I don't like starting a post with bad news, but let's just get it out of the way. Yesterday I noticed that Moris Men's Fashions has closed. Word is that several factors contributed to proprietor Brian Smith's decision and that he was saddened to shutter the store located at 226 N. Euclid. On his Facebook page Brian encouraged people to continue to shop locally, specifically mentioning the neighborhood's 10denza as a source for men's clothing. Brian continued on Facebook: "If you ordered something from Moris Fashions before we closed the doors, not to worry, your orders are still in process. I will contact you as soon as they arrive to make arrangements for a fitting."
Brian will continue making his reasonably-priced custom shirts and suits by appointment only. Contact him at [email protected] for more info about this service.
Brian Smith and Moris Men's Fashions will surely be missed!
Last Thursday evening Left Bank Books hosted a reading for Barry Miles, middle, author of Call Me Burroughs. Joining in the discussion before a standing-room only crowd was CWEnder Harper Barnes, right, who had reviewed Miles book on William Burroughs in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (read it here).
For those of you not familiar with William Burroughs's background, he was born in 1914 and grew up in St. Louis on Pershing Place. Danny Wicentowski's in-depth article on William Burroughs appears in the latest issue of the RFT (read In Search of William Burroughs here).
A bust commemorating Burroughs is planned for Euclid and McPherson alongside the restaurant Pi. There are already busts of internationally-known CWE authors on three of the corners… Kate Chopin, Tennessee Williams and T.S. Elliot. In the small world department, author Barry Miles mentioned that Burroughs' mother was enrolled in dancing class with T. S. Elliot.
Kris Kleindienst, far left, co-owner of Left Bank Books, recalled the last time William Burroughs came to St. Louis, in 1984. That reading took place at Duff's where Burroughs read from Naked Lunch. Later, at a post-reading reception held at his boyhood home, Kleindienst recalled that Burroughs sat on a couch and generously shared a joint with anyone who wanted to sit and visit. Kris recalls that the homeowner was not sure what she had gotten herself into.
Author Barry Miles recounted some of what made Burroughs' life so astonishing. He met Burroughs in London in 1965 at a photo shoot for the Beatles famous cover of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Burroughs is on that cover. Barry Miles also penned Paul McCartney's authorized biography, Many Years From Now, in 1998.
After living in exotic places most of his life, Burroughs spent his last years in Lawrence, Kansas. He's buried in his hometown at Bellefontaine Cemetery. All in all, the evening was a wonderful West End moment with interesting questions from the audience and fascinating responses from the author.
Call Me Burroughs by Barry Miles, $32, at Left-Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid.
Derek and Lucas Gamlin are now offering an all-day Sunday brunch at Gamlin Whiskey House, 236 N. Euclid at Maryland. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. Sunday dinner service follows.
The brunch menu includes a large selection of breakfast sandwiches (steak & egg, $8, fried tomato $9, etc.), a wide variety of waffles, French toast and pancakes, $8, including Oreo(R) cookie waffles drizzled with chocolate syrup, above. Juice Bar offers drinks such as Bug Juice, middle, a combination of carrot, orange, ginger and agave nectar, $9. "For the Table" items, meant to be shared, include Miguel's Chilaquiles,above, a traditional Mexican tortilla casserole with egg, cheese & salsa, $10. My favorite dish last Sunday morning was Shrimp & Grits, $14 (not pictured), which is deliciously creamy and hearty.
Contrary to what I posted when Gamlin first opened late last fall, the storefront to the south (formerly Green Bean) is not going to be a breakfast bar and catering kitchen as originally planned. Instead it will house a second bar and more seating for overflow diners and for private parties. The new space will be accessible from the dining room and should open very soon.
Gamlin Whiskey House, 236 N. Euclid, (314) 875-9500.
Performance artist Tom Brady, above, is appearing in Zilch, an original piece he wrote and choreographed inspired by Elie Wiesel's book Night, detailing his overwhelming loss and survival in a Nazi concentration camp. Zilch will be performed at Satori, a theater space at 3003 Locust (east of Grand), starting this weekend.
The cast includes Tom Brady, Monica Newsam, Zltko Cosic and twelve local St. Louis artists. We have attended several of Brady's performances and found them really beautiful, unusual and compelling.
Zilch at Satori, 3003 Locust, 8 p.m. Feb. 13-15, 21 & 22, Feb. 28 and March 1. Seating is limited. View Satori's striking website for more information and to purchase tickets, $20, $10 for student or artist.
And when you run out of options to entertain yourself while waiting in the long lines at the Marion Oldham Post Office on Laclede (still upset that our little post office at 625 N. Euclid closed), pick up a marker and start drawing!
P.S. – I've been told one cannot take photographs at a post office, but this shot was worth the risk, whatever the consequences…