Nicki's Central West End Guide

Hot off the press!

I am extremely flattered to be the subject of a feature story written by West End Word Managing Editor Fran Mannino in the current edition of the West End Word (read it here).  Fran did an amazing job organizing my rather eclectic life and fitting it into two pages. What it does best is reiterate why I love the neighborhood and reporting on it via the blog. Thank you Fran!

Observing the mourning dove

While the house finches take turns being "top dog" at the bird feeder in a hierarchy I can't decifer,

the mourning doves wait patiently below for whatever the more aggressive birds flick aside. For some reason the doves also sit almost thumbing their noses at our fat cat as she runs in their direction. They take flight at the very last minute. Funny birds...

Sunday, February 26

Marjorie Hoeltzel's gift to Trinity's Food Pantry

Each year Steve Turner, who runs Trinity Church's Food Pantry, has a note card made from a parishioner's photograph to benefit the pantry, which has been serving the CWE for over 30 years. It was timely, and as it turns out quite touching, that Steve asked textile artist Marjorie Hoeltzel, who volunteered at the Food Pantry on Wednesdays, to create a quilt block for this year's card, above. Ninety-year-old Marjorie passed away in January. 

Trinity Church's Food Ministry served 8,134 people in 2011, up from 1,312 in 2010, and 2,300 more than 2008. The food pantry is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Clients register with the pantry and then visit once a month to collect fresh produce (cabbage, oranges, & onions purchased by volunteers), rice, margarine, butter, and 4 cans of food per person in the family (meat product, vegetables & soup). Trinity Church also offers a hot lunch every Sunday at 2 p.m.

In addition to feeding their clients, a registered nurse from the Parish Nurse Fellowship visits on Wednesdays and is available to assist with health needs and offer advice about healthy living. She is so popular that people come to see her even if they are not scheduled to pick up food on that particular day.

The 5 x 7" cards are blank inside and are sold in packages of 10 with envelopes for $15. They can be ordered individually as well ($1.50). To order contact Steve Turner at (314) 651-6927 or msteveturner@aol.com. After you place your order, bring a check to Trinity's office which is located off the parking lot just north of the Church at 600 N. Euclid. The office is open from 8 to 4:30 Tuesday through Friday. Shipping is available for an extra $2.50.

Thank you to Steve Turner for asking Marjorie for this gift and to the Food Pantry's many wonderful volunteers for their work serving the community.  I understand that the pantry can also use clothing for their clients. Drop offs can be made during the hours the pantry is open (see hours above).

P.S. - A further note on Marjorie's talent and contribution to Trinity Church: At the service for this beloved artist in late January the ladies who served as ushers wore handsome vests Marjorie made out of her signature men's ties (see earlier post here). One of Marjorie's relatives wore her stunning black & white quilted vest that could have been shown on a New York runway.  Just an amazing talent and inspiration!

Recycled Xmas trees as shelter

Each year after the holidays we take our Christmas tree to the Muny lot in Forest Park to be recycled into mulch. We recently discovered that for 26 years (where have we been?) the Missouri Department of Conservation has found another creative use for some of the trees. As shown in the photo above, they are strung out in Jefferson Lake near Steinberg Rink to offer fish a protective habitat for spawning and a safe environment for the young fish as they grow. 

The fisherman in the first photo was reluctant to let me take a photo until he was headed home with his catch of three large trout, above. That's when he raised them proudly to signal it was okay to snap away.
 

Across the street Frank James, aka the "Curbside Artist*," had positioned his easel to afford a sweeping view of the lake. I learned a lot about Frank in a very short visit. He is self-taught, has painted a series of scenes in Tower Grove Park and Lafayette Square, and has recently been working in Forest Park. Though you can't tell much about his talent from the painting he had just started above, other examples of his work that I saw are quite lovely.

I couldn't help but notice Frank's artfully-torn jeans and striking tennis shoes.

As I looked around I discovered he wasn't the only one sporting orange Tuesday afternoon.

*Frank James, (314) 827-1684.

Bonsai for Beginners

Whenever I travel to San Francisco I'm tempted to come home with a bonsai from a farmer's market, where there is usually a table full of them. But traveling with the plant, to say nothing of not knowing what to do with it next, always stops me in my tracks. Attending the "Bonsai for Beginners" workshop held at Bowood Farms a couple of Saturdays ago confirmed what I suspected about these "plant sculptures," ---there is a lot more to growing them than simply watering and taking an occasional snip. I also realized that it is more rewarding in the long run to take a starter plant and "train" it into a bonsai all by yourself.

During her introduction to the workshop Bowood Farms' Horticultural Manager Ellen Barredo said that a class on bonsai has been a frequent request of customers since the nursery opened six years ago. It was also a learning experience for the instructors, Sales Associates Kathy Hoyer and Kevin Sir (above), who studied bonsai extensively and then shared everything they learned with the workshop participants.

Kathy taught us that bonsai (pronounced "bone-sigh") is traditionally created from temperate species that prefer to be outdoors and need a winter dormancy period, i.e. Junipers, Maples, etc. However most gardeners are more interested in creating and caring for bonsai inside their homes. To this end tropical and subtropical plants that have characteristics that lend themselves to the art of bonsai indoors were the subject of the demonstration on February 11. Kathy suggested wikipedia (look here) for a terrific overview on the subject, and also that more information could be available from members of the St. Louis Bonsai Society, whom she has found to be extremely helpful. 
Sales Associate Kevin Sir, above, discussed the proper soil, watering and fertilizing frequency, and then demonstrated how to pot and train a bonsai "start" by snipping, pinching, and sometimes wiring (with 18-gauge wire) the branches to bend them into the desired shape. 

Because I didn't want to go to great expense for this bonsai experiment, I chose a $7 jade plant for my starter plant. I also really wanted to buy one of those cute flat bonsai dishes shown in the upper right corner of the photo above, and hoped to pop my jade plant right into it. Unfortunately, I learned you can't plant in the dish until the trunk has achieved the proper thickness, i.e. until the plant starts to look old.

If you want instant gratification and don't want to try your hand at training your own plant, check out the bonsai selection in Bowood Farm's Conservatory. You might also ask for the excellent instruction sheet that was handed out at the Bonsai Workshop---and definitely ask Kathy or Kevin for their expert advice.

Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive, (314) 454-6868.

Sunday, February 19

The gorgeous photos in today's post were taken by Martin Schweig at the Missouri Botanical Garden's Orchid Show where 800 orchids from the Garden's vast collection will be on display until March 25.

Thank you Martin!

Scene on the Street

What's up with the weather?

Winter or Spring---what's a robin to do?

Welcome "Dazzle Me Twice"

As I was gathering my thoughts in preparation for this post I realized how many times over the past year I have had the pleasure of introducing readers to a new business that has opened in the CWE. The fact that this comes to mind says much about these entrepreneurial individuals and the confidence they exhibit in the neighborhood by locating their businesses here.

Enter Dazzle Me Twice, a most elegant consignment salon that occupies two floors of a townhouse at 4632 McPherson at Walton (across from The Vino Gallery). Sweep whatever preconceived notions you may harbor about consignment (favorable or otherwise) away, Dazzle Me Twice is a consignment shop  in a class by itself---even better than "Finery," proprietor Marty London's previous shop in that location, which closed seven years ago.

Dazzle Me Twice carries designer label merchandise in excellent condition--many of the pieces have never been worn and wear their original tags. In the photo above Marty holds one of her favorite consignment pieces, a Fendi jacket, skirt & pants in size 6, $700. An article of clothing that has never been worn is priced at 50% off the original cost; gently worn, 25% of its original cost.

A sparkly gossamer-thin size 8 St. John Knit originally priced at $2000, is now $500. (Apologies for this "dazzling" photo, I forgot to turn off the flash.)

Marty opened her doors in late October and the response has been better than she expected. She explained that her "savvy customers love the 'thrill of the hunt' and know and appreciate the real thing." In this competitive market she's noticed that a customer might see something she likes, but will leave empty-handed to search for it online before inevitably returning to make the purchase at Dazzle Me Twice, where the prices are usually better.

Dazzle Me Twice carries designer accessories, including bags, belts, and shoes. One area is devoted entirely to evening wear. Marty stock includes gowns for special events around town, such as the Veiled Prophet Ball....a practical source for something that's worn only once or twice. For example, the midnight blue Jessica McClintock gown hanging on the column above is priced at $329.

There is a large selection of designer shoes in the salon, including a new pair of red & black Chanel platforms, above, size 8 1/2, $295.

If you have designer clothing to consign contact Marty London first (info is at the end of the post).  Dazzle Me Twice is not a full-time occupation for this busy woman. A former model and nurse, Marty is now the Assistant Manager of The Plaza in Clayton. For this reason her shop is only open Friday evenings and Saturdays.

As I was leaving the salon Marty asked me to mention that she enjoys hosting charity events at her salon. It's her way of giving back to the community now that she has had to resign from her charity boards for lack of time.  Contact Marty if you are interested in taking her up on this offer. You supply the cause and the guests; she'll provide the wine and hors d'oeuvres. She'll also donate a portion of the evening's sales to your charity. That's a win-win for everybody.

Dazzle Me Twice, 4632 McPherson, 5 to 8 Fridays, 10 to 4 Saturdays, finery6@yahoo.com, (314) 757-4464.