Benbow City Shuffle

 

It's a Wednesday night at Evangeline's in Central West End of Saint Louis. As "the fan base" of Dave Shogren's band Benbow City Shuffle I'm looking forward to the group's return to the venue. (The piano by the window reminds me of Richie who has disappeared from the mix of late). I arrive early enough to edge may way into the group photo at the door. (Above: Al Funk, Wes Morgan, posing as drummer, Noddin Dave Shogren and Joe Gavin).

This travelling core is the essence of Dave's musical configurations that I've seen perform around town as Noddin' Dave and the OMG, Benbow City Shuffle, The Tiny Desk series, The Mud Brothers and more. Oh London, Black Salt, Jovick Brothers, Crown Candy Plaza, Pop's Blue Moon, Upstairs at O'Connell's Pub, 100 on the Park on Kingshighway, Cloverlief Golf Course,,, to name a few.

       

Pittsburgh

 

Janie wanted to see the Savannah Bananas. The process of elimination and the tie-breaker (for me) is the opportunity to visit the Andy Warhol Museum suggested the best bet was to meet in Pittsburgh. So I flew in and Janie drove from Cleveland so we could be together a couple of days - always a beautiful thing. 

Friday August 29 we were among 40,000 fans as the event was a series of stunts, trick plays, convoluted rules of the show-biz in a two hour contest that roughly approximates a nine-inning baseball game. (They attracted another 40,000 on Saturday for the shenanigans as well. 80,000 tickets - wow.)

Saturday August 30th allowed us to enjoy a free breakfast at the hotel before walking past the PNC Park (where they were still gearing up to sell yet more merch and T-shirts for the Bananas fans). The Andy Warhol Museum was a short walk for us to arrive as it opened at 10 am. The world's largest hotel dedicated to a single artist is seven stories with everything from early shoe illustration, to paintings, silk screens, pop art boxes, screen-tests and Andy Warhol films. It's easy to spend 2 1/5 hours there getting emersed in the enigma that is Andy Warhol.

 

 

Notes: Hyde Park, Tom's Watch Bar (Florida State 31-Alabama 17,  MO State 13 - USC 73). Pitt Guys trying to name alums besides Dan Marino, misplaced real ID, Superman in hotel, Foundry, Southern Tier Brewery, Viet Nam Memorial, U.S. Open on TV). 

Mary McGann MacGreggor, Gavin (Grace/Olivia/Liza), Mark (Wren/Mercy/Rooney/Prim and Erika).

That far off stare, in spite of not facing any TV screens at Tom's Watch Bar. Maybe the river flow but only a glimpse that turned into a smile as her gaze landed on me (after what seemed like a while avoiding eye contact). 

She's my ride to the airport. My flight is at 8 something in the am. The airport is 17 minutes away according to GPS on my phone. I'm always neurotic about leaving time for whatever so I wake up at like 4 am and take a shower. Around 5:30 am: "What time is it?" (My response: "It's daytime.") 

A ride to the airport - 17 minutes according to GPS turned into 25. A polite hug goodbye. Time marches on. 

CATHERINE LIKAVEC Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Oct. 24 to Oct. 25, 2013.

LIKAVEC CATHERINE LIKAVEC (nee Popovich), 95, beloved wife of the late Methodius J., cherished mother of Matt, Thomas (Susan), David (Deborah), and Janie (Ed); loving grandmother of Adam, Aaron, Sarah, Lisa, Michael, Jonathan, Stephanie, Jennifer, Christine, Daniel, Douglas, Gavin, Mark, Jacqueline, and Luke; Great-grandmother of 14, dear sister of George and James. Catherine entered into rest Tues., Oct. 22, 2013. Friends will be received Friday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the JOSEPH MISENCIK FUNERAL HOME, 12500 Madison Ave., Lakewood, where closing prayers will be Sat. 9:30 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. mass at Transfiguration Parish, Lakewood. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Cleveland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame, Chardon Province, 13000 Auburn Rd., Chardon, Ohio 44024.

Brief Life History of Methodius

When Methodius Likavec was born on 14 September 1917, in Ohio, United States, his father, Methodius J Likavec, was 30 and his mother, Helen Drops, was 24. He married Catherine Popovich on 26 August 1939, in Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He registered for military service in 1943. He died on 19 November 1987, in Lakewood, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, at the age of 70, and was buried in Brook Park, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States.

Jeckle & Jeckle

 

Heckle and Jeckle are postwar animated cartoon characters created by Paul Terry, originally produced at his own Terrytoons animation studio and released through 20th Century Fox. The characters are a pair of identical anthropomorphic yellow-billed magpies who usually cause problems to others and for themselves with their bizarre antics. Heckle speaks in a tough New York style manner, while Jeckle has a more polite British accent.

Meanwhile Camille an Thomas got news this week that their brother and sister (twins) are healthy and weighing in at about two pounds each.

Now

As I reflect on the now. 

I just have to wonder how. 

I'm blessed with an inflated sense of self worth;

Probably because of the breaks I've had since birth. 

The arc of my life;

Began with a home on a lake.

The time and the place;

Was no mistake. 

Of course as a restless youth, I wanted out.

My vision for the future could not be denied.

