Gus' Pretzels

http://www.guspretzels.com/

I was driving through south St. Louis today and what should I see but a Gus' Pretzel man!  I've been thinking about this:  if I would be sorry to see a business close I should be a part of helping it thrive.  I would be really sad to drive through St. Louis and never see a Gus' Pretzel man again. 

So I bought a bag of pretzels.  I didn't really need to eat  *all* those yummy rods of goodness by my self, so I was on my way to see the Trulls and that family of many boys was happy to help me.

Economy....bad news

This morning Bill was reading one of those bad news articles:

 the world economy is bad,

 the American economy is worse,

and the St. Louis economy is the worst.

Such information is belittling, because what can I do to effect a change? I mean really.  It sounds like the sky is falling and all I can do is read about it.

Then I remember what I've learned this year.  I can't make much of an impact on a big scale, but everyday with every dollar I spend I can make a small difference here at home. Don't forget: at a local store at least 70% of those dollars stay right here, instead of 40% of a chain store sales and nothing from internet commerce. I'm no economist, but wouldn't all that extra money in the local St. Louis bucket be a good thing?

This is something Lindi sent me a few months ago, I guess it says the same thing with a slight twist.

Generally, I'm coming to believe a bad economy might be a good thing if in the process we are able to return to a simpler life filled with less stuff and rush and more friendship and community.  And so let's keep doing what we can to keep those friends and that community here at home in St. Louis.

Foundation Grounds Coffee House

www.foundationgrounds.com

Denise is a brilliant director who inspires students to become brilliant actors.  She has already started thinking about a summer production. It is cool to be with Denise when she is making plans; her ideas seem to come forth like jonquils in spring. We wanted to meet to put some solid foundational ground under these theoretical ideas. Where to go? I know! Maplewood's Foundation Grounds Coffee Shop seemed in keeping with our goal.

Denise ordered a cup of hot cocoa and I had a cup of hot chai.

 

We sat in chairs of varying pattern and color

which seem to whisper,"It is OK to be different. Be pleased with who you are."

 ...As Mr. Rogers taught us: everyone is special in their own way.

Foundation Grounds offers a variety of breakfast and lunch choices but we chose a light snack from their bakery items.

It isn't as if Denise's theatrical creativity needs help, but the artistry surrounding us couldn't hurt.

The next time you need a place to dream and scheme about exciting plans

 

or if you just yearn for a good cup of coffee, for goodness' sake don't go to those overused national chains.  Discover uniqueness by going to the local coffee shop close to home,

or make the short drive to Maplewood and enjoy one of our favorite places.

Eli Yawitz Company

elyyawitz.com

It is time to begin planning costumes for Lindi's dance recital which reminds me of an adventurous day we had last year.

We needed thread, lots of thread. Lin, a friend from Texas, told me about a locally owned wholesale place in St. Louis that sells every kind of sewing notion. Ely E. Yawitz Company. We decided to go in search of this place with the memorable name.

.

It was a wintery, cold and snowy day.  We bundled up, got in the car and drove to one of those intriguing old warehouse districts in the city.

After parking in a bank of unshovelled snow, we made our way inside.  It all looked pretty abandoned.  I could almost think we were in one of those surreal scenes from INCEPTION:

 forsaken halls and 

forgotten telephone booths,

 mysterious doors with only a vague suggestion of what might be behind them.

At last, a sign of recognition.  We did ring the bell, Ely's clerks welcomed us, and assured us we were in the right place.

We found:

 

shelf

after shelf,

drawer upon drawer.

                                                                            

In them and on them were thousands of sewing supplies which are normally sold to clothing manufacturers, but they were very happy to sell to us in small quantities.  

Ely E. was a young man in 1924 when he opened his business, so he is no longer with us. However, I understand, a relative of some descent is still operating this very active warehouse, hiring local folks, paying local taxes and maintaining a local historic building.
As personal sewing has become rarer, so have the places selling needed notions, especially rare are local establishments, so I was really happy to find Ely E. Yawitz Company. If you decide to visit the Yawitz Company, try calling first to get directions and best time of the day to come.  Since they are accustomed to filling very large orders, a phone call will help you avoid their "rush times".

We had our rainbow of thread and it was time to return home.  One thing you can be sure of, local shopping is never dull.

Webster Record Shop

January 31st, 2012

 the last day of Webster Record Shop.

We don't have a cultural routine for the end of a favorite business.

When a person dies we know what to do....

go to the visitation, attend the funeral,

 go to the graveside.

What about saying good bye to a small store

 filled with memories and likable people?

I didn't really want to go back, 

but how could I let this day pass without a moment of recognition?

When I last visited Webster Records Bill and I spoke of many things:

the state of the economy, bluegrass music,

 chocolate syrup,

 and my certainty that there is a movement afoot

 causing people to return to a more personable, 

companionable way of shopping which is, of course,

 small and local.

I believe that is true,

 but the movement didn't start soon enough to stop the closure of this 60 year old shop.

So what to do?

Well, chocolate is appropriate for all sorts of occasions.

Bill, the faithful proprietor of Webster Records,

 had mentioned his favorite treat,

 Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. 

So I ran into Sappington Farmer's Market,

 bought a can of the yummy stuff, 

enclosed it in some colorful tissue

 with a bright ribbon,

 and drove to Webster Groves.

The place was busy with folks browsing for a favorite record,

 as I imagine it would have been on a Saturday morning in1956.

I gave Bill his cylinder of sweetness

 and he was as appreciative as a child.

I told him thanks for his years of service,

 that I would miss him and

 hoped St. Louis was a small enough town that I would see him again sometime.

This was when I learned Bill 

is not only a political scientist

 and a proficient musical reference,

 he is also a student of eschatology.

He said: "Oh we'll meet again.

