A Potpourri of Upcoming Events Including Two for Tonight
Will He or Won’t He?
Will Paul McKee speak at today’s meeting of the MCU (Metropolitan Congregations United)? I suppose only Paul McKee knows for sure. I have down 6:30pm at Holy Trinity in Hyde Park. Some reports have him there, others say he won’t. One way to find out…
A Different Type of Rails to Trails
Also today in North St. Louis is a public comment forum on the early stages of converting an old railroad trestle into an elevated bikeway. From the P-D:
The Illinois Traction railroad, later called the Illinois Terminal system, built the trestle almost a century ago for its electric-powered commuter system, which carried passengers between the Metro East area and downtown until 1958. It winds through a 19th-century industrial district north of downtown, crossing Interstate 70 on a black-painted girder bridge and running alongside North Market Street at Produce Row.
The forum, sponsored by the Great Rivers Greenway District, will be held tonight at “Confluence Academy-Old North St. Louis Campus 3017 North 13th Street 63107” from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. More information from the flyer and media release.
Fall is upon us
Both the North City and Tower Grove Farmers’ Markets will be having final events this coming Saturday morning. Â 14th & St. Louis Ave and the center of Tower Grove Park, respectively.
An auction to benefit the Landmark’s Association of St. Louis
Sunday is the annual auction (silent and live) to benefit the Landmark’s Association of St. Louis. Like last year, the event will be held in the incredibly beautiful Coronado Ballroom.
“Landmarks 2nd Annual Auction “Shaping the Future: Saving the Past†will be held on Sunday, October 28, from 3:00-6:30 p.m. at The Coronado, 3701 Lindell Boulevard. $50 per person includes a lavish hors d’oeuvres buffet, wine, beer and soft drinks. The silent auction cornucopia opens at 3:00 p.m. with tables closing in sequence before Mark Howald of Ivey-Selkirk begins the live auction at 5:00 p.m.”
A few tickets are still remaining. It is worth it simply for the food, beverage and view.  More information at Landmarks’ new website at www.landmarks-stl.org.
A Fall themed fundraiser
The South City Open Studio and Gallery (SCOSAG) is holding Harvest for Art 2007 on Friday November 10th as a fundraiser to support their beneficial programs. The event will be held at the awesome Lucas School House. See www.scosag.org for more information.
And yet another auction
ArtFix 07 promises to be a fund event on Saturday November 11, a fundraiser benefiting Rebuilding Together-St. Louis:
Rebuilding Together – St. Louis is an affiliate of a national volunteer organization. It revitalizes neighborhoods in partnership with the community by rehabilitating the houses of low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and the disabled, so that they may continue to live independently in comfort and safety. Rebuilding Together – St. Louis also renews neighborhoods by rebuilding community centers, playgrounds and other community projects.
For more information on tickets, food, artists and other details visit ArtFix07.com.
Just for the record, Paul McKee was not at the MCU meeting – though he was invited. Perhaps the 2,000 postcards MCU participants send his way will get his attention. I’m looking forward to the proposed Stakeholder’s Roundtable.
Also, the GRG trestle presentation was interesting, but they could learn a thing or two from MCU on how to engage an audience. Wouldn’t it be nice if social justice organizations and environmental groups finally united in St. Louis?
By standing up MCU, McKee just offended the only supporter he had in North City. Now what? Bringing in more heavy hitter outsiders will surely just lower him deeper into his own hole. He’s in real trouble now. Hmmmm, (tapping head now) maybe I ought to offer him my services at about $250 per hour…it’d be better value for his money than whatever he’s paying his hired guns so far….Then again, who’d want to hitch their fortunes to Paul McKee? Talk about your credibility buster. Perish the thought.
He’s stirred up a hornet’s nest through his ham-handed operation. With good advice and planning on the front end, he could be making real progress. Instead he seems to be going in reverse. Maybe he has so much money he doesn’t care? That’s a little hard to believe. Most people with money got that way because they were prudent along the way. If you were Paul McKee, what would be your next move?
Maybe we can help him out of this mess? My suggestion is that he put the property under management by third parties, with local community based representation, and let the chips fall where they may. If he gets his original investment back anywhere this side of ten years, he’d be doing good. Now’s probably a good time for him to take off those rose colored glasses and get real with everyone.