Central West End Cocktail Party | June 9, 2018

Let’s raise a glass! Our 3rd Annual Central West End Cocktail Party returns Saturday, June 9!

Join us on the streets of the Central West End Scene (CWEscene) as we celebrate the anniversary of what many have claimed as the first cocktail party on record — held in 1917 by Mrs. Julius S. Walsh Jr. in her home at 4510 Lindell.

Enjoy live entertainment, a spirited cocktail competition and, of course, delicious food and drinks available for purchase from participating CWE bars and restaurants.

This event, which will be held outdoors along Euclid Avenue between Maryland and McPherson, will be free and open to the public.

Suitsupply Now Open | 44 Maryland Plaza

Last night I attended the grand opening of Suitsupply at it’s first St. Louis location in the Central West End. How exciting it is to be getting a store here in St. Louis as the other locations are in larger cities like New York or Miami.

A little background about Suitsupply:
Since its founding in 2000 in Amsterdam, Suitsupply has been an unqualified success. Launched out of the trunk of Fokke De Jong’s car, giving new meaning to “Trunk Show,” Suitsupply has been helping men worldwide “find their perfect fit” in tailored fashion.

Starting first with an online direct-to-consumer model, Suitsupply carved out a niche in men’s suiting and tailored fashion, which is defined by the essential element of a jacket . “We were an omnichannel retailer before they invented the term ‘omnichannel,’” De Jong says. Today about 30% of company sales are conducted online.

Online shoppers are guided in the fit process with a Fit Finder app, but many men want more handholding in selecting, sizing and styling their looks. That is where the Suitsupply stores come in. “Service is critical today. In our stores shoppers can interact with someone who is an expert in men’s tailored fashion,” he continues.

Being a vertically-integrated company, Suitsupply and Suistudio have complete control of the quality of its garments, including the finest Italian fabrics, design, manufacture and distribution.

By exercising full control over the entire process, the company can offer luxury quality fashion at “attainable prices,” which in the case of men’s suits translates into $2,000 tailored quality at a $500 price point.

Friday May 25th, 2018 Gallery Openings

Houska Gallery – 5-9pm
Houska Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition by artist Julie Malone, featuring all new paintings with an interactive twist. As a colorist, her abstract landscapes push the boundaries of color theory, creating depth and movement that engage the viewer and allow for emotional connections. Julie’s exhibition runs through July 14th.

BONUS: BIRD NEST! Gallery B. featuring artist Jeff Kapfers all new Iconic Bird paintings.

Duane Reed – 5-8pm
Ethan Meyer’s work explores the play between the internal and external aspects of reality as they relate to both mind and spirit. Visually, his work explores the landscapes of consciousness that are continuously morphing and shifting, reflecting our own ever changing state of being. Influenced by Western and Eastern Philosophy, the work explores the mystery that is the sentient condition. Using markings that are both frenetic and spatially dense, Meyer is able to create a web of color and exploration that becomes a visionary and thought provoking play with surface and organic overtones.

Michael Eastman has established himself as one of the world’s leading contemporary photographic artists. The self-taught photographer has spent four decades documenting interiors and facades in cities as diverse as Havana, Paris, Rome, and New Orleans, producing large-scale photographs unified by their visual precision, monumentality, and painterly use of color.

Rosé Day in the Central West End

It’s Rosé Day! A Rosé wine get together in the Central West End to celebrate our favorite wine that rhymes with “all day”.  It all begins at Maryland Plaza where each ticketed person gets a Rosé Day walkable wine glass and map to each of the 10 tasting spaces. There and along the way you’ll be entertained by local musicians, street artists, games and fantastic photo opps. Want to Rosé and relax/shop/eat? Local CWE businesses and restaurants will be offering special sidewalk deals along the path.

Bring your friends and help support our amazing women’s focused non profits!

No matter what way you and your friends like to Rosé, don’t miss your opportunity to join us for the inaugural Rosé Day. Get your tickets here!

Website Launch and Movie Night at Centro Modern Furnishings

QUICK FACTS:
Date: Friday, April 6th
Time: drinks at 5:00, program 5:30-7:00pm
Location: 4727 McPherson Ave, 63108
Cost: FREE, members only

Mark your calendar for the return of Modern STL’s Annual Meeting on April 6th! We’re combining our usual business with the launch of our new website and a screening of Le Corbusier 50: Stories of Encounters that have Revolutionized Design (link to trailer), all set in the amazing showroom of Centro Modern Furnishings in the Central West End.

Doors open at 5:00pm and the program begins at 5:30. In addition to providing a brief business update on the organization we will share the features of our new website. With beautiful photos of local modern icons from Matt Marcinkowski, the new website includes a shop and calendar of events all things modern.

