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I don't know what the selection of goods was like at the downtown Famous Barr, but if it was similar to what Macy's is currently offering, I can understand why a lot of people didn't shop there.
During my lunch break I decided I wanted to do some shopping. The recent warm weather reminded me that I pretty much hate every short sleeved shirt I have in my closet, so I decided maybe I should get something new. I headed over to Macy's 2nd floor men's department and I was really disappointed with the lack of good stuff available for purchase. I'm not sure if I missed something, but there was just nothing there I wanted to buy...mostly because there wasn't really that much of a selection. I saw the men's clothing on the first floor, but I wasn't in the market for a dress shirt and tie.
I applaud Macy's for keeping the downtown store open, but I think a boost in sales would be possible if the chain offered a more varied & higher quality selection of goods in its downtown store.
During my lunch break I decided I wanted to do some shopping. The recent warm weather reminded me that I pretty much hate every short sleeved shirt I have in my closet, so I decided maybe I should get something new. I headed over to Macy's 2nd floor men's department and I was really disappointed with the lack of good stuff available for purchase. I'm not sure if I missed something, but there was just nothing there I wanted to buy...mostly because there wasn't really that much of a selection. I saw the men's clothing on the first floor, but I wasn't in the market for a dress shirt and tie.
I applaud Macy's for keeping the downtown store open, but I think a boost in sales would be possible if the chain offered a more varied & higher quality selection of goods in its downtown store.
This weekend I worked an event where I walked away with not only a sun burnt face, neck and arms, but with a new appreciation for some city cops.
Most police officers I've encountered haven't had really positive things to say about the community they serve. I remember reading the St. Louis cop talk forum a while ago and being more scared of city cops than the criminals in this town, but maybe I'm wrong and the disrespectful officers are a vocal minority.
This weekend I had a brief conversation with a Sergeant who said he wouldn't want to live anywhere but the city. I thought that was a rather unique thing to hear from a city police officer considering how hard they lobby and push to lift some of the residency restrictions city employees know about when they apply for a city job. He went on to say many other surprisingly nice things about St. Louis. I could tell he had his frustrations, (don't we all?) but his frustration was directed at the criminal mind and mentality rather than the city in which some of those criminals live.
It was a pleasant surprise to hear a city officer actually talk about his city with pride rather than disdain. I'm not optimistic about it, but maybe it's the start of something?
Most police officers I've encountered haven't had really positive things to say about the community they serve. I remember reading the St. Louis cop talk forum a while ago and being more scared of city cops than the criminals in this town, but maybe I'm wrong and the disrespectful officers are a vocal minority.
This weekend I had a brief conversation with a Sergeant who said he wouldn't want to live anywhere but the city. I thought that was a rather unique thing to hear from a city police officer considering how hard they lobby and push to lift some of the residency restrictions city employees know about when they apply for a city job. He went on to say many other surprisingly nice things about St. Louis. I could tell he had his frustrations, (don't we all?) but his frustration was directed at the criminal mind and mentality rather than the city in which some of those criminals live.
It was a pleasant surprise to hear a city officer actually talk about his city with pride rather than disdain. I'm not optimistic about it, but maybe it's the start of something?
I love working Downtown. Now that warmer weather has arrived, the streets have come to life with greenery and, more importantly, people. You know what would make working downtown even better? Drivers who paid attention to the traffic signals.
I park down by the Arch and enter downtown via Washington Avenue on foot. The cross walk at Washington and Memorial is dangerous with a capital "Take Your Life Into Your Own Hands". Drivers almost never pay attention to you or the signals until you are in the middle of the crosswalk and about to hit you. For the past 2 months I've been dealing with inattentive drivers who pay no attention to the little white walking man that is shining at them as they barrel towards me.
Today I got a bit fed up with it all and stepped into the intersection without stopping at the side walk, which I normally do even if I do have a "Walk" signal. The "walking man" beckoned me to cross the street, so I was in the right when I stepped into the intersection; however, people kept turning right onto Memorial and someone turning left from Washington almost hit me in the middle of the crosswalk. So infuriating to me.
