Kickin' It on Route 66 ~ Chapter 2 - 2 continued
Posted in two parts ~ just a tad long for one.
Title: Kickin’ It On Route 66
State: Missouri ~ Chapter 2-2
Part One ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/56750.html
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
“Daddy … Papa … puleeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzz can we? Please?”
“Please?”
Adam and Kris looked to each other for help. They hadn’t come prepared for this but the kids had been really good and it was really hot.
“Okay, but leave your shoes with us so they don’t get ruined.”
“Thank you!”
“Yes!”
Hannah and Joshie took off their shoes and then ran into the dancing columns of water with a host of other kids ~ and a few adults. Some were in swimsuits but many had just decided they needed to cool off and were in their regular clothes.
CityGarden was an urban park behind the Old Courthouse and part of the Gateway Plaza. A combination of stone, nature, water, architecture and art, it was a popular destination for St. Louisians and tourists alike.
The family had walked through the garden, checking out the cool modern and contemporary art that not only occupied a space but invited the visitor to touch and play with it. There were a mix of abstract geometric shapes and realistic pieces, of serious and whimsical. Many were static but some incorporated movement. When they entered the park there was a large digital panel with the images of a man and woman walking, like a giant ‘walk’ sign at a crossroads.
The kids ran from sculpture to sculpture, climbing on them and posing for pictures. Twenty-four in all, each had a small plaque with the official name of the piece and the artist. Hannah and Joshie’s favorites were the stone scarecrow, two smooth white rabbits, Pinocchio, the giant hollow head they climbed into, the digital walking people, Geppetto, the horse and star, and the bird with human legs.
After they wore themselves out, they followed the sounds of water first to the waterfall and its basin full of kids and then to the spray plaza with its 120 computerized jets of water that shot up in random patterns. The adults stayed in the shade and let the kids cool off, even though they were pretty toasted themselves.
“Daddy! Papa! Come in!”
The two men looked at their daughter and shook their heads.
“We’re okay Sweetpea, go have fun.”
“Please?”
“Joshie, go play.”
The kids went back to the water. Adam watched them get soaked as sweat beaded on his forehead.
Oh why the hell not.
Standing up, Adam took off his sandals and set down his hat and sunglasses.
“You’re not going in are you?” Kris asked.
“It’s over 100 out here … other adults are doing it, so why not?” He held his hand out to his husband. “Join me?”
“I don’t know ….”
“Puleeeezzzeeeee,” Adam whined, activating the puppy eyes for his own purposes this time.
Kris looked at the water and then down at the sweat stains on his t-shirt.
“Okay.”
“There … that wasn’t so hard was it?”
Kris scrunched his nose while kicking off his sandals and removing his hat and sunglasses.
“Laddies?”
“Yes?”
She held out her hands. “Watches, wallets, phones and cameras if you don’t mind.”
“What would we do without you?” Kris asked kindly.
“I’d hate to imagine. Now go have fun.”
“Why don’t you come in too?” Adam asked.
“Someone has to watch our things. Besides I’m more a poolside kinda girl. Off with you now.”
The kids squealed when their parents joined them, picking the children up and holding them over the jets.
Half an hour later, they got out.
“We’ll have to find a patch of sun to lie in and dry off. I think the seats in the van are waterproofed but I don’t want to take a chance.”
Mrs. Willowby dug in the bag she always had with her and pulled out four towels.
“How did you know?” Adam asked, taking a towel from the hotel and draping it around his shoulders.
“One always has to be prepared for children … and laddies.” She tossed a towel onto Joshie’s head and rubbed hard. “Now, lets get you all dried off and I hope we have time to stop at the hotel to clean up properly before going out to dinner. I don’t want people thinking I’m raising a bunch of drowned rats.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Rather than turn on the air conditioning, they kept the windows open so the warm wind would dry them off better.
“Are we going a different way back?” Mrs. Willowby inquired, not recognizing the view.
“We’re making a stop first. Got to pick up a little something for tomorrow,” Kris explained.
