SHUCKERS, BUDS AND BLUES

Broadway Oyster Bar on the south edge of downtown. It's something of an institution, although the nearest source of oysters is a long way away (ain't none in the Mississippi). The beverage of choice, of course, is Budweiser and the music is way too loud for me.                  

CAJUN AND CREOLE GONE UPRIVER

The patio of the Broadway Oyster Bar downtown. It serves food in the style of southern Louisiana with its Cajun and Creole traditions, brought up the Mississippi to St. Louis. The difference between the two can be subtle. Cajuns are the descendants of Catholic French Canadians from Acadia who relocated to warmer climes after the British took over. Creole means native born to the area and could refer to people of African, French and Spanish descent. The food traditions are interwoven.

Preparing this post reminded me of the now partly demolished building a half block to camera right. Way back 12 years ago, it was the subject of what I think is my best post of all time.          

Wet Oysters

What to shoot when you have absolutely no idea what to shoot - the rain-spattered covered patio of the Broadway Oyster Bar, home of very loud rock bands, a variety of mollusks and bivalves, and all the Budweiser you can swallow. Taken from the parking lot of the White Castle across the street.

The St. Louis Fringe Festival starts this evening. Your humble photographer will be in attendance, recording it all; or, perhaps better put, all I can stay awake for. Hey, they gave me a press pass! We'll be out late tonight so first pix maybe Saturday morning U.S. Central Time.

Oh, but Saturday is also Madeleine's third birthday. Gotta squeeze that in, too.        

On Father's Day

Sunday was Father's Day in the U.S. Mrs. C and I met daughter Emily, her husband Brian and my favorite little kid in the world, Madeleine, for dinner at Broadway Oyster Bar. A good venue since it has an informal patio where junior could squirm and squeak.

One moment she was serious and searching, the next howling with laughter. But in the end she was sitting on her father's lap, where she should be.