A Few Things to Do In The Lou - September 2018

I hope that you are doing well.

September is the month that we bid farewell to summer until next year. The kids are back in school and it's a great month to refocus! As Nora Ephron said, I'd love to send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.

September also means that in St. Louis, we will begin to get a taste of our amazing fall festivals. I'm looking forward to seeing you at them!

As usual, I have a few suggestions for you to get out and enjoy this great month in St. Louis. In fact, I have something for everyday of the month! You can find my weekly video update on Facebook and on my livingstl website. I can't wait to enjoy this special month with you.

If you are looking for something to do tonight, perhaps you can stop by the Atomic Cowboy to see the soulful styling of Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Also tonight, because it is the last Friday of the month, the St. Louis Art Museum hosts their SLAM Underground event from 7pm to 9pm. You can explore the mysteries of Osiris in celebration of the Sunken Cities exhibit with art, music by DJ MAKossa, and frozen signature cocktails!

For even more artistic inspiration, the Art Fair at Queeny Park will be at the Greensfelder Recreation Center starting tonight, and it goes all weekend long! You'll have an opportunity to see and purchase original works of fine art and fine craft directly from the artists who create them.

You might find me at the free concert tonight featuring Big George Brock, Barbara Carr, and Edwards, Case, & Erblich as they kick off the 23rd year of the Big Muddy Blues Festival which will be at Laclede's Landing all weekend.

Tomorrow, aka, Saturday, The 34th Edition of the Gateway Cup bike race will take place in four amazing St. Louis neighborhoods all weekend long. You can watch five to six races each day. Go and cheer on the participants in this inspiring competition.

For their 23rd year, the Big Muddy Blues Festival will be at Laclede's Landing this Labor Day weekend celebrating the rich St. Louis history of "the Blues". The Big Muddy Blues Festival provides a platform for our work-class musicians representing a wide range of blues music.

Saturday is the official opening of the Annual Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden which presents taiko drumming, bon odori festival dancing, martial arts, candlelight walks in the Japanese Garden. This opportunity is great for people of all ages and is the perfect excuse to take a stroll through the garden.

Me and the girls will definitely be enjoying a gyro at the 101st Annual St. Louis Greek Festival on Friday at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the Central West End. Experience Greece through food, live music by Christos Sarantakis, folk dances by the St. Nicholas Greek Dancers, and a visit to the gift shop where you can find unique items imported from Athens.

Stop by Soulard on Saturday for an afternoon jam session with Odds Lane on the stage at Molly’s from 2pm to 4pm. These rising local musicians play a mix of originals and favorites and they will certainly add flavor to your Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Canyon Boys came all the way from Colorado to be apart of the “Summer of Love” concert at Das Biergarten at Das Bevo. Das Bevo requests that you come for a brew and spread the love.

Start your Sunday off with fresh produce and hand-crafted items from the Boulevard’s Farmers’ Market, in partnership with Tower Grove Farmers’ Market. You can sample delicious food and enjoy live music, all while supporting local businesses!

On Sunday, consider stopping by the Art & Soul Live Exhibit at .ZACK. This experience is a fusion of art, music, and creativity and features three levels of live bands/entertainment, live painters, and interactive games. What a great way to add a splash of color to your Sunday night.

Also on Sunday, we have two open houses for you to check out. One of them is in the Gate District in St. Louis City at 2707 St. Vincent. The other is a great custom built home with cathedral ceilings in St Charles at 897 Natchez.

Hit up Evangeline’s this Sunday for brunch and tap your foot to the rhythms of Miss Jubilee who brings the sounds of the 1920s’ and 1930s’. This is a guaranteed great way to start your Sunday morning.

Labor Day Monday is WayBack Pointfest featuring 311 and the Offspring. You can spend you day off at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre rocking out to amazing bands like Gym Class Heroes and Buckcherry.

If you think you have the chops or just want to watch the show, stop by the Comedy Shipwreck Open Mic Night on Monday at the Heavy Anchor. Step up and try your hand at joke telling and find out if your stand-up game is up to par, or watch as others test their fate. Regardless, it is sure to be a night full of laughs.

