Illustration by John S. Dykes
Think you need money to buy a ticket to see a Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra concert or a musical at The Muny amphitheater? Think again. Those of us who appreciate visual art, performance art and a refined concert can also appreciate that it costs little for a bit of culture in St. Louis. In fact, it’s amazing what you can do in this city without dropping a dime.
“We have a real lively art scene, and there is a real commitment to let everyone have access to the arts,” says Jill McGuire, executive director of the Regional Arts Commission. She adds that St. Louis’ cultural heritage is a great thing we don’t always recognize.
St. Louis does get a bit of help from the National Endowment for the Arts, which granted more than $977,000 in 2004 to local organizations such as the Saint Louis Symphony and the Center of Creative Arts (COCA). But most of the arts funding comes from local private and corporate sponsorships, McGuire says.
We make it easy for you to take advantage of local entertainment with the list below. Be sure to invite your sophistication-challenged friends—you know, the ones who pronounce the “s” in Illinois or think West Port is a new terminal at Lambert. And put your money away—none of the events listed below will cost you a penny.
Theater
What are such stuff … as dreams are made on? Aye, for three weeks in late spring the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis (314-361-0101, www.sfstl.com) transforms Forest Park’s Art Hill into a Shakespearian wonderland. This year’s showing of The Tempest runs May 27 through June 19, except Tuesdays. Also in the park, from mid-June through mid-August, are the free seats for the musicals at The Muny (314-361-1900, www.muny.com). To get one of the 1,100 complimentary tickets for a performance, just show up and wait in line. The gates for these seats open at 7 p.m. (performances begin at 8:15 p.m. sharp), with the seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sports
These aren’t the type of sporting events that you can scalp tickets to pay for your children’s college tuition. These are the under-the-radar sports—ones you might never have heard of. The St. Louis Hurling Club (314-422-2268, www.stlhurling.org), fresh off winning a 2004 national title, will introduce you to the ancient Irish sport with games on Saturdays at Parkway Northeast Middle School (181 Coeur de Ville). New players are always wanted (the spring season begins in mid-April), and more experienced hurlers teach those wanting to learn at weekly practices.
The Perfectos (www.perfectos.org) and Saint Louis Unions still play old-school vintage baseball in old-fashioned uniforms with a hand-stitched ball and strict 1860s rules. They play games in Lafayette Square Park and Florissant. For bocce ball, a favorite pastime on The Hill, head to Milo’s Bocce Garden (5201 Wilson, 314-776-0468). Leagues monopolize the field during the week, but anyone can play for free on Friday and Saturdays. Veteran players graciously offer pointers, and drinks are cheap. For a family-friendly outing on a nice day, try disc golf—no clubs, tees or balls needed. Take a Frisbee and head to Jefferson Barracks, Creve Coeur, Sioux Passage or Endicott parks, home to disc golf courses. For directions and more information go to www.co.st-louis.mo.us/parks/disc-golf.html.
Education
An ideal place to study, read quietly or do genealogy research is the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center (225 S. Skinker, 314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org) in the former United Hebrew Temple, which was renovated and reopened in 1991. It houses a research library open to the public with a comprehensive collection focusing on the history of the St. Louis region, the state of Missouri and the American West. It’s worth going just to sit in silence while looking at the incredible ornate, domed ceiling.
The Monday Noon Cultural Series (call for locations, 314-516-5699, www.umsl.edu/~cfh/monday.html) is held weekly at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Various lectures open to the public are regularly given at Washington University, Saint Louis University, Webster University, Fontbonne University, Lindenwood University and University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
Literature
True book lovers know about Left Bank Books (399 N. Euclid, 314-367-6731, www.left-bank.com). Prominent authors make their way to this indie store for talks and readings while promoting their latest works. Last year’s readers included Dave Barry and Mo Rocca. For poetry, try St. Louis Slam events at the Red Sea Restaurant (6511 Delmar, 314-776-7370) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (3750 Washington, 314-535-4660) hosts a poetry series once a month. Go to www.belz.net/readings for more information. Aspiring scribes can sign up for free instruction at St. Louis County Library’s Writer’s Workshop (held at varying locations. Call 636-225-6454 or write: www.slcl.lib.mo.us).
