Greetings. We're announcing the winners of the 2009 Kick Ass Awards in two places. This one, of course, and at our Twitter stream: www.twitter.com/52ndCity. There, you'll find daily updates, as winners are cited; we'll compile the results here.
As the title says, we are set to go for the K.A.'s this year. The details are:
Joe's Cafe
Sunday, November 8
7:00 p.m. start, 6:30 p.m. doors
6014 Kingsbury, in the Skinker/Debalievere neighborhood
Winners announced so far:
Riley's Pub
Bob Putnam & Sherri Lucas
Rob Thurman
Stlhandmade.com
Sweet Art Bakeshop & Art Studio
Molly Rockamann
Home Eco
Rebecca Rivas
Marty Abdullah
Gregory Smith
Kate Ewing
Carmelia Nunez-Shown and Daniel Shown
Plus our special Mystery Winner, selected the night of the event.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Friday, November 14, 2008
Updates on KA #5
Some updates on last night's event at the delightful Joe's Cafe.
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The two winners who weren't announced in our original press release were: Floyd Wright, a neighborhood activist on the South Side and former teacher; and Wiley Price, the longtime staff photographer of the St. Louis American.
Our mystery winner was Steven Fitzpatrick Smith, of Royale fame.
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In the day prior, we were given a nod by Melody Meiners at ToastedRav.com. Thanks to her for the play.
Winner Lori White - who may've stolen the evening's most-unexpected moment, with her spontaneous rendition of the National Anthem - has given us a nod on her blog.
We'll add any other blog mentions, etc., here. Please let us know if see-and-read any.
======
Thanks to all who attended and gave feedback.
We believe it was the most special one of these, yet. The bar's gone quite high.
======
The two winners who weren't announced in our original press release were: Floyd Wright, a neighborhood activist on the South Side and former teacher; and Wiley Price, the longtime staff photographer of the St. Louis American.
Our mystery winner was Steven Fitzpatrick Smith, of Royale fame.
======
In the day prior, we were given a nod by Melody Meiners at ToastedRav.com. Thanks to her for the play.
Winner Lori White - who may've stolen the evening's most-unexpected moment, with her spontaneous rendition of the National Anthem - has given us a nod on her blog.
We'll add any other blog mentions, etc., here. Please let us know if see-and-read any.
======
Thanks to all who attended and gave feedback.
We believe it was the most special one of these, yet. The bar's gone quite high.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What that huge headline says below...
Fifth Annual Kick Ass Awards
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Joe’s Café, 6014 Kingsbury, St. Louis, MO, 63112
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (6:30 doors)
Free, all-ages
www.52ndcity.com
www.kickassawards.blogspot.com
Contact: thomas@52ndcity.com
The St. Louis edition of the Kick Ass Awards launched in the early winter of 2004, based on the popular Austin, TX, event begun earlier that year by writer/raconteur Spike Gillespie. Since then, nearly 70 St. Louis individuals, organizations and other entities have been honored by the publishers of 52nd City, who promote this annual event, dedicated to folks in the community who often don’t get the praise they deserve… or, in other cases, folks that the publishers of 52nd City really, really dig. (For a full list of previous winners, you can check: www.kickassawards.blogspot.com.)
This year’s recipients make up our most delightfully diverse group ever, including:
- The Angry Black Bitch, aka Shark-Fu: provocative commentary on all subjects, dished out in blog-sized bites
- The Cupcake Project: quite likely the only “experimental cupcake blog” in the entire United States, based right here in the river city
- The Fox Hole: the most amusing sports show on the AM dial, featuring Maurice “The Mayor” Drummond, Martin “Marty Mar” Kilcoyne and Andy “Strick Nasty” Strickland
- Lucas Hudson: a winner for his work as both editor of the Vital Voice newspaper, as well as his role as the market master of the Old North Farmer’s Market
- The International Institute: a long-running, landmark South Side organization dedicated to serving the needs of New Americans from all over the globe
- Kosha Irby: an Associate Athletic Director at Saint Louis University, who slips plenty of good deeds into his 70-hour workweek
- George Malich: actor, improviser, star of “A. (anonymous),” upbeat advocate of the arts and a room-brightener, always
- Phil Valko: a resident of Old North, rehabber, board member, avid cyclist and twenty-something ass-kicker in a variety of progressive causes
- Lori E. White: blogger, urban explorer, dancer, actress, and, most importantly to us, a relentless advocate for The STL in a wide variety of media
- Josh Wiese: musician, neighborhood activist and all-around good guy; if only the City of St. Louis had a few thousand more of this personality type
In short: St. Louis’ weirdest, free-est awards show is back. Please spread the word.
