Nicki's Central West End Guide

Lululemon to return to CWE

It's musical chairs---or a somewhat-stretched version of it---in the CWE "shop news" category. The great news is that Lululemon is returning to the neighborhood, this time to 26 Maryland Plaza, above, where it will occupy the former k. hall designs location and Moris Fashions (don't panic, the men's clothier is staying in the neighborhood and relocating to 226 N. Euclid). In the musical chairs category, k. hall designs left the CWE last month for Plaza Frontenac, where it is tryng the upscale mall experience on for size.

Three years ago Vancouver-based Lululemon, which has 201 stores in North America and Australia (see E B. Solomont's article in St. Louis Business Journal here) squeezed into a space on Euclid which proved to be too small for its lycra britches. In addition to the store's great athletic gear, Lululemon was a just-plain-fun shop with cheeky comments scribbled on the windows and occasional yoga classes for devotees who could do their upward dogs while perusing the merchandise that had been pushed aside for the moment. In early April 2010, the store abruptly pulled up stakes (like in one day) and moved to Plaza Frontenac (the CWE store will be its second St. Louis location).

The Central West End Association's Planning & Development Committee has been reviewing plans for proposed changes to the York Avenue facade, which I am told involves decorative elements intended to reinforce the Lululemon brand.

According to the May 13th Business Journal article, Moris Fashions will be moving to 226 N. Euclid in mid-June. The site is the location of the former Cecil Whitaker's Pizzeria. I think it's fabulous that the business will stay in the neighborhood and that a restaurant space will become a retail location, which we sorely need---more retail!

A DMV office opens on Euclid!

Now, with the arrival of another great addition to the neighborhood, renewing your driver's license or license plates will require only a short walk to the new NorthSide License Office located at 625 N. Euclid (at Delmar). The only service that will not be offered at the new office is the driver's license test, which is administered by the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Missouri Department of Motor Vehicle locations are not run by the State but are contracted out. The new operation in the CWE is contracted to Mid-America Transplant Services which has another location in Maplewood. Molly Maher, above, Director of Finance, explained that the license renewal process is an efficient way to sign patrons up to be on the transplant donor registry, which is why Transplant Services has undertaken the operation of the license offices. Molly said DMV offices don't produce much profit, but said any surplus will go to providing services for donor families through their Center for Life.  The services vary from support groups and bereavement counseling to candlelight memorial services.

This new DMV office is geared to providing the best service in the most convenient, up-do-date way. It's no longer necessary to bring a book or pack a lunch to occupy the wait time--as is the case elsewhere--when you stop in. You can even get in line before you leave home by using the "QLess" system (www.mtsdmv.com). Or stop in and use the QLess screen at the entry to check-in and choose the service you need.  If you then decide to run an errand (there is a post office in the building), you'll be notified by text message that your appointment is coming up. If you haven't quite finished your Chapulines (sauteed grasshopper) tacos at Gringo, or trying on skinny jeans at Libby's, you can delay the appointment by text message until you are ready to return.

NorthSide License Office, 625 N. Euclid, Ste. 130, Open Mon. to Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1st and last Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., (314) 454-1082.

New parking meter program to launch on Maryland Plaza

See Alderman Lyda Krewson's comment on what it will take for this program to become the norm, and her comment on a credit card payment system in Argyle Garage.

Searching without luck at the bottom of your purse or between the car seats for change will become a thing of the past if the new "No Change, No Problem" parking meters that are being installed on a trial basis on Maryland Plaza are deemed a success.

17th Ward Alderman Lyda Krewson emailed the news: "The new meters will be installed on Maryland from Lester's to York (maybe a little west of York); and on Euclid from Lindell to the alley north of Maryland. I believe it is approximately 60 meters. This is a trial program to further evaluate these meters."

Following is a press release from St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones' office:

"This Friday (May 10), St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones will launch a new pilot program which will test 60 new parking meters that accept credit and debit cards in the Central West End. The program is called the "No Change, No Problem" Pilot Program and will kick off with a launch event. During the launch event, there will be a moratorium on parking tickets in the area and Parking Enforcement Officers will be on hand to help motorists use the meters and give out FREE parking minutes - when patrons check-in to a business via Facebook, Twitter, or Foursquare. Businesses, that usually have to provide change to parking motorists, will also get involved with decals and signs promoting 'No Change, No Problem.'"

