Around the World in 80 Minutes (Well, More Like 3 Hours)

            From fruit filled empanadas to curry to egg rolls-

from strawberry lemonade to coconut juice to Thai iced tea-

from Irish jigs to Haitian rhythms to Kung Fu-

It was at the Festival of Nations.

Today, people from different cultures around the world came together at Tower Grove Park to share the music and flavors of their home with the rest of St. Louis.

My afternoon started with a beautiful walk through Tower Grove Park.  On the path through the park, numerous families walked with me, and I got my first impression of the diversity that the festival attracted – an Indian family passed me by as I was taking pictures of the trees, an African family sat on the bench while the father fanned his young daughter, and a gaggle of American teenagers chattered on their cell phones trying to locate another one of their friends.

As I got closer to the festival, the crowd of people on the path with me got denser.  Music wafted through the trees, not the jazz and blues I have become accustomed to here in St. Louis, but the syncopated rhythms of Caribbean.  The air smelled rich with curry, but every time the breeze changed it was a different curry. 

To my great delight, I ran into one of my friends.  (Just how cool is it that I know enough people in my new hometown that I can run into them in random situations?)  We decided to explore the fair together and started with the food row.  After walking up and down the row checking out each of the booths, we stopped at the Jamaican booth for jerked chicken and rum cake.  The food was delicious; apparently the word had gotten around because it had one of the longest lines of any of the booths. 

We took our food over to one of the pavilions and watched a band from Haiti while we ate.  In a bizarre aside, a guy who was sharing our picnic table with turned to us and gave his testimony.  (Right on, Brother!  Amen! Can I finish my rum cake now?)  I’m still not sure if he was in the exact wrong place or the exact right place for his mission today; the crowd represented just as diverse a faith base as the vendors. 

After lunch, we walked around to the different vendors and checked out the silver jewelry from Mexico, purses and scarves from Ecuador, the nested dolls from Russia, and carved figurines from various African nations.  Little girls were running around the festival with parasols from China, and someone was selling whistles which added to the cacophony.

Throughout the festival stages were set-up and featured different performers such as a troupe of young women playing taiko drums and a group of kids doing Irish jigs. We saw one gal dressed in a sequined dress who from her hair style I would bet money was demoing South American dance (tango, rumba, cha-cha? I didn’t get to see her perform). 

In all, it was an exciting way to spend the afternoon, not to mention the serendipity of a friend to share it with.  So many different people, from all walks of life were out to enjoy the afternoon, eat some food, and listen to the music. 

http://www.festivalofnationsstl.org/

And Jill Came Tumbling After...

Forest Park is a place of great delights.  Some of the fun I have shared here (TheJewel Box), other fun perhaps was over shadowed (Shakespeare in the Park).  A few weeks ago, I discovered another center of joy in Forest Park – Art Hill.

Art Hill is a grassy expanse of lawn that separates the Art Museum from the Grand Basin.  The first afternoon that I came upon the Hill, I was escaping the air-conditioning in order to enjoy the summer heat.  The Hill was covered in gigantic paper cranes.  The cranes had been battered by a thunderstorm, but it was still an incredible sight.

This last weekend, a friend and I joined in with several hundred other people in an attempt to break the record for most people doing a somersault at the same time.  A bit before 2pm, people began gathering on Art Hill, covering the hillside like the cranes had a few weeks before. 

Typical of Forest Park, a complete cross section of Saint Louis was represented.  Some people had read about the event in the paper, others were just wandering by and decided to check out the excitement.  Lots of families with small children, a whole squad of cheerleaders, and the random bicyclist were ready to go rolling down the hill, grass stains and all.

We stood around on the hill in reasonably neat lines for 45 minutes or so waiting for the signal to roll.  I think that they were waiting as long as possible in order to get as many people to roll as they could.  The official record that we were trying to break was 835 people. 

When the air horn went off, we all went tumbling head over heels down the hill.  Thankfully, it was not in the best tradition of Jack and Jill, and everyone’s crowns came out intact, if somewhat disheveled.

Sadly, according to the paper, we did not manage to break the record.  However, the fun of joining 700+ of my fellow Forest Park fanatics for a roll down Art Hill was worth the trip out.

About the cranes: http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/life/backstopper-fundraiser-on-art-hill-raises/article_d271424e-e438-5a6a-9fb5-0b011d75f17e.html

The record attempt:  http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/somersault-record-attempt-fails-but-fun-had-by-all/article_aab9db9b-5809-52fb-8f59-14d69152cb0e.html

Batman Versus the Ninja

                In a battle of the warriors, who wins, Batman or the Ninja?  Both have stealth on their side, cool weapons, and great fight moves.  And they both have their very own roller coasters at Six Flags St. Louis. 

