A Bit Forlorn

It's hard to say why the organizers of our Mardi Gras events keep up the Tuesday night parade. I'm pretty sure it's run by a for-profit business (the website is mardigrasinc.com) so there has to be a commercial reason. There's nobody out on the street downtown on a winter week night. The attendance was so small that the occasion had a certain pathos.

On the other hand, Washington Avenue has gotten so many bars, restaurants and entertainment venues in the last 10 or 20 years that it has created a destination.  A lot of young people are attracted to it but in the warm months the spillover into the street can get, um, let's say, intimidating. That's city life.                             

The Little Parade

The people who organize the local Mardi Gras stuff have to do something on the main night. There is a tepid parade on Washington Avenue, apparently for the benefit of the many bars and restaurants up and down the street. It lasted 15 minutes, tops. You can see the size of the crowd. Still, somebody was out there trying.                       

A Walk Along Washington Avenue: 3.14159, With Mozzarella And Basil

It's not like our town has a particular mathematical bent. π is a very popular local chain of upscale pizzerias. I'm sure some people don't get it but, if needed, there's always a Pizza Hut somewhere nearby. Good stuff, by the way. Mrs. C and I recommend the thin crust. The deep dish pizzas are belly bombers.

This is their newest branch, at 6th and Washington.

A Walk Along Washington Avenue: Thursday Arch Series

You can see the Arch from the eastern end of Washington. The view is south down Memorial Drive. (I have never been able to find out who or what is being remembered.) Lots of geometry going on.   

A Walk Along Washington Avenue: 3 The MAC

The old headquarters of the Missouri Athletic Club has sat for a century at the corner of Washington and Broadway. Its stated mission is "to be the premier athletic, social and dining club for business, professional and civic leaders and their families in the St. Louis area." I think that means a place for monied white guys to go to the gym and bar, have a steak and cut business deals away from the riff-raff. Of course, they admit women and people of color these days but everyone has to pay to play. I do not belong. As Groucho Marx said, I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

The distinctive logo is known at the cherry diamond. The top and middle pictures were taken moments apart, just before and after the lights were turned on at twilight. I can't decide which I like better.

TOMORROW:  it's Thursday, and you can see the Arch from at least one place on Washington.

Again, sorry for so few comments. It's nutso month at work. 

A Walk Along Washington Avenue: 2

This 20 foot / 6 meter stainless steel sculpture has been at the corner of 8th and Washington since 1976. Its title is Synergism. Quite a few years ago I represented one of the two co-designers. Before I knew this was his work he simply told me that he was a sculptor. I asked him what kind. "A great one!" he immediately shot back. You can form your own opinion. He's got several pieces around town.

A Walk Along Washington Avenue: 1

I needed a project, a basis to gather some new material. Sitting in my office yesterday on yet another Sunday, an idea occurred to me. I'd go for a walk, or a series of them, down Washington Avenue downtown, from the foot of Eads Bridge to 18th Street. It's a strip that has gone from ruin to revival, a nice summary of what St. Louis was, is and can be, with wonderful old architecture as a bonus. This will take some time and many visits.

We start with our convention center, officially named America's Center (because we're in the middle of the country. Get it? Har har!) The top shot shows the edge of the plexiglass awning over the main entrance on Washington with the U. S. Bank building across the street. Below, the view east on Washington with the Center on the left. The last picture is of the corner of the building, featuring the city's current marketing slogan: St. Louis Is All Within Reach. Again, because we're in the middle. I wonder how much they paid a consultant to come up with that one.

Blog posts for the rest of January may be intermittent and comments on your blogs may be less frequent. I've got the heaviest schedule on my professional calendar this month that I can remember. At least if you're self-employed, like I am, it's better than being idle.