Public Safety Director's Spotlight - 2014 Salute to Veterans

2014 Salute to Veterans

Our 31^st Annual Veterans Day Observance will take place this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum, 1315 Chestnut in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  The USAF Band of Mid-America will perform patriotic music beginning at 10 a.m.  The Veterans Day Ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m.  The Veterans Day Parade will step off at Noon from Tucker and Chestnut, proceed west on Chestnut to 14^th, south on 14^th to Market, and west on Market to Union Station at 20^th, where it will disband.  Support and honor our Veterans by stopping by for some or all of the festivities.  Take this opportunity to recognize and remember the men and women who have so proudly served in the military service of our great Nation.  Whether you have been a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, know that your sacrifices and contributions to our national security are greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 7 – Opening Night Premiere of Tennessee Williams' 'Stairs to the Roof,' Boo Cat Club, 8 p.m.

Tennessee Williams, one of the greatest 20^th century American playwrights, lived, worked and studied in St. Louis from 1918-1937.  Williams' play "Stairs to the Roof," which is considered his love letter to the City, will be performed professionally this Friday for the first time since 1947 at the reopening of the former St. Louis Artists Guild, where Williams performed early plays.  The newly renovated Boo Cat Club is located at 812 N. Union in the Academy neighborhood.  The play is a comedy and a love story, with a touch of science fiction, and will run through Nov. 23.  Tickets cost $25.  For all the performance dates and times, visit the boocatclub.com web site or call (314) 224-5521.

Nov. 7 - 9 – Spectrum 2014:  A Festival of Short Plays, Southampton Presbyterian Church, 8 p.m.

First Run Theater will present Spectrum 2014:  A Festival of Short Plays this weekend and next weekend at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind Avenue.  This annual highly success festival of short 10-minute new plays by St. Louis playwrights will feature eight new plays by seven playwrights.  For more information, visit the firstruntheatre.com web site.

Nov. 8 – Annual Warehouse Sale, The Blessing Basket Project Warehouse, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This Saturday, you will have the rare opportunity to buy Blessing Baskets directly from the Blessing Basket Project Warehouse.  This sale occurs just once a year and will feature unique Blessing Baskets designed exclusively for this event.  Start your holiday shopping early by picking up a few baskets as gifts for teachers, family members, and friends.  The warehouse is located at 5234 Oakland Avenue.  For more information, visit http://blessingbasket.org/.

Nov. 8 – Potential Neighborhood Greenway Route Walk, beginning at De La Salle Middle School, 10 a.m. to Noon

Everyone is invited to walk a potential neighborhood route this Saturday and hear next steps for making neighborhood greenways a reality in The Ville and throughout the City.  Join Trailnet and the Ville Collaborative this Saturday at 10 a.m. at De La Salle Middle School, 4145 Kennerly Avenue.  For more information, contact Ramona@trailnet.org or call (314) 201-1519.

Nov. 8 – LPUMC Turkey Dinner and Bazaar, Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, Noon to 7 p.m.

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church will hold its annual Turkey Dinner and Bazaar this Saturday from Noon to 7 p.m. at 2300 Lafayette Avenue.  Tickets for children under 12 are $2.50.  Adult tickets are $8.  For carry-outs, call (314) 773-1246.

Nov. 8 – Vendor Fair, New Covenant Methodis tChurch, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Everyone is invited to come shop the Vendor Fair this Saturday at New Covenant Methodist Church, 900 Bellerive Boulevard in the Carondelet neighborhood, near Grand and Bates and Carondelet Park.  The doors will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the fair will include a large variety of vendors with a diversity of products.  Find that something special for yourself or as a gift  .Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Nov. 8 – Scott Joplin & W.C. Handy Birthday Party, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, 2 p.m.

Celebrate ragtime and early blues with The Ragged Blade Band in Old North St. Louis this Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.  No one is sure of the date when Scott Joplin was born, but W.C. Handy was born in November, so what better time to celebrate both of these great composers and their contemporaries.  Old North Restoration HQ is located at 2700 N. 14^th Street.  For more details about the party, visit the onsl.org web site.

Nov. 9 – Annual TurkeyFest, St. Vincent DePaul Parish, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Come one, come all for good food and great fun this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Vincent DePaul Parish's Annual TurkeyFest.  Visitors will be able to enjoy a delicious turkey dinner ($10 for adults and $6 for children), buy raffle tickets and do some holiday shopping at the Christmas Corner.  St. Vincent's is located at 1408 South 10^th Street in the LaSalle neighborhood.  For more information, go to www.stvstl.org/.

Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Patriotic Concert, Old Courthouse, Noon to 1 p.m.

Stop by the Old Courthouse on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for a special noon-hour patriotic concert by the St. Louis Metropolitan Ensemble in honor of the 250^th birthday of St. Louis and all the veterans who have served our country.  Sponsored by the Musicians Association of St. Louis, the concert will include patriotic music, show tunes, and St. Louis-related songs.  For more information, call (877) 982-1410.

Nov. 13 – 23 – 23^rd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival, various venues and times

The annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival is one of the largest international film festivals in the Midwest, and it will be held Nov. 13 through Nov. 23 this year.  The festival will open at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Boulevard, with the locally filmed "The Makings of You," written and directed by St. Louis' Matt Amato.  Other venues include Stage at KDHX, Centene Center for A&E, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Missouri History Museum, Nine Network, Saint Louis Art Museum, and Saint Louis University, to name but a few.  For ticket information and the day-by-day schedule of screenings and events, visit http://www.cinemastlouis.org/ .

Save the Date

Nov. 15 – Czech Fall Festival, American Czech Educational Center, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 16 – Thanksgiving Concert, Second Presbyterian Church, 4 to 5 p.m.

Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities

Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight?  If so, you may email the information about it to me at GrayR@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration.  You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site:  http://stlouis-mo.gov.  The link to submit an event is at the very bottom of the home page.  The listing is free.  I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

Calling All St. Louis Students Age 12 and Under

City children ages 12 and under are invited to submit a design to be used on Mayor Francis G. Slay's 2014 holiday cards.  Show your artistic take on capturing the feeling of the holiday spirit in the City of St. Louis.  Designs should be original and appropriate for all religions, no larger than 8 ½" x 11" and created with crayon, water colors, paints, pencil, ink, markers, or colored pencil.  Artwork must be received in the Mayor's Office no later than Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, for consideration in the contest.  Entrants should include their name, address, phone number, school, grade, and age.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis