traveling locally

It is something of a paradox but this is what I will be doing for the next week: traveling south to Arkansas and Texas searching for hidden local treasures. It is not St. Louis but it is local and it is fun. Since finding computer access is proving impossible please check back in next week to hear about our wonderful discoveries.

This guy is Shelley. Check back in for some great stories about this wonderful character and the fantastic food we had at his restaurant.

Garden Heights Nursery

gardenheights.com

Yes, in spite of all,

Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits.
   -John Keats

Some of you may have read we are trying to get grass to grow in our front yard. Mr. Rudd did a great job getting it started, now we have to keep it going. He said a sprinkler would be a necessity.

Where to find one? I know where I would have gone last year but what about this year?

Garden Heights Nursery is a few blocks from our house.

You probably have a similar local nursery in your neighborhood.

I think these garden shops are lovely. In the midst of busy city commerce they provide a place of beauty.

Of course, they have all manner of plants,

and seeds

and pots to put them in

and cans for watering them.

Or if you want to decorate your patio, how about wind chimes and bird feeders

or Chinese lanterns?

But my mind wanders with the prettiness of it all, will they have water sprinklers?

As I'm driving to Garden Heights I'm thinking I could probably get a less expensive one somewhere else.

But then I think of all this nursery has given our neighborhood. They are

a source of endless information and expertise about all things botanically related and always ready with a list of trustworthy references. They offer an overwhelming variety of healthy plants, and a place of sheer beauty to enjoy each time I drive by.

I'm convinced. If they have sprinklers, it will be worth the few extra dollars.

I ask the helper behind the desk and am directed to the most vibrant array of sprinklers I've ever seen: yellow, purple, red, green, orange. How will I decide? I was expecting one choice: plain aluminum.

I decided on purple and I love it.

As I was checking out a man behind me said "That is a great sprinkler, it will never wear out! I've had mine for years!" Aw! High quality and purple, bonuses I hadn't considered.

So the big question has it helped the grass grow?

Yes, it has!

A thing of beauty is a joy forever;

its loveliness increases.

John Keats

"The more that you read

the more things you will know.

The more that you learn

the more places you will go."

Dr. Seuss

"I Can Read with my Eyes Shut"

Nick and Elena's Restaurante

3007 Woodson Rd

Overland, MO

314-427-6566

Some of you will remember John Romano, our good friend who came to the rescue when we had our personal flood a few weeks ago. What you don't know from that story is that John is also a great cook and comes from a long line of really fine Italian chefs. John knows a lot about food, eating it and preparing it. He has tried most every St. Louis pizza in town and his favorite is at Nick and Elena's Restaurant in Overland, MO.

Bill and I needed to be near the airport last night, a perfect evening to visit Nick and Elena's. Two great things have happened since we were there few years ago. They've expanded into the space next door giving them lots of room for private parties and special occasions. We were also happy to find the restaurant has become smoke free. We knew to expect great food but what a delightful surprise to find the Cabin Fever String Band was playing. They were very good and we hope to go back next month when they play again.

But let's talk about the food. I love St. Louis' pizza! It must have provel cheese, be cut into squares, and the thinner the crust the better!

I also believe the pizza can't really be fully enjoyed without a great Italian Salad to go with it.

So with these two favorites this Italian experience was sure to be outstanding.

Lest we get into a rut, we added a house specialty to the mix, arancini.

It is really neat, like a rice ball filled with cheesy meat and peas and served with their great red sauce.

Very Siciliano!!

so Amelia explained to me.

Isn't she beautiful? Amelia was our waitress and gave us a great history of

Nick and Elena's Restaurante.

They began the business 25 years ago in this same location. It is the quintessential family restaurant. Amelia is married to Nick and Elena's son, her childhood sweetheart. And now they have a son who is 8 years old. She has worked with the family since she was just a kid, about 15 years.

But this isn't just any family restaurant, it is an *Italian* family restaurant. And this sign reminds us what that means!

Sorry about the flash but I think you get a sense of their seriousness about food and their sense of humor.

When you go to Nick and Elena's you feel kind of like you've been invited home to share dinner with a real Sicilian family.

La Mancha Coffee House

lamanchacoffeehouse.blogspot.com

I've been wanting to write about local coffee shops. I mean, why go to the same old place you can find in any city when you could go to a dozen inviting places just a few minutes from your home or work....each with it's own specialty, mood, and style.

When I heard about La Mancha, a new coffee shop in the Old North City neighborhood, I decided it needed to be investigated. Other than a few trips to Crown Candy, I haven't spent a lot of time this tenacious little neighborhood, so I was eager to go back and explore.

We found a cozy and welcoming space

with a whimsical,

tropical Puerto Rican flair.

Veronica Holden is owner and operator of the La Mancha Coffee Shop.

But she makes it clear this is a family effort.

For example, this coolest logo ever was designed by the oldest Holden son, Malachi.

Opening a coffee shop in North City may seem like an impossible dream

but for the Holden family it is a well considered plan.

