HeyElliot's Blog

The weather this month has been extraordinary!  To take full advantage of it, I went on a bike ride from the Central West End to Downtown.  Along that 4 miles or so path, you see the best and worst that St. Louis has to offer, along with a number of projects that are somewhere in between.

Ride along with me as I rehash my journey from west to east:

Saint Louis University looks great--The new Chaifetz Arena is an asset to Midtown.  Sanford-Brown looks pretty good, too.  The Wachovia Securities (former AG Edwards) buildings are fine, though some of them are looking a bit dated with a hodgepodge feel instead of a cohesive campus.

Next, turn down Market Street where there's absolutely no vehicular traffic on a Sunday afternoon--The silence is almost deafening.  We make our way to Union Station for what was to become the biggest disappointment of the day.  Have you been inside lately?  I visited the Station back in the 1980s, clearly its heyday.  What a shame.  The building itself needs some basic maintenance work like painting and spruced up signage.  And the selection of tenants leaves a lot to be desired--It's nothing like the upscale collection that filled Union Station when it first opened.  I know retailing trends change, and many malls go through ups and downs, but it's hard to see an "up" coming to Union Station anytime soon.

Continue heading downtown where you pass condo projects that appear stalled, streets that are decaying, and again, a lack of traffic or tourists.  But there are some very bright spots: The revitalization of the Old Post Office building looks wonderful, as does the Federal Reserve Bank.  Some blocks of Washington Avenue look great, others look like an economic collapse is imminent..

Turning around and heading back to the CWE, we hit Grand Center, which looks pretty good.  The new Big Brothers/Big Sisters rehab project on Grand near the Fox looks wonderful.  Gaslight Square?  Again, seems like a development in transition that never quite materialized the way we envisioned.

This blog is almost as rambling as my bike ride!

Knowing STL's penchant for all things fast-food, I figure many of you will be happy to read this article from the St. Louis Business Journal:

Dunkin' Donuts said Wednesday it would open a dozen new stores in St. Louis.

The Canton, Mass.-based donut chain signed of a multi-unit store development agreement with The Geller Network and plans to open two stores in 2009.

Geller is an existing Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins franchisee.

Managing member, Michael Geller, has strong ties to St. Louis as a graduate of both the Washington University School of Law and the John M. Olin School of Business.

Dunkin' Donuts' is seeking new and existing franchisees to purchase a minimum of 10 restaurants in St. Louis, specifically in the surrounding counties of St. Charles, North County, Northwest County, Southwest County, Jefferson, Lincoln, Warren and Washington.

The chain also wants to expand in Dayton, Detroit, Memphis, Birmingham and other select markets.

With the start of the new school year less than a month away, cold and flu season can't be far behind.  Ugh.  The sniffles, sneezes, fevers and just overall BLAH feeling.

Here's my question: Will you go to work sick or take a day or two off?  Many of us say we'll take the time off either because we feel too bad to make it through the day or because we don't want to infect our fellow workers.  But when push comes to shove, do you really call off or do you struggle through the day, tissue and Advil in hand?

Turns out, more and more people face the financial pressure to report to work no matter what.  It could be that they fear losing their job because of an unsympathetic boss, or it could be that they need the money and can't afford to miss a day.  Regardless, it's a serious issue that plagues American workers.  Employees in Europe are far more willing to take time off, either for sick leave or paid vacation.  For what's it worth--I think the Europeans are definitely on to something.

If you'd like to read more about a recent survey of Americans and sick leave, click here to access a National Public Radio survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.

I'm certainly not an expert on $50 billion corporate takeovers, so forgive me if this post seems a bit naive.  Does anyone else think the A-B/InBev takeover strategy was planned months in advance and the maneuvering we witnessed over the past few weeks was reasonably decent acting to make us all think that A-B wouldn't sell?  You know, the full-page ads, the frivolous lawsuits, the 'not on my watch' remark from the Fourth, etc.

From the very first day that I covered the takeover rumour (Memorial Day Weekend), an analyst pretty much spelled out how this whole thing would go down.  And move by move, she was dead-on correct.

Was she really smart... or has she seen this kind of corporate behaviour in the past?

We're all talking about Thursday's FOX 2 town hall meeting, "Changes on Tap" where we're looking at the past, present and future of the St. Louis economy, using the A-B takeover and Chrysler plant closings as a jumping off point. 

Here's my question: We report so much doom and gloom--layoffs, downsizing, rightsizing, plant closings, etc.  Is the St. Louis economy really that bad?  If there are bright sides, what (and where) are they?

Share your information so we can pass it along during the meeting.

