This is the blog of Maureen Kavanaugh, a life-long resident of and professional tour guide to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, located on the banks of the Mississippi River in the very heart of the United States. This blog is meant to be a forum for some of the city’s most ardent fans and toughest critics (often they’re the same) and over time, we hope, will feature many of their commentaries as guest bloggers.
“The Lou” has a surprising and wonderful history and, we believe, an exciting and important future. And we invite everyone to join us as we learn more about it together.
Look forward to more on various Irish neighborhoods in St. Louis.
I moved away from St. Louis after college. I love my adopted city of Austin, TX, where I’ve lived for the past 27 years — but I must admit that reading your blog makes me a little homesick. Maureen, thanks for writing and posting. I’d like to take one of your tours someday — maybe on my next visit to St. Louis this fall. P.S. You were my favorite teacher at Mt. Carmel. Heck, you were my favorite teacher…ever. Really and truly. She says, hoping you are THAT Maureen O’Connor Kavanaugh.
Dear Teresa,
I am indeed the Maureen Kavanaugh you refer to – your 3rd grade teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. And I am thrilled that you found my blog and that you like it! Terry, I have thought of you many, many times over the years & pointed you out in one of Tom’s & my wedding pictures along with your classmates. You were my first class and the class who taught me the most about teaching. I can still name every one of you. I have never forgotten you and often wonder what you all grew up to be and what you are doing with your lives. You were such an incredible class! So bright and so challenging and so precious. And you are, my dear Terry, out of the hundreds of students I have been privileged to teach, one of the most memorable! You were a wonderful little girl. I’m delighted to be able to share St. Louis with you across the miles and I would LOVE to see you when you are next in town. We can certainly walk and tour downtown if you like but more than anything I would love to sit and chat with you. I have often wondered how I could get in touch with you! I heard you married but I did not know to whom. How serendipitous that you discovered this blog. Please, let me know when you’re coming home for a visit!
You are too, too kind! Neil and I will be in St. Louis visiting my mom and siblings Oct. 21 – Oct. 25. If you’re available, I’d love to see you.
Well done!
Thank you!
The St. Louis Bandits are in the 2nd round of the playoffs and need the fans to come out and cheer for them this Thursday, April 14th at 6:30 and Friday, April 15th at 7:05 as they take on the Michigan Warriors!
Kids 12 and under get in free and, as always, the Bandits remain a great option for family fun in St. Louis!
http://stlouisbandits.pointstreaksites.com/view/stlouisbandits
Good luck to you & the Bandits, David!
Hi Maureen,
I wanted to give you a heads up about the DeMenil Mansion’s book sale, in case you wanted to share with your blog readers…
DeMenil Mansion Book Sale Features Free Historic House Tours
WHAT: This week, book-wise St. Louisans prepare for a smart deal on gently-used and rare books as the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion hosts its Fifth Annual Book Sale on May 14-15.
Book lovers will enjoy bargain prices on thousands of books from a diverse selection of genres including, history, mystery, classic and children’s literature.
Patrons of the book sale will also receive free tours of the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion, St. Louis’ premier French heritage historic home, located in the eclectic Cherokee/Benton Park neighborhood.
WHEN:
Saturday, May 14, 2011
10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2011
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cherokee Street Storefront Location
1922 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
COST: FREE (A $5 preview will be offered on Saturday at 9am)
Free historical house tours will be offered to book sale patrons throughout the weekend. The Fifth Annual Chatillon-DeMenil Book Sale provides support and funding for ongoing restoration and community education projects.
About Chatillon-DeMenil House (www.demenil.org)
The historic Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion is a premier example of St. Louis’ French heritage. With more than 60 percent of the antiques and artifacts original to the home, this Greek Revival mansion has been meticulously restored to interpret the unique decorative design and architecture of the Victorian era. The museum was once home to western guide Henri Chatillon, who was made famous in the classic memoir Oregon Trail. The mansion would later become the home of St. Louis businessman Nicolas DeMenil and his wife Emilie Sophie Chouteau, of St. Louis’ founding French family. The Mansion is located at 3352 DeMenil Place at the eastern end of Cherokee Street’s Antiques Row.
Guided tours are available on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-.3:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per adult and $2 for children under 12. For special tour dates or to reserve a large group, please call (314) 771-5828.
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Thanks, Megan! I’m very happy to post this. If I can get over to the mansion prior to your book sale would you be available for me to interview? If not at the mansion we could do it by phone or email. I have toured this great house on a few occasions & I refer to it frequently when I’m doing tours of French Colonial & Civil War St. Louis but I’d like to get to know a little more about it from your personal perspective. I will write a blog post in the week before your book sale and talk about the mansion & your fund raiser. I’m so glad that you gave me a heads-up!
Your posts are greatly apprecated.