Francesca, America's US Miss Teen 2010 .... was recently in the studio; we updated her photos for her next competition.. Miss Missouri USA (Teen) in November. She is a high school senior this year and lives in a suburb of St. Louis. She is extremely poised for her age and is able to achieve a number of different looks with ease.
The Cliff Drive Scenic Byway has never been more lush.... with the wild grape, above, clinging to everything and the trees arching over the roadway, below.
Above and below.... you'd think a variety run amok and called "wild grape" would at least produce fruit.
KC Parks and Recreation has created areas in our parks that are less traveled designated for reduced mowing.... the result is landscape that, toward the end of summer, looks a little like it probably once did before it was mowed at all. Above and below views of Scarritt Point that are in the RMP... or, Reduced Mowing Program.
Above... the skyline barely visible above the trees in the distance....
Above looking east toward the ASB Bridge, below looking west toward the Broadway Bridge. Old mooring post in the foreground below with wire rope still attached.
And yes, the Mighty Muddy Mo is Mighty Muddy. As Twain said: "too thick to swim in and too thin to walk on."
Above the ASB Bridge which stands for Armour (Packing Co.) Swift ( & Company) and Chicago, BURLINGTON (and Quincy Railroad). The piers were built in 1890 but sat unused until 1909 when construction of the rest of the bridge began. It consisted of two decks the upper for cars and trucks and the lower for trains. The bridge, as you can see, is very close to the surface of the water right now which is one reason why the center portion is counterweighted and can be raised. Bridge designers made it possible to do this without disturbing the top deck so traffic was not impeded. After the Heart of America Bridge was finished in 1987 the ASB's top deck was removed. It is a National Landmark in Civil Engineering and is owned now by the Burlington Northern Railroad. Note the pathway goes down under the bridge....on the right in the image. The path is handicap accessible and is for biking or walking.
Areas next to the trail have been planted with native grasses and other plants which should make it look a lot like it did when Lewis and Clark came by just after 1800.
Above, ASB on the left showing one of the massive piers. The piers were originally 9 stories tall in 1890 when completed but were lowered to just 10-feet over the high water mark.
Another view of the Bond Bridge looking east above and below the ASB and The Heart of America Bridges.
Below.... "adaptive reuse" sorta. An old administrative building which was in horrible shape has been stabilized and even has flower boxes in the windows.
To access the walkway you can take Grand down to Berkley Park and then walk west, or, park at the foot of Main, walk out on the tower and then down by stairs or elevator to the walkway.
Journeyed down to the rivers edge to check on the Bond Bridge construction. Tons (literally) of progress to report including the fact that it's almost shore to shore. Very small, relatively speaking, space to go before the span touches north and south banks. Above is the view from above the Isle of Capri fake water feature.... the casino takes river water and pumps it through their grounds and then that circuit is complete with the return to the stream shown above.
Above a panorama under the south end of the bridge showing the only gap that remains to be closed. Paseo Bridge is on the left. The new bridge is scheduled to be finished by this time next year.
The north end was constructed using steel supports.... after the midpoint was reached the southern half of the bridge was cantilevered out since the river channel had to be kept open for barge traffic. The river's high level this year has slowed progress somewhat since much of the work is done from barges which also bring a lot of the supplies out to the work site.
When finished and illuminated by thousands of led lights that will be computer controlled the bridge will be stunning...
The top of the delta pylon is roughly 316 feet above the river's surface....
As mentioned previously tugs, like the one pictured above, scurry around the supports of the structure all day.
The remaining gap between in the bridge near the south shore seen above. Below, that same gap from the endpoint.
Above and below the deck will soon stretch completely across the river.... in the above photo you can see the small crane atop the delta pylon which ferries men and equipment to the top.
Occasionally Hyper ventures forth for culture. I happen to like it you know. Today I went to St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 13th and Holmes to hear the Summerfest Musicians. 
Truly an awesome combination of history, architecture and music.
Today's concert featured composers Vivian Fung, Paul Hindemith and Franz Schubert. The musicians were Mary Grant, Dorris Dai Janssen, Alexander East, Edward Paulsen, Shannon Finney, Jane Carl, Barbara Bishop, Kelly Cornell and Melissa Rose. Many also play in the Kansas City Symphony. 
After each concert there is a reception where audience members can meet and talk with the musicians. Normally at St. Mary's that is held in the adjacent hall.... but it has been undergoing extensive renovation..... above... only the floor remains to be finished and it will be ready for next week's concert.
It's a beautiful venue with great acoustics.
Taking a bow above and below.... about 150 were in attendance this week.
Above: six frames were shot to maintain proper exposure in both the windows and the interior..... thus the crowd moving toward the food :) creates an eerie scene. The church does have a ghost.... he may even be in the photo above .
This is the 20th year of Summerfest Concerts..... you still can hear great music... just go to
