Icy Sidewalks Hard To Navigate In Power Chair

Winter weather has arrived, my first post-stroke winter without a car. I can bundle up to deal with cold temperatures, but modest snow can leave me stranded at home or looking for alternate routes.

I frequently take the sidewalk along Olive (above) from 16th to 14th to reach transit options. I passed over the ice you see but it was very rough, not easy on my power chair. If we’d have had more snow I couldn’t have gotten through this way.

I’ll learn which sidewalks get cleared and which do not, altering my route to avoid problem areas.

— Steve Patterson

A Century of Crown Candy Kitchen

This year one of my favorite St. Louis places will turn 100 years old.

Crown Candy Kitchen was opened in 1913 by Harry Karandzieff and his best friend Pete Jugaloff. They brought their confectionary skills from Greece, along with a dream of providing a friendly family environment to enjoy their delicious creations.

I still recall my first trip to Crown Candy Kitchen in the fall of 1990. It was dark and  and I was intimidated by the neighborhood. The former 14th Street Pedestrian Mall seemed abandoned, although I’d soon learn numerous businesses were still there.

That first visit Andy Karandzieff, one of three brothers, was working behind the counter. Most of the time when I visit Andy is behind the counter, making the malts and Sundaes.

Sadly, last October one of Andy’s older brothers, Mike, died of cancer. Andy & Tommy continue the family business.

— Steve Patterson

On KDHX 88.1FM Tonight

I’ll be talking 2012  tonight at 8:30pm (CST) with Collateral Damage host DJ Wilson on KDHX 88.1 FM.  Not in St. Louis, listen online here.

As you celebrate tonight please be safe and be considerate of others.  Thank you for reading in 2012 and I hope you’ll stick around in 2013.

— Steve Patterson

Copia Destroyed By Arson Five Years Ago

Five years ago today Copia Restaurant & Wine Garden was severely damaged after an early morning fire, .

The fire was arson. On May 5, 2009 the arsonist was sentenced:

Gilbert Summers, a former employee of Copia Urban Winery and Market, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for the 2007 fire that caused $2.7 million in damages to the Washington Avenue eatery. (RFT)

Copia reopened in June 2010.

— Steve Patterson

9th Street Storefront Being Emptied

Starting to see some positive action on the vacant storefront I first posted about in September (Storefront Still Vacant A Decade Later, Tax Dollars Wasted?) and again in October (Hotel Has Used State-Owned Retail Storefront Rent-Free For A Decade).

Looks like the space is being readied to lease to a retail tenant, after a decade of rent-free use as storage.  Maybe it won’t get leased right away or it’ll get leased and the first tenant will fail, but we have to try.

Putting up paper over storefront windows for a decade in a city that needs more sidewalk activity is just destructive. To do it in a state-owned building built by an agency whose mission it is to foster development is baffling.

— Steve Patterson