Brick City

Breathe & Let Go

Brick City — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:12:00 +0000

The awakened mind is free flowing, natural, and well rounded. It's like Teflon - nothing sticks. On the other hand, the unawakened, ordinary mind is rigid, limited and sticky like flypaper; the ordinary mind has corners and sharp jagged edges on which ideas get caught, hanging us up...

...the unawakened mind tries to grasp and hold on to emotions and things, which by their very nature are fleeting; it's like trying to grasp water between your hands. If we understand that the cause of suffering and dissatisfaction is attachment, then it's obvious that the remedy is simply letting go. Awakening The Buddha Within - Lama Surya Das

My mind is so ordinary. The past few months have shown me just how commonplace my mind is. I've struggled to understand how to let go, how to let emotions happen, and then leave them lie, to turn my back on them when I've experienced them. To "let go". It sounds easy, but how many of us can truly let things be exactly the way they are?

I'm being challenged these days, being shaken out of the complacency I unwittingly found myself in for years. It's always easier to stay where you were, to stay within a self-made world that is safe and secure, but it's not very rewarding and it can be a lonely place.

The lessons of Buddhism aren't really all that complicated to understand; it's the practice that's the bitch...growth and understanding of yourself and the world is your reward.

N. Grand & 20th

Brick City — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:35:00 +0000

The intersection of Grand and N. 20th street intrigues me. Looking past the fact that one of the city's remaining 3 water towers stands right in the middle of the intersection, take a look at the gentle curve of the street. I bet before everything was demolished, the buildings that once stood there hugged and respected that slight curve. What a detail that would've been to see! Red brick buildings forming a slightly curved street wall. I'm sure turrets and corner store fronts would have been the norm as well.

It feels like we've lost so much...and that we're still losing. It feels like every blog I visit has a new post about another building being demolished. This isn't progress.

New for '08

Brick City — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:02:00 +0000

With spring springing and seasons changing, it felt right to go ahead and update the look of my blog. I know there are some minor formatting issues to take care of, and the archives have lost all their styling, but I ran out of time tonight so not everything got done for a bug free launch. I'll slowly clean up what needs cleaning over the next few weeks.

Family Values

Brick City — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:57:00 +0000

This afternoon I was driving down 170 and noticed a billboard for an IFC Caged Combat event at the "Family" Arena in St. Charles. Not only can you see a good ole fashioned rodeo in the great city of St. Charles, but you can now watch two grown men try and beat the shit out of each other.

I find it strange that an inane & violent event like "caged combat" is being held at a venue that is moronically named the Family Arena. God, I love family values.

Makin' Dough?

Brick City — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:45:00 +0000

A continuation of yesterday's post, KMOV has a story on their website titled "Tickets, revenue plunging at red light cameras". So, with revenues dropping (there are those who seem to be up in arms that the City is making money off of these lights) and people actually paying attention to traffic signals, what's the problem?

Stop

Brick City — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:38:00 +0000

Red light cameras have popped up all over the City this year. I just noticed last month that cameras had been installed at the intersections of Jamieson & Chippewa and Hampton & Gravois. I heard and read the arguments against the cameras, which range from constitutional rights being infringed upon to the cameras are just revenue generators for the City (uh, duh!) to big brother is watching us (as if he wasn't already).

I have to admit, I don't really have a problem with the cameras. I don't run red lights, so why should I care if others who do have to pay up? In the past, I've seen cars barrel through the busy Hampton/Chippewa intersection on a red light that had been that way for a few seconds. Super dangerous. That sight is rare these days. I guess my only argument against the camera is that you can get fined even though you can't see who's driving the car...but unless the car is stolen, I don't see how it matters much. It's your car, you should be responsible for it even if you lend it to someone. And if it bothers you that much, go downtown and contest the ticket. I have a feeling most people know they're guilty of the offense.

So, if the City wants to make a few extra bucks off people who don't feel the need to obey the rules, fine. It'd be nice if those same cameras could be installed at the stop signs people run while I'm walking the dog around the neighborhood (or just take the damn signs out altogether!).

Walk Of Shame

Brick City — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:50:00 +0000

This afternoon, I had the privilege of touring the new Four Seasons hotel down on the Landing. It's pretty amazing what $5,000 a night will buy you in the presidential suite. Even the cheap rooms have a gorgeous view of the Arch & downtown...just don't look straight down. The hideous parking garage is just below and it ain't pretty. An expanse of ugly concrete and cars it's hard to think that such a lovely hotel couldn't design around the white monstrosity.

That said, this entry isn't about the hotel. I'd like to focus on the abysmal walk that I took from my office building to the hotel. There are a few hotels on 4th street, so I believe my trip wouldn't have been that much different than that of your average tourist who wants to visit the Landing or casino.

