The reported oldest African-American community in the state of Illinois lies just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. It's the tiny community of Brooklyn, Illinois, originally known as "Lovejoy".
For years, Brooklyn has mostly been known for its seedy collection of strip clubs, built along Illinois Route 3. However, venture into its residential area, and you will discover a mostly tidy, quiet, almost rural-feeling, small town.
Today, Brooklyn has a major new park on its eastern boundary, and with the planned realignment of Route 3 to coincide with plans for the new I-70 Mississippi River Bridge, the little town of Brooklyn will someday have a much more visible and inviting appearance to people travelling into the St. Louis area.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Friday, August 26, 2005
STL: Even our fog is friendlier....
Today on the morning news, the reporters were all talking about the heavy fog. KMOX hosts were reporting that from their perch on Memorial Drive, they couldn't even see the Arch. Little do they know how fortunate we are.
Out in California, especially their Central Valley, which is a veritable boomtown of new housing developments, they have serious fog. They call it "tule fog".
During their frequent tule fog episodes (nearly daily during many months of the year), the fog is so thick that drivers cannot distinguish their home from their neighbor's while driving down their own block. That is tf they can even make it home...
This is the land of the 100-car highway pileup. These horrible accidents are usually caused by white-out fog conditions. Cars are hurtling down the highway at 50-70 MPH, with sight distances of less than 100 feet.
When the accident starts, you can't see it...all you can do is hear it. And you have no way of knowing which way to turn to avoid being the next in a nightmare chain reaction car accident.
So, dear local reporters, keep on reporting about how heavy the fog is in St. Louis, but know that even when it comes to our fog, St. Louis is a pretty easy to manage place.
Out in California, especially their Central Valley, which is a veritable boomtown of new housing developments, they have serious fog. They call it "tule fog".
During their frequent tule fog episodes (nearly daily during many months of the year), the fog is so thick that drivers cannot distinguish their home from their neighbor's while driving down their own block. That is tf they can even make it home...
This is the land of the 100-car highway pileup. These horrible accidents are usually caused by white-out fog conditions. Cars are hurtling down the highway at 50-70 MPH, with sight distances of less than 100 feet.
When the accident starts, you can't see it...all you can do is hear it. And you have no way of knowing which way to turn to avoid being the next in a nightmare chain reaction car accident.
So, dear local reporters, keep on reporting about how heavy the fog is in St. Louis, but know that even when it comes to our fog, St. Louis is a pretty easy to manage place.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Use of Eminent Domain Debated in Missouri
St. Louis has long relied on the power of eminent domain to help redevelop blighted neighborhoods and properties. Typically when this is done, it only happens when there is community support, passed by an ordinance of the City of St. Louis addressing the specific blight situation.
Nonetheless, there are some members of the community who consider the use of eminent domain as denying private citizens their individual property rights.
However, when a private owner has abandoned his or her property, and the property has become a neighborhood nuisance, or stands in the way of a neighborhood revitalization effort, shouldn't communities have the right to authorize the use of the eminent domain to preserve or improve their neighborhoods?
Nonetheless, there are some members of the community who consider the use of eminent domain as denying private citizens their individual property rights.
However, when a private owner has abandoned his or her property, and the property has become a neighborhood nuisance, or stands in the way of a neighborhood revitalization effort, shouldn't communities have the right to authorize the use of the eminent domain to preserve or improve their neighborhoods?
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Little League World Series a Sham; They Don't Play Real Baseball like St. Louis Kids
On ESPN, days and nites are filled with continuing coverage of the Little League World Series. But what you can't tell by watching the games on television is that these boys are not playing real baseball. They're playing a watered-down version of the game.
Players in the Little League World Series are at the "12 and under" age level. By this age, in St. Louis, all big league rules apply. Players are allowed to steal bases, lead off, and try for first base on a dropped third strike by the catcher. This makes for a faster, tougher, more challenging game of baseball. In fact in St. Louis, the real world rules of baseball take effect by the time kids are in the third or fourth grade.
Not so in the Little League World Series. In this nationally-televised tournament, players are not allowed to steal bases, lead off, nor try for first on a dropped third strike. These rules substantially slow down the game and take tremendous pressure off of the pitchers and catchers -- which are at the heart of the action. Not only that, the outfield fences are positioned a mere 165 feet from home plate, turning mediocre hitters into possible home run threats.
