Last Post

This blog began with a “first post,” so it’s time for the obligatory last post. When I started this project, I definitely didn’t know what I was getting myself into. There were quite a few times when I wanted to give up, but I’m so glad I didn’t. Thanks to my parents for going on cake quests with me, and thanks to everyone who encouraged me throughout these past months. I’ve learned a lot about St. Louis, and I’ve had a lot of great experiences. Of course, I also have a list of places to revisit! 🙂 This cake scavenger hunt has only affirmed my belief in St. Louis. Sure, we have our problems, and we still have a lot of progress to make. However, there are many beautiful places in our city, and we should celebrate these gems. It’s been great to see so many cake-hunters come together, and I hope this unity can translate to a growth of community in St. Louis as a whole.

For this final post, I’ve created a photo collage of all my pictures with the cakes. The photo collage contains the good, the bad, and the ugly (I’m looking at you, selfies! 🙂 ), and it is really the true culmination of this project. I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to visit all 250+ cakes, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey at least half as much as I have. Never forget to spread the St. Louis love!

~Lauren

Extra Cake II

This extra cake is the second cake located at Ameren. Initially this cake was located inside the building to honor Ameren employees and their sponsorship of stl250, but today it proudly stands by Ameren’s official cake. Rudy Zapf also painted this cake, and it features photos of Ameren employees throughout the years. This cake has a red color scheme, and there’s even a photo on the candlestick. I especially like the scalloped icing on the top of the cake.

Off Broadway Redux

Way back on April 24 I posted about the cake at Off Broadway. As I mentioned in that post, the cake was originally behind the fence. I couldn’t get a photo by it then, but I promised I would get a photo. I have fulfilled this promise approximately seven months later because the cake has been moved out from behind the fence. Here are the photos from Off Broadway Part II:

 

Cake 224—Riverfront Trail at Ashley Street Power House (26 cakes left)

The Ashley Street Power House is a city landmark, and it has been designated as such since 1971. Engineer and architect Charles Ledlic designed the building, which dates back to 1902. It is recognized as the first power plant that Union Electric Company (Ameren) built. The Riverfront Trail begins near the Ashley Street Power House, so this cake also recognizes the trailhead.

Theresa Hopkins painted the cake at the Ashley Street Power House. It features a trail theme. For example, the base of the cake is painted with the Great Rivers Greenway logo, and people jogging and exercising are also painted on the cake. The icing is painted to resemble a blue sky with puffy white clouds.

For more information about the Ashley Street Power House:
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/city-landmarks/Ashley-Street-Power-House.cfm

Cake 223—Edward Jones Dome (27 cakes left)

The Edward Jones Dome is another part of the America’s Center. Obviously, it is home to the St. Louis Rams, but it also hosts other events. Therefore, if the Rams leave St. Louis (hopefully they don’t!), the Dome could still be used for other events. For example, One Direction recently played at the Dome, and it was the first concert held there in quite a while. In 1999, the Dome even held a Catholic Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II, which was the largest one indoors in America.

Stacey Sand(e)weg and Gary Lang decorated the cake at the Edward Jones Dome. It features St. Louis symbols and pictures of events that have taken place at the Dome My favorite part of this cake is probably the fleur-de-lis candle, which is the primary reason the cake is indoors. When we visited this cake, a nice man let us inside to get a picture by the cake, but it can also be seen pretty well from the windows outside.

For more information about the Edward Jones Dome:
http://explorestlouis.com/meetings-conventions/americas-center/edward-jones-dome/

Cake 222—America’s Center (28 cakes left)

Located downtown, the America’s Center Convention Complex encompasses four buildings: the Edward Jones Dome, the St. Louis Executive Conference Center, the Ferrara Theatre, and the Cervantes Convention Center. This cake is located at the last building in the preceding list. Many events take place at the cumulative 500,000 square-foot America’s Center Convention Complex, and the Cervantes Convention Center is a great venue for conferences and other events.

