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Don’t Be An Amateur, Have A Plan On Grand Parade Day

By on February 16, 2012 in Central St. Louis County, Events, Featured, How To, North County, South County, St. Louis City, The Weekender

This Saturday brings us the flagship event of the Mardi Gras season in St. Louis, the River City Casino Grand Parade. Attendance varies greatly based on the weather, but I guarantee you there will be a lot of people down in Soulard. Parade starts at 11am over by Busch Stadium and runs south along Broadway to Anheuser-Busch. The best places to actually be close to the parade and see everying will be closer to the start or end of the parade. The thicker crowds will likely be between the Soulard Farmer’s Market and Russell Blvd in Soulard. Keep in mind that while crowds may be lighter on the East side of Broadway along the parade route, you won’t be able to cross over into Soulard while the parade is going on.

Here are a list of things that will keep you from looking like an idiot on Saturday:

Don’t think you are going to drive to Soulard.  Find a bar offering a shuttle or take public transit.  Metro is offering a $5 shuttle from the Civic Center Metrolink station to Soulard.  Do this. That’s the Scottrade Center stop for those of you not familiar.

Bring cash. ATMs have been brought in for the occasion, but get cash before you come down, even if it is just to avoid service fees. Some booths will be accepting plastic using Square, but still it is advised you bring cash.

Have a plan. Sure, you could just wander around and pay full price for beer and food.  Why not  get your ticket to the Bud Light Party Tent- $100. Don’t let the price fool you, this is worth every penny.  The heated tents hold 2,000 people and plenty of portable bathrooms are available only to those with the wristbands.  If you haven’t been down before, you know this alone is worth the money.  Also, it’s all-inclusive so, eat and drink away. You must order by Friday at 5pm, no sales at the door.  Here’s a list of some other packages available. Also, the Soulard Oktoberfest organization is throwing a party right off Russell.

Read the DO’s and DON’Ts. Don’t plan on bringing a backpack full of food and snacks.  Not allowed. Drinks should all be in plastic cups or the like.

Bring a camera. As someone who has read up and prepared for the day, you don’t want to miss capturing memories of those who didn’t. Yes, I know your phone can take pictures, but you don’t want to drain your battery.  That leads me to my next suggestion.

Charge your phone, but don’t rely on it. While AT&T and Verizon both have rolled in temporary towers for the festitivities, you never know how service is going to be.

Remember people live in Soulard. If you get busted doing something you wouldn’t do in your own neighborhood, be prepared to pay the price.

Get in line before you actually have to use the bathroom.  This one will take some planning, but you really don’t want to be at the back of a line 20 deep when you really have to go. If you have ever been in that situation, the $100 packages with private bathrooms look like a steal. Soulard residents have been known to keep buckets of water or hoses handy to deal with those using their alley or siding like a dog uses a tree. While the weather looks like it will be nice on Saturday, I bet being drenched still wouldn’t be pleasant.

If you didn’t read any of the things I wrote above, at least watch this video

Both iLoveSoulard and @STLMardiGras will be updated throughout the day with pertinent information and pictures

The most important thing on Saturday is to have fun responsibly. Believe me, there are far too many repercussions from not being responsible.

Reminder: If you are a Soulard resident and didn’t get your parking permit in the mail, make sure to run by the Mardi Gras Inc office to pick yours up.  Don’t try to swing by there on Saturday morning…it will be too late.

Do you have anything to add? Any questions or comments?

Post brought to you by Mills Properties

Photo courtesy of iLoveSoulard.com

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Run a St. Louis Marathon With Me…Ok a Half Marathon

By on February 10, 2012 in Events, North County, South County, St. Louis City, The Weekender, West County

With Lindsay’s recent post on her bucket list and Keith’s on losing weight I thought this would be a good addition.  My goal is not to lose weight; although that’s bound to happen, this is a bucket list item for me and I think this year it’s time.

Starting early spring and into late fall there seems to be 5k after 5k in St. Louis. I’ve always wanted to run in one but so far it’s never happened.  Even more intriguing to me are the marathons. I’ve always seen people who run marathons and thought about what an amazing accomplishment that must feel like, what dedication that takes to get yourself to the level that you can do that.  I used to run. It felt so good.  Like with most people I’m not really sure why I stopped but it’s been years, well…it had been years until a few months ago when my husband decided to take up running as a part of his fitness routine.  That gave me the push to start again three weeks ago.

