Dear My Gorgeous Pretties,
Well, we’ve come to the end of our journey in St. Louis. ‘Twas quite the row if you know what I mean. Traveling this much continues to teach me to remain open to new people & places & ideas, and simultaneously to know yourself so completely that no one’s preconceived notions or perceptions of you alters your knowledge of self.
It’s wild because even without knowing you, but knowing of you, or what they know of you from social media, you’ll find many people will still want you to conform to their idea of who they want you to be as if you owe them something by simply being in their presence. But when you don’t know yourself, that’s when people pleasing becomes the default. And you see this all the time with people making themselves small in order to fit into the crowd, or saying one thing with you in private and then completely changing the narrative when they get in a group dynamic. Classic people pleasing. I don’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers. But we are allowed to exist, do you hear me? We are allowed to exist, if not for anyone else, for the fulfillment of ourselves.
We’ll conclude our Forest Park adventures with the last two of the MUST-DO destinations, The St. Louis Zoo & the St. Louis Science Center. Now I do have to provide a bit of a disclosure that I am absolutely not a proponent of zoo culture. I have to say it because the animals can’t speak for themselves so we must speak for them. I’m more of a wildlife preserve kinda gal, ya know? Go on a safari & see them in their natural habitat as opposed to confining them to cages and/or restricting them to an environment created by man for our entertainment & spectacle. Now with that being said, I do recognize it for the joy it brings to families, particularly the littles, and remain hopeful for a re-imagined future more suited to the benefit of the wild ones.
It’s me. Hi. I’m the wild one. It’s me. Ok, fine actually pictured is Leopardus tilcayo (aka the Tilcayo tiger cat or gato tilcayo), a new small wild cat species recently identified in the cloud forests of the Yungas region in Bolivia. *not seen in St. Louis Zoo*
To recap, Forest Park is humungous, and as such, the zoo was equally as expansive. I entered through the North Gate, which I presume is the main entrance being that that’s where the gift shop, welcome center, and all the big to do were contained.
Again, such lovely staff at the welcome. A little dose of kindness goes a long way.
It also housed the Anheuser-Busch Theater
Sharks abound 🦈
The Cafe Kodu eatery
And the Treetop (Gift) Shop
which we’ll circle back to on our way out
A little pano action. I loved the layout of this area
My main objective here was to see the Flight Cage, aka the Bird Cage, one of the other only remaining structures from the 1904 World’s Fair. There was a lot of construction taking place so I went on a bit of a detoured route & didn’t circle back around to see what I missed. One of my first animal sightings was the Black-tailed Prairie Dog.
Can you spot them? They blend in quite well
Along my way there was a sea lion landing, big cat country, zebras, camels, giraffes, and antelopes.
I only stopped for a quick sec, but none were spotted. It was pretty hot out so maybe they were trying to keep it cool in the water & shade
I admit, I did enjoy seeing the zebra babies and their mamas. I don’t think I’ve ever seen zebras in real life before this, have you?
If you zoom in you can see the baby hiding behind the mama
A little better view. Another mama & babe in the background
Best view. Fell in love a little bit, ngl 😍
In Big Cat Country, only the cheetahs were on the premises
These types of enclosures are why I don’t care for zoos
I understand it’s for protection, but I’m of the opinion that wild animals should be in the wild. Those are my last words on it.
A drowsy rawr was heard as I walked away. I think it felt my presence 🐆
Also never seen a camel(s) in real life before.
Also masters of camel-flage. Get it? SomeBuddy get the corn 🤣 Shut up. You laughed.
And then they turned around and showed me their ahhhh
Ok, ok, ok, the giraffes were cool too.
But they were clearly not havin’ it…
There’s another one blending into the fence
Bulls, kangaroos, antelopes, & gazelles before we finally make it to the bird cage to view this iconic piece of historical show & tell.
Don’t let its small size fool you. That’s a grown up. 2 more hiding in the back left shade.
And now for the main event.
One of the most popular exhibits & at the time, the largest bird cage ever built.
Shall we take a look inside, My Pretties?
This little piece of the park was a perfect sanctuary. The kind of stuff I like.
I will share a full reel tomorrow on Bismillah & Bonappetit IG, but here’s a cute snippet of a Roseate Spoonbill, one of the main birds here, with a twig to either go build something or use as a weapon against one if its antagonizers 😏
Len, the birdcage volunteer, was so friendly and knowledgeable. If I recall he’s been there for over a decade. He was happy to share with me some facts about two of the birds, Cormy & Jack, double-crested cormorants, that have been there the longest. I accidentally recorded it, so let’s have a quick listen.
He was so sweet. Highlight of my day. Always remember, a little sprinkle of kindness goes a long way.
Upon leaving I was delighted to see that there was a train that takes you around the zoo instead of having to walk it all the way through. ‘Twas too late at this point, but good to know for next time. Choo! Choo!
I would be remiss if at this point I didn’t offer my condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the passengers in today’s tragedy in Spain. May the Lord ease your sorrow.
We circle back now to where we began, at the Treetop Gift Shop before heading off to bookshop. I just finished the most wonderful story about a beanstalk and an ogre…
Of course they had an assortment of fun selections—stuffed animals, keychains, books, clothes, and merch.
I sent you a postcard, Toots. Didja get it?
An enjoyable morning affair. I’m glad I went. If you’re in the area, the Bird Cage is a MUST-VISIT. Thanks again, Len!
See yous laterzzz ✌🏾
Book Worm Break…
I actually stopped by two lovely bookstores—2 separate days. While I enjoyed both, The Book House was hands down my fave. I mean come on. Who’s Belle without her ladder in her library? And yea, we know a Gaston when we see one…
They had an expansive selection both upstairs and down.
And I particularly loved the paintings in the stairwell.
And the sleepy black cat (Luna—iykyk) at the door
I forgot to get a pic of the exterior. I was so excited about my books! But here’s own of their community bulletin
For the book lovers in the Lou, The Book House in Maplewood is a for sure stop through. They have little nooks and comfy chairs for you to sit & read, but more than anything the smell of old books filled my nostrils & my soul. 10/10 MUST-GO.
Left Bank Books was in the Forest Park area. Not sure what the particular neighborhood is called, but it’s very quaint, with an ice cream parlor next door, boutiques, restaurants & coffee shops across the street and around the corners. It was a cute little hub. I wish I had found it sooner.
They had an vast selection as well. I would say the main difference is this one is a bit more contemporary store atmosphere whereas the Book House gave more of your Grandaddy’s (extensive) library collection from the span of his life.
But they won me with their stickers :)
Got some good stuff from here too, so definitely worth the visit. And perhaps the most important message:
Nuff said.
And what’s a good book without an even gooder cuppuhhh cawfee? So I mosied on down the street to this week’s Quintessential Cuppuhhh: Passport Coffee.
The interior was very clean, very sleek, very chic. Very good energy.
I just grabbed my standard iced Americano with a special syrup they had that week. I forget what it was, but it was a nice kick-it-up-a-notch, yaddadamean?
Certainly would return again. Join me for a cuppuhhh if you so please. Cheers!
Our final Forest Park adventure is to the St. Louis Science Center. But first a little commotion for this gorgeous pond view on my walk there.
Forest Park is literally thee best.
We have arriveddddd
Much like the zoo, the science center is geared more towards the youth—and perhaps the child in you—but it’s still fun to go through and learn (or relearn) a thing or two.
Also no admission fee and, like the zoo, had for purchase experiences. The Blue Whale Exhibition being one of them.
I was looking forward to the dinosaurs so off I went.
A brief recap into the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, & Cenozoic Eras…
Do you guys and gals remember learning about this in school?
Every time I see a triceratops I automatically think of The Land Before Time 🥹
And a little trip down Fossil Lane
Props to the kid for matching the wall & ducking out the way 🤣
A little local fossil fun facts
The Fossil Prep Lab
And then my favorite: Earthquake Alley & simulator
Obviously I had to get in on the action
Fun fact about me: My first week in LA—when I moved in 2020—I was awoken in the middle of the night to an earthquake. It was “mild,” I was told, but as someone who operates in energy & vibration, any subtle shift in energy is enough to rouse me from my slumber. This felt very much like the shake plates you see on TikTok.
Speaking of energy, Experience Energy is our next stop…
And a theatre for workshops, lectures, demos.
The Life Science Lab was cool with a full wall highlight of the experimentation process for the cure of scurvy by British Royal Navy surgeon James Lind
What did it cost you to catch a butterfly?
