Public Safety Director's Spotlight - National Night Out 2012

 

Register Your National Night Out Block Party

 

The 29^th Annual National Night Out event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch will be held the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 7 in cities across the country.  National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.  Let the Department of Public Safety Neighborhood Stabilization Team know how your block and neighborhood plan to celebrate National Night Out.  The registration deadline is Friday, July 20.  Call (314) 657-1392 for more information.

Homeowner Financial Assistance

Bank of America will host a free two-day event this Friday and Saturday, July 13 & 14 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott for homeowners facing financial hardship.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Bank of America specialists to discuss their situation, loan modification options, or other alternatives to foreclosure.  Nonprofit budget counseling will also be available.  The Marriott is located at 1820  Market Street in Downtown St. Louis.  For more information, call (855) 201-7426.

Upcoming Events

July 13 & 14 – Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concerts, Soldiers’ Memorial

The 2012 Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concert Series, presented by the Fair Saint Louis Foundation, will begin this weekend.  Festivities at Soldiers’ Memorial, 13^th and Chestnut, will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday when the group Sleepy Kitty opens the series.  They will be followed by Superhero Killer at 7:30 p.m. and headliner Neon Trees will take the Main Stage at 9 p.m.  Saturday’s lineup will begin with Über Cool at 6 p.m., followed by Erin McCarley at 7:30 p.m., then headliner Michael Franti at 9 p.m.

July 13 – Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park

Sauce Magazine’s Food Truck Friday event will take place this Friday, July 13 in Tower Grove Park from 5 – 8 p.m.  The gathering is held the second Friday of every month on the southwest side of the park.  If you’re a truckie loving diner or want to try the food truck experience, this is your opportunity to enjoy everything from pizza to tacos, cupcakes to crepes, and sushi to sausages, at prices that are easy on your purse.

July 13 – Outdoor Film Series, St. Louis Art Museum

 

The St. Louis Art Museum will present its free Outdoor Film Series this Friday in Forest Park.  Before the film, grab a bite from one (or more) of the food trucks at the Food Court Fest outside the Museum, at 7 p.m. listen to live music, then at 9 p.m. settle in for Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, The Birds.  Questions?  Call (314) 721-0072.

July 13, 14 & 15 – Hello, Dolly!, St. Gabriel the Archangel

The Archangel Players will present Hello, Dolly! in the St. Gabriel School Gym, Nottingham & Tamm, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.  Reserved tickets are $12, and general admission tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.  For advanced tickets, call the hotline at (314) 832-2242.

July 13, 14 & 15 – Saint Joan of Arc Annual Flea Market

The Saint Joan of Arc Annual Flea Market will take place this weekend.  The preview will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday.  Entry fee is $3 for Preview Friday.  Hours on Saturday will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  Find furniture, toys, jewelry, books, household items and more.  Saint Joan of Arc is located at 5821 Pernod at Hampton in the North Hampton neighborhood.

July 14 – Bevo Bash, Morganford & Gravois

Organized by Activate Bevo and Bevo Long Community Education Full Service School, this year’s Bevo Bash will be a block party, outdoor movie night and bicycle safety event all wrapped up into one grand evening of entertainment at the intersection of Morganford & Gravois from 6 to 10 p.m.  Activities will include games, giveaways, snacks and more.  The movie “The Zookeeper” will be shown at 8:30 p.m.  Bring everyone you know and enjoy meeting new friends during this fun night in the neighborhood.

July 14 – Do the Right Thing Trivia Night, Bishop DuBourg High School

The 5^th Annual Do the Right Thing Trivia Night will be held on Saturday at Bishop DuBourg High  School, 5850 Eichelberger, in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. and trivia will start at 7 p.m.  The cost is $15 per person / tables of eight ($120 per table).  All proceeds will go to celebrating and recognizing the great things that our area youth are doing.  To reserve a table email Tracy at tmhallquist@slmpd.org .

July 14 – Free Summer Concert, Lafayette Park

The Arts Council of Lafayette Square will present the Lafayette Square Blues Band this Saturday in Lafayette Park, as part of its free Summer Concert Series.  Activities will run from 6 to 9 p.m.  The park is located at Lafayette & Mississippi Ave.  Bring your family, lawn chairs or a blanket, and enjoy the free concert in the park.

