Unseen STL Vibes February 2025

Positive STL news, events and historical tidbits

Welcome to Unseen STL Vibes, a monthly feature of Unseen St. Louis, where we celebrate the positive and unique aspects of our city. Each month, I share uplifting stories, events, and hidden gems that make St. Louis shine. Now that folks are finally getting dug out of the snow, it's time to warm things up with some February love. Whether you're celebrating Valentine’s Day with your favorite people or honoring Black History Month by exploring the incredible contributions of Black St. Louisans, Unseen St. Louis is here to bring you inspiration, community, and a little heart-shaped joy.

Upbeat STL news

Here are some positive stories about St. Louis worth sharing.

STL remains affordable

With rising home prices and high mortgage rates, 2025 may be the year of the renter—especially in the Midwest, where rental costs remain the lowest in the nation. While home values in St. Louis and Kansas City continue to climb, rent in the region remains more affordable than in the South, Northeast, or West, offering prospective homebuyers a chance to save. As St. Louis Public Radio points out, the Midwest’s relatively stable rental market provides a financial advantage, allowing renters to build up their down payments while waiting for home inventory to improve. With housing supply trending toward pre-pandemic levels, those who rent now and plan strategically may be well-positioned to buy when the market shifts in their favor.

Purple bins leading to a greener future

Ripple Glass is making glass recycling easier and more effective in St. Louis, helping to keep bottles out of landfills and restore confidence in the recycling system. According to St. Louis Public Radio, since launching last year, the Kansas City-based company has processed over 140,000 pounds of glass, with plans to triple that by expanding its network of signature purple collection bins across the region. St. Louisans can already drop off their glass at seven locations, including downtown Maplewood, St. Charles County, and businesses like Rooster on South Grand. Unlike single-stream recycling, which often leads to contamination, Ripple’s specialized process ensures that nearly all collected glass is transformed into new bottles—staying local through Ardagh Glass in Pevely, which produces bottles for Busch, Schlafly, and Fitz’s.

As more residents and businesses embrace glass recycling, Ripple Glass hopes to replicate its Kansas City success, where rates jumped from 3% to 20%. With more bins coming soon, it’s easier than ever for St. Louisans to toss their bottles into a purple bin and make a sustainable impact.

Seven James Beard Awards nominations prove STL is a foodie town

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists, with seven St. Louis metro-area nominees across regional and national categories. St. Louis Magazine lists the nominees, including Gerard Craft (Niche Food Group), who received his first nomination in the prestigious Outstanding Restaurateur category. For Emerging Chef, Jane Sacro Chatham (Vicia) earned recognition.. Nathaniel Reid of Nathaniel Reid Bakery in Kirkwood was nominated for Outstanding Bakery. In the new Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category, Natasha Bahrami (The Gin Room) and Alisha Blackwell-Calvert (Madrina) were honored for their expertise. Finally, Best Chef: Midwest nominations went to Nick Bognar (Indo, Sado) and Loryn Nalic (Balkan Treat Box, Telva at the Ridge), both celebrated culinary talents with previous James Beard nods.

STL History and Related Events

Check out upcoming events in the St. Louis area.

Spine Bookstore & Cafe’s Final Night

Unseen STL History’s beloved venue for the past two years, Spine Bookstore and Cafe, will be closing in February. Spine’s owner, Mark Pannebecker, hopes to find a new location and open Spine 2.0 later this year. On February 7th, Spine will be hosting a free farewell party from 4-10 pm. It would be great to see fans of Unseen STL in the audience! Historians Peter Downs and Jackie Dana will be giving brief presentations beginning at 5 pm.

Friday, February 7, 4 pm-10 pm
Spine Indie Bookstore and Cafe, 1982 Arsenal St.
Free

Landmarks Association’s 2025 STL City Heart Bomb

Heart Bombing is an inclusive community event that showers historic sites, local landmarks, and places both safe and threatened with tangible expressions of affection. This year's event features the Railway Exchange Building, built in 1913 and still the second-largest commercial building in the State of Missouri.

