I hope that you are doing well. What a great month we have ahead of us! There is so much going on in St. Louis, that I am only saddened by the fact that I can only be in one place at a time. If you are looking for something to do, I have a few suggestions for you. Hopefully, you will join me at some of these great events in our great city!
July 1- July 5
If you miss the pet parade at the Webster Groves Community Days celebration last night, you might want to head over there tonight to check out some of the carnival rides and BBQ. Also tonight, you can head over to Blank Space on Cherokee Street for Rumpshaker, a boogie, disco, & funk dance party with DJ Boogieman.
On Friday evening, join me at the Grand Center Theatre Crawl, for a "tasting menu" of the best theatre in St. Louis! We will stroll to several Grand Center venues for 9 short performances by some of the best St. Louis theatre companies, for free! You could also check out the Contemporary Art Museum for their First Friday event, where you can have a drink while enjoying music from the live DJ while taking a tour of the current exhibition. Afterwards, join me in checking out the Fair St. Louis fireworks display in Forest Park .
Of course Saturday is Independence Day and in addition to Fair St. Louis and the floats, giant balloons, and the battle of the marching bands at the VP Parade in Forest Park, you might want to check out Ferguson Family Fun Fest , the Kirkwood Freedom Festival ,or the JB Blast at Jefferson Barracks. The St. Charles RiverFest will also have a carnival- complete with games, rides, craft vendors, and more at Frontier Park in the heart of Historic St. Charles. For live music on Saturday, The O'Fallon Heritage and Freedom Festival will feature Tonic, SmashMouth and Toad the Wet Sprocket while Tony! Toni! Tone’!, Kool & The Gang, and Morris Day & The Time will bless the stage at Fair St. Louis. No matter what you decide to do this weekend, make sure you celebrate The Fourth of July with family, friends, and fireworks!
On Sunday morning, you can head over to the Cafe Flora Brunch at the Missouri Botanical Gardens ,in the Spink Pavilion overlooking the Garden’s central reflecting pools. Later that afternoon, you can join me at The Day Party STL in Midtown, and 4Play The Day Experience in the CWE. Two great opportunities to kick it in the middle of the day, like it’s the middle of the night. Afterwards, you might find me at down at Ballpark Village watching the Women’s World Cup Final as USA takes on Japan! Also on Sunday night, the outdoor Brookings Quadrangle space at Washington University will host the Gateway Festival Orchestra St. Louis and their “Red, White, and Blues” concert featuring Charlie Brennan and clarinet soloist Emerson Shultz.
July 6- July 12
On Monday, complete your application, or invite someone else to participate in Blog Out Loud, which is a TED talk / poetry slam style forum presented by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of St. Louis for the nonprofit groundbreakers of tomorrow to have their voices heard. This coming Wednesday, the 8th, the Streets of St. Charles will be booming with excitement as Streetsfest will be in full effect! Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the live music, dancing, and fun! Also on Wednesday, you can join me at The Missouri Botanical Garden for the Whitaker Music Festival! This week, one of my favorites, the Erin Bode Group will be blessing the stage. Food and drinks are available to purchase, or bring your own picnic and enjoy this FREE concert with me!
s an event for anyone to tell their story, speak their mind and start a conversation. Let their voice be heard, their thoughts take shape and allow their vision to influence others.
On Thursday, the Contemporary Art Museum will be host to the Internet Cat Video Festival. While you are in Grand Center, you might want to learn how to do some African Dance & Drumming with Chief Bokulaka from Congo at the Kranzberg Arts Center. Later on Thursday, you can check out the R & B vocal styling of Jill Scott who will be on stage with Common at the Peabody Opera house . If you are in the mood for some comedy, Wyatt Cenac, who you may remember from The Daily Show, or the underrated movie Medicine for Melancholy, will be performing at the Firebird.
On Friday, the Let Them Eat Art Fair, a whimsy Bastille Day will be in Downtown Maplewood and will feature live music, live art demonstrations, and a parade featuring some of the “STL 250 cakes” that you can find all around the city! Also on Friday St. Louis’ own The Urge will be performing at BallPark Village, featuring their hits “Jump Right In” and “Closer”! Another event you can enjoy on Friday is the STL Summer Fest block party at the MX District on Washington Ave. There will be St. Louis vendors, street performers, live music, and cocktails! Afterwards, you can head over to The St. Louis Art Museum for their Outdoor FIlm Series on Art Hill. Come down as early as you want to claim your spot, bring a picnic and there will also be food trucks, music, and the movie, Back to the Future will start at 9PM.
On Saturday morning, join Trailnet, in partnership with Jazz St. Louis for a Jazz History Bicycle Tour! If you would rather walk, perhaps you’ll enjoy the Downtown Architectural Walking Tour which will start at the Old Courthouse in Downtown St. Louis. Afterwards, grab the kids, your swimsuit, an inner tube and head downtown to Slide the City where there will there will be 1000ft … yes I said a 1000ft SLIP & SLIDE in Downtown St. Louis! Saturday night, check out the Union Avenue Opera for their rendition of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, or check out the last regular season home game for The St. Louis Surge, our National Championship winning Women’s Pro Basketball Team. Afterwards, check out Erykah Badu as she DJ’s and sings as Loretta Brown at the opening of Lux in Midtown.
