forward into the future, and one wants to reach with them. He serves as an editor of Flood Editions. Patrick Morrissey is the author of three books of poetry: The Differences, World Music and Light Box. In Light Box, his third collection, Morrissey explores the mysteries and intimacies of life in the city as they intersect with the pleasures and realities of family life. He teaches at the University of Chicago.
Subterranean Books, 6271 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63130
24 OCTOBER | 6:30 PM
When Bad Things Happen to Good Buildings
MEG LOUSTEAU, director, Cultural Resources Office, City of St. Louis. Society of Architectural Historians STL/Steedman Library Lecture Series. St. Louis Public Library.
VIRTUAL - RSVP
25 OCTOBER | 2 PM
Virtual Program: Stories in the Sky
Jayme Novara (St. Charles Community College) and Christina Gant (St. Charles Community College) are co-authors of An Introduction to World Mythology. They share stories inspired by the stars and their configurations across cultures. St. Louis Storytelling Festival. St. Louis County Library.
VIRTUAL - RSVP
25 OCTOBER | 6:30 PM
History After Dark: Curiosities and Cocktails
Join the Young Friends of the Missouri Historical Society to go behind the scenes at the Library & Research Center. Explore fascinating artifacts from the Missouri Historical Society Collections, discover your ghost person and enjoy signature cocktails. Tickets include one complimentary drink. $15.
Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center, 225 S. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, 63105
25 OCTOBER | 7 PM
Storytelling Concert Series: Irish Music
Listen to and learn about Irish music at this live concert, with the musical stylings of harpist Eileen Gannon and fiddler Robert Ryan of St. Louis Irish Arts. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis Public Library – Grand Glaize Branch, 1010 Meramec Station Rd., Manchester, 63021
26 OCTOBER | 6 PM
John Irving, The Last Chairlift (Author Talk)
Join us at for an intimate online conversation with internationally best-selling author John Irving as he chats about not only his most recent novel, The Last Chairlift, but also about his prolific body of work and a lifetime spent writing. Irving’s first novel was published when he was just 26 years old. He has gone on to be nominated for a National Book Award three times and won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. University City Public Library.
VIRTUAL – RSVP
27 OCTOBER | 6:30 PM
Cozy Con 2023
Join us for a night of sleuthing, fun and cozy mysteries. SLCL’s first event celebrating the light, humorous subgenre of suspense fiction, Cozy Con 2023 will feature Vivien Chien (Misfortune Cookie: A Noodle Shop Mystery), Diane Kelly (Snow Place for Murder: A Mountain Lodge Mystery), Mia P. Manansala (Murder and Mamon: A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery), Ellie Alexander (Catch Me If You Candy: A Bakeshop Mystery) and Korina Moss (Case of the Blues: A Cheese Shop Mystery). St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Grant’s View Branch, 9700 Musick Rd., St. Louis, 63123
28 OCTOBER | 9 AM
Discovery Tour | STL Reborn
There is such a thing as reincarnation … especially when it comes to architecture! Join us as we rediscover a number of buildings that have been repurposed, reworked and “reborn” with new purposes to serve St. Louisans in the 21st century. From a totally reimagined William B. Ittner school to a 140-year-old Catholic church that’s now a skater haven, learn about some of the local developers who have discovered creative new ways to build upon our past. $80–$90. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
28 OCTOBER | 3 PM
Germans Helping Jews in Nazi Germany – A Secret History
MARK ROSEMAN, Distinguished Professor, and the Pat M. Glazer Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of Indiana, will be presenting on rescue efforts made in Nazi Germany. Unearth the incredible story of a little-known group who defied the darkest days of Nazi Germany, reaching out to save lives in the face of unspeakable horrors. This captivating talk unveils remarkable historic documentation and goes beyond the heroic rescuers to explore the deeper meaning of “rescue” during the Holocaust. While the spotlight often falls on the brave individuals, this talk will uncover the hidden dimensions of help, revealing the complex web of support that enabled Jews to survive in their darkest hours. See website to register. St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.
St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, 36 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146
30 OCTOBER | 6 PM
Margaret Renkl, The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year (Author Talk)
In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons—from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis 63108
31 OCTOBER | 11 AM
Haunted STL
St. Louis radio icon and occasional ghostbuster Johnny Rabbitt tells the tales and walks the walks of the supernatural in St. Louis. He brings decades of occult investigation to this talk on haunted places and spaces, the paranormal and the spiritualism of the city's past. His ghost guide to the St. Louis connections in The Exorcist and Ghostbusters will also be on the docket. Show up on Halloween morning — if you dare!
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112