This batch of six cakes took us through a tour of a few of the neighborhoods in south city.
84. Carondelet Park
For the out-of-towners, you should know that we St. Louisans are quite proud of our French heritage, and thus pronounce the name of this park and its neighborhood as "Ker-Ahn-Duh-Let." Here, a third of the way through, we are starting to recognize the work of artists who have worked more than one cake. This cake was done by Mark Swain (Mark, please let me know if you would prefer a different link), who also painted the Cahokia Mounds cake we visited in June and others we haven't seen yet. I like the faux beading he does on the 250 numbering. Cakelet likes the plastic "sprinkles" that coat the icing.
85. Carondolet Historical Society - Des Peres School
On the other hand, we say, "Duh Pear," so go figure. This cake was done by the talented April Morrison (again, April, preferred link?), whose work we have seen before at Jefferson Bank, Shrine of the Lady of the Snows, and St. Louis Children's Hospital. It celebrates the founding and home of the first public kindergarten in the US in 1873, by Susan Blow. So much fun in this cake. The candle is a pencil! There's a protractor on top! I LOVE the Letter People!! It has only recently come to my attention that Letter People was a local invention. And, Cakelet's preschool is currently raising funds to renovate their outdoor play space. If you can help, please consider donating. Any amount helps. Thanks.
86. The Feasting Fox
Another Mark Swain cake, visited by Cakelet, Pinkbear, and Redbear. Feasting Fox is celebrating 100 years in 2014. It was opened by August Busch, Sr. His father, Adolphus, is the Busch in Anheuser-Busch. It is a restaurant specializing in authentic German cuisine. The cake recognizes other Dutchtown landmarks, too.
87. Bevo Mill
Anheuser-Busch produced Bevo, a malt-drink, or "near beer," from 1916 to 1929. "Bevo" was derived from the Slavic word, "pivo," meaning beer. St. Louis is home to the highest Bosnian population in the world outside of Europe, most of whom are concentrated in and around Bevo. Incidentally, Bevo Mill is located on Gravois. ("Grah-voy.") The mill here was built in 1916.
88. Imo's Pizza
As good mid-century mid-western Catholics, Ed and Margie Imo would wait until midnight every Friday night to order a meaty pizza. The idea struck them to start a pizza delivery chain. Rumor/fact is that Ed started cutting square slices because his day job was cutting square tiles. It's made with Provel (R). YUM. This cake sits at the location of the original Imo's Pizza, which is now empty. Perhaps that's why Cakelet and Rapunzel look so sad in this picture. Since it opened in 1964, Imo's has grown to 90 locations in three states, making it the 35th largest pizza chain in the country.
Some will tell you Imo's pizza is gross. They will tell you it's ketchup and glue on a cracker. Don't listen to them. Those people are not true St. Louisans. It's not an acquired taste. It's an inborn taste. It's in our blood, for better or worse, like baseball and humidity and Bud Light.
89. Brightside St. Louis
Since 1982, Operation Brightside has taken the responsibility of keeping St. Louis clean. The Demonstration Garden (behind the cake, with the big purple umbrellas) is a free outdoor exhibit designed to educate the public on biodiversity and sustainability.
161 to go.