St. Louis Fish Fry Season 2013: St. Pius V on Grand

Pius is always one of my favorite fish fries and this year, it did not disappoint. In fact, as Joe and I were sitting there in silence, scarfing down our delcisious food and listening to the Irish music, I was thinking about how great it was and Joe interrupted me with "This is the best food we've had all year." 

And it's probably true. I'll share my 2013 superlatives with you soon - best cod, best variety, best service, best desserts etc - but for future reference, the deets on St. Pius. 

For $8 you get a choice of fish - fried or baked cod, catfish - and THREE sides. I choose applesauce, coleslaw and potato salad (after being impressed by them last year - see, these reviews come in handy!). Joe had the mac n cheese and said it was pretty good too. I had the cod and it was okay. Enjoyable, but the crust was kind of tough. I needed a knife to cut it. Joe really loved his catfish. The dessert selection was awesome - I mean, LOOK at that cake. nom nom nom. 

The band was excellent as always, and this year they sang a special song called, 'We're having a fish fry' and it was hilarious. Any song that uses the word 'delish' to describe fried, battered cod is a win in my book. 

This was my last fish fry this year and I think I'm in denial. 

See other 2013 reviews:

St. Gabriel and St. Stephen Protomartyr, St. James the Greater and St. Agatha

And see past reviews:

St. Stephen and St. Gabriel, Cecilia's, Pius, Agatha, etc.

St. Louis Fish Fry Season 2013: St. Gabriel and St. Stephen Protomartyr

St. Gabriel

St. Gabriel is consistently one of my favorite fish fries. What's not to love about getting free beer in line, real cod, great sides and great service?

Yes, the line may be long - but like I said, they walk around giving you free beer! There are generally a few fish items to choose from - jack salmon, cod, catfish, and shrimp were among the options this year I believe. The cod here is my favorite in St. Louis. It is seasoned so nicely. And so many good sides! I opted for fries (I can't resist) and slaw (to keep it fresh). Although you are allowed two sides with each dinner, they gave my boyfriend three as a thanks for waiting. So nice!

I can be tough to find places to sit in the cafeteria, so travel in a smaller group (I recommend that for most fish fries though). And if you're really smart - do carry out and just sneak over to the dining room! The carry out line is always considerably shorter. 

St. Stephen Protomartyr

I may have gone overboard with the fried food at this one. 

I had the fish tacos last year, and while good - too spicy for me. I stuck with the cod (fried) this year. I'm traditional. The fish comes with hush puppies  (fried), and for sides I went with the much-raved about mac n cheese bites (fried) and sweet potato fries (fried). Whoa. The fries were great and I'd definitely get those again, but I wasn't a fan of the mac n cheese bites. I wish I had gotten some coleslaw. Something 'fresh.'

Favorite dessert variety of the year! In true St. Paddy's tradition, I went with this chocolate/mint cake and Joe had some sort of chocolate chip gooey butter cake that looked awesome. It was the first time this year that there was more than one thing on the dessert table that I wanted. Kudos, St. Stephen!

See other 2013 reviews:

St. James the Greater and St. Agatha

And see past reviews:

St. Stephen and St. Gabriel, Cecilia's, Pius, Agatha, etc.

St. Louis Fish Fry Season 2013: St. James the Greater and St. Agatha

Ash Wednesday: St. James the Greater

Went straight to St. James after getting home from Colorado Wednesday night and ended up getting there right before close. I can't really judge ambiance, service, or crowded it was because by that time, we were the only ones there. 

The slaw was great, the cod was crispy but obviously just frozen squares (I don't mind, I like that kind!). The white pasta was amazing. I don't usually pick pasta/spaghetti at fish fries because I generally find it dry, but this was awesome. I'd go back just for that. Other sides I think they had were fries and green beans. The desserts were limited when we got there, but all looked homemade. I had some banana cake and it was awesome. No idea how much it costs (didn't see any signs and the boy paid) but I think it may have been more expensive than most. I think he said $20+ dollars for our two dinners. AB beers in cans were $2. 

