Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Gableman changes his mind about that Rindfleisch appeal #JohnDoe #JohnDoeII #JohnDoe2

“A Wisconsin Supreme Court justice on Tuesday withdrew his unusual request asking for his colleagues on the state’s highest court to review its decision not to hear an appeal of a felony conviction from a former aide to Gov. Scott Walker.” – source Interesting. I feel loathe to speculate about this turn of events because more »

Monday, June 29, 2015

Second Empire Renovation

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I could have sworn I had a picture of this house before it was recently fixed up on the third floor.

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Damaged by the famous tornado, it was just simple brick. At first I didn’t like the idea of the house removing that later addition, since it could be seen as historic too, but the finished product is amazing. Great job on the renovators’ part.

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St. Louis Fringe: Didgeridoo In The Dark

Digeridoo In The Dark 1

The St. Louis Fringe was on last weekend and this. What with my whirlwind life and pseudo blogging break, I was only able to go yesterday. Caught five performances.

This is Michael Hagmeier, a virtuoso of the didgeridoo. His performance was called Didgeridoo In The Dark and that's just what it was, a forty-five minute improvisation in a black box theater with the lights out. I imagined my self sitting at the foot of Uluru on a moonless night, absorbed in dreamtime.

Digeridoo In The Dark 2

Sunday, June 28, 2015

St. Louis Local News Bloopers from the 70's & 80's

Local

The nostalgia is strong in these clips. Such a different era. Sit back and suffer thru the shitty sound and picture for some yesteryear chuckles.

Part One

Part Two - NSFW (sort of)

Via

The presidential clown car: Trump trumps Walker, Bernie’s coming to WI, Jill Stein is in, and More

TRUMP ON TOP A FOX poll puts Jeb at #1 and Trump at #2 in New Hampshire. Scott Walker is not in the top. This Politico article says that the numbers are too good to be true and quotes pollsters who say “Everybody should calm down“. Whatever the case, I’m still going to take pleasure more »

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Yelp Ranks St. Louis’ Top 20 Restaurants in 2015

ALIVE has teamed up with Yelp to bring you the top 20 restaurants in STL—according to you! These foodie-favorites have topped the restaurant category in St. Louis, based on the number of reviews and star rating. See which spots have stolen local Yelpers hearts and stomachs.

1/ Bogart’s Smokehouse

S L. Bogart's Smokehouse

Photo courtesy of S L. from Yelp.

It’s no surprise that Bogart’s takes the number one spot. Yelpers have a passion for good old-fashioned BBQ served up plain and simple, a specialty of this STL staple. 1627 S. 9th St., Soulard, 314.621.3107

2/ Blue’s City Deli

Kristen S Blues City Deli

Photo courtesy of Kristen S. from Yelp.

Whoever thought a deli could be so darn popular? Blues City Deli stacks their sandwiches high with all the fixings on classic deli sandwiches. Do as the locals do: Don’t forget to grab a cold beer with your Muffuletta! 2438 McNair Ave., Benton Park, 314.773.8225

3/ Sameem Afghan Restaurant

Photo courtesy of Antonio M. from Yelp

Photo courtesy of Antonio M. from Yelp.

Sameem is a small, no frills Afghan restaurant with Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. Bring your own wine, nosh on some naan and you’ll see why Yelpers love Sameem’s international cuisine. 4341 Manchester Ave., The Grove, 314.534.9500

4/ Corner Bistro

Corner Bistro

Photo courtesy of Corner Bistro from Yelp.

From pizza to paninis, Corner Bistro has plenty of New American and Italian dishes to keep your stomach happy. Yelpers love the charm this family-owned shop brings to the table. 4993 Loughborough Ave., Princeton Heights, 314.353.1811

5/ Pappy’s Smokehouse

Dan B. Pappy's Smokehouse

Photo courtesy of Dan B. from Yelp.

This Memphis-style barbecue joint can’t keep to traditional hours; there’s no telling when they’ll sell out of their in-demand fare. Yelpers especially love the house-made sauces and classic, dry-rubbed ribs. 3106 Olive St., Midtown, 314.535.4340

6/ Broadway Oyster Bar

Greg D. Broadway Oyster Bar

Photo courtesy of Greg D. From Yelp.

Broadway Oyster Bar is a taste of classic NOLA in STL. It’s a happening place in the summer with a different feature every night, from crawfish boils to live music. This is a prime pre-Cardinals watering hole that knows how to pack in a crowd. 736 S Broadway, Downtown, 314.621.8811

7/ Lona’s Lil Eats

Lona's Lil Eats

Photo courtesy of Lona’s Lil Eats from Yelp.

