out and about in st louis: balloon glow

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The Great Forst Park Balloon Race
Friday, September 14th  7:00-8:30PM, fireworks at 9:00PM
Central Field, Forest Park
free

I cannot wait for the annual Great Forest Park Balloon Glow tonight.  It is by far my favorite event to take place in St. Louis and I look forward to it with much anticipation every year. This year 70 balloonists will inflate and their balloons across Central Field, lighting them up in unison to the sound of a horn set to go off every 15 minutes.  Standing amidst the billowing, bright synthetic fabric, illuminated by bursts of fire you have the opportunity to talk with the pilots about how they discovered ballooning and what fuels their love of the sport.  I would recommend taking the MetroLink downtown as parking can be a nightmare.  If you can't make the Glow, the next best thing might be the Balloon Race that follows on Saturday morning at the same location.

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3rd Annual Dogtown Street Musicians' Festival
Saturday, September 15th 12:00-7:00PM
1200 Tamm Ave.
free

The only competitive street musician festival in the nation, this festival allows twenty four street musicians to play in front of judges for Best of Show, Best Original Song and other awards. Come be part of the audience and listen to some of St. Louis best street musicians. 

How are you spending your weekend?

out and about in st. louis: 9/7-9/9

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Camp Out Weekend: Finding Home in an Unstable World
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Friday-Sunday
Friday events free; Saturday night campout $65-$75

Laumeier has packed food demonstrations, talks, walking tours, and ghost stories, among other activities, into their Camp Out Weekend.  On Friday night, resident artist, Kim Yasuda, is hosting Hunt + Gather, a Community Picnic with small samples of Laumeier Garden-inspired dishes created by restaurant partners and South Tech High School.  The night will also include entertainment and some artist talks. Bring your own picnic and enjoy an evening amidst the permanent sculptures and temporary installations.

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For those ready to drop some dough, Laumeier Sculpture Park is holding an overnight at the museum to adults ages 21 and older.  According to the Park's website, the night will include a cooking demo with edible plants, dinner and drinks, cash bar, flashlight trail hike, campfires and s’mores, stargazing, coffee and continental breakfast, Rise and Shine Yoga and green giveaway. Bring your own tent, sleeping bag, and PJs. Each ticket includes a chance to win the night in Dré Wapneaar’s Treetent (pictured above).

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St. Louis Hispanic Festival
Kiener Plaza Downtown
10A-10P Friday & Saturday + 11A-8P Sunday
free
Hispanic arts and crafts, food, live Latino bands, dancers and a Parade of Hispanic Nations are just a few of the things to expect at this year's Hispanic Festival.

Art Outside
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave
Friday-Sunday
free

A three-day juried alternative art festival showcasing quality, affordable, local art.  Art Outside will also feature music from local pop, bluegrass, rock and roll and country artists, puppet theater, and performances by the Fire Technicians (see Schlafly's site for full schedule and details).



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Brave New World: A FarFetched Festival
Plush, 3224 Locust Street
Saturday, 4:00 PM
$10

Brave New World is a music festival that promises to bring together St. Louis's most innovative musical and creative talent.  Sponsored by FarFetched, an artist collective based in the city, the festival with include appearances from rock, funk, soul, hip hop and electronica artists. Music will be complemented by live art,  skate demonstrations, vendors and music making workshops.

out and about in st. louis: labor day weekend edition

Bluefish
Cicero's 6691 Delmar Blvd
September 2nd 5:00 PM
$10-$12

Bluefish's sound has been likened to Coldplay, Bon Iver, Scattered Trees, Third Eye Blind and John Mayer.  If that isn't enough to make you head to Cicero's on Sunday night, check out their website, where you can listen to songs and read the press they've been getting.

Girls Gone Wild: Contemporary Women's Graffiti Exposed
Phantom 1300 Washington Ave. 63103
through September 2nd

The first national showcase of contemporary American women's graffiti is being shown at Phantom through Sunday. See works by artists like Indie 184, Jules Muck and Lady Aiko. Admission is free.

