Celebrating PrideFest 2023 with Some Colleagues

Yesterday morning (25 June), I drove to downtown St. Louis and parked in the Stadium Garage West. I then walked to Market Street just east of 7th Street. It was there that I met up with my Enterprise colleagues. Together, we would march in St. Louis' PrideFest parade.

This parade was the highlight of the annual PrideFest this past weekend, which celebrated the LBGTQ+ community. Many local companies and other organizations were represented in this parade. Most of the Enterprise contingent came from the Enterprise Holdings corporate office. I was the rare marcher who came from the rental branches.

Besides the approximately 100 marchers from our organization, there were three vehicles in the parade: a Ford Mustang convertible loaned from Enterprise Car Sales, and two trucks (stake beded and a box) from Enterprise Truck Rental. These vehicles were decorated in rainbow colors. Most of the marchers (including yours truly) wore green Enterprise t-shirts designed for this year's event. many of us added leis and beads for further decoration.

A few of us marchers wore bunches of balloons in assorted colors. They included my friend Melissa Maciorowski, who was just wonderful.

Many of us waited in the shade of a building while we waited for the parade to begin. I was one who took advantage of that shade and enjoyed a pre-parade drink of champagne with orange juice, which was welcome.

Just after 1:00 pm, we stepped off onto the parade, which went west on Market from 8th Street to 18th Street. Our group was early in the parade. It was hot under sunny skies, with the temperature of approximately 95 degrees F (35 degrees C), with a heat index of about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). I had applied plenty of sunscreen before I left for the parade, which really helped me cope with the sunshine.

There were many units in this parade, including various companies, sports teams, labor unions, and social service organizations. Naturally, several LGBTQ+ organizations were present.

It was stop and start at times as our group headed down Market, pausing when units ahead of us stopped. Despite the heat, there was a great crowd along Market to watch the parade.

There was a reviewing stand just west of Tucker on the south side of Market, near City Hall. There, an announcer recognized each unit as it passed by it. We really appreciated the attention the announcer gave us and the applause from the audience along the street. 

I would tell the audience "Thank you all for coming!"  A few audience members told me thank you for marching. I felt much better when I heard that. I was not just marching to help support all LGBTQ+ people out there, but for a few people that I knew who are in the LGBTQ+ community. They know who they are.

After reaching Market and 18th, the parade ended for us. It was about 20 minutes of marching for us. We gathered for some photos by others in our group and I said my goodbyes. Then, I started walking east along Market towards my car. While walking along Market, I caught the rest of the parade as it passed me and the PrideFest grounds north of Market. I thought of stopping by those grounds for lunch but decided not to fight the crowds and headed to my car. 

I got to my car in the Stadium West garage and headed home. I did stop by a QuikTrip on the way home to get a light lunch--barbecue pork sandwich, iced tea, and cookies--before arriving home in mid-afternoon.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

Enterprise Holdings: A Leader in Transportation & Mobility | Enterprise Holdings

Enterprise: Rental Cars at Low, Affordable Rates | Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Pride St. Louis: Pride St. Louis (pridestl.org)

QuikTrip: QuikTrip

2023 Mardi Gras with Julie

Midday yesterday (18 February), yours truly drove to Julie's house in Florissant. We had lunch featuring jambalaya and king cake for dessert. It was very nice.

After watching much of a Serie A match on TV (Inter vs Udinese), I drove us towards Soulard for the Mardi Gras celebration. After driving around for about 30 minutes and unable to find a parking spot amid the large crowds present, we parked at the garage just west of Busch Stadium and walked towards Soulard. Julie and I came across large crowds along Broadway near Soulard Farmers Market. 

We soon found a food stand, where we got a shish kabob, a funnel cake, and a cup of lemonade. Julie and I shared these items as we stood and looking upon the throng in the streets. We then walked up Broadway and Julie asked a firefighter about the evening parade that we had come for. He told her that parade is Tuesday night, not Saturday night. (There had been a daytime parade earlier that Saturday.) Disappointed, Julie and I walked back to the garage and returned to her home. 

We watched an animated film, "Turning Red," that was streamed on her TV. It was a fun movie to watch with an uplifting message about self-acceptance. Thus, Julie and I made the most of our day even with the original Mardi Gras plans upset.

The next morning, we had breakfast of bacon and donuts, plus cafe au lait. It was most delicious and a great beginning of the day. I left Julie's house late that morning, as Julie was getting ready for a friend's party. I headed home, stopping by Target to get some undershirts and Schnucks to get today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, with its special St. Louis CITY SC preview section. The season begins this Saturday. I can't wait.

