Wayback Wednesday St. Louis has evolved from a standard mid-week event into a cherished cultural ritual, transforming the rooftop of the Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop into a dynamic family reunion. Driven by DJ Stew.net, Dr. BJ the DJ, and Courtney Curtis, this weekly gathering serves as a rare, authentic hub for community connection, where local professionals, artists, and generational friends unite to trade daily stresses for shared music and genuine local belonging.
The Fundamentals of Cultural Creation in St. Louis: What’s Going On? – Part II
On Wednesday Nights, Something Remarkable Happens.
Long before the first song drops, people begin making plans. Text messages fly:
“Girl, what you wearing?”
“See you on the rooftop.”
By 6 pm, elevators carrying professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, nurses, retirees, newlyweds and lifelong friends to the rooftop of the Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop.
Some come to dance, some come to celebrate birthdays, some come to reconnect after long workdays, others simply come because Wednesday has become the place to be. Not the place in the traditional sense—but the place because it offers something increasingly rare in modern life: genuine community.
By the time the first songs begin to play, strangers are introducing themselves, former classmates are reconnecting and conversations effortlessly flow across generations. For a few hours, the pressures of deadlines and everyday responsibilities give way to joy, rhythm and belonging. This isn’t simply another nightlife event; it has become one of St. Louis’ most recognizable cultural rituals.
At the heart of it are three individuals who each bring something essential to its success: DJ Stew.net, Dr. BJ the DJ and Courtney Curtis.
Together, they didn’t simply build a party, they have cultivated a community.
More Than Entertainment
Every great city has places where culture quietly happens before anyone realizes history is being made–enter Wayback Wednesday.
What appears to be an evening of music is an ongoing social gathering and people don’t merely attend. They return again and again–and again.
This isn’t accidental; it’s a reflection of thoughtful leadership, intentional programming and an understanding of what people truly seek—not just entertainment, but connection.
DJ Stew.net
The Party Starter
Every memorable gathering needs someone who understands how to ignite energy before anyone realizes it’s happening.
That role belongs to DJ Stew.net. His gift extends well beyond selecting songs. He reads a room with remarkable precision, he senses momentum, understands pacing and he knows exactly when nostalgia should wash over the crowd– when “that song” should change the evening into something unforgettable.
A great DJ doesn’t simply play music, a great DJ tells stories and Stew’s storytelling happens one record, transition and perfectly timed beat drop at a time.
The result is an atmosphere where people don’t merely hear songs—they relive chapters of their lives.
DJ Stew.net doesn’t just provide music. He starts the party and gives permission to smile, dance, remember and connect.
Dr. BJ the DJ
The Cultural Curator
If DJ Stew starts the party, Dr. BJ the DJ helps define its soul.
His influence reaches far beyond the DJ booth. Throughout his career, BJ has served as one of St. Louis’ most trusted ambassadors of music, Black culture, entertainment and community engagement.
His deep knowledge allows him to connect musical eras, social movements, neighborhood histories and cultural traditions in ways that few people can.
He understands that songs are never just songs, they are time capsules. They carry stories, family histories, neighborhood memories, first loves, graduations, cookouts and block parties.
When BJ hosts on Wednesday evenings, he reminds the people that culture is preserved not only in museums and archives—but also on dance floors. That perspective transforms Wayback Wednesday from an event into an experience.
Plus, we get all of this and some hilarious “dad jokes”.
Courtney Curtis
The Community Architect
Every thriving cultural institution has someone whose work often happens behind the scenes but whose influence is visible everywhere. For Wayback Wednesday, that person is Courtney Curtis.
His leadership is less about being the loudest voice in the room and more about creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. There is intention behind the experience, thoughtfulness behind the partnerships and purpose behind the consistency.
Courtney curates an event that continues to attract people week after week. This requires much more than logistics, it requires trust. Trust that the music will be exceptional, the atmosphere will be welcoming and that people from every walk of life can gather together respectfully.
That type of consistency becomes culture. Curtis has helped cultivate an environment where community isn’t simply encouraged.It becomes inevitable.
The Soundtrack of Collective Memory
Perhaps the greatest achievement of Wayback Wednesday isn’t attendance, it’s “I remember that song!” One song can instantly transport hundreds of people back to college, high school dances, memories of family reunions, wedding receptions, skating rinks, cookouts and the list goes on.
Music becomes memory, memory becomes conversation, conversation becomes community and community becomes culture.
A Different Kind of Networking
In many cities, networking happens in conference rooms. At Wayback Wednesday, networking happens on the dance floor or the terrace while sipping a cocktail.
Business partnerships begin, mentorship develops, friendships deepen and creative collaborations emerge. People discover organizations they never knew existed, entrepreneurs meet future clients, artists meet future collaborators and everyone leaves with more than they arrived with.
That kind of organic relationship-building cannot be manufactured. It must be cultivated over time.
Why It Matters
In an era increasingly defined by digital interaction, social media feeds and isolation, Wayback Wednesday offers something refreshingly analog.
Presence, real conversations, eye contact, laughter and shared joy.
It reminds us that community requires participation, culture requires stewardship and traditions are built one gathering at a time.
The Fundamentals of Cultural Creation
Throughout this interview series, one question continues to guide the conversation:
What creates culture?
The answer is becoming clearer. Culture is rarely built through grand gestures, it grows from consistent acts of care. People who show up, who create spaces where others feel seen and people who understand that music is the great connector.
Wayback Wednesday demonstrates all of these truths.
Looking Forward
Every city has signature events and every generation has defining traditions. The most meaningful ones rarely begin with the intention of becoming institutions. They become institutions because people recognize something authentic and return to it week after week.
Wayback Wednesday has become one of those traditions.
The best events entertain us for an evening; the most meaningful ones become part of the story we tell about our city.
Wayback Wednesday is one of those stories andDJ Stew.net, Dr. BJ the DJ, and Courtney Curtis have accomplished something far greater than hosting a successful weekly event. They have created a modern St. Louis tradition—one that proves culture is not merely inherited. It is intentionally created, sustained and shared with the people.
#WaybackWednesdaySTL #MoonriseHotel #StLouisCulture
