We took advantage of what turned out to be the last warm day of the year to beat our one-day record, picking up these 24 cakes!
146. Express Scripts
Funny that it took us three different trips (here and here) to the UMSL campus to get the three cakes that are closer to each other than any others.
In the last two decades or so, Express Scripts, a Fortune 100 company, has grown to take over a huge portion of the land just north of UMSL.
147. Eugene Field House
Sadly, closed before noon on Sundays. :( The Eugene Field House and Toy Museum is in the last of 12 row houses built in this location in 1845. Eugene Field was a poet and toy collector. His father, Roswell Martin Field, represented Dred Scott in the 1853 case for his freedom.
148. Broadway Oyster Bar
This is normally the kind of place we'd stop for lunch on our caking journey, but it was still early in the day. Broadway Oyster Bar, only steps from the previous cake location, has gathered a collection of accolades in the local restaurant community, famous for creole goodies and live music.
149. Missouri Athletic Club
From their website: "In 1903, a St. Louis institution was born. Since its inception, the Missouri Athletic Club has endured and thrived by remaining committed to the vision of the original founders: "to be the premier athletic, social and dining club for business, professional and civic leaders and their families in the St. Louis area." Today, the MAC is recognized as one of the top private clubs in the United States."
The athletic club housed dignitaries and athletes for the 1904 Olympics. This cake was painted by artists visiting from our sister city, Stuttgart, Germany.
The athletic club housed dignitaries and athletes for the 1904 Olympics. This cake was painted by artists visiting from our sister city, Stuttgart, Germany.
150. Edward Jones Dome
Being down to less than triple digits to go is a nice feeling, but 100 is still a lot. The guards wouldn't let us in the door, nor even near the window. This was the front of the line of people holding tickets for the football game. The doors were due to open in about 15 minutes, but we didn't care to wait that long. So, we're calling this a get.
151. CityGarden
LOVE CityGarden! Who doesn't?!? Splashy fountains are Cakelet's favorite for sure. Part sculpture park, part playground, and begun in 2008, CityGarden is a welcome addition to downtown.
152. Wainwright Building
As a nice surprise, this cake had recently relocated itself outside. Our outdoor photos always turn out nicer. This cake looks exactly like the building it represents - all red brick with ornate details. Built in 1891 at ten stories, it was one of the world's first skyscrapers.
153. Kiener Plaza
By this point in the day, it was past nice and into warm. It wasn't even lunchtime yet, and it was the last day of November! Weather here is like that, though. Kiener Plaza (or at least the larger portion behind the photographer) is on the verge of a major reconstruction project, and it's a good thing too, because it's looking pretty run down.
154. Fort San Carlos
Currently, a fancy-pants hotel right next door to Busch Stadium sits in this location, but more importantly, it marks the location of the only Revolutionary War battle west of the Mississippi (barely), the battle of the Fort of San Carlos in 1780. "An unsuccessful British-led attack on St. Louis was repelled on May 26, 1780. The approximately 300+ St. Louis defenders included whites and slaves and suffered light losses."
155. Drury Plaza
Right across the street, we found this cake celebrating some of the most iconic institutions. "Drury Hotels is a family-owned and operated company, founded in 1973 in Sikeston, Missouri. Drury Hotels has 130 hotels in 20 states, including 7 historic renovations such as Drury Plaza at the Arch. The International Fur Exchange, Thomas Jefferson and American Zinc buildings comprise this historic renovation. Drury Hotels is proud to be headquartered in St. Louis with more than 20 hotels and 780 employees in the area."
156. Old Courthouse
Now the less-well-known of the two major portions of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Old Courthouse was the site of the Dred Scott case, the Virginia Minor case, and is featured on the register for the Underground Railroad.
Later on, we took a picture of this cake from 630 feet up (click to enlarge):
157. Old Cathedral - Basilica of St. Louis
When we arrived, mass was letting out, so we didn't go in to take pictures, but there are many here. "The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France - or the Old Cathedral - was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River [barely]. It was constructed in 1834 at the site of the first log church in St. Louis, which was built in 1770. Pierre Laclede & Auguste Chouteau dedicated land west of Laclede's home for the Basilica. It is named for King Louis the IX of France, also the namesake for the city of St. Louis." It is the only building saved from demolition in the footprint of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
158. Gateway Arch
Kind of a no-big-deal number in the cake lineup (for us, these numbers are just our own order) for this kind-of-a-big-deal-monument. It's the one thing we really spent a lot of time doing on this day. Cakelet had an AMAZING time on her first trip up. We all do. It's a rite of passage.
