Monkeys & Playbills

Personal watermelon

2011-10-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Something adorable

2011-08-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Come to my window.

On my way out of the parking garage a few weeks ago, I noticed Bartlet watching me from the window. I think he had something important he wanted to tell me.

I want these half-face pots

2011-08-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Bigmouths.

At Gringo Jones. Or possibly the Bug Store. It all runs together.

Lights-n-things!! Come-n-see

2011-07-09T17:55:00.001-07:00

M M Good!

I'm unsure what's being promoted.

Do these furry boots and this tail make me look like a woodland creature?

2011-07-09T17:50:00.001-07:00

Boots. With the fur.

Yes.

Genetically modified

2011-07-02T20:43:00.001-07:00

I almost bought a cactus from Home Depot today. But then I realized all the flowers are hot-glued on. #lamesauce

Things at Target I want but don't need

2011-06-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Beautiful Day Dearest

2011-05-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

File this under "Things crazy people email me."

Big Brother is wotching

2011-05-06T15:39:00.001-07:00

Obvious advice

2011-05-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

From nothing, a street

2011-05-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

A new Tucker Boulevard is taking shape!
View from one of the north-facing windows at 900 N. Tucker Blvd.

Here's where a street and the Interco Plaza used to be.

Furries in the wild

2011-04-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

"You wear the legs; I'll wear the face."

The scene at 900 N. Tucker

2011-04-20T18:01:00.001-07:00

Soon, we'll be an island.

Officially, we are an island.

Hello, kitty

2011-04-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

Meow meow beautiful meow.

Tribute to Sir Mix-a-Lot

2011-03-20T23:12:00.003-07:00

Got buns?

Drama queen

2011-03-20T23:12:00.001-07:00

Check yo'self.

Crestwood Court lies

2011-03-20T23:11:00.001-07:00

Truth-O-Meter says "Pants on fire."

Vee-Jay(-Jay)

2011-03-19T19:57:00.002-07:00

Styrofoam + concrete + dirt

2011-03-19T19:57:00.001-07:00

The latest conditions on Tucker.

Grand staircase to nowhere

2011-02-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

Long legs required.

The North Tucker Styrofoam Project has almost reached street level!

Even at 75% off ...

2011-02-20T17:20:00.001-08:00

Dead, dead, dead.

... these dead Target roses are overpriced.

Punctuation is hard

2011-02-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

Some restrictions apply.

"T"

At the Salvation Army store in Jackson, Mo.

Eletric chair

2011-02-19T12:27:00.001-08:00

Eletric sold separately.

Works good

Congratulations on your circumcision

2011-02-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Other: Too soon to tell.

I believe this arrived in error.

Not an island

2011-02-15T17:12:00.000-08:00

How tropical.

The mannequins of Macy's

2011-02-15T01:11:00.000-08:00

Nude or this awful frock?

Breezy.

Buttoned up.

Girl, please.

Reverse tight-roll.

Tight. White.

They're a horribly dressed lot.

So long, Interco Plaza

2011-02-09T00:25:00.000-08:00

No longer a place to pee.

Hey Kendall what's up

2011-02-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

Becarefully

Found in the snow.

It's time for Snowpocalypse Bingo!

2011-02-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

twitter.com/weatherbird
(Dan Martin)

If you're stuck at home -- judging from today's workplace turnout, a lot of you are -- print yourself a few of these bingo cards, turn on your favorite (or least favorite) TV meteorologist and get ready for some serious LOLZ.

You can thank my friend and colleague Erica Smith for this. She's genius -- and she does great imitations.

Ice, ice, baby

2011-01-31T20:02:00.000-08:00

St. Charles Street between 15th and 16th streets

MetroBus shelter at 14th and Washington

KMOV field trip

2011-01-25T23:28:00.001-08:00

The view across the studio from the news set

Do not use this sink.

This morning, I went along with my friend and colleague Evan for his appearance on "Great Day St. Louis" at KMOV. I was his celebrity handler, which means I shlepped his gear into the studio and made sure he powdered his face.

It had been years since I'd been in a TV studio, though, so I mostly just observed the process. Notable:

• KMOV's three studio camera are unmanned. Except for one handheld camera, they're remote controlled by a guy sitting at a desk.

• Everything on TV looks huge. In reality, the set is tiny. The "Great Day" set can't be more than 40 feet wide. Across the room is the news set; the robotic cameras roll between the two.

• Also, many set pieces are faux and/or covered in Scotch tape, apparently not visible on TV.

• Dull colors photograph brilliantly, and dim light becomes bright light. It's magic, I tell you.

• The kitchen is fully functional except for the sink. Do not use the sink. No!

• I had an overwhelming urge to clean the stainless steel and dust the cabinets.

See the rest of my exciting behind-the-scenes photos here.

A very Bravo birthday

2011-01-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks, @BravoAndy!

My super-awesome birthday gift from Gail Pennington and Andy Cohen.

Review: Stylish 'Dralion' has plenty of Cirque du Soleil substance

2011-01-20T16:24:00.000-08:00

Cirque du Soleil is known for infusing circus acts with a healthy dose of theatrics and storytelling, and "Dralion," at Chaifetz Arena through Sunday, is a spectacular display of the company's artistic talents.

The premise of this show: Air, water, fire and earth take on human forms, and cultures from around the world harmoniously blend with nature. There's no narrative or storyline — though two vocalists frequently sing falsetto in a made-up language — so it's easy to focus on the talented performers.

And there's a lot of talent.