Joshie noticed a familiar sign ahead. “Are we getting frozen custard again?” he asked, seeing Ted Drewes’ sign.
“Nope, we’re just stopping someplace nearby.”
Kris turned into a parking lot behind a row of buildings and they all got out, hats on their heads to cover their messy hair. Around the corner, their destination was easy to spot. While the others storefronts on this block were brown, they were heading to the one painted white, gold and purple.
“Gooey Louie Butter Cakes,” Hannah read, a smile slowly brightening her face. “We’re getting cake?!”
“It’s for tomorrow … as a treat for you guys … while your Daddy and I are having our date night. We’re just picking it up today since we’re in the area.”
“Are you having a sleep over again?” Joshie asked seriously.
“Yes.”
“So can we get TWO cakes?”
“No, you guys are getting enough treats during this trip. Besides, you might not have room left after the popcorn.”
“Popcorn! What popcorn?!”
Gooey butter cakes had been around since the 1930s, a St. Louis specialty if there was one. They were a cross between a cake and cheesecake dusted with icing sugar. Aside from the recipes out there, it’s rarely available outside St. Louis so this was something not to be missed, a possible once in a lifetime opportunity. This bakery was award winning and it was all they baked, these cakes and gooey cookies.
The inside of the small store was just as colorful as the outside. A basket of cookies was on the counter and there were display cases along one wall showing the flavors they offered ~ Original; Chocolate Chippewa; Hwy 40: Driving Me Nuts made with pecans and walnuts; Chocolate Peanut Butter; Devil’s Food; Let’s Go Blueberries; Chocolate Raspberry; Turtle Park with chocolate, caramel, pecans; Red Velvet Gooey Butter; Hog Wlyd with real bacon and maple syrup; and Tuxedo with yellow cake and chocolate goo.
It took fifteen agonizing minutes but finally everyone decided. The cakes were available in 8x8 squares but they went with the individual sizes. Two bags in hand they hurried back to the hotel with one Original, two Chocolate Chippewas, and two Turtle Parks.
Hey, just because the boys were going out tomorrow night didn’t mean they could get some too!
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Since this road trip was rooted in exploring America’s past, going back in time, in a sense, was a given. So far, though, going back in history had never been so vibrant as entering The Fountain on Locust, even though the restaurant had only been open a few years. It was Art Deco heaven with brilliant blue walls and paintings of dancers, dark wood seating, a beautiful soda bar and black and white tiled floor.
Seated at a table, the server handed out the menus and asked if they could get them anything to drink. Quickly finding the beverage listing, they ordered three Mint Julep Sweet Ice Teas and two glasses of lemonade with crushed raspberries.
It didn’t take long before the kids got to the dessert section.
“Woah … can I have ice cream for dinner?” Joshie asked. The kid did love his ice cream.
“What do you think?” Kris said.
“Later?”
There were some unique items offered. Eating your meals on the road, more times than not you saw the same type of food on the menus. When they had the opportunity to try something really different, their adventurous sides tended to kick in.
The server came with their drinks and asked if they were ready. Being gentlemen, the boys insisted Mrs. Willowby and the children go first.
“I’d like to try the Birdseed Salad,” Mrs. Willowby replied. It was mixed greens with sunflower, pepita seeds, mixed nuts, Fuji apples, parmesan and bruléed apple slices with poppy seed white balsamic vinaigrette.
“Miss?”
Hannah giggled. “Can I have the Royal Grille?” It was an ‘adult’ grilled cheese made with white cheddar and mozzarella with Fuji apple slices on grilled whole wheat bread and served with a secret sauce.
“Would you like ham or turkey on it?”
“No thank you.”
“Stutz salad, St. Louis city salad, Orange Onion cup, or hand cut seasoned potato chips?”
“Chips please.”
“Sir?”
Joshie looked up. “You talking to me?”
“Yes sir. What can I get for you today?”
“May I have the hot roast beef melt?”
