St. Louis Hidden Gem: Balkan Treat Box in Webster Groves

A serious dose of Tuesday happy meets spring fever came in the form of 63° weather,

Balkan Treat Box

"Pide" carryout, and a Covid-friendly park picnic in Downtown Historic

Webster Groves

. Hello, heaven.

 

Into the woods...

Nenonen "social distance heaven" came in the form of a rustic 125 old log cabin tucked away on 265 acres of private land this week.  We traded masks and bleach wipes for ATV rides in the walnut groves, fields of wildflowers, hikes beneath the mighty pines, dips in the spring-fed lake, bonfire fun, architectural goodies...

 

 ...and true solitude that only unplugged nature can provide from the challenges of 2020. 

Nature heals, at least for the Nenonens. A perfect life pause to enjoy one another and the tail end of Summer before it is back to school. ❤️

18 Wonderful Years...

Fun fact: When my youngest blows out his candle each year...

...so does my real estate license! I passed the Missouri Realtors test while he was in utero, as with his arrival, we were outgrowing our starter home.  18 amazing years. ❤️

PS: thank you to Nathaniel Reid Bakery for such a delectable birthday celebration!

A peek at an afternoon at the new St. Louis Aquarium...

Heaven. If you haven't yet had a chance to visit, you must! So well done, a beautiful incorporation of the historic trainshed location, and a terrific addition to the exciting comeback of Union Station.

NITTY GRITTY:
St. Louis Aquarium
201 S 18th St,
St. Louis, MO 63103

(314) 923-3900

https://www.stlouisaquarium.com/

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

Nathaniel Reid Birthday Creation...

Nothing says "Happy Birthday"...

... like a delectable goodie from Nathaniel Reid?!  The "Ruby" is a red-glazed chocolate sponge cake with layers of raspberry cream and a mousse made with raspberry tea. Surrounded by crunchy candied hazelnuts, the cake is topped with chocolate flags, fresh raspberries, and edible gold leaf flakes. 

You can actually find the recipe for this yummy right here if feeling brave, or head to his shop in Kirkwood. 

Life is short, friends and you only turn 46 once.  Welcome it with flare!

Snuck away to Innsbrook...

The final "back to school" countdown has started here in Casa de Nenonen, as our oldest prepares for his Junior year in college and our youngest ventures in to his Senior year in high school.  As a final "shebang", we slipped out in to the wilderness for a few days where the WiFi was spotty, but the memories were plentiful!   

A teeny-tiny peek at the fun...

Hidden Gem: A new Eckert's in Manchester!

Hey, hey fellow West County friends...

A trip to Eckert's just got a lot easier for you!  My haul. 😊

At Manchester and 141, in the abandoned Office Depot, now sits an Eckert's seasonal pop-up market...

I apologize for the dark photos!  I stumbled up the store yesterday morning under stormy skies.  

While nothing beats a fun day trip to Eckert's mega store in Belleville or their fun farm in Millstadt, this location does carry the best of the best:  Fresh and juicy in-season peaches, fresh farm-grown veggies and fruit galore, ciders, homemade baked goods and pies, gift items, select meats and cheeses, and a selection of their lovely condiments from apple butter to salsa...

Nitty Gritty:

ST. LOUIS SEASONAL MARKET
79 NATIONALWAY SHOPPING CTR
MANCHESTER, MISSOURI  

Open 9-6 every day until late-August.


(618)233-0513

More Info: https://www.eckerts.com/st-louis-seasonal-market

→→→ See some of my other local "Hidden Gems" HERE.←←←

Late evening visit to Lone Elk Park!

We have visited Lone Elk for years to see the animals, but have never gone by in the summer just before sunset...

This is the time to go, friends! Last night we got insanely close to well over a dozen elk, buffalo, turkey, deer, and even had pesky raccoons begging at our car for food. It was quite a spectacle!

What is Lone Elk Park? Learn more HERE at my previous post.  Magical!

Hidden Gem: A St. Louis Lemp Style Halloween

Nothing screams "St. Louis Halloween Spooktacular"...

... like a haunted walking history tour of the Lemp complex and Cherokee Neighborhood at night?!  Last night, Steve and I gathered with some of my Coldwell Banker Gundaker coworkers for a little Halloween fun. Ack!

If you are from St. Louis, you likely know all about the legend of the Lemp family, the unfortunate Prohibition demise of one of the largest brewers in the country, and the string of "unfortunate incidents" that resulted in the old family mansion becoming one of the most notorious in the United States for alleged hauntings!

On this tour you get to hear all about the tragic history of the Lemp Family, learn the locations of the lost Lemp Neighborhood Cemeteries, and enjoy the gorgeous Cherokee Neighborhood architecture at night as they share other spooky tales of more haunted and historical locations along the tour route.

The St. Louis Paranormal Society is actually BASED in the old Lemp Brewery complex at the base of Antique Row and offer tours several nights per week.  Check out their website for more information at https://www.seeaghost.com/ or find them on Facebook HERE.