St. Agatha in Soulard 

No pictures on this one because it was (a) so good, as always and (b) because I was so flustered.... they weren't serving any beer. 

St. Agatha was just as good as always. Amazing food prepared by the sweet Polish parish tucked away between the brewery and 55 in Soulard. We had real fried fish (no squares!), amazing slaw, sauerkraut and fries. But there were no desserts this year - just bread and bagels. Odd choice if you ask me. Water, tea or a (warm) soda were included with the meal. $7 I believe. 

But the beer.... ugh. One of the reasons I loved St. Agatha was their selection of Polish beers. It made it a real cultural event instead of just a fish fry. It really made it special. It was one of the fish fries I enjoyed the most and loved to share with my friends. They aren't serving any beer this year though. And it is such a shame. I know that many stricter parishes (and pastors) are against serving beer at church events.... but the reality is that brings in a lot of money. You have to know your audience - St. Louis is a beer drinking town. A Catholic beer drinking town. 

See past reviews:
St. Stephen and St. Gabriel, Cecilia's, Pius, Agatha, etc.

Muny 2012: Pirates!

Casting/Acting: A

The Pirate King = Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. 

Mabel's sisters = A delight. 

The men (the pirates + the native band/police) = Entertaining. 

The General = Impressive. 

Frederic and Mabel..... eh. For these being the main characters, I didn't really care about them. I know Frederic is supposed to be a little dumb naive, but I found him quite annoying. Not exactly what you usually look for in a leading man. 

Song & Dance: A

There were a number of lively song and dance numbers, which I always enjoy. A few of the slower ones (especially 'Stay, Frederic, Stay') made me antsy and the duet between Ruth and Frederic about her lying about being a virgin was weak, but I'm overlooking that because by the end of the show I was smiling and clapping. My favorite number was probably the pirates sneaking in to the Governor's home (something about being 'catlike' and not making a sound). I don't want to spoil it for anyone going to see it, but I'll just say it was a treat. I'm pretty sure I squealed with delight at the end. 

Set Design: A+

They really knocked this one out of the park. Most impressive set design I've seen all season, by a landslide. Even the giant LED screen wasn't bad! It actually added something positive the show! They took us to ports, beaches/jungles and a Governor's mansion with ease. 

Overall, a great show that, if you're free this weekend and in St. Louis, I would recommend you see. I read in the STL Today review that the director told the cast to have fun, and boy, does it show. I remember thinking that watching them all dance around during one of the songs. It just looked like they were having a ball up there on stage. And that always translates to the audience as well.

Oh, and the Albert Pujols joke was the loudest I've ever heard people laugh/clap during a show at the Muny.

image source: STL Today

Muny 2012: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Reasons I know I liked loved Joseph...:

• It was the first time all season I was humming the songs at intermission and on the ride home... and I didn't even know them. Also, I may or may not have rocked out to the soundtrack on Spotify the next day at work. 
• In general, I've found all the dancing sub-par this season, but not this week. It was the first time I was watching and thought, 'Man, I miss dancing.'
• Justin Guarini didn't wear a shirt for most of it. 
• I smiled. A real genuine smile. And I laughed. Not like, a little chuckle or 'ha. clever.' I legit laughed. (Hint: Stick around for the FULL finale/curtain call. Most fun I've ever seen had on that stage.)
• I was in my car by 10:20! I love quick shows. Especially after the marathon that was Dreamgirls. 
• I teared up. I know, it's weird. But sometimes really good musicals (or commercials or songs or articles etc) get me choked up. Out of no where. It doesn't even have to be sad or anything. Anyway, last night, when the Narrator took her bow, I just got a lump in my throat. It was that good. 

Now - be warned. Joseph... may not be for everyone. It's a sort of over the top 70's/80's musical from Andrew Lloyd Weber, like Jesus Christ Superstar. It has no dialogue, just song after song. It doesn't have elaborate sets or costumes. It has modern references and is adapted for every staging. Some people don't like musicals like that. In fact, I usually don't. But I love this one.

You've got Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday left to go see it. Don't miss this one.

