Features

Life can get busy – really busy. To keep up the fast pace, people stretched between multiple responsibilities turn to caffeine, and most get their “fix” from coffee. St. Louis is a coffee city. It’s a little-known fact that until the mid-1920’s, the city was the coffee-roasting capital of the world, boasting more than 75 major plants. I have patronized coffee shops and coffee houses throughout St. Louis. Recently, I came with my personal list of the Top 5 close to the Forest Park campus. […]

Ann Coleman knelt down to comfort Lovey Duvey, an 11-month-old pit bull that was frightened by a passing truck. Minutes later, the excited dog was jumping and eating snow along Macklind Avenue. “This is the immediate gratification,” said Coleman, 54, of St. Louis, a former freelance writer who lives in St. Louis. She is one of 300 volunteer dog walkers at the Humane Society of Missouri, which is next door to St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. More volunteers are needed. […]

I have been able to see two of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest acts perform live in the past few months. In February, I had the honor of meeting the legendary Chuck Berry, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis. Growing up listening to different types of music and having family members in bands has enhanced my knowledge of “greats” like Berry. Meeting this man, who is still performing around the world at 86, was truly a dream come true. […]

Students on the Forest Park campus of St. Louis Community College speak more than 60 languages. Nearly 80 percent of students at Meramec are white. Many students go to Florissant Valley to study engineering, and Wildwood is known as an environmental showcase. “Every campus has certain programs that only they offer,” said Tom Flynn, coordinator of deaf communications studies at Florissant Valley. “For instance, horticulture is only offered at Meramec, the restaurant and hotels hospitality stuff is only offered at Forest Park. […]

John Zimmerman uses his sculptures to make a connection between past and present. “I make contemporary objects, objects that are indicative of innovation, discoveries, science and general modern-day issues, and I give them the texture and glazing of geologic strata,” he said. […]