Freezing For A Good Reason: The Polar Bear Plunge
First Published February 2009 on ToastedRav.com; video edited by Chris Files.
What better to way to raise funds for Special Olympics than to see how many people would pay good money to watch you freeze your butt off? This year almost 500 people collected donations and made the leap into the frigid waters of Lake St. Louis for the 5th Annual Polar Bear Plunge.
While the weather outside was gorgeous, the temps in that lake weren't nearly as inviting. In fact, even with the Fahrenheit reading in the 70's there were still huge ice chunks in one corner of that freezing cold lake. There were a lot of funny (and a few slightly disturbing) costumes, good spirits all around and a couple of ToastedRavers who ran off a perfectly good sandy beach into the water this year. Check out this year's plunge and see Audrey, Margo and me run off a perfectly good beach into a frigid lake.
Thanks to everyone who supported Special Olympics at this year's Polar Bear Plunge event!
Ask St. Louis: Polar Bear Plunge from ToastedRav .com on Vimeo.
St. Louis Graphic Novelist Matt Kindt Shows Us How He Does It
First Published February 2009 on ToastedRav.com; video edited by Mike Merenda.
His book Super Spy was named the indie book of the year Wizard magazine and nominated for an Eisner Award for best graphic novel (reprint) in 2008, and he does it all from his studio in Webster Groves. Graphic novelist Matt Kindt is the brains and pen behind a number of graphic novels, including his popular novel Super Spy and the upcoming book 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man.
While working on an upcoming novel for DC Comics, Matt let us into his studio to show us his process for developing a graphic novel and talked to us about his past and future novels. att's latest novel, 3 Story, will be released in September and he also has two sequels for Super Spy in the works. You can check out Matt's previous novels, read his blog, peruse his past commissioned prints and see more of his artwork and design work by going to his website.
Graphic Novelist Matt Kindt from ToastedRav .com on Vimeo.
Ask St. Louis: What Should President Obama's Theme Song Be?
First Published January 2009 on ToastedRav.com; video edited by Mike Merenda.
When President Obama took office on Tuesday the world's eyes were all turned on Washington D.C. Some of us watched from our computers, and others attended viewing parties to see him take the oath and take over the White House.
That evening folks from around St. Louis gathered at The Pageant to see a rebroadcast of the President's swearing in and to watch the inaugural ball live. There was plenty of food, live music, and a special brew from Schlafly on tap to celebrate the event - the "Inaugurale." We headed over to chat with folks in attendance to ask St. Louis what they think President Obama's official theme song (if there is such a thing as a Presidential theme song) should be. Warning: there is some seriously bad singing up in there.
Ask St. Louis: What Should President Obama's Theme Song Be? from ToastedRav .com on Vimeo.
Talking Design, STL Fashion Shows and The Economy At St. Louis Fashion Week
First Published March 2009 on ToastedRav.com; video edited by Chris Files.
Fashion was in the air last week when some of the hottest independent, innovative and emerging names in the fashion industry were in the Gateway City to show their latest looks for fall and spring 2009. On Friday, March 29 the Emerge runway show at St. Louis Fashion Week marked the debut of the fall collections for ultra-hip brand Diesel, an emerging NYC underground label Love Brigade, the men's anti-label brand Wrath Arcane and it also marked the United States debut for music inspired Brit label Bolongaro Trevor.
With the exception of Diesel, these ready-to-wear lines aren't household names yet, but they are definitely on the short list of designers to watch. We headed down to fashion week to check out the fall collections as the made their way down the runway, to chat with the designers and to take a peek backstage at St. Louis Fashion Week.