Lona’s started out at the Soulard Famers Market and worked its way to a brick-and-mortar shop. This Asian Fusion sensation uses organic and locally grown ingredients to keep the health-minded happy. 2199 California Ave., Fox Park, 314.899.5582

8/ Sauce On The Side

Geoffrey R Sauce On The Side

Photo courtesy of Geoffrey R. on Yelp.

Sauce On The Side has 14 different calzones (plus an option to build your own) to choose from and Yelpers suggest you simply try them all. This calzone shop gives you a whole new appreciation for folded pizza. 411 N 8th St., Downtown, 314.241.5667

9/ Adam’s Smokehouse

Brain M. Adam's Smokehouse

Photo courtesy of Brian M. from Yelp.

Adam’s is newer on the STL barbecue scene but still has some of the best meats in town. You know what goes well with stellar barbecue? Tasty sides! Try some of their baked beans or potato salad while you’re at it. 2819 Watson Rd., Clifton Heights, 314.875.9890

10/ Adriana’s

Ann T. Adriana's

Photo courtesy from Ann T. from Yelp.

Adriana’s is a no-nonsense Italian restaurant on The Hill. With salads, pizzas, pastas and more, this small mom-and-pop shop is a lunch lover’s dream.  5105 Shave Ave., The Hill, 314.773.3833

11/ The Mud House

Megan L. The Mud House

Photo courtesy of Megan L. from Yelp.

The Mud House’s food is as good as their lattes! Yelpers dig the charming decor and say you’ll feel right at home here while you cozy up to a hot cup of java. 2101 Cherokee St., Benton Park, 314.776.6599

12/ The Fountain On Locust

The Fountain On Locust

Photo courtesy of The Fountain On Locust from Yelp.

The Fountain on Locust is an ice cream bar and restaurant with a wide variety of frozen treats. Ditch the traditional bowl of ice cream and try one of their boozy ice cream martinis. 3037 Locust St., Midtown, 314.535.7800

13/ Vinnie’s Italian Beef and Gyros

Steven B Vinnie's Italian Beef and Gyros

Photo courtesy of Steven B. from Yelp.

Vinnie’s dishes out Chicago-style sandwiches and classic Greek cuisine. Whether you want a gyro or a reuben, they’ve got your number. 3208 Ivanhoe Ave., Lindenwood Park, 314.644.7007

14/ Sugarfire Smoke House

Brian M Sugarfire Smoke House

Photo courtesy of Brian M. from Yelp.

Sugarfire isn’t just another traditional barbecue spot in STL, a fact Yelpers adore. In addition to the classics—ribs, pulled pork and brisket—you can also pick up an ice cream float, smoked salmon and try a variety of other unique sides and specials. 9200 Olive Blvd., Olivette, 314.997.2301

15/ Russell’s On Macklind

Kathleen S Russell's On Macklind

Photo courtesy of Kathleen S. from Yelp.

A wine bar, cafe and bakery all in one? This triple threat is the perfect place to grab an unforgettable meal, cupcake and glass of sangria all in one go. Add in brunch on top of all that and Russell’s is a local treasure as far as Yelpers are concerned. 5400 Murdoch Ave., South Hampton, 314.553.9994

16/ Lulu’s Local Eatery

Sarah S. Lulu's Local Eatery

Photo courtesy of Sarah S. from Yelp.

Vegan, organic and local is the best way to sum up Lulu’s Local Eatery! Yelpers love how creative and unique their food is—you won’t miss the meat. 3201 S Grand Blvd., Tower Grove South, 314.300.8215 

17/ 2Schae Café

A R. 2Schae Cafe

Photo courtesy of A R. from Yelp.

This corner cafe is the perfect urban getaway. 2Schae offers up breakfast favorites all day but Yelpers love to stop in on their lunch hour for the flatbread pizzas. 275 Union Blvd., DeBaliviere Place, 314.361.5333

18/ Pizzeoli – Wood Fired Neapolitan Pizza

Scott S. Pizzeoli - Wood Fired Neopolitan Pizza

Photo courtesy of Scott S. from Yelp.

Watch the pros make wood-fired pizza in front of you in this intimate Soulard pizzeria. Their classic Neapolitan pies are uniquely cooked in a 900-degree oven and are completely vegetarian. 1928 S 12th St., Soulard, 314.449.1111

19/ Vernon’s BBQ & Catering

Daniel C Vernon's BBQ & Catering

Photo courtesy of Daniel C. from Yelp.

