Mayor Landwehr's Blog

Scrooge Antidote: Living Windows Friday Night

Those of us who sometime look askance at all the lights, garish colors, and shopping associated with Christmas should take a few minutes and walk through Downtown Friday night and (anonymously if they prefer) soak up some very basic holiday spirit. It's free, festive, and very fulfilling. 

Not sure if I got the right picture via email, but I think this is Snowflake (Sam Bushman's assistant) who is organizing everything.

 

We Might Hear Echoes of the Past @ the New Ecco

Last night at the Old Munichberg Association meeting new owner Don Powell announced plans for the historic renovation and re-opening of Ecco Lounge, a Southside tradition going back to 1945. Part of the credit goes to Larry Kolb and Steve Rollins for getting the ball rolling in this important block on Dunklin Street. 

National Parks TV Series Has Local Application

Ken Burns always puts together great films, usually a series on a special theme, like his classic Civil War set. Last week PBS rolled out Burns' latest effort recounting the history and philosophy of our National Parks.

The quotations from John Muir about his lifelong struggle to preserve wilderness regions like Yellowstone, and his assessment that man fulfills himself (and finds God) by experiencing "big nature," made me think about our city's one and only opportunity to touch the state's largest natural resource, the Missouri River.

 Adrian's Island is that opportunity and we should keep working very, very hard to make it happen. 

Gafke Tells All; Soda Jerk Secrets Revealed

East End Drug invited some celebrity soda jerks to their neat event last week, but Greg Gafke was one of the real deals. In this interview Greg talks about his lifelong love of donuts and other facets of his long past adolescence.

Jerks and Others Welcome at East End Drug Reunion

Whaley's East End Drug, an East Side fixture re-gentrified by the Hubble family and much appreciated for its role in redevelopment efforts, will have some fun this Saturday at a "Soda Jerk Reunion and Customer Appreciation Party" from 1 to 5. Celebrity Jerks (no comment, please) will serve cherry cokes and root beer floats. Door prizes and good friends.

Peggy says I will NOT have to dress up. My current wardrobe will be PERFECT

Local Politicians Are Spinning Their Wheels Again

On the eve of the Jefferson City stage of the Tour of Missouri local politicians joined the fun downtown at the Celebrity Bike Race. There were several heats, one with city council members and the other race including four candidates who have announced their interest in filling Carl Vogel's senate seat:  Kenny Jones, Harry Otto, Mark Bruns and Mike Kehoe. Otto won the state race and Rich Koon took the council race. They will run the final race on Thursday before the big boys blast through at about 5:30.

Beer, Babes, Baseball, Blogs & Bouquets

I poke fun at the News Tribune about headlines that are just designed to get attention and not reflective of the news buried in the text. On reflection, I think that's a pretty cool idea. This post is actually about the annual Good Neighbor Day at Mike Moscato's River City Florist -- proceeds to the United Way.

Beer? Bernie Fechtel was my partner handing out roses.

Blog? Mike Kehoe just launched www.mikespaperplate.com

Baseball? Tom Henke thinks the Cardinals have a chance. 

Babes? Not going there. 

City Solves Problem for Small Business

We engage the Chamber of Commerce to energize our Economic Development efforts, including support for existing businesses. They do a great job, but sometimes you have to use the direct approach. Coffee Zone owner, Taisir Yanis, very proud to have recently become a U.S. citizen, had a problem.

We had a solution. 

Prayer Force One Will Land at Capitol Saturday

Ed Moore served as an Oklahoma Sate Senator. Ed and his wife Sandy decided to take a pretty interesting road trip in 2006. They converted a very large bus to a traveling inspirational experience, "Prayer Force One." It's painted to resemble the airplane. They have visited 26 states and 17 capital cities. Sandy says Missouri's Capitol is the best she's seen so far. She's right.

I bumped into them while taping a segment on KNLJ TV  on West Dunklin. They (and the bus) will be at the South Circle of the Capitol all day Saturday. The bus has a virtual tour of the White House and allows visitors to pray all the way. They're really nice folks. No hard sell. Just a "back to basics" approach to a complicated world. Grab some some coffee downtown and walk over to check this out.

This TV station is a great new community resource. Phenomenal tech investment. More to come on that. 

Krazy Kats Kool @ Kapitol

Missouri River Regional Library hosted a free concert tonight with the Krazy Kats at the best venue in the Midwest - the steps of the State Capitol Building. Lots of folks stayed around after the performance and just chilled. Great way to end the work week.