The new parking meters, shown above, can be spotted on Maryland Plaza ahead of Friday's launch. In the interest of fairness, all meters should also include prominent notice of the hours and days during which violations are enforced (8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday). I often observe people searching in vain for that information, which is either non-existent, or faded away and impossible to read.

On a related note, perhaps Ms. Jones will consider introducing a credit/debit card payment system for the Argyle Garage (between Euclid & York on Lindell) and the City Hall lot. The current "cash only" arrangement, a holdover from the previous regime, seems archaic in 2013.

Meet Wedding Planner Ashley Rath

Ashley Rath, above, says she chose to locate her company, Dishy Weddings, in the CWE because of its central location and charm...and, it's within walking distance of The Cup, one of her favorite neighborhood haunts! The timing of her move operating out of a home office, which necessitated meetings with clients at Starbucks or Panera Bread, to a place of her own was somewhat unusual since she was 8 1/2 months pregnant with her first child. While most women would be thinking of taking some time off, one should never underestimate the determination and stamina of a wedding planner! Ashley's husband Robin, who designs phone apps for Coolfire, suggested she should wait at least a couple of months after their daughter's birth to move in. But Ashley wanted to get her ducks in a row and move from operating her office from their home in South City's McKinley Heights before the baby's arrival seven months ago.

Ashley cut her teeth in the business working for another wedding planner and ventured out on her own four years ago. This dynamo is well qualified for the task of working with an engaged pair from initial planning stages through the wedding day festivities. She earned a degree in journalism from Mizzou, an MBA in entrepreneurship from Park University, and has a project management certificate in her cap as well. While she was working on her MBA and researching a name for her company, she came across "dishy" (meaning glamorous) in a Thesaurus. She plays up variations on that theme with her wedding packages which suggest a "Main Dish" (a full course of wedding services with Ashley handling every detail from start to finish). "Side Dish" is a "Month of" package which means the couple does all the planning up to the last month, when they hand over the contracts and arrangements they have made, and let Ashley take it from there. It is also possible to build your own custom wedding package.  Dishy Weddings rates start at $1500.

One of the splashiest, most unusual weddings Ashley planned was for a couple in the restaurant industry who had their reception at Lumen, located downtown. Guests were entertained by firebreathers and confetti shot out of a cannon. In June, Ashley is planning a wedding under a tent at a private home complete with paper lanterns and poetry created for the guests by Henry David Goldkamp of freshpoetry.ink (see previous post here). CWE-based Entre. is catering the event.

Ashley's clients find her through word of mouth and the wedding website The Knot where Dishy Weddings & Events has been named in the "best weddings" category for 2013. She recently won recognition from WeddingWire as well, based on positive feedback from her customers.

To contact Ashley Rath visit her website at Dishy Weddings. Her studio is located at 449 N. Euclid, (314) 246-9148.

Berger Memorial leaving CWE

Berger Memorial, which has been located at 4715 McPherson for nearly 100 years (since 1916), is moving to Olivette. According to an article published last week in The Jewish Light, Berger Memorial will occupy a portion of the Kriegshauser Mortuaries West facility at 9450 Olive Street Road.

Richard Stein, whose family owned Berger Memorial until it was sold to Dignity Memorial Network, a Houston-based firm under Service Corporation International, said in the article that the new location is more convenient for the majority of the Jewish population in St. Louis. Stein, who is now the location manager, added that many key installations and historic fixtures at the present Berger facility will be transported and installed in the new location in Olivette. The move should be completed by this September.

The property on McPherson, east of Euclid and just west of Walton, will be offered for sale.

k. hall designs next stop: Plaza Frontenac

I realize it's a business, not a popularity contest. Nevertheless, when I saw the last of k. hall designs' shop-props pulling away in the back of an open truck on Maryland Plaza last evening, reality struck. Pop-ups are temporary by design, but I had hoped k. hall's first retail shop, launched in the CWE, would become a permanent fixture. Perhaps it will, some day, but not for now.

In May 2012, Kelly Hall-Barr and John Barr opened their pop-up shop at 26 Maryland Plaza. The successful company, which has a retail outlet at its Brentwood facility for its line of aromatic bath, body and home care products, added clothing and gift items to the mix for its CWE experiment. Now, having tried the urban model on for size, they are opening in Plaza Frontenac to see how the upscale mall experience fits k.hall's business model.

An article in the April 10 Business section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hangs in the window of the now-vacant storefront. It explains the rationale behind k. hall's pop-up shop idea. An excerpt from the article by Kavita Kumar is copied below, and can be read in its entirety here.

