I hope that you are doing well. As George Gershwin wrote, Summertime, and the livin' is easy. Easy might be a bit overstated as we are working hard to help our clients achieve their real estate goals this summer. However, it is easy to do what we love, in both work and play. Speaking of play, there are some amazing things going on in our beloved St. Louis this month, as always. Of course, I have a few suggestions for you to go out and make it a memorable month. I hope that you will join me!
July 1-8th
Start off your month of July with a visit to The Munywherethey are showing only the best of the best for their 100th year anniversary. All week long, they will be doing their rendition of Singin’ in the Rain, a classic comedy/romance that is well known for its flashy singing and dancing numbers.
The most explosive US holiday is finally here and our city has provided us with plenty of options to choose from for celebrating on the 4th. You could begin the day at America’s Birthday Parade which begins at the Kiener Plaza at 9:30 AM. There will be 17 different floats, a lot of huge inflated characters, and 12 school bands that will compete in the Liberty Drum Challenge.
You might not know, but my family has a goal to get to all of the national parks. With the addition of the Arch, there are now 60 National Parks! St. Louis will be having the Gateway Arch National Park Grand Opening for the new museum this week!
O’Fallon, Missouri will be hosting the Heritage and Freedom Fest from the 3rd to the 4th which will feature a parade of their own but it has the same starting time as STL’s America’s Birthday Parade so you’ll have to choose between the two. After the parade you could wander the festival grounds to either partake in the carnival rides or maybe listen to the live music provided by several bands includingDaughtry.
Of course, we also have the St. Louis First Friday events at both the Contemporary Art Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center. At the CAM you can expect DJ 18andCounting on the turntables to provide some nice background music while you have a few drinks and look at all of the art pieces. At the SLSC each month has a different theme for their First Friday events and this Friday’s theme is Star Trek. There will be lots of hands-on activities followed by a screening of the movie Star Trek.
If that’s not your flavor, you could drop by the Missouri Botanical Garden for their summer exhibit Garden of Glass Evenings by Craig Mitchell Smith. This work of art is said to be one of the largest glass blown exhibits out there. Did I mention there will be drinks, food, and live music?
If you haven’t had a chance to check out Jungle Boogie at the Saint Louis Zoo this Friday their band of the night Retro Boogie may persuade you to give it a shot. The talented sisters, Roz Moore & Bev Boyd, play music from way back when to present day top hits!
On Saturday drop by the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum for the Baseball: America’s Game, Art and Objects. I am sure you have heard of St. Louis referred to as a “baseball town” before. In an articlefrom NBC Sports, AuthorCraig Calcaterra, while comparing different cities with MLB teams, referred to St. Louis as “maybe the most ‘baseball town’ of them all.” Baseball plays a heavy part in the history of our city and this exhibit will give you some insight on how.
Later on Saturday, I hope to make it down to Afrosexycool Summer Edition at The Ready Room to check out James Biko FKA DJ Nappy Needles for inspired art, and dancing.
If I plan it right, I’ll be at RDKE later to join DJ Agile One and her tribute to the 25th anniversary of Bjork’sdebut album. Since you asked, my favorite song from the album is Venus as a Boy. It’s an amazing song. Of course this wasn’t the debut of Bjork, as she was lead singer of the Sugarcubes for nearly ten years before.
I won’t make it to see Evanescence & Lindsey Stirling as they will be taking the stage at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater on Saturday night at 7 PM. Bring Me To Life by Evanescence is nice and Crystallize is an incredible song by the violinist Lindsey Stirling. This will be the 2nd year in a row that she has come and I will miss her. Perhaps the third time next year will be the charm.
Also on Saturday, the John Butler Trio will be jamming out on Saturday night as well starting at 8 PM at The Pageant. JB is an Australian native with past sold out tours and number one albums back in Australia.
You can get the best view of the Fair Saint Louis fireworks show from the Riverboat Fireworks Cruise on the Mississippi River! The cruise boards at 7 PM and returns to the dock at 9 PM for the 30 minute fireworks show. There will be a buffet dinner with your choice of beef or chicken and an assortment of veggies to choose from. Tickets will be going quickly so make sure to get yours as soon as you can!
