Established in 1836, St. Louis’ oldest historic district began as a 30-acre park named in honor of the Revolutionary War hero, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, more commonly known as the Marquis de Lafayette. A bust of Lafayette, a gift from France to St. Louis when the city celebrated its Bicentennial in 1976, sits in the Park House in Lafayette Square.
The park itself, considered the oldest park west of the Mississippi, became a well-known recreational destination for St. Louisans in the mid-1800s. Prior to the Civil War, local militias trained there; during the war, Union troops used it as a campground. In the years following the Civil War, politicians, socialites and other well-known individuals flocked to the area and started building stately mansions surrounding the park, quickly establishing Lafayette Park as a tony neighborhood among the wealthy.
On May 27, 1896, disaster struck when a tornado devastated Lafayette Park, bringing extensive damage to the park and the homes around it. Many of the homeowners never recovered and decided to join most other St. Louisans in moving to the western suburbs. Some renovation work began in the decades following, but progress was slow, and the neighborhood started to decline.
In the 1960s, a group of concerned property owners formed the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee with a mission to preserve and restore the neighborhood and its Victorian-age architecture. Their idea was simple: They felt their goal can best be accomplished by individuals renovating his or her own home. Therefore, the committee worked to attract potential homeowners to the area who understood what was at stake. One of the ways they informed the community was to conduct walking tours around Lafayette Square.
With that, a Lafayette Square tradition was born, and this year, it’s celebrating its golden anniversary with “50 Years of Saving a Place for You.” The Lafayette Square Spring Home and Garden Tour is a self-guided tour and is the neighborhood’s largest fundraiser.
Lafayette Square Spring Home and Garden Tour
June 1 and 2
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlights: See colorful Victorian-era “painted ladies,” view a stately home from the very first tour on one of the oldest private streets in St. Louis, as well as lovely gardens that make the most of urban spaces.
Don’t miss: Antique Market on the Park, a vintage baseball game, trolley and carriage rides, and a free concert in Lafayette park on Saturday evening.
$25 (in advance), $30 (at the door), free for children younger than 12; lafayettesquare.org
IN AND AROUND LAFAYETTE SQUARE
PARK AVENUE COFFEE
While it’s grown to include other locations since opening in Lafayette Square in 2006, we love that Park Avenue Coffee remains neighborly. It’s a place where the baristas know the regulars but are also welcoming and friendly to those who happen to wander in for the first time. Park Avenue’s coffee is air-roasted locally in small batches, keeping the flavor consistent and robust. Of course, Park Avenue’s signature gooey butter cakes are always aplenty in the shop. Another plus: the gorgeous patio out back! parkavenuecoffee.com
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT VIN DE SET
Vin de Set’s brunch is exceptional in every way. Start off with the complimentary mimosa, or create your own bloody mary with house-infused vodkas like Cucumber Dill or Tomato Basil. Your taste buds will notice that the buffet offerings—from the breakfast sausage to the cold-smoked salmon to the dazzling display of desserts—are all made in-house. They also grow their own microgreens and other produce for the salads, soups and other items. Of course, you’ll find classic breakfast standards like eggs and biscuits and gravy, but since Vin de Set is known for its French-inspired cuisine, there’s also a different crêpe every Sunday, and there’s always Crème Brûlée. vindeset.com
POP
The sparkling bar and restaurant is new on the scene, but it’s quickly becoming a celebratory hot spot. Expect to find an excellent selection of bubbly from the Champagne region of France, as well as throughout Europe, the U.S., and even south of the equator. And there’s plenty to pair with: On the Snacks side, the Missouri Paddlefish Caviar is a treat, served alongside vinegar chips, Standouts from the Small Plates include the Poutine with potato fries and red gravy, and Duck Crostini with gjetost cheese. Top choices for the main entrée include the Duck Confit, Duck Breast or Scallops. And you can’t go wrong with the boards—charcuterie, seafood or cheese. popstlouis.com
BAILEYS’ CHOCOLATE BAR
End your evening on a sweet note at David Bailey’s dessert and martini bar. Here, you can eat your chocolate and drink it, too. You can’t go wrong with The Signature ice cream martini—chocolate ice cream, Irish cream and chocolate vodka, all swirled together to go down smoothly. If you’re really serious about your chocolate, try the signature Mexican—chocolate, tequila, coffee liqueur—one of Bailey’s go-to libations and we can see why. As for dessert, you really can’t go wrong with the Flourless Hazelnut Torte, Chocolate Inebriation Cake or the Brownie. If you go for the Lover’s Plate, you’ll get a sampling of most everything, including the delightful Orange-Chocolate Macaron. baileyschocolatebar.com
