Real Estate Information

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Index rose to 76.2 from 69.0 in April
* Overall economy grew at annual rate of 2.5% in January-March quarter
* Housing recovery, decrease in unemployment, stock gains making Americans feel wealthier

WASHINGTON — Americans' confidence in the economy jumped in May to a five-year high, lifted by a better outlook for hiring and business conditions. The increase suggests consumers may keep boosting economic growth this year.

The Conference Board, a new York-based private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose in May to 76.2. That's up from a reading of 69.0 in April and the highest since February 2008.

The jump in confidence followed a separate report showing the housing recovery is strengthening.

Home prices jumped 10.9% in March compared with a year ago, the most since April 2006, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller 20-city index. All 20 cities showed year-over-year gains.

The reports contributed to a strong opening on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average surged more than 200 points in the first hour of trading. Broader indexes also jumped.

Consumers' confidence in the economy is watched closely because their spending accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity.

Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said Americans are more optimistic after worrying earlier in the year about higher taxes and federal spending cuts.

Still, higher home prices and stocks gains are making Americans feel wealthier. That could offset some of the pinch from the tax increase and keep consumers spending.

And the job market has improved steadily over the past six months. The economy has added an average of 208,000 a month since November. That's well above the monthly average of 138,000 during the previous six months.

The unemployment has fallen to a four-year low of 7.5%. Some of the decrease is because many people have given up looking for work. The government counts people as unemployed only if they are actively searching for a job.

The overall economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in the January-March quarter, up from a rate of just 0.4% in the October-December quarter. The fastest expansion in consumer spending in more than two years drove economic growth in the first quarter.

Many economists expect growth is slowing slightly in the current April-June quarter to a rate of between 2% and 2.5%. But there is hope among some economists that growth will strengthen in the second half of this year, boosted by the gains in housing and employment.

Remember when real estate was so hot there were lotteries, bidding wars and desperate people making offers sight unseen? In some markets, they're back.

Perhaps you, like me, thought we'd never again see the kind of madcap competition to buy homes that was common in the housing boom. I'm thinking of lotteries, not to win a home but just a chance to buy one. I'm remembering bidding wars and home shoppers so desperate to buy that they'd camp overnight outside new subdivisions to be first in the door the next day.

Never say never.

In some parts of the country, this kind of red-hot competition for homes, especially new homes, is back. Boom-era responses like camping in line overnight, homebuilder lotteries and buying homes sight unseen are making a reappearance.

That's how intensely demand is rising in some cities. If a picture speaks a thousand words, these nine spellbinding maps of U.S. home-price appreciation (a map for each year from 2005 through to today) tell the story of housing in the last crazy decade: from boom to bust to a second dizzying acceleration.

Lotteries fairer

So far, this the new run-up in prices is confined to a handful of cities and regions, particularly coastal California markets, Phoenix and Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Boston, Seattle, Portland,  the Washington, D.C. metro and several Florida markets.

Authors of the CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index say prices rose nationally 7.3% in 2012 and could jump an additional 3% this year.

In Silicon Valley, few jaws drop anymore when a nice-but-nothing-spe​cial 986-square foot Palo Alto cottage like this one, listed at $1.25 million, inspires 20 offers and sells for $1.73 million.

Nearby, in the only slightly less-expensive town of Sunnyvale, 50 or so eager, prequalified home shoppers began camping out overnight for a chance to buy newly completed units in a 228-unit condo development.

To inject more fairness -- and less discomfort-- into the buying process, builder O'Brien Homes revived the boom-era practice of holding lotteries that gave winners the chance to buy. The two-, three- and four-bedroom condos initially sold for $420,000 to $620,000. But by the time the development sold out in April, demand had pushed prices up 32%, to $555,000 to $815,000, CNN Money reports.

Says CNN:

The participants were already pre-qualified for a mortgage and had their down payment in place. After being assigned a number, they crossed their fingers and waited for each bingo ball to be plucked from the tumbler.

Backup winners were also drawn, in case the first winners backed out. 

Even with the price hikes, buyers kept returning. O'Brien started issuing returnees an extra bingo ball. If they lost for four straight months, they would get five chances the next time.

In other Bay Area towns, Livermore and San Ramon, Calif., other builders are also resorting to lotteries to manage competition for their product. Such buyer demand is not confined to the Bay Area. Homebuyer lotteries also are cropping up in northern Virginia and in parts of Florida.

Tales of homebuying exuberance

Does these buyer frenzies add up to a new era of irrational real estate exuberance? Some say yes, others no. But, bubble or not, demand can get pretty intense as investors and buyers fall over each other to snatch up the few homes available for sale.

In San Diego, "major builders are requiring prospective clients to sign up on lists for a chance to buy a home," writes The San Diego Union-Tribune.

In the Portland suburb of Beaverton, Ore., this sweet but ordinary two-story, three-bedroom, three-bath home was shown 48 times in 48 hours.