I think people in this region are so unfamiliar with pedestrians that they don't even look for them in crosswalks until it's too late. I'm certainly guilty of the crime, although since I spend a good portion of my day being a pedestrian, I think I'm more observant than most drivers.
I'd like to see something done at Washington and Memorial to make it more pedestrian friendly and safe.
I park down by the Arch and enter downtown via Washington Avenue on foot. The cross walk at Washington and Memorial is dangerous with a capital "Take Your Life Into Your Own Hands". Drivers almost never pay attention to you or the signals until you are in the middle of the crosswalk and about to hit you. For the past 2 months I've been dealing with inattentive drivers who pay no attention to the little white walking man that is shining at them as they barrel towards me.
Today I got a bit fed up with it all and stepped into the intersection without stopping at the side walk, which I normally do even if I do have a "Walk" signal. The "walking man" beckoned me to cross the street, so I was in the right when I stepped into the intersection; however, people kept turning right onto Memorial and someone turning left from Washington almost hit me in the middle of the crosswalk. So infuriating to me.
I think people in this region are so unfamiliar with pedestrians that they don't even look for them in crosswalks until it's too late. I'm certainly guilty of the crime, although since I spend a good portion of my day being a pedestrian, I think I'm more observant than most drivers.
I'd like to see something done at Washington and Memorial to make it more pedestrian friendly and safe.
Looked different, didn't it
I've been following the unfolding saga that is 5401 Itaska for a few months now, and progress is being made...I think. A few weeks ago, after the property sat dormant for months once the tenant who was hoarding animals was thrown out, I noticed a large dumpster sitting in front of the building. The large storefront windows had been taken out and all the renaming windows had been opened wide. Inside, the walls, from floor to tin ceiling, were stained. The various shades of yellow and brown which colored the walls, along with the smell of pee, made me realize I probably didn't want to investigate any further.
It looks like someone has purchased the property and is hopefully going to return the building to good use. I'm not going to call it a rehab yet, as I haven't seen much progress made on the building since that first look, but I'm optimistic good things are in 5401's future.
This is the second building along Macklind that has been gutted. At Devonshire and Macklind another building has been gutted and will soon be the restored home to the construction company that moved into the building last year. It was interesting to drive or walk by that intersection and see a new hidden layer of the building revealed. One day there was a window were earlier that morning one didn't exist. On another day you could see what appeared to be the building's original storefront. I hope the rehabbers bring back the character to the building rather than burying it behind inappropriate steel doors and windows. I've got my fingers crossed. Macklind seems to keep improving.
It looks like someone has purchased the property and is hopefully going to return the building to good use. I'm not going to call it a rehab yet, as I haven't seen much progress made on the building since that first look, but I'm optimistic good things are in 5401's future.
This is the second building along Macklind that has been gutted. At Devonshire and Macklind another building has been gutted and will soon be the restored home to the construction company that moved into the building last year. It was interesting to drive or walk by that intersection and see a new hidden layer of the building revealed. One day there was a window were earlier that morning one didn't exist. On another day you could see what appeared to be the building's original storefront. I hope the rehabbers bring back the character to the building rather than burying it behind inappropriate steel doors and windows. I've got my fingers crossed. Macklind seems to keep improving.
I used to think the scavengers who roamed the alley's on trash days were an interesting, if not an odd, sort...I've changed my mind. This afternoon I pulled into my alley and saw a Saturn mini-van parked behind my neighbor's house. A kid, maybe around 12, had torn off the back of an old piece of electronic equipment that my neighbor sat out yesterday to be picked up during the Operation Brightside event. The bulk trash, for whatever reason, never got picked up on Saturday so everybody's bulk trash is still in the alley. The kid was digging inside the discarded piece of technology trying to get something out. An adult sat in the mini-van, arm out the driver's side window and instructions to the boy coming out of his mouth.
