k l a t OF THE TOWNS
by bill beggs jr.
st. louis
In our mention a few issues ago of a much-unloved billionaire—Jeff Bezos of Amazon—we are reminded that Bezos is no higher than No. 2 among heinous high earners. For anyone true to The Lou, the No. 1 spot has been occupied for years by billionaire Stan Kroenke, owner of the erstwhile St. Louis Rams, who pulled the rug out from under metro fans of NFL football, vamoosed with the team to L.A., leaving the Dome to languish, used only occasionally for monster-truck events. Speaking of languishing, a 2016 lawsuit for breach of contract, etc., etc., filed against Kroenke, the Rams, the NFL— heck; essentially anyone wearing horns— didn’t seem like it would amount to a mound of ram … um, a hill of beans. But the courts have been ruling consistently against Kroenke. If this keeps up, maybe the devil will get his due. I mean, he moved our home team for illicit profit. Selfish dweeb. Kroenke et al. filed in June for summary judgment, essentially requesting that the court toss out the suit. No dice. Change of venue? Nope. But can’t you keep the obscene amount he’s worth under wraps? Not a chance. All sports fans remember Kurt Warner and that Super Bowl victory in 2000. Sure, there were 15 losing seasons among the 21 that the usually hapless team played here. No matter. There’s nothing a St. Louisian can hold onto longer than a grudge, and I’m as peeved as the rest of you that some uber-rich dillweed thinks we’re too small a market for an NFL team! So, when the lawsuit that begins in January winds up, let’s all hope Kroenke (it really should rhyme with cranky) gets an outcome that includes his empty wallet handed back to him.
clayton
BARcelona Tapas, in my somewhat humble opinion, is one of Clayton’s most charming restaurants. It now finds itself smack-dab-bullseye in the footprint of a multi-use development slated for the southeast corner of the prime intersection where Central and Maryland avenues cross: Bemiston Place. Weep not, foodies. There’s still time to get in a great meal, maybe on the sidewalk patio; the lights won’t turn off for the last time until after close of business Saturday, Sept. 25. In a statement, Frank and Eloise Schmitz say they hope to reopen in a new location in the future; I’m of the mind that it should be sooner rather than later. For as long as they’re idled, we’ll miss them … BARcelona has been there forever, in restaurant years. We always felt like we’re dining with good friends. Frank is the consummate host and embodies the spirit of a genuine tapas eatery: in a word, sharing. Actually, it’s up to you and your dining companions. (“Here, mom—lemme take a few of those tender beef medallions off your plate.”)
cwe
Garry Kasparov’s eventual defeat at the fingertips and via the neurons of StL grandmaster Leinier Dominguez probably wasn’t the legendary former world champion’s most stunning loss in a tournament. Kasparov might say that would have to be his earth-shattering defeat by Deep Blue— an IBM supercomputer—in a six-game contest in 1997. Last week he came in fifth in a tournament featuring three days of over-the-board chess played by the world’s best in Chess960 (or Fischer Random chess). Deep Blue probably wouldn’t have been programmed to succeed at this sophisticated new twist on the ancient board game. Dominguez took a dramatic final-round game against a fellow St. Louisian, grandmaster Levon Aronian, taking home the $37,500 first prize. Winding up in a second-place tie were grandmasters Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sam Shankland, each of whom won 20 grand; Kasparov’s take was $12,500. Dominguez was no less than delighted at his performance throughout the event. “It’s been a while since I’ve won a tournament this strong, and I’m pleased that it happened here in St. Louis, of all places,” he said.
TTia triv
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TOWN&style
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SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
WHERE ELSE IN THE METRO IS THERE A FUN DINING ESTABLISHMENT CREATED IN LARGE PART WITH METAL SHIPPING CONTAINERS?
st. charles
Attention, rabid cycling enthusiasts! Instead of having to contend with urban and suburban motor-vehicle traffic, you’ll still be able to ride nearly the entire 237-mile stretch of our beloved Katy Trail even when Interstate 270 bridge work is being done way, way above your helmet-clad head somewhere out yonder near Columbia. Shipping containers will be lined up to create a makeshift tunnel along a stretch of the bicycle and pedestrian path, below an aging I-70 bridge crossing the Missouri River at Rocheport, to protect riders from falling construction debris. The sturdy metal containers also have been used to build unique if oft-amusing residences popping up everywhere, including a number in the metro, one of them a St. Charles dazzler that attracted some 2,000 guests to an open house. And they’re integral to the architecture that’s made Rockwell Beer Co. such an unusual and delightful stop along Vandeventer Avenue in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. The original I-70 bridge, built in 1960 and rated in ‘poor’ condition, will be replaced in two phases; the span in one direction is slated for opening to traffic in late spring 2023, the second span slated for a late-2024 completion. So remember, motorists—share the road with bicycles. Meanwhile, cyclists—please be aware of vehicles! Nobody owns the road, so y’all just be polite.
LAST ISSUE’S Q&A What is a cost-share grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation? Missouri Department of Conservation cost-share grants assist government entities and nonprofits with management, improvement and conservation of trees and forests on public land. The grants help communities boost tree inventories, remove or prune invasive and hazardous flora, and train volunteers and city/county employees to best care for community forests.
