We feel that many of these measures are inappropriate responses to the problem at hand, especially the curfew, and will actually have an adverse affect on the community.

While the disturbance on April 9 was indeed troubling, as are other reports of rowdiness, it isn’t as if most of the teenagers who spend time on the Loop are actively disrupting patrons and causing trouble. In fact, the man arrested for attacking the police officer was 21, and wouldn’t be affected by these proposed measures at all.

The teenagers that U. City is targeting have nowhere else to go, and shutting them out isn’t the solution. The Galleria has a curfew as well, and going to the movies is generally expensive. There are very few places for “kids to be kids,” particularly those who come from the city’s more dangerous neighborhoods. For example, kids from north St. Louis often spend time on the Loop instead of in their own neighborhoods, which are often less safe than Delmar.

The proposed restrictions do not take into account what is best for the youths of the community, only what is best for the image of a pristine, college town area. On the Loop, youths are relatively safe walking up and down streets. What would they be doing if they were forced to sit at home instead, or explore other areas that are more conducive to harmful activities?

Based on the common racial profile of teenagers found on the Loop, we feel that these measures have more than a small racial element tied to them. It’s not a coincidence that the “unruly youths” described in various reports are, for the most part, black. We question whether city still feel the need to keep so many officers on the loop or keep such strict policies if these “unruly youths” were white

Even if you think that the youth behave poorly and dangerously on the Loop, this solution is far from ideal. If U-City decides to have more officers patrol Delmar, we feel as though they would be misappropriating resources away from other issues. At the time of the officer’s attack on April 9, there were at least a dozen police cars on and near the Loop. While it’s much better to be safe than sorry, especially when someone could get seriously hurt, not all of these cops needed to be on the Loop and could have been better used elsewhere in University City.

The promised crackdowns coincide with attempts to revitalize the Loop and bring in more revenue. Business owners have opened new restaurants and new bike paths promise to make the Loop more accessible. At the same time, the proposed measures designed to close off the Loop to outside teenagers and the rest of St. Louis create a disturbing double standard. The concern at the bottom of these new measures is the image of the Loop and attracting patrons who bring in revenue. From what we can see, the police and local business owners have given little, if any, thought to the kids the proposed measures would exclude.

Christina Kelley

Riddles, a popular student bar on the Loop, has closed after 35 years of business due to a rent dispute. Students and other businesses on the Loop say that Riddles was an important part of the culture on Delmar.

The restaurant, which was an integral part of the Loop’s revitalization in the 1980s and attracted local musical acts to the Loop, was popular among students for its locally sourced cuisine, extensive beer menu, and accessible weeknight entertainment.

On Oct. 12, the restaurant posted a sign saying it was closed for its annual two-week fall vacation. On Nov. 3, the restaurant’s Facebook page pronounced it “closed until further notice.”

This year, Bobby’s Creole Inc., the company that owns the building at 6307 Delmar Blvd. where Riddles was housed, filed three county lawsuits against Riddles’ owner Katherine “KT” Ayers.

The last of these lawsuits is an AC Rent and Possession charge, dated Oct. 28. This type of charge is a court filing to have a tenant evicted from a rental property.

Ayers did not return phone calls from Student Life this week. But sources close to the manager said that Ayers cites circumstances in her personal life for the restaurant’s closing and that she will not be returning to Riddles in the near future.

Joe Edwards, the owner of Blueberry Hill, Pin-Up Bowl and the Moonrise Hotel, said that the restaurant was an invaluable commodity.

“It’s been there for so long,” Edwards said. “It’s really a shame to see it go.”

KT Ayers’ father, Andy Ayers, opened Riddles in 1985. According to Edwards, the restaurant was one of the first to focus on fresh, home-grown produce.

“It was really ahead of its time,” he said.

Edwards said that a few businesses have had financial trouble because of the recent recession. On the whole, though, he said that the Loop is doing very well.

Students are anxious to learn more about Riddles’ future. Many were upset to hear that Riddles was closing indefinitely.

“I think it’s really sad,” senior Nicole Penwill said. “It’s always sad when something closes because of money … It almost seems like the death of a friend.”

