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LIFESTYLE LETTER
Let’s go on a butterfly hunt.
April 2022 PUBLISHER
Renee Moore | renee.moore@citylifestyle.com EDITOR
Kate Baxendale | kate.baxendale@citylifestyle.com EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR
"The thought of spring and warmer weather was my inspiration to create butterflies," said Mark Borella, artist and owner of Seeds of Happiness, located in Kirkwood. "What do we do to make ourselves feel better after a cold winter? We turn to art." Mark and his creative team of artists, Ali Bertels and Will Higley, spent weeks molding and hand-painting butterflies. Ali suggested to Mark that if they mount the butterflies on a spring-loaded rod, the butterflies will look like they were fluttering in the wind. Ali's suggestion sparked an idea. "We could create a butterfly hunt in Downtown Kirkwood to support local restaurants and businesses," thought Mark. "Families from all around St. Louis can come to Kirkwood to hunt for butterflies, dine at a restaurant, and shop around town." He immediately called longtime friend and executive director of Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District Donna Poe. Donna loved the idea so much that she asked Mark to paint a few butterflies red. Finders of the red butterflies can bring their catch to the Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District office and receive a $20 gift certificate to be redeemed at a downtown business. Mark, known around the world for creating smiles, noted, "If someone finds a butterfly, they can keep it. I hope it makes them smile." The theme of this April issue is EXPLORE. I'm excited for you to explore all that our cities have to offer. Kirkwood Lifestyle Magazine is proud to be a part of the people who live, work, and shop in Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Warson Woods, Glendale, and Des Peres.
Christy Ridnehour AD DESIGNER
Hunter Richie LAYOUT DESIGNER
Hannah Lavenburg CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S
Mike Swaleh, Abby Lapides, Kate Baxendale, Beth Glennon CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S
Andrew Pielage, Ann Lapides, Danny Zofness
Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer
RENEE MOORE @KIRKWOODCITYLIFESTYLE
ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
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Proverbs 3:5-6 Kirkwood City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Kirkwood area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Kirkwood City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but
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the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
APRIL 2022
inside the issue The Explore Issue
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F E ATU R E D
D E PA RTM E NTS
14 Illinois Wine Country
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Lifestyle Letter
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City Scene
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Business Monthly
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Road Trip
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Open House
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How To
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Healthy Lifestyle
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Our Town
Discover the Beauty of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
22 Let’s Grow a Butterfly Garden
How to Create a 5-by-10-Foot Pollinator that Attracts Butterflies, Bees, Hummingbirds and More
26 Exploring Your World Through Sound Hear What You’ve Been Missing
30 Exploring the Real Estate Market
Common Concerns about the Chaos, Home Prices and Future Gains
O N T H E C OV E R
Photography: Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens Explore the magic and wonder of a butterfly garden.
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FO O D + B EV ER AGE HO ME + DES I GN
LI FE + C U LT U R E HEA LT H + W E L L N E SS
R EA L ESTAT E
IMAGINE
Your Getaway
Vista Decking offers:
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APRIL 2022
city scene
Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1
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1: Mark and Traci Borella, Art McDonnell 2: Wallace Ward, Mayor Tim Griffin 3: Peg Weathers, President/CEO of Kirkwood - Des Peres Area Chamber of Commerce 4: Kris Clark, Dan Mitchell, Zack Clark in the back, Dan’s beautiful wife, and Kris’ husband. 5: Stephanie Haenchen, Pace Marketing and Jon Schwendeman, Chamber Chairman of the Board of Directors 6: Kirkwood Lifestyle Partners - Enterprise Bank, Shack Shine, Fairway Mortgage, Spenga, and the Kirkwood Historical Society 7: Elias Corpas, Past Chair of the Board and Volunteer of the Year. Snazzy Shoes, Elias.
Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @kirkwoodcitylifestyle
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C I T Y SC E N E
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VIRTUAL EDITION REAL WORLD BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE. ONE COURSE AT A TIME.
The Enterprise University spring 2022 semester is here! Build your skills and advance your career with Enterprise University. Enterprise Bank & Trust has proudly hosted Enterprise University for nearly 20 years, and we’re excited to share it with Kirkwood Lifestyles readers. This semester’s course schedule has just been announced and registration is open. Join us to take advantage of: • 90-minute virtual webinars taught by industry experts who work in the field and live what they teach • A wide variety of course offerings—you can sign up for as many or as few as you’d like • No-cost courses where you learn best practices in finance, human resources, leadership, marketing and more Registration is required, so sign up soon.
EXPLORE THE COURSEBOOK AND RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT ENTERPRISEBANK.COM/EU
APRIL 2022
business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.
Butterfly Hunt in Downtown Kirkwood Mark Borella, artist and owner of Seeds of Happiness, has created a beautiful butterfly hunt to promote dining and shopping in Downtown Kirkwood. Throughout April, hand-painted butterflies will be fluttering around town. Mark wants to bring SMILES to the community. He said, "If you find a butterfly, catch it and keep it." Bring red butterflies to the Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District office and receive a $20 gift certificate to be used at a downtown business.
Scan to read more.
Explore a New Hobby The Needlepoint Club House offers beginner classes taught by volunteers from the Gateway Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild on the first Saturday of each month. All supplies are provided for the classes, so if you are curious about trying needlepoint, show up and explore a new hobby. Beyond Basket Weave classes are offered on Fridays for more advanced needlepointers. National instructor Laura Taylor will teach at the Clubhouse from April 23 – 25.
Scan to read more.
Lorilee Realty Expands Kirkwood Team "I take a different approach to the team concept," said Kirkwood real estate agent Lorilee. "I have surrounded myself with a team of specialized agents who work with me, rather than for me." Lorilee's partners include Tina Spanos, Derek Robertson, and Preston Gross. "Partnering with Tina, who is very detailed; Derek, who is a great designer; and Preston, who is great with the numbers, means that our clients receive a full experience when selling their home."
Scan to read more.
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Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Kirkwood
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Illinois
ARTICLE BY KATE BAXENDALE PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Wine Country DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE SHAWNEE HILLS WINE TRAIL
The birth of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, located about two hours south of St. Louis, is the result of three of the first wineries in Southern Illinois. The owners of Alto Vineyards, Pomona Winery and Owl Creek Vineyard—together with the Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau and the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau—created the state’s first wine trail in the summer of 1995. Today, the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is a 40-mile stretch with 11 wineries that offer nationally and internationally awarded wines. The trail is located within the beautiful Shawnee National Forest, so outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to hike, bike, ride horses, zip line and much more. Christina Royer, owner of Sky High Travel, is a native of the area who has frequented the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.
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“Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is about a two-hour drive from St. Louis. I recommend stopping in Chester, Ill., to fill up and grab a bite to eat while stretching your legs,” she says. “Chester is the home of Popeye! There is a cute little statue you can take a picture with. Reid’s Harvest House is a local favorite known for the best chicken.” Many of the vineyards offer accommodations, but Christina recommends staying at the Skyline View Cabins, Von Jakob Vineyard, Blue Sky Bed & Breakfast or Cave-In-Rock State Park Lodge, which has “views that are impossible to beat.” “When staying at the wineries, I recommend a trip to Larry’s House of Cakes,” Christina says. “They have the best doughnuts, cookies and, of course, cakes!” For your morning caffeine fix, Christina recommends Cold Blooded Coffee & Roastery in Murphysboro. “Walker’s Bluff is definitely the mother of all wineries in Southern Illinois,” Christina says. “There is so much to offer, and it is expanding soon! If you’re here, eat at their incredible restaurant, Legends! Take a tour of their wine cave, and stop at their Tasting Room. There is a gorgeous event space, too!” Walker’s Bluff’s expansion, set to open next year, will include a casino, a steakhouse, a sports lounge, live entertainment, a spa, a hotel and more! There’s never any shortage of things to do along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. Live music, wine and food pairing weekends, festivals, scavenger hunts, karaoke and comedy nights are just a few of the options. Be sure to check each winery’s event calendar and plan accordingly. To get the full Southern Illinois experience, step outside! Ride horses at Giant City State Park, play a round of golf at Keller’s Crossing at Stone Creek, go for a hike at the Garden of the Gods, or zip line at the Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour. While there’s plenty of wine to drink in the area, it also has a variety of other attractions. Sip beer at St. Nicholas Brewing Company in downtown DuQuoin, try a peach smoothie at Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass, or eat barbecue at Mase’s Place in Pomona. The combination of natural beauty, world-class wine, small-town charm, plus its proximity to St. Louis is certain to make the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail a new favorite weekend destination. For more information, visit ShawneeWineTrail.com.
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A Mid-Century Modern Marvel The Frank Lloyd Wright House at Ebsworth Park
ARTICLE BY KATE BAXENDALE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW PIELAGE
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Did you know that Kirkwood has a home designed by one of the most prolific architects of the 20th century? The Frank Lloyd Wright House at Ebsworth Park is a 1,900-square-foot home designed in 1951 for Russell and Ruth Kraus. The home sits in a grassy meadow surrounded by persimmon trees in the peaceful Ebsworth Park, near the intersection of Ballas and Dougherty Ferry roads. The Kraus House is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes, which were intended to provide the middle class with stylish architecture at an affordable price. The Kraus House was designed as an equilateral parallelogram with a complex floor plan of intersecting parallelograms. The home has a typical Usonian layout and consists of an open living area, a central hearth, concrete slab floors with radiant heat, and a wall of glass doors for viewing the landscape. Both the home’s interior and exterior were built with brick, concrete, glass, and tidewater red cypress. The doors to the main terrace feature stained glass designed by homeowner Russell Kraus, who was a stained glass and mosaic artist. The Krauses lived in the home from 1956 until Ruth’s death in 1992. The nonprofit Frank Lloyd Wright House at Ebsworth Park (FLWHEP) purchased the home and grounds from Russell in 2001. It was then deeded to St. Louis County to create a public park and museum. FLWHEP completed extensive renovations of the home’s brick, woodwork, furniture and textiles. Docent-led group tours of the home are available for $20 per adult and $10 per child. Tours for members are free. Becoming a member helps preserve the house and engage the public in educational programming. For more information and to book a tour, visit EbsworthPark.org.
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Let’s Grow a Butterfly Garden HOW TO CREATE A 5-BY-10-FOOT POLLINATOR THAT ATTRACTS BUTTERFLIES, BEES, HUMMINGBIRDS AND MORE Fluttering butterflies, buzzing bees, and darting hummingbirds make your yard come to life. Most pollinator plants need at least six hours of sunlight a day. Different-shaped flowers will attract different types of pollinators. Consider adding a trellis because pollinators love many vining plants. To feed pollinators all season long, choose plants that bloom at different times. Remember to add a birdbath filled with pebbles or other water feature. Limit use of insecticides and other harmful products. Provide shelter. Each pollinator requires different materials to create homes for themselves and their offspring. While each plant is unique, on average plants will spread into a 2- to 3-inch circle. A 5-by-10-foot garden will need 15 to 20 plants. Butterflies require specific plants for their young. Cut back spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
Pollinator Plants Tickseed (pictured), Aster (pictured), Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, Beardtongue, Lonicera Vine, Dutchman’s Pipe Vine, Garden Sage, Stonecrop, Garden Phlox, Blazing Star, Wild Hydrangea, Sweet Spire Shrub, Spice Bush, Parsley/Dill/Fennel, Columbine
ARTICLE BY ABBY LAPIDES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUGAR CREEK GARDENS
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E HEAR WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MISSING
SOUND
ARTICLE BY BETH GLENNON PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANNY ZOFNESS
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H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | HE ALTH + W E LLNE S S
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Your World T g n i hr or ou l p g x
“People have remarked that they heard birds sing for the first time in 10 years,” said John Scarlas. “We don’t realize how much we’ve missed in the world around us. We don’t realize how much we’ve lost until we get our hearing back.” Enjoying the fullness of sound is a huge part of enjoying the fullness of life. Theater performances, weekly religious ser vices, even simple dinner conversations with family or friends can signif icantly diminish over time with hearing loss. “Hearing loss is an insidious problem because it happens so gradually over a long time,” said Dr. Russ Pickett, Au.D. “You can be fooled into thinking that the problem doesn’t exist.” Until that salient moment. “It’s different for everyone, but typically there is a moment of recognition. It’s the moment that a person’s inability to hear and to communicate within their world becomes undeniable.” The social implications of hearing loss are often noticeable at holidays and family functions. “Someone may feel excluded from the conversation because of their inability to hear well,” said Russ. As an audiologist with over 30 years of experience, Russ said, “Our first goal is to provide a better means of communication for individuals. You can’t recover from hearing loss. But certainly, you can live a full life communicatively if you are wearing something that allows you to stay connected with the people around you.” Greentree Hearing and Audiology, located in Kirkwood, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of helping people amplify their hearing. Dr. Russ Pickett, Au.D., and his wife, Sherry Pickett, Au.D., John Scarlas, M.S., and office manager Tricia Laney have created a welcoming, friendly, and relaxed office environment that offers the most advanced hearing solutions.
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“The technology today is so advanced that I don’t even consider the devices we use as hearing aids. They are listening systems that connect with phones, video games, and streaming music platforms,” said John. Not only has the technology evolved, but so has the science. Russ explained, “Hearing loss is directly connected to the brain. The brain’s ability to process, understand and discriminate what it hears is strongly tied to overall cognitive decline. The longer you put off hearing loss treatment, the less we can help later.
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We need to keep the brain functioning properly.” In addition to affecting the brain, hearing loss studies have shown a direct correlation with smoking, hypertension, heart health, and overall mental health. “Solitude is a very lonely place to be,” said John. Russ noted that as a resident of Kirkwood, “A number of my patients are also my neighbors. We want to help our local community live fully, and we want to give them their world back.” For more information, visit GreentreeAudiology.com.
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ARTICLE BY MIKE SWALEH | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Left to Right: Matt Moore, Nikki Weddle, Mike Swaleh, Leanne Pacheco, Lauren Johnson. Not pictured: David Nations
EXPLORING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET COMMON CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHAOS, HOME PRICES AND FUTURE GAINS
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O UR TOWN | R EAL ESTATE
We get consistent questions from the community about the housing market, and many of you have expressed concern that we are in a real estate bubble. So, are we? Is it really chaos out there? Should you be concerned about falling home prices, or more concerned with missing out on future gains? Let’s dive in. MIKE SWALEH, AREA MANAGER, FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE: Nationwide, this is the lowest housing inventory compared to population in history. What is your perspective of the current housing market? LAUREN JOHNSON, LUX LIFE REAL ESTATE: I’ve been a realtor for 15 years, and I’d much rather have the market we had during the recession. This market is making consumers become unrealistic and defeated.
DAVID NATIONS, NATIONS NETWORK REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS: We didn’t build enough new homes in the decade after 2008. At the pace we are building houses right now, it will be 18 years before we reach the amount of inventory to match the demand. NIKKI WEDDLE, THE NATIONS NETWORK REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS: Buyers who miss out on existing home offers consider new construction. But the price of building can be a hindrance, and land is hard to find. MATT MOORE, OWNER FM DESIGN BUILD: There is not enough land, not enough labor, and not enough supplies. Builders, investors, and homebuyers are competing for the same property. LEANNE PACHECO, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE: Buyers and sellers need to surround themselves with a team of experts who understand their clients’ goals and motivations and can help navigate this market. MIKE: The good news is that if you’ve got thick skin and can handle being a buyer right now, you should make money over the next three to five years as the demand evens out. In 2008, there was a 3:1 supply-to-demand ratio, and today, there is a 3:1 demand-to-supply ratio. MATT: The questions I get asked are, “Is this a bubble?” and “If I build a house, will it still be worth the price in five years?” This current market is an offshoot to the 2008 crisis instead of a precursor to the next housing crisis. In every decade since the 1970s, we built 22 million homes across the country on average. The decade after the recession, we built 5 million. We are not going to solve the inventory problem by building one house at a time because we are never going to catch up. MIKE: That is why repurposing commercial real estate has become my passion. LAUREN: I would love to see local developers convert empty office buildings into multifamily housing. There is a huge demand for more inventory solutions.
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MIKE: There used to be a natural cycle to the housing market for buying and selling. But not anymore. In fact, you are doing yourself a favor by being counter-cyclical. How do you help your clients win in this market?
LAUREN: Your commercial team needs to be more than the listing agent because they only represent that seller. Choose a commercial broker who fully understands your brand and has a team around them to assist with full representation.
NIKKI: Sellers have options. You can sell your house and then lease it back while you have time to look for a new house. Delayed possession options allow sellers to take their time looking for a home.
MATT: We educate buyers on the importance of having strategic partners. Work with a realtor who can be creative on the offer of an existing home and understands the opportunity for working with a builder.
LAUREN: Reverse contingency clauses are great options for sellers. The listing agreement can state that the seller has a certain number of days to find a house, and if they don’t find a house, the contract terminates. MIKE: Knowing that advice should be tailored to the goals, financial position, and risk tolerance of each client, what wisdom do you share with buyers and sellers?
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NIKKI: Trust the team that is around you. We are all in this together, and we all talk to each other. MIKE: Negotiating the offer used to have nothing to do with anything we did as a lender. But now, that’s all we talk about. Fairway
Advantage is designed to give a buyer a competitive advantage when negotiating. Avoid anyone who is trying to talk you into something. Navigate toward people who are listening. LEANNE: Buying or selling a home doesn’t have to be a miserable, daunting experience, and it should be enjoyable, even if there are a few difficult moments along the way. You should trust and enjoy working with the people helping you reach your goals.
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come enjoy our campus blossom! Call us today at 636-431-2046 to schedule your tour of our beautiful campus. Our marketing team is fully vaccinated to keep you safe during your tour!
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