NOCO is officially Kick Ass!

If you watch local news or read the Post on a regular basis, it’s easy to start believing that St. Louis is a crime-ridden crap hole where nothing good ever happens. But last night, I got to see the good close up. As one of 12 honorees in the 2010 St. Louis Kick Ass Awards, I was privileged to be among some of the coolest, most creative and passionately dedicated people in the metro area. And let me tell you, it was awesome!

Every year since 2004, writer/DJ Thomas Crone, writer/artist Andrea Avery Durway and a core group of creative movers and shakers from the late literary magazine, 52nd City, have compiled a list of “individuals, businesses, organizations and projects that contribute to the health and vitality of the St. Louis region,” choosing a dozen of them as “Kick Ass.” Nearly all of the previous winners have come from the City of St. Louis, so I was especially honored to be chosen for my work in North County. I was also humbled to be included among so many amazing people who are doing incredible things for our St. Louis community.

You can see my award presentation and acceptance speech here:

Now let me mention the other winners, all of whom are breaking rules and changing lives and proving that there’s much more to St. Louis than baseball and beer:

• The Archive – Used bookstores are dead, huh? Well, nobody told these guys, whose Cherokee Street “literary adventure and reading room” is drawing customers from all over the country.
• Sleepy Kitty – Rockin’ music. Killer graphic design. This adorably hip couple by way of Chicago and Seattle is single-handedly making St. Louis a more fabulous place.
• Bad Shoe – A local literary magazine featuring the work of female writers, Bad Shoe was co-founded by a fun young poet who grew up in Spanish Lake.
• Robert Duffy – This veteran newspaper reporter and editor took a brave leap when he started the St. Louis Beacon, a wonderful online source for local news.
• John Foster – Teacher, artist and collector extraordinaire, John Foster is the man behind Accidental Mysteries, a delightfully quirky blog with loads of eye candy.
• Danielle Lee – Who says black people can’t be scientists? The lovely ecologist Danielle Lee, PhD, proves that they can with her engaging blog, Urban Science Adventures.
• Midnite Rockers – DJ Ital Kae, whose dreamy British accent belies his deep roots in reggae and Caribbean music, hosts this popular KDHX radio show with Erica Lewis.
• Val Schweickhardt – Dedication has no bounds for this huge-hearted woman, who volunteers countless hours for Metro Animal Resources saving stray and feral cats.
• Sir Watermelon – Inspired by his father, who died “kicking Nazi ass” during WW2, Karl Kindt is now a “knight for hire,” teaching chivalry to both children and adults.
• Joan Suarez – Women, immigrants, children and workers – Joan Suarez has bravely fought for the rights for ALL of these groups during the course of her distinguished career.
• Raven Wolf – Visit Soulard Market and you’re likely to see Raven Wolf, a gentle, loving soul and very talented jazz musician who is rarely without his saxophone.
• STL-Style – Entrepreneurs Jeff & Randy Vines won the mystery award this year, snagging their umpteenth honor for lifting local spirits with their St. Louis t-shirts.

What did I tell you? A very impressive bunch.

Even better, I got to meet these neat people at the fantastical studio of artist Bill Christman, which you can see below. Best known for his work at the City Museum and Blueberry Hill, Bill just might be painting an official “Welcome to Ferguson” sign in the near future… Talk about Kick Ass!

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