A number of exciting events are planned for the next few weekends in St. Louis. Before I highlight several of the scheduled activities, I want to first wish all the Dads who are reading the Spotlight a Happy Father's Day. Secondly, I want to pass along the fact that the week of June 20-26 will be Marine Week in the City of St. Louis. We will have the opportunity to meet hundreds of the men and women serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, who are always on duty to protect our freedom. The Marines will reach out to our community through parades, equipment demonstrations, and other volunteer activities.
The Marines' premier St. Louis Community Project will be the building and planting of Operation Brightside's Demonstration Garden and Learning Center at 4646 Shenandoah (at S. Kingshighway). Each day, 20 Marines will be digging, planting, and creating garden paths for future visitors to the garden.
Marine Week will begin at 6 a.m. Monday, June 20 as aircraft fly in and land at St. Louis landmarks such as the Gateway Arch, Ballpark Village at Busch Stadium, and Soldiers' Memorial. The opening ceremony will be Monday, June 20 at 11 a.m. at Soldiers' Memorial, 1315 Chestnut. For a complete list of Marine Week St. Louis activities visit: http://www.marines.mil/community/marineweekstlouis/pages/events.aspx
Please join me in giving the visiting Marines a warm welcome during their stay in St. Louis.
Listed below are just a few of the events that will take place in St. Louis in the coming days and weeks. I encourage you to take advantage of all that our great City neighborhoods have to offer. Also, if you haven't visited the City's new website stlouis-mo.gov (http://stlouis-mo.gov/), I encourage you to do so. On its home page you will find a link to the Calendar of Events. Please feel free to see what activities are coming up and to submit an event that your organization will be holding. See you in the neighborhood!
Juneteenth Celebrations
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. For many years, due to the origin of the celebration, Juneteenth was mainly celebrated in Texas. In recent decades, however, communities across the nation have adopted the holiday. In the City, we have several.
The Neighbors of Fountain Park in collaboration with Centennial Christian Church will host its 5th Annual Juneteenth Community Awareness Celebration on June 17 through June 19 in Fountain Park. Activities will be held on Friday from 4 – 8 p.m., on Saturday from 1 – 8 p.m. and on Sunday a worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the Gospel Explosion Concert will take place from 2:30 – 6 p.m.
Celebrate Juneteenth with Oleta Adams at the Missouri History Museum on June 19 at 2 p.m. For more details, visit www.mohistory.org/
SoHa Studio and Gallery Grand Opening
The SoHa Studio and Gallery will be holding its Grand Opening on Friday, June 17 from 6 – 11 p.m. at 4915 Macklind Avenue in the Southampton neighborhood. View exhibits by Charlie Houska, Carol Carter, Alicia LaChance, Carmelita Nunez, Susanne Paykowski, Jessi Cerutti, Julie Malone and more.
Free Outdoor Movie Downtown
The movie "Rush Hour" will be shown at Old Post Office Plaza, 8th and Locust, on Friday, June 17 beginning at Dusk as part of the Cinema on the Plaza Series. This free movie series is set for every Friday in June. Next week's movie will be "Shaft."
Fatherhood Walk
The 15th Annual Fatherhood Walk/5K Run & Rally will be held this Saturday, June 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Run will begin at 7:30 a.m., the Walk at 8:30 a.m. on the SLU Campus. Booths, festivities and activities will begin at 10 a.m. on the Harris-Stowe State University Campus, Laclede Park at Compton. The rally will begin at Noon. Everyone is invited to spend a fun-filled day that promotes responsible fatherhood by providing support to fathers across the metro area. Questions? Call the Fathers' Support Center, (314) 333-4170 ext. 142.
Resource Fair
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. and Friendly Temple M.B. Church will present the 2011 Resource Fair on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Church located at 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. Activities will include Fair Housing Seminar, Employment Career Resources, and presentations on Financial Education, Home Purchase, Home Retention and Understanding Credit. For more information, call (314) 506-5311.
Walks / Rides
The 2nd Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis Bike Ride in Forest Park will be Sat., June 18 starting at 7 a.m. The event will have five race options. Visit www.rmhcridestl.com ( http://www.rmhcridestl.com/ ) for all the details.
CHIPS Health and Wellness Center will hold its 11th Annual 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Fun Walk and Community Health Festival on Saturday, June 25 beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the center located at 2431 N. Grand Blvd. For more information, call (314) 652-9231 ext. 20.
Breakfast for Bikers
Do you bike to work? If so, then you will want to note that Trailnet's 2011 Breakfast for Bikers Series will occur June through October from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in several locations. Break for coffee with fellow cyclists at the Downtown Bicycle Station, 1011 Locust, the last Friday of every month (June 24, July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 30 and Oct. 28) or at Health Literary Missouri, 325 N. Euclid Avenue in the Central West End, the last Wednesday of every month (June 29, July 27, Aug. 31, Sept. 28 and Oct. 26).
