Archive for the ‘Business as Usual’ Category

Lynn Davis, Amy Stegman, Dana Vedder, Megan Lynch

It should always be, as always, the most fruitful and self-indulgent time of the year and at first glance, it is. Even the Cardinals are doing well and might win it all. One soap opera has signed off and another about to become a victim of sagging ratings, while “Dirty Soap” is in the offing. Election campaigning is hitting fever pitch, Salvation Army belles will soon ring  bells over black kettles, the oompa loopas at Bissinger’s are poised for shipping chocolates, box stores that are every bit as distinctive as those in Poplar Bluff or Alton have begun festooning the counters with age-old, plastic, holiday decorations. Monsignor Sal Polizzi and his flock are celebrating the centennial of his

Susan Fadem, Ellen Futterman

beloved St. Roch Church. Crown Candy Kitchen continues to lure hundreds of people from the “neighborhood,” where residents once lived, loved and rejoiced. Plaza-Frontenac seemed like a good place to start over the weekend at an early hour when only scavengers and stockbrokers are awake. At Nieman-Marcus, the Press Club held a “Face the Nation” beauty event at which money was raised to support the club’s scholarship

Lenore Pepper, Germaine Gibbs, Joan Quicksilver

program. Experts from products provided tips for beauty and among the brands were the names of “Dermal Quench,” “Hollywood Glow” and “QuasarMD.” There was a cry from some guests: “But, I have no makeup on!” The program was helmed by Jennifer Blome, Aisha Sultan, Debra Bass, Amanda Cook and Alice Handelman. On the sidelines, Cary Schneithorst, with Molly Hyland Ittner, chirped, “My brother’s in rehab.” Margaret Gillerman seemed to know everyone there. Ellen Futterman spoke of the recent round of

Adele Zerman, Alice Handelman, Charlene Bry

departures from the Post-Dispatch, that have included Ron Cobb, Bill Coates, Matt Fernandez, and Lou Shucart. Joan Quicksilver swooned over son, Robert, who has just joined the ranks of Charter leadership. Charlene Bry, whose late ex-husband, Richie Bry, bought for her Tennis Press, which she parlayed into the Ladue News, touted her recent tome, “Ladue Found.” The dewy-eyed old-timers bonded well with the younger chic women.  Then, it was onward to dash off a few items.

Gina Galati, Cary Schneithorst, Molly Hyland Ittner

The dress shirt you sent to the laundry, tagged “Do not starch,” came back starched, tag and all. . .Dr. Oz on Channel 5: “Do you look before you flush?”. . .The meteorologist on Channel 4, who proclaimed on a chilly morning, “You’ll need to warm your biscuits this morning”. . .The news reader on Channel 2 asked, “Do you let your kids jump on the bed?. . .A lovely Victorian house being steel-balled to death. . .The stranger who falls asleep next to you at the Fox and puts her head on your shoulder: her hair is lacquered with goo. . .A tourist seeking directions that you can’t answer. . .The nine out of 10 poker players who ask, “Who dealt?” just dealt.

For more than 20 years, Walmart has been anxious to open shop in Florissant. The city council did a thumbs-down about a year ago (9-0). At that time, the big box store asked for  TIF (Tax Increment Financing).  Now, insiders say the company will request financial assistance from the CID (Community Improvement District). Walmart is now docketed for a Sept. 19 hearing with the Planning & Zoning fat cats. . .Michael Neidorff and Thelma Steward have been beckoned as Variety Club’s 2012 “Man and Woman of the Year” and will reign during next year’s 80th anniversary of the do-right club.  The meeting of Variety Club’s board Thursday will feature a sneak preview of the club’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which will take the stage of the Touhill Performing Arts Center Oct. 21-23.  An online documentary will follow two of Variety’s kids, who are new to the production. . .And, the national preparer of tax returns, H&R Block, will reportedly no longer offer loans tied to the size of customers’ returns.

FT. LAUDERDALE – To escape from the record heat in St. Louis, the columnist fled to the cool beaches here only to learn that Florida lags the nation in recovery.  During fashion week in NYC, there is Lord & Terry Boutique here for the trendy. Low-light lawns are thriving with Palmetto grass. New breeds of specialty brews are Monk in the Trunk,  an organic ale, and Brewzzie.  Timeshare resale fraud is everywhere. A 73 year-old lost his job at Lowe’s over a cigarette break.  Brick of America is emulating the logo of the beleagured bank.  Hospitals are using high-tech security to cut fraud and ID theft via images of the patients’ irises and palms.  New theater venues abound. Senior citizens are told to walk and quit smoking to cut the chance of Alzheimer’s. Homeowners have been alerted that their insurance may not cover risks as trampolines and unfenced pools.  A television campaign touts the upcoming gig of Dolly Parton at the Hard Rock.  Hard times for Parton? In the commercials she resembles “Baby Jane.”  Another commercial spot touts “Gulf World,” pitching the joys of Mississippi and Louisiana, “where you can stay in an intimate lodge right on the water.” Hello?

THE COLUMNIST RETURNS ON THURSDAY

Meth use has now reportedly been linked to Parkinson’s disease, according to the A.M.A. . . .The F.C.C. has eliminated the fairness doctrine in a rules shake-up. . .Late iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel has been labeled a “Nazi sympathizer” in Hal Vaughan’s new pageturner, “Sleeping With The Enemy: Coco Chanel’s Secret War,” due from Knopf’s. . .”The Daily Show” correspondent John Oliver has been inked for 8 p.m., Sept. 2 at the Edison Theater at WashU.  Oliver is also known for his stand-up on Comedy Central. . .Dean of WashU’s Law School and prof Kent Stveryd has been named chairman of the Council of the American Bar Association’s section on legal education and admission to the Bar. . .At SLU, future Biliken/incoming freshman tennis player Brooke Urzendowski got ink in the current issue of Sports Illustrated. . .The University of Missouri, prof Miguel Carranza has been tagged to teach new Latino/Chicano. . .Filmmaker and philanthropist Abigail Disney will screen her film, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” on Sept. 1 at the Missouri History Museum as part of the Nine Network’s Community Cinema Series. . . Mike Myers is gearing up for the fourth “Austin Powers” epic. . .Salivating for a house in Malibu? Brad Pitt’s castle is on the sale block for $13.7 million.

The City by the Bay’s Stone & Youngberg has been bought by St. Louis-based Stifel Financial. . .Very few candidates have filed for Mo. Supreme Court Mike Wolf’s seat. . Sarah Dick, a state assistant attorney general, will serve as coordinator between the American Disabilities Act and Chris Koster’s office. . .Columbia, Mo.’s popular Chevy’s Fresh Mex abruptly shuttered yesterday, three days after its franchise owner,T&J Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 this week.  T&J operates seven Chevy’s restaurants in our town. . .Former Ambassador to Belgium and Republican heavy Sam Fox said, “We’ve already raised $1.2 million through June for Mitt Romney.”  (Romney is the GOP front-runner for nomination as president in the 2012 election).  With Fox was his wife, Marilyn, who was celebrating her birthday, along with interior designers Lenore and Edwin Pepper, who were toasted on their 58th wedding anniversary.  BTW.  Some observers noticed that Sam might have undergone a few nips and tucks along the way.  Earlier in the evening, it was a quick stop at the Life Skills’ golf tourney auction and dinner at Meadowbrook C.C.  That’s where Clayco exec Judy Alexander-Weber said her boss, Bob Clark, and his children are in Africa where they hope to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. She was huddled with Jeanne Sellenschuetter and Wendy Sullivan, president of Life Skills, who said the auction/dinner fetched more than $300,000 from the sold-out event at which 450 guests attended.

The Fisker Karma auto, assembled in Finland, is due this summer in the showrooms of Plaza Motors in Creve Coeur, according to Jeff Meadows, g.m. of Plaza’s Lexus. The Fisker is the first true electric vehicle and made by the same company that turns out the Porsche Cayman and Boxster.  It’s price-tagged at about $90k. Meadows tipped the columnist while being hailed at Il Bel Lago on his 47th birthday by his wife, Kelly, and St. Louis magazine publisher Leslie Tunney.