Thursday, September 18, 2025

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.










       

Monday, September 1, 2025

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 s
henanigans 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.