Driving home tonight I noticed that Ted Drewes is open. Yeah!
I try not to go too often but boy is it hard to resist. Before I moved to Dutchtown I lived only a couple of blocks from Crown Candy Kitchen. Coincidence or destiny?
– Steve
Tonight was the monthly First Friday Gallery & Design walk in downtown St. Louis. We have no Final Four or other major event to populate the sidewalks but the streets didn’t lack for activity. No major sporting event yet sidewalks were teaming with people.
OK, not Times Square levels but a lot more than you’d see in Clayton on a Friday night.
As the sun was setting the buildings were bathed in great lighting, including the Syndicate-Trust building on 10th & Olive.
… Continue Reading
I always get a great laugh when I visit our suburban hell (aka West of I-270). Last night I was on Barrett Station Road just South of Manchester. Driving along I spotted this sidewalk along the side of the road. As you can see, it doesn’t really go anywhere.
For those that don’t know the area, this is a well traveled cut through but it remains a two-lane road. I’m sure it won’t be long before it is widened. All the subdivisions along the mile-long road have sidewalks. They don’t really go anywhere but maybe it makes them feel better?
This new subdivision of about 8 homes doesn’t have any internal sidewalks at all. If a home owner wants to walk along this busy road they have to walk in their street to get there. I know, unlikely right. Maybe they will want to talk to see someone in the next subdivision over?
Here is the best part. The new sidewalk is about 40 feet from connecting to the sidewalk from the next subdivision. The grass was visibly worn so someone is walking back and forth.
What must these people think? Most can afford 3-car garages but they can’t manage a sidewalk? Thankfully I don’t have to live in such an environment.
– Steve
Back on April 18th I talked about bike racks on Washington Avenue. How they couldn’t be used as designed. Click here to review that post (and the pictures).
Last night I was back downtown and decided to try out some suggestions on locking the bike to the rack in alternative ways.
Part of the problem with the proper way is that the front wheel extended into the path of pedestrians. So alternates focused on locking the bike parallel with the curb rather than perpendicular. At right is one such example.
As you can see the bike is forced up against the back of the bench. But, I’d be able to lock up the frame and front wheel if I used a cable lock.
To celebrate bike month the Friday Friday Gallery Walk is becoming the First Friday Gallery Ride. Ok, it is not really a ride so much as a suggestion to ride to the event. The goal is to have as many bikes as possible downtown.
Let’s get a bike in front of every gallery and store open on Friday evening! So, bike or transit & bike downtown on Friday. A good starting point is Gallery Urbis Orbis on 10th street.
I will have my favorite bike, my orange Kronan at the event.
– Steve