"The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. Designated Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in 1935, the St. Louis riverfront became a national historic site in 1935, administered by the National Park Service. It was the site of the founding of St. Louis in 1764, the transfer of the Upper Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1804, the preparations of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a center of the American fur trade, and an emporium where covered wagon pioneers bought goods they needed on their trek to Oregon and California. During a nationwide competition in 1947-48, architect Eero Saarinen's inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. Today the park pays tribute to the multicultural aspect of the peopling of America, and its centerpiece, the Gateway Arch, stands for the many cultures that made the United States what it is today."
"The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. Designated Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in 1935, the St. Louis riverfront became a national historic site in 1935, administered by the National Park Service. It was the site of the founding of St. Louis in 1764, the transfer of the Upper Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1804, the preparations of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a center of the American fur trade, and an emporium where covered wagon pioneers bought goods they needed on their trek to Oregon and California. During a nationwide competition in 1947-48, architect Eero Saarinen's inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. Today the park pays tribute to the multicultural aspect of the peopling of America, and its centerpiece, the Gateway Arch, stands for the many cultures that made the United States what it is today."
159. Historic Trinity Lutheran Church
"Trinity Lutheran Church houses the oldest Lutheran congregation west of the Mississippi River. The congregation was founded in 1839 by Saxon immigrants who had planned to settle in Perry County, Missouri but ended up staying in St. Louis."
160. The Sweet Divine
This was a cute little bakery, across from Llywelyn's Pub in Soulard, where we stopped for lunch. Sweet Divine, of course, had ice cream.
161. Soulard Farmer's Market
It was late November, and a bit chilly. Soulard Market was fairly empty, but we did meet one nice vendor who directed us to the cake, which is outside the market, to the South. The market is the oldest farmer's market west of the Mississippi, and Soulard is home to the world's third largest Mardi Gras celebration.
162. Soulard Restoration Group
The neighborhood of Soulard was founded in 1790 by Antione Soulard, a French refugee. In 1972, it earned designation at a historic site. Many homes date to the mid-1800s. A non-profit group, Soulard Restoration Group, has committed to tak care of the neighborhood and its legacy.
163. Soulard Art Market
This awesome independent art gallery in Soulard is one of those places that is impossibly larger than it looks from the outside. With small collections from dozens of local artists, we spent much more time here than we had expected. It was also home to two cakes on the day we visited! The cake out front celebrates the Barkus pet parade, which has become a local Mardi Gras tradition. The parade is now in its 22nd year, and is the Guiness world record holder for largest costumed pet parade. Two best dressed animals are even crowned King and Queen.
164. The Reunion Cake
This was a very special cake, and we were lucky to arrive at SAM in time for a live painting event! Behind the cake are artists Rich Brooks and Earl Miller, each responsible for a number of cakes throughout the 250. The Reunion cake, as it came to be called, in its finished state, is covered in mini versions of other cakes, each painted by the artist of the original cake. The cake had its public debut at the First Night Celebration at Grand Center. After that, it moved to the Missouri History Museum in time for the closing of the STL250 exhibit. Here is a picture of the finished cake, courtesy Patty Vornberg, another caker. The most loyal attentive readers should be able to identify many cakes.
165. Lafayette Park
Lafayette Park sits in the center of the Lafayette Square neighborhood. The land had been used for a community livestock area, but was a target for crime. When commissioned in 1836, at 30 acres, it was the largest park in the city, and the first urban park west of the Mississippi. The park and the neighborhood are named for Revolutionary War General Marie-Joseph-Paul-Roch-Yves-Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette.
166. Lafayette Square Plaza
After an 1896 tornado and subsequent industrial encroachment, Layfayette Square become an area of disrepair. Starting in the 1970s, residents banded together to buy up declining properties and businesses, and have led an impressive grass-roots renewal of the neighborhood. Now, the residents open their doors for a tour of the historical homes.
167. Luvy Duvy's Cafe
As of the writing of this post, Luvy Duvy's Cafe has closed, but will soon be known as Lilly's Music and Social House.
168. Venice Cafe
Venice Cafe was closed the day and time we visited, but it's clear from the decor that this place is beyond creepy. This cake is the only one that was modified extensively from the normal shape. The large slice taken from it revealed ooey gooey guts. "YUCK," said the little princess.
169. Anheuser-Busch
Our last cake of the day, at the world headquarters of a little brewery founded in St. Louis in 1852 by Eberhard Anheuser and Adolphus Busch. Now, with annual revenue of over 15 billion dollars, and twelve breweries across the country, A-B is one of the largest corporations in St. Louis. A-B has a long standing relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals, and is one of the most defining institutions of St. Louis. Any other day (sans Cakelet, that is), we'd take a tour of the massive brewery, which includes a visit to the stables of the world-famous Clydesdales, and a free sample at the end!
81 to go.