It's been said that April showers bring May flowers, and in St. Louis, we have certainly seen plenty of showers, so now let's bring on the flowers...and festivals! As usual, I have a few suggestions on how we can get out and enjoy St. Louis. I'm looking forward to making it a great month!
May 5 - 7
If you are looking for something to do tonight, I would highly recommend checking out the opening reception of the Contemporary Art Museum's Summer Exhibition. It will feature Urban Planning: Art and the City 1967-2017, which is a group exhibition of artists' response to the transformational effects of urban development in the United States.
Afterwards, you can head downtown to Rosalita''s Cantina for their 7th annual Cinco de Mayo street festival! There will be food, drinks, music and more! It's always a good time, and you know that I love a good festival!
For a bit of a different flavor, you can head to the St. Louis Science Center as they host their First Fridays event. This month the theme is The Hunger Games. This happening is intended for audiences 16 years of age and older.
Tomorrow, after volunteering with my fellow St. Louis REALTORS and Rebuilding Together to help out a few homeowners in the Old North neighborhood, you will find me and my girls at the Cinco de Mayo Festival on Cherokee Street! The People's Joy Parade starts at 11am and there will amazing food, live music on 3 different stages along with plenty of activities for everyone! I hope to see you there!
You might also want to sneak by The Stage at KDHX tomorrow morning to watch them "walk the dog" at the United YoYo Championships.
Tomorrow is also Derby Day, so you may want to Grab your hat or bow tie - or just come Derby Day Casual to the beautiful 90 acre campus of TREE House of Greater St. Louis (formerly Therapeutic Horsemanship) to help raise funds to cover the care of our amazing herd of therapy horses and enjoy the race!
From now through Sunday, the 2nd annual Tennessee Williams Festival in St. Louis celebrates our own renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright at locations around the Grand Center Theatre District.
Also, today and tomorrow, the 2017 St. Louis Microfest beer tasting festival will be in Forest Park. In addition to tasting international and local brews, it includes live music, silent auction, food, live brewer and chef demonstration!
On Sunday, you can also check out rescheduled ArtFest in Richmond Heights , which promises to be a great time, complete with amazing local artists, crafts, music and more!
Starting this Sunday and continuing on the first Sunday of every month through the end of the year, the St. Louis Running Tour invites runners of all abilities to join in a 4.5 mile trot through everyone's beloved Forest Park.
May 8 - 14
At The Sheldon art gallery, a piece of St. Louis history that spans segregation through modern-day municipal development is remembered in an exhibition of color photographs by Jennifer Colten --Higher Ground: Honoring Washington Park Cemetery: Its People and Place. Oh yeah, and the SheldonGala, on the 12th will feature the one and only George Benson!
Join me at the Missouri History Museum for Twilight Tuesdays, a live outdoor concert series. This week will feature the funk styling of Dirty Muggs!
Also on Tuesday, Bach at the Bistro (as in Jazz) is presented by the Bach Society of St. Louis in conjunction with the the 2017 Bach Festival.
Have you considered taking part in a community garden (one with a panoramic view of the downtown skyline) that benefits you and the entire St. Louis region? Well now's your chance. Volunteer orientations are underway at Gateway Greening, so sign up today. On Wednesday there's a similar-themed event at the Food Policy Lunch n' Learn at Schlafly Bottleworks.
Sponsored by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, the Wednesday Night Jazz Crawl is an exciting mid-week event offering concerts at locations throughout Grand Center. Take advantage of this free music series!
Thursday through Sunday marks two theater-related events for the whole family: the hilarious play "Born Yesterday" is on stage at the Clayton Community Theatre and the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee is at the Kirkwood Theater Guild.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers brings down the house at Scottrade Center on Friday.
Starting this Saturday and continuing through the summer, the stunning floral installation, Garden of Glass by Craig Mitchell Smith, shimmers with light and color in the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Mother's Day weekend is the perfect time to be out with the family and friends. From Friday through Sunday, the Art Fair at Laumeier will celebrate its 30th Anniversary with food from local vendors, hands-on activities for children, live music, and lots of beautiful artwork by 150 juried artists from across the country.