I sat behind the mini-van for a few minutes, these scavengers really don't care that the people's junk they're looking to make a profit off of are inconvenienced by their activities, before the kid was giving instructions to get in the van.
I don't think anything illegal is going on, but I don't like the fact that people from outside the neighborhood drive up and down our alleys filling their pick up trucks with trash and scrap metal. It's not so much that I care that they're taking the junk, but their trucks are unattractive and loud and I have no doubt that some of them are dumping illegally. Unfortunately, it's hard to catch them because if they see you looking they scamper off like dirty roaches.
I guess seeing somebody messing with stuff right outside my neighbor's back gate irritated me.
I sat behind the mini-van for a few minutes, these scavengers really don't care that the people's junk they're looking to make a profit off of are inconvenienced by their activities, before the kid was giving instructions to get in the van.
I don't think anything illegal is going on, but I don't like the fact that people from outside the neighborhood drive up and down our alleys filling their pick up trucks with trash and scrap metal. It's not so much that I care that they're taking the junk, but their trucks are unattractive and loud and I have no doubt that some of them are dumping illegally. Unfortunately, it's hard to catch them because if they see you looking they scamper off like dirty roaches.
I guess seeing somebody messing with stuff right outside my neighbor's back gate irritated me.
What is wrong with people? How can anyone intentionally ram a cop and then shoot at him? Better question, how could you do that to anyone? I'm so sick of society today...the guns, the violence, the reckless disregard for others. We have songs that glorify killing cops and promote the degradation of women, gays and whatever else you can think of. We have a society obsessed with money and celebrity and we have parents who don't know where their kids are during the day or the night. The monumental lack of personal responsibility in this day and age is staggering.
It seems as if everyone is a victim in these days, and that "victim" status is used to explain away inappropriate behavior. "I'm a product of my upbringing", "I'm broke and depressed", "My dad beat me" blah, blah, blah...We all face difficulties in our lives, but those hardships don't give us the right to hurt each other and they don't make us victims. We all are responsible for our own actions...a lesson most in this country seem to have forgotten. And then there's our government who will spend billions in a war that was lost as soon as it started, but it won't do much of anything to give its own cities the resources to deal with the problems they face.
Ugh, sometimes I want to pull my head into my shell and just stay there.
It seems as if everyone is a victim in these days, and that "victim" status is used to explain away inappropriate behavior. "I'm a product of my upbringing", "I'm broke and depressed", "My dad beat me" blah, blah, blah...We all face difficulties in our lives, but those hardships don't give us the right to hurt each other and they don't make us victims. We all are responsible for our own actions...a lesson most in this country seem to have forgotten. And then there's our government who will spend billions in a war that was lost as soon as it started, but it won't do much of anything to give its own cities the resources to deal with the problems they face.
Ugh, sometimes I want to pull my head into my shell and just stay there.
I don't want to say very much because it involves my job, but I'm involved in a small way in bringing life back to South Side National Bank. It's a beautiful building on the inside. The lobby and bank area are..."grand" is really the only word to describe it. It's interesting to study the layout of the building and get a glimpse into the way business was done back in the earlier part of the century. The head honchos of the bank each had an office on the 2nd floor that flanked the bank lobby, presumably so they could keep an eye on things.
The door to the safe is immense and absolutely beautiful. Its inner workings are exposed, a thin, acrylic covering is all that stands between the gears and nosey fingers. The floors in the tower section have all been gutted and walled for the new condos that will soon occupy the space offices once did. The views are really gorgeous.
The view from the roof is the worth the price of admission. I don't have pictures, but the view down Gravois towards downtown is awesome, but you really have a bird's eye view of most of the south side from the roof.
Anyway, it feels good to be a part of something I can get behind. It's even better that something I've helped create will be a part of one of my favorite buildings in St. Louis.
