Laumeier Sculpture Park paired a dramatic moonlit evening with unconventional artistic expression at this year’s biennial cocktail party, Socially Incorrect: A Night of Contradictions with John Waters.

Chef STEVE GONTRAM'S long-awaited burger restaurant, 5 Star Burgers, is now open for business at 8125 Maryland Ave. in Clayton. In addition to beefy burgers, the menu includes some veg-centric sandwiches like the Veggie Burger and The Portabella Stack, plus a bevy of shakes and floats. We've received some reports from the field that the Sweet Potato Fries with Salted Maple Cream are not to be missed.

He’s making a list, so make sure your lil’ ones are on it! NEIMAN MARCUS’ annual holiday tradition, Breakfast with Santa, is just around the corner. Dine with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy pictures with Santa, face-painting, a petting zoo and other activities. Breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 15, at The Zodiac. Admission for adults is $50; children, $30. Reservations are required, 994-5000.

DAVID SCHLAFLY was announced as chairman of Laumeier Sculpture Park’s board. MATTHEW COBLE, JAMEY EDGERTON, SAM FOXMAN, GARY HOEMANN, RAMSEY MAUNE, SHELBY SHIRE and MIKE WALSH are the nonprofit organization’s newest board members.

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:

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis hosted its 5th Anniversary Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis honoring homegrown artists Tom Friedman and Ernest Trova. Attendees enjoyed fine cuisine, delicious wines, and a benefit auction featuring works by Tom Friedman, Ernest Trova, Polly Apfelbaum, Maya Lin, and Alexander Ross raising significant funds for the museum’s exhibition and youth education programs including the award winning New Art in the Neighborhood and Contemporary ArtReach.

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

Local philanthropists Ken and Nancy Kranzberg get a reward every time they contribute to a nonprofit: They say seeing the look on the recipients’ faces is worth a million dollars.

Parts of the county may not have realized it yet, but over the last eight years, Chesterfield’s arts community has been quietly building up. The Art in the Park[ing Lot] festival, taking place this weekend, is just the tip of the iceberg. Its sponsoring organization, Chesterfield Arts, has been growing by leaps and bounds, according to executive director Stacey Morse.

You might be getting old if…Former Missouri First Lady and U.S. Senator JEAN CARNAHAN has penned a new book, A Little Help from My Friends…and Other Hilarious Tales of Graying Graciously. The book is a collection of 30-some essays that discuss everything from malls, manners and makeup to birthdays, bras and beauty secrets. One of the highlights is a list called ‘You Might Be Getting Old If…’ in which the 77-year-old author suggests that waiters automatically serving you decaf coffee and grocery clerks offering to help you carry one tiny sack are definite signs.

    Next stop, Broadway…The highlight of the 2010-2011 Repertory Theatre of St. Louis season will be the world premiere of the Broadway-bound play High, starring actress and Missouri native KATHLEEN TURNER. The MATTHEW LOMBARDO-penned production about a recovering alcoholic nun (Turner) and the 19-year-old drug addict she tries to help will be directed by ROB RUGGIERO. Turner, whose film credits include Body Heat, Prizzi’s Honor and The Virgin Suicides, also starred in the Broadway adaptation of The Graduate.

    Want to spend an iconic St. Louis summer night strolling through the grounds of the Busch family mansion at Grant’s Farm? The landmark home will be the site of a private party hosted by Fox 2’s MANDY MURPHEY and LN columnist PAUL BROWN to benefit Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support. Guests to the June 25 event will be treated to a tour of the property’s many living areas, including a glimpse of ‘Gussie’s’ trophy room, as well as get an opportunity to spend time with a Clydesdale or two. Limited tickets are available. Call 636-947-6164 for information. 

    Want to spend an iconic St. Louis summer night strolling through the grounds of the Busch family mansion at Grant’s Farm? The landmark home will be the site of a private party hosted by Fox 2’s MANDY MURPHEY and LN columnist PAUL BROWN to benefit Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support. Guests to the June 25 event will be treated to a tour of the property’s many living areas, including a glimpse of ‘Gussie’s’ trophy room, as well as get an opportunity to spend time with a Clydesdale or two. Limited tickets are available. Call 636-947-6164 for information. 

St. Louisans Cassie and Martin Wice have been collecting art for 17 years, and now they boast a collection of more than 200 pieces. And these are not your run-of-the-mill signed posters, either. LN caught up with the couple to get a glimpse of how they started collecting art and why.

2/6 CABARET ST. LOUIS: LIZ CALLAWAY The singer who played Grizabella in Cats for five years and starred in the original casts of ‘Miss Saigon,’ ‘The Three Musketeers’ and ‘The Look of Love’ comes to the Sheldon ballroom at 8 p.m. $40; 534-1111 or metrotix.com.

Losing a pet is stressful, and when it happens, most people don’t know where to turn for help. “For a lot of our clients, their pets are their children. When people call us, they’re crying and distraught, saying Please help us,” says Sarah Rouse of Kennelwood Pet Resorts. The company has operated its Mimi Alert program since 2009, to help owners find lost pets. “You start with a crying person, desperate for help and when there’s success, you end up with a happy person who has been reunited with their pet. It’s a really rewarding program.”

From an elegant wedding in the woods to a gathering filled with humorous contradictions and eccentricities, St. Louis knows how to party. We asked local caterers and florists to dish about the most outrageous or unique celebration they have helped orchestrate.

Supercalifragilistic and so on…Mary Poppins returns to THE FOX THEATRE next month, and the world’s most famous nanny will share the spotlight with St. Louisan BRANDON BIEBER, who performs as part of the show’s ensemble. Bieber was a member of COCA and MUNY KIDS/ TEENS and has performed at The Muny every summer since the age of 6. He’s a graduate of ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL. Mary Poppins runs Aug. 13 through 30.

October 10-12

Marge and Bob Brightfield

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.