Getting what you want always starts with knowing where to look. And the real estate market is no different. “Having an extensive conversation with clients to determine their priorities and lifestyles when considering a new home is the primary step in the search process,” says Kathy Crane of Laura McCarthy Real Estate. Here, local real estate agents have given us insights into good places to start your home search, depending on your family’s priorities.

Do you have a secret? Are you living a shameful (or shameless) existence? Do you hate your body? Do you have a sex tape? Do you think your toddler needs to go on a diet? Have you stabbed your lover? Do you have a more-than-meaningful relationship with your car, your pet chimpanzee, or an inflatable doll? Do you grocery shop at a gas station? Well, there may be some good news for you. Your outrageous, unrefined, crude, addictive, aggressive, compulsive, self-loathing behavior might make you rich and famous…well, rich and infamous. A quick glimpse at the array of what we so literally describe as 'reality shows' may have you wondering if there’s hope for you yet.

Shannon Parker, originally from Bellevue, Neb., has called Brentwood home since 1994. She is a technical writer with Trustforte Corporation; and her kids, Lucy Bloomstran, 11, and Reid Bloomstran, 9, attend Wilson School. We spoke with Shannon about what she and her family love most about living in Brentwood.

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.

In many ways, St. Louis is a big city. But when you get right down to it, what makes our town special is combination of its many unique neighborhoods. Enjoy our annual tribute to St. Louis’ neighborhoods.

A 14-year-old Jeremy Davenport sat in the audience of The Sheldon Concert Hall in 1984 and watched the great jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis take the stage. Afterward, young Jeremy got a chance to meet Marsalis. It was a night that would change his life. “It was the first time I got a chance to hear Wynton play live,” Davenport recalls. “He’s such a phenomenal trumpet player—he’s probably been the biggest musical influence in my life.”

More than 80 kids put on new complimentary school uniforms each year through the help of Manasseh Ministries. “It helps their self-esteem and  motivates them--and lets them know someone cares,” notes Rev. Richard Jackson.

Perhaps I am being naïve. Perhaps my memory has faded. Or perhaps in 1978, I didn’t have 42,000 cable channels. As a kid, there were a handful of Christmas specials to which I looked forward. I should probably say 'holiday' specials—not because it is politically correct but because most of them had very little to do with Jesus’ birth—The Little Drummer Boy being the obvious exception. I mean, the island of misfit toys and Frosty locked in a greenhouse don’t exactly scream Silent Night.

We’re all familiar with the Norman Rockwell version of Thanksgiving dinners: grandma with the turkey, grandpa ready to carve, smiling faces, and children sitting expectantly—family bliss immortalized. I’m certain that all of your holiday celebrations are exactly like that, right? On the outside chance that you’ve experienced otherwise, here are a few tips for dealing with the stress that sometimes accompanies this time of year.

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate recently celebrated the opening of its new chocolate factory by hosting a party for friends, family and residents of The Hill, where the facility is located. A portion of the retail proceeds and all proceeds from a chocolate basket raffle went to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Pictured: Shriners' director of public and community relations Tammy Robbins, owners of Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Dan Abel, Sr., Rosalie Abel, Dan Abel, Jr., Christina Abel and Chris Abel, and Shriner David Dieckhaus

One of the many things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday is Rowan, a black-and-white border collie mix we adopted in 2006. ‘Rowie’ is loving and loyal, as perfect as a dog can be. Rowan has mostly black fur, and his face is black, save a small white stripe running from the top of his head down to his snout.

Usually at this time of the year, activity dwindles in California’s Napa Valley. But for the past two years, the region has reinvented itself as a pre-Thanksgiving destination with ‘Flavor! Napa Valley.

If you’re like me right about now, you’re wearing comfortable clothing—elastic waist preferably—and watching an unexciting football game and trying to work up an appetite for the all-important Thanksgiving leftovers. So let’s see if we can’t plow through that tryptophan daze with a little trivia. It’s probably halftime, anyway.