The door to the safe is immense and absolutely beautiful. Its inner workings are exposed, a thin, acrylic covering is all that stands between the gears and nosey fingers. The floors in the tower section have all been gutted and walled for the new condos that will soon occupy the space offices once did. The views are really gorgeous.
The view from the roof is the worth the price of admission. I don't have pictures, but the view down Gravois towards downtown is awesome, but you really have a bird's eye view of most of the south side from the roof.
Anyway, it feels good to be a part of something I can get behind. It's even better that something I've helped create will be a part of one of my favorite buildings in St. Louis.
Sometimes the St. Louis skyline looks very small for a city its size, other times it looks huge. Today it was the latter. I don't know where I was, but I was driving into work and I caught a glimpse of the skyline, the light was reflecting off the SBC building, the Arch shone in the morning sun...St. Louis looked like a big city.
I'm thinking seriously about joining the Southwest City dog park. I think my dog would benefit from the socialization, as would I, but I'm worried. My dog barks at other dogs. I've never seen her be aggressive in the sense that she foams at the mouth trying to get other dogs, she does listen to me when she sees another dog, but she doesn't know how to control herself at times. She also plays rough. She's a bull in a china shop for sure, so that makes me hesitant to sign her up.
I want her to get used to other dogs and start to ignore them when we're on our walks. If I walk around Francis Park, like this morning, I have to get off the path and sit my dog...and even then she can't control her excitement and she won't stay in her "stay." And then there's the barking at the other dog, I really don't like that.
My thought process on the dog park is this...it will wear her out and I think she'd have a lot of fun. She plays with my mom's dog just fine, we just can't introduce anything that looks like a ball while the two of them are together or else they start getting a bit possessive of the ball.
If anyone has any suggestions or would like to share your experiences woth your dog and the dog park I'd appreciate them.
I want her to get used to other dogs and start to ignore them when we're on our walks. If I walk around Francis Park, like this morning, I have to get off the path and sit my dog...and even then she can't control her excitement and she won't stay in her "stay." And then there's the barking at the other dog, I really don't like that.
My thought process on the dog park is this...it will wear her out and I think she'd have a lot of fun. She plays with my mom's dog just fine, we just can't introduce anything that looks like a ball while the two of them are together or else they start getting a bit possessive of the ball.
If anyone has any suggestions or would like to share your experiences woth your dog and the dog park I'd appreciate them.
This afternoon I was approached for money in the Hampton Village parking lot. The man was armed with a story about being from out of town and that he needed money for transportation to reach Kirkwood, where the guy he'd been working with had been put in jail.
"I don't have any cash. I just have my card," I said, and it was the truth.
"Everybody says that. I find it hard to believe no one carries cash anymore."
"Asshole," I thought.
I apologized that I couldn't help him and walked into Schnucks. As I made my way up and down the aisles filled with plenty, I couldn't help but think about the guy outside. I typically really hate it when people approach me for money. I find it a bit offensive for someone to ask me for something I've worked hard to get. Most of the time it's pretty obvious that if you hand over any spare cash you are feeding the beggar's addiction, but this time it wasn't so clear to me. The guy was sort of clean cut and seemed genuine...but that could have been part of the scam.
It stinks that we live in a world where you have to think about being nice or helping someone out. If I have some money and I can spare it, and someone else needs it for a bus ride or a meal, I'd like to help with that, honestly. Before you suggest giving money to a charity, I'm focusing more on random acts of kindness here. I wish I didn't have to worry about whether or not the person was going to drink or smoke my generosity away.
As I finished my shopping and made my way out the door, I decided to give I'd give the man the two dollars I had stashed away in my glove compartment, the left overs from this week's parking allowance. I wanted to do something nice and trust a stranger. But when I got outside the guy was gone, he either got what he needed or moved on to location that offered better pickings. I couldn't help but wonder if I had lost the opportunity to help someone in need, or if I prevented someone from getting their fix.
"I don't have any cash. I just have my card," I said, and it was the truth.
"Everybody says that. I find it hard to believe no one carries cash anymore."