That first run burned my lungs and left me gasping for air.  Slowly I’ve been building up…very slowly.  I love a runner’s high. I love adding even 1 minute to my running time or a slight increase to my speed.  I’m building up very slowly. The last thing I need is an injury to put me down.  I want to be able to run a 5k (about 3 miles) as my regular run by the end of February,  run that amount 3x times per week through March and April, then start training for a half marathon.  My husband has agreed to run a half with me, though I’m not entirely convinced that he really wants to.  I want a finisher’s medal.  In looking for half marathons, I came across a bunch in St. Louis this year and even more 5k’s. Here’s a list of the ones I found most interesting.

February:

Run for the Chocolate on February 12th: Man I wish I was ready to run.  Racers will be categorized by age and relationship status.  With “singles” and “off the market” wearing different shirts.  The website says this will help you determine who you can flirt with after the race.  This one is a 5k.

Truffle Shuffle on February 18th: Lots of chocolate for runners this month.  This race is held in St. Charles and who wouldn’t love a race sponsored by Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Factory?  Honestly as a child of The Goonies era it is the name alone that attracted me to this race.  This one is a 4 mile road race.

The Sandmine Challenge on February 25th:  Oh my goodness, this is totally going on the list for 2013.  This looks over the top amazing.  It’s a race in a CAVE!!!  It’s an old sandmine in Crystal City so it’s one of a few that have caught my eye outside the metro area.  Check out the video.  This is a 4 mile run in sand.

March:

St. Patrick’s Day Run 3/17:  This is a big one with over 13,000 participants.  Run goes through downtown St. Louis.  This is a 5 mile run.

Alton Half Marathon 3/24:  I’m thinking about the 5k that goes with this one. Several things attracted me to this race.  One, I live on that side of the river so this is basically in my backyard.  Two, it’s half the price of most of the St. Louis marathons. Three, it isn’t normally too crowded.  You may have noticed from my lack of detail above that I’m not totally impressed with a crowded run with nothing special involved.  This one has amazing river views including a run across the Clark bridge over the Mississippi.  This is a 1/2 marathon and a 5k.

April:

RUN4MS  on April 7:  A run through Kirkwood. This is one of many runs put on by Missouri Running Company.  This is a 4 mile run.

GO! St. Louis on April 14: This one has something for anyone who wants to run.  It’s a whole weekend of fitness. They have a 5k, a half marathon, full marathon and a relay marathon.

So I’ve only made it through April and this post is getting too long. I’ll catch up with you again around time for the Go! St. Louis to make sure I am still motivated and fill you in on the rest of the great runs, including my goal Rock N Roll marathon in October.

Lindsay, if you want this off your bucket list you are welcome to join me, plenty of time to prepare.  In fact I’d love all the runners from Mills to join me, maybe some cool green “Team Mills” jerseys?

Brought to you by Mills Properties
Comments { 7 }

Widening the gap

By on December 28, 2011 in Central St. Louis County, Edwardsville, North County, South County, St. Louis City

I heard yet another story this morning of the mass amounts of cuts to the education system due to the economy.  Services being cut, athletic departments shrunk, music programs cut, and teachers being laid off.  It seems the story is the same time and time again.  The suggestion that caught my ear, one that I’ve heard before.  Have parents pay for sports, music, transportation etc.  The same issue I’ve heard before, in already flush school districts the parents can pick up this tab, but in already suffering school districts the parents simply can’t afford it.

I feel for this situation.  My husband and I bought a great house on a cute street in a lousy school district.  One year of our sons attending school was enough for us to pull them out and send them to private school.  We pay tuition, there is no transportation, we pay for participation in sports, lunches are more expensive if they don’t bring them from home, and I can’t tell you the endless ways we pay through donations.  Required time donations, donate money every other friday and the kids don’t have to wear uniforms and the list goes on and on.   We’re lucky, we can afford this.  Though I do admit some months it is hard.  Some months we question why so much money has to go out the door toward education when we are already paying property taxes. We marvel at how much could be going toward our financial goals if we didn’t pay this.  You would think that the property taxes on the billion (this amount is not based in fact) dollar refinery located in our district would make ours a school district flush with money.

The Occupy movement brought to the forefront of conversation the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.  Doesn’t cutting education just widen this gap.  Kids of parents who can afford it continue to get the sports, the music the special education either because they are in a well to do district or because parents can afford to pick up the slack.  Kids in poor districts get it cut to bare bones.  Parents who can’t afford it are responsible to get their kids to school, no buses, what will this do to the rate at which kids miss school.  Music and sports get taken away, there goes the opportunity to continue their education through scholarships.  Class sizes increase and that kid who could be fully engaged with just a little extra push is left behind slowly slipping into the darkness of not understanding.

I don’t claim to be an expert on this subject or really fully understand how all this works, I’m just a parent hoping I’m making the right choices for my children, hoping that their opportunities are not shrunk by the ever-expanding gap.

Brought to you by Mills Properties

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Snausages

By on December 7, 2011 in Featured, Good Eats, North County, Pop Culture, The Weekender

The Door To Sausage HeavenIt’s the fall, so my food inklings change like the weather. When we hit the October time frame, all bets turn to beer, sausage, and pork products. One of the legends of sausage in St. Louis is Piekutowski’s European Style Sausage in Old North City.

What do you expect when you go to a sausage shop in an old neighborhood? I expect a family run establishment full of regulars and lots of old history. I expect the smell of smoky meats and great product. Piekutowski’s delivers all of that and more!

Finding it is somewhat of an interesting task. Old North City is an area rich in history and poor in upkeep. The area is currently trying to revive itself from urban blight and diehards like Piekutowski’s are the cornerstone of maintaining the community. They have been making sausage there since 1940! Take Grand to North Florissant St. and head east to 4100 N Florissant Ave. You will run right into it.

You might ask “why schlep all the way up there for sausage?” Because my friends, it’s THAT good! Even Pope John Paul II felt he was back in his homeland of Poland when he was eating their Kra-kow. What is Kra-kow? Kra-KowThink a Polish version of Canadian bacon, but better. This stuff makes a great sandwich, snack, or a cheese and cracker fest that tops it all! While you are there, grab some bratwurst, some sauerkraut, and some pierogi too! This is truly one of St. Louis’s best treasures! Make the pilgrimage and stop off at Crown Candy Factory down the street to be truly thankful for all the food fabulousity our ancestors have brought to us!pierogi

(314) 534-6256

piekutowski@piekutowskis.com

http://piekutowskimeat.webs.com/

 
Photo Courtesy of clothesponey.blogspot.com
Brought to you by Mills Properties
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World Series!!! Coolest place to watch the game!! (other than Busch)

By on October 19, 2011 in Central St. Louis County, North County, South County, St. Louis City, West County

St. Louis is a baseball town and there is reason to celebrate.  World Series!!!

If you are not one of those who will be down at the stadium starting tonight to freeze in the wet cold watching the game warmed only by sheer excitement, then you should head down to The Delmar Loop and check out the game at the Tivoli.

They will be showing all the World Series games on the big screen in the main auditorium for FREE!!!

The Tivoli Theater alone is awesome, The Loop is awesome and the Cards…….

Head down for every game, 1st game tonight October 19th at 7:05pm

**Update: You can also check out Game 7 on Friday night on a 30 foot screen at Kiener Plaza – right in the center of all the excitement!  Bring your gloves and your Cardinal Spirit and rally with fellow fans!  A huge Thank You to The Laurel Apartments and The Mercantile Exchange District for making this happen!  Go Cards!

Brought to you by: Mills Properties
Photo courtesy of: The Tivoli
Comments { 1 }

Sanitary or Seedy…how do you like your city?

By on September 12, 2011 in Central St. Louis County, North County, South County, St. Louis City, West County

I don’t think weeds are allowed to grow in Newport Beach.

This past weekend my husband and I had the privilege of attending a wedding at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort.  It was a stunning location for a wedding, the bride looked beautiful, the groom looked happy and the sun setting over the million dollar yachts was spectacular.  In contrast my husband and I had most of the day of the wedding to ourselves to explore the LA area and we settled on exploring Venice Beach.  The boardwalk was over stimulation, the vendors, the people, the smells, the skate park, and can’t forget muscle beach.  I could have sat for hours just watching all the people walk by (and skate by).

People asked how the trip was and it was great, part of what I loved were the differences in the places we visited.  The crowded touristy area of Balboa Island in contrast with the equally crowded and equally touristy area of Venice could not be more different.  While I enjoyed the scenery and houses and manicured lawns of Newport, Venice with it’s anything goes attitude was more my style.

How do you think St. Louis ranks and what do you treasure?  The Delmar Loop and Soulard areas or West County, Clayton areas?  The Seedy or the Sanitary?

Brought to you by: Mills Properties

 

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