"Another listing in the same area got four offers in its first four hours on the market," Redfin told Forbes. The 1,681-square-foot 12-year-old house sold March 28 for $295,000. It was listed Feb. 22 for $298,900, according to Redfin. The last time it was on the market, it was listed for $292,500 in June 2011 and sold in August for $10,000 less.

Forbes recently compiled examples of extreme buyer behavior gleaned from Redfin agents around the country.

Among the wildest:

Month-to-month markups: agent Brad Le got a $520,000 offer on a San Jose condo even though a unit with an identical floor-plan sold for $470,000 the week before. Nearly all of the nine offers on the Redfin listing waived inspection and financing contingencies.

Instant flips: A buyer for this Bowie, Maryland home beat out 15 other offers by paying $22,000 above the asking price, only to get an email from investors the next day asking if the buyer would like to sell at a profit the property he'd just got under contract.

As much as we blog about what not to do when purchasing a home, and as much as we warn and advice Borrower when they are applying for a mortgage on what not to do until they have Closed on their loan.  Guess what, they still do it.  The 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A house below are so important that anyone one of them can easily bring a Loan Approval and Closing to a screeching halt. 

The 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A house are:

DO NOT go out and buy a new car, or furniture or ANY other large purchase.  The new payment could disqualify you from being able to qualify for the mortgage.

DO NOT stop making payments on your bills such as credit cards, student loans, car payments, rent, utilities, etc.  

DO NOT apply for new credit cards while your mortgage is being approved.  This could lower your credit score, and if your credit is checked again before the Closing you may no longer qualify.

DO NOT make large deposits or withdrawals that you can not document.

DO NOT quit your job, even if it is for a better one.  A change in jobs will mean that you will have to produce 30 days worth of paystubs for the new job, and this could delay your Closing.

When purchasing a home, if there is ANY doubt on whether to do something or not, CALL  your Loan Originator and ASK.  The few minutes that it takes to make a quick simple phone call, could save hours of delays and problems later on, or worst, the mortgage being denied.

Cielo
Cielo and Fabrizio Schenardi—both the restaurant’s and the chef’s names are Italian and elegant, with sexy sounds rolling off the tongue (once you know how to pronounce them), suggestive of the dining experience. Add the Sky Terrace, which offers a spectacular view of downtown and the Arch, and you’re in for an evening molto speciale. For the utmost indulgence, put yourself in Schenardi’s talented hands for a multicourse tasting after you’ve enjoyed a massage at the Spa at the Four Seasons. You just might never leave. 999 N. Second, 314-881-2105, cielostlouis.com.

Truffles
Having turned itself into a surf-and-turf restaurant of sorts, Truffles continues to delight in Ladue with its latest meatcentric incarnation—complete with on-site aging of USDA Prime beef classics like new York strips and rib-eyes, as well as a monstrous 36-ounce Wagyu steak for two. Not to be missed, however, is the Elysian Fields Farm rack of lamb: Truffles is one of the few restaurants not owned by Thomas Keller to serve the dish. 9202 Clayton, 314-567-9100, www.todayattruffles.com.

The Crossing
The linen-and-crystal ambience here makes this Clayton restaurant a standout for serious eating. Conversation is subdued; there’s an unfussy graciousness about the place that defines civilized dining. Expertly presented, luxurious dishes—like foie gras in a sherry vinaigrette, duck breast with a duck confit ragu, and the area’s most perfect Caesar salad—add to the upscale atmosphere. The four- and seven-course tasting menus are a happy way to spend an evening amid The Crossing’s sophisticated charm. 7823 Forsyth, 314-721-7375, fialafood.com/the-crossing.

Niche
Though a number of restaurants have been important to St. Louis’ dining revolution, it was Niche that landed Gerard Craft—and in turn, St. Louis’ dining scene—on the map. And while competition has heated up around town since its opening and Craft now has an empire to call his own, it’s his first restaurant that continues to set the tone for St. Louis dining on the national stage. It’s also the first recommendation to make when looking to impress. 1831 Sidney, relocating to Centene Plaza, nichestlouis.com.

Herbie’s Vintage 72
Yeah, we remember 1972: streaking, Jonathan Livingston Seagull—it wasn’t all that vintage. That said, the draw at this reincarnation of a Central West End icon is the atmosphere. Brick walls, French posters, and mellow lighting combine with starched linens and service that’s somewhere between friendly and professional. It’s possibly the most romantic dining in St. Louis. The food, like coq au vin and Ligurian shrimp pasta, conjures 1972; the evening specials, like the bacon-wrapped quail stuffed with wild-mushroom bread pudding, remind the diner that it’s not. 405 N. Euclid, 314-769-9595, herbies.com.

Sidney Street Café
Given the spot’s decades-long status as a special-occasion mainstay, chef Kevin Nashan was careful to make change gradual after purchasing Sidney Street Café in 2003. And though vestiges of the old menu remain, you’d sell yourself short not to ask what’s best today. Nashan is a chef’s chef, and his kitchen staff—seemingly never satisfied—is continually pushing to turn out one of the most skillfully crafted menus in town. 2000 Sidney, 314-771-5777, sidneystreetcafe.com.

