Collinsville, IL

Baby New Year:
"Happy New Year! But hey, old man, there seems to be a lot of long faces and frowns on the folks. What kind of mess did you leave me in your year of 2009?"

Father Time:
"Blah!! I didn't do it - not my fault - could have been worse - it didn't start on my watch - give me a break - I did the best I could -mumble, grumble and Blah!"

Baby New Year:
"Ok, OK, so what happened?"

Father Time:
"Well, basically, people's homes are not worth what they used to be, or what they thought they would be. There was a whole lot of finger pointing going on in my year - bad loans, greedy people, bubbles, stupid people, bad this, bad that and bad some other things. Everyone assumed home values would continue to go up - they always did before - but for the past few years they've actually gone down! Just my bad luck to be the one in charge of the year when things didn't come back to "normal," whatever that is - blah! We tried and tried - had all our fingers crossed - but the good times of steady home appreciation just didn't come back - something about some bubble bursting. It's terrible - caused lots of other troubles too - lots of pain and discontent. My year was the pits - blah, blah! You can have it!"

Baby New Year:
"Easy, old man, I'm sure you did your best last year. So, what's it look like for 2010? What are you leaving me for my year?"

Father Time:
"Well kid, home values are in the pits, there are a lot of homes for sale that people couldn't afford to keep, most owners don't have money to fix up their homes to sell, even if they have to move - some even owe more than their home is worth! Interest rates are in the cellar because nobody is borrowing money to buy a home. It's so bad the government stepped in to help, but you know how that goes! You still happy?"

Baby New Year:
"OK, I can see why you are grumpy, but let me get this straight. Home prices are at their lowest level in years. Interest rates are at rock bottom. Money is available for government backed loans with small down payments for the purchase of homes and for making improvements. The government is giving tax credits for new and existing home owners to purchase a home, giving credits for energy saving improvements and even providing down payment assistance. Wow! Sounds like I'm going to be in charge of a great year. So how do I start, if you can get out of the dumps for a minute?"

Father Time:
"Yea, the truth is that conditions are right for a good year, but it's complicated. People just aren't used to how things are at the moment. They want things to be like they used to be, so they can't see how bright the future year can be. There is help, though. Tell people to sit down with a Realtor, like Bob Ashauer with RE/MAX Alliance, to understand the new reality of real estate, and to see what the year can bring for them and their family. Sure, it's different, but different in a good way. Maybe I didn't do such a bad job with my year after all. Good luck, young 2010!"

Baby New Year:
"Thanks, Father Time. Happy New Year to you! I'll have the folks call Bob at 618 581-1695 to see how the New Year looks for them - it looks great to me. Maybe with a little help we won't be as grumpy at the end of 2010 as you are now. I know I won't be - this baby is out looking for a good buy on my dream home! Hey Bob .............."

Find Bob at www.EastofTheArch.com
Serving the Metro East of Saint Louis in Illinois

There are some holiday traditions in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs that are just sweeter than others.

At both Ravanelli's restaurants -- in Collinsville and Granite City, Illinois -- the Christmas season brings out the artist in family, staff and friends. These "architects of icing" design and create the most incredible gingerbread houses many people have ever seen.

In fact, the term "house" is certainly a misnomer. The gingerbread structures on display this year range from a dreamy fairytale castle to a bayou swamp shack (complete with alligator).

After you've decided which gingerbread creation is your favorite, be sure to save time for lunch or dinner at Ravanelli's, a Metro East favorite since 1964.

They're famous for their pressure-cooked chicken, Italian specialties( including a wonderful Rigatoni Cassarole)and tasty steaks.

A buffet is available at lunch Monday through Friday so you can try a bit of everything.

Ravanelli's soups change daily (my favorites are Clam Chowder on Fridays and Cream of Chicken on Sundays) and their salads are huge and topped with a Garlic Ranch house dressing.

Don't miss gourmet pies for dessert (Pecan, Berry, Coconut Cream, et. al.), a square of bread pudding, a deep Chocolate Cake or the enormous Carrot Cake.

Daily specials are offered at lunch and dinner and kids eat free on Tuesdays.

You can learn more about Ravanelli's restaurants here.

And you can get a $5-off coupon when you join Ravanelli's e-mail club.

Hi, my name is Nancy and I am an aluminum Christmas Tree addict.

Remember that movie, "Fly Away Home," where the newly hatched geese imprinted on the little girl (played by a young Anna Paquin) and thought she was their mother? Well, I imprinted from an early age on the shiny, silver Christmas trees of the 1950s and 60s. There's no help for me now.

The picture to the right was taken Christmas Eve of 1968 at my cousins' Collinsville, Illinois home.(I am the tall, awkward one in the back. My little brother is the cute redhead in front.)

