[imagefield_assist|fid=17371|preset=fullsize|title=Explorer Queen, from A Queen Within, which is showing at the World Chess Hall of Fame through April 19. Image Credit Suzy Gorman.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=1000|height=667]
This story was originally posted on stlouispublicradio.org on March 12.
By Mike Wilmering
On Tuesday, USA Today published a story that outlined everything “hip and happening” in St. Louis.
Not surprisingly, the World Chess Hall of Fame got a nod. Wait. What? Not surprising, you say?
If the idea that chess is hip and happening is foreign to you, then I assume you still have the antiquated stereotype of the pocket protector-wearing übergeek ingrained in your mind.
But times they are a-changin’ my friends.
If you come by the Chess Club or World Chess Hall of Fame on any given night, you will see that chess appeals to a demographic as broad and varied as the city itself. And because of that widespread and growing interest, chess is, indeed, becoming quite hip and happening.