In an energetic feat that was a highlight of Act 1, six aerialists bounce back and forth on two trampolines, using a futuristic, metal wall for diving and landing. At times, they even seem to be walking on the wall.

Contortionist Han Yuzen twists her limber body in an elegant balancing sequence performed atop a rotating post in the center of the stage.

A beautiful routine called "Aerial Pas de Deux" showcases the strength and flexibility of two equally beautiful aerialists (Amanda Orozco and Lorant Markocsany), who intertwine and glide through the air on a piece of blue fabric.

An African-inspired hoop-diving sequence features 10 performers who dive through a series of tiny hoops, some of which rotate.

And in an upbeat Act 1 finale, we meet the show's namesake, the Dralion, a hybrid of the traditional Chinese dragon and lion characters. Tumblers inside Dralion costumes dance to country-style music and balance effortlessly on large, wooden balls.

"Dralion" has a few issues with pacing. The momentum established by high-energy acts is brought to a halt repeatedly by a trio of French-speaking clowns whose presence in this show is inexplicable. While they get laughs, their belabored bits rely heavily on participation from an audience member (we've seen enough circuses to know what's up) who is brought on stage several times.

A moving musical score, which includes sounds and instruments from around the world, is performed by five musicians, mostly obscured behind the set.

In true Cirque du Soleil style, "Dralion" is a technically complicated spectacle, with lights and moving parts everywhere. But it also has plenty of substance to delight and entertain.

I am a sentimental man

2011-01-17T16:33:00.001-08:00

Cake!

My nearest and dearest organized a completely amazing 30th birthday surprise party for me last night. Yes, I was surprised.

The cake was my favorite part. On it was an enlargement of the business card (Dad's) that Mom wrote my name, weight and such on for my grandma when I was born. Grandma had kept it in her wallet all these years and gave it to me a few weeks ago.

It was a fantastic birthday. Thanks to all who made it so special!

Found: doughnuts

2011-01-16T14:46:00.000-08:00

Not hot.

Theater review: Metro Theater brings young-adult favorite 'The Giver' to life

2011-01-14T15:34:00.000-08:00

Mitchell List as Jonas (left) and Nicholas Kryah as the Giver in Metro
Theater Company's production of "The Giver" (Photo by Dunsi Dai)

The inhabitants of the futuristic community in "The Giver" are fortunate to live without the things we hope never to endure: war, poverty, hunger, pain. But they also lack the things that make us who we are: choices, differences, memories, love.

In this world, everyone wears the same gray uniform. Children, one boy and one girl, are issued to each set of parents; spouses are assigned. Climate control has made sunlight and snow obsolete. And careers are given to children when they turn 12.

Young Jonas finds out his job assignment: He will train to become the new Receiver of Memory, a respected position that will expose him to things he's been shielded from all his life. The current Receiver of Memory, whom Jonas refers to as the Giver, holds the memories of life before Sameness began. Without him, memories of the past would return to the community members.

Young-adult author Lois Lowry created this dystopian world in 1994, and playwright Eric Coble adapted her Newbery Medal-winning book for the stage. It's presented by Metro Theater Company and the Edison Theatre.

Coble's adaptation is true to Lowry's story, and at just over an hour, it's easy for young audiences to digest. But older audience members may yearn for more explanation and development, especially as Jonas plans a daring escape from the life that's been chosen for him.

Carol North's direction of the troupe, which includes double casting in the children's roles (an energetic and delightful Christian Probst was Jonas in Saturday's performance), is flawless. Scenic design by Dunsi Dai is simple yet stylish, and lights by John Wylie bring the Giver's memories to life and fill the gray stage with color. Props are kept to a minimum, but creative sound design by Rusty Wandall and effects by Lance Garger give dimension to the actors' frequently pantomimed actions.

Metro veteran Nicholas Kryah makes the Giver warm and lovable, and Stephanie Strohman and David Wassilak are Jonas' eternally cheerful mother and father.

Issues with the actors' microphones, which seem unnecessary in a house the size of the Edison Theatre, plagued the show on Saturday evening, but "The Giver" is otherwise a compelling and thought-provoking piece of family theater.

And it will do what good theater should: Give you something to talk about.

New section of Tucker closes for demo

2011-01-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

Closed.

Today, workers barricaded the segment of North Tucker Boulevard from Convention to MLK. (In fact, they did so as I was walking to work, and I became briefly trapped in the fenced-in area.)

Also, here's a story by colleague Tim Bryant about what the construction means for downtown.

Girl, you lost your weave

2011-01-13T19:43:00.001-08:00

Gross.

Also gross.

Last night, some morons played beauty parlor in our building's community room, complete with a salon hair dryer. Today, the carpet is covered in hair clippings. We just can't have nice things up in here.

I'm quickly becoming That Old Guy Who Complains About His Neighbors All The Time. Only because I'm surrounded by idiots, though.

Styrofoam — not snow

2011-01-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

Looking north at North Tucker Boulevard. At right, the Post-Dispatch.
In the distance, with the satellite dishes on its roof, is KDNL.
In the foreground is a chain-link fence to protect us
from falling into the big hole.

Here's the scene on North Tucker Boulevard: A layer of Styrofoam blocks is down, and dirt is going in at the western side of that. I want to go walk on it, but I'm not sure why. This video by my colleague Huy Mach explains a bit of the process and includes some explanation of why this project is necessary.

Also, this just in from our HR department:

Jan. 14: Barriers and fencing will be placed at the south corner of Tucker and MLK and at Tucker and Convention Plaza. Detour signs will also be placed.

Jan. 17: Demolition of Tucker from the south MLK corner to St. Patrick Center will begin. MLK will remain open to traffic.

