St. Louis Memorial Day Weekend 2016 Happenings: May 27 - 30

The long holiday weekend is almost here, St. Louis!  As usual, the city will be buzzing with family-friendly activities. Here are a few of my favorites...

2016 Art Outside at Schlafly Bottleworks 

Schlafly Art Outside is a three-day-long alternative art fair featuring art from over 50 artists based here in the St. Louis area. Come and show your support for local art and local beer.

Art Outside is not an ordinary fair, but one that features quality art, music, and plenty of tasty food and drink from Schlafly Beer. Hosted at the brewery’s Bottleworks location in Maplewood, Missouri, Art Outside draws approximately 15,000 visitors each year.

5.27.16 - 5.30.16
Friday:  5-10 PM
Saturday: 10AM-10PM
Sunday: NOON-4PM

Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood
6260 Southwest Avenue

http://schlafly.com/events/calendar/2016/05/27/art-outside/


2016 St. Louis County Greek Fest in Town & Country

Whether you're of Greek decent or just love ethnic cuisine, the Greek Fest is a lively environment destination in which you can experience the Greek community's deeply rooted traditions, heritage, and delicious cuisine!

5.27.16 - 5.30.16
Friday-Sunday: 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Monday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
1755 Des Peres Road

http://stlouisgreekfest.com/

Eckert's Farm Memorial Day Festival

Eckert's Orchards in Belleville is celebrating Memorial Day with a three-day festival complete with music, food, wagon rides and special kid's activities.

5.28.16 - 5.30.16
10-5 pm

Belleville Country Store
951 Green Mount Road Belleville, IL 62220

http://www.eckerts.com/events/memorial-weekend-festival-8/


44th Annual Gypsy Caravan at the Family Arena

Junkers, antiquers, and Pinterest fans... welcome to heaven!!  The St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association presents the 44th annual Gypsy Caravan, one of the largest antique, craft and flea markets in the Midwest. Proceeds support the STL Symphony and Education Concerts that reach and inspire upward of 40,000 students from 1,000 area schools each season.

Monday, 5.30.16
Early Bird (7:00-9:00 AM): $20
General (9:00 AM-5:00 PM): $10
Free at all times for children under age 13.

The Family Arena
2002 Arena Parkway
St. Charles MO, 63303

https://www.stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan/

4 Fun St. Louis Memorial Day Weekend 2015 Happenings!

Shakespeare Festival: 
Antony And Cleopatra in Forest Park

Nothing says "Summer in St. Louis" like Shakespeare under the stars in gorgeous Forest Park.  Grab a blanket, picnic basket, and the family for a free evening of fun.  Marking 15 years of free, outdoor Shakespearian performances, the Shakespeare Festival's production this year is based on a classic ancient romance, "Antony and Cleopatra."

05.22.15 – 06.14.15
Free, Nightly at 8 PM, except Tuesdays

Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park
5715 Elizabeth Ave
St. Louis MO,

http://www.sfstl.com/in-the-park/antony-and-cleopatra-2015/


2015 St. Louis County Greek Fest in Town and Country

Whether you're of Greek decent or just love ethnic cuisine, the Greek Fest is a lively environment destination in which you can experience the Greek community's deeply rooted traditions, heritage, and delicious cuisine!

5.22.15 - 5.25.15
Friday-Sunday: 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Monday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

1755 Des Peres Road

http://stlouisgreekfest.com/


Lantern Festival: Magic Reimagined at the Missouri Botanical Gardens

What is more beautiful than our Garden at night?  Our garden lit up by brilliant COLOR! Celebrating the Garden's ongoing botanical research in China, 22 all-new sets crafted from silk and steel will once again offer visitors from around the world the opportunity to experience an event rarely staged outside of Asia

5.23.15 - 8.23.15
6-10pm

$22 adults
$11 members
$10 children (ages 3-12)
$5 members' children

Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/things-to-do/events/special-exhibitions/lantern-festival.aspx


43rd Annual Gypsy Caravan at the Family Arena

Junkers, antiquers, and Pinterest fans... welcome to heaven!!  The St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association presents the 43rd annual Gypsy Caravan, one of the largest antique, craft and flea markets in the Midwest. Proceeds support the STL Symphony and Education Concerts that reach and inspire upward of 40,000 students from 1,000 area schools each season.

Monday, 5.25.15
Early Bird (7:00-9:00 AM): $20
General (9:00 AM-5:00 PM): $10
Free at all times for children under age 13.
Peek and Purchase (Sunday, May 24, 2015 5:00-7:00 PM): $30
Exclusive opportunity to shop vendor booths before the general public; includes Early Bird admission on Monday

Discounted admission wristbands* available for purchase at Dierbergs Markets through May 25.

*Early Bird: $17.50; General: $8.50; Peek and Purchase: $27.50

The Family Arena
2002 Arena Parkway
St. Charles MO, 63303

https://www.stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan/

In the Kitchen- German Potato Salad recipe

The holiday weekend has arrived, which typically means gatherings with loved ones and friends for most of us. 

WARNING:  Leave your diet at home, as I am ready to share the absolute BEST recipe for Traditional Warm German Potato Salad.  Healthy?  Absolutely not!  Delicious?  Yes. 

I have used this recipe for years and it is fail-proof.  While NOT waist-friendly, a great dish to tote to a weekend soiree...

Traditional Warm German Potato Salad

Ingredients

2 pounds red potatoes, boiled in their skins until tender and drained
8 slices of bacon- cut in 2 inch strips
1 cup peeled and chopped onions
1.5 cup chopped celery
A pinch of celery seed, if available
1/2 teaspoon salt
A generous grinding of black pepper
2 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon unbleached flour
7 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 cup water

1.Cut the cooked potatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices and set aside. I prefer to leave their peels on.

2.In a large saute pan or casserole, cook the bacon until barely browned and transfer it to a paper towel to drain, leaving the bacon drippings in the pan.

3.In the same pan used to cook the bacon, saute the chopped onions in the remaining bacon drippings for two minutes and then add the chopped celery. Saute for approximately three more minutes or until the onions are golden. Add the celery seed (if used), salt, pepper, sugar, and unbleached flour to the pan and stir well for another minute. Gradually stir in the vinegar and water and simmer for an additional couple of minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

4.Very gently stir in the sliced potatoes and cooked bacon. Cook for a couple of minutes more until the potatoes are heated through and have absorbed most of the dressing. Cover and set aside for five minutes before serving.

Fellow Treasure Hunters... listen up!

The 40th annual Gypsy Caravan, benefiting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, is on Monday and is one of my FAVORITE local events!  Since 1973, the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association has presented one of the largest antique, craft and flea markets in the Midwest, raising over $3.4 million in support of the STL Symphony.

I can assure you that this event is the BEST if you love antiquing and treasure hunting like ME!

Vendors come from 20 states,  as far away as Texas, Florida, and Louisiana.  They will be selling something for everyone: antiques, collectibles, crafts, jewelry, furniture, clothing, imports, yard art and more. Delicious food and beverages are also a part of this holiday tradition. Vendor list HERE.

Nitty Gritty:
Monday, May 31, 2010
7am–5pm; rain or shine
University of Missouri-St. Louis Campus

Admission:
9am–5pm: $10
Early Bird 7am–9am: $20
Children under 12 free at all times

NOTE: The $5 entry fee ($20 for early-bird shoppers, 7–9am) goes to support the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and its education and community programs.

For more info:

Map and info about FREE parking and metro stops is here: http://www.stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan/directions.aspx

Web: http://www.stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/saintlouissymphony
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/slso