JAG Summer Picnic

JAG once again organized a blinder of an event. Apparently, the Summer Picnic used to be an event just for the civil department, but after the success of including facilities in 2005, this year it was decided to invite all departments to the festivities.

The picnic was held at the Turkish Pavilion in Tower Grove Park. The park was first authorized by a state law passed on March 9, 1867, and came into existence on October 20, 1868, when Henry Shaw conveyed his lands to the City of St. Louis, by deed of gift. It is a nearly rectangular area of land that is approximately 290 acres in size, which makes it the second largest park in St. Louis.

The pavilion was originally called the called the ‘pigeon’ or ‘dove-cot’ house & had a cupola roof which ‘ascended with diminishing curves’. The roof was brightly painted with the upper section being arranged for pigeons and other birds. In 1892, the Board of Commissioners for the park extended the pavilion roof by adding the large, lower tier & at the same time closed the bird roosts to create the Turkish Pavilion.

Approximately 300 were signed up to attend the event, but the weather was being fickle. Despite a 3-week period of no rain & very hot temperatures (100+), the day of the picnic started off with torrential rain which kept a lot of people away. The rain stopped about 20 minutes before the picnic started & it wasn’t long before most people were making use of the hundreds of water pistols that JAG had provided to make sure everyone got a good soaking. JAG also organized the food for the event which was from Bandanas (BBQ chicken, pork, & beef) & provided Ted Drewes ice-cream for desert – yumm!

All staff were given a cool bag that had candy & a gift card inside (these are like gift vouchers in the UK). I got a card for Wehrenbergs movie theatres & was also lucky enough to win a $25 gift card for a local restaurant as a door prize – cool!