#188: Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream

 *PUBLIC VOTE WINNER*

Next stop on my quest for the Webster Groves cakes comes this mom-and-pop ice cream place I've heard so much about in the last month. Unfortunately because of my lactose intolerance issues, I can only eat a limited amount of dairy. I was also on a time schedule at the time, as I wanted to get the next three cakes in the suburban community. As it turns out I was disappointed in two ways.

First and foremost, I'm not here to tear down anyone's walls or give them a bad name. But, the workers were not that friendly. I asked the young teenager working behind the counter if they had anything besides sweets and he was like 'No, just ice cream, dude!'.  I was like, oh. Then he was trying to tell me they have salty ice cream. He was serious, didn't seem like he was joking. Also, the place didn't look that welcoming. I thought the room where the cake is was the entrance! I stood there looking like an idiot trying to open the locked door! People and their kids were staring at me through the window and my light bulb came on. Maybe their entrance is somewhere else? And it was, on the right.

The other thing I was kind of ticked about was the placement of this cake. Look, I'm already not a fan of indoor cakes. But I can understand both ways. At least this place was open a lot later than the other indoor cake places. The only bad thing was this was way too close to the dining area. I felt like I was being rude to the mother and her two kids when I was standing there taking pictures. Of course, I explained myself and they understood. But then there were people walking by from the door and didn't see what I was doing. I did see somewhere on the 'Cakeway to the West' Facebook group thread that Serendipity was considering moving this outside because customers were complaining about cake-hunters. I hope this is true, so no one else will go through what I did.

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Anyway, maybe I'll come back down the road. They got at least 30 flavors (sound familiar?)!

Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream on FB
Official website

8130 Big Bend Blvd., WEBSTER GROVES, MO, 63119
Cake artist: Marianne Baer

#181: CIC@CET-Cortex

So what is CIC@CET-Cortex? Let's start with the Cortex Corporation, which is located on Forest Park, a bit outside the downtown area. According to its website, the Cortex Innovation Community is home to a 200-acre innovation hub and technology district integrated between Forest Park and Central West End. Basically, the company is all about creating technology jobs and making sure St. Louis is on top of everything.

is home to a vibrant 200-acre innovation hub and technology district integrated into St. Louis’ historic Central West End and Forest Park Southeast residential neighborhoods, - See more at: http://www.cortexstl.com/who-we-are/#sthash.rdmTHHbD.dpuf

Created in 2002, this was a start-up of connecting entrepreneurs, investors and the city's resources. The company is also involved in biomedical research and has partnered with universities including UMSL and SLU, as well as healthcare centers like BJC. They call themselves the 'premier hub' of St. Louis.

As of this writing, I'm not sure what the CIC@CET is all about.

Is this our future, like they planned? We shall see.

is home to a vibrant 200-acre innovation hub and technology district integrated into St. Louis’ historic Central West End and Forest Park Southeast residential neighborhoods, - See more at: http://www.cortexstl.com/who-we-are/#sthash.rdmTHHbD.dpuf

Official website

4041 Forest Park Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63110
Cake artist: Megan Rieke

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#132: Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing

A view of the Mississippi River from the crossing and cake

Of all the cakes that I've so far hunted, this one may take the cake (pun intended!) of being the one most difficult to find, but not to get. I think as of now the Edward Jones Dome cake is the one hardest to get! The first time I attempted to get this cake was on a Sunday afternoon, before I was to get the North City cakes. Well, as I was driving on the battered roads, looking for the right road (East Prairie Avenue), I finally came across the entrance. I wasn't aware that it was at the time, since there were no signs that read anything about 'Mary Meachum'. On the map, it looked confusing too.

A view of the trail (facing north) from the cake

So who was Mary Meachum? She led a small group of slaves (women and children) who crossed the Mississippi River to the free-state of Illinois. Meachum was a widow of John Berry Meachum, who ministered at the First African Baptist Church of St. Louis. She had already been free, but she wanted to help others. Around the time this happened, there were homes that they fled from that existed. They are long gone, but an 1855 newspaper article documented that the place was not far from the Merchant's Bridge, which is three miles north of St. Louis.

The Freedom Crossing consists of nine acres. It was Missouri's first official Underground Railroad site. Since the marking's dedication in 2001, the site has hosted celebrations every year since. It typically has historic re-enactments. For example, there is an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. Speakers who specialize in African-American and Civil War history often speak at the event. At the 2013 event, there were many speakers and choirs that day, as well as a 19th century medicine show. In 2014, a woman dressed up as a slave named 'Lila' gave a moving talk.

The entrance in order to get to the cake and the MM Freedom Crossing. The colorful part was decorated by students of Logos School.

The cake, in which Rich Brooks focuses on 'walking'. Since this is literally off the trail, close to the mid-point, this kind of gives the person utilizing this trail a feel of it. Notice the lines "I'm Walking", "Walking a Thin Line", "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "Walking in the Rain". You'll also see a lot of feet-related material too.

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

There is no official website or anything related from government websites, but here is the VisitMo page for MMFC.
Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing (Celebration) on FB

28 East Prairie Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63147
Cake artist: Rich Brooks

#108: Sweetology

*PUBLIC VOTE WINNER*

One of the most raved about 'sweets places' is right in Ladue. A lot of fellow cake-hunters have so far gotten a kick out of this place. I don't know when it opened exactly, but I believe last year (2013). Unfortunately, at the time I got this cake I was on a time schedule as I didn't stop in. Maybe when I get all 250, I should save the best for last for celebration purposes!

• The places promises and/or guarantees a life-changing experience. Okay, maybe not in that kind of way (LOL), but an experience that is to be enjoyed for many years to come.
• Among the specialties of Sweetology is decorating special sweet treats (cookies, cupcakes), mostly aimed towards children.
• Sweetology also takes pride in providing a 'home away from home' by offering cozy chairs inside the place.
• It also offers many services including catering, as well as baking and decorating classes.
• And yes, several different kinds of chocolate, candy, cupcakes, cookies are offered here. Another 'c' is coffee
• Located at the Clayprice Shopping Center. 

UPDATE: On 10/16/2014, as I was taking some retakes of cakes, I finally went in the place. It was everything that I expected. I'll admit it, I do have one sweet tooth. So this was very fitting for me, and this place has so much selection, and they have some seasonal favorites for the autumn season.

Front of the store

'The Makery', where classes are held and I believe where kids can decorate their sweet art

Who knew there would be 30 different kinds of sugar sprinkles?!

Here's what it looks like when you first go in

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Sweetology on FB
Official website

9214 Clayton Ave., LADUE, MO, 63124
Cake artist: Angela Perry

#45: Moonrise Hotel

It's probably no secret that Delmar Loop developer Joe Edwards has an obsession with space and the solar system. If so, he did it so well especially with the Moonrise Hotel! Alongside the sidewalks of 'one of the Top 10 streets in America' also has small signs that detail every planet in the solar system with factoids. Then you have, of course, the St. Louis Walk of Fame, which are stars.

The Moonrise Hotel, one of the still-new places on the Loop, calls itself a luxury, chic-boutique hotel. There are some rooms that focus on St. Louis Walk of Fame inductees. It also has a rooftop bar and a restaurant, Eclipse, that is open from 6:30am to 2am. You even have the world's largest man-made moon, which you'll see continuously spinning if you look up at the building. All in all, it is no doubt that this creative hotel has been voted #1 (according to tripadvisor.com).

Front of the building, with entrance to the Eclipse restaurant

The Moonrise Hotel at night

Moonrise Hotel on FB
Official website

6177 Delmar Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63112
Cake artist: Dan Jaboor