HEC & TEDxGatewayArch are taking you on an exploration of the best of our St. Louis food, ideas and innovation!

By Amanda Honigfort, ArchFare Executive Producer

As you may know, HEC is proud of our partnership with TEDxGatewayArch. We’ve been their official media sponsor for three fantastic events now, and we’re ready to take our partnership a step further. In early May we’re debuting a new series – ArchFare – that we’re developing together. Keep an eye on our social media and our website for it’s official airdate!

ArchFare will be a discussion-based dinner show hosted at local restaurants featuring upcoming or previous TEDxGatewayArch speakers on a related topic. Our pilot episode knocks it out of the park as we discuss the concept of “design” with some top-notch designers at none other than Vicia, the buzziest restaurant in St. Louis that has been leading the way in putting St. Louis back on the culinary map.

We chose the name ArchFare because it’s the perfect cross section of both of our brands and what we’re doing with this show. What better, more recognizable symbol for St. Louis than the Arch, and this is a program that stays local in discussing our topics and showcasing our incredible local fare.

ArchFare is hosted by Mich Hancock, the co-founder of TEDxGatewayArch, dynamic CEO of 100th Monkey Media, and a local podcaster who hosts the MichMash podcast. Hancock will lead our guests – who have all spoken or performed at a previous TEDxGatewayArch event – though a discussion on the topic at hand at a local restaurant that showcases that theme.

For this first event we’re talking with:

Paige Brubeck – half of Sleepy Kitty Music and Sleepy Kitty Arts. She explores design daily both through the music she writes and arranges with her band, Sleepy Kitty and her screen-printing business, Sleepy Kitty Arts.

Raven Fox – an experimental light artist and DJ. You have likely seen some of Raven Fox’s light installations at the Planetarium, Union Station, TEDxGatewayArch events, locations on Cherokee Street and more.

Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt – the founding partner and lead designer of the nationally known multidisciplinary design firm Kuhlmann-Leavitt Inc.

Mike Konzen – Principal and Chair at PGAV Destinations, which designs attractions, exhibits and more worldwide.

We’re thrilled to have this conversation at the design focused restaurant, Vicia, and hear from it’s co-founder, Tara Gallina, about the thought she and her husband, chef Michael Gallina, put into the restaurant and how design is central to the space, the food, and its presentation.

We hope you enjoy this deep dive into the world of St. Louis fare, ideas, and innovation. Come join us in May!