Recently named one of Time’s Most Influential People of 2010, Michael Sherraden, of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, established his reputation by founding the Brown School’s Center for Social Development. Time recognized Sherraden for his work in asset building for low-income individuals.

The Loop, the Landing, the Central West End: been there, done it all. If you’re ready for a new place to go out, head to Tower Grove. The Grove, for those not already in the know, is an older part of St. Louis that’s building itself back up with trendy restaurants and popping nightlife.

So, I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but St. Louis is kind of big on beer. Although Anheuser-Busch has the biggest name and the biggest hold on the town, there are plenty of smaller breweries with high-quality products worth checking out.

The first time I gambled, my eyes anxiously followed the slot machine’s spinning cherries. It was stressful and exciting­­­. But it was also illegal: I was about 8 at the time. I was promptly escorted from the small casino and returned to my parents. Since then, I’ve continued to respect the glamour, exhilaration and fickleness of Lady Luck only from afar.

It’s amazing what you can find across the street from a Shop ’n Save. Located across from the grocery store, on the corner of Manchester Road and Sutton Boulevard, is the piano bar called The Jive & Wail. It’s one of those places you would walk right by if the music didn’t reach out the door and grab you off the sidewalk. And once you get inside, the dueling pianos will keep a hold of you and show you a good time.

Are you sick of going out and hearing the same four Lady Gaga songs over and over again? Then go to the Gramophone on April 3, where Glory Daze and London Calling, along with several other DJs, will be spinning great dance songs all night. London Calling, a group of well-known St. Louis DJs, is famous for playing British and other international dance hits.

The idea of glassblowing blows my mind. When I look at an intricate glass vase with swirls of colors and perfect curves, I can’t even begin to imagine how it came from a molten glob of material at the end of what’s essentially a straw.

Dante’s Latin in the Lou Every Friday starting at 9 p.m. at Dante’s, 3221 Olive St. No cover for ladies 9 p.m.-10p.m. for this night of hot Latin music and dancing. The Great Cobblestone Challenge Thursdays on the Landing. Complete a challenge at six of the Landing’s bars for free drinks. You must eat six [...]

St. Louis happenings for the week of March 1, 2010.

Every so often, a movie comes along and it has everything: a great plot, believable characters, witty dialogue and a certain joie de vivre. “The Room,” a 2003 independent film, is in no way such a movie. But it is so absurdly, immensely and amazingly bad that you have to see it to believe it.