Penwill said that Riddles provided a weeknight option for students.

“I went there every Tuesday,” she said. “You could go around 11, after the library, and just kind of chill.”

Senior Kuan Butts said that Riddles was unique because it offered students an establishment with good, local live background music.

“It was the kind of place where you could just go and talk, just sort of sit at a table,” Butts said. “It was a really easy way for students at Wash. U. to get to know more local bands.”

Senior Aaron Kay said that Riddles’ absence will detract from the variety of establishments on the Loop.

“It was nice to get into the local scene of St. Louis a little bit, meet some interesting people when you went out,” Kay said. “I think the Loop is just going to be missing a consistent option that’s close, a nice bar where you can have a drink with a friend and actually have a conversation.”

Senior Julia Smith agreed. “It’s the only bar that you could easily walk in and out of,” she said. “You could walk in for a beer or spend the whole night.”

“I suggest that we demonstrate outside of the building against the landlord,” Penwill said. “We have so many good memories at Riddles.”

The building’s landlord could not be reached for comment.

Matt Lee

Cicero’s Italian Restaurant features reasonably priced Italian food, along with over 200 beers and the usual bar fare.

For those of you who can’t make decisions, beware—the menu is unusually long. The servers, however, were calm and polite and gave me more than a few minutes to decide among a wide variety of items, including burgers, salads, wraps or Italian specialties.

The pastas are separated into two categories—those with red sauces and those with cream sauces. I ordered a specialty dish called Shawn’s Favorite, consisting of a pan-seared chicken breast topped with mushrooms, broccoli, ham and cheese on a bed of spaghetti with a white-wine garlic butter sauce. I also ordered the chicken pesto, which included grilled chicken, artichokes, fettuccine noodles and fresh tomatoes in a basil pesto cream sauce with Parmesan cheese. Both pastas came in large portions (think Maggiano’s), and one dish can definitely be shared between two people.

Though Shawn’s Favorite didn’t taste bad, it certainly lacked spark. The large filet of baked chicken was dry and overcooked, adding to its lackluster flavor. The dish was not completely unsuccessful, however, as the mushrooms were well-seasoned and the ham was cut into thin slices and rather tasty. The best part of this dish was definitely the sauce, which gave the spaghetti noodles just a hint of pleasant garlic flavor. It was not creamy but still managed to soak into the spaghetti well.

The chicken pesto, sprinkled with flakes of Parmesan cheese and basil, was significantly better. It consisted of a rich blend of Alfredo and pesto sauce with fettuccine pasta. It’s biggest drawback was that the chicken was cut into small chunks, and the artichokes were very large in size, which made individual pieces a little difficult to eat in one bite. I expected there to be more of the pesto flavor and less of the cream base (since the dish was called “pesto,” after all), but the unique blend of sauce was mouthwatering and enjoyable. I highly recommend this dish—it was hard to stop eating it!

6691 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 862-0009

Kim Jones

Subterranean Books, an independent bookstore, has been a literary oasis on the Delmar Loop for more than 10 years.

The store recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, marking its longevity on the Loop. The decision to open on Delmar seemed obvious to owner Kelly von Plonski, who said, “I couldn’t conceive of it being anywhere other than the Loop. It’s such a great neighborhood with the University being here and the local community.”

Since its opening, Subterranean Books has seen many changes, most notably its decision to carry only new works rather than both new and used books. Instead of having to search through used books to create a well-rounded inventory, the staff now has the time to go through publishers’ catalogs and be more selective about the selection of new books they want to carry.

As staff member Alex Weir explained, a lot of effort goes into choosing the store’s stock. “It’s a lot of decision making and a combination of personal preference and guessing what customers might be interested in…and listening to our customers for feedback on what they want,” he said.

Subterranean Books has a small staff of five employees, who are all avid readers with a passion for different kinds of books. The staff prides itself on its breadth of knowledge on a variety of works. As von Plonski explained, “One of the requirements of working here is you have to be curious about things you don’t know about. If you’re interested in poetry, you also have to want to learn about something like crime books.”