                Today, a friend and I played hooky (okay, so we responsibly put in for vacation a few weeks ago) and went to get our adrenaline fix at Six Flags.  It was a perfect day to be in the park.  The weather was cool with a bit of overcast and schools are starting up, so while there were kids there, the park didn’t feel overrun. 

                Wanting to get the most out of our rather pricy tickets (plus parking fees) we arrived at opening, and, relatively methodically, went around the park riding different roller coasters.  Okay, so we also threw in a carrousel, some water rides, and this fantastic swing ride, but we were there for the roller coasters.

                Our first ride was American Thunder, a wooden roller coaster with some steep drops, but even better were the tight, tight corners.  I’ll admit that perhaps my choice of pancakes and bacon at the Cracker Barrel was perhaps not the best choice before getting on this ride.  However, the second time around (after my breakfast had some time to settle), it was awesome.  Distinctly awesome.

                Next up was Batman, a loop-de-loop of a ride, where your feet dangle in the open air while you sail up and down and around and around in an awesome corkscrew.  Coming into the platform, the ride leaves you dizzy from the spinning and high from an adrenaline rush rarely equaled.  Coming off the ride, the only thing I wanted to do was turn around and get right back on it. 

                Sadly, compared to Batman, the Ninja was a disappointment.  It still had some fun loop-de-loops, but I guess that a few throwing stars can’t compare to the bat mobile.  For future reference, I’ll ride the Ninja first and then get on the Batman, or maybe just put a few more rides between the two.  Don’t get me wrong, the Ninja is an awesome roller coaster, it just didn’t give me the same rush.

                The Screamin’ Eagle, another wooden roller coaster, is apparently the oldest roller coaster in the park.  At first it reminded me of Zingo from the (now defunct) Bell’s Amusement Park in Tulsa.  However, I think that it must be Zingo’s big brother.  The ride had bounce and roll that viscerally reminded me of Zingo, but it went on and on.  Where some of the rides were over all too quickly, this one allowed the pleasure of the ride to be fully realized before the ride came to the end.

                If I were to rank my favorite rides of the day, the last roller coaster we rode would be #2 behind Batman.  The Boss, so rightly named, is at the pinnacle of his career.  Or perhaps the pinnacle of his first hill sets up the ride for an exhilarating race up and down some of the most amazing hills of the day.  It was another ride where as soon as I got off the only thing I wanted to do was get in line again.

                Sadly, the day had to come to an end, and we didn’t get to ride either the Pandemonium or Mr. Freeze.  However, both looked like they were worth making another day’s trip to Six Flags; even if they don’t turn out to be super cool rides, Batman and the Boss will more than make up for it.

Six Flags St. Louis: http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/index.aspx

A Walk Through Lafayette Park

A few weeks ago, I spent an afternoon wandering around Lafayette Park.  In size, you can walk from one side of Lafayette Park to the other in a few minutes, passing statues, ducks, and lawns begging for picnic blankets.  In gardens, Lafayette Park can be made into a whole day's outing.  There are two distinct garden areas in the park.  The first is a tree lined garden walk that is bordered with black eyed susans and chunks of crystal encrusted limestone.  The second is larger series of flower beds that follows the stream that flows out from the park's pond.

In addition to the gardens, they have several statues, and three Revolutionary War era canons that were dredged up from the Charleston Harbor.  And of course, the park is surrounded by gorgeous old houses.

The afternoon that I was there was typically hot, and there were not many people out enjoying the park.  However, in milder weather, the park must be filled with people throwing frisbees, flying kites, and having picnics.  As with many of the local neighborhoods, Lafayette Park has a series of outdoor concerts, and even sponsors movie nights.  Later this summer, they are showing Madagascar.

I always love the black-eyed susans.  Even when all the other wildflowers seem to have given up, their perky blossoms line the road side in swathes of yellow.

It is worth your while to click on the rock above and see the crystals.  When I first saw the rocks lining the flower beds, I thought to myself, oh, more limestone.  Then the abundant crystal formations glittered in the sunlight. 

These are one of two flowers that every time I see them, I remember one of my girlfriends back in Alaska.  Her garden always featured beautiful tiger lilies and hostas. 

The swan spent the better part of an hour grooming itself.  I know, I watched.  However, given how green the water was, I can only imagine the ick that it needed to get out of its feathers. 

 I was delighted to find this hosta in bloom, again thinking of my Alaskan friend.