You have one more week to check out the animals at Grant's Farm in St Louis Missouri before the popular attraction goes back to its weekends only schedule. After August 15, Grant's Farm will be open Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission to Grant's Farm is free.  Grant's Farm is also hosting several special events this fall including a bluegrass concert series and Halloween festivities.

GRANTS FARM SUMMER: Closed Monday (except May 31 & July 5)
    May 4 – August 15
    Tuesday – Friday: 9:00am – 3:30pm
    Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm
    Sunday 9:30am – 4:00pm
    Holiday Mondays:
    May 31 & July 5 9:00am – 4:00pm

Grant's Farm - FOOD AND REFRESHMENT

    In the Bauernhof area and throughout the farm, guests can find a variety of food and refreshment items. Complimentary Anheuser-Busch Hospitality is offered in the Bauernhof area.

    Sorry, no food or drink may be brought into Grant's Farm. However, please inquire about our group meal plans.

    Brat House and Tier Garten Treats accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.

Grant's Farm - DAYTIME PARTY PACKAGES

    Make your next party special. For more information on birthday parties, company parties, and family reunions call (314)843-1700.

        * Grant's Farm Birthday Party
        * Cedar Grove

Grant's Farm Carousel

    Located between the goat feeding area and the West Tier Garten Amphitheater. Price $2.00 per person per ride.

PRIVATE EXPEDITION

    Call now and reserve your Private Expedition! This unique experience provides an adventure guests won't forget. The Grant’s Farm Private Expedition includes a ride in an open air vehicle through the Deer Park with up close feeding experience with animals and fish. Visit the Clydesdale stables. A group photograph for each member of your tour, two parking passes, soda and water are also provided. Call (314) 843-1700 for reservations and more information.

    Cost per tour $200.00 (price subject to change)

    Private Expedition tours accommodates up to 12 guests.

Grant's Farm - SHOPPING

    Grant's Farm Gifts:A unique assortment of country items such as quilts, wood signs, nick knacks and drinks and snacks will be found in this gift shop just off the courtyard.

    Elephant Gift Cart: Located behind the new Elephant Amphitheater, you will find many elephant related items and an assortment of cold drinks.

    General's Store: Shop for collectibles and fun gifts. General's Store offers a wide selection of logoed Anheuser-Busch apparel, including hats and T-shirts at the entrance to the Farm. Grant's Farm gift shops are located conveniently throughout the Farm. All stores accept cash, personal checks, traveler's checks, Master Card and Visa.

    Label Stable: Specializing in Clydesdales merchandise. Located in the Clydesdale stable.

    Xcursions Gift Shop: Welcome to Grant's Farm's newest shopping experience. It is a new experience in retail that excites your senses and provides a welcome perspective of the web of life that connects us all. This new shop showcases a magnificent and diverse world and delivers unique products and features in a way that is personal and memorable.

St. Stanislaus Kostka - One of two churches that survived the rise and fall of Pruitt-Igoe, St. Stanislaus has retained its Polish congregation through thick times and thin. Today the church staff is embroiled in a bitter dispute with the Archdiocese over an attempt to seize the parish's property.

The church faces a murky future: church staff have weathered a bitter dispute over the Archdiocese's attempt to seize control of the parish's property and finances, which have been managed by the church since the 1800s. At the end of 2005, 6 members of the church board were excommunicated over the issue after hiring their own priests, to replace those removed by the Archdiocese. The parish continues to operate independently today.

Archbishop Burke writes in response to this widely-held viewpoint: "Some have understood the object of the conflict to be power and money. Such is ... clearly not the case...The object of the conflict is obedience, the obedience we all owe to the Apostolic teaching and discipline of the Church." In which case, the move is an act of greed for power. I'm not much of a religous scholar, but I'm pretty sure the Apostles said nothing at all about church property management. This is not a matter of morals or rituals; it's one of material goods.

Regarding the outside priest hired by the parish so they could continue their services, Burke further writes: "The faithful who approach a schismatic priest for the reception of the sacraments...commit a mortal sin." There it is: a game of souls by a man of the cloth in the name of property, money and power. I cannot adequately convey my disgust and contempt.]

