
Occasionally, someone unfamiliar with the world of independent talent attraction consultants will ask about what we do at Acclimate. We’ll explain. And sometimes, they’ll follow up by asking why newcomers don’t just do more research online.
I would love to give these folks a homework assignment to forget everything they already know about St. Louis and start out with a blank canvas—then try to paint an accurate picture using only what they find online.
Sure, you can uncover information about the Central West End and Chesterfield, and the Gateway Arch. But so many things are under the radar. Our lived experience gets complicated quickly. Trust me when I say that even some of the top data scientists in the world have been stumped while trying to research on St. Louis ahead of a relocation. The rest of us barely stand a chance.
We don't put out the welcome mat. We don’t share our secret handshakes. We definitely don’t publish the passwords to get into the speakeasies.* We make newcomers figure us out on their own. If they’re lucky, they’ll come across someone like Jacob Peistrup at the Living St. Louis YouTube channel.
If they’re not, they’ll be looking at an archipelago of the islands that are St. Louis’ major landmarks, trying to figure out how to navigate from one to another through crime-infested waters. (Because the internet is very, very good at telling the world about St. Louis’ public safety problems, both real and perceived.)
My favorite thing about running Acclimate is teaching people secret handshakes and speakeasy passwords and then watching them start to unlock other clues all on their own. Knowing the little things—like the importance of bread-sliced bagels or the invaluable traffic wave that indicates you’re absolved of whatever mistake you just made—leads to bigger things.
It’s no surprise to me that transplants are some of the most impactful residents of the metro area. Once they master the escape room setup that is St. Louis, they can skillfully and gracefully handle any other challenge that comes their way.
* Metaphorically speaking. As far as the metro area’s actual speakeasies, we are all about spreading the word. Some of our favorites: Thaxton Speakeasy, the granddaddy of them all, plus None of the Above (one of the newest, in a very authentic space below City Foundry), Big Chief Roadhouse (one of the most historic), New Society (a bar so hidden its website doesn’t even list its address, but for the record, it’s 3194 S. Grand Blvd.), and Speakeasy Café (which doesn’t even serve alcohol, but rather very good coffee and baked goods … so you start to see where St. Louis can get confusing fast).
Comments