The possibilities seemed endless with no doubt;

It all will come if and when I tried. 

I know now;

With confidence, but not exactly how.

You need a model like I had;

You need an extraordinary dad.

Mark makes intro: Meet Susan

 

So, Mark Denk made a cameo at the AMA golf event on June 27, 2025, He did not play but he hung around for some of the briefing of two sponsors (Robert Half and Chiro-One). Since Mark is a guy who likes to facilitate connections he wanted to make an introduction. The following e-mail served as introduction (I lost my cell earlier that week during my preparations for the Golf Event at Creve Coeur Golf Course.)  

On Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 01:47:55 PM CDT, M Denk <markdenk@yahoo.com> wrote:

Susan Signorino, I’d like to introduce you to my friend Wes Morgan and vice versa.

Susan - While I have been on the St. Louis chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA-STL) board for the past 20 years (trying to get off for the last 19), I have had a lot of time to really get to know become friends with Wes. I am convinced that he started the St. Louis chapter back in the 1940s even though he’s only in his 60s. In addition to serving as a past president, he is currently our chapter’s historian and the most relaxed golf tournament chair.

Wes worked in the advertising industry for the majority of his career, is always smiling, always has a story to share and is a lover of art and museums.

Wes - I describe Susan as the very definition of what an outsider would imagine a social worker does. Everyone is naturally attracted to her as she is very kind, very generous of her time, expertise, her network and always willing to lend a helping hand and/or ear. She runs and has ran several always successful networking groups in senior healthcare.

While I am not a matchmaker nor want to be known as one, I look forward to you guys connecting and becoming friends.

Cheers,

Mark Denk

314-435-0393

PS: Susan, I’m connecting you through email because Wes misplaced his phone yesterday and won’t have his replacement until Monday at the earliest.

Well, the e-mail intro and my missing phone combined with my plan to meet an out of town friend at the Saint Louis Art Museum. The out-of-town guest cancelled but I did have a pleasant visit with Susan at the art museum, nevertheless. 

I did a bit of an art tour. (I am a docent at heart I guess.) I talked a lot about me, of course. We were together for 3+ hours. The museum was open late and the light rain at dusk resulted in am incredible rainbow on Art Hill.

Susan lost her spouse in 2022 (and her parents in the same year). She was a good audience for my docent tour highlights - Monet, Van Gogh, the Egyptian cat, Rothko, Warhol, Jaune Quick To See Smith and other highlights. We went through the crowded Roar exhibit (dedicated to the period around the automobile, art and fashions of 1918-1939 in France).

Since Susan is a friend of Bob Mogley, we took advantage of his hospitality at Creek Valley Retirement Community. I was able to deliver a belated birthday card (which was displayed in his office when we left).

Susan joined me for a viewing of Little Miss Sunshine, a 1969 movie viewing at the Saint Louis Art Museum soon after that. 

     

AMA Golf at CCGC 2025

 

July 27, 2025 The Annual Golf event at Creve Coeur Golf Course weathered one of the most interesting rounds. Randy Niederer, Mark Bretz, Chris Demko (from Robert Half), Coolfire foursome, Jamal, Wes Morgan, Lauren and another gal managed a ninth hole with a tent and two other women managed a tent on hole number 2, a cameo by Mark Denk and some random spattering of local Creve Coeur golfers braved the round that began at 12:30 after enjoying a quick lunch of hot dog, drink and chips. The round was supposed to be the pick day after Saint Louis had a week of heat alerts with "feels like 100+ degrees" days.

 

We instead got bombarded by quick down pours that cooled things down but didn't stop the hearty band of dedicated golfers and volunteers from enjoying the day in spite of the conditions. By afternoon, thunderstorms and lighting were tracking east of the course. 

Excused absences: John Grizzell, Bob Mogley, Rowdy Jones, Dave Cox, Darryl Vandiver, Joe Voss, AMA board members including co-chairs Hannah and Merissa. 

Thanks to all who participated in what I think might be our 27th at CCGC since 1998.   

Art Reading 2025

 

There is no required reading list for my self described Art Junky Habit, but lately I have let my own curiosity drive my casual reading. The remarkable exhibit Picasso and Paper at the Cleveland Museum of Art (January 17, 2025). Life with Picasso is a dandy overview of Picasso and tells you a lot about the artists and his muses.

Monet is fascinating too and my visit to the Museum of Fine Arts - Boston (February 28, 2025) seemed deserving of a scholarly overview of Monet The  Restless Vision.

The Saint Louis Art Museum - (June 6, 2025) hosted a member talk by former Curator at the North Carolina Museum of Art - . The author of Artcurious Jennifer Dasaal signed my book "Wes - Stay Curious!"

A visit to Museum of Modern Art, MoMA - (June 13, 2025) via Laguardia Airport and a meeting with my good friend David Drimer was more than an ample reminder of why I love to revisit great art museums. Almost immediately spotted Picasso's Goat. Also loved seeing Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollack, Salvador Dali, Max Beckman and Mark Rothko.  

I have plans to visit the Andy Warhol Museum August 30, 2025 so I ordered Warhol to read in anticipation. The book is 900 pages and should provide a pretty good overview Andy and Pop Art.