THE PATH TO WORLD PEACE

 

Would that it were so simple.

There is a restaurant at St. Louis Union Station simply called The Soda Fountain. It serves kid-pleasing, bad nutrition food, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, curly fries, etc. The big draw is outrageous, huge ice cream concoctions. The one my son ordered for the table, called The King, was too much for the four of us. No one felt quarrelsome when we left.              

RING OUT THE OLD

Would that life were so simple, but after another typically miserable year in the annals of humanity any comfort is welcome. On a damp, chilly day yesterday, I took Ellie to Union Station for the afternoon. It was once one of America's major railway junctions. Now it's an overpriced mini amusement park. We had lunch at a place that offers awful burgers and fries, a cornucopia of bulk candy and elaborate ice cream dishes, some of which are laced with alcohol. So, not all bad, but is there a way we can send a shipment of our nations's best ice cream to Putin?

Remember theme day tomorrow - photo of the year.        

THEY MUST HAVE A HECK OF A DISTRIBUTION CHAIN

An unboarded shop window in The Loop. Is there a city on this planet that doesn't love ice cream? Maybe it is frowned upon in Hindu societies; someone can let us know, but then I remember seeing a Baskin-Robbins in Kathmandu. So, no, I guess, there aren't any. We know what the owners are talking about but their claim is, um, sweeping.           

Madeleine Monday

After the big parade on Saturday we stopped for lunch at a favorite place, Fountain on Locust. It is a spectacular ice cream parlor with a full bar. Where else can you go to get an ice cream martini? They also have a good selection of soups, salads and sandwiches if you need something to block the lipids and ethanol entering your blood supply too quickly.

No sooner had we walked in than Ellie found her kindergarten classmate, Michael. They jumped up and down and danced in the aisle without even having a sugar burst in them yet. Our family decided to sit on the other side of the room so we could eat our lunch without distraction.           

Thank Heavens

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An oasis of civilization in the wilds of Midtown St. Louis, relief for the hot, drained and mentally pooped. Found at Fountain on Locust, an ice cream parlor/informal restaurant/cocktail lounge. I'd never heard of it but apparently it's been around for three or four years. My son-in-law recommended it because the ice cream martinis are not to be believed. He's right.

A note to local foodies: I got an e-mail from Aimee, the local community manager for Yelp, about a restaurant promotion they are sponsoring this week. Eleven area establishments are offering a menu with a choice of three starters, three mains and three desserts or drinks for 50% off the menu price. It's worth a look. See the list of restaurants and menus here.