Sunday, February 12, 2012

A Chilly Day in February, Part 2

I've been wanting to take some photos of the MacArthur Bridge for some time. I travel near the bridge most mornings. In the morning the rising sun and traffic makes taking photos difficult. Some mornings with the fog hanging over the River it seems the bridge disappears into the clouds, which would make a great photo if the light wasn't all wrong.
This is nearly the view I have each morning.
At one time the MacArthur bridge was a car bridge as well as a railway bridge. Actually, I've learned it started its life as a car bridge even though it was originally built to break a railroad monopoly. (Click here for more about the bridge) It hasn't been a car bridge for a long time, but you can still see the evidence of its earlier dual purpose existence.

Here appears to be one of the entry ramps.
At one time Rte.66 used the MacArthur Bridge to cross the Mississippi.

Now all that is left are the remains of a bridge abutment and the barricaded on and off ramps.

War Memorial Park is not all that far, as the crow flies, from the MacArthur Bridge. It is very near where I work and given my interest in history and buildings I'm rather surprised I've not spent any time there. This day I didn't spend much time, but we are now definitely acquainted. 
Finding myself at War Memorial Park really did come as a surprise. This is something that happens again and again when I'm riding. At times I'm convinced it is Miss Billie who is the one really in charge and I'm just along for the ride.
One of the statues guarding the entrance to the large monument.
The words along the facing of the large monument say: World War Memorial.

Sadly, the World War they were commemorating was not the war to end all wars after all. And so, across the street are both a memorial to War World II...
And to Korea.....


I hadn't known there was such a nice view of the St. Louis City Hall from the War Memorial Park.

Now I do.

There was only one thing I had hoped to accomplish when I set out on this ride. I wanted to scope out the new location of a restaurant which at one time had meant a lot to me and to my family.  

When I was first introduced to Sameem's it was located on S. Grand Ave. After the divorce Sameem's came to be where my kid's, their families, and I gathered for Christmas Day Dinner and other special times. I took Heather To Sameem's the first time we went out. But, time brings change and the owners of Sameem's decided to move out to Baldwin and change their name. We tried to embrace this new location, but it never seemed quite right to us. And, last Christmas we even went to a different place for our dinner.

Now they're back in the City. They are in the area called the Grove and they have gone back to the old name, Sameem Afghan Restaurant--no more Kabob Palace.

Their new address is 4341 Manchester Ave.
The new location is smaller than either of the previous two. There are just a few tables. When I went in to say, "Hi," there was much hustle and bustle which, on the one hand, surprised me since it was late afternoon. But on the other hand, they have always seemed to have a healthy catering business and it made sense the kitchen would be busy with it being a Saturday.

I only got to talk briefly to Qayum, one of the owners. He told me they couldn't work out a lease on the place out in the county. I, for one, am looking forward to having them closer.



I had left the condo around 1330CST. By the time I returned at 1645CST it had warmed up to 28F/-2C. I didn't see any other bikes or scooters out and about. Pity, other than the wind it was a delightful day to ride....

The man in black.
If you had the right gear.

17 comments:

  1. What a great day in the sunshine. It sounds like Billie is steering you in the right places.

    It is good that the restaurant moved closer in to town again. I wonder if they changed the name back because people weren't as receptive to the new one.

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    1. I think there was a partner brought in who wanted to move west and add some Persian cuisine. The partnership didn't last long. I think that was the reason for the change in the name....and the reason for the change back. I hope it works out for them. They have worked very hard.
      ~k

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  2. What a lovely outing, and all the blue skies. Thanks for having us tag along on your ride. Billie seems to know where she wants to go. Love that bit of the Route 66. Too bad that the bridge is no longer accessible.

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    1. They are building a new bridge over the river near another of the old bridges that once carried Rte.66 over the Mississippi. The MacArthur bridge was only two lanes and narrow at that. It really was meant to be a railway bridge. But, it is sad anytime we lose a way across the Big Muddy River.

      Thanks for the comment.
      ~k

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  3. Wow what a wonderful sunny day for a ride. If you've got good gear it doesn't matter what the weather is like. Great pictures! I love letting Vixen, Lucy, or Scarlett take me where they will.

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    1. Dar,
      You are so right, it is really all about the gear not about the weather.

      I'm glad you like the photos. I'll let Miss Billie know I'm not the only one who lets their bike lead the way.
      ~k

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  4. I just found the STL Patina blog link. Really nice. I'm planning on moving to a city, a very small one, in WI sometime soon, I hope (have to sell my house). There's so much more to photograph. I really enjoy your city tours.

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    1. I love Chris' blog! Did you discover it from my sidebar? I hope so. Another local blog I enjoy and perhaps you might like is:
      http://stlexplorer.wordpress.com/

      Enjoy.

      Good luck with your plans and may the process go smoothly.
      ~k

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  5. Bikes do make up their own minds where they want to go. Every time we pass a Starbucks I have to fight Elvira's handlebars! :)

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    1. Is she into those caramel lattes? Whatever it is I'm glad your firm with her :)

      Glad you stopped by.
      ~k

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  6. City Hall is quite a building! You're right, you found a good view. The war memorial reminds me of some of the State architecture around here, very stark but elegant. I'm glad that your restaurant has moved back. It's hard to find good places, so you hate to lose a nice one.

    I'm glad at least you got out for a ride. The other riders, just don't know what an opportunity they missed!

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    1. The architecture sort of depends on when its built doesn't it? We have these grand courthouses in the City, but the County has a building from the 1970's. It is a nice enough building, but you are correct there is an elegance that seems to be missing.

      I appreciate the comment. Thanks,
      ~k

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  7. Dear Keith:

    Old municipal bridge structures are fascinating, and most have a story or two to tell. Most rail and highway bridges built in the 1920's and 1930's are of this depressing, black-iron, Mordor-type construction that makes Communist-era works look positively jolly. My native Jersey City is girdled by bridges like this, and most have unhappy stories of train wrecks, barge accidents, and cars that plunged through open decks.

    I find it amazing that your "divorce" Christmas dinners were held at an Afghan restaurant. My daughter and I had at least one Christmas dinner at a Chinese place, a la "A Christmas Story," though I never got the waiters to sing.

    I like your winter riding gear shot.

    How's "Billie" holding up?"

    Fondest regards,
    Jack/reep
    Twisted Roads

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    1. Hi Jack,
      It is good to hear from you. You are so right about how fascinating old bridges are. I've been looking at this bridge at least once almost everyday for two years and still am drawn to it...and, as you point out it isn't because of its beauty. There is just something about it. Maybe it's just the oldness of it. I don't know.

      Miss Billie is going great. She is almost two years old and is nearing 15,000mi. She is a great little ride and perfect for the kind of puttering around I did this day.

      Thanks for stopping.
      ~k

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  8. Keith:

    I've never lived anywhere with "dry" cold. Here we have "wet" cold and around freezing there is usually ice on the roads. At your temps, I don't see any ice. Not many riders up here ride at temps below freezing. This morning was forecast to be ice fog. This is humid mist coming from the ocean and when it hits our cold air, it turns immediately into frost/ice on anything if falls on, but the forecast was wrong, so I rode to work this morning

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. I am grateful to be pretty much a stranger to freezing fog. It sounds like no fun at all. Here they use so much chemical on the roads it is a wonder the pavement doesn't melt...oh wait, it does. That's one of the reasons for potholes.

      Glad you got to ride. My day goes better when I ride.
      ~k

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  9. I'm also fascinated by the old bridges. I love crawling over them, looking for build date plaques and information.

    I'm just incredibly impressed that you were too warm!! :)

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