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November 2023
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The Beginning of a Thanksgiving Tradition
A 1920 Parade Sparked Thanksgiving Parades Across America
St. Louis’ Best Thanksgiving Festivities Thanks to Gimbels, we even have our own parade here in St. Louis! If you haven’t been to the Ameren Thanksgiving Parade before, you have to go at least once. It really puts you in the holiday spirit and is exciting for the entire family. The
It’s almost mandatory to either attend a Thanksgiving Day parade or have one playing on the TV while you snooze in the recliner. With city blocks filled with crowds, beloved character floats, marching bands, and talented performers, there are few reasons not to tune in. The event also marks the beginning of the holiday season, often featuring a guest appearance from Mr. Claus. While it may seem like these holiday parades have been going on for as long as we can remember, there was a time when these staples were still relatively unknown. In fact, did you know that the first-ever Thanksgiving Day parade wasn’t Macy’s quintessential celebration, which began in 1924? The 1920 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade actually started the tradition! The Very First Thanksgiving Day Parade On Nov. 25, 1920, the Gimbels department store created the parade as a way to ring in the holiday season and as a marketing tool to remind Philadelphians that Gimbels is the go-to source for all holiday shopping. The parade started humbly, with just 50 Gimbels employees marching down the road. Yet, the parade grew quickly and included marching bands, floats, balloons, and Santa Claus himself, which drew thousands of visitors. Soon, stores like Macy’s in New York and other major cities decided to have a Thanksgiving Day parade of their own, which followed Gimbels’ parade blueprint. REFERRALS WELCOME Thank you for referring clients to us over the years. You will never be embarrassed by a referral to our office. We’re always available to lend a helping hand to anyone with any legal need. Just give us a call at (314) 961-5678 or visit us at BeckLawMO.com .
event is completely free and begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23, with a host of elaborate floats, dancers, and horse- drawn carriages passing through downtown St. Louis. Of course, the parade isn’t the only holiday event in St. Louis this Thanksgiving. If you’re a runner, there’s the St. Louis Turkey Trot. The event offers a 5K or 8K route that you’re more than welcome to run or walk. The best part? Once you reach the finish line, you’ll receive a delectable doughnut from Strange Donuts! Do you need plans for the weekend after Thanksgiving? Why not get straight into the Christmas spirit by attending “The Nutcracker” ballet at the Touhill Performing Arts Center? Located at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the St. Louis Ballet Company offers a performance of the Christmas classic every Thanksgiving weekend. The St. Louis Ballet Company only does a few performances for Nov. 25–26, so be sure to get your tickets quickly. Don’t stress too much, though, because the company will perform “The Nutcracker” again starting mid-December. I’d love to hear what your favorite Thanksgiving events and traditions are. I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving and can unwind with your family and loved ones this festive season. Happy holidays!
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The Disappearance of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
You may have heard of “the seven wonders of the world,” but what you may not know is that the seven we know today are actually considered the “new” wonders of the world, replacements for their ancient predecessors, aptly named “the seven wonders of the ancient world.”
So, you’re probably wondering, “Well, what happened to those ancient wonders?” The unfortunate answer is that all but one — the Great Pyramid of Giza — have been destroyed. Here’s what happened to the other six. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Bodrum, Turkey An earthquake sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries reduced the Mausoleum to rubble. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Western Turkey A man named Herostratus burned the temple down, hoping to become famous in history as a result. Hanging Gardens of Babylon Hillah, Iraq Unfortunately, this ancient wonder never existed in any actual Babylonian
records. It was likely a myth created by Roman and Greek authors. Statue of Zeus at Olympia Olympia, Greece After the statue was dismantled and moved to Constantinople, a fire destroyed it in the 5th century. Colossus of Rhodes Rhodes, Greece An earthquake around the year 225 B.C.E. toppled the statue, and in 654, when Arabs invaded Rhodes, they destroyed it and sold the metal for scraps. Lighthouse of Alexandria Alexandria, Egypt This ancient wonder was yet another destroyed by a series of earthquakes between 956 and 1323.
