Albert Samaha

Missouri Native Who Jumps to his Death in San Francisco Becomes Social Media Sensation

Our sister paper SF Weekly has a terrific feature story this week called "Public Influence," on the suicide of Dylan Yount, a Harrisburg native and Mizzou graduate who plummeted to a very public death from his apartment building. Our own former RFT fellow Albert Samaha tells the sad tale through th ... More >>

A Giants Fan Tries to Make Sense of St. Louis

Former RFT staff writer Albert Samaha, a Bay-Area native, just published the following for our sister paper in San Francisco, SF Weekly. Enjoy!Today, roaming bands of Giants Nation will converge on Busch Stadium to watch game three of the NLCS.Of course, San Franciscans leaving the safety of our pen ... More >>

Flying Saucer Starbucks Lifts Off in Midtown [Photos]

When the Del Taco at 212 South Grand Boulevard in Midtown closed in the summer of 2011, a grassroots coalition of urban preservationists and locals who just like cool things, damn it, banded together to save the iconic midcentury-modern "flying saucer" building from demolition. The result of their e ... More >>

National Association of Black Journalists Recognizes RFT

The National Association of Black Journalists recently announced the winners of its 2012 media awards, with Riverfront Times earning recognition for its investigative, feature and sports reporting.Former RFT staffer John H. Tucker won "Best News Feature" for his story "Knockout King" about the stree ... More >>

Yo Banga's Rising Rap Career and Complicated Relationship with Gangs

This week's RFT cover story by Albert Samaha and Tony D'Souza, tells the complex saga of Yo Banga, a north St. Louis rapper who grew up in gangs, saw his best friend shot to death and spent five years in jail, which is where he started rhyming. Today, he's working with groups like James Clark's Be ... More >>

Thi'sl Aims to Inspire With New Single "Hold On"

When St. Louis rapper Thi'sl wants to know how his fans are reacting to his music, all he has to do is look at a computer screen. For instance, Thi'sl released a video last week for his uplifting anthem "Hold On." He says he knew the tune was getting a positive response from monitoring social media ... More >>

Devon Alexander and Co. Hit the Mitts for the Cameras

The spectacle is underway. Yesterday Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana, Adrian Broner, and Eloy Perez shadowboxed and hit the mitts in front of fifty or so reporters, fans, and miscellaneous spectators at the Cherokee Recreational Center. These media workouts are a traditional feature of fight week. A ... More >>

The WWE Royal Rumble Guide For Concert-Goers

Pro wrestling and arena concerts may seem like vastly different species. But they're not that far off. World Wrestling Entertainment camped out Sunday at Scottrade Center for this year's Royal Rumble, arguably the mega-federation's second biggest pay-per-view of the year next to its annual Wrestlem ... More >>

Tornado Damaged Lambert Concourse Scheduled to Re-Open in April

Albert Samaha​ The tornado ripped through Lambert Airport's concourse C on April 22, 2011. By the time the one year anniversary comes along, airport officials hope that it will be ready for use. On Thursday, airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge gave a pool of reporters a tour of the steadily ... More >>

Are You Ready To Rumble?

​Hey, wrestling fans. Hopefully you all read Albert Samaha's profile of wrestling legend Harley Race last week, but if you haven't, here's an incentive.The RFT has two plaza level tickets for this Sunday's WWE Royal Rumble. We'll give 'em away to the first person who can name the brothers who, acc ... More >>

Troy White Wins Decision in St. Charles Boxing Card

Albert SamahaTroy White picked up his fourth straight win on Friday.​Troy White pushed his record to 4-2-1 on Friday with a decisive unanimous decision win. His opponent was a thick fighter name Justin Robbins. It was Robbins' debut as a pro and White picked him apart as much as he should have, da ... More >>

Billikens Stomp Texas Southern With Steel-Toed Defense

Albert SamahaBrian Conklin and company held Texas Southern to 39 points on 30.6 percent shooting.​The biggest lead was 37 points. When the starters were pulled with a few minutes left in the game, Saint Louis University was shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor. Last night, the Billikens did w ... More >>