Muny 2012: Aladdin

+

that scene from Ten Commandments where Sephora's sisters dance for Moses (why isn't this clip online?!)

=

There are two versions of this review - the polite, I-go-to-the-Muny-once-a-year-or-so review, and the nit picky, high expectations, seen-too-man-shows-at-the-Muny review.

First, the polite version: 

It was a really great show. Enjoyable. You'll laugh, for sure! Really on point pop culture references (people who complain about this - and yes, I heard you complaining about it after the show - obviously don't remember the original movie that was full of them). It's fun for kids AND adults. The set design is absolutely gorgeous. Seriously. And there are a few 'Muny magic' moments that really set the show apart. 

Now, the nit picky version:

• The three friends, one of whom was played by the amazing Francis Jue, outshined Aladdin and Jasmine. By like, a million. (To be fair, I think Jue outshines everyone.) They were better dancers, better singers, more entertaining. To be honest, I wanted Aladdin to ditch Jasmine and do the band with them, too. 
• The Genie is just a guy playing Ken Jeong playing Genie. 
• The voice that they cast as the Cave of Wonders was terrible. Have Ken Page do it! Or another strong male voice. I was not afraid of that giant tiger-faced cave. 
• The show, in general, felt amateur. Some of the acting was terrible (by the guards, attendants) and everyone was flubbing their lines. Rough. 
• Some of those 'magic' Muny moments just didn't do it for me. The Genie's entrance was cool, but took way too long to get him to the stage (and why did you save all that smoke for the 2nd act?). 'Prince Ali's' parade needed more energy. Wave those banners, get some ribbons waving in the air, bring the camels back out! The lighting for the magic carpet was terrible and looked like they were just floating against a wall of black. And that would have been an awesome time to use your new LED screen! With mountains or something moving in the background to make them look like they were flying! Plus, I'm not impressed with your camels because (a) they were on stage for about 2 seconds and (b) I've already done that. Psh. 

The kid's show is becoming my absolute least favorite. People are showing up when it is already three-songs in. People are getting up in the middle of the show. Kids are crying, yeling during the show while they are at the concession stand and bathroom. Parents are starting their mass exodus to get to the car and beat the traffic during the second- or even third-to-last song. And to the tween girls that so rudely marched to their seats during the National Anthemn instead of standing still and showing some respect... yeah, we saw you. 

Muny 2012: Chicago

I was really curious how the Muny would stage Chicago. The movie is all glitz and glamour and sparkle (and all that jazz!). But the stage version, at least from what I've seen, is pretty bare. Orchestra on stage. Not big sets. No flashy costumes. Mostly black leotards and simple props. I know that sounds boring, but it is what makes any pops of glamour stand out - Billy's suit, Velma and Roxie at the end. The lighting, the dancing, the singing - it all takes centerstage.

Anyway, I figured most people were coming to the Muny for Richard Gere. Not black leotards.

But they did a good job of balancing it. The sets were still pretty sparce (and the orchestra was on stage!), but the costumes were pretty glitzy. Because Kristin will ask, the dancing was great. How can you go wrong though? It's kind of hard to mess up the choreography for Chicago.

A couple of notes:
- When the foreign inmate gets hung. This is usually so dramatic. The lighting, the music plays a big role. But she was still standing there. She didn't drop down or anything. She pranced off the stage after she was supposed to be dead. I'm big into suspension of belief... but it just wasn't enough for me.
- 'Nowadays.' That song is my absolute favorite and I'm disappointed that they didn't work some of that 'Muny magic' to make the wall of lights behind Velma and Roxie. I know they had that big staircase and the orchestra on stage... and they already had the big Chicago backdrop.... but that number WITHOUT the lights behind them is just another number with two girls singing and dancing on stage. It isn't special. It doesn't stand out. It certainly isn't a finale!
- Again this week, the digital board did not impress me. I kept looking up there thinking I would see the words to the music so we could sing along. It still feels forced and out of place.

