The Museum of Transportation will host some of the most extraordinary automobiles ever built on Sunday, May 18, 2008, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  Entitled “The Classics,” the show’s elite grouping of Classic and vintage automobiles will be hosted and presented by the Spirit Region of the Classic Car Club of America, Mississippi Valley Packards and the Cadillac LaSalle Club. 

“The Classics show will showcase the finest automobiles manufactured during the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s,” according to Dr. Wendell Smith, Events Coordinator for the Spirit Region of the Classic Car Club of America   At this non-judged event, the clubs are making a special effort to bring out the vintage automobiles that are not commonly seen at regional events.  Visitors will have the opportunity to see vehicles valued in the millions of dollars as well as visit with the owners of these beautiful classic cars and learn about their history and restoration.  Featured automobiles include Rolls Royce, Cadillac, LaSalle, Packard, Duesenberg and Pierce Arrow automobiles as well as other lavish cars of yesteryear.  

Admission to this automotive event is free.   Admission to the remainder of the Museum of Transportation is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 5-12 and military with an ID, plus teachers with a valid ID and children under 5 are free with a paying adult family member. 

The Museum of Transportation is a unit of St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation and according to the Smithsonian Institution “has one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the world.”  It is located at 3015 Barrett Station Road in West St. Louis County , and is open Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Speaking of the Four Seasons St. Louis, I am now returning from three days at the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi.  My American Airlines flight is 15 hours from Delhi to Chicago nonstop and then a day or more to wait for my connection to Lambert. 

Imagine a country where 300 million people have risen above the poverty level in the past five years.  Imagine a country where some of the world’s wealthiest families have appeared over the past fifteen years and are now buying assets and businesses everywhere (consider Jaguar).  Imagine a country whose economic system strangled growth until 1991.  Imagine a country where corruption is rampant yet free enterprise thrives.  Imagine a country where the infrastructure is terrible and the business is booming.  Imagine a country with call centers serving the world and beggars everywhere.

That’s India.  Here is the hotel.

The Imperial Hotel in Delhi was a colonial creature that had deteriorated into a poor hotel even by Indian standards ten or fifteen years ago.  Today it is one of the great hotels in the world, owned by two brothers engaged in a classic family fight with the hotel at the center, and run by an inspired French General Manager with the help of some European and Indian senior management.  I first stayed there eighteen months ago and it was good.  I have returned for 21 nights in relatively short visits since and with each stay it has gotten better.  Today it is near perfection.

Yet there is no infrastructure.  Electricity is unreliable so the hotel (and all businesses) relies on its own generators.  Landline service is sporadic (though mobile phones and internet are superb).  Food is all imported and cleaned hygienically.  The hotel serves the finest Swiss chocolate, Scottish Beef, Pacific Fish, and American fruits.  Sitting on the terrace and looking over a serene green lawn surrounded by high fences, one hears the endless blare of traffic horns (for it is required by law I am told to honk every few seconds so everyone knows you are there).  Service is excellent but requires hours and hours of training.  Staff takes guests to the airport and has to shepherd them through mobs of people and lines and waits beyond anyone’s imagination.  (Imagine that at Lambert). 

Is it cheap?  Not at all.  Hotel rooms are $400 to 800 per night and meals are beyond what one might pay in St. Louis.  And the place is always packed with travelers from countries around the world and Indians visiting for business or pleasure. 

Is Delhi primitive compared to St. Louis?  One cannot drink the Delhi water or rely on the electricity; and even with highway 40 closed St. Louis has better roads.  Our Four Seasons is not as grand as the Imperial or the Taj Hotel Mahal.  Our air is cleaner (much) and our Forest Park is without the beggars.  But our internet is not as good, our economy as strong, our people as energetic and hard working.  Shopping is much more fun in Delhi – little shops and bustling markets with the opportunity and pleasure of the bargain.  Lambert is not as crowded but its flights are more limited without nonstops to London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.  And I have no one meeting me at Lambert to escort me through security and place me on the airplane.  Finally, home is not as luxurious, beautiful or clean as the Imperial.  And alas, the service at home cannot even start to compare to the service at the Imperial.  Perhaps my wife and I should sell out to two Indian brothers and let them hire a French team to run the household.

- The St. Louis Traveler.

DeSales Community Housing Corp. will hold our annual community meeting this Saturday from 9-12 at the FiveStarSeniorCenter (2832 Arsenal at Oregon).  The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00.  There will also be discussion how DeSales can best serve your neighborhood.

For the past 30 years, DeSales has been instrumental in promoting development in FoxPark and Tower Grove East.  Please take this opportunity to come and learn more about our history, mission, and our current programs and services.  If you have any questions, feel free to call our office at 776-5444.  We hope to see you on Saturday.

DeSales Community Housing Corporation is a community-based non-profit formed in 1976 to serve the FoxPark and Tower Grove East neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis.  DeSales promotes the ongoing growth of neighborhoods as healthy, diverse, urban communities with qualify housing.

An Enchanted Evening

May 30, 2008

Centene Center for Arts and Education (3547 Olive Street, Rooftop Level)

Join us for an evening of sophistication as we get swept away to an era of gallantry and enchantment…complete with custom cocktails, decadent foods, mystical circus performances, tempting auction items and spirited dancing! This year we are pleased to honor: Peter Bunce, Circus Flora Board Member, for his tireless efforts towards completing the “Take a Seat” capital campaign and his diligent dedication to the Arts in Saint Louis. 7:00 p.m. Cocktails & Dinner Buffet, 8:30 p.m. Parade to Circus Flora’s Big Top Tent, 8:45 p.m. Opening Remarks & Live Auction, 9:30 p.m. Circus Tribute Performance, 10:00 p.m. Music & Dancing, and Attire: Whimsical Summer Cocktail or Circus Chic! Valet parking by Midwest Valet will be available at the Centene Center. Valet service will relocate so that cars will be able to be collected from the parking lot in front of the

Proceeds from FloraDora support the 2008 production of “Sherwood Forest” and our community education and outreach programs. Tickets: King’s Court - $1,500 includes 10 tickets to FloraDora, 10 reserved seats in a private box for the FloraDora tribute performance, 10 preferred seats to a show of your choice during the performance run and 10 passes to the VIP back lot hospitality tent. Merry Men - $150 includes one ticket to FloraDora, 1 reserved seat for the FloraDora tribute performance, preferred seat to a show of your choice during the performance run and a pass to the VIP back lot hospitality tent. Outlaw - $100 includes one ticket to FloraDora