Tuesday, December 16, 2008

St Louis Symphony--Dec 16

Tonight is yet another FREE St Louis Symphony Orchestra concert in Tower Grove Park. This concert is part of the Symphony Tuesdays at Piper Palm House and will be held indoors, so don't let the cool weather keep you home!

The concert starts at 7pm and will feature Music for Voice and Strings. As mentioned, it is in the Piper Palm House (4256 Magnolia Ave) and limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 314-286-4432.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Big Band Christmas--Dec 6 and 7

The 25th Annual Cherokee Antique Row Cookie Spree offers shoppers free cookies, candy, and hot cider while they hunt for unique holiday gifts December 6-7, 2008 from 10AM-5PM. Featuring Live Music from "Cool Blue Jazz" at 2114 Cherokee both days from 1-4PM.

Located in the Cherokee-Lemp Historic District, home to Antique, Vintage and Specialty Shops, Art Galleries, Restaurants, Mansions & Museums! Enter to Win a Miller Ham.

The sheer variety of the stores along Cherokee begs for a visit. Don't miss this opportunity to check out one of the hidden gems of St. Louis!

The Loop Holiday Walk--Dec 6

On Dec 6, from noon to 6pm, stroll on over to the Delmar Loop for plenty of holiday treats! While the shops are obviously hoping you'll buy something, you can also just wander through sampling lots of goodies and enjoying the beautiful holiday decorations.

Here are a few of the freebies:

Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Get your picture taken with everyone’s favorite snowman, Frosty--free if you bring your own camera! ($2 if you want a picture taken and don't have a camera!)

Cold Stone Creamery
6662-B Delmar
Sample holiday cakes, pies, and ice creams and enter to win a free cake for your holiday gathering!

Faces in The Loop
6265 Delmar
Face in the Loop will have candy canes and hot cocoa to warm you up!

Little Shark Athletic Company
6176 Delmar
Taste Clif recovery hot chocolate and electrolyte hot cider!

Noodles & Co.
6310 Delmar
If you're in the Loop for lunch or dinner, get a free dessert at Noodles & Co. with the purchase of a regular size entree, soup, salad, or trio!

Melting Pot
6683 Delmar
Try some delectable Melting Pot hot chocolate, sure to take the chill off!

St. Louis Bread Company
6630 Delmar
721-7995
Taste some of Bread Co.'s amazing holiday breads and pastries!

Ziezo
6394 Delmar
Warm up at Ziezo’s Holiday Russian Tea Party. Try traditional Russian tea created from a vintage recipe, served spiked or not, depending on your preference and home-made Russian desserts and chocolates.

In addition, many stores are offering free gifts with a purchase.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

All That Glitters--Dec 5

Clayton will be kicking off the holidays in style with a FREE event in downtown Clayton on Friday, December 5, from 6-8pm.

The City of Clayton, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and Clayton business owners welcome all to the festivities on December 5 in downtown Clayton, which will include carolers, horse drawn carriage rides and chestnuts roasting on open fire and the finale--a fireworks display at 8pm in Shaw Park.

For more information, call 314-802-7763.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Storytelling in the Galleries--Nov 29

The Missouri History Museum presents Storytelling in the Galleries, programs to engage the younger museum visitors in historic paintings and objects through stories. The 45-minute sessions are FREE and include a hands-on craft.

The story this week will focus on real and imaginary inventions and will be at 1pm on Saturday (note there is no story on Friday this week!). In addition to the story, from noon to 2pm on Saturday you can play with puppets, build a puzzle, or read stories on your own!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Clayton Holiday Champagne Stroll--Nov 23

Stroll along Clayton Road from Brentwood Boulevard to Hanley Road and experience warm holiday greetings, refreshments, and special activities--all for FREE! The champagne stroll will start at noon and go until 5pm. Visit the many unique, beautifully decorated shops and boutiques along Clayton Road.

For more information, call 314-725-2622.

SLSO Brass Band--Nov 23

John McClure of the St Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform with friends and present arrangments for brass band as part of Classic99's "From the Garden-LIVE" series. The concert will be at noon on Nov 23 in the Shoenberg Theater at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Call (314) 725-0099 for free ticket information.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Kirkwood Holiday Walk--Nov 22

Holiday Walk
Saturday, November 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There will be fun for the entire family at Downtown Kirkwood's Holiday Walk in downtown Kirkwood Saturday, November 22 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Preview fabulous finds for the holidays and share some holiday cheer too! If you need fresh decorating, gift giving and entertaining inspiration this season, Downtown Kirkwood has everything you need. Whether it's a special holiday theme for your table, a new twist on trimming your tree or great food for your party-you'll find it here. Plus, you'll also find lots of ideas to help you look and feel your best this season. Visit our Holiday Happenings page to view sales and specials at Downtown shops and Restaurants this holiday season.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will entertain the children. Adults will want to get their first look at holiday gifts offered by Downtown Kirkwood's specialty stores-many of which will feature free refreshments and special offers. A holiday wreath on the door is a sign a merchant is offering something special for the event. Connecting the activities will be the Holiday Trolley which will offer free rides around historic Downtown Kirkwood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are several trolley pick-up and drop-off locations throughout downtown Kirkwood including the Kirkwood Train Station, Kirkwood Farmers' Market, E. Jefferson and Woodbine Center.

Headquarters for children's activities will be the Kirkwood Train Station, 110 E. Argonne where Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in downtown Kirkwood at 10 a.m. Santa will greet his admirers and letters to Santa will be accepted from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mrs. Claus will captivate young listeners with her holiday stories beginning at 11:00 a.m. If parents desire a photo souvenir, Santa will pose for photos with children taken by members of the Kirkwood Police Explorer Scouts for a $5.00 donation to the Scouts. The Lucille Rapp Tumblers and Dancers, Kirkwood Children's Chorale and The Statesmen Singers will also perform during the event.

During the Downtown Kirkwood Holiday Walk, Youth in Action (YIA) a nonprofit community service organization, will be accepting donations for Nurses for Newborns and Make-A-Wish Foundation at the train station. Canned food, baby food and cash donations will be collected. Free coffee, from Kaldi's Coffeehouse, cookies from McArthur's Bakery and hot chocolate will also be available. Kirkwood Kiwanis will also be offering free grilled hot dogs near the historic Kirkwood Train Station.

For parking, download a Kirkwood parking map here.

The Holiday Walk is coordinated by Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District with support from Argonne Gallery, The Bug Store, Kaldi's Coffeehouse, Lace Photography, McArthur's Bakery and the Shannon Shop. The downtown Kirkwood organization serves business and property owners in downtown Kirkwood through marketing, public area enhancements and administration of Kirkwood Farmers' Market.

Way of Lights--Nov 21-Jan 4

The Lady of our Snows annual light display opens this evening, Nov 21, and will continue until Jan 4, 2009. From the website:

"Drive through 1 1/2 miles of breathtaking displays of over one million lights which focuses on the birth of Christ, the one true light of the world. Through sparkling lights, electro-art sculptures and creative displays, the Shrine celebrates the birth of our Savior.

Petting Zoo
Make a truly unique memory at the petting zoo (free admission).

Heavenly Photos
Visitors of all ages can don angel attire and have a picture taken amidst a shimmery cloud background.

Advent Concert
Our Advent Concert begins with Matthew Baute a "music missionary" and features the choir of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows along with professional instrumentalists from the St. Louis area performing, Haydn's Missa Brevis Sancti Foannis de Deo. Click here for more information.

Community Choir Stage
Nightly, area choirs and musical ensembles take the stage to provide beautiful sounds of the season. Click here for a schedule of choir performances.

Christmas Tree Room
Decorators and designers from the St. Louis/Metro East display their best creations showcasing Christmas around the world.

Interactive Children’s Village And Puppet Show
Children of all ages will delight in learning about the most special Christmas gift, Jesus, in this sparkling Lil’ Angels’ Classroom filled with an interactive puppet show and a variety of free, hands-on activities.

Christmas Wreath Display/Silent Auction
A variety of wreaths created by florists and designers from the St. Louis/Metro East area will be on display throughout the Visitors Center. Silent Auction bids will be taken throughout the season with proceeds assisting in the on-going work of the Missionary Oblates throughout the world.

Trolley Rides
Departing from the Visitors Center, the trolley takes visitors on a journey throughout the lights."

I have included activities that I believe to be free and excluded ones that I know incur a cost. Indoor activities run from 5-9pm and the outdoor lights are open from 5-10pm. On Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve/Day, the activities will be closed but the lights will still be open.

The Shrine is located in Belleville, IL. Directions to the Shrine can be found here.

Anheuser-Busch brewery lights--Nov 21-Jan 2

The Anheuser-Busch Brewery Christmas Lights display opens on Friday, Nov. 21, and runs through January 2, 2009. Over 800,000 lights give a festive glow to the brewery on Pestalozzi St.

In fact, nearly all of the spectacular lights are placed on the grounds along Pestalozzi Street. The atmosphere is private, and under the cover of darkness, this area provides fertile ground for anyone planning a romantic evening.

The buildings along Pestalozzi are lined with a single strand of lights, making them look more primitive than they really are. The simplicity of this design allows for the complexity of the tree designs to shine through, literally. Each of the trees appears to have been caught in a perfectly woven spider web. Though the web is made of red or white Christmas lights, instead of a spider's silk, the symmetry and complexity of the designs are still mesmerizing.

To get to the brewery, take Grand south to Interstate 44 east, merge onto Interstate 55 south, take exit 206C, turn left onto Arsenal, left onto 12th Street, right onto Lynch, and right onto 9th Street. That runs into Pestalozzi Street.

Macy's Festival of Lights--Nov 21

Sorry for the late notice on this one!

"The Christmas season officially kicks off with the Macy's Holiday Festival of Lights at the May Amphitheatre in Kiener Plaza, downtown Saint Louis. The event runs from 4:30 p.m – 6:30 p.m Friday, November 21st. We'll flip the magic switch that will bring Downtown Saint Louis alive with lights, followed by a dazzling fireworks display to light up the night sky. Following the official program, Santa – in a horse-drawn carriage down 7th Street lined with luminaries – will lead a procession from Keiner Plaza to Macy's for photo opportunities, more music and entertainment, cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. Your Master of Ceremonies is 103.3 KLOU Morning Man Smash.

The event will feature:
Clowns & Face Painters
Fred Bird
Snerdlich from Children’s Hospital
Choir and Solo Musical Performances
A reading of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas by Robin Smith"

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Storytelling in the Galleries--Nov 21 and 22

The Missouri History Museum presents Storytelling in the Galleries, programs to engage the younger museum visitors in historic paintings and objects through stories. The 45-minute sessions are FREE and include a hands-on craft.

The story this week will focus on turkeys and will be at 10:30am on Friday and 1pm on Saturday. In addition to the story, from noon to 2pm on Saturday you can play with puppets, build a puzzle, or read stories on your own!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Classical guitarist John McClellan--Nov 16

Guitarist John McClellan will solo and be joined by guests for duets with classical guitar as part of Classic99's "From the Garden-LIVE" series. The concert will be at noon on Nov 16 in the Shoenberg Theater at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Call (314) 725-0099 for free ticket information.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Storytelling in the Galleries--Nov 14 and 15

The Missouri History Museum presents Storytelling in the Galleries, programs to engage the younger museum visitors in historic paintings and objects through stories. The 45-minute sessions are FREE and include a hands-on craft.

The story this week will focus on music and musical instruments and will be at 10:30am on Friday and 1pm on Saturday. In addition to the story, from noon to 2pm on Saturday you can play with puppets, build a puzzle, or read stories on your own!

CFL light bulb sale--Nov 14 and 15

I try to keep my posts focused on things that are free but for those of you interested in cutting your utility bills and helping the environment, EarthWays Center will be hosting a light bulb sale on Nov 14 and 15 at the Ridgway Visitor Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Bulbs will be on sale for $2 each in the lower level of the visitor center from 10am-3pm both days and proceeds will benefit EarthWays Center public education programming.

Health Fest--Nov 15

On Saturday, Nov 15, the St Louis Science Center will be hosting a FREE HealthFest, featuring health-related exhibitors from the St. Louis metro-area including the American Red Cross, St. Louis Society for the Blind, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Mid-America Transplant Services and many more. All of the exhibitors will offer information on healthy lifestyles and health-related services, provide free health screenings for all ages, great giveaways and more. A program guide listing events and activity times will be available at the door.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

St Louis International Film Festival--Nov 13-23

The 17th Annual St Louis International Film Festival will be happening at the Tivoli Theatre as well as several other locations. Normally I wouldn't post about an event like this since most of the screenings require tickets, however there are several events which are free and may be of interest. The following events are free and open to the public--no ticket is required.

Micro-Budget Filmmaking Seminar on Nov. 15 at Tivoli 3
NFF Coffee With the Filmmakers on Nov. 16 at Tivoli 3
Sinner Come Home on Nov. 17 at Tivoli 3
Pixar Shorts on Nov. 21 at SLAM
Matchmaker Mary on Nov. 22 at Brown
The Flyboys on Nov. 22 at Brown
The Making of 'WALL-E' on Nov. 22 at Brown
King of the Hill on Nov. 22 at Brown
The Prowler and The Grand Inquisitor on Nov. 22 at Webster
Dark Days: Panel on the Hollywood Blacklist and Film Noir on Nov. 22 at Webster
Indie-Fest Short and Feature Winners on Nov. 23 at Webster
Closing-Night Party and Award Presentation on Nov. 23 at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room (cash bar)

Monday, November 10, 2008

Art class at COCA--Nov 16

Location: COCA (524 Trinity Ave, off of the Delmar loop)
Event Time(s):Nov 16, 2008 (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Details: Age: 6 - 12. Three-dimensional drawings will be created using mixed media in this dynamic, geometrically challenging class. Held in connection with the Millstone Gallery exhibition Brandon Anschultz: Transmission/Destination. Sponsored by Artmart Say Yes to Art.

Please pre-register by emailing freeat3@cocastl.org - include the names and addresses of those attending, and we’ll see you then!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Practicing Physicians--Nov 9

The Practicing Physicians feature area physicians demonstrating their musical talents as part of Classic99's "From the Garden-LIVE" series. The concert will be at noon on Nov 9 in the Shoenberg Theater at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Call (314) 725-0099 for free ticket information.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Walking tour of Southwest Garden Neighborhood--Nov 8

On November 8, Landmarks Association sponsors a FREE walking tour of the Southwest Garden neighborhood, one of south city's best-kept secrets. Edna Campos Gravenhorst, author of the new pictorial history Southwest Garden, will lead people down charming residential streets, robust commercial districts andthe scene of the famous Great St. Louis Bank Robbery.

The tour starts at 10:30 am at the office of the ever-busy Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association (4950 Southwest Avenue), where President Floyd Wright will welcome the crowd and discuss current projects in the neighborhood. Then the tour moves to the Southwest bank where former bank president Ed Berra will provide a tour and tell people about the famous 1953 robbery that was immortalized in the Steve McQueen film The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery. After the bank, Edna will narrate a walk to houses ranging from 20th century Craftsmans to 19th century revival-style beauties. The tour will include Gurney and Heger Courts as well as the storefront commercial architecture of the area. Visitors will see all sides of a beautiful neighborhood near the garden.