"Asshole," I thought.
I apologized that I couldn't help him and walked into Schnucks. As I made my way up and down the aisles filled with plenty, I couldn't help but think about the guy outside. I typically really hate it when people approach me for money. I find it a bit offensive for someone to ask me for something I've worked hard to get. Most of the time it's pretty obvious that if you hand over any spare cash you are feeding the beggar's addiction, but this time it wasn't so clear to me. The guy was sort of clean cut and seemed genuine...but that could have been part of the scam.
It stinks that we live in a world where you have to think about being nice or helping someone out. If I have some money and I can spare it, and someone else needs it for a bus ride or a meal, I'd like to help with that, honestly. Before you suggest giving money to a charity, I'm focusing more on random acts of kindness here. I wish I didn't have to worry about whether or not the person was going to drink or smoke my generosity away.
As I finished my shopping and made my way out the door, I decided to give I'd give the man the two dollars I had stashed away in my glove compartment, the left overs from this week's parking allowance. I wanted to do something nice and trust a stranger. But when I got outside the guy was gone, he either got what he needed or moved on to location that offered better pickings. I couldn't help but wonder if I had lost the opportunity to help someone in need, or if I prevented someone from getting their fix.
This afternoon my co-workers and I headed to the Dubliner for a quick happy hour. It was a chilly, brisk walk down Washington which was made worse by the onslaught of NRA folks that are arriving for a weekend convention. If the 2 brief experiences I had with these people is any indication, they aren't exactly the most polite or tactful of people.
Experience number one had to do with a group of leather clad, NRA patch wearing men barreling across Washington against the light and basically running into me without any sort of apology. Nice, wish I had a gun...thank God I live in Missouri where carrying a concealed weapon is a protected right.
Next up is what was said to a friend of mine in the ladies bathroom. My friend had been asked by a group of female conventionistas if she worked downtown. My friend answered "yes."
"It must be a bitch to get down here," one of the convention goers responded.
"I actually live here," my friend said.
The comment was probably said innocently enough, but my friend is a city dweller, who lives in a city that voted against a concealed carry law, and she was a bit offended by the remark.
Personally, I don't want the NRA in my city. Setting aside for a moment the fact that, from what I saw, many of them wear too much denim and use the American Flag as a fashion accessory, I oppose everything the NRA stand for. I'm sure plenty of people disagree with me and will site how awesome guns are and that the money this convention is bringing to St. Louis and her downtown businesses is the best thing ever, but I'll never support an organization that states more guns in the hands of the general, "responsible" population is the solution to rising crime and the ills of society. I can't follow that kind of logic.
Experience number one had to do with a group of leather clad, NRA patch wearing men barreling across Washington against the light and basically running into me without any sort of apology. Nice, wish I had a gun...thank God I live in Missouri where carrying a concealed weapon is a protected right.
Next up is what was said to a friend of mine in the ladies bathroom. My friend had been asked by a group of female conventionistas if she worked downtown. My friend answered "yes."
"It must be a bitch to get down here," one of the convention goers responded.
"I actually live here," my friend said.
The comment was probably said innocently enough, but my friend is a city dweller, who lives in a city that voted against a concealed carry law, and she was a bit offended by the remark.
Personally, I don't want the NRA in my city. Setting aside for a moment the fact that, from what I saw, many of them wear too much denim and use the American Flag as a fashion accessory, I oppose everything the NRA stand for. I'm sure plenty of people disagree with me and will site how awesome guns are and that the money this convention is bringing to St. Louis and her downtown businesses is the best thing ever, but I'll never support an organization that states more guns in the hands of the general, "responsible" population is the solution to rising crime and the ills of society. I can't follow that kind of logic.
I drove by the Compton Hill Water Tower today and was pleased to see that the tower will be open every first Saturday of the month from April until November. Hours are Noon to 4 P.M.
Admission is $5 and it is well worth it. If you've always wanted to get up there, you have no excuse not to do it this summer!
