WikiLou

During a particularly partiotic moment last year when I was a'livin' in france, I made this entry about my favorite highway in St. Louis.

No one's edited it! So, those who actually look to Wikilou.com for their information (and they should) about the main highways (44's soon to become THE MAIN one) in my town will get my candid opinion about what your love of 44 means about you.

Hey you!
You should make an entry on the wiki. If it's funny/obscure enough, it will stay for a year -- like mine has. I don't know why, but I'm quite proud of that. Even the picture of my favorite billboard has remained ("Everybody's NUTS...pistachios!")

I encourage all my buddies to write one up -- & if you do, send it on over. :)

green with envy/cheers

here's to schaper, who is - i believe, if her phone call wasn't a fake - dancing at La Onda as we speak.

I AM SO JEALOUS.

holy streetcars, batman

I was looking at this site of old pictures of St.Louis and I saw a streetcar. How cool are streetcars? I remember being really a big fan of them when I spent a little bit of time in Vienna (and Brussels, too) So just found this old streetcar route map from 1942. Look at all the places it went! (I don't know why its black like that - it was white background on the site - but the red lines were for the streetcars.) Can you dig it?
Click on it so you can go to the site. Its almost as cool as this fantasy metro picture.

I still cannot find out where this picture came from, but I'd place my bets on it having come from heaven.

Coastal Pandering

ok, so I support John Edwards. This is not a political blog, but y'all know how I get when the coastal lands trump us flyover folks. Represent, democratic candidates! (literally)

So, Obama pandered to the geeks at Google recently.

What's he doin' visiting Google when he should be BBQing with Iowa and New Hampshire constituents? Why is he spending his money like that?!?

I see why some of my sis's Edwards supporters call him "me too" Obama. I joined a national broadband group in facebook back in MAY of 2007...and the first link on that? John's.

If Obama spends his dough on flying to all 3 of his "coastal" (West Coast, East Coast and Chicago) buddies, flying over the midwest and south while Edwards pets a dog in a barn in Iowa or builds a house in NOLA, then I'm not looking forward to Obama's priorities if he gets to the oval office like I am looking forward to Edwards'. Gah!

"The basis of a strong democracy is a diverse and dynamic media. It's time to take away the corporate media bullhorn and let America's many voices be heard." – John Edwards

I want the race to be Clinton, Edwards and Biden. I love Biden, he is such a rogue. I also like how he answers the stooopid debate questions ("would you support any of these candidates if they won the nomination? is that EVEN a question!) like he's George Clooney at a press junket. I believe his answer to that question was, "heck no!"

I'm tired of the major news places only talking about clinton v. obama. So Obama gave a great speech at the convention in 04 -- public speaking is not the make or break it issue for me, (there are other issues I care about more) so i just sorta want him to step off.

I'm no good at this angry political stuff. These debates-a-makin' me crazy! I just don't want a non-dem in the oval office...oh dear.

Mostly, I'm just mad that there's a Barack fundraiser at Joe's tonight.
grrr.

Sister pride

My sister is a very important person.

SO important, she's on politco.com - just mention her name at any American Legion or after-church social, etc.... and you're sure to get the best cookies in all of southeast Iowa, and yelled at if you don't support my man John Edwards.

Check her out.

I'm the President of the Internet!

and so are you!

I heard that on this day in 1990 (a day when I was still living in Southern Missouri -- SoMo, represent) - the internet was born!

In honor of that, here's some sesame street (including my favorite character, who encouraged me to reach for the stars and aim to be a taxi driver).



Thank you internet, w/o you I would not be able to time warp to my sesame street days.

As the Geek Squad chuckles

Melissa and Matt at my local Geek-Squaditorium hooked me up with some RAM (Really Awesome Microchip-thing) today, and my laptop (it's too late to give it a name) is running like whoa. I love talking to random people - especially if they're behind counters - so it was really double the fun for me.

I used to bring a book to read so I'd have something to do while my computer thought for 10 minutes about opening a new window. No more! Its a thrill.

Dixieland and Dancin'

I forgot how much I love Dixieland music.

What was especially cool -- this band played back in the Gaslight Square days, so they were all awesomely aged and so cool! They also were very appreciative of the dancers that came out. Music and dance - they go together! The music was just so joyful, we brought fried chicken, we ate it, and if I ever described an evening as "merry" I would so pin that tail on this donkey.




Recognize the song? Well, its the end so you probably wouldn't...but I'll tell ya.
Its the St. Louis Blues! Represent!

Val and I had a little Charleston-off, even bad dancers were dancing gleefully and with abandon...it was glorious. I almost caught the vibe of those old supper clubs (like the one in white christmas, wow) that I really wish I could've/could go to.




You know what I'm talkin' bout.


I don't see how anyone can be snooty about Joes...it's just great.

Sound familiar?

So I say it's time to play a new game, New Orleans. The new game demands fairer assessments, because fairer assessments will help unify the city by refocusing attention away from individual property assessments, and upon the crappy city services and schools which are underwritten by community tax dollars. The underassessed crony enclaves in Uptown and other areas can't game the system anymore. They'll have to face the music, because their tax bills will no longer be effectively subsidized by everyone else. They're finally getting hit in the pocketbook, and you can bet that will get their attention.

Halloween Hilarity

We had so much fun on Halloween. Mer was Barbie, I was Aretha Franklin and we dragged Mark out in a sheet with a scarf on his head (he was Yassar Arafar or some facsimile thereof) and we met Schaper, who was a "prisoner" and went down to Boots on Cherokee.

It was awesome.

Front Lines

Ok, I'm missing a Stupid Party (probably already missed it) right now but I don't care.

If you pray/send good vibes, send some to my cousin at his army base in Washington and to my sister in Iowa.

~L

too much to do this thursday

Its not easy to overwhelm me with things to do.

This thursday (Oct 25 aka tomorrow) - color me overwhelmed. St. Louis is being a serious credit to itself lately.

October 25 - A List:
-Priority: Rockabilly-ish "Gauchos" playing at Joes at 9pm
-Starting at like, 7pm, Metropolis is doing The Walk in the Lemp district ! I havn't visited the milk store in a while, and I've always wanted to go to O'Malleys! Durr!
- Drinks&Mortar at Zach's at 8pm. Another bar and another event I've never been to! Sounds like a cool scene and good conversatin'.
- Also, the Royale's having some "Drinking Liberally" thing at 9pm, which sounds hilarious and also like a v. good idea. I have a feeling I might have to get in a few fights w/ some obamaheads, so maybe I'll just opt out of that.

aaaand, I just told my high school BFF I'd meet her for drinks!
(i'm sure I'm missing something, if you can believe it)

Maybe its a good thing every night isn't like this in the StL b/c I'd go crazy. Nah. Every night can be like this. I love rolling to a million places all over the city - I'd do it for Penn&philly events/performances all through school and wow.

Next up, city museum b-day, art-attacks at some boxing gym (i think, I've never been....exciting!) and a myriad other things! So many opportunities to dress up, too. Lordy, and the moon is full!

This is wonderful.

Brainy people need dance lessons

I've been saying it all along!

Someone agrees.
I didn't think it was a secret that "creativity" or whatever that may mean - is where it's at.

I ended up a pretty creative kid - due mostly to the Judester (aka Mom) and to a public school system that really kicked it with the arts (specifically music, dance, drama). Thanks also to the strength of people around me, I'm still creative, and pretty stoked to be able to use a large % of it for the rest of my life.

I thought I'd be really bored watching this long video, but it really got interesting and relevant. Lots of juicy stuff about the different value of a university degree, creativity's role in the world, etc.... I'm listening to it right now and its good stuff!