Opening Night! Muny 2012: Thoroughly Modern Millie

It's Muny season! That means another summer of (often-delayed) recaps and reviews. Let me be clear - I am the worst possible person to ask about a show at the Muny. I'm totally jaded and biased. I've had season tickets for years, so I've seen about a bajillion shows there. Show has to seriously blow me away to give it a glowing, enthusiastic review. If you're just enjoyable... you're just enjoyable.

Take this season's opener, Thoroughly Modern Millie.

It was good enough. Great dancing. Great singing. (Both a tribute to good casting). I chuckled. But it won't be on my 'best ever' list. It was enjoyable. 


Some thoughts:

• I wanted more glitz and glamour and sparkle on set. There was not enough glitter for 1920s New York. 
• Seriously though, kudos to the new producer for filling Paul Blake's shows. You never would have known a different from this show to year's past's. Except...
• That new LED backdrop. Not so sure about that. It seemed.... out of place. The colors were off. They don't reflect light the same way the painted set does and it just looks odd. It might work really well for more modern musicals (Bring it on at the Fox this year used video screens brilliantly), but not sure if it works well for more classic musicals like this one. 
• The human trafficking subplot was odd and uncomfortable. This is a weird musical that I would not like to try to explain to kids....

And if you're in the mood, check out my review from last season - 
Legally Blonde, Kiss Me Kate, Little Mermaid, Singin in the Rain, Little Shop of Horrors, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Bye Bye Birdie. 

Fish Fry Season! The Beginning.

Three fish fries have come and gone and I'm just now getting around to reviews. Sorry! Here's my first two (very brief) recollections of the fish fries visited in 2012:

#1 Ash Wednesday at St. Stephen Protomartyr
The fish tacos got me. I love fish tacos. I order them at every Mexican restaurant I go to. I couldn't resist. But they were too spicy for me (be warned: I think Taco Bell is spicy). I'm glad I ordered an extra piece of cod, just in case! Sides were fantastic. Service was beyond excellent. Beer was a little warm. :(




#2 St. Gabriel
The line was really long.... like all the way up the stairs to the top floor. But they gave out free beer. And everyone was super friendly. And they sell T-shirts.

And we're not even to the food yet.

Huge portions piled high on your real plate that you eat with real silverware. Fish and sides were both so delicious... I wanted seconds. Desserts selection was kind of sad and different depending on when you went. Lots of cold AB products.

Too many screaming children. But I'm a just a snotty twentysomething.





Coming soon: St. Agatha and St. Pius....

Bye Bye Muny

[Excuse my lame Bye Bye Birdie reference.]

So last two performances of the season were.... varied.


Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was the best of the season and will be on my all time favorites list (joining Aida, Miss Saigon, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Singin in the Rain....). I was skeptical because I didn't know the story, but briefly- Boy meets girl. Boy falls for girl. Boy marries girl (all in one day). Boy brings girl home where she meets his clan of brothers who also need some womanly influence in their lives. They decide to kidnap - yes, kidnap - girls to fill said role. Hmmm. Weird story, yes? But the dancing, oh the dancing! It was so goooooooood. I was literally on the edge of my seat with a smile on my face the whole time.

Also helps that it takes place in the mountains out West (Utah maybe?) and the sets all reminded me of Colorado.

Bye Bye Birdie was.... bad. Sorry. I didn't like it. As it started, I was getting my hopes up because I realized it is the first live musical I remember seeing as a kid - at the St. Simon's 8th grade play. I was maybe in first or second grade at the oldest. But, man, what a disappointment. Birdie is weird. Weird music. Weird story. Just weird. And I don't recommend seeing it if you are under the age of 40.

Let me explain- There are some shows that are timeless. And there are some that you see listed in the back of the Muny program and think, 'Why don't they show that one anymore?' Birdie is going to be one of those musicals I think. I mean, it has an entire song about Ed Sullivan! I'm not vapid. I get Ed Sullivan references. I get Conrad Birdie is sort of like Elvis, and he's great (in fact, 'Honestly, Sincere' is probably one of the best Muny performances I've ever seen, even though the whole show overall was a bust for me). But there were other references that I totally did not get. During the Ed Sullivan song, I look around and see everyone (over the age of 40) is laughing. And I think it is lame. I heard my grandma say, 'Oh that's so funny' more than once and my aunt something about 'when [she] was 19.' When I'm the adult.... Who is going to go see (and love) Bye Bye Birdie?

