In celebration of the city of St. Louis's 250th birthday this year (2014), there was a special cake. Times that by 250, that is!
Called 'Cakeway to the West', 250+ cakes have been placed all over the St. Louis area, including the Metro East. Places that have cakes include historical landmarks, parks, museums, popular restaurants, as well as government places. These are just a few examples as the places represented St. Louis in a memorable way.
Showing posts with label central west end. Show all posts
Showing posts with label central west end. Show all posts
4431 Lindell Boulevard, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63108
Cake artist: Martha Clark
UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake has been removed from outside; it is said that it was moved indoors and will be permanently placed inside their Mosaic museum.
One of St. Louis' most iconic hotels was built in 1922.
The Park Plaza was added two years later. The buildings were not merged until 1947.
Of the combined two buildings, it is 28 stories high.
Besides the hotel, there are restaurants, bars and a movie theater. Also, at the top, guests can take in spectacular views of Forest Park as well as downtown.
Several well-known figures have performed and stayed here, such as some members of the 'Rat Pack' and the Rolling Stones. Every U.S. President from the 1920s to the 1980s have visited here as well.
In 1956, the Chase Park Plaza Hotel hosted the Miss America contest.
Professional wrestling matches were often held here in the 1960s and 1970s
Closed temporarily in 1989 to the mid-90s
Named as one of the 'Historic Hotels of America'
The cinema part of the building
Left side of the cake
Back side of the cake
Right side of the cake
An episode of KETC Channel 9's Living St. Louis, which focuses on Chase Park Plaza
It wasn't brought to my attention until recently that St. Louis was the new home of the World Chess Hall of Fame. Hey, I knew we had the National Bowling Hall of Fame, but now this. I guess I'd have to say this is quite a thrill and should be for St. Louisans. Let it be known that I am not a chess player and unfortunately I have never taken the time to learn the legendary game (or sport?). Maybe sometime down the road.......
As I was cake-hunting on foot at good ol' Central West End, I did stumble in here, looking for the cake. I didn't realize it was actually across the street at the Chess Center! But I did hang out in the Hall of Fame Museum for quite a bit. Spent most of the time in the gift shop talking to these two guys who worked there. I've never met that many people who were happy with their job. Period. These people were so enthused to tell me so much about chess and the Hall of Fame. They pretty much answered a lot of my questions.
The WCHOF was originally in Miami for several years, but for reasons unexplained, the organization decided to move. In the mid-to-late 2000s, they were scouting for a new location. This means overseas as well, as chess is without doubt, more popular all over the globe. Of all places, St. Louis looked to be a great candidate, possibly because the Chess Center on Central West End was highly acclaimed. And like that, was history. The WCHOF opened in St. Louis in 2011, and hopefully it will be there for years to come.
Since that time, many internationally-known chess players have visited St. Louis. By that term, I mean people who are only known in the chess world. Maybe not Bobby Fischer (who passed away in 2008), but many people who have won chess tournaments and championships all over the world. It's a totally different world, I must say. But in a good way :)
The museum is worth checking out, and it is FREE.
St. Louis is also home to the World's Largest Chess Piece (standing at 14'7")!
Front part of the building
Description of the World's Largest Chess Piece
An enlarged chess board too!
And now, the Chess Center, which is located across the street (and where the cake is at!):
Frontal view of the building from across the street. It was a bit hard to get, mostly because of the trees and cars parked...but, better than nothing I guess
The sign
Through the Chess Club window, you can actually view games live as well as live interactive ones. How flipping cool is that? (Well, if you're a chess freak that is...)
Not gonna lie: the place seemed really chill. Just people doing their thing. College students reading, and people of all ages playing chess outside. There were a few chess tables outside the building. I wanted to take a picture, but I didn't want to come off as rude/annoying. Again, this was a part of St. Louis I had not seen up until that time. People having fun and not disturbing others. And loving it.
Back side of the cake
Left side of the cake
An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to the Chess Club
So why this bookstore, of all of them? Or why this place in Central West End, of all of them? Needless to say, this is a place where I have to question where the historical part connects to St. Louis in any way. Not to be putting this place down in any way, but I do believe (on a negative note) there are other places that probably deserved a cake better than this place.
Don't get the wrong idea: I support independently-owned businesses and I really dig bookstores. Put the two together and you'll get something that is on life support. Let's look from one perspective: mom-and-pop bookstores have been doomed for the last two decades, at least, thanks to both big-box stores (Barnes & Noble, Borders) and the World Wide Web (Amazon). Borders, at one time the king of them, went bankrupt two years ago. Now, its the big-box stores that are suffering. Technology plays a big part of it, too, thanks to e-books. Also, more people are turning back to their local public and school libraries.
Left Bank Books has two locations: the one on Central West End (where the cake is at) and in the downtown area. They specialize in several books, some hard-to-find, as well as a large selection of publications. Authors, national and local, often make appearances and lecture, then sign autographs or pose for photos. LBB also partners with several area nonprofits to encourage children to read.
399 N. Euclid Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63108
Cake artist: Peat Wollaeger