If you want to tour the Lemp mansion ITSELF, they actually offer guided tours every Monday, year round.  They also have a fabulous restaurant, offer fun mystery dinners, and have overnight accommodations for the brave at heart. Learn more at http://www.lempmansion.com/index.html

There is also an October haunted house in the complex and trust me, IT IS FRIGHTENING! 

It involves taking an old warehouse elevator down to the caverns and um, yeah. Been there, done that (thanks to the coaxing of my teenage boys) and not sure I will do it again?!  Ha ha.  Brave?  Learn more HERE.

TIP: 
Whatever you choose, make sure that you round out the evening at Ted Drewes for a "Great Pumpkin" concrete...

The best! 👻

See some of my other local "Hidden Gems" HERE.

Morning Scene from Aloe Plaza- "The Meeting Of the Waters" fountain

The beauty is always in the details...

I have always been slightly obsessed with the faces of the "The Meeting of the Waters” fountain in front of Union Station, depicting the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers (and their tributaries).  

Artist Carl Milles, circa 1939.

See this lovely in front of Union Station in the 1800 block of Market Street in Downtown St. Louis.  

TIP:  To see the actual confluence of the Mighty Miss and the Missouri, visit this local "Hidden Gem" that I recently featured.  The viewing area sits at the very back end of the conservation area!

See more of my St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

Just for Fun: Peach Pie at the Smokehouse

It is peach season, friends... 

...which calls for my annual sweet surprise for the family. If you have never had a piece of peach pie from the Smokehouse at Annie Gunn's, you are missing OUT, St. Louis.  It is stuffed with firm fresh peaches and is on the tart side as they don’t bog it down with too much sugar. They allow the peaches to speak for themselves.

This beauty was still warm and fresh out of the oven when I picked it up. 🍑💕

NITTY GRITTY:

Annie Gunn's and the Smokehouse Market
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road
Chesterfield, MO 63005
636/532.3314
Web: http://www.anniegunns.com/

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

A long weekend in Innsbrook...

We grabbed an AirBnb and slipped outside of the city limits to a cozy little a-frame chalet in Innsbrook for a few days of summer “fun in the sun”, before the boys go back to school.  A quick peek at the fun...

If you have never been to Innsbrook and seek a little nature refuge, sites like AirBnb offer terrific weekend getaways without the commitment of buying in the gated community.  From  dozens of hiking trails, beaches, and lakes to plentiful community amenities like a pool, gym, golf course, and a restaurant... Innsbrook is the ultimate area HIDDEN GEM for nature lovers.

St. Louis Hidden Gem: Flower Power at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Happiness is...

... the sunflowers in bloom at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, a 4,253 acres conservation area near the confluence of the Missouri And Mississippi rivers! Only a few more weeks that they will be in bloom, friends- don’t miss it.  Beautiful photo opportunity!

NITTY GRITTY:

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area 

801 Strodtman Rd, St. Louis, MO 63138

FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaBottom/

See more of my St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

Date Night at Flora Borealis at the Missouri Botanical Garden

The 2018 Flora Borealis experience at the Missouri Botanical Garden was magical, marvelous, and enchanting... 

Follow it by a trip to Ted Drewes and call it the perfect date night, St. Louis! ✨ Don't miss it, friends. It runs through August 26th.

Learn more and buy tickets here: 
http://events.missouribotanicalgarden.org/flora

Hidden Gem: The Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Steve and I recently snuck away to Hot Springs, Arkansas for a few days to celebrate his birthday with lake play, mineral bath spa time, and quality relaxation...  

If you have never been to Hot Springs, it is a magical destination nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, where soothing thermal mineral waters bubble from the earth at 143 degrees...

As a result,the area is home to some of the finest and most abundant quartz mines in the world...

While our entire Hot Springs adventure was weekender perfection, we did find ourselves at a spot that I would deem to be an absolute must-see for any nature lover/architecture buff who finds themselves in the area.  Hence, had to share!

Nestled in a dense woodland garden on the banks of Lake Hamilton... 

... sits a magical glass chapel that perfectly marries the beauty of nature, architecture, and design.  Constructed of native material and boasting floor to ceiling glass panels that soar 57 feet (6 stories) in to the treetops, it is a religious experience despite your affiliation. 

We were lucky enough to have 15 minutes alone here. We laid on our backs in silence on the altar and gazed through the open-rafter ceiling panels. Nature furiously bustles around you, 360 degrees, as you meditate in silence. Magical place, unforgettable moment.  Had to share.✨

Nitty Gritty:

The Anthony Chapel in the Garvan Gardens
550 Arkridge Rd,
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913

Phone: (501) 262-9608

WEB: http://www.garvangardens.org/the_gardens/anthony-chapel-complex/anthony-chapel.aspx 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/garvangardenschapel/

Celebration of Spring at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas...

I snuck away to Las Vegas for a quick weekend... 

There is no more lovely place to celebrate Spring than at the stunning Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden. Talk about pretty in pink?! Had to share!

We never travel to Las Vegas without a visit to the conservatory.   In fact, it is typically one of our very 1st stops.  Each season, the resort's talented and creative horticulturists 100% transform the 14,000 sqft space to the distinctive sights, sounds, and colors of that particular season.  Photos do not do it justice friends, I promise. It takes my breathe away ever single time, and this visit was no different. 💗

Learn more about the garden display HERE.

