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!