It’s been announced that after 30 years, Dierdorf & Hart’s Steakhouse will be closing its doors in Westport Plaza. Since opening in 1983, the establishment has served as a go-to meeting place for many a business deal and countless special occasions for local families. The restaurant was locally owned and operated by former football greats DAN DIERDORF and JIM HART, and managing partner LOU GARESCHE. Lunch service ended last week, and dinner service will continue until Saturday, May 18.

It’s time to freshen up, ladies! We sent four LN readers to four area salons to have their hair and makeup looks refreshed for the season,  and learned that less-is-more styles are all the rage this spring.

A backyard is just a backyard—until you turn it into something more. Outdoor living spaces are gaining in popularity and have potential to increase a home’s value and saleability. And there is almost no end to the number of uses they can serve for your family. We asked experts for creative ideas to make the great outdoors a selling point for your home—whether you’re putting it on the market in five years, or next month.

The father-and-son team of Bob and Steve O’Loughlin is going non-stop, working to create or redesign the next the next big St. Louis hotel ‘experience.’ In the past couple of years, the tandem has been even more successful than usual. The highlights include opening the hugely popular Three Sixty atop their Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark and re-energizing the storied Cheshire Inn. At the same time, they made major purchases: Among them, the Marriott St. Louis Airport, Westport Plaza and one of the crown jewels of St. Louis, Union Station—yes, Union Station!

Wondering what's on your children's wish list this year? We may have some ideas... Check out these great toys and games for a variety of ages from Imagination Toys and Verde Kids. 

Shopping centers and stand-alone businesses across the region are the ones getting the makeover. And experts said recently those renovations are a way to keep tenants happy and vacancy rates low in older, often out-of-date shopping centers.

After having children, women often wish to bounce back to their pre-pregnancy bodies. St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery’s solution is the ‘mommy makeover.’

Maryville Talks Books, the signature author series from MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY, kicks off this month with actress/ singer VANESSA WILLIAMS and her mother, HELEN WILLIAMS. The pair will appear on May 10 at Christ Church Cathedral for a discussion and signing of their book, You Have No Idea. The rest of the lineup includes former Democratic presidential candidate BILL BRADLEY (May 11), sportswriter FRANK DEFORD (May 30), author and historian DOUGLAS BRINKLEY (June 4) and Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August author BUZZ BISSINGER (June 11). Except for the Williams event, all other appearances take place at Maryville University Auditorium and are free and open to the public. Ticket packages for the Williams event are $30, and include seating for two, as well as a copy of the book (brownpapertickets.com).

Ladue News becomes a work of art…One of the current exhibits at BRUNO DAVID GALLERY features the work of artist KATHARINE KUHARIC, who uses ‘unsolicited images’ from newspapers, magazines and junk mail and presents them in a way that questions celebrity, pop and suburban culture. One such painting especially caught our attention. Title? Ladue News. We’ll leave the interpretation up to you.

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.

Gina Dean, Couture Floral & Rentals...

A group of local women is being recognized for their efforts in keeping the arts thriving in St. Louis. The recipients of this year’s Grand Center Visionary Awards include philanthropist KIM EBERLEIN (Major Contribution to the Arts), CON CHRISTESON of the Community CollabARTive program at Peter & Paul Community Services (Successful Working Artist), The City Studio Dancer Center’s SARA BURKE (Outstanding Arts Professional), Saint Louis Art Museum photography instructor LOIS INGRAM (Outstanding Arts Educator), artist GINA ALVAREZ (Emerging Artist) and Washington University English professor and author MARY JO BANG (Lifetime Achievement). In addition, SUSAN UCHITELLE, director of the Confluence Academy, will receive the President’s Award for her role in establishing Grand Center Arts Academy. The 10th annual Visionary Awards takes place May 16 at The Sheldon. For tickets, call 289-1583 or visit grandcenter.org.

While Wednesday was a huge opening in theaters, including three huge Christmas movies and at least three Oscar contenders, there is something to be said for curling up on the couch with a turkey sandwich and watching a DVD.

Sometimes, we just want a do-over. And when it comes to our body, we can achieve something close with procedures that sculpt and transform shape and size.

           Being a mom with young children is a demanding job in itself, but when you have a full-time career on top of it, you barely have time to brush your hair, much less pamper yourself with a whole day at the salon. With that in mind, we treated two busy moms to makeovers at area salons—with great results!

When displaying art at home, all of the designers we asked agreed on one thing: Never buy a piece of art that you’re not absolutely in love with. “It’s all about longevity,” says Anne Smith of June Roesslein Interiors. “If you’re going to live with something for many, many years, you want to purchase something that you love.”

> Today is Chocolate Chip Cookie Day at Mike Shannon’s Steaks & Seafood. Various players and staff from the Cardinals will be on hand at the restaurant from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., signing autographs and selling cookies, donated by Schnucks, to raise money for Operation Food Search.    

When…125 children, representing 52 families, attended the annual Saint Louis Crisis Nursery Family Party? The event is held to celebrate the families involved in Crisis Nursery’s Family Empowerment Program. The program provides in-home child development assessments, educational toys and books, parent education groups and support to families in crisis. Guests enjoyed breakfast and lunch, crafts, cupcake decorating and Valentine’s Bingo. The Cardinals’ Fredbird attended along with Mickey Mouse and Princess Tiana.