I Dined Out for the Cure and Then Some

Today was the 5th Annual Dine Out for the Cure in St. Louis sponsored by Susan G. Komen St. Louis.  Being a one-year survivor of breast cancer and a lover of food, this was a no brainer for me.  The difficult part of the day was deciding just where to eat.  Alas, the belly chose Pickles in the Central West End not only for its delectable sandwich options, but because it donated 50% of its proceeds to the fight against breast cancer.

Moist, Mile-High Brownies

The Pickles Club

As we approached the deli, a line was formed outside the door.  Yes!  Thank you to ALL who joined forces in the fight today.  The menu was posted on chalkboards behind the counter, so the squirts and I salivated in anticipation of our ordering.  The wait was well worth it with sandwiches piled high with various meats and cheeses.  After taking our last bites of mile-high, moist brownies, we headed to the World Chess Hall of Fame right around the corner.

Since my squirts and I are chess addicts, we looked forward to this outing.  On the main level, an art exhibit by Bill Smith entitled Beyond the Humanities was our first stop.  The docent was kind enough to turn off the lights for us so that we could experience the full effect of his spherodendron.  From there, we had two more floors in which to explore antique chess sets.

Victorian 4-Player Chess Setl

Upon our return to the first floor with free posters of the art exhibit and chess museum in hand (or rather in MY hand), we perused the Q Boutique, voted Best Gift Shop 2012 by the Riverfront Times.  Here we found some goodies for Dad (okay, for me too) for Father's Day including Amanda E. Doyle's Finally, a Locally Produced Guidebook to St. Louis by and for St. Louisans Neighborhood by Neighborhood.  Looking forward to reading through her book and planning a new adventure. . .   

To Complain or Not to Complain: Does It Matter?

I come from a long history of complainers which I'm not saying is positive or negative;  I'm simply stating the obvious.  Once as a teen when my family attempted to dine at a seafood chain restaurant, the cards did not seem to fall in anyone's favor, but mine.  After a too lengthy wait, we were finally seated.  Age muddles the details, but what I do remember is not one patron at my table was happy with his/her order except for me.  Thus, irritation and impatience loomed at the table.  While dishes were being sent back to the kitchen and managers were being summoned, I was quietly enjoying my meal.  No complaints here with the food.  My only complaint at the time was the mortification of being seated next to these complainers.  I was a teenybopper;  what can I say?

When my husband and I were newly married, we decided to spend the weekend away at a hotel which was offering a Valentine's Special.  Young and naive, we jumped at this opportunity.  After a lengthy wait with check-in, we were finally given the key to our room.  With much anticipation, we rode the elevator to our floor.  Once entering the room, we decided to test the bed and scope out the amenities.  Before heading to the pool, we peeked into the bathroom only to find fecal matter on the seat.  Mind you, this was not our fecal matter.  Oh joy, not an ideal way to commence this romantic weekend we had envisioned.  
Furthermore, as part of the attractive package, a bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries were to be delivered to the room.  When we returned from the pool, strawberries and champagne were nowhere to be found in the room.  We called the front desk and were assured they would remedy this situation right away.  They told us they were running behind and would have them delivered shortly.  Thus, we opted to walk to dinner nearby.  On our return, still no strawberries and champagne.  
Not to fear, we decided to order the complimentary in-room movie.  After making a selection, we punched the correct order of buttons only to be presented with a message on the screen, "No Movies Available at This Time."  Apparently everyone else was taking advantage of this offer, too.
When we returned home, as a couple we decided to write a letter informing the hotel of our memorable experience.  Honestly not looking for a freeby because we knew we didn't want to stay there again, we did feel someone should be aware of our less-than-hospitable stay.  After a few weeks, we did receive a reply in the mail with a summary sentence, "We are not known for this at our hotel."  Well, this statement is definitely true now, being that this hotel is no longer in business.
In a more recent adventure, I was at a chain restaurant with my five-year-old daughter in the hopes of purchasing an ice cream cake for her preschool graduation.  We approached the counter with a coupon from the Sunday paper in hand.  No "hello," "how may I help you," or even a "what do you want?"  Instead, we were accosted with, "Where did you get this [coupon]?"  Stunned by the question, I replied, "Huh?"  Turning the coupon over repeatedly on the counter, again the employee asked, "Where did you get this coupon?"  I told her from the paper as the coupon was obviously from a magazine publication.  She then asked if it was from the local paper.  When I informed her the coupon in question was from the Sunday circular, she replied, "I've never seen this before," and then retreated to the back in order to see if she could accept this.  After what seemed like an exorbitant amount of time, she returned mumbling, "I've never seen this before," but reluctantly accepted the coupon.  
Okay, I am attempting rightfully so to receive a $3 discount on a $25 cake.  This is after I purchased my daughter's lunch and my own at full price.  Is there some sort of black market couponing I do not know about where coupons are meticulously printed on magazine paper?  Are these coupons being smuggled across the borders?  Do I fit the FBI profile of a scam artist?  I don't know;  no explanation was ever given for her gruff attitude and certainly no apology.  I walked away with the 10" cake in hand wondering if alarms would be set off once I walked through the door or if officers with handcuffs were waiting to take me down outside (much like on Dateline:  To Catch a Predator).  
My friend urged me to write a letter of complaint.  I did, but will it matter?  Will I put an end to coupon discrimination?  Will the employee-in-question no longer be suscpicious of customers with preschool children in tow and accept coupons without putting them under the microscope?  Who knows?  What I do know is I will eat seafood out again, I will probably fall for an "attractive package" again, and I will definitely eat more ice cream cake with a smile on my face. 
  

Larry McMurtry's Books: A Memoir Book Club

Who would have thought reading a book about a man's love affair with books would be so addicting?  I'm a bookaholic, and even I wasn't so sure when I checked Books:  A Memoir out from the library.  I was hooked on the cover photograph, though, gaggles and gaggles of books.
McMurtry discuss in great detail his own obsession, "I had to have books," (20) with books which eventually led to his buying and selling books.  In fact, he utilizes his love of books to remember prominent points on his personal time line:  the beginning of his teaching career, the end of his marriage, the growth of his son, etc.  
The wit, intellect, and characterization found in this memoir is mesmerizing to say the least, and I noticed I read with a permanent smirk on my face throughout.  When McMurtry tells of some eccentric book sellers he came across during his book hunts, such as the owner who had books piled high in a one-room shop, I had no choice but to laugh out loud.  In order to "view" the books, a customer was to make use of provided binoculars for which McMurtry spent hours scanning the titles giving a whole other meaning to "browsing the shelves."
For the purposes of book club, Coca-Cola served in the bottle should be the beverage of choice served for your discussion.  Without giving too much away, this would be an ideal conversation starter on the topic of difficult customers McMurtry encountered at his own book shop, Booked Up.  An assortment of chocolate " . . . we might offer our children"  (20) to accompany the soda in lieu of beef intestines would be my preference.

Beth Howard's Making Piece Book Club

Having read about Beth Howard's Making Piece last year in Midwest Living, I knew this was a memoir I wanted to read, one involving the trials and ultimate triumph of a forty-something widow, mother to Team Terrier, and pie baker.  At the time I read the article, the book hadn't been released yet, so the title ended up being lost in the pile of paperwork on my desk.  Strolling through the nonfiction aisles of the local library this past Sunday, this book cover jutting out from the shelf rang a bell.  Eureka!  I had found the book to pull me out of my reading slump.  Immediately I dived in and was finished in less than 24 hours.  Since the notion of pie plays such a prominent part in this memoir, I was thrilled to discover the addition of recipes in the back.  Bonus! 
For the purposes of book club, each book club member should shop the local Aldi (first introduced to the author in Germany by her husband) to retrieve ingredients for a pie recipe of her/his choosing from those offered in Making Piece.  I did just this today with my squirt and found everything I needed for "Lana Ross's Better-Than-Sex French Silk Pie"  (305).  Never having attempted a true homemade pie (minus the store-bought pie crust and instant pudding) before, I was looking forward to this bucket list item being wiped from the slate.  

I didn't think I overworked the dough . . .

Attempting not to overwork the dough as Howard repeated throughout during her pie-baking classes, I opted for use of the food processor instead of working the dough with my hands thinking a few pulses would be more efficient and more speedy since the thought of eating a "better-than-sex" pie couldn't wait.  Instead of allowing the crust to cool completely, I popped it into the fridge while mixing my thick, rich, 70% cacao filling.  Wasting no time, I spread the mixture onto the crust and immediately began whipping the cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla.  I'd now like to say with all earnestness, "So long to store-bought whipped topping forever."
 

It's easy to make whipped cream.  Who knew?

In lieu of waiting the suggested four-hour cooling time, I dove right in.  

Complete with shredded dark chocolate.

Due to my sense of urgency, the filling was a little grainy since I hadn't allowed time for the butter to come to room temperature in order to cream properly with the sugar.  Who cares!  The crust was, perhaps, a tad tough.  Okay, it was tough as my squirt asked, "What is this hard stuff on the bottom?"  Yet, I ate it with glee knowing this was only my first, but definitely not my last attempt at homemade crust.  Next time I'll allot more time for proper recipe compliance.  What's nice to know, though, is that due to this inspirational read, Making Piece, there will be a next time.

