Think
Toy Safety
I want to begin this week's Spotlight by passing along some toy
safety information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Protecting children from unsafe toys is the
responsibility of everyone. Careful toy
selection and proper supervision of children at play is – and always will be –
the best way to protect children from toy-related injuries. When buying toys:
- Choose toys with care. Keep in mind the child's age, interests
and skill level.
- Look for quality design and
construction in all toys for all ages.
- Make sure that all directions
or instructions are clear – to you and, when appropriate, to the child.
- Plastic wrappings on toys
should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings.
- Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations,
such as "Not recommended for children under three."
For more information about toy dangers, visit the cpsc.gov web site.
Upcoming
Events
Dec. 7 – Holiday Jazz
Concert, Mingle Meal & Silent Auction, The Connection, 7 p.m.
The
Connection will be holding a Holiday Jazz Concert, Mingle Meal & Silent Auction tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Dress up for a
classy night of jazz featuring Coco Soul, Alerica Anderson and more St. Louis
Jazz celebrities. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the Mingle Meal & Silent Auction Bidding.The Jazz Concert will begin at 8 p.m. Cost is $20 per
person. This is a signature fundraiser
for The Connection's mission & ministries in South City including Haven Street
Homeless Outreach and its Recovery Ministry partnering with Shalom House
women's transitional housing. The
Connection is located at 6701 Virginia Avenue in the Carondelet
neighborhood. For more information,
visit the connectingnow.org web site.
Dec. 8 & 9 – Kwanzaa
Holiday Expo, Cardinal Ritter College Prep, 10 a.m.
Everyone
is invited to stop by the Kwanzaa
Holiday Expo this Saturday and Sunday at Cardinal Ritter Prep College located
at 701 N. Spring in the Covenant Blue / Grand Center neighborhood. The Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from Noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors will be able to buy clothing,
artwork, and jewelry; get health screenings; learn about Kwanzaa; eat some
great food; and see some great performances. This is Better Family Life's 29th anniversary of sponsoring
the Kwanzaa Holiday Expo. Invite all
your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to join you at this incredible
celebration of culture and commerce. To
learn more, visit the kwanzaaholidayexpo.com web site.
Dec. 8 – Dutchtown Shop
Hop, various locations, regular store hours
The
Dutchtown Shop Hop will take place
this Saturday. Visitors will find
carolers, great deals and more throughout Dutchtown. For example, have your picture taken with
Santa at Twice Blessed Resale Shop, stop by the Winter Faire at Urban Eats Café
and Bar, sample award-winning Askinoski sipping chocolate at Maude's Market,
sample candies at Merb's Candies or sip a peppermint Irish coffee at Iron
Barley. Vote for your favorite window
display and visit five or more Dutchtown stores for a chance to win $50. Invite your friends to join you for a day of
fun in the exciting Dutchtown neighborhood.
Dec. 8 – Artropy Craft Show, Regional
Arts Commission, 10 a.m.
Artropy
is an exceptional art and craft boutique featuring handmade goods created by
more than 40 local St. Louis artists. Shoppers at the Artropy Craft Show this Saturday will be able to browse a lovely
selection of handmade art, jewelry, fashion accessories, sewn fabric wares, and
much more. The Show will run from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission located
at 6128 Delmar Boulevard in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood and will
benefit Tenth Life Cat Rescue. Admission
is free. Need more information? Visit the artrophcraftshow.com web site.
Dec. 8 – Grinchmas, MoKaBe's, 9 a.m.
The Grinch will be arriving on
South Grand on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MoKaBe's Coffeehouse and Tower Grove Creamery (Grand
& Arsenal). He will be bringing his
friends, the Moolah Shriners, to assist with balloon animals and face
painting. All proceeds will benefit the
local Shriners Hospital for Children. If you bring an item to donate to the
hospital, you may have your picture taken with the Grinch for only $5. Otherwise, cost is $7. Street parking will be available as well as a
free parking lot located at 3500 Hartford provided by the
business district. For more information
and a full list of items to be donated to the hospital, visit the southgrand.org
web site.
Dec. 8 – Season of Love: A Holiday Musical, Harris-Stowe State University, 7 p.m.
The
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Choir is set to perform at the 3rd Annual Holiday Musical this Saturday at Harris-Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Avenue, in the Henry Givens
Auditorium. The concert is free and will
begin at 7 p.m. Other performers on the program include "Satin Strings" and Trinity
Community Church Choir. Invite your
family and friends to join you for an evening of musical entertainment in the
Midtown neighborhood.
Dec. 8 – Peter & Paul Community
Services Holiday Market, Blank Space, 2 p.m.
