St. Louis Weekend Happenings: February 13-15

Whether spending the holiday with a loved one or with your friends,  St. Louis has a LOT going on this Valentine's Day/President's Day Weekend. If you remain undecided as to how to spend your weekend, here are a few ideas:

For those seeking romance in a cozy place to wine and dine your honey...  

St. Louis Magazine recently named The Most Romantic Tables In St. Louis By Number HERE!  In addition, THESE are FEAST Magazine's top picks for the 10 Most Romantic Restaurants in St. Louis,  released just 5 days ago!

For those seeking family- friendly fun...

HERE is a link to a wide variety of unique weekend happenings via the Riverfront Times. From Eagle-watching and new art exhibits to new Omnimax flicks and theater productions... there is something for EVERYONE.

For those ready to whoop-it-up... 

Soulard's Mardi Gras will be in FULL FORCE this weekend, with the Mayor's Ball and a weekend long street party! Click HERE for the weekend schedule.

That all being said, whatever your mission this weekend, it is time to start planning NOW. Reservations will be few and far between, as people will be hitting the town in record number. Have a great (and safe) weekend, however you choose to spend it, my friends!

The historic architectural eye candy of the Village of Elsah...

In the Midwest, we have been incredibly blessed with gorgeous, mild temperatures- a rarity during the hind end of summer. My girlfriend and I took advantage last week by playing hooky, dropping the top...

...and heading over to the scenic River Road for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

Note:  If you have never enjoyed The Loading Dock in Grafton, please visit before the weather cools!  This fun outdoor eatery boasts amazing river views, live music, and a tropical vacation vibe!

Being the historic house lover that I am, a day trip to Alton/Grafton is never complete without a quick drive through the Village of Elsah.  Elsah is located on the East Bluff of the Mississippi River, just 11 miles West of Alton on the way to Grafton.  This 19th century river village, population of less than 700, was founded in 1853 by a prominent Illinois politician by the name of James Semple.  Mr. Semple owned a rock quarry and offered a free building lot to anyone who agreed to utilize remnant stone from his quarry.  The result was a cluster of various 19th century architectural styles and influence, utilizing the stone.

150 years later, not much has changed there.  A true time capsule- phenomenal.  A drive through the Village of Elsah is an interesting journey back in time and a glorious glimpse at pre-Civil War life on the Mighty Mississippi. 

Here is my teeny peek of what you can expect to encounter should you decide to venture there...

Note: the video above of the properties of Elsah does not display on the mobile version of my blog. It must be enjoyed on a computer or tablet. 

Simply, the beauty of Elsah paired with the sunset over the Mississippi...

... A winning combination if seeking a change of scenery, less than 20 minutes from St. Louis!  Consider it. 

HERE are some of my past adventures in the Alton/Grafton area.

Winter Weekend Ideas!

The cold temperatures are BACK in St. Louis!  When the mercury drops, most of us want to bundle up and plop ourselves in front of the fireplace with a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate. That being said, after months of single digit temperatures, most locals are experiencing a serious case of cabin fever (the Nenonen Family included). Lucky for all of us, St. Louis boasts a plethora of reasons to get outside and enjoy the cold!

If looking for winter fun this weekend, here are a few of our family favorites:

1) Ice Skating-  IceZone:
Ice skating is a tad like riding a bike. Even if you haven't been on skates in awhile... it comes back to you quickly.

When the temperature is too low to brave an OUTDOOR rink, St. Louis has a number of indoor rinks!  Our family did a spontaneous skate during an impromptu shopping trip at the St. Louis Mills Ice Zone last weekend and had a great time! They crank the music and people come and go as they wander the mall. Plus, if you are lucky... you may catch a glimpse of the St. Louis Blues, as the IceZone is their official practice facility! We really enjoyed skating there as you can make a day of it: skate, lunch, and shopping.  Simply, we forgot how fun it is for all ages!

HERE is a list of all of the skating rinks in St. Louis.  NOTE: Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park is already closed for the season.

2) Eagle Watching

Every year, thousands of bald eagles migrate to the Mississippi river regions surrounding the St. Louis area to build nests and feed between late December and Mid-March . When the temperatures drop and the river forms ice, the eagles congregate on the spots of the river where the water is churned and the eagles have easy access to the fish. The most notable and ACTIVE eagle watching sites are the number of ferry sites in the Alton/Grafton, Illinois area and the Lock and Dam #24 in Clarksville, Missouri (both approx an hour outside of St. Louis). For other view sites and eagle events, click HERE.

This is such a unique opportunity to see Mother Nature is action! We do it every year and are never disappointed, as they are PLENTIFUL this time of year. You can't miss them. Seriously, watching the eagles soar will take your breathe away. NOTE: We attempted to spot them in the Alton area a few weekends ago, but it just wasn't cold enough. Word on the net is that with this cold snap, the eagles are back in action... so we plan to go this weekend, as well!

3) Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Wildwood

Ok, I will admit that Hidden Valley isn't MY favorite place as I am not a huge skier but the kids LOVE it.  Boasting 30 acres of skiable terrain, more than a dozen trails from beginner to expert, a Kids Zone with kiddie hill and lessons, night skiing, and a cozy lodge... Hidden Valley is always a Winter Wonderland!