Urban Review St. Louis has further discussion on the issue (including a couple of opposing viewpoints). Despite many efforts to solve the property dispute with the Archdiocese, which involves administrative rules only and not dogmas or morals, Saint Stanislaus was left without a priest and sacraments for over seventeen months. Upon receiving the approval of the Parish vote, the Board of Directors began the search for a priest courageous enough to minister to Saint Stanislaus parishioners with or without the Archbishop’s permission. On December 2, Father Marek B. Bozek from the neighboring Springfield – Cape Girardeau diocese was hired to be our Pastor. On December 16, both the Pastor and the members of the Board of Directors were excommunicated by Archbishop Burke and all Catholics were warned that participation in any services in Saint Stanislaus constitutes a mortal sin. On December 24, the first Mass was offered in our church in over seventeen months, the Christmas Midnight Mass. Over two thousand people gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus and rebirth of our Parish. Appeal against excommunication was filed with the Holy See.

6610 Delmar Blvd. University City, MO 63130 | Delmar/ The Loop | 314-721-4096
Map | http://www.vintagevinyl.com

This independent record store is the darling of the Loop (and with selections ranging from mainstream to obscure, it’s easy to see why). Its ability to draw in such diverse patrons makes Vintage Vinyl an impressive platform for CD signings, meet ´n greets and in-store performances. Whether you’re looking for that latest local release or dying to see your favorite touring band up-close and first-hand, you can count on Vintage Vinyl to deliver.

Hours:10am - 10pm Sun.-Thu., 10am - midnight Fri.-Sat.
Features: Wheelchair Access, Free Parking

Video from KETC, LIVING ST. LOUIS Producer Angela Antkowiak celebrates Record Store Day at Vintage Vinyl, an independently-owned record store and St. Louis institution located in the Delmar Loop. Started more than 30 years about by two former Webster students and St. Louis natives, Lew Prince and Tom Papa Ray

St Louis Missouri -- Missourians will now be able to see the status of state parks beaches at a glance on a new webpage launched today. The page, http://mostateparks.com/beaches/index.asp, is designed to let visitors quickly assess whether or not a state park beach is open or closed, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

The website will display flags at each beach’s location, with a red flag denoting a beach that has been closed and a green flag denoting an open beach. Beaches that have not officially opened for the season will have purple flags attached to them.

Beaches will be closed when a single E. coli sample exceeds 235 cfu/100ml or when the geometric mean – a 30-day rolling average – exceeds 126 cfu/100 ml.

By clicking on the flag, visitors can see the date the last sample for E. coli was taken, as well what the two sample results from each beach measured.

Visitors can also click on the “Text View” tab on the map and see the information in a sortable, tabular format.

When a beach is closed, signs will be posted at the beach and on bulletin boards at the park office to notify the public.

[stlouismo] - A total of 49 teams from the United States and seven foreign countries have entered the competition to design improvements to the Gateway Arch grounds and its connection to downtown.

The CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation announced Friday that the jury for the competition, known formally as "Framing a Modern Masterpiece: The City + The Arch + The River 2015," will meet next week to review the portfolios that were submitted by Thursday’s deadline.

On February 10, 2010 the jury expects to announce results of its review, including invitations to between eight and 10 entrants to assemble complete teams for the next part of the three-stage competition.

On February 18, 2010 an event for local contractors, minority, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses and others will be held at the Old Courthouse to meet with design teams to discuss their opportunities to take part in the project.

Other public events will include a chance to meet the designers in April and a public exhibition of the designs this summer.

Donald Stastny, manager of the competition, said he was "pleased by the level of interest we've received from very talented individuals and firms." Stastny is CEO of StastnyBrun Architects, Portland, Ore.

Attorney Walter Metcalfe, a member of the group that is governing the competition, added:

"We anticipated great interest in this competition, and we were right. The truly global nature of this competition is testament to Saarinen's masterpiece, the Mississippi River, St. Louis and the opportunity to weave it all together.

"Great design minds throughout the world were challenged to share their vision and imagination with us, and they were willing to do. I'm already looking forward to the ribbon-cutting on Oct. 28, 2015 - the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Arch."

The Saint Louis Art Museum has scheduled a ceremonial groundbreaking January 19, 2010 for its planned $130.5 million expansion in St Louis Forest Park.

A press conference is set for 2 p.m. next Tuesday in the museum’s Sculpture Hall, where Director Brent Benjamin is expected to be joined by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, expansion architect David Chipperfield, and John Weil, president of the museum’s Board of Commissioners and chair of the museum’s capital campaign. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to follow at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The museum announced in mid-December that, following a yearlong delay, construction on the planned expansion would start within weeks. The project was originally slated to begin in late 2008, but the down economy forced museum officials to put off the groundbreaking.