July 15 – Annual Bastille Day Celebration, Chatillon-DeMenil House

The Chatillon-DeMenil House will hold its Annual Bastille Day Celebration on Sunday, July 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Everyone is invited to stop by for the festivities which will include drills, musket and cannon salutes, a period dance, a visit from Marie Antoinette and, of course, Bastille cake.  Chatillon-DeMenil House is located at 3325 DeMenil Place in the Soulard neighborhood.  For more information, visit the web site at  http://demenil.org/ .

July 15 – Paddle with Your Pooch, Boathouse in Forest Park

The Paddle with Your Pooch Boat Race is back.  The 9^th Annual Paddle with Your Pooch Boat Race will be held on Sunday on the Post-Dispatch Lake in Forest  Park.  The first heat will begin at 1 p.m.  Each heat will be limited to 25 boats.  The winners of the first, second and third heats will compete in the final race at 3:30 p.m.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit Forest Park Forever.  For more details, go to the boathouseforestpark.com web site.

July 15 - Free Summer Concert, Carondelet Park

The Carondelet Community Betterment Federation will present Power Play from 6 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 15 in Carondelet Park as part of its Summer Concert Series.  The concert will take place at the Music Stand at Loughborough and Field.  Pack a picnic basket, bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy the sights and sounds of this free outdoor concert in the park.

July 16 – Free Concert, Bellerive Park

The Carondelet Community Betterment Federation will present Potter’s Band from 7 – 9 p.m. on Monday, July 16 at Bellerive Park, S. Broadway and Bates, as part of its Summer Concert Series.  Invite your friends to join you as you enjoy the postcard perfect view of the mighty Mississippi River while listening to live music in this scenic city park.

Wednesday nights – O’Fallon Park Jazz Concert Series

The 4^th Annual O’Fallon Park Jazz Concert Series has begun and will take place every Wednesday night through Aug. 1.  The performances begin at 6 p.m. in O’Fallon Park, located at West Florissant and Interstate 70 in north St. Louis.  Invite your family and friends to join you for the sweet sounds of jazz and soul music in this beautiful neighborhood park.

Thursday nights  - Thursdays @ The Intersection, Grand Center

Enjoy the free outdoor concert series, Thursdays @ The Intersection,  at 5 p.m. every Thursday at Strauss Park, located at Grand and Washington in Grand Center, now through Oct. 4. For a complete schedule of performers, visit http://www.grandcenter.org/ .

Thursday nights – 2012 Whitaker Urban Evening Series, St. Louis Place Park

The Whitaker Urban Evening Series at St.  Louis Place Park, Rauschenbach and St. Louis Ave., on Thursday nights will continue through July 19.    Children’s activities will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and the concert will run from 7 to 9 p.m.  Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you for a fun evening in the park.

Sunday Serenades by Compton Heights Concert Band, Francis Park

Everyone is invited to come to Francis Park, Donovan and Eichelberger, in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood for the free Sunday Serenades Summer Concert Series by the Compton Heights Concert Band.  The concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. each Sunday from now through Aug. 5.  Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you for these lively concerts.

Musical Mondays Concert Series

The Compton Heights Concert Band will present its free Musical Mondays Summer Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays in Tower Grove Park (Magnolia and Tower Grove) at the Henry Shaw Bandstand.  Pack a picnic basket, bring a blanket and join your neighbors for a great evening in the park.  The series will run from now through Aug. 6th.

Save the Date

July 19 – Sounds at the Station Free Concert Series, St. Louis Union Station

July 20 – Third Friday Free Party, Third Degree Glass

July 20 – Outdoor Film Series, St. Louis Art Museum

July 20 – South Grand’s Movie Night

July 21 – Arts & Crafts Fair, Soulard Market Park

July 21 – Central West End Literary Ride

July 21 – Summer Concert Series, Soulard Market on the Plaza

July 22 – Concert Series, Ivory Perry Park

 
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.

Grow St. Louis Program

In closing, I want to pass along some information from Monsanto.  Nominations are open for the next round of the Grow St. Louis Program.  Visit stlgrown.com through Friday, July 27 and nominate a local project for the program.  Voting will run from Aug. 13 through Aug. 26.  Winning entries will receive $15,000 from Monsanto. Visit the web site today to learn more about this great opportunity.

Eddie Roth
Director of Public Safety
City of St.  Louis