Archive for the ‘In Our Town’ Category

Seventeen businesses and organizations have opened in The Grove since 2010 and at least five more are on the way in 2012.  “I’ve never seen the Grove that crowded before, the sidewalks were filled like people moving from venue to venue,” cited the Atomic Cowboy’s Chip Schloss. “It felt like the quarter in New Orleans.”  Beginning the New Year right – nothing like curing a hangover with yoga – at the new Urban Breath Yoga on Manchester Road. New also are No Coast Skateboards, Sameem Afghan Restaurant and Catering and soon – O’Shay’s Irish Pub and Soho Restaurant & Lounge.

Julia "J.J." Stupp and Karen Carroll

Shortly after her late husband, Brent Irl Greenberg - aka “BIG” – was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, his wife Robin discovered him weeping at his desk and handling some items and he said, “These are what I want buried with me.” Among them were photos of their marriage, granddaughter and of Brent with his son Jay, taken in Brazil where Jay owns property.

Lisa Gates Norwood, Rita McMillan, Charlotte Ottley, Michael McMillan

She made the promise and did so. Robin recently compiled anecdotes of hers and Brent’s dearest friends in a self-published book, “A BIG Tribute,” and dedicated it to To all those who knew and loved him.” A crowd of those who knew and loved him gathered at Roxanne’s in Clayton to toast the book’s distribution and to recollect memories of Brent. On hand for the buffet were Phyllis and Sanford Goffstein, Judy Blum, Lois Kaplan and Jay with his family who flew here from their base in San Francisco for the event. . .

Phyllis and Sanford Goffstein

That was yesteryear KMOX gm Karen Carroll chatting about her Feb. 15 climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro with heiress Julia  “J.J.” Stupp at Annie Gunn’s. Carroll still owns some Sylvan Learning Centers and has launched KCI Enterprise a private equity company. . .At Brio’s Tuscan Grill St. Louis License Collector Mike McMillan hosted dinner for his mom, Rita, Charlotte Ottley, who handles communications for his office and urges him to run for mayor and Lisa Gates Norwood. ..Restaurateur Tony Pietoso and wife, Marilyn, have agreed to disagree.

Jay and Robin Greenberg

Lois Kaplanl and Judy Blum

GOP presidential candidate in ’08 and ordained Baptist minister Mike Huckabee will attend the rally for Ann Wagner at 5:30 p;m., Feb. 2 at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Chesterfield.

More than $23 million of unclaimed property has been returned during the first six months of fiscal 2012, says Mo. State Treasurer Clint Zweifel. “The amount is a 31 percent increase over the same record-setting period the previous year,” he wrote. . .The City of Dellwood has requested assistance from the St. Louis County cops and additional county officers are temporarily detached to Dellwood beginning today, according to county Chief Tim Fitch. . .Clayton barrister, Albert Watkins, who usually bombards media with emails: “‘Watkin’s World” airs on Fridays, 7-9 a.m. on KFNS FM 100.7″‘. . .From the “Stuff Journalists Like” blog: “New Year’s resolution for reporters: (1) Dinner can’t be anything that can be ordered by the number or in a drive-thru. (2) Quit smoking (unless accompanied by drinking). (3) Work on making bar tab less than rent. (4) Drink less at work, and (5) Appreciate the fact you still have a job in journalism.”

Wonderful scene at Herbie’s Vintage ’72 last night. Great food and a smorgasbord of fascinating people there. Among them was Ryan Juneau, president of Baton Rouge-based Triomphe, a development firm. He explained his visit here was to scout the land behind the old St. Luke’s Hospital, 5535 Delmar Blvd., for construction of an office complex. The old St. Luke’s became a hospital in 1903 and subsequently became Regional Hospital, St. Louis ConnectCare and was shut down in 2002.  Lately, it became an urgent care center. Juneau’s target for the complex might work well given its proximity to the sterilized and endless BJC campuses that make you feel like you’re in an Antonioni film.

as I drove aimlessly northward on Union Boulevard.  Amazing how those pre-fire houses have survived as have Soldan High School, Clark School, the old YMHA, Krumenacher’s Pharmacy and farther north – the neighborhood movie houses such as the Will Rogers. Our town boasted of a bevy of neighborhood movie theaters such as the Plymouth, Powhatan, Ivanhoe, Rio, Fairy Airdome, Victory, Wellston, Tower, Norside, Ritz, Armo, Lindell, Pageant, Tivoli, Varsity and Bess Shulter’s Columbia Theater on The Hill.  Reared within the neighborhood of St. Barbara’s Parish, I can never forget learning the basics of basketball from the late NBA player, Ed Macauley, with an assist by St. Barbara’s spiritual leader the Rev. John Shockley in the church’s backyard. The City: a gorgeous mess and all things to all people!