The dude talking here had me at when he suggested that schools ought to put dance at the same level as say, music. Dance is so important! I just met this gal yesterday and we lamented how we couldn't find a dance class for someone over the age of 18 -- one that goes class by class for grown up schedules. I guess I'll have to do it myself! That's ok, I'll find a way and add it to the list.

Ok, I could go on and on, and I'm listening to it right now and its just blowing my mind. These things are important things.

Borderline amazing self defense

A girl's gotta have a little something up her sleeve.



So, I think my secret talent should be "fighting." I just don't like the hitting people part, and I don't really want to practice in the real world ever. Still, I too watched Charlie's Angels and Kill Bill (yes I just grouped those movies together) and I want to be able to hurt people! I like walking the streets and stuff, so perhaps I should train a bit for my streetwalking. It's a good secret skill that would compliment my other talents (tap dancing, knitting, etc...) very well.

Though I'm sure I'll continue to ask random guys in bars (and elsewhere) how to beat people up (I've gotten some good tips) --- I'm going to this.

Women's Self Defense Seminar - Sat. Nov. 3

We also have an upcoming Women's Self Defense/Rape Prevention Seminar on Saturday, November 3. This workshop will address common attacks and assaults on women (rape prevention) through realistic hands-on drills and scenarios. The specifics are below - pass this along to a woman you care about!

	Where:	9001 Manchester Rd. - Brentwood, MO 63144 - map
	Date:	Saturday, November 3, 2007
	Time:	1:00pm - 4:00pm (Please arrive at 12:30pm for sign-in)
	Cost:	$40
	Dress:	Please come in comfortable clothing such as T-shirt, workout pants, and athletic shoes. NO shorts

Register now! Three easy ways:

• click here to register online
• call us at (314) 961-5728

You should come, too, ladies!

I anticipate it being borderline amazing.

The Bend and Snap

Bending and Snapping at WhiteFlag
Originally uploaded by lolololori

Typical White sister shenanigans.

bullet points

I must chronicle something for you, though I cannot do it justice in prose (yet...maybe?)

- The Royale Coronation was really fun! I of course forgot to take any pictures of myself, and so far my efforts at poaching on Flickr have come up pretty short. Sigh. Hm, Free Candy ought to think about turning to Clownvis Prestley for some mic technique tips...he had it down if I may put in my 2 cents. Must've been in choir like yours truly in high school/church. I couldn't decide if I liked that he sang Dixie.

Also, what up with the underwear doki doki only sold in Chicago stores? I don't usually jeer amateur stage guests out loud, but I gotta say I'm not ashamed I jeered that lady. Online isn't the same! I'm sure she just meant that the line was coming soon to the myriad stores that could carry it here in the StL...and I misheard her. Pardon me, in that case.

Jeers as well to those who took the "formal wear strongly encouraged" in an IRONIC way - thus sporting unserioius t-shirts, ties and general brooklyn icono-hipster-i-couldn't-care-less chic. Boo! Sincerity is the new ironic, didn'tcha know?

I suppose Schaper and I spent a fair amount of time griping (me about no dance floor ....wtf! though I did move a table... and her about other things) aloud, but it was all in good fun. A v. lovely event/excuse to dress up more than usual, so I actually have no gripes. I was griping a lot just then.

- I cannot WAIT for the City Museum's 10th birthday -- it will be fun! And another reason to dress up. Do you think I already know what I'm wearing? B/c if you thought I did you'd be right.

- I went to the Old Rock House (dance floor heaven) to see the Jessica Butler trio/usual suspects and it was a riot. A bartender got up and sang "If I Ain't Got You" and I hung out w/ someone who could very well be Steve-O's bizzarro self....or his like, long lost twin. Steve-O II took me to hear this band practicing, and I stuck around and got to possibly be one of the first people to hear a country song about how everything at Cracker Barrel's made in China. It was sortof hilarious, and it still is a shame that I had to get up the next day at 4am (starbucks, ouch). There were many highlights of this evening, not the least of them being Emmylou the cool saggitarian lady I met. Cool name. I owe this evening a better post laters....with less "I." I also met a guitar-playing nurse who went to high school with my neighbor. The catholic school boys are everywhere.

-I went to Five with my cousins! And my mom. We were a truly silly 5some. How appropriate, I didn't even realize until now! I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed that I'm related to cool people other than my grandma, who is cool in a different way. I definitely got in trouble for assuming that "sweetbreads" were, "like dougnuts, right?" Like I'm supposed to know fine dining euphemisms.

-After Five, I went to see Kathy Griffin at UMSL (whoa north county) and she was Kathy Griffin, and v. funny. I wanted to change her outfit the whole night....still, she was a funny lady. Such a storyteller. Is that an Irish thing? I should look into being more irish.

....Ok, I've gotta go get ready for my UrbanFuture info session...finally. I have been a scheduling nightmare to myself trying to get to this thing.

I'm excited about many things this coming week...October in St. Louis is awesome.

UPDATE: I found a good one.

Curtis "Twinkle Toes" O'Rourke

I really want everyone to know - I have re-named my car. This truly ritzy Corrolla now has a name befitting of its heritage (and driver side door that you can only open from the outside).

He who used to be Zac Efron (star of High School Musical and teen sensation) is now named after the irish vaudeville showman of my imagination -- I made him up one evening while driving west somewhere near Hampton and hwy 44. A magical spot, no doubt.

I do this with pets, too - they get the preliminary name, and then the real name reveals itself organically through kismet and the right song on the radio -- i.e. through magic. This happened with Nugget "the wonder kitty" (previously "Kitty" -- my sister's name), my new cat Bubbles (previously Ann Margaret/Captain Von Trapp) and now, same with Twinkle Toes O'Rourke.

I am totally excited! I also like that his given name is Curtis. He is a tough guy with a heart of gold.

I am awesome

Did you know this?

So I'm prone to these funny (to me...to you?) moments where I find myself in ameila bedelia/nutty professor-like predicaments. Life is so silly and it will play many jokes on you if you let it.

So, I was lucky enough to get some tickets to this shindig tonight - I'm taking my 2 favorite sisters -- who together straddle the political and funky/prim spectrums -- but they're both cool, savvy and have a knack for formal wear. Did I mention that they're funny? They're like bizzaro version of me and my sister. There are a couple other respectable kids I'd like to join me as well, an old AP science class buddy and a fellow funky Marc Broussard fan are in the running. I'd also like to call in the swing dancers (the ones who dress nice) -- the Dock Ellis band's playing, and they've got some danceable rhythms happenin'--- the ones that aren't that choo-choo train rhythm...still - workable.

Anyway. So I snag some invites and promptly lose them w/in 24 hours. Like, monsters-under-the-refridgerator lose them.

So I search for them for about 2 days -- in the process I found a long lost glue gun, a b'thousand white envelopes, but not THE one with MY purple tickets. In the interest of not losing my sanity and finding my pride - I decide... just get more tickets, or like a marker or something from the owner/organizer of said event. His name's Steven.

So I call the bar, talk to someone there, and after a little phone loop....yes! 4 tickets for me!

Fast forward to later that evening - after a funny little dinner/meeting/chat (& wasabi mashed potatoes -- zing!) with a client I'm "consulting" (sounds too pretentious w/o the quotes), I stop by the bar and ask for the tickets.

Rose, the lovely bartender who recently got some great highlights, hands me an envelope -- relief! the tickets are mine!

-- wait.

Empty envelope. ?