Attractions
If you’re trying to impress someone from out of town, a trip to the Forest Park contingent of institutions is a must. Yes, Saint Louis Art Museum (1 Art Hill, 314-721-0072, www.slam.org) always has free admission, but the temporary exhibits often have a fee. Free Fridays will continue with lectures about current exhibits. Look for the popular “Art in Bloom” weekend March 11-13. The Missouri History Museum (5700 Lindell, 314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org) is hosting the “Baseball as America” traveling exhibit through April 24. The museum is open late and the exhibit is free on Tuesdays. Kids and adults can find hands-on activities at the St. Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland, 314-289-4400, www.slsc.org). The Saint Louis Zoo (1 Government, 314-781-0900, www.stlzoo.org) keeps long hours in the summer and holds fun activities during Ottertoberfest in October. For more kids’ entertainment, check out the animals at Grant’s Farm (10501 Gravois, 314-843-1700, www.grantsfarm.com), where admission is free but parking is not. The original Big Foot 4x4 (6311 N. Lindbergh, 314-731-2822, www.bigfoot4x4.com) is sure to please monster truck lovers.
Visual Art
What’s the story behind the dancing rabbit sculpture across from the Savvis Center? What’s with the deer bench along Forsyth Boulevard in Clayton? To get the scoop on public art, start by browsing the history and photos marked geographically at www.art-stl.com/public.cfm, which features photos, directions and summaries of art around town. Turtle Park (just south of Forest Park on Oakland) is a collection of three large and four small turtles, perfect for kids. The park officially opened in 1996 and was designed and sculpted by St. Louis artist Bob Cassilly. Laumeier Sculpture Park (12580 Rott, 314-821-1209, www.laumeier.com) features a variety of outdoor art and indoor exhibits with tours available.
There is no better way to feel like you live in a happening town than to go to an art opening. Many galleries feature free opening nights, where you can meet the artist and enjoy complimentary beverages. Among them: Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (3750 Washington, 314-535-4660, www.contemporarystl.org), Elliott Smith Contemporary Art (4729 McPherson, 314-361-4800), Gallery Urbis Orbis (419 N. 10th, 314-406-5778, www.urbis-orbis.com), Kodner Gallery (9650 Clayton, 314-993-4477, www.kodnergallery.com) and Mad Art (2727 S. 12th, 314-771-8230, www.madartgallery.com). Local universities also keep up with the arts scene. For interfaith art on the Saint Louis University campus, see the changing exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (3700 W. Pine Mall, 314-977-7170, mocra.slu.edu). Washington University Gallery of Art (314-935-4523, galleryofart.wustl.edu), located in Steinberg Hall, near the corner of Forsyth and Skinker, boasts a Picasso and a Pollock as part of its permanent collection. For educational and often humorous films, catch the old-school reels—remember sixth-grade sex ed?—of Ciné 16 (Mad Art Gallery, www.afana.org/cine16stlouis.htm).
The First Friday Gallery Walk on or just off Washington Avenue begins at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. Included are Gallery Urbis Orbis, Niche (922 Washington, 314-621-8131), CORE Gallery (1136 Washington, 8th floor, 314-241-2294, www.coreexhibit.com), Third Floor Gallery (1214 Washington, 314-241-1010), Des Lee Gallery (1627 Washington, 314-621-8735) and Philip Slein Gallery (1520 Washington, 314-621-4634, www.philipsleingallery.com).
Drinking
Get a little buzz and learn a little something at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest, 314-241-2337, www.schlafly.com). Tours of the beer-making process are available every day but Sunday. Wine tastings are held every Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Parker’s Table Wine and Food Shop (8137 Maryland, 314-863-4090). Head to the wineries in Augusta, in far west St. Charles County, for free tastings. Try: Augusta Winery (5601 High, 636-228-4130, www.augustawinery.com), Balducci Vineyards (6601 Highway 94 South, 636-482-8466, www.balduccivineyards.com), Montelle Winery (Highway 94 at 201 Montelle, 636-228-4464, www.montelle.com) and Mount Pleasant Winery (5634 High, 636-482-9463, www.mountpleasant.com). And there is always the famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour (1 Busch at 13th and Lynch, 800-342-5283, www.budweisertours.com), which includes free samples.