Jan. 14: A dirt ramp will be built from Interco Plaza to the tunnel under Tucker. Parking on Hadley will not be affected, but there will be increased truck traffic.

Q&A: Cirque magic also happens in the orchestra pit

2011-01-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

When "Cirque du Soleil: Dralion" swoops into Chaifetz Arena, it will boast some spectacular performances — in the air and in the orchestra pit. We chatted with Anthony Cooperwood, who's been a musician with Cirque du Soleil since 2001, about life with the circus.

• You're from Kansas City, but where do you call home when you're not on the road? When I'm not working, I'm living in Montreal.

• You've toured around the world. What are some highlights from your travels? I'd say that some of my favorite places to play have actually been with the circus. We've been performing all over the world, and Spain has been one of my favorite places — Barcelona, especially, and Malaga and Valencia were quite special. We were in those places for a total of about a year. Touring through western Europe was nice. ... When we're not performing, we have the opportunity to stay in these areas for about a month at a time, so we had an opportunity to really visit and get to know the cities and the countries. Getting a better knowledge of Europe was great.

• How long have you been with Cirque du Soleil? I've been with Cirque off and on since about 2001, so almost seven years.

• What are some of the challenges of performing for live theater versus just performing music? It's the fluidity of the show. ... When we have a live show, we have a band, so the actual editing takes place on the spot. We do a lot of the shows kinda flying by the seat of our pants. We've got a great band, and we've got some talented musicians, and we kind of evolve with the show as it's going. We can't say that any particular show is exactly like another because it constantly changes. Of course, there's blocking and rehearsals, and people usually hit their marks on time and things like that, but you never know when an artist is gonna fall or miss a jump or something. So we sometimes might have to solo a little bit longer, we might have to cut an area shorter, we might have to jump over an entire section. By doing this — by maintaining the fluidity of the music with the show — the audience will never know that anything is amiss.

• You've conducted the orchestra, so what's that like, getting to make some of those calls? I've done that in the past ... but I'm not the backup conductor on this show. If the main conductor gets sick, then I would actually take his place and call the show - and I would play my parts. I'm the keyboard player and the bass player for the show, then there's also the conductor. He plays keyboards also, but he mainly triggers the various sequences, and he acts as the liason between the band and the stage management. The stage manager, in the front of the house, actually calls the show. He'll get information from the conductor, who will relay that information to us. In a case where I would actually have to call the show, I would have to do my parts — the keyboard 2 parts — as well as the keyboard 1 parts, as well as trigger the sequences, and be the liason between stage management and the show as the action unfolds onstage.

• Is the orchestra in a pit or backstage? Can you see the show as it unfolds? Absolutely — we're in a pit, and we're watching the show as it's running. Because the music is such an integral part of the show, we're the glue that holds the entire show together, so it's important that we see everything that happens onstage. We're integrated into the stage in a pit area. If you know where to look for us, you will see us; if you don't know, you really won't notice us. It's really subtle. ... For things that we can't see that well, we also have video monitors that come from a camera located in the front of the house.

• I haven't yet said the name of the show because I'm not sure how to pronounce it. Help me. I pronounce it Drah-lee-on. It's a combination of the word "dragon" and "lion," and that's the concept of the show. East meets West.

• Tell me about some of the sounds we'll hear in "Dralion." The score for the show is extremely diverse — there are didgeridoos (Australian wind instruments), there are French horns, there are strings, there are whistles and flutes from the Far East. I do a lot of the weather effects — thunder to go along with the lighting that comes from the lighting department. ... The percussionists have percussion instruments literally from all around the world. Our percussionist is from Australia, and our drummer is from Brazil. He brings some of his Brazilian influences into the drumkit for the show. We have a violinist, an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar. I play upright electric bass, as well as five-string bass and fretless bass, as well as keyboards and piano. There's country-type music, there's Irish-type music — it's really a mix of so much different world music.

• Do you have a favorite act in the show? I do. In the second half of the show, there's a ballet between two people. ... It's an aerial dance between two artists, a male and a female. It's a very romantic moment in the show — a very uplifting and very etherial kind of thing.

• Have you ever been tempted to hop onstage and try any stunts? No! Not at all! So many of us have so many different talents, and we kind of stick to what we do. But that's onstage. Behind the stage, we can have all sorts of fun! Backstage, when we're in rehearsals or after the show or before the show, we have lots of fun on the various apparatus — learning to do backflips and juggle. The juggler teaches a lot of people to juggle, and it's really neat. A lot of the people behind the scenes are sharing their art with other people. ... We have a trampoline back there, so some people are learning to do some exercises on that. It's really kind of cool — this big sharing of knowledge. And then a lot of the acrobatic artists want to learn musical instruments, so some people will bring a guitar, and our guitar player will give guitar lessons. And there's also languages — we're teaching each other languages. Some of the people who speak English are teaching some of the Chinese to speak English, and some of the people who speak Chinese are teaching some of the English people how to speak Chinese.

• So, anything you've picked up that you're ready to take on the road? Actually, when I first started playing in this show, I was only a keyboard player, and I was playing the bass on the left hand — I was doing left-hand keyboard bass. But there were so many bass parts that it just made sense to learn the instrument. So I actually did learn the bass instrument on the road, and we put that into the show. Before I learned bass instruments, I learned how to play the Chapman Stick (a two-handed fretboard instrument) to cover some of the bass parts and then put that into the show. So some of the things that I learned on the fly did go into the show.