-30-
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Kick Ass Awards - 2007
The fourth annual Kick Ass Awards maintained the same selection committee as the past two years, but found another new venue as home: this time, the friendly confines of Duff's, which was full to capacity on a late-fall Monday evening.
The winners for the 2007 cycle included:
* Free jazz pioneer/legend HAMIET BLUIETT
* Local artist and impresario BILL CHRISTMAN
* The country rock stylings of THE DOCK ELLIS BAND
* Family members of the late community activist and publisher MARTI FRUMHOFF
* The ecologically forward-thinking GREAT RIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
* BERNIE HAYES, a writer, educator, radio host and radio historian
* The little market catering to regional/healthy food fans, LOCAL HARVEST GROCERY
* Free-spirited LYNDSEY SCOTT, an artist and Cherokee Street community activist
* Painter and illustrator DANA SMITH
* JAY SWOBODA, a green developer and homeless advocate
* V-VEGAZ STYLE, a progressive hair salon in the East Loop
* JOSH WEINSTEIN, host of KDHX's excellent "All Soul, No Borders"
Our mystery award winners were artists WIKTOR SZOSTALO and AGNIESZKA GRADZIK of the Tree Hugger Project.
The winners for the 2007 cycle included:
* Free jazz pioneer/legend HAMIET BLUIETT
* Local artist and impresario BILL CHRISTMAN
* The country rock stylings of THE DOCK ELLIS BAND
* Family members of the late community activist and publisher MARTI FRUMHOFF
* The ecologically forward-thinking GREAT RIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
* BERNIE HAYES, a writer, educator, radio host and radio historian
* The little market catering to regional/healthy food fans, LOCAL HARVEST GROCERY
* Free-spirited LYNDSEY SCOTT, an artist and Cherokee Street community activist
* Painter and illustrator DANA SMITH
* JAY SWOBODA, a green developer and homeless advocate
* V-VEGAZ STYLE, a progressive hair salon in the East Loop
* JOSH WEINSTEIN, host of KDHX's excellent "All Soul, No Borders"
Our mystery award winners were artists WIKTOR SZOSTALO and AGNIESZKA GRADZIK of the Tree Hugger Project.
Kick Ass Awards - 2006
The third STL version of the Kick Ass Awards was held at a new venue, the Atomic Cowboy in midtown's Grove neighborhood. Held on November 9, 2006, the awards again celebrated the achievements and accomplishments of a dozen St. Louis individuals, organizations and businesses, with a mystery award given to Jim Utz, a treasure trove of information about local music history and a passionate cycler. Our show was opened by some skits from the Non-Prophets, who were one of our winning crews.