On Sunday afternoon, the Stone Hill Winery will provide Cajun food, drinks, dancing, and music that will make you feel like you’re right on the Louisiana bayou at their Cajun Concert on the Hill. You might also want to check out the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival and Car Show in Collinsville, IL. The Sweet Celebrations Ice Cream Social charity event will also be taking place in Maryland Heights. On Sunday night, you can join me and the rest of the Funkateers at the the District Rhythm Series featuring George Clinton at Fox Sports Midwest Live !
July 13- July 19
Starting on Monday and continuing through Friday, you will be able to enjoy the Clayton Restaurant Week! if you’ve didn’t go last year this event features a summer menu and patio dining. There will be 16 different restaurants offering a three course dinner promotion for only $25 per person! The First Annual Bastille Week Celebration kicks off this week on Tuesday and continues through Sunday at the Vin De Set Rooftop Bar and Bistro ! They will host different events showcasing French cuisine in celebration of France’s Independence Day. On Wednesday July 15, The Missouri Botanical Garden will host the Whitaker Music Festival, where Loot Rock Gang will be performing their rendition of blues, country, jazz, and rock n’ roll. The St. Louis Public Library is the place to be on Thursday as they will be hosting the NOT SO QUIET! Concert Series where they will be giving tribute to Green Day!
On Friday July 17, join me in experiencing multiple artists perform their versions of jazz and blues during the Music at The Intersection Festival at Grand Center. It is a free concert that offers beer tents, street art, food, and drinks! Definitely something you won’t want to miss! Also on Friday, Jungle Boogie will continue at the St. Louis Zoo. Griffin and the Gargoyles will be performing the Top 40 hits, so be sure to bring the kids for this outdoor party! Also Son Lux with Landlady will be performing at The Luminary
Saturday July 18, Jawbone will be performing at BallPark Village. Get ready for a female dominated band performing everything from Janis Joplin to Vanilla Ice to Bruno Mars. Also on Saturday afternoon you can meet over at The Handlebar Lounge in The Grove for the World Naked Bike Ride.
On Sunday afternoon, you can join me and the babies as we head over to SweetArt in the Shaw Neighborhood for the OnSite Theatre Company’s performance of The Runaway Cupcake: A Play About Eating or Families Who Eat.
July 20- July 26
On Tuesday, The Muny opens their new play Into The Woods, a musical that combines the plots of familiar fairy tales like Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella. Alternatively, the St. Louis Zoo and Macy’s are hosting Jammin’ at the Zoo, a summer lakeside party for all ages.
On Wednesday, the Maplewood Summer Concert Series will host The Jeremiah Johnson Band at the Ryan Hummert Park from 6-8pm. Also on Wednesday, World Chess Hall of Fame will have Tommy Halloran, Randy Newman, and Guerrila Swing all perform and pay homage to jazz with their vintage musical stylings.
Thursday, the University of Missouri- St. Louis and the Junior Chamber International will hold The Search For Human Dignity in The 21st Century, an event to provide insight on achieving social equality in St. Louis. There will be over 16 key-note speakers and an expert panel to discuss different topics and hopefully come to a solution to make our city better! It will be an educational experience where you can contribute in making a difference! Also on Thursday The Salvation Army will be hosting their4th Annual Garbage Bag Gala, where St. Louis designers have the opportunity to showcase their skills by creating fashion using recycled goods like trashbags and duct tape.
On Friday, you might want to join Dance St. Louis as they welcome Move: Live Tour at The Fox Theatre Also, Cbabi Bayoc opens his “CBABI: Do You exhibit at the SoHa Studio and Gallery. If you are looking for some more art, The Atrium Gallery is also having an opening for their summer show Works on Paper.
On Saturday, you might want to take the kids off to Grant’s Farm for a fun and educational time. Of course, The St. Louis Zoo has opened the StingRay Exhibit at Caribbean Cove, where the kids can learn and pet the stingrays as they swim in the water, make sure to catch the new Sea Lion show too! As part of their Occupational Therapy exhibit, The Contemporary Art Museum is presenting Sanatorium where there will be an experimental couples role playing exercise to determine compatibility.
On Sunday, you can check out the 3rd Annual Labute New Theater Festival over atThe Gaslight Theater. Later on Sunday, you can head over to Foam for their Sunday Spoken Word Series.
July 27- July 31
On Tuesday The Carondelet Concert Series will be held at Fanetti Park and
Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will grace the stage with their “ Swingin’ Hot Jazz”. On Wednesday, the talented actors of The Muny will open their performance of Beauty and The Beast. A musical version of the Disney classic, where a handsome Prince is cursed and turned into a hideous beast. On Thursday, you can check out Love Jones “The Band” down at BB’s Jazz Blues & Soups.
On Friday, the hills will be alive at the St. Louis Art Museum Outdoor Film Series as they will be playing the Sound of Music in Forest Park on Art Hill. You can head over to the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum for their 4th annual Contemporary Night Out . Also on Friday, STL Live on Washington will feature live music on Washington Ave. in Downtown St. Louis!
Yes, another beautiful month of things to do in St. Louis. It only gets better in August as The Festival of Nations and the St. Louis World’s Fare will be in full swing. Until then, please don’t hesitate to let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.
All the best. -Nate