Tuesday brings the Dog Days of Summer at the Lodge Outdoor Pool in Des Peres. Your pup can take a dip in the pool and share yummy dog treats with new furry friends. Proceeds from the event go to support the Animal Protective Association of Missouri to help more animals find their forever home.

On Wednesday, Evita will be showing at the Rep Theatre St. Louis. The incandescent Eva Perón’s rise from poverty to power electrified the world—and made her an iconic political celebrity. Winner of seven Tony Awards, this musical revels in the glamour, charisma and controversy that defined the First Lady of Argentina and will definitely be an exciting show.

Thursday night is all about Jazz Night with the Vince Sala Trio at Pat Connolly Tavern. Enjoy live jazz music with discounts on whisky and wine.

Boy George and the Culture Club take the stage on Thursday at the Fabulous Fox where you can enjoy their celebration of their biggest hits and get the chance to hear their newest songs, the first in 20 years. They share the stage with the B-52s and the Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey.

September 7th-13th

Hit the theatre this Friday night to see OKLAHOMA! at the Robert G Reim Theatre. OKLAHOMA! completely changed the face of American musical theatre over 70 years ago, and remains as fresh and vital today as it was then. A stunning blend of drama, music, and dance, this show will surely impress.

Stop by the Contemporary Art Museum for their opening of CAM’s fall exhibitions featuring Basquiat Before Basquiat: East 12th Street, 1979–1980, an intimate study of Jean-Michel Basquiat's early artistic life; Sanford Biggers's BAM series, which memorializes black victims of gun violence in America; SUPERFLEX: European Union Mayotte, the US premiere of a video installation that explores human migration; William Downs: Sometimes it hurts, a site-specific drawing on CAM's Project Wall; and Jennifer West: Emoji Piss Film, a deconstruction of the language of emoji projected on the museum's facade.

If you are looking to experiment with the delicious offerings of St. Louis, Food Truck Fest 2018 is where you need to be this Friday. Hosted at Laumeier Sculpture Park, this event includes free live music by the Facts O’Life and will feature numerous food truck favorites like Edg-Clif Winery, STL French Quarter Food Truck, MyBigFatGreekTruck, Sarah’s Cake Stop, and more.

Another great jazz experience will be at Evangeline’s on Friday, where you can see the Cary Colman Jazz Trio. Enjoy a nice dinner with a great show that will leave you dancing the night away.

On Saturday, the Hazelwood Harvestfest will be hosted at Howdershell Park. You can join in on the horseshoe tournaments, watch the Miss Hazelwood Coronation, enjoy free bingo, exciting activities throughout the day, and musical entertainment from FatPocket from 2pm to 6pm.

For a little rock/folk fusion, head to Picasso’s Coffeehouse in St. Charles on Saturday to see Tom Nugent and Nick Stika play the stage. Grab a delicious coffee and enjoy the sounds.

Join me at the St. Louis Art Fair to support independent artists, hear performances by amazing artists like the Jeremiah Johnson Band, the Wilhelms, and more, and experience many other fun activities.

It almost that time of the year and it is time for Fall Fest! Celebrate the early arrival of Fall by listening to great live bluegrass music and shopping at booths brimming with house and garden specialties, jewelry, clothing and accessories, fall and holiday decorations, original art, trendy crafts, and delicious festival-style food and beverages.

If you have a mega sweet tooth, stop by the Show Me Sweets Edible Art Show on Saturday. This expo brings the excitement and fun of a cake, cookie and candy expo to Missouri! This two-day event includes as-seen-on TV celebrity cake artist, edible-art demonstrations and competitions, hands-on learning classes, booths with local and worldwide industry vendors and suppliers, Live Cake Battles, Sweet Taste competition, a photo booth and much more!

Sunday Funday means that you can see Metro the Magician’s show “Twisted Reality” at the Monocle, which combines the theatrics of magic and circus sideshows in a show that will have you on the edge of your seat. This show blurs the lines between reality and magic and includes illusions, close-up magic, juggling, and dangerous stunts.