SURPRISING ANIMAL FACTS FROM YOUR FAVORITE HOLLYWOOD MOVIES
No. 2: Peanut butter is the key to talking animals. Trainers will actually give them peanut butter before filming, and the movement of their mouths mimics talking. No. 3: Animals have doubles, too! In many movies, one animal actor can have dozens of doubles take their place. For example, in the film “Babe,” 48 different piglets played the role!
Part of the reason we love movies so much is because things that seem improbable or downright impossible happen without a second thought on the big screen. Like, for example, when animals act on cue! A lot of movies enlist cats, dogs, pigs, horses, monkeys, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) as part of their cast, and when the director yells, “Action!” they somehow nail their roles. However, many things you see involve a little movie
magic. Here are four facts about animals in movies to show you what we mean. No. 1: Most dogs in movies have CGI tails. Canine actors just have too much fun and wag their tails nonstop while filming. So, many movies add a computer-generated tail that wags less enthusiastically.
No. 4: The sounds animals make may be from a different species. Sometimes, movie crews substitute animal sounds from different species that resemble the original. For instance, in “Flipper,” they used kookaburra bird calls instead of actual dolphin noises!
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TAKE A BREAK
There have probably been instances in your life where you sat down to complete a task, only to think about anything other than what you should be doing. While this can be extremely frustrating, it’s completely normal, especially if you’ve never explicitly taught your brain how to focus. Believe it or not, focusing our mental attention on one task does not come naturally; it’s a skill that requires practice and patience, especially in today’s world of constant stimulation. Luckily, training your focus only takes a few minutes a day, and you can start seeing results as quickly as you begin learning. How to Train Your Focus Step No. 1: Put your phone in another room — literally. No exceptions! Step No. 2: Pick a point. Once you’re in the room where you want to train (without your phone), sit on the floor facing a wall. Then, pick a point on that wall to stare at. Step No. 3: Stare at that point for 120 seconds. It’s important to keep your body relaxed and maintain visual focus on the spot for the full 120 seconds. You’ll probably find this training incredibly boring and mentally agitating — and that’s the point . Tasks that require attention are not typically stimulating, but you must focus on them nonetheless. By teaching your brain how to focus, you’ll have an easier time completing any task that comes your way! RECLAIM YOUR CONCENTRATION! How to Train Your Brain to Focus Like a Pro
Ballot Cornucopia Cranberry Districts Maize Pilgrim Politics Raking Shopping Stuffing Thanksgiving Veteran
TASTY APPLE PIE
Just like Grandma made!
Ingredients
• 2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts • 6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour • 2 tbsp butter
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Place 1 pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flour. 4. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined pie plate and dot with butter. 5. Cut remaining crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange strips in a lattice design over top of pie. 6. Trim, seal, and flute edges. 7. Bake for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Untold Story of the First Thanksgiving Day Parade What Happened to the Original 7 Wonders of the World?
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The Secrets of Animal Stars: Behind-the-Scenes Magic
Tasty Apple Pie
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Raise Your Game With Laser-Like Focus
Maximize Your E-Reading Pleasure
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Believe it or not, Americans still love to read. But how we read is changing, with 52% of people reporting they enjoy their literature on an e-reader. Unlike traditional paper books, digital readers offer users a variety of accessories to enhance their reading experience, which makes them more appealing than paper. So, we wanted to share a few accessories for your device that take your reading to the next level! Anti-Dust Plugs These are little rubber stoppers you can pop into the micro-USB or USB-C port to prevent dust or debris from entering and damaging your device. Some even have charms on the end so they look cute while protecting your reader! Suction or Stick-on Grips These tiny knobs (like the ones you can put on your phone) make holding your device with one hand a lot easier. They attach to the back of the device using suction, a light adhesive, or even magnetism. You can slip the knob between your fingers, so you don’t need to worry about losing your grip! An E-Reader Stand This accessory will keep your e-reader upright, so you can look straight ahead and read hands-free without craning your neck downward. To learn more about these accessories, search online using your e-reader’s name and the accessory type you’re looking for!
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