Pawfect Pastries

You: Sit! No. No begging!
Man’s Best Friend: But its looks sooooo tasty! I can barely control myself!
You: Seriously Oprah, this doughnut is all mine. Mitts off.
MBF: Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!
You: What did you just say? Wow ... I feel the same way most days.
MBF: Frosting! Please give me some frosting!
You: Maybe we should head over to Lola and Penelope’s recently expanded pet bakery and pick you up a cupcake, bonbon or your own cake? They look just like the nuggets I enjoy but are made especially for pets. And you’ll never know the difference.
MBF: Here’s my leash and your wallet!

Sauce pick: Making Fido’s day
Info: Lola and Penelope’s,7742 Forsyth Blvd., Clatyon
Info: 314.863.5652 or lolaandpenelopes.com

Have a Heart

Heart-shaped candies, cookies and cakes are perfectly nice Valentine’s Day gifts. But let’s be honest: Nothing says love like a hot, buttery, heart-shaped biscuit. After all, you can’t dip a cookie in gravy or slather soft butter onto a piece of chocolate. Lucky for you, UMA in downtown St. Louis carries a set of four stainless steel heart-shaped, cutters in a nice range of sizes – from bite-size to your basic biscuit size. And since each cutter has a sturdy, arched handle that makes it easy to control the cut, they also work well for scones, pastries, pie cut-outs and, yes, even cookies.

Sauce pick: Heart-shaped biscuit cutters
Cost: $12 for a set of 4
Where to find it: UMA, 1100 Locust St., St. Louis
Info: 314.241.9990 or iloveuma.com

Wonder of Wonders

Isn’t he lovely? We’re talking about Stevie Wonder, of course, and his fans are in for a treat this week: two free events that celebrate his music.

The first is this month’s installment of Jazz St. Louis’ CD Listening Club, a discussion hosted tomorrow night by pianist and educator Reggie Thomas, who will focus on the classic album Songs in the Key of Life. Then Wednesday, head to East St. Louis Senior High School for another Wonder-worthy evening, when the school’s jazz band teams up with Thomas himself to pay homage to the music legend in a musical way.

What: Jazz St. Louis CD Listening Club
When: Tue., Feb. 9 – 7 p.m.
Where: Borders, 1519 S. Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood
Cost: Free
Info: Reserve a spot by calling 314.289.4037 or visit jazzstl.org for more information.

What: The Music of Stevie Wonder With the Reggie Thomas Group
When: Wed., Feb. 10 – 7 p.m.
Where: East St. Louis Senior High School, 4901 State St., East St. Louis
Cost: Free
Info: 314.289.4030 or jazzstl.org