STL-Style Blog

Cherokee Street, 1997-2002

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:57:00 GMT

Continuing our trip down memory lane, here are some old photos from our collection of Cherokee Street in the late '90s-early 2000s. These were back in the days when Randy and I, along with some high school buddies, ventured onto big bad Cherokee Street not for tacos or art openings, but bongs and rolling papers! It was a mere 20-minute car ride from Creve Coeur where we lived, but a world away. We'll always remember our Friday afternoon visits to T-Shirt Headquarters, Spectrum's and Ngomsom's (R.I.P). Those crazy high school adventures formed our earliest impressions of the gritty street that STyLehouse calls home today. (All photos taken by Jeff and Randy Vines)

Taqueria Azeteca and El Chico Bakery!

Carniceria Latino Americana (check out the cool picture in the second floor corner window)

Empire Sandwich Shop, demolished in 2006 after a fire. Such a loss for the district.

Loitering by the No Loitering sign - ha! Empire Sandwich Shop in the background.

Proper Shoe Store before the red sign was removed, and 2720 Cherokee sporting an old marquee overhang.

Many many many more '90s-early 2000s pics from all over the city to come!

In the meantime, check out our previous posts:

http://stl-style.com/_blog/STL-Style_Blog/post/St_Louis_in_the_late_'90searly_2000s!/

http://stl-style.com/_blog/STL-Style_Blog/post/Subtle_changes/

St. Louis in the late '90s/early 2000s!

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:49:00 GMT

Randy and I recently unearthed a treasure trove of old film photos we took all over the city in the late '90s and early 2000s. Over the next several weeks, we'll be scanning them in and sharing them with you. These are not professional quality by any means-- just everyday snapshots of our favorite city. It's interesting to see how the city has changed over the last decade. Enjoy...

14th Street Mall, Old North St. Louis, February 2001

Argyle Apartments, Lindell & Euclid (now the site of the Schlafly Library), 1997

Barnes Hospital (when it was just "Barnes"), 1997

Bi-State bus with old red/orange/yellow color scheme, 2001

Abandoned car wash, Delmar & Walton (now a vacant lot), 2001

Mural on fence surrounding the Century Building (downtown), 2002

City Hospital prior to condo rehab (the high-rise building is gone), September 2001

Stately old rowhouses on Delmar in Midtown (replaced with shitty suburban houses), 2001

Stix School, Euclid & Forest Park Parkway (now the site of the Parkway Hotel), 1997

Old 'GRAND' sign at Forest Park Parkway & Grand, August 2002

Old McKnight overpass on Highway 40 in Ladue, 1997

The Round Building on West Pine in the CWE (still pissed about this one), 1997

Old Shapiro's Market sign before it was blown down in a storm, 2000

Ridiculously long playground slide at Highway 40 and Big Bend in Richmond Heights, 1997

Remember this guy with the staff? I used to see him everywhere... February 2000

Switzer Building, Laclede's Landing. Now a vacant lot. September 2000

World Cycle, Eastgate Avenue in The Loop, 1997

Randy posing with our favorite car, Blacura, in front of The Grind on Maryland Avenue, just back from a New York City road trip, 2001

An unforgettable view of lower Manhattan from the roof of the Fun Factory in Long Island City, Queens, June 2001

For more 1990s/2000s pics of St. Louis, check out our earlier post: Winds of Change.

MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE TO COME!!!!

Rust Belt to Artist Belt: At the Crossroads conference - THIS WEEK in St. Louis!

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:16:00 GMT

This week, urban innovators from around the world will converge in St. Louis for the 3rd annual Rust Belt to Artist Belt: At the Crossroads conference. Featuring presenters from such diverse locales as Dublin, Singapore, NYC, LA, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Philly, Pittsburgh, and of course, St. Louis, this conference represents another opportunity for the Red Brick Mama to shine in all her gritty glory.

The conference will be held Thursday, April 12th-Saturday, April 14th at the Chase Park Plaza in the CWE, and culminates with a street-wide celebration up and down Cherokee Street on Saturday night (April 14th). Be a part of the action!

To register for the conference, visit: http://rustbelttoartistbelt.com/

For more info on the Cherokee Street Saturday night party, visit: Cherokee Street Saturday Night

A Cherokee landmark restored!

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:10:00 GMT

The old Gorham's Beauty Salon clock has been a fixture of the 2700 block of Cherokee Street for decades-- a quirky vestige of the street's vital, bustling past. In recent years, the clock has mirrored the decline of the commercial district itself-- Gorham's Beauty Salon has long since shuttered, the clock went dark and rusted into obscurity.

