Nicki's Central West End Guide

Derby Day in the neighborhood

You never know who or what is going to glide past on Euclid. When I observed horse-drawn coaches occupied by ladies in fancy hats and men in "proper" jackets late Saturday afternoon, I surmised they were headed to the Racquet Club for a Derby party. I sped home from Cassie's, where I was buying candles (all the shops need your business with this lousy weather), grabbed my camera and hiked over to the alley next to Mary Jane's.

Guests had already alighted from the Claytonshire Coaching Club's coaches by the time I hoofed it up to Kingshighway, and were headed into the club for the race, see below.

I learned that members of the Club and their guests had met at the Racquet Club three hours earlier, climbed into the coaches, rode out to Clayton and returned for the party.

The venerable Claytonshire Coaching Club traces its roots to the CWE. It was founded more than 80 years ago by the late Harry F. Langenberg (a lifetime resident of the neighborhood) and friends. The vintage coaches are maintained in pristine condition and, in a long-standing tradition, are trotted out annually for a New Years' Day excursion and on special occasions at other times.

Will a streetcar run through it?

Yesterday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch (2/26) feature by Tim Bryant about a streetcar line that is proposed by the Partnership for Downtown to link downtown and the CWE (click on the map to enlarge) is sure to spark interest. The seven-mile system has been proposed as a catalyst for economic development between downtown and the CWE. Downtown Partnership's president Maggie Campbell told the PD that the idea resulted from SLU's decision to move its law school downtown. The article continued: "SLU's initial plan to run shuttle buses between the new law school on Tucker Boulevard and its midtown campus quickly turned to discussion of streetcars instead."

Campbell said that a combination of federal funds and a new tax on property near the lines could fund the project. Property owners near the proposed lines would have to approve the tax increase. The trolley line would use two sets of tracks along Olive Street and Lindell to Taylor Avenue south to the CWE MetroLink Station. An alternative is a single-track loop on Euclid and Forest Park Ave.

Renee Drucker, a transit planner for URS Corp. projects 7,700 daily riders and estimates that 2,700 of those would be new to public transit. The earliest the streetcars would be in operation would be 2016. According to the proposed plan the downtown streetcar line would not connect to the Loop Trolley. 

I contacted both Aldermen Lyda Krewson, 25th Ward, and Joe Roddy, 17th Ward, for their thoughts on the proposed streetcar line. I'll post Joe Roddy's response as soon as I get a comment from him. In the meantime, Lyda's response is below.

Lyda said, "The idea of a streetcar to connect The Chase, Forest Park, CWE residents, BJC Medical Center, SLU and Downtown is interesting.  It would be a major step in making our neighborhood less car dependent… or even car optional. Imagine taking the street car that runs every 10-15 minutes, downtown to your job, or to your class at SLU. Imagine if the downtown conventioneers could just hop on the street car and come to dinner in the CWE. It would be pretty convenient and environmentally friendly.  Fewer cars, fewer parking lots,  less gas, and more demand for apartments/condo’s/houses near the route.

That said… there are many, many, many details to be considered, and of course the biggest question… how do we pay for it. This concept is not much more than a dream right now… but I think it is worth more study."

The public is invited to get a first-hand look at the proposal Thursday, March 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Moto Museum, 3441 Olive. 

Hobo heads home

Hobo, the Tony Rosenthal sculpture pictured above, has become so much a part of the streetscape at Euclid and McPherson that you may have assumed, as I did, it was a permanent installation. In fact, however, Hobo has been on loan to the Central West End Association from Laumeier Sculpture Park for the past fourteen years. It is headed back home to the sculpture park located in Sunset Hills early tomorrow morning (see last photo).

Rosenthal's Hobo was dedicated on Thanksgiving weekend 1998. The photo taken at the dedication, above, shows the late arts patrons and philanthropists Judith (second from left) and Adam Aronson, Jill Maguire (left), Executive Director of the Regional Arts Commission, and Kathryn Adamchick (third from left) an independent art consultant, who was Laumeier's Curator of Exhibitions at the time. 