Sigh. Inquiries about invisible tickets...can I get a marker? Will the envelope do? Rose runs in some circles for me, etc... Lucky for me, Rose is kind and tells me not to worry -- she's working, I'll get in. Will my friends? I'm feeling a little trepidation. Will there be door drama? I really had my fair share of that at some shady frat and club houses back at the U of P and I'm sortof done. I mean, I'm a devil-may-care ragamuffin, but gotsta keep it respectable and worthy of my sparkly blue dress (which is awesome).

So, l much like the silly and pointless plot-twists of Timeline or Saving Silverman (don't get me started on Young Einstein), though maybe not quite as absurd -- this is the sortof story I really like telling, it just feels goofy to be a star in it. Meh, everything will be great!

& tonight should be a riot; I'm really looking forward to it and I'm so glad I get to bring my sisters ... one just moved back to St. Louis from Memphis/summer work in Michigan, and I'm trying to cajole her into jumping on the StL is awesome bandwagon. She's got a good mix of classy(gets it from her older sister) and funky that I find to be key.

Tonight should be clutch.

Gotta go plan my accessories.

Memphis love

So this cat just sent me a BUNCH of "esoteric" Memphis blogs (the "what makes memphis memphis crowd), per my request - I am stoked! Ask and you shall receive! I mean, hey - bloggers are a friendly crew. I've really gotten into the NOLA blogs that were reccomended to me by this fella - they're quite organized/mobilized/active down south. I think st. louis has just as many blogs and bloggers ... but wouldn't a st. louis version of rising tide be cool? Just a thought. If the opportunities to make a little change coming out of katrina -- of which there are plenty o' examples in NOLA - drift right up the river, let's catch'em!

In other words, I love river city bloggers/blogs. There's a lot we've got in common (good and not so good) going on with our respective municipalities, and hey, if the meeting of minds begins on the blogs, it begins on the blogs! I think it's very safe to say I'm not the first to note that there's a lot we river towns can learn from each other. So, school is in session for me - I have some reading to do!

In the ain't life funny section of this post, this is a picture of where I learned to walk...in Memphis. I'm pretty lucky that I can say I took my first steps on my own two feet right here on the mini mississippi river replica - Mud Island - in the Memphis. Props to Grandma White for encouraging me to learn to walk in a totally awesome and prophetic sorta place!

I dazzled and I stretched

at Joe's last night! (i finally made it)

It was so fun. I called in the gang to come see&dance to our staple, Hudson and the Hoodoo Cats, and let me tell ya - we tore it up! (politely) It was just so great - people digging the music, watching the dancers...all sorts of folks who wouldn't otherwise have chatted really talkin' it up. Wonderful stuff. Live music and dance are really really important to bringing fun people/communities together, did you know that? Met this terrific gal from the UK, too - we had ourselves a time! She really got to see what StL people are all about last night, I think.

The owner was a real sweetheart, too. One of those quiet, dignified elder(in this case) statesman types with not too much to say, but a lot to do (and already done). A good type, I'd say. He seemed glad to see people just appreciating the music and really giving the stage the attention it sometimes doesn't get enough of. I loved looking over to see him smiling contentedly at this thing he created. Must be one of the greater feelings to have. Great stuff.

St. Louis is a wonderful town. So much opportunity to be great, and so much greatness already there for us!

"a nuclear WESSEL!"

I heard that , and I knew...It's the WHALE ONE! Who doesn't love spock swimmin' with the whales who like, talk to outer space?!?

Mamma surely educated me better in the school of Star Trek, but I just got really excited b/c hey, its the whale one. The one we all know, remember and love. Added bonus - Captain Kirk's love affair with the mom from 7th heaven.

In other news, the new Amy Winehouse+Mark Ronson video just came out. Aside from the crazy abdomens, these ladies look cute! And look at Mark's hair - I am lovin' the JFK side part.



UPDATE: durrr, the video embed is down, but go here to watch it!

Mark's got the right idea, and the right ladies to back him up, fo' sho. I would also totally go to that club. This 60's retro formal funky lighthearted dark aesthetic that Mark+Lilly+Amy have been brave enough to adopt is nothing short of awesome. I have my theories, and like to ponder about brits being able to more easily move into and appropriate american soul music genres than actual americans can/do/try...does this make sense to you? Think about the beatles and chuck berry -- would any group of white teenagers in the US dared to touch that stuff?

Maybe. Maybe brits get more exposure. Maybe it's all just cool and colorful and great.

I'm ok with the anarchists - i guess

... as long as they don't try to be all haughty about Missouri Sweet Corn not being the best corn on the planet or about how Quakers are bad.

I'm glad I read up on the Black Bear Bakery - I think my first experience with anarchists deep in the streets of West Philadelphia -- its a visit I oughtta tell you about -- sortof soured me to the whole ethic. Hello, don't talk about how jersey sweet corn is better than Missouri's to a Former East Prarie Sweet Corn Cutie! (I will find you that picture...that's for the soon to be great scan spectactular of October 2007)

However, now, eh, I'm feelin' the power to the people bread-bakin' stl anarchy vibes....not that I'm turning anarchist, kids!

Far from it. Just not as far as I thought.

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.

- Kurt Vonnegut

So, I've been chilling with my grandma a fair amount lately. I'm so lucky to be living in town with her -- I just wanna put her in my pocket. I'm trying to convince her to make my mom, me, my sister and herself matching dresses for Christmas. Can you even imagine? 3 generations, one dress - magic! So silly.

This WWII series on PBS gets me thinkin' - about her, me...and about...um, stuff.

Makes me wanna throw a clog at some heads!

Now, grandma says that we kids don't need to worry about our community when we have our careers to concern us -- but I look at what she and my grandpa did as far as community organizations and just general coaching of baseball teams and leading of girl scout troops (my grandma's a girl-scouting rockstar...I bet she still could make a whole meal from like, stuff gathered in the woods, and would think nothing of it) and I'm thinkin' she was being humble and wise, and perhaps a little unintentionally self-deprecating.

It all just makes the quest for the greatest moijito, the perfect quilted clutch and/or the StL bar that exudes "new york/chicago cool" (whatEVER that is!?!?!) seem just a little silly.

How anyone can see what's going on and not be inspired -- even if its just sending inspired good vibes locally?

Gotsta do good for grandma.

Makes me wondah

Some people are funny. I wish he'd do the second single - the one that rhymes "bed" with "dead" and whose video makes no sense at all, but seems to be some copycat of that one beastie boys video where they wear mustaches and act like cops. Lots of freeze frames, it was cool.

I found this lil' video courtesy of this gent - he lives in a town called New Orleans. He runs a little operation for which I have a great deal of respect. He's an operation running kindof guy, and I like his worldview. I think it is spot on.

I also like his operation's tshirts - though they seem to make people think I'm from New Orleans. Wouldn't be the first time, strangely enough. At school in Philly, everyone seemed to hear "New Orleans" when I said I was from "St. Louis." I'm thinking it was mostly b/c they were from the east coast and get the flyover cities mixed up - it happens. (I even got calls from friends --and seriously bless their hearts -- asking if I was ok after Katrina)

I, myself, know the difference between StL, and say, NOLA -- still, I know some similarities...feel'em at least. I think that's sortof funny, spooky, awesome... powerful, even -- this mississippi river valley connection -- and I'm not the only one drawing this conclusion.

StL, Memphis (where I learned to walk!), NOLA - we should talk.

There's a lot to talk about.


Now lets looks at a cat driving a car!!

Where the news comes first?

My cousin and I like to say that baby boomers are ruining our country. Ok, fine - so its not the actual baby boomers lets say - but whatever's goin' on in some of their minds is makin' me a little angry.

