Here's how you know you've lived in South St. Louis for a long time: when you not only can name all the pavilions in Tower Grove Park but you actually have a favorite (or two). For me my favorite large pavilion is the Sons of Rest and my favorite small pavilion is the little Chinese pavilion.I love that when I'm invited to a party in TGP that I know not only the name of each pavilion but the location of the bathrooms, best parking and quickest way in and out of the park. Each pavillion reminds me of events in my life. The Turkish* Pavillion for Gus' first communion picnic. The Old Victorian wading pool pavillion for kindergarten field day. The Old Playground Shelter for the annual St. Vincent de Paul Society Easter eggs hunt.
So imagine how excited I was that this school year our picnic was moved from the stone shelter pavilion to the Sons of Rest. Except for one thing I don't think any of us foresaw- the foot traffic down Grand Blvd created a lot of extra "guests".
I had no problem sharing the food and beer with the occasional hobo. But wow- a couple of scary people crashed the party. There was a woman who was so drunk her efforts to steal food off the vegetable tray resulted in a trail of cauliflower and carrots around the pavillion site.
wrap up analysis:
Sons of Rest pro's:
- not near creek (kids usually get soaked playing in creek near Stone Shelter)
- beautiful, larger shelter
- lights in shelter worked (seems like Stone never works)
- much closer to school and nearby neighborhoods so more families could walk to picnic
- closer to playground
- close to Grand (older kids walked to Tower Grove Creamery)
Son's of Rest con's:
- close to Grand, thus the random hobo party
- it was chilly; would have been nice to have a fire. If I weren't so lazy I would have had organized the girl scouts to build a fire