The Central West End Association is currently in talks with Laumeier Sculpture Park for a sculpture to replace Rosenthal's Hobo. An announcement is expected soon.

Are we ready for a Public Parklet?

In San Francisco where parking is at a premium and quarters are chump change to bottomless parking meters, I was surprised to come across a "Public Parklet" occupying two whole parking spots on Post Street near Union Square. The sign notes that "all seating is open to the public."
The Parklet occupies valuable real estate in front of a tiny restaurant called Farm:Table. 
Would this fly, even as a temporary installation, in St. Louis?

A guest post from New Mexico

Today's post hails from Quemado, New Mexico, 45 miles from the Arizona border. While I am in San Francisco visiting family, I asked Lisa Blessing, whom I have known forever (since 2nd grade), to be my guest blogger. Lisa and "her cowboy" Ken Zimmer live on 240 acres seven miles from the tiny hamlet of Quemado. From the time we were young girls Lisa has always managed to be around horses. She was riding Western when the rest of our little band of friends were learning to ride horses on English saddles. After many years in Seattle working for Apple and bringing up her son Craig, she met Ken and moved to eastern Washington to raise Rocky Mountain horses. After too many close-calls with wildfires, the pair moved with their horses to the ranch in New Mexico. This letter and accompanying photos describe in part what the ongoing drought out west has meant to those living near the Rio Grande.

Lisa in her own words: "When I worked at Apple they had a slogan, 'The journey is the reward.'  I’m sure it was appropriated from somewhere else and I think it was all about why at that time there was no 401K program there. Nevertheless, this part of my life is a journey I did not anticipate and it is rewarding in many ways.

Some locals trace their ancestors back to the days when this area was under the flag of Spain. This is still ranching country and it is common to go to one of our two cafes and find a pickup pulling a large stock trailer with saddled horses parked in front, guarded by cattle dogs either loose in the pickup bed or lying in the shade by the trailer. Inside, the booted and spurred cowboys are chowing down on green chile cheeseburgers, stained hats pushed back, worn leather chinks protecting their jeans. After lunch and local gossip, it’s on to the next section of land to ride fence line and check cattle. It’s very hard work for little pay and they ride rain or shine.

The semi idled in at dawn last week, before the monsoon mists had burned off.  Another semi is coming in on Monday, this one from the Arizona basin, our third load in as many months.  The multi- year drought in the southwest has made prices soar as well as supply scarce, so you grit your teeth and feel grateful that you can get it at all, stocking up when something purporting to be a deal is available. The Rio Grande is so low that the state of New Mexico has shut off water to all the crop growers in the southern part of the state which isn’t making the chile and pecan growers any happier than the hay men.  
The 2 men unloaded and stacked 22 TONs of hay in just a few hours.
Albonso, the fellow in the cranberry shirt on the ground, is 65 years old and does this all day every day.  Something to do with eating green chiles for breakfast.  
The broker/driver James in the checked shirt has been doing this since he was in high school and is now able to see that his son doesn’t spend his life doing likewise. His son started dental school at Creighton University this month and James is justifiably proud.

The horses were most excited about their new groceries.  I suspect word will soon be out in the elk population too, not a good thing, massive opportunists that they are.  At least the antelope are indifferent."

Thanks to Lisa for sharing this fascinating account of her life in New Mexico. I hope my readers enjoy reading this as much as I did. Another guest spot someday?

Nicki's CWE Guide travels to Japan

CWEnder Junko Eccles asked if her friend, Patra Ichida (look here), could copy photos from my blog featuring Kristen Southworth (look here and here) for her readers in Japan. Of course I said yes, and following is what Petra's post looks like in Japanese. Kristen said she, Lucille, and the chickens are tickled pink to be internationally famous!

It has been brought to my attention that depending on the type of computer you use, some of you may not see this post in Japanese but in strange number and letter boxes.

