GOOEY BUTTER BOYZ

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Lots of places have favorite local foods, and St. Louis in no exception. It’s just that ours are a little…strange. Toasted ravioli, or T Rav -  small, meat-filled ravioli, deep fried, dusted with grated parmesan and served with marinara as a dipping sauce. Cracker-thin crust pizza, cut into squares. An unusual cheese blend we call provel, a blend of provolone, swiss and white cheddar, extruded into little worm-like pieces, used on pizza and with some pastas. And then there is the diabetes bomb called gooey butter cake, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gooey_butter_cake. 

One of the Fringe acts was an old guys' rock and roll band called the Gooey Butter Boyz. It was like, return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. Honk if you get the reference.

Sorry no post yesterday. Out too late shooting, up too early to shoot more.

Hail, Hail Rock And Roll

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Native St. Louisan and legend, 82 year old Chuck Berry performed last night at the Missouri Botanical Garden. John Lennon said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'." In a sense, Chuck invented it. He entertained the audience with many of his favorites, including Maybeline, Johnnie B. Good, No Particular Place To Go, Roll Over Beethoven and, of course, Rock And Roll Music. This guy still has what it takes. The crowd went wild.

WHAT'S ON IN ST. LOUIS THIS WEEKEND: on a midsummer weekend, St. Louis artists open their studios to the public. There are 151 participants this year. It's a wonderful opportunity to see original art and talk to its creators. For the third year in a row, I'm going from one to another, asking the artists if I can take candid portraits of them with their work. (Everyone says yes.) If you're interested, look in the archives of July 2007 and 2008 for "portraits of St. Louis artists." Got some great pix today. The first portrait will be up tomorrow but I haven't decided who yet.

It Doesn't Sound Mexican

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In the midst of the Cinco de Mayo parade there was a really hot rock band. I want to tell you, they were not playing La Bamba or La Cucaracha. Their dress had modern fabrics but the music and style would have fit in at the Filmore deacdes ago (and I was a frequent habitué of the Filmore East so I know). The singer with the pineapple tee shirt has got a big Janice Joplin thing going. The guitarist in the top photo looks like he'd like to be Prince one day. I gave up on rock years ago in favor of music that had more to chew on (Michael Gordon, anyone? A little Astor Piazzola?) but this band was like childhood comfort food. You're never to old to rock and roll.

TOMORROW: Thursday Arch Series. Sure hope I can find something in the archives 'cause I ain't been down there shooting in a while.