In St. Louis, youth baseball is the real thing. As a result, teams are more competitive, and players develop much sharper skills. The Kirkwood Athletic Association operates one of the areas more competitive programs. In Kirkwood, the off-season draft and recruiting of players is in full wing.
For parents and players seeking a less competitive approach to baseball, the Catholic Youth Coucil, or CYC offers a variety of youth sports. Youth need not be Catholic to play. Around St. Louis there are many other recreational baseball programs.
However, as a young player develops his or her abilities, they are often eager to advance to more competitive programs, and they can find their fill in St. Louis.
One of the reasons we left the San Francisco Bay Area for St. Louis was to be able raise our son in a true baseball environment. Little did we know at the time how true that really was -- at so many different levels.
Players in the Little League World Series are at the "12 and under" age level. By this age, in St. Louis, all big league rules apply. Players are allowed to steal bases, lead off, and try for first base on a dropped third strike by the catcher. This makes for a faster, tougher, more challenging game of baseball. In fact in St. Louis, the real world rules of baseball take effect by the time kids are in the third or fourth grade.
Not so in the Little League World Series. In this nationally-televised tournament, players are not allowed to steal bases, lead off, nor try for first on a dropped third strike. These rules substantially slow down the game and take tremendous pressure off of the pitchers and catchers -- which are at the heart of the action. Not only that, the outfield fences are positioned a mere 165 feet from home plate, turning mediocre hitters into possible home run threats.
In St. Louis, youth baseball is the real thing. As a result, teams are more competitive, and players develop much sharper skills. The Kirkwood Athletic Association operates one of the areas more competitive programs. In Kirkwood, the off-season draft and recruiting of players is in full wing.
For parents and players seeking a less competitive approach to baseball, the Catholic Youth Coucil, or CYC offers a variety of youth sports. Youth need not be Catholic to play. Around St. Louis there are many other recreational baseball programs.
However, as a young player develops his or her abilities, they are often eager to advance to more competitive programs, and they can find their fill in St. Louis.
One of the reasons we left the San Francisco Bay Area for St. Louis was to be able raise our son in a true baseball environment. Little did we know at the time how true that really was -- at so many different levels.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Robert Moog, Synthesizer Pioneer, Dies at Age 71
Moog's synthesizers have influenced the music of countless artists for more than 30 years, including one of my all-time favorites, Todd Rundgren.
Anyone for a swim?
Waterways in the U.S. are supposed to be fishable and swimmable....
...and environmentalists have sued to have the Clean Water Act enforced in Missouri. One solution is to disinfect MSD's sewage effluent that flows into Missouri streams, including the Mississippi River and the River Des Peres.
However, the Executive Director of MSD is concerned that spending capital improvement dollars to disinfect sewer effluent will divert funds already earmarked to correct basement sewer backups, which continue to plague parts of MSD's 150 year-old system.
Anyone for a swim in the River Des Peres?
...and environmentalists have sued to have the Clean Water Act enforced in Missouri. One solution is to disinfect MSD's sewage effluent that flows into Missouri streams, including the Mississippi River and the River Des Peres.
However, the Executive Director of MSD is concerned that spending capital improvement dollars to disinfect sewer effluent will divert funds already earmarked to correct basement sewer backups, which continue to plague parts of MSD's 150 year-old system.
Anyone for a swim in the River Des Peres?
Monday, August 22, 2005
St. Louis: Good for Your Wallet
"The often-panned St. Louis economy is beating the nation in a key measure: raising your income."
We're categorized as a "wealth-building" community.
We're categorized as a "wealth-building" community.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
A class act
"All losses are tough, but this one hurts," said catcher Mike Matheny, the former Cardinal who received a standing ovation when introduced before his third-inning at-bat.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
STL Developer Shares Views on His Success
Action Has No Season: The new book just released by Mike Roberts, describes his views on success in life and business.
St. Louisan Mike Roberts, along with his brother, Steve Roberts, are among the leading developers of downtown St. Louis.
Both Roberts brothers are former city aldermen. The pair has big plans for the city of St. Louis, between Dr. Martin Luther King and Delmar, along Kingshighway.
They note how the area has stronger retail demographics than most prominent commercial locations throughout the entire St. Louis region.
