THE PALLADIUM ST. LOUIS MAKES ITS DEBUT WITH THE LANDMARK’S ASSOCIATION GALA

By Deb Peterson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Revelers enjoy the opening of the Palladium St. Louis for the Landmarks Association's 50th anniversary

DEB-U-DOS: The Palladium St. Louis at 1400 Park Place shone on Saturday night for its event debut, the 50th anniversary of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis.

With lights and valets and fireworks, the newly restored landmark – which was once the laundry building for the old General Hospital complex — put its stamp on the surrounding Lafayette Square neighborhood.

Chris Goodson, whose Gilded Age development renovated the space for Richard Nix Jr. and his company, Butler’s Pantry, was on hand to make sure things went right. John McGuire, director of development for Butler’s Pantry (and the eldest son of our beloved late colleague, John McGuire), made sure the first dishes out of the new kitchen met with the firm’s high standards.

Richard Nix Jr. (upper left corner) of the Butler's Pantry and some of his family on hand for the opening of the Palladium St. Louis

With nearly 400 people on hand for the event, the room was spacious and airy and allowed for plenty of circulation, dancing and auction-item display. Jefferson Mansell, Landmarks topper, said the gala raised about $80,000 for the association’s education programs.

He said one of the items he most liked in the auction was a plane ride over St. Louis during which the passenger could get photos of many local landmarks. Mansell said the item, which was donated by Rick Klassen, was so popular that Klassen decided to donate it two times. Klassen is the pilot who will be taking up the highest bidders.

Landmarks board member Bill Schawacker, a driving force behind the gala, said he was thrilled with the celebration. Schawacker was there with his better half, Charlene Prost, former development reporter for the Post-Dispatch.

Spotted here and there in the room: Jill and Dan McGuire, Vince and Lois Schoemehl, Paul Ha, Philip Slein, Jim Schmidt, Sara and Gary Tetley, Walker Gaffney, Madeline Dames, Cileia Miranda-Yuen and Andrew Yuen, Pamela Kuehling, Monica McFee, Kelly and Andy Trivers (who was pretty puffed-up about the recent opening of sorts of the row of illuminated rooftop wind turbines he designed on the Delmar Loop); and event organizers Susan Barrett with Chris Poehler, Charles and Shirley Drury, Amrit and Amy Gill and Anne Stupp.