“Excuse me,” Mrs. Willowby interrupted, “can he have that without the horseradish?”
“No problem.” The server turned back to Joshie. “Stutz salad, St. Louis city salad, Orange Onion cup, or hand cut seasoned potato chips?”
“Chips please.”
“I’ll have your daily special,” Kris expressed ~ The Smitty: ham with a creamy orange-walnut-cranberry cheese spread on a ciabatta bun.
“Stutz salad, St. Louis city salad, Orange Onion cup, or hand cut seasoned potato chips?”
“The potato chips please.”
“Would you like to add a cup of soup for $2?”
“Yeah … I’d like to try your Polish Dill Pickle Soup.”
“Wonderful.”
Lastly, Adam gave his order.
“I’ll try your Fountain Salad entrée.” ~ grilled chicken, apples, kirsch poached cherries, parmesan cheese and walnuts on greens with a creamy citrus dressing.
To pass the time, they all went back to the menu, looking at the frozen offerings. Another server passed by them with a tray of sundaes and they were really decadent and huge. Adam suggested to the kids they might want to share one. In reply, Hannah asked if he and Kris were going to share one.
“Do you want to?” Kris asked, “I don’t mind.”
“Can I feed it to you?”
Kris blushed and the kids laughed. Just then, their dinner arrived.
“I’ll get back to you on that.”
Everyone enjoyed their dinner. Kris said the soup tasted like dill pickle flavored potato chips. Hannah really like the grilled cheese and asked if she could have it at home sometimes with apples in it.
“Can I get you folk’s dessert?”
“Yes please!” they all replied at once.
They gave their orders and the server invited them over to the soda bar to see them being made. Scrambling out of their seats, the five perched themselves on the leather stools and watched magic happen.
The Pineapple Inside Out Cake in a Cup was sponge cake with a hot, buttered brown sugared pineapple sauce, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Mrs. Willowby inhaled the hot & cold concoction and waited impatiently for the others.
The kids were sharing a Bearcat ~ bananas laid down in the dish with one scoop of vanilla ice cream covered in hot fudge and one scoop of butter pecan covered in hot caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream and two cherries. The kids grabbed their spoons and were about to delve in when a clearing throat stopped them in their tracks. The spoons were set down and they waited even more impatiently.
Adam and Kris liked the idea of a banana split as well but went for a different presentation ~ a Standing Banana Split. Served in a tall glass rather than a boat dish, it was bruléed banana, and scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream layered with crushed strawberries and hot fudge and finished off with whipped cream.
Going back to their seats, everyone got the red light and dug in. Kris gave in and let Adam feed him a couple of spoonfuls, blushing redder than the strawberries when his husband leaned in to kiss the whipped cream and fudge from his lips. The kids ignored their public display of affection, more interested in making sure their sibling didn’t eat any of their share.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Trying to keep the kids away from the Gooey Louie Cakes wasn’t an issue that night as they waddled back to their hotel room, exhausted and filled up to the gills with dinner. No one really felt like doing anything but kicking back and relaxing so Adam looked to see what movies were available and appropriately enough, the 1944 MGM classic musical “Meet Me in St. Louis” was one of them. It was perfect in so many ways ~ set in St. Louis, full of timeless songs, great story, great actors, beautifully costumed and filmed, family friendly and based around the excitement of the St. Louis Exposition of 1904, or World’s Fair. Forest Park, just outside their window and on their itinerary, had been the sight of the actual fair. Not many of the buildings survived but some did in the park and scattered throughout the city.
Everyone got into the pajamas and met up in the sitting room to flop all over the couch and the floor, pillows and blankets dragged in from the bedrooms. Even Mrs. Willowby joined them, not wanting to miss the movie. She adored Judy Garland.
The movie started and Adam quickly went online to check for daily emails, one in particular regarding the date night he was planning. When he finished, he closed the laptop and snuggled up to Kris.
As the movie progressed, questions started coming up and the laptop was put to good use.
“What’s a world’s fair?”