Story: Matt has comfortably hung out with Jesus for years in Portland, Ore. Or, at least, with whom he thought was Jesus. A chance encounter with St. Peter at a vegan restaurant leads to the disturbing realization, thanks to Pete’s explanation, that Matt’s invisible pal is merely an “imaginary Jesus,” affable though he may be.

In this whirlpool of a world we live in, Thanksgiving has a tendency to get lost. We go from Halloween directly to Christmas to the New Year, almost without taking a breath in between.

For those just not up to the chore of making a Turkey Day feast for the whole fam, Cielo Restaurant in the Four Seasons downtown has the answer: Chef FABRIZIO SCHENARDI and his crew are whipping up Thanksgiving dinner to-go. The dinners include delectable items like roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potato puree and a take on a holiday favorites, green bean casserole, as well as a whole roasted free-range turkey (brined for a full 48 hours before baking), and a choice of two pies from pastry chef PETER WHITLEY. The cost per dinner is $295 (excluding tax) and it feeds 10. Orders have to be received by Monday, Nov. 19, and can be made by calling 881-2105.

Not so much a trend as a lifestyle, the equestrian look always is a classic for fall. But what I love about this style now is that the individual pieces work so well with other non-equine items you own.

Erica and David met through JDate. They embarked on their first date in January of 2009 at a speakeasy in Manhattan. There, they sipped on cocktails served in tea cups while getting to know each other.

As the little girl pulled item after item out of the backpack, each question was the same: Are these socks mine? Is this T-shirt mine? Is this toothbrush mine? The volunteer for Project Backpack, an organization that provides basic necessities to children removed from hostile residential environments, reassured her that the items were indeed hers. The little girl then asked, I don’t have to share the toothbrush with anyone?

Founded by Jim and Connie Miles in 1984 after the death of their daughter, Marcia, H.I.S. K.I.D.S. (Happiness Is Serving Kids In Distress Situations) aims to decrease the devastation caused by childhood cancer for both kids and their families, says assistant executive director Jayme Bellamy.

When it comes to diet, we try. We know the rules: Fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein; avoid saturated and trans-fats and processed foods. As well-known author and nutritional guru Michael Pollan sums up, Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

Sadie Stipanovich doesn’t have butterflies in her belly before big games. She has pterodactyls flapping around in there. The junior center for the Westminster girls’ basketball team, Stipanovich gets so nervous her friends can see it on her face. “They’ll say, Look at Sadie—she looks like she’s going to throw up,” Stipanovich says with a laugh.

In 1928, a heartbroken mother abandoned her 3- week-old baby at a theater in Pittsburgh, with a note that read, Please take care of my baby, her name is Catherine. I can no longer take care of her, I have eight others. My husband is out of work. She was born on Thanksgiving Day. I have always heard of the goodness of show business and I pray to God that you will look after her. Upon discovering her, 11 entertainers founded a charitable organization called Variety Club. For five years until she was adopted, the girl stayed at the homes of producers and actors—including her favorite, ‘Uncle Walt,’ who we all know as Walt Disney.

The scene was the Clayton Center: There was always a little boy on the basketball court. Sometimes, he was alone. Sometimes, he was with his father. But he always was with his basketball. Perhaps nobody in our town has shot more basketballs than Blake Ahearn over the last 15 years.

John Mohrmann can’t explain it. Was it written in the stars? Was it fate? Was it luck? Morhmann just wrapped up his 20th season as coach of the Priory soccer team. The weekend before Thanksgiving, Mohrmann guided the Rebels to their second Class 2 state championship. They finished 27-0. It’s the second time a boys soccer team has gone unbeaten and untied in the state of Missouri. The first time was in 2005, when Priory went 26-0. “It is hard to believe,” Morhmann, 50, says. “It’s pretty amazing it’s happened twice.”