Kellen Winslow Honored as East St. Louis Hometown Hero

Albert SamahaNFL great Kellen Winslow was honored at in his hometown, East St. Louis.​There were gator shoes, orange socks, brown fedoras, pinstripe vests, politicians, former NFL players, dozens of cameramen, hundreds of students, and lots and lots of orange and blue balloons packed into the East ... More >>

Ryan Coyne Makes Quick Work of Craig with Round Two TKO

Albert SamahaRyan Coyne earned a 2nd Round TKO on Saturday night, making him 19-0.​On Saturday night, Ryan Coyne hammered Dante Craig so forcefully and efficiently through the first two rounds that Craig decided not to answer the bell for the third. The technical knockout pushed The Irish Outlaw ... More >>

It's Official: Devon Alexander To Fight Marcos Maidana February 25 at Scottrade

Albert Samaha​Devon Alexander will fight the hard punching Marcos Maidana on February 25th at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Alexander will by vying for Maidana's WBA world light welterweight title. The fight will broadcast on HBO. Last time Alexander fought at Scottrade, an August 2010 d ... More >>

Billikens Shut Down Vermont; Majerus Compares Mitchell's Return To "That Movie Girl Interrupted."

Albert SamahaKwamain Mitchell puts up a long range jumper over Catamount defender Matt Glass in the second half of the Billikens' 62-43 win.​Forty-five minutes before tip-off, a man in a black beenie and black jacket with fur-lined hood was shuffling down South Compton Avenue shouting at the packs ... More >>

Ryan Coyne to Fight on Roy Jones Jr. Undercard Saturday

Albert SamahaIt's a big winter for St. Louis boxing.​It's only a matter of time before Ryan Coyne gets his title shot. The 18-0 slugger from St. Charles is aiming for a collision with WBA light heavyweight champ Beibut Shumenov sometime in 2012. In the meantime, there are wins he must rack up. T ... More >>

Devon Alexander Is Nearing A Deal To Fight Marcos Maidana

Albert SamahaIn June Alexander beat the second best Argentine fighter in the world. Will he face the best one in February?​There's a good chance Devon Alexander, the current face of St. Louis boxing, will fight Argentine slugger Marcos Maidana in February. Last week ESPN boxing wizard Dan Rafael r ... More >>

End zone: East St. Louis Flyers, Jose Oquendo and Missouri strip clubs score sympathy

Kaboom: Readers debate the fate of East St. Louis and hunter Jeff Foiles

OccupySTL Protesters and Reps from Mayor's Office Hold Meeting; Civility Ensues

Albert SamahaHow long will Mayor Slay let the OccupySTL tents stay in Kiener Plaza?​Forty or so OccupySTL protesters and a handful of reporters stood outside the Broadway Central entrance of the Edward Jones Dome, in the rain, waiting for someone to open the doors. They could see security guards a ... More >>

Albert Samaha Dresses Like Hemingway Writes

Albert Samaha, 22 Delmar Blvd. near Westgate Ave. ​​In an effort to celebrate the people who keep our city interesting, Daily RFT is launching a new weekly blog post, "Bold Types," featuring photos and street interviews with the fashionistas, fresh faces and free spirits of our town.

Police Not a Problem for OccupySTL; The Homeless on the Other Hand...

Albert Samaha​There is madness in Oakland, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Atlanta, New York. Flash-and-bang gas canisters... protesters flushed from public squares... mass arrests. But not here. At first, a cynic might think, "Of course! The last thing this city needs is a stone-throwing-police-wi ... More >>

Judgment Awarded Against Suspect Charity Aiding Joplin Tornado

Photo: Albert SamahaThe Joplin tornado leveled the town and killed more than 160 people.​Here's an update to a story we originally reported on back in July. Yesterday, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced that his office had received a consent judgment against Puerto Rico-based charity ... More >>

