botanical heights
The week before Thanksgiving, a five-alarm warehouse fire in the south St. Louis neighborhood destroyed hundreds of toys and blankets meant for patients at Shriners Hospital for Children—but it didn’t dash the hopes of kids looking forward to the hospital’s annual Christmas party, held last Sunday (Dec. 10). The community rallied with various toy drives, and there were more than enough presents for the 1,500 invited. But, as they say, need has no season. Another toy drive winds up this Saturday (Dec. 16). Teddy bears and coloring books are
wonderful, but donations will be accepted for kids up to 18 as well. At least one St. Louisan has established a page at gofundme.com, and financial contributions will be used to purchase items on the Shriners wish list, such as:
» Toys and puzzles
» Plush animals
» St. Louis Cardinals or Blues hats and apparel
» Games, including video games and card games
» Gift cards (Amazon, iTunes, Gap, Old Navy, Red Robin, McDonald’s, etc.)
» Makeup, nail polish, bath and body products, cologne or perfume gift sets
» Arts and crafts supplies, crayons, colored pencils and markers
If you’re more hands-on, you may drop off donations at the hospital, 4400 Clayton Ave. in St. Louis (63110 for any GPS’ers who get turned around in the CWE). If you would care to mail a check to that address, note ‘Patient Needs’ or ‘Toy Drive’ on the memo line. Toys are not part of the hospital budget—and, of course, patient needs are year-round. Plus, toys for these patients aren’t just for creative play; often, they’re needed for distraction therapy during difficult or painful procedures, or during recovery from surgery. Regardless of a family’s ability to pay, Shriners provides advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal-cord injuries, and cleft lips and palates.
Is there a more obnoxious way to wish the world ‘Happy Holidays!’ or ‘Season’s Greetings!’ than by wearing an ugly Christmas sweater? There, we said it—and now, twice: Christmas. And we’ll say it a third time, probably even more. We won’t say ‘Merry Christmas,’ however, even though the president himself insists that it’s OK. Sad. Anyhow, what’s as likely to evoke nausea (we mean holiday spirit) than a pub crawl while wearing the absolute ugliest Christmas sweater you can find? (Ho, ho, ewww … folks at Goodwill, watch out; here come the pre-crawlers!) You and your festive friends may embark upon the ‘World’s Largest Ugly Christmas Sweater Pub Crawl’ in The Delmar Loop and Clayton this Saturday (Dec. 16) from 8 p.m. to midnight. While altering your mood, you may also lift your spirits with the realization that 20 percent of your ticket price will benefit one of five local charities, your choice. But you’ll also score a Santa hat, souvenir T-shirt, photo booths with Santa, drink specials—and, most responsibly, a designated driver. Yesss! The price for crawling is not dirty knees and elbows. It’s $25, which includes a shuttle pass to participating pubs and bars. Now, since The Delmar Loop is the capital of our ‘Neighborhood to the World,’ ‘yule’ probably not be surprised that other traditions are just as important as that Christmas thing we keep bringing up. Last night (Dec. 12) was the sixth annual menorah lighting, which kicked off the eight crazy nights of Hanukkah with hot latkes, chocolate gelt and Chasidic dancing to a Washington U. klezmer band. On Dec. 30, students from Bertha Knox Gilkey Pamoja Prep Academy will help the community celebrate Kwanzaa with live music, dancing and art exhibits. In between Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, some of us mark Festivus Dec. 23, and Dec. 25 is … wait, it was right on the tip of my tongue.
downtown
For centuries, racial segregation was the law of the land. It was systemic; people of color were discriminated against, from the federal government level to the local neighborhood association. Water fountains and restrooms were labeled ‘White Only’ or ‘Colored Only.’ St. Louis is famous for protests that made lunch counters accessible to all, from downtown to Kirkwood. But for some people, it seems prejudice is in their DNA. It may well be argued that race relations have improved hardly at all, irrespective of the civil rights struggle and U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Segregation by Design, an exhibit at the Central Library through Jan. 8 and the result of a collaborative architecture seminar, explores this (pictured at top). Students from Washington U. and Harris-Stowe State University came together to explore policy and planning decisions that have led to urban segregation, examining how these decisions are inextricably tied to racial, cultural, physical and socioeconomic segregation. Student teams were tasked with exploring specific neighborhoods in the metro, analyzing and mapping historical, demographic and environmental data. Alternating between campuses, students learned from guest lectures, as well as from direct mentoring and coaching from professionals. Teams consisted of a mix of students from the two schools working with two professional advisers: one from architecture or a related discipline and one from a humanities discipline, including history, policy and urban affairs. Student teams also visited their neighborhoods, talked with residents and officials, and made an in-depth urban analysis that explored each neighborhood’s challenges and opportunities. Each team then drafted a proposal to mitigate segregation faced by the community. Proposals ranged from new services such as vocational education to new residential and commercial development to policies to create new community land trusts. This process seems appropriate as a requirement for completing high school.
richmond heights
Many men would rather rip out their toenails with pliers than go shopping. They furtively browse jewelry stores, scared to death they’ll buy something too big … or too small. Others wander aimlessly through the mall a few weeks before Dec. 25, uninspired. Unfortunately for some, inspiration strikes at The Home Depot when buying an inflatable Santa or Frosty, and the big dope picks out a leaf blower for her that she’ll make him use. All too many, finally frantic, show up at Walgreens at the very last minute Dec. 24. (Well, they do have cosmetics and candy there.) Dudes, don’t do this to yourselves—or your loved ones, especially! First, pliers and toenails are a non-starter. By now, you already should have made the acquaintance of sales associates in any number of fine boutiques and familiarized yourself with both ends of Plaza Frontenac, along with some of the fine shops on your meander in one direction or the other. Regardless of how long you and your significant other have been together, you should know, at least, that bedroom slippers won’t cut it. Many a personal shopper or savvy sister would steer you away from such a bad idea. Speaking of personal shoppers, why not enjoy a night out with the guys before it gets too late in the month? Not the kind of men’s night some might imagine … although beer and pizza are included in the ‘Just for the Gentlemen’ shopping excursion at Knox Gallery of Fine Art, 2214 S. Big Bend Blvd. in Richmond Heights. It’s tomorrow night (Dec. 14), from 6 to 9 p.m., and it’s free. Bring your list of gift recipients, and a gallery helper will bring out unique selections for your consideration. If you choose not to buy anything, nobody gets hurt, your belly’s full, and there are still 10 shopping days left before you just throw your hands up and buy a big ol’ flat-screen TV.
wildwood
Jeepers! Will we, or will we not, zipline at Hidden Valley one day? Well, after all of the fake snow they manage to make this season goes away, the ski area has threatened that it might just go away, too—for good. Hold everything! Maybe not. As our beloved philosopher on The Hill, Yogi Berra, once put it: ‘It ain’t over ’til it’s over.’ On Nov. 24, Peak Resorts withdrew its proposal to build a zipline operation on the hillside after Wildwood planning and zoning officials curtailed the hours and months it could operate; recommended the attraction be moved 75 feet farther away from neighborhoods; and then kicked Peak’s petition to its Parks and Recreation Committee for further consideration. Peak had insisted it would need the zip-line operation to ensure profitability in warmer months, or it might sell the property to housing developers. Bummer. Then, on Nov. 27, the company rescinded its withdrawal letter. Cool. So, is this all just saber rattling—that is, banging a bunch of aluminum ski poles together to make a big enough racket to drown out residents loudly expressing their NIMBY (‘Not In My Back Yard’) concerns? We’ll have to wait for the other ski boot to drop. In any event, it would be the end of an era. Hidden Valley, the metro’s only ski area, has been in operation since 1982, a very big year here: A record-setting blizzard in the winter, a World Series victory in the fall.