For more information, contact Landmarks Association at 314-421-6474.

Veterans' Day Parade--Nov 8

The annual Veterans' Day Parade will start at 14th and Olive at noon, but the pre-parade ceremonies start at 11am. The parade will go south on 14th, east on Chestnut, south on Tucker, and west on Market to Union Station. For more information, call 314-589-6613.

Come on out and support the men and women who have worked so hard to support and defend your freedom!

St Louis Symphony--Nov 8

The SLSO occasionally hosts chamber concerts in various churches around the St Louis metro area. Tomorrow night is a FREE concert at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (33 N. Clay) in Ferguson, MO. The concert will start at 7pm. For more information, call 314-286-4432.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Storytelling in the Galleries--Nov 7 and 8

The Missouri History Museum presents Storytelling in the Galleries, programs to engage the younger museum visitors in historic paintings and objects through stories. The 45-minute sessions are FREE and include a hands-on craft.

The story this week will focus on dancing--shuffling, shaking, swirling, and twirling!--and will be at 10:30am on Friday and 1pm on Saturday. In addition to the story, from noon to 2pm on Saturday you can play with puppets, build a puzzle, or read stories on your own!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Sheldon Chorale--Nov 2

Conducted by Dr. Alan Larson, the Sheldon Chorale with supporting strings perform choral music of Vienna as part of Classic99's "From the Garden-LIVE" series. The concert will be at noon on Nov 2 in the Shoenberg Theater at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Call (314) 725-0099 for free ticket information.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Storytelling in the Galleries--Nov 1

The Missouri History Museum presents Storytelling in the Galleries, programs to engage the younger museum visitors in historic paintings and objects through stories. The 45-minute sessions are FREE and include a hands-on craft.

The story this week will focus on engines of all shapes and sizes and will be at 1pm on Saturday, but if you come early or stay late you can play with puppets, build a puzzle, or read stories on your own!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Trick or Treat Street--Oct 31

If you're looking for a fun and safe place to take your kids trick-or-treating for Halloween, head on over to the 5300 block of Nottingham. This block has an annual block party where the residents decorate their houses and dress up for the many kids who come there to trick or treat. It officially runs from 5-9pm.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday--Oct 25

On Saturday, Oct 25, St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital will be sponsoring Spooky Saturday at the St. Louis Zoo. Unlike the Boo at the Zoo nights, this is FREE. There will be trick-or-treating, entertainment, games, and a costume parade along the Pumpkin Trail. Children are encouraged to wear costumes.

9am - 1pm Trick or treating
9am - 4pm Stage entertainment
12 noon - 4pm Crafts and games
4pm Costume parade

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

St Louis Symphony On Stage--Oct 22

Don't miss one of the best things to happen at the Symphony--On Stage at Powell. Periodically, the SLSO host On Stage at Powell, an opportunity for audiences to come onstage to share in discussions and music. At 6pm, the musicians and staff of the SLSO discuss music as an art form. At 7pm, revel in being onstage as the SLSO chamber ensembles perform. Both events are FREE and are held at Powell Symphony Hall (718 N. Grand).

Oct 22:
6pm "A Season Preview"
7pm Music for Strings (Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8)

Saturday, October 18, 2008

St Louis Symphony On Stage--Nov 19

Don't miss one of the best things to happen at the Symphony--On Stage at Powell. Periodically, the SLSO host On Stage at Powell, an opportunity for audiences to come onstage to share in discussions and music. At 6pm, the musicians and staff of the SLSO discuss music as an art form. At 7pm, revel in being onstage as the SLSO chamber ensembles perform. Both events are FREE and are held at Powell Symphony Hall (718 N. Grand).

Nov 19:
6pm "What is a String Quartet?"
7pm Music for String Quartet (Mozart String Quartet No. 17 in B-flat Major, Brahms String Quartet in B-flat Major)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Arts Unzipped--Oct 15

Head to the St. Louis Regional Arts Commision (6128 Delmar) for a FREE arts mixer tomorrow night, Oct 15.

Mingle, discover, and connect at the premier arts event: Arts Unzipped. Enjoy beer and light snacks in the midst of art-making delight while learning about the incredible number of arts organizations that frame the cultural landscape in St. Louis. Performances from 6 - 8 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

This event is FREE and while it is not specified, I would guess that it is aimed at persons 21 years old and above. :)

St. Louis Symphony--Oct 14

Tonight is yet another FREE St Louis Symphony Orchestra concert in Tower Grove Park. This concert is part of the Symphony Tuesdays at Piper Palm House and will be held indoors, so don't let the cool weather keep you home!

The concert starts at 7pm and will feature Music for String Trio by Clarke and Villa Lobos. As mentioned, it is in the Piper Palm House (4256 Magnolia Ave) and limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 314-286-4432.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Columbus Day Festival--Oct 12

Residents on "The Hill," St. Louis' famous Italian neighborhood, celebrate their rich history on October 12 with the annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival. The parade starts at Southwest Bank (at Southwest and Kingshighway) and everyone is invited to line the route and watch the floats, cars and bands go by. Then head over to Berra Park for an afternoon of food, music and fun. I can't find any times for this festival, but my best guess is that everything will be starting around noon or 1pm. In true Italian style, it may just start when it gets started. :)

Saturday, October 4, 2008

La Festa--Oct 5

On Sunday, Oct 5, St. Ambrose Catholic Church on the Hill will be hosting La Festa, an Italian festival from noon-6pm. I don't have a lot of information on this festival, but I know that an Italian community band wil be playing in addition to there being a country store, a flea market, and lots of games and activities.

Friday, October 3, 2008

St. Louis Route 66 festival--Oct 4

Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather this weekend and explore a new part of St. Louis. This Saturday, Oct 4, from 11am to 9pm is the FREE St. Louis Route 66 festival at the Old Chain of Rocks bridge.

The day starts out with a 7 mile Route 66 Ramble bicycle ride. Registration starts at 11am and sag support will be provided until 2pm, so you can ride at your leisure. From 11am to 4pm, there will be a classic car display on the bridge and motorcycles on Chouteau Island. The music kicks in at noon with the following performers:

12 noon Gene Dobbs Bradford and the Blues Inquisition
1:30 pm The Second Half
3:00 pm Kim Massie
4:45 pm Butch Wax and the Hollywoods

And don't miss the big finale: a Sock Hop with a DJ (6pm) and then the movie American Graffiti (7pm)!

Limited paid parking is available at the Missouri Bridge entrance, $5 per vehicle; some spaces will be reserved for handicapped visitors at no charge. Free parking will be available at the St. Louis Welcome Center at Riverview and I-270 and North Riverfront Park, off Riverview south of the waterworks. A free shuttle will be available from both locations; 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Expanded free parking is also available at the Illinois bridge entrance. From I-270 take IL Route 3 south to Chain of Rocks Road. Turn right (west) on Chain of Rocks Road crossing the Chain of Rocks Canal to the Bridge entrance. Visitors will be directed to the new and improved parking, and a shuttle courtesy of Madison County Transit will be available to transport visitors from the parking area to the Illinois Festival entrance.

For more information, contact Marc Clemens at Trailnet at 314-416-9930 x104 or marc@trailnet.org.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Loop in Motion Festival-- Oct 3-4

The Delmar Loop's annual visual and performing arts festival will take place on Oct 3 and 4 on the sidewalks and streets along Delmar.

The Loop in Motion Festival starts Friday night with an Art Walk from 6-9pm showcasing exhibits at more than 30 locations around the Loop, including visual arts as well as dance performances at the Regional Arts Commission building. On Saturday the Festival starts up again at noon, with a selection of local dance troupes and choreographers performing on the Main Stage.