Julian Beever's work

Chalk Festival
Delmar Loop University City, MO 63130
September 1st 9:00AM

The 2nd annual Chalk Festival, sponsored by Blick Art Materials, promises to beautify the busy strip. Participating artists are asked to check in at Chuck Berry Plaza ($10 for adults participants, $8 for 13-18 year olds, $4 for children under 12).  Chalk art will be judged and prizes awarded to winners in four categories. Spectators are welcome to watch art in progress. and four categories for a chance to win a prize.



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Japanese Festival
Missouri Botanical Gardens
September 1st - September 3rd
$10-$15

In its 35th year, the Japanese Festival has become one of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most well-attended events.  Expect a celebration of Japanese culture through live music, cooking demos, a kimono fashion show, storytelling, and martial arts and sumo wrestling demonstrations.  You can also appreciate the garden's 100-year-old cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan to the United States in 1912.

Art Fair
Queeny Park
August 31st - September 2nd
$5 admission fee

One of the longest-standing art fairs in Missouri, the Art Fair at Queeny Park boasts over 130  top artists from 20 states selling jewelry, paintings, photographs, sculptures and more.  You can find a coupon for $1 off admission at the fair's website.

How are you spending your long weekend?

out and about: concerts in the couryard, dogwash and top chef:the tour

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I hope to be poolside for much of the weekend, but I may venture out to do the following:

Concerts in the Courtyard at CAM.  The Contemportary Art Museum is hosting electronica band performances this Saturday as part of the St. Louis Arts Project conference.  Come hear live music and interact with the bands.  A $10 donation is suggested.

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Dogwash.  For 10 bucks, Pets in the City will hose down your dog this Sunday.  All proceeds go to support families in Joplin. 

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Bike St. Louis City Tour. Explore St. Louis with other cyclists and bike lovers this Sunday afternoon.  $8 for Trailnet members, $13 for non-members and $3 for kids.

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Chicago, the Musical comes to the Muny!  Some seating is free, and tickets run from $10-$70.  Bring fan and lots of water, as this outdoor theater gets very toasty!

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Top Chef: The Tour comes to Soulard Farmer's market with demonstrations from former contestants at 10:30, noon and 1:30 on Saturday.  The event is free, but seats are on a first come, first served basis.

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Sell Your Sh*t Sunday.  Stop by the Handlebar to buy wares from people all over the city.  If you're looking to sell your wares, clear it with their contact person here first.



out and about in st. louis: margaret cho, a sustainable backyard tour and more

one of the photographs in Danziger's Transformations exhibit
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St. Louis has a number of things going on this weekend sure to satisfy most everyone.

 For those intrigued by all things post-Apocalyptic:
Avery Danziger imagines what familiar scenes would look like in a world without people in the exhibit, Transformations.  The exhibit runs through August 5th at the Atrium Gallery. 

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For the socially-conscious humor appreciator:
Margaret Cho will perform twice at Lumiere Place Casino and Hotel on June 23rd.  Shows are at 8:00 and 9:30.

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For the local music aficionado:
STL Loud 4 Showcase release show at the PRIDEFEST this weekend in Tower Grove Park.  Previously unrelased tracks by St. Louis-based artists have been compiled this fourth volume, aptly titled "Pride for Our City" designed to showcase local talent.  The show will include performances by the Big Brother Thunder and the Masterblasters, Jump Starts, and Union Electric among others.

Jeri Villarreal and her sustainable backyard
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For the HGTV watcher/greenthumb hopeful/sustainability aspirant:
The Sustainable Backyard Tour on Sunday takes you on a journey through the backyards of over 50 St. Louisians who have committed to making their outdoor spaces green.  See rainwater collection systems in action, observe the lives of urban chickens and admire lush vegetable gardens in the backyards of your sustainable neighbors.  The tour is free, but you must preregister.

Are you doing anything fun this weekend?

out and about: 10 ways to include your dog in summer activities

from left to right: caught mid-smile, a very happy Dusty, best buds cuddling

Year-round I like to include Dusty in as much of what I'm doing as possible.  He goes where I go whenever possible.  Here is a list of fun, dog-friendly activities you can enjoy this summer (and beyond):

• Patio Dining: I like to take advantage of outdoor cafes on summer days and nights.  Many patios allow dogs to sit out with their owners and some have communal water bowls for their canine patrons.
• Outdoor festivals and concerts: I take Dusty to Food Truck Friday, art festivals, movies in the park and outdoor concerts.  Most will specify if they don't allow pets at their events, and the vast majority are pet-friendly.
• Trips to the lake:  I've yet to meet a dog that wasn't at least curious about dipping a few toes in the water.  You can bring a ball or frisbee and play catch in the sand.
• Camping: Bring your dog to the bonfire. S/he will love hiking the trails with you and hanging by your side when you tell spooky ghost stories.  Just be sure to keep the s'mores at a safe distance.
• Play dates at the park: Organize play dates with your dog and a friend's pup at the park.  While Dusty's dog training videos discourage taking your dog to dog parks where they can pick-up bad behaviors, I know he appreciates friend time with his own kind, so this is a nice alternative.
• Sports games: Check out a Little League game with your dog.  Dusty enjoys watching kids play, and kids in the bleachers love to pet him.  This goes for youth soccer games and tennis, too.
• Time with Grandma and Grandpa: What is a summer without some quality time with the Grandparents?  Dusty loves spending time with my mom and dad and their six pound Maltese.  He really appreciates the extra space to roam around (since our apartment can get a little cramped) and he loves all of the attention my parents give him.
• Visits to a dog-treat bakery:  St. Louis has a few dog-friendly bakeries with fun snacks just for dogs.  While I have to be on my guard when I bring Dusty in for a treat (due to all the tempting treats right at his eye-level), he loves playing with the other dogs in line and getting showered with affection by the other patrons and store owners.  The promise of a gourmet treat at the end doesn't hurt, either.
• Backyard fun: Fill up a kiddie pool and splash around with your canine companion.  Fire up the grill and cook a little something for you and your dog.  Throw the frisbee around, or just chase your dog around the yard.  S/he will enjoy the time you spend rough-housing together.
• Road-tripping: Include your pooch on your next road trip.  He will love feeling the wind on his face as he leans out the window.  Or, if you're like me and can't trust your dog loose in the car, s/he will appreciate being taken along to explore a new place.  Make sure your pit stops are short and that you park in the shade if you have to leave your dog in the car for a minute or two.

To make all of these activities more enjoyable for Dusty and me, I bring the following with me each time I step out with him: a collapsible water bowl, dog food, a bone, a leash, and more doggie bags than I think I will need.  If we're driving, I always schlep Dusty's crate around in the car.

How are you including your dog in your plans this summer?

out and about in st. louis

Pokey LaFarge by Kate McDaniel

What I'm looking forward to this weekend:

Twangfest.  For your bluegrass fix.  This festival started Wednesday and runs through Saturday.  Friday's show has been sold out but tickets are still available for Saturday's show, featuring John Doe, Kevin Gordon, Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers and Rough Shop. Tickets are $15-$20.

FTF logo

 Food Truck Friday!  We are more prepared for round two having lived through last month's FTF.  This time we are taking off early to take advantage of shorter lines and more options.  We still plan to bring a blanket, cushions to sit on, water and a map that shows the food truck lineup.  We're also taking food, bones and water for Dusty.

Unidentified Woman (curly bangs)

The last chance to see Warhol's Polariods: A Method at the St. Louis University Musuem of Art is this weekend.

past All-American Soap Box Derby

The All-American Soap Box Derby is happening this Sunday.  Kids ranging in age from 8-17 compete for a chance to move up to the International Soap Box Circuit.  If that isn't enough, there will also be a classic car show at the derby, and both events are free.

out and about in st. louis: memorial day weekend





photo by Gus Van Zant, via



There's a lot of fun stuff going on this weekend in St. Louis.  Here are a few things to check out if you're in the area:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are playing at Scottrade Center tonight as part of their "I'm with You" tour.  You can still order tickets here. 



