TCB > April 2006

STLtoday.com's current poll asks "How far would you be willing to commute one way to your job?" By far, the most common answer of the 1,557 people who have responded is "More than 25 miles," the longest distance offered as an option.

Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 28, 2006 at 7:55 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Other

To follow up on Steve's post about the new issue of St. Louis Magazine and the article therein about STL's "creative class," here's a link to the web version of the story (whose name, in my house we wondered about the kosher-ivity of, as that's the name of Richard Florida's book? but I digress):

The Rise of the Creative Class, by Lynnda Greene

Like Steve, I was unfortunately misidentified, as being both the co-founder of Where Magazine (which celebrates its 40th anniversary in St. Louis this year, far outpacing my own chronology) and as being a St. Louis native who lived in Chicago. Though I love the place now that I'm here, and find Chicago delightful, neither one is true.

Unlike Steve, my comments all ended up on the cutting-room floor, I guess...or the web version thereof. The link jumps to a longer version of the article, but I don't see the interview transcripts promised on the mag's contents page.

UPDATE: Jeannette Batz Cooperman, the editor of St. Louis Magazine, tells me the web version has been corrected and interview transcripts are forthcoming soon. Good for them!

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Fri., Apr 28, 2006 at 2:36 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | The Media

Boy, did I agonize over that category assignment: is it Media? Business District? I settled on Fun Links.

Because....Free Comic Book Day is on May 6!! What's not fun about that? Now, I'll grant you that I'm as wussy a girl as they come and was never "into" comics as an errant youth, but have grown to have an appreciation, however tangential and ill-informed, for the genre. And now you and I can get even more addicted, for FREE!

I found a list of participating stores nearest *my* ZIP code, and I'ma go with Star Clipper; you can try your own for fun.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Tue., Apr 25, 2006 at 4:30 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Fun Links

The latest issue of Mesh, the magazine of the Contemporary Art Museum—St. Louis, points out that three local folks are among the Top 200 Collectors on last year's ARTnews yearly roundup list: Barbara and Donald L. Bryant, Jr., and Emily Rauh Pulitzer. Now, luckily, Ms. Pulitzer's collection has a public outpost where the curious can view the goods; guess you'll have to cozy up to the Bryants for a similar look-see (though Donald Bryant's influence extends beyond our borders, too: he's a trustee of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.)

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Tue., Apr 25, 2006 at 9:48 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | People

St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles, a glossy pub for the high-end lifestyle, is adding what it calls a "sophisticate, city-chic" magazine to its stable, when Urban Living premieres with a June/July issue. Articles planned include mixed-use developments, the city renaissance and loft living. It will be great if the formula of "nesting porn" can also somehow include the funky and real-life homes that draw folks in my demographic to city living.

(In a fun, such-a-small-town sidenote: my current day gig is the one formerly held by Homes & Lifestyles editor Anne Makeever. I'm glad she found that job, so I could have this one!)

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Apr 24, 2006 at 5:10 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

The Downtown St. Louis Partnership, wherever it may be, has just published this year's edition of the Downtown Dining Guide, and it's exciting to report nearly 200 venues in the slim pamphlet, ranging from the stalwarts (Tony's, Dooley's, Maurizio's) to the new kids on the block (Flannery's, Café Mattino, Tenth Street Italian). My fondest wish is that these get circulated far and wide...especially to those serving jury duty, which for some people is their triennial visit downtown: may they never have to darken the door of crappy chains again.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Apr 24, 2006 at 2:32 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Business District

We should all care about what our chief has to say on topics like the school board, downtown revitalization, citizen engagement in politics and private development, the budget currently before the city's Board of Estimate and Apportionment and more....and so, co-host Thomas Crone and I are pleased to bring you a conversation with the man himself, Mayor Francis Slay, this evening on The Wire.

It's on KDHX, dontcha know?

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Apr 24, 2006 at 2:15 PM
Link & Discuss (2 comments) | The Media

...here are thirteen, grabbed from friend Violent Ecstasy's LiveJournal (links my own):

"Thirteen Things violentecstasy Loves About St Louis
1…. Lots of thunderstorms.
2…. Cheap rent.
3…. Big enough for stuff to always be happening.
4…. Small enough that I'm not overwhelmed by said stuff.
5…. The Arch constantly looming on the horizon.
6…. Easy access to Chicago and to my parents.
7…. Tower Grove Park.
8…. The enclave of young, interesting folk trying to make a difference.
9…. My friends are here (mostly).
10…. The increasing number of wine bars and good restaurants.
11…. Close to a billionty good hiking and camping areas.
12…. St. Paul sandwiches.
13…. The City Museum."

