1. Art

On the Wall

Malcolm Gay encapsulates the St. Louis art scene.

By Malcolm Gay

Published: January 16, 2008

All Systems Go and Meditations on Limitations/One-Hour Sculptures White Flag Projects exhibits two young artists from out of town. In the main gallery is All Systems Go, a suite of...

2. B-Sides

Muppet Gone to Heaven

Veteran bluesman Bobby Rush charms China, while B-Sides makes a mixtape for Elmo the Muppet’s life.

By Ryan Wasoba and Roy Kasten

Published: January 16, 2008

Elmo has had a charmed life, even for a Muppet. He's been tickled by millions. He's testified in front of Congress. His best friend is a goldfish. He's been a star of the screen, and...

3. Cafe

India à la Mode

Rasoi plays with Indian cuisine — and that's a good thing. Anyone for a Bollywood Popper?

By Ian Froeb

Published: January 16, 2008

As its name might suggest, the "Bollywood Popper" at the four-month-old Indian restaurant Rasoi looks something like a jalapeño popper. The appetizer is a single Anaheim pepper,...

4. Critics' Picks

Wisely

8:30 p.m. Thursday, January 17. Lucas School House, 1220 Allen Avenue.

By Shae Moseley

Published: January 16, 2008

According to Wisely's bio, the mantra for the recording sessions that produced his latest studio album was, "Could the Beatles have played this with Billy Preston on the rooftop?"...

5. Critics' Picks

James McMurtry

9:30 p.m. Friday, January 18. Blueberry Hill's Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City.

By Roy Kasten

Published: January 16, 2008

Six years ago, if you had asked James McMurtry about political songwriting, his reply would have sent you to the nearest hole — in which you would beg to curl up and die. "Preachy,"...

6. Critics' Picks

Chris Botti

8 p.m. Friday January 18 and Saturday January 19. Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, One University Boulevard.

By Dean C. Minderman

Published: January 16, 2008

Although trumpeter Chris Botti is, by his own admission, neither a particularly daring improviser nor a bravura technician, he's carved out a highly lucrative niche in the jazz world...

7. Critics' Picks

The Walkmen/White Rabbits/White Denim

9 p.m. Monday, January 21. Blueberry Hill's Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City.

By Shae Moseley

Published: January 16, 2008

Since the release of the Walkmen's exploratory, epic 2004 album Bows & Arrows, the "Bob Dylan as frontman" aesthetic has become something of an indie rock cliché, with countless...

8. Drink of the Week

Oak Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Tucker’s Place
2117 South 12th Street
314-772-5977

By Kristie McClanahan

Published: January 16, 2008

All the animals, birds and fish will live in fear of you," says the book of Genesis. "They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them...

9. DVDish

Wookiee Mistake

By Robert Wilonsky and Jordan Harper

Published: January 16, 2008

Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (FOX) As someone with no use for Seth MacFarlane's potty-mouthed Simpsons rip, I'll admit to choking out a few giggles during his Star Wars send-up...

10. Feature

Smelterville

Crystal City forges one hell of a deal.

By Chad Garrison

Published: January 16, 2008

Mention the town of Crystal City and invariably you'll hear the name Bill Bradley. The NBA Hall of Famer turned U.S. senator from New Jersey grew up here, just a half-hour drive south...

11. Film

Chick Flick, Two Ways

In Keaton v. Heigl, girl power (Mad Money) trumps bridesmaid fashion (27 Dresses).

By Robert Wilonsky

Published: January 16, 2008

If Diane Keaton were a comer in 2007, she'd likely be stuck in romantic comedies cooked up in movie studio test kitchens. No Godfather for her. No Annie Hall, no Shoot the Moon, no...

12. Game On

Lukewarm Gun

Unreal Tournament III blasts new holes in old terrain.

By Gary Hodges

Published: January 16, 2008

Unreal Tournament III is ideal for overcaffeinated teenage boys with PlayStation 3s, broadband internet connections, extensive online friend lists, hours and hours of time to blow,...

13. Keep It Down

Fish-Cheese Sausage

Lotte Ham & Milk Co., Ltd.

By Malcolm Gay

Published: January 16, 2008

What with reports of fish farms polluted by sewage, crawfish contaminated with salmonella and everything from formaldehyde to paraffin wax finding its way into biscuits and gravy,...

14. Letters

Sufferin' Succotash!

Ian enjoys the suffering of ducks? That's despicable!

Published: January 16, 2008

Café, January 10, 2008 Duck, Ian, duck! Ian gets F-bombed: Now, I realize that what Ian Froeb attempted to do in "Just Ducky" is classic New Times: Write something deliberately...

15. Ask a Mexican

Driving While Mexican-American

The Mexican muses on the high rate of DUIs among Hispanics.

Published: January 16, 2008

Dear Mexican: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Mexican-Americans have the highest proportion of D.U.I's and alcohol-related traffic fatalities of any...

16. Music

Finest Worksong

Jon Hardy and the Public finds beauty in love's vagaries.

By Christian Schaeffer

Published: January 16, 2008

It's an overcast Saturday afternoon in early January, and Jon Hardy is waiting outside of a nondescript pub on South Kingshighway — the kind of bar that uses an advert for Busch...

17. News Real

Sacred Garbage?

Native Americans trash plans to expand a sprawling Illinois landfill.

By Keegan Hamilton

Published: January 16, 2008

Kathy Andria steers her white Geo sedan down the gravel road that skirts the Milam Landfill in south Madison County. She pulls up next to a couple who are hunched behind a camera aimed...

18. Stage

The Music Man

Dennis talks theater with a symphony conductor — and a theatrical one, at that.

By Dennis Brown

Published: January 16, 2008

"I have this tremendous love of theater!" David Robertson announces before the first question is asked. It is a love that helps to explain why some of the most ardent theater in town...

19. Stage

St. Louis Stage Capsules

Dennis Brown and Paul Friswold encapsulate the St. Louis theater scene.

Published: January 16, 2008

Othello The Black Rep stages Shakespeare's most passionate tragedy in voodoo New Orleans and Cuba at the time of the Spanish-American War. But establishing a locale needs to be more...

20. Unreal

Speed Bumps

Unreal narrowly averts Car-mageddon, dispels a Brad Pitt rumor and gets some berry good news about vino.

Published: January 16, 2008

This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions." "What do you mean, 'biblical'?" "He means 'Old Testament,' Mr. Mayor. Real wrath-of-God type stuff." "Fire and brimstone...