The breadth of the store’s collection and the staff’s knowledge fosters an atmosphere where all readers are welcome. Members of the staff love interacting with customers and sharing book recommendations. As Weir said, “I had a really interesting conversation just earlier today with a Wash. U. student who’s in the writing program, and we had a nice long talk about different writers that we like. That’s just the best part of the job.”

While the main draw of any bookstore is its selection of books, Subterranean Books also hosts a variety of events for the community. The store has several book readings and signings that allow readers the opportunity to meet their favorite authors. One recent event was author Dan Wells’ reading/signing for his dark thriller “Mr. Murder” on Nov. 2.

The store also serves as a gallery for local artists. Currently, photographer Sara Roger is showing her collection “Women of India,” which includes inspirational photos of women she met during her six-month stay in India. The exhibits change periodically and add a unique touch to the store’s interior.

With its ever-evolving book collection and community offerings, Subterranean Books is truly a unique spot on the Loop. Von Plonski said it best: “What a bummer it would be to live in a neighborhood without a bookstore.”

Subterranean Books is located at 6275 Delmar Blvd. and can be found on the Web at http://store.subbooks.com.

Courtesy of Snarf's

Snarf’s, which opened Sept. 25 on the Loop, boasts an extensive sandwich menu featuring gourmet ingredients, a selection of salads and even beer and wine. I got the lowdown from the owner, Jodi Aronson, who shared the details of the restaurant’s history and the essence of a “mom and pop sandwich.”

The chain first opened in Boulder, Colo. in 1996. Aronson said that her brother, Jim Seidel, decided out of college that he “was going to open the best sandwich shop in town. He found a little shack and opened Snarf’s.”

Since then, Snarf’s has expanded to include six locations in Colorado, the new location in University City and an eatery in Chicago, to be run by Aronson’s and Seidel’s brother.

After visiting the restaurant and tasting one of their self-proclaimed “World-Famous” sandwiches, I’d have to say that Aronson and her entrepreneurial siblings have hit the mark with these high-quality sandwiches. Aronson emphasized the high standards for ingredients, mentioning that the bread is made from a special recipe and produced in a bakery on the Hill.

“Even the mustard is not just mustard,” Aronson said. “It’s Snarf’s mustard.”

The difference is definitely noticeable. I tried the roast beef and provolone sandwich, and my only complaint was that I ordered the “novice,” Snarf’s smallest, five-inch option.

Aronson said the most popular sandwich so far seemed to be “The Italian,” which features salami, pepperoni, capicola, mortadella and provolone. Also on the menu are “specialty” sandwiches, which include (among other things) ingredients like artichokes, feta cheese, prime rib, brisket and eggplant parmesan—all of which are definitely fancier than what you’d normally expect from a sandwich shop.

Ranging from $5.25 to $10.50, these sandwiches are arguably pricy, though still reasonable for a hearty meal. And I would say that the menu is worth the money. Aronson maintained that their restaurant is not “fast food.”

“We see ourselves as the home away from home for students—a place for a mom and pop sandwich,” Aronson said. And with a one dollar delivery fee, you can have a home-away-from-home sandwich…in your own home.

If you choose to get off campus and visit the restaurant’s location on Delmar Boulevard, you’ll be met by a brightly lit and trendy space, which Aronson described as “quirky and a little funky—[it’s] a happy, colorful place. And very, very clean!” I can confirm every one of these claims. The place was well-decorated and spotless.

The Loop has proven to be the perfect location for the new sandwich shop, which has seen business exceeding expectations. “We just love our neighborhood, and the foot traffic has been incredible,” Aronson said.

And after recently acquiring its liquor license and adding beer and wine to the menu, Snarf’s should expect even more business. “We’ll be open past midnight on the weekends,” Aronson explained, “So we can cater to that late-night crowd.”

You know what the means: The next time you want to end your night with a brewski and a BLT, head on down to Snarf’s.

The three-day event may not bring in national acts like LouFest, nor does it book many of the area’s most established acts, a la The Riverfront Times Music Showcase. Instead, the festival gives a lot of up-and-comers a chance to be heard.

