st. louis
As construction kicks off to rearrange Kiener Plaza downtown to bring it more into alignment with the Gateway Arch grounds and make the area overall more accessible to pedestrians, maybe they could get rid of The Runner, one of the most cringe-worthy statues in all of St. Louis. He holds both of his arms unnaturally in front, when one should be swinging back and the other forward during his stride. It’s at least ergonomically unnerving, if not physically impossible. Well, plans are to renovate the fountain during the $19 million project, but the statue will keep running in place, in a stride that looks like something out of Monty Python’s, “The Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch. Some in the metro may not be as flummoxed by The Runner as they are over the statue of Stan Musial outside Busch Stadium, in which Stan the Man stands in the batter’s box, ready to smack the cover off yet another baseball. But the statue doesn’t accurately recreate his famous stance, and it’s out of proportion. His bat looks more like a billy club. But, so much for art critique. The project to make the grounds around and beyond the Arch more aesthetically pleasing and accessible continues apace, with the plaza to become a collection of park spaces, a broad lawn dotted with what look in a rendering to be dogwoods behind The Runner, with the Old Courthouse in the background. It’s all projected for completion next year, and is a significant element in the CityArchRiver concept for the grounds, which includes a major renovation and expansion of the museum. In one of the most ambitious parts of the plan, park space now covers the span over I-55/70: Luther Ely Smith Square, ‘the park over the highway’ that was completed in November. The area is more inviting for citizens of the metro and should prove to be much more visitor-friendly, too. Let’s hope the new fountain continues to burble and spray red or blue water, depending on the fortunes of our beloved sports teams. Overall, the project carries a price tag of $380 million and will make the iconic, glorious Arch much easier to approach and marvel at as our town’s center of attention. In money news, the enterprise has reached its goal of raising the funds necessary for its 2017 completion, the lion’s share of it private monies, the rest from a 2013 sales tax approved by voters.
central west end
Forest Park Forever has been just about the best thing to happen to the verdant jewel of the CWE since the 1904 World’s Fair. Now, as part of a year-long celebration of its 30th anniversary, the organization has launched a special initiative for 2016: The Forest Park Forever Artist in Residence Program. The main goals are:
- To celebrate Forest Park Forever’s 30th anniversary by bringing attention to the park’s natural beauty, cultural and historical significance and the work of Forest Park Forever and its partnership with the City of St. Louis
- To embrace the park’s existing role as one of the country’s most inspiring open-air studios, and
- To provide the public with a window on the process of talented regional artists and the creative possibilities of Forest Park.
There will be up to three residencies available for metro artists of all disciplines and backgrounds—from poets and choreographers to painters and photographers and beyond. (Hip-hop in the Spanish pavilion?) Each artist will receive a $3,000 stipend from Forest Park Forever to produce their work or series of works, plus a budget to create a public event at the end of their residency. Artists will be expected to work on-site in Forest Park for three weeks, 10 hours per week, and are encouraged to collaborate and learn from the horticulturists, gardeners and other professionals from Forest Park Forever and the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. Residencies will take place between May and September. None of the artwork created by the selected artists will be of a permanent nature in Forest Park. (Well, what if someone builds a bronze?)
According to St. Louis Arc, state Sen. Eric Schmitt is a hero for kids with disabilities. The Glendale legislator has introduced legislation in the state capitol to benefit kids with autism, among other things. The nonprofit will be presenting its 2016 Superhero for Kids award—and a superhero cape—to Schmitt on April 21 at an eponymous fundraiser at the Palladium Saint Louis. Schmitt’s first bill was a 2010 law requiring health insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism in children. The second was the passage of the Missouri ABLE Act in 2015, which allows people with disabilities and their families to set up a savings account for disability-related expenses, so they can live with greater financial security. The Superheroes for Kids event raises funds and creates awareness for St. Louis Arc children’s programs. At this cocktail gala, sponsored by World Wide Technology and Lion Forge Comics, guests are invited to channel their inner comic book heroes by dressing in superhero-chic costumes.
Plug ’er in and go! After she charges up, that is. Kirkwood has budgeted for charging stations for electric cars, so take note, Tesla drivers. The city’s budget includes two charging stations and it also is purchasing an electric vehicle for the city. It will be operated, natch, by Kirkwood’s electric department. Charging stations are proposed for several locations in town, perhaps the Farmers Market and the Wal-Mart parking lot. They will accept credit cards for payment. I, for one, am waiting for a solar-powered electric car with a windmill attached … although my junior-high physics tells me there’s no such thing as a perpetual-motion machine.
university city
Bring on the panties and the pasties! If you don’t like the sound of that, you won’t like the new Social House slated for the Delmar Loop. The name may sound harmless for a restaurant and bar, but its Soulard location has featured topless women wearing body paint and underpants for the last few years. This new location has it expanding to U. City, and I have to point out: People, the fires of hell have not burned down Soulard yet, nor are they likely to scorch U. City anytime soon. So far, business owners are not exactly up in arms about it, but some don’t think it’s the best type of business for the Loop—at 6655 Delmar Blvd., no less, near where the Saturday farmers market holds court. The space most recently has been occupied by Market Pub House. I’ll probably check it out, you know, for the social aspect. (I used to subscribe to Playboy for the articles and fine fiction.)