For our latest erev Shabbat outing, Avdi took me to The Grove, the historically gay neighborhood, now starting to gentrify.  It’s full of diverse ethnic restaurants, cafés, and bars, with an inviting, safe, and comfortable vibe.  It’s also very BLM.  One end of the street appears to be a little Afghan neighborhood which refugee families have made their home.  You’re surrounded by a kaleidoscope of aromas, colors, music, and people.

We did a mini pub crawl, checking out the colorful places and getting local craft beers at The Gramophone, and handcrafted summer cocktails at The Handlebar, relaxing on a patio where a DJ (trans girl?) was setting up.  I had the best cucumber mint gin drink I’ve ever had.

We ended up at Sameem Afghan Restaurant, an unassuming place with exquisitely wonderful food.  At the nearby tables were a large Afghan family, a group of young SE Asian students, and so on.  We totally recommend it.

To walk off the fabulous meal, we strolled around some more under a full moon.  Everywhere you look there are colorful wall paintings and inclusive flags.  People of all colors obviously take pride in their ‘hood and in beautifying it.  In stark contrast to the thriving area, there’s a row of abandoned, derelict buildings at the far end of the Grove that reflect a far less prosperous time in STL.  The city is full of these dark reminders, but also of creative, dynamic communities working hard to make their city inclusive and stand against persecution.