We had one of these hipster trees at our house too and so did the relatives on the other side of the family, so there was no shortage of aluminum to love no matter where you were on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

As a child I found it odd when we visited friends who had impressive, real fir and pine trees in their homes. What's the matter with them? I wondered. (Although secretly I thought it was kind of daring and old-fashioned of them and wondered -- briefly -- if maybe we were the odd ones.)

Several years ago, after I discovered Ebay and before the rest of the world copped on to how hip aluminum trees are, I found a vintage 6 1/2-foot silver tree for sale and snapped it up for about $14. It arrived in its original packaging and in pristine condition. Ever since, I've put it up in my home for the holidays and have basked in the warm glow of the spinning color wheel.

(For those of you who are uninitiated, the trees were lit by a small floor light that was covered by a plastic disc of primary colors -- red, green, blue and yellow -- that rotated slowly in front of the light to throw colors onto the tree. The crinkled aluminum branches blinked with the lights and gave off an otherworldly glow that was breathtaking.)

If you recall these Christmas classics, you will remember that the branches are stored in individual paper sleeves. You pull them out of each sleeve with a whoosh, much like a Musketeer must have pulled his sword. The center "trunk" is made of wooden dowl rods covered with an aluminum paper. Holes are pre-drilled to accommodate the branches. We always hung small blue ornaments from the end of each branch.

The instructions that came with my try cautioned buyers against putting light strings on the trees, warning that lights would "mar its beauty and -- if worn or frayed -- may short out on the metal branches."

My love for the alumnium trees has led me to research them a bit. My Ebay tree came from a company called Craft House which ws located in Chicago. I suspect Chicago was ground zero of the silver tree universe. I found the book, Season's Gleamings" on Amazon which is a great way to understand more about the context of the trees. The picture here is a link to the Amazon page for the book.

I found another community of other silver tree lovers at ATOM, the Aluminum Tree and Ornament Museum in North Carolina. According to ATOM, the first aluminum trees were used in 1959, so 2009 marks the 50th anniversary. Here's a link to a YouTube video from ATOM.

Yet another group is at www.AluminumChristmasTrees.net.

Whatever your Christmas tree style, I hope you and your friends and family have a bright and shiny holiday and a sparkling new year.

Remember the classic musical, Gypsy? In it, the young Gypsy Rose Lee is confronted by three flamboyant strippers who tell her if she's going to succeed in their business she's "got to get a gimmick."

Well, someone at the new joint called The Red Bar in Collinsville, Illinois was listening. They've got a great big gimmick and it's called "Giant Joe."

Giant Joe is a massive Sloppy Joe served on a 14-ounce, 10-inch bun and topped with anything you like (within reason, I am sure). If one person can eat the Giant Joe in 30 minutes or less, it's free. All that fun costs just $11.95 and possibly a trip to the gastroenterologist. (That's Misty -- one of The Red Bar's friendly servers -- hoisting a Giant Joe bun to the right.)

Gourmet Sloppy Joe's are the featured item at this restaurant/bar located at 416 Belt Line Road in Collinsville, just west of IL-159. They come naked (plain) or with a variety of toppings including: Nacho Joe (nacho cheese and jalapenos), Sloppy Rob (topped with beer-battered onion rings and American cheese), Polish Joe (sauerkraut and onions), Club Joe (lettuce, tomato, ranch dressing and bacon) and many others. You get the idea. The mix is more savory than sweet with just the right amount of heat. The Sloppy Joe's cost $5.95.

Sharing top billing on the menu are The Red Bar's Deep Fried Franks. These pure beef, half-pound, 10-inch hot dogs can be dressed in a wide range of offerings: Buffalo Dog (Buffalo wing sauce and bleu cheese crumbles), Sloppy Dog (sloppy joe mix and shredded cheddar), Chicago Dog (tomatoes, dill spears, onions, relish and garlic salt), and -- among others -- Chihuahua Dog (refried beans, shredded cheddar, jalapenos, sour cream and salsa).

If you manage to devour the big sloppies and doggies, you'll find that some of the real treats are the bar's side items. Onion rings, french fries (coated with garlic salt) and sweet potato fries are outstanding. Other appetizers include Deep Fried Pickles, Deep Fried Pizza Rolls, Chili and wings. The chili, which sports tomato chunks, ground beef and beans, has a minor kick, but can't be considered spicy hot. Three salads grace the menu, but I'll wager they are rarely at the top of diners' lists.

Open just two months, the establishment seems to have developed a loyal following. Strategically placed flat screen TVs make The Red Bar a great place to watch the games of your choice. The kitchen's hours are from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday, the kitchen is open from noon until 10 p.m. Bar hours are longer.