Edwardsville Scene » Jesse

Fond opens Township Grocer in Edwardsville

Jesse — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:19:22 +0000

by Jesse Gernign

Edwardsville, IL – Often in our lives we find ourselves longing for things we can otherwise not have.

I can’t count the times I have come back from a restaurant wishing I could take small and exceptional parts of it with me (handmade ketchups, hard to find cheeses, a unique wine). But I understand that restaurants often don’t want to reveal their sources, and honestly I don’t believe people can reproduce most plates seen in restaurants.They are often far more complicated in their preparation than first considered and usually require precision in technique far beyond the amateur chef.

That said, Amy Zupanci of Fond is pulling up the curtain on their operation by bringing their ingredients directly to your pantry. That’s right, Fond is opening up a boutique grocer called Township Grocer in Edwardsville beside the restaurant proper, and for those inclined towards finer ingredients, rejoice!

As for the products Township Grocer plans to carry, they have been holding the cards close to their chest. Amy hinted that they will be carrying some fine cheeses (bringing back silky blues from a farm in Vermont) some great American wines and a good deal of other fine things she wasn’t willing to disclose.

Secrecy is a fun thing, but thankfully Amy isn’t pushing the envelope too much. She has taken it upon herself to publish daily revelations on items on their lunch list. And yes, you read that right, Township Grocer will be doing a lunch. It seems that they will be doing a nicer lunch, which will be great. The lunch menu seems to subsist mainly of quality sandwiches, which I look forward to.

The opening is next week and I suggest swinging in when they open and checking things out.

Fond of Fond’s new idea? Click the “Like” or “retweet” buttons above, or the FaceBook share button to your lower right.

Review of Peel Pizzeria in Edwardsville

Jesse — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:10:57 +0000

by Jesse Gernigin

I love pizza places. And not just artisan pizzas, I love all pizzas. I am an equal opportunity pizza eater. What do you have? Provel? I’m in. Deep dish? Great! You serve the pizza out of a cardboard box smattered with grease? Slide it my way! I am in no way a pizza snob. But don’t let that fool you, I know good pizza.

A good pizza place, at its heart, is a place that serves good food comfortably. The ovens heat lends even the most generic of venues ambient warmth and comfort. Prime examples of this are Shakespeare’s at Mizzou and the Mellow Mushroom in Lexington. They are both places that, when entered, you instantly are comfortable.

This was not the case at Peel. Entering Peel on a busy night (and they’ve all been busy thus far it seems) is a cramped affair. The entrance lies off to one side of the room were the majority of the waiting area space is consumed by the bar. Although Peel isn’t a heavy drinking venue, I have to imagine parents won’t enjoy their children sharing the same space as the bar. The turnover of tables is odd and twice when I went tables sat empty while we were told fifty minute waits were required.

However this is easy to overlook because Peel is a newly opened restaurant and not competing on the same level as St. Louis luminaries such as Niche or hometown heroes Erato and Fond. What I’m really here for is the pizza, and pizzas they have.

Peel offers a good number of pizzas (although no gluten free alternatives) that range a little in cost, but none are overly expensive. I had three different pizzas and two different salads on my visits. The pizzas were okay. What was mostly disappointing was the prosciutto and fingerling potato pizza. The first couple of slices were mediocre but for some reason one slice was a grand slam of flavor and after that I couldn’t eat the pizza because I knew what it was intended to taste like and therefore knew the level of disappointment to expect.

“Intention” it is the best way to describe Peel. If we are going to be honest, Peel is a less zazzy version of California Pizza Kitchen. The pizzas they serve seem to suffer from internal confusion. The confusion is not psychological though, it must surely be the oven. When cooking pizzas at an incredibly hot temperature, as Peel claims to do (and they do), you have little time to make (or correct) mistakes in. My first two trips to Peel the hostess excitedly informed me that it only takes the chefs ninety seconds to cook a pizza. By my third visit this had stopped (note: this may have just been the hostess, but I imagine it must be hard to justify a fifty minute wait, packed restaurant or not, if you are serving pizzas at ninety second intervals).