« ブフレリウム？

2012/7/26 木曜日

オーガニック野菜

Filed under: 未分類 タグ: 友人 — patra @ 17:33:15

こんなに可愛い女性が作って配達してくれる野菜をセントルイスの友人は享受しているのだそうです。アメリカは猛暑だったので３５度が凌ぎやすいのだそうです。そんなものかもね。
ご主人とイリノイ州の農場でオーガニック野菜と卵を作っている都会育ちの方だそうです。

これから猛暑になる日本を心配してくださってます。
湿気がなければ未だ凌げるけれど、熱中症は家の中で起きるそうなので用心しないと・・・

もう一枚添付されていた農場の出来事！牛さんとニワトリ達
こちらは生まれたばかりの子牛さんがニワトリと一緒の図だそうです。
順子さんが「かわいいでしょ？」と嬉しそう。
子牛なんか見て「おいしそう」と思ってしまう悪い隠居ですが、ほんとに可愛い。
リタイアして屋上で草花の手入れをしてる彼女も幸せそうでうれしい。

手紙には牛小屋ができるまでの同居生活だそうですよ。

 

コメントは受け付けていません。

A wedding at beautiful Bridge Gardens, Long Island

Last week I posted photos taken during our recent trip to Long Island where we combined a family reunion with the wedding of Erica Perth, daughter of dear friends Jill and Rod Perth, to Michael Jaconi at Bridge Gardens in Bridgehampton. It's been my experience that the friendships forged when your children are young are some of the best you'll ever have. That's been the case with the Perths, whom we first met at least thirty-five years ago when they moved onto Pershing Place. The wedding was also a chance to see other long-time friends and former Pershing Place neighbors, Charlotte and Andy Lyons.

The site of the wedding was a public garden in Bridgehampton, a 5-acre tract of beautiful grounds donated to the Peconic Land Trust in 2008 by founders and gardeners Jim Kilpatric and Harry Neyens. They had been cultivating the garden for twenty years before donating it to the Trust.

The bride's sisters, Chelseah, left, with her younger daughter Caroline, and Lauren, right, with her daughter Robin, were babies themselves when the Perths moved from St. Louis to New York, then to Chicago, and finally to Rod's hometown, Los Angeles, where they have lived for many years.

The handsome ring bearer, above, is the bridegroom's nephew, Luca.

The bridesmaids, above.

The stunning bride, Erica, with her father, Rod Perth.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Perth

Rod and Jill Perth with Erica and her husband Michael Jaconi. Erica and Michael, who now live in New York City, both grew up in Los Angeles and met as undergraduates at USC.

I love this sweet moment captured after the ceremony as family photographs were being taken.

The ceremony and tent were nestled at the edge of a lavender garden, close to the Long Island Rail Road tracks. That proximity lent a bit of local flavor to the ceremony when a passing train's whistle blew just as it was time for the couple to say "I do."

At the entry to the tent, lush pots of herbs held place cards, above.

 Another shot of the gardens, above.

Works by seven contemporary artists from the U.S. and Europe are sprinkled throughout the gardens, above and in upper left below. More information about  "Uncommon Ground III" can be found here.

Eight large lavender beds are ringed by germander and boxwood, a stunning sight at dusk.

Thanks to Jill and Rod for allowing me post these photographs from a most beautiful and joyous wedding, and to Erica and Michael for including us in the celebration.

Sunday, July 29

 A dahlia in Bridge Gardens, Bridgehampton, NY

Long Island Getaway

Anyone who grows up near the ocean and moves away misses it---forever, I've learned. For many, many summers we've gone back to Long Island to visit Jim's family and the towns on the south shore that are so familiar to him. The photo of a mother with child in tow, pulling a wagon full of gear, brings back fond memories of vacations spent at the beach with our three children.

A couple of weeks ago we were able to combine a family reunion in Bellport, where Jim's sister and her husband have a house, with a wedding in Bridgehampton for the daughter of dear friends who were Pershing Place neighbors years ago.
A town beach on Bellport Bay, above.

A ferry crosses Bellport Bay, an arm of the Great South Bay, from the town marina to Ho Hum Beach on Fire Island, visible in the distance. The beaches on Fire Island, or any of the beaches on the south shore of Long Island, are absolutely stunning, and in most areas, not crowded at all.

White fences and manicured hedges add to the charm of Bellport, above and below. The town is about 60 miles east (yes, east) of New York City.

