Random observations

Tuesday December 1 2009

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch was one of this country's most prestigious newspapers for over a century.  Now it's worse than the BEagle.  I realize that Thanksgiving Day is not a big news day, but consider the headlines above the fold from the Post-Dispatch last Thursday.  "Sweet success after dog raid," "Holidays in flux for military families," and "Shopper planning to score big deals."  None of these stories is morally reprehensible or counterfactual, but are they news?  Nope.  Even the Kansas City Star is newsier and more dignified than the once mighty Post-Dispatch.

Two years ago a group of reporters and editors from the Post-Dispatch who were bought out by the paper formed an online daily, the St. Louis Beacon (stlbeacon.org).  It reads like the old paper did--newsy and thoughtful.  I wonder if theirs is the model for "newspapers" of the future.  Because surely the current Post-Dispatch isn't. 

"The best restaurants in the world are, of course, in Kansas City."  So began Bud Trillin's life-altering "American Fried," still a bible for those like me who crave authentic food.  And his favorite restaurant then was Arthur Bryant's, where the men behind the counter slap white bread on a plate and then load it up with bbq ribs or pulled pork or bbq chicken or rib tips.  They slather the sauce on from a battered old metal bowl, and then pass the plate down the line to receive french fries or potato salad or cole slaw or baked beans.  You order a beer or a Coke and sit down at one of the 20 or so tables to gobble up the best bbq in America.  At least that was my memory. 

And I'm delighted to report that Arthur Bryant's hasn't changed an iota.  Well, yes it has; now there are branches but if one goes to the original, which one must do, it's exactly as it was 30 years ago.  And just as delicious.  I didn't want to report this without visiting twice, just to make sure my memories were correct.  After ribs last night and pulled pork tonight, I can reassure Arthur Bryant fans that all is the same.  Phew!

I'm staying at an inn about 2 blocks from the famed Country Club Plaza, the first suburban shopping center built in America.  Erected in 1922, it's about 6 square blocks, built in Moorish style, and must be as lovely today as it was way back when.  What's particularly fun about being here now is that all the stores are lit with red, green or white lights outlining the building curvature.  It's like walkig through a fairyland.