Nicki's Central West End Guide

Duncan Wall, "The Ordinary Acrobat"

Duncan Wall, son of CWEA Board Member Mark Wall and his wife Claudia will be in town tomorrow evening to introduce his new book, The Ordinary Acrobat, shown prominently displayed at Left Bank Books, above. The anything-but-ordinary book signing (see why below) will take place at the Mad Art Gallery in Soulard starting at 7 p.m.

Claudia Wall said Duncan attended Iowa University and spent his junior year abroad at the Center for Critical Studies in Paris. That's when his interest in the circus (which bored him as a child) began. Duncan currently lives in Montreal where he teaches circus history at The National Circus School of Montreal. He's primarily a writer and also an actor who has performed with the Candidatos, a modern clown-theater company he founded. His play "I'm Sorry and I'm Sorry" was performed at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival in 2005, the Dublin Film Festival in 2006 and, closer to home, at the Clayton Black Box theater in 2007. 

Later, Duncan lived in Europe for about a year and eventually won a Fullbright grant to study the circus. He enrolled at the National School for the Circus Arts in France, where he learned about the "nouveau cirque," or contemporary circus," a genre of performing art developed in the later 20th century in which a story or a theme is conveyed through traditional circus skills." The school offers classes in circus skills as an art-form that involve creative play and athleticism.

Published by Knopf and edited by Jonathan Segal, "The Ordinary Acrobat is a magical, funny, sometimes scary story of what happens when one average American joins a host of gifted (and flexible) international students in a rigorous regimen of tumbling, trapeze, juggling, and clowning."

In Nick Otten's interview with Duncan published in Friday's StLBeacon (read interview here), the author said that the circus arts have moved into the mainstream and become more familiar. He knows "dozens, if not hundreds, of 'ordinary acrobats' right now, people who work at a desk job as an architect or a school teacher and fly on a trapeze at night."

The book signing, a Circus Now event which promotes the circus as art will include performances by artists from our town's Circus Flora, Circus Harmony, and Bumbleshoots Aerial Arts, located on Gravois.

Meet the author Duncan Wall as he reads from The Ordinary Acrobat, Tuesday, March 19, at Mad Art Gallery, 2727 S. 12th. Doors open at 7, the performance begins at 7:30. $5 cover goes towards the purchase of the book, $26.95. Books provided by Left Bank Books.

Small world footnote: As is often the case when you are thinking of something, or in this case writing about someone, a related story shows up elsewhere. As I finally caught up on Sunday's NY Times last evening, there was the following opinion piece written by Duncan Wall in the Sunday Review section: "Moving Beyond The Big Tent."

Meet CWEnder & environmentalist Heather Brouillet Navarro

 

What was a dream as early as 8th grade for CWEnder Heather Brouillet Navarro has turned into an exciting new career as director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, the oldest and largest environmental organization in the state of Missouri.

As I write this post, following a fact-finding lunch with Heather at 2Schae Cafe (Pershing & Union), it is so obvious that the path she is on was more than "well chosen," it was meant to be. In grade school Heather learned about environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr.'s organization Riverkeeper, New York's clean water advocate, and was excited to learn that you could actually do something to help the planet.

Heather and her husband Diego, who teaches theology at St. Louis U. High, met as students at Washington University, where she majored in environmental studies. Following their marriage they went to Guatemala to volunteer for Christian Foundation for Children and Aging and then came back to St. Louis and settled in the CWE when their first child was on his way.

Later, Heather attended WU law school part time, as she had a second child (the children are now 7 & 9) and limited time to pursue her degree. While there Heather was able to gain valuable experience working in an interdisciplinary environmental clinic which was monitoring the Missouri River.

Many CWEnders know Heather as a neighbor, one of the founders of CWE Families & Friends, through her committee work on the creation of Kennedy Park at Washington & Olive, or as a former board member of the CWEA. Before being appointed director of the Coalition, Heather worked for the law firm of Thomas E. Kennedy III on civil rights and special education issues. She said she was sad to leave Kennedy's firm, as she loved her work there, but the opportunity to be the director of the Coalition was a dream come true.

On its website the Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) is described as a non-profit, non-partisan, 501(c)(3) that educates and activates Missourians to protect our natural resources." Founded in 1969 by Kay & Leo Drey, Lewis C. Green, Barry Commoner and others, the organization's many accomplishments are documented on the website. The Coalition concentrates on education, public engagement and legal action.

At the conclusion of our visit I asked Heather which of the many issues MCE has on its plate she finds the most challenging. Here is her reply:

"One of our biggest issues is that the State is decades behind in complying with the Clean Water Act. The state was to have classified all of the US waters in Missouri with a specific use (swimmable, fishable, etc.) and then apply criteria and pollution limits based on the classification..." "The big take home," Heather continues, "is that over 80% of the streams and lakes in Missouri have no criteria or pollution limits on who can dump what into them... " (read more here).