The Soulard Blues Band will be lighting up the stage on Monday at the Broadway Oyster Bar. This award winning band will bring their superbly balanced songs that will have you fading into the city’s rich blues history.

On Tuesday, Greg Laswell performs at the Old Rock House. Greg Laswell is an impressive songwriter, bringing his indie/folk soul to the St. Louis. His music has been featured in numerous movies and tv shows such as My Sister’s Keeper and Grey’s Anatomy. He will surely bring emotion and soul to the stage.

If the week is dragging and you need a little relaxation to make it to Friday, take a break at Olivia on the Hill with their Wine Down Wednesdays. From 5pm to 10pm you can enjoy a drink on the pergola-covered courtyard with food provided by Catering St. Louis Events.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will be performing on Wednesday at Art Hill in Forest Park. You can stay can even stay afterwards for an impressive firework display.

On Thursday, Mango Peruvian Cuisine will offer “Summer In Peru”, a Pisco pairing dinner. Join them for a delightful evening and experience a vibrant five course dinner paired with Peru-inspired libations.

September 14th-20th

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race starts this Friday with the Balloon Glow. On Saturday, you can participate in the numerous festivities at the Balloon Race

Big Sam's Funky Nation performs at the Old Rock House on Friday. Big Sam’s Funky Nation is a high-energy mix of funk, rock & roll, hip-hop, and jazz melded together with brassy elements. Big Sam, the frontman, brings a lot of charisma to the stage and he will have you dancing the night away.

Cedar Lake Cellars will host Boots, Blue Jeans & Boogie on Friday. The evening will feature a DJ and country line dancing with prizes for the evening’s best Western wear. Cedar Lake Cellars’ The Smokehouse also offers a wide selection of barbecue sandwiches and side dishes. Come dressed up and ready to hit the dance floor.

The 14th annual award-winning Taste of St. Louis takes place Sept 14-16, 2018 at the Chesterfield Amphitheater. We are a regional event with patrons, restaurants, chefs and vendors coming from all over the St. Louis area and beyond. The event is free to attend and showcases 30 of the region's best eateries on Synergy Wealth Solutions' Restaurant Row, the Stella Artois Chef Battle Royale culinary competition, free music concerts, regional artists, kids area, The Market with local vendors, sampling and more.

On Friday, join the Radio Arts Foundation at the Butterfly House in Faust Park for an evening of fine wine and jazz under the stars, featuring live entertainment by Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers. The evening includes wine, soft drinks and appetizers plus a raffle for items and gift certificates from local businesses and organizations like the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Schlafly HOP in the City is on this Saturday. HOP will showcase 40+ styles and 6 specialty tappings, all while listening to live local music and enjoying a special menu of festival fare from their brewpubs.

On Saturday, Dance St. Louis kicks off the season with a presentation from Wewolf, an internationally renowned LA-based dance company who fuse together their extensive backgrounds in hip-hop, threading, breakdancing, contortion, and contemporary dance. Stop and see dance like you've never seen before!

The Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival is the place to be for non-stop jazz and blues from their two stages. This event will showcase St. Louis' most talented performers plus amazing food and drinks from local restaurants. Street entertainers will be about to amuse you with face-painting, juggling, and balloons.

On Saturday, you are invited to enjoy free rides on the steam and diesel trains in Kircher Park, Eureka, Mo. Steam trains will run from 11:30 am until 3:30 pm and it will surely be a memorable experience for kids and adults of all ages.

The 2nd Annual OxFest Music Festival is Saturday at the Washington City Park Fairgrounds, featuring five bands including headliner FAT POCKET, and local favorites Tall Poppies, Burnt Whiskey, Mack's Creek and the Medicine Men. OxFest benefits the Duane Haddox Scholarship at St Francis Borgia High School, Whole Kids Outreach, and WINGS Educational Foundation. Grab your lawn chairs and find a great seat for this event.