Following the business program join us for a screening of Le Corbusier 50: Stories of Encounters that have Revolutionized Design (the first time in St. Louis). According to wikipedia, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier (French: [lə kɔʁbyˈzje]; 6 October 1887 – 27 August 1965), was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930. His career spanned five decades and he designed buildings in Europe, Japan, India, and North and South America.

The film highlights Le Corbusier’s talent as a designer, from modern architecture to furniture designs that are still sold new today.

Friday 2/16/2018 Gallery Openings

Celebrate contemporary art (from 5-8 PM) in the Central West End with the opening of several new exhibitions. 

Houska Gallery – #real
Houska Gallery is excited to present #real an exhibit of realism with a twist paintings by featured artists Hollywood Indian, Eric Wieringa, Metra Mitchell, Renee Raub-Ayers, John Salozzo, Larry Torno,Jay Alan Babcock and New work from Zack Smithey.

Duane Reed Gallery – Tom Huck
Tom Huck, best known for his large scale woodcut prints, tackles modern American society with a caustic and satirical approach on values and culture. With a deliberately confrontational style, Huck utilizes a wicked sense of humor by telling stories on morality and behavior in graphic details that border anarchy. Previewing for the first time in St. Louis; “Electric Baloneyland”, a triptych of monumental size, is a work sifting through the downward spiral of American culture, as played out through the goings on at a local county or state fair. A revealing statement of issues in regard to our vanishing liberties, civility, and overall humanity in the United States, Huck describes his work as a walkbetween the fine line of the whimsical and the terrifying.

Philip Slein – PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS…
The still-life genre has come to renewed life with the thick gestural strokes of Tracy Miller and Holly Coulis. Portraiture is seen anew through the eyes of Amy Hill and Susanna Coffey. The landscape is transformed by Colin Brant, John Dilg, Zach Bruder, Jamie Adams, and Douglas Melini.

The paintings in this exhibition are fresh and exciting. Some may seem difficult, visually, at first glance. Introspection, however, will bear rewards. The lessons of abstract painting are rooted in this shift toward figuration.

Three Gallery Openings to Attend | November, 17 2017

Houska Gallery | John Salozzo

4728 McPherson Ave.

Houska Gallery is pleased to announce artist John Salozzo’s solo exhibition, featuring paintings of robots and vintage toys that evoke feelings of nostalgia and wonder.

 

Duane Reed Gallery | Selections from SOFA Chicago

4729 McPherson Ave.

Duane Reed Gallery is excited to present Selections from SOFA Chicago including the work of artists Irina Zaytceva, Jenny Pohlman, Sabrina Knowles, Peter Olson, Harumi Nakashima, Aya Mori, Katherine Glover and Nancy Callan.

 

Philip Slein Gallery | THE SPIRIT OF ABSTRACTION

4735 McPherson Ave.

The Philip Slein Gallery is proud to present The Spirit of Abstraction. Featured artists include Alison Hall, Louis Cameron, Robert Sagerman, Valerie Jaudon, John Zinsser, Richmond Burton, Brandon Anschultz, Lori Ellison, Douglas Melini, Ann Pibal, Jackie Saccoccio, Gary Stephan and Dan Walsh.

 

First Friday Happy Hour | Handcrafted by Bissingers | 11/3/17

Local catering company, 23 City Blocks Catering, and national gourmet confectioner, Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier, brings a unique take on a café, chocolate and wine bar to Saint Louis’ Central West End.

The café serves dishes featuring traditional favorites combined with unique ingredients with vegan, gluten-free, and loaded options. Handcrafted by Bissinger’s is the perfect destination for the wine lover, chocolate enthusiast and trendsetter of the St. Louis area.

Free for CWEA members  |  $5 per non-member
RSVP only 13 tickets remain!

Gallery Openings | Duane Reed & Houska Gallery | October 20, 2017

Duane Reed


Jiyong Lee’s Segmentation Series is inspired by his fascination with cell division. He works with glass that has simultaneous transparency and opacity; two qualities that metaphorically represent the clarity and mysteries of biology.

John Garrett was raised in southern New Mexico by parents who were both educators. They instilled in him an appreciation for the handmade with their collections of Native American arts and crafts. Garrett’s intrigue with the tools, systems and materials involved in weaving and other textile constructions has resulted in hundreds of exhibition, including shows in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Visually unpredictable, he incorporates an expansive repertoire of material, achieving energetic complexity with meticulous craftsmanship.

Where: Duane Reed | 34729 McPherson Ave.
When: Friday October 20 from 5 - 8 p.m.

Houska Gallery

Houska Gallery is thrilled to introduce new art work by amazing “Ones to Watch” artists : JB Nearsy. Connie LaFlam. and special guest artist: Alex Johnmeyer. Come out this Friday and see them and new art by other gallery artists: Zack Smithey, Michael Hoffman, Jeff Kapfer and Andrew Brandmeyer.

Where: Houska Gallery | 4728 McPherson Ave
When: Friday October 20 from 5 - 8 p.m.