Picture This STL

Reuter Rules

2010-04-28T12:50:00.003-05:00

My friend and contemporary Thomas Crone has republished my interview with Bob Reuter over at his new Web venture, Creative St. Louis.

Thomas is a very prolific writer and has a wealth of knowledge on the happenings and places and people of STL, and the new site he's editing is pretty cool. I'm honored to have my material published there, and I totally recommend adding it to your weekly- if not daily- reading.

Hey, I still do this on occasion....

2010-04-16T13:43:00.006-05:00

Due to an erratic home life, going to school full-time, moving and now working at one of the more popular diners in South City, I haven't had much time to update this pathetic little blog. But for my legion of readers out there (ok, for my three readers out there...), stay tuned. I'll be adding to this soon. In the meantime, here are some random pics. (Editor's note: Blogspot likes to cut off the landscape oriented pics for some reason, so please click on the images to view the entire frame)

Naturally man made:

Something very reminiscent of MST3000 here...

Cahokia Mounds, ironically, is not actually located in Cahokia, but in Collinsville, IL

Acting Like a Fool:

Kevin Kline Award winner Kirsten Wylder rehearses for the NonProphet Theater Company's Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine

Aaron Orion Baker rests on his duff during rehearsal

Nicole Angeli dares you to come closer

Paula Stoff-Dean, Kirsten Wylder and Nicole Angeli give Aaron Orion Baker the ol' One-Two

Ben Ritchie shows off the baby he found in his back yard while Bob Mitchell tried not to make eye contact

Yours truly. I obviosuly didn't take this picture- which is why its blurry... thanks a lot Paula- but my camera did

And finally,

Behold: The Arch!

Smell ya later.

Grovefest 2009

2009-10-20T23:44:00.004-05:00

A few pics from this year's Grovefest at Atomic Cowboy:

Lola van Ella and the Seven Shot Screamer's Deano and Mikey

Craig Daddy of Trip Daddys

Red Light Runners

Seven Shot Screamers

TJ Morrissey of Trip Daddys

I'll be DJing at The Royale on 8/23

2009-08-22T18:27:00.005-05:00

I'll be spinning a lovely little set of soul, punk, rock, pop and country tomorrow night (Sunday, August 23, 2009) at The Royale from 9pm until midnight under my stage name, DJ Bacon Shadow.

There's no cover, the dining room is now smoke-free and the kitchen is open until 10pm.

The Royale is located at 3132 South Kingshighway in South St. Louis.

Amidst all the stuff I'll be playing, local bands will have their moment in the sun, too. Hope to see you there!

Band Scramble!

2009-08-17T15:50:00.002-05:00

The Chippewa Chapel Traveling Guitar Circle and Musicians Network is gearing up for the next Band Scramble, to be held Saturday, August 29, 2009 at Off Broadway in South St. Louis. The Band Scramble was an event started at Frederick’s Music Lounge. As in previous scrambles, musicians are invited to sign up for random assignment into a brand new band. Each band will have 5 members: guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and the catch-all category “other”. Signups have concluded and the bands are dilligently rehearsing. The bands will have just over three weeks to compose and learn three original songs. The showdown will happen at Off Broadway on August 29^th. Tickets are $10, $13 if you're under 21. Show time is at 9pm with doors opening at 7:30.

In an effort to ensure that St. Louis’s local music scene will never fade away, the hosts of the Chippewa Chapel want to use the proceeds from the Band Scramble to send kids to rock band camp. The last Band Scramble raised enough money to provide scholarships to four young musicians. They hope to beat that record this time.

I'll be participating this year, playing drums and percussion for Band #5 (we don't have a name yet). This is going to be a lot of fun. Who knows? There could be some cool bands that come out of this. Hope to see you there.

Laura Hamlett: Musing On Music

2009-08-07T10:00:00.006-05:00

Laura Hamlett doesn’t know precisely where her love of music originated, but she has definitely parlayed her passion into ventures that have allowed that love to grow and blossom.

Hamlett has racked up some pretty impressive credentials. Once a fledgling writer for the defunct NoisyPaper magazine, she co-founded PLAYBACK:stl (then called Playback St. Louis) with her husband Jim Dunn and enlisted the help of a few other music journalists from the former zine.

“We had been working on NoisyPaper when it suddenly folded. We then felt we/St. Louis needed an outlet. We thought, ‘We can do that,’ not realizing that, well, to do it right, it was a hell of a lot more work/expense than NoisyPaper ever was. It's probably good we didn't know that going in or we never would have started PLAYBACK:stl,” says Hamlett.

But start it they did, and from the start, PLAYBACK:stl has provided St. Louis with the necessary, in-the-know info that our creative arts scene needs. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, your trusty blogger worked for PLAYBACK:stl from 2004 to 2007 as a music and theater reviewer and eventually as the Theater Editor. The magazine and I parted ways amicably.

When the magazine first started publication, its pulpy, black and white pages focused almost exclusively on local music. The magazine covered national acts, too, but its St. Louis roots were at the forefront.

“We were fairly St. Louis-centric, that's true, but if you'll remember, our very first cover story was They Might Be Giants. From the outset, we thought of ourselves as St. Louis-based but not just about St. Louis. Shortly after the magazine's creation, we began mailing it out to venues across the country.”

As the months and years wore on and the staff of writers and editors became more accustomed to running their own publication, the magazine then expanded its scope and included art and theater reviews and, eventually, comic book reviews. In 2005, PLAYBACK:stl adopted a more professional, glossy look, and the quality of the printing was eye catching. Getting the magazine into more and more venues across the country was getting easier, but wrangling consistent advertisers proved to be challenging. Eventually, the battle to keep the magazine afloat took a painful turn. By September of 2006, the magazine ceased print publication altogether, citing a shortage of ad sales. Not to mention the mental stress of running the magazine was beginning to take its toll on Hamlett and Dunn who exhausted themselves month after month to get the magazine to the public.

But the saving grace came in the form of the publication’s Web site. Always on the cutting edge with a sharp design and easy navigation, Jim Dunn’s digital creation became the backbone of the magazine, and when print publication ceased, their efforts on the site were stepped up a notch. No longer having to meet grueling deadlines for print, more and more reviews and features became easier to manage, and now PLAYBACK:stl is able to cover just about every cultural event taking place in St. Louis and beyond.

Now that she has a little more free time, Hamlett has taken on booking duties for Cicero’s in the University City Loop and occasionally does promotions for musical artists. But why does she do it? I talked to Hamlett recently to find out.

PTSTL: Where do you think your love of music originated?
LH: Honestly, I'm not sure. I don't play music, but have always been into it. Neither of my parents played either, though I do remember my mom playing records: George Benson, Lou Rawls, Leon Redbone, Stevie Wonder, Bread. I suppose I got it from her, though way more intensely.

What was the first record you ever bought of your choosing?
Oh, this is embarrassing. Probably either Donny & Marie or Shaun Cassidy.

Do you play an instrument? Were you ever in a band?
See #1 for the first question. As for the second, I was in a band in high school. It was a joke, mostly an excuse for five of us to get together and goof off. I played keyboards (funny because, well, see #1...though I did do OK at it. I probably could have done well with piano lessons had I taken any). We had a few practices, nothing much. Had the greatest name ever, though: Half Apology.

Who is your favorite artist?
I have four, each from different countries: Matthew Good (Canada), Bluebottle Kiss (Australia), a-ha (Norway...and yes, they are still around. Just released something like their 9th studio album), Morrissey (England). Were I hard-pressed I would go with Matthew Good as my favorite.

Do you think that digital media has overall been a good thing for fledgling bands? Or has it led to music overload and oversaturation? Do you ever have any trouble keeping up with new music?
Honestly, I am in the latter camp: overload and oversaturation. Keeping up with it all is overwhelming, to be sure. I mean, it's leveled the playing field, so to speak, in that anyone can produce a quality recording and sell it for themselves. But there is just so much out there; it's kind of overwhelming. It's as if there is no longer anyone manning the gate of what's actually good music and what's not. And believe me, there's a lot that's not.

When did you start booking for Cicero’s?
I started booking Tuesday nights in December 2005, I believe. Did that for a couple years, then the booking agent left and I was hired to take his place. Been doing it full time for just over a year.

I’m guessing that the contacts you make with PLAYBACK:stl help out when booking. Have you ever had any difficulty getting that one act that you just really had to have?
It all feeds into itself, all the things I do. (I also do PR for musicians, but only the ones I really love.) I'm still in the process of getting Cicero's name out there, of convincing people that its days as jam-band central are no more. Variety is the name of the game! Due to our size (we're a 225-capacity venue), we can't possibly book all my dream bands. I try not to set my sights on out-of-reach acts; it doesn't do either of us any good. Besides, what I'm bringing in is rather good.

What was the biggest show you had the pleasure of booking?
Hmm...maybe a Margot & the Nuclear So and So's. Semi Precious Weapons is always good; I totally broke those guys in St. Louis.

You get sent a lot of demo CDs and sample discs as part of both jobs. Is there one in particular that stands out as being the worst?
I would have to go with the worst MySpace bio I have ever read; I couldn't even attempt to listen to the music after reading it. I won't name names, but here it is verbatim: "I'm a 25 year old male. I've got 4 piercings, 20 some odd tattoos. Currently going through a divorce. I have a son who'll be 6 this year with 1 ex. A daughter who'll be 2 this year with my soon to be ex-wife, and 1 daughter I don't believe to be mine with my ex-wife. Jesus I almost sound like a country song. If u wanna get to know more about me I guess write back." #1, this isn't about his music AT ALL, and #2, wtf???

You get to cover a lot of special concerts and festivals for the magazine. Do you have a favorite?
South by Southwest, hands down. It's springtime in Austin, the entire city is overrun with music folk; it's like summer camp for music people. It's given us a chance to see a lot of bands we otherwise never would.

If you could open up the perfect music club, what would it be like?
Like Cicero's but twice the size. I'm definitely on the "introducing new bands to you" side of the fence; would like to be able to book a little more up-and-coming artists for a larger audience. In the small-sized venue, though, I absolutely love everything about Cicero's. Well, maybe except for the jazzy artwork on the walls of my rock club.