The view.
Admission is $5 and it is well worth it. If you've always wanted to get up there, you have no excuse not to do it this summer!
The view.
I'm going to pick on Channel 2 here because I'm tired of the station using their newscasts as marketing vehicles for their web site. I get it, you have a new web site and you want people to visit. I feel bad for all the folks out there without Internet access who miss an important number or address while watching Channel 2. Instead of repeating the number or address on air, the reporter will offer the information once then refer you to their web site.
Anyway, KTVI's new promo's about how well they cover "my neighborhood" cracks me up. My biggest laugh came when somebody was proudly proclaiming how Fox 2 covered their neighborhood when a "neighborhood" name flashed up on the screen...St. Louis County. O'Fallon, Missouri was another "neighborhood."
O'Fallon isn't a neighborhood, it's a municipality. St. Louis County is....well, a "large administrative division" in eastern Missouri. I realize that "neighborhood" is an all encompassing word, a way for the media to chop up our region into cozy, feel good sections, but I don't appreciate the misuse of the word.
Having lived in a City of neighborhoods, each with its own flavor, I've become very possessive of the word "neighborhood." After almost 3 years of city living, I realize that "neighborhood" is people, architecture, the good & bad of all walks of life. It's dynamic and unchanging all at once. Neighborhoods have names. Neighborhoods aren't subdivisions. Neighborhoods are geographical areas within a city's limits! To Fox 2's credit they did get the "Lafayette Square" & "Soulard" designations right.
This whole topic is probably a whole lot of nothing to 99% of people, but I bet there are some of you reading this who understand where I'm coming from.
Anyway, KTVI's new promo's about how well they cover "my neighborhood" cracks me up. My biggest laugh came when somebody was proudly proclaiming how Fox 2 covered their neighborhood when a "neighborhood" name flashed up on the screen...St. Louis County. O'Fallon, Missouri was another "neighborhood."
O'Fallon isn't a neighborhood, it's a municipality. St. Louis County is....well, a "large administrative division" in eastern Missouri. I realize that "neighborhood" is an all encompassing word, a way for the media to chop up our region into cozy, feel good sections, but I don't appreciate the misuse of the word.
Having lived in a City of neighborhoods, each with its own flavor, I've become very possessive of the word "neighborhood." After almost 3 years of city living, I realize that "neighborhood" is people, architecture, the good & bad of all walks of life. It's dynamic and unchanging all at once. Neighborhoods have names. Neighborhoods aren't subdivisions. Neighborhoods are geographical areas within a city's limits! To Fox 2's credit they did get the "Lafayette Square" & "Soulard" designations right.
This whole topic is probably a whole lot of nothing to 99% of people, but I bet there are some of you reading this who understand where I'm coming from.
The best part of spending my afternoon in Illinois yesterday, aside from seeing my friend, was the drive back into the City. There is something about the scale of the Arch and the downtown buildings that always manages to take my breath away when crossing the Poplar Street bridge. The Mississippi River separates Missouri from Illinois perfectly and allows the St. Louis skyline to have some breathing room.
Seeing our city's skyline from this vantage point sort of inspired me and gave me hope that our City and her residents could overcome their problems...bad politics, bad schools, bad developments and all.
Seeing our city's skyline from this vantage point sort of inspired me and gave me hope that our City and her residents could overcome their problems...bad politics, bad schools, bad developments and all.
The assessed value of my house went up over $2,100 according to last years info in Zillow and this year's info on the city assessor's site right now. I hope taxes start staying in place for a bit now...they've gone up the past 3 years.
I uploaded some more photos from my trip. You can view them here.
Driving along 44 towards downtown I noticed a large patch of bright yellow in the grass next to the highway. The colorful patch turned out to be a cluster of daffodils planted in the shape of the number 25. Next to the 5, the flowers formed a large circle and even more daffodils formed eyes and an upturned mouth inside the circle. I wonder what that's all about.