St Louis Art D tour

On Friday night, Oct 3, from 6-10 pm will be the third and final FREE St Louis Art D tour. This is a collaboration with over a dozen galleries and museums in St Louis to enhance art appreciation in the greater St Louis area. While admission to all of the galleries and museums is FREE, the shuttles are not ($5/person for a school bus, $10/person for a shuttle), so if you want to do this completely without charge you'll need to drive yourself to the galleries you are interested in.

Here is a list of participating locations:

Saint Louis Art Museum
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Craft Alliance Gallery
Hoffman - LaChance Gallery
St. Louis Artists' Guild
Regional Arts Commission Gallery
Componere Gallery
St. Louis University Museum of Art
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
Drive Agency Gallery

ArtDimensions 3rd Floor Gallery

For more information or to reserve a seat on a bus/shuttle, contact ArtDimensions at 314-497-5356.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Last one! FREE MO History Museum concert--Sept 30

If you haven't made it out this summer for the Twilight Tuesday series, this is your last chance!

Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and meet up on the front lawn of the History Museum at the corner of Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park for their evening concert series. All concerts start at 6:30pm, but you'll want to get there early to get a seat--the lawn fills up fast. Thankfully, the sounds systems are usually good and you can hear the music from quite a good distance away.

Tuesday, Sept 30 The Bob Kuban Brass

Friday, September 26, 2008

Taste of St. Louis--Sept 26-28

And if you haven't found anything else to do yet this weekend, check out Taste of St. Louis! The food's not free, but the music is! Taste of St. Louis will be happening from 4-11pm on Friday, 11am-11:30pm on Saturday, and 11am-9pm on Sunday.

There's going to be two music stages (US Bank and RAC), an art village with over 100 artists (performing, visual, and musical), the Grant's Farm kid zone (open to kids of all ages!), and a "Top Chef" competition--"Iron Chef"-style!

To find your way around, check out the map showing "restaurant row" and the stages for the concerts. According to the site, there's plenty of FREE parking, but depending on when you go you may need to walk a bit. As always, the Metro is a great alternative if it works for you.

Dancing in the Street--Sept 27

This is a great weekend to get outside and move--and you have a wonderful opportunity with Dancing in the Street on Saturday, Sept 27 from noon to 9pm!

Grand Center's Dancing in the Street will be held on Grand St., basically between Lindell and Delmar (by the Fox Theatre among other major landmarks). In addition to the dizzying array of performances, there are also galleries and museums open to the public with a gallery walk from 1-4pm. The Fabulous Fox Theatre will hold an open house from noon-4pm and will feature Stan Kann on the Wurlitzer organ as well as photo opportunities from 1-3pm with the Radio City Rockettes. Earthways Center will host an Energy Festival from 10am to 6pm, and Powell Symphony Hall and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will host an open house from noon to 4:30pm with 2 tours of the Symphony Hall at 12:30pm and 1pm. There will also be open rehearsal from 2-4:30pm for the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Beyond just watching others dance, here you get to participate! The Fox Stage will be dedicated to tap dance and from 3:30-4pm the Radio City Rockettes will teach the audience some Rockette-style dance steps. Radio Disney's Road Crew will perform and teach choreography from "High School Musical" and "Camp Rock", and you can get an hour of professional salsa intrucstions from Just Dancing Studios. Check the schedule for exact times of all of the dance instruction.

Finish off the night with a fireworks display starting about 8:15pm off of the Compton St. garage.

All of the above are FREE!

Due to the large number of events going on this weekend, parking is going to be, quite frankly, a nightmare (and not free!). Take the Metro if you're able; if not, here's what the website says about parking:

Parking will be available in lots and garages throughout the Grand Center district. All lots will offer an early-bird rate of $5 from 11am-4pm. Limited street parking will also be available. Grand Center encourages the use of Metro.

Parkpalooza--Sept 27 and 28

In celebration of National Public Lands Day (who knew?), there will be all kinds of activities occurring on the Gateway Arch grounds this weekend during Parkpalooza. Activities include rock climbing, wildlife encounters (including a baby bison!), fishing and camping, boating, historic character portrayals, hiking and biking, art and entertainment, archeological digs, and back country adventures. Events will be scheduled from 10am to 4pm both days, and everything is FREE!

For a map of the activites, see here. Parking may be a bit crazy this weekend as there are several events occurring. If you have option, you may want to take the Metrolink downtown. Otherwise, it should be a nice weekend and you might want to park a little bit away and plan on walking to the Arch.

Ottertoberfest at the Zoo--weekends Sept 27-Oct 12

Starting this Saturday, Sept 27, through Sunday, Oct 12, on Saturdays and Sundays the St. Louis Zoo will be hosting Ottertoberfest from 10am-3pm. Admission is FREE and there will be lots of fun activities, plus all of the other fun FREE activities normally available at the Zoo. Remember also that the Children's Zoo is FREE the first hour the zoo is open every day, so from 9am-10am.

From the Zoo:

In honor of the fun-loving North American River Otters, the Zoo will host Ottertoberfest, a fall event featuring traditional German biergartens, live music, kids' activities, performers and more. At the biergartens, visitors can purchase beer, root beer, bratwurst, pretzels, and other German specialties. Otter-related kids' activities include an otterific obstacle course, otter tracks and crafts. Activities are designed for ages 2-10.

Parking in the Zoo parking lot is $10/car, but save yourself the cash and park on the street. You can even park across the highway and walk across the Tamm Avenue bridge. Keep in mind that if you are coming from I-44, the Hampton Ave. bridge will be closed from September 22 until next year.

Ralph Vaughan Williams Music Festival--Sept 28

Second Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Ralph Vaughan Williams Festival this Sunday at 4pm. The concert is FREE and will feature the Clarion Brass Quartet, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Second Presbyterian Church Choir, Willard Cobb (tenor soloist), and William Partridge and Andrew Peters (organists).

Second Presbyterian Church is located in the Central West End at 4501 Westminster Place (at Taylor) and is handicap accessible.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Rhapsody in Bloom--Sept 27

This Saturday you can feast your eyes and ears at the Missouri Botanical Garden during Rhapsody in Bloom, sponsored by Classic99. Performances start at 10am and the last two groups start at 2pm. Garden admission is FREE to St. Louis City and County residents before noon on Saturdays, so take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time outdoors and listen to/watch some incredible artists. The current lineup of performers is as follows:

Ridgway Center-2nd floor
10am Laclede Quartet
11am Five Winds Woodwind Quintet
noon The St. Louis Gateway Singers
1pm Equinox Chamber Players
2pm Members of the St. Louis Symphony

Spink Miles Sculpture Garden
10am St. Louis Academy of Dance
11am Alexandra Ballet
noon St. Louis Academy of Dance
1pm Alexandra Ballet
2pm Bella Corda

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Free ice cream! Sept 25

On Thursday, September 25, Cold Stone Creamery is hosting the 7th Annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social. From 5-8pm, you can receive a 3oz serving of Jack's or Emily's Creation. All donations will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Jack's Creation - Marshmallow ice cream with Oreo cookies, chocolate chips, and fudge
Emily's Creation - Nutter Butter ice cream with white chocolate chips, kit kat, and yellow cake

It never hurts to check if your local store is participating, but this is a nationwide event so chances are good that almost all of the stores are participating.

Monday, September 22, 2008

FREE MO History Museum concert--Sept 23

Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and meet up on the front lawn of the History Museum at the corner of Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park for their evening concert series. All concerts start at 6:30pm, but you'll want to get there early to get a seat--the lawn fills up fast. Thankfully, the sounds systems are usually good and you can hear the music from quite a good distance away.

Tuesday, Sept 23 Mystic Voyage Bands
Tuesday, Sept 30 The Bob Kuban Brass

Saturday, September 20, 2008

St Louis Admirals 20th Annual Regatta--Sept 20 and 21

St Louis Union Station is hosting the 20th Annual Regatta on Saturday from 10am-10pm and Sunday from 9am-1pm. Over 130 electric model boats of all types will be on display and running on the Lake, under the Train Shed. There will be radio controlled sailboats, commercial vessels, tug boats, riverboats, runabouts, pleasure boats, military boats, government boats, submarines, miniature and scratch built models, all built and piloted by members of the St Louis Admirals R/C Model Boat Club.

If you're headed that way, don't forget to get your Union Station Ticket to Savings! Also, don't forget that there is a charge for parking at Union Station--$1 per 1/2 hour up to 6 hours (ouch!). You're better off finding a metered spot on the street. If you go on Sunday, all of the meters should be free!

Lebanese festival--Sept 21

If kibbehs are your thing, mark your calendar for Sept. 21, when St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral holds its annual Lebanese Festival homecoming celebration from 10am to 6pm. St. Raymond's is at 931 Lebanon Drive, just south of the Nestle Purina complex on Chouteau Avenue.

Friday, September 19, 2008

More FREE movies--Sept 19 and 20

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest will be playing Friday, September 19, at the Cleveland High School athletic field (or auditorium in the case of rain). The movie will start at dusk (~7:30pm) and is sponsored by the Downtown Dutchtown Business Association and Cleveland High School.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End will be playing Saturday, September 20, at Clifton Heights Park (close to I-44 and Hampton). The movie will start at dusk (~7:30pm) and is sponsered by the Clifton Heights Neighborhood.

For more information on either of these movies, see Frontyard Features.

Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival--Sept 20

Starting at noon on Saturday, September 20, is the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival. This is another FREE festival with free admission and parking. The two stages will be set up at the corners of Gore and Lockwood and Allen and Lockwood.

From the website:

The Webster-Kirkwood Times presents this eighth annual festival just 10 miles southwest of St. Louis. This year the free, award-winning, family jazz and blues fest celebrates the music and culture of Louisiana. Like the state's signature dish, gumbo, this year's festival offers a spicy stew of diverse ingredients from the Big Easy. Stroll street side shops, devour delicacies, and tune in to jazz born in Louisiana and the soulful holler of the blues that was first sung in the Mississippi Delta.

If you're into jazz and blues, you especially won't want to miss Gumbohead and Erin Bode, playing on separate stages Saturday night from 8-11pm and 7:30-10pm, respectively.

Right before the festival, from 10-11am, is a FREE jazz workshop at Webster University's Community Music School, room 11. Everyone who attends will receive a free gift bag from local retailers. Attendees do not need to bring instruments and there is no advance registration required. For more info, contact Jeanne Huber at the Webster University Music Department at 314-968-7032.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

FREE movies--Sept 19

Laumeier Sculpture Park is hosting a FREE double-feature on Friday, September 19, starting at 7pm in the Laumeier Outdoor Music Ampitheatre.

From the website:

Enjoy showings of John Waters' classic films Hairspray (1988: PG) and Polyester (1981: R) under the stars. These free screenings provide a great introduction to the eccentric filmmaker, artist and showman. Bring your blanket, lawnchair and cooler for an evening that will keep you laughing and scratching your head. While the original Hairspray (the film before the musical that preceeded the film of the musical) is suitable for most audiences, Polyester, however, may not be appropriate for all members of your family. The Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre offers a beautiful setting for a perfect fall evening in the Park.

Take a blanket or chair and a picnic dinner, or food will be available for purchase.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race--Sept 19-20

If you've never been to the Balloon Race or Balloon Glow, you won't want to miss this! This is a fantastic FREE event for everyone, and I can guarantee you will love it!

The Balloon Glow starts off the weekend on Friday night in Central Field in Forest Park from 7-8:30pm. You'll see the balloons inflated and lit by the gas burners. They are truly beautiful at dusk with the light shining through the colors--it's like a stained glass exhibit! In the past, this has been a drive-through event where you could drive through the park and see the balloons, but that is not happening this year. The Balloon Glow will be a strictly walk-through event and will be held on the same field as the Balloon Race the next day. Food vendors will be available for the usual carnival-type fare (hotdogs, funnel cakes, etc.) but we prefer to go after dinner and just enjoy the show! At the end of the Balloon Glow (about 9pm) will be a fireworks show, so be sure to stick around.

Activities for the 2008 Great Forest Park Balloon Race start in Central Field in Forest Park at noon on Saturday and finish at about 6pm. The Purina Children's Entertainment area will be filled with pony rides, games, and other activities for kids (note: there may be a charge for some of these activities). The Entertainment Stage will feature a variety of local talent. At 3pm the Pepsi Skydivers will be performing, and the opening ceremonies of the Balloon Race will start at 3:30pm. After the Energizer Bunny balloon takes off at 4:30pm, 70 "hound" balloons will follow and attempt to win the race by dropping a birdseed baggie closest to the Energizer Bunny balloon.

As in the past, there is also a FREE photo contest. Take pictures of the balloons and submit your best picture to the Suburban Journals. The contest has three age groups--under 13, 13-20, and adult--and the prizes include year-long movie passes and a Nikon camera! Full information is available here.

For more information on the Balloon Race, check out the links above and also see the FAQs and parking sections.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

FREE Imax movie--Sept 18

If you're wanting to stay inside this week, Classic 99 is sponsoring a FREE preview of a new IMAX movie: Mysteries of the Great Lakes. You can pick up your complimentary ticket (good for admission for two people) at the Plaza Frontenac concierge desk (at Center Court), The Brentmoor (Delmar location at I-170), or Clayton Computer (look for the blue awning). Tickets are available first-come, first-served. The preview will be on September 18, at 7pm, at the St. Louis Science Center's OMNIMAX Theatre.

From the website: Explore the beauty of these “inland seas”, and discover the dramatic story of human degradation – and redemption. Over the past hundred years, the Great Lakes have experienced some of the worst environmental atrocities in North America, but are now the subject of one of the most extensive cleanup projects in history. Now, in the age of redemption, international efforts have resulted in bird and fish species rebounding from the brink of destruction to sustainable populations once again.

FREE SLSO concert--Sept 18

On the eve of the Balloon Glow and Balloon Race, the St Louis Symphony Orchestra will host a FREE outdoor concert in Forest Park on Art Hill (just north of the art museum) at 7pm.

Here's the lineup:

Ward Stare, conductor

TRADITIONAL The Star-Spangled Banner
ROSSINI The Thieving Magpie Overture
HUMPERDINCK Prelude to Hansel and Gretel
ARLEN arr. Angela Morley The Wizard of Oz: Fantasy for Orchestra
VERDI Triumphal March from Aïda
TCHAIKOVSKY Trepak from The Nutcracker
RODGERS Carousel Waltz
BERLIOZ Hungarian March from The Damnation of Faust
BERNSTEIN Candide Overture
SOUSA Stars and Stripes Forever

This week promises to be a beautiful one for an outdoor concert, so make the most of this opportunity!

Monday, September 15, 2008

FREE MO History Museum concert--Sept 16

Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and meet up on the front lawn of the History Museum at the corner of Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park for their evening concert series. All concerts start at 6:30pm, but you'll want to get there early to get a seat--the lawn fills up fast. Thankfully, the sounds systems are usually good and you can hear the music from quite a good distance away.