• Finally, what's in heavy rotation on your iPod right now? I was just listening to the Foo Fighters earlier today as I was working out at the gym. And I've got some songs by Sting that I really like. I'm listening to some jazz, as well — Oscar Peterson's always great.

Dear sir/lady

2011-01-12T02:01:00.000-08:00

From: "CHUN BAO"
Subject: Supply dry porcini, dry shiitake and dry champignons

CHUN BAO FOODSTUFFS SHENZHEN CO.,LTD

Dear Sir/Lady,

This is Feng Lin writing from Chun Bao Foodstuffs (Shenzhen) Co.Ltd to ask whether you need dry boletus edulis and other dry mushrooms.

Our company, Chunbao Foodstuffs (Shenzhen) Co.Ltd, has our own factories across the mainland of China. From its foundation more than 30 years ago, we are specialized in providing series of quality dried mushroom products, which are mainly sold to countries of Europe and Japan. Now we can supply a series of dried Boletus edulis slice and dried mushroom products, with different specifications. Part of current available products list as follows:

S.N.CategoryClassSpecificationOrigin

1Dry Sliced Boletus Edulis (porcini)A N/AYunnan, China

2Dry Sliced Boletus Edulis (Porcini)A1 N/AYunnan, China

3Dry Sliced Boletus Edulis (porcini)B N/AYunnan, China

4Dry Sliced Boletus Edulis (porcini)C N/AYunnan, China

5Dry Sliced Boletus Edulis (porcini)A2 Small SlicesYunnan, China

6Dry Sliced Boletus Edulis (porcini)T Small HatsYunnan, China

7Dry Sliced Shiitake MushroomA 4.0 UPFujian, China

8Dry Sliced Champignons Washed1 1.0 UPFujian, China

We also sell dry shiitake whole, sawdust or log cultivated. Our product specification is more than 100. If you need a complete product list, we welcome your enquiry.

Based in Province Yunnan, Shanxi, Henan, Fujian, and Zhejiang of China, our company would sincerely like to build a corporation relationship with your business, and supply you with the very products and prices you just need.

If you are interested in us, please feel free to contact either through E-mail or telephone or fax we provide below. We can send your further information in the forms of brochure and CD disc of product photos. If you want to know more about our products, there are three ways we can offer: 1. posting CD disc of product photos to your physical address 2. posting sample products to your physical address 3. you are also very welcome to our factory in Shenzhen, which is located in Southern China, to have a field look, with the introduction of our specialists.

Our contact way:

1. Telephone

UK: Feng Lin +44-7867602040 or +86-13410882004 (currently in China and thus available)
China: Zikun Lin 00-86-755-25535139
Japan: Yan Lin 00-81-90-3621-1026

2. E-mail
chunbaofoodstuffs@gmail.com

3. Fax
China: 00-86-75525625219

4. Factory address
West, Floor 7, Building 2
Shuibei Shihua Industrial Zone
Cuizhu North Road, Luohu District
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
P.R. China 518000

Best regards!

Sincerely yours,

Feng Lin

White stuff, wintry mix, etc.

2011-01-10T23:26:00.001-08:00

Snow angels

Mystery tracks in the snow

Snow Angels (above) and Mystery Tracks In The Snow (you just walk through the snow).
Bonus points if you can name the retro-TV origins.

Girl, you lost your bra

2011-01-09T20:51:00.000-08:00

Like school on Sunday

Our loft building, which used to be a little bit fabulous, has quickly become quite pedestrian. You can't swing a cat up in here without hitting someone's underwear discarded in a common area.

Reach the exploding teen girl

2011-01-09T18:30:00.001-08:00

It seems in poor taste to include lunch, music and dancing.

This, children, is why line breaks and hyphenation matter.

Meatloaf!

2011-01-09T18:27:00.000-08:00

Campbell's Best Ever Meatloaf recipe, modified

This is the first meatloaf I officially can declare a success. Next time, though, I shall use real breadcrumbs instead of canned.

My first Crock-Pot chili!

2011-01-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Three kinds of beans!

It's possible that I made too much.

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Memories in the Dumpster

2011-01-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

Dumpster full of the '80s

Memories

Sucks to be David and Angela.

Gone peeing

2010-12-31T18:40:00.000-08:00

No. 1 or No. 2?

I'm going to start announcing my whereabouts like this woman at the Culinaria garage tollbooth. She didn't say whether she washed her hands afterward.

A say-something-hat day

2010-12-31T08:38:00.001-08:00

Does anybody still wear a hat? Yes, apparently.

I'm trying to start the new year with a faster iPhone, so I'm clearing off and archiving some photos. I took this picture of some guys in funny hats at the Arch early this summer.

Finally, a real person at Charter

2010-12-29T11:07:00.001-08:00

A screengrab of my riveting exchange
with @CharterDylan

While Penny Hubbard's comically large necklace is entertaining, those Charter Christmas PSAs with elected officials urging us to "refrain from texting while driving" are just awful. One would hope politicians could deliver words in a more convincing manner.

Last night, after seeing roughly 10 of the ads over the course of two hours, I Tweeted. And this morning, Charter responded.

After years of horrible customer service from Charter, this is refreshing — just knowing someone is listening. Thanks, @CharterDylan!

Find more real people from Charter: http://www.charter.com/Umatter2Charter.

Dear Esquire:

2010-12-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Words mean things, too.

Give it a rest with the obscured coverlines.

Holy nutcrackers

2010-12-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

Note that Mary uses her chin and not her mouth.
And that the baby Jesus is vaguely nut-shaped.

Weird.

Here comes 30

2010-12-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

Omits time of birth: 2:38 a.m.