South Grand Fall Fest returns to St. Louis on Saturday. During South Grand Fall Fest, businesses located on the boulevard will offer varying specials, discounts and entertainment. Craft activities will feature hands-on DIY activities from art experts like Artscope and Tower Grove East Prep Academy. Games will include outdoor favorites for attendees of all ages such as gigantic Jenga, life-sized Connect Four, jumbo Tic-Tac-Toe and more. There will even be live music from various performers throughout the event, so definitely stop by.

On Sunday, the Found Footage Festival will open at Delmar Hall and is a one-of-a-kind event showcasing footage from videos found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country. Come and experience this unique festival.

Beck will be performing alongside the Voidz on Sunday at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a show that will surely be remembered.

Cardina & I are looking forward to checking out New Edition's Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky & Mike as they perform at the Chaifetz Arena on Sunday to showcase their high energy mega-hits and dynamic stage presence.

Hit up Evangeline’s this Sunday for brunch and tap your foot to the rhythms of Miss Jubilee who brings the sounds of the 1920s’ and 1930s’. This is a guaranteed great way to start your Sunday morning.

Oktoberfest, hosted by the German Cultural Society of St. Louis, will be held at Donau Park in House Springs on Sunday and will offer live music by Die Spitzbuam Band, Brasshaufen, the Deutschmeister Brass Band, and the Wendl Band. There will also be live dances performances by the Kinder-Tanzgruppe, the Mittlertanzgruppe, and more!

On Monday, the Tivoli Theatre is hosting the Technofutures: Science Fiction Film and Modernist Design Film Series, which will showcase L’Inhumaine, a French film from 1924. This film examines the influence of modern art—Cubism, Expressionism, and Constructivism—on film and set design. All film and art enthusiasts will surely love this experience.

Ballpark Village will be showing the movie, A Wrinkle in Time, on the outdoor Busch II Infield starting at 6pm. This is a great opportunity to bring the family for a unique movie night experience.

On Tuesday, stop by Brews 'n' Clues Trivia for a fun night at International Tap House in Soulard. This is a free-to-play game that will be sponsored by one your favorite breweries with prizes to be won.

Learn some sweet moves at Tin Roof for Shake and Shout Wednesdays where you can enjoy free swing dancing lessons, followed by a vibrant swing dance party with live music by The Ambassadors of Swing! They sound pretty official, so stop by and shake it out.

On Thursday, Parties on the Plaza are back at Westport! Come see the band Fatpocket this time around in St. Louis and enjoy premium drinks, outdoor games, and food provided by Westport Social.

September 21st-27th

The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival is happening and you can take in the sizzling sounds of Hispanic music starting on Friday in Soulard Park with live Latino bands playing a variety of music on the premier concert stage including salsa, merengue, latin rock, percussion, cumbia and bachata.

The Builders Home & Remodeling Show returns on Friday to the St. Charles Convention Center with free admission and parking. The show gives area consumers the chance to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services and have all of their questions answered by hundreds of local home improvement experts.

They have assembled the world's most renowned pitmasters for this years Q in the Lou from Friday to Sunday. Come hungry to eat a whole lot of pork accompanied with amazing live music at Kiener Plaza in Downtown STL.

Stop by the Outdoor Summer Movie Series and Food Truck Frolic on Friday, hosted by St. Charles Community College, to watch a great family-friendly movie on the big screen while enjoying the summer air and food from 15 of the best food trucks in St. Louis!

On Friday, you can also stop by Beer Night at the Saint Louis Hop Shop to sample craft beer, feast on delicious food, and listen to music by FarFetched. This event is free and open to all, so stop by and hangout.

1st Annual Augusta Harvest Fest 5k begins on Saturday. Come run/walk the rolling hills and backdrop of Missouri Wine Country. Activities and fun for the whole family! A great way to kick off fall by lacing up the shoes and enjoying some fresh air. Harvest Festival activities and events will be happening throughout the weekend. Venders and local businesses around the Augusta Town square will be participating in the weekend festivities.

On Saturday, Assemble your team and get ready for the 7th Annual Generation Listen STL MetroQuest. Whether you are new to MetroQuest or looking to defend your title, you won't want to miss this year's event as we take you through the fabulous bars and restaurants that line The Grove! You and your team will have 4 hours to work your way through a scavenger hunt featuring more than 100 questions and photo challenges - all while taking advantage of great food and drink specials. When time runs out, you will be invited back to the after party at Urban Chestnut Brewing Company!