Occupy STL -- Voices from Kiener Plaza

​The man in the light blue button down is just on a quick smoke break. He's from southwest Missourah, in town for a meeting, soaking up a nice day in Kiener Plaza in the heart of downtown St. Louis and he's stumbled upon a square full of sleeping bags and Imo's boxes and pitched tents and people t ... More >>

James Clark and Norm White get praise, but readers aren't sure about the caveman diet

Aerotropolis -- Voices from McGurk's

Albert Samaha"I think the state legislators are correct in cutting it down to size," said Manley.​We're deep into the third week of the Missouri legislature's special session and the economic development package featuring the "St. Louis Aerotropolis" proposal is still in the midst of serious debat ... More >>

Miles to Go Jazztet Carries on East St. Louis' Music Tradition

Albert SamahaEast St. Louis Senior High's Miles to go Jazztet had the crowd bouncing at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups.​The trumpet slipped in as a whisper, simmering below the bouncing bass and rattling drums, before Brady Lewis leaned back an inch and filled BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups with thick sou ... More >>

Rendering of Renovated Saucer Unveiled; Future Tenant Still Unknown

Albert SamahaThe first image of St. Louis' hot new [to be announced]!​For the second time in as many months, developer Rick Yackey and 19th Ward Alderwoman Marlene Davis convened an informal press conference in front of the building formerly known as Del Taco. It was wet and windy and cold, but a ... More >>

Flying Saucer Remodel Unveiled, Tenant(s) Still a Mystery

​Developer Rick Yackey yesterday unveiled an architect's rendering of a remodel of the Flying Saucer, the former Del Taco and Phillips 66 building at 212 South Grand Boulevard. The design by St. Louis firm Klitzing Welsch Associates features a new brick and glass facade but retains the basic desig ... More >>

President Obama's Jobs Plan -- Voices from Barrister's

Albert Samaha"Stimulus has become a bad word," says Lasky (left).​Last Monday in his jobs speech, President Barack Obama made a serious effort to wrest control of the Narrative away from the Republicans.For months Democrats have complained about how they kept ending up negotiating on Republicans' ... More >>

Gay marriage and Jamilah Nasheed get readers talking

Jamilah Nasheed and Provel cheese have readers all worked up

Del Taco Saucer May Stay in Grand Center: "It Looks Promising."

Albert SamahaNews of the World scandal... Women's World Cup... debt ceiling debate... despotism in Syria... NFL lockout... The Saucer on South Grand Saga -- the stories that have defined the summer of 2011​About two dozen people packed the round red metal tables in front of the building for ... More >>

Meeting Dangles Hope to Flying Saucer Fans

​The saga of the former Del Taco building at 212 South Grand Boulevard -- a.k.a the Flying Saucer -- continues. Alderwoman Marlene Davis and developer Rick Yackey held a public meeting outside the Saucer yesterday evening.Albert Samaha reports on the meeting for Daily RFT:Yackey explained that he' ... More >>

The Peter Kinder Scandal -- Voices from the 34 Club

Albert Samaha"I think it's pretty typical for a politician," said England. "It feels like they're doing something like this all the time."​Peter Kinder blames the Stripper Scandal on Jay Nixon and the Democrats. "Jay Nixon may want to make up false stories about the past," he said last Thurs ... More >>

Dannie Williams KOs Antonio Cervantes on a Coldblooded Right Hook Friday Night

Albert SamahaDannie Williams knocked out Antonio Cervantes on a perfect right hook, in a bout that co-headlined ESPN's Friday Night Fights. It was Williams' first televised fight.​ (See our previous post on Dannie Williams here and our coverage of the weigh-in here) Oooooooooohhhhhh-Aaaaaahhh ... More >>

Fight Night in St. Charles: The Eyes of the Boxing World are on St. Louis' Dannie Williams

Albert Samaha"Dangerous" Danny Williams (right) takes on Antonio "El Bazooka" Cervantes (left) on ESPN's Friday Night Fights tonight.​"Dangerous" Dannie Williams hadn't been back to St. Louis since April, so he made his rounds before the weigh-in at the Amerisports Bar and Grill at the Amerist ... More >>

Phife Dawg Graces Tivoli for St. Louis Beat, Rhymes, and Life Premier: "Ya On Point Phife?"