Also, Grandma gave me this: a card (written by Mom) that Dad gave her on the day I was born, nearly 30 (30!!) years ago.

Lordy.

From the archives

2010-12-26T17:21:00.001-08:00

No free buffet lunches were won with these cards. Ever.

Grandma just pulled out her wallet to show me some photos, and this caught my eye: my business card from the college newspaper, The Capaha Arrow, circa 2003.

God, the kerning on that P-A pair is awful. I've come a long way.

Amy Sedaris on 'WWHL'

2010-12-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

Mostly, I'm posting this here so I can rewatch it at my leisure. But you can enjoy it, too.

Theater review: Circus gets upstaged in 'Cirque Dreams Holidaze'

2010-12-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

"Cirque Dreams Holidaze," now playing at the Fox Theatre, is surprisingly short on cirque.

Not traditional clowns-and-elephants circuses, Cirque Dreams' shows are heavy on theatrics and original music. But those elements aren't particularly strong in this incarnation of the franchise, created and directed by Neil Goldberg.

While none of the circus acts in "Holidaze" are especially astounding, they are a pleasure to watch: A pair of aerialists twist and glide through a spinning ring; a cooing baby elf climbs high into the air on a tower of chairs and milk bottles; a pair of penguin roller-skaters race atop a circular platform; and a husband-and-wife team performs a beautiful aerial dance with a long piece of fabric, often soaring above the first few rows of the audience.

But there's a lot competing for attention, and too often the circus is upstaged by the other characters. Even the busy set is distracting, and the dim, neon lighting doesn't do much to highlight what we're supposed to pay attention to.

"Holidaze" attempts, like too many circuses, to have a plot: The Christmas ornaments have come to life. It's a fun idea, but there is little follow-through, making every scene feel random. Several odd characters come and go for no reason, including a moon-headed couple resembling onetime McDonald's mascot Mac Tonight and a group of eerie, floating children's faces. In one scene, actors appear, inexplicably, with hand puppets.

"Holidaze" comes with the requisite audience interaction, including a child who is plucked from the crowd and sent onstage (too soon we determine the child is with the cast) and a fun (albeit belabored) routine where a conductor teaches five audience members to play handbells.

The show includes a few familiar Christmas tunes, but the original music and lyrics by Jill Winters and David Scott are forgettable. It's often a struggle to decipher what the songs are about, though more than one hint, oddly, at the economy.

Emily Matheson, in a hoopy dress that seems taken from Lady Gaga's closet, is a standout, singing beautifully as the Ice Queen. It's a shame she doesn't have better material to work with.

There is plenty here for children to enjoy — if they're not scared by the show's dark undertones. But grown-ups likely will be the ones who leave "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" feeling a bit dazed and confused.

Postal Service: Sorry we destroyed and lost your mail

2010-12-22T20:51:00.000-08:00

We care.

Half an envelope, redacted for my protection.

A portion of an envelope once containing a Christmas card arrived in my mailbox today. Thanks, United States Postal Service.

A holiday surprise

2010-12-20T13:44:00.000-08:00

Handmade social-media ornaments on the Christmas
tree at my desk. Also visible are Weatherbird's
underpants and a monkey wearing a crown.

I just noticed somebody left some awesome social-media ornaments on my Barbie-size Christmas tree! I have a feeling it was Erica. Or Weatherbird.

Features potluck

2010-12-19T22:50:00.001-08:00

My plate. Oy.

Thank goodness Holiday Potluck Week is over. Last Tuesday was the features department potluck, and Wednesday was the newsroom potluck. There was so much tasty food, which made me want to nap at my desk.

Tuesday, I contributed a delicious mushroom bread pudding (the brownish pile at the bottom); Wednesday I just ate.

Christmas at the Galleria

2010-12-19T22:46:00.000-08:00

Horizontal.

Vertical.

Pickle surprise

2010-12-19T22:45:00.001-08:00

Pickles in pouches at Sam's Club

Warning: You cannot unsee this.

What's for dinner?

2010-12-19T22:44:00.000-08:00

Semi-homemade.

Tonight, I made fettuccine with shrimp and pesto-cream sauce. Cheese-filled breadsticks by Market Pantry. Neighbor Betsey stopped by and mocked me for photographing it.

Snowy Locust Street

2010-12-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

Looking east

Looking west

The view from the roof of the garage. Just moments before these photos were taken, I fell down on the ice in the garage. My bag of Jack in the Box breakfast was unharmed.

Gym, tan, laundry, arcade

2010-12-12T02:30:00.000-08:00

Arcade situation.

More adventures in WTF'ery at Crestwood Court.

Mannequin orgy

2010-12-11T18:28:00.001-08:00

Capacity: six naked mannequins

Couldn't resist photographing this scene outside the fitting rooms at the Gap at Crestwood Court. If you count these guys, there were 10 people in the mall that day.

Like, a food emergency?

2010-12-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Food-court emergency

I don't understand how Crestwood Court stays afloat. I only go for its Gap, which is always dead but with many discounts.

Workers pack the P-D with protective Styrofoam

2010-12-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

Looking east at the Post-Dispatch at 900 N. Tucker Blvd.
The top of the black portion of the building is street level.

Looking north from the remaining portion of North Tucker Boulevard.
In the distance, trucks are hauling in more Styrofoam blocks.

I stood outside watching the Tucker Boulevard construction for a long time today. These Styrofoam blocks are going in because the Post-Dispatch's basement walls weren't built to withstand the weight of dirt. Dirt and street will go on top. Fascinating.