Everybody Eats-STL invites you to the Taste of Black St. Louis event on Saturday. The day was created to celebrate Black people's contribution to St. Louis' world class culinary scene, recognize Black chefs, restaurants, and businesses, as well as giving the community an opportunity to experience the great tastes of Black St. Louisans.

Cedar Lake Cellars presents the 13th annual Pyromania – one of the only pyrotechnic competitions in the U.S. today. The nation’s top fireworks choreographers gather at Pyromania to showcase their pyromusicals or “concerts in the sky”, which are artistic combinations of music and pyrotechnics. Known as the largest show in the Midwest, Pyromania is a Missouri Pyrotechnic Association production.

Stop by Musical Nights at Oak Knoll Park for free concerts on Sunday. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks to enjoy with live music near the pond. This month's music will be performed by the Midnight Piano Band.

On Monday, stop by the Compton Hill Water Tower to watch the sun set, see the full moon start to rise, and then relax to music. Visitors get a 360-degree, open-window view of the stars and sky.

Stop by the beautiful and mysterious Grandel Theatre on Tuesday for theGrandel Theatre Haunted Tours presented by the St. Louis Paranormal Research Society. Throughout its 134-year history, the Grandel has been the site of several reports of unexplained paranormal activity. Now, after months of research and investigation, the St. Louis Paranormal Research Society has gathered evidence supporting these claims are true!

On Wednesday, join Maplewood as they offer the final installment of their Summer Concert Series with the sounds of the Midnight Piano Band. The Summer Concert Series brings community members together with music from local artists.

Children ages 2-5 can join COCA at Color Play on Thursday. What does blue sound like? What does green do when it wakes up in the morning? Color Play explores how children think about color through a performance directly inspired by their ideas, movements, and words. Very young audiences will enter an interactive world where colors can make noises, have wild dances, and create delightful surprises. The performance will involve live music, exploratory art, and moments of interaction with the audience. It will surely be a memorable time for any kid.

September 28th-30th

Stop by BB’s Jazz, Blues, & Soup on Friday to hear The Bel Airs light up the stage at their Funk Fest 2018.

Food Truck Friday continues at Eckert's Belleville Farm!! Stop in for a variety of delicious food options from wonderful local food trucks such as Mission Taco Truck, STL BLT, and Pie Hard and sit back to enjoy free live music. Grab your friends and enjoy a relaxing evening on our farm.

MADCO, who's powerful dance performance brings primal together with subtle and sophisticated, will show off their work at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, you will also have the opportunity to hear James Armstrong perform at ​1860 Saloon. Armstrong pays tribute to the past with the traditional blues, and his unique songwriting skills. Using both slide and pick, James’ guitar playing is some of the smoothest in the business.

Carondelet Park is presenting its 12th Annual Indie Craft Festival in St. Louis, the Strange Folk Festival this Friday through Sunday.

Prepare your palate for tasty tacos and cold Exotico Tequila margaritas – Taco-Rita returns Saturday to The Grove STL between Atomic Cowboy and Firecracker Pizza & Beer. Snack on tacos from St. Louis’ top restaurants and sip tasty margaritas made with Exotico tequilas, while you enjoy live music on Atomic Cowboy’s outdoor stage.

The St. Louis Theatre Expo will be held on Saturday at the Loretto-Hilton Center at Webster University. You can experience what the St. Louis theatre community has to offer, learn behind-the-scenes secrets, and enjoy performances and demonstrations.

Prepare yourself for October this Sunday with the traditional Oktoberfest experience. UCBC’s OktoberFest. Oktoberfest St. Louis will also feature the standard fare found at Munich’s Oktoberfest celebration, including pretzels, brats, currywurst, roasted chicken, and frikadellen. Popular Oktoberfest competitions like Masskrugstemmen (stein-holding contests) and Fingerhackeln (finger wrestling) will make a return, as will a great line-up of polka & oompah-thumping music.