Tourist in our Own City–Cahokia Mounds

On Saturday, Hubs and I became a tourist in our city. We had a Groupon to the Cahokia Mounds historical site in Collinsville, IL, so we grabbed a coffee at our favorite French café in the morning and then headed out there to check it out before it got too hot.

There is a really nice museum associated with the site, so we started there. Our Groupon gave us both an audio guide (on an iPod) that had three different walks around the site plus the museum.

The audio guide has 1-3 minute segments that takes you from point A to point B. They describe what you should be seeing, from left to right on the path, with this amazing sound track playing. I’m sure walking around the site would be nice on its own, and there are informational signs along the way, but listening to the sometimes eerie, sometimes poignant music full of wind instruments and chimes, and it really takes you back. 

As the guide puts it, “allow yourself to become unstuck in time.”

This is Monk’s Mound, looking out from the path near the museum. It’s over 100 feet tall and took over 22 million cubic feet of earth to build. The workers dug pits and hauled that dirt in about a cubic foot section in a basket on their back, sometimes a good long way, in order to build up this monument over a few hundred years.

There are many, many mounds that are part of the site. Some would have had houses of the wealthy citizens built on them, some were part of the burial ritual.

Walking through the site, it’s amazing to think that there were people who could build these mounds living a half hour away from my city over 1300 years ago. They say this site would have started around 700 AD and come into its zenith around 1200-1300 AD.

The audio guide reminded us that many of these mounds were sacred, and are burial grounds. We weren’t allowed to go climbing (not that I would – those things are kind of steep!) on them either.

This was the Grand Plaza. The market place, the gathering area, the arena for games, the center of the community. It was huge. We walked from here over to Monk’s Mound (the big one in the distance) and it was a looooong walk. It really gave us a perspective of how big the site is.

And then we climbed it. Oh my. There were a LOT of steps.

Did I mention there were a LOT of steps?

But we made it!

We could even see the Arch and downtown St. Louis in the distance.

 

While I don’t recommend exploring this site on a hot day like we chose, I think this is an amazing gem that most people in St. Louis don’t know about. Some of them might go on a school field trip at some point, but for those of us who missed that day in school or moved here as an adult, it’s something that many might skip. Don’t do it! Seeing this remnant of a civilization long gone is very humbling. And it’s free! What could be better than that?

A Halloween Twist

On Facebook yesterday, I noticed a story posted by our local NPR affiliate about a twist on the tradition of trick or treating.

Well, in St. Louis, at least (and a cousin told me they did this in Kansas City, too), the tradition has it that you must have a joke ready when you knock on a door to get candy. My father introduced me to this tradition when I was very young, going out trick or treating in my neighborhood, plus Grandma’s short street. We had to go there in addition to our own neighborhood because she always liked to see us dressed up in our costumes, whatever they were. Besides, she always had a huge bag of candy for us – who wouldn’t want to pass that up?

For weeks ahead of Halloween, when we were debating what I would wore that year, the conversation would inevitably turn to what joke I would offer in exchange for my candy. Living in St. Louis, there was never a question whether or not I would have a joke – just a matter of which one I would use that year. Dad would always put in his two cents and suggests corny jokes as really good options.

When we moved to Texas and I prepared my costume and jokes as normal, I had no idea that the tradition did not extend south of the Mason-Dixon line. I had my joke ready for the first house, but when I knocked on the door, the family inside simply opened up, dumped candy into my pillow case, smiled and sent me on my way.

The first few times this happened, we were awfully confused. Did these people just not understand what Halloween was all about? They were supposed to ask for a joke if the kids didn’t automatically launch into it once the door was cracked open a bit.

After a few experiences followed the first we realized this totally wasn’t the tradition in Texas. It was actually kind of sad the next year to organize a costume without worrying about a joke. Dad still tried to get us prepared with a bad joke, just in case, but we were never asked for one. It sort of felt like the end of an era. Sad in a way.

So what about you – do you have a joke telling tradition for Halloween? Or is it just a midwestern thing?

World Series–that’s a winner!

That’s one to cross off the bucket list – watching a World Series game in Baseball Heaven.

It was the best game and not just because we won!

“I’m here for the toasted ravioli” – nice sign, even for a Rangers fan!

Scott McCreery, winner of American Idol, sang the National Anthem. I thought he did a really great job!

Our seats in the bleachers were awesome. I brought a blanket to sit on and one to sit under. It was just annoying when the guy next to me went and got a beer – because I got really cold with the wind blowing and him not there to block it!

We were up and down all night but on the final pop up that the Cards caught to win the game, it was so worth it.

Now they’re looking to win it at Busch Stadium – I’m going to quote the Rally Squirrel and tell you to “Go Nuts!”

Go Cards!

I have been a Cardinals fan since I was a very little girl.

See? I have proof!

Ok, so I borrowed Dad’s jersey back then. But I got one of my own soon after. I lived in St. Louis when growing up, from age two until about third grade when we headed to Texas. San Antonio, Houston and Arlington to be exact. Baseball was always around, but the Cards were always the favorite, even when we watched the local teams.

The entire family has been saying these past few days that my dad has a hand in this year’s World Series contestants. You see, the Cards have always been his team, after growing up here. There’s even a family story that Dad was pulled out of seventh grade (I think) religion class by his uncle because somehow they had scored 1964 World Series tickets at the Busch Stadium II. It’s built up to lore and Dad loved telling that story.

But when we moved to Texas, it was ok to route for the Rangers because they were the American League team and didn’t directly compete with our beloved Cardinals that often.