I love this stunning variety of hydrangea which was planted everywhere.

 

One day we visited Jim's aunt in Westhampton, and then spent some time at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, above and below.

Statuary (not identified) on the grounds of the Parrish Art Museum.

An outdoor display at a florist shop near the Parrish Art Museum, above and below.

Coincidentally, the swimmer caught someone else's eye too, as she showed up in a recent Bill Cunningham piece about the Museum's Summer Gala in the NY Times.

The plantings lining the path to Ralph Lauren's shop in Southampton.

As you might imagine, every display in the courtyard leading to the shop looked as if it was straight out of a perfectly-styled photo shoot, above and below.

 

Tim Burke's running Death Valley for a cause

On Monday, July 2, CWEnder Tim Burke will begin a 146-mile run through Death Valley (yes, you read that correctly), from the lowest point in the U.S.--Bad Water, California at 282 feet below sea level-- to the highest, Mt. Whitney. If Tim hadn't already named his blog about the upcoming extreme-sport adventure "1inspiredidiot.com," I may not have felt comfortable questioning his sanity when we met last month. Wondering what a well-dressed runner wears in Death Valley? Check out Tim's running gear in the photo above. With 100-plus-days in our forecast, I can't imagine running in temperatures of 115 to 120 degrees, but that's what Tim will face starting at 5 a.m. Monday...all for a good cause.

Tim, who works for Edward Jones in Chesterfield, is on the board of Southside, a 126-year-old early childhood center located at 2930 Iowa off Gravois. The pre-school is geared toward underprivileged children who are overwhelmingly from immigrant families that have recently moved to St. Louis. Currently the children are mostly Spanish-speaking, whereas 15 years ago they were eastern-European. The focus of the school is to ready the children socially, emotionally, and educationally for kindergarten. Tim who is more than passionate about the subject, said a recent study shows that every dollar spent on early childhood education gets a $16 return over time; and it leads to better jobs for the parents as their children are in school. The Board of Directors of Southside is raising funds to build a new facility at Hwy. 44 and Jefferson that will enable the school to increase enrollment by 45% from the current 97 children. The Board has raised 60% of its $3.5 million goal, which includes a donation from the United Way and private fundraising efforts.

Tim is dedicating this challenging run in Death Valley to the children at Southside. He was never a runner, in fact he ran his first marathon last year. Mental and physical barriers prevented him from being a runner, but the more he thought about what the children at Southside go through, the more they inspired him to run the toughest stretch of road in the U.S. His goal is to raise $140,000, a symbolic figure representing the 140 children who will be enrolled in the new facility. He has raised $16,000 so far. By the way, Tim is covering his own expenses for the run. 

Sandra and Tim Burke settled in the CWE a couple of years ago after spending eight years in London where Tim worked in the Edward Jones office there. Prior to that they lived in Chesterfield. The couple has two adopted sons, ages 2 (Joseph above), and three-months-old. Tim said that he and Sandra always wanted a large family, and by helping Southside they can help many children at once. I spoke to Sandra about Tim's endeavor, and while she is supporting this Death Valley Run in spirit, she doesn't wear the challenge lightly. She has been told that it's best to remain at home, where she'll be following his progress virtually.

Only 600 people have finished the 135-mile* Death Valley Run in its 25-year existence. To be official, the run must take place during July and August. The organizers take only 90 competitors a year. Everyone who competes brings his own crew. Tim had enlisted a crew of two traveling in one vehicle, though he was thinking of adding a second crew and additional car. Runners start early in the morning, rest during the hottest part of the day, and start up again after the sun goes down. Most people drop out after mile 42. Tim has gone to Death Valley to train following his virtual trainer's schedule. The California-based trainer, Scott Weber, has run Death Valley 18 times.

Donate to Southside Early Childhood Center by supporting Tim Burke's run here. You can also join the virtual crowds that will follow Tim's progress from his blog site too.

*Tim's plan is to reach Trailhead at the base of Mt. Whitney at mile 135 (the official end of the run) and keep going! He is not allowed up the mountain until July 5, so Tim has to finish the 135-mile stretch by July 4.