Really, we couldn't have said it better. Next time you're feeling blah, try making your own list of 13! I'm working on mine right now...

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Apr 17, 2006 at 5:26 PM
Link & Discuss (2 comments) |

Nothing says welcome to a Podunk town like having to walk across the tarmac after disembarking a plane, as was the case for fellow passengers of American Airlines flight 5518 from Austin yesterday. On the plus side, David Robertson was seen leaving the airport in a jaunty straw hat. The airport is different with David Robertson.

Lambert does a poor job of conveying a sense of St. Louis' personality and civic identity, leaving many people with a rather bland first impression of our city. The Schlafly Tap Room is a nice addition to the B Concourse. It'd be great to have more local restaurants and retailers at Lambert. Live music and information about our world-class architecture would also give travelers a glimpse of St. Louis' unique character.

Posted by Brian Marston on Mon., Apr 17, 2006 at 1:31 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Other

Cecilia Velazquez, the publisher of Red Latina ("Latin Network"), was deported to Mexico on Friday as an illegal immigrant after losing a five-year legal battle, sending the message to would-be immigration activists with questionable status to lay low and keep their mouths shut.

Posted by Brian Marston on Mon., Apr 17, 2006 at 12:10 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

Ah, we love to be in the limelight, whether it's for allegedly public-pissing officials or the latest Missouri fracas to hit the national spotlight, the case of Black Jack, MO, and a family in its borders headed by an unwed couple. The situation got big play locally, of course, but now it's had a wide opening, including the March 27 edition of People magazine, referenced and commented upon in Salon. The People article cites at least three other couples who've been forced out by Black Jack's housing rules.

But c'mon! The dad's name is Fondray Loving! What could be more wholesome for a family than that?

UPDATE, 4/27/06: The Black Jack City Council will now consider a recommendation from its planning and zoning commission to allow "two unrelated individuals having a child or children related by blood, adoption or foster care relationship to both such individuals," to live in a single-family home, along with others related to either resident. Read more here.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Wed., Apr 12, 2006 at 5:13 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | STL in the News

COCA instructor, "So You Think You Can Dance?" contestant and snappy dresser Nicholas Gates has a site up for his hip-hop sculptures.

Posted by Brian Marston on Wed., Apr 12, 2006 at 1:31 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | People

I have in my hands a copy of the debut print issue of 52nd City, and it looks great in its Firecracker Press jacket. Robert Straub makes a dashing centerfold. You'll definitely want to buy many copies of this volume, perhaps at the release party at the Atomic Cowboy on April 12. Even better, consider subscribing.

Did you know 52nd City has a Flickr group? Well, they do.

Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 7, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

The St. Louis American picked up my article in the spring issue of The Commonspace.

Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 7, 2006 at 12:12 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | The Commonspace

Advertising makes the publishing world go 'round. I'd like to give a quick shout out to the two current advertisers on the STL Syndicate network of sites, CityWide Wooden Fences and Steve Patterson. CityWide Wooden Fences is "committed to designing and building wooden fences in the City of St. Louis." Realtor Steve Patterson has a listing for a big, rehabbed house near I-55 and Loughborough for $184,900.

It's cheap and easy to advertise with the STL Syndicate. Banner ads are only a penny per view. We can help you reach web savvy St. Louisans who support local businesses and are involved in their communities.

Posted by Brian Marston on Wed., Apr 5, 2006 at 2:46 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Business District

Hip-hop power couple Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons announced on March 31 they'd separated after seven years of marriage. Russell co-founded Def Jam Records with Rick Rubin at New York University in 1984. Kimora, a Florissant native, is the head of the Baby Phat clothing line. New York Magazine dubbed her "the New Queen of Conspicuous Consumption." Like the Alicia Keys song says, Kimora and Russell will continue "makin' paper" as business partners.

Posted by Brian Marston on Wed., Apr 5, 2006 at 1:56 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | People

Congratulations headed out to the gang at "Hooch and Daddy-O" World HQ, on reception of the news this a.m. that the locally made mockumentary garnered the Audience Choice Award at this weekend's Portland-based Faux Film Festival.

Not resting on their laurels (where are the laurels located, anyway? beneath the gluteals?), principals Jim Ousley and Oscar Madrid and their Crunchy Cool Films are on to the next project, "The Bloodfest Club," details of which come your way here, courtesy of Thomas Crone and Playback STL magazine.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Tue., Apr 4, 2006 at 12:40 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media