The museum’s Board of Commissioners voted December 14 to go ahead with the wing addition, after the city of St. Louis’ Industrial Development Authority approved the issuance of $45 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance a portion of the expansion. The remaining project cost is being funded through private donations and foundation support.

The project includes the renovation of 20,000 square feet of space in the existing structure and a 77,000-square-foot addition and a new parking garage.

Construction is expected to last two years, and in announcing the groundbreaking, the museum noted that it anticipates gallery closures and movement of art throughout the museum during the project.

The Saint Louis Art Museum was founded in 1879 and was then called the St. Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts, an independent entity within Washington University. The Museum was originally located in downtown St. Louis but relocated to our current home in Forest Park following the 1904 World's Fair.

Designed by famed architect Cass Gilbert, the Museum's Beaux-Arts style building bears the inscription Dedicated to Art and Free to All. The Museum's long-standing commitment to free admission makes it possible for everyone to have the opportunity to visit our galleries as often as they like throughout the year.

Dates and Times 
What - The largest automobile event in the St. Louis area, the 2010 St. Louis Auto Show features more than 500 new cars, trucks, SUVs and concept vehicles from over 25 manufacturers.
When - Thursday, January 28 - Sunday, January 31, 2010 

Where - America's Center and Dome
701 Convention Plaza, downtown St. Louis
 
Hours

Thursday  Noon - 9 p.m. 
Friday  Noon - 10 p.m. 
Saturday  10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 
Sunday  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 
Tickets General Admission (on-site)
Adults - $9.00
Children 6-12 years old - $5.00
Children Under 6 years old - Free

2010 St. Louis Auto Show Discount Schedule

Post-Dispatch Coupon Days
Thursday, January 28th & Friday, January 29th
$3.00 off adult admission
Coupons can be found in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Must present coupon at time of purchase.
Not valid with any other discount or offer.

Senior Citizen Discount Days
Thursday, January 28th & Friday, January 29th
$2.00 off adult admission for attendees 55 and older
No coupon necessary.
Not valid with any other discount or offer.

AAA Discount Days
Thursday, January 28th & Friday, January 29th
$2.00 off adult admission
Must present valid AAA membership card to receive discount.
Not valid with any other discount or offer.

Ladies' Day
Friday, January 29th
$3.00 off adult admission for all ladies 13 and older.
No coupon necessary.
First 1,000 ladies will receive a complimentary gift bag with freebies and coupons from companies such as Hollywood Tan and Botanical Gardens. Not valid with any other discount or offer.
Not valid with any other discount or offer.

Schnucks Coupon Days
Thursday, January 28th & Friday, January 29th
$2.00 off adult admission
Must present coupon at time of purchase. Coupons available at any local St. Louis metropolitan area Schnucks store.
Not valid with any other discount or offer.

Military Days
Thursday, January 28th - Sunday, January 31st
$3.00 off adult admission
Active duty military and active members for the reserve must present valid service I.D.
Not valid with any other discount or offer.

2010 St. Louis Auto Show Free Shuttle Service
Save your energy for the showroom floor - take advantage of our free parking shuttle. Park at either the Arch garage or one of the Laclede's Landing parking lots and catch the shuttle to America's Center for free. Just check out the schedule below for details. Don’t forget to have your parking ticket validated at the 2010 St. Louis Auto Show box office so you can receive $2 off the price of parking.

For 2010, we are going to “Spice It Up.”

An RV can “Spice up” anyone's travel plans! But, in addition to all the different makes and models of recreational vehicles on display, special attractions for the 2010 Show will include the “Outdoor Gourmet Cooking Show” of Marty Koch.

Some of the models on display and for sale at the 2010 St Louis RV Vacation & Travel show:

Class A Motorhomes:  Coachmen Mirada, Winnebago Vista, Hurricane, Discovery Diesel, Georgetown, Sportscoach Deisel, Damon, Windsport, Allegro

Diesel Motorhomes:  Sportscoach, Winnebago Tour, Winnebago Journey, Discovery, Allegro, Phoeton

Class C Mini’s:  Winnebago View, Coachmen Freelander, Coachmen Concord, Access Aspect, Chateau, Chateau Sport, Jayco, Fourwinds