..."The Central West End store has done well and stayed a lot longer than we expected," said Scott Miller, the company's chief operating officer. "Now that we've tried out a walking district, we want to try an enclosed mall."

He added that the two different store experiences will help the company figure out which kind of setting might be best for it in the future.

The Plaza Frontenac store, which will have a soft opening on May 1, will stay open for at least three months — if not longer."

Bill Smith's magical art on view at World Chess Hall of Fame

Put artist Bill Smith's exhibition at the World Chess Hall of Fame on your "must see," "to do," "just get there!" list(s). His work, Beyond the Humanities, is on view until September 15, which allows plenty of opportunity to stop by the neighborhood museum more than once. Go especially when you need some quiet reflective time. It's that magical, and calming.
In the opinion of Amanda Cook, spokesperson for The World Chess Hall of Fame, people from this area are not as familiar with Bill Smith's art as those from other parts of the country. The O'Fallon, Illinois native, who creates multimedia pieces in a big barn on his property there, is represented by New York's P.P.O.W Gallery and has had solo exhibitions around the country. Smith's work is not completely unknown in St. Louis however, as I noticed in the WCHOF brochure that Smith exhibited at the Saint Louis Art Museum five years ago, and at White Flag Projects, 4568 Manchester, in 2005.

Smith's educational background provides a window into why his work, which combines art and science, is so special. His academic credentials include a certificate in mechanics from Ranken Technical Institute (located on an 18-acre campus on Newstead just north of Delmar), a B.S. in Microbiology and Chemistry from SIU, and a M.F.A. in Sculpture from U of I, Champaign-Urbana.

The WCHOF brochure states that Smith's "Beyond the Humanities explores how rules guide the creation of our world's structure and behavior...Smith uses art to show the underlying similarities of all things..." The connection between Smith's work and the game of chess is explained thusly: "Like Smith's work, chess is defined by rules, patterns, and interactions. The rules of a game are analogous to the laws of nature..."

My camera couldn't pick up the extra-fine filament in Structure, above, a multimedia piece that weighs 2 ounces and reaches up 240 inches through the museum's staircase from the 1st to the 3rd floor. Structure moves just slightly in the ambient air, which is measured by a computer, above. Watch Smith's video below:  

Inside the gallery space further magic awaits. The centerpiece of the exhibition is sperodendron, which could be viewed as a dandelion, a cell---whatever your imagination allows. The following photograph and video were provided by Amanda Cook courtesy of the World Chess Hall of Fame.

  

On the second floor there is an exhibition titled Everybody's Game, Chess in Popular Culture, which includes chess sets made of Legos, sets made for Coca Cola, Anheuser Busch, and Winnie the Pooh characters. There are stills from movies, television shows, and commercials where chess was featured (e.g. Star Trek, Smirnof). Everybody's Game closes this Sunday, April 14.

The third floor exhibition space features The President's Game, which shows how chess has fascinated American presidents for over two hundred years. Among the pieces on view is George Washington's chess set with its wooden storage box, 1770's. The President's Game closes April 21.

When you visit, take time to view the wall covered with visitors' comments about the role chess has played in their lives, and visit Q Boutique, voted Best Gift Shop 2012 by the Riverfront Times!

World Chess Hall of Fame, 4652 Maryland Avenue, Mon. Tues. Weds. 10 to 5, Thurs.- Sat. 10 to 6, Sun. Noon to 5, Closed Monday, (314) 367-9243.

Benefit for Shakespeare Festival at Dazzle Me Twice

It took a great cause, a benefit for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, to finally get some of my neighborhood friends through the door at the CWE's Dazzle Me Twice. Admittedly, when Marty London first re-opened her consignment shop at 4632 McPherson in 2011, the hours were extremely limited, but that has changed (see end of post).

Last Wednesday evening an enthusiastic group of Shakespeare board members and supporters enjoyed wine and delicious appetizers while perusing the beautiful two-story shop's offerings. Marty provided the refreshments, which were passed by a charming waiter (who also offered approval as shoppers modeled their potential choices), and donated 15% of sales to Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. 

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis will open its thirteenth season Memorial Day weekend in Forest Park. This year's production, Twelfth Night, marks the directorial debut of delightful Shakespeare Festival Executive Director Rick Dildine. Several years ago there was a benefit for Shakespeare Festival at The Vino Gallery (see post here), just across the street from Dazzle Me Twice. Love that the board keeps some of the festival's fund-raising events in the CWE, close to Shakespeare Glen.

