Good for the city of Clayton, passing the first reading of a new bill that would ban smoking in public spaces including offices/businesses, stores, hotels and restuarants.  We eat out a lot and its a pain to have to deal with smoke in a restaurant or bar situation.  Its time for everyone to recognize that smoking bans don’t effect business in the long run and according to restuarant owners in cities like NY and SF where smoking has been banned for years, it  has even helped business by making the dining, drinking and party environment better all the way ’round.   Maybe its time for us to pressure our state reps to get the state to step in and make it a statewide law so that the local officials aren’t so worried about getting re-elected or whatever it is they’re worried about.  Without trying to get into everyone’s business it would be nice if everyone would admit that smoke is not only offensive but also dangerous and should be allowed only in the privacy of one’s home and/or car.  Two cities - (Ballwin and Clayton) down - 89 to go in the county and the City too.

So I got a few comments on the kinds of things to do around St Louis in summer that cost little or no money.  The usual suspects dotted the list:  The Zoo, Forest Park, etc.  But what else?  A lot of us who have lived here all, or most all of, our lives have one or two things that they haven’t done(i.e. ride up the Arch, take the Brewery tour, etc.).  And vice-versa.  You may have done some things that the rest of us haven’t.  How about sharing?Just shoot me an email at edgoodman@kezk.com  and let me know a cool thing or two you’ve done around town that we should try.  I’ll post the responses I get and we’ll all be able to have a little more fun in and around our city.