: Clock before restoration

Now, after months of hard work and collaboration, I am proud to announce that the old dormant clock has been lovingly restored and once again shines bright on Cherokee. What was once a symbol of decline and neglect is now a symbol of Cherokee Street's resilience and resurgence. Incorporating artistic elements of the winning Cherokee Street flag design, the new face panels reflect the history, style and artistic spirit that makes the street so special.

Special thanks to the following people for their inspiration, creativity, expertise and assistance in making this project a reality: Randy Vines, Will Liebermann, Jason Deem, Kadie Foppiano, Ryan Reed, Emily Davis, Scott Sturdevant, Jeff Albert, the installation crew and of course, the entire Cherokee community.

In the next couple weeks, we'll be planning a street party to celebrate the restoration of Cherokee's newest landmark. It's bound to be a good "time"! Stay tuned for details...

City Affair presents... TRIVIA NIGHT at The Luminary FOR The Luminary!

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:20:00 GMT

Join us for an exciting night of TRIVIA at the fabulous Luminary Center for the Arts! All proceeds will help fund The Luminary’s much-anticipated move to Cherokee Street. You’ll get to hear all about their big plans for the new space and check out the sexy renderings too! Bring food/snacks and all your friends!

Friday, March 9th

Doors open at 6:00pm

Trivia starts at 7:00pm

Diverse categories!

Fun prizes!

FREE BEER!!!

Your MC for the evening is the one and only Michael Allen!

$20 per person or $160 for a table of 8
Call 314-609-2564 and reserve your table today!

Presented by CITY AFFAIR

Won't you be our neighbor?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:24:00 GMT

We are thrilled to announce that the formerly vacant building across the street from STyLehouse has been lovingly restored-- another shining example of Cherokee Street's impressive revitalization. The building has two available storefronts, and two fully-rehabbed apartments above.

We want cool new neighbors!

"I live on the corner of Cherokee & Compton" just sounds cool, don't you think? And who wouldn't want to open their business in the former home of Chris's Daily Double? Share the block with Tower Taco, Fort Gondo, High Spektical Photography, MoModerne, STyLehouse, The Archive, and coming soon... The Livery Company!

For more information, visit www.southsidespaces.com

New life for an old clock on Cherokee?

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:56:00 GMT

Preliminary plans are afoot to reface and relight the old Gorham's Beauty Salon clock that stands on the sidewalk in the 2700 block of Cherokee Street. Given its high-profile location, a group of Cherokee stakeholders have committed to taking this project on as a testament to the district's recent reinvestment and resurgence.

The restoration of the clock will improve the Cherokee streetscape in a number of ways:

1) It will brighten the sidewalks

2) It will tell time (the correct time!)

3) New face plates will reflect the creative culture that flourishes here

4) It will preserve and celebrate a piece of Cherokee's history

5) It will become an identifiable landmark that will enhance the sense of place and community

But there's still a lot of work to be done! Artists, designers and visionaries-- what do you want the clock to look like? Please send your ideas, sketches, graphics or questions to info[at]stl-style.com so we can get the ball rolling. Remember, there are three face plates on each side of the clock. The Cherokee Station Business Association will consider all designs.

Restoring this clock is a small project that we feel will make huge impact on the street. Let your creativity run wild, and send your ideas our way!

Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale - Saturday, Dec. 3rd!

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:31:00 GMT

Cherokee Street will hopping this Saturday! You don't want to miss the 4th Annual Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale. Dozens of venues will showcase the work of more than 40 local artists and designers. A great way to stock up on high-quality, one-of-a-kind Christmas and Hanukkah gifts! And you'll love the awesome prizes, drinks and giveaways that await!

There will be plenty of other excitement in addition to cool art. The annual Antique Row Cookie Spree will be in full swing in the Cherokee antique district east of Jefferson. If that doesn't fill you up, grab lunch at one of Cherokee's delicious restaurants, bakeries and cafes, or visit the food trucks stationed near Cherokee & Minnesota. Cherokee resident Ryan Reed of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis will be conducting guided historical tours of the street, so stop into any of the participating venues for tour meeting times and locations.

Good times to be had by all!

Special thanks to our sponsors, Schlafly, The Riverfront Times and Blick Art Supplies.

Pevely Preservation Rally - Saturday, Nov. 19th!

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:12:00 GMT

St. Louis University has proposed demolition of the Pevely Dairy complex to build a new medical office building. Join the Pevely Preservation Coalition this Saturday afternoon as we show our support for preservation of the National Register listed Pevely Dairy building and smokestack at Grand & Chouteau.

Bring your friends, family, signs and enthusiasm to celebrate your affection for the gateway to the South Side! Let's come together to support PRESERVATION over demolition!

