61revised.com

Planning the same dull weekend of yard raking?  Spice up your life this weekend with “Spice World”.  Yes, that “Spice World“.  The 1998 narrative interpretation of “A Hard Day’s Night” as told by Ginger, Sporty, Scary, Baby, and Posh Spice…will be screening this Friday-Saturday at midnight (and Sunday @10pm) Septemeber 21-23rd in Tivloi Theater. 
If you think the Reel Late series needs a little salt, show up early to check out ”The King of Kong (a fistful of quarters)”, a documentary about getting that all-time high score.  Following two champions as they tour the country competing at that game is better than Mortal Kombat. 

“East of Bucharest” is more than a film, it’s a revolution.  You see, 16 years ago the town had it’s residents marching down the streets, chanting “down with Ceasescu!”.  The only question is, was it actually a revolution.  This deapan comedy will be screen as part of the Webster Film Series this Friday through Sunday September 21-23rd @ 8pm in the Winifred Moore Auditorium.

Those of you who prefer watching your films outside, surrounded by your neighbors (as opposed to those of us who prefer sitting in dark, isolated, air-conditioned silence) might be interested in watching “To Kill a Mockingbird“, screening in the Whitaker Pool Pavilion of Tower Grove Park this Saturday September 22nd.  It’s actually better than you remember watching it in your 9th-grade english class, although my money’s still on the groundbreaking book (you can take time to read that next week for class).
“Earth vs. The Flying Saucers” on the lawn in front of the St. Louis Science Center’s Planetarium this Saturday September 22nd, although if it should rain you’ll find shelter inside the planetarium where other film geeks will be watching the film (and dry).  Both films will start  around dusk (maybe closer to 7:30 or so these days), so show up early especially if rain were being forecast.

• A Well Respected Blog: Fast Food Geography
  Todd gives us an outsiders perspective on food inside the area. Taking a drive-thru the area’s fast food anomalities and a few swipes at their slogans, was easier than letting go of Wendy’s in Saint Louis who continue to taunt hungry television viewers w
  (tags: wellrespected fastfood restaurant chain)
• Ecology of Absence: Miss-hap
  A perfect place to sink? Michael Allen thinks Saint Louis is possibly the best place for the the Miss Rockaway Armada to have run ashore (or just underwater). Considering the DIY engineering this city does so well, I’d be hard pressed to disagree
  (tags: ecoabsence river ship armada sink mississippi)
• CourtneyWatson.net » Linkage: 09.19.07
  Everybody’s doing it now. And that’s a good thing. Sometimes an online community can build up an actual commnity. OR at least a nerd community (I’m only speaking for myself of course).
  (tags: CourtneyWatson links blogs represent)
• www.playstlfest.com - Wristbands On Sale
  As we prepare for the bigest little festival nobody else seems have eard about, we’d like to reiterate that wristbands for a 3 days festival can be had for $10 in advance. Besides Highway 61 readers who are always well informed active citizens, who know
  (tags: playbackstl playstl festival pass money tickets word)

• What’s Going on Around St. Louis Music Blogs/Web Sites
  I could roundup local music blogs this week, or AtoZ has you covered. Either way you’ll find what you’re lookign for. Just passing along the pass along.
  (tags: RFT AtoZ music blogs roundup)
• Subterranean Books » Play:stl
  Can’t buy ‘em online? Buy ‘em there. You now you’re going to go anyway.
  (tags: playbackstl festival subbooks pass)
• THE URBAN STUDIO - Adventures in Media Music Videos
  Represent. that is all
  (tags: urbanstudio video yotuh program)

Barricades

Originally uploaded by Skewgee

In what seems like a typical street festival barricade in the city, someone remembered to put up this handmade sign in case there was any doubt at Grovefest last weekend. I think the photo really speaks for itself, as the afterthought of posting traffic instructions seems pretty obvious. What you cannot see is that this traffic sign is actually facing the street area already barricaded in from traffic for the pedestrians.

I really like photographing signs in case that wasn’t appearant.