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Cinema at City Garden kicks off tonight.  Winning shorts from St. Louis-area filmmakers will play on a loop from 6 - 11 p.m. daily on Citygarden's Video Wall at 9th & Chestnut Streets through the end of June.  The filmmakers were asked to create films using nature as a central element.

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The Bluesweek Festival goes on all weekend at Soldiers' Memorial.  Free, family-friendly fun downtown.

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On Monday at UMSL the Gypsy Caravan is back. A fundraiser for the St. Louis Symphony, the Gypsy Caravan is one of the largest antique, craft and flea markets in the Midwest and has raised over $3.4 million for the Symphony since its inception in 1973.  Vendors come from all over the United States to sell their wares.  There will be a children's area with activities and entertainment for families.  Get your tickets early, since they go for $10 until the day of, when the price jumps to $20.

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

out and about in st. louis

one of Jackie Saccoccio's paintings
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 Here are a few of the things that I'm looking forward to this weekend:

Bark in the Park. The festival includes a dog walk, contests and dog performances, and is sponsored by Purina One and the Humane Society of Missouri.  Tickets are $25/adult, $5 for children 3-15 and free for children under three.  Proceeds benefit the Animal Cruelty Fund.  The event runs from 10:00am-3:00pm this Saturday in Forest Park.  If we decide to go, I may have to whip up a Cardinals headdress of sorts for Dusty that looks something like this.  Which, I'm sure you'll agree, is less de-moralizing than this, if only slightly.

Mayfest.  This three-day weekend music and arts festival featuring R&B band War, local musical talent, artists and food truck vendors.  $5 gets you access all weekend.  Head down to Ballpark Village (by Busch Stadium) anytime after 6:30 on Friday night.

Phillip Stein Gallery Opening in the CWE.  The gallery is opening its doors for the first time in its new location on McPherson tomorrow night. Several paintings by Jackie Saccoccio will be on display.  The opening reception goes from 6-8 in the evening.

Making a green salad with Old Bay shrimp for a Preakness Party this weekend.  And concocting a non-alcoholic alternative to mint juleps. (In addition to not drinking alcohol, the idea of drinking something that reminds me of mouthwash or combines mint with another flavor is not appealing to me.  Say what you will about my lack of cultural refinement).

What are you up to this weekend?

out and about in st. louis

some of Todd's work

 This weekend I'm excited about:

My friend Todd's art exhibit at SOHA Studio & Gallery.  It opens on Friday and runs through June 2nd.  He painted me a few times in the fall and is exhibiting one of those paintings at SOHA.

Food Truck Friday. 18 guerrila food trucks selling crepes, cupcakes, sushi, gyros and more.  Enough said.
Laumeier Sculpture Park Art Fair.  Over 700 artists nationwide apply to be vendors at the fair and 150 are selected.  The park expects 14,000 visitors Friday-Sunday and hopes to entertain them with food, art and music.  While the park normally allows pooches, dogs cannot come to this event.

The Central West End Home and Garden Tour.  So I have a thing for home and garden tours.  Especially ones in beautiful old neighborhoods.  The one in Lafayette Square is my favorite so far, but I have yet to do the Central West End tour.  It would make for a good Mother's Day present if you have a mom into such things. The tour runs Friday-Sunday.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  If you're in a larger city, this movie may have already come to your area, but it was just released for St. Louisians.  I love all the actors in this movie and it just looks like its going to be so good.  Another fun Mother's Day activity.

Sorting cans at a local food bank.  Joe recruited me to help his bosses's wife organize the cans this weekend. I'm convinced he did it for the beef brisket they are offering to all volunteers.  And maybe because he knows I enjoy volunteering.

What are you looking forward to this weekend?