Vernon’s does barbecue in ways you wouldn’t expect. If you aren’t in the mood for classic ribs, try their tasty BBQ nachos or their tequila lime green beans, a Yelp favorite. 6707 Vernon Ave., Universtiy City, 314.726.1227

20/ The Shaved Duck

Amrita R The Shaved Duck

Photo courtesy of Amrita R. from Yelp.

The Shaved Duck is a classic neighborhood joint with jaw-dropping barbecue, Southern-inspired sides and a wall mural with a tribute to the blues. Yelpers love the live music and that unforgettable mac and cheese. 2900 Virginia Ave., Tower Grove East, 314.776.1407

Friday, June 26, 2015

American Legion Memorial

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I guess I never really noticed this before, but the American Legion was founded here in 1919, and this monument was erected in 1935.

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I love the sculpture of this period; still classical, but showing the influence of Modernism knocking on the door.

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Thursday, June 25, 2015

Gableman hopes to reel Rindfleisch (and Scott Walker’s secrets) back to Wisconsin

Dear Readers: We have some John Doe II news to talk about. I’m not absolutely positive what’s up – but I have some strong suspicions, which I will go into. Whatever’s going down, the timing of this could not be more threatening to Scott Walker’s impending presidential campaign. First you need to know that the more »

Katie of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta To Compete On Esquire Channel’s ‘Next Great Burger’

Today, Katie Lee Collier of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria announced she’ll be taking on a new food challenge on an upcoming Esquire Channel show. As a chef contestant, Lee Collier won’t be whipping up the Italian dishes she’s so well-known for, but burgers—which she, in good nature, asserts she can make. The show, named “Next Great Burger,” will showcase chefs from all around the country who are competing to present the hungry audience with the greatest burger of their lives.

The show will premiere on July 21 on Esquire Channel. For more information, check out the first trailer below.

Old Tech, Old Culture

VHS Tape

Found lying on the sidewalk beside the old Lemp brewery on Cherokee Street near Broadway.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Why can cops tote guns into WI schools now? The NRA called for that after Sandy Hook

As of today, Scott Walker signed bills* that remove the 48 hour waiting period on handgun purchases in WI and to allow retired and off-duty cops to roam while armed on school property. A friend on facebook said today, “I am very curious why anyone needs to carry a gun into our schools? Also how more »

Fri., June 26, 4-6 p.m.: ONSLRG’s Members & Friends Happy Hour

You’re invited to join us THIS Friday, June 26 from 4-6 p.m. for beer, soft drinks, and snacks as Old North St. Louis Restoration Group (ONSLRG) hosts as a very simple, nothing formal gathering of members and friends at the ONSLRG Gallery. As noted above, this event doesn’t have an agenda - it’s just an opportunity to enjoy the company of the great mix of people who make ONSLRG possible and who have helped or are continuing to help us revitalize the physical & social dimensions of Old North in a manner that respects the community’s historic, cultural & urban character. All are welcome, so whether you’ve made a membership contribution in 2015 or not, come on out to celebrate 34 years of achievements with us - and bring a friend. The ONSLRG Gallery is located at 2700 N. 14th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106, just down the street from Crown Candy Kitchen.

No RSVP or advance registration is required. However if you’d like to share your plans with your friends and ours, feel free to go to the event page on Facebook (by clicking HERE) and click on the “Join” button.  Then, you can invite everybody you know!

If you DO want to make a membership contribution, though, we certainly would be happy to accept that support, since that’s how we cover a good portion of the cost of doing what we do here.

Click HERE or above to go to our contributions and memberships page, where you can set up a recurring, online contribution to spread your support out all year, or where you can make a one-time membership contribution of any amount, from $25 to $500 or $5,000. THANK YOU to all who’ve already contributed this year!

Oh Say Can You See (Through)

Old Court House 2015-05-22 9

Back in the Old Court House. It was shadowy under the dome with shafts of light breaking through the windows and portals. The huge flag looked solid until you viewed it straight on. Then some interesting tableaux appeared.

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5 Quick Dinner Hacks for Families on the Go

Getting my entire family around the dinner table is pretty much impossible most of the week. Not that I don’t try, but really, who wants to wait until 9pm to have dinner? Even in the summer both boys have plenty of activities, plus my teen is in marching band–the sport for musicians. Like football, the band started practicing in June, which means my 16-year-old needs to eat at 5pm twice a week. My husband usually doesn’t get home until 6pm. Which means I’m either playing short order cook, or someone’s getting leftovers. marching band meme

Yeah. It’s usually leftovers.