“Large exhibitions held all over the world. Different countries have pavilions where the rest of the world can come to learn about them and they introduce and share their cultures, new ideas about building things, designing things and selling things.”
“Do they still have world fairs?”
“Yup … there are two coming up soon … Korea and Italy.”
The musical continued and Kris kept surfing the web.
“Hey, get this. Some of the foods you guys like are said to be first introduced to lots of people during the fair ~ waffle ice cream cones, hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter, ice tea, cotton candy, Dr. Pepper and puffed wheat cereal. Isn’t that cool? Guys?”
Everyone was asleep. He closed the laptop and ran his hands tenderly through Adam’s hair as Judy told him to have a merry little Christmas.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
LOTS OF VISUALS FOR THIS ONE!
If you have limited time to browse, I suggest ♥
Riverboat cruise ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tswuRDpxsng&feature=related
Tom Sawyer Riverboat pic ~ http://www.graphicdisplayusa.com/images_success_stories/np43206d9f89249.
Tour the Gateway Arch & Visitor’s Center ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2zhsv1xJbU
♥ Photo of elevator pods ~ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3714739092_1b6b9a11d8.jpg
The Old Courthouse exterior pic ~ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3481398604_4ecb97256a.jpg
♥ Old Courthouse interior dome pic ~ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2559827337_10dbf6e7d9.jpg
City Garden Overview pic ~ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/4116796056_08d550823b_o.jpg
♥ City Garden Water Fun ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS8gHKMPghI
City Garden Tour (autumn) over 8 mins but shows everything ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nsyJNHG2VA
♥ Gooey Louie Butter Cakes ~ http://www.gooeylouiecake.com/
Gooey Louie Story ~ http://www.5min.com/Video/Small-Business-Stories---Gooey-Louie-124661984
♥ The recipe :) ~ http://www.cooksrecipes.com/cake/st_louie-gooey_cake_recipe.html
♥ The Fountain on Locust (look at the menu for ice cream creations *drools*) ~ www.fountainonlocust.com
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair ~ http://www.tlaupp.com/
Title: Kickin’ It On Route 66
State: Missouri ~ Chapter 2-2
Part One ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/56750.html
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
“Daddy … Papa … puleeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzz can we? Please?”
“Please?”
Adam and Kris looked to each other for help. They hadn’t come prepared for this but the kids had been really good and it was really hot.
“Okay, but leave your shoes with us so they don’t get ruined.”
“Thank you!”
“Yes!”
Hannah and Joshie took off their shoes and then ran into the dancing columns of water with a host of other kids ~ and a few adults. Some were in swimsuits but many had just decided they needed to cool off and were in their regular clothes.
CityGarden was an urban park behind the Old Courthouse and part of the Gateway Plaza. A combination of stone, nature, water, architecture and art, it was a popular destination for St. Louisians and tourists alike.
The family had walked through the garden, checking out the cool modern and contemporary art that not only occupied a space but invited the visitor to touch and play with it. There were a mix of abstract geometric shapes and realistic pieces, of serious and whimsical. Many were static but some incorporated movement. When they entered the park there was a large digital panel with the images of a man and woman walking, like a giant ‘walk’ sign at a crossroads.
The kids ran from sculpture to sculpture, climbing on them and posing for pictures. Twenty-four in all, each had a small plaque with the official name of the piece and the artist. Hannah and Joshie’s favorites were the stone scarecrow, two smooth white rabbits, Pinocchio, the giant hollow head they climbed into, the digital walking people, Geppetto, the horse and star, and the bird with human legs.
After they wore themselves out, they followed the sounds of water first to the waterfall and its basin full of kids and then to the spray plaza with its 120 computerized jets of water that shot up in random patterns. The adults stayed in the shade and let the kids cool off, even though they were pretty toasted themselves.
“Daddy! Papa! Come in!”
The two men looked at their daughter and shook their heads.
“We’re okay Sweetpea, go have fun.”
“Please?”
“Joshie, go play.”
The kids went back to the water. Adam watched them get soaked as sweat beaded on his forehead.
Oh why the hell not.
Standing up, Adam took off his sandals and set down his hat and sunglasses.
“You’re not going in are you?” Kris asked.
“It’s over 100 out here … other adults are doing it, so why not?” He held his hand out to his husband. “Join me?”
“I don’t know ….”
“Puleeeezzzeeeee,” Adam whined, activating the puppy eyes for his own purposes this time.
Kris looked at the water and then down at the sweat stains on his t-shirt.
“Okay.”
“There … that wasn’t so hard was it?”
Kris scrunched his nose while kicking off his sandals and removing his hat and sunglasses.
“Laddies?”
“Yes?”
She held out her hands. “Watches, wallets, phones and cameras if you don’t mind.”
“What would we do without you?” Kris asked kindly.
“I’d hate to imagine. Now go have fun.”
“Why don’t you come in too?” Adam asked.
“Someone has to watch our things. Besides I’m more a poolside kinda girl. Off with you now.”
The kids squealed when their parents joined them, picking the children up and holding them over the jets.
Half an hour later, they got out.
“We’ll have to find a patch of sun to lie in and dry off. I think the seats in the van are waterproofed but I don’t want to take a chance.”
Mrs. Willowby dug in the bag she always had with her and pulled out four towels.
“How did you know?” Adam asked, taking a towel from the hotel and draping it around his shoulders.
“One always has to be prepared for children … and laddies.” She tossed a towel onto Joshie’s head and rubbed hard. “Now, lets get you all dried off and I hope we have time to stop at the hotel to clean up properly before going out to dinner. I don’t want people thinking I’m raising a bunch of drowned rats.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Rather than turn on the air conditioning, they kept the windows open so the warm wind would dry them off better.
“Are we going a different way back?” Mrs. Willowby inquired, not recognizing the view.
“We’re making a stop first. Got to pick up a little something for tomorrow,” Kris explained.
Joshie noticed a familiar sign ahead. “Are we getting frozen custard again?” he asked, seeing Ted Drewes’ sign.
“Nope, we’re just stopping someplace nearby.”
Kris turned into a parking lot behind a row of buildings and they all got out, hats on their heads to cover their messy hair. Around the corner, their destination was easy to spot. While the others storefronts on this block were brown, they were heading to the one painted white, gold and purple.
“Gooey Louie Butter Cakes,” Hannah read, a smile slowly brightening her face. “We’re getting cake?!”
“It’s for tomorrow … as a treat for you guys … while your Daddy and I are having our date night. We’re just picking it up today since we’re in the area.”
“Are you having a sleep over again?” Joshie asked seriously.
“Yes.”
“So can we get TWO cakes?”
“No, you guys are getting enough treats during this trip. Besides, you might not have room left after the popcorn.”
“Popcorn! What popcorn?!”
Gooey butter cakes had been around since the 1930s, a St. Louis specialty if there was one. They were a cross between a cake and cheesecake dusted with icing sugar. Aside from the recipes out there, it’s rarely available outside St. Louis so this was something not to be missed, a possible once in a lifetime opportunity. This bakery was award winning and it was all they baked, these cakes and gooey cookies.
The inside of the small store was just as colorful as the outside. A basket of cookies was on the counter and there were display cases along one wall showing the flavors they offered ~ Original; Chocolate Chippewa; Hwy 40: Driving Me Nuts made with pecans and walnuts; Chocolate Peanut Butter; Devil’s Food; Let’s Go Blueberries; Chocolate Raspberry; Turtle Park with chocolate, caramel, pecans; Red Velvet Gooey Butter; Hog Wlyd with real bacon and maple syrup; and Tuxedo with yellow cake and chocolate goo.
It took fifteen agonizing minutes but finally everyone decided. The cakes were available in 8x8 squares but they went with the individual sizes. Two bags in hand they hurried back to the hotel with one Original, two Chocolate Chippewas, and two Turtle Parks.
Hey, just because the boys were going out tomorrow night didn’t mean they could get some too!
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Since this road trip was rooted in exploring America’s past, going back in time, in a sense, was a given. So far, though, going back in history had never been so vibrant as entering The Fountain on Locust, even though the restaurant had only been open a few years. It was Art Deco heaven with brilliant blue walls and paintings of dancers, dark wood seating, a beautiful soda bar and black and white tiled floor.
Seated at a table, the server handed out the menus and asked if they could get them anything to drink. Quickly finding the beverage listing, they ordered three Mint Julep Sweet Ice Teas and two glasses of lemonade with crushed raspberries.
It didn’t take long before the kids got to the dessert section.
“Woah … can I have ice cream for dinner?” Joshie asked. The kid did love his ice cream.
“What do you think?” Kris said.
“Later?”
There were some unique items offered. Eating your meals on the road, more times than not you saw the same type of food on the menus. When they had the opportunity to try something really different, their adventurous sides tended to kick in.
The server came with their drinks and asked if they were ready. Being gentlemen, the boys insisted Mrs. Willowby and the children go first.
“I’d like to try the Birdseed Salad,” Mrs. Willowby replied. It was mixed greens with sunflower, pepita seeds, mixed nuts, Fuji apples, parmesan and bruléed apple slices with poppy seed white balsamic vinaigrette.
“Miss?”
Hannah giggled. “Can I have the Royal Grille?” It was an ‘adult’ grilled cheese made with white cheddar and mozzarella with Fuji apple slices on grilled whole wheat bread and served with a secret sauce.
“Would you like ham or turkey on it?”
“No thank you.”
“Stutz salad, St. Louis city salad, Orange Onion cup, or hand cut seasoned potato chips?”
“Chips please.”
“Sir?”
Joshie looked up. “You talking to me?”
“Yes sir. What can I get for you today?”
“May I have the hot roast beef melt?”
“Excuse me,” Mrs. Willowby interrupted, “can he have that without the horseradish?”
“No problem.” The server turned back to Joshie. “Stutz salad, St. Louis city salad, Orange Onion cup, or hand cut seasoned potato chips?”
“Chips please.”
“I’ll have your daily special,” Kris expressed ~ The Smitty: ham with a creamy orange-walnut-cranberry cheese spread on a ciabatta bun.
“Stutz salad, St. Louis city salad, Orange Onion cup, or hand cut seasoned potato chips?”
“The potato chips please.”
“Would you like to add a cup of soup for $2?”
“Yeah … I’d like to try your Polish Dill Pickle Soup.”
“Wonderful.”
Lastly, Adam gave his order.
“I’ll try your Fountain Salad entrée.” ~ grilled chicken, apples, kirsch poached cherries, parmesan cheese and walnuts on greens with a creamy citrus dressing.
To pass the time, they all went back to the menu, looking at the frozen offerings. Another server passed by them with a tray of sundaes and they were really decadent and huge. Adam suggested to the kids they might want to share one. In reply, Hannah asked if he and Kris were going to share one.
“Do you want to?” Kris asked, “I don’t mind.”
“Can I feed it to you?”
Kris blushed and the kids laughed. Just then, their dinner arrived.
“I’ll get back to you on that.”
Everyone enjoyed their dinner. Kris said the soup tasted like dill pickle flavored potato chips. Hannah really like the grilled cheese and asked if she could have it at home sometimes with apples in it.
“Can I get you folk’s dessert?”
“Yes please!” they all replied at once.
They gave their orders and the server invited them over to the soda bar to see them being made. Scrambling out of their seats, the five perched themselves on the leather stools and watched magic happen.
The Pineapple Inside Out Cake in a Cup was sponge cake with a hot, buttered brown sugared pineapple sauce, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Mrs. Willowby inhaled the hot & cold concoction and waited impatiently for the others.
