chesterfield
A new piece of public art celebrating Missouri’s wetlands, Flow, should be completed and installed in Chesterfield’s Central Park by summer. The multifaceted installation will use solar power to illuminate the lake at night. It will focus on two plants common in the Missouri wetlands—the broadleaf cattail and yellow lotus. Metal cattails will be installed on the trail surrounding the lake, and a lotus sculpture will float on the water. The installation will have a timer to shut off the lights about an hour and a half before midnight. Leland Drexler-Russell, whose concept was selected from among five artists with competing designs, says his inspiration derives from our planet’s flora and fauna … but some is out of this world, as well. He also imagines astrobiology from planets in galaxies millions of light years from our home base here in the Milky Way. Drexler-Russell is director of arts and sustainability at City of Night St. Louis.
Some tweaks have been made to the mixed-use project proposed for a former Schnucks site that has languished since the store at Clayton and Hanley roads closed in 2003. Much has been talked about for the prime chunk of real estate, with the first bona fide plan presented in 2009. Perhaps because of the Great Recession, it didn’t go anywhere. Last year, a concept presented to Clayton decision-makers was given the go-ahead, but since then, it appears that site developers have changed. Neighbors balked at one plan, which included a residential tower. That design was revisited, but it may have been too timid. The city, natch, wants a development with architectural pizazz at one of the more prominent entrances to its southern flank. IMHO, the corner treatment is more compelling this time around. A local website, nextstl.com, calls this year’s model a ‘revision of the revised revision.’ Developers now are asking the city to approve a building something taller than 45 feet, which should mollify those locals opposed to a ‘tower.’ In the revision of the revised revision, there’s still a little surface parking; a garage will accommodate the vehicles of most residents and shoppers. Whatever we wind up with will be a damn sight better than the sight we’ve endured at that intersection for nearly 15 years—a one-story former Schnucks (nee Bettendorf’s) with an asphalt parking lot that seems to stretch to the east for acres.
maplewood
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has Phil; Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, has Sam … why should these hamlets have all the fun and get all the press attention every Feb. 2? Maplewood now has its own roly-poly rodent: Maplewood Molly. Do you think Molly will see her shadow at 7 a.m. on one of the most important days of the year for people with too much time on their hands, Groundhog Day? Then, vote. (Remember, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain if we get six more weeks of winter. So there.) Through Feb. 1, you can cast your ballot … and make a donation, if you wish, to Missouri Wildlife Rescue. (Of course, lawyers insist that making a donation with your vote doesn’t have any bearing on your eligibility for fab prizes from area businesses!) Traveling Tea at 2707 Sutton Blvd. (next door to Strange Donuts), has a list of voting stations, and it’s where the nearly famous prognosticator, Molly, has hunkered down for the winter. Editor’s Note: No actual groundhogs were harmed during the writing of this item. Molly is a stuffed toy animal, and human observers will need to determine whether she casts a shadow.
Bill and Melinda Gates aim to help feed hungry families in Africa through a five- year, $10.46 million grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center for developing disease- resistant, more-nutritious strains of cassava, a staple crop. Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa Plus (VIRCA Plus), a consortium of U.S. and African institutions, will tailor research to improve the livelihoods and health of African farm families. Cassava, an important food and cash crop for small-holder farmers in Africa, is second only to maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately one-third of the population relies on its starchy, tuberous roots for more than half their daily caloric intake. It grows well in conditions of drought and low soil fertility. However, viral diseases can wipe out a cassava crop, threatening livelihoods and leading to hunger. Although it is an excellent source of calories, cassava does not contain significant levels of key nutrients to meet minimum daily requirements, especially for women and children. The VIRCA Plus collaboration will concentrate first on disease resistance and second on a cassava variety with elevated levels of iron and zinc for improved nutrition.
st. louis
I’m not likely to watch the Travel Channel, and there’s good reason for that. Unless a journalist is a travel writer or on vacation, many of us just don’t get the opportunity to venture far outside our markets, and we must forego watching or reading about someone’s exotic or unforgettable experience in St. Lucia or St. Moritz lest we curl into the fetal position out of sheer frustration. I stick to St. Louis because many other Saints are out-of-reach for this writer’s wallet. Thankfully, there’s plenty to see and do right here in River City. Which brings me back to the Travel Channel, and an episode of Booze Traveler airing Monday (Jan. 23) at 9 p.m. Yes, that’s a show. Cocktail connoisseur and host Jack Maxwell travels around the world, one drink at a time. This episode features canoeing the Mississippi with outfitter Big Muddy Adventures … and some drinking off the water at Lovetts in Alton. Maxwell and his fellow paddlers quaffed glasses of ‘Mark Twain’ (a scotch cocktail enjoyed by its namesake) … accompanied by crispy snoots. For many humans, booze would be required before even looking at a sliced, fried pig snout.