Creating good by giving back is a gift to yourself, local financial advisers say. But before making a major donation to support your favorite cause, heed the following pieces of advice to avoid scams, maximize that gift and leave a lasting legacy of philanthropy. 

The shopping experience of a Parisian flea market is a different sort of antique exploration than the thrill and individual service a fine, independent antique shop offers.

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. 

Spring is coming, a perfect time for a party to celebrate a holiday, special occasion or simply the arrival of warmer weather! These local party planners share ideas and tips for the perfect spring soiree.

Prom is one of the biggest nights of the year where you want to look your very best. There are few rules anymore so don't hesitate to branch out a bit. Breezy florals, chic neutrals, bold short minis, or sparkly sherbet dresses all look modern and fresh. Paired with metallic shoes and bold jewelry, you're sure to have the time of your life. 

Across

When the Walker family moved to Frontenac five years ago, they immediately were greeted with a friendly welcome. Stephanie, a North Carolina native, is a former attorney and homemaker; and her husband Chip, originally from Virginia, is a managing director at Wells Fargo Advisors. The couple has two children, 9-year-old Thornton and 8-year-old Emmi, who attend Conway Elementary. Simon, a yellow Labrador; Macie, a Goldendoodle; and a cat, Trixie, are the family pets. Stephanie told us more about what she and her family enjoy in Frontenac.

The Kolman family loves the urban appeal and small-town friendliness of Kirkwood. Stephanie and Brian Kolman have four children, Charlotte, 10; Spencer, 8; Ethan, 7; and Chloe, 4. The family’s pets, Ashby and Murphy, are rescue dogs. Stephanie is a stay-at-home mom and freelance architectural designer, while Brian is VP of Brewer Machine and Gear. Their children attend Westchester Elementary and Kirkwood United Methodist Preschool. Stephanie filled us in on her family’s favorite things about their neighborhood.

While it may seem obvious to showcase red items for the month of February, I have not completely abandoned featuring an actual trend. Red was big for fall and is continuing to be a strong color for spring (yes, spring is slowly arriving into stores).

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and what better way to revel in the holiday that celebrates love than with the ultimate romantic food and wine pairing: wine and chocolate?

With the enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act on Jan. 2, your 2013 tax return may look very different from last year’s. We asked local tax and financial experts to share some reminders for 2012 and advice for maximizing your tax outcome in 2013.

Catherine Hanaway has been throwing her weight around for a long time. After all, she was the first woman ever to serve as Missouri’s Speaker of the House; she won the Republican nomination for Secretary of State; and was named by President George W. Bush as the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Missouri. Today, she’s a top attorney in John Ashcroft’s law firm, the Ashcroft Group.

In the world of professional gardening, winter brings on different tasks. Hopefully, most of these jobs will be indoors when the weather is at its worst, as snow-shoveling and ice-chipping rank near the very bottom of our favorite jobs list. About the only things lower on that list are cleaning up the bird messes under the seed feeders, mucking out the pond on a cold spring day or spreading ripe manure in the heat of the summer. Gardeners usually use the winter season to plan future plantings, research new materials, order specialty items and peruse plant catalogs.

When families ask Fred Wiesehan why Mari de Villa is the best place for their loved one, he has a ready answer: “I tell them it’s as easy as one-two-three,” he explains. “No. 1 is the level of care and the respect that our guests receive. No. 2 is the fact that the ownership lives here—my wife Mary Kay and I have been here for 29 years, and Mari de Villa has been here for 52 years. We’re very hands-on and we know our guests and families. And third is the affordability—with all the amenities and services we provide, we work hard to keep our rates very competitive in the St. Louis market.”

Every month of the year has a 'movie personality.' October is set for thrillers and horror, while February is the month for romances. December is family films and Oscar contenders, and July is action—we seem to enjoy seeing things explode in July. But what about January? There’s no big holiday in January to give it a movie theme. Award hopefuls all have been submitted. What kinds of movies get released in January? I will tell you the answer: bad movies.

Mimi Fonseca was presented at the Fleur de Lis Ball in 1980, and what she remembers more than anything is the family atmosphere. “My whole family was there: my grandparents, aunts and uncles, sister and brother.”

Unreliable and second-hand gossip from around the world*

Musical: Wicked

The Baldwin Report