What's New in The Lou: December 11th

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK:
2025 “Best in The Lou” Awards WINNERS! 🎉🎉🎉 

You showed up this year to crown our “Best in the Lou 2025” Champions!

Today we’re unveiling the first four category winners based on reader’s choice. Here’s your first taste of the 2025 local winners you crave most 🏆👇

🌮 Best Tacos Restaurant: Taco Buddha

Globally inspired tacos, scratch-made sauces and a warm neighborhood vibe. Thoughtful ingredients & big flavors won over your hearts (and votes). More great news: their new location in Botanical Heights (former Olio spot) will be opening soon!

🍕 Best Pizza Restaurant: Dewey’s Pizza

Dewey’s is a recurring STL favorite thanks to its chewy-crisp crust, creative specialty pies, and open-kitchen charm. Families love it, pizza nerds respect it, and their seasonal specials never miss.

🍔 Best Burger Restaurant: Stacked STL

This burger powerhouse takes the crown with its customizable builds and stacked topping combos. They serve burgers with personality and don’t sleep on their house-made sauces. New to try: their Central West End location just opened in September!

🔥 Best BBQ Restaurant: Pappy’s Smokehouse

A local legend, Pappy’s smokes the competition again with its fall-off-the-bone ribs and lines that wrap around the building. It’s the kind of spot that visitors must try and locals proudly defend. A true Lou icon and the barbecue OG.

Stay tuned weekly as we continue to announce our next batches of winners!

🌟 Holiday Buzz

The Lou is bursting at the seams with holiday pop-up bars! With over 35 options this year, below are a few standouts. Cheers to the season!

• Sleigh Shed (The Train Shed in Union Station)- This cozy, winter-themed pop-up serves festive cocktails in a warm holiday hideaway. Nov 12–Dec 30.

• Sippin’ Santa (Planter’s House)- Step into a tropical Christmas bar with island-style holiday drinks.  Nov 18–Dec 28.

• Miracle STL (Small Change STL)- One of St. Louis’s longest running holiday pop-ups, Miracle STL invokes Christmas nostalgia with its decor. Nov 18–Dec 28.

• Moose Mug Lounge (Angad Arts Hotel)- A nostalgic, movie-inspired holiday bar pouring spirited drinks in a kitschy winter wonderland. Nov 8–Dec 31.

• Up On The Rooftop (360 Rooftop Bar)- A rooftop holiday pop-up featuring skyline views, twinkling lights, and festive cocktails. Nov 7–Dec 28.

• LIT (Molly’s in Soulard)- A high-energy holiday bar glowing with bright lights, themed drinks, and a party-forward Christmas spirit. Nov 28–Dec 23.

• The Floating Sleigh (The Riverboat)- A waterfront holiday pop-up offering cozy cocktails and magical river views aboard a festively decked-out floating bar. Dec 4–28.

What’s Happenin’ in St. Louis 👀

Friday, December 12th

• 🎵 Festive Friday (Saint Louis Art Museum)- The Festive Friday series offers free holiday events such as crafts or performances each Friday evening. This Friday, the Town & Country Symphony Orchestra performs Holst’s In the Bleak Midwinter and other seasonal works. 7 pm.

•  🎥 A Christmas Story: The Musical (The Fabulous Fox Theater)-Ralphie Parker’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun comes to life in this stage adaptation of the beloved film. The touring production features an original score by the creators of La La Land. Shows play all weekend December 12-14. Catch the Friday evening show at 7:30 pm.

• 🩰 Nutcracker & The World’s Fair (Edison Theater)- Ballet 314 reimagines Tchaikovsky’s classic by setting it at St. Louis’ 1904 World’s Fair. Performances run Dec. 12-14, with sensory friendly and ASL interpreted options.

• 🎻 Handel’s Messiah: Joyful Praise (Powell Hall)- The SLSO’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah returns for an unforgettable holiday tradition. Nicholas McGegan, a Handel expert, conducts this performance. Show at 7:30 pm.