"Stop Eminent Domain Abuse" has been painted (at least I think it's painted) on the side of a house that prominetly faces Gravois and Highway 44. You'd pretty much have to be blind to miss it. I believe the area around the old City Hospital holds a tremendous amount of potential without the destruction of the homes that are around Tucker. With some vision, it could be a wonderful extension of Lafayette Square and honestly, there's no reason why something great shouldn't happen here. I'm hoping for the best...but expecting the worst.
I'm having Manhattan withdrawal. The symptoms surfaced the my last night in NYC and have gotten worse since I've been home.
I was eating at a restaurant near Carnegie Hall and I couldn't help but watch the many shades of people walk past the plate glass window. I couldn't help but wish St. Louis had even a quarter of the street life Manhattan does. I realize it's not an apples to apples comparison, but I couldn't help but long for a more vibrant St. Louis City. Many people I've talked to say they enjoyed Manhattan, but because of the sensory explosion they experienced, they felt a visit of a few days was plenty. I didn't feel that way at all. My senses couldn't get enough of the sights and sounds, they wanted more. I think what I miss most of all, aside from the street life, is the way I was able to get around Manhattan through a combination of walking and the subway. I also miss the diversity. No one group seemed to dominate, and that was kind of nice.
As much as I want to, I can't deny the fact that Manhattan offers me a life and a built environment I can't experience in St. Louis. I love my medium sized-underdog city, but I'd gladly cheat on her if I had the chance. I hate saying that. I think St. Louis is fantastic, but Manhattan was everything I hoped it would be...and now that I've visisted, the call of Manhattan has gone from whisper to scream.
I was eating at a restaurant near Carnegie Hall and I couldn't help but watch the many shades of people walk past the plate glass window. I couldn't help but wish St. Louis had even a quarter of the street life Manhattan does. I realize it's not an apples to apples comparison, but I couldn't help but long for a more vibrant St. Louis City. Many people I've talked to say they enjoyed Manhattan, but because of the sensory explosion they experienced, they felt a visit of a few days was plenty. I didn't feel that way at all. My senses couldn't get enough of the sights and sounds, they wanted more. I think what I miss most of all, aside from the street life, is the way I was able to get around Manhattan through a combination of walking and the subway. I also miss the diversity. No one group seemed to dominate, and that was kind of nice.
As much as I want to, I can't deny the fact that Manhattan offers me a life and a built environment I can't experience in St. Louis. I love my medium sized-underdog city, but I'd gladly cheat on her if I had the chance. I hate saying that. I think St. Louis is fantastic, but Manhattan was everything I hoped it would be...and now that I've visisted, the call of Manhattan has gone from whisper to scream.
New York City was amazing. It was everything I wanted it to be, but not at all as intimidating or as overwhelming as I thought it would be. I did feel like a third wheel at times. My friend met her girlfriend in NYC and there were times...to many times...when I was left alone, but I made the best of it. I explored Manhattan on my own and mastered the subway system my second day. I was on express trains, transferred, went up, down and cross town all with only one screw up. I was pretty proud of myself! I felt like a real New Yorker :)
The Village was by far my favorite neighborhood, as was Chelsea, that whole area around Washington Square Park is just fantastic, although I really liked Midtown as well. We stayed a few blocks north of the Chrysler Building and I was surprised how commercial and residential mixed and blended together.
There is SO much St. Louis can learn from cities like New York. I saw tons of simple, easy things that would work so well in St. Louis if someone implemented them. Oh well.
I do have a new appreciation for Saint Louis though. I came to really appreciate our neighborhoods and, believe it or not, our size. It was hard not to feel totally insignificant in NYC, there are just so many people. New Yorkers aren't mean, as most people think, but I think they are...disconnected...from each other. They are ready to pounce on any perceived weakness and they think only of themselves when they're around each other.