Tony’s
Tony’s is the senior senator of the group, dignified but charming and warm, with a long sense of tradition and knowledge about how things work (and don’t work) in this bailiwick. The food is elegantly tailored, with first-rate ingredients, and prepared the way that customers want, even if it isn’t on the menu (rather like the senator’s fine suits). As the next generation of the Bommarito family plays a larger role, things might change, but we’re confident the standards will never relax. In the meantime, you won’t go wrong with the fillet of swordfish or the lobster Albanello. 410 market, 314-231-7007, tonysstlouis.com.

Stone Soup Cottage
No other restaurant in St. Louis has environs like this one. Set in an 1850s farmhouse, the menu is a multicourse chef’s degustation, served slowly, lovingly, to little more than two-dozen lucky diners per night. A candlelit dining room glows. Presentations are perfect. The food—like tomato-ginger bisque, chili-braised halibut with lime butter, and duck crepes—is the stuff of gastronomic dreams. A premier dining spot for St. Louis connoisseurs and a former SLM Restaurant of the Year, it is, we believe, among the best restaurants anywhere in the nation. 5525 Oak, Cottleville, 636-244-2233, stonesoupcottage.com.

Annie Gunn’s
The menu at Annie Gunn’s might be inspired by “the richness of country life,” but chef Lou Rook III skillfully keeps diners guessing which country the kitchen is referring to. A hyperlocal list of ingredients captures the best of Missouri, while side trips to the American South, Mississippi Delta, Ireland’s rolling hills, and Vietnam’s terraced fields feel right at home at this longtime Chesterfield Valley favorite. 16806 Chesterfield Airport Rd., 636-532-7684, anniegunns.com.

Franco
Franco is our go-to place, one that we often recommend because it never fails to generate a chorus of raves and thank-you phone calls. The design is what we call “modern Soulard”: a mix of old brick, laminated waves of wood, and a bar cobbled from an old barn (courtesy of Franco’s electrician). Choose, if you can, from an array of bistro bests: a perfect cassoulet, a luxurious lamb shank, and sweetbreads that defy description. Just go. (We’ll be expecting your phone call.) 1535 S. Eighth, 314-436-2500, eatatfranco.com.

Vin de Set
Like St. Louis itself, Vin de Set embodies both French and Midwestern mores. Très français: delicate French fare like escargots, vichyssoise, and tarte flambée. Totally St. Louisan: locally sourced pork and beef (not to mention the restaurant’s very name, an inaccurate phonetic spelling of its building’s street number en français). But it’s the view of downtown St. Louis, breathtaking and beautiful, that really combines the two: Nobody appreciates such romance like the French, and nothing says St. Louis like the Arch. 2017 Chouteau, 314-241-8989, vindeset.com.

The Tavern Kitchen & Bar
One year after its Restaurant of the Year win in these pages, The Tavern has not fallen into a post-award slump. Instead, the Valley Park restaurant continues to impress with seasonal menu changes and the Sunday Fixe: Choose any appetizer or salad, entrée, and dessert for $35. The wide range of stellar menu items (we sometimes dream about the skillet bread), including vegetarian and gluten-free choices, and the restaurant’s versatility (sit alone at the bar or in one of the cool semiprivate dining areas) make this a monthly destination. 2961 Dougherty Ferry, 636-825-0600, tavernstl.com.

Harvest
Almost two years after its change of ownership, Harvest’s continued evolution and style is a tribute to the professionalism of chef/proprietor Nicholas Miller. The restaurant’s increasingly eco-friendly position is nice, but for us, the real proof is on the plate. Even the wellness-spa menu has several items that’ve become popular—something that only happens in this economy if there’s sufficient demand—and they’re alluring. We’d never have thought jerked organic local tempeh would seduce us. (But so does the foie gras on a Belgian waffle.) 1059 S. Big Bend, 314-645-3522, harveststlouis.com.

Scape
Don’t let the beautiful room, intimate back patio, and nicely dressed clientele sitting out front make you think Scape doesn’t focus on the food. For a menu that ranges as widely as this one, Scape covers all of its options well, including a deeply intriguing set of raw-food items that are worth investigating for the culinarily curious and adventurous eater. An elegant, relaxed brunch deserves similar attention. 48 Maryland Plaza, 314-361-7227, scapestl.com.

Brasserie by Niche
It’s not Brasserie Lipp on the Left Bank’s Boulevard Saint-Germain, but it’s close (and far easier to visit). From pillowy gougères to silky chocolate mousse—served on close-set, paper-topped tables in a lively, always-packed room—a meal here is as good for the soul as a trip to Paris, start to finish. A three-for-$30 menu du jour keeps French comfort food within weeknight reach, which our wallet prefers over the current price of airfare. 4580 Laclede, 314-454-0600, brasseriebyniche.com.