• 🏒 St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks (Enterprise Center)- Watch the Blues take on their Chicago rivals. Puck drops at 7 pm.

Saturday, December 13th

• ❄️ Winter Celebrations 2025 (Saint Louis Art Museum)- This free family festival celebrates holiday traditions from around the world. From DIY snow‑collage art and an inflatable snow globe to story time with an Ice Queen, this event also includes with performances by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko drum troupe, Trinity Irish dancers, and more. 10 am-4 pm. Open on Sunday as well.

• 🍻 12 Bars of Charity (Ballpark Village)- Choose your charity and join thousands at Ballpark Village for the largest bar crawl in the city. Your registration supports one of eight local charities and includes a hoodie, drink specials at participating bars, live bands, and DJ sets.

• 🍺 Holidaze (Schlafly Bottleworks)- This festival features 50 local artisan vendors, music from LOVE of CR STL, and kid and dog-friendly fun under a heated patio. The event is free to attend, with Schlafly beer, cocktails, and food menu available for purchase while you shop, sip, and enjoy the holiday vibes. 11-4 pm.

•  🎸 Punk Rock Christmas (The Pageant)- The Pageant’s annual holiday show swaps sleigh bells for electric guitars. Members of Goldfinger, Ludo, Greek Fire and more form an all‑star band covering punked‑up carols, hymns and holiday hits. Show at 7:30 pm.

•  🎵 Winterfest DJ Night & Spirits Tasting (Kiener Plaza)- The Spirits of Winterfest: The Agave Experience offers tastings of Don Julio tequila, with bartenders mixing specialty cocktails for adults at 2 and 3:30 pm. Later, DJ Charlie Chan keeps the music going in a free performance from 6 – 8 pm.

Sunday, December 14th

• 🕯️ Hanukkah Festival of Lights (Missouri Botanical Garden)- This Hanukkah celebration features local vendors and hands-on crafts. Live performances include Shakshuka, Kolot: St. Louis Jewish Women’s Choir, Shir Emeth Youth Choir, and more. The event concludes with the lighting of the first Menorah candle. All activities are included with regular Garden admission. 12-4 pm.

• 🕎 Hanukkah at the Arch Opening Night (Kiener Plaza)- Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with the lighting of the largest menorah west of the Mississippi River, The Staenburg Menorah. 4:30 pm.

• 🎄 Lafayette Square Holiday Parlor Tour and Market (Lafayette Square)- This tour offers a self-guided walk through beautifully decorated historic homes, plus carriage rides and a neighborhood trolley. Along Park Ave, a holiday street market features local vendors, festive food, and seasonal drinks. Tickets are needed to tour the houses, not needed to attend the market. 10 am-4 pm.

• 🎁 Rockwell Beer Garden Holiday Market (Francis Park)- Get some holiday shopping done at Rockwell Beer Garden with local vendors while enjoying holiday treats. As a bonus, llamas and Santa will be present! 12-4 pm.

• 🎵 Christmas with The Petersens (The Sheldon)- The family band, The Petersens, bring their warm harmonies to St. Louis. The Branson‑based group blends acoustic instruments, gospel spirit, and sibling humor to put their own spin on holiday classics. Show at 3 pm.

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ST. LOUIS NEWS + UPDATES 📰 

Lava Island Opens - Lava Island, a $5 million tropical-themed indoor playground for kids and adults, has opened its newest location in Rock Hill at 9610 Manchester Road. The rapidly expanding chain welcomed St. Louis visitors for the first time on Dec. 5. Lava Island contains a cafe and play equipment including trampolines, foam pits, a multi-level jungle gym, tricycle track, slides, and more. In addition to open play time, birthday parties and other events can also be hosted.

WEATHER FORECAST 🌡️ 

Friday
37° ☁️ | 9% precipitation | 🌬 10 mph

Saturday
26° ☁️ | 42% precipitation | 🌬 12 mph

Sunday
15° ☀️ | 1% precipitation | 🌬 10 mph

Monday
37° ☀️ | 0% precipitation | 🌬11 mph