Summer Fun in Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square Historic District is one of my absolute favorite St. Louis neighborhoods, between the gorgeous late-19th century Victorian architecture and the dozens of terrific shops and eateries. That being said, the true draw and charm of Lafayette Square is how cohesive the people that live there are. If you have never, head there this summer to enjoy some of their activities in the park which is the epicenter of activity in this special area... 

Great fun!

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 

Listed: 14904 Greenberry Hill Court in Chesterfield (Parkway West High School)

Located in the reputable Parkway School District...

#14904 Greenberry Hill Court is located in the heart of West County in the award-winning Parkway West district with Chesterfield amenities galore. This handsome home boasts over 3,500 sqft of finished living space on a picturesque cul-du-sac lot adorned with mature perennial landscaping. Walk to West Middle, Parkway West High, and the West High School Fall Homecoming Parade that runs behind the house in the Brook Hill Subdivision!

Home features:

•Curb appeal galore including a charming and gracious front porch flanked by azaela and large enough for family al fresco dining.

•FOUR sizable bedrooms starring a private main floor Master Suite retreat with an enormous walk-in closet, private bath with double sinks, and French doors out to the garden.

• Three full baths and one half bath including a spa-like lower level bathroom with giant Jacuzzi soaking tub.

• A gracious formal living room and dining room ideal for entertaining.

• A main floor laundry mud room with ceramic tile flooring, a separate closet, and plenty of hanging space.

• A main floor family room with a wood burning fireplace.

• A sizable eat-in kitchen with ceramic tile floor, a center working island with generous storage, 42” cabinets, double ovens, and natural light galore through the oversized picture window that overlooks the garden.

• A glassed-in three-season room with a skylights and a garden view.

• A finished basement with oodles of room including TWO rec rooms, a separate office, a wet bar, a full bath, and two MASSIVE storage areas. Plenty of room for a pool table, gym, playroom, craft room, or theater.

Complete with a 2 car garage, hardwood floors, a lush fully-fenced private lot, hardwood floors, a tankless H2O Heater, the most gorgeous cul-du-sac lot in the neighborhood, an inground sprinkler system, and nationally-recognized schools...

This home is a complete package! #14904 Greenberry Hill Court has been beautifully maintained yet boasts the layout, lot, location, and space to create the home of your dreams!  Move in just in time for summer to begin.

Reduced to $375,000. See the full listing and all photographs HERE.  
Please call 314.298.5200 for a private tour!

Summer Fun in Chesterfield :

Movies and Concerts Under the Stars at the Chesterfield Amphitheater

What better way to spend a summer evening than watching a movie or taking in a free concert under the stars. There is a combination of fixed and lawn seating at the venue. You can bring your own refreshments (NO GLASS) and the concession stand will be open with food and drinks.

Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center

Scream your way down thrilling water slides, enjoy a relaxing float around a lazy river, or dive into a competition pool at the Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Monday-Friday: 12pm-8pm
Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays: 10am-8pm
1/2 Price after 5:00 pm
Visit chesterfield.mo.us for pool hours, swim classes and water events.

Summer Concert Series and Food Trucks at Faust Park

Faust Park opens at 5:30 p.m. for seating. Concessions are available beginning at 5:30 p.m.. All concerts are from 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. Beer, wine, soda, water, popcorn, and candy are available for purchase along with area restaurants offering food at affordable prices, so no need to bring your own! Food trucks will be at all the summer concerts.

June 6: Bob Cuban 
June 13: Fanfair 
June 20: Trilogy 
June 20: Spectrum Band 
July 11: Abbey Road Warriors 
July 18: Volcanic Ash
July 25: Radiogram
August 1: Butch Wax
August 8: Laythom andHolmes
August 15: Billy Peek

Chesterfield 4th of July Celebration
Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at 6:30 PM
West Chesterfield Mall Parking Lot near Dillard’s and Macy’s

Come join us for the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration that has grown to be the biggest and best fireworks show in the metropolitan area! The Main Stage will present a FREE concert starting at 7:30 pm featuring Fat Pocket. Come and enjoy listening and dancing to the music until the fireworks show begins at 9:30 pm. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The Kids’ Zone will be open 6:30 to 9 with activities and entertainment. Bring lawn chairs and refreshments, or purchase food and drink from various vendors and food trucks.

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: 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

St. Louis Weekend Happenings: August 21- August 23

Festival of the Little Hills

Main Street and Frontier Park 
in Historic Downtown St. Charles

Friday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

FREE

Whether you call it Fête des Petites Côtes or Festival of the Little Hills, it is the largest St. Charles festival of the year with over 300 craft booths by local artisans. Food, live music, special activities for the kids, and more on the historic cobblestone streets overlooking the Missouri River!

http://www.historicstcharles.com/includes/events/Festival-of-the-Little-Hills/677/

Rise up Festival

Washington Avenue between 16th and 17th streets

Friday 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM

FREE

This street festival celebrates the revitalization of St. Louis neighborhoods. The show will feature music from the Bottoms Up Blues Gang, Dirty Muggs, and the Jeremiah Johnson Band. There will also be kid-friendly activities, street performers, and food trucks.

https://www.facebook.com/riseupfestivalstl


St. Louis World’s Fare Heritage Festival

In Shakespeare Glen just East of the St. Louis Statue in front of the Art Museum

Saturday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

FREE

Pay homage to the 1904 World’s fair while celebrating the St. Louis of today! Forest Park will be the centerpiece of the celebration featuring events and competitions embracing the history of the 1904 World’s Fair while highlighting the culture of St. Louis today. Festival features include live music, art village, “Culinary Pike”, kid’s island family activities and entertainment, historical exhibitions, beer garden & backyard games, live art demonstrations, and a World Business Expo supporting local businesses.

314-853-6257 or http://stlworldsfare.com/

Weekend Happenings: Free Jungle Boogie Concert Series at the Zoo

Every Friday Night at the St. Louis Zoo...

... the free Jungle Boogie Concert Series is under way!  Offered every summer and always a HUGE hit with the locals, this weekly event is an inexpensive and family-friendly way to enjoy a warm St. Louis summer evening under the stars in gorgeous Forest Park.

Nitty Gritty:
Friday evenings
5-8 p.m.
Schnuck Family Plaza near the sea lion basin in center of the Zoo.
Admission is free.

Schedule:

May 29: Disco Nites feat. Coco Soul (Disco/Soul)
June 5: My Friend Mike (Top 40/Motown Classics)
June 12: Ticket to the Beatles (Tribute)
June 19: No concert
June 26 : Whiskey Morning (Country/Bluegrass)
July 3:  No concert
July 10: GalaxyRed (Top 40/Classics)
July 17: Griffin and the Gargoyles (Top 40)
July 24: Pennsylvania Slim (Blues/Soul/Swing)
July 31: American Idle (Country/Pop/Variety)
August 7: Push the Limit (Top 40/Motown/Rock)
August 14: Mood Swings (80s)
August 21: Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers (Swing/Jazz/Rhythm)
August 28: Big Brother Thunder and the Master Blasters (RandB/Funk/Soul)

Find more information about the fun summer offerings at the St. Louis Zoo HERE.  You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!

Fair St. Louis 2015 Concert Lineup on Art Hill

Fair St. Louis will once again be in Forest Park this year, as the Arch Grounds construction continues.  The 2015 4th of July weekend concert lineup on Art Hill was announced yesterday, and it ROCKS...

Mark your calenders St. Louis!  Fair St. Louis is not only free, but family-friendly.  NOTE: The nightly concerts will be followed by fireworks.

FOR MORE INFO:

Web: http://fairsaintlouis.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FairSaintLouis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/fairsaintlouis

Whitaker Music Festival 2014 Concert Schedule at the Missouri Botanical Garden

The Whitaker Schedule kicks off this week!  Nothing better than music under the stars at the garden...

Union Station Phase 1 REVEAL- Grand Hall lobby

Phase one of the multi-million dollar renovation of Union Station is well underway, and with the opening of the new and improved Grand Hall, the internet is buzzing with videos like this of the impressive rotating light shows...



A little local history lesson...

St. Louis Union Station, circa 1894, was once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world.  Built for $6.5 million and primarily of Indiana limestone, St. Louis Union Station was designed to not only be functional, but beautiful... 

The train station acted as the main central hub between the east and the west for decades, and was designed with three main areas: The Headhouse, Midway, and Trainshed.  

The Headhouse originally boasted a hotel, restaurant, passenger waiting rooms, railroad ticketing offices, and a clock tower....

The crown jewel of the Headhouse, however, was  the gold-leafed Grand Hall...

One of the main gathering spots during the famous 1902 St. Louis World's Fair era, Grandhall featured an impressive 65ft barrel vaulted ceiling, mosaic, Romanesque archways, and the STUNNING  "Allegorical Window" made from hand-cut Tiffany glass and strategically positioned above the Station's main "Whispering Arch" entryway ...

The window features three women, representing the main US train terminals of the time: New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco...   

The Midway, a covered transfer area between the Headhouse and the Trainshed,  provided a place for train passengers to bid farewell and/or welcome family and friends...

Union Station's 11+ acre Train Shed, the largest in the world at the time, included 42 tracks and combined the St. Louis passenger services of 22 railroads at its peak...

Unlike other train stations, trains backed into the Union Station underneath the shed, allowing passengers quick and covered access to the Midway and Headhouse.  In the 1940s, it is said that the train terminal handled a whopping 100,000 passengers per day!  In fact, recall this famous photograph from your US History class of Harry S. Truman proudly displaying the misprint made by the Chicago Tribune after his upset victory over Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential Election?

It was taken at our Union Station as Truman headed back to Washington DC from Independence, MO.  Rich history, to say the least.

In 1976, Union Station was designated a National Historic Landmark.   The advent of planes saw train travel decrease, however, until the last train pulled out of Union Station in 1978.  In 1979, a property company purchased the Station for $5.5 million.  The dilapidated structure sat empty until it reopened in the mid 1980's after an enormous $140+ million restoration, making it the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.

As a native St. Louisan and as a teen at the time of the 1980's reopening... it was a big deal.  Truly, the place to be with restaurants, hotels, and shops galore.  While mostly geared towards visitors of our city, it was a very popular destination for locals, as well.  Particularly before and after downtown events, such as Cardinals games and concerts...

 

 

 
In recent years, however, locals have genuinely worried about the future of Union Station as the shops and restaurants have slowly closed down, leaving this historic landmark a virtual Ghost Town...



In 2012, Lodging Hospitality Management bought the station and its 539-room hotel for $20 million with the goal of restoring it to its original glory.  I am not going to lie, locals have been nervously sitting on pins and needles while closely following the project to see what direction is was going. 

LHM revealed BIG plans for the structure and has made ever bigger promises to the city including a 2 level family entertainment area, a parking lot climate-controlled Ferris wheel, new restaurants, a fabulous new event and convention space, and more. 

I was aware that the Union Station hotel, now a Doubletree, had undergone a massive $30+ million renovation.  In fact, I followed much of the progress on Instagram as craftsman associated with the City Museum posted real-time renovation photos, including this AMAZING original plasterwork detail found behind a wall in March of this year...

That being said, it wasn't until the recent public reveal and opening of the renovated Grand Hall (now Doubletree hotel lobby) that locals have been able to grasp the TRUE vision of Lodging Hospitality Management and future for our beloved Union Station...

The most interesting feature of the reno?  3D ceiling projections, each 30 to 45 seconds in length, that will be shown at least hourly over the bar and restaurant featuring craft cocktails, and gourmet  "small bite" dishes. 

A little peek of what you can expect...







Neat, right?  Add it to your local "bucket list", St. Louis!

Connect with Grand Hall at...

St. Louis Union Station
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103

Web: http://www.grandhall-stl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandHallSTL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGrandHallSTL