Nicki's Central West End Guide

k. hall "popping-up" on Maryland Plaza

k. hall, a Brentwood-based company that specializes in aromatic bath, body and home care products is opening a "pop-up" shop on Maryland Plaza next door to Moris Fashions. I snapped a photo from the sidewalk of the outside this morning and unfortunately wound up with lots of glare. Love these sunny days, just not for photography.

When I peeked into the space, there was a young woman stocking shelves with large bottles of lotion and other handsome-looking products. She said that they hope to be open by the end of next week.

I remember k. hall when Kelley Hall-Barr and her husband John Barr first started in business in an out-of-the-way location in UCity on Midland. As the business grew, it moved to a larger space on Manchester Road in Brentwood. Let's hope k. hall has a successful run as a "pop-up" in the CWE and the Maryland Plaza location becomes a permanent spot for the successful hometown business.

In response to a comment posted below Kelly Barr wrote, "We are going to carry flax and "free people" clothing...more and more items will come in over the next few months."

k. hall opened today, May 17 at 28 Maryland Plaza. The shop looks fabulous! Hours are Mon. - Sat. 11 to 7, Sun. 12 to 5.

 

ME's "Have Art Supplies, Will Travel" Workshop

For the past couple of years Mary Engelbreit has been celebrating her birthday by holding a Home Companion Workshop in her CWE Studio at Euclid and Maryland. This year's birthday celebration is scheduled for the weekend of June 9th and 10th. The editor of the late Home Companion Magazine and CWE resident Barbara Eliott Martin has been helping Mary organize the event, and two dear friends of mine, Charlotte Lyons and Kathy Curotto, are teaching. Another star in the crafting world, Amy Powers, will be there too. 

It's a great opportunity to see Mary's fabulous studio, enjoy a day or two learning something new, and of course, eat a little birthday cake. There are a few spots left, so dash over to the Workshop's webpage and sign up here. 

Out for a stroll with Ella and Miles

Photo courtesy of Emma Hand

Emma Hand, mother of Cali and Lilah, above, and creator of Snap Stories, sent photos of the girls walking Hannah Roth's Japanese Chins, Ella and Miles (Hannah's a big jazz fan). The young dog handlers, frequently called into service, appear to let Ella and Miles take the lead as they stroll about the neighborhood. 

Photo courtesy of Emma Hand

Ever the young fashionistas, Cali wears a tutu with pink leggings, while Lilah sports a STL-Style t-shirt that was a birthday present for Cali---you know how that works with big sisters, don't you? Both the World Chess Hall of Fame Gift Shop on Maryland and Left Bank Books carry the Winged Griffin shirt, $22.95 to $25. I checked with Bruce Shoults at The Great Frame Up at 22 N. Euclid who said he carries other great STL-Style t-shirts, just not the Winged Griffin.

Sifting through a photographer's archives: Brides

A 1929 Broadway play,  "Whoopee!", produced a song written by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn that has endured throughout the decades. You can listen to Eddie Cantor sing his 1929 rendition of "Another bride, another June..." here. All of which leads into today's presentation of photographs from Martin Schweig's archives showing three brides from that 1920s-era.

I have loved studying these photographs showing shorter wedding dresses, veils with beaded headbands and gathered netting, and bridal bouquets with cascading ribbons that end in bows.  

Notice the detail at the bottom of this dress---lace pockets?---and, of course, the great shoes!

Martin identified this beautiful bride as being from the Muckerman family, a well-known name in St. Louis. The photograph was taken in her family's home (which Martin thinks was in the CWE) as was the custom of the time. You can't help but marvel at the gorgeous lace on this wedding dress and veil with its extra-long train.

Perhaps one of you recognizes a great- or a great-great grandmother in one of the other photographs. If so, please let me know so I can share their names.

Thanks again Martin! He and I are going to sift through more photos soon so I can share more of them with you.

Sunday, May 6

Prepping for the Kentucky Derby

Today is the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, and once again we will probably say we ought to get out the julep cups and make mint juleps to celebrate the race. Although we say that every year, rarely do we follow through.