Tuesday, Sept 16 Coco Soul, Taynka and Friends
Tuesday, Sept 23 Mystic Voyage Bands
Tuesday, Sept 30 The Bob Kuban Brass

Friday, September 12, 2008

Things to do Saturday, Sept 13

Lafayette Square will be hosting the Ralph Butler Band on September 13 as part of their FREE summer concert series. The concert will start at 6pm and will be held outside in the park (corner of Mississippi and Lafayette) providing the weather cooperates.

Shrek 2 will be playing at 1023 N. Grand Blvd. (north of St. Louis University) sponsored by the Justine Peterson Housing and Reinvestment Corp. The movie will start at dusk (~7:30pm). For more information, see Frontyard Features.

Also, don't forget about the Tour of Missouri happening all weekend!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Tour of Missouri bike race this weekend

The final stage of the Tour of Missouri lands in St Louis on September 14, but there are plenty of activities happening Saturday AND Sunday.

There's too much to list everything, but check out the links and you are sure to find something that you like!

FREE movie--Sept 12

If the weather holds, go see Ghostbusters (can't beat classic '80's) for FREE on Friday night!

The movie will start at dusk (~7:30pm) and will be at New City School (5201 Waterman Blvd, just west of Kingshighway and south of Delmar). The movie is sponsered by the Waterman-Lake Improvement District. For more information, see Frontyard Features.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

48th Annual Kirkwood Greentree Festival--Sept 12-14

It's hard to even know where to start with the Kirkwood Greentree Festival--there's so much going on! Your best bet for details is to go to the website and see what strikes your fancy. There's a car show (fee to compete but not to view the cars), demonstrations of arts and crafts, food vendors, numerous performing groups, kids' activities, and more!

The festival opens Friday, Sept 12, at 5pm. At 6pm is the kids' dog show and 7:30 is the canine frisbee competition. Sh-Boom will be performing from 6:30-9:30pm. The arts and crafts/folklife booths will not be open Friday night, so for those you'll need to wait until Saturday at 8:30am.

At 10am on Saturday is the parade and from noon to 7pm the kids' activities will be open in addition to several musical performances. While the festival runs until 7pm on Saturday, the arts and crafts booths are closing at 6pm so don't wait too long!

Sunday everything opens at 10am. Don't miss the car show from 10am-4pm and the sailboat regatta at noon. Noon to 5pm boasts several more musical performances as well.

For directions to the festival, pleae click here. Free shuttles will be running Saturday and Sunday from Meramec Community College. Otherwise, just find some free street parking close by (do remember not to block driveways, please!).

Monday, September 8, 2008

FREE Missouri History Museum concert--Sept 9

Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and meet up on the front lawn of the History Museum at the corner of Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park for their evening concert series. All concerts start at 6:30pm, but you'll want to get there early to get a seat--the lawn fills up fast. Thankfully, the sounds systems are usually good and you can hear the music from quite a good distance away.

Tuesday, Sept 9 Ralph Butler
Tuesday, Sept 16 Coco Soul, Taynka and Friends
Tuesday, Sept 23 Mystic Voyage Bands
Tuesday, Sept 30 The Bob Kuban Brass

Friday, September 5, 2008

Polish Festival--Sept 5 and 6

It's a busy weekend!

If you're closer to the north side of town, head to the Polish Falcons Hall at 2013 St. Louis Ave. in the St. Louis Place neighborhood. Polish food will be available for purchase from 11am-1pm and 4-7:30pm both days and music will be starting at 6:30pm both nights. Put on your dancing shoes and come celebrate your Polish heritage (or just enjoy the food--pierogies, yum!!)!

25th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally--Sept 6

If you've got kids, this is the place to be this Saturday. Starting at 8am and going until 5pm, the FREE Great Fire Engine Rally brings more fire trucks to downtown St. Louis than you've ever seen in one place before! More than 150 modern and vintage fire trucks and apparatus will be on display.

The parade starts at 10am at the corner of Lenore K. Sullivan and Poplar Streets. After the parade, check out the firefighter challenge, visit the kids' area, watch the fire department burn a house (mock house, of course!), watch a river rescue, and watch an auto extrication using the Jaws of Life and more.

Come on out and support your local (and not-so-local) fire departments!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Greater St Louis Hispanic Festival--Sept 5-7

I don't have much information on this one, but it looks like there's going to be lots of great music, dancing, and food! Be sure to check out the dance-off on Saturday night from 5-6pm!

Soldiers Memorial Park in downtown St Louis near Market St. and 14th St.

Friday 10am-10pm
Saturday 10am-10pm
Sunday 11am-8pm

Schedule of events

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Festival of Faiths and Culture--Sept 6

This Saturday is also the Festival of Faiths and Culture held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL (just across the river east of St. Louis). Admission is FREE but food and gifts will be available for purchase. The festival goes from 10am-7pm.

Different groups will be performing throughout the day with dancing and music at indoor and outdoor stages, so don't let the weather stop you! There will also be a children's village with free hands-on activities and crafts. You can learn greetings and key words and phrases in different languages throughout the day in 20 minute sessions occurring on the hour and half-hour, and play games and sports from other countries and cultures at the "World of Fun" exhibit.

The Interfaith Learning Center will have "representatives of Christianity, both Catholic and Protestant, Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, along with a variety of other faiths such as Buddhism and Hinduism bring information as well as symbols used within their faith, and are willing to answer questions. No proselytizing [attempting to convert] is allowed; therefore, visitors can ask questions freely without concern."

Directions to the Festival are here. For more information call 618-397-6700.

15th Annual St. Louis Art Fair--Sept 5-7

Friday 5-10pm
Saturday 10am-10pm
Sunday 11am-4pm

Something for everyone! This weekend is the FREE St Louis Art Fair, held in Clayton along Forsyth just east of Brentwood. All areas of visual art are represented--ceramics, digital art, drawing and pastel, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, and wood--and you can see a full list of accepted artists here.

It wouldn't be a true arts fair without FREE music, and there is plenty of that as well! The Main Stage on Brentwood just north of Forsyth will host dueling pianos, blues-rock, jazz, soul and funk, blues harmonica, jazz and blues, classics and oldies, and rock. The Forsyth Stage on Forsyth near Central will host funk-rock, jazz/classical/folk, jazz classics, gospel and bluegrass, jazz/funk/pop, afro-Caribbean, acoustic jazz, and scat. The Performing Arts Stage at South Central and Carondelet will host storytelling, musical revues, opera, puppet performances, traditional Hawaiian/Polynesian music, Flamenco dancing, Chinese culture, and Latin percussion.

In addition to everything you can see and hear, what's an arts festival without the opportunity to get your hands dirty? FREE hands-on participation in various art activities is available for kids AND adults, as well as live demonstrations of everything from pottery to glassblowing to the making of grandfather clocks!

And of course, there will be plenty of delicious food available for purchase from a wide variety of local vendors.

For a map, click here. And you can't beat this--parking is FREE as well!

Friday, August 29, 2008

A weekend full of FREE music!

Wow, I hope nobody is planning on sitting at home this weekend! In addition to the Greek Festival and the Gateway Cup bike race, there are also several FREE concerts and a parade!


Friday night is the Battle of the Marching Bands in preparation for the Mizzou v. Illinois game. Activities start at 5pm and go until midnight on Laclede's Landing. The bands are supposed to be at the Big Muddy main stage at the corner of There will be a tug of rope contest across Eads Bridge and Robert Randolph & The Family Band will be playing from 8-10:30pm.


Saturday at 3pm is the start of the Big Muddy Blues Festival, also on Laclede's Landing. The festival is FREE (although of course food and beverages aren't). The music lasts until about midnight, and there are 3 stages so you should be able to find some great music that suits your style.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Greek Festival this weekend!

