I hope that you are doing well. We have just about made it through another beautiful winter in St. Louis! In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens wrote "in March, the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." Yes, we are officially in March, and although I love all of the seasons in St. Louis, I can't wait to say goodbye to winter this year. There are some great things going on in St. Louis this month. I certainly hope that you can join me at some of them!
March 3rd-8th
Tonight, also known as Wednesday, you might enjoy heading over to Blank Space on Cherokee street for Looking for the Perfect Beat, which is the screening for the documentary that looks inside the Los Angeles "Beat Scene". Or, you might enjoy open mic night at Stone Spiral Coffee in Maplewood. On Thursday, enjoy a couple of complimentary drinks over at the Venture Cafe in the Cortex Innovation District while connecting with some innovators and entrepreneurs working to bring their dreams to a reality. Afterwards, head to Tavern of Fine Arts for some spoken word as The Perihelion Ensemble w/ St. Louis Poet Laureate Michael Castro will be taking place. Friday, you can catch the 10th annual St. Louis Blues Festival, and afterwards, you may want to stop at Jazz at The Bistro to see the soulful vocal styling of Rene Marie . If you would prefer something a bit more classical on Friday, you'll enjoy The Arianna String Quartet: Contemporary Beethoven at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Also on Friday, a variety of unique dance styles will be on the agenda as the Missouri Ballet Theatre Company performs Dancing on the Edge at the Florissant Civic Center Theater. I remember the mesmerized look on my kids' face the first time they saw the whimsical puppets of Bob Kramer's Marionettes. His talented team has been delighting children and adults for over 50 years. You can check them out on Friday at The Sheldon. Join me downtown on Saturday at T-Rex for a great night of food, drinks and live music at Trailnet's Bikes Beans & Brew. Afterwards, you might want to head over to Lumiere to see the hilarious actor and comedian, John Witherspoon. Also on Saturday, you can't go wrong by checking out Grand Center to watch some belly dancing, along with flamenco dancers from all over the world and live music at the Ole' Habibi! show at the Kranzberg Arts Center. Alternatively on Saturday, you can try out Tenacious Eats as they present Movies for Foodies: 5 courses, 5 cocktails and the movie Dazed and Confused! Afterwards, join me at The Dark Room for "Wax & Wine Warm-Up" :Rare Grooves and enjoy the gallery and lounge while listening to the DJ spin vinyl. On Sunday, Winter Opera is presenting Verdi's grand opera Otello, based on the Shakespeare tragedy at The Skip Viragh Center for The Arts. Also on Sunday, you can catch the finals of The Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament live at the Scottrade Center, or watch it at The Post in Maplewood. Also on Sunday, you might enjoy the opening reception for Contemplations, which features the mixed media paintings by Swiss artist Verena Brassel at the U City Library, or maybe the kids would enjoy The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre.
March 9th-15th
On Monday, get some friends together and check out Elvis Costello at The Pageant. Years ago, my wife and I enjoyed our first date while watching the violin virtuoso David Halen at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. On Tuesday, you can join us over to The Sheldon to see David and his wife, Soprano Singer Miran Halen at Salut D'Amour, to celebrate his 20th year as Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony. You might want to visit the Repertory Theatre on Wednesday to see Buyer and Cellar. It's inspired by Barbara Streisand's coffee table book, My Passion for Design. On Thursday, enjoy a scrumptious 4 Course Prix-Fixe Menu with wine pairings at The Dark Room event, Slow Down and Indulge: Relax, Sip, Savor, Repeat. On Friday, bask in the joyous sounds of some of the finest folk dances: Ginastera's Four Dances from Estancia, Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5 and more at at the STL Symphony Concert: Folk Dances: Brahms & Bartok at Powell Symphony Hall. You might also want to check out the International Photography Collaborative: China Exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Friday too. A group of photographers documented both rural and urban life in China, and produced a poignant glimpse into the global powerhouse of business and art. The Craft Alliance Small Buildings Opening Reception is also something you'd maybe be interested in. This exhibition features 16 artists selected by jurors Buzz Spector and Bruce Lindsey, both professors at Washington University Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. You can join me at Utopia for Reboot, an evening of go-go dancing, burlesque and great music. On Saturday, you can join me at the 46th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade as we enjoy the elaborate floats, marching bands, dance groups & more! If you are looking for something a bit more laid back, you might enjoy the Gateway Men's Chorus at the Edison Theatre as they perform Band of Brothers, which will delight audiences with a show of empowering and uplifting music that explores the bonds and experiences that go beyond blood relation and romantic love. Or maybe you'd prefer some arts and crafts fun at Green with Indie at the Grant Gym at Webster University. It's St. Louis' largest indie arts and crafts show featuring the best in regional arts and crafts with an eco-friendly focus. Also on Saturday, you can join me at The Kranzberg Arts Center to see Brothers Lazaroff ! Sunday might be a good day to see the magical Phantom of the Opera performance at The Fox Theatre, or you can meet me at The St. Louis Zoo for the Sea Lion Show, "Spring Training." Former Cardinal Brad Thompson will be throwing out the first fish! Sunday evening, check out Make Me Laugh St. Louis Comedy Competition at Foam Coffee and Beer.