Travel Trailers:  Airstream, Rockwood Signature Ultra-Lite, North Country, Trail Runner, Dutchmen, Flagstaff Classic Super Lites, Puma, Stream Lite Sport, Cherokee, Layton, Sunnybrook, Starcraft Autumn Ridge, Travel Star, Coachmen Catalina, Freedom Express, Livin Lite, Flagstaff, Puma, Sportsmen, Durango, Jayco Flight, Jayco Jay Feathers Hybrids, Jayco Eagles, Outback, Bullet, Coachmen, Starcraft Hybrid, Hornet, Passport, Laredo, Wildwood, Amerilite

Fifth Wheels:  Big Horn, Rockwood, Elk Ridge, Cardinal, Sabre, Cherokee, Layton, Sunnybrook, Keystone Montana, Moutaineer Cougar, Flagstaff, Puma, Sportmen, Durango, Fuzion, Carriage Cameo and Carri-Lite, Denali, Jayco Eagles, Outback, Coachmen, Carriage,
Big Country, Loredo

Sport Utility Trailers:  Cyclone, Road Warrior, Rockwood, Raptor, Freedom Express, Livin Lite, Puma Unleashed, Work and Play by Forest River, Play-Mor, Inferno & Inferno SST by KZ, MXT by KZ, Fuzion by Keystone

Folding Camping Trailers:  Rockwood, Flagstaff, Starcraft, Livin Lite, Palomino, Coleman

Truck Campers:  Starcraft; Sun Lite, Livin Lite, Palomino, Livin Lite

There are numerous parking garages and surface lots around the convention center.

Parking prices will vary. The garages and surface lots that are best located for entry to the Show are on the south side (Washington Avenue), or the east (Convention Plaza or Broadway) side of the building.  An entrance to the Show on the west side of the building (9th Steet) will be open only on Friday beginning at 4 PM and then on Saturday and Sunday.

Show Hours:

Thursday, Noon - 9 PM
Friday, 11 AM - 9 PM
Saturday, 10 AM - 9 PM
Sunday, 11 AM - 5PM

America’s Center
(in downtown St. Louis)
701 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101

For convenience, you may try riding St. Louis’ Metro Link system.

Admission Prices:
Regular Admission $8
Children Ages 6-12 $3.50; Ages 5 & under Free
Seniors (age 60+) On Thursday and Friday $5

St. Louis Union Station houses a 539 room Marriott Hotel, luxury offices, a lake and a plaza for festivals, concerts and other special events. The century-old St. Louis Union Station boasts a unique and colorful history as well as a bright future. St. Louis Union Station is truly a shopper's delight with over 80 shops and restaurants to choose from. An important part of the Station's special appeal is the variety of unique retail shops, offering everything from fine fashions to one-of-a-kind gifts.

The 114 year old National Historic Landmark of unmatched beauty and elegance has been dramatically restored and redeveloped as a dynamic mixed-use project that includes great shopping, delicious dining and fabulous entertainment.

The architecture of St. Louis Union Station is an eclectic mix of Romanesque styles. The Station's interior and exterior details are a combination of both Richardsonian Romanesque tradition and French Romanesque or Norman style. In fact, Link modeled the grandiose Station after Carcassone, a walled, medieval city in southern France. These designs are most evident when entering the Station's Headhouse and the impressive Grand Hall, with its sweeping archways, fresco and gold leaf detailing, scagliola surfaces, mosaics and art glass windows. One can imagine the incredible impression the room created in 1894 on opening day. Today, the Grand Hall continues to awe visitors as the Marriott Hotel's lobby and lounge area.

Directons:

Missouri

      * 270 West to 70 East to Memorial Drive, Memorial Drive to Market, West to 18th Street, left onto 18th Street parking lot.

      * 44 East to 55-70 North to Downtown exit, quick lane change to Memorial Drive to Market Street, make left onto Market to 18th Street, make a left to the parking lot.

      * 40 East to Chestnut, right onto 20th Street, proceed straight across 20th Street to the parking lot.

      * 1-170 South to 40 East to Chestnut at 20th exit, right on 20th, cross Market Street to parking lot.

      * Forest Park Expressway East to Market to 20th Street, right onto 20th Street to parking lot.

      * Airport, 70 East to Memorial Drive, exit in far right lane to Market, right on Market to 18th Street, left on 18th Street to parking.

Illinois

      * Poplar Street Bridge to Memorial Drive to Market, make left onto Market to 18th make left to parking lot or Poplar Street Bridge stay in 40/64 lane to Market & 21st exit, make right onto Market to 20th Street, make right to parking lot.