Got churrasco?

Do you know what “churrasco” is?  Churrasco is the centuries-old Brazilian way of roasting meats over pits of open fire.  The “gauchos” (Brazilian cowboys) always prepared their food this way for festive occasions and family gatherings.

Brazilian steakhouses that prepare all-you-can-eat churrasco meals have been growing in popularity in the United States for some time now.  In fact, we have one right here, about 5 minutes away from here at Westmont at Chesterfield.  If you haven’t been to Bacana Brazil (16123 Chesterfield Parkway West) yet – and you love your meat cooked over an open fire – they you should make plans to check them out.

It’s pretty cool how they serve the meat too.  First, you grab your side dishes from the gourmet salad bar.  Then whey you sit down at your table, you turn a little card up, signaling the chefs to bring their dozen-or-so  fire roasted meats to your table for carving.  When you are done, you flip the disc back over until you are ready for more.  If only all restaurants operated like this!

Student Appreciation Day
Enjoy their churrasco dinner on Tuesdays for only $19.95 with valid student I.D.

Sushi Sunday
Every Sunday they offer sushi during dinner hours from 5pm to 9pm for no extra cost.

For more information,  call them at (636) 532 6969 or visit their website.  Need directions?  Here you go…

1. Head southeast on Westmeade Dr toward Clubhouse Cove
2. Turn left at Justus Post Rd (0.4 mi)
3. Turn right at Chestfield Pkwy S (0.1 mi)
4. Make a U-turn at Fontaine Dr and Bacana Brasil will be on the right

(Photo Credit: imagensporfavor)

Beat the heat!

This has undoubtedly been one of the hottest summers in Chesterfield in a long time.  According to weather reports, it doesn’t look like the heat is going anywhere anytime soon.  It might rain this weekend, but it will definitely be a scorcher.  If you can beat the rain, this will a great opportunity to take dip in the Westmont at Chesterfield swimming pool.

If you’re anything like me, the last thing you want to do in this hot weather is cook something in the oven.  Why add to the heat?  My tip for the day: make sure you have food available that’s microwavable.

Speaking of which, did you know that there is a wrong way and a right way to clean out a microwave oven.  Apparently you’re not supposed to use certain cleaners for the inside.  Check out this video to learn the correct way to do it…

Westport Plaza’s Party in the Plaza

Unless you just returned from a monastary (or a nunery) somewhere on the remote countryside, you’re probably already familiar with St. Louis’s hottest afterwork wind down event, Westport Plaza’s Party in the Plaza.

If you did in fact just arrive and you need the low-down, Party in the Plaza is like an after work street party that goes down on the third Thursday of every month.   People are able to walk freely around the village with food and drinks while listening to two great live bands between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  They’ve been going strong for several month now this season.

Including this week, there are three events left in the 2010 series.  Here are the musical lineups…

Thursday, July 15: FatPocket, Dave and Greg Show Band
Thursday, August 19: King Pin and Boone Project Duo
Thurday, September 16: SLAM and Rich Mahagony

It’s really a nice event to go to after work.  Pretty much all of the establishments in the Plaza take part, including Casa Gallardo, IceKitchen, Pujols 5, Trainwreck Saloon and Westport Pizza Co.  For more info, call 314.576.7100 or “like” the event’s Facebook page.  Westport Plaza is not too far from Westmont at Chesterfield if you’re leaving from home.

(Photo Credit: Westport Plaza)

Are you ready for the hunt?

How would you like to be a part of the biggest scavenger hunt to ever hit St. Louis?  Not only can you be a part of it, but you can help out a great cause in doing so.  On Saturday, July 24, a special events company called City Hunts will be holding one of their increaingly popular city-wide hunts to benefit The Sherwood Forrest Camp for economically disadvantaged children.

Here’s kinda how it works: on the day of the event, different hunt teams meet up at 10:30 a.m. at the Sons of Rest Shelter in Tower Grove Park.  They will then have 3-hours to obtain as many items on the given list as possible.  The cost of the hunt is $22 per person, however the winning team will walk away with $100.00, 1st place medals and City Hunts T’s!  To boot, there will also be a “post-hunt” party sponsored by Natural Light beer.

Sound like fun?  Check out their website for more info and to register.  They also have their own Facebook group for you to join and stay in the loop for events.

(Photo Credit: City Hunts)

LIVE on the Levee

One of the obvious advantages of living in a major city, such as St. Louis, is that there is always something to do.  There are always different types of events, from sports events, to professional events, to cultural events.  There are always tons of great restaurants to eat at, no matter what your flavor may be (or what you’d like to try.  And there are always great artists coming to your city to perform.

