Mynee's Musings

Downtown Restaurant Week 2012

It's tradition.  The Muny season ends and then a few weeks later, it's St. Louis Downtown Restaurant Week.  In years past, we've eaten at Olive 400, Joseph's Italian Cafe, Clark Street Grill, Mike Shannon's, and Mango.  This year, we chose Stadium Sportsbar & Grill in Lumiere Place.  Each participating restaurant offers 3 courses for $25 and we were able to choose an appetizer, entree and dessert.  We got the poppers and loaded tots to start, both of which were huge helpings.  I then ordered the salmon and Bill ordered the Smokehouse Platter which was brisket, pork and ribs.  We then ordered the blondie with pecan ice cream and the cheesecake, which we took home.  

Since Morgan Street Brewery is only a block away and is actually between the parking lot where we park and the casino, we walked over to enjoy a brew on their patio.  Yes, that's Shrek in the front window of the wax museum behind Bill.  As many times as we have gone to Morgan Street and sat outside on the patio, I've never seen anyone actually go inside the was museum.  It's been there for as long as I can remember so I guess they make money.  Anyway, we both had a Black Bear Lager, super yummy!

I'm looking forward to the upcoming 3 day weekend.  Maybe I will finally finish my Hawaii post...hee hee hee.

 

2012 Muny Recap

OK, so here is my annual recap of the Muny season.  If I had to use one word to describe the weather this season, it would definitely be "hot."  It was by far the hottest season we've ever attended.  There is usually one show where it is hot so, this year, when it was 106 degrees on the day we had tickets for Chicago, we figured that that would be the hottest show and we'd have smooth sailing for the rest of the season.  Ha!  Four of the 6 shows we saw (we gave away our Chicago tickets) were 105 degrees or above. Yikes.  Oh well, the humidity has been unusally low this summer so we survived.

The shows in order of my most favorite to least favorite are as follows:

• Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat AND Aladdin (tie)
• Thoroughly Modern Millie
• The King & I
• Dreamgirls
• Pirates

It was a tough call between the top two.  I actually loved both of them equally.  Thoroughly Modern Millie was a very close second.  I really didn't care for Pirates.  I'd have to say that Pirates is in my bottom 3 of all time along with Brigadoon and Camelot.

Since Paul Blake retired last year, there was a new Executive Producer by the name of Mike Isaacson.  I think he did a great job on all of the shows.  He actually used the turn table thingy in the middle of the stage, something that Paul Blake hadn't used in years! 

A large LED screen was installed this year.  When I first read about it before the season started, I thought that it would detract from the scenery.  It wasn't distracting but I don't think it really added anything either.  I think that they should have taken whatever they spent for this screen and bought a huge tree to replace the one that was behind the stage that died a few years ago.   

I was disappointed that we didn't get to vote for next seasons shows on the last night.  They handed out a ballot on the 5th show as usual (we didn't have a pen with us so we didn't vote) but there wasn't a final ballot on the last show and I even took a pen with me so we could vote!  Oh well, it's not like we even vote every year because we usually don't have a pen with us and in the years that we do vote, only 1 or 2 of our picks are chosen but it all works out in the end. 

The 2013 shows are scheduled to be announced in October.  Stay tuned...

The King and I

The 2012 Muny season came to a close with the production of The King and I.  We've seen it twice before; in 1994 and 2006.  I had forgotten that the King dies at the end.  Apparently I didn't remember this in 2006 either because I posted the same thing (click here).  Anyway, it's a very good show and I love "Whistle a Happy Tune", "Getting to Know You" and "Shall We Dance". 

Well, believe it or not, the weather was beautiful so we were able to have a picnic in the park.  It was only 82 degrees on Friday so by the time the show started, it was actually a little chilly.  There were people who actually brought sweaters and jackets with them.  Amazing considering the 24 days of 100 degrees or more that we've had this summer.

I will post a Muny recap soon.  Until then...

Josh is 18

My oldest nephew turned 18 on July 17.  Where has the time gone?  He went to Alabama last week to visit colleges - Auburn University and University of Alabama.  Ugh, I'm getting old.  Anyway, his family birthday party was Sunday.  Here is the card I made for him...

PICTURE TO FOLLOW - CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Ingredients: 

Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Garden Green and More Mustard by @Stampin' Up

Ink - Chocolate Chip by @Stampin' Up

Images - sentiment by Hero Arts

Accessories - punches by @Stampin' Up, cork from craft supply 

I didn't include any ribbons, glitter or girly things...hee hee hee.  I love using the cork sheets.  It definitely adds texture and interest.

Happy belated birthday to my oldest nephew!  

Pirates

We saw Pirates at The Muny on Friday.  It's an updated version of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance.  Let's just say, Bill enjoyed it more than I did.  It was ok but there wasn't enough dancing...hee hee hee.  It is my least favorite show of the season so far and, considereing there is only one more show and it happens to be one of my favorites, I'm pretty confident in saying that Pirates will remain at the bottom. 

It was another hot day so we stopped at Six Row for dinner before the show.  The weatherman is predicting nice temps for Friday so hopefully we can enjoy a picnic on our last 2012 Muny night.