Beth Howard

Library Love

Okay, I'm spoiled with an extraordinary local library, Glen Carbon Centennial Library.  Even Bill Gates agrees awarding my hometown library the Best Small Library in America Award in 2010, so I'm not kidding when I write I'm spoiled.  Yet, I always like to seek out libraries in a town or city I may be visiting to observe their local offerings.
Today, I was able to mark Bethalto Public Library off of my list of library adventures.  My oldest squirt had a birthday party to attend at the local bowling alley, so my youngest squirt and myself decided to use this time wisely at the public library in Bethalto, IL. 

Up the stairs and immediately to the left we discovered the children's section filled with stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes for which visiting squirts may play and read with.  A vast offering of videos, picture books, children's magazines, and leftover storytime crafts were available for use.  What sealed the deal for my daughter, though, was the just-her-size shopping cart which we were able to fill to the brim with not only her selections, but also mine (yes, I am finally out of my reading slump with Beth M. Howard's Making Piece: A Memoir of Loss, Love and Pie). 

So, be sure and check out your local library.  You can't beat free reads, and if you're in the Illinois Heartland System as both Glen Carbon Centennial and Bethalto Public Libraries are, you may check books out and return them at either location.  No fines for me!

Babies, Birthdays, Books, and Broadway Bound

Having received a clever invitation (devised by a teacher- let's hear it for our teachers!) in the form of an airline ticket to a baby shower, a trip to the bookstore was now a high priority on my to-do list (yes!).  In lieu of cards, picture books were requested for the baby.  Be still my heart . . .  a fellow author groupie in the making.  
In the same week, my eldest daughter received a "FREE Birthday Treat" coupon in the mail from Barnes and Noble, so it was a no-brainer which bookstore was in our near future.  
After school pick-up, my two squirts and I headed in great anticipation to our nearest store location in Fairview Heights, IL- me looking ahead to heady floating between rows of books, the oldest squirt discerning between the cupcake or the oversized cookie, and the youngest squirt racing towards the Thomas Train display, with all of us rounding out our visit with a lengthy stretch of time at the stage.  

This stage in question, located in the children's section, is where my squirts have observed many preschool storytimes, danced many jigs, and now conduct many performances for me and for one another.  Priceless!  Yes, I own a Kindle and use it, but I am still in awe of the written word on paper and the stores which house these books. Thrilled to know my squirts, too, love to turn the pages of a book, I am hopeful this future squirt whom we're celebrating at the baby shower will embrace the physical book also.

Create in the Central West End

While reading the April 2013 issue of Midwest Living, I came across an article about a boutique in the Central West End where you can concoct your own scents for perfumes, shower gels, and lotions.  Excited to see a local business featured in the magazine, I decided to give it a try with my two girls.  At five and six years of age, they, too, were excited at the prospect of creating their own perfumes.  Across the river we drove to Cassie's Fragrance Boutique and Scent Bar . . .

A slew of samples were available to sniff.

After much sampling, finally, they were sold on the "brownie" scent, and I was sold on the "almond" mixed with "french vanilla."  We didn't want to leave the big guy in our house out, so we opted to surprise him with the "Egyptian musk"  (yes, men's scents are available, too).

Scents for Mixing

At work on our roll-on perfumes . . .

After hard work on our personal aromas, we had created quite the appetite.  We stepped out of Cassie's Boutique and Scent Bar only to walk two doors down to the Sub Zero Vodka Bar on Euclid.  We chose not to pursue a vodka sampling (afraid the girls might be carded), and, instead drooled over their Signature Burger Menu.*  The girls split an order of sliders and fries while I prided myself on the healthier choice of the Fresh Pacific Salmon Burger cooked to specification complete with red onion, capers, and dill cream cheese.  Okay, I did choose the deep-fried zucchini- crisp and tender- as my side, but, hey, it still counts as a veggie.

Knowing our creative juices were still flowing, we rounded the corner and entered FroYo on Maryland.  As you can see above, our tastes ran the spectrum from sprinkles and chocolate chips atop low-fat chocolate/vanilla twist to oreos falling down the sides of low-fat cake batter.  Low-fat = eat more = full bellies.  Is my reasoning ideal, or what?  For a further creative outlet, FroYo is sponsoring a t-shirt contest.  See the link above for details if interested.

Above all else, though, I cherished the quality time I was able to spend with my squirts  while taking part in a new adventure. 

*A create-your-own burger option is also available which includes a lengthy list of unique toppings.  Yummo!