A jam-packed week in the neighborhood

As if the first part of May wasn't busy enough, the past week has been even more of a blur of activity in the neighborhood. Here's an example: Last Sunday the 45th Annual CWEA House Tour was taking place on Pershing Place, while 1/2 block away cyclists were gathering at Mike's Bikes for the 2nd Annual Taco Bike Ride.

Approximately 100 cyclists participated, meeting outside the shop at 324 N. Euclid at 11 a.m., then setting out in groups along the designated taco route, which meandered through several St. Louis neighborhoods. The first stop was Soul Taco in UCity, then Mission Taco in Soulard, and Taco Circus in the Bevo Hill Neighborhood. The last stop of the day brought the riders back to the CWE where they enjoyed Margaritas with a side of tacos at Gringo.

The taco bike ride is so popular that the 3rd annual ride is already on the books for May, 2016. Contact Mike's Bikes for more info.

Wednesday evening approximately 150 fans, above and below, lined up alongside Left Bank Books well in advance of the 5 p.m. start of a book signing with Cardinal favorite Yadier Molina's brother Benjie, author of Molina: The Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty.
 

UPCOMING: Tonight, Friday, June 5, the Central West End Association is hosting its monthly happy hour at CAM, 3750 Washington. from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be cocktails, appetizers, a chance to visit with neighbors, and tour the museum. I'm anxious to see Green Varnish in the courtyard, an undulating field of succulents. There's a demonstration class to learn more about this type of installation on Sunday.

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 6, Alderman Lyda Krewson has scheduled a workday in the Delmar Sunflower Garden, just east of Third Degree Glass Factory. The photographs, above and below, were taken two weeks ago when approximately 70 volunteers planted 15,000 sunflower seeds.

Now those seeds have sprung and it's time to pull the weeds, which have also sprung due to all the rain we've experienced. Lyda (in pink hat above) is asking for your help. She'll be there long before the scheduled time of 9 a.m. (closer to 7:30 a.m.), so drop by when you can and lend a hand.  

And don't miss the CWE Flea tomorrow between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 449 N. Euclid (at Washington). There are as many vendors as the small parking lot can hold, including: Caprice Designs, Bohemian Babies, Uffda-Ta-Da, Ruby Francis,
Envisage Vintage Jewelry, Cathy's Collectibles, Gilded Pineapple Antiques, Scavenger Vintage, A Tiny Moth, Jewelry by Michele Mohr, Zak Pottery, Twisted Vintage, 
MRJ Custom Embroidery, Parsimonia (Beth Styles with her vintage trailer), CWEnder Anna Cardot's to-die-for cookies (curry and killer chocolate), and more.

NOTE: There will not be a CWE Flea the first Saturday of July, which happens to be the 4th, because of Fair Saint Louis in Forest Park (street closures, etc). The next Flea will be August 1st.

Wait…. there's more: Also on Saturday, 25 families are holding a giant garage sale in the 5000-5400 blocks of Westminster and Washington Places between Kingshighway and Union from 8 a.m. to Noon.

P.S. If you were able to enjoy a free scoop of ice cream at Jeni's Grand Opening last night, congratulations on your perseverance. When I went by at 6:30 (doors opened at 7), the line was all the way up McPherson. The shop formally opens today. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.