First, the whole 407 E. Argonne -- we hardly knew ye ballyhoo, and now -- Newschannel 5's shut down PubDef on youtube??!?! What is up with The Man, and why can't he not hate, but appreciate? Concerning this Channel 5 business, is it suspicious that this happens just as they're rolling out a new online video center ... or is it just me? I'm no conspiracy theorist and I really hate to be a drama nerd, but there are things that make ya go, "Hmmm" - and this is making me do just that. What is UP with the 4th estate these days?

Hmm.

To think I once memorized that cheezy christmas song they had in commercials as I dreamed of cameramen coming to my school so I could do the "5-1" hand signal!

Hmm!

So ----- humble a weapon as it may be -- certainly nothing compared to shutting down channel 5 news...a comparable rebuff -- it's letter/email time!

Here's the email I've sent to KSDK (and you can bet they'll be getting a stamped envelope with an actual, satisfactual paper letter copy, too! Snailmail represents, goodbye 41 cents.)


Subject: PubDef, Youtube and the news I trust(ed)

I just heard about your channel's part in the removal of the entirety of PUBDef.net's videos from YouTube.

Imagine how many viewers you could've gained to your programs if you'd partnered with Pub Def and given their meticulously local newsmaking a wider audience - paired with your station's reputation and corporate news know-how, what a match it could've been!

Imagine a dialogue complete with criticism as well as praise. Sounds like great news to me.

I'm saddened that instead you've chosen to remove the videos - pushing aside any hope of compromise or even creativity -- and completely shut down what could've been an incredibly rich, comprehensive and fascinating dialogue and really great news.

Would you rethink this? Could you? Have you? You'll have regained this once loyal viewer if you do. We're all better than this YouTube bullying -- especially when the action you've taken is to the detriment of actual, satisfactual NEWS --- news which I recall, comes first at KSKD.

I wish you'd think about what you're saying by not saying anything.

Sincerely,
Lori White

Hmm?

this valley girl gets political

I want to say I don't usually like to take sides much, but as much as I wanna say it - it ain't true! I love taking sides, and I've taken one. In the words of one of my hero's, Jonathan Antin of BravoTV's "BlowOut" -- "...and most importantly, he had perfect hair."




You'll look over to the right there and you'll see John Edwards, a man I'm hoping will be the anti-Clinton/Obama come primary time. Sure, if I think I know who you are, you probably know that my sister is working hard for Mr. JRE in Ottumwa, IA (did I tell you that I met a lady at Starbucks whose entire family was from Ottumwa!? It was zany.)--- but hey, I recently decided that I like Sen. Edwards just for him, and not due to the fact that he's feeding, health-caring, and otherwise keeping my baby sis busy up north. That's nice of him, though!

Basically, I'm tired of corporate politicians, or more specifically politicians run by machines that I don't like. John Edwards(with the possible addition of Biden) seems to be the only guy/gal in the race who's ready to stick it to the man, and who keeps it real.

So far, he's got my vote, whatever his haircut looks like.
Let's see what I can do to get him some more publicity here in the StL - I'm v. v. tired of hearing about Barack.

The Time I Almost Went to Joe's

Darn.

I almost made it to this speakeasy/band venue/? place last night called Joe's Corner. I got the name of the place from a shopowner in the city, and when I called the number to get the 411, I literally had to say, "Jim said to call."

It was about as close as I'll ever come to being a mobster, though there's nothing illegal about it. Maybe I'll come closer though...if I can do it without being a bad guy - I could be a mobster for good. Wait, there aren't girl mobsters are there? I'll think about it. I think some variant of Nancy Drew is as close as I'll get ... yay.

I think my buddy Adam's been there, as this shot leads me to suspect.



I'll do more investigation next thursday.
In the meantime, I'm hoping to hit Sandrinas/see if it exists still this weekend. It sounds old school, and the jukebox alone sounds amazing. You know how I love my jukeboxes. Especially MINE. It's so cool, but it won't mind if I see other jukeboxes - we have a very little jealousy in our relationship.

Cherokee - a friendly street

I did a little drivin' today, as I'm prone to do. Everyone knows when I say I'm running out to get like, a day planner for example, that means I'll be back in a couple hours, with the gas tank a little low.

So I went to Cherokee - I didn't have the energy to visit grouchy Jim of The Purple Cow...I'll have to be grouchy right back about him later, he's a cool guy, you should go see him...but I did finally get to APop records (a little pretentious, but what record store isn't? They didn't have any Smothers Brothers vinyl, so I left empty handed) and to the Black Bear Bakery. I got some fresh foccacia, some samples of the wheat bread, and a brief (as my parking meeter was running, and I only had 12 minutes) convo with the perhaps owner Greg. What a nice fella - used to live in the neighborhood as a kid, said it was really happenin, even then. For some reason I always thought that like, really OLD people were kids runnin' the streets of the then awesome, now blighted city streets, but this guy was barely older than my mom. What up with that? My timeline readjusted, I headed home. It's great to go places and really be able to interact w/ shopkeeps. I dig it.

I also did some interacting with the shoppers, too. It was mid-day wednesday, and the people on the street were out, and they were talkin' at me in that special way people on city streets talk to you, and it was great. I used to go to other areas of the city in high school, and as much as it bothered me then (and bothers me a bit now) -- when the catcalls disappeared in the Loop and in CWE, it seems something jumped the shark, for me at least.

Just a thought? More later.

Marc Broussard doesn't care what flowers mean

Seeing Marc Broussard at Mississippi Nights was a defining moment in my life. For real! His voice always makes me remember how important it is to just run with it. Be young, talented and importantly, be sure you know how funky life can be. I know, Marc!

Marc does justice to this Louisiana Soul vibe (while he still leaves it with a distinct Marc-ness) the way I'd like to do justice to the important things in my life. A lot of people would be afraid to tackle that genre, or lifestyle or position, or whatever. Not Marc, b/c he's got the love! He has come in from the cold, and he's invited me! Am I overreaching, turning Marc's musicality into a metaphor for life? Well, if I believe in the metaphor in the first place, then yeah I am, and in the words of Marc at his last concert, "Ya'll don't even know how funky this sh*t is!"

*This* being life, music, or whatever. (I just watched an Alan Watts short made by the south park animators that's all about dancing to the music of life... I'm annoying the practical cowboy in my brain with all this new wavey business...just listen to marc, and feel me out here)



I believe this is one of his originals (come on, new album, as much as I loved his collection of old soul classics) -- and if you'll allow me a moment of girliness, don't his biceps look really good?

You know what else I like about Marc Broussard? I think I heard somewhere that he promised his grandpa that he'd only write/perform/sing, etc... music that was positive about love/life/etc... no James Morisson "I know I've never bought you flowers - I can't work out what they mean." crap! Don't get me started on that song. You know that girl dumped his british patoot. You don't write a soul song about being afraid of love! It makes my mind explode a bit. Ah, I'm listening to him now and I wanna punch him in the face. Its love you idiot, and even though you seem to think it possible, girls don't like it when you call them from your heart, especially when you tell them, you're willing to "give them a try."
I'm sure, like she's a dinner special? Oh, the salisbury steak? Sure, I'll give it a try.
nooooooo.
See, look at me. A little e-mind explosion.

Marc doesn't care about knowing what flowers mean, and I respect that. You see what Mr. Broussard's voice'll do to a girl? Geez. Next thing you know, I'll be talking about Nick Cassavetes and The Notebook, and the power of believing in love.... so, I'll stop there -- but just for now.

