Be Like Carver

Times are tight, jobs are disappearing and there's a bailout on the way for dozens of millionaires — but who's looking out for you, the non-millionaire venture capitalist? George Washington Carver is, that's who. Carver believed in recycling and upcycling objects discarded by others, which served the two-fold purpose of saving precious resources and saving precious money. Thrift is good science, people. So in the spirit of Carver, the Missouri History Museum (Lindell Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue; 314-746-4599 or www.mohistory.org) hosts Swap-A-Rama-Rama, a free community clothing recycling project. Bring a bag of clean — let's stress "clean" — clothes you no longer wear or want to the museum at noon today. That's step one. Step two, you paw through the clothes donated by others to find something that's new to you. Then head over to the workshop area and begin repairs and/or modifications on your newfound garment. Change the buttons, patch some holes, add some artistic holes — whatever you want; it's yours now. Sewing machines will be available, as will some basic notions (hopefully rickrack). Then go home and exult in the fact that you've tidied your closet a touch and acquired some new pants — because no matter how tight times are, you still need to wear pants. It's the law, according to my citation.
Sat., Feb. 21, 2009