Anheuser-Busch is in the fight of its life--Beer sales, and consequently A-B stock, are  flat. The beer industry is now dominated by multinational giants.  One of those giants, European brewer InBev, wants to own A-B with an offer of $46 billion.  The impact on St. Louis: TBD.

Similarly, Chrysler is also in a survival fight.  Faced with record-high oil prices, consumers are rapidly moving away from full-size pick-ups and minivans to more fuel-efficient cars.  The impact on St. Louis: Thousands of jobs will be lost at the Fenton plants.

These two economic stories are the springboard for our FOX 2 town hall meeting on Thursday night at 6.  It's called "Changes on Tap" where we'll discuss the seismic economic challenges happening right now in the St. Louis region.

Get your questions answered... and share you opinions.  Post a question or comment below and we'll share some of them during the town hall meeting on Thursday night.

In the world of extreme economic volatility that we're living in right now, warnings like the one from the Royal Bank of Scotland get people talking... and worrying.  The chief credit analyst from RBS says global stock markets are on the verge of a major crash, in some cases losing upwards of 30% of value.  It's one man's opinion, but it caught a lot of attention.

I've pasted an excerpt from the London Telegraph below, and if you'd like to read the full article, click here.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has advised clients to brace for a full-fledged crash in global stock and credit markets over the next three months as inflation paralyses the major central banks.

"A very nasty period is soon to be upon us - be prepared," said Bob Janjuah, the bank's credit strategist.

A report by the bank's research team warns that the S&P 500 index of Wall Street equities is likely to fall by more than 300 points to around 1050 by September as "all the chickens come home to roost" from the excesses of the global boom, with contagion spreading across Europe and emerging markets.

 RBS warning: Be prepared for a 'nasty' period

Such a slide on world bourses would amount to one of the worst bear markets over the last century.

It finally happened: InBev officially made a $46 billion offer to buy Anheuser-Busch.  The offer would pay A-B shareholders about $65 dollars per share--Good money considering the stock price had been languishing for years.

I think this has huge potential to impact the psyche St. Louis and probably not in a good way.  In the short term, lots of people will get very rich, but what about long-term?  What happens to the brewery?  How about non-profits in STL who rely on A-B's generosity to meet basic human needs?  Will Belgian-leaders be as generous as the Busch family?

Let us know your feelings.

It's not easy these days... but it can be done!  On this morning's "Hey Elliot" segment on FOX 2 News in the Morning, the founder of Airfaredig.com, Mark Becker, joined is live in the studio.



Mark just graduated from high school last week, but he's well on his way to a great career in technology and aviation.  Here's how Airfaredig.com works: Mark and his team scour travel and airline websites for the very best published deals.  Some of these are buried deep within the sites themselves--That's where Mark comes in.  He knows the ins and outs of how these sites work, so he knows just where to go to get the best deals.

Some examples of cheap (relatively) fares from St. Louis:
Atlanta: $165 on AirTran, travel through 11/5 on Tues/Weds
Chicago (ORD) $125 on American, travel through 10/30.
Detroit: $98 on Southwest, Northwest, travel through 10/30
Orlando: $165 on Northwest, travel through 4/25/09
Milwaukee: $145 on Midwest, travel through 11/19
San Antonio: $185 on Airtran, travel through 11/5 on Tues/Weds

We've got some of the best web producers in St. Louis working on the myFOXstl site. They're always coming up with cool, new ideas. I really like this one: It's a FREE listing of garage sales across the STL! That's right--You can list your sale, and browse an indexed list and a map to plan your weekend morning scavenger hunt.

The big question: "How is this different than submitting to the newspaper?" Well, where do I begin?

· It's FREE

· People can SEE where your sale is, rather than sifting through classifieds listed by zip code or some unfamiliar address.

· People can plan out their "garage sale hopping" because they see where your sale is on the map.

· Directions to your sale are just one click away

· You are not limited to 3 lines of text. You can add up to 20 items from your sale in addition to your address and hours!

· You can list your sale 10 days in advance

Other FAQs:
Q: How long will it take to get my yard sale posted?
A: The web team will update the page at least once a day, possibly twice. The sooner you submit, the sooner it'll be posted. So plan ahead.

Q: How long will my posting remain on the site?
A: We'll strive to remove your posting from the site as soon as your sale is over.

Q: Will my phone number or e-mail one the submit form be shared with anyone?
A: Absolutely not. It is only used to confirm your sale.

Click here to fill out the garage sale form!

Next week Busch's Grove is closing.  I've never eaten there but I know generations of St. Louisians have, after all, it's been an institution in Ladue for over 100 years.  But Busch's Grove isn't alone--Cafe Balaban, several Krieger's locations, Zinnia, and the list goes on.

Contact 2 explores the changing, and sometimes struggling St. Louis restaurant scene.  What's working, what isn't--We'll investigate the closings and explore the hottest new trends.

Have any of your favorite restaurants closed... and new favorites open?

We've got a disturbing story tonight about people who take advantage of Goodwill.  Instead of donating useful, resaleable items, they use Goodwill as their personal dumping ground.  Tune to FOX 2 News at 9 and you'll see the downright disgusting stuff people 'donate' and you'll also learn how much it costs Goodwill, taking money away from the goodwork the organization does.

On a lighter note, I'm wondering what kind of stuff you've donated or purchased from Goodwill?  Recently it's become a hotspot around Halloween where people shop for inexpensive vintage clothes that become a costume.  In college I bought several really nice sportcoats for well-under $20.  Have you found any lightly-used gems in your thrift store shopping?

We kicked off Celebrity Deal or Dud back in February--they were some of my favorite Deal or Dud segments and we're doing them again this month!


First out of the gate, the King of Custard: Ted Drewes!  But we're not making Ted's famous frozen custard, instead we're making homemade ice cream using this weird looking ball that you shake!



Tune in to FOX 2 News at 9 on Wednesday night to see if it's a Deal or a Dud.

In the mean time, share some of your Ted Drewes memories, your favorite flavors or homemade ice cream recipes.

I've never thought of myself as a whack-o Birkenstock wearing environmental type, though in the past few years I've probably gotten close to that stereotype.  I'm an avid recycler, I've converted most lamps to CFL bulbs, and most recently I've become very aware of what I'm eating.  I'm trying to cut-out processed, prepared foods--the stuff that makes up so much of the American diet.

A couple months ago while shopping, I noticed a meat case filled with grass-fed beef.  I wasn't familiar with it so I did some research and found some pretty remarkable health claims relating to grass-fed beef.  Supposedly it's lower in calories, fat and cholesterol but higher in protein and amino acids.  I also found that a large grass-fed farm is in a southern Missouri town called Doniphan.



Tonight at 9 (Thursday, April 24) Contact 2 investigates the grass-fed claims and takes you to the farm where thousands of grass-fed Angus cattle graze.  Is it really healthier, and perhaps even more important, is the meat safer?  Learn why farmers say grass-fed cows pose almost no risk of contamination to humans.

With Earth Day just around the corner, some helpful "green" driving tips from the Car Care Council:

Bethesda, MD – April 17, 2008 – There are many ways to participate in Earth Day and this year, why not include your car in the celebration. The Car Care Council offers the following five ways you and your car can help protect the environment on Earth Day, April 22, as well as everyday:

 

• Drive Green – If you have to drive your car on Earth Day, recognize that how your drive has a lot to do with fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Jerky and aggressive driving decreases your miles per gallon (MPG) and increases wear and tear on your vehicle. Minimize unnecessary miles by combining errands in one trip.

 

• Get a Tune-Up – Regular tune-ups, maintenance and having clean air filters will help your car pollute less and burn less gas. With a proper tune-up, you can save four percent on the cost of gas and up to 40 percent by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor. Simply changing the car’s air filter can improve efficiency by 10 percent.

 

• Lighten the Load – Get the junk out of the trunk and the stuff out of your car, with the exception of emergency items such as a spare tire, flares and a first-aid kit. Extra items weigh the vehicle down and cause an increase in gas usage.

 

• Tire Checks – According to the Car Care Council, around two billion gallons of gas each year could be saved if the tires on every American’s car were properly inflated. Optimal tire pressure for your vehicle is listed in the owner’s manual. Tires that are not properly inflated add rolling resistance that makes the engine work harder to move the vehicle. All of this increases fuel costs as much as three to five cents per gallon, and increases the risk of engine damage.

 

• Gas Caps and Fill-Ups – Check your vehicle’s gas cap. Approximately 17 percent of vehicles on the road have loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year. Topping off your gas tank when filling up your car can also release harmful vapors into the environment.

 

“Driving technique and proper vehicle maintenance go a long way toward protecting the environment. Plus, when fuel economy is maximized, you’re not only minimizing the amount of pollutants from your vehicle, you’re also likely to pay less at the pump,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

 

More information about environmental awareness and fuel economy are included in the council’s newly updated Car Care Guide, which can be ordered on the Car Care Council Web site at www.carcare.org. 

 

Vehicle owners who do their own maintenance are also reminded to recycle or properly dispose of fluids and other vehicle components, including used motor oil, tires and batteries.   

 

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For more information, visit www.carcare.org.