TCB > April 2007

Lupe Fiasco (born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco) played a free show at Webster University last Friday. In my opinion, his Food & Liquor was the best album of 2006.

In the picture on the right taken by Camille Peace, I'm playing rock, paper, scissors with Lupe (tie!) while Amanda stands by. We were backstage courtesy of VIP passes wrangled by big man on campus John Ginsburg (thanks, John!). John also got DJ Trackstar backstage and into Lupe's dressing room, where Lupe recorded some sound bites for Trackstar's next mixtape while Camille shared a fruit plate with the head of the FNF crew. Look for Trackstar's mix hosted by Lupe Fiasco to drop sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Posted by Brian Marston on Thu., Apr 26, 2007 at 12:06 AM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | People

Whilst listening to "News & Notes" last evening on KWMU, I was delighted to hear poet Ruth Forman reading from her evocative new children's book, "Young Cornrows Callin' Out the Moon," but it got better when I found out hometown treasure Cbabi Bayoc is the illustrator of this new volume. Sounds like the kids on my list have a new gift book coming soon...

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Thu., Apr 19, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | People

Now, I'm as law-abiding as the next gal (depending on which way you look, that could take on a gamut of degrees), but I found this wording on a mailing insert from outgoing Collector of Revenue Ronald A. Leggett to sound a bit, well, threatening (maybe the fact that it's IN ALL CAPS made me wary?):

"PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT AS OF
MARCH 5, 2007
YOUR COLLECTOR OF REVENUE WILL BE
GREGORY F.X. DALY.
IN ADDITION, PLEASE BE GUIDED ACCORDINGLY BY WELCOMING AND
COOPERATING WITH HIM AS YOU HAVE ME."

(signed, everyone's favorite check recipient)

The reverse is even funnier:
"Thank You For 30 Years of Memories
and Nearly 10 Billion Dollars in Collections"

Dude, we didn't give you the 10 extra-extra-large because we like you: it's the law — I don't think you can put it on your résumé.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Tue., Apr 17, 2007 at 1:40 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | People

The SLPS takeover, among other recent developments, seems to have been the news hook for another New York Times look at the flight-vs.-rebirth story of the Lou.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Tue., Apr 17, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | STL in the News

I don't always plug my other projects here, but I must give a nod to the April 23 edition of The Wire, which I am honored to co-host with the estimable Thomas Crone on KDHX-FM 88.1, on Monday nights from 7:30-8 p.m.

Next week's show, in addition to being our spring Pledge Drive barnburner, features St. Louis mayor Francis Slay as our in-studio guest, and we'll be getting as much info packed into half an hour (plus asking for membership pledges!) as we can, so if there's something you're wondering, speak it here and we'll see if we can't pass your question along to hizzoner. Topics so far suggested: city schools, the Highway 64/60 project, downtown development, Prop P, and more!

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Apr 16, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

It's National Poetry Month, boyyyyy, and we've found no better online celebration than this one, featuring MC Nuts and the timeless "lyrics" of I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud...

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Thu., Apr 12, 2007 at 3:26 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Fun Links

(Ed. note--Folks: another popular feature we used to include in the zine version of TheCommonspace.org were the "Eat Me in St. Louis" reviews of city restaurants penned by John Ginsburg. We don't want you to be wandering around out there, hungry in the urban jungle, without some guidance; herewith, an installment concerning Arcelia's, in Lafayette Square.)

"Eat Me in St. Louis

Arcelia’s
2001 Park Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63104
314-231-9200

This review features a return to the Dinner Club, and its support of Dining Out for Life, St. Louis Effort for AIDS’ annual restaurant fundraiser. Arcelia’s sits across from the northeast corner of Lafayette Park, and has remained a steady source to satisfy your Mexican cravings long before the recent commercial development gained serious speed just one block east.

Each diner was handed two menus, which was confusing at first for some...

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Apr 2, 2007 at 3:11 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | Business District