the Hill neighborhood, St. Louis

New homes in the historic Hill neighborhood of St. Louis with mansard-ish roofs.  The Hill is St. Louis' Italian neighborhood.  I love the Hill and I find myself there frequently for great restaurants, Italian grocers, hair cuts and coffee.  

favorite Hill event:  Wine-down Wednesday.  It's a combined bar and antique shopping experiences.   

favorite family place for dinner:  Guido's, kids love it. 

best new restaurant :  I also had a couple of dinners at Sado where the food (mostly Japanese) was exceptional.  Hey waitstaff - lighten up.  You seem joyless.     

need to try:  the 11:00 am mass at St. Ambrose

I miss:  kids' dentist used to be on the Hill but outgrew the space.  

The Italians yet again

This little butterface is for sale. Here's the listing: link. It's a cute place but for its top facade. I like the floor plan and the details inside. Rip the siding off the mansard, paint the kitchen a nice avocado green and it's a nice place for under $90,000.

Thanks to my friend Patsy for sending me the picture. Patsy was the first mommy friend I made. It was March 2001 and I was eating brunch with my newborn and husband at the now defunct market/coffee shop Marche (on Park in Lafayette Square where the Chocolate Bar is now located).

Patsy walked up to me and said, "hey, a few of us in the neighborhood just had babies and we get together for playdates and the like." And so it was. A Lafayette Square playgroup.

Now Patsy is the co-leader of the Brownie troop. She nor I live in Lafayette Square anymore. She lives in the neighborhood where my kids go to school and I live in the neighborhood where her kids go to school. I need to go get a drink with Patsy at the Chocolate Bar- where it all started.

The Italians again

On Shaw Avenue in the Hill neighborhood (Italians). I think the front part used to be a storefront many years ago. Such an arrangement would allow the shopkeeper to live behind the store and maximize the parcel.

Pretty funky. I'd date the original mansardette to the 1890's and the front piece to the 1920's. I base this opinion on the brick color, the facade of the front unit and my make-it-up-as-i-go-along expertise.

Encore avec les Italiennes!

Here's another Italian bad mansard on the Hill, un maison d'enterrement !

Hopefully my criticism of the Calcaterra funeral home's roof doesn't get me banned from DiGregorio or get my kid kicked out of the Italian American youth Bocce league. Yep, Bocce. Are you wondering whether my husband or I are Italian and are passing down a family tradition to our daughter? Well, none of that. Audrey plays with a friend and she really likes it. Bocce requires only strategy and the ability to toss a ball with a certain momentum. A group of 7 year old Bocce players can take on kids age 4 or 10 and it can be a pretty well-matched game. And it's a free league.

Parc de Janvier et Arsenal

St. Louis Parks Department facility at Sublette Park at January and Arsenal. Is this the Hill? What is it with the Italians and bad mansards?

Buon Natale!

Shaw Avenue on the Hill. For those not from St. Louis, the Hill is St. Louis' Italian neighborhood known for its strong sense of community, Zoysia sod, great food and cute shot-gun houses. This one? The mansard isn't so cute, nor is the satellite dish. I do always appreciate Christmas spirit with the reindeers, lights, etc.

The Hill

How bout them Italians? The Hill is best know for its cute shot-gun homes, St. Ambrose and great food. I am adding another feature: strong-armed architectural smushing. Here at the corner of Macklind and 44 we see a hybrid post-modern Greek Revival entry with a French 2nd Empire roofline. Reminds me of the original bad mansard on Brannon, also on the Hill, a frankenstyle of Swiss chalet, split-level modern and 2nd empire wannabe mansard.