Below are the brief descriptions that appeared on our press release for the event:
========
* Advocates of youth cycling and computer education, BIKEWORKS
* The venerable urban educational institute, CROSSROADS SCHOOL
* KAREN DUFFY, namesake of Duff’s and a longtime champion of the CWE and River Styx
SCOTT EMANUEL of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri
* Singer, songwriter and recording artist STEVE EWING
* World class poet and member of the Hoobellatoo collective K. CURTIS LYLE
* The ever-evolving, ever-growing NON-PROPHET THEATRE COMPANY
* STUDIO STL, a local organization dedicated to children’s literacy
*Cherokee’s metal/punk/hard rock emporium TENSION HEAD
*Writer, bartender, KDHX late night host and more… the one-and-only BRETT UNDERWOOD
* The East Loop’s movers and shakers, the salon V-VEGAZ STYLE
* DOUG WHYTE of KDHX-TV, a leading proponent of documentary and “challenge” films
Below are the brief descriptions that appeared on our press release for the event:
========
* Advocates of youth cycling and computer education, BIKEWORKS
* The venerable urban educational institute, CROSSROADS SCHOOL
* KAREN DUFFY, namesake of Duff’s and a longtime champion of the CWE and River Styx
SCOTT EMANUEL of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri
* Singer, songwriter and recording artist STEVE EWING
* World class poet and member of the Hoobellatoo collective K. CURTIS LYLE
* The ever-evolving, ever-growing NON-PROPHET THEATRE COMPANY
* STUDIO STL, a local organization dedicated to children’s literacy
*Cherokee’s metal/punk/hard rock emporium TENSION HEAD
*Writer, bartender, KDHX late night host and more… the one-and-only BRETT UNDERWOOD
* The East Loop’s movers and shakers, the salon V-VEGAZ STYLE
* DOUG WHYTE of KDHX-TV, a leading proponent of documentary and “challenge” films
Kick Ass Awards - 2005
Our second event was held on November 11, 2005, with first-year recipients Brandyn Jones and Andrea Avery joining the selection committee. Again, we were at home at Gallery Urbis Orbis, the late downtown art gallery and performance venue.
Below are the notes on our recipients from that year's press release, advancing the event.
We should note that Pat Brannon didn't attend the event and claim his award. Our mystery winner was the duo owning Gallery Urbis Orbis, Margie Newman and Alan Brunettin, who would soon decamp St. Louis for opportunities in Chicago.
========
Michael R. Allen & Claire Nowak-Boyd: Preservationists and architectural historians, Allen and Nowak-Boyd stay busy maintaining the Ecology of Absence website and co-curating Cine16.
Pat Brannon: He’s the owner of the Casa Loma Ballroom and the President of the Cherokee Business Association. As proprietor of the Casa Loma, he has retained the historical integrity of the building and stayed true to it's 70-plus year history; the ballroom floor is one of the last "floating" dance floors, and is usually filled with folks dancing to Swing, Mexican or Bosnian bands. He has also hosted folk-dance groups, boxing benefits and Mardi Gras balls. Through the Business Association, Brannon has also helped to incubate many of the Mexican tacquerias, groceries and specialty shops currently flourishing on Cherokee.
John Burse: An architect and partner with the firm Mackey Mitchell Associates, John has contributed greatly to his adopted home of St. Louis through numerous architectural projects, as well as the rehab of his personal residence in Old North St. Louis. John has been a great champion of the Old North St. Louis neighborhood and has been a leader in the revitalization plans for that incredibly cool area which lies just north of Downtown.
Ivy Cooper: Cooper encapsulates the local art scene weekly in the Riverfront Times, where her observations are critical but fair. Her careful manner and dedication to covering as many local galleries as possible offers tremendous hope for the visual arts in the St. Louis community.
Cynthia Daly: Proving the tremendous impact of the individual volunteer, Daly gracefully coordinated many of the behind the scenes details of the wildly successful fundraiser for Stray Rescue, Mad Arf.
Dylan Hassinger: A full-time college student, Hassinger finds time to blog at his new outlet www.progressivestl.com, while hosting the KDHX funk-and-groove overnight show, Good Times.
Stephen & Sara Hale: Veteran Schlafly employees and major proponents of all things local, Sara was a major force in launching Art Outside, the alternative art fair focused on local talent, and Stephen serves as a local convivium leader for the SLOW Food organization.
Ann Haubrich: Long an activist on the local cultural scene, Ann has been involved with numerous organizations and events including River Styx, Artica, Art Outside, Hoobellatoo and St. Louis Artworks. Ann founded the Community Arts Training Institute (CAT) which has trained over 100 Fellows to implement arts programs in the community. Additionally, Ann has been co-producer of KDHX's Literature for the Halibut for 13 years.
