If the good Lord were to give me one perfect day, it would be to have my father back, and the two of us would head to Busch Stadium for Opening Day. Alzheimers took him from us six years ago. The disease may destroy memories, but it won't erase a single second of the time the two of us spent at the ballpark together.

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. 

March

Valentine's Day may have passed, but who says you can only have a romantic evening out on Feb. 14? St. Louis has plenty of places where you and your significant other can have a fine meal and pitch some woo all year long. Here are a few of our favorites:

When Mark Cusumano walks through the dining room of Kemoll’s, he often pauses under a portrait of his grandmother, Doris. Eighty-six years ago, Doris and Joe Kemoll opened a restaurant that would become one of St. Louis’ most renowned fine dining establishments, and Cusumano understands the importance of carrying on his grandparents’ legacy. “Whenever I walk by, I can’t help but think, How am I doing, Grandma?”

Katie Marie Corey and Daniel Robert DiLeo

Branko and Kathy Ostrec of St. Louis are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Mirella Ostrec, to John Miller Sokup III, son of John and Sharon Sokup of Oakville.

Best Local Coffee House

Friday 2

Academy of Science

When their small confectionary debuted in 1927, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kemoll could not have imagined their brand-new business would serve five generations of customers, including politicians, sports figures and Broadway stars. “It seemed like almost everybody who played at the Fox Theatre came to Kemoll’s,” says Mark Cusumano, the fourth generation of the Kemoll-Cusumano family to be involved in the restaurant. “You couldn’t even list all the famous people that came in: Charlton Heston, Anthony Quinn, Joe Frazier, Jesse Owens—and the ballplayers came in all the time, because Sportsman’s Park was just a few blocks away.” Asked if he had a particular favorite, Cusumano says Anthony Quinn is a great memory. “I was a young waiter, just coming up, and I had his table. He was the nicest guy!”

If any area restaurant deserves to be called a St. Louis institution, it’s Kemoll’s. Founded in 1927, this paragon of fine dining has been located downtown in the Metropolitan Square building for about 20 years, first in the lobby, then relocating to the 40th floor in 2009. We hadn’t visited since the move upstairs, so we felt it was high time to make another reservation.

> Provisions Gourmet Market in Creve Coeur will soon be closing its doors. We’re told that while the company is shuttering that store, it will be opening up a fourth location of The Wine & Cheese Place June 1, at 457 N. New Ballas Road.

    Mr. and Mrs. William Torno of St. Louis are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Meghan Christine, to Matthew J. Zahra, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Zahra of Florissant.

Imagine the valet whisking your car to the underground garage and the doorman welcoming you with his trademark greeting. You stroll through the sun-washed serenity of a three-story atrium and bask in the ambience. Life is good, because this isn’t an all-too-brief visit at a luxury hotel. This is home.

For more than eight decades, Kemoll’s Restaurant has been a fixture on the St. Louis dining scene, known for its sumptuous Sicilian dishes and first-rate service. The restaurant’s Ellen Cusumano says that when her grandparents Joe and Gaetana Kemoll started the eatery 83 years ago, their goal was to serve the finest food along with good service. “Grandma treated customers like they were guests in her home—and you always put out the finest for your guests,” she says.

When…the St. Louis regional chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council gave its first ‘Growing Green’ awards at the Coronado Ballroom? Out of 80 nominees, winners included the William A. Kerr Foundation, Habitat for Humanity St. Louis, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, the City of Clayton, Richard Reilly, David Bertorelli and LoftWorks LLC. Pictured: Tom Tyler, Jaime Kelly and ‘Quietly Green’ award winner David Bertorelli.

When…Little Sisters of the Poor held its 2009 benefit dinner at Kemoll’s ‘Top of the Met?’ Since 1882, the nonprofit has cared for thousands of St. Louis’ needy elderly, providing services that help them remain independent. Pictured: Mary Ann and Anne Bisch with John Inkley