Marty London, in action above, offers pre-owned designer clothing, some of which has never been worn, at great prices. Comments heard from people who had not been to Dazzle Me Twice previously ranged from how comfortable it is to shop there, to how amazing the selection is.

Low-key benefit events such as this are so much fun for supporters and easy work for the board, whose main job is to simply get the word out. SFSTL Board Chair & CWEnder Jessica Holzer, far right above, and honorary CWEnder and board member Mary Morgan, middle, were among those in attendance.

The evening was a great chance to visit, shop, and support a great cause at the same time. Shakespeare Festival St. Louis's website is full of information on Twelfth Night, some would say "the best" event of the summer season.

Dazzle Me Twice, Weds. to Fri. 11-5, Sat. 11-4, 4632 McPherson, (314) 757-4464.

An ultra-hip gallery: The Hinge

 

Lauren Pressler and Brian Laughlin, above, are co-directors of The Hinge, an art gallery housed within their large CWE apartment. How they manage to live their lives while running an art gallery in the same location is beyond me. True, The Hinge is open by appointment only, so there would be time to run around and remove traces of daily living before a visitor arrives, but this arrangement takes "living where you work" to a whole new level. When I stopped by a couple of weeks ago there was nothing visible in the multi-room apartment that wasn't part of the current exhibition, "Tainted Love," other than the couple themselves and Jillian Gallery Cat.

The objective of the gallery is to be a "hinge" between the community and gallery owners, and emerging artists without gallery representation. Lauren and Brian's partner in the project is Eileen G'sell, a professor in the English department at Washington University who runs the literary side of the gallery (see more info about events below). The Regional Arts Commission gave the couple invaluable help and advice to get the gallery off the ground. Lauren added that they are also indebted to VLAA (Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts) for help with legal issues related to opening the gallery.

Lauren Pressler, curator of The Hinge, is also an artist who earned an MFA from Washington University. Last fall she was Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at Williamette University in Oregon. Currently her work, "Bees," is exhibited at La Porte Peintre Centre for the Arts in Noyers sur Serein in Burgundy. Although none of Lauren's spectacular art is included in the current exhibition, be sure to visit her website to see examples. 

In addition to co-directing The Hinge, Brian Laughlin is in the antique furniture restoration business (The Option B Designery at 2533 Brentwood). His restored furniture is on view in "Tainted Love," and includes pieces such as a 20th century Majestic Stove butcher's table (from St. Louis) with a galvanized metal and wood top, $1750, and two sofas covered in a soft grey silk blend fabric in the living room. The smaller one is "tainted" with scratches in the armrests. In Brian's words, "the whole environment is for sale"...except for Jillian, of course.

Lauren and Brian said gallery patrons have enjoyed seeing how to live and interact with the art and seem freer to comment on a piece because of the home environment. On the French sofa is Megan Collins Post Exodus of altered needlepoint & fabric (see photo below too). Chris Lujan's Jockey, $550, hangs on the wall, and a lovely pair (only one shown) of walnut & gold-leaf Chinese Chippendale Revival tall stands is $1275.

The exhibition explores love through the relationship of the artists. Artists include a couple in a traditional marriage (work is shown above), in a long-term relationship, another in a long-term relationship distanced by geography, and a lesbian couple.  One artist lives in New York and was in the same Washington University graduate program as Lauren Pressler.

I.E. Thurston Belmer's triptych Academie, $925, hangs on the dining room wall, above, while below it Caitlyn Concascia Belmer's Bound to You, $195, sits on a 1960s John Widdicomb walnut & marble-top server, $895.

Chris Lujan's Untitled, coffee & ink on Japanese paper, $225, hangs in a niche. Rare Antique Latticino Continental blown-glass spirit bottles, $600, are displayed on shelf.

Amanda Elise Bowles sculpture sits in front of Jieum Kim's neon cityscape in the library.

The Hollywood Bowl (oil on canvas) is by Reid Norris, price available upon request.

"Blaine's" oil painting, Balanced in a Precarious Position, $575, is shown above. On the table is a sneak preview of The Hinge's next exhibition, Flora, Phallus, Fauna, non-digital poster art by Polish artist Ryszard Kaja, who will be in attendance at the opening Saturday, April 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. It is not necessary to make an appointment to attend the opening.
Lauren and Brian like to play up cliches, so each exhibition will highlight an object of antiquity used in an unusual way. You may have noticed in some of the photographs above, and especially this last one, antique toasters displaying singed valentines. "Tainted Love" ends April 1.

Check the website for other events at The Hinge. During the month of April, while Polish artist Ryszard Kaja's work is on view, Apop Records on Cherokee will be screening Polish films at The Moolah Theater. There are also readings at the gallery on occasion.

The Hinge, 410 N. Newstead, Ste. 4W, call for appointment: (314) 535-3010, or (314) 398-8862.

nextSTL reports possibility of IKEA on Forest Park Ave.!

The following was posted on nextSTL and is reposted with permission.

A follow-up note from nextSTL:

"Just to be clear, we're saying that the city, Pace Properties and IKEA are working hard to make this site work. Until IKEA signs a contract, nothing is final and there are, of course, things that could go wrong. A lot of people are taking the story as meaning that it's a done deal and groundbreaking is imminent. It will take time to see if this site works."

Several WhoLou sources are alleging that highly-coveted Swedish-based furniture chain Ikea intends to develop their first St. Louis store close to the campus of St. Louis University. The 300,000 sq. ft. store will allegedly be built near the Laclede Gas and Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center complexes on Forest Park Ave. between Sarah Street and Vandeventer Ave.

The company has 285 stores in more than 20 countries and designs its own product which is then produced by more than 1,000 suppliers in 50-plus countries. With only 38 stores in the United States boasting an Ikea is regarded by many cities as a retail status symbol. Rumors in St. Louis often take on a life of their own. A store opening that was recently announced for Kansas City is expected to be open by the end of 2014.

The St. Louis store location has been rumored over several years to be a part of numerous area development projects. Most recently Pace Properties attempted to lure Ikea to their Hadley Township development in Richmond Heights near Highway 40 and Hanley Rd. In that case, Pace was unable to aquire all the property needed for the development. An adjacent development for a Menards is proceeding.

Ikea is being represented by Pace in St. Louis. Stephen Heitz, vp of development for Pace, would neither confirm nor deny the allegations. Heitz stated, “Ikea is committed to having a presence in St. Louis but no decisions on a site have been made final.” Via email Ikea U.S. representative Joseph Roth commented, “Ikea has acknowledged that the St. Louis area is large enough to support a store - and that we have many customers there - we have not yet committed to any specific site in, or time-frame for entering the St. Louis area.” 

Sources further allege that the location of the store has been a closely guarded secret and despite not receiving confirmation remain confident that this is the area Ikea and Pace are working on developing. According to the Post-Dispatch in July of 2012 an Ikea spokesperson told them and a reporter from Kansas City that there were no plans for stores in their respective cities then announced plans for a Kansas City store that September.

The project would potentially also include major ramp construction off of Highway 40 to ease access to the site according to sources. For reference, the Cincinnati area Ikea in West Chester, OH (Cincinnati) is 344,000 sq. ft., has 1,400 parking spaces and employs 400 people. There is no word on a final site plan, or parking development in St. Louis. Assuming all possible taxes are incurred, the St. Louis store could bring more than $6M in tax revenue to the city. In Kansas City the 22-acre Ikea development is expecting sales of more than $80 million per year.


{Bloomington, MN IKEA - 336,000 sq. ft. on 15 acres}

The St. Louis IKEA would be one of the more urban locations in the US and a big win for the city as the majority of locations scouted have been in St. Louis County. The Forest Park Avenue site would just a couple short blocks from a planned MetroLink station between Boyle Avenue and Sarah Street. The station is being considered as part of the expanding CORTEX science and research district. The development is another leap forward in development momentum for the city's central corridor. Recently, Whole Foods announced a store for the Central West End, the city is regaining a Mercedes dealership after a 15-year absence and several housing developments have been announced.

The area bordered by Forest Park, Vandeventer, Duncan and Sarah measures approximately 16 acres, the majority of which is owned by Laclede Gas. CORTEX owns several adjacent parcels to the south. Laclede Gas, located at 720 Olive, has been considering a relocation of their headquarters from downtown. The Post-Dispatch reported in December that the company plans to stay in the city, but is considering constructing a new building on nine acres they own along Forest Park Avenue.

Much in the same way a Whole Foods can be a catalyst for development, providing consumer metrics that lure other retailers and developers, it's expected that an IKEA, and the consumer traffic it generates, would lead to significant development of the surrounding area. A block east, the long vacant Federal-Mogul site has been rumored at the site of a Target store and other retailers in the past. Such efforts could be revived with the IKEA development nearby.


*image added 3/11 {Laclede Gas holdings in blue, CORTEX in yellow, City of St. Louis in Red - other colors represent various private ownership}