That said the food was less than extraordinary, in truth it was barely passable as average. The pizzas came out either burnt on the bottom and chewy in the middle (not in a good way) or just overcooked to hell. The salads were just greens on a plate and the appetizers weren’t worth the time it took to eat them. The wings were average, the wood fired goat cheese had a flat flavor and the tapenade was more sour than good. The sandwiches were either saturated with too many competing flavors (the chicken mozzarella) or were dull (the Italian job). I hadn’t tried the pastas nor had a chance to ask anybody about their experience with them so I can’t comment. As for the desserts I’ll say this, don’t. Putting nutella on graham crackers, adding honey, and cooking it in a wood fire oven in no way justifies charging eight bucks for a smore.

As for the service it was good, if not overly gracious at times. The first two visits I had servers who have served before. The third time I carried out (busy holiday season, read my blog). The beer selection was pretty good with a dozen crafts on tap (thumbs up) and a few ho hum wine selections (although no liquor).

In total I give the experience two stars out of four. I give it two stars because the idea they have works (as seen in the California Pizza Kitchen) and they have room to grow, but the 222 bakery has been serving pizzas on Friday for some time now and they are about the same price and far better than Peel’s. I’ll have to review the place again in six months (a lot can happen in that time) but for now my review stands. Eat there if you are interested, you might get lucky, but be warned.

Agree? Disagree? Write us a comment below!

Rummage Sale of Rock

Jesse — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:00:00 +0000

by Jesse Gernigin

Corey Goodman of Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocket Ship is at it again. He’s put together a show in Collinsville at the Urban Art Co-op with a whole list of other artists such as The Vanilla Beans, Hood Kicks, Patrick Cadaver, Go DJ Go!, Bad News Gorilla, Remnar Cloudy with other bands in the works (see video of a few of the bands below). Naturally, this wasn’t enough for the creator of Superfun, so he made a rummage sale part of the show as well. That’s right, music, people, and cheap stuff! (Story continues below video).

I called Corey and asked him about the show.

“I took two things I love, music and rummage sales, and brought them together,” explaining the event rather simply.

However this is not Corey’s first rummage sale. When I asked him if he thought this would work, he told me he had the idea originally four years ago and it took place at the Ground Floor in Belleville.

“And I had to wait four years to collect enough stuff to have another one,” he added with a deadpan delivery. I laughed…a little. Lucky for us, this new rummage sale/show is located right in the heart of downtown Collinsville at the newly opened Urban Art Co-op building.

The Urban Art Co-op is a newly minted business alongside the bar scene in Collinsville. It is a neat little retail shop that will play host to Corey’s rummage sale of rock. The business will serve as an interesting venue for the show and it is worth swinging over to their blog and checking out what they are about. As for the show it takes place on December 12 starting at 7 pm and going all the way to midnight. The cover is $5 and it is an all ages show, so the place will probably be packed come 8 pm.

Ten Years of Design in Edwardsville

Jesse — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:22:35 +0000

A flyer for the Creativille tenth anniversary, showing clips of some of the designs.