Stacey Sand(e)weg (Her name is spelled two different ways on the website.) and Gary Lang decorated the cake at the Cervantes Convention Center. It features the Arch, which is partially protruding from the cake. Small circles depict a logo with the Arch that read: St. Lou Is… . A different word is painted on each circle, like “surprising.” St. Louis is indeed surprising, and this cake has some great ideas for exploring St. Louis.

For more information about America’s Center:
http://explorestlouis.com/meetings-conventions/americas-center/

Cake 221—National Blues Museum (29 cakes left)

This cake marks a forthcoming museum: the National Blues Museum. The museum is yet to open, but its opening comes nearer each day. There is a strong blues history in St. Louis, and this museum will seek to show visitors the blues’ influence on modern music and culture. The museum is still fundraising with an effort called “Buck Up for the Blues.”

Mark Swain painted the cake at the coming museum. The cake features names of notable musicians on the main tier. The base of the cake depicts vinyl records, and instruments used for the blues are also painted on the cake. The top of the cake and the “250” are glittered and bedazzled, and performer is painted on the side of the cake. It’s an eye-catching cake for what will hopefully become a popular and informative museum!

For more information about the National Blues Museum:
http://www.nationalbluesmuseum.org/

Cake 220—Laclede’s Landing (30 cakes left)

I’m glad I didn’t get crushed by this cake—not to be morbid, but that would definitely be an interesting cause of death. I had heard one of the cakes was suspended above a doorway, but I didn’t realize quite how high it would be suspended. Anyway, Laclede’s Landing is a notable St. Louis landmark because, if you couldn’t tell from its name, it marks the approximate location of Pierre Laclede’s landing and settlement of St. Louis. Laclede’s Landing is a bustling entertainment district, and it had 15 restaurants at last count. Before visiting this cake I thought Laclede’s Landing was the name of a specific restaurant, so I’m glad I’ve been enlightened. However, I do think Laclede’s Landing should also acknowledge Auguste Chouteau in some way. (Unless it already does and I’m just unaware; I’m clearly not a Laclede’s Landing expert.)

Don Jaboor painted the suspended-in-air cake at Laclede’s Landing. It features the St. Louis flag and a brick design on its base. St. Louis is a city that was definitely built with brick, and its fitting that the flag is painted on the cake that marks St. Louis’ beginnings.

For more information about Laclede’s Landing:
http://lacledeslanding.com/about-lacledes-landing/

Cake 219—Eads Bridge (31 cakes left)

The Eads Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges I’ve ever seen. It is named after engineer and shipbuilder James B. Eads, who designed it in 1867. It opened in 1874 to connect St. Louis with Illinois, and it has remained an iconic St. Louis structure. The bridge has had its fair share of problems, but today it caters to many forms of transportation. You can cross the Eads Bridge in a vehicle, on a bike, on foot, or even with MetroLink!

Dale Dufer pained the cake at the Eads Bridge. It features a river and boat scene on the main tier, and trees are painted on the main tier. The base of the cake has a fleur-de-lis on each side, and the top of the cake proclaims that Eads Bridge is the gateway to the West. One of my favorite parts of this cake is the little steamboats puffing away on the top tier.

For more information about the Eads Bridge:
http://www.builtstlouis.net/eads01.html

Cake 218—Missouri Athletic Club (32 cakes left)

The Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) has over 100 years of history. According to its website, it opened in 1903 after efforts from Charles Henry Genslinger. MAC hosted many notable people during the 1904 Olympics, and athletes from the club also participated in the Olympics. MAC has also been known as the St. Louis Athletic Club and the Missouri Athletic Association, but athletics have always been part of the club and thus its name. In 1914, the first clubhouse burned down. A new clubhouse opened on the same land in 1916, and this clubhouse is the one used today.

Stuttgart Visiting Artists painted the cake at the Missouri Athletic Club. It is a very detailed cake, and it features cityscapes and aspects of Stuttgart culture. Additionally, athletics are depicted, such as a person hitting a baseball. Five names are painted on the base of the cake, and I presume they are the people who make up the Stuttgart Visiting Artists.

For more information about MAC:
http://www.mac-stl.org/About-Us/History.aspx