May 15 - 21
The Modern Meal: Sustenance Through Ritual is an exhibition at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum that evaluates through art an activity that is central to all of our lives: food. Take an in depth look at the social, political, and environmental factors that make eating such a profound pastime.
Learn about "Protecting Your Assets and Making Your Money Work For You." The National Association of Women Business Owners offers advice at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac.
I'll be out of town, but I'm gonna hate to miss Bonobo, who will be performing at The Ready Room on the 16th! 
If you're a true foodie who likes to branch out from standard restaurant fare, there's an event for you at The 9th Annual International Dine Around: Taste of South Grand on Thursday. The South Grand neighborhood is famed for its assortment of ethnic cuisine options.
If you are up for another taste, check out the Taste of Maplewood Street Festival! In its 7th year now, it brings together foodies, shoppers and music lovers to enjoy the bites, sights and sounds of a city known for everything hip and happening!
Also on Thursday, master stargazer Neil deGrasse Tyson will be at the Peabody Opera House. The event is in connection with the release of his new book, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
The inspiring and relevant rock musical RENT is at The Fabulous Fox on Friday. And if you or the kids enjoy all things Superman, Batman, and other larger-than-life characters, the Sci-Fi Superheroes will be in concert at the St. Louis Symphony, also on Friday.
Get ready for a fun Saturday... This is opening night for Madame Butterfly -- a moving story about a Japanese geisha and an American soldier -- at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis;
The Annie Malone May Day Parade & Festival brings the streets to life downtown -- the parade is the oldest African-American parade in the nation and the biggest fundraiser for Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center. Get out!
May 22 - 28
At The Bell House on Monday your socks will rock with a performance by Thuatha Dea & S. J. Tucker Live!
The Summer concert series in Ryan Hummert Park in Maplewood kicks of on the 24th with local musicians blessing the stage for an evening of good fun.
Several great events go through the Memorial Day weekend, starting Friday:
The 1st Annual Mississippi Nights Music Festival on Laclede's Landing will be an ongoing tradition. The scheduled lineup for this event includes 25 bands, all 100% local. Come check out the newly designed riverfront made possible by CityArchRiver.
Schlafly's Art Outside: An Alternative Art Fair was established in 2004. Its mission is to increase public awareness and appreciation for the local art scene by creating opportunities that bring together artists, musicians, culinary experts, families, and the St. Louis community at large.
Forest Park hosts the St. Louis African Arts Festival at the World's Fair Pavilion. It will be a delightful day for visitors to enjoy music, dance performances, arts and crafts, merchandise and food vendors, and of course, the park!
You can also check out the St. Louis County Greek Fest to enjoy a lively environment destination in which you can experience the Greek community's deeply rooted traditions and heritage.
On Saturday, the stage comes alive at the The Touhill Performing Arts Center with the Spring to Dance Festival. This is a special occasion highlighting the creative efforts of many talented dancers, a true reason to celebrate this Spring season.
May 29 - 31
At the St. Louis Science Center, the Discovery of King Tut exhibit showcases replicas of more than 1,000 objects from the tomb of King Tut. The original artifacts do not travel outside Egypt. This fact alone speaks to the archaeological significance of the collection, so don't miss the opportunity to see these fascinating treasures.
Starting this Wednesday and continuing weekly throughout the summer at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Whitaker Music Festival combines sounds and sights for a truly magical night. Revelers appreciate everything about this annual event. Lawn chairs and coolers are encouraged.
Yes, we have a great rest of the month ahead of us! Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.
All the best. -Nate
P.S.
We do not have the housing report for April just yet, but as previously mentioned, March saw an increase of nearly 7% in median sale prices over last year! That fact, coupled with a 12% reduction in inventory from last year continues to make for a robust seller's market. Here is the report. Let me know if there are any questions that I can answer for you. We would love to help you achieve your real estate goals!
Nate K. Johnson
ABR,CRS,GRI
Broker/Owner Real Estate Solutions
314-575-7352 Direct
