St. Louis
- Construction began on the new Mississippi River Bridge (www.newriverbridge.org), four lanes of I-70 that will connect downtown St. Louis and Southern Illinois. The $640 million construction project is a partnership between the Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation. Construction on the two main towers was completed in August and the bridge is expected to open to traffic in 2014.
- The Cheshire (314.647.7300; www.cheshirestl.com) , which opened in summer 2011 following a $4 million renovation, will unveil its flagship restaurant, seating up to 168 people, at the end of this month, in addition to other dining outlets later this year. Basso, an American-Italian eatery with a bar and seating for 174 will be located on the hotel's lower level and is scheduled to open in November. A to-go market is projected to open in late December. The luxury hotel is also home to the cozy Fox & Hounds tavern and pub, and welcomes corporate receptions and small business groups.
- The 351-room Crowne Plaza St. Louis Airport (314.291.6700; www.crowneplaza.com) began a $10 million renovation this spring, updating public areas and guest rooms. The property is located one mile from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and has been managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts since 2011. The property offers 18 meeting rooms totaling 14,500 square feet.
- St. Louis Marriott West (314.878.2747; www.marriott.com) completed a multimillion-dollar renovation and now offers 298 guest rooms and 14,000 square feet of renovated ballrooms and meeting space, including an outdoor patio. The Grand Ballroom, the largest of 13 meeting spaces, has a seating capacity of 1,045 guests.
St. Charles
- Alice's Tea Room (636.946.0505), a quaint new lunch venue that can host private events and tea parties for up to 40 people, is located in the historic district and displays a collection of dollhouse miniatures.
- Hendricks BBQ (636.724.8600; www.hendricksbbq.com) opened in September with mason-jar light fixtures and an outdoor deck overlooking the scenic 225-mile Katy Trail. The blues-themed barbecue restaurant offers seating for 600 and the Moonshine Blues Bar on the lower level.
- Demolition Ball & Adrenaline Zone (636.940.7700; www.db-az.com) is one of the newest team-building venues in St. Charles, hosting up to 400 guests for bumper car games combining hockey, football, polo and basketball. The Adrenaline Zone includes a laser tag game played by teams in the 6,800-square-foot arena.
- Located on Main Street, the Grand Opera House Banquet Center (314.406.3783; www.ohbanquets.com) is now hosting theater performances and group events. With 2,700 square feet of space and a full-service bar, the banquet center can accommodate up to 200 guests.