Thursday Arch Series

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An image taken from the west side of Memorial Drive in late afternoon. I love how the north leg of the Arch is warmed by the setting sun. But we must not cross the street, not just yet.

We are thinking about warmer days and liquid colors today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

At The Orchid Show 2

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Another sort-of experimental shot from the orchid show at the Missouri Botanical Garden. I've got a dozen of these edited and up on Flickr now. Each feels a little different. I can't tell what my readers will like so I'm posting my favorites. This is a little bud, an orchid just about to pop, with an open blossom behind it. The original is pretty monochromatic, greens, gray and black. I like it better in B&W.

If you care to look at the set of these on Flickr, tell me which ones you would like to see here on the blog. Or, tell me to change the subject.

Meet the greatest plumber of them all today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

At The Orchid Show

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I rarely shoot flowers. The subject has been overworked. Too often they are good for a "gee, that's pretty" reaction and little more (with some big exceptions, of course, like Robert Mapplethorpe's floral work).

However, the big annual orchid show is in progress at the Missouri Botanical Garden and I had to check it out. What different approach could I use? A Lensbaby with extension tubes to get in close and make the pictures semi-abstract. It worked out pretty well. I hope you agree. We will see a few more of these in days to come.

By the way, a tip of the hat to Mike Hillis at St. Louis Honda for putting me in some new wheels yesterday. Good people to do business with.

Meet our new traffic reporter, Meriwether Lewis, on Downtown St. Louis 365 today.

It's The Annual Stupid Bowl Party!

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Everyone in U.S. and at least one in France (right, Olivier?) knows that the Super Bowl, the American football championship game, was played last night. Mrs. C and I have no interest in football whatever. We consider it to be a violent, crass, marketing spectacle. For at least 25 years, we've always gone out to dinner during the event. It's our own private Stupid Bowl party.

We made a good choice this year, dining at Brasserie By Niche in the Central West End. It's a spin-off of Niche, über-chef Gerard Craft's adventurous leader in the local fine dining scene. The Brasserie is warm, welcoming and a haven for Francophiles. Wonderful, satisfying Gallic country food. The service was very good. There is a broad, reasonably priced, mostly-French wine list. There in no television in the bar showing the game. It's a good value too. We'll be back.

The game is probably winding down as I write this. I don't know the score. Sorry, Olivier, but go Corsairs!

Is it an x-ray or The Terminator's femur? Find out on Downtown St. Louis 365.

The Great Hall Of Union Station: More Architectural Details

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These photos give a good idea of how the nearly-identical ends of the barrel vault are designed. I like the standing classical figures on the balcony with their lantern, balancing the arch full of their sisters above. But imagine what their arms must feel like after doing this for 116 years! One of these days I have to go back and take some shots from those balconies.

When doing a little more research online, I found that Union Station was once the largest and busiest train station in the world. All things must pass.

Today's post on Downtown St. Louis 365 considers the transformation

of a local landmark into scrap.

The Great Hall Of Union Station: Architectural Details

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To say that the barrel-vaulted main hall of Union Station has a grand sense of design is an understatement. Above, behind a pair of graceful arches at one end is the hotel front desk. My vigilant editor, Mrs. C, points out that although the property was a Hyatt for many years, it is now a Marriott. Below, the opposite end of the hall. Note the pattern of seven classically garbed women in a semicircle, holding torches high above them, and the pair of friends over the balcony in a similar pose. Maybe it represents St. Louis lighting the way to the future. Whether we succeeded is up to you.

Tarzan returns from the jungle today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

Union Station: The Allegory Window

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Back to the great hall of Union Station and one of its most beautiful features, the stained glass window displaying an allegory of the American railroads. On the left is San Francisco, in the center St. Louis and on the right New York, the major rail terminals of the day. It's nice to think that there was a time when our city could claim this position without pretense. I think we were once the fourth largest city in the country, after New York, Philadelphia and, I forget, Boston or Chicago. No more (although note that these figures are for the city proper, not metropolitan area. We do quite a lot better by that measure.)

If you believe in magic, stop by Downtown St. Louis 365 today.