Recently I came across the Polaroid above showing our cat Bella sipping a mint julep. At the time I was experimenting with recipes and props for a food shoot for Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, where I was Food Editor. My modus operandi was to plan the menu, set up the shot, and then take a Polaroid so I could show the art director and prop stylist what I had in mind. This particular day, just as I was ready to snap the photo, Bella jumped up on a chair and put her mouth on the straw. What luck! What a shot!

Note to PETA: Relax, there was not a drop of bourbon in that cup!

P.S. If you missed last year's post about our trip to Keeneland Race Track in Kentucky, you can read it here.

A.J. Brewington's 26th Anniversary!

Last month A.J. Brewington, proprietor of Brewington Art & Interiors, celebrated her 26th year in business. She was in a philosophic frame of mind the day I visited her shop at 4814 Washington Avenue. (As a matter of fact, I visit her shop most days as she occupies a second floor space in the Pierce Arrow Building, a property that Jim and I own.)

To explain her rather gutsy decision to move her shop from a smaller street-level space on McPherson to a second floor 2500 s.f. loft space with no street presence she said,  "I try not to be complacent but am constantly redefining what my business is. It's always evolving and changing. One wants to be at a point in your life where you can be influenced and inspired. Since I've moved (in December, 2010), I've never enjoyed my business more."  A.J. considers her current space to be a big-city-sophisticated approach to retail in St. Louis. She feels she is her business, it doesn't matter where she is. Her long-time clients, creative people with imagination, follow her wherever she goes.

What you won't see in this post is a photograph of A.J., who is surprisingly camera-shy given her larger-than-life personality. The quote on her website pretty much sums up why there is never a dull moment when you stop by Brewington's for a visit.

 "Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather skid in sideways shouting 'What a ride!' "

Her first store in the St. Louis area was in Webster Groves where she was a member of a co-op consisting of 12 antique dealers. From there she moved to a space on Rosebury in Clayton where she sold traditional antiques. Her second store in the DeMun District, Geronimo's Cadillac, specialized in Mid-Century Modern. She moved to McPherson in the 90s, where her shop carried an eclectic mix of both antique and Mid-Century pieces.

The vintage bronze swans in the photo (above) have been sold since I took the photo. A 1950's Italian plant stand (left), $375, holds a mercury glass gazing ball, $65. The contemporary 4-panel screen at the rear is covered with maps, $300, and the vase on the stand (right) is $475. The three antique wooden columns in front of the window were originally used as props at Dillards, $1500. Sitting on the window ledge (and barely visible) is a pair of French-style folk art roosters, $75 each.

Selling art has become a large part of A.J.'s business in recent years. She currently represents three artists, internationally-known Edward Boccia (whose painting is shown in the photo above), Jim Pegg, and French artist Claude Rene Krutchmar. Boccia is Professor Emeritus at Washington University's School of Fine Art where he retired from teaching painting in 1986. A.J. told me that the late Morton May, the philanthropic chairman of the May Department Stores, was a huge Boccia collector who donated a large part of his collection to SLU. Word is that SLU is going to exhibit their collection of Boccia's paintings in 2013.

Other items in the photo are contemporary mercury glass lamps with silk shades, $350, 8 vintage waterford grapefruits bowls on the tray, $585, and a silver mercury glass gazing ball, which can be used as decoration in the garden, $38.

On the showroom floor is a contemporary Ligne Roset sectional that includes two sofas and an ottoman that came from a local estate, $2500. The handsome silk patchwork pillows on the sofa are $60 for the pair.                   

Around the store there are gifts galore in many price ranges from crystal candlesticks, $32 (not shown), to the silver pieces right. I have been noticing all the new babies in the neighborhood, which is why these two sterling silver porringers (right) caught my eye, $95 and $45. The sterling silver bowl (top) is $125, and the antique sterling silver serving spoon is $95. 

 

Love the contented smile on the little bronze dog at rest (left) by a Santa Fe artist, $400.

 

 

 

 

Brewington's Art & interiors, 4814 Washington, Suite 230, Tues. through Sat. 10:30 to 6 p.m., (314) 361-5373.