 

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

Serie A: Lega Serie A | Home

Soulard Mardi Gras: Contact Us | Soulard Mardi Gras 2023 | St. Louis, MO (stlmardigras.org)

Target: Target : Expect More. Pay Less.

Schnucks: Home | Schnucks

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Breaking News | | Read St. Louis, MO and Missouri breaking news. Get latest news, events and information on Missouri sports, weather, entertainment and lifestyles. (stltoday.com)

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Helping at Circus Flora: "The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask"

The past two Wednesday evenings (15 and 22 June) have seen me in the Grand Center Arts District, under the Big Top that is home to Circus Flora. I am back as a volunteer for the eighth year.

This season, Circus Flora's show is "The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask," which began its run on 9 June and will last until 3 July. The story has the circus troupe going through St. Louis' underground caves searching for a ghost innkeeper who has been causing mischief in town.

I report to work one hour before the show begins to put on my volunteer apron and button, before cleaning the seats. Just before the house opens 30 minutes before showtime, me and the other volunteers get our briefing from house manager Harald Boerstler before assuming our positions. We act as ushers helping the audience find their seats.

When the show begins at approximately 7:00 pm, I find a seat in the mezzanine to watch the performance. There is a 15-minute intermission midway through the show, and the volunteers help the audience members as needed in leaving and then returning to their seats before the second act begins.

The last act is a flying trapeze routine, and I help the ring crew by sitting near one of the safety net supports. This is so any audience members that may walk by there don't get tripped up by the cable. The ring crew takes down the net right after the company leaves the ring, and then the audience safely leaves the tent. The show ends after approximately two hours. After the audience leaves, I and the other volunteers pick up any trash left near the seats and dispose of it before checking out.

"The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask" has a variety of acts, including equestrian artists Caleb Carinci-Asch and Lea Innocenti; The Flying Cortes trapeze act; The Flying Wallendas high wire act; featured performers Britt Lower and Ambrose Martos; Russian Cradle act Sam Renaud and Louis Joyal; The St. Louis Arches acrobats; and Trio Black Diamond, who perform trio hand balance equilibrium and duo antipode (foot juggling). Cecil McKinnon plays Yo-Yo the Storyteller and there is a five-piece band performing throughout the show.

We had about 180 attendees at last night's show, and they all enjoyed the event. Seeing these people leave the Big Top in such a good mood makes my work worthwhile.

I have one more volunteer shift scheduled for this season, this coming Wednesday night (29 June). Hope to see you there.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

Circus Flora: Circus Flora | A St. Louis Tradition For Over 30 years

Grand Center Arts District: Grand Center Arts District | A Landmark Destination for the Arts

 

St. Patrick's Weekend 2019

Last Saturday morning (16 March), I drove to downtown St. Louis to attend the 50th St. Patrick's Day Parade (https://irishparade.org/). This parade is held on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. After parking in a lot just north of Washington Avenue, I walked down 13th Street and reached the parade route on Market Street, just south of Soldiers Memorial. The day was sunny and cool, and there was a great crowd as the parade marched east from near Union Station to Kiener Plaza.

I stood among the great crowds of people along the route for about two hours as the parade units passed. They had floats, marching bands, Irish dancers, historic motor vehicles, dignitaries, balloons, and costumed characters. I had never been to one of these parades in many years, and this was fun.

After the parade, I made my way through crowded streets for home. Then, after a bit of rest and dinner at home, I drove to Llywelyn's Pub in Webster Groves (https://llywelynspub.com/webster-groves). There, I joined fellow St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) for a watch party for Saint Louis FC's (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) away match with Nashville SC. (A few St. Louligans did make the trip to Nashville for the match.) We gathered by the stage, where a screen was lowered to show the match, which was streamed on ESPN+ (http://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus). The video streamed cut out at times, much to our dismay, but fortunately we did not miss the important parts of action. That included Saint Louis' goal in the 84th minute that won it, 1-0. We were one happy bunch that night. Saint Louis FC--winners of their first two matches this season--host Tampa Bay Rowdies at 1:00 pm this Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium.

Sunday, I went to Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for lunch, followed by the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/). Ralph Goldstricker, Jr., a bombardier with the 8th Air Force during World War II, spoke of his experiences. It was quite a fascinating talk, accompanied by photos and videos projected on the screen and some artifacts he brought to show. Wonderful meeting.

Later.