Public Safety Director's Spotlight - 2013 Small Business Saturday

 

Small Business Saturday

I want to begin this two-week edition of the Spotlight by encouraging you to support our neighborhood businesses on Small Business Saturday, which will be observed on Saturday, Nov. 30.  Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities.  They're the corner stores that create jobs.  The hardware stores that help build our economy.  Most importantly, they are the mom and pop shops that make an area a neighborhood.  Join the millions of Americans who will shop small on November 30 to support those people who put everything into their work, their name on the door, and their heart into their neighborhood.

 

Upcoming Events

Nov. 22 -- Macy's Festival of Lights, Kiener Plaza, 4 p.m.

The Macy's Festival of Lights event will officially kick off the holiday season in St. Louis this Friday. Visitors to Kiener Plaza, located at Broadway and Market Street in beautiful Downtown St. Louis, will be able to enjoy Christmas Village and food trucks starting at 4 p.m.  Entertainment will begin on the Main Stage at the May Amphitheater at 5 p.m. The tree lighting will take place at 6:25 p.m., immediately followed by a stunning fireworks display.  The After Party will run from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.  For more information, visit the christmasinstlouis.org web site.

Nov. 22 – Holiday Lighting, Citygarden, 6:30 p.m.

Citygarden is getting ready for the Winter Holidays.  Crews are hard at work to get the garden dressed up for the official Holiday Lighting kickoff that will take place in conjunction with the Macy's Festival of Lights.  The garden's light display will cover its big trees, several sculptures and 25 glowing globes on the Spray Plaza.  Visitors will be able to enjoy the light display each night through Jan. 6, 2014.  To learn more, visit the citygardenstl.org web site.

Nov. 24 -- SLUHtique Holiday Gift Boutique, Saint Louis University High School, 11:30 a.m.

The SLUH Mothers' Club will hold its annual holiday shopping event this Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the campus at 4970 Oakland Avenue.  More than 60 vendors will offer home accessories, jewelry and fashions, SLUH logo items, and more fleur-de-lis items than you can count!  Admission is free and the event is open to the public.  Questions?  Call (314) 531-0330.

 

Nov. 24 – Fair Trade Christmas Market, The Grand Ballroom at Saint Francis Xavier College Church, 9 a.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by the College Church Annual Fair Trade Christmas Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Sunday.  Visitors will be able to shop for beautiful and unique hand-crafted items, coffees, teas, and more.  Local vendors will be present.The Church is located at 3620 Lindell Boulevard in Grand Center.  Need more information?  Call (314) 977-7311.

Now through Nov. 24 – 22^nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, various venues, various times

 The 22^nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) will end with a free Closing-Night Party and Awards Presentation on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m. at the Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Boulevard in Grand Center.  SLIFF will announce the audience-choice and juried-competition awards.  For more information and the schedule of remaining events, visit the cinemastlouis.org web site.

Nov. 25 – Ceremony commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the death and burial of President John F. Kennedy, Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum, Noon

Bugles Across America will host a short ceremony at Noon on Monday, November 25 at Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum in observance of the 50^th anniversary of the death and burial of President John F. Kennedy.  Parking will be available on Chestnut by the Memorial, located at 1315 Chestnut Street in beautiful Downtown St. Louis, and the Memorial will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Invite your family to join you for this solemn remembrance.

Nov. 27 -- 27th Annual Budweiser Guns 'N Hoses, Scottrade Center, 6 p.m.

The 27^th Annual Budweiser Guns 'N Hoses boxing event will take place Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 27, at Scottrade Center, located at 14^th and Clark Street in Downtown St. Louis.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the matches will begin at 7 p.m.  For the first time, mixed Martial Arts bouts have been added to the program.  Male and female police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel from Missouri and Illinois are scheduled to compete on the 17-bout card.  Proceeds will benefit The Backstoppers organization which assists families of first responders who die in the line of duty.  Tickets range from $10 to $30 and are available through ticketmaster.com.

Nov. 28 – Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade, 4^th and Washington, 8:45 a.m.

The Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Midwest's best holiday parade, will step off at 8:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 from 4^th Street and Washington Avenue in exciting Downtown St. Louis, proceed south on 4^th to Market and west on Market Street to 10^th Street.  The parade will feature colorful floats, marching bands, giant helium balloon figures, animal units, and Santa Claus.  For more details, visit the christmasinstlouis.org web site.

Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 – Rock N Roll Craft Show, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 10 a.m.

The Rock N Roll Craft Show is St. Louis' original alternative art, craft, and music event.  It's a shopping experience which offers unique handmade items alongside live music.  This year marks the Show's 10^th anniversary.  The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.  So make plans to stop by the Scottish Rite Cathedral for the Show.  Go to www.rocknrollcraftshow.com for more information.

Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 – St. Louis Holiday Magic, America's Center, 10 a.m.

Celebrate the holidays at St. Louis Holiday Magic, a family-friendly weekend show that will offer a variety of entertainment and shopping, including full-scale carnival rides, trackless train rides and a vendor district full of exhibitors and gift ideas.  Prices range from $5 to $10.  For additional details, and to print a $2 parking voucher, visit www.stlholidaymagic.com.

 

Save the Date

Dec. 7 – Ginchmas on South Grand, MoKaBe's Coffeehouse & Tower Grove Creamery, 9 a.m.

Dec. 7 – Artropy Craft Show, Regional Arts Commission, 10 a.m.

Dec. 7 – 1763 St. Louis Holiday, Old Courthouse, Noon

Dec. 7 – Wintermarkt Outdoor Festival and Craft Fair, Greg Freeman Four Corners Park, 11 a.m.

Dec. 7 & 8 – 38^th Annual Soulard Holiday Parlour Tour, departs from Gene Slay's Boys' Club of St. Louis, 10 a.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 deekenc@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.

 

Mayor Slay's Annual Holiday Card Design Contest

The deadline for Mayor Slay's Annual Holiday Card Design Contest is Monday, Dec. 2.  City children ages 12 and under are invited to submit a design to be used as the cover art of the Mayor's 2013 holiday cards.  Submissions should be appropriate for all religions and capture the feeling of the holiday spirit in the City of St. Louis.  Designs should be original, no larger than 8-1/2 " x 11" and created with crayon, water colors, paints, pencil, ink, markers, or colored pencil so the winning art can be easily reproduced.  For more details, visit the stlouis-mo.gov web site.

 

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Charlene Deeken
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis