Local Profile: Chris Sabatino

“Why not?”

That’s the unofficial motto of part-lovable goofball, part-clinically insane, full-on artist and entrepreneur Chris Sabatino, owner of Art Monster on Cherokee Street. ELEVEN talked with Chris back in May to hear his thoughts on owning a business, working on Cherokee, and living the dream. Catch some interview highlights below, browse his website at artmonstershop.com, but for the real deal, head down and see him at 2617 Cherokee—he’ll invariably be in the midst of his latest project, and more than happy to share his thoughts on anything under the sun.

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This entry was written by Josh Petersel, posted on November 19, 2010 at 6:21 am, filed under Local Profile, What's Going On and tagged , , , , . Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Local Profile: Evan Sult & Paige Brubeck



Photo by Corey Woodruff. More on Flickr

Among the neighborhood locals, Evan Sult and Paige Brubeck's Sleepy Kitty Graphic Arts is often referred to as Cherokee Street's foremost storefront-less business.  But the company's lack of an "Open" sign and welcome mat doesn't do anything to dissuade the duo's fervent passion for their block.  Eleven caught up with Sleepy Kitty's co-owners to discuss Cherokee, late nights, and fine cuisine.  See more of their work at http://sleepykittyarts.co.nr, and catch highlights from our interview below.

Q+A:

Could you drum up some experience, or some story that happened that made you just say “Man, that’s Cherokee?”

Paige: It happens all the time.  Recently we were walking down the street when we heard some…positive sounds…and we look and we heard the Peat mobile and a ton of people in costume doing a photoshoot for Cinco de Mayo.  Just in the middle of the day in front of Latino Americana, Peat Wollager and his awesome truck.  And we’re just like…that’s Cherokee street!  That’s awesome.

Evan:  People talk about St Louis being a small town; we think of it instead as a short story.  It’s a limited cast of characters who play multiple roles that kind of keep recurring.  It feels…we don’t have a TV…but it feels not unlike TV where you walk down the street and there’s this sort of unrealistic number of familiar faces, and situations that you get to see unfold right in front of you.  It’s really rewarding to feel like you’re part of this ongoing narrative. And new people are kind of cycling in and out of the narrative, but the narrative is engrossing.  Just being a part of the street is engrossing.

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This entry was written by Josh Petersel, posted on May 14, 2010 at 5:52 pm, filed under Local Profile and tagged , , . Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.