From glam art at Atrium to herbal sodas at Bowood

There was an opening at Atrium Gallery Friday evening featuring the art of Christopher Tanner, a New York artist. Tanner, who is also an an actor, playwright, performer, and cabaret singer (in drag), was not able to attend the opening--"Com'on to My House"--as he is in rehearsals for a new play. As a performance artist, he has worked with Cindi Lauper, Bloolips, David Lynch and Karen Finley among others. 

The bold, and in a few instances over-the-top mixed-media pieces contain bits of vintage jewelry, beads, baubles, bullet casings, millinery trim, and more. When you visit the Gallery--and you should--plan to spend some time, each piece deserves more than a quick glance.

Tanner's stunning 92" x 92" mixed media on canvas piece above, "Hand in the Pool of Maria Montez," is a cool $35,000. The close-up below shows a detail of "the Pool" and gives you an idea of the amount of work that went into creating it.

As you might imagine, Tanner has a quirky sense of humor as evidenced by the titles on his smaller pieces, 6 1/2 x 6 1/2", above--"Lucy Left and Tighty Right," "Diana Vreeland," and  "Mao Wow." Up close, each one is like peering into a tiny archaeological dig.

    

 

 

 

 "Helen of Troy," 2011 is 6 1/2 x 6 1/2", $1500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Stars Have It," 2011, 6 1/2 x 6 1/2," is also $1500.

"Come'on To My House" will be on view at the Atrium Gallery, 4728 McPherson, until June 17.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, over at Bowood Farms...

Saturday afternoon, David Kirkland (above), chef of Cafe Osage at Bowood Farms was handing out samples of the restaurant's sparkling herbal sodas. The tasting coincided with a book signing by the authors of Missouri Harvest, shown below. The sodas are made with homemade herbal infusions of rosemary, basil, or lavender. 

Chef Kirkland generously shared the recipe. You'll need lots of herbs to make these, so stock up at Bowood, $3.50 each.

To make sparkling herbal sodas: Steep two bunches of rosemary, basil, or lavender in 2 cups boiling water for 1/2 hr. Discard herbs but save the steeping liquid to mix with an equal amount (or to taste) of simple syrup (heat equal parts sugar and water till dissolved). Cool. Pour 1 1/2 ounces herbal infusion into a glass, add about 7 ounces club soda. Fill with ice and serve. Herbal infusion will last for weeks in the refrigerator.

Also at Bowood last Saturday, Maddie Earnest, left, the co-founder of South City's popular Local Harvest Grocery and Cafe, and Liz Fathman, an anthropologist and Publications Manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden, were signing copies of their newly-released paperback, Missouri Harvest (see post here). The  "Guide to Growers and Producers in the Show-Me State," $18.00, takes you on a tour of farms throughout the state by region, with information on what each farmer grows and how to get your hands on it. There are also some interesting recipes including a "Spring Onion, Spinach and Goat Cheese Bread Pudding" from Goatsbeard Farm in Harrisburg, Missouri. If you missed the signing, stop by and buy the book. It's a great resource to have on hand.

And finally to Liz Fathman: Apologies for not capturing you with eyes wide open!

Bowood Farms and Cafe Osage, 4605 Olive, check website for hours.

Sifting through a photographer's archives: Part IV

 
Today's photo from Martin Schweig's archives feature a 1927 Gardner Model 90 Roadster parked on the upper Muny Opera lot, filled with what Martin assumes are actresses involved in a Muny Opera production. 

To get more information about the automobile, Martin sent a copy of the photo to Al Mercer, President of the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America). After some research Al reported that Gardners were semi-luxury automobiles built in St. Louis from 1919 to 1932. Mercer continued,  "The photo was probably a publicity photo for Gardner and the Muny."

Other automobiles manufactured in St. Louis (approximately 10) in the early part of the 20th century were the Moon, Diana, Ruxton, and the Dorris, which was manufactured in the building now known as the Dorris Lofts at Laclede and Sarah.

The photographs above and below were also taken by Martin's father on the Muny grounds during the same time period.

Some of the women look as if posing with the stuffed toys is the last thing they want to do, don't they?

Thanks again Martin for sharing these photos. Next up from the archives: Bridal photographs.

Sunday, April 29