Throngs of diners and drinkers crowded Thursday night into the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton for the second-annual cooking competition and schmooze-fest. Four St. Louis chefs competed in the contest,with a portion of the proceeds going to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

7 Shot Screamers, Holy Python and the Spark Thugs at Throttle on Laclede's Landing in St. Louis, April 16, 2008. Nashville Pussy were supposed to headline the show, but dropped off the bill because of a "death in the family." Photos by Brent Holzapfel.

After the debate wrapped up in St. Louis Thursday night, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin greeted supporters. A Palin look-alike, a few "I heart Sarah" T-shirts and the ubiquitous hockey moms were all in attendance.

The local purveyor of such arty releases, Cherokee Street's aPop Records, exhibited some of its wares. Ask an aPop employee if she has an iPod, and you'll get a "fuck no" for an answer.

Flamenco dancers at Sol Lounge and beer enthusiasts at the Schlafly Repeal of Prohibition Festival make up this slideshow of St. Louis people. Pics 1-8 are from the Repeal Festival, held on Saturday, April 12, and pics 9-12 are of Flamenco dancing Sunday, April 13, held at Sol, located in Midtown. Pictures by Anastasia Folorunso.

Dance Nerd Messiah Dan Deacon turned the Billiken Club at Saint Louis University into arguably one of the most buck wild parties the Jesuit university has experienced in blue moon on Saturday, April 12. Check out the sweaty, electronic orgy in these pics by Keegan Hamilton.

LA's DJ Madlib and touring partner DJ Egon drew a couple hundred to The Gramophone Thursday night and into Friday morning. Openers DJ Needles and DJ Crucial began turning records at 10 p.m. Thursday.

As a teacher at Washington University, as a mentor to young writers, as a friend to established writers, Donald Finkel wanted others to find their own voices — to hew their own path through life, and not imitate what had been done. On April 7 at Duff’s Restaurant, 392 North Euclid Ave., Finkel’s celebration was marked by more than 30 local poets. Hear his words here.
-Paul Friswold

Early risers, including Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, laced up their running shoes and hit the pavement of St. Louis Sunday morning for the Go! St. Louis Marathon. See the story in these photos by Lyle Whitworth.

Spring in St. Louis brought out marathon runners, Cardinals fans, Soulard Market shoppers and drum circles. Here are some pics from around the city this weekend. Pics 1-9 are of Saturday's shopping at Soulard Market; 10 and 11 are of some partying on South Grand and 12 through 20 are of the U. City Loop drum circle Sunday.

Leather, leather, leather. The annual Mr. Midwest Leather contest, held at JJ's Clubhouse in St. Louis drew a couple hundred people Saturday night. Pics tell the story of a contest that judges speaking abilities, physical form and community involvement.

To benefit the Humane Society of Missouri, St. Louisans learned about -- and drank -- beer Thursday night. Photos by Lyle Whitworth.