St. Louisan Mike Roberts, along with his brother, Steve Roberts, are among the leading developers of downtown St. Louis.
Both Roberts brothers are former city aldermen. The pair has big plans for the city of St. Louis, between Dr. Martin Luther King and Delmar, along Kingshighway.
They note how the area has stronger retail demographics than most prominent commercial locations throughout the entire St. Louis region.
Missouri Leads Nation in Historic Preservation Investments
$350,000,000 in 2004
"$134 million more than in Pennsylvania, ranked second, and more than twice the $157 million invested by developers in Illinois, which ranked third."
"$134 million more than in Pennsylvania, ranked second, and more than twice the $157 million invested by developers in Illinois, which ranked third."
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Online guitar tutorial
While most of the time this blog will be devoted to positive things about St. Louis, occasionally we will go in some other directions, including music (which is pretty St. Louis anyway...)
Here is an amazing free resource for guitarists...a place where you can study online, with theory and tablature set out right in front of you, all right on your computer screen.
Open tunings are this instructor's specialty.
Here is an amazing free resource for guitarists...a place where you can study online, with theory and tablature set out right in front of you, all right on your computer screen.
Open tunings are this instructor's specialty.
Seeking to expand a business?
Via the Arch City Chronicle...
Missouri's a low cost place to do business ...way below the national average.
Missouri's a low cost place to do business ...way below the national average.
Getting off a looooong plateau
When I was ten, I started guitar lessons. That was thirty-six years ago. Ever since, I've stayed with it. So in all those years I've learned alot. Rock and roll, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass, even ragtime. The years of playing have been great relaxation and a meditative escape. But last nite, something new happened and it's opened up a whole new world of sound and expression.
20 years ago, I studied ragtime guitar. My teacher could make a guitar sound like a piano. There was a technique he used that made the difference: he let his fingernails grow so he could "pick" five strings at the same time with his nails. A pick sound is completely different than a "thumb" sound. It's much clearer.
When your skin hits a guitar string, the tone is muted. For comparison, think of playing a piano with the mute pedal depressed. The sound is softer. It's the same with a guitar. When you pick with the fleshy ends of your fingers or thumb, you produce a muted tone.
On our recent vacation, I let the fingernails on my right hand grow. Now they're just past the fleshy tips of the fingers, the ends manicured into the shape of a guitar pick.
Last nite I tried out an acoustic with my new set of nails and there it was: the piano sound. Playing with a pick gives you speed and control. Playing with five bionic picks on the ends of your fingers turns you into a picking machine. Up and down picking. Times five. It's incredible.
Scott Joplin, hello again.
20 years ago, I studied ragtime guitar. My teacher could make a guitar sound like a piano. There was a technique he used that made the difference: he let his fingernails grow so he could "pick" five strings at the same time with his nails. A pick sound is completely different than a "thumb" sound. It's much clearer.
When your skin hits a guitar string, the tone is muted. For comparison, think of playing a piano with the mute pedal depressed. The sound is softer. It's the same with a guitar. When you pick with the fleshy ends of your fingers or thumb, you produce a muted tone.
On our recent vacation, I let the fingernails on my right hand grow. Now they're just past the fleshy tips of the fingers, the ends manicured into the shape of a guitar pick.
Last nite I tried out an acoustic with my new set of nails and there it was: the piano sound. Playing with a pick gives you speed and control. Playing with five bionic picks on the ends of your fingers turns you into a picking machine. Up and down picking. Times five. It's incredible.
Scott Joplin, hello again.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Sprawl or not?
Most St. Louis city neighborhoods rate very low on this sprawl survey..
How does your neighborhood rate?
RB
How does your neighborhood rate?
RB
Surge in Metro East Housing Starts
Responding to increased demand, fueled in part by homebuyers seeking closer proximity to downtown, the Metro East increases its housing production activity.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Joe Edwards Predicts Loop Trolley within 5 years
On KWMU today, Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill and the Pageant Theater, predicted that a new light rail system planned to connect the History Museum in Forest Park with the surging Delmar Loop arts, dining and entertaintainment district will open within five years.
Read here for more info about an upcoming trolley celebration in Forest Park.
Read here for more info about an upcoming trolley celebration in Forest Park.
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