"Not throwin' away my shot"- the Hamilton Ticket Lottery!

It is hereeeeee, St. Louis!

Hamilton: An American Musical at The Fabulous Fox! 

We go next week for the 3rd time (Chicago and Denver previously), and can’t wait.  If you haven’t yet, download the official app and enter the daily lottery for $10 tickets!  I hear that the tickets are ORCHESTRA LEVEL, aka CLOSE.

Link here:   https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hamilton-the-official-app/id1255231054?mt=8

The 2017 Missouri History Museum Twilight Tuesday Spring Concert Series Schedule

The FREE Twilight Tuesday concert series at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park starts TOMORROW, St. Louis!  Grab your lawn chairs, pack a picnic basket, and enjoy terrific music under the stars. 

Per the Museum's website...

Parking is available in the Twin Lots just south of the Visitor Center in Forest Park. There is also ample street parking on Lindell and in Forest Park itself.

WELCOMED ITEMS:

• Picnic, snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages (no glass bottles

• Blankets and lawn chairs

• Tables sized 36”x36” or smaller

• Dogs on leashes

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

• No illegal substances of any kind

• No barbecue grills (Revised Section Code 11.34.160)

• No tents

• No large umbrellas

• No unauthorized vendors allowed

• No unauthorized solicitations, sampling, giveaways, etc.

For more information... 

Web: http://mohistory.org/twilight-tuesdays

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missourihistorymuseum  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mohistorymuseum 

St. Louis Weekend Happenings: September 30 - October 2, 2016

Best of Missouri Market

Venture out to the Missouri Botanical Garden for the 25th annual Best of Missouri Market, an event that attracts more than 25,000 people annually. Over 120 vendors offer local flowers, food, baked goods, jewelry, and handmade goods over the course of three days. Enjoy live music, crafts, and kids' activities as you welcome the arrival of Fall.

October 1st and 2nd from 9am-5pm at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, with a special preview "First Look" on Friday night.

$12 adults (ages 13 and over)
$5 children (ages 3–12)
$5 Garden Members
Free Garden members' children (ages 3–12)

For more info:
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/things-to-do/events/signature-events/best-of-missouri-market.aspx 

Print the official 2016 program guide HERE.

11th Annual GroveFest

No one knows how to throw a street party like The Grove in St. Louis!  GroveFest is an eclectic street festival in the Grove, a vibrant commercial district  in St. Louis.  Last year the festival drew over 12,000 attendees, was likened to funky New Orleans street festivals, and was praised for the diversity in programming and turnout. This year’s GroveFest is the 11th annual, so they are going above and beyond with live music, kids' stations, amazing food, and more!

Saturday from 2-11pm in The Grove along Manchester between Kingshighway and Vandeventer 

For more info:
http://www.thegrovestl.com/events/grove-fest/

Taste of Trucktober

Come celebrate food on wheels in West County, where the food is the STAR! This family-friendly festival hosts an array of gourmet food trucks including The Southerner, WingNut, Global Quesadilla, Cheese Shack, Pi, Cruizin, Fusion, Steak Louie, Sarah's Cakestop, Qlicious, and MORE!  Complete with live music, games, and karaoke... it is foodie fun for the whole family.

Saturday, October 1st from 12-5

FREE Admission

Chesterfield Amphitheater
631 Veterans Place Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63017

For more info:
http://www.trucktoberstl.com/


Shaw Neighborhood Art Fair

The Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association (SNIA) has hosted the very popular Shaw Art Fair each Fall since 1993. Located on the tree-lined parkway of beautiful Flora Place at Tower Grove Avenue, the Historic Shaw Art Fair is one of the premier fine art and fine craft fairs in the St. Louis area. It is highly rated by art fair magazines and participating artists. Roughly 135 top caliber artists and craftspeople from around the country are selected each year to participate in the professionally juried event.  You will also enjoy live music and local cuisine.

Saturday, October 1st from 9am to 5pm
Sunday, October 2nd from 10am to 5pm

Blocks of 4100-4200 Flora Place, St. Louis MO 63110

$7 per adult, which is good for admission to both days. Children 14 and under are free with an adult. Bring a non-perishable food item to receive $1 off admission—benefiting Isaiah 58 Ministries and Mount Olive Church.

For more info:
http://shawstlouis.org/attractions-amenities/historic-shaw-art-fair/

St. Louis Hidden Gem: Free Concerts Stl website

Summer 2016 is officially here, St. Louis...  

I swear, it seems like just yesterday that I drafted my Farewell to Summer 2015 post?!  Summer in Casa de Nenonen tends to be fairly hectic between work, travel, sports camps, scouting high adventures, and life.  That being said, we are never too busy for an evening of live music beneath the stars with friends.  

This week, Steve and I did our annual early-June hop online to choose some fun outdoor happenings for our family calendar. Our favorite comprehensive online resource is Free Concerts STL, as it is extremely easy to navigate for last-minute plans...

The site has everything from fairs and festivals to food truck events and free concerts.  It auto-defaults to the current day, making a last minute "I wonder what is going on tonight around town?" incredibly simple.  Check it out!

Connect with Free Concerts STL here:

WEB: http://www.freeconcertsstl.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/freeconcertsstl/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/freeconcertsstl

See my other local Hidden Gems HERE.

St. Louis Weekend Happenings: October 2- October 4, 2015

Best of Missouri Market

Venture out to the Missouri Botanical Garden for their popular Best of Missouri Market, an event that attracts more than 25,000 people annually. Over 100 vendors offer local flowers, food, baked goods, jewelry, and handmade goods over the course of three days. Enjoy live music, crafts, and kids' activities as you welcome the arrival of Fall.

October 3rd and 4th from 9am-5pm at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, with a special preview "First Look" on Friday night.

$12 adults (ages 13 and over)
$5 children (ages 3–12)
$5 Garden Members
Free Garden members' children (ages 3–12)

For more info:
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/things-to-do/events/signature-events/best-of-missouri-market.aspx 

Print the official 2015 program guide HERE.


Lemp Haunted Walking Neighborhood Tour

Everyone has heard of the infamous haunting of the Lemp mansion, but few know that the Lemp Mansion is one haunted house in a cluster of hauntings! Join members of the St. Louis Paranormal Research Society and walk through "America's Most Haunted Neighborhood" EVERY Friday night in October!  Hear the tragic history of the Lemp Family, learn the locations of two lost Lemp Neighborhood Cemeteries, and see the foundation stones of the first Lemp Mansion as you tour the area and they share other spooky tales ofmore haunted and historical locations along our tour route.

Every Friday, starting at 9pm. They meet inside the Lemp Mansion Museum. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and is 3/4 miles in length. 

$20 per person. Refunds will be offered if we cancelled or rescheduled a tour, and tours will run rain or shine. 

For More info:
http://www.seeaghost.com/lemp-neighborhood-walk-tour.html


10th Annual GroveFest

No one knows how to throw a street party like The Grove in St. Louis!  GroveFest is an outrageously eclectic street festival in the Grove, a vibrant commercial district  in St. Louis.  Last year the festival drew over 12,000 attendees, was likened to funky New Orleans street festivals, and was praised for the diversity in programming and turnout. This year’s GroveFest is the 10th annual, so they are going above and beyond with live music, kids' stations, amazing food, and more!

Saturday from 2-10pm in The Grove along Manchester between Kingshighway and Vandeventer 

For more info:
http://www.thegrovestl.com/events/grove-fest/

Taste of Trucktober

Come celebrate food on wheels in West County, where the food is the STAR! This family-friendly festival hosts an array of gourmet food trucks including Mission Taco, Pie Oh My, Pi, The Meltdown, Steak Louie, Sarah's Cakestop, Pyro Pizza, and MORE!  Complete with live music, games, and karaoke... it is foodie fun for the whole family.

Saturday, October 3rd from 12-5

FREE Admission

Chesterfield Amphitheater
631 Veterans Place Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63017

For more info:
http://www.trucktoberstl.com/


Shaw Neighborhood Art Fair

The Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association (SNIA) has hosted the very popular Shaw Art Fair each Fall since 1993. Located on the tree-lined parkway of beautiful Flora Place at Tower Grove Avenue, the Historic Shaw Art Fair is one of the premier fine art and fine craft fairs in the St. Louis area. It is highly rated by art fair magazines and participating artists. Roughly 135 top caliber artists and craftspeople from around the country are selected each year to participate in the professionally juried event.  You will also enjoy live music and local cuisine.

Saturday, October 3th from 9am to 5pm
Sunday, October 4th from 10am to 5pm

Blocks of 4100-4200 Flora Place, St. Louis MO 63110

$7 per adult, which is good for admission to both days. Children 14 and under are free with an adult. Bring a non-perishable food item to receive $1 off admission—benefiting Isaiah 58 Ministries.

For more info:
http://shawstlouis.org/attractions-amenities/historic-shaw-art-fair/

St. Louis Weekend Happenings: September 11- September 13

Hey, hey St. Louis!  The weekend forecast predicts cool Fall temperatures and our city boasts a calendar packed with family-friendly outdoor events. Three of my favorites this weekend...

Saint Louis Art Fair in Downtown Clayton

Friday:  5-10p
Saturday: 11-10p
Sunday: 11-5p

The Saint Louis Art Fair (SLAF) is a family-friendly and FREE free 3 day celebration of the visual and performing arts, held  in Clayton's central downtown business district. The Art Fair presents fantastic art in numerous mediums, live performances, hands on activities for children, and showcases some of St. Louis' top restaurants. The Art Fair collaborates with over 20 local not-for-profit arts organizations giving them the opportunity to generate earned income and access to over 130,000 potential patrons.

Learn more here:  http://www.culturalfestivals.com/


LouFest 2015

Saturday and Sunday in Forest Park

Loufest returns to Forest Park this weekend for an exciting 6th installment, delivering a weekend of activity, amazing food, and live music including headliners like Umphrey McGhee, Billy Idol, and Ludacris. A peek at last year's fun...

Tickets are required.  Learn more here:  http://www.loufest.com/

Schlafly Art Outside Festival

Friday:  5-10p
Saturday: 10-10p
Sunday: 12-4p 

Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood
#7260 Southwest Avenue

Schlafly's Art Outside is a 3 day juried alternative art fair featuring over 50 local artists, live music, and the brewery's finest brews! Hosted at the Maplewood location, this popular event attracts over 15K people each year! 

Learn more here: 
http://schlafly.com/events/calendar/2015/09/11/art-outside