[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.