HIDDEN GEM: The Clover and the Bee in Webster

My friends have been buzz, buzz, buzzing about this cute little gem in Historic Webster Groves for months.  I was thrilled when I could finally gather up my family for brunch... 

The Clover and the Bee - you truly are the bee’s knees! Brunch perfection... a true must, St. Louis.

TIP:  Repeat after me - "sugar waffle with a spiced blueberry compote".  Yes, yes.

NITTY GRITTY:

The Clover and the Bee
100 W Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119

WEB:  https://www.thecloverandthebee.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cloverstl/

See more of my St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

HIDDEN GEM: Russell's Cafe and Bakery

I am no food blogger, though I know a delicious lunch when I have one, St. Louis. Russell’s moved in down the street from our house not long ago, and we have been itching to try it...

The seasonal Beet Salad was lovely and well, their biscuits?  Leave your diet at home as they are SO worth the calories, accompanied by fresh jam, honey, and whipped butter!   If you have never visited a Russell's, they boast 3 locations: Russell's on Macklind, Russell's Cafe and Bakery in Chesterfield, and Russell's Cafe and Bakery in Fenton.

Learn more here about their menu and three locations : https://russellscafe.com/

See more of my St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

Just For Fun: Happy Pi Day, St Louis style.

It is Pi Day (3.14)! A quick run by the historic Smokehouse Market at Annie Gunn's in the Chesterfield Valley...

... to surprise my family with one of their famous Deep Dish Apple Pies, piping hot out of the oven. Never been?  It is a must!  This little gem has been in business, heavily trafficked, and pretty much unchanged since 1937 for a reason!

NITTY GRITTY:

Annie Gunn's and the Smokehouse Market
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road 
Chesterfield, MO 63005
636/532.3314
Web: http://www.anniegunns.com/

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

St. Louis Hidden Gem: Custom Stone Interiors

Some posts are better late than never, particularly when you have adored the end-result of a project as much as we have this one.  Last year, Steve and I embarked upon a long-overdue makeover of our already-finished basement. After a decade in this house with 2 sons and 2 dogs, the finishes had taken quite a hit.

The plan for the main party room, aka "teenager heaven":  durable new Pergo flooring throughout, new stair treads after removing carpet, new 4" baseboards, barn doors to replace the 1968 swing-in doors, fresh paint, a new work space, and a makeover of the existing dated wet bar to improve the look and function.  Some of it was DIY, some of it was contracted. Mission accomplished...

Note: this is a real-life quick cell phone panoramic photo, not Realtor-staged, complete with my son watching a movie and freshly mopped floors after his friends spent the night and had an epic spill. My reality, friends.  Ha! 

After living with the "makeover" for several months now, our favorite change has been to the wet bar, by far.  We updated the cabinets, added a sizable mobile island, replaced the worn laminate counter top with granite, and finished off the project with a marble subway tile (Steve's gorgeous handiwork)...

Again, real life photo taken this morning -not staged.  We still need to get around to adding the cabinet hardware and yes, "this kitchen is for dancing". 😉  

As we have no plans in the near future to move, our focus was not as much on return-on-investment as it was look and function.  On any given weekend, we can have 5-20 teenagers down there until the wee-hours if not all night.  Durability is key.  That being said, we had massive sticker shock when bids for a natural stone 90" wet bar counter came in WELL above $1400 installed at big box stores for the creamy stones we preferred. A fellow Realtor mentioned that we may have luck at a remnant yard due to size, and suggested visiting Custom Stone Interiors near SLU and IKEA...

Note: since taking these photos, Custom Stone has moved to a new location in Overland.  Updated address will be at the bottom of the post.

Regardless, we had a terrific experience and I feel compelled to share.  The staff was incredibly helpful and they have everything you could ever want or wish for as far as stone goes for a kitchen, laundry, bath, or furniture project...

Where we had the most luck, however?

At their in-house remnant yard!  In this area, they offer stone remnants left over from other projects at a deep discount, including mis-cuts and leftover pieces of granite, marble, limestone, onyx, travertine, and quartz. It is a terrific solution for a small countertop for a bathroom, laundry room, vanity top, or wet bar. It allows you to examine the actual slab IN PERSON (stone varies a LOT ) and the staff will point you to remnants that will work.

Low and behold, we got lucky and found the perfect one...

Within days, they came out to our house to accurately measure the space for cuts, we provided them with our preferences (eased edge), a previously-purchased undermount sink from IKEA, and everything was fabricated and polished in house...

The price installed was HUNDREDS less than all of the other bids we received...

... and the result?  Perfection.  We love it...

Thank you for helping us to transform our space affordably, Custom Stone!  If planning a new project, consider giving them a call for a bid or dropping by to check out their inventory. 

NITTY GRITTY:

Custom Stone Interiors
1950 Walton Road
Overland, MO 63114

Office: 314-533-1282
Fax: 314-427-2001

Monday - Friday
Saturdays
7AM - 5PM 

WEB: http://www.customstonestl.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/customstonestl

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.