Photograph courtesy of Scottrade Center
Whether you're livin' on a prayer, soaking up Chinese culture, or sipping some brews, there's plenty to do this month in St. Louis. Here's our list of the top 10 things not to miss this month from the SLM calendar (in chronological order):
1. May 4–7: 32nd Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival
We all want to hear a good tale well told and the St. Louis storytelling festival has been providing just that for 31 years. They were recently given an Oracle Award for their troubles. Every year the festival features 40 story-tellers from across the region and seven featured story-tellers. This year Marilyn Kinsella, Randel McGee, Kenny Tedford, Motoko Dworkin and Kathy Schottel are among those featured. Free. Call for times and event locations. UM-St. Louis, 314-516-6590, stlstorytellingfestival.org.
2. May 6–8: St. Louis Microfest
In a beer-loving town, it doesn’t get much better than summer. St. Louis Microfest offers a taste of what’s to come: dozens of brews, live music, and more. (Then look for the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival next month, June 10 and 11.) Call or go online for costs. Times: 7–10 p.m. Fri, 1–6 p.m. Sat, 1–5 p.m. Sun. Upper Muny Parking Lot, Forest Park, 314-588-0007, stlmicrofest.org.
3. May 7: Cherokee Street Cinco de Mayo
St. Louis’ largest street celebration for Cinco de Mayo includes authentic food and drink, street entertainment, live music, arts, crafts, and specials at participating shops along the Cherokee Street business district strip between Nebraska and Iowa avenues. Free. Time: 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. For more details, call 314-256-1380 or visit cincodemayostl.com.
4. May 11–29: Jersey Boys at the Fox Theatre
The Four Seasons churned out so many hits—“Sherry,” “Rag Doll,” etc.—it’s no wonder the band-inspired Jersey Boys won the ’06 Tony Award for Best Musical. $33–$88. Times: 8 p.m. Tue–Fri, 2 and 8 p.m. Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, 1 p.m. May 12, 7:30 p.m. May 15 and 22, 1 and 6 p.m. May 29. Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand, 314-534-1111, fabulousfox.com.
5. May 13–15: Art on the Square
Last year, Art Fair SourceBook chose Belleville’s Art on the Square as No. 1 in the nation—for the third time since its debut. As usual, the festival is sure to attract plenty of attention, with 100 artists across 11 categories. Free. Call or go online for times. Illinois Route 159 and Main Street, Belleville, Ill., 618-239-9428, artonthesquare.com.
6. May 20–August 14: Cryptic: The Use of Allegory in Contemporary Art, with a Master Class from Goya
Features Goya the Spanish painter who is considered both an “Old Master” and the first “modern” artist. The exhibit is about the use of allegory in contemporary art. Two series of Goya’s prints (the Caprichos and the Disparates) will be on display alongside contemporary artists Folkert de Jong, Hiraki Sawa, Dana Schutz and Javier Tellez. Tellez’ work features a film of six blind men in New York encountering an elephant for the first time, which is a play on the Indian allegory about blind men describing parts of an elephant. $5 adults, $3 seniors, free children and students. Times: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wed–Sat, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington, 314-535-4660, contemporarystl.org.
7. May 21–22: Chinese Culture Days
Annual celebration that includes a parade, tea tasting, t’ai chi in the garden, with martial arts and calligraphy displays. $12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 children & members. At the Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw, 314-577-5100, mobot.org.
8. May 22: Bon Jovi at Scottrade Center
The stats alone are impressive: 125 million albums sold, 2,700-plus concerts performed, and last year’s No. 1–grossing tour—outselling even U2 and Lady Gaga. Now, Bon Jovi comes to downtown St. Louis to perform its greatest hits from the past three decades. $17–$127. Time: 7:30 p.m. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark, 314-622-5435, scottradecenter.com.
9. May 25–June 19: Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Last year, nearly 56,000 people flocked to see Hamlet. This summer, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis tackles The Taming of the Shrew, the inspiration behind 10 Things I Hate About You. Free. Times: Green show 6:30 p.m.; performance 8 p.m. (except Tuesdays). Shakespeare Glen, Forest Park, 314-531-9800, sfstl.com.
10. May 29–September 18: America I AM: The African Imprint
Visitors will see the huge impact that African-Americans have had on American history in this special exhibit that features personal items belonging to Malcolm X, the doors to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana and the typewriter Alex Haley used to write Roots. There is also sports memorabilia from sports legends like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. $8 adults, $5 students, seniors and military, $5 kids under 12. Times: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Wed–Mon, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Tue. Missouri History Museum 5700 Lindell, 314-746-4599, mohistory.org.
By Rosalind Early and Nancy McMullen