Officer B and Me

So I was chatting about how I'd like to move near Cherokee to this totally awesomely nice City Police officer (Officer B!) and he looked at me like I was crazy.

I don't think I am. I've lived in a Muslim Slum/Banlieu in France, and spent 4 years in West Philly (west even of Penn, OMG)...sooooo, Cherokee sortof hits "pleasant" on my Creepy-O-Meeter. I may look like a sortof birdbrained, be-pigtailed white girl, but I'm a street smart dame, too.

Maybe I should get a giant vicious dog/boyfriend before I close on a house, though. And Officer B said he'd run a crime report (on what, my house? my block? me?)

Of course this is all hypothetical, and partly due my 16 year old dreams when I first started going to Casa Loma, but I don't really want to live anywhere else.

Anonymous Comments and T-Shirt drama

"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move." -Ben Franklin

That quote'll make sense later -- if ya really think hard!

So - I love it when I get an email in my inbox that says I got a comment on a post. It's really cool - I don't think I have to go into detail why I think comments are cool...the connection, its nice validation, its community, its good stuff.

It seems that my post over on the Europe Blog comparing DirtyCoast to Stl-Style has made some people angry. Ouch?
Check it:

Anonymous said...

Who says STL Style wants to be or should try to be like Dirtycoast? They have their own thing going, and I actually think their stuff is pretty cool. it's easy to be an armchair critic, but the Style guys started something out of pure love for their city.

-DetroitLove

Sat May 12, 12:13:00 PM PDT

Lolololori said...

DetroitLove, i could not agree with you more --- but I´d love it if STL Style (real innovators in a little bit of a status quo'y city...at least until NOW!) really took advantage of their position in the community as a force for awesomeitude and for good...and they do, too...Ive been emailin´em for a bit now...now if only they´d take me up on my offer to help them do it --- for free. How´s that for armchair, eh?

Question...does detroit have a similar tshirt thing going? Seems like you´d know...

Sat May 12, 12:21:00 PM PDT

Anonymous said...

what makes you think they need your help or anyone's help. i just went to an event sponsored by stl-style and it looks like they have their shit together. they were doing gangbuster business.

Tue Aug 21, 08:23:00 AM PDT

Lolololori said...

Well, anonymous - I'm not hating, just constructively commenting...have you checked out what is going on at dirty coast? StL Style recently sponsored a music event in St. Louis' Cherokee district to raise money to support/save a local building in disrepair...(is that the event you're talking about? Mullanphy? I wish you'd leave your email/profile so we could talk, ps)it's just this sort of thing I like to see. My favorite founding father, Ben Franklin said, "All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move." -- I just like to see a company that has class, namely StL style, keep on movin' and living up to its GREAT potential! I love St. Louis, and it deserves nothing but the better than best. And StL-Style, much as I love them - in my lowly opinion - could to better.

So they're mad...Good!

(I'm also sortof proud of my post with 4 comments - 2 of which are mine, but whatev, yayyy!)


This class of people who are commenting clearly want to moooove - they speak their minds, they have opinions, and they're out and about in their cities -- and I like that a LOT and respect it even more, I really do. But why do they want to move so anonymously? I answer all my comments nonetheless (not like I have a million, but hey, its a principle), but Tommy Anonymous, can you hear me?

Dear Last Anonymous Commenter,
It seems we both share a love for StL style. Maybe we could work together? Maybe we both could encourage and help StL-Style to list local businesses, blog about local interests, recruit new designers, encourage creativity in new designs, brainstorm fun/important St. Louis-centric things to make tshirts about, and really use the T-Shirts as a way to be proud of StL and to encourage pride in others. I know the Sklar Brothers wore the St.Louis Connection shirt on VH1, but there's more.
So Don't be anonymous, let's be buddies,
Lori

Now, Ben Franklin also said, "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do."

Am I doing all those things in this letter I sent to Randy Vines, one of StL Style's Vines Brothers? I sure don't want to.

"
Firstly, I love the shirts - I brought the St. Louis highway sign one
over with me to Europe, and i have worn it, and washed it until it
turned pink/grey/brown (love the french laundromats).
Since you're the "production assistant" - I was wondering if you had
seen the productions going on over at Dirtycoast.com -- sortof a
similar theme, but for New Orleans -stl's sista down the riva, but
they've got this real groovy community suport thing going -- and a
blog, yadda yadda.
You guys ever consider doing that?

I think you should! I'll be back in town for good in June (i've been
teaching english in france, dur) and I'll voluntarily help you guys
set something up if you need help - I'm into this social media for the
good of community thing (as y'all seem to be, too)!
Somethin' to talk about! If you've seen what the threadless.com guys
are doing with tshirts and community -- there's just so much
potential.

Soo, even if you don't need my help, have a look at dirtycoast (as if
you havn't already, but there's a chance!) --- I know you StL
supporters'll like what they're doing.
(the shirts are super cool, too).
Keep in touch, and tap me in if you need me, eh?
Lori
"
I talked to a young lady today who was wearing the "Where'd you go to High School?" t-shirt (classic) and we both lamented the lack of community action up at StL-Style. This is not hating, it'sjust motivating! If you agree, give Randy an email...its on the site here.

The fact of the matter is, I love love love what DirtyCoast and Threadless are up to, and I want to be a part of that if STLStyle goes in that direction.

Don't you?

It's the process...

...that's important - an old band teacher of mine would always say.

I was just reading Guy Kawasaki's take on blogging/changing the world, etc....and he helped me to realize that I oughta blog a little more about my job hunting process.

And what a process it is! I'm learning more about myself, life and the value of just being patient. I may sound a bit plastic right now, but just give me time and my voice will come back. You'll know!

So I've been on the job hunt. I love doing copywriting and new media strategy (fancy way of saying I work on their myspace page and overall internet presence) at TestimoBoutique.com. The clothes are cool, I dig my boss, I have a lot of freedom -- and while I anticipate working with testimo in some way for a loooong time whatever happens, it's time to kick it up some notches.

I've had some great moments with adclubstlouis.org, stlrecruiter.com and and also from checking out different StL bloggers blogrolls. If I'm in any stage in my life to advise anyone about anything, I would advise anyone to visit every single link on your favorite blogger's roll. Such treasures await you!

So, I'm in St. Louis, and I want to stay here for a while. Why? I believe it's possible to have, and contribute to creating a vibrant, imaginative and profitably bohemian 20 something life for yourself and others in a city like this. I didn't go to an Ivy League school to become a robot in a NYC factory, I went to give back. I just hope I can give back now - not be forced to move to a more obviously vibrant town to return here at 35, as is the fate of so many. I'm going to try my best for as long as I can take it.

Kirkwood's got a fever

and the only prescription? Signs.



Sure this isn't an architecture blog per se, but there's trouble on the homefront!

I'm not entirely sure of the details of the situation, but this Teardown Fever business is a familiar story, especially to my hometown of Kirkwood, and especially lately -- an older homeowner sells totally cute house on a historic street and doesn't want it torn down, some developer decides to knock it down, the house, gets knocked down, everyone talks about it for 5 years until it happens again and we all go, "its happening again, what can we do?"

I remember reading about something similar to this over at Toby Weiss' B.E.L.T and thinking whoa not again.

Residents of Argonne, a neighborhood that's listed on some historic lists of something, but none of the neighbors have any say as to what's to become of this precious little 80 year old chalet
located at, if you havn't noticed already, 407 Argonne. There's talks of the neighbors going in to buy it, rumors that the fella who rennovated the nearly unsalvagable home just next door (the former home of the Kirkwood Historical Society, at that) wants to buy it to do the same...

I'm just wondering how it got this far?