March 17th-22nd
On Tuesday, head over to Dogtown for the 32nd Annual Ancient Order of Hibernians' Dogtown St. Patrick's Day Parade. You'll be amazed by all the floats, marching bands, and of course all the St. Patrick's day fun in the crowded streets of Dogtown. To keep the spirit going, you can enjoy The Traditional Music of Ireland concert at The Sheldon featuring acclaimed Celtic fiddler Kevin Buckley and friends! On Wednesday, you might find me at the Urban Chestnut Brewery for Pints 'n' Plants: Friends with Benefits: The Power of Pollinators and Bene Also on Wednesday, the Grammy-nominated quintet Kneebody will be performing at Jazz at the Bistro, or Left Bank Books is hosting a book signing with St. Louis native, DuEwa Frazier, author of the young adult novel, Deanne in the Middle. On Thursday, R & B songstress Jazmine Sullivan is performing her current single "Forever Don't Last" and other songs off of her new album at The Pageant. You may also want to check out the Meet the Maker event at the Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design. Clay artist, Norleen Nosri will be at the event, along with her fascinating clay artwork. On Saturday, head over to the Edison Theatre at Washington University for Scrap Arts Music. Just as you might imagine, the Vancouver-based ensemble creates a dizzying barrage of beats from old bike parts, shiny construction salvage, PVC pipes, and other odds and ends. Or you may prefer The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience at The Sheldon Concert Hall. A group of all-star jazz musicians carry on the tradition of the late, great Dizzy Gillespie - an innovator and pioneer of the Latin jazz movement. The six-piece ensemble promises an exciting mix of Afro-Cuban sounds you will love! Sunday, take the kids to America's Center for LEGO KidsFest. The event brings all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in one activity and entertainment-packed family event that the kids will love! The Sheldon has some new exhibits you may want to see. Dive into the Dream: Drawings by Bill Perry and Christner: 50 Years of Shaping The Built Environment. and Visit Old Rock House later that evening for some gypsy jazz rhythms, acoustic guitars, upright bass and violin by the Caravan of Thieves.
March 23rd-29th
On Monday night, the third annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards Ceremony will take place at COCA Founders' Theatre. On Tuesday, lift your spirits to new high-heeled heights at the exhilarating Kinky Boots musical at the Fox Theatre. If you are looking for some helpful marketing tips, check out How to Hustle: Marketing for Indie Producers at KDHX. On Wednesday, I'll be at Songbird Café at the Focal Point in Maplewood for the St. Louis-based concert series with singer-songwriters performing their material in a stripped-down, intimate, in-the-round performance space. I'm always in the mood for some delicious creole cuisine with drinks, and it will be available on Thursday as the Soulard Alliance Presents: A Night of Jazz, Creole, Rhythm, and Blues at the Historic Franklin Room in Soulard, featuring a performance by Miss Jubilee. On Friday, Fleetwood Mac is performing at Scottrade Center. If you're looking for something a little different, you'll enjoy the exciting Carnaval, the annual Latin culture show, at the Edison Theatre at Wash U. The show features several dances as well as a skit. If you're a fan of The Godfather movie, you might enjoy the opportunity to hear the film's score in it's entirety at the St. Louis Symphony: The Godfather, at Powell Hall. Support Cocktails and Clowns on Friday night, which brings laughter and happiness to patients and families at St. Louis Children's Hospital. The event will be at the Caramel Room at Bissinger's. If you're craving some delicious seafood and beer on Saturday, head over to the Schlafly Oyster and Stout Festival at The Schlafly Tap Room and indulge in several varieties of oysters and pair them with 3 styles of Schlafly stout! If that doesn't sound good, you may enjoy the Lupulin Carnival at 4 Hands Brewing Company. The 4th annual event features beer samples from more than 50 local and national breweries, food trucks, live music, carnival games and more. On Saturday evening, the St. Louis Crisis Nursery will be hosting their annual fundraiser, Razzle Dazzle Ball: Fire and Ice at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet. The formal event will include live entertainment, dancing, and enticing food and desserts. You also might enjoy Andy Grammer performing at The Old Rock House. On Sunday afternoon, check out the St Louis Shakespeare -Henry VI performance at the Thomas Hunter Theater at DeSmet.
Yes, it will certainly be another great month in St. Louis! Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. All the best. -Nate
