COVER STORY – Academy of St. Louis

Hazelwood

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

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