Oceano Bistro
Meat-lovers will find plenty of land-based protein on the menu, and vegetarians will be pleased with the offerings of seasonal produce, but why anyone would pass up the seafood on this menu is beyond us—it’s among the freshest, most interesting, best-prepared in town. The fact that it’s served in a space worthy of a spread in Architectural Digest only baits the line; be sure to put this Clayton highlight into your lunch and Sunday brunch rotation, too. 44 N. Brentwood, 314-721-9400; 16125 Chesterfield Parkway West, 636-536-9404; oceanobistro.com.

Balaban’s Wine Cellar & Tapas Bar
The atmosphere takes a little getting used to, as you’re dining beside retail wine racks and shoppers. But the remarkable food—including thick, juicy chops and legendary beef Wellington—keeps Balaban’s on this list. We still remember a seasonal bruschetta with pungent goat cheese, a drizzle of truffle oil, and a bush of wild mushrooms that we paired with a pour of Siduri pinot noir. Then we took a bottle of that Siduri home. 1772 Clarkson, 636-449-6700, balabanswine.com.

Paul Manno’s Café
An unexpected gem in a nondescript strip mall, the place is obviously ripped from new York City, with its wonderful wine list, decor, and Nonna’s recipes. Operated by second-generation owner Paul Manno Jr., the restaurant has a Sicilian-influenced menu that’s consistently superb. Tender tubes of meat-stuffed house cannelloni, slathered in a light red, cream-heavy Bolognese sauce, are a must-try menu item. Paul Manno’s is inevitably busy, but the service here makes it feel like you’re the only one in the place. 75 Forum Shopping Center, 314-878-1274.

I Fratellini
Traditional, iconic Italian fare—served in a room about the size of an SUV—is the draw here. It’s comfy but formal. Sausage lasagna and linguine with clam sauce beckon, but take a chance on the rabbit-and-spinach ravioli, buttery soft with a touch of sage and just enough texture, or a juicy duck breast fanned atop wild-mushroom risotto. Watching veteran servers anticipate a fellow server’s next move reminds us of exactly why I Fratellini is one of the region’s finer restaurants. 7624 Wydown, 314-727-7901, ifratellini.com.

Five Bistro
The only consistency in this stylish bistro is quality. The menu changes continually. One night, the surprise is a charcuterie with a stunning, succulent rabbit confit; the next, it’s handmade tagliatelle with oyster mushrooms. Local pork (like a hefty chop atop polenta) and beef (like an onglet steak with roasted cauliflower) are regularly featured on the menu. Five is one of the few places that never gets too familiar, as well as one of the rare restaurants that never disappoints. 5100 Daggett, 314-773-5553, fivebistro.com.

Writer’s Pick: Cardwell’s at the Plaza
billcardwell.com
Bill Cardwell, one of the forces who led St. Louis’ dining revolution decades ago, continues to impress in Frontenac, where a consistently strong kitchen produces creative dishes made with local ingredients. —Katie O’Connor

Writer's Pick: Atlas Restaurant
atlasrestaurantstl.com
Located on a quiet street, this CWE paragon has tasty, bistro-esque options for preperformance dining or catching-up dinners with pals, since conversation is actually audible. —Ann Lemons Pollack

Sanctuaria
Sanctuaria is a true triple threat. An oft-changing menu of Pan-Latin tapas from the mind of chef Chris “Midas Touch” Lee is creative, with faves like the decadent Cabrales cigars—Spanish blue cheese–and–leek fondue rolled into phyllo cigars, pan-seared, and drizzled with sherry-raisin sauce. Bartender Matt Seiter and his fellow mixologists routinely win national recognition for their own wildly creative menu of drinks, featuring house-made liqueurs and bitters, as well as herbs grown on-site. Then there’s the charming patio that conjures the feel of a breezy Mexican cantina. Add it up, and you can see why Sanctuaria has become an anchor restaurant in The Grove. 4198 Manchester, 314-535-9700, sanctuariastl.com.

Pi
Arguing about pizza—St. Louis–style versus Chicago deep-dish, fresh versus roasted tomatoes on top, Provel versus mozz—is like dancing about architecture: pointless. Instead, let’s give Pi props for its non-’za comestibles, which happen to be so good that they don’t need to lean on the nationally recognized clout of the Lou’s most innovative pizza chain. Have you had Pi’s “blazed” wings, cuke margaritas, house-made caramelized-onion dip, and/or peanut-butter cookie-dough milkshakes? Most haven’t. You should. Multiple locations, 314-727-6633, restaurantpi.com.

Mosaic Modern Fusion
Tapas: white-hot a decade ago, a trendy has-been today. So why has Mosaic’s local empire flourished? By embracing the essence of tapas—something social as much as edible, an event, a happening—then playing fast and loose with the culinary traditions, rolling out brunch, signature cocktails, chef’s tables, and bloody Mary bars. When you get right down to it, “more” is really whattapas—and Mosaic—are all about. Multiple locations, 314-621-6001, mosaicrestaurants.com.