Theater review: NonProphets' 'Reckless' is a no-frills holiday treat

2010-12-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas has arrived early, and we owe the NonProphet Theater Company (and maybe even Santa) a nice thank-you card for giving us "Reckless," which closes the company's 2010 season on a happily sardonic note.

The dark comedy by Craig Lucas ("The Light in the Piazza," "Prelude to a Kiss") plays out over 20 years, beginning one snowy Christmas Eve when Tom (played by Tom Lehmann) confesses to his wife, Rachel (Michelle Hand), that he's hired a hit man to kill her.

Rachel flees into the darkness, still wearing her nightgown and slippers, and begins a road to self-discovery and eventual happiness.

While "Reckless" isn't exactly a show about Christmas, the holiday serves as a touchstone to mark the progression of time and highs and lows in Rachel's life.

Hand — full of energy and possessing a crystal-clear understanding of the character — delivers a superb Rachel. Her performance is compelling to the point where we find ourselves sharing many of the emotions Rachel experiences. (Also, Hand is adorable.)

Ben Ritchie displays good range as Lloyd, a soft-spoken physical therapist, and Katie Donnelly is his wife, Pooty, a paraplegic mute. The two adopt Rachel into their family, and, as she soon learns, the couple is hiding more than a few secrets.

The cast also includes, playing multiple roles, Raynard Fox, Elizabeth Graveman and Theresa Masters (who expertly portrays six different therapists).

The characters in "Reckless" seem to exist in a world with no authority figures. And we aren't even sure why Tom decided to have Rachel killed — the domino that sets the whole thing into motion. The show is dominated by so many plot twists that her attempted murder turns out to not be crucial information anyway.

NonProphet is a company known for its no-frills style, and director Robert Mitchell doesn't stray from that method with "Reckless." At times — a scene where an actor holds a telephone and wears a sign reading "I am a phone booth," for instance — the production feels almost like a skit. The scenery and props are adequate, if a little shabby, but the actors are what matter here.

Looking like Christmas

2010-12-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

After a week of shlepping boxes up from the basement, moving furniture around and replacing nonworking lights, the annual Holiday Masterpiece is complete. Ta-da.

I know what someone is getting for Christmas

2010-12-04T13:40:00.001-08:00

Housecats

2010-11-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Go-go-gadget arm

2010-11-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

Q&A: Young actress takes Dorothy on the road in 'Oz'

2010-11-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

There are few stories more familiar than "The Wizard of Oz." Maybe that's what makes it such a good show for the Fox Theatre to book for Thanksgiving weekend. We chatted with Kate Bristol, who just joined the cast as Dorothy, about her new role in "Oz."

I was reading some of your tweets yesterday, and it looks like you're still in college? I am! I'm studying musical theater at Pace University, but I'm trying to minor in literature, or something of the like.

This is your professional stage debut. Tell me about the other work you've done. It is. I've done work through my childhood and adolescence in Texas, so some regional theaters and mostly community theaters, and then I went to college, and I've done some college shows. It was after a particularly trying year of college that I auditioned for this show, thinking, "Oh, I'll just give it a shot," and then I booked it! It was a really pleasant surprise.

How will you balance a tour with attending college? A lot of people have asked me this, and I think I'm a little crazy. I worked it out with my academic professors for this semester that I will finish the semester online while on the tour bus. And next semester, I will take it completely online. What that basically means is that, during the day or when we're at the hotel or changing cities on the bus, I'm gonna be doing research, and I'll have books with me, and I'm gonna be e-mailing in papers while we're being transported to the next city. It's a little crazy. ... It's a little frazzling, but it's actually really fun.

How many hours are you taking? I'm taking 14 hours this semster. Most of those are dance and musical-theater classes. I only have two academic classes, and so for my musical-theater classes, I'm writing journals about my performing experience and the process of which I develop the character, and it's kind of like work study. I'm working in what I'm being trained in. It's actually highly educational.

You've also done some voiceover work? I have! I am a voiceover actress for FUNimation. They record animes in the English voices, and they do that in Texas. I started doing that job when I was 13, and I grew up working in voiceover. That's what I consider my home acting job, I suppose. Whenever I'm in Texas, I'll go and work a couple of hours. I love voice acting.

Do you also love anime, or does that just come with the job? I wasn't an anime fan until I started the job, but now I see all the work that goes into it, so I am an appreciative anime fan.

What's your schedule been like lately? I wake up about 6:30. And I take an hour-and-a-half-long commute to the rehearsal studio. We get there about 9:30 to 10, and we start a full run-through of the show. After that, we work on all the specific scenes that need tuning, whether it's an acting thing or a dance thing. It is a full, full working day until 6 o'clock. It's busy, and it's awesome!

Have you always been a fan of "The Wizard of Oz"? Oh, I have. I grew up on "The Wizard of Oz." How it started was, my mom used to be a costumer, just as a hobby, for local community theater, so when the local elementary school did a production of "The Wizard of Oz," she helped make the costumes. That's how I started watching the movie, and then I was hooked, of course. I was absolutely enthralled by it. I completely grew up watching it.

Is there any pressure that comes with performing such a familiar role? That's the thing: It's such an iconic role, and everyone knows the characteristics and everyhing. I approach the role of Dorothy as my own. I decided that I was going to act it and react to the situations as I would. Because of the script and the speech, it ends up that the Judy Garland aura of Dorothy kind of ends up coming out anyway. People tell me that I share many of the characteristics of Judy Garland in that film. I'm a little more spastic, but I try to combat that.

Is the script pretty much like the movie? It is. It was adapted from the film, but it's got a lot more things. Not that it's been modernized in any way — we're true to the time period.

