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Last night was a huge success hosting Dining Out For Life with our large committee at Terrene. Thank you to the friendly people at Terrene for providing perfect food and service! I think this was the first year we were able to use Terrene's large patio.
Listed by Angela Jett, REMAX Premier Realty, 314-842-6400
Grand Center is about to get much grander! This Fall the Grand Center Arts Academy will be opening its doors. The Academy is a Charter School and will begin with 225 students in the sixth and seventh grades. Every year another grade will be added through Senior year. Eventually the student population will be 750. Could you imagine anything better than being artistically oriented and being able to go to school right in the middle of where art is happening?
Now the even more exciting news...the Carter Carburetor Building on Grand across from Powell Hall is being renovated to accommodate the school in addition to the parking garage in back. Eventual plans include renovating the Sun Theater to be part of the school! Yea! This year the academy will be located in the 3rd Baptist Church until the renovation is complete.
Check out the pictures of the buildings in the slide show. The top floor is the old Knights of Pythias meeting area.
Listed by Donna Giamalva, Prudential Select Properties, 636-779-1100
Over the last few weeks I have been through some exciting mid-century St. Louis homes. Here are just a few images the wonderful light fixtures....and a couple clocks!
(Ralph Fournier designed Ladue home- basement bathroom....love the light fixture which is perfect with the wallpaper!)
(Same house- clock in the kitchen.)
(Ladue Bernoudy- custom-designed light fixtures.)
(Isadore Shank designed house in Westwood)
I have finished my second trip to Bowoods to collect plants for my pots on my deck. They really do have a nice selection and you can find things there that you would never find at other places.
Last night I checked out the new tapas restaurant, Mojo, on Grand. Try the lamb sliders...they were yummy. I also had sort of a trout salad that was delicious. Afterwards...the destination was The Grey Fox for a drag show. The the cost of a few cocktails and dollar tips...it is the most entertainment and fun for the money.
It is about time to sow your seeds! You can see here that I am going to have fun with zinnias. The rabbits eat the seedlings in my U City garden. I may plant them in large pots for the deck.
Come and see this completely renovated house. Only $245,000!
"This is one of the best buys in the city considering the location, condition and size. Close to everything- Forest Park, U City Loop, Washington University and the Metrolink. This house is a complete renovation with new everything- kitchen, windows, flooring, baths and systems. The large kitchen boasts custom cabinets and black granite counters. The dining room has a bamboo floor. The second floor has plenty of bedrooms and two full baths. The third floor has another bedroom and a full bath. Great neighborhood."
I hope the Power Ball winner from Marshall, MO reads this blog and calls me about this house. It is only $14,900,000 from his $248 million.
"This European inspired mansion has an array of handpicked, imported materials and unique finishes from exquisite walnut and marble to spectacular molding details and natural finishes throughout. Features music room, turret room, movie theater, indoor bowling alley, 8,000 sq ft outdoor entertaining area, safe room, second living quarters, study, billiard room, art studio, spa-retreat, playroom, exercise room, eight car garage, and porte cochere. Majestic floor plan of 40,000 square feet for living and entertaining in the grand style of the Newport cottages."
Listed by Gillian Noero, Dielmann Sothebys International Realty, 314-725-0009
Read more about the house HERE.
Don't miss an opportunity to view four of Harris Armstrong's houses open to the public for a rare viewing. Bring your checkbook, the house that he built for himself @ 3 Sappington Spur is available for purchase.
This mid-century gem is now only $595,000. What a great buy for a Isadore Shank home! Other houses like this are going in the $1 million dollar range. It has a intact St. Charles kitchen, original fixtures and a dramatic Living Room....all on over an acre of beauty. Hurry...this one will not last at this price.
Listed by Marcia Harris @ Dielmann Sotheby's Real Estate 314-725-0009
"Unique opportunity to own the Stuart Castle, a St. Louis landmark. The castle is located off of Lewis Road on the Meramec River in Eureka,MO.The castle was originally built by Dr. Stuart in the 1960's. For nearly a decade, Stuart's family of eight lived in a construction zone while he and his son cut and laid granite stone for the massive palace. The current owner bought the castle in 1996 and spent five years renovating and remodeling the interior. Peepholes, secret passageways, and polished granite floors are some of the castle's unique interior characteristics"
Listed by Paul Levy, Remax Results, 314-518-7786
Over the weekend I went through a fine home in Parkview. Here are some of the images.
I popped into A Tasteful Affair Sunday afternoon. This super fun party benefits Food Outreach. Bryan Young's famous ribs were featured and those alone are worth the ticket price.
Last night I attended the biannual Dada event at The Contemporary Museum. As always it was a stylish and fun event!
Coming next Spring is an exciting sculpture project brought to you by BJC. 40-50 local artist have been asked to paint fiberglass butterflies to be placed throughout St. Louis. The sculptures will be sponsored by local companies/businesses and then will be auctioned off. The project benefits BJC Hospice's "Wings" program which is the pediatric palliative care program. See below for local artist Charlie Houska's proposed sculpture.