This weekend is the St. Nicholas Greek Festival held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on the corner of Forest Park and Kingshighway. While you do have to pay for your food and any items from the market, the entertainment and tours are FREE and there is no other admission cost! You can park for free in the BJC parking garage and walk over to the church.

The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, 11am-9pm, and Monday 11am-8pm.

Check out the amazing Greek food that will be available. It's making me hungry. :)

***A note about the Japanese Festival this weekend at Missouri Botanical Garden: I called and confirmed with MOBOT that everyone will be charged admission this Saturday, so don't head to the Garden this Saturday hoping for free admission for St Louis City and County residents. The Japanese Festival has a lot going on, so you may find it worth the admission price. There are also many FREE children's activities in addition to the other events.

Gateway Cup bike race

The biggest bike race to hit St Louis is happening this weekend, Friday-Monday! The Gateway Cup 08 kicks off on Thursday night with race number pickup and pizza specials at Pi in the Delmar loop.

There are five races each day based on ability, ranging from newbies to pros. Each day is punctuated by the feature event, the men’s Pro-Am race. In this race, 150 of the nation’s top cyclists will hurl themselves through corners averaging 30 mph.

Friday will find your favorite amateur and pro cyclists in the heart of Lafayette Square.

Saturday the race moves downtown into the Loft District.

Sunday head over to the Hill for some more great racing, and a free pasta dinner after the races for participants! Rumor has it there'll be some bocce playing going on, too.

Monday rounds out the race tour with a stop in the University City Loop and a post-race party with plenty of BBQ.

All races are FREE for spectators, and there are FREE kids' races as well!

Monday, August 25, 2008

St. Louis Science Center

The SLSC is a truly great place, no matter how old you are. We took our boys, ages 5 and 6, on Saturday through a company-sponsored event. We've been many times before as it's a great place to take kids on rainy or cold days, especially since it's free!

Since we were there on a special event, we had the opportunity to take in some "extras" we wouldn't normally do. We visited the Exploradome and the Monsters exhibit. I was a little worried about it being scary, but it wasn't at all. It might have been scary if the boys had ever seen any of the movies that the props were from, but they haven't so to them they were all just animals and creatures, not really monsters. While it was interesting, I didn't feel there was enough in there to justify the cost, so it was nice that we were able to visit for free.

We also got to see a planetarium show (Mr. Hubble's Universe), which was great! They pointed out different star formations and talked about how stars are made and the different types of clusters. Very informative and entertaining. This I would definitely pay for if we were to go again. The planetarium also hosts free star parties on the second Friday of each month from January to October. Weather permitting, there are a number of telescopes set up and staff on hand to help you view and answer questions.

There are also many free interactive presentations throughout the day at the SLSC. Many of them are held downstairs on the Centerstage. There are presentations on optical illusions, plastic, DNA, electricity, and temperature, as well as messy presentations like "Science Goes Splat"!

Tip: Parking next to the Science Center entrance costs $8. Ouch! But you can park on the street, or even better, go through Forest Park and park in the parking lots or on the streets next to the Planetarium. Parking there is free, and you can enter the planetarium and walk across the bridge over the highway to get to the Science Center. Then you also have the opportunity to check cars speeding down 64/40 with radar guns mounted on the bridge!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Movies in the park

If you're not busy tonight, check out a free movie event in Lafayette Square Park (Jefferson and I-44). The movie is "Cars" and there are lots of activities to go along with the movie. See below:

We just wanted to give everyone an update on the Cars movie activities in case you haven't heard or seen the flyers around. The car show, police vehicles and race car will be in place by 6 pm. The activities and speakers will start at 6:30. The fire truck will arrive at 6:30. So please come early, set up your chairs for the movie and view the vehicles. Food and snacks will be available.

The prizes (valued at over $450!) that will be in the Raffle include—
Vino Vitae Wine Tasting Class for 6
Lumiere Gift Card
Bob Kramer Marionette Family Pass
I-55 Raceway Tickets
Walter Knoll Florist Gift Card
Happy Joe’s Pizza Gift Card
Museum of Transportation Family Pass
Book “Route 66 in St. Louis”
Route 66 favorites Ted Drewes & Donut Drive-In Gift Cards
Plus other prizes for the games!

And the exciting activities we have lined up are—
Traffic Control Car
Police Motorcycle
Mounted Police Officer
Antique Paddy Wagon
Fire Truck
Antique Fire Truck
12+ Vintage & Muscle Cars
Race Car (including 2 local race car drivers!)
Route 66/Cars Exhibit
Joe Sonderman, Author of the book “Route 66 in St. Louis” (he will be a Speaker and he will have his books available for purchase)
Speakers from the STL Police & Fire Departments
Kids Crafts & Games
Face Painters
Food Vendors—Square One Brewery, Vino Vitae Gourmet Wine Shop, Tropical Moose
Snow Cones & Lions Club Popcorn

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Free jazz concert tonight

Tonight from 8-10pm there will be a FREE jazz concert by pianist Ptah Williams. The concert will be outside in the Brookings Quadrangle at Washington University's Danforth (Main) Campus. You can't beat the weather right now for an enjoyable outdoor concert!

For more information call (314) 862-0874 or see here.

For directions, go here and type in your starting address or check out a PDF campus map here. To get to the Quad, continue west from the main entrance of campus until you come to a large grassy area--it's pretty hard to miss. ;)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Saving money moving

Money Saving Mom asked for frugal tips on moving. We've moved from Texas to Michigan, and then to Missouri as well as several smaller moves and always done it all ourselves. Here are some of my tips:

1. If at all possible, start planning about two months before your move. Write down all of the bills you receive as you receive them so you can make sure you get your address changed with everyone. Set up electronic billing if you don't want to worry about missing a bill. Find out how to get utilities set up in your new place and turned off in your old one. Some utility companies require deposits, so see if you will be getting any back and what you will need to pay to set up your new service. Check on any security deposits you may be getting back if you are renting and what you need to do to receive them in full. Make any repairs required to get your deposit back.

2. Find free boxes! For our first move, we scavenged boxes from store dumpsters. For our second move, I talked to receiving at work and was able to take home any boxes they didn't want. I also asked coworkers to save boxes for me. You should NEVER have to pay for boxes!

3. Find free packing material! Newspaper works great as a packing material and you can usually ask friends and family to save some for you. Again, scavenge paper recycling dumpsters or places at work. Even better than newspaper (since you have to dispose of the newspaper when you arrive!) is to use t-shirts. Most people have plenty of clothes and linens to move, so use your clean t-shirts, shorts, socks, towels, etc., to cushion your breakables. If you really plan ahead, you can use all t-shirts to pack the kitchen, all long-sleeved shirts to pack the bedroom/bathroom/Christmas decorations, etc., so that everything is organized when you arrive and have to unpack! (If you're going to do that, make sure you use clothes that you want unpacked first for the things you will be using--i.e., don't use your winter coats to pack your kitchen if you're moving to Alabama in July!)

If you use newspaper, be sure to wrap your dishes in something else to keep the newsprint off. I prefer to use plastic shopping bags--one for each plate--and then cushion in-between the plates with newspaper when you put them in the box. Then everything arrives as clean as when you packed it!

4. Leave your dresser drawers packed. If you've used tip #2 with t-shirts, you will have some extra room in your dressers. Use the drawers to pack your breakables. Wrap them in whatever packing material you are using and put them in the drawers. They will be well-cushioned by your clothes and safe from being crushed by being in your dresser. This also saves you a lot of room in the truck and you won't need as many boxes! You can also pack your hanging clothes in your drawers. It is a waste of truck space to move an empty dresser!!