After a long week of 4th of July celebrations you could make your way to Brunchin’ at The Dark Room on Sunday at The Grandel. They serve brunch from 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM but the live music plays from 11 AM - 1:30 PM.
I almost forget to mention to head to Collinsville for the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival! There will be games, prizes, and of course...ketchup tasting.
Thursday the 12th marks the start of the Ste. Genevieve County Fair which runs until Sunday the 15th. There will be a parade, demolition derby, a volleyball tournament and of course it wouldn’t be a real fair without live music every night as well. Additionally there is going to be good food and drinks along with kids rides and arcade games. Sounds like there should be something for the whole family!
The second Friday of each month Tower Grove Park hosts Sauce Magazine’s Food Truck Friday. This event will have over 20 different food trucks and lots of beer and wine to drink as well. Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs so you can eat, drink, and enjoy the live music entertainment.
Historic Downtown Maplewood will be hosting their 13th Annual Let Them Eat Artevent on Friday the 13th. They do not consider this an art fair, but instead a celebration of making and enjoying art. There will be good eats and drinks provided by local award winning restaurants from the Maplewood area.
The City of Des Peres is hosting a free summer concert on the second Friday of June, July, and August. The “Hot Summer Nights, Cool Summer Sounds” concert series will be held in Des Peres Park from 7 PM - 9:30 PM and will feature theMidnight Piano Band. There will be a concession stand but feel free to bring your own food and drinks.
Downtown Kirkwood is having their Peach Festivalduring their Kirkwood Farmer’s Market on Saturday the 14th. The Farmer’s Market opens at 8 AM but the Best Tasting Peach Contest starts at 10 AM and ends at 11 AM. There will be live music from the Maple Jam Band from 10 AM - 12 PM along with free samples. Get out there and test your peach tasting expertise!
How are your wilderness survival skills? If you think you could work on them than you may want to stop by the HealthWorks! Wilderness Day! on Saturday. You’ll learn what is safe to eat and what plant life is poisonous. You will also be taught what to do in emergency situations, for example, getting bit by a snake! It never hurts to be prepared for anything.
It's an honor to serve on the Board for Trailnet, whose mission is to make biking, walking and public transportation a way of life. We are hosting our 4th installment of the Meet, Bike, & Drink series on Saturday. Visit Trailnet for more ride info and learn other ways that this great organization is helping St. Louis get to the next level!
The Show Me Reptile & Exotics Show is going down at the District 9 Machinist Hall in St. Charles on Sunday. This is event is not only focused on educating you on different reptiles or exotics but it’s also a place to purchase them! There will be experts and breeders there to answer any questions you may have. Kids 12 and under have free admission so make sure to bring the kids!
July 20th-26th
Every third friday of the month the Magic House in Kirkwood hosts the Emerson Free Family Night. Families with a max of two adults and four children can peruse the 100 or more hands-on exhibits completely for free! If you’re looking to save a buck or two while keeping the kids engaged this is the perfect stop for you.
If you haven’t seen the movie Hidden Figures the Saint Louis Art Museum is providing you the opportunity free of charge at the Art Hill Film Series on Saturday starting at 6 PM but the movie doesn’t start until 9PM! You may bring your own food and beverages as well as your pets if you’d like because this is a pet-friendly event. There will be food trucks and booths for drinks as well if you don’t feel like lugging around cooler.
Mud Mania is happening at Queeny Park on Friday and Saturday with 6 different time blocks to use the mud obstacle course. This event is for kids 5-15 that like to get their hands dirty and admission is $10 a person. For those who don’t like getting all messy there will be other activities provided as well!
Saturday the 21st is the anniversary for the return of the Apollo 11 mission back in 1969. The Saint Louis Science Center will be hosting SciFest: One Giant Leap, an event specifically focused on the technologies used for space travel. There will also be local experts on aviation, aerospace, and planetary science to answer any questions you may have.