Look at this lovely patch of Ostrich Ferns that are popping up. I know people eat the early curls....though don't know if you can eat this kind of fern.
(Picture taken in Clayton)
Check our this LINK to find out more about this cool piece of furniture!
One of my favorite events is this Sunday..... A Tasteful Affair! This event raises money for Food Outreach...a great organization that provides meals and groceries to people with AIDs or cancer. I volunteered at Food Outreach last summer with one of my sons. It was an rewarding and eye-opening experience helping the people who benefit from your donations to Food Outreach. The party consists of food stations all around The Khoraassan Room provided by St. Louis' best caterers and restaurants. There is also an extensive silent and oral auction. Find out more HERE.
It is now time to start thinking about what to do for the weekend already! One of the best parties of the year is DADA at the Contemporary Art Museum. It is this Saturday, April 17th. Find out more HERE. If you can not go to the main event, they have a great After Party option that starts at 10 PM and is only $35. The After Party is when things get going!
You need to see this home! The floors are Brazilian Cherry and are stunning? The kitchen is to dream for! A two car garage! Come see it tomorrow! 100% renovation....down to the brick walls! $499,000!
If you are looking for the perfect, well-kept house in the Central area, 8730 Teasdale Avenue is for you. Located in University City, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is super cute. $299,000
The historic Rockcliffe Mansion in Hannibal, Missouri officially was sold and closed today. I started on the project to sell Rockcliffe almost a year ago. The original seller ended up in bankruptcy and I started to work with the trustee of the court late last year. The mansion was originally on the market for $1.5 million...then $995,000...then $750,000 and finally sold for $567,000. Warren Bittner and Juan Jose Ruiz-Bello of Miami are the new owners. They plan on restoring the 13,500 sq ft to its original glory. Make sure that you visit the amazing structure this year when you are looking for a close road trip. It is open for tour and you can stay there!
Last night I attended the NOH8 St. Louis Photo Exhibit at the Duane Reed Gallery on McPherson in the CWE. It was a very impressive showing!
NOH8 (no hate) Project is a photo campaign aimed at raising awareness of the inequalities that many face in life and arose out of the passing of Prop 8 in Californina in 2008 which banned same sex marriage.
I want to introduce you to my cat, Boo. He was a barn kitten out at our farm and was too friendly for his own good. He was the only kitten of the litter that had no fear and loved to weave in and out of the horses hooves. We were afraid that his future did not look long. We called him Boo since he made the trip to University City on Halloween. Well Boo has become a useful predator in my garden. Just yesterday I saw on my front porch the remains of a large mole and a mouse. The only problem is that he also loves baby bunnies...that season is almost here... the carnage is never pretty.
Here are a few images that I have snapped over the weeks of some fine CWE home interiors and fixtures.
An alabaster light fixture in a Washington Terrace home.
An old bathroom still very much in style. Love the sink!
Now that is my idea of an island!....in a Lenox Place home.
A butler's pantry in need of a butler!
Look at this stunning Bernoudy home located on 3 acres in Ladue. With over 6,000 sq ft of living space....this is what it means to live stylishly! $1,500,000.
Listed by: Rose-Lynn Sokol, Broker - Associate, Prudential Alliance, REALTORS™, Direct: 314-872-6724,Office: 314-997-7600
My brother works for Corning in Corning, NY and is a doctor of ceramic engineering. One of his pet projects is something call Celcor that is used for industrial filters. He is artistic and was able to use Celcor to sculpt an urn from it for my father's ashes. In some century in the future they will unearth the urn and wonder what was going on.
We had a lovely day in the country on Easter Sunday. Below is Aunt Bunny being windblown showing her customary lamb cake. (Read Aunt Bunny's blog and learn about her attending the Jay-Z concert.) Also pictured is my son, Teddy, with his grandmother/my mother. Teddy was fresh off the plane from a two week stay in China.
I made Roasted Califlower Sesame dip that was quite good. Found in Food & Wine. Recipe HERE.
I have been a little busy the last few days and planned to go to the grocery store early this morning to shop. To my horror, Schnuck's was closed. I was thrilled to see Whole Foods open! Instead of my traditional Paas Easter egg dye, Whole Foods only had this German natural dye. I think they turned out beautifully! I found that their instructions to prick the bottom of each egg with a pin was perfect to keep them from cracking.
Last night I attended Wall Ball 2010. What a fun party! My pictures are from the very beginning before the party-goers appeared. I got distracted and forgot to take pictures during the party. I wonder if I was a successful bidder on anything? I had to leave a little early to greet my son who just came home from two weeks in China.
These are not pics from a horror movie, though more like what I encountered at our farmhouse today. Asian Lady Beetles dead on the floor....alive on the window....I was vacuuming all afternoon. The problem is that after all of this hard work, they will be back in the same numbers. Luckily they seem to go away and we forge deeper into Spring. Anyone have a secret how to rid your house of these pests?
Is Spring early this year? I know my garden is bursting! I guess 80 degree days help. (I just looked at a post from last Spring....and last year was further ahead than this year at the end of March...click HERE to see.)