Let's start with 4th street north of Chestnut. Hideous. Sidewalks in disrepair, the streets a patchwork of shoddy repairs, outdated signage, Federal Reserve construction mess and the awful, disgusting Mansion House complex. 4th street is so unfriendly to office workers and tourists alike. I think my least favorite portion of 4th street is the retail area of Mansion House. It's just blech. The storefronts are tired and dirty...and empty.

Once you reach Washington Avenue you've got the nasty ass Hampton Inn. The hotel has to be one of the ugliest buildings downtown. Because of Washington's width, the walk across the Avenue at 4th street can be a little intimidating.

So now we get to the underpass at Highway 70. It's tarted up with some red pavers (in ill repair) and "historic" lights but those small touches don't hide the facts that it's dirty, it smells like pee and you're under a highway. I suddenly "got" why the Landing feels cut off from the rest of downtown...who wants to walk through all this crap? I also understand now why the Casino is building the underground tunnel in front of the dome.

So if I were a tourist, my impressions of St. Louis would be pretty poor if I made the walk from my hotel on 4th to the Casino...even walking to the Arch from 4th is a chore. Have you seen the crumbling sidewalks along Memorial Drive? You'd think these sidewalks would at least be decent considering their location across from the Arch.

I know St. Louis is more than its downtown, and that downtown has come a long way (and believe me, I absolutely love working DT, truly), but like it or not, downtown is the face of the City. The face I saw today is full of acne and nasty ass teeth.

Ballpark Village

Brick City — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:02:00 +0000

How many idiots does it take to raise a village?

The Future

Brick City — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:14:00 +0000

During the 1939 Worlds Fair, there was an exhibit called "Futurama" sponsored by GM. The exhibit shows, through extremely detailed dioramas, a utopian 1960 full of transportation and city planning.

It's really fascinating, and sometimes scary, stuff.

Southampton Hate Crime

Brick City — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:42:00 +0000

Walking along Macklind this weekend I noticed that the commercial space at Landsdowne & Macklind had a number of its windows busted out. This wasn't the first time this had happened and I wondered who had a beef with the building owner. Now, I may know:

St. Louis Police Investigating Vandalism At Muslim Prayer Center

This is so ridiculous. Living in the City, I take for granted the diversity and tolerance that seems to be more prevalent here than in other areas of the metro. It's pretty disheartening to read about hate crimes taking place in your own little Hamlet.

People are such fucking morons.

I'm Over The Snow

Brick City — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:09:00 +0000

STL Shame

Brick City — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:17:00 +0000

This isn't suburbia...

...it's downtown St. Louis. How can we prevent this kind of destruction in the future?

Yawnings

Brick City — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:53:00 +0000

This morning on my drive to work through beautiful southwest city I noticed something troubling. The homes in my corner of the city are littered with metal awnings of all colors, shapes and styles.

The awnings that hang off the post-war homes around Sublette and Macklind don't bother me so much, but when attached to the "gingerbread" homes in the area the awnings become trocious. Most of the awnings make no attempt to respect the architecture of the homes they adorn; they are simply bolted to the building and left to hang. Arched doorways and windows, beautifully detailed in stone, have been cut in half by white (or rusting), slated metal. There are a sprinkling of fabric awnings, usually black or green in color, but they really aren't much better.

If I'm ever lucky enough to live in one of south city's most charming homes, the first thing I'd do is remove any and all awnings from the facade of my house.

Let the sun shine in, set your architecture free.

More Thoughts On Macy's

Brick City — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:22:00 +0000

Reading through Mayor Slay's musings on the current Macy's debacle, I couldn't help but think "Downtown flagship store, huh???"

If the downtown location is considered a "flagship" store then it's clear why Macy's sales are in the basement. I find the downtown store woefully lacking in men's wear that I'd actually wear. Went once, it was my first time, never went back...so the downtown store doesn't appear to be trying to win over new customers. The men's department was bare. Aside from urban wear and Cardinals gear, there was just nothing to get excited about. I believe it's only a matter of time before Macy's shutters the downtown store.

Needless to say, I never really shopped at Macy's, any Macy's, before yesterday's announcement. Since the store no longer supports St. Louis, I don't think I'll be making any effort to shop there in the future.

Ouch

Brick City — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:41:00 +0000

It looks like Macy's is moving to Atlanta. Can't say I'm surprised...I think everybody could see the writing on the wall when Macy's bought The May Company. This is a blow to downtown St. Louis for sure. There will be 850 less people shopping, buying lunch, just plain walking the streets.

I pray the Railway Exchange Building doesn't sit vacant, it's too beautiful a building to be left to languish. Maybe the whole Mercantile Exchange district will be able to take advantage of this and put a better quality of retailers in there than the current Macy's store? Dreams...

