Maplewood

In Maplewood, every day feels like Small Business Saturday. Walking through the historic downtown, you’ll find everything from locally made crafts to artisan chocolates and independent bookstores to internationally recognized breweries.

The dining options are also vast. Whether you’re craving a casual sandwich in a cozy eatery, an upscale tasting menu at an Italian restaurant or a sweet snack from a “Strange” donut shop, you won’t go hungry in Maplewood. In 2014, the neighborhood was designated as St. Louis’ first Green Dining District by the Green Dining Alliance, thanks to the focus of the area’s restaurants, bars and breweries on reducing their environmental footprints.

One such establishment, Schlafly Bottleworks, hosts Art Outside, a quirky festival that aims to raise awareness and appreciation of art and music created in the St. Louis area. Let Them Eat Art, another annual art event in Maplewood, is a whimsical tribute to Bastille Day. The summer festival features live art demonstrations, performances by regional musicians and children’s activities – plus, food and drinks from the neighborhood’s award-winning purveyors.

While you explore, look for plaques that pay tribute to the businesses that served travelers along Route 66 from 1924 to 1933. Ranging from a bank to a hardware store to a bowling alley, the seven businesses are still family-owned and -operated.