So the season is all said and done. If I were to rank this seasons shows (best to worst) it would be....

1. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

2. Little Shop of Horrors

3. Singin in the Rain

4. Little Mermaid

5. Legally Blonde

6. Bye Bye Birdie

7. Kiss Me Kate

Another summer passed us. Sadface. And Paul Blake, who has produced 22 seasons at the Muny is leaving. Double sadface. 

Muny Revue... er, Review

Okay, okay I owe you two Muny reviews... soon to be three. So much for timeliness. You'd never know I have a journalism degree.

Singin in the Rain and Little Shop of Horrors. Two very different shows, but both had a lot in common. One's a classic, one is more adult, but when they announced the line-up this season, these two were the ones I was looking forward to the most. I had seen Singin in the Rain a few years ago at the Muny and loved it; and saw Horrors at Stages in Kirkwood and immediately fell in love with it. I had high expectations.... and of course, they were met exceeded.

First, Singin in the Rain:
I'll get to the dancing right away, since that was a request from Kristin and Kelsey. I'll be honest... I think they should have spent a little more time rehearsing. They weren't always together, and this is coming from someone that isn't even into the drill team, perfect synchronization thing (anymore). But you can't really go wrong with Gene Kelly-inspired choreography, can you? And there was a lot of tap dancing, which is always a plus.

Also, the sets. Wowza. Usually at the Muny it is predictable - there are one or two big backdrops and a couple smaller ones, and then props/furniture on stage. If you're really lucky, you get a big moving ship or something special. But for Singin in the Rain, I couldn't even tell where these backdrops were coming from. Almost every one was different! Better than Legally Blonde, where the classroom doubled as a dorm room doubled as a court room...

And speaking of sets, there is no better moment of 'Muny Magic' than the singing in the rain scene. Seeing  the actor dance around in the puddles on stage is always worth sitting there in the heat and I love being surrounded by people seeing it for the first time (a little girl sitting in front of us exclaimed to her mom, 'That's real water!?').

Moving on to Little Shop of Horrors (not to be confused with Rocky Horror Picture Show. Apparently, a lot of people think they're the same thing).

In Horrors, the hero is a hapless florist, his damsel in distress is a semi-skanky coworker, and the villians are a man-eating plant and a dentist. Yes, a dentist. It's hilarious.

I can't say enough good things about this musical - the plot is genius; the music (rock / motown-inspired) will be stuck in your head for days; the puppetry is a delight; and I'm a sucker for deep voices (legendary Ken Page was the voice of Audrey II). Another one of those that is great with first-timers to see the shock on their faces the first time you see the plant move, or talk, or eat someone.

Just two shows left this season - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers this week and Bye Bye Birdie next. Check out my other reviews - of Legally Blonde, Little Mermaid and Kiss Me, Kate - here.

Meet Me At The Muny

I've been going to the Muny for years.

(Non-STL reader disclaimer: The Muny is an outdoor amphitheater - the oldest and largest in the U.S. - that was built in Forest Park for the 1904 World's Fair and plays hosts to musicals every summer. They aren't travelling tours of the shows though, they are all produced right here in the city. Watching the sunset behind the stage before showtime - like this picture- is the best.)

It started off with random shows when I was a kid. In middle school, my Mom, Sister and I started a tradition of getting Mom's Deli and sitting in the free seats in the back. And then, Mom bucked up and started getting season tickets every year.

Blame it on my love of musicals or my dance background or that theater criticism class I took in college, but my sister and I always spent the car ride home dissecting the show we just saw. The costumes. The acting. The singing. The set. And usually most of all, the dance numbers.

Now that Kristin is in DC and my Mom drives home to South County after the show, I've got no one to rant (or rave) with. People ask me how the show was and I know damn well they are looking for a good/bad response, not my answer of how it compares with past shows or why that actor wasn't right for the part.