Don’t miss the Gateway Jazz Festival at the Chesterfield Amphitheater starting at 12 PM Saturday afternoon. This is an outdoor event with plenty of food and drinks to go around. You may also bring a small cooler of drinks as long as they are non-alcoholic. Make for a day of smooth jazz and good conversation.
Busch Stadium will be welcoming country legend Kenny Chesney on Saturday the 21st. This guy knows how to entertain a crowd and he sounds great live as well. Tickets are going up everyday so I would advise getting them as soon as you can before they completely sell out.
For Sunday you may want to catch the last day of the Whitaker St. LouisFilmmakers Showcase at Washington University. All entries in the showcase will be created by St. Louis locals who are pursuing a career in film. There will be a variety of different film types and Q&A’s to follow directly after each showing.
If you still haven’t had a chance to see the Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worldsexhibit at the Saint Louis Art Museum you should make it a point to. The SLAM hasn’t had an egyptian exhibit of this size in over 50 years. Some of these discoveries have only been made in the last 7 years so all the information is relatively new.
The Cardboard Catamaran Cup is on Sunday at the The Lodge Des Peresbeginning at 6 PM. Participants are to make a boat completely out of cardboard and duct tape. They then race their boats across the outdoor pool in a single-elimination style race. There will be prizes for the top 3 contenders and it will be completely free for spectators to enjoy.
Don't forget to shop at Whole Foods Market on Thursday , the 26th as Trailnet has been selected for their 5% Day Community Support program. Shop at any of the three locations Brentwood, CWE, and Town & Country and Whole Foods will donate of 5% of your total purchase to Trailnet.
July 27th-29th
The classic Cardinals/Cubs rivalry continues as we take on Chicago this weekend. This friendly competition never gets old and always makes for a great series. If you haven’t been to a game yet this season, this would be the series to attend.
COCA will be presenting the classic broadway hit West Side Story on Friday and Saturday the 27th and 28th. This will be taking place at the Edison Theater at Washington University and tickets are going on sale for $14-18. The COCA Summer Musical is said to showcase some of St. Louis’ “triple-threat” performers.
Eckert’s is hosting Food Truck on the Farm on Friday the 27th from 6 PM - 9 PM. There will be awesome options for food and dessert trucks as well as a fashion truck for anyone who is interested in doing a little shopping. I also have to mention there will also be live music in the background while you enjoy yourselves relaxing on the farm.
You can still Golf the Galleries at the Sheldon Art Galleries on Friday if you haven’t given it a shot. This is a unique spin on mini golf and the best part is it’s inside with air conditioning! On Friday the tee times will run from 12 PM - 8 PM and it costs $10 for adults and $6 for children.
The Loading Dock is hosting the Riverside Flea Market, which is considered to be one of the largest one’s in the region. It is said to be something of a gold mine of a wide variety of antiques and collectibles. This is always held on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of the month from April through October so if you can’t make it you’ll thankfully get plenty more chances.
You could also take the family to the Heritage Days Show in Greenville, IL at theAmerican Farm Heritage Museum. There will be antique farming equipment and stations teaching you how they used to get things done around a farm before modern day farming. Additionally, they will have a flea market, live music, and food and drinks for everyone.
Everybody loves Elton John and lucky for us Dogs of Society are putting on aTribute to Elton John on Saturday the 28th. This is happening at the Chesterfield Amphitheater, one of the area’s best outdoor venues. Doors open at 6 PM and make sure to get there early enough to get a good spot on the lawn because this one is expected to fill up fast!
Don’t miss Beer Geek Fest on Sunday the 29th at theCraft Beer Cellar. This event is free to enter so take advantage of the opportunity to sample dozens of delicious locally brewed beer along with a few special one-off beers exclusive to the event. It kicks off at 12 PM and runs until 6 PM so make sure to pace yourself to make a day of it!
Yes, another great month in St. Louis! Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.
All the best. -Nate
Nate K. Johnson ABR,CIPS,CRS,GRI,SRES Real Estate Solutions Group Redkey Realty Leaders 314-575-7352 Direct 314-514-9600 Office nate@livingstl.com www.livingstl.com
