This poor slob was encountered Tuesday afternoon on Lemp Avenue, two blocks north of Arsenal. East side of the street. (Curiously, this is very close to two watering holes: Venice Cafe and Fraziers......) Disclaimer: this was not staged by Daily RFT....

_{By Nicholas Phillips, December 22, 2010}

This review brought to you by:

The BPNA has launched a new neighborhood website with the URL being www.bpnastl.org.

President Nancy Galvin completed the interviewing web site designers back in July.  The recommendation was to hire Casey Kasparek for $2,000.

More changes in the Niche family of restaurants: Chef-owner Gerard Craft announced this afternoon that Adam Altnether has taken over ownership of Taste.

Altnether, 24, who grew up in south St. Louis County and has been working full-time in Craft's kitchens since 2007, will immediately assume the role of executive chef and owner. His first task: overseeing Taste's imminent move from Benton Park to the Central West End, in the former Moxy Bistro space at 4584 Laclede Avenue.

Adam Altnether, a 24-year-old St. Louis native and executive chef of Brasserie by Niche, bought Taste, the popular mixology bar and charcuterie in St. Louis’ Benton Park neighborhood, from Chef Gerard Craft.

Craft will remain a minority investor in Taste.

Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Jane Reinecke grew up in a family of good, solid New England cooks. She still bakes her grandmother's wild blueberry cake, beating and folding in the egg whites as her grandmother did, flouring the berries so they don't sink to the bottom.

Like you don't have enough to do in Tuesday night, the BPNA has decided to add to your "to do" list.   Not only do you have to find time to go vote for General Election, now you will have to go vote at the BPNA meeting. 

The current executive board has decided that it would be a good idea to push forward a proposal of the BPNA buying a building from the 1880's (and looks like it has not been kept up since). 

Somehow the board members think this is a good idea?!   I have attached their "feasibility report".  It is a must read. 

Benton Park Classic Criterium (Sept. 6): This race replaced the Gateway Cup Criterium that tied into Stage 1 of last year’s Tour of Missouri. The 1.77-mile course goes through the historic Benton Park neighborhood and passes the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Races started at 10 a.m. Pro women at 2:20 p.m., men at 3:30 p.m.

English Cave Community Garden members invite you to a pre-Halloween pumpkin carving event in the garden on Provenchere.  The fourth annual Garden Gourd Glow event will be held in the English Cave Community Garden on Sunday, October 24 2010 from 3 to 7 pm.

The Benton Park West Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a Trunk or Treat event for the children of the community - and they have extended an invitation to Benton Park residents to be a part.  Here are the details:

Join your neighbors and friends in this FUN and exciting time for kids. From costumes and decorating, to games and such, fun is had by all.

Less than a month after signing on to lead the kitchen at The Stable, chef Ben Welch has parted ways with Amalgamated Brewing Co.'s Benton Park brewpub.

"It became clear pretty quick that it wasn't a fit for either of us," Stable partner Brad Wheeling says. "The guy is wildly talented, and I would love to own the restaurant where he could execute his concepts, (but) those just didn't work at The Stable."