'Stache Bridges

Mustaches are everywhere, or at least they should be. Just look to one of our country’s most majestic monuments for proof. There, up on Mount Rushmore, is Teddy Roosevelt’s mustached upper lip, beautifully groomed in granite and larger than life. If a mountain has no trouble showing off its ´stache, then why are so many mustachioed men in this country forced to feel shame about their choice of facial hair? One group seeks to change all that. The St. Louis-based American Mustache Institute hopes to spread the mustache love with ´Stache Bash 2007, an annual party and fundraiser happening in the shadow of the Gateway Arch (what the AMI calls the world’s largest mustache), at Al Hrabosky’s Ballpark Saloon (800 Cerre Street). To further its cause, not only is the AMI bringing in several bands to play throughout the night, including MattiBurns & the Tin-Can Tourists and the Quarter Draw Band, but the group has also secured an appearance by the esteemed documentary filmmaker Jay Della Valle, the man behind The Glorius (sic) Mustache Challenge. This film dares men younger than 30 to rock the mustache for one month, and we’re thinking that month should start a couple days before ´Stache Bash. But in case you can’t grow facial hair under pressure, fake cookie dusters will be accepted in the spirit of the party (ladies, you can wear the falsies, too). To purchase your $10 bash ticket, which includes beer, call 877-STACHE-1 or email mustache2007@gmail.com; more mustached information can be found at www.myspace.com/stachebash2007. The celebrations and outreach efforts run from 8 p.m. to midnight. (Oh, and proceeds go toward Challenger Baseball, a league for children with disabilities. See, mustaches really are good!)