Published: 02-09-2012
Boat & Spotshow, Trivia Nights, Black History Month events, Health & Fitness Expo, Valentine's festivities and Mardi Gras Season favorites.

The calendar is filled with many exciting and fun events for this weekend in St. Louis, but before I highlight a few of those activities, I want to pass along information about free tax preparation that's available through Gateway EITC Community Coalition for families with incomes less than $50,000. Many St. Louisans qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), but much of the money goes unclaimed simply because people do not file a tax return to receive it. Call 2-1-1 to learn if you qualify for EITC or to find the nearest free tax preparation site. You may also visit http://www.gecc.us/ .
The latest E-Newsletter from USA.gov contains an item about the Startup America Policy Challenge. Uncle Sam wants ideas from entrepreneurs on knocking down barriers to innovation in healthcare, IT, learning technologies and clean energy. College students and other solvers will be asked to translate the best ideas into policy proposals, which will be shared with the Cabinet secretaries from the relevant departments: Health & Human Services, Education and Energy. Deadline for submissions is May 31. For more information, visit http://challenge.gov/White House/257-startup-america-policy-challenge
Through a grant from the ASPCA, BARC is offering a low-cost vaccination clinic for FIXED pets of low-income families. For one day only -- Saturday, Feb. 11 from 2 - 4 p.m. -- bring your spayed or neutered dog or cat to St. Matthew United Church of Christ, located at 2613 Potomac Street (at Jefferson). Cost is $15 for Rabies/Tag & Distemper combo (cash only). No appointments needed. Call St. Louis Vet Center at (314) 773-6400 for more information or visit http://www.barcstl.org/ .

Listed below are just a few of the terrific events that are coming up in St. Louis. 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 website http://stlouis-mo.gov/ , I encourage you to do so. On our 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. The listing is free. See you in the neighborhood!

St. Louis Boat & Sportshow

That annual favorite, the Progressive Insurance St. Louis Boat & Sportshow, is in town at America's Center through Sunday, Feb. 12. Prepare for outdoor fun at this one-stop destination event for every boating and outdoors enthusiast. Enjoy hundreds of the newest boats, marine accessories, fishing and hunting gear, and much more. For ticket information and more details, visit http://www.stlouisboatshow.com/.

Trivia Nights

If you enjoy trivia, these two events may be perfect for you. First, Trivia Night - Mardi Gras Style from 6 - 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 at Grbic Restaurant, 4071 Keokuk in the Dutchtown neighborhood. Beverages and light snacks will be provided. Feel free to bring your own food. Price is $160 for a table of 8. Proceeds to benefit Bevo ACIC programs. For more information, call (314) 352-0141.
The 5th Annual St. Wenceslaus Trivia Night will take place on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Parish Hall, 3014 Oregon Avenue in the Benton Park West neighborhood. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and trivia will begin at 7 p.m. Cost is $20 per person or $160 per table of 8. To reserve a table, call Kathy Styer at (314) 588-0770.

Freedom Rides

Stories of the "Freedom Rides" and the early Civil Rights Movement will come to life on Saturday, Feb. 11 when Dr. Ernest "Rip" Patton comes to Christ Church Cathedral-Episcopal, 1210 Locust Street in Downtown St. Louis. Patton will be the keynote speaker at "Seeking Our Past, Creating Our Future" from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

So You Got Moves Expo

The City of St. Louis Department of Health's Let's Move StL is inviting everyone to the So You Got Moves Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 in the Gym Annex at St. Louis Community College - Forest Park, 5600 Oakland in the Cheltenham neighborhood. Featured activities include 3-on-3 Basketball Tournaments, Hula Hoop Contest, Double Dutch Competition, Cooking Up Change, Let's Move Dance Routine, and much more. Please wear sneakers or soft-soled shoes to the event. For more information, visit http://www.healthinstitutestl.org/.

Farmer's Market

Saturday, Feb. 11 is the second Saturday of the month. That means the St. Louis Community Farmer's Market at St. John's Episcopal Church will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to stop by and shop the wonderful vendors for local farm products. The church is located at 3664 Arsenal Street in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.

Curatorial Tour

Join the curatorial staff of the The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 as they take you on a journey through Reflections of the Buddha. Learn about the artworks on display as they relate to Buddhism, Tadao Ando's architecture, and cultural history. The tour is free and open to the public. The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is located at 3716 Washington Boulevard in the Covenant Blu / Grand Center neighborhood. For more information, visit http://pulitzerarts.org/ .

Valentine's Free Family Day

Bring the entire family to a special Valentine's Free Family Day at Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Blvd. in the Covenant Blue / Grand Center neighborhood. Dress up in your favorite shade of red and spend quality time enjoying the exhibitions or partaking in an afternoon of fun-filled activities ranging from artist-led workshops to face painting, storytelling and more. The event will take place from 1 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. For more information, visit http://www.camstl.org/.

Wall Ball 2012

Saint Louis City Open Studio and Gallery will present Wall Ball 2012 at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar Blvd. in the Central West End neighborhood. Enjoy an eclectic mix of artists, patrons, collectors and admirers and the chance to purchase amazing art work from St. Louis' most admired artists at unbelievable prices. Want more info? Visit http://www.scosag.org/ or call (314) 865-0060.

Princess & Father Valentine Dance

An elegant evening of music, dancing, and dinner has been planned for Saturday, Feb. 11 for daughters of all ages and their fathers. All proceeds will benefit Sisters of Hope, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that empowers women and girls. The dance will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. in the Skinker / DeBaliviere neighborhood. Price is $30. For more details, visit http://www.sistersofhope.org/ or call (314) 827-5216.

Mardi Gras Fun in Soulard

Mardi Gras Season events continue this weekend in Soulard with three perennial favorites: Taste of Soulard, Beggin' Pet Parade and the Wiener Dog Derby. Sample six different special Mardi Gras Season dishes from Soulard restaurants at the Taste of Soulard on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patrons can either walk or board a free trolley. Cost is $20 per ticket booklet.
This year's Beggin' Pet Parade will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12. Entry fee is $10, with the proceeds going to the Open Door Animal Sanctuary. The parade will step off from Menard Street & Allen Avenue at 1 p.m. Registration will begin at 10 a.m.
Area Dachshunds of all ages are invited to compete in the Weiner Dog Derby that will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 in Soulard Market Park, 8th and Lafayette. The cost is $10 to compete; free to observe.
For all the particulars on these Mardi Gras events in Soulard, visit http://www.mardigrasinc.com/ .

Sweet 5K Run

Downtown's sweetest new event is Run for the Chocolate, an exciting 5K run through the streets of Downtown that will spice up Valentine's weekend for couples and singles alike on Sunday, Feb. 12. Cost is $30 per person or $50 per couple. Proceeds will benefit the Downtown Bicycle Station, and the trophies will be delicious. For all the details, call (314) 436-6500 ext. 237 or visit http://www.downtownstl.org/ .

Free Concert

The Cornet Chop Suey Jazz Band will present a concert on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End neighborhood. Enjoy jazz, swing, blues and more at this free concert. Questions? Call (314) 367-0366.

Save the Date

Feb. 16 - The World According to Dick Gregory, SLU, Busch Student Center
Feb. 17 – Mayor's Mardi Gras Ball
Feb. 17 - Third Friday Free Party - Third Degree Glass Factory
Feb. 18 - River City Casino Grand Parade, Busch Stadium
Feb. 19 - Joys of Glory Gospel Singers Salute African-American History Month,
Solomon Temple M.B. Church
Feb. 21 - Lumiére Place Light Up The Night Fat Tuesday Parade, Downtown

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