Bob Delaney At Large: Into February 2026

18 February 2026

Into February 2026

After being bedridden at New Year's with influenza Type A and catching up with personal and business matters in January, I was happy to turn another year older this month.

My birthday (7 February) began with a haircut at Great Clips, followed by hair coloring at home using Just For Men. I was ready in mid-afternoon when Julie came by to begin the birthday celebration. She gifted me a handsome ring from Helzberg Diamonds, which I love. I told Julie I owed her a ring.

Julie then drove me to Maggiano's Little Italy at The Boulevard in Richmond Heights for dinner. We had such a wonderful meal, enjoying great food and service.

Following dinner, we browsed among the stores at nearby Saint Louis Galleria. Julie and I bought books at Barnes & Noble. Then, it was on to downtown St. Louis for the evening's main event.

Julie surprised me by taking me to The Boom Boom Rom, a burlesque theater on Washington Avenue. We had refreshments in the lobby before the theater opened for us and the other ticket holders for that night's show. Julie and I had a table right by the stage and I got a crown for my birthday.

The Boom Boom Review we saw was their signature burlesque show, with a mistress of ceremonies and the five dancers of the Boom Boom Bombshells. Over two hours, the dancers performed a high energy, teasing show.

Just after the intermission, I was on stage with other audience members celebrating milestones (birthdays and upcoming wedding or divorces). It was interesting, for sure! Later that night, Julie and i posed for a picture on stage.

After the show, Julie and I tipped the dancers as we left the theater and then got back into her car for Julie to drive me home. This is a birthday I won't soon, if ever, forget.

The next morning (8 February), I attended a service at Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel in Kirkwood. It's Julie's congregation and I will be joining it later this month. I stayed after the service for coffee and conversation.

After church, I headed to Leviathan Bookstore on South Grand in south St. Louis. There, soccer historian Dave Lange and St. Louis soccer legend Ty Keough were signing copies of Lange's new book "St. Louis Soccer: An Illustrated Timeline." It has some 150 moments in St. Louis soccer history from 1875 to the present. I chatted with Dave and Ty for a bit before they signed my copy, which I then paid for before leaving the store.