The signs are pretty cool though. If anything, since this house looks like it is very very much on its deathbed, maybe other deals like this won't get dealt b/c the community seems to be once again mad as h**** and they're not gonna take it anymore. Its fun to stand around and watch everyone slow down and point - I saw at least 5 cars stopped, and some residents walking their dog chatting about it.

There's more photos on my flickr account - but drive on by if you're in the neighborhood, its some really striking signage.

Sock hop

Just got back from Hairspray the Movie -- it was super joyous and wonderful, James Marsden was a dream, and I won't argue, post-viewing, I plan use more hairspray (lookout, people behind me). Still, it made me wish that St. Louis had Motormouth Maybelle who'd spin records at her record store, thus offering me a better place for me to boogie.

I'm all about local live music, but I just can't shake my tail feather to screamcore punk power pop whatever (though I don't deny that there are those that can). There's gotta be somewhere.

There used to be a fair crowd of swing dancers, but I think they got in some fight or something that I missed out on b/c I was like, being 17 at the time, and I don't know.

I'll try my best NOT to be all talk and no walk in the pursuit of my dream.

Good point

cities on other planets

July 6th, 2007

NYC is the capital of the planet.
To find a more important city
you’d have to go to another planet.

St. Louis is not a very important city.
To find a more important city
you just have to go up to Chicago.

But no city is that important—
not even NYC. And there aren’t
really cities on other planets.

Back

The blog is back!
I'm in the process of ridding myself of pesky french red tape for good, and then we're rollin'.
We're already rollin', but it'll be nice to be completely American again.

Lots of stuff to talk about!

Lori

Let me go, she said

Let me go, and I will want you more -- right?
Or is that just another Cake-ism?

Au Revoir, St. Louis!
Yes, I had to leave you for Lyon- but it will be better for the both of us! May the clarity that a year in Europe is sure to afford me bring you much good fortune, my USA, upon my return...For my sake, eh? I will still read my St. Louis blogs, and I will still long for some mississippi love, but for now, my rivers new rivers for the year are the Rhone, the Saone, and the Beaujolais - however I choose to spell them on any given day.
And what a valley it is that I live in!
It will take some time for me to find a real appartment (not in the semi terrifying arab rioting ghetto...though it is not without its cultural vibrancy and colorfulness during the daytime, of course...but I'm a young non-arab foreigner, and a woman at that? I mean, I'm tough, but hello, I am not (yet) a kung fu master/sniper type lady). It will take some time to complete my paperwork, get my bank account, get internet access, Skype (best internet phone ever, and yes Mer, they pronounce it Skyp-EE in France. How'd you know!?) figure out the bus, metro and bike (! yes the city has a bike system where you rent a bike to get from place to place and then drop it off...hello good idea) systems, and make a petit life for myself in french. I figure on that taking tops 2 months, and then its travel, live, drink, and explore this groovy city and others, entertain my multitudes of visitors, and just do etc, etc, etc... perhaps find somewhere to dance, too, of course, and gents to dance with. One is silver and the other's gold, but whatever metal they're made of, I'm happy to wear the rings of all my friends, be they people, bars, shoes or cars, in my heart. aw.
Other writing (namely Testimos) becons....this may as well be a temporary farewell to the Mississippi River Valley girl (on more than one level, whoa) - but expect her back every once in a while, and in full force come next September.
Don't forget to vote, and in the meantime, check out the french Lori, as I try my best to be my own doppelganger (merci Blythe), at the new blog, aptly punned (and penned!) - Fleur de Lori, in the meantime!
I hope to post well and often, much in the way I aim to live and laugh and love. Hey o!

Belated Anniversary

That fleur de lis : its having this eerie pervasive presence in my life, and I'm not even catholic. Zany!

I know my posts have been pretty, um, reticent (?) of late, but I've got a lot to say/think/do about this 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
I'll save it for later, though.
In the meantime, I'm in the midst of a get-lost-in-the-internet sojurn (the internet is so cool, btw!), and I fell into this fella's blog and he had a list of all these New Orleans blogs.
Check'em out.
I know something good will come out of all of this. I just hope sooner than later, and I hope to be a part of it.

This is awesome

I am so loving Wikipedia right now.



Cute dress, too.

RIP Naguib Mahfouz

RIP Naguib Mahfouz

I'm not going to pretend to have a graduate degree in anything that would allow me to grasp just how cool Naguib Mahfouz was, but I studied enough of him in my undergrad years to be able to say that his voice was a very special and important one, and will be missed gravely.

I have Professor Roger Allen - who boldly stepped outside the uppity professor box to be both a great professor and inspiring teacher and educator to lowly undergrads like myself at the U of P -- to thank for many things, but today I gotta give him his propers for nominating this guy for that um, nobel prize he won (impressive, huh?)...and for filling our bright eyed and bushy-tailed minds with little perspective on the whole east-west-whatever hullaballo courtesy of Mahfouz and his Cairo Trilogy...among other things. I'm a lot wiser courtesy of these these fellas.

Did you know that there's a poem that if you recite it on a plane in an arab country (and if you're a man, I'm assuming), passengers on the plane will be compelled to stand up an applaud? I know this, thanks to Roger Allen. He's so cool.

Catch Prof. Allen on NPR talk of the nation (audio available at 5pm ET ) the Lehrer news hour tonight at 6:49pm ET! I always wanted Prof. Allen to be all over the pundits, but his priority is obvi teaching and not spotlight seeking...still I wonder what he'll have to say tonight. Talk about a guy who knows things about things (and still manages to be a pleasantly eccentric british bloke) Did I mention how cool this guy is? mm hm.

Happy Birthday Elvis Costello

EC turns 50-ish yesterday, and is expecting a kid with Diana Krall - excellent! You gotta love this guy more than slightly. I do!

Maybe you wanna BE an American!?

**


Maybe I do.

**These are my comments upon seeing the ACTUAL documents that formed the foundation of MY great nation...yes it is MINE.

It was a corporation-led adventure, but adventure nonetheless. We all experience america differently, right? But its all sorta the same. Whatever, insert poignant "we're all sleeping underneath the same big sky" thought here : _________.
Then try trying to belive it. Come on!
Starbucks. Sleep Inn. Target. Old Navy. Outback Steakhouse. The United States Capitol (?) - but I'm not hating. One time I was chillin' with Bono, and he told me "America's not just a country, it's an idea." (mind you, i was chillin with him and like a bajillion other penn kids, but he was talking to me...in the balcony...of the giant football stadium...facing the sun...whatever, i felt it.) It's all part of the amber waves of grain, y'all. As momma says, you can't have the whole without the parts, and if you take (or hate) a part of the whole, then you're messing it all up. Get it? Momma also says "snakes on a plane" a lot now - believe me she has been impressing locals all across the greater Washington DC area. Its giving her major street cred.


I read the Declaration of Independence and I've read the Constitution of the United States, and they are some liner notes, dude.
-Bono

In honor of bono, I wrote a song about america, and my sis choreographed a little accompaning jig.




America: Best country EVER!

Of course there is more to come later: Ghost of john quincy adams, swing dancing in the almost house of the VP of the USA (in a SUPER cool neighborhood), running into cool meg from casa loma (yes she still has the fish dress), near loss of $2 bill - and suggestion, by Mr. Dreamy, that I, "should like, make a coffee table out of it, or something" and like, other stuff. DC's pretty magical, but next time I go, I'm going to make up better must-see lists for myself and like, bring a moped. For now, M and I rep our city (and dis another, doy).




Go Pioneers.





Webster GROSS...!