Next weekend, after wrapping up Fair St. Louis 2010, the Riverfront will pick up the LIVE on the Levee concert series - a free summer festival featuring live music, U. S. Bank fireworks, AmerenUE/Schnucks K-Town Kids Zone and other activities.  The concerts run from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and each night culminates with a huge fireworks display.  Check out the upcoming performers to see if there is someone you’d like to check out…

• July 9: Common (opening act: DJ Needles)
• July 10: Slightly Stoopid (opening act: Fundamental Elements)
• July 17: Clint Black (opening act: The Johnny Henry Band)

Shiver…it’s cold in there!

Imagine standing (or sitting) for 30 minutes in a 15 degree freezer at the back of a club drinking vodka & crans (my personal fave vodka drink).  That’s the experience that new downtown St. Louis hot-spot is offering for a mere 20 bucks (that includes usage of a parka and gloves if you need it).

Shiver Vodka Bar & Champagne Lounge (1130 Washington Avenue, 314.241.3900) is the name of the place, and the freezer, it’s called an ice lounge.  Apparently they are all the rage in Las Vegas.  Owner Brad Jurevas, formerly associated with previous downtown nightspots, such as Home and Buca, wanted to bring something unique to the area.  “We were looking for something on Washington Avenue that didn’t exist,” he stated.  “Everybody loves it because it’s something different to try.”

So if you enjoy a good vodka drink as much as the next guy (or girl).  Grab your crew and check it out.  But grab a bite to eat before you get there.  They’re currently not serving food but plan to start offereing “comfort-food” themed appetizers and bar food in about a month or so.

Get Him to the Greek

Besides including a “who’s who” of music celebrities, ranging from Twisted Sister’s Dee Snyder to Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, this movie seems like it might be pretty good.

It’s about a young up-and-comer at a record label who is assigned the task of escorting a perpetually plastered rock star from England to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.  Sounds easy, right?  HAH.  The movie opens this weekend.  Check out the trailer…

Need movie times?

AMC Chesterfield 14, Wehrenberg Chesterfield Galaxy 14, AMC Creve Coeur 12

Pay-What-You-Can Cafe

Have you heard about the new Panera Bread project that recently opened up in Clayton?  What a novel idea!  Get this…there will be no charge for anything on the menu.  The store will exist as a non-profit and will rely primarily on donations that the stores patrons give for the meals that they get.

According to an AP/Mercury News report, “Panera will expand the model around the country within months. It all depends on whether customers will abide by the motto that hangs above the deli counter: ‘Take what you need, leave your fair share.’”

The restaurant is operating under that name St. Louis Bread Co. Cares — the chain’s former name and one it still uses in its hometown.

Panera is using its nonprofit foundation to support the restaurant and any future locations. The foundation will pay the new restaurant’s bills, including staff salaries, rent and food costs. At the end of each month, the foundation will tally donations to see if they cover food costs. The Panera parent company won’t bear losses if the experiment fails.

What do you think, Westmont?  Will this initiative work?  I think most people are genuinely honest and won’t take advantage of the system.  In this time of economic uncertainty, its refreshing to see companies try new business models that aren’t profit driven and that don’t take advantage of the consumer.

New Redbox DVD Releases: Week of May 17

New Redbox DVD releases for the week (available Tuesday) include: Avatar, Extraordinary Measures, Enemies Among Us, The Spy Next Door

The closest Redbox kiosks to Westmont at Chesterfield are at McDonald’s (1701 Clarkson Rd) and Dierberg’s (1730 Clarkson Rd).

Westmont at Chesterfield: DVD Pick of the Week

Extraordinary Measures

Fate and determination push idealistic father, John Crowley into joining forces with reclusive medical researcher, Dr. Robert Stonehill. Together, this unlikely pair face impossible odds as they battle the entire medical establishment and time itself to find a cure before it’s too late. MPAA Rating: PG. Genre: Drama, Hit Movies. Starring: Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Kerri Russell.

Write a review! If you watch one of these new releases (or any other interesting or uninteresting movie for that matter), login and let the community know what you think about it.  Want your review posted as a blog?  Leave us a comment and let us know, or post your movie review suggestion to the community Facebook wall for us to see.

Chess anyone?

Of all the things that St. Louis could be “known” for, I had no idea that chess was even on the list.  But it is…and the city’s reputation as a chess epicenter is growing.  Withe the United States Chess Championship kicking off this weekend at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, 2010 marks the second year in a row that St. Louis has hosted the renown tournament. Reining National champion Hikaru Nakamura has even moved to St. Louis.

For those of you here at Westmont that are chess enthusiasts, the club, located at 4657 Maryland Avenue (St. Louis, MO 63108) is brand new and was built through the financial support of Rex A. Sinquefield, a very wealthy local businessman. Sinquefield, a conservative activist and chess expert himself, has even put up the $173,000 prize fund for the championship.

Chess, for me, is one of the most beautiful games ever (next to poker).  So much subtle strategy is involved.  It’s an easy game to learn, but a hard game to master.  If you’re interested, the games during the tournament will be carried live online.  Check it out!

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