Party Crashing - Art and Culture Style

Last Weekend - Sat October 18
We made some great new friends last weekend. We received an unexpected text inviting us to a home get-together. We knocked on the door and were greeted by the hosts only to discover that we knew no one else there! Embarrased at first, the host assured us it was okay to stay - since the text invitation was legitimate and the originator of the text was indeed a mutual friend - so all was good. I'm glad we stayed. It was great time . thank goodness for good manners and no arriving empty handed, plus I earned our keep my making caparhinas all evening.! Woo Hoo! In the meantime I think we met the Who's Who of St. Louis.
A big thank you to our hosts (Monica and Daryll) who were very gracious and prepared the most tasteful food I’ve had outside of my mother’s kitchen. Can’t wait to hang out again.

Grafton Rendezvous – last weekend (Sun Oct 19)
If you did not know the Riverfront of Grafton, along the banks of the Illinois River, is a most beautiful place. We went to the 'Rendezvous' and delighted in one beautiful autumn afternoon. The leaves hadn’t completely turned yet, but as always, the scenery was breathtaking. If you didn’t know, the east-side of the Metro area has some great wine shops, too. You should check them out. The Bald Eagles will be arriving soon.

I didn’t see many familiar faces as Missouri Botanical Garden's Young Friends Fest-of-Ale on Wed Oct 22. So I’ll tell all of you that missed a great time. The Garden is naturally beautiful so the atmosphere was ideal. The newest autumn beers and ales by AB were available for free sampling. I really like the new American Ale.
Plus, it was pretty much your last chance to stroll through the Garden and enjoy the final days of Niki. It is truly a beautiful sculpture exhibit.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden

Plus, we made some new friends, of course. The band, Griffin and the Gargoyles were a fun cover band playing a variety of popular songs from the 70’s to today. Things got heated up when the band broke out with BBD’s “Poison”. For those that know me, they know I love this song – and the video dances that accompany the song. Break it down, now! This was quickly followed by House of Pain’s “Jump Around” and “Shake Ya Tail Feather” by Nelly and Murphy Lee. And the topped it off with the quintessential Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believin’”. I’m sold. I really can't wait for the next event.

2008 Grand Center Gala Honoring Reginald Dickson Featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell
Sheldon Concert Hall
We received free tickets to the concert from the Beau’s job. We also attended the fancy Gala Dinner. We presented our tickets to several people asking for directions and we sat a table with The Grand Art Center’s Who’s Who, including its Marketing Director and Dr. Givens and wife, President of Harris Stowe State University. Dinner and conversation were lovely. As we filed into the concert at 8 pm, we started to think that maybe those tickets weren’t for dinner, just the concert. Still not sure. That was a mistaken crash, honest. But I recommend everyone check out a show at the Sheldon. It’s one the nation’s oldest and acoustically perfect theatres. Pkus, they have matinee shows for as little as $10. And Brian Stokes Mitchell's performance was lovely. He’s a Tony Award Winning Baritone and he sang a host of his favorite Broadway and off-Broadway songs. Simply, lovely.

Michael Jackson's Thriller Dance World Record Attempt (October 25, 2008)
I told you all I was gonna do it. Okay, I really have fantasies of being a flash mobber and this is my first crack at something like it. Participating was fun and great cardio-vascular exercise. See you next year for the 2009 Thrill the World Event.