REASONS TO LOVE ST. LOUIS

01. There are more alfresco and dog-friendly dining options than ever. Boasting acres of off-leash space, a restaurant, and three bars, Bar K recently opened to howls of approval in The Grove. This spring, The Doghaus Soulard plans to open a location in Dogtown, next to Hogtown Smokehouse. At the same time, new food truck destinations have rolled out, including Affton’s 9 Mile Garden, the state’s first food truck park. (A second spot is planned for 2022.) In the Metro East, food truck-based cloud concept Soulcial Kitchen will serve as an incubator for new food concepts. Also slated to open this year is Frankie Martin’s Garden in Cottleville, where a historic home hosts whiskey and wine tastings, a new barn will house a beer venue, music and movies will be featured, and food trucks will rotate for lunch and dinner service. And many restaurants have expanded and redefined their patios. The Tavern added a covered side patio, while The Crow’s Nest opened one out back. The charming patio at Tony’s is fully covered for the winter, and its heated floor is a game changer. Edera continues to dazzle diners with its heated outdoor “chalets,” and Peno added additional seats beneath heated cover outside. The multi-room outdoor structure at indo is cozy, Russell’s sports several VIP tents, and a larger tent at Truffles may be the best of the genre.

Public art can be found all around St. Louis, from sidewalk statues and installations to building-length murals, and more is being added all the time. Muralist Andreas von Chrzanowski, also known as CASE Maclaim, recently contributed his work to the side of City Foundry STL, and “The Alton Ripple” now stretches across the intersection of State and West 3rd streets in downtown Alton. We’re