Peter
& Paul Community Services will be holding a Holiday Market this Saturday at Blank Space, located at 2847 Cherokee Street in the Benton Park West
neighborhood. Vendors at the event will
include local artists and entrepreneurs featuring handmade items, health and
wellness gifts, delectable treats and other interesting items. The event is free to attend. Stop by to find ideal gifts for everyone on
your holiday list. To learn more, call
(314) 588-7111.
Dec. 8 – 1772 St. Louis Holiday, Old Courthouse, Noon
The
National Park Service will host a series of special Saturday programs
presenting St. Louis Holiday celebrations of the past. Each Saturday program will offer music, dancing and activities from the
period. This Saturday, see how early
French residents celebrated the season in 1772. Activities will begin at Noon at the Old Courthouse, 11 N. 4th
Street in Downtown St. Louis. Call (314) 655-1614 for more details.
Dec. 8 & 9 – Carondelet Pottery
Studio Holiday Sale, 10 a.m.
The
Carondelet Pottery Studio at 6735 Alabama in the Carondelet
neighborhood will be holding a Holiday
Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both this Saturday and Sunday. Giftable items include mugs and bowls, trays
and pitchers, unique porcelain pots as well as arts and crafts woodworking by
Three Wolves Workshop. For more
information, visit the carondeletpottery.com web site.
Dec. 9 – Open House, Epiphany Lutheran Church, 1 p.m.
If
you've ever wondered what the inside of Epiphany Lutheran Church looks like,
stop by the Open House this Sunday
from 1 – 3 p.m.Visitors will be able to learn the history of
the church's stained glass windows, enjoy the melodic sounds of the church's
pipe organ and more. There also will be
cookies and punch so please feel free to bring the kids along. The church is located at 4045 Holly Hills
Boulevard, by Carondelet Park in the Bevo Mill
neighborhood.
Dec. 9 – Celebrate Chanukah Traditions, Missouri Botanical Garden, Noon
The
Missouri Botanical Garden will hold its annual Chanukah: Festival of Lights celebration this Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m. at the Garden located
at 4344 Shaw Boulevard. This will be a traditional Jewish holiday
celebration that will include festive Israeli music and dance, a
menorah-lighting ceremony and Chanukah merchandise provided by local vendors
and the Garden Gate Shop. For more
details, visit the missouribotanicalgarden.org web site.
Dec. 9 – Lafayette Square Holiday Parlor Tour, Lafayette & Mississippi, 10 a.m.
The
2012 Lafayette Square Holiday Parlor
Tour will be this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ten homes will be
decorated and open for viewing in one of St. Louis' most architecturally
rich neighborhoods. A free trolley will
be available for transportation to each of the tour destinations. The tour will begin at the "Park House" at
the corner of Lafayette and Mississippi Avenues. Cost is $20 per person day of tour. For more information, call (314) 772-5724 or
visit the lafayettesquare.org web site.
Dec. 9 – Central Library Grand
Re-Opening, Downtown, 1 p.m.
The
Central Library at 1301 Olive Street in Downtown St. Louis has undergone a $70 million
restoration and renewal that will offer 83 percent more public space in which
users will enjoy a soaring, seven-story atrium; enhanced access to collections;
state-of-the-art technology; a greatly expanded Youth Services area; a 250-seat
auditorium and more. The public Grand Re-Opening will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. Invite your family to join you to explore this crown jewel of
Downtown. Questions?Call (314) 241-2288.
Now through Dec. 9,
Holiday Rooms in Bloom, Historic Samuel Cupples House on the campus of Saint
Louis University
Once
again St. Louis' premiere florists have
created radiant arrangements that reflect the beauty of Samuel Cupples House
and celebrate the beauty of the holiday season. Stop by the Rooms in Bloom
displays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 or 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. web site or call (314) 977-2666.
Save the Date
Dec. 13 – Downtown
Winter Fest, various locations, 3 p.m.
Dec. 15 – Holiday Family Festival,
Regional Arts Commission, 11 a.m.
Dec. 15 – Wild
Saturdays, St. Louis Science Center, 10 a.m.
Dec. 15 – Teens Make
History, Missouri History Museum, 11:30 a.m.
Dec. 16 – Family
Sundays, St. Louis Art Museum, 1 p.m.
Promoting Your
Neighborhood Activities
Is there
a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the
Spotlight?
If so, you may email the information about it to me at
rothe@stlouis-mo.gov or
to Cathy Smentkowski at
smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for
consideration. You may also post it on the City's
Calendar of Events on
the City's web site:
http://stlouis-mo.gov. The link to submit
an event is on the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take
advantage of this free way to promote your event.
Rally
Saint Louis
Creative ideas have been pouring into Rally Saint Louis. Voting is now open to narrow down which ideas
will be funded and executed. Be sure to
visit the rallystl.org web site, check out the ideas that have been submitted
and vote for your favorites.
Eddie
Roth
Director of PublicSafety
City of St. Louis
=
GOV