Mai Lee
Busier than ever after three decades in business, the Tran family’s restaurant shows no signs of slowing after moving from Delmar Boulevard to significantly larger quarters in Brentwood. And with countless chefs calling owner Qui Tran one of the finest cooks in the city, we’re sure the lines will continue as a next generation of diners discovers Mai Lee’s always-sublime Vietnamese cuisine. 8396 Musick Memorial, 314-645-2835,maileerestaurant.com.

Robust
This mecca for Webster Groves socializing really lived up to its name in the past year. Chef Joseph Hemp V came aboard and promptly expanded the menu with crowd-pleasers like chicken Dodine, a prosciutto-wrapped stuffed chicken breast that’s cooked sous-vide and browned in the oven. Meanwhile, the establishment’s beer, cocktail, and spirits repertoires now rival the wine selection (there’s even a menu just for sipped-straight nightcaps). And just like that, one of our favorite night spots became even better.227 W. Lockwood, 314-963-0033, robustwinebar.com.

Milagro Modern Mexican
Jason and Adam Tilford are known in St. Louis for celebrating the ingredients and vibrant flavors of Mexico at their 2 ½–year–old Webster Groves restaurant. The kitchen found its stride early on, but it was the brothers’ recent collaboration with local architecture-and-design powerhouse Space that refreshed and reinvigorated Milagro with handmade touches reflecting one of the region’s most unique menus. 20 Allen, 314-962-4300, milagromodernmexican.com.

Salt
The beautiful building that Salt calls home makes a choice backdrop to nights out with friends and family. We’re somewhat partial to a seat at the bar, though, sipping a beverage from a list of classic cocktails and digging into pickled vegetables and smoked Missouri trout from the charcuterie menu. Our advice? Make your drink a bourbon whiskey–based cocktail; you’ll find its natural sweetness a willing companion to the salty and smoky preparation of the flaky freshwater fish. 4356 Lindell, 314-932-5787, enjoysalt.com.

Bridge Tap house & Wine Bar
One could spend an entire day eating in Dave Bailey’s downtown restaurants: Rooster for breakfast, Baileys’ Range for lunch, Bridge for dinner, and Baileys’ Chocolate Bar for dessert. We prefer Bridge, though, in that off time between lunch and dinner, when we feel like eschewing crowds but still want great food and focused service. Whether we’re at the bar (boasting 55 beers on tap) or in the upper balcony, we come to worship at the religious experience that is Gorgonzola, bacon, and rosemary bread pudding. 1004 Locust, 314-241-8141, thebridgestl.com.

Winslow’s Home
As evidenced on Twitter, food insiders love Winslow’s Home—and with good reason. Part restaurant and part general store, this place has something for everyone. The seasonal, rotating menus invite customers to check in frequently, as in the olden days. Chef Cary McDowell uses local, organic ingredients from Winslow’s Farm in Augusta. Popular standards include Fried Chicken Tuesdays and Fish Taco Fridays. If it has a crust, order it: pie, quiche, and torta rustica should not be missed. 7213 Delmar, 314-725-7559, winslowshome.com.

Trattoria Marcella
There’s no shortage of Italian options throughout St. Louis, so it says something that chef/owner Steve Komorek’s unassuming South City spot ranks among the best even after all these years. And deservedly so: Its delicious food is simultaneously hearty and elegant, served without the pomp and circumstance—no stiff, tuxedoed waiters, no over-the-top decor. Yes, the off-menu lobster risotto is still available, but don’t overlook the midweek $10 menu. 3600 Watson, 314-352-7706, trattoriamarcella.com.

Farmhaus
That the Farmhaus team can go from slinging hearty blue-plate specials at lunch to serving creative farm-to-table fare at dinner without losing its sense of self is remarkable. At a flat $10 a plate, those lunch classics—as good as Grandma used to make—are easily the best value in town, and that dinner fare deservedly landed chef/owner Kevin Willmann on Food & Wine magazine’s “Best new Chefs” list in 2011. Even better, the five-star food and come-as-you-are attitude redefine the look and feel of fine dining—the next round of “Brews for the Kitchen Crew” is on us.3257 Ivanhoe, 314-647-3800, farmhausrestaurant.com.

One 19 North Tapas and Wine Bar
Why it’s splendid: because it gets the tapas right. Some are authentic classics like that slab of Manchego, fried to gooey lusciousness, with a cup of piquant sofrito. But the place isn’t afraid to go rogue either, as with a proper shrimp étouffée. Whether you go classic or innovative, prices here are tapas-typical (read: affordable), even with the wine you’ll want to accompany them. 119 N. Kirkwood, 314-821-4119, one19north.com.

Coastal Bistro & Bar
It’s been 286 million years since Missouri was seaside; Coastal Bistro’s making up for the long dry spell with some terrifically creative, quality seafood dishes presented in an upscale, beguilingly comfortable Clayton setting. The lobster rolls are lovely; the shrimp and grits are delightful. Channel your inner Ahab with the Coastal Tower, an architectural marvel of a dozen East Coast and West Coast oysters, a dozen shrimp, and a lusty helping of ceviche. 14 N. Central, 314-932-7377, coastalbistro.com.

