WATCH: Clayton Ritz's Chef Faure Reveals Mother's Day Cake Secrets

In this video, Executive Pastry Chef Simone Faure shows how to create buttons, belts and bows for a truly special tiered cake. Plus, find out how this former New Orleans resident arrived at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.

Attention all Mother's Day gift seekers: Executive Pastry Chef Simone Faure teaches cake-decorating classes at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis in downtown Clayton. Faure came to St. Louis for a change of scenery. She learned to bake in New Orleans, her home city whose Ritz-Carlton she worked at previously. The chef went to school to become a kosher chef, but those plans changed when she came to appreciate the attention to ritual and tradition needed to succeed in that field. "I was delusional," Faure said. "I am not a creature of habit." Transition to cakes So halfway through her culinary training, she switched to cakes. Her favorite cake accoutrements include buttons (it's the "old Southern lady" in her, she said). In the video attached to …

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Maryland School to Host Wilson Students Displaced by Fire

Classes begin Monday at the old elementary school building, a news release from The Wilson School states.

Students displaced by a March 29 fire at The Wilson School will use Clayton's old Maryland Elementary School for classes. Wilson officials have signed a lease with the School District of Clayton, allowing all of the private school's students to finish the academic year together. The DeMun neighborhood school serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. While Maryland School closed in 1980, the building has been used by the Clayton district as recently as May 2011, Chief Communications Officer Chris Tennill said. Two of the district's early childhood classrooms were relocated there during construction at Clayton High School. Utilities are operational at the building, even though it doesn't have a functioning cafeteria or …

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Natal Nate

Keys to Successful Delivery Include Stinky Footwear and Sparkling Toothbrushes

Maybe St. Louis parents who are in the know won't think that is as ridiculous as it sounds.

This week, I watched close-up footage of a child being born, weighed the merits of circumcision and contemplated how I'll support my wife during hours of intermittent, agonizing pain. If that doesn't make you uncomfortable, you're either a lunatic or my doctor. Julie and I are beginning to realize that our lives our increasingly built around the young gentleman whose entrance, we pray, is still weeks away. At first, our doctor had us come in for checkups every four weeks. Now we're down to every two weeks. In a month's time, we'll be visiting every week. As those of you who regularly read this column know, we've also begun to attend weekly classes about becoming parents. The series is titled, "No, Not by the Ankles." (Only joking—it's …

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Take Your Family to See an Educational Performance or a Sensory-Friendly Movie Showing

You'll find these events and more this week in and around Clayton and Richmond Heights.

Looking for something fun and different to do with the kids and family this week in Clayton or Richmond Heights? Look no further! We’ve got some ideas right here. MOMMY AND ME FITNESS CLASS When/Where: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Brentwood Recreation Complex Why Go: It’s a workout designed around your baby stroller—and you can bring the little one! Pricing: Residents $65; Non-Residents $78 per session STORIES AND CRAFTS When/Where: 7:00 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. Tuesdays and 3:45 p.m. Thursdays at the Richmond Heights Memorial Library Why Go: Books, songs and something to take home for your preschool-age child. What beats that? Pricing: Free TRAIL OF TEARS When/Where: 1 p.m. Saturday at the Richmond Heights Memorial Library. Why Go: …

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Whiz Kid

Three MRH Wrestlers Headed to State Tournament

Two sophomores and a senior from Maplewood Richmond Heights High School will be in Columbia this weekend to take on Missouri's best wrestlers.

Whiz Kid's Name(s), Age(s): Montel Maggitt (sophomore), Eduardo Verdia (senior), LaVon Clark (sophomore) Whiz Kid's School: Maplewood Richmond Heights High School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: The MRH athletes finished second, third and fourth, respectively, during the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 1, District 1 championship and are now headed to Columbia, MO, to wrestle in the 81st MSHSAA wrestling championships this weekend. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (100-150 words): After a seventh-place finish for Maplewood Richmond Heights in the district championship, head coach Chris Meyer watched as these three athletes pushed through to the state tournament. Leading that trio was 125-pound sophomore Maggitt (37-4), who …

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UPDATE: Clayton Dispatched 10 Trucks to Treat Snowy Roads

The review of students' scores on an internationally recognized test will begin at 7 p.m.

Clayton Public Works Department crews used 10 trucks to treat the city's snow-covered streets and alleys overnight and into the morning with road salt and calcium chloride, according to a news release issued by the city. The treatment process had begun by early evening on Jan. 10. The winter storm brought 3 inches of snow to the Clayton, the city stated. Drivers are encouraged to report travel problems by calling 314-290-8540. Concerns, comments and requests for service may be submitted online using the city's Web site. Drivers may get updated information about state road conditions from the Missouri Department of Transportation's Traveler Information Map. Clayton schools meeting goes on A meeting to review and explain Clayton High School …

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Richmond Heights School Awarded for Focus on Individual Learning

All Kinds of Minds Institute names Clayton Academy a School of Distinction.

In many ways, Sheri Mancuso's teaching job resembles that of other educators: She instructs her kindergarteners and first-graders in subjects like math and reading, guides them through activities and helps them during the day. But other aspects of Mancuso's job might not be so familiar: She periodically wears a headset that helps amplify her voice to capture and hold students' attention. She encourages them to run a few laps around the room to get them moving and thinking before coursework begins. And because of the low student-to-teacher ratio, she's able to coach children about how to cope if they have a meltdown. This fall, those strategies —employed by Mancuso and fellow teachers— garnered Clayton Academy the School of Distinction …

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