WHERE: Grand & Chouteau, Midtown St. Louis

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 19th - 2:30-4:30pm

WHY: Because the city belongs to ALL of us.

To RSVP: Pevely Preservation Rally

For more info: Save the Historic Pevely Dairy Complex

Calling All Printmakers! Cherokee Print League 2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:28:00 GMT

FOURTH ANNUAL CHEROKEE PRINT LEAGUE HOLIDAY SALE!

In March of this year, Cherokee Street was fortunate enough to host an evening of printmaking madness as part of the SGC International Conference. With thousands of attendees (participants and on-lookers), the street was lit up in celebration of art and community.

Following on the heels of an event that brought international attention to Cherokee Street, galleries and businesses in the district are teaming up once again to showcase artists working in print media for the annual Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale: Saturday, December 3rd from 10am-7pm. This indoor print-themed arts and crafts sale will take place up and down the street, with businesses hosting over 50 artists from all over the St. Louis area (as well as the greater midwest) whose work isprint-related (printmaking, letterpress, screen printing, printed fabrics, anything printed goes!)

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE!

Last year, hundreds of people turned up for the event to mosey along the historic shopping district and purchase the printed wares of local artists. As the first street-wide art event following SGC, this year's show will be bigger than ever! Organized as a sale rather than an art show, the event promises a huge turnout and will be a great way to make some cash before the holiday season. Hosting businesses will be advertising the event extensively: 100% of participation fees go toward advertising.

All artists will be guaranteed a comfortable, easily accessible location to showcase their artwork. You will be provided with a table in an indoor, heated space, and your name and location will be included on a printed map of the event that will be available the day of the sale.

Participating Venues Include:
   Aisle One Gallery -- www.aisle1gallery.com
   All Along Press -- www.allalongpress.com
   Foam Coffee and Beer -- www.foamstl.com
   Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts -- www.fortgondo.com
   Paper Boat Studios -- www.paperboatstudios.com
   Porter Teleo -- www.porterteleo.com
   Snowflake City Stock -- www.snowflakecitystock.com
   STyLeHouse -- www.stl-style.com
   The Firecracker Press -- www.firecrackerpress.com

REGISTRATION
Reserve your spot in the show! Register online at www.cherokeeprintleague.com.

REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 18 for the Early Bird Rates:
Professional: $50 (tables can be shared, two artists for $25ea)
Student: $35 solo (shared tables available at professional rate only)

Entries received after November 18th are $65/professional, $45/student.

Approximate Table Size: 3 x 5' with optional wall space (let us know if you're interested in some wall).

Advertising prospects include: St Louis Magazine, RFT, KDHX, West End Word, handprinted posters by Sleepy Kitty, The Firecracker Press, and All Along Press and postcards by Paper Boat Studios.

After Party: FOAM 8pm-close

For more info on the event:
visit www.cherokeeprintleague.com
email Becca Moore at cherokeeprintleague@gmail.com
or call All Along Press at (314) 827-6185

St. Louis Secret Sound Society show at STyLehouse - Saturday, Oct. 15th!

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:25:00 GMT

On Saturday, October 15th, the St. Louis Secret Sound Society presents three great bands from coast to coast in one night. And it's all happening at STyLehouse!

Big Troubles | Ridgewood, NJ
https://www.facebook.com/BigTroublesBand

Young Prisms | San Francisco
https://www.facebook.com/Youngprisms

Frances With Wolves | Saint Louis
https://www.facebook.com/franceswithwolves

And much more...

Set design by WORK/PLAY
http://www.stoopidfresh.com/blog/?tag=st-louis

Rogue bar provided by the HandleBar
http://handlebarstl.com/

STL-Style will also have discounts and specials on city gear
http://stl-style.com/

All Ages | Seven Dollars | Doors at 8:30 PM l Show at 9:00 PM

RSVP HERE!

4th Annual MetroLink Prom is Near!

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:25:00 GMT

Landmarks Association of St. Louis needs your vote!

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:52:00 GMT

Landmarks Association of St. Louis is eligible for a Monsanto Grow St. Louis grant, which it desperately needs in order to continue in its mission to research, educate and advocate for our city's historic built environment. Please cast your vote here, just type Landmarks in the project search field, and be sure to validate your vote via email:

Vote for Landmarks!