Three Sixty
Only a private jet provides a better aerial view. The dining area is sophisticated and swanky—but with a 360-degree view of downtown, the river, and Busch Stadium, the glassed rooftop patio’s vistas are unparalleled. Sunsets are astounding. Small plates (e.g., roasted mussels, wild-mushroom pizza) and cleverly infused libations (e.g., the It’s Not You It’s Me, with rum, Cointreau, strawberries, basil, mint, and a cucumber cube) make the scenery even more memorable. 1 S. Broadway, 314-241-8439, 360-stl.com.

Cleveland-Heath
It can be a long drive to Edwardsville, Ill., and since Cleveland-Heath doesn’t take reservations, it can be a long wait. But yes, absolutely, the drive and possible wait are worth it. It would be worth it even if the restaurant didn’t have an incredible porterhouse pork chop or a superb pozole. The biscuits alone are worth a trip to this convivial, inevitably crowded eatery—they’re ethereally light, flaky, flecked with globs of cheddar, slathered with dripping golden honey butter. 106 N. Main, Edwardsville, Ill., 618-307-4830, clevelandheath.com.

Vino Nadoz
Why this little hideaway isn’t packed to its sound-dampening rafters every night of the week, we don’t know. We do know that chef Chris DeMercurio’s small-portions menu never disappoints: The cider-braised pork belly with preserved lemon and bacon “powder” qualifies as hog heaven on earth. Special kudos to the “We buy only a case” wine-buying policy, so even regulars like us can always sample something new. 16 The Boulevard–St. Louis, 314-726-0400,vinonadozwinebar.com.

Writer’s Pick: Pearl Café
pearlcafestl.com
What I love most about Pearl Café is that my 2-year-old daughter jumps up and down and screams for Tommy Truong anytime we talk about eating out, because the owner treats every customer like a close family friend. —Bill Burge

Writer's Pick: Pappy’s & Bogart’s 
pappyssmokehouse.com, bogartssmokehouse.com
A singular assignation of the best is never totally necessary, because, well, there’s always lunch tomorrow. That’s why we must equally exalt both of these smoke joints. —Rose Maura Lorre

Writer's Pick: Dressel’s Pub
dresselspublichouse.com
Ben Dressel’s farm-to-table fixation has revitalized the menu at the venerable CWE watering hole, morphing it into a true gastropub, broadening its reach, yet not abandoning stalwarts like fish and homemade chips and the best soft pretzel in town. —Byron Kerman

Writer's Pick: Peel Wood Fired Pizza
peelpizza.com
Everything that Peel does—wood-fired pizza, salads, sandwiches, wings, a ton of craft beers—it does so well that it doesn’t matter that the place is 45 minutes away. Still not convinced? Get in the car. I’ll drive. —George Mahe

Writer's Pick: Riverbend Restaurant & Bar
riverbendbar.com
A smoky gumbo, cochon de lait poor-boys, and sweet crawfish étouffée—only beads and watered-down booze could make this spot any more like new Orleans. —Dave Lowry

Writer's Pick: Water Street
waterstreetstl.com
Gabe and Maria Kveton get it right here—food, drinks, service, and atmosphere—and do it in such an unassuming and polished way that you can’t help wanting to bring friends and spread the word. —Jenny Agnew

With memories of snow and cold fading, it’s time to remind home owners to take stock of important work to be done for themselves and potential buyers down the road. Keeping on track with seasonal maintenance will lower costs and raise value.

Besides cleaning closets and planting flowers and cool-weather vegetables, spring should involve scrutinizing the condition of a house following the rough winter. Repairs and replacements won’t just help owners enjoy their properties more; they’ll also keep energy costs down as hot weather rolls in and attract more buyers, many of whom have become meticulous about inspecting roofs, appliances, and HVAC bills.

While most home owners need to prioritize costs, these 10 improvements are at the top of many contractors’ lists. Some of them are even more affordable than ever before, thanks to rebates from local communities, utility companies, and the federal government.

1. Replace windows

If home owners’ houses felt drafty this past winter and they have single-pane windows, there’s a good chance those were one of the culprits. But replacing them all can be costly — $400 to $500 per window, plus $100 to $150 for installation, according to home improvement expert Tom Kraeutler of The Money Pit. Whether that’s the place to spend dollars should depend on how long home owners plan to stay put or what houses listed in their neighborhood offer if they’re selling. “If they’re the last ones with old, rotting-wood windows, that negative may affect buyer attention,” Kraeutler says. This year’s “Cost vs. value” report from Remodeling magazine pegs the payback for vinyl windows at 71.2 percent and for wood windows at a similar 73.3 percent. A less costly alternative can be to add storms, caulk, weather strip, or rim joists in a basement. Contractor Paul Eric Morse of Morse Constructions Inc. in Somerville, Mass., suggests gradually replacing windows in any room that owners remodel to make the cost less prohibitive.