The kids were sharing a Bearcat ~ bananas laid down in the dish with one scoop of vanilla ice cream covered in hot fudge and one scoop of butter pecan covered in hot caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream and two cherries. The kids grabbed their spoons and were about to delve in when a clearing throat stopped them in their tracks. The spoons were set down and they waited even more impatiently.
Adam and Kris liked the idea of a banana split as well but went for a different presentation ~ a Standing Banana Split. Served in a tall glass rather than a boat dish, it was bruléed banana, and scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream layered with crushed strawberries and hot fudge and finished off with whipped cream.
Going back to their seats, everyone got the red light and dug in. Kris gave in and let Adam feed him a couple of spoonfuls, blushing redder than the strawberries when his husband leaned in to kiss the whipped cream and fudge from his lips. The kids ignored their public display of affection, more interested in making sure their sibling didn’t eat any of their share.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Trying to keep the kids away from the Gooey Louie Cakes wasn’t an issue that night as they waddled back to their hotel room, exhausted and filled up to the gills with dinner. No one really felt like doing anything but kicking back and relaxing so Adam looked to see what movies were available and appropriately enough, the 1944 MGM classic musical “Meet Me in St. Louis” was one of them. It was perfect in so many ways ~ set in St. Louis, full of timeless songs, great story, great actors, beautifully costumed and filmed, family friendly and based around the excitement of the St. Louis Exposition of 1904, or World’s Fair. Forest Park, just outside their window and on their itinerary, had been the sight of the actual fair. Not many of the buildings survived but some did in the park and scattered throughout the city.
Everyone got into the pajamas and met up in the sitting room to flop all over the couch and the floor, pillows and blankets dragged in from the bedrooms. Even Mrs. Willowby joined them, not wanting to miss the movie. She adored Judy Garland.
The movie started and Adam quickly went online to check for daily emails, one in particular regarding the date night he was planning. When he finished, he closed the laptop and snuggled up to Kris.
As the movie progressed, questions started coming up and the laptop was put to good use.
“What’s a world’s fair?”
“Large exhibitions held all over the world. Different countries have pavilions where the rest of the world can come to learn about them and they introduce and share their cultures, new ideas about building things, designing things and selling things.”
“Do they still have world fairs?”
“Yup … there are two coming up soon … Korea and Italy.”
The musical continued and Kris kept surfing the web.
“Hey, get this. Some of the foods you guys like are said to be first introduced to lots of people during the fair ~ waffle ice cream cones, hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter, ice tea, cotton candy, Dr. Pepper and puffed wheat cereal. Isn’t that cool? Guys?”
Everyone was asleep. He closed the laptop and ran his hands tenderly through Adam’s hair as Judy told him to have a merry little Christmas.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
LOTS OF VISUALS FOR THIS ONE!
If you have limited time to browse, I suggest ♥
Riverboat cruise ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tswuRDpxsng&feature=related
Tom Sawyer Riverboat pic ~ http://www.graphicdisplayusa.com/images_success_stories/np43206d9f89249.
Tour the Gateway Arch & Visitor’s Center ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2zhsv1xJbU
♥ Photo of elevator pods ~ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3714739092_1b6b9a11d8.jpg
The Old Courthouse exterior pic ~ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3481398604_4ecb97256a.jpg
♥ Old Courthouse interior dome pic ~ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2559827337_10dbf6e7d9.jpg
City Garden Overview pic ~ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/4116796056_08d550823b_o.jpg
♥ City Garden Water Fun ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS8gHKMPghI
City Garden Tour (autumn) over 8 mins but shows everything ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nsyJNHG2VA
♥ Gooey Louie Butter Cakes ~ http://www.gooeylouiecake.com/
Gooey Louie Story ~ http://www.5min.com/Video/Small-Business-Stories---Gooey-Louie-124661984
♥ The recipe :) ~ http://www.cooksrecipes.com/cake/st_louie-gooey_cake_recipe.html
♥ The Fountain on Locust (look at the menu for ice cream creations *drools*) ~ www.fountainonlocust.com
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair ~ http://www.tlaupp.com/