by Jesse Gernigin

Meeting Steve, owner and creator of Edwardsville-based design company Creativille, is like meeting your first cool teacher in high school. You know the kind. Not really that old, outwardly happy, and possessing an energy that accounts for their tremendous ability to communicate their talents. He is dressed in his day to day work clothes, T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. All of it comfortable, all of it right.
I’m here to interview Steve about Creativille’s ten year anniversary, and how he got started all those years ago. Interviewing him I can’t help but feeling young again. Maybe it is Steve’s laid back nature but I’d swear, for a second, I was standing at my art teacher’s desk in high school, captivated by ideas I had yet to consider.
To celebrate ten years, Steve is throwing a party at the Edwardsville Arts Center. The party kicks off a exhibit Steve has curated, “Impressed by Design: Letterpress in the Heartland.” The exhibit showcases Steve’s letterpress pieces, has a short film documenting his work done by Preston Gibson (brother of Parker Gibson) and features five other letterpress artists.
Steve started designing because he wanted to create, “A branding strategy and graphic design firm.”
Steve talked about how he wanted his work to deregulate the stereotypes of art and use art to open new channels of communication in Edwardsville. His work embodies a type of understated sophistication. Both the typography and images reveal a sense of space that confirms what the rest of the piece is saying. The colors he uses are often broad and bold and remind me of promotional posters from magic shows in the 1900’s.
When I asked Steve why he had settled in Edwardsville he responded, “I chose to work in Edwardsville, because…It is our hometown, and we love it.”
Talking to Steve, this made sense. In no way did he seem the kind of person that relied on his location to determine his destiny. He conveyed this fact with his presence, constantly saying “hello” to everyone-young and old-passing out Jack Handey bits of wisdom and generally extemporizing in back chat wherever he went. However, endearing or not, I wondered how staying in Edwardsville affected Steve’s business. I wondered how he could find big success in a small town.
“In my business,” he began, “You literally can work from anywhere with a FedEx box and internet connection. From an egocentric angle, I love that I can create a nationally recognized company and run it in this great small town that we love.”
The answer felt a little too pat, but when pressed further Steve merely quipped in his Warholian coolness, “It is not the place that commands the creator, whether it is the love of the eye for the art.”
Creativille, however, does not just focus on branding. It also focuses on, “A wide range of graphic design and branding needs beginning with brand identity development, communication collateral, books, magazines, employee communications, financial communications, event marketing, advertising, signage and online social media.”
Steve’s ambitions don’t stop here though. Steve already has another exciting project planned, a one day conference on design and communication. It will be hosted by Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis (COCA). The conference title is ‘One Day’ and will play host to a number of speakers. Although I am not at liberty to discuss the speaker line-up I will say it is impressive. The theme of ‘One Day’ revolves around future speculation as in, “We should do that ONE DAY” and the conference One Day represents the speculated ‘one day’. I’ll be doing an article on that in the near future, until then fill your time by exploring Steve’s website and blog here at.
Steve’s website and blog can be found here.

Curiosity, questions, and the super fun of the unknowable

Jesse — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:53:08 +0000

by Jesse Gernigin

Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship is a cage Corey Goodman has created to contain the creative force he unleashes nightly in clubs, bars and other venues. It would be easy to write off Corey’s creation as bombastic and his show a collection of shocking and uncomfortably funny moments, but to do so would be a disservice, a surrendering to that same force that makes you cringe as Corey smells your hair during the middle of a song whilst drinking from an audience member’s glass. What Corey has done with Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship is bring together a high energy and highly unique performance that relies just as much on channeling his inner man child as it does on his Buster Keaton antics.

Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship is a one man band, with Corey creating the music and performing. His music is an eclectic smooshing of electronica, sound effects, and madness. The music is played in the same manner as bands like GirlTalk, with the main thrust of the sound coming from a laptop whilst Corey performs. His schedule is pretty full and if you click over to his band’s Myspace page you can not only get a look at his upcoming dates, but also read some posts, watch some vlogs (You have to check out the one where the Metro East High School dance team performs to one of Corey’s song) and listen to some mp3s.

What is interesting is meeting Corey outside of his show, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, sneaks, and the occasional fanny pack. There is a lot I would like to know.

“Does he plan a show? Is it all impromptu? What comes first the music leading to the performance, or a performance demanding music to explain it?”

Not wanting to interrogate him, I instead take the chance to question him on the creation of his band, “It all started on a whim to do a one-off show with an old friend. He bailed at the last minute but since I had taken care to record the backing tracks, I played them and ran around singing. After that I started doing shows non-stop and named myself Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship. This all took place around October 2005 and hasn’t let up.” When I asked him about the future of SFYYRS he commented, “I am slowing down a bit…I don’t plan on getting big doing this…I’m slowly working on a new album, ‘O Yeah, O Baby, O Baby, O Yeah’ and redoing some older songs.”

