Bowling Alley
With all due respect to landmarks like Saratoga Lanes, downtown's Flamingo Bowl should knock alley cats off their pins. Besides a gorgeous, tutti-frutti–hued lounge dispensing liquid temptations like the Spiced Chocolate, the phenicopter-themed establishment (which opened late last year) features a total of a dozen lanes that look as if they came straight from the rec room of the starship Enterprise. In building Flamingo Bowl, owner Joe Edwards spared (ouch!) no expense—and it shows. 1117 Washington, 314-436-6666, flamingobowl.net
Movie Theater
No, the AMC West Olive 16 has neither the panache of the Moolah's leather couches (shared with strangers) nor the ambience of the Chase or Plaza Frontenac. But it has what counts: stadium seating, comfortable and roomy chairs, sizable screens, great sound, clean—as in not disgustingly sticky—floors, fresh popcorn, plenty of candy and, with 16 different movies showing, ample choices if you find yourself in the mood for a double-header. 12657 Olive, 314-542-4262, amctheatres.com
Trivia Night
Be honest: The parish school's a great cause, but aren't you a little weary of questions about monuments and movies? With its Convivial Pursuit, Slow Food St. Louis scraps the mundane and substitutes 100 exquisitely challenging questions about food—questions to linger over, answers to savor. Instead of the claustrophobic sea green walls of the school auditorium, you'll be surrounded by good taste; instead of tinny six-packs, Schlafly microbrews. Done right, nothing is trivial. slowfoodstl.org
Way to Get in Touch With Nature
The call of the western chorus frog is a "rasping, vibrating prreeep, which sounds similar to running a fingernail over the small teeth of a pocket comb." That's on the authority of the Missouri Department of Conservation, and they should know: Every year, they lead dozens of Amphibian Night Hikes, teaching hikers to know a frog by its song. The MDC's intrepid naturalists will also teach you how to identify birds and flyways, to fish for crappie, to carve a hiking stick, to use a compass. Classes are free, requiring only a reservation, and range from "Babes in the Woods" toddler hikes to spring mushroom-hunting excursions for adults. mdc.mo.gov