The result is instant feedback, and it challenges the musicians to rock out all the harder. Though venues like the Duck Room and Cicero’s hosted acts that fans specifically came to see, most of PLAY:stl’s shows featured lesser-known acts in bars that could be heard from the street or on the street itself. Audiophiles hear a band tearing it up and listen as long as the musicians can hold their attention.

Sometimes the pairings of musicians to crowds didn’t work out, such as when hip-hopper Nato Caliph played Riddles on Thursday night. Off campus, we forget that Thursdrunk, er, Thursday, isn’t officially recognized as part of the weekend, and it showed when Caliph tried in vain to pump up the white-haired bar regulars. It really didn’t matter that he put on a good show; the experience was frustrating on both sides of the stage.

Other times, though, the system worked. Brandt’s booked a lot of loud bands—loud like hear-them-from-a-block-away loud—who probably attracted a lot of listeners just because they were so audible. The Morleys and Red Collar both put on great all-ages shows, with entire families with children rocking out to The Morleys, and an enthusiastic crowd of middle-aged fans cheering on Red Collar. The situation at Riddles improved too, with a more receptive crowd at Nite Owl’s show on Friday.

Meanwhile, Chipotle managed to cram some singer-songwriters in the area between the back door and the trashcan, playing free shows all weekend to enthusiastic (if slightly confused) crowds.

Bands took to the street as well. (the) Fracture Suit kicked off Saturday’s shows at noon in the market area next to Market Pub House, and their pop/rock/jazz (just imagine Incubus circa 1999) drew in listeners who were out shopping or eating lunch.

On the other hand, there were acts that people actually intended to see at Cicero’s and the Duck Room. Thom Donovan might have been the best, his alt/indie/blues rock full of throw-your-head-back-and-rock moments. Tera Melos also put on a great show at Cicero’s, switching between atmospheric melodies and hardcore punk, jarring their listeners but adroitly maneuvering the stylistic changes.

If you want to be able to say you saw them before they got big, make sure to check out the up-and-coming musicians at the fifth annual PLAY:stl festival next year.

Matt Lanter | Student Life

Washington University genetics researcher turned restaurateur Bill Courtney mixes ingredients for a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Cheese-ology opened at the corner of Delmar and Melville on June 29 in the space formerly occupied by St. Louis Pizza Haus. The restaurant features 15 varieties of mac and cheese, including a vegan option.

Cheese-Ology proprietor Bill Courtney describes his love affair with macaroni as an “unnatural obsession.” With the opening of his new themed restaurant on the Delmar Loop, Courtney has taken this obsession to an art form, serving up 15 gourmet varieties of this deliciously cheesy dish. Student Life sat down with Courtney to sample the cuisine and learn how this Wash. U. alum came up with the idea for an all-macaroni and cheese menu.

Originally a researcher in Washington University’s genetics department, Courtney began moving away from the scientific field when he realized the slim job prospects in the current economic climate. On a trip to New York City, Courtney and his wife waited in line for 20 minutes in front of S’Mac, a macaroni and cheese restaurant in the East Village. Courtney didn’t think much of the experience and continued his job search upon his return to St. Louis. After an increasingly discouraged Courtney sent out more than a hundred applications, his wife made an offhand suggestion that changed everything: “Why don’t you just make macaroni?”

For Courtney, this cheesy suggestion could not have been a better plan. He perked up as he described the moments after this revelation, saying that he immediately began thinking of recipes. Courtney’s first macaroni and cheese innovation, the “Philly Cheese,” came to him while on a layover in the Philadelphia airport. The ingredients were simple—steak, peppers and American and provolone cheeses. Other “Macs” took more effort to develop, such as the four-cheese. Bill explained that in order to have a cohesive flavor, the base cheese had to melt well. He found that provolone worked best after extensive testing, adding Gruyère, a Swiss cheese with “zip,” Muenster for “zest” and goat cheese for an additional “tang.”

Other flavor combinations soon followed, ranging from tuna salad variety to a vegan offering. However, one theme ties all of the dishes together: quality. Everything is made from scratch. With the exception of Courtney’s “Vegan Mac,” all recipies start with the same homemade sauce base of butter, nutmeg, salt and white pepper. All the cheeses are hand-shredded, and Courtney uses simple Barilla elbow macaroni. Each dish is made to order and baked right in front of the customer.

