This weekend was pretty lovely… we had beautiful fall weather and I saw fireworks two nights in a row!
Friday night we went to the Balloon Glow at Forest Park. Every year, St. Louis has this fun hot air balloon race, and the night before it starts, all the balloons gather in the park to, well, glow. About every five minutes, this horn would sound and all the balloon guys would fire up their engines. It was magical. There were maybe 20 balloons and it was crazy to walk underneath them. Here’s a pic from 2006 – it looked exactly the same:
Jen and I tried to get underneath the Energizer Bunny, but just as we got there, they started deflating it and it started falling towards us while everyone around us yelled and ran away. Very Cloverfield.
My friends all fell in love with this balloon owned by a Dutch cheese company (and I suppose my Dutch ass did too; represent) because it had a giant cow on it. But my favorite was this tiny, colorful patchwork one. The colors aren’t great in this pic, but just staring at this balloon made me so happy:
Also, the whole time I was there, I kept thinking about the fact that technically, these balloons are transportation. That is so unbelievably weird.
Afterwards, fireworks. Compared to the balloons, they were only so-so.
Saturday night there were MORE fireworks right by Jen and Ron’s house. Me and 6 of my besties walked up to an elementary school and watched them from the playground. That was one of the best displays I’ve seen in a long time and it was neat watching them in that little tower at the top of the slide.
However! Surrounding myself with a bunch of snuggly couples is always a bit of a bummer. Maybe someday I’ll be able to watch fireworks without that suh-weet old maid feeling?
But after celebrating Guy Fawkes Night in England, I have been a die-hard believer in fall fireworks, so I’m glad Jen and I got a double dose this year.
Afterwards the boys sifted through 8 giant tubs of old vinyl records and the album art was beyond hysterical. My personal favorite was from the St. Louis band Head East:
Pancakes represent! Amazing close-up:
Sunday was a lazy, lazy, lazy Sunday. No pancakes, REGRETTABLY.
If ever a comic has described me, it’s today’s Dinosaur Comics. I’ve actually (surprisingly? Shut up?) never hooked up at a wedding – ill-advised or otherwise – but that last line. Wow. Brilliant. Ryan North is a genius and I heart him immensely. Do they have fireworks in Canada?
A quick Mean Girl-ish observation: have you ever noticed that the left mountain on the Busch beer can looks exactly like Rumer Willis?
Tonight – CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF HOT, STEAMY BROMANCE! YES.
Secretly Stephie 
Dangit… I was almost at that balloon glow Friday. I was going to head over there with some people but the peoples got disorganized and I ended up missing it. It looked really cool, but were you outside when that crazy wind came blowing through? I was eating outside at Lyellyns with a friend later that night and we had to retreat to the indoors.
Was the wind at the beginning of the night? We were in traffic for over an hour and a half – and that was just from Tower Grove to Forest Park. It didn’t feel crowded once you got there, but that’s the most people I’ve seen in one place in a long time.
On Sunday I sat with my family and ate pancakes right at the same spot where the Head East guys are sitting on that album cover. Those photos were taken at the Olivette Diner when it was the Rite-Way Diner. They still have amazing food, and the album cover is on display when you walk in the door. If you go (and you should) try the Hot Hash and Holly!
Awesome info! I will have to go there; thanks!!
Wow was that place packed. We spent most of our time across the street sitting on the hill watching the mass of people. Despite the sea of humanity, it was still a relaxing evening.
There was a strong breeze, bit it didn’t blow in until after the fireworks. It felt awesome on the walk back to the metrolink. Before that it was quite muggy.
I’m glad we went, but I’m not sure if I would go again next year. The wine festival this weekend seems like more of my speed.
nice busch/rumer observation
Head East are awesome.
SAVE MY LIFE, I’M GOIN’ DOWN FOR THE LAST TIME! WOMAN WITH THE SWEET LOVIN’, BETTER THAN A WHITE LINE BRING A GOOD FEELIN’ AIN’T HAD IN SUCH A LONG TIME SAVE MY LIFE, I’M GOIN’ DOWN FOR THE LAST TIME!
I want to be in a band with 5 guys that all eat pancakes together. My bandmates and I are thinking of changing our name to “Team Band”. Thoughts?
Team Band is GENIUS. Do it do it do it!
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