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Get Inside My Head

Dustin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:51:33 +0000

I don't watch a lot of television, but I was just turned onto a show on CNN Headline News hosted by Glenn Beck. If you want to get an idea of how I think, watch this show. The guy is well rounded, but also has a doomsday view of society. I think that a lot of things about the American lifestyle need to change and we need to do it quickly. There will be advances in technology that buy us some time, but some I think that the biggest problem out there is the population growth. The Earth is simply not capable of supporting 6 or 7 billion people. It wasn't too long ago that I was waiting tables and I predicted that all the people charging their dinner and racking up balances on their credit cards while making tiny payments on their sub-prime mortgage were going to destroy the US economy. If I can figure that out with virtually no real world experience, how come high ranking officials that are supposed to be intelligent and productive didn't feel the same way. There are a lot of problems, but I think that one of the worst is the environment and I have the following question - if the Earth's orbit is based on the mass of our planet and the gravitational pull of the Sun, then wouldn't taking a dense liquid such as crude oil out out from below our surface and refining/burning it into a harmful gas that's lighter than air reduce our mass, effectively making the gravitational pull of the sun "stronger"? I'll be screaming "I told you so" right before we collide with the center of our universe.

The Truth According To Me

Dustin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:55:16 +0000

This is my first official blog and I have to say that it's quite an exciting time for anyone to be putting their thoughts in writing. You can't turn around and not hear about what's wrong with the world. You don't have to look much farther than the great state of IL to find a myraid of controversy. I think that the main problem that we face is that we are a democracy. Don't get me wrong, democracy is great, but this form of government generally has a life span of only about 100 years at best. We are way over that and it shows. In the spirit of democracy, I would like to make this blog as interactive as possible and take your feedback and suggestions. I will share my opinion and experiences and also empower you to give me some direction on where you would like this blog to go. Can't wait. Stay classy Belleville.

A Night Out on the Landing

XT — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:28:15 +0000

Saturday night was girls night out spent at the Landing (a popular hot spot containing several bars, clubs and restaurants) in St. Louis where we checked out a few places. I thought I would share with you my experiences to give you the low down on the popular St. Louis fare which may guide your future excursions or at least let you know what to expect if you decide to go!

To start the night off, we checked out a new bar on the Landing called Skybox Sports Bar and Grill. At 10pm on a Saturday night, it was relatively quiet compared to its counterparts that we passed along the way that were overcrowded and very loud. The ambiance was calm and cool upon entrance, feeling much like a chic bar where VIPs hang out, offering several separate areas, each lovely and cozy, to explore. Indeed, this classy bar was created by VIPs, specifically Nelly, Marshall Faulk, Larry Hughes, and Darius Miles in February of this year. One would never know it was a sports-themed bar created by people who loves sports (unless perhaps on a night of a big game) because its décor is simple, classy and elegant. That is not to say it is lacking in any elements. Skybox is equipped with over 70 HD TVs, stylish servers and a cigar room. It is a great lounge to hang out with friends offering a comfortable atmosphere to talk, chill, and eat before going out to the more rambunctious clubs. The downside is that the menu is pricey. A modest cosmopolitan was $9.00 and anything other than the appetizers (or “warm-ups” as they are called by the sporty creators) will quickly enter the $20 range. However, this bar is one of my new favorites, offering a quieter place for those exploring the Landing. It is a good place to chill and recharge before going out to the hot dance clubs! If you want to check it out, it is on 800 N. Third Street.

Next stop was Morgan Street Brewery, a popular hot spot on the Landing. It seems an integral part of the Landing experience although it was only built in 1995. Actually, it is historic for another reason; it is one of the oldest buildings on the Landing, built over 120 years ago. Morgan Street Brewery’s claim to fame was its creation by a married couple, Steve and Vicki Owings who brews their own beer, including the popular Honey Wheat, Irish Stout and Vienna, the newest addition to the brewery. The first floor comprises the microbrewery and the top two floors hold bars and a large dance floor. If dancing is not your thing, there are pool tables and shuffle boards for use. There is also outdoor seating creating a café-style area for dining. Although this establishment is very large and accommodates many people, it gets very crowded. By 11pm, people were almost shoulder to shoulder at every floor to accommodate the patrons. I consider this bar one of the best for dancing. The DJ plays a variety of music that is loud but not eardrum-shattering and the dance floor is large. Morgan Street Brewery is located at 721 North Second Street.

Lastly (actually before going back to Skybox!), we tried Big Daddy’s Bar and Restaurant. But, don’t let the name fool you. Big Daddy’s is mostly a bar for drinking, with limited bar food to offer. They are known for their dance floor and patio that gets extremely busy and crowded. To our group, the staff was rude, irritable and pushy but that may be because the place was so crowded with many drunk and rowdy people (although we were not!). This seems to be a mediocre bar with the basics to offer. For my taste, it was overcrowded and soon we headed back to Skybox. If you want a wild and crazy night, Big Daddy’s should be on your list of stops. Big Daddy’s is located at 1000 Sidney St.

Overall, it was a fun and exhausting night on the Landing. Since I turned 21 recently, checking out bars and clubs are now my friends thing to do, and I will continue to review and discuss the places we see! Please feel free to offer your opinion on the above-mentioned places or any of your favorite hot spots!

The 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House

Erin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:33:52 +0000

Summer is officially here, and the urge to get out into the community and do something new and fun is huge. As far as getting out in the Metro-East area this summer, I've yet to be so lucky. Right now, I'm waiting on pins and needles to get that phone call from my husband saying his deployment to Iraq is over and he's landed in Wisconsin. After a week up there debriefing, we'll be able to return to our house in Highland. And then, our summer fun will begin. In the meantime, I would love to share a great place I already know about in Edwardsville with you. If you live in the Edwardsville area, you may have driven by this house every day and had no idea what it was. Little did you know (or hopefully you did, cause then they are getting the recognition they deserve) there is a living history house museum right in the middle of Edwardsville. The 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House opened its doors to the public in 2006, and since then it has brought a very interactive way to learn history to the Edwardsville area. As a living history museum, guests are allowed to not only see, but touch and experience the way of life in Edwardsville circa 1820. In the kitchen, you can try to start a fire using flint and steel, and then learn how people used to cook over an open hearth by watching re-enactors dressed in period garb actually make homemade breads and stews. Inside the house, visitors get a full tour of the building, which was fully restored by the Friends of Colonel Benjamin Stephenson. All of the pieces in the house are either period antiques, or reproduction pieces from that era. Guests are invited to sit on the sofa and wingback chairs in the parlor as a tour guide tells the history of the house and family. Upstairs, visitors can inspect, and then sit on, a rope bed with a feather tick. Compare it to the straw tick bed in the servant’s quarters. Outside, the kids can play children’s games from the early 19^th century. It is so much more than the typical old house tour. You also get to hear interesting stories about Benjamin Stephenson and his family, who were very involved with helping to form early Edwardsville. Did you know Stephenson served in the War of 1812, signed the Illinois Constitution, and died of malaria not long after he completed his home? The Stephenson House really brings its visitors back to 1820 in every way it can. It is a great way to spend an afternoon. They also have events throughout the year, such as storytelling for children, a fifty/fifty auction, and a very popular historic Valentine Dinner. If you’re looking for something to do locally, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed. Visit the Stephenson House at 409 S. Buchanan Street Thursday through Saturday, 10-4, and Sunday, 12-4. Check out their website, www.stephensonhouse.org for a complete list of events and more information on the restoration and history.