Where do you see your love of music taking you?
If you'd have asked me this a year ago, I would have gone with the artist management side of things. Now, I'm not so sure. I want to do more writing about music, especially the ways it has influenced me/affected my life. I want to continue working with artists on the PR side of things, and also helping to advance their careers through licensing, publishing, touring opportunities. My heart is really into helping bands I love; unfortunately, it takes a lot out of you, especially when things don't work out. For now, I'm enjoying learning more about booking every day and booking shows; ultimately, I'm making things happen. Which is a pretty cool way to be.

Dont you, forget about him. Don't don't don't do-n't..

2009-08-06T20:56:00.004-05:00

(I totally stole that from fark.com)

RIP John Hughes.

I am a better person because of your movies.

No Wading

2009-07-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

No Wading - Riverfront, Hannibal, MO - April 2008

BAC Cinema

2009-07-17T14:45:00.003-05:00

Now this, my friends, is a sign! I was browsing through pics on Flickr not too long ago and came across this beauty in plasticfootball's photostream. The sign was for what was then the BAC Quad Cinema in Belleville, IL. At night, it would light up with brilliant red, orange and yellow neon lights. Prior to a Belleville ordinance that banned motion in large signage (an ordinance that has since been repealed as far as I know), the flames would shoot out of the torches. This sign was pretty cool. Unfortunately, sometime in 1997, 30 years after it's debut, the sign was taken down.

This photo makes me feel nostalgic. First off, Belleville is my home town (well, Swansea, actually, but it might as well be Belleville). Secondly, I used to work at this theater. It was my second job when I was 16 back in 1993. And finally, I saw the best movies of my childhood here: the entire Star Wars Trilogy, all the Indiana Jones movies, E.T., Star Trek II, Fantasia and several others. This photo brings back a lot of memories.

The cinema opened in 1966 as a single screen movie house with an impressively huge auditorium. Seating capacity was 800, and it boasted what was then the largest movie screen East of the Mississippi. The huge, curved screen was adorned with gold curtains, and when the movie started, they would open to reveal movie heaven. The seats were plush and comfy and they reclined a bit.

The lobby had this awesome concession stand. It was tight to work in and was kind of obsolete by the 90s, but it certainly had style.

In 1985, to compete with Wehrenberg's St. Clair 10 Cine that was getting ready to open in Fairview Heights, BAC added a new lobby and three additional screens on the West side of the original building. It then became the BAC Quad Cine. The new lobby was more spacious, and the concession counter was more accommodating to the workers who schlepped behind there. Additionally, the box office was moved from the old side to the new side. By the time I was working there, the old concession was no longer used on a regular basis, but we did open it once or twice for big openings, and on one particularly big film, we even reopened the old box office.

The theater was leased to Kerasotes Theaters in the mid 1990s. But unfortunately the annex was having some structural issues, and by 2000, the entire building was shut down for good. The sign was dismantled and scrapped in 1997.

Its sad to see this theater sitting empty. I would actually support the demolition of the newer structure, but the main house still has plenty of life left in it. I really hope someone comes along and buys it and returns it to its former glory.

Oh, and one small bit of my personal history with this place: when I was a kid, I remembered seeing a giant mural hanging on the wall in the main theater when Return of the Jedi came out. The mural was from a local painter, and depicted a collage of Star Wars characters and scenes. It was really amazing. When I worked there, the guy training me took me behind the screen in the big auditorium and showed me the painting. There it was... just sitting there collecting dust. It had been back there for literally ten years! In 1999, when Phantom Menace came out, I went here to see it at midnight. Much to my surprise, they had cleaned it off and re-hung it on the lobby wall. Where it is now, I'd like to know

All-Star Week!

2009-07-15T18:56:00.005-05:00

The All-Star game was last night, and even though the NL choked AGAIN, the people of St. Louis had a grand old time.

I didn't get to go to the game, but yesterday afternoon me and my fiance's four year old son went downtown to revel in baseball heaven. We watched the All Star parade, he got to bat some balls, and we even caught a glimpse of a few legendary Cardinals players. After that, we went to the top of the Arch, his first time. Needless to say, the kid was enthralled all day long.

I also got to experience City Garden for the first time, and I have to say that I really dig the little park. Its an ambitious project, and I hope that it succeeds.

Even though it was somewhat fleeting, I really think that the All-Star Game brought St. Louis together. For a few days, we were the spotlight of a national audience, and for the most part, we put our best foot forward.

The excitement in the air was electrifying. I'm not really even a huge baseball fan, but even I caught the spirit once we stepped off the Metrolink at Stadium Station. And even though he's pretty young and doesn't really even know what baseball is, the little dude had a great time. I figured that this might be a once in a lifetime event, and that he might dig on it when he's older.

It was great to see so many people downtown. City Garden was being enjoyed by children and adults alike. The beautiful sculptures and landscaping are quite impressive and the various fountains are pretty cool, too.

When we went to the Arch, the little one was highly impressed with himself for getting to look out of the tiny little windows at the top. He seemed to be awestruck the whole time we were there.

I really don't get to be a tourist in my own city very often, but when I do, it reminds me of just how much STL has to offer. And it just keeps getting better.

Bob Reuter: Living Ghost

2009-07-09T23:18:00.005-05:00

I have less patience for bullshit. I don’t suffer fools gladly.

Amazing photographer. Iconic musician. Legendary radio show host. Crotchety old man. Bob Reuter is a lot of things. He has a lot going for him in his life- a life that he regards with a little more reverence due to a decade of health troubles. But when his time is up, he hopes to be remembered for it all.

Reuter- a staple in South St. Louis- has the kind of life that many dream of but few get to live out: doing what he loves for a living. Though he is unemployed due to health issues, Reuter isn’t just content to lay around the house sucking off the government tit. Between being strapped to a guitar, behind a microphone or spending time in the dark room, he finds plenty to keep him going, and he is gladly taking us along for the ride.

A lifelong St. Louisian, Reuter, 57, grew up in North St. Louis in the 50s and 60s. He turned to music as a child to escape the rough neighborhood’s violent calling.

“I grew up in a bad ass place- North St. Louis City. Well, I was never gonna be a real tough guy… woulda wound up dead for sure. But I COULD rock your ass with a guitar - I COULD be a MUSICAL bad ass! Music was a survival thing.”

Living in a crowded house with extended family also taught him to escape into his own mind when privacy was in short supply.

“My family was pretty screwed up- no real privacy- I'd go inside my head, that interior world to get away.” He would daydream about “songs on this big black plastic radio we had. And at the time, they were songs of Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and some other mad men.”

It would be this music that Reuter would carry with him well into his adult years. If you tune into Bob's Scratchy Records on KDHX 88.1 FM on Fridays at 2pm, you’ll hear Bob spinning the music of that era, something he’s been doing for seven years now. And if you go see him perform, you’ll hear the influence of it in his own music. Music that has garnered the multi-talented Reuter the designation of Best Male Singer/Songwriter by the Riverfront Times in 2009.

PTSTL: Where does the music you make come from?
BR: From deep down in this landscape and deep inside of me. It involves red brick buildings, the river and the flight path of jets on the North Side landing at the airport. It involves my whole life story and comes from the most primitive of sources.

Do you draw on your own musical knowledge for your radio show? Or do you rely on friends and listeners to suggest artists and music?
I'm constantly searching and I do that based on what I already know. I try to stay away from "the usual things" when possible. I hunt for the roots of the roots of stuff and of course it's got to fit this need I have for a slamming back beat or some other kind of primal chord I've got inside me.

What has been the high point of your musical career at this point?
Hmmm. Playing at CBGB's on south Grand a couple of months ago. It was a Monday night and we didn’t even go on till 11:00pm but the place was packed like 19 year olds to about 23, a lot of which were singing along with a song I wrote in 1978- long before they were born- "Rock and Roll Moron" as the name of the song and it features the line, "You can’t close the door on, this rock and roll moron!" It was on a 45 we did it in a band called The Dinosaurs. As I was singing the song I almost felt like I could be in a movie- I kept seeing the faces of all my dead friends! I was really grateful.

What were the nature of your recent health issues?
Quadruple bypass about a year and a half ago. I had lost my license and had to ride my bike for a year. I kept getting out of breath really easy and didn't seem to be able to build up any resistance. The clinic I go to ran a bunch of tests and finally determined I needed the operation. It was fucking gigantic in my life. Scared the fuck out of me. Still kind of does. It's one of those things that makes you feel like you're closer to the end than to the beginning of your life. Makes you think more about what you do- 'bout what's right. It colors everything! Made me feel a certain amount of grief, a certain amount of feeling sorry for myself... Now, a year and a half later I feel like I'm getting in pretty good shape for a guy in my shape! I'm eating good and all that crap. Makes me feel like there's a whole lot more I wanna do- whole lot more I wanna say before it's all over- hell yeah!

Have your health issues played a role in the kind of songs you write these days?
Only in the sense that the feelings are deeper than they'd have been otherwise. I dig deeper into the primordial ooze. I have less patience for bullshit. I don’t suffer fools gladly.

What was your first band/project?
We were called The Group and then the Cough Medicine Company (see the cheap drug reference slip in?) It was 1966 and we played garage rock- still in high school, but we played for college frat parties. It was a kind of education!

What are your thoughts on new media as it relates to spreading music to a wider audience?
Not much. The real stuff will always be confined to a relatively small group of hard core freaks. It only spreads out as it gets more and more watered down, till finally it's getting played by sports enthusiasts in the suburbs and then sold at Wal-Mart.

Who are some of your favorite St. Louis artists/bands from the past and present?
One of the first was a band from 1966 called the Acid Set who played at a teen club called Castaways out on Airport Road. They always seemed like they were grown men from San Francisco or something, but they were from North County. Public Service Blues Band was another really cool band, though they didn’t own their own instruments and they'd have to borrow some to play gigs. I think they opened for Cream one time. Oliver Sain and Black Cat named Cecil Davis who had the Cecil Davis Review were ass kicking soul groups when I was in high school. The Aardvarks were cool. They were like this town's version of the Beatles. More recently I loved the Vultures and the Reactions- two very young bands that broke up way too soon. The Highway Matrons were amazing. They always seemed like they dropped down from some other planet or something!

What was the inspiration behind your recent project, Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost?
Well, I was approached by the kids of Big Muddy Records. They had this idea of bringing me to a wider audience- younger kids who would love my songs, they thought, if I was presented in a little bit different way. The average age in the band is about 23 but in their hearts they're, like, twice that. These boys eat, sleep and drink music- the real stuff. I'm honored they got it in their heads to back me and I'll be eternally grateful to them!

