City Talk

Some thoughts on St. Louis, nostalgia and hope vs. skepticism spurred by a recent book I read about Tom Petty.

A summary of several plant and animal joys we’ve experienced living in the city.

Some thoughts on a recent collaboration with our CDC and the Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.

We stopped by the Nature Playscape in Forest Park. This is a pre-bloom, pre-leafed out assessment of the area. We’ll go back when the area matures for an update.

I met with Peter Tao, who shared his family’s history of immigration to the U.S., including a connection to the Grandview Arcade building on South Grand. This story is a collaboration between Peter and I to shed some light on the history of this beautiful building and its ties to Asian-Americans in St. Louis.

Combing through old newspapers and thinking about the past and present South Jefferson and Gravois area.

Some thoughts on our maiden voyage to RBG in Francis Park.

I invited a friend along to witness a rare STL occurrence…not a street closure, a street re-opening!

Faint memories of Blues games in the 1980s at the Checkerdome.

Visited the progress of Turtle Playground’s latest upgrades.

Is my neighborhood of 11 years gentrified?

Stumbled upon another building I had to learn more about. Raincoats? St. Louis used to make them.

Here are some thoughts after a recent visit to Park-Life in Covenant Blu Grand Center.

A recent visit to Tilles Park led to enlightenment on some amazing work underway by the Pop Up Prairie organization.

When we were researching the Hammer Dry Plate Company, we learned of the impact of the Hammer family on St. Louis historic photography.

Looking for historic photos of Fox Park, I stumbled across a mystery that had to be investigated. Nothing I love more than a myth-buster/hobbyist-researcher worm hole. Every mystery has its joys and interactions with great people, this was no exception.

I-44 and the cyclone of 1896 spared the former Immaculate Conception Catholic buildings in the The Gate District. They remain as beautiful reminders of the past when St. Louis was teeming with Catholics. The school a found new use as apartments.

President George H. W. Bush gave a campaign speech in Fox Park back in 1992. Crime was on his mind. I summarized the parts of his speech with local interest.

Earlier this month I learned of the retirement announcement from Brian Henneman, lead singer and main songwriter for the Bottle Rockets. After 28 years, they leave behind an incredible discography and so many great live shows. Here are some thoughts on their impact on us.

There is a new restaurant opening in the Gate District. We talked to the owner to see what’s in the works and how he settled on the location.