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Local Motion
* As the mighty Mississippi rose, the organizers of Live On the Levee had to consider higher ground — but when the displaced “Live off the Levee” music series begins downtown July 4, it will still be accompanied by a series of Saturday-night showcases for local restaurants, albeit in a new location. While the concerts take place on a stage on Chestnut Street at Tucker, a temporary eatery known as Sauce Café, abutting Soldiers’ Memorial, will offer $30 prix fixe meals.
On July 5, Sauce Café will feature food from Skybox Sports Bar and Grill; on July 12, it’s Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen; on July 19 one can sample the goodies produced by Clayton’s Portabella Restaurant; on July 26, it’s Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood; and finally, on Aug. 2, LoRusso’s Cucina. Dinner reservations can be for 6 to 7:45 p.m. or for 8 to 10 p.m.
The second seating coincides with the performance of the night’s headline acts.
* The Missouri Botanical Garden will be free to all comers on the Fourth of July. Currently on display are sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle. The offer will also be repeated on July 24, which may not seem as familiar a date; it’s the birthday of Garden founder Henry Shaw.
* Balaban’s restaurant was open again for only one night June 27 as a fund-raiser for Mayor Francis Slay. The darkened dining room was lit up once more not only by city luminaries and valet parkers, but also a group of protesters seeking a recall of the mayor and calling him a “Republican.” Inside, the old restaurant was packed with well-wishers, including Marie Morrison and Dick Stith; Pasta House founder Kim Tucci; building owner Pete and Donna Rothschild; 28th Ward Alderman Lyda Krewson; Forest Park Balloon Race President John Marlowe; Presto printing owner Rob Patel; architect Andy Trivers; Edward L. Bakewell president of Sarah Bakewell (Ms. Bakewell said she was the restaurant’s first “soup and salad girl”); Charlie and Beth Shapard; CWE Association President Tricia Hamilton; developer Jim Dwyer; Terrene restaurant-owner John MacIlwaine; former insurance magnate Barry Cervantes; and others. As for the protesters? We heard more than one person comment that they showed the “democratic principle of free speech.”
* Employment Connection celebrated 30 years of service with an event June 27 at the glitzy downtown venue Windows off Washington. The organization works with ex-offenders and homeless veterans. Music was courtesy of Quartet Tres Bien, and there was a slice of drama — excerpts from Sophocles and Shakespeare — offered by the Almumi Company of Prison Performing Arts.
* Matthew Hans, Karen McCarthy and Richard Noonan have been elected to two-year terms on the CWE-based Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Board of Directors. Legal Services provides legal assistance in civil cases to the low-income community, and in 2007, the Eastern Missouri branch represented over 7,100 clients in 21 counties.
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