What do you think about the current state of the St. Louis music scene?
Well, it's big. There's probably whole chunks of little scenes that aren't even that aware of each other, but in general I'd say it's really good. Wide ranging and rarely does anyone expect to "hit the big time" so that frees them up to do what's in their hearts instead of what they think they're "supposed to do" in order to "make it!"

If there was one musician you would like to play with, any musician at all, whom would it be? (Time and mortality not being an issue)
Sun House, Skip James, Bob Dylan, Al Wilson (AKA Blind Owl) of Canned Heat, Keith Richards, Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker.

What is your favorite St. Louis venue?
Right this minute, Off Broadway I think. Good sound, comfortable room… Steve and his wife Kit, the current owners- good people.

How do you feel about being an inspiration to St. Louis musicians?
I hope that's true! I'd like that a lot.

What is it about the South St. Louis that it produces so many artists and musicians?
Cheap rents, crumbling old buildings and "like minded others" I think. A lot of kids from small towns in Missouri tend to wind up here cause they can be who they really are, which they couldn’t do in their small towns. We make our own fun in a lot of ways.

What is your favorite thing about St. Louis? Least favorite?
I think St. Louis is the fucking Garden of Eden. At any rate it is what it is- it's home, the only life I've ever known. The St. Louis Cardinals, the parks and trees... What I like least is people who live here and say they hate it. I think they should leave for a little while and come back.

Reuter is also just as passionate about his photography as he is about his music. His grainy, black and white photos evoke a feeling in the observer of fleeting moments perfectly caught on celluloid. Even with his portraits, he captures the raw in-the-moment-ness of his subjects in such a way that the photo ceases to be a simple two-dimensional object, but rather a living, breathing work of art. His use of light and shadow gives each of his shots an instantly nostalgic and noirish feel and his subject matter represents the underbelly of St. Louis in all her glory.

He has shot his fair share of local personalities- musicians, beautiful women and other people of interest, but he has also been called upon to shoot nationally known artists such as Black Diamond Heavies and Jay Farrar.

When did you first realize that you had a knack for photography?
In 1997 I was diagnosed as having blood clots up and down both legs. I almost died. I NEARLY died. I lost my house ‘cause I couldn’t house paint anymore. The state tested me and said I'd be good in the ARTS. They wanted me to study Graphic Design but I wasn’t that good at making all my lines straight an' shit. Then I took photography as an elective and I felt like I had found my home. They said that they wouldn’t support me doing that ‘cause they said my legs weren’t good enough to be a photographer and I said, "OK, see ya later. Rather see ya than BE ya! Smell ya later!"

Digital or film?
Film and paper in the dark with poisonous chemistry!

What is your favorite subject to shoot?
People. Misfits and such- rock and rollers, artists, pretty young women. Anyone who goes against the system in their way.

Any formal training in photography?
Yeah, I took some classes, but mostly I learned from doing it and talking to other shooters in the dark room over at Forest Park College.

What is your favorite photo that you have taken?
Many that I've taken of my first muse, a rock and roll girl and artist named Shanna Kiel - she touches something moves me deeply and she always comes out looking a little bit different each time

What, if any, legacy do you hope to leave when your time is up?
A large body of work- songs, photos, stories, drawings, whatever!- a lot of which you can check out on my Web site. But I know this one friend of mine- our guitar player, Matt's girlfriend Jen- would probably say, "Well, he was crotchety!"

Current Links:
www.myspace.com/bobreuter
www.bobreuterstl.com

Historic Link:
www.mphase.com/reuter1.htm

All photos by Bob Reuter.

Next week: Gravity Plays Favorites

DJ Bacon Shadow (me) To Spin At Halo On Wednesday

2009-07-07T10:15:00.004-05:00

I'll be spinning at one of my favorite bars in STL on Wednesday night. Come see/listen to me play some cool tunes at The Halo Bar in the Loop tomorrow from 11pm to 3am. There is no cover to get into Halo.

I'll be spinning an awesome mix of soul, rockabilly, surf, garage, funk, country, pop and rock. You need to come.

The Halo is located in front of The Pageant at 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112.

I'll be spinning under the nom de plume DJ Bacon Shadow. If you want to know the story behind the name, email me. =)

New Feature Coming to Picture This: STL

2009-06-29T10:17:00.003-05:00

I decided recently to expand the focus of this blog. Due to the fact that I'm currently unemployed, I decided that I needed more structure in my days and weeks, and as such, I'm going to be interviewing prominent St. Louisians and hope to have a new interview posted each week.

The interviews won't be terribly in-depth or anything... just a quick and dirty Q&A to get a little more insight to those in St. Louis who entertain us.

So far I have interviews lined up with Bob Reuter (musician, host of Bob's Scratchy Records on KDHX), Thomas Crone (writer, blogger and radio host), Laura Hamlett (founder of Playback STL), Dennis Williams (drummer for the Trip Daddys), Matt Harnish (of Bunnygrunt), Bill Chott (local improvisational actor), Mark & Muffy (of Double Mayhem on KDHX), Scott Miller (founder of New Line Theater and many more.

I will be posting a new interview each week right here. The first interview will be with Bob Reuter, and will hopefully be posted sometime next week. Stay tuned!

The Wedge is Closing

2009-06-23T18:24:00.004-05:00

**UPDATE - 06/28/09 - The Wedge is now officially closed***

Jumped on to one of my many social networking sites today and saw the following post by staff at The Wedge:

THE WEDGE WILL BE OPEN FOR ONLY 1 OR 2 MORE WEEKS.....
	MY BOSS HAS INFORMED ME THAT WE WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN,HE HOWEVER IS LETTING ME STAY OPEN ONLY FOR DRINKS TILL THE BOOZE IS GONE. PLEASE MAKE THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS OR WEEK AN AMAZING PARTY ....

I'm honestly conflicted about this. On one hand, a small part of me is laughing while screaming "VINDICATION!" Another part of me is sad to see everyone's efforts for that cool little bar go to waste. When I managed the place, I and everyone who worked there tried to make it a place that was worth the drive to deep South City. We stumbled a few times, granted, but we also had some amazing times and amazing shows there. I met my girlfriend there (sort of). I had my first two-day drinking binge there (bad idea). I met some fascinating people there (and some real losers).

So, in the end, color me disappointed with a smirk.

Monster in Raleigh, NC Gets Art Student His Share of Trouble

2009-06-12T12:22:00.002-05:00

Here's a story on an art student and urban explorer in Raleigh, NC who's little stunt with parking cones and barrels is netting him some trouble:
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22344/76084-barrel-monster-uliveandyouburn

Subsequent follow up on his arrest and identity:
http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/5339554

Thread on Fark.com from whence I found this:
http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4444717

Enjoy

Tonight at The Wedge - ME!

2009-05-22T14:07:00.001-05:00

I spin at my old bar tonight. Should be fun. Come on down.

How Brick Thieves Operate

2009-05-12T18:21:00.003-05:00

This video is third-hand. I was reading over Michael Allen's Ecology of Abscence blog, and he posted the following video which originally appeared on PubDef.org. It features St. Louis Alderman Sam Moore (D-4th) explaining how brick thieves do their dirty work.

This is fascinating stuff. Especially if there is an insider in the department that's aiding these thieves.

Spring in Heman Park

2009-05-06T21:25:00.001-05:00

Spivey Lock Down

2009-04-18T17:12:00.003-05:00

Reported by the EUE314 Blog today:

http://ueu314.blogspot.com/

Looks like the days of the Spivey and its infiltrators may be numbered.

Here's some Spivey history, compliments of Eco-Absence.

Some photography of the Spivey, compliments of Flickr.

Obama likes our Pi

2009-04-10T21:40:00.002-05:00

So President Obama recently had the owners of St. Louis restaurant Pi come to The White House to cater a party with their signature deep dish pizza. (Link- St. Louis Business Journal)

This place is just down the street from me, and while I can't say that I like everything I've tried there, about 95% of what I've had has been killer. Pi makes a deep dish crust that is coated with cornmeal, and it really gives it a great flavor. Thos in Chicago aren't too happy with our new president's choice of deep-dish, but you know what? If we can be known for pizza other than Imo's (nothing against the provel and cracker delight), then right on.

Congrats to the locals.

Why doesn't BND support reuse?

2009-04-04T15:09:00.005-05:00

I saw this editorial in the Belleville News Democrat yesterday: http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/715304.html.

In the article, the paper advocates the demolition of the old Gateway Hospital building in East St. Louis. This building has been an eyesore for quite sometime, but it probably still could be saved. The building would require a massive rehabilitation and solid investment. The newer section could stand to be demolished, but the original structure should be saved. The newer section really doesn't do justice to the original building. The original has an Art Deco look to it that is really quite classic.

But the editorial also advocates the demolition of the Spivey Building and the Majestic Theate r. This bother me. Although I have not personally investigated, I believe that its still possible to save these buildings and rehab them for reuse. It bothers me that the BND would take this position. Why would they not advocate investment in the buildings and the reuse of them? East St. Louis is in dire need of help, and a project like the rehabilitation of Collinsville Avenue would yield new jobs and spur economic growth in dying city. It may be a lofty goal, but rather than simply turning the buildings into vacant lots, why not try to make use of the space and bring some life back to this blighted city?

The paper is a servant to the community, and not getting behind reuse of historically important buildings in any of the towns that it serves is simply irresponsible in my opinion. But then again, I wouldn't really expect more from the BND. I've been pretty much opposed the majority of their editorial position over the last fifteen years or so. But then again I'm one of those lame ass bleeding heart lib-ruls.

Back to the blog

2009-03-20T19:37:00.003-05:00

So, I recently got laid off from my job. It was a mixed blessing, really. The job was too stressful and I logged too many hours for the amount of money I was being paid.

Not only did it eat my whole existence, but it made updating this blog a real challenge.

Now that I have some free time, I hope to actually add to this on occasion. I haven't been out to photograph in about three months, and my feet are gettin' itchy.

Also, if you happen to know of any place that is hiring a server/bartender/promotions/booking person, please let me know. Cheers.