Heather ended with the following: "If there is one issue for me, that would be it (above)...or the removal of radioactive waste from Westlake Landfill Superfund Site in the floodplain in an unlined, uncapped landfill, 1,200 feet away from a smoldering, uncontrolled, underground landfill fire. Whew!"

While these are such overwhelming issues, it's comforting to know there is an organization that is paying attention and trying to do something about them.

Membership in MCE starts at $40, or you can make a donation to help the organization continue its valuable work. Visit the website here.

From street sweeper brush to back scratcher, inspiration for a continuing conversation

Alderman Lyda Krewson sent the January 2013 issue of Blue Bin News, below, a publication of the City of St. Louis Refuse Division-Recycling Program, specifically for the photo on page two. As is often the case, what started as a simple post has led to a broader discussion. Read on...

It's heart-warming to see the city's street sweeper brushes put to a great new use, above. Have you noticed, as we have, that 75% or more of our household trash goes into the recycling bin? It's mind-boggling to think how much went into the landfill for the past decades before this effort was launched.

One of my hair-brained schemes has been to find an abandoned piece of property in the neighborhood and turn it into an artful re-purposing center for the CWE. Picture an outdoor area where recycled objects could be turned into art and household items from renovation projects could be reused or re-purposed.

I recently had coffee with neighbor Hannah Roth, who is on the Architecture faculty at Washington University, to discuss this idea. Hannah has reams of information about the recycling business, which is indeed a big deal and crucial to our future. Somewhat related to the subject at hand, Hannah told me about Washington University's Land Lab Competition  in which 48 teams are working on imagining uses for vacant land in St. Louis. The winner, to be announced in April, will get a 2-year lot lease and $5000 in seed money to start the project.

Thanks to Lyda for bringing Blue Bin News to my attention, and to you for reading my thoughts on recycling. The truth is that I am short on time and even shorter on resources, so if anyone wants to pick up the re-purposing idea and run with it...go for it!

New STL bike rack anchored here

 

Have you noticed the stylish stainless steel arch-themed bike rack installed by the St. Louis Street Department across from the Maryland Plaza fountain? Alderman Lyda Krewson emailed that she believes this is the first one to be installed in the CWE---several others have been placed around the city. She's ordered 10 more for 28th Ward business owners and institutions that request them. Lyda continued, "This is about making the 28th Ward, which includes the Park, the Loop, Skinker-DeBaliviere, parts of Dogtown, and the City of St. Louis more bike friendly."

On a related note, I ran into CWEnder Karen Karabell, an avid biker, as she was pedaling along Euclid Avenue a few weeks ago. She stopped to chat and when I said I was nervous riding my old Raleigh along Euclid, and tended to ride on the sidewalk instead, she told me that riding on the sidewalk was even more dangerous. Karen and Mary Ruth Casey are leading a classroom session (no bikes needed) on bike riding in the city Monday, January 14 at the Center on Vandeventer, 320 N. Vandeventer. The class will be repeated February 16 at the Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Rd.  Melissa Brown and Matthew Brown will lead that session.

Karen emailed that Beth Gellman, a local landscape designer, took the class last year and described the classroom session like this: "The evening was a feast of examples, statistics and videos of bicycle safety and traffic cycling. I was shocked how fast three hours flew by. I had no idea there was that much to discuss about how to ride a bike in traffic!" "Truth & Techniques of Cycling" is sponsored by the Florida Bicycle Association. Information follows.

You can go anywhere by bike!
We'll show you how.

Discover the joy of human-powered travel.

Learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling. CyclingSavvy is the nation's newest and best program devoted to traffic cycling--and now available in St. Louis.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling will be held from:

• 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, January 14, 2013, at the Center on Vandeventer (320 N. Vandeventer Avenue, 63108)

• 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, February 16, 2013, at the Ethical Society (9001 Clayton Road, 63117)

Thanks to the support of Great Rivers Greenway, "Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling" is free to all adults of driving age, but registration is requested.

Join us for an experience that will be well worth your time.

Register here!

< Lots more info at the national CyclingSavvy website

A reader sent along information introducing Trailnet's  new program, Arch Women. (I love that there is all of this biking news in early January!) A brown bag lunch to introduce the program is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16 at the Railway Exchange Building, 611 Olive, see info that follows.

The mission of Arch Women is to empower local women through active transportation. We provide a safe, non-judgmental space to address any and all barriers that prevent women from biking, walking, or using public transit. Whether you want to start biking to the grocery store once a week, or start biking to work every day, Arch Women is here to help you figure out how to get started. 

Our first Arch Women event is a brown bag discussion about what active transportation means to you. This discussion will help shape future topics. Click here for more information about Arch Women. 

 

When: Wednesday, January 16

12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

 

Where: Railway Exchange Building, 611 Olive (downtown),

12th floor lobby area

 

How much: Free

 

Contact: Molly at molly@trailnet.org or 314.436.1324 x 117

2nd Annual CWEA 5k Walk/Run last Saturday

Hats and gloves were appropriate attire on a chilly Saturday morning as 350 participants gathered at the corner of Euclid and Maryland for the start of the 2nd Annual CWEA 5K Run/Walk. CWEA Board Member Arthur Culbert, with the help of many neighborhood volunteers and businesses, made the second 5k run even more successful than the inaugural event last year. Neighborhood businesses were enlisted to support the race (see list at end of post), who in turn worked together to offer participants much more than just the scheduled run. The night before the race, fifty-five runners enjoyed a complimentary dinner donated by the Pasta House and hosted by the neighborhood's Rosati-Kain High School. Following the race, volunteers Karen Gifford and Jan Kasalko walked boxes of pizza from Pi on McPherson to Bar Italia on Maryland Plaza which opened early for an after-race brunch.

The event had special meaning for 130 Washington University participants as the run was dedicated to junior Gabby Reuveni, a member of the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championship Women's Cross Country Team. Gabby was fatally struck last July as she was running near her home in Palmyra Township, PA. Part of the funds raised by the CWEA 5k Run are earmarked for a scholarship fund established in Gabby's name.

I spotted CWEnders Mary and Bob Dunn with their four children (new baby Agnes is in her father's arms), as they were visiting with runners Anne and Chris Sommers before the 9:00 a.m. start of the race.

As I posted each of these pictures I was taken by how happy everyone looks, including neighbors Denise King and Mike Mullen, Nos. 2972 & No. 2971, who were running their first race. Should we start each day with a 5k run?

Before blowing the starting whistle Arthur Culbert, above, thanked the participants and explained that the proceeds from the race will benefit local food pantries at Trinity Episcopal Church and Second Presbyterian Church--and the aforementioned scholarship fund at WU.

The Central West End Association is grateful for the generous support of the event by this impressive list of local sponsors that includes: St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Pi Pizzaria, BJH Health Care, Bar Italia, Fifth Third Bank, Green Bean, Lemon Spalon, Libby's, Mahler Ballroom, Mike's Bikes, Mira Digital Publishing, Pasta House Company, Paul Mitchell The School, Philip Johnson Salon Spa, Premier Appraisal Group, Rosati-Kain High School, Sante Fitness and Wellness, and St. Louis Chess Club.

See you at the starting line next year?

Magnificient Missouri Fundraiser at Bowood Farms Sunday, September 30

Magnificent Missouri, a new charitable organization that was formed to support conservation groups in the state of Missouri, is having its first fundraiser at Bowood Farms next Sunday, September 30. The organization was founded by Dan Burkhardt and John McPheeters of Bowood Farms. Seventeen organizations that promote conservation in Missouri will benefit from the fundraiser. The concept behind including so many organizations as beneficiaries of one event is to promote collaboration among them, and make it easy for attendees to support them all in one fell swoop. 100% of the $200 per person ticket price goes to the organizations (see list on map below or on website).

The beautiful and chock-full-of-Missouri-trivia invitation (seen here) designed by talented CWEnder Diann Cage, is laid out as if it were a map. The artwork incorporated into the invitation was donated by artist Bryan Haynes, who will show his art at the event. 

Some of the best chefs in St. Louis will be barbecuing heritage-breed pork and other meats over an open-pit fire at Bowood. They will also prepare locally-harvested produce. Schlafly Beer and Missouri wines will be available, and music will be provided by the Augusta Bottoms Consort. The guest chefs are extremely supportive of conservation efforts and have agreed to continue their support of Magnificent Missouri by cooking several smaller dinners throughout the year. There is talk of a possible event at the Audubon Center at Riverlands later this fall.

The trivia on the map include little-known (at least to me) facts, such as "200 plants and animals known nowhere else on earth are found in the Ozarks including 30 that are federally listed as endangered." And, "$11 billion of economic activity is generated yearly by conservation-related activities."


Generous sponsors have underwritten the entire cost of the benefit. It was interesting to me that the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain is into the connection between food and the environment in a big way, and John McPheeters said that they are incredibly excited to be sponsoring this event.  Chipotle will be giving away copies of Maddie Earnest and Liz Fathman's book Missouri Harvest (see earlier post here) at the event next Sunday.

Pick up an invitation at Bowood Farms or go to the website for more information and to RSVP. Magnificent Missouri at Bowood Farms, Sunday, September 30, 3 to 7 p.m.

News from the chicken coop

When Kristen Southworth emails a list of produce available each week from her farm and that of neighboring farmers in Campbell Hill, Illinois, she includes an introductory note, usually having to do with the weather. For a city girl like me these communiques offer a peek into life on the farm, and the challenges and joys that reside there.