HOW AWARD MONEY WOULD BE USED

by Andrew Weil,

If awarded a grant from Monsanto, Landmarks would utilize the funds to assist in education; and for public tours and events that are offered to participants at no charge. Currently, WABMO is partially funded through the Regional Arts Commission (RAC). RAC’s funding for WABMO (due to the agency’s own economic limitations) has steadily declined over the years, and there is no guarantee that WABMO will receive funds from RAC in 2012. Additionally, in the past, the program was attended by students from schools (public and private) that could afford to pay a minimum per-student rate. As schools have cut back on budgets for field trips, WABMO is currently faced with the need to evolve into a free program that can be taken directly to students In other words, because many schools can no longer afford to bring students to WABMO programs, we would like to bring WABMO programs to students by adapting the program to fit individual neighborhoods where schools are located. In addition to WABMO, Landmarks requests grant funding to support lectures, gallery openings, tours and events that can be made available to the public at no charge. Landmarks currently receives no substantial donations or grant monies to support programming though we manage to stage several exhibits and a diverse schedule of tours and lectures throughout the year. For Landmarks to continue such programs at no cost to the public, we need the support of generous donors (such as Monsanto) who are willing to share in our efforts to enrich our city through unique programs and events – both educational and entertaining.

CONTRIBUTION TO ST. LOUIS

Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc. was incorporated in 1959 by a group of concerned citizens. As St. Louis entered the second half of the 20th century, rapid depopulation, “urban renewal,” slum clearance, increased need for downtown parking, construction of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and the realization of the Interstate Highway System resulted in the destruction of tens of thousands of historic buildings. Landmarks was organized to provide an advocate for long-term thinking and sound planning for St. Louis’ wealth of historic architecture. Landmarks believes that the city’s historic architecture is a unique and valuable asset and we are dedicated to its preservation, enhancement, and promotion. Landmarks’ original goals have evolved over the years and the organization’s mission now encompasses education, cultural heritage tourism, community development, and policy advocacy. Monsanto’s “Grow St. Louis” grant program would provide a means for us to “grow” the city by supporting free lectures, events, exhibits and educational programs that are designed to preserve, enhance, and promote our city’s unique built environment. Among others, the grant would support our “WABMO” program (What are Buildings Made Of?). Originally conceived in the early 1990s to teach middle school students about the city’s built environment, WABMO has evolved to address a wide variety of topics such as building materials, architectural styles, and environmental stewardship. A typical program incorporates local history, vivid imagery, and a hands-on teaching session, followed by a walking tour of Downtown or other city neighborhood. Today, the program is adapted for elementary, high school, and college students as well as at-risk youth and senior citizen groups. At Landmarks, we feel that every day presents an opportunity to strengthen St. Louis by reaching out to all citizens with initiatives that encourage appreciation and adaptive reuse of our city’s great wealth of historic buildings and neighborhoods.

Again, VOTE!

Saint Louis Feast Day @ The Royale!

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:08:00 GMT

Come by and grab some fresh STL-Style gear today or tomorrow, because you'll want to sport your hometown pride for this awesome Thursday night event (copy provided by The Royale):

The Royale Food and Spirits, which has labored throughout its six-year history to provide some of the most unique and entertaining party experiences in Saint Louis, is announcing another reason to celebrate. On Thursday, August 25th, the Royale will be throwing a party to observe the Feast Day of our city's patron saint, Louis IX of France.

While the liturgical calendar provides the inspiration for this first annual event, the focus is on our city's cultural heritage and its future: a story told through the media of food, cocktails, and craft beer.

The entertainment will also include live music by a French Creole fiddler, short talks by local historians on the founding of Saint Louis and the story of the local beer industry. The night will progress with alternating DJ sets of local and French pop music until closing time. STL-Style artist Rusty Conklin will be painting some Saint Louis-inspired stencil art in the outdoor courtyard.

The Royale has teamed up with Urban Chestnut Brewing Company to produce a brand new collaboration beer: Apotheosis Farmhouse Ale. This beer, part of UCBC's Reverence Series, will be an orthodox take on a classic French style traditionally enjoyed this time of year, and shares its name with the statue of Saint Louis that stands proudly in Forest Park.

In addition to the headliner, the Royale will be tapping other local talent for the event. In the line-up are kegs of Schlafly's Biere de Garde and a dry-hopped Belgian-style pale ale from newborn Perennial Artisan Ales, as well as an exciting cameo or two from new and nascent local breweries.

As per usual, the Royale staff is preparing a line-up of food and cocktail specials to commemorate the event. Cocktail Museum curator Robert Griffin is preparing a batch of ratafia, an 18th-century-style cordial infused with local berries, and the kitchen will be incorporating fresh, local produce into a French-inspired menu.

Admission is free.

WHAT: Saint Louis Feast Day

WHERE: The Royale, 3132 S. Kingshighway, STL

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 25 - 6:00pm-1:30am

WHY: To honor our city's namesake by sipping local brews and celebrating all things St. Louis!

For the Love of St. Louis!

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:16:00 GMT

If you can't make the daytime events, we invite you to the evening affair at the Regional Arts Commission!