pick of the litter
October 16, 2007 at 2:03 am | In Matthew Hurst, Photo Essay | 3 CommentsTags: chesterfield, Fall, farmers market, food, Personal Life, pumpkin, seasonal
It’s no secret that local bloggers love that epitome of all that is seasonal in the neighborhood: the farmer’s market. Everyone is glad when their community can put together a farmer’s market that connects us to the land and to our neighbors, so it’s ironic that so many of our suburban friends who live closer to farms are often disconected from such venues. One such historic farmer’s market is Rombach Farm in Chesterfield Valley, which is most famous for offering everyone a chance to pick their own pumpkin from their patch every fall.
Seen here is Highway 61 contributor Lauren Reid, admiring the harvest season’s produce first hand. It’s part of a set of photos taken from our trip to find the perfect pumpkin from the 50+ acre pumpkin patch and the ensuing harvest revelry on a property that stood at flood plain level before Chesterfield Valley was just a sprawling shopping development.
Rombach Farms was a pretty big part of my childhood in semi-rural Glencoe (now Wildwood), with a summer farmers market within closer reach than Dierbergs. It was a trade off my family made of convience for the country, and I can still remember the year Rombachs was out of reach below the floodplain of 1993. Now their are rumors circulating that this might be the last year the market is open, just when such venues are needed in the supply chain of sustainable living. And while I cannot substantiate such rumors, any year has always been worth the extra trip back to the pumpkin patch this fall.
Film Geek - “Last” Week edition
October 12, 2007 at 4:15 pm | In Film Student Fridays, Matthew Hurst, Webster Film Series | No CommentsTags: Keaton, CAMP, Cinemania, FYFSTL, SLIFF, last
Whereas I could not give you a Film Geek post last week, this weekend is actually the Last Weekend for some of the film series we’ve been following. From near the onet of this blog we’ve been following these series, which will close for the season. Good thing SLIFF is coming up (more on that later).
This is also the last weekend for the Kompletely Keaton series in the Webster Film Series, which follows the films of master film director/actor Bust Keaton. Ironically for this master of silent story telling, this last weekend will go out with a bang, crash, and other associated sounds provided by a live folley artist. To say nothing of the live, authentically scored musical accompaniment, Kompleting an accurate re-Kreation of the original screenings of these Keaton films.
STL Community Arts & Media Project will run a few films of their own, including “Paris is Burning” next weekend. It opened it’s new film series last Thursday, but intends to take place at the CAMP building on Cherokee every other Thursday around 7:30 for the indefinite future.
Frontyard Features has ended in Septmeber. Cinemania @ Grand Center has also finished its run.
links for 2007-10-12
October 12, 2007 at 9:22 am | In Coffee links | No Comments-
You might have seen it on your campus already
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Subbooks is nearly done clearing out their old stock of used books. Consider paying them a visit this weekend before they send off the rest, especially if you missed their sale.
Show-me show
October 10, 2007 at 12:14 am | In Apopaganda, Concert, Events, Matthew Hurst | 4 CommentsTags: LoFi
So you’ve heard about the Show-me Blowout and…wait, you haven’t? Alright we’ve put off mentioning one of the most important music festivals of the year, featuring some of the best rock’n'roll in the region. I kind of thought you’d have heard about it by now.
But that doesn’t mean we’re not excited by it; Gabe and I will be there both nights helping Bill Streeter to document the best garage, punk, and surf rock on video that this state has perfected from its rockabilly and blues roots. So as this side of the river is known to suggest, we’ll just have to show you. The shows will take place this Friday and Saturday night October 12-13th around 8pm and onward at Off Broadway.
One part of the blowout you might not be as familiar with is the FREE barbeque at Apop Records on Saturday afternoon between 1-5pm. That rock’n'roll tailgate of sorts will feature performances from some of St. Louis’ heroes of rock, including The Vultures, The 65s, The Vickroids, and The Mad Titans; it’s also The Place You Want To Be. We’ll see you there too.
Chilly meal served hot
October 9, 2007 at 12:27 am | In Matthew Hurst | 1 CommentTags: chili, competition, cook-off, food, recipe, vegetarian, Weather
Sure it’s been unseasonably warm lately (which taunts those of us who have to spend time inside, in front of a computer), but that didn’t stop residents from around the Saint Louis area from cooking up a batch of chili to show-off at the annual Chili Cook-Off last weekend. Of course some of us were working on a little matter called midterms this weekend and couldn’t make it out.
To say nothing of those like me, who love chili but remain vegetarians in a world full of meaty competition chilis. So although I grew up appreciating the complex taste of ground beef or steak tips stewing in the chili, it certainly couldn’t compel me to try other’ chili and probably shouldn’t offer my own. But for the adventurous (or just those who eat out of season), I hope it’s not too late to offer my own vegetarian chili recipe:
You’ll need the following ingredients: A can of mild chili beans, a can of diced or stewed tomatoes (drained), 1/2 yellow onion (diced), 1/4 green pepper, Fantastic World Foods Vegetarian Chili mix, and a spring or two of cilantro as desired.
Instructions: Follow the instructions on the chili box (since it will help give the texture of a meaty stewed chili), and add the freshly chopped ingredients alongside the beans and tomatoes as directed. For an extra kick to this stew-like chili, consider adding minced garlic as desired and your favorite hot sauce to desired hotness. Consider stewing the mix on low an additional 15 minutes beyond what’s recommended for an ideal mix of flavors. It’ll get you through midterms and will serve at least 5-6.
Art+Song=Bluebird?
October 2, 2007 at 4:13 pm | In Art Show, Concert, Matthew Hurst | No CommentsTags: amyvandonsel, artists, bluebird, theme
When the Bluebird opened this summer, we knew one of Saint Louis’ newest venues had something special but unidentifyable going for it. Sure we saw an ever expanding list of Saint Louis’ best connected bands and some national acts worth merit, but the large space seemed to merit other uses. You could see the band posters on the walls from shows exisiting before the venue, proud framed in the back espousing their prestigeous ambitions from local artists.
This week those framed pieces will be joined; the concert space will become in part on art gallery during Silia Silias. Featuring original artwork by 40 artists themed around the bluebird (the creature, not just the venue’s namesake), including one from Highway 61 reader Amy Van Donsel. Even if you’re not interested in attending the art premier there will be a show starting at 10pm featuring local musicians, like birds of feather Nite Owl.
It all starts this Wednesday night, Octopber 3rd around 8pm (with the show starting at 10), for a mere cover of $7. That’s a bottle of beer at most art galleries, though you won’t pay nearly as much at their bar. And while the flyer (see right) might look like a bookmark, we don’t anticipate a book reading so soon. Then again, we never knew this little venue would grow up so fast.
Used books alert
October 2, 2007 at 3:38 pm | In Books, Matthew Hurst, shopping | 2 CommentsTags: delmar, delocator, loop, sale, subterranean, ucity
One more reason to visit your local bookstore instead of relying on Amazon.com - limited time offers that aren’t hidden, but rather put in the forefront. This week Subterranean Books has a sale on used books: 75% off (all of them). One week only, until this Sunday, October 7th.
Of course St. Louis has a number of great used book stores, many of which sell books currently out of print. Subterranean is only one of those bookstores, located on the Delmar Loop. You should probably already have heard about the store, since it just won Best Bookstore (indepdenant) in the RFT’s annual “Best of St. Louis” issue for something like the 5th time in past 7 years.
Of course the used books at this store were already bargains (for the most part), so we suggest paying this sale a visit for that book you’ve eyed up the last couple times but put off until you had more money and time. You might have the money now, but time only means someone else finds it first. Finders keepers.
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