Author Archive

Cinema at Citygarden, organized by Cinema St. Louis and funded by the Gateway Foundation, has beckoned winners in its juried competition that’s open to area filmmakers. Winners are: Mike McCubbins, director of “Elm”;  Virginia Lee Hunter, director of “Birds on a Wire” and Thomas Malkowicz, director of “The Current.”

Emily Benatar, the Washington University freshman from Palo Alto, CA, died last night at Barnes Hospital from meningococcal disease, which is known for causing meningitis. Her family was at her bedside.

In an unusual move, the Truman Library and Museum will soon give $56.63 to a George Lund.  Lund, now 80, for years faithfully delivered The Independence Examiner to Harry Truman.  Truman left town, however, without settling up and now the 77 year-old bill (that includes interest) will finally be resolved. . .Freelancer Gloria Shur Bilchik, who edits OccasionalPlanet.org, may be happy at week’s end when the legislature ends.  She notes that “since casinos became legal in Missouri in 1992, we’ve seen one broken promise after another” so she opposes a now seemingly doomed proposal to let gamblers borrow from casinos. . .At 56, St. Louis native Christine Brewer “sounds in her prime, her enormous yet plush and lyrically pliant voice ideal for Wagner and Strauss soprano roles,” though lately, she “seems to prefer recitals and concerts with orchestras over opera, including one yesterday at Lincoln Center, according to the N.Y. Times. . .Noted nature photog Marian Brickner - whose work has appeared in National Geographic Kids, the Missouri Conservationist and countless textbooks and art calendars – will be speaking at several county library locations in weeks ahead. . .In a surprising stat, today’s USA Today notes that Illinois has the third highest Mexican-born population, with 711,000 (behind Texas and California but ahead of Arizona). . .At the Public Library of Science blog, writer Seth Mnookin reviiews “Meandering Mississippi” by Post-turned-Beacon scribes Robert Koenig and Mary Delach Leonard.

All three Republicans challenging incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill are quoted in a page one story in today’s New York Times.  Under the headline, “Tea Party Focus Turns To Senate and Shake-Up,” the article says “a number of candidates for the upper chamber “seek to press an agenda that’s to the right of minority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell”. . .During a debate in St. Joseph, Sarah Steelman reportedly attacked John Brunner for his 2004 drunk driving arrest, according to a statement from the Missouri Democratic Party. . .Is there no one in the Ed Martin campaign who knows how to edit?  Stretching to inject President Obama’s personal view on gay marriage into the Missouri attorney general’s race, Martin challenges his opponent Chris Koster to “publicly say right now (if) he supports Obama’s position for same-sex marriage, or the position Missourians were one of the first states to take in 2004 by over a 10 percent margin.”

A new book, “The Family Coreleone,” is soon due in the marketplace.  Paramount Pictures has been in touch with the Mario Puzzo estate to produce it.  The tome will trace Vito Corleone’s rise to power in the Depression era.

There’s an unquenchable thirst and spirit in our town for baseball heroes. It was stirring Friday night at Busch Stadium for Tony La Russa at the retirement of the former Cardinals manager’s number 10  uniform. Surrounded by heroes of past and present at the ceremony, he stood at the lectern in the field to graciously acknowledge Vesuvian cheers from fans. Pulses rose wherever he went – both before and after praise from Adam Wainwright, team owner Bill DeWitt, Jr.; Joe Torre and a host of others. At a VIP reception in the Westin Hotel (where many rooms overlook parking lots), there were those upon whom we rested our hopes and half-aspirations. Joe Torre (Cardinals manager ’90-’95): “Tony brought in a new style of playing. The team is royalty.” Torre pointed out how he misses so much in our town including Giovanni Gallati at Dominic’s on The Hill. Andy Benes (’00-’02) on Albert Pujols’ lackluster start with the L.A. Angels: “He’s away from his family and with a different league.”  Dennis Eckersly (’96-’97) on Pujols: “Everybody goes through something, but he’ll be fine.” Mayor Francis Slay was huddled with Cardinals’ president Bill DeWitt, III and the team’s media master, Ron Watermon. Of Slay, DeWitt said, “We’re a big supporter of Francis.” Slay countered, “I only need $1 million more (for his re-election campaign).” In the Red Bird Roost were: Bob Gibson; Walt Jocketty; Jim Edmonds; Red Schoendienst; and Dave Duncan. Conspicuously no-shows at the festivities: Ozzie Smith and Whitey Herzog. Why? Only asking.

Brad Lakin has moved his law firm HQ to the 330 Mansion House from East Alton.  Brad’s firm now has offices here, Phoenix and retains offices in East Alton.  Lakin has dubbed the firm SL Chapman LLC in memory of his late partner, former Judge Charlie Chapman. . .Lodging, Hospitality, Management (LHM) chief Bob O’Loughlin is eyeballing a purchase of the Union Station Marriott, according to those in the know. . .State Rep. (7th Dist) Stacey Newman has been selected by the MO Dem Party to be a party leader/elected official delegate to the Democratic National Convention and two days later received a special invite from the White House to attend the Jewish American Heritage Month Reception on May 30. “I’m still in shock,” she said. . .In one of the more unusual campaign promises on campaign literature, state senate candidate Jeanette Mott Oxford pledges to “close a loophole that lets some insurance companies to refuse to cover adopted children”. . .Artists are painting traffic boxes in downtown Jackson, Mississippi as part of a new public arts initiative launched by Mayor Harvey Johnson. He says he was inspired to do so after a visit to Clayton, MO

Roxanne’s was the place to see and be seen at this year’s first Party in the Park Wednesday evening. Roger Spearman, chief  party sponsor and topper of  A-1 Private Investigations, was spotted holding court on Roxanne’s newly expanded patio, while sampling the product of co-sponsor Purus Vodka with its exec Mike Hopson and his wife, Courtney Hennessey Hopson. Languishing on Roxy’s patio were Kelly Davis and Matt Thomason of Commerce Bank; Elco Chevrolet’s Jim McCormich; CBC ball coash Bob McCormack; ESPN’s Jay Bilas; Carolina Watkins; Krueger’s mixologist Shelby Leistler; classic car maven Daniel Schmitt; insurer Ned McLain, IV; Riverbend’s Sam Kogos; steady as they go Grant and Michelle Williams; attorney Cynthia Howlett; barrister David Gregory; Farmer’s Insurance’s John Snyder and Myra Lynch, who recently ankled her post as GM of Barrister’s. Next door on Miso’s patio, Rick Berg sampled sushi with his family and host Brad Beracha, while just a block away Ladue Mayor Tony Bommarito snorfed down pizza with barolo at Sam and Vito Racanelli’s Mad Tomato. Quoth Hizzoner:  ”I’m not waiting in line for wine that isn’t served in a plastic cup – this is much better!”  At I Fratellini, Connor Dunlop of Tad Edwards’ investment firm canoodled at the bar with his love, Laura Beuttenmuller of LuLu Lemon clothing.