TOWN TALK
Hazelwood possibly do? “We concentrated on giving them a rockstar When is the last time you—well, anybody—actually saw a movie? Streaming services like Amazon Prime or Netflix graduation,” Buck says. The stage was already there, and instead of the bands it had been built to accommodate, don’t count. We mean going out to a theater, buying treats and drinks at a concession stand, and crowding in with a bunch of about 3,700 area seniors walked across it in caps and gowns to receive their diplomas. Back to rock: About 62,000 folks other people in the dark. For one thing, it can be expensive. For another, you may have heard there’s something going attended shows last year. Starting tomorrow—Thursday, around: face masks, social distancing, yadi-yadi-ya are still May 6—the first of 45 concerts and/or movies (through October) will go on: Christian band de rigueur. Along with the rest of us, Casting Crowns is sold out. From Dan Buck, founder and managing there, Friday night shows get bigger: partner of Big Sports Properties, was Superjam plays classic rock from thrown for a loop by the pandemic a BUT WHEN THINGS Boston, STYX, Journey, Foreigner, year ago. “We had to pivot,” he said. An et al., followed by the movie Iron understatement, indeed. His company WENT A LITTLE NUTS, HE (a pretty good segue, we must had been working on POWERplex, a INVENTED A NUTCRACKER. Man say, as its soundtrack includes a major metamorphosis at the former passel of AC/DC songs). Anyhow, St. Louis Mills shopping mall in the shows have it all: a great local Hazelwood. But when things went a band, a movie, food trucks and a little nuts, he invented a nutcracker. ‘barrel of monkeys’ provided by you, family and friends. Sounds A couple, actually. Drive-In St. Louis has been one outgrowth, using a 12-acre parking lot to welcome 600-some cars in for a like a great date night, too. Check out coming attractions at rock performance and a classic movie. But first, he focused driveinstlouis.com. Rockstar graduations resume soon as on the high school class of 2020—what the heck could they well, with two more schools, 1,200-plus more grads.
Meanwhile, Buck and his team continue working on POWERplex, where eventually there will be 13 restaurants, retail (Cabela’s is already there) and more sports options than you could shake a pickleball racket, er, paddle, at. For dudes like me and any others among the generally clueless, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in this great land. “It’s like tennis and ping-pong had a baby,” notes Buck … Buck?! Thought that name rang a bell, and he certainly anticipated such a question. He’s not related to Joe Buck or his dad, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck. “Cardinals blood is the only family connection,” Dan Buck clarifies. “But it’s always been a great compliment.” Chances are, however, you already know him: Buck started with “Show-Me St. Louis” when the long-running show premiered in 1994 on KSDK (Channel 5). As CEO of St. Patrick Center, he helped grow the nonprofit from a $7 million operation to a $14 million one. He was on the marketing team that brainstormed Cardinal Glennon’s fundraiser Homers for Health. And, as a dad and coach, building character through sportsmanship is key: instilling an “attitude of gratitude.” Alas, some parents just can’t play well with others. “We say, ‘Play ball!’” Buck pauses, then sighs. “It’s not ‘Argue ball.’”
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