#253: The second Ameren cake

Not many people knew that Ameren had a second cake all along. Story goes like this: since Ameren was one of the most generous sponsors for the stl250 organization, they requested a second cake for just the employees of Ameren. I don't know when they got it, but it was supposedly decorated by the Ameren staff and workers. It was only accessible to the employees and their guests, who were on restricted property. Ameren, by the way, is heavily guarded all around their headquarters. You may already know from experience if you got their official cake outside.

Come early October 2014 and the cake makes a special appearance alongside their 'other' cake. This was believed to be part of the occasion for a get-together (or company picnic, or some such thing) which is usually held this time of the year for Ameren workers. Several, I mean several, scores of obsessed cake-hunters (myself included) hurried the first October weekend to get that cake! It was believed that it was originally going to disappear again. On October 6, it was announced that Ameren will keep their second cake open to the public for the rest of the year. So, it gave people less reason to worry and to add another cake to lists.

This is not an official 'STL250' cake, but I am including it since it is was made on the typical fiberglass cake model used by all the others. Plus, it is so unique in its own way, like all the other cakes. It will probably not be mentioned on the stl250 website cake list. But, while its there, my advice to any caker is to go out there (again) and get a snapshot of it!

Here are the sides of the unique cake, which provide a pictoral history:

Top of the cake

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

And lastly, the two cakes side by side:

NOW: Both Ameren cakes are no longer on public display.

1901 Chouteau Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Rudy Zapf  (she decorated the other Ameren cake too)

#248: Grants Trail

Growing up and coming from Glen Carbon/Edwardsville, I am no stranger to bike/walking trails. After all, the Ronald Foster Bike Trail is one of the first 'rails to trails' in Illinois, and is still a fun place to ride and walk on. On the other side of the border and river in Missouri, I haven't experienced any until I ventured onto the Grants Trail.

Grants Trail is 8 miles long. I've been on most of the trails in Madison County, where some are longer than others. What makes Grants Trail stand out so much is that its more travel/tourist-friendly. You will always find signs of many things, plus some businesses that are off the trail have water jugs for animals. That's something you don't see on the Illinois side. I parked at the Sappington House & Museum after snapping the cake picture and walked a mile and a half to Grant's Farm, which is off the trail. (Hey, I wanted to dodge the $12 parking fee) Of course, had I known better, I could have parked at Applebee's too (off Watson Road). I also noticed that the trail is taken very seriously, as it has its own traffic signals on the major roads and highways. That's another thing you can't find on Illinois trails...just the yield and/or stop sign.

On my way to Grant's Farm. What? I got another mile?

A cool horizontal, far-away view of the trail, going east

A historical marking of Clydesdale Park (close to the cake)

Another area close to the cake and parking lot, with the Tesson Ferry overpass

Visit the website and it will give you a full-detailed version of what you'll see throughout the trail, as well as where to park and stop.

How do I get to the cake at Grants Trail? It's tricky. It is obviously off of Grants Trail, so if you happen to be walking, running or biking right by it, then....oh wait, you want to drive to get to it? No problem! When you're driving on MO Highway 21, or Tesson Ferry Road (depending on which direction), make sure you turn on Tiffany Square Parkway, which is a subdivision. When on that street, immediately turn right on Tiffany Village Court. Despite of the signs that say 'Private' and all, make sure you turn into the private road that leads to a parking lot to the bike trail. Here are the sides of the cake:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake

NOW: The cake sold for $455 on 1/1/2015 (biddingforgood auction).

Wikipedia link
Official website

Located at Tesson Ferry Road & Grants Trail (see instructions above), ST. LOUIS, MO, 63123
Cake artist: Corinne Didisheim

#247: Grant's Farm

Now here's a place I haven't been to since my childhood days in the 80s. It was great to be back. Sure, there are a lot of things I didn't remember and obviously some things had to have changed since 1988.

Grant's Farm, is without doubt, one of the most notable places for families to get together and have fun. I wish I can say this is very travel and tourist-friendly, only because there are no signs off the interstate that point how to get here. Not everyone owns a GPS, you know! Another positive and negative: + it is free, - everything else costs an arm and a leg. You can pay for parking just right in front of the place or you can walk the trail and park somewhere close for free. Either way, its 'grant'ed a great time for anyone, regardless of age.

The entrance from the parking lot

Entrance to the Tier Garden at Grant's Farm

But just think, you can see several, I mean several, different animals you probably won't see anywhere else in America. You'll be able to see them out in the 'wilderness' all over the farm via tram. At the end of the tram ride, just walk around and enjoy nature and the animals. Or just head straight toward the Tier Garden. If you are 21 and over and drink alcohol, you can get 2 free samples of selected Anheuser-Busch brand of beer. It's a great social setting, with old German music playing in the background. Or if you're up for some history, check out some Anheuser-Busch memorablia in the rooms. And, of course, the cake is located here too!

You'll also get a lot of history. Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States, once farmed here in the 1850s before his Civil War days. His hand-built home is featured here, along with the Busch family mansion. (The land was purchased by the Busch family in later years). It was finally opened to the public in 1954, making this year (2014) its 61st year in operations.

Most of you know I am not an animal person, but I thought I'd share some pics I took during the tram tour

The bald eagle was not part of the tram tour, but right when you get off, you'll see them

The cake, which sits high in the tier garden. I was unable to get the top part, in which hopefully I wasn't missing out on anything!:  (Please note: in order to get this cake, you have to take the tram all the way around to the Tier Garden. In other words, allow yourself plenty of time. Likely 35-45 minutes average, from the time you get out of your car to here.)

Right side of the cake

Right and back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Grant's Farm on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

10501 Gravois Rd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63123   (it is actually located in Grantwood Village)
Cake artists: Ian Greenlee and Julie Krovicka

#244: Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

St. Louis is one of many cities to have a Shakespeare Festival. The name kind of threw me off, because it is not an actual typical festival. Instead, it is actually a non-profit theater company which, yes, specializes in the plays of William Shakespeare.

• Since its founding in 2001, the organization has put out a Shakespeare production every year in the summer. In 2014, the group performed Henry IV.
• The productions are usually done only in the summer. The group also puts out 'Shakespeare in the Streets' in the Fall, as well as Shake 38 in the Spring.
• The festival is located in Forest Park, near the 'art hill' where there's a place called Shakespeare Glen.
• The headquarters is housed near 'The Hill', not too far from Hampton Rd.
• While making its money from donations, the Shakespeare Festival is considered to be the only free professional theater in the St. Louis area.

The headquarters on Elizabeth Ave.

The cake, with of course, a Shakespearean theme:

Top of the cake, which features Shakespeare in many colors

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

5715 Elizabeth Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63110
Cake artist: Andy Cross

#228: Tower Grove Park

This is one of the cake locations that I skipped for no reason - other than that it was surrounded by other cakes and by the end of the day, yeah I forgot about Tower Grove! Nearly two months after I got the cakes at the MoBot Gardens and Jay International, I finally got this cake at one of St. Louis' iconic parks.

• Park was first authorized under state law in 1867, and opened in 1868.
• Most of the park was land donated by Henry Shaw, as a gift. 
• Once a month, there is 'Food Truck Friday' when some of the most popular local eateries sell their goods on the southern part of the park (sponsored by Sauce magazine)
• The park consists of activity areas such as children's wading pool, six corkball fields, ten softball fields and six soccer fields.
• Several pavilions and picnic sites also highlight Tower Grove Park, some having a unique theme and architectrue
• Carriage rides are also available as well, since the park committee has been about restoring the park's past. Reservations are required.  
• As expected, several special events are held here, along with weddings

I took several pictures all around Tower Grove. Wish I can share them all on here, but I decided to break it down to a few:

Lily pond

Piper Palm building

Bandstand

Alexander von Humboldt statue

Turkish Pavilion

The cake, which is located behind the Piper Palm House:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Wikipedia link
Official website

4256 Magnolia Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63110
Cake artist: Mark Swain

#217: Scott Joplin House

It was more than a thrill to come in here and check this place out for the very first time. Those who know me very well know that I am a popular-music enthusiast. And yes, Scott Joplin is considered popular music. In fact, some scholars cite him to be one of the first in 'modern popular music', before it even became a term! Even more thrilling is the fact that he lived in St. Louis, but for a brief amount of time. Nonetheless, this museum is the only place in the world devoted to the 'King of Ragtime Music'.

I think everyone who loves music and pop culture of any kind will enjoy this museum. It has everything historians will want you to know about Scott Joplin. Memorablia is on the walls and on display, as well as items and furniture (even though they weren't his) from the early 1900s are spread throughout the house. The house has been restored to its original condition, with help from several volunteers.

A little background on the house: Scott Joplin and his wife moved here from Sedalia in 1900 to Morgan Street (now named Delmar Boulevard). At that time, it was a neighborhood/city section where African-Americans lived, worked and commuted. It is said by the website and other publications that they lived here from 1903, although my tour guide told me they actually lived here for only a year. I believe even though this was their home, they might have dropped in every now and then during those four years. Unfortunately, history does not record when he and his spouse actually stayed at the house. This is just what historians believe.

