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…

We’re coming for the #1 spot

At 54-43, the defending National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals still have a one-game lead over the Cincinatti Reds in the National League Central Division.  That’s something to be proud of.  We’re actually not to far off from leading the entire league.  We lost the first in the three-game series against the Chicago Cubs today, so hopefully we can take the rest of the games this weekend.  We need the wins if we want to rise to the top like I know we can.

Since I can’t be there to cheer them on, I’m planning on making some Chili Dog Casserole to eat while I sit comfortably in front of my flat-screen television here at Westmont and watch the games on FOX (Saturday at noon) and ESPN (Sunday at 7:00 p.m.).  Here’s the recipe.  Hey, it’s the next best thing to being at the ball park.  Try it out!

Ingredients:

• 8 hot dog buns
• 8 hot dogs
• 1 (15 ounce) can chili 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Tear up the hot dog buns and arrange the pieces in the bottom of the dish evenly. Slice the hot dogs into bite size pieces and layer the pieces over the buns.
3. Pour the chili over the hot dogs, sprinkle with the chopped onion, then spread some mustard over the chili and the onion. Top off with the cheese.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

(Photo Credit: ChubbaGurl)

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)

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.

Poll: Sandwich Selection Survey

So many sandwiches, so little time!  We all have our favorites.  Mine is half-turkey, half-pastrami with lettuce and provolone.  What about you?  If you had two pick between two of the most common sandwich types, Westmont, which would you pick?  Take our sandwhich survey (in the column to the right).

Grilled Garlic & Herb Shrimp

Got any plans for the long Memorial Day weekend?  Of course you do – you’re going to fire up the grill!  The weather in Chesterfield will be great, so why not? But you’re going to need something really special to throw on the grill that will send waffs of savory smells throughout Westmont so that you’re neighbors in the community will know that your grilling skills are not to be toyed with.  Don’t worry, I got you.  Check out this recipe for grilled shrimp that I found on AllRecipes.com!

Grilled Garlic & Herb Shrimp

Why Fiber is Important to your Diet

Recently I have been really getting into health and fitness. I was doing my morning reading and found this very interesting article on Yahoo! about the importance of fiber. Americans consume 15-20 grams less than what is recommended. I think it’s important to know why things are vital to our diets, so below are the reasons I read about.

• Fiber stabilizes your sugar and energy levels.
• Fiber is filling. This means that if you eat foods more fiber then you are less likely to consume as many calories which leads to weight loss.
• Fiber helps with weight loss. It moves fat through the digestive system.
• Soluble fiber lowers blood cholesterol.
• Fibers helps keep your digestive system on track

 Now after reading all of this, there is no reason not to add fiber to your diet. Some easy ways I add fiber to my diet are, whole grain breads, high fiber cereals, and eating apples.

 Do you get enough fiber in your diet?

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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