The Holdens have lived in this area for about 12 years. They have witnessed and contributed to many improvements over the decade. Veronica simply says it was "iffy" when they moved in all those years ago. But a neighbor who was enjoying a smoothie, suggested a stronger word might be in order....like something to describe wakening to machine gun fire in the night.

But things are brighter now!

When the Holdens and several other families joined this neighborhood they were determined to be a part of making it a wonderful place to live. And though they still deal with all those challenging urban issues, they have definitely achieved a sense of community in the midst of it all. It really feels like a small town as everyone greets each other by name and takes a few minutes to inquire about news of their families.

In addition the cheerful welcome you'll receive at La Mancha they do have really good coffee and an enticing assortment of pastries from Companion Bakery.

And if you are not a coffee drinker don't let the traditional "coffee shop" name scare you away!

Tea,

soda and juice are also choices,

and enough flavorful syrups to customize any drink.

Whether you need to grab something to go

or have time to linger with a colorful mug,

your computer, or

a good book,

I think you'll enjoy a visit to La Mancha!

We sure did! Alli had a grilled tart apple and brie cheese on raisin bread with a pina colada smoothie and I had a grilled veggie panini, with a delicious cup of hot desert lime tea in a perfectly huge mug. While we were visiting after lunch Veronica was surprised by a visit from a member of the Prairie Home Companion staff who was searching out interesting St. Louis sites while they were in town for a show at the Fox.

So we said good bye until next time and continued our exploration.

La Mancha is just a few doors down from Crown Candy, that St. Louis Legend which surely deserves applause for loyalty to a neighborhood when most chose to abandon it. Continuing into the next couple of blocks is a recently renovated shopping district now called Crown Square. So on the first sunny day after so many rainy ones we were thrilled to stroll along this charming street, look at the "before" pictures and be amazed at the transformation.

After the walk along Crown Square, it seemed a necessity to go into Crown Candy. We would be having a birthday celebration with Brother Chris that evening.... what better birthday gift than a box of chocolates from St. Louis oldest candy shop. And while we were there, maybe just one chocolate covered coconut candy for the trip home.

Our trip had been a thorough delight, and we are planning to go back on Saturday because that is the day they serve homemade waffles!

Let me encourage you in the spirit of our dauntless hero, that knight errant, Don Quixote de La Mancha, to seek adventure in new and exciting places.

Hibdon Hardwoods

www.hibdonhardwood.com

Hey, I have a proselyte! Will, my son, is catching the "little guy" fever, too. So when he needed some wood for a very special knife he is making, he wanted to find a locally owned business rather than the franchised store where he usually shops. After a bit of googling he found Hibdon Hardwood. I asked if I could join him to do some blog research....sounded like an adventure I couldn't miss. He welcomed me and we were on our way to 1410 N. Broadway.

A huge sign painted on the side of the building assured us we were in the right vicinity; after only a little looking we found the door to enter the old riverfront warehouse. I knew from the moment we walked in Will was going to love this place.

What fun for me to watch him go from bin to bin,

rack to rack,

shelf to shelf, marveling at the array of more exotic fine wood than he had ever seen in his life. And there was even a scrap bin to rummage through.

He was wonderstruck!

And when Mr. Hibdon offered to show him the 2200 square foot work shop, he could hardly contain his excitement.

There are two Mr. Hibdons, actually. Jerry was working today while his brother is out of town. The brothers, Mr. Hibdon's wife, and Leonard make up the entire staff of this woodsy business. And they do know wood. The Hibdon family has been in lumber for five generations. In fact, Jerry started working with wood when he was 6 years old, sweeping up under his daddy's sawmill. I'm sure no one knows more about wood, but with the true humility of a very knowledgeable person, Jerry hurried to deny my praise.

Jerry's brother started this business in the former Merry Widow Theater on Chouteau in 1978.

They moved to this Broadway location 2o years ago, an old warehouse that used to hold wheat and corn until it was ready to be carted or shipped out to other parts of the country. They do it all right here...

cutting,

planing,

drying in the massive kiln, and selling in the showroom.

The logs come in and they are managed extremely carefully to be sure nothing is lost. (click here to catch a glimpse of what is involved in this very demanding process of turning a log into boards)

Woodworking may not be your hobby but being at Hibdon's you will wish it was!However, if you do make knives, musical instruments, bowls and candle sticks or need some floors or cabinets for your house, or maybe you have always wanted to carve an elephant....this is the place to go!

And whether you want machiche, t'zalam, ziricote, cocobolo, bubinga,

or figured maple (spelted, bird's eye, curly, quilted, flamed, or fiddle back) Jerry will have it or tell you where to find it.

Or if you just want a little adventure head on down to Hibdon Hardwood.

Stand in the midst of this old river city warehouse

and imagine the history all around you...bales of cotton and barrels of grain, bags of corn and boats filled with it all rolling down the ol' Mississippi.

And also, take a moment to marvel at the endless diversity and wonder of wood.