In front of the Atomic Cowboy at Grovefest 2, I found this street lounge next to the bathtub/trough/beer cooler filled with ice. Along with a both stages, good representation from the local establishments, fair trade coffee, and face paints, I dare say this corner wedged between highways and stages is a pretty fair representation of the two day takover of Manchester Road. If you have any photos of your own to share, I’d be happy to pass them on (or try using the machine tag on flickr)

Put down that Sunday paper, and we’ll give you the rundown of civics on your own time and with links. 
And with coffee.  But without coupons.  Still useful though.
It’s been a few weeks, but we’ve rolled out our daily links in the meantime.  For today (or tomorrow depending on when you check your RSS feeds) here’s some links with your coffee.

• Sunday seems like a good day as any for an op-ed.  Steve Patterson is taking on the Rolling Stop, Matthew Hathaway is all “elevator is temporarily stairs“, and Steven Smith explains Alan Greenspan explains the housing bubble.
• STLSyndicate: the front page of STL blogs.  It’s still a good idea (if you already read the blogs below).
• Hey, we called dibs of Apopaganda.  Trouble in River City and Apop finally come together.
• Neighbors mourn the loss of Pestalozzi Place, a restaurant who’s closing would otherwise would not have been noted without STL A La Mode (who has the good sense to block my comments).  Like 52nd City, we never managed to see what we were missing.  Filling the cosmic void may be this new restaurant in Tower Grove South.
• Speaking of restaurants and weekly digests, Gut Check has started their own round up.  Now we don’t have any pressure making our own.
• Royale 2.0 on Cherokee?  Steve Smith says not really.
• People like milestones: PubDef is planning something special for video # 500 501 502 this Monday, and Bill Streeter is taking suggestions for episode 200 of LoFISTL.  We’re feeling like slackers approaching post #200, not to mention UrbanReviewSTL approaching 33xx in less than 3 years.
• State Senator John Griesheimer (R) is privy to rehabs in his hometown of Washington, MO.  Their downtown is being removed, brick by brick.
• Simulate your own Hop in the City Festival with a Schlafly Beer of your hand and Courtney Watson’s photoset.  Should you not need a simulation (or simply had the $20 something dollars) to have attended, maybe you’d like to add your photos using these tags?

Carwash, Left

Originally uploaded by Skewgee

Although I’m not sure which neighborhood I live in (my apartment is roughly equidistant from Tower Grove South, SouthTown, Bevo, and Dutchtown), I know my neighborhood is a quintessential slice of St. Louis. There seems to be a specialized automotive service shop within walking distance (oh cruel irony) everywhere that isn’t a residence around here. Not to mention the fact that it seems like almost all of the South Side was designed for driving straight through and seems to have a love affair with the automobile.

So it wasn’t a big surprise when this homemade sign went up one day on the intersection of Chippewa and Gustine for a new local carwash. Stuck between two other auto service shops, along Chippewa just east of Gravois, these local entrepreneurs probably don’t need a sign on this corner (although it has one still standing on the opposite intersection of this divided road), especially considering their Grand Opening banner that has been standing for nearly 6 months. Since it’s nearly impossible to wash you car in a detached garage (or just because I’m lazy), these entrepreneurs seem to have the market cornered (or just on the corner) on handwashes of cars for $10 and plus wax for $15. Call it a brushless carwash if you will, since their’s something just endearing about a watching neighborhood business sprout (signs that is).

Maplewood is still one my favorite little downtowns in St. Louis County, because it seems more like a natural extension or another neighborhood of Saint Louis rather than the suburb that it is. This sign however is a little decieving out of context, in that I hangs behind the old storefronts along Machester Road in the Marietta parking lot. Considering the mix of pedestrian activity shown here contrasted with the commuter access to those businesses and services, I would consideer this contradiction a quintessentially Saint Louis experience.

easy chair

Originally uploaded by Skewgee

Life is easy in this open field by the Railroad tracks on a partially paved end of S Taylor south of Manchester between the Grove and SWGarden neighborhoods. I want to say that this couch’s owner lives on the right side of the tracks, except that’s not what it looks like here. Let’s just say that life is easy in this green space between factories and highways on a big comfy couch.

The Hide Away Restaurant and Lounge in South City (63118) is looking for a bartender, although I wish they were looking for another piano player (me). I haven’t set foot inside yet, but from the sound of this Sauce Magazine review that bartender must be equally adept at making martinis and serving Busch; you might think of it like a hipster hideout, but beware should it become a substitute for the social security office. Either way you’ll be raising a (recycled) glass while humming along “and the sign said…”