When school starts up, it’s just going to get worse. That’s why I came up with some desperately needed dinner hacks to keep everyone happy and fed when dinner time gets crazy. Dinner hacks

The Grill is Your Frienddad grills

My husband has really been into grilling this year! You wouldn’t normally think of a charcoal grill as your lifeline to quick weekday meals, but this is my #1, sanity saving dinner hack. Whenever my hubs fires up the grill he cooks two, if not three meats. He’ll fix a ginormous package of chicken and whatever we’re actually eating that day, like pork steaks or burgers. The chicken is saved for later: it will be chopped up for salads to take to work, and be the entree for the next day.

I don’t officially count this chicken as a “left over,” this is “cooking ahead.” 

Super Fast Dinner Hack: Slice up grilled chicken and serve with BBQ sauce on a bun or with salsa for super quick fajitas. Because the chicken is pre-grilled, I can either fix a single meal for my teen, or something for the whole family in record time.

Ground Beef Guru

Super Sloppy Sandwich Recipe for Kids

I love using ground beef as a fast dinner hack! I buy ground chuck from my meat market in five pound packs (it’s cheaper that way) then make the whole thing into patties and toss into the freezer. I don’t bother to thaw the meat first if I’m making tacos or sloppy joes, just stick it in the pan (on low) and put a lid on it to steam the meat for speedy cooking. Here’s a recipe for kid created, kid approved sloppy joes from My Life and Kids.

Super Fast Dinner Hack: Pre-cook meat with your favorite seasoning, like onions, salt & pepper. Then freeze in dinner sized portions! Add sloppy joe sauce for sandwiches, or have pasta night with noodles and spaghetti sauce. 

Toast the Cheese Please

10 Kid-Approved Grilled Cheese Recipes

When I need to get a hot meal into my teen fast, his favorite has got to be toasted cheese sandwiches. But, wait! We took a cue from those gourmet food trucks and jazz up our toasted cheese with whatever lunch meat and leftovers are in the fridge. Cheese, ham and BBQ sauce. Cheese, corn beef and Thousand Island dressing. Or his favorite, cheese, ham, macaroni AND baked beans. He is a teenager after all. Need more ideas? Here’s 10 Kid Approved Grilled Cheese Recipes from Playtivities!

Super Fast Dinner Hack: Make gourmet toasted cheese and ham sandwiches for a lightning fast weeknight dinner.

Simmering Skillets

15 Minute Cheesy Italian Pasta Skillet

One skillet meals are a good bet when you need to keep dinner on hold for a couple hours. I like to fix a one skillet meal early enough for the kids to have before their activities, then hold it in the oven for the hubs to eat when he gets home. My personal favorite is Italian sausage with penne pasta! Cook the noodles in a deep skillet, drain and set aside. In the same skillet, fry the sausage, then add pasta sauce and the cooked noodles. Top with cheese and boom, dinner is served! You might also want to try this 15 Minute Cheesy Italian Pasta Skillet from Pint-Sized Treasures. 

Faster than Delivery

tomestone pizza

True Fact: I like to keep a couple pizzas in the freezer for dinner emergencies–the ultimate fast dinner hack. We usually jazz them up with extra cheese, but we found a couple crazy pizza flavors from Tomestone that don’t need any help. We tried a, get this, BRATWURST pizza the other day. No, seriously. And it’s good. The sliced brat is just a really good Italian sausage, then they added a hint of tangy brown mustard to the sauce that really kicks it up a notch. The Tomestone Bratwurst pizza is a limited edition, so if you want to try it go NOW. Oh, and check out the Tomestone Limited Edition Diablo pizza–I was too chicken, since we’re not into spicey chorizo, jalapenos and sriracha sauce. But maybe you are! Let me know whatcha think. For more info, check out Tomestone’s Facebook page. (FYI: Tomestone sent us a few coupons to try their new BOLD pizzas for free. My opinions are my own..and the pizza was tasty.)

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~Denise

The post 5 Quick Dinner Hacks for Families on the Go appeared first on StLMotherhood.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

On Father's Day

Madeleine at Broadway Oyster Bar 2015-06-22 1

Sunday was Father's Day in the U.S. Mrs. C and I met daughter Emily, her husband Brian and my favorite little kid in the world, Madeleine, for dinner at Broadway Oyster Bar. A good venue since it has an informal patio where junior could squirm and squeak.

One moment she was serious and searching, the next howling with laughter. But in the end she was sitting on her father's lap, where she should be.

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Madeleine at Broadway Oyster Bar 2015-06-22 4