Teresa Mithen: Mithen graduated from Yale Seminary and is the Pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church. In addition to her ecumenical responsibilities, she has been active in the larger community, opening St. John's fellowship hall to small, local performing arts groups and selling fair trade coffee to raise money for the Living Tree Mural Project, a piece of public art that will be created in collaboration with SCOSAG and the African Mutual Assistance Association of Missouri. She is also active on the St. Louis Interfaith Council, advocating for social justice and religious tolerance.
Mystery Award: Um, you’ll just have to be there.
The Publishing Group: This loose collective of writers and artists, created and continue to run an independent after-school arts program for St. Louis City schoolchildren. They aim to empower kids both scholastically and personally through the exploration of creative writing and art. Through mentorship with established, working artists, students create their own stories, poems and art, which is then collected and published, anthology-style. The Publishing Group is currently working on a compilation CD in collaboration with KDHX, Books Grown on My Tree, that will feature the students performing their own work.
Peter Venezia: Trendsetter, pied piper, businessman. A few years back in Maplewood - before the development we see now was happening - Peter established the Atomic Cowboy, a groovy bar and lounge. A place of high style, great warmth, good music and good fun. His original vision has developed into what is now the grander Atomic Cowboy a bit further east at 4140 Manchester in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Webster University Film Series: Regarded as one of the best collegiate film outlets of its kind, we dig this exhibitor of independent, foreign, classic and thematically-linked cinema.
Below are the notes on our recipients from that year's press release, advancing the event.
We should note that Pat Brannon didn't attend the event and claim his award. Our mystery winner was the duo owning Gallery Urbis Orbis, Margie Newman and Alan Brunettin, who would soon decamp St. Louis for opportunities in Chicago.
========
Michael R. Allen & Claire Nowak-Boyd: Preservationists and architectural historians, Allen and Nowak-Boyd stay busy maintaining the Ecology of Absence website and co-curating Cine16.
Pat Brannon: He’s the owner of the Casa Loma Ballroom and the President of the Cherokee Business Association. As proprietor of the Casa Loma, he has retained the historical integrity of the building and stayed true to it's 70-plus year history; the ballroom floor is one of the last "floating" dance floors, and is usually filled with folks dancing to Swing, Mexican or Bosnian bands. He has also hosted folk-dance groups, boxing benefits and Mardi Gras balls. Through the Business Association, Brannon has also helped to incubate many of the Mexican tacquerias, groceries and specialty shops currently flourishing on Cherokee.
John Burse: An architect and partner with the firm Mackey Mitchell Associates, John has contributed greatly to his adopted home of St. Louis through numerous architectural projects, as well as the rehab of his personal residence in Old North St. Louis. John has been a great champion of the Old North St. Louis neighborhood and has been a leader in the revitalization plans for that incredibly cool area which lies just north of Downtown.
Ivy Cooper: Cooper encapsulates the local art scene weekly in the Riverfront Times, where her observations are critical but fair. Her careful manner and dedication to covering as many local galleries as possible offers tremendous hope for the visual arts in the St. Louis community.
Cynthia Daly: Proving the tremendous impact of the individual volunteer, Daly gracefully coordinated many of the behind the scenes details of the wildly successful fundraiser for Stray Rescue, Mad Arf.
Dylan Hassinger: A full-time college student, Hassinger finds time to blog at his new outlet www.progressivestl.com, while hosting the KDHX funk-and-groove overnight show, Good Times.
Stephen & Sara Hale: Veteran Schlafly employees and major proponents of all things local, Sara was a major force in launching Art Outside, the alternative art fair focused on local talent, and Stephen serves as a local convivium leader for the SLOW Food organization.
Ann Haubrich: Long an activist on the local cultural scene, Ann has been involved with numerous organizations and events including River Styx, Artica, Art Outside, Hoobellatoo and St. Louis Artworks. Ann founded the Community Arts Training Institute (CAT) which has trained over 100 Fellows to implement arts programs in the community. Additionally, Ann has been co-producer of KDHX's Literature for the Halibut for 13 years.
