Polish Festival 2009

Cinco de Mayo, Cherokee Street, May 2nd

Yeah, yeah, I know, Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico itself, but it's taken on a life of its own in America. Cherokee Street in Benton Park West exploded with energy this Saturday as a truly unspoiled festival took to the streets. Funny how not having big, dumb corporate beer companies sponsoring a festival in St. Louis makes it better.

Continental Building Acrobatics

I made it down to the festival in Grand Center on Saturday; it was exciting to see all of the people in what was once one of the most bustling areas of the city. I went back on Sunday to do some more photography; Grand Center was back to the same moribund desolation that it's infamous for with the exception of the Earthways House. What is really striking is that there was literally nothing to do, buy or otherwise patronize anywhere along this strip of Grand Blvd.

The Bandaloop performance was very cool, and an excellent way to show how the Continental Building has seen a rebirth in the new millennium. It's too bad, in the words of the reviewers at Apartmentratings.com, that the building seems to have become a glorified frat house.

Sorry about the video being sideways; try turning your head sideways to get the full effect.