Tomorrow we head for Cinci-nasty, home of many an impolite boy my aquantainces and I have been lucky to have encountered in our past. And maybe there's more? Will I be brave enough to be a french fry and go out to discover this homeland of Nick Lachey? I sorta wanna save what's left of me for STL, but if there's a will (and daylight, and dibs on the rental) there's a way.

Keepin' it real in the Spin Capitol

So I talked to this fella at Eastern Market in Washington DC - i think he asked if he could have my hair. I said, "NO!" -- but he ended up telling me he had just come over from Africa.
Now, DC is a pretty random acts of violence/crime city, so I was wary - and I hate that a lot. I wish I were a 7 foot tall like, American Indian kung fu master or something intimidating like that so I would not feel so damn defenseless in the face of all the lovely culture around me that I really just want to talk to. I don't speak 3 languages for nothin', folks.
I love me a good market!
I asked this penn dude if he ever went to the amish market on 43rd in west philly, and he said no! &#$^%*#$? Needless to say, he is dead to me (for many reasons, this one being high up on the top 10).
I remember when me and Steph would venture to like, 50th street to get an apple popover because hey, there was a mini amish market there, and we the one we ate was on a picnic table prefabricated for chess-playing. We also bought a pitcher (for lemonade) for like 50 cents from some store with a lot of cooooool fake hair. Mind you, i think we were in the area where the Prince of Bel Air met those boys that were "up to no good" and who "started making trouble in the neighborhood" -- if you catch my drift. But it was day, and it was a good apple turnover, and you gotta love the amish. Moral? markets have really good apple turnovers, tomatoes and kooky folk, even if they are a bit scary.
Risk it.
Anyway, they were playing Nancy Wilson and Al Green at the market, it was mucho appreciated. Observe as I remind meredith what you're supposed to do when you hear music.






DC so far has been very corporate, yay american starbucks time, but I can dig it, obvi. I take time out from cynicism to love my zany country and all its idiosyncratic craziness.

Here's to you, USA! It's a very diverse city innately, as well as by virtue of the fact that many a different folk like to visit.

I went running with my buddy Scott and he got mad at me for breathing deep the air of democracy, and semi-screaming "best country ever!" in front of some south indian lookin' folk at the frickin' foot of the capitol --- I'm like, people need to know that I love my country, and they need not take offense. If I were in france (& i will be soon) and someone said, "Zeeiisss eeez zee beeeest coooohntreee eeeveeerrrrhhgg" -- I'd be like, "oui, man, oui, allez-y" (which translates, roughly to "yeah man, yeah, you go"). Because why not love the country that gave you freedom and sesame street?

I'm hoping tomorrow or wednesday day to grab that car and drive the streets of DC and find some real people. Thus far I've been searching out DC blogs and finding the occational tip 10% of the time, whilst 90% of the time I'm being burdened with folks' relationship problems.

Oooooh, yeah, I don't care. (and I'm proud of my stl for having non-therapy blogs...um, doy?)

Also, bloggy hipsters here have a chip on their shoulders the size of the lincoln memorial when it comes to interns (my sister-esque folk). Oh I just want them to drop the resentfulness and tell me where to go to meet real DC people. I really would not like to be clued into how much they hate themselves while they diatribe on and on about how hateful the interns' youth, vigor, beauty and overall bushy-tailed optimism is. These atributes are not bad things - most cities would benefit, if not cater (like the business of DC do) to such youth and fervor and overall city centric blind soulmate-esque love. Most cities have been killing to eliminate the brain drain that is plaguing them, while the movers and shakers here are resenting them (at least in the blogosphere) ??
Also many of these arty fold seem to be dealing with dealing with not liking new york. Don't like it, its ok! Snakes on a plane, man - snakes on a plane. Just b/c its new york doesn't mean you have to like it. You can, though - sure. But you also can also not like it. I believe ghandi once said, " Be the new york you want to be in the world." Right?

It all makes no sense, and its getting in your way, cool ppl of DC! Can you dig it?
I hope I manage to hang out with these inferiority complex be-weighted people...I can only hope that they are not turned off by my optimism and hope for like, things?

ps the vintage here is about $200 dollars more expensive than the stl....and I'm really only exaggerating by $5. Seriously. Whoa. If I had lived here age 12-20 I would be facing age 23 with like, a pair of jeans. Only. I'm sad that Rock star rags is going kaput. If you know things about things, or you're my mom and her crew (=both?), you know what I'm talking about -- giant vintage clothing warehouse in North city? This fella Bill, who would steal all my moves on the dance floor - but it was ok b/c he was trying - would save us dancing gals the goodies, and cut us deals b/c he knew those dresses were going to LIVE. I have many a dress from there, thanks to bill! Anyway, there's a dancing gal here in DC who is 5'10" and danced with the crew back in STL -- we would go to rock star rags back in my senior year of HS -- it was sortof hilarious b/c, much to my suprise, and despite the fact that I was 5'3" -- we wore the same size, and had to be very diplomatic over dresses a'plenty in the heart of north st. louis. I gave her an awesome red plaid dress, and I wonder if she still has it. SHe's emo now, so maybe she will give it to me. If she's smart, though (and she is) she's sold it.

Sooooo is the score stl-2 dc-zero-ish??
I don't know, I'm trying not to let predjudice color my experience here in america's capitol. I feel like Dc's gonna pull ahead bigtime tomorrow -- Tomorrow I go swing dancing at The Jam Cellar with what I'd call some of the best dancers in the, um world? I'm not being brown nosey, but hey, these dudes and dudettes keep it real and they love to frickin' dance. What is not to admire!? I'm excited like whoa, and already planning the outfit. Hopefully the little dead foot that could (my right foot) will pull through. It will. An over-zealous rock step killed my foot, and many more overzealous ones will bring the foot entirely back ---b/c life is crazy like that. I'm in the spin capitol of the world, after all, and you can bet I'll be spinnin' on some dance floors. Spin doesn't only come from the pundits!

Maybe I'll teach'em some St. Louis shag - if they're lucky. They are, so hey.

These swing dancers seem to be a really great and truly american coalition of peers (Since Ben Franklin's Junto--- it was the bomb, and I can thank profesh Zuckerman for showing me that light, grazie), and they're making life better for the world, and I gotta love it, and I gotta love that dance is the reason for all of it. Any city would kill for this crop of dynamic duos.

Is social dance the band aid of our fragmented society? Do I even have to say, doy?

Frankie Manning, who I met at the Casa Loma ballroom when i was like 16 years old, says something about how when you dance with someone, you have to believe and be in love with them, and with the music for 2 and a half minutes...otherwise, its just not worth it. That's the way to live, k?

I like how I think everyone else's clothes are so 90's tastic. It was a decade of hope and of the Gap... not for me though...at least not Gap wise. And like, I'm still hopeful. I sold that dress on Ebay, it now lives happily in florida! It was too high waisted for me anyway.

Expect a more detailed post about the DC later.
In the meantime, keep dancing please.

Show me staters represent

So I just spent a lovely evening with my two best gals, and we totally brought it.
There were fresh pears, Helen the best bartender ever, tall irish-catholics, and STL roller girls (arch city rivals?), in all their pink hair bettie page hair glory (excellent choice with the fishnets and pink leopard skin mini, roller girl comradette, and no I am not being sarcasto-mean). Twas grand, figuratively, and eventually literally.
*because we were having fun, and eventually went to bars on the street called "Grand" ...badum bum!*

I've always wanted pink/red hair.

