Extremely rare pieces from one of the largest private collections of Alexander McQueen’s work are among those to be showcased in an upcoming exhibition at the World Chess Hall of Fame. 

As vibrant as Seattle days are, after-dark activities are equally as spirited with untold clubs and bars ranging from the Old World elegance of Oliver’s Lounge to great jazz at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley.

TAYLOR ROBINSON, a senior at Ladue Horton-Watkins High School, is one of 814 high school athletes nationwide who have been nominated to play in the 2013 McDonald’s All American Games. The 2013 nominees include high school basketball players from across the country who have been selected by coaches, athletic directors, principals and members of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee. Pictured: Taylor Robinson with Colleen Schoendienst, local McDonald's owner/operator

Just when it seems like the ethnic design trend has run its course, these out-of-the-ordinary patterns demonstrate their staying power. In fact, designers say ikat, susani, and batik-inspired patterns are so enduring, they’ve become staples in American design, just like traditional and modern.

April

Thank you for the great spread in LN for our Change Begins with Me exhibition opening. You have been wonderfully supportive and we couldn’t be more pleased with the impact. You are the best. (2/8/13 issue, p. 7)

Kim Eberlein (Volunteer Leadership)

You voted, we listened! Ladue News readers know what they like; and with this year's Platinum List, you've made your voices heard. This list compiles the best of St. Louis. 

Elaine Blatt welcomes guests into her contemporary Ladue home with a warm smile and cup of frothy cappuccino. The day she welcomed me was particularly cold and snowy. She was busy packing for an upcoming photo journey, destined “to get out of the cold.” She also was completing work on From Field to Fork…The Plants We Eat, her photography exhibit opening March 15 (through May 31) in Monsanto Hall at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It the first time I have seen the petite and stylish redhead casually dressed without one of her signature hats atop her head.

Congratulations to Villa Duchesne senior Sarah Sutherlin, who has been selected as one of Missouri’s top youth volunteers of 2013.

Rather than list the local institutions that Bob and Mary Lee Hermann have supported, it would almost be easier to list those they have not been involved in—if you could think of anything to put on that list. So while they may protest that they’ve slowed down in recent years, it’s no surprise to those who know them that they would be named among LN’s Most Dynamic St. Louisans.

Surprise! That was the word of the day at Clay Elementary School in North St. Louis, the site of KIDSMART’s 11th birthday party. The organization, which equips underserved students and their classrooms with basic school items, surprised 200 students last week with backpacks filled with supplies, balloons, cupcakes, and appearances by Rampage the Ram and Louie of the St. Louis Blues.

Trend section: Black & White Work Wear

Missouri History Museum’s new George Washington exhibit goes behind the iconic figure on the dollar bill to reveal the first president’s true self. Life-sized figures and intimate objects tell the story of Washington’s greatest interests and diverse career paths—from a farmer, surveyor, architect and military general to president of the United States. LN recently spoke with Elizabeth Chambers, collections manager for the president’s hometown of Mount Vernon, to learn more about Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon, which runs through Jan. 20.

Saturday 3

St. Vincent Home for Children is sponsoring a benefit wine tasting on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 facility at 2319 Choteau Ave.There will be a wide variety of wines available, courtesy of Show Me Vino, in conjunction with Missouri Beverage Company. Also on tap: live music from Jazz St. Louis All Stars, hors d'oeuvres from Russo's Catering and a silent auction. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door, and can be purchased at saintvincenthome.org.

When RALPH CLAYTON and his neighbors donated 104 acres of farmland to build a courthouse and county seat more than 130 years ago, they had no inkling that the rural outpost would evolve as a progressive metropolitan hub in the century to come. A newly released book, Clayton, Missouri: An Urban Story, chronicles the making of the city through the people who helped build the community. Written by veteran journalist MARY DELACH LEONARD, the book is filled with historical anecdotes, nostalgic photographs and modern street scenes. The book is available online through reedypress.com and at several local bookstores.

Saturday 6

Indoors or out, there’s something about being surrounded by beauty that is truly inspiring. Here’s a sampling of what’s on view at area museums this fall:

Federico Barocci is the type of artist who often is mentioned in art history books, but never the center of attention. St. Louis will get its first real look at the Renaissance painter when the Saint Louis Art Museum opens its exhibition, Federico Barocci: Renaissance Master, which runs from Oct. 21 through Jan. 20.

THE 83RD ANNUAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SAM FOX SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND VISUAL ARTS presented a fashion extravaganza featuring models wearing outfits created by the school’s senior and junior fashion design majors?

All summer, conservators have worked diligently at the Saint Louis Art Museum to restore a 19th-century American treasure: The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley, the only survivor of six Mississippi panoramas known to have existed. With significant progress gained during the exhibition, visitors to the Museum were permitted to observe as nine of the scenes were repaired, resulting in 18 finished panels of 25 overall. Curator Janeen Turk says that conservators hope to complete three more by the end of the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 3.

Lisa Melandri took the reigns of the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) this month when she assumed the position of director, replacing interim director Dwyer Brown and former leader Paul Ha. Originally from Boston, Melandri studied art history at Harvard University and received her master of arts from Williams College. She worked at the Galleries of Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia before joining the Santa Monica Museum of Art in 2001 as the deputy director for exhibitions and programs. Ladue News recently spoke with Melandri about her new position, as well as the move to St. Louis with her husband, Jordan Gaunce.

Grammy Award-winning musicians, Tony Award-winning theater and never-before-seen art will highlight St. Louis’ fall season. Here’s a first look:

A slate of new attractions is on tap at family-friendly venues throughout St. Louis. Check out these events and exhibits for some end-of-summer fun to avoid the back-to-school blues.