What's your favorite part of the show? My favorite part in the show, I think, is the poppy scene. You know, when Dorothy and her friends are almost to the Emerald City, and they fall into a poppy field that the witch has enchanted, and it makes them fall asleep? In that scene, the poppies are dancers, and they are so beautiful. It's mind boggling. And there's this transformation where they transform into snowflakes onstage. Wonderful effects and costumes, and it's so cool. Meanwhile, I'm just asleep in the middle of them, getting to absorb it all.

What are some of your other favorite shows? My favorite musical of all time is "Parade" by Jason Robert Brown. Completely not the genre of "The Wizard of Oz" whatsoever — it's really dark. It's a very brooding, dark show, but I really love stuff like that. Like Sondheim — anything by Sondheim. It's all very musically complicated and thoughtful. That's usually the kind of shows I really like.

What shows would you love to be in next? Oh, anything! I haven't thought about this — I've been so wrapped up in this. I'm gonna go back to school, you know. I might do whatever show they have at school and continue to audition outside the city. So whatever comes up, I guess.

When you're not studying or working, what do you like to do? What am I going to do? I'm going to read books! That's my favorite activity. I'm kind of a nerd.

What's on your iPod? I'm listening to Of Montreal and Janelle Monae. Not a lot of theater, come to think of it, which is kind of unusual because I love musical theater. I don't have any theater on my iPod! I have really weird indie bands.

By Gabe Hartwig • ©2010 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, STLtoday.com • Published 11.24.10

Theater review: Twister drops Dorothy into a sloppy 'Oz'

2010-11-27T15:28:00.000-08:00

Members of the original cast of "The Wizard of Oz" (Handout)

It really isn't fair to compare "The Wizard of Oz," playing at the Fox Theatre through Sunday, to "Wicked." But anyone who's seen "Wicked" at least once will come away from "The Wizard of Oz" feeling a bit underwhelmed.

"Wicked" takes familiar material and enhances it, partly by changing the point of view. Somehow, though, this adaptation of "Oz" manages to mute a lot of the shine and glitz we've come to expect, making even Munchkinland and the Emerald City seem drab.

"The Wizard of Oz," directed by Nigel West, mostly follows the familiar 1939 film — right down to the sepia-toned opening, which was absolutely perfect in execution — but it also takes liberties and adds twists.

Some work; others don't.

Many of the special effects in the show are created with projections, which are astounding to watch — especially the twister scene, which is a spectacle.

But others, namely any scene where a character must fly, are sloppy. Glinda's floating bubble (which looks a lot like Glinda's bubble in "Wicked") is anything but graceful and on opening night never completely disappeared from view after floating offstage. Much of the scenery looks dreary and amateurish.

Given the realistic feel of certain scenes, it seems an odd fit that other scenes are so abstract. The poppies, for instance, are just dancers in red dresses and vests. And the talking trees are dancers in sexy, black dresses and tall (Lady Gaga-inspired?) hairdos.

A dance number that was cut from the film returns in this show: "the Jitterbug," wherein the Wicked Witch dispatches enchanted bugs to bite Dorothy and her friends, forcing them to dance until they drop. The costumes, choreography, lighting and energy in this scene should have been the standard for the rest of the show.

The acting and singing, though, is quite strong, especially Kate Bristol as Dorothy and Pat Sibley as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Bristol, who shows lots of wide-eyed wonder and never goes too far by trying to be Judy Garland, is charming. Her "Over the Rainbow" doesn't copy Garland's, and it's just beautiful.

Sibley embodies Margaret Hamilton's evil, cackling witch from the film, and it serves her well. (Her green makeup really ought to cover her visible neck, though.)

Other standouts include Jesse Coleman (Lion), Beau Hutchings (in a truly dreadful Tin Man costume), Andrew Haserlat (Scarecrow), Robert John Biedermann (the Wizard of Oz) and, of course, Dusty (Toto). Members of the Muny Kids play Munchkins and Winkies.

Children — this show's primary audience, clearly — will love "The Wizard of Oz." In the end, that's most important. But the adults who pay for the tickets deserve a little more polish.

That is not what she said

2010-11-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

TWSS?

This is not Carol House, and these are not nice things

2010-11-21T23:33:00.000-08:00

Mounted animal heads sold separately.

I went home to Cape Girardeau, Mo., last weekend to visit the family, which means my brother and I stopped by West Park Mall to shop and judge people. This was the highlight of our visit: a camouflage-print recliner displayed alongside an antler lamp and what appears to be a tablecloth made from woodland creatures.

Christmas in the Lou

2010-11-21T23:23:00.000-08:00

Looking a lot like Christmas

There's a classy, cool way to modify architectural lighting for the holidays. And then there's this.

'Teenage Dream' by the Dalton Warblers

2010-11-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

One of the best adaptations in "Glee" history:

Theater review: 'A Woman's Place' isn't necessarily on this stage

2010-11-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

"A Woman's Place," West End Players Guild's second production of its 100th season, feels a lot like an uneven episode of "Saturday Night Live" — probably not the outcome directors Renee Sevier-Monsey and Carrie Phinney were going for Friday with their staging of four one-act shows.

A cast of six takes on multiple roles in "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell, "Australia" (at about five minutes, more of a scene than an act) by David Mamet, "Hello Out There" by William Saroyan and "Ashes to Ashes" by Harold Pinter. The pieces' common factor: Each deals with women tested by extreme situations such as rape and murder.

While such an undertaking has a lot of potential, the quality of the acting in this effort varies so wildly to the point where it's just distracting. Compelling performances often are mismatched with actors who are just delivering lines (and making an uncomfortable amount of eye contact with the audience).