But Courtney’s attention to detail and quality doesn’t end there. All of the marinara and other sauces are made from scratch on the Hill.

Even the beverages come from just minutes away. Courtney offers the entire line of Fitz’s soft drinks as well as locally brewed Schlafly beers.

“Craft beers settle well with the macaroni, and there would really be no reason for mainstream beer,” Courtney said.

Courtney’s devotion to the business appears to be paying off. Though Cheese-Ology opened June 29, Courtney said that customers have already come in flocks and responded positively.

Drawn in by curiosity, Wash. U. junior Harrison Gross dined at Cheese-Ology shortly after arriving on campus for the fall semester.

“[Macaroni and cheese] is just a basic food. It’s not too fancy, but it’s always comforting,” Gross said when asked about the restaurant’s appeal.

It doesn’t hurt that the leftovers are great too—30 seconds in the microwave and a stir later, we’re told, the dishes taste the same as when they were just made.

As for the future of Cheese-Ology, Courtney plans to expand into the takeout business. Before Thanksgiving, he hopes to offer “take and bake trays,” served both in individual orders and in pan sizes serving 12-15. Beyond that, Courtney added that he has more than 150 recipes in the back of his mind, so we’re sure to see some surprises in the future.

A University City Police Officer patrols the Loop in his squad car Sept. 22. In response to increased crime, local police departments have stepped up the number of patrols in the area. (Mariam Shasavarani | Student Life)

Students can expect to see Washington University police officers patrolling past Blueberry Hill by the end of the semester.

This fall, the Washington University Police Department is teaming up with officers from University City and St. Louis to form joint enforcement patrols in the Skinker-DeBaliviere and Delmar neighborhoods.

“There are times when you can partner together and maximize your resources,” Chief of Police Don Strom said. “I think this affords us an opportunity to do that, recognizing that we all have a very vested interest in the success of the Delmar Loop and the neighborhoods around it.”

The joint patrols, which are still being finalized logistically, will involve police officers from the University and surrounding cities patrolling the areas together. The aim is to facilitate inter-city security enforcement.

Legal issues related to officers’ jurisdiction when outside their base areas of operation are also being worked out.

“We’re looking to prepare some memorandums of understanding that would better articulate some of the jurisdictional issues,” Strom said.

Joint patrols are part of a larger partnership

The joint patrols come as part of a broader effort at collaboration between the University and University City police departments.

Last April, the University seeded a $40,000 pilot project for University City to enhance its police presence in the Loop. The University’s support came at the request of University City.

A significant part of the seed money went toward funding overtime pay for University City police officers.

Cheryl Adelstein, director of community relations and local government affairs at the University, said having officers work overtime was the most practical way for University City to increase its patrols in the Delmar and Skinker-DeBaliviere areas.

“Those departments don’t have just people that patrol those streets—they have beats,” Adelstein said. “So in order to get the kind of coverage that we were looking to have, you needed designated people. Those designated people, because nobody has huge police departments anymore, were basically on overtime.”

The University’s seed money also went toward funding four Cannondale bicycles for University City officers to ride while on patrol.

Heightened security seems to be making the Loop safer

Other security measures have been taken in addition to increased patrol officers in the area.

University-funded closed circuit TV cameras were installed on the Loop earlier this year, and the University City curfew was tightened last spring.

Previously, city curfew for those 16 years of age and under was from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 6 a.m. on weekends. Now, curfew for minors in that age group is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week, unless they are on business or accompanied by an adult.

Together with the increased security patrols, these measures seem to be making the Loop area safer, some students said.

Senior Courtney Tydus, who lives in the University Terrace apartments just off Delmar, said she feels safe living in the area, especially with the heavy police presence.

“I do feel relatively safe,” she said. “I’ve lived off campus in other neighborhoods, and I feel like it’s comparable safety-wise.”

Strom said he is unable to speak on behalf of University City to discuss recent trends in crime in the area, but from his perspective, security around Delmar seems to be improving.

“If you look at just a snapshot of crime in the area—comparing 2009 to 2008—there’s some promising results in there,” he said.