Shoegazing

2008-11-22T16:11:00.000-06:00

This Week @ The Wedge

2008-11-16T15:17:00.003-06:00

The Wedge is excited about the upcoming week. We have quite a few events going on that's going to offer something for everyone.

On Monday, we have double the fun. Tenacious Trivia happens downstairs from 9pm to 11pm. Its free, and you could win fantastic prizes, courtesy of The Wedge. Upstairs in The Iggy Ziggy Room, we have The Matthew Leach Band with special guest Sarrow Muse. Doors open at 7pm for the 8pm show. Admission is $6/$9. 18+

On Wednesday we have Pat Boone's Farm with Stars Are Bullets and other special guests. Admission is $8/$11. Doors open at 8pm for a 9pm show. 18+

On Thursday, we play host to the legendary South City open mic night, Chippewa Chapel Traveling Guitar Circle. This week's host is Deanna Bosse. Chippewa Chapel has been named Best Open Mic night by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and features a wide variety of musicians from all over St. Louis and beyond. With rowdy, off-color sign-alongs and a loose atmosphere, Chippewa Chapel is always a good time. You never know who's going to show up. Artists are encouraged to sign up for a slot. Doors open at 7pm for the 8pm show. Admission is free. This show is 21+

On Friday, The Wedge is proud to present Cassie Morgan's CD Release Party for her new EP Pine So Sweet. Cassie's special guest this evening will be local favorites Maid*Rite. Admission is $5. Doors open at 7:30pm for the 8pm show. This show is 18+ THIS EVENT IS SMOKE FREE.

On Saturday, we have St. Louis' burlesque queen, Lola van Ella presenting her newest creation: Lola van Ella's Screw You Burly-Q. A monthly punk rock burlesque show that will feature some of St. Louis' hottest bands and most lovely burlesque entertainers. This week's band is the hard-rocking Left Arm, and the burlesque performers include Siren, Foxy LeFeline, Sturdy Gurlesque, Lola van Ella and the one and only Gravity Plays Favorites. Admission is $12 and the show is 21+ Doors open at 8pm for the 9pm show.

The Wedge is also open downstairs all week long, and there's never a cover charge for the lower level. Our menu is served until 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Our full menu is available in the Iggy Ziggy Room, too. And The Wedge boasts an impressive line up of pizzas, calzones, salads, soups, sandwiches, appetizers and daily specials.

To find out more about the Wedge, including our full menu and calendar listings, visit http://www.thewedgebar.com, or become friends with us on MySpace at http://myspace.com/thewedgestl.

The Wedge Grand Opening II: Electric Boogaloo

2008-10-31T00:05:00.001-05:00

The Wedge Is Open

AT A GLANCE:
=========================================================================
- Grand Opening Party set for Saturday, November 29
- Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with a menu created by Chef Blake Brokaw
- All food is made from scratch using fresh ingredients
- Lunch specials and carry-out available
- The music venue- The Iggy Ziggy Room- is now open and hosting bands and performances
- DJs, Trivia and other special events to be hosted in the main bar/dining room area
=========================================================================
Contact: Tyson Blanquart – info@thewedgebar.com

The Wedge – Pizza/Drinks/Music – 442 Bates St., St. Louis, MO 63111
314-351-1200 – http://www.thewedgebar.com – http://myspace.com/thewedgestl

St. Louis, MO – The long awaited opening of The Wedge has finally come. Adding to the recent neighborhood revival started by Iron Barley, The Wedge − recently renovated − opened its doors on Monday, October 21 and hosted its first concert on Wednesday, October 23.

The Wedge is St. Louis' newest hot spot for good food, good drinks and good music. Located one block West of I-55 at the intersection of Bates, Virginia and Compton Streets, The Wedge takes its name from the triangular piece of land on which it sits. Even more apropos, The Wedge now serves up pizza. But not just pizza. The menu also includes calzones, salads, appetizers and soups with more to come.

Consulting Chef Blake Brokaw has designed a menu of Italian fare that is certain to please the palate. Everything coming out of the kitchen is made from scratch using fresh ingredients. The pizza dough, sauces, salsicca, meatballs, dressings and soup are prepared right in the kitchen and cooked to perfection.

The Wedge's lunch specials will be served up daily, and weekly dinner specials will also supplement the menu. The Wedge opens for lunch at 11:00am seven days a week. Dinner is served until 10:00pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday.

The bar itself is open until 1:30am Monday through Saturday, and 12 midnight on Sunday. Happy Hour runs from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Monday through Friday with daily drink specials. The Wedge has assembled a strong staff of servers and bartenders, and many familiar faces will be on hand to serve up the food and to sling drinks.

But one of the most exciting aspects of the new Wedge is the renovation of the second floor. The upstairs has been transformed into St. Louis' newest music venue, The Iggy Ziggy Room. With an intimate feel and a top notch sound and light system, the space will host a bevy of local and touring bands. Additionally, the room will host The NonProphet Theater Company and their critically acclaimed sketch comedy show The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine on the fourth Friday of every month, as well as St. Louis Burlesque Queen Lola van Ella and her punk rock Burly-Q showcase on the second Saturday of every month. Weekly, The Wedge will be bringing Chippewa Chapel to the stage starting on Thursday, November 6. And downstairs in the main bar and dining room, Tenacious Trivia will take place every Monday night beginning at 9:00pm.

The Wedge will host its Grand Opening party on Saturday, November 29. There will be some surprises in store upstairs, and a DJ spinning downstairs. Admission for the entertainment will be free, and samples of favorite menu items will be available.
The main intent of The Wedge is to give St. Louis rockers a place to call home, as well as offering South City residents a local tavern to wander into for lunch or kick back at the end of the working day. A destination venue with a local feel, and most importantly, a place where everyone is welcome to come and have a good time.

The Wedge – Pizza/Drinks/Music
442 Bates Street
St. Louis, MO 63111
314-351-1200
http://www.thewedgebar.com
http://myspace.com/thewedgebar

Self serving promotion

2008-10-25T12:08:00.002-05:00

The bar and restaurant that I work at has finally opened its doors. The Wedge, as I'm sure you probably know, is a new pizza joint and music venue located in south St. Louis. Its on a curious patch of land bordered by Compton, Bates and Virginia Streets. We're open and serving food seven days a week, and we're having music and other events such as comedy and burlesque going on in our upstairs venue. In fact, The NonProphets were just there last night and sold out the joint. It was pretty cool.

We have a calendar going on our Web site that you can peruse for upcoming events and shows. And soon a menu will be available, too.

Chef Consultant Blake Brokaw and Kitchen Manager Steve LaFata have crafted an incredible menu, and so far, everyone has been raving about the pizza, the calzones and my personal favorite, the eggplant manicotti.

Come on down and check it out. We've got plenty of familiar faces behind the bar, too, and you can whet your whistle without spending too much coin.

The Wedge - Pizza/Drinks/Music
442 Bates Street
St. Louis, MO 63111
314-351-1200
http://www.thewedgebar.com
http://myspace.com/thewedgestl

Keep on pushin' on

2008-10-14T10:34:00.002-05:00

So the new bar/restaurant/music venue I'm helping to open is pushing back the opening yet again. Its frustrating, but for the best, as we want our customers to really have a great experience when we open next week.

So, next week it is. We open next week. Finally. We have some bands, some comedy and some damn fine food.

More details will follow soon.

Say goodbye to the worst interchange in the country

2008-09-20T18:00:00.003-05:00

I was happy to see the lighted road sign in the break-down lane on east-bound I-64 flashing that Hampton Avenue was going to close this week. Not because I chuckle at the thought of hundreds of drivers freaking out that their driving routines will be thrown into chaos, but because it means that the worst designed interchange in the country (in my opinion) is finally going away.

Dig this aerial view courtesy of Google maps:

View Larger Map

Is this not the most screwed-up interchange ever? The east-bound exit and entrance ramps are hairpin turns that wreak havoc on traffic, especially during winter. I can't tell you how many accidents I've seen at this interchange or how many times I've almost wiped out or been plowed into by other drivers. And the other two clover-leafs are a grand waste of space.

So, as part of the I-64 reconstruction, the Hampton interchange is getting 86-ed in favor of a more sensible interchange, similar to the one at I-270 and Olive Blvd.:

View Larger Map

I, for one, will be happy to see this horrible example of street planning go away. It may be slightly inconvenient for a bit, but the pay-off will be worth it. Now, if I can just get my butt down there and snap some pics before they tear it down...

The Wedge is now booking acts for October & November

2008-09-19T19:39:00.002-05:00

The Wedge- soon to be St. Louis' newest rock n' roll pizza bar- is now booking music acts (bands and DJs), comedy, karaoke, trivia, burlesque and other special events.

If you or your group is interested in performing in the new Iggy Ziggy Room, please contact Tyson at thewedgestl@gmail.com, or send us a message thru MySpace.

The Trade to host Melanoma Reasearch Benefit

2008-09-14T10:45:00.003-05:00

The Trade to host Melanoma Research Benefit on Monday, September 15

Who: The Trade- St. Louis' newest rock and roll bar- and the Melanoma Research Foundation
What: Fundraiser to benefit melanoma research, held in memory of Shelia Faye Smith
When: Monday, September 15, 2008 from 5:00pm to 3:00am
Where: At The Trade, located at 3515 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis (entrance on the rear of building)
How: You can help by donating a minimum of $5 at the door, and enjoy food, live music and games
Why: Because melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults, and a cure needs to be found.

Contact: Rachel Smith - rachelwrench@yahoo.com

St. Louis, MO- In 2007, Shelia Faye Smith passed away due to complications of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer. Upon her death, her son, Jason Smith, and his wife Rachel made a pledge to do all they could to bring awareness to this disease and help in the fight against it. They teamed up with the Melanoma Research Foundation, and are pleased to announce that on Monday, September 15, they will host a fundraiser in which proceeds will benefit research by funding a career development grant with Dr. Alexander Krupnick at Washington University in St. Louis.

Jason and Rachel will host the event at their new drinking establishment, The Trade, located at 3515 Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis, beginning at 5:00pm and going through the end of business at 3:00am. The Trade is located in the lower level of The Complex Nightclub, with the entrance located on the back of the building, right off of the parking lot. The event will be a fun evening of live music, food, games and prizes. A minimum donation of $5 is requested. There will be a raffle, a silent auction and tattoo contest, with prizes and auction items being generously donated by a bevy of local shops and restaurants. The evening will also host the first annual Hoosier Games, including contests in Mexican Golf, washers and wiffle ball. The will also be a "car show" of epic proportions that will wow the spectators. On the patio, live music will be provided by St. Louis favorites Gassoff, Goldtooth and Doc Ellis, and the staff and volunteers will be cooking up good eats all evening.