There are some notable performances, though. Susan Elaine Rasch is solid in three of the pieces. Her portrayals seem effortless, and "Australia," basically a monologue, is an enjoyable showcase of her range.

Anthony Wininger, as a man jailed for rape in "Hello Out There," is paired appropriately with Elissa Schrader, who plays a 17-year-old with a misguided attraction to him. The two display chemistry — well, as much chemistry as a naive teenager can have with an accused rapist — and their inexplicable love-at-first-sight relationship is a delight to watch.

"Ashes to Ashes," which seems to go on forever, would have been more tolerable with quicker pacing. Pinter's writing is clever, and there's a fairly interesting plot in there someplace, but the glacial speed makes it nearly incomprehensible. Nancy Lubowitz does a fine job channeling Rebecca, a disturbed woman who emotionally — and sometimes comically — recalls an abusive lover from her past.

The cast also includes Chuck Lavazzi and Sean Ruprecht-Belt.

All four shows play out on a drab set designed for "Trifles," which takes place in 1916. But a bare stage with just a few key furnishings — and better use of lighting to establish the moods and locations — may have been a more effective approach. Too often, the stage lights illuminated much of the house, a reminder that it's a church basement.

West End Players Guild deserves applause for attempting an evening of one-acts. But in the end, character development and better pacing would have made for a more enjoyable evening of theater.

15-minute call: a little something for my theater friends

2010-11-13T12:40:00.000-08:00

A friend shared this on Facebook a few weeks ago, and I can't believe I failed to repost it here.

Does anyone still wear a hat?

2010-11-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

Feathers!

Yes, Elaine.

Another of my new obsessions: riding MetroLink. Today's ride (to Brentwood to buy my mom a birthday present) was full of adorable ladies in gigantic hats, presumably on their way home from America's Center downtown, where 40,000 members of the Church of God in Christ have gathered.

The woman sitting in front of me wore a bedazzled velvet hat, but a lady across the aisle sported feathered headgear. She won my imaginary contest.

I'm obsessed with the taco truck

2010-11-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

The Cha Cha Chow truck at Market and 10th streets

Beef short-rib taco: hamazing.

The arrival of the Cha Cha Chow truck (twitter.com/whereschacha) has been life changing. My favorite item on the menu: the beef short-rib taco.

A few redesigned sections

2010-11-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I prototyped a new Post-Dispatch section called Home & Away, which resulted in some design tinkering in the other features sections (A&E and Let's Eat), as well. I put together these before-and-afters today to show a friend at another newspaper, so I figured I'd post 'em here, too.

A Saturday Lifestyle cover and two new Sunday Home & Away covers (designer: Reagan Branham)

A "before" A&E cover and an "after" A&E cover (designer: Laura Black)

The most jellicle T-shirt ever

2010-10-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

Meow meow Jennyanydots meow.

I won't lie: I considered buying it. Good sense ultimately won, though.

At Urban Outfitters

Many mini sock monkeys

2010-10-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

A bin of monkeys

At Crate & Barrel

Typography on dishware

2010-10-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

Shake, Chill, Stir and sip plates: $3.95 each or four for $12.95

At Crate & Barrel

Feathered-hair special

2010-10-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

One word: conditioner.

She's on sale at Grand Wig House, and it's no mystery why.

For that sophioated looks

2010-10-30T15:08:00.001-07:00

Sophioated looks, by Junee Fash'ion

I love the creative spelling — or not spelling — on this weave packaging.

Blank stares

Time for the annual Halloween visit to Grand Wig House! All those disembodied heads are so scary.

Interco Plaza is no more

2010-10-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Looking north to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, over the former Interco Plaza

The view from 900 N. Tucker

2010-10-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sausage party?

2010-10-19T08:45:00.001-07:00

These e-mail blasts drive me nuts. Especially the subject lines, which are always written in the first person.
I wouldn't rule out sausage making as a way to grow revenue creatively and rapidly down the road, though.

Cat-shaped wine!

2010-10-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

I'm totes adding this to my shopping list for my next visit to Culinaria. And possibly for some holiday shopping.

Anybody know what these things are?

2010-10-16T16:55:00.001-07:00

These robot-shaped things are all over the streets downtown. But why? Why??

Coming next month: Jive & Wail

2010-10-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

At Washington Avenue and 13th Street.

Please leave my $#*! alone

2010-10-12T11:50:00.001-07:00

File this under "passive aggressive notes." Found on the sidewalk behind my loft building, I suspect it was left by a homeless person on his/her pile of belongings.

Halloween typography

2010-10-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

I'm easily wooed by products that are well designed. Especially at Target. These Halloween-themed napkins and plates are so cool that I'm tempted to host a Halloween party just to have an excuse to buy 'em.

Girl, you lost your bling

2010-10-07T10:42:00.001-07:00

Visual journalism in STL

2010-10-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

I have some pretty talented coworkers. Check out this video by Brian Williamson, promoting the Society for News Design's 2011 conference, being held in St. Louis. Music is by Christopher Ave.

(I didn't catch this gem until the second time I watched, but I'm still LOLing.)

Give your car longer, thicker lashes

2010-10-03T16:26:00.001-07:00

I just spotted this car downtown and immediately declared it the Funniest Thing Ever.

These gals are double parked

2010-10-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

I spotted these women earlier today at Taste of St. Louis and have decided they must be members of either the Wiccan Dance Ensemble or the Parking Lot Finger Cymbals Orchestra. Either way, they attracted a crowd and vanished quickly after their performance.