Pride Festival 2011
The annual St. Louis PrideFest celebration will be Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 in Tower Grove Park from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The PrideFest Parade will be on Sunday and will step off at Noon from Grand & Utah. For all the details, visit http://www.pridestl.org/.
Concerts in the Park
The Carondelet Community Betterment Federation, Inc.'s Concerts in the Park Series continues Sunday, June 19 in Carondelet Park, Loughborough & I-55, from 6 – 8 p.m. Enjoy the festive Oom-Pah-Pah sound of the Waterloo German Band. For a listing of all the performances set at participating parks in this concert series, visit http://www.ccbf-inc.org/concernts.html
The Classic Rock group Streetwise is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Monday, June 20 at South St. Louis Square Park, 7700 block of S. Broadway, as part of Carondelet Community Betterment Federation, Inc.'s Concerts in the Park Series.
The group Farshid Etniko is scheduled to perform at the St. Louis Public Library's "Not So Quiet" Concert at Old Post Office Plaza, 8th & Locust, in Downtown St. Louis on Thursday, June 23 from Noon to 1 p.m. The lunchtime concerts will be held every Thursday during June and July. For the line-up of performers, visit http://www.slpl.org/ . Note: If it rains, the show will be canceled.
The next Lindenwood Live Concert in the Park is scheduled for June 26 from 6 – 8 p.m. in Lindenwood Park, Jamieson & Pernod. The concert will feature the Big Band sound of the Italian Community Band. Grab your family, friends, and neighbors, pack a picnic supper and enjoy this great event.
The Ivory Perry Park Concert Series will begin on Sunday, June 26 at 6 p.m. with a performance by Trench Town Rock. For a full Ivory Park concert schedule, visit www.ivoryperrypark.com ( http://www.ivoryperrypark.com/ ).
The Sensational 70's Show
The talented OLStars Theater group from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish will present its cabaret-style musical rendition of "The Sensational 70s Show" on Thursday, June 23; Friday, June 24; and Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. as well as Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m. The production will take place at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Hall, 5050 Rhodes Avenue. Tickets are only $5. You have until June 22 to place your reservations with Connie at 799-1858 (Mon. – Fri.). Otherwise, plan on getting your tickets at the door.
Help Local Storm Victims
Concordia Turners at 6432 Gravois in the Boulevard Heights neighborhood will be holding a Luau on June 25 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The admission fee is $20 and a percentage of all proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Local Storm Victims Fund. Paid admission includes pool, sand volleyball, horseshoes, live music, snacks, beer and soda. Advance Reservations are requested. Call (314) 974-6195. This is an over 21 event only!
City Greens Farmers Markets
Last week I mentioned Farmers Markets that are open on Saturdays. City Greens is open every Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Catholic Charities Midtown Center, 1201 S. Boyle and every Friday from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Catholic Charities Fr. Tolton Center, 1018 Baden Avenue. You can buy fresh, naturally grown produce at reduced prices, support local farmers and much more. To learn more, visit City Greens' website at http://www.ccstl.org/news/440-city-greens-produce-a-farmers-market-with-a-mission.html.
Free City Pools Open Through Aug. 19
City of St. Louis Division of Recreation outdoor pools are open now through Aug. 19 for the 2011 Summer Season. Pool entrance is free to City residents. Pool hours are as follows:
Outdoor Pools
*Chambers, Noon – 6 p.m., 7 days/week
*Fairgrounds, Noon – 6 p.m., 7 days/week
*Marquette, Noon – 7 p.m., 7 days/week
Indoor Pools
*Wohl, Noon – 5 p.m., Mon.-Sat.
*Tandy, Noon – 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
*12th and Park, Noon – 5:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
*Cherokee, Noon – 5 p.m., Mon.-Sat.
Circus Flora
The air-conditioned, red-and-white big top tent has returned to Grand Center for Circus Flora. The 25th season production is "Vagabond Adventures," being performed now through June 26. Ticket prices range from $8 - $44. For more details, visit http://www.circusflora.org/.
Save the Date
July 2 -- Veiled Prophet Parade
July 2 – Uncle Sam's Throwdown in Benton Park
July 4 – Musical Mondays with the Compton Heights Concert Band in Tower Grove Park
July 8, 9 & 10 – Saint Joan of Arc Annual Flea Market – Hampton & Pernod
July 9 – Central West End Literary Bike Tour
NIXLE
The Department of Public Safety's City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) provides free emergency alert service through Nixle (http://www.Nixle.com/). When you register for the service, you will receive our informative and timely text messages on your cell phone and/or as emails on your computer. Visit the Nixle website and sign up for the free service today. If you have any comments about the service, please let me know.
Will you be having an event in your neighborhood that we can support? If so, you may email the information about it to me at brysonc@stlouiscity.com or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouiscity.com for consideration of noting it in the Spotlight or you may post it on the City's Calendar of Events.
And remember, if you see something in the neighborhood that just doesn't look right, REPORT IT!
Charles Bryson
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis
GOV