Join us at the Hotel Saint Louis, just across the street, to hear from people involved in the Railway Exchange Building's story and its future and to craft valentines to this icon of Saint Louis architecture. We will pose for photographs at the building following the program.

Sat Feb 8, 2025 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Hotel St. Louis, 705 Olive St.
Free, but tickets are required

Threads of Freedom: The Life of Elizabeth Keckley

Presented by Cicely Hunter, Public Historian at the Missouri Historical Society. Join an in-depth discussion of Elizabeth Keckley's incredible journey from slavery to White House dressmaker.

Tuesday, February 11, 2:00 p.m.
St. Louis County Library, Jamestown Bluffs Branch, 4153 N. Highway 6
Free, but registration required

Author talk - Judith Giesberg

Drawing from an archive of nearly 5,000 documents, historian Judith Giesberg, author of Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families shares the story of formerly enslaved people who spent years searching for family.

Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 p.m.
St. Louis County Library, Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Free

The Life and Impact of Judge Bryan Mullanphy

In honor of Black History Month, Florissant Valley Historical Society's Andy Theising and Unseen St. Louis organizer Jackie Dana will discuss the life and impact of Judge Bryan Mullanphy and the freedom suits in his courtroom. His landmark “citizenship” decision from 1843 might have changed slavery forever—had it been honored. Light refreshments will be available, and first-floor Black History exhibits will be open for viewing.

This event will take place inside the historic Taille de Noyer House, once owned by Bryan's father, John Mullanphy. Part of the home dates back to the 1790s. In 1817, John gave the home to his daughter Jane and her new husband, Charles Chambers. The home was then continuously occupied by Mullanphy/Chambers descendants until 1960.

Sunday, February 16, 2:00 PM
Taille de Noyer House on the McCluer High School Campus, 1896 S. New Florissant Rd. (enter campus and make the first & only right turn)
Free; seating is limited

The Music of Black St. Louis

From ragtime to blues to jazz to rock ’n’ roll to rap, come explore the rich musical heritage of Black history in St. Louis.

Tuesday, February 18, 11:00 AM
Missouri History Museum
Free

Unseen STL History Talks
From Punk to Print — Archiving St. Louis History

This February, the Unseen STL History Talks will highlight the vital work of archivists and historians who uncover hidden stories about our city’s history and preserve them for future generations. From genealogical research to book conservation and music history, this month's speakers will explore the many ways historical records are safeguarded and studied. The discussion will span a diverse range of projects—from family Bibles to the history of St. Louis punk rock—offering a unique look at how the past is documented and remembered. Speakers include archivists Emma Prince, Noah Smutz, and Greg Kessler.

February 20th,7-9 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.)
Leviathan Bookstore, 3211 S. Grand
$5 cover
More details about talks and speakers at Unseen St. Louis

They Will Make Good Soldiers: Ulysses S. Grant and the United States Colored Troops

Presented by Nick Sacco, Historian and Curator, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Examine General Grant's relationship with Black soldiers during the Civil War and how they contributed to victory on the battlefield.

February 25, 2:00 p.m.
Virtual program
Free; registration required

Echoes of 1917: The History of the East St. Louis Race Massacre

Presented by Cicely Hunter, Public Historian at the Missouri Historical Society. Explore the pivotal racial violence of the East St. Louis Race Massacre, its broader civil rights implications, and its lasting impact on advocacy and activism.

February 25, 3:00 p.m.
St. Louis County Library, Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd.
Free; registration required

House History Workshop

Whether you live in a Victorian townhouse in Lafayette Square, a Central West End mansion, or a south-city bungalow, your home has a story to tell. Join Associate Archivist Dennis Northcott to learn how to research the history of your St. Louis home. Reservations are required. You can make a reservation below or by calling (314) 361-9017.

March 1, 9:30am–11:00am
Missouri Historical Society Reading Room
Tickets are $10 per person or $5 for MHS members
Register

History Tidbits

In honor of the Landmarks STL City Heart Bomb event, here’s a little history about the Railway Exchange Building in St. Louis.

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If you have events, news, historical tidbits, or other things you think Unseen STL readers would appreciate, email me at jackie@jackiedana.com and include “Unseen STL Vibes” in the subject line. 

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