Over at the 13th Street Garden in Old North St. Louis, one of the chickens’ “pastimes includes solving the New York Times crossword puzzle.” Another reports, “my goals in life include traveling the world in a hot air balloon.” A third admits, “I am a quiet hen who is often overlooked when people visit the coop. My favorite colors are pink and mint. I love to listen to Debussy and dabble in watercolors and have a passion for making crocheted Christmas ornaments.”
These chickens have personality, but what they don’t have is names.
Volunteer Veronica Holden has penned colorful descriptions of the fantasy life of each chicken in the coop at the community garden. Her mission: to get guests at the Night Out in Old North benefit this Friday to bid on the right to name the fowl.
The kooky fundraiser in the getting-cooler-by-the-minute neighborhood is actually two events in one. Local Brew for Local Food at Old North Gallery will be held at 2700 N. 14th St., and will benefit the garden. Attendees can participate in raffles and auctions for the chance to name one of a clutch of Plymouth Rock and Ameraucana chickens, as well as three Polish hens. Schlafly and Square One Brewery will provide the local brew.
At the same time, the Urban Studio Café just down the road at 2815 N. 15th St., will celebrate its first birthday with food, wine, dessert and music.
The fun goes from 7 to 11 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 17. The 13th Street Garden provides fresh fruit and vegetables to the adjacent Old North Grocery Co-Op and the North City Farmers’ Market.
This article appears in Sep 1-30, 2010.