Arts & Culture

A revitalized area of downtown St. Louis has been named one of the top designed public spaces in the world.

The American Society of Landscape Architects on Wednesday announced that St. Louis' Citygarden was among 37 winners from nearly 600 entries. Citygarden earned an Honor Award in General Design.

Citygarden was designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. It includes a three-acre sculpture park, greenery, even a water area where children play in warm weather.

Today we got the chance to visit with Webster Groves native and acclaimed author Jonathan Franzen about his latest novel Freedom, his inspirations, and his methods.  You can hear the whole conversation in the St. Louis on the Air archives, but here are some highlights:

On whether or not he's working on a new book

It takes me a long time to write a book. They’re years in development before I get any pages I can believe in.  I have some vague thoughts.  Usually the vague thoughts I have at this stage, they turn out to be completely wrong headed.

David Robertson conducted the St. Louis Symphony with pianist Orli Shaham as the soloist in the world premiere of Steven Mackey’s “Stumble to Grace” in concerts Sept. 23 and 24 in Powell Hall.  Co-commissioned by the St. Louis Symphony, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the concerto was written for Shaham  who will also perform it with the other two orchestras later this season.

On Thursday, Sept. 22 following the first rehearsal of “Stumble to Grace,” the St. Louis Symphony’s Eddie Silva spoke with composer Steven Mackey.

Will be updated. (Details of updates at bottom of post)

Updated 1:03 p.m. with links to panoramas of Cementland site. Updated at 1:14 p.m with links to public artwork archive and 1:30 p.m with link to radio show archive. Updated 2:06p.m. with statement from Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis. 2:54 p.m. with vigil information.

Bob Cassilly, the founder of  St. Louis landmark City Museum, has died at the age of 61.