Painting by artist Jennifer Hayes
The 2014 CWEA House Tour is right around the corner, so gather a group of friends and plan to spend the weekend of May 31 and June 1 exploring one of the grandest urban streets in the country. The event, now in its 44th year, is the largest fundraiser for the neighborhood organization and the best-attended and most-talked-about house tour in the St. Louis area.
The House Tour Committee, chaired by board president Amy Mittelstadt and board member Frances Thompson, with immeasurable assistance from real estate agent Paul Mittelstadt (Amy's husband), has enlisted 5 Portland Place homeowners and multiple gardeners to open their homes and gardens to the public for this two-day event. Historic Portland Place is one of the most beautiful streets in the city with its wide boulevard, planted median and stone mansions. Years ago it was possible to walk or bike through Portland Place from Kingshighway or from Lake Avenue, but access is limited now except for residents and visitors, and for the 2014 House Tour.
The Preview Party, which includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and an advance peek at the houses, $75, will be held Friday evening May 30 in a stunning Portland Place home that is not on the tour. Tickets to the Preview Party are limited, so act fast. Preview Party tickets can only be purchased through the Central West End Association.
Tickets for the House Tour, $22, are available on the CWEA website, at Pulaski Bank's CWE locations, 10 Maryland Plaza and 415 DeBaliviere, or one of the 12 Pulaski branches in the St. Louis region. Anthony Baima, branch manager of Pulaski Bank's Maryland Plaza location, is a CWEA board member. Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid, is also selling House Tour tickets.