Albert Samaha"All the time, Tip."​The crowd stood up and clapped when Phife Dawg strolled into theTivoli theater on Friday night. "Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest," had ended twenty minutes before, but more than fifty people were still in their seats, waiting for P ... More >>

Debt Ceiling Debate -- Blueberry Hill Barfly Speaks Out

Albert SamahaPresident Obama "gave what he had to to get it done," says Vincent.​"An informed citizenry is the bulwark of a democracy" -- Thomas Jefferson The power of The People rests upon our ability to hold elected officials accountable for their positions. This means wading through the s ... More >>

The Loop Celebrates Chuck Berry Statue Dedication

Albert SamahaWhere were you when the Chuck Berry statue was dedicated?​There were many people and it was hot and unless you got there early enough you probably couldn't even see the Chuck Berry statue through all the heads and cameras and miscellaneous visual impediments. But spirits were high ... More >>

Rick Yackey Vows To Do His Best To Not Demolish Saucer on South Grand

Albert SamahaThe saga continues...​On Sunday, developer Rick Yackey sent the St. Louis Post-Dispatch a statement declaring that he will explore every possibility before demolishing the Saucer on South Grand. According to the P-D, Yackey pledged "to hire an architect, talk with potential tenan ... More >>

Kaldi's, Pi in Mix for the Del Taco Flying Saucer?

​The saga of the (now former) Del Taco building, a.k.a. the flying saucer, at 212 South Grand Boulevard has taken yet another intriguing turn, with two of the city's most powerful politicians tweeting competing ideas for saving the iconic structure from possible demolition.On Saturday, Mayor Franc ... More >>

Taggers Hit the Saucer on South Grand

Albert SamahaWith graffiti on its windows, the Saucer on South Grand has transitioned from beloved eatery to yet another vacant St. Louis building.​The Saucer on South Grand has been vacant for not yet two weeks and already it's showing a symptom of urban blight: fresh graffiti on the windows. ... More >>

"Saucer on South Grand" Developer Gets His Tax Abatement

Albert Samaha​Developer Rick Yackey will get the tax abatement he requested to redevelop The Saucer on South Grand. As expected, the Board of Aldermen passed Board Bill #118 today, by a vote of 15 to 9. Given the bill's high profile, most of this debate had already been hashed out over the pas ... More >>

Tornado Victims Defrauded by Towing Company, AG Says

Albert SamahaAttorney General Chris Koster says a towing company's been taking advantage of the situation in Joplin.​Sometimes, natural disasters bring out the best in people. But Attorney General Chris Koster alleges just the opposite of a Parkville, Missouri, based towing company. Koster claims ... More >>

"Save Our Saucer!": Rally to Celebrate Beloved Del Taco Building

Albert SamahaDemocracy in action!​The wheelchair contingent from the Grand View Tower apartments rolls deep at the "Save Our Saucer" rally in front of the South Grand building formerly known as Del Taco. There's John Clay and Mike Buford and Eddy West and five or six of their friends, most of ... More >>

South Grand Del Taco: Scenes From the Closing

Albert SamahaAnother vacant building in St. Louis. At least this one looks cool.​The lease wasn't up until midnight, but the Del Taco on South Grand was pretty much cleared out by 9 p.m. yesterday. It was naked inside. No pictures and prices above the counter. No cardboard cutouts promoting 89 ... More >>

Joplin Tornado Three Weeks Later: Looters, Do-Gooders and One Giant Mess

Albert SamahaThe mangled wreckage of a red car illustrates the tornado's merciless power. The vehicle's other half was found nearly fifty yards away.​ EDITOR'S NOTE: The Riverfront Times' Albert Samaha traveled to Joplin this weekend, three weeks after the southwestern Missouri city was struck ... More >>