Good thing I have a blog, eh? We're already three shows in this season, so here goes:

Legally Blonde:
Let's get this straight. I'm not a big fan of the 'modern musical.' The kind where they sing pretty much all the dialogue. The kind where the music sounds more like a pop record than a stage production. I'm just not a fan.

LB is that kind of musical.

That being said, it was funny, enjoyable, but didn't blow me away. The set design was lackluster (maybe because it was all pink?). There wasn't enough of the cute dog(s). Most of all, I didn't think it was appropriate as an opening production. LB is a bit, well, adult. I get that they wanted a big blockbuster musical to open with, but I would have saved this for mid season where they usually put the big kid shows (you know - the Miss Saigon's, the Hairsprays. Maybe it was complicated because they are also showing Little Shop of Horrors this year?).

Kiss Me Kate:
There's nothing much to say. It isn't The Muny's fault - this show was just bad. Plays within a play are always annoying, but this takes the cake. I love you, Cole Porter, but no.

Little Mermaid:
Every year, the Muny hosts a big, family friendly show to run for two weeks. Of course, Mermaid was that show (in its first off Broadway production!).

I was worried this would look like the shows I've seen at Disney..... a girl dressed as a mermaid sitting on a rock the whole time, being pushed around the stage (read: lame), but it wasn't. Everyone walked around - Flounder, Ariel, the mermaids (and mermen), Ursula, Sebastian. That whole 'suspension of belief' thing really came into play here. I have a feeling if you had never seen Disney's animated Mermaid, you would have no idea what these brightly colored creatures were supposed to be.

Casting gets an 'A.' Anything with Ken Page and Francis Jue usually gets high marks from me, but adding Paul Vogt as Ursula?! Yes, please. And that little girl as Flounder (and her real life Dad as Scuttle)? Well done. But the real star was the set design. It was gorgeous. Big. Creative. Colorful. Exactly what productions like this call for. (Maybe they took some of Legally Blonde's budget....)

That's it. So far. Coming up next (one of my favorites) - Singin' in the Rain! 

St. Pius

Finally made it down the street to St. Pius for their fish fry. The food was great and not too expensive- fish and three sides for $7 or $8 (sorry, can't remember how much it cost. My gentleman paid for me). Some other things worth noting...

• Potato salad and cole slaw was so so good. Pretty sure we licked out plates. 
• I had cod and the boy had catfish. Both were great, but my cod was a little cold.
• Mac and cheese was nothing to write home about. It was sticky. 
• I got a free Bud Light in line, but I know they also had Schlafly and Budweiser there too (the boy got a Budwesier with a red tab! Is this a new can or something?!)
• They had Irish music playing! Fun!
• Everyone was super super friendly. Someone even let us cut them in line. Seriously. 
• Are there 'no kids allowed' fish fries out there? Sorry. They are kind of loud and annoying. 

Only one Fish Fryday left. Sadface. Anyone know any open on Good Friday? I'm hoping St. Agatha's is, because that's really where I want to go!

What's 'Fish' in Spanish?

Before I get to all the Colorado-y goodness, I must tell you about the fish fry I went to last week (Seriously, I've been waiting a whole week to blog about it!).

My fish fry excursions this Lent have been underwhelming practically nonexistent. I went to the St. Simon's fish fry, which was less than stellar; and another week, I went to Burger King. Fail. But last week, I went to St. Cecilia's, which is located conveniently close to my house (bonus!). Oh, and it is Mexican.

Yep. A Mexican Fish Fry. 

For $10, you pick two entrees and two sides. I had the cod (just your typical yummy fried filet) and a stuffed chile with fries and mac and cheese. It was all delicious. The chile (chile relleno) seems to be one of their specialties. It's stuffed with cheese and fried.... and when does THAT ever fail? They also had salmon which looked really really good too! (Check out their menu for more.)

They had Mexican beer for $3. 

They had live entertainment. 

They didn't have enough tartar sauce. We had to hoard a bunch of packets for ourselves. 

I forgot to take a picture of the food before.... this is the aftermath. 