Last month Kristen mentioned that the yolks in her hens fabulous eggs were getting paler due to the fact that the chickens were hot. Yesterday she wrote: 

"Well, it's still hot! But we haven't lost a chicken in the past 3 weeks so I am hoping they are all sufficiently acclimated by now. We also got a new calf named Lucille (see above). Her mom deserted her the day after she was born because of the heat stress. We happened to stumble across her, panting, alone, and almost dead in the sun. We threw her in the truck and built her a little shelter on the back of the chicken coop, got the biggest bottle I've ever seen, and she has been getting better ever since. She thinks she is a chicken and is constantly in the chicken coop! One day soon she'll be too big but for now it is just so cute and the chickens pay no mind to her, in fact I think they like her. "

When Kristen sent the photo so I could post if for you, she continued: "It absolutely amazes me how the dogs, cats, chickens, guineas, and the cow get along so lovingly.  It makes one think. An Amish gentleman here has offered to help me get her halter trained so eventually we can hook her up to small carts.  He says cattle are less stubborn than horses, but I'll keep you posted."

If you would like to get on Kristen's list for produce delivered to your door, contact her at shilohhillhens@gmail.com

Trailnet sponsors Literary Tour of CWE tomorrow

Trailnet is sponsoring a Literary Tour of the Central West End tomorrow morning.  Here are the particulars found on the Trailnet website:

Start: Five Guys parking lot 4177 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108

Registration: 9:30 – 10:00 AM,  group bike ride departs at 10:00 AM

Route: 6 mile bike ride on city streets  

Features: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, St. Louis’s Central West End and a few blocks to the north was home to a surprisingly large number of writers who became part of the American literary tradition. This group bike ride includes visits to select writers’ former homes for short readings of their work, and stops for historic interpretation on a route through some of the most architecturally fascinating neighborhoods in the region.

Fees: $5, $3 children 10 and under

In partnership with: The Central West End Association and St. Louis Public Library

L'Photographie offers "Shot for a Cure" August 12

This amazing offer was sent to me by Kristie Cromie of the neighborhood's L Photographie (see my post about this talented trio of photographers here):

L Photographie is hosting its first annual “SHOT FOR A CURE” photo sessions for families who have been affected by Breast Cancer. If this is you, we''d love to share your story and capture a photo of your beautiful family. You will receive a 20 minute photo session at the L Photographie studio in the Central West End, including approximately 10 final edited digital files, with reprint permission for personal use.

Francesca’s Fancy Flops will also be donating jewelry and flip flops to add a
little pink style to your photos.

Usage rights of the photos taken will be donated to BreastCancer.org and select photos will be put on display with your story in the month of October to help create awareness and raise money for BreastCancer.org.

Photo sessions will take place on SUNDAY AUGUST 12 and are scheduled BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. We only have time for a limited amount of sessions, so SIGN UP NOW by emailing: portraits {at} lphotographie.com

Feel free to contact us for any further questions. More specific details and time slots available, will be given in your email sign-up.

Please share with any friends or family you know who have been affected by Breast Cancer. We would love to help capture the love and bond of a deserving family who has had to fight this awful cancer.

Thank You,
Kristie, Liz & Kate of L Photographie

 

 

"Connect and Cultivate" Community Garden Event at YLC

Tuesday morning I visited a community garden on the campus of the Youth Learning Center at 4471 Olive, just east of Taylor. The Center was started in 2003 by Willie Kent, the pastor of Community Fellowship Church just next door. The center runs an after-school academic and arts program for under-served children. Recently YLC added a vegetable garden that serves as a learning tool for the Summer Discovery Program. 

During the school year approximately 120 children attend the after-school program, and the same number are enrolled in each of the three 2-week Summer Discovery Program sessions. When I visited Tuesday, there was an industrious group of children working on computers, and a lively soccer game out on the side lawn, above.

Garden plots, above, are offered to the community for purchase. For a contribution of $25 a year the donor gets to decide what to grow, purchases the seeds, and then works with the children to plant the plot. This enables the children to learn about agriculture, nutrition, and responsibility, as they water the plots every other day. Donors reap the bounty from their plot, though one donor-parent underwrote a bed just for the Summer Discovery children. I also learned that the neighborhood's Bowood Farms generously donated tomato plants to the program.

The Youth Learning Center is eager to establish a relationship with its neighbors and has joined the Central West End Association as a first step in the process. To foster more interaction, the public is invited to drop by this Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. to visit with the children and their parents as they discuss what they've learned working in the garden. And, there are still a few plots available, $25, which seems like a real bargain all the way around.

"Connect and Cultivate Community Garden Event," Friday, July 13, at the Youth Learning Center, 4471 Olive, (314) 531-9916. There is plenty of parking on the street and on a parking lot just west of the building.