Cold, Wet And Possibly Crazy

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A St. Louis New Year's Day tradition: a large group of people gather at the edge of the Mississippi and go water skiing. On the most recent January 1, both the air and water temperatures were just above freezing. These people are wearing wet suits covering most (but not all) of themselves. and they are doing it for a wonderful cause. The event raises funds for the Missouri Disabled Water Ski Association. They teach handicapped people, even paraplegics, how to do it and get them out on the water. That's a bunch of good people.

It all started with Santa. Sure hope he had a protective layer under his red suit. But what's with that duffel bag? It was full of cans of Monster energy drink, which he gave to spectators on the levee after his ride. Umm, corporate sponsorship. I declined it. My hands were full of photo equipment and there are enough monsters around, anyway.

Today on Downtown St. Louis 365: mo cheddah.

Thursday Arch Series

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Although it's a rare day when I don't see the Arch, it often strikes me as, well, just on the edge of unreal. What the hell is this gigantic, abstract thing sitting on the front lawn of a medium-sized post-industrial city? I've seen many of the great monuments of the world and this one might be the weirdest. It's not on human scale. It's aloof from all the tiny people below it. It lacks an obvious meaning except sheer coolness. So I cobbled together this picture as a Lensbaby HDR. Maybe I'll dream about it tonight.

Today on Downtown St. Louis 365: The Supreme Plumber.

Jellyfish Invade Grand Boulevard!

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Last Friday's First Night celebration had an oceanic theme. The reason for this escapes me since we're in the middle of the continent. In any event, there were these large, white, glowing jellyfish-like things floating up and down Grand Boulevard. It was an ingenious touch. This one looks like it wants a ticket to see Spamalot next week at the over-the-top opulent Fox Theatre, a 4,500 seat monster of a venue.

The theme was carried on by a large, elaborate sand sculpture of Neptune (I guess). His expression looks sad, like his best friend, Sponge Bob, just left and took a job at Sea World.

We're going riverboating today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

Blues For 2011

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More entertainment from First Night, the very hot but oddly named Blues Inquisition (All right! Let's give it up for Torquemada on lead guitar!). They played contemporary work, Bo Diddly and a slow country-blues version of the Rolling Stones Satisfaction that kept everyone guessing until the lyrics began. The performance was given in the sanctuary of the grand Third Baptist Church, a place I have never had the opportunity to visit. The show gave new insights on the nature of the sacred and profane.

We got day-glo office buildings today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

First Night

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They ought to call it Last Night, really. First Night is our town's family-friendly, no booze, indoor-outdoor New Year's Eve Party. It takes place in the street around the Grand Center arts and entertainment district and its many venues. Great entertainment and a lively community spirit.

These guys call themselves Buckets and Tap Shoes, performers from Minneapolis who, well, play drums on plastic and metal buckets (and the floor ant the mike stand and anything else handy) and tap dance like you've never seen before. Fabulous. They performed in the huge auditorium of the magnificent Scottish Rite Masonic Temple.

There is a view of cold justice today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

Pictures Of The Year

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The New Year's Day theme is traditionally picture of the year. Insisting on a single image brings out my dislike for authority so I have assembled a small assortment.

The top photo is the obvious first choice. It's the picture of the stairwell at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago that won first prize in a major annual photography show here. They actually gave me money.

The shots below reflect the periods of very wet weather we had in 2010. First, the approaches to the now defunct riverboat casino Admiral under the floodwaters of the Mississippi. Middle, a damp day in Forest Park in an image where I thought everything fell together perfectly. Bottom, the flood completely over the levee and just covering the bike path on the street closest to the river.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in theme day. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011 from the Crowes.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! Today marks the opening of my new year-long blog project, Downtown St. Louis 365. Stop by and join the fun!

A Day-Late Arch, A Year's End

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The Thursday Arch Series got shifted to Friday. New York City is an intense experience and it can throw off a long-ago immigrant to the Midwest like me. So, since the office closed early yesterday, I went out on the street in late afternoon and shot this.

Now 2010 is about over. My family and I have come through fine but I'm not all sanguine about the future. There are just so many of us, what, almost 7 billion? May we take 7 billion great pictures while there is air to breathe and water to drink.

Tomorrow, New Year's Day, is supposed to be our 2010 picture of the year post. I got a couple of ideas.

Sorry for the lack of comments yesterday. Our Internet and phone service at home was down for much of the evening. Curse you, AT&T.