While it functions primarily as a hair salon, D-Zine, which offers services starting at $24, doesn’t just limit its focus on aesthetics to hair. D-Zine also serves as an art gallery that shows contemporary work by artists around St. Louis.

When owner Denise Edgar opened D-Zine, she was concerned with the scarcity of venues in St. Louis for contemporary artists to have their work shown. She used D-Zine to create a space where local contemporary artists could potentially sell their work.

When she first started the gallery, Edgar invited Washington University undergraduates and professors to show their work in the space. While her selection process has since become more rigid, many of the works displayed in D-Zine still come from people associated with Wash. U. In fact, two Wash. U. graduates, Carol Carter and Bonnie Murray, currently have work being shown at D-Zine.

Although St. Louis has developed more spaces for contemporary art since the conception of D-Zine, the salon still offers the unique opportunity to have one’s work seen and potentially bought by an audience that otherwise wouldn’t walk into a gallery. Some people do go to D-Zine specifically to see the work shown there, but most of the customers at the salon are there for hair-related services.

Edgar sees the salon as an opportunity to educate and inform people about contemporary art. People come into the salon for their hair appointment and end up asking questions about the art on the walls. After all, unlike the corporate art in other businesses, the work at D-Zine is unique and demands attention. Even when customers express their dislike for the work, Edgar sees it as an opportunity to spread acceptance of contemporary art, if only by mere exposure.

So what is the process of getting your work shown at D-Zine? Give the salon a call, ask to speak to Denise Edgar, and set up an interview. Edgar typically looks for artists who have a developed body of work and who have shown their work before. Showing at D-Zine is a good deal: unlike other galleries, which typically charge 50 percent commission (or more) on any works sold, D-Zine only takes 30 percent.

In fact, Edgar mentioned that she had recently been at the house of a customer of the salon, and she noticed that every piece of artwork on the walls of the home had at some point been shown at D-Zine. It was real evidence that she had succeeded: She had opened at least one woman’s eyes to a world which she would otherwise probably not have seen or known about.

Even if you aren’t interested in buying or viewing art but just want a decent haircut, you won’t be disappointed by D-Zine. In fitting with the artistic side of the salon, Edgar makes it a priority to have stylists who, in addition to all the necessary skills, have an extra creative flair and a modern sensibility. So whether you come for the haircuts or for the artwork, check out the creative mixture that is D-Zine.

The Loop is an accessible and inexpensive destination that many students from Washington University go to in their free time. With restaurants, a movie theatre, shopping and more, the Delmar Loop is a favorite among students.

Cool down with a sweet treat at Fro Yo or try Thai Country Café, which offers a great atmosphere to complement their excellent food. Catch up with friends after a few months of summer vacation in the St. Louis Bread Company. And don’t forget to drop into The Pageant and Thai Pizza Company, as recommended by sophomore Erik Skartvedt.

The Loop isn’t the only place students are spending their time, however. Many students choose to visit St. Louis’s famous Gateway Arch.

“I love the Arch, I actually haven’t been up it, but I went last year on the scavenger hunt,” sophomore Ariel Krause said.

If you don’t want to spend the money to get up into the Arch itself, the Museum of Westward Expansion, directly underneath, provides a great opportunity to visit the Arch for free and learn about Lewis & Clark’s expeditions as well as the planning and construction of the city’s most famous attraction.

In addition to going off campus, there are plenty of places right here at Wash. U. where students love to hang out. The Umrath and South 40 Houses are a prime destination for many returning students who want to check out how all the construction from last year turned out.

You can spend your time at the new Bear’s Grill, a quick, convenient place to get your food and hang out with friends. Students are also heading to hot spots like the Village and of course the Danforth University Center.

If you think it’s a cliché to just go to restaurants and visit places, try out the many popular auditions on campus and see if you can make the cut. Some students like sophomores Phoebe Tran and Martina Mok are starting the year on an involved foot by trying out for different extracurricular groups such as a theatre production with the Performing Arts Department or an a cappella group.

Wherever you are going, whether it’s the Loop, the Arch or just staying on campus, there is always something interesting to do before we delve into the world of studying. Let’s take advantage of these few precious days before the stress of classes begins and have fun!