Here's a video of one of their events...

4) Sledding at Art Hill

If we get lucky enough to get some snow- Duh! This activity is as St. Louis as the Arch, Toasted Ravioli, and Ted Drewes. I am in love with this video, as it perfectly sums up the experience ...

Weekend Happenings...

Friday is around the corner and there is a lot going on this weekend, St. Louis! Just a few of your choices...

ArtDTour of St. Louis

WHEN:
Friday, August 6, 2010, 5:30 pm - past midnight

WHERE:
Arrive at the St. Louis Art Museum at 5:30 so you can view the exhibit there and enjoy food samples before boarding the shuttle. Shuttles depart at 6:30.

WHAT:
Night of local art appreciation brought to you by the St. Louis Artist Guild and ArtDimensions of St. Louis. Take off from the art museum in an air-conditioned shuttle and take a city wide tour of all of the most notable museums and galleries. The fun ends at the Boathouse with a complimentary after-party from 10pm-Midnight, featuring door prizes, live music by DJ Chilly C, and complimentary appetizers from participants such as Onesto, Catering St. Louis, Sweet Art, Whole Foods, Mazara, Flaco's Cocina, Knodel's, and A Matter of Taste Catering.

FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/new/artdtour


Pere Marquette 4th Annual Peach Festival

WHEN:
Saturday, August 8 : 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

WHERE:
Pere Marquette State Park
15780 IL State Highway 100
Grafton, IL 62037
618-786-2331

WHAT:
Peaches, peaches, everywhere! Travel over to Grafton, on the Great River Road, to join in their annual celebration of the local peach season. Featuring crafts, children's activities, delicious peach pies / drinks/ goodies, peach-themed vendors and artisans, live entertainment, live music, largest peach contest, and tons of family fun!

FOR MORE INFO:
http://63.135.118.189/events.cfm


Twilight Under the Train Shed movie series

WHEN:
Friday, August 6 : 8:45 p.m.

WHERE:
St. Louis Union Station- Outdoor Train Shed
1820 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103

WHAT:
I blogged about this fun event last year! This Friday, watch Back to the Future under the stars

FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.stlouisunionstation.com/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=769&FPURLID=2129970466


Free Local Outdoor Concerts

You can find them this weekend at the Zoo,in Benton Park, in Kirkwood, at Carondelet Park, and in Manchester

Obviously, we are a match made in heaven...

... as my husband enjoys snooping around cool old abandoned farm houses as much as I do. =) This old stone farm house is located outside of Grafton, Illinois. Per the barn, it is circa 1870's. Per the look of it, it has a lot of stories to tell...

Scenes from an afternoon in Brussels, Illinois...

On free days, our family often ventures out on little day trips. One of our favorite destinations is the Alton/Grafton area of Illinois to drive the Great River Road and take in the scenes and shops.

Over the weekend, we explored new territory per a recommendation of a friend (thank you, Justin). If looking for a fun adventure within an hour of St. Louis, I recommend taking the free Brussels ferry ride from Alton over to the quaint town of Brussels, Illinois...

The first known settler came to Brussels in 1822, while the town boundaries were actually created in 1876...

Brussels is known as the "village nestled between rivers", as it sits where the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers flow together. It is also the home to the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge which is noted for its high population of bald eagles.

The town's most popular destination, however, is the Wittmond Hotel...

In 1847, Conrad Wittmond opened the Wittmond Trading Post... It continues to be the oldest continuously operated business in the village of Brussels...

These days, it is a restaurant and hotel and notoriously known for the family style lunch...

The meal starts with a relish tray just like Grandma used to make, complete with corn relish, spiced apples, apple sauce, pickled beets, rolls, orange marmalade, soup, and a homemade sausage that my husband raved over. All served in antique relish trays atop a vintage lace tablecloth...

The next course...

The grand finale was their famous Pecan Cobbler...

Needless to say, the Wittmond is NOT the place to dine if watching calories?! That being said, an interesting experience filled with guilty pleasures and a lot of history. For a family of four...

Pictures of Conrad Wittmond and his family still adorn the walls...

The kids had a somewhat difficult time concentrating on their meal, however, with this Wittmond looking on...

And this one...

The entire Wittmond Family...

The hotel's saloon is still open to patrons...

The Trading Post is still open as well, though it is more of an antique shop now...

My 10 year old checking out the antique coins and collectibles...

There is not much to Brussels, as it is a very small and rural community. The Wittmond is the main attraction, however, there are a few interesting buildings such as the Village Hall that caught our eye...

My kids particularly enjoyed the original town jail which still stands today, smack in the middle of the town. The history sheet indicates that the main purpose of the jail was to serve as a place to "sober up" the rowdy townies overnight...

It apparently held its last prisoner in the mid-1950's, at least until last weekend... =)

Fun adventure... the Nenonens will return! I highly recommend a trip to Brussels...

Last call for apples...

We enjoyed one of the last apple picking days of the season at Eckert's- Grafton with friends...