Nearly 80% of all skin cancer deaths are a result of melanoma, and it is estimated that 116,500 new cases will be reported by the end of 2008. Incidents of melanoma are increasing faster than any other cancer, and an average American's chances of developing melanoma is now at 1 in 60. The incidence of melanoma has increased 690% from 1950 to 2001, and the overall mortality rate increased 165% during this same period.

Living up to the promise they made Shelia, Jason and Rachel, The Trade and the Melanoma Research Foundation are doing what they can to help find a cure for this deadly disease and they ask your help in achieving their goal.

For more information on melanoma or the Melanoma Research Foundation (which is a not-for-profit, IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization), please contact Program Director William R. Marsch at 800-673-1290.

For more information on the benefit, contact Rachel Smith at by phone at (636) 387-2209, via email at rachelwrench@yahoo.com or by visiting The Trade on-line at http://www.myspace.com/thetradebar.

A Reminder

2008-09-11T16:30:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, September 11, 52nd City is proud to co-present "Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness" at the Webster University Film Series. The film, by noted documentarian Melody Gilbert, follows urban explorers in a variety of settings, throughout America and Europe. A visual treat, the project does a wonderful job of introducing the UE "hobby" to the uninitiated, while serving as a call-to-travel for those already taking part in the scene.

The film will screen at the Winifred Moore Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Clownin'

2008-09-10T14:34:00.002-05:00

New restaurant/bar/venue opening up in October

2008-09-08T04:36:00.003-05:00

OPENING SOON: THE WEDGE BRINGS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, PIZZA AND A ROCK'N'ROLL VIBE TO SOUTH CITY

Contact: Tyson Blanquart, thewedgestl@gmail.com

September 7, 2008 – Since prohibition, The Wedge has been a staple of the South St. Louis' drinking culture, found at a curious, angular intersection at the corner of Bates and Virginia. After surviving the dreaded repeal of drinks, the bar went through an assortment of owners and names over the years. Now, the classic corner tavern is set to reopen in October under its classic name, The Wedge, with a new drink-and-dining concept.

Without argument, the biggest change greeting those who've been to the space is the thorough renovation of The Wedge's interior. A second-floor apartment's been gutted, creating room for an exciting second-floor space suitable for bands, films and small-scale theatre and improv. The first floor, meanwhile, has been given a total rehab, as well, with a thorough modernization of the space, while still maintaining a distinctly corner bar feel – in fact, about every window in the place looks out at that busy intersection of Bates and Virginia.

Though not seen by the public, the kitchen's also been going through changes, with consulting chef Blake Brokaw getting the space ready to turn out homemade pizza and calzones, from recipes that he's been developing solely for this venue. Serving lunch and dinner hours at The Wedge, the restaurant will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, which is generally underserved in food options, especially those of the caliber of Brokaw's cooking. That said, The Wedge will complement the continued success of the noteworthy Iron Barley, located a literal stone's throw from The Wedge's front door.

But with all this talk of food, The Wedge will still be a bar – in fact, it's kept the bar from the last place that called it home, Windy's on the Wedge. High-quality draught beers, premium liquors and specialty house cocktails will all be had, along with local micro-brews.

Just as the Iron Barley has included live music both inside and on its patio, The Wedge will feature music in a variety of forms, as well. Every night of the week on the main floor will feature music over the state of the art sound system, with each night devoted to a particular style of music such as punk, rock-a-billy, honky-tonk country, vintage rock, indie rock, metal, hardcore, industrial, garage and surf. Plans also call for other types of artistic ventures in the second floor space, called The Iggy Ziggy Room. The performance space, which might be evocative to some veteran club goers of the old Hi-Pointe, will include the best live local music, DJs, open-mic nights, comedy, burlesque and karaoke.

The management and ownership team of the Wedge has experience in a wide variety of endeavors. Proprietors Luke Reynolds and Sam Berger have achieved success in a number of real estate ventures, and their holdings include Soulard's popular nightspot, Molly's. Consulting chef Brokaw is the veteran owner/operator of a number of clubs and restaurants in Downtown St. Louis, including the legendary Tangerine. And promotions man Tyson Blanquart has, until recently, been the managing director and promoter for the NonProphet Theatre Co. and has written for PlaybackSTL.

Together they look forward to working on a space that will knit together some of the best aspects of South St. Louis culture into one, unified space: a complete lack of pretense, some rock'n'roll on the stereo and delicious pizza that'll make the spot both a destination and a neighborhood hangout.

-30-

NonProphets return with Political Show

2008-09-04T09:30:00.001-05:00

My friends in the NonProphets have a show this weekend. Check it out:

Where else can you see: Obama "after dark," a sneak peak at the VP debate, Scooby Doo and the gang at the DNC, John Edwards' blind date, and get a run-down of the last eight years in five minutes? Not to mention

Jones in his underwear? Well OK, you can see that last one just about anywhere, but still...

THE NONPROPHETS participate in St. Louis' Political Theater Festival with their hit politically themed comedy show, the Patriotic Freedom Bingo Machine! Hosted by Chris "Mr." Jones.

WHO: The NonProphet Theater Company’s comedy show, The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine!

WHAT: Critically acclaimed sketch comedy, right here in St. Louis!

WHEN: Friday, September 5 at 8:00pm

WHERE: Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118

HOW (MUCH): $10

WHY: Take part in laughing at the political foibles of late!

St Louis, MO -- On Friday, September 5, The NonProphet Theater Company returns to Off Broadway with a patriotic version of their hit sketch comedy show, The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine! This is part of the city-wide Political Theater Festival, which runs from August to November.

Reservations are not necessary, but more info can be obtained by visiting our website at http://www.nptco.org or by calling 314-752-5075.

The sketch show takes 24 original sketches and pits them against the backdrop of a twisted bingo game in which the audience controls the order of the show, and prizes are won by a lucky few. The show is a non-stop evening of break-neck comedy that will leave you exhausted and hoarse by night's end.

Off Broadway (located at 3509 Lemp Avenue in the Historic Cherokee-Lemp District in South City) is one of St. Louis' legendary music venues and boasts some of the best bartenders and ambiance in town. The bar, which recently went smoke-free, hearkens back the atmosphere created by the NonProphets' previous home, the late, lamented Hi Pointe Café. Off Broadway is a 21+ venue

Directing the show will be NonProphet founder and Artistic Director Robert A. Mitchell, and cast members include: Brendan Allen, Nicole Angeli, Aaron Orion Baker, Jonathan Ellison, Chris "Mr." Jones, Theresa Masters, Ben Ritchie, Suzanne Roussin, Adam Thenhaus, Corey Stulce and B. Weller.

Lola van Ella presnts Hot Dogs & Cool Cats

2008-09-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

What: An Extra Frisky Edition of Lola van Ella's Burlesque Showcase

When: Saturday, September 6, 2008, starting at 5:00pm and going until 1:30am

Where: Off Broadway, located at 3509 Lemp Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118

Who: Reigning Queen of St. Louis Burlesque, Lola van Ella and her friends

How (much): Tickets are a steal at $20 and include BBQ, live music and the hottest burlesque performers this side of the Mississippi

Why: Why not? Like you need a reason to come and see beautiful ladies strut their stuff and perform devilishly intriguing antics. But if you really want one, a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit local animal shelters and charities.

St. Louis, MO- Lola van Ella, the undisputed Queen of St. Louis Burlesque is throwing another wild party, and you're invited! Ms. van Ella is putting together the wildest burlesque showcase yet, chock full of beautiful ladies, great food, hot live music and more entertainment than you can shake a stick at.

On Saturday, September 6, 2008, at one of St. Louis' favorite watering holes, Off Broadway, Ms. van Ella presents an Extra Frisky Edition of Lola van Ella's Burlesque Showcase. The party includes a pack of wild St. Louis, Kansas City and Minneapolis performers that will leave you barking in approval by night's end.

In addition to the incomparable Lola van Ella, patrons will also get to experience the best in show with the likes of The Alley Cat Revue, including Foxy LeFeelion, Greta Garter, GoGo McGregor and Roxy Red Rockets. Also on the bill will also be the physics defying Gravity Plays Favorites; the hot hot hot Sturdy Gurlesque; the Hound Dog himself, Clownvis; the gender-bending Siren; and Maggie McMuffins, Ooh la la Christina and Shara.

From Kansas City, you'll howl at Gilda Lily, Richard Stroker and SureFire; and from Minneapolis, the return of local girl-made-good Tomahawk Tassels.

Legendary local act 7 Shot Screamers will provide live music, and there will be a burlesque bazaar and even more surprises! BBQ will be provided on the outside patio, and as usual, the Off Broadway staff will keep your kisser quenched with the finest drinks in town.

Tickets are $20 per person, and include food and all the entertainment you could ask for. A portion of the proceeds will go benefit several local animal charities and shelters.

For more information and reservations, please contact Lola van Ella at lolavanella@gmail.com.

The evening begins at 5:00pm with the BBQ (including veggie dogs!), the show begins at 8:00pm and the doors don't close until 1:30am. It'll be a night of hot dogs and cool cats!

Off Broadway is located at 3509 Lemp Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118. Parking is available on Lemp Avenue. Off Broadway is a smoke-free establishment.

Your dog wants burlesque. Don't you, too?

I always miss all the fun

2008-09-01T21:53:00.005-05:00

I was invited to attend an Urban Explorers Labor Day Picnic this afternoon, but due to my rock n' roll party lifestyle, rolled out of bed just a tad too late to make it to the meeting place, and missed the expedition. On top of that, I also missed this little bit of excitement while the UE folks were on their way to their location:

Video courtesy of Thomas Crone from 52nd City.

And another vantage point captured by Steve Smith can be found here.

I always miss the fun. Poop.

Swtizer's Last Stand

2008-08-31T18:37:00.001-05:00

St. Louis - May 5, 2007 027, originally uploaded by binkle_28.

The Historic Switzer Building on Laclede's Landing. Taken May 5, 2007, just about a week or so before demolition.

Stone and Steel

2008-08-31T18:35:00.001-05:00

June 25, 2008 (93), originally uploaded by binkle_28.

Snapped June 28, 2008 while down on the St. Louis Riverfront

Two Bikes, One Rider

2008-08-31T18:33:00.001-05:00

June 25, 2008 (106), originally uploaded by binkle_28.

Saw this interesting sight down on Memorial Parkway this summer.

Its a miracle

2008-08-31T18:30:00.001-05:00

June 25, 2008 (10), originally uploaded by binkle_28.

Snapped during the flood of 2008. I love this pic....

Urban Spelunking

2008-08-31T18:04:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago- May of 2006 to be precise- I was sitting at the bar at the late, great Hi Pointe Cafe reading a copy of The Riverfront Times. There was a fascinating article in that particular issue dedicated to the hobby of Urban Spelunking. I was at the time unfamiliar with Urban Exploration of any kind, and this story by Randall Roberts really intrigued me.

I recently found the story again, and was captivated even more by the possibilities and sights that lay beneath out fair city. I'm posting this here today so that anyone who may have missed it the first time around can check it out and possibly get goose-bumps like I did the first time reading it over.

Enjoy.

Urban Exploring Film To Be Screened

2008-08-28T22:22:00.003-05:00

Thomas Crone over at 52nd City posted an entry today telling of the screening of a film about Urban Explorers. I've seen bits and pieces of it on YouTube, and it really looks fascinating. Here's the skinny:

On Thursday, September 11, 52nd City is proud to co-present "Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness" at the Webster University Film Series. The film, by noted documentarian Melody Gilbert, follows urban explorers in a variety of settings, throughout America and Europe. A visual treat, the project does a wonderful job of introducing the UE "hobby" to the uninitiated, while serving as a call-to-travel for those already taking part in the scene.

The film will screen at the Winifred Moore Auditorium at 7 p.m.

I spin some tunes at The Trade on Wednesday night...

2008-08-27T01:31:00.001-05:00

Delmar streetscape: update

2008-08-25T15:04:00.004-05:00

I was down at Vintage Vinyl yesterday and after making a purchase of vinyl (Electric Six, Cheap Trick, Black Diamond Heavies & Aerosmith) I decided to take a walk east through the Loop. The streetscape project seems to be moving along at a nice pace. The old-timey streetlights going up look very nice and add a bit more character to an already colorful area. They're placed about every 50 feet or so, and are rather nice looking.

After doing a little more exhaustive research, I found a few blogs and a Fox 2 news article on the project. The project started in May and is scheduled to run through November, but it appears as if it might be done sooner. The trees that were cut down (mostly on the north side of Delmar) were almost all either sick, dying, dead or damaged in some fashion. Some trees, like the ones in front of Blueberry Hill are coming down because they produce an unpleasant odor. I'm assuming that more will eventually be planted, but they will be ones that won't get out of hand as they grow.

The Loop is now almost shadeless, save for the umbrellas of various cafes that dot the sidewalk from Kingsland to Eastgate, but in all actuality, its also let the beauty of the buildings come through. For so many years, these interesting buildings have been shrouded behind the canopy of leaves. Now, even though a majority of the trees are gone, The Loop still maintains an element of beauty that I'm slowly getting used to. The biggest difference is in front of Fitz's. The old bank building's facade is a beautiful piece of architecture, and is now completely exposed for everyone to see.

Additionally, some sidewalks are being replaced and wheelchair cuts in the corners are also getting a makeover. Once this project is completed, and additional redevelopment is done east of Skinker, The Loop will start to really come together as a whole, aesthetically. This is a far cry from what the place looked like 20 years ago, and with any luck, it will continue to grow and thrive.

********************************

Interestingly, the Riverfront Times ran a piece this last week about the recent violent attacks that occurred at Metrolink Station in The Loop. Its an interesting story, and one that I'm sure is going to generate a lot of controversy. There's no doubt that a bad element has used the transit system as a way of getting from one locale to another, but I think what is failed to be addresses is the reasons behind the violent behavior and what can be done by local officials, parents and the schools to stem the tide of delinquency. The Loop has always been a magnate for teens and young people, but its only recently that an uptick in violence has become a problem. Address the reasons behind that, rather than put questionable laws in to place, and maybe we might get somewhere. At least that's my take on it.

Sunrise on the Riverfront

2008-08-15T12:29:00.003-05:00

A few months ago, I had a supper fun evening with my relatively new friend, Halley. I met Halley- after years of knowing who she was but never getting to talk to her- when she auditioned for The Tin Ceiling's 24 hour play festival 7/24. I was one of the directors this year, and was fortunate enough to be able to cast Halley in the play I was helming. After that, we became fast friends and did our share of partying. One night, after a particularly long night at The Trade, we went to her house to grab more beer and headed down to the riverfront. We sat there watching the high water, the ships on the river and, eventually, the sun coming up. It was one of those really great evenings that you never want to end. It sucked that I had to work that day. At 9:00am....

Anyway, here are a few snaps of that fun night/morning.

Good times....

The Loop Tree Massacre

2008-08-13T00:56:00.007-05:00

This morning I went to Blueberry Hill for a job interview, and as I was walking from the parking lot behind Fitz's to Delmar, something seemed different. Upon further inspection, I realized that the trees in front of the root beer bottler were no longer there, thus revealing the old bank building facade that Fitz's now inhabits. At first, i was kind taken aback by the missing foliage, and as I looked up and down the street, I realized that several other trees that once lined the Loop are no longer standing, either. The only evidence of their prior existence were the presence of many tree stumps sticking about four inches or less out of the ground.

Even though I live in University City, I haven't been down Delmar in broad daylight in about two weeks. Usually when I make the trip through the Loop, its dark, and I have an agenda, not bothering to really look around. I had noticed several spots on the sidewalks this spring and early summer that looked like the genesis of new street lights, but that was about it.

Well, today, I put two and two together and realized that the Loop is undergoing a somewhat major face-lift. The trees are being cut down (presumably) to make way for the new street lights and to give better visibility to the businesses that line the street. When coming home from work this afternoon I took Delmar to Midland instead of traveling down Vernon- my usual route- I noticed that crews had installed nearly all of the light standards. They were still swaddled in cardboard and duct tape, and the tops weren't yet attached, but its pretty darn obvious that we're going to be getting better lighted sidewalks here pretty soon. The lights stand about 15 feet or so tall, but I can't yet determine what style they are.

While I think its cool that U City is investing some money in its storied section, I also think that the length of Delmar between Skinker and Kingsland now looks a little bare. I don't know why the city felt the need to completely eliminate nearly 90% of the trees that adorned the street. Most were healthy and robust, and most didn't really interfere with street or foot traffic. The canopies of most of the trees were over 15 feet anyway, so a majority of these new lights would still have been underneath the clusters of leaves. Couldn't they have simply trimmed them instead of felling them? The trees created a nice, symbiotic feel in The Loop. On one hand, you had a bustling urban center that attracts many consumers and businesses alike, but then you also had the greenery that gave it a nice soothing feel to the street-scape, not to mention a little shade.

I'm looking all over the internet for some mention of this, but have yet to see any. If you happen to know why the city made this decision, please share.

I'm playing music on Wednesday, August 13 at The Trade

2008-08-12T22:43:00.001-05:00

Changes are a-comin'

2008-08-10T16:21:00.004-05:00

Most of you probably already know this, but there has been a major overhaul on the KDHX radio line-up which will be implemented tomorrow morning, beginning at 5:00am. Some shows are going away, others are being moved and still others have been expanded or shortened.

I was kind of sad to see that Etiquette of Violence, The Grateful Dead Hour and Democracy Now! were getting the ax (although, to be fair, DN! is going to a ten-minute headline blast, so its not going away entirely). But I was excited to see that some new shows, such as Thomas Crone's new music show, were being put up.

Another thing that KDHX is doing is moving shows so that the "flow" is better. Meaning that you won't be hearing a show about books immediately following the Heavy Metal show. Now, each day has blocks that fit generally into broad genres, and each show sounds similar- yet still different- from the one before it.

Obviously, some people are going to have problems with these changes. Lets face it, we like routine. We fear change. But the programmers feel that this will make the station even more enjoyable and competitive in this saturated market. Additionally, KDHX will be alunching a new HD Radio station in the fall where some familiar favorites will get their day in the sun again. So stay tuned for that.

You can find the new KDHX schedule here in PDF format.

* By the way, I don't work for the station or anything. Upon rereading this, it kind of makes it sound like I'm speaking for them or something. Not so. I just love the radio station and thought this info was relevant. Carry on.

Friend or Foe?

2008-08-05T22:52:00.007-05:00

I was riding the Metrolink today from Swansea, IL to my home in University City, MO, and as usual, I was taking a nap. Since I work in IL, I commute there every morning and back every afternoon via the light rail system that St. Louis so graciously presented to us about 15 years ago. The 45 minute commute leaves me with scant else to do aside from read, listen to my iPod or snooze for a bit. This particular day, I was feeling tired due to my going to bed at 5am, and thusly decided to hunker down for a bit and have a siesta.

Now, since this is nothing new (napping due to being tired from a lack of sleep), I almost always set an alarm on my cell phone to go off after 35 minutes. That gives me plenty of time to wake up and regain my senses before I deboard at the Delmar Station stop. However, I generally don't need to do so, as my internal clock seems to know precisely when to arise from my slumber. After all, I have been doing this for about three years now.

So today, after boarding in Swansea, I found myself in a throng of Cardinals fans who were traversing the Mississippi River en route to Busch stadium for the game against the Los Angle Dodgers this evening (as of this writing, top of the 10th, tied 4 to 4). After plugging my iPod into place, I selected a nice little jam by the Grateful Dead that would help facilitate my dreamy escape for the day. This scenario- being surrounded by Cardinals Fans- rarely allows me to catch some serious Z's, as the Cardinal nation can be a rowdy bunch. But I ended up dozing off somewhere around the Washington Park Station stop and was thoroughly enjoying my little afternoon constitutional. I don't remember much of the journey from about the Emerson Park Station stop up until the Busch Stadium Station stop, aside from waking every now and then to readjust my sleeping position. But once we crept into East St. Louis, I was out like a light.