 You see, I believe in heaven and

 I'm planning to be there.... 

not that I'm getting there on my own....

but I'll be there."

 I listened as he spoke joyfully of things eternal,

 ethereal and musical.

I said good bye 'till we meet again and

 left smiling

 as I considered the life he described.

Hello again

I'm really sorry to resume the new year with the disappointing news of another store closing.

Click here Webster Records pulls the plug for a few more details and comments about the closing of Webster Records. Or on this blog click July to read of my experiences with Webster Records.

 I've been in a sort of tunnel filled with happy holiday happenings and no time to tell about all the small stores I've found for shopping.  This year has been the best
and I've actually accomplished my ALL SMALL goal for the season.
I'm eager to tell of the discoveries.

This news of the end of Webster Records leaves me determined to continue earnest efforts to
"shop local".

Does all the stress of the holiday shopping have you feeling grumpy?

I talked with a friend who is at her wit's end!
Shopping is not fun.

It only reminds her of commercialism and materialism
and the selfishness those isms inspire.
Feeling dismal and dreary,
 she is ready to forget the whole holiday.

I understood what she was saying.
It seems the shopping endeavor
has become a ruthless competition
of how much stuff can I buy for how little money.
 We feel inadequate if we pay a dollar more for the silly widget
 than if we'd gone across the street.
Maybe the gloom is
because we are completely disconnected
from the real people of commerce.
A grumpy sort of feeling is the result.

How do we leave "grumpy" and become "happy"?
For me leaving the giant parking lots
and huge expanses of stuff in overgrown buildings
has fixed the dread.
Each day labeled "shopping" on my calendar is greeted with excitement.
Because people owning and working
in the little shops of St. Louis are just folks.
 They are working hard to be of service
and provide a livelihood for their families...
They are not opponents in that game
of how much stuff can I get for how little money.

They are neighbors and friends.
 Their hard work and business expertise
add to the richness of our community.
 I'm finding shopping small is not  more expensive
than big,
 however, even if it were,
 it would be so worth having a few less things under the tree
to experience the happiness of small shop shopping.

A Tale of Two Stores

Yesterday we celebrated Micha's Birthday. It is our custom to have a family dinner and an activity inspired by a theme of interest to the celebrant.  This year's theme was Tootsie Pops....hard crunchy outside, soft chewy inside...or you can't judge a book by its cover....or things are not always as they appear. 

The table was decorated with Tootsie Pop topiaries.

Our menu consisted of foods that have one thing on the outside and something else hidden inside:

Beef Wellington, Potato Surprises, spring rolls, and cream filled donuts,

It is admittedly a rather esoteric theme of little interest to you, but helpful in understanding the rest of the tale.

Lindi was in charge of gathering the Tootsie Pops.
She was going to a big store to get them,
 so decided to call ahead to be certain they had Tootsie Pops in stock.

 While still at home she placed the call.
A pleasant enough voice on the other end said,
 "Let me put you on hold."
Not to be deterred
 Lindi did a few things around the house
 still on hold,
walked to the car, drove to the big store,
 still on hold,
waited in the parking lot for several minutes,
still on hold,
walked into the store through the acres of stuff to the candy department,
still on hold,
found the desired Tootsie Pops, waited in line, checked out, returned to the car,
still on hold.

My task, on the other hand was to acquire the cream and jelly filled donuts.
 I would not be going to the big store,


I would be going to John Donut Company or


Johnny's as I like to call it.

Since it was near the end of their day, I called to see if they had filled donuts.

When they answered the phone, I learned it was *beyond* the end of their day....they had closed an hour ago and were just cleaning up. Not only is it impressive that a real human being answered the phone after hours, they actually offered to extend there work day even more while I drove to the shop.  I jumped immediately into the car, drove as quickly as the law allows, ran into Johnny's, enjoyed a pleasant chat with Johnny's son, bought a dozen donuts, and drove home thinking how the cheerful work of these people had brightened my day.

Later

we

enjoyed

every

last

bite

while celebrating

one very dear young man!

As you think about it, don't you want more "Johnny" tales in your life
 and fewer big store tales?

Booksmarts Bookstore

booksmarts.com

Christmas day is coming. 

Since I know there will be books under the tree

 and since I know our cases are full unto overflowing, 

I've undertaken the dreaded task of choosing some 

books to give away.

After a few days of gleaning 

I have filled a nice size box.

A few weeks ago I met Mike, 

owner of Booksmarts Bookstore on Manchester Road. 

 If you go to Booksmarts you can meet him too,

because he is always there, pretty much.

We talked about his large array of books,

how he gets them, and what he does with them all. 

 I learned he donates extra books to charities, 

like Salvation Army and the YMCA booksale.

This was an aw-ha moment for me. 

The perfect solution:

By giving my used books to a small bookstore, I can help a local business

*and* agencies in town that provide valuable community services.

The nice part of this plan is that I can browse the shelves while dropping off the books.

What can be more fun 

than searching out

good reads

in a nicely organized

locally

owned 

bookstore.

Last year I shopped online, 

spending hours going through screen after screen 

trying to figure out editions, copyright dates, illustrators, covers, quality and price

 all with only a small picture...never actually touching the prospective book. 

Oh, the headache at the end of those days.  

 And as a confession of my computer inadequacy,

since I unwittingly clicked twice

many books arrived at our house two by two, 

Ugh!

But not this year.

While leaving the books at Booksmarts, 

I learned Mike has a finder's service.  

There are a few titles, I just can't seem to find. 

So I'll be letting his research team 

work their way through the endless lists of 

similar but different books....

...while I survey the many fine new and used bookstores in St. Louis. 

I'll be shopping the multi-sensory way, 

seeing, touching, feeling,

 listening to the soft whoosh of pages as I flip through them.