12 Key Questions to Ask Before You Hire Home Improvement Pros

1. Can you show me proof of a license, certification, or associations you belong to?
2. Are you bonded?
3. Will you provide three recommendations?
4. What are your specialties — kitchens, bathrooms, or additions? Are there jobs you don’t like to tackle?
5. Will you secure permits?
6. How much must I pay up front for work?
7. Do you have a regular team of subs, or assemble different members?
8. How might we resolve conflicts — will resolution be in the contract?
9. How often will you show up at the job site to check progress?
10. How might I reach you — e-mail, phone, text?
11. What is your typical clean-up schedule — daily or weekly?
12. Will you provide a lien release when work is done?

2. Install a new heating system and change filters

If a seller’s furnace and boiler were on their last legs this past winter, it may be time to install a new one, or at least provide sellers with a credit toward new equipment. Any choice should carry an EnergyStar label for best results. Existing systems still in good condition should have filters checked monthly and replaced when dark and clogged, a DIY project. For great energy efficiency, Morse is installing more heat exchanges that provide both heat and air conditioning and can be less costly than a new central air system with new ducting and a new furnace.

3. Clean air conditioning units

Before summer temperatures rise and HVAC pros are swamped, advise home owners to clean coils and change filters so their system doesn’t have to work as hard. They should also have drain lines cleaned, so moisture is eliminated, says Douglas Tompkins, with Pro-Air Heating and Cooling in Newburgh, N.Y. If they haven’t had air conditioning, now’s the time to weigh choices of a central system, heat exchange, or room units.

4. Install more insulation

A home’s first line of defense to stop cold or hot air — depending on the season — should be the attic, according to most contractors. An energy audit can determine how much more is needed, if they already have some. Seattle-based contractor Ron Rice, of Your house Matters, suggests adding more than the minimum 8 inches required by most local codes — up to 16 inches. For cold climates, installing electric or hydronic radiant heat under bathroom and kitchen floors will provide comfort next season.

5. Switch out inefficient appliances

Sometimes appliances are no longer smart to repair. The determining factors for that should be their age and the cost of repair versus replacement. Here, too, top choices carry an EnergyStar label. If home owners need to replace most of their kitchen equipment and have a limited budget or plan to move, Rice suggests they prioritize and first switch out the range, followed by the refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave — in that order.

6. Repair or replace roofs, gutters, and downspouts

Because of the tough hurricane season last fall and the winter blizzards, roofing contractors in many parts of the country have been busy. Morse recommends that those needing new roofs consider architectural asphalt shingles because of their long warranties (often 50 years), affordable prices, and attractive appearances that work with many house styles. In addition, many contractors have the equipment and experience to install roofs of this material, as opposed to metal. He also recommends that home owners have gutters and downspouts cleaned come spring so that water can flow through them; gutters should be angled away from a house to stop water pooling around a foundation and seeping into the basement. Gutter covers can be helpful but often don’t eliminate all debris.

7. Paint

Damage often shows up at this time of year, especially in climates where there’s been a lot of snow melting or winter rains, Morse says. Use the time to reassess your color choice for better curb appeal. Even changing the front door’s color can make a difference.

8. Prune trees

Cutting limbs that may have been damaged during winter and that might fall on a roof or allow squirrels to enter a house is smart, and it can be a cost savings later on. Called “thinning out,” this method gets excess foliage trimmed to allow more natural light into a house—and cut down on artificial illumination, says Sacramento, Calif.-based landscape designer Michael Glassman. “It opens the tree so you don’t have dead spots in the interior and lets the tree take advantage of air flow rather than chop off the top,” he says. A certified arborist will know the best ways to do this without removing too much of a canopy, which is useful for privacy and shade.

9. Mulch plantings

Along with fall, spring is a key mulch time. Mulch helps plants thrive by holding back weeds, retaining moisture so soil doesn’t dry out, and adding a tidy look, Glassman says. Use bark, shredded fir, leaves, straw, or grass clippings.

10. Replace lightbulbs

When it comes to artificial light, most contractors recommend switching burned-out bulbs to LEDs, which last longer than incandescents, consume less energy, and have come down in price — now often just $10. Quality has improved, too, and they’re dimmable and available in colors.

One more thing: Before you hire anybody to take on work, get a written estimate. Better to be safe than sorry.

Café Osage

A plastics plant was retrofitted to house a garden shop and a farm-to-table café, where there’s a standout bison sausage, making the case for bison meat to quit hiding under burger buns. When the check’s presented, it’s between the covers of an old grammar textbook. Café Osage is many things, but it’s really about repurposing, reimagining—seeing what and how we eat with fresh, hungry eyes. 4605 Olive, 314-454-6868, bowoodfarms.com.

