So apparently St. Louis isn’t just America’s fattest city. Or the most dangerous. We’re also one of the saddest. But then, it’s the holidays, when people everywhere grow sadder, if not fatter. Crime goes up, too. So we’re all in this together, America—at least for the month of December!
The good news is that St. Louis is just awash in stuff do do this month. So, we say distract yourself from your sadness. And be sure wear yourself out, so you’ll be relieved when boring, quiet January rolls around.
Onward and upward:
Clarion Brass has just released a new CD of seasonal tunes, Sleigh Ride—Over the Top. The band, which formed in 1994, plays tunes from the Big Band era as well as marches, kids’ music, and selections from the Baroque and Renaissance. On December 1, they’ll be at 560 Music Center in the Loop for a night of holiday music, with an emphasis on swinging 40s tunes rather than sacred music. The show starts at 7 p.m.; tickets are $12, and available through the Edison Theater Box Office, through MetroTix, or by calling 314-935-6543. For more info, or to get dates for other upcoming concerts, go to clarionbrass.org.
Speaking of brass, that is the material used to make the tree-ornament version of the Collinsville Catsup Bottle. That’s right—the bottle, which is actually a water tower, has its own festival—so, why not an ornament? It comes in a “gold-stamped collector’s box with a commemorative inset card,” which means, yep, it’s perfect for wrapping up and sticking under the tree, too. You can get ’em at catsupbottle.com, or at a number of stores in downtown Collinsville, including Ashmannn’s Pharmacy, Dean’s Wine and Liquor, The Flower Basket, Cullop Jennings Florist, and Walgreens.
Or, if you prefer glass to brass: Park Avenue Glass’ Eighth Annual Holiday Sale is the next two weekends, December 3 and 4 and December 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Glass artist Chris McCarthy’s lovely hand-blown glass baubles are heirlooms in the making—not saying a wee catsup bottle isn’t, of course, but y’know. Aesthetics differ. The studio is located at 3145 Park; for more information go to parkavenueglass.com.
As you saw yesterday, Cherokee’s having a big blow-out art walk this weekend centered around its many printmaking concerns, but the street will host a lot of activity otherwise this Saturday and Sunday. Like the long-running Cherokee Antiques Row Cookie Spree (cherokeeantiquerow.net) which is now in its 28th year, and runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. To coincide, phd Gallery (2300 Cherokee) opens a new show on December 3 with the saucy title Bulging Packages Under Your Tree. The focus of the show is affordable local art, including paintings, textiles, ceramics and jewelry. More info at phdstl.com.
In this season of crass commercialism, who couldn’t use a little bit of genuine spiritual uplift? On December 8, BET’s Sunday Best winner, St. Louis native and gospel genius Amber Bullock comes to Vintage Vinyl for a performance and CD release party for her debut disc, Thank You. At 6 p.m., Bullock will be in-store to do a free live performance of songs off her new album, followed by a signing afterwards. For more info, go to facebook.com/singamber or vintagevinyl.com.
And finally, Left Bank Books hosts a release party for local writer and confectionist Julia Usher’s new book, Ultimate Cookies, on December 8 at 7 p.m. Usher will be on hand to do demonstrations, answer questions, and serve samples of delicious cookies. If you miss her on Thursday, she’ll be making another appearance at Puddn’head Books in Webster Groves on December 10 at 2 p.m. A nice gift idea? Sure. Even for the fattest city? Yes, yes, we may be suffering from a little bit of collective avoirdubpois. But it’s the holidays, for crying out loud. So cry out loud, and eat some cookies. More info at left-bank.com, and puddnheadbooks.com.