Onward to Game Exploration, but not before passing by the Transparent Woman
Naturally they had various different games in here from arcade to foosball to card games
There was a couple school groups in on this day. We love to see the kids getting their hands on learning on! Funny how everyone seems to be playing Uno lately…
Everyone was obsessed with the life size Super Mario Bro game. Legendary piece of childhood nostalgia
And ended the exhibit playing the very 1st video game. I definitely spent a substantial amount of time playing this back in the day. Have you ever played?
The Explore Store gift shop & a pretzel at the Science Cafe is where we’ll end our visit
I always find it insightful to see what items/merch these places have on display. What really gets the people excited, ya know?
Definitely had to take some of the sour gummies home. I wouldn’t say I have a sweet tooth, but I will eat some sour candy if presented with the opportunity!
Dear My Former SweetHaHt, I dunno how to break it to you but…
Sometimes it’s just not meant to bee…
Unfortunately, you’re just not nerdy enough for me.
I like a guy who knows his calculus.
From day one he said, YOU + ME = US. Cheers!
Taking my geodes and hitting the road!
But first I need a pretzel for the journey…
No pretzel pic but it did happen! And ‘twas delicious 😋
And we will bid St. Louis adieu with the Delectable Dining Award at Good News Brew(ing)
There was a giant gorilla outside & it started torrential down pouring rain when I walked by. The England v. Spain World Cup rematch was on, so it all felt a bit kismet.
I looked at the menu and they had vegan pizza (I had been CA-RAVING!) so it was def meant to be.
Besides, who doesn’t love a fire roasted pizza? And before we eat we say?
The owners Rodney & Julie were very sweet. I showed them my gorilla tote bag from the Broadway play King Kong that I worked at many moons ago, and they shared with me that they even have gorilla imprinted ice for their cocktails.
Love it.
And also that the woodwork from the tables & walls was done at his workshop directly across the street where he also teaches woodworking to the community.
And the artwork on the walls was taken from the boarded up windows which artists painted over during the protests for the death of Michael Brown. Good News Brewing is located in Ferguson.
Love the nod back to the community and truly the sweetest couple. Good company & good food. Pop in and pay them a visit! And be sure to tell them tha queen sent ya.
And a little photo shoot…
And with that, My Gorgeous Pretties, we bid adieu to the Lou. It’s been one swell of a ride, what say you? I can’t wait to share with you new adventures in Mexico. I likely won’t get to everything, but the real ones will definitely get their glow.
Well, my dears, that’s it for me. I once again thank you for being on this journey with me. Whoever you are, wherever you may be, you could be anywhere in the world, but here you are with me. And I love that for you. And I love that for me. I hope you have a sensational rest of your week! I shall see you soon. Stay blessed out there, yea? And of course, God speed.
Love Always (& Besitos!),
Savoring the flavor of each moment
And allowing everyone’s true colors to show
As we continue our journey exploring parts unknown somewhere over the rainbow…
Oh, P.S.!!!!
I have met thee most fabulous man on my adventures. He is so kind, and loving, so generous and sincere. Very protective of my peace and stability, and always finds little ways to let me know how much I’m appreciated. His love has been such a blessing. A healing light, ever radiant. I wanted to share my appreciation of him with this little poem I wrote. I hope he reads it. I hope he receives it. I know he will. Love you my dear. It’s titled, I Have You To Thank, and it goes a little somethin’ like disssss
It would be nice,
If only for tonight,
I could fall asleep without
Mentioning your name aloud in my dreams.
But it seems
Something’s got a hold on me lately
And I don’t know myself anymore…
Because who’da thought that
Someone like you would
Show up in my life
Outta the blue
And utterly consume me
Mind. Body. Soul.
Saying “I love you”
Is not enough
And I cannot tell a lie
So my face caHn’t hold the bluff
But I am desperate for the
Warmth of your touch.
And the gentleness of your smile.
And the day our
Separate lives will be
Intertwined and we
Get to just sit with one another
And stay a while
Finally merged together
From this place of solitude
“I love you” still won’t be enough
But from now
Until forever
I vow to the
High Heavens
The most sincere,
Most devout,
Most holy appreciation
For your Kindness
And Consideration
And end each night
With the simplest of
Extollation:
Thank you.