Local Harvest Café
While too much growth for a restaurant often dilutes its quality, that’s certainly not true for Local Harvest, which added two locations this year. Joining its flagship café/market on Morgan Ford Road are a café in the Old Post Office downtown and a café/grocery in Kirkwood. Co-owner Maddie Earnest, who co-authored Missouri Harvest this year, and chef Clara Moore, who had a stint on a reality show and served as head chef at Feast in the Field in June, apparently thrive in busy environments—all to our benefit. 3137 Morgan Ford, 314-772-8815; 815 Olive, Ste. 150, 314-241-3196; 12309 Old Big Bend; localharvestcafe.com.

The Fountain on Locust
When family comes to visit, few places can placate a volatile gang of rug rats, sullen teens, and beleaguered in-laws—simultaneously—save The Fountain. Kids love the milkshakes and old-fashioned ice-cream parlor treats. Grown-ups choose from homemade soups, sandwiches, and decadent champagne floats. And everyone goes nuts for the extras: the Jazz Age–inspired mural art, the candy counter, those snazzy bathrooms, and the “World’s Smallest Hot Fudge Sundae.”3037 Locust, 314-535-7800, fountainonlocust.com.

Taqueria Durango
Slowly braised and grilled meats, melted cheese, and vegetables pressed between halves of oblong bread—the decadent and addictive sandwich known as a torta—might have Dagwood-esque qualities, but the sandwich is rarely the knife-and-fork variety. The exception? Durango’storta ahogada, featuring crispy carnitas and grilled onions drowning in a smoky chili sauce that covers the contours of the sandwich, its plate, and (perhaps despite best efforts) the front of your shirt. 10238 Page, 314-429-1113.

Shu Feng Restaurant
Every city has at least one great restaurant that’s as much about the quality of the people running it as it is about the quality of the food. In St. Louis, Shu Feng is one of those. It’s armed with great takes on Chinese-American classics like the oft-mentioned moo shu pork and ubiquitous house Special Chicken—but it’s the warmth of owner Liling Wemhoener’s smile and appreciation for her customers that ultimately captivates the restaurant’s diners. 8435 Olive, 314-983-0099,shufengstl.com.

Writer’s Pick: Siete Luminarias
314-932-1333
A tall glass of horchata and a platter of carnitas (simultaneously crisp and fatty) constitute one of the best examples of the dish found on Cherokee Street— and maybe in all of St. Louis. —Andrew Mark Veety

-We're RANKED #1 IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION among buyers & sellers (JD Power & Associates 2012)

-We're the #1 REAL ESTATE FIRM in the United States by agent count (2013)

-We are out-producing the board at a 4 to 1 margin (In March, the board's closed units were up 9% over last March. KWRW up 36%)

The Missouri Botanical Garden has been attracting visitors for more than 150 years. It's a great place to learn about green living, get ideas for your own garden, or just enjoy the beauty of nature for a few hours. Here are some of the top things to see and do at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Japanese Garden

You might not expect to find an authentic Japanese garden in the Midwest, but that's just what you'll see at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Designers took care to make sure the 14-acre Japanese Garden contains traditional elements like a large lake, foot bridges and lanterns. Visitors can also learn about Japanese culture at the Garden's annual Japanese Festival, held each Labor Day weekend. The festival features sumo wrestling demonstrations, tea ceremonies, traditional music and more.

Tower Grove House

Tower Grove house was Garden founder Henry Shaw's country home. You can tour the house and see what life was like in the mid 19th century for Shaw and other wealthy St. Louisans. Tower Grove House is filled with period furnishings and has undergone several extensive restorations over the years. Outside the home, you can stroll through traditional Victorian gardens. Tower Grove House is open daily Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from April through December.

Children's Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden is more kid-friendly that you might first think. This is especially true during warm weather months when the Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden is open. The Children's Garden is a large area filled with a tree house, slides, rope bridges, an outdoor classroom, a frontier fort, caves and more. There's also a splash area where kids can cool off on hot days. The Children's Garden is a great place for kids to burn some energy, but parents will also be busy trying to keep up. The Children's Garden is open daily from April to October, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for children ages three to 12. Parents, and children two and younger, get in free. St. Louis City and County residents also get in free on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Climatron

The Climatron is a large dome-shaped greenhouse filled with thousands of tropical plants. Take a walk through the Climatron to see orchids, palms and other exotic plants. During the day, the temperature inside is usually above 80 degrees with high humidity, so you may want to dress accordingly. After making your way though the Climatron, visit the nearby Shoenberg Temperate house to see more warm weather plants, including olives, figs and wildflowers.

Special Events

The Missouri Botanical Garden is nice to visit any day, but also consider going during one of the Garden's special events. Some of the most popular events are: Chinese Culture Days in May, the Whitaker Music Festival in summer, the Japanese Festival over Labor Day weekend, the Best of Missouri market in October, and the holiday train show in November and December. Keep in mind, you do have to pay an extra admission fee for these events.

 

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard in South St. Louis. The Garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $8 for adults. Children 12 and younger get in free. Admission for St. Louis City and County residents is $4. City and County residents also get in free on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.