5. Find a cheap truck rental. I hesitate to say "cheap", because I wouldn't always go with the cheapest rental. Personally, we will never use one specific company because we've had problems with them and known many other people who've had problems with them. That said, decide on two or three companies you would be willing to use. Call each one to get a quote on your move, including mileage and any accessories like a car carrier. Then, bargain. Call each one again and say "Company XYZ will give me the same truck for $xx. Can you beat that price?" If no, see if they will discount the car carrier, or throw in free moving blankets for furniture (careful--these are sometimes already included in the quote!). For our moves, we went back and forth between two companies to get the best price, and it worked great. I wouldn't recommend calling the companies 6 or 7 times--there's only so much they can do. But it never hurts to ask if they can discount or beat another companies price. I was honest with our company and told them I really wanted to use them but the other company had a better price. The company we wanted to use lowered their price so we got the benefit of using the company we wanted as well as a significant discount!

6. Ask for help. Chances are good you know someone who has moved a few times, and they would probably be more than happy to come over to help you pack the truck. It takes a certain amount of finesse to pack a moving truck in such a way that everything fits and nothing will shift too much. Most people are very willing to help you move with a couple of caveats--provide some food and drink if it's going to take a while, and already have things packed!! If you need help packing, have a packing party one day and a truck loading party another day.

7. Be smart when packing your truck. Put things like your headboard or very large pictures in between your mattress and your box spring to protect them. If at all possible, put your couches and chairs on top of a row of boxes. It's usually best to put no more than one stack of boxes (depending on weight, of course) on furniture with springs, so this will help with your truck space. Pack cleaning supplies last, as you will need them to clean your now-empty house and possibly to clean whenever you get where you're going (it's amazing how dirty people leave places!). Pack a small bag with a change of clothes, travel size shampoo and soap, and any medications you may need--even if it's only supposed to be a one-day trip. This way, if your truck breaks down by the side of the road (it happens!) you won't be trying to dig through the back of your truck for things you need.

Leave as little empty space as possible, as those are areas that things can fall. Stuff pillows or furniture cushions into areas that are empty. Plan around your awkward items, and don't forget things outside the house like patio furniture or yard tools!

Missouri Botanical Garden

If you haven't had a chance to visit MOBOT, get over there and quick! :)

On Wednesdays and Saturdays before noon, the botanical garden is FREE to St Louis City and County residents. Not only is the garden free, but also the Children's Garden! You will need to give your zip code when you first arrive. Parking is always free. The garden is open every day of the year except Christmas.

Other ways to save on admission: Active duty military receive a two-for-one admission if you are going at a non-free time, or are not a St Louis resident. There is also a $1 discount if you show a valid Metro fare (ticket, transfer, or pass).

Tip: Do NOT wait outside in the ticket lines! You can purchase/pick up tickets at the counter inside the main entrance as well. Many people stop outside and stand in line when there is no waiting inside! Even if you are getting in free or have passes, you will need to stop at the ticket booths and pick up tickets which you will then show on your way into the garden. Be sure to pick up a map at the ticket booths as well, or ask for one.

It is a wonderful place to be, regardless of how hot it is, since there is plenty of shade. You can wander around and take pictures, or go climb a treehouse, or sit next to a relaxing lily pond.

Keep in mind that picnicking is not allowed in the garden, so if you want to make a day of it you can leave your picnic lunch in the car and go eat in Tower Grove Park (directly south of the entrance to MOBOT). I believe that the Garden does not allow in/out privileges, but I'm checking on that and will update this as soon as I know.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Free True Lemon samples!

While you can get a free sample from True Lemon here, you can also get extra free samples by posting about True Lemon on your site! See below:

Get Rewarded for Recommending True Lemon!

If you recommend True Lemon in a chat room, on a message board or in a blog, email us a copy of your posting, and we'll send you 10 complimentary packets - your choice of flavors! If you include the link to our free sample page in your posting, we'll add 5 more packets! Email customercare@truelemon.com

Thursday, July 31, 2008

$5/$20 coupon at Walgreens--today only!

Walgreens has posted another $5/$20 coupon, good today only! These types of coupons are great for the free-after-rebate (FAR) items!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Great sale on saving money!

For a few months, I've been a big fan of MoneySavingMom Crystal Paine. She's helped me save a lot of money on household goods and food through her blog, and her personal blog is a great encouragement to me as well!

TODAY ONLY you can get an incredible ebook package from MoneySavingMom--over $100 worth of money-saving ebooks, homemaking helps, and encouragement for only $5.97! I can't believe she's offering such a great price and I'd highly recommend you run over here and check it out. What makes this deal so good is that this ebook package includes the ecourse Supermarket Savings 101--this course alone is worth much more than $5.97 and will teach you how to drastically reduce your grocery bill. You'll learn how to cut your grocery bill by up to 50% or more and have fun saving money at the same time!Go here to read more about this huge sale! Hurry, though, the price goes up tomorrow by $3 and then another $3 on Friday. After Friday at midnight all of the ebooks will be their regular prices again. Don't miss this!

For those of you who may not know, an ebook is a book that you download instantly to your computer, so there are no shipping fees and no long wait for your book to arrive. After your quick and easy download, you can then print out your ebook or read or listen to it on your computer.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Sales tax holiday

This Friday through Sunday is the annual "sales tax holiday" for the state of Missouri for school supplies. Clothing, school supplies, computers, software, and computer peripherals are all included in the holiday. Full information on what counts for the holiday and price limits is here.

Cities NOT participating can be found here and counties NOT participating can be found here. Unfortunately there are quite a few cities and counties opting out, and several in the St Louis area, so be sure to check before you shop!

From what I can tell, Illinois doesn't have a sales tax holiday although a bill to enact one was passed in the Senate and was being reviewed in the House earlier this year. So hop across the river and do your shopping in the west! :)

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Saturday, July 26, 2008

My Walgreens' deals for the week of July 20

I was quite pleased with my Walgreens run tonight. Usually at the end of the week (and the end of the month!), my WG is pretty cleared out of all of the deals. But I really wanted to try to take advantage of some of the overlap from the July and August Easysaver catalogs, so I headed in.

I wasn't able to do quite as many deals as I wanted as I was missing several coupons due to not getting a newspaper for several weeks. However, here are my deals:

Transaction #1

3 packages WG training pants--$5.99 each - $2.50 WG July IVC - $2.50 WG Aug IVC

Total = $3.20 for all 3, plus receive a $5 RR
Savings = $22.50

In this case, my RR did not print and I asked the cashier for a $5 gift card, which he gladly provided.

Transaction #2

Crayola washable markers 8ct--on sale $2 + $2 July WG rebate
Pilot G2 gel pens 2ct--on sale $1 + $1 July WG rebate
2 L'Oreal Vive Hydro Gloss--on sale $4.99 B1G1 - B1G1 man. coupon - $1 man. coupon
2 Pediasure Nutripal drinks 4ct--$5.99 each - $2 WG coupon -$2 WG July IVC - $1 WG Aug IVC
Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil 20ft--$0.89 WG coupon - $0.55 man. coupon
Cambridge notebook on clearance--$1.64

Total = $5.28 - $5 GC from previous transaction = $0.28
Savings = $29.86

The notebook I added in as a filler as I had more coupons than items and didn't want to have any problems at the register. It's a small notebook, but thick, and I had actually been hoping to find something like this to use for to-do lists and my deal lists--perfect!
My total out of pocket was $3.48, but I will be getting back $3.30 in rebates for a final OOP of $0.18! Total savings according to the receipts is $52.36, but that doesn't include the rebates or the $5 RR so I count my total savings as $60.66.

Welcome to St Louis Cents!

I've started this blog to try to keep track of some of the great deals in the St Louis, MO, area. I'll do my best to include both sides of the river. Join in my journey to save some cents!