What really blew me away about this fish fry was the hospitality. Sure, the line was long, but along the way you could pick up drinks (beer!) and chips and salsa, and everyone working was so super nice. They had music playing and girls doing traditional Mexican dancing the whole time. Their priest even got on the mic and thanked everyone for coming. And they do this every Friday. 

I sort of wish Lent was all year round so I could make time to go back again. 

[Reblog:] The Most Wonderful (Feasting) Time of the Year

Note: This post originally appeared on Girls Guide to the Galaxy. The site has since gone under, and I'm not sure how much longer these posts will still exist. But they were good. And I don't want to loose them. To see the original, click here. 

There is one time of the year that I’ve constantly got food on the brain. I’m not talking Thanksgiving turkeys or Christmas hams. I don’t care about dyed, hard-boiled Easter eggs. And I’m definitely not talking about those jello flag cakes everyone makes on 4th of July (although, I really enjoy those too).

I’m talking Lenten fish fries here.

In case you didn’t grow up in a Catholic household like I did, I’ll give you a rundown. Lent is the season preceding Easter when us crazy Catholics give up candy, soda, coffee and other vices in order to experience the sacrifice that Jesus experienced when he gave his life for us (because not eating candy for 40 days is totally comparable to dying….). While there is a bit of customization here, there is one thing everyone has to give up on Fridays – meat.

(PS Lent is why we celebrate Mardi Gras- aka Fat Tuesday – to indulge in all that bad behavior we have to give up for 40 days. Thank you, Catholic Church!)

Out of this meat depravation has come the ultimate feasting experience. The fish fry.

A classic fish fry will include fried cod or catfish, with healthy helpings of side dishes like applesauce, green beans, french fries, mac and cheese, potato salad and cole slaw. Some have even expanded their menus to include shrimp, cheese pizza, meat-free spaghetti and more. Basically, you get fried deliciousness, paired with a couple sides of more deliciousness. Oh, and they usually have assorted desserts there too.

Win.

We’re lucky here in Saint Louis to have fish fries on almost every corner in every neighborhood. I mean, really, who doesn’t love fried goodness? For me, these feasts are nostalgic. They remind me of simpler times, staying after school on Fridays while my Mom worked the carry out line at St. Simon’s fish fry. We ran around the blacktop in our school uniforms (shirts untucked since it was after hours!). We sat at tables in the gym eating our fish, fries and applesauce. And if we were really lucky, our parents would let us work the dessert tables, restocking the plates of brownies and pies and collecting tickets from hungry patrons.

Every year, I try to make at least one stop at St. Simon’s to enjoy their fish fry. But now that I’m a city-livin’ adult, I also like to venture out and try the menus at other fish fries. On my list this year:

St. Pius V. Lucky me. This is right down the street from my house! They’ve got a classic menu, plus beer and live music! I have a feeling I’ll be stopping here after work more than one Friday this season…

St. Gabriel’s. I have the pleasure of dating a guy who is obsessed with this fish fry and can’t brag enough about it. They’ve got the classics, plus salmon filets and fried shrimp. Looks like I’ll have to check out this South City church to see what all the fuss is about.

St. Agatha’s. This place gets bonus points for being close to work and home, plus it got 8.5 out of 10 fish patties from St. Louis fish fry blog, No Meat For You. Oh, and two words. Polish. Beer.

St. Joan of Arc. I’ll admit, I’ve been swayed by a stellar review from the 13 blog about this fish fry: ‘Good fish. Good selection. BEST sides. FREE beer.’ I’m there.

St. Ferdinand. This one  is a little drive for me (considering my other choices are pretty much all South City). But rumor has it, this one has ice cream. Good thing I’m not giving up sweets for Lent…

With any luck, I’ll be visiting seven different fish fries this Lenten season and I could not be more excited about it. What better way to prepare for swimsuit season that shoveling fried food into your mouth, right? Hmmm. Where’s that sarcasm font when I need it?

Ah well… Happy Feasting!

