On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Tatyana Telnikova of Handlebar and Josh Smith of Neon Greens — two of the Grove neighborhood's most iconic business owners — to explore what makes this stretch of Manchester Avenue one of the most vibrant, inclusive, and exciting neighborhoods in St. Louis.

Tatyana shares her unlikely journey from Moscow to St. Louis at age 16, how she fell in love with the city on a bicycle, and how a chance encounter during a bike race on Manchester Avenue led her to open Handlebar in 2010. Josh opens up about leaving a career designing sets for Broadway, Netflix, and HBO to move back home and build a queer-owned farm-park-restaurant rooted in food transparency, visibility, and community.

The conversation digs into the Grove's full history — from its working-class roots in the 1880s and the rise and fall of St. Louis's streetcar system, to the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who reclaimed and reinvested in the neighborhood starting in the 1990s. They reflect on what it means to run businesses that stand for something bigger than food and drinks, the power of a truly inclusive neighborhood, and what's coming next for the Grove.

From cycling and community to set design and salads, this episode is a celebration of the people and places that make the Grove — and St. Louis — unlike anywhere else.

They discuss:

• Tatyana's journey from Moscow to St. Louis and opening Handlebar in 2010

• How a bike race on Manchester Avenue sparked the concept for Handlebar

• The origin of the name "Handlebar" — and why Tatyana didn't come up with it

• Josh's career in Broadway and Hollywood set design and what brought him home

• Building Neon Greens as a queer-owned, farm-forward restaurant concept ]

• Why visibility matters for queer business owners in today's climate

• The Grove's history from the 1880s through its LGBTQ+ revival in the 1990s

• How the loss of St. Louis's streetcar system shaped the neighborhood's decline

• Creating truly inclusive spaces in the hospitality industry

• The CID and what makes the Grove such a supportive business community

• Favorite spots in the Grove — from Everest and Oni to Damn Good People and La Finca

• New businesses opening and what the future of the Grove looks like

• What it means to run a business that stands for something beyond the bottom line

Support the show

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🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with St. Louis author, columnist, and novelist Debbie Baldwin to discuss her latest thriller, The Architect of Deception, a high-society murder mystery filled with secrets, privilege, and unexpected twists.

Debbie shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis and attending Princeton and law school to building a career as a novelist. She reflects on her background as a speechwriter, television writer, marketing executive, and newspaper columnist, and explains how a passion project during the pandemic turned into an eight-book publishing career.

The conversation explores the creative process behind writing suspense novels, the challenges of constructing a compelling mystery, and why plotting a thriller often means deleting as much as you write. Debbie also discusses the inspiration behind The Architect of Deception, her love of classic mystery writers like Agatha Christie, the future of storytelling in the age of AI, and the surprising resurgence of physical books and independent bookstores.

From publishing and creativity to reading, storytelling, and the enduring appeal of St. Louis, this episode is an engaging conversation about following your passion and building a creative life on your own terms.

They discuss:
• Debbie's journey from St. Louis to Princeton, law school, and professional writing
• How a pandemic passion project became an eight-book career
• The creation and success of the Bishop Security series
• The inspiration behind The Architect of Deception
• Writing compelling mysteries, twists, and suspenseful storylines
• The difference between "plotters" and "pantsers" in the writing world
• Why word-of-mouth remains the most powerful form of book marketing
• The role of AI in creative writing and storytelling
• Building disciplined writing habits and routines
• Classic thriller influences including Agatha Christie and Dan Brown
• The resurgence of physical books, bookstores, and reading culture
• Debbie's favorite St. Louis coffee shops, restaurants, and bookstores
• Why St. Louis continues to inspire her work and creativity

Support the show

🎙 New episodes drop every Wednesday.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK 🔔

🎧 LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts ▶ https://apple.co/36ycuuO Spotify ▶ https://spoti.fi/3svGoqS

🔗 CONNECT WITH STL BUCKET LIST: Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/stlbucketlist Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com

🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ show@stlbucketlist.com Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO