Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

in today’s New York Times, the head of the its Washington bureau, David Leonhardt, claims “The 2016 Election (is) Already Upon Us.” He notes that four of our last six presidents have been governors and postulates that several governors and ex-governors “may be potential future presidential candidates,” among them Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Deval Patrick  of Massachusetts, Mark Warner and Tim Kane of Virginia, Andrew Cuomo of New York, Christine Gregoire of Washington,John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Jay Nixon of Missouri.”

More than a few patrons attending the hilarious Lewis Black show at the Peabody Opera House were miffed. What were the planners thinking? Outdoors there was pelting rain and there was nary a place to park. Some waited unwittingly in the valet line to reach the parking crew. One of the attendants said they could not park there unless they had loge seats. “They should’ve had a 1 percent only sign so we could tug our forelocks and look elsewhere,” complained a patron. A Blues hockey game began an hour earlier so there was no parking space on the street for miles around. Others drove to the Sheraton Hotel parking garage to find a space. As Lewis Black might’ve said, “Are you f—— nuts?”

All we seem to be doing these days is saying goodbye to friends of our region. Ah, if the walls could talk inside the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), they’d be still mourning the loss of Paul Ha.  Since he left CAM as inaugural director, he joined the List Visual Arts Center at MIT.  About 400 fans from throughout the country  toasted him during  the CAM gala at the Four Seasons for his many achievements. (Since 2003, he lured 223 artists to CAM.)  Two artists got the spotlight as an oil on canvas of Ha by gallery owner Philip Slein was unveiled. In the background of the portrait is one by Ha’s wife, Eva Lundsager.

Gene and Paula Sherrill with Andy Love

Hundreds of staunch Republicans headed into the sterile Drury Plaza Chesterfield to rally support for Ann Wagner, who is running for 2nd Cong. District. As they streamed toward the Drury entrance, the GOP’ers were greeted by an aide, who handed them brochures advertising John Brunner’s bid for U.S. Senate. Before the rally began upstairs, major donors gathered in the bowel of the Drury for a “roundtable” discussion with Huckabee and Wagner. The rally began upstairs with former political reporter and KFTK 97.1 Radio’s Jamie Allman doing emcee chores, which included a straw poll of the crowd on their choices for GOP prez nominee.

Richard Weinstein, Ruth Trousdale, Karen Mohan Day

Rick Santorum’s name garnered the majority of raised hands. Allman commented, “He could win Missouri and the caucuses.” On the sidelines, stellar and sassy Suzie Spence directed photo shoots with Huckabee and her husband, Dave, who hopes to succeed Gov. Jay Nixon.  Huckabee joked, “Why anyone wants to go to Congress is beyond me.” Asked by the columnist if he’ll ever run again for the White House, Huckabee replied, “I might take a shot at it.”  The former Arkansas governor, whose namesake talk show airs on FOX News, fell short in the 2008 contest. He hugged Wagner and began his speech with the salvo, “What Kim Kardashian said to Kris Humphries, ‘I won’t keep you long!’”

Lincoln Carper, Alex and Noah Brandt

Wagner, the former Ambassador to Luxembourg, told the crowd, “Let’s cut up the government’s credit card . .Keep Obama neutered.”  Later, Jefferson College prof of political science Patrick Johnson was cornered in the lobby and said of his students, “They’re very Democratic and not traditional Republicans.”  Wagner cheerleaders in the crowd inhaling the buffet of potato chips and pretzels: defense contractor (Sentrus) Richard Weinstein; Karen Mohan Day; Patrick Johnson, Laura Klessner; Lincoln Carper with Alex and Noah Brandt; State Rep. Sue Allen with Matt Schumann; Paula and Gene Sherill; Mike Sansone, Marian Nunn; Ann’s brother-in-law and son John and Stephen Wagner and Ann Wagner’s mom, Ruth Trousdale, who recalled her daughter’s leadership as a 14 year-old staffer at the family’s CarpetTime on Manchester Road.

Catherine Hanaway

John and Stephen Wagner

Ann Wagner

Dave and Suzie Spence

Matt Schumann and Sue Allen

Dave and Suzie Spence with Mike Huckabee

With as few as 6,000 hotel rooms in greater Indianapolis available for Sunday’s Big Game bookings, the rates have soared to historic figures. A downtown pillow is $1,900 for a single room at a Comfort Inn; $4,250 a night at the Marriott – both with a 4-night minimum plus a hospitality tax. An RV space goes for $50 a night including water, electric and sewer. For the upcoming Summer Olympics in London, the rate for a room at the Park Lane Hilton, one of the priciest in the world, goes for one-third of the Marriott’s rate.

The Office for International Students and Scholars has reported that 182 undergrad students from China have been accepted for admission to WashU in the class of 2015 -  from 29 a decade ago.

Chocolates for Valentine’s Day is traditionally a winning ingredient for romance. But Chocolate Ale!?! It’s a surprising hit from Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing. Because of the overwhelming demand when Boulevard Chocolate Ale was rolled out last Valentine’s Day, production was more than tripled for 2012, to some 4,500 cases. Precious kegs were tapped this week across Missouri, but many are already running dry. From Boulevard’s own website’s “Sensory Profile” for the limited brew: “Chocolate Ale is full of surprises, beginning with a glowing amber hue. The aroma is given over to earthy, fruity cocoa, with just a hint of hops. Smooth layers of dark chocolate intertwine with threads of caramel, vanilla, and nutty malt as the flavor warms and rounds to a bittersweet finish.” So scarce is Boulevard Chocolate Ale that the brewery has an online “Beer Finder” by ZIP Code for its brands. A quick check this morning  suggested Boulevard Chocolate Ale MAY be available at St. Louis outlets including Vin De Set, Triumph Grill, Atomic Cowboy, Local Harvest Grocery, Krekeler Market, Starr’s Market, Friar Tuck Beverage and The Wine & Cheese Place.