Belas Artes Latest Business in McKinley Heights

Many of you are probably familiar with the former Marty’s Baking at Russell and Mississippi in the near south side neighborhood of McKinley Heights. Like the various places before Marty’s, I felt it was too small of a space and not open enough to the sidewalk.

In place of the old Marty’s is the refreshing Belas Artes, a self-described “urban oasis.” For me it is a very pleasing and open storefront design, good beverages, an interesting lunch menu (warm Apple & Brie sandwich w/small house salad for $4.50!) and another place to sit with my Mac and work.

Of note is the new bike rack located out front. It is not my favorite design but it is certainly not the worst on the market. I appreciate the consideration for cyclists and wish more businesses would do the same.

For another take on Belas Artes check out the new healthy food blog for St. Louis called, the Curious Kitchen. The author, Lois Brady, is a close personal friend and believe me she knows healthy food. I was lucky enough to have some of her vegetarian Hoppin John last night.

Just up Mississippi from Belas Artes (@ Geyer) is another locally owned business, Four Muddy Paws. If you have a dog or cat forget about the big chain stores for your pet supplies or grooming. This store operates in another old corner storefront. Owners Matt & Jeff have done a great job with the color scheme on the exterior, the window displays and the merchandising. They are also carrying some really nifty pet journals, called My Furry Tales, written by another good friend.

Across Mississippi from Four Muddy Paws another mixed use building is being renovated. As places like Lafayette Square and Soulard become both fully occupied and higher in price we’ll begin to see other areas benefit from the interest in living an urban lifestyle. McKinley Heights is very convenient and just a short walk over I-44 to Lafayette Square.

While you are looking for a home in the neighborhood be sure to stop and support the local businesses that are making a difference.

– Steve

No Break for the Workers at the New Busch Stadium

At 2:30 A.M. on this first day of 2006 I drove past the construction site of the Cardinals’ new stadium. To my surprise the lights were on and workers were busy trying to meet the completion deadline for the home opener this Spring. Seems like they could have found a way to stop work and turn off the lights for one night?

Happy New Year!

– Steve

Predictions for St. Louis in 2006

Over on the Urban St. Louis discussion forums there has been a thread discussing predictions for 2006, I posted mine a couple of weeks back but I’ve given it a little more thought.

I thought my 2006 predictions might be a good way to end up the year on Urban Review – St. Louis:

So am I off base? What are your predictions for the St. Louis region in 2006?

– Steve

Planes, Trains, Automobiles or Bus?

A few days ago I did a post about seeing all the lights of commuters coming to St. Louis from the hinterlands as I drove to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend. Yesterday someone placed the following comment on that post:

Steve, I am surprised you took an automobile to Oklahoma instead of either a bus or train. Isn’t that being a bit hypocritical?

Interesting question. Typically I’d just do a simply reply to that comment and that would be that. But instead I thought this worthy of a fresh new post.

In the 15+ years I’ve lived in St. Louis I’ve gone back to Oklahoma City to visit my family many times. Most have been by car while a few have been by plane. None have been by bus or train.
… Continue Reading

Retailers Promote Shopping Downtown Through New Marketing Campaign

I was downtown for lunch yesterday and picked up a simple but smart flyer listing 16 “fine independent retailers.” In a small amount of space they’ve managed to communicate all the business names, what they each offer, their addresses and phone numbers as well as pinpoint their locations on a map. Not bad!

Here is the really smart thing these savvy retailers have done, they’ve created one website that lists all of their individual websites along with a printable map. Smart.

So, check out shopdowntownstl.com and support our locally-owned merchants. For your future reference I’ve added the link to the growing list of links in the right hand column of the home page here at Urban Review – St. Louis.

– Steve