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!

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.

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

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)

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)

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.

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. :)

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.

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.

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.