I miss Famous Barr.

Me Without My Camera

Brick City — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:29:00 +0000

The place? Broadway and Olive around noon. The sun, the sky, the fog and the clouds had conspired to make a wonderfully soft focused urban scene. Met Square, surrounded by a canyon of buildings old and new, positively radiated in the sun, while those of us on the street were carassed by soft, white wisps of smoky fog. Not to be outdone by what was happening on the ground, the sky made its presence know through color...a soft, pale blue that commanded attention.

Mother Nature and our old City...teaming up to create an inspiring urban environment. Good stuff for a Monday.

Dreary Arch

Brick City — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:34:00 +0000

"They All Look Nice"

Brick City — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:41:00 +0000

"They all look nice," Rotary president Bob Kocher said Monday.

That quote was taken from today's Post Dispatch article about the plans for the failed Gateway Mall. The quote also sums up exactly what's wrong with the plans. To view photos of the proposed plans for the Gateway mall click here.

Will keeping over a mile of prime downtown real estate passive green space really add much needed life to an already boring and dead section of downtown? It didn't work the first time, so I'm not very hopeful about the current plans being thrown around. It seems like the concepts are just an attempt to pretty up what's there, not really do anything creative, innovative or beneficial for downtown. You can't just paint a building whose bones are in complete disrepair and call it a successful rehab.

It's no secret to regular readers of this blog that I feel the Gateway Mall should be plowed under and developed. I'd love to see the mall transformed into a row of mid-rise buildings with street vendors and people lining the sidewalks. I think street trees and beautiful planters could make a better urban garden than any large plot of land in the middle of our CBD could.

The last thing our sleepy downtown needs is green space and sculpture gardens, but I'm sure it will all look nice.

I hate Soulard...

Brick City — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:32:00 +0000

...because ever time I visit, I'm reminded how much I freaking love the place. How could you live there and every time you walk out your front door not be inspired by the built environment around you? I visited Soulard for the dog parade this past weekend and fell in love with the neighborhood, again...and wished I was able to afford on of the fantastic houses with their front door right on the sidewalk. There's a little white house on a street I can't remember that has so much charm it makes me want to explode...it's the cutest.

It's a shame some visitors (mostly non-city residents) that attend the Mardi Gras celebration disrespect the homeowners and businesses that make Soulard a great city neighborhood. I, for one, couldn't pee on any of the gorgeous structures up there, my pee just isn't good enough.

Never Noticed?

Brick City — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Have you ever driven by something everyday and yet never noticed the obvious? This morning I was driving into work, looked over at the Old Courthouse and realized for the first time that if you are a bit southeast of the fantastic old building the backdrop for the building are hideous parking garages! What a slap in the face to our green domed icon!

How did I never see this before? I don't even want to think about what was torn down so that the Kiener parking garages could rise. I'm sure whatever was there was a better frame, and gave better context to, the Old Courthouse.

South Side Details

Brick City — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:57:00 +0000

Untitled

Brick City — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:46:00 +0000

I miss taking photos. I'm not sure if it's the time of year, life circumstances or what, but I'm not as photographically prolific as I used to be. I guess sometimes new things come into your life and old friends take a back seat. The last photos of any substance that have been added to my Flickr account are from September...very bad of me.

I definitely need to get back into the groove, there's so much of the City left to photograph, so many interesting details left to be discovered.

Not That Exciting

Brick City — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Mayor Slay writes that a Cracker Barrel restaurant may soon open in the [sarcasm] wonderfully planned and easy to navigate [end sarcasm] Loughborough Commons development.

I guess the first thing that crossed my mind when I read this tidbit was "So what."

The mayor writes:

Cracker Barrel seldom locates stores in the hearts of urban areas.

Thanks in part to the Mayor & city officials, 55 & Loughborough has been developed into one of the least urban parts of the City. Maybe we shouldn't be so surprised, or crowing about, Cracker Barrel's decision to locate in a suburban restaurant into a subrban style strip mall located in the City.

Random Thoughts

Brick City — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:06:00 +0000

While sitting at a stop light along Memorial Drive this morning, I looked to my left and my eyes settled on the St. Louis skyline. As I looked at the tall buildings, the courthouse and the rest I thought, "What would it look like down here if St. Louis was a "newish" city...like a Phoenix? What would it look like if the current governmental thinking was in place when St. Louis was founded?"

I thought about it for just a second, but 2 words came to mind, "flat" & "boring".

What do you think?

City Struggles

Brick City — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:36:00 +0000

What do we do with areas like this?

"

Do we let a developer come in and create a New Town St. Charles or Winghaven? Do we build suburban style housing on the existing street grid? Do we restore the homes that are currently here and build historic replicas around them?

What should we do?