[Reblog:] Meet Me at the Muny…

Note: This post originally appeared on Girls Guide to the Galaxy. The site has since gone under, and I'm not sure how much longer these posts will still exist. But they were good. And I don't want to loose them. To see the original, click here. 

For me, summer in St. Louis means one thing… Muny time!

I’ve been My mom has been a season ticket holder for something like five or six years, and before that we always used to sit in the free seats (yes, I said free. Didn’t know you could explore this St. Louis treasure without dishin’ out the big bucks? Well, now you do. More on that in a minute…). The Muny has become part of our summer traditions- every Wednesday, we meet for dinner, head to the show, and spend the whole car ride home chatting about what we liked, what we didn’t like, and which singing audience member annoyed us the most.

The Muny season is about to come to a close- this is the last weekend to go see Showboat, the last show of the season!- so I thought it was high time for me to weigh in with my tips and tricks to enjoying your season at the Muny. Use them to your advantage, this season or next…

Dress appropriately

Okay, I get it. To some people, the Muny is the theee-A-tor, but remember, you live in St. Louis. It is a million degrees outside. Gals, throw on a comfy but cute sundress and pull your hair back in a bun or ponytail. Guys, polos and shorts will do the trick. Trust me on this one.

Leave the kids at home

I’m going to get a lot of debate on this one, I just know it. But seriously, the Muny is (usually) no place for children. You are asking your ADHD four-year old to sit in the heat with limited food and bathroom breaks for something like two hours and expect for them not to be a disturbance to fellow patrons? Are you kidding?

On the flipside, kids should be exposed to the theater. My advice? Make sure it is a show they really want to see (and one that is appropriate for them to see… Miss Saigon for five-year olds? Bad choice) and get them pumped beforehand by showing them the movie. My first show at the Muny was Oklahoma, one of my absolute favorite movies when I was a kid (and still now). The Muny has ‘family-friendly’ shows every year, for example Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, Annie, Peter Pan…

Take your seats

The Muny is huge. (Seriously. It is the biggest,and oldest, outdoor amphitheater in the country!) No matter where you’re sitting, you might be leaning from side to side to see around that big head in front of you. It’s just a fact of life (and a fact of the theee-A-tor). The best thing abut the Muny’s size though is that there really is no bad seat in the house. Every seat gives you a different angle, a different view. And like I mentioned before, the Muny has free seats. That means you can go for absolutely nothing! Genius.

Don’t force it

Got a family member, friend, boyfriend, or husband that doesn’t enjoy musical theater? Don’t ask them to come to the Muny. Simple. It is too hot, too long and too boring for them. Let them stay home in the AC and you can enjoy the show without their complaining.

That being sad, I believe there is a show out there for everyone to enjoy. Which leads me to my next point…

Pick your shows wisely

As I said before, every year, the Muny features at least one family-friendly option. This is usually the big, blockbuster performance that runs two weeks (aka the one they can make the most money off of). The rest of the season will be rounded out with a few classics, a sort of operetta show, and a new, trendy musical. Take this season for example:

Showboat- classic

Sound of Music- classic; family-friendly

Cats- operatic-style

Beauty and the Beast- family-friendly

Titanic- operatic-style

Footloose- new and trendy

Damn Yankees- classic

Every season is different and there will always be a handful of shows you aren’t interested in seeing (for me, it was Cats – because I didn’t like it at all last time it was there- and Sound of Music- because I’ve seen it a gazillion times and I prefer the movie to the stage version), but you’re bound to find one that fits the bill. And don’t be afraid to try new shows! Most of my favorites have been shows I had never seen before (Aida, Annie Get Your Gun, Damn Yankees, My One and Only…)!

The Muny matters

Paul Blake and the rest of the Muny crew spend countless hours bringing these shows to our city every summer. These are not traveling groups like you would see at the Fox… these shows are all unique to the Muny! Produced just for us, just for this stage! The Muny matters to St . Louis. It was part of the 1904 World’s Fair. It is part of historic Forest Park. It is a major player in St. Louis theater tradition. We should be proud of it, and enjoy it!

PS: Make sure you are following The Muny on Facebook and Twitter! They post tons of pictures and information, even in the off season!