Teresa Mithen: Mithen graduated from Yale Seminary and is the Pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church. In addition to her ecumenical responsibilities, she has been active in the larger community, opening St. John's fellowship hall to small, local performing arts groups and selling fair trade coffee to raise money for the Living Tree Mural Project, a piece of public art that will be created in collaboration with SCOSAG and the African Mutual Assistance Association of Missouri. She is also active on the St. Louis Interfaith Council, advocating for social justice and religious tolerance.
Mystery Award: Um, you’ll just have to be there.
The Publishing Group: This loose collective of writers and artists, created and continue to run an independent after-school arts program for St. Louis City schoolchildren. They aim to empower kids both scholastically and personally through the exploration of creative writing and art. Through mentorship with established, working artists, students create their own stories, poems and art, which is then collected and published, anthology-style. The Publishing Group is currently working on a compilation CD in collaboration with KDHX, Books Grown on My Tree, that will feature the students performing their own work.
Peter Venezia: Trendsetter, pied piper, businessman. A few years back in Maplewood - before the development we see now was happening - Peter established the Atomic Cowboy, a groovy bar and lounge. A place of high style, great warmth, good music and good fun. His original vision has developed into what is now the grander Atomic Cowboy a bit further east at 4140 Manchester in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Webster University Film Series: Regarded as one of the best collegiate film outlets of its kind, we dig this exhibitor of independent, foreign, classic and thematically-linked cinema.
Kick Ass Awards - 2004
Held December 11, 2004, at the Gallery Urbis Orbis in downtown St. Louis (RIP). Selection committee included Thomas Crone and Stefene Russell. This event would wind up being the catalyst for the 52nd City project. It was also the first event to come from the January, 2004, edition of the Kick Ass Awards, founded in Austin, TX, by writer Spike Gillespie.
Our winners included:
* Andrea Avery: working artist; arts organizer and planner; associate at Mad Art Gallery
* Aaron Belz: poet; teacher; organizer of Readings at the Contemporary
* Terrell Carter: working artist; adjunct faculty, Forest Park Community College; building manager, Regional Arts Commission
* Mo Costello: proprietor, MoKaBe’s (Arsenal @ Grand)
* Andrea Dunn: programmer, KDHX’ “Radio Rio”; organizer, Missouri ProVote
* Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts: arts collective & gallery space (Cherokee @ Compton)
* Neil Harris & Rusty Woody: proprietors, Alternative Music Pub/A.M.P. (Manchester @ Boyle)
* Brandyn Jones: Special Assistant to the President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen; arts activist and board member
* Luigi Lahrman: vendor, Luigi’s Flowers @ Soulard Market
* Maid Rite: eclectic, six-piece, all-female musical act
* Mary Sue Rosenthal: director of operations, Food Outreach
* Kraig Schnitzmeier: developer, Historic Homes Inc.
Our special recipient was Stella Burlacu, who was the impetus for Spike's starting the event in the first place. She was on-hand to help introduce the evening.
Our winners included:
* Andrea Avery: working artist; arts organizer and planner; associate at Mad Art Gallery
* Aaron Belz: poet; teacher; organizer of Readings at the Contemporary
* Terrell Carter: working artist; adjunct faculty, Forest Park Community College; building manager, Regional Arts Commission
* Mo Costello: proprietor, MoKaBe’s (Arsenal @ Grand)
* Andrea Dunn: programmer, KDHX’ “Radio Rio”; organizer, Missouri ProVote
* Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts: arts collective & gallery space (Cherokee @ Compton)
* Neil Harris & Rusty Woody: proprietors, Alternative Music Pub/A.M.P. (Manchester @ Boyle)
* Brandyn Jones: Special Assistant to the President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen; arts activist and board member
* Luigi Lahrman: vendor, Luigi’s Flowers @ Soulard Market
* Maid Rite: eclectic, six-piece, all-female musical act
* Mary Sue Rosenthal: director of operations, Food Outreach
* Kraig Schnitzmeier: developer, Historic Homes Inc.
Our special recipient was Stella Burlacu, who was the impetus for Spike's starting the event in the first place. She was on-hand to help introduce the evening.
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