Here are some facts about Joplin:

• His birthdate is believed to be in 1868, even though it has not been ever verified. 
• Born in Marshall, Texas, he moved to Sedalia to expand his craft and enroll at the George R. Smith College for Negros, where he studied music.
• By the time he was a teenager, he was an expert in music, playing several instruments.
• His most popular compositions were Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer and Bethena. 
• Sadly, during the Joplins' stay in St. Louis, their baby girl (who was born there) died while an infant and Scott and his wife divorced him.
• On another sad note, most of his possessions (if known), including his hand-written compositions did not survive as they were destroyed.
• While he wasn't in St. Louis in 1904, he did write a song based on the World's Fair after seeing a fountain he considered beautiful, titled Cascades. 
• He spent many of his post-St. Louis years on the road, and eventually moved to New York City in 1907, hoping to expand his success. 
• Joplin died in 1917 at a mental institution in Manhattan, after suffering from syphilis and dementia for a year.

As you can see, there's several things I can say about Joplin; too many to list! But I hope this is a clear overview of his short-lived life. Ragtime music was a popular form of music in the early 1900s, which spun off into several different subgenres. It would be overshadowed by a more contemporary type of music, including slower, romantic waltzes and famous dances including the charleston by the 1920s. Ragtime music is widely considered an ancestral type of music for rock and roll.

In 1974, Scott Joplin's work would be recognized again thanks to the late Marvin Hamlisch. Hamlisch recorded many of Joplin's songs and featured them to the soundtrack to the Oscar-winning movie, The Sting. Hamlisch's version of 'The Entertainer' went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop chart, as well as hitting No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.



Wikipedia link
Official website

2658 Delmar, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Bruce Howard   (he also decorated the Kenrick-Glennon cake)

#215: Campbell House Museum

1508 Locust St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Nicholas Nihira

#214: Edward Jones Dome

Of all the cakes, this one was THE hardest one to get. That is, if you were picky about how you wanted to take the picture of this cake. I'm not gonna lie, this was my third attempt to get the cake, and I was able to do it at the right time. As you probably already know, I wasn't already a fan of indoor cakes. Luckily it's not just me. There's a lot of cake-hunting people out there wondering why this one is over-secured.

The Edward Jones Dome has been the home of the St. Louis Rams, the city's professional football team. It has been that way since 1995, back when the place was known as the Trans World Dome, or 'the TWA dome'. The name changed in 2001 after the ill-fated company was acquired by American Airlines. The Edward Jones company purchased the naming rights in 2002. It is in question if the Rams will be playing in St. Louis for the 2015 season.

The Rams were brought to St. Louis from Los Angeles, where they played starting in 1946. The team was born in Cleveland in 1937. The Los Angeles Rams were iconic during their stay in the 'City of Angels', with several championship appearances and bringing notable players including Bob Waterfield and Merlin Olsen. The team, because of its grand location, was featured in many movies and TV shows, notably in Warren Beatty's movie Heaven Can Wait. When it was announced in 1995 they were re-locating to St. Louis, it definitely wasn't a popular move among Southern Californians and team fans, as well as former players. Actor Fred Dryer (best known for TV's Hunter, who played defensive end from 1972 to 1981) was very bitter about the move, criticizing Georgia Frontiere (the team's then-owner) and the organization. To this day, the city of Los Angeles has not had a pro-football team. There have been rumors that the Rams will come back there, but no confirmation.

The Rams are St. Louis's fourth pro-football team, the first since the St. Louis Cardinals left in 1987. The first St. Louis football team was the St. Louis All Stars, who played one lone season at Sportsman's Park in 1923. In 1931, the St. Louis Gunners had a short-lived time as well, ending in 1940.

Since moving to St. Louis in 1995, the team has brought quite a legacy to its hometown. But in most ways, it was short-lived, as we saw a rise-and-fall glory. St. Louis had their first football championship in 2000 when the Rams won their first (and so far, only) Super Bowl winning title. Led by Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Marshall Faulk, the team was very unstoppable during their 1999 season. They would return to the Super Bowl in 2002, but were defeated by the New England Patriots. Their last playoff appearance was in 2004, but since then the team has suffered a major slump. As noted above, due to many things, the team's stay in St. Louis is in question.

The dome has hosted many events, including the religious convention, the Promise Keepers. Billy Graham and his 'Billy Graham Crusade' brought 200,000 to the Dome in 1999. A monster truck show was featured there. College basketball and football have been played there as well. Concerts included U2's PopMart tour in 1997, the Rolling Stones that same year, and in 2001 the boy band N' Sync brought their Pop Odyssey Tour there. The most recent concert was OneDirection in 2014.

The cake, which focuses on the heritage of St. Louis:

Wikipedia link

701 Convention Plaza, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63101
Cake artists: Stacey Sandweg and Gary Lang