Music
In addition to the many free concerts held for schools, churches and nursing homes, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (718 N. Grand, 314-533-2500, www.slso.org) gives away 50 tickets 90 minutes before most performances at Powell Symphony Hall. Just show up at the box office. The symphony also sends smaller groups to play free concerts at Laumeier Sculpture Park and is part of Tuesdays at Tower Grove Park’s Piper Palm House concert series. Summer is ideal for free music. The Whitaker Music Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw, 314-577-0254, www.mobot.org) is held Wednesday evenings in June and July, featuring jazz, blues, folk, local and national acts. Bring a picnic, watch people and sit in one of the prettiest places in St. Louis. Chesterfield Concerts in the Park (Faust Park, 636-532-3399) are at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and run from June through August, except for the week of the Fourth of July. Compton Heights Concert Band (2335 S. Grand, 314-776-2227) has weekly summer concerts at Tower Grove. A wide variety of local groups perform Twilight Tuesdays concerts in front of Missouri History Museum (5700 Lindell, 314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org) in May, June, September and October. Last year’s River Splash was so successful that the free concerts under the Arch are planned again for this year. Go to www.riversplash05.org for more information.
Frederick’s Music Lounge (4454 Chippewa, 314-351-5711, www.fredericksmusiclounge.com) presents “Noiseday Hootenanny” on Thursdays at a venue unlike any you’ve been in. Civic group Metropolis sponsors The Lot, bringing bands to the Schlafly Tap Room parking lot (2100 Locust, 314-241-2337) in August for a summertime party.
For live music with a singles scene and happy hour tone, try Parties in the Park (Shaw Park, 314-726-3033, www.partiesinthepark.org), on the second Wednesday of every month from May through October and Parties at the Plaza (West Port Plaza, 314-576-7100, www.westportstl.com) held every third Thursday of the month from April through October.
Festivals
You could probably find a festival every weekend around St. Louis if you looked hard enough. Among our favorites is the Big Muddy Blues Festival (www.bigmuddyblues.com) on Laclede’s Landing, which beckons blues enthusiasts over Labor Day weekend. There is no more idyllic place to listen to a blues harp than hugged by the riverfront cobblestone, old Landing buildings and the gliding barges along the Mississippi. One of the more interesting art shows is the free-spirited Artica (314-752-9528, www.artica.org) held along the Mississippi riverfront in September. It has acquired the reputation as being St. Louis’ “Burning Man” and invites artists and the public for a weekend of self-expression. The highly acclaimed Saint Louis Art Fair (314-863-0278, www.saintlouisartfair.com) invites thousands of visitors to Clayton streets every September. Fair St. Louis (314-434-3434, www.fairstl.org) over the Fourth of July weekend brings music groups to go with the food booths and fireworks under the Arch. One of the more diverse festivals is the gay and lesbian Pride Festival (www.stlouisgayguide.com) in Tower Grove in late June. For some ethnic fun, try the Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival (314-837-6100, www.hispanicfestivalstl.com) every August. For a bazaar and baklava, the St. Louis Greek Festival (St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park, 314-361-6924) is held every September. Festival of Nations (Tower Grove, 314-773-9090, www.intlinst.org) and the French Heritage Festival in St. Genevieve (314-863-6550) are both in June.
Landmarks
Located next to one another in North City are two of the biggest cemeteries around, both offering valuable lessons in St. Louis history. Bellefontaine Cemetery (4947 W. Florissant, 314-381-0750) was the old Protestant cemetery and is the permanent home of notables including explorer William Clark, poet Sara Teasdale, engineer James Eads and artist Thomas Hart Benton as well as Adolphus Busch. Calvary Cemetery (5239 W. Florissant, 314-381-1313) is a 477-acre Catholic resting place and includes the graves of freed slave Dred Scott, early feminist and author Kate Chopin and Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Chain of Rocks Bridge (314-416-9930) opened as a tollway in 1929. Now it is maintained by Trailnet as a bike trail and offers a great stroll across the Mississippi River. The downtown architectural wonder that is the Eads Bridge underwent restoration and reopened in 2003. It took seven years to build the Cathedral of St. Louis (4431 Lindell, 314-533-2824, www.cathedralstl.org). Take a tour and see the world’s largest mosaic collection. Two famous cases—Dred Scott’s and that of Virginia Minor of women’s right-to-vote fame—had trials at the Old Courthouse (11th N. Fourth, 314-655-1700, www.nps.gov/jeff), part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
Volunteer
Hotels are booked and tickets are hot for St. Louis’ hosting of the NCAA Final Four Men’s Basketball Tournament (April 2-4). If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to purchase tickets from the massive lottery, one way to get close to the action is to help the St. Louis Local Organizing Committee in its hosting. Call 314-992-0684 or go to www.stlloc.org for more information. The St. Louis International Film Festival (314-454-0042, www.cinemastlouis.org), held every November, brings in award-winning films for 10 days of cinematic fun. Volunteering for a shift can equal a free ticket to a show.
