The Commonspace Blog

The newest addition to the Drebes-Penilla family appeared on the scene this morning, joining Mommy Mary Lisa, Daddy Dave and Big Sister Sarah Ann and accounting for a 33% increase in year-over-year household size. Like his older sibling when she was his age, he doesn't have a name yet.

Update: Photo and stats for Baby X

Update II: And his name is ... Benjamin Antonio Penilla-Drebes.

Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 25, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | People

Great story (and, you know, front-page, above-the-fold placement doesn't hurt) and accompanying photos in today's paper about the promise and plight of North St. Louis YouthBuild, a GED prep and construction training program in North St. Louis (where the co-founder of this site happens to work). These kids have worked really hard to make positive changes in their lives and their neighborhood, and it's really nice to see someone tell their story.

Audio slideshow (make sure to turn on the captions) is highly recommended, too.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Fri., Mar 28, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

Old rivalries heat up. Yep, it's from The Onion. Can't we all use a laugh on Friday afternoon?

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Fri., Feb 15, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | STL in the News

As of 7 a.m., two (2!) stories about St. Louis find a place on the front of the New York Times site: one, of course, breaking news about the Kirkwood shootings, and another titled "Side Trips in St. Louis: A Holiday for Eccentrics." Eccentrics, please leave your guns and hostilities at home, but by all means, come check out City Museum, the International Bowling Museum and Cardinals Hall of Fame, and the A-B Brewery...(the second story providing further evidence of just how hard people find it to describe City Museum in print.)

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Fri., Feb 8, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | STL in the News

The top two musical genres for the St. Louis network on Facebook are rap and country. I checked the stats for several other cities, and I think that one-two combination is pretty unique. I also think it says a lot about our region.

Posted by Brian Marston on Sun., Jan 20, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Other

Local photog Gena Allen has a show up at Provisions Gourmet Market (yes, in the dreaded Creve Coeur) that was previewed, once upon a time, at Ye Olde Commonspace Website. (Is today Old Home Day, or what?) Anyway, we loved her photos and commentary then, and we bet you'll love it now, too. Get out to see the show before it comes down this Saturday.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Wed., Jan 2, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | People

Bidding adieu to SLSO's firecracker violinist, Amy Oshiro, who hung up her bow and is headed to the Philadelphia Orchestra instead. You can read our first impressions of her, lo these many years ago, here.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Wed., Jan 2, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | People

On the World Wide Webs, that is; check out this nifty video shot by one of their rabid customers. (Rabid in fervor, of course, not from pesticide-laden foods....)

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Thu., Dec 20, 2007 at 2:10 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Business District

Here's a way to while away the hours (and confirm some hunches, be surprised by others): enter your ZIP code or part of a neighbor's name, and see how the political donations in your (or your dad's) area are being directed.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Thu., Dec 6, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Fun Links

Joining other savvy business districts around town, the Morgan Ford Business District merchants have banded together like so many friendly pirates to sponsor a Holiday Open House. On Tuesday, Dec. 11th, from 6-9 p.m., you can make your merry way among the businesses along the street (some of our faves are Local Harvest Grocery, Three Monkeys — where we recommend the awesome Jungle Juice, Grove Furnishings — where we recommend the neighborhood-specific Christmas cards, Tin Can Tavern, Vintage Haberdashery and more), and register for prizes, enjoy carolers, etc.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Wed., Dec 5, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Business District