Listening to Corey talk I can’t help but notice he emanates an underlying anxiety we all share, that one where you aren’t sure if you are saying to much or to little, speaking to fast or to slow, or generally boring the listener in the first place. This anxiety seems to possess Corey with its constant presence. I wonder if it is all an act, albeit an elaborate one. Perhaps, I muse, Corey is putting us all on. But I dismiss this idea and come to a deeper conclusion. Corey is battling his inner man child in a world condemning of such things. He battles his inner man child much the same way Will Ferrel does, the only difference being Will Ferrel does it on screen and Corey does it on stage.

And what do you see on stage? What lurks there beneath the surface of that elaborate name and that entirely too tight spandex outfit? I imagine there are a lot of answers I could give ranging from the one word descriptions, “Unknowable,” to the high-fructose laced descriptions of, “Towering titan talent works whimsical wonders,” and it would all be right, but no one entirely true. Instead I’ll say this. Seeing Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship is a choice to confront the unknowable. This sense of unknowable surrounds you as Corey looks around the stage, his eyes sharp. For a moment he plots out his madness and you feel a giddy tinge as he locks his gaze on you for a half moment, were you chosen, were you not? Only Corey knows what will happen next and this makes anticipation crawl cat-like up your back. Then the music starts and the anticipation rises, regardless of what happens next (whether it be Corey running a few laps around the stage, outside completely, or some other random things) you know it will be super fun.

In Darkest Night

Jesse — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:04:47 +0000

The latest installment in the DC Comics Green Lantern series is coming to Edwardsville.

by Jesse Gernigin

Coming into HomeTown Comics in downtown Edwardsville I meet Douglas Diel, owner and comic aficionado. When I first meet Douglas he is dressed casually and talking to customers. I take a few moments to take in Douglas and the shop. The shop is a small space, no bigger than a large living room, and is packed with every kind of comic book and comic book related item, giving it a very colorful ambience. Douglas is dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and is slightly grizzled, the way you expect interesting college professors to be. Douglas is an Edwardsville resident who, like so many local business owners, found himself wanting to return from where to his hometown and bring his passion with him.

Douglas’s passion is for stories is what drew me here today. In a few weeks a story arc will finally be realized in the DC Comics universe that is drawing great publicity, and Douglas is excited about it. Sitting me down, Douglas quickly explains the premise behind “Blackest Night.”

“You see,” he begins, “This will be a great story because it ties in the entire Lantern Core and focuses on the final color in the ROYGBIV color spectrum that the Lantern Core works around.” For more information on the story I suggest you go here.

On July 14DC will release its much anticipated series on the Black Lantern, and HomeTown Comics will be participating in the release of the story. To create interest and help explain the story to interested readers, Douglas is also giving out a free comic book. The comic gives a quick overview of the story and definitely creates interest in it. DC has, in conjunction with the comic’s release, included a free Black Lantern ring with purchase.

“However,” Douglas tells me, “HomeTown Comics constantly gets new releases in every week. Not just small comics but also graphic novels, t-shirts, and everything related to your favorite stories.”

Before I leave Douglas gives me a tour of HomeTown Comics, taking care to explain to me that comics aren’t just for children. Looking around I understand why. Douglas store is filled with stories and interests for every appetite, and although he carries the usual superhero fare he also populates HomeTown Comics with a diverse range of graphic novels and serials. However, HomeTown Comics doesn’t need my realization to make its point that comics are for everyone. Douglas caters to a large, demanding and diverse clientele that more than well speaks for his point. Worried that you might be overwhelmed at all of the choices available to you? Worry not, Douglas has a MySpace page where he posts reviews and commentary on different comic books in his store.