When we arrived at the Busch Stadium Station stop, and after all of the folks wearing their various Pujoles and Glaus jerseys departed, I was rudely awakened.

I was sitting there, head askew, when all of a sudden I felt this violent shaking about my shoulders. At first, as I was torn from my restful repose, I thought it might be a Metro security guard looking for my proof of payment (monthly Metro card, $60 a month at Dierbergs or Scnhucks). Then, still as I was climbing from the depths of slumber, I thought it might be a friend of mine who works downtown who I occasionally run into on the train from time to time. But no, neither of these were the reason I was being rudely interrupted from my nap. Turns out it was some random old guy sitting in the seat in front of me. He saw me sleeping and was concerned that I had missed my stop. He saw everyone get off at the Busch Stadium stop and assumed that I should be among the hordes of people looking to cheer the Red Birds on to victory.

Now, not only did this guy give me a violent shake to wake me up, but he kept his hand on my my shoulder and massaged it just a little to much for my comfort level. Then as he was talking to me, explaining why he woke me up, he kept up the masseuse routine and added a couple of good natured slaps on the arm to punctuate his monologue.

My first thought was something akin to, "get your hands off me you gin-soaked bum!" But what came out of my mouth was far more conciliatory. I instead thanked him for his concern, and tried to impart to him that I was fully aware that I was out of commission, and that it was a normal routine for me on my ride home day after day. I had pulled one ear bud of my iPod out so that I could actually here the old man, and he kept up this charade of being concerned for my well being, even after I had replaced the ear bud back into my ear. After a second, I realized he was still talking, and felt obligated to pull it out again and listen to what the guy was saying.

I don't know if I missed something in that span of three seconds or what, but by the time I pulled the miniature speaker from my ear canal, I heard him talking about growing up in Washington DC, and how he thought that we shouldn't be in Iraq.

Needless to say, I was thoroughly confused.

As a veteran rider of public transit, I let my urban instincts take over. Rather than try to engage him in conversation and determine just what it was he was on about, I just nodded my head and smiled and gave the perfunctory, "Yeah! No kidding! You're absolutely right!" line of BS in hopes that he would just go away so that I could return to my dream world. Well, it kind of worked. He said something I couldn't understand, and then followed it with an apology about how he didn't mean to bring up politics. He then grabbed my shoulder again, gave it a brief squeeze and said again that he just wanted to make sure that I didn't sleep through my stop. He then held his hand out for a hand shake (or so I thought... it was more of a index finger shake), said, "God bless!" and then got off the train at the Union Station stop, leaving me to wonder why I always seem to attract the guys who seem to have a light on, but no one in the domicile.

After contemplating my exchange with this seemingly unhinged individual, I promptly went to work at falling back asleep. I managed to do just that before we hit Grand Station.

Subsequently, I slept through my alarm and wound up at the Rock Road Station stop, two stops past my intended target.

**EDIT: The Cardinals won the game, 6-4 in the bottom of the 11th inning**

Starting next week...

2008-08-05T03:27:00.002-05:00

Hey boys and girls, I just wanted to let you know that starting on Wednesday of next week (that would be Wednesday, August 13) I will be DJing every other Wednesday at The Trade.

I'd love to see you, so come on down and have a few drinks and listen to some good music.

I'll probably start around 10pm, and I'll go until they tell me to stop, which should be around 2:45am or so.

I'll be playing a nice mix of music, from rock to punk to soul to pop to funk to hip-hop to country and all points in between. If its a good song, I'll play it.

The Trade is located at 3515 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63031. Its located in the lower level of The Complex nightclub. Come down for good drinks, good company and good music.

Dragon Fly

2008-08-04T17:38:00.001-05:00

R.I.P Bill Sorby

2008-08-02T01:59:00.009-05:00

****EDIT- I received an anon. comment telling me that it was tasteless for me to talk about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Sorby's death, and also pointing out that he didn't actually own the Focal Point (apparently just booked the shows there). I'd like to apologize if anyone thought my original post was crass or tasteless. Upon further review, I have to agree. I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone, and have thus edited this post to reflect this. I'm not excusing myself, but I think lack of sleep and the fact that I got the text message at 1:30am had something to do with my lapse of judgment. I've met Mr. Sorby a handful of times, and he was a pretty cool guy, and the last thing I want to do is besmirch his name. My most sincere apologies and condoloences to his family and friends.****

R.I.P. Bill Sorby.

Fish Tails

2008-08-01T23:04:00.000-05:00

Cloud 9

2008-08-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

Its a zoo out there

2008-08-01T20:53:00.000-05:00

Gavin Tartowski hosts The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine

2008-07-31T20:21:00.002-05:00

GEORGE MALICH, THE STAR OF LOCAL INDIE MOVIE “A. ANONYMOUS", HOSTS THE NONPROPHETS' SHOW as they return to Off Broadway!

WHO: The NonProphet Theater Company’s comedy show, The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine!
WHAT: Critically acclaimed sketch comedy, right here in St. Louis!
WHEN: Sunday, August 3 at 8:00pm
WHERE: Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118
HOW (MUCH): $10 admission at the door
WHY: Why not? AND we have special guest host, George Malich!

St Louis, MO -- On Sunday, August 3, The NonProphet Theater Company returns to Off Broadway with their hit sketch comedy show, The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine! The group will also perform at Off Broadway on Friday, September 5.

The sketch show takes 24 original sketches and pits them against the backdrop of a twisted bingo game in which the audience controls the order of the show, and prizes are won by a lucky few. The show is a non-stop evening of break-neck comedy that will leave you exhausted and hoarse by night's end.

The guest host for the August 3 show will be George Malich of Improv Trick, reprising his hilarious improv’ed role as Gavin Tartowski, from the locally produced indie: “A. (Anonymous)”

Off Broadway (located at 3509 Lemp Avenue in the Historic Cherokee-Lemp District in South City) is one of St. Louis' legendary music venues and boasts some of the best bartenders and ambiance in town. The bar, which recently went smoke-free, hearkens back the atmosphere created by the NonProphets' previous home, the late, lamented Hi Pointe Café. Off Broadway is a 21+ venue

Directing the show will be NonProphet founder and Artistic Director Robert A. Mitchell, and cast members include: Brendan Allen, Nicole Angeli, Aaron Orion Baker, Paula Stoff-Dean, Jonathan Ellison, Chris "Mr." Jones, Theresa Masters, Ben Ritchie, Suzanne Roussin and B. Weller. The multi-talented Sarah Holt runs the show as Stage Manager.

Reservations are not necessary, but more info can be obtained by visiting our website at http://www.nptco.org or by calling 314-752-5075.

On the road

2008-07-30T00:18:00.002-05:00

A while back, Thomas Crone of 52nd City asked if I would be interested in writing a piece for their Food issue about eating while on the road. I jumped at the opportunity, and today, I was excited to find that it had been accepted and published.

I had a lot of fun recounting my tour memories while writing this piece, and I realized that the experiences that resulted from this tour were innumerable. From getting to live on the road for three months, to getting to know some friends a bit better, to discovering the quirks of Missouri, to making little kids laugh and learn, the whole experience is just amazing. The pay ain't too bad, either!

Anyway, you can read the article here.

Pictures from the tour can be found here.

Post-Dispatch finally takes an interest in preservation. Kind of...

2008-07-26T12:55:00.009-05:00

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch today has a series of articles posted on stltoday.com that deal with the architectural preservation of endangered buildings in the metro area.

The only beef I have with these aticles is that it seems like the editors of the P-D approached this in a way that made it seem like they were more interested in the story itself, rather than the subject of the story. I mean, this isn't exactly "news" in the strictest sense of the word... so some journalistic editorializing would've been acceptable in this case. I would have liked to see reporter Diane Toroian Keaggy inject just a wee bit o' personality into her articles in this set. The story she wrote about Thomas Crone and Michael Allen's recent trip to the Armour Meat Packing Plant in East STL was interesting, but her writing was very flat and uninspired. Writer David Bonetti got it a bit more right with his articles. His articles seem to have a little more meat, and therefore make the avereage reader really want to care about these endangered and crumbling buildings.

But really, the fact that the P-D is doing a story, let alone six plus a video, is pretty cool.

Here's a slideshow of some endangered and demolished buildings in the area.

Video of Thomas and Micheal's trip to the Armour Meat Packing facility.

The accompanying story by Diane Toroian Keaggy.

Keaggy's other story about brick thieves on the North Side.

David Bonetti's article about the quest for preservation.

Cheeky "interview" with The Moolah Theater. Not the manager or owner... the actual building.

Bonetti's other article on developer Craig Heller and his vision for downtown living.

What's also cool is that the P-D gives a shout out for Ecolgy of Absence and Built St. Louis, two of my favorite sites dedicated to documenting the city in which we live.

Hopefully more people will understand just what is at stake here, and demand more from our elected officials. Better still, let's hope that the residents of STL realize that a large part of the solution rests in their hands. The politicians can only do so much. We as a community need to attack the problem of decay and entropy together, in addition to fighting vociferously any plans to tear down historic buildings so that Walgreens can build yet another store. And above all else, let's hope that more and more people document- either by photo, video or the written word- this beautiful city and its beautiful landscape.

Now if you'll excuse me... I'm off to take some pictures.

Its going to get weird...

2008-07-23T19:57:00.000-05:00

Chief Mokwa is no Commissioner Gordon

2008-07-23T13:24:00.005-05:00

It has come to light that here in STL, the police force has been using a local towing company as their personal car lot. Things started coming to light after Police Chief Joe Mokwa's daughter Aimie was reported to have bought several cars from the lot after their rightful owners failed to show up and claim them. The prices paid ranged from 75% of market value to, um, free, apparently.

Here's today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch article about the brewing scandal.

To make things interesting, Aimie- who apparently has a history of substance abuse- has wrecked three of these cars, one of the times blowing a .17 BAC, but she has yet to be charged with a crime.

Mokwa says he knows of no arrangement with the tow yard and his daughter or the several officers who allegedly used the lot to drive unclaimed cars for weeks or sometimes months, and is now facing a federal investigation regarding the matter.

So, he may carry a badge and gun just like Commissioner Gordon, he might wear glasses just like Commissioner Gordon, he might have a mustache just like Commissioner Gordon and he might hold the highest office of law enforcement in the metropolitan area just like Commissioner Gordon. But my friends, Chief Mokwa is no Commissioner Gordon.

Be more serious

2008-07-20T14:20:00.003-05:00

I took in a viewing of the much-hyped "The Dark Knight" last night at the Hi Pointe Theater (yes, the place has re-opened, and in a brilliant move, booked the hottest movie of the summer). The crowd was surprisingly light and, more importantly, very enthusiastic. Most of the crowd were Hi Pointe regulars, as you could hear the owners of the theater greeting them by name as they walked in the door.

I grabbed a large popcorn with extra butter topping (layered, please), a large Cherry Coke and a box of Dots (hey, you gotta have the whole movie-going experience, right?) and found a great seat about six rows back, right in the center.

The movie started almost ten minutes late, but that made everyone anticipate it that much more. Once the film began, the crowd's patience was rewarded. From the opening moments of a pan across Gotham City, to Jim Gordon's soliloquy at the end, the film delivered on so many levels.

I will pause here to say that I love film. Movies, pictures, film... whatever you want to call it. I love it. Everything from smart indie-house films to big-budget popcorn flicks. As long as it has a good story and plot, good direction, good writing and good acting, it doesn't matter to me if the film appeals to the masses or a few nerds secluded in a particular niche. From "Miller's Crossing" to "Harold & Kumar go to White Castle," if its entertaining and somewhat clever, I'm there.

That said, "The Dark Knight" is one of the best films I've seen in a long while. Never mind that its a hugely anticipated film. Forget that its a "comic book movie". All of that doesn't matter. Its a good movie. From the direction and pacing, to the dialogue and acting, to the story and plot, on down to the emotion and action, director Christopher Nolan and crew nailed this one shut.

This is a comic book movie for those who hate comic book movies.

The cast and director makes you feel as if all of this improbable action is actually possible. They take a realistic approach to the caped crusader and his arch villains. So much so, that at times you forget that you're watching a guy dressed up as a bat and a guy in clown makeup. There is is not a single weak link in the entire cast. Everything and everyone is firing on all cylinders. The special effects and CGI are minimal, and totally believable in the context of the film.

This is the brainiest, brawniest, most engrossing action flick I've ever seen. And its actually a disservice to refer to it merely as "an action flick". No, this movie rises above that moniker. That pathos and humanity shine through, giving it a level of realism that any previous Batman movie (or for that matter, any super-hero based film) only dreamed about.

And, of course, you have Heath Ledger. Now, I'm not one for speculation. I was as skeptical about the film as I was about the early buzz floating around about his "Oscar worthy" performance. Well, my friends, I can say that both the hype about the movie, as well as Ledger's performance are, if anything, understated.

Yes. Its that good.

Ledger's performance of The Joker is mesmerizing. He creates a Joker so psychotic, so evil and so bereft of humanity, that it will rank up there with the other great movie villains of all time. From his mannerisms to his appearance, Ledger not only creates a new take on the Joker, but he redefines the Joker and makes him his own. He delves so far into character, that you almost can't even recognize him. The serpentine tongue licks, the nasally voice and the disheveled look create a Joker that is so terrifying that I found myself wishing that I'd never come face to face with him. Then I remembered that he's a fictional character, and felt a bit silly for thinking it.

So, if you're going to let the economy and high gas prices limit your summer entertainment expenditures, make it a point to put "The Dark Knight" on you list of things to do this summer. You'll be happy that you did.

I'm giving it four and a half stars out of five.

Someone Cares

2008-07-16T02:02:00.003-05:00

Found on a recent trip to Old North.

By the way, in case you didn't know... the McKinley Bridge has been reopened. Apparently it reopened in December of 2007, but I was unawares of it until just about a month ago. Read up on its history at Ecology of Absence. I have a few pics located in the series linked to above. Hopefully there will be more soon.

NL disappints yet again

2008-07-16T01:10:00.004-05:00

After a 15 inning All Star game, the National League has disappointed yet again. In a 4-3 final, the American League triumphed- yet again- over the NL. It was the longest All Star Game of all time, and didn't end until about 1:00am central time.

The NL hasn't won a challenge against the AL since 1996 (there apparently was a tie some years ago, but I haven't bothered to find out how there can possibly be a tie in baseball). So, our beloved STL Cardinals and the few players that appeared in the game tonight weren't really able to make much of a difference.

To be fair, it wasn't really an interesting game until about the seventh inning when the AL tied things up. After that, it was a nail biting game that just kept going, and going, and going. Finally, with a runner on base in the bottom of the 15th, Michael Young of the Rangers hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Justin Morneau for the win.

It was over.

Not being a huge fan of baseball, I don't normally get to into your average game. If I happen to catch the Cards playing, I'll watch. But I don't go out of my way to sit and watch a baseball game. The All Star game is a bit different. After watching most of the All Star games for the last several years, I just really wanted to see the NL pull it out for the in this year. We haven't been doing too well the last 12 years, and I thought that this was our year.

On the upside, JD Drew- late of the STL Cardinals- gave a great performance, and subsequently won the All Star MVP. Good for him.

On a side note, this is last season that the historic Yankee Stadium will be in existence, and the All Star game was held at this classic ball park. Pre-game festivities included a gathering of all living Hall of Fame players, which included four Cardinals (Ozzie Smith, Lou Brock, Bruce Sutter and Bob Gibson) and the Pride of the Hill, Yogi Berra. It was the largest gathering of living Hall of Famers of all time, and there was apparently a lot of crying involved. Apparently.

Anyway, its now 1:30am, I just watched the news (including an interesting piece about how John McCain was interviewed by the Fox 2 news team, where they were restricted to certain camera angles approved by McCain's staff, lest the interview got canceled), and now its time to hit the hay.

Its been a long day, and I have yet another long day ahead of me tomorrow.

Until next time, cheers.

The Germans and the Belgians are allies

2008-07-13T22:24:00.003-05:00

According to a CNN article, it looks like InBev has acquired Anheuser-Busch.

I suppose it won't make a huge difference, as they will continue brewing here in St. Louis, but it'll mean less money going into the local economy (or so I've been told), and it somehow feels like we're losing a small (OK, not so small...) piece of our heritage.

I'm guessing it was hard for A-B's board to turn down the offer. InBev raised its hostile-takeover stakes a bit and offered $70 a share, which amounted to about $52 billion.

So it was either the money, or the fact that the board may have enjoyed one too many of their own products before debating this and arriving at their decision.

Entropy In The City

2008-07-12T19:43:00.003-05:00

On a recent trip to the Old North section of St. Louis, I snapped these pics of a house at 1219 Clinton. The Blogger at Ecology of Absence did a much better job than I could at eulogizing this structure, so look to him for more info on the house. But in the meantime, you can check out these four photos I have of the place.

The Hunt Is On

2008-07-12T18:23:00.003-05:00

So I'm looking for a job. I hate this part. I hate hitting the bricks and getting rejected time and time again. Once I'm settled in, then its OK.

So why am I seeking employment, you may ask? (I'm just going to pretend you did).

Well, its because I've been in my current job for about five years now and have only received two raises. And before you make assumptions as to my job performance, its not because my job skills are lackluster, its because I work for my mom & pop in a small mom & pop store, and we don't bring in enough money for them to pay me more than they do.

So that, coupled with the fact that I really hate my job. I'm basically a sales associate and I also create appraisals and advertisements. I have to strap on the fancy pants every day, take the Metrolink for a 45 minute commute to Swansea, IL and sit behind my computer until some schlub walks in and wants to get a watch battery changed or buy some gaudy bauble.

Even though its a family business, I have no interest in keeping it going. Once my dad retires, that'll be the end of the business. But right now, I feel like I'm there out of obligation rather than because its what I want to do.

So anyway, the hunt is on, if at least for a part time gig. I'm attempting to ingratiate myself with several local watering holes in hopes of scoring employment. I'm trying to get a job in the bar/restaurant business as either a barback or a server.

I also have another motive with this career move. I really want to go back to school, and getting a job like this will allow me to do this. I'm thinking about studying photography and graphic design, as I have developed a love for both of those things in the last few years.

So, if anyone's out there, and if you have suggestions on where to apply, please let me know. I've already applied at Blueberry Hill, Pin Up Bowl, Cicero's, Fubar and Atomic Cowboy. I'm thinking about hitting the Royale and the new hotel Joe Edwards is putting up in The Loop.

I figure I hang out at these establishments anyway, I might as well get paid for it...

The Insanity Continues

2008-07-11T23:46:00.003-05:00

OK, I was watching Spike TV (don't ask why), and the following commercial came on.

I'm sure the world is coming to an end now...

I can't believe my fucking eyes and ears

2008-07-10T01:38:00.004-05:00

I feel dirty posting this, but I just saw this advertisement on TV and my reaction was little more than just staring at the TV and saying, "You're you fucking kidding me?"

Just click the post title and it will take you to a most despicable web site hawking silver $20 "coins" that exploit 9/11.

Watch the video commercial and prepare to be horrified.

Little bird, little bird....

2008-07-10T01:34:00.001-05:00

Sunrise on the Riverfront with Halley (66), originally uploaded by binkle_28.

Taken the same morning that me and Halley watched the sunrise on the riverfront. Something about this pic makes me smile.

Sunrise on the Riverfront

2008-07-10T01:30:00.001-05:00

Sunrise on the Riverfront with Halley (7), originally uploaded by binkle_28.

This pic came after a long, crazy night of alcohol and fun. I found myself on the riverfront with a really cool chick, and we sat and watched the sun come up over the city. The river was just starting to rise at this point, and it made for an interesting morning.

Downtown STL

2008-07-10T01:23:00.002-05:00

June 8, 2008 (37), originally uploaded by binkle_28.

Downtown STL from the Eads Bridge on a warm but beautiful day.

Krey's

2008-07-10T00:35:00.002-05:00

I've leapt into the 20th Century

2008-07-09T22:39:00.000-05:00

I have been incredibly lazy. For far too long have I relied on MySpace as an outlet for capturing my thoughts and images.

How pedestrian, I know.

Anyway, this blog probably won't offer any sort of late-breaking news or terribly insightful commentary, but it it will offer some sights of the city I live in and some random, rambling musings from the depths of my mind. Nothing of major consequence.

But if you're here, and if you decide to come back, thanks. I'll try to make it somewhat interesting.

Cheers.