Anyway, there was much discussion of keeping it real, much trying of random drinks made out of fruits (but not fruity drinks, there's a difference) and much STL representing. Our talkin' was a bit like feeding meat to the tigers, b/c we are all serious stl-ettes, but we were all just like, you know, we have lived elsewhere, and for some reason, ain't no lovin' like the one St. Louis' got.
We're really into the pretention-less, genuine nature of our stl brethren. Propers to you. All of you. Even the black barbie doll, i heart you as well.

We went to The Buttery, reccomended by my new best friend Stevie f. Smith - owner of the ever-relevant Royale, and 30 something stl gangsta: (I think he does other stuff, but whaev, do your own research - this blog is about ME!)

Excellent reccomendation, new best friend! Thanks!

I so enjoyed dancing with James the accident prone all purpose cook man to classics like "bed of roses" by bon jovi, some Sam and Dave B-sides and like Johnny Cash--- let us not forget other obscure country favorites that blythe knew ....all in addition to others, including "what's goin' on" and "Always be my baby" by marvin gaye and mariah, respectively, and respectfully.

Yes we sang along. Yes we were young and full of life.

You wish you were there.

We went there post south-side romp, and it was just lovely. There was dancing, and I ate a slinger, b/c I don't front - and blythe had the best grilled sandwich of the southside (professed mr. james)...no regrets, to be sure. Aaanyway, royale-mangia-buttery was a triumvirate of southside nightime fun and did I mention that you wish you were there?

I'm listening to the live recording of the Marc Broussard concert I went to see about a month ago -- one that had a sortof unintentional paradigm shifting effect on my life...(not all that uncommon for Mr. Broussard...added to the chuck berry concert the night before and it was just no wonder).

- he coughed in the middle of a song and he said he had a cold, and I yelled, "me, too!" That's how I roll. -

I leave you with Blythe's album cover - --- and a hope that you will
not dance like nobody's watching, but rather dance like EVERYBODY is watching, and you are a really good dancer.
That's what I do, and it's really awesome.

St. Louis dances like that, too. Just watch.


its 4:25am, and i'm signing off. Rep your city.

One month

One month from now I will be a french citizen. Not forever, but for sometime. Am I sad to leave America? Hell yes, I love america, usually quite blindly. Am I sad to leave St. Louis? Hell yes, I am in the thrall of this city, once again. But I'm getting the hell out of dodge b/c hey, I'm blindly crushing on where I am right now. Distance fans an affection strong, and extinguishes one that is weak. I got that from a college buddy's AIM profile about her fiance, I admit this - and I cite my sources. In the meantime, I am going to be loving me some america, and I will leave the deconstructing my americanness for when I am an ex-pat.
Have I ever mentioned that I am like, so done deconstructing all the matricies of power that encompass my ancestry? Leave me alone, I'm tired of rebuilding myself in less oppressive ways - as an individual, I think I'm rather a force for good. This is neither here nor there?
Get excited for the last month - its going to be an excellent push for greatness, stlness and love, always love, people.

who hid the 20-somethings

So, in my attempt to live up as much St. Louis as possible, I've found that most of the (real) movers and shakers have a very 30 year old vibe. What gives, are all the 20 somethings eating sushi in Clayton? What are we supposed to do with ourselves? I have a very good feeling that I do not want to eat sushi in Clayton with the 20 somethings. Go to france seems to be my answer. In the meantime, I am happy to party with my elders.

Maybe I see but don't see them b/c I can tell they wanna play quarters with me or something. Oh but I do not judge - try not to at least. I am enjoying my not-party-in-the-park with the yuppies summer -- quite a shift from my stint at ALIVE magazine. Not that one is better than the other, but there are different strokes for different folks (though I still wonder where all the funky but responsible 20 somethings go to die/disappear). I am reminded of when I was in high school and I'd drive down Cherokee or somewhere else b/c I got lost on my way to this or that and just dream of a greater st. louis -- the one of the past or of the future...and here I am older, and I'm at it again - trying to be an STL connosieur, and I am soakin' it up!

I would like to own all of Cherokee someday. I would especially like to own the Casa Loma Ballroom and really kick that into some culturally relevant dancing high gear (in addition to rehabbing it in time for my wedding reception to as-yet-unforseen fiance...mom and i decided that today in the Great Wedding Discussion over Eggs Benedict of 2006) ... its a legit ballroom, and because dancing is so important to the neighboring people, and to me -- could it be crafted into something totally relevant and singular? Tcha! How do I get it...?

I see all these businesses opening up - for better or for worse as far as their enterprising owners are concerned and I just gotta wonder, how!? Does it take the decade to figure it out? Yes? I looked at all the whartonites, like the ones who started Bubble Tea (so gross, but $$ and I guess it served the community) and insomnia cookies (I think its 50% wharton)...well what am I talking about I clearly need to call up my wharton buddies...are you reading wharton buddy? Would you like to talk business? You know you would!

With all this craziness going on in the world -- though I'm about to go an ocean closer to it in a month -- it seems like America needs to turn inward and fix what is fixable. Internationalism is important, but why does my alma mater have to be soooo focused on becoming an international university, altruistic across the world, when my buddy from Lafayette, LA tells me that houses in new orleans are still spray painted with warnings of dead bodies? I hope, in my Great European Tour of my 20s, that I will be able to gain some sort of perspective from the lives of others and bring that experience -- like my Penn street cred -- straight back to the Heartland, a place that set me free, and if I do come back, I truly was it's to begin with.

I remember my high school teacher, Mr. Teson, would gaze wistfully at me and say, "you're never coming back, are you Lori?" -- maybe he was wrong. I do not know, yet...I would like to get some fixin' happenin' in n'orleans, tho. Maybe I'm supposed to go there. Hm?

In other news, I now know an authentic St. Louis Shag from like the 30's. I'll have to post more about this later, b/c I feel very authentic about it all, and will be going on a teaching blitz probably starting a minute ago.
What is this blog for, if not to announce my love of the dance.

Dance for Pedro

At the new location of Head to Toe (my former leotard, tights and tap shoe keychain one-stop-shop) there is a shirt that says "Dance for Pedro."
Its styled how you think - blue ringer, red iron-on-esque letters.
Hello! That is too awesome for words.
I kindof want to buy one for my 2nd cousin Sam the Eagle -- this kid is poised to be the hit of every school dance, wedding and be-stereo'd living room around the world, b/c he is a kickin' dancer. I mean, I was the one that decided to take him into the kitchen and rock out to some sweet soulful bayou music courtesy of Marc Broussard (and his influences, Donny Hathaway, Soul Power (or something), Dave barnes, Stevie Wonder, and James Taylor...among others) .... so perhaps I take some credit, but the kid hit the ground running(dancing). He comes up with all possible new moves to show me now, and some of them are positively Timberlake-esque.

He's perfect in every way, I love my 2nd cousin Sam. I think I will get him that Tshirt - it will be awesome for him when he's a teenager and likes to wear weird tshirts as all teenage boys do.
Gift from Bia (my unintentionally street nickname, bequeathed upon me by Sam's 1 year old bro, Fat Willie).

I would love to tell you all about my week of making St. Louis and surrounding areas into my very own Nashville/Austin hybrid, but I've got some to do listage to tackle. I've been in St. Louis for about a year now, and though I havn't had the wherewithall to really relish in my wonderful city as much as i did in high school (expendable income, sigh) - I heart this city, this state, and all its crazy red state, down-home awesomeness.
New York, etc.. is some lame resort town compared to the real people, places and things here (and in other cities around my favorite river ever), and all those dorks from the Bronx in my italian class who attempted to refute my claim that real america is in the South/midwest - y'all don't even know, and what's more, your Italian sucked.
More on that later, perhaps?