For instance, my Midwestern sensibilities tell me to that people who are in line in front of me to go first, and the people behind me will follow me. Well I followed that logic and after waiting for a train that was running 20 minutes late, I found myself being pushed to the back of the line and ultimately missing the train. I quickly discovered that manners get you nowhere in NYC. So I lost them, and caught a lot more trains.
New Yorkers also jaywalk like crazy, and by the end of my trip I was jaywalking with the best of them. Pedestrians are fearless up there, as are drivers. Both groups seem to egg the other on by breaking the rules.
It was a wonderful trip and I truly think I could make it up there...I have no doubt I could.
The worst part of my trip was the plane ride home. There were 3 babies on the plane who cried the whole 3 hours, loudly, and I was lucky enough to be sitting next to a...well a thug is really the best way to describe him. Yes, babies crying is annoying but there's really not much you can do. This man of over 21 years (he ordered a beer during the flight) and his thug friends dropped the MF bomb and threatened to beat up the parents and their babies in loud voices. I couldn't believe this fat bastard was sitting next to me.
When I turned my camera on to take a picture of the STL skyline during our final approach, he told me to turn my camera off because he'd never flown before and apparently he thought the camera would somehow cause the plane to drop out of the sky. It's funny how morons like that turn into pussies when they're scared. I rolled my eyes and turned it off, which wasn't good enough because I over heard him planning my murders, as well as the crying children's, as he departed. That really was the worst flight ever.
That aside, I had a wonderful trip.
I took some pictures, I'll post a few for now. I took over 200 photos, so when I've culled through all of them, I'll post them on flickr and let you know they're there. For now, I present these quickies, click on the photo to see larger photos:
The Village was by far my favorite neighborhood, as was Chelsea, that whole area around Washington Square Park is just fantastic, although I really liked Midtown as well. We stayed a few blocks north of the Chrysler Building and I was surprised how commercial and residential mixed and blended together.
There is SO much St. Louis can learn from cities like New York. I saw tons of simple, easy things that would work so well in St. Louis if someone implemented them. Oh well.
I do have a new appreciation for Saint Louis though. I came to really appreciate our neighborhoods and, believe it or not, our size. It was hard not to feel totally insignificant in NYC, there are just so many people. New Yorkers aren't mean, as most people think, but I think they are...disconnected...from each other. They are ready to pounce on any perceived weakness and they think only of themselves when they're around each other.
For instance, my Midwestern sensibilities tell me to that people who are in line in front of me to go first, and the people behind me will follow me. Well I followed that logic and after waiting for a train that was running 20 minutes late, I found myself being pushed to the back of the line and ultimately missing the train. I quickly discovered that manners get you nowhere in NYC. So I lost them, and caught a lot more trains.
New Yorkers also jaywalk like crazy, and by the end of my trip I was jaywalking with the best of them. Pedestrians are fearless up there, as are drivers. Both groups seem to egg the other on by breaking the rules.
It was a wonderful trip and I truly think I could make it up there...I have no doubt I could.
The worst part of my trip was the plane ride home. There were 3 babies on the plane who cried the whole 3 hours, loudly, and I was lucky enough to be sitting next to a...well a thug is really the best way to describe him. Yes, babies crying is annoying but there's really not much you can do. This man of over 21 years (he ordered a beer during the flight) and his thug friends dropped the MF bomb and threatened to beat up the parents and their babies in loud voices. I couldn't believe this fat bastard was sitting next to me.
When I turned my camera on to take a picture of the STL skyline during our final approach, he told me to turn my camera off because he'd never flown before and apparently he thought the camera would somehow cause the plane to drop out of the sky. It's funny how morons like that turn into pussies when they're scared. I rolled my eyes and turned it off, which wasn't good enough because I over heard him planning my murders, as well as the crying children's, as he departed. That really was the worst flight ever.
That aside, I had a wonderful trip.
I took some pictures, I'll post a few for now. I took over 200 photos, so when I've culled through all of them, I'll post them on flickr and let you know they're there. For now, I present these quickies, click on the photo to see larger photos: