Emma Margraf | Contributing Photographer

Between Skinker Boulevard — home to student favorites Kaldi’s and Nami Ramen — and DeBaliviere Avenue — which many students can’t even pronounce — is one of St. Louis’ best and underrated neighborhoods, proven by PorchFest STL on Sunday, Sept. 20. 

Every year, the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood is the home of PorchFest STL, St. Louis’ edition of the nationwide event that brings musical performances to local porches. PorchFest first began in 2007 in Ithaca, New York, and arrived in St. Louis in 2017 thanks to WashU students who wanted to create a local version for the community. The host neighborhood’s historic houses have served as stages since the very beginning, providing community along with porches. 

PorchFest STL is emblematic of what makes Skinker DeBaliviere special. Across the Skinker/Forest Park Parkway intersection is a neighborhood full of history, charm, and community. Whether it’s stopping to pet a dog and conversing with the owner or renting a bed at the McPherson Community Garden, there are many easy ways to see how special the neighborhood’s community is. 

PorchFest attendee Camille Smith, a senior at Saint Louis University who did a community assessment of the neighborhood for her social work major, admires the integrated community.

“I really love the connectivity in this area — the bond between students and permanent residents as well. I think that’s something that sets it apart,” she said.

Smith attended PorchFest to cheer on WILD alum Underpass, for which her friend Ceci Oses, a junior at WashU, is the lead vocalist. The student band performed their pop-rock covers at a non-WashU event for the very first time, right on Pershing Avenue. Oses had previously attended PorchFest as a listener and was excited by the opportunity to attend as a performer.

“It’s always nice to be involved in St. Louis and do things outside of the WashU bubble, especially something so cool,” she said. 

A crowd of student fans and other community members cheered on Underpass, standing in the shaded street, resting on lawn chairs, and sitting on picnic blankets. Two blocks away on McPherson was another audience setup, that of DJ T-Money, which had an equally fun but different vibe. In front of the DJ was a yard filled with outdoor kids’ toys, a bubble machine, chalk, and other activities. A young boy entertained the crowd with his toy bicycle tricks while the adult residents of the house gave out free food and drinks, sparking conversation with the changing audience.

Since Skinker DeBaliviere is positioned right next to campus and is home to many WashU students, the University has an interest in the prosperity of the neighborhood. Redell Hendricks, community relations coordinator in the Office of Government & Community Relations, helped plan aspects of PorchFest and represented WashU — a big sponsor of PorchFest — at the event. A colleague in her office sits on the board of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council (SDCC), of which WashU is a founding member, and representatives of WashU often attend the council’s monthly meetings and security committee meetings.  

“For a student perspective, one thing that we hear often is that [neighborhood residents] want you guys here. They want you guys to be their neighbors and add to the vibrancy of the community, and that’s something that you don’t always get with a neighborhood that’s so close to a campus,” Hendricks said.

There are many benefits to living in Skinker DeBaliviere as a student, most apparently the strong sense of community and pride within the neighborhood. After 6 p.m. on Sunday, when the performances concluded, many people stuck around Greg Freeman Park — the centerpiece of the neighborhood — to hang out and talk to each other. Children continued to run around the playground, while dogs rested in the shade of the trees.

Although PorchFest is SDCC’s most popular event, the organization puts together several other annual events throughout the neighborhood. Last month was Rags 2 Riches, an outdoor vintage market with participating houses as vendors. Winter Market is Skinker DeBaliviere’s own holiday artisan market, which will be in December. Additionally, in the spring, a community garden tour allows community members to show off their gardens as a stop on the route.

Hendricks said, “Skinker DeBaliviere, the neighborhood, is a part of WashU. This is our community as well.” To the underclassmen looking to live off campus, she urged, “If you want to learn to be a good neighbor, come to Skinker DeBaliviere.”