Douglas’s shop is opened from noon to 7 pm.

Afterwords Bookstore

Jesse — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:48:52 +0000

Filll your shelves at Afterwords Bookstore in Edwardsville.

by Jesse Gernigin

I am reluctant to write that Afterwords Bookstore is a newly opened used book shop, because I’m afraid to brand Afterwords with an image not equal to its honesty. “Newly opened” calls to mind a sterile environment.

But Afterwords is a used book shop with a comfortable interior and inviting atmosphere like a good used book shop is supposed to have. It is a comfortable space with great natural light coming in off the street through the large storefront windows and a simple interior with a large couch that invites you to sit and peruse your choices before purchase. One great thing about the shop is that it doesn’t sacrifice its space to create the illusion of intimacy with clutter. Instead they keep an open shop that has, as I said earlier, an inviting atmosphere. So I’ll say this, After Words book shop is a welcome addition to downtown Edwardsville.

It is located next to Sacred Ground’s and across the street from 222 Bakery, so it practically begs your common sense to come inside and wonder around, pick up a book or two, and stroll down main street to take in the afternoon.

Afterwords Bookstore also has live story-telling for youngsters by Rebekah Shelton every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday starting at 11 a.m. for the summer. Youngsters who make it out on Saturday receive a free gift to go along with the story being read. After Words book shop also currently displays Parker Gibson’s Noir Art set, affording you a great opportunity to catch an up and coming artist. So bring yourself and your children out, enjoy a good tale and pick one or two up to go.

After Words book shop is located in Downtown Edwardsville next to Sacred Ground’s and across the Street from 222 Bakery and is open M-F 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Noir art in Edwardsville: A look at Parker Gibson

Jesse — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:32:03 +0000

Noir, by Parker Gibson

by Jesse Gernigin

Parker Gibson’s reputation precedes him, literally. I meet his work before I meet him. It has been hanging around Edwardsville in different galleries since March 15. Lately I had been seeing his work at Erato’s, but now it has moved into Afterwords Bookstore on Main Street in downtown Edwardsville.

His work is also making appearances and garnering accolades from well-circulated art magazines across the world, such as the popular 0nline e-zine Stone Online and Advanced Photoshop Magazine UK edition. When I get a chance to sit down with him I’m pleasantly surprised. The man behind the work was not what I was expecting.

Parker’s work is stylish and absent of the ennui that plagues most designers in the world of ready-made templates. Right now it is highly noir, with heavy influences coming from surrealists like Dali in creating and defining negative spaces. Parker’s work features pieces that exemplify specific subject’s kinetic motions and also highly abstract art that uses specific and minimal images to convey large amounts of information.

His work calls to mind a sharply dressed man who is constantly squinting between thoughts, but when I met him fresh from the studio I found our artist dressed much like myself in linen shorts and a simple pastel button up with matching flip flops. He carries himself with a lightness usually reserved for dancers, and is bursting with ideas. His energy quickly absorbs me and we spend the next thirty minutes discussing ideas and exploring themes that he is excited about. Parker is currently very interested in three dimensional noir art. He is combining typography, photography and new creative techniques with Photoshop to create art that is, “Descriptive emotionally, distorted informationally, plainly beautiful, achingly complex, bold, bright and entirely kinetic.”

When the conversation lulls I steer him into answering my questions. I ask him about his inspirations, his plans for the future. He avoids them almost superstitiously, but what he does say strikes me deep inside. I ask him out of everything he could do, “Why art?”

“Because, art is the place our hopes call home.”

He smiles. I urge him to continue, “Because art affords me the opportunity to express and explore things, something that has been there for me and something I can escape to.”

And how wonderful is it that Edwardsville gets to call itself home to Parker and his work right now. Parker’s work can be seen currently at Afterwords Bookstore on Main Street. So take a second and stop in, have a look at Parker’s work.

Parker’s work will be up through the end of July for viewing at Afterwords Bookstore.