Entertainment

Mikeymoe’s
5535 S. Grand Ave.
St Louis, MO 63111
(314) 352-1555
www.mikeymoes.com

Some bars have a specific concept in mind when they open. It’s obvious from the moment you walk in that everything’s been fit neatly together, from the lighting to the menu to the music. All the intangibles somehow click, creating a pleasing and coherent whole.
Other times, though, taking exactly the opposite approach can work.

On June 6, the Vital VOICE sat down with Nancy Novak at the bar and grill that bears her name – Novak’s – to discuss her new, lighter menu, major changes within her staff and the opening of a new establishment targeted towards the ladies.

Novak gave the VOICE a sneak peek at the revised menu, which will include a veggie plate, a steak quesadilla and a buffalo chicken wrap. The revised menu also promises the use of trans-fat and cholesterol free oil as well as antibiotic and hormone free meat.

The Vital VOICE: What motivated the decision for a lighter menu?

The Happening

By: Lee Rice

Although his new film is about a wave of unexplained mass suicides, M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” thankfully won’t make audiences follow suit.

For some it’s a reason to visit a favorite eatery, for others an excuse to try someplace new, and for all; it’s a way to donate money towards a worthy cause. Whatever the case, Dining Out For Life has become a tradition in the St. Louis area. Now in it’s 15th year, this venerable HIV/AIDS awareness and fundraising event has recently experienced a significant change that local organizers hope will keep that tradition going strong in the Metro area for years to come.

HELLBOY II

By: Lee Rice

In the recent deluge of super-hero related films, “Hellboy II” stands apart as possibly the best this summer. Sandwiched between the much anticipated “The Dark Knight” and hot on the heels of the abysmal “Hancock,” “The Golden Army” is a great reminder of what it's like to be floored by a superhero movie.

Disney and Pixar studios have given some great family entertainment over the years, including “The Incredibles,” “Toy Story,” and “Finding Nemo.” What most people don’t know about these projects is that all of them supposedly sprang from one gigantic brainstorming session. “WALL-E” is the last of the projects created at that brilliant meeting, and it upholds the high bar set by its predecessors.

Editors Note: 62 Square is dedicated to finding hidden gems in nooks and crannies of the 62 square miles that comprise St. Louis city. Enjoy!

Compared to riverfronts in other cities, the St. Louis riverfront is often criticized for not living up to its potential. Million-dollar consulting projects have examined, with little success, how to better merge the locations where the city meets the Mississippi River.

It is well-known that St. Louis features the largest population of Bosnians in the United States. Most of the estimated 40,000 to 50,000 Bosnians came to the region in the early 1990s during ethnic conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.

A hush fell over the crowd of 50 or so revelers, who already took up most of the space in the bar. Someone asked, “Is he here?” Everyone turned toward the door, and after an extended pause, a distinguished-looking gentleman appeared. He was wearing a white leather jacket, a black turtleneck, white trousers, and a fedora. The crowd erupted into applause. “Happy Birthday, Sonny!”