It took Dad a year and a few months since getting to Heaven, but he was finally able to get St. Peter’s ear and arrange for this match up. I know that he’s sitting up there, score card in hand, pencil at the ready, a cold O’Douls next to him, ready for that first pitch at Busch Stadium III.

And his daughter will be in the bleachers, screaming her lungs out, knowing he would have LOVED to be there with her.

Tush! Tush! Fear Boys with Bugs*

There is something so wonderful, so fun and so perfect about experiencing Shakespeare for free in a public park, outside under the stars. I really think it adds an element of magic to the thing that is live theatre.

Here in St. Louis, we are very lucky to have an amazing company that produces that free Shakespeare show each year in Forest Park. Last night, a group of our friends went down to the park early with a picnic basket, cooler and our lawn chairs to see the show.

We got there around 6 pm and were surprised to find so many people already there. It was starting to get cool and there wasn’t rain in the forecast so I think everyone else had the same idea as us that night! In any case, we were able to set up our lawn chairs a bit up the hill where it was relatively flat and wouldn’t cause it to come tumbling down the hill when we sat down to watch the show.

We were treated to Juggling Jeff and Josh the Clown’s antics before the show. I even asked them to redo their bit so I could catch them in a picture!

 

I am always impressed by their acts – they’re also the nicest guys in the world. Hence, the redo of their act so I could get a picture!

We nibbled and chatted for a bit before the show started.

And then there was a drunk in the crowd, followed by a policeman. And no, it wasn’t one of our group for once!

 

Definitely part of the show. I knew the play (it was the first Shakespearean show I was in during high school) and remembered that the play-within-a-play plot that Taming of the Shrew employs actually starts with a drunkard. Hence, the wandering thru the audience. It was really funny.

Right before the show started, we settled in, refilled our beers and margaritas, and then I was faced with this:

REALLY?!

We had been sitting there since 6 pm and a lady came in a few minutes before the show started and squeezed herself and her lawn chair right in front of me.

Oh well. I was still able to see if I tilted my head to the left and she did end up leaving during intermission. It got too cold for her, I overheard.

  

It wasn’t blazing hot during the day, but I didn’t realize that it was going to get so cool when the sun went down! Husband’s good friend D gave me his sweatshirt because I was so cold [such a nice guy, that one!] but then he ended up getting chilly too. So being the inventive one that he is, he grabbed the covers for the chairs and put one on each leg. That sure kept him warm! I was much better when Husband found a t-shirt in the trunk of our car and I was able to cover my cold toes with that.

But all in all, it was a wonderful night with friends and comedy onstage. If you’re in St. Louis, you still have until Father’s Day to see Taming of the Shrew in the Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. It’s a hoot!

  

*Post title is one of my favorite quotes from The Taming of the Shrew, Act i. Scene 2.

Part of my 101 in 1001 list - Go out with friends at least once a month. One more down!

Not Exactly a Thrifty Weekend

Over the weekend, a work friend who has become a real life friend invited me to a Girls Day Out Fashion Show. She had two friends, one from volunteering at my work and another one from college, who were very artistic folks. One is a jewelry maker and one is a seamstress. She put the two of them together for a fun fashion show on Saturday!

Holly of Au Naturale Jewelry had her jewelry out for display before the show started, in case we wanted to browse. Well, I did more than browse!

I fell in love with this necklace and could NOT pass it up.

So you can see the whole outfit. :) It works perfectly!

A bit more detail – it’s uncut citrine with brown beads in between and a great wood pendant.

Holly also has an Etsy site as well – you can find it here.

The seamstress, Allison, also has an Etsy shop called Blue Silk Rose. She has created some awesome pieces, but I didn’t get pictures of them. Since she started out in the costume shop of the theatre, she is a pro at period pieces. They had displayed one of her civil war dresses and a Shakespeare-era dress, with all the different layers and pieces that go along with both of those garments. Allison told me it took 100 hours of work to create everything you see on a Civil War dress – and 50 hours to create the things you don’t see! So that would be the corset, the pantaloons and the hoop skirt and all the rest. I was SO impressed.

But more than that, she’s starting to do modern clothes as well. She had some great dresses that can be made to order – and for less than what you’d find at a store! I think I may have to request one of her dresses for a present in the future. They were SO pretty but I had already spent my money on a necklace. :)

If you’re looking for a fun new shop to check out, please visit their shops! They are sweet ladies and would love custom orders – or take something straight from their shop. I vouch for both of ‘em!

[I was not compensated for this post. I just like her stuff!]

101 Things to Do in St. Louis

A few weeks ago, I came across a link on a friend’s Facebook page: 101 Things to Do in St. Louis.

A few of them just aren’t going to happen:

• Attend a Cards/Cubs game. Well, I just don’t have that kind of cash, now do I?
• Take in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A) I missed this one. B) I have no desire to be drunk in a city street in the middle of the day, thanks.
• Bike the Katy Trail. I just might die.

But here is one that is just WRONG:

No. 72: Get the Krispy Kreme burger at a Grizzlies Game

Can I just EW?!

Others, I think we can handle:

• Get a concrete at Ted Drewes. I think I’ve completed this one five times over, at least, this year alone.
• Tour the AB Brewery. I haven’t been here in YEARS, as in, since I could drink. This might be a fun Saturday activity with friends this summer!
• Get a BLT and malt at Crown Candy Kitchen. I’m so there. However, I think I have to wait until it’s a bit warmer. It’s a perfect spring lunch break!
• See a movie at the Moolah Theatre. The next law school girl’s movie night is going to be here, so that’s easy.

Looking through the whole list, I’m impressed by how many food items are on the list! Us St. Louisans love our food, no matter what kind. :)